William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

To parcel out his wealth would then devolve, 440

  And to endow his mother with the house

  For his abode whom she should chance to wed.

  So sported they; but he, ascending sought

  His father’s lofty chamber, where his heaps

  He kept of brass and gold, garments in chests,

  And oils of fragrant scent, a copious store.

  There many a cask with season’d nectar fill’d

  The grape’s pure juice divine, beside the wall

  Stood orderly arranged, waiting the hour

  (Should e’er such hour arrive) when, after woes 450

  Num’rous, Ulysses should regain his home.

  Secure that chamber was with folding doors

  Of massy planks compact, and night and day,

  Within it antient Euryclea dwelt,

  Guardian discrete of all the treasures there,

  Whom, thither call’d, Telemachus address’d.

  Nurse! draw me forth sweet wine into my jars,

  Delicious next to that which thou reserv’st

  For our poor wand’rer; if escaping death

  At last, divine Ulysses e’er return. 460

  Fill twelve, and stop them close; pour also meal

  Well mill’d (full twenty measures) into skins

  Close-seam’d, and mention what thou dost to none.

  Place them together; for at even-tide

  I will convey them hence, soon as the Queen,

  Retiring to her couch, shall seek repose.

  For hence to Sparta will I take my course,

  And sandy Pylus, tidings there to hear

  (If hear I may) of my lov’d Sire’s return.

  He ceas’d, then wept his gentle nurse that sound 470

  Hearing, and in wing’d accents thus replied.

  My child! ah, wherefore hath a thought so rash

  Possess’d thee? whither, only and belov’d,

  Seek’st thou to ramble, travelling, alas!

  To distant climes? Ulysses is no more;

  Dead lies the Hero in some land unknown,

  And thou no sooner shalt depart, than these

  Will plot to slay thee, and divide thy wealth.

  No, stay with us who love thee. Need is none

  That thou should’st on the barren Deep distress 480

  Encounter, roaming without hope or end.

  Whom, prudent, thus answer’d Telemachus.

  Take courage, nurse! for not without consent

  Of the Immortals I have thus resolv’d.

  But swear, that till eleven days be past,

  Or twelve, or, till enquiry made, she learn

  Herself my going, thou wilt not impart

  Of this my purpose to my mother’s ear,

  Lest all her beauties fade by grief impair’d.

  He ended, and the antient matron swore 490

  Solemnly by the Gods; which done, she fill’d

  With wine the vessels and the skins with meal,

  And he, returning, join’d the throng below.

  Then Pallas, Goddess azure-eyed, her thoughts

  Elsewhere directing, all the city ranged

  In semblance of Telemachus, each man

  Exhorting, at the dusk of eve, to seek

  The gallant ship, and from Noëmon, son

  Renown’d of Phronius, ask’d, herself, a bark,

  Which soon as ask’d, he promis’d to supply. 500

  Now set the sun, and twilight dimm’d the ways,

  When, drawing down his bark into the Deep,

  He gave her all her furniture, oars, arms

  And tackle, such as well-built galleys bear,

  Then moor’d her in the bottom of the bay.

  Meantime, his mariners in haste repair’d

  Down to the shore, for Pallas urged them on.

  And now on other purposes intent,

  The Goddess sought the palace, where with dews

  Of slumber drenching ev’ry suitor’s eye, 510

  She fool’d the drunkard multitude, and dash’d

  The goblets from their idle hands away.

  They through the city reeled, happy to leave

  The dull carousal, when the slumb’rous weight

  Oppressive on their eye-lids once had fall’n.

  Next, Pallas azure-eyed in Mentor’s form

  And with the voice of Mentor, summoning

  Telemachus abroad, him thus bespake.

  Telemachus! already at their oars

  Sit all thy fellow-voyagers, and wait 520

  Thy coming; linger not, but haste away.

  This said, Minerva led him thence, whom he

  With nimble steps follow’d, and on the shore

  Arrived, found all his mariners prepared,

  Whom thus the princely voyager address’d.

  Haste, my companions! bring we down the stores

  Already sorted and set forth; but nought

  My mother knows, or any of her train

  Of this design, one matron sole except.

  He spake, and led them; they, obedient, brought 530

  All down, and, as Ulysses’ son enjoin’d,

  Within the gallant bark the charge bestow’d.

  Then, led by Pallas, went the prince on board,

  Where down they sat, the Goddess in the stern,

  And at her side Telemachus. The crew

  Cast loose the hawsers, and embarking, fill’d

  The benches. Blue-eyed Pallas from the West

  Call’d forth propitious breezes; fresh they curled

  The sable Deep, and, sounding, swept the waves.

  He loud-exhorting them, his people bade 540

  Hand, brisk, the tackle; they, obedient, reared

  The pine-tree mast, which in its socket deep

  They lodg’d, then strain’d the cordage, and with thongs

  Well-twisted, drew the shining sail aloft.

  A land-breeze fill’d the canvas, and the flood

  Roar’d as she went against the steady bark

  That ran with even course her liquid way.

  The rigging, thus, of all the galley set,

  Their beakers crowning high with wine, they hail’d

  The ever-living Gods, but above all 550

  Minerva, daughter azure-eyed of Jove.

  Thus, all night long the galley, and till dawn

  Had brighten’d into day, cleaved swift the flood.

  BOOK III

  ARGUMENT

  Telemachus arriving at Pylus, enquires of Nestor concerning Ulysses.

  Nestor relates to him all that he knows or has heard of the Greecians

  since their departure from the siege of Troy, but not being able to give

  him any satisfactory account of Ulysses, refers him to Menelaus. At

  evening Minerva quits Telemachus, but discovers herself in going. Nestor

  sacrifices to the Goddess, and the solemnity ended, Telemachus sets forth

  for Sparta in one of Nestor’s chariots, and accompanied by Nestor’s son,

  Pisistratus.

  The sun, emerging from the lucid waves,

  Ascended now the brazen vault with light

  For the inhabitants of earth and heav’n,

  When in their bark at Pylus they arrived,

  City of Neleus. On the shore they found

  The people sacrificing; bulls they slew

  Black without spot, to Neptune azure-hair’d.

  On ranges nine of seats they sat; each range

  Received five hundred, and to each they made

  Allotment equal of nine sable bulls. 10

  The feast was now begun; these eating sat

  The entrails, those stood off’ring to the God

  The thighs, his portion, when the Ithacans

  Push’d right ashore, and, furling close the sails,

  And making fast their moorings, disembark’d.

  Forth came Telemachus, by Pallas led,

  Whom thus the Godd
ess azure-eyed address’d.

  Telemachus! there is no longer room

  For bashful fear, since thou hast cross’d the flood

  With purpose to enquire what land conceals 20

  Thy father, and what fate hath follow’d him.

  Advance at once to the equestrian Chief

  Nestor, within whose bosom lies, perhaps,

  Advice well worthy of thy search; entreat

  Himself, that he will tell thee only truth,

  Who will not lye, for he is passing wise.

  To whom Telemachus discrete replied.

  Ah Mentor! how can I advance, how greet

  A Chief like him, unpractis’d as I am

  In manag’d phrase? Shame bids the youth beware 30

  How he accosts the man of many years.

  But him the Goddess answer’d azure-eyed,

  Telemachus! Thou wilt, in part, thyself

  Fit speech devise, and heav’n will give the rest;

  For thou wast neither born, nor hast been train’d

  To manhood, under unpropitious Pow’rs.

  So saying, Minerva led him thence, whom he

  With nimble steps attending, soon arrived

  Among the multitude. There Nestor sat,

  And Nestor’s sons, while, busily the feast 40

  Tending, his num’rous followers roasted, some,

  The viands, some, transfix’d them with the spits.

  They seeing guests arrived, together all

  Advanced, and, grasping courteously their hands,

  Invited them to sit; but first, the son

  Of Nestor, young Pisistratus, approach’d,

  Who, fast’ning on the hands of both, beside

  The banquet placed them, where the beach was spread

  With fleeces, and where Thrasymedes sat

  His brother, and the hoary Chief his Sire. 50

  To each a portion of the inner parts

  He gave, then fill’d a golden cup with wine,

  Which, tasted first, he to the daughter bore

  Of Jove the Thund’rer, and her thus bespake.

  Oh guest! the King of Ocean now adore!

  For ye have chanced on Neptune’s festival;

  And, when thou hast, thyself, libation made

  Duly, and pray’r, deliver to thy friend

  The gen’rous juice, that he may also make

  Libation; for he, doubtless, seeks, in prayer 60

  The Immortals, of whose favour all have need.

  But, since he younger is, and with myself

  Coeval, first I give the cup to thee.

  He ceas’d, and to her hand consign’d the cup,

  Which Pallas gladly from a youth received

  So just and wise, who to herself had first

  The golden cup presented, and in pray’r

  Fervent the Sov’reign of the Seas adored.

  Hear, earth-encircler Neptune! O vouchsafe

  To us thy suppliants the desired effect 70

  Of this our voyage; glory, first, bestow

  On Nestor and his offspring both, then grant

  To all the Pylians such a gracious boon

  As shall requite their noble off’ring well.

  Grant also to Telemachus and me

  To voyage hence, possess’d of what we sought

  When hither in our sable bark we came.

  So Pallas pray’d, and her own pray’r herself

  Accomplish’d. To Telemachus she gave

  The splendid goblet next, and in his turn 80

  Like pray’r Ulysses’ son also preferr’d.

  And now (the banquet from the spits withdrawn)

  They next distributed sufficient share

  To each, and all were sumptuously regaled.

  At length, (both hunger satisfied and thirst)

  Thus Nestor, the Gerenian Chief, began.

  Now with more seemliness we may enquire,

  After repast, what guests we have received.

  Our guests! who are ye? Whence have ye the waves

  Plough’d hither? Come ye to transact concerns 90

  Commercial, or at random roam the Deep

  Like pirates, who with mischief charged and woe

  To foreign States, oft hazard life themselves?

  Him answer’d, bolder now, but still discrete,

  Telemachus. For Pallas had his heart

  With manly courage arm’d, that he might ask

  From Nestor tidings of his absent Sire,

  And win, himself, distinction and renown.

  Oh Nestor, Neleus’ son, glory of Greece!

  Thou askest whence we are. I tell thee whence. 100

  From Ithaca, by the umbrageous woods

  Of Neritus o’erhung, by private need,

  Not public, urged, we come. My errand is

  To seek intelligence of the renown’d

  Ulysses; of my noble father, prais’d

  For dauntless courage, whom report proclaims

  Conqueror, with thine aid, of sacred Troy.

  We have already learn’d where other Chiefs

  Who fought at Ilium, died; but Jove conceals

  Even the death of my illustrious Sire 110

  In dull obscurity; for none hath heard

  Or confident can answer, where he dy’d;

  Whether he on the continent hath fall’n

  By hostile hands, or by the waves o’erwhelm’d

  Of Amphitrite, welters in the Deep.

  For this cause, at thy knees suppliant, I beg

  That thou would’st tell me his disast’rous end,

  If either thou beheld’st that dread event

  Thyself, or from some wanderer of the Greeks

  Hast heard it: for my father at his birth 120

  Was, sure, predestin’d to no common woes.

  Neither through pity, or o’erstrain’d respect

  Flatter me, but explicit all relate

  Which thou hast witness’d. If my noble Sire

  E’er gratified thee by performance just

  Of word or deed at Ilium, where ye fell

  So num’rous slain in fight, oh, recollect

  Now his fidelity, and tell me true.

  Then Nestor thus Gerenian Hero old.

  Young friend! since thou remind’st me, speaking thus, 130

  Of all the woes which indefatigable

  We sons of the Achaians there sustain’d,

  Both those which wand’ring on the Deep we bore

  Wherever by Achilles led in quest

  Of booty, and the many woes beside

  Which under royal Priam’s spacious walls

  We suffer’d, know, that there our bravest fell.

  There warlike Ajax lies, there Peleus’ son;

  There, too, Patroclus, like the Gods themselves

  In council, and my son beloved there, 140

  Brave, virtuous, swift of foot, and bold in fight,

  Antilochus. Nor are these sorrows all;

  What tongue of mortal man could all relate?

  Should’st thou, abiding here, five years employ

  Or six, enquiring of the woes endured

  By the Achaians, ere thou should’st have learn’d

  The whole, thou would’st depart, tir’d of the tale.

  For we, nine years, stratagems of all kinds

  Devised against them, and Saturnian Jove

  Scarce crown’d the difficult attempt at last. 150

  There, no competitor in wiles well-plann’d

  Ulysses found, so far were all surpass’d

  In shrewd invention by thy noble Sire,

  If thou indeed art his, as sure thou art,

  Whose sight breeds wonder in me, and thy speech

  His speech resembles more than might be deem’d

  Within the scope of years so green as thine.

  There, never in opinion, or in voice

  Illustrious Ulysses and myself

  Divided were, but, one in heart, contrived 160r />
  As best we might, the benefit of all.

  But after Priam’s lofty city sack’d,

  And the departure of the Greeks on board

  Their barks, and when the Gods had scatter’d them,

  Then Jove imagin’d for the Argive host

  A sorrowful return; for neither just

  Were all, nor prudent, therefore many found

  A fate disast’rous through the vengeful ire

  Of Jove-born Pallas, who between the sons

  Of Atreus sharp contention interposed. 170

  They both, irregularly, and against

  Just order, summoning by night the Greeks

  To council, of whom many came with wine

  Oppress’d, promulgated the cause for which

  They had convened the people. Then it was

  That Menelaus bade the general host

  Their thoughts bend homeward o’er the sacred Deep,

  Which Agamemnon in no sort approved.

  His counsel was to slay them yet at Troy,

  That so he might assuage the dreadful wrath 180

  Of Pallas, first, by sacrifice and pray’r.

  Vain hope! he little thought how ill should speed

  That fond attempt, for, once provok’d, the Gods

  Are not with ease conciliated again.

  Thus stood the brothers, altercation hot

  Maintaining, till at length, uprose the Greeks

  With deaf’ning clamours, and with diff’ring minds.

  We slept the night, but teeming with disgust

  Mutual, for Jove great woe prepar’d for all.

  At dawn of day we drew our gallies down 190

  Into the sea, and, hasty, put on board

  The spoils and female captives. Half the host,

  With Agamemnon, son of Atreus, stay’d

  Supreme commander, and, embarking, half

  Push’d forth. Swift course we made, for Neptune smooth’d

  The waves before us of the monstrous Deep.

  At Tenedos arriv’d, we there perform’d

  Sacrifice to the Gods, ardent to reach

  Our native land, but unpropitious Jove,

  Not yet designing our arrival there, 200

  Involved us in dissension fierce again.

  For all the crews, followers of the King,

  Thy noble Sire, to gratify our Chief,

  The son of Atreus, chose a diff’rent course,

  And steer’d their oary barks again to Troy.

  But I, assured that evil from the Gods

  Impended, gath’ring all my gallant fleet,

  Fled thence in haste, and warlike Diomede

  Exhorting his attendants, also fled.

  At length, the Hero Menelaus join’d 210

  Our fleets at Lesbos; there he found us held

  In deep deliberation on the length

  Of way before us, whether we should steer