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BRI TISH POETS’,

V O L. XXVI.

, EDINBURGH!

Printed for A. KINCAID and W. CREECH, and J. BALFOUR.

M, DCC, LXXIII.

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ODYSSEY S

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HOMER,

TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK BT

ALEXANDER POPE, Efqi

VOLUME I.

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I EDINBURGH:

Fruited for A. KINCAID and W. CREECES ’* and J. BALFOUR.

M, DCC, LXXM.

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THE

ODYSSEY,

BOOK I.

THE ARGUMENT.

Minerva's defcent to Ithaca.

THE poem opens within forty-eight days of the ar- rival of Ulylles in his dominions. He had now remained feven years in theiflandof Calypfo, when the gods aflembled in council, propofed the method of his departure from thence, and his return to his native country. For this purpofe, it is concluded to fend Mercury to Calypfo, and Pallas immediately defeends to Ithaca. She holds a conference with Telemachus, in the (hape of Mentes king of the Ta- phians; in which Ihe advifes him to take a journey in quell of his father Ulylles, to Pylos and Sparta, where Neftor and Menelaus yet reigned : Then, af- ter having vifibly difplayed her divinity, difappears.

The fuitors of Penelope make great entertainments, and riot in her palace till night. Phemius fings to them the return of the Grecians, till Penelope puts a Hop to the fong. Some words arife between the fuitors and Telemachus, whofummon the coun- cil to meet the day following.

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BOOK L

'HE man, for wifdom’s various arts renown’d, Long exercis'd in woes, oh Mufe ! refound ;

Who, when his arms had wrought the deftin’d fall Of facred Troy, and raz’d her heav’n-built wall, Wand’ring from clime to clime, obfervant fray’d. Their manners noted, and their fates furvey’d. On formy feas unnumber’d toils he bore, Safe with his friends to gain his natal fliore : Vain toils! their impious folly dar’d to prey On herds devoted to the god of day : The god, vindiftive, doom’d them never more (Ah men unblefs’d !) to touch that natal ihore. Oh fnatch fon e portion of thefe acts from fate, Gelefial Mufe! and to our world relate.

Now at their native realms the Greeks arriv’d; All who the wars of ten long years furviv’d. And ’fcap’d the perils of the gulfy main. Ulyfles, foie of all the viflor train. An exile from his dear paternal coaf, Deplor’d his abfent queen, and empire lof. Calypfo in her caves confrain’d his fay, With fweet, relufant, amorous delay : In vain—for now the circling years difclofe The day predef in’d to reward his woes. At length his Ithaca is giv’n by fate. Where yet new labours his arrival wait: At length their rage the hof ile pow’rs refrain, All but the ruthlefs monarch of the main.

A 4

S HOME R’s 0 D Y S S E Y. I. *9.

But now the god, remote, a heav’nly gueft, In ^Ethiopia grac’d the genial haft, (A race divided, whom with flopping rays The riling and deft-ending iun furveys) ; There on the world’s extreme!! verge, rever’d With hecatombs andpray’r in pomp 1 refetr’d, Diftant he lay : While, in the bright abodes Of high Olympus, Jove conven’d the gods : Th’ alTembly thus the fire lupreme addrell, JEgyflhus’ fate revolving in his breaft, Whom young Orefles to the dreary coaft Of Pluto fent, a blood polluted ghoft.

Perverfe mankind ! wbofe wills, created free. Charge all their woes on ablolute decree; All to the dooming gods their guilt tranflate, And follies are mifcall’d the crimes of fate. When to his lull jfEgyftlvus gave the rein. Did fate, or we, th’ adult’rtfus aft conftrain ? Did fate, or we, when great Atrides dy’d, Urge the bold traitor to the regicide ? Hermes I fent, while yet his foul remain’d Sincere from royal blood, and faith profan’d ; To warn the wretch, that young Oreftes, grown To manly years, Ihould re-aflerf the throne : Yet, impotent of mind, and uncontroll’d, He plung’d into the gulf which heav’n foretold.

Here paus’d the god ; and penfive thus replies Minerva, graceful with her azure eyes. O thou ! from whom the whole creation fprings, The fource of pow’r On earth deriv’d to kings! His death was equal to the direful deed; So may the man of blood be doom’d to bleed!

KOMER's ODYSSEY. I.

Sut grief and rage alternate wound my bread >For brave Uiytres, dill by fate oppreft. i, mid ft an rile, around vihofe rocky fhore Tie loiefts murmur, and the furges roar, Tit blamelefs hero from his widl’d-for home A ipddefs guards in her inchanted dome. (Atas her fire, to whofe far-piereing eye Thevonders of the deep expanded lie; Th’ eernal columns which on earth he rears End irthe harry vault, and prop the fpheres) By his fir daughter is the chief confin’d, Who lochs to dear delight his anxious mind : Succefslefall her foft careffes prove, To banifh

in HOMER’s ODYSSEY. I. pti

Him young Thoofa bore, (the bright inereafe Of Phorcys, dreaded in the founds and feas) ; Whom Neptune ey’d with bloom of beauty blefs’d And in his cave the yielding nymph comprefs’d. For this, the god conftrains the Greek to roam, A hopelefs exile from his native home, From death alone exempt—but ceafe to mourn ; Let all combine t’ atchieve his wilh’d return: Neptune aton’d, his wrath fball now refrain, Or thwart the fynod of the gods in vain.

Father and king ador’d 1 Minerva cry’d, Since all who in th’ Olympian bow’r refide Now make the wand’ring Greek their puHC care. Let Hermes to th’ * Atlantic ifle repair; Bid him, arriv’d in bright Calypfo’s cot>j The fanflion of th’ alfembled pow’rs r(JOrt ;

That wife Llyfles to his native land Muft fpeed, obedient to their high c

HOMER’S ODYSSEY. I. m.

Deliv’ring early to the voice of fame The promife of a great, immortal name.

She faid : The fandals of celeftial mold Fledg'd with ambrofial plumes, and rich with gold. Surround her feet; with thefe fublime (he fails Th’ aerial fpace, and mounts the winged gales : O’er earth and ocean wide prepar’d to foar, Her dreaded arm a beamy jav’lin bore, Pond’rous and vaft ; which, when her fury burns. Proud tyrants humbles; and whole hofts o’erturns. From high Olympus prone her flight (he bends, And in the realm of Ithaca defeends. Her lineaments divine, the grave difguife Of Mentes’ form conceal’d from human eyes;-

(Mentes, the monarch of the Taphian land) ; A glitt’ring fpear wav’d awful in her hand. There in the portal plac’d, the heav’n-born maid Enormous riot and mifrule furvey’d. On hides of beeves, before the palace-gate, (Sad fpoils of luxury), the fnitors fat. With rival art, and ardour in their mien. At chefs, they vie, to captivate the-queen ; Divining of their loves. Attending nigh, A menial train the flowing bowl fupply : Others, apart, the fpacious hall prepare, And form the coftly feaft with bufy care. There young Telemachus, his bloomy face Glowing celeftial fweet, with godlike grace Amid the circle fhines: But hope and fear (gainful viciffitude!) his bofom tear,

HOMER’s ODYSSEY. I. IJI. is

Now imag’d in his mind, he fees reftor’d, In peace and joy, the people’s rightful lord ; The proud oppreflors fly the vengeful fwordi While his fond foul thefe fancied triumphs fwell’d, The ftrangcr-gueff the royal youth beheld : Griev’d that a vifitant fo long Ihould wait Unmark’d, unhonour’d, at a monarch’s gate; Inftant he flew with hofpitable hade, And the new friend with courteous air embrac’d. Stranger! whoe’er thou art, fecurely reft, Affianc’d in my faith, a friendly gueft : Approach the dome, the focial banquet {hare, And then the purpofe of thy foul declare.

Thus affable and mild, the prince precedes, And to the dome th’ unknown celeftial leads. The fpear receiving from her hand, he plac’d Againft a column, fair with fculpture grac’d ; Where feemly rang’d in peaceful order ftood Ulyfles’ arms, now long diffus’d to blood. He led the goddefs to the fov’reign feat, Her feet fupported with a ftool of ftate; (A purple carpet fpread the pavement wide); Then drew his feat, familiar, to her fide ; Far from the fuitor-train, a brutal croud. With infolence, and wine, elate and loud : Where the free gueft, unnoted, might relate, If haply confcious, of his father’s fate. The golden ew’r a maid obfequious brings, Replenifh’d from the cool tranflucent fprings j With copious water the bright vafe fupplies A filver layer, of capacious fize :

HOMER’s ODYSSEY. I. 183. *5

They wafh. The tables 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 ! Delicious wines th’attending herald brought; The gold gave luftre to the purple draught. Lur’d with the vapour of the fragrant feaft, In rufh’d the fuitors with voracious hade : Marfhall’d in order due, to each a lew’r Prefents, to bathe his hands, a radiant ew’r. Luxurious then they feaft. Obfervant round Gay ftrippiing youths the brimming goblets crown’cb The rage of hunger quell’d, they all advance,} And form to meafur’d airs the mazy dance : To Phemius was confign’d the chorded lyre, Whofe hand reluctant touch’d the warbling wire ; Phemius, whofe voice divine could fweeteft fing High drains, refponftve to the vocal ftring,

Meanwhile, in whifpers to his heav’nly gueft. His indignation thus the prince expreft.

Indulge my rifing grief, whilft thefe (my friend) With fong and dance the pompous revel end. Light is the dance, and donbly fweet the lays, When, for the dear delight, another pays. His treafur’d (tores thefe cormorants confume, Whofe bones, defrauded of a regal tomb And common turf, lie naked on the plain. Or doom’d to welter in the whelming main. Should he return, that troop fo blithe and bold, With purple robes inwrought,, and ftifF with gold. Precipitant in fear, would wing their flight, And curie their cumbrous pride’s unwieldy weight.

r* H'OMER’-s ODYSSEY. I. arj,

But ah I dream !—tV appointed hour is fled, And hope, too long with vain delufion fed, Deaf to the rumour of fallacious fame, Gives to the roll of death his glorious name ! With venial freedom let me now demand Thy name, thy lineage, and paternal land : Sincere, from whence began thy courfe, recite. And to what (hip I owe the friendly freight ? Now fir ft to me this vifit do ft: thou deign, Or number’d in my father’s focial train : All who deferv’d his choice, he made his own, And curious much to know, he far was known.

My birth I boaft (the blue-ey’d virgin cries) From great Anchialus, renown’d and wife : Mentes my name; I rule the Taphian race, Whofe bounds the deep circumfluent waves embrace A duteous people, and indurtrious ille, To naval arts inur’d, and ftormy toil. Freighted with iron from my native land, I fleer my voyage to the Brutian (trand; To gain by commerce, for the labour’d mafs, A juft proportion of refulgent brafs. Far from your capital my (hip refides At Reitlirus, and fecure at anchor rides; Where waving groves on airy Neion grow. Supremely tall, and (hade the deeps below. Thence to revifit your imperial dome, An old heritary gueft, I come: Your father’s friend. Laertes can relate Our faith unfpotted, and its early date; Who, prefs’d with heart-corroding grief and years, To the gay court a rural (hade prefers

HOMER’S ODYSSEY. I. 147, XJ 1 , Where, foie of all his train, a matron fage * Supports with homely food his drooping age,

With feeble Ifeps from marftulling his vines Returning fad, when toilfome day declines.

With friendly fpeed, induc’d by erring fame, To hail Uiyfies’ fafe return I came : But ftill the frown of fome (

1(5 HOMER’S ODYSSEY. I. ijj.

Ulylies’ fon : But happier he, whom fate Hath plac’d beneath the ftorms-which tofs the great! Happier the fon, whofe hoary fire is bleli With humble affluence, and domeftic reft! Happier than I, to future empire born. But doom’d a father’s wretched fate to mourn!

To whom, with afpeft mild, the gueft divines Oh true defcendent of a fcepter’d line ! The gods a glorious fate, from anguiih free,. To chafte Penelope’s increafe decree. But fay, yon jovial troop, fo gaily dreft. Is this a bridal, or a friendly feaft! Or from their deed 1 rightlier may divine, Unfeemly flown with infolence and wine; Unwelcome revellers, whofe lawlefs joy Pains the fage ear, and hurts the fober eye.

Magnificence of old (the prince reply’d) Beneath our roof with virtue could refide; Unblam’d abundance crown’d the royal board. What time this dome rever’d her prudent lord; Who now (fo heav’n decrees) is doom’d to mourn. Bitter conftraint ! erroneous and forlorn. Better the chief, on Ilion’s hoftile plain, Had fall’n, furrounded with his warlike train ; Or fafe return’d, the race of glory part, New to his friends embrace, had breath’d his laft! Then grateful Greece with ftreaming eyes would raife Hiftoric marbles, to record his praife; His praife, eternal on the faithful ftone, Had with tranfmilfive honour grac’d his fon. Now fnateh’d by harpies to the dreary coaft, Sunk is the hero, and his glory loft;

HOMER’s ODYSSEY. I. 311. 17

Vanifh’d at once ! unlieard-of, and unknown! And l his heir in mifery alone. Nor for a dear, loft father only flow The filial tears, but wo fucceeds to wo : To tempt the fpoufclefs queen with arn’rous wiles. Refort the nobles from the neighb’ring ifles; From Samois, circled with th’ Ionian main, Dulichium, and Zacynthus’ fylvan reign : Ev’n with prefilmptuous hope her bed t’ afcend, The lords of Ithaca their right pretend. She foems attentive to their pleaded vows, Her heart detefting what her ear allows. They, vain expectants of the bridal hour, My (lores in riotous expence devour, In feaft and dance the mirthful months employ^ And meditate my doom, to crown their joy.

With tender pity touch’d, the goddefs cry’d : Soon may kind heav’n a fure relief provide! Soon may your fire difeharge the vengeance due, And all your wrongs the proud oppreftbrs rue ! Oh ! in that portal (hould the chief appear, Each hand tremendous with a brazen fpear, In radiant panoply his limbs incas’d ; (For fo of old my father’s court he grac’d. When fecial mirth unbent bis ferious foul, O’er the full banquet, and thefprightly bowl; ; He then from Ephyre, the fair domain ^ Of Ilus, fprung from Jafon’s royal drain, ( 'Meaiur d a length of (eas, a toilfbme length, in vain. Jl For voyaging to learn the direful art To taint with deadly drugs the barbed dart}

Vol. VIII. B

iS HOME R's 0 D Y S S E Y. I. yw

Obfervatrt of the gods, and fternly juft, Ilus refus’d t’ impart the baleful truft : With friendlier zeal my father’s foul was fir’d, The drugs he knew, and gave the boon defir’d. Appear’d he now with fuch heroic port, As then confpicuous at the Taphian court; Soon fhould yon boafters ceafe their haughty ftrife, Or eacn atone his guilty love with life. But of his wifti’d return the care refign; Be future vengeance to the pow’rs divine. My fentence hear : With ftern diftafte avow’d, To their own diftrifts drive the fuitor-croud : When next the morning warms the purple eaft, Convoke the peerage, and the gods atteft ; The Borrows of your inmoft foul relate; And form fure plans to fave the finking ftate. Should fecond love a pleafing flame infpire, And the chafte queen connubial rites require; Difmifs’d with honour, let her hence repair To great Icarius, whofe paternal care Will guide her paflion, and reward the choice With wealthy dow’r, and bridal gifts of price. Then let this difiate of my love prevail : Inftant, to foreign realms prepare to fail, To learn your father’s fortunes : Fame may prove, Or omen’d voice, (the melfenger of Jove), Propitious to the fearch. Direft your toil Through the wide ocean, firft to fandy Pyle; Of Ntftor, hoary fage, his doom demand : Thence fpeed your voyage to the bpartan ftrand; For young Atrides to th’ Achaian coaft Arriv’d the laft of all the viftor hofl.

HOMEK’s ODYSSIY. I. 374. I*

ff yet Ulydes views the light; forbear, Till the fleet hours reflore the circling year. But, if his foul hath wing’d the deftin’d flight. Inhabitant of deep difaftrous night; Homeward with pious fpeed repafs the main, To the pale (hade funereal rites ordain. Plant the fair column o’er the vacant grave, A hero’s honours let the hero have. With decent grief the royal dead deplor’d, For the chafte queen feleft an equal lord. Then let revenge your daring mind employ, By fraud or force the fuitor-train deftroy, And, darting into manhood, fcorn the boy. Hall thou not heard how young Orefles, fir’d With'great revenge, immortal ; raife acquir’d ? His virgin-fword Aigydhus’ veins imbru’d ; The murd’rer fell, and blood aton’d for blood. O greatly blefs’d with cv’ry blooming grace ! With equal deps the paths of glory trace ; Join to that royal youth’s your rival name. And (hine eternal in the fphere of fame.— But my alTociates now my day deplore. Impatient on the hoarfe-refounding fhore. Thou, heedful of advice, fecure proceed ; My praife the precept is, be thine the deed.

The counfel of my friend (the youth rejoin'd) Imprints conviction on my grateful mind. So fathers (peak (perfuafive fpeech and mild). Their fage experience to the fav’rite child. But, fince to part, for fweet refeftion due The genial viands let my train renew •

B 3.

ao HOMER’s ODYSSEY. I. 40*.

And the rich pledge of plighted faith receive, Worthy the heir of Ithaca to give.

Defer the promis’d boon, (the goddcfs cries, Celedial azure bright’ning in her eyes), And let me now regain the Reithrian port : From Temef'e return’d, your royal court I Ihall revifit; and that pledge receive ; And gifts, memorial of our friendlhip, leave.

Abrupt, with eagie-fpeed (lie cut the Iky ; Inftant inviftble to mortal eye. Then fir ft he recognis’d th’aetherial gueft; Wonder and joy alternate fire his breaft : Heroic thoughts, infus’d, his heart dilate : Revolving much his father’s doubtful fate. At length, compos’d, he join’d the fuitor-throng, Hufti’d in attention to the warbled fong. His tender theme the charming lyrift chofe, Minerva’s anger, and the direful woes Which voyaging from Troy the viftors bore, While ftorms vindiftive intercept the (hore. The fhrilling airs the vaulted roof rebounds, Refledling to the queen the filver founds. With grief renew’d, the weeping fair defeends ; Their fov’reign’s ftep a virgin train attends: A veil of richeft texture wrought (he wears, And filent to the joyous hall repairs. There, from the portal, with her mild command, Thus gently checks the mindrel’s tuneful hand.

Phemius! let adb of gods, and heroes old, What ancient bards in hall and bow’r have told, Attemper’d to the lyre, your voice employ : Such the pleas’d ear will drink with filent joy.

HOMER’s ODYSSEY. I. 437. SJ

But oh! forbear that dear, difaftrous name. To forrow facied, and fecurc of fame : My bleeding bofom fickcns at the found, . And ev’ry piercing note inflidls a wound.

Why, deareft object of my duteous love, (Reply’d the prince) will you the bard reprove ? Oft Jove’s aetherial rays (reMlefs fire) The chanter’s foul and raptur’d fong infpire; Inftinfl divine! nor blame fevere his choice, Warbling the Grecian woes with harp and voice s For novel lays attraft our ravilh’d ears : But old, the mind with inattention hears; Patient permit the fadly-pleafant ftrain ; Familiar now with grief, your tears refrain, And in the public wo forget your own ; You weep not for a perilh’d lord alone. What Greeks, now wand’ring in the Stygian gloom. With your Ulyfles Ihar’d an equal doom ! Your widow’d hours, apart, with female toil And various labours of the loom, beguile ; There rule, from palace-cares remote and free, That care to man belongs, and molt to me.

Mature beyond his years, the queen admires His fage reply, and with her train retires. Then fwelhng forrows burft their former bounds, With echoing grief afrelli the dome refounds; Till Pailas, piteous of her plaintive cries, In flumber clos’d her filver-dreaming eyes.

Meantime, rekindled at the royal charms, 1 Tumultuous love each beating bofom warms ; Intern p’rate rage a wordy war began ; But bold Telernachus alfum’d the man.

B 3

a» H 0 M E R’s ODYSSEY. I. 469.

Inrtant (he cry’d) your female difcord end. Ye deedlefs boafters ! and the fong attend; Obey that fweet compulfion, nor profane With difTonance the fmooth melodious ftrain. Pacific now prolong the jovial feaft; But when the dawn reveals the rofy call, I, to the peers alTembled, fiiall propofe The firm refolve, I here in few difclofe. No longer live the cankers of my court; All to your fev’ral ftates with {peed refort; Wade in wild riot what your land allows, There ply the early fead, and late caroufe. But if, to honour iod, ’tis dill decreed For you my bowl diall flow, my flock (hall bleed j Judge and revenge my right, impartial jove ! By him, and all th’ immortal thrones above, (A facred oath), each proud opprtflbr, flain, Shall with inglorious gore this marble flain.

Aw’d by the prince, thus haughty, bold, and young, Rage gnaw’d the lip, and wonder chain’d the tongue. Silence, at length, the gay Antinous broke, Conflrain’d a fmile, and thus ambiguous fpoke. What god to your untutor’d youth affords This headlong torrent of amazing words ? May Jove delay thy reign, and cumber late So bright a genius with the toils of date !

Thofe toils (Tclemachus ferene replies) Have charms, with all their weight, t’ allure the wife. Fad by the throne obfequious fame refides, And wealth inceffant rolls her golden tides. Nor let Antiuous rage, if flrong defire Of wealth and fame a youthful bofom fire ;

H 0 M E R’s ODYSSEY. I. j'oi . Vj

Eleft by Jove his delegate of fway, With joyous pride the fummons I’d obey. Whene’er Ulyffes roams the realms of night, Should faftious pow’r difpute my lineal right, Some other Greeks a fairer claim may plead; To your pretence their title would precede. At lealf, the fceptre loft, I ftill ftiould reign Sole o’er my vaftals and domeftic train.

To this Eurymachus: To heav’n alone Refer the choice to fill the vacant throne. Your patrimonial ftcres in peace poflefs; Undoubted all your filial claim confefs: Your private right fhould impious povv’r invade, The peers of Ithaca would arm in aid. But fay, that ftranger-gueft who late withdrew. What, and from whence ? his nathe and lineage fhew. His grave demeanour, and majeftic grace, Speak him defeended of no vulgar race: Did he fome loan of ancient right require, Or came forerunner of your fcepter’d fire.

Oh fon of Polybus! the prince replies. No more my fire will glad thefc longing eyes: The queen’s fond hope inventive rumcur cheers, Or vain diviners’ dreams divert her fears. That ftrangcr-gueft the Taphian realm obeys, A realm defended with incircling leas. Mentcs, an ever-honour’d name, of old High in Ulyfles’ focial lift inroll’d.

Thus he, tho’ confcious of th’ aethcrial gueft, Anfwer’d evafive of the fly requeft. Meantime the lyre rejoins the fprightly lay ; Lovc-dittied airs, and dance, conclude the day.

B4

24 H 0 M £ R’s O D y S S E Y. I. jjj.

But when the Bar of eve, with golden light, Adorn’d the matron-brow of fable night; The mirthful train difperfing quit the court, And to their fev’ral domes to reft refort. A tow’ring ftrufture to the palace join’d; To this his fteps the thoughtful prince inclin’d ; In his pavilion there, to fleep repairs; The lighted torch the fage Euryclea bears: (Daughter of Ops, the juft Pifenor’s fon. For twenty beeves by great Laertes won; in rofy prime, with charms attractive grac’d, Honour’d by him, a gentle lord and chafte, With dear eftcem : Too wife, with jealous ftrife To taint the joys of fweet, connubial life. Sole with Telemachus her fervice ends, A child fhe nurs’d him, and a man attends.) Whilft to his couch himfelf the prince addreft. The duteous dame receiv’d the purple veft; The purple veft with decent care difpos’d, The lilver ring (he pull’d, the door reclos’d; The bolt, obedient to the (liken cord. To the ftrong ftaple’s inmoft depth reftor’d, Secur’d the valves. Th. re, wrapt in filent (hade, Penfive, the rules the goddefs gave, he weigh’d; Stretch’d on the downy fleece, no reft he knows, And in his raptur’d foul the vifion glows.

/

THE

ODYSSEY.

BOOK II.

THE ARGUMENT.

The Council of Ithaca. Telemachus, in the affembly of the lords of Ithaca,

complains of the injuftice done him by the fuitors, and infills upon their departure from his palace; appealing to the princes, and exciting the people to declare againft them. The fuitors endeavour to ju- flify their flay, at leall till he (hall fend the queen to the court of Icarius her father ; which he refufes. There appears a prodigy of two eagles in the Iky, which an augur expounds to the ruin of the liiitors. Telemachus then demands a velfel to carry him to Pylos and Sparta, there to inquire of his father’s fortunes. Pallas, in the lhape of Mentor, (an an- cient friend of Ulyfles), helps him to a (hip, aflifts him in preparing neceffaries for the voyage, aad embarks with him that night; which concludes the fecond day from the opening of the poem.

The fcene continues in the palace of Ulyfles in Ithaca.

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BOOK n.

NOW red’ning from the dawn, the morning-ray Glow’d in the front of heav’n, and gave the day.

The youthful hero, with returning light, Role anxious from th’ inquietudes of night. A royal robe he wore with graceful pride,

, A two-edg’d faulchion threaten’d by his fide. Embroider’d fandals glitter’d as he trod, And forth he mov’d, majeftic as a god. Then by his heralds, refilefs of delay. To council calls the peers : The peers obey. Soon as in folemn form th’ aflembly fat. From his high dome himfelf defcends in (late. Bright in his hand a pond’rous jav’lin Ihin’d ; Two dogs, a faithful guard, attend behind ; Pallas with grace divine his form improves, And gazing crouds admire him as he moves.

His father’s throne he fill’d : While diftant flood The hoary peers, and aged wifdom bow'd.

’Twas filence all ; at laft JEgyptius fpoke; iEgypdus, by his age and forrows broke : A length of days his foul with prudence crown’d, A length of days had bent him to the ground. His eldefl * hope in arms to Ilion came. By great Ulyfles taught the path to fame ; But, haplefs youth, the hideous Cyclops tore His quiv’ring limbs, and quaff’d his fpouting gore.

* Antiphus.

28 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. II. 27.

Three fons remain’d : To climb with haughty fires The royal bed, Eurynonms afpires; The reft with duteous love his griefs afl'uage, And cafe the fire of half the cares of age. Yet ftill his Antiphus he loves, he mourns, And as he flood, he fpoke and wept by turns.

Since great Uiyfles fought the Phrygian plains, Within thefe walls inglorious filence reigns. Say then, ye peers! by whofe commands we meet ? Why here once more in folemn council fit ? Y’e young, ye old, the weighty caufe difclofe : Arrives fome meflage of invading foes ? Or fay, does high neceffity of ftate Infpire fome patriot, and demand debate ! The prefent fynod fpeaks its author wife; Aflift him, Jove, thou regent of the fkies!

He fpoke. Telemachus with tranfport glows. Embrac’d the omen, and majeftic rofe : (His royal hand th’ imperial fceptre fway’d); Then thus, addreffing to jEgyptius, faid.

Rev’rend old man ! lo here confefs’d he (lands By whom ye meet; my grief your care demands. No ftory I unfold of public woes, Nor bear advices of impending foes: Peace the blefs’d land, and joys inceftant crown; Of all this happy realm, I grieve alone. For my loft fire^continual forrows fpring; The great, the good; your father, and your king. Yet more; our houfe from its foundation bows. Our foes are pow’rful, and your fons the foes : Hither, unwelcome, to the queen they come; Why feek they not the rich Icarian dome ?

HOMER'S ODYSSEY. II. s»- *»

? If (he muft wed, from other hands require The dow’ry : Is Telcmachus her fire? Yet through my court the noile of revel rings, . And waftes the wife (rugaiity of kings. Scarce all my herds their luxury fuffice ; Scarce all my wine their midnight-hours fupplies; Safe in my youth, in riot ftill they grow, Nor in the helplefs orphan dread a foe.

■ But come it will, the time when manhood grants More pow’rful advocates than vain complaints.

' Approach that hour ! unfufierable wrong Cries to the gods, and vengeance fleeps too long. Rife then, ye peers! with virtuous anger rife; Your fame revere, but mofl th’ avenging fkies. By all the deathlefs powers that reign above, By righteous Themis, and by thund’ring Jove, (Themis, who gives to councils, or denies Succefs, and humbles or confirms the wife), Rife in my aid ! fuffice the tears that flow For my loft fire, nor add new wo to wo. If e’er he bore the fword to ftrengthen ill, Or, having pow’r to wrong, betray’d the will; On me, on me your kindled wrath afluage, And hid the voice of lawlefs riot rage. If ruin to our royal race ye doom, Be you the fpoilers, and our wealth confume. Then might we hope redrefs from jefter laws, And raife all Ithaca to aid our caufe : But while your fons commit ih unpunifli’d wrong. You make the arm of violence too ilr ng.

While thus he fpoke, with rage and grief he frown’d, And dalh’d th’ imperial feeptre to the ground.

J* HOMER’s ODYSSEY. II.

The big round tear hung trembling in his eye ; The fynod griev’d, and gave a pitying figh, Then lilent fat—at length Antinous burns With haughty rage, and Iternly thus returns.

O infolence of youth ! whofe tongue affords Such railing eloquence, and war of words. Studious thy country’s worthies to defame, Thy erring voice difplays thy mother’s fhame. Elulive of the bridal day, (he gives Fond hopes to all, and all with hopes deceives. Did not the fun, through heav’n’s wide azure roll’d. For three long years the royal fraud behold ? While fbe, laborious in delufion, fpread The fpacious loom, and mix’d the various thread : Where as to life the wondrous figures rife, Thus fpoke th’ inventive queen, with artful fighs.

“ Though cold in death Ulyfles breathes no more u Ceafe yet a while to urge the bridal hour ; “ Ceafe, tiil to great Laertes I bequeath “ A talk of grief, his ornaments of death : “ Left, when the fates his royal afhes claim, “ The Grecian matrons taint my fpotlefs fame; “ When he, whom living mighty realms obey’d, “ Shall want in death a ihroud to grace his fhade.”

Thus fhe : At once the gen’rous train complies, Nor fraud miftrufts in virtue’s fair difguife. The work Ihe ply’d; but, ftudious of delay. By night revers’d the labours of the day. While thrice the fun his annual journey made, x he confcious lamp the midnight-fraud furvey’d Unheard, unfeen, three years her arts prevail; 'Ihe fourth, her maid unfolds th’ amazing tale.

HOMER’s ODYSSEY. II. 123. 31'

We faw, as unperceiv’d we took our (land, The backward labours of her faithlefs hand. Then urg’d, (he perfects her illuflrious toils ; A wond’rons monument of female wiles !

But you, oh peers ! and thou, oh prince ! give ear; (I fpeak aloud, that ev’ry Greek may hear) : Difmifs the queen ; and if her fire approves, Let him efpoufe her to the peer (he loves : Bid inflant to prepare the bridal train. Nor let a race of princes wait in vain. Though with a grace divine her foul is bleft, And all Minerva breathes within her bread ; In wondrous arts than woman more renown’d. And more than woman with deep wifdom crown’d ; Though Tyro nor Mycene match her name, Nor great Alcmena, (the proud boads of fame). Yet thus by heav’n adorn’d, by heav’n’s decree She (bines with fatal excellence, to thee : With thee, the bowl we drain, indulge the fead. Till righteous heav’n reclaim her dubborn bread. What though from pole to pole refounds her name! The foil’s dcdruflion waits the mother’s fame : For till (he leaves thy court, it is decreed, Thy bowl to empty, and thy flock to bleed.

While yet he (peaks, Telemachus replies. Ev’n nature darts, and what ye a(k denies. Thus, (hall l thus repay a mother’s cares, Who gave me life, and nurs’d my infant years ? While fad on foreign (hores Ulydes treads. Or glides a ghod with unapparent (hades; How to Icarius in the bridal hour Shall I, by wade undone, refund the dow’r ?

5* HOME R’s 0 D Y S S E Y. II isj-

How from my father fhoiild I vengeance dread : How would my mother curfe my hated head , And while in wrath to vengeful fiends fine crie£. How from their hell would vengeful fiends arife ? Abhorr’d by ail, atcurs’d my name would grow, The earth’s difgrace, and human kind my foe. If this difpleai'e, why urge ye here yotlr Hay ? Hafte trom the court, ye ipotlers, hafie away : Wafte in wild riot what your land allows. There ply the early feaft, and late carouie. But if, to honour loll, ’tis dill decreed For you my bowl (hull flow, my flocks (hall bleed ; Judge and aflert my right, impartial Jove ! By him, and all th’ immortal hoft above, (A faersd oath), if heav’n the pow’rfupply, Vengeance I vow, and for your wrongs ye die.

With that, two eagles from a mountain’s height By Jove’s command dirett their rapid flight ; Swift they defeend, with wing to wing conjoin’d, Stretch their broad plumes, and float upon the wind. Above th’ aflembled peers they wheel on high, And clang their wings, and hovering beat the Iky ; With ardent eyes the rival train they threat. And fhrieking loud, denounce approaching fate. They cuff, they tear ; their cheeks and necks they rend And from their plumes huge drops of blood defeend: Then failing o’er the domes and tow’rs, they fly Full tow’rd the eafl, and mount into the Iky.

The wond’ring rivals gaze with cares oppreft. And chilling horrors freeze in every bread. Till big with knowledge of approaching woes The prince of augurs, Halitherfes, rofe ;

HOMER’S ODYSSEY? II. 1S5. 33

|j Prefcient lie view’d th’ aerial trafts. and drew • A lure prefage from every wing that flew.

Ye fons, (he cry’d) of Ithaca, give ear, , Hear all ! hut chiefly you, oh rivals! hear.

, Deflruftion Aire o’er all your heads impends ; UlyfTes comes, and death his Heps attends. Nor to the great alone is death decreed ; We, and our guilty Ithaca mufi bleed. Why ceafe we then the wrath of heav’n to Aay ? Be humbled all, and lead, ye great ! the way. For lo ! my words no fancy’d woes relate : 1 fpeak from fcience, and the voice is fate. When great Uiyfles fought the Phrygian (bores, To (hake with war proud Ilion’s lofty tow’rs, Deeds then undone my faithful tongue foretold : Heav’n leal’d my words, ana you thofe deeds behold,' I fee (1 cry’d) his woes, a countlels train ; I fee his friends o’erwhelm’d beneath the main; How twice ten years from fhoie to (bore he roams. Now twice ten years are part, and now he comes!

To whom EnrymacliUv Fly, dotard, fly ! With thy wife dreams, and fables of the Iky. Go prophefy at home ; thy fons advife :

, Here thou art fage in vain—1 better read the Ikies. Unnumber’d birds glide through th’ aerial way,

[ Vagrants of air, and unforeboding (tray. Cold in the tomb, or in the deeps below Ulyfles lies : Oh wert thou laid as low ! Then would that hufy head no broils fugged,

( Nor fire to rage Telemachus’s bread. From him feme bribe thy venal tongue requireSj- And int’reft, not the god, thy voice infpires.

Vol VIII. C

HOME R’s ODYSSEY. II. 119 it His guidelefs youth, if thy experienc’d age Miflead fallacious into idle rage. Vengeance deferv’d, thy malice fhall reprefs. And but augment the wrongs thou wouldft redrefs. Telemachus may bid the queen repair To great Icarius, whofe paternal care Will guide her pallion, and reward her choice, With ealthy dow’r, and bridal gifts of price. Till fhe retires, determin’d we remain, And both the prince and augur threat in vain : His pride of words, and thy wild dream of fate, Move not the brave, or only move their hate. Threat on, oh prince! elude the bridal day, Threat on, till all thy (lores in wade decay. True, Greece affords a train of lovely dames. In wealth and beauty worthy of our flames : But never from this nobler fuit we ceafe; For wealth and beauty lefs than virtue pleafe.

To whom the youth : Since then in vain I tell My num’rous woes, in frlence let them dwell. But heav’n, and all the Greeks, have heard my wrongs; To heav’n, and all the Greeks, redrefs belongs. Yet this 1 a(k (nor be it afk’d in vain) A bark to waft me o’er the rolling main; The realms of Pyle and Sparta to explore, And feek my royal fire from (hore to fhore : If, or to fame his doubtful fate be known, Dr to be learn’d from oracles alone ? 'If yet he lives; with patience I forbear. Till the fleet hours rellore the circling year ; But, if already wand’ring in the train Of empty (hades, 1 meafure back the main,

COMER’S ODYSSEY. II. i-ji.

' "Plant the fair column o’er the mighty dead, ■ -And yield his confort to the nuptial bed.

He ceas’d; and while abalh’d the peers attend, Mentor arofe, Ulyffes’ faithful friend :

. [When fierce in arms he fought the fcenes of war, “ My friend,” (he cry’d), “ my palace be thy care j “ Years roll’d on years my godlike fire decay, “ Guard thou his age, and his behefts obey.”] Stern as he rofe, he cart his eyes around, That flafh’d with rage; and-, as he fpoke, he frown’d.

O nev^r, never more! let king be juft, He mild in pow’r, or faithful to his trull! Let tyrants govern with an iron rod, Opprefs, deltroy, and be the fcourge of god; Since he who like a father held his reign, So foon forgot, was juft and mild in Vain ! True, while nfy friend is griev’d, his griefs I lhare; Yet now the rivals are my fmalleft care : They, tor the mighty mifchiefs they devife, Ere long (hall pay—their forfeit lives the price. But againft you, ye Greeks ! ye coward train, Gods! how my foul is mov’d with juft difdaih ? Dumb ye all (land, and not one tongue affords His injur’d prince the little aid of words.

While yet he fpoke, Leocritus rejoin’d : O pride of words, and arrogance of mind ! Wouldft thou to rife in arms the Greeks advife? Join all your pow’rs! in arms, ye Greeks, arife! Yet would your pow’rs in vain our ftrength oppofe; The valiant few o’ermatch an hoft of foes. Should great Ulyfles Hern appear in arms, While the bowl circles, and the banquet warms;

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50 HOMER'S ODYSSEY. II. 385.

Though to his bread his Ipoufe with tranfport fliesf Torn from her bread, that hour, Ulydes dies. But hence retreating to your domes repair ; To arm the veffel, Mentor ! be thy care. And Halitherfes ! thine : Be each his friend : Yc lov’d the father : Go, the fon attend. But yet, I trud, theboader means to day Safe in the court, nor tempt tire wat’ry way.

Then, with a rufhing found, th’ aflembly bend, 1 Diverfe their deps: The rival rout attend The royal dome ; while fad the prince explores The neighb’ring main, and farrowing treads the thores. There, as the waters o’er his hands he (bed, The royal fnppliant to Minerva pray’d.

Ogoddcfs! who defeending from the Ikies Vouchfaf’d thy prefence to my wond’ring eyes. By whofe commands the raging deeps I trace, And feek my fire through dorms and rolling feas! Hear from thy heav’ns above, oh warrior-maid ! Defcend once more, propitious to my aid. Without thy prefence, vain is thy command ; Greece, and the rival train, thy voice with (land.

Indulgent to his pray’r, the goddefs took Sage Mentor’s form, and thus like Mentor fpoke,

O prince, in early youth divinely wife, Born, the Ulyfles of thy age to rife ! If to the fon the father’s worth defeends, O’er the wide waves fuccefs thy ways attends : To tread the walks of death he dood prepar’d, And what he greatly thought, he nobly dat'd. Were not wife fons defeendent of the wife. And did net heroes from brave heroes rife,

HOMER’S ODYSSEY. If. 31;, 37

Vain were my hopes: Few Ions attain the praife ' Of their great fires, and moft their fires diigrace. But finee thy veins paternal virtue fires, And all Penelope thy foul infpires, Go, and lucceed ! the rivals aims defpife; For never, never, wicked man was wife. Blind they rejoice, though now, ev’n now they fall; Death hades amain : One hour o’erwhelms them all! And lo, with fpeed we plough the wat’ry way ; My pow’r lhall guard thee, and my hand convey; The winged vellel ftudious 1 prepare, Through feas and realms companion of thy care. Thou to the court afeend; and to the fhores (When night advances) bear the naval (tores; Bread, that decaying man with ftrength fupplies, And gen’rous wine, which thoughtful forrow flies. M^nwhile the mariners by my command Shall fpeed aboard, a valiant chofen band. Wide o’er the bay, by veflel veffel rides; The bed I chufe to waft thee o’er the tides.

She fpoke : To his high dome the prince returns. And as he moyes, with royal anguilh mourns. ’Twas riot all among the lawlefs train ; Boar bled by boar, and goat by goat lay (lain. Arriv’d, his hand the gay Antinous prefs’d, And thus deriding, with a fmile addrefs’d.

Grieve not, oh daring prince*, that noble heart; 111 fuits gay youth the (tern heroic part. Indulge the genial hour, unbend thy foul, ■Leave thought to age, and drain the flowing bowl. Studious to eafe thy grief, our care provides The bark, to waft thee o’er the fwelling tides.

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38 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. II. 3*71-

Is this (returns the prince) fnr mirth a time? When lawlefs gluttons riot, mirth’s a crime ; The lufcious wines, tiiihonour’d, lofe their tafte; The fong is noife, and impions is-the feaft. Suffice it to have fpent with fwift decay The wealth of kings, and made my youth a prey; But now the wife inlirudlions of the fage, And manly thoughts infpir’d by manly age, Teach me to feek redrefs for all my woe, Here, or in Pyle^-in Pyle, or here, your foe. Deny your veflcls, ye deny in vain-; A private voyager I pafs the main. Free breathe the winds, and free the billows flow, And where on earth I live, I live your foe.

He fpoke and frown’d, nor longer deign’d to flay, Sternly his hand withdrew, and ftrode away.

Meantime, o’er all the dome, they quafF, they feaft,

Derifive taunts were fpread from gueft to gueft, And each in jovial mood his mate addreft.

Tremble ye not, oh friends! and coward fly, Doom’d by the ftern Telemachus to die ? To Pyle or Sparta to demand fupplies, Big with revenge, the mighty warrior flies : Or comes from Ephyre with poifons fraught, And kills us all in one tremendous draught ?

Or who can fay, (his gamefome mate replies), But while the dangers of the deeps He tries, He, like his fire, may fink, depriv’d of breath, And punilh us unkindly by his death ? What mighty labours would he then create, To feize his treafures. and divide his ftate,

HOM E R’s 0 D Y S 3 E Y. II. 3f3

The royal palace to the queen convey, ©r him Ihe bielles in the bridal-day !

Meantime the lofty rooms the prince furveys, Where lay the treafures of the Ithacian race : Here ruddy brafs and gold refulgent blaz’d ; There polilh’d chells embroider’d veftures grac’d; Here jars of oil breath’d forth a rich perlume ; There calks of wine in rows adorn’d the dome. (Pure fiav’rous wane, by gods in bounty giv’n, And worthy to exalt the fealls of heav’n ) Untouch’d they llood, till his long labours o’er. The great Ulyffes reach’d his native Ihore. A double ftrength of bars fecur’d the gates : Fad by the door the wife Euryclea w’aits; Euryclea, who, great Ops! thy lineage fliar’d, And watch’d all night, all day ; a faithful guard.

To whom the prince : O thou, whofe guardian care Nurs’d the mod wretched king that breathes the air! Untouch’d and facred may thefe vtflels ftand. Till great Ulyfles views his native land. But by thy care twelve urns of wine be hlPd, Next theie in worth, and firm thole urns be feal’d ; And twice ten meafur.es of the cltoiceft dour Prepar’d, ere yet defeends the cv’ning hour. For when the fav’ring Ihades of night arife. And peaceful flumbers clofe my mother’s eyes, Me from our coads (hall fpreading fails convey, To feck Ulydcs through the wat’ry way.

While yet he fpoke, Ihe fill’d the walls with cries,. And tears ran trickling from her aged eyes. O whither, whither flies my fon ? fire cry’d, To realms, that rocks and roaring feas divide ?

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4& HOMER’S ODYSSEY. II. 410,

In foreign lands thy father’s day' decay’d, And foreign lands contain the mighty dead. The wat’ry way ill fated if thou try, All, all mult perilh, and by fraud you die i Then (lay, my child ! dorms beat, and rolls the main Oh beat thofe dorms, and roll the feas in vain !

Far hence (reply’d the prince) thy fears be driv’n Hcav’n calls me forth ; thefe counlels are of heav’n. But by the pow’rs that hate the perjur’d, fwear To keep my voyage from the roval ear, Nor uncompell’d the dang’rous truth betray, Till twice fix times defcends the lamp of day: Led the fad tale a mother’s life impair, And grief dedroy what time a while would fpare.

Thus he. The matron with uplifted eyes Atteds th’ all-feeing fov’reign of the ikies. Then dudious ihe prepares the choiced flour, The drength of wheat, and wines an ample ftore. While to the rival train the prince returns. The martial goddefs with impatience burns; Like thee, Ttlemachus, in voice and fize, With fpeed divine from dreet to flreet (he flies. She bids the marineis prepar’d, to (land, When night delcends, embody’d on the drand. Then to Noemon fwift (he runs, (he flies. And a(ks a bark : The chief a bark fupplies.

And now, declining with his (loping wheels, Down funk the fun behind the wedern hills. The goddefs (hov’d the veflel from the (hores, And dow’d within its womb the naval dores : Full in theop’nings of the fpacious main It rides; and now defcends the failor-train.

HOMER’S ODYSSEY. II. 4H. 41

' Next, to the court, impatient of delay, "With rapid ftep the goddels-urg’d her way : There ev’ry eye with flumb’rous chains the bound, And dafh’d the flowing goblet to the ground. Drowfy they rofe, with heavy fumes opp;eft. Reel’d from the palace, and retir’d to reft.

Then thus, in'Mentor’s rev’rend form array’d, Spoke to Telemachus the mart;al maid. Lo ! on the fcas prepar'd the vefiel (lands, Th’ impatient mariner thy fpeed demands. Swift as ihe fpoke, with rapid pace (lie leads; The footfteps of the deity he treads. Swift to the (bore they move : Along the ftrand The ready veflel rides, the failors ready ftand.

He bids them bring their (lores; th’ attending train Load the tall bark, and launch into the main. The prince and goddefs to the (tern afeend; To the ftrong ftroke at once the rowers bend. Full from the weft (he bids frefh breezes blow; The fable billows foam and roar below. 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 (heet, and ftretch it to the wind. High o’er the roaring waves the fpreading fails Bow the tall maft, and fwell before the gales; The crooked keel the parting furge divides. And to the Hern retreating roll the tides. And now they (hip their oars, and crown with wine The holy goblet to the pow’rs divine :

THE '

O D Y S S E Y,

BOOK III.

THE ARGUMENT,

The Interview of Telcmachus and Nejior. Telemachus, guided by Pallas in the fhape of

Mentor, arrives in the morning at Pylos, where Neflor and his fons are facrificing on the fea-!hore to Neptune. Telemachus declares the occafion of his coming, and Neftor relates what palled in their return from Troy, how their fleets were feparated, and he never fince heard of Ulyfles. They difeourfe concerning the death of Agamemnon, the revenge of Orefles, and the injuries of the fuitors. Neffor advifes him to go to Sparta, and inquire further of Menelaus. The facrifice ending with the night, Minerva vanifhes from them in the form of an eagle. Ttlemachus is lodged in the palace. The next morning they facrifice a bullock to Minerva, and Telemachus proceeds on his journey, to Sparta, at-

j tended by Pififtratus. The feene lies on tl e fea-fhore of Pylos,

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T HE facred fun, above the waters rais’d, Thro’ heav’n’s eternal, brazen portals blaz’d

And wide o’er earth diffus’d his cheering ray., To gods and men to give the golden day. Now on the coart: of Pyle the veflcl falls. Before old N’eleus’ -venerable walls. There, fuppliant to the monarch of the flood, At nine green theatres the Pylians flood ; Each held five hundred (a deputed train) At each, nine oxen on the fand lay flain. They tafte the entrails, and the altars load With fmoking thighs, an off’ring to the god. Full for the port the Ithacenfians (land, And furl their fails, and iflue on the land. Telemachus already prefs’d the (bore ; Not firft, the pow’r of wifdom march’d before. And ere the facrificing throng he join’d, Admonilh’d thus his well-attending mind.

Proceed, my fon ! this youthful lhame expel ; An honed bus’nefs never blulh to tell. To learn what fates thy wretched fire detain, We pafs’d the wide, immcafurable main. Meet then the fenior, far renown’d for fenfe, With rev’rend awe, but decent confidence : Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies : And fnre he will ; for wifdom never lies.

Oh tell me, Mentor ! tell me, faithful guide, (The youth with prudent moderty reply’dj,

-46 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. Hi. ij>.

H. w djall I meet, or how accoft the fage, Unfkill’d in fpeech, nor yet mature of age ? Awful th’ approach, and hard the Calk appears, To queftion wifely men of riper years.

To whom the martial goddefs thus rejoin’d. Search, for feme thoughts, thy own fuggefting mind And others, dictated by heav’nly pow’r, Shall rife fpontaneous in the needful hour. For nought unprofp’rous lhall thy ways attend, Born with good omens, and with heav’n thy friend.

She fpoke, and led the way with fwifteft fpeed : As fwift the youth purfu’d the way fhe led; And join’d the band before the facred fire, Where fat, encompafs’d with his fons, the fire. The youth of Pyles, fome on pointed wood Transfix'd the fragments, fame prepar’d the food- in friendly'throngs they gather to embrace Their unknown guefts, and at the banquet place. Pififtratus was firfl: to grafp their hands, And fpread foft hides upon the yellow fands-; Along the fliore th’ illufirious pair he led, Where Neftor fat with youthful Thrafymed. To each a portion of the feaft he bore, And held the golden goblet foaming o’er; Then firft approaching to the elder gueft. The latent goddefsin thefe words addreft. Whoe’er thou art, whom fortune brings to keep Thefe rites of Neptune, monarch of the deep, Thee firft it fits, oh firanger! to prepare The due libation, and the folemn .pray’r;

HOME R’s ODYSSEY. II!. J9.

; Then give thy friend to Ihed the faered wine 'i Tho’ much thy younger, and his years like mine,

He too, I deem, implores the pow’rs divine. - For all mankind alike require their grace,

All born to want; a miterable race! He fpake, and to her hand preferr’d the bowl;

A fecret pleafure touch’d Athena’s foul, To fee the pref’rence due to facrcd age Regarded ever by the juft and fage. Of ocean’s king Ibe then implores the grace. Oh thou! whole arms this ample globe embrace, Fulfil our wifh, and let thy glory thine On Neftor firft, and Neftor’s royal line; Next grant the Pylian ftates their juft defires, Pleas’d with their hecatomb’s afcending fires; Laft deign Telemachus and me to hlefs, And crown our voyage with defir’d fuccefs.

Thus (be; and having paid the rite divine, Gave to Ulyfles’ fon the rofy wine. Suppliant he pray’d. And now the viftims dreft, They draw, divide, and celebrate the feaft; The banquet done, the narrative old man. Thus mild, the pleafing conference began.

Now, gentle guefts ! the genial banquet o’er, ' It fits to alk ye, what your native fhore,

, And whence your race ? on what adventure, fay, Thus far ye wander through the wat’ry way l Relate, if bus’nefs, or the third of gain, Engage your journey o’er the pathlefs main ; Where favage pirates feek, through feas unknown, The lives of others, ventrous of their own ?

4.8 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. III. 90..

Urg'd by the precept; by the goddefs giv’n, And fill’d with confidence infin-’d fri-m tieav’n, The youth, whom Pallas defti V to be wife, And fam’d amor.g_tbe fons of men, replies. Inquir’d thou, father! from w at coal! we came ? (Oh grace and glory of the Grecian name I) From where high Ithaca o’erlooks the floods, Brown with o’er-arcbing fhades and pendent woods. Us to thefe (bores our filial duty draws, A private forrow, not a public caufe. My fire 1 fcck, where’er the voice of fame Has told the glories of his noble name, The great Ulyfles; fam’d from fhore to (bore, For valour much, for hardy fiuff’ring more. Hong time with thee before proud Ilion’s wall In arms he fought; with thee beheld her fall. Ol all the chiefs, this hero’s fate alone Has Jove referv’d, unheard of. and unknown ; Whether in fields by hoftile fury (lain, Or funk by tcmperts in the gulfy main ? Of this to learn, opprefs’d with tender fears, Lo, at thy knee his fuppliant fon appears. If or thy certain eye, or curious ear, Have learn’d his fate, the whole dark (lory clear! And oh ! whatc’cr heav’n deflin’d to betide, Let neither flatt’ry fmooth, nor pity hide. Prepar’d I (land: He was hut born to try The lot of man ; to fnffer, and to die. Oh then, if ever through the ten years war The wife, the good Ulyfles claim’d thy care; If e’er he join’d thy council, or thy fword, True in his deed, and conflant to his word :

HOMER’s ODYSSEY. III. m. 49

Far as thy mind through backward time can fee, ! Search all thy ftores of faithful memory :

Tis facred truth I aik, and aik of thee. To him experienc’d Neftor thus rejoin’d.

O friend ! what forrows doft thou bring to mind T Shall I the long, laborious fcene review, And open all the wounds of Greece anew ? What toils by fea ! where, dark in qucft of prey,. Dauntlefs we rov’d ; Achilles led the way : What toils by land ! where, mix’d in fatal fight, Such numbers fell, fuch heroes funk to night; There Ajax great, Achilles there the brave, There wife Patroclus, fill an early grave : There too my fon—ah once my belt delight, Once fwift of foot, and terrible in fight. In whom ftern courage with foft virtue join’d, A faultlefs body, and a blamelcfs mind : Antilochus—what more can I relate ? How trace the tedious feries of our fate ? Not added years on years my talk could clofe, The long hiftorian of my country’s woes: Back to thy native ifiands might’ll thou fail, And leave half-heard the melancholy tale. Nine painful years on that detefted (bore ;

1 What ftratagcms we form’d! what toils we bore! Still lab’riug on, till fcarce at laft we found Great Jove propitious, and our conqueft crown’d. Far o’er the reft t'hy mighty father (hin’d, In wit, in prudence, and in force of mind. Art thou the fon of that illuftrious fire ? With joy I grafp thee, and with love admire.

Vol. VIU. D

So HOMER’S ODYSSEY. IP 113.

So like your voices, and your words fo wif. Who finds thee younger mull coufuk his .yes. Thy fire and I were one ; nor vary’d ou.-i.t In public fenience, or in private thong , Alike to council or th’ aficmbly came, With equal fouls, and fentiments the fame. But when (by wifdom won) proud !l;on burn’d. And in their (hips the conqu’ring Grc ks raurn’d j ’Twas God’s high wih the victors to divide, And turn th’ event, confounding human pride : Some he deftroy’d, fome Matter'd as the duft, (Not all were prudent, and not ail were jult). Then Difcord, fent by Pallas from above. Stern daughter of the great avenger Jove, The brother-kings infpir’d with fell debate; Who call’d to council all th’ Achaian (late, But call’d untimely, (nor the facred rite Obferv’d, nor heedful of the fetting light, Nor herald fworn the feffion to proclaim); Sour with debauch, a reding tribe they came. To thefe the caufe of meeting they explain, And Menelaus moves to crofs the main : Not fo the king of men; he will’d to flay, The facred rites and hecatombs to pay. And calm Minerva’s wrath. Oh blind to fate! The gods not lightly change their love or hate. With ireful taunts each other they oppofe, Till in loud tumult all the Greeks arofe. Now diff’rent counfels ev’ry bread divide. Each burns with rancour to the adverfe fide : Th’ unquiet night drange projefb entertain'd ; (So Jove, that urg’d us to our fate, ordain’d).

HOME k’s ODYSSEY. HI. iSj. it

We, with the fifing morn our (hips unmoor’d, i And brought our captives and our (lores aboard;

1311111311 die people with rdpe-ft obey’d The king of men, and at his bidding (laid. Now on the wings of wind our courfe we keep. (For god had fmootb’d the waters of the deepl. For Tenedos we fpread our eager oars, There land, and pay due vkflims to the pow’rs: To blefs our fafe return we join in pray’r; But angry Jove difpers’d our vows in air,

' And rais’d new difeord. Then (fo heav’n decreed) Ulyfles firft and Neilor difagreed : Wife as he was, by various counfels fway’d, He there, though late, to pleafe the monarch, (laid ; But I, determin’d, (lcm the foamy floods, Warn’d of the coming fury of the gods. With us, Tydides fear’d, and urg’d his hafte: And Menelaus came, but came the lad. He join’d our veffcls hi the Lelbian bay. While yet we doubted of our wat’ry way; If to the right to urge the pilot’s toil, ( The fafer road), befide the I-Tyrian ifle ; Or the flraight courfe to rocky Chios p!o

ja HOMER’s ODYSSEY. III. si?

There hecatombs of bulls, to Neptune flain, High flaming pleafe the monarch of the main. The fourth day (hone, when all their labours o’er, Tydides’ vclTcls touch’d the wilh’d-for fhore : But I to Pylos feud before the gales, The god flill breathing on my fwelling fails ; Sep’rate from all, I fafely landed here; Their fates or fortunes never reach’d my ear. Yet what 1 learn’d, attend ; as here 1 fat, And a(k each voyager each hero’s fate : Curious to know, and willing to relate.

Safe reach’d the Myrmidons their native land, Beneath Achilles’ warlike fon’s command. Thofe, whom the heir of great Apollo’s art, Brave Philofletes, taught to wing the dart; And thofe whom Idomen from llion’s plain Had led, fccurely crofs’d the dreadful main. How Agamemnon touch’d his Argive coaft, And how his life by fraud and force he loft. And how the murd’rer paid his forfeit breath ; What land fo diftant from that feene of death But trembling heard the fame ? and heard, admire How well the fon appeas’d his flaughter’d fire l Ev’n to th’ unhappy, that unjuftly bleed, Heav’n gives pofterity t’ avenge the dead. So fell jEgyfthus; and mayft thou, my friend, (On whom the virtues of thy fire defeend), Make future times thy equal aft adore. And be what brave Oreftes was before !

The prudent youth reply’d : O thou the grace And lading glory of the Grecian race !

HO’Mfik's ODY'S’SEY. ill, x&. jt

Jufl was the vengeance, and to lateft days > Shall long pdfterity rcfound the praife. ■ Some god this arm with equal prowefs btefs! ' And the proud fuitors (hall its force confefs: Injurious men ! who, while thy foul is fore

f’ Of frelh affronts, are 'meditating more. But heav’n denies this honour to my hand, Nor lhall my father rcpoflefs the land : The father’s fortune never to return, And the fad fon’s to fuffer and to mourn.

Thus he; and Neflor took the word : IViy ion, / Is it then true, as diflant rumours run,

That crouds of rivals for thy mother’s charms Thy palace fill with infults and alarms ? •Say, is the fault, thro’ tame fubmidion, thine ? Or leagu’d againfl thee, do thy people join, Mov’d by fome oracle, or voice divine ? And yet who knows, but rip’ning lies in fate An hour of vengeance for th’ afflitted (late; When great Ulyfles (hall fupprefs thefe harms, Ulyfl’es fingly, or ail Greece in arms. But if Athena, war’s triumphant maid, The happy fon, will, as the father, aid,

| (Whofe fame and fafety was her conllant care In ev’ry danger, and in ev’ry war;

, Never on man did heav’nly favour fhine With rays Co ftrong, diflinguifh’d, and divine, As thofe with which Minerva mark’d thy lire). So might Ihe love thee, fo thy foul infpire ! Soon fhould their hopes in humble duft be kid, And long oblivion of the bridal-bed.

D 3

S4 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. HI. zrs*

Ah ! no fuch hope (the prince with fighs replies) Can touch my bread ; that blcffing heav’n denies. Ev’n by celeftial favour were it giv’n, Fortune or fate would crofs the will of heav’n.

What words arcthefe, and what imprudence thine ? (Thus interpos’d the martial maid divine). Forgetful youth ! but know, the pow’r above With eaic can fave each objefl of his love; Wide as his will, extends his boundlefs grace ; Nor loft in time, nor circumi'crib’d by place. Happier his lot, who, many forrows paft, Hong lab’ring, gains his natal (hore at laft; Than who too fpcedy, haftes to end his life By feme ftern ruffian, or adult’rous wife. Death only is the lot which none can mifs; And all is poffiblc to heav’n, but this. The neft, the deareft fav’rite of the iky Muft tafte that cup, for man is born to die.

Thus check’d, reply’d Ulyfles’ prudent heir: Mentor no more—^the mournful thought forbear; For he no more muft draw his country’s breath, Already fnatch’d by fate, and the black doom of death 1 Pals we to other lubjecls; and engage On themes remote the venerable fage; (Who ihrice has feen the peiifhable kind Of men decay, and through three ages (hin’d, C Like gods majeftic, and like gods in mind.) Ji For much he knows, and juft conclufions draws From various precedents, and various laws. O fon of Neleus ! awful Neftor, tell How he, the mighty Agamemnon, fell ?

HOMER’s ODYSSEY. III. 310. s

Sy what ftrange fraud .Egyllhus wrought, relate, 1 (By force he could not) fuch a hero’s fatei Liv’d Menelaus not in Greece? or where Was then the martial brother’s pious care ? Condemn’d, perhaps, fome foreign fhore to tread ; Or fure aEgyfthus had not dar’d the deed.

To whom the Full of Days : liluftrious youth. Attend (though partly thou haft guefs’d) the truth. For had the martial Menelaus found The ruffian breathing yet on Argive ground. Nor earth had hid his carcafe from the Ikies, Nor Grecian virgins ffiriek’d his obfequies; But fowls obfcene difmember’d his remains. And dogs had torn him on the naked plains. While us the works of bloody Mars employ’d. The wanton youth inglorious peace enjoy’d; He, ftretch’d at eafe in Argos’ calm recefs, (Whole (lately deeds luxuriant paftures blefs,) With flattery’s infrnuating art Sooth’d the frail queen, and poifon’d all her heart. At firlt with worthy ffiame and decent pride, The royal dame his lawlels lint deny’d. For virtue’s image yet polTels’d her mind, Taught by a mailer of the tuneful kind : Atrides, parting for the Trojan war, Coniign’d the youthful confort to his care. True to his charge, the bard preferv’d her long In honour’s limits; fuch the pow’r of fong. But, when the gods thefe ohjedts of their hate Dragg’d to dellruflion, by the links of fate; The bard they baniffi’d from his native foil, And left all helplefs in a defert ille:

55 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. II ?i.

There he, the Eveetefl of the facrerl train, Sung dying to the rocks, but fung in vairt. Then virtue was no more ; her guard away, She fell to luft a voluntary pr^y. Ev’n to the temple (talk'd th’ adult’rous fpnnfe. With impious thanks, and mockery of vows, With images, with garments, and with gold; And od’rous fumes from loaded altars roll'd.

Meantime, from darning Troy we cut the way. With Menelaus, through the curling fea. But when to Sunium’s (acred point we Came, Crown’d with the temple of th’ Athenian dame; Atrides’ pilot, Phrontes, there expir’d ; (Phrontes, of all the Tons of men admir’d To (leer the bounding bark with fteady toil When the dorm thickens, and the billows boil); While yet he exercis’d the (teerman’s art, Apollo touch’d him with his gentle dart; Ev’u with the rudder in his hand he fell. To pay whofe honours to the (hades of hell, We check’d our hade, by pious office bound, And laid our old companion in the ground. And now the rites difcharg’d, our courfe we keep Far on the gloomy bofom of the deep : Soon as Malaea’s midy tops arife, Sudden the Thund'rer blackens all the Ikies, And the winds whidle, and the fnrges roll Mountains on mountains, and obfcure the pole. The temped fcatters, and divides our fleet; Part, the dorm urges on the coad of Crete, Where winding round the rich Cydonian plain, The dreams of Jardan iflue to the main.

HOMER’S ODYSSEY. HI. 37-4. jt

There (lands a rock, high, eminent, and deep, Whofe (baggy brow o’erhangs the (hady deep, And views Gortyna on tlie weftern fide; On this rough Aufter drove th’ impetuous tide : With broken force the billows roll’d away, And heav’d the fleet into the neighb’ring bay. Thus fav’d from death, they gain’d the Phaeftan (bores. With (halter’d vefl'els, and difabled oars : But five tall barks the winds and waters tod, Far from their fellow's, on th’ ^Egyptian coafl. There wander’d Menclaus through foreign (bores, Amaffing gold, and gath’ring naval (lores ; While curs’d /Egyfthus the detelfcd deed By fraud fulfill’d, and his great orothcr bled.. Sev’n years the traitor rich Mycenae fway’d, And his (tern rule the groaning land obey’d ; The eighth, from Athens to his realm reflor’d, Orefles brandilh’d the revenging fword, Slew the dire pair, and gave to fun’ra! flame The vile aflaffin, and adult’rous dame. That day, ere yet the bloody triumphs ceafe, Return’d Atri ies to the coaft of Greece, And fafe to Argos’ port his navy brought, With gifts of price and pond’rous treafure fraught. Hence warn’d, my fon, beware ! nor idly (land Too long a (Iranget* to thy native land; Left heedlefs abfence wear thy wealth away, While lawlefs feafters in thy palace fway ; Perhaps may feize thy realm, and (hare the (poll; And thou return, with difappointed toil, ( From thy yain journey, to a rifled ide, j

58 H 0 M E R’s ODYSSEY. HE 4.^

Howe’er, my friend, indulge one labour more. And feek Atrides on the Spartau fhore. He, wand’ring long, a wider circle made, And many-languag’d nations has iurvey’d ; And meafur’d trafts unknown to other (hips. Amid the monftrous wonders of the deeps; (A length of ocean and unbounded Iky, Which fcarce the fea-fowl in a year o'erfly). Go then ; to Sparta take the wat’ry way. Thy (hip and Tailors but for orders (tay ; Or, if by land thou chufe thy courfe to bend, My deeds, my chariots, and my fons attend: Thee to Atrides they (hall fafe convey, Guides of thy road, companions of thy way. Urge him with truth to frame his free replies, And fure he will: For Menelaus is wife.

Thus while he fpeaks, the ruddy fun defcends, And twilight gray her ev’ning-fhade extends. Then thus the blue-ey’d maid: O full of days ! Wife are thy words, and jud are all thy ways. Now immolate the tongues, and mix the wine, Sacred to Neptune and the pow’rs divine. The lamp of day is quench’d beneath the deep. And foft approach the balmy hours of deep : Nor fits it to prolong the heav’nly fealf, Timelefs, indecent, but retire to reft.

So fpake Jove’s daughter, the celeftial maid. The fober train attended and obey’d. The facred heralds on their hands around Pour’d the full urns; the youths the goblets crown’d From bowl to bowl the holy bev’rage (lows; While to the final facrifice they rofe.

HOMER’S ODYSSEY. 111. 437- 5S>

The tongues they ca(t upon the fragrant flame, And pour, above, the conftcrated dream. And now, their thirft by copious draughts allay’d, The youthful hero and th’ Athenian maid Propofe departure from the finifh’d rite, And in their hollow bark to pafs the night: But this the hofpitable fage deny’d. Forbid it, Jove ! and all the gods! he cry’d, Thus from my walls the much-lov’d ton to fend Of fuch a hero, and of fuch a friend! Me, as fome needy peafant, would ye leave, Whom heav’n denies the blefling to relieve ? Me would you leave, who boalt imperial fwayr When beds of royal (late invite your flay ? No long as life this mortal (hall infpire, Or as my children imitate their fire, Here (hall the wand’ring flranger find his home, And hofpitable rites adorn the dome.

Well haft thou fpoke, (the blue-ey’d maid replies), Belov’d old man ! benevolent, as wife. Be the kind diflates of thy heart obey’d, And let thy words Telemachus perfuade : He to thy palace (hall thy fteps purfue ; -y I to the (hip, to give the orders due, V Prefcribe direftions, and confirm the crew. 3 For 1 alone fuftain their naval cares, Who boaft experience from thefe filver hairs ; All youths the reft, whom to this journey move Like years, like tempers, and their prince’s love. There in the veffel (hall I pafs the night j And foon as morning paints the fields of light,

Co HOMER’s ODYSSEY. III. 4*8,

I go to challenge from the Cancons bold, A debt, contrafled in the days of old. But this thy gueft, receiv’d with friendly care, Let thy ftrong courfers fwift to Sparta bear; Prepare thy chariot at the dawn of day, And be thy fon companion of his way.

Then turning with the word, Minerva fires, And foarsan eagle through the liquid ikies, Vifion divine! the throng’d fpeflators gaze In holy wonder fix’d, and /till amaze. But chief the rev’rend fage admir’d ; he took The hand of young Telcmachus, and fpoke :

O happy youth ! and tavour’d of the Ikies, Diftinguilh’d care of guardian deities ! Whofe early years for future worth engage. No vulgar manhood, no ignoble age. For lo ! none other of the court above Than file, the daughter of almighty Jove, Pallas herfelf, the war-triumphant maid, Confefs’d is thine, as once thy father’s aid. So guide me, goddefs! fo propitious ihine On me, my confort, and my royal line 1 A yearling bullock to thy name (hall fmoke. Untam’d, unconfcious of the galling yoke. With ample forehead, and yet tender horns, Whofe budding honours duflile gold adorns.

Submiilive thus the hoary (ire preferr’d His holy vow : The fav’ring goddefs heard. Then (lowly rifing, o’er the fandy fpace Precedes the father, follow’d by his race, (A long proceffion), timely marching home In comely order to the regal dome,

H O M E R’s • O D Y S S E Y. III. 500. 61

There when arriv’d, on thrones around him plac’d, ilis foils and grandfons the wide circle grac’d. To thefe the hofpitable fage, in fign Of focial welcome, mix’d the racy wine, (Late from the mellowing calk reftor’d to light, By ten long years refin’d, and rofy-bright). To Pallas high the foaming bowl he crown’d, And fprinkled large libations on the ground. Each drinks a full oblivion of his cares, And to the gifts of balmy deep repairs. Deep in a rich alcove the prince was laid, And flept beneath the pompous colonnade; Faft by his fide Pififlratus lay fpread, (In age his equal), on a fplendid bed : But in an inner-court, fecurely clos’d. The rev’rend Neftor with his queen repos’d.

When now Aurora, daughter of the dawn, With rofy luftre purpled o’er the lawn ; The old man early rofe, walk’d forth, and fat On polifh’d (tone before his palace-gate : With unguents fmooth the lucid marble Ihone, Where ancient Neleus fat, a ruftic throne ; But he defcending to th’ infernal lhade, Sage Nellor fill’d it, and the fceptre fway’d. His fons around him mild obeifance pay, And duteous take the orders of the day. Firft Echephron and Stratius quit their bed; Then Perfeus, Aretus, and Thrafymed; The laft Pififtratus arofe from reft : They came, and near him plac’d the ftranger-gueft. To thefe the fenior thus declar’d his will: My fons! the didlates of your fire fulfil.

6-1 HOMER’s ODYSSEY. III. jj*.

To I’allas, firft of gods, prepare the feaft, Who grac’d our rhcs, a more than mortal gued. Let one, dilpatchful, bid fome twain to lead A well-fed builoct. from the grafly mead; One feck the harbour where the vefleis moor, And bring thy friends, Telemachus! afhore, (Leave only two the galley to attend) ; Another.to Laerceus mufl we tend, Artift divine, whote-fkiltul hands infold The victim’s horn with circumfuftle gold. The relt may here the pious duty (hare, And bid the handmaids for the fead prepare, The feats to range, the fragrant wood to bring, And limpid waters from the living fpring.

He faid, and bufy each his care bedow’d; Already at the gates the bullock low’d, Already came the Ithacenfian crew, The dext’rotis fmith the tools already drew : His pond’rous hammer, and his anvil found, And the diong tongs to turn the metal round. Nor was Minerva ablent from the rite, She view’d-her honours, and enjoy’d the fight. With rev’rend hand the king prefents the gold, Which round th’ intorted horns the gilder roll’d; So wrought, as Pallas might with pride behold. Young Aretus from forth his bridal bow’r Brought the full laver, o’er their hands to pour, And caniders of confecrated flour. Stratius and Echephron the victim led ; The axe was held by warlike Thrafymed, In a

HOMER’S ODYSSEY. III. iS4. 63

, The king himfclf inidstes to the pow’r ; • Scatters with quiv’ring hand the facred flour,

And the ftream fprinkles : From the curling brows The hair coHefted in the fire he throws. Soon as due vows on ev’ry part were paid, And facred wheat upon the viftim laid, Strong rhrafymed difeharg’d the fpeeding blow Full on his neck, and cut the nerves in two. Down funk the heavy beaft: The lemales round. Maids, wives, and matrons,.mix a flirilling found.

, Nor fcorn’d the queen the holy choir to join, (The firft-born Ihe of old Clymenus’ line ; In youth hy Neftor lov'd, of fpotlefs fame. And lov’d in age, Lurydice her name). From earth they rear him, ftruggling now with

death; And Neftor’s youngeft flops the vents of breath. The foul for ever flies : On all fides round

'Streams the black blood, and fmokes upon the ground The bead they then divide, and difunitc The ribs and limbs, obfervant of the rite : On thefe, in double cawls involv’d with art, The choiceft morfels lay from ev’ry part. The facred fage before his altar (lands,

i Turns the burnt-off’ring with his holy hands, And pours the wine, and bids the flames afpire :

' The youth with inftruments furround the fire. The thighs now facrific’d, and entrails dreft, Th’ afliflants part, transfix, and broil the reft. While thefc officious tend the rites divine,

1 The Uft fair branch of the Neftorean line,

HDMERs ODYSSEY. IIT. 6xS- 3$

■. Again they mount, their journey to renew, i And from the founding portico they flew. Along the waving fields their way they hold. The fields receding as the chariot roll’d :

I Then (lowly funk the ruddy globe of light. And o’er the (haded landfcape ruth’d the nigh?.

•i'l ■ V i • '

• ev* arft 7:10: - jLLS . :

.nr? .st'V

T K E

O D Y S S E Y,

BOO K IV.

THE ARGUMENT.

Tie conference with Menclaus. T^lemaohus, with Pififtratus, arriving at Sparta, is

hofpitably received by Menelaus, to whom he re- lates the caufe of his coming, and learns from him many particulars of what befel the Greeks fince the deftruttion of Troy. He dwells more at large upon the prophecies of Proteus to him in his return, from which he acquaints Telemachus, that UlyfTes is de* tained in the ifland of Calypfo.

In the mean time, the fuitors confult to deftroy Tele- machus in his voyage home. Penelope is apprifed of this, but comforted in a dream by Pallas, in the fliape of her ftfter Iphthima.

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B O OK IV.

ND now proud Sparta with their wheels refounds, Sparta whofe walls a range of hills furrounds :

At the fair dome the rapid labour ends; Where fat Atrides ’midlt his bridal friends, With double vows invoking Hymen’s pow’r. To blefs his fons and daughters nuptial hour.

That day, to great Achilles’ fon refign’d, Hermione, the fairelt of her kind, Was fent to crown tlie long protracted joy, Efpous’d before the final doom of Troy : With deeds and gilded cars, a gorgeous train Attend the nymph to Phthia’s diftant reign. Meanwhile at home, to Megapenthes’ bed The virgin choir AleCtor’s daughter led. Brave Megapenthes, from a (tol’n amour To great Atrides’ age his handmaid bore: To Helen’s bed the gods alone affign -Hermione, t’ extend the regal line; On whom a radiant pomp of graces wait, Refembling Venus in attractive date.

While this gay friendly troop the king furround, With fedival and mirth the roofs refound : A bard amid the joyous circle fings •High airs, attemper’d to the vocal drings; Whild warbling to the varied drain, advance Two fprightly youths, to form the bounding dance, ’Twas then, that ifluing through the palace gate The fptendid car roll’d flow in regal date;

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tb Homer’s odyssey, iv. z&i

On the bright eminence young-Neilor (hone. And f’aft befide him great Ulyfles’ fon : Grave Eteoneus faw the pomp appear, And fpeeding, thus addrefs’d the royal ear.

Two youths approach, whofe femblant features prove,. Their blood devolving from the fouree of Jove. Is due reception deign’d ! or mull they bend Their doubtful comic to fetk a dillant friend ?

Infenfate ! (with a ligh the king replies), Too long, misjudging, have 1 thought thee wife : But fure relentlefs folly Heels thy breafl, Obdurate to reject the ftranger guclt; To thofe dear hofpitable rites a foe. Which in my wand’rings oft reliev’d my u'o : Fed by the bounty' of another’s board, Til! pitying Jove my native realm reflor’d.— Straight be the courfers from the car releaft, Gonduift the youths to grace the genial feaft.

The fenefchal rebuk’d, in hade withdrew ; With equal hafle a menial train purfue : Part led the courfers, from the.car enlarg’d, Each to a crib with choiceft grain furcharg’dg Part in a portico, profufdy grac’d With rich magnificence, the chariot plac’d : Then to the dome the friendly pair invite. Who eye the dazzling roofs with vaft delight ; Refplendent as the blaze of fummer-noon. Or the pale radiance of the midnight-moon. From room to room their eager view they bendj Thence to the bath, a beauteous pile, defeend; Where a bright damfel-train attend the guefts With liquid odours, and embroider’d verts.

i'TO-M E R’s ODYSSEY. IV. 61. fi

Uefrelii’d, t-hcy wait them to the bow’r of flatej.. Where circled with his peers Atrides fat: Thron’d next the king, a fair attendant bring& The pureft product of the crylhil fprings; High on a mafly vafe of fiiver mold, The burniih’d laver flames with folid golds In folid gold the purple vintage flows. And on the board a feeond banquet rofe. When thus the king, with hofpitable port:—- Accept this welcome to the Spartan court; The wade of nature let the feaft repair, Then your high lineage and your names declare ; Say from what feeptred anceftry ye claim, Recorded eminent in deathlefs fame ? For vulgar parents cannot damp their race With fignatures of fuch majedic grace.

Coaling, benevolent he draight affigns The royal portion of the choiced chines To each accepted friend: With grateful hade They lhare the honours of the rich repafh Suffic’d, foft-whifpering thus to Nedor’s fon. His head reclin’d, young Ithacus begun.

View’d thou unmov’d, O ever honour’d molt ! Thele prodigies of art, and wondrous cod ! Above, beneath, around the palace dunes The fumlefs treafure of exhauded mines; The fpoils of elephants the roofs inlay. And dudded amber darts a golden ray ; Such, and not nobler, in the realms above My wonder diflates is the dome of Jove.

The monarch took the word, and grave reply’d, Prefumptuous are the vaunts, and vain the pride

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yi H O M E R's 0 D Y S S E Y. IV. 93.

Of man-, who dares in pomp with Jove conteft, Unchang’d, immortal, and fupremcly blcfl ! With all my affluence when my woes are weigh’d. Envy will own the purchafe dearly paid. For tight how circling years by tempells toft, From Cyprus to the far Phoenician coaft, {Sidon the capital), I ftret-ch’d niy toil Through regions tatten’d with the flows of Niie^ Next,' /Ethiopia’s utmoft'bound explore, And the parch’d borders of th’ Arabian flrore ; Then warp my voyage on the fqutliern gales. O’er the warm Eybian wave to fpread my fails; That happy clime 1 where each revolving year The teeming ewes a triple offspring bear ; And two fair crcfrents of tranfluCent born The brows of all their young increafc adorn : The fhepherd Eva ins, with fure abundance bleft. On the fat flock and rural dainties feaft ; Nor want of herbage makes the dairy fail, But ev’ry feafon fills the foaming pail. Whilft heaping umvifh’d wealth, 1 diftantroam^ The bell of brothers, at his natal home, By the dire fury of a traitrefs wife, Ends the fad evening of a ftormy life : ■Whence with inceflant grief my foul annoy’d, Tbefe riches are pofftfs’d, but not enjoy’d! My wars, the copious theme of ev’ry tongue. To you, your fathers have recoided long ; How fav’Hng heav’n repaid my glorious toils With a iack’d palace, and barbaric fpoils. Oh 1 bad the gods fo large a boon deny’d, And life, the juft equivalent, filpply’d

HOMER’s ODYSSEY. IV. 125.

To thofe brave warrior?, who with glory fir’d, Far from their country in my caufe expir’d-J Still in (hort intervals of pleafmg wo, Regardml of the friendly dues I owe, 1 to the glorious dead, for ever dear i indulge the tribute of a grateful tear. But oh ! UlyfTes—-deeper than the rdT, That fad idea wounds my anxious bread ! IViy heart Reeds frefh with agonizing pain ; The bowl and tal'ieful viands tempt in vain, Nor Ueep’s lolt pow’r can clofe my dreaming eyes. When imag’d to my foul hislorrows rife. No peril in my came tie ceas’d to prove. His labours cquail’d only by my love ; And both alike to bitter fortune born, For him to EifFcr, and for me to mourn! Whether he wanders on fome friendlefs coaft. Or glides in Stygian gioom a pen-five ghofi. No fame reveals; but doubtful of his doom, His good old fire with forrow to the tomb Declines his trembling fteps; untimely cars Withers the blooming vigour of his heir;

-And the chade partner of his bed and throne, Wades all her w idow’d hours in tender moan.

While thuspathetic to the prince he fpoke, From the brave youth the dreaming paflion broke Studious to veil the grief, in vain repied, His face he (hrouded with his purple ved : The confcious monarch pierc’d the coy difguife, And view’d his filial love with vad furprife : Dubious to prefs the tender theme, or wait To hear the youth inquire his father’s fate.

HOME R’i ODYSSEY. IV. 157;.

In this fufpenfe bright Helen grac’d the room Before her breath’d a gale of rich perfume. So moves, adorn'd with each attradtive grace3 The filver-lhafted goddels of the chace i The feat of majefty Adrafte brings, With art iliulirious, for the pomp of kings. To Ipread the pali (beneath the regal chair) Of fofteft woof, is bright Alcippe’s care. A filver canifter divinely wrought, Jn her foft hands the beauteous Phylo brought ; To Sparta’s queen of old the radiant vafe Alcandra gave, a pledge of royal grace : For Polybus her lord, (whofe fov’reign fway The wealthy tribes of Pfiarian Thebes obey), When to that court Atrides came, cared With vad munificence th’ imperial gued : Two fevers from the riched ore refin’d, With fiiver tripods, the kind hod affign’d; And bounteous, from the royal treafure told Ten equal talents of refulgent gold. Alcandra, confort of his high eomrnandy A golden didaff gave to Helen's hand ; And that rich vale, with living fculpture wrought. Which, heap’d with wool, the beauteous Phylo-

brought: The filken fleece impurpled for the loom, Kival’d the hyacinth in vernal bloom The Ibv’reign feat then Jove-born Helen prefs’d, And pieafing thus her feepter’d lord addrefs’d.

Who grace our palace now, that friendly pair, Speak they their lineage, or their names declare ?

1 KOMER’s ODYSSEY. IV. 187.

jj I'ncertain of the truth, yet nncontroll'd . Dear me the boilings o