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445 Holy repaft! That inftant from the fkies
The Martial Goddess to Ulyffes flies:

450

Lawlefs he ravag'd with his martial powers The Taphyan pirates on Thefprotia's fhores; Enrag'd, his life, his treafures they demand; Ulyffes fav'd him from th' avenger's hand. And would't thou evil for his good repay? His bed dishonour, and his houfe betray? Afflict his queen? and with a murderous hand Detroy his heir?—but cease, 'tis I command. Far hence thofe fears, (Eurymachus reply'd) O prudent princefs bid thy fou! confide. Breathes there a man who dares that hero flay, 455 While I behold the golden light of day? No: by the righteous Powers of Heaven I fwear, His blood in vengeance fmokes upon my spear. Ulyffes, when my infant days I led, With wine fuffic'd me, and with dainties fed: My generous foul abhors th' ungrateful part, And my friend's fon lives dearest to my heart. Then fear no mortal arm; if Heaven deftroy, We must refign for man is born to die. [fpir'd: Thus fmooth he ended, yet his death conThen forrowing, with fad step the queen retir'd, With fireaming eyes all comfortlefs deplor'd, Touch'd with the dear remembrance of her lord: Nor ceas'd till Pallas bid her forrows fly, And in foft flumber feal'd her flowing eye. And now Eumæus, at the evening hour, Came late returning to his fylvan bower. Ulyffes and his fon had dreis'd with art A yearling boar, and gave the Gods their part.

460

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475

She waves her golden wand, and re-affumes
From every feature every grace that blooms;
At once his vestures change; at once the fheds
Age o'er his limbs, that tremble as he treads; 480
Lett to the queen the fwain with transport fly,
Unable to contain th' unruly joy.

[claim When near he drew, the prince breaks forth: ProWhat tidings, friend? what fpeaks the voice of Fame?

485,

Say, if the fuitors meefure back the main,
Or fit in ambush thirst for blood in vain?
Whether, he cries, they measure back the flood
Or fill in ambush thirft in vain for blood,
Efcap'd my care: where lawless fuitors sway,
Thy mandate borne, my foul difdain'd to stay. 490
But from th' Hermaan height I caft a view
Where to the port a bark high bounding flew;
Her freight a fhining band: with martial air
Each pois'd his fhild, and each advanc'd his spear:
And, if aright thefe fearching eyes furvey,
Th' oluded fuitors ftem the watery way.

405

[wiles, The prince, well pleas'd to difappoint their Steals on his fire a glance, and fecret fmiles. 470 And now, a fhort repaft prepar'd, they fed, Till the keen rage of craving hunger fled, Then to repofe withdrawn, apart they lay, And in foft fleep forgot the cares of day.

500

BOOK XVII.

THE ARGUMENT.

Telemachus returning to the city relates to Penelope the sum of bis travels. Vlyffes is conducted by Eumzus to the palace, where his old dog Argus acknowledges his mafier, after an abfence of twenty years, and dies with joy. Eumaus returns into the country, and Ulysses remains among the fuitors, whose behaviour is defcribed.

SOON

OON as Aurora, daughter of the dawn, Sprinkled with rofeate light the dewy lawn; In hafte the prince arofe, prepar'd to part; His hand impatient grafps the pointed dart; Fair on his feet the polifh'd fandals fhine, And thus he greets the mafter of the fwine: My friend, adieu; let this fhort stay suffice; I hate to meet my mother's longing eyes, And end her tears, her forrows, and her fighs. But thou, attentive, what we order heed; This hapless ftranger to the city leadi; By public bounty let him there be fed, And blefs the hand that ftretches forth the bread. To wipe the tears from all afflicted eyes, My will may covet, but my power denies. If this raife anger in the ftranger's thought, The pain of anger punishes the fault : The very truth I undifguis'd declare;

For what fo eafy

as to be lincere?

To this Ulyffes: What the prince requires Of fwift removal, feconds my defirts.

VOL. VI.

To want like mine the peopled town can yield
More hopes of comfort than the lonely field,
Nor fits my age to till the labour'd lands,
Or ftoop to tasks a rural lord demands.
5. Adieu but, fince this ragged garb can bear
So ill th' inclemencies of morning air,
A few hours fpace permit me here to stay;
My fteps Eumæus fhall to town convey,
With riper beams when Phoebus warms the day.
Thus he nor aught Telemachus reply'd,

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But left the maufion with a lofty ftride:
Schemes of revenge his pondering breast elate,
Revolving deep the fuitors fudden fate.
Arriving now before th' imperial hall;
15 He props his fpear against the pillar'd wall;
Then like a lion o'er the threshold bounds;
The marble pavement with his step refounds;
His eye first glanc'd where Euryclea fpreads
With furry fpoils of beafts the fplendid beds.
20 She faw, the wept, fhe ran with eager pace,
And reach'd her master with a long embrace.
LI

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All crowded round the family appears
With wild entrancement, and ecstatic tears.
Swift from above defcends the royal fair
(Her beauteous checks the bluth of Venus wear,,
Chaften'd with coy Diana's pensive air);
Hangs o'er her fon; in his embraces dies;
Rains kiffes on his neck, his faec, his eyes;
Few words the fpoke, though much she had to fay;
And scarce thofe few, for tears, could force their

way.

Light of my eyes! he comes! unhop'd-for joy!
Has Heaven from Pylos brought my lovely boy?
So fnatch'd from all our cares!-Tell, haft thou
known

Thy father's fate? and tell me all thy own.

O dearest, most rever'd of woman kind!
Ceafe with thofe tears to melt a manly mind
(Replied the prince): nor be our fates deplor'd,
From death and treafon to thy arms reftor'd.

The golden ewer a nymph attendant brings,
Replenish'd from the pure tranfiucent fprings; 105
With copious ftreams that golden ewer supplies
A filver laver of capacious fize:

110

They wash the table, in fair order spread,
is pil'd with viands and the strength of bread.
Full oppofite, before the folding gate,
The pentive mother fits in humble state:
Lowly fhe fate, and with dejected view
The fleecy threads her ivory fingers drew.
The prince and ftranger fhar'd the genial feast,
Till now the rage of thirst and hunger ceas'd. 115

When thus the queen: My fon! my only friend!
Say, to my mouroful couch fhall I afcend?
55 (The ceuch deferted now a length of years:
The couch for ever water'd with my tears!)
Say, wilt thou not (ere yet the fuitor-crew
Return, and riot fhakes our walls anew)
Say, wilt thou not the leaft account afford?
The leaft glad tidings of my abfent lord?

Go bathe, and, rob'd in white, afcend the towers.
With all thy handmaids thank the immortal powers;
hezalako every God vow hedeforts to bleed,
To

And call Jove's vengeance on their guilty deed.
While to th' affembled council I repair;
A franger fent by Heaven attends me there;
My new accepted guest I hatte to find,
Now to Piraeus' honour'd charge confign'd.

65

The matron heard, nor was his word in vain. She bath'd; and, rob'd in white, with all her train,

70

To every God vow'd hecatombs to bleed,
And call'd Jove's vengeance on the guilty deed.
Arm'd with his lance, the prince then pafs'd the
gate;

Two cogs behind, a faithful guard, await;
Pallas his form with grace divine improves;
The gazing crowd admires him as he moves:
Him, gathering round, the haughty fuitors greet
With femblance fair, but inward deep deceit.
'Their falfe addreffes generous he denied,
Pafs'd on, and fate by faithful Mentor's fide;
With Antiphus, and Halitherfes fage

His father's counfellors, rever'd for age).
Of his own fortunes, and Ulyffes' fame,
Much afk'd the feniors; till Piræus came.
The stranger-guest pursued him close behind;
Whom when Telen:achus beheld, he join'd,
He (when Piræus afk'd for flaves to bring
The gifts and treafures of the Spartan king)
Thus thoughtful anfwer'd: Thofe we fhall

move,

Dark and unconfcious of the will of Jove;
We know not yet the full event of ali:
Stabb'd in his palace if your prince muft fall,
Us, and our house, if treafon muft o'erthrow,
Better a friend poffefs them, than a foé:
**if death to these, and vengeance Heaven decree,
Riches are welcome then, net elfe, to me.
Till then retain the gifts.-The hero faid,
And in his hand the willing franger led.
Then dif-array'd, the thining h. th they fought.
(With unguents fmooth) of polifh'd
wrought;

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130

To her the youth: We reach'd the Pylian plains,
Where Neftor, fhepherd of his people, reigns. 125
All arts of tenderness to him are known,
Kind to Ulyffes' race as to his own;
No father with a fonder grasp of joy
Strains to his bofom his long-abfent boy.
But all unknown, if yet Ulyffes breathe,
Or glide a spectre in the realms beneath;
For farther fearch, his rapid fteeds tranfport
My lengthen'd journey to the Spartan court.
Their Argive Helen I beheld, whofe charms
(So Heaven decreed, engag'd the great in arms. 155
My caufe of coming told, he thus rejoin'd;
And ftill his words live perfect in my mind.

Heavens! would a foft, inglorious, daftard train
An abfent hero's nuptial joys profane!
So with her young, amid the woodland shades, 140
A timorous hind the lion's court invades,
Leaves in that fatal lair her tender fawns,
And climbs the cliff, or feeds along the lawns;
Mean time returning, with remorfelefs fway

80 The monarch favage rends the panting prey: 145
With equal fury, and with equal fame,

Shall great Ulyffes re-affert his claim.

O Jove! Supreme! whom men and Gods revere; And thou whofe luftre gilds the rolling sphere! 85 With power congenial join'd, propitious aid 150 The chief adopted by the Martial-Maid! Such to our with the warrior foon restore, not As when, contending on the Lesbian shore, His prowels Philomelides confefs'd,

95

And loud acclaiming Greeks the victor bless'd: 155
90 Theu foon th' invaders of his bed and throne
Their love prefumptuous fhall by death atone;
Now what you quellion of my ancient friend,
With truth I aniwer; thou the truth attend.
Learn what I heard the fea-horn feer relate, 160
Whofe eyes can pi rce the dark recefs of fate.
Sole in an ifle, imprifon' by the main,
The fad furvivor of his numerous train,
Ulyffes lies; detain'd by magic charms.
And prefs'd unwilling in Calypfo's arms.
No failors there, no veffels to convey,
100 Nor oars to cut th' immeasurable way—
This told Atrides to 1 he told no more,
Thence 1.5: I voyag'd to my native fhore.

marble

Obedient handmaids with affistant toil
Supply the limpid wave, and fragrant oil!
Then o'er their limbs refuigent robes they threw,
And fresh from helling to their flats withdrew,

* Proteus.

165

He ceas'd; nor made the penfive queen reply,
But droop'd her head, and drew a fecret figh.
When Theolclymenus the feer began:
O fuffering confort of the fuffering man!
What human knowledge could, thofe kings might
But I the fecrets of high Heaven reveal. 175 [tell;
Before the first of Gods be this declar'd,
Before the board whofe bleffing we have fhar'd:
Witnefs the genial rites, and witness all
This house holds facred in her ample wall!
Een now this inftant, great Ulyffes lay'd
At rest, or wandering in his country's fhade,
Their guilty deeds, in hearing and in view,
Secret revolves; and plans the vengeance due.
Of this fare auguries the Gods bestow'd,
When first our vessel anchor'd in your road.
Succeed thofe omens, Heaven! (the queen re-
join'd)

So fhall our bounties fpeak a grateful mind;
And every envied happiness attend

The man, who calls Penelope his friend.

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180

185

Thus commun'd they while in the marble court (Scene of their infolence) the lords refort; Athwart the fpacious fquare each tries his art, To whirl the difk, or aim the miffile dart.

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205

Nor did the hour of fweet repast arrive, And from the field the victim flocks they drive; Medon the herald (one who pleas'd them beft, And honour'd with a portion of their feaft) To bid the banquet, interrupts their play. Swift to the hall they hafte; afide they lay Their garments, and, fuccinct, the victims flay. Then sheep and goats and briftly porkers bled, And the proud fteer was o'er the marble spread. While thus the copious banquet they provide'; Along the road converfing fide by fide, Proceed Ulyffes and the faithful swain: When thus Eumæus, generous and humane : To town, obfervant of our lord's behest, Now let us fpeed: my friend, no more my guest! Yet like myfelf I wish'd thee here preferr'd, Guard of the flock or keep r of the herd. But much to raise my mafter's wrath I fear; The wrath of princes ever is fevere. Then heed his will, and be our journey made While the broad beams of Phoebus are difplay'd, Or ere brown evening fpreads her chilly fhade. Just thy advice, (the prudent chief rejoin'd) And fuch as fuits the dictate of my mind. Lead on but help me to fome staff, to lay My feeble itep, fince rugged is the way.

Acrofs his fhoulders then the fcrip he flung,
Wide patch'd, and faften'd by a twilled thong:
A af Eumxus gave. Along the way
Cheerly they fare: behind, the keepers ftay;
Thefe with their watchful dogs (a conftant guar
Supply his abfence, and attend the herd.

And now his city ftrikes the monarch's eyes,
Alas! how chang'd! a man of miferies;
Propp'd on a staff, a beggar old and bare,
la rags difhoneft fluttering with the air!
Now pafs'd the rugged road, they journey down
The cavern'd way defcending to the town,
Where, from the rock, with liquid lapfe diftils
A limpid feunt; that, fpreads in parting fills,
Its current thence to ferve the city brings:
Án useful wet, adorn'd by ancient kings.

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220

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235

Neritus, Ithacus, Polydor, there,

In fculptur'd ftone immortaliz'd their care, In marble urns receiv'd it from above, And fhaded with a green furrounding grove; | Where filver alders, in high arches twin'd, Drink the cold ftream, and tremble to the wind. Beneath, fequefter'd to the nymphs, is feen A moffy altar, deep embower'd in green; Where conftant vows by travellers are paid, And holy horrors folemnize the fhade,.

240

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[guent?

260

Here with his goats (not vow'd to facred flame,
But pamper'd luxury) Melanthius came :
Two grooms attend him. With an envious look
He ey'd the ftranger, and imperious spoke :
The good old proverb how this pair fulfil!
One rogue is ufher to another still.
Heaven with a fecret principle endued
Mankind, to feck their own fimilitude.
Where goes the fwine-herd with that ill-look'd
That giant glutton, dreadful at a feaft?
255
Full many a poft have thofe broad fhoulders worn,
From every great man's gate repuls'd with fcorn;
To no brave prize afpir'd the worthlefs fwain,
'Twas but for fcraps he atk'd, and ask'd in vain.
To beg, than work, he better understands;
Or we perhaps night take him off thy hands,
For any office could the flave be good,
l'o cleanfe the fold, or help the kids to food;
If any labour thofe big joints could learn,
Some whey, to wafn his bowels, he might earn.
To cringe, to whine, his idle hands to fpread,
Is all, by which that graceless maw is fed.
Yet hear me if thy impudence but dare
Approach yon walls, I prophefy thy fare :
Dearly, full dearly, fhalt thou buy thy bread
With many a footstool thundering at thy head.
He thus nor infolent of word alone,
Spurn'd with his ruftic heel his king unknown;
Spurn'd, but not mov'd; he like a pillar flood,
Nor stirr'd an inch, contemptuous, from the road:
Doubtful, or with his ftaff to ftrike him dead,
Or greet the pavement with his worthless head.
Short was that doubt; to quell his rage inur'd,
The hero ftood felf-conquer'd, and endur'd.
But, hateful of the wretch, Eumæus heav'd
His hands obtefting, and this prayer conceiv'd:
Daughters of Jove! who from th' æthereal bowers
Defcend to fwell the fprings, and feed the flowers!
Nymphs of this fountain: to whofe facred names
Our rural victims mount in blazing flames!
To whom Ulyffes' piety preferr'd

The yearly firfting of his flock and herd;
Succeed my wish; your votary reflore:

270

280

285

Oh, he fome God his convey to our shore!
Due pains fail punish then this flave's offence, 290
And humble all his airs of infolence,
Who, proudly falking, leaves the herds at large,
Commences courtier, and neglects his charge.

What mutters he? (Melanthius fharp rejoins)
This crafty mifereant big with dark defigns! 295
The day fhall come; nay, 'tis already near,
When, flave! to fell thee at a price too dear,
Must be my care; and hence transport thee o'er,
A load and fcandal to this happy shore).
Oh! that as furely great Apollo's dirt,
Or fome brave fuitor's fword, might pierce the

heart

300

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Stole unperceiv'd; he turn'd his head, and dry'd

370

The drop humane: then thus impaffion'd cry'd :
What noble beaft in this abandon'd state
Lies here all helpless at Ulyffes' gate?
His bulk and beauty fpeak no vulgar praife;
If as he seems he was in better days,
Some care his age deferves: or was he priz'd
For worthless beauty! therefore now defpis'd?
Such dogs and men there are, mère things of state,
And always cherish'd by their friends, the Great.
Not Argus fo (Eumans thus rejoin'd)
But ferv'd a niafter of a nobler kind,
Who never, never fhall behold him more!
Long, long fince perifh'd on a diftant fhore!
Oh had you feen him, vigorous, bold, and young,
Swift as a thag, and as a lion ftrong;
Him no fill favage on the plain withstood,
None 'feap'd him, bofom'd in the gloomy wood;
320 His eye how piercing, and his scent how true,
To wind the vapour in the tainted dew!
Such, when Ulyffes left his natal coaft;
No years unnerve him, and his lord is loft!
The wonen keep the generous creature bare,
A fleck and idle race is all their care:

315

Of the proud fon; as that we ftand this hour
In lafting fafety from the father's power!
So fpoke the wretch, but, hunning farther
fray,
[way.
Turn'd his proud ftep, and left them on their
Straight to the feaflful palace he repair'd,
Familiar enter'd, and the banquet fhar'd;
Beneath Eurymachus, his patron lord,
He took his place and plenty heap'd the board,
Mean time they heard, foft-circling in the sky,
Sweet airs afcend, and heavenly minarelfy
(For Phemius to the lyre attun'd the strain);
Ulyffes hearken'd, then addrefs'd the fwain:
Well may this palace admiration claim,
Great, and refpondent to the mafter's fame!
Stage above stage th' imperial ftructure ftands,
Holds the chief honours, and the town commands:
High walls and battlements the courts enclose,
And the frong guefts defy an hoft of foes.
Far other cares its dwellers now employ:
The throng'd affembly, and the feast of joy:
I fee the fmokes of facrifice afpire,
And hear (what graces every feast) the lyre.
Then thus Eumaus: Judge we which were beft;
Amidit yon revellers a fudden guest
325
Chcofe you to mingle, while behind I ftay?
Or I first entering introduce the way?
Wait for a space without, but wait not long;
This is the houfe of violence and wrong:
Some rude infult thy reverend age may bear;
For like their lawless lords the fervants are.

Juft is, O friend! thy caution, and addrefs'd (Replied the chief) to no unheedful breaft;

330

385

The mafter gone, the fervants what reftrains? 390
Or dwells humanity where riot reigns?
Jove fix'd it certain, that whatever day
Makes man a flave, takes half his worth away.

This faid, the honeft herdfinan ftrode before;
The musing monarch paufes at the door :. 395
The dog, whom Fate had granted to behold
His lord, when twenty tedious years had roll'd
Takes a laft look, and, having feen him, dies:
335 So clos'd for ever faithful Argus' eyes!

The wrongs and injuries of bafe mankind
Fresh to my fenfe, and always in my mind.
The bravely patient to no fortune yields:
On rolling oceans, and in fighting fields,
Storms have I pass'd, and many a stern debate;
And now in humbler feene fabmit to Fate.
What cannot Want? The bleft she will expofe, 340
And I am learn'd in all her train of woes;
She fills with navies, hofts, and loud alarms,
The fea, the land, and shakes the world with

arms!

345

Thus, near the gates conferring as they drew,
Argus, the dog, his ancient mafter knew;
He, not unconscious of the voice and tread,
Lifts to the found his ear, and rears his head;
Bred by Ulyffes, nourish'd at his board,
But, ah! not fated long to please his lord!
To him, his fwiftness and his ftrength were vain;
The voice of glory call'd him o'er the main.
Till then in every fylvan chafe renown'd,
With Argus, Argus, rung the woods around;
With him the youth purfu'd the goat or fawn,
Or trac'd the mazy leveret o'er the lawn.
Now left to man's ingratitude he lay,
Unhous'd, neglected in the public way;
And where in heaps the rich manure was spread,
Obfcene with reptiles, took his fold bed.

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order due, the fleward of the feaf.
405
(Who now was bufied carving round the board);
Eumeus took, and plac'd it near his lord.
Before him infant was the banquet spread,
And the bright basket pil'd with loaves of bread.
Next came Ulyffes, lowly at the door,
A figure de fpicable, old, and pear,
In fqualid vefts, with many a gaping rent,
Propp'd on a staff, and trembling as he went,
Then, refting on the threshold of the gare,
Against a cyprefs pillar lean'd his weight
(Smooth'd by the workman to a polish'd plain);
The thoughtful fon beheld, and call'd his fwain:
Thefe viands. and this bread, Eumæus! bear,
And let yon mendicant our plenty fhare :
Then let him circle round the fuitor's board, 420
And try the bounty of each gracious lord :
Bold let him act, encourag'd thus by me;
How ill, alas! do want and fhare agree!

415

His lord's command the faithful fervant bears:
The feeming beggar anfwers with his prayers. 415
Bleft be Telemachus! in every deed
Infpire him, Jove! in every with fucceed!
This faid, the portion from his fon cutivey'd
With files receiving on his ferip he lay'd.
Long as the minitrel fwept the founding wire, 430
365 He fed, and ceas'd when filence held the lyre.

Soon as the fuitors from the banquet rofe,
Minerva prompts the man of mighty woes
To tempt their bounties with a mighty art,

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Beftow, my friend! thou doft not seem the worst
Qfall the Greeks, but prince-like and the first;
Then, as in dignity, be firft in worth,

And learn the generous from th' ignoble heart 435 And I fhall praife thee through the boundless

(Not but his foul, refentful as humane,

Dooms to full vengeance all the offending train);
With fpeaking eyes, and voice of plaintive found,
Humble he moves, imploring all around.
The proud feel pity, and relief bestow,
With fuch an image touch'd of human woe;
Inquiring all, their wonder they confels,
And eye the man. majestic in diftrefs.

440

455

While thus they gaze and question with their eyes
The bold Melanthins to their thought replies: 445
My lords! this ftranger of gigantic port
The good Eumæus ulher' to your court.
Full well I mark'd the features of his face,
Though all unknown his clime, or noble race.
And is this prefent, fwineherd! of thy hand? 450
Bring' thou thefe vagrants to infeft the land?
(Returns Antinous with retorted eye)
Objects uncouth! to check the genial joy.
Enough of thefe our court already grace,
Of giant ftomach, and of famifh'd face.
Such guests Eumæus to his country brings,
To fhare our feaft, and lead the life of kings.
To whom the hofpitable fwain rejoin'd:
Thy paffion, prince, belies thy knowing mind.
Who calls, from diftant nations to his own,
The poor, diftinguish'd by their wants alone?
Round the wide world are fought thofe men divine
Who public ftructures raife, or who defign;
Thofe to whofe eyes the gods their ways reveal,
Or blefs with falutary arts to heal;
But chief to poets fuch refpect belongs,
By rival nations courted for their fongs;
Thefe ftates invite, and mighty kings admire,
Wide as the fun difplays his vital fire.

460

465

470

It is not fo with want! how few that feed
A wretch unhappy, merely for his need!
Lajuft to me and all that ferve the state,
To love Ulyffes is to raife thy hate.
For me, fuffice the approbation won
Of my great mistrefs, and her godlike fon.
To him Telemachus: No more incenfe
The man by nature prone to infolence ;
Injurious munds juft anfwers but provoke-
Then turning to Antinous, thus he spoke :
Thanks to thy care whofe abfolute command 480
Thus drives the ftranger from our court and land.
Heaven blefs its owner with a better mind!
From envy free, to charity inclin'd.
This both Penelope and I afford :

505

Once Lenjoy'd in luxury of fate [earth! 500
Whate'er gives man the envied name of great;
Wealth, fervants, friends, were mine in better days;
And hofpitality was then my praise :
In every forrowing foul I pour'd delight,
And poverty stood smiling in my fight.
But Jove, all-governing, whofe only will
Determines fate, and mingles good with ill,
Sent me (to punish my pursuit of gain)
With roving pirates o'er th' Fgyptian main; 510
By Egypt's filver flood our fhips we moer;
Our fpies commiffion'd ftraight the coaft explore;
But, impotent cf mind, with lawless will
The country ravage, and the natives kill.
The fpreading clamour to their city flies,
And horfe and foot in mingled tumult rife:
The reddening dawn reveals the hoftile fields,
Horrid with briftly spears, and gleaming fhields:
Jove thunder'd on their fide: our guilty head
We turn'dto flight; the gathering vengeance spread
On all parts round, and heaps on heaps lay dead.
Some few the foes in fervitude detain;
Death ill-exchang'd for bondage and for pain!
Unhappy me a Cyprian took a board,

515

And gave to Demetor, Cyprus' haughty lord: 525
Hither, to 'feape his chains, my course I fteer,
Still curs'd by fortune, and infulted here!

To whom Antinous thus his rage exprefs'd:
What god has plagu'd us with this gormand guest?
Unless at diftance, wretch! thou keep behind 530
Another ifle, than Cyprus more unkind;
Another Egypt, fhalt thou quickly find.

535

549

From all thou begg'it, a bold audacious flave;
Nor all can give fo much as thou can crave.
Nor wouder I, at fuch profufion fhown;
Shameless they give, who give what's not their own.
The chief, retiring: Souls like that in thee
Ill fuit fuch forms of grace and dignity.
Nor will that hand to utmoft need afford
475 The fmalieft portion of a wasteful board,
Whofe luxury whole patrimonies (weeps;
Yet ftarving Want, amidst the riot, weeps.
The haughty Tuitor with refentment burns,
Anc, fourly fimiling, this reply returns:
Take that, ere yet thou quit this princely throng:
And dumb for ever be thy flanderous tongue
He faid, and high the whirling tripod flung.
His fhoulder-blade receiv'd th'ungentle fhock;
He flood, and mov'd not, like a marble rock;
But fhook his thoughtful head, nor more com
Sedate of foul, his character fuftain'd, [plain'd, 552
And inly form'd revenge: then back withdrew;
Before his feet the well-fill'd ferip he threw,
And thus with femblance mild addrefs'd the crew:
May what i fpeak your princely minds approve, 555
Ye peers and rivals in this noble love!
Not for the hurt I grieve, but for the cause.
If, when the fword our country's quarrel draws,
Or if, defending what is juftly dear,

Then, prince! be bounteous of Ulyffes' board. 485
To give another's is thy hand fo flow?

490

bo much more fweet, to spoil, than to bestow?
Whence, great Telemachus! this lofty strain?
(Antinous cries with infolent difdain)
Portions like mine if every fuitor gave,
Our walls this twelvemonth fhould not fee the flave.
He fpoke, and lifting high above the board
His ponderous footftool, fhook it at his lord.
The refr with equal hand conferr'd the bread;
He fill'd his ferip, and to the threshold (ped; 495
But firft before Antincus ftopp'd and faid :

From Mars impartial fome broad wound we bear;
The generous motive dignifies the scar.

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