The Odysseys of Homer, together with the shorter poems. Homer

‭ Give him possession of erected tow’rs,

       ‭ And far-stretch’d fields, crown’d all of fruits and flowr’s.”

       ‭ This eas’d her heart, and dried her humorous eyes,

       ‭ When having wash’d, and weeds of sacrifice

       ‭ Pure, and unstain’d with her distrustful tears,

       ‭ Put on, with all her women-ministers

       ‭ Up to a chamber of most height she rose,

       ‭ And cakes of salt and barley did impose

       ‭ Within a wicker basket; all which broke

       ‭ In decent order, thus she did invoke:

       ‭ “Great Virgin of the goat-preservéd God,

       ‭ If ever the inhabited abode

       ‭ Of wise Ulysses held the fatted thighs

       ‭ Of sheep and oxen, made thy sacrifice

       ‭ By his devotion, hear me, nor forget

       ‭ His pious services, but safe see set

       ‭ His dear son on these shores, and banish hence

       ‭ These Wooers past all mean in insolence.”

       ‭ This said, she shriek’d, and Pallas heard her pray’r.

       ‭ The Wooers broke with tumult all the air

       ‭ About the shady house; and one of them,

       ‭ Whose pride his youth had made the more extreme,

       ‭ Said: “Now the many-wooer-honour’d queen

       ‭ Will surely satiate her delayful spleen,

       ‭ And one of us in instant nuptials take.

       ‭ Poor dame, she dreams not, what design we make

       ‭ Upon the life and slaughter of her son.”

       ‭ So said he; but so said was not so done;

       ‭ Whose arrogant spirit in a vaunt so vain

       ‭ Antinous chid, and said: “For shame, contain

       ‭ These braving speeches. Who can tell who hears?

       ‭ Are we not now in reach of others’ ears?

       ‭ If our intentions please us, let us call

       ‭ Our spirits up to them, and let speeches fall.

       ‭ By watchful danger men must silent go.

       ‭ What we resolve on, let’s not say, but do.”

       ‭ This said, he choos’d out twenty men, that bore

       ‭ Best reckoning with him, and to ship and shore

       ‭ All hasted, reach’d the ship, launch’d, rais’d the mast,

       ‭ Put sails in, and with leather loops made fast

       ‭ The oars; sails hoisted, arms their men did bring,

       ‭ All giving speed and form to ev’rything.

       ‭ Then to the high deeps their rigg’d vessel driven,

       ‭ They supp’d, expecting the approaching even.

       ‭ Mean space, Penelope her chamber kept

       ‭ And bed, and neither eat, nor drank, nor slept,

       ‭ Her strong thoughts wrought so on her blameless son,

       ‭ Still in contention, if he should be done

       ‭ To death, or ‘scape the impious Wooers’ design.

       ‭ Look how a lion, whom men-troops combine

       ‭ To hunt, and close him in a crafty ring,

       ‭ Much varied thought conceives, and fear doth sting

       ‭ For urgent danger; so far’d she, till sleep

       ‭ All juncture of her joints and nerves did steep

       ‭ In his dissolving humour. When, at rest,

       ‭ Pallas her favours varied, when addrest

       ‭ An idol, that Iphthima did present

       ‭ In structure of her ev’ry lineament, [5]

       ‭ Great-soul’d Icarius’ daughter, whom for spouse

       ‭ Eumelus took, that kept in Pheris’ house.

       ‭ This to divine Ulysses’ house she sent,

       ‭ To try her best mean how she might content

       ‭ Mournful Penelope, and make relent

       ‭ The strict addiction in her to deplore.

       ‭ This idol, like a worm, that less or more [6]

       ‭ Contracts or strains her, did itself convey,

       ‭ Beyond the wards or windings of the key,

       ‭ Into the chamber, and, above her head

       ‭ Her seat assuming, thus she comforted

       ‭ Distress’d Penelope: “Doth sleep thus seize

       ‭ Thy pow’rs, affected with so much dis-ease?

       ‭ The Gods, that nothing troubles, will not see

       ‭ Thy tears nor griefs, in any least degree,

       ‭ Sustain’d with cause, for they will guard thy son

       ‭ Safe to his wish’d and native mansión.

       ‭ Since he is no offender of their states,

       ‭ And they to such are firmer than their fates.”

       ‭ The wise Penelope receiv’d her thus,

       ‭ Bound with a slumber most delicious,

       ‭ And in the port of dreams: “O sister, why

       ‭ Repair you hither, since so far off lie

       ‭ Your house and household? You were never here

       ‭ Before this hour, and would you now give cheer

       ‭ To my so many woes and miseries,

       ‭ Affecting fitly all the faculties

       ‭ My soul and mind hold, having lost before

       ‭ A husband, that of all the virtues bore

       ‭ The palm amongst the Greeks, and whose renown

       ‭ So ample was that Fame the sound hath blown

       ‭ Through Greece and Argos to her very heart?

       ‭ And now again, a son, that did convert

       ‭ My whole pow’rs to his love, by ship is gone;

       ‭ A tender plant, that yet was never grown

       ‭ To labour’s taste, nor the commerce of men;

       ‭ For whom more than my husband I complain,

       ‭ And lest he should at any suff’rance touch

       ‭ (Or in the sea, or by the men so much

       ‭ Estrang’d to him that must his consorts be)

       ‭ Fear and chill tremblings shake each joint of me.

       ‭ Besides, his danger sets on foes profess’d

       ‭ To way-lay his return, that have address’d

       ‭ Plots for his death.” The scarce-discernéd Dream,

       ‭ Said: “Be of comfort, nor fears so extreme

       ‭ Let thus dismay thee; thou hast such a mate

       ‭ Attending thee, as some at any rate

       ‭ Would wish to purchase, for her pow’r is great;