The Whole Works of Homer :: :: University of Virginia Library

Now when the Rosie-fingerd morne arose;
The sacred powre Alcinous did dispose
Did likewise rise; and like him, left his Ease,
The Cittie-racer Laertiades.
The Councell at the Nauie was design'd;
To which Alcinous, with the sacred mind,
Came first of all. On polisht stones they sate
Neare to the Nauie. To increase the state,
Minerua tooke the heralds forme on her
That seru'd Alcinous; studious to prefer
Vlysses Suite for home. About the towne
She made quicke way; and fild with the renowne
Of that designe, the eares of euery man:

Pallas like the Herald.

Proclaiming thus; Peers Phæacensian!
And men of Councell: all haste to the Court;
To heare the stranger that made late resort
To king Alcinous: long time lost at Sea;
And is in person, like a Deitie.

This, all their powres set vp; and spirit instild;
And straight the Court and seas, with men were fild.
The whole State wonderd at Laertes Son
When they beheld him. Pallas put him on

110

A supernaturall, and heauenly dresse;
Enlarg'd him with a height, and goodlinesse
In breast, and shoulders; that he might appeare
Gracious, and graue, and reuerend; and beare
A perfect hand on his performance there,
In all the trials they resolu'd t'impose.

All met; and gatherd in attention close;

Alcinous exhorts the Phæacians to the beliefe of Vlysses.

Alcinous thus bespake them: Dukes, and Lords;
Heare me digest, my hearty thoughts in words:
This Stranger here whose trauels found my Court;
I know not; nor can tell if his resort
From East or West comes: But his suite is this;
That to his Countrey earth we would dismis
His hither-forced person; and doth beare
The minde to passe it vnder euery Peere:
Whom I prepare, and stirre vp; making knowne
My free desire of his deduction.
Nor shall there euer, any other man
That tries the goodnesse Phæacensian,
In me, and my Courts entertainement; stay
Mourning for passage, vnder least delay.
Come then; A ship into the sacred seas,
New-built, now lanch we; and from out our prease;
Chuse two and fiftie Youths; of all, the best
To vse an oare. All which, see straight imprest;
And in their Oare-bound seates. Let others hie
Home to our Court; commanding instantly
The solemne preparation of a feast;
In which, prouision may for any guest
Be made at my charge. Charge of these low things,
I giue our Youth. You Scepter-bearing kings,
Consort me home; and helpe with grace to vse
This guest of ours: no one man shall refuse.

Some other of you, haste, and call to vs
The sacred singer, graue Demodocus;
To whom hath God giuen, song that can excite
The heart of whom he listeth with delight.
This said, he led. The Scepter-bearers lent
Their free attendance; and with all speede, went
The herald for the sacred man in song.
Youths two and fiftie; chosen from the throng
Went, as was willd, to the vntam'd seas-shore;
Where come; they lancht the ship: the Mast it bore
Aduanc't, sailes hoised; euery seate, his Ore
Gaue with a lether thong: the deepe moist then
They further reacht. The drie streets flowd with men;
That troup't vp to the kings capacious Court.
Whose Porticos, were chok't with the resort:

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Whose wals were hung with men: yong, old, thrust there,
In mighty concourse; for whose promist cheere
Alcinous slue twelue Sheepe; eight white-toothd Swine:
Two crook-hancht Beeues; which flead, and drest, diuine
The show was of so many a iocund Guest
All set together, at so set a feast.
To whose accomplisht state, the Herald then

Demodotus Poeta.

The louely Singer led; Who past all mean
The Muse affected; gaue him good, and ill;
His eies put out; but put in soule at will.
His place was giuen him, in a chaire, all grac't
With siluer studs, and gainst a Pillar plac't;
Where, as the Center to the State, he rests;
And round about, the circle of the Guests.
The Herald, on a Pinne, aboue his head
His soundfull harpe hung: to whose height, he led
His hand for taking of it downe at will.
A Boord set by, with food; and forth did fill
A Bowle of wine, to drinke at his desire.
The rest then, fell to feast; and when the fire
Of appetite was quencht: the Muse inflam'd
The sacred Singer. Of men highliest fam'd,
He sung the glories; and a Poeme pend,
That in applause, did ample heauen ascend.
Whose subiect was, the sterne contention

The contention of Achilles and Vlysses.

Betwixt Vlysses, and Great Thetis Sonne;
As, at a banket, sacred to the Gods
In dreadfull language, they exprest their ods.
When Agamemnon, sat reioyc't in soule
To heare the Greeke Peeres iarre, in termes so foule;
For Augur Phœbus, in presage had told
The king of men, (desirous to vnfold
The wars perplexed end; and being therefore gone
In heauenly Pythia, to the Porch of stone,)
That then the end, of all griefes should begin,
Twixt Greece, and Troy; when Greece (with strife to winne
That wisht conclusion) in her kings should iarre;
And pleade, if force, or wit must end the warre.

This braue contention did the Poet sing;
Expressing so the spleene of either king;
That his large purple weede, Vlysses held

Vlyssi mouetur fletus.

Before his face, and eies; since thence distilld
Teares vncontaind; which he obscur'd, in feare
To let th' obseruing Presence, note a teare.
But when his sacred song the meere Diuine
Had giuen an end; a Goblet crownd with wine
Vlysses (drying his wet eies) did seise;
And sacrifisde to those Gods that would please

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The continued pietie of Vlysses through all places, times, and occasions.

T'inspire the Poet with a song so fit
To do him honour, and renowme his wit.
His teares then staid. But when againe began
(By all the kings desires) the mouing man;
Againe Vlysses, could not chuse but yeeld
To that soft passion: which againe, withheld,
He kept so cunningly from sight; that none
(Except Alcinous himselfe, alone)
Discern'd him mou'd so much. But he sat next;
And heard him deeply sigh. Which, his pretext
Could not keepe hid from him. Yet he conceal'd
His vtterance of it; and would haue it held
From all the rest. Brake off the song, and this
Said to those Ore-affecting Peeres of his:

Princes, and Peeres! we now are satiate
With sacred song, that fits a feast of state:
With wine, and food. Now then, to field, and try;
In all kinds our approu'd actiuity;
That this our Guest, may giue his friends to know
In his returne: that we, as little owe
To fights, and wrestlings, leaping, speede of race,
As these our Court-rites; and commend our grace
In all, to all superiour. Foorth he led
The Peeres and people, troup't vp to their head:
Nor must Demodocus be left within;
Whose harpe, the Herald hung vpon the pinne;
His hand, in his tooke; and abroad he brought
The heauenly Poet: out, the same way wrought
That did the Princes: and what they would see
With admiration, with his companie
They wisht to honour. To the place of Game
These throng'd; and after, routs of other came,
Of all sort, infinite. Of Youths that stroue,

Since the Phæacians were not only dwellers by sea, but studious also of sea qualities: their names seeme to vsurpe their faculties therein. All consisting of sea-faring signification, except Laodamas. As Acroneus, sūma seu extrema Navis pars. Ocyalus velox in mari. Elatreus, or Ελατηρ ελατηρος Remex. &c.

Many, and strong, rose to their trials loue.
Vp rose Acroneus, and Ocyalus;
Elatreus, Prymneus, and Anchyalus;
Nanteus, Eretmeus, Thoon, Proreus;
Pontaus, and the strong Amphialus,
Sonne to Tectonides, Polinius.
Vp rose to these, the great Euryalus;
In action like the homicide of warre.
Naubolides, that was for person farre
Past all the rest: but one he could not passe;
Nor any thought improue; Laodamas.
Vp Anabesinzus then arose;
And three sonnes of the Scepter state, and those;
Were Halius, and fore-praisde Laodamas;
And Clytonaus, like a God in grace.

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These first the foote-game tride; and from the lists
Tooke start together. Vp the dust, in mists
They hurld about; as in their speede, they flew;
But Clytoneus, first, of all the crew
A Stiches length in any fallow field
Made good his pace; when where the Iudges yeeld
The prise, and praise, his glorious speed arriu'd.
Next, for the boistrous wrestling Game they striu'd;
At which, Euryalus, the rest outshone.
At leape, Amphialus. At the hollow stone
Elatreus exceld. At buffets, last,
Laodamas, the kings faire sonne surpast.

When all had striu'd in these assaies their fill;
Laodamas said; Come friends; let's proue what skill
This Stranger hath attaind to, in our sport;
Me thinks, he must be of the actiue sort.
His calues, thighs, hands, and well-knit shoulders show,
That Nature disposition did bestow
To fit with fact their forme. Nor wants he prime.
But sowre Affliction, made a mate with Time,
Makes Time the more seene. Nor imagine I,
A worse thing to enforce debilitie,
Then is the Sea: though nature ne're so strong
Knits one together. Nor conceiue you wrong,
(Replied Euryalus) but proue his blood
With what you question. In the midst then stood
Renowm'd Laodamas, and prou'd him thus;

Come (stranger Father) and assaie with vs

Laodamas vrgeth Vlysses to their sports.

Your powrs in these contentions: If your show
Be answerd with your worth, tis fit that you
Should know these conflicts: nor doth glorie stand
On any worth more, in a mans command,
Then to be strenuous, both of foote and hand:
Come then, make proofe with vs; discharge your mind
Of discontentments: for not farre behind
Comes your deduction. Ship is ready now;

The word is πομπη signifiing: deductio: qua transuehendum curamus cum qui nobiscum aliquandiu est versatus.

And men, and all things. Why (said he) dost thou
Mocke me Laodamas! and these strifes bind
My powrs to answer? I am more inclind
To cares, then conflict. Much sustaind I haue;
And still am suffering. I come here to craue
In your assemblies, meanes to be dismist,
And pray, both Kings, and subiects to assist.

Euryalus, an open brawle began;

Euryalus vpbraids Vlysses.

And said: I take you Sir, for no such man
As fits these honord strifes. A number more
Strange men there are, that I would chuse before.
To one that loues to lie a ship-boord much;

114

Or is the Prince of sailours; or to such
As traffique farre and neare, and nothing minde
But freight, and passage, and a foreright winde;
Or to a victler of a ship: or men

κερδεωνθ αρπαλεων.

That set vp all their powrs for rampant Gaine,
I can compare, or hold you like to be:
But, for a wrestler, or of qualitie
Fit for contentions noble; you abhor
From worth of any such competitor.

Vlysses angry.

Vlysses (frowning) answerd; Stranger! farre
Thy words are from the fashions regular
Of kinde, or honour. Thou art in thy guise
Like to a man, that authors iniuries.

αταθαλος Damnorum magnorum auctor.

I see, the Gods to all men, giue not all
Manly addiction; wisedome; words that fall
(Like dice) vpon the square still. Some man takes
Ill forme from parents; but God often makes
That fault of forme vp, with obseru'd repaire
Of pleasing speech: that makes him held for faire;
That makes him speake securely: makes him shine
In an assembly, with a grace diuine.
Men take delight, to see how euenly lie
His words asteepe, in honey modestie.
Another then, hath fashion like a God;
But in his language, he is foule, and broad:
And such art thou. A person faire is giuen;
But nothing else is in thee, sent from heauen.
For in thee lurkes, a base, and earthy soule
And t'hast compelld me, with a speech most foule
To be thus bitter. I am not vnseene
In these faire strifes, as thy words ouerweene:
But in the first ranke of the best I stand.
At least, I did, when youth and strength of hand
Made me thus confident: but now am worne
With woes, and labours; as a humane borne
To beare all anguish. Sufferd much I haue.
The warre of men, and the inhumane waue
Haue I driuen through at all parts: but with all
My waste in sufferance: what yet may fall
In my performance, at these strifes Ile trie;
Thy speech hath mou'd, and made my wrath runne hie.

This said; with robe, and all, he graspt a stone,
A little grauer then was euer throwne
By these Phæacians, in their wrestling rout;
More firme, more massie; which (turnd round about)
He hurried from him, with a hand so strong
It sung, and flew: and ouer all the throng
(That at the others markes stood) quite it went:

115

Yet downe fell all beneath it; fearing spent
The force that draue it flying from his hand,
As it a dart were, or a walking wand.
And, farre past all the markes of all the rest
His wing stole way. When Pallas straight imprest
A marke at fall of it; resembling then
One of the nauy-giuen Phæacian men;
And thus aduanc't Vlysses: One, (though blinde)
(O stranger!) groping, may thy stones fall finde;
For not amidst the rout of markes it fell,
But farre before all. Of thy worth, thinke well;
And stand in all strifes: no Phæacian here,
This bound, can either better or come nere.
Vlysses ioyd, to heare that one man yet
Vsde him benignly; and would Truth abet
In those contentions. And then, thus smooth
He tooke his speech downe: Reach me that now Youth,
You shall (and straight I thinke) haue one such more;
And one beyond it too. And now, whose Core
Stands sound, and great within him (since ye haue
Thus put my splene vp) come againe and braue
The Guest ye tempted, with such grosse disgrace:
At wrestling, buffets, whirlbat, speed of race.
At all, or either, I except at none,
But vrge the whole State of you; onely one
I will not challenge, in my forced boast,
And that's Laodamas; for hee's mine Host.

He names Laodamas onely for all the other brothers; since in his exception, the others enuies were curbd: for brothers either are or should be of one acceptation in all fit things. And Laodamas, he calles his host, being eldest son to Alcinous: the heire being euer the yong master; nor might he conueniently prefer Alcinous in his exception, since he stood not in competition at these contentions.

And who will fight, or wrangle with his friend?
Vnwise he is, and base, that will contend
With him that feedes him, in a forreigne place;
And takes all edge off, from his owne sought grace.
None else except I here; nor none despise;
But wish to know, and proue his faculties,
That dares appeare now. No strife ye can name
Am I vnskilld in; (reckon any game
Of all that are, as many as there are
In vse with men) for Archerie I dare
Affirme my selfe not meane. Of all a troupe
Ile make the first foe with mine arrow stoupe;
Though, with me ne're so many fellowes bend
Their bowes at markt men, and affect their end;
Onely was Philoctetes with his bow
Still my superiour; when we Greekes would show
Our Archerie against our foes of Troy:
But all that now by bread, fraile life enioy,
I farre hold my inferiours. Men of old
None now aliue, shall witnesse me so bold
To vant equality with such men as these;

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Occhalian, Euritus, Hercules;
Who with their bowes, durst with the Gods contend.
And therefore caught Eurytus soone his end.
Nor did at home, in age, a reuerend man;

Apollo.

But by the Great incensed Delphian
Was shot to death, for daring competence
With him, in all an Archers excellence.
A Speare Ile hurle as farre, as any man
Shall shoote a shaft. How at a race I can
Bestirre my feete; I onely yeeld to Feare,
And doubt to meete with my superiour here.
So many seas, so too much haue misusde
My lims for race; and therefore haue diffusde
A dissolution through my loued knees.

The ingenuous and roiall speech of Alcinous to Vlysses.

This said, he stilld all talking properties;
Alcinous onely answerd: O my Guest
In good part take we, what you haue bene prest
With speech to answer. You would make appeare
Your vertues therefore, that will still shine where
Your onely looke is. Yet must this man giue
Your worth ill language; when, he does not liue
In sort of mortals (whence so ere he springs
That iudgement hath to speake becoming things)
That will depraue your vertues. Note then now
My speech, and what, my loue presents to you;
That you may tell Heroes, when you come
To banquet with your Wife, and Birth at home,
(Mindfull of our worth) what deseruings Ioue
Hath put on our parts likewise; in remoue
From Sire to Sonne, as an inherent grace
Kinde, and perpetuall. We must needs giue place
To other Countreymen; and freely yeeld
We are not blamelesse, in our fights of field;
Buffets, nor wrestlings: but in speede of feete;
And all the Equipage that fits a fleete,
We boast vs best. I or table euer spred
With neighbour feasts, for garments varied;
For Poesie, Musique, Dancing, Baths, and Beds.
And now, Phæacians, you that beare your heads
And feete with best grace, in enamouring dance;
Enflame our guest here; that he may aduance
Our worth past all the worlds, to his home friends;
As well for the vnmatcht grace, that commends
Your skills in footing of a dance; as theirs
That flie a race best. And so, all affaires,
At which we boast vs best; he best may trie;
As Sea-race, Land-race, Dance, and Poesie.
Some one, with instant speede to Court retire,

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And fetch Demodocus, his soundfull lyre.

This said, the God-grac't king, and quicke resort
Pontonous made, for that faire harpe, to Court.

Nine of the lot-chusde publique Rulers rose,
That all in those contentions did dispose;
Commanding a most smooth ground, and a wide,
And all the people, in faire game, aside.

Then with the rich harpe, came Pontonous;
And in the midst, tooke place Demodocus.
About him then stood foorth, the choise yong men,
That on mans first youth, made fresh entrie then:

μαρμαρυγας πεδων μαρμαρυγη signifies splendor vibrans; a twinckd splendor: μαρμαρυοσιν Vibrare veluti radios solares.

Had Art to make their naturall motion sweete
And shooke a most diuine dance from their feete;
That twinckld Star-like; mou'd as swift, and fine,
And beate the aire so thinne, they made it shine.
Vlysses wonderd at it; but amazd
He stood in minde, to heare the dance so phras'd.

Ayre rarefied turns first.

For, as they danc't; Demodocus did sing,
The bright-crownd Venus loue, with Battailes king;
As first they closely mixt, in t'house of fire.
What worlds of gifts, wonne her to his desire;
Who then, the night-and-day-bed did defile
Of good king Vulcan. But in little while
The Sunne their mixture saw; and came, and told.
The bitter newes, did by his eares take hold
Of Vulcans heart. Then to his Forge he went;
And in his shrewd mind, deepe stuffe did inuent.
His mightie Anuile, in the stocke he put;
And forg'd a net, that none could loose, or cut;
That when it had them, it might hold them fast.
Which, hauing finisht, he made vtmost haste
Vp to the deare roome, where his wife he wowd:
And (madly wrath with Mars) he all bestrowd
The bed, and bed-posts: all the beame aboue
That crost the chamber; and a circle stroue,
Of his deuice, to wrap in all the roome.

The matter whereof none can see.

And twas as pure, as of a Spiders loome,
The woofe before tis wouen. No man nor God
Could set his eie on it: a sleight so odde,
His Art shewd in it. All his craft bespent
About the bed: he faind, as if he went

χρυσηνιος Αρης

To well-built Lemnos; his most loued towne,
Of all townes earthly. Nor left this vnknowne
To golden-bridle-vsing Mars; who kept
No blinde watch ouer him: but, seeing stept
His riuall so aside, he hasted home
With faire-wreath'd Venus loue stung; who was come
New from the Court of her most mightie Sire.

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Mars enterd; wrung her hand; and the retire
Her husband made to Lemnos told; and said;
Now (Loue) is Vulcan gone; let vs to bed,
Hee's for the barbarous Sintians. Well appaid
Was Venus with it; and afresh assaid
Their old encounter. Downe they went; and straight
About them clingd, the artificiall sleight
Of most wise Vulcan; and were so ensnar'd,
That neither they could stirre their course prepar'd,
In any lim about them; nor arise.
And then they knew, they could no more disguise
Their close conueiance; but lay, forc't, stone still.
Backe rusht the Both foote cook't; but straight in skill,
From his neare skout-hole turnd; nor euer went
To any Lemnos; but the sure euent
Left Phœbus to discouer, who told all.
Then, home hopt Vulcan, full of griefe, and gall;
Stood in the Portall, and cried out so hie;
That all the Gods heard. Father of the skie

Vulcans complaint.

And euery other deathlesse God (said he)
Come all, and a ridiculous obiect see;
And yet not sufferable neither; Come,
And witnesse, how when still I step from home,
(Lame that I am) Ioues daughter doth professe
To do me all the shamefull offices;
Indignities, despites, that can be thought;
And loues this all-things-making-come to nought
Since he is faire forsooth; foote-sound, and I
Tooke in my braine a little; leg'd awrie;
And no fault mine; but all my parents fault,
Who should not get, if mocke me, with my halt.
But see how fast they sleepe, while I, in mone,
Am onely made, an idle looker on.
One bed their turne serues; and it must be mine;
I thinke yet, I haue made their selfe-loues shine.
They shall no more wrong me, and none perceiue:
Nor will they sleepe together, I beleeue
With too hote haste againe. Thus both shall lie
In craft, and force; till the extremitie
Of all the dowre, I gaue her Sire (to gaine
A dogged set-fac't Girle, that will not staine
Her face with blushing, though she shame her head)
He paies me backe: She's faire, but was no maide.

While this long speech was making, all were come
To Vulcans wholie-brazen-founded home.
Earth-shaking Neptune; vsefull Mercurie,
And far-shot Phœbus. No She Deitie
For shame, would show there: all the giue-good Gods

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stood in the Portall; and past periods
Gaue length to laughters; all reioyc't to see
That which they said; that no impietie
Finds good successe at th' end. And now (said one)
The slow outgoes the swift. Lame Vulcan, knowne
To be the slowest of the Gods; outgoes
Mars the most swift; And this is that, which growes
To greatest iustice; that Adulteries sport
Obtain'd by craft, by craft of other sort,
(And lame craft too) is plagu'd, which grieues the more,
That sound lims turning lame; the lame,

Intending thē sound of foote; when they outgoe the soundest.

restore.

This speech amongst themselues they entertaind
When Phæbus, thus askt Hermes: Thus enchaind
Would'st thou be Hermes, to be thus disclosde?
Though, with thee, golden Venus were repos'de?

He soone gaue that an answer: O (said he
Thou king of Archers) would twere thus with me.
Though thrice so much shame; nay, though infinite
Were powrd about me; and that euery light
In great heauen shining, witnest all my harmes,
So golden Venus slumberd in mine Armes.

The Gods againe laught; euen the watry state
Wrung out a laughter: But propitiate
Was still for Mars, and praid the God of fire
He would dissolue him; offering the desire
He made to Ioue, to pay himselfe; and said,
All due debts, should be, by the Gods repaid.

Pay me, no words (said he) where deeds lend paine;
Wretched the words are, giuen for wretched men.
How shall I binde you in th' Immortals sight
If Mars be once loos'd; nor will pay his right?

Vulcan (said he) if Mars should flie, nor see

This is το, τα, μικρα, μεγαλως &c. Parua magne dicere; graue sentence out of lightest vapor.

Thy right repaid, it should be paid by me:
Your word, so giuen, I must accept (said he)
Which said; he loosd them: Mars then rusht from skie
And stoop't cold Thrace. The laughing Deity
For Cyprus was, and tooke her Paphian state
Where, She a Groue, ne're cut, hath consecrate:
All with Arabian odors fum'd; and hath
An Altar there, at which the Graces bathe,
And with immortall Balms besmooth her skin;
Fit for the blisse, Immortals solace in;
Deckt her in to-be-studied attire,
And apt to set beholders hearts on fire.

This sung the sacred Muse, whose notes and words
The dancers feete kept; as his hands his cords.
Vlysses, much was pleased, and all the crew:

This would the king haue varied with a new

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And pleasing measure; and performed by
Two, with whom none would striue in dancerie.
And those, his sonnes were; that must therefore dance
Alone; and onely to the harp aduance,
Without the words; And this sweete couple, was
Yong Halius, and diuine Laodamas:
Who danc't a Ball dance. Then the rich-wrought Ball,
(That Polybus had made, of purple all)
They tooke to hand: one threw it to the skie,
And then danc't backe; the other (capring hie)
Would surely catch it, ere his foote toucht ground;
And vp againe advanc't it; and so found
The other, cause of dance; and then did he
Dance lofty trickes; till next it came to be
His turne to catch; and serue the other still.
When they had kept it vp to eithers will;
They then danc't ground tricks; oft mixt hand in hand;
And did so gracefully their change command;
That all the other Youth that stood at pause,
With deafning shouts, gaue them the great applause.

Vlysses to Alcinous.

Then said Vlysses; O past all men here
Cleare, not in powre, but in desert as clere,
You said your dancers, did the world surpasse;
And they performe it, cleare, and to amaze.

This wonne Alcinous heart; and equall prise
He gaue Vlysses; saying; Matchlesse wise
(Princes, and Rulers) I perceiue our guest;
And therefore let our hospitable best
In fitting gifts be giuen him: twelue chiefe kings
There are that order all the glorious things
Of this our kingdome; and the thirteenth, I
Exist, as Crowne to all: let instantly
Be thirteene garments giuen him: and, of gold
Precious, and fine, a Talent. While we hold
This our assembly; be all fetcht, and giuen;
That to our feast prepar'd, as to his heauen
One guest may enter. And that nothing be
Left vnperformd, that fits his dignity;
Euryalus shall here conciliate
Himselfe, with words and gifts; since past our rate
He gaue bad language. This did all commend
And giue in charge; and euery king did send
His Herald for his gift. Euryalus
(Answering for his part) said; Alcinous!
Our chiefe of all; since you command, I will
To this our guest, by all meanes reconcile;
And giue him this entirely mettald sword:
The handle massie siluer; and the bord

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That giues it couer, all of Ivorie,
New, and in all kinds, worth his qualitie.

This put he strait into his hand, and said:
Frolicke, O Guest and Father; if words, fled,
Haue bene offensiue; let swift whirlwinds take,
And rauish them from thought. May all Gods make
Thy wifes sight good to thee; in quicke retreate
To all thy friends, and best-lou'd breeding seate;
Their long misse quitting with the greater ioy;
In whose sweet, vanish all thy worst annoy.

And frolicke thou, to all height, Friend (said he)
Which heauen confirme, with wisht felicitie.
Nor euer giue againe desire to thee,
Of this swords vse, which with affects so free,
In my reclaime, thou hast bestowd on me.

This said; athwart his shoulders he put on
The right faire sword; and then did set the Sunne.
When all the gifts were brought; which backe againe
(With King Alcinous, in all the traine)
Were by the honourd Heralds borne to Court;
Which his faire sonnes tooke; and from the resort
Laid by their reuerend Mother. Each his throne
Of all the Peeres (which yet were ouershone
In King Alcinous command) ascended:
Whom he, to passe as much in gifts contended;
And to his Queene, said: Wife! see brought me here
The fairest Cabinet I haue; and there
Impose a well-cleansd, in, and vtter weed;
A Caldron heate with water, that with speed
Our Guest well bath'd, and all his gifts made sure,
It may a ioyfull appetite procure
To his succeeding Feast; and make him heare
The Poets Hymne, with the securer eare.
To all which, I will adde my boll of gold,
In all frame curious, to make him hold
My memory alwaies deare; and sacrifise
With it at home, to all the Deities.

Then Arete, her maids charg'd to set on
A well-siz'd Caldron quickly. Which was done;
Cleare water powr'd in, flame made so entire,
It gilt the brasse, and made the water fire.
In meane space, from her chamber brought the Queene
A wealthy Cabinet, where (pure and cleane)
She put the garments, and the gold bestowd
By that free State: and then, the other vowd
By her Alcinous, and said: Now Guest
Make close and fast your gifts, lest when you rest
A ship-boord sweetly, in your way you meet

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Some losse, that lesse may make your next sleepe sweet.

This when Vlysses heard; all sure he made;
Enclosde and bound safe; for the sauing trade,
The Reuerend for her wisedome (Circe) had
In foreyeares taught him. Then the handmaid bad
His worth to bathing; which reioyc't his heart.
For since he did with his Calypso part,
He had no hote baths. None had fauourd him;
Nor bin so tender of his kingly lim.
But all the time he spent in her abode,
He liu'd respected, as he were a God.

Cleansd then and balmd; faire shirt, and robe put on;
Fresh come from bath, and to the Feasters gone;
Nausicaa, that from the Gods hands tooke
The soueraigne beautie of her blessed looke,
Stood by a well-caru'd Columne of the roome,
And through her eye, her heart was ouercome
With admiration of the Port imprest

Nausicaa enflamed with Vlysses.

In his aspect; and said: God saue you Guest!
Be chearfull, as in all the future state,
Your home will shew you, in your better Fate.
But yet, euen then, let this rememberd be,
Your lifes price, I lent, and you owe it me.

The varied in all counsels gaue reply:
Nausicaa! flowre of all this Empery!
So Iunos husband, that the strife for noise
Makes in the clouds, blesse me with strife of Ioyes,
In the desir'd day, that my house shall show,
As I, as I to a Goddesse, there shall vow,
To thy faire hand, that did my Being giue;
Which Ile acknowledge euery houre I liue.

This said; Alcinous plac't him by his side;
Then tooke they feast, and did in parts diuide
The seuerall dishes; filld out wine, and then

ραηροναοιδον, Poetam cuius hominibus digna est societas.

The striu'd-for, for his worth, of worthy men,
And reuerenc't of the State; Demodocus
Was brought in by the good Pontonous.
In midst of all the guests, they gaue him place,
Against a loftie Pillar; when, this grace
The grac't with wisedome did him. From the Chine
That stood before him of a white-tooth'd Swine,
(Being farre the daintiest ioynt) mixt through with fat,
He caru'd to him, and sent it where he sat,
By his old friend, the Herald; willing thus:
Herald! reach this to graue Demodocus;
Say, I salute him; and his worth embrace.
Poets deserue past all the humane race,
Reuerend respect and honor; since the Queene

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Of knowledge, and the supreme worth in men
(The Muse) informes them; and loues all their race.

This, reacht the Herald to him; who, the grace
Receiu'd encourag'd: which, when feast was spent,
Vlysses amplified to this ascent:

Demodocus! I must preferre you farre,
Past all your sort; if, or the Muse of warre,
Ioues daughter prompts you; (that the Greeks respects)
Or if the Sunne, that those of Troy affects.
For I haue heard you, since my coming, sing
The Fate of Greece, to an admired string.
How much our sufferance was; how much we wrought;
How much the actions rose to, when we fought.
So liuely forming, as you had bin there;
Or to some free relator, lent your eare.
Forth then, and sing the woodden horses frame,
Built by Epeus; by the martiall Dame,
Taught the whole Fabricke; which, by force of sleight,
Vlysses brought into the Cities height;
When he had stuft it with as many men,
As leueld loftie Ilion with the Plaine.
With all which, if you can as well enchant,
As with expression quicke and elegant,
You sung the rest; I will pronounce you cleare,
Inspir'd by God, past all that euer were.

This said; euen stird by God vp, he began;
And to his Song fell, past the forme of man;
Beginning where, the Greeks a ship-boord went,
And euery Chiefe, had set on fire his Tent.
When th' other Kings, in great Vlysses guide,
In Troys vast market place, the horse did hide:
From whence, the Troians, vp to Ilion drew
The dreadfull Engine. Where (sate all arew)
Their Kings about it: many counsels giuen,
How to dispose it. In three waies were driuen
Their whole distractions: first, if they should feele
The hollow woods heart, (searcht with piercing steele)
Or from the battlements (drawne higher yet)
Deiect it headlong; or, that counterfet,
So vast and nouell, set on sacred fire;
Vowd to appease each angerd Godheads ire.
On which opinion, they, thereafter, saw,
They then should haue resolu'd: th' vnalterd law
Of Fate presaging; that Troy then should end,
When th' hostile horse, she should receiue to friend;
For therein should the Grecian Kings lie hid,
To bring the Fate and death, they after did.

He sung besides, the Greeks eruption

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From those their hollow crafts; and horse forgone;
And how they made Depopulation tred
Beneath her feete, so high a Cities head.
In which affaire, he sung in other place,
That of that ambush, some man else did race
The Ilion Towres, then

Vlysses.

Laertiades;
But here he

As by the diuine fury directly inspired so, for Vlysses glory.

sung, that he alone did seise
(With Menelaus) the ascended roofe
Of Prince Deiphobus; and Mars-like proofe
Made of his valour: a most dreadfull fight,
Daring against him. And there vanquisht quite,
In litle time (by great Mineruas aid)
All Ilions remnant, and Troy leuell laid.
This the diuine Expressor, did so giue
Both act and passion, that he made it liue;
And to Vlysses facts did breathe a fire,

In that the slaughters he made, were exprest so liuely.

So deadly quickning, that it did inspire
Old death with life; and renderd life so sweet,
And passionate, that all there felt it fleet;
Which made him pitie his owne crueltie,
And put into that ruth, so pure an eie
Of humane frailtie; that to see a man
Could so reuiue from Death; yet no way can
Defend from death; his owne quicke powres it made
Feele there deaths horrors: and he felt life fade

τηκετο Οδυσσευς. τηκω, Metaph signifying, consumo, tabeseo.

In teares, his feeling braine swet: for in things
That moue past vtterance, teares ope all their springs.
Nor are there in the Powres, that all life beares,
More true interpreters of all, then teares.

Simile.

And as a Ladie mournes her sole-lou'd Lord,
That falne before his Citie, by the sword,
Fighting to rescue from a cruell Fate,
His towne and children; and, in dead estate
Yet panting, seeing him; wraps him in her armes,
Weeps, shriekes, and powres her health into his armes;
Lies on him, striuing to become his shield
From foes that still assaile him: speares impeld
Through backe and shoulders; by whose points embrude,
They raise and leade him into seruitude,
Labor and languor: for all which, the Dame
Eates downe her cheekes with teares, and feeds lifes flame
With miserable sufferanc: So this King,
Of teare-swet anguish, op't a boundlesse spring:
Nor yet was seene to any one man there,
But King Alcinous, who sate so neare,
He could not scape him: sighs (so chok't) so brake
From all his tempers, which the King did take
Both note, and graue respect of, and thus spake:

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Heare me, Phæacian Counsellers and Peeres;
And ceasse, Demodocus; perhaps all eares
Are not delighted with his song; for, euer
Since the diuine Muse sung, our Guest hath neuer
Containd from secret mournings. It may fall,
That something sung, he hath bin grieu'd withall,
As touching his particular. Forbeare;
That Feast may ioyntly comfort all hearts here;
And we may cheare our Guest vp; tis our best,
In all due honor. For our reuerend Guest,
Is all our celebration, gifts, and all,
His loue hath added to our Festiuall.
A Guest, and suppliant too; we should esteeme
Deare as our brother; one that doth but dreame
He hath a soule; or touch but at a mind
Deathlesse and manly; should stand so enclin'd.
Nor cloke you, longer, with your curious wit,
(Lou'd Guest) what euer we shall aske of it.
It now stands on your honest state to tell;
And therefore giue your name; nor more conceale,
What of your parents, and the Towne that beares
Name of your natiue; or of forreiners
That neare vs border, you are calld in fame.
There's no man liuing, walkes without a name;
Noble nor base; but had one from his birth;
Imposde as fit, as to be borne. What earth,
People, and citie, owne you? Giue to know:
Tell but our ships all, that your way must show;
For our ships know th' expressed minds of men;

This τερατολογια or affirmation of miracles, how impossible soeuer in these times assured, yet in those ages they were neither absurd nor strāge. Those inanimate things hauing (it seemd) certain Genij, in whose powers, they supposed, their ships faculties. As others haue affirmed Okes to haue sence of hearing: and so the ship of Argos was said to haue a Mast made of Dodoneæn Oke, that was vocall, and could speake.

And will so most intentiuely retaine
Their scopes appointed, that they neuer erre;
And yet vse neuer any man to stere:
Nor any Rudders haue, as others need.
They know mens thoughts; and whither tends their speed.
And there will set them. For you cannot name
A Citie to them; nor fat Soile, that Fame
Hath any notice giuen; but well they know,
And will flie to them, though they ebbe and flow,
In blackest clouds and nights; and neuer beare
Of any wracke or rocke, the slendrest feare.
But this I heard my Sire Nausithous say
Long since, that Neptune seeing vs conuay
So safely passengers of all degrees,
Was angry with vs; and vpon our seas,
A well-built ship we had (neare habor come,
From safe deduction of some stranger home)
Made in his flitting billowes, sticke stone still;
And dimm'd our Citie, like a mightie hill,

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With shade cast round about it. This report,
The old

Intending his father Nausithous.

King made; in which miraculous sort,
If God had done such things, or left vndone;
At his good pleasure be it. But now, on,
And truth relate vs; both whence you errd;
And to what Clime of men would be transferrd;
With all their faire Townes; be they, as they are;
If rude, vniust, and all irregular;
Or hospitable, bearing minds that please
The mightie Deitie. Which one of these
You would be set at, say; and you are there;
And therefore what afflicts you? why, to heare
The Fate of Greece and Ilion, mourne you so?
The Gods haue done it; as to all, they do
Destine destruction; that from thence may rise
A Poeme to instruct posterities.
Fell any kinsman before Ilion?
Some worthy Sire-in-law, or like-neare sonne?
Whom next our owne blood, and selfe-race we loue?
Or any friend perhaps, in whom did moue
A knowing soule, and no vnpleasing thing?
Since such a good one, is no vnderling
To any brother: for, what fits true friends,

True wisedome fits true friends.

True wisedome is, that blood and birth transcends.