Alcinous Who honors her past equall She may boast More honor of him then the honord most Of any wife in earth can of her Lord How many more soeuer Realmes affoord That keepe house vnder husbands Yet no more Her husband honors her then her blest store Of gracious children All the Citie cast Eyes on her as a Goddesse and giue taste Of their affections to her in their praires Still as she decks the streets For all affaires Wrapt in contention she dissolues to men Whom she affects she wants no mind to deigne Goodnesse enough If her heart stand inclin'd To your dispatch hope all you wish to find Your friends your longing family and all That can within your most affections fall This said away the grey-eyd Goddesse flew Along th'vntamed sea Left the louely hew Scheria presented Out flew Marathon And ample-streeted Athens lighted on Where to the house thâ—â— casts so thicke a shade Of Erectheus she ingression made Vlysses to the loftie-builded Court Of King Alcinous made bold resort Yet in his heart cast many a thought before The brazen pauement of the rich Court bore His enterd person Like heauens two maine Lights The roomes illustrated both daies and nights On euery side stood firme a wall of brasse Euen from the threshold to the inmost passe Which bore a roofe vp that all Saphire was The brazen thresholds both sides did enfold Siluer Pilasters hung with gaâ—es of gold Whos 's Portall was of silueâ— ouer which A golden Cornish did the front enrich On each side Dogs of gold and siluer fram'd The houses Guard stood which the Deitie lam'd With knowing inwards had inspir'd and made That Death nor Age should their estates inuade Along the wall stood euery way a throne From th' entry to the Lobbie euery one Cast ouer with a rich-wrought cloth of state Beneath which the Phaeacian Princes sate At wine and food and feasted all the yeare Youths forg'd of gold at euery table there Stood bolding flaming torches that in night Gaue through the house each honourd Guest his light And to encounter feast with houswifry In one roome fiftie women did apply Their seuerall tasks Some apple-colourd corne Ground in faire Quernes and some did spindles turne Some worke in loomes no hand least rest receiues But all had motion apt as Aspen leaues And from the weeds they woue so fast they laid And so thicke thrust together thred by thred That th'oile of which the wooll had drunke his fill Did with his moisture in light dewes distill As much as the Phaeacian men exceld All other countrimen in Art to build A swift-saild ship so much the women there For worke of webs past other women were Past meane by Pallas meanes they vnderstood The grace of good works and had wits as good Without the Hall and close vpon the Gate A goodly Orchard ground was situate Of neare ten Acres about which was led A loftie Quickset In it flourished High and broad fruit trees that Pomegranats bore Sweet Figs Peares Oliues and a number more Most vsefull Plants did there produce their store Whose fruits the hardest Winter could not kill Nor hotest Summer wither There was still Fruite in his proper season all the yeare Sweet Zephire breath'd vpon them blasts that were Of varied tempers these he made to beare Ripe fruites these blossomes Peare grew after Peare Apple succeeded apple Grape the Grape Fig after Fig came Time made neuer rape Of any daintie there A spritely vine Spred here his roote whose fruite a hote sun-shine Made ripe betimes Here grew another greene Here some were gathering here some pressing seene A large-allotted seuerall each fruite had And all th'adornd grounds their apparance made In flowre and fruite at which the King did aime To the precisest order he could claime Two Fountaines grac't the garden of which one Powrd out a winding streame that ouer-runne The grounds for their vse chiefly th' other went Close by the loftie Pallace gate and lent The Citie his sweet benefit and thus The Gods the Court deckt of Alcinous Patient Vlysses stood a while at gaze But hauing all obseru'd made instant pace Into the Court where all the Peeres he found And Captaines of Phaeacia with Cups crownd Offring to sharp-eyd Hermes to whom last They vsde to sacrifise when Sleepe had cast His inclination through their thoughts But these Vlysses past and forth went nor their eies Tooke note of him for Pallas stopt the light With mists about him that vnstaid he might First to Alcinous and Arete Present his person and of both them she By Pallas counsell was to haue the grace Of foremost greeting Therefore his embrace He cast about her knee And then off flew The heauenly aire that hid him When his view With silence and with Admiration strooke The Court quite through but thus he silence broake Diuine Rhexenors of spring Arete To thy most honourd husband and to thee A man whom many labours haue distrest Is come for comfort and to euery guest To all whom heauen vouchsafe delightsome liues And after to your issue that suruiues A good resignement of the Goods ye leaue With all the honor that your selues receiue Amongst your people Onely this of me Is the Ambition that I may but see By your vouchsaft meanes and betimes vouchsaft My country earth since I haue long bin left To labors and to errors barrd from end And farre from benefit of any friend He said no more but left them dumbe with that Went to the harth and in the ashes sat Aside the fire At last their silence brake And Echinaeus th' old Heroe spake A man that all Phaeacians past in yeares And in perswasiue eloquence all the Peeres Knew much and vsde it well and thus spake he Alcinous it shewes not decently Nor doth your honor what you see admit That this your guest should thus abiectly sit His chaire the earth the harth his cushion Ashes as if apposde for food a Throne Adornd with duerites stands you more in hand To see his person plac't in and command That instantly your Heralds fill in wine That to the God that doth in lightnings shine We may do sacrifice for he is there Where these his reuerend suppliants appeare Let what you haue within be brought abroad To sup the stranger All these would haue showd This fit respect to him but that they stay For your precedence that should grace the way When this had wordadded to the well-inclin'd And sacred order of Alcinous mind Then of the great in wit the hand he seisd And from the ashes his faire person raisd Adâ—aâ—â—'t him to a well-adorned Throne And from his seate raisd his most loued sonne Laodamas that next himselfe was set To giue him place The handmaid then did get An Ewre of gold with water fild which plac't Vpon a Caldron all with siluer grac't She powrd out on their hands And then was spred A Table
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
he fixt Frequent and thicke VVithin his yard he mixt Twelue Sties to lodge his Heard and euery Sty Had roome and vse for fifty Swine to lye But those were females all The male Swine slept VVithout doores euer Nor was their Herd kept Faire like the Females since they suffer'd still Great diminution he being forc't to kill And send the fattest to the dainty Feasts Affected by th'vngodly wooing guests Their number therefore but three hundred were And sixty By them Mastiues as austere As sauage beasts lay euer Their fierce straine Bred by the Herdsman a meere Prince of Men Their number foure Himselfe was then appli'de In cutting forth a faire hew'd Oxes hide To fit his feete with shooes His seruants held Guard of his Swine Three here and there at field The fourth he sent to City with a Sow VVhich must of force be offer'd to the Vow The VVoowers made to all saciety To serue which still they did those Offrings ply The Fate-borne-Dogs-to-Barke tooke sodaine view Of Odyssâ—eus and vpon him flew VVith open mouth He cunning to appall A fierce Dogs fury from his hand let fall His staffe to earth and sat him carelesse downe And yet to him had one foule wrong bene showne VVhere most his Right lay had not instantly The Herdsman let his hide fall and his cry VVith frequent stones flung at the dogges repeld This way and that their eager course they held VVhen through the entry past he thus did mourne O Father Howsoone had you neere bene torne By these rude Dogges whose hurt had branded me VVith much neglect of you But Deity Hath giuen so many other sighes and cares To my attendant state that well vnwares You might be hurt for me for heere I lie Grieuing and mourning for the Maiestie That God-like wonted to be ruling heere Since now I fat his Swine for others cheere VVhere he perhaps err's hungry vp and downe In Countries Nations Cities all vnknowne If any where he liues yet and doth see The Sunnes sweet beames But Father follow mee That cheer'd with wine and foode you may disclose From whence you truly are and all the woes Your age is subiect to This said he led Into his Cottage and of Osiers spred A thickned hurdle on whose top he strow'd A wilde Goats shaggy skin and then bestow'd His owne Couch on it that was soft and great Vlysses ioy'd to see him so entreat His vncouth Presence saying Ioâ—e requite And all th' immortall Gods with that delight Thou most defir'st thy kinde receite of me O Friend to humane Hospitality Eumâ—eus answer'd Guest If one much wurse Arriu'd here then thy selfe it were a curse To my poore meanes to let a Stranger tast Contempt for fit food Poore men and vnplac'st In free seats of their owne are all from Ioue Commended to our entertaining Loue. But poore is th'entertainment I can giue Yet free and louing Of such men as liue The liues of seruants and are still in feare Where yong Lords gouerne this is all the cheare They can affoord a Stranger There was One That vsde to manage this now desart Throne To whom the Gods deny returne that show'd His curious fauour to me and bestow'd Possessions on me A most wished wife A house and portion and a Seruants life â—it for the gift a gracious King should giue VVho still tooke pains himselfe God made thriue His personall endeuour and to me His worke the more increast in which you see I now am conuersant And therefore much His hand had help't me had heauens wil beene such He might haue heere growne old But he is gone And would to God the whole succession Of Hellen might go with him since for her So many men diâ—de whose Fate did confer My Liege to Troy in Agâ—memâ—oâ—s grace To spoile her People and her Turrets race This said his coate to him he streight did gird And to his Sties went that contain'd his Herd From whence he tooke out two slew both and â—ut Both fairely vp A fire enflam'd and put To spit the ioynts which roasted well he set VVith spit and all to him that he might eat From thence his food in all the sindging heat Yet dreg'd it first with Flowre Then fil'd his Cup VVith good sweet wine Sate then cheard him vp Eate now my guest such leane Swine as are meate For vs poore Swaines The fat the wooers eate In whose minds no shame no remorse doth moue Though well they know the blest Gods doe not loue Vngodly actions but respect the right And in the workes of pious men delight But these are worse then impious foâ— those That vow t'iniustice and professe them foes To other Nations enter on their Land And Iupiter to shew his punishing hand Vpon th'inuaded for their pennance then Giues fauour to their foes though wicked men To make their prey on them who hauing freight Their ships with spoile enough weigh ancor streight And each man to his house and yet euen these Doth powrefull feare of Gods iust vengeance seize Euen for that prize in which they so reioyce But these men knowing hauing heard the voyce Of God by some meanes that sad Death hath reft The Ruler heere will neuer suffer left Their vniust wooing of his wife not take Her often answere and their owne Roofes make Their fit retreats But since vncheck't they may They therefore wil make still his goods their pray Without all spare or end There is no day Nor night sent out from God that euer they Prophane with one beasts blood or onely two But more make spoile of and the wrongs they do In meates excesse to Wine as well extend VVhich as excessiuely their ryots spend Yet still leaue store For sure his meanes were great And no Heroe that hath choisest seate Vpon the fruitfull neighbour Continent Or in this Isle it selfe so opulent Was as Vlysses No nor twenty such Put altogether did possesse so much VVhose Herds and Flockes I le tell to euery Head Vpon the Continent he daily fed Twelue Herds of Oâ—en No lesse Flockes of Sheepe As many Herds of Swine Stals large and steepe And equall sort of Goats which Tenants there And his owne Sheepherds kept Then fed he here Eleuen faire stalles of Goats whose food hath yeilde In the extreame part of a neighbor Field Each Stall his Herdsman hath An honest Swaine Yet euery one must euery day sustaine The load of one Beast the most fat and best Of all the Stall-fed to the VVoers Feast And I for my part of the Swine I keepe VVith foure more Herdsmen euery day help steep The VVooers appetites in blood of one The most select our choise can fall vpon To this Vlysses gaue good eare and fed And drunke his wine and vext and rauished His food for meere vexation Seeds of ill His Stomacke sow'd to heare his goods go still To glut of wooers But his dinner done And Stomacke fed to satisfaction He drunke a full
touch But lost his life by Female bribery Yet two sonnes author'd his posterity Alcinaon and renown'd Amphilochus Mantius had yssue Polyphidius And Clytus But Aurora rauish't him For excellence of his admired lim And interested him amongst the Gods His Brother knew mens good and bad abods The best of all men after the decease Of him that perish't in vnnaturall peace At spacious Thebes Apollo did inspire His knowing soule with a Propheticke fire VVho angry with his Father tooke his way To Hyperesia where making stay He prophesied to all men and had there A Sonne call'd Theoclymenus who here Came to Telemachus and found abord Himselfe at Sacrifice whom in a word He thus saluted O Friend since I finde Euen heere at Ship a sacrificing minde Informe your actions By your sacrifice And by that worthy choise of Deities To whom you offer by your selfe and all These men that serue your course maritimall Tell one that askes the truth Nor giue it glose Both who and whence you are From what seed rose Your royall person And what Cities Tow'rs Hold habitation to your parents pow'rs He answer'd Stranger The sure truth is this I am of Ithaca my Father is Or was Vlysses but austere death now Takes his state from him whose euent to know Himselfe being long away I set forth thus With ship and souldiers Thâ—oclymenus As freely said And I to thee am fled From forth my country for a man strooke dead By my vnhappy hand who was with me Of one selfe-Tribe and of his pedigree Are many Friends and Brothers and the sway Of Achiue Kindred reacheth farre away From whom because I feare their spleenes suborne Blood and blacke fate against me being borne To be a wandrer among forreigne men Make thy faire ship my rescue and sustein My life from slaughter Thy deseruings may Performe that mâ—râ—y and to them I pray Nor will I barre said he thy will to make My meanes and equall ship thy ayde but take With what wee haue heere in all friendly vse Thy life from any violence that pursues Thus tooke he in his Lance and it extended Aloft the hatches which himselfe ascended The Prince tooke seate at Sterne on his right hand Set Theoclymenus and gaue command To all his men to arme and see made fast Amidst the hollow Keele the Beechen Mast VVith able halâ—ers hoise saile lanch which soone He saw obay'd And then his Ship did runne A merry course Blew-ey'd Minerua sent A fore-right gale tumultuous vehement Along the aire that her waies vtmost yeeld The ship might make and plough the brackish field Then set the Sun and Night black't all the waies The ship with Ioues wind wing'd wher th' Epian swaies Fetcht â—heras first then Elis the diuine And then for those Isles made that Sea-ward shine For forme and sharpnesse like a Lances head About which lay the wooers ambushed On which he rush't to try if he could scape His plotted death or serue Her treacherous Rape And now returne we to Eumaeus Shed VVhere at their foode with others marshalled Vlysses and his noble Herdsman sate To try if whose loues curious estate Stood firme to his abode or felt it fade And so would take each best cause to perswade His Guest to Towne Vlysses thus contends Heare me Eumaeus and ye other Friends Next Morne to Towne I couet to be gone To beg some others almes not still charge one Aduise me well then and as well prouide I may be fitted with an honest guide For through the streets since Need will haue it so I le tread to try if any will bestow A dish of drinke on me or bit of bread Till to Vlysses house I may be led And there I le tell all-wise Penelope newes Mix with the wooers pride and since they vse To fare aboue the full their hands excite To some small Feast from out their infinite For which I le waite and play the Seruingman Fairely enough command the most they can For I will tell thee note me well and heare That if the will be of heauens Messenger VVho to the workes of men of any sort Can grace infuse and glory nothing short Am I of him that doth to most aspire In any seruice as to builde a Fire To cleaue sere wood to roast or boile their meat To waite at boord mixe wine or know the Neate Or any worke in which the poore-cal'd worst To serue the rich-cal'd best in Fate are forc't He angry with him said Alas poore Guest VVhy did this counsaile euer touch thy brest Thou seek'st thy vtter spoyle beyond all doubt If thou giu'st venture on the Wooers rout VVhose wrong the force affects the Iron heauen Their light delights are farre from being giuen To such graue Seruitors Youths richly trick't In coats or Cassocks Lockes diuinely slickt And lookes most rapting euer haue the gift To taste their crown'd cups â—and full Trenchers shift Their Tables euer like their Glasses shine Loaded with bread with varied flesh and wine And thou go thither Stay for heere do none Grudge at thy presence nor my selfe nor one Of all I feed But when Vlysses sonne Againe shall greet vs he shall put thee on Both coat and cassocke and thy quicke retreat Set where thy heart and soule desire thy seat Industrious Vlysses gaue reply I still much wish that heauens chiefe Deity Lou'd thee as I do that hast easde my minde Of woes and wandrings neuer yet confin'de Nought is more wretched in a 〈…〉 Then Countries want and shift from place to place But for the banefull belly men take care Beyond good counsaile whosoeuer are In compasse of the wants it vndergoes By wandrings losses or dependant woes Excuse me therefore if I err'd at home VVhich since thou wilt make heere as ouercome VVith thy command for stay I le take on me Cares appertaining to this place like thee Does then Vlysses Sire and Mother breath Both whom he left in th'age next doore to death Or are they breathlesse and descended where The darke house is that neuer day doth cleere Laertes liues saide he but euery howre Beseecheth Ioue to take from him the powre That ioynes his life and limbes for with a mone That breeds a meruaile he laments his sonne Depriu'd by death And addes to that another Of no lesse depth for that dead sonnes dead Mother VVhom he a Virgin wedded which the more Makes him lament her losse and doth deplore Yet more her misse because her wombe the truer Was to his braue sonne and his slaughter slue her VVhich last loue to her doth his liâ—e engage And makes him liue an vndigested age O! such a death she died as neuer may Seize any one that heere beholds the day That either is to any man a friend Or can a woman kill in such a kind As long as she had Being I would be A still Inquirer since t' was deere to me Though death to her to heare his
name when she Heard of Vlysses for I might be bold She brought me vp and in her loue did hold My life compar'd with long-vail'd 〈◊〉 Her yongest yssue in some small degree Her daughter yet prefer'd a braue yong Dame But when of youth the dearely loued Flame VVas lighted in vs marriage did prefer The maide to Samos whence was sent for her Infinite riches when the Queene bestow'd A faire new suite new shooes and all and vow'd Me to the field But passing loth to part As louing me more then she lou'd her hart And these I want now but their businesse growes Vpon me daily Which the Gods impose To whom I hold all giue account to them For I see none left to the Diadem That may dispose all better So I drinke And eate of what is heere and whom I think VVorthy or reuerend I haue giuen to still These kinds of Guest-riâ—es for the houshold ill VVhich where the Queene is ryots takes her stil From thought of these things Nor is it delight To heare from her plight of or worke or word The wooâ—rs spoyle all But yet my men will bord Her sorrowes often with discourse of all Eating and drinking of the Festiuall That there is kept and after bring to field Such things as seruants make their pleasures yield O me Eumaeus saide Laertes sonne Hast thou then err'd so of a little one Like me From friends and country pray thee say And say a Truth doth vast Destruction lay Her hand vpon the wide-way'd Seat of men VVhere dwelt thy Sire and reuerend Mother then That thou art spar'd there Or else set alone In guard of Beeues or Sheepe Set th' enemy on Surprisde and Shipt transfer'd and sold thee heere He that bought thee paid well yet bought not deere Since thou enquir'st of that my guest said he Heare and be silent and meane space sit free In vse of these cups to thy most delights Vnspeakable in length now are the Nights Those that affect sleepe yet to sleepe haue leaue Those that affect to heare their hearers giue But sleep not ere your houre Much sleep dâ—th grieue VVho euer lists to sleepe Away to bed Together with the morning raise his head Together with his fellowes breake his fast And then his Lords Herd driue to their repast VVe two still in our Tabernacle heere Drinking eating will our bosomes cheere VVith memories and tales of our annoyes Betwixt his sorrowes euery Humane ioyes He most who most hath felt and furthest err'd And now thy wil to act shall be preferr'd There is an Isle aboue Ortygiâ— If thou hast heard they call it Syria VVhere once a day the Sun moues backwards still T is not so great as good for it doth fill The fields with Oxen fils them still with Sheepe Fils roofes with wine makes al Come there cheap No Dearth comes euer there nor no Disease That doth with hate vs wretched mortals sease But when mens varied Nations dwelling there In any City enter th' aged yeare The Siluer-bow-bearer the Sun and she That beares as much renowne for Archery Stoop with their painles shafts strike them dead As one would sleepe and neuer keepe the bed In this Isle stand two Cities betwixt whome All things that of the soiles fertility come In two parts are diuided And both these My Father ruld Ctesius Ormenides A man like the immortals With these States The crosse-biting Phaenissians traffick't rates Of infinit Merchandize in ships brought there In which they then were held exempt from pere There dwelt within my Fathers house a Dame Borne a Phaenissian skilfull in the frame Of Noble Huswiferies right tall and faire Her the Phaenissian great-wenâ—h-net-lai're With sweet words circumuented as she was VVashing her Linnen To his amorous passe He brought her first shor'd from his Shâ—p to her To whom he did his whole life's loue prefer Which of these brest-exposing Dames the harts Deceiues though fashion'd of right honest parts He askt her after VVhat she was and whence She passing presently the excellence Told of her Fathers Turrets and that she Might boast her selfe sprung from the Progeny Of the rich Sydons and the daughter was Of the much-yeare-reuennew'd Arybas But that the Taphian Pirats made her prize As she return'd from her field-huswiferies Transfer'd her hither and at that mans house VVhere now she liu'd for value precious Sold her to th' Owner He that stole her loue Bad her againe to her births seate remoue To see the faire roofes of her friends againe Who still held state and did the port maintaine Her selfe reported She said Be it so So you and al that in your ship shall roe Sweare to returne me in all safety hence All swore th' Oath past with euery consequence She bad Be silent now and not a word Do you or any of your friends afford Meeting me afterward in any way Or at the washing Fount lest some display Be made and told the old man and he then Keepe me streight bound To you and to your men The vtter ruine plotting of your liues Keepe in firme thought then euery word that striues For dangerous vtterance Haste your ships ful freight Of what you Trafficke for and let me streight Know by some sent friend She hath all in hold And with my selfe I le bring thence all the gold I can by all meanes finger and beside I le do my best to see your freight supplide VVith some wel-weighing burthen of mine owne For I bring vp in house a great mans sonne As crafty as my selfe who will with me Run euery way along and I will be His Leader till your Ship hath made him sure He will an infinite great price procure Transfer him to what languag'd men ye may This said She gat her home and there made stay A whole yeare with vs Goods of great auaile Their Ship enriching VVhich now fit for saile They sent a Messenger t' informe the Dame And to my fathers house a fellow came Full of Phaenissian craft that to be sold A Tablet bought the body all of Gold The Verge all Amber This had ocular view Both by my honor'd Mother and the crew Of her house-handmaids handl'd and â—he price Beat askt and promist And while this deuice Lay thus vpon the Forge this Ieweller Made priuy signes by winkes and wiles to her That was his obiect which she tooke and he His signe seeing noted â—ied to Ship VVhen she My hand still taking as she vsde to do To walke abroad with her conuai'd me so Abroad with her and in the Porticâ— Found cups with tasted Viands which the guests That vsde to flocke about my Fathers feasts Had left They gone some to the Counsaile Court Some to heare newes amongst the talking sort Her Theft three bowles into her lap conuaid And forth she went Nor was my wit so staid To stay her or my selfe The Sun went downe And shadowes round about the world were
he would neuer brooke Or wine or food they say nor cast an eye On any labour but sits weeping by And sighing out his sorrowes ceasselesse mones Wasting his body turn'd all skin and bones More sad newes still said he yet mourne he still For if the rule of all mens workes be will And his will his way goes mine stands inclin'd T' attend the home-turne of my neerer kind Do then what I inioyne which giuen effect Erre not to field to him but turne direct Entreating first my Mother with most speed And all the secrecy that now serues Neede To send this way their store-house Guardian And she shall tell all to the aged Man He tooke his shooes vp put them on and went Nor was his absence hid from Ioues descent Diuine Minerua who tooke straight to view A goodly womans shape that all workes knew And standing in the entry did prefer Her sight t' Vlysses But though meeting her His sonne Telemachus nor saw nor knew The Gods cleere presences are knowne to few Yet with Vlysses euen the Dogs did see And would not barke but whining louingly Fled to the Stals farre side VVhere She her eine Moou'd to Vlysses He knew her designe And left the house past the great Sheep-cotes wall And stood before her She bad Vtter all Now to his sonne nor keepe the least vnlosde That all the wooers deaths being now disposde They might approach the Towne Affirming she Not long would faile t' assist to victory This said She laide her golden Rod on him And with his late-worne weeds grac't euery lim His body straitn'd and his youth instill'd His fresh blood call'd vp euery wrinkle fill'd About his broken eyes and on his chin The browne haire spred When his whole trim wrought in She yssu'd and he enter'd to his sonne VVho stood amaz'd thought some God had done His house that honor turn'd away his eyes And sayd Now Guest you grace another guise Then suites your late shew Other weeds you weare And other person Of the starry spheare You certainly present some deathlesse God Be pleasd that to your here vouchsaf't abod VVe may giue sacred rites and offer Gold To do vs fauour He replied I hold No deified state VVhy put you thus on me A Gods resemblance I am onely he That beares thy Fathers name for whose lou'd sake Thy youth so grieues whose absence makes thee take Such wrongâ— of men Thus kist he him nor could Forbeare those teares that in such mighty hold He held before still held still yssuing euer And now the shores once broke the springtide neuer Forbore earth from the cheekes he kist His sonne By all these violent arguments not wonne To credit him his Father did deny His kinde assumpt and said Some Deity Fain'd that ioyes cause to make him grieue the more Affirming that no man whoeuer wore The garment of mortality could take By any vtmost power his soule could make Such change into it since at so much will Not Ioue himselfe could both remoue and fill Old age with youth and youth with age so spoile In such an instant You wore all the soile Of age but now and were old And but now You beare that yong grace that the Gods indow Their heauen-borne formes withall His father saide Telemachus Admire nor stand dismaide But know thy solid Father since within He answeres all parts that adorne his skin There shall no more Vlyssâ—sses come heere I am the man that now this twentith yeare Stil vnder sufferance of a world of ill My countâ—ey earth recouer 'T is the will The Prey-professor Pallas puts in act VVho put me thus together thus distract In aged pieces as euen now you saw This youth now rendring 'T is within the law Of her free pow'r Sometimes to shew me pore Sometimes againe thus amply to restore My youth and Ornaments She still would please The Godâ— can raise and throw men downe with ease This said he sat when his Telemachus pour'd Himselfe about him Teares on teares he shour'd And to desire of mone increast the cloud Both wept howl'd laide out shrieks more loud Then or the Bird-bone-breaking Eagle reres Or Brood-kind Vulture with the crooked Seres VVhen rusticke hands their tender Aries draw Before they giue their wings their full-plum'd Law But miserably pour'd they from beneath Their lids their teares while both their breasts did breath As frequent cries to their feruent mone The light had left the skies if first the sonne Their dumbe mones had not vented with demand VVhat Ship it was that gaue the naturall land To his blest feet He then did likewise lay Hand on his passion and gaue these words way I le tell thee truth my sonne The men that beare Much fame for shipping my Reducers were To long-wisht Ithaca who each men els That greets their shore giue passe to where he dwels The Phaeacensian Peeres in one nights date VVhile I fast slept fetcht th' Ithacensian state Grac't me with wealthy gifts Brasse store of Gold And Robes faire wrought All which haue secret hold In Caues that by the Gods aduice I chusde And now Minerua's admonitions vsde For this retreat that we might heere dispose In close Discourse the slaughters of our foes Recount the number of the wooers then And let me know what name they hold with men That my minde may cast ouer their estates A curious measure conferre the rates Of our two pow'rs and theirs to try if we Alone may propagate to victory Our bold encounters of them all or proue The kind assistance of some others loue O Father he replied I oft haue heard Your counsailes and your force of hand prefer'd To mighty glory But your speeches now Your ventrous minde exceeding mighty show Euen to amaze they moue me for in right Of no fitte counsaile should be brought to fight Two men 'gainst th' able faction of a throng No one two o one ten No twice ten strong These wooers are but more by much For know That from Dulychius there are fifty two All choise yong men and euery one of these Six men attend From Samos crost the Seas Twice twelue young Gallants From Zacynthus came Twice ten Of Ithaca the best of name Twice six Of all which all the State they take A sacred Poet and a Herald make Their delicacies two of speciall sort In skill of banquets serue And all this port If we shall dare t' encounter all thrust vp In one strong roose haue great care lest the cup Your great mind thirsts exceeding bitter taste And your retreat commend not to your haste Your great attempt but make you say you buy Their prides reuenges at a price too hy And therefore if you could t' were well you thought Of some assistent Be your spirit wrought In such a mans election as may lend His succours freely and expresse a Friend His Father answer'd Let me aske of thee
with feast not to the broken bread VVill your allowance reach Nay then said he And look't austerely Iâ— so saucy be Your suffer'd language I suppose that cleere You shall not scape without some broken cheere Thus rapt he vp a stoole with which he smit The Kings right shoulder 'twixt his necke and it He stood him like a rocke Antinous dart Not stirr'd Vlysses who in his great hart Deepe ils proiected which for time yet close He bound in silence shooke his head and went Out to the Entry where he then gaue vent To his â—ull scrip sate on the earth and eate And talk't still to the wooers heare me yet Ye wooers of the Queene It neuer greeues A man to take blowes where for Sheepe or Beeues Or other maine possessions a man fights But for his harmefull belly this man smites VVhose loue to many a man breeds many a wo. And if the poore haue Gods and Furies to Before Antinous weare his Nuptiall wreath He shall be worne vpon the dart of death Harsh Guest saide he sit silent at your meate Or seeke your desperate plight some safer seate Lest by the hands or heeles youths drag your yeares And rend your rotten ragges about your eares This made the rest as highly hate his folly As he had violated something holy VVhen one euen of the proudest thus began Thou dost not nobly thus to play the man On such an errant wretch O ill dispos'd Perhaps some sacred God-head goes enclos'd Euen in his abiect outside For the Gods Haue often visited these rich abods Like such poore stranger Pilgrims since their pow'rs Being alwayes shapefull glide through Townes and Tow'rs Obseruing as they passe stil who they be That piety loue and who impiety This all men said But he held sayings cheape And all this time Telemachus did heape Sorrow on sorrow on his beating hart To see his Father stricken yet let part No teare to earth but shooke his head and thought As deepe as those ils that were after wrought The Queen now hearing of her poore guests stroke Said to her Maid as to her wooer she spoke I wish the famous for his Bow the Sun VVould strike thy heart so Her wish thus begun Her Lady faire Eurynome pursude Her execration and did thus conclude So may our vowes call downe from heauen his end And let no one life of the rest extend His life till morning O Eurynome Replied the Queene may all Gods speake in thee For all the wooers we should rate as foes Since all their weales they place in others woes But this Antinous we past all should hate As one resembling blacke and cruell Fate A poor strange wretch beg'd here compel'd by need Askt all and euery one gaue in his deed Fill'd his sad Scrip and eas'd his heauy wants Onely this man bestow'd vnmanly tants And with a cruell blow his force let flye 'Twixt necke and shoulders shew'd his charity These minds aboue she and her Maids did show VVhile at his scrip Vlysses sate below In which time she Eumaeus call'd and said Go good Eumaeus and see soone conuaid The stranger to me Bid him come and take My salutations for his welcomes sake And my desire serue if he hath not heard Or seene distrest Vlysses who hath err'd Like such a man and therefore chance may fall He hath by him bene met and spoke withall O Queene saide he I wish to heauen your eare Were quit of this vnreuerend noise you heare From these rude wooers when I bring the guest Such words your eare would let into your brest As would delight it to your very heart Three nights and dayes I did my Roofe impart To his fruition for he came to me The first of all men since he fled the Sea And yet he had not giuen a perfect end To his relation of what woes did spend The spight of Fate on him But as you see A Singer breathing out of Deity Loue-kindling lines when all men seated nere Are rapt with endlesse thirst to euer heare So sweeâ—n'd he my bosome at my meate Affirming that Vlysses was in Crete VVhere first the memories of Minos were A Guest to him there dwelling then as deare As his true Father and from thence came he Tir'd on with sorrowes tost from sea to sea To cast himselfe in dust and tumble heere At wooers feete for blowes and broken cheere But of Vlysses where the Thesprots dwell A wealthy people Fame he sayes did tell The still suruiuall who his Natiue light VVas bound for now with treasure infinite Call him sayd she that he himselfe may say This ouer to me We shall soone haue way Giuen by the wooers They as well at Gate As set within doores vse to recreate Their high-fed spirits As their humors leade They follow and may well for still they treade Vncharg'd waies here their own welth lying vnwasted In poore-kept houses onely something tasted Their bread and wine is by their houshold Swaines But they themselues let loose continuall Reines To our expences making slaughter still Of Sheepe Goats Oxen feeding past their fill And vainly lauishing our richest wine All these extending past the sacred line For here liues no man like Vlysses now To curbe these ruines But should he once show His country light his presence He and his VVould soone reuenge these wooers iniuries This said about the house in ecchoes round Her Sons strange Neesings made a horrid â—ound At which the Queene yet laught and said Goâ— call The stranger to me Heardst thou not to all My words last vtter'd what a Neesing brake From my Telemachus From whence I make This sure conclusion That the death and fate Of euery wooer heere is neere his date Call then the Guest and if he tel as trew VVhat I shal aske him Cote cloke all things new These hands shal yeeld him This said down he went And told Vlysses that the Queene had sent To call him to her that she might enquire About her husband what her sad desire Vrg'd her to aske and if she found him true Both cote and cassocke which he needed new Her hands would put on him And that the Bread VVhich now he begg'd amongst the commune tread Should freely feed his hunger now from her VVho all he wisht would to his wants prefer His answer was I will with fit speed tell The whole truth to the Queene For passing well I know her Lord since he and I haue shar'd In equall sorrowes But I much am scar'd With this rude multitude of wooers here The rage of whose pride smites hâ—auens brazeÌ„ sphere Of whose rout when one strooke me for no fault Telemachus nor none else turn'd th' assault From my poore shoulders Therfore though she hast Beseâ—ch the Queene her patience will see past The dayes broad light and then may she enquire 'T is but my closer preasing to the fire In thâ—Euenings cold because my weeds you know Are passing thin For I made bold to show
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