Destructive, which to satiate, ships are rigg’d,
Seas travers’d, and fierce battles waged remote.
Thus they discoursing stood; Argus the while,
Ulysses’ dog, uplifted where he lay 350
His head and ears erect. Ulysses him
Had bred long since, himself, but rarely used,
Departing, first, to Ilium. Him the youths
In other days led frequent to the chace
Of wild goat, hart and hare; but now he lodg’d
A poor old cast-off, of his Lord forlorn,
Where mules and oxen had before the gate
Much ordure left, with which Ulysses’ hinds
Should, in due time, manure his spacious fields.
There lay, with dog-devouring vermin foul 360
All over, Argus; soon as he perceived
Long-lost Ulysses nigh, down fell his ears
Clapp’d close, and with his tail glad sign he gave
Of gratulation, impotent to rise
And to approach his master as of old.
Ulysses, noting him, wiped off a tear
Unmark’d, and of Eumæus quick enquired.
I can but wonder seeing such a dog
Thus lodg’d, Eumæus! beautiful in form
He is, past doubt, but whether he hath been 370
As fleet as fair I know not; rather such
Perchance as masters sometimes keep to grace
Their tables, nourish’d more for shew than use.
To whom, Eumæus, thou didst thus reply.
He is the dog of one dead far remote.
But had he now such feat-performing strength
As when Ulysses left him, going hence
To Ilium, in one moment thou shouldst mark,
Astonish’d, his agility and force.
He never in the sylvan deep recess 380
The wild beast saw that ‘scaped him, and he track’d
Their steps infallible; but he hath now
No comfort, for (the master dead afar)
The heedless servants care not for his dog.
Domestics, missing once their Lord’s controul,
Grow wilful, and refuse their proper tasks;
For whom Jove dooms to servitude, he takes
At once the half of that man’s worth away.
He said, and, ent’ring at the portal, join’d
The suitors. Then his destiny released 390
Old Argus, soon as he had lived to see
Ulysses in the twentieth year restored.
Godlike Telemachus, long ere the rest,
Marking the swine-herd’s entrance, with a nod
Summon’d him to approach. Eumæus cast
His eye around, and seeing vacant there
The seat which the dispenser of the feast
Was wont to occupy while he supplied
The num’rous guests, planted it right before
Telemachus, and at his table sat, 400
On which the herald placed for him his share
Of meat, and from the baskets gave him bread.
Soon after him, Ulysses enter’d slow
The palace, like a squalid beggar old,
Staff-propp’d, and in loose tatters foul attired.
Within the portal on the ashen sill
He sat, and, seeming languid, lean’d against
A cypress pillar by the builder’s art
Polish’d long since, and planted at the door.
Then took Telemachus a loaf entire 410
Forth from the elegant basket, and of flesh
A portion large as his two hands contained,
And, beck’ning close the swine-herd, charged him thus.
These to the stranger; whom advise to ask
Some dole from ev’ry suitor; bashful fear
Ill suits the mendicant by want oppress’d.
He spake; Eumæus went, and where he sat
Arriving, in wing’d accents thus began.
Telemachus, oh stranger, sends thee these,
And counsels thee to importune for more 420
The suitors, one by one; for bashful fear
Ill suits the mendicant by want oppress’d.
To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.
Jove, King of all, grant ev’ry good on earth
To kind Telemachus, and the complete
Accomplishment of all that he desires!
He said, and with both hands outspread, the mess
Receiving as he sat, on his worn bag
Disposed it at his feet. Long as the bard
Chaunted, he ate, and when he ceas’d to eat, 430
Then also ceas’d the bard divine to sing.
And now ensued loud clamour in the hall
And tumult, when Minerva, drawing nigh
To Laertiades, impell’d the Chief
Crusts to collect, or any pittance small
At ev’ry suitor’s hand, for trial’s sake
Of just and unjust; yet deliv’rance none
From evil she design’d for any there.
From left to right his progress he began
Petitioning, with outstretch’d hands, the throng, 440
As one familiar with the beggar’s art.
They, pitying, gave to him, but view’d him still
With wonder, and enquiries mutual made
Who, and whence was he? Then the goat-herd rose
Melanthius, and th’ assembly thus address’d.
Hear me, ye suitors of th’ illustrious Queen!
This guest, of whom ye ask, I have beheld
Elsewhere; the swine-herd brought him; but himself
I know not, neither who nor whence he is.
So he; then thus Antinoüs stern rebuked 450
The swine-herd. Ah, notorious as thou art,
Why hast thou shewn this vagabond the way
Into the city? are we not enough
Infested with these troublers of our feasts?
Deem’st it a trifle that such numbers eat
At thy Lord’s cost, and hast thou, therefore, led
This fellow hither, found we know not where?
To whom, Eumæus, thou didst thus reply.
Antinoüs! though of high degree, thou speak’st
Not wisely. What man to another’s house 460
Repairs to invite him to a feast, unless
He be of those who by profession serve
The public, prophet, healer of disease,
Ingenious artist, or some bard divine
Whose music may exhilarate the guests?
These, and such only, are in ev’ry land
Call’d to the banquet; none invites the poor,
Who much consume, and no requital yield.
But thou of all the suitors roughly treat’st
Ulysses’ servants most, and chiefly me; 470
Yet thee I heed not, while the virtuous Queen
Dwells in this palace, and her godlike son.
To whom Telemachus, discrete, replied.
Peace! answer not verbose a man like him.
Antinoüs hath a tongue accustom’d much
To tauntings, and promotes them in the rest.
Then, turning to Antinoüs, quick he said —
Antinoüs! as a father for his son
Takes thought, so thou for me, who bidd’st me chase
The stranger harshly hence; but God forbid! 480
Impart to him. I grudge not, but myself
Exhort thee to it; neither, in this cause,
Fear thou the Queen, or in the least regard
Whatever menial throughout all the house
Of famed Ulysses. Ah! within thy breast
Dwells no such thought; thou lov’st not to impart
To others, but to gratify thyself.
To whom Antinoüs answer thus return’d.
High-soaring and intemp’rate in thy speech
How hast thou said, Telemachus? Would all 490
As mu
ch bestow on him, he should not seek
Admittance here again three months to come.
So saying, he seized the stool which, banqueting,
He press’d with his nice feet, and from beneath
The table forth advanced it into view.
The rest all gave to him, with bread and flesh
Filling his wallet, and Ulysses, now,
Returning to his threshold, there to taste
The bounty of the Greeks, paused in his way
Beside Antinoüs, whom he thus address’d. 500
Kind sir! vouchsafe to me! for thou appear’st
Not least, but greatest of the Achaians here,
And hast a kingly look. It might become
Thee therefore above others to bestow,
So should I praise thee wheresoe’er I roam.
I also lived the happy owner once
Of such a stately mansion, and have giv’n
To num’rous wand’rers (whencesoe’er they came)
All that they needed; I was also served
By many, and enjoy’d all that denotes 510
The envied owner opulent and blest.
But Jove (for so it pleas’d him) hath reduced
My all to nothing, prompting me, in league
With rovers of the Deep, to sail afar
To Ægypt, for my sure destruction there.
Within th’ Ægyptian stream my barks well-oar’d
I station’d, and, enjoining strict my friends
To watch them close-attendant at their side,
Commanded spies into the hill-tops; but they,
Under the impulse of a spirit rash 520
And hot for quarrel, the well-cultur’d fields
Pillaged of the Ægyptians, captive led
Their wives and little-ones, and slew the men.
Ere long, the loud alarm their city reach’d.
Down came the citizens, by dawn of day,
With horse and foot and with the gleam of arms
Filling the plain. Then Jove with panic dread
Struck all my people; none found courage more
To stand, for mischiefs swarm’d on ev’ry side.
There, num’rous by the glitt’ring spear we fell 530
Slaughter’d, while others they conducted thence
Alive to servitude; but me they gave
To Dmetor, King in Cyprus, Jasus’ son;
He entertained me liberally, and thence
This land I reach’d, but poor and woe-begone.
Then answer thus Antinoüs harsh return’d.
What dæmon introduced this nuisance here,
This troubler of our feast? stand yonder, keep
Due distance from my table, or expect
To see an Ægypt and a Cyprus worse 540
Than those, bold mendicant and void of shame!
Thou hauntest each, and, inconsid’rate, each
Gives to thee, because gifts at other’s cost
Are cheap, and, plentifully serv’d themselves,
They squander, heedless, viands not their own.
To whom Ulysses while he slow retired.
Gods! how illib’ral with that specious form!
Thou wouldst not grant the poor a grain of salt
From thy own board, who at another’s fed
So nobly, canst thou not spare a crust to me. 550
He spake; then raged Antinoüs still the more,
And in wing’d accents, louring, thus replied.
Take such dismission now as thou deserv’st,
Opprobrious! hast thou dared to scoff at me?
So saying, he seized his stool, and on the joint
Of his right shoulder smote him; firm as rock
He stood, by no such force to be displaced,
But silent shook his brows, and dreadful deeds
Of vengeance ruminating, sought again
His seat the threshold, where his bag full-charged 560
He grounded, and the suitors thus address’d.
Hear now, ye suitors of the matchless Queen,
My bosom’s dictates. Trivial is the harm,
Scarce felt, if, fighting for his own, his sheep
Perchance, or beeves, a man receive a blow.
But me Antinoüs struck for that I ask’d
Food from him merely to appease the pangs
Of hunger, source of num’rous ills to man.
If then the poor man have a God t’ avenge
His wrongs, I pray to him that death may seize 570
Antinoüs, ere his nuptial hour arrive!
To whom Antinoüs answer thus return’d,
Son of Eupithes. Either seated there
Or going hence, eat, stranger, and be still;
Lest for thy insolence, by hand or foot
We drag thee forth, and thou be flay’d alive.
He ceased, whom all indignant heard, and thus
Ev’n his own proud companions censured him.
Antinoüs! thou didst not well to smite
The wretched vagabond. O thou art doom’d 580
For ever, if there be a God in heav’n;
For, in similitude of strangers oft,
The Gods, who can with ease all shapes assume,
Repair to populous cities, where they mark
The outrageous and the righteous deeds of men.
So they, for whose reproof he little cared.
But in his heart Telemachus that blow
Resented, anguish-torn, yet not a tear
He shed, but silent shook his brows, and mused
Terrible things. Penelope, meantime, 590
Told of the wand’rer so abused beneath
Her roof, among her maidens thus exclaim’d.
So may Apollo, glorious archer, smite
Thee also. Then Eurynome replied,
Oh might our pray’rs prevail, none of them all
Should see bright-charioted Aurora more.
Her answer’d then Penelope discrete.
Nurse! they are odious all, for that alike
All teem with mischief; but Antinoüs’ looks
Remind me ever of the gloom of death. 600
A stranger hath arrived who, begging, roams
The house, (for so his penury enjoins)
The rest have giv’n him, and have fill’d his bag
With viands, but Antinoüs hath bruised
His shoulder with a foot-stool hurl’d at him.
While thus the Queen conversing with her train
In her own chamber sat, Ulysses made
Plenteous repast. Then, calling to her side
Eumæus, thus she signified her will.
Eumæus, noble friend! bid now approach 610
Yon stranger. I would speak with him, and ask
If he has seen Ulysses, or have heard
Tidings, perchance, of the afflicted Chief,
For much a wand’rer by his garb he seems.
To whom, Eumæus, thou didst thus reply.
Were those Achaians silent, thou shouldst hear,
O Queen! a tale that would console thy heart.
Three nights I housed him, and within my cot
Three days detain’d him, (for his ship he left
A fugitive, and came direct to me) 620
But half untold his hist’ry still remains.
As when his eye one fixes on a bard
From heav’n instructed in such themes as charm
The ear of mortals, ever as he sings
The people press, insatiable, to hear,
So, in my cottage, seated at my side,
That stranger with his tale enchanted me.
Laertes, he affirms, hath been his guest
Erewhile in Crete, where Minos’ race resides,
And thence he hath arrived, after great loss, 630
A suppliant to the very earth abased;
He adds, that in Thesprotia’s neighbour realm
He of Ulysses heard, both that he lives,
And that he comes laden with riches home.
To whom Penelope, discrete, replied.
Haste; call him. I would hear, myself, his tale.
Meantime, let these, or in the palace gate
Sport jocular, or here; their hearts are light,
For their possessions are secure; their wine
None drinks, or eats their viands, save their own, 640
While my abode, day after day, themselves
Haunting, my beeves and sheep and fatted goats
Slay for the banquet, and my casks exhaust
Extravagant, whence endless waste ensues;
For no such friend as was Ulysses once
Have I to expel the mischief. But might he
Revisit once his native shores again,
Then, aided by his son, he should avenge,
Incontinent, the wrongs which now I mourn.
Then sneezed Telemachus with sudden force, 650
That all the palace rang; his mother laugh’d,
And in wing’d accents thus the swain bespake.
Haste — bid him hither — hear’st thou not the sneeze
Propitious of my son? oh might it prove
A presage of inevitable death
To all these revellers! may none escape!
Now mark me well. Should the event his tale
Confirm, at my own hands he shall receive
Mantle and tunic both for his reward.
She spake; he went, and where Ulysses sat 660
Arriving, in wing’d accents thus began.
Penelope, my venerable friend!
Calls thee, the mother of Telemachus.
Oppress’d by num’rous troubles, she desires
To ask thee tidings of her absent Lord.
And should the event verify thy report,
Thy meed shall be (a boon which much thou need’st)
Tunic and mantle; but she gives no more;
Thy sustenance thou must, as now, obtain,
Begging it at their hands who chuse to give. 670
Then thus Ulysses, Hero toil-inured.
Eumæus! readily I can relate
Truth, and truth only, to the prudent Queen
Icarius’ daughter; for of him I know
Much, and have suff’red sorrows like his own.
But dread I feel of this imperious throng
Perverse, whose riot and outrageous acts
Of violence echo through the vault of heav’n.
And, even now, when for no fault of mine
Yon suitor struck me as I pass’d, and fill’d 680
My flesh with pain, neither Telemachus
Nor any interposed to stay his arm.
Now, therefore, let Penelope, although
Impatient, till the sun descend postpone
Her questions; then she may enquire secure
When comes her husband, and may nearer place
My seat to the hearth-side, for thinly clad
Thou know’st I am, whose aid I first implored.
William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 176
