The Odyssey of Homer Part 4

The son of Nestor plied the lash, and forth Through vestibule and sounding portico The royal coursers, not unwilling, flew. 620 A corn-invested land receiv'd them next, And there they brought their journey to a close, So rapidly they moved; and now the sun Went down, and even-tide dimm'd all the ways.

FOOTNOTES:

[7] ????? ?d??t??. Prior, alluding to this expression, ludicrously renders it--

"When words like these in vocal breath Burst from his twofold hedge of teeth."

[8] It is said to have been customary in the days of Homer, when the Greeks retired from a banquet to their beds, to cut out the tongues of the victims, and offer them to the G.o.ds in particular who presided over conversation.

BOOK IV

ARGUMENT

Telemachus, with Pisistratus, arrives at the palace of Menelaus, from whom he receives some fresh information concerning the return of the Greecians, and is in particular told on the authority of Proteus, that his father is detained by Calypso. The suitors, plotting against the life of Telemachus, lie in wait to intercept him in his return to Ithaca.

Penelope being informed of his departure, and of their designs to slay him, becomes inconsolable, but is relieved by a dream sent to her from Minerva.

In hollow Lacedaemon's s.p.a.cious vale Arriving, to the house they drove direct Of royal Menelaus; him they found In his own palace, all his num'rous friends Regaling at a nuptial banquet giv'n Both for his daughter and the prince his son.

His daughter to renown'd Achilles' heir He sent, to whom he had at Troy engaged To give her, and the G.o.ds now made her his.

With chariots and with steeds he sent her forth 10 To the ill.u.s.trious city where the prince, Achilles' offspring, ruled the Myrmidons.

But to his son he gave a Spartan fair, Alector's daughter; from an handmaid sprang That son to Menelaus in his age, Brave Megapenthes; for the G.o.ds no child To Helen gave, made mother, once, of her Who vied in perfect loveliness of form With golden Venus' self, Hermione.

Thus all the neighbour princes and the friends 20 Of n.o.ble Menelaus, feasting sat Within his s.p.a.cious palace, among whom A sacred bard sang sweetly to his harp, While, in the midst, two dancers smote the ground With measur'd steps responsive to his song.

And now the Heroes, Nestor's n.o.ble son And young Telemachus arrived within The vestibule, whom, issuing from the hall, The n.o.ble Eteoneus of the train Of Menelaus, saw; at once he ran 30 Across the palace to report the news To his Lord's ear, and, standing at his side, In accents wing'd with haste thus greeted him.

Oh Menelaus! Heav'n descended Chief!

Two guests arrive, both strangers, but the race Of Jove supreme resembling each in form.

Say, shall we loose, ourselves, their rapid steeds, Or hence dismiss them to some other host?

But Menelaus, Hero golden-hair'd, Indignant answer'd him. Boethe's son! 40 Thou wast not, Eteoneus, heretofore, A babbler, who now pratest as a child.

We have ourselves arrived indebted much To hospitality of other men, If Jove shall, even here, some pause at last Of woe afford us. Therefore loose, at once, Their steeds, and introduce them to the feast.

He said, and, issuing, Eteoneus call'd The brisk attendants to his aid, with whom He loos'd their foaming coursers from the yoke. 50 Them first they bound to mangers, which with oats And mingled barley they supplied, then thrust The chariot sidelong to the splendid wall.[9]

Themselves he, next, into the royal house Conducted, who survey'd, wond'ring, the abode Of the heav'n-favour'd King; for on all sides As with the splendour of the sun or moon The lofty dome of Menelaus blazed.

Satiate, at length, with wonder at that sight, They enter'd each a bath, and by the hands 60 Of maidens laved, and oil'd, and cloath'd again With s.h.a.ggy mantles and resplendent vests, Sat both enthroned at Menelaus' side.

And now a maiden charged with golden ew'r, And with an argent laver, pouring first Pure water on their hands, supplied them next With a bright table, which the maiden, chief In office, furnish'd plenteously with bread And dainties, remnants of the last regale.

Then came the sew'r, who with delicious meats 70 Dish after dish, served them, and placed beside The chargers cups magnificent of gold, When Menelaus grasp'd their hands, and said.

Eat and rejoice, and when ye shall have shared Our nuptial banquet, we will then inquire Who are ye both, for, certain, not from those Whose generation perishes are ye, But rather of some race of sceptred Chiefs Heav'n-born; the base have never sons like you.

So saying, he from the board lifted his own 80 Distinguish'd portion, and the fatted chine Gave to his guests; the sav'ry viands they With outstretch'd hands a.s.sail'd, and when the force No longer now of appet.i.te they felt, Telemachus, inclining close his head To Nestor's son, lest others should his speech Witness, in whisper'd words him thus address'd.

Dearest Pisistratus, observe, my friend!

How all the echoing palace with the light Of beaming bra.s.s, of gold and amber shines 90 Silver and ivory! for radiance such Th' interior mansion of Olympian Jove I deem. What wealth, how various, how immense Is here! astonish'd I survey the sight!

But Menelaus, golden-hair'd, his speech O'erhearing, thus in accents wing'd replied My children! let no mortal man pretend Comparison with Jove; for Jove's abode And all his stores are incorruptible.

But whether mortal man with me may vie 100 In the display of wealth, or whether not, This know, that after many toils endured, And perilous wand'rings wide, in the eighth year I brought my treasures home. Remote I roved To Cyprus, to Phnice, to the sh.o.r.es Of aegypt; aethiopia's land I reach'd, Th' Erembi, the Sidonians, and the coasts Of Lybia, where the lambs their foreheads shew At once with horns defended, soon as yean'd.

There, thrice within the year the flocks produce, 110 Nor master, there, nor shepherd ever feels A dearth of cheese, of flesh, or of sweet milk Delicious, drawn from udders never dry.

While, thus, commodities on various coasts Gath'ring I roam'd, another, by the arts Of his pernicious spouse aided, of life Bereav'd my brother privily, and when least He fear'd to lose it. Therefore little joy To me results from all that I possess.

Your fathers (be those fathers who they may) 120 These things have doubtless told you; for immense Have been my suff'rings, and I have destroy'd A palace well inhabited and stored With precious furniture in ev'ry kind; Such, that I would to heav'n! I own'd at home Though but the third of it, and that the Greeks Who perish'd then, beneath the walls of Troy Far from steed-pastured Argos, still survived.

Yet while, sequester'd here, I frequent mourn My slaughter'd friends, by turns I sooth my soul 130 With tears shed for them, and by turns again I cease; for grief soon satiates free indulged.

But of them all, although I all bewail, None mourn I so as one, whom calling back To memory, I both sleep and food abhor.

For, of Achaia's sons none ever toiled Strenuous as Ulysses; but his lot Was woe, and unremitting sorrow mine For his long absence, who, if still he live, We know not aught, or be already dead. 140 Him doubtless, old Laertes mourns, and him Discrete Penelope, nor less his son Telemachus, born newly when he sail'd.

So saying, he kindled in him strong desire To mourn his father; at his father's name Fast fell his tears to ground, and with both hands He spread his purple cloak before his eyes; Which Menelaus marking, doubtful sat If he should leave him leisure for his tears, Or question him, and tell him all at large. 150 While thus he doubted, Helen (as it chanced) Leaving her fragrant chamber, came, august As Dian, G.o.ddess of the golden bow.

Adrasta, for her use, set forth a throne, Alcippe with soft arras cover'd it, And Philo brought her silver basket, gift Of fair Alcandra, wife of Polybus, Whose mansion in aegyptian Thebes is rich In untold treasure, and who gave, himself, Ten golden talents, and two silver baths 160 To Menelaus, with two splendid tripods Beside the n.o.ble gifts which, at the hand Of his ill.u.s.trious spouse, Helen receiv'd; A golden spindle, and a basket wheel'd, Itself of silver, and its lip of gold.

That basket Philo, her own handmaid, placed At beauteous Helen's side, charged to the brim With slender threads, on which the spindle lay With wool of purple l.u.s.tre wrapp'd around.

Approaching, on her foot-stool'd throne she sat, 170 And, instant, of her royal spouse enquired.

Know we, my Menelaus, dear to Jove!

These guests of ours, and whence they have arrived?

Erroneous I may speak, yet speak I must; In man or woman never have I seen Such likeness to another (wonder-fixt I gaze) as in this stranger to the son Of brave Ulysses, whom that Hero left New-born at home, when (shameless as I was) For my unworthy sake the Greecians sailed 180 To Ilium, with fierce rage of battle fir'd.

Then Menelaus, thus, the golden-hair'd.

I also such resemblance find in him As thou; such feet, such hands, the cast of eye[10]

Similar, and the head and flowing locks.

And even now, when I Ulysses named, And his great sufferings mention'd, in my cause, The bitter tear dropp'd from his lids, while broad Before his eyes his purple cloak he spread.

To whom the son of Nestor thus replied. 190 Atrides! Menelaus! Chief renown'd!

He is in truth his son, as thou hast said, But he is modest, and would much himself Condemn, if, at his first arrival here, He should loquacious seem and bold to thee, To whom we listen, captived by thy voice, As if some G.o.d had spoken. As for me, Nestor, my father, the Gerenian Chief Bade me conduct him hither, for he wish'd To see thee, promising himself from thee 200 The benefit of some kind word or deed.

For, dest.i.tute of other aid, he much His father's tedious absence mourns at home.

So fares Telemachus; his father strays Remote, and, in his stead, no friend hath he Who might avert the mischiefs that he feels.

To whom the Hero amber-hair'd replied.

Ye G.o.ds! the offspring of indeed a friend Hath reach'd my house, of one who hath endured Arduous conflicts num'rous for my sake; 210 And much I purpos'd, had Olympian Jove Vouchsaf'd us prosp'rous pa.s.sage o'er the Deep, To have receiv'd him with such friendship here As none beside. In Argos I had then Founded a city for him, and had rais'd A palace for himself; I would have brought The Hero hither, and his son, with all His people, and with all his wealth, some town Evacuating for his sake, of those Ruled by myself, and neighb'ring close my own. 220 Thus situate, we had often interchanged Sweet converse, nor had other cause at last Our friendship terminated or our joys, Than death's black cloud o'ershadowing him or me.

But such delights could only envy move Ev'n in the G.o.ds, who have, of all the Greeks, Amerc'd _him_ only of his wish'd return.

So saying, he kindled the desire to weep In ev'ry bosom. Argive Helen wept Abundant, Jove's own daughter; wept as fast 230 Telemachus and Menelaus both; Nor Nestor's son with tearless eyes remain'd, Calling to mind Antilochus[11] by the son[12]

Ill.u.s.trious of the bright Aurora slain, Rememb'ring whom, in accents wing'd he said.

Atrides! antient Nestor, when of late Conversing with him, we remember'd thee, p.r.o.nounced thee wise beyond all human-kind.

Now therefore, let not even my advice Displease thee. It affords me no delight 240 To intermingle tears with my repast, And soon, Aurora, daughter of the dawn, Will tinge the orient. Not that I account Due lamentation of a friend deceased Blameworthy, since, to sheer the locks and weep, Is all we can for the unhappy dead.

I also have my grief, call'd to lament One, not the meanest of Achaia's sons, My brother; him I cannot but suppose To thee well-known, although unknown to me 250 Who saw him never;[13] but report proclaims Antilochus superior to the most, In speed superior, and in feats of arms.

To whom, the Hero of the yellow locks.

O friend belov'd! since nought which thou hast said Or recommended now, would have disgraced A man of years maturer far than thine, (For wise thy father is, and such art thou, And easy is it to discern the son Of such a father, whom Saturnian Jove 260 In marriage both and at his birth ordain'd To great felicity; for he hath giv'n To Nestor gradually to sink at home Into old age, and, while he lives, to see His sons past others wise, and skill'd in arms) The sorrow into which we sudden fell Shall pause. Come--now remember we the feast; Pour water on our hands, for we shall find, (Telemachus and I) no dearth of themes For mutual converse when the day shall dawn. 270 He ended; then, Asphalion, at his word, Servant of glorious Menelaus, poured Pure water on their hands, and they the feast Before them with keen appet.i.te a.s.sail'd.

But Jove-born Helen otherwise, meantime, Employ'd, into the wine of which they drank A drug infused, antidote to the pains Of grief and anger, a most potent charm For ills of ev'ry name. Whoe'er his wine So medicated drinks, he shall not pour 280 All day the tears down his wan cheek, although His father and his mother both were dead, Nor even though his brother or his son Had fall'n in battle, and before his eyes.

Such drugs Jove's daughter own'd, with skill prepar'd, And of prime virtue, by the wife of Thone, aegyptian Polyd.a.m.na, giv'n her.

For aegypt teems with drugs, yielding no few Which, mingled with the drink, are good, and many Of baneful juice, and enemies to life. 290 There ev'ry man in skill medicinal Excels, for they are sons of Paeon all.

That drug infused, she bade her servant pour The bev'rage forth, and thus her speech resumed.

Atrides! Menelaus! dear to Jove!

These also are the sons of Chiefs renown'd, (For Jove, as pleases him, to each a.s.signs Or good or evil, whom all things obey) Now therefore, feasting at your ease reclin'd, Listen with pleasure, for myself, the while, 300 Will matter seasonable interpose.

I cannot all rehea.r.s.e, nor even name, (Omitting none) the conflicts and exploits Of brave Ulysses; but with what address Successful, one atchievement he perform'd At Ilium, where Achaia's sons endured Such hardship, will I speak. Inflicting wounds Dishonourable on himself, he took A tatter'd garb, and like a serving-man Enter'd the s.p.a.cious city of your foes. 310 So veil'd, some mendicant he seem'd, although No Greecian less deserved that name than he.

In such disguise he enter'd; all alike Misdeem'd him; me alone he not deceived Who challeng'd him, but, shrewd, he turn'd away.

At length, however, when I had myself Bathed him, anointed, cloath'd him, and had sworn Not to declare him openly in Troy Till he should reach again the camp and fleet, He told me the whole purpose of the Greeks. 320 Then, (many a Trojan slaughter'd,) he regain'd The camp, and much intelligence he bore To the Achaians. Oh what wailing then Was heard of Trojan women! but my heart Exulted, alter'd now, and wishing home; For now my crime committed under force Of Venus' influence I deplored, what time She led me to a country far remote, A wand'rer from the matrimonial bed, From my own child, and from my rightful Lord 330 Alike unblemish'd both in form and mind.

Her answer'd then the Hero golden-hair'd.

Helen! thou hast well spoken. All is true.

I have the talents fathom'd and the minds Of num'rous Heroes, and have travell'd far Yet never saw I with these eyes in man Such firmness as the calm Ulysses own'd; None such as in the wooden horse he proved, Where all our bravest sat, designing woe And b.l.o.o.d.y havoc for the sons of Troy. 340 Thou thither cam'st, impell'd, as it should seem, By some divinity inclin'd to give Victory to our foes, and with thee came G.o.dlike Deiphobus. Thrice round about The hollow ambush, striking with thy hand Its sides thou went'st, and by his name didst call Each prince of Greece feigning his consort's voice.

Myself with Diomede, and with divine Ulysses, seated in the midst, the call Heard plain and loud; we (Diomede and I) 350 With ardour burn'd either to quit the horse So summon'd, or to answer from within.

But, all impatient as we were, Ulysses Controul'd the rash design; so there the sons Of the Achaians silent sat and mute, And of us all Anticlus would alone Have answer'd; but Ulysses with both hands Compressing close his lips, saved us, nor ceased Till Pallas thence conducted thee again.

Then thus, discrete, Telemachus replied. 360 Atrides! Menelaus! prince renown'd!

Hard was his lot whom these rare qualities Preserved not, neither had his dauntless heart Been iron, had he scaped his cruel doom.

But haste, dismiss us hence, that on our beds Reposed, we may enjoy sleep, needful now.

He ceas'd; then Argive Helen gave command To her attendant maidens to prepare Beds in the portico with purple rugs Resplendent, and with arras, overspread, 370 And cover'd warm with cloaks of s.h.a.ggy pile.

Forth went the maidens, bearing each a torch, And spread the couches; next, the herald them Led forth, and in the vestibule the son Of Nestor and the youthful Hero slept, Telemachus; but in the interior house Atrides, with the loveliest of her s.e.x Beside him, Helen of the sweeping stole.

But when Aurora, daughter of the dawn, Glow'd in the East, then from his couch arose 380 The warlike Menelaus, fresh attir'd; His faulchion o'er his shoulders slung, he bound His sandals fair to his unsullied feet, And like a G.o.d issuing, at the side Sat of Telemachus, to whom he spake.

Hero! Telemachus! what urgent cause Hath hither led thee, to the land far-famed Of Lacedaemon o'er the s.p.a.cious Deep?

Public concern or private? Tell me true.

To whom Telemachus discrete replied. 390 Atrides! Menelaus! prince renown'd!

News seeking of my Sire, I have arrived.

My household is devour'd, my fruitful fields Are desolated, and my palace fill'd With enemies, who while they mutual wage Proud compet.i.tion for my mother's love, My flocks continual slaughter, and my beeves.