He said; and mantled as he was, a quoit Upstarting, seized, in bulk and weight all those Transcending far, by the Phaeacians used. 230 Swiftly he swung, and from his vig"rous hand Sent it. Loud sang the stone, and as it flew The maritime Phaeacians low inclined Their heads beneath it; over all the marks, And far beyond them, sped the flying rock.
Minerva, in a human form, the cast Prodigious measur"d, and aloud exclaim"d.
Stranger! the blind himself might with his hands Feel out the "vantage here. Thy quoit disdains Fellowship with a crowd, borne far beyond. 240 Fear not a losing game; Phaeacian none Will reach thy measure, much less overcast.
She ceased; Ulysses, hardy Chief, rejoiced That in the circus he had found a judge So favorable, and with brisker tone, As less in wrath, the mult.i.tude address"d.
Young men, reach this, and I will quickly heave Another such, or yet a heavier quoit.
Then, come the man whose courage prompts him forth To box, to wrestle with me, or to run; 250 For ye have chafed me much, and I decline No strife with any here, but challenge all Phaeacia, save Laodamas alone.
He is mine host. Who combats with his friend?
To call to proof of hardiment the man Who entertains him in a foreign land, Would but evince the challenger a fool, Who, so, would cripple his own interest there.
As for the rest, I none refuse, scorn none, But wish for trial of you, and to match 260 In opposition fair my force with yours.
There is no game athletic in the use Of all mankind, too difficult for me; I handle well the polish"d bow, and first Amid a thousand foes strike whom I mark, Although a throng of warriors at my side Imbattled, speed their shafts at the same time.
Of all Achaia"s sons who erst at Troy Drew bow, the sole who bore the prize from me Was Philoctetes; I resign it else 270 To none now nourish"d with the fruits of earth.
Yet mean I no comparison of myself With men of antient times, with Hercules, Or with Oechalian Eurytus, who, both, The G.o.ds themselves in archery defied.
Soon, therefore, died huge Eurytus, ere yet Old age he reach"d; him, angry to be call"d To proof of archership, Apollo slew.
But if ye name the spear, mine flies a length By no man"s arrow reach"d; I fear no foil 280 From the Phaeacians, save in speed alone; For I have suffer"d hardships, dash"d and drench"d By many a wave, nor had I food on board At all times, therefore I am much unstrung.
He spake; and silent the Phaeacians sat, Of whom alone Alcinous thus replied.
Since, stranger, not ungraceful is thy speech, Who hast but vindicated in our ears Thy question"d prowess, angry that this youth Reproach"d thee in the presence of us all, 290 That no man qualified to give his voice In public, might affront thy courage more; Now mark me, therefore, that in time to come, While feasting with thy children and thy spouse, Thou may"st inform the Heroes of thy land Even of our proficiency in arts By Jove enjoin"d us in our father"s days.
We boast not much the boxer"s skill, nor yet The wrestler"s; but light-footed in the race Are we, and navigators well-inform"d. 300 Our pleasures are the feast, the harp, the dance, Garments for change; the tepid bath; the bed.
Come, ye Phaeacians, beyond others skill"d To tread the circus with harmonious steps, Come, play before us; that our guest, arrived In his own country, may inform his friends How far in seamanship we all excel, In running, in the dance, and in the song.
Haste! bring ye to Demodocus his lyre Clear-toned, left somewhere in our hall at home. 310 So spake the G.o.dlike King, at whose command The herald to the palace quick return"d To seek the charming lyre. Meantime arose Nine arbiters, appointed to intend The whole arrangement of the public games, To smooth the circus floor, and give the ring Its compa.s.s, widening the attentive throng.
Ere long the herald came, bearing the harp, With which Demodocus supplied, advanced Into the middle area, around whom 320 Stood blooming youths, all skilful in the dance.
With footsteps justly timed all smote at once The sacred floor; Ulysses wonder-fixt, The ceaseless play of twinkling[30] feet admired.
Then, tuning his sweet chords, Demodocus A jocund strain began, his theme, the loves Of Mars and Cytherea chaplet-crown"d; How first, clandestine, they embraced beneath The roof of Vulcan, her, by many a gift Seduced, Mars won, and with adult"rous l.u.s.t 330 The bed dishonour"d of the King of fire.
The sun, a witness of their amorous sport, Bore swift the tale to Vulcan; he, apprized Of that foul deed, at once his smithy sought, In secret darkness of his inmost soul Contriving vengeance; to the stock he heav"d His anvil huge, on which he forged a snare Of bands indissoluble, by no art To be untied, durance for ever firm.
The net prepared, he bore it, fiery-wroth, 340 To his own chamber and his nuptial couch, Where, stretching them from post to post, he wrapp"d With those fine meshes all his bed around, And hung them num"rous from the roof, diffused Like spiders" filaments, which not the G.o.ds Themselves could see, so subtle were the toils.
When thus he had encircled all his bed On ev"ry side, he feign"d a journey thence To Lemnos, of all cities that adorn The earth, the city that he favours most. 350 Nor kept the G.o.d of the resplendent reins Mars, drowsy watch, but seeing that the famed Artificer of heav"n had left his home, Flew to the house of Vulcan, hot to enjoy The G.o.ddess with the wreath-encircled brows.
She, newly from her potent Sire return"d The son of Saturn, sat. Mars, ent"ring, seiz"d Her hand, hung on it, and thus urg"d his suit.
To bed, my fair, and let us love! for lo!
Thine husband is from home, to Lemnos gone, 360 And to the Sintians, men of barb"rous speech.
He spake, nor she was loth, but bedward too Like him inclined; so then, to bed they went, And as they lay"d them down, down stream"d the net Around them, labour exquisite of hands By ingenuity divine inform"d.
Small room they found, so prison"d; not a limb Could either lift, or move, but felt at once Entanglement from which was no escape.
And now the glorious artist, ere he yet 370 Had reach"d the Lemnian isle, limping, return"d From his feign"d journey, for his spy the sun Had told him all. With aching heart he sought His home, and, standing in the vestibule, Frantic with indignation roar"d to heav"n, And roar"d again, summoning all the G.o.ds.-- Oh Jove! and all ye Pow"rs for ever blest!
Here; hither look, that ye may view a sight Ludicrous, yet too monstrous to be borne, How Venus always with dishonour loads 380 Her cripple spouse, doating on fiery Mars!
And wherefore? for that he is fair in form And sound of foot, I ricket-boned and weak.
Whose fault is this? Their fault, and theirs alone Who gave me being; ill-employ"d were they Begetting me, one, better far unborn.
See where they couch together on my bed Lascivious! ah, sight hateful to my eyes!
Yet cooler wishes will they feel, I ween, To press my bed hereafter; here to sleep 390 Will little please them, fondly as they love.
But these my toils and tangles will suffice To hold them here, till Jove shall yield me back Complete, the sum of all my nuptial gifts Paid to him for the shameless strumpet"s sake His daughter, as incontinent as fair.
He said, and in the brazen-floor"d abode Of Jove the G.o.ds a.s.sembled. Neptune came Earth-circling Pow"r; came Hermes friend of man, And, regent of the far-commanding bow, 400 Apollo also came; but chaste reserve Bashful kept all the G.o.ddesses at home.
The G.o.ds, by whose beneficence all live, Stood in the portal; infinite arose The laugh of heav"n, all looking down intent On that shrewd project of the smith divine, And, turning to each other, thus they said.
Bad works speed ill. The slow o"ertakes the swift.
So Vulcan, tardy as he is, by craft Hath outstript Mars, although the fleetest far 410 Of all who dwell in heav"n, and the light-heel"d Must pay the adult"rer"s forfeit to the lame.
So spake the Pow"rs immortal; then the King Of radiant shafts thus question"d Mercury.
Jove"s son, heaven"s herald, Hermes, bounteous G.o.d!
Would"st _thou_ such stricture close of bands endure For golden Venus lying at thy side?
Whom answer"d thus the messenger of heav"n Archer divine! yea, and with all my heart; And be the bands which wind us round about 420 Thrice these innumerable, and let all The G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses in heav"n look on, So I may clasp Vulcan"s fair spouse the while.
He spake; then laugh"d the Immortal Pow"rs again.
But not so Neptune; he with earnest suit The glorious artist urged to the release Of Mars, and thus in accents wing"d he said.
Loose him; accept my promise; he shall pay Full recompense in presence of us all.
Then thus the limping smith far-famed replied. 430 Earth-circler Neptune, spare me that request.
Lame suitor, lame security.[31] What bands Could I devise for thee among the G.o.ds, Should Mars, emanc.i.p.ated once, escape, Leaving both debt and durance, far behind?
Him answer"d then the Shaker of the sh.o.r.es.
I tell thee, Vulcan, that if Mars by flight Shun payment, I will pay, myself, the fine.
To whom the glorious artist of the skies.
Thou must not, canst not, shalt not be refused. 440 So saying, the might of Vulcan loos"d the snare, And they, detain"d by those coercive bands No longer, from the couch upstarting, flew, Mars into Thrace, and to her Paphian home The Queen of smiles, where deep in myrtle groves Her incense-breathing altar stands embow"r"d.
Her there, the Graces laved, and oils diffused O"er all her form, ambrosial, such as add Fresh beauty to the G.o.ds for ever young, And cloath"d her in the loveliest robes of heav"n. 450 Such was the theme of the ill.u.s.trious bard.
Ulysses with delight that song, and all The maritime Phaeacian concourse heard.
Alcinous, then, (for in the dance they pa.s.s"d All others) call"d his sons to dance alone, Halius and Laodamas; they gave The purple ball into their hands, the work Exact of Polybus; one, re-supine, Upcast it high toward the dusky clouds, The other, springing into air, with ease 460 Received it, ere he sank to earth again.
When thus they oft had sported with the ball Thrown upward, next, with nimble interchange They pa.s.s"d it to each other many a time, Footing the plain, while ev"ry youth of all The circus clapp"d his hands, and from beneath The din of stamping feet fill"d all the air.
Then, turning to Alcinous, thus the wise Ulysses spake: Alcinous! mighty King!
Ill.u.s.trious above all Phaeacia"s sons! 470 Incomparable are ye in the dance, Ev"n as thou said"st. Amazement-fixt I stand!
So he, whom hearing, the imperial might Exulted of Alcinous, and aloud To his oar-skill"d Phaeacians thus he spake.
Phaeacian Chiefs and Senators, attend!
Wisdom beyond the common stint I mark In this our guest; good cause in my account, For which we should present him with a pledge Of hospitality and love. The Chiefs 480 Are twelve, who, highest in command, controul The people, and the thirteenth Chief am I.
Bring each a golden talent, with a vest Well-bleach"d, and tunic; gratified with these, The stranger to our banquet shall repair Exulting; bring them all without delay; And let Euryalus by word and gift Appease him, for his speech was unadvised.
He ceas"d, whom all applauded, and at once Each sent his herald forth to bring the gifts, 490 When thus Euryalus his Sire address"d.
Alcinous! o"er Phaeacia"s sons supreme!
I will appease our guest, as thou command"st.
This sword shall be his own, the blade all steel.
The hilt of silver, and the unsullied sheath Of iv"ry recent from the carver"s hand, A gift like this he shall not need despise.
So saying, his silver-studded sword he gave Into his grasp, and, courteous, thus began.
Hail, honour"d stranger! and if word of mine 500 Have harm"d thee, rashly spoken, let the winds Bear all remembrance of it swift away!
May the G.o.ds give thee to behold again Thy wife, and to attain thy native sh.o.r.e, Whence absent long, thou hast so much endured!
To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.
Hail also thou, and may the G.o.ds, my friend, Grant thee felicity, and may never want Of this thy sword touch thee in time to come, By whose kind phrase appeas"d my wrath subsides! 510 He ended, and athwart his shoulders threw The weapon bright emboss"d. Now sank the sun, And those rich gifts arrived, which to the house Of King Alcinous the heralds bore.
Alcinous" sons receiv"d them, and beside Their royal mother placed the precious charge.
The King then led the way, at whose abode Arrived, again they press"d their lofty thrones, And to Areta thus the monarch spake.
Haste, bring a coffer; bring thy best, and store 520 A mantle and a sumptuous vest within; Warm for him, next, a brazen bath, by which Refresh"d, and viewing in fair order placed The n.o.ble gifts by the Phaeacian Lords Conferr"d on him, he may the more enjoy Our banquet, and the bard"s harmonious song.
I give him also this my golden cup Splendid, elaborate; that, while he lives What time he pours libation forth to Jove And all the G.o.ds, he may remember me. 530 He ended, at whose words Areta bade Her maidens with dispatch place o"er the fire A tripod ample-womb"d; obedient they Advanced a laver to the glowing hearth, Water infused, and kindled wood beneath The flames encircling bright the bellied vase, Warm"d soon the flood within. Meantime, the Queen Producing from her chamber-stores a chest All-elegant, within it placed the gold, And raiment, gifts of the Phaeacian Chiefs, 540 With her own gifts, the mantle and the vest, And in wing"d accents to Ulysses said.
Now take, thyself, the coffer"s lid in charge; Girdle it quickly with a cord, lest loss Befall thee on thy way, while thou perchance Shalt sleep secure on board the sable bark.
Which when Ulysses heard, Hero renown"d, Adjusting close the lid, he cast a cord Around it which with many a mazy knot He tied, by Circe taught him long before. 550 And now, the mistress of the household charge Summon"d him to his bath; glad he beheld The steaming vase, uncustom"d to its use E"er since his voyage from the isle of fair Calypso, although, while a guest with her, Ever familiar with it, as a G.o.d.
Laved by attendant damsels, and with oil Refresh"d, he put his sumptuous tunic on And mantle, and proceeding from the bath To the symposium, join"d the num"rous guests; 560 But, as he pa.s.s"d, the Princess all divine Beside the pillars of the portal, lost In admiration of his graceful form, Stood, and in accents wing"d him thus address"d.
Hail, stranger! at thy native home arrived Remember me, thy first deliv"rer here.
To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.
Nausicaa! daughter of the n.o.ble King Alcinous! So may Jove, high-thund"ring mate Of Juno, grant me to behold again 570 My native land, and my delightful home, As, even there, I will present my vows To thee, adoring thee as I adore The G.o.ds themselves, virgin, by whom I live!
He said, and on his throne beside the King Alcinous sat. And now they portion"d out The feast to all, and charg"d the cups with wine, And introducing by his hand the bard Phaeacia"s glory, at the column"s side The herald placed Demodocus again. 580 Then, carving forth a portion from the loins Of a huge brawn, of which uneaten still Large part and delicate remain"d, thus spake Ulysses--Herald! bear it to the bard For his regale, whom I will soon embrace In spite of sorrow; for respect is due And veneration to the sacred bard From all mankind, for that the muse inspires Herself his song, and loves the tuneful tribe.
He ended, and the herald bore his charge 590 To the old hero who with joy received That meed of honour at the bearer"s hand.
Then, all, at once, a.s.sail"d the ready feast, And hunger now, and thirst both satisfied, Thus to Demodocus Ulysses spake.
Demodocus! I give thee praise above All mortals, for that either thee the muse Jove"s daughter teaches, or the King, himself, Apollo; since thou so record"st the fate, With such clear method, of Achaia"s host, 600 Their deeds heroic, and their num"rous toils, As thou hadst present been thyself, or learnt From others present there, the glorious tale.
Come, then, proceed; that rare invention sing, The horse of wood, which by Minerva"s aid Epeus framed, and which Ulysses erst Convey"d into the citadel of Troy With warriors fill"d, who lay"d all Ilium waste.
These things rehea.r.s.e regular, and myself Will, instant, publish in the ears of all 610 Thy fame, reporting thee a bard to whom Apollo free imparts celestial song.
He ended; then Apollo with full force Rush"d on Demodocus, and he began What time the Greeks, first firing their own camp Steer"d all their galleys from the sh.o.r.e of Troy.
Already, in the horse conceal"d, his band Around Ulysses sat; for Ilium"s sons Themselves had drawn it to the citadel.
And there the mischief stood. Then, strife arose 620 Among the Trojans compa.s.sing the horse, And threefold was the doubt; whether to cleave The hollow trunk asunder, or updrawn Aloft, to cast it headlong from the rocks, Or to permit the enormous image, kept Entire, to stand an off"ring to the G.o.ds, Which was their destined course; for Fate had fix"d Their ruin sure, when once they had received Within their walls that engine huge, in which Sat all the bravest Greecians with the fate 630 Of Ilium charged, and slaughter of her sons.
He sang, how, from the horse effused, the Greeks Left their capacious ambush, and the town Made desolate. To others, in his song, He gave the praise of wasting all beside, But told how, fierce as Mars, Ulysses join"d With G.o.dlike Menelaus, to the house Flew of Deiphobus; him there engaged In direst fight he sang, and through the aid Of glorious Pallas, conqu"ror over all. 640 So sang the bard ill.u.s.trious, at whose song Ulysses melted, and tear after tear Fell on his cheeks. As when a woman weeps, Her husband, who hath fallen in defence Of his own city and his babes before The gates; she, sinking, folds him in her arms And, gazing on him as he pants and dies, Shrieks at the sight; meantime, the enemy Smiting her shoulders with the spear to toil Command her and to bondage far away, 650 And her cheek fades with horror at the sound; Ulysses, so, from his moist lids let fall, The frequent tear. Unnoticed by the rest Those drops, but not by King Alcinous, fell Who, seated at his side, his heavy sighs Remark"d, and the Phaeacians thus bespake.
Phaeacian Chiefs and Senators attend!
Now let Demodocus enjoin his harp Silence, for not alike grateful to all His music sounds; during our feast, and since 660 The bard divine began, continual flow The stranger"s sorrows, by remembrance caused Of some great woe which wraps his soul around.
Then, let the bard suspend his song, that all (As most befits th" occasion) may rejoice, Both guest and hosts together; since we make This voyage, and these gifts confer, in proof Of hospitality and unfeign"d love, Judging, with all wise men, the stranger-guest And suppliant worthy of a brother"s place. 670 And thou conceal not, artfully reserv"d, What I shall ask, far better plain declared Than smother"d close; who art thou? speak thy name, The name by which thy father, mother, friends And fellow-citizens, with all who dwell Around thy native city, in times past Have known thee; for of all things human none Lives altogether nameless, whether good Or whether bad, but ev"ry man receives Ev"n in the moment of his birth, a name. 680 Thy country, people, city, tell; the mark At which my ships, intelligent, shall aim, That they may bear thee thither; for our ships No pilot need or helm, as ships are wont, But know, themselves, our purpose; know beside All cities, and all fruitful regions well Of all the earth, and with dark clouds involv"d Plough rapid the rough Deep, fearless of harm, (Whate"er betide) and of disast"rous wreck.
Yet thus, long since, my father I have heard 690 Nausithous speaking; Neptune, he would say, Is angry with us, for that safe we bear Strangers of ev"ry nation to their home; And he foretold a time when he would smite In vengeance some Phaeacian gallant bark Returning after convoy of her charge, And fix her in the sable flood, transform"d Into a mountain, right before the town.
So spake my h.o.a.ry Sire, which let the G.o.d At his own pleasure do, or leave undone. 700 But tell me truth, and plainly. Where have been Thy wand"rings? in what regions of the earth Hast thou arrived? what nations hast thou seen, What cities? say, how many hast thou found Harsh, savage and unjust? how many, kind To strangers, and disposed to fear the G.o.ds?
Say also, from what secret grief of heart Thy sorrows flow, oft as thou hear"st the fate Of the Achaians, or of Ilium sung?