Classic Poem

The great in counsels made her this reply:
" Renowm'd and to be reverenc'd Deitie!
Let it not move thee that so much I vow
My comforts to my wife, though well I know
All cause my selfe why wise Penelope
In wit is farre inferiour to thee,
In feature, stature, all the parts of show,
She being a mortall, an Immortall thou,
Old ever growing, and yet never old.
Yet her desire shall all my dayes see told,
Adding the sight of my returning day,
And naturall home. If any God shall lay
His hand upon me as I passe the seas,
I'le beare the worst of what his hand shall please,
As having given me such a mind as shall
The more still rise, the more his hand lets fall.
In warres and waves my sufferings were not small.
I now have sufferd much; as much before;
Hereafter let as much result, and more."

This said, the Sunne set, and earth shadowes gave,
When these two (in an in-roome of the Cave
Left to themselves) left Love no rites undone.
The early Morne up, up he rose, put on
His in and out weed. She her selfe inchaces
Amidst a white robe; full of all the Graces,
Ample and pleated, thicke, like fishie skales.
A golden girdle then her waste empales;
Her head a veile decks; and abroad they come.
And now began Ulysses to go home.
A great Axe first she gave, that two wayes cut,
In which a faire wel-polisht helme was put
That from an Olive bough receiv'd his frame.
A plainer then. Then led she till they came
To loftie woods that did the Ile confine.
The Firre tree, Poplar and heaven-scaling Pine
Had there their ofspring. Of which those that were
Of driest matter and grew longest there,
He chusde for lighter saile. This place thus showne,
The Nymph turnd home. He fell to felling downe,
And twentie trees he stoopt in litle space,
Plaind, usde his Plumb, did all with artfull grace.
In meane time did Calypso wimbles bring.
He bor'd, closde, naild, and orderd every thing.
And looke how much a ship-wright will allow
A ship of burthen (one that best doth know
What fits his Art), so large a Keele he cast —
Wrought up her decks and hatches, side-boords, mast,
With willow watlings armd her to resist
The billowes' outrage, added all she mist —
Sail-yards and sterne for guide. The Nymph then brought
Linnen for sailes, which with dispatch he wrought —
Gables, and halsters, tacklings. All the Frame
In foure dayes' space to full perfection came.
The fifth day they dismist him from the shore,
Weeds, neate and odorous, gave him, victles' store,
Wine and strong waters, and a prosperous wind.
To which Ulysses (fit to be divin'd)
His sailes exposd, and hoised. Off he gat;
And chearfull was he. At the Sterne he sat
And ster'd right artfully. No sleepe could seise
His ey-lids: he beheld the Pleiades,
The Beare, surnam'd the Waine, that round doth move
About Orion, and keepes still above
The billowie Ocean, the slow-setting starre,
Bootes calld, by some the Waggonar.