The Whole Works of Homer Prince of Poetts: In his Iliads, and Odysses. Translated according to the Greeke. By Geo: Chapman |
 |
|
 |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
| 14. |
| 15. |
| 16. |
| 17. |
| 18. |
| 19. |
| 20. |
| 21. |
| 22. |
| 23. |
| 24. |
|
 | The Whole Works of Homer |  |
71
THE FIFTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES.
The Argvment.
A Second Court, on Ioue attends;Who, Hermes to Calypso sends;
Commanding her to cleare the wayes
Vlysses sought; and she obayes.
When Neptune saw Vlysses free,
And, so in safetie, plow the sea;
Enrag'd, he ruffles vp the waues,
And splits his ship. Leucothea saues
His person yet; as being a Dame,
Whose Godhead gouernd in the frame
Of those seas tempers. But the meane
By which she curbs dread Neptunes splene,
Is made a Iewell; which she takes
From off her head; and that she makes
Vlysses on his bosome weare,
About his necke, she ties it there:
And when he is with waues beset,
Bids weare it as an Amulet;
Commanding him, that not before
He toucht vpon Phæacias shore,
He should not part with it; but then
Returne it to the sea agein,
And cast it from him. He performes;
Yet after this, bides bitter stormes;
And in the rockes, sees Death engrau'd;
But on Phæacias shore is sau'd.
Another.
Vlysses buildsA ship; and gaines
The Gassie fields;
Payes Neptune paines.
Avrora
rose from high-borne Tithons Bed,
That men and Gods might be illustrated:
And then the Deities sate. Imperiall Ioue,
That makes the horrid murmure beate aboue,
Tooke place past all; whose height for euer springs
And from whom flowes th' eternall powre of things.
That men and Gods might be illustrated:
And then the Deities sate. Imperiall Ioue,
That makes the horrid murmure beate aboue,
Tooke place past all; whose height for euer springs
And from whom flowes th' eternall powre of things.
Then Pallas (mindfull of Vlysses) told
The many Cares, that in Calypsos hold,
He still sustaind; when he had felt before,
So much affliction, and such dangers more.
The many Cares, that in Calypsos hold,
He still sustaind; when he had felt before,
So much affliction, and such dangers more.
72
O Father, (said she) and ye euer blest;
Giue neuer King hereafter, interest
In any aide of yours, by seruing you;
By being gentle, humane, iust; but grow
Rude, and for euer scornfull of your rights;
All iustice ordring by their appetites.
Since he that rul'd, as it in right behou'd,
That all his subiects, as his children lou'd,
Finds you so thoughtlesse of him, and his birth.
Thus men begin to say, ye rule in earth;
And grudge at what ye let him vndergo;
Who yet the least part of his sufferance know:
Thralld in an Iland; shipwrackt in his teares;
And in the fancies that Calypso beares,
Bound from his birthright; all his shipping gone;
And of his souldiers, not retaining one.
And now his most-lou'd Sonnes life doth inflame
Their slaughterous enuies; since his Fathers fame
He puts in pursuite; and is gone as farre
As sacred Pylos; and the singular
Dame-breeding Sparta. This, with this reply,
The Cloud-assembler answerd: What words flie
Thine owne remembrance (daughter?) hast not thou
The counsell giuen thy selfe, that told thee how
Vlysses shall with his returne addresse
His wooers wrongs? And, for the safe accesse,
His Sonne shall make to his innatiue Port,
Do thou direct it, in as curious sort,
As thy wit serues thee: it obeys thy powers;
And in their ship returne the speedlesse wowers.
Giue neuer King hereafter, interest
In any aide of yours, by seruing you;
By being gentle, humane, iust; but grow
Rude, and for euer scornfull of your rights;
All iustice ordring by their appetites.
Since he that rul'd, as it in right behou'd,
That all his subiects, as his children lou'd,
Finds you so thoughtlesse of him, and his birth.
Thus men begin to say, ye rule in earth;
And grudge at what ye let him vndergo;
Who yet the least part of his sufferance know:
Thralld in an Iland; shipwrackt in his teares;
And in the fancies that Calypso beares,
Bound from his birthright; all his shipping gone;
And of his souldiers, not retaining one.
And now his most-lou'd Sonnes life doth inflame
Their slaughterous enuies; since his Fathers fame
He puts in pursuite; and is gone as farre
As sacred Pylos; and the singular
Dame-breeding Sparta. This, with this reply,
The Cloud-assembler answerd: What words flie
Thine owne remembrance (daughter?) hast not thou
The counsell giuen thy selfe, that told thee how
Vlysses shall with his returne addresse
His wooers wrongs? And, for the safe accesse,
His Sonne shall make to his innatiue Port,
Do thou direct it, in as curious sort,
As thy wit serues thee: it obeys thy powers;
And in their ship returne the speedlesse wowers.
Then turnd he to his issue Mercurie,
And said: Thou hast made good our Ambassie
To th' other Statists; To the Nymph then now,
On whose faire head a tuft of gold doth grow;
Beare our true-spoken counsell; for retreat
Of patient Vlysses; who shall get
No aide from vs, nor any mortall man;
But in a patcht-vp skiffe, (built as he can,
And suffering woes enow) the twentith day
At fruitfull Scheria, let him breathe his way,
With the Phæacians, that halfe Deities liue;
Who like a God will honour him; and giue
His wisedome clothes, and ship, and brasse, and gold,
More then for gaine of Troy he euer told;
Where, at the whole diuision of the prey,
If he a sauer were, or got away
Without a wound (if he should grudge) twas well;
But th' end shall crowne all; therefore Fate will deale
So well with him; to let him land, and see
His natiue earth, friends, house and family.
And said: Thou hast made good our Ambassie
To th' other Statists; To the Nymph then now,
On whose faire head a tuft of gold doth grow;
Beare our true-spoken counsell; for retreat
Of patient Vlysses; who shall get
No aide from vs, nor any mortall man;
But in a patcht-vp skiffe, (built as he can,
And suffering woes enow) the twentith day
At fruitfull Scheria, let him breathe his way,
With the Phæacians, that halfe Deities liue;
Who like a God will honour him; and giue
His wisedome clothes, and ship, and brasse, and gold,
More then for gaine of Troy he euer told;
Where, at the whole diuision of the prey,
If he a sauer were, or got away
Without a wound (if he should grudge) twas well;
But th' end shall crowne all; therefore Fate will deale
73
His natiue earth, friends, house and family.
Thus charg'd he; nor Argicides denied;
But to his feete, his faire wingd shooes he tied;
Ambrosian, golden; that in his command,
Put either sea, or the vnmeasur'd land,
With pace as speedie as a puft of wind.
Then vp his Rod went; with which he declin'd
The eyes of any waker, when he pleasd,
And any sleeper, when he wisht, diseasd.
But to his feete, his faire wingd shooes he tied;
Ambrosian, golden; that in his command,
Put either sea, or the vnmeasur'd land,
With pace as speedie as a puft of wind.
Then vp his Rod went; with which he declin'd
The eyes of any waker, when he pleasd,
And any sleeper, when he wisht, diseasd.
This tooke; he stoopt Pierea; and thence
Glid through the aire; and Neptunes Confluence
Kist as he flew; and checkt the waues as light
As any Sea-mew, in her fishing flight,
Her thicke wings soucing in the sauorie seas.
Like her, he past a world of wildernesse;
But when the far-off Ile, he toucht; he went
Vp from the blue sea, to the Continent,
And reacht the ample Cauerne of the Queene;
Whom he within found; without, seldome seene.
A Sun-like fire vpon the harth did flame;
The matter precious, and diuine the frame;
Of Cedar cleft, and Incense was the Pile,
That breath'd an odour round about the Ile.
Her selfe was seated in an inner roome,
Whom sweetly sing he heard; and at her loome,
About a curious web; whose yarne she threw
In, with a golden shittle. A Groue grew
In endlesse spring about her Cauerne round;
With odorous Cypresse, Pines, and Poplars crownd,
Where Haulks, Sea-owles, and long-tongu'd Bittours bred;
And other birds their shadie pinions spred.
All Fowles maritimall; none roosted there,
But those whose labours in the waters were.
A Vine did all the hollow Caue embrace;
Still greene, yet still ripe bunches gaue it grace.
Foure Fountaines, one against another powrd
Their siluer streames; and medowes all enflowrd
With sweete Balme-gentle, and blue Violets hid,
That deckt the soft brests of each fragrant Mead.
Should any one (though he immortall were)
Arriue and see the sacred obiects there;
He would admire them, and be ouer-ioyd;
And so stood Hermes rauisht powres employd.
Glid through the aire; and Neptunes Confluence
Kist as he flew; and checkt the waues as light
As any Sea-mew, in her fishing flight,
Her thicke wings soucing in the sauorie seas.
Like her, he past a world of wildernesse;
But when the far-off Ile, he toucht; he went
Vp from the blue sea, to the Continent,
And reacht the ample Cauerne of the Queene;
Whom he within found; without, seldome seene.
A Sun-like fire vpon the harth did flame;
The matter precious, and diuine the frame;
Of Cedar cleft, and Incense was the Pile,
That breath'd an odour round about the Ile.
Her selfe was seated in an inner roome,
Whom sweetly sing he heard; and at her loome,
About a curious web; whose yarne she threw
In, with a golden shittle. A Groue grew
In endlesse spring about her Cauerne round;
With odorous Cypresse, Pines, and Poplars crownd,
Where Haulks, Sea-owles, and long-tongu'd Bittours bred;
And other birds their shadie pinions spred.
All Fowles maritimall; none roosted there,
But those whose labours in the waters were.
A Vine did all the hollow Caue embrace;
Still greene, yet still ripe bunches gaue it grace.
Foure Fountaines, one against another powrd
Their siluer streames; and medowes all enflowrd
With sweete Balme-gentle, and blue Violets hid,
That deckt the soft brests of each fragrant Mead.
Should any one (though he immortall were)
Arriue and see the sacred obiects there;
He would admire them, and be ouer-ioyd;
And so stood Hermes rauisht powres employd.
But hauing all admir'd, he enterd on
The ample Caue; nor could be seene vnknowne
Of great Calypso, (for all Deities are
Prompt in each others knowledge; though so farre
Seuerd in dwellings) but he could not see
Vlysses there within. Without was he
Set sad ashore; where twas his vse to view
Th' vnquiet sea; sigh'd, wept, and emptie drew
His heart of comfort. Plac't here in her throne
(That beames cast vp, to Admiration)
Diuine Calypso, question'd Hermes thus:
The ample Caue; nor could be seene vnknowne
Of great Calypso, (for all Deities are
Prompt in each others knowledge; though so farre
74
Vlysses there within. Without was he
Set sad ashore; where twas his vse to view
Th' vnquiet sea; sigh'd, wept, and emptie drew
His heart of comfort. Plac't here in her throne
(That beames cast vp, to Admiration)
Diuine Calypso, question'd Hermes thus:
For what cause (deare, and much-esteem'd by vs,
Thou golden-rod-adorned Mercurie)
Arriu'st thou here? thou hast not vsde t'apply
Thy passage this way. Say, what euer be
Thy hearts desire, my mind commands it thee,
If in my meanes it lie, or powre of fact.
But first, what hospitable rights exact,
Come yet more neare, and take. This said, she set
A Table forth, and furnisht it with meate,
Such as the Gods taste; and seru'd in with it,
Vermilion Nectar. When with banquet, fit
He had confirmd his spirits; he thus exprest
His cause of coming: Thou hast made request
(Goddesse of Goddesses) to vnderstand
My cause of touch here: which thou shalt command,
And know with truth: Ioue causd my course to thee,
Against my will; for who would willingly
Lackey along so vast a lake of Brine?
Neare to no Citie; that the powres diuine
Receiues with solemne rites and Hecatombs?
But Ioues will euer, all law ouercomes;
No other God can crosse or make it void.
And he affirmes, that one, the most annoid
With woes and toiles, of all those men that fought
For Priams Citie; and to end hath brought
Nine yeares in the contention; is with thee.
For in the tenth yeare, when roy Victorie
Was wonne, to giue the Greeks the spoile of Troy;
Returne they did professe, but not enioy,
Since Pallas they incenst; and she, the waues
By all the winds powre, that blew ope their graues.
And there they rested. Onely this poore one,
This Coast, both winds and waues haue cast vpon:
Whom now forthwith he wils thee to dismisse;
Affirming that th' vnalterd destinies,
Not onely haue decreed, he shall not die
Apart his friends; but of Necessitie
Enioy their sights before those fatall houres,
His countrie earth reach, and erected Towres.
Thou golden-rod-adorned Mercurie)
Arriu'st thou here? thou hast not vsde t'apply
Thy passage this way. Say, what euer be
Thy hearts desire, my mind commands it thee,
If in my meanes it lie, or powre of fact.
But first, what hospitable rights exact,
Come yet more neare, and take. This said, she set
A Table forth, and furnisht it with meate,
Such as the Gods taste; and seru'd in with it,
Vermilion Nectar. When with banquet, fit
He had confirmd his spirits; he thus exprest
His cause of coming: Thou hast made request
(Goddesse of Goddesses) to vnderstand
My cause of touch here: which thou shalt command,
And know with truth: Ioue causd my course to thee,
Against my will; for who would willingly
Lackey along so vast a lake of Brine?
Neare to no Citie; that the powres diuine
Receiues with solemne rites and Hecatombs?
But Ioues will euer, all law ouercomes;
No other God can crosse or make it void.
And he affirmes, that one, the most annoid
With woes and toiles, of all those men that fought
For Priams Citie; and to end hath brought
Nine yeares in the contention; is with thee.
For in the tenth yeare, when roy Victorie
Was wonne, to giue the Greeks the spoile of Troy;
Returne they did professe, but not enioy,
Since Pallas they incenst; and she, the waues
By all the winds powre, that blew ope their graues.
And there they rested. Onely this poore one,
This Coast, both winds and waues haue cast vpon:
Whom now forthwith he wils thee to dismisse;
Affirming that th' vnalterd destinies,
Not onely haue decreed, he shall not die
Apart his friends; but of Necessitie
Enioy their sights before those fatall houres,
His countrie earth reach, and erected Towres.
This strook, a loue-checkt horror through her powres;
When (naming him) she this reply did giue:
Insatiate are ye Gods, past all that liue,
In all things you affect; which still conuerts
Your powres to Enuies. It afflicts your hearts,
That any Goddesse should (as you obtaine
The vse of earthly Dames) enioy the men:
And most in open mariage. So ye far'd,
When the delicious-fingerd Morning shar'd
Orions bed: you easie-liuing States,
Could neuer satisfie your emulous hates;
Till in Ortygia, the precise-liu'd Dame
(Gold-thron'd Diana) on him rudely came,
And with her swift shafts slue him. And such paines,
(When rich-haird Ceres pleasd to giue the raines
To her affections; and the grace did yeeld
Of loue and bed amidst a three-cropt field,
To her Iasion) he paid angrie Ioue;
Who lost, no long time, notice of their loue;
But with a glowing lightning, was his death.
And now your enuies labour vnderneath
A mortals choice of mine; whose life, I tooke
To liberall safetie; when his ship, Ioue strooke
With red-hote flashes, peece-meale in the seas,
And all his friends and souldiers, succourlesse
Perisht but he. Him, cast vpon this coast
With blasts and billowes; I (in life giuen lost)
Preseru'd alone; lou'd, nourisht, and did vow
To make him deathlesse; and yet neuer grow
Crooked, or worne with age, his whole life long.
But since no reason may be made so strong,
To striue with Ioues will, or to make it vaine;
No not if all the other Gods should straine
Their powres against it; let his will be law;
So he affoord him fit meanes to withdraw,
(As he commands him) to the raging Maine:
But meanes from me, he neuer shall obtaine,
For my meanes yeeld, nor men, nor ship, nor oares,
To set him off, from my so enuied shores.
But if my counsell and goodwill can aide
His safe passe home, my best shall be assaid.
When (naming him) she this reply did giue:
75
In all things you affect; which still conuerts
Your powres to Enuies. It afflicts your hearts,
That any Goddesse should (as you obtaine
The vse of earthly Dames) enioy the men:
And most in open mariage. So ye far'd,
When the delicious-fingerd Morning shar'd
Orions bed: you easie-liuing States,
Could neuer satisfie your emulous hates;
Till in Ortygia, the precise-liu'd Dame
(Gold-thron'd Diana) on him rudely came,
And with her swift shafts slue him. And such paines,
(When rich-haird Ceres pleasd to giue the raines
To her affections; and the grace did yeeld
Of loue and bed amidst a three-cropt field,
To her Iasion) he paid angrie Ioue;
Who lost, no long time, notice of their loue;
But with a glowing lightning, was his death.
And now your enuies labour vnderneath
A mortals choice of mine; whose life, I tooke
To liberall safetie; when his ship, Ioue strooke
With red-hote flashes, peece-meale in the seas,
And all his friends and souldiers, succourlesse
Perisht but he. Him, cast vpon this coast
With blasts and billowes; I (in life giuen lost)
Preseru'd alone; lou'd, nourisht, and did vow
To make him deathlesse; and yet neuer grow
Crooked, or worne with age, his whole life long.
But since no reason may be made so strong,
To striue with Ioues will, or to make it vaine;
No not if all the other Gods should straine
Their powres against it; let his will be law;
So he affoord him fit meanes to withdraw,
(As he commands him) to the raging Maine:
But meanes from me, he neuer shall obtaine,
For my meanes yeeld, nor men, nor ship, nor oares,
To set him off, from my so enuied shores.
But if my counsell and goodwill can aide
His safe passe home, my best shall be assaid.
Vouchsafe it so, (said heauens Ambassador)
And daigne it quickly. By all meanes abhorre
T'incense Ioues wrath against thee; that with grace
He may hereafter, all thy wish embrace.
And daigne it quickly. By all meanes abhorre
T'incense Ioues wrath against thee; that with grace
He may hereafter, all thy wish embrace.
Thus tooke the Argus-killing God, his wings.
And since the reuerend Nymph, these awfull things
Receiu'd from Ioue; she to Vlysses went:
Whom she ashore found, drownd in discontent;
His eyes kept neuer drie, he did so mourne,
And waste his deare age, for his wisht returne.
Which still without the Caue he vsde to do,
Because he could not please the Goddesse so.
At night yet (forc't) together tooke their rest,
The willing Goddesse, and th' vnwilling Guest.
But he, all day in rockes, and on the shore
The vext sea viewd; and did his Fate deplore.
Him, now, the Goddesse (coming neare) bespake:
And since the reuerend Nymph, these awfull things
Receiu'd from Ioue; she to Vlysses went:
Whom she ashore found, drownd in discontent;
His eyes kept neuer drie, he did so mourne,
76
Which still without the Caue he vsde to do,
Because he could not please the Goddesse so.
At night yet (forc't) together tooke their rest,
The willing Goddesse, and th' vnwilling Guest.
But he, all day in rockes, and on the shore
The vext sea viewd; and did his Fate deplore.
Him, now, the Goddesse (coming neare) bespake:
Vnhappie man; no more discomfort take,
For my constraint of thee; nor waste thine age;
I now will passing freely disengage
Thy irksome stay here. Come then, fell thee wood,
And build a ship, to saue thee from the flood.
Ile furnish thee with fresh waue; bread and wine,
Ruddie and sweet, that will the Piner pine;
Put garments on thee; giue thee winds foreright;
That euery way thy home-bent appetite
May safe attaine to it; if so it please
At all parts, all the heauen housd Deities!
That more in powre are, more in skill then I;
And more can iudge, what fits humanitie.
For my constraint of thee; nor waste thine age;
I now will passing freely disengage
Thy irksome stay here. Come then, fell thee wood,
And build a ship, to saue thee from the flood.
Ile furnish thee with fresh waue; bread and wine,
Ruddie and sweet, that will the Piner pine;
Put garments on thee; giue thee winds foreright;
That euery way thy home-bent appetite
May safe attaine to it; if so it please
At all parts, all the heauen housd Deities!
That more in powre are, more in skill then I;
And more can iudge, what fits humanitie.
He stood amaz'd, at this strange change in her;
And said: O Goddesse! thy intents preferre
Some other proiect, then my parting hence;
Commanding things of too high consequence
For my performance. That my selfe should build
A ship of powre, my home assaies to shield
Against the great Sea, of such dread to passe;
Which not the best-built ship that euer was,
Will passe exulting; when such winds as Ioue
Can thunder vp, their trims and tacklings proue.
But could I build one, I would ne're aboord,
(Thy will opposde) nor (won) without thy word,
Giuen in the great oath of the Gods to me,
Not to beguile me in the least degree.
And said: O Goddesse! thy intents preferre
Some other proiect, then my parting hence;
Commanding things of too high consequence
For my performance. That my selfe should build
A ship of powre, my home assaies to shield
Against the great Sea, of such dread to passe;
Which not the best-built ship that euer was,
Will passe exulting; when such winds as Ioue
Can thunder vp, their trims and tacklings proue.
But could I build one, I would ne're aboord,
(Thy will opposde) nor (won) without thy word,
Giuen in the great oath of the Gods to me,
Not to beguile me in the least degree.
The Goddesse smilde; held hard his hand, and said:
O y'are a shrewdone; and so habited
In taking heed; thou knowst not what it is
To be vnwary; nor vse words amisse.
How hast thou charmd me, were I ne're so slie?
Let earth know then; and heauen, so broad, so hie;
And th' vnder-sunke waues of th' infernall streame;
(Which is an oath, as terribly supreame,
As any God sweares) that I had no thought,
But stood with what I spake; nor would haue wrought,
Nor counseld any act, against thy good;
But euer diligently weighd, and stood
On those points in perswading thee; that I
Would vse my selfe in such extremitie.
For my mind simple is, and innocent;
Not giuen by cruell sleights to circumuent;
Nor beare I in my breast a heart of steele,
But with the Sufferer, willing sufferance feele.
This said; the Grace of Goddesses led home;
He tract her steps; and (to the Cauerne come)
In that rich Throne, whence Mercurie arose,
He sate. The Nymph her selfe did then appose
For food and beuridge to him; all best meate
And drinke, that mortals vse to taste and eate.
Then sate she opposite; and for her Feast,
Was Nectar and Ambrosia addrest
By handmaids to her. Both, what was prepar'd,
Did freely fall to. Hauing fitly far'd,
The Nymph Calypso this discourse began:
O y'are a shrewdone; and so habited
In taking heed; thou knowst not what it is
To be vnwary; nor vse words amisse.
How hast thou charmd me, were I ne're so slie?
Let earth know then; and heauen, so broad, so hie;
And th' vnder-sunke waues of th' infernall streame;
(Which is an oath, as terribly supreame,
As any God sweares) that I had no thought,
But stood with what I spake; nor would haue wrought,
Nor counseld any act, against thy good;
But euer diligently weighd, and stood
On those points in perswading thee; that I
75
For my mind simple is, and innocent;
Not giuen by cruell sleights to circumuent;
Nor beare I in my breast a heart of steele,
But with the Sufferer, willing sufferance feele.
This said; the Grace of Goddesses led home;
He tract her steps; and (to the Cauerne come)
In that rich Throne, whence Mercurie arose,
He sate. The Nymph her selfe did then appose
For food and beuridge to him; all best meate
And drinke, that mortals vse to taste and eate.
Then sate she opposite; and for her Feast,
Was Nectar and Ambrosia addrest
By handmaids to her. Both, what was prepar'd,
Did freely fall to. Hauing fitly far'd,
The Nymph Calypso this discourse began:
Ioue-bred Vlysses! many-witted man!
Still is thy home so wisht? so soone, away?
Be still of cheare, for all the worst I say;
But if thy soule knew what a summe of woes
For thee to cast vp, thy sterne Fares impose,
Ere to thy country earth thy hopes attaine;
Vndoubtedly thy choice would here remaine;
Keepe house with me, and be a liuer euer.
Which (me thinkes) should thy house and thee disseuer;
Though for thy wife there, thou art set on fire;
And all thy dayes are spent in her desire;
And though it be no boast in me to say,
In forme and mind, I match her euery way.
Nor can it fit a mortall Dames compare,
T'affect those termes with vs, that deathlesse are.
Still is thy home so wisht? so soone, away?
Be still of cheare, for all the worst I say;
But if thy soule knew what a summe of woes
For thee to cast vp, thy sterne Fares impose,
Ere to thy country earth thy hopes attaine;
Vndoubtedly thy choice would here remaine;
Keepe house with me, and be a liuer euer.
Which (me thinkes) should thy house and thee disseuer;
Though for thy wife there, thou art set on fire;
And all thy dayes are spent in her desire;
And though it be no boast in me to say,
In forme and mind, I match her euery way.
Nor can it fit a mortall Dames compare,
T'affect those termes with vs, that deathlesse are.
The great in counsels, made her this reply:
Renowm'd, and to be reuerenc'd Deitie!
Let it not moue thee, that so much I vow
My comforts to my wife; though well I know
All cause my selfe, why wise Penelope
In wit is farre inferiour to thee;
In feature, stature, all the parts of show;
She being a mortall; an Immortall thou;
Old euer growing, and yet neuer old.
Yet her desire, shall all my dayes see told;
Adding the sight of my returning day,
And naturall home. If any God shall lay
His hand vpon me, as I passe the seas;
Ile beare the worst of what his hand shall please;
As hauing giuen me such a mind, as shall
The more still rise, the more his hand lets fall.
In warres and waues, my sufferings were not small.
I now haue sufferd much; as much before;
Hereafter let as much result, and more.
Renowm'd, and to be reuerenc'd Deitie!
Let it not moue thee, that so much I vow
My comforts to my wife; though well I know
All cause my selfe, why wise Penelope
In wit is farre inferiour to thee;
In feature, stature, all the parts of show;
She being a mortall; an Immortall thou;
Old euer growing, and yet neuer old.
Yet her desire, shall all my dayes see told;
Adding the sight of my returning day,
And naturall home. If any God shall lay
His hand vpon me, as I passe the seas;
Ile beare the worst of what his hand shall please;
As hauing giuen me such a mind, as shall
The more still rise, the more his hand lets fall.
In warres and waues, my sufferings were not small.
78
Hereafter let as much result, and more.
This said; the Sunne set; and earth shadowes gaue;
When these two (in an in-roome of the Caue,
Left to themselues) left Loue no rites vndone.
The early Morne vp; vp he rose; put on
His in and out-weed. She, her selfe inchaces
Amidst a white robe, full of all the Graces;
Ample, and pleated, thicke, like fishie skales.
A golden girdle then, her waste empales;
Her head, a veile decks; and abroad they come;
And now began Vlysses to go home.
When these two (in an in-roome of the Caue,
Left to themselues) left Loue no rites vndone.
The early Morne vp; vp he rose; put on
His in and out-weed. She, her selfe inchaces
Amidst a white robe, full of all the Graces;
Ample, and pleated, thicke, like fishie skales.
A golden girdle then, her waste empales;
Her head, a veile decks; and abroad they come;
And now began Vlysses to go home.
A great Axe, first she gaue, that two wayes cut;
In which a faire wel-polisht helme was put,
That from an Oliue bough receiu'd his frame:
A plainer then. Then led she till they came
To loftie woods, that did the Ile confine.
The Firre tree, Poplar, and heauen-scaling Pine,
Had there their ofspring. Of which, those that were
Of driest matter, and grew longest there,
He chusde for lighter saile. This place, thus showne,
The Nymph turnd home. He fell to felling downe;
And twentie trees he stoopt, in litle space;
Plaind, vsde his Plumb; did all with artfull grace.
In meane time did Calypso wimbles bring.
He bor'd, closde, naild, and orderd euery thing;
And tooke how much a ship-wright will allow
A ship of burthen; (one that best doth know
What fits his Art) so large a Keele he cast.
Wrought vp her decks, and hatches, side-boords, mast;
With willow watlings armd her, to resist
The billowes outrage; added all she mist;
Sail-yards, and sterne for guide. The Nymph then brought
Linnen for sailes; which, with dispatch, he wrought.
Gables, and halsters, tacklings. All the Frame
In foure dayes space, to full perfection came.
The fift day, they dismist him from the shore;
Weeds, neate, and odorous gaue him; victles store;
Wine, and strong waters, and a prosperous wind.
To which, Vlysses (fit to be diuin'd)
His sailes exposd, and hoised. Off he gat;
And chearfull was he. At the Sterne he sat,
And ster'd right artfully. No sleepe could seise
His ey-lids: he beheld the Pletades;
The Beare, surnam'd the Waine, that round doth moue
About Orion; and keepes still aboue
The billowie Ocean. The slow-setting starre,
Bootes calld, by some, the Waggonar.
In which a faire wel-polisht helme was put,
That from an Oliue bough receiu'd his frame:
A plainer then. Then led she till they came
To loftie woods, that did the Ile confine.
The Firre tree, Poplar, and heauen-scaling Pine,
Had there their ofspring. Of which, those that were
Of driest matter, and grew longest there,
He chusde for lighter saile. This place, thus showne,
The Nymph turnd home. He fell to felling downe;
And twentie trees he stoopt, in litle space;
Plaind, vsde his Plumb; did all with artfull grace.
In meane time did Calypso wimbles bring.
He bor'd, closde, naild, and orderd euery thing;
And tooke how much a ship-wright will allow
A ship of burthen; (one that best doth know
What fits his Art) so large a Keele he cast.
Wrought vp her decks, and hatches, side-boords, mast;
With willow watlings armd her, to resist
The billowes outrage; added all she mist;
Sail-yards, and sterne for guide. The Nymph then brought
Linnen for sailes; which, with dispatch, he wrought.
Gables, and halsters, tacklings. All the Frame
In foure dayes space, to full perfection came.
The fift day, they dismist him from the shore;
Weeds, neate, and odorous gaue him; victles store;
Wine, and strong waters, and a prosperous wind.
To which, Vlysses (fit to be diuin'd)
His sailes exposd, and hoised. Off he gat;
And chearfull was he. At the Sterne he sat,
And ster'd right artfully. No sleepe could seise
His ey-lids: he beheld the Pletades;
The Beare, surnam'd the Waine, that round doth moue
About Orion; and keepes still aboue
The billowie Ocean. The slow-setting starre,
Bootes calld, by some, the Waggonar.
79
Calypso warnd him, he his course should stere
Still to his left hand. Seuenteene dayes did cleare
The cloudie Nights command, in his moist way;
And by the eighteenth light, he might display
The shadie hils of the Phæacian shore;
For which, as to his next abode, he bore.
The countrie did a pretie figure yeeld,
And lookt from off the darke seas, like a shield.
Still to his left hand. Seuenteene dayes did cleare
The cloudie Nights command, in his moist way;
And by the eighteenth light, he might display
The shadie hils of the Phæacian shore;
For which, as to his next abode, he bore.
The countrie did a pretie figure yeeld,
And lookt from off the darke seas, like a shield.
Imperious Neptune (making his retreate
From th' Æthiopian earth; and taking seate
Vpon the mountaines of the Solymi;
From thence, farre off discouering) did descrie
Vlysses, his fields plowing. All on fire
The sight strait set his heart; and made desire
Of wreake runne ouer, it did boile so hie.
When (his head nodding) O impietie
(He cried out) now, the Gods inconstancie
Is most apparent; altring their designes
Since I the Æthiops saw: and here confines
To this Vlysses fate, his misery.
The great marke, on which all his hopes rely,
Lies in Phæacia. But I hope he shall
Feele woe at height, ere that dead calme befall.
This said; he (begging) gatherd clouds from land;
Frighted the seas vp; snatcht into his hand,
His horrid Trident; and aloft did tosse
(Of all the winds) all stormes he could engrosse.
All earth tooke into sea with clouds; grim Night
Fell tumbling headlong from the cope of Light.
The East and South winds iustld in the aire;
The violent Zephire, and North-making faire,
Rould vp the waues before them: and then, bent
Vlysses knees; then all his spirit was spent.
In which despaire, he thus spake: Woe is me!
What was I borne to? man of miserie?
Feare tels me now, that all the Goddesse said,
Truths selfe will author; that Fate would be paid
Griefes whole summe due from me, at sea, before
I reacht the deare touch of my countries shore.
With what clouds Ioue, heauens heightned forehead binds?
How tyrannize the wraths of all the winds?
How all the tops, he bottomes with the deepes?
And in the bottomes, all the tops he steepes?
Thus dreadfull is the presence of our death.
Thrice foure times blest were they that sunke beneath
Their Fates at Troy; and did to nought contend,
But to renowme Atrides with their end?
I would to God, my houre of death, and Fate,
That day had held the power to terminate;
When showres of darts, my life bore vndeprest,
About diuine Æacides deceast.
Then had I bene allotted to haue died,
By all the Greeks, with funerals glorified;
(Whence Death, encouraging good life, had growne)
Where now I die, by no man mournd, nor knowne.
From th' Æthiopian earth; and taking seate
Vpon the mountaines of the Solymi;
From thence, farre off discouering) did descrie
Vlysses, his fields plowing. All on fire
The sight strait set his heart; and made desire
Of wreake runne ouer, it did boile so hie.
When (his head nodding) O impietie
(He cried out) now, the Gods inconstancie
Is most apparent; altring their designes
Since I the Æthiops saw: and here confines
To this Vlysses fate, his misery.
The great marke, on which all his hopes rely,
Lies in Phæacia. But I hope he shall
Feele woe at height, ere that dead calme befall.
This said; he (begging) gatherd clouds from land;
Frighted the seas vp; snatcht into his hand,
His horrid Trident; and aloft did tosse
(Of all the winds) all stormes he could engrosse.
All earth tooke into sea with clouds; grim Night
Fell tumbling headlong from the cope of Light.
The East and South winds iustld in the aire;
The violent Zephire, and North-making faire,
Rould vp the waues before them: and then, bent
Vlysses knees; then all his spirit was spent.
In which despaire, he thus spake: Woe is me!
What was I borne to? man of miserie?
Feare tels me now, that all the Goddesse said,
Truths selfe will author; that Fate would be paid
Griefes whole summe due from me, at sea, before
I reacht the deare touch of my countries shore.
With what clouds Ioue, heauens heightned forehead binds?
How tyrannize the wraths of all the winds?
How all the tops, he bottomes with the deepes?
And in the bottomes, all the tops he steepes?
Thus dreadfull is the presence of our death.
Thrice foure times blest were they that sunke beneath
Their Fates at Troy; and did to nought contend,
But to renowme Atrides with their end?
I would to God, my houre of death, and Fate,
78
When showres of darts, my life bore vndeprest,
About diuine Æacides deceast.
Then had I bene allotted to haue died,
By all the Greeks, with funerals glorified;
(Whence Death, encouraging good life, had growne)
Where now I die, by no man mournd, nor knowne.
This spoke; a huge waue tooke him by the head,
And hurld him o're-boord: ship and all it laid
Inuerted quite amidst the waues; but he
Farre off from her sprawld, strowd about the sea:
His Sterne still holding, broken off; his Mast
Burst in the midst: so horrible a blast
Of mixt winds strooke it. Sailes and saile-yards fell
Amongst the billowes; and himselfe did dwell
A long time vnder water: nor could get
In haste his head out: waue with waue so met
In his depression; and his garments too,
(Giuen by Calypso) gaue him much to do,
Hindring his swimming; yet he left not so
His drenched vessell, for the ouerthrow
Of her nor him; but gat at length againe
(Wrestling with Neptune) hold of her; and then
Sate in her Bulke, insulting ouer Death;
Which (with the salt streame, prest to stop his breath)
He scap't, and gaue the sea againe; to giue
To other men. His ship so striu'd to liue,
Floting at randon, cufft from waue to waue;
As you haue seene the Northwind when he draue
In Autumne, heapes of thorne-fed Grashoppers,
Hither and thither; one heape this way beares,
Another that; and makes them often meete
In his confusde gales; so Vlysses fleete,
The winds hurl'd vp and downe: now Boreas
Tost it to Notus, Notus gaue it passe
To Eurus; Eurus, Zephire made it pursue
The horrid Tennis. This sport calld the view
Of Cadmus daughter, with the narrow heele;
(Ino Leucothea) that first did feele
A mortall Dames desires; and had a tongue.
But now had th' honor to be nam'd among
The marine Godheads. She, with pitie saw
Vlysses iustl'd thus, from flaw to flaw;
And (like a Cormorand, in forme and flight)
Rose from a whirl-poole: on the ship did light,
And thus bespeake him: Why is Neptune thus
In thy pursuite extremely furious,
Oppressing thee with such a world of ill,
Euen to thy death? He must not serue his will,
Though tis his studie. Let me then aduise,
As my thoughts serue; thou shalt not be vnwise
To leaue thy weeds and ship, to the commands
Of these rude winds; and worke out with thy hands,
Passe to Phæacia; where thy austere Fate,
Is to pursue thee with no more such hate.
Take here this Tablet, with this riband strung,
And see it still about thy bosome hung;
By whose eternall vertue, neuer feare
To suffer thus againe, nor perish here.
But when thou touchest with thy hand the shore,
Then take it from thy necke, nor weare it more;
But cast it farre off from the Continent,
And then thy person farre ashore present.
And hurld him o're-boord: ship and all it laid
Inuerted quite amidst the waues; but he
Farre off from her sprawld, strowd about the sea:
His Sterne still holding, broken off; his Mast
Burst in the midst: so horrible a blast
Of mixt winds strooke it. Sailes and saile-yards fell
Amongst the billowes; and himselfe did dwell
A long time vnder water: nor could get
In haste his head out: waue with waue so met
In his depression; and his garments too,
(Giuen by Calypso) gaue him much to do,
Hindring his swimming; yet he left not so
His drenched vessell, for the ouerthrow
Of her nor him; but gat at length againe
(Wrestling with Neptune) hold of her; and then
Sate in her Bulke, insulting ouer Death;
Which (with the salt streame, prest to stop his breath)
He scap't, and gaue the sea againe; to giue
To other men. His ship so striu'd to liue,
Floting at randon, cufft from waue to waue;
As you haue seene the Northwind when he draue
In Autumne, heapes of thorne-fed Grashoppers,
Hither and thither; one heape this way beares,
Another that; and makes them often meete
In his confusde gales; so Vlysses fleete,
The winds hurl'd vp and downe: now Boreas
Tost it to Notus, Notus gaue it passe
To Eurus; Eurus, Zephire made it pursue
The horrid Tennis. This sport calld the view
Of Cadmus daughter, with the narrow heele;
(Ino Leucothea) that first did feele
A mortall Dames desires; and had a tongue.
But now had th' honor to be nam'd among
The marine Godheads. She, with pitie saw
Vlysses iustl'd thus, from flaw to flaw;
And (like a Cormorand, in forme and flight)
Rose from a whirl-poole: on the ship did light,
And thus bespeake him: Why is Neptune thus
In thy pursuite extremely furious,
Oppressing thee with such a world of ill,
81
Though tis his studie. Let me then aduise,
As my thoughts serue; thou shalt not be vnwise
To leaue thy weeds and ship, to the commands
Of these rude winds; and worke out with thy hands,
Passe to Phæacia; where thy austere Fate,
Is to pursue thee with no more such hate.
Take here this Tablet, with this riband strung,
And see it still about thy bosome hung;
By whose eternall vertue, neuer feare
To suffer thus againe, nor perish here.
But when thou touchest with thy hand the shore,
Then take it from thy necke, nor weare it more;
But cast it farre off from the Continent,
And then thy person farre ashore present.
Thus gaue she him the Tablet; and againe
(Turnd to a Cormorand) diu'd past sight the Maine.
(Turnd to a Cormorand) diu'd past sight the Maine.
Patient Vlysses sighd at this; and stucke
In the conceit of such faire-spoken Lucke:
And said; Alas I must suspect euen this;
Lest any other of the Deities
Adde sleight to Neptunes force; to counsell me
To haue my vessell, and so farre off see
The shore I aime at. Not with thoughts too cleare
Will I obey her: but to me appeare
These counsels best; as long as I perceiue
My ship not quite dissolu'd, I will not leaue
The helpe she may affoord me; but abide,
And suffer all woes, till the worst be tride.
When she is split, Ile swim: no miracle can
Past neare and cleare meanes, moue a knowing man.
In the conceit of such faire-spoken Lucke:
And said; Alas I must suspect euen this;
Lest any other of the Deities
Adde sleight to Neptunes force; to counsell me
To haue my vessell, and so farre off see
The shore I aime at. Not with thoughts too cleare
Will I obey her: but to me appeare
These counsels best; as long as I perceiue
My ship not quite dissolu'd, I will not leaue
The helpe she may affoord me; but abide,
And suffer all woes, till the worst be tride.
When she is split, Ile swim: no miracle can
Past neare and cleare meanes, moue a knowing man.
While this discourse emploid him, Neptune raisd
A huge, a high, and horrid sea, that seisd
Him and his ship, and tost them through the Lake;
As when the violent winds together take
Heapes of drie chaffe, and hurle them euery way;
So his long woodstacke, Neptune strooke astray.
A huge, a high, and horrid sea, that seisd
Him and his ship, and tost them through the Lake;
As when the violent winds together take
Heapes of drie chaffe, and hurle them euery way;
So his long woodstacke, Neptune strooke astray.
Then did Vlysses mount on rib, perforce,
Like to a rider of a running horse,
To stay himselfe a time, while he might shift
His drenched weeds, that were Calypsos gift.
When putting strait, Leucotheas Amulet
About his necke; he all his forces set
To swim; and cast him prostrate to the seas.
When powrefull Neptune saw the ruthlesse prease
Of perils siege him thus; he mou'd his head,
And this betwixt him and his heart, he said:
Like to a rider of a running horse,
To stay himselfe a time, while he might shift
His drenched weeds, that were Calypsos gift.
When putting strait, Leucotheas Amulet
About his necke; he all his forces set
To swim; and cast him prostrate to the seas.
When powrefull Neptune saw the ruthlesse prease
Of perils siege him thus; he mou'd his head,
And this betwixt him and his heart, he said:
So, now feele ils enow, and struggle so,
Till to your Ioue-lou'd Ilanders you row.
But my mind sayes, you will not so auoid
This last taske too, but be with sufferance cloid.
72
But my mind sayes, you will not so auoid
This last taske too, but be with sufferance cloid.
This said: his rich-man'd horse he mou'd; and reacht
His house at Ægas. But Minerua fetcht
The winds from sea; and all their wayes but one
Barrd to their passage; the bleake North alone
She set to blow; the rest, she charg'd to keepe
Their rages in; and bind themselues in sleepe.
But Boreas still flew high, to breake the seas,
Till Ioue-bred Ithacus, the more with ease,
The nauigation-skild Phæacian States
Might make his refuge; Death, and angrie Fates,
At length escaping. Two nights yet, and daies,
He spent in wrestling with the sable seas;
In which space, often did his heart propose
Death to his eyes. But when Aurora rose,
And threw the third light from her orient haire;
The winds grew calme, and cleare was all the aire;
Not one breath stirring. Then he might descrie
(Raisd by the high seas) cleare, the land was nie.
And then, looke how to good sonnes that esteeme
Their fathers life deare, (after paines extreame,
Felt in some sicknesse, that hath held him long
Downe to his bed; and with affections strong,
Wasted his bodie; made his life his lode;
As being inflicted by some angrie God)
When on their praires, they see descend at length
Health from the heauens, clad all in spirit and strength;
The sight is precious: so, since here should end,
Vlysses toiles; which therein should extend
Health to his countrie, (held to him, his Sire)
And on which, long for him, Disease did tire.
And then besides, for his owne sake to see
The shores, the woods so neare; such ioy had he,
As those good sonnes for their recouerd Sire.
Then labourd feete and all parts, to aspire
To that wisht Continent; which, when as neare
He came, as Clamor might informe an eare;
He heard a sound beate from the sea-bred rocks,
Against which gaue a huge sea horrid shocks,
That belcht vpon the firme land, weeds and some;
With which were all things hid there; where no roome
Of fit capacitie was for any port;
Nor (from the sea) for any mans resort;
The shores, the rocks, and cliffes so prominent were.
O (said Vlysses then) now Iupiter
Hath giuen me sight of an vnhop't for shore,
(Though I haue wrought these seas so long, so sore)
Of rest yet, no place shewes the slendrest prints;
The rugged shore so bristl'd is with flints:
Against which, euery way the waues so flocke;
And all the shore shewes as one eminent rocke.
So neare which, tis so deepe, that not a sand
Is there, for any tired foote to stand:
Nor flie his death-fast following miseries,
Lest if he land, vpon him fore-right flies
A churlish waue, to crush him gainst a Cliffe;
Worse then vaine rendring, all his landing strife.
And should I swim to seeke a hauen elsewhere,
Or land, lesse way-beate; I may iustly feare
I shall be taken with a gale againe,
And cast a huge way off into the Maine.
And there, the great Earth-shaker (hauing seene
My so neare landing; and againe, his spleene
Forcing me to him) will some Whale send out,
(Of which a horrid number here about,
His Amphitrite breeds) to swallow me.
I well haue prou'd, with what malignitie
He treds my steps. While this discourse he held;
A curst Surge, gainst a cutting rocke impeld
His naked bodie, which it gasht and tore;
And had his bones broke, if but one sea more
Had cast him on it. But she prompted him,
That neuer faild; and bad him no more swim
Still off and on; but boldly force the shore,
And hug the rocke, that him so rudely tore.
Which he, with both hands sigh'd and claspt; till past
The billowes rage was; which seap't; backe, so fast
The rocke repulst it, that it reft his hold
Sucking him from it, and farre backe he rould.
And as the Polypus, that (forc't from home
Amidst the soft sea; and neare rough land come
For shelter gainst the stormes that beate on her
At open sea, as she abroad doth erre)
A deale of grauill, and sharpe little stones,
Needfully gathers in her hollow bones:
So he forc't hither, (by the sharper ill,
Shunning the smoother) where he best hop't, still
The worst succeeded: for the cruell friend,
To which he clingd for succour, off did rend
From his broad hands, the soken flesh so sore,
That off he fell, and could sustaine no more.
Quite vnder water fell he; and, past Fate,
Haplesse Vlysses, there had lost the state
He held in life; if (still the grey-eyd Maid,
His wisedome prompting) he had not assaid
Another course; and ceast t'attempt that shore;
Swimming, and casting round his eye, t'explore
Some other shelter. Then, the mouth he found
Of faire Callicoes flood; whose shores were crownd
With most apt succors: Rocks so smooth, they seemd
Polisht of purpose: land that quite redeemd
With breathlesse couerts, th' others blasted shores.
The flood he knew; and thus in heart implores:
King of this Riuer! heare; what euer name
Makes thee inuokt: to thee I humbly frame
My flight from Neptunes furies; Reuerend is
To all the euer-liuing Deities,
What erring man soeuer seekes their aid.
To thy both flood and knees, a man dismaid
With varied sufferance sues. Yeeld then some rest
To him that is thy suppliant profest.
His house at Ægas. But Minerua fetcht
The winds from sea; and all their wayes but one
Barrd to their passage; the bleake North alone
She set to blow; the rest, she charg'd to keepe
Their rages in; and bind themselues in sleepe.
But Boreas still flew high, to breake the seas,
Till Ioue-bred Ithacus, the more with ease,
The nauigation-skild Phæacian States
Might make his refuge; Death, and angrie Fates,
At length escaping. Two nights yet, and daies,
He spent in wrestling with the sable seas;
In which space, often did his heart propose
Death to his eyes. But when Aurora rose,
And threw the third light from her orient haire;
The winds grew calme, and cleare was all the aire;
Not one breath stirring. Then he might descrie
(Raisd by the high seas) cleare, the land was nie.
And then, looke how to good sonnes that esteeme
Their fathers life deare, (after paines extreame,
Felt in some sicknesse, that hath held him long
Downe to his bed; and with affections strong,
Wasted his bodie; made his life his lode;
As being inflicted by some angrie God)
When on their praires, they see descend at length
Health from the heauens, clad all in spirit and strength;
The sight is precious: so, since here should end,
Vlysses toiles; which therein should extend
Health to his countrie, (held to him, his Sire)
And on which, long for him, Disease did tire.
And then besides, for his owne sake to see
The shores, the woods so neare; such ioy had he,
As those good sonnes for their recouerd Sire.
Then labourd feete and all parts, to aspire
To that wisht Continent; which, when as neare
He came, as Clamor might informe an eare;
He heard a sound beate from the sea-bred rocks,
Against which gaue a huge sea horrid shocks,
That belcht vpon the firme land, weeds and some;
With which were all things hid there; where no roome
Of fit capacitie was for any port;
Nor (from the sea) for any mans resort;
The shores, the rocks, and cliffes so prominent were.
O (said Vlysses then) now Iupiter
Hath giuen me sight of an vnhop't for shore,
83
Of rest yet, no place shewes the slendrest prints;
The rugged shore so bristl'd is with flints:
Against which, euery way the waues so flocke;
And all the shore shewes as one eminent rocke.
So neare which, tis so deepe, that not a sand
Is there, for any tired foote to stand:
Nor flie his death-fast following miseries,
Lest if he land, vpon him fore-right flies
A churlish waue, to crush him gainst a Cliffe;
Worse then vaine rendring, all his landing strife.
And should I swim to seeke a hauen elsewhere,
Or land, lesse way-beate; I may iustly feare
I shall be taken with a gale againe,
And cast a huge way off into the Maine.
And there, the great Earth-shaker (hauing seene
My so neare landing; and againe, his spleene
Forcing me to him) will some Whale send out,
(Of which a horrid number here about,
His Amphitrite breeds) to swallow me.
I well haue prou'd, with what malignitie
He treds my steps. While this discourse he held;
A curst Surge, gainst a cutting rocke impeld
His naked bodie, which it gasht and tore;
And had his bones broke, if but one sea more
Had cast him on it. But she prompted him,
That neuer faild; and bad him no more swim
Still off and on; but boldly force the shore,
And hug the rocke, that him so rudely tore.
Which he, with both hands sigh'd and claspt; till past
The billowes rage was; which seap't; backe, so fast
The rocke repulst it, that it reft his hold
Sucking him from it, and farre backe he rould.
And as the Polypus, that (forc't from home
Amidst the soft sea; and neare rough land come
For shelter gainst the stormes that beate on her
At open sea, as she abroad doth erre)
A deale of grauill, and sharpe little stones,
Needfully gathers in her hollow bones:
So he forc't hither, (by the sharper ill,
Shunning the smoother) where he best hop't, still
The worst succeeded: for the cruell friend,
To which he clingd for succour, off did rend
From his broad hands, the soken flesh so sore,
That off he fell, and could sustaine no more.
Quite vnder water fell he; and, past Fate,
Haplesse Vlysses, there had lost the state
He held in life; if (still the grey-eyd Maid,
84
Another course; and ceast t'attempt that shore;
Swimming, and casting round his eye, t'explore
Some other shelter. Then, the mouth he found
Of faire Callicoes flood; whose shores were crownd
With most apt succors: Rocks so smooth, they seemd
Polisht of purpose: land that quite redeemd
With breathlesse couerts, th' others blasted shores.
The flood he knew; and thus in heart implores:
King of this Riuer! heare; what euer name
Makes thee inuokt: to thee I humbly frame
My flight from Neptunes furies; Reuerend is
To all the euer-liuing Deities,
What erring man soeuer seekes their aid.
To thy both flood and knees, a man dismaid
With varied sufferance sues. Yeeld then some rest
To him that is thy suppliant profest.
This (though but spoke in thought) the Godhead heard;
Her Current strait staid; and her thicke waues cleard
Before him, smooth'd her waters; and iust where
He praid, halfe drownd; entirely sau'd him there.
Her Current strait staid; and her thicke waues cleard
Before him, smooth'd her waters; and iust where
He praid, halfe drownd; entirely sau'd him there.
Then forth he came, his both knees faltring; both
His strong hands hanging downe; and all with froth
His cheeks and nosthrils flowing. Voice and breath
Spent to all vse; and downe he sunke to Death.
The sea had soakt his heart through: all his vaines,
His toiles had rackt, t'alabouring womans paines.
Dead wearie was he. But when breath did find
A passe reciprocall; and in his mind,
His spirit was recollected: vp he rose,
And from his necke did th' Amulet unlose
That Ino gaue him; which he hurld from him
To sea. It sounding fell; and backe did swim
With th' ebbing waters; till it strait arriu'd,
Where Inos faire hand, it againe receiu'd.
Then kist he th' humble earth; and on he goes,
Till bulrushes shewd place for his repose;
Where laid, he sigh'd, and thus said to his soule:
O me, what strange perplexities controule
The whole skill of thy powres, in this euent?
What feele I? if till Care-nurse Night be spent,
I watch amidst the flood; the seas chill breath,
And vegetant dewes, I feare will be my death:
So low brought with my labours. Towards day,
A passing sharpe aire euer breathes at sea.
If I the pitch of this next mountaine scale,
And shadie wood; and in some thicket fall
Into the hands of Sleepe: though there the cold
May well be checkt; and healthfull slumbers hold
Her sweete hand on my powres; all care allaid,
Yet there will beasts deuoure me. Best appaid
Doth that course make me yet; for there, some strife,
Strength, and my spirit, may make me make for life.
Which, though empaird, may yet be fresh applied,
Where perill, possible of escape is tried.
But he that fights with heauen, or with the sea,
To Indiscretion, addes Impietie.
His strong hands hanging downe; and all with froth
His cheeks and nosthrils flowing. Voice and breath
Spent to all vse; and downe he sunke to Death.
The sea had soakt his heart through: all his vaines,
His toiles had rackt, t'alabouring womans paines.
Dead wearie was he. But when breath did find
A passe reciprocall; and in his mind,
His spirit was recollected: vp he rose,
And from his necke did th' Amulet unlose
That Ino gaue him; which he hurld from him
To sea. It sounding fell; and backe did swim
With th' ebbing waters; till it strait arriu'd,
Where Inos faire hand, it againe receiu'd.
Then kist he th' humble earth; and on he goes,
Till bulrushes shewd place for his repose;
Where laid, he sigh'd, and thus said to his soule:
O me, what strange perplexities controule
The whole skill of thy powres, in this euent?
What feele I? if till Care-nurse Night be spent,
I watch amidst the flood; the seas chill breath,
And vegetant dewes, I feare will be my death:
So low brought with my labours. Towards day,
A passing sharpe aire euer breathes at sea.
If I the pitch of this next mountaine scale,
And shadie wood; and in some thicket fall
Into the hands of Sleepe: though there the cold
85
Her sweete hand on my powres; all care allaid,
Yet there will beasts deuoure me. Best appaid
Doth that course make me yet; for there, some strife,
Strength, and my spirit, may make me make for life.
Which, though empaird, may yet be fresh applied,
Where perill, possible of escape is tried.
But he that fights with heauen, or with the sea,
To Indiscretion, addes Impietie.
Thus to the woods he hasted; which he found
Not farre from sea; but on farre-seeing ground;
Where two twin vnder-woods, he enterd on;
With Oliue trees, and oile-trees ouergrowne:
Through which, the moist force of the loud-voic't wind,
Did neuer beate; nor euer Phœbus shin'd;
Nor showre beate through; they grew so one in one;
And had, by turnes, their powre t'exclude the Sunne.
Here enterd our Vlysses; and a bed
Of leaues huge, and of huge abundance spred
With all his speed. Large he made it; for there,
For two or three men, ample Couerings were;
Such as might shield them from the Winters worst;
Though steele it breath'd; and blew as it would burst.
Not farre from sea; but on farre-seeing ground;
Where two twin vnder-woods, he enterd on;
With Oliue trees, and oile-trees ouergrowne:
Through which, the moist force of the loud-voic't wind,
Did neuer beate; nor euer Phœbus shin'd;
Nor showre beate through; they grew so one in one;
And had, by turnes, their powre t'exclude the Sunne.
Here enterd our Vlysses; and a bed
Of leaues huge, and of huge abundance spred
With all his speed. Large he made it; for there,
For two or three men, ample Couerings were;
Such as might shield them from the Winters worst;
Though steele it breath'd; and blew as it would burst.
Patient Vlysses ioyd, that euer day
Shewd such a shelter. In the midst he lay,
Store of leaues heaping high on euery side.
And as in some out-field, a man doth hide
A kindld brand, to keepe the seed of fire;
No neighbour dwelling neare; and his desire
Seru'd with selfe store; he else would aske of none;
But of his fore-spent sparks, rakes th' ashes on:
So this out-place, Vlysses thus receiues;
And thus nak't vertues seed, lies hid in leaues.
Yet Pallas made him sleepe, as soone as men
Whom Delicacies, all their flatteries daine.
And all that all his labours could comprise,
Quickly concluded, in his closed eies.
Shewd such a shelter. In the midst he lay,
Store of leaues heaping high on euery side.
And as in some out-field, a man doth hide
A kindld brand, to keepe the seed of fire;
No neighbour dwelling neare; and his desire
Seru'd with selfe store; he else would aske of none;
But of his fore-spent sparks, rakes th' ashes on:
So this out-place, Vlysses thus receiues;
And thus nak't vertues seed, lies hid in leaues.
Yet Pallas made him sleepe, as soone as men
Whom Delicacies, all their flatteries daine.
And all that all his labours could comprise,
Quickly concluded, in his closed eies.
Finis libri quinti Hom. Odyss.
| The Whole Works of Homer | |