And now Eumæus, at the evening hour,
Came late returning to his sylvan bower.
Ulysses and his son had dressed with art
A yearling boar, and gave the gods their part,
Holy repast! That instant from the skies
The martial goddess to Ulysses flies:

She waves her golden wand, and reassumes
From every feature every grace that blooms;
At once his vestures change, at once she sheds
Age o'er his limbs, that tremble as he treads.
Lest to the queen the swain with transport fly,
Unable to contain th' unruly joy.

When near he drew, the prince breaks forth; Proclaim

What tidings, friend? what speaks the voice of fame?

Say, if the suitors measure back the main,
Or still in ambush thirst for blood in vain?

Whether, he cries, they measure back the flood,
Or still in ambush thirst in vain for blood,
Escap'd my care; where lawless suitors sway,
(Thy mandate born,) my soul disdain'd to stay.
But from th' Hermaan height I cast a view,
Where to th' port a bark high bounding flew:
Her freight a shining band: with martial air
Each pois'd his shield, and each advanc'd his spear:
And if aright these searching eyes survey,
Th' eluded suitors stem the watery way.

The prince, well pleas'd to disappoint their wiles,

Steals on his sire a glance, and secret smiles,
And now a short repast prepar'd, they fed,
Till the keen rage of craving hunger fled:
Then to repose withdrawn, apart they lay,
And in soft sleep forgot the cares of day.

THE

ODYSSEY.

BOOK XVII.

THE ARGUMENT.

Telemachus returning to the city, relates to Penelope the sum of his travels. Ulysses is conducted by Eumæus to the palace, where his old dog Argus acknowledges his master, after an absence of twen ty years, and dies with joy. Eumæus returns into the country, and Ulysses remains among the suitors, whose behaviour is described.

Soon as Aurora, daughter of the dawn,
Sprinkled with roseate light the dewy lawn;
In haste the prince arose, prepar'd to part;
His hand impatient grasps the pointed dart;
Fair on his feet the polish'd sandals shine,
And thus he greets the master of the swine.
My friend, adieu; let this short stay suffice;
I haste to meet my mother's longing eyes,
And end her tears, her sorrows, and her sighs.
But thou attentive, what we order heed,
This hapless stranger to the city lead;
By public bounty let him there be fed,

And bless the hand that stretches forth the bread.
To wipe the tears from all afflicted eyes,
My will may covet, but my power denies.
If this raise anger in the stranger's thought,
The pain of anger punishes the fault:

The very truth I undisguis'd declare:
For what so easy as to be sincere!

To this Ulysses. What the prince requires
Of swift removal, seconds my desires.

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 stoop to tasks a rural lord demands.
Adieu! but since this ragged garb can bear
So ill th' inclemencies of morning air,
A few hours' space permit me here to stay;
My steps Eumæus shall to town convey,
With riper beams when Phoebus warms the day.
Thus he: nor aught Telemachus replied,
But left the mansion with a lofty stride:
Schemes of revenge his pondering breast elate,
Revolving deep the suitors' sudden fate.
Arriving now before th' imperial hall;

He props his spear against the pillar'd wall;
Then like a lion o'er the threshold bounds;
The marble pavement with his steps resounds:
His eye first glanc'd where Euryclea spreads
With furry spoils of beasts the splendid beds:
She saw, she wept, she ran with eager pace,
And reach'd her master with a long embrace.
All crouded round, the family appears
With wild entrancement, and ecstatic tears.
Swift from above descends the royal fair;
(Her beauteous cheeks the blush of Venus wear,
Chasten'd with coy Diana's pensive air)
Hangs o'er her son; in his embraces dies;
Rains kisses on his neck, his face, his eyes:
Few words he spoke, though much he had to say,
And scarce those 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 snatch'd from all our cares!-Tell, hast thou

known

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

O dearest, most rever'd of womankind!
Cease with those tears to melt a manly mind,
(Replied the prince) nor be our fates deplor'd,
From death and treason to thy arms restor❜d.
Go bathe, and rob'd in white, ascend the towers;
With all thy handmaids thank th' immortal powers;
To every god vow hecatombs to bleed,

And call Jove's vengeance on their guilty deed.
While to th' assembled council I repair;
A stranger sent by heaven attends me there;
My new-accepted guest I haste to find,
Now to Piræus' honour'd charge consign'd.
The matron heard, nor were his word in vain.
She bath'd; and rob'd in white, with all her train,
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 pass'd the gate;

Two dogs 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 suitors greet
With semblance fair, but inward deep deceit.
Their false addresses generous he denied,
Pass'd on, and sat by faithful Mentor's side;
With Antiphus, and Alitherses sage,
(His father's counsellors, rever'd for age.)
Of his own fortunes, and Ulysses' fame,
Much ask'd the seniors; till Piræus came.
The stranger-guest pursu'd him close behind;
Whom when Telemachus beheld he join'd
He, (when Piræus ask'd for slaves to bring
The gifts and treasures of the Spartan king)

Thus thoughtful answer'd: Those we shall not

move,

Dark and unconscious of the will of Jove;

We know not yet the full event of all:
Stabb'd in his palace if your prince must fall,
Us and our house if treason must o'erthrow,
Better a friend possess them, than a foe:
If death to these, and vengeance Heaven decree,
Riches are welcome then, not else to me.
Till then, retain the gifts.-The hero said,
And in his hand the willing stranger led.
Then disarray'd, the shining bath they sought,
(With unguents smooth) of polish'd marble
wrought;

Obedient handmaids with assistant toil
Supply the limpid wave, and fragrant oil:
Then o'er their limbs refulgent robes they threw,
And fresh from bathing to their seats withdrew.
The golden ewer a nymph attendant brings,
Replenish'd from the pure translucent springs:
With copious streams that golden ewer supplies
A silver laver of capacious size.

They wash: the table, in fair order spread,
Is pil'd with viands and the strength of bread.
Full opposite, before the folding gate,
The pensive mother sits in humble state;
Lowly she sat, and with dejected view
The fleecy threads her ivory fingers drew.
The prince and stranger shar'd the genial feast,
Till now the rage of thirst and hunger ceas'd.
When thus the queen. My son! my only friend!
Say, to my mournful couch shall I ascend?
(The couch deserted now a length of years;
The couch forever water'd with my tears)
Say wilt thou not (ere yet the suitor-crew
Return, and riot shake our walls a-new)