The Whole Works of Homer Prince of Poetts: In his Iliads, and Odysses. Translated according to the Greeke. By Geo: Chapman |
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 | The Whole Works of Homer |  |
144
THE TENTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES.
The Argvment.
Vlysses now relates to vs.The grace he had with AEolus,
Great Guardian of the hollow winds:
Which in a leather bag he binds,
And giues Vlysses; all but one,
Which Zephyre was; who filld alone
Vlysses sailes. The Bag once seene
(While he slept) by Vlysses men;
They thinking, it did gold inclose;
To find it all the winds did lose.
Who backe flew to their guard againe.
Forth saild he; and did next attaine
To where the Læstrigonians dwell.
Where he eleuen ships lost; and fell
On the AEæan coast; whose shore
He sends Eurylochus t'explore,
Diuiding with him halfe his men:
Who go, and turne no more againe;
(All saue Eurylochus, to swine
By Circe turnd.) Their stayes encline
Vlysses to their search; who got
Of Mercurie an Antidote,
(Which Moly was) gainst Circes charmes,
And so auoids his souldiers harmes.
A yeare with Circe all remaine,
And then their natiue formes regaine.
On vtter shores, a time they dwell,
While Ithacus descends to hell.
Another.
Great AEolusAnd Circe, friends,
Finds Ithacus;
And Hell descends.
To the Æolian Iland we attaind,
That swumme about still on the sea; where raign'd
The God-lou'd Æolus Hippotydes.
A wall of steele it had; and in the seas,
A waue-beat-smooth-rocke, mou'd about the wall.
Twelue children, in his house imperiall,
Were borne to him: of which, sixe daughters were,
And sixe were sonnes, that youths sweet flowre did beare.
His daughters, to his sonnes he gaue, as wiues;
Who spent in feastfull comforts all their liues;
Close seated by their Sire, and his graue Spouse.
Past number were the dishes, that the house
Made euer sauour; and still full the Hall;
As long as day shin'd; in the night-time, all
Slept with their chaste wiues. Each his faire caru'd bed
Most richly furnisht; and this life they led.
That swumme about still on the sea; where raign'd
The God-lou'd Æolus Hippotydes.
A wall of steele it had; and in the seas,
A waue-beat-smooth-rocke, mou'd about the wall.
Twelue children, in his house imperiall,
Were borne to him: of which, sixe daughters were,
And sixe were sonnes, that youths sweet flowre did beare.
145
Who spent in feastfull comforts all their liues;
Close seated by their Sire, and his graue Spouse.
Past number were the dishes, that the house
Made euer sauour; and still full the Hall;
As long as day shin'd; in the night-time, all
Slept with their chaste wiues. Each his faire caru'd bed
Most richly furnisht; and this life they led.
We reacht the Cittie, and faire roofes of these;
Where, a whole moneths time; all things that might please
The King vouchsaf't vs. Of great Troy enquir'd,
The Grecian fleete, and how the Greekes retir'd:
To all which, I gaue answer, as behou'd.
Where, a whole moneths time; all things that might please
The King vouchsaf't vs. Of great Troy enquir'd,
The Grecian fleete, and how the Greekes retir'd:
To all which, I gaue answer, as behou'd.
The fit time come; when I dismission mou'd;
He nothing would denie me, but addrest
My passe with such a bountie, as might best
Teach me contentment. For he did enfold
Within an Oxe hide, flead at nine yeares old,
All th' airie blasts, that were of stormie kinds.
Saturnius made him Steward of his winds;
And gaue him powre, to raise and to asswage;
And these he gaue me, curbd thus of their rage.
Which in a glittering siluer band I bound
And hung vp in my ship: enclosd so round,
That no egression, any breath could find.
Onely he left abroad the Westerne wind;
To speede our ships and vs, with blasts secure.
But our securities, made all vnsure:
Nor could he consummate our course alone,
When all the rest had got egression.
Which thus succeeded. Nine whole daies and nights
We saild in safetie; and the tenth, the lights
Borne on our Countrey earth, we might descrie:
So neere we drew, and yet euen then fell I
(Being ouerwatcht) into a fatall sleepe:
For I would suffer no man else to keepe
The foote that rul'd my vessels course; to leade
The faster home. My friends then Enuy fed,
About the bag I hung vp; and supposde,
That gold, and siluer, I had there enclosde,
As gift from Æolus. And said, O heauen!
What grace, and graue price, is by all men giuen
To our Commander? Whatsoeuer coast
Or towne, he comes to, how much he engrost
Of faire and precious prey, and brought from Troy?
We the same voiage went; and yet enioy
In our returne, these emptie hands for all.
This bag now, Æolus was so liberall
To make a Guest-gift to him. Let vatrie
Of what consists, the faire-bound Treasurie;
And how much gold, and siluer it containes.
Ill counsaile, present approbation gaines.
“They op't the bag, and out the vapours brake;
When instant tempest did our vessell take,
That bore vs backe to Sea; to mourne anew
Our absent Countrey. Vp amazd I flew,
And desperate things discourst; if I should cast
My selfe to ruine in the seas; or taste
Amongst the liuing more mone, and sustaine?
Silent, I did so; and lay hid againe
Beneath the hatches: while an ill winde tooke
My ships, backe to Æolia: my men strooke
With woe enough. We pumpt and landed then;
Tooke foode, for all this; and (of all my men,)
I tooke a Herald to me, and away
Went to the Court of Æolus; Where they
Were feasting still: he, wife and children set
Together close. We would not (at their meate)
Thrust in; but humbly on the threshold sat.
He then, amazd, my presence wonderd at;
And calld to me: Vlysses! how, thus backe
Art thou arriu'd here? what foule spirit brake
Into thy bosome to retire thee thus?
We thought we had deduction, curious
Giuen thee before; to reach thy shore and home:
Did it not like thee? I (euen ouercome
With worthy sorrow) answerd: My ill men
Haue done me mischiefe; and to them hath bene
My sleepe th' vnhappie motiue. But do you
(Dearest of friends) daigne succour to my vow:
Your powres command it. Thus endeuord I
With soft speech to repaire my misery.
The rest, with ruth, sat dumbe: but thus spake he;
Auant; and quickly quit my land of thee,
Thou worst of all that breathe; it fits not me
To conuoy, and take in, whom heauens expose.
Away, and with thee go, the worst of woes,
That seek'st my friendship, and the Gods thy foes.
He nothing would denie me, but addrest
My passe with such a bountie, as might best
Teach me contentment. For he did enfold
Within an Oxe hide, flead at nine yeares old,
All th' airie blasts, that were of stormie kinds.
Saturnius made him Steward of his winds;
And gaue him powre, to raise and to asswage;
And these he gaue me, curbd thus of their rage.
Which in a glittering siluer band I bound
And hung vp in my ship: enclosd so round,
That no egression, any breath could find.
Onely he left abroad the Westerne wind;
To speede our ships and vs, with blasts secure.
But our securities, made all vnsure:
Nor could he consummate our course alone,
When all the rest had got egression.
Which thus succeeded. Nine whole daies and nights
We saild in safetie; and the tenth, the lights
Borne on our Countrey earth, we might descrie:
So neere we drew, and yet euen then fell I
(Being ouerwatcht) into a fatall sleepe:
For I would suffer no man else to keepe
The foote that rul'd my vessels course; to leade
The faster home. My friends then Enuy fed,
About the bag I hung vp; and supposde,
That gold, and siluer, I had there enclosde,
As gift from Æolus. And said, O heauen!
What grace, and graue price, is by all men giuen
To our Commander? Whatsoeuer coast
Or towne, he comes to, how much he engrost
Of faire and precious prey, and brought from Troy?
We the same voiage went; and yet enioy
In our returne, these emptie hands for all.
This bag now, Æolus was so liberall
146
Of what consists, the faire-bound Treasurie;
And how much gold, and siluer it containes.
Ill counsaile, present approbation gaines.
“They op't the bag, and out the vapours brake;
When instant tempest did our vessell take,
That bore vs backe to Sea; to mourne anew
Our absent Countrey. Vp amazd I flew,
And desperate things discourst; if I should cast
My selfe to ruine in the seas; or taste
Amongst the liuing more mone, and sustaine?
Silent, I did so; and lay hid againe
Beneath the hatches: while an ill winde tooke
My ships, backe to Æolia: my men strooke
With woe enough. We pumpt and landed then;
Tooke foode, for all this; and (of all my men,)
I tooke a Herald to me, and away
Went to the Court of Æolus; Where they
Were feasting still: he, wife and children set
Together close. We would not (at their meate)
Thrust in; but humbly on the threshold sat.
He then, amazd, my presence wonderd at;
And calld to me: Vlysses! how, thus backe
Art thou arriu'd here? what foule spirit brake
Into thy bosome to retire thee thus?
We thought we had deduction, curious
Giuen thee before; to reach thy shore and home:
Did it not like thee? I (euen ouercome
With worthy sorrow) answerd: My ill men
Haue done me mischiefe; and to them hath bene
My sleepe th' vnhappie motiue. But do you
(Dearest of friends) daigne succour to my vow:
Your powres command it. Thus endeuord I
With soft speech to repaire my misery.
The rest, with ruth, sat dumbe: but thus spake he;
Auant; and quickly quit my land of thee,
Thou worst of all that breathe; it fits not me
To conuoy, and take in, whom heauens expose.
Away, and with thee go, the worst of woes,
That seek'st my friendship, and the Gods thy foes.
Thus he dismist me, sighing; foorth we saild,
At heart afflicted: and now wholy faild
The minds my men sustaind: so spent they were
With toiling at their oares; and worse did beare
Their growing labours; that they causd their grought,
By selfe-willd follies; nor now, euer thought
To see their Countrey more. Six nights and daies
We saild; the seuenth, we saw faire Lamos raise
Her loftie Towres (The Lastrigonian State)
That beares her Ports, so farre disterminate.
Where
Shepheard, Shepheard calls out; he at home
Is calld out by the other that doth come
From charge abroad; and then goes he to sleepe,
The other issuing. He whose turne doth keepe
The Night obseruance, hath his double hire;
Since Day and Night, in equall length expire,
About that Region; and the Nights watch weigh'd
At twice the Daies ward; since the charge thats laid
Vpon the Nights-man (besides breach of sleepe)
Exceeds the Daies-mans: for one, oxen keepe,
The other sheepe. But when the hauen we found,
(Exceeding famous; and enuirond round
With one continuate rocke: which, so much bent,
That both ends almost met; so prominent
They were; and made, the hauens mouth passing streight)
Our whole fleete, in we got; in whole receipt
Our Ships lay anchord close: nor needed we
Feare harme on any staies; Tranquillitie
So purely sate there: that waues great, nor small
Did euer rise to any height at all.
And yet would I, no entrie make; but staid
Alone without the hauen; and thence suruaid
From out a loftie watch-towre raised there,
The Countrie round about: nor any where
The worke of man or beast, appeard to me;
Onely a smoke from earth breake, I might see.
I then made choice of two; and added more,
A Herald for associate, to explore
What sort of men liu'd there. They went, and saw
A beaten way, through which, carts vsde to draw
Wood from the high hils, to the Towne; and met
A maid without the Port; about to get
Some neare spring-water. She, the daughter was
Of mightie Lastrigonian, Antiphas:
And to the cleare spring, cald Artacia, went;
To which the whole Towne, for their water sent.
To her they came, and askt who gouernd there?
And what the people, whom he orderd were?
She answerd not, but led them through the Port,
As making haste, to shew her fathers Court:
Where, enterd; they beheld (to their affright)
A woman like a mountaine top, in height.
Who rusht abroad; and from the Counsaile place
Cald home her horrid husband Antiphas.
Who (deadly minded) straight he snatcht vp one,
And fell to supper. Both the rest were gone;
And to the fleete came. Antiphas, a crie
Draue through the Citie; (which heard,) instantly
This way, and that, innumerable sorts,
Not men, but Gyants, issued through the Ports;
And mightie flints from rocks tore; which they threw
Amongst our ships; through which, an ill noise flew,
Of shiuerd ships, and life-expiring men,
That were, like fishes, by the monsters slaine,
And borne to sad feast. While they slaughterd these,
That were engag'd in all th' aduantages,
The close-mouth'd, and most dead-calme hauen could giue;
I (that without lay) made some meanes to liue;
My sword drew; cut my gables; and to oares
Set all my men; and, from the plagues, those shores
Let flie amongst vs, we made haste to flie;
My men, close working, as men loth to die.
My ship flew freely off; but theirs that lay
On heapes in harbors, could enforce no way
Through these sterne fates, that had engag'd them there.
Forth our sad remnant saild; yet still retaind,
The ioyes of men, that our poore few remaind,
At heart afflicted: and now wholy faild
The minds my men sustaind: so spent they were
With toiling at their oares; and worse did beare
Their growing labours; that they causd their grought,
By selfe-willd follies; nor now, euer thought
To see their Countrey more. Six nights and daies
We saild; the seuenth, we saw faire Lamos raise
147
That beares her Ports, so farre disterminate.
Where
This place suffers different construction, in all the Commentors, (in which all erre from the mind of the Poet: as in a hundred other places (which yet I want time to approue) especially about εγγυς γαρ νυκτος, &c. Prope enim noctis & diei sunt viæ; (or similiter which εγγυς signifies) which they will haue to be vnderstood, that the daies in that region are long and the nights short; where Hom. intends, that the Equinoctiall is there: (for how else is the course of day and night neare or equall?) But therefore the nights-man hath his double hire, being as long about his charge as the other: and the night being more dangerous, &c. And if the day were so long, why should the nights man, be preferred in wages?
Is calld out by the other that doth come
From charge abroad; and then goes he to sleepe,
The other issuing. He whose turne doth keepe
The Night obseruance, hath his double hire;
Since Day and Night, in equall length expire,
About that Region; and the Nights watch weigh'd
At twice the Daies ward; since the charge thats laid
Vpon the Nights-man (besides breach of sleepe)
Exceeds the Daies-mans: for one, oxen keepe,
The other sheepe. But when the hauen we found,
(Exceeding famous; and enuirond round
With one continuate rocke: which, so much bent,
That both ends almost met; so prominent
They were; and made, the hauens mouth passing streight)
Our whole fleete, in we got; in whole receipt
Our Ships lay anchord close: nor needed we
Feare harme on any staies; Tranquillitie
So purely sate there: that waues great, nor small
Did euer rise to any height at all.
And yet would I, no entrie make; but staid
Alone without the hauen; and thence suruaid
From out a loftie watch-towre raised there,
The Countrie round about: nor any where
The worke of man or beast, appeard to me;
Onely a smoke from earth breake, I might see.
I then made choice of two; and added more,
A Herald for associate, to explore
What sort of men liu'd there. They went, and saw
A beaten way, through which, carts vsde to draw
Wood from the high hils, to the Towne; and met
A maid without the Port; about to get
Some neare spring-water. She, the daughter was
Of mightie Lastrigonian, Antiphas:
And to the cleare spring, cald Artacia, went;
To which the whole Towne, for their water sent.
To her they came, and askt who gouernd there?
And what the people, whom he orderd were?
She answerd not, but led them through the Port,
As making haste, to shew her fathers Court:
Where, enterd; they beheld (to their affright)
A woman like a mountaine top, in height.
Who rusht abroad; and from the Counsaile place
Cald home her horrid husband Antiphas.
Who (deadly minded) straight he snatcht vp one,
And fell to supper. Both the rest were gone;
148
Draue through the Citie; (which heard,) instantly
This way, and that, innumerable sorts,
Not men, but Gyants, issued through the Ports;
And mightie flints from rocks tore; which they threw
Amongst our ships; through which, an ill noise flew,
Of shiuerd ships, and life-expiring men,
That were, like fishes, by the monsters slaine,
And borne to sad feast. While they slaughterd these,
That were engag'd in all th' aduantages,
The close-mouth'd, and most dead-calme hauen could giue;
I (that without lay) made some meanes to liue;
My sword drew; cut my gables; and to oares
Set all my men; and, from the plagues, those shores
Let flie amongst vs, we made haste to flie;
My men, close working, as men loth to die.
My ship flew freely off; but theirs that lay
On heapes in harbors, could enforce no way
Through these sterne fates, that had engag'd them there.
Forth our sad remnant saild; yet still retaind,
The ioyes of men, that our poore few remaind,
Then to the Ile Ææa we attaind;
Where faire-haird, dreadfull, eloquent Circe raignd;
Æætas sister, both by Dame and Sire;
Both daughters to heauens man-enlightning fire;
And Perse, whom Oceanus begat.
The ship-fit Port here, soone we landed at:
Some God directing vs. Two daies; two nights,
We lay here pining in the fatall spights
Of toile and sorrow. But the next third day.
When faire Aurora had informd; quicke way
I made out of my ships my sword and lance
Tooke for my surer guide; and made aduance
Vp to a prospect, I assay to see
The works of men; or heare mortalitie
Expire a voice. When I had climb'd a height
Rough and right hardly accessible; I might
Behold from Circes house (that in a groue
Set thicke with trees, stood; a bright vapor moue.
I then grew curious in my thought to trie
Some fit enquirie; when so spritely flie
I saw the yeallow smoke. But my discourse,
A first retiring to my ship gaue force
To giue my men their dinner, and to send,
(Before th' aduenture of my selfe) some friend.
Being neare my ship; of one so desolate
Some God had pittie, and would recreate
My woes a little, putting vp to me
A great and high-palmd Hart; that (fatallie,
Iust in my way it selfe, to taste a flood)
Was then descending: the Sunne heate had sure
Importun'd him, besides the temperature
His naturall heate gaue. Howsoeuer, I
Made vp to him, and let my Iauelin flie,
That strooke him through the mid-part of his chine;
And made him (braying) in the dust confine
His flying forces. Forth his spirit flew;
When I stept in, and from the deaths wound drew
My shrewdly-bitten lance; there let him lie
Till I, of cut-vp Osiers, did imply,
A With; a fathome long, with which, his feete
I made together, in a sure league meete;
Stoop't vnder him, and to my necke, I heau'd
The mightie burthen; of which, I receau'd
A good part on my lance: for else I could
By no meanes, with one hand alone, vphould
(Ioynd with one shoulder) such a deathfull lode.
And so, to both my shoulders, both hands stood
Needfull assistents: for it was a Deare
Goodly-wel-growne: when (coming something neare
Where rode my ships) I cast it downe, and rer'd
My friends with kind words; whom, by name I cheer'd,
In note particular, and said; See friends,
We will not yet to Plutos house, our ends
Shall not be hastend, though we be declind
In cause of comfort; till the day design'd
By Fates fixt finger. Come, as long as food
Or wine lasts in our ship; lets spirit our blood
And quit our care and hunger, both in one.
Where faire-haird, dreadfull, eloquent Circe raignd;
Æætas sister, both by Dame and Sire;
Both daughters to heauens man-enlightning fire;
And Perse, whom Oceanus begat.
The ship-fit Port here, soone we landed at:
Some God directing vs. Two daies; two nights,
We lay here pining in the fatall spights
Of toile and sorrow. But the next third day.
When faire Aurora had informd; quicke way
I made out of my ships my sword and lance
Tooke for my surer guide; and made aduance
Vp to a prospect, I assay to see
The works of men; or heare mortalitie
Expire a voice. When I had climb'd a height
Rough and right hardly accessible; I might
Behold from Circes house (that in a groue
Set thicke with trees, stood; a bright vapor moue.
I then grew curious in my thought to trie
Some fit enquirie; when so spritely flie
I saw the yeallow smoke. But my discourse,
A first retiring to my ship gaue force
To giue my men their dinner, and to send,
(Before th' aduenture of my selfe) some friend.
Being neare my ship; of one so desolate
Some God had pittie, and would recreate
My woes a little, putting vp to me
149
Iust in my way it selfe, to taste a flood)
Was then descending: the Sunne heate had sure
Importun'd him, besides the temperature
His naturall heate gaue. Howsoeuer, I
Made vp to him, and let my Iauelin flie,
That strooke him through the mid-part of his chine;
And made him (braying) in the dust confine
His flying forces. Forth his spirit flew;
When I stept in, and from the deaths wound drew
My shrewdly-bitten lance; there let him lie
Till I, of cut-vp Osiers, did imply,
A With; a fathome long, with which, his feete
I made together, in a sure league meete;
Stoop't vnder him, and to my necke, I heau'd
The mightie burthen; of which, I receau'd
A good part on my lance: for else I could
By no meanes, with one hand alone, vphould
(Ioynd with one shoulder) such a deathfull lode.
And so, to both my shoulders, both hands stood
Needfull assistents: for it was a Deare
Goodly-wel-growne: when (coming something neare
Where rode my ships) I cast it downe, and rer'd
My friends with kind words; whom, by name I cheer'd,
In note particular, and said; See friends,
We will not yet to Plutos house, our ends
Shall not be hastend, though we be declind
In cause of comfort; till the day design'd
By Fates fixt finger. Come, as long as food
Or wine lasts in our ship; lets spirit our blood
And quit our care and hunger, both in one.
This said; they frolikt, came, and lookt vpon
With admiration, the huge bodied beast;
And when their first-seru'd eyes, had done their feast;
They washt, and made a to-be-striu'd-for meale,
In point of honour. On which all did dwell
The whole day long. And, to our venzons store,
We added wine till we could wish no more.
With admiration, the huge bodied beast;
And when their first-seru'd eyes, had done their feast;
They washt, and made a to-be-striu'd-for meale,
In point of honour. On which all did dwell
The whole day long. And, to our venzons store,
We added wine till we could wish no more.
Sunne set, and darknesse vp; we slept, till light
Put darknesse downe: and then did I excite
My friends to
counsaile, vttering this: Now, friends,
Affoord vnpassionate eare; though ill Fate lends,
So good cause to your passion; no man knowes
The reason whence, and how, the darknesse growes;
The reason, how the Morne is thus begunne:
The reason, how the Man-enlightning Sunne
Diues vnder earth: the reason how againe
He reres his golden head. Those counsailes then
That passe our comprehension, we must leaue
To him that knowes their causes; and receaue
Direction from him, in our acts, as farre
As he shall please to make them regular;
And stoope them to our reason. In our state,
What then behoues vs? Can we estimate
With all our counsailes, where we are? or know
(Without instruction, past our owne skils) how
(Put off from hence) to stere our course the more?
I thinke we can not. We must then explore
These parts for information; in which way
We thus farre are: last Morne I might display
(From off a high-raisd cliffe) an Iland lie
Girt with th' vnmeasur'd Sea; and is so nie
That in the midst I saw the smoke arise
Through tufts of trees. This rests then to aduise,
Who shall explore this. This strooke dead their hearts,
Remembring the most execrable parts
That Lastrigonian Antiphas had plaid:
And that foule Cyclop, that their fellowes braid
Betwixt his iawes; which mou'd them so; they cried.
But idle teares, had neuer wants supplied.
I, in two parts diuided all; and gaue
To either part his Captaine: I must haue
The charge of one; and one of God-like looke,
Eurylochus, the other. Lots we shooke,
(Put in a
caske 
together,) which of vs
Should leade th' attempt; and twas Eurylochus.
He freely went; with two and twenty more:
All which, tooke leaue with teares; and our eyes wore
The same wet badge, of weake humanity.
These, in a dale, did Circes house descrie;
Of bright stone built, in a conspicuous way:
Before her gates; hill-wolues, and Lyons lay;
Which with her virtuous drugs, so tame she made;
That Wolfe, nor Lyon, would one man inuade
With any violence; but all arose;
Their huge long tailes wagd; and in fawnes would close,
As louing dogs, when masters bring them home
Relicks of feast; in all obseruance, come
And sooth their entries, with their fawnes and bounds;
All guests, still bringing, some scraps for their hounds:
So, on these men, the Wolues, and Lyons rampt;
Their horrid paws set vp. Their spirits were dampt
To see such monstrous kindnesse; staid at gate,
And heard within, the Goddesse eleuate
A voice diuine, as at her web, she wrought,
Subtle, and glorious, and past earthly thought;
As all the houswiferies of Deities are.
To heare a voice, so rauishingly rare;
Polites (one exceeding deare to me,
A Prince of men; and of no meane degree
In knowing vertue; in all Acts, whose mind
Discreete cares all wayes, vsde to turne, and wind)
Was yet surprisd with it; and said; O friends,
Some one abides within here, that commends
The place to vs; and breathes a voice diuine;
As she some web wrought; or her spindles twine
She cherisht with her song: the pauement rings
With imitation of the tunes she sings;
Some woman, or some Goddesse tis; Assay
To see with knocking. Thus said he; and they
Both knockt, and calld; and straight her shining gates
She opened, issuing: bade them in, to cates.
Led, and (vnwise) they follow'd; all, but one
Which was Eurylochus; who stood alone
Without the gates; suspicious of a sleight;
They enterd, she made sit; and her deceit
She cloakt with Thrones; and goodly chaires of State;
Set hearby honey, and the delicate
Wine brought from Smyrna, to them; meale and cheese;
But harmefull venoms, she commixt with these;
That made their Countrey vanish from their thought.
Which, eate; she toucht them, with a rod that wrought
Their transformation, farre past humane wunts;
Swines snowts, swines bodies, tooke they, bristles, grunts;
But still retaind the soules they had before;
Which made them mourne their bodies change the more.
She shut them straight in sties; and gaue them meate
Oke-mast, and beech, and Cornell fruite, they eate,
Groueling like swine on earth, in fowlest sort.
Eurylochus, straight hasted the report
Of this his fellowes most remorcefull fate.
Came to the ships; but so excruciate
Was with his woe; he could not speake a word:
His eyes stood full of teares; which shew'd how stor'd,
His mind with mone remaind. We all admir'd;
Askt what had chanc't him, earnestly desir'd
He would resolue vs. At the last, our eyes,
Enflam'd in him, his fellowes memories:
And out his griefe burst thus; You wild; we went
Through those thicke woods you saw; when, a descent
Shew'd vs a faire house, in a lightsome ground,
Where (at some worke) we heard a heauenly sound
Breath'd from a Goddesse, or a womans brest:
They knockt, she op't her bright gates; each, her guest
Her faire inuitement made: nor would they stay,
(Fooles that they were) when she once led the way.
I enterd not, suspecting some deceit.
When all together vanisht; nor the sight
Of any one, (though long I lookt) mine eye
Could any way discouer. Instantly,
(My sword, and bow reacht) I bad shew the place,
When, downe he fell; did both my knees embrace,
And praid with teares thus; O thou kept of God,
Do not thy selfe lose; nor to that aboad
Leade others rashly; both thy selfe, and all
Thou ventur'st thither, I know well, must fall
In one sure ruine: with these few then flie;
We yet may shunne the others destinie.
Put darknesse downe: and then did I excite
My friends to
ερικυδεα δαιτα. The whole end of this counsaile was to perswade his souldiers to explore those parts: which he knew would proue a most vnpleasing motion to them: for their fellowes terrible entertainement with Antiphas, and Polyph and therefore he prepares the little he hath to say, with this long circumstance: implying a necessitie of that seruice, and necessary resolution to adde the triall of the euent, to their other aduentures.
Affoord vnpassionate eare; though ill Fate lends,
So good cause to your passion; no man knowes
The reason whence, and how, the darknesse growes;
The reason, how the Morne is thus begunne:
The reason, how the Man-enlightning Sunne
Diues vnder earth: the reason how againe
He reres his golden head. Those counsailes then
150
To him that knowes their causes; and receaue
Direction from him, in our acts, as farre
As he shall please to make them regular;
And stoope them to our reason. In our state,
What then behoues vs? Can we estimate
With all our counsailes, where we are? or know
(Without instruction, past our owne skils) how
(Put off from hence) to stere our course the more?
I thinke we can not. We must then explore
These parts for information; in which way
We thus farre are: last Morne I might display
(From off a high-raisd cliffe) an Iland lie
Girt with th' vnmeasur'd Sea; and is so nie
That in the midst I saw the smoke arise
Through tufts of trees. This rests then to aduise,
Who shall explore this. This strooke dead their hearts,
Remembring the most execrable parts
That Lastrigonian Antiphas had plaid:
And that foule Cyclop, that their fellowes braid
Betwixt his iawes; which mou'd them so; they cried.
But idle teares, had neuer wants supplied.
I, in two parts diuided all; and gaue
To either part his Captaine: I must haue
The charge of one; and one of God-like looke,
Eurylochus, the other. Lots we shooke,
(Put in a
caske together,) which of vs
Should leade th' attempt; and twas Eurylochus.
He freely went; with two and twenty more:
All which, tooke leaue with teares; and our eyes wore
The same wet badge, of weake humanity.
These, in a dale, did Circes house descrie;
Of bright stone built, in a conspicuous way:
Before her gates; hill-wolues, and Lyons lay;
Which with her virtuous drugs, so tame she made;
That Wolfe, nor Lyon, would one man inuade
With any violence; but all arose;
Their huge long tailes wagd; and in fawnes would close,
As louing dogs, when masters bring them home
Relicks of feast; in all obseruance, come
And sooth their entries, with their fawnes and bounds;
All guests, still bringing, some scraps for their hounds:
So, on these men, the Wolues, and Lyons rampt;
Their horrid paws set vp. Their spirits were dampt
To see such monstrous kindnesse; staid at gate,
And heard within, the Goddesse eleuate
A voice diuine, as at her web, she wrought,
Subtle, and glorious, and past earthly thought;
151
To heare a voice, so rauishingly rare;
Polites (one exceeding deare to me,
A Prince of men; and of no meane degree
In knowing vertue; in all Acts, whose mind
Discreete cares all wayes, vsde to turne, and wind)
Was yet surprisd with it; and said; O friends,
Some one abides within here, that commends
The place to vs; and breathes a voice diuine;
As she some web wrought; or her spindles twine
She cherisht with her song: the pauement rings
With imitation of the tunes she sings;
Some woman, or some Goddesse tis; Assay
To see with knocking. Thus said he; and they
Both knockt, and calld; and straight her shining gates
She opened, issuing: bade them in, to cates.
Led, and (vnwise) they follow'd; all, but one
Which was Eurylochus; who stood alone
Without the gates; suspicious of a sleight;
They enterd, she made sit; and her deceit
She cloakt with Thrones; and goodly chaires of State;
Set hearby honey, and the delicate
Wine brought from Smyrna, to them; meale and cheese;
But harmefull venoms, she commixt with these;
That made their Countrey vanish from their thought.
Which, eate; she toucht them, with a rod that wrought
Their transformation, farre past humane wunts;
Swines snowts, swines bodies, tooke they, bristles, grunts;
But still retaind the soules they had before;
Which made them mourne their bodies change the more.
She shut them straight in sties; and gaue them meate
Oke-mast, and beech, and Cornell fruite, they eate,
Groueling like swine on earth, in fowlest sort.
Eurylochus, straight hasted the report
Of this his fellowes most remorcefull fate.
Came to the ships; but so excruciate
Was with his woe; he could not speake a word:
His eyes stood full of teares; which shew'd how stor'd,
His mind with mone remaind. We all admir'd;
Askt what had chanc't him, earnestly desir'd
He would resolue vs. At the last, our eyes,
Enflam'd in him, his fellowes memories:
And out his griefe burst thus; You wild; we went
Through those thicke woods you saw; when, a descent
Shew'd vs a faire house, in a lightsome ground,
Where (at some worke) we heard a heauenly sound
Breath'd from a Goddesse, or a womans brest:
They knockt, she op't her bright gates; each, her guest
152
(Fooles that they were) when she once led the way.
I enterd not, suspecting some deceit.
When all together vanisht; nor the sight
Of any one, (though long I lookt) mine eye
Could any way discouer. Instantly,
(My sword, and bow reacht) I bad shew the place,
When, downe he fell; did both my knees embrace,
And praid with teares thus; O thou kept of God,
Do not thy selfe lose; nor to that aboad
Leade others rashly; both thy selfe, and all
Thou ventur'st thither, I know well, must fall
In one sure ruine: with these few then flie;
We yet may shunne the others destinie.
I answerd him: Eurylochus! stay thou
And keepe the ship then; eate and drinke: I now
Will vndertake th' aduenture; there is cause
In great Necessities vnalterd lawes.
This said, I left both ship and seas; and on
Along the sacred vallies all alone
Went in discouery: till at last I came
Where, of the maine-medcine-making Dame
I saw the great house: where, encounterd me,
The golden-rod sustaining Mercurie;
Euen entring Circes doores. He met me in
A yong mans likenesse, of the first-flowr'd chin,
Whose forme hath all the grace, of one so yong:
He first cald to me: then my hand, he wrung,
And said; Thou no-place-finding-for repose;
Whither, alone, by these hill-confines, goes
Thy erring foote? Th' art entring Circes house,
Where, (by her medcines, blacke, and sorcerous)
Thy souldiers all are shut, in well-armd sties,
And turnd to swine. Art thou arriu'd with prise
Fit for their ransomes? Thou com'st out no more
If once thou enterst. Like thy men before
Made to remaine here; But Ile guard thee free;
And saue thee in her spite: receiue of me
This faire and good receipt; with which, once arm'd;
Enter her roofes; for th' art to all proofe charm'd
Against the ill day: I will tell thee all
Her banefull counsaile. With a festiuall
Sheele first receiue thee; but will spice thy bread
With flowrie poysons: yet vnaltered
Shall thy firme forme be; for this remedy
Stands most approu'd, gainst all her Sorcery.
Which, thus particularly shunne: When she
Shall with her long rod strike thee; instantly
Draw from thy thigh thy sword; and flie on her
As to her slaughter. She, (surprisde with feare
And loue) at first, will bid thee to her bed;
Nor say the Goddesse nay; that welcomed
Thou maist with all respect be; and procure
Thy fellowes freedomes. But before, make sure
Her fauours to thee; and the great oath take
With which the blessed Gods, assurance make
Of all they promise: that no preiudice
(By stripping thee of forme, and faculties)
She may so much as once attempt on thee.
This said, he gaue his Antidote to me;
Which from the earth he pluckt; and told me all
The vertue of it: With what Deities call
The name it beares. And Moly they impose
For name to it. The roote is hard to loose
From hold of earth, by mortals: but Gods powre
Can all things do. Tis blacke, but beares a flowre
As white as milke. And thus flew Mercurie
Vp to immense Olympus, gliding by
The syluan Iland. I, made backe my way
To Circes house: my mind, of my assay
Much thought reuoluing. At her gates I staid
And cald: she heard, and her bright doores displaid;
Inuited, led; I followed in: but tract
With some distraction. In a Throne she plac't
My welcome person. Of a curious frame
Twas, and so bright; I sate as in a flame.
A foote-stoole added. In a golden boule
She then subornd a potion: in her soule,
Deformd things thinking: for amidst the wine
She mixt her man-transforming medicine:
Which when she saw I had deuourd; she then,
No more obseru'd me with her soothing vaine;
But strooke me with her rod, and, To her Sty,
Bad; out, away, and with thy fellowes lie.
I drew my sword, and charg'd her, as I ment
To take her life. When out she cri'd, and bent
Beneath my sword, her knees; embracing mine;
And (full of teares) said, Who? of what high line
Art thou the issue? whence? what shores sustaine
Thy natiue Citie? I amaz'd remaine
That drinking these my venomes, th' art not turnd.
Neuer drunke any this cup; but he mournd
In other likenesse; if it once had past
The iuorie bounders of his tongue, and taste.
All but thy selfe, are brutishly declind:
Thy breast holds firme yet, and vnchang'd thy mind:
Thou canst be therefore, none else but the man
Of many virtues: Ithacensian,
Deepe-soul'd Vlysses: who, I oft was told,
By that slie God, that beares the rod of gold,
Was to arriue here, in retreat from Troy.
Sheath then thy sword, and let my bed enioy
So much a man; that when the bed we proue,
We may beleeue in one anothers loue.
And keepe the ship then; eate and drinke: I now
Will vndertake th' aduenture; there is cause
In great Necessities vnalterd lawes.
This said, I left both ship and seas; and on
Along the sacred vallies all alone
Went in discouery: till at last I came
Where, of the maine-medcine-making Dame
I saw the great house: where, encounterd me,
The golden-rod sustaining Mercurie;
Euen entring Circes doores. He met me in
A yong mans likenesse, of the first-flowr'd chin,
Whose forme hath all the grace, of one so yong:
He first cald to me: then my hand, he wrung,
And said; Thou no-place-finding-for repose;
Whither, alone, by these hill-confines, goes
Thy erring foote? Th' art entring Circes house,
Where, (by her medcines, blacke, and sorcerous)
Thy souldiers all are shut, in well-armd sties,
And turnd to swine. Art thou arriu'd with prise
Fit for their ransomes? Thou com'st out no more
If once thou enterst. Like thy men before
Made to remaine here; But Ile guard thee free;
And saue thee in her spite: receiue of me
This faire and good receipt; with which, once arm'd;
Enter her roofes; for th' art to all proofe charm'd
Against the ill day: I will tell thee all
Her banefull counsaile. With a festiuall
Sheele first receiue thee; but will spice thy bread
With flowrie poysons: yet vnaltered
Shall thy firme forme be; for this remedy
Stands most approu'd, gainst all her Sorcery.
Which, thus particularly shunne: When she
Shall with her long rod strike thee; instantly
153
As to her slaughter. She, (surprisde with feare
And loue) at first, will bid thee to her bed;
Nor say the Goddesse nay; that welcomed
Thou maist with all respect be; and procure
Thy fellowes freedomes. But before, make sure
Her fauours to thee; and the great oath take
With which the blessed Gods, assurance make
Of all they promise: that no preiudice
(By stripping thee of forme, and faculties)
She may so much as once attempt on thee.
This said, he gaue his Antidote to me;
Which from the earth he pluckt; and told me all
The vertue of it: With what Deities call
The name it beares. And Moly they impose
For name to it. The roote is hard to loose
From hold of earth, by mortals: but Gods powre
Can all things do. Tis blacke, but beares a flowre
As white as milke. And thus flew Mercurie
Vp to immense Olympus, gliding by
The syluan Iland. I, made backe my way
To Circes house: my mind, of my assay
Much thought reuoluing. At her gates I staid
And cald: she heard, and her bright doores displaid;
Inuited, led; I followed in: but tract
With some distraction. In a Throne she plac't
My welcome person. Of a curious frame
Twas, and so bright; I sate as in a flame.
A foote-stoole added. In a golden boule
She then subornd a potion: in her soule,
Deformd things thinking: for amidst the wine
She mixt her man-transforming medicine:
Which when she saw I had deuourd; she then,
No more obseru'd me with her soothing vaine;
But strooke me with her rod, and, To her Sty,
Bad; out, away, and with thy fellowes lie.
I drew my sword, and charg'd her, as I ment
To take her life. When out she cri'd, and bent
Beneath my sword, her knees; embracing mine;
And (full of teares) said, Who? of what high line
Art thou the issue? whence? what shores sustaine
Thy natiue Citie? I amaz'd remaine
That drinking these my venomes, th' art not turnd.
Neuer drunke any this cup; but he mournd
In other likenesse; if it once had past
The iuorie bounders of his tongue, and taste.
All but thy selfe, are brutishly declind:
Thy breast holds firme yet, and vnchang'd thy mind:
156
Of many virtues: Ithacensian,
Deepe-soul'd Vlysses: who, I oft was told,
By that slie God, that beares the rod of gold,
Was to arriue here, in retreat from Troy.
Sheath then thy sword, and let my bed enioy
So much a man; that when the bed we proue,
We may beleeue in one anothers loue.
I then: O Circe, why entreat'st thou me
To mixe in any humane league with thee;
When thou, my friends hast beasts turnd? and thy bed
Tenderst to me; that I might likewise leade
A beasts life with thee; softn'd, naked stript;
That in my blood, thy banes, may more be steept.
I neuer will ascend thy bed, before
I may affirme; that in heauens sight you swore
The great oath of the Gods; that all attempt
To do me ill, is from your thoughts exempt.
To mixe in any humane league with thee;
When thou, my friends hast beasts turnd? and thy bed
Tenderst to me; that I might likewise leade
A beasts life with thee; softn'd, naked stript;
That in my blood, thy banes, may more be steept.
I neuer will ascend thy bed, before
I may affirme; that in heauens sight you swore
The great oath of the Gods; that all attempt
To do me ill, is from your thoughts exempt.
I said; she swore: when, all the oath-rites said,
I then ascended her adorned bed;
But thus prepar'd: foure handmaids seru'd her there;
That daughters to her siluer fountaines were,
To her bright-sea-obseruing sacred floods;
And to her vncut consecrated woods.
One deckt the Throne-tops, with rich clothes of state;
And did, with silkes, the foote-pace, consecrate.
Another, siluer tables set before
The pompous Throne; and golden dishes store
Seru'd in with seuerall feast. A third fild wine;
The fourth brought water, and made fewell shine
In ruddy fires; beneath a wombe of brasse.
Which heat, I bath'd; and odorous water was
Disperpled lightly, on my head, and necke;
That might my late, heart-hurting sorrowes checke
With the refreshing sweetnesse; and, for that,
Men sometimes, may be something delicate.
Bath'd, and adorn'd; she led me to a Throne
Of massie siluer; and of fashion.
Exceeding curious. A faire foote-stoole set;
Water apposde, and euery sort of meate
Set on th' elaborately polisht boord.
She wisht my taste emploid; but not a word
Would my eares taste, of taste: my mind had food
That must digest; eye meate would do me good.
Circe (obseruing, that I put no hand
To any banquet; hauing countermand
From weightier cares; the light cates could excuse)
Bowing her neare me; these wing'd words did vse:
I then ascended her adorned bed;
But thus prepar'd: foure handmaids seru'd her there;
That daughters to her siluer fountaines were,
To her bright-sea-obseruing sacred floods;
And to her vncut consecrated woods.
One deckt the Throne-tops, with rich clothes of state;
And did, with silkes, the foote-pace, consecrate.
Another, siluer tables set before
The pompous Throne; and golden dishes store
Seru'd in with seuerall feast. A third fild wine;
The fourth brought water, and made fewell shine
In ruddy fires; beneath a wombe of brasse.
Which heat, I bath'd; and odorous water was
Disperpled lightly, on my head, and necke;
That might my late, heart-hurting sorrowes checke
With the refreshing sweetnesse; and, for that,
Men sometimes, may be something delicate.
Bath'd, and adorn'd; she led me to a Throne
Of massie siluer; and of fashion.
Exceeding curious. A faire foote-stoole set;
Water apposde, and euery sort of meate
Set on th' elaborately polisht boord.
She wisht my taste emploid; but not a word
Would my eares taste, of taste: my mind had food
That must digest; eye meate would do me good.
Circe (obseruing, that I put no hand
To any banquet; hauing countermand
From weightier cares; the light cates could excuse)
Bowing her neare me; these wing'd words did vse:
155
Why sits Vlysses, like one dumbe? his mind
Lessening with languors? Nor to food enclind;
Nor wine? Whence comes it? out of any feare
Of more illusion? You must needs forbeare
That wrongfull doubt, since you haue heard me sweare.
Lessening with languors? Nor to food enclind;
Nor wine? Whence comes it? out of any feare
Of more illusion? You must needs forbeare
That wrongfull doubt, since you haue heard me sweare.
O Circe! (I replied) what man is he,
Awd with the rights of true humanitie,
That dares taste food or wine; before he sees
His friends redeem'd from their deformities?
If you be gentle, and indeed incline
To let me taste the comfort of your wine;
Dissolue the charmes, that their forc't formes encheine
And shew me here, my honord friends, like men.
Awd with the rights of true humanitie,
That dares taste food or wine; before he sees
His friends redeem'd from their deformities?
If you be gentle, and indeed incline
To let me taste the comfort of your wine;
Dissolue the charmes, that their forc't formes encheine
And shew me here, my honord friends, like men.
This said, she left her Throne, and tooke her rod;
Went to her Stie, and let my men abroad,
Like swine of nine yeares old. They opposite stood;
Obseru'd their brutish forme; and look't for food;
When, with another medicine, (euery one
All ouer smeer'd) their bristles all were gone,
Produc't by malice of the other bane;
And euery one, afresh, lookt vp a man.
Both yonger then they were; of stature more;
And all their formes, much goodlier then before.
All knew me; clingd about me, and a cry
Of pleasing mourning, flew about so hie,
The horrid roofe resounded; and the Queene
Her selfe, was mou'd, to see our kinde so keene.
Who bad me now; bring ship and men ashore;
Our armes, and goods, in caues hid; and restore
My selfe to her, with all my other men.
I granted, went, and op't the weeping veine
In all my men; whose violent ioy to see
My safe returne, was passing kindly free
Of friendly teares, and miserably wept.
You haue not seene yong Heiffers (highly kept;
Filld full of daisies at the field, and driuen
Home to their houels; all so spritely giuen
That no roome can containe them; but about,
Bace by the Dams, and let their spirits out
In ceasselesse bleating) of more iocund plight
Then my kind friends, euen crying out with sight
Of my returne so doubted. Circl'd me
With all their welcomes, and as cheerfully
Disposde their rapt minds, as if there they saw
Their naturall Countrie, cliffie Ithaca;
And euen the roofes where they were bred and borne.
And vowd as much, with teares: O your returne
As much delights vs; as in you had come
Our Countrie to vs, and our naturall home.
But what vnhappie fate hath reft our friends?
I gaue vnlookt for answer; That amends
Made for their mourning, bad them first of all.
Our ship ashore draw; then in Cauerns stall
Our foodie cattell, hide our mutuall prise;
And then (said I) attend me, that your eies,
In Circes sacred house, may see each friend,
Eating and drinking, banquets out of end.
Went to her Stie, and let my men abroad,
Like swine of nine yeares old. They opposite stood;
Obseru'd their brutish forme; and look't for food;
When, with another medicine, (euery one
All ouer smeer'd) their bristles all were gone,
Produc't by malice of the other bane;
And euery one, afresh, lookt vp a man.
Both yonger then they were; of stature more;
And all their formes, much goodlier then before.
All knew me; clingd about me, and a cry
Of pleasing mourning, flew about so hie,
The horrid roofe resounded; and the Queene
Her selfe, was mou'd, to see our kinde so keene.
Who bad me now; bring ship and men ashore;
Our armes, and goods, in caues hid; and restore
My selfe to her, with all my other men.
I granted, went, and op't the weeping veine
In all my men; whose violent ioy to see
My safe returne, was passing kindly free
Of friendly teares, and miserably wept.
You haue not seene yong Heiffers (highly kept;
Filld full of daisies at the field, and driuen
Home to their houels; all so spritely giuen
That no roome can containe them; but about,
Bace by the Dams, and let their spirits out
In ceasselesse bleating) of more iocund plight
Then my kind friends, euen crying out with sight
Of my returne so doubted. Circl'd me
With all their welcomes, and as cheerfully
Disposde their rapt minds, as if there they saw
Their naturall Countrie, cliffie Ithaca;
And euen the roofes where they were bred and borne.
And vowd as much, with teares: O your returne
As much delights vs; as in you had come
156
But what vnhappie fate hath reft our friends?
I gaue vnlookt for answer; That amends
Made for their mourning, bad them first of all.
Our ship ashore draw; then in Cauerns stall
Our foodie cattell, hide our mutuall prise;
And then (said I) attend me, that your eies,
In Circes sacred house, may see each friend,
Eating and drinking, banquets out of end.
They soone obeid; all but Eurylochus;
Who needes would stay them all; and counselld thus;
Who needes would stay them all; and counselld thus;
O wretches! whither will ye? why are you
Fond of your mischiefs? and such gladnesse show
For Circes house; that will transforme ye all
To Swine, or Wolues, or Lions? Neuer shall
Our heads get out; if once within we be,
But stay compelld by strong Necessitie.
So wrought the Cyclop, when t'his caue, our friends
This bold one, led on, and brought all their ends
By his one indiscretion. I, for this
Thought with my sword (that desperate head of his
Hewne from his necke) to gash vpon the ground
His mangld bodie, though my blood was bound
In neare alliance to him. But the rest
With humble suite containd me, and request,
That I would leaue him, with my ship alone;
And to the sacred Pallace leade them on.
Fond of your mischiefs? and such gladnesse show
For Circes house; that will transforme ye all
To Swine, or Wolues, or Lions? Neuer shall
Our heads get out; if once within we be,
But stay compelld by strong Necessitie.
So wrought the Cyclop, when t'his caue, our friends
This bold one, led on, and brought all their ends
By his one indiscretion. I, for this
Thought with my sword (that desperate head of his
Hewne from his necke) to gash vpon the ground
His mangld bodie, though my blood was bound
In neare alliance to him. But the rest
With humble suite containd me, and request,
That I would leaue him, with my ship alone;
And to the sacred Pallace leade them on.
I led them; nor Eurylochus would stay,
From their attendance on me: Our late fray
Strooke to his heart so. But meane time, my men,
In Circes house, were all, in seuerall baine
Studiously sweetn'd, smugd with oile, and deckt
With, in, and outweeds: and a feast secret
Seru'd in before them: at which, close we found
They all were set, cheer'd, and carousing round.
When (mutuall sight had, and all thought on) then
Feast was forgotten; and the mone againe
About the house flew, driuen with wings of ioy.
But then spake Circe; Now, no more annoy:
I know my selfe, what woes by sea, and shore,
And men vniust, haue plagu'd enough before
Your iniur'd vertues: here then, feast as long;
And be as cheerfull, till ye grow as strong,
As when ye first forsooke your Countrie earth.
Ye now fare all, like exiles; not a mirth
Flasht in amongst ye, but is quericht againe
With still-renewd teares: though the beaten vaine
Of your distresses, should (me thinke) be now
Benumb with sufferance. We did well allow
Her kind perswasions; and the whole yeare staid
In varied feast with her. When, now arraid
The world was with the Spring; and orbie houres
Had gone the round againe, through herbs and flowres,
The moneths absolu'd in order; till the daies
Had runne their full race, in Apollos raies;
My friends rememberd me of home; and said,
If euer Fate would signe my passe; delaid
It should be now no more. I heard them well;
Yet that day, spent in feast, till darknesse fell;
And sleepe, his virtues, through our vapours shed.
When I ascended, sacred Circes bed;
Implor'd my passe; and her performed vow
Which now, my soule vrg'd; and my souldiers now
Afflicted me with teares to get them gone.
All these I told her; and she answerd these;
Much-skilld Vlysses Laertiades!
Remaine no more, against your wils with me:
But take your free way: onely this must be
Perform'd before you stere your course for home;
You must the way to Pluto ouercome;
And sterne Persephone, to forme your passe,
By th' aged Theban Soule Tiresias;
The dark-browd Prophet: whose soule yet can see
Clearely, and firmely: graue Persephone,
(Euen dead) gaue him a mind; that he alone
Might sing Truths solide wisedome, and not one
Proue more then shade, in his comparison.
From their attendance on me: Our late fray
Strooke to his heart so. But meane time, my men,
In Circes house, were all, in seuerall baine
Studiously sweetn'd, smugd with oile, and deckt
With, in, and outweeds: and a feast secret
Seru'd in before them: at which, close we found
They all were set, cheer'd, and carousing round.
When (mutuall sight had, and all thought on) then
Feast was forgotten; and the mone againe
About the house flew, driuen with wings of ioy.
But then spake Circe; Now, no more annoy:
I know my selfe, what woes by sea, and shore,
And men vniust, haue plagu'd enough before
Your iniur'd vertues: here then, feast as long;
And be as cheerfull, till ye grow as strong,
As when ye first forsooke your Countrie earth.
Ye now fare all, like exiles; not a mirth
Flasht in amongst ye, but is quericht againe
With still-renewd teares: though the beaten vaine
Of your distresses, should (me thinke) be now
157
Her kind perswasions; and the whole yeare staid
In varied feast with her. When, now arraid
The world was with the Spring; and orbie houres
Had gone the round againe, through herbs and flowres,
The moneths absolu'd in order; till the daies
Had runne their full race, in Apollos raies;
My friends rememberd me of home; and said,
If euer Fate would signe my passe; delaid
It should be now no more. I heard them well;
Yet that day, spent in feast, till darknesse fell;
And sleepe, his virtues, through our vapours shed.
When I ascended, sacred Circes bed;
Implor'd my passe; and her performed vow
Which now, my soule vrg'd; and my souldiers now
Afflicted me with teares to get them gone.
All these I told her; and she answerd these;
Much-skilld Vlysses Laertiades!
Remaine no more, against your wils with me:
But take your free way: onely this must be
Perform'd before you stere your course for home;
You must the way to Pluto ouercome;
And sterne Persephone, to forme your passe,
By th' aged Theban Soule Tiresias;
The dark-browd Prophet: whose soule yet can see
Clearely, and firmely: graue Persephone,
(Euen dead) gaue him a mind; that he alone
Might sing Truths solide wisedome, and not one
Proue more then shade, in his comparison.
This broke my heart; I sunke into my bed;
Mourn'd, and would neuer more be comforted
With light, nor life. But hauing now exprest
My paines enough to her, in my vnrest,
That so I might prepare her ruth; and get
All I held fit, for an affaire so great;
I said; O Circe, who shall stere my course
To Plutos kingdome? Neuer ship had force
To make that voiage. The diuine in voice,
Said, Seeke no guide, raise you your Mast, and hoice
Your ships white sailes; and then, sit you at peace;
The fresh North spirit, shall waft ye through the seas.
But, hauing past th' Ocean, you shall see;
A little shore, that to Persephone
Puts vp a consecrated wood; where growes,
Tall Firres, and Sallowes, that their fruits soone loose:
Cast anchor in the gulphes: and go, alone
To Plutos darke house, where, to Acheron
Cocytus runnes, and Pyriphlegiton:
Cocytus borne of Styx, and where a Rocke
Of both the met floods, beares the roring shocke,
The darke Heroe, (great Tiresias)
Now coming neare, (to gaine propitious passe)
Dig (of a cubit euery way) a pit;
And powre (to all that are deceast) in it
A solemne sacrifice. For which; first take
Honey and wine, and their commixtion make:
Then sweete wine, neate; and thirdly; water powre;
And lastly, adde to these, the whitest flowre:
Then vow to all the weake necks of the dead,
Offerings a number: and when thou shalt tread
The Ithacensian shore; to sacrifice
A Heifer neuer tam'd, and most of prise;
A pyle of all thy most-esteemed goods
Enflaming to the deare streames of their bloods:
And, in secret Rites, to Tiresias vow
A Ram cole blacke, at all parts, that doth flow
With fat, and fleece; and all thy flockes doth leade:
When the all-calling nation of the dead
Thou thus hast praid to; offer on the place,
A Ram and Ewe all blacke: being turn'd in face
To dreadfull Erebus; thy selfe aside
The floods shore walking. And then, gratified
With flocks of Soules, of Men, and Dames deceast,
Shall all thy pious Rites be. Straight, addrest
See then the offering that thy fellowes slew;
Flayd, and imposde in fire; and all thy Crew,
Pray to the state of either Deitie,
Graue Pluto, and seuere Persephone.
Then draw thy sword, stand firme; nor suffer one
Of all the faint shades, of the dead and gone,
T'approch the blood, till thou hast heard their king,
The wise Tiresias: who, thy offering
Will instantly do honour: thy home wayes,
And all the measure of them, by the seas
Amply vnfolding. This the Goddesse told;
And then, the morning in her Throne of gold,
Suruaid the vast world; by whose orient light,
The Nymph adorn'd me with attires as bright;
Her owne hands putting on, both shirt and weede,
Robes fine, and curious; and vpon my head,
An ornament that glitterd like a flame:
Girt me in gold; and forth betimes I came
Amongst my souldiers; rousd them all from sleepe;
And bad them now; no more obseruance keepe
Of ease, and feast; but straight, a shipboard fall,
For now the Goddesse had inform'd me all:
Their noble spirits agree'd; nor yet so cleare
Could I bring all off; but Elpenor there
His heedlesse life left: he was yongest man
Of all my company, and one that wanne
Least fame for armes; as little for his braine;
Who (too much steept in wine, and so made faine;
To get refreshing by the coole of sleepe;
Apart his fellowes; plung'd in vapors deepe;
And they as high in tumult of their way)
Sodainly wak't, and (quite out of the stay
A sober mind had giuen him) would descend
A huge long Ladder, forward; and an end
Fell from the very roofe; full pitching on
The dearest ioynt, his head was plac't vpon;
Which (quite dissolu'd,) let loose his soule to hell.
I, to the rest; and Circes meanes did tell
Of our returne (as crossing cleane the hope
I gaue them first) and said; You thinke the scope
Of our endeuours now, is straight for home,
No: Circe otherwise design'd; whose doome
Enioynd vs first, to greet the dreadfull house
Of Austere Pluto, and his glorious spouse;
To take the counsaile of Tiresias
(The reuerend Theban) to direct our passe.
Mourn'd, and would neuer more be comforted
With light, nor life. But hauing now exprest
My paines enough to her, in my vnrest,
That so I might prepare her ruth; and get
All I held fit, for an affaire so great;
I said; O Circe, who shall stere my course
To Plutos kingdome? Neuer ship had force
To make that voiage. The diuine in voice,
Said, Seeke no guide, raise you your Mast, and hoice
Your ships white sailes; and then, sit you at peace;
The fresh North spirit, shall waft ye through the seas.
But, hauing past th' Ocean, you shall see;
A little shore, that to Persephone
Puts vp a consecrated wood; where growes,
Tall Firres, and Sallowes, that their fruits soone loose:
Cast anchor in the gulphes: and go, alone
To Plutos darke house, where, to Acheron
Cocytus runnes, and Pyriphlegiton:
158
Of both the met floods, beares the roring shocke,
The darke Heroe, (great Tiresias)
Now coming neare, (to gaine propitious passe)
Dig (of a cubit euery way) a pit;
And powre (to all that are deceast) in it
A solemne sacrifice. For which; first take
Honey and wine, and their commixtion make:
Then sweete wine, neate; and thirdly; water powre;
And lastly, adde to these, the whitest flowre:
Then vow to all the weake necks of the dead,
Offerings a number: and when thou shalt tread
The Ithacensian shore; to sacrifice
A Heifer neuer tam'd, and most of prise;
A pyle of all thy most-esteemed goods
Enflaming to the deare streames of their bloods:
And, in secret Rites, to Tiresias vow
A Ram cole blacke, at all parts, that doth flow
With fat, and fleece; and all thy flockes doth leade:
When the all-calling nation of the dead
Thou thus hast praid to; offer on the place,
A Ram and Ewe all blacke: being turn'd in face
To dreadfull Erebus; thy selfe aside
The floods shore walking. And then, gratified
With flocks of Soules, of Men, and Dames deceast,
Shall all thy pious Rites be. Straight, addrest
See then the offering that thy fellowes slew;
Flayd, and imposde in fire; and all thy Crew,
Pray to the state of either Deitie,
Graue Pluto, and seuere Persephone.
Then draw thy sword, stand firme; nor suffer one
Of all the faint shades, of the dead and gone,
T'approch the blood, till thou hast heard their king,
The wise Tiresias: who, thy offering
Will instantly do honour: thy home wayes,
And all the measure of them, by the seas
Amply vnfolding. This the Goddesse told;
And then, the morning in her Throne of gold,
Suruaid the vast world; by whose orient light,
The Nymph adorn'd me with attires as bright;
Her owne hands putting on, both shirt and weede,
Robes fine, and curious; and vpon my head,
An ornament that glitterd like a flame:
Girt me in gold; and forth betimes I came
Amongst my souldiers; rousd them all from sleepe;
And bad them now; no more obseruance keepe
Of ease, and feast; but straight, a shipboard fall,
For now the Goddesse had inform'd me all:
159
Could I bring all off; but Elpenor there
His heedlesse life left: he was yongest man
Of all my company, and one that wanne
Least fame for armes; as little for his braine;
Who (too much steept in wine, and so made faine;
To get refreshing by the coole of sleepe;
Apart his fellowes; plung'd in vapors deepe;
And they as high in tumult of their way)
Sodainly wak't, and (quite out of the stay
A sober mind had giuen him) would descend
A huge long Ladder, forward; and an end
Fell from the very roofe; full pitching on
The dearest ioynt, his head was plac't vpon;
Which (quite dissolu'd,) let loose his soule to hell.
I, to the rest; and Circes meanes did tell
Of our returne (as crossing cleane the hope
I gaue them first) and said; You thinke the scope
Of our endeuours now, is straight for home,
No: Circe otherwise design'd; whose doome
Enioynd vs first, to greet the dreadfull house
Of Austere Pluto, and his glorious spouse;
To take the counsaile of Tiresias
(The reuerend Theban) to direct our passe.
This brake their hearts, and griefe made teare their haire
But griefe was neuer good, at great affaire.
It would haue way yet. We went wofull on
To ship and shore, where, was arriu'd as soone
Circe vnseene; a blacke Ewe, and a Ram,
Binding for sacrifice; and as she came
Vanisht againe, vnwitnest by our eyes;
Which grieu'd not vs, nor checkt our sacrifice;
For who would see God, loath to let vs see?
This way, or that bent; still his waies are free.
But griefe was neuer good, at great affaire.
It would haue way yet. We went wofull on
To ship and shore, where, was arriu'd as soone
Circe vnseene; a blacke Ewe, and a Ram,
Binding for sacrifice; and as she came
Vanisht againe, vnwitnest by our eyes;
Which grieu'd not vs, nor checkt our sacrifice;
For who would see God, loath to let vs see?
This way, or that bent; still his waies are free.
Finis decimi libri Hom. Odyss.
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