William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Ulysses) suffer’d not the suitor Chiefs

  To banquet, guiltless of heart-piercing scoffs

  Malign. There was a certain suitor named

  Ctesippus, born in Samos; base of mind

  Was he and profligate, but, in the wealth

  Confiding of his father, woo’d the wife

  Of long-exiled Ulysses. From his seat

  The haughty suitors thus that man address’d.

  Ye noble suitors, I would speak; attend!

  The guest is served; he hath already shared 350

  Equal with us; nor less the laws demand

  Of hospitality; for neither just

  It were nor decent, that a guest, received

  Here by Telemachus, should be denied

  His portion of the feast. Come then — myself

  Will give to him, that he may also give

  To her who laved him in the bath, or else

  To whatsoever menial here he will.

  So saying, he from a basket near at hand

  Heav’d an ox-foot, and with a vig’rous arm 360

  Hurl’d it. Ulysses gently bow’d his head,

  Shunning the blow, but gratified his just

  Resentment with a broad sardonic smile

  Of dread significance. He smote the wall.

  Then thus Telemachus rebuked the deed.

  Ctesippus, thou art fortunate; the bone

  Struck not the stranger, for he shunn’d the blow;

  Else, I had surely thrust my glitt’ring lance

  Right through thee; then, no hymenæal rites

  Of thine should have employ’d thy father here, 370

  But thy funereal. No man therefore treat

  Me with indignity within these walls,

  For though of late a child, I can discern

  Now, and distinguish between good and ill.

  Suffice it that we patiently endure

  To be spectators daily of our sheep

  Slaughter’d, our bread consumed, our stores of wine

  Wasted; for what can one to all opposed?

  Come then — persist no longer in offence

  And hostile hate of me; or if ye wish 380

  To slay me, pause not. It were better far

  To die, and I had rather much be slain,

  Than thus to witness your atrocious deeds

  Day after day; to see our guests abused,

  With blows insulted, and the women dragg’d

  With a licentious violence obscene

  From side to side of all this fair abode.

  He said, and all sat silent, till at length

  Thus Agelaüs spake, Diastor’s son.

  My friends! let none with contradiction thwart 390

  And rude reply, words rational and just;

  Assault no more the stranger, nor of all

  The servants of renown’d Ulysses here

  Harm any. My advice, both to the Queen

  And to Telemachus, shall gentle be,

  May it but please them. While the hope survived

  Within your bosoms of the safe return

  Of wise Ulysses to his native isle,

  So long good reason was that she should use

  Delay, and hold our wooing in suspence; 400

  For had Ulysses come, that course had proved

  Wisest and best; but that he comes no more

  Appears, now, manifest. Thou, therefore, Prince!

  Seeking thy mother, counsel her to wed

  The noblest, and who offers richest dow’r,

  That thou, for thy peculiar, may’st enjoy

  Thy own inheritance in peace and ease,

  And she, departing, find another home.

  To whom Telemachus, discrete, replied.

  I swear by Jove, and by my father’s woes, 410

  Who either hath deceased far from his home,

  Or lives a wand’rer, that I interpose

  No hindrance to her nuptials. Let her wed

  Who offers most, and even whom she will.

  But to dismiss her rudely were a deed

  Unfilial — That I dare not — God forbid!

  So spake Telemachus. Then Pallas struck

  The suitors with delirium; wide they stretch’d

  Their jaws with unspontaneous laughter loud;

  Their meat dripp’d blood; tears fill’d their eyes, and dire

  Presages of approaching woe, their hearts. 421

  Then thus the prophet Theoclymenus.

  Ah miserable men! what curse is this

  That takes you now? night wraps itself around

  Your faces, bodies, limbs; the palace shakes

  With peals of groans — and oh, what floods ye weep!

  I see the walls and arches dappled thick

  With gore; the vestibule is throng’d, the court

  On all sides throng’d with apparitions grim

  Of slaughter’d men sinking into the gloom 430

  Of Erebus; the sun is blotted out

  From heav’n, and midnight whelms you premature.

  He said, they, hearing, laugh’d; and thus the son

  Of Polybus, Eurymachus replied.

  This wand’rer from a distant shore hath left

  His wits behind. Hoa there! conduct him hence

  Into the forum; since he dreams it night

  Already, teach him there that it is day.

  Then answer’d godlike Theoclymenus.

  I have no need, Eurymachus, of guides 440

  To lead me hence, for I have eyes and ears,

  The use of both my feet, and of a mind

  In no respect irrational or wild.

  These shall conduct me forth, for well I know

  That evil threatens you, such, too, as none

  Shall ‘scape of all the suitors, whose delight

  Is to insult the unoffending guest

  Received beneath this hospitable roof.

  He said, and, issuing from the palace, sought

  Piræus’ house, who gladly welcom’d him. 450

  Then all the suitors on each other cast

  A look significant, and, to provoke

  Telemachus the more, fleer’d at his guests.

  Of whom a youth thus, insolent began.

  No living wight, Telemachus, had e’er

  Guests such as thine. Witness, we know not who,

  This hungry vagabond, whose means of life

  Are none, and who hath neither skill nor force

  To earn them, a mere burthen on the ground.

  Witness the other also, who upstarts 460

  A prophet suddenly. Take my advice;

  I counsel wisely; send them both on board

  Some gallant bark to Sicily for sale;

  Thus shall they somewhat profit thee at last.

  So spake the suitors, whom Telemachus

  Heard unconcern’d, and, silent, look’d and look’d

  Toward his father, watching still the time

  When he should punish that licentious throng.

  Meantime, Icarius’ daughter, who had placed

  Her splendid seat opposite, heard distinct 470

  Their taunting speeches. They, with noisy mirth,

  Feasted deliciously, for they had slain

  Many a fat victim; but a sadder feast

  Than, soon, the Goddess and the warrior Chief

  Should furnish for them, none shall ever share.

  Of which their crimes had furnish’d first the cause.

  BOOK XXI

  ARGUMENT

  Penelope proposes to the suitors a contest with the bow, herself the

  prize. They prove unable to bend the bow; when Ulysses having with some

  difficulty possessed himself of it, manages it with the utmost ease, and

  dispatches his arrow through twelve rings erected for the trial.

  Minerva, now, Goddess cærulean-eyed,

  Prompted Icarius’ daughter, the discrete

  Penelope, with bow and rings
to prove

  Her suitors in Ulysses’ courts, a game

  Terrible in conclusion to them all.

  First, taking in her hand the brazen key

  Well-forged, and fitted with an iv’ry grasp,

  Attended by the women of her train

  She sought her inmost chamber, the recess

  In which she kept the treasures of her Lord, 10

  His brass, his gold, and steel elaborate.

  Here lay his stubborn bow, and quiver fill’d

  With num’rous shafts, a fatal store. That bow

  He had received and quiver from the hand

  Of godlike Iphitus Eurytides,

  Whom, in Messenia, in the house he met

  Of brave Orsilochus. Ulysses came

  Demanding payment of arrearage due

  From all that land; for a Messenian fleet

  Had borne from Ithaca three hundred sheep, 20

  With all their shepherds; for which cause, ere yet

  Adult, he voyaged to that distant shore,

  Deputed by his sire, and by the Chiefs

  Of Ithaca, to make the just demand.

  But Iphitus had thither come to seek

  Twelve mares and twelve mule colts which he had lost,

  A search that cost him soon a bloody death.

  For, coming to the house of Hercules

  The valiant task-performing son of Jove,

  He perish’d there, slain by his cruel host 30

  Who, heedless of heav’n’s wrath, and of the rights

  Of his own board, first fed, then slaughter’d him;

  For in his house the mares and colts were hidden.

  He, therefore, occupied in that concern,

  Meeting Ulysses there, gave him the bow

  Which, erst, huge Eurytus had borne, and which

  Himself had from his dying sire received.

  Ulysses, in return, on him bestowed

  A spear and sword, pledges of future love

  And hospitality; but never more 40

  They met each other at the friendly board,

  For, ere that hour arrived, the son of Jove

  Slew his own guest, the godlike Iphitus.

  Thus came the bow into Ulysses’ hands,

  Which, never in his gallant barks he bore

  To battle with him, (though he used it oft

  In times of peace) but left it safely stored

  At home, a dear memorial of his friend.

  Soon as, divinest of her sex, arrived

  At that same chamber, with her foot she press’d 50

  The oaken threshold bright, on which the hand

  Of no mean architect had stretch’d the line,

  Who had erected also on each side

  The posts on which the splendid portals hung,

  She loos’d the ring and brace, then introduced

  The key, and aiming at them from without,

  Struck back the bolts. The portals, at that stroke,

  Sent forth a tone deep as the pastur’d bull’s,

  And flew wide open. She, ascending, next,

  The elevated floor on which the chests 60

  That held her own fragrant apparel stood,

  With lifted hand aloft took down the bow

  In its embroider’d bow-case safe enclosed.

  Then, sitting there, she lay’d it on her knees,

  Weeping aloud, and drew it from the case.

  Thus weeping over it long time she sat,

  Till satiate, at the last, with grief and tears,

  Descending by the palace steps she sought

  Again the haughty suitors, with the bow

  Elastic, and the quiver in her hand 70

  Replete with pointed shafts, a deadly store.

  Her maidens, as she went, bore after her

  A coffer fill’d with prizes by her Lord,

  Much brass and steel; and when at length she came,

  Loveliest of women, where the suitors sat,

  Between the pillars of the stately dome

  Pausing, before her beauteous face she held

  Her lucid veil, and by two matrons chaste

  Supported, the assembly thus address’d.

  Ye noble suitors hear, who rudely haunt 80

  This palace of a Chief long absent hence,

  Whose substance ye have now long time consumed,

  Nor palliative have yet contrived, or could,

  Save your ambition to make me a bride —

  Attend this game to which I call you forth.

  Now suitors! prove yourselves with this huge bow

  Of wide-renown’d Ulysses; he who draws

  Easiest the bow, and who his arrow sends

  Through twice six rings, he takes me to his home,

  And I must leave this mansion of my youth 90

  Plenteous, magnificent, which, doubtless, oft

  I shall remember even in my dreams.

  So saying, she bade Eumæus lay the bow

  Before them, and the twice six rings of steel.

  He wept, received them, and obey’d; nor wept

  The herdsman less, seeing the bow which erst

  His Lord had occupied; when at their tears

  Indignant, thus, Antinoüs began.

  Ye rural drones, whose purblind eyes see not

  Beyond the present hour, egregious fools! 100

  Why weeping trouble ye the Queen, too much

  Before afflicted for her husband lost?

  Either partake the banquet silently,

  Or else go weep abroad, leaving the bow,

  That stubborn test, to us; for none, I judge,

  None here shall bend this polish’d bow with ease,

  Since in this whole assembly I discern

  None like Ulysses, whom myself have seen

  And recollect, though I was then a boy.

  He said, but in his heart, meantime, the hope 110

  Cherish’d, that he should bend, himself, the bow,

  And pass the rings; yet was he destin’d first

  Of all that company to taste the steel

  Of brave Ulysses’ shaft, whom in that house

  He had so oft dishonour’d, and had urged

  So oft all others to the like offence.

  Amidst them, then, the sacred might arose

  Of young Telemachus, who thus began.

  Saturnian Jove questionless hath deprived

  Me of all reason. My own mother, fam’d 120

  For wisdom as she is, makes known to all

  Her purpose to abandon this abode

  And follow a new mate, while, heedless, I

  Trifle and laugh as I were still a child.

  But come, ye suitors! since the prize is such,

  A woman like to whom none can be found

  This day in all Achaia; on the shores

  Of sacred Pylus; in the cities proud

  Of Argos or Mycenæ; or even here

  In Ithaca; or yet within the walls 130

  Of black Epirus; and since this yourselves

  Know also, wherefore should I speak her praise?

  Come then, delay not, waste not time in vain

  Excuses, turn not from the proof, but bend

  The bow, that thus the issue may be known.

  I also will, myself, that task essay;

  And should I bend the bow, and pass the rings,

  Then shall not my illustrious mother leave

  Her son forlorn, forsaking this abode

  To follow a new spouse, while I remain 140

  Disconsolate, although of age to bear,

  Successful as my sire, the prize away.

  So saying, he started from his seat, cast off

  His purple cloak, and lay’d his sword aside,

  Then fix’d, himself, the rings, furrowing the earth

  By line, and op’ning one long trench for all,

  And stamping close the glebe. Amazement seized

  All present, seeing with how prompt a skill
/>
  He executed, though untaught, his task.

  Then, hasting to the portal, there he stood. 150

  Thrice, struggling, he essay’d to bend the bow,

  And thrice desisted, hoping still to draw

  The bow-string home, and shoot through all the rings.

  And now the fourth time striving with full force

  He had prevail’d to string it, but his sire

  Forbad his eager efforts by a sign.

  Then thus the royal youth to all around —

  Gods! either I shall prove of little force

  Hereafter, and for manly feats unapt,

  Or I am yet too young, and have not strength 160

  To quell the aggressor’s contumely. But come —

  (For ye have strength surpassing mine) try ye

  The bow, and bring this contest to an end.

  He ceas’d, and set the bow down on the floor,

  Reclining it against the shaven pannels smooth

  That lined the wall; the arrow next he placed,

  Leaning against the bow’s bright-polish’d horn,

  And to the seat, whence he had ris’n, return’d.

  Then thus Eupithes’ son, Antinoüs spake.

  My friends! come forth successive from the right, 170

  Where he who ministers the cup begins.

  So spake Antinoüs, and his counsel pleased.

  Then, first, Leiodes, Œnop’s son, arose.

  He was their soothsayer, and ever sat

  Beside the beaker, inmost of them all.

  To him alone, of all, licentious deeds

  Were odious, and, with indignation fired,

  He witness’d the excesses of the rest.

  He then took foremost up the shaft and bow,

  And, station’d at the portal, strove to bend 180

  But bent it not, fatiguing, first, his hands

  Delicate and uncustom’d to the toil.

  He ceased, and the assembly thus bespake.

  My friends, I speed not; let another try;

  For many Princes shall this bow of life

  Bereave, since death more eligible seems,

  Far more, than loss of her, for whom we meet

  Continual here, expecting still the prize.

  Some suitor, haply, at this moment, hopes

  That he shall wed whom long he hath desired, 190

  Ulysses’ wife, Penelope; let him

  Essay the bow, and, trial made, address

  His spousal offers to some other fair

  Among the long-stoled Princesses of Greece,

  This Princess leaving his, whose proffer’d gifts

  Shall please her most, and whom the Fates ordain.

  He said, and set the bow down on the floor,

  Reclining it against the shaven pannels smooth

  That lined the wall; the arrow, next, he placed,