And frit Leiodes, blamelefs priest, appear'd:
The eldest born of Cenops noble race,
Who next the goblet held his holy place:
He, only he, of all the fuitor throng,
Their deeds detefted, and abjur'd the wrong.
With tender hands the ftubborn horn he trains,
The stubborn horn refifted all his pains!
Already in defpair he gives it o'er :

166

Take it who will, he cries, I ftrive no more. 160
What numerous deaths attend his fatal bow!
What fouls and fpirits fhall it fend below!
Better, indeed to die, and fairly give
Nature her debt, than difappointed live,
With each new fun to fome new hope a prey,
Yet fill to-morrow faller than to-day.
How long in vain Penelope we fought;
This bow fall eafe us of that idle thought,
Aad fend us with fome bumbler wife to live, 170
Whom gold all gain, or destiny shall give.
Thus fpeaking, on the Hoor the bow he plac'd,
(With rich inlay the various floor was grac’d)
At diftance far the feather'd that he throws,
And to the feat returns from whence he rofe, 175
To him Antinous thus with rury faid:
What words ill-omen'd from thy lips have fled!
Thy coward-function ever is in fear;
Thofe arms are dreadful which thou canst not bear.
Why fould this bow be fatal to the brave? 180
Becaufe the priest is born a peaceful flave.
Mark then what others can-He ended there,
And bade Melanthius a vaft pile prepare;
He gives it inftant flame: then fast befide
Spreads o'er an ample board a bullock's hide. 184
With melted lard they foak the weapon o'er,
Chafe every knot, and fupple every pore.
Vain all their art, and all their ftrength as vain;
The bow inflexible refits their pain
The force of great Eurymachus alone
And hold Antinous, yet untry'd, unknown;
Thole only now remain'd; but thofe confefs'd
Of all the train the mightieft and the beft.

190

100

Then from the hal', and from the noisy crew, The mafters of the herd and flock withdrew. 195 The king obferves them: he the hall forfakes And, paf the limits of the court, o'ertakes. Then thus with accent mild Ulyffes fpoke : Ye faithful guardians of the herd and dock! Shall I the fecret of my breast conceal, Or (as my foul now dictates) fhall I tell?Say, fhould fome favouring God restore again The loft Ulyffes to his native reign? How beat your hearts? what aid would you af To the proud fuitors, or your ancient lord? 105 Philetius thus: Oh were thy word not vain! Would mighty Jove reftore that man again! Thefe aged finews with new vigour ftrung In his bleft cause should emulate the young. With equal vows Eumeus too implor'd

[ford,

Each Power above, with withes for his lord,

110

He faw their fecret fouls, and thus began:
Thofe vows the Gods accord: behold the man!
Your own Ulyffes! twice ten years detain'd
By woes and wanderings from this bapless land:
At length he comes; but comes defpis'd, un-
known,

And finding faithful you, and you alone.
All cle bave cat him from their very thought,
Ev'n in their wishes, and their prayers forgot!
Hear then, my friends: If Jove this arm fuc
ceed,

121

125

130

And give yon impious revellers to bleed,
My care fhall be, to bless your future lives
With large poffeffions, and with faithful wives;
Fait by my palace fhall your domes atcend,
And each on young Telemachus attend,
And each be call'd hs brother, and my friend.
To give you firmer faith, now truft your eye;
Lo! the load fear indented on my thigh,
When with Autolycus's fons, of yore,
On Parnafs' top I chas'd the tuiky boar.
His ragged veit then drawn afde difclos'd
The fign confpicuous, and the fcar expos'd;
Eager they view'd; with joy they ftood amaz'd;
With tearful eyes o'er all their master gaz❜d:
Around his neck their longing arms they caft,
His head, his fhoulders, and his knees embrac'd :
Tears follow'd tears; no word was in their pow-
In folemn flence fell the kindly fhower.
The king too weeps, the king too grafps their
hands,

And movelefs as a marble fountain ftands.

[er:

140

Thus had their joy wept down the fetting fun. But firft the wife man ceas'd, and thus begun : Enough-on other cares your thought employ, For danger waits on all untimely joy. 145 Full many foes, and fierce, obterve us near: Some may betray, and yonder walls may hear. Re-enter then, not all at once, but ftay Some moments you, and let me lead the way. | To me, neglected as I am, I know The haughty fuitors will deny the bow: But thou, Lumous, as 'tis borne away, Thy mafter's weapon to his hand convey. At every portal let fome matron wait, And each lock faft the well-compacted gate: Close let them keep, whate'er invades their ear; Though arms, or shouts, or dying groans, they

hear.

.1.50

To thy ftrict charge, Philætius, we confign The court's main gate: to guard that pafs be thine.

160

This faid, he first return'd: the faithful fwains At diftance follow, as their king ordains. Before the flame Eurymachus now stands, And turns the bow, and chafes it with his hands: Still the tough bow unmov'd. The lofty man Sigh'd from his mighty foul, and thus began: I mourn the common caufe: for, oh, my friends! 165 On me, on all, what grief, what fhame attends! Not the loft nuptials can affect me more, (For Greece has beauteous dames on every fhore) But baffled thus: confefs'd fo far below Ulyffes' ftrength, as not to bend his bow! How fhall all ages our attempt deride! Our weaknefs fcorn! Antinous thus reply'd ;

They heard well-pleas'd: the ready heralds bring

The cleanfing waters from the limpid fpring: The goblet high with rofy wine they crown'd, In order circling to the peers around. That rite complete, uprose the thoughtful man, And thus his meditated fcheme began:

240

250

200

If what I ask your noble minds approve, Ye peers and rivals in the royal love! Chief if it hurt not great Antinous ear, (Whole fage decifion I with wonder hear) And if Eurymachus the motion pleafe, Give Heaven this day, and reft the bow in peace. To-morrow let your arms difpute the prize, And take it he, the favour'd of the kies. But, fiuce till then this trial you delay, Truft it one moment to my hands to-day : Fain would I prove, before your judging eyes, What once I was, whom wretched you defpife; If yet this arm its ancient force retain; Or if my woes (a long-continued train) And wants and infults, make me lefs than man? Rage flafh'd in lightning from the fuitors' eyes, Yet mix'd with terror at the bold emprize. Antinous then: Oh, miferable gueft!

205

210

Is common fenfe quite banish'd from thy breaft? Suffield it not within the palace plac'd

215

To st distinguish'd, with our prefence grac'd,
Admitted here with princes to confer,
A man unknown, a needy wanderer?
To copious wine this infolence we owe,
And much thy betters wine can overthrow :
The great Eurytion when this frenzy ftung,
Pirithous' roofs with frantic riot rung;
Boundless the Centaur rag'd; till one and all 220
The heroes rofe, and dragg'd him from the hall;
His nofe they fhorten'd, and his ears they fiit,
And fent him fober'd home with better wit.
Hence with long war the double race was curs'd,
Fatal to all, but to th' aggreffor £rst.
Such fate I prophefy our guest attends,
If here this interdicted bow he bends:
Nor all thefe walls fuch infolence contain;
The frit fair wind transports him o'er the main;
Where Fektus to death the guilty brings,
(The worst of mortals, ev'n the wort of kings.)
Better than that, if thou approve our cheer;
Ceafe the mad firife, and share our bounty here.

225

235

To this the queen her just dislike exprefs'd: Tis impious, prince, to harm the firanger guest, Bafe to infult who bears a fuppliant's name, And fome refpe& Telemachus may claim.

265

270

275

28.

Mature beyond his years, the queen admir'd His fage reply, and with her train retir'd; There, in her chamber as fhe fate apart, Revolv'd his words, and plac'd them in her 285 heart.

On her Ulyffes then the fix'd her foul,
Down her fair cheek the tears abundant roll,
Till gentle Pallas, pitecus of her cries,
In fumber clos'd her filver-freaming cyes.
Now through the prefs the bew Eumaus bere,
And all was rict, noife, and wild uproar,
Hold! lawless rufie! whither wilt thou go?
To whom, it fate, dost thou bear the bow?
Exild for this to fome fequefter'd den,
Far from the fweet fociety of men,
To thy own dogs a prey thou shalt be made;
If Heaven and Phobus lend the fuiters aid.
Thus they. Aghaft he kid the weapon down,
But bold Telemachus thus urg'd him on:
Proceed, falfe flave, and fight their empty vorje.
What hopes the icol to pleuis to many jorden

205

The fuitor with a fcornful finile furvey
The youth, indulging in the genial day,
Eumeus, thus encourag'd, haftes to bring
The trile-full bow, and gives it to the king. 410
C Euryclea calling them afde,

Hear what Telemachus enjoins (he cry'd);
At every portal Jet fome matron wait,
And each lock fat the well-compacted gate;
And if unufual founds invade their ear,
If arms, or fhouts, or dying groans they hear,
Let none to call or iue forth prefume,
But close attend the labours of the loom.

415

420

Her prompt obedience on his order waits; Clos'd in an inftant were the palace gates. In the fame moment forth Philetius flies, Secures the court, and with a cable ties The utmost gate (the cable ftrongly wrought Of Byblos' reed, a fhip from Egypt brought); Then unperceiv'd and flent at the board His feat he takes, his eyes upon his lord.

425

To fome new ftrain when he adapts the lyre. Or the dumb lute refits with vocal wire, Relaxes, trains, and draws them to and fro; So the great matter drew the mighty bow: And drew with ease. One hand aloft display'd The bending horns, and one the firing effay'd. From his eflaying hand the ftring let fly

Twang'd short and sharp, like the thrill (wallow's

cry.

450

A general horror ran through all the race,
Sunk was each heart, and pale was every face,
Signs from above enfued: th' unfolding sky
In lightning burft: Jove thunder'd from es
high.

Fir'd at the call of Heaven's Almighty Lord, 455
He fnatch'd the fhaft that glitter'd on the board:
(Fast by the reft lay fleeping in the sheath,
But foon to fly the meffengers of death),

Now fitting as he was the cord he drew,
Through every ringlet levelling his view;
Then notch'd the fhaft, releas'd, and gave

wing:

450

The whizzing arrow vanish'd from the string,
Sung on direct, and threaded every ring.
The folid gate its fury fcarcely bounds;
Pierc'd through and through the folid gate re
founds.

465

And now his well-known bow the mafter bore, Turn'd on all ides, and view'd it o'er and o'er : Lef. time or worms had done the weapon wrong, Its owner abfent, and untry'd fo long. While fome deriding-How he turns the bow! Some other like it fure the man must know, ' Or elfe would copy; or in bows he deals;. Perhaps he makes them, or perhaps he ftealsHeaven to this wretch (another cry'd) be kind! And blefs, in all to wh ch he ftands inclin'd, With fech good fortune as he now fi all ind. Heedlef; he heard them; but difdain'd reply ; The bow peruf ng with exa&eft eye. Then, as fome heavenly minstrel, tought to fing High notes refponfive to the trembling firing,

440

That ancient vigour, once my pride and boaft.
Ill I deferv'd thefe haughty peers' difdain; 470
Now let them comfort their dejected train,
In fweet repast the prefeat hour employ,
Nor wait till evening for the genial joy :
Then to the lute's foft voice prolong the night;
Mufc, the banquet's moft refin'd delight.

He faid, then gave a nod; and at the word
Telemachus girds on his fining sword.
Faft by his father's fide he takes his ftand:
The beamy javelin lightens in his hand.

475

are

16

Wretch that he was, of unprophetic foul! High in his hands he rear'd the golden bowl! Ev'n then to drain it lengthen'd out his breath: Chang'd to the deep, the bitter draught of death For Fate who fear'd amidit a fearful bad? And Fate to numbers, by a fingle hand? Full through his throat Uly Tes' weapon paf'd, And pierc'd the neck. He falls, and breathes his lat.

20

24

The tumbling goblet the wide floor o'erflows, A fiream of gore burft spouting from his nofe; Grim in convulfive agonies he fprawls: Before him fpura'd the loaded table falls, And fpreads the pavement with a mingled flood Of floating meats, and wine, and human blood. Amazid, contounded, as they faw him fall, Uprofe the throngs tumultuous round the hall; O'er all the dome they caft a haggard eye, Each look'd for arms: in vain; no arms were nigh: Ain't thou at princes? (all amaz'd they faid) 31 Thy laft of games unhappy haft thou play d; Thy erring fhaft has made our braveft bleed, And death, unlucky gueft, attends thy deed. Vultures fhall tear thee- thus incens'd they fpoke, Whilecach to chance afcrib'd the wond'rous ftroke, Blind as they were; for death ev'n now invades His deftin'd prey, and wraps them all in shades. Then, grimly frowning with a dreadful look, That wither'd all their hearts, Ulyffes fpoke: 40 Dogs, ye have had your day; ye fear'd no more Ulyffes vengeful from the Trojan fhore; While, to your luft and ipoil a gardless prey, Our houfe, our wealth, our helplef's handmaids lay: Not fo content, with bolder frenzy fir'd, Ev'n to our bed prefumptuous you aspir'd : Laws, or divine or human fail'd to move, Or frame of men, or dread of Gods above: Heedlefs alike of infamy or praife, Or Fame's eternal voice in future day's: The hour of vengeance, wretches, now is come, Impending fate is yours, and inftant doom. Thus dreadful he. Confus'd the fuiters ftood, From their pale cheeks recedes the flying blood: Trembling they fought their guilty heads to hide, Alone the bold Furymachus reply'd: 56

45

50

60

If, as thy words impart, (he thus began) Ulyffes lives, and thou the mighty man, Great are thy wrongs and much halt thou sustain'd In thy fpoil'd palace, and exhausted land; The caufe and author of thofe guilty deeds,. Lo! at thy feet unjust Antinous bleeds. Not love, but wild ambition was his guide; To lay thy fon, thy kingdoms to divide, There were his aims; but jufter Jove deny'd. Since cold in death th' offender lies: oh spare 66 Thy fupplia t people, and receive their prayer! Brafs, gold, and treafures, fhall the spoil defray, Two hundred oxen every prince fhall pay : The waste of years refunded in a day. Till then thy wrath is juft-Uly Tes bura'd With high difdaia, and fteraly thus return'd: All, all the treafures that enrich'd our throne Before your rapines, join'd with all your own, If offer'd, vain y fhould for mercy call; that offer, and I fcorn them all:

'Tis

you

VOL. VI.

70.

75

90

Your blood is my demand, your lives the prize,
Till pale as yonder wretch each fuitor lies.
He ce with thofe coward terms; or ght or fly;
80
Tais choice is left you, to refift or die;
And die I trust ye Hall →e fternly spoke :
With guilty ears the pale affembly fhook.
Alo e Eury machus exhorts the train:
Yon archer, com ades, will not froot in vain;
But rom the threshold shall his darts be fped, 85
(Whoe'er he be) till every prince lie dead?
Be mindful of yourfelves, draw forth your fwords, .
And to his fha ts obtend thefe ample boards
(So need compel). Then all united ftrive
The bold invader from his peft to drive;
The city rou'd fhall to our rescue hafte.
And this mad archer foon have ot his la.
Swift as he Ipoke, he drew his traitor iword,
And like a lion rufied agaisft his lord :
The wary chief the rufhing foe reprefs d,
Who met the point, and fore'd it in his breaft:
His falling hand deferts the lifted fword,
And prone he falls extended o er the board!
Before him wide, in mix'd effufon, roll
Th' untatted viands, and the jovial bowl.
Full through his liver paf'd the mortal wound,
With dying rage his forehead beats the ground.
He fpura'd the feat with fury as he fell,
And the fierce foul to darkness div'd and hell.
Next bold Amphinomus his arm extends
To force the pafs; the godlike man defe ads.
Thy fpear, Telemachus! prevents th' attack,
The brazen weapon driving through his back,
Thence thro' his breait its bloody palage tore;
Flat falls he thundering on the marble hoor,
And his crufh'd forehead marks the tone with
gore

95

105

111

114

120

125

He left his javelin in the dead, for fear
The long incumbrance of the wighty spear
To the fierce foe advantage might afford,
To rust between and use the forten'd fword.
With speedy ardour to his re he flies,
And, Arm, great father! arm (in hafte he cries);
Lo! hence I run for other arm to wield,
For miffle javelis, aid for helm and field;
Fat by our fde let either faithful fwain
In arms attend us, and their part fusain.
Halte ad return (Ulyffes made reply)
While yet th' auxiliar that this haud fupply;
Left thus alone, encounter'd by an ho,
Driv'n from the gate, th' important paß be loft.
With fpeed Telemachus obeys, and lies
Where pil'd on heaps the royal armour lies;
Four brazen helmets, eight refulgent spears,
And four broad bucklers, to his fire he bears:
At once in brazen panoply they fhone,
At once each fervant brac'd his armour on;
Around their king a faithful guard they ftand,
While yet each fhaft flew deathful from his hand;
Chief after chief expir'd at every wound,
And well'd the bleeding mountain on the ground.
Soon as his ftore of flying fates was spent,
Against the wall he fet the bow unbent:
And now his fhoulders bear the may field,
And now his hands two beamy javelins wild:
He frowns beneath his nodding plume that play'd
O'er the high creft, and caft a dreadful fade,

130

136