Hence lies the town, as far as to the ear
Floats a strong shout along the waves of air.
There wait imbower'd, while I ascend alone
To great Alcinous on his royal throne.
Arrived, advance, impatient of delay,
And to the lofty palace bend thy way:
The lofty palace overlooks the town,
From every dome by pomp superior known;
A child may point the way. With earnest gait 365
Seek thou the queen along the rooms of state;
Her royal hand a wondrous work designs,
Around a circle of bright damsels shines,
Part twist the threads, and part the wool dispose,
While with the purple orb the spindle glows.
High on a throne, amid the Scherian powers,
My royal father shares the genial hours;
But to the queen thy mournful tale disclose,
With the prevailing eloquence of woes:
So shalt thou view with joy thy natal shore,
Though mountains rise between, and oceans roar."
She added not, but waving as she wheel'd
The silver scourge, it glitter'd o'er the field:
With skill the virgin guides the embroider'd rein,
Slow rolls the car before the attending train. 380
Now whirling down the heavens, the golden day
Shot through the western clouds a dewy ray;
The grove they reach, where from the sacred shade
To Pallas thus the pensive hero pray'd:
384
Daughter of Jove! whose arms in thunder wield The avenging bolt, and shake the dreadful shield; Forsook by thee, in vain I sought thy aid When booming billows closed above my head; Attend, unconquer'd maid! accord my vows, Bid the Great hear, and pitying heal my woes." 390 This heard Minerva, but forbore to fly
(By Neptune awed) apparent from the sky; Stern god! who raged with vengeance unrestrain❜d, Till great Ulysses hail'd his native land.
THE Princess Nausicaa returns to the city, and Ulysses soon after follows thither-He is met by Pallas in the form of a young virgin, who guides him to the palace, and directs him in what manner to address the Queen Arete-She then involves him in a mist, which causes him to pass invisible-The palace and gardens of Alcinous described-Ulysses falling at the feet of the queen, the mist disperses, the Phæacians admire, and receive him with respect-The queen inquiring by what means he had the garments he then wore, he relates to her and Alcinous his departure from Calypso, and his arrival on their dominions. [The same day continues, and the book ends with the night.]
THE patient heavenly man thus suppliant pray'd;
While the slow mules draw on the imperial maid:
Through the proud street she moves, the public gaze;
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. 30 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 who breathes a foreign air.
These did the ruler of the deep ordain
To build proud navies and command the main;
On canvass 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.
66 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 ev'n 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.
For know, from ocean's god Nausithous sprung,
And Peribœa, 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
(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, 110
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, 125
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;
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