William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

Return’d? Ulysses! by what adverse Pow’r

  Repuls’d hast thou arrived? we sent thee hence

  Well-fitted forth to reach thy native isle,

  Thy palace, or what place soe’er thou would’st.

  So they — to whom, heart-broken, I replied. 80

  My worthless crew have wrong’d me, nor alone

  My worthless crew, but sleep ill-timed, as much.

  Yet heal, O friends, my hurt; the pow’r is yours!

  So I their favour woo’d. Mute sat the sons,

  But thus their father answer’d. Hence — be gone —

  Leave this our isle, thou most obnoxious wretch

  Of all mankind. I should, myself, transgress,

  Receiving here, and giving conduct hence

  To one detested by the Gods as thou.

  Away — for hated by the Gods thou com’st. 90

  So saying, he sent me from his palace forth,

  Groaning profound; thence, therefore, o’er the Deep

  We still proceeded sorrowful, our force

  Exhausting ceaseless at the toilsome oar,

  And, through our own imprudence, hopeless now

  Of other furth’rance to our native isle.

  Six days we navigated, day and night,

  The briny flood, and on the seventh reach’d

  The city erst by Lamus built sublime,

  Proud Læstrygonia, with the distant gates. 100

  The herdsman, there, driving his cattle home,

  Summons the shepherd with his flocks abroad.

  The sleepless there might double wages earn,

  Attending, now, the herds, now, tending sheep,

  For the night-pastures, and the pastures grazed

  By day, close border, both, the city-walls.

  To that illustrious port we came, by rocks

  Uninterrupted flank’d on either side

  Of tow’ring height, while prominent the shores

  And bold, converging at the haven’s mouth 110

  Leave narrow pass. We push’d our galleys in,

  Then moor’d them side by side; for never surge

  There lifts its head, or great or small, but clear

  We found, and motionless, the shelter’d flood.

  Myself alone, staying my bark without,

  Secured her well with hawsers to a rock

  At the land’s point, then climb’d the rugged steep,

  And spying stood the country. Labours none

  Of men or oxen in the land appear’d,

  Nor aught beside saw we, but from the earth 120

  Smoke rising; therefore of my friends I sent

  Before me two, adding an herald third,

  To learn what race of men that country fed.

  Departing, they an even track pursued

  Made by the waggons bringing timber down

  From the high mountains to the town below.

  Before the town a virgin bearing forth

  Her ew’r they met, daughter of him who ruled

  The Læstrygonian race, Antiphatas.

  Descending from the gate, she sought the fount 130

  Artacia; for their custom was to draw

  From that pure fountain for the city’s use.

  Approaching they accosted her, and ask’d

  What King reign’d there, and over whom he reign’d.

  She gave them soon to know where stood sublime

  The palace of her Sire; no sooner they

  The palace enter’d, than within they found,

  In size resembling an huge mountain-top,

  A woman, whom they shudder’d to behold.

  She forth from council summon’d quick her spouse 140

  Antiphatas, who teeming came with thoughts

  Of carnage, and, arriving, seized at once

  A Greecian, whom, next moment, he devoured.

  With headlong terrour the surviving two

  Fled to the ships. Then sent Antiphatas

  His voice through all the town, and on all sides,

  Hearing that cry, the Læstrygonians flock’d

  Numberless, and in size resembling more

  The giants than mankind. They from the rocks

  Cast down into our fleet enormous stones, 150

  A strong man’s burthen each; dire din arose

  Of shatter’d galleys and of dying men,

  Whom spear’d like fishes to their home they bore,

  A loathsome prey. While them within the port

  They slaughter’d, I, (the faulchion at my side

  Drawn forth) cut loose the hawser of my ship,

  And all my crew enjoin’d with bosoms laid

  Prone on their oars, to fly the threaten’d woe.

  They, dreading instant death tugg’d resupine

  Together, and the galley from beneath 160

  Those beetling rocks into the open sea

  Shot gladly; but the rest all perish’d there.

  Proceeding thence, we sigh’d, and roamed the waves,

  Glad that we lived, but sorrowing for the slain.

  We came to the Ææan isle; there dwelt

  The awful Circe, Goddess amber-hair’d,

  Deep-skill’d in magic song, sister by birth

  Of the all-wise Æætes; them the Sun,

  Bright luminary of the world, begat

  On Perse, daughter of Oceanus. 170

  Our vessel there, noiseless, we push’d to land

  Within a spacious haven, thither led

  By some celestial Pow’r. We disembark’d,

  And on the coast two days and nights entire

  Extended lay, worn with long toil, and each

  The victim of his heart-devouring woes.

  Then, with my spear and with my faulchion arm’d,

  I left the ship to climb with hasty steps

  An airy height, thence, hoping to espie

  Some works of man, or hear, perchance, a voice. 180

  Exalted on a rough rock’s craggy point

  I stood, and on the distant plain, beheld

  Smoke which from Circe’s palace through the gloom

  Of trees and thickets rose. That smoke discern’d,

  I ponder’d next if thither I should haste,

  Seeking intelligence. Long time I mused,

  But chose at last, as my discreter course,

  To seek the sea-beach and my bark again,

  And, when my crew had eaten, to dispatch

  Before me, others, who should first enquire. 190

  But, ere I yet had reach’d my gallant bark,

  Some God with pity viewing me alone

  In that untrodden solitude, sent forth

  An antler’d stag, full-sized, into my path.

  His woodland pastures left, he sought the stream,

  For he was thirsty, and already parch’d

  By the sun’s heat. Him issuing from his haunt,

  Sheer through the back beneath his middle spine,

  I wounded, and the lance sprang forth beyond.

  Moaning he fell, and in the dust expired. 200

  Then, treading on his breathless trunk, I pluck’d

  My weapon forth, which leaving there reclined,

  I tore away the osiers with my hands

  And fallows green, and to a fathom’s length

  Twisting the gather’d twigs into a band,

  Bound fast the feet of my enormous prey,

  And, flinging him athwart my neck, repair’d

  Toward my sable bark, propp’d on my lance,

  Which now to carry shoulder’d as before

  Surpass’d my pow’r, so bulky was the load. 210

  Arriving at the ship, there I let fall

  My burthen, and with pleasant speech and kind,

  Man after man addressing, cheer’d my crew.

  My friends! we suffer much, but shall not seek

  The shades, ere yet our destined hour arrive.

  Behold a feast! and we have wine on board —

&n
bsp; Pine not with needless famine! rise and eat.

  I spake; they readily obey’d, and each

  Issuing at my word abroad, beside

  The galley stood, admiring, as he lay, 220

  The stag, for of no common bulk was he.

  At length, their eyes gratified to the full

  With that glad spectacle, they laved their hands,

  And preparation made of noble cheer.

  That day complete, till set of sun, we spent

  Feasting deliciously without restraint,

  And quaffing generous wine; but when the sun

  Went down, and darkness overshadow’d all,

  Extended, then, on Ocean’s bank we lay;

  And when Aurora, daughter of the dawn, 230

  Look’d rosy forth, convening all my crew

  To council, I arose, and thus began.

  My fellow-voyagers, however worn

  With num’rous hardships, hear! for neither West

  Know ye, nor East, where rises, or where sets

  The all-enlight’ning sun. But let us think,

  If thought perchance may profit us, of which

  Small hope I see; for when I lately climb’d

  Yon craggy rock, plainly I could discern

  The land encompass’d by the boundless Deep. 240

  The isle is flat, and in the midst I saw

  Dun smoke ascending from an oaken bow’r.

  So I, whom hearing, they all courage lost,

  And at remembrance of Antiphatas

  The Læstrygonian, and the Cyclops’ deeds,

  Ferocious feeder on the flesh of man,

  Mourn’d loud and wept, but tears could nought avail.

  Then numb’ring man by man, I parted them

  In equal portions, and assign’d a Chief

  To either band, myself to these, to those 250

  Godlike Eurylochus. This done, we cast

  The lots into the helmet, and at once

  Forth sprang the lot of bold Eurylochus.

  He went, and with him of my people march’d

  Twenty and two, all weeping; nor ourselves

  Wept less, at separation from our friends.

  Low in a vale, but on an open spot,

  They found the splendid house of Circe, built

  With hewn and polish’d stones; compass’d she dwelt

  By lions on all sides and mountain-wolves 260

  Tamed by herself with drugs of noxious pow’rs.

  Nor were they mischievous, but as my friends

  Approach’d, arising on their hinder feet,

  Paw’d them in blandishment, and wagg’d the tail.

  As, when from feast he rises, dogs around

  Their master fawn, accustom’d to receive

  The sop conciliatory from his hand,

  Around my people, so, those talon’d wolves

  And lions fawn’d. They, terrified, that troop

  Of savage monsters horrible beheld. 270

  And now, before the Goddess’ gates arrived,

  They heard the voice of Circe singing sweet

  Within, while, busied at the loom, she wove

  An ample web immortal, such a work

  Transparent, graceful, and of bright design

  As hands of Goddesses alone produce.

  Thus then Polites, Prince of men, the friend

  Highest in my esteem, the rest bespake.

  Ye hear the voice, comrades, of one who weaves

  An ample web within, and at her task 280

  So sweetly chaunts that all the marble floor

  Re-echoes; human be she or divine

  I doubt, but let us call, that we may learn.

  He ceas’d; they call’d; soon issuing at the sound,

  The Goddess open’d wide her splendid gates,

  And bade them in; they, heedless, all complied,

  All save Eurylochus, who fear’d a snare.

  She, introducing them, conducted each

  To a bright throne, then gave them Pramnian wine,

  With grated cheese, pure meal, and honey new, 290

  But medicated with her pois’nous drugs

  Their food, that in oblivion they might lose

  The wish of home. She gave them, and they drank, —

  When, smiting each with her enchanting wand,

  She shut them in her sties. In head, in voice,

  In body, and in bristles they became

  All swine, yet intellected as before,

  And at her hand were dieted alone

  With acorns, chestnuts, and the cornel-fruit,

  Food grateful ever to the grovelling swine. 300

  Back flew Eurylochus toward the ship,

  To tell the woeful tale; struggling to speak,

  Yet speechless, there he stood, his heart transfixt

  With anguish, and his eyes deluged with tears.

  Me boding terrours occupied. At length,

  When, gazing on him, all had oft enquired,

  He thus rehearsed to us the dreadful change.

  Renown’d Ulysses! as thou bad’st, we went

  Through yonder oaks; there, bosom’d in a vale,

  But built conspicuous on a swelling knoll 310

  With polish’d rock, we found a stately dome.

  Within, some Goddess or some woman wove

  An ample web, carolling sweet the while.

  They call’d aloud; she, issuing at the voice,

  Unfolded, soon, her splendid portals wide,

  And bade them in. Heedless they enter’d, all,

  But I remain’d, suspicious of a snare.

  Ere long the whole band vanish’d, none I saw

  Thenceforth, though, seated there, long time I watch’d.

  He ended; I my studded faulchion huge 320

  Athwart my shoulder cast, and seized my bow,

  Then bade him lead me thither by the way

  Himself had gone; but with both hands my knees

  He clasp’d, and in wing’d accents sad exclaim’d.

  My King! ah lead me not unwilling back,

  But leave me here; for confident I judge

  That neither thou wilt bring another thence,

  Nor come thyself again. Haste — fly we swift

  With these, for we, at least, may yet escape.

  So he, to whom this answer I return’d. 330

  Eurylochus! abiding here, eat thou

  And drink thy fill beside the sable bark;

  I go; necessity forbids my stay.

  So saying, I left the galley and the shore.

  But ere that awful vale ent’ring, I reach’d

  The palace of the sorceress, a God

  Met me, the bearer of the golden wand,

  Hermes. He seem’d a stripling in his prime,

  His cheeks cloath’d only with their earliest down,

  For youth is then most graceful; fast he lock’d 340

  His hand in mine, and thus, familiar, spake.

  Unhappy! whither, wand’ring o’er the hills,

  Stranger to all this region, and alone,

  Go’st thou? Thy people — they within the walls

  Are shut of Circe, where as swine close-pent

  She keeps them. Comest thou to set them free?

  I tell thee, never wilt thou thence return

  Thyself, but wilt be prison’d with the rest.

  Yet hearken — I will disappoint her wiles,

  And will preserve thee. Take this precious drug; 350

  Possessing this, enter the Goddess’ house

  Boldly, for it shall save thy life from harm.

  Lo! I reveal to thee the cruel arts

  Of Circe; learn them. She will mix for thee

  A potion, and will also drug thy food

  With noxious herbs; but she shall not prevail

  By all her pow’r to change thee; for the force

  Superior of this noble plant, my gift,

  Shall baffle her. Hear still what I advise.

&
nbsp; When she shall smite thee with her slender rod, 360

  With faulchion drawn and with death-threat’ning looks

  Rush on her; she will bid thee to her bed

  Affrighted; then beware. Decline not thou

  Her love, that she may both release thy friends,

  And may with kindness entertain thyself.

  But force her swear the dreaded oath of heav’n

  That she will other mischief none devise

  Against thee, lest she strip thee of thy might,

  And, quenching all thy virtue, make thee vile.

  So spake the Argicide, and from the earth 370

  That plant extracting, placed it in my hand,

  Then taught me all its pow’rs. Black was the root,

  Milk-white the blossom; Moly is its name

  In heav’n; not easily by mortal man

  Dug forth, but all is easy to the Gods.

  Then, Hermes through the island-woods repair’d

  To heav’n, and I to Circe’s dread abode,

  In gloomy musings busied as I went.

  Within the vestibule arrived, where dwelt

  The beauteous Goddess, staying there my steps, 380

  I call’d aloud; she heard me, and at once

  Issuing, threw her splendid portals wide,

  And bade me in. I follow’d, heart-distress’d.

  Leading me by the hand to a bright throne

  With argent studs embellish’d, and beneath

  Footstool’d magnificent, she made me sit.

  Then mingling for me in a golden cup

  My bev’rage, she infused a drug, intent

  On mischief; but when I had drunk the draught

  Unchanged, she smote me with her wand, and said. 390

  Hence — seek the sty. There wallow with thy friends.

  She spake; I drawing from beside my thigh

  My faulchion keen, with death-denouncing looks

  Rush’d on her; she with a shrill scream of fear

  Ran under my rais’d arm, seized fast my knees,

  And in wing’d accents plaintive thus began.

  Who? whence? thy city and thy birth declare.

  Amazed I see thee with that potion drench’d,

  Yet uninchanted; never man before

  Once pass’d it through his lips, and liv’d the same; 400

  But in thy breast a mind inhabits, proof

  Against all charms. Come then — I know thee well.

  Thou art Ulysses artifice-renown’d,

  Of whose arrival here in his return

  From Ilium, Hermes of the golden wand

  Was ever wont to tell me. Sheath again

  Thy sword, and let us, on my bed reclined,

  Mutual embrace, that we may trust thenceforth

  Each other, without jealousy or fear.

  The Goddess spake, to whom I thus replied. 410

  O Circe! canst thou bid me meek become

  And gentle, who beneath thy roof detain’st