alexander pope - the odyssey (book ii) lyrics
now reddening from the dawn, the morning ray
glow’d in the front of heaven, and gave the day
the youthful hero, with returning light
rose anxious from the inquietudes of night
a royal robe he wore with graceful pride
a two+edged falchion threaten’d by his side
embroider’d sandals glitter’d as he trod
and forth he moved, majestic as a god
then by his heralds, restless of delay
to council calls the peers: the peers obey
soon as in solemn form the assеmbly sate
from his high dome himself dеscends in state
bright in his hand a ponderous javelin shined;
two dogs, a faithful guard, attend behind;
pallas with grace divine his form improves
and gazing crowds admire him as he moves
his father’s throne he fill’d; while distant stood
the h++ry peers, and aged wisdom bow’d
’twas silence all. at last aegyptius spoke;
aegyptius, by his age and sorrow broke;
a length of days his soul with prudence crown’d
a length of days had bent him to the ground
his eldest hope in arms to ilion came
by great ulysses taught the path to fame;
but (hapless youth) the hideous cyclops tore
his quivering limbs, and quaff’d his spouting gore
three sons remain’d; to climb with haughty fires
the royal bed, eurynomus aspires;
the rest with duteous love his griefs assuage
and ease the sire of half the cares of age
yet still his antiphus he loves, he mourns
and, as he stood, he spoke and wept by turns
“since great ulysses sought the phrygian plains
within these walls inglorious silence reigns
say then, ye peers! by whose commands we meet?
why here once more in solemn council sit?
ye young, ye old, the weighty cause disclose:
arrives some message of invading foes?
or say, does high necessity of state
inspire some patriot, and demand debate?
the present synod speaks its author wise;
assist him, jove, thou regent of the skies!”
he spoke. telemachus with transport glows
embraced the omen, and majestic rose
(his royal hand the imperial sceptre sway’d);
then thus, addressing to aegyptius, said:
“reverend old man! lo here confess’d he stands
by whom ye meet; my grief your care demands
no story i unfold of public woes
nor bear advices of impending foes:
peace the blest land, and joys incessant crown:
of all this happy realm, i grieve alone
for my lost sire continual sorrows spring
the great, the good; your father and your king
yet more; our house from its foundation bows
our foes are powerful, and your sons the foes;
hither, unwelcome to the queen, they come;
why seek they not the rich icarian dome?
if she must wed, from other hands require
the dowry: is telemachus her sire?
yet through my court the noise of revel rings
and waste the wise frugality of kings
scarce all my herds their luxury suffice;
scarce all my wine their midnight hours supplies
safe in my youth, in riot still they grow
nor in the helpless orphan dread a foe
but come it will, the time when manhood grants
more powerful advocates than vain complaints
approach that hour! insufferable wrong
cries to the gods, and vengeance sleeps too long
rise then, ye peers! with virtuous anger rise;
your fame revere, but most the avenging skies
by all the deathless powers that reign above
by righteous themis and by thundering jove
(themis, who gives to councils, or denies
success; and humbles, or confirms the wise)
rise in my aid! suffice the tears that flow
for my lost sire, nor add new woe to woe
if e’er he bore the sword to strengthen ill
or, having power to wrong, betray’d the will
on me, on me your kindled wrath assuage
and bid the voice of lawless riot rage
if ruin to your royal race ye doom
be you the spoilers, and our wealth consume
then might we hope redress from juster laws
and raise all ithaca to aid our cause:
but while your sons commit the unpunish’d wrong
you make the arm of violence too strong.”
while thus he spoke, with rage and grief he frown’d
and dash’d the imperial sceptre to the ground
the big round tear hung trembling in his eye:
the synod grieved, and gave a pitying sigh
then silent sate—at length antinous burns
with haughty rage, and sternly thus returns:
“o insolence of youth! whose tongue affords
such railing eloquence, and war of words
studious thy country’s worthies to defame
thy erring voice displays thy mother’s shame
elusive of the bridal day, she gives
fond hopes to all, and all with hopes deceives
did not the sun, through heaven’s wide azure roll’d
for three long years the royal fraud behold?
while she, laborious in delusion, spread
the sp+cious loom, and mix’d the various thread:
where as to life the wondrous figures rise
thus spoke the inventive queen, with artful sighs:
“though cold in death ulysses breathes no more
cease yet awhile to urge the bridal hour:
cease, till to great laertes i bequeath
a task of grief, his ornaments of death
lest when the fates his royal ashes claim
the grecian matrons taint my spotless fame;
when he, whom living mighty realms obey’d
shall want in death a shroud to grace his shade.’
“thus she: at once the generous train complies
nor fraud mistrusts in virtue’s fair disguise
the work she plied; but, studious of delay
by night reversed the labours of the day
while thrice the sun his annual journey made
the conscious lamp the midnight fraud survey’d;
unheard, unseen, three years her arts prevail;
the fourth her maid unfolds the amazing tale
we saw, as unperceived we took our stand
the backward labours of her faithless hand
then urged, she perfects her ill+strious toils;
a wondrous monument of female wiles!
“but you, o peers! and thou, o prince! give ear
(i speak aloud, that every greek may hear):
dismiss the queen; and if her sire approves
let him espouse her to the peer she loves:
bid instant to prepare the bridal train
nor let a race of princes wait in vain
though with a grace divine her soul is blest
and all minerva breathes within her breast
in wondrous arts than woman more renown’d
and more than woman with deep wisdom crown’d;
though tyro nor mycene match her name
not great alcmena (the proud boasts of fame);
yet thus by heaven adorn’d, by heaven’s decree
she shines with fatal excellence, to thee:
with thee, the bowl we drain, indulge the feast
till righteous heaven reclaim her stubborn breast
what though from pole to pole resounds her name!
the son’s destruction waits the mother’s fame:
for, till she leaves thy court, it is decreed
thy bowl to empty and thy flock to bleed.”
while yet he speaks, telemachus replies:
“ev’n nature starts, and what ye ask denies
thus, shall i thus repay a mother’s cares
who gave me life, and nursed my infant years!
while sad on foreign shores ulysses treads
or glides a ghost with unapparent shades;
how to icarius in the bridal hour
shall i, by waste undone, refund the dower?
how from my father should i vengeance dread!
how would my mother curse my hated head!
and while in wrath to vengeful fiends she cries
how from their h+ll would vengeful fiends arise!
abhorr’d by all, accursed my name would grow
the earth’s disgrace, and human+kind my foe
if this displease, why urge ye here your stay?
haste from the court, ye spoilers, haste away:
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 flocks shall bleed;
judge, and assert my right, impartial jove!
by him, and all the immortal host above
(a sacred oath), if heaven the power supply
vengeance i vow, and for your wrongs ye die.”
with that, two eagles from a mountain’s height
by jove’s command direct their rapid flight;
swift they descend, with wing to wing conjoin’d
stretch their broad plumes, and float upon the wind
above the assembled peers they wheel on high
and clang their wings, and hovering beat the sky;
with ardent eyes the rival train they threat
and shrieking loud denounce approaching fate
they cuff, they tear; their cheeks and neck they rend
and from their plumes huge drops of blood descend;
then sailing o’er the domes and towers, they fly
full toward the east, and mount into the sky
the wondering rivals gaze, with cares oppress’d
and chilling horrors freeze in every breast
till big with knowledge of approaching woes
the prince of augurs, halitherses, rose:
prescient he view’d the aërial tracks, and drew
a sure presage from every wing that flew
“ye sons (he cried) of ithaca, give ear;
hear all! but chiefly you, o rivals! hear
destruction sure o’er all your heads impends
ulysses comes, and death his steps attends
nor to the great alone is death decreed;
we and our guilty ithaca must bleed
why cease we then the wrath of heaven to stay?
be humbled all, and lead, ye great! the way
for lo my words no fancied woes relate;
i speak from science and the voice of fate
“when great ulysses sought the phrygian shores
to shake with war proud ilion’s lofty towers
deeds then undone my faithful tongue foretold:
heaven seal’d my words, and you those deeds behold
i see (i cried) his woes, a countless train;
i see his friends o’erwhelm’d beneath the main;
how twice ten years from shore to shore he roams:
now twice ten years are past, and now he comes!”
to whom eurymachus—“fly, dotard fly
with thy wise dreams, and fables of the sky
go prophesy at home, thy sons advise:
here thou art sage in vain—i better read the skies
unnumber’d birds glide through the aërial way;
vagrants of air, and unforeboding stray
cold in the tomb, or in the deeps below
ulysses lies; oh wert thou laid as low!
then would that busy head no broils suggest
for fire to rage telemachus’ breast
from him some bribe thy venal tongue requires
and interest, not the god, thy voice inspires
his guideless youth, if thy experienced age
mislead fallacious into idle rage
vengeance deserved thy malice shall repress
and but augment the wrongs thou would’st redress
telemachus may bid the queen repair
to great icarius, whose paternal care
will guide her passion, and reward her choice
with wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price
till she retires, determined we remain
and both the prince and augur threat in vain:
his pride of words, and thy wild dream of fate
move not the brave, or only move their hate
threat on, o prince! elude the bridal day
threat on, till all thy stores in waste decay
true, greece affords a train of lovely dames
in wealth and beauty worthy of our flames:
but never from this n0bler suit we cease;
for wealth and beauty less than virtue please.”
to whom the youth: “since then in vain i tell
my numerous woes, in silence let them dwell
but heaven, and all the greeks, have heard my wrongs;
to heaven, and all the greeks, redress belongs;
yet this i ask (nor be it ask’d in vain)
a bark to waft me o’er the rolling main
the realms of pyle and sparta to explore
and seek my royal sire from shore to shore;
if, or to fame his doubtful fate be known
or to be learn’d from oracles alone
if yet he lives, with patience i forbear
till the fleet hours restore the circling year;
but if already wandering in the train
of empty shades, i measure back the main
plant the fair column o’er the mighty dead
and yield his consort to the nuptial bed.”
he ceased; and while abash’d the peers attend
mentor arose, ulysses’ faithful friend:
(when fierce in arms he sought the scenes of war
“my friend (he cried), my palace be thy care;
years roll’d on years my godlike sire decay
guard thou his age, and his behests obey.”)
stern as he rose, he cast his eyes around
that flash’d with rage; and as spoke, he frown’d
“o never, never more let king be just
be mild in power, or faithful to his trust!
let tyrants govern with an iron rod
oppress, destroy, and be the scourge of god;
since he who like a father held his reign
so soon forgot, was just and mild in vain!
true, while my friend is grieved, his griefs i share;
yet now the rivals are my smallest care:
they for the mighty mischiefs they devise
ere long shall pay—their forfeit lives the price
but against you, ye greeks! ye coward train!
gods! how my soul is moved with just disdain!
dumb ye all stand, and not one tongue affords
his injured prince the little aid of words.”
while yet he spoke, leocritus rejoined:
“o pride of words, and arrogance of mind!
would’st thou to rise in arms the greeks advise?
join all your powers? in arms, ye greeks, arise!
yet would your powers in vain our strength oppose
the valiant few o’ermatch a host of foes
should great ulysses stern appear in arms
while the bowl circles and the banquet warms;
though to his breast his spouse with transport flies
torn from her breast, that hour, ulysses dies
but hence retreating to your domes repair
to arm the vessel, mentor! be thy care
and halitherses! thine: be each his friend;
ye loved the father: go, the son attend
but yet, i trust, the boaster means to stay
safe in the court, nor tempt the watery way.”
then, with a rushing sound the assembly bend
diverse their steps: the rival rout ascend
the royal dome; while sad the prince explores
the neighbouring main, and sorrowing treads the shores
there, as the waters o’er his hands he shed
the royal suppliant to minerva pray’d:
“o goddess! who descending from the skies
vouchsafed thy presence to my wondering eyes
by whose commands the raging deeps i trace
and seek my sire through storms and rolling seas!
hear from thy heavens above, o warrior maid!
descend once more, propitious to my aid
without thy presence, vain is thy command:
greece, and the rival train, thy voice withstand.”
indulgent to his prayer, the goddess took
sage mentor’s form, and thus like mentor spoke:
“o prince, in early youth divinely wise
born, the ulysses of thy age to rise
if to the son the father’s worth descends
o’er the wide wave success thy ways attends
to tread the walks of death he stood prepared;
and what he greatly thought, he n0bly dared
were not wise sons descendant of the wise
and did not heroes from brave heroes rise
vain were my hopes: few sons attain the praise
of their great sires, and most their sires disgrace
but since thy veins paternal virtue fires
and all penelope thy soul inspires
go, and succeed: the rivals’ aims despise;
for never, never wicked man was wise
blind they rejoice, though now, ev’n now they fall;
death hastes amain: one hour o’erwhelms them all!
and lo, with speed we plough the watery way;
my power shall guard thee, and my hand convey:
the winged vessel studious i prepare
through seas and realms companion of thy care
thou to the court ascend: and to the shores
(when night advances) bear the naval stores;
bread, that decaying man with strength supplies
and generous wine, which thoughtful sorrow flies
meanwhile the mariners, by my command
shall speed aboard, a valiant chosen band
wide o’er the bay, by vessel vessel rides;
the best i choose to waft then o’er the tides.”
she spoke: to his high dome the prince returns
and, as he moves, with royal anguish mourns
’twas riot all, among the lawless train;
boar bled by boar, and goat by goat lay slain
arrived, his hand the g+y antinous press’d
and thus deriding, with a smile address’d:
“grieve not, o daring prince! that n0ble heart;
ill suits g+y youth the stern heroic part
indulge the genial hour, unbend thy soul
leave thought to age, and drain the flowing bowl
studious to ease thy grief, our care provides
the bark, to waft thee o’er the swelling tides.”
“is this (returns the prince) for mirth a time?
when lawless gluttons riot, mirth’s a crime;
the luscious wines, dishonour’d, lose their taste;
the song is noise, and impious is the feast
suffice it to have spent with swift decay
the wealth of kings, and made my youth a prey
but now the wise instructions of the sage
and manly thoughts inspired by manly age
teach me to seek redress for all my woe
here, or in pyle—in pyle, or here, your foe
deny your vessels, ye deny in vain:
a private voyager i pass the main
free breathe the winds, and free the billows flow;
and where on earth i live, i live your foe.”
he spoke and frown’d, nor longer deign’d to stay
sternly his hand withdrew, and strode away
meantime, o’er all the dome, they quaff, they feast
derisive taunts were spread from guest to guest
and each in jovial mood his mate address’d:
“tremble ye not, o friends, and coward fly
doom’d by the stern telemachus to die?
to pyle or sparta to demand supplies
big with revenge, the mighty warrior flies;
or comes from ephyre with poisons fraught
and k!lls us all in one tremendous draught!”
“or who can say (his gamesome mate replies)
but, while the danger of the deeps he tries
he, like his sire, may sink deprived of breath
and punish us unkindly by his death?
what mighty labours would he then create
to seize his treasures, and divide his state
the royal palace to the queen convey
or him she blesses in the bridal day!”
meantime the lofty rooms the prince surveys
where lay the treasures of the ithacian race:
here ruddy brass and gold refulgent blazed;
there polished chests embroider’d vestures graced;
here jars of oil breathed forth a rich perfume;
there casks of wine in rows adorn’d the dome
(pure flavorous wine, by gods in bounty given
and worthy to exalt the feasts of heaven)
untouch’d they stood, till, his long labours o’er
the great ulysses reach’d his native shore
a double strength of bars secured the gates;
fast by the door the wise euryclea waits;
euryclea, who great ops! thy lineage shared
and watch’d all night, all day, a faithful guard
to whom the prince: “o thou whose guardian care
nursed the most wretched king that breathes the air;
untouch’d and sacred may these vessels stand
till great ulysses views his native land
but by thy care twelve urns of wine be fill’d;
next these in worth, and firm these urns be seal’d;
and twice ten measures of the choicest flour
prepared, ere yet descends the evening hour
for when the favouring shades of night arise
and peaceful slumbers close my mother’s eyes
me from our coast shall spreading sails convey
to seek ulysses through the watery way.”
while yet he spoke, she fill’d the walls with cries
and tears ran trickling from her aged eyes
“o whither, whither flies my son (she cried)
to realms; that rocks and roaring seas divide?
in foreign lands thy father’s days decay’d
and foreign lands contain the mighty dead
the watery way ill+fated if thou try
all, all must perish, and by fraud you die!
then stay, my, child! storms beat, and rolls the main
oh, beat those storms, and roll the seas in vain!”
“far hence (replied the prince) thy fears be driven:
heaven calls me forth; these counsels are of heaven
but, by the powers that hate the perjured, swear
to keep my voyage from the royal ear
nor uncompell’d the dangerous truth betray
till twice six times descends the lamp of day
lest the sad tale a mother’s life impair
and grief destroy what time awhile would spare.”
thus he. the matron with uplifted eyes
attests the all+seeing sovereign of the skies
then studious she prepares the choicest flour
the strength of wheat and wines an ample store
while to the rival train the prince returns
the martial goddess with impatience burns;
like thee, telemachus, in voice and size
with speed divine from street to street she flies
she bids the mariners prepared to stand
when night descends, embodied on the strand
then to noëmon swift she runs, she flies
and asks a bark: the chief a bark supplies
and now, declining with his sloping wheels
down sunk the sun behind the western hills
the goddess shoved the vessel from the shores
and stow’d within its womb the naval stores
full in the openings of the sp+cious main
it rides; and now descends the sailor+train
next, to the court, impatient of delay
with rapid step the goddess urged her way;
there every eye with slumberous chains she bound
and dash’d the flowing goblet to the ground
drowsy they rose, with heavy fumes oppress’d
reel’d from the palace, and retired to rest
then thus, in mentor’s reverend form array’d
spoke to telemachus the martial maid
“lo! on the seas, prepared the vessel stands
the impatient mariner thy speed demands.”
swift as she spoke, with rapid pace she leads;
the footsteps of the deity he treads
swift to the shore they move along the strand;
the ready vessel rides, the sailors ready stand
he bids them bring their stores; the attending train
load the tall bark, and launch into the main
the prince and goddess to the stern ascend;
to the strong stroke at once the rowers bend
full from the west she bids fresh breezes blow;
the sable billows foam and roar below
the chief his orders gives; the obedient band
with due observance wait the chief’s command;
with speed the mast they rear, with speed unbind
the sp+cious sheet, and stretch it to the wind
high o’er the roaring waves the spreading sails
bow the tall mast, and swell before the gales;
the crooked keel the parting surge divides
and to the stern retreating roll the tides
and now they ship their oars, and crown with wine
the holy goblet to the powers divine:
imploring all the gods that reign above
but chief the blue+eyed progeny of jove
thus all the night they stem the liquid way
and end their voyage with the morning ray
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