William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

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William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 172

by William Cowper

To friendship by the friendship of our sires,

  But by equality of years, and this

  Our journey shall unite us still the more.

  Bear me not, I intreat thee, noble friend!

  Beyond the ship, but drop me at her side, 240

  Lest ancient Nestor, though against my will,

  Detain me in his palace through desire

  To feast me, for I dread the least delay.

  He spake; then mused Pisistratus how best

  He might effect the wishes of his friend,

  And thus at length resolved; turning his steeds

  With sudden deviation to the shore

  He sought the bark, and placing in the stern

  Both gold and raiment, the illustrious gifts

  Of Menelaus, thus, in accents wing’d 250

  With ardour, urged Telemachus away.

  Dispatch, embark, summon thy crew on board,

  Ere my arrival notice give of thine

  To the old King; for vehement I know

  His temper, neither will he let thee hence,

  But, hasting hither, will himself enforce

  Thy longer stay, that thou may’st not depart

  Ungifted; nought will fire his anger more.

  So saying, he to the Pylian city urged

  His steeds bright-maned, and at the palace-gate 260

  Arrived of Nestor speedily; meantime

  Telemachus exhorted thus his crew.

  My gallant friends! set all your tackle, climb

  The sable bark, for I would now return.

  He spake; they heard him gladly, and at once

  All fill’d the benches. While his voyage he

  Thus expedited, and beside the stern

  To Pallas sacrifice perform’d and pray’d,

  A stranger, born remote, who had escaped

  From Argos, fugitive for blood, a seer 270

  And of Melampus’ progeny, approach’d.

  Melampus, in old time, in Pylus dwelt,

  Mother of flocks, alike for wealth renown’d

  And the magnificence of his abode.

  He, flying from the far-famed Pylian King,

  The mighty Neleus, migrated at length

  Into another land, whose wealth, the while,

  Neleus by force possess’d a year complete.

  Meantime, Melampus in the house endured

  Of Phylacus imprisonment and woe, 280

  And burn’d with wrath for Neleus’ daughter sake

  By fell Erynnis kindled in his heart.

  But, ‘scaping death, he drove the lowing beeves

  From Phylace to Pylus, well avenged

  His num’rous injuries at Neleus’ hands

  Sustain’d, and gave into his brother’s arms

  King Neleus’ daughter fair, the promis’d bride.

  To Argos steed-renown’d he journey’d next,

  There destin’d to inhabit and to rule

  Multitudes of Achaians. In that land 290

  He married, built a palace, and became

  Father of two brave sons, Antiphates

  And Mantius; to Antiphates was born

  The brave Oïcleus; from Oïcleus sprang

  Amphiaraüs, demagogue renown’d,

  Whom with all tenderness, and as a friend

  Alike the Thund’rer and Apollo prized;

  Yet reach’d he not the bounds of hoary age.

  But by his mercenary consort’s arts

  Persuaded, met his destiny at Thebes. 300

  He ‘gat Alcmæon and Amphilocus.

  Mantius was also father of two sons,

  Clytus and Polyphides. Clytus pass’d

  From earth to heav’n, and dwells among the Gods,

  Stol’n by Aurora for his beauty’s sake.

  But (brave Amphiaraüs once deceased)

  Phœbus exalted Polyphides far

  Above all others in the prophet’s part.

  He, anger’d by his father, roam’d away

  To Hyperesia, where he dwelt renown’d 310

  Throughout all lands the oracle of all.

  His son, named Theoclymenus, was he

  Who now approach’d; he found Telemachus

  Libation off’ring in his bark, and pray’r,

  And in wing’d accents ardent him address’d.

  Ah, friend! since sacrificing in this place

  I find thee, by these sacred rites and those

  Whom thou ador’st, and by thy own dear life,

  And by the lives of these thy mariners

  I beg true answer; hide not what I ask. 320

  Who art thou? whence? where born? and sprung from whom?

  To whom Telemachus, discrete, replied.

  I will inform thee, stranger! and will solve

  Thy questions with much truth. I am by birth

  Ithacan, and Ulysses was my sire.

  But he hath perish’d by a woeful death,

  And I, believing it, with these have plow’d

  The ocean hither, int’rested to learn

  A father’s fate long absent from his home.

  Then answer’d godlike Theoclymenus. 330

  I also am a wand’rer, having slain

  A man of my own tribe; brethren and friends

  Num’rous had he in Argos steed-renown’d,

  And pow’rful are the Achaians dwelling there.

  From them, through terrour of impending death,

  I fly, a banish’d man henceforth for ever.

  Ah save a suppliant fugitive! lest death

  O’ertake me, for I doubt not their pursuit.

  Whom thus Telemachus answer’d discrete.

  I shall not, be assured, since thou desir’st 340

  To join me, chace thee from my bark away.

  Follow me, therefore, and with us partake,

  In Ithaca, what best the land affords.

  So saying, he at the stranger’s hand received

  His spear, which on the deck he lay’d, then climb’d

  Himself the bark, and, seated in the stern,

  At his own side placed Theoclymenus.

  They cast the hawsers loose; then with loud voice

  Telemachus exhorted all to hand

  The tackle, whom the sailors prompt obey’d. 350

  The tall mast heaving, in its socket deep

  They lodg’d it, and its cordage braced secure,

  Then, straining at the halyards, hoised the sail.

  Fair wind, and blowing fresh through æther pure

  Minerva sent them, that the bark might run

  Her nimblest course through all the briny way.

  Now sank the sun, and dusky ev’ning dimm’d

  The waves, when, driven by propitious Jove,

  His bark stood right for Pheræ; thence she stretch’d

  To sacred Elis where the Epeans rule, 360

  And through the sharp Echinades he next

  Steer’d her, uncertain whether fate ordain’d

  His life or death, surprizal or escape.

  Meantime Ulysses and the swine-herd ate

  Their cottage-mess, and the assistant swains

  Theirs also; and when hunger now and thirst

  Had ceased in all, Ulysses thus began,

  Proving the swine-herd, whether friendly still,

  And anxious for his good, he would intreat

  His stay, or thence hasten him to the town. 370

  Eumæus, and all ye his servants, hear!

  It is my purpose, lest I wear thee out,

  Thee and thy friends, to seek at early dawn

  The city, there to beg — But give me first

  Needful instructions, and a trusty guide

  Who may conduct me thither; there my task

  Must be to roam the streets; some hand humane

  Perchance shall give me a small pittance there,

  A little bread, and a few drops to drink.

  Ulysses’ palace I shall also seek, 380

  And to discrete Penelope
report

  My tidings; neither shall I fail to mix

  With those imperious suitors, who, themselves

  Full-fed, may spare perhaps some boon to me.

  Me shall they find, in whatsoe’er they wish

  Their ready servitor, for (understand

  And mark me well) the herald of the skies,

  Hermes, from whom all actions of mankind

  Their grace receive and polish, is my friend,

  So that in menial offices I fear 390

  No rival, whether I be called to heap

  The hearth with fuel, or dry wood to cleave,

  To roast, to carve, or to distribute wine,

  As oft the poor are wont who serve the great.

  To whom, Eumæus! at those words displeased,

  Thou didst reply. Gods! how could such a thought

  Possess thee, stranger? surely thy resolve

  Is altogether fixt to perish there,

  If thou indeed hast purposed with that throng

  To mix, whose riot and outrageous acts 400

  Of violence echo through the vault of heav’n.

  None, such as thou, serve them; their servitors

  Are youths well-cloak’d, well-vested; sleek their heads,

  And smug their countenances; such alone

  Are their attendants, and the polish’d boards

  Groan overcharg’d with bread, with flesh, with wine.

  Rest here content; for neither me nor these

  Thou weariest aught, and when Ulysses’ son

  Shall come, he will with vest and mantle fair

  Cloath thee, and send thee whither most thou would’st. 410

  To whom Ulysses, toil-inured.

  I wish thee, O Eumæus! dear to Jove

  As thou art dear to me, for this reprieve

  Vouchsafed me kind, from wand’ring and from woe!

  No worse condition is of mortal man

  Than his who wanders; for the poor man, driv’n

  By woe and by misfortune homeless forth,

  A thousand mis’ries, day by day, endures.

  Since thou detain’st me, then, and bidd’st me wait

  His coming, tell me if the father still 420

  Of famed Ulysses live, whom, going hence,

  He left so nearly on the verge of life?

  And lives his mother? or have both deceased

  Already, and descended to the shades?

  To whom the master swine-herd thus replied.

  I will inform thee, and with strictest truth,

  Of all that thou hast ask’d. Laertes lives,

  But supplication off’ring to the Gods

  Ceaseless, to free him from a weary life,

  So deeply his long-absent son he mourns, 430

  And the dear consort of his early youth,

  Whose death is his chief sorrow, and hath brought

  Old age on him, or ere its date arrived.

  She died of sorrow for her glorious son,

  And died deplorably; may never friend

  Of mine, or benefactor die as she!

  While yet she liv’d, dejected as she was,

  I found it yet some solace to converse

  With her, who rear’d me in my childish days,

  Together with her lovely youngest-born 440

  The Princess Ctimena; for side by side

  We grew, and I, scarce honour’d less than she.

  But soon as our delightful prime we both

  Attain’d, to Samos her they sent, a bride,

  And were requited with rich dow’r; but me

  Cloath’d handsomely with tunic and with vest,

  And with fair sandals furnish’d, to the field

  She order’d forth, yet loved me still the more.

  I miss her kindness now; but gracious heav’n

  Prospers the work on which I here attend; 450

  Hence have I food, and hence I drink, and hence

  Refresh, sometimes, a worthy guest like thee.

  But kindness none experience I, or can,

  From fair Penelope (my mistress now)

  In word or action, so is the house curs’d

  With that lewd throng. Glad would the servants be

  Might they approach their mistress, and receive

  Advice from her; glad too to eat and drink,

  And somewhat bear each to his rural home,

  For perquisites are ev’ry servant’s joy. 460

  Then answer thus, Ulysses wise return’d.

  Alas! good swain, Eumæus, how remote

  From friends and country wast thou forced to roam

  Ev’n in thy infancy! But tell me true.

  The city where thy parents dwelt, did foes

  Pillage it? or did else some hostile band

  Surprizing thee alone, on herd or flock

  Attendant, bear thee with them o’er the Deep,

  And sell thee at this Hero’s house, who pay’d

  Doubtless for thee no sordid price or small? 470

  To whom the master swine-herd in reply.

  Stranger! since thou art curious to be told

  My story, silent listen, and thy wine

  At leisure quaff. The nights are longest now,

  And such as time for sleep afford, and time

  For pleasant conf’rence; neither were it good

  That thou should’st to thy couch before thy hour,

  Since even sleep is hurtful, in excess.

  Whoever here is weary, and desires

  Early repose, let him depart to rest, 480

  And, at the peep of day, when he hath fed

  Sufficiently, drive forth my master’s herd;

  But we with wine and a well-furnish’d board

  Supplied, will solace mutually derive

  From recollection of our sufferings past;

  For who hath much endured, and wander’d far,

  Finds the recital ev’n of sorrow sweet.

  Now hear thy question satisfied; attend!

  There is an island (thou hast heard, perchance,

  Of such an isle) named Syria; it is placed 490

  Above Ortigia, and a dial owns

  True to the tropic changes of the year.

  No great extent she boasts, yet is she rich

  In cattle and in flocks, in wheat and wine.

  No famine knows that people, or disease

  Noisome, of all that elsewhere seize the race

  Of miserable man; but when old age

  Steals on the citizens, Apollo, arm’d

  With silver bow and bright Diana come,

  Whose gentle shafts dismiss them soon to rest. 500

  Two cities share between them all the isle,

  And both were subject to my father’s sway

  Ctesius Ormenides, a godlike Chief.

  It chanced that from Phœnicia, famed for skill

  In arts marine, a vessel thither came

  By sharpers mann’d, and laden deep with toys.

  Now, in my father’s family abode

  A fair Phœnician, tall, full-sized, and skill’d

  In works of elegance, whom they beguiled.

  While she wash’d linen on the beach, beside 510

  The ship, a certain mariner of those

  Seduced her; for all women, ev’n the wise

  And sober, feeble prove by love assail’d.

  Who was she, he enquired, and whence? nor she

  Scrupled to tell at once her father’s home.

  I am of Sidon, famous for her works

  In brass and steel; daughter of Arybas,

  Who rolls in affluence; Taphian pirates thence

  Stole me returning from the field, from whom

  This Chief procured me at no little cost. 520

  Then answer thus her paramour return’d.

  Wilt thou not hence to Sidon in our ship,

  That thou may’st once more visit the abode

  Of thy own wealthy parents, and themselves?

  For
still they live, and still are wealthy deem’d.

  To whom the woman. Even that might be,

  Would ye, ye seamen, by a solemn oath

  Assure me of a safe conveyance home.

  Then sware the mariners as she required,

  And, when their oath was ended, thus again 530

  The woman of Phœnicia them bespake.

  Now, silence! no man, henceforth, of you all

  Accost me, though he meet me on the road,

  Or at yon fountain; lest some tattler run

  With tidings home to my old master’s ear,

  Who, with suspicion touch’d, may me confine

  In cruel bonds, and death contrive for you.

  But be ye close; purchase your stores in haste;

  And when your vessel shall be freighted full,

  Quick send me notice, for I mean to bring 540

  What gold soever opportune I find,

  And will my passage cheerfully defray

  With still another moveable. I nurse

  The good man’s son, an urchin shrewd, of age

  To scamper at my side; him will I bring,

  Whom at some foreign market ye shall prove

  Saleable at what price soe’er ye will.

  So saying, she to my father’s house return’d.

  They, there abiding the whole year, their ship

  With purchased goods freighted of ev’ry kind, 550

  And when, her lading now complete, she lay

  For sea prepared, their messenger arrived

  To summon down the woman to the shore.

  A mariner of theirs, subtle and shrewd,

  Then, ent’ring at my father’s gate, produced

  A splendid collar, gold with amber strung.

  My mother (then at home) with all her maids

  Handling and gazing on it with delight,

  Proposed to purchase it, and he the nod

  Significant, gave unobserv’d, the while, 560

  To the Phœnician woman, and return’d.

  She, thus informed, leading me by the hand

  Went forth, and finding in the vestibule

  The cups and tables which my father’s guests

  Had used, (but they were to the forum gone

  For converse with their friends assembled there)

  Convey’d three cups into her bosom-folds,

  And bore them off, whom I a thoughtless child

  Accompanied, at the decline of day,

  When dusky evening had embrown’d the shore. 570

  We, stepping nimbly on, soon reach’d the port

  Renown’d, where that Phœnician vessel lay.

  They shipp’d us both, and all embarking cleav’d

  Their liquid road, by favourable gales,

  Jove’s gift, impell’d. Six days we day and night

  Continual sailed, but when Saturnian Jove

  Now bade the sev’nth bright morn illume the skies,

  Then, shaft-arm’d Dian struck the woman dead.

 

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