Then from the heavens the martial goddess flies Through the wide fields of air, and cleaves the skies:
In form, a virgin in soft beauty's bloom,
Skill'd in the illustrious labours of the loom.
Alone to Ithaca she stood display'd,
But unapparent as a viewless shade
Escaped Telemachus: (the powers above,
Seen or unseen, o'er earth at pleasure move :)
The dogs intelligent confess'd the tread
Of power divine, and howling, trembling fled.
The goddess, beckoning, waves her deathless hands:
Dauntless the king before the goddess stands.
"Then why," she said, "oh favour'd of the skies! Why to thy godlike son this long disguise? Stand forth reveal'd; with him thy cares employ Against thy foes; be valiant, and destroy! Lo I descend in that avenging hour, To combat by thy side, thy guardian power."
She said, and o'er him waves her wand of gold: Imperial robes his manly limbs infold;
At once with grace divine his frame improves ;
At once with majesty enlarged he moves:
A length of hair in sable ringlets flows;
Youth flush'd his reddening cheek, and from his brows
His blackening chin receives a deeper shade;
Then from his eyes upsprung the warrior maid.
The hero reascends: the prince o'eraw'd,
Scarce lifts his eyes, and bows as to a god.
Then with surprise, (surprise chastised by fears,)
"How art thou changed!" he cried," a god appears!
Far other vests thy limbs majestic grace,
Far other glories lighten from thy face!
If heaven be thy abode, with pious care
Lo! I the ready sacrifice prepare:
Lo! gifts of labour'd gold adorn thy shrine,
To win thy grace: oh save us, power divine!" "Few are my days," Ulysses made reply,
"Nor I, alas! descendant of the sky.
I am thy father. Oh my son! my son!
That father, for whose sake thy days have run
One scene of wo; to endless cares consigned,
And outraged by the wrongs of base mankind."
Then rushing to his arms, he kissed his boy 210
With the strong raptures of a parent's joy.
Tears bathe his cheek, and tears the ground bedew;
He strain'd him close, as to his breast he grew.
"Ah me!" exclaims the prince with fond desire,
"Thou art not-no, thou canst not be my sire. 215
Heaven such illusion only can impose,
By the false joy to aggravate my woes.
Who but a god can change the general doom,
And give to wither'd age a youthful bloom?
Late, worn with years, in weeds obscene you trod; Now, clothed in majesty, you move a god!" 221 "Forbear," he cried, "for Heaven reserve that
Give to thy father but a father's claim;
Other Ulysses shalt thou never see,
I am Ulysses, I (my son) am he.
Twice ten sad years o'er earth and ocean toss'd,
'Tis given at length to view my native coast.
Pallas, unconquer'd maid, my frame surrounds
With grace divine; her power admits no bounds:
She o'er my limbs old age and wrinkles shed;
Now strong as youth, magnificent I tread.
The gods with ease frail man depress or raise,
Exalt the lowly, or the proud debase."
He spoke, and sat. The prince with transport flew, Hung round his neck, while tears his cheek bedew: Nor less the father pour'd a social flood; They wept abundant, and they wept aloud. As the bold eagle with fierce sorrow stung, Or parent vulture, mourns her ravish'd young; They cry, they scream, their unfledged brood a prey To some rude churl, and borne by stealth away: 241 So they aloud and tears in tides had run, Their grief unfinish'd with the setting sun;
But checking the full torrent in its flow,
The prince thus interrupts the solemn wo:
"What ship transported thee, oh father, say,
And what bless'd hands have oar'd thee on the way?"
"All, all," Ulysses instant made reply, "I tell thee all, my child, my only joy! Phæacians bore me to the port assign'd, A nation ever to the stranger kind;
Wrapp'd in the embrace of sleep, the faithful train
O'er seas convey'd me to my native reign:
Embroider'd vestures, gold, and brass, are laid
Conceal'd in caverns in the sylvan shade.
Hither, intent the rival rout to slay,
And plan the scene of death, I bend my way
So Pallas wills-but thou, my son, explain
The names and numbers of the audacious train; "Tis mine to judge if better to employ
Assistant force, or singly to destroy."
"O'er earth," returns the prince, "resounds thy
Thy well-tried wisdom, and thy martial fame,
Yet at thy words I start, in wonder lost;
Can we engage, not decads, but a host?
Can we alone in furious battle stand
Against that numerous and determined band?
Hear then their numbers: from Dulichium came
Twice twenty-six, all peers of mighty name,
Six are their menial train: twice twelve the boast
Of Samos; twenty from Zacynthus' coast;
And twelve our country's pride; to these belong
Medon and Phemius skill'd in heavenly song.
Two sewers from day to day the revels wait,
Exact of taste, and serve the feast in state.
With such a foe the unequal fight to try,
Were by false courage unrevenged to die.
Then what assistant powers you boast relate,
Ere yet we mingle in the stern debate "
"Mark well my voice," Ulysses straight replies: "What need of aids, if favour'd by the skies? If shielded to the dreadful fight we move, By mighty Pallas, and by thundering Jove?" "Sufficient they," Telemachus rejoin'd, "Against the banded powers of all mankind: They, high enthroned above the rolling clouds, Wither the strength of man, and awe the gods." "Such aids expect," he cries, "when strong in might
We rise terrific to the task of fight.
But thou, when morn salutes the aerial plain,
The court revisit and the lawless train:
Me thither in disguise Eumæus leads,
An aged mendicant in tatter'd weeds.
There, if base scorn insult my reverend age,
Bear it, my son! repress thy rising rage.
If outraged, cease that outrage to repel;
Bear it, my son! howe'er thy heart rebel.
Yet strive by prayer and counsel to restrain
Their lawless insults, though thou strive in vain;
For wicked ears are deaf to wisdom's call,
And vengeance strikes whom Heaven has doom'd to
Once more attend: when she whose power inspires
The thinking mind my soul to vengeance fires;
I give the sign: that instant, from beneath,
Aloft convey the instruments of death,
Armour and arms; and if mistrust arise,
Thus veil the truth in plausible disguise.
"These glittering weapons, ere he sail'd to Troy, Ulysses view'd with stern heroic joy;
Then, beaming o'er the illumined wall they shone;
Now dust dishonours, all their lustre gone.
I bear them hence, (so Jove my soul inspires,)
From the pollution of the fuming fires;
Lest when the bowl inflames, in vengeful mood
Ye rush to arms, and stain the feast with blood: 315
Oft ready swords in luckless hour incite
The hand of wrath, and arm it for the fight.
"Such be the plea, and by the plea deceive:
For Jove infatuates all, and all believe.
Yet leave for each of us a sword to wield,
A pointed javelin, and a fenceful shield.
But by my blood that in thy bosom glows,
By that regard a son his father owes;
The secret, that thy father lives, retain
Lock'd in thy bosom from the household train; 325
Hide it from all; ev'n from Eumæus hide,
From my dear father, and my dearer bride.
Onc care remains, to note the royal few
Whose faith yet lasts among the menial crew;
And noting, ere we rise in vengeance, prove
Who loves his prince; for sure you merit love."
To whom the youth: "To emulate I aim
The brave and wise, and my great father's fame.
But reconsider, since the wisest err,
Vengeance resolved, 'tis dangerous to defer.
What length of time must we consume in vain,
Too curious to explore the menial train?
While the proud foes, industrious to destroy
Thy wealth, in riot the delay enjoy.
Suffice it in this exigence alone
To mark the damsels that attend the throne:
Dispersed the youth reside; their faith to prove
Jove grants henceforth, if thou hast spoke from Jove."
While in debate they waste the hours away,
The associates of the prince repass'd the bay:
With speed they guide the vessel to the shores;
With speed debarking land the naval stores;
Then, faithful to their charge, to Clytius bear,
And trust the presents to his friendly care.
Swift to the queen a herald flies to impart
Her son's return, and ease a parent's heart;
Lest a sad prey to ever-musing cares,
Pale grief destroy what time a while forbears.
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