then let touch his Lire And go before vs all in gracefull dance That all without to whose eares shal aduance Our cheerefull accents or of Trauailers by Or firme inhabitants solemnity Of frolicke Nuptials may imagine heere And this performe we lest the massakere Of all our wooers be divulg'd about The ample City ere our selues get out And greet my Father in his Groue of Trees Where after we will proue what policies Olympius shall suggest to ouercome Our latest toiles and crowne our welcome home This all obey'd Bath'd put on fresh attire Both men and women did Then tooke his Lire The holy singer and set thirst on fire VVith songs and faultlesse dances all the Court Rung with the footings that the numerous sport From iocund men drew and faire-girdl'd Dames VVhich heard abroad thus flew the coÌ„mune fames This sâ—re the day is when the much-woo'd Queen Is richly wed O wretch That hath not beene So constant as to keepe her ample house Til th' vtmost houre had brought her formost spouse Thus some conceiu'd but little 〈◊〉 the thing And now Eurynome had bath'd the King Smooth'd him with Oyles and he himselfe attir'd In vestures royall Her part then inspir'd The Goddesse Pallas deck't his head and face With infinite beauties gaue a goodly grace Of stature to him a much plumper plight Through all his body breath'd Curles soft bright Adorn'd his head withall and made it show As if the flowry Hyacinth did grow In all his pride there In the generall trim Of euery locke and euery curious lim Looke how a skilfull Artizan well 〈◊〉 In all Arts Metalline as haâ—ing beene Taught by Minerua and the God of fire Doth Gold with Siluer mix so that entire They keepe their selfe distinction and yet so That to the Siluer from the Gold doth flow A much more artificiall luster then his â—â—ne And thereby to the Gold it selfe is growne A greater glory then if wrought alone Both being stuck off by eithers 〈◊〉 So did Minerua hers and his combine He more in Her She more in Him did shine Like an Immortall from the Bath 〈…〉 And to his wife did all his grace dispose Encountring this her strangenesse Cruell Dame Of all that breathe the Gods 〈…〉 and flame Haue made thee ruthlesse Life retaines nor one Of all Dames else that beares so ouer-growne A minde with abstinence as twenty 〈◊〉 To misse her husband drown'd in woâ—â— and teares And at his comming keepe aloofe 〈…〉 As of his so long absence and his care No sense had seisd her Go Nurse make a bed That I alone may sleepe her heart is dead To all reflection To him thus replied The wise Penelope Man halfe deified 'T is not my fashion to be taken streight With brauest men Nor poorest vse to stâ—ight Your meane apparance made not me retire Nor this your rich shew makes me now admire Nor moues at all For what is all to me If not my husband All his certainty I knew at parting but so long apart The outward likenesse holds no full desart For me to trust to Go Nurse see addrest A soft bed for him and the single rest Himselfe affects so Let it be the bed That stands within our Bridal Chamber-sted VVhich he himself made Bring it forth from thence And see it furnisht with magnificence This said she to assay him and did stir Euen his establisht patience and to hir Whom thus he answerd Woman your words proue My patience strangely VVho is it can moue My Bed out of his place It shall oppresse Earths greatest vnder-stander and vnlesse Euen God himselfe come that can easely grace Men in their most skils it shall hold his place For Man he liues not that as not most skill'd So not most yong shall easely make it yield If building on the strength in which he flowes He addes both Leuers to and Iron Crowes For in the fixure of the Bed is showne A Maister-peece a wonder and 't was done By me and none but me and thus was wrought There was an Oliue tree that had his grought Amidst a hedge and was of shadow proud Fresh and the prime age of his verdure show'd His leaues and armes so thicke that to the eye It shew'd a columne for solidity To this had I a comprehension To build my Bridall Bowre which all of stone Thicke as the Tree of leaues I raisde and cast A Roofe about it nothing meanly grac'st Put glew'd doores to it that op't Art enough Then from the Oliue euery broad-leau'd bough I lopt away then fell'd the Tree and then VVent ouer it both with â—y Axe and Plaine Both gouern'd by my Line And then I hew'd My curious Bed-sted out in which I shew'd Worke of no commune hand All this begon I could not leaue till to perfection My paines had brought it Tooke my Wimble bor'd The holes as fitted and did last afford The varied Ornament which shew'd no want Of Siluer Gold and polisht Elephant An Oxe-hide Dide in purple then I threw Aboue the cords And thus to curious view I hope I haue obiected honest signe To proue I author nought that is not mine But if my bed stand vnreinou'd or no O woman passeth humane wit to know This sunk her knees heart to heare so true The signes she vrg'd and first did teares ensue Her rapt assurance Then she ran and spread Her armes about his necke kist oft his head And thus the curious stay she made excusde Vlysses Be not angry that I vsde Such strange delayes to this since heretofore Your suffering wisedome hath the Gyrland wore From all that breath and 't is the Gods that thus With mutuall misse so long afflicting vs Haue causd my coynesse To our youths enuied That wisht society that should haue tied Our youths and yeares together and since now Iudgement and Duty should our age allow As full ioyes therein as in youth and blood See all yong anger and reproofe withstood For not at first sight giuing vp my armes My heart still trembling lest the false alarmes That words oft strike vp should ridiculize me Had Argiue Hellen knowne credulity VVould bring such plagues with it and her againe As aucthresse of them all with that foule staine To her and to her countrey she had staid Her loue and mixture from a strangers bed But God impell'd her to a shamelesse deede Because she had not in her selfe decreed Before th' attempt That such acts still were shent As simply in themselues as in th' euent By which not onely she her selfe sustaines But we for her fault haue paid mutuall paines Yet now since these signes of our certaine bed You haue discouer'd and distinguished From all earths others No one man but you Yet euer getting of it th' onely show Nor one of all Dames but my selfe and she My Father gaue old Actors progenie Who euer guarded to our selues the dore Of that thick-shaded chamber I no more Will crosse your cleere perswasion though till now
bold rage Go to Icarius her fathers Court That his will askt in kind and comely sort He may endow his daughter with a dowre And she consenting at his pleasures powre Dispose her to a man that thus behau'd May haue fit grace and see her honor sau'd But these in none but my house all their liues Resolue to spend slaughtring my sheepe and beeues And with my fattest goates lay feast on feast My generous wine consuming as they list A world of things they spoile here wanting one That like Vlysses quickly could set gone These peace-plagues from his house that spoile like warre Whom my powres are vnfit to vrge so farre My selfe immartiall But had I the powre My will should serue me to exempt this houre From out my life time For past patience Base deeds are done here that exceed defence Of any honor Falling is my house Which you should shame to see so ruinous Reuerence the censures that all good men giue That dwell about you and for feare to liue Exposde to heauens wrath that doth euer pay Paines for ioyes forfait euen by Ioue I pray Or Themis both which powres haue to restraine Or gather Councels that ye will abstaine From further spoile and let me onely waste In that most wretched griefe I haue embrac't For my lost Father And though I am free From meriting your outrage yet if he Good man hath euer with a hostile heart Done ill to any Greeke on me conuert Your like hostilitie and vengeance take Of his ill on my life and all these make Ioyne in that iustice but to see abusde Those goods that do none ill but being ill vsde Exceeds all right Yet better t is for me My whole possessions and my rents to see Consum'd by you then lose my life and all For on your rapine a reuenge may fall While I liue and so long I may complaine About the Citie till my goods againe Oft askt may be with all amends repaid But in the meane space your mis-rule hath laid Griefes on my bosome that can onely speake And are denied the instant powre of wreake This said his Scepter gainst the ground he threw And teares still'd from him which mou'd all the crew The Court strooke silent not a man did dare To giue a word that might offend his â—are Antinous onely in this sort replied High-spoken and of spirit vnpacified How haue you sham'd vs in this speech of yours Will you brand vs for an offence not ours Your mother first in craft is first in cause Three yeares are past and neare the fourth now drawes Since first she mocked the Peeres Achaian All she made hope and promist euery man Sent for vs euer left loues shew in nought But in her heart conceald another thought Besides as curious in her craft her looâ—e She with a web charg'd hard to ouercome And thus bespake vs Youths that seeke my bed Since my diuine Spouse rests among the dead Hold on your suites but till I end at most This funerall weed lest what is done be lost Besides I purpose that when th'austere fate Of bitter death shall take into his state Laeâ—tes the Heroe it shall decke His royall corse since I should suffer checke In ill report of euery common dame If one so rich should shew in death his shame This speech she vsde and this did soone perswade Our gentle mindes But this a worke she made So hugely long vndoing still in night By torches all she did by dayes broade light That three yeares her deceit diu'd past our view And made vs thinke that all she faind was true But when the fourth yeare came and those â—lie houres That still surprise at length Dames craftiest powres One of her women that knew all disclosde The secret to vs that she still vnlosde Her whole daies faire affaire in depth of night And then no further she could force her sleight But of necessitie her worke gaue end And thus by me doth euery other friend Professing loue to her reply to thee That euen thy selfe and all Greeks else may see That we offend not in our stay but shee To free thy house then send her to her Sire Commanding that her choice be left entire To his election and one settl'd will Nor let her vexe with her illusions still Her friends that woo her standing on her wit Because wise Pallas hath giuen wiles to it So full of Art and made her vnderstand All workes in faire skill of a Ladies hand But for her working mind we reade of none Of all the old world in which Greece hath showne Her rarest peeces that could equall her Tyro Alcmena and Mycena were To hold comparison in no degree For solide braine with wise Penelope And yet in her delayes of vs she showes No profits skill with all the wit she owes For all this time thy goods and victuals go To vtter ruine and shall euer so While thus the Gods her glorious mind dispose Glorie her selfe may gaine but thou shalt lose Thy longings euen for necessary food For we will neuer go where lies our good Nor any other where till this delay She puts on all she quits with th'endlesse stay Of some one of vs that to all the rest May giue free farewell with his nuptiall feast The wise yong Prince replide Antinous I may by no meanes turne out of my house Her that hath brought me forth and nourisht me Besides if quicke or dead my Father be In any region yet abides in doubt And t will go hard my meanes being so runne out To tender to Icarius againe If he againe my mother must maintaine In her retreate the dowre she brought with her And then a double ill it will conferre Both from my Father and from God on me When thrust out of her house on her bent knee My Mother shall the horrid Furies raise With imprecations and all men dispraise My part in her exposure Neuer then Will I performe this counsell If your splene Swell at my courses once more I command Your absence from my house Some others hand Charge with your banquets On your owne goods â—ate And either other mutually intreate At either of your houses with your feast But if ye still esteeme more sweete and best Anothers spoile so you still wreaklesse liue Gnaw vermine-like things â—acred no lawes giue To your deuouring it remaines that I Inuoke each euer-liuing Deitie And vow if Ioue shall daigne in any date Powre of like paines for pleasures so past rate From thenceforth looke where ye haue reueld so Vnwreakt your ruines all shall vndergo Thus spake Telemachus t' assure whose threat Farre-seeing Ioue vpon their pinions set Two Eagles from the high browes of a hill That mounted on the winds together still Their strokes extended But arriuing now Amidst the Councell ouer euery brow Shooke their thicke wings and threatning deaths cold feares Their neckes and cheekes tore with their eager Seres Then
excite The heart of whom he listeth with delight This said he led The Scepter-bearers lent Their free attendance and with all speede went The herald for the sacred man in song Youths two and fiftie chosen from the throng Went as was willd to the vntam'd seas shore Where come they lancht the ship the Mast it bore Aduanc't sailes hoised euery seate his Ore Gaue with a lether thong the deepe moist then They further reacht The drie streets flowd with men That troup't vp to the kings capacious Court Whose Porticos were chok't with the resort Whose wals were hung with men yong old thrust there In mighty concourse for whose promist cheere Alcinous slue twelue Sheepe eight white-toothd Swine Two crook-hancht Beeues which flead and drest diuine The show was of so many a iocund Guest All set together at so set a feast To whose accomplisht state the Herald then The louely Singer led Who past all mean The Muse affected gaue him good and ill His eies put out but put in soule at will His place was giuen him in a chaire all grac't With siluer studs and gainst a Pillar plac't Where as the Center to the State he rests And round about the circle of the Guests The Herald on a Pinne aboue his head His soundfull harpe hung to whose height he led His hand for taking of it downe at will A Boord set by with food and forth did fill A Bowle of wine to drinke at his desire The rest then fell to feast and when the fire Of appetite was quencht the Muse inflam'd The sacred Singer Of men highliest fam'd He sung the glories and a Poeme pend That in applause did ample heauen ascend Whose subiect was the sterne contention Betwixt Vlysses and Great Thetis Sonne As at a banket sacred to the Gods In dreadfull language they exprest their ods When Agamemnon sat reioyc't in soule To heare the Greeke Peeres iarre in termes so foule For Augur Phoebus in presage had told The king of men desirous to vnfold The wars perplexed end and being therefore gone In heauenly Pythia to the Porch of stone That then the end of all griefes should begin Twixt Greece and Troy when Greece with strife to winne That wisht conclusion in her kings should iarre And pleade if force or wit must end the warre This braue contention did the Poet sing Expressing so the spleene of either king That his large purple weede Vlysses held Before his face and eies since thence distilld Teares vncontaind which he obscur'd in feare To let th'obseruing Presence note a teare But when his sacred song the meere Diuine Had giuen an end a Goblet crownd with wine Vlysses drying his wet eies did seise And sacrifisde to those Gods that would please T' inspire the Poet with a song so fit To do him honour and renowme his wit His teares then staid But when againe began By all the kings desires the mouing man Againe Vlysses could not chuse but yeeld To that soft passion which againe withheld He kept so cunningly from sight that none Except Alcinous himselfe alone Discern'd him mou'd so much But he sat next And heard him deeply sigh Which his pretext Could not keepe hid from him Yet he conceal'd His vtterance of it and would haue it held From all the rest Brake off the song and this Said to those Ore-affecting Peeres of his Princes and Peeres we now are satiate With sacred song that fits a feast of state With wine and food Now then to field and try In all kinds our approu'd actiuity That this our Guest may giue his friends to know In his returne that we as little owe To fights and wrestlings leaping speede of race As these our Court-rites and commend our grace In all to all superiour Foorth he led The Peeres and people troup't vp to their head Nor must Demodocus be left within Whose harpe the Herald hung vpon the pinne His hand in his tooke and abroad he brought The heauenly Poet out the same way wrought That did the Princes and what they would see With admiration with his companie They wisht to honour To the place of Game These throng'd and after routs of other came Of all sort infinite Of Youths that stroue Many and strong rose to their trials loue Vp rose Acroneus and Ocyalus Elatreus Prymneus and Anchyalus Nauteus Eretmeus Thooâ— Proreus Pontaeus and the strong Amphialus Sonne to Tectonides Polinius Vp rose to these the great Euryalus In action like the homicide of warre Naubolides that was for person farre Past all the rest but one he could not passe Nor any thought improue Laodamas Vp Anabesinzus then arose And three sonnes of the Scepter state and those Were Halius and fore-praisde Laodamas And Clytonaeus like a God in grace These first the foote-game tride and from the lists Took start together Vp the dust in mists They hurld about as in their speede they flew But Clytonaeus first of all the crew A Stiches length in any fallow field Made good his pace when where the Iudges yeeld The prise and praise his glorious speed arriu'd Next for the boistrous wrestling Game they striu'd At which Euryalus the rest outshone At leape Amphialus At the hollow stone Elatreus exceld At buffets last Laodamas the kings faire sonne surpast When all had striu'd in these assaies their fill Laodamas said Come friends let 's proue what skill This Stranger hath attaind to in our sport Me thinks he must be of the actiue sort His calues thighs hands and well-knit shoulders show That Nature disposition did bestow To fit with fact their forme Nor wants he prime But sowre Affliction made a mate with Time Makes Time the more seene Nor imagine I A worse thing to enforce debilitie Then is the Sea though nature ne're so strong Knits one together Nor conceiue you wrong Replied Euâ—yalus but proue his blood With â—hat you question In the midst then stood Renowm'd Laodamas and prou'd him thus Come stranger Father and assaie with vs Your powrs in these contentions If your show Be answerd with your worth t is fit that you Should know these conflicts nor doth glorie stand On any worth more in a mans command Then to be strenuous both of foote and hand Come then make proofe with vs discharge your mind Of discontentments for not farre behind Comes your deduction Ship is ready now And men and all things Why said he dost thou Mocke me Laodamas and these strifes bind My powrs to answer I am more inclind To cares then conflict Much sustaind I haue And still am suffering I come here to craue In your assemblies meanes to be dismist And pray both Kings and subiects to assist Euryalus an open brawle began And said I take you Sir for no such man As fits these honord strifes A number more Strange men there are that I would chuse before To one that loues to lie a ship-boord much Or
Come then I le shew thee why I call this Isle thy Ithaca To ground Thy credit on my words this hauen is own'd By th' aged Sea god phorâ—ys in whose Brow This is the Oliue with the ample bow And heere close by the pleasant-shaded Caue That to the Fount-Nymphs th' 〈◊〉 gaue As Sacred to their pleasures Heere doth run The large and couer'd den where thou hast done Hundreds of Offerings to the 〈◊〉 Here Mount Nerytus shakes his curâ—â—d Tresse Of shady woods This sayd she cleer'd the clowd That first deceyu'd his eyes and all things show'd His countrey to him Glad he stood with sight Of his lou'd Soile and kist it with delight And instantly to all the Nymphs hee paide With hands held vp to heauen these vowes said Ye Nymphs the Naiades great seed of Ioue I had conceite that neuer more should moue Your sight in these spheres of my erring eyes And therefore in the fuller Sacrifice Of my hearts gratitude Reioyce till more I pay your Names in Offerings as before VVhich heere I vow if Ioâ—es benigne descent The mighty Pillager with life conuent My person home and to my sau'd decease Of my lou'd sonnes sight adde the sweet increase Be confident saide Pallas nor oppresse Thy spirits with care of these performances But these thy fortunes let vs straight repose In this diuine Caues besome that may close Reserue their value and we then may see How best to order other acts to thee Thus entred she the light-excluding Caue And through it sought some inmost nooke to saue The Gold the great Brasse robes richly wrought Giuen to Vlysses All which in he brought Laid downe in heape and she impos'd a stone Close to the cauernes mouth Then sat they on The sacred Oliues roote consulting how To act th' insulting wooers ouerthrow VVhen Pallas saide Examine now the means That best may lay hand on the impudence Of those proud wooers that haue now three yeares Thy Roofes rule swai'd and bene bold Offerers Of suite and gifts to thy renowned wife VVho for thy absence all her desolate life Dissolues in teares till thy desir'd returne Yet all her wooers while shee thus doth mourne She holds in hope and euery one affords In fore-sent message promise But her words Beare other vtterance then her heart approues O Gods said Ithacus it now behoues My Fate to end me in the ill deceasse That Agamemnon vnderwent vnlesse You tell me and in time their close intents Aduise then meanes to the reueng'd euents VVe both resolue on Be thy selfe so kinde To stand close to me and but such a minde Breath in my bosome as when th' Ilioâ— Towres VVe tore in Cinders O if equall powres Thou wouldst enflame amids my Nerues as then I could encounter with three hundred men Thy onely selfe great Goddesse had to friend In those braue ardors thou wer't wont t' extend I will be strongly with thee answer'd she Nor must thou faile but do thy part with me VVhen both whose pow'rs coÌ„bine I hope the bloods And braines of some of these that waste thy goods Shall strew thy goodly Pauements Ioyne we then I first will render thee vnknowne to men And on thy solid Lineaments make dry Thy now smooth skin Thy bright-brown curles imply In hoary mattings thy broad shoulders cloath In such a cloake as euery eye shall loath Thy bright eyes bleare and wrinkle and so change Thy forme at all parts that thou shalt be strange To all the VVooers thy yong sonne and wife But to thy Herdsman first present thy life That guards thy Swine and wisheth well to thee That loues thy sonne and wife 〈◊〉 Thy search shall finde him set aside his Heard That are with tast-delighting Acoâ—nes rear'd And drinke the darke-deepe water of the Spring Bright Arethusa the most nourishing Raiser of Heards There stay and taking seate Aside thy Heardsman of the whole State treate Of home occurrents while I make accesse To faire-dame-breeding Sparta for regresse Of lou'd Telemachus who went in quest Of thy lou'd fame and lâ—u'd the welcome Guest Of Menelaus The much-knower saide Why wouldst not thou in whose graue brest is bred The Art to order all acts tell in this His error to him Let those yeares of his Amids the rude seas wander and sustaine The woes there raging while vnworthy men Deuoure his fortunes Let not care extend Thy heart for him saide she my selfe did send His person in thy search to set his worth By good fame blowne to such a distance foâ—th Nor suffers he in any least degree The griefe you feare but all variety That Plenty can yeeld in her quieâ—st faâ—e In Menelaus Court doth sit and share In whose returne from home the VVooâ—rs yet Lay bloudy ambush and a Ship haue set To Sea to intercept his life before He touch againe his births attempted shore All which my thoughts say they shall neuer do But rather that the earth shall ouergo Some one at least of these Loue-making men By which thy goods so much empaire sustain Thus vsing certaine secret words to him She toucht him with her rod and euery lim VVas hid all ouer with a wither'd skin His bright eies blear'd his brow curles white thin And all things did an aged man present Then for his owne weeds Shirt and coaâ— all rent Tann'd and all sootied with noisome smoke She put him on and ouer all a cloke Made of a Stags huge hide of which was worne The haire quite off A Scrip all patcht and torne Hung by a cord oft broke and knit againe And with a staffe did his old limbes sustaine Thus hauing both consulted of th' euent They parted both and forth to Sparta went The gray-ey'd Goddesse to see all things done That appertain'd to wise Vlysses sonne The End of the Thirteenth Booke of Homers Odysses THE FOVRTEENTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT VLysses meets amids the Field His Swaine Eumaeus who doth yeild Kinde Guest-rites to him and relate Occurrents of his wrong'd estate Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vlysses faines for his true Good His pious Swaines faith vnderstood BVt he the rough way tooke from forth the Port Through woods and hill tops seeking the resort Where Pallas said diuine Eumaeus liu'd Who of the fortunes that were first atchieu'd By God-like Ithacâ—â— in houshold rights Had more true care then all his Prosylites He found him sitting in his Cottage dore VVhere he had rais'd to euery ayry Blore A Front of great height and in such a place That round ye might behold of circular grace A walke so wound about it which the Swain In absence of his farre-gone Soueraine Had built himselfe without his Queenes supply Or old Laertes to see safely lye His housed herd The inner part he wrought Of stones that thither his owne labors brought Which with an hedge of Thorn he fenc't about And compast all the hedge with pales cleft out Of sable Oake that here and there
And then in full acte of their Kings command A pliant chaine bestow'd on him and hal'd His body vp the columne till he scal'd The highest wind-beame Where made firmly fast Eumaeus on his iust infliction past This pleasurable cauill Now you may All night keepe watch heere and the earliest day Discerne being hung so high to rouse from rest Your dainty Cattle to the wooers Feast There as befits a man of meanes so faire Soft may you sleepe nought vnder you but aire And so long hang you Thus they left him there Made fast the doore and with Vlysses were All arm'd in th' instant Then they all stood close Their minds fire breath'd in flaures against their foes Foure in th ' Entry fighting all alone VVhen from the Hall charg'd many a mighty one But to them then Ioues seede Minâ—urua came Resembling Mentor both in voice and frame Of manly person Passing well apaide Vlysses was and saide Now Mentâ—r aidâ— Gainst these odde mischiefes call to memory now My often good to thee and that we two Of one yeares life are Thus he said but thought It was Minerua that had euer brought To her side safety On the other part The wooers threatn'd but the chiefe in heart VVas Agelaus who to Mentor spake Mentor Let no words of Vlysses make Thy hand a fighter on his feeble side Gainst al vs wooers for we firme abide In this perswasion That when Sire and Son Our swords haue slaine thy life is sure to ron One fortune with them what strange acts hast thou Conceit to forme here Thy head must below The wreake of theirs on vs And when thy powrs Are taken downe by these fierce steeles of ours All thy possessions in doores and without Must raise on heape with his and all thy rout Of sons and daughters in thy Turrets bleed Wreake offerings to vs and our Towne stand freed Of all charge with thy wife Mineruaes heart Was fir'd with these Braues the approu'd desert Of her Vlysses chiding saying No more Thy force nor fortitude as heretofore Will gaine thee glory VVhen nine yeares at Troy VVhite-wristed Hellens rescue did imploy Thy armes and wisedome still and euer vsde The bloods of thousands through the field diffusde By thy vaste valor Priams broad-waide Towne By thy graue parts was sackt and ouerthrowne And now amongst thy people and thy goods Against the wooers base and petulant bloods Stint'st thou thy valour Rather mourning here Then manly fighting Come Friend Stand we nere And note my labour that thou maist discerne Amongst thy foes how Mentors Nerues will erne All thy old Bounties This she spake but staide Her hand from giuing each-way-often-swaide Vncertaine conquest to his certaine vse But still would try what selfe-pow'rs would produce Both in the Father and the glorious Son Then on the wind-beame that along did ron The smoaky roofe transform'd Minerua sat Like to a Swallow sometimes cuffing at The swords and Lances rushing from her seate And vp and downe the troubl'd house did beate Her wing at euery motion And as she Had rouz'd Vlysses so the enemy Damastors sonne excited Polybus Amphinomus and Demoptolemus Eurynomus and Polyctorides For these were men that of the wooing preaâ—e VVere most egregious and the clearly best In strength of hand of all the desperate rest That yet suruiu'd and now fought for their soules VVhich straight swift arrowes sent among the Fouls But first Damastors sonne had more spare breath To spend on their excitements ere his death And saide That now Vlysses would forbeare His dismall hand since Mentors spirit was there And blew vaine vants about Vlysses eares In whose trust he would cease his Massacres Rest him and put his friends huge boasts in proofe And so was he beneath the Entries roofe Left with Telemachus and th' other two At whom saide he discharge no Darts but thro All at Vlysses rousing his faint rest Whom if we slaughter by our interest In Ioues assistance all the rest may yield Our pow'rs no care when he strowes once the field As he then will'd they all at randon threw VVhere they supposd he rested and then flew Minerua after euery Dart and made Some strike the threshold some the wals inuade Some beate the doores and all acts rendred vaine Their graue steele offer'd which escap't Againe Came on Vlysses saying O that we The wooers troope with our ioynt Archerie Might so assaile that where their spirits dream On our deaths first we first may slaughter them Thus the much sufferer said and all let fly VVhen euerie man strooke dead his enemy Vlysses slaughtred Demoptolemus Euryades by yong Telemachus His death encounter'd Good Eâ—maus slew Elatus And Philaetius ouerthrew Pysander all which tore the paued floore Vp with their teeth The rest retir'd before Their second charge to inner roomes and then Vlysses follow'd from the slaughter'd men Their darts first drawing While which worke was done The wooers threw with huge contention To kill them all when with her Swallow wing Minerua cufft and made their Iauelins ring Against the doores and thresholds as beforeâ— Some yet did graze vpon their markes One tore The Princes wrist which was Amphimedâ—â— Th' extreame part of the skin but toucht vpon Ctesippus ouer good Eumaeus Shield His shoulders top did taint which yet did yield The Lance free passe and gaue his hurt the ground Againe then charg'd the wooers and girt round Vlysses with their Lances who turn'd head And with his Iauelin strooke Eurydaâ—â—s dead Telemachus disliu'd Amphimedâ—n Eumaeus Polybuâ— Philaetius won Ctesippus bosome with his dart and said In quittance of the Iesters part he plaid The Neats-foot hurling at Vlysses Now Great Sonne of Polytherses you that vow Your wit to bitter taunts and loue to wound The heart of any with a iest so crown'd Your wit be with a laughter neuer yeilding To fooles in folly but your glory building On putting downe in fooling spitting forth Puft words at all sorts Cease to scoffe at worth And leaue reuenge of vile words to the Gods Since theit wits beare the sharper edge by ods And in the meane time take the Dart I draue For that right hospitable foote you gaue Diuine Vlysses begging but his owne Thus spake the black-Ox-herdsman straight down Vlysses strooke another with his Dart Damastors son Telemachus did part Iust in the midst the belly of the faire Euenors sonne his fierce Pile taking aire Out at his backe Flat fell he on his face His whole browes knocking and did marke the place And now man-slaughtering Pallas tooke in hand Her Snake-frindg'd shield on that beam took stand In her true forme where Swallow-like she sat And then in this way of the house and that The wooers wounded at the heart with feare Fled the encounter As in Pastures where Fat Herds of Oxen feede about the field As if wilde madnesse their instincts impeld The high-fed Bullockes flye whom in the Spring When dayes are long Gadbees or Breezes sting
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