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Vlysses (shipt but in the Euen,
With all the Presents he was giuen;
And sleeping then) is set, next Morne
In full scope of his wisht returne
And treads unknown his Country shore
Whose search, so many winters wore.
The Ship (returning, and arriv'd
Against the City) is depriv'd
Of Forme; And all her motion gone,
Transform'd by Neptune to a stone.

Vlysses (let to know the Strand
Where the Phaecions made him Land)
Consults with Pallas, for his life
Of euery Woer of his Wife.
His Gifts, she hides within a Cave;
And him, into a man more Grave:
All hid in wrinkles, cracked, gray
Transform'd; who so, goes on his way.

Another

Νυ

Phaecia
Ulysses leaves:
Whom Ithaca
Unawares, receaves.

He said; And silence all their Tongues contain'd
(In admiration) when with pleasure claim'd
Their eares had long bene to him. At last brake
Alcinous silence; and in this sort spake
To th' Ithacensian, Laertes Sonne:
O Ithacus! (How ever over-runne
With former sufferings in your way for home)
Since 'twas, at last, your happy Fate to come
To my high-rooft, and Brasse-foundation'd house:
I hope, such speede, and passe auspicious
Our Loues shall yeeld you, that shall no more
VVander, nor suffer, homewards, as before.

You then, whoeuer, that are ever grac'st
VVith all choise of authoriz'd power, to tast

196

Such wine with me, as warmes the sacred Rage;
And is an

γερουσιος οινος quod pro Honorario senibus datur And because the worde so Englisht, hath no other to expresse it, sounding wel, & helping our language, it is here usde.

Honorarie giuen to Age.
With which, ye likewise, heare Diuinely sing
(In Honors praise) the Poet of the King:
I moue, by way of my command, to this;
That where, in an elaborate Chist there lies
A Present for our Guest: Attires of price;
And Gold, engrauen with infinite deuice:
I wish that each of vs should adde beside
A Tripod, and a Caldron amplified
With size, and Mettall of most rate, and great.
For we (in counsaile of taxation, met)
Will from our Subiects, gaine their worth againe;
Since 'tis vnequall one man should sustaine
A charge so waighty, being the grace of all;
VVhich, borne by many, is a waight but small.

Thus spake Alcinous, and pleas'd the rest;
VVhen each man clos'd, with home, & sleep, his feast
But when the colour-giuing light arose;
All, to the Ship, did

Intending in chiefe the Senators, with euery mans addition of gift.

all their speeds dispose;
And wealth (yt

ευηνορα χαλκον, Bene-honestos-faciens-æs.

honest men makes) broght with them.
All which; euen he, that wore the Diadem
Stow'd in the Ship himselfe, beneath the seats
The Rowers sate in; stooping, lest their lets
In any of their labors, he might proue
Then home he turn'd: and after him, did moue
The whole assembly to expected feast.
Amongst whom, he a sacrifice addrest,
And slue an Oxe, to weather-wielding Ioue;
Beneath whose Empire, all things are, and moue.

The thighs then rosting, they made glorious chere,
Delighted highly; and amongst them there,
The honor'd of the people vs'd his voice,
Diuine Demodocus. Yet through this choice
Of Cheere, and Musicke, had Vlysses still
An Eye directed to the Easterne hill,
To see Him rising, that illustrates all.
For now into his minde, a fire did fall
Of thirst for home: And as in hungry vow
To needfull food, a man at fixed Plow;
(To whom, the black Oxe all day long hath turn'd
The stubborne fallows up; his stomacke burn'd
VVith empty heate, and appetite to food;
His knees afflicted with his spirit-spent blood)
At length the long-expected Sun-set sees;
That he may sit to foode, and rest his knees:
So, to Vlysses, set the friendly light
The Sun affoorded, with as wish't a sight

197

VVho, straight bespake, that Ore-affecting State:
But did in chiefe, his speech appropriate
To him by Name, that with their Rule was crown'd.

Alcinous? Of all men, most renown'd,

Vlysses to Alcinous.

Dismisse me, with as safe passe, as you vow;
(Your offering past) and may the Gods to you
In all contentment, vse as full a hand:
For now, my landing heere, and stay shall stand
In all perfection with my hearts desire;
Both my so safe deduction to aspire,
And louing gifts; which, may the Gods to me,
As blest in vse make, as your acts are free:
Euen to the finding firme, in loue, and life,
VVith all desir'd euent, my friends, and wife.
VVhen, as my selfe shall liue delighted there;
May you, with your wiues, rest as happy here:
Your Sonnes and Daughters (in particular State)
With euery vertue rendred consummate:
And, in your generall Empire, may ill neuer
Approch your Land; but good your good quit euer.

This, all applauded, and all ioyntly cried;
Dismisse the Stranger: he hath dignified
With fit speech, his dismission. Then the King
Thus charg'd the Herrald: Fill for offering

Alcinous to the Herrald.

A bowl of wine: which through the whol large house
Dispose to all men; that propitious,
Our Father Ioue made, with our prayers; we may
Giue home our Guest, in full and wished way.

This said; Pontonous commixt a Bowle
Of such sweete wine, as did delight the soule:
VVhich making sacred to the blessed Gods,
That hold in broad heauen their supreame abodes;
God-like Vlysses, from his chaire arose,
And in the hands of th' Empresse, did impose
The all-round Cup: To whom (faire spoke) he saide;

Reioyce, O Queene, and be your ioyes repaide

Vlysses to Arete.

By heauen, for me, till age and death succeede;
Both which, inflict their most vnwelcome neede,
On Men and Dames, alike. And, first (for me)
I must from hence, to both: Liue you heere free;
And euer may, all liuing blessings spring;
Your ioy in Children, Subiects, and your King.

This saide, diuine Vlysses tooke his way:
Before whom, the vnalterable sway
Of King Alcinous virtue, did command
A Heralds fit attendance to the Strand
And Ship appointed. VVith him, likewise went
Handmaids, by Aretes iniunction sent.

198

One bore an Out and In-weede, faire and sweete;
The other an embroider'd Cabinet:
The third, had Bread to beare, and ruddy wine;
All which, (at Sea, and Ship arriu'd) resigne,
Their Freight confer'd. VVith faire attendants then,
The sheets and bedding of the Man of men,
VVithin a Cabin of the hollow Keele,
Spred, and made soft; that sleepe might sweetly seele
His restfull eyes; He enter'd, and his Bed,
In silence, tooke. The Rowers ordered
Themselues in seuerall seates: and then set gone
The Ship; the Gable from the hollow stone
Dissolu'd, and weigh'd vp: Altogether, close
Then beate the Sea. His lids, in sweete repose

The sound sleepe of Vlysses. Similitude.

Sleepe bound so fast, it scarse gaue way to breath;
Inexcitable, most deare, next of all to death.
And as amids a faire field, foure braue horse
Before a Chariot, stung into their course
With feruent lashes of the smarting Scourge;
That all their fire blowes high; and makes them vrge
To vtmost speede, the measure of their ground:
So bore the Ship aloft, her fiery Bound;
About whom rusht the billowes, blacke, and vast;
In which the Sea-roares burst. As firme as fast
She ply'd her Course yet: Nor her winged speede,
The Faulcou gentle, could for pace, exceede.
So cut she through the waues, and bore a Man,
Euen with the Gods, in counsailes; that began
And spent his former life, in all misease:
Battailes of men, and rude waues of the Seas;
Yet now, securely slept, forgetting all.
And when heauens brightest star, that first doth call
The early morning out, aduanc't her head;
Then, neere to Ithaca, the Billow-bred
Phæacian Ship approch't. There is a Port,

The description of Phorcys Hauen.

That th' aged Sea-God Phorcys makes his Fort:
Whose earth, the Ithacensian people owne.
In which, two Rockes inaccessible, are growne
Farre forth into the Sea; vvhose each strength binds
The boistrous waues in, from the high-flowne winds
On both the out-parts so, that all within
The well-built Ships, that once their harbour win
In his calme bosome; without Anchor, rest
Safe, and vnstir'd. From forth the hauens high crest,
Branch the well-brawn'd armes of an Oliue tree.
Beneath which, runs a Caue, from all Sun free;
Coole, and delightsome: Sacred to th' accesse
Of Nymphs, whose sur-names are the Naiades:

199

In which, flew humming Bees; in which lay throwne
Stone cups, Stone vessels, Shittles, all of stone;
With which, the Nymphs their purple Mantles woue:
In whose contexture, Art and wonder stroue.
In which, pure Springs perpetually ran;
To which, two entries were: the one for man,
(On which the North breath'd:) th' other, for the gods
(On which, the South:) and that, bore no abodes
For earthy men: But onely deathlesse feete
Had there free way. This Port, these men thoght meet
To Land Vlysses; being the first, they knew.
Drew then, their Ship in: but no further drew
Then halfe her bulke reach't: by such cunning hand
Her course was manag'd. Then her men tooke land;
And first, brought forth Vlysses: Bed, and all
That richly furnisht it; he still in thrall
Of all-subduing sleepe. Vpon the sand
They set him softly downe; and then, the Strand
They strew'd with all the goods he had, bestow'd
By the renown'd Phæacians; since he show'd
So much Minerua. At the Oliue roote
They drew them then in heape, most far from foote
Of any Trauailer: least, ere his eyes
Resum'd their charge, they might be others prize.

These, then turn'd home: nor was the seas supreme
Forgetful of his threats, for Polypheme
Bent at diuine Vlysses: yet would proue
(Ere their performance) the decree of Ioue.

Father! No more the Gods shall honor me,

Neptune to Iupiter.

Since men despise me; and those men that see
The

The Phæacians were descended Originally frō Neptune.

Light, in Linage of mine owne lou'd race.
I vow'd Vlysses, should before the grace
Of his returne, encounter woes enow
To make that purchase deare: yet, did not vow
Simply against it, since thy Brow had bent
To his reduction; in the fore-consent
Thou hadst vouchsaf't it: yet before, my minde
Hath full powre on him; the Phæacians finde
Their owne minds satisfaction, vvith his Passe:
So farre from suffering, what my pleasure was;
That ease, and softnesse, now is habited
In his secure brest: and his carelesse head,
Return'd in peace of sleepe to Ithaca.
The Brasse and Gold of rich Phæacia
Rocking his Temples. Garments richly wouen;
And worlds of Prize more, then was euer strouen
From all the conflicts he sustain'd at Troy,
If safe, he should his full share there, inioy.

200

Iupiter to Neptune.

The Showre-dissoluer answerd: VVhat a speech
Hath past thy Pallate, O thou great in Reach
Of wrackfull Empire? Farre the Gods remaine
From scorne of thee: For, 'twere a worke of paine
To prosecute, with ignonimies, One
That swaies our ablest, and most ancient Throne.
For men; If any so beneath in power,
Neglect thy high will: now, or any houre
That moues heereafter; take reuenge to thee;
Soothe all thy will, and be thy pleasure free.

VVhy then (said he) thou blacker of the fumes

Neptune to Iupiter.

That dimme the Sun; my licenst power resumes
Act from thy speech: but I obserue so much,
And feare thy pleasure, that I dare not touch
At any inclination of mine owne,
Till thy consenting influence be knowne.
But now; this curious-built Phæacian Ship,
Returning from her Conuoy, I will strip
Of all her fleeting matter; and to stone
Transforme and fixe it (iust when she hath gone
Her full time home; and iets before their prease
In all her trim) amids the Sable Seas.
That they may cease to conuoy strangers still,
VVhen they shall see, so like a mighty Hill
Their glory sticke before their Cities grace,
And my

αμφικαλυπτω. Superinijcio aliquid, tanquam tegmen seu operimentum.

hands cast a maske before her face.

O friend, (said Ioue) it shewes to me the best
Of al earths obiects; that their whole prease, drest
In all their wonder; neere their Towne shall stand
And stare vpon a Stone, so neere the Land,
So like a Ship, and dam vp all their lights,
As if a Mountaine interposde their sights.

VVhen Neptune heard this, he for Scheria went,
VVhence the Phæacians tooke their first descent.
VVhich when he reacht, and in her swiftest pride,
The water-treader, by the Cities side
Came cutting close; close he came swiftly on;
Tooke her in violent hand, and to a Stone
Turnd all her syluane substance. All below,
Firmd her with Rootes, & left her. This strange show
VVhen the Phæacians saw, they stupid stood,
And askt each other, who amids the flood
Could fixe their Ship so, in her full speed home?
And quite transparant, make her bulke become?

Thus talkt they; but were farre from knowing how

Alcinous tels his people how the Ship became a Stone.

These things had issue. VVhich their King did show,
And saide; O friends, the ancient Prophesies
My Father told to me, to all our eyes

201

Are now in proofe: he saide, the time would come,
VVhen Neptune, for our safe conducting home
All sorts of Strangers (out of enuy fir'd)
Would meete our fairest Ship as she retir'd;
And all the goodly Shape, and speed we bost,
Should like a Mountaine stand before vs lost,
Amids the mouing waters; which we see
Perform'd in full end to our prophesie.
Heare then my counsaile, and obey me then:
Renounce henceforth our conuoy home of men;
Who euer shall heereafter greete our Towne.
And to th' offended Deities Renowne;
Twelue chosen Oxen let vs sacred make,
That he may pitty vs: and from vs take
This shady Mountaine. They, in feare, obaide;
Slew all the Beeues, and to the Godhead praide:
The Dukes and Princes, all ensphearing round
The sacred Altar. While whose Tops were croun'd,
Diuine Vlysses (on his Countries brest
Laid bound in sleepe) now rose out of his rest:
Nor (being so long remou'd) the Region knew.
(Besides which absence yet) Minerua threw
A cloud about him; to make strange the more
His safe arriuall: lest, vpon his Shore
He should make knowne his face, and vtter all
That might preuent, th' euent that was to fall.
VVhich she prepar'd so well, that not his wife
(Presented to him) should perceiue his life:
No Citizen, no Friend; till righteous Fate
Vpon the vvooers wrongs, were consummate.
Through which cloud, all things show'd now to the King
Of forreign fashion. The enflowred Spring,
Amongst the Trees there. The perpetuall waues;
The Rockes, that did more high their foreheads raise
To his Rapt eye, then naturally they did:
And all the Hauen, in which a man seem'd hid
From winde, & weather, when storms loudest chid.

He therefore, being risen, stood and viewd
His countrey earth: which (not perceiu'd) he rew'd:
And, striking with his hurld-downe hands his Thyes,
He mourn'd, and saide: O me! Againe where lyes
My desart way? To wrongfull men, and rude?
And with no Lawes of humane right indu'de?
Or are they humane, and of holy minds?
What fits my deede with these so many kinds
Of goods late giuen? VVhat, with my selfe, wil floods
And Errors do? I would to God; these Goods
Had rested with their Owners: and that I

202

Had falne on Kings of more Regality,
To grace out my returne; that lou'd indeed,
And would haue giuen me Consorts of fit speed
To my distresses ending! But, as now
All knowledge flyes me, where I may bestow
My labour'd purchase. Heere they shall not stay,
Lest what I car'd for, others make their prey.
O Gods! I see, the great Phæacians then
VVere not all iust, and vnderstanding men;
That land me elsewhere then their vants pretended:
Assuring me, my countrey should see ended
My miseries told them: yet now, eate their vants.
O Ioue! great Guardian of poore Suppliants,
That others sees, and notes too; shutting in
All in thy plagues, that most presume on Sin,
Reuenge me on them. Let me number now
The goods they gaue, to giue my minde to know
If they haue stolne none, in their close retreat.

The goodly Caldrons then, and Tripods (set
In seuerall rankes from out the heape) he told.
His rich wrought garments too, and all his Gold:
And nothing lack't; and yet this Man did mourne,
The but supposd misse of his home returne.
And, creeping to the shore, with much complaint;

Minerua like a Shepheard (such as Kings sonnes vsde at those times to be) appears to Vlysses.

Minerua, (like a Shepheard, yong, and quaint,
As King sonnes are: a double Mantle cast
A'thwart his Shoulders, his faire goers grac'st
With fitted shooes; and in his hand, a Dart)
Appear'd to him, whose sight reioyc't his hart.
To whom he came, and saide: O Friend? Since first
I meete your fight heere: Be all good, the worst
That can ioyne our encounter: Fare you Faire;
Nor with aduerse minde, welcome my repaire:
But guard these goods of mine, and succour me.
As to a God, I offer prayers to thee,
And low accesse make, to thy loued knee.
Say truth, that I may know, what countrey then?
What commune people liue heere? And what men?
Some famous Isle is this? Or giues it vent
(Being neere the Sea) to some rich Continent?

Pallas to Vlysses.

She answer'd; Stranger, what so ere you are;
Y'are either foolish, or come passing farre,
That know not this Isle, and make that doubt, troble;
For 'tis not so exceedingly ignoble,
But passing many know it: and so many,
That, of all Nations, there abides not any,
From where the Morning rises, and the Sun;
To where the Euen, and Night their courses run,

203

But know this countrey. Rocky 'tis, and rough;
And so, for vse of horse vnapt enough:
Yet, with

λυπρος, I. Velut tristia, Ieiunaque natura.

sad Barrennesse not much infested,
Since clowds are heere in frequent raines digested,
And flowry dewes. The compasse is not great;
The little yet, well fild with wine, and wheat.
It feeds a Goat, and Oxe well; being still
Water'd with floods, that euer ouer-fill
VVith heauens continual showers: and woodded so,
It makes a Spring of all the kindes that grow.
And therefore, Stranger, the extended name
Of this Dominion, makes accesse by Fame,
From this extreame part of Achaia,
As farre as Ilion; and 'tis Ithaca.

This ioy'd him much, that so vnknowne a Land,
Turn'd to his countrey. Yet so wise a hand
He carried, euen of this ioy, flowne so hye,
That other end he put to his reply,
Then straight to shew that ioy, and lay abrode
His life to Strangers. Therefore, he bestowd
A veile on Truth: For euermore did winde
About his bosome, a most crafty minde,

Vlysses to Pallas.

VVhich thus his words shew'd. I haue farre at Sea,
In spacious Crete, heard speake of Ithaca;
Of which, my selfe (it seemes) now reach the shore,
VVith these my Fortunes; whose whole value more
I left in Crete amongst my children there;
From whence I flye, for being the slaughterer
Of royall Idomeus most loued Son;
Swift-foote Orsilochus, that could out-run
Profest men for the race. Yet him I slue,
Because he would depriue me of my due
In Troian prize: for which, I suffer'd so
(The rude waues piercing) the redoubled wo
Of minde and body, in the warres of men:
Nor did I gratifie his Father then
VVith any seruice; But, as well as he,
Sway'd in command of other Souldiery.
So, with a friend withdrawne, we way-laide him,
VVhen gloomy Night, the cope of heauen did dim,
And no man knew. But we (lodg'd close) he came,
And I put out, to him, his vitall flame.
VVhose slaughter, hauing author'd with my sword,
I instant flight made; and straight fell aboord
A Ship of the renown'd Phœnician State;
VVhen prayer, and pay, at a sufficient rate
Obtain'd my Passe, of men in her command:
VVhom I inioyn'd to set me on the land

204

Of Pylos, or of Elis, the diuine,
VVhere the Epeyans in great Empire shine.
But force of weather check't that course to them,
Though (loath to faile me) to their most extreme
They spent their willing pow'rs. But, forc't frō thence,
VVe err'd, and put in heere, with much expence
Of Care and Labour: and in dead of Night,
VVhen no man there, seru'd any appetite,
So much as with the Memory of food,
Though our estates exceeding Needy stood.
But, going ashore, we lay; when gentle sleepe
My weary pow'rs inuaded: and from Ship,
They fetching these my Riches, with iust hand
About me laide them: while vpon the sand
Sleepe bound my senses; and for Sydon, they
(Put off from hence) made saile: while heere I lay,
Left sad alone. The Goddesse laught, and tooke
His hand in hers; and with another looke,
(Assuming then the likenesse of a Dame,
Louely and goodly, expert in the frame
Of vertuous Huswiferies) she answerd thus.

Pallas to Vlysses.

He should be passing slie, and couetous

επικλοπες, furandi auidus.

Of stealth, in mens deceits, that coted thee,
In any craft; though any God should be
Ambitious to exceede in subtilty.

σχετλιε ποικιλομητα. varia & multiplicia habens consilia.

Thou still-wit-varying wretch! Insatiate
In ouer-reaches: Not secure thy state
Without these wiles? Though on thy Natiue shore
Thou setst safe footing? But vpon thy store
Of false words, still spend? That euen from thy byrth
Haue bene thy best friends? Come: our either worth
Is knowne to either: Thou, of Men, art far
(For words and counsailes) the most singular;
But I, aboue the Gods, in both, may bost
My still-tried Faculties. Yet thou hast lost
The knowledge euen of me: the seede of Ioue,
Pallas Athenia; that haue still out-stroue
In all thy Labors, their extremes; and stood
Thy sure guard euer: making all thy good,
Knowne to the good Phæacians, and receiu'd.
And now againe, I greete thee, to see weau'd
Fresh Counsailes for thee: and will take on me
The close reseruing of these goods for thee,
VVhich the renown'd Phæacian States bestow'd
At thy deduction homewards; Onely mou'd
VVith my, both spirit and counsell. All which grace
I now will amplifie, and tell what case
Thy houshold stands in; vttering all those paines,

205

That, of meere need, yet still must racke thy vaines;
Do thou then freely beare; Nor one word giue
To Man nor Dame, to shew thou yet dost liue:
But silent, suffer ouer all againe
Thy sorrowes past; and beare the wrongs of Men.

Goddesse (said he) vniust men, and vnwise,

Vlysses to Pallas.

That author iniuries, and vanities;
By vanities and wrongs, should rather be
Bound to this ill-abearing destiny,
Then iust, and wise men. VVhat delight hath heauen,
That liues vnhurt it selfe, to suffer giuen
Vp to all domage, those poore few that striue
To imitate it? and like the Deities liue?
But where you wonder, that I know you not
Through all your changes; that skill is not got
By sleight or Art: since thy most hard-hit face,
Is still distinguisht by thy free-giuen grace.
And therefore truly to acknowledge thee
In thy encounters, is a maistery
In men most knowing. For to all men, thou
Tak'st seuerall likenesse. All men thinke they know
Thee in their wits. But, since thy seeming view
Appeares to all; and yet thy truth, to few:
Through all thy changes, to discern thee right,
Askes chiefe Loue to thee; and inspired light.
But this, I surely know; that some yeares past,
I haue beene often with thy presence grac'st,
All time the sonnes of Greece wag'd warre at Troy:
But when Fates full houre, let our swords enioy
Our vowes, in sacke of Priams lofty Towne:
Our Ships all boorded; and when God had blowne
Our Fleete in sunder, I could neuer see
The seede of Ioue; Nor once distinguish thee
Boording my Ship, to take one woe from me.
But onely in my proper spirit inuolu'd,
Err'd, here and there quite slaine; til heauen dissolu'd
Me, and my ill: which chanc't not, till thy grace
By open speech confirm'd me; in a place
Fruitfull of people: where, in person, thou
Didst giue me guide, and all their City show;
And that was the renown'd, Phæacian earth.
Now then; euerr by the author of thy Birth,
Vouchsafe my doubt the Truth (for farre it flies
My thoughts; that thus should fall into thine eies
Conspicuous Ithaca: but feare I touch
At some farre Shore; and that thy wit is such,
Thou dost delude me) Is it sure the same,
Most honor'd earth, that beares my countries name?

206

I see (sayd she) thou wilt be euer thus,
In euery worldly good, incredulous.
And therefore, haue no more the power, to see
Fraile life more plagu'd with infelicity;
In one so eloquent, ingenious wise.
Another man, that so long miseries
Had kept from his lou'd home; and thus return'd
To see his house, wife, children, would haue burn'd
In headlong lust to visit. Yet t'enquire,
VVhat states they hold, affects not thy desire,
Till thou hast tried: If in thy wife, there be
A Sorrow, wasting dayes, and nights for thee,
In Louing teares: That then the fight may proue
A full reward, for eithers mutuall Loue.
But I would neuer, credit in you both
Least cause of sorrow; but well knew, the troth
Of this thine owne returne: though all thy Friends,
I knew, as well, should make returnlesse ends.
Yet would not crosse mine Vnkle Neptune so
To stand their safegard; since so high did go
His wrath, for thy extinction of the eye
Of his lou'd sonne. Come then, Ile show thee why
I call this Isle, thy Ithaca; To ground
Thy credit on my words: This haven is own'd
By th' aged Sea god Phorcys: in whose Brow,
This is the Oliue with the ample bow;
And heere close by, the pleasant-shaded Caue,
That to the Fount-Nymphs, th'Ithacensians gave
As Sacred to their pleasures heere doth run
The large, and couer'd den, where thou hast done
Hundreds of Offerings to the Naiades.
Here, Mount Nerytus shakes his curled Tresse
Of shady woods. This sayd, she cleer'd the clowd
That first deceyu'd his tyes; and all things show'd
His countrey to him. Glad he stood with fight
Of his lou'd Soile; and kist it, with delight.
And instantly, to all the Nymphs hee paide
(With hands held vp to heauen) these vowes, & said.

Ye Nymphs the Naiades, great seed of Ioue:
I had conceite, that neuer more should moue
Your sight, in these spheres of my erring eyes;
And therefore, in the fuller Sacrifice
Of my hearts gratitude; Reioyce till more
I pay your Names, in Offerings, as before.
VVhich heere I vow; If Ioues benigne descent
(The mighty Pillager) with life convent
My person home; and to my sau'd decease,
Of my lou'd sonnes sight; adde the sweet increase.

207

Be confident (saide Pallas) nor oppresse
Thy spirits with care of these performances;
But these thy fortunes, let vs straight repose
In this diuine Caues bosome, that may close
Reserue their value; and we then may see
How best to order other acts to thee.

Thus entred she the light-excluding Caue;
And through it, sought some inmost nooke to saue
The Gold, the great Brasse, & robes richly wrought,
Giuen to Vlysses. All which, in he brought;
Laid downe in heape; and she impos'd a stone
Close to the cauernes mouth. Then sat they on
The sacred Oliues roote, consulting how
To act th' insulting wooers ouerthrow.
VVhen Pallas saide; Examine how the means
That best may lay hand on the impudence
Of those proud wooers: that haue now three yeares
Thy Roofes rule swai'd; and bene bold Offerers
Of suite, and gifts, to thy renowned wife;
VVho for thy absence, all her desolate life,
Dissolues in teares till thy desir'd returne.
Yet all her wooers, while shee thus doth mourne
She holds in hope; and euery one affords
(In fore-sent message) promise. But her words
Beare other vtterance then her heart approves.

O Gods (said Ithacus) it now behoves
My Fate to end me, in the ill deceasse
That Agamemnon vnderwent, vnlesse
You tell me, and in time, their close intents.
Aduise then meanes, to the reueng'd euents
VVe both resolue on. Be thy selfe so kinde
To stand close to me; and but such a minde
Breath in my bosome, as when th'Ilion Fowres
VVe tore in Cinders. O if equall powres
Thou wouldst enflame, amids my Nerues as then,
I could encounter with three hundred men:
Thy onely selfe (great Goddesse) had to friend,
In those braue ardors thou wer't wont t'extend.

I will be strongly with thee, (answer'd she)
Nor must thou faile, but do thy part with me.
VVhen both whose pow'rs cōbine, I hope the bloods
And braines of some of these that waste thy goods
Shall strew thy goodly Pauements. Ioyne we then:
I first will render thee vnknowne to men.
And on thy solid Lineaments, make dry
Thy now smooth skin. Thy bright-brown curles imply
In hoary mattings: thy broad shoulders cloath

208

In such a cloake, as euery eye shall loath.
Thy bright eyes, bleare and wrinkle; and so change
Thy forme at all parts, that thou shalt be strange
To all the VVooers; thy yong sonne, and wife.
But, to thy Herdsman first present thy life;
That guards thy Swine, and wisheth well to thee;
That loues thy sonne, and wife Penelope.
Thy search shall finde him, set aside his Heard,
That are with tast-delighting Acornes rear'd:
And drinke the darke-deepe water of the Spring
Bright Arethusa; the most nourishing
Raiser of Heards. There stay, and (taking feate
Aside thy Heardsman) of the whole State, treate
Of home occurrents; while I make accesse

Σπαρτης καλλιγυναικα

To faire-dame breeding Sparta: for regresse
Of lou'd Telemachus: who went in quest
Of thy lou'd fame; and liu'd the welcome Guest
Of Menelaus. The much-knower saide:

Why wouldst not thou (in whose grave brest is bred
The Art to order all acts) tell in this
His error to him? Let those yeares of his
Amids the rude seas wander, and sustaine
The woes there raging? while vnworthy men
Deuoure his fortunes? Let not care extend.
Thy heart for him (saide she) my selfe did send
His person in thy search, to set his worth
(By good fame blowne) to such a distance forth.
Nor suffers he, in any least degree
The griefe you feare: but all variety
That Plenty can yeeld, in her quietst fare.
In Menelaus Court, doth sit and share.
In whose returne from home, the Wooers yet
Lay bloudy ambush; and a Ship haue set
To Sea, to intercept his life before
He touch againe his births attempted shore.
All which, my thoughts lay, they shall neuer do,
But rather, that the earth shall ouergo
Some one at least, of these Loue-making men;
By which thy goods, so much empaire sustain.
Thus vsing certaine secret words to him,
She toucht him with her rod; and euery lim
VVas hid all ouer with a wither'd skin:
His bright eies, blear'd; his brow curles, white & thin;
And all things did an aged man present.
Then (for his owne weeds) Shirt and coat, all rent;
Tann'd, and all sootied, with noisome smoke,
She put him on; and ouer all, a cloke

209

Made of a Stags huge hide: of which was worne
The haire quite off. A Scrip all patcht and torne,
Hung by a cord, oft broke, and knit againe,
And with a staffe did his old limbs sustaine.
Thus hauing both consulted of th' euent,
They parted both: and forth to Sparta went
The gray-ey'd Goddesse, to see all things done
That appertain'd to wise Vlysses sonne.

The End of the Thirteenth Booke of Homers Odysses.