ARGUMEN T.

The Arrival of Ulyffes in Ithaca.

ULYSSES takes his leave of Alcinous and Arete, and embarks in the evening, Next morning the fhip arrives at Ithaca ; where the failors, as Ulyffes is yet fleeping, lay him on the fhore with all his treafures. On their return Neptune changes their ship into a rock. In the mean time Ulyffes, awaking, knows not his native Ithaca, by reafon of a mift which Pollas had caft round him. He breaks into loud lamentations till the Goddefs, appearing to him in the form of a fhepherd, difcovers the country to him, and points out the particular places. He then tells a feigned ftory of his adventures, upon which fhe manifefts herfelf, and they confult together of the measures to be taken to deftroy the fuitors. To conceal his return, and disguise his perfon the more effectually, the changes him into the figure of an old beggar.

THE

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BOOK XIII.

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E ceas'd; but left so pleasing on their ear His voice, that liftening ftill they feem'd to hear. A pause of filence hufh'd the shady rooms: The grateful conference then the king resumes : Whatever toils the great Ulyffes past, Beneath this happy roof they end at last ; No longer now from fhore to shore to roam, Smooth feas and gentle winds invite him home. But hear me, princess! whom these walls inclofe, For whom my chanter fings, and goblet flows With wines unmix'd (an honour due to age, To chear the grave, and warm the poet's rage) Though labour'd gold and many a dazzling vest Lie heap'd already for our god-like gueft; Without new treasures let him not remove, Large, and expreffive of the public love: Each peer a tripod, each peer a vase bestow, A general tribute, which the state shall owe. - This fentence pleas'd: then all their steps addrest To separate mansions, and retir'd to reft.

Now did the rofy-finger'd morn arife, And shed her facred light along the skies.

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Down

Down to the haven and the fhips in hafte
They bore the treasures, and in safety plac'd.
The king himself the vafes rang'd with care:
Then bade his followers to the feast repair.
A victim ox beneath the facred hand

Of great Alcinous falls, and stains the fand:
To Jove th' Eternal (Power above all Powers !

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Who wings the winds, and darkens Heaven with fhowers)

'The flames afcend: till evening they prolong

The rites, more facred made by heavenly song :
For in the midft, with public honours grac'd,
'The lyre divine, Demodocus! was plac'd;
All, but Ulyffes, heard with fix'd delight:

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He fate, and ey'd the fun, and wish'd the night;
Slow feem'd the fun to move, the hours to roll,
His native home deep-imag'd in his foul.
As the tir'd ploughman spent with stubborn toil,
Whofe oxen long have torn the furrow'd foil,
Sees with delight the fun's declining ray,

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When home with feeble knees he bends his way

To late repaft (the day's hard labour done):
So to Ulyffes welcome fet the fun.

Then inftant to Alcinous and the reft

(The Scherian ftates) he turn'd, and thus addrest:
O thou, the firft in merit and command!
And you the peers and princes of the land!
May every joy be yours! nor this the leaft,
When due libation fhall have crown'd the feaft, 50
Safe to my home to fend your happy guest.

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Complete