Cries one, with scornful leer and mimic voice, 45 And pays his hoft with hideous noon-day dreams. 460 Thus jovial they: but nought the prince replies; Full on his fire he roll'd his ardent eyes; Impatient ftraight to flesh his virgin-fword, From the wife chief he waits the deathful word. Nigh in her bright alcove, the penfive queen To fee the circlet fate, of all unseen. Sated at length they rife, and bid prepare An eve-repast, with equal cost and care : 465 } THE ARGUMENT. THE BENDING OF ULYSSES'S BOW. PENELOPE, to put an end to the folicitation of the fuitors, propofes to marry the person who fhall first bend the bow of Ulyffes, and fhoot through the ringlets. After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulyffes, taking Eumæus and Philætius apart, difcovers himself to them; then returning, defires leave to try his ftrength at the bow, which, though refufed with indignation by the fuitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause it to be delivered to his hands. He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings. Jupiter in the fame inftant thunders from heaven; Ulyffes accepts the omen, and gives a fign to Telemachus, who stands ready armed at his fide. THE ODYSSEY. BOOK XXI. A ND Pallas now, to raise the rival fires, With her own art Penelope inipires: Who now can bend Ulyffes' bow, and wing The well-aim'd arrow through the distant ring, Shall end the ftrife, and win th' imperial dame; But difcord and black death await the game! 5 10 The prudent queen the lofty ftair afcends, At diftance due a virgin-train attends; A brazen key fhe held, the handle turn'd, With fteel and polish'd elephant adorn'd : Swift to the inmoft room the bent her way, Where fafe repos'd the royal treasures lay; There fhone high-heap'd the labour'd brafs and ore, And there the bow which great Ulyffes bore; And there the quiver, where now guiltless flept Thofe winged deaths that many a matron wept. This gift, long fince when Sparta's shores he trod, On young Ulyffes Iphitus bestow'd: Beneath Orfilochus's roof they met ; 15 One lofs was private, one a public debt; Meffena's ftate from Ithaca detains Three hundred sheep, and all the shepherd-fwains; N 2 20 And And to the youthful prince to urge the laws, The king and elders trust their common cause. Search'd the wide country for his wandering mares, 25 35 That lawless wretch, that man of brutal strength, 30 Deaf to Heaven's voice, the focial rite transgress'd; And for the beauteous mares destroy'd his guest : He gave the bow! and on Ulyffes' part Receiv'd a pointed fword and miffile dart: Of luckless friendship on a foreign fhore Their first, last pledges; for they met no more! The bow, bequeath'd by this unhappy hand, Ulyffes bore not from his native land; Nor in the front of battle taught to bend, But kept, in dear memorial of his friend. Now gently winding up the fair afcent, By many an eafy ftep, the matron went ; Then o'er the pavements glides with grace divine, (With polish'd oak the level pavements shine) The folding gates a dazzling light difplay'd, With pomp of various architrave o'erlaid. The bolt, obedient to the silken string, Forfakes the ftaple as the pulls the ring; The wards refpondent to the key turn round; The bars fall back; the flying valves refound; Loud as a bull makes hill and valley ring, So roar'd the lock when it releas'd the Tpring. 45 She |