The Christian Scholar :: :: University of Virginia Library

Oft as I read how great Ulysses stood
In his own kingly hall, a beggar poor,
With tatter'd garb and leathern wallet rude,
I would unravel the “good ” Poet's store,
And all the golden argument explore:
Caught in the maze of his melodious wiles
I linger, and suspend the passing oar,
E'en as that hero by those syren isles,
At whose surpassing sounds the sullen Ocean smiles.

But his no syren's soul-enfeebling song,
He lifted up the dull earth to the skies,
Then wander'd forth in healthful virtue strong,
Seeing all earth as with an angel's eyes,
Thick-peopled with immortal Deities;
It is no more the haunt where wrongs prevail,
But in each act of life the Godhead lies,
From sight withdrawn awhile; while ne'er to fail
Stern Retribution holds, but half conceals, the scale.

In nature's stores, and in “the gift” of sleep,
In viands of slain beeves, in cheering wine,
In wafting gales, that o'er the Ocean sweep,
In birds of heaven, or in the surging brine,

146

In darts that pass or miss the destin'd line,
In every thought which human conduct guides,
In morn, in eve, earth, sea, and air divine,
The ever-varying God his presence hides,
And sways of mortal things the deeply rolling tides;—

Wrapping mankind around, serene and still;
And oft the good to see him are allow'd,
While 'mid the revellers all bent on ill
Good Theoclymenus beholds the cloud
Peopled with Stygian shapes, a blackening shroud,
And heads all ghastly with portentous sign,
Going before destruction; from the crowd
He springs aloof, discerning wrath Divine,
While they heed not nor hear, in surfeit lost and wine.

Or as he thence the royal arms conveys,
Telemachus, beside that beggar old,
Beholds the playing of th' unharming blaze
O'er all the inner house, rays which enfold
Pillar and tier and arch in flaming gold,
And far within celestial Power confest;
His Sire discerns the God, and bids him hold
On his high errand, and th' unearthly guest
Honour with speechless awe around made manifest.

147

Now little deeming of that warrior Lord,
Th' insatiate spoilers, ruthless, gay, and proud,
Sure indications of their worth afford;
Antinous in wassails fierce and loud,
Taunter of holy eld; and haughty-brow'd
Eurymachus; the son of Nisus, brave,
Lover of Gods and men, whom from the crowd
Of revellers the Hero fain would save,
But he who shares the feast, must share th' untimely grave.

And thou, divine Eumæus , swineherd poor,
Like the rude stakes that fence thy woodland nest ,
All heart of oak. By his own royal door
The Beggar notes each menial and each guest,
The hospitable word, th' unkindly jest,
The temper good and loyal, him that heeds
Father and King, and age with woes opprest,
And poverty, in whose uncomely weeds
Oft Gods go forth on earth to watch men's words and deeds .

Then arm'd with battle and with glorious might,
As erst at Ilium in the famèd field,

148

Grasping the old Laconian bow, to light
Godlike Ulysses springs, not with the shield
And helmet, but o'erwhelming death reveal'd;
The arrow wing'd with their impending doom
Hangs eager on the string, yet still they wield
The thoughtless flagons through the festive room,
While Justice hath e'en now delved deep their righteous tomb.

There falls a light on this illumin'd page,
And as I ponder with delightèd eyes
Upon the holier lore of earlier age,
Something I read of higher mysteries,
Of One who hath descended from the skies,
And wanders here in His own kingly hall,
A stranger,—and in prison often lies ,
And on His brethren's charities doth call,
Yet weighs and watches each, the God and Judge of all.

“Bonus Homerus.”—Hor.

It may be observed, that Homer generally speaks of him, the Διος υφορβος, and of him only, in the vocative case.

B. xiv. l. 12.

B. xvii. l. 485.

St. Matt. xxv. 35, 36.