Tele. Of circular prospect, to his bed ascended, machus And in his mind much weighty thought contended. retires to Before him Euryclea (that well knew

rest

All the observance of a handmaid's due,
Daughter to Opis Pisenorides)

661

Bore two bright torches; who did so much please
Laertes in her prime, that, for the price
Of twenty oxen, he made merchandize
Of her rare beauties; and love's equal flame,
To her he felt, as to his nuptial dame,
Yet never durst he mix with her in bed,
So much the anger of his wife he fled.
She, now grown old, to
young Telemachus
Two torches bore, and was obsequious
Past all his other maids, and did apply
Her service to him from his infancy.

670

His well-built chamber reach'd, she op'd the door;
He on his bed sat, the soft weeds he wore
Put off, and to the diligent old maid
Gave all; who fitly all in thick folds laid,
And hung them on a beam-pin near the bed,
That round about was rich embroideréd.
Then made she haste forth from him, and did bring
The door together with a silver ring,
And by a string a bar to it did pull.

He, laid, and cover'd well with curled wool 680
Woven in silk quilts, all night employ'd his mind
About the task that Pallas had design'd.

THE SECOND BOOK OF

HOMER'S ODYSSEYS

THE ARGUMENT

TELEMACHUS to court doth call
The Wooers, and commands them all
To leave his house; and taking then
From wise Minerva ship and men,
And all things fit for him beside,
That Euryclea could provide

For sea-rites, till he found his sire,

He hoists sail; when Heaven stoops his fire.

ANOTHER

Bira. The old Maid's store

The voyage cheers.

The ship leaves shore,

Minerva steers.

Now when with rosy fingers, th' early born

The

And thrown through all the air, appear'd the heralds

Morn,

Ulysses' lov'd son from his bed appear'd,
His weeds put on, and did about him gird
His sword that thwart his shoulders hung, and tied
To his fair feet fair shoes, and all parts plied
For speedy readiness: who, when he trod
The open earth, to men show'd like a God.

The heralds then he straight charg'd to consort
The curl'd-head Greeks, with loud calls, to a
Court.

ΙΟ

They summon'd; th' other came in utmost haste.
Who all assembled, and in one heap plac'd,

23

summon a court

met to

gether

Antiphus He likewise came to council, and did bear
asks why In his fair hand his iron-headed spear.
they are Nor came alone, nor with men-troops prepar❜d,
But two fleet dogs made both his train and guard.
Pallas supplied with her high wisdom's grace,
That all men's wants supplies, State's painted face.
His entring presence all men did admire;
Who took seat in the high throne of his sire, 20
To which the grave peers gave him reverend way.
Amongst whom, an Egyptian heroë

(Crooked with age, and full of skill) begun
The speech to all; who had a loved son
That with divine Ulysses did ascend

His hollow fleet to Troy; to serve which end,
He kept fair horse, and was a man-at-arms,
And in the cruel Cyclop's stern alarms
His life lost by him in his hollow cave,
Whose entrails open'd his abhorréd grave,
And made of him, of all Ulysses' train,
His latest supper, being latest slain;

His name was Antiphus. And this old man,
This crooked-grown, this wise Egyptian,
Had three sons more; of which one riotous
A wooer was, and call'd Eurynomus ;

30

The other two took both his own wish'd course.
Yet both the best fates weigh'd not down the worse,
But left the old man mindful still of moan;
Who, weeping, thus bespake the Session:

Hear, Ithacensians, all I fitly say:
Since our divine Ulysses' parting day
Never was council call'd, nor session,
And now by whom is this thus undergone?
Whom did necessity so much compell,
Of young or old? Hath any one heard tell

40

Tele

machus declares

his

50 wrongs

Of any coming army, that he thus now
May openly take boldness to avow,
First having heard it? Or will any here
Some motion for the public good prefer?
Some worth of note there is in this command;
And, methinks, it must be some good man's hand
That's put to it, that either hath direct
Means to assist, or, for his good affect,
Hopes to be happy in the proof he makes;
And that Jove grant, whate'er he undertakes.'
Telemachus (rejoicing much to hear
The good hope and opinion men did bear
Of his young actions) no longer sat,

But long'd t' approve what this man pointed at, 60
And make his first proof in a cause so good;
And in the council's chief place up he stood;
When straight Pisenor (herald to his sire,
And learn'd in counsels) felt his heart on fire
To hear him speak, and put into his hand
The sceptre that his father did command;
Then, to the old Egyptian turn'd, he spoke:
'Father, not far he is that undertook

To call this Council; whom you soon shall know.
Myself, whose wrongs my griefs will make me

show,

70

Am he that author'd this assembly here.
Nor have I heard of any army near,
Of which, being first told, I might iterate,
Nor for the public good can aught relate,
Only mine own affairs all this procure,
That in my house a double ill endure;
One, having lost a father so renown'd,
Whose kind rule once with your command was
crown'd;

How the The other is, what much more doth augment Wooers His weighty loss, the ruin imminent devour his Of all my house by it, my goods all spent. substance And of all this the wooers, that are sons To our chief peers, are the confusións, Importuning my mother's marriage

80

Against her will; nor dares their blood's bold rage
Go to Icarius her father's court,

90

That, his will ask'd in kind and comely sort,
He may endow his daughter with a dower,
And, she consenting, at his pleasure's power
Dispose her to a man, that, thus behav'd,
May have fit grace, and see her honour sav'd.
But these, in none but my house, all their lives
Resolve to spend; slaughtring my sheep and
beeves,

And with my fattest goats lay feast on feast,
My generous wine consuming as they list.
A world of things they spoil, here wanting one,
That, like Ulysses, quickly could set gone
Those peace-plagues from his house, that spoil
like war;

100

Whom my powers are unfit to urge so far,
Myself immartial. But, had I the power,
My will should serve me to exempt this hour
From out my life-time. For, past patience,
Base deeds are done here, that exceed defence
Of any honour. Falling is my house,

Which you

should shame to see so ruinous.
Reverence the censures that all good men give,
That dwell about you; and for fear to live
Expos'd to heaven's wrath (that doth ever pay
Pains for joys forfeit) even by Jove I pray,
Or Themis, both which powers have to restrain, 110