The Complete Poetical Works of George Chapman

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The Complete Poetical Works of George Chapman Page 146

by George Chapman


  ‭ With her fair rod Ulysses’ royalty,

  ‭ And render’d him an aged man again,

  ‭ With all his vile integuments, lest his swain

  ‭ Should know him in his trim, and tell his queen,

  ‭ In these deep secrets being not deeply seen.

  ‭ He seen, to him the prince these words did use:

  ‭ “Welcome divine Eumæus! Now what news

  ‭ Employs the city? Are the Wooers come

  ‭ Back from their scout dismay’d? Or here at home

  ‭ Will they again attempt me?” He replied:

  ‭ “These touch not my care. I was satisfied

  ‭ To do, with most speed, what I went to do;

  ‭ My message done, return. And yet, not so

  ‭ Came my news first; a herald (met with there)

  ‭ Forestall’d my tale, and told how safe you were.

  ‭ Besides which merely necessary thing,

  ‭ What in my way chanc’d I may over-bring,

  ‭ Being what I know, and witness’d with mine eyes.

  ‭ Where the Hermæan sepulchre doth rise

  ‭ Above the city, I beheld take port

  ‭ A ship, and in her many a man of sort;

  ‭ Her freight was shields and lances; and, methought,

  ‭ They were the Wooers; but, of knowledge, nought

  ‭ Can therein tell you.” The prince smil’d, and knew

  ‭ They were the Wooers, casting secret view

  ‭ Upon his father. But what they intended

  ‭ Fled far the herdsman; whose swain’s labours ended,

  ‭ They dress’d the supper, which, past want, was eat.

  ‭ When all desire suffic’d of wine and meat,

  ‭ Of other human wants they took supplies

  ‭ At Sleep’s soft hand, who sweetly clos’d their eyes.

  ‭

  ‭ THE END OF THE SIXTEENTH BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS.

  ENDNOTES.

  1 ‘Αΐδηλον ὅμιλον, ἀΐδηλος of ἀΐδης, orcus, and signifies ‭properly tenebricosus, or infernalis, so that perniciosus ‭(which is the Latin translation) is not so fit as damned for that crew ‭of dissolute Wooers. The phrase being now used to all so ‭licentious.

  2 Intending his father, whose return though he were far from ‭knowing, or fully expecting, yet he desired to order all things as he ‭were present.

  3 Intending to Laertes all that Eumæus would have told.

  4 ϕπεσὶ ἀγαθῃ̑σιν, bonis mentibus, the plural number used ever ‭by Homer.

  THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS

  THE ARGUMENT

  Telemachus, return’d to town,

  ‭ Makes to his curious mother known,

  ‭ In part, his travels. After whom

  ‭ Ulysses to the court doth come,

  ‭ In good Eumæus’ guide, and prest

  ‭ To witness of the Wooers’ feast;

  ‭ Whom, though twice ten years did bestow

  ‭ In far-off parts, his dog doth know.

  ANOTHER ARGUMENT

  Ρω̑.

  ‭ Ulysses shows

  ‭ Through all disguise.

  ‭ Whom his dog knows;

  ‭ Who knowing dies.

  But when air’s rosy birth, the morn, arose,

  ‭ Telemachus did for the town dispose

  ‭ His early steps; and took to his command

  ‭ His fair long lance, well-sorting with his hand,

  ‭ Thus parting with Eumæus: “Now, my friend,

  ‭ I must to town, lest too far I extend

  ‭ My mother’s moan for me, who, till her eyes

  ‭ Mine own eyes witness, varies tears and cries

  ‭ Through all extremes. Do then this charge of mine,

  ‭ And guide to town this hapless guest of thine,

  ‭ To beg elsewhere his further festival.

  ‭ Give they that please, I cannot give to all,

  ‭ Mine own wants take up for myself my pain.

  ‭ If it incense him, he the worst shall gain.

  ‭ The lovely truth I love, and must be plain.”

  ‭ “Alas, friend,” said his father, “nor do I

  ‭ Desire at all your further charity.

  ‭ ’Tis better beg in cities than in fields,

  ‭ And take the worst a beggar’s fortune yields.

  ‭ Nor am I apt to stay in swine-styes more,

  ‭ However; ever the great chief before

  ‭ The poor ranks must to ev’ry step obey.

  ‭ But go; your man in my command shall sway,

  ‭ Anon yet too, by favour, when your fires

  ‭ Have comforted the cold heat age expires,

  ‭ And when the sun’s flame hath besides corrected

  ‭ The early air abroad, not being protected

  ‭ By these my bare weeds from the morning’s frost,

  ‭ Which (if so much ground is to be engrost

  ‭ By my poor feet as you report) may give

  ‭ Too violent charge to th’ heat by which I live.”

  ‭ This said, his son went on with spritely pace,

  ‭ And to the Wooers studied little grace.

  ‭ Arriv’d at home, he gave his jav’lin stay

  ‭ Against a lofty pillar, and bold way

  ‭ Made further in. When having so far gone

  ‭ That he transcended the fair porch of stone,

  ‭ The first by far that gave his entry eye

  ‭ Was nurse Euryclea; who th’ embrodery

  ‭ Of stools there set was giving cushions fair;

  ‭ Who ran upon him, and her rapt repair

  ‭ Shed tears for joy. About him gather’d round

  ‭ The other maids; his head and shoulders crown’d

  ‭ With kisses and embraces. From above

  ‭ The Queen herself came, like the Queen of Love,

  ‭ Or bright Diana; cast about her son

  ‭ Her kind embraces, with effusión

  ‭ Of loving tears; kiss’d both his lovely eyes,

  ‭ His cheeks, and forehead; and gave all supplies

  ‭ With this entreaty; “Welcome, sweetest light!

  ‭ I never had conceit to set quick sight

  ‭ On thee thus soon, when thy lov’d father’s fame

  ‭ As far as Pylos did thy spirit inflame,

  ‭ In that search ventur’d all-unknown to me.

  ‭ O say, by what pow’r cam’st thou now to be

  ‭ Mine eyes’ dear object?” He return’d reply:

  ‭ “Move me not now, when you my ‘scape descry

  ‭ From imminent death, to think me fresh entrapt;

  ‭ The fear’d wound rubbing, felt before I ‘scapt.

  ‭ Double not needless passion on a heart

  ‭ Whose joy so green is, and so apt t’ invert;

  ‭ But pure weeds putting on, ascend and take

  ‭ Your women with you, that ye all may make

  ‭ Vows of full hecatombs in sacred fire

  ‭ To all the Godheads, if their only Sire

  ‭ Vouchsafe revenge of guest-rites wrong’d, which he

  ‭ Is to protect as being their Deity.

  ‭ My way shall be directed to the hall

  ‭ Of common concourse, that I thence may call

  ‭ A stranger, who from off the Pylian shore

  ‭ Came friendly with me; whom I sent before

  ‭ With all my soldiers, but in chief did charge

  ‭ Piræus with him, wishing him t’ enlarge

  ‭ His love to him at home, in best affair,

  ‭ And utmost honours, till mine own repair.”

  ‭ Her son thus spoken, his words could not bear

  ‭ The wings too easily through her either ear,

  ‭ But putting pure weeds on, made vows entire

  ‭ Of perfect hecatombs in sacred fire

  ‭ To all the Deities
, if their only Sire

  ‭ Vouchsaf’d revenge of guest-rites wrong’d, which he

  ‭ Was to protect as being their Deity.

  ‭ Her son left house, in his fair hand his lance,

  ‭ His dogs attending; and, on ev’ry glance

  ‭ His looks cast from them, Pallas put a grace

  ‭ That made him seem of the celestial race.

  ‭ Whom, come to concourse, ev’ry man admir’d,

  ‭ About him throng’d the Wooers, and desir’d

  ‭ All good to him in tongues, but in their hearts

  ‭ Most deep ills threaten’d to his most deserts.

  ‭ Of whose huge rout once free, he cast glad eye

  ‭ On some that, long before his infancy,

  ‭ Were with his father great and gracious,

  ‭ Grave Halitherses, Mentor, Antiphus:

  ‭ To whom he went, took seat by them, and they

  ‭ Inquir’d of all things since his parting day.

  ‭ To them Piræus came, and brought his guest

  ‭ Along the city thither, whom not least

  ‭ The prince respected, nor was long before

  ‭ He rose and met him. The first word yet bore

  ‭ Piræus from them both; whose haste besought

  ‭ The prince to send his women to see brought

  ‭ The gifts from his house that Atrides gave,

  ‭ Which his own roofs, he thought, would better save.

  ‭ The wise prince answer’d: “I can scarce conceive

  ‭ The way to these works. If the Wooers reave

  ‭ By privy stratagem my life at home,

  ‭ I rather wish Piræus may become

  ‭ The master of them, than the best of these.

  ‭ But, if I sow in their fields of excess

  ‭ Slaughter and ruin, then thy trust employ,

  ‭ And to me joying bring thou those with joy.”

  ‭ This said, he brought home his grief-practis’d guest;

  ‭ Where both put off, both oil’d, and did invest

  ‭ Themselves in rich robes, wash’d, and sate, and eat.

  ‭ His mother, in a fair chair taking seat

  ‭ Directly opposite, her loom applied;

  ‭ Who, when her son and guest had satisfied

  ‭ Their appetites with feast, said: “O my son,

  ‭ You know that ever since your sire was won

  ‭ To go in Agamemnon’s guide to Troy,

  ‭ Attempting sleep, I never did enjoy

  ‭ One night’s good rest, but made my quiet bed

  ‭ A sea blown-up with sighs, with tears still shed

  ‭ Embrew’d and troubled; yet, though all your miss

  ‭ In your late voyage hath been made for this,

  ‭ That you might know th’ abode your father made.

  ‭ You shun to tell me what success you had.

  ‭ Now then, before the insolent access

  ‭ The Wooers straight will force on us, express

  ‭ What you have heard.” “I will,” said he, “and true.

  ‭ We came to Pylos, where the studious due

  ‭ That any father could afford his son,

  ‭ (But new-arriv’d from some course he had run

  ‭ To an extreme length, in some voyage vow’d),

  ‭ Nestor, the pastor of the people, show’d

  ‭ To me arriv’d, in turrets thrust-up high,

  ‭ Where not his brave sons were more lov’d than I.

  ‭ Yet of th’ unconquer’d ever-sufferer;

  ‭ Ulysses, never he could set his ear,

  ‭ Alive or dead, from any earthy man.

  ‭ But to the great Lacedæmonian,

  ‭ Atrides, famous for his lance, he sent,

  ‭ With horse and chariots, me, to learn th’ event

  ‭ From his relation; where I had the view

  ‭ Of Argive Helen, whose strong beauties drew,

  ‭ By wills of Gods, so many Grecian states,

  ‭ And Trojans, under such laborious fates.

  ‭ Where Menelaus ask’d me, what affair

  ‭ To Lacedæmon render’d my repair.

  ‭ I told him all the truth, who made reply:

  ‭ ‘O deed of most abhorr’d indecency!

  ‭ A sort of impotents attempt his bed

  ‭ Whose strength of mind hath cities levelléd!

  ‭ As to a lion’s den, when any hind

  ‭ Hath brought her young calves, to their rest inclin’d,

  ‭ When he is ranging hills, and herby dales,

  ‭ To make of feeders there his festivals,

  ‭ But, turning to his luster, calves and dam

  ‭ He shows abhorr’d death, in his anger’s flame;

  ‭ So, should Ulysses find this rabble hous’d

  ‭ In his free turrets, courting his espous’d,

  ‭ Foul death would fall them. O, I would to Jove,

  ‭ Phœbus, and Pallas, that, when he shall prove

  ‭ The broad report of his exhausted store

  ‭ True with his eyes, his nerves and sinews wore

  ‭ That vigour then that in the Lesbian tow’rs,

  ‭ Provok’d to wrastle with the iron pow’rs

  ‭ Philomelides vaunted, he approv’d;

  ‭ When down he hurl’d his challenger, and mov’d

  ‭ Huge shouts from all the Achives then in view.

  ‭ If, once come home, he all those forces drew

  ‭ About him there to work, they all were dead,

  ‭ And should find bitter his attempted bed.

  ‭ But what you ask and sue for, I, as far

  ‭ As I have heard the true-spoke mariner,

  ‭ Will tell directly, nor delude your ear:

  ‭ He told me that an island did ensphere,

  ‭ In much discomfort, great Laertes’ son;

  ‭ And that the Nymph Calypso, overrun

  ‭ With his affection, kept him in her caves,

  ‭ Where men, nor ship, of pow’r to brook the waves,

  ‭ Were near his convoy to his country’s shore,

  ‭ And where herself importun’d evermore

  ‭ His quiet stay; which not obtain’d, by force

  ‭ She kept his person from all else recourse.’

  ‭ This told Atrides, which was all he knew.

  ‭ Nor stay’d I more, but from the Gods there blew

  ‭ A prosp’rous wind, that set me quickly here.”

  ‭ This put his mother quite from all her cheer.

  ‭ When Theoclymenus the augur said:

  ‭ “O woman, honour’d with Ulysses’ bed,

  ‭ Your son, no doubt, knows clearly nothing more,

  ‭ Hear me yet speak, that can the truth uncore,

  ‭ Nor will be curious. Jove then witness bear,

  ‭ And this thy hospitable table here,

  ‭ With this whole household of your blameless lord,

  ‭ That at this hour his royal feet are shor’d

  ‭ On his lov’d country-earth, and that ev’n here

  ‭ Coming, or creeping, he will see the cheer

  ‭ These Wooers make, and in his soul’s field sow

  ‭ Seeds that shall thrive to all their overthrow.

  ‭ This, set a ship-board, I knew sorted thus,

  ‭ And cried it out to your Telemachus.”

  ‭ Penelopé replied: “Would this would prove,

  ‭ You well should witness a most friendly love,

  ‭ And gifts such of me, as encount’ring Fame

  ‭ Should greet you with a blesséd mortal’s name.”

  ‭ This mutual speech past, all the Wooers were

  ‭ Hurling the stone, and tossing of the spear,

  ‭ Before the palace, in the pavéd court,

  ‭ Where otherwhiles their petulant resort

  ‭ Sat plotting injuries. But when the hour

  ‭ Of supper enter’d, and the
feeding pow’r

  ‭ Brought sheep from field, that fill’d up ev’ry way

  ‭ With those that us’d to furnish that purvey,

  ‭ Medon, the herald (who of all the rest

  ‭ Pleas’d most the Wooers, and at ev’ry feast

  ‭ Was ever near) said: “You whose kind consort

  ‭ Make the fair branches of the tree our court,

  ‭ Grace it within now, and your suppers take.

  ‭ You that for health, and fair contention’s sake,

  ‭ Will please your minds, know, bodies must have meat;

  ‭ Play’s worse than idleness in times to eat.”

  ‭ This said, all left, came in, cast by, on thrones

  ‭ And chairs, their garments. Their provisións

  ‭ Were sheep, swine, goats, the chiefly-great and fat,

  ‭ Besides an ox that from the herd they gat.

  ‭ And now the king and herdsman, from the field,

  ‭ In good way were to town; ‘twixt whom was held

  ‭ Some walking conference, which thus begun

  ‭ The good Eumæus: “Guest, your will was won,

  ‭ Because the prince commanded, to make way

  ‭ Up to the city, though I wish’d your stay,

  ‭ And to have made you guardian of my stall;

  ‭ But I, in care and fear of what might fall

  ‭ In after-anger of the prince, forbore.

  ‭ The checks of princes touch their subjects sore.

  ‭ But make we haste, the day is nearly ended,

  ‭ And cold airs still are in the even extended.”

  ‭ “I know’t,” said he, “consider all; your charge

  ‭ Is giv’n to one that understands at large.

  ‭ Haste then. Hereafter, you shall lead the way;

  ‭ Afford your staff too, if it fit your stay,

  ‭ That I may use it; since you say our pass

  ‭ Is less friend to a weak foot than it was.”

  ‭ Thus cast he on his neck his nasty scrip,

  ‭ All-patch’d and torn; a cord, that would not slip

  ‭ For knots and bracks about the mouth of it,

  ‭ Made serve the turn; and then his swain did fit

  ‭ His forc’d state with a staff. Then plied they hard

  ‭ Their way to town, their cottage left in guard

  ‭ To swains and dogs. And now Eumæus led

  ‭ The king along, his garments to a thread

  ‭ All-bare and burn’d, and he himself hard bore

  ‭ Upon his staff, at all parts like a poor

  ‭ And sad old beggar. But when now they got

  ‭ The rough highway, their voyage wanted not

  ‭ Much of the city, where a fount they reach’d,

 

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