University of Virginia Library

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85

THE ELEVENTH BOOK OF HOMER's ODYSSEY.

[_]

Translated from the Greek.

In MILTON's Style.

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87

When speeding Sea-ward, to the Fleet we came
That anchor'd nigh the Coast, we launch'd our Ship
Into the sacred Deep: the Mast up-rear'd
Bore ev'ry Sail expanded; whilst aboard

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88

We stow'd devoted Victims, and ascend
The Vessel, inly griev'd, and silent Show'rs
Fell from our drooping Eyes. A friendly Wind
Circe the fair, of human Race divine,
Propitious sent; to ply the strugling Oar
Small need remain'd, the fresh'ning Gale suffic'd
Each bellying Canvas. On with Speed we fare
Prosp'rous; and when the Sun careering prone
Sunk to the Western Isles, and dewy Shade
Sabled the Pole, we tilting o'er the Waves
On Oceans utmost Bound, approach the Realms
Unbless'd, where the Cimmerians darkling dwell;
(A lamentable Race!) of heav'nly Light
Unvisited, and the Sun's gladsome Ray.
Mooring the Vessel on that dreary Beach
We take the destin'd Sheep; and slow sojourn
Along the Marish, 'till the fated Place
We found, which Circe will'd we shou'd explore.
Eurylochus and Perimedes guard
The holy Offerings; I mean time unsheath

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89

My Faulchion, and prepare t'intrench the Ground
A Cubit square, and there Oblations pour
To reconcile the Shades; infusing Milk
With Honey temper'd sweet, and Bowls of Must
Pure from the mellowest Grape, with added Store
Of Water; and with Flow'r of Wheat bestrow
The mix'd Ingredients: To the feeble Ghosts
Then vow'd, if Heav'n to my dear native Land
Shou'd favour my Return, a barren Cow
Of stateliest Growth; and to th' oraculous Seer
A Ram of sable Fleece, the leading Pride
Of all my Flocks. These solemn Rites perform'd,
And Vows prefer'd, the destin'd Sheep I slew:
Forth gush'd the vital Purple, and surcharg'd
The hallow'd Trench; when lo! from the dun Verge
Of Erebus, the Ghosts promiscuous Troop
Unnumber'd, Youths and Maidens immature
Cropt in their Spring, who wand'ring pensive wail'd

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90

The Shortness of their Date: Trembling, and hoar
With Age, some slowly Pace; others more fierce
Array'd in Arms, ensanguin'd o'er with Wounds
Receiv'd in Battel, clamorous approach
To drink the reeking Goar. Shudd'ring and pale
I stood astounded, but with quick Dispatch
Bade burn the Sacrifice, a grateful Steam
To Proserpine, who there with Dis divides
The Regency of Night: Sudden I wav'd
My glittering Faulchion, from the sanguine Pool
Driving th' unbody'd Host that round me swarm'd;
Nor deign'd to let them sip, before I saw
Th' oraculous Seer. Foremost of all the Crowd
Elpenor came, whose unregarded Corse
We left behind in Circe's sumptuous Dome,
Unwept, unbury'd, eager to pursue
Our Voyage: Strait to tender Pity mov'd,
With Words dissolv'd in Tears I cry'd, relate
Elpenor, how these rueful Shades you reach'd
Sooner than I full-fail'd. He thus reply'd

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91

In Accents of much Dolour; Me, O King,
The Minister of adverse Fate malign'd,
Unweeting of Mishap; and wrought me Doom.
Drench'd with Excess of Wine: Prone from the Top
Of Circe's Tow'r I fell, and the Neck-Bones
Disjointing dy'd. But to your pious Care
Suppliant, I beg by those endearing Names
Of Parent, Wife, and Son, (tho' distant, dear
To your Remembrance) when you re-ascend
To Circe's blissful Isle, to my Remains
Discharge Funereal Rites, nor let me lie
Unwept, unbury'd there, lest Heav'n avenge
The dire Neglect. While the devouring Flames
Consume my Earthy, on the flagrant Pile
My Armour cast compleat; then raise a Tomb
For my Memorial on the foamy Strand:
And on it place that Oar which erst I ply'd
With my Associates. Pensive I rejoin,
Poor Shade! I'll pay the decent Rites you crave.

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92

Son of Laertes, what Misfortunes dire
Compell your Progress from th' all-chearing Sun,
And heav'nly Azure, in this Seat of Woe

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93

To roam among the Dead? But from the Pool
Withdraw, and sheath your Faulchion, while I taste
That bloody Beverage, then the Fates decree
Instant I'll utter. Sudden I withdrew,
Sheathing my Faulchion whilst he drank the Gore;
Then thus the Seer pronounc'd the Fates Decree.

What Means may best befit your wish'd Return,
Illustrious Greek! you'd know. The Sov'reign Pow'r
Whose strong Earth-shaking Mace the Floods revere,
Insidious waits a Time to wreak Revenge
For Polypheme, his Son; whose visual Orb
You late eclips'd with ever-during Shade.
Howe'er you safe may voyage, and avoid
Disasters various, if your Mates refrain
From sacrilegious Spoil, when safe they tread
Trinacria's herby Soil; for there the Flocks
And Herds of Phœbus, o'er the verd'rous Lawn
Browze fatt'ning Pasture (he the World's great Eye
Views all below his orient Beam, nor ought

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94

Can shun his wakeful Ear) with evil Hand
If them they seize, unerring I foretell
An hideous Wreck. Unequal to the Storm
Your Ship, deep in the nether Waves ingulft,
Shall perish with her Crew: you shall regain
The Dry, without surviving Friend to cheer
Your Pilgrim-Steps; however late and hard,
You shall revisit your lov'd natal Shoar,
Transported in a Vessel not your own.
Much of domestic Damage, and Mis-rule,
Will sadden your Return; for in your Court
Suiters voluptuous swarm; with amorous Wiles
Studious to win your Consort, and seduce
Her from chaste Fealty to Joys impure,
In Bridal Pomp; vain Efforts! but they soon
By Stratagem, or your puissaunt Arm,
To Ruin are fore-doom'd. Then to a Race
Remote from Ocean, who with savoury Salt
Ne'er season their Repast, nor vessel view'd
Furrowing the foamy Flood with painted Prow,

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95

And all her Tackle trim, with Speed repair
Carrying a taper Oar; way-faring thus,
One journeying obvious will mis-name that Oar
A Corn Van; fix it there, and Victims slay
To Neptune reverent; from the fleecy Fold
A Ram select; and from the Beeves and Swine,
The choicest Male entire, of either Herd.
Thence homeward haste, and Hecatombs prepare
For the bright Order of the Gods, who reign
Sphear'd in Empyreal Splendors. White with Years,
The Balm of Life evaporating slow,
At length, when Neptune points the Dart of Death,
Without a Pang you'll die, and leave your Land
With fair Abundance bless'd. In these fix'd Laws
Of Fate repose Affiance, and beware.

I thus reply'd, In this authentic Will
Of Fate, O Seer, I acquiesce; but lo!

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96

Pensive, and silent, by the goary Pool
Abides my Mother's Shade; nor me vouchsafes
Language or Look benign: Oh! tell me how
She here may recognize me. He rejoin'd;
Whatever Ghost by your Permission sips
That sacred Purple, will to all your Quest
Without Deceit reply; the rest withdraw
At your stern Interdict. This said, the Seer
To the high Capital of Dis retir'd.
Meantime I firm abode, 'till the dear Shade
Had sip'd the sacred Purple; then her Son
Instant she knew, and wailing thus began.

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The venerable Shade thus answer'd mild;
Still in your regal Dome your Spouse abides
Disconsolate, with ever-flowing Eyes
Wailing your Absence: And your Son possess'd
Of Principality, with his Compeers,
Bounteous of Soul, free Intercourse maintains
Of social Love. Beneath a Sylvan Lodge,
Far from the cheerful Steps of Men, your Sire
Lives inconsolable; on gorgeous Beds,
With rich Embroid'ry spread, and purple Palls,
No more indulging sweet Repose: but clad
In coarse Attire, couch'd with his village Hinds
On the warm Hearth he sleeps, when Winter reigns
Inclement, 'till the circling Months return
New-rob'd in flowring Verdure: Then, the Vines
High interwove a green Pavilion form,
Where pillow'd on the Leaves, he mourns for you
Nocturnal; to th' unfriendly Damp of Age
Adding corrosive Anguish, and Despair.

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99

So perish'd I with slow-consuming Pine!
Me nor the silver-shafted Goddess slew,
Nor racking Malady; but anxious Love
Of my Ulysses on my Vitals prey'd,
And sunk my Age with Sorrow to the Grave.

Of all Mankind O most to Grief inur'd!
Deem not that ought of Guile by Phantoms vain
Is here intended; but the Essence pure
Of sep'rate Souls is of all living Touch

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100

Impassive: Here no gross material Frame
We wear, with Flesh incumber'd, Nerves, and Bone;
They're calcin'd on the Pile: But when we cease
To draw the Breath of Life, the Soul on wing
Fleets like a Dream, from Elemental Dross
Disparted, and refin'd. Now to the Realms
Illumin'd with the Sun's enliv'ning Beam,
Hence journeying upward, to your Consort dear
Disclose the Secrets of our State below.

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101

Tyro first Audience claim'd, the Daughter fair
Of great Salmoneus; she with Cretheus shar'd
Connubial Love, but long in Virgin-bloom
Enamour'd of Enipeus, inly pin'd;
Enipeus, swift from whose reclining Urn
Rolls a delicious Flood! His lovely Form
Neptune assum'd, and the bright Nymph beguil'd
Wand'ring Love-pensive near his Amber Stream:
Them plunging in the slopy Flood receiv'd,
Redounding; and to skreen his am'rous Theft,
On either side the parted Waves up-rear'd
A Crystal Mound. Potent of rapt'rous Joy,
And sated thus he spake, Hail, Royal Fair!
Thy Womb shall teem with Twins (a God's Embrace
Is ever fruitful) and those Pledges dear
Of our sweet casual Bliss, nurture and 'tend
With a fond Mother's Care: Hence homeward speed,
And from all human ken our am'rous Act
Conceal: so Neptune bids thee now farewell.

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102

He ceas'd, and diving sudden was ingulf'd
Deep in the gurgling Eddy. Two fair Sons
Th' appointed Months discharg'd, by supreme Jove
Both scepter'd: Pelias first; his Empire wide
Stretch'd o'er Iölcos, whose irriguous Vales
His grazing Folds o'er-fleec'd: her younger Birth,
Neleus, was honour'd thro' the sandy Realm
Of Pylus. She by Cretheus then espous'd,
A fair Increase, Æson and Pheres, bore;
And great Amythaon, who with fiery Steeds
Oft' disarray'd the Foes in Battel rang'd.

The Daughter of Asopus next I view'd,
Antiope, boastful that she, by Jove
Impregnate, had the fam'd Amphion born,
And Zethus, Founders of imperial Thebes;
Stately with seven large Gates, and bulwark'd strong
Against invading Pow'rs. Alcmena fair,
Amphitryon's Consort, then advanc'd to view;
To Heav'n's Supreme who bore Alcides, bold

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103

And Lion-hearted. Next that lovely Shade
Stood Megara, of Creon's Royal Race,
By great Alcides spous'd. To her succeeds
The sheeny Form of Epicaste, woo'd
By Oedipus her Son, to whom she deign'd
Spousal Embraces, thoughtless of Mis-deed.
He having too (ill-star'd!) destroy'd his Sire,
His Lineage with incestuous Mixture soil'd,
Blinded by Destiny! but the just Gods
Disclos'd th' unnatural Scene. In Thebes he sway'd,
With various Ills by Heav'n's afflictive Rod
Discomfited: But she through fell Despair
Self-strangled, from the Stings of mortal Life
Fled to the Shades; and her surviving Son
With delegated Furies fierce pursu'd.

An amiable Image next appear'd,
Bright Chloris, of Amphion's lofty Stem
The youngest Bud: In sweet attractive Pomp
On her the Graces ever-waiting smit

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104

The Heart of Neleus, whom the Pylian Tribes
Homag'd with Fealty: From their wedded Love
Sprung Nestor, Chromius, and the boastful Pow'r
Of Periclymenus; besides a Nymph,
Pero, of Form divine: Her Virgin Vows
By many a Prince were sought, but Neleus deign'd
To none her Bed, but him whose prowess'd Arm
Shou'd force from Phylace a furious Herd
Of wild Thessalian Beeves, t'avenge the Dow'r
Which Iphiclus detain'd. This bold Emprise
A Seer accepted; but in Combat foil'd,
In Thrall for twelve revolving Moons he lay.
Deep in a Dungeon close immur'd, 'till found
Divine of Fate, by solving Problems quaint
Which Iphiclus propos'd, who strait dismiss'd
The Captive; so was Jove's high Will compleat.

Then Ledo, spous'd by Tyndarus, I saw,
Mother of the fam'd Twins, Castor expert
To tame the Steed, and Pollux far renown'd

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105

On listed Fields for Conflict; who from Jove
Receiv'd a grateful Boon, like Gods to live,
Mounting alternate to this upper Orb.

Next Iphimedia glides in view, the Wife
Of great Alöeus, who in Love compress'd
By Neptune, bore (so she the Fact avow'd)
Otus and Ephialtes, whom the Fates
Cut short in early Prime. Their infant Years
Nurtur'd by Earth, enormous both attain'd
Gigantic Stature, and for manly Grace
Were next Orion rank'd; for in the Course
Of nine swift circling Years, nine Cubits broad
Their Shoulders measur'd, and nine Ells their Height.
Improvident of Soul, they vainly dar'd
The Gods to War, and on Olympus hoar
Rear'd Ossa, and on Ossa Pelion pil'd,
Torn from the Base with all its Woods; by Scale
T' assault Heav'n's Battlements; and had their Date
To Manhood been prolong'd, had sure atchiev'd

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106

Their ruinous Aim: But by the silver Dart
Of Phœbus sheer transfix'd, e'er springing down
Shaded their rosy Youth, they both expir'd.

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107

Think ye, Phæacians, that the God-like Form,
The Port, the Wisdom of this Wanderer claim
Ought of Regard? Peculiar him my Guest
I style; but since the Honour he vouchsafes,

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108

Delighted ye partake, give not too soon
Him Signal of Departure; but prepare
With no penurious Hand proportion'd Gifts;
Vying in bounteous Deeds, since Heav'n hath showr'd
Your Peerage with abundant Favours boon.

Alcinous from his Bed of State reply'd,
With Aspect bland; while here I live enthron'd,
Jove's Delegate of Empire, and this Hand
Sways the Phæacian Sceptre, will I cheer
Th' erroneous and afflicted, with meet Acts
Of Regal Bounty: But our Princely Guest

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109

Must, tho' impatient, for a time defer
His Voyage, that with due Munificence
Our Gifts may be prepar'd: Let all accord
Benevolent, and free to furnish Stores
Worthy Acceptance; Me you shall confess
The first in Bounty, as the first in Pow'r.

To whom Alcinous; Your distinguish'd Worth
Too plain is character'd in all your Port,

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110

To doubt you of those vagrant Clans, who roam
Fallacious; and with copious Legend take
The credulous Ear: You, with severest Truth
Rob'd in rich Eloquence, instruct and please:
When (like some Bard, vers'd in Heroic Theme
Attemper'd to the Lyre) you sweetly tell
Whate'er in Grecian Story was of old
Recorded eminent; or when you speak
Your own disastrous Fate. But now proceed,
Say affable, if while you low sojourn'd
In gross Tartarean Gloom, the mighty Shades
Of those brave warring Greeks appear'd, who fell
By Doom of Battel; for the lingering Night
Hath yet much Space to measure, and the Hour
Of Sleep is far to come: I can attend
With Ravishment, to hear the pleasing Tale
Fruitful of Wonders, 'till the roseat Morn
Purples the East. Ulysses thus reply'd.

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111

When by imperious Proserpine recall'd,
The Lady-Train dispers'd, the pensive Form
Of Agamemnon came; with those begirt
Whom, in one common Fate involv'd, of Life
Ægysthus had bereav'd. Sipping the Gore
He recogniz'd me instant, and outstretch'd
His unsubstantial Arms, exhausted now
Of all their vital Vigour; with shrill Plaints
Piercing the doleful Region far: Mine Eyes,

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112

Sore wounded with the piteous Object dear,
Effus'd a Flood of Tears, while thus I spake.

I perish'd not, my Friend, by Neptune's Wrath,
Whelm'd in the Ocean Wave; nor dy'd in Arms,
Heroic Deeds attempting: But receiv'd
From base Ægysthus, and my baser Queen,
Irreparable Doom, whilst I partook
Refreshment, and at Supper jovial sate;

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113

Slain like an Ox that's butcher'd at the Crib;
A Death most lamentable! Round me lay
An hideous Carnage of my breathless Friends;
Like Beasts, new slaughter'd for the Bridal Board
Of some luxurious Noble, or devote
To solemn Festival. On well-fought Fields
You various Scenes of Slaughter have survey'd;
And in fierce Tournament; yet had it quell'd
Your best of Man, to view us on the Floor
Rolling in Death, with Viands round us spread,
And pond'rous Vases bruis'd, while human Gore
Flooded the Pavement wide. With shrilling Cries
Cassandra pierc'd my Ear, whom at my side
False Clytemnestra slew; t' avenge her Wrong
I with a dying Grasp my Sabre seiz'd:
But the curs'd Assassine withdrew, nor clos'd
My Lips, and Eyes. O Woman! Woman! none
Of Nature's savage Train have less Remorse
In perpetrating Crimes: To kill her Mate
What Beast was e'er a Complice? I return'd

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114

Hopeful in Affluence of domestic Joy
To reign, incircled with my Offspring dear,
And Court-Retinue; but my traitress Wife
On female Honour hath diffus'd a Stain
Indeleble; and her pernicious Arts
Recorded for Reproach on all the Sex,
Shall wound soft Innocence with Touch of Blame.

By my Disasters warn'd, to Woman's Faith
Unbosom nought momentous; tho' she peal
Your Ear (by Nature importune to know)
Unlock not all your Secrets. But your Wife
Of prudent meek Deport, no Train of Ills
Will meditate for you, by Force or Guile:

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115

Her, when we led th' embattel'd Greeks to Troy,
We left in blooming Beauty fresh; your Son
Then hanging on her Breast; who now to Man
Full grown, with Men associates; your Approach
With Rapture he will meet, and glad his Sire
With filial Duty dear; a Bliss to me
Not deign'd! My Son I saw not e'er I fell
A Victim to my Wife: Then, timely warn'd,
Trust not to Woman's ken the Time prefix'd
For your Return to Greece. But say sincere,
Aught have you heard where my Orestes bides,
In rich Orchomenus, or sandy Pyle;
Or with my Brother lives he more secure
In spacious Sparta? For of this dark Realm
He's not inhabitant. I thus rejoin'd.

Vain is your Quest, Atrides; whether Fate
Permits your Son to draw the Breath of Heav'n,
Friendly to Life; or whether in these shades

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116

He roams a Ghost, I know not; nor with Speech
False or ambiguous will beguile your Ear.

What Cause, Ulysses, moves thy Mind, expert
Of warlike Machinations; what Emprise
Hath aught of such Importance, as to tempt

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This dire Descent, where we in dol'rous Night,
Frail incorporeal Forms, are doom'd abode?

Reign here Supreme! Deem not thy Eloquence
Can aught console my Doom: Rather on Earth

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118

A Village Slave I'd be, than titled here
Imperial and August. But say me true,
Or did my Son illustrate his Descent
First in the Files of War; or fled he pale
A Recreant from the Fight? Do all our Tribes
In Pthia still revere my Father's Throne;
Or lives he now of Regal Pow'r despoil'd,
A weak contemn'd old Man, wanting my Arm
To hold his Sceptre firm? That Arm! which erst
Warring for Greece, bestrow'd the Phrygian Plains
With many a prowess'd Knight! Wou'd Heav'n restore
The same puissaunt Form, I'd soon avenge
His injur'd Age, and re-assert his Claim.

He ceasing, I reply'd; Of Peleus' State
Fame hath to me been silent: But attend,
While I th' Atchievements of thy glorious Son
Blazon, as Truth shall dictate. Him to Troy
From Scyros o'er th'Ægean safe I bore
To join th' embattel'd Greeks: Whene'er we sate

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119

In Council, to mature some high Design,
First of the Peerage with persuasive Speech
His Sentence he disclos'd, by all confess'd
The third from Nestor. But whene'er we mov'd
In battailous Array, and the shrill Clang
Of Onset sounded; He, with haughty Strides,
Advancing in the Van the foremost Chief,
Pierc'd thro' the adverse Legions, nor was deem'd
Not equal to the best. Each hardy Deed,
Which in his Countrey's Cause the Youth atchiev'd,
Were long to tell; but by his Javelin dy'd
Eurypylus, of all th' auxiliar Bands
Fam'd after Memnon first; with many a Peer,
Of Pergameian Race, around him strown.

When in the wooden Horse by Epeus form'd
Selected Heroes lay, aghast and pale
The rest, shudd'ring with Fear, let round big Drops
Roll from their drooping Eyes: He sole abode
Undaunted, un-dismay'd: no chilling Doubt

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120

Frosted his Damask Cheek, nor silent Tear
Cours'd from its Crystal Sluice; but grasping fierce
His Spear and Faulchion, for the Combat grew
Impatient; menacing decisive Rout
To Troy's opponent Pow'rs; and when the Height
Of Ilion had receiv'd the final Stroke
From Grecian Valour; with barbaric Spoil
To his high Fame proportion'd, he return'd.
Unmark'd with hostile Wound; tho' round him Mars
With tenfold Rage oft' made the Battel burn.

The rest, a pensive Circle, round await
Reciting various Dooms, to mortal Ear
Calamitous and sad! From these apart

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121

The Telamonian Heroe, whom I foil'd
In Contest for Achilles' Arms, abode
Sullen with treasur'd Wrath. The fatal Strife
By Thetis was propos'd, and ev'ry Judge
Instinct by Pallas, to my Claim declar'd
The Prize of Right. O! why was I constrain'd
By Honour to prevail, and cause to die
Ajax, the Chief with manly Grace adorn'd,
And Prowess; paragon'd for both, to none
But the great Son of Peleus! Him with Speech
Lenient of Wrath I thus accosted mild.

Ajax, let this oblivious Gloom deface
The Memory of those Arms, which Heav'n decreed
Pernicious to the Greeks, who lost in thee
Their Tow'r of strong Defence: To mourn thy Fall
The Voice of Grief along the tented Shore
Was heard, as loud as when the Flow'r of War,
Divine Achilles dy'd: Nor deem that ought
Of humane interpos'd to urge thy Doom;

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122

But ireful Jove, to punish all our Host,
Cut off its darling Hope. O Royal Shade!
Approach, and affable to me vouchsafe
Mild Audience, calming thy tempestuous Rage.

Intent I saw with golden Sceptre grave
Minos, the Son of Jove, to the pale Ghosts
Dispensing Equity; with faded Looks
They thro' the wide Plutonian Hall appear'd,
Frequent and full: and argued each his Cause
At that Tribunal; trembling whilst he weigh'd

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123

Their pleaded Reason. Of portentous Size
Orion next I view'd; a brazen Mace
Invincible he bore, in fierce Persuit
Of those huge mountain Savages he slew,
While habitant of Earth, whose grisly Forms
He urg'd in Chace the flow'ry Mead along.

Nor unobserv'd lay stretch'd upon the Marle
Tityus Earth-born; whose Body long and large
Cover'd nine Acres: There two Vultures sate
Of Appetite insatiate; and with Beaks
For Ravine bent, unintermitting goar'd
His Liver: pow'rless he to put to Flight
The fierce Devourers! to this Penance judg'd
For Rape intended on Latona fair,
The Paramour of Jove, as she sojourn'd
To Pytho o'er the Panopeian Lawns;
Delicious Landskip!—In a limpid Lake
Next Tantalus a doleful Lot abides;
Chin-deep he stands, yet with afflictive Drought

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124

Incessant pines, while ever as he bows
To sip Refreshment, from his parching Thirst
The guileful Water glides. Around the Pool
Fruit Trees of various kinds umbrageous spread
Their pamper'd Boughs: The racy Olive green,
The ripe Pomegranate big with vinous Pulp,
The luscious Fig sky-dy'd, the tasteful Pear
Vermilion'd half, and Apples mellowing sweet
In burnish'd Gold, luxuriant o'er him wave:
Exciting Hunger, and fallacious Hope
Of food Ambrosial:—When he tries to seize
The copious Fruitage fair, a sudden Gust
Whirls it aloof amid th' incumbent Gloom.

Then Sisyphus, the nearest Mate in Woe,
Drew my Regard; he with distended Nerves
Ay rolls a pond'rous Stone up a rugg'd Rock;
Urg'd up the steep Cliff slow with Hand and Foot,
It mounts; but bordering on the cloudy Peak,
Precipitous adown the slopy side

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125

The rapid Orb devolving back renews
Eternal Toil; which he, with Dust besmear'd,
And dew'd with smoaking Sweat, incessant plies.

I last the visionary Semblance view'd
Of Hercules, a shadowy Form; for He,
The real Son of Jove, in Heav'ns high Court
Abides, Associate with the Gods, and shares
Celestial Banquets; where, with soft Disport
Of Love, bright Hebe in her radiant Dome
Treats him nocturnal. With terrific Clang
Surrounding Ghosts, like Fowle, the Region wing
Vexatious; while the threatning Image stands,
Gloomy as Night, from his bent Battle-Bow
In act to let th' aerial Arrow fly.
Athwart his Breast a military Zone
Dreadful he wore, where grinn'd in fretted Gold
Grim woodland Savages, with various Scenes
Of War, fierce jousting Knights, and Havoc dire;

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126

With matchless Art portraid: Me strait he knew,
And piteous of my State, address'd me thus.

Mean time for others of Heroic Note
I waited, in the Lists of antient Fame
Inroll'd illustrious; and had haply seen

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127

Great Theseus, and Pirithous his Compeer,
The Race of Gods: But at the hideous Scream
Of Spectres issuing from the dark Profound,
I wax'd infirm of Purpose; sore dismay'd
Lest Proserpine shou'd send Medusa, curl'd
With snaky Locks, to fix me in her Realm
Stiff with Gorgonian Horror: To the Ship
Retreating speedy thence, I bade my Mates
To shove from shore; joyous they strait began
To stem the Tide, and brush'd the whit'ning Seas,
'Till the fresh Gales reliev'd the lab'ring Oar.