Which voyaging from Troy the victors bore,
While storms vindictive intercept the shore.
The shrilling airs the vaulted roof rebounds,
Reflecting to the queen the silver sounds.
With grief renew'd the weeping fair descends;
Their sov'reign's step a virgin train attends :
A veil of richest texture wrought she wears,
And silent to the joyous hall repairs.
There from the portal, with her mild command
Thus gently checks the minstrel's tuneful hand.
Phemius! let acts of Gods and heroes old,
What ancient bards in hall and bow'r have told,
Attemper'd to the lyre, your voice employ ;
Such the pleas'd ear will drink with silent joy.
But oh! forbear that dear disastrous name,
To sorrow sacred, and secure of fame :
My bleeding bosom sickens at the sound,
And ev'ry piercing note inflicts a wound.
Why, dearest object of my duteous love, (Reply'd the prince,) will you the bard reprove?
Oft Jove's etherial rays (resistless sire)
The chanter's soul and raptur'd song inspire;
Instinct divine! nor blame severe his choice,
Warbling the Grecian woes with harp and voice:
For novel lays attract our ravish'd ears;
But old, the mind with inattention hears.
Patient permit the sadly-pleasing strain;
Familiar now with grief, your tears refrain,
And in the public woe forget your own:
You weep not for a perish'd lord, alone.
What Greeks, now wand'ring in the Stygian gloom,
With your Ulysses shar'd an equal doom!
Your widow'd hours, apart, with female toil
And various labours of the loom, beguile;
There rule, from palace cares remote and free,
That care to man belongs, and most to me.
Mature beyond his years, the queen admires
His sage reply, and with her train retires.
Then swelling sorrows burst their former bounds,
With echoing grief afresh the dome resounds;
Till Pallas, piteous of her plaintive cries,
In slumber clos'd her silver-streaming eyes.
Meantime, rekindled at the royal charms,
Tumultuous love each beating bosom warms;
Intemp'rate rage a wordy war began;
But bold Telemachus assum'd the man.
Instant (he cry'd) your female discord end,
Ye deedless boasters! and the song attend;
Obey that sweet compulsion, nor profane
With dissonance the smooth melodious strain
Pacific now prolong the jovial feast;
But when the dawn reveals the rosy east,
I, to the peers assembled, shall propose
The firm resolve, I here in few disclose.
No longer live the cankers of my court;
All to your sev'ral states with speed resort;
Waste in wild riot what your land allows,
There ply the early feast, and late carouse.
But if, to honour lost, 'tis still decreed,
For you my bowl shall flow, my flock shall bleed;
Judge and revenge my right, impartial Jove,
By him and all th' immortal thrones above,
(Á sacred oath) each proud oppressor, slain. Shall with inglorious gore this marble stain.
Aw'd by the prince, thus haughty, bold, and young, Rage gnaw'd the lip, and wonder chain'd the tongue. Silence at length the gay Antinous broke,
Constrain❜d a smile, and thus ambiguous spoke.
What god to your untutor'd youth affords
This headlong torrent of amazing words?
May Jove delay thy reign, and cumber late
So bright a genius with the toils of state!
Those toils (Telemachus serene replies)
Have charms, with all their weight, t' allure the wise.
Fast by the throne obsequious fame resides,
And wealth incessant rolls her golden tides.
Nor let Antinous rage if strong desire
Of wealth and fame a youthful bosom fire:
Elect by Jove his delegate of sway,
With joyous pride the summons I'd obey.
Whene'er Ulysses roams the realm of night,
Should factious pow'r dispute my lineal right,
Some other Greek a fairer claim may plead;
To your pretence their title would precede.
At least the sceptre lost, I still should reign
Sole o'er my vassals, and domestic train.
To this Eurymachus. To heav'n alone
Refer the choice to fill the vacant throne.
Your patrimonial stores in peace possess ;
Undoubted all your filial claim confess :
Your private right should impious pow'r invade,
The peers of Ithaca would arm in aid.
But say, that stranger-guest who late withdrew,
What and from whence? his name and lineage shew.
His grave demeanor, and majestic grace
Speak him descended of no vulgar race:
Did he some loan of ancient right require,
Or came fore-runner of your scepter'd sire?
Oh son of Polybus! the prince replies,
No more my sire will glad these longing eyes:
The queen's fond hope inventive rumour cheers,
Or vain diviners' dreams divert her fears.
That stranger-guest the Taphian realm obeys,
A realm defended with incircling seas.
Mentes, an ever-honour'd name, of old
High in Ulysses' social list inroll'd.
Thus he, tho' conscious of th' ætherial guest,
Answer'd evasive of the sly request.
Meantime the lyre rejoins the sprightly lay;
Love-dittied airs, and dance, conclude the day.
But when the star of eve, with golden light
Adorn'd the matron brow of sable night;
The mirthful train dispersing quit the court,
And to their several domes to rest resort.
A tow'ring structure to the palace join'd; •
To this his steps the thoughtful prince inclin'd;
In his pavilion there, to sleep repairs;
The lighted torch, the sage Euryclea bears:
(Daughter of Ops, the just Pisenor's son,
For twenty beeves by great Laertes won;
In rosy prime with charms attractive grac❜d,
Honour'd by him, a gentle lord and chaste,
With dear esteem: too wise, with jealous strife
To taint the joys of sweet, connubial life.
Sole with Telemachus her service ends,
A child she nurs'd him, and a man attends.)
Whilst to his couch the prince himself addrest,
The duteous dame receiv'd the purple vest:
The purple vest with decent care dispos'd,
The silver ring she pull'd, the door reclos'd:
The bolt obedient to the silken cord,
To the strong staple's inmost depth restor❜d,
Secur'd the valves. There, wrapt in silent shade, 555
Pensive, the rules the goddess gave he weigh'd;
Stretch'd on the downy fleece, no rest he knows
And in his raptur'd soul the vision glows.
TELEMACHUS, in the assembly of the lords of Ithaca, complains of the injustice done him by the suitors, an insists upon their departure from his palace; appealing to the princes, and exciting the people to declare against them. The suitors endeavour to justify their stay, at least till he shall send the queen to the court of Icarius her father; which he refuses. There appears a prodigy of two eagles in the sky, which an augur expounds to the ruin of the suitors. Telemachus then demands a vessel to carry him to Pylos and Sparta, there to enquire of his father's fortunes. Pallas in the shape of Mentor (an ancient friend of Ulysses) helps him to a ship, assists him in preparing necessaries for the voyage, and embarks with him that night; which concludes the second day from the opening of the poem.
Tee scene continues in the palace of Ulysses in Ithaca.
TOW redd'ning from the dawn, the morning ray Glow'd in the front of heav'n, and gave the day. The youthful hero, with returning light, Rose anxious from th' inquietudes of night. A royal robe he wore, with graceful pride, A two-edg'd faulchion threaten'd by his side, Embroider'd sandals glitter'd as he trode, And forth he mov'd, majestic as a god. Then by his heralds, restless of delay, To council calls the peers; the peers obey.
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