The bread from canisters of shining mould
Amphinous; and wines that laugh in gold:
"And, oh!" (he mildly cries) "may Heaven display
A beam of glory o'er thy future day!
Alas! the brave too oft is doom'd to bear
The gripes of poverty, and stings of care."

To whom with thought mature the king replies:
"The tongue speaks wisely, when the soul is wise;
Such was thy father; in imperial state,
Great without vice, that oft attends the great:
Nor from the sire art thou, the son, declin'd;
Then hear my words, and grave them in thy mind!
Of all that breathes, or grovelling creeps on earth,
Most vain is man! calamitous by birth:
To-day, with power elate, in strength he blooms;
The haughty creature on that power presumes:
Anon from Heaven a sad reverse he feels;
Untaught to bear, 'gainst Heaven the wretch rebels.
For man is changeful, as his bliss or woe;
Too high when prosperous, when distress'd too low.
There was a day, when with the scornful great
I swell'd in pomp and arrogance of state;
Proud of the power that to high birth belongs;
And us'd that power to justify my wrongs.
Then let not man be proud; but, firm of mind,
Bear the best humbly, and the worst resign'd:
Be dumb when Heaven afflicts; unlike yon train
Of haughty spoilers, insolently vain;

Who make their queen and all her wealth a

prey;

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The day that bore Ulysses from this coast,
Blasted the little bloom these cheeks could boast,
But instant bid Autonoè descend.
Instant Hippodamè our steps attend;
Ill suits it female virtue to be seen
Alone, indecent, in the walks of men."

Then, while Eurynomè the mandate bears,
From Heaven Minerva shoots with guardian cares;
O'er all her senses, as the couch she press'd,
She pours a pleasing, deep, and deathlike rest,
With every beauty every feature arms,
Bids her cheeks glow, and lights up all her charms,
In her love-darting eyes awakes the fires,
(Immortal gifts! to kindle soft desires)
From limb to limb an air majestic sheds,
And the pure ivory o'er her bosom spreads.
Such Venus shines, when with a measur'd bound
She smoothly gliding swims th' harmonious round
When with the Graces in the dance she moves,
And fires the gazing gods with ardent loves.

Then to the skies her flight Minerva bends, And to the queen the damsel-train descends; Wak'd at their steps, her flowing eyes unclose; The tear she wipes, and thus renews her woes:

"Howe'er 'tis well, that sleep awhile can free, With soft forgetfulness, a wretch like me ; Oh! were it giv'n to yield this transient breath, Send, O Diana, send the sleep of death: Why must I waste a tedious life in tears, Nor bury in the silent grave my cares? O my Ulysses! ever-honour'd name ; For thee I mourn, till death dissolves my fame." Thus wailing, slow and sadly she descends, On either hand a damsel-train attends : Full where the dome its shining valves expands, Radiant before the gazing peers she stands; A veil translucent o'er her brow display'd, Her beauty seems, and only seems, to shade: Sudden she lightens in their dazzled eyes, And sudden flames in every bosom rise; They send their eager souls with every look, Till'silence thus th' imperial matron broke:

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Oh why my son, why now no more appears That warmth of soul that urg'd thy younger years? Thy riper days no growing worth impart, A man in stature, still a boy in heart! Thy well-knit frame unprofitably strong, Speaks thee an hero from an hero sprung; But the just gods in vain those gifts bestow, Oh wise alone in form, and brave in show! Heavens! could a stranger feel oppression's hand Beneath thy roof, and could'st thou tamely stand? If thou the stranger's righteous cause decline, His is the sufferance, but the shame is thine."

To whom, with filial awe, the prince returns:
"That generous soul with just resentment burns;
Yet, taught by time, my heart has learn'd to glow
For others' good, and melt at others' woe:
But, impotent these riots to repel,

I bear their outrage, though my soul rebel:
Helpless amid the snares of death I tread,
And numbers leagued in impious union dread ;
But now no crime is theirs: this wrong proceeds
From Irus, and the guilty Irus bleeds.
Oh would to Jove; or her whose arms display
The shield of Jove, or him who rules the day!
That yon proud suitors, who licentious tread
These courts, within these courts like Irus bled:
Whose loose head tottering, as with wine oppress'd,
Obliquely drops, and nodding knocks his breast;

Fierce in the van; then would'st thou, would'st

thou,-say,

Misname me, glutton, in that glorious day?
No, thy ill-judging thoughts the brave disgrace;
'Tis thou injurious art, not I am base.
Proud to seem brave among a coward train!
But know, thou art not valorous, but vain.
Gods! should the stern Ulysses rise in might,
These gates would seem too narrow for thy flight."
While yet he speaks, Eurymachus replies,
With indignation flashing in his eyes:

"Slave, I with justice might deserve the wrong!
Should I not punish that opprobrious tongue,
Irreverent to the great, and uncontroll'd,
Art thou from wine, or innate folly, bold?
Perhaps these outrages from Irus flow,
A worthless triumph o'er a worthless foe !"

He said, and with full force a footstool threw :
Whirl'd from his arm, with erring rage it flew;
Ulysses, cautious of the vengeful foe,
Stoops to the ground, and disappoints the blow.
Not so a youth who deals the goblet round,
Full on his shoulder it inflicts a wound,
Dash'd from his hand the sounding goblet flies,
He shrieks, he reels, he falls, and breathless lies.
Then wild uproar and clamour mounts the sky,
Till mutual thus the peers indignant cry:
"Oh! had this stranger sunk to realms beneath,
To the black realms of darkness and of death,
Ere yet he trod these shores! to strife he draws
Peer against peer; and what the weighty cause?
A vagabond! for him the great destroy,
In vile ignoble jars, the feast of joy."

To whom the stern Telemachus uprose:
"Gods! what wild folly from the goblet flows?
Whence this unguarded openness of soul,
But from the license of the copious bowl?
Or Heaven delusion sends: but bence, away!
Force I forbear, and without force obey."

Silent, abash'd, they hear the stern rebuke,
Till thus Amphinomus the silence broke:
"True are his words, and he whom truth offends,
Not with Telemachus, but truth, contends;
Let not the hand of violence invade

The reverend stranger, or the spotless maid;
Retire we hence, but crown with rosy wine
The flowing goblet to the powers divine;
Guard he his guest beneath whose roof he stands,
This justice, this the social rite, demands."

The peers assent: the goblet Mulius crown'd
With purple juice, and bore in order round;
Each peer successive his libation pours
To the blest gods wo till th' aërial bowers;
Then, swill'd with wine, with noise the crowds obey,
And, rushing forth, tumultuous reel away.

THE ODYSSEY.

BOOK XIX.

ARGUMENT.

THE DISCOVERY OF ULYSSES TO EURYCLEA.

ULYSSES and his son remove the weapons out of the armoury. Ulysses, in conversation with Pe

nelope, gives a fictitious account of his adventures; then assures her, he had formerly entertained her husband in Crete; and describes exactly his person and dress, affirms to have heard of him in Phæacia and Thesprotia, and that his return is certain, and within a month. He then goes to bathe, and is attended by Euryclea, who discoveries him to be Ulysses by the scar upon his leg, which he formerly received in hunting the wild boar on Parnassus. The poet inserts a digression, relating that accident, with all its particulars.

CONSULTING Secret with the blue-ey'd maid,
Still in the dome divine Ulysses stay'd:
Revenge mature for act inflam'd his breast;
And thus the son the fervent sire address'd:

"Instant convey those steely stores of war
To distant rooms, dispos'd with secret care:
The cause demanded by the suitor-train,
To soothe their fears, a specious reason feign:
Say, since Ulysses left his natal coast,
Obscene with smoke, their beamy lustre lost,
His arms deform'd, the roof they won't adorn:
From the glad walls inglorious lumber torn.
Suggest, that Jove the peaceful thought inspir'd,
Lest they by sight of swords to fury fir'd,
Dishonest wounds, or violence of soul,
Defame the bridal feast, and friendly bowl."

The prince, obedient to the sage command, To Euryclea thus: "The female band In their apartments keep; secure the doors: These swarthy arms among the covert stores Are seemlier hid; my thoughtless youth they blame,

Imbrown'd with vapour of the smouldering flame." "In happy hour," (pleas'd Euryclea cries) Tutor'd by early woes, grow early wise! Inspect with sharpen'd sight, and frugal care, Your patrimonial wealth, a prudent heir. But who the lighted taper will provide, (The female train retir'd) your toils to guide?" "Without infringing hospitable rite, This guest" (he cried) "shall bear the guiding I cheer no lazy vagrants with repast; [light: They share the meal that earn it ere they taste."

He said; from female ken she straight secures The purpos'd deed, and guards the bolted doors; Auxiliar to his son, Ulysses bears

The plumy-crested helms, and pointed spears,
With shields indented deep in glorious wars.
Minerva viewless on her charge attends,
And with her golden lamp his toi! befriends;
Not such the sickly beams, which, unsincere,
Gild the cross vapour of this nether sphere !
A present deity the prince confest,
And wrapt with ecstasy the sire address'd :
"What miracle thus dazzles with surprise!
Distinct in rows the radiant columns rise:
The walls, where'er my wondering sight I turn,
And roofs, amidst a blaze of glory burn!

Some visitant of pure ethereal race,

With his bright presence deigns the dome to grace."

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Be calm," replies the sire," to none impart, But oft revolve the vision in thy heart: Celestials, mantled in excess of light, Can visit unapproach'd by mortal sight. Seek thou repose; whilst here I sole remain, T' explore the conduct of the female train:

The pensive queen, perchance, desires to know
The series of my toils, to soothe her woe."
With tapers flaming day his train attends,
His bright alcove th' obsequious youth ascends:
Soft slumberous shades his drooping eye-lids close,
Till on her eastern throne Aurora glows.

Whilst, forming plans of deaths, Ulysses stay'd
In council secret with the martial maid;
Attendant nymphs in beauteous order wait
The queen, descending from her bower of state.
Her cheeks the warmer blush of Venus wear,
Chasten'd with coy Diana's pensive air.
An ivory seat with silver ringlets grac'd,
By fam'd Icmalius wrought, the menials plac'd:
With ivory silver'd thick the foot-stool shone,
O'er which the panther's various hide was thrown.
The sovereign seat with graceful air she press'd;
To different tasks their toil the nymphs address'd:
The golden goblet some, and some restor'd
From stains of luxury the polish'd board:
These to remove th' expiring embers came,
While those with unctuous fir foment the flame.
'Twas then Melantho, with imperious mien,
Renew'd th' attack, incontinent of spleen:
"Avaunt," she cry'd, "offensive to my sight!
Deem not in ambush here to lurk by night,
Into the woman-state asquint to pry;
A day-devourer, and an evening spy!
Vagrant, be gone! before this blazing brand
Shall urge"-and wav'd it hissing in her hand.
Th' insulted hero rolls his wrathful eyes,
And, "Why so turbulent of soul?" he cries;
"Can these lean shrivell'd limbs, unnerv'd with age,
These poor but honest rags, enkindle rage?
In crowds we wear the badge of hungry fate;
And beg, degraded from superior state!
Constrain'd a rent-charge on the rich I live;
Reduc'd to crave the good I once could give:
A palace, wealth, and slaves, I late possess'd,
And all that makes the great be call'd the bless'd:
My gate, an emblem of my open soul,
Embrac'd the poor, and dealt a bounteous dole.
Scorn not the sad reverse, injurious maid!
'Tis Jove's high will, and be his will obey'd!
Nor think thyself exempt: that rosy prime
Must share the general doom of withering time:
To some new channel soon, the changeful tide
Of royal grace th' offended queen may guide;
And her low'd lord unplume thy towering pride.
Or were he dead, 'tis wisdom to beware:
Sweet blooms the prince beneath Apollo's care;
Your deeds with quick impartial eye surveys,
Potent to punish what he cannot praise."

Her keen reproach had reach'd the sovereign's

ear;

"Loquacious insolent!" she cries, "forbear:
To thee the purpose of my soul I told;
Venial discourse, unblam'd, with him to hold:
The storied labours of my wandering lord,
To soothe my grief, he haply may record:
Yet him, my guest, thy venom'd rage hath stung:
Thy head shall pay the forfeit of thy tongue!
But thou on whom my palace cares depend,
Eurynomè, regard the stranger-friend:
A seat, soft-spread with furry spoils, prepare;
Due-distant, for us both to speak, and hear."

The menial fair obeys with duteous haste:
A seat adorn'd with furry spoils she plac'd:
Due-distant for discourse the hero sate;
When thus the sovereign from her chair of state:

"Reveal, obsequions to my first demand,
Thy name, thy lineage, and thy native land."”
He thus: "O queen! whose far resounding fame
Is bounded only by the starry frame;
Consummate pattern of imperial sway,
Whose pious rule a warlike race obey:
In wavy gold thy summer vales are dress'd;
Thy autumns bead with copious fruit oppress'd;
With flocks and herds each grassy plain is stor'd;
And fish of every fin thy seas afford;
Their affluent joys the grateful realms confess,
And bless the power that still delights to bless.
Gracious permit this prayer, imperial dame!
Forbear to know my lineage, or my name:
Urge not this breast to heave, these eyes to weep;
In sweet oblivion let my sorrow sleep!
My woes awak'd will violate your ear;
And to this gay censorious train appear
A winy vapour melting in a tear."
"Their gifts the gods resum'd," (the queen re-
"Exterior grace, and energy of mind: [join'd)
When the dear partner of my nuptial joy,
Auxiliar troops combin'd, to conquer Troy.
My lord's protecting hand alone would raise
My drooping verdure, and extend my praise!
Peers from the distant Samian shores resort;
Here with Dulichians join'd, besiege the court:
Zacynthus, green with ever-shady groves,
And Ithaca, presumptuous, boast their loves:
Obtruding on my choice a second lord,
They press the Hymenæan rite abhorr'd.
Misrule thus mingling with domestic cares,
live regardless of my state affairs:
Receive no stranger guest, no poor relieve;
But ever for my lord in secret grieve!-
This art, instinct by some celestial power,
I try'd, elusive of the bridal hour:
'Ye peers!' I cry, who press to gain a heart,
Where dread Ulysses claims no future part;
Rebate your loves, each rival suit suspend,
Till this funereal web my labours end:
Cease, till to good Laertes I bequeath
A pall of state, the ornament of death.
For when to fate he bows, each Grecian dame
With just reproach were licens❜d to defame;
Should he, long honour'd in supreme command,
Want the last duties of a daughter's hand.'
The fiction pleas'd! their loves I long elude;
The night still ravell'd what the day renew'd,
Three years successful in my art conceal'd,
My ineffectual fraud the fourth reveal'd:
Befriended by my own domestic spies,
The woof unwrought the suitor-train surprise.
From nuptial rites they now no more recede,
And fear forbids to falsify the breed.
My anxious parents urge a speedy choice,
And to their suffrage gain the filial voice:
For rule mature, Telemachus deplores
His dome dishonour'd, and exhausted stores-
But, stranger! as thy days seem full of fate,
Divide discourse, in turn thy birth relate:
Thy port asserts thee of distinguish'd race:
No poor unfather'd product of disgrace."
"Princess!" he cries, "renew'd by your com-
mand,

The dear remembrance of my native land
Of secret grief unseals the fruitful source;
And tears repeat their long forgotten course!
So pays the wretch whom fate constrains to roam,
The dues of nature to his natal home!-