s: Transparent, graceful, and of bright design


s: Thus then Polites, Prince of men, the friend


s: Ye hear the voice, comrades, of one who weaves


s: So sweetly chaunts that all the marble floor


s: I doubt, but let us call, that we may learn.


s: He ceas'd; they call'd; soon issuing at the sound,


s: The Goddess open'd wide her splendid gates,


s: And bade them in; they, heedless, all complied,


s: All save Eurylochus, who fear'd a snare.


s: To a bright throne, then gave them Pramnian wine,


s: With grated cheese, pure meal, and honey new,


s: Their food, that in oblivion they might lose


s: The wish of home. She gave them, and they drank,--


s: When, smiting each with her enchanting wand,


s: She shut them in her sties. In head, in voice,


s: With acorns, chestnuts, and the cornel-fruit,


s: Food grateful ever to the grovelling swine.


s: To tell the woeful tale; struggling to speak,


s: Yet speechless, there he stood, his heart transfixt


s: With anguish, and his eyes deluged with tears.


s: When, gazing on him, all had oft enquired,


s: He thus rehearsed to us the dreadful change.


s: Renown'd Ulysses! as thou bad'st, we went


s: Through yonder oaks; there, bosom'd in a vale,


s: But built conspicuous on a swelling knoll


s: With polish'd rock, we found a stately dome.


s: An ample web, carolling sweet the while.


s: They call'd aloud; she, issuing at the voice,


s: Unfolded, soon, her splendid portals wide,


s: And bade them in. Heedless they enter'd, all,


s: Ere long the whole band vanish'd, none I saw


s: Thenceforth, though, seated there, long time I watch'd.


s: Athwart my shoulder cast, and seized my bow,


s: Then bade him lead me thither by the way


s: Himself had gone; but with both hands my knees


s: He clasp'd, and in wing'd accents sad exclaim'd.


s: But leave me here; for confident I judge


s: That neither thou wilt bring another thence,


s: Nor come thyself again. Haste--fly we swift


s: With these, for we, at least, may yet escape.


s: And drink thy fill beside the sable bark;


s: So saying, I left the galley and the shore.


s: But ere that awful vale ent'ring, I reach'd


s: Hermes. He seem'd a stripling in his prime,


s: His cheeks cloath'd only with their earliest down,


s: For youth is then most graceful; fast he lock'd


s: His hand in mine, and thus, familiar, spake.


s: Unhappy! whither, wand'ring o'er the hills,


s: Go'st thou? Thy people--they within the walls


s: Are shut of Circe, where as swine close-pent


s: She keeps them. Comest thou to set them free?


s: I tell thee, never wilt thou thence return


s: Thyself, but wilt be prison'd with the rest.


s: Yet hearken--I will disappoint her wiles,


s: And will preserve thee. Take this precious drug;


s: Possessing this, enter the Goddess' house


s: Boldly, for it shall save thy life from harm.


s: Of Circe; learn them. She will mix for thee


s: With noxious herbs; but she shall not prevail


s: By all her pow'r to change thee; for the force


s: Shall baffle her. Hear still what I advise.


s: When she shall smite thee with her slender rod,


s: With faulchion drawn and with death-threat'ning looks


s: Rush on her; she will bid thee to her bed


s: Affrighted; then beware. Decline not thou


s: Her love, that she may both release thy friends,


s: And may with kindness entertain thyself.


s: But force her swear the dreaded oath of heav'n


s: That she will other mischief none devise


s: Against thee, lest she strip thee of thy might,


s: And, quenching all thy virtue, make thee vile.


s: So spake the Argicide, and from the earth


s: That plant extracting, placed it in my hand,


s: Then taught me all its pow'rs. Black was the root,


s: Milk-white the blossom; Moly is its name


s: Then, Hermes through the island-woods repair'd


s: To heav'n, and I to Circe's dread abode,


s: Within the vestibule arrived, where dwelt


s: The beauteous Goddess, staying there my steps,


s: I call'd aloud; she heard me, and at once


s: Issuing, threw her splendid portals wide,


s: And bade me in. I follow'd, heart-distress'd.


s: Leading me by the hand to a bright throne


s: With argent studs embellish'd, and beneath


s: Footstool'd magnificent, she made me sit.


s: On mischief; but when I had drunk the draught


s: Unchanged, she smote me with her wand, and said.


s: Hence--seek the sty. There wallow with thy friends.


s: She spake; I drawing from beside my thigh


s: My faulchion keen, with death-denouncing looks


s: Rush'd on her; she with a shrill scream of fear


s: Ran under my rais'd arm, seized fast my knees,


s: And in wing'd accents plaintive thus began.


s: Who? whence? thy city and thy birth declare.


s: Amazed I see thee with that potion drench'd,


s: Once pass'd it through his lips, and liv'd the same;


s: But in thy breast a mind inhabits, proof


s: Against all charms. Come then--I know thee well.


s: Thy sword, and let us, on my bed reclined,


s: Mutual embrace, that we may trust thenceforth


s: The Goddess spake, to whom I thus replied.


s: And gentle, who beneath thy roof detain'st


s: My fellow-voyagers transform'd to swine?


s: And, fearing my escape, invit'st thou me


s: Of love, that there, enfeebling by thy arts


s: My noble spirit, thou may'st make me vile?


s: No--trust me--never will I share thy bed


s: Till first, O Goddess, thou consent to swear


s: The dread all-binding oath, that other harm


s: I spake. She swearing as I bade, renounced


s: Magnificent. Meantime, four graceful nymphs


s: Her menials, from the fountains sprung and groves,


s: And from the sacred streams that seek the sea.


s: Of these, one cast fine linen on the thrones,


s: Which, next, with purple arras rich she spread;


s: Another placed before the gorgeous seats


s: Bright tables, and set on baskets of gold.


s: The third, an argent beaker fill'd with wine


s: Delicious, which in golden cups she served;


s: The fourth brought water, which she warm'd within


s: An ample vase, and when the simm'ring flood


s: And laved me with the pleasant stream profuse


s: Pour'd o'er my neck and body, till my limbs


s: Refresh'd, all sense of lassitude resign'd.


s: When she had bathed me, and with limpid oil


s: And mantle, next, she led me to a throne


s: Of royal state, with silver studs emboss'd,


s: And footstool'd soft beneath; then came a nymph


s: With golden ewer charged and silver bowl,


s: Who pour'd pure water on my hands, and placed


s: The polish'd board before me, which with food


s: Various, selected from her present stores,


s: The cat'ress spread, then, courteous, bade me eat.


s: But me it pleas'd not; with far other thoughts


s: My spirit teem'd, on vengeance more intent.


s: Soon, then, as Circe mark'd me on my seat


s: Fast-rooted, sullen, nor with outstretch'd hands


s: Deigning to touch the banquet, she approach'd,


s: And in wing'd accents suasive thus began.


s: His only food? loaths he the touch of meat,


s: And taste of wine? Thou fear'st, as I perceive,


s: Some other snare, but idle is that fear,


s: She ceas'd, to whom this answer I return'd.


s: How can I eat? what virtuous man and just,


s: Or food, till he should see his prison'd friends


s: That I should eat and drink be true, produce


s: Her potent rod, went forth, and op'ning wide


s: The door, drove out my people from the sty,


s: In bulk resembling brawns of the ninth year.


s: They stood before me; she through all the herd


s: Anointed each, and at the wholesome touch


s: All shed the swinish bristles by the drug


s: Dread Circe's former magic gift, produced.


s: Restored at once to manhood, they appear'd


s: More vig'rous far, and sightlier than before.


s: They knew me, and with grasp affectionate


s: Hung on my hand. Tears follow'd, but of joy,


s: And with loud cries the vaulted palace rang.


s: Hence to the shore, and to thy gallant bark;


s: First, hale her safe aground, then, hiding all


s: Your arms and treasures in the caverns, come


s: Thyself again, and hither lead thy friends.


s: So spake the Goddess, and my gen'rous mind


s: Persuaded; thence repairing to the beach,


s: I sought my ship; arrived, I found my crew


s: With tears bedewing ceaseless at her side.


s: As when the calves within some village rear'd


s: From fruitful meads where they have grazed their fill,


s: No longer in the stalls contain'd, they rush


s: With many a frisk abroad, and, blaring oft,


s: With one consent, all dance their dams around,


s: So they, at sight of me, dissolved in tears


s: Of rapt'rous joy, and each his spirit felt


s: With like affections warm'd as he had reach'd


s: Just then his country, and his city seen,


s: Fair Ithaca, where he was born and rear'd.


s: Then in wing'd accents tender thus they spake.


s: Our soul with transports, such as we should feel


s: Speak--say how perish'd our unhappy friends?


s: So they; to whom this answer mild I gave.


s: Hale we our vessel first ashore, and hide


s: In caverns all our treasures and our arms,


s: Then, hasting hence, follow me, and ere long


s: Ye shall behold your friends, beneath the roof


s: Abundant, for no dearth attends them there.


s: To stay the rest, and, eager, interposed.


s: To Circe's palace? she will change us all


s: To lions, wolves or swine, that we may guard


s: So some were pris'ners of the Cyclops erst,


s: When, led by rash Ulysses, our lost friends


s: And perish'd by the folly of their Chief.


s: He spake, whom hearing, occupied I stood


s: In self-debate, whether, my faulchion keen


s: Forth-drawing from beside my sturdy thigh,


s: To tumble his lopp'd head into the dust,


s: Although he were my kinsman in the bonds


s: As with one voice, thus gently interposed.


s: Our vessel's guard, if such be thy command,


s: But us lead thou to Circe's dread abode.


s: So saying, they left the galley, and set forth


s: Climbing the coast; nor would Eurylochus


s: Beside the hollow bark remain, but join'd


s: His comrades by my dreadful menace awed.


s: Bathed and refresh'd my friends with limpid oil,


s: And clothed them. We, arriving, found them all


s: Banqueting in the palace; there they met;


s: These ask'd, and those rehearsed the wond'rous tale,


s: Till the wide dome resounded. Then approach'd


s: The graceful Goddess, and address'd me thus.


s: Provoke ye not each other, now, to tears.


s: Have been your woes both on the fishy Deep,


s: And on the land by force of hostile pow'rs.


s: But come--Eat now, and drink ye wine, that so


s: Your freshen'd spirit may revive, and ye


s: For now, through recollection, day by day,


s: Of all your pains and toils, ye are become


s: Spiritless, strengthless, and the taste forget


s: Of pleasure, such have been your num'rous woes.


s: She spake, whose invitation kind prevail'd,


s: And won us to her will. There, then, we dwelt


s: The year complete, fed with delicious fare


s: Day after day, and quaffing gen'rous wine.


s: But when (the year fulfill'd) the circling hours


s: Their course resumed, and the successive months


s: With all their tedious days were spent, my friends,


s: That country, and thy own glorious abode.


s: Well-pleas'd. Then, all the day, regaled we sat


s: At Circe's board with sav'ry viands rare,


s: And quaffing richest wine; but when, the sun


s: Custom'd repose, and to the Goddess' bed


s: My earnest suit, which gracious she receiv'd,


s: And in wing'd accents earnest thus I spake.


s: Dismiss us hence. My own desires, at length,


s: No less of all my friends, who with complaints


s: Unheard by thee, wear my sad heart away.


s: For deepest wisdom! dwell not longer here,


s: Reluctant; but your next must be a course


s: Far diff'rent; hence departing, ye must seek


s: Theban Tiresias, prophet blind, but blest


s: With faculties which death itself hath spared.


s: To him alone, of all the dead, Hell's Queen


s: Gives still to prophesy, while others flit


s: Mere forms, the shadows of what once they were.


s: She spake, and by her words dash'd from my soul


s: Reckless of life and of the light of day.


s: But when, with tears and rolling to and fro


s: O Circe! with what guide shall I perform


s: I spake, to whom the Goddess quick replied.


s: To want a guide distress thee. Once on board,


s: Your mast erected, and your canvas white


s: Unfurl'd, sit thou; the breathing North shall waft


s: Thy vessel on. But when ye shall have cross'd


s: The broad expanse of Ocean, and shall reach


s: The oozy shore, where grow the poplar groves


s: And fruitless willows wan of Proserpine,


s: Push thither through the gulphy Deep thy bark,


s: And, landing, haste to Pluto's murky abode.


s: From Styx derived; there also stands a rock,


s: At whose broad base the roaring rivers meet.


s: There, thrusting, as I bid, thy bark ashore,


s: O Hero! scoop the soil, op'ning a trench


s: Ell-broad on ev'ry side; then pour around


s: First, milk with honey mixt, then luscious wine,


s: Then water, sprinkling, last, meal over all.


s: Next, supplicate the unsubstantial forms


s: Of all thy herds, and to enrich the pile


s: With delicacies such as please the shades;


s: When thus thou hast propitiated with pray'r


s: All the illustrious nations of the dead,


s: Next, thou shalt sacrifice to them a ram


s: Meantime, askance toward the river's course.


s: Souls num'rous, soon, of the departed dead


s: Will thither flock; then, strenuous urge thy friends,


s: Flaying the victims which thy ruthless steel


s: Hath slain, to burn them, and to sooth by pray'r


s: While thus is done, thou seated at the foss,


s: Faulchion in hand, chace thence the airy forms


s: Afar, nor suffer them to approach the blood,


s: Till with Tiresias thou have first conferr'd.


s: Then, glorious Chief! the Prophet shall himself


s: Appear, who will instruct thee, and thy course


s: Delineate, measuring from place to place


s: Thy whole return athwart the fishy flood.


s: While thus she spake, the golden dawn arose,


s: When, putting on me my attire, the nymph


s: Next, cloath'd herself, and girding to her waist


s: Graceful, redundant, veil'd her beauteous head.


s: Then, ranging the wide palace, I aroused


s: My followers, standing at the side of each--


s: Up! sleep no longer! let us quick depart,


s: For thus the Goddess hath, herself, advised.


s: So I, whose early summons my brave friends


s: I brought not all my crew. There was a youth,


s: In arms, nor prompt in understanding more,


s: Of Circe slept, apart from all the rest.


s: And in his haste, forgetful where to find


s: The deep-descending stairs, plunged through the roof.


s: Outstretch'd he lay; his spirit sought the shades.


s: Then, thus to my assembling friends I spake.


s: Ye think, I doubt not, of an homeward course,


s: Felt consternation; on the earth they sat


s: Disconsolate, and plucking each his hair,


s: Yet profit none of all their sorrow found.


s: But while we sought my galley on the beach


s: Our cheeks, meantime the Goddess to the shore


s: For who hath eyes that can discern a God


s: Arriving on the shore, and launching, first,


s: Our mast and sails, and stow'd secure on board


s: The ram and ewe, then, weeping, and with hearts


s: Sad and disconsolate, embark'd ourselves.


s: Sent after us a canvas-stretching breeze,


s: Pleasant companion of our course, and we


s: (The decks and benches clear'd) untoiling sat,


s: While managed gales sped swift the bark along.


s: All day, with sails distended, e'er the Deep


s: She flew, and when the sun, at length, declined,


s: And twilight dim had shadow'd all the ways,


s: Approach'd the bourn of Ocean's vast profound.


s: The city, there, of the Cimmerians stands


s: With clouds and darkness veil'd, on whom the sun


s: Deigns not to look with his beam-darting eye,


s: Or when he climbs the starry arch, or when


s: Earthward he slopes again his west'ring wheels,


s: We haled the bark aground, and, landing there


s: The Deep, till we arrived where Circe bade.


s: Held fast the destined sacrifice, while I


s: Scoop'd with my sword the soil, op'ning a trench


s: Ell-broad on ev'ry side, then pour'd around


s: First, milk with honey mixt, then luscious wine,


s: Then water, sprinkling, last, meal over all.


s: And shadows of the dead, I vow'd to slay,


s: With delicacies, such as please the shades.


s: Of all my flocks. When thus I had implored


s: With vows and pray'r, the nations of the dead,


s: Piercing the victims next, I turn'd them both


s: To bleed into the trench; then swarming came


s: Brides, youths unwedded, seniors long with woe


s: Oppress'd, and tender girls yet new to grief.


s: In battle pierced, with armour gore-distain'd,


s: Stalk'd shrieking dreadful; me pale horror seized.


s: Flaying the victims which myself had slain,


s: To burn them, and to supplicate in pray'r


s: Then down I sat, and with drawn faulchion chased


s: The ghosts, nor suffer'd them to approach the blood,


s: Till with Tiresias I should first confer.


s: The spirit, first, of my companion came,


s: Had he received, but we had left his corse


s: In Circe's palace, tombless, undeplored,


s: Ourselves by pressure urged of other cares.


s: Touch'd with compassion seeing him, I wept,


s: And in wing'd accents brief him thus bespake.


s: Elpenor! how cam'st thou into the realms


s: Of darkness? Hast thou, though on foot, so far


s: Outstripp'd my speed, who in my bark arrived?


s: So I, to whom with tears he thus replied.


s: Fool'd by some dæmon and the intemp'rate bowl,


s: The deep-descending steps heedless I miss'd,


s: Outstretch'd I lay; my spirit sought the shades.


s: But now, by those whom thou hast left at home,


s: The gentle nourisher of thy infant growth,


s: I make my suit to thee. For, sure, I know


s: That from the house of Pluto safe return'd,


s: Thou shalt ere long thy gallant vessel moor


s: Nor uninhumed, lest, for my sake, the Gods


s: In vengeance visit thee; but with my arms


s: (What arms soe'er I left) burn me, and raise


s: Heap'd high with earth; that an unhappy man


s: Funereal, plant the oar with which I row'd,


s: He spake, to whom thus answer I return'd.


s: Poor youth! I will perform thy whole desire.


s: Thus we, there sitting, doleful converse held,


s: With outstretch'd faulchion, I, guarding the blood,


s: And my companion's shadowy semblance sad


s: Meantime discoursing me on various themes.


s: Autolycus; whom, when I sought the shores


s: Seeing her, with compassion touch'd, I wept,


s: Yet even her, (although it pain'd my soul)


s: Forbad, relentless, to approach the blood,


s: Till with Tiresias I should first confer.


s: Himself, his golden sceptre in his hand,


s: Who knew me, and, enquiring, thus began.


s: Why, hapless Chief! leaving the cheerful day,


s: Arriv'st thou to behold the dead, and this


s: Unpleasant land? but, from the trench awhile


s: That I may drink the blood, and tell thee truth.


s: He spake; I thence receding, deep infix'd


s: My sword bright-studded in the sheath again.


s: The noble prophet then, approaching, drank


s: The blood, and, satisfied, address'd me thus.


s: Thou seek'st a pleasant voyage home again,


s: Thou wilt not pass by Neptune unperceiv'd,


s: Whose anger follows thee, for that thou hast


s: Endur'd, thou may'st attain thy native isle,


s: And theirs who follow thee, what time thy bark


s: Well-built, shall at Thrinacia's shore arrive,


s: There shall ye find grazing the flocks and herds


s: Thou leave unharm'd, though after num'rous woes,


s: Destruction on thy ship and all thy band,


s: And though thyself escape, late shalt thou reach


s: Thy home and hard-bested, in a strange bark,


s: Awaits thee there, for thou shalt find within


s: Proud suitors of thy noble wife, who waste


s: Thy substance, and with promis'd spousal gifts


s: Shalt thou avenge all their injurious deeds.


s: That once perform'd, and ev'ry suitor slain


s: In thy own palace, bearing, as thou go'st,


s: A shapely oar, journey, till thou hast found


s: Food salted; they trim galley crimson prow'd


s: Have ne'er beheld, nor yet smooth-shaven oar,


s: With which the vessel wing'd scuds o'er the waves.


s: Well thou shalt know them; this shall be the sign--


s: When thou shalt meet a trav'ler, who shall name


s: The oar on thy broad shoulder borne, a van,


s: There, deep infixing it within the soil,


s: So shalt thou die in peace a gentle death,


s: Remote from Ocean; it shall find thee late,


s: Of a blest people.--I have told thee truth.


s: He spake, to whom I answer thus return'd.


s: Tiresias! thou, I doubt not, hast reveal'd


s: The ordinance of heav'n. But tell me, Seer!


s: Silent she sits beside the blood, nor word


s: Nor even look vouchsafes to her own son.


s: How shall she learn, prophet, that I am her's?


s: The course is easy. Learn it, taught by me.


s: What shade soe'er, by leave of thee obtain'd,


s: Shall taste the blood, that shade will tell thee truth;


s: Still waited till my mother's shade approach'd;


s: She drank the blood, then knew me, and in words


s: Wing'd with affection, plaintive, thus began.


s: My son! how hast thou enter'd, still alive,


s: For living man to view the realms of death.


s: Broad rivers roll, and awful floods between,


s: But chief, the Ocean, which to pass on foot,


s: Hast thou, long wand'ring in thy voyage home


s: From Ilium, with thy ship and crew arrived,


s: She spake, to whom this answer I return'd.


s: Approach'd Achaia, nor have touch'd the shore


s: Have roam'd, since first in Agamemnon's train


s: But speak, my mother, and the truth alone;


s: What stroke of fate slew _thee_? Fell'st thou a prey


s: Admittance free into my fortunes gain'd,


s: Declare thou also. Dwells she with our son


s: Or is she wedded to some Chief of Greece?


s: I ceas'd, when thus the venerable shade.


s: Not so; she faithful still and patient dwells


s: Thy roof beneath; but all her days and nights


s: Thy fortunes still are thine; Telemachus


s: Cultivates, undisturb'd, thy land, and sits


s: Beseems the splendour of his princely state,


s: Thy father dwells, nor to the city comes,


s: For aught; nor bed, nor furniture of bed,


s: Furr'd cloaks or splendid arras he enjoys,


s: But, with his servile hinds all winter sleeps


s: In ashes and in dust at the hearth-side,


s: Coarsely attired; again, when summer comes,


s: In any nook, not curious where, he finds


s: There, stretch'd forlorn, nourishing grief, he weeps


s: Thy lot, enfeebled now by num'rous years.


s: Me, neither the right-aiming arch'ress struck,


s: Distemper slew, my limbs by slow degrees


s: But sure, bereaving of their little life,


s: She said; I, ardent wish'd to clasp the shade


s: And thrice she flitted from between my arms,


s: Then, pierced by keener grief, in accents wing'd


s: To clasp thee, that ev'n here, in Pluto's realm,


s: Our grief, enfolded in each other's arms?


s: Ah, son! thou most afflicted of mankind!


s: On thee, Jove's daughter, Proserpine, obtrudes


s: No airy semblance vain; but such the state


s: For they nor muscle have, nor flesh, nor bone;


s: All those (the spirit from the body once


s: Divorced) the violence of fire consumes,


s: And, like a dream, the soul flies swift away.


s: But haste thou back to light, and, taught thyself


s: These sacred truths, hereafter teach thy spouse.


s: Thus mutual we conferr'd. Then, thither came,


s: Shades female num'rous, all who consorts, erst,


s: Or daughters were of mighty Chiefs renown'd.


s: About the sable blood frequent they swarm'd.


s: But I, consid'ring sat, how I might each


s: Interrogate, and thus resolv'd. My sword


s: Forth drawing from beside my sturdy thigh,


s: The blood together; they successive came;


s: Each told her own distress; I question'd all.


s: There, first, the high-born Tyro I beheld;


s: She claim'd Salmoneus as her sire, and wife


s: Loveliest of all that water earth, beside


s: His limpid current she was wont to stray,


s: When Ocean's God, (Enipeus' form assumed)


s: Embraced her; there, while the o'er-arching flood,


s: And his fair human bride, her virgin zone


s: He loos'd, and o'er her eyes sweet sleep diffused.


s: His am'rous purpose satisfied, he grasp'd


s: Her hand, affectionate, and thus he said.


s: Rejoice in this my love, and when the year


s: Shall tend to consummation of its course,


s: Thou shalt produce illustrious twins, for love


s: Rear them with all a mother's care; meantime,


s: Hence to thy home. Be silent. Name it not.


s: So saying, he plunged into the billowy Deep.


s: She pregnant grown, Pelias and Neleus bore,


s: Of num'rous flocks possess'd; but his abode


s: To Cretheus wedded next, the lovely nymph


s: Th' embrace of Jove himself, to whom she brought


s: Founded and girded with strong tow'rs, because,


s: Though puissant Heroes both, in spacious Thebes


s: Unfenced by tow'rs, they could not dwell secure.


s: I saw; she in the arms of sov'reign Jove


s: And, after, bore to Creon brave in fight


s: To her own son; his father first he slew,


s: Then wedded her, which soon the Gods divulged.


s: In pleasant Thebes dwelt miserable, King


s: To her own palace-roof, and woes bequeath'd


s: There also saw I Chloris, loveliest fair,


s: Whom Neleus woo'd and won with spousal gifts


s: She youngest daughter was of Iasus' son,


s: And King of Pylus. Three illustrious sons


s: And, last, produced a wonder of the earth,


s: In marriage sought; but Neleus her on none


s: Deign'd to bestow, save only on the Chief


s: Who should from Phylace drive off the beeves


s: (Broad-fronted, and with jealous care secured)


s: That task alone, a prophet high in fame,


s: Melampus; but the Fates fast bound him there


s: In rig'rous bonds by rustic hands imposed.


s: At length (the year, with all its months and days


s: Till then obscure. So stood the will of Jove.


s: Castor the bold, and Pollux cestus-famed.


s: They pris'ners in the fertile womb of earth,


s: Though living, dwell, and even there from Jove


s: High priv'lege gain; alternate they revive


s: Of Neptune to have shared, to whom she bore


s: Two sons; short-lived they were, but godlike both,


s: Ne'er nourish'd forms for beauty or for size


s: To be admired as theirs; in his ninth year


s: Each measur'd, broad, nine cubits, and the height


s: Was found nine ells of each. Against the Gods


s: Themselves they threaten'd war, and to excite


s: Branch-waving Pelion; so to climb the heav'ns.


s: Nor had they failed, maturer grown in might,


s: To accomplish that emprize, but them the son


s: Slew both, ere yet the down of blooming youth


s: Thick-sprung, their cheeks or chins had tufted o'er.


s: Whose sire was all-wise Minos. Theseus her


s: From Crete toward the fruitful region bore


s: Of sacred Athens, but enjoy'd not there,


s: For, first, she perish'd by Diana's shafts


s: The price in gold of her own husband's life.


s: And all their daughters can I not relate;


s: Night, first, would fail; and even now the hour


s: Calls me to rest either on board my bark,


s: Or here; meantime, I in yourselves confide,


s: And in the Gods to shape my conduct home.


s: He ceased; the whole assembly silent sat,


s: Throughout the twilight hall, till, at the last,


s: This stranger, graceful as he is in port,


s: My guest he is, but ye all share with me


s: That honour; him dismiss not, therefore, hence


s: With haste, nor from such indigence withhold


s: And by kind heav'n with rare possessions blest.


s: Your prudent Queen, my friends, speaks not beside


s: Her proper scope, but as beseems her well.


s: To whom Alcinoüs, thus, the King, replied.


s: Then let the guest, though anxious to depart,


s: Wait till the morrow, that I may complete


s: The whole donation. His safe conduct home


s: Shall be the gen'ral care, but mine in Chief,


s: Phæacia's sons! should ye solicit, kind,


s: My stay throughout the year, preparing still


s: My conduct home, and with illustrious gifts


s: Enriching me the while, ev'n that request


s: Should please me well; the wealthier I return'd,


s: Lest thou, at length, some false pretender prove,


s: Sustains, adepts in fiction, and who frame


s: Fables, where fables could be least surmised.


s: Thy phrase well turn'd, and thy ingenuous mind


s: Proclaim _thee_ diff'rent far, who hast in strains


s: Rehears'd of all thy Greecians, and thy own.


s: But say, and tell me true. Beheld'st thou there


s: None of thy followers to the walls of Troy


s: Slain in that warfare? Lo! the night is long--


s: A night of utmost length; nor yet the hour


s: Invites to sleep. Tell me thy wond'rous deeds,


s: For I could watch till sacred dawn, could'st thou


s: For converse both and sleep, and if thou wish


s: To hear still more, I shall not spare to unfold


s: More pitiable woes than these, sustain'd


s: Who, saved from perils of disast'rous war


s: Now, when chaste Proserpine had wide dispers'd


s: Those female shades, the spirit sore distress'd


s: Their fate fulfill'd, perishing by the sword.


s: He drank the blood, and knew me; shrill he wail'd


s: And querulous; tears trickling bathed his cheeks,


s: And with spread palms, through ardour of desire


s: He sought to enfold me fast, but vigour none,


s: Or force, as erst, his agile limbs inform'd.


s: I, pity-moved, wept at the sight, and him,


s: In accents wing'd by friendship, thus address'd.


s: What hand inflicted the all-numbing stroke


s: Of death on thee? Say, didst thou perish sunk


s: Which Neptune raised, or on dry land by force


s: Of hostile multitudes, while cutting off


s: Beeves from the herd, or driving flocks away,


s: Or fighting for Achaia's daughters, shut


s: Within some city's bulwarks close besieged?


s: For wisdom famed! I neither perish'd sunk


s: Which Neptune raised, nor on dry land received


s: Bidding me to his board, where as the ox


s: Is slaughter'd at his crib, he slaughter'd _me_.


s: Such was my dreadful death; carnage ensued


s: Continual of my friends slain all around,


s: Num'rous as boars bright-tusk'd at nuptial feast,


s: Or feast convivial of some wealthy Chief.


s: Thou hast already witness'd many a field


s: With warriors overspread, slain one by one,


s: But that dire scene had most thy pity moved,


s: For we, with brimming beakers at our side,


s: And underneath full tables bleeding lay.


s: Blood floated all the pavement. Then the cries


s: Most pitiable of all. Cassandra's cries,


s: To grasp my faulchion, but the trayt'ress quick


s: Withdrew herself, nor would vouchsafe to close


s: My languid eyes, or prop my drooping chin


s: Ev'n in the moment when I sought the shades.


s: So that the thing breathes not, ruthless and fell


s: The murther of the husband of her youth.


s: I thought to have return'd welcome to all,


s: But she, past measure profligate, hath poured


s: He ceas'd, to whom, thus, answer I return'd.


s: Gods! how severely hath the thund'rer plagued


s: The house of Atreus even from the first,


s: Have num'rous died, and Clytemnestra framed,


s: While thou wast far remote, this snare for thee!


s: To woman; trust her not with all thy mind,


s: But half disclose to her, and half conceal.


s: Yet, from thy consort's hand no bloody death,


s: My friend, hast thou to fear; for passing wise


s: Icarius' daughter is, far other thoughts,


s: New-wedded, and thy boy hung at her breast,


s: Who, man himself, consorts ere now with men


s: A prosp'rous youth; his father, safe restored


s: And _he_ shall clasp his father in his arms


s: Indulged not with the dear delight to gaze


s: Now tell me truth. Hear ye in whose abode


s: My son resides? dwells he in Pylus, say,


s: My brother's roof in Sparta's wide domain?


s: Mere words are vanity, and better spared.


s: Thus we discoursing mutual stood, and tears


s: Shedding disconsolate. The shade, meantime,


s: Appear'd, with Ajax, for proportion just


s: Knew me, and in wing'd accents thus began.


s: What mightier enterprise than all the past


s: Hath made thee here a guest? rash as thou art!


s: How hast thou dared to penetrate the gloom


s: He spake, to whom I, answ'ring, thus replied.


s: Seeking Tiresias, from his lips to learn,


s: Perchance, how I might safe regain the coast


s: Perpetual, I have neither yet approach'd


s: Hath known felicity like thine, or shall,


s: And who maintain'st, here resident, supreme


s: Controul among the dead; indulge not then,


s: Achilles, causeless grief that thou hast died.


s: I ceased, and answer thus instant received.


s: Renown'd Ulysses! think not death a theme


s: The servile hind for hire, and eat the bread


s: Than sov'reign empire hold o'er all the shades.


s: Proceeds he, as he promis'd, brave in arms,


s: Or shuns he war? Say also, hast thou heard


s: Of royal Peleus? shares he still respect


s: For help is none in me; the glorious sun


s: Of spacious Troy with all their bravest slain.


s: For one short moment to my father's house,


s: They all should tremble; I would shew an arm,


s: Such as should daunt the fiercest who presumes


s: But I will tell thee, as thou bidd'st, the truth


s: For him, myself, on board my hollow bark


s: Except, no Greecian could with him compare.


s: Oft, too, as we with battle hemm'd around


s: Troy's bulwarks, from among the mingled crowd


s: Thy son sprang foremost into martial act,


s: Beneath him num'rous fell the sons of Troy


s: In dreadful fight, nor have I pow'r to name


s: Exerted in the cause of Greece, expired.


s: Of life bereaved, and all around him strew'd


s: To Ilium's side by bribes to women giv'n.


s: Of all the bravest Greeks, and I in trust


s: Was placed to open or to keep fast-closed


s: The hollow fraud; then, ev'ry Chieftain there


s: And Senator of Greece wiped from his cheeks


s: The tears, and tremors felt in ev'ry limb;


s: _His_ ruddy cheek, no tears wiped _he_ away,


s: But oft he press'd me to go forth, his suit


s: With pray'rs enforcing, griping hard his hilt


s: And his brass-burthen'd spear, and dire revenge


s: Denouncing, ardent, on the race of Troy.


s: At length, when we had sack'd the lofty town


s: He safe embark'd, neither by spear or shaft


s: Aught hurt, or in close fight by faulchion's edge,


s: As oft in war befalls, where wounds are dealt


s: So I; then striding large, the spirit thence


s: That I had blazon'd bright his son's renown.


s: The other souls of men by death dismiss'd


s: Stood mournful by, sad uttering each his woes;


s: Into dispute, my claim had strongest proved,


s: Not to have won, since for that armour's sake


s: The earth hath cover'd Ajax, in his form


s: The Greecians, Peleus' matchless son except.


s: Thy wrath against me, kindled for the sake


s: Of those pernicious arms? arms which the Gods


s: Ordain'd of such dire consequence to Greece,


s: Which caused thy death, our bulwark! Thee we mourn


s: With grief perpetual, nor the death lament


s: Of Peleus' son, Achilles, more than thine.


s: With bitt'rest hate pursued Achaia's host,


s: And he ordain'd thy death. Hero! approach,


s: That thou may'st hear the words with which I seek


s: To sooth thee; let thy long displeasure cease!


s: Quell all resentment in thy gen'rous breast!


s: I spake; nought answer'd he, but sullen join'd


s: His fellow-ghosts; yet, angry as he was,


s: But that my bosom teem'd with strong desire


s: There saw I Minos, offspring famed of Jove;


s: Judge of the dead; they, pleading each in turn,


s: His cause, some stood, some sat, filling the house


s: Whose spacious folding-gates are never closed.


s: Orion next, huge ghost, engaged my view,


s: Droves urging o'er the grassy mead, of beasts


s: Which he had slain, himself, on the wild hills,


s: With strong club arm'd of ever-during brass.


s: Extended, offspring of the glorious earth;


s: Nine acres he o'erspread, and, at his side


s: Station'd, two vultures on his liver prey'd,


s: Scooping his entrails; nor sufficed his hands


s: To fray them thence; for he had sought to force


s: What time the Goddess journey'd o'er the rocks


s: Next, suff'ring grievous torments, I beheld


s: Wash'd by the wave; thirst-parch'd he seem'd, but found


s: Nought to assuage his thirst; for when he bow'd


s: His hoary head, ardent to quaff, the flood


s: Vanish'd absorb'd, and, at his feet, adust


s: The soil appear'd, dried, instant, by the Gods.


s: Tall trees, fruit-laden, with inflected heads


s: Stoop'd to him, pomegranates, apples bright,


s: The luscious fig, and unctuous olive smooth;


s: Which when with sudden grasp he would have seized,


s: Winds hurl'd them high into the dusky clouds.


s: There, too, the hard-task'd Sisyphus I saw,


s: Thrusting before him, strenuous, a vast rock.


s: With hands and feet struggling, he shoved the stone


s: Up to a hill-top; but the steep well-nigh


s: Vanquish'd, by some great force repulsed, the mass


s: Rush'd again, obstinate, down to the plain.


s: Again, stretch'd prone, severe he toiled, the sweat


s: Bathed all his weary limbs, and his head reek'd.


s: The might of Hercules I, next, survey'd;


s: His semblance; for himself their banquet shares


s: Of Jove, and of his golden-sandal'd spouse.


s: Around him, clamorous as birds, the dead


s: Swarm'd turbulent; he, gloomy-brow'd as night,


s: With uncased bow and arrow on the string


s: Peer'd terrible from side to side, as one


s: He bore athwart his bosom, thong'd with gold.


s: There, broider'd shone many a stupendous form,


s: Bears, wild boars, lions with fire-flashing eyes,


s: Fierce combats, battles, bloodshed, homicide.


s: The artist, author of that belt, none such


s: No sooner mark'd, than knowing me, in words


s: Ah, hapless Hero! thou art, doubtless, charged,


s: Thou also, with some arduous labour, such


s: Inferior far to me, whose harsh commands


s: There stood expecting, curious, other shades


s: And now, more ancient worthies still, and whom


s: But nations, first, numberless of the dead


s: Came shrieking hideous; me pale horror seized,


s: Lest awful Proserpine should thither send


s: The Gorgon-head from Ades, sight abhorr'd!


s: I, therefore, hasting to the vessel, bade


s: My crew embark, and cast the hawsers loose.


s: They, quick embarking, on the benches sat.


s: My galley, winning, at the first, her way


s: With oars, then, wafted by propitious gales.


s: The expression is used by Milton, and signifies--Beset with many


s: Iphicles had been informed by the Oracles that he should have no


s: Bacchus accused her to Diana of having lain with Theseus in his


s: temple, and the Goddess punished her with death.


s: Another most beautiful stroke of nature. Ere yet Ulysses has had


s: Κατ' ασφοδελον λειμωνα--Asphodel was planted on the graves and


s: Βασαζοντα must have this sense interpreted by what follows. To


s: It is now, perhaps, impossible to ascertain with precision what


s: And now, borne seaward from the river-stream


s: The spacious Deep, and reach'd th' Ææan isle,


s: Where, daughter of the dawn, Aurora takes


s: Her choral sports, and whence the sun ascends.


s: We, there arriving, thrust our bark aground


s: On the smooth beach, then landed, and on shore


s: But soon as day-spring's daughter rosy-palm'd


s: Look'd forth again, sending my friends before,


s: Then, on the utmost headland of the coast


s: We timber fell'd, and, sorrowing o'er the dead,


s: His fun'ral rites water'd with tears profuse.


s: The dead consumed, and with the dead his arms,


s: We heap'd his tomb, and the sepulchral post


s: Thus, punctual, we perform'd; nor our return


s: In haste, ere long arrived, with whom appear'd


s: Her female train with plenteous viands charged,


s: Standing, the beauteous Goddess thus began.


s: Ah miserable! who have sought the shades


s: Come--take ye food; drink wine; and on the shore


s: All day regale, for ye shall hence again


s: At day-spring o'er the Deep; but I will mark


s: Myself your future course, nor uninform'd


s: Leave you in aught, lest, through some dire mistake,


s: The Goddess spake, whose invitation kind


s: Till set of sun, and quaffing richest wine;


s: But when the sun went down and darkness fell,


s: My crew beside the hawsers slept, while me


s: First bade me sit, then, seated opposite,


s: Enquired, minute, of all that I had seen,


s: And I, from first to last, recounted all.


s: Thus far thy toils are finish'd. Now attend!


s: Mark well my words, of which the Gods will sure


s: Themselves remind thee in the needful hour.


s: First shalt thou reach the Sirens; they the hearts


s: Enchant of all who on their coast arrive.


s: The wretch, who unforewarn'd approaching, hears


s: The Sirens' voice, his wife and little-ones


s: Charm with mellifluous song, while all around


s: Now putrid, and the skins mould'ring away.


s: But, pass them thou, and, lest thy people hear


s: Those warblings, ere thou yet approach, fill all


s: Their ears with wax moulded between thy palms;


s: But as for thee--thou hear them if thou wilt.


s: Yet let thy people bind thee to the mast


s: With cordage well-secured to the mast-foot,


s: So shalt thou, raptur'd, hear the Sirens' song.


s: Or give such order, then, with added cords


s: Let thy companions bind thee still the more.


s: When thus thy people shall have safely pass'd


s: The Sirens by, think not from me to learn


s: What course thou next shalt steer; two will occur;


s: Delib'rate chuse; I shall describe them both.


s: Here vaulted rocks impend, dash'd by the waves


s: The blessed Gods those rocks, Erratic, call.


s: Birds cannot pass them safe; no, not the doves


s: But even of those doves the slipp'ry rock


s: Proves fatal still to one, for which the God


s: No ship, what ship soever there arrives,


s: Escapes them, but both mariners and planks


s: Whelm'd under billows of the Deep, or, caught


s: Those rocks the billow-cleaving bark alone


s: Pass'd safely, sailing from Ææta's isle;


s: Nor she had pass'd, but surely dash'd had been


s: On those huge rocks, but that, propitious still


s: These rocks are two; one lifts his summit sharp


s: High as the spacious heav'ns, wrapt in dun clouds


s: Perpetual, which nor autumn sees dispers'd


s: Nor summer, for the sun shines never there;


s: No mortal man might climb it or descend,


s: Though twice ten hands and twice ten feet he own'd,


s: Yawns in the centre of its western side;


s: Forth from thy bark should fail to reach the cave.


s: There Scylla dwells, and thence her howl is heard


s: Tremendous; shrill her voice is as the note


s: Of hound new-whelp'd, but hideous her aspect,


s: Encount'ring her, should with delight survey.


s: Her feet are twelve, all fore-feet; six her necks


s: Of hideous length, each clubb'd into a head


s: Terrific, and each head with fangs is arm'd


s: In triple row, thick planted, stored with death.


s: She lurks, protruding from the black abyss


s: Her heads, with which the rav'ning monster dives


s: In quest of dolphins, dog-fish, or of prey


s: More bulky, such as in the roaring gulphs


s: It is no seaman's boast that e'er he slipp'd


s: The other rock, Ulysses, thou shalt find


s: Humbler, a bow-shot only from the first;


s: On this a wild fig grows broad-leav'd, and here


s: Charybdis dire ingulphs the sable flood.


s: Each day she thrice disgorges, and each day


s: Thrice swallows it. Ah! well forewarn'd, beware


s: What time she swallows, that thou come not nigh,


s: For not himself, Neptune, could snatch thee thence.


s: Close passing Scylla's rock, shoot swift thy bark


s: Is better far than shipwreck made of all.


s: Tell me, O Goddess, next, and tell me true!


s: If, chance, from fell Charybdis I escape,


s: My people; should the monster threaten them?


s: I said, and quick the Goddess in return.


s: Still please thee? yield'st not to the Gods themselves?


s: Defence is vain; flight is thy sole resource.


s: For should'st thou linger putting on thy arms


s: Beside the rock, beware, lest darting forth


s: Her num'rous heads, she seize with ev'ry mouth


s: Pass therefore swift, and passing, loud invoke


s: Who will forbid her to assail thee more.


s: Thou, next, shalt reach Thrinacia; there, the beeves


s: And fatted flocks graze num'rous of the Sun;


s: Sev'n herds; as many flocks of snowy fleece;


s: Fifty in each; they breed not, neither die,


s: Nor are they kept by less than Goddesses,


s: Them, soon as she had train'd them to an age


s: Proportion'd to that charge, their mother sent


s: Inviolate their father's flocks and herds.


s: If, anxious for a safe return, thou spare


s: Those herds and flocks, though after much endured,


s: But should'st thou violate them, I foretell


s: Destruction of thy ship and of thy crew,


s: And though thyself escape, thou shalt return


s: Late, in ill plight, and all thy friends destroy'd.


s: She ended, and the golden morning dawn'd.


s: Then, all-divine, her graceful steps she turn'd


s: Back through the isle, and, at the beach arrived,


s: The bark again, and cast the hawsers loose.


s: They, at my voice, embarking, fill'd in ranks


s: The seats, and rowing, thresh'd the hoary flood.


s: Sent after us a canvas-stretching breeze,


s: Pleasant companion of our course, and we


s: (The decks and benches clear'd) untoiling sat,


s: While managed gales sped swift the bark along.


s: Then, with dejected heart, thus I began.


s: Oh friends! (for it is needful that not one


s: Or perish, all may be, at least, forewarn'd.


s: She bids us, first, avoid the dang'rous song


s: Of the sweet Sirens and their flow'ry meads.


s: Me only she permits those strains to hear;


s: But ye shall bind me with coercion strong


s: Of cordage well-secured to the mast-foot,


s: And by no struggles to be loos'd of mine.


s: Or give such order, then, with added cords


s: Be it your part to bind me still the more.


s: Thus with distinct precaution I prepared


s: My people; rapid in her course, meantime,


s: My gallant bark approach'd the Sirens' isle,


s: A breathless calm ensued, while all around


s: The billows slumber'd, lull'd by pow'r divine.


s: Up-sprang my people, and the folded sails


s: Bestowing in the hold, sat to their oars,


s: Which with their polish'd blades whiten'd the Deep.


s: I, then, with edge of steel sev'ring minute


s: Between my palms; ere long the ductile mass


s: Grew warm, obedient to that ceaseless force,


s: With that soft liniment I fill'd the ears


s: My feet and arms with strong coercion bound


s: Of cordage to the mast-foot well secured.


s: Then down they sat, and, rowing, thresh'd the brine.


s: But when with rapid course we had arrived


s: Within such distance as a voice may reach,


s: Not unperceived by them the gliding bark


s: Approach'd, and, thus, harmonious they began.


s: Ulysses, Chief by ev'ry tongue extoll'd,


s: Achaia's boast, oh hither steer thy bark!


s: Here stay thy course, and listen to our lay!


s: These shores none passes in his sable ship


s: Till, first, the warblings of our voice he hear,


s: Then, happier hence and wiser he departs.


s: All that the Greeks endured, and all the ills


s: Know all that passes on the boundless earth.


s: So they with voices sweet their music poured


s: My heart's desire to listen, and by signs


s: But they incumbent row'd, and from their seats


s: With added cords to bind me still the more.


s: This danger past, and when the Sirens' voice,


s: Now left remote, had lost its pow'r to charm,


s: Then, my companions freeing from the wax


s: Their ears, deliver'd me from my restraint.


s: Huge waves, and smoke, and horrid thund'rings heard.


s: All sat aghast; forth flew at once the oars


s: From ev'ry hand, and with a clash the waves


s: Smote all together; check'd, the galley stood,


s: By billow-sweeping oars no longer urged,


s: And I, throughout the bark, man after man


s: Encouraged all, addressing thus my crew.


s: We meet not, now, my friends, our first distress.


s: Imprison'd us, yet even thence we 'scaped,


s: These dangers also, in due time, with joy.


s: Come, then--pursue my counsel. Ye your seats


s: Still occupying, smite the furrow'd flood


s: With well-timed strokes, that by the will of Jove


s: We may escape, perchance, this death, secure.


s: To thee the pilot thus I speak, (my words


s: Mark thou, for at thy touch the rudder moves)


s: This smoke, and these tumultuous waves avoid;


s: Steer wide of both; yet with an eye intent


s: Too near a course, and plunge us into harm.


s: So I; with whose advice all, quick, complied.


s: But Scylla I as yet named not, (that woe


s: Without a cure) lest, terrified, my crew


s: Should all renounce their oars, and crowd below.


s: Just then, forgetful of the strict command


s: In radiant armour, grasp'd two quiv'ring spears,


s: Expecting earliest notice there, what time


s: The rock-bred Scylla should annoy my friends.


s: But I discern'd her not, nor could, although


s: For here stood Scylla, while Charybdis there


s: With hoarse throat deep absorb'd the briny flood.


s: Like water cauldron'd o'er a furious fire


s: The whirling Deep all murmur'd, and the spray


s: On both those rocky summits fell in show'rs.


s: But when she suck'd the salt wave down again,


s: Then, all the pool appear'd wheeling about


s: Within, the rock rebellow'd, and the sea


s: Drawn off into that gulph disclosed to view


s: Thus, dreading death, with fast-set eyes we watch'd


s: Charybdis; meantime, Scylla from the bark


s: Caught six away, the bravest of my friends.


s: With eyes, that moment, on my ship and crew


s: On me they call'd, my name, the last, last time


s: As when from some bold point among the rocks


s: Casts forth his bait to snare the smaller fry,


s: Then jerks his gasping prey forth from the Deep,


s: So Scylla them raised gasping to the rock,


s: And at her cavern's mouth devour'd them loud-


s: Shrieking, and stretching forth to me their arms


s: In sign of hopeless mis'ry. Ne'er beheld


s: These eyes in all the seas that I have roam'd,


s: A sight so piteous, nor in all my toils.


s: Ere long, where bright Hyperion's beauteous herds


s: Broad-fronted grazed, and his well-batten'd flocks.


s: I, in the bark and on the sea, the voice


s: And of loud-bleating sheep; then dropp'd the word


s: Who with such force had caution'd me to avoid


s: Thus then to my companions, sad, I spake.


s: Hear ye, my friends! although long time distress'd,


s: There, said the Goddess, dread your heaviest woes,


s: Pass the isle, therefore, scudding swift away.


s: I ceased; they me with consternation heard,


s: Ulysses, ruthless Chief! no toils impair


s: Thy strength, of senseless iron thou art form'd,


s: Who thy companions weary and o'erwatch'd


s: Forbidd'st to disembark on this fair isle,


s: Where now, at last, we might with ease regale.


s: Thou, rash, command'st us, leaving it afar,


s: To roam all night the Ocean's dreary waste;


s: But winds to ships injurious spring by night,


s: And how shall we escape a dreadful death


s: If, chance, a sudden gust from South arise


s: Prepare we rather now, as night enjoins,


s: Launch forth secure into the boundless flood.


s: He ceas'd, whom all applauded. Then I knew


s: That sorrow by the will of adverse heav'n


s: Approach'd, and in wing'd accents thus replied.


s: O'er-ruled by numbers. Come, then, swear ye all


s: A solemn oath, that should we find an herd


s: Or num'rous flock, none here shall either sheep


s: Seduced, but shall the viands eat content


s: Sware all, and when their oath was fully sworn,


s: Within a creek where a fresh fountain rose


s: They moor'd the bark, and, issuing, began


s: Brisk preparation of their evening cheer.


s: But when nor hunger now nor thirst remain'd


s: Unsated, recollecting, then, their friends


s: By Scylla seized and at her cave devour'd,


s: They mourn'd, nor ceased to mourn them, till they slept.


s: The night's third portion come, when now the stars


s: Had travers'd the mid-sky, cloud-gath'rer Jove


s: Call'd forth a vehement wind with tempest charged,


s: Menacing earth and sea with pitchy clouds


s: Tremendous, and the night fell dark from heav'n.


s: Look'd rosy forth, we haled, drawn inland more,


s: Our bark into a grot, where nymphs were wont


s: Graceful to tread the dance, or to repose.


s: Convening there my friends, I thus began.


s: My friends! food fails us not, but bread is yet


s: And wine on board. Abstain we from the herds,


s: Lest harm ensue; for ye behold the flocks


s: And herds of a most potent God, the Sun!


s: Whose eye and watchful ear none may elude.


s: So saying, I sway'd the gen'rous minds of all.


s: A month complete the South wind ceaseless blew,


s: Nor other wind blew next, save East and South,


s: Yet they, while neither food nor rosy wine


s: Fail'd them, the herds harm'd not, through fear to die.


s: But, our provisions failing, they employed


s: Whole days in search of food, snaring with hooks


s: Birds, fishes, of what kind soe'er they might.


s: Meantime the isle, seeking by pray'r to move


s: Some God to shew us a deliv'rance thence.


s: When, roving thus the isle, I had at length


s: Left all my crew remote, laving my hands


s: Where shelter warm I found from the rude blast,


s: But they my pray'rs answer'd with slumbers soft


s: Shed o'er my eyes, and with pernicious art


s: Eurylochus, the while, my friends harangued.


s: My friends! afflicted as ye are, yet hear


s: A fellow-suff'rer. Death, however caused,


s: Most to be fear'd. Come--let us hither drive


s: Resolving thus--that soon as we shall reach


s: Which with magnificent and num'rous gifts


s: We will enrich. But should he chuse to sink


s: Our vessel, for his stately beeves incensed,


s: And should, with him, all heav'n conspire our death,


s: Meeting the billows, perish, than by slow


s: And pining waste here in this desert isle.


s: Then, driving all the fattest of the herd


s: Grazed rarely distant from the bark) they stood


s: Compassing them around, and, grasping each


s: Green foliage newly pluck'd from saplings tall,


s: (For barley none in all our bark remain'd)


s: Worshipp'd the Gods in pray'r. Pray'r made, they slew


s: And flay'd them, and the thighs with double fat


s: Investing, spread them o'er with slices crude.


s: No wine had they with which to consecrate


s: The blazing rites, but with libation poor


s: Now, when the thighs were burnt, and each had shared


s: His portion of the maw, and when the rest


s: All-slash'd and scored hung roasting at the fire,


s: But ere the station of our bark I reach'd,


s: The sav'ry steam greeted me. At the scent


s: I wept aloud, and to the Gods exclaim'd.


s: With cruel sleep and fatal ye have lull'd


s: Meantime my rash companions have devised.


s: Then, flew long-stoled Lampetia to the Sun


s: At once with tidings of his slaughter'd beeves,


s: And he, incensed, the Immortals thus address'd.


s: Have dared to slay my beeves, which I with joy


s: Beheld, both when I climb'd the starry heav'ns,


s: And when to earth I sloped my "westring wheels,"


s: I will descend and give the ghosts my beams.


s: Then, thus the cloud-assembler God replied.


s: Sun! shine thou still on the Immortal Pow'rs,


s: And on the teeming earth, frail man's abode.


s: And split their flying bark in the mid-sea.


s: These things Calypso told me, taught, herself,


s: But when, descending to the shore, I reach'd


s: At length my bark, with aspect stern and tone


s: Could frame, or remedy--the beeves were dead.


s: Soon follow'd signs portentous sent from heav'n.


s: The skins all crept, and on the spits the flesh


s: Both roast and raw bellow'd, as with the voice


s: Of living beeves. Thus my devoted friends


s: Feasted six days entire; but when the sev'nth


s: The storm then ceased to rage, and we, again


s: Embarking, launch'd our galley, rear'd the mast,


s: And gave our unfurl'd canvas to the wind.


s: Right o'er the hollow bark Saturnian Jove


s: Hung a cærulean cloud, dark'ning the Deep.


s: Not long my vessel ran, for, blowing wild,


s: Snapp'd sheer the shrouds on both sides; backward fell


s: The mast, and with loose tackle strew'd the hold;


s: Striking the pilot in the stern, it crush'd


s: Made downward, and his noble spirit fled.


s: Meantime, Jove thund'ring, hurl'd into the ship


s: His bolts; she, smitten by the fires of Jove,


s: Quaked all her length; with sulphur fill'd she reek'd,


s: And o'er her sides headlong my people plunged


s: Like sea-mews, interdicted by that stroke


s: Of wrath divine to hope their country more.


s: But I, the vessel still paced to and fro,


s: Till, fever'd by the boist'rous waves, her sides


s: Forsook the keel now left to float alone.


s: Snapp'd where it join'd the keel the mast had fall'n,


s: But fell encircled with a leathern brace,


s: Which it retain'd; binding with this the mast


s: Borne helpless onward by the dreadful gale.


s: And now the West subsided, and the South


s: Arose instead, with mis'ry charged for me,


s: That I might measure back my course again


s: To dire Charybdis. All night long I drove,


s: And when the sun arose, at Scylla's rock


s: Once more, and at Charybdis' gulph arrived.


s: It was the time when she absorb'd profound


s: I seized the branches fast of the wild-fig.


s: To which, bat-like, I clung; yet where to fix


s: My foot secure found not, or where to ascend,


s: For distant lay the roots, and distant shot


s: O'ershadowing all Charybdis; therefore hard


s: I clench'd the boughs, till she disgorg'd again


s: They came, though late; for at what hour the judge,


s: Between young candidates for honour, leaves


s: The forum for refreshment' sake at home,


s: Then was it that the mast and keel emerged.


s: Fast by those beams I dash'd into the flood,


s: And seated on them both, with oary palms


s: Impell'd them; nor the Sire of Gods and men


s: Else had I perish'd by her fangs at last.


s: Nine days I floated thence, and, on the tenth


s: Dark night, the Gods convey'd me to the isle


s: But wherefore this? ye have already learn'd


s: That hist'ry, thou and thy illustrious spouse;


s: Once amply told, then, needless, traced again.


s: He ceas'd; the whole assembly silent sat,


s: Throughout the twilight hall. Then, thus the King.


s: Sublime thou hast arrived, like woes, I trust,


s: Thou shalt not in thy voyage hence sustain


s: By tempests tost, though much to woe inured.


s: Your princely meed of gen'rous wine and hear


s: The sacred bard, my pleasure, thus I speak.


s: The robes, wrought gold, and all the other gifts


s: To this our guest, by the Phæacian Chiefs


s: Brought hither in the sumptuous coffer lie.


s: But come--present ye to the stranger, each,


s: Of smaller size, for which we will be paid


s: So spake Alcinoüs, and his counsel pleased;


s: Then, all retiring, sought repose at home.


s: Look'd rosy forth, each hasted to the bark


s: With his illustrious present, which the might


s: Ascended, safe beneath the seats bestowed,


s: Lest it should harm or hinder, while he toil'd


s: For them, in sacrifice, the sacred might


s: The thighs with fire prepared, all glad partook


s: The noble feast; meantime, the bard divine


s: Sang, sweet Demodocus, the people's joy.


s: Turn'd wistful eyes, anxious for his decline,


s: As when some hungry swain whose sable beeves


s: Have through the fallow dragg'd his pond'rous plow


s: All day, the setting sun views with delight


s: For supper' sake, which with tir'd feet he seeks,


s: The sun-set of that eve; directing, then,


s: And farewell all! for what I wish'd, I have,


s: With which heav'n prosper me! and may the Gods


s: All safe, my spotless consort and my friends!


s: May ye, whom here I leave, gladden your wives


s: And see your children blest, and may the pow'rs


s: Applauded loud, and bade dismiss the guest


s: Pontonoüs! charging high the beaker, bear


s: To ev'ry guest beneath our roof the wine,


s: That, pray'r preferr'd to the eternal Sire,


s: The brimming cup; they, where they sat, perform'd


s: To whom in accents wing'd, grateful, he said.


s: Farewell, O Queen, a long farewell, till age


s: Arrive, and death, the appointed lot of all!


s: Yet many a year beneath this glorious roof!


s: So saying, the Hero through the palace-gate


s: His steps attended; one, the robe well-bleach'd


s: And food the third, with wine of crimson hue.


s: Arriving where the galley rode, each gave


s: Her charge to some brave mariner on board,


s: And all was safely stow'd. Meantime were spread


s: For his secure repose. And now the Chief


s: Himself embarking, silent lay'd him down.


s: Then, ev'ry rower to his bench repair'd;


s: They drew the loosen'd cable from its hold


s: In the drill'd rock, and, resupine, at once


s: With lusty strokes upturn'd the flashing waves.


s: _His_ eye-lids, soon, sleep, falling as a dew,


s: Closed fast, death's simular, in sight the same.


s: She, as four harness'd stallions o'er the plain


s: Shooting together at the scourge's stroke,


s: Toss high their manes, and rapid scour along,


s: So mounted she the waves, while dark the flood


s: Roll'd after her of the resounding Deep.


s: Steady she ran and safe, passing in speed


s: The falcon, swiftest of the fowls of heav'n;


s: In fight sustain'd, and on the perilous flood,


s: Though sleeping now serenely, and resign'd


s: The brightest star of heav'n, precursor chief


s: Of day-spring, now arose, when at the isle


s: (Her voyage soon perform'd) the bark arrived.


s: Form'd by converging shores, prominent both


s: And both abrupt, which from the spacious bay


s: Exclude all boist'rous winds; within it, ships


s: (The port once gain'd) uncabled ride secure.


s: Her branches wide, near to a pleasant cave


s: The Naiads. In that cave beakers of stone


s: And jars are seen; bees lodge their honey there;


s: And there, on slender spindles of the rock


s: The nymphs of rivers weave their wond'rous robes.


s: Perennial springs water it, and it shows


s: To mortal man, which Northward looks direct,


s: Familiar with that port before, they push'd


s: The vessel in; she, rapid, plow'd the sands


s: With half her keel, such rowers urged her on.


s: Descending from the well-bench'd bark ashore,


s: They lifted forth Ulysses first, with all


s: His splendid couch complete, then, lay'd him down


s: Still wrapt in balmy slumber on the sands.


s: His treasures, next, by the Phæacian Chiefs


s: They heap'd, without the road, lest, while he slept


s: Some passing traveller should rifle them.


s: Then homeward thence they sped. Nor Ocean's God


s: His threats forgot denounced against divine


s: Ulysses, but with Jove thus first advised.


s: Since, now, Phæacia's mortal race have ceas'd


s: To honour me, though from myself derived.


s: Harass'd, Ulysses should have reach'd his home,


s: Thyself had promis'd, ne'er was my intent.


s: But him fast-sleeping swiftly o'er the waves


s: They have conducted, and have set him down


s: In Ithaca, with countless gifts enrich'd,


s: With brass, and tissued raiment, and with gold;


s: Much treasure! more than he had home convey'd


s: To whom the cloud-assembler God replied.


s: What hast thou spoken, Shaker of the shores,


s: Wide-ruling Neptune? Fear not; thee the Gods


s: Will ne'er despise; dangerous were the deed


s: More ancient, and more potent far than they.


s: Should dare to slight thee, to avenge the wrong


s: Accomplish all thy pleasure, thou art free.


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


s: Jove cloud-enthroned! that pleasure I would soon


s: Perform, as thou hast said, but that I watch


s: Return'd from safe conveyance of her freight;


s: So shall they waft such wand'rers home no more,


s: And she shall hide their city, to a rock


s: Transform'd of mountainous o'ershadowing size.


s: Him, then, Jove answer'd, gath'rer of the clouds.


s: Thus done, shall best be done--What time the people


s: Shall from the city her approach descry,


s: Fix her to stone transform'd, but still in shape


s: A gallant bark, near to the coast, that all


s: May wonder, seeing her transform'd to stone


s: Of size to hide their city from the view.


s: These words once heard, the Shaker of the shores


s: Of the Phæacians, went. Arrived, he watch'd.


s: And now the flying bark full near approach'd,


s: When Neptune, meeting her, with out-spread palm


s: Depress'd her at a stroke, and she became


s: Deep-rooted stone. Then Neptune went his way.


s: Conferring stood, and thus, in accents wing'd,


s: Th' amazed spectator to his fellow spake.


s: Ah! who hath sudden check'd the vessel's course


s: Homeward? this moment she was all in view.


s: Thus they, unconscious of the cause, to whom


s: With force, my father's. He was wont to say--


s: Neptune resents it, that we safe conduct


s: Should perish in the dreary Deep, and changed


s: So spake my father, all whose words we see


s: This day fulfill'd. Thus, therefore, act we all


s: The stranger home, when such shall here arrive;


s: Twelve chosen bulls to Neptune, if, perchance,


s: To hide our town behind a mountain's height.


s: He spake, they, terrified, the bulls prepared.


s: The Ocean's God. Meantime, Ulysses woke,


s: Unconscious where; stretch'd on his native soil


s: He lay, and knew it not, long-time exiled.


s: Drew dense around him, that, ere yet agnized


s: By others, he might wisdom learn from her,


s: Till, first, he should avenge complete his wrongs


s: Domestic from those suitors proud sustained.


s: All objects, therefore, in the Hero's eyes


s: Seem'd alien, foot-paths long, commodious ports,


s: Heav'n-climbing rocks, and trees of amplest growth.


s: Both thighs he smote, and, plaintive, thus began.


s: Where now shall I secrete these num'rous stores?


s: Where wander I, myself? I would that still


s: Now, neither know I where to place my wealth,


s: Promis'd to bear me to the pleasant shores


s: Jove, guardian of the suppliant's rights, who all


s: Transgressors marks, and punishes all wrong,


s: Avenge me on the treach'rous race!--but hold--


s: I will revise my stores, so shall I know


s: If they have left me here of aught despoiled.


s: So saying, he number'd carefully the gold,


s: The vases, tripods bright, and tissued robes,


s: But nothing miss'd of all. Then he bewail'd


s: His native isle, with pensive steps and slow


s: Forlorn; but while he wept, Pallas approach'd,


s: In form a shepherd stripling, girlish fair


s: In feature, such as are the sons of Kings;


s: A sumptuous mantle o'er his shoulders hung


s: Twice-folded, sandals his nice feet upbore,


s: And a smooth javelin glitter'd in his hand.


s: Turn'd brisk toward her, whom he thus address'd.


s: Sweet youth! since thee, of all mankind, I first


s: Encounter in this land unknown, all hail!


s: To thee, as to some God, my pray'r, and clasp


s: Thy knees a suppliant. Say, and tell me true,


s: What land? what people? who inhabit here?


s: Is this some isle delightful, or a shore


s: Of fruitful main-land sloping to the sea?


s: Then Pallas, thus, Goddess cærulean-eyed.


s: Stranger! thou sure art simple, or hast dwelt


s: Far distant hence, if of this land thou ask.


s: But known to many, both to those who dwell


s: Toward the sun-rise, and to others placed


s: To the swift steed, and yet no barren spot,


s: However small, but rich in wheat and wine;


s: But pasture green to goats and beeves affords,


s: Trees of all kinds, and fountains never dry.


s: At no small distance from Achaia's shore.


s: The Goddess ceased; then, toil-enduring Chief


s: In accents wing'd her answ'ring, utter'd prompt


s: Not truth, but figments to truth opposite,


s: For guile, in him, stood never at a pause.


s: O'er yonder flood, even in spacious Crete


s: I have, myself, with these my stores arrived;


s: Not richer stores than, flying thence, I left


s: To my own children; for from Crete I fled


s: Could equal throughout all that spacious isle.


s: My Trojan spoils, which to obtain, much woe


s: Fighting beside him in the fields of Troy,


s: But led a diff'rent band. Him from the field


s: Returning homeward, with my brazen spear


s: At the road-side, with a confed'rate friend.


s: That night prevailed, nor any eye of man


s: Observed us, but, unseen, I slew the youth.


s: No sooner, then, with my sharp spear of life


s: Mann'd by renown'd Phæacians, whom with gifts


s: Part of my spoils, and by requests, I won.


s: I bade them land me on the Pylian shore,


s: But they, reluctant, were by violent winds


s: Driv'n devious thence, for fraud they purposed none.


s: Thus through constraint we here arrived by night,


s: And with much difficulty push'd the ship


s: But, disembark'd in haste, on shore we lay.


s: I, weary, slept profound, and they my goods


s: Forth heaving from the bark, beside me placed


s: The treasures on the sea-beach where I slept,


s: Then, reimbarking, to the populous coast


s: Steer'd of Sidonia, and me left forlorn.


s: He ceased; then smiled Minerva azure-eyed


s: And stroaked his cheek, in form a woman now,


s: Beauteous, majestic, in all elegant arts


s: Accomplish'd, and with accents wing'd replied.


s: And in imposture various, need shall find


s: Canst thou not cease, inventive as thou art


s: And subtle, from the wiles which thou hast lov'd


s: Since thou wast infant, and from tricks of speech


s: But come, dismiss we these ingenious shifts


s: From our discourse, in which we both excel;


s: Abound'st and eloquence, and I, throughout


s: All heav'n have praise for wisdom and for art.


s: And know'st thou not thine Athenæan aid,


s: Pallas, Jove's daughter, who in all thy toils


s: Assist thee and defend? I gave thee pow'r


s: T' engage the hearts of all Phæacia's sons,


s: And here arrive ev'n now, counsels to frame


s: Discrete with thee, and to conceal the stores


s: Giv'n to thee by the rich Phæacian Chiefs


s: Thou must endure; which, since constraint enjoins,


s: Nor woman that thou hast arrived forlorn


s: What wrongs soever from the hands of men.


s: For thou all shapes assum'st; yet this I know


s: But when (the lofty tow'rs of Priam laid


s: In dust) we re-embark'd, and by the will


s: Of heav'n Achaia's fleet was scatter'd wide,


s: Thenceforth, O daughter wise of Jove, I thee


s: Once mark'd, to rid me of my num'rous woes,


s: With anguish riv'n, I roam'd, till by the Gods


s: Relieved at length, and till with gracious words


s: Confirm my courage, and becam'st my guide.


s: But I adjure thee in thy father's name--


s: That I have reach'd fair Ithaca; I tread


s: Some other soil, and thou affirm'st it mine


s: To mock me merely, and deceive) oh say--


s: Such caution in thy breast always prevails


s: With wisdom and with ready thought endued,


s: And cannot leave thee, therefore, thus distress'd


s: For what man, save Ulysses, new-return'd


s: After long wand'rings, would not pant to see


s: At once his home, his children, and his wife?


s: But thou preferr'st neither to know nor ask


s: Concerning them, till some experience first


s: Thou make of her whose wasted youth is spent


s: Ceaseless her nights and woeful days consumes.


s: That not till after loss of all thy friends


s: Thou should'st return; but loth I was to oppose


s: Neptune, my father's brother, sore incensed


s: For his son's sake deprived of sight by thee.


s: But, I will give thee proof--come now--survey


s: These marks of Ithaca, and be convinced.


s: This is the port of Phorcys, sea-born sage;


s: That, the huge olive at the haven's head;


s: Fast by it, thou behold'st the pleasant cove


s: The Naiads; this the broad-arch'd cavern is


s: Where thou wast wont to offer to the nymphs


s: Many a whole hecatomb; and yonder stands


s: The mountain Neritus with forests cloath'd.


s: So saying, the Goddess scatter'd from before


s: His eyes all darkness, and he knew the land.


s: Once more his native isle. He kiss'd the glebe,


s: And with uplifted hands the nymphs ador'd.


s: Nymphs, Naiads, Jove's own daughters! I despair'd


s: To see you more, whom yet with happy vows


s: We will hereafter at your shrines present,


s: If Jove-born Pallas, huntress of the spoils,


s: Grant life to me, and manhood to my son.


s: Take courage; trouble not thy mind with thoughts


s: Now needless. Haste--delay not--far within


s: This hallow'd cave's recess place we at once


s: Thy precious stores, that they may thine remain,


s: Then muse together on thy wisest course.


s: So saying, the Goddess enter'd deep the cave


s: Caliginous, and its secret nooks explored


s: From side to side; meantime, Ulysses brought


s: All his stores into it, the gold, the brass,


s: And robes magnificent, his gifts received


s: From the Phæacians; safe he lodg'd them all,


s: And Pallas, daughter of Jove Ægis-arm'd,


s: Closed fast, herself, the cavern with a stone.


s: Both seated, they in consultation plann'd


s: The deaths of those injurious suitors proud,


s: And Pallas, blue-eyed Goddess, thus began.


s: By what means likeliest thou shalt assail


s: Those shameless suitors, who have now controuled


s: Three years thy family, thy matchless wife


s: With language amorous and with spousal gifts


s: Watching thy wish'd return, hope gives to all


s: But for thy gracious warning, pow'r divine!


s: Come then--Devise the means; teach me, thyself,


s: The way to vengeance, and my soul inspire


s: With daring fortitude, as when we loos'd


s: Her radiant frontlet from the brows of Troy.


s: Would'st thou with equal zeal, O Pallas! aid


s: Thy servant here, I would encounter thrice


s: (Let once our time of enterprize arrive)


s: Shalt thou assail them. Many, as I judge,


s: Of those proud suitors who devour thy wealth


s: Shall leave their brains, then, on thy palace floor.


s: But come. Behold! I will disguise thee so


s: That none shall know thee! I will parch the skin


s: On thy fair body; I will cause thee shed


s: Thy wavy locks; I will enfold thee round


s: Shall loath to look on; and I will deform


s: With blurring rheums thy eyes, so vivid erst;


s: So shall the suitors deem thee, and thy wife,


s: And thy own son whom thou didst leave at home,


s: Some sordid wretch obscure. But seek thou first


s: Thy swine-herd's mansion; he, alike, intends


s: Thy good, and loves, affectionate, thy son


s: And thy Penelope; thou shalt find the swain


s: Tending his herd; they feed beneath the rock


s: To them, and drinking of the limpid stream.


s: There waiting, question him of thy concerns,


s: While I from Sparta praised for women fair


s: Anxious to learn if yet his father lives.


s: Him left'st thou ignorant? was it that he,


s: He also, wand'ring wide the barren Deep,


s: Might suffer woe, while these devour his wealth?


s: Grieve thou not much for him. I sent him forth


s: Myself, that there arrived, he might acquire


s: Honour and fame. No suff'rings finds he there,


s: The suitors watch close ambush'd on the Deep,


s: Intent to slay him ere he reach his home,


s: But shall not as I judge, till of themselves


s: The earth hide some who make thee, now, a prey.


s: So saying, the Goddess touch'd him with a wand.


s: At once o'er all his agile limbs she parch'd


s: The polish'd skin; she wither'd to the root


s: His wavy locks; and cloath'd him with the hide


s: Deform'd of wrinkled age; she charged with rheums


s: And kirtle gave him, tatter'd, both, and foul,


s: And smutch'd with smoak; then, casting over all


s: An huge old deer-skin bald, with a long staff


s: She furnish'd him, and with a wallet patch'd


s: On all sides, dangling by a twisted thong.


s: Thus all their plan adjusted, diff'rent ways


s: They took, and she, seeking Ulysses' son,


s: Ἱερον μενος Αλκινοοιο.


s: Paul--κρητες αει ψευσαι.


s: Leaving the haven-side, he turn'd his steps


s: The swine-herd, who of all Ulysses' train


s: Watch'd with most diligence his rural stores.


s: Amidst a level lawn. That structure neat


s: Had raised, himself, with stones from quarries hewn,


s: With tangled thorns he fenced it safe around,


s: And with contiguous stakes riv'n from the trunks


s: Of solid oak black-grain'd hemm'd it without.


s: Twelve penns he made within, all side by side,


s: Lairs for his swine, and fast-immured in each


s: Lay fifty pregnant females on the floor.


s: The males all slept without, less num'rous far,


s: Thinn'd by the princely wooers at their feasts


s: Three hundred, still, and sixty brawns remained.


s: Resembling wild-beasts nourish'd at the board


s: Of the illustrious steward of the styes.


s: Himself sat fitting sandals to his feet,


s: Carved from a stain'd ox-hide. Four hinds he kept,


s: Now busied here and there; three in the penns


s: Were occupied; meantime, the fourth had sought


s: The city, whither, for the suitors' use,


s: With no good will, but by constraint, he drove


s: Th' imperious guests might on his flesh regale.


s: Soon as those clamorous watch-dogs the approach


s: Squatted, and let his staff fall from his hand.


s: Ev'n there, at his own farm, but that the swain,


s: Following his dogs in haste, sprang through the porch


s: To his assistance, letting fall the hide.


s: With chiding voice and vollied stones he soon


s: Drove them apart, and thus his Lord bespake.


s: Old man! one moment more, and these my dogs


s: Had, past doubt, worried thee, who should'st have proved,


s: But other pangs the Gods, and other woes


s: To me have giv'n, who here lamenting sit


s: Nourish for others' use, while he, perchance,


s: Fit sustenance, and none obtains, if still


s: Indeed he live, and view the light of day.


s: But, old friend! follow me into the house,


s: That thou, at least, with plenteous food refresh'd,


s: And cheer'd with wine sufficient, may'st disclose


s: Both who thou art, and all that thou hast borne.


s: So saying, the gen'rous swine-herd introduced


s: Ulysses, and thick bundles spread of twigs


s: Beneath him, cover'd with the shaggy skin


s: Of a wild goat, of which he made his couch


s: Rejoiced, and thus his gratitude express'd.


s: Jove grant thee and the Gods above, my host,


s: My guest! I should offend, treating with scorn


s: The stranger, though a poorer should arrive


s: Than ev'n thyself; for all the poor that are,


s: And all the strangers are the care of Jove.


s: Little, and with good will, is all that lies


s: Under young masters; for the Gods, no doubt,


s: From whom great kindness I had, else, received,


s: From gen'rous masters, house and competence,


s: Whose industry should have requited well


s: His goodness, with such blessing from the Gods


s: Much had I, therefore, prosper'd, had my Lord


s: Grown old at home; but he hath died--I would


s: That the whole house of Helen, one and all,


s: Might perish too, for she hath many slain


s: So saying, he girdled, quick, his tunic close,


s: And, issuing, sought the styes; thence bringing two


s: Of the imprison'd herd, he slaughter'd both,


s: Singed them, and slash'd and spitted them, and placed


s: The whole well-roasted banquet, spits and all,


s: Reeking before Ulysses; last, with flour


s: He sprinkled them, and filling with rich wine


s: Now, eat, my guest! such as a servant may


s: I set before thee, neither large of growth


s: Nor fat; the fatted--those the suitors eat,


s: Fearless of heav'n, and pitiless of man.


s: Yet deeds unjust as theirs the blessed Gods


s: A foreign shore, which by consent of Jove


s: They plunder, and with laden ships depart,


s: Even they with terrours quake of wrath divine.


s: But these are wiser; these must sure have learn'd


s: From some true oracle my master's death,


s: Nor yet to seek their homes, but boldly waste


s: His substance, shameless, now, and sparing nought.


s: Jove ne'er hath giv'n us yet the night or day


s: They would content them, and his empty jars


s: Witness how fast the squand'rers use his wine.


s: Time was, when he was rich indeed; such wealth


s: Could match with all their treasures his alone;


s: I tell thee their amount. Twelve herds of his


s: The mainland graze; as many flocks of sheep;


s: As many droves of swine; and hirelings there


s: And servants of his own seed for his use,


s: As many num'rous flocks of goats; his goats,


s: Here also graze the margin of his fields


s: Under the eye of servants well-approved,


s: And ev'ry servant, ev'ry day, brings home


s: The goat, of all his flock largest and best.


s: But as for me, I have these swine in charge,


s: From all the herd, I send the prime to them.


s: He ceas'd, meantime Ulysses ate and drank


s: Of those proud suitors. His repast, at length,


s: Eumæus gave him, charged with wine, the cup


s: From which he drank himself; he, glad, received


s: The boon, and in wing'd accents thus began.


s: My friend, and who was he, wealthy and brave


s: As thou describ'st the Chief, who purchased thee?


s: Thou say'st he perish'd for the glory-sake


s: That I ne'er saw him, and may not impart


s: News of him; I have roam'd through many a clime.


s: To whom the noble swine-herd thus replied.


s: Alas, old man! no trav'ler's tale of him


s: Will gain his consort's credence, or his son's;


s: For wand'rers, wanting entertainment, forge


s: Falsehoods for bread, and wilfully deceive.


s: No wand'rer lands in Ithaca, but he seeks


s: With feign'd intelligence my mistress' ear;


s: She welcomes all, and while she questions each


s: Minutely, from her lids lets fall the tear


s: Whose mate hath perish'd in a distant land.


s: Thou could'st thyself, no doubt, my hoary friend!


s: (Would any furnish thee with decent vest


s: Yet sure it is that dogs and fowls, long since,


s: His skin have stript, or fishes of the Deep


s: Have eaten him, and on some distant shore


s: Whelm'd in deep sands his mould'ring bones are laid.


s: So hath he perish'd; whence, to all his friends,


s: Wherever sought, I have no hope to find,


s: Though I should wander even to the house


s: Of my own father. Neither yearns my heart


s: To see once more my parents and my home,


s: Fills me with rev'rence, for he lov'd me much,


s: Cared for me much, and, though we meet no more,


s: Holds still an elder brother's part in me.


s: Him answer'd, then, the Hero toil-inured.


s: My friend! since his return, in thy account,


s: I shall not slightly speak, but with an oath--


s: No more, than that the boon such news deserves,


s: Be giv'n me soon as he shall reach his home.


s: Then give me vest and mantle fit to wear,


s: Which, ere that hour, much as I need them both,


s: I neither ask, nor will accept from thee.


s: From truth--I hate him as the gates of hell.


s: Be Jove, of all in heav'n, my witness first,


s: Then, this thy hospitable board, and, last,


s: The household Gods of the illustrious Chief


s: That all my words shall surely be fulfill'd.


s: Ere, this month closed, another month succeed,


s: He shall return, and punish all who dare


s: Old friend! that boon thou wilt ne'er earn from me;


s: Ulysses comes no more. But thou thy wine


s: Drink quietly, and let us find, at length,


s: To my remembrance, for my soul is grieved


s: Ay--there I feel again--nor cease to mourn


s: Had giv'n him growth like a young plant, and I


s: Well hoped that nought inferior he should prove


s: Hath lost, through influence human or divine,


s: To far-famed Pylus; his return, meantime,


s: In ambush hidden the proud suitors wait,


s: That the whole house may perish of renown'd


s: But whether he have fallen or 'scaped, let him


s: But come, my ancient guest! now let me learn


s: Thy own afflictions; answer me in truth.


s: Who, and whence art thou? in what city born?


s: Where dwell thy parents; in what kind of ship


s: Cam'st thou? the mariners, why brought they thee


s: For, that on foot thou found'st us not, is sure.


s: I will with truth resolve thee; and if here


s: And food for many a day, and business none


s: But to regale at ease while others toiled,


s: I could exhaust the year complete, my woes


s: Rehearsing, nor, at last, rehearse entire


s: My sorrows by the will of heav'n sustained.


s: I boast me sprung from ancestry renown'd


s: In spacious Crete; son of a wealthy sire,


s: Who other sons train'd num'rous in his house,


s: For him I boast my father. Him in Crete,


s: While yet he liv'd, all reverenc'd as a God,


s: So rich, so prosp'rous, and so blest was he


s: With sons of highest praise. But death, the doom


s: Of all, him bore to Pluto's drear abode,


s: And his illustrious sons among themselves


s: Portion'd his goods by lot; to me, indeed,


s: They gave a dwelling, and but little more,


s: Nor base, forlorn as thou perceiv'st me now.


s: But thou canst guess, I judge, viewing the straw


s: What once was in the ear. Ah! I have borne


s: Much tribulation; heap'd and heavy woes.


s: Courage and phalanx-breaking might had I


s: From Mars and Pallas; at what time I drew,


s: (Planning some dread exploit) an ambush forth


s: Of our most valiant Chiefs, no boding fears


s: Of death seized _me_, but foremost far of all


s: I sprang to fight, and pierced the flying foe.


s: Such was I once in arms. But household toils


s: Sustain'd for children's sake, and carking cares


s: My pleasures were the gallant bark, the din


s: Of battle, the smooth spear and glitt'ring shaft,


s: Objects of dread to others, but which me


s: Thus diff'rent minds are diff'rently amused;


s: For ere Achaia's fleet had sailed to Troy,


s: Embark'd against a foreign foe, and found


s: From the whole booty, first, what pleased me most


s: I rapidly grew rich, and had thenceforth


s: Among the Cretans rev'rence and respect.


s: But when loud-thund'ring Jove that voyage dire


s: Ordain'd, which loos'd the knees of many a Greek,


s: The charge of all their fleet, which how to avoid


s: Of the whole host impell'd us to the task.


s: There fought we nine long years, and in the tenth


s: (Priam's proud city pillag'd) steer'd again


s: Our galleys homeward, which the Gods dispersed.


s: Then was it that deep-planning Jove devised


s: For me much evil. One short month, no more,


s: Happy, and in my babes, and in my wealth,


s: When the desire seiz'd me with sev'ral ships


s: Well-rigg'd, and furnish'd all with gallant crews,


s: Six days the chosen partners of my voyage


s: Feasted, to whom I num'rous victims gave


s: For sacrifice, and for their own regale.


s: Embarking on the sev'nth from spacious Crete,


s: Before a clear breeze prosp'rous from the North


s: A river's stream; nor one of all my ships


s: Damage incurr'd, but healthy and at ease


s: We sat, while gales well-managed urged us on.


s: The fifth day thence, smooth-flowing Nile we reach'd,


s: Strict watch for preservation of the ships,


s: I order'd spies into the hill-tops; but they


s: And hot for quarrel, the well-cultur'd fields


s: Their wives and little ones, and slew the men.


s: Soon was the city alarm'd, and at the cry


s: With horse and foot, and with the gleam of arms


s: Filling the plain. Then Jove with panic dread


s: Struck all my people; none found courage more


s: To stand, for mischiefs swarm'd on ev'ry side.


s: There, num'rous by the glittering spear we fell


s: Slaughter'd, while others they conducted thence


s: My bosom with this thought inspired, (I would


s: That, dying, I had first fulfill'd my fate


s: Loosing my brazen casque, and slipping off


s: My buckler, there I left them on the field,


s: Then cast my spear away, and seeking, next,


s: The chariot of the sov'reign, clasp'd his knees,


s: And kiss'd them. He, by my submission moved,


s: Raising, convey'd me weeping to his home.


s: With many an ashen spear his warriors sought


s: To slay me, (for they now grew fiery wroth)


s: But he, through fear of hospitable Jove,


s: Chief punisher of wrong, saved me alive.


s: Sev'n years I there abode, and much amass'd


s: But, in the eighth revolving year, arrived


s: Hungry, and who had num'rous harm'd before,


s: T' attend him to Phœnicia, where his house


s: A year complete his inmate; but (the days


s: And months accomplish'd of the rolling year,


s: And the new seasons ent'ring on their course)


s: To Lybia then, on board his bark, by wiles


s: He won me with him, partner of the freight


s: Profess'd, but destin'd secretly to sale,


s: That he might profit largely by my price.


s: Not unsuspicious, yet constrain'd to go,


s: With this man I embark'd. A cloudless gale


s: Propitious blowing from the North, our ship


s: Ran right before it through the middle sea,


s: In the offing over Crete; but adverse Jove


s: Destruction plann'd for them and death the while.


s: For, Crete now left afar, and other land


s: Right o'er the hollow bark Saturnian Jove


s: A cloud cærulean hung, dark'ning the Deep.


s: Then, thund'ring oft, he hurl'd into the bark


s: His bolts; she smitten by the fires of Jove,


s: Quaked all her length; with sulphur fill'd she reek'd,


s: And, o'er her sides precipitated, plunged


s: Like gulls the crew, forbidden by that stroke


s: Of wrath divine to hope their country more.


s: The strong tall mast, that I might yet escape.


s: Around that beam I clung, driving before


s: The stormy blast. Nine days complete I drove,


s: And, on the tenth dark night, the rolling flood


s: Immense convey'd me to Thesprotia's shore.


s: Of the Thesprotians, freely entertained;


s: For his own son discov'ring me with toil


s: Exhausted and with cold, raised me, and thence


s: Who cherish'd me, and gave me fresh attire.


s: To his own land; he shew'd me also gold,


s: Brass, and bright steel elab'rate, whatsoe'er


s: There, from the tow'ring oaks of Jove to ask


s: (After long absence) in his opulent realm


s: To me the monarch swore, in his own hall


s: Pouring libation, that the ship was launch'd,


s: And the crew ready for his conduct home.


s: But me he first dismiss'd, for, as it chanced,


s: A ship lay there of the Thesprotians, bound


s: To green Dulichium's isle. He bade the crew


s: But them far other thoughts pleased more, and thoughts


s: Of harm to me, that I might yet be plunged


s: In deeper gulphs of woe than I had known.


s: For, when the billow-cleaving bark had left


s: The land remote, framing, combined, a plot


s: Against my liberty, they stripp'd my vest


s: And mantle, and this tatter'd raiment foul


s: Gave me instead, which thy own eyes behold.


s: At even-tide reaching the cultur'd coast


s: With tackle of the bark, and quitting ship


s: Themselves, made hasty supper on the shore.


s: But me, meantime, the Gods easily loos'd


s: By their own pow'r, when, with wrapper vile


s: At the ship's stern, I lay'd me on the flood.


s: With both hands oaring thence my course, I swam


s: Till past all ken of theirs; then landing where


s: Thick covert of luxuriant trees I mark'd,


s: Close couchant down I lay; they mutt'ring loud,


s: Paced to and fro, but deeming farther search


s: Thus baffling all their search with ease, the Gods


s: Conceal'd and led me thence to the abode


s: Of a wise man, dooming me still to live.


s: Thou hast much moved me by this tale minute


s: Of thy sad wand'rings and thy num'rous woes.


s: But, speaking of Ulysses, thou hast pass'd


s: All credence; I at least can give thee none.


s: Why, noble as thou art, should'st thou invent


s: At Troy, or (that long doubtful war, at last,


s: Concluded,) in his people's arms at home.


s: Then universal Greece had raised his tomb,


s: Of harpies torn, unseemly sight, he lies.


s: Brought by some stranger, whencesoe'er arrived.


s: Both who regret the absence of our King,


s: (After long wand'ring over various lands


s: Receiv'd, who bold affirm'd that he had seen


s: His ships refitting shatter'd by a storm,


s: And that in summer with his godlike band


s: He would return, bringing great riches home,


s: Or else in autumn. And thou ancient guest


s: Forlorn! since thee the Gods have hither led,


s: And to deceive me, since for no such cause


s: By pity influenced, and the fear of Jove.


s: Thou hast, in truth, a most incredulous mind,


s: Whom even with an oath I have not moved,


s: Or aught persuaded. Come then--let us make


s: In terms express a cov'nant, and the Gods


s: If thy own Lord at this thy house arrive,


s: But, if thy Lord come not, then, gath'ring all


s: Thy servants, headlong hurl me from a rock,


s: To whom the generous swine-herd in return.


s: Yes, stranger! doubtless I should high renown


s: And in all future times, if, having first


s: I, next, should slay thee; then my pray'rs would mount,


s: Past question, swiftly to Saturnian Jove.


s: But the hour calls to supper, and, ere long,


s: The partners of my toils will come prepared


s: To spread the board with no unsav'ry cheer.


s: Thus they conferr'd. And now the swains arrived,


s: Driving their charge, which fast they soon enclosed


s: The hubbub was of swine prison'd within.


s: Then call'd the master to his rustic train.


s: Bring ye the best, that we may set him forth


s: Before my friend from foreign climes arrived,


s: With whom ourselves will also feast, who find


s: The bright-tusk'd multitude a painful charge,


s: While others, at no cost of theirs, consume


s: So saying, his wood for fuel he prepared,


s: And dragging thither a well-fatted brawn


s: Of the fifth year his servants held him fast


s: At the hearth-side. Nor failed the master swain


s: T' adore the Gods, (for wise and good was he)


s: The forehead bristles of the tusky boar,


s: Then pray'd to all above, that, safe, at length,


s: Then lifting an huge shive that lay beside


s: The fire, he smote the boar, and dead he fell,


s: Next, piercing him, and scorching close his hair,


s: They carv'd him quickly, and Eumæus spread


s: O'er all his fat, then other slices cast,


s: Sprinkling them first with meal, into the fire.


s: The rest they slash'd and scored, and roasted well,


s: And placed it, heap'd together, on the board.


s: Sev'n-fold partition of the banquet made,


s: He gave, with previous pray'r, to Maia's son


s: And to the nymphs one portion of the whole,


s: Then served his present guests, honouring first


s: Ulysses with the boar's perpetual chine;


s: By that distinction just his master's heart


s: As thou art dear to me, whom, though attired


s: So coarsely, thou hast served with such respect!


s: Eat, noble stranger! and refreshment take


s: Such as thou may'st; God gives, and God denies


s: The firstlings sacrificed of all, then made


s: Libation, and the cup placed in the hands


s: Meantime, Mesaulius bread dispensed to all,


s: Whom, in the absence of his Lord, himself


s: With his own proper goods, at no expence


s: And now, all stretch'd their hands toward the feast


s: Reeking before them, and when hunger none


s: Felt more or thirst, Mesaulius clear'd the board.


s: Each sought his couch. Black came a moonless night,


s: And Jove all night descended fast in show'rs,


s: Of his good host, if putting off his cloak


s: That service for him at some other hand,


s: His fellow-lab'rers! I shall somewhat boast,


s: By wine befool'd, which forces ev'n the wise


s: And words to utter, oft, better suppress'd.


s: But since I have begun, I shall proceed,


s: Prating my fill. Ah might those days return


s: With all the youth and strength that I enjoy'd,


s: When in close ambush, once, at Troy we lay!


s: Through the thick bushes and the reeds that gird


s: The bulwarks, down we lay flat in the marsh,


s: Under our arms, then Boreas blowing loud,


s: A rueful night came on, frosty and charged


s: With snow that blanch'd us thick as morning rime,


s: And ev'ry shield with ice was crystall'd o'er.


s: The rest with cloaks and vests well cover'd, slept


s: Beneath their bucklers; I alone my cloak,


s: Improvident, had left behind, no thought


s: Shield and belt, therefore, and nought else had I.


s: The night, at last, nigh spent, and all the stars


s: Declining in their course, with elbow thrust


s: Against Ulysses' side I roused the Chief,


s: And thus address'd him ever prompt to hear.


s: I freeze to death. Help me, or I am lost.


s: Beguil'd me of all prudence, that I came


s: Thus sparely clad; I shall, I must expire.


s: Devised, and thus, low-whisp'ring, answer'd me.


s: Hush! lest perchance some other hear--He said,


s: Hath reach'd me, for we lie far from the ships.


s: Haste, therefore, one of you, with my request


s: That he would reinforce us from the camp.


s: He spake, and at the word, Andræmon's son


s: Thoas arose, who, casting off his cloak,


s: Ran thence toward the ships, and folded warm


s: Within it, there lay I till dawn appear'd.


s: Then, some good peasant here, either for love


s: Or for respect, would cloak a man like me,


s: Whom, now, thus sordid in attire ye scorn.


s: Thy narrative, nor hast thou utter'd aught


s: Of raiment, therefore, or of aught beside


s: Shall harm thee here; yet, at the peep of dawn


s: Gird thy own tatters to thy loins again;


s: For _we_ have no great store of cloaks to boast,


s: Or change of vests, but singly one for each.


s: But when Ulysses' son shall once arrive,


s: He will himself with vest and mantle both


s: Cloath thee, and send thee whither most thou would'st.


s: So saying, he rose, and nearer made his couch


s: To the hearth-side, spreading it thick with skins


s: Of sheep and goats; then lay the Hero down,


s: O'er whom a shaggy mantle large he threw,


s: Which oft-times served him with a change, when rough


s: Slept all beside him; but the master-swain


s: Chose not his place of rest so far remote


s: From his rude charge, but to the outer court


s: Gladd'ning Ulysses' heart that one so true


s: In his own absence kept his rural stores.


s: Athwart his sturdy shoulders, first, he flung


s: His faulchion keen, then wrapp'd him in a cloak


s: Thick-woven, winter-proof; he lifted, next,


s: The skin of a well-thriven goat, in bulk


s: Sharp-pointed, with which dogs he drove and men.


s: Thus arm'd, he sought his wonted couch beneath


s: A hollow rock where the herd slept, secure


s: From the sharp current of the Northern blast.


s: It may be proper to suggest that Ulysses was lord of part of the


s: Θεος--without a relative, and consequently signifying GOD in the


s: Minerva went, that she might summon thence


s: Fast-bound, but not Telemachus; his mind


s: No rest enjoy'd, by filial cares disturb'd


s: Amid the silent night, when, drawing near