Then let revenge your daring mind employ,
By fraud or force the suitor-train destroy,
And, starting into manhood, scorn the boy.
Hast thou not heard how young Orestes, fir'd
With great revenge, immortal praise acquir'd?
His virgin-sword Egysthus' veins imbrued;
The murderer fell, and blood aton'd for blood.
O greatly bless'd with every blooming grace!
With equal steps the paths of glory trace;
Join to that royal youth's your rival name,
And shine eternal in the sphere of fame.-
But my associates now my stay deplore,
Impatient on the hoarse-resounding shore.
Thou, heedful of advice, secure proceed;
My praise the precept is, be thine the deed."
"The counsel of my friend" (the youth rejoin'd)
"Imprints conviction on my grateful mind.
So fathers speak (persuasive speech and mild)
Their sage experience to the favourite child,
But, since to part, for sweet refection due
The genial viands let my train renew :
And the rich pledge of plighted faith receive,
Worthy the heir of Ithaca to give."

"Defer the promis'd boon," (the goddess, cries,
Celestial azure brightening in her eyes)
"And let me now regain the Reithrian port:
From Temesè return'd, your royal court
I shall revisit; and that pledge receive;
And gifts, memorial of our friendship, leave."
Abrupt, with eagle-speed she cut the sky;
Instant invisible to mortal eye.

Then first he recognis'd th' etherial guest;
Wonder and joy alternate fire his breast:
Heroic thoughts, infus'd, his heart dilate;
Revolving much his father's doubtful fate,
At length, compos'd, he join'd the suitor-throng;
Hush'd in attention to the warbled song.
His tender theme the charming lyrist chose,
Minerva's anger, and the direful woes
Which voyaging from Troy the victors bore,
While storms vindictive intercept the shore.
The shrilling airs the vaulted roof rebounds,
Reflecting to the queen the silver sounds.
With grief renew'd the weeping fair descends;
Their sovereign's step a virgin train attends;
A veil, of richest texture wrought, she wears,
And silent to the joyous hall repairs.
There from the portal, with her mild command,
Thus gently checks the minstrel's tuneful hand:
"Phemius! let acts of gods, and heroes

old,

What ancient bards in hall and bower have told,
Attemper'd to the lyre, your voice employ;
Such the pleas'd ear will drink with silent joy.
But, oh! forbear that dear disastrous name,
To sorrow sacred, and secure of fame :
My bleeding bosom sickens at the sound,
And every piercing note inflicts a wound"

Why, dearest object of my duteous love," (Reply'd the prince)" will you the bard reprove? Oft, Jove's ethereal rays (resistless fire) The chanter's soul and raptur'd song inspire; Instinct divine! nor blame severe his choice, Warbling the Grecian woes with harp and voice: For novel lays attract our ravish'd ears; But old, the mind with inattention hears; Patient permit the sadly pleasing strain; Familiar now with grief, your tears refrain, And in the public woe forget your own; You weep not for a perish'd lord, alone.

What Greeks, now wandering in the Stygian gloom,
With your Ulysses shar'd an equal doom!
Your widow'd hours, apart, with female toil
And various labours of the loom, beguile;
There rule, from palace-cares remote and free;
That care to man belongs, and most to me."

Mature beyond his years the queen admires
His sage reply, and with her train retires.
Then swelling sorrows burst their former bounds,
With echoing grief afresh the dome resounds;
Till Pallas, piteous of her plaintive cries,
In slumber clos'd her silver-streaming eyes.
Meantime, rekindled at the royal charms,
Tumultuous love each beating bosom warms;
Intemperate rage a wordy war began ;
But bold Telemachus assum'd the man.
"Instant" (he cry'd) "your female discord end,
Ye deedless boasters! and the song attend;
Obey that sweet compulsion, nor profane
With dissonance the smooth melodious strain.
Pacific now prolong the jovial feast;
But when the dawn reveals the rosy east,
I, to the peers assembled, shall propose
The firm resolve, I here in few disclose:
No longer live the cankers of my court;
All to your several states with speed resort;
Waste in wild riot what your land allows,
There ply the early feast, and late carouse.
But if, to honour lost, 'tis still decreed

For you my bowl shall flow, my flocks shall bleed;
Judge and revenge my right, impartial Jove!
By him, and all th' immortal thrones above,
(A sacred oath) each proud oppressor, slain,
Shall with inglorious gore this marble stain."

Aw'd by the prince, thus haughty, bold, and young,
Rage gnaw'd the lip, and wonder chain'd the tongue,
Silence at length the gay Antinois broke,
Constrain'd a smile, and thus ambiguous spoke=
"What god to your untutor'd youth affords
This headlong torrent of amazing words?
May Jove delay thy reign, and cumber late
So bright a genius with the toils of state!"

"Those toils" (Telemachus serene replies)
"Have charms, with all their weight, t' allure the
Fast by the throne obsequious fame resides, [wise.
And wealth incessant rolls her golden tides.
Nor let Antinous rage, if strong desire
Of wealth and fame a youthful bosom fire:
Elect by Jove his delegate of sway,
With joyous pride the summons I'd obey.
Whene'er Ulysses roams the realm of night,
Should factious power dispute my lineal right,
Some other Greeks a fairer claim may plead;
To your pretence their title would precede.
At least, the sceptre lost, I still should reign
Sole o'er my vassals, and domestic train."

To this Eurymachus: "To Heaven alone
Refer the choice to fill the vacant throne.
Your patrimonial stores in peace possess;
Undoubted, all your filial claim confess:
Your private right should impious power invade,
The peers of Ithaca would arm in aid.

But say, that stranger guest who late withdrew,
What and from whence? his name and lineage shew,
His grave demeanour and majestic grace
Speak him descended of no vulgar race:
Did he some loan of ancient right require,
Or came fore-runner of your scepter'd sire?"
Oh, son of Polybus!" the prince replies,
No more my sire will glad these longing eyes;

The queen's fond hope inventive rumour cheers,
Or vain diviners' dreams divert her fears.
That stranger-guest the Taphian realm obeys,
A realm defended with incircling seas;
Mentes, an ever-honour'd name, of old
High in Ulysses' social list enroll'd."

Thus he, though conscious of th' etherial guest,
Answer'd evasive of the sly request.
Meantime the lyre rejoins the sprightly lay;
Love-dittied airs, and dance, conclude the day.
But when the star of eve with golden light
Adorn'd the matron brow of sable night;
The mirthful train dispersing quit the court,
And to their several domes to rest resort.
A towering structure to the palace join'd;
To this his steps the thoughtful prince inclin'd;
In his pavilion there, to sleep repairs;.
The lighted torch, the sage Euryclea bears;
(Daughter of Ops, the just Pisenor's son,
For twenty beeves by great Laertes won ;
In rosy prime with charms attractive grac'd,
Honour'd by him, a gentle lord and chaste,
With dear esteem; too wise, with jealous strife
To taint the joys of sweet, connubial life.
Sole with Telemachus her service ends,
A child she nurs'd him, and a man attends.)
Whilst to his couch the prince himself addrest,
The duteous dame receiv'd the purple vest:
The purple vest with decent care dispos'd,
The silver ring she pull'd, the door reclos'd;
The bolt, obedient to the silken cord,
To the strong staple's inmost depth restor❜d,
Secur'd the valves. There wrapt in silent shade,
Pensive, the rules the goddess gave, he weigh'd ; '
Stretch'd on the downy fleece, no rest he knows,
And in his raptur'd soul the vision glows,

THE ODYSSEY.

BOOK II.

ARGUMENT.

THE COUNCIL OF ITHACA.

Ithaca.

gore.

Three sons remain'd: to climb with haughty fires
The royal bed, Eurynomus aspires;

The rest with duteous love his griefs asswage,
And ease the sire of half the cares of age.
Yet still his Antiphus he loves, he mourns,
And, as he stood, he spoke and wept by turns:

"Since great Ulysses sought the Phrygian plains,
Within these walls inglorious silence reigns.
Say then, ye peers, by whose commands we meet L
Why here once more in solemn council sit?
Ye young, ye old, the weighty cause disclose :
Arrives some message of invading foes?
Or say, does high necessity of state
Inspire some patriot, and demand debate!
The present synod speaks its author wise;
Assist him, Jove, thou regent of the skies!"
He spoke. Telemachus with transport glows,
Embrac'd the omen, and majestic rose
(His royal hand th' imperial sceptre sway'd);
Then thus, addressing to Ægyptius, said:

"Reverend old man! lo here confest he stands By whom ye meet; my grief your care demands. ́ No story I unfold of public woes, Nor bear advices of impending foes: Peace the blest land, and joys incessant crown; Of all this happy realm, I grieve alone. For my lost sire continual sorrows spring, The great, the good; your father, and your king. Yet more; our house from its foundation bows, Our foes are powerful, and your sons the foes: Hither, unwelcome to the queen, they come; Why seek they not the rich Icarian dome! If she must wed, from other hands require The dowry: is Telemachus her sire? Yet through my court the noise of revel rings, And wastes the wise frugality of kings. Scarce all my herds their luxury suffice; Scarce all my wine their midnight hours supplies. Safe in my youth, in riot still they grow, Nor in the helpless orphan dread a foe. But come it will, the time when manhood grants More powerful advocates than vain complaints. Approach that hour! insufferable wrong Cries to the gods, and vengeance sleeps too long. ! Antiphus.

Rise then, ye peers! with virtuous anger rise!
Your fame revere, but most th' avenging skies.
By all the deathless powers that reign above,
By righteous Themis and by thundering Jove,
(Themis, who gives to councils, or denies,
Success; and humbles, or confirms the wise)
Rise in my aid! suffice the tears that flow
For my lost sire, nor add new woe to woe.
If e'er he bore the sword to strengthen ill,
Or, having power to wrong, betray'd the will,
On me, on me your kindled wrath asswage,
And bid the voice of lawless riot rage.
If ruin to our royal race ye doom,

Be you the spoilers, and our wealth consume.
Then might we hope redress from juster laws,
And raise all Ithaca to aid our cause:
But while your sons commit th' unpunish'd wrong,
You make the arm of violence too strong."

While thus he spoke, with rage and grief he
frown'd,

And dash'd th' imperial sceptre to the ground.
The big round tear hung trembling in his eye:
The synod griev'd, and gave a pitying sigh,
Then silent sate-at length Antinous burns:
With haughty rage, and sternly thus returns:

"O insolence of youth whose tongue affords
Such railing eloquence, and war of words.
Studious thy country's worthies to defame,
Thy erring voice displays thy mother's shame.
Elusive of the bridal day, she gives

Fond hope to all, and all with hopes deceives.
Did not the Sun, through Heaven's wide azure roll'd,
For three long years the royal fraud behold?
While she, laborious in delusion, spread,
The spacious loom, and mix'd the various thread :
Where as to life the wondrous figures rise,
Thus spoke th' inventive queen, with artful sighs:
'Though cold in death Ulysses breathes no more,
Cease yet a while to urge the bridal hour;
Cease, till to great Laërtes I bequeath
A task of grief, his ornaments of death;
Lest when the Fates his royal ashes claim,
The Grecian matrons taint my spotless fame;
When he, whom living mighty realms obey'd,
Shall want in death a shroud to grace his
shade.'

"Thus she: at once the generous train complies,
Nor fraud mistrust in virtue's fair disguise.
The work she ply'd; bat, studious of delay,
By night revers'd the labours of the day.
While thrice the Sun his annual journey made,
The conscious lamp the midnight fraud survey'd ;
Unheard, unseen, three years her arts prevail;
The fourth, her maid unfolds th' amazing tale.
We saw, as unperceiv'd we took our stand,
The backward labours of her faithless hand.
Then urg'd, she perfects her illustrious toils;
A wondrous monument of female wiles !

But you, oh peers! and thou, oh prince, give ear
(I speak aloud, that every Greek may hear :)
Dismiss the queen and if her sire approves,
Let him espouse her to the peer she loves :
Bid instant to prepare the bridal train,
Nor let a race of princes wait in vain.
Though with a grace divine her soul is blest,
And all Minerva breathes within her breast,
In wondrous arts than woman more renown'd,
And more than woman with deep wisdom crown'd;
Though Tyro nor Mycene match her name,
Nor great Alcmena (the proud boasts of fame)

Yet, thus by Heaven adorn'd, by Heaven's decree,

She shines with fatal excellence to thee:
With thee, the bowl we drain, indulge the feast,
Till righteous Heaven reclaim her stubborn breast.
What though from pole to pole resounds her

name,

The son's destruction waits the mother's fame:
For, till she leaves thy court, it is decreed,
Thy bowl to empty, and thy flock to bleed."

While yet he speaks, Telemachus replies:
"Ev'n nature starts, and what ye ask denies.
Thus, shall I thus repay a mother's cares,
Who gave me life, and nurs'd my infant years?
While sad on foreign shores Ulysses treads,
Or glides, a ghost with unapparent shades;
How to Icarius in the bridal hour

Shall I, by waste undone, refund the dower ?
How from my father should I vengeance dread ?
How would my mother curse my hated head ?
And while in wrath to vengeful fiends she cries,
How from their Hell would vengeful fiends arise?
Abhorr'd by all, accurs'd my name would grow,
The Earth's disgrace, and human-kind my foe.
If this displease, why urge ye here your stay?
Haste from the court, ye spoilers, haste away:
Waste in wild riot what your land allows,
There ply the early feast, and late carouse.
But if, to honour lost, 'tis still decreed
For you my bowls shall flow, my flocks shall
bleed ;

Judge and assert my right, impartial Jove!
By him, and all th' immortal host above,
(A sacred oath) if Heaven the power supply,
Vengeance I vow, and for your wrongs ye die."

With that, two eagles from a mountain's height By Jove's command direct their rapid flight; Swift they descend with wing to wing conjoin'd, Stretch their broad plumes, and float upon the wind,

Above th' assembled peers they wheel on high,
And clang their wings, and hovering beat the sky;
With ardent eyes the rival train they threat,
And, shrieking loud, denounce approaching fate,
They cuff, they tear; their cheeks and necks
they rend,

And from their plumes huge drops of blood descend:
Then, sailing o'er the domes and towers, they fly
Full tow'rd the east, and mount into the sky.

The wondering rivals gaze with cares opprest, And chilling horrours freeze in every breast. Till, big with knowledge of approaching woes, The prince of augurs, Halitherses, rose: Prescient he view'd th' aërial tracks, and drew A sure presage from every wing that flew.

"Ye sons" (he cry'd) “ of Ithaca, give ear, Hear all! but chiefly you, oh rivals! hear. Destruction sure o'er all your heads impends; Ulysses comes, and death his steps attends. Nor to the great alone is death decreed; We and our guilty Ithaca must bleed. Why cease we then the wrath of Heaven to stay? Be humbled all, and lead, ye great! the way. For, lo! my words no fancy'd woes relate; I speak from science, and the voice is fate. "When great Ulysses sought the Phrygian shores To shake with war proud Ilion's lofty towers, Deeds then undone my faithful tongue foretold: Heaven seal'd my words, and you those deeds

-behold.

'I see (I cry'd) his woes, a countless train,
I see his friends o'erwhelm'd beneath the main;
How twice ten years from shore to shore he roams:
Now twice ten years are past, and now he comes!"
To whom Eurymachus-" Fly, dotard, fly!
With thy wise dreams, and fables of the sky.
Gprophesy at home ;thy sons advise :
Here thou art sage in vain-1 better read the skies.
Unnumber'd birds glide through th' aërial way,
Vagrants of air, and unforeboding stray.
Cold in the tomb, or in the deeps below,
Ulysses lies: oh, wert thou laid as low!
Then would that busy head no broils suggest,
Nor fire to rage Telemachus's breast.

From him some bribe thy venal tongue requires,
And interest, not the god, thy voice inspires.
His guideless youth, if thy experienc'd age
Mislead fallacious into idle rage,

Vengeance reserv'd thy malice shall repress,
And but angment the wrongs thou would'st redress.
Telemachus may bid the queen repair
To great Icarius, whose paternal care
Will guide her passion, and reward her choice,
With wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price.
Till she retires, determin'd we remain,

And both the prince and augur threat in vain :
His pride of words, and thy wild dream of fate,
Move not the brave, or only move their hate.
Threat on, O prince, elude the bridal day,
Threat on, till all thy stores in waste decay.
True, Greece affords a train of lovely dames,
In wealth and beauty worthy of our flames:
But never from this nobler suit we cease;
For wealth and beauty less than virtue please."
To whom the youth: "Since then in vain I tell
My numerous woes, in silence let them dwell.
But Heaven, and all the Greeks, have heard my
wrongs:

To Heaven, and all the Greeks, redress belongs.
Yet this I ask, (nor be it ask'd in vain)

A bark to waft me o'er the rolling main;
The realms of Pyle and Sparta to explore,
And seek my royal sire from shore to shore :
If, or to fame his doubtful fate be known,
Or to be learn'd from oracles alone?
If yet he lives; with patience I forbear,
Till the fleet hours restore the circling year:
But if already wandering in the train
Of empty shades, I measure back the main,
Plant the fair column o'er the mighty dead,
And yield his consort to the nuptial bed."

He ceas'd; and while the peers abash'd attend, Mentor arose, Ulysses' faithful friend : [When fierce in arms he sought the scenes of war, "My friend," (he cry'd) "my palace be thy Years roll'd on years my godlike sire decay,[care; Guard thou his age, and his behests obey."] Stern as he rose, he cast his eyes around, That flash'd with rage; and as he spoke, he frown'd:

"O never, never more! let king be just,
Be mild in power, or faithful to his trust!
It tyrants govern with an iron rod,
Oppress, destroy, and be the scourge of God;
Since he who like a father held his reign,
So soon forgot, was just and mild in vain!
Troe, while my friend is griev'd, his griefs I
Yet now the rivals are my smallest care: [share;
They for the mighty mischiefs they devise,
Ere long shall pay their forfeit lives the price,

But against you, ye Grecks! ye coward train,
Gods! how my soul is mov'd with just disdain!
Dumb ye all stand, and not one tongue affords
His injur'd prince the little aid of words,"

While yet he spoke, Leocritus rejoin'd: "O pride of words, and arrogance of mind! Would'st thou to rise in arms the Greeks advise? Join all your powers! in arms, the Greeks, arise!

Yet would your powers in vain our strength oppose:
The valiant few o'ermatch an host of foes.
Should great Ulysses stern appear in arms,
While the bowl circles, and the banquet warms;
Though to his breast his spouse with transport
Torn from her breast, that hour, Ulysses dies. [flies,
But hence retreating to your domes repair;
To arm the vessel, Mentor! be thy care,
And Halitherṣes! thine: be each his friend;
Ye lov'd the father: go, the son attend.
But yet, I trust, the boaster means to stay
Safe in the court, nor tempt the watery way."
Then, with a rushing sound, th' assembly bend,
Diverse their steps: the rival rout ascend
The royal dome; while sad the prince explores
The neighbouring main, and sorrowing treads
the shores.

There, as the waters o'er his hands he shed,
The royal suppliant to Minerva pray'd:

"O goddess! who descending from the skies
Vouchsaf'd thy presence to my wondering eyes,
By whose commands the raging deeps I trace,
And seek my sire through storms and rolling seas!
Hear from thy Heavens above, oh, warrior-maid!
Descend once more propitious to my aid.
Without thy presence, vain is thy command:
Greece and the rival train, thy voice withstand."
Indulgent to his prayer the goddess took
Sage Mentor's form, and thus like Mentor spoke:
"O prince, in early youth divinely wise,
Born, the Ulysses of thy age to rise!
If to the son the father's worth descends,
O'er the wide waves success thy ways attends:
To tread the walks of death he stood prepar'd;
And what he greatly thought, he nobly dar'd.
Were not wise sons descendents of the wise,
And did not heroes from brave heroes rise:
Vain were my hopes: few sons attain the praise
Of their great sires, and most their sires disgrace.
But since thy veins paternal virtue fires,
And all Penelope thy soul inspires :
Go, and succeed! the rivals' aims despise ;
For never, never, wicked man was wise.
Blind they rejoice, though now,ev'n now they fall;
Death hastes amain: one hour o'erwhelms them all!
And lo, with speed we plough the watery way,
My power shall guard thee, and my hand convey:
The winged vessel studious I prepare,
Through seas and realms companions of thy care,
Thou to the court ascend: and to the shores
(When night advances) bear the naval stores ;
Bread, that decaying man with strength supplies,
And generous wine, which thoughtful sorrow flies.
Mean while the mariners, by my command,
Shall speed aboard, a valiant chosen band.
Wide o'er the bay, by vessel vessel rides ;
The best I choose to waft thee o'er the tides."

She spoke to his high dome the prince returns, And as he moves with royal anguish mourns. 'Twas riot all, among the lawless train; Boar bled by boar, and goat by goat lay, slain.