Alcinous Who honors her past equall She may boast More honor of him then the honord most Of any wife in earth can of her Lord How many more soeuer Realmes affoord That keepe house vnder husbands Yet no more Her husband honors her then her blest store Of gracious children All the Citie cast Eyes on her as a Goddesse and giue taste Of their affections to her in their praires Still as she decks the streets For all affaires Wrapt in contention she dissolues to men Whom she affects she wants no mind to deigne Goodnesse enough If her heart stand inclin'd To your dispatch hope all you wish to find Your friends your longing family and all That can within your most affections fall This said away the grey-eyd Goddesse flew Along th'vntamed sea Left the louely hew Scheria presented Out flew Marathon And ample-streeted Athens lighted on Where to the house thâ—â— casts so thicke a shade Of Erectheus she ingression made Vlysses to the loftie-builded Court Of King Alcinous made bold resort Yet in his heart cast many a thought before The brazen pauement of the rich Court bore His enterd person Like heauens two maine Lights The roomes illustrated both daies and nights On euery side stood firme a wall of brasse Euen from the threshold to the inmost passe Which bore a roofe vp that all Saphire was The brazen thresholds both sides did enfold Siluer Pilasters hung with gaâ—es of gold Whos 's Portall was of silueâ— ouer which A golden Cornish did the front enrich On each side Dogs of gold and siluer fram'd The houses Guard stood which the Deitie lam'd With knowing inwards had inspir'd and made That Death nor Age should their estates inuade Along the wall stood euery way a throne From th' entry to the Lobbie euery one Cast ouer with a rich-wrought cloth of state Beneath which the Phaeacian Princes sate At wine and food and feasted all the yeare Youths forg'd of gold at euery table there Stood bolding flaming torches that in night Gaue through the house each honourd Guest his light And to encounter feast with houswifry In one roome fiftie women did apply Their seuerall tasks Some apple-colourd corne Ground in faire Quernes and some did spindles turne Some worke in loomes no hand least rest receiues But all had motion apt as Aspen leaues And from the weeds they woue so fast they laid And so thicke thrust together thred by thred That th'oile of which the wooll had drunke his fill Did with his moisture in light dewes distill As much as the Phaeacian men exceld All other countrimen in Art to build A swift-saild ship so much the women there For worke of webs past other women were Past meane by Pallas meanes they vnderstood The grace of good works and had wits as good Without the Hall and close vpon the Gate A goodly Orchard ground was situate Of neare ten Acres about which was led A loftie Quickset In it flourished High and broad fruit trees that Pomegranats bore Sweet Figs Peares Oliues and a number more Most vsefull Plants did there produce their store Whose fruits the hardest Winter could not kill Nor hotest Summer wither There was still Fruite in his proper season all the yeare Sweet Zephire breath'd vpon them blasts that were Of varied tempers these he made to beare Ripe fruites these blossomes Peare grew after Peare Apple succeeded apple Grape the Grape Fig after Fig came Time made neuer rape Of any daintie there A spritely vine Spred here his roote whose fruite a hote sun-shine Made ripe betimes Here grew another greene Here some were gathering here some pressing seene A large-allotted seuerall each fruite had And all th'adornd grounds their apparance made In flowre and fruite at which the King did aime To the precisest order he could claime Two Fountaines grac't the garden of which one Powrd out a winding streame that ouer-runne The grounds for their vse chiefly th' other went Close by the loftie Pallace gate and lent The Citie his sweet benefit and thus The Gods the Court deckt of Alcinous Patient Vlysses stood a while at gaze But hauing all obseru'd made instant pace Into the Court where all the Peeres he found And Captaines of Phaeacia with Cups crownd Offring to sharp-eyd Hermes to whom last They vsde to sacrifise when Sleepe had cast His inclination through their thoughts But these Vlysses past and forth went nor their eies Tooke note of him for Pallas stopt the light With mists about him that vnstaid he might First to Alcinous and Arete Present his person and of both them she By Pallas counsell was to haue the grace Of foremost greeting Therefore his embrace He cast about her knee And then off flew The heauenly aire that hid him When his view With silence and with Admiration strooke The Court quite through but thus he silence broake Diuine Rhexenors of spring Arete To thy most honourd husband and to thee A man whom many labours haue distrest Is come for comfort and to euery guest To all whom heauen vouchsafe delightsome liues And after to your issue that suruiues A good resignement of the Goods ye leaue With all the honor that your selues receiue Amongst your people Onely this of me Is the Ambition that I may but see By your vouchsaft meanes and betimes vouchsaft My country earth since I haue long bin left To labors and to errors barrd from end And farre from benefit of any friend He said no more but left them dumbe with that Went to the harth and in the ashes sat Aside the fire At last their silence brake And Echinaeus th' old Heroe spake A man that all Phaeacians past in yeares And in perswasiue eloquence all the Peeres Knew much and vsde it well and thus spake he Alcinous it shewes not decently Nor doth your honor what you see admit That this your guest should thus abiectly sit His chaire the earth the harth his cushion Ashes as if apposde for food a Throne Adornd with duerites stands you more in hand To see his person plac't in and command That instantly your Heralds fill in wine That to the God that doth in lightnings shine We may do sacrifice for he is there Where these his reuerend suppliants appeare Let what you haue within be brought abroad To sup the stranger All these would haue showd This fit respect to him but that they stay For your precedence that should grace the way When this had wordadded to the well-inclin'd And sacred order of Alcinous mind Then of the great in wit the hand he seisd And from the ashes his faire person raisd Adâ—aâ—â—'t him to a well-adorned Throne And from his seate raisd his most loued sonne Laodamas that next himselfe was set To giue him place The handmaid then did get An Ewre of gold with water fild which plac't Vpon a Caldron all with siluer grac't She powrd out on their hands And then was spred A Table
downe The Bow all this light giuing Gods their owne The mornings labour God the more wil blesse And strength bestow where he himselfe shall please Against which time let me presume to pray Your fauours with the rest that this assay May my olde armes prooue trying if there lye In my poore powers the same actiuity That long since crown'd them Or if needy fare And desolate wandring haue the web worne barâ— Of my lifes thred at all parts that no more Can furnish these affaires as heeretofore This heat their spleens past measure blown with fear Lest his loth'd temples would the garland weare Of that Bowes draught Antinous vsing speech To this sowre purpose Thou most arrant wretch Of all guests breathing in no least degree Grac't with a humane soule It serues not thee To feast in peace with vs take equall share Of what we reach to sit and all things heare That we speake freely which no begging guest Did euer yet but thou must make request To mixe with vs in merit of the Queene But wine enflames thee that hath euer beene The bane of men whoeuer yet would take Th' excesse it offers and the meane forsake Wine spoilde the Centaure great Eâ—rytiâ—â— In guest-rites with the mighty-minded Son Of bolde Ixion in his way to warre Against the Lapithes who driuen as farre As madnesse with the bold effects of wine Did outrage to his kinde hoast and decline Other Heroes from him feasted there With so much anger that they left their cheere And dragg'd him forth the fore-court slit his nose Cropt both his eares and in the ill dispose His minde then sufferd drew the fatall day On his head with his hoast For thence the fray Betwixt the Centaures and the 〈◊〉 Had mortall act but he for his 〈◊〉 In spoile of wine far'd worth himselfe As thou For thy large cups if thy armes draw the Bow My minde foretels shalt feare for not a man Of all our Consort that in wisedome can Boast any fit share will take prayers then But to Echetus the most sterne of men A blacke Saile freight with thee whose worst of ill Be sure is past all ransome Sit then still Drinke temperately and neuer more contend With men your yongers This the Queene did end With her defence of him and told his Foe It was not faire nor equall t'ouercrow The poorest Guest her sonne pleas'd t' entertaine In his free Turrets with so proud a straine Of threats and brauings asking if he thought That if the stranger to his armes had brought The stubborne Bow downe he should marry her And beare her home And said himselfe should erre In no such hope nor of them all the best That greeu'd at any good she did her guest Should banquet there since it in no sort show'd Noblesse in them nor paid her what she ow'd Her owne free rule there This Eurymachus Confirm'd and saide nor feeds it hope in vs Icarius daughter to solemnize Rites Of Nuptials with thee Nor in noblest sights It can shew comely but to our respects The rumor both of sexes and of Sects Amongst the people would breede shame and feare Lest any worst Greeke said See mâ—n that were Of meane deseruings will presume t' aspire To his wiues bed whom all men did admire For fame and merit could not draw his Bow And yet his wife had foolish pride to woo When straight an errant Begger comes and drawes The Bow with ease performing all the Lawes The game beside contain'd and this would thus Proue both indignity and shame to vs. The Queene replied The fame of men I see Beares much price in your great suppos'd degree Yet who can proue amongst the people great That of one so esteem'd of them the seat Doth so defame and ruine And beside With what right is this guest thus vilefied In your high censures when the man in blood Is well composd and great his parents good And therefore giue the Bow to him to try His Birth and breeding by his Cheualry If his armes draw it and that Phoebus stands So great a glory to his strength my hands Shall adde this guerdon Euery sort of weed A two-edg'd Sword and Lance to keepe him freed From Dogs and Men hereafter and dismis His worth to what place tends that heart of his Her sonne gaue answere That it was a wrong To his free sway in all things that belong To guard of that house to demand the Bow Of any wooer and the vse bestow Vpon the stranger For the Bow was his To giue or to with-hold No maisteries Of her proposing giuing any power T'empaire his right in things for any wower Or any that rough Ithaca affords Any that Elis of which no mans words Nor pow'rs should curbe him stood he so enclin'd To see the Bow in absolute gift resign'd To that his guest to beare and vse at will And therefore bad his Mother keepe â—er still Amongst her women at her Rocke and Loome Bowes were for men and this Bow did become Past al mens his disposure since his Sire Left it to him and all the house eâ—tire She stood dismaid at this and in her minde His wise words laide vp standing so inclinde As he had will'd with all her women going Vp to her chamber there her teares bestowing As euery night she did on her lou'd Lord Til sleepe and Pallas her fit rest restor'd The Bow Eumaeus tooke and bore away Which vp in tumult and almost in fray Put all the wooers One enquiring thus Whether Rogue abiect wilt thou beare from vs That Bow proposd Lay downe or I protest Thy dogs shal eate thee that thou nourishest To guard thy Swine amongst whom left of all Thy life shal leaue thee if the Festiuall VVe now obserue to Phoebus â—ay our zeales Grace with his aide and all the Deities else This threat made good 〈◊〉 yeelde the Bow To his late place not knowing what might grow From such a multitude And then fell on Telemachus with threats and saide Set gon That Bow yet further t is no seruants part To serue too many Maisters raise your hart And beare it off lest though your yonger yet VVith stones I pelt you to the field with it If you and I close I shal prooue toâ—â—â—rong I wish as much too hard for all this 〈◊〉 The Gods would make me I should quickly send Some after with iust sorrow to their end They waste my victles so and ply my cup And do me such shrewd turnes still This put vp The wooers all in Laughâ—â—rs and put downe Their angers to him that so late were growne So graue and bloody which resolu'd that feare Of good Eumaeus who did take and beare The King the Bow call'd Nurse and bad her make The doores all sure that if mens tumults take The eares of some within they may not fly But keepe at worke still close and silently These words put wings to her and close she put The chamber doore The Court
le descend to ship and men That much expect me Be obseruant then Of my aduice and carefull to maintaine In equall acts thy royall fathers raigne Telemachus replide You ope faire Guest A friends heart in your speech as well exprest As might a father serue t' informe his sonne All which sure place haue in my memorie wonne Abide yet though your voyage calls away That hauing bath'd and dignifide your stay With some more honour you may yet beside Delight your mind by being gratifide your stay With some rich Present taken in your way That as a Iewell your respect may lay Vp in your treasurie bestowd by me As free friends vse to guests of such degree Detaine me not said she so much inclinde To haste my voyage What thy loued minde Commands to giue at my returne this way Bestow on me that I directly may Conuey it home which more of price to mee The more it askes my recompence to thee This said away gray-eyd Minerua flew Like to a mounting Larke and did endue His mind with strength and boldnesse and much more Made him his father long for then before And weighing better who his guest might be He stood amaz'd and thought a Deitie Was there descended to whose will he fram'd His powres at all parts and went so inflam'd Amongst the wooers who were silent set To heare a Poet sing the sad retreat The Greekes performd from Trâ—y which was from thence Proclaimd by Pallas paine of her offence When which diuine song was perceiu'd to beare That mournfull subiect by the listning eare Of wiâ—e Penelope Icariâ—â— seed Who from an vpper roome had giu'n it heed Downe she descended by a winding staire Not solelâ— but the State in her repaire Two Maides of Honour made And when this Queene Of women stoopt so low she might be seene By all her wooers In the doore aloofe Entring the Hall grac'd with a goodly roofe She stood in shade of gracefull vailes implide About her beauties on her either 〈◊〉 Her honor'd women When to 〈◊〉 moâ—'d thus She chid the sacred Singer 〈◊〉 You know a number more of these greâ—â— deeds Of Gods and men that are the sacred 〈◊〉 And proper subiects of a Poets song And those due pleasures that to men belong Besides these facts that furnish Trâ—is retreate Sing one of those to these that round your â—eate They may with silence sit and taste their wine But ceaâ—â—e this song that through these eares of mine Conuey deseru'd occasion to my heart Of endlesse sorrowes of which the desert In me vnmeasur'd is past all these men So endlesse is the memorie I retaine And so desertfull is that memorie Of such a man as hath a dignitie So broad it spreds it selfe through all the pride Of Greece and Argos To the Queene replide Inspir'd Telemachus Why thus enuies My mother him that fits societies With so much harmonie to let him please His owne mind in his will to honor these For these ingenuous and first sort of men That do immediatly from Ioâ—e retaine Their singing raptures are by Ioue as well Inspir'd with choice of what their songs impell Ioues will is free in it and therefore theirs Nor is this man to blame that the repaires The Greekes make homeward sings for his fresh Muse Men still most celebrate that sings most newes And therefore in his note your eares employ For not Vlysses onely lost in Troy The day of his returne but numbers more The deadly ruines of his fortunes bore Go you then In and take your worke in hand Your web and distaffe and your maids command To plie their fit worke Words to men are due And those reprouing counsels you pursue And most to me of all men since I beare The rule of all things that are manag'd here She went amazd away and in her heart Laid vp the wisedome Pallas did impart To her lou'd sonne so lately turnd againe Vp to her chamber and no more would raigne In manly counsels To her women she Applied her sway and to the wooers he Began new orders other spirits bewraid Then those in spite of which the wooers swaid And whiles his mothers teares still washt her eies Till gray Minerua did those teares surprise With timely sleepe and that her woo'rs did rouse Rude Tumult vp through all the shadie house Disposde to sleepe because their widow was Telemachus this new-giuen spirit did passe On their old insolence Ho! you that are My mothers wooers much too high ye beare Your petulant spirits sit and while ye may Enioy me in your banquets see ye lay These loud notes downe nor do this man the wrong Because my mother hath dislikt his song To grace her interruption t is a thing Honest and honourd too to heare one sing Numbers so like the Gods in elegance As this man flowes in By the mornes first light I le call ye all before me in a Court That I may cleerly banish your resort With all your rudenesse from these roofes of mine Away and elsewhere in your feasts combine Consume your owne goods and make mutuall feast At eithers house Or if ye still hold best And for your humors more suffised fill To feed to spoile because vnpunisht still On other findings spoile but here I call Th' eternall Gods to witnesse if it fall In my wisht reach once to be dealing wreakes By Ioues high bountie these your present checks To what I giue in charge shall adde moâ—e reines To my reuenge hereafter and the paines Ye then must suffer shall passe all your pride Euer to see redrest or qualifide At this all bit their lips and did admire His words sent from him with such phrase and fire Which so much mou'd them that 〈◊〉 Eupytheus sonne cried out Teâ—â—â—achus The Gods I thinke haue rapt thee to this height Of elocution and this great conceit Of selfe-abilitie We all may pray That Iâ—â—e inuest not in this kingdomes sway Thy forward forces which I see put forth A hote ambition in thee for thy birth Be not offended he replide if I Shall say I would assume this emperie If Ioue gaue leaue You are not he that sings The rule of kingdâ—â—es is the worst of things Nor is it ill at all to sway a throne A man may quicâ—â—y gaine possession Of mightie riches make a wondrous prise Set of his vertues but the dignities That decke a King there are enough beside In this circumfluous I le that want no pride To thinke them worthy of as yong as I And old as you are An ascent so hie My thoughts affect not dead is he that held Desert of vertue to haue so exceld But of these turrets I will take on me To be the absolute King and reigne as free As did my father ouer all his hand Left here in this house slaues to my command Eurymachus the sonne of Polybâ—â— To this made this reply Teleâ—achus The Girlond of this kingdome let the knees
I then made choice of two and added more A Herald for associate to explore What sort of men liu'd there They went and saw A beaten way through which carts vsde to draw Wood from the high hils to the Towne and met A maid without the Port about to get Some neare spring-water She the daughter was Of mightie Laestrigonian Antiphas And to the cleare spring cald Artacia went To which the whole Towne for their water sent To her they came and askt who gouernd there And what the people whom he orderd were She answerd not but led them through the Port As making haste to shew her fathers Court Where enterd they beheld to their affright A woman like a mountaine top in height Who rusht abroad and from the Counsaile place Cald home her horrid husband Antiphas Who deadly minded straight he snatcht vp one And fell to supper Both the rest were gone And to the fleete came Antiphas a crie Draue through the Citie which heard instantly This way and that innumerable sorts Not men but Gyants issued through the Ports And mightie flints from rocks tore which they threw Amongst our ships through which an ill noise flew Of shiuerd ships and life-expiring men That were like fishes by the monsters slaine And borne to sad feast While they slaughterd these That were engag'd in all th' aduantages The close-mouth'd and most dead-calme hauen could giue I that without lay made some meanes to liue My sword drew cut my gables and to oares Set all my men and from the plagues those shores Let flie amongst vs we made haste to flie My men close working as men loth to die My ship flew freely off but theirs that lay On heapes in harbors could enforce no way Through these sterne fates that had engag'd them there Forth our sad remnant saild yet still retaind The ioyes of men that our poore few remaind Then to the I le Aeaeâ— we attaind Where faire-haird dreadfull eloquent Circe raignd Aeaetas sister both by Dame and Sire Both daughters to heauens man-enlightning fire And Perse whom Oceanus begat The ship-fit Port here soone we landed at Some God directing vs. Two daies two nights We lay here pining in the fatall spights Of toile and sorrow But the next third day When faire Aurora had informd quicke way I made out of my ship my sword and lance Tooke for my surer guide and made aduance Vp to a prospect I assay to see The works of men or heare mortalitie Expire a voice When I had climb'd a height Rough and right hardly accessible I might Behold from Circes house that in a groue Set thicke with trees stood a bright vapor moue I then grew curious in my thought to trie Some fit enquirie when so spritely flie I saw the yeallow smoke But my discourse A first retiring to my ship gaue force To giue my men their dinner and to send Before th' aduenture of my selfe some friend Being neare my ship of one so desolate Some God had pittie and would recreate My woes a little putting vp to me A great and high-palmd Hart that fatallie Iust in my way it selfe to taste a flood Was then descending the Sunne heate had sure Importun'd him besides the temperature His naturall heate gaue Howsoeuer I Made vp to him and let my Iauelin flie That strooke him through the mid-part of his chine And made him braying in the dust confine His flying forces Forth his spirit flew When I stept in and from the deaths wound drew My shrewdly-bitten lance there let him lie Till I of cut-vp Osiers did imply A With a fathome long with which his feete I made together in a sure league meete Stoop't vnder him and to my necke I heau'd The mightie burthen of which I receau'd A good part on my lance for else I could By no meanes with one hand alone vphould Ioynd with one shoulder such a deathfull lode And so to both my shoulders both hands stood Needfull assistents for it was a Deare Goodly-wel-growne when coming something neare Where rode my ships I cast it downe and rer'd My friends with kind words whom by name I cheer'd In note particular and said See friends We will not yet to Plutos house our ends Shall not be hastend though we be declind In cause of comfort till the day design'd By Fates fixt finger Come as long as food Or wine lasts in our ship le ts spirit our blood And quit our care and hunger both in one This said they frolikt came and lookt vpon With admiration the huge bodied beast And when their first-seru'd eyes had done their feast They washt and made a to-be-striu'd-for meale In point of honour On which all did dwell The whole day long And to our venzons store We added wine till we could wish no more Sunne set and darknesse vp we slept till light Put darknesse downe and then did I excite My friends to * counsaile vttering this Now friends Affoord vnpassionate eare though ill Fate lends So good cause to your passion no man knowes The reason whence and how the darknesse growes The reason how the Morne is thus begunne The reason how the Man-enlightning Sunne Diues vnder earth the reason how againe He reres his golden head Those counsailes then That passe our comprehension we must leaue To him that knowes their causes and receaue Direction from him in our acts as farre As he shall please to make them regular And stoope them to our reason In our state What then behoues vs Can we estimate With all our counsailes where we are or know Without instruction past our owne skils how Put off from hence to stere our course the more I thinke we can not We must then explore These parts for information in which way We thus farre are last Morne I might display From off a high-raisd cliffe an Iland lie Girt with th'vnmeasur'd Sea and is so nie That in the midst I saw the smoke arise Through tufts of trees This rests then to aduise Who shall explore this This strooke dead their hearts Remembring the most execrable parts That Laestrigonian Antiphas had plaid And that foule Cyclop that their fellowes braid Betwixt his iawes which mou'd them so they cried But idle teares had neuer wants supplied I in two parts diuided all and gaue To either part his Captaine I must haue The charge of one and one of God-like looke Eurylochus the other Lots we shooke Put in a caske together which of vs Should leade th' attempt and t was Eurylochus He freely went with two and twenty more All which tooke leaue with teares and our eyes wore The same wet badge of weake humanity These in a dale did Circes house descrie Of bright stone built in a conspicuous way Before her gates hill-wolues and Lyons lay Which with her virtuous drugs so tame she made That Wolfe nor Lyon would one man inuade With any violence but all arose Their huge long tailes wagd and
THE ARGVMENT TElemachus return'd to Towne Makes to his curious mother knowne In part his Trauailes After whome Vlysses to the Court doth come In good Eumaeus guide and preast To witnesse of the Wooers Feast Whom though twice ten yeares did bestow In farre off parts his Dog doth know Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vlysses showes through all disguise Whom his dog knowes who knowing dies BVt when aires rosie birth the Morne arose Telemachus did for the Towne dispose His early steps and tooke to his command His faire long Lance well sorting with his hand Thus parting with Eumaeus Now my friend I must to Towne lest too farre I extend My Mothers mone for me who till her eyes Mine owne eyes witnesse varies teares and cries Through all extreames Do then this charge of mine And guide to Towne this haplesse guest of thine To beg else-where his further Festiuall Giue they that please I cannot giue to all Mine owne wants take vp for my selfe my paine If it incense him he the worst shall gaine The louely truth I loue and must be plaine Alas Friend saide his Father nor do I Desire at all your further charity 'T is better beg in Cities then in Fields And take the worst a beggers fortune yields Nor am I apt to stay in Swine-sties more How euer euer the great Chiefe before The poore Rankes must to euery step obay But goe your man in my command shall sway Anon yet to by fauor when your fires Haue comforted the colde heat age expires And when the Suns flame hath besides corrected The early aire abroad not being protected By these my bare weeds from the mornings frost Which since so much ground is to be engrost By my poore feete as you report may giue Too violent charge to th' heat by which I liue This saide his Sonne went on with spritely pace And to the wooers studied little grace Arriu'd at home he gaue his Iaueline stay Against a lofty Pillar and bold way Made further in When hauing so farre gone That he transcended the fayre Porch of Stone The first by farre that gaue his entry eye VVas Nurse Euryclea who th'embrodery Of Stooles there set was giuing Cushions faire VVho ranne vpon him and her rapt repaire Shed teares for ioy About him gather'd round The other Maides his head and shoulders croun'd VVith kisses and embraces From aboue The Queene her selfe came like the Queene of Loue Or bright Diana Cast about her Sonne Her kinde embraces with effusion Of louing teares kist both his louely eyes His cheekes and forehead and gaue all supplies With this entreaty Welcome sweetest light I neuer had conceite to set quicke sight On thee thus soone when thy lou'd fathers fame As farre as Pylos did thy spirit enflame In that search ventur'd all vnknowne to me O say By what power cam'st thou now to be Mine eyes deare obiect He return'd reply Moue me not now when you my scape descry From iminent death to thinke me fresh entrapt The fear'd wound rubbing felt before I scap't Double not needlesse passion on a heart VVhose ioy so greene is and so apt t' inuert But pure weeds putting on ascend and take Your women with you that yee all may make Vowes of full Hecatombs in sacred fire To all the God-heads If their onely Sire Vouchsafe reuenge of guest-rites wrong'd which hee Is to protect as being their Deity My way shall be directed to the hall Of common Concourse that I thence may call A stranger who from off the Pylian shore Came friendly with me whom I sent before VVith all my souldiers but in chiefe did charge Pyraeus with him wishing him t' enlarge His loue to him at home in best affaire And vtmost honors till mine owne repaire Her Son thus spoken his words could not beare The wings too easâ—ly through her either eare But putting pure weeds on made vowes entire Of perfect Hecatombes in sacred fire To all the Deities if their onely Sire Vouchsaft reuenge of guest-rites wrong'd which he VVas to protect as being their Deity Her Son left house In his faire hand his Lance His dogs attending and on euery glance His lookes cast from them Pallas put a grace That made him seeme of the celestiall race Whom come to concourse euery man admir'd About him throng'd the wooers and desir'd All good to him in tongueâ— but in their hearts Most deepe ils threatn'd to his most deserts Of whose huge rout once free he cast glad eie On some that long before his infancie VVere with his Father great and gracious Graue Halytherses Mentor Antiphus To whom he went tooke seate by them And they Enquir'd of all things since his parting day To them Pyraeus came and brought his Guest Along the City thither whom not left The Prince respected nor was long before He rose and met him The first word yet bore Pyraeus from them both whose haste besought The Prince to send his women to see brought The Gifts from his house that Atrides gaue VVhich his own roofes he thought wold better saue The wise Prince answer'd I can scarse conceiue The way to these workes If the wooers reaue By priuy Stratagem my life at home I rather wish Pyraeus may become The Maister of them then the best of these But if I sowe in their fields of excesse Slaughter and ruine then thy trust imploy And to me ioying bring thou those with ioy This said he brought home his grief-practisd Guest VVhere both put off both oyl'd and did inuest Themselues in rich Robes washt and sate and eate His Mother in a faire chaire taking seate Directly opposite her Loome applied VVho when her Son and Guest had satisfied Their appetites with feast said O my Sonne You know that eueâ— since your Sire was wonne To go in Agamemnons guide to Troy Attempting sleepe I neuer did inioy One nights good rest but made my quiet bed A Sea blowne vp with sighes with teares still shed Embrew'd and troubl'd yet though all your misse In your late voyage hath bene made for this That you might know th' abode your Father made You shun to tell me what successe you had Now then before the insolent accesse The wooers straight will force on vs expresse What you haue heard I will saide he and true VVe came to Pyâ—os where the studious due That any Father could affoord his Son But new arriu'd from some course he had ron To an extreame length in some voyage vow'd Nestor the Pastor of the people show'd To me arriu'd in turrets thrust vp hye VVhere not his braue Sons were more lou'd then I. Yet of th' vnconquer'd euer-Sufferer Vlysses neuer he could set his eare Aliue or dead from any earthy man But to the great Lacedemonian Atriâ—es famous for his Lance he sent VVith horse and Chariots Me to learne th' euent From his Relation where I had the view Of Argine Helâ—en whose strong beauties drew By wils of Gods so many
griefe nor was seene till now In any fashion of such men as woo A good and wealthy woman and contend VVho shal obtaine her that those men should spend Her Beeues and best Sheepe as their cheefest ends But rather that herselfe and all her friends They should with Banquets and rich gifts entreat Their life is death that liue with others meat Diuine Vlysses much reioyc't to heare His Queene thus fish for gifts and keepe in cheare Their hearts with hope that she would wed againe Her minde yet still her first intent retaine Antinous saw the wooers won to giue And said wise Queene by all your meanes receiue What euer bounty any woo'r shall vse Gifts freely giuen 't is folly to refuse For know that we resolue not to be gone To keepe our owne roofes till of all some One VVhom best you like your long-woo'd loue shal win This pleasd the rest and euery one sent in His present by the Herald First had place Antinous gift a robe of speciall grace Exceeding ful and faire and twenty hewes Chang'd luster to it To which choise of shewes Twelue massy plated Buttons all of Gold Enricht the substance made to fairly hold The Robe together all lac'd downe before VVhere Keepes and Catches both sides of it wore Eurymachus a golden Tablet gaue In which did Art her choisest workes engraue And round about an Amber verge did run That cast a radiance from it like the Sun Eurydamas two seruants had that bore Two goodly Earings whose rich hollowes wore Three Pearles in either like so many eyes Reflecting glances radiant as the skies The King Pysander great Polyctors heire A Casket gaue exceeding rich and faire The other other wealthy gifts commended To her faire hand which took and straight ascended This Goddesse of her sex her vpper State Her Ladies all her gifts elaborate Vp bearing after All to dancing then The wooers went and songs delightfull straine In which they frolickt till the Euening came And then rais'd sable Hesperus his flame VVhen for their Lights within they set vp there 3. Lampes whose weekes were wood exceeding sere And passing porous which they causd to burne Their matter euer minister'd by turne Of seueral Hand-maids VVhom Vlysses seeing Too conuersant with wooers ill agreeing VVith guise of maids aduised in this faire sort Maids of your long-lackt King keepe you the port Your Queenes chast presence beares Go vp to her Imploy your Loomes or Rockes and keepe ye there I le serue to feed these lamps shold these Lords dances Last til Aurora cheer'd vs with her glances They cannot weary me for I am one Borne to endure when all men else haue done They wantonly brake out in Laughters all Look't on each other and to termes did fall Cheek-proud Melantho who was Dolius seed Kept by the Queene that gaue her dainty breed Fit for her daughter and yet won not so Her heart to her to share in any wo She suffer'd for her Lord But she was great VVith great Eurymachus and her loues heat In his bed quenched And this cholericke thing Bestow'd this railing Language on the King Base Stranger you are taken in your braine You talke so wildely Neuer you againe Can get where you were borne and seeke your bed In some Smithes Houill or the Market sted But heere you must take confidence to prate Before all these for feare can get no state In your wine-hardy stomacke Or 't is like To proue your natiue gaâ—be your tongue will strike On this side of your mouth still being at best Is the man idle-brain'd for want of rest Or proud because he beate the roguish begger Take heed Sir lest some better man beleager Your eares with his fists and set headlong hence Your bold abode heere with your bloods expence He looking sternly on her answer'd her Dog What broad Language giu'st thou I le prefer Your vsage to the Prince that he may fall Foule on your faire limbes til he tel them all This fray'd the wenches and al straight got gone In â—eare about their businesse Euery one Confessing he saide well But he stood now Close by the Cressets and did lookes bestow On all men there his Braine employd about Some sharper businesse then to dance it out VVhich had not long to go Nor therefore would Minerua let the wooers spleenes grow cold VVith too good vsage of him that his hart Might fret enough and make his choller smart Eurymachus prouok't him first and made His fellow laugh with a conceit he had Fetch farre from what was spoken long before That his poore forme perhaps some Deity bore It well may chance said he some God doth beare This mans resemblance For thus standing nere The glistering Torches his slick't head doth throw Beames round about it as those Cressets do For not a haire he hath to giue it shade Say wil thy heart serue t' vndertake a Trade For fitting wages Should I take thee hence To walke my grounds and looke to euery Fence Or plant high trees thy hire should raise thy forces Food store cloaths But these same ydle courses Thou aâ—t so prompt in that thou wilt not worke But forrage vp and downe and beg and lurke In euery house whose Roofes hold any will To feed such fellowes That thy gut may fil Giues end to all thy Beeing He replyed I wish at any worke we two were tryed In hight of Spring time when heauens lights are long I a good crook'd Sithe that were sharpe and strong You such another where the grasse grew deepe Vp by day breake and both our labours keepe Vp til slow darknes eas'd the labouring light Fasting all day and not a crum til night VVe then should proue our either workmanship Or if againe Beeues that the goad or whip VVere apt t' obey before a tearing Plow Big lusty beasts Alike in bulke and brow Alike in Labour and alike in strength Our taske foure Acres to be Till'd in length Of one sole day Againe then you should try If the dul glebe before the Plough should flye Or I a long Stitch could beare cleane and euen Or lastly if the guide of earth heauen Should stir sterne war vp either here or there And that at this day I had double Speare And Shield and steele Caske fitting for my browes At this work likewise midst the foremost blowes Your eyes should note me and get little cause To twit me with my bellies sole applause But you affect t' affect with iniurie Your minde vngentle seeme in valour hie Because 'gainst few and those not of the best Your conuersation hath bene still profest But if Vlysses landed on his earth And enter'd on the true right of his birth Should come front ye straight his ample Gates Your feete would hold too narrow for your Fates He frown'd rag'd call'd him wretch and vow'd To be his death since he durst proue so proud Amongst so many to tell him so home VVhat he affected