allowd either voice or relish for Qui Poeticas ad fores accedit c. sayes the Diuine Philosopher he that knocks at the Gates of the Muses sine Musarum furore is neither to be admitted entrie nor a touch at their Thresholds his opinion of entrie ridiculous and his presumption impious Nor must Poets themselues might I a litle insist on these contempts not tempting too farre your Lordships Vlyssean patience presume to these doores without the truly genuine and peculiar induction There being in Poesie a twofold rapture or alienation of soule as the abouesaid Teâ—cher termes it one Insania a disease of the mind and a meere madnesse by which the infected is thrust beneath all the degrees of humanitie ex homine Brutum quodammodo redditur for which poore Poesie in this diseasd and impostorous age is so barbarously vilified the other is Diuinus furor by which the sound and 〈◊〉 healthfull supra hominis naturam erigitur in Deum transit One a perfection directly infused from God the other an infection obliquely and degenerately proceeding from man Of the diuine Furie my Lord your Homer hath euer bene both first and last Instance being pronounced absolutely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most wise and most diuine Poet. Against whom whosoeuer shall open his prophane mouth may worthily receiue answer with this of his diuine defender Empedocles Heraclitus Protagoras Epichar c. being of Homers part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. who against such an Armie and the Generall Homer dares attempt the assault but he must be reputed ridiculous And yet against this hoast and this inuincible Commander shall we haue euery Besogne and foole a Leader The common herd I assure my self readie to receiue it on their hornes Their infected Leaders Such men as sideling ride the ambling Muse Whose saddle is as frequent as the stuse Whose Raptures are in euery Pageant seene In euery Wassall rime and Dancing greene When he that writes by any beame of Truth Must diue as deepe as he past shallow youth Truth dwels in Gulphs whose Deepes hide shades so rich That Night sits muffl'd there in clouds of pitch More Darke then Nature made her and requires To cleare her tough mists Heauens great fire of fires To whom the Sunne it selfe is but a Beame For sicke soules then but rapt in foolish Dreame To wrestle with these Heau'n-strong mysteries What madnesse is it when their light serues eies That are not worldly in their least aspect But truly pure and aime at Heauen direct Yet these none like but what the brazen head Blatters abroad no sooner borne but dead Holding then in eternal contempt my Lord those short-liued Bubbles eternize your vertue and iudgement with the Grecian Monark esteeming not as the least of your New-yeares Presents Homer three thousand yeares dead now reuiu'd Euen from that dull Death that in life he liu'd When none conceited him none vnderstood That so much life in so much death as blood Conueys about it could mixe But when Death Drunke vp the bloudie Mist that humane breath Pour'd round about him Pouertie and Spight Thickning the haplesse vapor then Truths light Glimmerd about his Poeme the pincht soule Amidst the Mysteries it did enroule Brake powrefully abroad And as we see The Sunne all hid in clouds at length got free Through some forc't couert ouer all the wayes Neare and beneath him shootes his vented rayes Farre off and stickes them in some litle Glade All woods fields riuers left besides in shade So your Apollo from that world of light Closde in his Poems bodie shot to sight Some few forc't Beames which neare him were not seene As in his life or countrie Fate and Spleene Clouding their radiance which when Death had clear'd To farre off Regions his free beames appear'd In which all stood and wonderd striuing which His Birth and Rapture should in right enrich Twelue Labours of your Thespian Hercules I now present your Lordship Do but please To lend Life meanes till th' other Twelue receaue Equall atchieuement and let Death then reaue My life now lost in our Patrician Loues That knocke heads with the herd in whom there moues One blood one soule both drownd in one set height Of stupid Enuie and meere popular Spight Whose loues with no good did my least veine fill And from their hates â— I feare as little ill Their Bounâ—â—es nourish not when most they feed But where there is no Merit or no Need Raine into riuers still and are such showres As bubbles spring and ouerflow the flowres Their worse parts and worst men their Best subornes Like winter Cowes whose milke runnes to their hornes And as litigious Clients bookes of Law Cost infinitely taste of all the Awe Bencht in our kingdomes Policie Pietie State Earne all their deepe explorings satiate All sorts there thrust together by the heart With thirst of wisedome spent on either part Horrid examples made of Life and Death From their fine stuffe wouen yet when once the breath Of sentence leaues them all their worth is drawne As drie as dust and weares like Cobweb Lawne So these men set a price vpon their worth That no man giues but those that trot it forth Through Needs foule wayes feed Humors with all cost Though Iudgement sterues in them Rout State engrost At all Tabacco benches solemne Tables Where all that crosse their Enuies are their fables In their ranke faction Shame and Death approu'd Fit Penance for their Opposites none lou'd But those that rub them not a Reason heard That doth not sooth and glorifie their preferd Bitter Opinions When would Truth resume The cause to his hands all would flie in fume Before his sentence since the innocent mind Iust God makes good to whom their worst is wind For that I freely all my Thoughts expresse My Conscience is my Thousand witnesses And to this stay my constant Comforts vow You for the world I haue or God for you Certaine ancient Greeke Epigrammes Tâ—anslated 〈◊〉 starres are 〈◊〉 vp by the firie Sâ—nne And in so much a flame lies 〈◊〉 the Moone 〈…〉 Name all 〈…〉 Death 〈…〉 Another Heau'ns fires 〈…〉 〈◊〉 his Sphere Graue Night the light â—eed of the Day shall 〈◊〉 Fresh streames shall chace the 〈…〉 shall teare Her fishie bottomes Men in long date dead Shall rise and 〈…〉 Another The great Maeonides doth onely write And to him dictates the great God of Light Another Seuen kingdomes strâ—â—e in which should swell the wombe That bore great Homer whom Fame freed from Tombe Argos Chius Pylos Smyrna Colophone The learn'd Athenian and Vlyssean Throne Another 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 THE FIRST BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT THe Gods in counsaile sit to call Vlysses from Calypso's thrall And order their high pleasures thus Gray Pallas to Telemachus In Ithaca her way addrest And did her heauenly lims inuest In Menta's likenesse that did raigne King of the Taphians in the Maine Whose rough waues neare
him then stood foorth the choise yong men That on mans first youth made fresh entrie then Had Art to make their naturall motion sweete And shooke a most diuine dance from their feete That twinckld Star-like mou'd as swift and fine And beate the aire so thinne they made it shine Vlysses wonderd at it but amazd He stood in minde to heare the dance so phras'd For as they danc't Demodocus did sing The bright-crownd Venus loue with Battailes king As first they closely mixt in t'house of fire What worlds of gifts wonne her to his desire Who then the night-and-day-bed did defile Of good king Vulcan But in little while The Sunne their mixture saw and came and told The bitter newes did by his â—ares take hold Of Vulcans heart Then to his Forge he went And in his shrewd mind deepe stuffe did inuent His mightie Anuile in the stocke he put And forg'd a net that none could loose or cut That when it had them it might hold them fast Which hauing finisht he made vtmost haste Vp to the deare roome where his wife he wowd And madly wrath with Mars he all bestrowd The bed and bed posts all the beame aboue That crost the chamber and a circle stroue Of his deuice to wrap in all the roome And t was as pure as of a Spiders Ioome The woofe before t is wouen No man nor God Could set his eie on it a sleight so odde His Art shewd in it All his craft bespent About the bed he faind as if he went To well-built Lemnos his most loued towne Of all townes earthly Nor left this vnknowne To golden-bridle-vsing Mars who kept No blinde watch ouer him but seeing stept His riuall so aside he hasted home With faire-wreath'd Venus loue stung who was come New from the Court of her most mightie Sire Mars enterd wrung her hand and the retire Her husband made to Lemnos told and said Now Loue is Vulcan gone let vs to bed Hee 's for the barbarous Sintians Well appaid Was Venus with it and afresh assaid Their old encounter Downe they went and straight About them clingd the artificiall sleight Of most wise Vulcan and were so ensnar'd That neither they could stirre their course prepar'd In any lim about them nor arise And then they knew they could no more disguise Their close conueiance but lay forc't stone still Backe rusht the Both foote cook't but straight in skill From his neare skout-hole turnd nor euer wâ—nt To any Lemnos but the sure euent Left Phoebus to discouer who told all Then home hopt Vulcan full of griefe and gall Stood in the Portall and cried out so hie That all the Gods heard Father of the skie And euery other deathlesse God said he Come all and a ridiculous obiect see And yet not sufferable neither Come And witnesse how when still I step from home Lame that I am Ioues daughter doth professe To do me all the shamefull offices Indignities despites that can be thought And loues this all-things-making-come to nought Since he is faire forsooth foote-sound and I Tooke in my braine a little leg'd awrie And no fault mine but all my parents fault Who should not get if mocke me with my halt But see how fast they sleepe while I in mone Am onely made an idle looker on One bed their turne serues and it must be mine I thinke yet I haue made their selfe-loues shine They shall no more wrong me and none perceiue Nor will they sleepe together I beleeue With too hote haste againe Thus both shall lie In craft and force till the extremitie Of all the dowre I gaue her Sire to gaine A dogged set-fac't Girle that will not staine Her face with blushing though she shame her head He paies me backe She 's faire but was no maide While this long speech was making all were come To Vulcans wholie-brazen-founded home Earth-shaking Neptune vsefull Mercurie And far-shot Phoebus No She Deitie For shame would show there all the giue-good Gods stood in the Portall and past periods Gaue length to laughters all reioyc't to see That which they said that no impietie Finds good successe at th' end And now said one The slow outgoes the swift Lame Vulcan knowne To be the slowest of the Gods outgoes Mars the most swift And this is that which growes To greatest iustice that Adulteries sport Obtain'd by craft by craft of other sort And lame craft too is plagu'd which grieues the more That sound lims turning lame the lame restore This speech amongst themselues they entertaind When Phoebus thus askt Hermes Thus enchaind Would'st thou be Hermes to be thus disclosde Though with thee golden Venus were repos'de He soone gaue that an answer O said he Thou king of Archers would t were thus with me Though thrice so much shame nay though infinite Were powrd about me and that euery light In great heauen shining witnest all my harmes So golden Venus slumberd in mine Armes The Gods againe laught euen the watry state Wrung out a laughter But propitiate Was still for Mars and praid the God of fire He would dissolue him offering the desire He made to Ioue to pay himselfe and said All due debts should be by the Gods repaid Pay me no words said he where deeds lend paine Wretched the words are giuen for wretched men How shall I binde you in th'Immortals sight If Mars be once loos'd nor will pay his right Vulcan said he if Mars should flie nor see Thy right repaid it should be paid by me Your word so giuen I must accept said he Which said he loosd them Mars then rusht from skie And stoop't cold Thrace The laughing Deity For Cyprus was and tooke her Paphian state Where She a Groue ne're cut hath consecrate All with Arabian odors fum'd and hath An Altar there at which the Graces bathe And with immortall Balms besmooth her skin Fit for the blisse Immortals solace in Deckt her in to-be-studied attire And apt to set beholders hearts on fire This sung the sacred Muse whose notes and words The dancers feete kept as his hands his cords Vlysses much was pleased and all the crew This would the king haue varied with a new And pleasing measure and performed by Two with whom none would striue in dancerie And those his sonnes were that must therefore dance Alone and onely to the harp aduance Without the words And this sweete couple was Yong Halius and diuine Laodamas Who danc't a Ball dance Then the rich-wrought Ball That Polybus had made of purple all They tooke to hand one threw it to the skie And then danc't backe the other capring hie Would surely catch it ere his foote toucht ground And vp againe aduanc't it and so found The other cause of dance and then did he Dance lofty trickes till next it came to be His turne to catch and serue the other still When they had kept it vp to eithers will They then danc't
HOMER'S ODYSSES. Translated according to the Greeke By Geo Chapman At mihi q d Viuo detraxerit Jnuida Turba Post obitum duplici foenore reddet Honos Imprinted at London by Rich Field for Nathaniell Butter TO THE MOST WORTHILY HONORED MY SINGVLAR GOOD LORD ROBERT Earle of SOMERSET Lord Chamberlaine c. I Haue aduentured Right Noble Earle out of my vtmost and euer-vowed seruice to your Vertues to entitle their Merits to the Patronage of Homers English life whose wisht naturall life the great Macedon would haue protected as the spirit of his Empire That he to his vnmeasur'd mightie Acts Might adde a Fame as vast and their extracts In fires as bright and endlesse as the starres His breast might breathe and thunder out his warres But that great Monarks loue of fame and praise Receiues an enuious Cloud in our foule daies For since our Great ones ceasse themselues to do Deeds worth their praise they hold it folly too To feed their praise in others But what can Of all the gifts that are be giuen to man More precious then Eternitie and Glorie Singing their praises in vnsilenc't storie Which No blacke Day No Nation nor no Age No change of Time or Fortune Force nor Rage Shall euer race All which the Monarch knew Where Homer liu'd entitl'd would ensew Cuius de gurgite viuo Combibit arcanos vatum 〈◊〉 turba furores c. From whose deepe Fount of life the thirstie rout Of Thespian Prophets haue lien sucking out Their sacred rages And as th'influent stone Of Father Ioues great and laborious Sonne Lifts high the heauie Iron and farre implies The wide Orbs that the Needle rectifies In vertuous guide of euery sea-driuen course To all aspiring his one boundlesse force So from one Homer all the holy fire That euer did the hidden heate inspire In each true Muse came cleerly sparkling downe And must for him compose one flaming Crowne He at Ioues Table set fils out to vs Cups that repaire Age sad and minous And giues it Built of an eternall stand With his all-sinewie Odyssaean hand Shifts Time and Fate puts Death in Lifes free state And Life doth into Ages propagate He doth in Men the Gods affects inflame His fuell Vertue blowne by Praise and Fame And with the high soules first impulsions driuen Breakes through rude Chaos Earth the Seas and Heauen The Nerues of all things hid in Nature lie Naked before him all their Harmonie Tun'd to his Accents that in Beasts breathe Minds What Fowles what Floods what Earth what Aire what Winds What fires Aethereall what the Gods conclude In all their Counsels his Muse makes indude With varied voices that eâ—en rockes haue mou'd And yet for all this naked Vertue lou'd Honors without her he as abiect prises And foolish Fame deriu'd from thence despises When from the vulgar taking glorious bound Vp to the Mountaine where the Muse is crownd He sits and laughs to see the iaded Rabble Toile to his hard heights t' all accesse vnable c. And that your Lordship may in his Face take view of his Mind the first word of his Iliads is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wrath the first word of his Odysses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man contracting in either word his each workes Proposition In one Predominant Perturbation in the other ouer-ruling Wisedome in one the Bodies feruour and fashion of outward Fortitude to all possible height of Heroicall Action in the other the Minds inward constant and vnconquerd Empire vnbroken vnalterd with any most insolent and tyrannous infliction To many most souer aigne praises is this Poeme entitled but to that Grace in chiefe which sets on the Crowne both of Poets and Orators 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Parua magnè dicere peruulgata nouè ieiuna plenè To speake things litle greatly things commune rarely things barren and emptie fruitfully and fully The returne of a man into his Countrie is his whole scope and obiect which in it selfe your Lordship may well say is ieiune and fruitlesse enough affoording nothing feastfull nothing magnificent And yet euen this doth the diuine inspiration render vast illustrous and of miraculous composure And for this my Lord is this Poeme preferred to his Iliads for therein much magnificence both of person and action giues great aide to his industrie but in this are these helpes exceeding sparing or nothing and yet is the Structure so elaborate and pompous that the poore plaine Groundworke considered together may seeme the naturally rich wombe to it and produce it needfully Much wonderd at therefore is the Censure of Dionysius Longimus a man otherwise affirmed graue and of elegant iudgement comparing Homer in his Iliads to the Sunne rising in his Odysses to his descent or setting Or to the Ocean robd of his aesture many tributorie flouds and riuers of excellent ornament withheld from their obseruance When this his worke so farre exceeds the Ocean with all his Court and concourse that all his Sea is onely a seruiceable streame to it Nor can it be compared to any One power to be named in nature being an entirely wel-sorted and digested Confluence of all Where the most solide and graue is made as nimble and flâ—ent as the most airie and firie the nimble and fluent as firme and well bounded as the most graue and solid And taking all together of so tender impression and of such Command to the voice of the Muse that they knocke heauen with her breath and discouer their foundations as low as hell Nor is this all-comprising Poesie phantastique or meere fictiue but the most material and doctrinall illations of Truth both for all manly information of Manners in the yong all prescription of Iustice and euen Christian pietie in the most graue and high-gouernd To illustrate both which in both kinds with all height of expression the Poet creates both a Bodie and a Soule in them Wherein if the Bodie being the letter or historie seemes fictiue and beyond Possibilitie to bring into Act the sence then and Allegorie which is the Soule is to be sought which intends a more eminent expressâ—re of Vertue for her louelinesse and of Vice for her vglinesse in their seuer all effects going beyond the life then any Art within life can possibly delineate Why then is Fiction to this end so hatefull to our true Ignorants Or why should a poore Chronicler of a Lord Maiors naked Truth that peraduenture will last his yeare include more worth with our â—oderne wizerds then Homer for his naked Vlysses clad in eternall Fiction But this Prozer Dionysius and the rest of these graue and reputatiuely learned that dare vndertake for their grauities the headstrong censure of all things and challenge the vnderstanding of these Toyes in their childhoods when euen these childish vanities retaine deepe and most necessarie learning enough in them to make them children in their ages and teach them while they liue are not in these absolutely diâ—ine Infusions
growes In which my Father holds a Mannor house Deckt all with Orchards greene and odorous As farre from Towne as one may heare a shout There stay and rest your foote paines till full out We reach the Citie Where when you may guesse We are arriu'd and enter our accesse Within my Fathers Court then put you on For our Phâ—â—cian State where to be showne My Fathers house desire Each infant there Can bring you to it and your selfe will cleare Distinguish it from others for no showes The Citie buildings make compar'd with those That King Alcinous seate doth celebrate In whose roofes and the Court where men of state And suiters sit and stay when you shall hide Strait passe it entring further where abide My Mother with her withdrawne houswiferies Who still sits in the fire â—shine and applies Her Rocke all purple and of pompous show Her Chaire plac't gainst a Pillar all arow Her maids behind her set and â—o her here My Fathers dining Throne lookes Seated where He powres his choice of wine in like a God This view once past for th' end of your abode Addresse suite to my Mother that her meane May make the day of your redition scene And you may frolicke strait though farre away You are in distance from your wished stay For if she once be won to wish you well Your Hope may instantly your Pasport seale And thenceforth sure abide to see your friends Faire house and all to which your heart contends This said she vsde her shining scourge and lasht Her Mules that soone the shore left where she washt And knowing well the way their pace was fleet And thicke they gatherd vp their nimble feet Which yet she temperd so and vsde her scourge With so much skill as not to ouer-vâ—ge The foote behind and make them straggle so From close societie Firme together go Vlysses and her maids And now the Sunne Sunke to the waters when they all had wonne The neuer-feld and sound-exciting wood Sacred to Pallas where the God-like good Vlysses rested and to Pallas praid Heare me of Goate-kept Ioue th'vnconquerd Maid Now throughly heare me since in all the time Of all my wracke my pray'rs could neuer clime Thy far-off eares when noisefull Neptune tost Vpon his watry brissels my imbost And rockâ— torne body heare yet now and daine I may of the Phaeacian State obtaine Pitie and grace Thus praid he and she heard By no meanes yet exposde to sight appear'd For feare t' offend her Vnkle the supreme Of all the Sea-Gods whose wrath still extreme Stood to Vlysses and would neuer cease Till with his Country shore he crownd his peace Finis libri sexti Hom. Odyss THE SEVENTH BOOK OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT NAusicaa arriues at Towne And then Vlysses He makes knowne His suite to Arete who view Takes of his vesture which she knew And asks him from whose hands it came He tels with all the haplesse frame Of his affaires in all the while Since he forsooke Calypsos Ile Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The honord minds And welcome things Vlysses finds In Scherias Kings THus praid the wise and God-obseruing Man The Maid by free force of her Palfreys wan Accesse to Towne and the renowmed Court Reacht of her Father where within the Port She staid her Coach and round about her came Her Brothers made as of immortall frame Who yet disdaind not for her loue meane deeds But tooke from Coach her Mules brought in her weeds And she ascends her chamber where puruaid A quicke fire was by her old chamber-maid Eurymedusa th' Aperâ—â—n borne And brought by sea from Apera t' adorne The Court of great Alcinous because He gaue to all the blest Phaeacians lawes And like a heauen-borne Powre in speech acquir'd The peoples eares To one then so admir'd Eurymedusa was esteemd no worse Then worth the gift yet now growne old was Nurse To Ivory-armd Nausicaa gaue heate To all her fires and drest her priuie meate Then rose Vlysses and made way to Towne Which ere he reacht a mightie mist was throwne By Pallas round about him in her Care Lest in the sway of enuies popular Some proud Phaeacian might foule language passe Iustle him vp and aske him what he was Entring the louely Towne yet through the cloud Pallas appeard and like a yong wench showd Beaâ—â—ng a pitcher Stood beâ—ore him so As if obiected purposely to know What there he needed whom he questiond thus Know you not daughter where Alcinoâ—s That rules this Towne dwels I a poore distrest Meere stranger here know none I may request To make this Court knowne to me She wordreplied Strange Father I will see you satisfied In that request my Father dwels iust by The house you seeke for but go silently Nor aske nor speake to any other I Shall be enough to shew your way the men That here inhabite do not entertain With ready kindnesse strangers of what worth Or state soeuer nor haue taken forth Lessons of ciuill vsage or respect To men beyond them They vpon their powres Of swift ships building top the watry towres And Ioueâ—ath â—ath giuen them ships for saile so wrought They cut a fether and command a thought This said she vsherd him and after he Trod in the swift steps of the Deitie The free-saild sea-men could not get a sight Of our Vlysses yet though he foreright Both by their houses and their persons past Pallas about him such a darknesse cast By her diuine powre and her reuerend care She would not giue the Towne-borne cause to stare He wonderd as he past to see the Ports The shipping in them and for all resorts The goodly market steds and Iles beside For the Heroes walls so large and wide Rampires so high and of such strength withall It would with wonder any eye appall At last they reacht the Court and Pallas said Now honourd stranger I will see obaid Your will to shew our Rulers house t is here Where you shall find Kings celebrating cheare Enter amongst them nor admit a feare More bold a man is he preuailes the more Though man nor place he euer saw before You first shall find the Queene in Court whose name Is Arete of parents borne the same That was the King her Spouse their Pedigree I can report the great Earth-shaker he Of Periboea that her sex out-shone And yongest daughter was t' Eurymedon Who of th'vnmeasur'd-minded Giants swaid Th' Imperiall Scepter and the pride allaid Of men so impious with cold death and died Himselfe soone after got the magnified In mind Nausithous who the kingdomes state First held in supreame rule Nausithous gat Rhexenor and Aicinous now King Rhexenor whose seed did no male fruite spring And whom the siluer-bow-glac't Phoebus slue Yong in the Court his shed blood did renew In onely Arete who now is Spouse To him that rules the kingdome in this house And is her Vnkle King
forme of man Beginning where the Greeks a ship-boord went And euery Chiefe had set on fire his Tent. When th' other Kings in great Vlysses guide In Troys vast market place the horse did hide From whence the Troians vp to Ilion drew The dreadfull Engine Where sate all arew Their Kings about it many counsels giuen How to dispose it In three waies were driuen Their whole distractions first if they should feele The hollow woods heart searcht with piercing steele Or from the battlements drawne higher yet Deiect it headlong or that counterfet So vast and nouell set on sacred fire Vowd to appease each angerd Godheads ire On which opinion they thereafter saw They then should haue resolu'd th'vnalterd law Of Fate presaging that Troy then should end When th'hostile horse she should receiue to friend For therein should the Grecian Kings lie hid To bring the Fate and death they after did He sung besides the Greeks eruption From those their hollow crafts and horse forgone And how they made Depopulation tred Beneath her feete so high a Cities head In which affaire he sung in other place That of that ambush some man else did race The Ilion Towres then Laertiades But here he sung that he alone did seise With Menelaus the ascended roofe Of Prince Deiphobus and Mars like proofe Made of his valour a most dreadfull fight Daring against him And there vanquisht quite In litle time by great Mineruas aid All Ilions remnant and Troy leuell laid This the diuine Expressor did so giue Both act and passion that he made it liue And to Vlysses facts did breathe a fire So deadly quickning that it did inspire Old death with life and renderd life so sweet And passionate that all there felt it fleet Which made him pitie his owne crueltie And put into that ruth so pure an â—ie Of humane frailtie that to see a man Could so reuiue from Death yet no way can Defend from death his owne quicke powres it made Feele there deaths horrors and he felt life fade In teares his feeling braine swet for in things That moue past vtteâ—ance teares ope all their springs Nor are there in the Powres that all life beares More true interpreters of all then teares And as a Ladie mournes her sole-lou'd Lord That falne before his Citie by the sword Fighting to rescue from a cruell Fate His towne and children and in dead estate Yet panting seeing him wraps him in her armes Weeps shriekes and powres her health into his armes Lies on him striuing to become his shield From foes that still asâ—aile him speares impeld Through backe and shoulders by whose points embrude They raise and leade him into seruitude Labor and languor for all which the Dame Eates downe her cheekes with teares and feeds lifes flame With miserable sufferanc So this King Of teare-swet anguish op't a boundlesse spring Nor yet was seene to any one man there But King Alcinous who sate so neare He could not scape him sighs so chok't so brake From all his tempers which the King dâ—d take Both note and graue respâ—ct of and thus spake Heare me Phaeacian Counsellers and Peeres And ceasse Demodocus perhaps all eares Are not delighted with his song for euer Since the diuine Muse sung our Guest hath neuer Containd from secret mournings It may fall That something sung he hath bin grieu'd withall As touching his particular Forbeare That Feast may ioyntly comfort all hearts here And we may cheare our Guest vp t is our best In all due honor For our reuerend Guest Is all our celebration gifts and all His loue hath added to our Festiuall A Guest and suppliant too we should esteeme Deare as our brother one that doth but dreame He hath a soule or touch but at a mind Deathlesse and manly should stand so enclin'd Nor cloke you longer with your curious wit Lou'd Guest what euer we shall aske of it It now stands on your honest state to tell And therefore giue your name nor more conceale What of your parents and the Towne that beares Name of your natiue or of forreiners That neare vs border you are calld in fame There 's no man liuing walkes without a name Noble nor base but had one from his birth Imposde as fit as to be borne What earth People and citie owne you Giue to know Tell but our ships all that your way must show For our ships know th'expressed minds of men And will so most intentiuely retaine Their scopes appointed that they neuer errâ— And yet vse neuer any man to stere Nor any Rudders haue as others need They know mens thoughts and whither tends their speed And there will set them For you cannot name A Citie to them nor fat Soile that Fame Hath any notice giuen but well they know And will flie to them though they ebbe and flow In blackest clouds and nights and neuer beare Of any wracke or rocke the slendrest feare But this I heard my Sire Nausithous say Long since that Neptune seeing vs conuay So safely passengers of all degrees Was angry with vs and vpon our seas A well-built ship we had neare habor come From safe deduction of some stranger home Made in his flitting billowes sticke stone still And dimm'd our Citie like a mightie hill With shade cast round about it This report The old King made in which miraculous sort If God had done such things or left vndone At his good pleasure be it But now on And truth relate vs both whence you errd And to what Clime of men would be transferrd With all their faire Townes be they as they are If rude vniust and all irregular Or hospitable bearing minds that please The mightie Dâ—itie Which one of these You would be set at say and you are there And therefore what afflicts you why to heare The Fate of Greece and Ilion mourne you so The Gods haue done it as to all they do Destine destruction that from thence may rise A Poeme to instruct posterities Fell any kinsman before Ilion Some worthy Sire-in-law or like-neare sonne Whom next our owne blood and selfe-race we loue Or any friend perhaps in whom did moue A knowing soule and no vnpleasing thing Since such a good one is no vnderling To any brother for what fits true friends True wisedomâ— is that blood and birth transcends Finis libri octaui Hom. Odyss THE NINTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE Aâ—GVMENT VLysses here is first made knowne Who tels the sterne contention His powres did gainst the Cicons trie And thence to the Lotophagie Extends his conquest and from them Assayes the Cyclop Polypheme And by the crafts his wits apply He puts him out his onely eye Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The strangely fed Lotophagie The Cicons fled The Cyclops eye VLysses thus resolu'd the Kings demands Alcinous in whom this Empire stands You should not of so naturall right disherit Your princely feast as take from it
draue in all nor kept One male abroad if or his memory slept By Gods direct will or of purpose was His driuing in of all then doth surpasse My comprehension But he closde againe The mightie barre milkt and did still maintaine All other obseruation as before His woâ—ke all done two of my souldiers more At once he snatcht vp and to supper went Then dar'd I words to him and did present A boll of wine with these words Cyclop take A boll of wine from my hand that may make Way for the mans flesh thou hast eate and show What drinke our ship held which in sacred vow I offer to thee to take ruth on me In my dismission home Thy rages be Now no more sufferable How shall men Mad and inhumane that thou art againe Greet thy abode and get thy actions grace If thus thou ragest and eatst vp their race He tooke and drunke and vehemently ioyd To taste the sweet cup and againe employd My flagons powre entreating more and said Good Guest againe affoord my taste thy aid And let me know thy name and quickly now That in thy recompence I may bestow A hospitable gift on thy desert And such a one as shall reioyce thy heart For to the Cylops too the gentle Earth Beares generous wine and Ioue augments her birth In store of such with showres But this rich wine Fell from the riuer that is meere diuine Of Nectar and Ambrosia This againe I gaue him and againe nor could the foole abstaine But drunke as often When the noble Iuyce Had wrought vpon his spirit I then gaue vse To fairer language saying Cylop now As thou demandst I le tell thee my name do thou Make good thy hospitable gift to me My name is No-Man No-Man each degree Of friends as well as parents call my name He answerd as his cruell soule became No-Man I le eate thee last of all thy friends And this is that in which so much amends I vowd to thy deseruings thus shall be My hospitable gift made good to thee This said he vpwards fell but then bent round His fleshie necke and Sleepe with all crownes crownd Subdude the Sauage From his throte brake out My wine with mans flesh gobbets like a spout When loded with his cups he lay and snor'd And then tooke I the clubs end vp and gor'd The burning cole-heape that the point might heate Confirmd my fellowes minds lest Feare should let Their vowd assay and make them flie my aid Strait was the Oliue Leuer I had laid Amidst the huge fire to get hardning hot And glowd extremely though t was greene which got From forth the cinders close about me stood My hardie friends but that which did the good Was Gods good inspiration that gaue A spirit beyond the spirit they vsde to haue Who tooke the Oliue sparre made keene before And plung'd it in his eye and vp I bore Bent to the top close and helpt poure it in With all my forces And as you haue seene A ship-wright bore a nauall beame he oft Thrusts at the Augurs Froofe works still aloft And at the shanke helpe others with a cord Wound round about to make it sooner bor'd All plying the round still So into his eye The firie stake we labourd to imply Out gusht the blood that scalded his eye-ball Thrust out a flaming vapour that scorcht all His browes and eye-lids his eye-strings did cracke As in the sharpe and burning rafter brake And as a Smith to harden any toole Broad Axe or Mattocke in his Trough doth coole The red-hote substance that so feruent is It makes the cold waue strait to seethe and hisse So sod and hizd his eye about the stake He roar'd withall and all his Cauerne brake In claps like thunder We did frighted flie Disperst in corners He from forth his eie The fixed stake pluckt after which the blood Flowd freshly forth and mad he hurl'd the wood About his houill Out he then did crie For other Cyclops that in Cauernes by Vpon a windie Promontorie dwelld Who hearing how impetuously he yelld Rusht euery way about him and enquir'd What ill afflicted him that he expir'd Such horrid clamors and in sacred Night To breake their sleepes so Askt him if his fright Came from some mortall that his flocks had driuen Or if by craft or might his death were giuen He answerd from his den By craft nor might No man hath giuen me death They then said right If no man hurt thee and thy selfe alone That which is done to thee by Ioue is done And what great Ioue inflicts no man can flie Pray to thy Father yet a Deitie And proue from him if thou canst helpe acquire Thus spake they leauing him When all on fire My heart with ioy was that so well my wit And name deceiu'd him whom now paine did split And groning vp and downe he groping tride To find the stone which found he put aside But in the doore sate feeling if he could As his sheepe issude on some man lay hold Esteeming me a foole that could deuise No stratageme to scape his grosse surprise But I contending what I could inuent My friends and me from death so imminent To get deliuerd all my wiles I woue Life being the subiect and did this approue Fat fleecie Rams most faire and great lay there That did a burthen like a Violet beare These while this learn'd in villanie did sleepe I yokt with Osiers cut there sheepe to sheepe Three in a ranke and still the mid sheepe bore A man about his belly the two more Marcht on his each side for defence I then Chusing my selfe the fairest of the den His fleecie belly vnder-crept embrac't His backe and in his rich wooll wrapt me fast With both my hands arm'd with as fast a mind And thus each man hung till the Morning shin'd Which come he knew the houre and let abroad His male-flocks first the females vnmilkt stood Bleating and braying their full bags so sore With being vnemptied but their shepheard more With being vnsighted which was cause his mind Went not a milking He to wreake enclin'd The backs felt as they past of those male dams Grosse foole beleeuing we would ride his Rams Nor euer knew that any of them bore Vpon his belly any man before The last Ram came to passe him with his wooll And me together loded to the full For there did I hang and that Ram he staid And me withall had in his hands my head Troubl'd the while not causlesly nor least This Ram he grop't and talkt to Lazie beast Why last art thou now thou hast neuer vsde To lag thus hindmost but still first hast brusde The tender blossome of a flowre and held State in thy steps both to the flood and field First still at Fold at Euen now last remaine Doest thou not wish I had mine eye againe Which that abhord man No-Man did put out Assisted by his execrable rout
When he had wrought me downe with wine but he Must not escape my wreake so cunningly I would to heauen thou knewst and could but speake To tell me where he lurks now I would breake His braine about my Caue strewd here and there To ease my heart of those foule ils that were Th'inflictions of a man I prisde at nought Thus let he him abroad when I once brought A litle from his hold my selfe first losde And next my friends Then draue we and disposde His strait-leggd fat fleece-bearers ouer land Euen till they all were in my ships command And to our lou'd friends shewd our praid-for sight Escap't from death But for our losse outright They brake in teares which with a looke I staid And bad them take our Boote in They obaid And vp we all went sate and vsde our Ores But hauing left as farre the sauage shores As one might heare a voice we then might see The Cyclop at the hauen when instantly I staid our Ores and this insultance vsde Cyclop thou shouldst not haue so much abusde Thy monstrous forces to oppose their least Against a man immartiall and a guest And eate his fellowes thou mightst know there were Some ils behind rude swaine for thee to beare That feard not to deuoure thy guests and breake All lawes of humanes Ioue sends therefore wreake And all the Gods by me This blew the more His burning furie when the top he tore From off a huge Rocke and so right a throw Made at our ship that iust before the Prow It ouerflew and fell mist Mast and all Exceeding litle but about the fall So fierce a waue it raisd that backe it bore Our ship so farre it almost toucht the shore A bead-hooke then a far-extended one I snatcht vp thrust hard and so set vs gone Some litle way and strait commanded all To helpe me with their Ores on paine to fall Againe on our confusion But a signe I with my head made and their Ores were mine In all performance When we off were set Then first twice further my heart was so great It would againe prouoke him but my men On all sides rusht about me to containe And said Vnhappie why will you prouoke A man so rude that with so dead a stroke Giuen with his Rock-dart made the sea thrust backe Our ship so farre and neare hand forc't our wracke Should he againe but heare your voice resound And any word reach thereby would be found His Darts direction which would in his fall Crush peece-meale vs quite split our ship and all So much dart weilds the monster Thus vrg'd they Impossible things in feare but I gaue way To that wrath which so long I held deprest By great Necessitie conquerd in my brest Cyclop if any aske thee who imposde Th'vnsightly blemish that thine eye enclosde Say that Vlysses old Laertes sonne Whose seate is Ithaca and who hath wonne Surname of Citie-racer bor'd it out At this he braid so loud that round about He draue affrighted Ecchoes through the Aire And said O beast I was premonisht faire By aged Prophecie in one that was A great and good man this should come to passe And how t is prou'd now Augur Telemus Surnam'd Eurymedes that spent with vs His age in Augurie and did exceed In all presage of Truth said all this deed Should this euent take author'd by the hand Of one Vlysses who I thought was mand With great and goodly personage and bore A vertue answerable and this shore Should shake with weight of such a conqueror When now a weakling came a dwarfie thing A thing of nothing who yet wit did bring That brought supply to all and with his wine Put out the flame where all my light did shine Come land againe Vlysses that my hand May Guest-rites giue thee and the great command That Neptune hath at sea I may conuert To the deduction where abides thy heart With my sollicitings whose Sonne I am And whose fame boasts to beare my Fathersâ—ame Nor thinke my hurt offends me for my Sâ—â—e Can soone repose in it the visuall fire At his free pleasure which no powre beside Can boast of men or of the Deifide I answerd Would to God I could compell Both life and soule from thee and send to hell Those spoiles of nature Hardly Neptâ—ne then Could cure thy hurt and giue thâ—e all again Then flew fierce vowes to Neptâ—ne both his hands To starre-borne heauen cast O thoâ— that all lands Girdst in thy ambient Cirâ—le and in aire Shak'st the curld Tresses of thy Saphire haire If I be thine or thou maist iustly vant Thou art my Father heare me now and grant That this Vlysses old Laertes sonne That dwels in Ithaca and name hath wonne Of Citie-ruiner may neuer reach His naturall region Or if to fetch That and the sight of his faire rooâ—es and friends Be fatall to him let him that Amends For all his miseries long time and ill Smart for and faile of nor that Fate fulfill Till all his souldiers quite are cast away In others ships And when at last the day Of his sole-landing shall his dwelling show Let Detriment prepare him wrongs enow Thus praid he Neptune who his Sire appeard And all his praire to euery syllable heard But then a Rocke in size more amplified Then first he rauisht to him and implied A dismall strength in it when wheeld about He sent it after vs nor flew it out From any blind aime for a litle passe Beyond our Fore-decke from the fall there was With which the sea our ship gaue backe vpon And shrunke vp into billowes from the stone Our ship againe repelling neare as neare The shore as first But then our Rowers were Being warnd more armd and stronglier stemd the flood That bore backe on vs till our ship made good The other Iland where our whole Fleet lay In which our friends lay mourning for our stay And euery minute lookt when we should land Where now arriu'd we drew vp to the sand The Cyclops sheepe diuiding that none there Of all our priuates might be wrung and beare Too much on powre The Ram yet was alone By all my friends made all my portion Aboue all others and I made him then A sacrifice for me and all my men To cloud-compelling Ioue that all commands To whom I burnd the Thighs but my sad hands Receiu'd no grace from him who studied how To offer men and fleete to Ouerthrow All day till Sun-set yet we sate and eate And liberall store tooke in of wine and meate The Sunne then downe and place resign'd to shade We slept Morne came my men I raisd and made All go aboord weigh Anker and away They boorded sate and beate the aged sea And forth we made saile sad for losse before And yet had comfort since we lost no more Finis libri noni Hom. Odyss THE TENTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT VLysses now relates to vs The
Heare me consider and then answer me Think'st thou if Pallas and the King of skies We had to Friend would their sufficiencies Make strong our part Or that some other yet My thoughts must worke for These saide he are set Aloft the clouds and are sound aydes indeed As pow'rs not onely that these men exceed But beare of all men else the high command And hold of Gods an ouer-ruling hand VVell then said he not these shall seuer long Their force and ours in fights assur'd and strong And then twixt vs and them shall Mars prefer His strength to stand our great distinguisher When in mine owne Roofes I am forc't to blowes But when the day shall first her fires disclose Go thou for home and troope vp with the woo'rs Thy wil with theirs ioind pow'r with their rude powrs And after shall the Herdsman guide to Towne My steps my person wholly ouer-growne With all apparance of a poore old Swaine Heauy and wretched If their high disdaine Of my vile presence make them my desert Affect with contumelies let thy loued heart Beate in fixt confines of thy bosome still And see me suffer patient of their ill I though they drag me by the heeles about Mine owne free earth and after hurle me out Do thou still suffer Nay though with their Darts They beate and bruise me beare But these foul parts Perswade them to forbeare and by their names Cal all with kinde words bidding for their shames Their pleasures cease If yet they yeeld not way There breakes the first light of their fatall day In meane space marke this VVhen the chiefly wise Minerua prompts me I le informe thine eies VVith some giuen signe then all th' armes that are Aloft thy Roofe in some neere roome prepare For speediest vse If those braue men enquire Thy end in all still rake vp all thy fire In faire coole words and say I bring them downe To scoure the smoke off being so ouer-growne That one would thinke all fumes that euer were Breath'd since Vlysses losse reflected here These are not like the armes he left behinde In way for Troy Besides Ioue prompts my minde In their remoue apart thus with this thought That if in heighth of wine there should bee wrought Some harsh contention twixt you this apt meane To mutual bloodshed may be taken cleane From out your reach and all the spoile preuented Of present Feast perhaps euen then presented My Mothers Nuptials to your long kinde vowes Steele it selfe ready drawes a man to blowes Thus make their thoughts secure to vs alone Two Swords two Darts two shields left which see done VVithin our readiest reach that at our will VVe may resume and charge And all their skil Pallas and Ioue that all iust counsailes breath May darken with securenesse to their death And let me charge thee now as thou art mine And as thy veines mine owne true blood combine Let after this none know Vlysses nere Not any one of all the houshold there Not here the Herdsman Not Laertes be Made priuy nor her selfe Penelope But onely let thy selfe and me worke out The womens thoughts of all things borne about The wooers hearts and then thy men approue To know who honors who with reuerence loue Our well-weigh'd Memories and who is won To faile thy fit right though my onely Son You teach saide he so punctually now As I knew nothing nor were sprung from you I hope heereafter you shall better know VVhat soule I beare and that it doth not let The least loose motion passe his naturall seat But this course you propose will proue I feare Small profit to vs and could wish your care VVould weigh it better as too farre about For Time will aske much to the sifting out Of each mans disposition by his deeds And in the meane time euery wooer feeds Beyond saciety nor knowes how to spare The women yet since they more easie are For our enquiry I would wish you try VVho right your state who do it iniury The men I would omit and these things make Your labour after But to vndertake The wooers warre I wish your vtmost speede Especially if you could cheere the deed VVith some Oftent from Ioue Thus as the Sire Consented to the Son did heere expire Their mutuall speech And now the Ship was come That brought the yong Prince his soldiers home The deepe Hauen reacht they drew the Ship ashore Tooke all their Armes out and the rich Gifts bore To Clitius house But to Vlysses Court They sent a Herald first to make report To wise Penelope that safe at field Her Son was left yet since the Ship would yield Most hast to her he sent that first and them To comfort with his vtmost the extream He knew she suffer'd At the Court now met The Herald and the Herdsman to repeat One message to the Queene Both whom arriu'd VVithin the gates Both to be formost striu'd In that good Newes The Herald he for hast Amongst the Maids bestow'd it thinking plac'st The Queene amongst them Now said he O Queen Your lou'd Son is arriu'd And then was seene The Queene her selfe To whom the herdsman â—ould All that Telemachus inioyn'd he should All which discharg'd his steps he backe bestowes And left both Court and City for his Sowes The wooers then grew sad soule-vext and all Made forth the Court. When by the mighty wall They tooke their seuerall seate before the gates To whom Eurymachus initiates Their vtter'd greeuance O sayd he my Friends A worke right great begun as proudly ends VVe said Telemachus should neuer make His voyage good nor this shore euer take For his returnes receipt and yet we faile And he performes it Come let 's man a Saile The best in our election and bestow Such souldiers in her as can swiftest row To tell our friends that way-lay his retreat 'T is safe perform'd and make them quickly get Their ship for Ithaca This was not said Before Amphinomus in Port displaid The ship arriu'd her sailes then vnder stroke And Oares resum'd VVhen laughing thus he spoke Moue for no messenger these men are come Some God hath either told his turning home Or they themselues haue seene his ship gone by Had her in chase and lost her Instantly They rose and went to Port found drawne to Land The Ship the souldiers taking Armes in hand The woo'rs themselues to counsaile went in throng And not a man besides or old or yong Let sit amongst them Then Eupitheus Sonne Antinous said See what the Gods haue done They onely haue deliuered from our ill The men we way-laid euery windy hill Hath bin their watch-tow'r where by turns they stood Continuall Sentinell And we made good Our worke as well For Sun once set we neuer Slept winke ashore all night But made saile euer This way and that euen till the morning kept Her sacred Station so to intercept And take his life for
THE ARGVMENT TElemachus return'd to Towne Makes to his curious mother knowne In part his Trauailes After whome Vlysses to the Court doth come In good Eumaeus guide and preast To witnesse of the Wooers Feast Whom though twice ten yeares did bestow In farre off parts his Dog doth know Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vlysses showes through all disguise Whom his dog knowes who knowing dies BVt when aires rosie birth the Morne arose Telemachus did for the Towne dispose His early steps and tooke to his command His faire long Lance well sorting with his hand Thus parting with Eumaeus Now my friend I must to Towne lest too farre I extend My Mothers mone for me who till her eyes Mine owne eyes witnesse varies teares and cries Through all extreames Do then this charge of mine And guide to Towne this haplesse guest of thine To beg else-where his further Festiuall Giue they that please I cannot giue to all Mine owne wants take vp for my selfe my paine If it incense him he the worst shall gaine The louely truth I loue and must be plaine Alas Friend saide his Father nor do I Desire at all your further charity 'T is better beg in Cities then in Fields And take the worst a beggers fortune yields Nor am I apt to stay in Swine-sties more How euer euer the great Chiefe before The poore Rankes must to euery step obay But goe your man in my command shall sway Anon yet to by fauor when your fires Haue comforted the colde heat age expires And when the Suns flame hath besides corrected The early aire abroad not being protected By these my bare weeds from the mornings frost Which since so much ground is to be engrost By my poore feete as you report may giue Too violent charge to th' heat by which I liue This saide his Sonne went on with spritely pace And to the wooers studied little grace Arriu'd at home he gaue his Iaueline stay Against a lofty Pillar and bold way Made further in When hauing so farre gone That he transcended the fayre Porch of Stone The first by farre that gaue his entry eye VVas Nurse Euryclea who th'embrodery Of Stooles there set was giuing Cushions faire VVho ranne vpon him and her rapt repaire Shed teares for ioy About him gather'd round The other Maides his head and shoulders croun'd VVith kisses and embraces From aboue The Queene her selfe came like the Queene of Loue Or bright Diana Cast about her Sonne Her kinde embraces with effusion Of louing teares kist both his louely eyes His cheekes and forehead and gaue all supplies With this entreaty Welcome sweetest light I neuer had conceite to set quicke sight On thee thus soone when thy lou'd fathers fame As farre as Pylos did thy spirit enflame In that search ventur'd all vnknowne to me O say By what power cam'st thou now to be Mine eyes deare obiect He return'd reply Moue me not now when you my scape descry From iminent death to thinke me fresh entrapt The fear'd wound rubbing felt before I scap't Double not needlesse passion on a heart VVhose ioy so greene is and so apt t' inuert But pure weeds putting on ascend and take Your women with you that yee all may make Vowes of full Hecatombs in sacred fire To all the God-heads If their onely Sire Vouchsafe reuenge of guest-rites wrong'd which hee Is to protect as being their Deity My way shall be directed to the hall Of common Concourse that I thence may call A stranger who from off the Pylian shore Came friendly with me whom I sent before VVith all my souldiers but in chiefe did charge Pyraeus with him wishing him t' enlarge His loue to him at home in best affaire And vtmost honors till mine owne repaire Her Son thus spoken his words could not beare The wings too easâ—ly through her either eare But putting pure weeds on made vowes entire Of perfect Hecatombes in sacred fire To all the Deities if their onely Sire Vouchsaft reuenge of guest-rites wrong'd which he VVas to protect as being their Deity Her Son left house In his faire hand his Lance His dogs attending and on euery glance His lookes cast from them Pallas put a grace That made him seeme of the celestiall race Whom come to concourse euery man admir'd About him throng'd the wooers and desir'd All good to him in tongueâ— but in their hearts Most deepe ils threatn'd to his most deserts Of whose huge rout once free he cast glad eie On some that long before his infancie VVere with his Father great and gracious Graue Halytherses Mentor Antiphus To whom he went tooke seate by them And they Enquir'd of all things since his parting day To them Pyraeus came and brought his Guest Along the City thither whom not left The Prince respected nor was long before He rose and met him The first word yet bore Pyraeus from them both whose haste besought The Prince to send his women to see brought The Gifts from his house that Atrides gaue VVhich his own roofes he thought wold better saue The wise Prince answer'd I can scarse conceiue The way to these workes If the wooers reaue By priuy Stratagem my life at home I rather wish Pyraeus may become The Maister of them then the best of these But if I sowe in their fields of excesse Slaughter and ruine then thy trust imploy And to me ioying bring thou those with ioy This said he brought home his grief-practisd Guest VVhere both put off both oyl'd and did inuest Themselues in rich Robes washt and sate and eate His Mother in a faire chaire taking seate Directly opposite her Loome applied VVho when her Son and Guest had satisfied Their appetites with feast said O my Sonne You know that eueâ— since your Sire was wonne To go in Agamemnons guide to Troy Attempting sleepe I neuer did inioy One nights good rest but made my quiet bed A Sea blowne vp with sighes with teares still shed Embrew'd and troubl'd yet though all your misse In your late voyage hath bene made for this That you might know th' abode your Father made You shun to tell me what successe you had Now then before the insolent accesse The wooers straight will force on vs expresse What you haue heard I will saide he and true VVe came to Pyâ—os where the studious due That any Father could affoord his Son But new arriu'd from some course he had ron To an extreame length in some voyage vow'd Nestor the Pastor of the people show'd To me arriu'd in turrets thrust vp hye VVhere not his braue Sons were more lou'd then I. Yet of th' vnconquer'd euer-Sufferer Vlysses neuer he could set his eare Aliue or dead from any earthy man But to the great Lacedemonian Atriâ—es famous for his Lance he sent VVith horse and Chariots Me to learne th' euent From his Relation where I had the view Of Argine Helâ—en whose strong beauties drew By wils of Gods so many
heauen Poore Irus pull'd vpon him bitter blowes Through his thin Garment what a Thigh he showes They said But Irus felt His Cow-herd minde VVas mou'd at roote But now he needs must finde Facts to his brags and forth at all parts â—it The seruants brought him all his artires smit VVith feares and tremblings VVhich Antinous saw And saide Nay now too late comes feare No Law Thou shouldst at first haue giuen thy braggart vaine Nor should it so haue swell'd if terrors straine Thy spirits to this passe for a man so old And worne with penuries that still lay hold On his ragg'd person Howsoeuer take This vow from me for firme That if he make Thy forces stoope and proue his owne supreame I le put thee in a Ship and downe the streame Send thee ashore where King Echetus raignes The roughest tyrant that the world containes And he will slit thy Nostrils crop each eare Thy shame cut off and giue it dogges to teare This shook his Nerues the more But both were now Brought to the Lists and vp did either throw His heauy fists Vlysses in suspence To strike so home that he should fright from thence His Cow-herd soule his trunke laide prostrate there Or let him take more leisure to his feare And stoope him by degrees The last shew'd best To strike him slightly out of feare the rest Would else discouer him But peace now broke On his right shoulder Irus laide his stroke Vlysses strooke him iust beneath the eare His iaw-bone broke and made the blood appeare VVhen straight he strew'd the dust and made his crie Stand for himselfe with whom his teeth did lie Spit with his blood out and against the ground His heeles lay sprawling Vp the hands went round Of all the wooers all at point to dye VVith violent laughters Then the King did ply The Beggers feete and dragg'd him forth the Hall Along the Entry to the gates and wall Where leauing him he put into his hand A Staffe and bad him there vse his command On Swine and Dogs and not presume to be Lord of the guests or of the Beggery Since he of all men was the scum and curse And so bad please with that or fare yet wurse Then cast he on his scrip all patcht and rent Hung by a rotten cord and backe he went To greete the Entries threshold with his seat The wooers throng'd to him and did entreat VVith gentle words his conquest laughing still Pray'd Ioue and all the Gods to giue his will VVhat most it wisht him and would ioy him most Since he so happily had cleer'd their cost Of that vnsauoury morsell whom they vow'd To see with all their vtmost haste bestow'd Aboord a ship and for Epirus sent To King Echetus on whose Throne was spent The worst mans seat that breath'd And thus was grac't Diuine Vlysses who with ioy embrac't Euen that poore conquest Then was set to him The goodly Goats breast promist that did swim In fat and greauy by Antinous And from a Basket by Amphinomus VVas two Breads giuen him who besides renown'd His banquet with a golden Goblet cround And this high salutation Frolicke Guest And be those riches that you first possest Restor'd againe with full as many ioyes As in your poore state I see now annoyes Amphinomus saide he you seeme to me Exceeding wise as being the progeny Of such a Father as autentique Fame Hath told me was so One of honour'd name And great reuennues in Dulychius His faire name Nisus He is blazon'd thus And you to be his Sonne his wisedome â—eyring As well as wealth his state in nought empairing To proue which all waies let me tell you this As warning you to shun the miseries That follow full states if they be not held With wisedome still at full and so compeld To courses that abode not in their browes By too much swindge their sodaine ouerthrowes Of all things breathing or that creepe on earth Nought is more wretched then a humanâ— Birth Bless'd men thinke neuer they can cursed be While any power lasts to moue a knee But when the blest Gods make them feele that smart That fled their Faith so as they had no â—art They beare their sufferings and what wel they might Haue cleerly shun'd they then meet in despight The Minde of Man flyes stil out â—f his way Vnlesse God guide and prompt it euery day I thought me once a blessed man with men And fashion'd me to all so counted then Did all iniustice like them what for Lust Or any pleasure neuer so vniust I could by powre or violence obtaine And gaue them both in all their powres the raigne Bold of my Fathers and my Brothers still VVhile which held good my Arts seem'd neuer ill And thus is none held simply good or bad But as his will is either mist or had Al goods Gods gifts man cals how ere he gets them And so takes all what price so ere God sets them Saies nought how ill they come nor will controule That Rauine in him though it cost his soule And these parts here I see these wooers play Take all that fals and all dishonors lay On that mans Queen that tell your frends doth bear No long times absence but is passing neare Let God then guide thee home lest he may meeâ—â— In his returne thy vndeparted feete For when he enters and sees men so rude The quarrell cannot but in blood conclude This said he sacrific'd then drunke then Referr'd the giuen Boule to the guide of men VVho walk't away afflicted at his heart Shook head and fear'd that these facts wold conuert To ill in th' end Yet had not grace to flie Minerua staid him being ordain'd to die Vpon the Lance of yong Vlyssiâ—es So downe he sate and then did Pallas please T' incline the Queenes affections to appeare To all the wooers to extend their cheare To th' vtmost lightning that still vshers death And made her put on all the painted sheath That might both set her wooers fancies hye And get her greater honor in the eye Euen of her Son Soueraigne then before VVho laughing yet to shew her humor bore No serious appetite to that light show She told Eurynome that not till now She euer knew her entertaine desire To please her wooers eyes but oft on fire She set their hate in keeping from them still Yet now she pleas'd t' appeare though from no will To do them honor vowing she would tell Her son that of them that should fit him well To make vse of which was not to conuerse Too freely with their pride nor to disperse His thoughts amongst them since they vs'd to giue Good words but through them ill intents did driue Eurynome replied With good aduise You vow his counsaile your open guise Go then aduise your Son nor keepe more close Your cheekes stil drown'd in your eyes ouerflowes But bathe your body with Balmes make cleere Your thickn'd count'nance
the war But in fit memorie of one so far In his affâ—ction brought it home and kept His treasure with it where till now it slept And now the Queene of women had intent To giue it vse and therefore made ascent Vp all the staires height to the chamber dore Whose shining leaues two bright Pilasters bore To such a close when both together went It would resist the aire in their consent The Ring she tooke then and did draw aside A barre that ran within and then implide The Key into the Locke which gaue a sound The Bolt then shooting as â— pasture ground A Bull doth Low and make the valleyes ring So loud the Locke humm'd when it loosd his spring And ope the doores flew In she went along The lofty chamber that was boorded strong With heart of Oake which many yeares ago The Architect did smooth and polish so That now as then he made it freshly shine And tried the euennesse of it with a Line There stood in this roome Presses that enclos'd Robes odorferous by which repos'd The Bow was vpon pins Nor from it farre Hung the round Quiuer glittering like a Starre Both which her white extended hand tooke downe Then sate she low and made her lap a Crowne Of both those Reliques which she wept to see And cried quite out with louing memory Of her deare Lord To whose worth paying then Kinde debts enow She left and to the men Vow'd to her wooing brought the crooked Bow And shaft-receiuing Quiuer that did flow With arrowes beating sighes vp where they fell Then with another Chist repleate as well VVith Games won by the King of Steele and Brasse Her Maids attended Past whom making passe To where her wooers were She made her stay Amids the faire Hall doore and kept the ray Of her bright count'nance hid with veyles so thin That though they seem'd t' expose they let loue in Her Maids on both sides stood and thus she spake Heare me ye wooers that a pleasure take To do me sorrow and my house inuade To eate and drinke as if 't were onely made To serue your Rapines My Lord long away And you allow'd no colour for your stay But his still absence striuing who shall frame Me for his wife and since 't is made a game I heere propose diuine Vlysses Bow For that great Maister-peece to which ye vow He that can draw it with least show to striue And through these twelue Ax-heads an arrow driue Him will I follow and this house forgo That nourisht me a Maid now furnisht so With all things fit and which I so esteeme That I shall still liue in it in my dream This said she made Eumaeus giue it them He tooke and laide it by and wept for wo And like him wept Philaetius when the Bow Of which his King was bearer he beheld Their teares Antinous manhood much refeld And said Ye rustick fooles that still each day Your minds giue ouer to this vaine dismay VVhy weepe ye wretches and the widdowes eyes Tempt with renew'd thought that would otherwise Depose her sorrowes since her Lord is dead And teares are idle Sit and eate your bread Nor whisper more a word or get ye gone And weepe without doores Let this Bow alone To our ou-matcht contention For I feare The Bow will scarse yeeld draught to any heere Heere no such man liues as Laertes Son Amongst vs all I knew him Thought puts on His lookes sight now me thinkes thogh then a child Thus shew'd his words doubt yet his hopes enstild His strength the stretcher of Vlysses string And his steeles piercer But his shaft must sing Through his piercst Pallat first whom so he wrong'â— In his free roofe and made the rest ill tongu'd Against his vertues Then the sacred heat That spirited his Son did further set Their confidence on fire and said O Frends Ioue hath bereft my wits The Queene intends Though I must grant her wise ere long to leaue Vlysses Court and to her bed receaue Some other Lord yet notwithstanding I Am forc't to laugh and set my pleasures hye Like one mad sicke But wooers since ye haue An obiect for your trials now so braue As all the broad Achaian earth exceeds As sacred Pylos as the Argiue breeds As blacke Epyrus as Mycena's birth And as the more-fam'd Ithacensian earth All which your selues well know and oâ—t haue saide For what neede hath my Mother of my aide In her aduancement Tender no excuse For least delay nor too much time profuse In stay to draw this Bow but draw it straight Shoot and the steeles pierce make all see how sleight You make these poore barres to so rich a prise No eagrer yet Come on My faculties Shall try the Bowes strength and the pierced steele I will not for my reuerend Mother feele The sorrowes that I know will seize my heart To see her follow any and depart From her so long-held home But first extend The Bow and Arrow to their tender'd end For I am onely to succeede my Sire In guard of his games and let none aspire To their besides possession This said His purple Robe he cast off By he laide His well-edg'd sword and first a seuerall pit He digg'd for euery Axe and strengthen'd it VVith earth close ramm'd about it On a rew Set them of one height by a Line he drew Along the whole twelue and so orderly Did euery deed belonging yet his eye Neuer before beholding how 't was done That in amaze rose all his lookers on Then stood he neere the doore prou'd to draw The stubborne Bow Thrice tried thrice gaue Law To his vncrown'd attempts the fourth assay VVith all force offering which a signe gaue stay Giuen by his Father though hee shew'd a minde As if he stood right heartily inclinde To perfect the exploite when all was done In onely drift to set the wooers on His weaknesse yet confest he said O shame I either shall be euer of no name But proue a wretch Or else I am too yong And must not now prefume on pow'rs so strong As sinewes yet more growing may ingraft To turne a man quite ouer with a shaft Besides to men whose Nerues are best prepar'd All great Aduentures at first proofe are hard But come you stronger men attempt this Bow And let vs end our labour Thus below A well-ioyn'd boord he laide it and close by The brightly-headed shaft then thron'd his Thie Amidst his late-left seate Antinous then Bad all arise but first who did sustaine The cups state euer and did sacrifice Before they eate still and that man bad rise Since on the others right hand he was plac't Because he held the right hands rising grac't VVith best successe still This direction wun Supreame applause and first rose Oeâ—ops Son Liodes that was Priest to all the rest Sate lowest with the Cup still and their iest Could neuer like but euer was the man That checkt their follies and he
now began To taste the Bow the sharpe shaft tooke tug'd hard And held aloft and till he quite had marr'd His delicate tender fingers could not stir The churlish string who therefore did refer The game to others saying that same Bow In his presage would proue the ouerthrow Of many a chiefe man there nor thought the Fate VVas any whit austere since Deathâ— short daâ—e Were much the better taken then long life Without the ohiect of their amorous strife For whom they had burn'd out so many dayes To finde still other nothing but delayes Obtaining in them and affirm'd that now Some hop't to haue her but when that tough Bow They all had tried and seene the vtmost done They must rest pleasd to cease and now some one Of all their other faire veyl'd Grecian Dames VVith gifts and dow'r and Hymeneal Flames Let her loue light to him that most will giue And whom the Nuptiall destiny did driue Thus laid he on the well-ioyn'd polâ—sht Bord The Bow and bright-pil't shaft and then restor'd His seate his right To him Antinous Gaue bitter language and reprou'd him thus VVhat words Liodes passe thy speeches guard That 't is a worke to beare And set so hard They set vp my disdaine This Bow must end The best of vs since thy armes cannot lend The string least motion Thy Mothers throwes Brought neuer forth thy armes to draught of Bowes Or knitting shafts off Though thou canst not draw The sturdy Plant thou art to vs no law Melanthius Light a fire and set thereat A chaire and cushions that masse of fat That lyes within bring out that we may set Our Pages to this Bow to see it heat And suppl'd with the sueâ— and then wee May giue it draught and pay this great decree Vtmost performance He a mighty fire Gaue instant flame put into act th' entire Command layd on him Chaire and cushions set Laid on the Bow which straight the Pages het Chaft suppl'd with the Suet to their most And stiâ—l was all their Vnctuous labour lost All wooers strengths too indigent and pore To draw that Bow Antinous armes it tore Anâ— great Eurymachus the both cleere best Yet both it tir'd and made them glad to rest Forth then went both the Swaines and after them Diuine Vlysses when being past th' extreme Of all the Gates with winning words he tride Their loues and this askt Shall my counsailes hide Their depths from you My mind would gladly know If sodainly Vlysses had his Vow Made good for home and had some God to guide His steps and strokes to to wreak these wooers pride Would your aids ioyne on his part or with theirs How stand your hearts affected They made prayr's That some God would please to returne their Lord He then should see how farre they would affoord Their liues for his He seeing thâ—ir 〈◊〉 replied I am your Lord through 〈◊〉 any a sufferance â—â—ied Arriu'd now heere whom twenty yeares haue held From foorth my Country yet are not conceal'd From my sure knowledge your desires to see My safe returne Of all the company Now seruing heere besides not one but you Mine eare hath witnest willing to bestow Their wishes of my life so long held dead I therefore vow which shall be perfected That if God please beneath my hand to leaue These wooers liuelesse ye shall both receiue Wiues from that hand and meanes and neere to me Haue houses built to you and both shall be As friends and brothers to my onely Sonne And that ye well may know me and â—e â—onne To that assurance the infallible Signe The white-tooth'd Bore gâ—â—e this markt knee of mine When in Parnassus he was held in chase By me and by my famous Grandâ—ires race I l'e let you see Thus seuer'd he his weede From that his wound and euery word had deed In their sure knowledges VVhich made them cast Their armes about him his broade brest imbrac't His necke and shoulders kist And him as well Did those true powers of humane loue compell To kisse their heads and hands and to their mone Had sent the free light of the cheerefull Sunne Had not Vlysses broke the â—uth and saide Cease teares and sorrowes leâ—t wee proue displaide By some that issue from the house and they Relate to those within Take each his way Not altogether in but one by one First I then you and then see this be done The enuious wooers will by no meanes giue The offer of the Bow and Arrow leaue To come at me spight then their pride do thou My good Eumaeus bring both shaft and Bow To my hands proofe and charge the maides before That instantly they shut in euery doore That they themselues if any tumult rise Beneath my Roofes by any that enuies My will to vndertake the Game may gaine No passage forth but close at worke containe With all free quiet or at least constrain'd And therefore my Philaetius see maintain'd VVhen close the gates are shut their closure faâ—t To which end be it thy sole worke to cast Their chaines before them This said in he led Tooke first his feate and then they seconded His entry with their owne Then tooke in hand Eurymachus the Bow made close his stand Aside the fire at whose heate here and there He warm'd and suppl'd it yet could not stere To any draught the string with all his Art And therefore sweld in him his glorious heart Affirming that himselfe and all his friends Had cause to greeue Not onely that their ends They mist in marriage since enow besides Kinde Grecian Dames there liu'd to be their Brides In Ithaca and other bordering Townes But that to all times future their renownes VVould stand disparag'd if Vlysses Bow They could not drawe and yet his wife would woo Antinous answer'd That there could ensue No shame at all to them For well he knew That this day was kept holy to the Sâ—nne By all the City and there should be done No such prophane act therefore bad lay by The Bow for that day but the maistery â—f Axes that were set vp still might stand Since that no labour was nor any hand VVould offer to inuade Vlysses house To take or touch with surreptitious Or violent hand what there was left for vse He therefore bad the Cup 〈◊〉 infuse VVine to the Bolles that so with â—acrifice They might let rest the shooting exercise And in the morning make 〈◊〉 bring The cheefe Goats of his Herd that to the King Of Bowes and Archers they might burne the Thyes For good successe and then attempt the prize The rest sate pleasd with this the Heralds straite Pour'd water on their hands each Page did waite VVith his crown'd cup of wine seruâ—d 〈◊〉 man Till all were satisfied and then began Vlyssâ—s plot of his close purpose 〈◊〉 Heare me ye much renown'd Eurymachus And King Antinous in cheefe who well And with decorum sacred doth compell This dayes obseruance and to let lay