The Odyssey of Homer Part 27

Oppress'd by num'rous troubles, she desires To ask thee tidings of her absent Lord.

And should the event verify thy report, Thy meed shall be (a boon which much thou need'st) Tunic and mantle; but she gives no more; Thy sustenance thou must, as now, obtain,[78]

Begging it at their hands who chuse to give. 670 Then thus Ulysses, Hero toil-inured.

Eumaeus! readily I can relate Truth, and truth only, to the prudent Queen Icarius' daughter; for of him I know Much, and have suff'red sorrows like his own.

But dread I feel of this imperious throng Perverse, whose riot and outrageous acts Of violence echo through the vault of heav'n.

And, even now, when for no fault of mine Yon suitor struck me as I pa.s.s'd, and fill'd 680 My flesh with pain, neither Telemachus Nor any interposed to stay his arm.

Now, therefore, let Penelope, although Impatient, till the sun descend postpone Her questions; then she may enquire secure When comes her husband, and may nearer place My seat to the hearth-side, for thinly clad Thou know'st I am, whose aid I first implored.

He ceas'd; at whose reply Eumaeus sought Again the Queen, but ere he yet had pa.s.s'd 690 The threshold, thus she greeted his return.

Com'st thou alone, Eumaeus? why delays The invited wand'rer? dreads he other harm?

Or sees he aught that with a bashful awe Fills him? the bashful poor are poor indeed.

To whom, Eumaeus, thou didst thus reply.

He hath well spoken; none who would decline The rudeness of this contumelious throng Could answer otherwise; thee he entreats To wait till sun-set, and that course, O Queen, 700 Thou shalt thyself far more commodious find, To hold thy conf'rence with the guest, alone.

Then answer thus Penelope return'd.

The stranger, I perceive, is not unwise, Whoe'er he be, for on the earth are none Proud, insolent, and profligate as these.

So spake the Queen. Then (all his message told) The good Eumaeus to the suitors went Again, and with his head inclined toward Telemachus, lest others should his words 710 Witness, in accents wing'd him thus address'd.

Friend and kind master! I return to keep My herds, and to attend my rural charge, Whence we are both sustain'd. Keep thou, meantime, All here with vigilance, but chiefly watch For thy own good, and save _thyself_ from harm; For num'rous here brood mischief, whom the G.o.ds Exterminate, ere yet their plots prevail!

To whom Telemachus, discrete, replied.

So be it, father! and (thy evening-mess 720 Eaten) depart; to-morrow come again, Bringing fair victims. .h.i.ther; I will keep, I and the G.o.ds, meantime, all here secure.

He ended; then resumed once more the swain His polish'd seat, and, both with wine and food Now satiate, to his charge return'd, the court Leaving and all the palace throng'd with guests; They (for it now was evening) all alike Turn'd jovial to the song and to the dance.

FOOTNOTES:

[73] Proteus.

[74] The hearth was the altar on which the lares or household-G.o.ds were worshipped.

[75] That he might begin auspiciously. Wine was served in the same direction. F.

[76] Here again Te?? occurs in the abstract.

[77]

?? d? p?? t?? ep???a???? ?e?? es?

Eustathius, and Clarke after him, understand an aposiopesis here, as if the speaker meant to say--what if there should be? or--suppose there should be? But the sentence seems to fall in better with what follows interpreted as above, and it is a sense of the pa.s.sage not unwarranted by the opinion of other commentators. See Schaufelbergerus.

[78] This seems added by Eumaeus to cut off from Ulysses the hope that might otherwise tempt him to use fiction.

BOOK XVIII

ARGUMENT

The beggar Irus arrives at the palace; a combat takes place between him and Ulysses, in which Irus is by one blow vanquished. Penelope appears to the suitors, and having reminded them of the presents which she had a right to expect from them, receives a gift from each. Eurymachus, provoked by a speech of Ulysses, flings a foot-stool at him, which knocks down the cup-bearer; a general tumult is the consequence, which continues, till by the advice of Telemachus, seconded by Amphinomus, the suitors retire to their respective homes.

Now came a public mendicant, a man Accustom'd, seeking alms, to roam the streets Of Ithaca; one never sated yet With food or drink; yet muscle had he none, Or strength of limb, though giant-built in show.

Arnaeus was the name which at his birth His mother gave him, but the youthful band Of suitors, whom as messenger he served, All named him Irus. He, arriving, sought To drive Ulysses forth from his own home, 10 And in rough accents rude him thus rebuked.

Forth from the porch, old man! lest by the foot I drag thee quickly forth. Seest not how all Wink on me, and by signs give me command To drag thee hence? nor is it aught but shame That checks me. Yet arise, lest soon with fists Thou force me to adjust our diff'rence.

To whom Ulysses, low'ring dark, replied.

Peace, fellow! neither word nor deed of mine Wrongs thee, nor feel I envy at the boon, 20 However plentiful, which thou receiv'st.

The sill may hold us both; thou dost not well To envy others; thou appear'st like me A vagrant; plenty is the gift of heav'n.

But urge me not to trial of our fists, Lest thou provoke me, and I stain with blood Thy bosom and thy lips, old as I am.

So, my attendance should to-morrow prove More tranquil here; for thou should'st leave, I judge, Ulysses' mansion, never to return. 30 Then answer'd Irus, kindling with disdain.

G.o.ds! with what volubility of speech The table-hunter prates, like an old hag Collied with chimney-s.m.u.tch! but ah beware!

For I intend thee mischief, and to dash With both hands ev'ry grinder from thy gums, As men untooth a pig pilf'ring the corn.

Come--gird thee, that all here may view the strife-- But how wilt thou oppose one young as I?

Thus on the threshold of the lofty gate 40 They, wrangling, chafed each other, whose dispute The high-born youth Antinous mark'd; he laugh'd Delighted, and the suitors thus address'd.

Oh friends! no pastime ever yet occurr'd Pleasant as this which, now, the G.o.ds themselves Afford us. Irus and the stranger brawl As they would box. Haste--let us urge them on.

He said; at once loud-laughing all arose; The ill-clad disputants they round about Encompa.s.s'd, and Antinous thus began. 50 Attend ye n.o.ble suitors to my voice.

Two paunches lie of goats here on the fire, Which fill'd with fat and blood we set apart For supper; he who conquers, and in force Superior proves, shall freely take the paunch Which he prefers, and shall with us thenceforth Feast always; neither will we here admit Poor man beside to beg at our repasts.

He spake, whom all approved; next, artful Chief Ulysses thus, dissembling, them address'd. 60 Princes! unequal is the strife between A young man and an old with mis'ry worn; But hunger, always counsellor of ill, Me moves to fight, that many a bruise received, I may be foil'd at last. Now swear ye all A solemn oath, that none, for Irus' sake Shall, interposing, smite me with his fist Clandestine, forcing me to yield the prize.

He ceas'd, and, as he bade, all present swore A solemn oath; then thus, amid them all 70 Standing, Telemachus majestic spake.

Guest! if thy courage and thy manly mind Prompt thee to banish this man hence, no force Fear thou beside, for who smites thee, shall find Yet other foes to cope with; I am here In the host's office, and the royal Chiefs Eurymachus and Antinous, alike Discrete, accord unanimous with me.

He ceas'd, whom all approved. Then, with his rags Ulysses braced for decency his loins 80 Around, but gave to view his brawny thighs Proportion'd fair, and stripp'd his shoulders broad, His chest and arms robust; while, at his side, Dilating more the Hero's limbs and more Minerva stood; the a.s.sembly with fixt eyes Astonish'd gazed on him, and, looking full On his next friend, a suitor thus remark'd.

Irus shall be in Irus found no more.

He hath pull'd evil on himself. What thewes And what a haunch the senior's tatters hid! 90 So he--meantime in Irus' heart arose Horrible tumult; yet, his loins by force Girding, the servants dragg'd him to the fight Pale, and his flesh all quiv'ring as he came; Whose terrors thus Antinous sharp rebuked.

Now, wherefore liv'st, and why wast ever born Thou mountain-ma.s.s of earth! if such dismay Shake thee at thought of combat with a man Ancient as he, and worn with many woes?

But mark, I threaten not in vain; should he 100 O'ercome thee, and in force superior prove, To Echetus thou go'st; my sable bark Shall waft thee to Epirus, where he reigns Enemy of mankind; of nose and ears He shall despoil thee with his ruthless steel, And tearing by the roots the parts away[79]

That mark thy s.e.x, shall cast them to the dogs.

He said; _His_ limbs new terrors at that sound Shook under him; into the middle s.p.a.ce They led him, and each raised his hands on high. 110 Then doubtful stood Ulysses toil-inured, Whether to strike him lifeless to the earth At once, or fell him with a managed blow.

To smite with managed force at length he chose As wisest, lest, betray'd by his own strength, He should be known. With elevated fists Both stood; him Irus on the shoulder struck, But he his adversary on the neck Pash'd close beneath his ear; he split the bones, And blood in sable streams ran from his mouth. 120 With many an hideous yell he dropp'd, his teeth Chatter'd, and with his heels he drumm'd the ground.

The wooers, at that sight, lifting their hands In glad surprize, laugh'd all their breath away.

Then, through the vestibule, and right across The court, Ulysses dragg'd him by the foot Into the portico, where propping him Against the wall, and giving him his staff, In accents wing'd he bade him thus farewell.

There seated now, dogs drive and swine away, 130 Nor claim (thyself so base) supreme controul O'er other guests and mendicants, lest harm Reach thee, hereafter, heavier still than this.

So saying, his tatter'd wallet o'er his back He threw suspended by its leathern twist, And tow'rd the threshold turning, sat again, They laughing ceaseless still, the palace-door Re-enter'd, and him, courteous, thus bespake.

Jove, and all Jove's a.s.sessors in the skies Vouchsafe thee, stranger, whatsoe'er it be, 140 Thy heart's desire! who hast our ears reliev'd From that insatiate beggar's irksome tone.

Soon to Epirus he shall go dispatch'd To Echetus the King, pest of mankind.

So they, to whose propitious words the Chief Listen'd delighted. Then Antinous placed The paunch before him, and Amphinomus Two loaves, selected from the rest; he fill'd A goblet also, drank to him, and said, My father, hail! O stranger, be thy lot 150 Hereafter blest, though adverse now and hard!

To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.

To me, Amphinomus, endued thou seem'st With much discretion, who art also son Of such a sire, whose fair report I know, Dulichian Nysus, opulent and good.

Fame speaks thee his, and thou appear'st a man Judicious; hear me, therefore; mark me well.

Earth nourishes, of all that breathe or creep, No creature weak as man; for while the G.o.ds 160 Grant him prosperity and health, no fear Hath he, or thought, that he shall ever mourn; But when the G.o.ds with evils unforeseen Smite him, he bears them with a grudging mind; For such as the complexion of his lot By the appointment of the Sire of all, Such is the colour of the mind of man.

I, too, have been familiar in my day With wealth and ease, but I was then self-will'd, And many wrong'd, embolden'd by the thought 170 Of my own father's and my brethren's pow'r.

Let no man, therefore, be unjust, but each Use modestly what gift soe'er of heav'n.

So do not these. These ever bent I see On deeds injurious, the possessions large Consuming, and dishonouring the wife Of one, who will not, as I judge, remain Long absent from his home, but is, perchance, Ev'n at the door. Thee, therefore, may the G.o.ds Steal hence in time! ah, meet not his return 180 To his own country! for they will not part, (He and the suitors) without blood, I think, If once he enter at these gates again!

He ended, and, libation pouring, quaff'd The generous juice, then in the prince's hand Replaced the cup; he, pensive, and his head Inclining low, pa.s.s'd from him; for his heart Forboded ill; yet 'scaped not even he, But in the snare of Pallas caught, his life To the heroic arm and spear resign'd 190 Of brave Telemachus. Reaching, at length, The seat whence he had ris'n, he sat again.

Minerva then, G.o.ddess, caerulean-eyed, Prompted Icarius' daughter to appear Before the suitors; so to expose the more Their drift iniquitous, and that herself More bright than ever in her husband's eyes Might shine, and in her son's. Much mirth she feign'd,[80]

And, bursting into laughter, thus began.

I wish, Eurynome! (who never felt 200 That wish till now) though I detest them all, To appear before the suitors, in whose ears I will admonish, for his good, my son, Not to a.s.sociate with that lawless crew Too much, who speak him fair, but foul intend.

Then answer thus Eurynome return'd.

My daughter! wisely hast thou said and well.

Go! bathe thee and anoint thy face, then give To thy dear son such counsel as thou wilt Without reserve; but shew not there thy cheeks 210 Sullied with tears, for profit none accrues From grief like thine, that never knows a change.

And he is now bearded, and hath attained That age which thou wast wont with warmest pray'r To implore the G.o.ds that he might live to see.

Her answer'd then Penelope discrete.

Persuade not me, though studious of my good, To bathe, Eurynome! or to anoint My face with oil; for all my charms the G.o.ds Inhabitants of Olympus then destroy'd, 220 When he, embarking, left me. Go, command Hippodamia and Autonoe That they attend me to the hall, and wait Beside me there; for decency forbids That I should enter to the men, alone.

She ceas'd, and through the house the ancient dame Hasted to summon whom she had enjoin'd.

But Pallas, G.o.ddess of the azure eyes, Diffused, meantime, the kindly dew of sleep Around Icarius' daughter; on her couch 230 Reclining, soon as she reclin'd, she dozed, And yielded to soft slumber all her frame.