The gates oppos'd pellucid valves adorn,
And columns fair incas'd with polish'd horn:

My mind, reflective, in a thorny maze
Devious from care to care inceffant frays.
Now, wavering doubt fucceeds to long defpair; 615 Where images of truth for paffage wait,
Shall I my virgin nuptial-vow revere;
And, joining to my fon's my menial train,
Partake his councils, and aflift his reign!
Or, fince, mature in manlood, he deplores
His dome dhonour'd, and exhausted stores;
Shall 1, reluctant, to his will accord;

And from the peers felect the noble lord?
So by my choice-avow'd, at length decide
Thefe wafteful love-debates, a mourning bride!
A vifionary thought I'll now relate;
Illuftrate, if you know, the fhadow'd fate:

With vifions manifelt of future fate..
Not to this troop, I fear, that phantom fear'd,
Which fpoke Ulyffes to his realm reflor'd:
Delufive femblance!-but my remnant life
620 Heaven fail determine in a gameful ftrife:
With that fam'd bow Ulyffes taught to bend,
For, me the rival arcners fhall contend.
As on the lifted field he us'd to place
Six beams, oppos'd to fix in equal space:
Elanc'd afar by his unering art,

625

635

A team of twenty geefe (a fnow-white train!)
Fed near the limpid lake with golden grain,
Amuse my penfive hours. The bird of Jove
Fierce from his mountain-eyrie downward drove :
Each favourite fowl he pounc'd with deathful fway,
And back triumphant wing'd his airy way.
My pitying eyes effus'd a plenteous itream,
To view their death thus imag'd in a dream;
With tender fympathy to foothe my foul,
A troop of matrons, fancy form'd, condole.
But whilft with grief and rage my bofom burn'd,
Sudden the tyrant of the fkies return'd:
Perch'd on the battlements, he thus began:
(In form an eagle, but in voice a man.)
O Queen! no vulgar vifion of the fky
I come, prophetic of approaching joy!
View in this plumy form thy victor lord;
The geefe (a glutton race) by thee deplor'd,
Portend the fuitors fated to my fword.
This faid, the pleafing feather'd omen ceas'd
When, from the downy bands of fleep releas'd,
Faft by the limpid lake my fwan-like train
I found, infatiate of the golden grain.

645

66e

665

670

Sure through fix circlets flew the whizzing dart.
So, when the fun reftores the purple day,
Their ftrength and kill the fuitors fhall affay : 675
To him the fpoufal honcur is decreed,
Who through the rings directs the feather'd reed.
Torn from thefe walis (where long and kinder
[hours!)
With pomp and joy have wing'd my youthful
On this poor breaft no dawn of blifs fhall beam; 6801
The pleasure vaft fupplies a copious theme
For many a dreary thought, and many a doleful
dream!

Powers

Propose the sportive lot (the chief replies)
Nor dread to name yourself the bowyer's prize:
640 Ulyffes will furprife th' unfinish'd game 685
Avow'd, and falfify the fuitor's claim.

650

The vifion felf-explain'd (the chief replies)
Sincere reveals the fanction of the skies:
Ulyffes fpeaks his own return décrced;
And by his fword the fuitors fure to bleed.

Hard is the task, and rare, the queen rejoin'd,
Impending deftinies in dreams to find:
Immur'd within the filent bower of fleep,
Two portals firm the various phantoms keep :
Of ivory one; whence flit, to mock the brain,
Of winged lies a light fantastic train:

655

While Ulyffes lies in the veftibule of the palace, be is ritnefs to the diforders of the women. Minerva comforts bim, and cafts him afleep. At bis waking be defires a favourable fign from Jupiter, which is granted. The feaft of Apollo is celebrated by the people, and the fuitors banquet in the palace. Telemachus exerts his authority amongst them, notwithstanding which, Ulyffes is infulted by Ctefippus, and the rest continue in their exceffes. Strange prodigies are seen by Theoclymenus the augur, cubo explains them to the deftruction of the wèeers.

|

Soon, with confummate joy to crown his prayer, | Dispatch! for foon the fuitors will effay

An omen'd voice invades his ravish'd ear.
Beneath a pile, that close the dome adjoin❜d,
Twelve female flaves the gift of Ceres griad; 135
Ta'd for the royal board to bolt the bran
From the pure flour (the growth and ftrength of
man),

Difcharging to the day the labour due,
Now early to repofe the rest withdrew;
One maid, unequal to the task affign'd,
Still Turn, the wilfome mill with anxious

mind;

And thus in bitternes of foul divin'd:

110

Father of Gods and men; whofe thunders roll
O'er the cerulean vault, and shake the pole;
Whoe'er froin Heaven has gain'd this rare oftent
(Of granted vows a certain fignal fent)
In this bleft moment of accepted prayer,
Piteous, regard a wretch confum'd with care!
Inftant, jove! confound the fuitor-train,
For whom o'ertoil'd I grind the golden grain :
Far from this dome the lewd devourers caft, 150
And be this feftival decreed their last!

193

200

The lunar feaft-rites to the God of day,
She faid with dutecus haste a bevy fair
Of twenty virgins to the spring repair:
With varied toil the reft adorn the dome.
Magnificent, and blithe, the fuitors come.
Some wield the founding axe; the dodder'd oakɔ
Divide, obedient to the forceful strokes.
Soon from the fount, with each a brimming urn:
(Eumæus in their train) the maids return.
Three porkers for the feaft, all brawny-chin'd, 205
He brought; the choiceft of the tufy kind:
In ledgements first fecure his care he view'd,
Then to the king his friendly fpeech renew'd:
Now fay fincere, my gueft! the fuitor-train
Still treat thy worth with lordly dull difdain;
Or fpeaks their deed a bounteous mind hu-
mane?

211

Some pitying God (Ulyffes fad reply'd)
With volied vengeance blatt their towering pride!
No confcious bluft, no fenfe of right, reftiains
The tides of luft that fwell their boiling veins :
From vice to vice their appetites are toit,

Big with their doom denoune'd in earth and sky, All cheaply fated at another's coft!
Ulyffes' heart dilates with fecret joy.

Mean time the menial train with unctuous wood
Heap'd high the genial hearth, Vulcanian food:
When, early dress'd, advanc'd the royal heir:
With manly grafp he wav'd a martial fpear,
A radiant fabre grac'd his purple zone,
And on his foot the golden fandal fhone.
His ftops impetuous to the portal press'd;
And Euryclea thus he there addref3⁄4'd :

160

Say thou, to whom my youth its nurture owes,
Was care for due refection and repofe
Beftow'd the ftranger guest? Or waits he griev'd,
His age not honour'd, nor his wants reliev❜d? 165
Promifcuous grace on all the queen confers
(In woes bewilder'd, oft' the wifeft err-).
The wordy vagrant to the dele afpires,
And modeft worth with noble fcorn retires.

She thus: Oh! ceafe that ever honour'd name
To blemish now; it ill deferves your blame :
A bowl of generous wine fuffic❜d the gueft;
In vain the queen the night-refection prefs'd:
Nor would he court repote in downy ftate,
Unblefs'd, abandon'd to the rage of Fate!
A hide beneath the portico was fpread,
And fleecy fkins compor'd an humble bed:
A downy carpet, caft with duteous care,
Secur'd him from the keen nocturnal air.

180

His cornel javelin pois'd with regal port,
To the fage Greeks conven'd iá Themis' court,
Forth-iffling from the dome the prince
pair'd:

મ

re

215

220

While thus the chief his woes indignant told,
Melanthius, mafter of the bearded fold,
The goodlieft goats of all the royal herd
Spontaneous to the fuitor's feaft preferr❜d:
Two grooms affittant bore the victims bound;
With quavering cries the vaulted roofs refound;
And to the chief auflere, aloud began
The wretch unfriendly to the race of man: 225
Here, vagrant, ftill? offenfive to my lords!
Blows have more energy than airy words;
Thefe arguments I'll uie: nor conicious flame,
Nor threats, thy bold intrufion will reclaim.
On this high feat the meanest vulgar boaft
A plenteous board! Hence! feek another hoft!
Rejoinder to the churl the king difdain'd;
But thook his head, and rifing wrath refrain'd.
From Cephaleria crofs the furgy main
Philætius late arriv'd, a faithful fwain.
A fteer ungrateful to the bull's embrace,
And goats he brought, the pride of all their

race:

Imported in a fhallop not his own:

250

235

240

175 The dome re-echoed to their mingled moan.
Straight to the guardian of the briftly kind
He thus began, benevolent of mind;
What guest is he, of fuch majestic air?
His lineage and paternal clime declare:
Dim through th' eclipfe of Fate, the rays divine
Of fovereign ftate with faded fplendour shine. 245
If monarchs by the Gods are plung❜d in woe,
To what abyi's are we foredoom'd to go!
Then affable he thus the chief addrefs'd,
Whilft with pathetic warmth his hand he prefs'd:
Stranger! may Fate a milder aspect show, 250
And fpin thy future with a whiter clue!
O Jove, for ever deaf to human cries;
The Tyrant, not the Father of the skie-!
Unpiteous of the race thy will began!
The fool of Fate, thy manufacture, man,
With penury, contempt, repulfe, and care,
The galling load of life is doom'd to bear.
Ulyffes from his ftate a wanderer ftill,
Upbraids thy power, thy wisdom, or thy will:

185

Two dogs of chafe, a lion-hearted guard,
Behind him fourly ftaled. Without delay
The dame divides the labour of the day;
Thus urging to the toil the menial train,
What marks of luxury the marble fiain!
Its wonted luftre let the floor regain;
The feats with purple clothe in order due;
And let th' abiterfive fponge the board renew:
Let fome refresh the vafe's fullied mold;
Some bid the goblets boatt their native gold:
Some to the fpring, with each a jar, repair,
And copious waters pure for bathing bear:

191

255

265

O monarch ever dear O man of woe!-
Fresh flow my tears, and all for ever flow! 250
Like thee, poor ftranger-guelt, deried his home!
Like thee, in rags obfcene, decreed to roam!
Or, haply perish'd on some diftant coaft,
In Stygian gloos he glides a penfive ghost!
Oh! grateful for the good his bounty gave,
I'll grieve, till forrow fik me to the grave!
His kind protecting hand my youth preferr'd,
The regent of his Cephalenian herd:
With vaft increase beneath my care it spreads,
A ftately breed! and blackens far the meads. 270
Conftrain'd, the choicett beeves I thene import
To cram thefe cormorants that crowd his court;
Who in partition feek his realm to share;
Nor human right, nor wrath divine revere.
Since here refolv'd oppreffive thefe rei de,
Contending doubts my anxious heart divide :
Now to fome foreign clime inclin'd to fly,
And with the royal herd protection buy:
Then happier thoughts return the nodding feale,
Light mounts defpair, alternate hopes prevail :
In opening profpects of ideal joy,
My king returns; the proud ufurpers die.

275

285

To whom the chief: In thy capacious mind
Since daring zeal with cool debate is join'd;
Attend a deed already ripe in Fate;
Atteft, O Jove, the truth I now relate!
This facred truth atteft each genial Power,
Who blef's the board, and guard this friendly bower
Before thou quit the dome (nor long delay)
Thy with produc'd in act, with pleas'd furvey,
Thy wondering eyes fhall view his rightful
reign

By arms avow'd Ulysses shall regain,
And to the fhades devote the fuitor-train.

O Jove fupreme! the raptur'd fwain replies,
With deed confummate foon the promis'd joys!
Thefe aged nerves, with new-born vigour firung
In that bleft caufe fhould emulate the young-
Affents Eumeus to the prayer addrefs'd:
And equal ardours fire his loyal breast.

300

!

395

The prince appoints; but to his fire affigns
The tafteful inwards, and nectareous wines, 325
Partake, my guest, he cry'd, without control
The focial feat, and drain the cheering bow:
Dread not the railer's laugh, nor ruffian's rage;
No vulgar roof protects thy honour'd age:
This dome a refuge to thy wrongs fhall be, s
From my great fire too foon devolv'd to me!
Your violence and fcorn, ye fuitors, ceafe,
Left arms averge the violated peace.

Aw'd by the prince, fo haughty, brave and young, Rage gnaw'd the lip, amazement chain'd the tongue. 335

Be patient, peers! at length Antinous cries;
The threats of vain imperious youth deipife:
Would Jove permit the meditated blow,
That itream of eloquence should cease to flow.
Without reply vouchfad Antinous ceas'd:
Mean while the pomp of festival increas'd
By herald's rank'd, in mar^ al'd order move
The city-tribes to pleas'd Apollo's grove :
Beneath the verdure of which awful fhade,.
The lunar hecatomb they grateful laid;

But the rich banquet in the dome prepar'd,
(And humble file-board fut) Ulyffes fhar'd.
Obfervant of the prince's high beheft,

340

345

355

His menial train attend the itranger-gueft: 350
Whom Pallas with unpardoning fury fir'd,
By lordly pride and keen reproach infpir'd.
A Samian peer, more ftudious than the reft
Of vice, who teem'd with many a dead-born jeft;
And urg'd, for title to a confort queen.
Uncumber'd acres arable and green
(Ctefppus nam'd); this lord Ulyffes ey'd,
And thus burst out th' impofthumate with pride:
The fentence I propofe, ye peers, attend:
Since due regard muft wait the prince's friend,
Let each a token of esteem beflow;
This gift acquits the dear refpe&t I owe ;
With which he nobly may difcharge his feat,
Aud pay the menials for the mafter's treat.

:

361

༢༡༠

He laid and of the fteer before him plac'd,
That finewy fragment at Ulyffes caft,
Where to the pattern-bone by nerves combin'd,
The well-horn'd foot indisembly join'd;
Which whizzing high the wall unfeenly fign'd.
The chief indignant grins a ghaftly fimile;
de-Revenge and corn within his bofom boil:
When thus the prince with pious rage inflam’d;
Had not th' inglorious wound thy malice aim'd
Fall'n guiltlefs of the mark, my certain fpear
Had made thee buy the brutal triumph dear: 375
Nor fhoukl thy fire, a queen his daughter boat;
The fuitor, now, had vanifh'd in a ghofl:
No more, ye lewd compeers, with lawlefs power
Invade my dome, my herds and flocks devour:
For genuine worth of age mature to know
My grape thall redden, and my harveft grow.
Or, if each other's wrongs ye fill fupport,
With rapes and riot to profane my court;
What fingle arm with numbers can contend?
320 On me let all your lifted fwords defcend, 385
And with my life fuch vile dif.onours end.
A long ceffation of difcourfe enfeed,
By gentler Agelaus thus renew'd:

Mean time the fuitors urge the prince's fate,
And deathful arts employ the dire debate:
When, in his airy tour the bird of Jove
Trufs'd with his finewy pounce a trembling dove:
Sinifter to their hope! This omen ey'd
Amphinomus, who thus prefaging cry'd :
The Gods from force and fraud the prince
O peers! the fanguinary scheme suspend: [fend;
Your future thought let fable Fate employ;
And give the prefent hour to genial joy. [ceas'd,
From council ftraight th' affenting peerage
And in the dome prepar'd the genial feaft. 310
Difrob'd their vefts apart in order lay,
Then all with fpeed fuccinct the victims nay:
With fheep and fhaggy goats the porkers bled,
And the proud fteer was on the marble fpread.
With fire prepar'd, they deal the morfels round,
Wine rofy-bright the brimming goblets crown'd,
By fage Eumæus borne: the purple tide
Melanthius from an ample jar fupplied:
High canisters of bread Philatius plac'd;
And eager all devour the rich repaft.
Difpos'd apart, Ulyffes fhares the treat!
A tiivet-table, and ignobler feat,

320

Penelope, to put an end to the felicitation of the fuiters, proposes to marry the person who shall for fi bend the bow of Ulyffer, and shoot through the ringlet. After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Uyffes, taking Eumans and Philetius apart, difcevers himself to them; then returning, defires leave to try his vergth at the box, which, though refusel with indignation by the fuiters, Perelepe and Telem chus cause it to be de iwered this han s. He bends it immediately, and foots through all the rings. Fuiter in the fame in ant thun 'ers from heaven; Ulyjes accepts the omen, and gives & fign t n to Telem, chus, cuho jlands "ready armed at his fide.