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Telemachus return'd to Towne,
Makes to his curious mother knowne
In part, his Trauailes. After whome
Vlysses to the Court doth come,
In good Eumæus guide; and preast
To witnesse of the Wooers Feast.
Whom (though twice ten yeares did bestow
In farre off parts) his Dog doth know.

Another.

Ρω

Vlysses showes
through all disguise:
Whom his dog knowes;
who knowing dies.

Bvt when aires rosie birth (the Morne) arose,
Telemachus did for the Towne dispose
His early steps; and tooke to his command
His faire long Lance, well sorting with his hand.
Thus, parting with Eumaus: Now my friend,

Telem. to Eum.

I must to Towne; lest too farre I extend
My Mothers mone for me: who till her eyes
Mine owne eyes witnesse; varies teares and cries
Through all extreames. Do then this charge of mine,
And guide to Towne this haplesse guest of thine;
To beg else-where his further Festiuall:
Giue, they that please, I cannot giue to all:
Mine owne wants take vp for my selfe my paine.
If it incense him, he the worst shall gaine;
The louely truth I loue, and must be plaine.

Alas Friend (saide his Father) nor do I
Desire at all your further charity.
'Tis better beg in Cities, then in Fields,
And take the worst a beggers fortune yields.
Nor am I apt to stay in Swine-sties more
How euer: euer the great Chiefe before
The poore Rankes must, to euery step obay.

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But goe; your man, in my command shall sway:
Anon yet to, by fauor; when your fires
Haue comforted the colde heat, age expires;
And when the Suns flame, hath besides corrected
The early aire abroad; not being protected
By these my bare weeds, from the mornings frost;
Which (since so much ground is to be engrost
By my poore feete as you report) may giue
Too violent charge, to th' heat by which I liue.

This saide; his Sonne went on, with spritely pace,
And to the wooers, studied little grace.
Arriu'd at home; he gaue his Iaueline stay
Against a lofty Pillar; and bold way
Made further in. When, hauing so farre gone
That he transcended, the fayre Porch of Stone;
The first by farre, that gaue his entry, eye
VVas Nurse Euryclea; who th' embrodery
Of Stooles there set; was giuing Cushions faire:
VVho ranne vpon him, and her rapt repaire
Shed teares for ioy. About him gather'd round
The other Maides; his head, and shoulders, croun'd
VVith kisses and embraces. From aboue
The Queene her selfe came, like the Queene of Loue;
Or bright Diana: Cast about her Sonne
Her kinde embraces: with effusion
Of louing teares; kist both his louely eyes,
His cheekes, and forehead; and gaue all supplies
With this entreaty: Welcome sweetest light;

Penel. to Telem.

I neuer had conceite, to set quicke sight
On thee thus soone; when thy lou'd fathers fame
As farre as Pylos, did thy spirit enflame:
In that search ventur'd all vnknowne to me.
O say, By what power cam'st thou now to be
Mine eyes deare obiect? He return'd reply,

Telem to his Mother.

Moue me not now: when you my scape descry
From iminent death; to thinke me fresh entrapt;
The fear'd wound rubbing, felt before I scap't.
Double not needlesse passion, on a heart
VVhose ioy so greene is, and so apt t'inuert:
But pure weeds putting on, ascend and take
Your women with you: that yee all may make
Vowes of full Hecatombs, in sacred fire
To all the God-heads; If their onely Sire
Vouchsafe reuenge of guest-rites wrong'd, which hee
Is to protect, as being their Deity.
My way shall be directed to the hall
Of common Concourse, that I thence may call
A stranger; who from off the Pylian shore

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Came friendly with me; whom I sent before
VVith all my souldiers; but in chiefe did charge
Pyræus with him, wishing him t'enlarge
His loue to him, at home, in best affaire,
And vtmost honors, till mine owne repaire.

Her Son, thus spoken; his words could not beare
The wings too easely through her either eare:
But putting pure weeds on; made vowes entire
Of perfect Hecatombes, in sacred fire
To all the Deities; if their onely Sire
Vouchsaft reuenge of guest-rites, wrong'd; which he
VVas to protect, as being their Deity.

Her Son left house: In his faire hand, his Lance;
His dogs attending, and on euery glance
His lookes cast from them; Pallas put a grace
That made him seeme of the celestiall race.
Whom (come to concourse) euery man admir'd:
About him throng'd the wooers, and desir'd
All good to him in tongues; but in their hearts
Most deepe ils threatn'd, to his most deserts.
Of whose huge rout, once free; he cast glad eie
On some, that long before his infancie,
VVere with his Father, great, and gracious:
Graue Halytherses, Mentor, Antiphus;
To whom he went: tooke seate by them: And they
Enquir'd of all things, since his parting day.
To them Pyræus came, and brought his Guest
Along the City thither; whom nor lest,
The Prince respected; nor was long before
He rose and met him: The first word yet; bore

Pyræ. to Telem.

Pyræus from them both: whose haste, besought
The Prince to send his women, to see brought
The Gifts from his house, that Atrides gaue,
VVhich, his own roofes, he thought, wold better saue.

The wise Prince answer'd, I can scarse conceiue
The way to these workes. If the wooers reaue
By priuy Stratagem, my life at home:

Telem. to Pyræ.

I rather wish, Pyræus may become
The Maister of them, then the best of these.
But, if I sowe in their fields of excesse,
Slaughter, and ruine; then thy trust imploy,
And to me ioying, bring thou those with ioy.

This said; he brought home his grief-practisd Guest;
VVhere both put off, both oyl'd, and did inuest
Themselues in rich Robes; washt, and fate, and eate.
His Mother, in a faire chaire, taking seate
Directly opposite: her Loome applied;
VVho (when her Son and Guest, had satisfied

260

Penel. to Telem.

Their appetites with feast) said; O my Sonne,
You know, that euer since your Sire was wonne
To go in Agamemnons guide to Troy;
Attempting sleepe, I neuer did inioy
One nights good rest; but made my quiet bed
A Sea blowne vp with sighes; with teares still shed
Embrew'd and troubl'd: yet, though all your misse
In your late voyage, hath bene made for this,
That you might know th' abode your Father made.
You shun to tell me what successe you had.
Now then, before the insolent accesse
The wooers straight will force on vs; expresse
What you haue heard. I will (saide he) and true.

Telemachus briefly relates his voyage to his Mother.

VVe came to Pylos, where the studious due
That any Father could affoord his Son;
(But new arriu'd from some course he had ron
To an extreame length, in some voyage vow'd)
Nestor, the Pastor of the people, show'd
To me arriu'd, in turrets thrust vp hye;
VVhere not his braue Sons, were more lou'd then I.
Yet of th' vnconquer'd-euer-Sufferer
Vlysses; neuer he could set his eare
Aliue, or dead, from any earthy man.
But to the great Lacedemonian
(Atrides, famous for his Lance) he sent
VVith horse and Chariots; Me, to learne th' euent
From his Relation; where I had the view
Of Argiue Hellen, whose strong beauties drew
(By wils of Gods) so many Grecian States,
And Troians, vnder such laborious Fates.
Where Menelaus ask't me, what affaire
To Lacedemon, render'd my repaire.

Men to Telem.

I told him all the truth: who made reply;
O deed of most abhor'd indecency!
A sort of Impotents attempt his bed.
VVhose strength of minde, hath Cities leuelled?
As to a Lyons den, when any Hinde
Hath brought her yong Calues, to their rest inclinde;
When he is ranging hils, and hearby dales,
To make, of Feeders there, his Festiuals:
But turning to his luster; Calues, and Dam,
He shewes abhorr'd death, in his angers flame:
So (should Vlysses finde this rabble, housd
In his free Turrets, courting his espousd)
Foule death would fall them. O, I would to Ioue,
Phœbus, and Pallas, that (when he shall proue
The broad report of his exhausted store,
True with his eyes) his Nerues and Sinewes wore

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That vigor then, that in the Lesbian Tow'rs
(Prouok't to wrastle with the iron powrs
Philomelides vanted) he approu'd;
VVhen, downe he hurl'd his Challenger, and mou'd
Huge shouts from all the Achiues then in view.
If, once come home, he all those forces drew
About him there to worke: they all were dead,
And should finde bitter his attempted bed.
But, what you aske and sue for, I (as far,
As I haue heard, the true-spoke Marinar)
VVill tell directly; nor delude your eare.
He told me, that an Island did enspheare
(In much discomfort) great Laertes sonne;
And that the Nymph Calypso (ouer-ronne
VVith his affection) kept him in her Caues,
Where men, nor Ship, of pow'r to brook the waues,
VVere neere his conuoy to his countries Shore;
And where her selfe, importun'd euermore
His quiet stay; which not obtain'd, by force,
She kept his person from all else recourse.

This told Atrides; which was all he knew;
Nor staid I more: but from the Gods there blew
A prosperous winde, that set me quickly heere.

This put his Mother, quite from all her cheere:

Theoclymenus to Penelope.

VVhen Theoclymenus the Augure, said:

O woman, honour'd with Vlysses bed:
Your Son, no doubt, knowes cleerely nothing more:
Heare me yet speake, that can the truth vncore;
Nor will be curious. Ioue then, witnesse beare,
And this thy Hospitable Table heere,
VVith this whole houshold of your blamelesse Lord;
That, at this houre, his royall feete are shor'd
On his lou'd countrey earth; and that euen heere
Comming, or creeping, he will see the cheere
These wooers make; and in his soules field, sow
Seeds, that shall thriue to all their ouerthrow.
This, set a ship-boord, I knew sorted thus,
And cried it out, to your Telemachus.

Penel. to Theoc.

Penelope replied; VVould this would proue;
You well should witnesse a most friendly loue,
And gifts such of me, as encountring Fame
Should greete you with, a blessed Mortals name.
This mutuall speech, past: all the wooers wore
Hurling the stone, and tossing of the Speare
Before the Pallace, in the paued Court:
VVhere other-whiles, their perulant resort
Sate plotting iniuries. But when the hower
Of Supper enter'd; and the feeding power

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Brought sheepe from field, that fil'd vp euery way
VVith those that vsde to furnish that puruay;
Medon, the Herald (who of all the rest

Medon, the Herald cal of the Wooers to supper

Pleasd most the wooers, and at euery Feast
VVas euer neere) said; You whose kind consort
Make the faire branches of the Tree, our Court;
Grace it within now, and your Suppers take.
You that for health, and faire contentions sake
Wil please your minds; know, bodies must haue meat;
Play's worse them idlenesse, in times to eate.

This said; all left; came in; cast by, on Thrones
And Chaires, their garments. Their prouisions
VVere Sheepe, Swine, Goats; the chiefly great & fat.
Besides an Oxe, that from the Herd they gat.
And now, the King and Herdsman, from the field,
In good way were to Towne: Twixt whom was held
Some walking conference; which thus begun

Eumæ. to Vlyss.

The good Eumaus: Guest, your will was wun,
(Because the Prince commanded) to make way
Vp to the City; though I wisht your stay,
And to haue made you Guardian of my stall:
But I, in care and feare, of what might fall,
In after anger of the Prince; forbore.
The checkes of Princes, touch their subiects sore.
But make we hast, the day is neerely ended;
And cold ayres still, are in the Euen extended.

I know't (said he) consider all; your charge

Vlyss. to Eumæ.

Is giuen to one that vnderstands at large.
Haste then: heereafter, you shall leade the way;
Affoord your Staffe to, if it fit your stay,
That I may vse it; since you say, our passe
Is lesse friend to a weake foot, then it was.

Thus cast he on his necke, his nasty Scrip,
All patcht and torne: A cord that would not slip
For knots, and bracks, about the mouth of it,
Made serue the turne: and then his Swaine did fit
His forc't state with a staffe. Then plied they hard
Their way to towne: Their Cottage left in guard
To Swaines and Dogs. And now, Eumaus led
The King along: his garments to a thred
All bare, and burn'd; and he himselfe hard bore
Vpon his staffe, at all parts like a pore
And sad old begger. But when now they got
The rough high-way; their voyage wanted not

The washing Fount of the Citty.

Much, of the City: where a Fount they reacht,
From whence the Towne their choisest water fetcht,
That euer ouer-flow'd; and curious Art
VVas shewne about it: In which, three had part;

263

VVhose names, Neritus and Polyctor were,
And famous Ithacus. It had a Sphere
Of poplar, that ranne round about the wall;
And into it, a lofty Rocke let fall,
Continuall supply of coole cleare streame:
On whose top, to the Nymphs that were supreme
In those parts loues; a stately Altar rose;
VVhere euery Trauailer, did still impose
Deuoted sacrifice. At this fount, found
These silly Trauailers, a man renown'd
For guard of Goats, which now he had in guide;
VVhose huge-stor'd Herd, two herdsmen kept beside:
For all Herds it exceld; and bred a seed
For wooers onely. He was Delina seede,
And call'd Melanthius. VVho casting eye
One these two there, he chid them terribly:
And so past meane, that euen the wrethed fate,
Now on Vlysses, he did irritate.
His fume, to this effect, he did pursue:
VVhy so; tis now at all parts passing true,

Melanthius to Eumæus and Vlysses.

That ill leades ill: good euer more doth traine
VVith like, his like: VVhy thou unenuied Swaine,
VVhither dost thou leade this same victlesse Leager?
This bane of banquets; this most nasty begger?
VVhose sight doth make one sad, in so abhorres;
VVho with his standing in so many doores,
Hath broke his backe; and all his beggery tends
To beg base crusts, but to no manly ends;
As asking swords, or with actiuity
To get a Caldron. VVouldst thou giue him me,
To farme my Stable, or to sweepe my yarde,
And bring brouse to my kids; and that prefer'd,
He should be at my keeping for his paines,
To drinke as much whey as his thirsty veynos
VVould still be swilling (whey made all his fees)
His monstrous belly, would oppresse his knees.
But he hath learn'd to leade base life about;
And will not worke, but crouch among the rout;
For broken meate, to cram his bursten gut.
Yet this Ile say; and he will finde it put
In sure effect; that if he enters where
Vlysses roofes cast shade; the stooles will there
About his eares flye; all the hous wil throw;
And rub his ragged sides, with cuffes enow.

Past these reuiles; his manlesse rudenesse spurn'd
Diuine Vlysses; who, at no part turn'd
His face from him, but had his spirit fed
VVith these two thoghts; If he should strike him dead

264

VVith his bestowed staffe: or at his feete
Make his direct head, and the pauement meete.
But he bore all, and entertain'd a brest,
That in the strife of all extremes did rest.

Eumæus curseth Melan. for his rude vsage of Vlysses.

Eumæus, frowning on him; chid him yet:
And lifting vp his hands to heauen, he set
This bitter curse at him: O you that beare
Faire name to be the race of Iupiter,
Nymphes of these Fountaines! If Vlysses euer
Burn'd thighes to you; that hid in fat, did neuer
Faile your acceptance, of or Lambe, or Kid;
Grant this grace to me; let the man thus hid
Shine through his dark fate: make som God his guide;
That, to thee (Goat-herd) this same Pallats

Intending his fat Herd, kept onely for the wooers daintie Pallats.

pride,
Thou driu'st afore thee; he may come and make
The scatterings of the earth; and ouer-take
Thy wrongs, with forcing thee to euer erre
About the City, hunted by his feare.
And in the meane space, may some slothfull Swaines,
Let lowsie sicknesse gnaw thy Cattels Vaines.

Melan: answer to Eumæus.

O Gods! (replyed Melanthius) what a curse
Hath this dog barkt out; and can yet, do wurse?
This man, shall I haue giuen into my hands,
VVhen, in a well-built Ship, to farre-off Lands
I shall transport him: That (should I want here)
My sale of him, may finde me victels there.
And (for Vlysses) would to heauen, his ioy
The Siluer-bearing-bow-God, would destroy,
This day, within his house; as sure as he
The day of his returne shall neuer see?

This said, he left them, going silent on;
But he out-went them, and tooke straight vpon
The Pallace royall, which he enter'd straight;
Sat with the wooers, and his Trenchers fraight
The Keruers gaue him, of the flesh there vented:
But bread, the reuerend Buttleresse presented.
He tooke, against Eurymachus, his place;
VVho most of all the wooers, gaue him grace.
And now, Vlysses and his Swaine got nere:
VVhen, round about them, visited their eare
The hollow Harpes delicious-stricken string;
To which, did Phæmius (neere the wooers) sing.

Then, by the hand, Vlysses tooke his Swaine,
And saide, Eumaus? One may heere see plaine
(In many a grace) that

Vlysses.

Laertiades
Built heere these Turrets; and (mongst others these)
His whole Court arm'd, with such a goodly wall:
The Cornish, and the Cope, Maiesticall:

265

His double gates, and Turrets, built too strong
For force, or vertue, euer to expugne.
I know, the Feasters in it, now abound,
Their Cates cast such a sauour; and the sound
The Harpe giues, argues, an accomplisht Feast;
The Gods made Musicke, Banquets deerest Guest.

These things (said he) your skill may tell with ease,
Since you are grac't with greater knowledges.
But now, consult we, how these workes shall sort,
If you will first approch this praised Court,
And see these wooers (I remaining here)
Or I shall enter, and your selfe forbeare.
But be not you, too tedious in your stay
Lest thrust ye be, and buffeted away.
Braine hath no fence for blowes; looke too't I pray.

You speake to one that comprehends (said he)
Go you before; and heere, aduenture me.
I haue of old, bene vsde to cuffes and blowes;
My minde is hardn'd; hauing borne the throwes
Of many a soure euent, in waues, and wars;
Where knockes and buffets are no Forreinars.
And this same harmefull belly, by no meane,
The greatest Abstinent, can euer weane.
Men suffer much Bane, by the Bellies rage;
For whose sake, Ships in all their equipage
Are arm'd, and set out to th' vntamed Seas;
Their bulkes full fraught with ils to enemies.
Such speech they chang'd: when in the yeard there lay
A dogge, call'd Argus; which, before his way
Assum'd for Ilion; Vlysses bred;

Vlysses dog, called Argus.

Yet stood his pleasure then, in little sted;
(As being too yong) but growing to his grace,
Yong men made choise of him for euery Chace;
Or of their wilde Goats, of their Hares, or Harts.
But, his King gone; and he, now past his parts;
Lay all abiectly on the Stables store,
Before the Oxe-stall, and Mules stable dore,
To keepe the clothes, cast from the Pessants hands,
While they laide compasse on Vlysses Lands:
The Dog, with Tickes (vnlook't to) ouer-growne.
But, by this Dog, no sooner seene, but knowne
VVas wise Vlysses, who (new enter'd there)
Vp went his Dogs laide eares; and (comming nere)
Vp, he himselfe rose, fawn'd, and wag'd his Sterne;

The Dog dyed as soone as hee had seen Vlysses

Coucht close his eares, and lay so: Nor descerne
Could euermore his deere-lou'd Lord againe.
Vlysses saw it; nor had powre t'abstaine
From shedding tears: which (far-off seeing his Swain)

266

He dried from his sight cleane; to whom, he thus
His griefe dissembled: 'Tis miraculous,
That such a Dog as this, should haue his laire
On such a dunghill; for his forme is faire.
And yet, I know not, if there were in him
Good pace, or parts, for all his goodly lim.
Or he liu'd empty of those inward things,
As are those trencher-Beagles, tending Kings;
VVhom for their pleasures, or their glories sake,
Or fashion; they into their fauours take.

Eumæus Description of Vlysses Dogge.

This Dog (said he) was seruant to one dead
A huge time since. But if he bore his head
(For forme and quality) of such a hight,
As when Vlysses (bound for th' Ilion fight,
Or quickly after) left him: your rapt eyes
VVould then admire, to see him vse his Thyes,
In strength, and swiftnes. He would nothing flye,
Nor any thing let scape. If once his eye
Seiz'd any wilde beast, he knew straight his scent:
Go where he would, away with him he went.
Nor was there euer any Sauage stood
Amongst the thickets of the deepest wood
Long time before him, but he pull'd him downe;
As well by that true hunting to be showne
In such vaste couerts; as for speed of pace
In any open Lawne; For in deepe chace,
He was a passing wise, and well-nos'd Hound.
And yet is all this good in him vncroun'd
With any grace heere now. Nor he more fed
Then any errant Curre. His King is dead,
Farre from his country; and his seruants are
So negligent, they lend his Hound, no care.
Where Maysters rule not, but let Men alone;
You neuer there, see honest seruice done.
That Man's halfe vertue, Ioue takes quite away,
That once is Sun-burn'd with the seruile day.

This said; he enter'd the well-builded Towers,
Vp bearing right vpon the glorious wooers;
And left poore Argus dead. His Lords first sight,
Since that time twenty yeares, bereft his light.

Telemachus, did farre the first behould
Eumæus enter; and made signes he should
Come vp to him. He (noting) came, and tooke
On earth, his seate. And then, the Maister Cooke
Seru'd in more banquet: Of which; part he set
Before the wooers; part the Prince did get:
VVho sate alone; his Table plac't aside;
To which, the Herald did the bread diuide.

267

After Eumæus, enter'd straight the King,

Vlysses ruthfull fashion of entrie to his own Hal.

Like to a poore, and heauy aged thing:
Bore hard vpon his staffe; and was so clad,
As would haue made his meere beholder sad.
Vpon the Ashen floore, his limbes he spred;
And gainst a Cypresse threshold staid his head;
The tree wrought smooth, and in a line direct,
Tried by the Plumbe, and by the Architect.
The Prince then bad the Herdsman giue him bread,
The finest there: and see, that prostrated
At-all-parts-plight of his, giuen all the cheare
His hands could turne to: Take (saide he) and beare
These cates to him; and bid him beg of all
These wooers heere; and to their feastiuall
Beare vp with all the impudence he can;
Bashfull behauiour, fits no needy Man,

He heard, and did his will: Hold Guest (saide he)
Telemachus commends these cates to thee;
Bids thee beare vp, and all these woo'rs implore;
Wit must make Impudent, whom Fate makes pore.

O Ioue (said he) do my poore pray'rs the grace,
To make him blessed'st of the mortall race:
And euery thought now, in his generous heart,
To deeds that further my desires conuert.

Thus tooke he in, with hoth his hands, his store;
And in the vncouth Scrip that lay before
His ill-shod feete, repos'd it: whence he fed
All time the Musicke to the Feasters plaid.
Both ioyntly ending. Then began the woo'rs
To put in old act, their tumultuous pow'rs.
When Pallas standing close, did prompt her frend,
To proue how farre the bounties would extend
Of those proud wooers; so, to let him try,
Who most, who least, had learn'd humanity.
However, no thought toucht Mineruaes minde,
That any one should scape his wreake design'd.
He handsomly became all; crept about
To euery wooer; held a forc't hand out:
And all his worke, did in so like a way,
As he had practis'd begging many a day.
And though they knew, all beggers could do this,
Yet they admir'd it, as no deede of his;
Though farre from thought of other: vs'd expence
And pitty to him: who he was, and whence,
Enquiring mutually. Melanthius then:
Heare me, ye wooers of the farre-fam'd Queen,
About this begger: I haue seene before
This face of his; and know for certaine more:

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That this Swaine brought him hither. What he is,
Or whence he came, flies me. Reply to this
Antinous made; and mockt Eumæus thus.

O thou renowned Herdsman, why to vs
Brought'st thou this begger? Serues it not our hands,
That other Land-leapers, and Cormorands
(Prophane poore knaues) lye on vs, vnconducted,
But you must bring them? So amisse instructed
Art thou in course of thrift, as not to know
Thy Lords goods wrackt, in this their ouer-flow?
VVhich, thinkst thou nothing, that thou calst in these?

Eumæus answer'd; Though you may be wise,
You speak not wisely: VVho cals in a Guest
That is a guest himselfe? None cal to Feast
Other then men that are of publique vse:
Prophets, or Poets, whom the Gods produce;
Physitians for mens ils; or Architects.
Such men, the boundlesse earth affoords respects
Bounded in honour; and may call them wel:
But poore men, who cals? Who doth so excell
In others good, to do himselfe an ill?
But all Vlysses seruants haue bene still
Eye-sores in your waie, more then all that woo;
And cheefly I. But what care I, for you?
As long as these roofes, hold as thrals to none,
The wise Penelope, and her God-like Sonne.

Forbeare (said he) and leaue this tongues bold ill;
Antinous vses to be crossing still,
And giue sharpe words: his blood that humor beares,
To set men stil together by the eares.
But (turning then t'Antinous) O (saide he)
You entertaine a Fathers care of me;
To turne these eating guests out: Tis aduise
Of needful vse for my poore faculties.
But God doth not allow this: There must be
Some care of poore men, in humanitie.
What you your selues take; giue; I not enuy,
But giue command that hospitality
Be giuen al strangers: Nor shal my pow'rs feare,
If this mood in me, reach my Mothers eare;
Much lesse the seruants, that are heere to see
Vlysses house kept, in his old degree.
But you beare no such mind; your wits more cast
To fill your selfe, then let another rast.

Antinous answer'd him; Braue spoken man
VVhose minds free fire, see check't, no vertue can;
If all we wooers heere, would giue as much
As my minde serues; his

Intending Vlysses.

Larges should be such

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As would for three months serue his farre off way
From troubling your house, with more cause of stay.

This said; he tooke a stoole vp, that did rest
Beneath the boord, his spangled feete at feast:
And offer'd at him: But the rest, gaue all,
And fil'd his fulsome Scrip with Festiuall.
And so Vlysses for the present, was,
And for the future surnisht; and his passe
Bent to the doore, to eate. Yet could not leaue
Antinous so: but said; Do you to giue

Vlysses to Antin.

(Lou'd Lord) your presence, makes a shew to me;
As you not worst were of the company,
But best? and so much, that you seeme the King:
And therefore, you should giue some better thing,
Then bread, like others. I will spred your praise
Through all the wide world; that haue in my daies
Kept house my selfe; and trod the wealthy waies
Of other men, euen to the Title, Blest;
And often haue I giuen an erring Guest
(How meane so euer) to the vtmost gaine
Of what he wanted: kept whole troopes of men;
And had all other commings in; with which
Men liue so well, and gaine the fame of Rich.
Yet Ioue consum'd all: he would haue it so:
To which, his meane was this; he made me go
Farre off, for Egypt, in the rude consort
Of all-waies-wandring Pyrats; where, in Port
I bad my lou'd men, draw their Ships ashore,
And dwell amongst them: Sent out some t'explore
Vp to the Mountaines; who (intemperate,
And their inflam'd bloods, bent to satiate)
Forrag'd the rich fields; hal'd the women thence,
And vnwean'd children, with the foule expence
Both of their fames, and bloods. The cry then flew
Straight to the City; and the great fields grew
VVith horse, and foot; and flam'd with iron armes;
VVhen Ioue (that breaks the Thunder in Alarmes)
An ill flight cast amongst my men: Not one
Inspir'd with spirit, to stand, and turne vpon
The fierce pursuing foe: and therefore stood
Their ill fate thicke about them: some in blood,
And some in bondage: I oiles led by constraint
Fastning vpon them. Me, along they sent
To Cyprus, with a stranger Prince they met,
Dmetor Iasides; who th' Imperiall seat
Of that sweete Island, swaid in strong command;
And thus feele I heere, Needs contemned hand.

And what God sent (saide he) this suffering bane

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To vex our banquet? Stand off; nor prophane
My boord so boldly, lest I shew thee here,
Cyprus and Egypt, made more soure then there.
You are a sawcy set fac't Vagabond.
About with all you go; and they, beyond
Discretion giue thee, since they finde not heere
The least proportion set downe to their cheere.
But euery Fountaine hath his vnder floods;
It is no Bounty, to giue others goods.

O Gods (replied Vlysses) I see now,
You beare no soule, in this your goodly show;
Beggers at your boord, I perceiue, should get
Scarse salt from your hands, if thēselues broght meat:
Since, sitting where anothers boord is spread,
That flowes with feast; not to the broken bread
VVill your allowance reach. Nay then (said he,
And look't austerely) It so saucy be
Your suffer'd language, I suppose, that cleere
You shall not scape without some broken cheere.

Thus rapt he vp a stoole, with which he smit
The Kings right shoulder, 'twixt his necke, and it.
He stood him like a rocke: Antinous dart
Not stirr'd Vlysses: who, in his great hart
Deepe ils proiected; which, for time yet, close
He bound in silence; shooke his head, and went
Out to the Entry, where he then gaue vent
To his full scrip; sate on the earth, and eate,
And talk't still to the wooers: heare me yet
Ye wooers of the Queene. It neuer greeues
A man to take blowes, where for Sheepe, or Beeues,
Or other maine possessions, a man fights:
But for his harmefull belly, this man smites,
VVhose loue to many a man, breeds many a wo.
And if the poore haue Gods, and Furies to;
Before Antinous weare his Nuptiall wreath,
He shall be worne vpon the dart of death.

Harsh Guest (saide he) sit silent at your meate,
Or seeke your desperate plight some safer seate;
Lest by the hands, or heeles, youths drag your yeares,
And rend your rotten ragges about your eares.

This made the rest, as highly hate his folly,
As he had violated something holy.
VVhen one (euen of the proudest) thus began:
Thou dost not nobly, thus to play the man
On such an errant wretch: O ill dispos'd!
Perhaps some sacred God-head goes enclos'd
Euen in his abiect outside: For the Gods
Haue often visited these rich abods

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Like such poore stranger Pilgrims; since their pow'rs
(Being alwayes shapefull) glide through Townes and Tow'rs;
Obseruing as they passe stil, who they be
That piety loue, and who impiety.

This, all men said; But he held sayings cheape:
And all this time Telemachus did heape
Sorrow on sorrow, on his beating hart
To see his Father stricken; yet let part
No teare to earth, but shooke his head, and thought
As deepe as those ils, that were after wrought.

The Queen now hearing of her poore guests stroke;
Said to her Maid, (as to her wooer she spoke)
I wish the famous for his Bow, the Sun
VVould strike thy heart so. Her wish (thus begun)
Her Lady, faire Eurynome pursude
Her execration; and did thus conclude:
So may our vowes call downe from heauen, his end;
And let no one life of the rest, extend
His life till morning. O Eurynome
(Replied the Queene) may all Gods speake in thee:
For all the wooers, we should rate as foes;
Since all their weales, they place in others woes.
But this Antinous, we past all, should hate,
As one resembling blacke and cruell Fate.
A poor strange wretch; beg'd here, compel'd by need:
Askt all, and euery one gaue in his deed;
Fill'd his sad Scrip, and cal'd his heauy wants:
Onely this man, bestow'd vnmanly tants;
And with a cruell blow (his force let flye)
'Twixt necke and shoulders; shew'd his charity.
These minds (aboue) she and her Maids did show;
VVhile, at his scrip, Vlysses sate below.
In which time, she Eumæus call'd, and said:
Go, good Eumæus, and see soone conuaid
The stranger to me: Bid him come and take
My salutations for his welcomes sake;
And my desire serue, if he hath not heard
Or seene distrest Vlysses? who hath err'd
Like such a man; and therefore chance may fall,
He hath, by him bene met, and spoke withall.

O Queene (saide he) I wish to heauen, your eare
Were quit of this vnreuerend noise you heare
From these rude wooers; when I bring the guest:
Such words, your care, would let into your brest
As would delight it, to your very heart.
Three nights and dayes, I did my Roofe impart
To his fruition; (for he came to me
The first of all men, since he fled the Sea)

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And yet he had not giuen a perfect end
To his relation, of what woes did spend
The spight of Fate on him:

Simil: In which Vlysses is compared with a Poet, for the sweetnesse of his speech.

But as you see
A Singer, breathing out of Deity
Loue kindling lines; when all men seated nere,
Are rapt with endlesse thirst, to euer heare:
So sweetn'd he, my bosome, at my meate;
Affirming that Vlysses was in Crete,
VVhere first the memories of Minos were,
A Guest to him, there dwelling, then as deare
As his true Father: and from thence, came he
Tir'd on with sorrowes; tost from sea to sea;
To cast himselfe in dust, and tumble heere
At wooers feete, for blowes, and broken cheere.
But, of Vlysses (where the Thesprots dwell,
A wealthy people) Fame, he sayes, did tell
The still suruiuall: who his Natiue light
VVas bound for now; with treasure infinite.

Call him (sayd she) that he himselfe may say
This, ouer to me. We shall soone haue way
Giuen by the wooers: They, as well at Gate,
As set within doores, vse to recreate
Their high-fed spirits. As their humors leade,
They follow; and may well; for still they treade
Vncharg'd waies here; their own welth lying vnwasted
In poore-kept houses: onely something tasted
Their bread and wine is, by their houshold Swaines;
But they themselues, let loose continuall Reines
To our expences; making slaughter still
Of Sheepe, Goats, Oxen; feeding past their fill;
And vainly lauishing our richest wine.
All these extending past the sacred line.
For here liues no man, like Vlysses now
To curbe these ruines: But should he once show
His country light, his presence; He and his
VVould soone reuenge these wooers iniuries.

This said; about the house, in ecchoes, round,

Neezing a good Omen.

Her Sons strange Neesings made a horrid sound;
At which, the Queene yet laught, and said; Goe call
The stranger to me: Heardst thou not to all
My words last vtter'd, what a Neesing brake
From my Telemachus? From whence I make
This sure conclusion; That the death, and fate
Of euery wooer heere, is neere his date.
Call then the Guest; and if he tel as trew
VVhat I shal aske him; Cote, cloke all things new
These hands shal yeeld him. This said; down he went
And told Vlysses, that the Queene had sent

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To call him to her; that she might enquire
About her husband, what her sad desire
Vrg'd her to aske: and if she found him true,
Both cote, and cassocke (which he needed) new
Her hands would put on him; And that the Bread
VVhich now he begg'd amongst the commune tread;
Should freely feed his hunger now from her;
VVho, all he wisht, would to his wants prefer.

His answer was; I will with fit speed, tell
The whole truth to the Queene; For, passing well
I know her Lord; since he and I, haue shar'd
In equall sorrowes. But I much am scar'd
With this rude multitude of wooers here;
The rage of whose pride, smites heauens brazē sphere:
Of whose rout, when one strooke me for no fault;
Telemachus, nor none else, turn'd th' assault
From my poore shoulders. Therfore though she hast;
Beseech the Queene, her patience, will see past
The dayes broad light; and then, may she enquire.
'Tis but my closer preasing to the fire
In th' Euenings cold; because, my weeds, you know
Are passing thin: For I made bold to show
Their brackes to you, and pray'd your kinde supply.

He heard, and hasted; and met instantly
The Queene vpon the pauement in his way
Who askt; what? bringst thou not? What cause of stay
Finde his austere supposes? Takes he feare
Of th' vniust wooers? Or thus hard doth beare
On any other doubt the house obiects?
He does me wrong; and giues too nice respects
To his fear'd safety. He does right (said he)
And what he feares, should moue the policie
Of any wise one; taking care to shun
The violent wooers; He bids bide, til Sun
Hath hid his broad light: and, beleeue it, Queene,
T'will make your best course: since you two, vnseene
May passe th' encounter: you to speake more free;
And he, your eare gaine, lesse distractedly.

The Guest is wise (said she) and well doth giue
The right thought vse. Of all the men that liue,
Life serues none such, as these proud wooers are,
To giue a good man, cause to vse his care.

Thus (all agreed) amongst the wooers goes
Eumæus to the Prince; and (whispering close)
Said; Now, my Loue, my charge shall take vp me,
(Your goods, and mine) VVhat here is, you must see
In fit protection. But, in chiefe, regard
Your owne deere safegard; whose state, study hard,

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Lest sufferance seize you. Many a wicked thought
Conceale these wooers; whom iust Ioue see brought
To vtter ruine, ere it touch at vs.

So chance it, Friend (replyed Telemachus)
Your Beuer taken, go: in first of day
Come, and bring sacrifice, the best you may.
To me, and to th' immortals, be the care
Of whatsoeuer heere, the safeties are.

This said; he sate in his elaborate Throne.
Eumæus (fed to satisfaction)
Went to his charge; left both the Court and wals,
Full of secure, and fatall Festiuals.
In which, the wooers pleasures still would sway:
And now begun, the Euens nere-ending day.

The End of the Seauententh Booke of Homers Odysses.