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THE
BRITISH POETS.
VOL. XXVII.
EDINBURGH:
Printed for A. KINCAID and W. CR E E c H, and J. B A L F o u R. M, DCC, LXX11I. .
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TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK BY
ALEXANDER POPE, Efq;
VOLUME II. 5
. - EDINBURGH:
Printed tor A. KINCAID and W. CREECH and J. BALFOUR.
M7DCC, LXXIII. T ;
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THE
ODYSSEY.
BOOK IX.
THE ARGUMENT.
The adventures of the Ckons, Lotophagi, and Cyclops.
ULYSSES begins the relation of his adventures; how, after the deftruftion of Troy, he, with his compa- nions, made an incurfion on the Cicons, by whom they were repulfed; and, meeting with a (form, were driven to the coaft of the Lotophagi. From thence they failed to the land of the Cyclops, whofe manners and fituation are particularly charatterifed. , The giant Polyphemus and his cave defcribed ; the ulage Ulyfles and his companions met with there; ' and, laftly, the method and artifice by which he e- fcaped.
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bill ^Ulllilt t:! ri:' ■< ■ .bne fh-J'.'vq* ■ • ww ^snl MS oi'1 .fj: .,03 1 srijVfles- '•• oi • ■ hij sic,; ,t .”o(D w to tv*;:' » ' r.'J < ■y. wrwtli it ■ 1 .. -y- • • ' . • . Oi.3 ; iadii.,. l- '.v iciri ijti:: ;yiarf} i'5:w ni.. ,fi©ioiqino: v-; •»a HEN thus Ulyfles. Thou, whom firfl in fvvay. "*• As firft in virtue, thefc thy realms obey ; How fweet the produfts of a peaceful reign ! The heav’n-taught poet, and inchanting drain ; The well-fill’d palace, the perpetual feaft, A land rejoicing, and a people bled! How goodly feems it, ever to employ Man’s focial days in union and in joy ; The plenteous board high-heap’d with cates divine, And o’er the foaming bowl the laughing wine 1 Amid thefe joys, why feeks thy mind to know Th’ unhappy feries of a wand’rtr’s wo ? Remembrance fad ! whole image to review, Alas ! mud open all my wounds anew. And oh ! what fird, what lad fhall 1 relate, Of woes unnumbcr’d, fent by heav’n and fate ? Know fird the man (tho’ now a wretch didred) Who hopes thee, monarch ! for his 'future gueft. Behold Ulyfies ! no ignoble name; Earth founds my wifdom, and high heav’n my fame.- My native foil is Ithaca the fair, 1 Where high Neritus waves his woods in air : Dulichium, Same, and Zacynthus crown’d With (hady mountains, fpread their ifles around. (Thefe to the north and night’s dark regions run, i Thofe to Aurora and the rifing fun), Low lies our ifle, yet blefs’d in fruitful-dores ; Strong are her fons,.though rocky are her (hores; , 8 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. 29. And none, ah none fo lovely to my fight, Of all the lands thatheav’n o’erfpreads with light! In vain Calypfo long confirain’d my {lay, With fwect, reluftant, amorous delay; With all her charms as vainly Circe ftrove, And added magic, to fecure my love. In pomps or joys, the palace or the grot, My country’s image never was forgot, My abfent parents rofe before my fight, And diftant lay contentment and delight. Hear then the woes which mighty Jove ordahj’A To wait my palfage from the Trojan land. The winds from llion to the Cicon’s {hore. Beneath cold Ifmarus, our veflels bore We boldly lauded on the hoftile place, And lack’d the city, and deflroy’d the race, Their wives made captive, their pollellions Qlar’d, And ev’ry foldier found a like reward. I then advis’d to fly; not fo the reft, Who ftaid to revel, and prolong the feaft : The fatted (heep and fable bulls they flay. And bowls flow round, and riot waftes the day. Meantime the Cleons, to their holds retir’d. Call on the Cleons, with new fury fir’d; With early morn the gather’d country {'warms, And all the continent is bright with arms; Thick as the budding leaves or rifing flow’rs O’erfpread the lawn, when fpring delcends in Ihow’rs All expert foldiers, {kill’d on foot to dare. Or from the bounding courfer urge the war. Now fortune changes, (fo the fates ordain) ; Our hour was come to talk our {hare of pain. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. 61. o Clofe at the (hips the bloody fight began, Wounded they wound, and man expires on man. Long.as the morning-fun increafing bright O’er heav’n’s pure azure fpread the growing light, Promifcuous death the form of war confounds, Each adverfe battle gor’d with equal wounds : But when his ev’ning wheels o’erhung the main. Then conqueft crown’d the fierce Ciconian train. Six brave companions from each (hip we tolf, The reft efcape in hafte, and quit the coalt. With fails outfpread we fly th’ unequal (trife, Sad for their lofs, but joyful of our life. Yet as we fled, our fellows rites we paid, And thrice we call’d on each unhappy (hade. Meanwhile the god, whofe hand the thunder forms. Drives clouds on clouds, and blackens heav’n with ftorms: Wide o’er the wafte the rage of Boreas fweeps, And night rulh’d headlong on the (haded deeps. Now here, now there, the giddy (hips are born, And all the rattling fhrbuds in fragments torn. We furl’d the fail, we ply’d the lab’riug oar. Took down our marts, and row’d our (hips to (here. Two tedious days and two long nights we lay, 1 O’erwatch’d and batter’d in the naked bay. But the third morning when Aurora brings, We rear the marts, we fpread the Canvas wings: -Refrefh’d, and carelefs on the deck reclin’d, We fit, and truft the pilot and the wind. Then to my native country had I fail’d ; But, the cape doubled, adverfe winds prevail’d. JO HO M E R's O D Y S S E Y. IX. J>I. Strong was the tiJe, which, by the northern biaft Inrpeli’d, our veflels on Cythera call. Nine days our fleet th’ uncertain tempeft bore Far in wide ocean, and from fight of Ihore : The tenth we touch’d, by various errors toft. The land of Lotos, and the flow’ry coaft. We climb’d the beach, and fprings of water found, Then fpread our hafty banquet on the ground. Three men were fent, deputed from the crew, (An herald one), the dubious coaft to view. And learn what habitants poflefs’d the place. They went, and found a holpitable race; Not prone to ill, nor ftrange to foreign gueft, They eat, they drink, and nature gives the feaft; The trees around them all their fruit produce. Lotos, the name ; divine, neflareous juice ! (Thence call’d Lotophagi) ; which whofo taftes, Iniatiate riots in the fweet repafts, Nor other home nor other care intends, But quits his houfe, his country, and his friends. The three we fent, from offth’ inchanting ground We dragg’d reluftant, and by force we bound : The reft in hafte forfook the pleafing Ihore, Or, the charm tafted, had return’d no more. Now plac’d in order on their banks, they fweep The fea’s fmooth face, and cleave the hoary deep ; With heavy hearts we labour through the tide, To ccafts unknown, and oceans yet untry’d. The land of Cyclops firft : a favage kind, Nor tam’d by manners, nor by laws confin’d : Untaught to plant, to turn the glebe, and fow, They all their produfls to free nature owe. HOMER’S ODYSSEY. IX. 123. 11 The foil untill’d a ready harvert yields, With wheat and barley wave the golden fields. Spontaneous wines from weighty ciufters pour, And Jove defcends in each prolific IJiow’r. By thefe no flatutes and no rights are known, No council held, no monarch fills the throne; But high on hills or airy cliffs they dwell, Or deep in caves whofe entrance leads to hell. Each rules his race, his neighbour not his care, Heedlefs of others, to his own fevere. Oppos’d to the Cyclopean coafls, there lay An ille, whofe hills their fubjefl fields furvey; Its name Lachaea, crown’d with many a grove. Where lavage goats thro’ pathlefs thickets rove: No needy mortals here, with hunger bold. Or wretched hunters, through the vvint’ry cold Purine their flight, but leave them fafe to bound From hill to hill, o’er all the defert ground. Nor know s the foil to feed the fleecy care, Or feels the labours of the crooked fhare; But uninhabited, untill’d, unfown It lies, and breeds the bleating goat alone. For there no veffel with vermilion prore, Or bark of traffic, glides from Ihore to (hore ; The rugged race of favages, unfkilPd The feas to traverfe, or the fhips to build, Gaze on the coaft, nor cultivate the foil ; Unkarn’d in all th’ induflrious arts of toil. Yet here all produfts and all plants abound, Sprung from the fruitful genius of the ground; Fields waving high with heavy crops are feen. And vines that flcurilh in eternal green. JI HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. IJJ. Refrefliing meads alone the murm’ring main, And fountains ftreaming down the fruitful plain. A port there is, inclos’d on either fide, Where fhips may reft, unanchor’d and unty’d; Till the glad mariners incline to fail, And the fea whitens with the rifing gale. High at its head, from out the caverh’d rock In living rills a gufhing fountain broke : Around it, ahd above, for ever green The bulbing alders form’d a lhady fcene. Hither fome fav’ring god, beyond our thought, Through all-furrounding (hade our navy brought; For gloomy night defcendcd on the main. Nor glimmer’d Phoebe in th’ aetherial plain : But all unfeen the clouded ifland lay, And all unfeen the furge and rolling fea, Till fafe we anchor’d in the (helter’d bay ; Our fails we gather’d, caft our cables o’er. And llept fecure along the fandy fhore. Soon as again the rofy morning (hone, Reveal’d the landfcape and the fcene unknown, With wonder leiz’d we view the pleating ground, And walk delighted, and expatiate round. Rous’d by the woodland-nymphs, at early dawn The mountain-goats came bounding o’er the lawn In hade our fellows to the fhips repair. For arms and weapons of the fylvan war; Straight in three fquadrons all our crew we part, And bend the bow, or wing the miffile dart; The bounteous gods afford a copious prey, And nine fat goats each veflel bears away : HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. i8 The royal bark had ten. Our fhips complete We thus fupply’d, (for twelve were all the fleet.) Here, till the fetting-fun roll’d down the light. We fat indulging in the genial rite. Nor wines were wanting : 1 hole from ample jars We drain’d, the prize of our Ciconian wars. The land of Cyclops lay in profpeft near ; The voice of goats and bleating flocks we hear, And from their mountains rifing fmokes appear. Now funk the fun, and darknefs cover’d o’er The face of things: Along the fea-beat Ihore Satiate we flept: But when the facred dawn Arifing glitter’d o’er the dewy lawn, I call’d my fellows, and thefe words addrelh My dear aflbciates, here indulge your reft } While, with my Angle Ihip, advent’rous I Go forth, the manners of yon men to try; Whether a race unjuft, of barb’rous might. Rude, and unconfcious of a ftranger’s right; Or fuch who harbour pity in their breaft. Revere the gods, and fuccour the diftreft ? This faid, 1 climb’d my veflei’s lofty fide; My train obey’d me, and the (hip unty’d. In order feated on their banks, they fweep , Neptune’s fmooth face, and cleave the yielding deep. When to the neareft verge of land we drew, ■ Faft by the fea a lonely cave we view, High, and with dark’ning laurels cover’d o’er, Where (heep and goats lay flumb’ring round the Ihore. Near this, a fence of marble from the rock, ,Brown with o’er-arching pine, and fpreading oak. I4 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. ill. A giant-fhepherd here his flock maintains Far from the reft, and folitary reigns. In Ihelter thick of horrid fhade reclin’d ; And gloomy mifchiefs labour in his mind. A form enormous! far unlike the race Of human birth, in ftature, or in face : As dome lone mountain’s monftrous growth he flood, Crown’d with rough thickets, and a nodding wood. 1 left my veflel at the point of land, And clofe to guard it gave the crew command : With only twelve, the boldeft and the beft, I feek th’ adventure, and forfake the reft. Then took a goatlkin fill’d with precious wine, -* The gift of Maron, of Evantheus’ line, (. (The prieft of Phoebus at th’ ffmarian fhrine.) J In facred Ibade his honour’d manfion ftood, Amidft Apollo’s confecrated wood : Him, and his houfe, heav’n mov’d my mind to fave, And coftly prefects in return he gave ; Sev’n golden talents to perfeftion wrought, A filver bowl that held a copious draught, And twelve large veftels of unmingled wine, Mellifluous, undecaying, and divine! Which now fome ages from his race conceal’d, The hoary fire in gratitude reveal’d. Such was the wine; to quench whofe fervent ftream, Scarce twenty meafures from the living ftream To cool one cup fuffic’d : The goblet crown’d Breath’d aromatic fragrancies around. Of this an ample vafe we heav’d .-'board, And brought another with proviftons ftor’d. HOME R’s ODYSSEY. IX. 248, rs My foul foreboded I (hould find the bow’r Of fome fell monfter, fierce with barb’rous pow’r, Some ruflic wretch, who liv’d in heav’n’s defpight, Contemning laws, and trampling on the right. The cave we found, but vacant all within, (His flock the giant tended on the green). But round the grot we gaze; and all we view, In order rang’d, our admiration drew : The bending fhelves with loads of cheefes preft. The folded flocks each fep’rate from the reft, < (The larger iiere, and there the lelFer lambs, The new-fall’n yotlng here bleating for their dams The kid diftinguilh’d from the lambkin lies) : The cavern echoes with refponfive cries. Capacious chargers all around were laid. Full pails, and veflels of the milking trade. With frelh provifions hence onr fleet to ftore My friends advife me, and to quit the fliore; Or drive a flock of (heep and goats away, Confult our fafety, and put off to fea. Their wholefome counfel rafhly I declin’d, Curious to view the man of monftrous kind. And try what focial rites a favage lends: Dire rites, alas ! and fatal to my friends! ! Then firft a fire we kindle, and prepare, For his return, with facrifice and pray’r. ‘ The loaden (helves afford us full repaft. We fit expefting. Lo ! he comes at laft. Near half a foreft on his back he bore. And caft the pond’rous burden at the door. * It thunder’d as it fell. We trembled then, And fought the deep receffes of the den. 15 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. 280. Now driv’n before bim, through the arching rock, Came tumbling, heaps on heaps., th’ unnumber’d flock Big-udder’d ewes, and goats of female kind, (The males were penn’d in outward courts behind). Then, heav’d on high, a rock’s enormous weight To the cave’s mouth he roll’d, and clos’d the gate ; (Scarce twenty four-wheel’d cars, compail and flrong, The mafly load could bear, or roll along.) He next betakes him to his ev’ning cares, And, fitting down, to milk his flocks prepares; Of half their udders cafes firfl the dams. Then to the mother’s teat fubmits the lambs. Half the white (tream to hard’ning cheefe he prefl, ^ And high in wicker bafkets heap’d ; the reft, C Referv’d in bowls, fupply’d his nightly feaft. J His labour done, he fir’d the pile, that gave A hidden blaze, and lighten’d all the cave. We ftand difeover’d by the riling fires; Afkance the giant glares, and thus inquires. What are ye, guefts ? on what adventure, fay, Thus far ye wander through the wat’ry way ? Pirates, perhaps, who feek, through leas unknown, The lives of others, and expofe your own ? His voice like thunder through the cavern founds : My bold companions thrilling fear confounds. Appall’d at fight of more than mortal man ! At length, with heart recover’d, I began. From Troy’s fam’d fields, fad wand’rers o’er the main. Behold the reliques of the Grecian train! Through various feas, by various perils tofl. And forc’d by ftorms, unwilling, on your coafl, HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. jit. ij ■ Far from our defin’d courfe, and native land : Such was our fate, and fuch high Jove’s command ! Nor what we are, befits us to difclaim, Atrides’ friends, (in arms a mighty name), Who taught proud Troy and all her fons to bow ; Vidtors of late, but humble fuppliants now! Tow at thy knee thy fuccour we implore ; Refpedt us, human ; and relieve us, poor. At leaft fome hofpitable gift bellow; ’Tis what the happy to th’ unhappy owe : ’ 1'is what the gods require : Thole gods revere, The poor and llranger are their conllant care : To Jove their caufe, and their revenge belongs; He wanders with them, and he feels their wrongs. Fools that ye are ! (the favage thus replies, His inward fury blazing at his eyes), Or Itrangers, dillant far from our abodes, To bid me rev’rence or regard the gods. Know then we Cyclops are, a race above Thofe air-bred people, and their goat-nurs’d Jove r And learn, our pow’r proceeds with thee and thine. Not as he wills, but as ourfeives incline. But anfwer, the good fhip that brought ye o'er, Where lies (he anchor’d ? near or off the Ihore ? 1 Thus he. His meditated fraud I find, (Vers’d in the turns of various human kind), And cautious, thus : Againlt a dreadful rock, Fall by your Ihore the gallant vetlel broke. Scarce with thefe few I Tcap’d, of all my train, Whom angry Neptune whelm’d beneath the main ; < The fcatter’d wreck the winds blew back again. Vol. IX. B i8 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. 344. He anfwer’d with his deed. His bloody hand Snatch’d two, unhappy ! of my martial band, And dafh’d like dogs againft the ftony floor: The pavement fwims with brains and mingled gore. Torn limb from limb, hefpreads his horrid feaft. And fierce devours it like a mountain-beaft : He fucks the marrow, and the blood he drains ! Nor entrails, flefh, nor folid bone remains. We fee the death from which we cannot move, And humbled groan beneath the hand of Jove. His ample maw with human carnage fill’d, A milky deluge next the giant {will’d ; Then ftretch’d in length o’er half the cavern’d rock. Lay fenfelefs and fupine, amidft the flock. To feize the time, and with a fudden wound To fix the flumb’ring monfter to the ground. My foul impels me ; and in aft 1 (land To draw the fword ; but wifdom held my hand. A deed fo raflr had finilh’d all our fate, No mortal forces from the lofty gate Could roll the rock. In hopelefs grief we lay, And figh, expefting the return of day. Now did the rofy-finger’d morn arife, And fhed her facred light along the Ikies. He wakes, he lights the fire, he milks the dams. And to the mother’s teats fubmits the lambs, a netafk thus finilh’d of his morning-hours, Two more he fnatches, murders, and devours. Then pleas’d and whittling, drives his flocks before; Removes the rocky mountain from the door, And Ihuts again ; with equal eafe difpos d, As a light quiver’s lid is op’d and clos’d. B 0 M E R’s O t) Y S S E Y. iX. 374. *S Bis giant-voice the echoing region fills : His flocks, obedient, fpread o’er all the hills. Thus left behind e’en in the laft defpair I thought, devis’d, and Pallas heard ray pray’r. Revenge, and doubt, and caution work’d my bread; But this of many counfels feetn’d the bed : The monder’s club within the cave I fpy’d, A tree of datelied growth, and yet undry’d, Green from the wood; of height and bulk fo vad, -• The larged drip might claim it for a mad. This fhorten’d of its top, I gave my train A fathom’s length, to fhape it and to plain ; The narrow’r end I fliarpen’d to a fpire; Whofe point we harden’d with the force of fire. And hid it in the dud that drow’d the cave. Then to my few companions, bold and brave. Propos’d, who fird the vent’rous deed fhould try, In the broad orbit of his mondrous eye To plunge the brand, and twirl the pointed wood. When dumber next diould tame the man of blood. Jud as I wilh’d, the lots were cad on four : Myfelf the fifth. We dand and wait the hour. He comes with ev’ning : All his fleecy flock Before him march, and pour into the rock : i' Not one, or male or female, daid behind : , (So fortune chanc’d, or fo fome god defign’d.) Then heaving high the done’s unwieldy weight. He roll'd it on the cave, and clos’d the gate. Fird down he fits to milk the woolly dam. And then permits their udder to the lambs. Next feiz’d two wretches more, and headlong cad, Brain’d on the rock ; his fecond dire repad. B % ■SO HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. +od. 1 then approach’d him, reeking with their gore, And held the brimming goblet foaming o’er : Cyclop! fince human fielh has been thy feafl, Now drain this goblet, potent to digeft < Know hence what treafures in our (hip we loft, And what rich liquors other climates boaft. We to thy (here the precious freight (hall bear, If home thou fend us, and vouchfafe to fpare. But oh ! thus furious, thirlling thus for gore, -v The fons of men (hall ne’er approach thy (hore, C And never (halt thou tafle this neftar more. j He heard, he took, and pouring down his throat Delighted, fwill’d the large luxurious draught. More ! give me more, he cry’d : The boon be thine, Whoe’er thou art, that bear’d celedial wine ! Declare thy name ; not mortal is this juice, Such as th’ unblefs’d Cyclopean climes produce, (Though fure our vine the larged cluder yields, And Jove’s fcorn’d thunder ferves to drench our fields) But this defeended from the bed abodes, A rill of neftar, dreaming from the gods. He find, and greedy grafp’d the heady bowl, Thrice drain’d, and pour’d the deluge on his foul. His fenfe lay cover’d with the dofy fume ; While thus my fraudful fpeech I readume. 'f hy promis’d boon, O Cyclop ! now I claim, And plead my title : Noman is my name. By that didinguifh’d from my tender years, »Tis what my parents call me, and my peers. The giant then : Our promis’d grace receive,. The hofpitabie boon we mean to give : H0ME R’s OD YSSt Y. IX. 457, at When all thy wretched crew have felt my pow’r, Noman (hall be the lad I will devour. He (aid : Then nodding with the fumes of wine, Dropt his huge head, and fnoring lay fupine. His neck obliquely o’er his (houlder hung, Prefs’d with the weight of deep, that tames the (bong! There belch’d the mingled dreams of wine and blood,- And human flefh, his indigeded food. Sudden I dir the embers, and infpire With animating breath the feeds of fire ; Each drooping fpirit with bold words repair, And urge my train the dreadful deed to dare. The dake now glow’d beneath the burning bed, (Green as it was), and fparkled fiery red. Then forth the vengeful indrument I bring; With beating hearts my fellows form a ring. Urg’d by fomc prefent god, they fwift let fall The pointed torment on his vifual ball. Myfelf above them, from a rifing ground Guide the (harp dake, and twill it round and round, As when a (hipwright Hands his workmen o’er, Who ply the wimble, feme huge beam to bore; Urg’d on all hands, it nimbly fpins abou.. The grain deep-piercing till it fcoops it out; In his broad eye fo whirls the fiery wood; From the pierc’d pupil fpouts the boili g blood; Sing’d are his brows; the fcorching lids grow black | The gelly bubbles, and the fibres crack. And as when arm’rers temper in the ford The keen-edg’d pole-ax, or the (hining fword, The red hot metal hides in the lake, Thus in his eyeball hifs’d the plunging dake, B3 ti KO ME R.’s ODYSSEY. IS. 4^ He fends a dreadful groan : The rocks around Through all their inmoft winding caves refound. Scar’d, we receded. Forth, with frantic hand, He tore, and dalh’d on earth the goary brand : Then calls the Cyclops, all that round him dwell. With voice like thunder, and a direful yell. From all their dens the one-ey’d race repair, From rifted rocks, and mountains bleak in air. All hafle affembled, at his well-known roar, Inquire the caufe, and croud the cavern-door. What hurts thee, Polypheme ? what ftrange affright Thus breaks our flumbers, and difturbs the night ? Does any mortal, in th’ unguarded hour Of fleep, opprefs thee, Or by fraud or pow’r ? Or thieves infidious thy fair flock furprife ? Thus they. The Cyclop from his den replies. Friends, Nomao kills me : Noman, in the hour Of fleep, oppreffes me with fraudful pow’r. “ If No man hurt thee, but the hand divine “ Inflidt difeafe, it fits thee to refign : “ To Jove, or to thy father Neptune pray,” The brethren cry’d, and inftant rtrode away. Joy touch’d my fecret foul, and confcious heart,. Pleas’d with th’ effedt of condudland of art. Meantime the Cyclop, raging with his wound, Spreads his wide arms, and fearches round and round ;■ At laft, the ftone removing from the gate, With hands extended in the midft he fat; And fearch’d each paffing (heep, and felt it o’er; Secure to feiee us ere we reach’d the door. (Such as his (hallow Wit, he deem’d was mine),- ; But fecret 1 revolv’d the deep defign ; HOME R’s ODYSSEY. IX. jot. z3 ’Twas for our lives my lab’ring bofom wrought; Each fcheme 1 turn’d, and (harpen’d ev’ry thought l This way and that, I eaft to fave my friends, Till one refolve my varying counfel ends. Strong were the rams, with native purple fair, Well fed, and largeft of the fleecy care. Thefe, three and three, with ofier bands we ty’d, (The twining bands the Cyclop’s bed iupply’d) ; The midmoll bore a man ; the outward two Secur’d each fide : So bound we all the crew. One ram remain’d, the leader of the flock ; In his deep fleece my grafping hands 1 lock, And fall beneath, in woolly curls inwove, There cling implicit, and confide in Jove. When rofy morning glimmer’d o’er the dales, He drove to pallure all the lufly males : The ewes dill folded, with diftended tnighs Unmilk’d, lay bleating in dillrcfsful cries. But heedlels of thofe cares, with anguilh flung, He felt their fleeces as they pafs’d along, (Fool that he was) and let them fafeiy go, All unfulpeHing of their freight below. The mailer ram at laft approach’d the gate, ^ Charg’d with his wool, and with UlylTes’ fate. Him whyle he pafs’d, the monlier blind befpoke «. 1 What makes my ram the lag of all the flock ? Firtl thou wert wont to crop the flow’ry mead, Firfl to the field and river’s bank to lead. And fir(l with llateiy flep at ev’ning hour i, Thy fleecy fellows ufher to their bow’r. Now far the laft, with penfive pace and flow Thou mov’d, as confcious of thy mailer’s wo ! B 4 24 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. 533 Seed: thou thefc lids that now unfold in vain ? (The deed of Noman and his wicked train). Oh ! didft thou feel for thy afflifted lord, And would but fate the pow’r of fpeech afford ; Soon mightft thou tell me, where in fecret here The daffard lurks, all trembling with his fear. Swung round and round, and dafli’d from rock to rock? His batter’d brains fhould on the pavement fmoke. No eafe, no plealure my fad heart receives, While fuch a monfter as vile Noman lives. The giant fpoke, and thro’ the hollow rock Difmifs’d the ram, the father of the flock. No fooner freed, and thro’ th’ inclofure pad, Fird I releafe myfelf, my fellows lad : Fat fheep and goats in throngs wc drive before. And reach our veflel on the winding fhore. With joy the failors view their friends return’d. And hail as living, whom as dead they mourn’d. Big tears of tranfport dand in ev’ry eye : I check their fondnefs, and command to fly. Aboard in hade they heave the wealthy fheep, And fnatch their oars, and rufh into the deep. Now off at fea, and from the (hallows clear, As far as human voice could reach the ear; With taunts the didant giant I accod, Hear me, oh Cyclop ! hear, ungracious hod! ’Twas on no coward, no ignoble flave, Thou meditat’d thy meal in yonder cave; But one, the vengeance fated from above Doom’d to inflidt; the indrument of Jove. Thy barb’rous breach of hofpitable bands, The god, the god revenges by my hands. rfOMER’s ODYSSEY. IX. j5j. aj Thefe words the Cyc!op’s burning rage provoke : From the tali hill he rends a pointed rock ; J-Iigh o’er the billows flew the mafly load, And near the (Lip came thund’ring on the flood. It almolt brulh’d the helm, and fell before : The whole fea /hook, and refluent beat the fhore. The flrong concuffion on the heaving tide Roll’d back the vt/Iel to the ifland’s fide : Again I fhov’d her off; our fate to fly. Each nerve we Ilretch, and ev’ry oar we ply. Juft ’fcap’d impending death, when now again We twice as far had furrow'd back the main. Once more I raife my voice; my friends afraid With mild entreaties my defign dilluade. What boots the godleis giant to provoke, Whofe arm may fink us at a Angle ftroke ? Already, when the dreadful rock he threw, Old Ocean ihook, and back his furges flew. Thy founding voice directs his aim again ; The rock o’erwhelms us, and we ’fcap’d in vain. But I, of mind elate, and fcorning fear. Thus with new taunts infult the monfter’s ear: Cyclop ! if any, pitying thy difgrace, Aik who disfigur’d thus that eyeiefs face ! Say ’twas UlylTes ; ’twas his deed, declare, Laertes’ fon, of Ithaca the fair; Ulyfles, far in fighting fields renown’d, Before whofe arm Troy tumbled to the ground. Th’ aftonilh’d favage with a roar replies. Ohheav’ns! oh faith of ancient prophecies! This, Telemus Eurymides foretold, (The mighty fecr who on thefe hills grew old; 2fi HOME R’s 0 D Y S S E Y. IX. SDf- Skill’d the dark fates of mortals to declare, And learn’d in all wing’d omens of the air) ; Long fince he menac’d, fuch was Fate’s command ; And nam’d Ulyfles as the deftin’d hand. I deem’d fome godlike giant to behold, Or lofty hero, haughty, brave, and bold; Not this weak pigmy-wretch, of mean defign, Who not by ftrength fubdu’d me, but by wine. But come, accept our gifts, and join to pray Great Neptune’s bleffing on the wat’ry way : For his I am, and I the lineage own: Th’ immortal father no lefs boafts the fon. Flis pow’r can heal me, and relight my eye; And only his, of all the gods on high. Oh ! could this arm (I thus aloud rejoin’d) From that vail bulk diflodge thy bloody mind. And fend thee howling to the realms of night. As fure, as Neptune cannot give thee fight! Thus I : While raging he repeats his cries, With hands uplifted to the Harry Ikies: Hear me, Oh Neptune ! thou whofe arms are hurl’d From fhore to fhore, and gird the folid world. If thine I am, nor thou my birth difown, And if th’ unhappy Cyclop be thy fon ; Let not Ulylfes breathe his native air, Laertes’ fon, of Ithaca the fair. Jf to review his country be his fate, Be it thro’ toils and fuff’rings, long and late, His loft companions let him firft deplore ; Some veflel, not his own, tranfport him o’er; And when at home from foreign ftiff’rings freed,- More near and deep, domeftic woes fucceed! HOMER’S ODYSSEY. IX. <529. With imprecations thus he fill’d the air, And angry Neptune heard th’ unrighteous pray’r. A larger rock then heaving from the plain, He whirl’d it round : It fung aCrofs the main : It fell, and brulh’d the ftern : The billows roar, Shake at the weight, and refluent beat the (bore. With all our force we kept aloof to fea, And gain’d the ifland where our veflels lay. Our fight the whole collefted navy cheer’d, Who, waiting long, by turns bad hop’d and fear’d. There difembarking on the green fea-fide, We land our cattle, and the fpoil divide : Of thefe due (hares to ev’ry failor fall; The mailer ram was voted mine by all: And him (the guardian of Ulyfles’ fate) With pious mind to heav’n I confecrate. But the great god, whofe thunder rends the Ikies, Averfe, beholds the finoking facrifice; And fees me wand’ring dill from coaft to coaft; And all my velTels, all my people, loft ! Wltile thoughtlefs we indulge the genial rite, As plenteous cates and flowing bowls invite ; Till evening Phoebus roll’d away the light: Stretch’d on the Ihore in carelefs eafe we reft, Till ruddy morning purpled o’er the call. , Then from their anchors all our (hips unbind. And mount the decks, and call the willing wind. Now rang’d in order on our banks, we fweep With hafty llrokes the hoarle-refounding deep; Blind to the future, penfive with our fears, ?. Glad for the living, for the dead in tears. THE ODYSSEY. BOOK X. THE ARGUMENT. Adventures viith JEolits, the Lejlrigons, and Circe. Ulysses arrives at the ifland of Aiolus, who gives him profperous winds, and inclofes the adverfe ones in a bag, which his companions untying, they are driven back again, and rejected. Then they fail to the Leftrigons, where they lofe eleven (hips, and, with one only remaining, proceed to the ifland of Circe. Eurylochus is fent firfl with fome compa- nions, all which, except Eurylochus, are transform- ed into fwine. UlyflTes then undertakes the adven- ture, and, by the help of Mercury, who gives him the herb Moly, overcomes the inchantrefs, and pro- cures the reftoration of his men. After a year’s flay with her, he prepares, at her inftigation, for his voyage to the infernal (hades. u u a nn n iLiin irl BOOK XI A T length we reach’d vEolia’s fea-girt fhore, ^ ^ Where great Hippotades the fceptre bore, A floating iflc! High-rais’d by toil divine. Strong walls of brafs the rocky coaft confine. Six blooming youths, in private grandeur bred, And fix fair daughters, grac’d the royal bed : Thefefons their fitters wed, and all remain Their parents pride, and pleafure of their reign. All day they featt, all day the bowls flow round, And joy and mufic thro’ the ifle refound : At night each pair on fplendid carpets lay, And crown’d with love the pleafures of the day. This happy port affords our wand’ring fleet A month’s reception, and a fafe retreat. Full oft the monarch urg’d me to relate The fall of llion, and the Grecian fate; Full oft I told : At length for parting mov’d; The king with mighty gifts my fuit approv’d. The adverfe winds in leathern bags he brac’d, Comprefs’d their force, and lock’d each ftruggling blatt. For him the mighty fire of gods aflign’d The tempeft’s lord, and tyrant of the wind ; His word alone the lift’ning ftorms obey, To fmooth the deep, or fwell the foamy fea. Thefe in my hollow fhip the monarch hung, Securely fetter’d by a ftlver thong; 32 H O M E R’s O D Y S S E Y. X. 27. But ZepByrus exempt, with friendly gales He charg’d to fill, and guide the fwelling fails: Rare gift! but oh, what gift to fools avails! Nine profp’rous days we ply’d the lab’ring oar; The tenth prefents our welcome native Ihore : The hills difplay the beacon’s friendly light, And rifing mountains gain upon our fight. Then firft my eyes, by watchful toils oppreft, Comply’d to take the balmy gifts of reft ; Then firft my hands did from the rudder part, (So much the love of home poftcfs’d my heart) ; When lo ! on board a fond debate arofe ; What rare device thofe vefleis might inclofe ? What fum, what prize from iEolus I brought ? Whilft to his neighbour each exprefs’d his thought. Say, whence, ye gods, contending nations ftrive Who moft lhall pleafe, who moft our hero give ? Long have his coffers groan’d with Trojan fpoils ; Whilft we, the wretched partners of his toils, Reproach’d by want, our fruitlefs labours mourn, And only rich in barren fame return. Now JEolus, ye fee, augments his ftore : But come, my friends, thefe myftic gifts explore. They faid : And (oh curs’d fate !) the thongs uubou The gulhing tempeft fweeps the ocean round ; Snatch’d in the whirl, the hurried navy flew, The ocean widen’d, and the fhores withdrew. Rous’d from my fata! lleep, I long debate If ftill to live, or defp’rate plunge to fate : Thus doubting, proftrate on the deck I lay, [. Till all the coward thoughts of death gave way. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. X. jr. 3S Meanwhile our veffels plough the liquid plain, And foou the known iEolian coaft regain. V Our groans the rocks re-murmur’d to the main. J We leap’d on ftore, and with a fcanty-feaft Our third and hunger hadily repred; That done, two chofen heralds drait attend. Our fecond progrefs to my royal friend; And him amidd his jovial fons we found; The banquet deaming, and the goblets crown’d : There humbly dopp’d with confcious fhame and awe, Nor nearer than the gate prefum’d to draw. But foon his fons their well-known gued defcry’d. And darting from their couches loudly ery’d, Ulyfles here ! what daemon couldd thou meet To thwart thy padage, and repel thy fleet ? Wad thou not furnilh’d by our choked care For Greece, for home, and all thy foul held dear !' Thus they : In filcnce long my fate I mourn’d. At length thefe words with accent low return’d. Me, lock’d in deep, my faithlefs crew bereft Of all the bleflings of your godlike gift! But grant, oh grant our lofs we may retrieve: A favour you, and you alone can give. Thus I with art to move their pity try’d. And touch’d the youths ; but their dcrn fire reply’d. Vile wretch, begone ! this indant I command Thy fleet accurs’d to leave our hallow’d land. His baneful fuit pollutes thefe blefs’d abodes, Whofe fate proclaims him hateful to the gods. Thus fierce he faid: We fighing went our way. And with defponding hearts put off to fea. Vox.. IX. C 34 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. X. 89. The failors, fpent with toils, their folly mourn, But mourn in vain ; no profpeft of return. Six days and nights a doubtful courfe we fleer, The next proud Lamos’ ftately tow’rs appear, And Laeftrigonia’s gates arife diftinft in air. The fhepherd quitting here at night the plain, Calls, to fucceed his cares, the watchful fwain ; But he that fcorns the chains of fleep to wear, And adds the herdfman’s to the (hepherd’s care. So near the paftures, and fo Ihort the way, His double toils may claim a double pay. And join the labours of the night and day. Within a long recefs a bay there lies, Edg’d round with cliffs, high pointing to the Ikies j The jutting (hores that fwell on either fide Contradt its mouth, and break the rulhing tide. Our eager failors feize the fair retreat, And bound within the port their crouded fleet : For here retir’d the finking billows fleep, And fmiling calmnefs filver’d o’er the deep. I only in the bay refus’d to moor. And fix’d, without, my haulfers to the (hore: From thence we climb’d a point, whofe airy brow Commands the profpeft of the plains below : No tracks of hearts, or figns of men we found, But fimoky volumes rolling from the ground. Two with dur herald thither we command, With fpeed to learn what men paffefs’d the laud. They went, and kept the wheel’s fmooth beaten road Which to the city drew the mountain-wood; When lo! they met, befide a cryftal fpring, The daughter of Antiphatcs the king ; H 0 M E R’s ODYSSEY. X. Hi. 3S She to Artacia’s filver ftreams came down, (Artacia’s ftreams alone (apply the town) : The damfel they approach, and alk’d what race The people were ? who monarch of the place ? With joy the maid th’ unwary ftrangers heard. And (how’d them where the royal dome appear’d. They went: But, as they ent’ring faw the queen Of fize enormous, and terrific mien, (Not yielding to fome bulky mountain’s height), A hidden horror (truck their aking fight. Swift at her call her hufband fcour’d away To wreak his hunger on the deftin’d prey ; One for his food the raging glutton (lew ; But two rulh’d out, and to the navy flew. Balk'd of his prey, the yelling monfter flies, And fils the city with his hideous cries. A ghaftly band of giants hear the roar. And, pouring down the mountains, croud the fliore. Fragments they rend from off the craggy brow, And da(h the ruins on the (hips below : The crackling veflels burft; hoarfe groans arife, And mingled horrors echo to the (kies; The men, like fifh, they (luck upon the flood, And cramm’d their filthy throats with human food. :! Whilft thus their fury rages at the bay, ’ My fword our cables cut; I call’d to weigh ; And charg’d my men, as they from fate would fly, Each nerve to drain, each bending oar to ply. The failors catch the word, their oars they feize, And fweep with equal ftrokes the fmoky feas. Clear of the rocks th’ impatient vefle! flies; Whilft in the port each wretch incumber’d dies. C 2 §6 HOMER’S ODYSSEY. X. I5J: With earned hade my frighted Tailors prefs, While kindling tranfports glow’d at our fuccefs ; But the fad fate that did our friends dedroy Cool’d ev’ry bread, and damp’d the rifing joy. Now dropp’d our anchors in the iEaean bay, Where Circe dwelt, the daughter of the day ; Her mother Perfe, of old Ocean’s drain, Thus from the Sun defcended, and the Main ; {From the fame lineage dern iEaetes came, The far-fam’d brother of th’ enchantrefs dame), Goddefs and queen, to whom the pow’rs belong Of dreadful magic, and commanding fong. Some god direOing, to this peaceful bay Silent we came, and melancholy lay, Spent and o’erwatch’d. Two days and nights roll’d or. And now the third fucceeding morning (bone. I climb’d a eliff, with fpear and fword in hand, Whofe ridge o’erlook’d a lhady length of land ; To learn if aught of mortal w orks appear. Or cheerful voice of mortal ftrike the ear ? From the high point I mark’d, in diftant view, A dream of curling fmoke, afcending blue, And fpiry tops, the tufted trees above. Of circc’s palace bofom’d in the grove. Thither to hade, the region to explore, Was fird my thought: But fpeedipg back to Ihore I deem’d it bed to vifit fird my crew, And fend out fpies the dubious coaft to view. As down the hill I folitary go, Some pow’r divine who pities human wo Sent a tall dag, defcending from the wood. To cool his fervour in the cryftal flood; HOMER’s OD YU S E Y. X. i8f. Luxuriant on the wave-worn bank he lay, Stretch’d forth, and panting in the funny ray. 1 launc’d my fpear, and with a fudden wound Tranfpierc’d his back, and fix’d him to the groundo •He falls, and mourns his fate with human cries : Through the wide wound the vital fpirit flies. 1 drew, and calling on the river-fide The bloody fpear, {iis gather’d feet 1 ty’d With twining ofiers, which the bank fupply'd. An ell in length the pliant whifp I weav’d. And the huge body on my (boulders heav’d : Then leaning on the fpear with both my hands, -Upbore my load, and prefs’d the finking fands With weighty fteps, till at the (hip l threw The welcome burden, and befpoke my crew. Cheer up, my friends! it is not yet our fate To glide with ghofts through Pluto’s gloomy gate. Food in the defert land, behold ! is giv’n, Live, and enjoy the providence of heav’n. The joyful crew furVey his mighty fize, And on the future banquet feaft their eyes, As huge in length extended lay the bead ; Then wafh their hands, and haften to the feaft. There, till the fetting fun roll’d down the light. They fat indulging in the genial rite. When ev’ning rofe, and darknefs cover’d o’er The face of things, we flept along the Ihorc. But when the rofy morning warm’d the eaft. My men I fummon’d, and thefe words addred. Followers and friends, attend what I propofeP Ye fad companions of Ulyfles’ woes! C3 ;8 f HOMER’s OtJYSSEY. X. ai«. We know not here what land before us lies, Or to what quarter now we turn our eyes, Or where the fun fhall fet, or where (hall rife. Here let us think (if thinking be not vain) If any counfel, any hope remain. Alas ! from yonder promontory’s brow, I view’d the coaft, a region flat and low ; An ille encircled with the boundlefs flood ; A length of thickets, and entangled wood. Some fmoke I faw amid the foreft rife. And all around it only feas and Ikies ! With broken hearts my fad companions flood, Mindful of Cyclops and his human food, And horrid Laeftrigons, the men of blood. Prefaging tears apace began to rain; But tears in mortal miferies are vain. In. equal parts I ftrait divide my band, And name a chief each party to command; 1 led the one, and of the other fide Appointed brave Eurylochus the guide. Then in the brazen helm the lots we throw. And fortune cafts Euryloehus to go. He march’d, with twice eleven in his train ; Penfive they march, and penfive we remain. The palace in a woody vale they found, High rais’d of flone ; a (haded fpace around, Where mountain-wolves and brindled lions roanv (By magic tam’d) familiar to the dome. With gentle blandifhment our men they meet. And wag their tails, and fawning lick their feet. As from feme feaft aman returning late. His faithful dogs all meet him at the gate. HOMER’S ODYSSEY. X. 148. 39 Rejoicing round, fome morfel to receive, (Such as the good man ever us’d to give) : Dometlic thus the grifly hearts drew near ; They gaze with wonder, not unmix’d with fear. Now on the thrcfhold of the dome they ftood. And heard a voice refounding through the wood : Plac’d at her loom within, the goddefs fung; The vaulted roofs and folid pavement rung. O’er the fair web the rifing figures Ihine, Immortal labour ! worthy hands divine. Polites to the red the queftion mov’d, (A gallant leader, and a man I lov’d). What voice celertial, chanting to the loom, (Or nymph, or goddfs), echoes from the room ? Say, fhall we feek accefs ? With that they call; And wide unfold the portals of the hall. The goddefs rifing, aiks her guefts to rtay, Who blindly follow where fhe leads the way. Eurylochus alone of all the band, Sufpefting fraud, more prudently remained. On thrones around, with downy cov’rings grac’d, With fetnblance fair th’ unhappy men the plac’d. Milk newly prefs’d, the facred flour of wheat, And honey frelh, and Pramnian wines the treat: But venom’d was the bread, and mix’d the bowl. With drugs of force to darken all the foul: Soon in the lufcious feaft themfelves they loft, And drank oblivion of their native coaft. Inftant her circling wand the goddefs waves, To hogs transforms ’em, and the fty receives. No more was feen the human form divine : Head, face, and members, bridle into fwine : C4 4» HOMER’S ODYSSEY. X. »8o. Still curs’d with fenfe, their minds remain alone, And their own voice affrights them when they groan Meanwhile the goddefs in difdain bellows The mad and acorn, brutal food ! and flrows The fruits of cornel, as their feaft, around ; Now prone and grov’ling on unfav’ry ground. Eurylochus, with penfive fleps and flow, Aghaft returns ; the mcflenger of wo, And bitter fate. To fpeak he made eflay. In vain eflay’d, nor would his tongue obey, His fwelling heart deny’d the words their way. But fpeaking tears the want of words fupply. And the full foul burfls copious from his eye. Affrighted, anxious for our fellows fates, We prefs to hear what fadly he relates. We went, Ulyfles! (fuch was thy command), Through the lone thicket, and the defert land. A palace in a woody vale we found Brown with dark forefts, and with fliades around. A voice celeftial echo’d from the dome, Or nymph, or goddefs, chanting to the loom. Accefs we fought, nor was accefs deny’d : Radiant (he came, the portals open’d wide : The goddefs mild invites the guells to flay: They blindly follow where (he leads the way. I only wait behind, of all the train ; I waited long, and ey’d the doors in vain : The reft are vanifli’d, none repafs’d the gate ; And not a man appears to tell their fate. I heard, and inftant o’er my (boulders flung The belt in which my weighty faulchion hung, HOMER’s ODYSSEY. X. 311. (A beamy blade) ; then fciz’d the bended bow, And bade him guide the way, refolv’d to go. He, proftrate falling, with both hands embrac’d My knees, and, weeping, thus his fuit addrefs’d, O king belov’d of Jove ! thy fervant fpare. And ah, thyfelf the rafh attempt forbear! Never, alas! thou never fiialt return, Or fee the wretched, for whofe lols we mourn. With what remains, from certain ruin fly, And fave the few not fated yet to die. I anfvver’d Hern. Inglorious then remain; Here feaft and loiter, and defen thy train. Alone, unfriended, will I tempt my way ; The laws of fate compel, and I obey. This faid, and fcornfu! turning from the (here My haughty ftep, I ftalk’d the valley o’er. Till now approaching nigh the magic bow’r. Where dwelt th’ inchantrefs, Ikili’d in herbs pow’r; A form divine forth iffu’d from the wood, (Immortal Hermes with the golden rod), In human femfclance. On his bloomy face Youth fmil’d celellial, with each op’ning grace. He feiz’d my hand, and gracious thus began : ' Ah whither roam’ft thou ? much-enduring man ! O blind to fate ! what led thy fteps to rove The horrid mazes of this magic grove ? Each friend you feek in yon inclofure lies, All loft their form, inhabitants of flies. Think’ft thou by wit to model their efcape? Sooner lhalt thou, a ftranger to thy ihape, 4* H O M E R’s ODYSSEY. X. 341. Fall prone their equal: Firft thy danger know. Then take the antidote the gods beftow. The plant 1 give through all the direful bow’r Shall guard thee, and avert the evil hour. Now hear her wicked arts. Before thy eyes The bowl Ihall fparkle, and the banquet rife ; Take this, nor from the faithlefs feaft abflain, For temper’d drugs and poifons (hall be vain. Soon as (he ftrikes her wand, and gives the word. Draw forth, and brandilh thy refulgent fword, And menace death : Thofe menaces (hall move Her alter’d mind to blandilhment and love. Nor (hun the blefling proffer’d to thy arms ; Afcend her bed, and fade celeftial charms : So (hall thy tedious toils a refpite find, And thy loft friends return to human kind. But fwear her firft, by thofe dread oaths that tie The pow’rs below, the blefled in the (ky ; Left to the naked fecret fraud be meant, Or magic bind thee, cold and impotent. Thus while he fpoke, the fov’reign plant he drew, Where on th’ all-bearing earth unmark’d it grew, And (bow’d its nature and its wondrous pow’r : Black was the root, but milky white the flow’r ; Moly the name, to mortals hard to find. But all is eafy to th’ aetherial kind. This Hermes gave, then gliding off the glade Shot to Olympus from the woodland (hade. While full of thought, revolving fates to come., I fpeed my pafiage to th’ inchanted dome : Arriv’d, before the lofty gates I ftay’d : The lofty gates the geddefs wide difplay’d; HOMER’s ODYSSEY. X. 373, She leads before, and to the feaft invites ; I follow fadly to the magic rites. Radiant with flarry finds, a filver feat Receiv’d my limbs; a footflool eas’d my feet. She mix’d the potion, fraudulent of foul; The poifon mantled in the golden bowl. I took, and quaff’d it, confident in heav’n : Then wav’d the wand, and then the word was giv’n. Hence, to thy fellows! (dreadful (he began), Go, be a bead !—I heard, and yet was man. Then fudden whirling, like a waving flame, My beamy faulchion, I afTault the dame. Struck with unufual fear, fhe trembling cries ; She faints, fhe falls; fhe lifts her weeping eyes. What art thou ? fay ! from whence, from whom you came ? O more than human ! tell thy race, thy name. Amazing flrength, thefe poifons to fuflain! Not mortal thou, nor mortal is thy brain. Or art thou he, the man to come, (foretold By Hermes pow’rful with the wand of gold), The man from Troy, who wander’d ocean round; The man for wifdom’s various arts renown’d, UlyfTes ? oh ! thy threatning fury ceafe, Sheathe thy bright fword, and join our hands in peace; Let mutual joys our mutual truft combine, And love and love-born confidence be thine. And how, dread Circe ! (furious I rejoin), Can love and love-born confidence be mine ! Beneath thy charms when my companions groan, Transform’d to beads, with accents not their own l 44 H O M E R’s O D Y S S E Y. X. 403. O thou of fraudful heart! (hall I be led To (hare thy fead-rites, or aleend thy bed; That, all unarm’d, thy vengeance may hsve vent, And magic bind me, cold and impotent ? Celeftial as thou art, yet (land deny’d; Or fwear that oath by which the gods are tyhl, Swear, in thy foul no latent frauds remain, 'Swear by the vow which never can be vain. The goddefs (wore : Then feiz’d my hand, and led To the fweet tranfports of the genial bed. Miniftrant to their queen, with bufy care, Four faithful handmaids the foft rites prepare; Nymphs fpruug from fountains, or from lhady woods, Or the fair offspring of the (acred floods. One o'er the couches painted carpets threw, Whofe purple luftre glow’d againft the view ; White linen lay beneath : Another plac’d The (liver (lands, with golden flalkets grac’d: With dulcet bev’rage this the beaker crown’d, Fair in the midft, with gilded cups around : That in the tripod o’er the kindled pile The water pours; the bubbling waters boil: An ample vafe receives the fmoking wave ; And, in the bath prepar’d, my limbs I lave : Reviving fweets repair the mind’s decay, And take the painful fenfe of toil away. A veil and tunic o’er me next (he threw, Frelh from the bath, and dropping balmy dew ; Then led, and plac’d me on the fov’reign feat, With carpets fpread, a footftool at my feet. The golden ew’r a nymph obfequious brings, Replenifli’d from the cool tranflucent fprings; HO'MER’s ODYSSEY. X. 435. 4$ With copious water the bright vafe fupplies A filver laver of capacious fize. 1 walh'd. The table in fair order fpread. They heap the glitt’ring canifters with bread; Viands of various kinds allure the tafte, Of choiceft fort and favour, rich repaft ! Circe in vain invites the feaft to fhare; Abfent 1 ponder, and abforpt in care: While fcenes of wo rofe anxious in my breaft. The queen beheld me, and thcfe words addreft. Why fits Ulyffes filent and apart. Some hoard of grief clofe-harbour’d at his heart.’' Untouch’d before thee (land the cates divine, And unregarded laughs the rofy wine. Can yet a doubt, or any dread remain, When fworn that oath which never can be vain ? 1 anfwer’d : Goddefs, human is my breaft, By jufiice fway’d, by tender pity preft : III fits it me, whofe friends are funk to beads, To quaff thy bowls, or riot in thy feafts. Me wonldft thou pleale, for them thy cares employ. And them to me reftore, and me to joy. With that Ihe parted: In her potent hand She bore the virtue of the magic wand. Then haft’ning to the flies, fet wide the door. Urg’d forth, and drove the briflly herd before. Unwieldy, out they rufh’d, with gen’ral cry. Enormous hearts! diflioneft to the eye. Now touch’d by counter-charms, they change again, And Hand majeftic, and recall’d to men. Thofe hairs of late that bridled ev’ry part, fall off; miraculous effeft of art! 461 H O M E R’s ODYSSEY. X. 467. Till all the form in full proportion rife, More young, more large, more graceful to my eves. They law, they knew me, and with eager pace Clung to their mafter in a long embrace; Sad, pleafing fight! with tears each eye ran o’er, And fobs of joy re-echo’d through the bow’rt Ev’n Circe wept, her adamantine heart Felt pity enter, and fuftain’d her part. Son of Laertes! (then the queen began), Oh much-enduring, much-experienc’d man ! Halle to thy veilel on the fea-beat (bore, Unload thy treafures, and thy galley moor; Then bring thy friends, fecure from future harms, And in our grotto’s How thy fpoils and arms. She laid. Obedient to her high command, I quit the place, and hallen to the llrand. My fad companions on the beech I found. Their willful eyes in floods of forrow drown’d. As from frefli pallures and the dewy field (When loaded cribs their ev’ning-banquet yield) The lowing herds return ; around them throng With leaps and bounds their late imprifon’d young, Rulh to their mothers with unruly joy, And echoing hills return the tender cry : So round me prefs’d, exulting at my fight, With cries and agonies of wild delight, The weeping failors; nor lefs fierce their joy Than if return’d to Ithaca from Troy. Ah mafler ! ever honour’d, ever dear, (Tliefe tender words on ev’ry fide I hear), What other joy can equal thy return 1 Not that lov’d country for whofe light we mourn, HOME R’s ODYSSEY. 'X. 499. 47 The foil that nurs’d us, and that gave us breath : But ah ! relate our loft companions death. I anfwtr’d cheerful: Haftc, your galley moor. And bring our treafures and our arms afhore : Thofe in yon hollow caverns let ns lay; Then rife and follow where I lead the way. Your fellows live : Believe your eyes and come To tafte the joys of Circe’s facred dome. With ready ipead the joyful crew obey: Alone Eurylochus perfuades their ftay. Whither, (he cry’d), ah whither will ye run ? Seek ye to meet thofe evils ye Ihould fhun i Will you the terrors of the dome explore, In fwine to grovel, or in lions roar. Or wolf-like howl away the midnight-hour In dreadful watch around the magic bow’r ? Remember Cyclops, and his bloody deed; The leader’s rafhnefs made the foldiers bleed. I heard incens’d, and firft refoiv’d to fpeed My flying faulchion at the rebel’s head. Dear as he was, by ties of kindred bound, This hand had ftretch’d him breathlefs on the ground But all at once my interpoflng train For mercy pleaded, nor could plead in vain. I Leave here the man who dares his prince defert, Leave to repentance and his own fad heart, !l To guard the fliip. Seek we the facred fhades Of Circe’s palace, where Ulyffes leads. This with one voice declar’d, the riling train Left the black veflelby the murm’ring main. Shame touch’d Eurylochus’s alter’d breaft ; He fear’d my threats, and follow’d with the reft. *U HOME R's ODYSSEY. X. 531. Meanwhile the goddefs, with indulgent cares And focial joys, the late transform’d repairs ; The bath, the feaft, their fainting foul renews ; Rich in refulgent robes, and dropping balmy dew: Bright’ning with joy their eager eyes behold Each other’s face, and each his ftory told; Then gulhing tears the narrative confound, And with their fobs the vaulted roofs refound. When hulh’d their palfion, thus the goddefs cries : tflyfles, taught by labours to be wife, Det this (hort memory of grief fuffice. To me are known the various woes ye bore. In ftorms by fea, in perils on the fhore; Forget whatever was in fortune’s pow’r, And (hare the pleafures of this genial hour. Such be your minds as ere you left your coaft,- Or learn’d to forrow for your country loll. Exiles and wand’rers now, where’er you go, * Too faithful memory renews your wo; The caufe remov’d, habitual griefs remain. And the foul faddens by the ufe of pain. Her kind entreaty mov’d the gen’rai bread ; Tir’d with long toil, we willing funk to reft. We ply’d the banquet, and the bowl we crown’d, Till the full circle of the year came round. But when the fcafons, following in their train, Brought back the months, the days, and hours again As from a lethargy at once they rife. And urge their chief with animating cries. Is this, Ulyfles, our inglorious Ipt i And is the name of Ithaca forgot ’ HOMER’s ODYSSEY. X. s ODYSSEY. BOOK XL THE ARGUMENT. The Defcent into Hell. Ulyss es continues his narration. How he arrived at the land of the Cimmerians, and what ceremonies he performed to invoke the dead. The manner of his defcent, and the apparition of the lhades. His converfation with Elpenor, and with Terefias, who inform him, in a prophetic manner, of his fortunes to come. He meets his mother Anticlea, from whom he learns the Rate of his family. He fees the lhades of the ancient heroines, afterwards of the heroes, and converfes in particular with Agamem- non and Achilles. Ajax keeps at a fullen diftance, and difdains to anfwer him. He then beholds Ti- tyus, Tantalus, Syfiphus, Hercules; till he is de- terred from further curiofity by the apparition of horrid fpectres, and the cries of the wicked in tor- ments. D 3 ' ' o o' n ; ; i 3ifj ,v... iiJ ) \ ... . : i BOOK XL NO W to the fhores we bend, a mournful train! Climb the tall bark, and launch into the main: At once the mart we rear, at once unbind The fpacious fheet, and ftretch it to the wind : Then pale and penfive (land, with cares opprcft. And folemn horror faddens ev’ry bread. A frelh’ning breeze the magic pow’r * (upply’d. While the wing’d vedel flew along the tide ; Our oars wc (hipp’d: All day the (welling fails Full from the guiding pilot catch’d the gales. Now funk the fun from his aerial height. And o’er the (haded billows rulh’d the night: When lo! we reach’d old Ocean’s utmod bounds, Where rocks control his waves with ever-during mounds. There in a lonely land, and gloomy cells, The dulky nation of Cimmeria dwells: The fun ne’er views th’ uncomfortable feats, When radiant he advances, or retreats : Unhappy race! whom endlefs night invades. Clouds the dull air, and wraps them round in (hades. The (hip we moor on thefe obfeure abodes ; Dilbark the (heep, an ofF’ring to the gods j And hell-ward bending, o’er the beach defgry The dolefome paflage to th’ infernal (ky. * Circc. 5 T H E ODYSSEY. BOOK XII. THE ARGUMENT. The Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis. tje relates, how, after his return from the (hades, he was fent by Circe on his voyage, by the coaft of the Sirens, and by the flrait of Scylla and Charybdis : The manner in which he efcaped thofe dangers : How, being cad on the ifland Trinacria, his com- panions deftroyed the oxen of the fun : The ven- geance that followed : How all perUhed by (hip- wreck, except himfelf, who, fwimming on the mart of the (hip, arrived on the ifland of Calypfo. With which his narration concludes, Vol. IX. E- SlJ' - ■ ■;v- -i .isisis/’. ■ **-" • . BOOK XII, [-pHUS o’er the rolling furge the veflel flies, 1 Till from the waves th’ Tliaean hills arife. Here the gay Morn refides in radiant bow’rs, Here keeps her revels with the dancing Hours ; Here Phoebus riling in th’ aetherial way, Thro’ heav’n’s bright portals pours the beamy day. At once we fix our halfers on the land, At once defcend, and prefs the defert fand ;■ There worn and wafted, lofe our cares in fleepj- To the hoarfc murmurs of the rolling deep. Soon as the morn reftor’d the day, we paid Sepulchral honours to Eipenor’s (hade. Now by the axe the rulhing foreft bends, And the huge pile along the fhore afcends. Around we Hand, a melancholy train ! And a loud groan re-echoes from the main. Fierce o’er the pyre, by fanning breezes fpread, The hungry flame devours the filent dead. A rifing tomb, the filent dead to grace, Faft by the roarings of the main we place; The rifing tomb a lofty column bore, And high above it rofe the tap’ring oar. Meantime the * goddefs our return furvey’d From the pale ghofts, and hell’s tremendous lhade. Swift (he defcends : A train of nymphs divine Bear the rich viands and the gen’rous wine ; Circe. Fa 84 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XII. a?. In aft to fpeak the * pow’r of magic ftands, And graceful thus accofts the lift’ning bands. O fons of wo i decreed by adverfe fates Alive to pafs through hell’s eternal gates! All, foon or late, are doom’d that path to tread : More wretched you ! twice number’d with the dead" This day adjourn your cares; exalt your fouls, Indulge the tafte, and drain the fparkling bowls : And when the morn unveils her faffron ray, Spread your broad fails, and plough the liquid way. I.o I this night, your faithful guide, explain Your woes by land, your dangers on the main. The goddefs fpoke. In feafls we wade the day, Till Phoebus downward plung’d his burning ray ; Then lable night afcends, and balmy reft Seals ev’ry eye, and calms the troubled breaft. Then curious (he commands me to relate The dreadful fcenes of Pluto’s dreary ftate. She fat in filence while the tale I tell, The wondrous vifions, and the laws of hell. Then thus: The lot of man the gods difpofe; Thefe ills are part; now hear thy future woes. O prince attend! fome fav’ring pow’r be kind, And print th’ important ftory on thy mind ! Next, where the Sirens dwell, you plough the feas Their fong is death, and makes deftruftion pleafe. Unblefs’d the man, whom mufic wins to flay Nigh the curs’d Ihore, and liften to the lay ! No more that wretch (hall view the joys of life. His blooming offspring, or his beauteous wife l * Circe, H OM E R!s ODYSSEY. XIE 57- 8* t In verdant meads they fport, and wide around Lie human bones, that whiten all the ground ; The ground polluted floats with human gore, And human carnage taints the dreadful fhore. Fly fwift the dang’rous coaft : Let ev’ry ear Be flopp’d agdnft the fong! ’tts death to hear ! Firm to the mart with chains thyfelf be bound, Nor tmfl thy virtue to th’ inchanting found. If mad with tranfport, freedom thou demand. Be ev’ry fetter drain’d, and added band to band. Thele feas o’erpafs’d, be wife! but I refrain To mark diftinft thy voyage o’er the main : New horrors rife ! let prudence be thy guide, And guard thy various palLge through the tide. Fligh o’er the main two rocks exalt their hrow, The boiling billows thund’ring roll below ; Through the vaft waves the dreadful wonders move, Hence nam’d Erratic by the gods above. No bird of air, no dove of fwiftefl wing, That bears ambrofia to th’ aetherial king. Shuns the dire rocks : In vain fhe cuts the Ikies, The dire rocks meet, and crulh her as (he flies : Not the fleet bark, when profp’rous breezes play, f Ploughs o’er that roaring furge its defp’rate way; O’erwhelm’d it finks: While round a fmoke expires, And the waves flafliing feem to burn with fires. Scarce the fam’d Argo pafs’d thefe raging floods, The facred Argo, fill’d with demigods ! Ev’n (lie had funk ; but Jove’s imperial bride Wing’d her fleet fail, and pulh’d her o’er the tide. High in the air the rock its fummit (hrouds, In brooding fempefis, and in rolling clouds; ; F 3 8S HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XII. 8j, Loud florms around, and mills eternal rife, Beat its bleak brow, and intercept the Ikies. When all the broad expanfion, bright with day, Glows with th’ autumnal or the fummer ray. The fummer and the autumn glow in vain, The Iky for ever lours, for ever clouds remain. Impervious to the Hep of man it Hands, Tho’ born by twenty feet, tho’ arm’d with twenty hands ; Smooth as the polilh of the mirror rife The flipp’ry lides, and fhoot into the Ikies. Full in the centre of this rock difplay’d, A yawning cavern cads a dreadful (hade : Nor the fleet arrow from the twanging bow, Sent with full force, could reach tire depth below. Wide to the weft the horrid gulf extends, And the dire paflage down to hell defcends. O fly the dreadful light! expand thy fails, Fly the ftrong oar, and catch the nimble gales; Here Scylla bellows from her dire abodes, Tremendous peft ! abhorr’d by man and gods! Hideous her voice, and with lefs terrors roar The whelps of lions in the midnight hour. Twelve feet deform’d and foul the fiend difpreads. Six horrid necks lire rears, and fix terrific heads; Her jaws grin dreadful with three rows of teeth ; Jaggy they Hand, the gaping den of death : Her parts obfcene the raging billows hide ; Her bofom terribly o’erlooks the tide. When flung with hunger fhe embroils the flood. The fea-dog and the dolphin, are her food; HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XII. up. 8y iShe makes the huge leviathan her prey, 'And all the monfters of the wat’ry way ; IThe fwifteft racer of the azure plain j Here fills her fails and fpreads her oars in vain ; 1 Fell Scylla rifes, in her fury roars, i At once fix mouths expands, at once fix men devours. IClofe by, a rock of lefs enormous height Breaks the wild waves, and forms a dang’rous ftreight Full on its crown a fig’s green branches rife, And (hoot a leafy forefl to the (kies; Beneath, Charybdis holds her boift’rous reign ’Midft roaring whirlpools, and abforbs the main; Thrice in her gulfs the boiling feas fubfide, Thrice in dire thunders (he refunds the tide. Oh, if thy vefifel plough the direful waves When feas retreating roar within her caves, Ye perilh ail! though he who rules the main Lend his (Irong aid, his aid he lends in vain. Ah, (hun the horrid gulf! by Scylla fly; j ’Tis better fix to lofe, than all to die. I then : O nymph propitious to my pray’r, Goddefs divine, my guardian pow’r, declare, ■ Is the foul fiend from human vengeance freed ? Or if I rile in arms, can Scylla bleed ? Then (he : O worn by toils, oh broke in fight! j Still are new toils and war thy dire delight ? Will martial flames for ever fire thy mind, And never, never be to heav’n refign’d ? How vain thy efforts to avenge the wrong ? Deathlefs the pefl ! impenetrably (Irong ! Furious and fell! tremendous to behold! Ev’n with a look (he withers all the bold 1 F4 88 H O M E R’s O D Y S S E Y. XII. 1Sl, She mocks the weak attempts of human might; O fly her rage ! thy conquefl is thy flight. ]f but to feize thy arms thou make delay, Again the fury vindicates her prey, Her fix mouths yawn, and fix are fnatch’d away. From her foul womb Crataeis. gave to air This dreadful pefl! To her direfi thy pray’r. To curb the mop.ftet in her dire abodes, And guard thee through' the tumult of the floods. Thence to TrinacriaVIhore yon bend your way, Where graze thy herds, illuftrious fo.urce.of day ! Sev’n herds, fev’n flocks.enrich the facred plains. Each herd, each flock full fifty heads contains; The wondrous kind a length of age furvey, , By breed increafe not, nor by death decay. Two fifter-goddefles poliefs the plain. The conflant guardians of the woolly train; Lampetie fair, and Phaethufa young, From Phoebus and the bright Neaera fprung: Here watchful o’er the flocks, in fhady bow’rs And fiow’ry meads, they wafte the joyous hours. Rob not the god! and fo propitious gales Attend thy voyage, and impel thy fails : But, if thy impious hands the flocks deflroy, The gods, the gods avenge it, and ye die ! ’Tis thine alone (thy friends and navy lofl) Through tedious toils to view thy native cofl. She ceas’d ; And now arofe the morning ray; Swift to her dome the goddefs held her way. Then to my mates 1 meafur’d back the plain, Climb’d the tall bark, and nilh’d into the main : HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XII. a3i. 89 Then bending to the ftroke, their oars they drew To thctr broad breads, andfwift the galley flew. Up'fprunga brifker breeze; with frelh’ning gales The friendly goddefs ftretch’d the fwelling fails : We drop our oars ; at cafe the pilot guides; The veflel light along the level glides; When rifing fad and flow, with penflve look. Thus to the melancholy train 1 fpoke: O friends, oh ever partners of my woes ! Attend, white I what heav’si foredooms difclofe ; Hear all! fate hangs o’er all! on you it lies To live, or perilh ; to be fafe, be wife i In flow’ry meads the fportive Sirens play, Touch the loft lyre, and tune the vocal lay. Me, me alone, with fetters firmly bound, The gods allow to hear the dang’rous found. Hear and obey : If freedom I demand, Be ev’ry fetter drain’d, be added band to band. While yet I fpeak, the winged galley flies, And lo the Siren (hores like mills arife. Sunk were at once the winds ; the air above. And waves below, at once forgot to move: Some daemon calm’d the air, and finooth’d the deep, Hufh’d the loud winds, and charm’d the waves to deep. Now every fail we furl, each oar we ply ; Lath'd by the ftroke the frothy waters fly. The duflile wax with bufy hands I mold. And cleft in fragments, and the fragments roll’d : Th’ aerial region now grew warm with day, The wax diflblv’d beneath the burning ray; Then ev’ry ear I barr’d againfl the flrain, And from accefs of frenzy lock’d the brain. So HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XII. 314. Now round the mart my mates the fetters roll’d. And bound me limb by limb, with fold on fold. Then bending to the ftroke, the active train Plunge all at once their oars, and cleave the main» While to the (hore the rapid veflel flies, Our fwift approach the Siren quire defcries ; Celeftial mufic warbles from their tongue. And thus the fweet delnders tune the fong. O (lay, oh pride of Greece ! Ulyfles, flay ! O ceafe thy courfe, and liften to our lay l Blefs’d is the man ordain’d our voice to hear; The fong inflrufts the foul, and charms the ear. Approach ! thy foul lhall into raptures rife ! Approach ! and learn new wifdom from the wife! We know whate’er the kings of mighty name Achiev’d at Ilion in the field of fame ; Whate’er beneath the fun’s bright journey lies. O flay, and learn new wifdom from the wife ! Thus the fweet charmers warbled o’er the main ; My foul takes wing to meet the heav’nly ftrain ; I give the fign, and flrnggle to be free : Swift row my mates, and (hoot along the fea ; New chains they add, and rapid urge the way, Till dying off, the diftant founds decay : Then fcudding fwiftly from the dangerous ground, The deafen’d ear unlock’d, the chains unbound. Now all at once, tremendous fcenes unfold ; Thunder’d the deeps, the fmoaking billows roll’d I Tumultuous waves embroil’d the bellowing flood; All trembling, deafen’d, and aghaft we flood! No more the vefiel plough’d the dreadful wave. Fear feiz’d the mighty, and unnerv’d the brave;. H O M E R’s ODYSSEY. XII. 24S. 3r Each dropp'd his oar: But fwift from man to man With look ferene I turn’d, and thus began. O friends ! oh often try’d in adverfe ftorms! With ills familiar in more dreadful forms! Deep in the dire Cyclopean den you lay, Yet fafe return’d Ulyfles led the way. Learn courage hence ! and in my care confide: Lo! (till the fame UlyfFes is your guide ! Attend my words ! your oars incefiant ply j Strain ev’ry nerve, and bid the veflel fly. If from yon juflling rocks and wavy war Jove fafety grants, he grants it to your care. And thou whofe guiding hand direfls our way. Pilot, attentive iiften and obey! Bear wide thy courfe, nor plough thofe angry waves Where rolls yon fmoke, yon tumbling ocean raves ; Steer by the higher rock ; left whirl’d around We fink, beneath the circling eddy drown’d. While yet I fpeak, at once their oars they feize, Stretch to the ftroke, and brufti the working feas. Cautious the name of Scylla I fuppreft ; That dreadful found had chill’d the boldeft breaft. Meantime, forgetful of the voice divine, All dreadful bright my limbs in armour (bine; High on the deck l take my dang’rous ftand, Two glitt’ring jav’lins lighten in my hand ; Prepar’d to whirl the whizzing fpear I ftay. Till the fell fiend arife to feize her prey. Around the dungeon, ftudious to behold The hideous peft, my lab’ring eyes I roll’d; In vain ! the difmal dungeon dark as night Veils the dire monfter, and confounds the fight. 9t homer’s odyssey, xii. 27s. Now thro’ the rocks, appall'd with deep difmay, We bend our courfe, and (1cm the defp’rate way ; Dire Scylla there a fcene of liorror forms, And here Charybdis fills the deep with (forms. When the tide rufhes from her rumbling caves. The rough rock roars; tumultuous boil the waves ; They tofs, they foam, a wild confufion raife. Like waters bubbling o’er the fiery blaze; Eternal mills obfcure th’ aerial plain, And high above the rock (he fpouts the main ; When in her gulfs the milling fea (ubfides, ' She drains the ocean with the refluent tides : The rock rebellows w ith a thund’ring found ; Deep, wondrous deep, below appears the ground. Struck with dcfpair, with trembling hearts we view’d The yawning dungeon, and the tumbling flood ; Y/hen lo ! fierce Scylla (loop’d to feize her prey, Stretch’d her dire jaws, and fwipt fix men away ; Chiefs of renown 1 loud echoing fhrieks arife ; I turn arid view them quiv’ring in the (kies ; They call, and aid with outflretch’d arms implsre : In vain they call! thofe arms are (Iretch’d no more. As from fome rock that overhangs the flood, The filent filher cads th’ infidious food, With fraudful care he waits the finny prize, And fudden lifts it quiv’ring to the (kies : So the foul mo lifter lifts her prey on high ; So pant the wretches, (Iruggling in the (ky ; In the wide dungeon (he devours her food, And the flefh trembles while (lie churns the blood. Worn as I am with griefs, wdth care decay’d, Never, I never fcene fo dire fm vey’d ! HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XII. 310. 53 My Ihiv’riog blood congeal’d, forgot to flow; Aghaft I flood, a monument of woe ! Now from the rocks the rapid veflel flies, And the hoatfe din like diftant thunder dies : To Sol’s bright ifle our voyage we purfue; And now the glitt’ring mountains rife to view. There, facred to the radiant god of day, Graze the fair herds, the flocks promifcuous ftray : Then fuddenly was heard along the main To low the ox, to bleat the woolly train : Strait to my anxious thoughts the found convey’d The words of Circe and the Theban fhade ; Warn’d by their awful voice thefe Ihores to (hun, With cautious fears opprefs’d, I thus begun. O friends! oh ever exercis’d in care! Hear heav’n’s commands, and rev’rence what ye hear ! To fly thefe (bores the prelcient Theban (hade And Circe warns ! O be their voice obey’d ! Some mighty wo relentlels heav’n forebodes; Ely the dire regions, and revere the gods! While yet I fpoke, a fudden forrow ran Thro’ ev’ry bread:, and fpread from man to man, C Till wrathful thus Eurylochus began. j O cruel thou! fome fury fure has fleel’d That ftubborn foul, by toil untaught to yield 1 From deep debarr’d, we fink from woes to woes, And, cruel, envieft thou a (hort repofe ? Still muft we reftlefs rove, new feas explore. The fun defcending, and fo near the (hore ? And lo ! the night begins her gloomy reign, And doubles all the terrors of the main. «>4 HOMER’S ODYSSEiT. XII. 341. Oft in the dead of night loud winds arife, Lafh the wild furge, and bluftar in the Ikies ; Oh, (hould the fierce fouth-wefl his rage difplay. And tofs with rifing ftorms the wat’ry way, Though gods defcend from heav’n’s aerial plain To lend us aid, the gods defcend in vain : > Then while the night difplays her awful (hade, Sweet time of Humber ! be the night obey’d! Hade ye to land : And when the morning-ny Sheds her bright beams, purfue the deftin’d way. A hidden joy in ev’ry bofom rofe ; So will’d fome daemon, minifter of woes! To whom with grief—O fwift to be undone, Conftrain’d I aft what wifdom bids me Ihun. But yonder herds and yonder flocks forbear ; Atteft the heav’ns, and call the gods to hear : Content, an innocent repaft difplay, By Circe giv’n, and fly the dang’rous prey. Thus I: And while to Ihore the velfel flies. With hands uplifted they atteft the Ikies; Then, where a fountain’s gurgling waters play, They rulh to land, and end in feafts the day : They feed; they quaff; and now (their hunger fled) Sigh for their friends devour’d, and mourn the dead. Nor ceafe the tears, till each in Humber (hares A fweet forgetfulnefs of human cares. Now far the night advanc’d her gloomy reign, And fetting ftars roll’d down the azure plain ; When, at the voice of Jove, wild whirlwinds rife. And clouds and double darknefs veil the Ikies; The moon, the ftars, the bright aetherial hoft. Seem as extinft, and all their fplendors loft; HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XII. 373. 9S The furious tempeft roars with dreadful found: Air thunders, rolls the ocean, groans the ground. All night it rag’d ; when morning rofe, to land We haul’d our bark, and moor’d it on the ftrand. Where in a beauteous grotto’s cool recefs Dance the green Nereids of the neighb’ring Teas. There, while the wild winds whittled o’er the main, Thus careful I addrefs’d the lift’ning train. O friends, be wife! nor dare the flocks deftroy Of thefe fair paftures : If ye touch, ye die. Warn’d by the high command of heav’n, be aw’d; Holy the flocks, and dreadful is the god! That god who fpreads the radiant beams of light, And views wide earth and heav’n’s unmeafur’d height. And now the moon had run her monthly round, The fouth-eaft biuft’ring with a dreadful found; Unhurt the beeves, untouch’d the woolly train L.ow through the grove, or range the flow’ry plain : Then fail’d our food; then filh we make our prey, Or fowl that fcreaming haunt the wat’ry way. Till now from fea or flood no fuccour found, Famine and meagre want befieg’d us round. Penfive and pale from grove to grove I ftray’d. From the loud ftorms to find a fylvan (hade; There o’er my hands the living wave I pour, And heav’n and heav’n’s immortal thrones adore, To calm the roarings of the ftormy main. And grant me peaceful to my realms again. Then o’er my eyes the gods foft flumber (hed, While thus Eurylochus arifing faid. O friends ! a thoufand ways frail mortals lead To the col4 tomb, and dreadful all to tread; yS HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XU. 40J. But dreadful moft,’when, by a flow decay, Pale hunger wades the manly flrength away. Why ceafe ye then t’ implore the pow’rs above, And offer hecatombs to thund’ring Jove ? Why fcize ye not yon beeves and fleecy prey ? Arife unanimous ; arife and flay ! And if the gods ordain a fafe return, To Phoebus fhrines fhall rife, and altars burn. But, (hould the pow’rs that o’er mankind prefide. Decree to plunge us in the whelming tide. Better to rufh at once to fhades below, Than linger life away, and nourifli woe ! Thus he : The beeves around fecurely dray, When fwift to ruin they invade the prey : They feize; they kill!—but for the rite divine, The barley fail’d, and for libations, wine. Swift from the oak they drip the (hady pride. And verdant leaves the flow’ry cake fupply’d. With pray’r they now addrefs’d th’ aetherial train, Slay the feleffed beeves, and flea the flain : The thighs, with fat involv’d, divide with art, Strew’d o’er with morfels cut from ev’ry part. Water, indead of wine, is brought in urns, And pour’d profanely as the viftim burns. The thighs thus offer’d, and the intrails dred. They road the fragments, and prepare the feaft. ’Twas then foft flumber fled my troubled brain ; . Back to the bark I fpeed along the main. When lo ! an odour from the feafl exhales, Spreads o’er the coad, and fcents the tainted gales ; A chilly fear congeal’d my vital blood, ! And thus, obteding heav’n, l mourn’d aloud. HOME ft's ODYSSEY. XII. 437. 97 O fire of men and gods, immortal Jove! Oh all yc blefsful pow’rs that reign above ! Why were my cares beguil’d in ihort repofe ? O fatal Humber, paid with lafting woes! A deed fo dreadful all the gods alarms, Vengeance is on the wing, and heav’n in arms! Meantime Lampetie mounts th’ aerial way, “And kindles into rage the god of day. Vengeance, ye pow’rs, (he cries), and thou whole hand Aims the red bolt, and hurls the w’rithen brand ! Slain are thofe herds which I with -pride fnrvey, _ When thro’ the ports of heav’n 1 pour the day, C Or deep in ocean plunge the burning ray. j Vengeance, ye gods! or I the Ikies forego, And bear the lamp of heav’n to (hades below. To whom the thund’ring pow’r : O fource of day, Whofe radiant lamp adorns the azure way, Still may thy beams thro’ heav’n’s bright portals rife, The joy of earth, and glory of the (kies : Lo i my red arm 1 bare, my thunders guide To da(h th’ offenders in the whelming tide. To fair Calypfo, from the bright abodes," Hermes convey’d thete councils of the gods. Meantime from man to man my tongue exclaims, , My wrath is kindled, and my foul in flames. In vain ! I view perform’d the direful deed. Beeves, flain by heaps, along the ocean bleed. Now heav’n gave figns of wrath ; along the ground Crept the raw hides, and with a bellowing found C Roar’d the dead limbs; the burning entrails groan'd. J Vol. IX. ' G 5,3 HOMER-’s ODYSSEY. XII. 407. Six guilty days my wretched mates employ In impious feafting, and unhallow’d joy ; The feventh arofe, and now the fire of gods Rein’d the rough {forms, and calm’d the toffing floods With fpeed the bark we climb ; the fpacious fails Loos’d from the yards invite th’ impelling gales. Part fight of fliore, along the fnrge we hound. And all above is (ky, and ocean all around ! When lo ! a murky cloud the Thund’rer forms Full o’er our heads, and blackens heav’n with (forms. Night dwells o’er all the deep : And now outflies The gloomy weft, and whiffles in the (kies. The mountain-billows roar : The furious blafl Howls o’er the (hroud, and rends it from the mad ; The maft gives way, and, crackling as it bends. Tears up the deck ; then all at once defcends : The pilot by the tumbling ruin fldn, Dafli’d from the helm, falls headlong in the main. Then Jove in anger bids his thunders roll, And forky lightnings fi'afh from pole to pole. Fierce at our heads his deadly b'olt he aims, Red with uncommon wrath, and wrapt in flames: Full on the bark it fell; now high, now low, Tofs’d and retofs’d, it reel’d beneath the blow ; At once into the main the crew it (hook : Sulphureous odours rofe, and fmould’ring fmoke. Like fowl that haunt the floods, they fink, they rife, ^ Now luff, now feen, with (bricks, and dreadful cries; C And drive to gain the bark ; but Jove denies. j Firm at the helm I (land, when fierce the main Rufh’d with dire noile, and dafh’d the fides in twain ; HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XU. 40S. Again impetuous drove the furious blaft, Snapt the ftrong helm, and bore to fea the mafh Firm to the mart with chords the helm I bind, j. And ride aloft, to providence refign’d, Through tumbling billows, and a war of wind. Now funk the weft, and now a fouthern breeze, Mare dreadful than the tempeftr, lafh’d the feas; For on the rocks it bore where Scylla raves, And dire Cliarybdis rolls her thund’ring waves. All night I drove ; and,' at the dawn of day, Fa ft by the rocks beheld the defp’rate way :. Juft when the fea within her gulf fubfides, And in the roaring whirlpools ruth the tides. Swift from the float I vaulted with a bound, The lofty fig-tree feiz’d, and clung around. So to the beam the bat tenacious clings, And pendent round it clafps his leathern wings. High in the air the tree its boughs difplay’d, And o’er the dungeon caft a dreadful (hade; All unfuftain’d between the wave and Iky, Beneath my feet the whirling billows fly. What time the judge forfakes the noify bar To take repaft, and Hills the wordy war; Gharybdis rumbling from her inmoft caves. The mart refunded on her refluent waves. 1 Swift from the tree, the floating maft to gain, Sudden l dropp’d amidft the fkfhing main ; Once more undaunted on the ruin rode. And oar’d with lab’ring arms along the flood. Unfeen l pafs’d by Scylla’s dire abodes : So Jove decreed, (dread fire of men and gods)./ G z 1 tco HOME R’s ODYSS E Y. XIL SiS- Then nine long days I plough’d the calmer feas, Heav’d by the furge, and wafted by the breeze. Weary and wet th’ Ogygian fhores I gain. When the tentb'fun descended to the main. Therein Calypfo’s ever-fragrant bow’rs Refreih’d I lay, and joy beguil’d the hours. My following fates to thee, oh king! are known, And the bright partner of thy royal throne. Enough : In nailery can words avail* And what fo tedious as a twice-told tale ? T H E ODYSSEY. BOOK XIII. THE ARGUMENT. The Arrival of Ulyjfes in Ithaca. Ulysses takes his leave of Alcinous and Arete, and embarks in the evening. Next morning the fhip ar- rives at Ithaca ; where the bailors, as Ulyfles is yet deeping, lay him on the Oiore with all his ^reafures. Oij their return, Neptune changes their fhip into a rock. In the mean time, Ulyfies awaking, knows not his native Ithaca, by reafon of a mid wliich Pallas had caft round him. He breaks into loud lamenta- tions ; till the goddefs appearing to him in the form of a Ihepherd, difeovers the country to him, and points out the particular places. He then tells a feigned (lory of his adventures; upon which die ma- nifefts herfelf, and they confide together of the mea- sures to be taken to dtflroy the fuitors. To conceal his return, and difguifehis perfon the moreefFe&ually, die changes him into the figure of an old beggar. G J ;; u T .Y j 8 a Y a o .1 31 O iinr. h'A iv ' B O O K XIII. I*T TE ceas’d ; but left fo pleafing on their ear jLlL His voice, that lift’ning ftill they feem’d to hear. A paufe of filence hufh’d the fhady rooms: The grateful conf’rence then the king'relume?. Whatever toils the great Uiyfles part, 1; Beneath this happy roof they end at laft ; No longer now from (hore to Ihore to roam, { 'Smooth leas, and gentle winds, invite him home. ; But hear me, princes! whom thelc walls inclofe, t For whom my chanter fings, and goblet flows | With wines unmix’d, (an honour due to age, To chear the grave, and warm the poet’s rage.) Though labour’d gold and many a dazzling veil: Lie heap’d already for our godlike gueft; Without new treafures let him not remove, , ' Large, and expreflive of the public love : . Each peer a tripod, each a vafe beflow, A gen’ral tribute, which the (late (hall bwc. This fentence pleas’d: Then all their (leps addrefl j) To feparate manfions, and retir’d to reft. Now did the rofy-finger’d morn arife, l And (bed her facred light along the (kies. Down to the haven and the (hips in hade They bore the treafures, and in fafety plac’d. The king himfelf the vales rang’d with care; ‘ Then bad his followers to the feaft repair. A viftim ox beneath the facred hand Of great Alcinous falls, and ftains the fand. G 4 io4 H 0 M E R’s ODYSSEY. XIII. 19. To Jove th’ eternal (pow’r above all pow’rs! Who wings the winds, and darkens heav’n with fltow’rs) The flames afeend: Till ev’ning they prolong The rites, more facred made by heav’nly fong : For in the midft, with public honours grac’d, Thy lyre divine, Demodocus ! was plac’d. All, but lily lies, heard with fix’d delight: He fat, and ey’d the fun, and wilh’d the night; Slow feem’d the fun to move, the hours to rollp His native home deep imag’d in his foul. As the tir’d ploughman fpent with (tubborn toil, AVhofe oxen long have torn the furrow’d foil, Sees with delight the fun’s declining ray, When home, with feeble knees, he bends his way To late repaft, (the day’s hard labour done) : So to UlyfTes welcome let the fun. Then inflant, to Alci-nous and the red, (The Scherian dates), he turn’d, and thus addred. O thou, the fird in merit and command ! And you the peers and princes of the land ! May ev’ry joy be yours ! nor this the lead, When due libation (hall have crown’d the lead, > Safe to my home to fend your happy gued. J Complete are now the bounties you have given, Be all thofe bounties but confirm’d by heav’n ! So may I find, when all my wand’rings ceafe, My confort blamelefs, and my friends in peace. On you be ev’ry bids -, and ev’ry day, In home-felt joys delighted, roll away ; Yourfclves, your wives, your long defeending race. May ev’ry god enrich with ev’ry grace ! HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIII. 60. JOS Sure fix’d on virtue may your nation Hand, And public evil never touch the land ! His words well weigh’d, the gen’ral voice approv’d Benign, and inftant his difmiffion mov’d. The monarch to Pontonous gave the fign, To fill the goblet high with rofy wine : Great Jove the father firft (he cry’d). implore; Then fend the llranger to his native (hore. The lufcious wine th’ obedient herald brought » Around the manfion flow’d the purple draught: Each from his fear to each immortal pours, Whom glory circles in th’ Olympian bow’rs. UlylTcs foie with air majeftic (lands. The bowl prefenting to Arete’s hands ; Then thus: O queen, farewell! be (fill poflefs’d Of dear remembrance, bieffing {fill and blefs’d! Till age and death fhall gently call thee hence, (Sure fate of ev’ry mortal excellence !) Farewell! and joys fucceflive ever fpring To thee, to thine, the people, and the king ! Thus he : Then parting prints the fandy (bore To the fair port : A herald march’d before, Sent by Alcinons: Of Arete’s train Three chofcn maids attend him to the main ; This does a tunic and white vert convey, A various cafket that, of rich inlay, And bread and wine the third. The chearful mates Safe in the hollow' poop difpofe the cates : Upon the deck, foft painted robes they fpread, With linen cover’d, for the hero’s bed. He climb’d the lofty ftern ; then gently preft The fwtlling couch, and lay compos’d to reft. IOC .HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIII. 91, Now plac’d in order, the Phseacian train Their cables loofe, and launch into the main : At once they bend, and ftrike their equal oars, And leave the linking hills, andlefs’ning (bores. While on the deck the chief in filence lies, And pleafing (lumbers (leal upon his eyes. As fiery couriers in the rapid race, Urg’d by fierce drivers through the dully fpace, Tofs their high heads, and fcour along the plain ; So mounts the bounding veflel o’er the main. Back to the (tern the parted billows flow, And the black ocean foams and roars below. Thus with fpread fails the winged galley flies ; Lefis fwift an eagle cuts the liquid (kies : Divine Uiyfles was her facred load, A man, in wifdom equal to a godi Much danger, long and mighty toils he bore, In dorms by fea, and combats on the (bore; All which foft deep now banilh’d from his bread, ■Wrapp’d in a pleafing, deep, and death-like red. But when the morning-dar with early ray Flam’d in the front of heav’n, and promis’d day, Like didant clouds the mariner deferies Fair Ithaca’s emerging hills arife. Far from the town a fpacious port appears. Sacred to Phorcys’ pow’r, whofe name it bears : Two craggy rocks projefting to the main, The roaring winds tempeduous rage redrain ; Within, the waves in fofter murmurs glide, And (hips fecure without their halfers ride. High at the head a branching olive grows, And crowns the pointed cliffs with (hady boughs. •HOM'ER’s ODYSSEY. XIIT. 114. it? ‘•Beneath, a gloomy erotto’s cool recefs • Delights the Nereids of the neighb’ring feas; Where bowls and urns were form’d of living (lone, And mafly beams in native marble (hone ; On which the labours of the nymph were roll’d, Their webs divine of purple mix’d with gold. Within the cave, the cluft’ring bees attend Their waxen works, or from the roof depend Perpetual waters o’er the pavement glide; Two marble doors unfold on either fide ; Sacred the fouth by which the gods defeend, But mortals'enter at the.northern end. Thither they bent, and haul’d their (hip to land; (The crooked keel divides the yellow fand). Ulyfies fleeping on his couch they bore, And gently plac’d him on the rocky (hore. His treafures next, Alcinous’ gifts, they laid In the wild olive’s unfrequented (hade. Secure from theft: Then launch’d the bark again, Refum’d their oars, and meafur’d back the main. Nor yet forgot old Ocean’s dread iupreme. The vengeance vow’d for eyelefs Polypheme. Before the throne of mighty Jove he flood ; And fought the fecret counfels of the god. Shall then no more, O fire of gods! be mine The rights and honours of a pow’r divine ? Scorn’d ev’n by man, and (oh fevere difgrace !) By foft Phteacians, ray degen’rate race ! Againft yon deftin’d head in vain I fwore, And menac’d vengeance, ere he reach’d his (hore ; To reach his natal (hore was thy decree ; Mild I obey’d, for who (hall war with thee l ioS HOMER’s ODYSSE Y. XIII. is<5. Behold him landed, carelefs and aileep, From all th’ eluded dangers of the deep ! JLo where he lies, amidlf a Ihining ftore Of brafs, rich garments, and refulgent ore : And bears triumphant to his native ifle A prize more worth than llion’s noble fpoil. To whom the father of th’ immortal pow’rs, Who fwells the clouds, and gladdens earth with Ihow’rs Can mighty Neptune thus of man complain ? Neptune, tremendous o’er the boundlefs main ! Rever’d and awful ev’n in heav’n’s abodes, Ancient and great ! a god above the gods ! If that low race offend thy pow’r divine, (Weak, daring creatures!) is not vengeance thine ? Go then, the guilty at thy will chaftife. He laid : The (haker of the earth replies. This then I doom ; to fix the gallant Ihip A mark of vengeance on the fable deep; To warn the thoughtlefs feif-confiding train, No more unlicens’d thus to brave the main. Full in their port a lhady hill ihall rife, Jf fuch thy will We will it, Jove replies. Ev’n when with trantport black’ning all the ftrand, The fwarming people hail their (hip to land. Fix her forever, a memorial Hone : Still let her feem to fail, and feem alone ; The trembling crouds (hall lee the luddcn (hade Of whelming mountains overhang their head ! With that, the god whole earthquakes rock the ground. Fierce to 1’haeacia crofs’d the vail profound. Swift as a fwailow fweeps the liquid way, The winged pinnace (hot along the fea. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIII. 187. xop The god attcTs her with a fudden ftroke, And roots her down an everlafting rock. Aghaft the Scherians Hand in deep furprife; All prefs to fpeak, all queftion with their eyes. What hands unieen the rapid hark retlrain! And yet it fwims, or leetns to fwim the main ! Thus they, unconfcious of the deed divine : ’Till great Alcinous riling own’d the fign. Behold the long predeltin’d day ! (he cries), ■Oh certain faith of antient prophecies 1 ». Thefe ears have heard my royal fi.e difclole A dreadful (lory, big with future woes; How mov’d with wrath, that carelels we convey Promifcuous ev’ry gueft to ev’ry bay, Stern Neptune rag’d; and how by his command Firm rooted in the furge a fhip fhould (land; (A monument of wrath !) and mound on mound Should hide our walls, or whelm beneath the ground. The fates have follow’d as declar’d the feer. Be humbled, nations! and your monarch hear. No more unlicens’d brave the deeps, no more With ev’ry flranger pafs from Ihore to Ihore; On angry Neptune now for mercy cal’. : To his high name let twelve black oxen fall. So may the god reverfe his purpos’d will. Nor o’er our city hang the dreadful hill. The monarch fpoke : They trembled and obey’d. Forth on the fands the viftim oxen led: The gather’d tribes before the altars (land. And chiefs and rulers, a majeftic band. The king of Ocean all the tribes implore j The blazing altars redden all the (here. nt> HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIII. TZo. Meanwhile Ulyfles in his country lay, Releas’d from fleep, and round him might furvey C The fohtary Ihore, and rolling fea. J. Yet had1 his mind through tedious abfence loft The dear remembrance of his native coaft; Befides, Minerva, to lecure her care, Diffus’d around a veil of thicken’d air: For fo the gods ordain’d, to keep unfeen His royal perfon from his friends and queen, Till the proud fuitors for their crimes afford An ample vengeance to their injur’d lord. Now all the land another profpeft bore, Another port appear’d, another fhore, And long-continu’d ways, and winding floods, And unknown mountains, crown’d with unknown woods. Penlive and flow, with fudden grief oppreft; The king arofe, and beat his careful breaft, Caft a long look o’er all the coaft and main, And fought, around, his native realm'in vain : Then with ereffed eyes flood fix’d in wo. And as he fpoke, the tears began to flow. Ye gods ! (he cry’d), upon what barren coaft; In what new region is Ulyfles toft? Poffefs’d by wild barbarians fierce in arms, Or men whofc bofom tender pity warms ? Where (hall this treafure now in fafety lie? And whither, w’hither its fad owner fly ? Ah why did 1 Alcinous’ grace implore? Ah why forfake Phaeacia’s happy fhore ? Some jufter prince perhaps had entertain’d. And fafe reftor’d me to my native land. HOME&’s ODYSSEY. XIII. ajl. ru Is this the promis’d, long-expe£led coaft, And this the faith Phaeacia’s rulers boaft ? Oh righteous gods! of all the great, how few Are juff to heav’n, and to their promife true ! But he, the pow’r to whofe all-feeing eyes The deeds of'men appear without difguife, ’ Tis his alone t’ avenge the wrongs I bear : For ftill th’ opprefs’d are his peculiar care. To count thefe prefents, and from thence to prove Their faith, is mine : The red belongs to Jove. Then on the fands he rang’d his wealthy ftore, The gold, the veds, the tripods, number’d o’er : All thefe he found, but dill in error lod Difconfolate he wanders on the coad, Sighs for his country, and laments again To the deaf rocks, and hoarfe-refounding main. When lo! the guardian goddefs ot the wife, Celedial Pallas, dood before his eyes ; In (how a youthful twain, of form divine, Who feem’d defcended from fome princely line, A graceful robe her {lender body- dred, Around her (boulders flew the waving veft, Her decent hand a Ihining jav’lin bore. And painted fandals on her feet (he wore. To whom the King : Whoe’er of human race Thou art, that wander’d in this defert place ! With joy to thee, as to fome god, 1 bend ; To thee my treafures and myfelf commend. O tell a wretch in exile doom’d to dray, What air I breathe, what country I furvey ? The fruitful continent’s extremed bound, Or fome fair ifle which Neptune’s arms furround ? in HCMER’s ODYSSEY. XIII. 2S3. From what fair clime (faid (he) remote from fame, Arriv'd thou here a ftranger to our name ? Thou feed an ifland, not to thofe unknown Whofe hills are brighten’d by the rifing fun, Nor thofe that plac’d beneath his utmod reign Behold him finking in the wedern main. The rugged foil allows no level fpace For dying chariots, or the rapid race ; Yet not ungrateful to the peafant’s pain, ■Suffices fulnefs to the dwelling grain : The loaded trees their various fruits produce, And clud’ring grapes afford a gen’rous juice : Woods crown our mountains, and in ev’ry grove The bounding goats and frilking heifers rove: Soft rains and kindly dews refreffi the field, And rifing fpvings eternal verdure yield. Ev’n to thofe fhores is Ithaca renown’d, Where Troy’s majedic ruins drow the ground. At this, the chief with tranfport was pofled, Ills panting heart exulted in his bread : Yet well diffembiing his untimely joys. And veiling truth in plaufible difguife. Thus, with an air fincere, in fiftion bold, His ready tale th’ inventive hero told. Oft have I heard, in Crete, this ifland’s name ; For 'twas from Crete, my native foil, 1 came, Self-baniffi’d thence. I fail’d before the wind, And left my children and my friends behind. From fierce Idomeneus’ revenge I flew, Whole fon, the fwift Orfilochus, I flew : (With brutal force he feiz’d my Trojan prey, Due to the toils of many a bloody day). HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIH. 31*. Hij Unfeen I ’fcap’cl; and, favour’d by the night, In a Phoenician veffel took tny flight, For Pyle or Elis bound ; but tempefts toft, And raging billows drove us on your coaft. In dead of night an unknown port we gain’d, Spent with fatigue, and flept fecure on land. But e’er the roly morn renew’d the day, While in th’ embrace of pleafing fleep I lay, Sudden, invited by aufpkious gales, They land my goods, and hoift their flying failsi Abandon’d here, my fortune I deplore, A haplefs exile on a foreign fhore. Thus while he fpoke, the blue-cy’d maid began With plealing fniiles to view the godlike man : Then chang’d her form ; and now, divinely bright, Jove’s heav’nly daughter ftood Confefs’d to fight; Like a fair virgin in her beauty’s bloom, Skill’d in th’ illuftrious labours of the loom, O ftill the fame Ulyfles! file rejoin’d, In ufeful craft fnccefsfuliy refin’d! Artful in fpeech, in aiftion, and in mind ! Suffic’d it not, that thy long labours part, Secure thou feeft thy native (hore at laft ? But this to me ? who, like thyfelf, excel In arts of eoiinfe), and diflembling well 5 To me, whofe wit exceeds the pow’rs divine, No lefs than mortals arc furpafs’d by thine. Know’ll thou not me ? who made thy life my Cafe, Thro’ ten years wand’ring, and thro’ ten years war; Who taught thee arts Akinoits to perfuade, To raife his wonder, and engage his aid; VOL, IX. H H4 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIII. 346. And now appear, thy treafures to proteft, Conceal thy perfon, thy defigns dirett. And tell what more thou mult from fate exped. Domedic woes far heavier to be born ! The pride of fools, and Haves infulting fcorn. But thou be filent, nor reveal thy (fate : Yield to the force of unrefifled fate, And bear unmov’d the wrongs of bafe mankind, The lafl and hardelt conqueft of the mind. Goddefs of wildom ! Ithacns replies. He who difcerns thee muff be truly wife. So f'eldom view’d, and ever in difguife! When the bold Argives led their warring pow’rs Againfl: proud llion’s well-defended tow’rs, Ulyffes was thy care, celeffial maid ! Grac’d with thy fight, and favour’d with thy aid. But when the Trojan piles in afhes lay, And bound for Greece we plough’d the wat’ry way. Our fleet difpers’d, and driv’n from coaft to coaft, Thy lacred prefence from that hour I loft; Till 1 beheld thy radiant form once more, And heard thy counfels on Phaeacia’s fhore. But, by th’ almighty author of thy race, Tell me, oh tell! is this my native place ? For much I fear, long tracks of land and fea Divide this coaft from diftant Ithaca; The fweet deluflon kindly you-impofe, To footh my hopes, and mitigate my woes. Thus he. The blue-ey’d goddefs thus replies. How prone to doubt, how cautious are the wife" Who, vers’d in fortune, fear the flatt’ring (how, And tafte not half the hlifs the gods beftow. . 'HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIII. 37S. ny The more (hall Pallas aid thy jnft defires, And guard the wii'dom which herfelf infpires. Others, long abfent from their native place, . Strait feck their home, and fly with eager pace To their wives arms, and children’s dear embrace: Not thus Ulyfics; he decrees to prove ills febjefts faith, and queen’s fiufpefted love ; Who mourn’d her lord twice ten revolving years, And wades the days in grief, the nights in tears. But Pallas knew, (thy friends and navy loft), - Once more ’twas giv’n thee to behold thy coaft : Yet how-cotild f with adverfe fate engage. And mighty Neptune’s unrelenting rage ! Now lift thy longing eyes, while I reftore Tiie pleafing profpedt of thy native fhorc. Behold the port of Phorcys! fenc’d around With rocky mountains, and with olives crown’d. Behold the gloomy grot! whofe cool recefs Delights the Nereids of the neighb’ring feas; Whofe now-negle£ted altars, in thy reign Blulh’d with the blood of fheep and oxen flain. Behold ! where Neritus the clouds divides, And (hakes the waving forefts on his fides. So fpake the goddefs, and the profpeft clear’d, ! The milts difpers’d, and all the coaft appear’d. The king with joy confefs’d his place of birth, And on his knees fajutes his mother Earth : Then with his fuppliant hands upheld in air. Thus to the fea-green fillers fends his pray’r. All hail ! ye virgin-daughters of the main ! ’ Ye ftreams, beyond my hopes beheld again! Ha IJ(S HOMER’S aDYSSEY. XIII. w- To you once more your own Ulyfies bows; Attend his tranlports, and receive his vows! If Jove prolong my days, and Pallas crown The growing virtues of my youthful fon, To you fhall rites divine be ever paid, And grateful off’rings on your altars laid. Then thus Minerva : From that anxious breatfc Difmii’s thofe cares, and leave to heav’n the reft; Our talk be now thy treafur’d flares to fave, Deep in the clofe recedes of the cave : Then future means con full She fpoke, and trod The (hady grot, that brighten’d with the god,. The deleft cavefns of the grot die fought ; The gold, the brafs, the robes Ulydes brought; Thefe in the fecret gloom the chief difpps’d ; The entrance with a rock the goddefs clos’d. Now, feated in the olive’s facred (hade, Confer the hero and the martial maid, The goddefs of the azure eyes began : Son of Laertes! much-experienc’d man ! The fuitor-train thy earlied care demand. Of that luxurious race to rid the land : Three years thy houfe their iawlefs rule has feen, And proud addredes to the matchlefs queen. But (he thy abfenee mourns from day to day, And inly bleeds, and filent wades away : Elufive of the bridal hour, (he gives Fond ho-pes to all, and all with hopes deceive?. To this Ulydes : Oh celedial maid ! Prais’d be thy eounfel, and thy timely aid; Elfe had 1 feen my native walls in vain. Like great Atridcs juft reftor’d and llain. HO M ER’s O E) YS S'E Y. Xllt. 4it- Vf ■) Vonchfafe the means of vengeance to debate, And plan with all thy arts the fcene of fate. Then, then be prefent, and my foul iftfpire. As when we wrapt Troy’s heav’n-baUt walls in fire. Though leagu’d againft me hundred heroes (land, Hundreds (hall fall, if Pallas aid my hand. She anfwer’d : In the dreadful day of fight Know I am with thee, ftrong in all my might. If thou but equal to thyfelf be found, What gafping numbers then (hall prefs the ground! What human victims (lain the feaftful floor ! How wide the pavements float With guilty gore ! It fits thee now to wear a dark diiguife. And fecret walk, unknown to mortal eyes. For this, my hand (hall wither ev’ry grace, | And ev’ry elegance of form and face ; O’er thy fmooth (kin a bark of wrinkles fpread, Turn hoar the auburn honours of thy head, Disfigure ev’ry limb with coarfe attire, And in thy eyes extinguilh all the fire ; Add all the wants and the decays of lifet Eflrange thee from thy own, thy fon, thy wife : From the loath’d objefl ev’ry fight (hall turn, And the blind fuitors their deftruftion fcorh. Go firft the mafter of thy herds to find, 1 True to his charge, a loyal Twain and kind : For thee he fighs; and to the royal heir And chafte Penelope extends his care. At the Coracian rock he now refides, ; Where Arethufa’s fable water glides; The fable water and the copious mad Swell the fat herd; luxuriant, large rep aft! H 3 Jl8 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIIL 47^3. With him reft peaceful in the rural cell. And all you afk his faithful tongue (hall tell. Me into other realms my cares convey, To Sparta, ftill with female beauty gay : For know, to Sparta thy lov’d offspring came, To learn thy fortunes from the voice of fame. At this the father, with a father’s care: Muft he too fuffer ? he, oh goddefs! bear > Of wand’rings and of woes a wretched (hare ? J Through the wild ocean plough the dang’rous way, And leave his fortunes and his houfe a prey ? Why wouldft not thou, oh all-cnlighten’d mind! Inform him certain, and proteft him, kind ? To whom Minerva : Be thy foul at reft ; And know, whatever heav’n ordains, is beft. To fame I fent him, to acquire renown : To other regions is his virtue known. Secure he fits, near great Atrides plac’d; With friendfhips ftrengthen’d, and with honours grac’d. But lo ! an ambufh u'aits his paffage o’er : Fierce foes infidious intercept the Ihore : In vain ! far feoner all the murd’rous brood This injur’d land fhall fatten with their blood. She fpake: Then touch’d him with her pow’rful wand : The fkin (hrunk up, and wither’d at her band : A fwift old age o’er all his members fpread ; A Bidden froft was fprinkled on his head ; Nor longer in the heavy eye-ball fliin’d The glance divine, forth-beaming from the mind. / HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIII. joj. n* His robe, which fpots indelible befmear, In rags dilhoneft flutters with the air : A flag’s torn hide is lapt around bis reins; A rugged daft his trembling hand fuflains; And at his fide a wretched fcrip was hung, Wide-patch’d, and knotted to a twilled thong. So look’d the chief, fo mov’d! to mortal eyes Objeft uncouth! a man of miferies! While Pallas, cleaving the wide fields of air, To Sparta flies, Telemachus her care. H 4 \ v - ■ T II E ODYSSEY. BOOK XIV. THE ARGUMENT. The Converfathn with Euntaeus. Ulysses arrives in difguife at the houfe of Eumaeus, where he is received, entertained, and lodged, with the ufmoft hofpitality. The feveral difcourfes of r that faithful old fervant, with the feigned flory told j hy Ulyfles to conceal hirofclf, and other converfa- tions on various fubjefts, take up this entire book, l 7;X ; ' ' . ■ . • • ■■■ ' ,■ lav ’ '' ■' t ail cr/ : i ;a' • ■ . ' BOOK XIV. BUT he, deep-mufing, o’er the mountains (Iray’d Through mazy thickets of the woodland (hade. And cavern’d ways, the fhaggy coaft along, With cliffs and nodding forefts overhung. Eumaeus at his fyivan lodge he fought, A faithful fervant, and without a fault. Ulyfles found him bufied, as he fat Before the threfliold of his ruftic gate. Around the manfion in a circle (hone A rural portico of rugged (tone : (In abfence of his lord, with honed toil His own induftrious hands had rais’d the pile): The wall was (lone from neighb’ring quarries born, Encircled with a fence of native thorn, And flrong with pales, by many a weary droke Of ftubborn labour hewn from heart of oak, Frequent and thick. Within the fpace were rear’d Twelve ample cells, the lodgements of his herd. Full fifty pregnant females each contain’d; The males without (a fmaller race) remain’d ; Doom’d to fupply the fuitors wafteful feaft, A flock by daily luxury decreafl; Now fcarce four hundred left. Thefe to defend, Four favage dogs, a watchful guard, attend. Here fat Eumaeus, and his cares apply’d To form flrong bufkins of well-feafon’d hide. Of four affiflants who his labour (hare, Three now were abfent on the rural care ; ii4 HOME R’u ODYSSEY. XIV. s*. The fourth drove vittims to the fuitor-train : But he, of ancient faith, a fimple twain, Sigh’d, while he furnifh’d the luxurious board. And weary’d heav’n with willies for his lord. Soon as Ulyfles near th’ inclofure drew, With open mouths the furious maftiffs flew : Down fat the fage ; and, tautious to withlfand,. Let fall th’ offenfive truncheon from his hand. Sudden the mailer runs; aloud he calls ; And from his haft}' hand the leather falls : With fnow’rs of ftones he drives them far away ; The fcatt’ring dogs around at diftance bay. Unhappy ftranger ! (thus the faithful Twain Began with accent gracious and humane), What forrow had been mine, if at my gate Thy rev’rend age had met a (hameful fate ! Enough of wmes already have I known ; Enough my mailer’s forrows and my own. While here (ungrateful talk !) his herds I feed, Ordain’d for lawlefs rioters to bleed ; Perhaps fupported at another’s board, Far from his country roams my haplefs lord! Or figh’d in exile forth his lateft breath, i Now cover’d with th’ eternal (hade of death ! But enter this my homely roof, and fee Our woods not void of hofpitality. Then tell me whence thou art, and what the (hare Of woes and wand’rings thou wert born to bear ? He faid ; and feconding the kind reqpeft, With friendly (lep precedes his unknown gueft. A fhaggy goat’s foft hide beneath him fpread. And with frelh rulhes heap’d an ample bed. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. 6*. US- Joy touch'd the hero’s tender foul, to find So Juft reception irom a heart fo kind : And oh, ye gods! with all your bledings grace (He thus broke forth) this friend of human race ! The fwain reply’d : It never was our guife To flight the poor, or aught humane defpife. For Jove unfolds our hofpitable door; ’ fis Jove that fends the ftranger and the poor. Little, alas 1 is all the good I can ; A man opprefs’d, dependent, yet a man : Accept luch treatment as a fwain affords, Slave to the info'ence of youthful lords ! Far hence is by unequal gods remov’d That man of bounties, loving and belov’d ! To whom whafe’er his (lave enjoys is ow’d ; And more, had fate allow’d, had been bellow’d : But fate condemn’d him to a foreign fhore ; Much have 1 lorrow’d, but my mafler more. Now cold he lies, to death’s embrace refign’d: Ah periih Helen ! perifh all her kind ! For whofe curs’d caufe, in Agamemnon’s name. He trod fo fatally the paths of fame. His vefl fuccinft then girding round his wade, Forth rnfh’d the fwain with hofpitable hade, Strait to the lodgements of his herd he run, Where the fat porkers flept beneath the fun : Of two his cutlace lanc’d the fpotfting blood ; Thefe quarter’d, fing’d, and fix’d on forks of wood ; All hafly on the hilling coals he threw; And fmoking back the tafteful viands drew, Broachers and all ; then on the board difplay’d The ready meal, before Ulyfles laid U5 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. 93. With flour imbrown’d ; next mingled wine yet new, And lufcious as the bees ncftarious dew : Then fat companion of the friendly feaft, With open look ; and thus befpoke his gueft. Take with free welcome what our hands prepare, Such food as falls to fimple fervants fhare: The heft our lords conlume; thofe thoughtlefs peers, Rich without bounty, guilty without fears! Y'et fure the gods their impious a£ts detcfl, And honour jufiice and the righteous breafl. Pirates and conquerors, of harden’d mind. The foes of peace and fcourges of mankiad. To whom offending men are made a prey. When Jove in vengeance gives a land away ; Ev’n thefe, when of their ill-got fpoils pofleft, Find fure tormentors in the guilty bread ; Some voice of God clofe whifp’ring from within. “ Wretch! this is villainy, and this is fin.” But thefe, no doubt, fome oracle explore, That tells, the great Ulyfles is no more. Hence fprings their confidence, and from our fighs Their rapine (Irengthens, and their riots rife : Conftant as Jove the night and day bellows, Bleeds a whole hecatomb, a vintage flows. None match’d this hero’s wealth, of all who reign O’er the fair illands of the neighb’ring main. Nor all the monarchs whofe far-dreaded fway The wide-extended continents obey : Firlt, on the main-land, of Ulyfles’ breed. Twelve herds, twelve flocks, on ocean’s margin feed ; As many Halls for flnggy goats are rear’d; As many lodgements for the tulky herd ; HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIV. rzj. 117 . Thofe foreign keepers guard : And here are feen Twelve herds of goats that graze our utmoft green; To native pallors is tl'.eir charge alfign’d. And mine the care to teed the briuly kind : Each day the fatted bleeds of either herd, All to the fuitors waftefui board preferr’d. Thus he, benevolent: His unknown gueft With hunger keen devours the fav’- y lead; \ While fche.nes of vengeance ripen in his bread. J Silent and thoughtful while the board he ey’d, , Eutmcus pours on high the purple tide ; The king with fmiling looks his joy exprefs’d. And thus the kind inviting hod addrefs’d. Say now, what man is he, the man deplor’d. So rich, fo potent, whom you dile your Lord; Late with fuch affluence and pofl'effions hied, And now in honour’s glorious bed at red ? Whoever was the warrior, he mud be To fame no dranger, nor perhaps to me; Who (fo the gods and fo the fates ordain’d) Have wander'd many a fea, and many a land. Small is the faith the prince and queen aferibe (Reply’d Eumaeus) to the wand’ring tribe : Por needy drangers dill to flatt’ry fly, 1' And want too oft betrays the tongue to lie. Each vagrant traveller that touches here, ' Deludes with fallacies the royal ear. To dear remembrance makes his image rife, And calls the fpringing forrows from her eyes. Such thou mayfl be. But he whofe name you-crave Moulders on earth, or welters on the wave, i a8 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. isC. Or food for fiih, or dogs, his reliques lie, Or torn by birds are fcatter’d through the Iky. So perifh’d he ; and left (for ever loft) Much wo to all, but fur* to me the moft. So mild a mailer never fhall I find : Lefs dear the parents whom I left behind, Lefs foft my mother, lefs my father kind. Not with fuch tranfport would my eyes run o’er, Again to hail them in their native fhore, As lov’d Ulyffes once more to embrace, Reftor’d and breathing in his natal place. That name, for ever dread, yet ever dear, Ev’n in his abfence 1 pronounce with fear: In my refpeft he bears a prince’s part. But lives a very brother in my heart. Thus fpoke the faithful fwain; and thus rejoin’d The mafler of his grief, the man of patient mind. Ulyfles, friend ! fhall view his old abodes, (Difiruflful as thou art), nor doubt the gods. Nor fpeak 1 rafhly, but with faith averr'd, And what f fpeak attefling heav’n has heard. If fo, a cloak and veflure be my meed : Till his return no title fhall 1 plead. Though certain be my news, and great my need. Whom want itfelf can force untruths to tell, My foul detefls him as the gates of hell. Thou firft be witnefs, hofpitable Jove ! And ev’ry god infpiring fociai love ! And witnefs ev’ry houfehold pow’r that waits Guard of thtfe fires, and angel of thefe gates l Ere the next moon increafe, or this decay, His ancient realms Ulyffes fhall furvey, HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. 188. UJJ f In blood and duft each proud oppreflbr mourn ? And the loft glories of his houfe return. Nor Hull that meed be thine, nor ever more Shall lov’d Ulyftes hail this happy Ihore, (Rcply’d Eumaeus :) To the prefent hour Now turn thy thought, and joys within our pow’r. From fad refleftion let my foul repofe; The name of him awakes a thoufand woes. But guard him, gods ! and to thefe arms reftore! Not his true confort can defire him more ; Not old Laertes, broken with defpair; Not young Telemachus, his blooming heir. Alas, Telemachus 1 my fbrrows flow Aftefh for thee, my fecond caufe of woe 1 Like feme fair plant fet by a heav’nly hand. He grew, he flourilh’d, and he bleft the land; In all the youth his father’s image fhin’d. Bright in his perfon, brighter in his mind. What man or god deceiv’d his better fenfe, Far on the fwelling feas to wander hence ? To diftant Pylos, haplefs 1 is he gone, To feek his father’s fate, and find his own ! For traitors wait his way, with dire defiga To end at once the great Arcefian line. But let us leave him to their wills above; The fates of men are in the hand of Jove. And now, my venerable gueft 1 declare Your name, your parents, and your native air : Sincere from whence begun your courfe relate, And to what Ihip 1 owe the friendly freight ? Thus he : And thus (with prompt invention bold) The cautious chief his ready ftory told. Vol. IX. I rjo HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. i*j«. On dark referve what better can prevail, Or from the fluent tongue produce the tale, Than when two friends, alone, in peaceful place Confer, and wines and cates the table grace ; But moft the hind inviter’s cheerful face ? ? Thus might we fit, with focial goblets crown’d. Till the whole circle of the year goes round ; Not the whole circle of the year would ciofe My long narration of a life of woes. But fuch was heav’n’s high will ! Know then, I came From facred Crete, and from a fire of fame : Caflor Hylacides (that name he bore) Belov’d and honour’d in his native (hore ; Blefs’d in his riches, in his children more. Sprung of a handmaid, from a bought embrace, I fliar’d his kindnefs with his lawful race : But when that fate which all mud undergo, From earth remov’d him to the Ihades below. The large domain his greedy fons divide. And each was portion’d as the lots decide. Little, alas! was left my wretched (hare. Except a houfe, a covert from the air. But what by niggard fortune was deny’d, A willing widow’s copious wealth fupply’d. My valour was my plea, a gallant mind. That, true to honour, never lagg’d behind, (The fex is ever to a foldier kind). Now wafting years my former ftrength confound And added woes have bow’d me to the ground ; Yet by the fiubble you may guefs the grain, Ani mark the ruins of no vulgar mane HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIV. ap. tjt | .Me Pallas gave to lead the martial florm, And the fair ranks of battle to deform; Me Mars infpir’d to turn the foe to flight, • And tempt the fecret ambufli of the night. Let ghaflly death in all his forms appear, I faw him not ; it was not mine to fear. Before the reft 1 rais’d my ready fteel; 1! The firft I met, he yielded, or he fell. ■But works of peace my foul difdrin’d to bear. The rural labour, or domeftic care. To raife the maft, the miflile dart to wing, And fend fwift arrows from the bounding firing, Were arts the gods made grateful to my mind; -v Thofe gods, who turn (to various ends defign’d) C ’ The various thoughts and talents of mankind. J Before the Grecians touch’d the Trojan plain, Nine times commander or by land or main, In foreign fields 1 fpread my glory far, Great in the praife, rich in the fpoils of war : Thence charg’d with riches, as increas’d in fame, To Crete return’d, an honourable name. But when great Jove that direful war decreed, Which rous’d all Greece, and made the mighty bleed; Our ftates myfelf and Idomen employ t To lead their fleets, and carry death to Troy. Nine years we warr’d, the tenth faw Ilion fall; ‘Homeward we fail’d, but beav’n difpers’d us all. One only month my wife enjoy'd my ftay ; So will’d the god who gives and takes away. Nine fhips I mann’d, equipp’d with ready {lores, ' Intent to "voyage to th’ Egyptian fhoresj 13 l3» HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. 23a. In feaft and facrifice my chofen train Six days confnm’d ; the feventh we plough’d the main. Crete’s ample fields diminilh to our eye; Before the Boreal blafts the vefifels fly ; Safe through the level feas we fweep our way ; The fteerman governs, and the fhips obey. The fifth fair morn we flem th’ Egyptian tide. And tilting o’er the bay the veflels ride : To anchor there my fellows I command, And fpies commiffion to explore the land. But fway’d by lull of gain, and headlong will. The coafts they ravage, and the natives kill. The fpreading clamour to their city flies, And horfe and foot in mingled tumult rife. The redd’ning dawn reveals the circling fields Horrid with briftly fpears, and glancing Ihields. Jove thunder’d on their fide. Our guilty head We turn’d to flight; the gath’ring vengeance fpread On all parts round, and heaps on heaps lie dead. I then explor’d my thought, what courfe to prove; (And fure the thought was dictated by Jove ; Oh had he left me to that happier doom. And fav’d a life of miferies to come !) The radiant helmet from my brows unlac’d. And low on earth my fhield and javelin cad', I meet the monarch with a fnppliant’s face. Approach his chariot, and his knees embrace. He heard, he fav’d, he plac’d me at his fide ; My date he pity’d, and my tears he dry’d, Reftrain’d the rage the vengeful foe expreft. And turn’d the deadly weapons from my bread. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. 3<3. i3j Pious 1 to guard the hofpitable rite, And fearing Jove, whom mercy’s works delight. In Egypt thus with peace and plenty bleft, I liv’d (and happy ftill had liv’d) a gueft. On fev’n bright years fuccelfive bieflings wait ; The next chang’d ail the colour of my fate. A falle Phoenician, of infidious mind, Vers’d in vile arts, and foe to human kind, With femblance fair invites me to his home; I feiz’d the proffer (ever fond to roam): Domcftic in his faithlefs roof 1 ftaid, Till the fwift fun his annual circle made. To Lybia then he meditates the way, With guileful art a (tranger to betray. And fell to bondage in a foreign land. Much doubting, yet compell’d, I quit the (brand. Through the mid teas the nimble pinnace fails, . Aloof from Crete, before the northern gales: But when remote her chalky cliffs we loft. And far from ken of any other coaft, When all was wild expanfe of fea and air. Then doom’d high Jove due vengeance to prepare. He hung a night of horrors o’er their head, The (haded ocean blacken’d as it fpread; He lanc’d the fiery' bolt; from pole to pole Broad burft the lightnings, deep the thunders roll; In giddy rounds the whirling (hip is toft, And all in clouds of fmoth’ring fulphur loft. As from a hanging rock’s tremendous height, The fable crows with intercepted flight Drop endlong; fear’d, and black with fulph’roUS hUCS So from the deck are hurl’d the ghaftly crew. 13 J3+ HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. 345. Such end the wicked found ! But Jove’s intent Was yet to fave th’ opprefs’d and innocent. Plac’tl on the mart (the laft recourfe of life), With winds and waves I held unequal ftrife; For nine long days the billows tilting o’er. The tenth foft wafts me to Thefprotia’s Ihore. The monarch’s fon a Ihipwreck’d wretch reliev’d^ The fire with hofpitable rites receiv’d. And in.his palace like a brother plac’d, "With gifts of price and gorgeous garments grac’d. While here I fojourn’d, oft I heard the fame How late Ulyfies to the country came; How lov’d, how honour’d in this court he ftaid. And here his whole collected treafure laid : I faw myfelf the vaft unnumber’d flore Of flee! elab’rate, and refulgent ore, And brafs high heap’d, amidft the regal domes Immenfe fupplies for ages yet to come ! Meantime he voyag’d to explore the will Of Jove on high Dodona’s holy hill, What means might belt his fafe return avail, T« come in pomp, or bear a fecret fail ! Full oft has Phidon, vvhilfl he pour’d the wine, Attefiing folemn all the pow’rs divine, That foon Ulyffes would return, declar’d. The Tailors waiting, and the fhips prepar’d. But firft the king difinifs’d me from his Ihores, For fair Dulichium crown’d with fruitful (lores ; To good Acaftus’ friendly care confign’d: But other counfels pleas’d the failors mind : New frauds were plotted by the faithlefs train, And mifery demands me once again. HOMER’s OD YSSE Y. XIV. 577. 13s Soon as remote from fhore they plough the wave, With ready hands they rufh to feize their (lave ; Then with thei'e tatter’d rags they wrapt me round, (Stript of my own), and to the veflel bound. At eve, at Ithaca’s delightful land The (hip arriv’d : Forth ifluing on the fand. They fought repafl; while, to th’ unhappy kind. The pitying gods themfelves my chains unbind. Soft I defcended, to the fea apply’d My naked bread, and Ihot along the tide. Soon pad beyond their light, I left the flood. And took the fpreading fhelter of the wood. Their prize efcap’d the faithiefs pirates mourn’d; But deem’d inquiry vain, and to their (hip return’d. Screen’d by protecting gods from hoftile eyes. They led me to a good man and a wife ; To live beneath thy hofpifable care, And wait the woes heav’n dooms me yet to bear. Unhappy gnefl! whofe forrows touch my mind! (Thus good Eumaeus with a figh rejoin’d) ; For real fuff’rings fince I grieve fincere. Check not with fallacies the fpringing tear; Nor turn the paflion into groundlefs joy For him, whom heav’n has deftin’d to deftroy. Oh ! had he perilh’d on fome well-fought day, Or in his friends embraces dy’d away ! That grateful Greece with ftreaming eyes might raife Hiftoric marbles, to record his praife : His praife, eternal on the faithful (tone. Had with tranfmiffive honours grac’d his fon. Now fnatch’d by harpies to the dreary coall, Sunk is the hero, and his glory loft! I 4 ' I3(S HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIV. 409- While penfive in this folitary den, Far from gay cities, and the ways of men, I linger life; nor to the court repair. But when the conftant queen commands my care 5 Or when, to tafte her hofpitable board, Some gueft arrives, with rumours of her lord: And thefe indulge their want, and thofe their wo, And here the tears, and there the goblets flow. By many fuch have 1 been warn’d ; but chief By one Altolian robb’d of all belief, Whofe hap it was to this our roof to roam, For murder banifh’d from his native home. He fwore, Ulyfles on the coaft of Crete Staid but a feafon to refit his fleet; A few revolving months (hould waft him o’er, Fraught with bold warriors, and a boundlefs (lore. O thou! whom age has taught to underftand, And heav’n has guided with a fav’ring hand! On God or mortal to obtrude a lie Forbear, and dread to flatter, as to die. Not for fuch ends my houfe and heart are free, But dear refpedt to Jove, and charity. And why, oh {wain of unbelieving mind! (Thus quick reply’d the wifeft of mankind), Doubt you my oath ? yet more my faith to try,' A folemn compaft let us ratify. And witnefs ev’ry pow’r that rules the Iky ! If here Ulyfles from his labours reft. Be then my prize a tunic and a veft; And, where my hopes invite me, ftrait tranfport In fafety to Dulichium’s friendly court. HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIV. 440. 131 But if he greets not thy defiring eye, Hurl me from yon dread precipice on high ; > The due reward of fraud and perjury. J Doubtlefs, oh gueft! great laud and praife were mine, ' (Reply’d the Twain for fpotlefs faith divine). If, after focial rites and gifts bellow’d, I ftain’d my hofpitable hearth with blood. How would the gods my righteous toils fucceed. And blefs the hand that made a llranger bleed ! No more—th’ approaching hours of filent night Firft claim refeftion, then to relt invite ; Beneath our humble cottage let us halle, And here, unenvy’d, rural dainties tafte. Thus commun’d thefe ; while to their lowly dome The full-fed fwine return’d with ev’ning home; Compell’d, reluflant, to their fev’ral Hies, With din obllrep’rous, and ungrateful cries. Then to the Haves:—Now from the herd the bell Seleft, in honour of our foreign guell: With him let us the genial banquet (hare. For great and many are the griefs we bear; While thofe who from our labours heap their board, Blafpheme their feeder, and forget their lord. Thus fpeaking, with difpatchful hand he took A weighty axe, and cleft the folid oak ; This on the earth he pil’d; a boar full-fed Of five years age, before the pile was led : The Twain, whom efts of piety delight, Qbfervant of the gods, begins the rite; 133 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. Firfl /hear? the forehead of the briftly boar, And fuppliant ftands, invoking ev’ry pow’r C To fpeed Ulyfles to his native (hore. S A knotty flake then aiming at his head, Down dropp’d he groaning, and the fpirit fled. The {torching flames climb round on ev’ry fide : Then the frng’d members they with fkill divide ; On thefe, in rolls of fat, involv’d with art, The choicefl morfels lay from ev’ry part. Some in the flames, beftrow'd with flour, they threw i Some cut in fragments, from the forks they drew : Thefe while on fev’nd tables they difpole, As prieft himfelf the bfamelefs ruftic role ; Expert the defiin’d viflim to difpart, In feven juft portions, pure of hand and heart. One facred to the Nymphs apart they lay, Another to the winged fan of May : The rural tribe in common lhare the reft. The king the chine, the honour of the feaft. Who fat delighted at his fervant’s board; The faithful fervant joy’d his unknown lord. Oh be thou dear (Ulyfles cry’d) to Jove, As well thou claim’ft a grateful ftranger’s love ! Be then thy thanks, (the bounteous fwain reply’d). Enjoyment of the good the gods provide. From God’s own hand defeend our joys and woes; Thefe he decrees, and he but fuflers thofe. All pow’ris his, and whatfoe’er he wills. The will itfelf, omnipotent, fulfills. This faid, the firft-fruits to the gods he gave; Then pour’d of ofter’d wine the fable wave: IFOMER’s. ODYSSEY. XIV. 500. 139 t ^ In great UlylTes’ hand he plac’d the bowl; He fat, and fvveet relettion cheer’d his foul. The bread from canillers Mefaulius gave, (Eumaeus’ proper treafure bought this Have,, And led from Taphos, to attend his board, A fervant added to his abfent lord). His talk it was the wheaten loaves to lay, And'from the banquet take the bowls away. And now the rage of hunger was repreff. And each betakes him to his couch to reft. Now came the night, and darknefs cover’d o’er The face of things; the winds began to roar ; The driving llorm the wat’ry well-wind pours. And Jove defcends in deluges of Ihow’rs. Studious of reft and warmth,. Ulyfles lies, Forefeeing from the firft the ftorm would rife-; In mere necellity of coat and cloak. With artful preface to his hoft he fpoke. Hear me, my friends! who this good banquet grace; ’Tis fweet to play the fool in time and place ; And wine can of their wits the wife beguile, Make the fage frolic, and the ferious fmile. The grave in merry meafures frilk about, And many a long-repented word bring out. Since to be talkative I now commence, Let wit caft off the fullen yoke of fenfe. Once I was ftrong, (would heav’n reftore thole days!) And with my betters claim’d a fhare of praife. Ulyfies, Menelaus led forth a band, And join’d me with them, (’twas their own command)^ A deathful ambulh for the foe to lay, Beneath Troy walls by night wc took our way ; 140 HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIV. 534. There, clad in arms, along the marfhes fpread, We made the ofier-fringed bank our bed. Full foon th’ inclemency of heav’n I feel; Nor had thefe (boulders cov’ring, but of fteel. Sharp blew the north ; fnow whit’ning all the fields Froze with the blaft, and gath’ring glaz’d our fhields There all but I, well fenc’d with cloak and vefl, Lay cover’d by their ample (hields at reft. Fool that I was! I left behind my own ; The Ikill of weather and of winds unknown. And trufted to my coat and Ihield alone! When now was wafted more than half the night, And the ftars faded at approaching light; Sudden I jogg’d Ulyfles, who was laid Fall by my fide, and, fhiv’ring, thus I faid. Here longer in this field I cannot lie. The winter pinches, and with cold I die; And die alham’d, (oh wifeft of mankind!) The only fool who left bis cloak behind. He thought, and anfwer’d : Hardly waking yet. Sprung in his mind the momentary wit; (That wit, which or in council or in fight, Still met th’ emergence, and determin’d right), Hufh thee, he cry’d, (foft whifp’ring in my ear). Speak not a word, left any Greek fhould hear— And then (fupporting on his arm his head) Hear me, companions! (thus aloud he faid) ; Methinks too diftant from the fleet we lie ; Ev’n now a vifion flood before my eye, And fure the warning vifion was from high : .Let from among us fome fwift courier rife, Hade to the gen’ral, and demand fupplies. HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XIV. 565. i^r . Up darted Thoas drait, Andraemon’s foa: I Nimbly he rofe, and cad his garment down; i Indant the racer vanifh’d off the ground ; ; That indant in his cloak I wrapp’d me round : , And fafe I dept, till brightly-dawning Ihone The morn, confpicuous on her golden throne. Oh were my drength as then, as then my age ! Some friend would fence me from the winter’s rage. Yet tatter’d as I look, I challeng’d then The honours and the offices of men ; Some mader, or fome fervant would allow A cloak and ved—but I am nothing now ! Well had thou fpoke, (rejoin’d th’ attentive fwain). Thy lips let fall no idle word or vain ! Nor garment (halt thou want, nor aught befide, Meet for the wand’ring fuppliant to provide. But in the morning take thy cloaths again, For here one ved fuffices ev’ry fwain; i No change of garments to our hinds is known : But when return’d, the good Ulydes’ fon With better hand (hall grace with fit attires His gued, and fend thee where thy foul defires. The honed herdfman rofe, as this he faid, , And drew before the hearth the dranger’s bed: ' The fleecy fpoils of (heep, a goat’s rough hide , He fpreads; and adds a mantle thick and widey With dore to heap above him, and below. And guard each quarter as the tempeds blow. There lay the king, and all the red fupine; All but the careful mader of the fwine : Forth haded he to tend his bridly care, Well arm’d, and fenc’d againd noflurnal aw; X4Z HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XIV. His weighty faulchion o’er his (houlder ty’d ; His Ihaggy cloak a mountain-goat fupply’d ; With his broad fpear, the dread of dogs and men, He feeks his lodging in the rocky den. There to the tufky herd he bends his way, Where fcreen’d from Boreas high o’-erarch'd they lay. THE ODYSSEY. BOOK XV. THE ARGUMENT. The Return of Tekmachus. 'THE goddefs Minerva commands Tdemachus in a vifion to return to Ithaca. Pififtratus and he take > leave of Menelaus, and arrive at Pylos, where they part; and Telemachus fets fail, after having received on board Theodymcnus the foothfayer. The fcene then changes to the cottage of Eumaeus, who enter- 1 tains Ulyfles with a recital of his adventures. In the meantime Telemachus arrives on the coaft, and, fending the veflel to the town, proceeds by himfelf to the lodge of Eumaeus. BOOK XV. “fcT 0 W had Minerva reach’d thofe ample plains, JL\ Fam’d for the dance, where Menelans reigns ; Anxious (he flies to great Ulyfles’ heir, His inftant voyage challeng’d all her care. Beneath the royal portico difplay’d, With Neftor’s fon, Tclemachus was laid: In deep profound the fon of Neftor lies; Not thine, Ulyfles! Care utifeal’d his eyes: Reftlefs he griev’d, with various fears oppreft, And all thy fortunes roll’d within his breaft. When, O Felemachus! (the goddefs faid), Too long in vain, too widely haft thou ftray’d. Thus leaving carelefs thy paternal right The robbers prize, the prey to lawlefs might. On fond purfuits negleftful while you roam, Ev’n now the hand of rapine fades the dome. ■ Hence to Atrides, and his leave implore To launch thy veflei for thy natal (hore : Fly, whilft thy mother virtuous yet withftands Her kindred’s wilhes, and her fire’s commands; ’ Through both Eurymachus purfues the dame, ,And with the nobleft gifts aflerts his claim. Hence, therefore, while thy (lores thy own remain ; Thou know’ll the pradtice of their female train, Loft in the children of the prefent fpoufe. They flight the pledges of their former vows | Their love is always‘with t,he lover pad ; Still the fucceeding flame expels the Taft, Voi., IX, K 145 H O M E R’s ODYSSEY. XV. 29. Let o’er thy houfe fome chofeti maid prefide, Till heav’n decrees to blefs thee in a bride. But now thy more attentive ears incline, Obferve the warnings of a pow’r divine : For thee their fnares the fuitpr-lords (hall lay In Same’s fands, or (Iraits of Ithaca ; To feke thy life (hall lurk the murd’rous band. Ere yet thy footfleps prefs thy native land. No—fooner far their riot and their hid AU-cov’ring earth (hall bury deep in dull ! Then diftant from the fcatter’d iflands (leer. Nor let the night retard thy full career : Thy heav’nly guardian (hall inftruft the gales To fmooth thy paffage, and fupply thy fails : And when at Ithaca thy labour ends, Send to the town thy ve(Tel with thy friends, But feek thou firft the matter of the fwine, (For dill to thee his loyal thoughts incline) ; There pafs the night: While he his courfe purfues To bring Penelope the wi(h’d-for news, That thou, fafe failing from the Pylian ftrand. Art come to blefs her in thy native land. Thus fpoke the goddefs, and refum’d her flight To the pure regions of eternal light. Meanwhile Pififtratus he gently (hakes, And with thefe words the (lumb’ring youth awakes Rife, fon of Neftor! for the road prepare, And join the harnefs’d courfers to the car. What caufe, he cry’d, can juftify our flight, To tempt the dangers of forbidding night ? Here w^jt we rather, till approaching day Shall prompt our fpeed, and point the ready way. HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XV. Cl. t47 r Nor think of flight, before the Spartan king t Shall bid farewel, and bounteous prefents bring ; Gifts, which to diftant ages fafely ftor’d, The facred a£f of friendfltip (hall record. Thus he. But, when the dawn beftreak’d the eart, The king from Helen rofe, and fought his guelt. As foon as his approach the hero knew .The fplendid mantle round him firft he threw, Then o’er his ample Ihoulders whirl’d the cloak, Refpe£tful met the monarch, and befpoke. Hail, great Atrides ! favour’d of high Jove! Let not thy friends in vain for licence move. Swift let us meafure back the wat’ry way, Nor check our fpeed, impatient of delay. If with defire fo flrong thy bofom glows, 111, faid the king, (hould I thy wifh oppole; For oft in others freely I reprove The ill-tim’d efforts of officious love; Who love too much, hate in the like extreme, And both the golden mean alike condemn. Alike he thwarts the hofpitable end, Who drives the free, or flays the hafty friend ; True friendffiip’s laws are by this rule exprefl. Welcome the coming, fpeed the parting gueft. Yet flay, my friends! and in your chariot take The nobleft prefents that our love can make : Meantime commit'wt to our womens care Some choice domeflic viands to prepare ; The trav’ler rifing from the banquet gay, Eludes the labours of the tedious way. Then if a wider courfe (hall rather pleafe, Through fpacious Argos and the realms of Greece, K j 148 HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XV. SJ. Atrides in his chariot ihall attend, Himfelf thy convoy to each royal friend. Ho prince will let Ulyfl'es’ heir remove Without fome pledge, fome monument of love : Thefe will the chaldron, thefe the tripod give, From thofe the weli-pair’d mules we fhall receive, Or bowl embofs’d, whole golden figures live. To whom the youth, for prudence fam’d, reply’d O monarch, care of heav’n ! thy people’s pride ! No friend in Ithaca my place fupplies, No pow’rful hands are there, no watchful eyes: My (lores expos’d, and fencelefs houfe demand The fpeedieft fuccour from my guardian hand ; Left, in a fearch too anxious and too vain Of one joy loll, I lofe what yet remain. His purpofe when the gen’rous warrior heard, He charg’d the houlhold cates to be prepar’d. Now with the dawn, from his adjoining home, Was Boethoedes Eteoneus come; Swift as the word he forms the riling blaze, And o’er the coals the fmoaking fragments lays. Meantime the king, his Ion, and Helen went Where the rich wardrobe breath’d a collly fcent. The king fele£led from the glitt’ring rows A bowl; the prince a filver beaker chofe. The beauteous queen revolv’d with careful eyes Her various textures of unnumber’d dyes, And chofe the largeft; with no vulgar art Her own fair hands embroider’d ev’ry part: Beneath the reft it lay divinely bright. Like radiant Helper o’er the gems sight. HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XV. ih- «4» Then with each gift they haften’d to their gueft, And thus the king Ulyiies’ hek addreil. Since fix’d are thy rciolves, may thund’ring Jore With hap pie ft omens thy deftres approve! This fiiver bowl, whofe coftly margins (hine Enchas’d with gold, this valu’d gift be thine ; To me this prefent, of Vulcanian frame, From Sidon’s hofpitable monarch came ; To thee we now confign the precious load, The pride of kings, and labour of a god. Then gave the cup; while Megapenthe brought The fiiver vafe, with living fculpture wrought. The beauteous queen, advancing next, difplay’d The Ibining veil, and thus endearing faid. Accept, dear youth, this monument of love. Long fince, in better days, by Helen wove : Safe in thy mother’s care the vefture lay, To deck thy bride, and grace thy nuptial day. Meantime, mayft thou with happieft fpeed regain Thy ftately palace, and thy wide domain. She faid, and gave the veil: With grateful look The prince the variegated prefent took. And now, when through the royal dome they pafs’d. High on a throne the king each ftranger plac’d. A golden ewer th’ attendant damfel brings. Replete with water from the cryftal fprings; With copious ftreams the fhining vafe fupplies A fiiver laver of capacious fize. They walh. The tables in fair order fpread. The glitt’ring canifters are crown’d with bread ; Viands of various kinds allure the tafte, Of choiceft fort and favour; rich repaft, Kj Iso HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XV. 156. Whilft Eteoneus portions out the fliares, Atrides’ fon the purple draught prepares. And now (each fated with the genial feaft, And the fhort rage of thirft and hunger ceaft) UlytTes’ fon, with his illuftrious friend. The horfes join, the polifh’d car afcend. Along the court the fiery deeds rebound. And the wide portal echoes to the found. The king precedes : A bowl with fragrant wine (Libation deftin’d to the pow’rs divine) His right hand held : Before the deeds he ftands, Then, mix’d with pray’rs, he utters thefe commands. Farewell and profper, youths ! Let Neltor know What grateful thoughts dill in this bofom glow, For all the proofs of his paternal care, Through the long dangers of the ten years war. Ah ! doubt not our report (the prince rejoin’d) Of all the virtues of thy gen’rous mind. And oh ! return’d might we Ulyfles meet! To him thy prefents (hew, thy words repeat: How will each fpeech his grateful wonder raife ? How will each gift indulge us in thy praife ? ■ Scarce ended thus the prince, when on the right Advanc’d the bird of Jove, aufpicious fight! A milk-white fowl his clinching talents bore, With care domedic pamper’d at the floor. Peafants in vain with threat’ning cries purfue ; In folemn fpeed the bird majedic flew Full dexter to the car: The profp’rous fight Fill’d ev’ry bread with wonder and delight. But Nedor’s fon the cheerful filence broke, And in thefe words the Spartan chief befpoke. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 188. IJ« Say if to us the gods thefe omens fend, Or fates peculiar to thyfelf portend? Whilft yet the monarch paus’d, with doubts oppreft, The beauteous queen reliev’d his lab’ring bread. Hear me, Ihe cry’d, to whom the gods have giv’n To read this fign and my (lie fenfe of heav’n. As thus the plumy fov’reign of the air Left on the mountain’s brow his callow care, And wander’d through the wide aetherial way To pour his wrath on yon luxurious prey ; So (ball thy godlike father, tofs’d in vain Through all the dangers of the boundlefs main. Arrive, (or is perchance already come), From (laughter’d gluttons to releafe the dome. Oh ! if this promis’d blefs by thund’ring Jove (The prince reply’d) (lands fix’d in fate above ; To thee, as to fome god, I’ll temples raife. And crown thy altars with the coftly blaze. He faid; and bending o’er his chariot, flung Athwart the fiery deeds the fmarting thong : The bounding (hafts upon the harnefs play, Till night defeending intercepts the way. To Diodes, at Pherae they repair, Whofe boaded fire was facred Alpheus’ heir ; With him all night the youthful drangers fiaid, Nor found the hofpitablc rites unpaid. But foon as morning from her orient bed Had ting’d the mountains with her earlied red, They join’d the deeds, and on the chariot fprung j The brazen portals in their paflage rung. To Pylos foon they came; when thus begun To Nedor’s heir Ulyfles’ godlike fon ; K-4 ij» HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 420. Let not Pififtratus in vain be preft, Nor unconfenting hear his friend’s requefl; His friend by long hereditary claim, In toils his equal, and in years the fame. No farther from our veffel, I implore. The courfers drive ; but laih them to the fhore. Too long thy father would his friend detain ; I dread his profer’d kindnefs, urg’d in vain. The hero paus’d, and ponder’d this requeft. While love and duty warr’d within his bread : At length refolv’d, he turn’d his ready hand. And lath’d his panting courfers to the ftrand. There, while within the poop with care he flor'd The regal prefents of the Spartan lord ; With fpeed begone, (faid he), call ev’ry mate, Ere yet to Neflor I the tale relate : ’Tis true, the fervour of bis gen’rous heart Brooks no repulfe, nor couldft thou foon depart; Himfelf will feek thee hear, nor wilt thou find. In words alone, the Pylian monarch kind. But when arriv’d he thy return (hall know. How will his bread with honeft fury glow ? This faid, the founding ftrokes his horfes fire. And foon he reach’d the palace of his fire. Now, (cry’d Telemachus), with fpeedy care Hoife ev’ry fail, and ev’ry oar prepare. Swift as the word his willing mates obey. And feize their feats, impatient for the fea. Meantime the Prince with facrifice adores Minerva, and her guardian aid implores ; When lo! a wretch ran breathlefs to the Ihore, New from his crime, and reeking yet with gore. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 2ja. 153 A feer he was, from great Melampus fprung, Melampus, who in Pylos flourilh’d long, Till, urg’d by wrongs, a foreign realm he chofe, Far from the hateful caule of all his woes. Neleus his treafures one long year detains; As long he groan’d in Phylacus his chains : Meantime, w hat anguilh and what rage combin’d. For lovely Pero rack’d bis lab’ring mind! Yet ’fcap’d he death ; and vengeful of his wrong, To Pyloa drove the lowing herds along : Then (Neleus vanquilh’d, and confign’d the fair To Bias' arms) he fought a foreign air : Argos the rich for his retreat he chofe, There form’d his empire, there his palace role. From him Antiphates and Mantius came: The firft begot Oicleus great in fame. And he Amphiaraus, immortal name ! The people’s faviour, and divinely wife, Belov’d by Jove, and him who gilds the Ikies, Yet fhort his date of life! by female pride he dies. From Mantius Clitus, whom Aurora’s love Snatch’d for his beauty to the thrones above ; And Polyphides, on whom Phoebus fhone With fulleft rays, Amphiaraus now gone ; In Hyperefia’s groves he made abode, And taught mankind the counfels of the god. From him fprung Theoclymenus, who found (The facred wine yet foaming on the ground) Telemachus : Whom, as to heav’n heprefsld His ardent vows, the ftranger thus addrefs’d. O thou that dofl thy happy courle prepare With pure libations, and with foiemn pray’r I U4 HOME R’s ODYSSEY. XV. 184* By that dread pow’r to whom thy vows are paid. By all the lives of thefe, thy own dear head, Declare fincerely to no foe’s demand Thy name, thy lineage, and paternal land. Prepare then, faid Telemachus, to know A tale from falfehood free, not free from woe. From Ithaca, ot royal birth, I came, And great Ulyfies (ever honour’d name !) Was once my lire : 1'hough now for ever loft In Stygian gloom he glides a penfive gholt! Whofe tate inquiring, through the world we rove; The laft, the wretched proof of filial love. The ftranger then : Nor lhall 1 aught conceal. But the dire fecret of my fate reveal. Of my own tribe an Argive wretch 1 flew; Whofe pow’rful friends the lucklefs deed purfne With unrelenting rage, and force from home The blood-ftain’d exile, ever doom’d to roam. But bear, Oh bear me o’er yon azure flood ; Receive the luppliant! fpare my delhn’d blood 1 Stranger, (reply’d the prince), fecurely reft Affianc’d in our faith ; henceforth our gueft. Thus affable, Ulyffes’ godlike heir Takes from the ftranger’s hand the glitt’ring fpear : He climbs the fhip, al'cends the (fern with hade, And by his fide the gueft accepted plac’d. The chief his orders gives : Th’ obedient band With due obfervance wait the chief’s command : With fpeed the mart they rear, with fpeed unbind The fpacious Iheet, and ftretch it to the wind. Minerva calls ; the ready gales obey With rapid fpeed to whirl them o’er the fea. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 316. iiS Crunus they pafs’d, next Chalcis roll’d away, When thick’ning darknefs clos’d the doubtful day s The filver Phaea’s glitt’ring rills they loft. And Ikimm’d along by Elis’ facred coaft. Then cautious through the rocky reaches wind. And turning fudden, (hun the death defign’d. Meantime the king, Eumaeus, and the reft. Sat in the cottage, at their rural feaft : The banquet pafs’d, and fatiate ev’ry man, To try his hoft Ulyftes thus began Yet one night more, my friends, indulge yourgueft; The laft 1 purpofe in your walls to reft : To-morrow for myfelf l muft provide, And only a(k your counfel, and a guide: Patient to roam the ftreet, by hunger led, And blefs the friendly hand that gives me bread. There in Ulyfles’ roof I may relate Ulyftes’ wand’rings to his royal mate ; Or mingling with the fuitors haughty train. Not undeferving, fome fupport obtain. Hermes to me his various gifts imparts, Patron of induftry and manual arts: Few can with me in dext’rous works contend. The pyre to build, the ftnbborn oak to rend; To turn the tafteful viand o’er the flame ; Or foam the goblet with a purple ftream. Such are the talks of men of mean eftate. Whom fortune dooms to ferve the rich and great. Alas ! (Eumaeus with a ftgh rejoin’d), How fprung a thought fo monftrous in thy mind ? If on that godlefs race thou wouidft attend. Fate owes thee Cure a miferable end! TS6 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 348. Their wrongs and blafphemies afcend the (ky. And pull defcending vengeance from on high. Not fuch, my friend, the fervants of their feaft■: A blooming train in rich embroid’ry dreft, With earth’s whole tribute the bright table bends. And fmiling round ceieflial youth attends. Stay then : No eye alkance beholds thee here; Sweet is thy converfe to each foeial ear; Well pleas’d, and pleafing, in our cottage reft, Till good Telemachus accepts his gueft With genial gifts, and change of fair attires, And fafe conveys thee where thy foul defires. To him the man of woes : O gracious Jove ! Reward this ftranger’s hofpitable love, Who knows the fon of forrow to relieve. Cheers the fad heart, nor lets affliftion grieve.. Of all the ills unhappy mortals know, A life of wand’rings is the greateft wo : On all their weary ways wait care and pain. And pine and penury, a meagre train. To fuch a man fince harbour you afford, Relate the farther fortunes of your lord ; What cares his mother’s tender brealt engage, And fire, forfaken on the verge of age; Beneath the fun prolong they yet their breath, Or range the houfe of darknefs and of death ? To whom the Twain : Attend what you inquire. Laertes lives, the miferable fire. Lives, but implores of ev’ry pow’r to lay The burden down, and withes for the day. Torn from his offspring in the eve of life. Torn from th’ embraces of his tender wifes HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 380. l$r I Sole, and all comfortlefs, he wades away Old age, untimely poding ere his day. She too, fad mother! for Ulyffes lod, Pin’d out her bloom, and vanilh’d to a ghoft (So dire a fate, ye righteous gods ! avert, From ev’ry friendly, ev’ry feeling heart!) While yet Ihe was, tho’ clouded o’er with grief. Her pleaftng converfe minider’d relief : With Ctimene, her younged daughter, bred, One roof contain’d us, and one table fed. But when the foftly dealing pace of time Crept on from childhood into youthful prime, To Samo’s ifle (he fent the wedded fair; Me to the fields, to tend the rural care : Array’d in garments her own hands had wove. Nor lefs the darling obje£t of her love. Her haplefs death my brighter days o’ercad, Yet providence defects me not at lad ; My prefent labours food and drink procure, And more, the pleafure to relieve the poor. Small is the comfort from the queen to hear Unwelcome news, or vex the royal ear; Blank and difcountenanc’d the fervants dand, Nor dare to quedioo where theproud command S No profit fprings beneath ufurping pow’rs ; Want feeds not there, where luxury devours, Nor harbours charity where riot reigns: Proud are the lords, and wretched are the fwains. The fuff’ring chief at this began to melt; And, oh Eumacus! thou (he cries) had felt The fpite of fortune too ! her cruel hand Snatch’d thee an infant from thy native land! If 8 HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XV. 4ix. Snatch’d from thy parents arms, thy parents eyes, To early wants! a man of miferies ! Thy whole fad (lory, from its firft, declare : Sunk the tair city by the rage of war, Where once thy parents dwelt.? or did they keep, In humbler life, the lowing herds and Iheep ? So left perhaps to tend the fleecy train, Rude pirates feiz’d, and Ihipp’d thee o’er the main ? Doom’d a fair prize to grace fome prince’s board, The worthy purchafe of a foreign lord. If then my fortunes can delight my friend, A ftory fruitful of events, attend : Another’s furrow may thy ear enjoy, And wine the lengthen’d intervals employ. Long nights the now declining year beftows ; A part we confecrate to foft repofe, A part in pleafing talk we entertain ; For too much reft itfelf becomes a pain. Let thofe whom fleep invites, the call obey, Their cares refuming with the dawning day : Here let us feaft, and to the feaft be join’d Difcourfe, the fweeter banquet of the mind ; Review the feries of our lives, and tafte The melancholy joy of evils pad : For he who much has fuffer’d, much will know ; And pleas’d remembrance builds delight on wo. Above Ortygia lies an ifle of fame, Far hence remote, and Syria is the name ; (There curious eyes inferib’d with wonder trace The fun’s diurnal, and his annual race) ; Not large, but fruitful; ftor’d with grafs to keep The bellowing oxen, and the bleating (heep ; % HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 444. 159 l Her (loping hills the mantling vines adorn, ’ ^And her rich valleys wave with golden corn. No want, no famine the glad natives know. Nor fink by ficknefs to the (hades below ; But when a length of years unnerves the ftrofig, .Apollo comes, and Cynthia comes along. They bend the filver bow with tender (kill, And void of pain, the filent arrows kill. Two-equal tribes this fertile land divide, Where two fair cities rife with equal pride. But both in conflant peace one prince obey, j And Ctefms there, njy father, holds the fway. Freighted, it feems, with toys of ev’ry fort \ A (hip of Sidon anchor’d in our port; What time it chanc’d the palace entertain’d. Skill’d in rich works, a woman of their land. This nymph, where anchor’d the I'hoenician train. To waft) her robes defcending to the main, A fmooth-tongu’d failor won her to his mind ; . (For love deceives the bed of woman-kind). ! A hidden truft from fudden liking grew ; She told her name, her race, and all (he knew. I too ((he cry’d) from glorious Sidon came, My father Arybas, of wealthy fame; i But fnatch’d by pirates from my native place. The Taphians fold me to this man’s embrace. Hafte then (the falfe-defigning youth reply’d), . Hade to thy country ; love (hall be thy guide : Hade to thy father’s houfe, thy father’s bread, For dill he lives, and lives with riches bled. itfio H O M E R's ODYSSEY. XY. 474, “ Swear firft ((he cry’d), ye failors ! to reftore “ A wretch in fafety to her native (hore.” > Swift as (he aAt’d, the ready failors fwore. J She then proceeds : Now let our compaft made Be nor by fignal nor by word betray’d, Nor near me any of your crew defcry’d By road frequented, or by fountain-fide. Be fitence (fill our guard. The monarch’s fpies (For watchful age is ready to furmife) Are dill at hand; and this, reveal’d, muft be Death to yourfelves, eternal chains to me. Your vefTel loaded, and your traffic pad, Difpatch a wary meflenger with hafte : Then gold and coftly treafures will I bring, And more, the infant offspring of the king. Him, child-like wand’ring forth, I’ll lead away, (A noble prize!) and to your (hip convey. Thus fpoke the dame, and homeward took the road. A year they traffic, and their veflel load. Their (lores complete, and ready now to weigh, A fpy was fent their fummons to convey : An artift to my father’s palace came, With gold and amber chains, elab’rate frame : Each female eye the glitt’ring links employ, They turn, review, and cheapen ev’ry toy. He took th’ occafion as they flood intent, Gave her the ftgn, and to his veffel went. She ftraight purfn’d, and feiz’d my willing arm ; 1 follow’d fmilir.g, innocent of harm. Three golden goblets in the porch (he found, [ (The guefts not enter’d, but the table crown’d); HOMER’s ODYSSEY, XV, Sc*, iflt ! Hid in her fraudful bofom, thefe fire bore. | Now fet lire fun, and darken’d all the ftrore. Arriving then, where tilting on the tides Prepar’d to launch the freighted veffel rides ; Aboard the/ heave us, mount their decks, and fweep • With level oar along the glafly deep. Six calm/ days and fix fmooth nights we fail, And conilant Jove fupply’d the gentle gale. The fev’nth, the fraudful wretch, (no caui'e defery’d), Touch’d by Diana’s vengeful arrow, dy’d. Down dropt the caitiff corfe, a worthlefs load, •) Down to ttye deep ; there roll’d, the future food > Ol fierce fea-wolves, and nronflers of the flood. J An helplefs infant, 1 remain’d behind; i Thence born to Ithaca by wave and wind ; Sold to Laertes, by divine command, And now adopted to a foreign land. To him the king ; Reciting thus thy cares, My fecret foul in all thy forrows (hares : But one choice bleffing (fucli is Jove’s high willj Has Iweeten’d all thy bitter draught of ill: i Torn from thy country to no haplefs end, ; The gods have, in a matter, gtv’n a friend. Whatever frugal nature needs is thine, i (For Hie needs little), daily bread and wine. " While I, fo many wand’rings part and woes, ' Live but on what thy poverty bellows. So pafs’d in pleafing dialogue away «» The night; then down to fhort repofe they lay; C |. Till radiant rofe the meflenger of day. J ' While in the port of Ithaca, the band Of youn'g Telemachus approach’d the land ; Vox,, IX. L 10% HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 537. Their fails they loos’d, they lath’d the mad afide, And cad their anchors, and the cables ty’d : Then on the breezy (hore defcending, join In grateful banquet o’er the rofy wine. When thus the prince : Now each his courfe purfue I to the fields, and to the city you. .Long abfent hence, I dedicate this day My fwains to vifit, and the works furvey. Expeft me with the morn, to pay the fkies Our debt offafe return, in fead and facrifice. Then Theoclymenus : But who (hall lend, Meantime, protection to thy dranger-friend ? Strait to the queen and palace (hall I fly, Or yet more didant, to fome lord apply ? The prince return’d : Renown’d in days of yore Has dood our father’s hofpitable door; No other roof a dranger fhould receive, Nor other hands than ours the welcome give. But in my abfence riot fills the place, Nor bears the moded queen a dranger’s face, Erom noifeful revel far remote die flies, But rarely feen, or feen with weeping eyes. No let Eurymachus receive my guefl, Of nature courteous, and by far the bed ; lie wooes the queen with more refpeftful flame, And emulates her former hufband’s fame : With what fuccefs, ’tis Jove’s alone to know'. And the hop’d nuptials turn to joy or wo. Thus fpeaking, on the right up-foar’d in air The hawk, Apollo’s fwift-wing d meflenger ; His deathful pounces tore a trembling dove ; The clotted feathers, fcatter’d from above, HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XV. 51S9. 16 Between the hero and the veffel pour Thick plumage, mingled with a fanguine Ihow’r, Th’ obferving augur took the prince afide, Seiz’d by the hand, and thus prophetic cry’d. Yon bird that dexter cuts th’ aerial road, Rofe ominous, nor flies without a god: No race but thine lhall Ithaca obey, To thine, for ages, heav’n decrees the fway. Succeed the omen, gods! (the youth rejoin’d) ; Soon fhall my bounties fpeak a grateful mind, And foon each envy’d happinefs attend The man, who calls Telemachus his friend. Then to Peiraeus—Thou whom time has prov’d A faithful fervant, by thy prince belov’d ! Till we returning lhall our gueft demand, Accept this charge, with honour at our hand. To this Peiraeus : Joyful I obey, Well pleas’d the hofpitable rites to pay. The prefence of thy gueft lhall beft reward (If long thy ftay) the abfence of my lord. With that, their anchors he commands to weigh* Mount the tall bark, and launch into the lea. All with obedient hafte forfake the (hores, And plac’d in order, fpread their equal oars. ' Then from the deck the prince his fandals takes ; Pois’d in his hand the pointed jav’lin lhakes. They part; while lefs’ning from the hero’s view, Swift to the town the well-row’d galley flew : The hero trod the margin of the main, And reach’d the manlion of his faithful fwain. L a • ' ' '|4fcfi • ■ ■ > ■ . - • • ^ / .in .. ■ ' THE ODYSSEY. book xvi. THE ARGUMENT. The Difcovery ofUlyJfes to Telemachusl Telemachus arriving at the lodge of EumaeuSj fends him to carry Penelope the news of his return, Minerva appearing to Ulyfles, commands him to difcover himfelf to his fon. The princes, who had lain in ambufh to intercept Telemachus in his way, their projedt being defeated, return to Ithaca. t ' I L3 y a r a i .ivy. y o c •TV... . 1 : " l.-' ; ; ' ; ' r: wV ' , I • ; v' ' <*■ ’piti jni., , :ry[ ' I ; v ,■ j . . i .-uji ?.:ii : ■ v i 't: • ' ;-v - \,V '•■•37'. BOOK XVI. g 0 0 N as the morning bluth’d alipng the plains, Ulylles, and the monarch of the fwains, Awake the fleeping fires, their mea! prepare, And forth to paid lire fend the brifidy care. The prince’s near approach the dogs defcry, And, fawning round his feet, confefs their joy. / Their gentle blandifhment the king Purvey’d, Heard his refounding ftep, and inftant faid. Some well-known friend (Eumaeus) bends this way His fieps I hear ; the dogs familiar play. While yet he fpoke, the prince advancing drew Nigh to the lodge, and now appear’d in view. Tranfpcrted from his feat Eumaeus fprmig, Dropp’d the fuil bowl, and round his bofom hung; Kiffing his cheek, his hand, while from his eye The tears rain’d copious in a (how’r of joy. As fome fond fire, who ten long winters grieves. From foreign climes an only fpn receives, (Child of his age), with ftrong paternal joy Forward he fprings, and clafps the fav’rite boy; So round the youth his arms Eumaeus fpread. As if the grave had giv’n him from the dead. And is it thou? my cver-dear delight! O art thou conic to blefs my longing fight! Never, I never hop’d to view this day, When o’er the waves you plough’d the defp’rate way. Enter, my child 1 beyond rny hopes reftor’d, O give thefe eyes to feaft upon their lord. ■L 4 158 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XVI. 17; Enter, oh feldom leen ! for lawlefs pow’rs Too much detains thee from thefe fylvan bovv’rs. The prince reply’d : Eumaeus, I obey ; To feek thee, friend, I hither took my way. But fay, if in the court the queen refide Severely chafte, or if commenc’d a bride ? Thus he : And thus the monarch of the fwains ; Severely chafte Penelope remains; But loft to ev’ry joy, (lie waftes the day la tedious cares, and weeps the night away. He ended, and (receiving as they pafs The jav’lin, pointed with a ftarof brafs) They reach’d the dome ; the dome with marble (hin’d His feat Ulyftes to the prince refign'd. Not fc—(exclaims the prince with decent grace) For me, this houfe (hall find an humbler place : T’ ufurp the honours due to filver hairs And rev’rend ftrangers, modeft youth forbears. Inftant the fwain the fpoiis of beads fupplies, And bids the rural throne with ofiers rife. There fat the prince : The feaft Eumaeus fpread; And heap’d the (hining can filers with bread. Thick o’er the board the plenteous viands lay, The frugal remnants of the former day. Then in a bowl he tempers gen’rotis wines, Around whofe verge a mimic ivy twines. And, now the rage of thirft and hunger fled, Thus young Ulyfles to Eumaeus faid. Whence, father, from what (hore this ftranger, fay ? What veflel bore him o’er the wat’ry way ! To human ftep our land impervious lies, And round the coaft circumfluent oceans rife. HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XVI. * Minerva, HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XVL 31a. ijj *e I bear them hence (fo Jove my foul infpires) “ From the pollution of the fuming fires; “ Left when the bowl inflames, in vengeful mood “ Ye rulh to arms, and ftain the feaft with blood J “ Oft ready fwords in luckkfs hour incite “ The hand of wrath, and arm it for the fight,*’ Such be the plea, and by the plea deceive : For Jove infatuates all, and all believe. Yet leave for each of us a fword to wield, A pointed jav’iin, and a fenceful Afield. But, by my blood that in thy bofom glows. By that regard a fon his father owes, The fecret, that thy father lives, retain Lock’d in thy bofbm from the houfehold train; Hide it from all; ev’n from Eumaeus hide, From my dear father, and my dearer bride. One care remains, to note the loyal few Whofe faith yet lafts among the menial crew j And noting, ere we rife in vengeance, prove Who loves his prince; for fure you merit love. To whom the youth : To emulate I aim The brave and wile, and my great father’s fame; But reconfider, lince the wifeft err. Vengeance refolv’d, ’ti* dang’rous to defer. What length of time muft we confume in vain. Too curious to explore the menial train ?, While the proud foes, induftrious to deftroy Thy wealth in riot, the delay enjoy. Suffice it in this exigence alone To mark the damfels that attend the throne ! Difpers’d the youth refides; their faith to prove Jove grants henceforth, if thou haft fpoke from Jove. Vol IX, M **8 HOMEU’s ODYSSEY. XVI. 344. While in debate they vvafte the hours away, Th’ affociates of the prince repafs’d the bay; With fpeed they guide the veflel to the (bores; With fpeed debarking land the naval (lores ; Then faithful to their charge, to Clytius bear. And trull the prefents to his friendly care. Swift to the queen a herald flies t’ impart Her fon’s return, and eafe a parent’s heart; Heft a fad prey to ever-mufing cares, Pale grief deftroy what time a while forbears. Th’ uncautious herald with impatience burns/ And cries aloud, Thy fon, oh queen, returns. Eumaeus fage approach’d th’ imperial throne. And breath’d his mandate to her ear alone. Then meafur’d back the way.- The fuitor-band Stung to the foul, abafti’d, confounded (land; And ifiuing from the dome, before the gate. With clouded looks, a pale aflembly fat. At length Eurymachus : Our hopes are vain ; Telemachus in triumph fails the main. Hafte, rear the mad, the fwelling (hroud difplay ; Hafte, to our ambufh’d friends the news convey! Scarce had he fpoke, when turning to the ftrand Amphinomus furvey’d th’ aflociate band; Full to the bay within the winding (hores With gather’d fails they flood, and lifted oars. O friends ! he ery’d, elate with rifmg joy, See to the port fecure the veflel fly! Some god has told them, or themfelves furvey The bark efcap’d; and meafure back their way. Swift at the word defcending to the (hores, They mow the veflel and unlade the Acres; HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XVI. 376, l;S Then moving from the ftrand, apart they fat, And full and frequent, form’d a dire debate. Xives then the boy ? he lives, (Antinous cries), The care of gods, and fav’rrte of the flues. All night we watch’d, till with her orient wheels Aurora flam’d above the eaftern hills. And from the lofty brow of rocks by day Took in the ocean with a broad furvsy : Yet fafe he fails! the pow’rs coeleftial give To fhun the hidden fnares of death, and live. But die he fliall, and thus condemn’d to bleed. Be now the feene of inflant death decreed : Hope ye fuccefs ? undaunted crufli the foe. “Is he not wife ? know this, and ftrike the blow. Wait ye, till he to arms in council draws The Greeks, averfe too juftly to our caufe ? Strike, ere, the dates conven’d, the foe betray Our murd’rous ambulh on the wat’ry way. Or chnfs ye vagrant from their rage to fly Outcafts of earth, to breathe an unknown iky ? The brave prevent misfortune; then be brave, And bury future danger in his grave. Returns he ? ambuih’d we’ll his walk invade. Or where he hides in folitude and fhade : And give the palace to the cjueen a dow’r. Or him ihe biefles in the bridal hour. But if fubmiflive you relign the fway. Slaves to a boy ; go, flatter and Obey, Retire we inftant to our native reign, Nor be the wealth of kings confum’d in vaia. s8o HOMER’S ODYSSEY. XVI. 4otf. Then wed whom choice approves: The queen be giv’n To fome biefs’d prince, the prince decreed by heav'n.' Abafn’d, the fuitor-train his voice attends; Til! from bis throne Ampbinomus defcends, Who o’er Dulichium llretch’d his fpacious reign, A land of plenty, biefs’d with ev’ry grain : Chief of the numbers who the queen addreft, And though difpleafing, yet difpleafing lealt. Soft were his words; his aftions wifdom fway’d ; Graceful a while he paus’d, then mildly faid. O friends, forbear! and be the thought withftood : ’Tis horrible to fhed imperial blood ! Confult we firfl th’ all-feeing pow’rs above. And the fure oracles of righteous Jove. If they aflent, ev’n by this hand he dies; If they forbid, 1 war not with the Ikies. He faid : The rival train his voice approv’d, And rifing inllant to the palace mov’d. Arriv’d, with wild tumultuous noife they fat. Recumbent on the fhining thrones of date. Then Medon, confcious of their dire debates, The murd’rous council to the queen relates. Touch’d at the dreadful ftory Ihe defcends: Her hafty (kps a damfel-train attends. Full where the dome its (bining valves expands. Sudden before the rival pow’rs (lie (lands : And veiling decent with a modeft (hade Her cheek, indignant to Antinous faid: O void of faith ! of all bad men the word! Ren own’d for wifdom, but by th’ abufe accurftf HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XVI. 435. 18E Miftakir.g fame'proclaims thy gen’rous mind ! Thy deeds denote thee of the bafcft kind. Wretch! to deftroy a prince that friendfhip gives, While in his gueft his murd’rer he receives : Nor dread fuperior Jove, to whom belong The caufe of fuppliants, and revenge of wrong. Haft thou forgot, (ungrateful as thou art), Who lav’d thy father with a friendly part ? Lawlefs he ravag’d with his martial pow’rs The Taphian pirates on Thefprotia’s (hores ; Enrag’d, his life, his treafures they demand; Ulyfles fav’d him from th1 avenger’s hand. And wouldft thou evil for his good repay ? His bed dilhonour, and his houfe betray ? Afflift his queen ? and with a murd’rous hand Deitroy his heir ?——but ceafe, ’tis I command. Far hence thofe fears, (Eurymachus reply’d), O prudent princefs! bid thy foul confide. Breathes there a man who dares that hero flay, While I behold the golden light of day ? No ; By the righteous pow’rs of heav’n I fwear, His blood in vengeance fmokes upon my fpear. Ulyftes, when my infant days I led, With wine fuffic’d me, and with dainties fed : My gen’rous foul abhors th’ ungrateful part, And my friend’s fon lives deareft to my heart. Then fear no mortal arm : If heav’n deftroy We mutt refign ; for man is born to die. Thus fmooth he ended, yet his death confpir’d : Then furrowing, with fad ftep the queen retir’d, With ftreaming eyes all comfortlefs deplor’d, Touch’d with the dear remembrance of her lord; -12a HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XVt. 46?. Nor ceas’d, till Pallas bid her forrows fly, And in foft Humber feal’d her flowing eye. And now Eubaaeus, at the ev’ning-hour, Came late returning to his fylvan bow’r. UiylTes and his fon had drefs’d with art A yearling boar, and gave the gods their part. Holy repaft ! That inflant from the (kies The martial goddefs to Ulyffes flies : She waves her golden wand, and reaflumes From ev’ry feature ev’ry grace that blooms; At once his veftures change; at once (lie (beds Age o’er his limbs, that tremble as he treads; Left to the queen the twain with tranfport fly, Unable to contain th’ unruly joy. When near he drew, the prince breaks forth; Pro- claim What tidings, friend ! what fpeaks the voice of fame? Say, if the fuitors meafure back the main, Or ftill in ambufh third for blood in vain ? Whether (he cries) they meafure back the flood, Or ftill in ambufti third in vain for blood, Efcap’d my care : Where lawlefs fuitors fway, Thy mandate born, my foul difdain’d to ftay. But from th’ Hermaean height I caft a view. Where to the port a bark high bounding flew : Her freigltt a (hining band ; with martial air Each pois’d his fhield, and each advanc’d his fpeart And if aright thefe fearching eyes furvey, Th’ eluded fuitors ftem the wat’ry way. The prince, well pleas’d to difappoint their wiles. Steals on his fire a glance, and fecret fmiles. HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XVI. 453. 183 And now a fhort repafl: prepar’d, they fed. Till the keen rage of craving hunger fled s Then to repofe withdrawn, apart they lay. And in foft fleep forgot the cares of day. The End of Volume Ninth, ' I —— — ' ' ■ y i 'i it arch of waves he throws. And high in air the liquid mountain rofe: Thus in furrounding floods conceal’d he proves The pleafmg tranfport, and completes his loves : Then foftly fighing, he the fair addred, And as he fpoke, her tender hand he pred. Flail, happy nymph ! no vulgar births are ow’d To the prolific raptures of a god : Lo! when nine times the moon renews her horn. Two brother-heroes (hall from thee be born ; Thy early care the future worthies claim, To point them to the arduous paths of fame. But in thy bread th’ important truth conceal. Nor dare the fecret of a god reveal: For know, thou Neptune view’d ! and at my nod Earth trembles, and the waves confefs their god. He added not, but mounting fpurn’d the plain. Then plung’d into the chambers of the main. Now in the time’s full procefs forth (he brings Jove’s dread vicegerents, in two future kings; HOMER’s ODYSSEY. XT. 311. 6.; O’er proiid lolcos I’dias llretch’d his re’gn. And godlike Neleus rul’d the Pyhan plain : Then fruitful, to her Cretheus’ royal bed She gallant Pheres and fam’d jEfon bred : From the fame fountain Amytheon rofe, Pleas’d with the din of war, and noble (hout of foe?. There mov’d Antiope with haughty charms, Who blefs’d the almighty Ihund’rer in her arms : Hence fprung Amphion, hence brave Zethus came, Founders of Thebes, and men of mighty name; Though bold in open field, they yet furround The town with walls, and mound injeft on mound ; Here ramparts flood, there tow’rs rofe high in air, And here through fev’n wide portaE rulh’d the war. There with foft ftep the fair Alcmena trod, Who bore Alcides to the thund’ring god ; And Megara, who charm’d the fbn of Jove, And foften'd his ftern foul to tender love. Sullen and four, with difcontented mien, Jocafla frown’d, th' inceftuous Theban queen : With her own fbn The join’d in nuptial bands, Though father’s biootf imbru’d his murd’rous hands: The gods and men the dire offence deteft ; The gods with all their furies rend his bredft : lofty Thebes he wore th’ imperial crown, A pompous wretch ! accurs’d upon a throne. The wifcifelf-murder’d from a beam depends. And her foul foul to blacked hell defcends; Thence to her fon the choiceft plagues The brings, And the fiends haunt him with a thoufand flings. And now the beauteous Chloris I defcry, A lovely (bade, Amphion’s youngeft-joy ! Vol, IX. E 45 K O M E R’s O D Y S S E Y. XL 343. With gifts umiumber’d Neleus fought her arms, Nor paid too dearly for unequal’d charms ; Great in Orchomenos, in Pylos great, H* fway’d the fceptre with imperial date. Three gallant fons the joyful monarch told. Sage Neltor, Periclimenus the bold, And Chromius laft; but of the fofter race. One nymph, alone, a miracle of^race. Kings on their thrones for lovely Pero burn, The fire denies, and kings rejected mourn. To him alone the beauteous prize he yields, Whofe arm lhould,ravifh from Phylacian fields The herds of Iphyclus, detain’d in wrong ; Wild, furious herds, unconquerably flrong! This dares a feer, but nought.the feer prevails; In beauty’s caufe illuflrioufly he fails : Twelve moons the foe the captive youth detains In painful dungeons, and coercive chains; The foe at lafl, from durance where he lay, His art revering, gave him back to day ; Won by prophetic knowledge, to fulfil The fteadfaft purpofe of th’ almighty will. With graceful port advancing now I fpy’d Leda the fair, the godlike Tyndar’s bride: Hence Pollux fprung, who wields, with furious fway, The deathful gauntlet, matchlefs in the fray; And Caflor, glorious on th’ embattled plain. Curbs the proud fteed, reludtant to the rein : By turns they vifit this aetherial fky, And live alternate, and alternate die: In hell beneath, on earth, in heav’n above Reign the twin-gods, the fav’rite fons of Jove. BOMBER’S ODYSSEY. XI. 37J. Cy There Ephimedia trod the gloomy plain, "Who charm’d the monarch of the boundlefs main : Hence Ephialtes, hence (fern Otus fprung. More fierce than giants, more than giants fcrotig : The earth o’erburden’d groan’d beneath their weight; None but Orion e’er furpafs’d their height : The wondrous youths had fcarce nine winters told,. When high in air, tremendous to behold, Nine ells aloft they rear’d their tow’ring head, And full nine cubits broad their (houiders fpread. Proud of their ftrength, and more than mortal fire, The gods they challenge, and affect the ikies ; Heav’d on Olympus tott’ring Offa ftood ; On Offa, Pelion nods with all his wood : Such were the youths! had they to manhood grown. Almighty Jove had trembled on his throne. But ere the harveft of the beard began To bridle on the chin, and promife man, His ihafts Apollo aim’d ; at once they found. And ftrctch the giant-moniters o’er the ground. There mournful Phaedra with fad Procris moves, Both beauteous ihades, both haplefs in their loves ; And near them walk’d, with folemn pace and flow. Sad Ariadne, partner of their wo : 1 The royal Minos Ariadne bred ; She Thefeus lov’d ; from Crete with Thefeus fled f Swift to the Dian ifle the hero flies. And tow’rds his Athens bears the lovely prize; There Bacchus with fierce rage Diana fires ; Tire goddefs aims her ihaft; the nymph expires. E a