William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

Leaning against the bow’s bright-polish’d horn, 200

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

  Then him Antinoüs, angry, thus reproved.

  What word, Leiodes, grating to our ears

  Hath scap’d thy lips? I hear it with disdain.

  Shall this bow fatal prove to many a Prince,

  Because thou hast, thyself, too feeble proved

  To bend it? no. Thou wast not born to bend

  The unpliant bow, or to direct the shaft,

  But here are nobler who shall soon prevail.

  He said, and to Melanthius gave command, 210

  The goat-herd. Hence, Melanthius, kindle fire;

  Beside it place, with fleeces spread, a form

  Of length commodious; from within procure

  A large round cake of suet next, with which

  When we have chafed and suppled the tough bow

  Before the fire, we will again essay

  To bend it, and decide the doubtful strife.

  He ended, and Melanthius, kindling fire

  Beside it placed, with fleeces spread, a form

  Of length commodious; next, he brought a cake 220

  Ample and round of suet from within,

  With which they chafed the bow, then tried again

  To bend, but bent it not; superior strength

  To theirs that task required. Yet two, the rest

  In force surpassing, made no trial yet,

  Antinoüs, and Eurymachus the brave.

  Then went the herdsman and the swine-herd forth

  Together; after whom, the glorious Chief

  Himself the house left also, and when all

  Without the court had met, with gentle speech 230

  Ulysses, then, the faithful pair address’d.

  Herdsman! and thou, Eumæus! shall I keep

  A certain secret close, or shall I speak

  Outright? my spirit prompts me, and I will.

  What welcome should Ulysses at your hands

  Receive, arriving suddenly at home,

  Some God his guide; would ye the suitors aid,

  Or would ye aid Ulysses? answer true.

  Then thus the chief intendant of his herds.

  Would Jove but grant me my desire, to see 240

  Once more the Hero, and would some kind Pow’r,

  Restore him, I would shew thee soon an arm

  Strenuous to serve him, and a dauntless heart.

  Eumæus, also, fervently implored

  The Gods in pray’r, that they would render back

  Ulysses to his home. He, then, convinced

  Of their unfeigning honesty, began.

  Behold him! I am he myself, arrived

  After long suff’rings in the twentieth year!

  I know how welcome to yourselves alone 250

  Of all my train I come, for I have heard

  None others praying for my safe return.

  I therefore tell you truth; should heav’n subdue

  The suitors under me, ye shall receive

  Each at my hands a bride, with lands and house

  Near to my own, and ye shall be thenceforth

  Dear friends and brothers of the Prince my son.

  Lo! also this indisputable proof

  That ye may know and trust me. View it here.

  It is the scar which in Parnassus erst 260

  (Where with the sons I hunted of renown’d

  Autolycus) I from a boar received.

  So saying, he stripp’d his tatters, and unveil’d

  The whole broad scar; then, soon as they had seen

  And surely recognized the mark, each cast

  His arms around Ulysses, wept, embraced

  And press’d him to his bosom, kissing oft

  His brows and shoulders, who as oft their hands

  And foreheads kiss’d, nor had the setting sun

  Beheld them satisfied, but that himself 270

  Ulysses thus admonished them, and said.

  Cease now from tears, lest any, coming forth,

  Mark and report them to our foes within.

  Now, to the hall again, but one by one,

  Not all at once, I foremost, then yourselves,

  And this shall be the sign. Full well I know

  That, all unanimous, they will oppose

  Deliv’ry of the bow and shafts to me;

  But thou, (proceeding with it to my seat)

  Eumæus, noble friend! shalt give the bow 280

  Into my grasp; then bid the women close

  The massy doors, and should they hear a groan

  Or other noise made by the Princes shut

  Within the hall, let none set step abroad,

  But all work silent. Be the palace-door

  Thy charge, my good Philœtius! key it fast

  Without a moment’s pause, and fix the brace.

  He ended, and, returning to the hall,

  Resumed his seat; nor stay’d his servants long

  Without, but follow’d their illustrious Lord. 290

  Eurymachus was busily employ’d

  Turning the bow, and chafing it before

  The sprightly blaze, but, after all, could find

  No pow’r to bend it. Disappointment wrung

  A groan from his proud heart, and thus he said.

  Alas! not only for myself I grieve,

  But grieve for all. Nor, though I mourn the loss

  Of such a bride, mourn I that loss alone,

  (For lovely Greecians may be found no few

  In Ithaca, and in the neighbour isles) 300

  But should we so inferior prove at last

  To brave Ulysses, that no force of ours

  Can bend his bow, we are for ever shamed.

  To whom Antinoüs, thus, Eupithes’ son.

  Not so; (as even thou art well-assured

  Thyself, Eurymachus!) but Phœbus claims

  This day his own. Who then, on such a day,

  Would strive to bend it? Let it rather rest.

  And should we leave the rings where now they stand,

  I trust that none ent’ring Ulysses’ house 310

  Will dare displace them. Cup-bearer, attend!

  Serve all with wine, that, first, libation made,

  We may religiously lay down the bow.

  Command ye too Melanthius, that he drive

  Hither the fairest goats of all his flocks

  At dawn of day, that burning first, the thighs

  To the ethereal archer, we may make

  New trial, and decide, at length, the strife.

  So spake Antinoüs, and his counsel pleased.

  The heralds, then, pour’d water on their hands, 320

  While youths crown’d high the goblets which they bore

  From right to left, distributing to all.

  When each had made libation, and had drunk

  Till well sufficed, then, artful to effect

  His shrewd designs, Ulysses thus began.

  Hear, O ye suitors of the illustrious Queen,

  My bosom’s dictates. But I shall entreat

  Chiefly Eurymachus and the godlike youth

  Antinoüs, whose advice is wisely giv’n.

  Tamper no longer with the bow, but leave 330

  The matter with the Gods, who shall decide

  The strife to-morrow, fav’ring whom they will.

  Meantime, grant me the polish’d bow, that I

  May trial make among you of my force,

  If I retain it still in like degree

  As erst, or whether wand’ring and defect

  Of nourishment have worn it all away.

  He said, whom they with indignation heard

  Extreme, alarm’d lest he should bend the bow,

  And sternly thus Antinoüs replied. 340

  Desperate vagabond! ah wretch deprived

  Of reason utterly! art not content?

  Esteem’st it not distinction proud enough

  To feast w
ith us the nobles of the land?

  None robs thee of thy share, thou witnessest

  Our whole discourse, which, save thyself alone,

  No needy vagrant is allow’d to hear.

  Thou art befool’d by wine, as many have been,

  Wide-throated drinkers, unrestrain’d by rule.

  Wine in the mansion of the mighty Chief 350

  Pirithoüs, made the valiant Centaur mad

  Eurytion, at the Lapithæan feast.

  He drank to drunkenness, and being drunk,

  Committed great enormities beneath

  Pirithoüs’ roof, and such as fill’d with rage

  The Hero-guests; who therefore by his feet

  Dragg’d him right through the vestibule, amerced

  Of nose and ears, and he departed thence

  Provoked to frenzy by that foul disgrace,

  Whence war between the human kind arose 360

  And the bold Centaurs — but he first incurred

  By his ebriety that mulct severe.

  Great evil, also, if thou bend the bow,

  To thee I prophesy; for thou shalt find

  Advocate or protector none in all

  This people, but we will dispatch thee hence

  Incontinent on board a sable bark

  To Echetus, the scourge of human kind,

  From whom is no escape. Drink then in peace,

  And contest shun with younger men than thou. 370

  Him answer’d, then, Penelope discrete.

  Antinoüs! neither seemly were the deed

  Nor just, to maim or harm whatever guest

  Whom here arrived Telemachus receives.

  Canst thou expect, that should he even prove

  Stronger than ye, and bend the massy bow,

  He will conduct me hence to his own home,

  And make me his own bride? No such design

  His heart conceives, or hope; nor let a dread

  So vain the mind of any overcloud 380

  Who banquets here, since it dishonours me.

  So she; to whom Eurymachus reply’d,

  Offspring of Polybus. O matchless Queen!

  Icarius’ prudent daughter! none suspects

  That thou wilt wed with him; a mate so mean

  Should ill become thee; but we fear the tongues

  Of either sex, lest some Achaian say

  Hereafter, (one inferior far to us)

  Ah! how unworthy are they to compare

  With him whose wife they seek! to bend his bow 390

  Pass’d all their pow’r, yet this poor vagabond,

  Arriving from what country none can tell,

  Bent it with ease, and shot through all the rings.

  So will they speak, and so shall we be shamed.

  Then answer, thus, Penelope return’d.

  No fair report, Eurymachus, attends

  Their names or can, who, riotous as ye,

  The house dishonour, and consume the wealth

  Of such a Chief. Why shame ye thus yourselves?

  The guest is of athletic frame, well form’d, 400

  And large of limb; he boasts him also sprung

  From noble ancestry. Come then — consent —

  Give him the bow, that we may see the proof;

  For thus I say, and thus will I perform;

  Sure as he bends it, and Apollo gives

  To him that glory, tunic fair and cloak

  Shall be his meed from me, a javelin keen

  To guard him against men and dogs, a sword

  Of double edge, and sandals for his feet,

  And I will send him whither most he would. 410

  Her answer’d then prudent Telemachus.

  Mother — the bow is mine; and, save myself,

  No Greek hath right to give it, or refuse.

  None who in rock-bound Ithaca possess

  Dominion, none in the steed-pastured isles

  Of Elis, if I chose to make the bow

  His own for ever, should that choice controul.

  But thou into the house repairing, ply

  Spindle and loom, thy province, and enjoin

  Diligence to thy maidens; for the bow 420

  Is man’s concern alone, and shall be mine

  Especially, since I am master here.

  She heard astonish’d, and the prudent speech

  Reposing of her son deep in her heart,

  Withdrew; then mounting with her female train

  To her superior chamber, there she wept

  Her lost Ulysses, till Minerva bathed

  With balmy dews of sleep her weary lids.

  And now the noble swine-herd bore the bow

  Toward Ulysses, but with one voice all 430

  The suitors, clamorous, reproved the deed,

  Of whom a youth, thus, insolent exclaim’d.

  Thou clumsy swine-herd, whither bear’st the bow,

  Delirious wretch? the hounds that thou hast train’d

  Shall eat thee at thy solitary home

  Ere long, let but Apollo prove, at last,

  Propitious to us, and the Pow’rs of heav’n.

  So they, whom hearing he replaced the bow

  Where erst it stood, terrified at the sound

  Of such loud menaces; on the other side 440

  Telemachus as loud assail’d his ear.

  Friend! forward with the bow; or soon repent

  That thou obey’dst the many. I will else

  With huge stones drive thee, younger as I am,

  Back to the field. My strength surpasses thine.

  I would to heav’n that I in force excell’d

  As far, and prowess, every suitor here!

  So would I soon give rude dismission hence

  To some, who live but to imagine harm.

  He ceased, whose words the suitors laughing heard. 450

  And, for their sake, in part their wrath resign’d

  Against Telemachus; then through the hall

  Eumæus bore, and to Ulysses’ hand

  Consign’d the bow; next, summoning abroad

  The ancient nurse, he gave her thus in charge.

  It is the pleasure of Telemachus,

  Sage Euryclea! that thou key secure

  The doors; and should you hear, perchance, a groan

  Or other noise made by the Princes shut

  Within the hall, let none look, curious, forth, 460

  But each in quietness pursue her work.

  So he; nor flew his words useless away,

  But she, incontinent, shut fast the doors.

  Then, noiseless, sprang Philœtius forth, who closed

  The portals also of the palace-court.

  A ship-rope of Ægyptian reed, it chanced,

  Lay in the vestibule; with that he braced

  The doors securely, and re-entring fill’d

  Again his seat, but watchful, eyed his Lord.

  He, now, assaying with his hand the bow, 470

  Made curious trial of it ev’ry way,

  And turn’d it on all sides, lest haply worms

  Had in its master’s absence drill’d the horn.

  Then thus a suitor to his next remark’d.

  He hath an eye, methinks, exactly skill’d

  In bows, and steals them; or perhaps, at home,

  Hath such himself, or feels a strong desire

  To make them; so inquisitive the rogue

  Adept in mischief, shifts it to and fro!

  To whom another, insolent, replied. 480

  I wish him like prosperity in all

  His efforts, as attends his effort made

  On this same bow, which he shall never bend.

  So they; but when the wary Hero wise

  Had made his hand familiar with the bow

  Poising it and examining — at once —

  As when in harp and song adept, a bard

  Unlab’ring strains the chord to a new lyre,

  The twisted entrails of a sheep below

/>   With fingers nice inserting, and above, 490

  With such facility Ulysses bent

  His own huge bow, and with his right hand play’d

  The nerve, which in its quick vibration sang

  Clear as the swallow’s voice. Keen anguish seized

  The suitors, wan grew ev’ry cheek, and Jove

  Gave him his rolling thunder for a sign.

  That omen, granted to him by the son

  Of wily Saturn, with delight he heard.

  He took a shaft that at the table-side

  Lay ready drawn; but in his quiver’s womb 500

  The rest yet slept, by those Achaians proud

  To be, ere long, experienced. True he lodg’d

  The arrow on the centre of the bow,

  And, occupying still his seat, drew home

  Nerve and notch’d arrow-head; with stedfast sight

  He aimed and sent it; right through all the rings

  From first to last the steel-charged weapon flew

  Issuing beyond, and to his son he spake.

  Thou need’st not blush, young Prince, to have received

  A guest like me; neither my arrow swerved, 510

  Nor labour’d I long time to draw the bow;

  My strength is unimpair’d, not such as these

  In scorn affirm it. But the waning day

  Calls us to supper, after which succeeds

  Jocund variety, the song, the harp,

  With all that heightens and adorns the feast.

  He said, and with his brows gave him the sign.

  At once the son of the illustrious Chief

  Slung his keen faulchion, grasp’d his spear, and stood

  Arm’d bright for battle at his father’s side. 520

  BOOK XXII

  ARGUMENT

  Ulysses, with some little assistance from Telemachus, Eumæus and

  Philœtius, slays all the suitors, and twelve of the female servants

  who had allowed themselves an illicit intercourse with them, are hanged.

  Melanthius also is punished with miserable mutilation.

  Then, girding up his rags, Ulysses sprang

  With bow and full-charged quiver to the door;

  Loose on the broad stone at his feet he pour’d

  His arrows, and the suitors, thus, bespake.

  This prize, though difficult, hath been atchieved.

  Now for another mark which never man

  Struck yet, but I will strike it if I may,

  And if Apollo make that glory mine.

  He said, and at Antinoüs aimed direct

  A bitter shaft; he, purposing to drink, 10

  Both hands advanced toward the golden cup

  Twin-ear’d, nor aught suspected death so nigh.

  For who, at the full banquet, could suspect

  That any single guest, however brave,

  Should plan his death, and execute the blow?