necessary to Life in their own Country What do they seek in another Are not they contented with what is sufficient to Nature They deserve to be Shipwrack'd for seeking Death in the midst of Tempests to satiate their Avarice Telemachus was ravish'd at Adoam's Discourese he was highly pleas'd that there was yet a People in the World who following the true Dictates of Nature was both so wise and so happy Oh how far different are these Morals said he from those vain and ambitious Manners of those People whom we believe to be the wisest We are so vitiated that we can hardly think this so natural Simplicity can be real We look upon the Morals of these People only as a pleasant Fable and we ought to look upon ours as a monstrous Dream Whilst Telemachus and Adoam entertain'd one another in this manner negelcting Sleep and not perceiving that it ws already Midnight a deceitful Deity their Enemy led 'em far wide of Ithaca which their Pilot Achamas attempted to make in vain Neptune altho a Friend to the Phaenicians cou'd no longer endure to think that Telemachus had escap'd the Tempest that had thrown him on the Rocks of the Isle of Calipso Venus who was yet more enrag'd to see this young triumphant Hero who had overcome Love and all its Charms in the transport of her Grief left Cythera Paphos Idalia and all the Honours which are paid to her in the Isle of Cyprus and cou'd no longer stay in those Places where Telemachus had despis'd her Power but mounts to bright Olympus where all the Gods were assembled round the Throne of Jupiter From this Place they behold the Stars moving under their Feet Thence they see the Globe of the Earth like a little lump of Dirt. The vast Seas seem to them only like drops of Water with which the lump of Dirt is a little moistned The greatest Kingdoms are in their Sight but a little Sand which cover the superficies of this Dirt The innumerable People and the most powerful Armies seem but as Ants which contend with one another for a slip of Grass upon this heap of Dirt. The Immortals Laugh at the most serious Affairs that disturb foolish Mortals and they appear to them like the Sports of Children What Men call Grandeur Glory and Power seem to the highest Powers nothing but Misery and Folly 'T is in this Habitation so much elevated above the Earth that Jupiter has fix'd his immoveable Throne His Eyes pierce into the very Abyss and look even into the most secret corners of all Hearts his soft and serence Aspects disperse Tranquility and Joy over all the Universe On the contrary when he shakes his awful Head he moves both Heaven and Earth The Gods themselves dazl'd with the Rays of the Glory that surround him can't approach him without Trembling all the celestial Deities were near him at that Moment Venus presented her self with all the Charms which wanton on her beautiful Bosom Her loose Gown had more splendor than all the Colours that Iris adorns her self with in the dark Clouds when she comes to promise to affrighted Mortals the end of Tempests and to proclaim to 'em the return of fair Weather Her Robe was ty'd with that famous Girdle on which the Graces are represented The Goddess's Hair was negligently ty'd behind by a Locket of Gold All the Gods were surpriz'd at her Beauty as if they had never seen her before and their Eyes were dazl'd like the Eyes of Mortals when after a long Night Phoebus returns to enlighten 'em with his Rays they look one one another with Astonishment and their Eyes return'd and fix'd always on Venus but they perceiv'd the Goddess's Eyes were bath'd in Tears and that a deep Sorrow sate on her Face Mean while she advanc'd towards the Throne of Jupiter with a soft and smooth Pace like the rapid Flight of a Bird that cuts the vast Space of the yielding Air He look'd on her with a great deal of complacency and smil'd kindly on her and rising embrac'd her My drar Daughter said he what grieves you I can't see your Tears without concern fear not to discover your Thoughts to me you know my Tenderness and Indulgence Venus answer'd him with a soft Voice but interrupted with deep Sighs O Father of Gods and Men You who see all things can't choose but know the cause of my Sorrow Minerva is not satisfied even with over-throwing the lofty Town of Troy which I defended and to be reveng'd on Paris who had prefer'd my Beauty to her's but she conducts the Son of Ulysses that cruel Destroyer of Troy over Land and Sea Telemachus is still accompany'd by Minerva which occasions that she does not appear here in Place with the rest of the Deities She led this young Bravo into the Isle of Cyprus to affront me who not only disdain'd to burn Incense on my Altars but he has exprest an abhorrence of the Feasts which are celebrated in honour of me he has shut up his Heart against my Pleasures in vain has Neptune rais'd the Winds and the Waves against him at my Request to punish him Telemachus cast by an horrible Shipwrack on the Isle of Calipso triumph'd over Love himself whom I had sent into this Island to soften the Heart of this young Greek neither the Youth nor the Charms of Calipso and of her Nymphs nor the flaming Shafts of Love cou'd over-come the Artifices of Minerva she has snatch'd him away from that Island See how I am confounded a Stripling triumphs over me Jupiter to comfort her said 'T is true my Daughter that Minerva defends the Heart of this young Greek against all the Darts of your Son and she designs him more Glory than ever young Man attain'd to I am troubled that he has despis'd your Altars but I can't give him up to your Power but for the love of you I consent that he shall still wander both by Sea and Land that he shall live far from his own Country expos'd to all sorts of Miseries and Dangers but the Fates will neither suffer him to perish nor his Virtue to yield to those Pleasures with which you bewitch Mankind Be comforted then my Daughter to keep so many Hero's and so many Gods under your Empire Here he smil'd on Venus with all the Grace and Majesty of the greatest Deity A flash of Light like the most piercing Lightnings darted from his Eyes and tenderly kissing Venus he dispers'd an Odour of Ambrosia which perfum'd all Olympus The Goddess cou'd not but be sensible of this Caress from the greatest of the Gods in spite of her Tears and Grief Joy was visible in all her Face she let down her Veil to hide her Blushes and the Confusion in which she found her self The whole Assembly applauded what Jupiter had said and Venus without losing one moment hasted to find out Neptune to consult with him the means of revenging her self on Telemachus She repeated to Neptune what
fell asleep upon their Oars The Pilot put a Garland of Flowers on his Head left the Rudder and held a vast Flaggon of Wine in his Hands which he had almost emptied He and all the rest of the Crew inflam'd with the Furies of Bacchus sung such Verses in the honour of Venus and Cupid as ought to be abhorr'd by all those who love Virtue Whilst they thus forgot the Dangers of the Sea a sudden Tempest arose The Elements seem'd to mix The Winds were let loose and roar'd in every Sail The Waves beat furiously upon the Flanks of the Ship which groaned under the Weight of their Strokes One while we mounted upon the Back of the swelling Waters another while the Sea seem'd to steal from under the Vessel and to precipitate us into the dark Abyss We saw the Rocks close by our side and the angry Waves breaking upon them with a dreadful Noise Then I found by experience the Truth of what I had heard from Mentor That Men of dissolute Lives and abandon'd to Pleasure always want Courage in time of Danger All our Cyprians sunk into despair and wept like Women I heard nothing but lamentable Exclamations bitter Regrets upon the Pleasures of Life vain and insignificant Promises of Sacrificing abundantly to the Gods if they should arrive safe in the Harbour No one had sufficient persence of Mind either to give necessary Orders or to work the Ship In this Condition I thought my self oblig'd to save my own Life and the Lives of those that were with me I took the Rudder into my Hand because the raving Pilot was utterly uncapable of knowing the Danger we were in I encourag'd the astonish'd Mariners I made them take down the Sails we sheer'd by the Rocks and Quick-sands and saw all the Horrors of Death staring us in the Face At last we arriv'd in the Island of Cyprus This Adventure seem'd like a Dream to all those who ow'd the Preservation of their Lives to my care They look'd upon me with Astonishment We landed at Cyprus in the Month of April which is consecrated to Venus This Season say the Cyprians is most suitable to this Goddess because she seems to revive the whole System of Nature and to give Birth to Pleasures and Flowers at the same time As soon as I arriv'd in the Island I perceiv'd an unusual Sweetness in the Air rendring the Body slothful and unactive but infusing a jovial and wanton Humour I observ'd the Country tho' naturally fruitful and delicious to be almost every where uncultivated through the Idleness and Negligence of the Inhabitants I saw great numbers of Maids and Women vainly and fantastically dress'd singing the Praises of Venus and going to devote themselves to the Service of her Temple Beauty Graces Joy and Pleasure were equally apparent in their Faces and Gesture But their Graces were too much affected There was not that noble Simplicity nor that lovely Modesty which makes the greatest Charm of Beauty A certain Air of Dissolution an artful way of adjusting the Face their vain Dress and languishing Gestures their Eyes that seem'd in pain to find out the Eyes of Men their mutual Jealousie who should raise the greatest Passions In a word all that I saw in these Women appear'd vile and contemptible to me By endeavouring to please me immoderately they excited my Aversion I was conducted to a Temple of the Goddess She had divers in this Island for she is particularly ador'd at Cythera Idalia and Paphos 't was to that of Cythera I was brought The Temple is built with Marble 't is a perfect Peristylium the Pillars are lofty and so well proportion'd that they give a majestick Air to the whole Fabrick At each Face of the Temple stands a Portal with a large Fronton on which the most agreeable Adventures of the Goddess are curiously represented in raised Stone-work Great numbers of People are always at the Gate attending to make their Offerings No Victim ever suffers the Knife within the Precinct of the sacred Ground The Fat of Bulls and Heifers is not burnt here as in other Places No Blood is ever shed The Cattle to be offer'd are only presented before the Altar and no Beast may be offer'd unless it be Young White without defect and without blemish They are adorn'd with purple Fillets embroyder'd with Gold their Horns are garnished with bunches of the most fragrant Flowers and when they have been presented at the Altar they are lead to a private Place without the Wall and kill'd for the Table of the Priests that belong to the Goddess Here also are offer'd all sorts of perfum'd Liquors and Wines more delicious than Nectar The Priests are cloathed in long white Robes with Girdles of Gold and Fringes of the same The most exquisite Perfumes of the East are burnt Night and Day upon the Altars and form a curling Cloud as they mount into the Air. The Pillars are adorn'd with Festons of wreathed Flowers all the Vessels for the Service of the Altar are of fine Gold a sacred Wood of Myrtle encompasses the Building none but Boys and Girls of admirable Beauty may present the Victims to the Priests or kindle the Fire upon the Altars But Dissolution and Impudence dishonour this magnificent Temple At first I detested what I saw but it soon began to grow familiar to me I was no longer afraid of Vice all Companies inspir'd me with an Inclination to Intemperance They laught at my Innocence and my Modesty serv'd for Sport to this dissolute People They forgot nothing that might ensnare me that might excite my Passions and awaken in me an Appetite to Pleasure I found my self losing Ground every day The good Education I had receiv'd could support me no longer all my best Resolutions vanish'd away I wanted Strength to resist the Evil that pressed me on every side I grew even asham'd of Virtue I was like a Man swimming in a deep and rapid River At first he cuts the Waters and mounts vigorously against the Stream but if the Banks are high and perpendicular and he finds no place to rest on either side he at last tires by degrees his Force abandons him his exhausted Limbs grow stiff and the Torrent carries him down So my Eyes began to grow dim my Heart fainted I could not make use of my Reason nor call to mind the Misfortunes of my Father The Dream that shew'd me Mentor in the Elysian Fields utterly discourag'd me An easie and dissolute Languishing seiz'd upon me I already began to love the flattering Poison that crept into my Veins and penetrated through the Marrow of my Bones Yet for all this sometimes I would Sigh I shed bitter Tears I roar'd like a Lyon in Fury O! unhappy Youth said I O Gods that divert your selves so cruelly with the Fate of Men Why do you cause them to pass through that Age which is a time of Folly and resembles a burning Fever O! why am I not covered with
Servitude as his only Refuge Formerly I would have chosen Death in Sicily to avoid Slavery but my first Misfortunes were only the weak Essays of Fortunes Injustice Now I tremble lest I should not be receiv'd among Slaves O Gods See my Calamity O Hazael remember Minos whose Wisdom you admire and who will judge us both in the Kingdom of Pluto Hazael looking upon me with Kindness and Compassion put forth his Hand and rais'd me up I am not ignorant said he of the Wisdom and Virtue of Ulysses Mentor has often told me of the Glory he has acquir'd among the Greeks and besides Fame has not been wanting to spread his Name over all the Nations of the East Follow me thou Son of Ulysses I will be your Father till you find him who gave you Life But tho' I were not mov'd with the Glory of your Father his Misfortunes and your own yet the Friendship I have for Mentor would engage me to take care of you 'T is true I bought him as a Slave but I keep him as a faithful Friend the Mony he cost has acquir'd me the dearest and most valuable Friend that I have in the World In him I have found Wisdom I owe all the Love I have for Virtue to his Instructions From this Moment he is free and you shall be so too I ask nothing of either but your Heart In an Instant I pass'd from the bitterest Grief to the most lively Joy that Men can feel I saw my self deliver'd from the worst of Dangers I was drawing near to my Country I had found One to assist me in my Return I had the Pleasure of being with a Man who lov'd me already for the sake of Virtue in Word I found every thing in finding Mentor and that which endear'd my good Fortune to me was that I feared not to lose him again In the mean time Hazael advanc'd to the Shoar we follow'd we Imbark'd with him our Oars cut the yielding Waters the Zephyrs plaid in our Sails gave Life and easie Motion to the Ship the Island of Cyprus soon disappear'd Hazael impatient to know my Sentiments ask'd me what I thought of the Manners of that Island I told him ingenuously to what Dangers my Youth had been expos'd and the Combat I had suffer'd within me He was tenderly mov'd with my abhorrence of Vice and said these Words O Venus I acknowledge your Power and that of your Son I have burnt Incense upon your Altars But give me leave to detest the infamous dissolution of the Inhabitants of your Island and the brutal Impudence with which they celebrate your Festivals After this he discours'd with Mentor of that first Being which form'd the Heavens and the Earth of that pure infinite and unchangeable Light which is communicated to all without any Diminution of that supreme and universal Truth which enlightens the Spiritual World as the Sun enlightens the Corporeal He who has never seen this Light said he is as blind as one born without Sight he passes his Life in a dismal Night like that of those Regions where the Sun never shines for many Months of the Year he thinks himself Wise and is a Fool he fancies he sees all and sees nothing he Dies without seeing any thing at most he perceives only false and obscure Flashes vain Shadows Phantoms that have no real Being Of this kind are all those who are carried away by sensual Pleasures and the Inchantments of Imagination There are no true Men upon the Earth but those who consult love and obey this eternal Reason 'T is she that inspires us when we think well 'T is she that reproves us when we think ill Our Reason as well as our Life is her Gift She is as a vest Ocean of Light the Reason of Men is like little Rivulets emaning from her which return and lose themselves in her again Tho' I did not yet throughly comprehend the Wisdom of this Discourse I tasted nevertheless something in it so Pure and so Sublime that my Heart grew warm and Truth seem'd to shine in all these Words They continued to speak of the Original of the Gods of the Hero's of the Poets of the Golden Age of the Deluge of the first Histories of the World of the River of Oblivion into which the Souls of the Dead are plung'd of the eternal Punishments prepar'd for the Impious in the dark Gulph of Tartarus and of that happy Tranquility which the Just enjoy in the Elysian Fields without any apprehensions of Change During this Conversation we saw great numbers of Dolphins cover'd with Scales that seem'd to be of Gold and Azure They play'd in the Sea and lash'd the Floods into a Foam After them came the Tritons sounding their wreathed Trumpets made of Shells They surrounded the Chariot of Amphitrite that was drawn by Sea-Horses whiter than Snow They cut the Briny Sea and left vast Furrows behind them Their Eyes darted Fire and Smoak issued from their Nostrils The Chariot of the God-dess was a Shell of a wonderful Figure 't was more white than the finest Ivory and the Wheels were all of Gold This Chariot seem'd to fly upon the surface of the Waters A Troop of Nymphs came Swimming behind the Chariot Their lovely Hair hung loose upon their Shoulders floating at the Pleasure of the Winds The Goddess had in one Hand a golden Scepter with which she commanded the Waves With the other she held upon her Knee the little God Palemon her Son who hung upon her Breast Her Face was so bright and so majestick that the black Tempests and all the seditious Winds fled from before her The Tritons guided the Horses and held the golden Reins A large Sail of the richest Purple hung floating in the Air above the Chariot a Multitude of little Zephyrs hover'd about it and labour'd to fill it with their Breath In the midst of the Air Eolus appear'd diligent restless and vehement his stern and wrinkled Face his menacing Voice his Eye-brows hanging down to his Beard his Eyes full of a dim and austere Fire dispers'd the Clouds and kept the fierce Aquilons silent The vast Whales and all the Monsters of the Sea came out of their profound Grotto's to gaze upon the Goddess and with their Nostrils made the briny Waters ebb and flow After we had admir'd this wonderful Sight we began to discover the Mountains of Creet tho' yet we could hardly distinguish them from the Clouds of Heaven and flowings of the Sea Then we saw the summet of Mount Ida which rises above all other Mountains of the Island as an antient Stag carries his branching Head above the young Fawns that follow him in the Forest By degrees we saw more distinctly the Coast of the Island representing the form of an Amphitheater as we found the Lands in Cyprus neglected and uncultivated so those of Creet appear'd plentifully cover'd with all manner of Fruits by the Industry of the Inhabitants On all sides we
Crown the beautiful Meadows and made an artificial Night which the Beams of the Sun could not penetrate Here nothing was ever heard but the singing of Birds or the noise of Waters impetuously precipitating from the Rocks and gliding away through the Fields The Grotto of the Goddess was on the descent of a Hill from whence she had a view of the Sea one while clear and smooth as Glass at another time vainly angry with the Rocks swelling into Waves and breaking to pieces against them From another side she might see a River containing many little Islands border'd with flowering Lime-Trees and lofty Poplars that rear'd their stately Heads to the Clouds The several Channels that form'd these Islands seem'd to play and sport between the Banks some rowling their Waters with rapidity others more gently and quietly and others after many windings returning as it were to the Spring from whence they came seem'd unwilling to leave the charming Place One might see afar off many Hills and Mountains hiding their Heads in the Clouds and forming such odd and unusual Figures as were very agreable to the Eye The Hills that stood at less distance were covered with Vines the Grapes of which surpass'd the richest Purple in Colour and could not conceal themselves under the Leaves of the Trees that bow'd under the weight of their Fruit. The Fig-tree the Olive and the Pomgranat with all Kinds of other Trees cover'd the rest of the Country and made it one intire Garden Calypso having shew'd Telemachus all these Beauties of Nature said to him 't is time for you to repose and to change your wet Garments after which we will see one another again and I will tell you some Things that shall affect your Heart Having said this she caused them both to enter into the most private and retired part of a Grotto which stood near to that in which she dwelt Her Nymphs had taken care to light a Fire of Cedar which fill'd the Apartment with an agreeable scent and had left all necessary Apparel for the two Strangers Telemachus finding that the Goddess had design'd him a Tunick of the finest Wooll and white as Snow with a Vest of Purple richly embroider'd with Gold was like a young Man infinitely pleas'd with this Magnificence which Mentor perceiving he said with a grave and severe Voice Are these O Telemachus the Thoughts that ought to possess the Heart of the Son of Ulysses Think rather to maintain the Reputation your Father has acquired and to overcome the Persecutions of Fortune A young Man who loves to dress like a Woman is unworthy of Wisdom and Glory The Heart that knows not how to suffer Pain and despise Pleasure is unfit to possess those glorious Advantages Telemachus with a deep Sigh answer'd May the Gods destroy me rather than suffer me to fall under the power of effeminate Pleasures No! the Son of Ulysses shall never be subdued by the Charms of a soft and unworthy Life But what Favour of Heaven has brought us to this Goddess or to this Mortal who has received us with so much Goodness Tremble replied Mentor least in the end she overwhelm you with Evil be more afraid of her insinuating Charms than of the Rocks that split your Ship Death and Shipwrack are less dreadful than the Pleasures that attack Virtue be upon your Guard and beware of believing any thing she shall say to you Youth is full of Presumption and Arrogance tho' nothing in the World be so frail it sears nothing and vainly relies upon its own Strength believing all Things with the utmost Levity and without any Precaution Beware of hearkning to the soft and flattering Words of Calypso which will slide into your Heart with Pleasure fear the concealed Poison distrust your self and determine nothing without my Counsel After this they return'd to Calypso who waited for them and presently her Nymphs dress'd in white with their Hair tied up brought in a plain but exquisite Repast consisting of Birds that they had taken with Nets and of Venison that they had kill'd with their Bows The Wine was sweeter than Nectar and flow'd from Jarrs of Silver into Golden Bowels that were crown'd with Flowers All sorts of Fruit that the Spring promises and Autumn ripens in profusion were brought in Baskets and four young Nymphs began to Sing First they sung the War of the Gods against the Gyants then the Loves of Jupiter and Semele the Birth of Bacchus and his Education under the care of old Silenus the Race of Atalanta and Hypomenes who was overcome by means of the Golden Apples that came from the Garden of the Hesperides Last of all they Sung the War of Troy and exalted the Valour and Wisdom of Ulysses to the Heavens The chief of the Nymphs whose Name was Leucothoe accompanied their sweet voices with her Lute When Telemachus heard the Name of his Father the Tears that flow'd down his Cheeks gave a new lustre to his Beauty But Calypso perceiving that he could not Eat and that he was siez'd with Grief made a sign to the Nymphs and presently they began to Sing the Fight between the Centaurs and the Lapithae and the descent of Orpheus into Hell to recover his dear Eurydice When they had eaten the Goddess took Telemachus aside and said to him You see O Son of the Great Ulysses with what savour I receive you into my Habitation Yet know that I am Immortal and that no Mortal can enter into this Island without being punished for his rash attempt nay even your Shipwrack should not secure you from the effects of my Indignation if I did not love you Your Father had the same Happiness you now enjoy but alass he knew not how to use it I detain'd him a long time in this Island and had he been contented he might have liv'd with me in an immortal Condition But a fond Passion to return to his wretched Country made him reject all these Advantages You see what he has lost for the sake of the 〈◊〉 of Ithaca which he shall never see again He resolv'd to leave me he went away and I was reveng'd by a Storm After his Vessel had serv'd for Sport to the Winds it was buried under the Waves Make a right use of so sad an Example for after his Shipwrack you can neither hope to see him again nor ever to reign in the Island of Ithaca Forget this Loss and remember you have found a Goddess that offers to make you happy and to present you with a Kingdom To these Words Calypso added many more to shew him how happy Ulysses had been with her She related his Adventures in the Cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus and the Disaster that befel him in the Country of Antiphates King of the Lestrigons not forgetting what happened to him in the Island of Circe Daughter to the Sun or the Dangers he pass'd between Scylla and Charybdis She represented the last Storm that Neptune had rais'd against
about him whilst he treated with the utmost Contempt all the antient Sages who had been entrusted by his Father In a Word he was a Monster and not a King All Egypt groan'd under him and tho' the name of Sesostris which was so dear to the Egyptians made them support the base and cruel Conduct of his Son Yet he made hast to Ruin for 't was impossible that a Prince so unworthy of the Throne should Reign long As for me I thought no more of returning to Ithaca I was confin'd to a Tower that stands by the Sea near Pelusium where I should have imbark'd if Sesostris had not died Metophis had been freed from his Imprisonment and received into Favour by the new King 'T was he that caused my Confinement to revenge the Disgrace I had brought upon him I pass'd the Days and Nights in the profoundest Melancholly All the Things which Termosiris had foretold and those that I had heard from the Cave appear'd to me to be but Dreams I was ready to sink under the weight of my Grief I saw the Waves beating at the foot of the Tower where I was Prisoner I often employ'd my time in observing the Ships that were overtaken by Storms and in danger to be split against the Rocks upon which the Tower was built Far from pitying these Men who were threatned with Shipwrack I envied their Condition In a short time said I to my self they will see an end of all their Misfortunes or arrive in their own Country But Alas I can hope for neither Whilst thus I consum'd away in useless Regrets I perceiv'd as a Forest of Masts the Sea was cover'd with Ships and the Winds fill'd all their Sails The Waters turn'd into a Foam under the Strokes of innumerable Oars I heard a confus'd Noise on every side I saw one part of the Egyptians upon the Shore terrified and running to their Arms whilst others seem'd going to receive the Fleet which they saw arriving I soon perceiv'd that part of these Ships were of Phenicia and the rest of the Island of 〈◊〉 For my Misfortunes began to render me experienc'd in every thing that relates to Navigation The Egyptians were divided among themselves And I doubted not that the foolish King had by his Violences caused his Subjects to Revolt and raised a Civil War I was Spectator of a bloody Battle from the top of my Tower That part of the Egyptians who had invited these Foreigners to their Assistance having favour'd their Descent fell upon the other Egyptians who had the King at their Head I saw this King encouraging his Men by his own Example He appear'd like the God of Battle Streams of Blood ran down by his side The Wheels of his Charriot were died with black thick and foaming Gore and could hardly move for the numbers of dead Men that lay in the way This young King vigorous of Body fierce and haughty in his Looks had Rage and Despair painted on his Face He was like a beautiful Horse that has no Mouth His Courage push'd him on to Danger but he had no prudence to moderate his Valour He knew neither how to repair a Fault nor to give the necessary Orders nor to foresee the Dangers that threatned nor to manage his Men to the best Advantage 'T was not that he wanted Understanding his Quickness was as great as his Courage but he had never been instructed by Adversity His Masters had poison'd his good Nature with their Flattery He was drunk with his own Power and Felicity He thought every thing must yield to his impetuous Desires The least Resistance put him into a Rage He consulted his Reason no longer his Pride transform'd him into a Savage Beast his natural Goodness forsook him in an instant the most faithful of his Servants were forc'd to fly from him and he consider'd none but those who flatter'd his Passions By this means he always 〈◊〉 into Extremities against his true Interest and made all honest Men detest his foolish Conduct His Valour sustained him for a long time against the multitude of his Enemies but at last he was born down with Numbers I saw him perish the Arrow of a Phenician pierc'd his Breast He sunk down in his Chariot and not being able to hold the Reins any longer he was overthrown and trampled under Foot by the Horses A Soldier of Cyprus cut off his Head and holding it up by the Hair shew'd it in Triumph to the victorious Army I shall ever remember that I saw the Head smear'd with Blood the Eyes shut and extinguish'd the Face pale and disfigur'd the Mouth half open and attempting to finish some Words it had begun a fierce and menacing Air which Death it self could not efface This sight will be always before my Eyes to the last day of my Life And if ever the Gods permit me to Reign I Shall never forget after this fatal Example That no King is worthy to Command or can be happy in the Possession of his Power unless he himself be govern'd by Reason and that 't is the utmost of all Misfortunes for a Man who is created for the Publick Good to govern vast Numbers of Men only to render himself miserable Calypso heard with Astonishment these wise Reflections And that which charm'd her the most was to see how the young Telemachus ingeniously related the Faults he had committed either through Precipitation or want of Docility for the sage Mentor She was surpris'd with the greatness and generosity of his Mind who accused himself and made so good use of his own Imprudences to become Wise Sagacious and Moderate Continue said she my dear Telemachus I long to know how you left Egypt and where you found the wise Mentor whose Loss was so sensible to you Telemachus resuming his Discourse said The best of the Egyptians who were most faithful to the King finding themselves over-power'd and the King dead were compell'd to submit to the rest and another King called **** was establish'd The Phenicians and the Troops of Cyprus departed from Egypt after they had made an Alliance with the new King All the Phenicians that were Prisoners were set at Liberty and I was accounted one of them I departed from the Court I imbark'd with the rest and my Hopes began to revive in the bottom of my Heart Already a favourable Wind fill'd our Sails our Oars cut the foaming Waves the vast Sea was cover'd with our Ships the Mariners shouted for Joy the Shoars of Egypt 〈◊〉 from us the Hills and Mountains diminished we began to see nothing but the Heavens and the Waters whilst the Sun surrounded with sparkling Flames seem'd to rise from the bosom of the Sea his Rays guilded the tops the Mountains which we could still discover upon the Horizon and the whole face of Heaven painted with a sable Azur gave us Hopes of a happy Navigation Tho' I had been set at Liberty as one of the Phenicians yet none of them knew
perceived Towns equalling Cities well-built Villages and magnificent Cities We saw neither Hill nor Vale where the Hand of the diligent Husbandman was not stampt the Plow had left deep Furrows in every part Thorns Bryars and such Plants as are a useless Burden to the Earth are utterly unknown in this Country We contemplated with Pleasure the fruitful Vallies where Troops of Oxen go lowing in the sweet Pastures that abound with Springs of running Water the Sheep every where Feeding upon the descent of the Hills the champion Ground cover'd with Corn presented with a liberal Hand by the bountiful Ceres in a Word the Mountains adorn'd with Vines and Grapes of a rich purple Colour promising a plentiful Vintage of the delicious Presents of Bacchus which charm the Cares of Men. Mentor told us he had been formerly in Creet and informed us of what he knew This Island said he justly admir'd by all Strangers and famous for its hundred Cities is more than sufficient to nourish all the Inhabitants tho' they are innumerable for the Earth never ceases to produce her Fruits if Industry be not wanting her fertil Bosom can never be exhausted The more numerous Men are in a Country provided they be Laborious the greater abundance they enjoy They need not be jealous of one another for this tender Mother multiplies her Gifts according to the number of her Children if they deserve her Favours by their Labour The Ambition and Covetousness of Men are the only Springs of their Unhappiness They covet all and make themselves miserable by desiring what is superfluous If they would be moderate and contented with what is necessary we should see Plenty Peace Union and Happiness restor'd to the World Minos the wisest and best of Kings understood this well All the admirable Things you shall see in this Island are owing to the excellency of his Laws The Education he appointed for Children renders their Bodies strong and healthful They are accustomed from their Infancy to a plain frugal laborious Life because Pleasure enervates both the Body and the Mind No other Pleasure is ever propos'd to them but the acquisition of an invincible Virtue and solid Glory This People do not measure Mens Courage only by despising Death in the hazards of War but by the contempt of great Riches and ignominious Pleasures Three Vices are punish'd here which remain unpunish'd in all other Nations Ingratitude Dissimulation Covetousness They have no need of Laws to suppress Luxury and dissolution of Manners for such Things are unknown in Creet Every Man Works yet no Man desires to be rich They think all their Labour sufficiently recompenced with an easy and regular Life in which they enjoy plentifully and quietly all that is truly necessary to Men. Costly Furniture rich Apparel delicious Feasts and guilded Palaces are not permitted in this Country Their Cloths are of fine Wool wrought with Art and beautiful in Colour but without Embroidery or any other Ornament Their Tables are sober They drink little Wine good Bread with excellent Fruits and the Milk of the Cattle make the principal part of their Meals At the most their Meat is plain dress'd without Sauce or Ragou and they always take care to reserve the best and strongest of the Cattle to be employ'd in Husbandry Their Houses are neat commodious pleasant but without Ornaments They are not ignorant of the most magnificent Architecture but that 's reserv'd for the Temples of the Gods They dare not live in Houses like those of the immortal Beings The great Riches of this People are Health Strength Courage Peace and Union in Families the liberty of all the Citizens plenty of Things necessary and a contempt of those that are superfluous a habit of Labour and an abhorrence of Sloth a mutual emulation of virtuous Actions submission to the Laws and a reverence of the just Gods I ask'd him in what the Authority of the King consisted And he answer'd thus The King is above all the People but the Laws are above the King He has an absolute Power to do Good but his Hands are tied so soon as he attempts to do Ill. The Laws entrust him with the care of the People as the most valuable of all Trusts on condition to be the Father of his Subjects They intend that one Man shall serve by his Wisdom and Moderation to make whole Nations happy and not that so many Men shall by their Misery and abject Slavery serve to flatter the Pride and Luxury of one Man The King ought to have nothing more than other Men except such assistance as is necessary either to the discharge of his painful Functions or to imprint on the Minds of the People that Respect which is due to the Person who is to maintain the vigour of the Laws On the other Hand the King ought to be more sober more 〈◊〉 to Luxury more free from Vanity Haughtiness and Ostentation than any other Man He is not to have more Riches and Pleasures but more Wisdom Virtue and Glory than the rest of Men. Abroad he is to be the Defende of his Country at the Head of their Armies at Home he is to distribute Justice to the People to make them good wise and happy 'T is not for his own sake that the Gods have made him King but only that he may be the Man of his People He owes all his Time to the People all his Care all his Affection and he is no otherwise worthy of the Crown than as he forgets his own Interests to sacrifice himself to the Publick Good Minos appointed that his Children should not reign after him unless they would reign by these Rules for he lov'd his People more than his Family By this Wisdom he render'd Greet so powerful and so happy By this Moderation he has effac'd the Glory of all Conquerors who make their People subservient to their Greatness that is to their Vanity In a Word by his Justice he do serv'd to be the supreme Judg of the Dead in the Regions below Whilst Mentor was speaking we arrived in the Island we saw the famous Labyrinth built by the Hands of the ingenious Dedalus in imitation of the great Labyrinth which we had seen in Egypt As we were considering this curious Fabrick we beheld the Shoar cover'd with People and Multitudes pressing towards a Place that was near the Sea We ask'd the reason of their hast and receiv'd this Account from one Nausicrates a Native of Creet Idomeneus the Son of Deucalion and Grand-son to Minos wint with the rest of the Grecian Kings to the Siege of Troy After the Destruction of that City he set Sail in order to return to Creet but was surpris'd by so violent a Storm that the Pilot and the most experienc'd Mariners in the Ship gave themselves for lost Every one had Death before his Eyes every one saw the Abyss open to swallow him up every one deplor'd his Misfortune and had not so much as the
the shady Woods she fetch'd a deep Sigh as soon as she saw him and felt all her Wounds bleeding afresh Cupid told her You are a Goddess and yet you suffer your self to be conquer'd by a feeble Mortal who is a Prisoner in your Island Why do you let him go Oh! unlucky Boy answer'd she I will hear no more of thy pernicious Counsels 't is thou hast broke my soft and profound Tranquility and cast me into an endless Abyss of Misery 'T is now past recall since I swore by the Stygian Flood to let Telemachus go Jove himself almighty Jove the Father of the Gods dares not to break that dreadful Oath But as Telemachus goes out of this Island go thou away too for thou hast done me more mischief than he Cupid having wip'd off his Tears with a malicious Smile told her Truly this is a mighty Business to be puzzled at Leave all to my Management keep your Oath and do not oppose Telemachus's Departure Neither your Nymphs nor I have sworn by the Stygian Flood to let him go I will inspire them with the Design of setting that Ship on fire which Mentor has built in so much hast his Diligence which fill'd us with wonder will be altogether vain he shall have reason to wonder himself in his turn and shall have no means left to draw Telemachus from you This flattering Speech convey'd pleasing Hopes and Joys into the very bottom of Calipso's Heart and allay'd the wild Fury and Despair of the Goddess just as a cooling Breeze which blows on the grassy Margent of a purling Stream refreshes a Flock of Sheep which was scorch'd by excessive Heat Her Aspect became clear and serene the fierceness of her Eyes was softned those black Thoughts and carking Cares which prey'd upon her Heart fled from her for a moment she stop'd her wandring Course she smil'd she caress'd wanton Cupid and by her Fondness prepar'd new Torments for her self Cupid highly pleas'd with having persuaded Calipso flew instantly in order to persuade the Nymphs who were wandring and dispers'd up and down the Mountains like a Flock of Sheep which the hungry ravenous Wolves have frighted away from their Shepherd Cupid gathers them together and tells them Telemachus is still in your Hands haste and let devouring Flames consume the Ship which the rash Mentor has built to favour his Escape Thereupon they take lighted Torches in their Hands run to the Sea-Shore fill the Air with dreadful Roarings and toss about their dishevell'd Hair like the furious Priestesses of Bacchus And now the greedy Flames devour the Ship which burns the more fiercely as she is made of dry Wood daub'd over with Rosin and a Cloud of Smoak streak'd with Flames rises up to the very Skies Telemachus and Mentor behold this Conflagration from the Top of the Rock and as Telemachus heard the Shoutings of the Nymphs he was almost tempted to rejoyce at it for his wounded Heart was not yet well cur'd and Mentor perceiv'd that his Passion was like a Fire not quite extinguish'd which now and then breaks through the Ashes that cover'd it and cast forth bright Sparks of Fire Now said Telemachus must I return to my former Engagements since we have no Hopes left to quit this Island By that Mentor understood that Telemachus was going to relapse into his Follies and that he had not one moment to lose He espy'd afar off in the main Sea a Ship that stood still not daring to approach the Shore for all Pilots knew that the Isle of Calipso was inaccessible to all Mortals At that very instant the wise Mentor gave a push to Telemachus who sate on the the sharp end of the Rock cast him down into the Sea and threw himself down after him Telemachus amaz'd and stunn'd by his violent Fall drunk great Draughts of briny Water and was for a while toss'd about by the Waves but at last coming to himself and seeing Mentor who reach'd him his Hand to help him to swim he thought on nothing but flying from the fatal Island The Nymphs who expected to have kept them Prisoners cry'd and howl'd with great Fury being enrag'd at the disappointment The disconsolate Calipso return'd into her Grotto which she fill'd with hideous Roarings Cupid who saw his Triumph turn'd into a shameful Defeat shook his Wings and through the yielding Air flew to the sacred Grove of Idalia where his cruel Mother expected him The Son still more cruel than the Mother comforted himself with smiling with her at all the Mischief they had done As Telemachus went farther off from the Island he felt with secret Pleasure both his Courage and his Love for Virtue reviving in his Heart I am sensible cry'd he to Mentor of what you told me and which I could not believe for want of Experience There 's no other way to conquer Vice but by flying from it Oh! Father How kind the Gods were to me when they gave me your Assistance though by my Folly I deserv'd to be depriv'd of it and be left alone to my self I fear now neither the Sea the Winds nor the Storm I only am affraid of my own Passions but of all Passions Love is more dangerous than a thousand Wrecks The Ship that stood still towards which they swam was a Phenician Bottom bound to Epirus Those Phenicians who were Aboard her had seen Telemachus in his Voyage to AEgypt but could not know him amidst the Waves As soon as Mentor came within hearing he lifted up his Head out of the Water and with a strong Voice cry'd to them Oh! Phenicians You who at all times are ready to give Assistance to all other Nations do not deny your Help to two Men who expect their Safety from your Humanity if you have any Respect for the Gods receive us into your Ship we will go along with you where-ever you go The Commander of the Ship answer'd We will receive you with joy for we are not ignorant how we ought to relieve Strangers in your unfortunate Condition and so they took them up into their Ship They were scarce got into her when their Breath was quite spent for they had swam a long while and struggled with the fierce Waves By degrees they recover'd their Spirits they had other Cloaths given them for theirs were soak'd through by asfthe briny Water which drop'd on every side As soon as they were able to speak all the Phenicians crowded about 'em desiring to know their Adventures Among the rest the Commander told 'em How could you enter the Island from which you now came It is said to be posses'd by a cruel Goddess who never suffers any Mortal to land there besides it is incompass'd by huge craggy Rocks which are continually insulted by the wanton Waves and not to be approach'd without splitting against them You say true answer'd Mentor for'twas by a Storm we were cast upon that Coast and our Wreck gave us Entrance into the Island We are Grecians
seen which fearful Mortals were afraid to approach The chief care of the Shepherds was to turn away their Flocks from it The sulphureous Stams which the Stygian Lake incessantly cast forth through this Passage infected the Air. Around it grew neither Herb nor Flower There no gentle Zephirs fann'd the Air There you could neither see the blooming Graces of the Spring nor the rich Blessings of Autumn There the Ground was all dry and languishing and there was nothing to be seen but a few Shrubs stript of their Leaves and the fatal Cypress All round for a great way Ceres denied the Labourers her Golden Harvests In vain did Bacchus seem to promise his pleasant Fruits the Grapes wither'd instead of ripening The Sorrowful Nayades could not make the Water run pure their Streams were always bitter and muddy No warbling of Birds was to be heard in that Desert that was all bristled with Bryers and Thorns there was no Grove to shelter them they went and sung their Loves in a gentler Air. Nothing was to be heard there but the croaking of Ravens and the melancholy Voice of the Owl The very Herbs were bitter and the Flocks that pass'd that way did not feed on that pleasant Pasture which used to make them skip The Bull loath'd the 〈◊〉 and the Shepherds forgot their Pipe and Flute Out of this Cavern oftentimes there issu'd forth a dark and thick Smoke which made a sort of Night at Mid-day The neighbouring People redoubled their Sacrifices to appease the Wrath of the infernal Gods but oftentimes Men in the flower of their Age and in the bloom of their Youth were the only Victims which these cruel Divinities by a fatal Contagion took Pleasure to Sacrifice It was here that Telemachus resolved to find out the way into the black Habitation of Pluto Minerva who always kept a watchful Eye over him and had cover'd him with her Shield had bespoke Pluto's Favour Jupiter at the Request of Minerva had given Orders to Mercury who went down every Day to the Regions below to deliver a certain number of Mortals into the Hands of Charon to desire the King of Shades that he would allow the Son of Ulysses to enter into his Dominions Telemachus secretly withdrew out of the Camp by Night he travel'd by the Light of the Moon and invok'd that powerful Deity who in the Heavens appears a bright Star in the Night on Earth is the chaste Diana and in Hell is the dreadful Hecate This Goddess vouchsafed him a favourable Ear because his Heart was upright and because he was guided by the pious Love of a dutiful Son Scarce had he approach'd the entry of the Cave when he heard the bellowing of the subterranean Empire The Earth trembled under his Feet the Heavens arm'd themselves with Lightning and Fire that seem'd ready to fall down The young Son of Ulysses was shock'd and his whole Body was bedew'd with a cold Sweat but his Courage supported him he rais'd up his Eyes and his Hands towards Heaven Ye great Gods cry'd he I accept this happy Omen Compleat your Work This said he redoubled his Pace and went forward boldly Presently the thick Smoke which rendred the entry to the Cavern fatal to all other Creatures that approach'd it was dissipated the poisonous Smell ceased for a while and Telemachus entred alone for what other Mortal durst follow him Two Cretans who had accompanied him to a certain distance from the Cave and to whom he had entrusted his Design stood Trembling and half Dead a great way from it in a Temple making their Vows and despairing of ever seeing Telemachus again In the mean time the Son of Ulysses with his Sword in his Hand plunges himself in horrible Darkness Presently he perceiv'd a dim and faint Light such as we see in the Night Time on Earth He observ'd the airy Ghosts fluttering about him whom he warded off with his Sword Not long after he came in sight of the melancholy brink of the marshy River whose muddy and stagnant Waters turn in a continual Whirlpool He discover'd upon the Banks of it an innumerable crowd of departed Souls who had been depriv'd of Sepulture making their fruitless Addresses to the pitiless Charon This Deity whose perpetual old Age made him morose and fretful return'd them nothing but Threats and Refusals but at first sight receiv'd the young Greek aboard his Boat Telemachus had no sooner entred than he heard the mournful Groans of a certain disconsolate Ghost What is the cause pray said he of your Misery what was you on Earth I was reply'd the Ghost Nabopharzan King of proud Babylon all the Eastern Nations trembled at the sound of my Name I made the Babylonians pay divine Honours to me in a Temple of Marble where I was represented by a Statue of Gold before which night and day the most precious Perfumes of Ethiopia were burnt none ever contradicted me unpunish'd new Pleasures were daily invented to sweeten my Life I was then young and vigorous What Pleasure was there that I did not taste while I sat on the Throne But an ungrateful Woman whom I dearly lov'd convinc'd me that I was not a God she has poison'd me and I am no more Yesternight my Ashes were with great Solemnity put into an Urn of Gold they cry'd they tore off their Hair and seem'd as if they would throw themselves into the Flames of my Pile and share in my death Some are going still to mourn at the Foot of the magnificent Tomb where my Ashes were laid but no body does really regret my Loss My Memory is abhorr'd by my own Family and here below I am already expos'd to the most dreadful Reproaches Telemachus mov'd at this sight said to him But were you truly happy during your Reign Were you sensible of that calm and gentle Peace without which the Heart remains always as 't were withred and shrunk up amidst the greatest Pleasures No reply'd the Babylonian I don't so much as know what you mean The Sages boast of this Peace as the only Good but for my part I never felt it My Soul was incessantly agitated with new desires with fear and with hope I endeavour'd to intoxicate my self with the tumultuous Motion of my Passions I was careful to entertain this Frenzy to make it lasting the shortest interval of calm Reason had been bitter Behold this was the Peace that I enjoy'd all other seem'd a meer Trifle and a Dream these are the Blessings that I regret While the Babylonian was thus speaking he wept like one of a mean Spirit soften'd by Prosperity and who had never been accustom'd to bear Misfortunes with Constancy There were hard by him certain Slaves who had been slain to grace his Funeral Mercury had deliver'd them to Charon with their King and had given them absolute Power over him whom they had serv'd on Earth The Ghosts of these Slaves stood now no more in awe of the Ghost of Nabopharzan they kept
left his Country voluntarily exiling himself and died Poor in a strange Land by this means to oblige his People always to observe these useful Laws according to their Oath That other Prince thou seest is the eleventh King of the Pylians and one of the Ancestors of wise Nestor When the Earth was ravag'd by a Pestilence which cover'd the Banks of Acheron with a multitude of new Ghosts he requested of the Gods that they would suffer him to appease their Anger in satisfying by his Death for so many Thousands of innocent Men. The Gods heard his Petition and gave him here a royal Grandeur in comparison of which all the Pomps of the Earth are but so many vain Shadows That old Man whom thou seest crown'd with Flowers is the famous Belus he reigned in Egypt and married Anchinoe the Daughter of the God Nilus who hides the source of his Streams and enriches the Countries which he Waters by his fruitful Inundations he had two Sons Danaus of whose History thou art not Ignorant and Egyptus who gives his Name to that considerable Kingdom Belus thought himself Richer by the Prosperity he gave his People and the love his Subjects bare to him than by all the Tributes he could have exacted of ' em These Men my Son whom thou supposest to be dead are alive and that Life which Men lead amidst many Miseries on Earth is no better than Death only the Names of Things are chang'd May it please the Gods to render thee Vertuous enough to merit this blessed Life which nothing can ever either end or disturb Haste away 't is time to go and seek thy Father before thou shalt find him alass how much Blood-shed shalt thou see But yet what Glory waits for thee in the Fields of Hesperia Remember the Counsels of the wise Mentor if thou follow'st them thy Name shall be great among the Nations and in all Ages Having said this he presently conducted Telemachus toward the Gate of Ivory which leads out of the gloomy Empire of Pluto Telemachus parted from him with Tears in his Eyes without being able to embrace him Being come out of these dark Regions he made what haste he could to return to the Camp of the Allies after he had again joyn'd the two young Cretans on the Way who had accompanied him very near the Cavern and had lost their hope of ever seeing him again In the mean time the chief Commanders of the Army met together to deliberate whether they should possess themselves of Venusia It was an old Fort which Adrastus had heretofore usurp'd upon his Neighbours the Appulians These were enter'd into the Confederacy against him to demand Satisfaction for this piece of Injustice Adrastus to appease 'em had put this City by way of Caution into the Hands of the Lucanians but had by Money corrupted both the Lucanian Garrison and the Person that Commanded it so that the ' Lucanians had in reality no more Authority than he in Venusia And thus the Appulians who had consented that the Lucanian Garrison should keep Venusia were trick'd in this Negotiation A Citizen of Venusia nam'd Demophantes had made a private Offer to the Allies to deliver up one of the Gates of the City in the Night This Advantage was so much the greater in that Adrastus had sent all the Ammunition and Provisions to a Castle near Venusia which could not defend it self if Venusia were taken Philoctetes and Nestor had already given their Opinion that such a happy Opportunity ought to be improv'd all the Principal Commanders sway'd by their Authority and attracted by the Advantage of so easie an Enterprize Applauded their Sentiment But Telemachus at his Return made his utmost Efforts to divert 'em from it I am not Ignorant said he that if ever any Man deserv'd to be surpriz'd and deceiv'd Adrastus does who has so often dealt fraudulently with every body else I see very well that in Venusia you 'l only put your selves in possession of a City that belongs to you since it pertains to the Appulians who are one of our Confederate Parties I confess you may do it with the better colour of Justice in as much as Adrastus who has put this City as a Pledge in the Hands of others has Corrupted the Commander and the Garrison that he may enter it when he thinks fit In fine I understand as well as you that if you take Venusia you 'l the next Day be Masters of the Castle where all Adrastus his Provisions are laid up and so may end this so formidable a War in two Days time But is it not much better to Perish than Conquer by such means as these Is Fraud to be repell'd by Fraud Shall it be said that so many Kings who enter'd into a Confederacy to punish the Impious Adrastus for his Guile are become fraudulent like him If'tis lawful for us to do as Adrastus has done he is not Guilty and we are to be blam'd to go about to punish him What has all Hesperia which is supported by so many Greek Colonies and by so many Hero 's return'd from the Siege of Troy Has Hesperia no other Arms against the Perfidiousness and Perjury of Adrastus than the practice of the same Vices You have sworn by the most sacred Things that you would leave Venusia in Trust in the Hands of the Lucanians The Lucanian Garrison you say is Corrupted with Adrastus his Money I believe it as well as you but this Garrison is paid by the Lucanians and has not refus'd to obey 'em it has kept at least in appearance a Neutrality Neither Adrastus nor any of his Men have ever enter'd into Venusia the Treaty subsists your Oath is not forgotten by the Gods shall we not keep the Promises we have given but only when we want plausible pretexts to violate ' em Shall we not be faithful and religiously regard our Oaths but only when there is nothing to be got in breaking them If the Love of Virtue and the Fear of the Gods don't move you be concern'd at least for your Reputation and for your Interest If you shew the World this pernicious Example of violating your Faith and breaking your Oaths to terminate a War what Wars will you not stir up by your Impious Conduct Which of your Neighbours will not find themselves constrain'd to be jealous of you on all occasions and utterly to detest you Who will for the future confide in you in the most pressing Exigencies What Security will you be able to give if you should have a mind to be sincere and when it would be of great Consequence to you to perswade your Neighbours of your sincerity Shall it be a solemn Treaty when you have trampled such a one under your Feet Shall it be an Oath when it is known you make no account of the Gods if you have any hope of gaining an Advantage by Perjury Peace will give no more Security in respect of you than War all that
if on the contrary he has labour'd both by his Example and Authority to make 'em good he 'll find the Fruit of his Labour in their Vertues or at least he 'll find enough to consolate him in his own and in the Friendship of the Gods During this Discourse Telemachus often turn'd his Eyes toward the Sea which began to be agitated the Winds stirr'd up the Waves and beat 'em against the Rocks which were whitened with their Foam The Ship Sails were immediately swell'd with Wind a confus'd Noise of the Seamen was heard on the Shore occasion'd by the warmth and impatience they were in to put to Sea That unknown Person with whom Telemachus had spoken had been sometime in the midst of the Island climbing up to the Tops of the Rocks and thence viewing all the immense spaces of the Sea with a profound dejection of Mind Telemachus had not lost sight of him but continually observ'd his Motions In fine this Man seeing the Vessel he belong'd to ready to sail descended from those craggy Rocks with as much speed and agility as Apollo in the Forests of Lycia when he has tied up his white Locks traverses the Precipices with his Arrows to pierce the Stags and wild Boars This unknown Person soon gets aboard the Vessel which cuts the brackish Waters and flies from the Land A secret Impression of Sorrow seizes the Heart of Telemachus he afflicts himself without knowing for what Reason The Tears run down from his Eyes and nothing seems so pleasant to him as Weeping At the same time he perceives all the Mariners of Salentum lying upon the Grass and in a sound sleep They were weary and dispirited and sweet Sleep had insinuated it self into all their Limbs the Poppies of the Night were by the Power of Minerva strew'd upon 'em in the middle of the Day Telemachus was amaz'd to see this universal Drowziness of the Salentines while the Phenicians were so diligent to make their advantage of a favourable Wind But he was yet more engag'd in viewing the Phenician Ship ready to disappear in the midst of the Waves than in going towards the Salentines to waken ' em Something or other there was that held his Eyes fix'd on the Vessel that was already parted of which he could now see nothing but the Sails whose Whiteness he could just distinguish from the azure Sky He is so intent that he does not so much as hear Mentor speak to him He is transported beyond himself in an Extasie like that of the Menades at the Feast of Bacchus when they hold the Thyrsus in their hands and make their frantick Cries eccho on the Banks of the Hebre and on Mount Rhodopus and Ismarus At last he recover'd himself a little from this sort of Enchantment and the Tears again began to flow from his Eyes Upon this says Mentor to him I don't wonder my dear Telemachus to see you Weep the cause of your Sorrow tho' unknown to your self is not unknown to Mentor 'T is Nature that speaks and makes her self felt 't is she that melts your Heart The Stranger who gave you such a lively Emotion is no other than the great Ulysses he is going to Ithaca and is already very near the Harbour and at last sees again that so long desir'd Place Your Eyes have seen him as it was formerly predicted to you but without knowing who he was You shall soon see him and know him and he shall know you but now the Gods did not think fit to permit you to know one another out of Ithaca His Heart was mov'd no less than yours but he is too Wise to discover himself to any Mortal in a Place where he might be expos'd to Treachery and to the Pursuits of Penelope's Lovers Ulysses of all Men his Heart is like a deep Well there is no drawing any of his Secrets out of it He loves Truth and never speaks any thing that stifles it but he does not speak it but on those occasions when Conveniency and Wisdom require it He keeps his Lips always clos'd up as it were with a Seal from uttering any useless Word How often was he moved in speaking to you How often did he put a restraint on himself that he might not discover himself to you And what has he not suffer'd in seeing you It was this that render'd him so sad and dejected During this Discourse Telemachus was so melted and troubled that he could not hinder a Torrent of Tears from gushing out his Sighs prevented him for a time from returning an Answer At last he cry'd out Alass my dear Mentor I found something powerful which I can't tell how to utter in that Stranger which attracted me to him and made an Emotion in all my Bowels Why did you not tell me before he went away that it was Ulysses seeing you knew him Why did you let him go without speaking to him and without signifying that you knew him What is the Mystery of this Shall I always be Unhappy Will the provok'd Gods hold me still in suspense like thirsty Tantalus who is amus'd and flatter'd by the deceitful Water which still glides away from his Lips O Ulysses Ulysses have you escap'd me for ever Perhaps I shall never see you more Perhaps Penelope's Lovers will take him by the Ambushes they prepar'd for me If I had follow'd him I had at least died with him O Ulysses O Ulysses if no Storm dashes you again against some Rock for I have every thing to fear from adverse Fortune I tremble lest when you arrive at Ithaca your Lot should be as fatal as that of Agamemnon at Mycene But why dear Mentor did you envy my Happiness I should now have been embracing him I should have been already with him in the Port of Ithaca and we should have fought together to conquer all our Enemies Says Mentor smiling 'T is to exercise your Patience that the Gods hold you thus in suspense You look upon this time as lost but know that 't is the most useful part of your whole Life for it exercises you in that Vertue which of all others is the most necessary for such as are to Govern You must be Patient if you would become Master of your self and of others Impatience which seems to be the force and vigour of the Soul is but a Weakness He that knows not how to wait and suffer is like him that knows not how to keep a Secret in his Breast both of 'em want strength and firmness of Mind to restrain themselves as a Man who runs along in a Chariot and has not a hand strong enough to stop his fiery Coursers when he should so that they no longer obey the Bridle but run down a Precipice and the weak Man that cannot check 'em is dashed in pieces by the Fall Thus an impatient Man is hurried along by his wild and furious Desires into an Abyss of Miseries the greater his Power is the more fatal is his
bitter Grass never grows upon the Bank of it nor is any Shade to be found on the sides of it but that of mournful Cypress Trees But to return Adrastus perceiving that Telemachus spread Terror on every side sought after him with the utmost diligence hoping easily to Conquer the Son of Ulysses in an Age as yet so tender He was attended with Thirty Daunians of extraordinary Strength Dexterity and Boldness to whom he promis'd very great Rewards if thy could any way in the World kill Telemachus in Battle And if they had met him just at this time of the Fight without doubt these Thirty Men by surroundings his Chariot while Adrastus would have attack'd him in the Front would have found no great difficulty in dispatching him But Minerva turn'd 'em out of their way Adrastus thought he saw and heard Telemachus in a low part of the Plain at the foot of a Hill where a great number of Soldiers were closely engag'd Hither he runs or rather flies with an eager Desire to satiate himself with Blood but instead of Telemachus he finds the Aged Nestor who with his trembling Hand was throwing Darts at a venture tho' he did little or no Execution Adrastus in his fury would have run him through had not a Troop of Pylians thrown themselves round about Nestor A Cloud of Darts then soon obscur'd the Air and cover'd all the Combatants nothing was to be heard but the Woful Cries of dying Men and the clashing of the Arms of those that fell in among the Crowd the Earth groan'd under Heaps of dead Bodies Torrents of Blood ran on all sides Bellona and Mars together with the Infernal Furies cloath'd with Robes all over running down with Blood glutted their hollow Eyes with this Spectacle and incessantly renew'd a Marshal Rage in the Hearts of the Combatants these Deities who are the Enemies of Men chased far away from both Parties generous Pity moderated Valour and sweet Humanity There was nothing among these confus'd Heaps of Men enrag'd one against another but Slaughter Revenge Despair and brutish Fury The Wife and Invincible Pallas her self trembled at the sight and started back with horror In the mean time Philoctetus march'd on by degrees with the Arrows of Hercules in his Hands endeavouring to come to the Relief of Nestor Adrastus not able to reach the Divine Old Man had pierc'd several Pylians with his Darts and made 'em lick the Dust. He overthrew Eusilas who was so swift a Runner that he scarce left the print of his Steps upon the Sand and in his own Countrey outstript the most rapid Streams of the Eurotas and the Alpheus At his Feet fell Entiphon who was more Beautiful than Hylas and as violent a Hunter as Hyppolitus Pterelas who had followed Nestor to the Siege of Troy and whom Achilles himself lov'd for his Courage and Strength Aristogiton who by bathing in the Waters of the River Achelous had friendly receiv'd of this God the power of assuming all sorts of Forms in short he was so supple and nimble in all his Motions that he escap'd the Hands of the strongest Warriors but Adrastus with one thrust of his Spear depriv'd him of all Motion and soon let out his Blood and Soul together Nestor seeing his most Valiant Captains fall by the Hand of Adrastus as the gilded Ears of Corn in time of Harvest fall under the keen Sickle of the Indefatigable Reaper forgot his own Danger and needlesly expos'd himself He threw away his Old Age and thought of nothing but how to follow his Son Pisistratus in keeping his Eyes intent on him who on his side was very warmly engag'd to keep off Danger from his Father But the fatal Moment was come in which Pisistratus was to make Nestor feel how unfortunate a Man may be in living too long Pisistratus push'd his Spear with such violence against Adrastus that this Daunian Prince must needs have fallen but that he avoided the Stroke and while Pisistratus who was somewhat discompos'd by the false Thrust he had 〈◊〉 was recovering his Spear 〈◊〉 pierc'd him with a Javesin in the middle of his Folly His Bowels immediately began to come out with a Torrent of Blood His lively Colour vanish'd like that of a Flower after the Hand of some Nymph has gather'd it in the Meadow his Eyes were already almost extinguish'd and his Speech falter'd when Alisius his Governour who 〈◊〉 near him supported him just as he was falling and had only time to 〈◊〉 him to his Father and throw him into his Arms then he would fain have spoken and have given him the last marks of his tender Affection but as he open'd his Mouth to speak he expir'd While 〈◊〉 spread Slaughter and Horror round him in 〈◊〉 the Efforts of Adrastus Nestor held the Body of his Son closely grasp'd in his Arms and fill'd the Air with lamentable Cries not being able to 〈◊〉 the Light any longer All unfortunate 〈◊〉 that I am said he that I have been a Father and lived so long Alas ye cruel Destinies why did you not end my Life either 〈◊〉 Hunting the 〈◊〉 Boar or in my 〈◊〉 Voyage or at the first Siege of 〈◊〉 Then I should have died with Glory and without bitterness and Sorrow Now I carry with me a 〈◊〉 despiss'd and impotent Old Age I now live only to suffer 〈◊〉 and have no other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me but that of Sorrow O my Son my Son O my dear Son 〈◊〉 When I lost they Brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wast my 〈◊〉 but now I have thee no more now I have nothing left nothing can yield me any Consolation more All is at an End with me Hope the only mitigation of Human 〈◊〉 is an Advantage in which I have no Interest O 〈◊〉 O 〈◊〉 my dear Children this seems to me the 〈◊〉 Day wherein I lose you both The Death of one opens again the Wound which that of the other had made in the bottom of my Heart I shall never see either of you again Who now shall close my Eyes Who shall gather up my Ashes O Pisistratus thou didst die as well as thy Brother a Valiant Man 't is only I that cannot tell how to die In uttering these Words he would have pierc'd himself with a Dart which he held in his Hand if he had not been prevented by those that were about him after which they took from him the Body of his Son and this unfortunate Old Man falling into a Swoon they carried him into his Tent when after he had a little recover'd his Spirits he would have return'd into the Battel which they would by no means suffer him to do In the mean time Adrastus and Philoctetus were searching for each other Their Eyes sparkled like those of a Lion and a Leopard that are seeking to devour one another in those Fields which Cocyties waters Menaces warlike Rage and cruel Revenge glitter in their furious Eyes they bring certain Death wherever they throw their Darts
All the Soldiers beheld 'em with Terror And now they see one another Philoctetus held in his Hand one of those terrible Arrows which never fail'd to do Execution in his Hands and made Wounds that were incurable But Mars who favour'd the Cruel and Intrepid Adrastus would not suffer him to die so soon having a Desire by his means to prolong the Horrors of War and multiply Slaughter and Cruelty Adrastus his Life was yet owing to the Justice of the Gods as their Scourge to punish Men and shed their Blood In the very Moment Philoctetus design'd to attack him he was himself wounded by the thrust of a Spear given him by Amphimachus a young Lucanian whose Beauty exceeded the famous Niceus as the Beauty of this latter gave place to none but that of Achilles among all the Greeks that Wound but he drew his Bow against 〈◊〉 and sent an Arrow to him that pienc'd his 〈◊〉 The Lustre of his lovely Black Eyes was instantly extinguish'd and cover'd with the Shades of Death his Vermilion Lips whose Colour excell'd that of the 〈◊〉 which oising 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 along the Horizon grew Wan and a dreadful Paleness 〈◊〉 his lovely Cheeks In a word his tender 〈◊〉 dolicate Countenance was all on a Asudden disfigur'd 〈◊〉 himself could not forbear to pity him And all the Souldiers that observ'd him could not chuse but sigh to see this Young Man fall and roul in his own Blood his Head of Hair which for Beauty might vie with that of Apollo all dishevel'd and defil'd in the Dust. Philoctetus having Conquer'd Amphimachus was constrain'd to retire from the Battle he lost his Blood and Strength and even his Ancient Wound seem'd in the heat of 〈◊〉 on ready to open again and 〈◊〉 his Pain for the Sons of 〈◊〉 with all their Divide Art could not entirely cure it And now he was just ready to fall among the Heap of bleeding Bodies that were round about him when Archiaamus the holdest and most dextrous of all the Thebalians that he had brought with him to Found Philelia carried him out of the Battel in the very moment when Adrastus would have 〈◊〉 him at his Feet with ease And now Adrastus finds no farther 〈◊〉 none daring to resist or retard his Victory All fall or fly before him and he becomes like a Torrent which having overflown its Banks sweeps away with its fullous Waves Corn and Cattle Shepherds and their Cottages together Telemachus hears from far the shouts of the Conquerors and sees the Disorders of his Men who fled before Adrastus as a Company of timorous Deer traverse the vast Plains Woods Mountains and even the swiftest Rivers when pursued by the Hunters Telemachus sigh'd Indignation sparkles in his Eyes he quits the Place where he had been so long fighting with so much Danger and Glory and runs to the Succour of his discouraged Troops He advances all besmear'd with the Blood of a multitude of Enemies whom he had spread upon the Dust. He gives a shout at a distance that was heard by both Armies Minerva had put something unexpressibly terrible both in his Eyes and Voice with which he made the neighbouring Mountains eccho Never did Mars make his own cruel Voice to be heard louder in Thrace when he call'd upon the infernal Furies War and Death to attend him This shout of Telemachus inspird the Hearts of his Soldiers with Courage and Boldness and fills the Souls of his Enemies with Fear and Dread Adrastus is asham'd to feel himself thus disorder'd I know not how many fatal Presages fills him with Terror and that which animates him is rather Despair than true Valour which is accompanied with Tranquillity of Mind Three times his trembling Knees began to slip away from under him three times he stept back without thinking what he was doing a faint Paleness and a cold Sweat ran through all his Limbs his hoarse and faltering Voice could not finish any Sentence his Eyes full of gloomy Fire sparkled and look'd as if they would start out of his Head he seem'd agitated by the Furies like Orestes all his Motions were Convulsive he thought he saw the Gods irritated against him and that he heard a whispering Voice proceeding from the bottom of Hell to call him into black 〈◊〉 every thing made him sensible there was a 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Hand waving over his Head which was going to 〈◊〉 its Force in 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 Hope was extinguish'd at the 〈◊〉 of his Heart his Resolution was 〈◊〉 and disappear'd like the Light of the Day when the Sun lies down in the Bosom of the Sea and the Earth wraps her self in the Shades of the Night The impious Adrastus too long suffer'd upon the Earth too long if Mankind had not stood in need of such a Scourge the impious Adrastus in sine draws near his last Hour he runs like a mad Man to meet his inevitablo Fare Horror cutting Remorse Consternation Fury Rage and Despair march along with him No sooner does he see Telemachus but he thinks he sees Avertius open it self and the rowling Flames of black Phlegethon ready to dovour him He cries out and his Mouth remain open without being 〈◊〉 Man 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 frightfuli Dream opens his Mouth and makes attempts no speak but still wants 〈◊〉 and seeks it in 〈◊〉 However 〈◊〉 with a trembling and 〈◊〉 Hand throws his Dart at Telemachus while the latter intrepid and calm as the Minds of the Gods defends himself with his Buokler Victory covering him with her Wings seems already to hold a Crown over his Head a sweet and orderly Courage shines in his Eyes one would have taken him for Minerva her self he appear'd so wise and regular in the midst of the greatest Dangers The Dart which Adrastus cast being repuls'd by his Buckler Adrastus made hast to draw his Sword to hinder 〈◊〉 Son of the Advantage of taking 〈◊〉 turn to throw his Dart at him 〈◊〉 seeing Adrastus's Sword in his Hand betakes himself immed 〈◊〉 to his own omitting to throw his Dart. When they were seen in this Posture of fighting one another hand to hand all the rest of the Soldiers laid down their Arms in silence to look upon 'em with the greatest Attention expecting from their single Engagement the destiny of the whole War The two Swords glitter'd like the Lightning which sends forth terrible Claps of Thunder they often cross one another and deal Blows without Execution on their polish'd Armor which resounded with the heavy strokes The two Combatants stretch out and recover themselves stoop down and rise up all in an instant and in fine they fall to grappling The Ivy that grows at the Foot of a young Elm does not more straitly wreath its twining Branches about the hard and knotty Trunk till it climbs up to the lostiest Boughs of the Tree than these two Combatants Clasp and Lock one another Adrustus had yet lost nothing of his Strength and Telemachus had not muster'd all his together