The turning wheel before the palace stays.
With ready love her brothers, gathering round,
Received the vestures, and the mules unbound.
She seeks the bridal bower: a matron there
The rising fire supplies with busy care,
Whose charms in youth her father's heart inflamed,
Now worn with age, Eurymedusa named:
The captive dame Phæacian rovers bore,
Snatch'd from Epirus, her sweet native shore,
(A grateful prize) and in her bloom bestow'd
On good Alcinous, honour'd as a god :
Nurse of Nausicaa from her infant years,
And tender second to a mother's cares.

Now from the sacred thicket where he lay,
To town Ulysses took the winding way.
Propitious Pallas, to secure her care,
Around him spread a veil of thicken'd air;
To shun the encounter of the vulgar crowd,
Insulting still, inquisitive and loud.
When near the famed Phæacian walls he drew,
The beauteous city opening to his view,
His step a virgin met, and stood before:
A polish'd urn the seeming virgin bore,
And youthful smiled; but in the low disguise
Lay hid the goddess with the azure eyes.

"Show me, fair daughter (thus the chief demands)
The house of him who rules these happy lands.
Through many woes and wanderings, lo! I come
To good Alcinous' hospitable dome.
Far from my native coast, I rove alone,
A wretched stranger, and of all unknown!"
The goddess answer'd: "Father, I obey,
And point the wandering traveller his way:
Well known to me the palace you inquire,
For fast beside it dwells my honour'd sire;
But silent march, nor greet the common train
With question needless, or inquiry vain.
A race of rugged mariners are these;
Unpolish'd men, and boisterous as their seas:
The native islanders alone their care,
And hateful he that breathes a foreign air.
These did the ruler of the deep ordain
To build proud navies, and command the main ;
On canvas wings to cut the watery way;
No bird so light, no thought so swift as they."

Thus having spoke, the unknown celestial leads :
The footsteps of the deity he treads,
And secret moves along the crowded space,
Unseen of all the rude Phæacian race.
(So Pallas order'd, Pallas to their eyes
The mist objected, and condensed the skies.)
The chief with wonder sees the extended streets,
The spreading harbours and the riding fleets;
He next their princes' lofty domes admires,
In separate islands crown'd with rising spires;
And deep intrenchments, and high walls of stone,
That gird the city like a marble zone.

At length the kingly palace gates he view'd;
There stopp'd the goddess, and her speech renew'd:
"My task is done; the mansion you inquire
Appears before you enter, and admire.
High-throned, and feasting, there thou shalt behold
The sceptred rulers. Fear not, but be bold:
A decent boldness ever meets with friends,
Succeeds, and even a stranger recommends.
First to the queen prefer a suppliant's claim,
Alcinous' queen, Arete is her name,

The same her parents, and her power the same.

And Peribæa, beautiful and young;
(Eurymedon's last hope, who ruled of old
The race of giants, impious, proud, and bold;
Perish'd the nation in unrighteous war,
Perish'd the prince, and left this only heir)
Who now by Neptune's amorous power compress'd,
Produced a monarch that his people bless'd,
Father and prince of the Phæacian name;
From him Rhexenor and Alcinous came.
The first by Phoebus' burning arrows fired,
New from his nuptials, hapless youth! expired.
No son survived: Arete heir'd his state,
And her, Alcinous chose his royal mate.
With honours yet to womankind unknown,
This queen he graces, and divides the throne:
In equal tenderness her sons conspire,
And all the children emulate their sire.
When through the street she gracious deigns to move,
(The public wonder, and the public love)
The tongues of all, with transport sound her praise,
The eyes of all, as on a goddess, gaze.
She feels the triumph of a generous breast,
To heal divisions, to relieve the oppress'd;
In virtue rich; in blessing others, bless'd.
Go then secure, thy humble suit prefer,
And owe thy country and thy friends to her."

With that the goddess deign'd no longer stay,
But o'er the world of waters wing'd her way:
Forsaking Scheria's ever-pleasing shore,
The winds to Marathon the virgin bore;
Thence, where proud Athens rears her towery head,
With opening streets and shining structures spread,
She pass'd, delighted with the well-known seats;
And to Erectheus' sacred dome retreats.

Meanwhile Ulysses at the palace waits, There stops, and anxious with his soul debates, Fix'd in amaze before the royal gates. The front appear'd with radiant splendours gay, Bright as the lamp of night, or orb of day. The walls were massy brass: the cornice high Blue metals crown'd, in colours of the sky: Rich plates of gold the folding-doors incase; The pillars silver, on a brazen base; Silver, the lintels deep projecting o'er, And gold, the ringlets that command the door. Two rows of stately dogs, on either hand, In sculptured gold and labour'd silver stand. These Vulcan form'd with art divine, to wait Immortal guardians at Alcinous' gate; Alive each animated frame appears, And still to live beyond the power of years. Fair thrones within from space to space were raised, Where various carpets with embroidery blazed, The work of matrons: these the princes press'd, Day following day, a long-continued feast. Refulgent pedestals the walls surround, Which boys of gold with flaming torches crown'd; The polish'd ore, reflecting every ray, Blazed on the banquets with a double day. Full fifty handmaids form the household train ; Some turn the mill, or sift the golden grain ; Some ply the loom; their busy fingers move Like poplar leaves, when Zephyr fans the grove. Not more renown'd the men of Scheria's isle, For sailing arts and all the naval toil, Than works of female skill their women's pride, The flying shuttle through the threads to guide: Pallas to these her double gifts imparts, Inventive genius, and industrious arts.

Close to the gates a spacious garden lies,
From storms defended, and inclement skies.
Four acres was the allotted space of ground,
Fenced with a green enclosure all around;
Tall thriving trees confess'd the fruitful mould;
The reddening apple ripens here to gold :
Here the blue fig with luscious juice o'erflows,
With deeper red the full pomegranate glows,
The branch here bends beneath the weighty
pear,

And verdant olives flourish round the year.
The balmy spirit of the western gale
Eternal breathes on fruits untaught to fail:
Each dropping pear a following pear supplies,
On apples apples, figs on figs arise:

The same mild season gives the blooms to blow,
The buds to harden, and the fruits to grow.

Here order'd vines in equal ranks appear,
With all the united labours of the year:
Some to unload the fertile branches run,
Some dry the blackening clusters in the sun,
Others to tread the liquid harvest join,

The groaning presses foam with floods of wine.
Here are the vines in early flower descried,
Here grapes discolour'd on the sunny side,
And there in autumn's richest purple dyed.
Beds of all various herbs, for ever green,
In beauteous order terminate the scene.

Two plenteous fountains the whole prospect
crown'd;

This through the gardens leads its streams around,
Visits each plant, and waters all the ground;
While that in pipes beneath the palace flows,
And thence its current on the town bestows:
To various use their various streams they bring,
The people one, and one supplies the king.

Such were the glories which the gods ordain'd,
To grace Alcinous, and his happy land!
Even from the chief, who men and nations knew,
The unwonted scene surprise and rapture drew;
In pleasing thought he ran the prospect o'er,
Then hasty enter'd at the lofty door.
Night now approaching, in the palace stand,
With goblets crown'd, the rulers of the land;
Prepared for rest, and offering to the god
Who bears the virtue of the sleepy rod.
Unseen he glided through the joyous crowd,
With darkness circled, and an ambient cloud.
Direct to great Alcinous' throne he came,
And prostrate fell before the imperial dame.
Then from around him dropp'd the veil of night;
Sudden he shines, and manifest to sight.
The nobles gaze, with awful fear oppress'd;
Silent they gaze, and eye the godlike guest.
"Daughter of great Rhexenor! (thus began,
Low at her knees, the much-enduring man)
To thee, thy consort, and this royal train,
To all that share the blessings of your reign,
A suppliant bends! O pity human woe!
"Tis what the happy to the unhappy owe.
A wretched exile to his country send,
Long worn with griefs, and long without a friend.
So may the gods your better days increase,
And all your joys descend on all your race;
So reign for ever on your country's breast,
Your people blessing, by your people bless'd!"
Then to the genial hearth he bow'd his face,
And humbled in the ashes took his place.
Silence ensued. The eldest first began,
Echeneus sage, a venerable man!

Whose well-taught mind the present age surpass'd;
And join'd to that the experience of the last.
Fit words attended on his weighty sense,
And mild persuasion flow'd in eloquence.

"Oh sight, (he cried) dishonest and unjust!
A guest, a stranger, seated in the dust!
To raise the lowly suppliant from the ground
Befits a monarch. Lo! the peers around
But wait thy word, the gentle guest to grace,
And seat him fair in some distinguish'd place.
Let first the herald due libation pay

To Jove, who guides the wanderer on his way;
Then set the genial banquet in his view,
And give the stranger-guest a stranger's due."

His sage advice the listening king obeys;
He stretch'd his hand the prudent chief to raise,
And from his seat Laodamas removed,
(The monarch's offspring, and his best beloved.)
There next his side the godlike hero sat;
With stars of silver shone the bed of state.
The golden ewer a beauteous handmaid brings,
Replenish'd from the cool translucent springs,
Whose polish'd vase with copious stream supplies
A silver laver, of capacious size.

The table next in regal order spread,

The glittering canisters are heap'd with bread:
Viands of various kinds invite the taste,
Of choicest sort and savour, rich repast!
Thus feasting high, Alcinous gave the sign,
And bade the herald pour the rosy wine,
"Let all around the due libation pay

To Jove, who guides the wanderer on his way."
He said. Pontonus heard the king's command:
The circling goblet moves from hand to hand:
Each drinks the juice that glads the heart of man,
Alcinous then, with aspect mild, began:

"Princes and peers, attend! while we impart To you the thoughts of no inhuman heart. Now pleased and satiate from the social rite Repair we to the blessings of the night: But with the rising day, assembled here, Let all the elders of the land appear, Pious observe our hospitable laws, And heaven propitiate in the stranger's cause: Then join'd in council proper means explore Safe to transport him to the wish'd-for shore: (How distant that, imports not us to know, Nor weigh the labour, but relieve the woe.) Meantime, nor harm nor anguish let him bear: This interval, heaven trusts him to our care; But to his native land our charge resign'd, Heaven's is his life to come, and all the woes behind. Then must he suffer what the fates ordain; For fate has wove the thread of life with pain, And twins, even from the birth, are misery and

man!

"But if, descended from the Olympian bower, Gracious approach us some immortal power; If in that form thou comest a guest divine, Some high event the conscious gods design. As yet, unbid they never graced our feast, The solemn sacrifice call'd down the guest; Then manifest of heaven the vision stood, And to our eyes familiar was the god. Oft with some favour'd traveller they stray, And shine before him all the desert way: With social intercourse, and face to face, The friends and guardians of our pious race. So near approach we their celestial kind, By justice, truth, and probity of mind;

As our dire neighbours of Cyclopean birth, Match in fierce wrong the giant-sons of earth."

"Let no such thought (with modest grace rejoin'd
The prudent Greek) possess the royal mind.
Alas! a mortal, like thyself, am I;
No glorious native of yon azure sky:
In form, ah, how unlike their heavenly kind!
How more inferior in the gifts of mind!
Alas, a mortal! most oppress'd of those
Whom fate has loaded with a weight of woes;
By a sad train of miseries alone

Distinguish'd long, and second now to none!
By Heaven's high will compell'd from shore to shore;
With Heaven's high will prepared to suffer more.
What histories of toil could I declare?
But still long-wearied nature wants repair;
Spent with fatigue, and shrunk with pining fast,
My craving bowels still require repast.
Howe'er the noble, suffering mind, may grieve
Its load of anguish, and disdain to live;
Necessity demands our daily bread;
Hunger is insolent, and will be fed.
But finish, O ye peers! what you propose,
And let the morrow's dawn conclude my woes:
Pleased will I suffer all the gods ordain,
To see my soil, my son, my friends, again.
That view vouchsafed, let instant death surprise
With ever-during shade these happy eyes!"

The assembled peers with general praise approved
His pleaded reason, and the suit he moved.
Each drinks a full oblivion of his cares,
And to the gifts of balmy sleep repairs.
Ulysses in the regal walls alone
Remain'd: beside him, on a splendid throne,
Divine Arete and Alcinous shone.

The queen, on nearer view, the guest survey'd
Robed in the garments her own hands had made;
Not without wonder seen. Then thus began,
Her words addressing to the godlike man:

"Camest thou not hither,wondrous stranger! say, From lands remote, and o'er a length of sea? Tell then whence art thou! whence that princely air?

And robes like these, so recent and so fair?"

"Hard is the task, O princess! you impose, (Thus sighing spoke the man of many woes) The long, the mournful series to relate Of all my sorrows, sent by heaven and fate! Yet what you ask, attend. An island lies Beyond these tracts, and under other skies, Ogygia named, in Ocean's watery arms; Where dwells Calypso, dreadful in her charms! Remote from gods or men she holds her reign, Amid the terrors of the rolling main. Me, only me, the hand of fortune bore, Unbless'd! to tread that interdicted shore, When Jove tremendous in the sable deeps Launch'd his red lightning at our scatter'd ships: Then, all my fleet, and all my followers lost, Sole on a plank, on boiling surges toss'd, Heaven drove my wreck the Ogygian isle to find, Full nine days floating to the wave and wind. Met by the goddess there with open arms, She bribed my stay with more than human charms; Nay promised, vainly promised, to bestow Immortal life, exempt from age and woe. But all her blandishments successless prove, To banish from my breast my country's love. I stay reluctant seven continued years, And water her ambrosial couch with tears.

The eighth, she voluntary moves to part,
Or urged by Jove, or her own changeful heart.
A raft was form'd to cross the surging sea;
Herself supplied the stores and rich array;
And gave the gales to waft me on the way.
In seventeen days appear'd your pleasing coast,
And woody mountains half in vapours lost.
Joy touch'd my soul: my soul was joy'd in vain,
For angry Neptune roused the raging main;
The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar;
The splitting raft the furious tempests tore;
And storms vindictive intercept the shore.
Soon as their rage subsides, the seas I brave
With naked force, and shoot along the wave,
To reach this isle: but there my hopes were lost,
The surge impell'd me on a craggy coast.
I chose the safer sea, and chanced to find
A river's mouth, impervious to the wind,
And clear of rocks. I fainted by the flood;
Then took the shelter of the neighbouring wood.
"Twas night; and cover'd in the foliage deep,
Jove plunged my senses in the death of sleep.
All night I slept, oblivious of my pain:
Aurora dawn'd, and Phoebus shined in vain,
Nor till oblique he sloped his evening ray,
Had Somnus dried the balmy dews away.
Then female voices from the shore I heard:
A maid amidst them, goddess-like, appear'd:
To her I sued, she pitied my distress;
Like thee in beauty, nor in virtue less.
Who from such youth could hope considerate care!
In youth and beauty wisdom is but rare!
She gave me life, relieved with just supplies
My wants, and lent these robes that strike youreyes.
This is the truth: and oh, ye powers on high!
Forbid that want should sink me to a lie."

To this the king: "Our daughter but express'd
Her cares imperfect to our godlike guest.
Suppliant to her, since first he chose to pray,
Why not herself did she conduct the way,
And with her handmaids to our court convey!"

"Hero and king! (Ulysses thus replied) Nor blame her, faultless, nor suspect of pride: She bade me follow in the attendant train; But fear and reverence did my steps detain, Lest rash suspicion might alarm thy mind: Man's of a jealous and mistaking kind.”

"Far from my soul (he cried) the gods efface All wrath ill grounded, and suspicion base! Whate'er is honest, stranger, I approve; And would to Phoebus, Pallas, and to Jove, Such as thou art, thy thought and mine were one, Nor thou unwilling to be call'd my son: In such alliance couldst thou wish to join, A palace stored with treasures should be thine. But if reluctant, who shall force thy stay? Jove bids to set the stranger on his way, And ships shall wait thee with the morning ray. Till then, let slumber close thy careful eyes; The wakeful mariners shall watch the skies, And seize the moment when the breezes rise: Then gently waft thee to the pleasing shore, Where thy soul rests, and labour is no more. Far as Euboea though thy country lay, Our ships with ease transport thee in a day. Thither of old, Earth's giant-son to view, On wings of winds with Rhadamanth they flew: This land, from whence their morning course

begun,

Saw them returning with the setting sun.

Your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale, Our youth how dextrous, and how fleet our sail, When justly timed with equal sweep they row, And ocean whitens in long tracks below."

Thus he. No word the experienced man replies, But thus to heaven, (and heavenward lifts his eyes:) "O Jove! O father! what the king accords Do thou make perfect! sacred be his words! Wide o'er the world Alcinous' glory shine; Let fame be his, and ah! my country mine!" Meantime Arete, for the hour of rest, Ordains the fleecy couch, and covering vest: Bids her fair train the purple quilts prepare, And the thick carpets spread with busy care. With torches blazing in their hands they pass'd, And finish'd all their queen's command with haste: Then gave the signal to the willing guest: He rose with pleasure, and retired to rest. There, soft-extended, to the murmuring sound Of the high porch, Ulysses sleeps profound! Within, released from cares Alcinous lies; And fast beside were closed Arete's eyes.

BOOK VIII.

ARGUMENT.

Alcinous calls a council, in which it is resolved to transport Ulysses into his country. After which splendid entertainments are made, where the celebrated musician and poet Demodocus plays and sings to the guests. They next proceed to the games, the race, the wrestling, the discus, &c. where Ulysses casts a prodigious length, to the admiration of all the spectators. They return again to the banquet, and Demodocus sings the loves of Mars and Venus. Ulysses, after a compliment to the poet, desires him to sing the introduction of the wooden horse into Troy which subject provoking his tears, Alcinous inquires of his guest his name, parentage, and fortunes.

Now fair Aurora lifts her golden ray,
And all the ruddy orient flames with day:
Alcinous, and the chief, with dawning light,
Rose instant from the slumbers of the night;
Then to the council-seat they bend their way,
And fill the shining thrones along the bay.

Meanwhile Minerva, in her guardian care,
Shoots from the starry vault through fields of air;
In form a herald of the king, she flies
From peer to peer, and thus incessant cries:

:

"Nobles and chiefs who rule Phæacia's states, The king in council your attendance waits : A prince of grace divine your aid implores, O'er unknown seas arrived from unknown shores." She spoke, and sudden with tumultuous sounds Of thronging multitudes the shore rebounds; At once the seats they fill and every eye Gazed, as before some brother of the sky. Pallas with grace divine his form improves, More high he treads, and more enlarged he moves ; She sheds celestial bloom, regard to draw; And gives a dignity of mien to awe; With strength the future prize of fame to play, And gather all the honours of the day.

Then from his glittering throne Alcinous rose : "Attend (he cried) while we our will disclose. Your present aid this godlike stranger craves, Toss'd by rude tempest through a war of waves; Perhaps from realms that view the rising day, Or nations subject to the western ray.

Then grant, what here all sons of woe obtain,
(For here affliction never pleads in vain :)
Be chosen youths prepared expert to try
The vast profound, and bid the vessel fly :
Launch the tall bark, and order every oar;
Then in our court indulge the genial hour.
Instant, you sailors, to this task attend :
Swift to the palace, all ye peers ascend ;
Let none to strangers honours due disclaim:
Be there Demodocus, the bard of fame,
Taught by the gods to please, when high he sings
The vocal lay, responsive to the strings."

Thus spoke the prince: the attending peers obey, In state they move; Alcinous leads the way: Swift to Demodocus the herald flies,

At once the sailors to their charge arise;
They launch the vessel, and unfurl the sails,
And stretch the swelling canvas to the gales ;
Then to the palace move: a gathering throng,
Youth, and white age, tumultuous pour along :
Now all accesses to the dome are fill'd;
Eight boars, the choicest of the herd, are kill'd :
Two beeves, twelve fatlings from the flock, they
bring

To crown the feast; so wills the bounteous king.
The herald now arrives, and guides along
The sacred master of celestial song:

Dear to the Muse! who gave his days to flow
With mighty blessings, mix'd with mighty woe:
With clouds of darkness quench'd his visual ray,
But gave him skill to raise the lofty lay.
High on a radiant throne sublime in state,
Encircled by huge multitudes, he sat :
With silver shone the throne; his lyre, well strung
To rapturous sounds, at hand Pontonus hung;
Before his seat a polish'd table shines,
And a full goblet foams with generous wines:
His food a herald bore; and now they fed;
And now the rage of craving hunger fled.

Then fired by all the muse, aloud he sings
The mighty deeds of demigods and kings:
From that fierce wrath the noble song arose,
That made Ulysses and Achilles foes;
How o'er the feast they doom the fall of Troy;
The stern debate Atrides hears with joy :
For heaven foretold the contest, when he trod
The marble threshold of the Delphic god,
Curious to learn the counsels of the sky,
Ere yet he loosed the rage of war on Troy.
Touch'd at the song, Ulysses straight resign'd
To soft affliction all his manly mind:
Before his eyes the purple vest he drew,
Industrious to conceal the falling dew:
But when the music paused, he ceased to shed
The flowing tear, and raised his drooping head :
And lifting to the gods a goblet crown'd,
He pour'd a pure libation to the ground.
Transported with the song, the listening train
Again with loud applause demand the strain :
Again Ulysses veil'd his pensive head,
Again, unmann'd, a shower of sorrow shed:
Conceal'd he wept: the king observed alone
The silent tear and heard the secret groan :
Then to the bard aloud: "O cease to sing,
Dumb be thy voice, and mute the harmonious
string;

Enough the feast has pleased, enough the power Of heavenly song has crown'd the genial hour! Incessant in the games your strength display, Contest, ye brave, the honours of the day!

That pleased the admiring stranger may proclaim
In distant regions the Phracian fame :
None wield the gauntlet with so dire a sway,
Or swifter in the race devour the way;
None in the leap spring with so strong a bound,
Or firmer in the wrestling press the ground."
Thus spoke the king: the attending peers obey:
In state they move; Alcinous leads the way:
His golden lyre Demodocus unstrung,
High on a column in the palace hung;
And guided by a herald's guardian cares,
Majestic to the lists of fame repairs.

Now swarms the populace: a countless throng,
Youth and hoar age; and man drives man along;
The games begin; ambitious of the prize,
Acroneus, Thoön, and Eretmeus rise;
The prize Ocyalus and Prymneus claim,
Anchialus and Ponteus chiefs of fame :
There Proreus, Nautes, Eratreus appear,
And famed Amphialus, Polyneus' heir:
Euryalus, like Mars terrific, rose,

When clad in wrath he withers hosts of foes:
Naubolides with grace unequal'd shone
Or equal'd by Laodamas alone.

With these came forth Ambasineus the strong,
And three brave sons from great Alcinous sprung.
Ranged in a line the ready racers stand,
Start from the goal, and vanish o'er the strand:
Swift as on wings of wind upborne they fly,
And drifts of rising dust involve the sky:
Before the rest, what space the hinds allow
Between the mule and ox, from plough to plough,
Clytonius sprung he wing'd the rapid way,
And bore the unrival'd honours of the day.
With fierce embrace the brawny wrestlers join:
The conquest, great Euryalus, is thine.
Amphialus sprung forward with a bound,
Superior in the leap a length of ground:
From Eratreus' strong arm the discus flies,
And sings with unmatch'd force along the skies.
And Laodam whirls high, with dreadful sway,
The gloves of death, victorious in the fray.

While thus the peerage in the games contends, In act to speak, Laodamas ascends:

"O friends (he cries) the stranger seems well To try the illustrious labours of the field: [skill'd I deem him brave; then grant the brave man's claim, Invite the hero to his share of fame.

What nervous arms he boasts! how firm his tread! His limbs how turn'd! how broad his shoulders spread!

By age unbroke! but all-consuming care
Destroys perhaps the strength that time would

spare:

Dire is the ocean, dread in all its forms!
Man must decay, when man contends with storms."
"Well hast thou spoke (Euryalus replies),
Thine is the guest, invite him thou to rise."
Swift at the word advancing from the crowd
He made obeisance, and thus spoke aloud:
"Vouchsafes the reverend stranger to display
His manly worth, and share the glorious day?
Father, arise! for thee thy port proclaims
Expert to conquer in the solemn games.
To fame arise! for what more fame can yield
Than the swift race, or conflict of the field?
Steal from corroding care one transient day,
To glory give the space thou hast to stay;
Short is the time, and lo! even now the gales
Call thee aboard, and stretch the swelling sails."

To whom with sighs Ulysses gave reply:
"Ah why the ill-suiting pastime must I try?
To gloomy care my thoughts alone are free;
Ill the gay sports with troubled hearts agree:
Sad from my natal hour my days have ran,
A much-afflicted, much-enduring man!
Who suppliant to the king and peers, implores
A speedy voyage to his native shores."
"Wide wanders, Laodam, thy erring tongue,
The sports of glory to the brave belong,
(Retorts Euryalus:) he boasts no claim
Among the great, unlike the sons of fame.
A wandering merchant he frequents the main,
Some mean sea-farer in pursuit of gain;
Studious of freight, in naval trade well skill'd,
But dreads the athletic labours of the field."
Incensed Ulysses with a frown replies:

"O forward to proclaim thy soul unwise!
With partial hands the gods their gifts dispense:
Some greatly think, some speak with manly sense;
Here heaven an elegance of form denies,

But wisdom the defect of form supplies:
This man with energy of thought controls,
And steals with modest violence our souls,
He speaks reservedly, but he speaks with force,
Nor can one word be changed but for a worse;
In public more than mortal he appears,
And as he moves the gazing crowd reveres :
While others, beauteous as the ethereal kind,
The nobler portion want, a knowing mind.
In outward show heaven gives thee to excel,
But heaven denies the praise of thinking well.
Ill bear the brave a rude ungovern'd tongue,
And, youth, my generous soul resents the wrong:
Skill'd in heroic exercise, I claim

A post of honour with the sons of fame:
Such was my boast while vigour crown'd my days,
Now care surrounds me, and my force decays;
Inured a melancholy part to bear,

In scenes of death, by tempest and by war,
Yet thus by woes impair'd, no more I waive
To prove the hero.-Slander stings the brave."

Then striding forward with a furious bound,
He wrench'd a rocky fragment from the ground,
By far more ponderous, and more huge by far,
Than what Phæacia's sons discharged in air.
Fierce from his arm the enormous load he flings;
Sonorous through the shaded air it sings:
Couch'd to the earth, tempestuous as it flies,
The crowd gaze upward while it cleaves the skies.
Beyond all marks, with many a giddy round
Down rushing, it upturns a hill of ground.

That instant Pallas, bursting from a cloud, Fix'd a distinguish'd mark, and cried aloud: "Even he who sightless wants his visual ray, May by his touch alone award the day: Thy signal throw transcends the utmost bound Of every champion, by a length of ground: Securely bid the strongest of the train Arise to throw: the strongest throws in vain." She spoke and momentary mounts the sky: The friendly voice Ulysses hears with joy; Then thus aloud, elate with decent pride: "Rise, ye Phæacians, try your force (he cried ;) If with this throw the strongest caster vie, Still, further still, I bid the discus fly. Stand forth, ye champions, who the gauntlet wield, Or you, the swiftest racers of the field! Stand forth, ye wrestlers, who these pastimes grace! I wield the gauntlet, and I run the race.