paid Griefes whole summe due from me at sea before I reacht the deare touch of my countries shore With what clouds Ioue heauens heightned forehead binds How tyrannize the wraths of all the winds How all the tops he bottomes with the deepes And in the bottomes all the tops he steepes Thus dreadfull is the presence of our death Thrice foure times blest were they that sunke beneath Their Fates at Troy and did to nought contend But to renowme Atrides with their end I would to God my houre of death and Fate That day had held the power to terminate When showres of darts my life bore vndeprest About diuine Aeacides deceast Then had I bene allotted to haue died By all the Greeks with funerals glorified Whence Death encouraging good life had growne Where now I die byâ—â—o man mournd nor knowne This spoke a huge waue tooke him by the head And hurld him o're-boord ship and all it laid Inuerted quite amidst the waues but he Farre off from her sprawld strowd about the sea His Sterne still holding broken off his Mast Burst in the midst so horrible a blast Of mixt winds strooke it Sailes and saile-yards fell Amongst the billowes and himselfe did dwell A long time vnder water nor could get In haste his head out waue with waue so met In his depression and his garments too Giuen by Calypso gaue him much to do Hindring his swimming yet he left not so His drenched vessell for the ouerthrow Of her nor him but gat at length againe Wrestling with Neptune hold of her and then Sate in her Bulke insulting ouer Death Which with the salt streame prest to stop his breath He scap't and gaue the sea againe to giue To other men His ship so striu'd to liue Floting at randon cufft from waue to waue As you haue seene the Northwind when he draue In Autumne heapes of thorne-fed Grashoppers Hither and thither one heape this way beares Another that and makes them often meete In his confusde gales so Vlyssâ—s fleete The winds hurl'd vp and downe now Boreas Tost it to Notus Notus gaue it passe To Eurus Eurus Zephire made it pursue The horrid Tennis This sport calld the view Of Cadmus daughter with the narrow heele Ino Leucothea that first did feele A mortall Dames desires and had a tongue But now had th' honor to be nam'd among The marine Godheads She with pitie saw Vlysses iustl'd thus from flaw to flaw And like a Cormorand in forme and flight Rose from a whirl-poole on the ship did light And thus bespeake him Why is Neptune thus In thy pursuite extremely furious Oppressing thee with such a world of ill Euen to thy death He must not serue his will Though t is his studie Let me then aduise As my thoughts serue thou shalt not be vnwise To leaue thy weeds and ship to the commands Of these rude winds and worke out with thy hands Passe to Phaeacia where thy austere Fate Is to pursue thee with no more such hate Take here this Tablet with this riband strung And see it still about thy bosome hung By whose eternall vertue neuer feare To suffer thus againe nor perish here But when thou touchest with thy hand the shore Then take it from thy necke nor weare it more But cast it farre off from the Continent And then thy person farre ashore present Thus gaue she him the Tablet and againe Turnd to a Cormorand diu'd past sight the Maine Patient Vlysses sighd at this and stucke In the conceit of such faire-spoken Lucke And said Alas I must suspect euen this Lest any other of the Deities Adde sleight to Neptunes force to counsell me To lâ—aue my vessell and so farre off see The shore I aime at Not with thoughts too cleare Will I obey her but to me appeare These counsels best as long as I perceiue My ship not quite dissolu'd I will not leaue The helpe she may affoord me but abide And suffer all woes till the worst be tride When she is split I le swim no miracle can Past neare and cleare meanes moue a knowing man While this discourse emploid him Neptune raisd A huge a high and horrid sea that seisd Him and his ship and tost them through the Lake As when the violent winds together take Heapes of drie chaffe and hurle them euery way So his long woodstacke Neptune strooke astray Then did Vlysses mount on rib perforce Like to a rider of a running horse To stay himselfe a time while he might shift His drenched weeds that were Calypsos gift When putting strait Leucotheas Amulet About his necke he all his forces set To swim and cast him prostrate to the seas When powrefull Neptune saw the ruthlesse prease Of perils siege him thus he mou'd his head And this betwixt him and his heart he said So now feele ils enow and struggle so Till to your Ioue-lou'd Ilanders you row But my mind sayes you will not so auoid This last taske too but be with sufferance cloid This said his rich-man'd horse he mou'd and reacht His house at Aegas But Minerua fetcht The winds from sea and all their wayes but one Barrd to their passage the bleake North alone She set to blow the rest she charg'd to keepe Their rages in an bind themselues in sleepe But Boreas still flew high to breake the seas Till Ioue-bred Ithacus the more with ease The nauigation-skild Phaeacian States Might make his refuge Death and angrie Fates At length escaping Two nights yet and daies He spent in wrestling with the sable seas In which space often did his heart propose Death to his eyes But when Aurora rose And threw the third light from her orient haire The winds grew calme and cleare was all the aire Not one breath stirring Then he might descrie Raisd by the high seas cleare the land was nie And then looke how to good sonnes that esteeme Their fathers life deare after paines extreame Felt in some sicknesse that hath held him long Downe to his bed and with affections strong Wasted his bodie made his life his lode As being inflicted by some angrie God When on their praires they see descend at length Health from the heauens clad all in spirit and strength The sight is precious so since here should end Vlysses toiles which therein should extend Health to his countrie held to him his Sire And on which long for him Disease did tire And then besides for his owne sake to see The shores the woods so neare such ioy had he As those good sonnes for their recouerd Sire Then labourd feete and all parts to aspire To that wisht Continent which when as neare He came as Clamor might informe an eare He heard a sound beate from the sea-bred rocks Against which gaue a huge sea horrid shocks That belcht vpon the firme land weeds and fome With which were all things hid there where no roome Of fit capacitie was for any port Nor from the sea for
About her turrets that seuen Ports enclosde For though the Thebâ—ns much in strength reposde Yet had not they the strength to hold their owne Without the added aides of wood and stone Alcmena next I saw that famous wife Was to Amphytriâ— and honor'd life Gaue to the Lyon-hearted Herculeâ— That was of Ioues embrace the great increase I saw besides proud Craeons daughter there Bright Megara that nuptiall yoke did weare With Ioues great Sonne who neuer field did try But bore to him the flowre of victory The mother then of Oedipus I saw Faire Epicasta that beyond all law Her owne Sonne maried ignorant of kind And he as darkly taken in his mind His mother wedded and his father slew Whose blind act heauen exposde at length to view And he in all-lou'd Thebes the supreame state With much mone manag'd for the heauy Fate The Gods laid on him She made violent flight To Plutos darke house from the lothed light Beneath a steepe beame strangl'd with a cord And left her Sonne in life paines as abhord As all the furies powr'd on her in hell Then saw I Chloris that did so excell In answering beauties that each part had all Great Neleus married her when gifts not small Had wonne her fauour term'd by name of dowre She was of all Amphions seed the flowre Amphion calld lâ—sides that then Ruld strongly Myniâ—an 〈◊〉 And now his daughter rul'd the Pylean Throne Because her beauties Empire ouershone She brought her wise-awd husband Neleus Nestâ—r much honord Peryclimenus And Chromius Sonnes with soueraigne vertues grac'â— But after brought a daughter that surpast Rare-beautied Perâ— so for forme exact That Nature to a miracle was rackt In her perfections blaz'd with th' eyes of men That made of all the Countries hearts a chaine And drew them suiters to her Which her Sire Tooke vantage of and since he did aspire To nothing more then to the broad-browd herd Of Oxen which the common fame so rer'd Own'd by Iphiclus not a man should be His Peros husband that from Phylace Those neuer-yet-driuen Oxen could not driue Yet these a strong hope held him to atchieue Because a Prophet that had neuer err'd Had said that onely he should be prefer'd To their possession But the equall Fate Of God withstood his stealth inextricate Imprisoning Bands and sturdy churlish Swaines That were the Heardsmen who withheld with chaines The stealth attempter which was onely he That durst abet the Act with Prophecie None else would vndertake it and he must The king would needs a Prophet should be iust But when some daies and moneths expired were And all the Houres had brought about the yeare The Prophet did so satisfie the king Iphiclus all his cunning questioning That he enfranchisde him and 〈◊〉 worst done Ioues counsaile made th'all-safe conclusion The saw I Laeda linkt in nuptiall chaine With Tyndâ—rus to whom she did sustaine Sonnes much renowm'd for wisedome Câ—stâ—â— one That past for vse of horse comparison And Pollâ—x that exceld in whirlbat fight Both these the fruitfull Earth bore while the light Of life inspir'd them After which they found Such grace with Ioue that both liu'd vnder ground By change of daies life still did one sustaine While th'â—ther died the dead then liu'd againe The liuing dying both of one selfe date Their liues and deaths made by the Gods and Fate Iphemedia after Laeda came That did deâ—iue from Neptune too the name Of Father to two admirable Sonnes Life yet made short their admirations Who God-opposed Otus had to name And Ephialtes farre in sound of Fame The prodigall Earth so fed them that they grew To most huge stature and had fairest hew Of all men but Orion vnder heauen At nine yeares old nine cubits they were driuen Abroad in breadth and sprung nine fathomes hie They threatn'd to giue battell to the skie And all th'Immortals They were setting on Ossa vpon Olympus and vpon Steepe Ossa leauie Pelius that euen They might a high-way make with loftie heauen And had perhaps perform'd it had they liu'd Till they were Striplings But Ioues Sonne depriu'd Their lims of life before th'age that begins The flowre of youth and should adorne their chins Phaedra and Procris with wise Minos flamâ— Bright Ariadne to the offring came Whom whilom Theseus made his prise from Crete That Athens sacred soile might kisse her feete But neuer could obtaine her virgin Flowre Till in the Sea-girt Dia Dians powre Detain'd his homeward haste where in her Phane By Bacchus witnest was the fatall wane Of her prime Glorie Maera Clymene I witnâ—st there and loth'd Eryphile That honouâ—'d gold more then she lou'd her Spouse But all th' Heâ—oesses in Plutos house That then encounterd me exceeds my might To name or number and Ambrosian Night Would quite be spent when now the formall houres Present to Sleepe our all-disposed powres If at my ship or here my home-made vow I leaue for fit grace to the Gods and you This said the silence his discourse had made With pleasure held still through the houses shade When white-arm'd Arete this speech began Phaeacians how appeares to you this man So goodly person'd and so matcht with mind My guest he is but all you stand combin'd In the renowne he doth vs. Do not then With carelesse haste dismisse him nor the maine Of his dispaâ—ch to one so needie maime The Gods free bountie giues vs all iust claime To goods enow This speech the oldest man Of any other Phaeacensian The graue Heroe Echineus gaue All approbation saying Friends ye haue The motion of the wise Queene in such words As haue not mist the maâ—ke with which accords My cleare opinion But Alcinous In word and worke must be our rule He thus And then Alcinous said This then must stand If while I liue I rule in the command Of this well-skild-in-Nauigation State Endure then Guest though most importunate Be your affects for home A litle stay If your expectance beare perhaps it may Our gifts make more complete The cares of all Your due deduction asks but Principall I am therein the ruler He replied Alcinous the most duly glorifiâ—d With rule of all of all men if you lay Commandment on me of a whole yeares stay So all the while your preparations rise As well in gifts as time ye can deuise No better wish for me for I shall come Much fuller handed and more honourd home And dearer to my people in whoâ—e loues The richer euermore the better proues He answerd There is argude in your sight A worth that works not men for benefit Like Pâ—ollers or Impostors of which crew The gentle blacke Earth feeds not vp a few Here and there wanderers blanching tales and lies Of neither praise nor vse you moue our eies With forme our minds with matter and our â—ares With elegant oration such as beares A musicke in the orderd historie It layes before vs. Not
whirlepit doth to gather in To fishy death those swimmers in their sin Or feeds a motion as circulare To driue my Herds away But while the Son Beares vp with life t' were hainous wrong to ron To other people with them and to trust Men of another earth and yet more iust It were to venture their Lawes an maine right Made stil their Maisters then at home lose quite Their right and them and sit and greeue to see The wrong authoriz'd by their gluttonie And I had long since fled and tried th' euent VVith other proud Kings since more insolent These are then can be borne But that euen stil I had a hope that this though borne to ill VVould one day come from some coast their last In his roofes strew with ruines red and vast Herdsman said he because thou art in show Nor lewd nor indiscreete and that I know There rules in thee an vnderstanding soule I l'e take an oath that in thee shall controule All doubt of what I sweare be witnesse Ioue That swai'st the first Seate of the thron'd aboue This hospitable Table and this house That still holds title for the strenuous Sonne of Laertes that if so you please Your eyes shall witnesse Laertiades Arriu'd at home and all these men that raigne In such excesses heere shall heere lye slaine He answer'd Stranger would inst Ioue wold signe What you haue sworne in your eyes beams should shine What powers I mannage and how these my hands VVould rise and follow where he first commands So said Eumaeus praying all the Sky That wise Vlysses might arriue and trie Thus while they vow'd the wooers sat as hard On his Sons death but had their coâ—nsels skar'd For on their left hand did an Eagle â—ore And in her seres a fearefull Pigeon bore VVhich seene Amphinomus presa'gd O friends Our Counsailes neuer will receiue their ends In this mans slaughter let vs therefore plie Our bloody feast and make his Oxen die Thus came they in cast off on seates their cloakes And fell to giuing sacrificing strokes Of Sheepe and Goates the cheefely fat and great Slew fed vp Swine and from the Heard a Neate The inwards roasted they disposd'e betwixt Their then obseruers wine in Flaggons mixt The bolles Eumaeus brought Pâ—ilaetius bread Melanthus fill'd the wine Thus dranke and fed The feastfull wooers Then the Prince in grace Of his close proiect did his Father place Amids the paued Entrie in a Seate Seemelesse and abiect a small boord and meate Of th' onely inwards In a cup of gold Yet sent him wine and bad him now drinke bolde All his approches he himselfe would free Gainst all the wooers since he would not see His Court made populare but that his Sire Built it to his vse Therefore all the fire Blowne in the wooers spleenes he bad suppresse And that in hands nor words they â—hould digresse From that set peace his speech did then proclaime They bit their lips and wondred at his aime Iâ— that braue Language when Antinons saide Though this speech Grecians be a meere vpbraide Yet this time giue it passe The will of Ioâ—e Forbids the violence of our hands to moue But of our tongues we keepe the motion free And therefore if his further iollity Tempt our encounter with his Braues let 's checke His growing insolence though pride to speake Fly passing high with him The wise Prince made No more spring of his speech but let it fade And now the Heralds bore about the Towne The sacred Hecatombe to whose renowne The faire-haird Greekes assembl'd and beneath Apollo's shady wood the holy death They put to fire which made enough they drew Diuided all that did in th' end accrew To glorious satisfaction Those that were Disposers of the Feast did equall cheere Bestow on wretched Laertiades With all the wooers soules It so did please Telemachus to charge them And for these Minerua would not see the malices The wooers bore too much contain'd that so Vlysses mou'd heart yet might higher flow In wreakfull anguish There was wooing there Amongst the rest a Gallant that did â—eare The name of one well learn'd in iests prophane His name Ctesippus borne a Samiane Who proud because his Father was so rich Had so much confidence as did bewitch His heart with hope to wed Vlysses wife And this man said Heare me my Lords in strife For this great widdow This her guest did share Euen feast with vs with very comely care Of him that order'd it For 't is not good Nor equall to depriue Guests of their food And specially what euer guest makes way To that house where Telemachus doth sway And therefore I will adde to his receipt A gift of very hospitable weight VVhich he may giue againe to any Maide That bath's his graue feete and her paines see paide Or any seruant else that the diuine Vlysses lofty Battlements confine Thus snatcht he with a valiant hand from oâ—â— The poore folkes commune basket a Neat foot And threw it at Vlysses who his head Shrunke quietly aside and let it shed His malice on the wall The suffering man A laughter raising most Sardinian VVith scorne and wrath mixt at the Samian VVhom thus the Prince reprou'd Your valour wan Much grace Ctesippus and hath eas'd your minde VVith mighty profit yet you see it finde No marke it aim'd at the poore strangers part Himselfe made good enough to scape your Dart. But should I serue thee worthily my Lance Should strike thy heart through in place t' aduance Thy selfe in Nuptials with his wealth thy Sire Should make thy toomb heere that the foolish fire Of all such valors may not dare to show These foule indecencies to me I now Haue yeares to vnderstand my strength and know The good and bad of things and am no more At your large sufferance to behold my store Consum'd with patience See my Cattell slaine My wine exhausted and my Bread in vaine Spent on your license For to one then yong So many enemies were match too strong But let me neuer more be witnesse to Your hostile minds Nor those base deeds ye do For should ye kill me in my offred wreake I wish it rather and my death would speake Much more good of me then to liue and â—ee Indignity vpon indignity My Guests prouok't with bitter words and blowes My women seruants dragg'd about my house To lust and rapture This made silence seize The house throughout till Damastorides At length the calme brake and said Friend forbeare To giue a iust speech a disdainfull eare The Guest no more touch nor no seruant here My selfe will to the Prince and Queene commend A motion gratefull if they please to lend Gratefull receite as long as any hope Left wise Vlysses any passage ope To his returne in our conceits so long The Queenes delayes to our demands stood strong In cause and reason and our quarrels thus With guests the Queene or her Telemachus Set neuer
Twice fiue and twenty women here that share All worke amongst them whom I taught to Spin And beare the iust bands that they suffer'd in Of all which onely there were twelue that gaue Themselues to impudence and light behaue Nor me respecting nor herselfe the Queene And for your Son he hath but lately bene Of yeares to rule Nor would his Mother beare His Empire where her womens labors were But let me go and giue her notice now Of your arriuall Sure some God doth show His hand vpon her in this rest she takes That all these vproâ—es beares and neuer wakes Nor wake her yet said he but cause to come Those twelue light women to this vtter roome She made all vtmost haste to come and go And bring the women he had summon'd so Then both his Swaines and Son he bad go call The women to their aide and cleere the Hall Of those dead bodies Clense each boord Throne VVith wetted Sponges which with fitnesse done He bad take all the Strumpets 'twixt the wall Of his first Court and that roome next the Hall In which the vessell of the house were scour'd And in their bosomes sheath their euery sword Till all their soules were fled and they had then Felt 't was but paine to sport with lawlesse men This said the women came all drown'd in mone And weeping bitterly But first was done The bearing thence the dead all which beneath The Portico they stow'd where death on death They heap't together Then tooke all the paines Vlysses will'd His Sonne yet and the Swaines VVith paring-shouels wrought The women bore Their parings forth and al the clotter'd gore The house then clensd they brought the women out And put them in a roome so wall'd about That no meanes seru'd their sad estates to flye Then saide Telemachus These shall not dye A death that lets out any wanton blood And vents the poison that gaue Lust her foode The body clensing but a death that chokes The breath and all together that prouokes And seemes as Bellowes to abhorred Lust That both on my head pour'd depraues vniust And on my Mothers scandaling the Court VVith men debaucht in so abhorr'd a sort This said a Halser of a ship they cast About a crosse beame of the roofe which fast They made about their neckes in twelue parts cut And hal'd them vp so high they could not put Their feete to any stay As which was done Looke how a Mauis or a Pygeon In any Groue caught with a Sprindge or Net VVith strugling Pinions 'gainst the ground doth beat Her tender body and that then-streight bed Is sowre to that swindge in which she was bred So striu'd these taken Birds till euery one Her pliant halter had enforc't vpon Her stubborne necke and then aloft was haul'd To wretched death A little space they sprauld Their feet fast mouing but were quickly still Then fetcht they downe Melanthius to fulfill The equall execution which was done In Portall of the Hall and thus begun They first slit both his Nose thrils cropt each eare His Members tugg'd off which the dogges did teare And chop vp bleeding sweet and while red hot Tâ—e vice-abhorring blood was off they smote His hands and feet and there that worke had end Then washt they hands feet that blood had steind And tooke the house againe And then the King Euryclea calling bad her quickly bring All ill-expelling Brimstone and some fire That with perfumes cast he might make entire The houses first integrity in all And then his timely will was she should call Her Queene and Ladies still yet charging her That all the Handmaids she should first confer She said he spake as fitted But before She held it fit to change the weeds he wore And she would others bring him that not so His faire broad shoulders might rest clad and show His person to his seruants was too blame First bring me Fire said he She went and came VVith fire sulphure straight with which the hall And â—f the huge house all roomes capitall He throughly sweetned Then went Nurse to call The Handmaid seruants downe vp she went To tell the newes and will'd them to present Their seruice to their Soueraigne Downe they came Sustaining Torches all and pour'd a flame Of Loue about their Lord with welcomes home VVith huggings of his hands with laborsome Both heads and fore-heads kisses and embraces And plyed him so with all their louing graces That teares and sighes tooke vp his whole desire For now he knew their hearts to him entire The End of the XXII Booke of Homers Odysses THE XXIII BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT VLysses to his wife is knowne A briefe sum of his Trauailes shownâ— Himselfe his Son and Seruants go T' approue the Wooers ouerâ—hrow Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For all annoyes sustain'd before The true wiuâ—s ioyes now made the more THe seruants thus inform'd the Matron goes Vp where the Queene was cast in such repose Affected with a feruent ioy to tell VVhat all this time she did with paine conceale Her knees reuokt their first strength and her feete Were borne aboue the ground with wings to greete The long-greeu'd Queene with newes her King was come And neere her said Wake Leaue this withdrawne roome That now your eyes may see at length though late The man return'd which all the heauy date Your woes haue rackt out you haue long'd to see Vlysses is come home and hath set free His Court of all your wooers slaughtering all For wasting so his goods with Fesâ—iuall His house so vexing and for violence done So all waies varied to his onely sonne She answer'd her The Gods haue made thee mad Of whose pow'r now thy pow'rs such proof haue had The Gods can blinde with follies wisest eies And make men foolish so to make them wise For they haue hurt euen thy graue braine that bore An vnderstanding spirit heretofore VVhy hast thou wak't me to more teares when Monâ— Hath turn'd my minde with teares into her owne Thy madnesse much more blamefull that with lyes Thy haste is loaden and both robs mine eyes Of most delightsome sleepe and sleepe of them That now had bound me in his sweet extream T' embrace my lids and close my vsuall Spheres I haue not slept so much this twenty yeares Since first my dearest sleeping-Mate was gone For that too-ill-to-speake of Ilion Hence take your mad steps backe if any Maid Of all my traine besides a part had plaid So bold to wake and tell mine eares such lies I had return'd her to her huswiferies VVith good proofe of my wrath to such rude Dames But go your yeares haue sau'd their yonger blames She answer'd her I nothing wrong your eare But tell the truth your long-mist Lord is heere And with the wooers slaughter his owne hand In chiefe exploit hath to his owne command Reduc't his house and that poore Guest was he That all those wooers wrought
allowd either voice or relish for Qui Poeticas ad fores accedit c. sayes the Diuine Philosopher he that knocks at the Gates of the Muses sine Musarum furore is neither to be admitted entrie nor a touch at their Thresholds his opinion of entrie ridiculous and his presumption impious Nor must Poets themselues might I a litle insist on these contempts not tempting too farre your Lordships Vlyssean patience presume to these doores without the truly genuine and peculiar induction There being in Poesie a twofold rapture or alienation of soule as the abouesaid Teâ—cher termes it one Insania a disease of the mind and a meere madnesse by which the infected is thrust beneath all the degrees of humanitie ex homine Brutum quodammodo redditur for which poore Poesie in this diseasd and impostorous age is so barbarously vilified the other is Diuinus furor by which the sound and 〈◊〉 healthfull supra hominis naturam erigitur in Deum transit One a perfection directly infused from God the other an infection obliquely and degenerately proceeding from man Of the diuine Furie my Lord your Homer hath euer bene both first and last Instance being pronounced absolutely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most wise and most diuine Poet. Against whom whosoeuer shall open his prophane mouth may worthily receiue answer with this of his diuine defender Empedocles Heraclitus Protagoras Epichar c. being of Homers part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. who against such an Armie and the Generall Homer dares attempt the assault but he must be reputed ridiculous And yet against this hoast and this inuincible Commander shall we haue euery Besogne and foole a Leader The common herd I assure my self readie to receiue it on their hornes Their infected Leaders Such men as sideling ride the ambling Muse Whose saddle is as frequent as the stuse Whose Raptures are in euery Pageant seene In euery Wassall rime and Dancing greene When he that writes by any beame of Truth Must diue as deepe as he past shallow youth Truth dwels in Gulphs whose Deepes hide shades so rich That Night sits muffl'd there in clouds of pitch More Darke then Nature made her and requires To cleare her tough mists Heauens great fire of fires To whom the Sunne it selfe is but a Beame For sicke soules then but rapt in foolish Dreame To wrestle with these Heau'n-strong mysteries What madnesse is it when their light serues eies That are not worldly in their least aspect But truly pure and aime at Heauen direct Yet these none like but what the brazen head Blatters abroad no sooner borne but dead Holding then in eternal contempt my Lord those short-liued Bubbles eternize your vertue and iudgement with the Grecian Monark esteeming not as the least of your New-yeares Presents Homer three thousand yeares dead now reuiu'd Euen from that dull Death that in life he liu'd When none conceited him none vnderstood That so much life in so much death as blood Conueys about it could mixe But when Death Drunke vp the bloudie Mist that humane breath Pour'd round about him Pouertie and Spight Thickning the haplesse vapor then Truths light Glimmerd about his Poeme the pincht soule Amidst the Mysteries it did enroule Brake powrefully abroad And as we see The Sunne all hid in clouds at length got free Through some forc't couert ouer all the wayes Neare and beneath him shootes his vented rayes Farre off and stickes them in some litle Glade All woods fields riuers left besides in shade So your Apollo from that world of light Closde in his Poems bodie shot to sight Some few forc't Beames which neare him were not seene As in his life or countrie Fate and Spleene Clouding their radiance which when Death had clear'd To farre off Regions his free beames appear'd In which all stood and wonderd striuing which His Birth and Rapture should in right enrich Twelue Labours of your Thespian Hercules I now present your Lordship Do but please To lend Life meanes till th' other Twelue receaue Equall atchieuement and let Death then reaue My life now lost in our Patrician Loues That knocke heads with the herd in whom there moues One blood one soule both drownd in one set height Of stupid Enuie and meere popular Spight Whose loues with no good did my least veine fill And from their hates â— I feare as little ill Their Bounâ—â—es nourish not when most they feed But where there is no Merit or no Need Raine into riuers still and are such showres As bubbles spring and ouerflow the flowres Their worse parts and worst men their Best subornes Like winter Cowes whose milke runnes to their hornes And as litigious Clients bookes of Law Cost infinitely taste of all the Awe Bencht in our kingdomes Policie Pietie State Earne all their deepe explorings satiate All sorts there thrust together by the heart With thirst of wisedome spent on either part Horrid examples made of Life and Death From their fine stuffe wouen yet when once the breath Of sentence leaues them all their worth is drawne As drie as dust and weares like Cobweb Lawne So these men set a price vpon their worth That no man giues but those that trot it forth Through Needs foule wayes feed Humors with all cost Though Iudgement sterues in them Rout State engrost At all Tabacco benches solemne Tables Where all that crosse their Enuies are their fables In their ranke faction Shame and Death approu'd Fit Penance for their Opposites none lou'd But those that rub them not a Reason heard That doth not sooth and glorifie their preferd Bitter Opinions When would Truth resume The cause to his hands all would flie in fume Before his sentence since the innocent mind Iust God makes good to whom their worst is wind For that I freely all my Thoughts expresse My Conscience is my Thousand witnesses And to this stay my constant Comforts vow You for the world I haue or God for you Certaine ancient Greeke Epigrammes Tâ—anslated 〈◊〉 starres are 〈◊〉 vp by the firie Sâ—nne And in so much a flame lies 〈◊〉 the Moone 〈…〉 Name all 〈…〉 Death 〈…〉 Another Heau'ns fires 〈…〉 〈◊〉 his Sphere Graue Night the light â—eed of the Day shall 〈◊〉 Fresh streames shall chace the 〈…〉 shall teare Her fishie bottomes Men in long date dead Shall rise and 〈…〉 Another The great Maeonides doth onely write And to him dictates the great God of Light Another Seuen kingdomes strâ—â—e in which should swell the wombe That bore great Homer whom Fame freed from Tombe Argos Chius Pylos Smyrna Colophone The learn'd Athenian and Vlyssean Throne Another 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 THE FIRST BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT THe Gods in counsaile sit to call Vlysses from Calypso's thrall And order their high pleasures thus Gray Pallas to Telemachus In Ithaca her way addrest And did her heauenly lims inuest In Menta's likenesse that did raigne King of the Taphians in the Maine Whose rough waues neare
Leucadia runne Aduising wise Vlysses sonne To seeke his father and addresse His course to yong Tantalides That gouern'd Sparta Thus much said She shewd she was Heaâ—'ns martiall Maid And vanisht from him Next to this The Banquet of the wooers is Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Deities sit The Man retir'd Th'Vlyssean wit By Pallas fir'd THe Man O Muse informe that many a way Wound with his wisedome to his wished stay That wanderd wondrous farre when He the towne Of sacred Troy had sackt and shiuerd downe The cities of a world of nations With all their manners mindes and fashions He saw and knew At Sea felt many woes Much care sustaind to saue from ouerthrowes Himselfe and friends in their retreate for home But so their fates he could not ouercome Though much he thirsted it O men vnwise They perisht by their owne impieties That in their hungers rapine would not shunne The Oxen of the loftie-going Sunne Who therefore from their eyes the day bereft Of safe returne These acts in some part left Tell vs as others deified seed of Ioue Now all the rest that austere Death out-stroue At Troys long siege at home safe anchor'd are Free from the malice both of sea and warre Onely Vlysses is denide accesse To wife and home The Grace of Goddesses The reuerend Nymph Câ—lypso did detaine Him in her Caâ—â—es past all the race of men Enflam'd to make him her lou'd Lord and Spouse And when the Gods had destin'd that his house Which Ithaca on her rough bosome beares The point of time wrought out by ambient yeares Should be his hauen Contention still extends Her enuie to him euen amongst his friends All Gods tooke pitie on him onely he That girds Earth in the cincture of the sea Diuine Vlysses euer did enuie And made the fixt port of his birth to flie But he himselfe solemniz'd a retreate To th'Aethiops farre dissunderd in their seate In two parts parted at the Sunnes descent And vnderneath his golden Orient The first and last of men t' enioy their feast Of buls and lambes in Hecatombs addrest At which he sat giuen ouer to Delight The other Gods in heauens supreamest height Were all in Councell met To whom began The mightie Father both of God and man Discourse inducing matter that inclin'd To wise Vlysses calling to his mind Faultfull Aegisthus who to death was done By yong Orestes Agamemnons sonne His memorie to the Immortals then Mou'd Ioue thus deeply O how falsly men Accuse vs Gods as authors of their ill When by the bane their owne bad liues instill They suffer all the miseries of their states Past our inflictions and beyond their fates As now Aegisthus past his fate did wed The wife of Agamemnon and in dread To suffer death himselfe to shunne his ill Incurr'd it by the loose bent of his will In slaughtering Atrides in retreate Which we foretold him would so hardly set To his murtherous purpose sending Mercurie That slaughterd Argus our considerate spie To giue him this charge Do not wed his wife Nor murther him for thou shalt buy his life With ransome of thine owne imposde on thee By his Orestes when in him shall be Atrides selfe renewd and but the prime Of youths spring put abroad in thirst to clime His haughtie Fathers throne by his high acts These words of Hermes wrought not into facts Aegisthus powres good counsell he despisde And to that Good his ill is sacrifisde Pallâ—s whose eyes did sparkle like the skies Answerd O Sire supreame of Deities Aegisthus past his Fate and had desert To warrant our infliction and conuert May all the paines such impious men inflict On innocent sufferers to reuenge as strict Their owne hearts eating But that Ithacus Thus neuer meriting should suffer thus I deeply suffer His more pious mind Diuides him from these fortunes Though vnkind Is Pietie to him giuing him a fate More suffering then the most infortunate So long kept friendlesse in a sea-girt soile Where the seas nauile is a syluane I le In which the Goddesse dwels that doth deriue Her birth from Atlas who of all aliue The motion and the fashion doth command With his wise mind whose forces vnderstand The inmost deepes and gulfes of all the seas Who for his skill of things superiour stayes The two steepe Columnes that â—rop earth and heauen His daughter t is who holds this homelesse-driuen Still mourning with her Euermore profuse Of soft and winning speeches that abuse And make so languishingly and possest With so remisse a mind her loued guest Manage the action of his way for home Where he though in affection ouercome In iudgement yet more longs to shew his hopes His countries smoke leape from her chimney tops And death askes in her armes Yet neuer shall Thy lou'd heart be conuerted on his thrall Austere Oly 〈◊〉 did not euer he In ample Troy thy altars gratifie And Grecians Fleete make in thy offerings swim O 〈◊〉 why still then burnes thy wrath to him The Cloud-assembler answerd What words flie Bold daughter from thy Pale of Ivorie As if I euer could cast from my care Diuine Vlysses who exceeds so farre All men in wisedome and so oft hath giuen To all th'Immortals thron'd in ample heauen So great and sacred gifts But his decrees That holds the earth in with his nimble knees Stand to Vlysses longings so extreme For taking from the God-foe Polypheâ—e His onely eye a Cyclop that excell'd All other Cyclops with whose burthen swell'd The Nymph Thâ—osa the diuine increase Of Phorcis seed a great God of the seas She mixt with Neptune in his hollow caues And bore this Cyclop to that God of waues For whose lost eye th'Earth-shaker did not kill Erring Vlysses but reserues him still In life for more death But vse we our powres And round about vs cast these cares of ours All to discouer how we may preferre His wisht retreate and Neptâ—ne make forbeare His sterne eye to him since no one God can In spite of all preuaile but gainst a man To this this answer made the gray-eyd Maide Supreame of rulers since so well apaide The blessed Gods are all then now in thee To limit wise Vlysses miserie And that you speake as you referd to me Prescription for the meanes in this sort be Their sacred order let vs now addresse With vtmost speed our swift Argicides To tell the Nymph that beares the golden Tresâ—e In th'ile Ogygia that t is our will She should not stay our lou'd Vlysses still But suffer his returne and then will I To Ithaca to make his sonne apply His Sires inquest the more infusing force Into his soule to summon the concourse Of curld-head Greekes to counsaile and deterre Each wooer that hath bene the slaughterer Of his fat sheepe and crooked-headed beeues From more wrong to his mother and their leaues Take in such termes as fit deserts so great
on the Courts right-hand away they flew Aboue both Court and Citie with whose view And studie what euents they might foreâ—ell The Councell into admiration fell The old Herâ—e Halitherses then The sonne of Nestor that of all old men His Peeres in that Court onely could foresee By flight of fowles mans fixed destinie Twixt them and their amaze this interposde Heare Ithacensians all your doubts disclosde The wooers most are toucht in this ostent To whom are dangers great and imminent For now not long more shall Vlysses beare Lacke of his most lou'd but fils some place neare Addressing to these wooers Faâ—e and Death And many more this mischiefe menaceth Of vs inhabiting this famous I le Let vs consult yet in this long forewhile How to our selues we may preuent this ill Let these men rest secure and reuell still Though they might find it safer if with vs They would in time preuent what threats them thus Since not without sure triall I foretell These coming stormes but know their issue well For to Vlysses all things haue euent As I foretold him when for Iliâ—n went The whole Greeke fleete together and with them Th' abundant in all counsels tooke the streame I told him that when much ill he had past And all his men were lost he should at last The twentith yeare turne home to all vnknowne All which effects are to perfection growne Eurymachus the sonne of Polybus Opposde this mans presage and answerd thus Hence Great in yeares go prophecie at home Thy children teach to shun their ils to come In these superiour farre to thee am I. A world of fowles beneath the Sunne-beames flie That are not fit t' enforme a prophecie Besides Vlysses perisht long ago And would thy fates to thee had destin'd so Since so thy so much prophecie had spar'd Thy wronging of our rights which for reward Expected home with thee hath summon'd vs Within the anger of Telemachus But this will I presage which shall be true If any sparke of anger chance t' ensue Thy much old art in these deepe Auguries In this yong man incensed by thy lies Euen to himselfe his anger shall conferre The greater anguish and thine owne ends erre From all their obiects and besides thine age Shall feele a paine to make thee curse presage With worthy cause for it shall touch thee neare But I will soone giue end to all our feare Preuenting whatsoeuer chance can fall In my suite to the yong Prince for vs all To send his mother to her fathers house That he may sort her out a worthy spouse And such a dowre bestow as may befit One lou'd to leaue her friends and follow it Before which course be I beleeue that none Of all the Greekes will cease th' ambition Of such a match For chance what can to vs We no man feare no not Telemachus Though ne're so greatly spoken Nor care we For any threats of austere prophecie Which thou old dotard vantst of so in vaine And thus shalt thou in much more hate remaine For still the Gods shall beare their ill expence Nor euer be disposde by competence Till with her nuptials she dismisse our suites Our whole liues dayes shall sow hopes for such fruites Her vertues we contend to nor will go To any other be she neuer so Worthy of vs and all the worth we owe. He answerd him Eurymachâ—s and all Ye generous wooers now in generall I see your braue resolues and will no more Make speech of these points and much lesse implore It is enough that all the Grecians here And all the Gods besides iust witnesse beare What friendly premonitions haue bene spent On your forbearance and their vaine euent Yet with my other friends let loue preuaile To fit me with a vessell free of saile And twentie men that may diuide to me My readie passage through the yeelding sea For Sparta and Amathoon Pylos shore I now am bound in purpose to explore My long lackt Father and to trie if Fame Or Ioue most author of mans honourd name With his returne and life may glad mine eare Though toild in that proofe I sustaine a yeare If dead I heare him nor of more state here Retir'd to my lou'd countâ—ie I will rere A Sepulcher to him and celebrate Such royall parent-rites as fits his state And then my mother to a Spouse dispose This said he sat and to the rest arose Mentor that was Vlysses chosen friend To whom when he set forth he did commend His compleate family and whom he willd To see the mind of his old Sire fulfild All things conseruing safe till his retreate Who tender of his charge and seeing so set In sleight care of their King his subiects there Suffering his sonne so much contempt to beare Thus grauely and with zeale to him began No more let any Scepter-beaâ—ing man Beneuolent or milde or humane be Nor in his minde forme acts of pietie But euer feed on blood and facts vniust Commit euen to the full swinge of his lust Since of diuine Vlysses no man now Of all his subiects any thought doth show All whom he gouernd and became to them Rather then one that wore a diadem A most indulgent father But for all That can touch me within no enuie fall These insolent wooers that in violent kind Commit things foule by th' ill wit of the mind And with the hazard of their heads deuoure Vlysses house since his returning houre They hold past hope But it affects me much Ye dull plebeians that all this doth touch Your free States nothing who strooke dumbe afford These wooers not so much wreake as a word Though few and you with onely number might Extinguish to them the prophaned light Euenors sonne Liocritus replide Mentor the railer made a foole with pride What language giu'st thou that would quiet vs With putting vs in storme exciting thus The rout against vs who though more then we Should find it is no easie victorie To driue men habited in feast from feasts No not if Ithacus himselfe such guests Should come and find so furnishing his Court And hope to force them from so sweete a fort His wife should little ioy in his arriue Though much she wants him for where she aliue Would hers enioy there Death should claime his rights He must be conquerd that with many fights Thoâ— speakst vnfit things To their labours then Disperse these people and let these two men Mentor and Halitherses that so boast From the beginning to haue gouernd most In friendship of the Father to the sonne Confirme the course he now affects to runne But my mind sayes that if he would but vse A little patience he should here heare newes Of all things that his wish would vnderstand But no good hope for of the course in hand This said the Councell rose when euery Peere And all the people in dispersion were To houses of their owne the wooers yet Made to Vlysses house
growes In which my Father holds a Mannor house Deckt all with Orchards greene and odorous As farre from Towne as one may heare a shout There stay and rest your foote paines till full out We reach the Citie Where when you may guesse We are arriu'd and enter our accesse Within my Fathers Court then put you on For our Phâ—â—cian State where to be showne My Fathers house desire Each infant there Can bring you to it and your selfe will cleare Distinguish it from others for no showes The Citie buildings make compar'd with those That King Alcinous seate doth celebrate In whose roofes and the Court where men of state And suiters sit and stay when you shall hide Strait passe it entring further where abide My Mother with her withdrawne houswiferies Who still sits in the fire â—shine and applies Her Rocke all purple and of pompous show Her Chaire plac't gainst a Pillar all arow Her maids behind her set and â—o her here My Fathers dining Throne lookes Seated where He powres his choice of wine in like a God This view once past for th' end of your abode Addresse suite to my Mother that her meane May make the day of your redition scene And you may frolicke strait though farre away You are in distance from your wished stay For if she once be won to wish you well Your Hope may instantly your Pasport seale And thenceforth sure abide to see your friends Faire house and all to which your heart contends This said she vsde her shining scourge and lasht Her Mules that soone the shore left where she washt And knowing well the way their pace was fleet And thicke they gatherd vp their nimble feet Which yet she temperd so and vsde her scourge With so much skill as not to ouer-vâ—ge The foote behind and make them straggle so From close societie Firme together go Vlysses and her maids And now the Sunne Sunke to the waters when they all had wonne The neuer-feld and sound-exciting wood Sacred to Pallas where the God-like good Vlysses rested and to Pallas praid Heare me of Goate-kept Ioue th'vnconquerd Maid Now throughly heare me since in all the time Of all my wracke my pray'rs could neuer clime Thy far-off eares when noisefull Neptune tost Vpon his watry brissels my imbost And rockâ— torne body heare yet now and daine I may of the Phaeacian State obtaine Pitie and grace Thus praid he and she heard By no meanes yet exposde to sight appear'd For feare t' offend her Vnkle the supreme Of all the Sea-Gods whose wrath still extreme Stood to Vlysses and would neuer cease Till with his Country shore he crownd his peace Finis libri sexti Hom. Odyss THE SEVENTH BOOK OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT NAusicaa arriues at Towne And then Vlysses He makes knowne His suite to Arete who view Takes of his vesture which she knew And asks him from whose hands it came He tels with all the haplesse frame Of his affaires in all the while Since he forsooke Calypsos Ile Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The honord minds And welcome things Vlysses finds In Scherias Kings THus praid the wise and God-obseruing Man The Maid by free force of her Palfreys wan Accesse to Towne and the renowmed Court Reacht of her Father where within the Port She staid her Coach and round about her came Her Brothers made as of immortall frame Who yet disdaind not for her loue meane deeds But tooke from Coach her Mules brought in her weeds And she ascends her chamber where puruaid A quicke fire was by her old chamber-maid Eurymedusa th' Aperâ—â—n borne And brought by sea from Apera t' adorne The Court of great Alcinous because He gaue to all the blest Phaeacians lawes And like a heauen-borne Powre in speech acquir'd The peoples eares To one then so admir'd Eurymedusa was esteemd no worse Then worth the gift yet now growne old was Nurse To Ivory-armd Nausicaa gaue heate To all her fires and drest her priuie meate Then rose Vlysses and made way to Towne Which ere he reacht a mightie mist was throwne By Pallas round about him in her Care Lest in the sway of enuies popular Some proud Phaeacian might foule language passe Iustle him vp and aske him what he was Entring the louely Towne yet through the cloud Pallas appeard and like a yong wench showd Beaâ—â—ng a pitcher Stood beâ—ore him so As if obiected purposely to know What there he needed whom he questiond thus Know you not daughter where Alcinoâ—s That rules this Towne dwels I a poore distrest Meere stranger here know none I may request To make this Court knowne to me She wordreplied Strange Father I will see you satisfied In that request my Father dwels iust by The house you seeke for but go silently Nor aske nor speake to any other I Shall be enough to shew your way the men That here inhabite do not entertain With ready kindnesse strangers of what worth Or state soeuer nor haue taken forth Lessons of ciuill vsage or respect To men beyond them They vpon their powres Of swift ships building top the watry towres And Ioueâ—ath â—ath giuen them ships for saile so wrought They cut a fether and command a thought This said she vsherd him and after he Trod in the swift steps of the Deitie The free-saild sea-men could not get a sight Of our Vlysses yet though he foreright Both by their houses and their persons past Pallas about him such a darknesse cast By her diuine powre and her reuerend care She would not giue the Towne-borne cause to stare He wonderd as he past to see the Ports The shipping in them and for all resorts The goodly market steds and Iles beside For the Heroes walls so large and wide Rampires so high and of such strength withall It would with wonder any eye appall At last they reacht the Court and Pallas said Now honourd stranger I will see obaid Your will to shew our Rulers house t is here Where you shall find Kings celebrating cheare Enter amongst them nor admit a feare More bold a man is he preuailes the more Though man nor place he euer saw before You first shall find the Queene in Court whose name Is Arete of parents borne the same That was the King her Spouse their Pedigree I can report the great Earth-shaker he Of Periboea that her sex out-shone And yongest daughter was t' Eurymedon Who of th'vnmeasur'd-minded Giants swaid Th' Imperiall Scepter and the pride allaid Of men so impious with cold death and died Himselfe soone after got the magnified In mind Nausithous who the kingdomes state First held in supreame rule Nausithous gat Rhexenor and Aicinous now King Rhexenor whose seed did no male fruite spring And whom the siluer-bow-glac't Phoebus slue Yong in the Court his shed blood did renew In onely Arete who now is Spouse To him that rules the kingdome in this house And is her Vnkle King
sword drew and earths wombe did gore Till I a pit digg'd of a cubite round Which with the liquid sacrifice we crown'd First honey mixt with wine then sweete wine neate Then water powr'd in last the flowre of wheate Much I importun'd then the weake-neckt dead And vowd when I the barren soile should tread Of cliffie Ithaca amidst my hall To kill a Heifer my cleare best of all And giue in offering on a Pile composd Of all the choise goods my whole house enclosd And to Tiresias himselfe alone A sheepe cole-blacke and the selectest one Of all my flockes When to the powres beneath The sacred nation that suruiue with Death My prayrs and vowes had done deuotions fit I tooke the offrings and vpon the pit Bereft their liues Out gusht the sable blood And round about me fled out of the flood The Soules of the deceast There cluster'd then Youths and their wiues much suffering aged men Soft tender virgins that but new came there By timelesse death and greene their sorrowes were There men at Armes with armors all embrew'd Wounded with lances and with faulchions hew'd In numbers vp and downe the ditch did stalke And threw vnmeasur'd cries about their walke So horrid that a bloodlesse feare surprisde My daunted spirits Straight then I aduisde My friends to flay the slaughter'd sacrifice Put them in fire and to the Deities Sterne Pluto and Persephone apply Excitefull prayrs Then drew I from my Thy My well-edg'd sword stept in and firmely stood Betwixt the prease of shadowes and the blood And would not suffer any one to dip Within our offring his vnsolide lip Before Tiresias that did all controule The first that preast in was Elpenors soule His body in the broad-waid earth as yet Vnmournd vnburied by vs since we swet With other vrgent labours Yet his smart I wept to see and ru'd it from my heart Enquiring how he could before me be That came by ship He mourning answerd me In Circes house the spite some Spirit did beare And the vnspeakable good licour there Hath bene my bane For being to descend A ladder much in height I did not tend My way well downe but forwards made a proofe To tread the rounds and from the very roofe Fell on my necke and brake it And this made My soule thus visite this infernall shade And here by them that next thy selfe are deare Thy Wife and Father that a little one Gaue food to thee and by thy onely Sonne At home behind thee left Telemachus Do not depart by stealth and leaue me thus Vnmourn'd vnburied left neglected I Bring on thy selfe th' incensed Deitie I know that saild from hence thy ship must touch On th'Ile Aeâ—â— where vouchsafe thus much Good king that landed thou wilt instantly Bestow on me thy royall memory To this grace that my body armes and all May rest consum'd in firie funerall And on the fomie shore a Sepulchre Erect to me that after times may heare Of one so haplesse Let me these implore And fixe vpon my Sepulcher the Ore With which aliue I shoooke the aged seas And had of friends the deare societies I told the wretched Soule I would fulfill And execute to th' vtmost point his will And all the time we sadly talkâ— I still My sword aboue the blood held when aside The Idoll of my friend still amplified His plaint as vp and downe the shades he err'd Then my deceased mothers Soule appeard Faire daughter of Antolicus the Great Graue Anticlaeâ— Whom when forth I set For sacred Ilion I had left aliue Her sight much mou'd me and to teares did driue My note of her deceasse and yet not she Though in my ruth she held the highest degree Would I admit to touch the sacred blood Till from Tiresias I had vnderstood What Circes told me At the length did land Theban Tiresias soule and in his hand Sustaind a golden Scepter knew me well And said O man vnhappy why to hell Admitst thou darke arriuall and the light The Sunne giues leau'st to haue the horrid sight Of this blacke region and the shadowes here Now sheath thy sharpe sword and the pit forbeare That I the blood may taste and then relate The truth of those acts that affect thy Fate I sheath'd my sword and left the pit till he The blacke blood tasting thus instructed me Renoum'd Vlysses all vnaskt I know That all the cause of thy arriuall now Is to enquire thy wisht retreate for home Which hardly God will let thee ouâ—rcome Since Neptune still will his opposure trie With all his laid-vp anger for the eye His lou'd Sonne lost to thee And yet through all Thy suffring course which must be capitall If both thine owne affections and thy friends Thou wilt containe when thy accesse ascends The three-forckt Iland hauing scap't the seas Where ye shall find fed on the flowrie leas Fat flocks and Oxen which the Sunne doth owne To whom are all things as well heard as showne And neuer dare one head of those to slay But hold vnharmefull on your wished way Though through enough affliction yet secure Your Fates shall land ye But Presage saies sure If once ye spoile them spoile to all thy friends Spoile to thy Fleete and if the iustice ends Short of thy selfe it shall be long before And that length forc't out with inflictions store When losing all thy fellowes in a saile Of forreigne built when most thy Fates preuaile In thy deliuerance thus th' euent shall sort Thou shalt find shipwracke raging in thy Port Proud men thy goods consuming and thy Wife Vrging with gifts giue charge vpon thy life But all these wrongs Reuenge shall end to thee And force or cunning set with slaughter free Thy house of all thy spoilers Yet againe Thou shalt a voyage make and come to men That know no Sea nor ships nor oares that are Wings to a ship nor mixe with any fare Salts sauorie vapor Where thou first shalt land This cleare-giuen signe shall let thee vnderstand That there those men remaine assume ashore Vp to thy roiall shoulder a ship oare With which when thou shalt meete one on the way That will in Countey admiration say What dost thou with that wanne vpon thy necke There fixe that wanne thy oare and that shore decke With sacred Rites to Neptune slaughter there A Ram a Bull and who for strength doth beare The name of husband to a herd a Bore And coming home vpon thy naturall shore Giue pious Hecatombs to all the Gods Degrees obseru'd And then the Periods Of all thy labors in the peace shall end Of easie death which shall the lesse extend His passion to thee that thy foe the Sea Shall not enforce it but Deaths victory Shall chance in onely-earnest-pray-vow'd age Obtaind at home quite emptied of his rage Thy subiects round about thee rich and blest And here hath Truth summ'd vp thy vitall rest I answerd him We will suppose all these
are If so much they moue That spite of all your reason your will stands To be enfranchisde both of feete and hands Charge all your men before to sleight your charge And rest so farre from fearing to enlarge That much more sure they bind you When your friends Haue outsaild these the danger that traâ—scends Rests not in any counsaile to preuent Vnlesse your owne mind finds the tract and bent Of that way that auoids it I can say That in your course there lies a twofold way The right of which your owne taught present wit And grace diuine must prompt In generall yet Let this informe you Neare these Sirens shore Moue two steepe Rocks at whose feete lie and rore The blacke seas cruell billowes the blest Gods Call them the Rouers Their abhord abods No bird can passe no not the * Doues whose feare Sire Ioue so loues that they are said to beare Ambrosia to him can their rauine scape But one of them falles euer to the rape Of those slie rocks Yet â—oue another still Adds to the rest that so may euer fill The sacred number Neuer ship could shunne The nimble perill wing'd there but did runne With all her bulke and bodies of her men To vtter ruine For the seas retaine Not onely their outragious aesture there But fierce assistents of particular feare And supernaturall mischiefe they expire And those are whirlewinds of deuouring fire Whisking about still Th' Argiue ship alone Which bore the care of all men got her gone Come from Aretâ— Yet perhaps euen she Had wrackt at those Rocks if the Deitie That lies by Ioues side had not lent her hand To their transmission since the man that mann'd In chiefe that voyage she in chiefe did loue Of these two spitefull Rocks the one doth shoue Against the height of heauen her pointed brow A blacke cloud binds it round and neuer show Lends to the sharp point not the cleare blew skie Le ts euer view it Not the Somners eye Not feruent Autâ—mnes None that Death could end Could euer skale it or if vp descend Though twenty hands and feete he had for hold A polisht ice-like glibnesse doth enfold The rocke so round whose midst a gloomie cell Shrowds so farre Westward that it sees to hell From this keepe you as farre as from his bow An able yong man can his shaft bestow For here the whuling Scylla shrowds her face That breaths a voice at all parts no more base Then are a newly-kitn'd kitlings cries Her selfe a monster yet of boundlesse sise Whose sight would nothing please a mortals eies No nor the eyes of any God if he Whom nought should fright fell foule on her and she Her full shape shew'd Twelue foule feete beare about Her ougly bulke Sixe huge long necks lookt out Of her ranke shoulders euery necke doth let A ghastly head out euery head three set Thicke thrust together of abhorred teeth And euery tooth stucke with a sable death She lurkes in midst of all her denne and streakes From out a ghastly whirle-poole all her necks Where gloting round her rocke to fish she falles And vp rush Dolphins Dogfish somewhiles Whaleâ— If got within her when her rapine feeds For euer-groning Amphitrite breeds About her whirlepoole an vnmeasur'd store No Sea-man euer boasted touch of shore That there toucht with his ship but still she fed Of him and his A man for euery head Spoiling his ship of You shall then descrie The other humbler Rocke that moues so nie Your dart may mete the distance It receaues A huge wilde Fig-tree curl'd with ample leaues Beneath whose shades diuine Câ—arybdis sits Supping the blacke deepes Thrice a day her piâ—s She drinking all dry and thrice a day againe All vp she belches banefull to sustaine When she is drinking dare not neare her draught For not the force of Neptune if once caught Can force your freedome Therefore in your strife To scape Charybdis labour all for life To row neare Scylla for she will but haue For her sixe heads sixemen and better saue The rest then all make offerings to the waue This Neede she told me of my lossâ— when I Desir'd to know if that Necessitie When I had scap't Châ—râ—bdis outrages My powres might not reuenge though not redresse She answerd O vnhappy aâ—t thou yet Enflam'd with warre and thirst to drinke thy swet Not to the Gods giue vp both Armes and will She deathlesse is and that immortall ill Graue harsh outragious not to be subdu'd That men must suffer till they be renew'd Nor liues there any virtue that can flie The vicious outrage of their crueltie Shouldst thou put Armes on and approch â—he Rockâ— I feare sixe more must expiate the shocke Sixe heads sixe men aske still Hoise â—aile and flie And in thy flight aloud on Cratis crie Great Scyllas Mother who exposde to light That bane of men and she will do such right To thy obseruance that she downe will tread Her daughters rage nor let her shew a head From thenceforth then for euer past her care Thou shalt ascend the Iâ—e Triangularâ— Where many Oxen of the Sunne are fed And fatted flocks Of Oxen fifty head In euery herd feed and their herds are seuen And of his fat flocks is their number Euen Increase they yeeld not for they neuer die There euery shepherdesse a Deitie Faire Phaethusa and Leâ—petie The louely Nyâ—phs are that their Guardians be Who to the daylights lofty-going flame Had gracious birthright from the heauenly Dame Still yong Neaera who brought forth and bred Farre off dismist them to see duly fed Their Fathers herds and flocks in Sicilie These herds and flocks if to the Deitie Ye leaue as sacred things vntoucht and on Goe with all fit care of your home alone Though through some sufferance you yet sase shall land In wished Ithacâ— But if impious hand You lay on those herds to their hurts I then Presage sure ruine to thy â—hip and men If thou escap'st thy selfe extending home Thy long'd for landing thou shalt loded come With store of losses most exceeding late And not consorted with a saued mate This said the golden-thron'd Aurora rose She her way went and I did mine dispose Vp to my ship weigh'd Anchor and away When reuerend Circe helpt vs to conuaie Our vessell safe by making well inclind A Sea mans true companioâ— a forewind With which she filld our sailes when fitting all Our Armes close by vs I did sadly fall To graue relation what conceâ—nd in Fate My friends to know and told them that the state Of our affaires successe which Circe had Presag'd to me alone must yet be made To one nor onely two knowne but to all That since their liues and deaths were left to fall In their elections theâ—â—ight life elect And giue what would preserue it fit effect I first inform'd them that we were to flie The heauenly-singing Sireâ—s harmony And flowre-adorned Medow And that I Had charge to
foote amongst our liberall Feast For should the King returne though thought deceast It had bene gaine to vs in finding him To lose his wife But now since nothing dim The daies breakes out that shewes he neuer more Shal reach the deere touch of his countrey shore Sit by your Mother in perswasion That now it stands her honor much vpon To choose the best of vs and who giues most To go with him home For so all things lost In sticking on our haunt so you shall cleere Recouer in our no more concourse here Possesse your birth-right wholly eate and drinke And neuer more on our disgraces thinke By Ioue no Agelaus For I sweare By all my Fathers sorrowes who doth erre Farre off from Ithaca or rests in death I am so farre from spending but my breath To make my Mother any more defer Her wished Nuptials That I le counsaile her To make her freâ— choise And besides will giue Large gifts to moue her But I feare to driue Or charge her hence For God will not giue way To any such course if I should assay At this Minerua made for foolish ioy The wooers mad and rouz'd their late annoy To such a laughter as would neuer downe They laught with others cheeks eate meat oreflowne With their owne bloods their eies stood full of teares For violent ioyes Their soules yet thought of feares VVhich Theoclymenus exprest and said O wretches Why Sustaine ye well apaid Your imminent ill A night with which Death sees Your heads and faces hides beneath your knees Shriekes burn about you your eies thrust out teares These fixed wals and that maine Beame that beares The whole house vp in bloody torrents fall The Entry full of ghosts stands Full the Hall Of passengers to hel And vnder all The dismall shades The Sun sinkes from the Poles And troubl'd aire poures bane about your soules They sweetly laught at this Eâ—rymachus To mocks dispos'd and saide This new come-t'vs Is surely mad conduct him forth to light In th' open Market place he thinkes 't is night Within the house Eurymachus said he I will not aske for any guide of thee I both my feete enioy haue eares and eies And no mad soule within me and with these Will I go forth the doores because I know That imminent mischiefe must abide with you VVhich not a man of all the wooers here Shall flye or scape â—e all too highly beare Your vncurb'd heads Impieties ye commit And euery man affect with formes vnfit This said he left the house and tooke his way Home to Pyraeus who as free as day Was of his welcome When the wooers eyes Chang'd lookes with one another and their guise Of laughters still held on still eas'd their brests Of will to set the Prince against his guests Affirming that of all the men aliue He worst lucke had and prou'd it worst to giue Guests entertainment Foâ— he had one there A wandring Hunter out of prouendere An errant Begger euery way yet thought He was so hungry that he needed nought But wine and Victuals nor knew how to do Nor had a spirit to put a knowledge to But liu'd an idle burthen to the earth Another then stept vp and would lay forth His lips in phâ—ophesie thus But would he heare His friends perswasions he should finde it were More profit for him to put both abord For the Siciâ—ian people that afford These 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 feete of men good price and this would bring Good meanes for better guests These words made wing To his eares idlely who hâ—d still his eye Vpon his Father looking feruently When he would lay his long-withholding hand On those proud wooers And within command Of all this speech that past Icarius heire The wise Penelope her royall chaire Had plac't of purpose Their high dinner then With all pleas'd palates these ridiculous men Fell sweetly to as ioying they had slaine Such store of banquet But there did not raigne A bitterer banquet Planet in all heauen Then that which Pallas had to that day driuen And with her able friend now meant t' appose Since they till then were in deserts so grose The End of the Twentith Booke of Homers Odysses THE XXI BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT PEnelope proposeth now To him that drawes Vlysses Bow Her instant Nuptials Ithacus Eumaeus and Philaetius Giues charge for guarding of the Gates And he his sâ—aft shoots through the plates Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Nuptiall vow and Game reherst Drawne is the Bow the steeles are pierst PAllas the Goddesse with the sparkling eyes Excites Penelope t'obiect the prise The Bow bright steeles to the wooers strength And here began the strife and blood at length She first aseended by a lofty staire Her vtmost chamber of whose doore her faire And halfe transparant hand receiu'd the Key Bright brazen bitted passing curiously And as it hung a knob of Iuory And this did leade her where was strongly kept The treasure Royall in whose store lay heap't Gold Brasse and Steele engrauen with infinite Art The crooked Bowe and Arrowy quiuer part Of that rich Magazin In the Quiuer were Arrowes a number sharpe and sighing gere The Bow was giuen by kinde Eurythides â—phitus fashion'd like the Deities To yong Vlysses when within the Roofe Of wise Ortâ—locus their passe had proofe Of mutuall meeting in Mâ—ssena where Vlysses claim'd a debt To whose pay were The whole Messenâ—an people bound since they From Ithaca had forc't a wealthy prey Of Sheepe and Sheâ—pherds In their ships they thrust â—hree hundred Sheepe together for whose iust And instat rendry old Lâ—ertes sent Vlysses his Ambassador that went A long way in the Ambassy yet then Bore but the formost prime of yongest men His Father sending first to that affaire His graâ—est Councellors and then his heire Iphitus made his way there hauing lost Twelue female horse and Mules commended most For vse of burthen which were after cause Of death and fate to him For past all Lawes Of hospitality Ioues mighty son Skill'd in great acts was his confusion Close by his house though at that time his guest Respecting neither the apposed Feast And hospitable Table in that loue He set before him nor the voice of Ioue But seizing first his Mares he after slew His host himselfe From those Mares search now grew Vlysses knowne t'Iphitus who that Bow At their encounter did in loue bestow Which great Eurytus hand had boâ—ne before Iphitus Father who at deaths sad dore In his steepe Turretâ— left it to his Son Vlysses gaue him a keene Faulchion And mighty Lance and thus began they there Their fatall Loues for after neuer were Their mutâ—all Tables to each other knowne Because Iouâ—s son th'vnworthy part had shownâ— Oâ— slaughtering this God-like louing man Eurytus son who with that Bow began And ended loue t'Vlysses who so deare A gift esteem'd it that he would not beare In his blacke fleete that guest-rite to
Vlysses and his sonne the Flyers chac'st As when with crooked Beakes and Seres a cast Of hill-bred Eagles cast off at some game That yet their strengths keepe But put vp in flame The Eagles stoopes From which along the field The poore Foules make wing this and that way yield Their hard-flowne Pinions â—hen the clouds assay For scape or shelter their forlorne dismay All spirit exhaling all wings strength to carry Their bodies forth and trust vp to the Quarry Their Faulconers ride in and reioyce to see Their Hawkes performe a flight so feruently So in their flight Vlysses with his Heire Did stoope and cuffe the wooers that the aire Broke in vaste sighes whose heads they shot cleft The Pauement boyling with the soules they reft Liodes running to Vlysses toke His knees and thus did on his name inuoke Vlysses Let me pray thee to my place Affoord the reuerence and to me the grace That neuer did or saide to any Dame Thy Court contain'd or deede or word to blame But others so affected I haue made Lay downe their insolence and if the trade They kept with wickednesse haue made them still Despise my speech and vse their wonted ill They haue their penance by the stroke of death Which their desâ—rt diuinely warranteth But I am Priest amongst them and shall I That nought haue done worth death amongst theÌ„ dy From thee this Prouerbe then will men deriue Good turnes do neuer their meere deeds suruiue He bending his displeased forehead saide If you be Priest amongst them as you pleade Yet you would marry and with my wife too And haue descent by her For all that woo Wish to obtaine which they should neuer doo Dames husbands liuing You must therefore pray Of force and oft in Court heere that the day Of my returne for home might neuer shine The death to me wish't therefore shall be thine This said he tooke a sword vp that was cast From Agelaus hauing strooke his last And on the Priests mid necke he laide a stroke That strooke his head off tumbling as he spoke Then did the Poet Phoemiuâ— whose sur-name VVas call'd Terpiades who thither came Forc't by the woo'rs fly death but being nere The Courts great gate he stood and parted there In two his counsailes either to remoue And take the Altar of Hereâ—ian Ioue Made sacred to him with a world of Art Engrauen about it where were wont t' impart Laertes and Vlysses many a Thye Of broad-brow'd Oxen to the Deity Or venture to Vlysses claâ—pe his knee And pray his ruth The last was the decree His choise resolu'd on Twixt the royall Throne And that faire Table that the Bolle stood on VVith which they sacrific'd his Harpe he laide Along the earth the Kings knees hugg'd and saide Vlysses Let my prayers obtaine of thee My sacred skils respect and ruth to mee It will heereafter grieue thee to haue slaine A Poet that doth sing to Gods and men I of my selfe am taught for God alone All sorts of song hath in my bosome sowne And I as to a God will sing to thee Then do not thou deale like the Priest with me Thine owne lou'd sonne Telemachus will say That not to beg heere nor with willing way Was my accesse to thy high Court addrest To giue the wooers my song after Feast But being many and so much more strong They forc't me hither and compell'd my Song This did the Princes sacred vertue heare And to the King his Father said Forbeare To mixe the guiltlesse with the guilties blood And with him likewise let our mercies saue Medon the Herald that did still behaue Himselfe with care of my good from a childe If by Eumaeus yet he be not kild Or by Philaetius nor your fury met While all this blood about the house it swet This Medon heard as lying hid beneath A Throne set neere halfe dead with feare of death A new-flead Oxe-hide as but there throwne by His serious shroud made he lying there to fly But hearing this he quickly left the Throne His Oxe-hide cast as quickly and as soone The Princes knees seiz'd saying O my loue I am not slaine but heere aliue and moue Abstaine your selfe and do not see your Sire Quench with my cold blood the vnmeasur'd fire That flames in his strength making spoile of me His wraths right for the wooers iniury Vlysses smil'd and said Be confident This man hath sau'd and made thee different To let thee know and say and others see Good life is much more safe then villany Go then sit free without from death within This much renowned Singer from the sin Of these men likewise quit Both rest you there While I my house purge as it fits me here This saide they went and tooke their seat without At Ioues high Altar looking round about Expecting still their slaughter VVhen the King Searcht round the Hall to try lifes hidden wing Made from more death But all laid prostrate there In blood and gore he saw whole sholes they were And lay as thicke as in a hollow creake VVithouâ— the white Sea when the Fishers breake Their many-meshed Draught-net vp there lye Fish frisking on the Sands and faine the dry VVould for the wet change But th'al-seeing beam The Sun exhales hath suckt their liues from them So one by other spraul'd the wooers there Vlysses and his Son then bid appeare The Nurse Euryclea to let her heare His minde in something fit for her affaire He op't the doore and call'd and said Repaire Graue Matron long since borne that art our Spy To all this houses seruile huswifery My Father cals thee to impart some thought That askes thy action His word found in nought Her slacke obseruance who straight op't the dore And enter'd to him when himselfe before Had left the Hall But there the King she view'd Amongst the slaine with blood and gore embrew'd And as a Lyon sculking all in Night Farre off in Pastures and come home all dight In iawes and brest-lockes with an Oxes blood New feasted on him his lookes full of mood So look't Vlysses all his hands and feete Freckl'd with purple When which sight did greete The poore old woman such workes being for eyes Of no soft temper out she brake in cries VVhose vent though throughly opened he yet closd Cal'd her more neere and thus her plaints composd Forbeare nor shrieke thus But vent ioyes as loud It is no piety to bemone the proud Though ends befall them mouing neere so much These are the portions of the Gods to such Mens owne impieties in their instant act Sustaine their plagues which are with stay but rackt But these men Gods nor men had in esteeme Nor good nor bad had any sence in them Their liues directly ill were therefore cause That Death in these sterne formes so deepely drawes Recount then to me those licentious Dames That lost my honor and their sexes shames I le tell you truly she replied There are
such iniurie Telemachus had knowledge long ago That 't was his Father but his wisedome so Obseru'd his counsailes to giue surer end To that great worke to which they did contend This call'd her spirits to their conceiuing places She sprung for ioy from blames into embraces Of her graue Nurse wip't euery teare away From hâ—r faire cheekes and then began to say What Nurse said oner thus O Nurse can this Be true thou sayst How could that hand of his Alone destroy so many They would still Troope all together How could he then kill Such numbers so vnited How said she I haue nor seene nor heard but certainly The deed is done VVe sate within in feare The doores shut on vs and from thence might heare The sighes and grones of euery man he slew But heard nor saw more till at length there flew Your sonnes voice to mine eare that call'd to me And bad me then come foorth and then I see Vlysses standing in the midst of all Your slaughtred wooers heap't vp like a wall One on another round about his side It would haue done you good to haue descride Your conqu'ring lord al smeard with blood gore So like a Lyon Straight then off they bore The slaughtred carkasses that now before The fore-Court gates lye one on other pilde And now your victor all the Hall defilde VVith stinch of hot death is perfuming round And with a mighty fire the harth hath crown'd Thus all the death remou'd and euery roome Made sweet and sightly that your selfe should come His pleasure sent me Come then take you now Your mutuall fils of comfort Griefe on you Hath long and many sufferings laid which length VVhich many suffrings nowe your vertuous strength Of vncorrupted chastnesse hath conferr'd A happy end to He that long hath err'd Is safe arriu'd at home his wife his sonne Found safe good all ill that hath bene done On all the dooers heads though long prolong'd His right hath wreak't and in the place they wrong'd She answer'd Do not you now laugh and bost As you had done some great act seeing most Into his Being For you know he won Euen through his poore and vile condition A kind of prompted thought that there was plac't Some vertue in him fit to be embrac't By all the house but most of all by me And by my Son that was the progeniâ— Of both our loues And yet it is not he For all the likely proofes ye plead to me Some God hath slaine the wooers in disdaine Of the abhorred pride he saw so raigne In those base workes they did No man aliue Or good or bad whoeuer did arriue At their abodes once euer could obtaine Regard of them and therefore their so vaine And vile deserts haue found as vile an end But for Vlysses neuer will extend His wisht returne to Greece Nor he yet liues How strange a Queen are you said she that giueâ— No truth your credit That your husband set Close in his house at fire can purchase yet No faith of you But that he still is farre From any home of his your wit 's at warre With all credulity euer and yet now I le name a signe shall force beleefe from you I bath'd him lately and beheld the scar That still remaines a marke too ocular To leaue your heart yet blinded and I then Had run and told you but his hand was feine To close my lips from th'acclamation My heart was breathing and his wisedome won My still retention till he gaue me leaue And charge to tell you this Now then receaue My life for gage of his returne which take In any cruell fashion if I make All this not cleere to you Lou'd Nurse said she Though many things thou knowst yet these things be Veil'd in the counsailes th'vncreated Gods Haue long time maskt in whose darke periods T is hard for thee to see into But come Le ts see my son the slaine and he by whom They had their slaughter This said down they went When on the Queens part diuers thoghts wer spent If all this giuen no faith she still should stand Aloofe and question more Or his hugg'd hand And loued head she should at first assay With free-giuen kisses VVhen her doubtfull way Had past the stony pauement she tooke seate Against her husband in the opposite heate The fire then cast vpon the other wall Himselfe set by the Columne of the Hall His lookes cast downwards and expected still VVhen her incredulous and curious will To shun ridiculous error and the shame To kisse a Husband that was not the same VVould downe and win enough faith from his sight She silent sate and her perplexed plight Amaze encounter'd Sometimes she stood cleare He was her Husband sometimes the ill weare His person had put on transform'd him so That yet his staâ—pe would hardly currant go Her son her strangenesse seeing blam'd her thus Mother vngentle Mother tyrannous In this too curious modesty you show Why sit you from my Father Nor bestow A word on me t' enquire and cleere such doubt As may perplexe you Found man euer out One other such a wife That could forbeare Her lou'd Lords welcome home when twenty yeare In infinite sufferance he had spent apart No Flint so hard is as a womans hart Son she replied Amaze containes my minde Nor can I speake and vse the commune kind Of those enquiries nor sustaine to see VVith opposite lookes his countenaâ—ce If this be My true Vlysses now return'd there are Tokens betwixt vs of more fitnesse farre To giue me argument he is my Lord And my assurance of him may afford My proofes of ioy for him from all these eies VVith more decorum then obiect their guise To publique notice The much-Sufferer brake In laughter out and to his Son said Take Your Mother from the prease that she may make Her owne proofes of me which perhaps may giue More cause to the acknowledgements that driue Their shew thus off But now because I goe So poorely clad she takes disdaine to know So loath'd a creature for her loued Lord. Let vs consult then how we may accord The Towne to our late action Some one slaine Hath made the all-left slaughterer of him faine To fly his friends and country But our swords Haue slaine a Cities most supportfull Lords The chiefe Peeres of the kingdome therefore see You vse wise meanes t'vphold your victorie See you to that good Father saide the Son Whose counsailes haue the soueraigne glory won From all men liuing None will striue with you But with vnquestion'd Girlands grace your brow To whom our whol alacrities we vow In free attendance Nor shall our hands leaue Your onsets needy of supplies to giue All the effects that in our pow'rs can fall Then this said he to me seemes capitall Of all choise courses Bathe we first and then Attire we freshly all our Maides and men Enioyning likewise to their best attire The sacred Singer
these bore off the prize VVith myracles to me from all before In which thy Siluer-footed Mother bore The Institutions name but thy desarts Being great with heauen caus'd al the eminent parts And thus through all the worst effects of Fate Achilles Fame euen Death shall propagate VVhile any one shall lend the light an eye Diuine Aeâ—cides shal neuer dye But wherein can these comforts be conceiu'd As rights to me when hauing quite aâ—chieu'd An end with safety and with Conquest too Of so vnmatcht a warre what none could do Of all our enemies there at home a Friend And VVife haue giuen me inglorious end While these thus spake the Argus-killing spy Brought neere Vlysses noble victory To their renewâ— d discourse in all the ends The wooers suffer'd and shew'd those his Frends VVhom now amaze inuaded with the view And made giue backe yet 〈◊〉 knew Melanthius heyre much-fam'd Amphimedâ—â— Who had in Ithaca Guest-fauours shown To great Atrides who first spake and saide Amphimedon what sufferance hath bene laide On your aliue parts that hath made you maâ—e This land of darknesse the retreat you take So all together All being like in yeeres Nor would a man haue choosd of all the Peeres A City honors men to make a part More strong for any obiect Hath your smart Bene felt from Neptune being at Sea His wrath The winds and waues exciting to your scath Or haue offensiue men imposd this Fate Your Oxen driuing or your flockes estate Or for your City fighting and your wiues Haue deaths vntimely seiz'd your best-tim'd liues Informe me truly I was once your Guest VVhen I and Menelaus had profest First armes for Ilion and were comâ— ashore On Ithaca with purpose to implore Vlysses aide that City-racing man In wreake of the adulterous Phrygian Retaine not you the time A whole months date We spent at Sea in hope to instigâ—te In our arriuall old Laertes Son VVhom hardly yet to our designe we won The Soule made answer Worthiest King of men I well remember euery passage then You now reduce to thought and will relate The truth in whole forme of our timelesse Fate VVe woo'd the wife of that long absent King VVho though her second marriage were a thing Of most hate to her she would yet deny At no part our affections nor comply With any in performance but decreed In her delayes the cruell Fates we feed Her craft was this She vndertooke to weauâ— A Funerall garment destin'd to receaue The corse of old Laertes being a taske Of infinite labour and which Time would aske In midst of whose attempt she causd our stay VVith this attraction Youths that come in way Of honor'd Nuptials to me Though my Lord Abide amongst the dead yet cease to bord My choise for present Nuptials and sustaine Lest what is past me of this web be vaine Till all receiue perfection 'T is a weede Dispos'd to wrap in at his Funerall neede The old Laâ—rtes who possessing much Would in his want of rites as fitting touch My honor highly with each vulgar Dame Thus spake she and perswaded and her Frame All day she labour'd her dayes worke not small But euery night time she vnwrought it all Three yeares continuing this imperfect taske But when the fourth year came her slights could mask In no more couert since her trusted Maid Her whole deceite to our true note betraid VVith which surpriz'd she could no more protract Her workes perfection but gaue end exact To what remain'd washt vp and set thereon A glosse so bright that like the Sun and Moon The whole worke shew'd together And when now Of meere necessity her honour'd vow She must make good to vs ill fortune brought Vlysses home who yet gaue none one thought Of his arriuall but far-off at field Liu'd with his Herdsman Nor his trust would yield Note of his person but liu'd there as Guest Ragg'd as a begger in that life profest At length Telemachus left Pylos sank And with a Ship fetcht soone his natiue Land When yet not home he went but laid his way Vp to his Herdsman where his Father lay And where both laide our deaths To town then bore The Swine-herd and his King the Swaine before Telemachus in other wayes bestow'd His course home first t'associate vs that woo'd The Swaine the King led after who came on Ragged and wretched and still lean'd vpon A borrow'd staffe At length he reacht his home VVhere on the sodaine and so wretched come Nor we nor much our elders once did dreame Of his returne there but did wrongs extreame Of words and blowes to him all which he bore VVith that old patience he had learn'd before But when the minde of Ioue had rais'd his owne His son and he fetcht all their Armour downe Fast lockt the doores and to prepare their vse He will'd his wife for first meane to produce His Bow to vs to draw of which no one Could stir the string Himselfe yet set vpon The deadly strength it held Drew all with eaâ—e Shot through the steeles and then began to sease Our armelesse bosomes striking first the brest Of King Antinous and then the â—est In heapes turn'd ouer hopefull of his end Because some God he knew stood firme his frend Nor prou'd it worse with him but all in flood The Pauement straight blusht with our vitall blood And thus our soules came heere our bodies laid Neglected in his roofes no word conuaid To any friend to take vs home and giue Our wounds fit balming not let such as liue Entombe our deaths and for our fortunes shed Those teares and dead rites that renowne the dead Atrides Ghost gaue answere O blest Son Of old Laertes thou at length hast won With mighty vertue thy vnmatched wife How good a knowledge how vntoucht a life Hath wise Penelope How well she laide Her husbands right vp whom she lou'd a Maid For which her vertues shall extend applause Beyond the circles fraile mortality drawes The deathlesse in this vale of death comprising Her praise in numbers into infinites rising The daughter Tyndarus begat begot No such chaste thoughts but cut the virgin knot That knit her spouse her with murtherous swords For which posterities shall put hatefull words To notes of her that all her Sex defam'd And for her ill shall euen the good be blam'd To this effect these these digressions made In hell Earths darke and euer-hiding shade Vlysses and his Son now past the Towne Soone reacht the field elaborately growne By old Laertes labour when with cares For his lost Son he left all Court affaires And tooke to this râ—de vpland which with toile He made a sweet and habitable soile VVhere stood a house to him about which ran In turnings thicke and Labyrinthian Poore Houels where his necessary men That did those workes of pleasure to him then Might sit and eate and sleepe In his owne house An old Sicilian Dame liu'd stâ—dious To serue his sowre
age with her cheerefull paines Then saide Vlysses to his Son and Swaines Go you to Towne and for your dinner kill The best Swine ye can chooâ—e my selfe will still Stay with my father and assay his eye If my acknowledg'd truth it can descry Or that my long times trauaile doth so change My sight to him that I appeare as strange Thus gaue he armes to them and home he hied Vlysses to the fruitfull field applied His present place nor found he Dolius there His sonnes or any seruant any where In all that spacious ground all gone from thence Were dragging bushes to repaire a Fence Old Dolius leading all Vlysses found His father farre aboue in that faire ground Employd in proyning of a Plant his weeds All torne and tatter'd fit for homely deeds But not for him Vpon his legs he wore Patcht boots to guard him from the brambles gore His hands had thorne-proofe hedging Mittens on His head a Goats-skin Caske through all which shone His heart giuen ouer to abiectest mone Him when Vlysses saw consum'd with age And all the Ensignes on him that the rage Of griefe presented he brake out in teares And taking stand then where a tree of Peares Shot high his forehead ouer him his minde Had much contention If to yeeld to kinde Make straight way to his father kisse embrace Tâ—ll his returne and put on all the face And fashion of his instant told returne Or stay th'impulsion and the long day burne Of his quite losse giuen in his Fathers feare A little longer trying first his cheare With some free dalliance th' earnest being so neare This course his choise preferr'd and forth he went His Father then his aged shoulders bent Beneath what yeares had stoop't about a Tree Busily digging O old man said he You want no skill to dresâ—e and decke your ground For all your Plants doth order'd distance bound No Apple Peare or Oliue Fig or Vine Nor any plat or quarter you confine To grasse or flow'rs stands empty of your care Which shewes exact in each peculiare And yet which let not moue you you bestow No care vpon your selfe though to this show â—f outward irksomnesse to what you are You labour with an inward froward care Which is your age that should weare all without More neate and cherishing I make no doubt That any sloth you vse procures your Lord To let an old man go so much abhord In all his weeds nor shines there in your looke A fashion and a goodlinesse so tooke VVith abiect qualities to merit this Nasty entreaty Your resemblance is A very Kings and shines through this retreate You looke like one that hauing washt and eate Should sleepe securely lying sweet and neate It is the ground of Age when cares abuse it To know life's end and as 't is sweet so vse it But vtter truth and tell what Lord is he That rates your labour and your liberty VVhose Orchard is it that you husband thus Or quit me this doubt For if Ithacus This kingdome claimes for his the man I found At first arriuall heere is hardly sound Of braine or ciuill not induring stay To tell nor heare me my enquiry out Of that my friend if stil he bore about His life and Being or were diu'd to Death And in the house of him that harboureth The soules of men For once he liu'd my guest My Land and house retaining interest In his abode there where there soiourn'd none As guest from any forreigne Region Oâ— more price with me He deriu'd his race From Ithaca and said his Father was Laertes surnam'd Arcesiades I had him home and all the offices Perform'd to him that fitted any friend Whose prooâ—e I did to wealthy gifts extend Seuen Talents Gold a Bolle all siluer set With pots of flowers twelue robes that had no pleat Twelue cloakes or mantles of delicious dye Twelue inner weeds Twelue sutes of Tapistry I gaue him likewise women skill'd in vse Of Loome and Needle freeing him to chuse Foure the most faire His Father weeping saide Stranger The earth to which you are conuaide Is Ithaca by such rude men poffest Vniust and insolent as first addrest To your encounter but the gifts you gaue VVere giuen alas to the vngratefull graue If with his people where you now arriue Your Fate had bene to finde your friend aliue You shold haue found like Guest-rites from his hand Like gifts and kinde passe to your wished land But how long since receiu'd you as your guest Your Friend my Son who was th'nhappiest Of all men breathing if he were at all O borne when Fates and ill Aspects let fall A cruell influence for him Farre away From Friends and Countrey destâ—n'd to alay The Sea-bred appetites or left ashore To be by Fowles and vpland Monsters tore His life 's kinde authors nor his wealthy wiâ—e Bemoning as behoou'd his parted life Nor closing as in honours course it lyes To all men dead in bed his dying eyes But giue me knowledge of your name and race What City bred you VVhere the anchoring place Your ship now rides at lies that shor'd you here And where you men Or if a passenger In others Keeles you came who giuing Land To your aduentures heere some other Strand To fetch in further course haue left to vs Your welcome presence His reply was thus I am of Alybande where I hold My names chiefe house to much renowne extold My Father Aphidantes fam'd to spring From Polypemon the Molossian King My name Eperitus My taking land On this faire Isle was rul'd by the command Of God or Fortune quite against consent Of my free purpose that in course was bent For th' Isle Sicania My Ship is held Farre from the City neere an ample field And for Vlysses since his passe from me 'T is now fiue yeares Vnblest by Destiny That all this time hath had the Fate to erre Though at his parting good Birds did augure His putting off and on his right hand flew VVhich to his passage my affection drew His spirit ioyfull and my hope was now To guest with him and see his hand bestow Rights of our friendship This a cloud of griefe Cast ouer all the forces of his life VVith both his hands the burning dust he swept Vp from the earth which on his head he heapt And fetcht a sigh as in it life were broke VVhich greeu'd his Son and gaue so smart a stroke Vpon his nosethrils with the inward stripe That vp the Veine rose there and weeping ripe He was to see his Sire feele such woe For his dissembl'd ioy which now let goe He sprung from earth embrac't and kist his Sire And said O Father he of whom y'enquire Am I my selfe that from you twenty yeares Is now return'd But do not breake in teares For now we must not formes of kinde maintaine But haste and guard the substance I haue staine All my wiues wooers so reuenging noâ— Their wrong so long time suffer'd
Take not you The comfort of my comming then to heart At this glad instant but in prou'd desert Of your graue iudgement giue moâ—e glad suspence And on the sodaine put this consequence In act as absolute as all time went To ripening of your resolute assent All this haste made noâ— his staide faith so free To trust his words who said If you are he Approue it by some signe This 〈◊〉 then see Replied Vlysses giuen me by the Bore Slaine in Parnassus I being sent before By yours and by my honour'd Mothers will To see your Sire Aâ—tolycus fulfill The gifts he vow'd at gining of my Name I le tel you too the Trees in goodly frame Of this faire Orchard that I askt of you Being yet a childe and follow'd for your show And name of euery Tree You gaue me then Of Figge-trees forty Apple bearers ten Peare-trees thirteene and fifty rankes of Vine Each one of which a season did confine For his best eating Not a Grape did grow That grew not there and had his heauy brow When Ioues faire daughters the all-ripening how'rs Gaue timely date to it This charg'd the pow is Both of his knees and heart with such impression Of sodaine comfort that it gâ—ue possession Of all to Trance The signes were all so true And did the loue that gaâ—e them so renue His cast his armes about his sonne and sunke The circle slipping to his feete So shrunke VVere all his ages forces with the fire Of his yong loue rekindl'd The old Sire The Son tooke vp quite liuelesse But his breath Againe respiring and his soule from death His bodies pow'rs recouering Out he cried And said O Iupiter I now haue tried That still there liue in heauen remembring Gods Of men that serue them though the periods They set to their apparances are long In best mens sufferings yet as sure as strong They are in comforts be their strange delayes Extended neuer so from dayes to dayes Yet see the short ioyes or the soone-mixt feares Of helpes with-held by them so many yeares For if the wooers now haue paide the paine Due to their impious pleasures Now againe Extreame feare takes me lest we straight shall see Th' Ithacensians here in mutinie Their Messengers dispatcht to win to friend The Cephalenian Cities Do not spend Your thoughts on these cares saide his suffering son But be of comfort and see that course ron That best may shun the worst Our house is nere Telemachus and both his Herdsmen there To dresse our supper with their vtmost hast And thither haste we This saide Forth they past Came home and found Telemachus at feast With both his Swaines while who had done all drest VVith Baths and Balmes and royally arraid The old King was by his Sicilian Maid By whose side Pallas stood his crookt-age streitning His flesh more plumping and his looks enlightning VVho yssuing then to view his son admir'd The Gods Aspects into his forme inspir'd And said O Father certainly some God By your addression in this state hath stood More great more reuerend rendring you by farre At all your parts then of your selfe you are I would to Ioue said he the Sun and She That beares Ioues shield the state had stood with me That helpt me take in the wel-builded Tow'rs Of strong Nericus the Cephalian pow'rs To that faire City leading two dayes past While with the wooers thy conflict did last And I had then bene in the wooers wreake I should haue helpt thee so to render weake Their stubborne knees that in thy ioyes desert Thy breast had bene too little for thy heart This said and supper order'd by their men They sate to it old Dolius entring then And with him tyr'd with labour his sonnes came Call'd by their Mother the Siciliaâ— dame That brought them vp and drest their Fathers fare As whose age grew with it encreast her care To see him seru'd as fitted VVhen thus set These men bâ—held Vlysses there at meate They knew him and astonisht in the place Stood at his presence who with words of grace Call'd to olde Dolius saying Come and eate And banish all astonishment your meate Hath long bene ready and our selues made stay Expecting euer when your wished way VVould reach amongst vs. This brought fiercely on Old Dolius from his stand who ran vpon VVith both his armes abroad the King and kist Of both his rapt vp hands the either wrist Thus welcomming his presence O my Loue Your presence heere for which all wishes stroue No one expected Euen the Gods haue gone In guide before you to your mansion Welcom and all ioyes to your heart contend Knowes yet Penelope Or shall we send Some one to tell her this She knowes said he VVhat need these troubles Father touch at thee Then came the Sonnes of Dâ—lius and againe VVent ouer with their Fathers entertaine VVelcom'd shooke hands then to feast sate down About which while they sate about the Towne Fame flew and shriek't about the cruell death And Fate the wooers had sustain'd beneath Vlysses roofes All heard together all From hence and thence met in Vlysses Hall Short-breath'd and noisefull Bore out all the dead To instant buriall while their deaths were spread To other Neighbor-Cities where they liu'd From whence in swiftest Fisher-boats arriu'd Men to transfer them home In meane space here The heauy Nobles all in counsailâ— were Where met in much heape vp to all arose Extremely-greeu'd Eupitheus so to lose His Son Antinous who first of all By great Vlysses hand had slaughtrous fall VVhose Father weeping for him saide O Friends This man hath author'd workes of dismall ends Long since conueying in his gâ—ide to Troy Good men and many that did ships employ All which are lost and all their Souldiers dead And now the best men Cephalenia bâ—ed His hand hath slaughter'd Go we then before His scape to Pylos or the Elean Shore VVhere rule the Epeans 'gainst his horrid hand For we shall grieue and infamy will brand Our Fames for euer if we see our Sons And Brothers end in these confusions Reuenge left vninflicted Nor will I Enioy one dayes life more But greeue and die VVith instant onset Nor shoâ—ld you suruiue To keepe a base and beastly name aliue Haste then let flight preuent vs. This with teares His griefes aduisd and made all sufferers In his affliction But by this was come Vp to the Counsaile from Vlysses home VVhen sleep had left theÌ„ which the slaughters there And their selfe dangers from their eyes in feare Had two nights intercepted those two men That iust Vlysses sau'd out of the slaine VVhich Medon and the sacred Singer were These stood amidst the Counsaile and the feare The slaughter had imprest in eithers looke Stucke stil so gastly that amaze it strooke Through euery there beholder To whose eares One thus enforc't in his fright cause of theirs Attend me Ithacensians This sterne fact Done by Vlysses was not put in act