The Odyssey of Homer Part 37

View, first, the scar which with his iv'ry tusk A wild boar gave me, when at thy command And at my mother's, to Autolycus Her father, on Parna.s.sus, I repair'd Seeking the gifts which, while a guest of yours, He promis'd should be mine. Accept beside This proof. I will enum'rate all the trees Which, walking with thee in this cultured spot 400 (Boy then) I begg'd, and thou confirm'dst my own.

We paced between them, and thou mad'st me learn The name of each. Thou gav'st me thirteen pears,[113]

Ten apples,[113] thirty figs,[113] and fifty ranks Didst promise me of vines, their alleys all Corn-cropp'd between. There, oft as sent from Jove The influences of the year descend, Grapes of all hues and flavours cl.u.s.t'ring hang.

He said; Laertes, conscious of the proofs Indubitable by Ulysses giv'n, 410 With fault'ring knees and fault'ring heart both arms Around him threw. The Hero toil-inured Drew to his bosom close his fainting sire, Who, breath recov'ring, and his scatter'd pow'rs Of intellect, at length thus spake aloud.

Ye G.o.ds! oh then your residence is still On the Olympian heights, if punishment At last hath seized on those flagitious men.

But terrour shakes me, lest, incensed, ere long All Ithaca flock hither, and dispatch 420 Swift messengers with these dread tidings charged To ev'ry Cephallenian state around.

Him answer'd then Ulysses ever-wise.

Courage! fear nought, but let us to the house Beside the garden, whither I have sent Telemachus, the herdsman, and the good Eumaeus to prepare us quick repast.

So they conferr'd, and to Laertes' house Pa.s.s'd on together; there arrived, they found Those three preparing now their plenteous feast, 430 And mingling sable wine; then, by the hands Of his Sicilian matron, the old King Was bathed, anointed, and attired afresh, And Pallas, drawing nigh, dilated more His limbs, and gave his whole majestic form Encrease of amplitude. He left the bath.

His son, amazed as he had seen a G.o.d Alighted newly from the skies, exclaim'd.

My father! doubtless some immortal Pow'r Hath clothed thy form with dignity divine. 440 Then thus replied his venerable sire.

Jove! Pallas! Phbus! oh that I possess'd Such vigour now, as when in arms I took Nericus, continental city fair, With my brave Cephallenians! oh that such And arm'd as then, I yesterday had stood Beside thee in thy palace, combating Those suitors proud, then had I strew'd the floor With num'rous slain, to thy exceeding joy.

Such was their conference; and now, the task 450 Of preparation ended, and the feast Set forth, on couches and on thrones they sat, And, ranged in order due, took each his share.

Then, ancient Dolius, and with him, his sons Arrived toil-worn, by the Sicilian dame Summon'd, their cat'ress, and their father's kind Attendant ever in his eve of life.

They, seeing and recalling soon to mind Ulysses, in the middle mansion stood Wond'ring, when thus Ulysses with a voice 460 Of some reproof, but gentle, them bespake.

Old servant, sit and eat, banishing fear And mute amazement; for, although provoked By appet.i.te, we have long time abstain'd, Expecting ev'ry moment thy return.

He said; then Dolius with expanded arms Sprang right toward Ulysses, seized his hand, Kiss'd it, and in wing'd accents thus replied.

Oh master ever dear! since thee the G.o.ds Themselves in answer to our warm desires, 470 Have, unexpectedly, at length restored, Hail, and be happy, and heav'n make thee such!

But say, and truly; knows the prudent Queen Already thy return, or shall we send Ourselves an herald with the joyful news?

To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.

My ancient friend, thou may'st release thy mind From that solicitude; she knows it well.

So he; then Dolius to his glossy seat Return'd, and all his sons gath'ring around 480 Ulysses, welcom'd him and grasp'd his hand, Then sat beside their father; thus beneath Laertes' roof they, joyful, took repast.

But Fame with rapid haste the city roam'd In ev'ry part, promulging in all ears The suitors' horrid fate. No sooner heard The mult.i.tude that tale, than one and all Groaning they met and murmuring before Ulysses' gates. Bringing the bodies forth, They buried each his friend, but gave the dead 490 Of other cities to be ferried home By fishermen on board their rapid barks.

All hasted then to council; sorrow wrung Their hearts, and, the a.s.sembly now convened, Arising first Eupithes spake, for grief Sat heavy on his soul, grief for the loss Of his Antinous by Ulysses slain Foremost of all, whom mourning, thus he said.

My friends! no trivial fruits the Greecians reap Of this man's doings. _Those_ he took with him 500 On board his barks, a num'rous train and bold, Then lost his barks, lost all his num'rous train, And _these_, our n.o.blest, slew at his return.

Come therefore--ere he yet escape by flight To Pylus or to n.o.ble Elis, realm Of the Epeans, follow him; else shame Attends us and indelible reproach.

If we avenge not on these men the blood Of our own sons and brothers, farewell then All that makes life desirable; my wish 510 Henceforth shall be to mingle with the shades.

Oh then pursue and seize them ere they fly.

Thus he with tears, and pity moved in all.

Then, Medon and the sacred bard whom sleep Had lately left, arriving from the house Of Laertiades, approach'd; amid The throng they stood; all wonder'd seeing them, And Medon, prudent senior, thus began.

Hear me, my countrymen! Ulysses plann'd With no disapprobation of the G.o.ds 520 The deed that ye deplore. I saw, myself, A Pow'r immortal at the Hero's side, In semblance just of Mentor; now the G.o.d, In front apparent, led him on, and now, From side to side of all the palace, urged To flight the suitors; heaps on heaps they fell.

He said; then terrour wan seiz'd ev'ry cheek, And Halitherses, Hero old, the son Of Mastor, who alone among them all Knew past, and future, prudent, thus began. 530 Now, O ye men of Ithaca! my words Attentive hear! by your own fault, my friends, This deed hath been perform'd; for when myself And n.o.ble Mentor counsell'd you to check The sin and folly of your sons, ye would not.

Great was their wickedness, and flagrant wrong They wrought, the wealth devouring and the wife Dishonouring of an ill.u.s.trious Chief Whom they deem'd destined never to return.

But hear my counsel. Go not, lest ye draw 540 Disaster down and woe on your own heads.

He ended; then with boist'rous roar (although Part kept their seats) upsprang the mult.i.tude, For Halitherses pleased them not, they chose Eupithes' counsel rather; all at once To arms they flew, and clad in dazzling bra.s.s Before the city form'd their dense array.

Leader infatuate at their head appear'd Eupithes, hoping to avenge his son Antinous, but was himself ordain'd 550 To meet his doom, and to return no more.

Then thus Minerva to Saturnian Jove.

Oh father! son of Saturn! Jove supreme!

Declare the purpose hidden in thy breast.

Wilt thou that this hostility proceed, Or wilt thou grant them amity again?

To whom the cloud-a.s.sembler G.o.d replied.

Why asks my daughter? didst thou not design Thyself, that brave Ulysses coming home Should slay those profligates? act as thou wilt, 560 But thus I counsel, since the n.o.ble Chief Hath slain the suitors, now let peace ensue Oath-bound, and reign Ulysses evermore!

The slaughter of their brethren and their sons To strike from their remembrance, shall be ours.

Let mutual amity, as at the first, Unite them, and let wealth and peace abound.

So saying, he animated to her task Minerva prompt before, and from the heights Olympian down to Ithaca she flew. 570 Meantime Ulysses (for their hunger now And thirst were sated) thus address'd his hinds.

Look ye abroad, lest haply they approach.

He said, and at his word, forth went a son Of Dolius; at the gate he stood, and thence Beholding all that mult.i.tude at hand, In accents wing'd thus to Ulysses spake.

They come--they are already arrived--arm all!

Then, all arising, put their armour on, Ulysses with his three, and the six sons 580 Of Dolius; Dolius also with the rest, Arm'd and Laertes, although silver-hair'd, Warriors perforce. When all were clad alike In radiant armour, throwing wide the gates They sallied, and Ulysses led the way.

Then Jove's own daughter Pallas, in the form And with the voice of Mentor, came in view, Whom seeing Laertiades rejoiced, And thus Telemachus, his son, bespake.

Now, oh my son! thou shalt observe, untold 590 By me, where fight the bravest. Oh shame not Thine ancestry, who have in all the earth Proof given of valour in all ages past.

To whom Telemachus, discrete, replied.

My father! if thou wish that spectacle, Thou shalt behold thy son, as thou hast said, In nought dishonouring his n.o.ble race.

Then was Laertes joyful, and exclaim'd, What sun hath ris'n to-day?[114] oh blessed G.o.ds!

My son and grandson emulous dispute 600 The prize of glory, and my soul exults.

He ended, and Minerva drawing nigh To the old King, thus counsell'd him. Oh friend Whom most I love, son of Arcesias! pray'r Preferring to the virgin azure-eyed, And to her father Jove, delay not, shake Thy lance in air, and give it instant flight.

So saying, the G.o.ddess nerved his arm anew.

He sought in pray'r the daughter dread of Jove, And, brandishing it, hurl'd his lance; it struck 610 Eupithes, pierced his helmet brazen-cheek'd That stay'd it not, but forth it sprang beyond, And with loud clangor of his arms he fell.

Then flew Ulysses and his n.o.ble son With faulchion and with spear of double edge To the a.s.sault, and of them all had left None living, none had to his home return'd, But that Jove's virgin daughter with a voice Of loud authority thus quell'd them all.

Peace, O ye men of Ithaca! while yet 620 The field remains undeluged with your blood.

So she, and fear at once paled ev'ry cheek.

All trembled at the voice divine; their arms Escaping from the grasp fell to the earth, And, covetous of longer life, each fled Back to the city. Then Ulysses sent His voice abroad, and with an eagle's force Sprang on the people; but Saturnian Jove, Cast down, incontinent, his smouldring bolt At Pallas' feet, and thus the G.o.ddess spake. 630 Laertes' n.o.ble son, for wiles renown'd!

Forbear; abstain from slaughter; lest thyself Incur the anger of high thund'ring Jove.

So Pallas, whom Ulysses, glad, obey'd.

Then faithful covenants of peace between Both sides ensued, ratified in the sight Of Pallas progeny of Jove, who seem'd, In voice and form, the Mentor known to all.

FOOTNOTES:

[111]

??????sa?--tet?????a?--the ghosts Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets.

SHAKSPEARE.

[112]

--Behemoth, biggest born of earth, Upheav'd his vastness.

MILTON.

[113] The fruit is here used for the tree that bore it, as it is in the Greek; the Latins used the same mode of expression, neither is it uncommon in our own language.

[114] ??? ?? ?? ???? ?de;--So Cicero, who seems to translate it--Proh dii immortales! Quis hic illuxit dies! See Clarke in loco.

END OF THE ODYSSEY

NOTES

NOTE I.

Bk. x. l. 101-106 (Hom. x. l. 81-86).--It is held now that this pa.s.sage should be explained by the supposition that the Homeric bards had heard tales of northern lat.i.tudes, where, in summer-time, the darkness was so short that evening was followed almost at once by morning. Thus the herdsman coming home in the twilight at one day's close might meet and hail the shepherd who was starting betimes for the next day's work.

Line 86 in the Greek ought probably to be translated, "For the paths of night and day are close together," _i.e._, the entrance of day follows hard on the entrance of night.