William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Due sacrifice; the convoy that he asks

  Shall next engage our thoughts, that free from pain

  And from vexation, by our friendly aid

  He may revisit, joyful and with speed, 240

  His native shore, however far remote.

  No inconvenience let him feel or harm,

  Ere his arrival; but, arrived, thenceforth

  He must endure whatever lot the Fates

  Spun for him in the moment of his birth.

  But should he prove some Deity from heav’n

  Descended, then the Immortals have in view

  Designs not yet apparent; for the Gods

  Have ever from of old reveal’d themselves

  At our solemnities, have on our seats 250

  Sat with us evident, and shared the feast;

  And even if a single traveller

  Of the Phæacians meet them, all reserve

  They lay aside; for with the Gods we boast

  As near affinity as do themselves

  The Cyclops, or the Giant race profane.

  To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.

  Alcinoüs! think not so. Resemblance none

  In figure or in lineaments I bear

  To the immortal tenants of the skies, 260

  But to the sons of earth; if ye have known

  A man afflicted with a weight of woe

  Peculiar, let me be with him compared;

  Woes even passing his could I relate,

  And all inflicted on me by the Gods.

  But let me eat, comfortless as I am,

  Uninterrupted; for no call is loud

  As that of hunger in the ears of man;

  Importunate, unreas’nable, it constrains

  His notice, more than all his woes beside. 270

  So, I much sorrow feel, yet not the less

  Hear I the blatant appetite demand

  Due sustenance, and with a voice that drowns

  E’en all my suff’rings, till itself be fill’d.

  But expedite ye at the dawn of day

  My safe return into my native land,

  After much mis’ry; and let life itself

  Forsake me, may I but once more behold

  All that is mine, in my own lofty abode.

  He spake, whom all applauded, and advised, 280

  Unanimous, the guest’s conveyance home,

  Who had so fitly spoken. When, at length,

  All had libation made, and were sufficed,

  Departing to his house, each sought repose.

  But still Ulysses in the hall remain’d,

  Where, godlike King, Alcinoüs at his side

  Sat, and Areta; the attendants clear’d

  Meantime the board, and thus the Queen white-arm’d,

  (Marking the vest and mantle, which he wore

  And which her maidens and herself had made) 290

  In accents wing’d with eager haste began.

  Stranger! the first enquiry shall be mine;

  Who art, and whence? From whom receiv’dst thou these?

  Saidst not — I came a wand’rer o’er the Deep?

  To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.

  Oh Queen! the task were difficult to unfold

  In all its length the story of my woes,

  For I have num’rous from the Gods receiv’d;

  But I will answer thee as best I may.

  There is a certain isle, Ogygia, placed 300

  Far distant in the Deep; there dwells, by man

  Alike unvisited, and by the Gods,

  Calypso, beauteous nymph, but deeply skill’d

  In artifice, and terrible in pow’r,

  Daughter of Atlas. Me alone my fate

  Her miserable inmate made, when Jove

  Had riv’n asunder with his candent bolt

  My bark in the mid-sea. There perish’d all

  The valiant partners of my toils, and I

  My vessel’s keel embracing day and night 310

  With folded arms, nine days was borne along.

  But on the tenth dark night, as pleas’d the Gods,

  They drove me to Ogygia, where resides

  Calypso, beauteous nymph, dreadful in pow’r;

  She rescued, cherish’d, fed me, and her wish

  Was to confer on me immortal life,

  Exempt for ever from the sap of age.

  But me her offer’d boon sway’d not. Sev’n years

  I there abode continual, with my tears

  Bedewing ceaseless my ambrosial robes, 320

  Calypso’s gift divine; but when, at length,

  (Sev’n years elaps’d) the circling eighth arrived,

  She then, herself, my quick departure thence

  Advised, by Jove’s own mandate overaw’d,

  Which even her had influenced to a change.

  On a well-corded raft she sent me forth

  With num’rous presents; bread she put and wine

  On board, and cloath’d me in immortal robes;

  She sent before me also a fair wind

  Fresh-blowing, but not dang’rous. Sev’nteen days 330

  I sail’d the flood continual, and descried,

  On the eighteenth, your shadowy mountains tall

  When my exulting heart sprang at the sight,

  All wretched as I was, and still ordain’d

  To strive with difficulties many and hard

  From adverse Neptune; he the stormy winds

  Exciting opposite, my wat’ry way

  Impeded, and the waves heav’d to a bulk

  Immeasurable, such as robb’d me soon

  Deep-groaning, of the raft, my only hope; 340

  For her the tempest scatter’d, and myself

  This ocean measur’d swimming, till the winds

  And mighty waters cast me on your shore.

  Me there emerging, the huge waves had dash’d

  Full on the land, where, incommodious most,

  The shore presented only roughest rocks,

  But, leaving it, I swam the Deep again,

  Till now, at last, a river’s gentle stream

  Receiv’d me, by no rocks deform’d, and where

  No violent winds the shelter’d bank annoy’d. 350

  I flung myself on shore, exhausted, weak,

  Needing repose; ambrosial night came on,

  When from the Jove-descended stream withdrawn,

  I in a thicket lay’d me down on leaves

  Which I had heap’d together, and the Gods

  O’erwhelm’d my eye-lids with a flood of sleep.

  There under wither’d leaves, forlorn, I slept

  All the long night, the morning and the noon,

  But balmy sleep, at the decline of day,

  Broke from me; then, your daughter’s train I heard 360

  Sporting, with whom she also sported, fair

  And graceful as the Gods. To her I kneel’d.

  She, following the dictates of a mind

  Ingenuous, pass’d in her behaviour all

  Which even ye could from an age like hers

  Have hoped; for youth is ever indiscrete.

  She gave me plenteous food, with richest wine

  Refresh’d my spirit, taught me where to bathe,

  And cloath’d me as thou seest; thus, though a prey

  To many sorrows, I have told thee truth. 370

  To whom Alcinoüs answer thus return’d.

  My daughter’s conduct, I perceive, hath been

  In this erroneous, that she led thee not

  Hither, at once, with her attendant train,

  For thy first suit was to herself alone.

  Thus then Ulysses, wary Chief, replied.

  Blame not, O Hero, for so slight a cause

  Thy faultless child; she bade me follow them,

  But I refused, by fear and awe restrain’d,

  Lest thou should’st feel displeasure at that sight 380

  Thyself; for we are all, in ev’ry clime
,

  Suspicious, and to worst constructions prone.

  So spake Ulysses, to whom thus the King.

  I bear not, stranger! in my breast an heart

  Causeless irascible; for at all times

  A temp’rate equanimity is best.

  And oh, I would to heav’n, that, being such

  As now thou art, and of one mind with me,

  Thou would’st accept my daughter, would’st become

  My son-in-law, and dwell contented here! 390

  House would I give thee, and possessions too,

  Were such thy choice; else, if thou chuse it not,

  No man in all Phæacia shall by force

  Detain thee. Jupiter himself forbid!

  For proof, I will appoint thee convoy hence

  To-morrow; and while thou by sleep subdued

  Shalt on thy bed repose, they with their oars

  Shall brush the placid flood, till thou arrive

  At home, or at what place soe’er thou would’st,

  Though far more distant than Eubœa lies, 400

  Remotest isle from us, by the report

  Of ours, who saw it when they thither bore

  Golden-hair’d Rhadamanthus o’er the Deep,

  To visit earth-born Tityus. To that isle

  They went; they reach’d it, and they brought him thence

  Back to Phæacia, in one day, with ease.

  Thou also shalt be taught what ships I boast

  Unmatch’d in swiftness, and how far my crews

  Excel, upturning with their oars the brine.

  He ceas’d; Ulysses toil-inur’d his words 410

  Exulting heard, and, praying, thus replied.

  Eternal Father! may the King perform

  His whole kind promise! grant him in all lands

  A never-dying name, and grant to me

  To visit safe my native shores again!

  Thus they conferr’d; and now Areta bade

  Her fair attendants dress a fleecy couch

  Under the portico, with purple rugs

  Resplendent, and with arras spread beneath,

  And over all with cloaks of shaggy pile. 420

  Forth went the maidens, bearing each a torch,

  And, as she bade, prepared in haste a couch

  Of depth commodious, then, returning, gave

  Ulysses welcome summons to repose.

  Stranger! thy couch is spread. Hence to thy rest.

  So they — Thrice grateful to his soul the thought

  Seem’d of repose. There slept Ulysses, then,

  On his carv’d couch, beneath the portico,

  But in the inner-house Alcinoüs found

  His place of rest, and hers with royal state 430

  Prepared, the Queen his consort, at his side.

  BOOK VIII

  ARGUMENT

  The Phæacians consult on the subject of Ulysses. Preparation is made for

  his departure. Antinoüs entertains them at his table. Games follow the

  entertainment. Demodocus the bard sings, first the loves of Mars and

  Venus, then the introduction of the wooden horse into Troy. Ulysses, much

  affected by his song, is questioned by Alcinoüs, whence, and who he is,

  and what is the cause of his sorrow.

  But when Aurora, daughter of the dawn,

  Blush’d in the East, then from his bed arose

  The sacred might of the Phæacian King.

  Then uprose also, city-waster Chief,

  Ulysses, whom the King Alcinoüs

  Led forth to council at the ships convened.

  There, side by side, on polish’d stones they sat

  Frequent; meantime, Minerva in the form

  Of King Alcinoüs’ herald ranged the town,

  With purpose to accelerate the return 10

  Of brave Ulysses to his native home,

  And thus to ev’ry Chief the Goddess spake.

  Phæacian Chiefs and Senators, away!

  Haste all to council on the stranger held,

  Who hath of late beneath Alcinoüs’ roof

  Our King arrived, a wand’rer o’er the Deep,

  But, in his form, majestic as a God.

  So saying, she roused the people, and at once

  The seats of all the senate-court were fill’d

  With fast-assembling throngs, no few of whom 20

  Had mark’d Ulysses with admiring eyes.

  Then, Pallas o’er his head and shoulders broad

  Diffusing grace celestial, his whole form

  Dilated, and to the statelier height advanced,

  That worthier of all rev’rence he might seem

  To the Phæacians, and might many a feat

  Atchieve, with which they should assay his force.

  When, therefore, the assembly now was full,

  Alcinoüs, them addressing, thus began.

  Phæacian Chiefs and Senators! I speak 30

  The dictates of my mind, therefore attend.

  This guest, unknown to me, hath, wand’ring, found

  My palace, either from the East arrived,

  Or from some nation on our western side.

  Safe conduct home he asks, and our consent

  Here wishes ratified, whose quick return

  Be it our part, as usual, to promote;

  For at no time the stranger, from what coast

  Soe’er, who hath resorted to our doors,

  Hath long complain’d of his detention here. 40

  Haste — draw ye down into the sacred Deep

  A vessel of prime speed, and, from among

  The people, fifty and two youths select,

  Approved the best; then, lashing fast the oars,

  Leave her, that at my palace ye may make

  Short feast, for which myself will all provide.

  Thus I enjoin the crew; but as for those

  Of sceptred rank, I bid them all alike

  To my own board, that here we may regale

  The stranger nobly, and let none refuse. 50

  Call, too, Demodocus, the bard divine,

  To share my banquet, whom the Gods have blest

  With pow’rs of song delectable, unmatch’d

  By any, when his genius once is fired.

  He ceas’d, and led the way, whom follow’d all

  The sceptred senators, while to the house

  An herald hasted of the bard divine.

  Then, fifty mariners and two, from all

  The rest selected, to the coast repair’d,

  And, from her station on the sea-bank, launched 60

  The galley down into the sacred Deep.

  They placed the canvas and the mast on board,

  Arranged the oars, unfurl’d the shining sail,

  And, leaving her in depth of water moor’d,

  All sought the palace of Alcinoüs.

  There, soon, the portico, the court, the hall

  Were fill’d with multitudes of young and old,

  For whose regale the mighty monarch slew

  Two beeves, twelve sheep, and twice four fatted brawns.

  They slay’d them first, then busily their task 70

  Administ’ring, prepared the joyous feast.

  And now the herald came, leading with care

  The tuneful bard; dear to the muse was he,

  Who yet appointed him both good and ill;

  Took from him sight, but gave him strains divine.

  For him, Pontonoüs in the midst disposed

  An argent-studded throne, thrusting it close

  To a tall column, where he hung his lyre

  Above his head, and taught him where it hung.

  He set before him, next, a polish’d board 80

  And basket, and a goblet fill’d with wine

  For his own use, and at his own command.

  Then, all assail’d at once the ready feast,

  And when nor hunger more nor thirst they felt,

  Then
came the muse, and roused the bard to sing

  Exploits of men renown’d; it was a song,

  In that day, to the highest heav’n extoll’d.

  He sang of a dispute kindled between

  The son of Peleus, and Laertes’ son,

  Both seated at a feast held to the Gods. 90

  That contest Agamemnon, King of men,

  Between the noblest of Achaia’s host

  Hearing, rejoiced; for when in Pytho erst

  He pass’d the marble threshold to consult

  The oracle of Apollo, such dispute

  The voice divine had to his ear announced;

  For then it was that, first, the storm of war

  Came rolling on, ordain’d long time to afflict

  Troy and the Greecians, by the will of Jove.

  So sang the bard illustrious; then his robe 100

  Of purple dye with both hands o’er his head

  Ulysses drew, behind its ample folds

  Veiling his face, through fear to be observed

  By the Phæacians weeping at the song;

  And ever as the bard harmonious ceased,

  He wiped his tears, and, drawing from his brows

  The mantle, pour’d libation to the Gods.

  But when the Chiefs (for they delighted heard

  Those sounds) solicited again the bard,

  And he renew’d the strain, then cov’ring close 110

  His count’nance, as before, Ulysses wept.

  Thus, unperceiv’d by all, the Hero mourn’d,

  Save by Alcinoüs; he alone his tears,

  (Beside him seated) mark’d, and his deep sighs

  O’erhearing, the Phæacians thus bespake.

  Phæacia’s Chiefs and Senators, attend!

  We have regaled sufficient, and the harp

  Heard to satiety, companion sweet

  And seasonable of the festive hour.

  Now go we forth for honourable proof 120

  Of our address in games of ev’ry kind,

  That this our guest may to his friends report,

  At home arriv’d, that none like us have learn’d

  To leap, to box, to wrestle, and to run.

  So saying, he led them forth, whose steps the guests

  All follow’d, and the herald hanging high

  The sprightly lyre, took by his hand the bard

  Demodocus, whom he the self-same way

  Conducted forth, by which the Chiefs had gone

  Themselves, for that great spectacle prepared. 130

  They sought the forum; countless swarm’d the throng

  Behind them as they went, and many a youth

  Strong and courageous to the strife arose.

  Upstood Acroneus and Ocyalus,

  Elatreus, Nauteus, Prymneus, after whom

  Anchialus with Anabeesineus

  Arose, Eretmeus, Ponteus, Proreus bold,

  Amphialus and Thöon. Then arose,