s: Among those fierce and fearless lads who played


s: So merrily, and sang as sweet in the dawn


s: As thrushes singing in the bramble shade?


s: "They have no word to say:  my helm's unbound,


s: Blood's on my eyes; I hear a spreading sound,


s: Like waves or wolves that clamour in my head.


s: "Eater of men, old raven, come this way,


s: And with thine iron bill open my breast:


s: And bear my heart to her that I love best.


s: "Through Upsala, where drink the Jarls and sing,


s: And clash their golden bowls in company,


s: Bird of the moor, carry on tireless wing


s: To Ylmer's daughter there the heart of me.


s: "And thou shalt see her standing straight and pale,


s: High pedestalled on some rook-haunted tower:


s: She has two earrings, silver and vermeil,


s: And eyes like stars that shine in sunset hour.


s: "Tell her my love, thou dark bird ominous;


s: Give her my heart, no bloodless heart and vile


s: But red compact and strong, O raven.  Thus


s: Shall Ylmer's daughter greet thee with a smile.


s: "Now let my life from twenty deep wounds flow,


s: And wolves may drink the blood.  My time is done.


s: Young, brave and spotless, I rejoice to go


s: And sit where all the Gods are, in the sun."


s: We that were friends to-night have found


s: Whom dreams delight and passions please,


s: I had a friend who battled for the truth


s: With stubborn heart and obstinate despair,


s: Till all his beauty left him, and his youth,


s: And there were few to love him anywhere.


s: Then would he wander out among the graves,


s: Or, standing on a cliff observe the waves,


s: And hear the wistful sound of winds below;


s: And yet they told him nothing.  So he sought


s: The twittering forest at the break of day,


s: Or on fantastic mountains shaped a thought


s: And next he went in wonder through a town


s: And watched men walking up the street and down


s: Weary, he drew man's wisdom from a book,


s: And pondered on the high words spoken of old,


s: Pacing a lamplit room:  but soon forsook


s: The golden sentences that left him cold.


s: Lay on her breast, till he forgot his pain


s: When love became a loathing, as it must,


s: He knew not where to turn; and he was wise,


s: And rest his rebel heart, and close his eyes.


s: "O watch these fools that blink and cower,"


s: Will shine like stars in that new place."


s: True, I have scarred the night with sin,


s: I rose from dreamless hours and sought the morn


s: That beat upon my window:  from the sill


s: I watched sweet lands, where Autumn light newborn


s: Swayed through the trees and lingered on the hill.


s: If things so lovely are, why labour still


s: To dream of something more than this I see?


s: I who have slain my faith and freed my will?


s: Dead thoughts of things I cannot comprehend.


s: Enough the light mysterious in the tree,


s: Enough the friendship of my chosen friend.


s: Let me not know how sins and sorrows glide


s: Let me not know, except from printed page,


s: The pain of litter love, of baffled pride,


s: Or sickness shadowing with a long presage.


s: Let me not know, since happy some have died


s: How faint, how loud the bravest hearts have cried.


s: Three men with ropes, accosted by a stranger.


s: We met this night, and swore in bitter pride


s: To sing one song together, friend with friend,


s: And then, proceeding to the country side,


s: And face to face to give our lives an end,


s: Stay for a moment.  Great is your despair,


s: But God is kind.  What voice from over there?


s: MANY VOICES, (heard singing in a cottage)


s: Poor foolish working people that we are,


s: Should blossom here, and how a child should bring


s: To night the Star, the Rose, the Song are near,


s: I tell you, friend, that God shall grant


s: Yet grant me that which most I struggled for,


s: Since I am old, and snow is on the ground.


s: The Empires sail like ships, and many years


s: Enough--Away!--O friend, I would be there!


s: It is most sure that God has heard his prayer.


s: Come, brothers, seek my friend and bring him in.


s: Greatly we fear lest he, still resolute,


s: Have wandered to the fields for poisoned fruit.


s: He is all frozen . . . take him to a bed


s: Neglecting the chances of fight, unfit for the spear and the bow.


s: With saddle and spurs and a rein of gold


s: "Why came you here, old friend?" they said:


s: "You should have left to the prince your son


s: Thrice drave he hard on Charon's breast,


s: Till stranger ghosts came out o' the west


s: The pegs are dead men's stout right arms,


s: Sadder than he:  I heard a woman sing, -


s: And saw those golden toys the jugglers fling.


s: There angled for each murmur soft and strange,


s: The pavement-cries from darkness and below:


s: I watched the drinkers laugh, the lovers sigh,


s: And thought how little all the world would change


s: If clowns were audience, and we the Show.


s: And who the fire-foot god that follows her? -


s: And we, like that poor Faun who pipes and flees,


s: Adore their beauty, hate it for too bright,


s: And tremble, half in rapture, half afraid.


s: Play on, O furtive and heartbroken Faun!


s: What is your thin dull pipe for such as they?


s: I know you blinded by the least white dawn,


s: And dare you face their quick and quivering Day?


s: Dare you, like us, weak but undaunted men,


s: Turn your dull eyes to what the gods desire,


s: Touch the light finger of your goddess; then


s: After a second's flash of gold and blue,


s: Till calm ancestral shadows lay their hands


s: Gently across mine eyes:  in days long gone


s: Have I not danced with gods in garden lands?


s: Span in the dance ten thousand years ago,


s: And while his young eyes glittered in the morn


s: Something of me felt something of his joy,


s: Singer long dead and sweeter-lipped than I,


s: In whose proud line the soul-dark phrases burn,


s: Would you could praise their passionate symmetry,


s: Who loved the colder shapes, the Attic urn.


s: But your far song, my faint one, what are they,


s: And what their dance and faery thoughts and ours,


s: Or night abloom with splendid stars and pale?


s: 'Tis an old story that sweet flowers decay,


s: And dreams, the noblest, die as soon as flowers,


s: And dancers, all the world of them, must fail.


s: We walked and talked and trailed our gown


s: Who laughed at fools, believed in friends,


s: To Charon, by the caverned water's shore,


s: Stretched out his knotted fingers on the oar.


s: Mournful, with drooping breasts and robes unsewn


s: The shapes of women swayed in ebon skies,


s: Trailing behind him with a restless moan


s: Here, grinning for his wage, stood Sganarelle,


s: And here Don Luis pointed, bent and dim,


s: To show the dead who lined the holes of Hell,


s: This was that impious son who mocked at him.


s: The hollow-eyed, the chaste Elvira came,


s: Trembling and veiled, to view her traitor spouse.


s: Was it one last bright smile she thought to claim,


s: Such as made sweet the morning of his vows?


s: A great stone man rose like a tower on board,


s: Stood at the helm and cleft the flood profound:


s: But the calm hero, leaning on his sword,


s: Gazed back, and would not offer one look round.


s: On his golden throne, in his golden crown,


s: And shouted, "Wine and flute-girls three,


s: And the Captain, ho! of my ships at sea."


s: And turned to the Captain of All his Ships


s: All babel tongues which flaunt and flow;


s: With breasts to feed Our rusting swords."


s: And through the night like one great bell


s: Where men drink Dead Men's Blood for wine,


s: Lay round them, with its flowers asleep.


s: Grew old and tired of the changeless sky


s: Let their Beards grow, and their Beards grew


s: Where they stood still, and watched the sea.


s: With their beards around the mainmast tree.


s: Till the hands cried out on the old ship's shame -


s: Swifter and swifter the bright boat sped,


s: But the hands spake thin like men long dead -


s: In the days, sweet days, when we put to sea.


s: The ship all black and the ship all white


s: And the twenty masters of foreign speech


s: And "Whence," they cried, "O Sons of Pride,


s: And who is the King that sent you forth?"


s: "We live," replied that Lord with a smile,


s: We know not South and we know not North,


s: The two ships touched:  no sound was heard;


s: "     XVII. - XXIV.   .  .  .  .  E. Myers.


s: Each Translator is therefore responsible for his own portion; but


s: however, a certain elasticity has been deemed desirable.


s: held by the third. Thus, for instance, the Translator of Books


s: passage, such passage has been enclosed in brackets [].


s: The Translator of Books X. - XVI. Has to thank Mr. R.W. Raper,


s: In the present Edition the translation has been carefully revised


s: The use of square brackets has in this edition been restricted to


s: from this Rule are noticed in footnotes.


s: corresponding Latin names may be more familiar.


s: With shaft and pit; foiled waters wander slow


s: Through plains where Simois and Scamander went


s: The dust and awful treasures of the dead


s: Hath learning scattered wide; but vainly thee,


s: Homer, she meteth with her Lesbian lead,


s: And strives to rend thy songs, too blind is she


s: To know the crown on thine immortal head


s: Of indivisible supremacy.                      A.L.


s: The form of great Achilles, high and clear,


s: Stands forth in arms, wielding the Pelian spear.


s: The sanguine tides of that immortal fray,


s: Swept on by gods, around him surge and sway,


s: Wherethrough the helms of many a warrior peer,


s: Strong men and swift, their tossing plumes uprear.


s: But stronger, swifter, goodlier he than they,


s: More awful, more divine. Yet mark anigh;


s: Some fiery pang hath rent his soul within,


s: Some hovering shade his brows encompasseth.


s: What gifts hath Fate for all his chivalry?


s: Even such as hearts heroic oftenest win;


s: Honour, a friend, anguish, untimely death.   E.M.


s: How Agamemnon and Achilles fell out at the siege of Troy;


s: and Achilles withdrew himself from battle, and won from Zeus


s: a pledge that his wrong should be avenged on Agamemnon and


s: Odysseus of many devices went to be their captain.


s: So saying he sent them forth, and laid stern charge upon them.


s: themselves were scattered amid their huts and ships.


s: How Zeus beguiled Agamemnon by a dream; and of the assembly


s: of the Achaians and their marching forth to battle. And of


s: the names and numbers of the hosts of the Achaians and the


s: And the Phokians were led of Schedios and Epistrophos, sons of


s: And of them that dwelt in Pylos and lovely Arene and Thryon the


s: And of them that possessed Arkadia beneath the steep mountain of


s: And of them that possessed Phylake and flowery Pyrasos, Demeter's


s: And of them that possessed Adresteia and the land of Apaisos and


s: How Menelaos and Paris fought in single combat; and


s: Aphrodite rescued Paris. And how Helen and Priam beheld the


s: Now when they were arrayed, each company with their captains, the


s: with all speed they advanced across the plain.


s: So when they were now come nigh in onset on each other, godlike


s: straightway he leap in his armour from his chariot to the ground.


s: So said she; but them the life-giving earth held fast there in


s: Meanwhile were the heralds bearing through the city the holy


s: Now when they were come to the beautiful house of Alexandros the


s: hereafter." So said Atreides, and all the Achaians gave assent.


s: How Pandaros wounded Menelaos by treachery; and Agamemnon


s: drink-offering and burnt-offering, the worship that is our due."


s: stalwart, standing, and about him the stalwart ranks of the


s: shield-bearing host that followed him from Trike, pasture land of


s: But Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely at him and said:


s: Next Telamonian Aias smote Anthemion's son, the lusty stripling


s: How Diomedes by his great valour made havoc of the Trojans,


s: and wounded even Aphrodite and Ares by the help of Athene.


s: Then Aineias leapt down with shield and long spear, fearing lest


s: So was she bearing her dear son away from battle; but the son of


s: So spake he, and she departed in amaze and was sore troubled: and


s: So saying he darted swiftly with his javelin and smote a foremost


s: trembling gat hold of Achaians and Trojans for fear, so mightily


s: How Diomedes and Glaukos, being about to fight, were known


s: to each other, and parted in friendliness. And how Hector


s: returning to the city bade farewell to Andromache his wife.


s: Then Hippolochos' glorious son made answer to him: "Great-hearted


s: Then great Hector of the glancing helm answered her: "Bring me no


s: Of the single combat between Aias and Hector, and of the


s: burying of the dead, and the building of a wall about the


s: And the goddess bright-eyed Athene made answer to him: "So be it,


s: How Zeus bethought him of his promise to avenge Achilles'


s: wrong on Agamemnon; and therefore bade the gods refrain from


s: So spake he, but much-enduring noble Odysseus heard him not, but


s: And noble Teukros made answer and said to him: "Most noble son of


s: How Agamemnon sent an embassage to Achilles, beseeching him


s: to be appeased; and how Achilles denied him.


s: Achaians' spirit troubled in their breast.


s: assembly, but not to shout aloud; and himself he toiled amid the


s: Achaians bring thee by day from Thrace across the wide sea; all


s: hatefullest of all gods to mortals. Yea, let him be ruled by me,


s: How Diomedes and Odysseus slew Dolon, a spy of the Trojans,


s: and themselves spied on the Trojan camp, and took the horses


s: And they went to seek Diomedes, son of Tydeus, and him they found


s: And him answered Odysseus of the many counsels: "O Nestor, son of


s: So spake he, and drave the whole-hooved horses through the foss,


s: honey-sweet wine, and poured it forth to Athene.


s: Despite the glorious deeds of Agamemnon, the Trojans press


s: hard on the Achaians, and the beginning of evil comes on


s: So spake he, nor did knightly Nestor of Gerenia disobey him, but


s: Then swift-footed Achilles answered him and spake: "Noble son of


s: Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him again: "Wherefore is


s: How the Trojans and allies broke within the wall of the


s: So spake Polydamas, and his wise word pleased Hector well, and


s: And Sarpedon led the glorious allies, and to be with him he chose


s: For the men above were casting with stones from the well-builded


s: towers, in defence of themselves and of the huts, and of the


s: Poseidon stirreth up the Achaians to defend the ships.


s: remissness,--but let each man conceive shame in his heart, and


s: Meanwhile the others were fighting on, and there arose an


s: Then Hector sped forth to tear from the head of great-hearted


s: Thus the two mighty sons of Kronos, with contending will, were


s: How Sleep and Hera beguiled Zeus to slumber on the heights


s: of Ida, and Poseidon spurred on the Achaians to resist


s: Zeus awakening, biddeth Apollo revive Hector, and restore


s: the fortunes of the Trojans. Fire is thrown on the ship of


s: Then to them spake Thoas, son of Andraimon, far the best of the


s: So again keen battle was set by the ships. Thou wouldst deem that


s: How Patroklos fought in the armour of Achilles, and drove


s: the Trojans from the ships, but was slain at last by Hector.


s: Achilles. Never then may such wrath take hold of me as that thou


s: strained back towards the city, away from the ships and the huts.


s: Then the ox-eyed lady Hera made answer to him: "Most dread son of


s: Sarpedon his shining arms of bronze, and these the strong son of


s: Hector then seized him by the head, and slackened not hold, while


s: Then renowned Hector spake to him even in his death: "Patroklos,


s: Of the battle around the body of Patroklos.


s: Patroklos as he lay, and he smote on the circle of the shield of


s: Thus spake he, and aroused the heart of wise Aias. And he went up


s: Thus all day long waxed the mighty fray of their sore strife; and


s: Thus said he, and called upon the Aiantes and Menelaos: "Aiantes,


s: How Achilles grieved for Patroklos, and how Thetis asked for


s: him new armour of Hephaistos; and of the making of the


s: Meanwhile Zeus spake unto Hera his sister and wife: "Thou hast


s: Then answered unto him Hera the ox-eyed queen: "Most dread son of


s: There wrought he the earth, and the heavens, and the sea, and the


s: loud-voiced heralds. Then before the people they rose up and gave


s: Also he set therein a vineyard teeming plenteously with clusters,


s: How Achilles and Agamemnon were reconciled before the


s: assembly of the Achaians, and Achilles went forth with them


s: fierceness of the battle, and from before our spear."


s: But Briseis that was like unto golden Aphrodite, when she beheld


s: Then the horse Xanthos of glancing feet made answer unto him from


s: How Achilles made havoc among the men of Troy.


s: But Achilles sprang in among the Trojans, his heart clothed with


s: strength, crying his terrible cry, and first he took Iphition,


s: How Achilles fought with the River, and chased the men of


s: There met he a son of Dardanid Priam, in flight out of the river,


s: And to him, made answer Pelegon's noble son: "High-hearted son of


s: He said, and rushed in tumult on Achilles, raging from on high,


s: immortal gods that thou didst vanquish me by might and main."


s: How Achilles fought with Hector, and slew him, and brought


s: frontlet and net and woven band, and veil, the veil that golden


s: Thus spake she wailing, and the women joined their moan.


s: Of the funeral of Patroklos, and the funeral games.


s: Meriones, squire of kindly Idomeneus. And they went forth with


s: Thus saying he set the hair in the hands of his dear comrade, and


s: comrade, going heavily round the burning pile, with many moans.


s: First for fleet chariot-racers he ordained a noble prize, a woman


s: Thus spake the son of Peleus, and the fleet chariot-racers were


s: Thus spake he, and Peleides was gone down the full concourse of


s: Thus spake he, and straightway arose fleet Aias Oileus' son, and


s: So spake he, but they all laughed pleasantly to behold him. Then


s: How the body of Hector was ransomed, and of his funeral.


s: polished wain the countless ransom of Hector's head, and yoked


s: Then answered and spake unto her godlike Priam: "Lady, I will not


s: Thus spake he, and the Messenger, the slayer of Argus, was not


s: Thus held they funeral for Hector tamer of horses.


s: Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of


s: Historical characters can only be estimated by the standard which


s: narrative, than the respective probability of its details.


s: unlike in principles as in style. He appears as the enunciator of


s: They were married; careful cultivation ripened the talents which


s: But poverty still drove him on, and he went by way of Larissa, as


s: greater probability, been attributed to Cleobulus of Lindus.


s: The greater part of the assembly seemed favourable to the poet's


s: disappointment in a wish that Cumae might never produce a poet


s: At Phocaea Homer was destined to experience another literary


s: observed: "O Thestorides, of the many things hidden from the


s: knowledge of man, nothing is more unintelligible than the human


s: Homer continued his career of difficulty and distress, until some


s: pursuing a profitable livelihood by the recital of the very same


s: "Glaucus was pleased with the advice and marvelled at its author.


s: "At length they retired to rest; but on the following morning,


s: Glaucus resolved to go to his master, and acquaint him with his


s: meeting with Homer. Having left the goats in charge of a


s: However, he bade him bring the stranger to him.


s: So successful was this school, that Homer realised a considerable


s: The following passage betrays the same tendency to connect the


s: personages of the poems with the history of the poet, which has


s: vanity of the Athenians, of whose city he had hitherto made no


s: invited to join in celebrating the Apaturian festival. He recited


s: Eiresione at the New Moon festivals, he earned a subsistence,


s: visiting the houses of the rich, with whose children he was very


s: enigma proposed by some fishermen's children.


s: Such is, in brief, the substance of the earliest life of Homer we


s: worthlessness, that it is scarcely necessary to point them out in


s: investigation, let us pass on to the main question at issue. Was


s: Well has Landor remarked: "Some tell us there were twenty Homers;


s: But, greatly as we admire the generous enthusiasm which rests


s: contented with the poetry on which its best impulses had been


s: "We cannot but think the universal admiration of its unity by the


s: "'The critic eye--that microscope of wit--


s: Sees hairs and pores, examines bit by bit;


s: How parts relate to parts, or they to whole.


s: Are things which Kuster, Burmann, Wasse, shall see,


s: When man's whole frame is obvious to a flea.'"


s: touching the comparative inferiority of the Odyssey to the Iliad;


s: Homer ever arose. So far, the voice of antiquity seems to be in


s: "Half a century ago, the acute and valuable Prolegomena of F. A.


s: times, to which their composition is referred; and that without


s: beyond a doubt, that the pronunciation of the Greek language had


s: undergone a considerable change. Now it is certainly difficult to


s: written, must be matter of conjecture, though there is ground for


s: festival. The only persons for whom the written Iliad would be


s: period which may with the greatest probability be fixed upon as


s: Christian aera (B.C. 660 to B.C. 630), the age of Terpander,


s: Kallinus, Archilochus, Simenides of Amorgus, &c. I ground this


s: supposition on the change then operated in the character and


s: important at a time when poetry was the only known mode of


s: considered as desirous to study, and competent to criticize, from


s: eulogized the Thebais as the production of Homer. There seems,


s: therefore, ground for conjecturing that (for the use of this


s: against the carelessness of individual rhapsodies."


s: Athenian ruler. If the great poets, who flourished at the bright


s: harmonize, that it is almost incredible that stronger marks of


s: historic fact; that in the great maritime expedition of western


s: Greece against the rival and half-kindred empire of the


s: ancient song, than an Achilleid or an Odysseid. Could France have


s: skilled in the military tactics of his age."


s: augmented than otherwise, if we admit his hypothesis. Nor is


s: Lachmann's modification of his theory any better. He divides the


s: regular poem belongs to a period earlier than the age of


s: Peisistratus. This as Grote observes, "ex-plains the gaps and


s: contradictions in the narrative, but it explains nothing else."


s: leading men in the first battle after the secession of Achilles:


s: Elphenor, chief of the Euboeans; Tlepolemus, of the Rhodians;


s: Acamas, of the Thracians. None of these heroes again make their


s: republican governments, the close military array, the improved


s: construction of ships, the Amphiktyonic convocations, the mutual


s: contrasts between their former and their later condition."


s: On the whole, I am inclined to believe, that the labours of


s: reconstruct them according to a fanciful hypothesis. I will not


s: version of the same story as that of Peisistratus, while its


s: historical probability must be measured by that of many others


s: "No doubt the common soldiers of that age had, like the common


s: events of a spirit-stirring war; occurrences likely to impress


s: negligence of the copyist, would be an absurd and captious


s: Melesigenes, /quocunque nomine vocari eum jus fasque sit/, I feel


s: against the hypothesis which would assign these great works to a


s: soul, also speaks eloquently to the contrary.


s: ultra-refined and consistent abandonment of good taste, that few


s: writers of the present day would question the capabilities of the


s: Iliad and Odyssey to a period so remote from that of their first


s: Chios. To believe the author of the Iliad a mere compiler, is to


s: While, however, I look upon the belief in Homer as one that has


s: exhaust,--still I am far from wishing to deny that the author of


s: these great poems found a rich fund of tradition, a well-stocked


s: mythical storehouse, from whence he might derive both subject and


s: impressions--nay, even his own thoughts are a kind of secondary


s: nought but a scrap-book, a parterre filled with flowers and weeds


s: Sensible as I am of the difficulty of disproving a negative, and


s: Long and habitual reading of Homer appears to familiarize our


s: Greeks. This is a feature in their character which was not wholly


s: poetry in a simple age, seems to reverse that order in the


s: development of national taste, which the history of every other


s: impress of a disposition to be satisfied with the general sense,


s: friends, whose classical attainments were sounder than his own,


s: existing, than of a desire to make a perfect transcript of the


s: words were less jealously sought for, and those who could read so


s: substantive. Far be it from us to defend the faults of Pope,


s: especially when we think of Chapman's fine, bold, rough old


s: English;--far be it from us to hold up his translation as what a


s: The poem opens within forty eight days of the arrival of Ulysses


s: Pylos and Sparta, where Nestor and Menelaus yet reigned; then,


s: after having visibly displayed her divinity, disappears. The


s: suitors of Penelope make great entertainments, and riot in her


s: palace till night. Phemius sings to them the return of the


s: Grecians, till Penelope puts a stop to the song. Some words arise


s: The man for wisdom's various arts renown'd,


s: Long exercised in woes, O Muse! resound;


s: Who, when his arms had wrought the destined fall


s: Of sacred Troy, and razed her heaven-built wall,


s: Wandering from clime to clime, observant stray'd,


s: Their manners noted, and their states survey'd,


s: On stormy seas unnumber'd toils he bore,


s: Safe with his friends to gain his natal shore:


s: Vain toils! their impious folly dared to prey


s: The god vindictive doom'd them never more


s: (Ah, men unbless'd!) to touch that natal shore.


s: Oh, snatch some portion of these acts from fate,


s: Celestial Muse! and to our world relate.


s: Now at their native realms the Greeks arrived;


s: All who the wars of ten long years survived;


s: And 'scaped the perils of the gulfy main.


s: Deplored his absent queen and empire lost.


s: Calypso in her caves constrain'd his stay,


s: In vain-for now the circling years disclose


s: At length their rage the hostile powers restrain,


s: All but the ruthless monarch of the main.


s: But now the god, remote, a heavenly guest,


s: There on the world's extremest verge revered


s: With hecatombs and prayer in pomp preferr'd,


s: Distant he lay: while in the bright abodes


s: Of high Olympus, Jove convened the gods:


s: The assembly thus the sire supreme address'd,


s: AEgysthus' fate revolving in his breast,


s: "Perverse mankind! whose wills, created free,


s: Charge all their woes on absolute degree;


s: All to the dooming gods their guilt translate,


s: And follies are miscall'd the crimes of fate.


s: When to his lust AEgysthus gave the rein,


s: Did fate, or we, the adulterous act constrain?


s: Did fate, or we, when great Atrides died,


s: Hermes I sent, while yet his soul remain'd


s: Sincere from royal blood, and faith profaned;


s: To warn the wretch, that young Orestes, grown


s: To manly years, should re-assert the throne.


s: Yet, impotent of mind, and uncontroll'd,


s: He plunged into the gulf which Heaven foretold."


s: Here paused the god; and pensive thus replies


s: "O thou! from whom the whole creation springs,


s: The source of power on earth derived to kings!


s: His death was equal to the direful deed;


s: So may the man of blood be doomed to bleed!


s: But grief and rage alternate wound my breast


s: For brave Ulysses, still by fate oppress'd.


s: Amidst an isle, around whose rocky shore


s: The forests murmur, and the surges roar,


s: The blameless hero from his wish'd-for home


s: (Atlas her sire, to whose far-piercing eye


s: The eternal columns which on earth he rears


s: End in the starry vault, and prop the spheres).


s: By his fair daughter is the chief confined,


s: Who soothes to dear delight his anxious mind;


s: Successless all her soft caresses prove,


s: To banish from his breast his country's love;


s: To see the smoke from his loved palace rise,


s: While the dear isle in distant prospect lies,


s: With what contentment could he close his eyes!


s: The suffering virtue of the wise and brave?


s: Must he, whose altars on the Phrygian shore


s: With frequent rites, and pure, avow'd thy power,


s: Be doom'd the worst of human ills to prove,


s: Unbless'd, abandon'd to the wrath of Jove?"


s: "Daughter! what words have pass'd thy lips unweigh'd!


s: (Replied the Thunderer to the martial maid;)


s: Neptune, by prayer repentant rarely won,


s: Afflicts the chief, to avenge his giant son,


s: Whose visual orb Ulysses robb'd of light;


s: Great Polypheme, of more than mortal might?


s: Him young Thousa bore (the bright increase


s: Of Phorcys, dreaded in the sounds and seas);


s: Whom Neptune eyed with bloom of beauty bless'd,


s: And in his cave the yielding nymph compress'd


s: For this the god constrains the Greek to roam,


s: From death alone exempt--but cease to mourn;


s: Let all combine to achieve his wish'd return;


s: Neptune atoned, his wrath shall now refrain,


s: Or thwart the synod of the gods in vain."


s: "Father and king adored!" Minerva cried,


s: "Since all who in the Olympian bower reside


s: Now make the wandering Greek their public care,


s: Bid him, arrived in bright Calypso's court,


s: The sanction of the assembled powers report:


s: Must speed, obedient to their high command.


s: 'Tis mine to form his green, unpractised years


s: In sage debates; surrounded with his peers,


s: To save the state, and timely to restrain


s: Who crowd his palace, and with lawless power


s: His herds and flocks in feastful rites devour.


s: To distant Sparta, and the spacious waste


s: Of Sandy Pyle, the royal youth shall haste.


s: There, warm with filial love, the cause inquire


s: She said: the sandals of celestial mould,


s: Fledged with ambrosial plumes, and rich with gold,


s: Surround her feet: with these sublime she sails


s: The aerial space, and mounts the winged gales;


s: O'er earth and ocean wide prepared to soar,


s: Ponderous and vast: which, when her fury burns,


s: Proud tyrants humbles, and whole hosts o'erturns.


s: From high Olympus prone her flight she bends,


s: Her lineaments divine, the grave disguise


s: Of Mentes' form conceal'd from human eyes


s: (Mentes, the monarch of the Taphian land);


s: A glittering spear waved awful in her hand.


s: There in the portal placed, the heaven-born maid


s: On hides of beeves, before the palace gate


s: (Sad spoils of luxury), the suitors sate.


s: With rival art, and ardour in their mien,


s: At chess they vie, to captivate the queen;


s: Divining of their loves.  Attending nigh,


s: Others, apart, the spacious hall prepare,


s: And form the costly feast with busy care.


s: Glowing celestial sweet, with godlike grace


s: Amid the circle shines: but hope and fear


s: Now, imaged in his mind, he sees restored


s: In peace and joy the people's rightful lord;


s: The proud oppressors fly the vengeful sword.


s: While his fond soul these fancied triumphs swell'd,


s: The stranger guest the royal youth beheld;


s: Grieved that a visitant so long should wait


s: Unmark'd, unhonour'd, at a monarch's gate;


s: And the new friend with courteous air embraced.


s: "Stranger, whoe'er thou art, securely rest,


s: Approach the dome, the social banquet share,


s: And then the purpose of thy soul declare."


s: Thus affable and mild, the prince precedes,


s: And to the dome the unknown celestial leads.


s: The spear receiving from the hand, he placed


s: Against a column, fair with sculpture graced;


s: Where seemly ranged in peaceful order stood


s: Ulysses' arms now long disused to blood.


s: He led the goddess to the sovereign seat,


s: Her feet supported with a stool of state


s: (A purple carpet spread the pavement wide);


s: Then drew his seat, familiar, to her side;


s: Far from the suitor-train, a brutal crowd,


s: With insolence, and wine, elate and loud:


s: Where the free guest, unnoted, might relate,


s: If haply conscious, of his father's fate.


s: The golden ewer a maid obsequious brings,


s: Replenish'd from the cool, translucent springs;


s: With copious water the bright vase supplies


s: They wash. The tables in fair order spread,


s: They heap the glittering canisters with bread:


s: Viands of various kinds allure the taste,


s: Of choicest sort and savour, rich repast!


s: Delicious wines the attending herald brought;


s: The gold gave lustre to the purple draught.


s: Lured with the vapour of the fragrant feast,


s: In rush'd the suitors with voracious haste;


s: Marshall'd in order due, to each a sewer


s: Presents, to bathe his hands, a radiant ewer.


s: Luxurious then they feast. Observant round


s: Gay stripling youths the brimming goblets crown'd.


s: The rage of hunger quell'd, they all advance


s: And form to measured airs the mazy dance;


s: To Phemius was consign'd the chorded lyre,


s: Whose hand reluctant touch'd the warbling wire;


s: Phemius, whose voice divine could sweetest sing


s: High strains responsive to the vocal string.


s: Meanwhile, in whispers to his heavenly guest


s: His indignation thus the prince express'd:


s: "Indulge my rising grief, whilst these (my friend)


s: With song and dance the pompous revel end.


s: Light is the dance, and doubly sweet the lays,


s: His treasured stores those cormarants consume,


s: And common turf, lie naked on the plain,


s: Or doom'd to welter in the whelming main.


s: Should he return, that troop so blithe and bold,


s: With purple robes inwrought, and stiff with gold,


s: Precipitant in fear would wing their flight,


s: And curse their cumbrous pride's unwieldy weight.


s: But ah, I dream!-the appointed hour is fled.


s: And hope, too long with vain delusion fed,


s: Gives to the roll of death his glorious name!


s: Thy name, thy lineage, and paternal land;


s: Sincere from whence began thy course, recite,


s: And to what ship I owe the friendly freight?


s: Now first to me this visit dost thou deign,


s: Or number'd in my father's social train?


s: All who deserved his choice he made his own,


s: And, curious much to know, he far was known."


s: "My birth I boast (the blue-eyed virgin cries)


s: From great Anchialus, renown'd and wise;


s: Mentes my name; I rule the Taphian race,


s: Whose bounds the deep circumfluent waves embrace;


s: Freighted with iron from my native land,


s: To gain by commerce, for the labour'd mass,


s: At Reitorus, and secure at anchor rides;


s: Supremely tall and shade the deeps below.


s: Your father's friend.  Laertes can relate


s: Our faith unspotted, and its early date;


s: Who, press'd with heart-corroding grief and years,


s: Where, sole of all his train, a matron sage


s: Supports with homely fond his drooping age,


s: With feeble steps from marshalling his vines


s: Returning sad, when toilsome day declines.


s: "With friendly speed, induced by erring fame,


s: But still the frown of some celestial power


s: Let not your soul be sunk in sad despair;


s: He lives, he breathes this heavenly vital air,


s: Among a savage race, whose shelfy bounds


s: With ceaseless roar the foaming deep surrounds.


s: The thoughts which roll within my ravish'd breast,


s: To me, no seer, the inspiring gods suggest;


s: Nor skill'd nor studious, with prophetic eye


s: Yet hear this certain speech, nor deem it vain;


s: Though adamantine bonds the chief restrain,


s: The dire restraint his wisdom will defeat,


s: But generous youth! sincere and free declare,


s: Are you, of manly growth, his royal heir?


s: The same his features, if the same his years.


s: Such was that face, on which I dwelt with joy


s: Ere Greece assembled stemm'd the tides to Troy;


s: But, parting then for that detested shore,


s: "To prove a genuine birth (the prince replies)


s: Thus manifest of right, I build my claim


s: Hath placed beneath the storms which toss the great!


s: Happier the son, whose hoary sire is bless'd


s: With humble affluence, and domestic rest!


s: But doom'd a father's wretch'd fate to mourn!"


s: To whom, with aspect mild, the guest divine:


s: The gods a glorious fate from anguish free


s: But say, yon jovial troops so gaily dress'd,


s: Or from their deed I rightlier may divine,


s: Pains the sage ear, and hurts the sober eye."


s: "Magnificence of old (the prince replied)


s: Beneath our roof with virtue could reside;


s: Unblamed abundance crowned the royal board,


s: What time this dome revered her prudent lord;


s: Who now (so Heaven decrees) is doom'd to mourn,


s: Bitter constraint, erroneous and forlorn.


s: Better the chief, on Ilion's hostile plain,


s: Had fall'n surrounded with his warlike train;


s: Or safe return'd, the race of glory pass'd,


s: New to his friends' embrace, and breathed his last!


s: Then grateful Greece with streaming eyes would raise,


s: His praise, eternal on the faithful stone,


s: Had with transmissive honour graced his son.


s: Now snatch'd by harpies to the dreary coast.


s: Vanish'd at once! unheard of, and unknown!


s: The filial tears, but woe succeeds to woe


s: To tempt the spouseless queen with amorous wiles


s: Resort the nobles from the neighbouring isles;


s: From Samos, circled with the Ionian main,


s: Ev'n with presumptuous hope her bed to ascend,


s: The lords of Ithaca their right pretend.


s: She seems attentive to their pleaded vows,


s: Her heart detesting what her ear allows.


s: They, vain expectants of the bridal hour,


s: In feast and dance the mirthful months employ,


s: And meditate my doom to crown their joy."


s: With tender pity touch'd, the goddess cried:


s: "Soon may kind Heaven a sure relief provide,


s: Soon may your sire discharge the vengeance due,


s: And all your wrongs the proud oppressors rue!


s: Oh! in that portal should the chief appear,


s: Each hand tremendous with a brazen spear,


s: (For so of old my fathers court he graced,


s: When social mirth unbent his serious soul,


s: O'er the full banquet, and the sprightly bowl);


s: Of Ilus, sprung from Jason's royal strain,


s: Measured a length of seas, a toilsome length, in vain.


s: To taint with deadly drugs the barbed dart;


s: Observant of the gods, and sternly just,


s: Ilus refused to impart the baneful trust;


s: With friendlier zeal my father's soul was fired,


s: The drugs he knew, and gave the boon desired.


s: As then conspicuous at the Taphian court;


s: Soon should you boasters cease their haughty strife,


s: Or each atone his guilty love with life.


s: But of his wish'd return the care resign,


s: Be future vengeance to the powers divine.


s: My sentence hear: with stern distaste avow'd,


s: To their own districts drive the suitor-crowd;


s: When next the morning warms the purple east,


s: Convoke the peerage, and the gods attest;


s: And form sure plans to save the sinking state.


s: Should second love a pleasing flame inspire,


s: And the chaste queen connubial rights require;


s: Dismiss'd with honour, let her hence repair


s: Will guide her passion, and reward her choice


s: With wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price.


s: Then let this dictate of my love prevail:


s: Instant, to foreign realms prepare to sail,


s: To learn your father's fortunes; Fame may prove,


s: Or omen'd voice (the messenger of Jove),


s: Propitious to the search. Direct your toil


s: Through the wide ocean first to sandy Pyle;


s: Thence speed your voyage to the Spartan strand;


s: Arrived the last of all the victor host.


s: If yet Ulysses views the light, forbear,


s: Till the fleet hours restore the circling year.


s: But if his soul hath wing'd the destined flight,


s: Homeward with pious speed repass the main,


s: To the pale shade funereal rites ordain,


s: Plant the fair column o'er the vacant grave,


s: With decent grief the royal dead deplored,


s: For the chaste queen select an equal lord.


s: Then let revenge your daring mind employ,


s: By fraud or force the suitor train destroy,


s: And starting into manhood, scorn the boy.


s: Hast thou not heard how young Orestes, fired


s: With great revenge, immortal praise acquired?


s: His virgin-sword AEgysthus' veins imbrued;


s: The murderer fell, and blood atoned for blood.


s: O greatly bless'd with every blooming grace!


s: With equal steps the paths of glory trace;


s: Join to that royal youth's your rival name,


s: And shine eternal in the sphere of fame.


s: Impatient on the hoarse-resounding shore.


s: Thou, heedful of advice, secure proceed;


s: My praise the precept is, be thine the deed.


s: "The counsel of my friend (the youth rejoin'd)


s: Imprints conviction on my grateful mind.


s: So fathers speak (persuasive speech and mild)


s: Their sage experience to the favourite child.


s: But, since to part, for sweet refection due,


s: And the rich pledge of plighted faith receive,


s: "Defer the promised boon (the goddess cries,


s: Celestial azure brightening in her eyes),


s: And let me now regain the Reithrian port;


s: I shall revisit, and that pledge receive;


s: And gifts, memorial of our friendship, leave."


s: Abrupt, with eagle-speed she cut the sky;


s: Then first he recognized the ethereal guest;


s: Wonder and joy alternate fire his breast;


s: Heroic thoughts, infused, his heart dilate;


s: Revolving much his father's doubtful fate.


s: At length, composed, he join'd the suitor-throng;


s: Hush'd in attention to the warbled song.


s: His tender theme the charming lyrist chose.


s: Which voyaging from Troy the victors bore,


s: While storms vindictive intercept the store.


s: The shrilling airs the vaulted roof rebounds,


s: Reflecting to the queen the silver sounds.


s: With grief renew'd the weeping fair descends;


s: Their sovereign's step a virgin train attends:


s: A veil, of richest texture wrought, she wears,


s: There from the portal, with her mild command,


s: Thus gently checks the minstrel's tuneful hand:


s: "Phemius! let acts of gods, and heroes old,


s: What ancient bards in hall and bower have told,


s: Attemper'd to the lyre, your voice employ;


s: Such the pleased ear will drink with silent joy.


s: But, oh! forbear that dear disastrous name,


s: And every piercing note inflicts a wound."


s: "Why, dearest object of my duteous love,


s: (Replied the prince,) will you the bard reprove?


s: Oft, Jove's ethereal rays (resistless fire)


s: The chanters soul and raptured song inspire


s: Instinct divine? nor blame severe his choice,


s: Warbling the Grecian woes with heart and voice;


s: For novel lays attract our ravish'd ears;


s: But old, the mind with inattention hears:


s: Patient permit the sadly pleasing strain;


s: Familiar now with grief, your tears refrain,


s: What Greeks new wandering in the Stygian gloom,


s: Your widow'd hours, apart, with female toil


s: And various labours of the loom beguile;


s: There rule, from palace-cares remote and free;


s: That care to man belongs, and most to me."


s: Mature beyond his years, the queen admires


s: His sage reply, and with her train retires.


s: Then swelling sorrows burst their former bounds,


s: With echoing grief afresh the dome resounds;


s: Till Pallas, piteous of her plaintive cries,


s: In slumber closed her silver-streaming eyes.


s: Meantime, rekindled at the royal charms,


s: Tumultuous love each beating bosom warms;


s: "Instant (he cried) your female discord end,


s: Ye deedless boasters! and the song attend;


s: With dissonance the smooth melodious strain.


s: But when the dawn reveals the rosy east,


s: I, to the peers assembled, shall propose


s: The firm resolve, I here in few disclose;


s: All to your several states with speed resort;


s: Waste in wild riot what your land allows,


s: There ply the early feast, and late carouse.


s: But if, to honour lost, 'tis still decreed


s: For you my bowl shall flow, my flock shall bleed;


s: Judge and revenge my right, impartial Jove!


s: By him and all the immortal thrones above


s: (A sacred oath), each proud oppressor slain,


s: Shall with inglorious gore this marble stain."


s: Awed by the prince, thus haughty, bold, and young,


s: Rage gnaw'd the lip, and wonder chain'd the tongue.


s: Silence at length the gay Antinous broke,


s: Constrain'd a smile, and thus ambiguous spoke:


s: "What god to your untutor'd youth affords


s: May Jove delay thy reign, and cumber late


s: So bright a genius with the toils of state!"


s: "Those toils (Telemachus serene replies)


s: Have charms, with all their weight, t'allure the wise.


s: Fast by the throne obsequious fame resides,


s: And wealth incessant rolls her golden tides.


s: Of wealth and fame a youthful bosom fire:


s: Whene'er Ulysses roams the realm of night,


s: Should factious power dispute my lineal right,


s: Some other Greeks a fairer claim may plead;


s: To your pretence their title would precede.


s: At least, the sceptre lost, I still should reign


s: Sole o'er my vassals, and domestic train."


s: Refer the choice to fill the vacant throne.


s: Your patrimonial stores in peace possess;


s: Undoubted, all your filial claim confess:


s: Your private right should impious power invade,


s: But say, that stranger guest who late withdrew,


s: What and from whence? his name and lineage shew.


s: Did he some loan of ancient right require,


s: Or came forerunner of your sceptr'd sire?"


s: "Oh son of Polybus!" the prince replies,


s: "No more my sire will glad these longing eyes;


s: The queen's fond hope inventive rumour cheers,


s: Or vain diviners' dreams divert her fears.


s: That stranger-guest the Taphian realm obeys,


s: Thus he, though conscious of the ethereal guest,


s: Meantime the lyre rejoins the sprightly lay;


s: Love-dittied airs, and dance, conclude the day


s: But when the star of eve with golden light


s: The mirthful train dispersing quit the court,


s: And to their several domes to rest resort.


s: A towering structure to the palace join'd;


s: To this his steps the thoughtful prince inclined:


s: In his pavilion there, to sleep repairs;


s: The lighted torch, the sage Euryclea bears


s: (Daughter of Ops, the just Pisenor's son,


s: In rosy prime with charms attractive graced,


s: Honour'd by him, a gentle lord and chaste,


s: With dear esteem: too wise, with jealous strife


s: To taint the joys of sweet connubial life.


s: A child she nursed him, and a man attends).


s: Whilst to his couch himself the prince address'd,


s: The duteous dame received the purple vest;


s: The purple vest with decent care disposed,


s: The silver ring she pull'd, the door reclosed,


s: To the strong staple's inmost depth restored,


s: Secured the valves. There, wrapped in silent shade,


s: Pensive, the rules the goddess gave he weigh'd;


s: Stretch'd on the downy fleece, no rest he knows,


s: And in his raptured soul the vision glows.


s: departure from his palace; appealing to the princes, and exciting


s: justify their stay, at least till he shall send the queen to the


s: court of Icarius her father; which he refuses. There appears a


s: prodigy of two eagles in the sky, which an augur expounds to the


s: ruin of the suitors. Telemachus the demands a vessel to carry him


s: Pallas, in the shape of Mentor (an ancient friend of Ulysses),


s: helps him to a ship, assists him in preparing necessaries for the


s: second day from the opening of the poem. The scene continues in


s: Now reddening from the dawn, the morning ray


s: Glow'd in the front of heaven, and gave the day


s: The youthful hero, with returning light,


s: Rose anxious from the inquietudes of night.


s: A royal robe he wore with graceful pride,


s: A two-edged falchion threaten'd by his side,


s: Embroider'd sandals glitter'd as he trod,


s: To council calls the peers: the peers obey.


s: Soon as in solemn form the assembly sate,


s: From his high dome himself descends in state.


s: Bright in his hand a ponderous javelin shined;


s: Two dogs, a faithful guard, attend behind;


s: Pallas with grace divine his form improves,


s: And gazing crowds admire him as he moves,


s: His father's throne he fill'd; while distant stood


s: A length of days his soul with prudence crown'd,


s: A length of days had bent him to the ground.


s: By great Ulysses taught the path to fame;


s: But (hapless youth) the hideous Cyclops tore


s: His quivering limbs, and quaff'd his spouting gore.


s: Three sons remain'd; to climb with haughty fires


s: The rest with duteous love his griefs assuage,


s: And ease the sire of half the cares of age.


s: Yet still his Antiphus he loves, he mourns,


s: And, as he stood, he spoke and wept by turns,


s: "Since great Ulysses sought the Phrygian plains,


s: Within these walls inglorious silence reigns.


s: Say then, ye peers! by whose commands we meet?


s: Why here once more in solemn council sit?


s: Ye young, ye old, the weighty cause disclose:


s: Inspire some patriot, and demand debate?


s: The present synod speaks its author wise;


s: Assist him, Jove, thou regent of the skies!"


s: He spoke. Telemachus with transport glows,


s: (His royal hand the imperial sceptre sway'd);


s: "Reverend old man! lo here confess'd he stands


s: By whom ye meet; my grief your care demands.


s: Peace the blest land, and joys incessant crown:


s: Of all this happy realm, I grieve alone.


s: For my lost sire continual sorrows spring,


s: The great, the good; your father and your king.


s: Yet more; our house from its foundation bows,


s: Our foes are powerful, and your sons the foes;


s: Hither, unwelcome to the queen, they come;


s: Why seek they not the rich Icarian dome?


s: If she must wed, from other hands require


s: Yet through my court the noise of revel rings,


s: Scarce all my herds their luxury suffice;


s: Scarce all my wine their midnight hours supplies.


s: Safe in my youth, in riot still they grow,


s: But come it will, the time when manhood grants


s: More powerful advocates than vain complaints.


s: Cries to the gods, and vengeance sleeps too long.


s: Rise then, ye peers! with virtuous anger rise;


s: Your fame revere, but most the avenging skies.


s: By all the deathless powers that reign above,


s: By righteous Themis and by thundering Jove


s: (Themis, who gives to councils, or denies


s: Success; and humbles, or confirms the wise),


s: Rise in my aid! suffice the tears that flow


s: For my lost sire, nor add new woe to woe.


s: If e'er he bore the sword to strengthen ill,


s: Or, having power to wrong, betray'd the will,


s: On me, on me your kindled wrath assuage,


s: Be you the spoilers, and our wealth consume.


s: Then might we hope redress from juster laws,


s: But while your sons commit the unpunish'd wrong,


s: You make the arm of violence too strong."


s: While thus he spoke, with rage and grief he frown'd,


s: And dash'd the imperial sceptre to the ground.


s: The big round tear hung trembling in his eye:


s: The synod grieved, and gave a pitying sigh,


s: Then silent sate--at length Antinous burns


s: With haughty rage, and sternly thus returns:


s: "O insolence of youth! whose tongue affords


s: Such railing eloquence, and war of words.


s: Studious thy country's worthies to defame,


s: Thy erring voice displays thy mother's shame.


s: Fond hopes to all, and all with hopes deceives.


s: Did not the sun, through heaven's wide azure roll'd,


s: For three long years the royal fraud behold?


s: While she, laborious in delusion, spread


s: The spacious loom, and mix'd the various thread:


s: Where as to life the wondrous figures rise,


s: Thus spoke the inventive queen, with artful sighs:


s: "Though cold in death Ulysses breathes no more,


s: Cease yet awhile to urge the bridal hour:


s: A task of grief, his ornaments of death.


s: Lest when the Fates his royal ashes claim,


s: The Grecian matrons taint my spotless fame;


s: When he, whom living mighty realms obey'd,


s: Shall want in death a shroud to grace his shade.'


s: "Thus she: at once the generous train complies,


s: Nor fraud mistrusts in virtue's fair disguise.


s: The work she plied; but, studious of delay,


s: By night reversed the labours of the day.


s: While thrice the sun his annual journey made,


s: The conscious lamp the midnight fraud survey'd;


s: Unheard, unseen, three years her arts prevail;


s: The fourth her maid unfolds the amazing tale.


s: We saw, as unperceived we took our stand,


s: The backward labours of her faithless hand.


s: Then urged, she perfects her illustrious toils;


s: "But you, O peers! and thou, O prince! give ear


s: (I speak aloud, that every Greek may hear):


s: Dismiss the queen; and if her sire approves


s: Let him espouse her to the peer she loves:


s: Bid instant to prepare the bridal train,


s: Though with a grace divine her soul is blest,


s: And all Minerva breathes within her breast,


s: In wondrous arts than woman more renown'd,


s: And more than woman with deep wisdom crown'd;


s: Not great Alemena (the proud boasts of fame);


s: Yet thus by heaven adorn'd, by heaven's decree


s: She shines with fatal excellence, to thee:


s: With thee, the bowl we drain, indulge the feast,


s: Till righteous heaven reclaim her stubborn breast.


s: What though from pole to pole resounds her name!


s: The son's destruction waits the mother's fame:


s: For, till she leaves thy court, it is decreed,


s: Thy bowl to empty and thy flock to bleed."


s: While yet he speaks, Telemachus replies:


s: "Ev'n nature starts, and what ye ask denies.


s: Thus, shall I thus repay a mother's cares,


s: Who gave me life, and nursed my infant years!


s: While sad on foreign shores Ulysses treads.


s: Or glides a ghost with unapparent shades;


s: Shall I, by waste undone, refund the dower?


s: How from my father should I vengeance dread!


s: How would my mother curse my hated head!


s: And while In wrath to vengeful fiends she cries,


s: How from their hell would vengeful fiends arise!


s: Abhorr'd by all, accursed my name would grow,


s: The earth's disgrace, and human-kind my foe.


s: If this displease, why urge ye here your stay?


s: Haste from the court, ye spoilers, haste away:


s: Waste in wild riot what your land allows,


s: There ply the early feast, and late carouse.


s: But if to honour lost, 'tis still decreed


s: For you my howl shall flow, my flocks shall bleed;


s: Judge, and assert my right, impartial Jove!


s: (A sacred oath), if heaven the power supply,


s: Vengeance I vow, and for your wrongs ye die."


s: With that, two eagles from a mountain's height


s: By Jove's command direct their rapid flight;


s: Swift they descend, with wing to wing conjoin'd,


s: Stretch their broad plumes, and float upon the wind.


s: Above the assembled peers they wheel on high,


s: And clang their wings, and hovering beat the sky;


s: With ardent eyes the rival train they threat,


s: And shrieking loud denounce approaching fate.


s: They cuff, they tear; their cheeks and neck they rend,


s: And from their plumes huge drops of blood descend;


s: Then sailing o'er the domes and towers, they fly,


s: Full toward the east, and mount into the sky.


s: The wondering rivals gaze, with cares oppress'd,


s: And chilling horrors freeze in every breast,


s: Till big with knowledge of approaching woes,


s: The prince of augurs, Halitherses, rose:


s: Prescient he view'd the aerial tracks, and drew


s: A sure presage from every wing that flew.


s: "Ye sons (he cried) of Ithaca, give ear;


s: Hear all! but chiefly you, O rivals! hear.


s: Destruction sure o'er all your heads impends


s: Ulysses comes, and death his steps attends.


s: Nor to the great alone is death decreed;


s: Why cease we then the wrath of heaven to stay?


s: Be humbled all, and lead, ye great! the way.


s: For lo? my words no fancied woes relate;


s: I speak from science and the voice of fate.


s: "When great Ulysses sought the Phrygian shores


s: To shake with war proud Ilion's lofty towers,


s: Deeds then undone me faithful tongue foretold:


s: Heaven seal'd my words, and you those deeds behold.


s: I see (I cried) his woes, a countless train;


s: I see his friends o'erwhelm'd beneath the main;


s: How twice ten years from shore to shore he roams:


s: Now twice ten years are past, and now he comes!"


s: With thy wise dreams, and fables of the sky.


s: Here thou art sage in vain--I better read the skies


s: Unnumber'd birds glide through the aerial way;


s: Vagrants of air, and unforeboding stray.


s: Cold in the tomb, or in the deeps below,


s: Then would that busy head no broils suggest,


s: From him some bribe thy venal tongue requires,


s: And interest, not the god, thy voice inspires.


s: His guideless youth, if thy experienced age


s: Vengeance deserved thy malice shall repress.


s: And but augment the wrongs thou would'st redress,


s: Will guide her passion, and reward her choice


s: With wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price.


s: And both the prince and augur threat in vain:


s: His pride of words, and thy wild dream of fate,


s: Move not the brave, or only move their hate,


s: Threat on, O prince! elude the bridal day.


s: Threat on, till all thy stores in waste decay.


s: True, Greece affords a train of lovely dames,


s: In wealth and beauty worthy of our flames:


s: But never from this nobler suit we cease;


s: For wealth and beauty less than virtue please."


s: To whom the youth: "Since then in vain I tell


s: My numerous woes, in silence let them dwell.


s: But Heaven, and all the Greeks, have heard my wrongs;


s: To Heaven, and all the Greeks, redress belongs;


s: Yet this I ask (nor be it ask'd in vain),


s: A bark to waft me o'er the rolling main,


s: The realms of Pyle and Sparta to explore,


s: And seek my royal sire from shore to shore;


s: If, or to fame his doubtful fate be known,


s: If yet he lives, with patience I forbear,


s: Till the fleet hours restore the circling year;


s: Of empty shades, I measure back the main,


s: Plant the fair column o'er the mighty dead,


s: And yield his consort to the nuptial bed."


s: He ceased; and while abash'd the peers attend,


s: (When fierce in arms he sought the scenes of war,


s: "My friend (he cried), my palace be thy care;


s: Years roll'd on years my godlike sire decay,


s: Guard thou his age, and his behests obey.")


s: Stern as he rose, he cast his eyes around,


s: That flash'd with rage; and as spoke, he frown'd,


s: Be mild in power, or faithful to his trust!


s: Oppress, destroy, and be the scourge of God;


s: Since he who like a father held his reign,


s: So soon forgot, was just and mild in vain!


s: True, while my friend is grieved, his griefs I share;


s: Yet now the rivals are my smallest care:


s: They for the mighty mischiefs they devise,


s: Ere long shall pay--their forfeit lives the price.


s: But against you, ye Greeks! ye coward train!


s: Gods! how my soul is moved with just disdain!


s: His injured prince the little aid of words."


s: "O pride of words, and arrogance of mind!


s: Would'st thou to rise in arms the Greeks advise?


s: Join all your powers? in arms, ye Greeks, arise!


s: Yet would your powers in vain our strength oppose.


s: The valiant few o'ermatch a host of foes.


s: Should great Ulysses stern appear in arms,


s: While the bowl circles and the banquet warms;


s: Though to his breast his spouse with transport flies,


s: Torn from her breast, that hour, Ulysses dies.


s: But hence retreating to your domes repair.


s: And Halitherses! thine: be each his friend;


s: Ye loved the father: go, the son attend.


s: But yet, I trust, the boaster means to stay


s: Safe in the court, nor tempt the watery way."


s: Then, with a rushing sound the assembly bend


s: Diverse their steps: the rival rout ascend


s: The royal dome; while sad the prince explores


s: The neighbouring main, and sorrowing treads the shores.


s: There, as the waters o'er his hands he shed,


s: "O goddess! who descending from the skies


s: Vouchsafed thy presence to my wondering eyes,


s: By whose commands the raging deeps I trace,


s: And seek my sire through storms and rolling seas!


s: Hear from thy heavens above, O warrior maid!


s: Descend once more, propitious to my aid.


s: Without thy presence, vain is thy command:


s: Greece, and the rival train, thy voice withstand."


s: Indulgent to his prayer, the goddess took


s: Sage Mentor's form, and thus like Mentor spoke:


s: "O prince, in early youth divinely wise,


s: If to the son the father's worth descends,


s: O'er the wide wave success thy ways attends


s: To tread the walks of death he stood prepared;


s: And what he greatly thought, he nobly dared.


s: Were not wise sons descendant of the wise,


s: And did not heroes from brave heroes rise,


s: Vain were my hopes: few sons attain the praise


s: Of their great sires, and most their sires disgrace.


s: But since thy veins paternal virtue fires,


s: Go, and succeed: the rivals' aims despise;


s: Blind they rejoice, though now, ev'n now they fall;


s: Death hastes amain: one hour o'erwhelms them all!


s: And lo, with speed we plough the watery way;


s: My power shall guard thee, and my hand convey:


s: Through seas and realms companion of thy care.


s: Thou to the court ascend: and to the shores


s: (When night advances) bear the naval stores;


s: Bread, that decaying man with strength supplies,


s: And generous wine, which thoughtful sorrow flies.


s: Shall speed aboard, a valiant chosen band.


s: Wide o'er the bay, by vessel vessel rides;


s: The best I choose to waft then o'er the tides."


s: She spoke: to his high dome the prince returns,


s: And, as he moves, with royal anguish mourns.


s: 'Twas riot all, among the lawless train;


s: Boar bled by boar, and goat by goat lay slain.


s: Arrived, his hand the gay Antinous press'd,


s: And thus deriding, with a smile address'd:


s: "Grieve not, O daring prince! that noble heart;


s: Ill suits gay youth the stern heroic part.


s: Indulge the genial hour, unbend thy soul,


s: Leave thought to age, and drain the flowing bowl.


s: Studious to ease thy grief, our care provides


s: The bark, to waft thee o'er the swelling tides."


s: "Is this (returns the prince) for mirth a time?


s: When lawless gluttons riot, mirth's a crime;


s: The luscious wines, dishonour'd, lose their taste;


s: The song is noise, and impious is the feast.


s: Suffice it to have spent with swift decay


s: The wealth of kings, and made my youth a prey.


s: But now the wise instructions of the sage,


s: And manly thoughts inspired by manly age,


s: Teach me to seek redress for all my woe,


s: Here, or in Pyle--in Pyle, or here, your foe.


s: Free breathe the winds, and free the billows flow;


s: And where on earth I live, I live your foe."


s: He spoke and frown'd, nor longer deign'd to stay,


s: Sternly his hand withdrew, and strode away.


s: Meantime, o'er all the dome, they quaff, they feast,


s: Derisive taunts were spread from guest to guest,


s: And each in jovial mood his mate address'd:


s: "Tremble ye not, O friends, and coward fly,


s: Big with revenge, the mighty warrior flies;


s: Or comes from Ephyre with poisons fraught,


s: And kills us all in one tremendous draught!"


s: "Or who can say (his gamesome mate replies)


s: But, while the danger of the deeps he tries


s: He, like his sire, may sink deprived of breath,


s: What mighty labours would he then create,


s: To seize his treasures, and divide his state,


s: Meantime the lofty rooms the prince surveys,


s: Where lay the treasures of the Ithacian race:


s: Here ruddy brass and gold refulgent blazed;


s: There polished chests embroider'd vestures graced;


s: Here jars of oil breathed forth a rich perfume;


s: There casks of wine in rows adorn'd the dome


s: (Pure flavorous wine, by gods in bounty given


s: And worthy to exalt the feasts of heaven).


s: Untouch'd they stood, till, his long labours o'er,


s: The great Ulysses reach'd his native shore.


s: A double strength of bars secured the gates;


s: Fast by the door the wise Euryclea waits;


s: Euryclea, who great Ops! thy lineage shared,


s: And watch'd all night, all day, a faithful guard.


s: To whom the prince: "O thou whose guardian care


s: Nursed the most wretched king that breathes the air;


s: Untouch'd and sacred may these vessels stand,


s: Till great Ulysses views his native land.


s: But by thy care twelve urns of wine be fill'd;


s: Next these in worth, and firm these urns be seal'd;


s: And twice ten measures of the choicest flour


s: Prepared, are yet descends the evening hour.


s: For when the favouring shades of night arise,


s: And peaceful slumbers close my mother's eyes,


s: Me from our coast shall spreading sails convey,


s: To seek Ulysses through the watery way."


s: While yet he spoke, she fill'd the walls with cries,


s: And tears ran trickling from her aged eyes.


s: "O whither, whither flies my son (she cried)


s: To realms; that rocks and roaring seas divide?


s: In foreign lands thy father's days decay'd.


s: And foreign lands contain the mighty dead.


s: All, all must perish, and by fraud you die!


s: Then stay, my, child! storms beat, and rolls the main,


s: Oh, beat those storms, and roll the seas in vain!"


s: "Far hence (replied the prince) thy fears be driven:


s: Heaven calls me forth; these counsels are of Heaven.


s: But, by the powers that hate the perjured, swear,


s: Nor uncompell'd the dangerous truth betray,


s: Till twice six times descends the lamp of day,


s: Lest the sad tale a mother's life impair,


s: And grief destroy what time awhile would spare."


s: Attests the all-seeing sovereign of the skies.


s: Then studious she prepares the choicest flour,


s: The strength of wheat and wines an ample store.


s: While to the rival train the prince returns,


s: The martial goddess with impatience burns;


s: Like thee, Telemachus, in voice and size,


s: With speed divine from street to street she flies,


s: She bids the mariners prepared to stand,


s: When night descends, embodied on the strand.


s: Then to Noemon swift she runs, she flies,


s: And asks a bark: the chief a bark supplies.


s: And now, declining with his sloping wheels,


s: Down sunk the sun behind the western hills


s: The goddess shoved the vessel from the shores,


s: And stow'd within its womb the naval stores,


s: Full in the openings of the spacious main


s: It rides; and now descends the sailor-train,


s: With rapid step the goddess urged her way;


s: There every eye with slumberous chains she bound,


s: And dash'd the flowing goblet to the ground.


s: Drowsy they rose, with heavy fumes oppress'd,


s: Reel'd from the palace, and retired to rest.


s: Then thus, in Mentor's reverend form array'd,


s: "Lo! on the seas, prepared the vessel stands,


s: The impatient mariner thy speed demands."


s: Swift as she spoke, with rapid pace she leads;


s: Swift to the shore they move along the strand;


s: The ready vessel rides, the sailors ready stand.


s: He bids them bring their stores; the attending train


s: Load the tall bark, and launch into the main,


s: The prince and goddess to the stern ascend;


s: To the strong stroke at once the rowers bend.


s: Full from the west she bids fresh breezes blow;


s: The chief his orders gives; the obedient band


s: With due observance wait the chief's command;


s: With speed the mast they rear, with speed unbind


s: The spacious sheet, and stretch it to the wind.


s: High o'er the roaring waves the spreading sails


s: Bow the tall mast, and swell before the gales;


s: The crooked keel the parting surge divides,


s: And to the stern retreating roll the tides.


s: And now they ship their oars, and crown with wine


s: Imploring all the gods that reign above,


s: But chief the blue-eyed progeny of Jove.


s: Thus all the night they stem the liquid way,


s: And end their voyage with the morning ray.


s: Telemachus, guided by Pallas in the shape of Mentor, arrives in


s: Ulysses. They discourse concerning the death of Agamemnon, the


s: revenge of Orestes, and the injuries of the suitors. Nestor


s: advises him to go to Sparta, and inquire further of Menelaus. The


s: morning they sacrifice a bullock to Minerva; and Telemachus


s: proceeds on his journey to Sparta, attended by Pisistratus.


s: The scene lies on the sea-shore of Pylos.


s: The sacred sun, above the waters raised,


s: Through heaven's eternal brazen portals blazed;


s: And wide o'er earth diffused his cheering ray,


s: Now on the coast of Pyle the vessel falls,


s: There suppliant to the monarch of the flood,


s: At nine green theatres the Pylians stood,


s: Each held five hundred (a deputed train),


s: At each, nine oxen on the sand lay slain.


s: They taste the entrails, and the altars load


s: With smoking thighs, an offering to the god.


s: Full for the port the Ithacensians stand,


s: And furl their sails, and issue on the land.


s: Not first, the power of wisdom march'd before,


s: And ere the sacrificing throng he join'd,


s: Admonish'd thus his well-attending mind:


s: "Proceed, my son! this youthful shame expel;


s: To learn what fates thy wretched sire detain,


s: Meet then the senior far renown'd for sense


s: With reverend awe, but decent confidence:


s: Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies;


s: And sure he will; for wisdom never lies."


s: "Oh tell me, Mentor! tell me, faithful guide


s: (The youth with prudent modesty replied),


s: How shall I meet, or how accost the sage,


s: Unskill'd in speech, nor yet mature of age?


s: Awful th'approach, and hard the task appears,


s: To whom the martial goddess thus rejoin'd:


s: "Search, for some thoughts, thy own suggesting mind;


s: Shall rise spontaneous in the needful hour.


s: For nought unprosperous shall thy ways attend,


s: Born with good omens, and with heaven thy friend."


s: She spoke, and led the way with swiftest speed;


s: As swift, the youth pursued the way she led;


s: and join'd the band before the sacred fire,


s: Where sate, encompass'd with his sons, the sire.


s: The youth of Pylos, some on pointed wood


s: Transfix'd the fragments, some prepared the food:


s: In friendly throngs they gather to embrace


s: Their unknown guests, and at the banquet place,


s: Pisistratus was first to grasp their hands,


s: And spread soft hides upon the yellow sands;


s: Along the shore the illustrious pair he led,


s: Where Nestor sate with the youthful Thrasymed,


s: And held the golden goblet foaming o'er;


s: Then first approaching to the elder guest,


s: The latent goddess in these words address'd:


s: "Whoe'er thou art, from fortune brings to keep


s: These rites of Neptune, monarch of the deep,


s: Thee first it fits, O stranger!  to prepare


s: Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine;


s: Though much thy younger, and his years like mine,


s: He too, I deem, implores the power divine;


s: For all mankind alike require their grace,


s: He spake, and to her hand preferr'd the bowl;


s: A secret pleasure touch'd Athena's soul,


s: Of Ocean's king she then implores the grace.


s: "O thou! whose arms this ample globe embrace,


s: Fulfil our wish, and let thy glory shine


s: On Nestor first, and Nestor's royal line;


s: Next grant the Pylian states their just desires,


s: Pleased with their hecatomb's ascending fires;


s: And crown our voyage with desired success."


s: Thus she: and having paid the rite divine,


s: Suppliant he pray'd. And now the victims dress'd


s: They draw, divide, and celebrate the feast.


s: The banquet done, the narrative old man,


s: Thus mild, the pleasing conference began:


s: "Now gentle guests! the genial banquet o'er,


s: It fits to ask ye, what your native shore,


s: And whence your race? on what adventure say,


s: Thus far you wander through the watery way?


s: Relate if business, or the thirst of gain,


s: Engage your journey o'er the pathless main


s: Where savage pirates seek through seas unknown


s: The lives of others, venturous of their own."


s: Urged by the precepts by the goddess given,


s: And fill'd with confidence infused from Heaven,


s: The youth, whom Pallas destined to be wise


s: And famed among the sons of men, replies:


s: "Inquir'st thou, father! from what coast we came?


s: (Oh grace and glory of the Grecian name!)


s: From where high Ithaca o'erlooks the floods,


s: Brown with o'er-arching shades and pendent woods


s: Us to these shores our filial duty draws,


s: My sire I seek, where'er the voice of fame


s: The great Ulysses; famed from shore to shore


s: For valour much, for hardy suffering more.


s: Long time with thee before proud Ilion's wall


s: In arms he fought; with thee beheld her fall.


s: Of all the chiefs, this hero's fate alone


s: Has Jove reserved, unheard of, and unknown;


s: Whether in fields by hostile fury slain,


s: Of this to learn, oppress'd with tender fears,


s: Lo, at thy knee his suppliant son appears.


s: Have learnt his fate, the whole dark story clear


s: And, oh! whate'er Heaven destined to betide,


s: Let neither flattery soothe, nor pity hide.


s: Prepared I stand: he was but born to try


s: Oh then, if ever through the ten years' war


s: The wise, the good Ulysses claim'd thy care;


s: If e'er he join'd thy council, or thy sword,


s: True in his deed, and constant to his word;


s: Far as thy mind through backward time can see


s: Search all thy stores of faithful memory:


s: 'Tis sacred truth I ask, and ask of thee."


s: To him experienced Nestor thus rejoin'd:


s: "O friend! what sorrows dost thou bring to mind!


s: Shall I the long, laborious scene review,


s: What toils by sea! where dark in quest of prey


s: Dauntless we roved; Achilles led the way;


s: What toils by land! where mix'd in fatal fight


s: Such numbers fell, such heroes sunk to night;


s: There Ajax great, Achilles there the brave,


s: There wise Patroclus, fill an early grave:


s: There, too, my son--ah, once my best delight


s: Once swift of foot, and terrible in fight;


s: In whom stern courage with soft virtue join'd


s: How trace the tedious series of our fate?


s: Not added years on years my task could close,


s: The long historian of my country's woes;


s: Back to thy native islands might'st thou sail,


s: And leave half-heard the melancholy tale.


s: Nine painful years on that detested shore;


s: What stratagems we form'd, what toils we bore!


s: Still labouring on, till scarce at last we found


s: Great Jove propitious, and our conquest crown'd.


s: Far o'er the rest thy mighty father shined,


s: In wit, in prudence, and in force of mind.


s: Art thou the son of that illustrious sire?


s: With joy I grasp thee, and with love admire.


s: So like your voices, and your words so wise,


s: Who finds thee younger must consult his eyes.


s: Thy sire and I were one; nor varied aught


s: In public sentence, or in private thought;


s: With equal souls, and sentiments the same.


s: But when (by wisdom won) proud Ilion burn'd,


s: And in their slips the conquering Greeks return'd,


s: 'Twas God's high will the victors to divide,


s: And turn the event, confounding human pride;


s: Some be destroy'd, some scatter'd as the dust


s: (Not all were prudent, and not all were just).


s: Then Discord, sent by Pallas from above,


s: Stern daughter of the great avenger Jove,


s: The brother-kings inspired with fell debate;


s: Who call'd to council all the Achaian state,


s: But call'd untimely (not the sacred rite


s: Observed, nor heedful of the setting light,


s: Nor herald sword the session to proclaim),


s: Sour with debauch, a reeling tribe the came.


s: To these the cause of meeting they explain,


s: Not so the king of men: be will'd to stay,


s: And calm Minerva's wrath. Oh blind to fate!


s: The gods not lightly change their love, or hate.


s: With ireful taunts each other they oppose,


s: Till in loud tumult all the Greeks arose.


s: Now different counsels every breast divide,


s: Each burns with rancour to the adverse side;


s: The unquiet night strange projects entertain'd


s: (So Jove, that urged us to our fate, ordain'd).


s: We with the rising morn our ships unmoor'd,


s: And brought our captives and our stores aboard;


s: The king of men, and at his bidding stay'd.


s: Now on the wings of winds our course we keep


s: (For God had smooth'd the waters of the deep);


s: There land, and pay due victims to the powers;


s: To bless our safe return, we join in prayer;


s: But angry Jove dispersed our vows in air,


s: And raised new discord. Then (so Heaven decreed)


s: Wise as he was, by various counsels away'd,


s: He there, though late, to please the monarch, stay'd.


s: But I, determined, stem the foamy floods,


s: With us, Tydides fear'd, and urged his haste:


s: He join'd our vessels in the Lesbian bay,


s: If to the right to urge the pilot's toil


s: (The safer road), beside the Psyrian isle;


s: Or the straight course to rocky Chios plough,


s: We sought direction of the power divine:


s: The god propitious gave the guiding sign;


s: Through the mid seas he bid our navy steer,


s: The whistling winds already waked the sky;


s: Before the whistling winds the vessels fly,


s: With rapid swiftness cut the liquid way,


s: There hecacombs of bulls, to Neptune slain,


s: High-flaming please the monarch of the main.


s: The fourth day shone, when all their labours o'er,


s: Tydides' vessels touched the wish'd-for shore.


s: The god still breathing on my swelling sails;


s: Separate from all, I safely landed here;


s: Their fates or fortunes never reach'd my ear.


s: Yet what I learn'd, attend; as here I sat,


s: And ask'd each voyager each hero's fate;


s: "Safe reach'd the Myrmidons their native land,


s: Beneath Achilles' warlike son's command.


s: Those, whom the heir of great Apollo's art,


s: Brave Philoctetes, taught to wing the dart;


s: And those whom Idomen from Ilion's plain


s: Had led, securely cross'd the dreadful main


s: And how his life by fraud and force he lost,


s: And how the murderer, paid his forfeit breath;


s: What lands so distant from that scene of death


s: But trembling heard the fame? and heard, admire.


s: How well the son appeased his slaughter'd sire!


s: Ev'n to the unhappy, that unjustly bleed,


s: Heaven gives posterity, to avenge the deed.


s: So fell Aegysthus; and mayest thou, my friend,


s: (On whom the virtues of thy sire descend,)


s: The prudent youth replied: "O thou the grace


s: Just was the vengeance, and to latest days


s: Shall long posterity resound the praise.


s: Some god this arm with equal prowess bless!


s: And the proud suitors shall its force confess;


s: Injurious men! who while my soul is sore


s: But Heaven denies this honour to my hand,


s: And the sad son's to softer and to mourn!"


s: Thus he; and Nestor took the word: "My son,


s: Is it then true, as distant rumours run,


s: That crowds of rivals for thy mother's charms


s: Thy palace fill with insults and alarms?


s: Say, is the fault, through tame submission, thine?


s: Or leagued against thee, do thy people join,


s: And yet who knows, but ripening lies in fate


s: An hour of vengeance for the afflicted state;


s: When great Ulysses shall suppress these harms,


s: (Whose fame and safety was her constant care


s: With rays so strong, distinguish'd and divine,


s: As those with which Minerva mark'd thy sire)


s: So might she love thee, so thy soul inspire!


s: Soon should their hopes in humble dust be laid,


s: "Ah! no such hope (the prince with sighs replies)


s: Can touch my breast; that blessing Heaven denies.


s: Fortune or fate would cross the will of Heaven."


s: "What words are these, and what imprudence thine?


s: (Thus interposed the martial maid divine)


s: Forgetful youth! but know, the Power above


s: With ease can save each object of his love;


s: Wide as his will, extends his boundless grace;


s: Nor lost in time nor circumscribed by place.


s: Happier his lot, who, many sorrows' pass'd,


s: Long labouring gains his natal shore at last;


s: Than who, too speedy, hastes to end his life


s: By some stern ruffian, or adulterous wife.


s: Death only is the lot which none can miss,


s: The best, the dearest favourite of the sky,


s: Must taste that cup, for man is born to die."


s: Thus check'd, replied Ulysses' prudent heir:


s: "Mentor, no more--the mournful thought forbear;


s: For he no more must draw his country's breath,


s: Already snatch'd by fate, and the black doom of death!


s: (Who thrice has seen the perishable kind


s: Of men decay, and through three ages shined


s: Like gods majestic, and like gods in mind);


s: For much he knows, and just conclusions draws,


s: From various precedents, and various laws.


s: By what strange fraud Aegysthus wrought, relate


s: (By force he could not) such a hero's fate?


s: Was then the martial brother's pious care?


s: Condemn'd perhaps some foreign short to tread;


s: Or sure Aegysthus had not dared the deed."


s: To whom the full of days: Illustrious youth,


s: Attend (though partly thou hast guess'd) the truth.


s: The ruffian breathing yet on Argive ground;


s: Nor earth had bid his carcase from the skies,


s: Nor Grecian virgins shriek'd his obsequies,


s: But fowls obscene dismember'd his remains,


s: And dogs had torn him on the naked plains.


s: While us the works of bloody Mars employ'd,


s: The wanton youth inglorious peace enjoy'd:


s: He stretch'd at ease in Argos' calm recess


s: (Whose stately steeds luxuriant pastures bless),


s: Soothed the frail queen, and poison'd all her heard.


s: At first, with the worthy shame and decent pride,


s: For virtue's image yet possess'd her mind.


s: Consign'd the youthful consort to his care.


s: True to his charge, the bard preserved her long


s: In honour's limits; such the power of song.


s: But when the gods these objects of their hate


s: Dragg'd to the destruction by the links of fate;


s: The bard they banish'd from his native soil,


s: There he, the sweetest of the sacred train,


s: Sung dying to the rocks, but sung in vain.


s: Then virtue was no more; her guard away,


s: Even to the temple stalk'd the adulterous spouse,


s: With impious thanks, and mockery of the vows,


s: With images, with garments, and with gold;


s: And odorous fumes from loaded altars roll'd.


s: "Meantime from flaming Troy we cut the way


s: But when to Sunium's sacred point we came,


s: Crown'd with the temple of the Athenian dame;


s: (Phrontes, of all the songs of men admired


s: To steer the bounding bark with steady toil,


s: When the storm thickens, and the billows boil);


s: While yet he exercised the steerman's art,


s: Apollo touch'd him with his gentle dart;


s: Even with the rudder in his hand, he fell.


s: To pay whole honours to the shades of hell,


s: We check'd our haste, by pious office bound,


s: And laid our old companion in the ground.


s: And now the rites discharged, our course we keep


s: Sudden the Thunderer blackens all the skies,


s: And the winds whistle, and the surges roll


s: Mountains on mountains, and obscure the pole.


s: The tempest scatters, and divides our fleet;


s: Part, the storm urges on the coast of Crete,


s: Where winding round the rich Cydonian plain,


s: The streams of Jardan issue to the main.


s: There stands a rock, high, eminent and steep,


s: Whose shaggy brow o'erhangs the shady deep,


s: On this rough Auster drove the impetuous tide:


s: With broken force the billows roll'd away,


s: And heaved the fleet into the neighb'ring bay.


s: Thus saved from death, the gain'd the Phaestan shores,


s: With shatter'd vessels and disabled oars;


s: But five tall barks the winds and water toss'd,


s: There wander'd Menelaus through foreign shores


s: Amassing gold, and gathering naval stores;


s: While cursed Aegysthus the detested deed


s: By fraud fulfilled, and his great brother bled.


s: Seven years, the traitor rich Mycenae sway'd,


s: And his stern rule the groaning land obey'd;


s: The eighth, from Athens to his realm restored,


s: Slew the dire pair, and gave to funeral flame


s: That day, ere yet the bloody triumphs cease,


s: Return'd Atrides to the coast of Greece,


s: And safe to Argos port his navy brought,


s: With gifts of price and ponderous treasure fraught.


s: Hence warn'd, my son, beware! nor idly stand


s: Lest heedless absence wear thy wealth away,


s: While lawless feasters in thy palace away;


s: Perhaps may seize thy realm, and share the spoil;


s: And though return, with disappointed toil,


s: From thy vain journey, to a rifled isle.


s: However, my friend, indulge one labour more,


s: And many-languaged nations has survey'd:


s: And measured tracks unknown to other ships,


s: Amid the monstrous wonders of the deeps,


s: Which scarce the sea-fowl in a year o'erfly);


s: Thy ship and sailors but for orders stay;


s: Or, if my land then choose thy course to bend,


s: My steeds, my chariots, and my songs, attend;


s: Guides of thy road, companions of thy way.


s: Urge him with truth to frame his wise replies,


s: And sure he will; for Menelaus is wise."


s: Thus while he speaks the ruddy sun descends,


s: And twilight grey her evening shade extends.


s: Then thus the blue-eyed maid: "O full of days!


s: Wise are thy words, and just are all thy ways.


s: Now immolate the tongues, and mix the wine,


s: Sacred to Neptune and the powers divine,


s: The lamp of day is quench'd beneath the deep,


s: And soft approach the balmy hours of sleep;


s: Nor fits it to prolong the heavenly feast,


s: Timeless, indecent, but retire to rest."


s: So spake Jove's daughter, the celestial maid,


s: The sacred heralds on their hands around


s: Pour'd the full urns; the youths the goblets crown'd;


s: From bowl to bowl the homely beverage flows;


s: The tongues they cast upon the fragrant flame,


s: And pour, above, the consecrated stream.


s: And now, their thirst by copious draughts allay'd,


s: Propose departure from the finish'd rite,


s: And in their hollow bark to pass the night;


s: "Forbid it, Jove! and all the gods! (he cried),


s: Thus from my walls and the much-loved son to send


s: Me, as some needy peasant, would ye leave,


s: Whom Heaven denies the blessing to relieve?


s: Me would ye leave, who boast imperial sway,


s: When beds of royal state invite your stay?


s: No--long as life this mortal shall inspire,


s: Here shall the wandering stranger find his home,


s: "Well hast thou spoke (the blue-eyed maid replies),


s: Be the kind dictates of thy heart obey'd,


s: He to thy palace shall thy steps pursue;


s: Prescribe directions and confirm the crew.


s: Who boast experience from these silver hairs;


s: All youths the rest, whom to this journey move


s: Like years, like tempers, and their prince's love


s: There in the vessel shall I pass the night;


s: And, soon as morning paints the fields of light,


s: But this, thy guest, received with friendly care


s: Let thy strong coursers swift to Sparta bear;


s: Then, turning with the word, Minerva flies,


s: And soars an eagle through the liquid skies.


s: Vision divine! the throng'd spectators gaze


s: But chief the reverend sage admired; he took


s: The hand of young Telemachus, and spoke:


s: "Oh, happy youth! and favoured of the skies,


s: Whose early years for future worth engage,


s: Then she, the daughter of almighty Jove,


s: Pallas herself, the war-triumphant maid;


s: Confess'd is thine, as once thy fathers aid.


s: So guide me, goddess! so propitious shine


s: A yearling bullock to thy name shall smoke,


s: Untamed, unconscious of the galling yoke,


s: With ample forehead, and yet tender horns,


s: Whose budding honours ductile gold adorns."


s: Submissive thus the hoary sire preferr'd


s: His holy vow: the favouring goddess heard.


s: Then, slowly rising, o'er the sandy space


s: Precedes the father, follow'd by his race,


s: (A long procession) timely marching home


s: There when arrived, on thrones around him placed,


s: His sons and grandsons the wide circle graced.


s: (Late from the mellowing cask restored to light,


s: By ten long years refined, and rosy bright).


s: To Pallas high the foaming bowl he crown'd,


s: And sprinkled large libations on the ground.


s: Each drinks a full oblivion of his cares,


s: And to the gifts of balmy sleep repairs.


s: Deep in a rich alcove the prince was laid,


s: And slept beneath the pompous colonnade;


s: The reverend Nestor and his queen reposed.


s: The old man early rose, walk'd forth, and sate


s: On polish'd stone before his palace gate;


s: With unguents smooth the lucid marble shone,


s: Where ancient Neleus sate, a rustic throne;


s: But he descending to the infernal shade,


s: Sage Nestor fill'd it, and the sceptre sway'd.


s: First Eehephron and Stratius quit their bed;


s: They came, and near him placed the stranger-guest.


s: To these the senior thus declared his will:


s: "My sons! the dictates of your sire fulfil.


s: To Pallas, first of gods, prepare the feast,


s: Who graced our rites, a more than mortal guest


s: Let one, despatchful, bid some swain to lead


s: A well-fed bullock from the grassy mead;


s: One seek the harbour where the vessels moor,


s: And bring thy friends, Telemachus! ashore


s: Artist devine, whose skilful hands infold


s: The victim's horn with circumfusile gold.


s: And bid the handmaids for the feast prepare,


s: The seats to range, the fragrant wood to bring,


s: And limpid waters from the living spring."


s: He said, and busy each his care bestow'd;


s: The dexterous smith the tools already drew;


s: His ponderous hammer and his anvil sound,


s: And the strong tongs to turn the metal round.


s: She view'd her honours, and enjoyed the sight,


s: With reverend hand the king presents the gold,


s: Which round the intorted horns the gilder roll'd.


s: So wrought as Pallas might with pride behold.


s: Brought the full laver, o'er their hands to pour,


s: In act to strike; before him Perseus stood,


s: The vase extending to receive the blood.


s: The king himself initiates to the power:


s: Scatters with quivering hand the sacred flour,


s: And the stream sprinkles; from the curling brows


s: The hair collected in the fire he throws.


s: Soon as due vows on every part were paid,


s: Strong Thrasymed discharged the speeding blow


s: Full on his neck, and cut the nerves in two.


s: Down sunk the heavy beast; the females round


s: Maids, wives, and matrons, mix a shrilling sound.


s: Nor scorned the queen the holy choir to join


s: (The first born she, of old Clymenus' line:


s: In youth by Nestor loved, of spotless fame.


s: From earth they rear him, struggling now with death;


s: And Nestor's youngest stops the vents of breath.


s: The soul for ever flies; on all sides round


s: Streams the black blood, and smokes upon the ground


s: The ribs and limbs, observant of the rite:


s: On these, in double cauls involved with art,


s: The choicest morsels lay from every part.


s: The sacred sage before his altar stands,


s: Turns the burnt offering with his holy hands,


s: And pours the wine, and bids the flames aspire;


s: The youth with instruments surround the fire.


s: The thighs now sacrificed, and entrails dress'd,


s: The assistants part, transfix, and broil the rest


s: While these officious tend the rites divine,


s: The last fair branch of the Nestorean line,


s: To bathe the prince, and pour the fragrant oil.


s: O'er his fair limbs a flowery vest he throw,


s: His former seat beside the king he found


s: (His people's father with his peers around);


s: All placed at ease the holy banquet join,


s: And in the dazzling goblet laughs the wine.


s: The rage of thirst and hunger now suppress'd,


s: The monarch turns him to his royal guest;


s: And for the promised journey bids prepare


s: The smooth hair'd horses, and the rapid car.


s: Observant of his word, tire word scarce spoke,


s: The sons obey, and join them to the yoke.


s: Then bread and wine a ready handmaid brings,


s: And presents, such as suit the state of kings.


s: With hasty hand the ruling reins he drew;


s: He lash'd the coursers, and the coursers flew.


s: Beneath the bounding yoke alike they hold


s: Their equal pace, and smoked along the field.


s: The towers of Pylos sink, its views decay,


s: Fields after fields fly back, till close of day;


s: Then sunk the sun, and darken'd all the way.


s: (Of Alpheus' race), the weary youths retreat.


s: And pleased they sleep (the blessing of the night).


s: Again they mount, their journey to renew,


s: And from the sounding portico they flew.


s: Along the waving fields their way they hold


s: The fields receding as their chariot roll'd;


s: Then slowly sunk the ruddy globe of light,


s: And o'er the shaded landscape rush'd the night.


s: Telemachus with Pisistratus arriving at Sparta, is hospitably


s: received by Menelaus to whom he relates the cause of his coming,


s: and learns from him many particulars of what befell the Greeks


s: since the destruction of Troy. He dwells more at large upon the


s: prophecies of Proteus to him in his return; from which he


s: acquaints Telemachus that Ulysses is detained in the island of


s: In the meantime the suitors consult to destroy Telemachus on the


s: voyage home. Penelope is apprised of this; but comforted in a


s: dream by Pallas, in the shape of her sister Iphthima.


s: And now proud Sparta with their wheels resounds,


s: Sparta whose walls a range of hills surrounds;


s: Where sate Atrides 'midst his bridal friends,


s: With double vows invoking Hymen's power,


s: To bless his son's and daughter's nuptial hour.


s: That day, to great Achilles son resign'd,


s: Was sent to crown the long-protracted joy,


s: With steeds and gilded cars, a gorgeous train


s: Attend the nymphs to Phthia's distant reign.


s: The virgin choir Alector's daughter led.


s: To great Atrides' age his handmaid bore;


s: While this gay friendly troop the king surround,


s: With festival and mirth the roofs resound;


s: High airs attemper'd to the vocal strings;


s: Whilst warbling to the varied strain, advance


s: Two sprightly youths to form the bounding dance,


s: 'Twas then, that issuing through the palace gate,


s: The splendid car roll'd slow in regal state:


s: On the bright eminence young Nestor shone,


s: And speeding, thus address'd the royal ear;


s: "Two youths approach, whose semblant features prove


s: Their blood devolving from the source of Jove


s: Is due reception deign'd, or must they bend


s: Their doubtful course to seek a distant friend?"


s: "Insensate! (with a sigh the king replies,)


s: Too long, misjudging, have I thought thee wise


s: But sure relentless folly steals thy breast,


s: Which in my wanderings oft relieved my woe;


s: Till pitying Jove my native realm restored--


s: Straight be the coursers from the car released,


s: Conduct the youths to grace the genial feast."


s: The seneschal, rebuked, in haste withdrew;


s: Part led the coursers, from the car enlarged,


s: Each to a crib with choicest grain surcharged;


s: With rich magnificence, the chariot placed;


s: Then to the dome the friendly pair invite,


s: Who eye the dazzling roofs with vast delight;


s: Resplendent as the blaze of summer noon,


s: Or the pale radiance of the midnight moon.


s: From room to room their eager view they bend


s: Thence to the bath, a beauteous pile, descend;


s: Where a bright damsel train attends the guests


s: With liquid odours, and embroider'd vests.


s: Refresh'd, they wait them to the bower of state,


s: Where, circled with his pears, Atrides sate;


s: Throned next the king, a fair attendant brings


s: The purest product of the crystal springs;


s: The burnish'd laver flames with solid gold,


s: When thus the king, with hospitable port;


s: "Accept this welcome to the Spartan court:


s: The waste of nature let the feast repair,


s: Then your high lineage and your names declare;


s: Say from what sceptred ancestry ye claim,


s: For vulgar parents cannot stamp their race


s: With signatures of such majestic grace."


s: The royal portion of the choicest chines


s: To each accepted friend; with grateful haste


s: They share the honours of the rich repast.


s: Sufficed, soft whispering thus to Nestor's son,


s: "View'st thou unmoved, O ever-honour'd most!


s: These prodigies of art, and wondrous cost!


s: Above, beneath, around the palace shines


s: The sunless treasure of exhausted mines;


s: The spoils of elephants the roofs inlay,


s: Such, and not nobler, in the realms above


s: My wonder dictates is the dome of Jove."


s: The monarch took the word, and grave replied:


s: "Presumptuous are the vaunts, and vain the pride


s: Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest,


s: Unchanged, immortal, and supremely blest!


s: With all my affluence, when my woes are weigh'd,


s: For eight slow-circling years, by tempests toss'd,


s: From Cypress to the far Phoenician coast


s: (Sidon the capital), I stretch'd my toil


s: Through regions fatten'd with the flows of Nile.


s: And the parch'd borders of the Arabian shore;


s: Then warp my voyage on the southern gales,


s: O'er the warm Lybian wave to spread my sails;


s: That happy clime, where each revolving year


s: The teeming ewes a triple offspring bear;


s: And two fair crescents of translucent horn


s: The brows of all their young increase adorn:


s: The shepherd swains, with sure abundance blest,


s: On the fat flock and rural dainties feast;


s: Nor want of herbage makes the dairy fail,


s: But every season fills the foaming pail.