Classic Poem

Now when the Rosie-fingerd morne arose,
The sacred powre Alcinous did dispose
Did likewise rise, and like him left his Ease
The Cittie-racer Laertiades.
The Councell at the Navie was design'd,
To which Alcinous with the sacred mind
Came first of all. On polisht stones they state
Neare to the Navie. To increase the state,
Minerva tooke the herald's forme on her
That serv'd Alcinous, studious to prefer
Ulysses' Suite for home. About the towne
She made quicke way, and fild with the renowne
Of that designe the eares of every man,
Proclaiming thus: " Peers Phaeacensian!
And men of Councell! All haste to the Court,
To heare the stranger that made late resort
To king Alcinous, long time lost at Sea,
And is in person like a Deitie."
This all their powres set up and spirit instild,
And straight the Court and seats with men were fild.
The whole State wonderd at Laertes' Son
When they beheld him. Pallas put him on
A supernaturall and heavenly dresse,
Enlarg'd him with a height and goodlinesse
In breast and shoulders that he might appeare
Gracious and grave and reverend, and beare
A perfect hand on his performance there
In all the trials they resolv'd t'impose.
All met, and gatherd in attention close,
Alcinous thus bespake them: " Dukes, and Lords,
Heare me digest my hearty thoughts in words.
This Stranger here whose travels found my Court
I know not, nor can tell if his resort
From East or West comes. But his suite is this,
That to his Countrey earth we would dismis
His hither-forced person, and doth beare
The minde to passe it under every Peere —
Whom I prepare and stirre up, making knowne
My free desire of his deduction.
Nor shall there ever any other man
That tries the goodnesse Phaeacensian
In me and my Court's entertainement stay
Mourning for passage under least delay.
Come then. A ship into the sacred seas,
New-built, now lanch we, and from out our prease
Chuse two and fiftie Youths, of all the best
To use an oare. All which see straight imprest
And in their Oare-bound seates. Let others hie
Home to our Court, commanding instantly
The solemne preparation of a feast,
In which provision may for any guest
Be made at my charge. Charge of these low things
I give our Youth. You Scepter-bearing kings,
Consort me home, and helpe with grace to use
This guest of ours: no one man shall refuse.
Some other of you haste and call to us
The sacred singer, grave Demodocus,
To whom hath God given song that can excite
The heart of whom he listeth with delight."
This said, he led. The Scepter-bearers lent
Their free attendance, and with all speede went
The herald for the sacred man in song.
Youths two and fiftie, chosen from the throng,
Went, as was willd, to the untam'd sea's shore;
Where come, they lancht the ship, the Mast it bore
Advanc't, sailes hoised, every seate his Ore
Gave with a lether thong: the deepe moist then
They further reacht. The drie streets flowd with men
That troup't up to the king's capacious Court,
Whose Porticos were chok't with the resort,
Whose wals were hung with men: yong, old, thrust there
In mighty concourse; for whose promist cheere
Alcinous slue twelve Sheepe, eight white-toothd Swine,
Two crook-hancht Beeves; which flead and drest, divine
The show was of so many a jocund Guest
All set together at so set a feast.
To whose accomplisht state the Herald then
The lovely Singer led, who past all men
The Muse affected, gave him good and ill —
His eies put out, but put in soule at will.
His place was given him in a chaire all grac't
With silver studs and gainst a Pillar plac't,
Where as the Center to the State he rests,
And round about the circle of the Guests.
The Herald on a Pinne above his head
His soundfull harpe hung, to whose height he led
His hand for taking of it downe at will,
A Boord set by with food, and forth did fill
A Bowle of wine to drinke at his desire.
The rest then fell to feast, and when the fire
Of appetite was quencht, the Muse inflam'd
The sacred Singer. Of men highliest fam'd
He sung the glories, and a Poeme pend
That in applause did ample heaven ascend —
Whose subject was the sterne contention
Betwixt Ulysses and Great Thetis' Sonne,
As at a banket sacred to the Gods
In dreadfull language they exprest their ods.
When Agamemnon sat rejoyc't in soule
To heare the Greeke Peeres jarre in termes so foule,
For Augur Phaebus in presage had told
The king of men (desirous to unfold
The war's perplexed end, and being therefore gone
In heavenly Pytho to the Porch of stone)
That then the end of all griefes should begin
Twixt Greece and Troy when Greece (with strife to winne
That wisht conclusion) in her kings should jarre,
And pleade if force or wit must end the warre.
This brave contention did the Poet sing,
Expressing so the spleene of either king
That his large purple weede Ulysses held
Before his face and eies, since thence distilld
Teares uncontaind, which he obscur'd, in feare
To let th'observing Presence note a teare.
But when his sacred song the meere Divine
Had given an end, a Goblet crownd with wine
Ulysses (drying his wet eies) did seise,
And sacrifisde to those Gods that would please
T'inspire the Poet with a song so fit
To do him honour and renowme his wit.
His teares then staid. But when againe began
(By all the kings' desires) the moving man,
Againe Ulysses could not chuse but yeeld
To that soft passion, which againe withheld
He kept so cunningly from sight that none
(Except Alcinous himselfe alone)
Discern'd him mov'd so much. But he sat next,
And heard him deeply sigh — which his pretext
Could not keepe hid from him. Yet he conceal'd
His utterance of it, and would have it held
From all the rest, brake off the song, and this
Said to those Ore-affecting Peeres of his:
" Princes and Peeres! we now are satiate
With sacred song that fits a feast of state,
With wine, and food. Now then to field, and try
In all kinds our approv'd activity,
That this our Guest may give his friends to know
In his returne that we as little owe
To fights and wrestlings, leaping, speede of race,
As these our Court-rites, and commend our grace
In all to all superiour." Foorth he led
The Peeres and people, troup't up to their head.
Nor must Demodocus be left within,
Whose harpe the Herald hung upon the pinne,
His hand in his tooke, and abroad he brought
The heavenly Poet, out the same way wrought
That did the Princes; and what they would see
With admiration with his companie
They wisht to honour. To the place of Game
These throng'd, and after routs of other came
Of all sort infinite. Of Youths that strove,
Many and strong rose to their trial's love.
Up rose Acroneus and Ocyalus,
Elatreus, Prymneus and Anchialus,
Nauteus, Eretmeus, Thoon, Proreus,
Ponteus and the strong Amphialus,
Sonne to Tectonides, Polyneus.
Up rose to these, the great Euryalus,
In action like the homicide of warre,
Naubolides, that was for person farre
Past all the rest, but one he could not passe
Nor any thought improve, Laodamas.
Up Anabesineus then arose,
And three sonnes of the Scepter state, and those
Were Halius, and fore-praisde Laodamas,
And Clytoneus, like a God in grace.
These first the foote-game tride, and from the lists
Tooke start together. Up the dust in mists
They hurld about as in their speede they flew;
But Clytoneus first of all the crew
A Stiche's length in any fallow field
Made good his pace, when where the Judges yeeld
The prise and praise his glorious speed arriv'd.
Next for the boistrous wrestling Game they striv'd,
At which Euryalus the rest outshone.
At leape, Amphialus, at the hollow stone
Elatreus exceld. At buffets, last,
Laodamas, the king's faire sonne, surpast.
When all had striv'd in these assaies their fill,
Laodamas said: " Come, friends, let's prove what skill
This Stranger hath attaind to in our sport;
Me thinks he must be of the active sort.
His calves, thighs, hands and well-knit shoulders show
That Nature disposition did bestow
To fit with fact their forme. Nor wants he prime.
But sowre Affliction, made a mate with Time,
Makes Time the more seene. Nor imagine I
A worse thing to enforce debilitie
Than is the Sea, though nature ne're so strong
Knits one together." " Nor conceive you wrong,"
Replied Euryalus, " but prove his blood
With what you question." In the midst then stood
Renowm'd Laodamas, and prov'd him thus:
" Come, stranger Father, and assaie with us
Your powrs in these contentions. If your show
Be answerd with your worth, tis fit that you
Should know these conflicts, nor doth glorie stand
On any worth more in a man's command
Than to be strenuous both of foote and hand.
Come, then, make proofe with us; discharge your mind
Of discontentments, for not farre behind
Comes your deduction. Ship is ready now,
And men and all things." " Why," said he, " dost thou
Mocke me, Laodamas, and these strifes bind
My powrs to answer? I am more inclind
To cares than conflict. Much sustaind I have,
And still am suffering. I come here to crave
In your assemblies meanes to be dismist,
And pray both Kings and subjects to assist."
Euryalus an open brawle began,
And said: " I take you, Sir, for no such man
As fits these honord strifes. A number more
Strange men there are that I would chuse before.
To one that loves to lie a ship-boord much,
Or is the Prince of sailours, or to such
As traffique farre and neare, and nothing minde
But freight and passage and a foreright winde,
Or to a victler of a ship, or men
That set up all their powrs for rampant Gaine,
I can compare or hold you like to be —
But for a wrestler, or of qualitie
Fit for contentions noble, you abhor
From worth of any such competitor."
Ulysses (frowning) answerd: " Stranger! farre
Thy words are from the fashions regular
Of kinde or honour. Thou art in thy guise
Like to a man that authors injuries.
I see the Gods to all men give not all
Manly addiction, wisedome, words that fall
(Like dice) upon the square still. Some man takes
Ill forme from parents, but God often makes
That fault of forme up with observ'd repaire
Of pleasing speech: that makes him held for faire,
That makes him speake securely, makes him shine
In an assembly with a grace divine.
Men take delight to see how evenly lie
His words asteepe in honey modestie.
Another, then, hath fashion like a God,
But in his language he is foule and broad.
And such art thou. A person faire is given,
But nothing else is in thee sent from heaven,
For in thee lurkes a base and earthy soule —
And t'hast compelld me with a speech most foule
To be thus bitter. I am not unseene
In these faire strifes, as thy words overweene,
But in the first ranke of the best I stand.
At least, I did when youth and strength of hand
Made me thus confident, but now am worne
With woes and labours, as a humane borne
To beare all anguish. Sufferd much I have.
The warre of men and the inhumane wave
Have I driven through at all parts: but, with all
My waste in sufferance, what yet may fall
In my performance at these strifes I'le trie.
Thy speech hath mov'd and made my wrath runne hie."
This said, with robe and all, he graspt a stone
A little graver than was ever throwne
By these Phaeacians in their wrestling rout,
More firme, more massie, which (turnd round about)
He hurried from him with a hand so strong
It sung and flew, and over all the throng
(That at the others' markes stood) quite it went:
Yet downe fell all beneath it, fearing spent
The force that drave it flying from his hand,
As it a dart were, or a walking wand.
And farre past all the markes of all the rest
His wing stole way. When Pallas straight imprest
A marke at fall of it, resembling then
One of the navy-given Phaeacian men,
And thus advanc't Ulysses: " One (though blinde),
O stranger, groping, may thy stone's fall finde;
For not amidst the rout of markes it fell
But farre before all. Of thy worth thinke well,
And stand in all strifes: no Phaeacian here,
This bound can either better or come nere."
Ulysses joyd to heare that one man yet
Usde him benignly and would Truth abet
In those contentions. And then thus smooth
He tooke his speech downe: " Reach me that now, Youth:
You shall (and straight I thinke) have one such more,
And one beyond it too. And now, whose Core
Stands sound and great within him (since ye have
Thus put my splene up), come againe and brave
The Guest ye tempted with such grosse disgrace,
At wrestling, buffets, whirlbat, speed of race.
At all, or either, I except at none,
But urge the whole State of you; onely one
I will not challenge in my forced boast,
And that's Laodamas, for hee's mine Host —
And who will fight, or wrangle with his friend?
Unwise he is, and base, that will contend
With him that feedes him in a forreigne place,
And takes all edge off from his owne sought grace.
None else except I here, nor none despise,
But wish to know and prove his faculties
That dares appeare now. No strife ye can name
Am I unskilld in (reckon any game
Of all that are, as many as there are
In use with men); for Archerie I dare
Affirme my selfe not meane. Of all a troupe
I'le make the first foe with mine arrow stoupe,
Though with me ne're so many fellowes bend
Their bowes at markt men and affect their end.
Onely was Philoctetes with his bow
Still my superiour, when we Greekes would show
Our Archerie against our foes of Troy.
But all that now by bread fraile life enjoy
I farre hold my inferiours. Men of old
None now alive shall witnesse me so bold
To vant equality with such men as these —
oechalian Eurytus, Hercules,
Who with their bowes durst with the Gods contend.
And therefore caught Eurytus soone his end,
Nor di'd at home, in age, a reverend man,
But by the Great incensed Delphian
Was shot to death, for daring competence
With him in all an Archer's excellence.
A Speare I'le hurle as farre as any man
Shall shoote a shaft. How at a race I can
Bestirre my feete I onely yeeld to Feare,
And doubt to meete with my superiour here.
So many seas so too much have misusde
My lims for race, and therefore have diffusde
A dissolution through my loved knees."
This said, he stilld all talking properties.
Alcinous onely answerd: " O my Guest,
In good part take we what you have bene prest
With speech to answer. You would make appeare
Your vertues therefore, that will still shine where
Your onely looke is. Yet must this man give
Your worth ill language, when he does not live
In sort of mortals (whence so ere he springs
That judgement hath to speake becoming things)
That will deprave your vertues. Note then now
My speech and what my love presents to you,
That you may tell Heroes, when you come
To banquet with your Wife and Birth at home,
(Mindfull of our worth) what deservings Jove
Hath put on our parts likewise, in remove
From Sire to Sonne, as an inherent grace
Kinde and perpetuall. We must needs give place
To other Countreymen and freely yeeld
We are not blamelesse in our fights of field,
Buffets, nor wrestlings: but in speede of feete
And all the Equipage that fits a fleete
We boast us best — for table ever spred
With neighbour feasts, for garments varied,
For Poesie, Musique, Dancing, Baths and Beds.
And now, Phaeacians, you that beare your heads
And feete with best grace in enamouring dance,
Enflame our guest here, that he may advance
Our worth past all the worlds to his home friends,
As well for the unmatcht grace that commends
Your skills in footing of a dance as theirs
That flie a race best. And so all affaires
At which we boast us best he best may trie,
As Sea-race, Land-race, Dance and Poesie.
Some one with instant speede to Court retire
And fetch Demodocus his soundfull lyre."
This said the God-grac't king, and quicke resort
Pontonous made for that faire harpe to Court.
Nine of the lot-chusde publique Rulers rose,
That all in those contentions did dispose,
Commanding a most smooth ground, and a wide,
And all the people in faire game aside.
Then with the rich harpe came Pontonous,
And in the midst tooke place Demodocus.
About him then stood foorth the choise yong men
That on man's first youth made fresh entrie then,
Had Art to make their naturall motion sweete
And shooke a most divine dance from their feete,
That twinckld Star-like, mov'd as swift and fine,
And beate the aire so thinne they made it shine.
Ulysses wonderd at it, but amazd
He stood in minde to heare the dance so phras'd.
For, as they danc't, Demodocus did sing
The bright-crownd Venus' love with Battaile's king.
As first they closely mixt in t'house of fire.
What worlds of gifts wonne her to his desire,
Who then the night-and-day-bed did defile
Of good king Vulcan. But in little while
The Sunne their mixture saw, and came, and told.
The bitter newes did by his eares take hold
Of Vulcan's heart. Then to his Forge he went,
And in his shrewd mind deepe stuffe did invent.
His mightie Anvile in the stocke he put,
And forg'd a net that none could loose or cut,
That when it had them it might hold them fast.
Which having finisht, he made utmost haste
Up to the deare roome where his wife he wowd,
And (madly wrath with Mars) he all bestrowd
The bed and bed-posts, all the beame above
That crost the chamber, and a circle strove
Of his device to wrap in all the roome.
And twas as pure as of a Spider's loome
The woofe before tis woven. No man nor God
Could set his eie on it, a sleight so odde
His Art shewd in it. All his craft bespent
About the bed, he faind as if he went
To well-built Lemnos, his most loved towne
Of all townes earthly. Nor left this unknowne
To golden-bridle-using Mars, who kept
No blinde watch over him, but, seeing stept
His rivall so aside, he hasted home
With faire-wreath'd Venus' love stung, who was come
New from the Court of her most mightie Sire.
Mars enterd, wrung her hand, and the retire
Her husband made to Lemnos told, and said:
" Now, Love, is Vulcan gone; let us to bed;
Hee's for the barbarous Sintians." Well appaid
Was Venus with it, and afresh assaid
Their old encounter. Downe they went, and straight
About them clingd the artificiall sleight
Of most wise Vulcan, and were so ensnar'd
That neither they could stirre their course prepar'd
In any lim about them, nor arise.
And then they knew they could no more disguise
Their close conveiance, but lay, forc't, stone still.
Backe rusht the both-foote-crook't, but straight in skill
From his neare skout-hole turnd, nor ever went
To any Lemnos; but the sure event
Left Phaebus to discover, who told all.
Then home hopt Vulcan, full of griefe and gall,
Stood in the Portall, and cried out so hie
That all the Gods heard: " Father of the skie,
And every other deathlesse God," said he,
" Come all, and a ridiculous object see,
And yet not sufferable neither. Come
And witnesse, how, when still I step from home
(Lame that I am) Jove's daughter doth professe
To do me all the shamefull offices,
Indignities, despites, that can be thought;
And loves this all-things-making-come-to-nought
Since he is faire forsooth, foote-sound, and I
Tooke in my braine a little, leg'd awrie —
And no fault mine, but all my parents' fault
Who should not get, if mocke me with my halt.
But see how fast they sleepe while I, in mone,
Am onely made an idle looker on.
One bed their turne serves, and it must be mine.
I thinke yet I have made their selfe-loves shine.
They shall no more wrong me and none perceive:
Nor will they sleepe together, I beleeve,
With too hote haste againe. Thus both shall lie
In craft and force, till the extremitie
Of all the dowre I gave her Sire (to gaine
A dogged set-fac't Girle, that will not staine
Her face with blushing though she shame her head)
He paies me backe. She's faire, but was no maide."
While this long speech was making, all were come
To Vulcan's wholie-brazen-founded home —
Earth-shaking Neptune, usefull Mercurie,
And far-shot Phaebus. No She-Deitie,
For shame, would show there. All the give-good Gods
Stood in the Portall, and past periods
Gave length to laughters; all rejoyc't to see
That, which they said that no impietie
Finds good successe at th'end. " And now," said one,
" The slow outgoes the swift. Lame Vulcan, knowne
To be the slowest of the Gods, outgoes
Mars the most swift. And this is that which growes
To greatest justice, that Adulterie's sport,
Obtain'd by craft, by craft of other sort
(And lame craft too) is plagu'd — which grieves the more
That sound lims turning lame the lame restore."
This speech amongst themselves they entertaind,
When Phaebus thus askt Hermes: " Thus enchaind
Would'st thou be, Hermes, to be thus disclosde,
Though with thee golden Venus were repos'de?"
He soone gave that an answer: " O," said he,
" Thou king of Archers, would twere thus with me,
Though thrice so much shame — nay, though infinite
Were powrd about me, and that every light
In great heaven shining witnest all my harmes —
So golden Venus slumberd in mine Armes."
The Gods againe laught; even the watry state
Wrung out a laughter, but propitiate
Was still for Mars, and praid the God of fire
He would dissolve him, offering the desire
He made to Jove to pay himselfe, and said
All due debts should be by the Gods repaid.
" Pay me no words," said he, " where deeds lend paine;
Wretched the words are given for wretched men.
How shall I binde you in th'Immortals' sight
If Mars be once loos'd, nor will pay his right?"
" Vulcan," said he, " if Mars should flie, nor see
Thy right repaid, it should be paid by me."
" Your word, so given, I must accept," said he —
Which said, he loosd them. Mars then rusht from skie
And stoop't cold Thrace. The laughing Deity
For Cyprus was, and tooke her Paphian state
Where she a Grove ne're cut hath consecrate,
All with Arabian odors fum'd, and hath
An Altar there at which the Graces bathe
And with immortall Balms besmooth her skin,
Fit for the blisse Immortals solace in,
Deckt her in to-be-studied attire
And apt to set beholders' hearts on fire.
This sung the sacred Muse, whose notes and words
The dancers' feete kept, as his hands his cords.
Ulysses much was pleased, and all the crew.
This would the king have varied with a new
And pleasing measure, and performed by
Two with whom none would strive in dancerie.
And those his sonnes were, that must therefore dance
Alone, and onely to the harp advance,
Without the words. And this sweete couple was
Yong Halius and divine Laodamas,
Who danc't a Ball dance. Then the rich-wrought Ball
(That Polybus had made, of purple all)
They tooke to hand: one threw it to the skie
And then danc't backe; the other (capring hie)
Would surely catch it ere his foote toucht ground
And up againe advanc't it, and so found
The other cause of dance; and then did he
Dance lofty trickes till next it came to be
His turne to catch and serve the other still.
When they had kept it up to either's will,
They then danc't ground tricks, oft mixt hand in hand,
And did so gracefully their change command
That all the other Youth that stood at pause
With deafning shouts gave them the great applause.
Then said Ulysses: " O past all men here
Cleare, not in powre but in desert as clere,
You said your dancers did the world surpasse,
And they performe it cleare, and to amaze."
This wonne Alcinous' heart, and equall prise
He gave Ulysses, saying: " Matchlesse wise,
Princes and Rulers, I perceive our guest,
And therefore let our hospitable best
In fitting gifts be given him. Twelve chiefe kings
There are that order all the glorious things
Of this our kingdome, and the thirteenth I
Exist as Crowne to all: let instantly
Be thirteene garments given him, and of gold,
Precious and fine, a Talent. While we hold
This our assembly, be all fetcht and given,
That to our feast prepar'd, as to his heaven,
Our guest may enter. And that nothing be
Left unperformd that fits his dignity,
Euryalus shall here conciliate
Himselfe with words and gifts, since past our rate
He gave bad language." This did all commend
And give in charge, and every king did send
His Herald for his gift. Euryalus
(Answering for his part) said: " Alcinous!
Our chiefe of all, since you command, I will
To this our guest by all meanes reconcile,
And give him this entirely mettald sword,
The handle massie silver, and the bord
That gives it cover all of Ivorie,
New, and in all kinds worth his qualitie."
This put he strait into his hand, and said:
" Frolicke, O Guest and Father; if words, fled,
Have bene offensive, let swift whirlwinds take
And ravish them from thought. May all Gods make
Thy wife's sight good to thee, in quicke retreate
To all thy friends and best-lov'd breeding seate,
Their long misse quitting with the greater joy —
In whose sweet, vanish all thy worst annoy."
" And frolicke thou to all height, Friend," said he,
" Which heaven confirme with wisht felicitie.
Nor ever give againe desire to thee
Of this sword's use, which with affects so free,
In my reclaime, thou hast bestowd on me."
This said, athwart his shoulders he put on
The right faire sword. And then did set the Sunne,
When all the gifts were brought, which backe againe
(With King Alcinous in all the traine)
Were by the honourd Heralds borne to Court,
Which his faire sonnes tooke, and from the resort
Laid by their reverend Mother. Each his throne
Of all the Peeres (which yet were overshone
In King Alcinous' command) ascended:
Whom he to passe as much in gifts contended,
And to his Queene said: " Wife! see brought me here
The fairest Cabinet I have, and there
Impose a well-cleansd in and utter weed.
A Caldron heate with water, that with speed
Our Guest well bath'd, and all his gifts made sure,
It may a joyfull appetite procure
To his succeeding Feast, and make him heare
The Poet's Hymne with the securer eare.
To all which I will adde my boll of gold,
In all frame curious, to make him hold
My memory alwaies deare and sacrifise
With it at home to all the Deities."
Then Arete her maids charg'd to set on
A well-siz'd Caldron quickly. Which was done,
Cleare water powr'd in, flame made so entire
It gilt the brasse and made the water fire.
In meane space, from her chamber brought the Queene
A wealthy Cabinet, where (pure and cleane)
She put the garments and the gold bestowd
By that free State, and then the other vowd
By her Alcinous, and said: " Now, Guest,
Make close and fast your gifts, lest when you rest
A ship-boord sweetly, in your way you meet
Some losse that lesse may make your next sleepe sweet."
This when Ulysses heard, all sure he made,
Enclosde and bound safe, for the saving trade
The Reverend-for-her-wisedome (Circe) had
In foreyeares taught him. Then the handmaid bad
His worth to bathing; which rejoyc't his heart,
For since he did with his Calypso part
He had no hote baths. None had favourd him,
Nor bin so tender of his kingly lim.
But all the time he spent in her abode,
He liv'd respected as he were a God.
Cleansd then and balmd, faire shirt and robe put on,
Fresh come from bath and to the Feasters gone,
Nausicaa, that from the Gods' hands tooke
The soveraigne beautie of her blessed looke,
Stood by a well-carv'd Columne of the roome,
And through her eye her heart was overcome
With admiration of the Port imprest
In his aspect, and said: " God save you, Guest!
Be chearfull, as in all the future state
Your home will shew you in your better Fate.
But yet, even then, let this rememberd be,
Your life's price I lent and you owe it me."
The varied-in-all-counsels gave reply:
" Nausicaa! flowre of all this Empery!
So Juno's husband, that the strife for noise
Makes in the clouds, blesse me with strife of Joyes
In the desir'd day that my house shall show,
As I, as I to a Goddesse, there shall vow
To thy faire hand that did my Being give,
Which I'le acknowledge every houre I live."
This said, Alcinous plac't him by his side.
Then tooke they feast, and did in parts divide
The severall dishes, filld out wine, and then
The striv'd-for, for his worth, of worthy men
And reverenc't of the State, Demodocus,
Was brought in by the good Pontonous.
In midst of all the guests they gave him place
Against a loftie Pillar, when this grace
The grac't-with-wisedome did him. From the Chine
That stood before him of a white-tooth'd Swine
(Being farre the daintiest joynt), mixt through with fat,
He carv'd to him and sent it where he sat
By his old friend, the Herald, willing thus:
" Herald! reach this to grave Demodocus.
Say, I salute him and his worth embrace.
Poets deserve past all the humane race
Reverend respect and honor, since the Queene
Of knowledge and the supreme worth in men,
The Muse, informes them and loves all their race."
This reacht the Herald to him, who the grace
Receiv'd encourag'd: which, when feast was spent,
Ulysses amplified to this ascent:
" Demodocus! I must preferre you farre
Past all your sort, if or the Muse of warre,
Jove's daughter, prompts you (that the Greeks respects),
Or if the Sunne, that those of Troy affects.
For I have heard you, since my coming, sing
The Fate of Greece to an admired string —
How much our sufferance was, how much we wrought,
How much the actions rose to when we fought,
So lively forming as you had bin there,
Or to some free relator lent your eare.
Forth then, and sing the woodden horse's frame,
Built by Epeus, by the martiall Dame
Taught the whole Fabricke; which, by force of sleight,
Ulysses brought into the Citie's height
When he had stuft it with as many men
As leveld loftie Ilion with the Plaine.
With all which if you can as well enchant
As with expression quicke and elegant
You sung the rest, I will pronounce you cleare
Inspir'd by God, past all that ever were."
This said, even stird by God up, he began,
And to his Song fell, past the forme of man,
Beginning where the Greeks a ship-boord went
And every Chiefe had set on fire his Tent,
When th'other Kings, in great Ulysses' guide,
In Troy's vast market place the horse did hide,
From whence the Troyans up to Ilion drew
The dreadfull Engine — where sate all arew
Their Kings about it, many counsels given
How to dispose it. In three waies were driven
Their whole distractions: first, if they should feele
The hollow wood's heart (searcht with piercing steele),
Or from the battlements (drawne higher yet)
Deject it headlong, or that counterfet
So vast and novell set on sacred fire,
Vowd to appease each angerd Godhead's ire.
On which opinion they thereafter saw
They then should have resolv'd, th'unalterd law
Of Fate presaging that Troy then should end
When th'hostile horse she should receive to friend;
For therein should the Grecian Kings lie hid,
To bring the Fate and death they after did.
He sung, besides, the Greeks' eruption
From those their hollow crafts, and horse forgone;
And how they made Depopulation tred
Beneath her feete so high a Citie's head.
In which affaire, he sung in other place
That of that ambush some man else did race
The Ilian Towres than Laertiades —
But here he sung that he alone did seise
(With Menelaus) the ascended roofe
Of Prince Deiphobus, and Mars-like proofe
Made of his valour, a most dreadfull fight
Daring against him; and there vanquisht quite
In litle time (by great Minerva's aid)
All Ilion's remnant, and Troy levell laid.
This the divine Expressor did so give
Both act and passion that he made it live,
And to Ulysses' facts did breathe a fire
So deadly quickning that it did inspire
Old death with life, and renderd life so sweet
And passionate that all there felt it fleet —
Which made him pitie his owne crueltie,
And put into that ruth so pure an eie
Of humane frailtie, that to see a man
Could so revive from Death, yet no way can
Defend from death, his owne quicke powres it made
Feele there death's horrors, and he felt life fade.
In teares his feeling braine swet: for in things
That move past utterance, teares ope all their springs.
Nor are there in the Powres that all life beares
More true interpreters of all than teares.
And as a Ladie mournes her sole-lov'd Lord,
That, falne before his Citie by the sword,
Fighting to rescue from a cruell Fate
His towne and children, and in dead estate
Yet panting seeing him, wraps him in her armes,
Weeps, shriekes and powres her health into his armes,
Lies on him, striving to become his shield
From foes that still assaile him, speares impeld
Through backe and shoulders, by whose points embrude
They raise and leade him into servitude,
Labor and languor — for all which the Dame
Eates downe her cheekes with teares, and feeds life's flame
With miserable sufferance: so this King
Of teare-swet anguish op't a boundlesse spring —
Nor yet was seene to any one man there
But King Alcinous, who sate so neare
He could not scape him, sighs (so chok't) so brake
From all his tempers, which the King did take
Both note and grave respect of, and thus spake:
" Heare me, Phaeacian Counsellers and Peeres,
And ceasse, Demodocus; perhaps all eares
Are not delighted with his song, for ever
Since the divine Muse sung our Guest hath never
Containd from secret mournings. It may fall
That something sung he hath bin griev'd withall,
As touching his particular. Forbeare,
That Feast may joyntly comfort all hearts here,
And we may cheare our Guest up; tis our best
In all due honor. For our reverend Guest
Is all our celebration, gifts, and all;
His love hath added to our Festivall.
A Guest, and suppliant, too, we should esteeme
Deare as our brother; one that doth but dreame
He hath a soule, or touch but at a mind
Deathlesse and manly, should stand so enclin'd.
Nor cloke you longer with your curious wit,
Lov'd Guest, what ever we shall aske of it.
It now stands on your honest state to tell;
And therefore give your name, nor more conceale
What of your parents and the Towne that beares
Name of your native, or of forreiners
That neare us border, you are calld in fame.
There's no man living walkes without a name,
Noble nor base, but had one from his birth
Imposde as fit as to be borne. What earth,
People, and citie owne you? Give to know.
Tell but our ships all, that your way must show;
For our ships know th'expressed minds of men,
And will so most intentively retaine
Their scopes appointed that they never erre,
And yet use never any man to stere,
Nor any Rudders have, as others need.
They know men's thoughts and whither tends their speed,
And there will set them. For you cannot name
A Citie to them, nor fat Soile, that Fame
Hath any notice given, but well they know,
And will flie to them, though they ebbe and flow
In blackest clouds and nights, and never beare
Of any wracke or rocke the slendrest feare.
But this I heard my Sire Nausithous say
Long since, that Neptune, seeing us convay
So safely passengers of all degrees,
Was angry with us; and upon our seas
A well-built ship we had (neare harbor come
From safe deduction of some stranger home)
Made in his flitting billowes sticke stone still,
And dimm'd our Citie, like a mightie hill
With shade cast round about it. This report
The old King made; in which miraculous sort,
If God had done such things, or left undone,
At his good pleasure be it. But now, on,
And truth relate us, both from whence you errd
And to what Clime of men would be transferrd,
With all their faire Townes, be they as they are,
If rude, unjust, and all irregular,
Or hospitable, bearing minds that please
The mightie Deitie. Which one of these
You would be set at, say, and you are there.
And therefore what afflicts you? Why to heare
The Fate of Greece and Ilion mourne you so?
The Gods have done it; as to all they do
Destine destruction, that from thence may rise
A Poeme to instruct posterities.
Fell any kinsman before Ilion?
Some worthy Sire-in-law, or like-neare sonne,
Whom next our owne blood and self-race we love?
Or any friend, perhaps, in whom did move
A knowing soule, and no unpleasing thing?
Since such a good one is no underling
To any brother: for what fits true friends
True wisedome is, that blood and birth transcends.