them there no old man is but I The company t' encourage that expect Telemachus Not with Authority But my advise they 'll follow for respect The next day with the Caucons I must be About an old and not a little debt And then that he may Menelaus see With strong swift horses on his way him set This said the Goddess Pallas went away In likeness of an Eagle to the Skies The people star'd and knew not what to say And Nestor wondring saw it with his eyes And took Telemachus by th' hand and said A good man you will be Telemachus And valiant that are by a God convoy'd And this same God that guided you to us Is none but Pallas daughter of great Jove That did at Troy your Father always guide Let me and mine O Goddess have your love And amongst men a Noble Fame and wide A Heifer on your Altar shall be laid That ne'r bare yoke a yearling from the field And gilt shall be her horns So Nestor prai'd And Pallas heaâ—ing to his Pray'r did yield And Nestor to his house then led them all Both Sons and Sons-in-Law and being there They sat on Chairs and Couches in the Hall Then Nestor bids one fill the Temperer With Wine that aged was eleven year From out a Vessel first uncover'd then And when the Wine and water mixed were Then Nestor pray'd and offered And when The Offrings to the Goddess ended were The rest unto their lodgings went away Telemachus by Nestor stai'd was there And in a soft and costly bed he lay And near unto him lay Pisistratus Who of the Sons of Nestor was the last And Nestor in the inmost part of th' house Where by the Queen his wife his bed was plaâ—… Soon as Aurera did the day restore The old Knight Nestor rose up from his bed And sat upon the Bench before the door Oâ—… marble white and smooth that glistered His Father used to sit there before King Neleus but that since he was dead And that King Nestor now the Scepter bore There sat he now and to him gathered Were all his Sons Echephron Stratius Perseus Aretus Godlike Thrasymed Pisistratus Dead was Antilochus Along with them Telemachus they led Then to his Children Nestor spake and said Do quickly Sons what you shall from me hear A Vow I made to Pallas must be paid Who did to me so visibly appear Let one of you unto the Pastures hie And bid a Herdsman bring a Heifer home One to Telemachus his Ship quickly And bid his Mates save two all hither come Another bid the Gilder hither come To gild the sacred Heifers horns with speed The rest stay here to look to things at home That all things may be ready that we need Seats dry wood and fair water So said he Then busie were they all The Heifer came And all Telemachus his Company The Gilder came Laerces was his name And every tool that to his Art belongs And necessary is had in his hands His Anvil and his Hammer and his Tongs And Pallas also now amongst them stands Then fell the man to work on Nestors Gold And so elaborate it was when done That it might please the Goddess to behold Then came in Stratius and Echephron And by the horns they led the Heifer in The Bason and the Ewre and Barly white Aretus brought and with an Axe full keen Stood Thrasymed ready the Beast to sâ—ite Then Nestor prai'd and from the Heifers head Cut off some hair and into th' fire it threw Then prai'd the rest and Barly sprinkled Upon the fire and Thrasymed then slew The Heifer with his Axe and cut in twain The tendons of the neck and down she fell And Nestor's Wife and Daughters shout amain To see the sacred act performed well Pisistratus then cuts the Victims throat And up they held it to let out the blood Into a Pail which Perseus thither brought And to that purpose ready with it stood The life together with the blood outâ—lies Then from the Body they the Bowels draw And next cut off the Shoulders and the Thighs As is of Sacrifice the Riâ—ual Law And them slit into two parts they display And cover them all over with sweet fat Shoulder on Shoulder Thigh on Thigh they lay And Nestor on the Altar burneth that And with it on the fire black wine he poured By him a spit was ready with five points The fire the Thighs the men th' Entrails devoured The rest divided was in smaller joynts To rost on Spits Telemachus the while Into the Bath retired and was there Well bathed and anointed with sweet Oyl By Pâ—lycaste Nestor's daughter dear And in a Robe and Coat clad gloriously And came as if no mortal he had been Into the Hall and sat down Nestor by The meat now ready straightway was brought in Then in the young men came to fill them wine When they with flesh and wine were satisfi'd Then to his Sons said Nestor Children mine The Horses to the Coach see quickly ti'd Away they go and to â—he Coach they set The Horses swift and in it bread and wine A Maid laid in and with it choiâ—est meat Which none but God-fed Kings eat when they dine Up to the Seat then went Telemachus The Seat was large and capable of two And after him went up Pisistratus And Whip and Reins he took his hands into Toucht with the Whip the Horses take the way And all the day long made their Harness shake The Sun went down dark were the Streets Then they At Pherae were And there their rest they take There Diocles Orsilochus his Son Son of Alphaeus them did entertain And with fair Gifts presented them each one But soon as Morning did appear again Their Horses to the Coach again they tie And from the Porch drive them into the way Toucht with the Whip again away they fly The Sun now down and ended was the day LIB IV. ANd then to Lacedaemon come were they And drove up to the House of Menelaus At home they found him For there on that day A double Wedding celebrated was One of his Daughter fair Hermione Whom he before at Troy had promised Of Neoptolemus the Wiâ—e should be And on this day the same accomplished And her he sent unto the Myrmidons Where reigned he To Pthia she was brought And then the second Wedding was his Son's Whom on a woman bond he had begot And Megapenthes nam'd For Helens bed Fruitless was after fair Hermione And he Alector's daughter married Of Lacedaemon Citizen was he And now they merry sat that bidden were Making good chear and hearing Voice and Fiddle And wondring at two Tumblers that were there That moving to the time stood in the middle Mean while by th'Horses th'utter Gate without Telemachus stood and Pisistratus Then Eteâ—neus by chance came out A careful Servant of Menelaus And having seen them in he went agen And being near to where his Master sate O King said he there are
on one mans substance all And ruine his estate go on and feast While I upon the Gods for vengeance call O that the mighty Jove would so ordain That all mens actions might be repaid As they deserve Then should you all be slain Within my doors After he this had said The Suiters bit their lips and silent mused At the strange boldness of Telemachus And at the Language which the Youngman used To which none answer'd but Antinous The Gods quoth he have taught you a high straiâ— Of Language and undaunted Oratory But if their meaning were that you should reign Here o'r us all I should be very sorry Telemachus repli'd Think what you will If Jove consent why should not I be King What harm is it with wealth my house to fill Besides the honour it will with it bring In Ithaca there many Princes be You 'll say would be as glad to rule as I. No matter whosoe'r be King not he But I am King in my own Family Who said Eurymachus shall have the hap To reign in Ithaca is hard to guess It lies yet folded up within Joves lap None shall Telemachus you dispossess Of house or land or goods by violence As long as there in Ithaca be men But tell me who that was that now went hence Where he was born and where he dwells and then His errand whether business of his own Or some news from Ulysses brought perchance And went so soon away t' avoid being known He was no mean man by his countenance Then said Telemachus My Father 's dead We never shall again see one another With Messengers I trouble not my head Nor Soothsayers that do but sooth my Mother The man my Fathers old acquaintance was Mentes Anchialides and his Town Taphos and he thereof the ruling has His people for their Trade by Sea well known Thus said he though he doubted not at all But 't was some God Mean while the Suiters staying For th'evenings coming on to dancing fall Or listen to the minstrel's Song and playing The evening came the Suiters went away Telemachus went also to his bed In a warm stately Chamber where he lay Ranging the many cares he had in 's head Euryclea a Torch before him bore Daughter of Ops now old but at the time Laertes did her purchase heretofore For twenty Oxen she was in her prime He honour'd her as if sh 'had been his wife But from her bed perpetually forbore T' avoid suspition and domestick strife Sh 'had nurst Telemachus and lov'd him more Than did the other Maids and now she stands To light him He unlocks the door goes in Takes off his Coat puts it into her hands She foldeth brusheth hangs it on a pin Then forth she went and by a silver ring Pulls to the door And there all night he lay Remembring Pallas words and pondering Upon the business of the following day LIB II. SOon as the Rosie Morning did appear Telemachus himself array'd and shod Puts on his Sword and takes in hand his Spear And out he went appearing like a God And streight unto the Cryers gave command To call the People to the Publike place The People met And then with Spear in hand He to them takes his way and followed was By two white Dogs Then takes his Fathers Throne His Elders gave him way all on him gaze For why the Goddess Pallas of her own Had let Authority upon his Face The first that spake was old Aegyptius Stooping with age of great experience One Son of his whose name was Antiphus Went to the Siege of Troy but coming thence He died in the Savage Cyclops jaws When with Ulysses he was in his den Euronymus one of the Suiters was The others with their Father dwelled then But still he grieved was for Antiphus The tears ran down his cheeks and weeping he Rose up and said unto th' Assembly thus Ye men of Ithaca I pray hear me Since we to Ulysses sent with Ships We ne'r convoked were to Parliament What need have young or old men of our Lips And who is he that now doth us convent Has he informed been of some Invasion And unto us the same would first report Or on some other Publike great occasion Would give us Counsel The Gods bless him for 't Telemachus then presently up stands Though well contented with his Fathers praise The Crier puts the Scepter in his hands And to Aegyptius first he speaks and says Here am I that the people have convok'd Nor do I any news or counsel bring But by my private suffrings am provok'd Which here I offer t' your considering Is it not grief enough my Fathers loss That ruled like a Father to us all But that I must yet bear a greater cross To see his house to utter ruine fall My Mothers house the Suiters daily fill And of the best of you they Children are She wedded must be with her Fathers will But to her Father go they do not dare But in my house continually they stay And Sacrifice my Beeves and Goats and Sheep My wine exhaust and much they cast away For why Ulysses lost is on the deep And I my self unable to defend But shall I so be still or once be able To bring upon these men unjust their end Whose injuries no more are tolerable Take it to heart Think how 't will taken be By other States Fear from the Gods some change That are not pleas'd with such iniquity And may in closer order make you range By Jove I you adjure and Themis who Convokes Assemblies and revokes again Forbear these evil deeds your selves to do And of your Sons the liberty restrain Leave me to suffer misery alone Hurt none but me Unless my Father have In hatred of you some great evil done And for revenge these men such power you gave But better 't were for me that you than they Should spend my Treasure and my comings in For if among so many men it lay Begging I might from them the value win But for my case no help can now be found So said Telema hus in choler high And from him threw the Scepter to the ground Nor could fotbear to left fall tears and sigh The People piti'd him but silent sat None but Antinous durst answer make Telemachus said he too passionate You are and too much liberty you take The Peoples hatred you would very fain Draw to the Suiters and procure them shame But from your Mother cometh all your pain And therefore her not us you ought to blame Three years are gone and past the fourth is this Since she her Suiters baffled has with Art Putting each one in hope by Messages And Promises that he had gain'd her heart Moreover setting up a Beam to weave Suiters said she since dead Ulysses is Stay yet a little while and give me leave To make an end but of one business I must for old Laertes make a Cloath Which in his Sepulchre he is to wear T'
to Atrides spake Atrides oft have I heard Nestor tell As oft as we did of you mention make That you 'mongst men in wisdom do excel I pray you think not I take any pleasure To act at Supper-time the rites of mourning For that another time we shall have leisure Unless we look no more to see the Morning Not that I weeping for the dead condemn Or cutting off of hair It is a debt We owe to our dead friends And one of them My Brother is whom I cannot forget He was not of the Greeks the meanest man For swift he was of foot and bold in fight Which you than I much better witness can To kill his Foe in battle or in flight Dear friend Atrides answer'd you have said What might an older man have well beseemed To say and do and Nestor's stock bewrayed Whose wisdom is of all mens most esteemed 'T is easie to discern the race of one To whom a happy life the Gods shall grant As unto Noble Nestor they have done Long life and Sons discreet and valiant Let 's put off for the present tales of sorrow And to our meat again our minds apply Bring water for our hands Betimes to morrow We 'll talk of this Telemachus and 〈◊〉 This said Asphalion came in with water They wash'd on the meat their hands they lai'd But in the mean time Helena Joves Daughter An Antidote into the wine convei'd An Antidote that vertue had to keep The man that drank it mixed with his wine So as for all that day he should not weep Nor for what ever should befal him whine No though his Father or his Mother di'd Or Friend or Brother slain were in his sight By cruel enemies that them envi'd Such was of Helens Medicine the might Which t' her in Aegypt Thon's wife given had Where many Drugs of wondrous vertue grow Some here some there and some good and some bad For all men there the Art of Physique know For why from Paean sprung are all those men The Antidote put in she bad the wine Be born about And then she said agen King Menelaus offspring of Gods divine Descended from the Gods are also these And Jove good fortune gives sometimes to one And sometimes to another as he please For he can do whatever can be done Feast then and merrily together sit And please your selves with Stories I 'll tell one And which as to the time is not unfit Of what at Troy was by Ulysses done I will not tell you all the pranks he plaid But only how he came into the Town With canvas Mantle o'r his shoulders laid Bloody with stripes from no hand but his own 〈◊〉 And by the name of Dectes there did pass And as a slave went freely up and down When such man in the Fleet at all none was And was to every one but me unknown I question'd him and he at first was shy But when I bath'd him and anointed had And cloth'd and tane an Oath of secresie He told me what designe the Argives had Then having gotten much Intelligence And many of the Trojan people slain He safely to the Fleet departed thence Leaving their Wives lamenting there in vain But I was glad For changed was my mind And griev'd by Venus t' have been made so mad To leave my Child Hermione behind And my good Husband when no cause I had Then Menâ—laus said Your Story Wife Is to the purpose Countries I have seen Many and oft with Heroes in my life In Councels sitten but was never in The place where any like Ulysses sat I' th' Wooden Horse I 'll tell you what he did No man did ever such a thing as that The Princes of the Army there lay hid Death and destruction bearing into Troy Some Daemon then that was no friend to us Made you come forth our Counsel to destroy And with you also came Deiphobus And thrice about the Wooden Horse you went And called to us ev'ry man by name And our Wives voices so did represent As not to be discerned from the same I' th' midst Ulysses Diomed and I Heard well your call as we together sat And ready were to go forth or reply But by Ulysses hindred were of that But Anticlus had answered certainly Had not Ulysses when he heard her call Laid hand upon his mouth immediately And held till you were gone That sav'd us all 'T was much then said Telemachus but this Was not enough the man alive to keep Though made of steel whose end determin'd is But now O King the time is come for sleep Then Helen to her women order gave To see their Beds made ready and lay on Fair Puâ—ple Rugs and under them to have Soft Blankets and fine Coverlids upon Before the house in Chambers o'r the Gate But in the Inmost of the Palace lay King Menâ—laus with his Royal Mate And rose again together with the day And when he had himself attir'd and shod And hung his trusty sword had by his side Out of his Chamber came he like a God And to Telmachus himself appli'd Telemachus said he what bringeth you To Lacedaemon o'r thé Sea so wide Publike or private bus'ness Tell me true Telemaâ—hus unto him then repli'd To you King Menelâ—â— I am come T' enquire what of my Father is beâ—ide My house is full of Enemies at home That me consume and there resolve t' abide I' th' fields they fruitless make my husbandry My stâ—â—k they eat and would my Mother wed This made me come to know the certainty Whether my Father be alive or dead Whether you saw him after he left Troy Wandring abroad For he was born to woe Or of him any thing heard others say Let tenderness hide nothing that you know If in the Argive Host he useful were Iâ— Counsel or in Battle when need was Tell me the truth be 't never so severe To this much griev'd answer'd Menelaus Yes yes said he there many enter'd be Into a strong mans house while he 's away And are in hope to dwell there constantly Though not so valiant as he be they As when a Stag and Hind entring the Den Of th' absent Lion lulls his whelps with tales Of Hills and Dales the Lion comes agen And tears them into pieces with his nails So shall Ulysses all those Suiters slay Oh that the Gods Apollo Pallas Jove Amongst the Suiters set him would one day Such as when with Philomeâ—id he strove And threw him flat and made the Argives glad If such as then Ulysses should be there Short would their lives be and their wedding bad But to the matter whereof you would hear I can say nothing upon certainty And my own knowledge But what I was told By Proteus And tell I will no lie Nor any thing of what he said with-hold Before the Land of Aegypt Pharos lies An Island and therein a Haven good Against whatever wind shall chance to rise And ready to depart my ships there
Inner-room he placed out of sight And a great Supper bids his men provide Then down went Agamemnon to invite With Horses and with Coaches to th'Seaside And brought him up to Supper in great state Then rose the Traytors that in ambush lay And killed him as he at Supper sate Not any man alive went thence away That with Atrides or with him took part When of his Story he had made an end To break with pity ready was my heart In streams down on my cheeks the tears descend I wished never more to see the Sun And weeping on the sand my self I roll'd But when my Lamentation was done Then Proteus said again Your weeping hold Tears are no remedy But make baste home There lives Aegistus or if he be slain Already by Orestes you will come To his Interment This chear'd me again And then I asked further of him this Since you have told me what 's become of two Tell me the third that stays abroad who 't is Alive or dead though that will grieve me too It is said he Ulysses Whom I saw In th'Island where Calypso dwells o' th' Shoar Weeping who fain would come to Ithaca But with him neither has a Ship or Oar. And you O Menelaus shall not die In Argos for 't is otherwise decreed But be convey'd t'Elyzium For why Of Jupiter you wedded have the Seed There humanes lead their lives in greatest ease No Snow nor Frost there is Refreshed there They are by Zephyr's rising from the Seas And Joves Son Rhadamanthus dwelleth there This said into the Sea he went agen But I with thoughts confused in my head Returned back unto my ships and men And soon as we had sup'd the night was spread Then back again into the Nyle we go And offer'd to the Gods a Hecatomb When we their anger had appeased so For Agamemnon there we rais'd a Tomb. When this was done for Argos we set sail And quickly to our native Soil we came Th' Immortal Gods gave us a lusty gale And all the way continued the same Telemachus yo 've heard all I can say But must not therefore streightway take your leave Until th' eleventh or twelfth day you must stay The Presents I intend you to receive A Chariot you shall have and Horses three And a fair Cup emboss'd to offer wine That in your Vows you may remember me Then said Telemachus I here have li'n Long time already And my men at Pyle Are weary of expecting me Else I Could stay a year and never all that while My mind have on my house or Family So much I taken am with your discourse But let my Present be some Monument To Ithaca I 'll never carry horse They for the Plains are more convenient Large Plains which you have here in many places And where store is of Wheat and Rice and Lote In Ithaca there is no ground for races Nor Pastures good enough to feed a Goat In th'Isles about it gallop can no Horse In th' Isle it self nor gallop nor be fed When he had made an end of his discourse Atrides smiling on him stroak'd his head 'T is spoken said he like a gallant man And that descended is of Noble blood I 'll give you other Presents for I can In place of these that shall be full as good A Monument kept in my Treasury Of massie silver a fair Temperer The work of Vulcan which was given me At Sidon by the King when I was there Whilst they together thus discoursing staid The bidden Guests fat sheep rich wine bring in And bread their Wives upon the Tables laid And about Supper busie were within And now the Suiters at Ulysses house Were throwing of the Stone and Darts And by Antinous sat and Eurymachus Chief of the Woo'rs Then came Noemon nigh Unto Antinous he spake and said When will Telemachus return from Pyle My Ship I lent him and am now afraid I shall have need of her my self the while For over into Elis I must pass Twelve Mares of mine there go and with the same Twelve unbroke Mules their Foals at grass And some of them I would fetch home and tame At this they star'd For never dreamed they That in good earnest he would go to Pyle But in the fields would with some Herdsman stay And there from us conceal himself a while Antinous then askt When parted he What Company went with him hence His own Servants and Husbandmen for that might be Or youngmen of the best account i' th' Town And tell me further was it willingly You lent your ship or were you forc'd thereto To this Noemon did again reply I lent it willingly What should I do Who would not yield to such a man's request When he has need and asks as well as I And with him went of Ithaca the best And Mentor chief of all the company If he it were not 't was some Deity For which is strange I saw him yesterday Before the Sun was mounted half the Sky Yet went the ship the night before away This said he went his way Antinous And th' other sate there yet and wondered The Suiters left their sport sat down and thus Antinous the Case then opened And in an angry tone with fiery eye 'T is true said he Telemachus has done A work to us of great indignity We thought he never could that way have gone We many are and men Yet he a Boy Has got a Ship and of our men the best Buâ— may Jove him before he us destroy Give me a good ship e'r we be opprest And twenty able men And in the Strait 'Twixt Ithaca and Same I will lie And for their coming back from Pylus wait And entertain him with hot coming by The Suiters all were pleased with the Plot And then they ' rose together and went in But Medon had heard all Which they knew not For he without the Court was they within And to inform Penelope he went And when she saw him coming in a door Medon said she what are you hither sent To bid my Maids trouble themselves no more With how the Suiters they shall entertain But only for themselves make ready meat Lest when they hither come to sup again It prove the last that they shall ever eat Telemachus his wealth you wasted have As if your Fathers never told you how Ulysses with them did himself behave That never did unkindness to them shew In Deed or Word Although a liberty Kings often take one man to love or hate Above another without telling why But he cause of offence to no man gave But of good turns received heretofore Your nature altogether senseless is O Queen said Medon would it were no more But I must tell you somewhat worse than this The Suiters have conspir'd to kill your Son Which Jove avert as he is coming home For he to Pylus is and Sparta gone T' enquire what of his Father is become This said Penelope was stricken dumb And filled were with tears
a Coat As he could not be seen lest insolent And sturdy Towns-men should him mock and jeaâ— Or ask him Questions who what or why But when he was unto the Gate come near Pallas appeared to him openly Like a young Maid with Pail upon her head Ulysses then spake to her and said thus Sweet pretty Girl will you be pleas'd to lead Me to the house of King Alcinous For I a stranger come and no man know Nor ever in my life was here before Yes then said Pallas I will you it show For 't is the next unto my Fathers door Go softly thus and I will lead the way For our folk Strangers do not well indure But in good Ships their honour wholly lay And the wide Sea to pass themselves enure For Neptune given to them has this gift That their good Ships fly like to thought or wind This said the Goddess led with motion swift And on her steps he treading went behind And through the people so he past unseen For why the Goddess allas for good will A wondrous mist of Air had wrapt him in Then looking at the House he there stood still The Havens and the Ships he wondred at The Market-place and Walls so thick and high Then Pallas said Alcinâ—us house is that There sup the King and Queen now merrily Though you a Stranger be fear not go in The bold than fearful always better speed And first of all the House you 'l find the Queen Arete is her name Both from one seed Descended are she and Alcinous In Periboea Child of Eurimedon The God o' th' Seas begot Nausithous Who two Sons had Alcinous was one The other was Rexenor who no Son But one fair Daughter only left behind Arete was her name Besides her none Alcinous and she in Wedlock joyn'd And he to her so much respect doth bear As no man living to a Wife bears more And honour'd is by all her Children dear The people like a Goddess her adore And bless her when she comes into the street And loving to them all is also she For a wise woman is she and discreet When they fall out she makes them to agree If you her favour can but once obtain You need not fear but you your friends shall see And safely to your Country come again And when she this had said away went she O'r Sea to Marathon in Attica T'Erectheus house And he now was to enter Into the house But long he laid the Law U to himself before he would adventure Entring he saw the Walls lin'd round with brass And fring'd about with colour of the sky The door within golden all over was And all â—ppear'd like Heaven to the eye The Door-posts Silver gâ—…â—…hold The Lintle-tree upon them silver too The Sill was bâ—ass the Ring to pull it Gold And by the Door great Dogs were standing two Of silver one the other was of Gold As Watch before the Royal Gate to stay Immortal Dogs that never can grow old And round about them all Thrones every way All cover'd with a dainty Stuff and fine The work of Womens hands There us'd to eat The King and Lords and drink and make good cheâ—â— His Riches was a never-dying Teat About the Altar were set Boys of Gold That to the Guests assoon as it was night With burning Torches they the Light might hold For now the Sun had born away his light Fifty Maid-servants were at work within Some at the Mill were grinding wheat for bread And others with their Distaves sate to Spin And others Cloth were weaving with the thread Like to the Leaves of a high Aspen-tree Their fingers went So much they did excel In all the works that taught by Pallas be The Women that in other places dwell As do these men all other men surpass In all things that belong to Navigation For Wit and Art more Pallas given has To them than Women of another Nation Close by the House a dainty Orchard is Four-square and senc'd with hedge and pale about Of Pear Pomegranate Apple Olive-trees And Fig-trees For the season ne'r goes out Summer nor Winter for by Zephyrs some Are made put forth and others ripened Pears after Pears Apples to Apples come Grapes are by Grapes Figs by Figs followed And in it was the Vineyard of the King Grapes in some places by the Sun were dri'd In others stai'd till Vintage ripening Upon some Vines no flower yet was spi'd And Grapes on some to blacken now began Green beds of Herbs there were on ev'ry side And through it from two Springs the water ran And to and fro the one did winding glide The other to the House his stream did bear And under ground was to the Town convey'd And rose a Fountain for the people there And when Ulysses had all this survey'd Then went he in and found them in the Hall Sitting at Supper and to Mercury There offring up of Wine Which last of all At Bed-time men do offer usually And on he went up to the King and Queen And both his hands upon her knee did lay Pallas had kept him in the Mist unseen But thither come the Mist streight fell away Amaz'd they were when first they saw the Man And like to men that had been stricken dumb Ulysses then â—'Arete thus began O Queen Arete to your knee I come And to the King and those that with you sit May the Gods grant you all much happiness Long life and your Possessions to transmit T' your Children and your Honours still possess And may you me send presently away Unto my House Long absent I have been This said he sat down by the fire And they Said nothing such amazement they were in At last old Echineus spake that knew Both what in former times and now was fit O King Alcinous is 't good think you To let the Stranger in the Ashes sit We silent sat to see what was your will Pray make him rise and to a Chair him bring And bid the Squire to temper Wine and fill That we to Jove may make our Offering Who with poor strangers keepeth Company And bid the Maid before him set such meat As she within has in her custody This said Alcinous rose from his seat T'Ulysses went and took him by the hand And to a Chair him led where sat his Son Lâ—â—daâ—as to whom he gave Command To give him place although he loved none So dearly as he lov'd Laodamas Who next unto him us'd to sit at meat Then by a Maid brought in a Bason was And Ewr of Gold to wash ere he did eat Another Maid before him layed bread And other good things on his Table laid And heartily thereon Ulysses fed Alcinous then to the Squire said Temper the Wine Pontonous that we Wine-Offering to Jove may offer up In whose protection all Suppliants be And round about presented be the Cup. Then went about the Wine from one to one And when the Sacred Offering was over Then said
always had an eye In likeness of Alcinous his Squire Who by his Office did the Councel call Their favour for Ulysses to acquire Went through the Streets and there unto them all Said one by one Make haste To Councel go A Stranger new come to the King you 'll see That like a God Immortal is in show This said unto the council-Councel-House they flee And filled was the House and ev'ry Sear And of his person all admir'd the Grace For Pallas made him had more tall and great And laid more Majesty upon his face To make him welcome to those men she meant And gain him honour at their Exercises When they should put him to experiment Alcinous unto them then arises Hear said he Princes of Pheacia This Man who 't is or whence I cannot say Cast here ashore till then I never saw Since 't is our Custome grant him a Convoy For no man yet unto my house did come By force of weather wandring on the Main Lamenting and desiring to go home That can affirm he sought our help in vain Come then let 's launch a good new Ship and chuse Out two and fifty lusty Youths to row And let them ready have their Oars to use And to my House when that 's done let them go And you the Princes thither come with me That we may well the stranger entertain And let the Singer too sent thither be To give us sometimes of his Art a Strain This said the Princes to his house he led The Squire unto the House the Singer sent The fifty two as they were ordered Down to the Haven where the Ship lay went The Ship they launch and up they set the Mast And then the Yards and Sails they hoised high Their Oars where they be placed should they plac't This done they let her in the water lie Then also to the House went these men up The Porches Court and Rooms with men were fill'd Some old some young The King to make them sup Two Kine eight Swine twice six fat Sheep kill'd These flay'd and dress'd and to the Tables brought Came in the Singer whom the Muses kind Had taught to sing divinely But could not Or would not him preserve from being blind Pontonous the Squire then led him in And set him by a Pillar in the Hall And hung his Fiddle o'r him on a Pin And how to reach it shewed him withal Sets him a Table and a Basket by And a great Bowl of Wine before him plac't To drink as often as he should be dry And when their thirst and hunger was displac't The Singer sung the Song in most request How once Ulysses and Achilles great In high and bitter Language did contest When at a Sacred Feast they sat at Meat And how King Agamemnon pleased was To see the two best of the Greeks fall out For Phoebus told him so 't would come to pass When he at Pythos asked him about The Issue of the Fleet design'd for Troy This Song Demodocus sung to them then Which to Ulysses was of little joy But he his tears to hide before those men Before his eyes his Cloak of Purple drew And when the Singer ceas'd his eyes he dri'd And from before his face his Cloak withdrew And of the Wine perform'd the Sacrifice And when the Lords call'd for the Song anew For they to hear him took no small delight His Cloak again before his eyes he drew And as before again he sob'd and sigh'd Alcinous none else observed it And well enough could hear him sigh and groan For he the nearest there did to him sit And would not to the Princes makeit known But speaking to them all said only this Since you with feasting are well satisfi'd And Musick which to Feasts annexed is Let now our mens activity be tri'd That when the Stranger is where he doth dwell He to his Friends and Countrymen may tell How much we do all other men excel At Wrestling Buffets Leaping Running well Then went the King and Princes out a door The Squire then took the Singer by the hand And hung the Fiddle where it hung before And him led out amongst the rest to stand Unto the Place they went and follow'd were By people numberless the sport to see And many lusty Youths amongst them there Stood out to shew their great ability Out stood Elatreus and Acroneus Eretmeus Thoon Nautes and Prymneus Ambasineus and Amphialus Proteus and Ponteus and Anchialus Ocyalus warlike Euryalus And he that of them most their eye did please Except the first Son of Alcinous For Countenance and Shape Nauholides And then Alcinous his three Sons rise Laodamas Halius Clytoneus And first they all contended for the Prize Of who at Running could his Feet best use Then start they all at once and swiftly run As if they flew And here the Victory The Kings Son Noble Clytoneus won And past them all a lands length very nigh Euryalus at Wrestling was the best Amphialus at Leaping Victor was Elatreus surpassed all the rest To throw the Stone At Cuffs Laodamas When all was done Laodamas up stood Come friends said he let us the Stranger try If he at any of these Games be good For in his person no defect Iâ—…py His Thighs his Knees his Arms his Neck are strongâ—… Nor over-aged yet he seems to me Only he hath indur'd the Sea so long As for that cause he may excused be For than the Sea nothing more potent is To break a man how strong soe'r he be Go said Euryalus 't is not amiss T' invite him to it and his mind to see Then to Ulysses said Laodamas Come Stranger Father Pray your vertue shoâ—… 'T is no dishonour for you in this place To shew your skill at any Game you know As long as Feet and Hands continue strong Come try and cast your careful thoughts away Your Convoy ready is 'T will not be long Before you shall be set upon your way Laodamas then said Ulysses why To these your Games invite you me in scorn Upon whose heart so many sorrows lie And am to nothing with much haraship worn And publikely a uppliant now sit And to the King and People grief profess Think you that Pastimes for such men are fit As from their Country wander in distress Then spake Euryalus uncivilly No no said he I do not think you are Much us'd to Pastimes of Activity But rather one that of a Ship takes care That Merchant-men from place to place convays And mindful of your fraught are and can tell Which are to sudden wealth the nearest ways What Merchandize will not and what will sell And in such boisterous Games has little skill Ulysses frowning on him then repli'd My friend such words are indiscreet and ill The Gods their Gifts as they think fit divide To one of Beauty they deny the grace But give him Language steddy and discreet Whereby he honour'd is i' th' Publike Place And men gaze on him going in the
Arts which make his Ransome greater And how Apollo did the Question put To Mercury if he content would be In such strong chains with Venus to be shut While all the Gods are standing by and see How Hermes said O Phoebus that I were In Mars his place and did with Venus lie And thrice as many Chains about us there Though all the Gods and Goddesses stood by And how the Gods at this laught out again Save Neptune only who did never cease T' importune Vulcan and his wrath restrain And that he would the God of War release And that himself would pay him what was due If Mars did nor How Vulcan said agen If Mars should fly shall I imprison you Unsure the Suretiship is of fled men And that again Neptune replying said Though Mars should run away yet I will not And how that Vulcan at the last obey'd And Mars and Venus out of prison got And he to Thrace went but to Cyprus she Where she a Temple and an Altar had And by the Graces that her Servants be Bath'd and Anointed was and Godlike clad These of the merry-Song were the Contents Ulysses was well pleased with the same And of the rest delighted was the Sense Alcinous then called out by name Laodamas and Halius to dance None else for either of them was a match And they into the midst themselves advance The one to throw a Ball th' other to catch One threw 't up high reclining on his hip The other of the same the downfal watch't And taking from the ground a lusty skip His feet above ground in the aâ—r it catch't When this was done they laid aside the Ball And danc d with often changes on the ground Applauded much by the Spectators all Who with their praises made the place resound O King then said Ulysses what you said Of how your men pass all the world beside In Noble Dance can never be gainsaid I see it to my wonder justifi'd The King well pleased to the Princes spake A worthy man the stranger seems to me Let 's think upon what Present him to make Twelve Princes in Phaeacia there be And I the thirteenth am Let 's ev'ry one Bestow on him a handsome Cloak and Coat Besides a Talent of pure Gold That done Let it be all together to him brought That he at Supper may sit chearfully And you Euryalus go speak him fair For what you said before was injury Go therefore with some Gift your fault repair This said to fetch the Gifts they sent the Squire Then said Euryalus O King since 't is That also I Present him your desire I will for reconcilement give him this My Sword with Scabberd all of Ivory And silver Hilt The Present is not poor And giving it O Father though ' said he I said amiss pray think upon 't no more And may the Gods restore you to your Land Since absent from your Friends you live in pain Ulysses took the Sword into his hand And to Euryalus thus said again And you my Friend may you still happy be And of this Sword for ever need have none Which reconciling you have given me And as he speaking was he put it on The Sun now set the King no longer tarri'd But with the Lords went to his house to Sup. Along with them the Squires the Presents carri'd Unto the Queen Arete to lay up Alcinous then said unto the Queen Let a fair Chest be streightway hither brought And for the Stranger see there be laid in A comely and a well wash'd Cloak and Coat And of warm water let a Bath stand by That washing he may see the Presents there And sit at Supper the more joyfully And hearken to the Song with better chear And I will give him this my Cup of Gold That offring up unto the Gods the Wine As often as he doth the Cup behold He may both for his own health pray and mine This said the Maids commanded by the Queen Set up a Caldron with a triple foot Then make fire under and pour water in Keen was the fire and soon the water hot Mean while the Queen came in and with her brought A curious chest and into it laid in The Gold and with it every Cloak and Coat That by the Princes given him had been And then unto Ulysses said Take care You bind it fast lest you be rob'd by one Or other whilst aboard you sleeping are Lest any thing should missing be and gone And when she thus had him admonished Ulysses of the Chest pull'd down the lid And girt it with a Cord of various thred Thereby to know if any it undid For that trick he by Circe taught had been A Woman then unto Ulysses said There stands your Bath Which way you please go in Then went he in and not a little joy'd For after he had left Calypso's house Warm and sweet water he had never seen But roll'd by Neptune always was in â—ouse But had with her carefully treated been When him the Maids wash'd and anointed had Out from the Bath he came amongst the men With a clean Cloak and comely Garments clad To th' Door the bright Nausicaa came then And to Ulysses said Stranger farewel And may you safely at your Land arrive Remember that into my hand you fell And owe to me that you were kept alive O said Ulysses Daughter of the King To you the Ransom of my life is due And if the Gods me to my Country bring As to a Goddess I will pray to you This said he went and sate down by the King And now the Meat in Messes some divided Others the lusty wine were tempering And by a Squire the Singer in was guided And at a Pillar in the midst made sit Ulysses half a Chine of Pork and sat Cuts off and in the Squires hands putteth it And said unto him Give the Singer that Singers through all the world have reputation And well respected be in ev'ry land The Muses teach them Song and love the Nation Then went the Squire and put it in his hand Demodocus receiv'd it and was glad Then fell they to the Meat before them laid When Thirst and Hunger overcome they had Unto the Singer then Ulysses said Demodocus you all men else excel The Muses sure did teach you or it was Phoebus himself For you have sung so well The Acts that did 'twixt Greeks and Trojans pass And all related that they did at Troy Or suffer'd there or when they homeward came As if your self beheld had their annoy Or had from some Spectator heard the same Stand forth and sing now of the Horse of Wood Made by Epeius but by Pallas help't Stufft by Ulysses full of Warriours good Which in Troy-Town destruction to it whelp't If this you sing in order as 't was done I 'll make make the World with your just praises ring Then at the Gods Demodocus begun And how the Fleet went off the shore did sing And how they fir'd
Nor any Pow'r on earth So said the man Cyclops quoth I I would I could as well Send thee now down to Pluto's ugly Den Depriv'd of life and Soul â—'th ' deepest Hell As I am sure thou ne'r shalt see agen Then held he up his hands to Heav'n and praâ—…d Hear me O Neptune if thy Son I be And thou my Father truly as 't is said Grant that Ulysses never more may see His Native Soil or if perhaps by fate It be decreed he shall return again Let him return both wretchedly and late His ships and men lost and at home meet paâ—… His prayer granted was and then he threw A greater stone first swinged o'r his head Which by good chance above the Vessel flew But almost to the shore us carried When we were come into the Isle again Where all the rest of our Fleet then abode Expecting our return in grievous pain And wondring why we were so long abroad Then with our sheep we landed on the Beach And 'mongst the Barks divided them with care Their just and equal number unto each That no Ship might be wronged of his share On me my Fellows over and above Bestow'd a Ram which on the Sand there right I made a Sacrifice to mighty Jove But in my Offrings he took no delight And was contriving how to make away My Ship and Fellows and destroy them quite There on the snore we sat and spent the day With flesh and Wine from morning unto night All night we slept upon the shore and when The morning had again the day restor'd I presently commanded all my men To loose the Ropes and put themselves aboard Aboard they go and beat the Sea with Oars All for their Fellows which were eaten sad Aâ—d forward to the Main we take our course For that we had our selves escaped glad LIB X. AT th' floting Iâ—â—e Aeolia we landed Where Aeolus the Son of Hippotas Beloved of th' Immortal Gods commanded His House was walled all about with brass Th'ascent unto it was all one smooth stone Twelve were his Children six Sons their Wives In Wedlock he had joyn'd them one to one And with him in his house they led their lives And made good chear all day the house they make To ring with mirth and smoke with boil'd roast At night their Loyal Wives to Beds they take Richly set out with coverings of great cost A month he entertain'd me with delight Askt me of Troy and th' Argive Fleet and â—ow The Greeks got home And him I answer'd-right To ev'ry thing as far as I did know And when I left his house he was content T' assist me friendly in my Voyage back With a West-wind and all Winds else he pent Into a tough and strong Neats-leather sack For Jove had made him Master of the Winds To hold their breath or blow as he thought fit And with a silver string the Sack he bindes No Wind could stir but as I order'd it But all this did no good for want of wit Nine days we sail'd sore-right and came so neaâ— To th'Coast of Ithaca that we could see 't By th' light of Beacons that were fired there But then with weariness I fell asleep For I had ne'r till now the Helm let go Nor sufferd any else my place to keep I long'd to see my Native Country so Mean while my Fellows to discourse begin Thinking much Gold and Silver was â—…th ' Sack By Aeolus Hippotades put in Which now to Ithaca I carri'd back And Oh did one unto another say How much this man is lov'd where e'â— he comes He brings from Troy a great share of the prey Though we go empty-handed to our homes Now Aeolus has giv'n him God knows what Come quickly let us while we think upon 't And sleeping â—e upon the Deck lies flat Undo the Sack and see how much there 's on 't This wretched Counsel taken by the Crew The Budget they undid to see my store And then at once the surious Winds out-flew And whistling snatcht our ship away from shore My Fellows wept I studi'd which was best To fall into the Sea and end my pain Or patiently to live among the rest I chose to live as better of the twain And hoodwinkt laid me down i' th' ship At lastâ— We sound our selves upon th' Aeolian shore On which th' unruly Winds our ship had cast Just at the place where we set forth before And there we landed and short supper made With my Companions on the rocky shore I one man with me and a Herald take And went up to the Porch before the Door Of th'Hall where Aolus sat banqueting Amongst his Sons and Daughters They admir'd What Wind said they did you now hither bring We furnisht you for what place you desir'd Some Devil crost you Softly I repli'd Of our misfortune other cause was none But my mens folly who the Bag unti'd The whilst I slept you can repair what 's done Their Father answer'd at another raâ—e Hence Rascal hated of the Gods above I entertain none whom the Gods do hate Away I say the Gods thee do not love Thus sighing we were sent away And though We were already tired with the Oar To Sea we put and forward still we row Six days and nights entire ne'r giving o're Upon the seventh day we landed near To Leâ—â—rig nia the Royal Seat Of Lâ—mâ—â—s and his Race The Herds-men there When from the field thay bring their sheep or neat Hollow to those at home then they a-field Their Cattle drive To one of little sleep The fire o' th' place doth double wages yield By tending one day Cows another sheep For it is seated just 'twixt day and night Into the Port we came the which within On eath side was beset with Rocks upright Whereof two made it narrow coming in My Fellows with their ships were in the Port Near to the City For the Sea was still And not a Winde stirring of any sort But I kept mine without suspecting ill And with a Rope had ti'd it to the Rocks Then up a hâ—ll I went to look about But could no signe espy of Man or Oxe Then down I came again and straight sent out Tâ—enquire what kinde of people lived there A Herald then and two men more I sent Who as they going on the high-way were That from the woody hill to 'th City went Met with the Daughter of Antiphates That was of Lestrigonians the King She had fetch 't water from Artacies Artacies the name was of a Spring They askt her of the King and of the People Her Fathers house she shews They thither hie And finde the Queen there looking like a Steeple And straight abhor'd her as a Prodigie Then she her husband from the Market-place Calls home who straight intended to dispatch 'em And laid his hands on one but in that space The rest escap'd by flight he could not catch'em But then he raised with a mighty shout The
me Pull'd off my Helmet laid my Spear aside And Buckler too and kneel'd at the Kings knee He rescu'd me and home with him me brought Sitting by him that did his Chaâ—ioâ— drive Though in their heat many to kill me sought Yet the King brought me to the Town alive Seven years I there remain'd and riches got For every man almost me somewhat gave Then thither came a Merchant that had not His fellow in all Aegypt for a Knave His house and riches in Phoenicia were And he with Lyes entic'd me to his home With him I went And there I staid a year And when the Months and Days about were come He set me in a ship for â—ybia And there together with our goods we sate He cracking of the profit he foresaw And I suspecting though it were too late With him I went And when the ship was forth We steer'd our Course without the Isle of Crete For by good luck we had a wind full North. But Jove determin'd had we should not see 't For when the Island we had legt behind And nothing else appear'd but Sea and Sky Jove fetcht the Clouds together with a wind Just o're the Ship and dark 't was presently And therewithal into the Ship he threw His Thunderbolt which whirl'd it round about It smelt of Brimstone rank And all the Crew Into the Sea it suddenly cast out And they like Gulls from wave to wave were â—ost But Jove to save me put into my hand The Ships tall Mast which with my arms I crost And after nine days came at last to land And in Thresprotia was cast on land And the Kings Son who chanc't that way to pass Listed me up as I lay on the sand And by King Phedon well receiv'd I was He cloth'd me with good Garments Coat and Vest. I askt him of Ulysses what he knew As he went home said he he was my Guest And what he then had gotten did me shew Of Brass and Iron and Gold there was so much As might ten ages feed a man alone The Treasure that he shew'd me there was such But he he said was to Doaona gone There at the Holy Oak to be advis'd Since he from Ithaca so long has been Whether 't were better to go home disguis'd Or so as to be known when he is seen The King to me in Holy Form did swear That for the Conduct of Ulysses home Both Ship and Mariners then ready were But when I went from thence he was not come A ship of that place in the harbour lay Ready to part The King bad land me there But they resolv'd were of another way Which made me yet more misery to bear When of that Land they were got out of sight To sell me for a slave they did agree My Coat and Vest they take from me there right And gave me the torn Coat and Rags you see Late in the Ev'ning they were at the Land Of Ithaca and bound me fast i' th' ship But they to Sup thought fit upon the Sand And leaving me out of the Bark they skip But from my Bonds some God sure set me free Then down I went and to the Sea appli'd My breast and round the ship swam speedily And in a great thick Wood my self I hide Sorry they were and put to Sea again To stay and seek me they lost labour thought Thus by Jove's favour I alive remain And to the house of a good friend am brought Then said Eumaeus I confess the Story Poor man of this your wandring and your pain Has had the pow'r to make me very sorry But of Ulysses what you say is vain I not believe a word What needed you So wise a man as you appear to me In vain to tell me any thing not true When I my self am sure 't will never be For all the Gods have shewn themselves his foes That neither suffer'd him to fall at Troy Noâ— the War done his best friends to compose His Body for the Grave For either way He honorably buried had been To th' honour of his Son But he is dead Unspoken of devour'd by Harpies keen And I despis'd sit here to see Swine sed And never to the City come but when Some news is brought unto Penelope And she send one to call me I come then And many listning to the news I see Some griev'd and wishing for his coming home Some that seek nothing but shot-free to feed And these men wish that he may never come But I of what they say take little heed Especially since an Aetolian As he from place to place for Murther fled Came to my house and I reliev'd the man And after found that I was cozened He said he saw him with Idomeneus In Crete and that for certain he would come His Fleet much hurt repaired to his house Rich at the next Spring or the next Autumn Therefore old man since you are come to me Think not your Story any thing avails Nor that false hopes provoke my Charity My Bounty looks on want and not on Tales Pity and fear of Jove my favours guide Ulysses to this answers him and saith Since you trust not my Word nor Oath beside And in your breast resideth little faith Let 's make a Bargain If Ulysses come Then a good Coat and Vest shall be my due And a safe Conduct to Dulichium If not and that I told you prove untrue Then make your Servants threw me from a Cliff High and upright That others may beware To cosen men into a false belief Of things they know not but uncertain are Then said Eumaeus Yes 't were a fine deed And noble t' entertain a man with love And with good chear relieve him in his need Then kill him and beg pardon then of Jove But now I wish the Swine from field were come For time it is of Supper to advise And while they talk the Swains the Swine bring home And with great noise they pent are in the sties Then did Eumaeus to his servants call From out the Herd to choose one of the best His far-come friend to entertain withal And mend their own fare also with the rest 'T is long since others the work to us leave To feed the Swine they eat Having said that Out went he for the Altar wood to cleave And they brought in a five-year-old Pig fat And laid it on the Hearth Eumaeus there Remembring well the Gods for he was wise First from the fore-head clippeth off the hair And in the fire the same did Sacrifice Then did he all the Gods above invoke That soon and safe Ulysses might arrive Next that he takes a piece of the clefâ— Oak And at a stroke did him of life deprive Then others take the work into their hands And with keen steel they quickly cut his throat That being done with many flaming Brands They sindge from head to tail his hairy Coat And lay him open Then Eumaeus came And folded up the fleshy
did say O King Atrides Menelaus now Ev'n now dismiss me let me go my way Then said Atrides Ev'n now you shall go I purpose not to make you longer stay For I conceive 't is not a good mans part To make too much or little of his Guest To hold him when he gladly would depart Or press him to be gone e're he thinks best In Hospitality this Rule is true Love him that stays help forth the going Guest Stay then and take my Gift along with you And your Break-fast of what we have the best For he that will a great days Journy make Will find both joy and profit in his meat And if to visit Greece you pleasure take I 'll with you go and with you I 'll retreat And to the Argive Cities be your Guide And be Presented by each Princely man With whomsoever we at night abide Two Mules a Gold Cup a brave Pot or Pan. Then said Telemachus I needs must go My Father seeking left my self I lose I have left none my Goods to look unto And rob'd my Treasure may be by my foes When that was said forth Menelaus goes To give unto his Wife and Maids command For Break-fast of what then was in the house Then Boetheides who lodg'd near at hand Came in and bidden by Atrides cleaves The wood makes fire lays down the roast Him to his bus'ness then Atrides leaves And down came to his Treasure of great cost He and his Son and Wife Helena There Within a Room lin'd with sweet-smelling wood A Temp'rer to his Son he gave to bear Of Silver pure which 'mongst the Vessels stood And from a Chest where Robes for Matrons were She took up one with great variety Wrought by her self which she her self did bear Shining and bright as any Star i' th' Sky And forth unto Telemachus they come Then said Atrides Jove grant your request And safely may you t' Ithaâ—a come home See here my Gift of all I have the best 'T is massie Silver gilt about the brim By Vulcan made but then it was possest By th' King of Sidon I had it of him When by the way from Troy I was his Guest Then Helen said This Gift too take from me Of Helens handy-work a Monument To give to her that your dear Wife shall be Think it mean while as to your Mother sent Then gave it to Telemachus his hands I' th' Coach Pisistratus then placed all And at the goodly Gifts amazed stands Atrides then led them into the Hall And made them sit and while they sitting were A grave Maid-servant from a Golden Eâ—…re To wash their hands pours on the water clear Over a Bason all of silver pure One Tables sets another lays on Bread And from their store many good things brings out The Messes Boetheides severed Atrides Son the Wine delivered out When their desire of Food was satisfi'd Up rose Telemachus and Nestor's Son And to their Coach they the swift Horses ti'd And in the Coach were ready to be gone And were already got the Court without But after them Atrides followed And in his hand a Gold Cup he brought out Of wine and standing at the horses head Brave Youths said he to Nestor me commend That as a Father was to me at Troy Farewel and may you to your Journeys end With safety travel and arrive with joy Then said Telemachus All this I 'll say I wish at home I may so treated be Within my Fathers house at Ithaca Besides the Presents you have given me As he said this an Eagle dexter flew And seis'd a great white tame Goose grazing near â—he standers-by shouted and cri'd Shue shue But yet away the Eagle bore him clear And none but with the sight was well content Then to Atrides said Pisistratus This Prodigy unto you is â—…sent From Jupiter or is it sent to us While what to answer he was taking care Helen prevented him I will said she First tell you what hereon my own thoughts are And to my mind by th' Gods infused be You saw the Eagle come down from the Hill Where nature placed him to dwell and breed And kill that Goose So shall Ulysses kill The Suiters that upon his Substance feed Or it may be already there he is Devising for the Suiters some ill end O Gods then said Telemachus that this Were so indeed To you then should I send As to a God my Vows This said away They whip their willing Horses through the Town Which on the plain their Harness shake all day And were at Pheres when the Sun went down There Diocles Orsâ—ochus his Son Orsâ—ochus by Alphaeus begot Dwelt and of entertainment want was none Nor acceptable Presents were forgot And when the Morning had her self arrai'd Again they put their Horses to the Coach Which when the Whip they felt once never stai'd Till to the Town of Pyle they did approach Then said Telemachus to Nestors Son You promis'd I your Father should decline But since we here are how can that be done And therefore let us both our Counsels joyn Friends you and I and friends our Fathers were One age we have this Voyage is some tie Draw me not from my ship but leave me here Lest th' old man force me at his house to lie In kindness when I have such need to go This said Pisistratus considered What to make good his promise he should do And then this Counsel came into his head Turn off said he the Coach to the Sea-side And Menelaus Gifts a Shipboard stow And get aboard Your small stay here I 'll hide So your departure shall my Father know For sure I am if he know you are here So violent he is he 'll hither come And call you to his house and stay you there And be a hind'rance to your going home And though away you 'll not be empty sent Yet will he doubtless very angry be This said unto his Father home he went Telemachus then bad his Company To see prepar'd all things for Sayling fit And go aboard aboard went also he The Rowers on their Seats in order sit Thus they about their going busie be Then came a Stranger that a Prophet was And fled from Argos then for Homicide And by descent was of Melampus race And stood near to Telemachus his side For this Melampus once had dwelt in Pyle And rich but fled by Neleus opprest And bound he lay in Prison for a while But afterward he got himself releast And brought to Neleus his Hâ—rds again And had his Daughter Pero for reward But left her with his Brother to remain For wife And then did Pyle no more regard But went to Argos where a wife he got And Children twain had first Antiphates And he the valiant Oicleus begot And Oiâ—â—eus begat Amphiareus That was belov'd by Pallas and by Jove And yet he lived not till he was old He di'd at Thebes betrayed by his love That him discover'd for a Chain of Gold
Alâ—maeon and Amphilochus he got But Mantius Melampus second Son Cleitus and Polyphides then begot Cleitus was fair but Children he had none Aurora snatch'd him from the Earth when young For Mortals he in beauty did excel And placed him th' Immortal Gods among And Polyphides Phoebus loved well And to him gave the Gift of Prophesie And since Amphiraus was dead and gone To foretel any thing with certainty Upon the whole earth like him there was none Displeased by his Father Mantius At Hyperesia he prophesi'd His Son it was call'd Theoclymenus That then stood by Telemachus his side When he the blessed Gods was praying to And said Since worshipping I find you here By him you worship tell me truly who You are your Father who and dwelling where Stranger then said Telemachus I dwell At Ithaca born there my Fathers name Ulysses if he live but who can tell And to hear news of that I hither came Then answer'd Theoclymenus And I From Argos Town for killing of a man Pursued by his Kin and â—ore't to fly Take me aboard that only save me can Welcome you are then said Telemachus Aboard let 's go where you shall have such chear As we can make and hath contented us Then took and on the deck he laid his Spear And up into the Ship he went and at The Stern he plac'd himself and close by him The Stranger Theoclymenus down sat Then bids Telemachus the ship to trim And straight the Mast upright they set and bind And hoise their Sails with ropes of good Cow-hide And Pallas sent them a good strong fore-wind And swiftly did the ship the Sea divide The Sun was down and doubtful was the light When he to Pherae came and passed by And then by Elis coasted he all night And came unto the Thoâ— Islands nigh And thought upon the Suiters in his way Ulysses and Eumaeus supping sat And when their hunger they had put away The Tables gone they leasure had to chat And then Ulysses had a mind to know Whether Eumaeus rather had he stai'd I' th' Lodge with him or to the City go And to the Company he spake and said Hear me Eumaeus and you all his Friends I stay here helping to consume your meat My mind me to the City rather bends For Bread and Wine there begging I shall get But I must then entreat you to provide Some good man to go with me Being there Necessity it self will be my guide To find the houses where there is good chea And if I go unto Ulysses Doors Unto Penelope I can tell news And make my self well known unto the Wooâ—rs And they to give me meat will not refuse I can do any service that they will Thank Mercury to whom I owe that good Few be they can compare with me for skill To make a Fire oâ— to cleave out Wood To roast and carve Meat or Wine to give out Or any thing that Great Mens Servants do Ay me Eumaeus said Poor man what thought Is this of yours D' ye long to perish so As you must do if yâ—… among them stay Their insolence is known up to the sky You are not like their Servingmen For they Are young and are apparell'd handsomely With Coat and Vest. Their heads and faces shine With Unguents sweet Stay therefore here with me There 's none that at your staying doth repine Nor I nor any of my Company Telemachus when he comes home agen Shall give you Garments a fair Coat and Vest And good shooes also to your feet and then See you convoy'd to what place you think-best To this Ulysses answered and said O that Jove lov'd you but as well as I You have me from a wretched wandring staid The Belly brings to men much misery Then said Ulysses Since I am to stay Say of Ulysses Parents if you know His Father and his Mother whether they Be both remaining yet alive or no. To this Eumaeus said Laâ—rtes lives But wofully and weary of his life Still for the absence of his Son he grieves But more lamenteth the death of his Wife The loss of her was that first made him old She di'd for grief thinking her Son was dead As sad a death it was as can be told May we from such death be delivered While she was living though she grieved were When cause there was I could have aâ—kt her mind Freely For why with her own Daughter dear She brought me up and never was but kind This Daughter Ctimene when come of age For she the youngest was to Same went To a rich man given in marriage But I well clad in Coat and Vest was sent And shooes upon my feet into the field For she a purpose had to do me good But now the time does no such kindness yield And yet the blessed Gods provide me food For they so well have multipli'd my Swine That we have still enough of meat and drink And wherewithal to make a poor man dine Although the Suiters â—iot make them shrink But since this woe ' Peâ—elope befel 'T is harsh to her to hear of business Yet Servants need her both to ask and tell All that belongeth to their Offices And also sometimes may be need they had I' th' house to eat and carry somewhâ—t home Of that whereof Servants are most part glad And which unto their Lodges never come Ho said Ulysses since it doth appear You were a Traveller when but a Boy Tell me I pray what your Adventures were And what your sufferings were upon the way Was your Town plund'red by the Enemies And you brought hither as a part o' th' prey Or been by Thieves for you were no ill prize As you kept Sheep or Cattle brought away Then said Eâ—…s Since to hear the Story Of how I hither came it is your pleasure Sit patiently the Wine there stands before ye For sleep and joy the long nights give us leasure It is not good too soon to go to bed For too much sleep is but a weariness The rest that will may go and morning spread Drive forth the Swine which is their business Mean while let us sit here and drink and chat And Stories of our sad Adventures tell For much contentment there is ev'n in that To them that suffer'd have and come off well But to my Story now An Isle there is Under the Tropique of the Sun not great Call'd Syria but very fertile 't is Well stor'd with Kine and Sheep and Wine and Wheat Where Famine never enter'd nor Disease Amongst the people When a man was aged Dian ' and Phoebus made him die with ease And gentle shafts the pain of death asswaged Two Towns it had Their Laws were not the same But of them both my Father was the King Phoenician Merchants Rats then thither came And in their Ships did many Baubles bring There then was in my Fathers house a Maid Phoenâ—cian born that well could â—ow and spin As washing Clothes â—â—e at the Seas-side
great And passionate but spoken without need If thus we all go on to give him meat He may himself three months together seed This said his Footstool to his foot he drew Ulysses with his Scrip went to the Sill For it was full meaning to beg anew And first he tries Antinous his will Give a poor Stranger says he You appear Amongst the Achaeans here to be the best For like a King you look and reason 't were You should in bounty exceed all the rest And I abroad your goodness will make known I could for riches once with most compare And kept a great and free house of my own And askt what want you â—an not what you are And many Servants had â—nd things that pâ—…s For happiness amongst us â—…ls all Till t'Aegypt I by Knaves perswaâ—dd was To Sail. I' th' Nile we let our Anchors fall There I my Fellows bid aboard to stay And guard the ships and some to places high I sent to watch But mov'd by luâ—…e they On Plunder and on Rapine had their eye The fields they waste and â—…he men and make Women and Children â—…ves Then the cry Arriving at the City Arms they take And next day early to the fields they hie With Horse and Foot Theâ—â—â—nd'red the Field Their Armour lightned My men frighâ—â—d were Some taken and made slaves some 〈◊〉 kill'd And all the rest ran scatter'd here and there To th' King of Cyprus I was made a Gift Dmetor by name the King of Aegypt's Guest And to come hither thence I made hard shiâ—â— Then said Antinous Stand off you 're best What Devil to molest us sent this Rogue Unmannerly that with such impudence To beg presumeth here and to cologue Sâ—and off Or ill at ease I 'll send you hence They that have given have done foolishly And at another's cost been charitable No wonder in such superâ—uâ—â—y Ulysses then retired from the Table O O said he I had but little skill That from the Aspect have inferred wiâ— Not give I see a â—rum of salt you will To a poor man that humbly alketh it Antinous at this enrag'd at th' heart Look'd on Ulysses angerly and said To part hence safely thou not likely art Since to my face thou dar'st me thus upbraid This said he threw the Footstool at his head Which touch'd his shoulder but remov'd him not Then to the Sâ—ll himself he rendered Shaking his head with vengeance in his thought Ulysses then unto the Suiters spake A man said he not much is griev'd a blow In fighting for his Kine or Sheep to take But he did for his Belly at me throw If any care the Gods of poor men have Antinous before he marri'd be Is like enough to go into his Grave Antinous replies Sit quietly And eat your meat lest taken by the heels The Servants hale and drag you out o' th' Gate Or use you worse your tongue so runs on wheels At this the rest all discontented sate And one among the rest unto him said Antinous it was unjustly done To use a Stranger so The Gods arraid In poor mens habits mens deeds look upon And notice take who well does and who ill Telemachus was grieved at the heart For what was done but did no tear distil But shook his head and hop'd to make them smart When what had pass'd was told Penelope Apollo strike him to the heart said she If I my wish had said Eurynome No Suiter of them all the morn should see Then said Penelope again 'T is true They all be enemies and mean us evil But he the fiercest is of all the Crew And rageth in the house like any Devil A Stranger in distress comes to the door Whom want constrained had to beg his bread The rest all give him somewhat of their store But he a Footstool throweth at his head While she thus and her Women talking were Ulysses supping sat upon the Sill. I fain said she would have the Beggar here Fetch him Eumaeus talk with him I will I 'll ask him if Ulysses he have seen For many men and Cities knoweth he Eumaeus then made answer to the Queen If once the Suiters would but silent be You would be pleas'd his History to hear Three days and nights he stai'd with me an end And of his suffrings much he told me there When new arriv'd but came not to the end As when a man that knows the Art of Song Sings lovely words with sweet well-tun'd voice The man that hears him thinks not the time long So I in his strange story did rejoyce He said Ulysses was his Fathers Guest In th' Isle of Crete where reigneth Minos race Himself he said with many woes opprest The Fates at last him tumbled to this place And that he heard Ulysses is hard by And that into Thesprotia he 's come Alive and well enriched mightily With Treasure which he now is bringing home Then said Penelope Go call me hither The Beggar I my self will ask him all And mean while let the Suiters chat together Where they think best without or in the Hall For merry they must be since they feed here And their own Corn and Wine and Cattle save And with our Cattle make themselves good chear And on our Corn and Wiâ—e no mercy have For such as was Ulysses here is none That should defend us from their injuries But were he hâ—ther come he and his Son Would bring destruction on these enemies This said it chanc'd Telemachus to sneeze She laught and for the Beggar calls agen You see Eumaeus Jove with me agrees And certainly slain shall be all these men Go call the Beggar and say this from me If I find true what he shall to me say He shall with Coat and Vest rewarded be Eumaeus to the Beggar went his way And when he near him was Father said he Peâ—elope desires to speak with you About Ulysses she inform'd would be And said If she find all you say be true She clothe you will with a fair Coat and Vest Which you stand most in need of But for food By begging in the Town you 'll get it best Where they relieve you will that shall think good Ulysses to Eumaeus answered Pâ—nelope I quickly can inform For he and I have jointly suffered But from the Suiters I much fear a storm Their insolence is known up to the Sky Just now a Footstool one threw at my head When given him no cause at all had I Nor could I by her Son be succoured Therefore intreat Pâ—nelope to stay Untill the Sun be set and Suiters gone And by the fire-side hear what I can say You see what-wosul Garments I have on Then back Eumaeus went with his excuse And came without him to Penelope How now said she does he to come refuse They that are bashful but ill Beggars be Not so O Queen said he he is discreet He prays you stay till setting of the Sun Fearing some danger from the Woo'rs to meet
and there Sit and spin with her and divert her sorrow At this the Wenches 'gan to laugh and jeer And one of them Melantho him revil'd With bitter words Her Father Dolius hight Penelope did treat her as her Child And in her company did take delight But yet she could not put away her grief The Wench was fair and too familiar was VVith Prince Eurymachus one of â—he chief Of all her Suiters And this woman ' t was And thus she said Sure Stranger thou art mad That wilt not here nor elsewhere go to bed Is it because thou too much wine hast had Or is 't a humour in thy nature bred To praâ—… so boldly in such Company Thy Victory o're Irus may peâ—haps Have made thee wild A betâ—eâ— man than he May chance to send thee hence with bloody chaps Ulysses looking â—ourly answered You bâ—tch Tâ—lâ—â—aâ—hus shall streight-way know These words He 'll cause thee to be tortured They fearing he would do 't away they go Ulysses ready stood to take in hand A Torch when bidden casting in his mind How he might safely carry on the grand Mischief against the Woo'rs he had design'd And Pallas yet not suffer'd them to keep Themselves in any bounds of modesty But fix Ulysses anger yet more deep Eurymachus then said to th' standers by To make them laugh Ulysses to disgrace Hear Sirs I pray what now comes in my thought The man comes opportunely to this place 'T is sure some God that him has hither brought To give us greater light For from his head Methinks I see arise another flame Besides the flame the Torch gives and so spread Upon his bald pate doubled has the same Then says t'Ulysses Man wilt thou serve me To pluck up Thorns Bry'rs and Trees to plant Thou shalt have meat enough and clothes and see And shooes and whatsoever thou shalt want But since thou hast been us'd to idleness I doubt thou ne'r wilt labour any more But rather feed thy carcass labourless And wandring choose to beg from door to door This said Ulysses answer'd him agen Eurymachus if we two were to try Our labour in alarge green meadow when The days are long the weather hot and dry With equal Sâ—thes from morning unto night Or with two equal oxen fed and strong Were fasting put to plow to try our might Which of us labour could indure most long Or if an enemy to day should land And I a helmet had sit for my head And Target and two fit spears for my hand Then you should see whether I sought or fled And not reproach m' of sloth or poverty You are too cruel and you do me wrong And think your self a man of might to be Because they weaker are you live among But should Ulysses come and find you here You 'ld think the door though it be very wide As you are running out too narrow were So glad you 'ld be your heads to save or hide To this Eâ—rymachus with bended brow And furious eye answer'd Wretch that thou art And dar'st so saucily to prate How now 'T will not be long before I make thee smart 〈◊〉 it because thou too much Wine hast had Or is 't thy nature always to be bold Or is 't t' have beaten Irus makes thee mad This said upon a Footstool he laid hold And threw it at him but it hit him not Ulysses sunk on 's knees the stool flew o're His head and a Cup-bearer next him smot On the right hand and down he falls o' th' floor Much the disorder then was in the room And one unto another next him said I would this Beggar hither had not come But somewhere else before had perished For what ado about a Beggar 's here The pleasure of our Dinner all is lost Then said Telemachus Can you not bear Madmen your wine and chear both boil'd â—ost When fill'd why do you not go home and sleep Go when you will I drive you not away â—he Suiters at this boldness bit the lip And thought it strange but yet did nothing say Then said Amphinâ—mus Let 's not fall out With any man for speaking truth nor be â—…ude and unkind Cup-bearers bear about To every man the Cup of Charity And so go each man home for now 't is late Leaving the Stranger with Telemachus Whose Guest he is and our selves recreate With gentle sleep each one in his own house Then Meleus to each man presents a Cup Whereof unto the Gods they offer'd part When this was done each one his wine drank up And then unto their houses they depart LIB XIX ULysses in the house remain'd and staid Contriving how the Suiters to destroy And streightway to Telemachus he said Carry the Armour in the Hall away And tell them gently if they ask wherefore The fire has hurt them and they are not now Such as Ulysses left them heretofore When with the Greeks he did to Ilium go Or say for fear some quarrel might arise By th' indiscretion of one or other You thought the counsel would not be unwise To take them thence One drawn sword draws another Telemachus then calls his Nurse and said Euryclea shut all the rooms up fast Be sure to keep within door every Maid Till I my Fathers Arms have elsewhere plac't The smoke does spoil them all But I will now Free them from soot I 'm glad said she at last To see your husbandry But I would know Who 't is shall light you when the Maids are fast My Guest says he this Stranger whom you see For here he seeds and nothing has to do How far soever hence his dwelling be I think 't is reason he should help me too The Nurse did what commanded she had been They laid up Helmets Bucklers Swords Spears And Pallas with a Lamp came in unseen And up and down the Light before them bears Then Father said Telemachus I see The walls beams roof and all the pillars shine Like any fire and certainly there be Within the house some of the Powers Divine Peace said Ulysses be not curious The purpose of the Gods you cannot find Go you to bed I must go through the house To find the Womens and your Mothers mind Telemachus then to his Chamber went In which before he wonted was to lie Leaving his Father in the house intent On how with Pallas to make th'Wooers die Forth comes Penelope into the Hall More than Diana more than Venus fair Her Maids upon her were attending all And set down for her a most stately Chair Made by Iâ—malius of silver plate And Iv'ry turned white as any snow And Footstool thereto fix'd And there in State Sat down the fair Penelope and now The Housmaids enter in and take away The Tables and the Bowls the Cups and Bread Which th'Wooers gone about the room still lay And having made a fire there went to bed Melantho then Ulysses bitterly Rebuk'd again Art thou here said she still To peep at
me less to let my Mother go â—ince I have strength to bend my Fathers Bowe Why should I doubt of governing his State And from him presently his Coat did throw And Sword and then fell to delineate The ground whereon the Axes were to stand On one long line he set them all upright The Woo'rs admir'd the justness of his hand For why the like was ne'r done in his sight Then went he to the Sill to try the Bowe Thrice he essaid it and was near it still And thrice again relenting let it go Once more had done it But 't was not his will For then his Father checkt him with a wink Alas then said Telemachus must this Be all my strength Too young I am I think Come let one take the Bowe that elder is This said the Bowe and Arrow he laid by And to the Seat went where he â—…t before Then said Antinous The Bowe let 's try In order as we sit Let him therefore Try first whose Table next the Cupboard is And so to the right hand up one by one The other Suiters all approved this Leiodes was the first so he begun His place was low'st He to the threshold wenâ— To try his force But to his tender hand And feeble arms the Bowe would not relent Then down he laid it there and lets it stand And to the Suiters spake This Bowe says he I cannot bend some other tak 't in hand It 's like of many Lords the death to be VVhen by the strongest it comes to be man'd For better 't is to die than live and miss The hopes you hither come for ev'ry day And what is 't any of you hope but this That you Ulysses Consort marry may But when he shall this Bowe have understood Let him some other Lady wooe at ease Amongst th' Achaeaâ—s whom he shall think good And let Penelope take whom she please This said the Bowe and Arrow he set by And to the Seat went where he sat before And by Antinous was angerly Assoon as he had spoke rebuk'd therefore VVhat say you That this Bowe the death shall be Of many Lords Why so 'Cause you have not The strength to bend it Others have you 'll see But you for bending Bowes were not begot Then to Melâ—â—theus he turn'd and said Let fire be made and a great Chair set by 't And let upon it Cushions be laid And let us have good stoâ—e of Tallow white T' anoint and warm and supple make the Bowe And â—…y if we perhâ—ps may bend it then Fire Chair and Cushions came aâ—d greace enough But to no purpose too weâ—k were the men Antinous yet and Earymaâ—hâ—â— Gave 〈◊〉 not over these two were the best Of all the â—uiters thâ—t caâ—e to the house No hope at all remained fâ—â— the rest Euâ—…aeus and Philoetius then went out Together after them Ulysses went And when they were the Gate and Court without Himself unto â—hem to discover â—eant And fair he spake them Master of the Kine And you Eumaeus Master of the Swine Shall I keep in or speak a thought of mine To speak it out my heart does me encline What 〈◊〉 Ulyâ—â—es should câ—me suddenly Brought by some God and stand before this rout On whose side his or theirs would you then be What your mind prompts you to speak freely out Then answer'd him the Master of the Kine O that the Gods above would have it so You 'ld see the vertue of these hands of mine The Master of the Swine then said so too When now the hearts of both of them he knew He spake again and said 'T is I am he That after twenty years return to you And know you longed have this day to see Of all my Servants I find only you That wish me here If therefore it shall please The Gods by me the Suiters to subdue I 'll give you wealth enough to live at ease And Houses near me and shall wedded live And Brothers of Telemachus shall be And that you may assuredly believe Ulysses speaks it you a signe shall see With that he pull'd his Rags beside his thigh And lets them see the place the Boar had â—ent Then when upon Parnassus Mountain high He with his Unkles Sons a hunting went And then they fling their Arms about Ulysses And kiss his hand and shoulders weeping sore And he again embraced them with kisses Nor had till Sun-set weeping given o're But that Ulysses hinder'd it Give o're said he Your weeping lest that some one come out hither And tell within what here without they see Go in but one by one not all together First I 'll go in and then come you Now mark I 'll pray the Suiters I the Bowe may try If to my motion they refuse to hark Give it into my hand as you pass by And you Eumaeus bid the women shut The House-doors all nor suffer any one O' th' men without the House his head to put And though within they hap to hear men grone That they stir not but ply their business The utter-Gate Philoetius lock you fast That to the House there may be no access This said into the Hall again he past And after him his Servants Now the Bowe Was in Eurymachus his hand by th' fire He warm'd and rub'd and did what he could do But for to bend it he was ne're the nighâ— At this he vâ—xt and took it heinously And O said he 't is not for my own part I troubled am but for the Company 'T is chiefly that I take so much to heart Nor is it for a wife that I complain For in Achaia Ladies be enough But that we hope Penelope to gain Although we cannot bend Ulysses Bowe Thâ—â—â—aid Antinous 'T will not be so This day unto Apollo sacred is And not a day for bending of a Bowe Therefore to lay it by is not amiss And let the Axes stand still as they do For 't is not like they will be stoln away And so go in and offer Wine unto The God The Bowe may till to morrow stay And bid Melanthus in the morning bring Goats of the sattest and whereof the savour May from Apollo of all Archers King For bending of the Bowe procure us favour They all agree Into the house they went The Officers for hands the water hoâ—… The Waiters fill the Cups and them present And when they drunk had each man what he would Then spake Ulysses to the Suiters thus Hear me ye Suiters what I have to say Antinous and you Eurymachus For to you two 't is chiefly that I pray Since you the bending of the Bowe remit To th' Gods to give to whom they please they To morrow doubtless will determine it Let me now of the Bowe make an essay That I may know whether my strength be spent And what I could before now cannot do Whether I still be firm or do relent With hardship and with want of looking to These words of his made all