William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

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William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 150

by William Cowper


  Both cakes and water, and with earnest pray’r

  To Pallas, gave the forelock to the flames. 560

  When all had worshipp’d, and the broken cakes

  Sprinkled, then godlike Thrasymedes drew

  Close to the ox, and smote him. Deep the edge

  Enter’d, and senseless on the floor he fell.

  Then Nestor’s daughters, and the consorts all

  Of Nestor’s sons, with his own consort, chaste

  Eurydice, the daughter eldest-born

  Of Clymenus, in one shrill orison

  Vocif’rous join’d, while they, lifting the ox,

  Held him supported firmly, and the prince 570

  Of men, Pisistratus, his gullet pierced.

  Soon as the sable blood had ceased, and life

  Had left the victim, spreading him abroad,

  With nice address they parted at the joint

  His thighs, and wrapp’d them in the double cawl,

  Which with crude slices thin they overspread.

  Nestor burn’d incense, and libation pour’d

  Large on the hissing brands, while him beside,

  Busy with spit and prong, stood many a youth

  Train’d to the task. The thighs consumed, each took

  His portion of the maw, then, slashing well 581

  The remnant, they transpierced it with the spits

  Neatly, and held it reeking at the fire.

  Meantime the youngest of the daughters fair

  Of Nestor, beauteous Polycaste, laved,

  Anointed, and in vest and tunic cloathed

  Telemachus, who, so refresh’d, stepp’d forth

  From the bright laver graceful as a God,

  And took his seat at antient Nestor’s side.

  The viands dress’d, and from the spits withdrawn, 590

  They sat to share the feast, and princely youths

  Arising, gave them wine in cups of gold.

  When neither hunger now nor thirst remain’d

  Unsated, thus Gerenian Nestor spake.

  My sons, arise, lead forth the sprightly steeds,

  And yoke them, that Telemachus may go.

  So spake the Chief, to whose commands his sons,

  Obedient, yoked in haste the rapid steeds,

  And the intendant matron of the stores

  Disposed meantime within the chariot, bread 600

  And wine, and dainties, such as princes eat.

  Telemachus into the chariot first

  Ascended, and beside him, next, his place

  Pisistratus the son of Nestor took,

  Then seiz’d the reins, and lash’d the coursers on.

  They, nothing loth, into the open plain

  Flew, leaving lofty Pylus soon afar.

  Thus, journeying, they shook on either side

  The yoke all day, and now the setting sun

  To dusky evening had resign’d the roads, 610

  When they to Pheræ came, and the abode

  Reach’d of Diocles, whose illustrious Sire

  Orsilochus from Alpheus drew his birth,

  And there, with kindness entertain’d, they slept.

  But when Aurora, daughter of the dawn,

  Look’d rosy from the East, yoking the steeds,

  They in their sumptuous chariot sat again.

  The son of Nestor plied the lash, and forth

  Through vestibule and sounding portico

  The royal coursers, not unwilling, flew. 620

  A corn-invested land receiv’d them next,

  And there they brought their journey to a close,

  So rapidly they moved; and now the sun

  Went down, and even-tide dimm’d all the ways.

  BOOK IV

  ARGUMENT

  Telemachus, with Pisistratus, arrives at the palace of Menelaus, from

  whom he receives some fresh information concerning the return of the

  Greecians, and is in particular told on the authority of Proteus, that

  his father is detained by Calypso. The suitors, plotting against the life

  of Telemachus, lie in wait to intercept him in his return to Ithaca.

  Penelope being informed of his departure, and of their designs to slay

  him, becomes inconsolable, but is relieved by a dream sent to her from

  Minerva.

  In hollow Lacedæmon’s spacious vale

  Arriving, to the house they drove direct

  Of royal Menelaus; him they found

  In his own palace, all his num’rous friends

  Regaling at a nuptial banquet giv’n

  Both for his daughter and the prince his son.

  His daughter to renown’d Achilles’ heir

  He sent, to whom he had at Troy engaged

  To give her, and the Gods now made her his.

  With chariots and with steeds he sent her forth 10

  To the illustrious city where the prince,

  Achilles’ offspring, ruled the Myrmidons.

  But to his son he gave a Spartan fair,

  Alector’s daughter; from an handmaid sprang

  That son to Menelaus in his age,

  Brave Megapenthes; for the Gods no child

  To Helen gave, made mother, once, of her

  Who vied in perfect loveliness of form

  With golden Venus’ self, Hermione.

  Thus all the neighbour princes and the friends 20

  Of noble Menelaus, feasting sat

  Within his spacious palace, among whom

  A sacred bard sang sweetly to his harp,

  While, in the midst, two dancers smote the ground

  With measur’d steps responsive to his song.

  And now the Heroes, Nestor’s noble son

  And young Telemachus arrived within

  The vestibule, whom, issuing from the hall,

  The noble Eteoneus of the train

  Of Menelaus, saw; at once he ran 30

  Across the palace to report the news

  To his Lord’s ear, and, standing at his side,

  In accents wing’d with haste thus greeted him.

  Oh Menelaus! Heav’n descended Chief!

  Two guests arrive, both strangers, but the race

  Of Jove supreme resembling each in form.

  Say, shall we loose, ourselves, their rapid steeds,

  Or hence dismiss them to some other host?

  But Menelaus, Hero golden-hair’d,

  Indignant answer’d him. Boethe’s son! 40

  Thou wast not, Eteoneus, heretofore,

  A babbler, who now pratest as a child.

  We have ourselves arrived indebted much

  To hospitality of other men,

  If Jove shall, even here, some pause at last

  Of woe afford us. Therefore loose, at once,

  Their steeds, and introduce them to the feast.

  He said, and, issuing, Eteoneus call’d

  The brisk attendants to his aid, with whom

  He loos’d their foaming coursers from the yoke. 50

  Them first they bound to mangers, which with oats

  And mingled barley they supplied, then thrust

  The chariot sidelong to the splendid wall.

  Themselves he, next, into the royal house

  Conducted, who survey’d, wond’ring, the abode

  Of the heav’n-favour’d King; for on all sides

  As with the splendour of the sun or moon

  The lofty dome of Menelaus blazed.

  Satiate, at length, with wonder at that sight,

  They enter’d each a bath, and by the hands 60

  Of maidens laved, and oil’d, and cloath’d again

  With shaggy mantles and resplendent vests,

  Sat both enthroned at Menelaus’ side.

  And now a maiden charged with golden ew’r,

  And with an argent laver, pouring first

  Pure water on their hands, supplied them next

  With a bright table, whic
h the maiden, chief

  In office, furnish’d plenteously with bread

  And dainties, remnants of the last regale.

  Then came the sew’r, who with delicious meats 70

  Dish after dish, served them, and placed beside

  The chargers cups magnificent of gold,

  When Menelaus grasp’d their hands, and said.

  Eat and rejoice, and when ye shall have shared

  Our nuptial banquet, we will then inquire

  Who are ye both, for, certain, not from those

  Whose generation perishes are ye,

  But rather of some race of sceptred Chiefs

  Heav’n-born; the base have never sons like you.

  So saying, he from the board lifted his own 80

  Distinguish’d portion, and the fatted chine

  Gave to his guests; the sav’ry viands they

  With outstretch’d hands assail’d, and when the force

  No longer now of appetite they felt,

  Telemachus, inclining close his head

  To Nestor’s son, lest others should his speech

  Witness, in whisper’d words him thus address’d.

  Dearest Pisistratus, observe, my friend!

  How all the echoing palace with the light

  Of beaming brass, of gold and amber shines 90

  Silver and ivory! for radiance such

  Th’ interior mansion of Olympian Jove

  I deem. What wealth, how various, how immense

  Is here! astonish’d I survey the sight!

  But Menelaus, golden-hair’d, his speech

  O’erhearing, thus in accents wing’d replied

  My children! let no mortal man pretend

  Comparison with Jove; for Jove’s abode

  And all his stores are incorruptible.

  But whether mortal man with me may vie 100

  In the display of wealth, or whether not,

  This know, that after many toils endured,

  And perilous wand’rings wide, in the eighth year

  I brought my treasures home. Remote I roved

  To Cyprus, to Phœnice, to the shores

  Of Ægypt; Æthiopia’s land I reach’d,

  Th’ Erembi, the Sidonians, and the coasts

  Of Lybia, where the lambs their foreheads shew

  At once with horns defended, soon as yean’d.

  There, thrice within the year the flocks produce, 110

  Nor master, there, nor shepherd ever feels

  A dearth of cheese, of flesh, or of sweet milk

  Delicious, drawn from udders never dry.

  While, thus, commodities on various coasts

  Gath’ring I roam’d, another, by the arts

  Of his pernicious spouse aided, of life

  Bereav’d my brother privily, and when least

  He fear’d to lose it. Therefore little joy

  To me results from all that I possess.

  Your fathers (be those fathers who they may) 120

  These things have doubtless told you; for immense

  Have been my suff’rings, and I have destroy’d

  A palace well inhabited and stored

  With precious furniture in ev’ry kind;

  Such, that I would to heav’n! I own’d at home

  Though but the third of it, and that the Greeks

  Who perish’d then, beneath the walls of Troy

  Far from steed-pastured Argos, still survived.

  Yet while, sequester’d here, I frequent mourn

  My slaughter’d friends, by turns I sooth my soul 130

  With tears shed for them, and by turns again

  I cease; for grief soon satiates free indulged.

  But of them all, although I all bewail,

  None mourn I so as one, whom calling back

  To memory, I both sleep and food abhor.

  For, of Achaia’s sons none ever toiled

  Strenuous as Ulysses; but his lot

  Was woe, and unremitting sorrow mine

  For his long absence, who, if still he live,

  We know not aught, or be already dead. 140

  Him doubtless, old Laertes mourns, and him

  Discrete Penelope, nor less his son

  Telemachus, born newly when he sail’d.

  So saying, he kindled in him strong desire

  To mourn his father; at his father’s name

  Fast fell his tears to ground, and with both hands

  He spread his purple cloak before his eyes;

  Which Menelaus marking, doubtful sat

  If he should leave him leisure for his tears,

  Or question him, and tell him all at large. 150

  While thus he doubted, Helen (as it chanced)

  Leaving her fragrant chamber, came, august

  As Dian, goddess of the golden bow.

  Adrasta, for her use, set forth a throne,

  Alcippe with soft arras cover’d it,

  And Philo brought her silver basket, gift

  Of fair Alcandra, wife of Polybus,

  Whose mansion in Ægyptian Thebes is rich

  In untold treasure, and who gave, himself,

  Ten golden talents, and two silver baths 160

  To Menelaus, with two splendid tripods

  Beside the noble gifts which, at the hand

  Of his illustrious spouse, Helen receiv’d;

  A golden spindle, and a basket wheel’d,

  Itself of silver, and its lip of gold.

  That basket Philo, her own handmaid, placed

  At beauteous Helen’s side, charged to the brim

  With slender threads, on which the spindle lay

  With wool of purple lustre wrapp’d around.

  Approaching, on her foot-stool’d throne she sat, 170

  And, instant, of her royal spouse enquired.

  Know we, my Menelaus, dear to Jove!

  These guests of ours, and whence they have arrived?

  Erroneous I may speak, yet speak I must;

  In man or woman never have I seen

  Such likeness to another (wonder-fixt

  I gaze) as in this stranger to the son

  Of brave Ulysses, whom that Hero left

  New-born at home, when (shameless as I was)

  For my unworthy sake the Greecians sailed 180

  To Ilium, with fierce rage of battle fir’d.

  Then Menelaus, thus, the golden-hair’d.

  I also such resemblance find in him

  As thou; such feet, such hands, the cast of eye

  Similar, and the head and flowing locks.

  And even now, when I Ulysses named,

  And his great sufferings mention’d, in my cause,

  The bitter tear dropp’d from his lids, while broad

  Before his eyes his purple cloak he spread.

  To whom the son of Nestor thus replied. 190

  Atrides! Menelaus! Chief renown’d!

  He is in truth his son, as thou hast said,

  But he is modest, and would much himself

  Condemn, if, at his first arrival here,

  He should loquacious seem and bold to thee,

  To whom we listen, captived by thy voice,

  As if some God had spoken. As for me,

  Nestor, my father, the Gerenian Chief

  Bade me conduct him hither, for he wish’d

  To see thee, promising himself from thee 200

  The benefit of some kind word or deed.

  For, destitute of other aid, he much

  His father’s tedious absence mourns at home.

  So fares Telemachus; his father strays

  Remote, and, in his stead, no friend hath he

  Who might avert the mischiefs that he feels.

  To whom the Hero amber-hair’d replied.

  Ye Gods! the offspring of indeed a friend

  Hath reach’d my house, of one who hath endured

  Arduous conflicts num’rous for my sake; 210

  And much I purpos’d, had Olympi
an Jove

  Vouchsaf’d us prosp’rous passage o’er the Deep,

  To have receiv’d him with such friendship here

  As none beside. In Argos I had then

  Founded a city for him, and had rais’d

  A palace for himself; I would have brought

  The Hero hither, and his son, with all

  His people, and with all his wealth, some town

  Evacuating for his sake, of those

  Ruled by myself, and neighb’ring close my own. 220

  Thus situate, we had often interchanged

  Sweet converse, nor had other cause at last

  Our friendship terminated or our joys,

  Than death’s black cloud o’ershadowing him or me.

  But such delights could only envy move

  Ev’n in the Gods, who have, of all the Greeks,

  Amerc’d him only of his wish’d return.

  So saying, he kindled the desire to weep

  In ev’ry bosom. Argive Helen wept

  Abundant, Jove’s own daughter; wept as fast 230

  Telemachus and Menelaus both;

  Nor Nestor’s son with tearless eyes remain’d,

  Calling to mind Antilochus by the son

  Illustrious of the bright Aurora slain,

  Rememb’ring whom, in accents wing’d he said.

  Atrides! antient Nestor, when of late

  Conversing with him, we remember’d thee,

  Pronounced thee wise beyond all human-kind.

  Now therefore, let not even my advice

  Displease thee. It affords me no delight 240

  To intermingle tears with my repast,

  And soon, Aurora, daughter of the dawn,

  Will tinge the orient. Not that I account

  Due lamentation of a friend deceased

  Blameworthy, since, to sheer the locks and weep,

  Is all we can for the unhappy dead.

  I also have my grief, call’d to lament

  One, not the meanest of Achaia’s sons,

  My brother; him I cannot but suppose

  To thee well-known, although unknown to me 250

  Who saw him never; but report proclaims

  Antilochus superior to the most,

  In speed superior, and in feats of arms.

  To whom, the Hero of the yellow locks.

  O friend belov’d! since nought which thou hast said

  Or recommended now, would have disgraced

  A man of years maturer far than thine,

  (For wise thy father is, and such art thou,

  And easy is it to discern the son

  Of such a father, whom Saturnian Jove 260

  In marriage both and at his birth ordain’d

  To great felicity; for he hath giv’n

  To Nestor gradually to sink at home

  Into old age, and, while he lives, to see

  His sons past others wise, and skill’d in arms)

 

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