their Tents and how the Lords Of Greece i'th'Councel of the Trojans sate Inclos'd and hidden in the Horse of boards That by the Trojans was setch'd in in state The Trojans sitting round about debate And many a foolish speech they uttered And on three points they there deliberate And voted what the Gods determined The three points which were most insisted on Were whether they should cut the Horse in twain Or throw it down the Rock it stood upon Or let it to appease the Gods remain I'th'end they all resolved on the last For by the Fates it was determined That Ilium should then be layed waste When o'r its Walls a great Horse entered And in his belly brought the enemy And how the Argives from the Horse came out How divers ways they went and cruelly Killed and burned as they went about Ulysses then like Mars with Mâ—…elaus Unto Deipâ—obus together hie And for a while there sharp the Battle was But to Ulysses fell the Victory This sung Demodocus And then upon Ulysses cheeks the tears ran down apace As when in fight a woman looketh on And sees her Husband fallen on the place That â—ought had for his Town and Children dear There sprawleth he she o'r him falls and cries But back and shoulders is well basted there And carri'd captive by the Enemy As wofully as then this woman wept So wofully Ulysses now sheds tears But from the King it was not secret kept Who sitting next him all his groaning hears And speaking to the Princes sitting by Let us said he Demodocus release His Song not pleaseth all the Company It makes the Strangers sorrow to increase And brings some grief or other to his mind Then let him hold that we and he together May in this meeting equal pleasure find The cause we met here was his coming hither That we might give him Gifts and send him hence A Guest is as a Brother to be us'd As all men know that but pretend to sense And you my Guest you cannot be excus'd If vou not answer truth to all I ask Say what 's the name your Parents call you by You must no longer now keep on your Mask Children new-born not long unnamed lie Tell me your Land and City where it is That my good Ship may know where you would be For in Phaeacia no Steersman is Nor Rudder as in other Ships you see Whither men bid them go they understand And pass in Clouds concealed o'r the Main And where the Havens be in every Land No fear they have of perishing or pain And yet my Father to me once did say That with our Convoys Neptune was offended And that one day our good Ship to destroy As it returned homewards he intended And from men hide our City with a Hill But whether that shall be performed now I cannot tell It lies in Neptunes will And not concerneth you at all to know But tell me now what Lands you wandring saw What Nations and what Cities you came to What kind of people Civil or without Law Civil or kind to Strangers Godly or no When you heard sung the woful Fate of Troy Why did you weep The Gods that built the Town Decreed thereat much people to destroy And that their Fate should be sung up and down Lost you some Kinsmen there or near Ally Which might in time of danger you bestead Or some good friend A wise friend standing by Is worth a Kinsman in a time of need LIB IX TO this Ulysses said Renowned King Alcinous methinks delightful 't is To sit as we do here and hear one sing And specially so good a Voice as this I for my part do never more rejoyce Than when I see men sitting at their meat Chearful and listening to a pleasant voice And see the Cups go osten and retreat This is a thing that I love best but you Had rather hear the dangers I have past Which fright me yet and do my pain renew But which shall I tell first which next which last For they be many First my name I 'll tell And place that whensoe'r you thither come You may there lodge although far off I dwell And am uncertain of my getting home I am Ulysses Laertiades And far and wide I am reputed wise 'Mongst men that love subtile conveyances And known I am by Fame up to the Skies My place is Ithaca in which is store Of Wool Mount Neriton is cloath'd with wood A goodly Hill and many Islands more 〈◊〉 close about it yielding store of food Dulichium Same and the woody Zant On th' East of Ithaca are sâ—ituate Another Island which is called Ant Lies Westward of it but is low and flat Rocky is Ithaca and upeven ground But breedeth able men Nor have I known The man that to his own minde ever sound A Country that was better than his own From mine Calypso kept me in a Cave T' have been her Husband so did Câ—rce too But neither of them my consent could have So much could love of my own Country do For though far off I might have better Land Yet should I from my Kindred absent live But now 't is time to let you understand What passage to me Jove was pleas'd to give From Tray to Ismarus we first were blown Within an Isle Cicons the Natives are And soon we plundered and burnt the Town And of the Plunder each man had his share The Wives we prisoners made and to the Sword We put the men And then without delay I did command them all to go aboard But they Fools as they were would not obey For they to kill eat drink themselves apply Beeves sheep wine which they had on the beach Cicons mean while to Cicons so loud cry That to the Continent their voices reach And presently came others numberless As leaves in Summer stout and men of skill To fight on Horsback with much readiness Or else on foot according as they will Jove had decreed us mischief and the hour Was come And just before our Ships we fought Spears were our Weapons which with all our Power We lanced on both sides with courage stout Whilst the Sun mounted we resisted well But after Noon they pressed us so sore That with the falling Sun ouâ— courage fell And then in haste we thrust our Ships from shore From out of every Ship six men we lost And then with heavy hearts our Sails we hoâ—se And grieved for our Fellows left the Coast But first to ev'ry of them called thrice Whom slain by th' Enemy we left behinde Then Jove with Clouds both Land and Water vails And night came on us with a furious winde From the North-part of Heav'n and tore our Sails In three's and four's and all our Ships were tost Hither and thither side-ways with the blasts And one anothers way hindred and crost Then took we in our Sails and down our Masts For fear of death and laid them on the Decks And with our Oars rowed
our Ships to Land Two nights and days we stai'd while grief did vex Each minde and labour tired had each hand But when the Morn had led forth the third day We then set sail and left their course to 'th winde The which we sitting still did them convey According as the Steers-men had design'd And I had safely come to Ithaca Had not the North-winde with the tide o' th' Sea When I was come to th' Cape of Malea Forc'd us without the Isle of Cytheré The horrid Winds now found me on the Main And toss'd me into one anothers hand Nine days together I endur'd this pain Upon the tenth they cast me on a Land Where dwell a People call'd Lotophagi That have and live upon a fruit full sweet â—th ' Continent We went ashore there I Made them take in fresh water for the Fleet. Then having quickly sup'd I chose out two Of my Companions to go and see What men they were with them I sent also A third who went as Messenger from me They quickly went but mingled with those men Who meant no harm but gave them Lote to eat Which made them hate returning back again And suddenly their Country to forget And with the people there resolv'd to stay Forgetting home for love of Lote But I Sent those that quickly fetched them away By force and under hatches did them tie The rest I â—ad unto their Ships â—o haste Lest eating Lote they should return no more Aboard they quickly come and each one plac't In order beats the grey Sea with his Oar. Then to the Land of Cyclopses we row Men proud and lawless that relie for food Upon the Sky and neither plant nor plow Yet have they Barley Wheat Wine very good Unplow'd unsown fetch'd up by show'rs of Rain They have no Courts of Councel nor of Right On huge high hills themselves they entertain And in their rocky bellies pass the night Each man gives Law to his own Wife and Brood Nor do they much for one another care Before the Port an Isle lies clad with wood Not very near nor from it very far Wilde Goats in great abundance were therein Because there dwell'd no men that might them kill Nor wretched Hunters ever enter in To tire themselves running from hill to hill For the good Ship with the Vermilion Cheeks The Cyclopses have not nor Art to make All that is needful for a man that seeks Trade and to pass the Seas must undertake The Island else they quickly might adorn The Land is good to th' Sea sweet Meadows lie And plentifully would yield Wine and Corn If it were helped with good Husbandry Anchors and Cables in the Port needs none Nor any Rope to tie the Ship to Land And when the Master thinks fit to be gone With the first Winde they take the Oar in hand Within the entrance riseth a sweet Spring From ouâ— a Cave shaded with Poplars tall Thither to shore our Ships we safely bring Some God was Guide Nothing we saw at all Dark night it was and nothing to be seen The Air about us thick and from the Sky The Moon could not shine through the Clouds between Noâ— Waves nor Isle appear'd to any eye Then took we in our Sails and went to Land And waited for the coming of the day And in the mean time slumbered on the Sand But when we saw appear the morning gay Admiring th' Isle we walked to and fro Whilst the Nymphs sprung from Jove Aegiochâ—s Refreshment on my Souldiers to bestow Down from the Mountain brought the Goats to us And presently from out our Ships we take Our Bows and Arrows keen and came away And of our Company three Troops we make Then shooting soon we had a lovely prey Our Ships were twelve to which they equally Divide the Spoil for every Ship had nine Save only mine had ten Then merrily All day we sit and feast on Flesh and Wine For we had Wine enough as yet unspent Of that we got and brought away with us Which ev'ry man had into Budgets pent Then when we took the Town of Ismarus Close by we saw the Land of Cyclopses And smoke heard the voice o' th' men Sheep And Goats 'T was night and on the Sand o' th' Sea Our selves till morning we refresht with sleep But when the Rosie morning 'gan t' appear My Fellows I together call'd and spake You my Companions by the Ships stay here I with my Ship and Crew will undertake A trial of this people whether wilde And proud and insolent their Nature be Or whether they be men of nature milde Godly and loving hospitality This said I went aboard and had my Crew Imbarque themselves Aboard they quickly come And sitting each man in his order due With stroak of Oar they made the grey Sea foam Arriv'd we of a Cavern saw the door Both high and wide and sheep and goats there lay Abundance sleeping It was shaded o'r With boughs that downward grew of Lawrel gay Before it was a Court well fenc'd with stone And lusty Oaks and many a Pine-tree high I' th' Cave a Giant lodg'd who us'd alone His sheep to feed no other Cyclops nigh It was a huge and ugly Monster and Lookt not unlike a rocky Mountains head That does 'mongst other hills asunder stand With a great Perriwig of Trees o'rspread Then bad I my Companions to stay And guard the Ship save that by lot a dozen I took of them along with me and they By chance were the same men I would have chosen With me I took a Goatskin full of Wine Pleasant and strong by Maron given me â—vanthes Son Priest to Phoebus Divine At Ismarus to save his Family Fearing the God in whose Grove he did live For which sev'n Talents of pure beaten gold And a large Silver Bowl he did me give Freely besides twelve Budgets of Wine old Pure pleasant precious drink it was which none Knew of besides himself his Wife and Maid Of the Men-servants that he kept not one Which when he drank he usually allai'd With water pure full twenty times as much And when a man so temper'd had his Cup Yet still the fragrant smell thereof was such He hardly could forbear to drink it up This Goatskin I took with me in a Cafe Expecting of some great and gastly man That knew nor Law nor Right to see the face And landing quickly to the Den we ran We entred in but did not finde him there But gaze we did at ev'ry thing with wonder Shelves full of Cheese as much as they could bear Pens full of Sheep and Goats each sort asunder Old younger young'st all Vessels to the brim Pans Trays and Milking-Pales were full of Whey My men desir'd me not to stay for him But make what haste I could to get away And take some of his Cheeses from the shelves And sheep from out the Pens and then to go And setting up our Sails to save our selves But I would
Kings the King Since the blest Gods have thought good and decreed Ulysses to his native soil to bring Let 's Hermes send unto the Nymph with speed In th' Isle Ogygia to let her know Our sentence that she may the same obey And I to Ithaca mean while will go And cause his Son to call without delay The Common-Councel and to make him bold To warn his Mothers Suiters to be gone And feast no longer on his Herd and Fold As they before had insolently done To Sparta too I 'll send him and to Pyle T' enquire about his Fathers Navigation That in the world by Travel for a while He may acquire a greater reputation This said upon her feet her shooes she binds Ambrosian Golden shooes that do her bear On land and water swiftly as the winds And takes in hand her brazen-headed Spear A heavy massie and strong Spear the same Wherewith when angry she the armed bands Of mighty men of War does eas'ly tame That was the Spear she carried in her hands Then from the high Olympus leapt she down T'Ulysses house and stood in the Hall-door I' th' shape of Mentes that possest the Crown O' th' Taphian people whom he reigned o'r And thence beheld the Suiters in the Court Sitting upon the hides of beeves which they Themselves had kill'd and wanting other sport Playing at Chess they pass'd their time away Mean while their Officers and Serving-men Were busie mingling water with the wine Others the meat divide others make clean Set up and rub the Tables till they shine Telemachus now with the Suiters sate Fancying in case his father should appear Brought home by th' Gods or by some lucky fate How then these knaves would slink away for fear And he again recover his estate And in his own land rule without a Peer He was the first that spi'd the Goddess and Then presently he hast'ned to the door Receives her Spear and takes her by the hand And both go in she after he before You shall said he stranger be welcome here But first let 's sup and afterwards wee 'l find Sufficient time both for me to inquire And you to tell your business and your mind When they were come into the stately Hall Her Spear within a case he sets upright â—a pillar in which case the Spears were all His father left behind going to fight â—hen led her to a chair which stood upon A dainty Carpet curiously wrought â—nd put t' her feet a stool to rest upon And for himself a handsom stool he brought â—hen did a Maid in a fine golden ewer Bring water for their hands and pours it on â—ver a Bason large of silver pure And set a table to them for both one â—rom others seats remoter than to fear Their rudeness might offend her or that they Might peradventure listening overhear What he and she did of Ulysses say Another sets on bread and other things To eat such as in her charge were at home But flesh of many sorts the carver brings And the cup-bearers often go and come Then came the Suiters in and took their places All on a row To each a table stands And golden boul one way look all their faces The waiters bring in water for their hands The Maids in baskets bring both bread and meat On which they lay their hands with great good will And heartily and hastily they eat And to the brim their cups the Servants fill When they of hunger had pluckt out the sting The lusty Suiters thoughts converted were To dancing and to hear the minstril sing Sports that are consecrated to good chear To Phemius the minstril that was by Unwillingly forc'd by th' unruly throng They brought a Cittern and he presently Began to play and then to sâ—…g a song But to the Goddess Pallas in her ear Telemachus began to speak his mind Not being willing any else should hear Excuse me Friend that I say what I find You see the care of these men what it is Singing and dancing And no wonder since That which they spend is not their own but his Whose bones lie somewhere naked far from hence Unburied it may be on the ground There rotting as he lies i' th' dew and rain Or else at Sea perhaps if he be drown'd The waves his body roll upon the main If him at home the best of them should meet Safely arriv'd in Ithaca he would Much rather wish I think for nimble feet Than to be rich in garments or in gold But Oh! He 's dead and of some cruel death And though some tell us he is coming home 'T is comfortless for he 's bereav'd of breath To Ithaca I ne'r shall see him come But let this pass and tell me truly now Your own your Fathers and your Countries name And further I desire you 'll let me know Whence are the Mariners that with you came Unto this Town and tell me this likewise Where rideth the good ship that brought you to 't For verily I can no way devise How you should come on horsback or on foot And tell me were you never here before Nor saw my Father whilst he here abode For strangers came to visit him good store As having much converst with men abroad I 'll clearly speak said Pallas t'every thing My Father was Anchialus and I Meâ—tes my City Taphos and I King My people to the Oar themselves apply At present bound I am to Tâ—misè For Brass and Iron I carry with me thither Under mount Neion not near Ithaca My Ship at Reithrus rideth safe from weather As for your Father we were mutual Guests Ask the old Lord Laërtes from our youth With one old Maid alone his meat to dress He lives at 's Country-house he 'll tell you truth There creeps he in his Vineyard up and down And I came hither now 'cause I was told By some his Son Ulysses was in Town But 't is not so The Gods do him withhold From his dear wise and native Country still Within an Island where the Savage men By â—orce detain him much against his will But all in vain He shall return agen For I presage and come it shall to pass That am no Prophet nor Birds understand Though he were tied there with Chains of Brass He shall get loose and see his native Land But say are you indeed that are so grown His Son Your heads and eyes are like I mark For we were well to one another known But 't was before he did for Troy imbark With other Princes of the Argive youth But never saw him since That I 'm his Son Said he my Mother says But who in truth Knoweth who 't was that got him I think none If I might chuse my Father I would be His Son that groweth old on 's own estate But whom they tell me is my Father he Of all men is the most unfortunate Then said the Goddess Howsoe'r that be The Gods will never nameless leave your kind That are
store of people on the sand Black Bulls he eighty one had to him vow'd Nine seats there were five hundred to each seat And to the same nine Bulls appointed were The Entrails broil'd upon the coals they eat The Thighs to Neptune burnt to ashes were The Ship then came within the Port to land And disembarqu't upon the shore they staid With furled Sails the Ship did by them stand Then Pallas to Telemachus thus said Telemachus by no means bashful be For wherefore did you undertake this task But of your Father to hear certainty To Nestor then directly go and ask If of Ulysses any thing he know He 'll tell you truly He 's too wise to lie Mentor said he I 'm young and know not how With one so old to answer and reply Telemachus said Pallas do not fear You 'll somewhat prompted be by your own brest You never by the Gods neglected were The God that loves you will supply the rest Then up to Nestor they directly went And Pallas foremost All about him there They found upon the Sacrifice intent His Sons and Lords to hasten the good chear Some broaching and some roasting were of meat And presently about the Strangers come And with their hands salute them and intreat To sit And then Pisistratus went to 'em Saluted them and took them both by th' hands And for them since there was no empty seat Laid Sheepskins with the Wool upon the sands And of the Entrails gave them part to eat And to her hand held up a Cup of Wine To Neptune said he offer up your Vow For he expresly is the Pow'r Divine That we to worship be assembled now And having drunk give it to this mans hand That he may also give the Gods their due For all men of the Gods in need do stand And I thought fit to give it first to you 'Cause you are th' elder th' other young as I. Then Pallas from his hand receiv'd the Cup And pleased was to see his Equity And then to Neptune sent her Prayers up Neptune said she have to my Prayer regard First Nestor and his Sons with Honour bless And of his people th' Hecatomb reward And give Telemachus and me success Thus prayed she and gave for what she pray'd And to Telemachus then gave the Cup. And he to Neptune the same Prayer said The meat being ready now and taken up And into Messes cut themselves they feast And when of hunger extinct was the force Then to his Guests Nestor his speech addrest Friends said he now we time have to discourse Tell me who are you whence d' ye cross the Main Is it for Traffick Or d' ye pleasure take As Pyrates walk at Sea to and again Others to spoil to set your lives at stake To this Telemachus with confidence Which into him the Goddess did inspire The better to obtain Intelligence And reputation to himself acquire Answer'd O Nester Nelëiadâ—s The Glory of the Greeks we hither came From Ithaca on no State-business But of my Father to seek news from Fame Unblest Ulysses who at Ilium Together with you fought before the Town Of th' other Chiefs we hear what is become But where Ulysses di'd is still unknown Whether as Land he â—â—ain were by the Foe Or by the Sea devoured he hath been But at your knees we hither come to know What you since then have heard of him or seen Wandring about born to calamity Let no respect or pity mitigate Your Story howsoever sad it be Nothing but naked truth to me relate And I beseech you for my Fathers sake If he before the Town of Troy did well Perform the Service he did undertake That nothing but the very truth you tell O Friend said Nestor since you bring again To memory our miseries at Troy Under Achilles first by Sea what pain We suffer'd then and after when we lay And sought before King Priam's Royal Seat What we endured what Great Men we lost The doughty Ajax and Achilles great That were the Chief of all the Argive host The valiant Patroclus and my Son Antilochus both valiant in fight And if an enemy were put to run Before him he could hardly scape by flight But numberless were our sad chances there No mortalman can count them one by one And if you five or six years should stay here You 'ld weary be of asking and be gone Nine years we plots contriv'd to take the Town Which Jove made prosperous with much ado Ulysses had for plotting the renown For none compar'd himself your Father to If it be true you are Ulysses Son And I confess hearing you speak your mind And stedfastly your person looking on Much respect for you in my self I find While we together were at Troy we never In Council or Assembly disagreed But what was for the Argives good we ever Endeavour'd what we could to get decreed But when of Troy we had destroy'd the Town And back unto our Ships again were come Then Jove upon the Greeks began to frown Intending to them ill returning home For few there were amongst them just or wise But on themselves they drew down their own fate Which made the Goddess Pallas to devise To set the two Atrides at debate Then of the People they a meeting call At almost Sun-set and the people came Having their heads with wine disorder'd all Th' Atrides told them why they call'd the same Where Menelaus votes to cross the Seas And each man to his Country to repass 〈◊〉 this advice his Brother did not please To stay there yet a while his counsel was â—…d first a Hecatomb to Sacrifice The Goddess Pallas anger to appease â—…t Agamemnon therein was not wise Men cannot change the will o' th' Gods with ease â—hile they contending were with words unmeet One part arose resolv'd to stay all night â—…d in the Morn to go aboard the Fleet And each one towards his home to take his flight â—…d shipt our Captive Women and our Prey One half we were and came to Tenedus â—…e other half with Agamemnon stay And Pallas then again divided us â—…d one part back to Agamemnon went But I with all my own Ships homeward fled Knowing that Jove to the Greeks evil meant So did the Son of Tydeus Diomed. 〈◊〉 â—esbâ—s to us Menelaus came Where we which way to go consulting staid â—…us within or else without the same And for direction to the Gods we praid 〈◊〉 the wide Sea t'Enboea they bid sail That we in safety be the sooner might â—…d sent us therewithal a lusty gale Whâ—ch brought us to Gerestus when 't was night â—…d there to Neptune we burnt many Thighs On the fourth day the Ships of Diomed 〈◊〉 Argos came The same Wind stai'd i' th' Skies Till I at Pyle was safe delivered 〈◊〉 came I home sweet Child and cannot tell Which of the Greeks came safe home and which not â—…t what has since been told me I know well And so far as is reason
she refresh'd him had with meat and wine Noble Ulysses said she you that long so To see your House and Wife without delay If what you were to suffer you did know Before you there arrived you would stay And live with me here and Immortal be Nor than that Wife for whom you take such care Less fairer or less wise can you think me Women with Goddesses cannot compare Goddess said he again I know all this Penelope I not compare with you In form or stature For she mortal is And you Immortal Yet though this be true I cannot chuse but wish my self at home And though I were to perish in the Deep By th'anger of the Gods and never come I 'd rather suffer that than always weep For patience long since I learned have Sufficiently in tempest and in fight This said they both in one part of the Cave To sleep went where in Love they took delight And when the morning was again displai'd Ulysses cloath'd himself with Cloak and Coat The Nymph her self in a great Robe arrai'd Of dainty stuff with Gold all over wrought Which on her loins a golden Girdle ti'd And cover'd with a golden Scarf her head And how Ulysses o'r the Sea so wide Should safely pass she there considered Then puts a Plainer and an Axe in 's hand Two-edged with a Hast of Olive tree Then shew'd him where the greatest Trees did stand And all the way before him walked she And when they were arrived at the Wood Beeches they find Poplars and Fir-trees high Already dry that lie light on the Flood Calypso to her Cavern back did hie Mean while Ulysses twenty Trees brought low And hewed them and plain'd them skilfully And laid them on the ground all in a row At corners square and of one length they lie And then with Wimbles back Calypso came Then pierced them and set them one to one And with strong joynts and nails fast bound the same And by the time that all this he had done As a good ship as broad it was and long Then for his Decks he placed stoops upright On every side and many to be strong And laid upon them planks at equal height Then made his Mast and set it up on end His Rudder and a place to sit and guide And laid on boughs from waves it to defend And all his Cordage made of good Cow-hide And then with Levers set his Raft afloat Four days in making of the Raft he spent When he had done and all his work had wrought Upon the fifth the Nymph away him sent But first she bath'd him and with cloaths arrai'd Fine and persum'd Then wine of pleasant taste One Goat-skin full upon the Raft she laid And one of Water greater by it plac't And Sweet-meats and good Flesh of ev'ry kind And after he his Sails had hoist and spread She fill'd them with a warm and chearful wind Then he astern sate down and governed And on Bootes look'd and Pleiades And on the Bear which people call the Wain Which dogs Orion rising from the Seas But she her self ne'r dives into the Main This Bear she bad him leave on the left hand Then seventeen days he sail'd on th'eighteenth day He came in sight of the Phaeacian Land In that part where it nearest to him lay Which look'd as 't were upon the Sea a skin But now by Neptune who returning was Ulysses Raft from Solymi was seen For o'r those Mountains Neptune was to pass Who wounded at the sight with anger keen Thus said unto himself What what I find While I in Ethiopia have been The Gods about this man have chang'd their mind The Isle Phaeacia is near at hand In which he destin'd is himself to save But yet I think before he be on Land He struggle shall with many a lusty Wave Then with his Trident he the Sea enraged And made a Night of Clouds the Sea upon And 'gainst Ulysses all the Winds engaged And from their Quarters they came out each one Eurus and Notus Zephyr Boreas Each one a mighty Wave against him roll'd And then Ulyssâ—s heart near broken was And with himself himself he thus condol'd Ay me what will become of me at last I fear the Nymph Calypso all this knew Who told me then that as I homeward past I should meet danger Now I find it true With what thick Clouds Jove cover'd has the sky In what a tumult is the Sea And how On ev'ry side the Winds the Water ply And storm My death I see is certain now Thrice four times Argives happy were you who For Agamemnon's sake were slain Would God I At Troy in Battle my life lost had too I' th' show'r of Spears about Achilles Body Then had I had a noble Funeral And great among the Greeks had been my Fame But now a wretched death will me befal For ever will unhear'd-of be my name This said he dash'd was 'gainst a point of Land Which with great force whirled the Raft about And then the Rudder flew out of his hand And he into the water was cast out Of divers Winds then follow'd one great blast And Sail and Tackle o'r broad far off bears And in the middle breaks in two the Mast While he was in the Sea o'r head and ears At last he rais'd his head above the pickle His heavy Cloaths a while had hindred him Then from his hair into his mouth did trickle The brine which he spits out and falls to swim And when he had his Raft recovered And plac'd himself i' th' midst then both together The Wind uncertainly them carried From place to place now hither and now thither Just as the wind in harvest blows Pease-straw Upon the plain field whilst it holds together So on the Sea without a certain Law Ulysses Raft was driven by the Weather In this distress by Iâ—o he was seen A Sea Nymph and Immortal she was then Though Woman Cadmus Daughter she had been And now in Figure of a Water-hen She sat upon the Raft and to him spake What meaneth Neptune that he hates you so Do what he can your liâ—e he shall not take Do what I bid you Off your Garments throw And quit the Raft And to Phaeacia Swim with your hands And there you sâ—â—ll findâ— rest For so it is ordain'd by Fatal Law Here take this Scarf Apply it to your breast And fear not death But when you come to Land Throw 't in the Sea as far off as you can Then turn This said she put it in his hand And diving there alone she left the man Ulysses grieving to himself then says What is it now I am advis'd unto Ay me Some other God now me betrays To quit my Raft I know what I will do For since my refuge is so near at hand Such Counsel I will not too soon obey But do what does with greatest reason stand Upon my Raft I mean so long to stay As it shall hold together
and be one But when the Wind has broken it in pieces I 'll swim since better counsel I have none While with himself consulting was Ulysses Neptune with wind the Water sets upright Into a high and formidable wave And threw it on the Raft with all his might Which all the parts thereof asunder drave Just as the wind scatters a cock of hay So scatter'd was Ulysses Raft of Trees Whilst he on one of them astride did stay And of his Garments there himself he frees Then Ino's Scarf applies he to his breast And on the troubled Sea himself he laid With open arms To Swim he now thought best Which Neptune seeing thus unto him said Go wander now upon the Sea in woe And do not make account that this is all This said away to â—…ae did he go Where many men that need him on him call When he was gone Pallas the Winds did lay All but a lusty gale of Boreas And broke the Waves before him all the way That to Phaeacia he might safely pass Two nights and days perpetâ—al he â—wam And was of drownâ—ng all the while afraid But when the morning of the third day came The Air was calm and all the Winds allai'd And now unto the Iâ—le he was so righ That from a high Wave he could see the shore And glad he was As when about to die â—…'n has a man long time by sickness sore Is by the Gods recover'd suddenly Glad aâ—e his Children So Ulysses was To see the so-much wish'd-for Land so nigh And thither made what haste he could to pass When he was gotten so near to the shore That one might hear another when he calls Torn by the Rocks he heard the water rore Loud is the Sea when on hard rocks it falls There neither haven was nor place to Land But upright Banks and Cliffs and Brows of stone And every where too deep it was to stand And now again quite was his courage gone And speaking to himself he said Ay me This is the Island Jove has brought me to 't That what must help me only I might see But not upon it ever set my foot There is no landing here Rocks high and steep And unaccessible are all about The Sea below so â—ugged is and deep That from it there will be no getting out If I'should cry some mighty wave I fear Against some rugged Rock will carry me And make me find but woful landing there Amongst so many sharp stones as there be But if I swim aâ—ong the Coast to find Some Port or Beach though stormy to land on I fear I shall again by some great Wind Far off from shore into the Sea be blown And there by some great Fish devoured be For many such are fed by Aâ—phitrite Which Neptune may command to swallow me For well I am acquainted with his spite While he thus doubted came a mighty wave That cast him to the Bank amongst sharp stones But for the Counsel Pallas to him gave He torn his skin and broken had his bones A Rocher with his arms he then imbrac't And held it till the wave roll'd back again And thought the danger of it now was past But then the same wave bore him to the Main As looks a Polypus when he is drag'd From out his hole stuck full of stone and sands So when Ulysses left his hold were shag'd With broken skin all over both his hands And now had not Athena giv'n him wit He perisht had For up his head he puts Above the briny Sea and having spit He with his stretched arms the water cuts And swam along the shore but kept his eye Continually upon the Land to see If any landing place he could espy At last before a Rivers mouth came he And knew it was a Rivers mouth For there Within the Land smooth water might be seen And 'twixt the Rocks a pause there did appear And here Ulysses thought fit to go in And in his mind unto the River spake Hear me O King from Neptunes rage I fly And of a Man distrest some pity take That at your knee and Stream here prostrate lie Th' Immortal Gods their Suppliants respect When they before them humbly lay their want What e'r your name be do not me neglect That am afflicted and your Suppliant This said the Stream stood still and sav'd the man But weary were his knees and arms And Brine Abundance from his Mouth and Nostrils ran And all his body swell'd was And in fine Speechless and breathless was he like one dead But when he came unto himself again The Scarf he to the Stream delivered Which carried it again into the Main And Ino took it then into her hand Then on a Bulrush-bed himself he laid And glad he had escaped kiss't the Land But fearing still unto himself he said Ay me what will become of me at length For in the Riveâ— if I spend the night So much already wasted is my strength With Frost and Dew I shall be killed quite If up the Hill I go into the Wood And in some Thicket there lie warm and sleep I fear I shall for Beasts and Fowls be food At last concludes into some wood to creep A Wood there was unto the River nigh Two Thickets in it were of Olive one The other was of Phylia close by So â—win'd they were together that nor Sun Nor Wind nor Rain to th'ground could find a way Between them of dry leaves a bed made he And over head and ears there close he lay For leaves there were enough for two or three To keep them warm although cold weather ' t were As when a man takes up a brand of fire In Country-house few neighbours dwelling near To warm himself withal if need require So buri'd in dry leaves Ulysses lay And then Athena closed up his eyes With sound and gentle sleep to take away Sad thoughts suggested by his miseries LIB VI. THere slept Ulysses But Athena went Unto the people of Phaeacia Who once dwelt near a Nation insolent The great Cyclopses in Hyperia And by the odds of strength were there opprest But by Nausithous transplanted were To Scheria that they might live at rest Who built them Houses and a City there And fortifi'd the same with strong Walls round And Temples built and gave them shares of land But he departed was and under ground And now Alcinous had the Command His house it was the Goddess went unto And int'a Chamber gay where lay abed A Godlike Maid asleep with less ado Than could a gentle wind have entered This the Kings Daughter was Nausicaa Within the door shut close on each side one Two of her Waiting-maids asleep she saw And as the Graces fair to look upon Then standing at Nausicaa's Beds-head In form of Dymas Daughter there she stai'd Who of her age was and most favoured And to Nausicaa she spake and said Careless Nausicaa what do you mean When to your Wedding-day you are so near To
let so many Garments lie unclean You would be glad your self fair cloaths to wear And give to them that are to lead you out For even such things as these procure good fame Amongst the people that dwell round about Your Parents also take joy in the same Come therefore to the River let 's be gone By break of day For I will with you go And help that you the sooner may have done I 'm sure your Wedding is not far off now For sought you are in Marri'ge by the best Of all the Town where your were born and bred Go early to your Father and request You may with Mules and Coach be furnished That Aprons Gowns and Mantles you may bear Unto the washing place For far 't is to 't And for your person so 't is comelier Than to be seen to go so far on foot This said the Goddess up to Heaven went Where is the dwelling of the Gods in bliss A pure and undecaying Firmament Which by no wind moved or shaken is Nor wet nor slabber'd is with showr of rain Nor clouded nor approach'd unto by snow But Bright and shining always doth remain Here dwell th'Immortals and no sorrow know Thither went Pallas Then Nausicaa Awak'd and through the House went to relate Unto her Parents what a Dream she saw Her Mother by the fire side spinning sate With distaff laden with fine purple-wool Her Father going out she met i' th' Hall Call'd by the Lords sitting in Councel full And waiting for him to consult withal And to him said Pray Father shall not I Allowed be a Coach your Clothes to bear Which in the house sulli'd and spotted lie Unto the River-side to wash them there For you your self when you to Councel go Would gladly have your Garments clean sweet Your five Sons whereof two be wedded now Would fain with clean clothes at the Dancings meet So said Nausicaa But to her Father To talk of Wedding she forbore for shame Yet what she thought on he could eas'ly gather However she distembled had the same Dear Child then said her Father you shall have Both Mules and Coach with handsome covering Unto his Servants then command he gave To see it done And out the Coach they bring And to it set the Mules Then came her Mother And laid in things to eat of relish fine And such-as eaten are with bread much other And in a bag of Goat-skin pleasant wine When in the Coach the Garments all were plac't Nausicaa went up into her seat And with her took when their toil should be past A curse of Oyl to help wash off the sweat Then out with whip and reins in hand did drive And then with strained limbs and clatt'ring feet The Mules soon at the River-side arrive And pasture for them there was very sweet And there the Mules first they unharnassed Then pusht them off to graze on the Bank-side The Clothes in Pits with water covered They tread and who should fastest tread they vi'd Then on the Beach the Garments wet they spread Upon the cast-up Pibbles one by one Then washed they and dri'd themselves and sed And left the Garments drying in the Sun And after they with food were satisfi'd It came into their minds to play at Ball And spend the time so till the clothes were dri'd The tune Nausicaa sung for them all As when upon Mount Erymanthus high Or on Taygetus stands Artemis And many Rural fair Nymphs playing by But she than all the rest much taller is And the wild Boars and Harts delights to see But more her Mother Leda to see her For though they fair were all yet fairer she So shew'd Nausicaa and her Maidens there And when 't was time that they should homewards go And that the Clothes into the Coach were laid And Mules set to Athena thought on how Ulysses should awake and see the Maid And be conducted by her to the Town Nausicaa then throws the Ball and misses The Ball unto the River falleth down Then shout the Maids At that awakt Ulysses And sitting up unto himself he said Ay me where am I now 'Mongst men unjust And such as of the Gods are not afraid Or good and godly men whom I may trust But female are the voices which I hear Are they some Nymphs that haunt the Mountains high Or keep the Meadows green or waters clear Or are they Mortals whom I am so nigh But why go I not out my self and see Then with strong hand he wringed off a bough With many leaves upon it from a Tree To cover what became him not to show Then as a Lion confident and bold Howe'r it blow or rain with fiery eyes Comes from the Mountain to a Herd or Fold And on the Flock at last his fortune tries So came Ulysses boldly from the Wood Stark naked fore'd to 't by necessity And in the presence of the Maidens stood The sight was terrible and made them fly Nausicaa fled not but hid her eyes Off stood Ulysses with himself to weigh Whether to speak from thence was the more wise Or else himself before her feet to lay To stay there right at last resolved he Lest she should take his coming near her ill Then said O Queen I beg upon my knee That you with patience hear my Prayer will You are a Goddess or of Humane race If Goddess you can then no other be Than Artemis Jove's Daughter In your face Such beauty is in height such Majesty If mortal and of Humane race you be Thrice happy are your Parents and your Brothers How glad in the Processions they will see How much they are more grac'd by you than others For such a branch I ne'r saw with my eyes On mortal stock To see 't I am amazed But once a Palm at Delus saw arise In the same manner and long on it gazed For that way went I once well followed Which the first cause was of my trouble sore And then as I do now I wondered For I had never seen the like before T' approach unto your knees I was afraid Or shew my self But such is my estate For twenty days upon the Sea I strai'd And here in storms was thrown ashore by Fate From th' Isle Ogygia last night and fear I am to suffer yet more misery And that the Gods will persecute me here And since my landing you the first I see Now pity me O Queen and shew we where The City stands And t'hide my nakedness Give me some rag if there be any here And may Jove you with all you wish for bless A Husband and a House and Concord good For man and wife to live in Unity Is the great'st blessing can be understood It joys your friend and grieves your enemy Nausicaa then speaks and to him says You seem to be a good man and discreet But Jove on good and bad such fortune lays Happy or otherwise as he thinks meet And since distress is fallen to your share You
though you be wise But rather you will with them lie But well I 'll give you such an Antidote as you Need not to be afraid of any Spell And will besides her purpose to you shew To make you drink she 'll temper you a Cup Which shall not for the Antidote bewitch you And when she sees that you have drunk it up With her long Wand she presently will switch you Then to her with your naked Sword in hand As if you purpos'd to cut off her head Then she will shriek and weep and trembling stand And buy her life with proffer of her bed You must not then refuse the Goddess love If you intend your Fellows to restore Yet make her swear by all the Gods above She never will attempt to hurt you more Then gave he me the Herb. The Flow'r was white The Root was black the Gods do call it Moly And gather it who have no stint of might For men to think to finde it is a folly Then Hermes parting mounted to the Sky And I to Circe's house went on my way And musing stood a while but by and by I call'd and she came forth without delay And calls me in I enter with sad heart There in a glorious Chair she made me sit Studded with silver-Nails and carv'd with Art Then puts a low Stool to it for my feet And brought the Potion in a Golden Cup Which she had temper'd to her bad designe And soon as ever I had drunk it up She switch'd and bad me go lie with the Swine Then start I up with my drawn Sword and make As if I purpos'd to cut off her head Then did she shriek most fearfully and quake And weeping to me these words uttered Who whence are you what is your Fathers Name That this drink worketh not is very strange If any else but tasted had the same He soon had of his figure found a change But you a stubborn heart have in your brest Are you Ulysses that should hither come As Hermes told me oft and be my Guest When from the Trojan shore he sailed home Put up your Sword and that we may confide In one another better without dread Let 's to my Chamber go and side by side Compose the things we differ in a bed Circe said I Oh how can I be kinde When you to Swine my Fellows turned have And now you have me here 't is in your minde To make â—…e tame and keep me for a slave I 'll not come near your Bed unless before You take an Oath by all the Gods above You 'll never go about to hurt me more This said she swore and I gave way to love On Circe Waiting-women four attended To do the service of the house and were From sacred Rivers Springs and Groves descended Each had her proper work assigned her One does the Chairs with coverings array Another does the Silver Tables spread And on each one of them a Basket lay Of Gold and into it she puts the Bread The third does in a Silver Flagon mix The Wine and Water in a Silver Pot The fourth to make a fire brings in the sticks And for a Bath makes ready water hot Circe her self the water tempered Into a just and comfortable heat And pour'd it on my shoulders and my head Washing my limbs till I my toil forget And when I baâ—hed and anointed was She put upon me a fair Coat and Vest And led me in into the dining-place And to my Chair and Table me addrest One Maid a golden Bason with the Ew'r To wash our hands over a Cauldron brings The Cauldron also was of Silver pure Another loads the Table with good things Another on the Table sets on bread And then the Goddess Circe bids me eat But other dangers running in my head I had but little stomack to my meat Which she observing said Ulysses why Do you thus sullenly your meat refuse And like a dumb man sit D' ye think that I Intend against you some new Art to use Have I not sworn To which I answered Oh Circe how can I be pleas'd d'ye think When you my Fellows keep disfigured And pounded up in Hog-sties t'eat and drink If you mean well set them at liberty And in the shape of men before my eyes That I may look on them and they on me With Switch in hand then out of doors she hies And opens all the Prisons out they come And were to look to Pigs of nine years old She drives them with her Wand into the room And makes them stand there while I them behold Then Circe went amongst them and each one Smear'd with an unguent which straightway did make Their hair fall off and undid all was done And presently a humane shape they take Greater and fairer than they had before They knew me all my hand with theirs they prest So glad they were their eyes for joy ran o'â—e The whole house wept and Circe with the rest This past the Goddess said Ulysses go And bring your Ship a-land and let her lie Your goods within the rocky Caves bestow And make haste back with all your Company This pleas'd me well Down to the Sea I hie Where my Companions I weeping finde But soon as I appear'd they presently About me came their care now out of mind As when from Pastures fat a Herd of Cows Well-fed return at evening to their home Their Calves will not be kept within the house But play and skip and round about them come So did my Fellows soon as they me saw Come skipping out o' th' ship with no less joy Than if they had been come to Ithaca Their Native Country from the Town of Trey Our joy said they Ulysses cannot be Greater when we at Ithaca arrive Which we so wish for than 't is now to see That you from Circe are return'd alive But tell us pray how di'd our Fellows there But first said I hale up your Ship to Land And in the Rocks hide all that 's loose in her And come with me to Circe out of hand There shall you see your Fellows how they live In want of nothing that they can devise To these my words my Fellows credit give Eurylochus alone thought otherwise Wretches said he what mean you will you go Have you a longing to be Lions â—ame Or Swine or Wolves and being transformed so To live at Circe's house and guard the same Remember Cyclops and how all they sped That dar'd to put themselves within his Cave By too much valour of Ulysses led Bethink you well how you your selves may save When I heard that I drew my Sword and meant Although he were my Kinsman very nigh T' have made his head fly But of that intent I was made frustrate by the Company That interposing spake me fair and said Let him stay here but we 'll go every man While he looks to the ship since he 's afraid Thus having said to march they straight began
Nor staid Eurylochus behinde for I Had so aâ—â—righted him he went with th' rest Mean while at Circe's house my company Were bath'd and oyl'd and cloath'd with Coat and Vest. Feasting we found them in a stately Hall But when we saw them and heard every thing That had besaln them suddenly we all Wept out so loud as made the house to ring Then Circe said Ulysses why d' ye weep I know your suffrings both at land by men And what you have endured on the Deep Drink wine eat meat and merry be agen Recruit your hearts with courage till they be As strong as when from home you first set-out Put all your danger out of memory Nor trouble more your weari'd minds with doubt These words of Circe did our spirits chear And made us willingly fall to our meat Both then and ev'ry day throughout the year In Circe's house we freely drink and eat But when the season was come round about And months and days of th'year had made an end Then my imparient Fellows call'd me out And said Strange man do you no more intend To see your Country Ithaca Shall we For ever stay with Circe here Have Fates Decreed that you your house no more should see But perish here together with your Mates This my Companions said and said but right Then what remained of the day we spent Eating and drinking merrily At night They to their own beds I to Circe's went Where prostiate at her knees I press her hard To keep her word and let me go my way My mind said I is going thitherward Now and my Fellowsask me why I stay Renown'd Ulysses answer'd Circe here Against your will with me you shall not stay But â—re you go unto your Country dear You must a Voyage make another way You must to th house of Hades first repair For with Tiresias the Prophet blinde You must consult concerning your affair He knows what course the Fates have you design'd Though blinde his eye yet is his judgment clear For why to him Proserpina alone Hath granted to peruse Fates Register And know the History of things not done The Ghosts to him stand up when he goes by At this my heart was ready ev'n to break And in the bed long time I weeping lie And turn'd and wish'd for death At last I speak Circe said I who shall me thither guide Never man yet to Hell went in a ship Then to me Circe presently repli'd Ulysses let not that thought break your sleep You need but set your Mast up hoise your sail And then sit still you shall not want a Winde For Boreas to wast you will not fail When you are come to th' Oceans end you 'll finde The wooddy shore and Grove of Proserpine There the tall Poplar and soft Willow grows And there it is your Bark you must put in Then go along the shore to Pluto's house And you shall see where into Achâ—ron Cocâ—tas falls which is a branch of Styx And with it also Pyriphlegeton And a great Rock where the two Rivers mix Close by that place make with your Sword a Pit A Cubit wide and round about it pour Wine mixt with honey and pure Wine after it Then water pure and over all throw Flow'r Such is the drink that 's offer'd to the dead And further to them you must make a Vow That when you be at home and out of dread You 'll gratifie them with a barren Cow But to Tiresias you must alone Promise at your return to kill a Ewe All over black The Ceremonies done Which to the dead by common law are due Then of the Ram and Ewe let out the blood Into the pit their heads to Hell-ward place And turn your back and so go tow'rd the Flood Then shall you see the Ghosts come out apace Bid your Companions mean while to flay The slaughter'd Sheep To Pluto must you and To his Queen Proserpine your prayers say Then sit down at the pit with Sword in hand Let none come near the blood until you see Tâ—resias the Theban Prophet come 'T will not be long before he with you be He 'll tell you all the ways to bring you home This said Aurora had the light displai'd And Circe cloath'd me with a Coat and Vest And with a pure white robe her self arraid With a Gold Girdle girt beneath her brest And put upon her head her Vail Then I Went through the house to make my fellows rise And gently said unto them severally Let 's go for Circe now doth so advise And well content they were But safe away I could not bring them all For there was one Elpenor neither forward in a Fray Nor yet of very much discretion Heated with Wine o'r night himself to cool Up to the houses top he went to sleep But wak'd with noise the rest made like a Fool Ne'r thought of coming down the stairs steep Backward and so to th' earth he headlong sell And broke his Neck-bone lay dead o'th'ground And his Soul leaving him went down to Hell The rest came forth and stood about me round To these I said You think without delay That we to Ithaca are going now But Circe bids us go another way Of old Tiresias the minde to know The Theban Prophet who is now in Hell This broke the very heart strings of my Mates They sob and tear their hair but cannot tell How to avoid what 's once decreed by th'Fates Then to our ship we weeping went Mean space Circe a Ram and black Ewe there had ti'd Unseen to us we found them on the place For Gods but when they list cannot be spi'd LIB XI WHen we were come unto the Sea-side where Our Ship lay which we shov'd into the deep We rear our Mast pull up our Sails and bear Aboard with us one Male one Female sheep And so for Hell we stood with fears in minde And tears in eye But the fair Circe sent To bear us company a good fore-winde That kept our Sails full all the way we went To Winds and Steerage we our way commend And careless sit from morning till 't was dark Then found our selves at th' Oceans farthest end Where up to Land the wind had forc'd our Bark Here dwell the Cimbers hid in Clouds and Mist Whom thou O Phoebus with thy golden Eye Noâ— coming from the Sky to Earth e're seest Nor when from Earth thou mountest to the Sky But live poor men under a horrid night Here seek we for the place of which the wise Circe had told us and soon on it light And thither fetcht the sheep for sacrifice Then with my Sword i'th'ground I dig'd a Pit And round about it Wine with Honey pour And round again pure Wine pour after it Then water pure O're all I sprinkle flour And vowed to those feeble folk to kill As soon as I to Ithaca should come A barren Heiser and the Altar fill With many more good things I had at home
And promis'd to Tiresias alone A fat black Ewe the best in all my Coats When I my Vows and Pray'rs had ritely done Of both the Victims straight I cut the throats Their reaking blood stream'd down into the Pit Out come the Ghosts Maids Youths decrepit Age And tender Virgins they all sented it And Warriours clad in goary Arms all rage And rushing out of Hell with hideous cry About the blood bustling they go and turn Which not a little frighted me Then I Bad flay the Victims and their bodies burn And say their Pray'rs to Pluto and his Queen With Sword in hand I sat on the Pits brink Resolv'd till I Tiresias had seen That not a Ghost a drop of blood should drink First came my Souldier Elpenor's Spirit Which left the body just when we set sail So that we had no leisure to inter it His heavy fate I did with tears bewail How now quoth I Elpenor art thou here Already Couldst thou me so much outstrip I first came forth and left thee in the Rear Hast thou on foot out gone my good black ship Then said Elpenar Issue of Jove Divine Ulysses I had come along with th'Bark But that the Devil and excess of Wine Made me to fall and break my neck i' th' dark I went to bed late by a Ladder steep At top o'th'house the Room was where I lay Wak't at the noise of parting half asleep Headlong I hither came the nearest way Now I adjure you by your Father and Your VVife and Son and all his Seed to come For I assured am that you will land VVhere Circe dwells before your going home To see I have the Rites due to the dead Fear th'anger of the Gods above and burn My body with my arms from foot to head And cast on earth to cover o're my Urn. This done for men hereafeer sailing by Raise me a little Tomb of Earth by th' shore That they may eas'ly see where 't is I lie Lastly upon it upright plant my Oar. All this quoth I I 'll do upon my word Thus we discours'd amongst the shades He stood While I continu'd with my naked Sword To keep the Sprights from tasting of the blood Then came Auticlia my Mothers Ghost Alive I left her when to Troy I sail'd To fight against it in the Argive Host. Now seeing her exceedingly I wail'd And though I grieved were to keep away My Mother from the loved blood yet still In the same posture patiently I stay Till I might know Tiresias his will Then came the Soul of old Tiresias And of the Gilded-Staff he had in 's hand Poor man quoth he perceiving what I was What brought thee hither to this ugly Land Stand back a while and take your Sword away That I may drink and the Unerring word Of Fate deliver to you I obey Retire and up I put my trusty Sword Then said the good old Prophet You are come Honour'd Ulysses to inquire of me What the Gods say about your going home I tell you true 't will not be easily I think you 'll not escape at Sea unseen Of angry Neptune who I do not doubt Will do his worst and make you feel his spleen For Polyphemus eye which you put out Yet for all that you may to Ithaca Safely return if you can but command Your passion when in th' Isle Torinacia An Island lying in your way you land There feed the Kine of the all-seeing Sun And Flocks of goodly Sheep Hurt none of these Then shall your Ship her course with safety run 〈◊〉 At length to Ithaca though not with ease But if you touch them I denounce a wrack To your good Ship and death to all your Crew And though your self may happen to come back At last and this unhappy Fate eschew 'T will be alone and in a ship not yours Besides that when you are returned home You 'll fall into the danger of the Wooers Who for your Wives and Meats-sake thither come But you will be reveng'd of these and when You shall have made away these Wooers go With Oar on shoulder to a Land where men Inhabit that the brit y Sea not know Nor ever mingle salt with what they eat Nor ever saw the ship with crimson face Nor yet those Wings which do the water beat Call'd Oars to make your good ship go apace Now mark me well when thou shalt meet a man Just at the end of Neptunes utmost bound Bearing upon his shoulder a Corn san Stick down thy lusty Oar upon the ground There Sacrifice to the Worlds Admiral For new admittance a Ram Boar and Bull Then home again and offer unto all The Gods by name an hundred Oxen sull Your death will not ungentle be for which Age shall prepare you and your Soul unglew Insensibly Your people shall be rich Which round about you dwell All this is true Tiresias quoth I when he had done 'T is well My Mother yonder I espie Amongst the shades she knoweth not her Son What shall I do to make her know 't is I That quoth he I can tell you easily What Soul soever you admit to drink To what you ask will make a true reply Those you put back back into Hell will slink The Prophet having thus my fate foretold Into the house of Pluto back retir'd I o're the blood my former posture hold But let my Mother drink as she desir'd She knew me then and wept My Son said she How came you to this place of ours so dark Th' Ocean and so many Gulphs there be 'Twixt you and us that but with a good Bark No living man can pass Come you but now From Tâ—oy and all this while have wandring been You and your Company You have I trow Your wife Penelope by this time seen Mother said I the cause I came this way Was to ask counsel of Tiresias Since I with Agamemnon went to Troy In Ithaca or Greece I never was But Mother tell me pray you how came you Unto this place was it by sickness long Or did Diana with a death undue Send you down hither to this feeble throng And tell me if my Father and my Son Remain as formerly in their estate Or that some Prince of Greece my wife have won Supposing me now cast away by Fate Tell me besides whether Penelope Remain at home together with my Son Assisting him to Rule my Family Or whether she be married and gone Your wife said she does still continue there For your long absence weepeth days and nights Your Son still holds his own and makes good chear Oft he invited is and oft invites Your Father from his Vineyard never budges Rich Coverlets and Bedding he refuses Ne're comes to th'Town in Winter with his Drudges To lay him down and sleep by th' fire he uses In vile array in Summer-time he creeps Till Vintage pass about his Fruit-trees round And visits them each one at night he sleeps On Bed of heaped leaves upon
among Those Foes that were in Troy esteem'd the best The names of all he slew I cannot tell They are too many But 't was by his Sword That Great Eurypylus in Battle fell Of all the Trojan Aids the goodli'st Lord Excepting Memnon After when we were Within the Wooden-Horse conceal'd and I The power had of ord'ring all things there I never saw your Son to wipe his eye Or to wax pale as many of us did He ever longed to be set on land From out the hole in which we all lay hid And to his Hilt he often put his hand And often to his Spear And when at last We won and rifled had the Town of Troy He home into his Country safely past His ship well laden with his part o' th' prey And which is more he came off safe and sound Though Mars each way threw deaths and wounds about Amongst the croud he ne'r received wound Neither from them that shot nor them that fought This said the swift Achilles Soul retir'd Strutting into the Mead of Asphodâ—l Proud of his Son to hear what he desir'd Then other grieved Souls their stories tell Only the Soul of Ajax stood off mute And sullen because I did from him bear Achillâ—s Armour in that sad Dispute Where Pallas and the Trojans Judges were I would I had not had that Victory Which cost the life of him that was the most Admir'd by all for form and Chivalry Except Achilles in the Argive Host. I gently to him spake Ajax said I Forget that cursed Armour now at last And since you dead are let your anger die For why the Gods determin'd had to cast Those Arms amongst us for a punishment Offended with us what e're was the matter And us'd them as an Engine with intent Our greatest Tower which was your self to batter For whom the Argives did lament no less Than for Achilles Thetis Son Come nigh And hear what I can answer and suppress Your mighty heart a while So ended I. To this just nothing he repli'd but went Int ' Erebus 'mongst other Shadows dim Yet there I think he would have been content To speak to me if I to speak to him But I desired other Souls to see Then Minos there the Son of Jove I saw With Golden Scepter dealing Equity To Souls that stood and sate to hear the Law Next after him I saw the Great Orion A mighty Club he carried in his hand And hunted the wilde Boar and Bear and Lion Which when he lived he had kill'd on Land There also saw I â—itius He lay Upon his back strerch'â— out full acres nine He the fair Leto had upon the way To Pytho injur'd Leto Jovâ—s Concubine Two Vultures on his breast on each side one Sate dipping of their Beaks into his Liver He stirreth not but lets them still alone And thus devouring it they stay for ever And Tantalus I saw up to the Chin In water cleas and longing sore to drink But as he bow'd himself to take it in Some Devil always made the water sink Close o're his head hung pleasant Fruit and ripe Pears and Pomegranats Olives Apples Figs Which ever when he ready was to gripe A sudden winde still whiskt away the Twigs And Sisyphus I saw who 'gainst the Hill With hands and feet a heavy stone doth roll But when unto the top he brings it still The naughty stone salls back into the hole Then to 't he goes afresh with no less pain He heaves and sweats and dusty is all o're And when 't is up he labour'd has in vain For still it serves him as it did before Then Hercules I saw I mean his Spright For he is with th Immortal Gods above And taken has to wife Hebe the bright Daughter of Juno and of Mighty Jove The dead about him made a fearful cry Like frighted Fowl A Golden Belt he wore With wilde Beasts wrought slaughters cunningly The like shall never be nor was before He saw and knew me presently and spake Renown'd Ulysses why left you the light Alas were you constrain'd to undertake This task as I was by a meaner Wight Who though Joves Son I was did me constrain Full many other labours t'undergo But he thought this would put me to most pain Th' Infernal Dog upon the Earth to show I did it though and drag'd him up to th'light By Mercury's and by Athenas aid Having thus said he vanisht out of sight 'Mongst other Phantoms But I still there staid Hoping more Hero's of th' old time to see And more had surely seen of Heav'nly Race Theseus Pirythous whom t 'had pleased me If longer I had dar'd to keep my place For then from out of Hell with hideous cry Thousands of Souls about me gathered And frighted me but most afraid was I Lest Proserpine should send out Gorgons Head Then went I to my Ship and Company And for a while our Oars at Sea we pli'd But after we were on the Main then we A fair Gale had and past the Ocean wide LIB XII THence over th' Ocean back we come away And at the Isle Aeea we arrive There are the Bowers of Aurora gay There 't is that Phoebus doth the day revive And there we disimbark upon the Sand And having slept a while attend the day When day was come my Fellows I command To fetch Elpenors body dead away With wood from off a Promontory near Weeping his body we to ashes burn Together with his Arms and th' earth we rear To be a Monument upon his Urn And on the same we fix his Oar upright These Ceremonies done came the Divine Circe that knew we landed were that night Her Maids brought to us bread and meat wint And standing in the midst Poor men said she That come from Hell and thither must again Twice-mortals take your food and merry be With flesh and lusty wine forget your pain To morrow you shall sail again and I Will to you all your dangers open lay Lest you by some malicious subtilty By Land or Sea should perish by the way This pleas'd us well and all day long we sate Eating and drinking Wine until 't was dark And somewhat e're we saw it evening late My Mates lay down to sleep beside the Bark Then Circe led me by the hand aside And askt me all that I had seen in Hell Nor any thing at all from her I hide 'T is well said she Now hear what I you tell First you must pass the Sirens who invite All Passengers that Sail before the place To land But whosoever lands that night Of 's Wise and Children ne're more sees the face These Sirens in a Meadow sit and sing Where dead mens bones in heaps about them lie Rotting and rivel'd skins lie scattering Pass on and their enchanting Musick fly Command your Mates to tie you to the Mast And that if you make signes to be set free They heed you not but binde you still more fast That you
to be set loese again But 't would not be My Mates regard my words And not my winks and sit still at the Oar. Eurylochâ—s and Perimede bring Cords And binde me harder than they did before When we had left the Siâ—ens at our backs So far as not to hear them any more My fellows from their ears pull out the Wax And me unto my liberty restore We had not sailed far when there appear'd An angry Sea before us all in smoke And thumping of the mighty Waves we heard Upon the stubborn Rocks at every stroke Besides the Sea so mighty loud did roar As with one dismal Hum it fill'd the Ear And made my Mates each one let fall his Oar So much their senses were benum'd with fear Still stood the Bark Then I among them go With gentle words new courage to convey Into their failing hearts to make them row And passing by to every one I say My Friends we all have dangers past And greater much than what we now do fear Remember how from Polyphemus vast By my good conduct we deliver'd were I do not doubt but you remember it My counsel therefore also now obey Row close along the shore the Gods may yet Deliver us but by no other way But you that have the guiding of the ship Steers-man to you I speak mark what I say Steer her without the smoke for if she slip Aside though little we are cast away This said my Fellows speedily obey'd Of th'Monster Scylla not a word I told Lest they should throw away their Oars dismal'd And for their shelter run into the Hold. But Circe's counsel I had quite forgot I arm'd my self and took into my hand Two Spears though she expresly had said not And looking upwards at the head I stand But she appeared not I look'd so high And long upon the hideous Rock my sight Began to fail and now we were close by That dismal streight which doth us all affright Here Scylla stands and the Charybdis dire Lies vomiting the Sea which sings and dances Like water in a Kettle o're the fire And vapours to the highest Rocks advances But when the Sea it sucketh in again It sounds like thunder in the hollow stone And we could see the bottom very plain Sandy it was and black to look upon Whilst we our eyes upon Charybdis fix And stand amazed at the horrid sight Suddenly Scylla stoopt and snatch'd up six Of the best men I had to row or fight I from the ship that never stir'd my eye Soon saw their sprauling arms and legsâ—… air And heard them lamentably to me cry And name me in their uttermost despair As fishers in a Horn mix fraud and food And from the Bank at th' end of a long Wand To catch the Fry cast it into the Flood Then pluck them up and throw them on the land So lifted were my Mates Of my mishaps This was the saddest I did ever see When she my men cham'd in her ugly Chaps Roaring and holding out their hands to me From Scylla we unto the Island row Where feeding were Sols sacred Sheep and Kine Before we landed I could hear them low Which brought into my minde the Prophesiâ— Of old Tiresias the Tâ—â—ban Bard That counsel'd me this Island for to shun Of Circe also I like counsel heard And not to land i' th' Island of the Sun Then speaking to my Fellows Friends said I This Island sacred is to Sol this place Tiresias and Circe both bid fly And not to disimbark in any case For if we do for certain they declare The greatest mischief that e're men befell Therefore keep cut to Seaward and beware Of landing here and then we shall be well But then Eurylochus to me began You have Ulysses a hard heart quoth he There is no labour but you bear it can Your limbs of stubborn steel composed be But you consider not your Mates are tir'd With their continual tugging at the Oar And that refreshment is and sleep requir'd Which is not to be had but on the shore But you would have us wander in the night When in the night the greatest winds arise The bane of ships and when depriv'd of light To save our selves we can no way devise What if great winds should blow from South or West Which often happens though their King not know Or not consent Therefore I think it best To night to sup ashore to morrow row So said Eurylochus and was commended By all my Mates and presently I knew One Daemon or another had intended To ruine me together with my Crew Then said I to Eurylochus 'T were vain To strive against so many men alone But you shall take an Oath that you 'll abstain From hurting of the Cattle of the Sun Of Circe's meat there 's left us yet good store This said they took the Oath which having done They put into the Harbour and ashore They sup And when their hunger now was gone Their Mates remembring that in th' hollow Rock By th'monster Scylla were devour'd they weep And wail and with their hands they knock Their brests and in that posture fell asleep The Stars had climb'd a third part of the Sky When with a Whirl-winde Jove together fetcht The Clouds from ev'ry part and suddenly On Sea and Land a dismal night was stretcht And when the Rosie finger'd morning came Our Ship we to a hollow Cave advance Wherein the Sea-Nymphs Seats and Couches have And where they are accustomed to dance Thither I call'd my Mates and said again Friends we have meat and drink aboard be wise And from the Herds and Flocks of Sol abstain Who heareth all we say and all espies To this did my Campanions all assent But for a month there blew no other winde Than South and East so that we there were pent I'th'Island longer than we had design'd My Mates whilst they had bread and meat aboard Forbore to meddle with the Sacred Kine And fetch'd in what the Island did afford Of Fish and Fowl to have wherewith to dine Up I into the Island went aside The Conduct of th' Immortal Gods t'implore That some of them 't would please to be my Guide And me unto my Country to restore And in a place desended from the winde I wash'd my hands and then with tears and sighs Before the Gods I poured out my minde And they a sweet sleep poured on my eyes Mean time Eurylochus bad counsel gives To his Companions All deaths quoth he Are haâ—eful to what thing soever lives But death by hunger is the worst can be Let 's kill some of the fattest of these Cows And sacrifice unto the Gods on high And to appease the Sun let 's all make Vows To build a Temple to his Deity Enrich'd with Gifts If not content with this For a few Cows displeas'd he seek our death For once to gape and die far better 't is Than strive with hunger till we lose our breath This said my Fellows all
his counsel take And chase Sols sacred Herds that graz'd hard by And then for recompence their Vows they make To build a Temple to his Deity But when they made their Vows Chaplets they wear Of tender leaves pluckt from the spreading Oak White Barley they had none the which men bear When in their danger they the Gods invoke After the Vow persorm'd the Kine they flay And take their Thighs and cover them with sat And one of them upon the other lay To burn upon the Altar After that Their Offering of Drink they pour'd upon The Altar as the Sacrifice they burn It ought t' have been of Wine but having none They pour'd on water fair which serv'd the turn When th' Entrails by my Fellows eaten were And fire consumed had the Sacrifice The rest they roast on Spits and made good chear Just then it was that sleep â—orsook my eyes And back again I walk'd down tow'rds the shore But coming near perceiv'd the vapour rise Of roasted meat Then to the Gods I rore You give'me sleep and take away my life So strange a thing my Mates the while have done Swiftly Lampetio to Heav'n flies And carries up the news unto the Sun The Sun in choler all the Gods defies Unless they right him of this injury Jove Father and you other Powers Divine â—evenge me of Ulysses Company That have so insolently slain my Kine It was my joy to see them in the Morn And in the Evening â—re I went to bed Revenge me O ye Gods of this their scorn Or I 'll go down to Hell and light the Dead No Phoebus answer'd Jove hold up your light For Gods and Mortal men to see their way As for the men that did you this despight Their ship at Sea with Lightning I 'll destroy At this discourse in Heaven was Hermes by And heard his Father make this sad Decree And he again told all this History To th'fair Calypso and she told it me When to my Fellows I was come I rate Them all full bitterly and one by one But all in vain for now it was too late The Gods by Signes detested what was done The skins did creep the flesh o' th' Spits did low Both raw and roast Six days in th' Isle we staid Feasting on Phoebus Kine the seventh we row For then the fury of the winde was laid When we were out at Sea we fix our Mast And up into the winde our Sails we draw And had the Isle so far behinde us cast That nothing else but Sky and Sea we saw Then Jove when far from Land he saw our ship Just over it a dismal black Cloud hung Which made it dark as night upon the Deep And then our good ship run not very lâ—â—g For presently from West a sudden blast Came roaring in and vehemently strains And breaks the Cordage that upheld the Mast Which falling down beats out the Sâ—eerers brains He drops into the Sea The Mast hangâ— o're At Stern The Yards lie cross the sink And all the while both Heaven and Sea did rore With Thunder loud which made our hearts to shrink And by and by into the ship Jove threw His Thunder-bolt which whirl'd it round about It smelt of Sulphur rank and all my Crew Into the Sea it suddenly threw out They like to Gulls from wave to wave were born But I kept still aboard till at the last The Rudder from a-stern the ship was torn And fell into the Sea and with 't the Mast. The Mast had hanging on it broken Ropes Wherewith I bound them both together fast And sate upon them as my latest hopes Until the fury of the Storm was past The storm now laid th'wind came about to th' South And carri'd me before it till the Sun Next morning rose and then we were i'th'mouth Of dire Charybdis just when she begun To swallow up the Sea Then up leapt I And on the spreading Sycamore laid hold But to 't I could not climb the boughs so high I could not reach And far off was the root There by the hands I hung expecting when Charybdis should cast up the Sea and bring The Rudder and the Mast to th' top agen Mean while in th' Air I patiently swing What time the Judge ariseth from his seat Ending the brabbles of contentious men And all come weary home to take their meat Then came my Mast and Rudder up agen And I into the Sea close by them drop Then having soon recovered them again I place my self a-stride once more a top And with my hands I rowed on the Main If Scylla this had seen undoubtedly I had been lost But 't was theâ—grace of Jove That all this while she did not me espy But kept her self retir'd i' th' Rock above Thus wandred I at Sea nine days out-right O' th' tenth at night the Gods brought me to land In th' Isle Ogygia where Calypso bright Receiv'd me with a charitable hand But how she treated me I need not say You and the Queen already know it well From the Relation I made yesterday Nor do I love the same Tale twice to tell LIB XIII THis said all silent and delighted were Alcinous then said Ulysses since You safely to me are arrived here You shall not lose your way in going hence But Princes you that daily with me sit Drinking good Wine and hearing Musique sweet And given to the Stranger have what 's fit I 'll tell you what yet farther I think meet Garments he has a Chest-full and good store Of Gold Plate and of other Gifts he has Take my advice Let each man give him more A Caldron or a three-foot Pot of Brass I know to each man 't will be too great largess But by the Peoples Contribution We 'll make amends The Town shall bear the charges The motion pleas'd and 't was agreed upon Then went they ev'ry man to his repose And soon as Morning did again appear Aboard the Ship the Vessel they dispose Alâ—inous himself directed where And then into the Palace they return And Sacrifice to Jove a well-sed Beast The Thighs upon the Altar there they burn And with the rest they make themselves a Feast Demodocus before them sung and plaid Who for his Art was famous in the Town Ulysses to the Sun lookt up and staid Longing and wishing that it would go down As one that hath at Plough been all the day Hungry his Belly feeble is his knee Beholds the setting of the Sun with joy So glad Ulysses was Sun-set to see Then to Alcincus and all the rest Offer said he unto the Gods their Wine I have already all that I request And many Gifts which may the Pow'rs Divine Make happy to me Let me now depart That I may see my dear Wife and my Friends And blest may you stay here with joy at heart Comfort your Wives and obtain all your ends And strong and worthy Children may you have Nor 'mongst the people trouble or disease
me Pull'd off my Helmet laid my Spear aside And Buckler too and kneel'd at the Kings knee He rescu'd me and home with him me brought Sitting by him that did his Chaâ—ioâ— drive Though in their heat many to kill me sought Yet the King brought me to the Town alive Seven years I there remain'd and riches got For every man almost me somewhat gave Then thither came a Merchant that had not His fellow in all Aegypt for a Knave His house and riches in Phoenicia were And he with Lyes entic'd me to his home With him I went And there I staid a year And when the Months and Days about were come He set me in a ship for â—ybia And there together with our goods we sate He cracking of the profit he foresaw And I suspecting though it were too late With him I went And when the ship was forth We steer'd our Course without the Isle of Crete For by good luck we had a wind full North. But Jove determin'd had we should not see 't For when the Island we had legt behind And nothing else appear'd but Sea and Sky Jove fetcht the Clouds together with a wind Just o're the Ship and dark 't was presently And therewithal into the Ship he threw His Thunderbolt which whirl'd it round about It smelt of Brimstone rank And all the Crew Into the Sea it suddenly cast out And they like Gulls from wave to wave were â—ost But Jove to save me put into my hand The Ships tall Mast which with my arms I crost And after nine days came at last to land And in Thresprotia was cast on land And the Kings Son who chanc't that way to pass Listed me up as I lay on the sand And by King Phedon well receiv'd I was He cloth'd me with good Garments Coat and Vest. I askt him of Ulysses what he knew As he went home said he he was my Guest And what he then had gotten did me shew Of Brass and Iron and Gold there was so much As might ten ages feed a man alone The Treasure that he shew'd me there was such But he he said was to Doaona gone There at the Holy Oak to be advis'd Since he from Ithaca so long has been Whether 't were better to go home disguis'd Or so as to be known when he is seen The King to me in Holy Form did swear That for the Conduct of Ulysses home Both Ship and Mariners then ready were But when I went from thence he was not come A ship of that place in the harbour lay Ready to part The King bad land me there But they resolv'd were of another way Which made me yet more misery to bear When of that Land they were got out of sight To sell me for a slave they did agree My Coat and Vest they take from me there right And gave me the torn Coat and Rags you see Late in the Ev'ning they were at the Land Of Ithaca and bound me fast i' th' ship But they to Sup thought fit upon the Sand And leaving me out of the Bark they skip But from my Bonds some God sure set me free Then down I went and to the Sea appli'd My breast and round the ship swam speedily And in a great thick Wood my self I hide Sorry they were and put to Sea again To stay and seek me they lost labour thought Thus by Jove's favour I alive remain And to the house of a good friend am brought Then said Eumaeus I confess the Story Poor man of this your wandring and your pain Has had the pow'r to make me very sorry But of Ulysses what you say is vain I not believe a word What needed you So wise a man as you appear to me In vain to tell me any thing not true When I my self am sure 't will never be For all the Gods have shewn themselves his foes That neither suffer'd him to fall at Troy Noâ— the War done his best friends to compose His Body for the Grave For either way He honorably buried had been To th' honour of his Son But he is dead Unspoken of devour'd by Harpies keen And I despis'd sit here to see Swine sed And never to the City come but when Some news is brought unto Penelope And she send one to call me I come then And many listning to the news I see Some griev'd and wishing for his coming home Some that seek nothing but shot-free to feed And these men wish that he may never come But I of what they say take little heed Especially since an Aetolian As he from place to place for Murther fled Came to my house and I reliev'd the man And after found that I was cozened He said he saw him with Idomeneus In Crete and that for certain he would come His Fleet much hurt repaired to his house Rich at the next Spring or the next Autumn Therefore old man since you are come to me Think not your Story any thing avails Nor that false hopes provoke my Charity My Bounty looks on want and not on Tales Pity and fear of Jove my favours guide Ulysses to this answers him and saith Since you trust not my Word nor Oath beside And in your breast resideth little faith Let 's make a Bargain If Ulysses come Then a good Coat and Vest shall be my due And a safe Conduct to Dulichium If not and that I told you prove untrue Then make your Servants threw me from a Cliff High and upright That others may beware To cosen men into a false belief Of things they know not but uncertain are Then said Eumaeus Yes 't were a fine deed And noble t' entertain a man with love And with good chear relieve him in his need Then kill him and beg pardon then of Jove But now I wish the Swine from field were come For time it is of Supper to advise And while they talk the Swains the Swine bring home And with great noise they pent are in the sties Then did Eumaeus to his servants call From out the Herd to choose one of the best His far-come friend to entertain withal And mend their own fare also with the rest 'T is long since others the work to us leave To feed the Swine they eat Having said that Out went he for the Altar wood to cleave And they brought in a five-year-old Pig fat And laid it on the Hearth Eumaeus there Remembring well the Gods for he was wise First from the fore-head clippeth off the hair And in the fire the same did Sacrifice Then did he all the Gods above invoke That soon and safe Ulysses might arrive Next that he takes a piece of the clefâ— Oak And at a stroke did him of life deprive Then others take the work into their hands And with keen steel they quickly cut his throat That being done with many flaming Brands They sindge from head to tail his hairy Coat And lay him open Then Eumaeus came And folded up the fleshy
there O said Ulysses that the Gods would give These men what to their insolence is due Who in a house not theirs so lewdly live As if no modesty at all they knew Then came Melanthus from a place hard by He had the charge o' th' Goats brought the best And spake unto Ulysses spightfully Art thou here still to beg and to molest The Company D' ye mean before you go To taste my fingers Is there no good chear In other places 'mongst the Greeks and so You mean to dwell continually here Then came a third that charge had of the Kine Philoetius by name with him he brought A Heiser and more Gâ—ats on which to dine Over the water in the Ferry-boat Philoetius askt Eumaeus in his 〈◊〉 Who 's this that 's â—â—w come â—â—ther from whence What Countryman and what his Parents were For for his person he may be a Prince God can make Princes go from Land to Land And beg when he will give them misery This said he took Ulysses by the hand And spake unto him kind and lovingly Father I wish you as much happiness As ever you enjoy'd before But now I see you are in very great distress O Jove What God so cruel is as thou Though born thou wert yet pitiest not to see The torments of mankind To think upon Ulysses makes me weep It may be he Thus begs somewhere with such apparel on Or else he 's dead O then I am undone He set me o're his Herds when but a Boy But infinite they 're grown since he is gone Or man would quickly all Cow kind destroy But mine the Suiters force me to bring in For them to eat and ne're regard his Son The Goods to share already they begin Of th' owner that so long now has been gone And I devising was what I should do To take my Caâ—tle with me and be gone And one or other Prince to give them to But that I thought would be unjustly done For they Telemachus his Cattle were Again I thought it labour very sour To stay and keep my Masters Cattle here For others in his absence to devour So here abide I and my self I flatter With hope to see Ulysses one day come Back to his house and the proud Suiters scatter Thus laid the Maâ—â—er of the Kine To whom Ulyssâ—s said Honest you seem and wise I therefore will a secret to you swear By 〈◊〉 on high you shall see with your eyes Ulysses 〈◊〉 you wish to see him here And all these domineering Suiters slay Then O said he that Jove would have it so For I should let you see in such a fray Quickly how much these hands of mine can do Eumaeus also did like Prayer make To see Ulysses there So ended they While they discours'd the Suiters counsel take How they might make Telemachus away Then o're their heads an Eagle flew on high Sinister with a fearful Dove in 's foot Then said Amphinomus Let 's lay this by And think of Supper for we cannot do 't The Suiters all approv'd of what he said And in they went and there on Bench and Seâ— Within Ulysses house their Coats they laid And set themselves to kill and dress their meat Then from the Herd they sacrific'd a Cow And many well-grown sheep and goats well fed And many a very fat and pamper'd Sow Th' entrails they rosted and distributed Eumaeus gave out Cups Philoetius bread Melanthus from the Temp'rer fill'd out wine The Suiters on the meat before them fed With Stomachs good and drank the blood o' th' Vine Telemachus Ulysses in the Hall Hard by the threshold sets and there he sat On an ill-favour'd stool at Table small And gave him his just share of th' entrails fat And for him fill'd a great gold Cup with wine Sit here said he and fare like other men Fear neither blows nor scoffs The house is mine Ulysses is the owner of it When He first possessed it he gave it me And you my Mothers Suiters mock no more But keep the peace as long as here you be For else perhaps arise may trouble sore At first the Suiters knew not how to take Telemachus his words and silent were Admiring that such threatning words he spake So many men provoking without fear But by and by Antinous said thus Since Jove appeared has in his defence Let 's put these threats up of Telemachus Else we should quickly spoil his eloquence So said Antinous But Telemachus Car'd not at all for any thing he said When peace within doors was concluded thus In other Rites o' th' Feast they were imploy'd The Hecatomb they bear throughout the Town Into Apollo's shady Grove divine The upper-joynts in Messes they divide So fill'd their Tables and sat down to dine The portion of Ulysses was no less Than other Suiters had nor more For why Telemachus had order'd every Mess Should equal be and men serv'd equally Amongst the Suiters was a very Knave Ctesippus was his name a rich mans Son And therefore hopâ—d Penelope to have This man to th'Wooers made a motion Hear me you Suiters of Penelâ—pe This Stranger here is equal made to us And therefore reason 't is that also we Should love the Strangers of Tâ—lemachus Lo here 's a Gift I 'll give him that he may Bestow it is 't please him on him or her That empts the Chamber pots or giv 't away To any of Ulysses Bond-men here With that he hurled at Ulysses head A Cows-foot but he turn'd his head the while And from the stroke himself delivered Then smil'd Ulysses a Sardanique smile Telemachus his anger could not hide 'T is well said he you did not hurt him here For else believe it you had surely di'd O' th place run through the body with my Spear And never found a wife here but a gâ—ave Therefore give over thâ—s behaviour wild Of good and bad I now some knâ—wledge have And do nor always take me for a Child What 's past I bear the havock of mâ—…attle My Corn and Wine consumed lavishly T is hard for one with many t' enter battle Use me no longer as an Enemy For fighting to be stain I 'd rather chuse Than see my Guests or Servants harshly us'd My women as they pass about the house To be so basely tug'd touz'd and abus'd This said a while the Suiters silent were But not long after Agelaus spake Let 's not said he against a truth so clear Struggle and what is said in ill part take Nor harshly use the Stranger any more Nor any Servant of Telemachus But yet I have a silly word in store For him and for his Mother and for us Whilst there was hope Ulysses might come home The Suiters had done best at home to stay Expecting him and not have hither come But since there 's none to 's Mother he should say Take one of them for Husband which you please And most shall give you So shall he enjoy His Fathers