The Odyssey of Homer Part 10

He spake, whom all applauded, and advised, 280 Unanimous, the guest's conveyance home, Who had so fitly spoken. When, at length, All had libation made, and were sufficed, Departing to his house, each sought repose.

But still Ulysses in the hall remain'd, Where, G.o.dlike King, Alcinous at his side Sat, and Areta; the attendants clear'd Meantime the board, and thus the Queen white-arm'd, (Marking the vest and mantle, which he wore And which her maidens and herself had made) 290 In accents wing'd with eager haste began.

Stranger! the first enquiry shall be mine; Who art, and whence? From whom receiv'dst thou these?

Saidst not--I came a wand'rer o'er the Deep?

To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.

Oh Queen! the task were difficult to unfold In all its length the story of my woes, For I have num'rous from the G.o.ds receiv'd; But I will answer thee as best I may.

There is a certain isle, Ogygia, placed 300 Far distant in the Deep; there dwells, by man Alike unvisited, and by the G.o.ds, Calypso, beauteous nymph, but deeply skill'd In artifice, and terrible in pow'r, Daughter of Atlas. Me alone my fate Her miserable inmate made, when Jove Had riv'n asunder with his candent bolt My bark in the mid-sea. There perish'd all The valiant partners of my toils, and I My vessel's keel embracing day and night 310 With folded arms, nine days was borne along.

But on the tenth dark night, as pleas'd the G.o.ds, They drove me to Ogygia, where resides Calypso, beauteous nymph, dreadful in pow'r; She rescued, cherish'd, fed me, and her wish Was to confer on me immortal life, Exempt for ever from the sap of age.

But me her offer'd boon sway'd not. Sev'n years I there abode continual, with my tears Bedewing ceaseless my ambrosial robes, 320 Calypso's gift divine; but when, at length, (Sev'n years elaps'd) the circling eighth arrived, She then, herself, my quick departure thence Advised, by Jove's own mandate overaw'd, Which even her had influenced to a change.

On a well-corded raft she sent me forth With num'rous presents; bread she put and wine On board, and cloath'd me in immortal robes; She sent before me also a fair wind Fresh-blowing, but not dang'rous. Sev'nteen days 330 I sail'd the flood continual, and descried, On the eighteenth, your shadowy mountains tall When my exulting heart sprang at the sight, All wretched as I was, and still ordain'd To strive with difficulties many and hard From adverse Neptune; he the stormy winds Exciting opposite, my wat'ry way Impeded, and the waves heav'd to a bulk Immeasurable, such as robb'd me soon Deep-groaning, of the raft, my only hope; 340 For her the tempest scatter'd, and myself This ocean measur'd swimming, till the winds And mighty waters cast me on your sh.o.r.e.

Me there emerging, the huge waves had dash'd Full on the land, where, incommodious most, The sh.o.r.e presented only roughest rocks, But, leaving it, I swam the Deep again, Till now, at last, a river's gentle stream Receiv'd me, by no rocks deform'd, and where No violent winds the shelter'd bank annoy'd. 350 I flung myself on sh.o.r.e, exhausted, weak, Needing repose; ambrosial night came on, When from the Jove-descended stream withdrawn, I in a thicket lay'd me down on leaves Which I had heap'd together, and the G.o.ds O'erwhelm'd my eye-lids with a flood of sleep.

There under wither'd leaves, forlorn, I slept All the long night, the morning and the noon, But balmy sleep, at the decline of day, Broke from me; then, your daughter's train I heard 360 Sporting, with whom she also sported, fair And graceful as the G.o.ds. To her I kneel'd.

She, following the dictates of a mind Ingenuous, pa.s.s'd in her behaviour all Which even ye could from an age like hers Have hoped; for youth is ever indiscrete.

She gave me plenteous food, with richest wine Refresh'd my spirit, taught me where to bathe, And cloath'd me as thou seest; thus, though a prey To many sorrows, I have told thee truth. 370 To whom Alcinous answer thus return'd.

My daughter's conduct, I perceive, hath been In this erroneous, that she led thee not Hither, at once, with her attendant train, For thy first suit was to herself alone.

Thus then Ulysses, wary Chief, replied.

Blame not, O Hero, for so slight a cause Thy faultless child; she bade me follow them, But I refused, by fear and awe restrain'd, Lest thou should'st feel displeasure at that sight 380 Thyself; for we are all, in ev'ry clime, Suspicious, and to worst constructions p.r.o.ne.

So spake Ulysses, to whom thus the King.

I bear not, stranger! in my breast an heart Causeless irascible; for at all times A temp'rate equanimity is best.

And oh, I would to heav'n, that, being such As now thou art, and of one mind with me, Thou would'st accept my daughter, would'st become My son-in-law, and dwell contented here! 390 House would I give thee, and possessions too, Were such thy choice; else, if thou chuse it not, No man in all Phaeacia shall by force Detain thee. Jupiter himself forbid!

For proof, I will appoint thee convoy hence To-morrow; and while thou by sleep subdued Shalt on thy bed repose, they with their oars Shall brush the placid flood, till thou arrive At home, or at what place soe'er thou would'st, Though far more distant than Euba lies, 400 Remotest isle from us, by the report Of ours, who saw it when they thither bore Golden-hair'd Rhadamanthus o'er the Deep, To visit earth-born t.i.tyus. To that isle They went; they reach'd it, and they brought him thence Back to Phaeacia, in one day, with ease.

Thou also shalt be taught what s.h.i.+ps I boast Unmatch'd in swiftness, and how far my crews Excel, upturning with their oars the brine.

He ceas'd; Ulysses toil-inur'd his words 410 Exulting heard, and, praying, thus replied.

Eternal Father! may the King perform His whole kind promise! grant him in all lands A never-dying name, and grant to me To visit safe my native sh.o.r.es again!

Thus they conferr'd; and now Areta bade Her fair attendants dress a fleecy couch Under the portico, with purple rugs Resplendent, and with arras spread beneath, And over all with cloaks of s.h.a.ggy pile. 420 Forth went the maidens, bearing each a torch, And, as she bade, prepared in haste a couch Of depth commodious, then, returning, gave Ulysses welcome summons to repose.

Stranger! thy couch is spread. Hence to thy rest.

So they--Thrice grateful to his soul the thought Seem'd of repose. There slept Ulysses, then, On his carv'd couch, beneath the portico, But in the inner-house Alcinous found His place of rest, and hers with royal state 430 Prepared, the Queen his consort, at his side.

FOOTNOTES:

[25]

?a???s??? d' ????e?? ?p??e?eta? ????? ??a???.

Pope has given no translation of this line in the text of his work, but has translated it in a note. It is variously interpreted by commentators; the sense which is here given of it is that recommended by Eustathius.

[26] The Scholiast explains the pa.s.sage thus--We resemble the G.o.ds in righteousness as much as the Cyclops and Giants resembled each other in impiety. But in this sense of it there is something intricate and contrary to Homer's manner. We have seen that they derived themselves from Neptune, which sufficiently justifies the above interpretation.

BOOK VIII

ARGUMENT

The Phaeacians consult on the subject of Ulysses. Preparation is made for his departure. Antinous entertains them at his table. Games follow the entertainment. Demodocus the bard sings, first the loves of Mars and Venus, then the introduction of the wooden horse into Troy. Ulysses, much affected by his song, is questioned by Alcinous, whence, and who he is, and what is the cause of his sorrow.

But when Aurora, daughter of the dawn, Blush'd in the East, then from his bed arose The sacred might of the Phaeacian King.

Then uprose also, city-waster Chief, Ulysses, whom the King Alcinous Led forth to council at the s.h.i.+ps convened.

There, side by side, on polish'd stones they sat Frequent; meantime, Minerva in the form Of King Alcinous' herald ranged the town, With purpose to accelerate the return 10 Of brave Ulysses to his native home, And thus to ev'ry Chief the G.o.ddess spake.

Phaeacian Chiefs and Senators, away!

Haste all to council on the stranger held, Who hath of late beneath Alcinous' roof Our King arrived, a wand'rer o'er the Deep, But, in his form, majestic as a G.o.d.

So saying, she roused the people, and at once The seats of all the senate-court were fill'd With fast-a.s.sembling throngs, no few of whom 20 Had mark'd Ulysses with admiring eyes.

Then, Pallas o'er his head and shoulders broad Diffusing grace celestial, his whole form Dilated, and to the statelier height advanced, That worthier of all rev'rence he might seem To the Phaeacians, and might many a feat Atchieve, with which they should a.s.say his force.

When, therefore, the a.s.sembly now was full, Alcinous, them addressing, thus began.

Phaeacian Chiefs and Senators! I speak 30 The dictates of my mind, therefore attend.

This guest, unknown to me, hath, wand'ring, found My palace, either from the East arrived, Or from some nation on our western side.

Safe conduct home he asks, and our consent Here wishes ratified, whose quick return Be it our part, as usual, to promote; For at no time the stranger, from what coast Soe'er, who hath resorted to our doors, Hath long complain'd of his detention here. 40 Haste--draw ye down into the sacred Deep A vessel of prime speed, and, from among The people, fifty and two youths select, Approved the best; then, las.h.i.+ng fast the oars, Leave her, that at my palace ye may make Short feast, for which myself will all provide.

Thus I enjoin the crew; but as for those Of sceptred rank, I bid them all alike To my own board, that here we may regale The stranger n.o.bly, and let none refuse. 50 Call, too, Demodocus, the bard divine, To share my banquet, whom the G.o.ds have blest With pow'rs of song delectable, unmatch'd By any, when his genius once is fired.

He ceas'd, and led the way, whom follow'd all The sceptred senators, while to the house An herald hasted of the bard divine.

Then, fifty mariners and two, from all The rest selected, to the coast repair'd, And, from her station on the sea-bank, launched 60 The galley down into the sacred Deep.

They placed the canvas and the mast on board, Arranged the oars, unfurl'd the s.h.i.+ning sail, And, leaving her in depth of water moor'd, All sought the palace of Alcinous.

There, soon, the portico, the court, the hall Were fill'd with mult.i.tudes of young and old, For whose regale the mighty monarch slew Two beeves, twelve sheep, and twice four fatted brawns.

They slay'd them first, then busily their task 70 Administ'ring, prepared the joyous feast.

And now the herald came, leading with care The tuneful bard; dear to the muse was he, Who yet appointed him both good and ill; Took from him sight, but gave him strains divine.

For him, Pontonous in the midst disposed An argent-studded throne, thrusting it close To a tall column, where he hung his lyre Above his head, and taught him where it hung.

He set before him, next, a polish'd board 80 And basket, and a goblet fill'd with wine For his own use, and at his own command.

Then, all a.s.sail'd at once the ready feast, And when nor hunger more nor thirst they felt, Then came the muse, and roused the bard to sing Exploits of men renown'd; it was a song, In that day, to the highest heav'n extoll'd.

He sang of a dispute kindled between The son of Peleus, and Laertes'[27] son, Both seated at a feast held to the G.o.ds. 90 That contest Agamemnon, King of men, Between the n.o.blest of Achaia's host Hearing, rejoiced; for when in Pytho erst He pa.s.s'd the marble threshold to consult The oracle of Apollo, such dispute The voice divine had to his ear announced; For then it was that, first, the storm of war Came rolling on, ordain'd long time to afflict Troy and the Greecians, by the will of Jove.

So sang the bard ill.u.s.trious; then his robe 100 Of purple dye with both hands o'er his head Ulysses drew, behind its ample folds Veiling his face, through fear to be observed By the Phaeacians weeping at the song; And ever as the bard harmonious ceased, He wiped his tears, and, drawing from his brows The mantle, pour'd libation to the G.o.ds.

But when the Chiefs (for they delighted heard Those sounds) solicited again the bard, And he renew'd the strain, then cov'ring close 110 His count'nance, as before, Ulysses wept.

Thus, unperceiv'd by all, the Hero mourn'd, Save by Alcinous; he alone his tears, (Beside him seated) mark'd, and his deep sighs O'erhearing, the Phaeacians thus bespake.

Phaeacia's Chiefs and Senators, attend!

We have regaled sufficient, and the harp Heard to satiety, companion sweet And seasonable of the festive hour.

Now go we forth for honourable proof 120 Of our address in games of ev'ry kind, That this our guest may to his friends report, At home arriv'd, that none like us have learn'd To leap, to box, to wrestle, and to run.

So saying, he led them forth, whose steps the guests All follow'd, and the herald hanging high The sprightly lyre, took by his hand the bard Demodocus, whom he the self-same way Conducted forth, by which the Chiefs had gone Themselves, for that great spectacle prepared. 130 They sought the forum; countless swarm'd the throng Behind them as they went, and many a youth Strong and courageous to the strife arose.

Upstood Acroneus and Ocyalus, Elatreus, Nauteus, Prymneus, after whom Anchialus with Anabeesineus Arose, Eretmeus, Ponteus, Proreus bold, Amphialus and Thoon. Then arose, In aspect dread as homicidal Mars, Euryalus, and for his graceful form 140 (After Laodamas) distinguish'd most Of all Phaeacia's sons, Naubolides.

Three also from Alcinous sprung, arose, Laodamas, his eldest; Halius, next, His second-born; and G.o.dlike Clytoneus.

Of these, some started for the runner's prize.

They gave the race its limits.[28] All at once Along the dusty champaign swift they flew.

But Clytoneus, ill.u.s.trious youth, outstripp'd All compet.i.tion; far as mules surpa.s.s 150 Slow oxen furrowing the fallow ground, So far before all others he arrived Victorious, where the throng'd spectators stood.

Some tried the wrestler's toil severe, in which Euryalus superior proved to all.

In the long leap Amphialus prevail'd; Elatreus most successful hurled the quoit, And at the cestus,[29] last, the n.o.ble son Of Scheria's King, Laodamas excell'd.

When thus with contemplation of the games 160 All had been gratified, Alcinous' son Laodamas, arising, then address'd.

Friends! ask we now the stranger, if he boast Proficiency in aught. His figure seems Not ill; in thighs, and legs, and arms he shews Much strength, and in his brawny neck; nor youth Hath left him yet, though batter'd he appears With num'rous troubles, and misfortune-flaw'd.

Nor know I hards.h.i.+ps in the world so sure To break the strongest down, as those by sea. 170 Then answer thus Euryalus return'd.

Thou hast well said, Laodamas; thyself Approaching, speak to him, and call him forth.

Which when Alcinous' n.o.ble offspring heard, Advancing from his seat, amid them all He stood, and to Ulysses thus began.

Stand forth, oh guest, thou also; prove thy skill (If any such thou hast) in games like ours, Which, likeliest, thou hast learn'd; for greater praise Hath no man, while he lives, than that he know 180 His feet to exercise and hands aright.

Come then; make trial; scatter wide thy cares, We will not hold thee long; the s.h.i.+p is launch'd Already, and the crew stand all prepared.

To whom replied the wily Chief renown'd Wherefore, as in derision, have ye call'd Me forth, Laodamas, to these exploits?

No games have I, but many a grief, at heart, And with far other struggles worn, here sit Desirous only of conveyance home, 190 For which both King and people I implore.

Then him Euryalus aloud reproach'd.

I well believ'd it, friend! in thee the guise I see not of a man expert in feats Athletic, of which various are perform'd In ev'ry land; thou rather seem'st with s.h.i.+ps Familiar; one, accustom'd to controul Some crew of trading mariners; well-learn'd In stowage, pilotage, and wealth acquired By rapine, but of no gymnastic pow'rs. 200 To whom Ulysses, frowning dark, replied.

Thou hast ill spoken, sir, and like a man Regardless whom he wrongs. Therefore the G.o.ds Give not endowments graceful in each kind, Of body, mind, and utt'rance, all to one.

This man in figure less excels, yet Jove Crowns him with eloquence; his hearers charm'd Behold him, while with modest confidence He bears the prize of fluent speech from all, And in the streets is gazed on as a G.o.d! 210 Another, in his form the Pow'rs above Resembles, but no grace around his words Twines itself elegant. So, thou in form Hast excellence to boast; a G.o.d, employ'd To make a master-piece in human shape, Could but produce proportions such as thine; Yet hast thou an untutor'd intellect.

Thou much hast moved me; thy unhandsome phrase Hath roused my wrath; I am not, as thou say'st, A novice in these sports, but took the lead 220 In all, while youth and strength were on my side.

But I am now in bands of sorrow held, And of misfortune, having much endured In war, and buffeting the boist'rous waves.

Yet, though with mis'ry worn, I will essay My strength among you; for thy words had teeth Whose bite hath pinch'd and pain'd me to the proof.