The Odyssey of Homer Part 19

It was the time when she absorb'd profound The briny flood, but by a wave upborne I seized the branches fast of the wild-fig.[57]

To which, bat-like, I clung; yet where to fix My foot secure found not, or where to ascend, For distant lay the roots, and distant shot The largest arms erect into the air, O'ershadowing all Charybdis; therefore hard I clench'd the boughs, till she disgorg'd again 510 Both keel and mast. Not undesired by me They came, though late; for at what hour the judge, After decision made of num'rous strifes[58]

Between young candidates for honour, leaves The forum for refreshment' sake at home, Then was it that the mast and keel emerged.

Deliver'd to a voluntary fall, Fast by those beams I dash'd into the flood, And seated on them both, with oary palms Impell'd them; nor the Sire of G.o.ds and men 520 Permitted Scylla to discern me more, Else had I perish'd by her fangs at last.

Nine days I floated thence, and, on the tenth Dark night, the G.o.ds convey'd me to the isle Ogygia, habitation of divine Calypso, by whose hospitable aid And a.s.siduity, my strength revived.

But wherefore this? ye have already learn'd That hist'ry, thou and thy ill.u.s.trious spouse; I told it yesterday, and hate a tale 530 Once amply told, then, needless, traced again.

FOOTNOTES:

[56] They pa.s.sed the line through a pipe of horn, to secure it against the fishes' bite.

[57] See line 120.

[58] He had therefore held by the fig-tree from sunrise till afternoon.

BOOK XIII

ARGUMENT

Ulysses, having finished his narrative, and received additional presents from the Phaeacians, embarks; he is conveyed in his sleep to Ithaca, and in his sleep is landed on that island. The ship that carried him is in her return transformed by Neptune to a rock.

Minerva meets him on the sh.o.r.e, enables him to recollect his country, which, till enlightened by her, he believed to be a country strange to him, and they concert together the means of destroying the suitors. The G.o.ddess then repairs to Sparta to call thence Telemachus, and Ulysses, by her aid disguised like a beggar, proceeds towards the cottage of Eumaeus.

He ceas'd; the whole a.s.sembly silent sat, Charm'd into ecstacy with his discourse Throughout the twilight hall. Then, thus the King.

Ulysses, since beneath my brazen dome Sublime thou hast arrived, like woes, I trust, Thou shalt not in thy voyage hence sustain By tempests tost, though much to woe inured.

To you, who daily in my presence quaff Your princely meed of gen'rous wine and hear The sacred bard, my pleasure, thus I speak. 10 The robes, wrought gold, and all the other gifts To this our guest, by the Phaeacian Chiefs Brought hither in the sumptuous coffer lie.

But come--present ye to the stranger, each, An ample tripod also, with a vase Of smaller size, for which we will be paid By public impost; for the charge of all Excessive were by one alone defray'd.

So spake Alcinous, and his counsel pleased; Then, all retiring, sought repose at home. 20 But when Aurora, daughter of the dawn, Look'd rosy forth, each hasted to the bark With his ill.u.s.trious present, which the might Of King Alcinous, who himself her sides Ascended, safe beneath the seats bestowed, Lest it should harm or hinder, while he toil'd In rowing, some Phaeacian of the crew.

The palace of Alcinous seeking next, Together, they prepared a new regale.

For them, in sacrifice, the sacred might[59] 30 Of King Alcinous slew an ox to Jove Saturnian, cloud-girt governor of all.

The thighs with fire prepared, all glad partook The n.o.ble feast; meantime, the bard divine Sang, sweet Demodocus, the people's joy.

But oft Ulysses to the radiant sun Turn'd wistful eyes, anxious for his decline, Nor longer, now, patient of dull delay.

As when some hungry swain whose sable beeves Have through the fallow dragg'd his pond'rous plow 40 All day, the setting sun views with delight For supper' sake, which with tir'd feet he seeks, So welcome to Ulysses' eyes appear'd The sun-set of that eve; directing, then, His speech to maritime Phaeacia's sons, But to Alcinous chiefly, thus he said.

Alcinous, o'er Phaeacia's realm supreme!

Libation made, dismiss ye me in peace, And farewell all! for what I wish'd, I have, Conductors hence, and honourable gifts 50 With which heav'n prosper me! and may the G.o.ds Vouchsafe to me, at my return, to find All safe, my spotless consort and my friends!

May ye, whom here I leave, gladden your wives And see your children blest, and may the pow'rs Immortal with all good enrich you all, And from calamity preserve the land!

He ended, they unanimous, his speech Applauded loud, and bade dismiss the guest Who had so wisely spoken and so well. 60 Then thus Alcinous to his herald spake.

Pontonous! charging high the beaker, bear To ev'ry guest beneath our roof the wine, That, pray'r preferr'd to the eternal Sire, We may dismiss our inmate to his home.

Then, bore Pontonous to ev'ry guest The br.i.m.m.i.n.g cup; they, where they sat, perform'd Libation due; but the ill.u.s.trious Chief Ulysses, from his seat arising, placed A ma.s.sy goblet in Areta's hand, 70 To whom in accents wing'd, grateful, he said.

Farewell, O Queen, a long farewell, till age Arrive, and death, the appointed lot of all!

I go; but be this people, and the King Alcinous, and thy progeny, thy joy Yet many a year beneath this glorious roof!

So saying, the Hero through the palace-gate Issued, whom, by Alcinous' command, The royal herald to his vessel led.

Three maidens also of Areta's train 80 His steps attended; one, the robe well-bleach'd And tunic bore; the corded coffer, one; And food the third, with wine of crimson hue.

Arriving where the galley rode, each gave Her charge to some brave mariner on board, And all was safely stow'd. Meantime were spread Linen and arras on the deck astern, For his secure repose. And now the Chief Himself embarking, silent lay'd him down.

Then, ev'ry rower to his bench repair'd; 90 They drew the loosen'd cable from its hold In the drill'd rock, and, resupine, at once With l.u.s.ty strokes upturn'd the flashing waves.

_His_ eye-lids, soon, sleep, falling as a dew, Closed fast, death's simular, in sight the same.

She, as four harness'd stallions o'er the plain Shooting together at the scourge's stroke, Toss high their manes, and rapid scour along, So mounted she the waves, while dark the flood Roll'd after her of the resounding Deep. 100 Steady she ran and safe, pa.s.sing in speed The falcon, swiftest of the fowls of heav'n; With such rapidity she cut the waves, An hero bearing like the G.o.ds above In wisdom, one familiar long with woe In fight sustain'd, and on the perilous flood, Though sleeping now serenely, and resign'd To sweet oblivion of all sorrow past.

The brightest star of heav'n, precursor chief Of day-spring, now arose, when at the isle 110 (Her voyage soon perform'd) the bark arrived.

There is a port sacred in Ithaca To Phorcys, h.o.a.ry ancient of the Deep, Form'd by converging sh.o.r.es, prominent both And both abrupt, which from the s.p.a.cious bay Exclude all boist'rous winds; within it, ships (The port once gain'd) uncabled ride secure.

An olive, at the haven's head, expands Her branches wide, near to a pleasant cave Umbrageous, to the nymphs devoted named 120 The Naiads. In that cave beakers of stone And jars are seen; bees lodge their honey there; And there, on slender spindles of the rock The nymphs of rivers weave their wond'rous robes.

Perennial springs water it, and it shows A twofold entrance; ingress one affords To mortal man, which Northward looks direct, But holier is the Southern far; by that No mortal enters, but the G.o.ds alone.

Familiar with that port before, they push'd 130 The vessel in; she, rapid, plow'd the sands With half her keel, such rowers urged her on.

Descending from the well-bench'd bark ash.o.r.e, They lifted forth Ulysses first, with all His splendid couch complete, then, lay'd him down Still wrapt in balmy slumber on the sands.

His treasures, next, by the Phaeacian Chiefs At his departure given him as the meed Due to his wisdom, at the olive's foot They heap'd, without the road, lest, while he slept 140 Some pa.s.sing traveller should rifle them.

Then homeward thence they sped. Nor Ocean's G.o.d His threats forgot denounced against divine Ulysses, but with Jove thus first advised.

Eternal Sire! I shall no longer share Respect and reverence among the G.o.ds, Since, now, Phaeacia's mortal race have ceas'd To honour me, though from myself derived.

It was my purpose, that by many an ill Hara.s.s'd, Ulysses should have reach'd his home, 150 Although to intercept him, whose return Thyself had promis'd, ne'er was my intent.

But him fast-sleeping swiftly o'er the waves They have conducted, and have set him down In Ithaca, with countless gifts enrich'd, With bra.s.s, and tissued raiment, and with gold; Much treasure! more than he had home convey'd Even had he arrived with all his share Allotted to him of the spoils of Troy.

To whom the cloud-a.s.sembler G.o.d replied. 160 What hast thou spoken, Shaker of the sh.o.r.es, Wide-ruling Neptune? Fear not; thee the G.o.ds Will ne'er despise; dangerous were the deed To cast dishonour on a G.o.d by birth More ancient, and more potent far than they.

But if, profanely rash, a mortal man Should dare to slight thee, to avenge the wrong Some future day is ever in thy pow'r.

Accomplish all thy pleasure, thou art free.

Him answer'd, then, the Shaker of the sh.o.r.es. 170 Jove cloud-enthroned! that pleasure I would soon Perform, as thou hast said, but that I watch Thy mind continual, fearful to offend.

My purpose is, now to destroy amid The dreary Deep yon fair Phaeacian bark, Return'd from safe conveyance of her freight; So shall they waft such wand'rers home no more, And she shall hide their city, to a rock Transform'd of mountainous o'ershadowing size.

Him, then, Jove answer'd, gath'rer of the clouds. 180 Perform it, O my brother, and the deed Thus done, shall best be done--What time the people Shall from the city her approach descry, Fix her to stone transform'd, but still in shape A gallant bark, near to the coast, that all May wonder, seeing her transform'd to stone Of size to hide their city from the view.

These words once heard, the Shaker of the sh.o.r.es Instant to Scheria, maritime abode Of the Phaeacians, went. Arrived, he watch'd. 190 And now the flying bark full near approach'd, When Neptune, meeting her, with out-spread palm Depress'd her at a stroke, and she became Deep-rooted stone. Then Neptune went his way.

Phaeacia's ship-enn.o.bled sons meantime Conferring stood, and thus, in accents wing'd, Th' amazed spectator to his fellow spake.

Ah! who hath sudden check'd the vessel's course Homeward? this moment she was all in view.

Thus they, unconscious of the cause, to whom 200 Alcinous, instructing them, replied.

Ye G.o.ds! a prophecy now strikes my mind With force, my father's. He was wont to say-- Neptune resents it, that we safe conduct Natives of ev'ry region to their home.

He also spake, prophetic, of a day When a Phaeacian gallant bark, return'd After conveyance of a stranger hence, Should perish in the dreary Deep, and changed To a huge mountain, cover all the town. 210 So spake my father, all whose words we see This day fulfill'd. Thus, therefore, act we all Unanimous; henceforth no longer bear The stranger home, when such shall here arrive; And we will sacrifice, without delay, Twelve chosen bulls to Neptune, if, perchance, He will commiserate us, and forbear To hide our town behind a mountain's height.

He spake, they, terrified, the bulls prepared.

Thus all Phaeacia's Senators and Chiefs 220 His altar compa.s.sing, in pray'r adored The Ocean's G.o.d. Meantime, Ulysses woke, Unconscious where; stretch'd on his native soil He lay, and knew it not, long-time exiled.

For Pallas, progeny of Jove, a cloud Drew dense around him, that, ere yet agnized By others, he might wisdom learn from her, Neither to citizens, nor yet to friends Reveal'd, nor even to his own espoused, Till, first, he should avenge complete his wrongs 230 Domestic from those suitors proud sustained.

All objects, therefore, in the Hero's eyes Seem'd alien, foot-paths long, commodious ports, Heav'n-climbing rocks, and trees of amplest growth.

Arising, fixt he stood, his native soil Contemplating, till with expanded palms Both thighs he smote, and, plaintive, thus began.

Ah me! what mortal race inhabits here?

Rude are they, contumacious and unjust, Or hospitable, and who fear the G.o.ds? 240 Where now shall I secrete these num'rous stores?

Where wander I, myself? I would that still Phaeacians own'd them, and I had arrived In the dominions of some other King Magnanimous, who would have entertain'd And sent me to my native home secure!

Now, neither know I where to place my wealth, Nor can I leave it here, lest it become Another's prey. Alas! Phaeacia's Chiefs Not altogether wise I deem or just, 250 Who have misplaced me in another land, Promis'd to bear me to the pleasant sh.o.r.es Of Ithaca, but have not so perform'd.

Jove, guardian of the suppliant's rights, who all Transgressors marks, and punishes all wrong, Avenge me on the treach'rous race!--but hold-- I will revise my stores, so shall I know If they have left me here of aught despoiled.

So saying, he number'd carefully the gold, The vases, tripods bright, and tissued robes, 260 But nothing miss'd of all. Then he bewail'd His native isle, with pensive steps and slow Pacing the border of the billowy flood, Forlorn; but while he wept, Pallas approach'd, In form a shepherd stripling, girlish fair In feature, such as are the sons of Kings; A sumptuous mantle o'er his shoulders hung Twice-folded, sandals his nice feet upbore, And a smooth javelin glitter'd in his hand.

Ulysses, joyful at the sight, his steps 270 Turn'd brisk toward her, whom he thus address'd.

Sweet youth! since thee, of all mankind, I first Encounter in this land unknown, all hail!

Come not with purposes of harm to me!

These save, and save me also. I prefer To thee, as to some G.o.d, my pray'r, and clasp Thy knees a suppliant. Say, and tell me true, What land? what people? who inhabit here?

Is this some isle delightful, or a sh.o.r.e Of fruitful main-land sloping to the sea? 280 Then Pallas, thus, G.o.ddess caerulean-eyed.

Stranger! thou sure art simple, or hast dwelt Far distant hence, if of this land thou ask.

It is not, trust me, of so little note, But known to many, both to those who dwell Toward the sun-rise, and to others placed Behind it, distant in the dusky West.

Rugged it is, not yielding level course To the swift steed, and yet no barren spot, However small, but rich in wheat and wine; 290 Nor wants it rain or fertilising dew, But pasture green to goats and beeves affords, Trees of all kinds, and fountains never dry.

Ithaca therefore, stranger, is a name Known ev'n at Troy, a city, by report, At no small distance from Achaia's sh.o.r.e.

The G.o.ddess ceased; then, toil-enduring Chief Ulysses, happy in his native land, (So taught by Pallas, progeny of Jove) In accents wing'd her answ'ring, utter'd prompt 300 Not truth, but figments to truth opposite, For guile, in him, stood never at a pause.

O'er yonder flood, even in s.p.a.cious Crete[60]

I heard of Ithaca, where now, it seems, I have, myself, with these my stores arrived; Not richer stores than, flying thence, I left To my own children; for from Crete I fled For slaughter of Orsilochus the swift, Son of Idomeneus, whom none in speed Could equal throughout all that s.p.a.cious isle. 310 His purpose was to plunder me of all My Trojan spoils, which to obtain, much woe I had in battle and by storms endured, For that I would not gratify his Sire, Fighting beside him in the fields of Troy, But led a diff'rent band. Him from the field Returning homeward, with my brazen spear I smote, in ambush waiting his return At the road-side, with a confed'rate friend.

Unwonted darkness over all the heav'ns 320 That night prevailed, nor any eye of man Observed us, but, unseen, I slew the youth.

No sooner, then, with my sharp spear of life I had bereft him, than I sought a ship Mann'd by renown'd Phaeacians, whom with gifts Part of my spoils, and by requests, I won.