I drew, and casting on the river side
The bloody spear, his gather'd feet I tied
With twining osiers which the bank supplied.
An ell in length the pliant wisp I weav'd,
And the huge body on my shoulders heav'd :
Then leaning on the spear with both my hands,
Upbore my load, and press'd the sinking sands
With weighty steps, till at the ship I threw
The welcome burden, and bespoke my crew :

}

' Cheer up, my friends! it is not yet our fate To glide with ghosts through Pluto's gloomy gate. Food in the desert land, behold! is given, Live, and enjoy the providence of heaven.'

'The joyful crew survey his mighty size, And on the future banquet feast their eyes, As huge in length extended lay the beast; Then wash their hands, and hasten to the feast. There till the setting sun roll'd down the light, They sat indulging in the genial rite. When evening rose, and darkness cover'd o'er The face of things, we slept along the shore. But when the rosy morning warm'd the east, My men I summon'd, and these words address'd: 'Followers and friends; attend what I propose : Ye sad companions of Ulysses' woes! We know not here what land before us lies, Or to what quarter now we turn our eyes, Or where the sun shall set, or where shall rise. Here let us think (if thinking be not vain) If any counsel, any hope remain. Alas! from yonder promontory's brow, I view'd the coast, a region flat and low; An isle encircled with the boundless flood; A length of thickets, and entangled wood.

}

Some smoke I saw amid the forest rise,
And all around it only seas and skies!'

، With broken hearts my sad companions stood,
Mindful of Cyclops and his human food,
And horrid Læstrigons, the men of blood.
Presaging tears apace began to rain;
But tears in mortal miseries are vain.
In equal parts I straight divide my band,
And name a chief each party to conimand.
I led the one, and of the other side
Appointed brave Eurylochus the guide.
Then in the brazen helm the lots we throw,
And fortune casts Eurylochus to go :
He march'd, with twice eleven in his train:
Pensive they march, and pensive we remain.

The palace in a woody vale they found, High rais'd of stone; a shaded space around : Where mountain wolves and brindled lions roam, (By magic tam'd) familiar to the dome. With gentle blandishment our men they meet, And wag their tails, and fawning lick their feet. As from some feast a man returning late, His faithful dogs all meet him at the gate, Rejoicing round, some morsel to receive (Such as the good man ever us'd to give): Domestic thus the grizly beasts drew near: They gaze with wonder, not unmix'd with fear. Now on the threshold of the dome they stood, And heard a voice resounding through the wood: Plac'd at her loom within, the goddess sung; The vaulted roofs and solid pavement rung. O'er the fair web the rising figures shine, Immortal labour! worthy hands divine.

{

Polites to the rest the question mov'd (A gallant leader, and a man I lov'd):

What voice celestial, chanting to the loom, Or nymph or goddess, echoes from the room? Say shall we seek access? With that they call; And wide unfold the portals of the hall.

'The goddess, rising, asks her guests to stay, Who blindly follow where she leads the way. Eurylochus alone of all the band, Suspecting fraud, more prudently remain'd. On thrones around with downy coverings grac'd, With semblance fair the unhappy men she plac'd. Milk newly press'd, the sacred flour of wheat, And honey fresh, and Pramnian wines, the treat: But venom'd was the bread, and mix'd the bowl, With drugs of force to darken all the soul : Soon in the luscious feast themselves they lost, And drank oblivion of their native coast. Instant her circling wand the goddess waves, To hogs transforms them, and the sty receives. No more was seen the human form divine; Head, face, and members bristle into swine: Still curs'd with sense, their minds remain alone, And their own voice affrights them when they groan. Meanwhile the goddess in disdain bestows The mast and acorn, brutal food! and strows The fruits of cornel, as their feast around; Now prone and groveling on unsavoury ground.

'Eurylochus with pensive steps and slow,

Aghast returns; the messenger of woe,
And bitter fate. To speak he made essay,

In vain essay'd, nor would his tongue obey,
His swelling heart denied the words their way:

}

But speaking tears the want of words supply,
And the full soul bursts copious from his eye.
Affrighted, anxious for our fellows' fates,
We press to hear what sadly he relates.

'We went, Ulysses! (such was thy command)
Through the lone thicket, and the desert land.
A palace in a woody vale we found
Brown with dark forests, and with shades around.
A voice celestial echoed from the dome,
Or nymph, or goddess, chanting to the loom.
Access we sought, nor was access denied :
Radiant she came; the portals open'd wide :
The goddess mild invites the guests to stay:
They blindly follow where she leads the way.
I only wait behind, of all the train :
I waited long, and ey'd the doors in vain :
The rest are vanish'd, none repass'd the gate;
And not a man appears to tell their fate.'

' I heard, and instant o'er my shoulders flung The belt in which my weighty falchion hung; (A beamy blade) then seiz'd the bended bow, And bade him guide the way, resolv'd to go. He, prostrate falling, with both hands embrac'd My knees, and weeping thus his suit address'd:

O king belov'd of Jove! thy servant spare,

And ah, thyself the rash attempt forbear!
Never, alas! thou never shalt return,
Or see the wretched for whose loss we mourn.
With what remains from certain ruin fly,
And save the few not fated yet to die.'

'I answer'd stern: 'Inglorious then remain,
Here feast and loiter, and desert thy train.
Alone, unfriended, will I tempt my way;
The laws of fate compel, and I obey.'

'This said, and scornful turning from the shore

My haughty step, I stalk'd the valley o'er.
Till now approaching nigh the magic bower,
Where dwelt the' enchantress skill'd in herbs of

power;

A form divine forth issued from the wood,
(Immortal Hermes with the golden rod)
In human semblance. On his bloomy face
Youth smil'd celestial, with each opening grace.
He seiz'd my hand, and gracious thus began :
"Ah, whither roam'st thou? much-enduring man!
O blind to fate! what led thy steps to rove
The horrid mazes of this magic grove?
Each friend you seek in yon enclosure lies,
All lost their form, and habitants of styes.
Think'st thou by wit to model their escape?
Sooner shalt thou, a stranger to thy shape,
Fall prone their equal: first thy danger know,
Then take the antidote the gods bestow.
The plant I give through all the direful bow'r
Shall guard thee, and avert the evil hour.
Now hear her wicked arts. Before thy eyes
The bowl shall sparkle, and the banquet rise;
Take this, nor from the faithless feast abstain,
For temper'd drugs and poisons shall be vain.
Soon as she strikes her wand, and gives the word,
Draw forth and brandish thy refulgent sword,
And menace death: those menaces shall move
Her alter'd mind to blandishment and love.
Nor shun the blessing proffer'd to thy arms;
Ascend her bed, and taste celestial charms :
So shall thy tedious toils a respite find,
And thy lost friends return to human kind,