Homer's Odysses. Translated according to ye Greeke by. Geo: Chapman

THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. (Book 8)

THE ARGVMENT.

THe Peeres of the Phaeacian State, A Councell call, to consolate Vlysses, with all meanes for Home. The Councell to a Banquet come. Innited by the king: which done; Assaies for hurling of the stone, The Youths make with the stranger king. Demodecus, at feast, doth sing Th' Adulterie of the God of Armes With her that rules, in Amorous charmes. And after, sings the entercourse Of Acts about th' Epaean Horse.

Another. (Book 8)

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

• ...The Councels frame, At fleete applied; In strifes of Game, Vlysses tried.

NOw when the Rosie-fingerd morne arose; The sacred powre Alcinous did dispose Did likewise rise; and like him, left his Ease, The Cittie-racer Laertiades. The Councell at the Nauie was design'd; To which Alcinous, with the sacred mind, Came first of all. On polisht stones they sate Neare to the Nauie. To increase the state, Minerua tooke the heralds forme on her That seru'd Alcinous; studious to prefer Vlysses Suite for home. About the towne She made quicke way;* 1.1 and fild with the renowne Of that designe, the eares of euery man: Proclaiming thus; Peers Phaeacensian! And men of Councell: all haste to the Court; To heare the stranger that made late resort To king Alcinous: long time lost at Sea; And is in person, like a Deitie. This, all their powres set vp; and spirit instild; And straight the Court and seats, with men were fild. The whole State wonderd at Laertes Son When they beheld him. Pallas put him on

A supernaturall, and heauenly dresse; Enlarg'd him with a height, and goodlinesse In breast, and shoulders; that he might appeare Gracious, and graue, and reuerend; and beare A perfect hand on his performance there, In all the trials they resolu'd t'impose. All met; and gatherd in attention close; Alcinous thus bespake them:* 1.2 Dukes, and Lords; Heare me digest, my hearty thoughts in words: This Stranger here whose trauels found my Court; I know not; nor can tell if his resort From East or West comes: But his suite is this; That to his Countrey earth we would dismis His hither-forced person; and doth beare The minde to passe it vnder euery Peere: Whom I prepare, and stirre vp; making knowne My free desire of his deduction. Nor shall there euer, any other man That tries the goodnesse Phaeacensian, In me, and my Courts entertainement; stay Mourning for passage, vnder least delay. Come then; A ship into the sacred seas, New-built, now lanch we; and from out our prease; Chuse two and fiftie Youths; of all, the best To vse an oare. All which, see straight imprest; And in their Oare-bound seates. Let others hie Home to our Court; commanding instantly The solemne preparation of a feast; In which, prouision may for any guest Be made at my charge. Charge of these low things, I giue our Youth. You Scepter-bearing kings, Consort me home; and helpe with grace to vse This guest of ours: no one man shall refuse. Some other of you, haste, and call to vs The sacred singer, graue Demodocus; To whom hath God giuen, song that can excite The heart of whom he listeth with delight. This said, he led. The Scepter-bearers lent Their free attendance; and with all speede, went The herald for the sacred man in song. Youths two and fiftie; chosen from the throng Went, as was willd, to the vntam'd seas shore; Where come; they lancht the ship: the Mast it bore Aduanc't, sailes hoised; euery seate, his Ore Gaue with a lether thong: the deepe moist then They further reacht. The drie streets flowd with men; That troup't vp to the kings capacious Court. Whose Porticos, were chok't with the resort:

Whose wals were hung with men: yong, old, thrust there, In mighty concourse; for whose promist cheere Alcinous slue twelue Sheepe; eight white-toothd Swine: Two crook-hancht Beeues; which flead, and drest, diuine The show was of so many a iocund Guest All set together, at so set a feast. To whose accomplisht state, the Herald then The louely Singer led;* 1.3 Who past all mean The Muse affected; gaue him good, and ill; His eies put out; but put in soule at will. His place was giuen him, in a chaire, all grac't With siluer studs, and gainst a Pillar plac't; Where, as the Center to the State, he rests; And round about, the circle of the Guests. The Herald, on a Pinne, aboue his head His soundfull harpe hung: to whose height, he led His hand for taking of it downe at will. A Boord set by, with food; and forth did fill A Bowle of wine, to drinke at his desire. The rest then, fell to feast; and when the fire Of appetite was quencht: the Muse inflam'd The sacred Singer. Of men highliest fam'd, He sung the glories; and a Poeme pend, That in applause,* 1.4 did ample heauen ascend. Whose subiect was, the sterne contention Betwixt Vlysses, and Great Thetis Sonne; As, at a banket, sacred to the Gods In dreadfull language, they exprest their ods. When Agamemnon, sat reioyc't in soule To heare the Greeke Peeres iarre, in termes so foule; For Augur Phoebus, in presage had told The king of men, (desirous to vnfold The wars perplexed end; and being therefore gone In heauenly Pythia, to the Porch of stone,) That then the end, of all griefes should begin, Twixt Greece, and Troy; when Greece (with strife to winne That wisht conclusion) in her kings should iarre; And pleade, if force, or wit must end the warre. This braue contention did the Poet sing; Expressing so the spleene of either king; That his large purple weede,* 1.5 Vlysses held Before his face, and eies; since thence distilld Teares vncontaind; which he obscur'd, in feare To let th'obseruing Presence, note a teare. But when his sacred song the meere Diuine Had giuen an end; a Goblet crownd with wine Vlysses (drying his wet eies) did seise; And sacrifisde to those Gods that would please

T'inspire the Poet with a song so fit To do him honour,* 1.6 and renowme his wit. His teares then staid. But when againe began (By all the kings desires) the mouing man; Againe Vlysses, could not chuse but yeeld To that soft passion: which againe, withheld, He kept so cunningly from sight; that none (Except Alcinous himselfe, alone) Discern'd him mou'd so much. But he sat next; And heard him deeply sigh. Which, his pretext Could not keepe hid from him. Yet he conceal'd His vtterance of it; and would haue it held From all the rest. Brake off the song, and this Said to those Ore-affecting Peeres of his: Princes, and Peeres! we now are satiate With sacred song, that fits a feast of state: With wine, and food. Now then, to field, and try; In all kinds our approu'd actiuity; That this our Guest, may giue his friends to know In his returne: that we, as little owe To fights, and wrestlings, leaping, speede of race, As these our Court-rites; and commend our grace In all, to all superiour. Foorth he led The Peeres and people, troup't vp to their head: Nor must Demodocus be left within; Whose harpe, the Herald hung vpon the pinne; His hand, in his tooke; and abroad he brought The heauenly Poet: out, the same way wrought That did the Princes: and what they would see With admiration, with his companie They wisht to honour. To the place of Game These throng'd; and after, routs of other came, Of all sort, infinite. Of Youths that stroue, Many,* 1.7 and strong, rose to their trials loue. Vp rose Acroneus, and Ocyalus; Elatreus, Prymneus, and Anchyalus; Nauteus, Eretmeus, Thoo••, Proreus; Pontaeus, and the strong Amphialus, Sonne to Tectonides, Polinius. Vp rose to these,* 1.8 the great Euryalus; In action like the homicide of warre. Naubolides, that was for person farre Past all the rest:* 1.9 but one he could not passe; Nor any thought improue; Laodamas. Vp Anabesinzus then arose; And three sonnes of the Scepter state, and those; Were Halius, and fore-praisde Laodamas; And Clytonaeus, like a God in grace.

These first the foote-game tride; and from the lists Took start together. Vp the dust, in mists They hurld about; as in their speede, they flew; But Clytonaeus, first, of all the crew A Stiches length in any fallow field Made good his pace; when where the Iudges yeeld The prise, and praise, his glorious speed arriu'd. Next, for the boistrous wrestling Game they striu'd; At which, Euryalus, the rest outshone. At leape, Amphialus. At the hollow stone Elatreus exceld. At buffets, last, Laodamas, the kings faire sonne surpast. When all had striu'd in these assaies their fill; Laodamas said; Come friends; let's proue what skill This Stranger hath attaind to, in our sport; Me thinks, he must be of the actiue sort. His calues, thighs, hands, and well-knit shoulders show, That Nature disposition did bestow To fit with fact their forme. Nor wants he prime. But sowre Affliction, made a mate with Time, Makes Time the more seene. Nor imagine I, A worse thing to enforce debilitie, Then is the Sea: though nature ne're so strong Knits one together. Nor conceiue you wrong, (Replied Eu••yalus) but proue his blood With ••hat you question. In the midst then stood Renowm'd Laodamas, and prou'd him thus; Come (stranger Father) and assaie with vs Your powrs in these contentions:* 1.10 If your show Be answerd with your worth, tis fit that you Should know these conflicts: nor doth glorie stand On any worth more, in a mans command, Then to be strenuous, both of foote and hand: Come then, make proofe with vs; discharge your mind Of discontentments:* 1.11 for not farre behind Comes your deduction. Ship is ready now; And men, and all things. Why (said he) dost thou Mocke me Laodamas! and these strifes bind My powrs to answer? I am more inclind To cares, then conflict. Much sustaind I haue; And still am suffering. I come here to craue In your assemblies, meanes to be dismist, And pray, both Kings, and subiects to assist. Euryalus, an open brawle began; And said: I take you Sir,* 1.12 for no such man As fits these honord strifes. A number more Strange men there are, that I would chuse before. To one that loues to lie a ship-boord much;

Or is the Prince of sailours; or to such As traffique farre and neare, and nothing minde But freight, and passage, and a foreright winde; Or to a victler of a ship: or men That set vp all their powrs for rampant Gaine,* 1.13 I can compare, or hold you like to be: But, for a wrestler, or of qualitie Fit for contentions noble; you abhor From worth of any such competitor. Vlysses (frowning) answerd;* 1.14 Stranger! farre Thy words are from the fashions regular Of kinde, or honour. Thou art in thy guise Like to a man, that authors iniuries. I see,* 1.15 the Gods to all men, giue not all Manly addiction; wisedome; words that fall (Like dice) vpon the square still. Some man takes Ill forme from parents; but God often makes That fault of forme vp, with obseru'd repaire Of pleasing speech: that makes him held for faire; That makes him speake securely: makes him shine In an assembly, with a grace di••ine. Men take delight, to see how euenly lie His words asteepe, in honey modestie. Another then, hath fashion like a God; But in his language, he is foule, and broad: And such art thou. A person faire is giuen; But nothing else is in thee, sent from heauen. For in thee lurkes, a base, and earthy soule And t'hast compelld me, with a speech most foule To be thus bitter. I am not vnseene In these faire strifes, as thy words ouerweene: But in the first ranke of the best I stand. At least, I did, when youth and strength of hand Made me thus confident: but now am worne With woes, and labours; as a humane borne To beare all anguish. Sufferd much I haue. The warre of men, and the inhumane waue Haue I driuen through at all parts: but with all My waste in sufferance: what yet may fall In my performance, at these strifes Ile trie; Thy speech hath mou'd, and made my wrath runne hie. This said; with robe, and all, he graspt a stone, A little grauer then was euer throwne By these Phaeacians, in their wrestling rout; More firme, more massie; which (turnd round about) He hurried from him, with a hand so strong It sung, and flew: and ouer all the throng (That at the others markes stood) quite it went:

Yet downe fell all beneath it; fearing spent The force that draue it flying from his hand, As it a dart were, or a walking wand. And, farre past all the markes of all the rest His wing stole way. When Pallas straight imprest A marke at fall of it; resembling then One of the nauy-giuen Phaeacian men; And thus aduanc't Vlysses: One, (though blinde) (O stranger!) groping, may thy stones fall finde; For not amidst the rout of markes it fell, But farre before all. Of thy worth, thinke well; And stand in all strifes: no Phaeacian here, This bound, can either better or come nere. Vlysses ioyd, to heare that one man yet V••de him benignly; and would Truth abet In those contentions. And then, thus smooth He tooke his speech downe: Reach me that now Youth, You shall (and straight I thinke) haue one such more; And one beyond it too. And now, whose Core Stands sound, and great within him (since ye haue Thus put my splene vp) come againe and braue The Guest ye tempted, with such grosse disgrace: At wrestling, buffets, whirlbat, speed of race. At all, or either, I except at none, But vrge the whole State of you; onely one I will not challenge, in my forced boast, And that's Laodamas; for hee's mine Host.* 1.16 And who will fight, or wrangle with his friend? Vnwise he is, and base, that will contend With him that feedes him, in a forreigne place; And takes all edge off, from his owne sought grace. None else except I here; nor none despise; But wish to know, and proue his faculties, That dares appeare now. No strife ye can name Am I vnskilld in;* 1.17 (reckon any game Of all that are, as many as there are In vse with men) for Archerie I dare Affirme my selfe not meane. Of all a troupe Ile make the first foe with mine arrow stoupe; Though, with me ne're so many fellowes bend Their bowes at markt men, and affect their end; Onely was Philocte••es with his bow Still my superiour; when we Greekes would show Our Archerie against our foes of Troy: But all that now by bread, fraile life enioy, I farre hold my inferiours. Men of old None now aliue, shall witnesse me so bold To vant equality with such men as these;

O••chalian, Euritus, Hercules; Who with their bowes, durst with the Gods contend. And therefore caught Eurytus soone his end. Nor did at home,* 1.18 in age, a reuerend man; But by the Great incensed Delphian Was shot to death, for daring competence With him, in all an Archers excellence. A Speare Ile hurle as farre, as any man Shall shoote a shaft. How at a race I can Bestirre my feete; I onely yeeld to Feare, And doubt to meete with my superiour here. So many seas, so too much haue misusde My lims for race; and therefore haue diffusde A dissolution through my loued knees. This said,* 1.19 he stilld all talking properties; Alcinous onely answerd: O my Guest In good part take we, what you haue bene prest With speech to answer. You would make appeare Your vertues therefore, that will still shine where Your onely looke is. Yet must this man giue Your worth ill language; when, he does not liue In sort of mortals (whence so ere he springs That iudgement hath to speake becoming things) That will depraue your vertues. Note then now My speech, and what, my loue presents to you; That you may tell Heroes, when you come To banquet with your Wife, and Birth at home, (Mindfull of our worth) what deseruings Ioue Hath put on our parts likewise; in remoue From Sire to Sonne, as an inherent grace Kinde, and perpetuall. We must needs giue place To other Countreymen; and freely yeeld We are not blamelesse, in our fights of field; Buff••ts, nor wrestlings: but in speede of feete; And all the Equipage that fits a fleete, We boast vs best. For table euer spred With neighbour feasts, for garments varied; For Poesie, Musique, Dancing, Baths, and Beds. And now, Phaeacians, you that beare your heads And feete with best grace, in enamouring dance; Enflame our guest here; that he may aduance Our worth past all the worlds, to his home friends; As well for the vnmatcht grace, that commends Your skills in footing of a dance; as theirs That flie a race best. And so, all affaires, At which we boast vs best; he best may trie; As Sea-race, Land-race, Dance, and Poesie. Some one, with instant speede to Court retire,

And fetch Demodocus, his soundfull lyre. This said, the God-grac't king, and quicke resort Pontonous made, for that faire harpe, to Court. Nine of the lot-chusde publique Rulers rose, That all in those contentions did dispose; Commanding a most smooth ground, and a wide, And all the people, in faire game, aside. Then with the rich harpe, came Pontonous; And in the midst, tooke place Demodocus. About him then stood foorth, the choise yong men,* 1.20 That on mans first youth, made fresh entrie then: Had Art to make their naturall motion sweete And shooke a most diuine dance from their feete; That twinckld Star-like; mou'd as swift, and fine, And beate the aire so thinne, they made it shine. Vlysses wonderd at it; but amazd He stood in minde,* 1.21 to heare the dance so phras'd. For, as they danc't; Demodocus did sing, The bright-crownd Venus loue, with Battailes king; As first they closely mixt, in t'house of fire. What worlds of gifts, wonne her to his desire; Who then, the night-and-day-bed did defile Of good king Vulcan. But in little while The Sunne their mixture saw; and came, and told. The bitter newes, did by his ••ares take hold Of Vulcans heart. Then to his Forge he went; And in his shrewd mind, deepe stuffe did inuent. His mightie Anuile, in the stocke he put; And forg'd a net, that none could loose, or cut; That when it had them, it might hold them fast. Which, hauing finisht, he made vtmost haste Vp to the deare roome, where his wife he wowd: And (madly wrath with Mars) he all bestrowd The bed, and bed posts: all the beame aboue That crost the chamber;* 1.22 and a circle stroue, Of his deuice, to wrap in all the roome. And twas as pure, as of a Spiders Ioome, The woofe before tis wouen. No man nor God Could set his eie on it: a sleight so odde, His Art shewd in it. All his craft bespent About the bed:* 1.23. he faind, as if he went To well-built Lemnos; his most loued towne, Of all townes earthly. Nor left this vnknowne To golden-bridle-vsing Mars; who kept No blinde watch ouer him: but, seeing stept His riuall so aside, he hasted home With faire-wreath'd Venus loue stung; who was come New from the Court of her most mightie Sire.

Mars enterd; wrung her hand; and the retire Her husband made to Lemnos told; and said; Now (Loue) is Vulcan gone; let vs to bed, Hee's for the barbarous Sintians. Well appaid Was Venus with it; and afresh assaid Their old encounter. Downe they went; and straight About them clingd, the artificiall sleight Of most wise Vulcan; and were so ensnar'd, That neither they could stirre their course prepar'd, In any lim about them; nor arise. And then they knew, they could no more disguise Their close conueiance; but lay, forc't, stone still. Backe rusht the Both foote cook't; but straight in skill, From his neare skout-hole turnd; nor euer w••nt To any Lemnos; but the sure euent Left Phoebus to discouer, who told all. Then, home hopt Vulcan, full of griefe, and gall; Stood in the Portall, and cried out so hie; That all the Gods heard. Father of the skie And euery other deathlesse God (said he) Come all,* 1.24 and a ridiculous obiect see; And yet not sufferable neither; Come, And witnesse, how when still I step from home, (Lame that I am) Ioues daughter doth professe To do me all the shamefull offices; Indignities, despites, that can be thought; And loues this all-things-making-come to nought Since he is faire forsooth; foote-sound, and I Tooke in my braine a little; leg'd awrie; And no fault mine; but all my parents fault, Who should not get, if mocke me, with my halt. But see how fast they sleepe, while I, in mone, Am onely made, an idle looker on. One bed their turne serues; and it must be mine; I thinke yet, I haue made their selfe-loues shine. They shall no more wrong me, and none perceiue: Nor will they sleepe together, I beleeue With too hote haste againe. Thus both shall lie In craft, and force; till the extremitie Of all the dowre, I gaue her Sire (to gaine A dogged set-fac't Girle, that will not staine Her face with blushing, though she shame her head) He paies me backe: She's faire, but was no maide. While this long speech was making, all were come To Vulcans wholie-brazen-founded home. Earth-shaking Neptune; vsefull Mercurie, And far-shot Phoebus. No She Deitie For shame, would show there: all the giue-good Gods

stood in the Portall; and past periods Gaue length to laughters; all reioyc't to see That which they said; that no impietie Finds good successe at th'end. And now (said one) The slow outgoes the swift. Lame Vulcan, knowne To be the slowest of the Gods; outgoes Mars the most swift; And this is that, which growes To greatest iustice; that Adulteries sport Obtain'd by craft, by craft of other sort, (And lame craft too) is plagu'd, which grieues the more, That sound lims turning lame; the lame,* 1.25 restore. This speech amongst themselues they entertaind When Phoebus, thus askt Hermes: Thus enchaind Would'st thou be Hermes, to be thus disclosde? Though, with thee, golden Venus were repos'de? He soone gaue that an answer: O (said he Thou king of Archers) would twere thus with me. Though thrice so much shame; nay, though infinite Were powrd about me; and that euery light In great heauen shining, witnest all my harmes, So golden Venus slumberd in mine Armes. The Gods againe laught; euen the watry state Wrung out a laughter: But propitiate Was still for Mars, and praid the God of fire He would dissolue him; offering the desire He made to Ioue, to pay himselfe; and said, All due debts, should be, by the Gods repaid. Pay me, no words (said he) where deeds lend paine; Wretched the words are, giuen for wretched men. How shall I binde you in th'Immortals sight If Mars be once loos'd; nor will pay his right? Vulcan (said he) if Mars should flie,* 1.26 nor see Thy right repaid, it should be paid by me: Your word, so giuen, I must accept (said he) Which said; he loosd them: Mars then rusht from skie And stoop't cold Thrace. The laughing Deity For Cyprus was, and tooke her Paphian state Where, She a Groue, ne're cut, hath consecrate: All with Arabian odors fum'd; and hath An Altar there, at which the Graces bathe, And with immortall Balms besmooth her skin; Fit for the blisse, Immortals solace in; Deckt her in to-be-studied attire, And apt to set beholders hearts on fire. This sung the sacred Muse, whose notes and words The dancers feete kept; as his hands his cords. Vlysses, much was pleased, and all the crew: This would the king haue varied with a new

And pleasing measure; and performed by Two, with whom none would striue in dancerie. And those, his sonnes were; that must therefore dance Alone; and onely to the harp aduance, Without the words; And this sweete couple, was Yong Halius, and diuine Laodamas: Who danc't a Ball dance. Then the rich-wrought Ball, (That Polybus had made, of purple all) They tooke to hand: one threw it to the skie, And then danc't backe; the other (capring hie) Would surely catch it, ere his foote toucht ground; And vp againe aduanc't it; and so found The other, cause of dance; and then did he Dance lofty trickes; till next it came to be His turne to catch; and serue the other still. When they had kept it vp to eithers will; They then danc't ground tricks; oft mixt hand in hand; And did so gracefully their change command; That all the other Youth that stood at pause, With deafning shouts, gaue them the great applause. Then said Vlysses; O past all men here Cleare,* 1.27 not in powre, but in desert as clere, You said your dancers, did the world surpasse; And they performe it, cleare, and to amaze. This wonne Alcinous heart; and equall prise He gaue Vlysses; saying; Matchlesse wise (Princes, and Rulers) I perceiue our guest; And therefore let our hospitable best In fitting gifts be giuen him: twelue chiefe kings There are that order all the glorious things Of this our kingdome; and the thirteenth, I Exist, as Crowne to all: let instantly Be thirteene garments giuen him: and, of gold Precious, and fine, a Talent. While we hold This our assembly; be all fetcht, and giuen; That to our feast prepar'd, as to his heauen One guest may enter. And that nothing be Left vnperformd, that fits his dignity; Euryalus shall here conciliate Himselfe, with words and gifts; since past our rate He gaue bad language. This did all commend And giue in charge; and euery king did send His Herald for his gift. Euryalus▪ (Answering for his part) said; Alcinous! Our chiefe of all; since you command, I will To this our guest, by all meanes reconcile; And giue him this entirely mettald sword: The handle massie siluer; and the bord

That giues it couer, all of Ivorie, New, and in all kinds, worth his qualitie. This put he strait into his hand, and said: Frolick••, O Guest and Father; if words, fled, Haue bene offensiue; let swift whirlwinds take, And rauish them from thought. May all Gods make Thy wifes sight good to thee; in quicke retreate To all thy f••iends, and best-lou'd breeding seate; Their long misse quitting with the greater ioy; In whose sweet, vanish all thy worst annoy. And frolicke thou, to all height, Friend (said he) Which heauen confirme, with wisht felicitie. Nor euer giue againe desire to thee, Of this swords vse, which with affects so free, In my reclaime, thou hast bestowd on me. This said; athwart his shoulders he put on The right faire sword; and then did set the Sunne. When all the gifts were brought; which backe againe (With King Alcinous, in all the traine) Were by the honourd Heralds borne to Court; Which his faire sonnes tooke; and from the resort Laid by their reuerend Mother. Each his throne Of all the Peeres (which yet were ouershone In King Alcinous command) ascended: Whom he, to passe as much in gifts contended; And to his Queene, said: Wife! see brought me here The fairest Cabinet I haue; and there Impose a well-cleansd, in, and vtter weed; A Caldron heate with water, that with speed Our Guest well bath'd, and all his gifts made sure, It may a ioyfull appetite procure To his succeeding Feast; and make him heare The Poets Hymne, with the securer eare. To all which, I will adde my boll of gold, In all frame curious, to make him hold My memory alwaies deare; and sacrifise With it at home, to all the Deities. Then Arete, her maids charg'd to set on A well-siz'd Caldron quickly. Which was done; Cleare water powr'd in, flame made so entire, It gilt the brasse, and made the water fire. In meane space, from her chamber brought the Queene A wealthy Cabinet, where (pure and cleane) She put the garments, and the gold bestowd By that free State: and then, the other vowd By her Alcinous, and said: Now Guest▪ Make close and fast your gifts, lest when you rest A ship-boord sweetly, in your way you meet

Some losse, that lesse may make your next sleepe sweet. This when Vlysses heard; all sure he made; Enclosde and bound safe; for the sauing trade, The Reuerend for her wisedome (Circe) had In foreyeares taught him. Then the handmaid bad His worth to bathing; which reioyc't his heart. For since he did with his Calypso part, He had no ••ote baths. None had fauourd him; Nor bin so tender of his kingly lim. But all the time he spent in her abode, He liu'd respected, as he were a God. Cleansd then and balmd; faire shirt, and robe put on; Fresh come from bath, and to the Feasters gone; Nausicaa, that from the Gods hands tooke The soueraigne beautie of her blessed looke, Stood by a well-caru'd Columne of the roome, And through her eye, her heart was ouercome With admiration of the Port imprest In his aspect;* 1.28 and said: God saue you Guest! Be chearfull, as in all the future state, Your home will shew you, in your better Fate. But yet, euen then, let this rememberd be, Your lifes price, I lent, and you owe it me. The varied in all counsels gaue reply: Nausicaa! flowre of all this Empery! So Iunos husband, that the strife for noise Makes in the clouds, blesse me with strife of Ioyes, In the desir'd day, that my house shall show, As I, as I to a Goddesse, there shall vow, To thy faire hand, that did my Being giue; Which Ile acknowledge ••uery houre I liue. This said; Alcinous plac't him by his side; Then tooke they feast, and did in parts diuide The seuerall dishes; filld out wine, and then The striu'd-for,* 1.29 for his worth, of worthy men, And reuerenc't of the State; Demodocus Was brought in by the good Pontonous. In midst of all the guests, they gaue him place, Against a loftie Pillar; when, this grace The grac't with wisedome did him. From the Chine That stood before him of a white-tooth'd Swine, (Being farre the daintiest ioynt) mixt through with fat, He caru'd to him, and sent it where he sat, By his old friend, the Herald; willing thus: Herald! reach this to graue Demodocus; Say, I salute him; and his worth embrace. Poets deserue past all the humane race, Reuerend respect and honor; since the Queene

Of knowledge, and the supreme worth in men (The Muse) informes them; and loues all their race. This, reacht the Herald to him; who, the grace Receiu'd encourag'd: which, when feast was spent, Vlysses amplified to this ascent: Demodocus! I must preferre you farre, Past all your sort; if, or the Muse of warre, Ioues daughter prompts you; (that the Greeks respects) Or if the Sunne, that those of Troy affects. For I haue heard you, since my coming, sing The Fate of Greece, to an admired string. How much ou•• sufferance was; how much we wrought; How much the actions rose to, when we fought. So liuely forming, as you had bin there; Or to some free relator, lent your ••are. Forth then, and sing the woodden horses frame, Built by Epeus; by the martiall Dame, Taught the whole Fabricke; which, by force of sleight, Vlysses brought into the Cities height; When he had stuft it with as many men, As leueld loftie Ilion with the Plaine. With all which, if you can as well enchant, A•• with expression quicke and elegant, You sung the rest; I will pronounce you cleare, Inspir'd by God, past all that euer were. This said; euen stird by God vp, he began; And to his Song fell, past the forme of man; Beginning where, the Greeks a ship-boord went, And euery Chiefe, had set on fire his Tent. When th'other Kings, in great Vlysses guide, In Troys vast market place, the horse did hide: From whence, the Troians, vp to Ilion drew The dreadfull Engine. Where (sate all arew) Their Kings about it: many counsels giuen, How to dispose it. In three waies were driuen Their whole distractions: first, if they should feele The hollow woods heart, (searcht with piercing steele) Or from the battlements (drawne higher yet) Deiect it headlong; or, that counterfet, So vast and nouell, set on sacred fire; Vowd to appease each angerd Godheads ire. On which opinion, they, thereafter, saw, They then should haue resolu'd: th'vnalterd law Of Fate presaging; that Troy then should end, When th'hostile horse, she should receiue to friend; For therein should the Grecian Kings lie hid, To bring the Fate and death, they after did. He sung besides, the Greeks eruption

From those their hollow crafts; and horse forgone; And how they made Depopulation tred Beneath her feete, so high a Cities head. In which affaire, he sung in other place, That of that ambush, some man else did race The Ilion Towres, then* 1.30 Laertiades; But here he* 1.31 sung, that he alone did seise (With Menelaus) the ascended roofe Of Prince Deiphobus; and Mars- like proofe Made of his valour: a most dreadfull fight, Daring against him. And there vanquisht quite, In litle time (by great Mineruas aid) All Ilions remnant, and Troy leuell laid. This the diuine Expressor, did so giue Both act and passion, that he made it liue; And to Vlysses facts did breathe a fire, So* 1.32 deadly quickning, that it did inspire Old death with life; and renderd life so sweet, And passionate, that all there felt it fleet; Which made him pitie his owne crueltie, And put into that ruth, so pure an ••ie Of humane frailtie; that to see a man Could so reuiue from Death; yet no way can Defend from death; his owne quicke powres it made Feele there deaths horrors: and he felt life fade In* 1.33 teares, his feeling braine swet: for in things That moue past vtte••ance, teares ope all their springs. Nor are there in the Powres, that all life beares, More true interpreters of all, then teares. And as a Ladie mournes her sole-lou'd Lord,* 1.34 That falne before his Citie, by the sword, Fighting to rescue from a cruell Fate, His towne and children; and, in dead estate Yet panting, seeing him; wraps him in her armes, Weeps, shriekes, and powres her health into his armes; Lies on him, striuing to become his shield From foes that still as••aile him; speares impeld Through backe and shoulders; by whose points embrude, They raise and leade him into seruitude, Labor and languor: for all which, the Dame Eates downe her cheekes with teares, and feeds lifes flame With miserable sufferanc: So this King, Of teare-swet anguish, op't a boundlesse spring: Nor yet was seene to any one man there, But King Alcinous, who sate so neare, He could not scape him: sighs (so chok't) so brake From all his tempers, which the King d••d take Both note, and graue resp••ct of, and thus spake:

Heare me, Phaeacian Counsellers and Peeres; And ceasse, Demodocus; perhaps all eares Are not delighted with his song; for, euer Since the diuine Muse sung, our Guest hath neuer Containd from secret mournings. It may fall, That something sung, he hath bin grieu'd withall, As touching his particular. Forbeare; That Feast may ioyntly comfort all hearts here; And we may cheare our Guest vp; tis our best, In all due honor. For our reuerend Guest, Is all our celebration, gifts, and all, His loue hath added to our Festiuall. A Guest, and suppliant too; we should esteeme Deare as our brother; one that doth but dreame He hath a soule; or touch but at a mind Deathlesse and manly; should stand so enclin'd. Nor cloke you, longer, with your curious wit, (Lou'd Guest) what euer we shall aske of it. It now stands on your honest state to tell; And therefore giue your name; nor more conceale, What of your parents, and the Towne that beares Name of your natiue; or of forreiners That neare vs border, you are calld in fame. There's no man liuing, walkes without a name; Noble nor base; but had one from his birth; Imposde as fit, as to be borne. What earth, People, and citie, owne you? Giue to know: Tell but our ships all, that your way must show; For our* 1.35 ships know th'expressed minds of men; And will so most intentiuely retaine Their scopes appointed, that they neuer err••; And yet vse neuer any man to stere: Nor any Rudders haue, as others need. They know mens thoughts; and whither tends their speed. And there will set them. For you cannot name A Citie to them; nor fat Soile, that Fame Hath any notice giuen; but well they know, And will flie to them, though they ebbe and flow, In blackest clouds and nights; and neuer beare Of any wracke or rocke, the slendrest feare. But this I heard my Sire Nausithous say Long since, that Neptune seeing vs conuay So safely passengers of all degrees, Was angry with vs; and vpon our seas, A well-built ship we had (neare habor come, From safe deduction of some stranger home) Made in his flitting billowes, sticke stone still; And dimm'd our Citie, like a mightie hill,

With shade cast round about it. This report, The old* 1.36 King made; in which miraculous sort, If God had done such things, or left vndone; At his good pleasure be it. But now, on, And truth relate vs; both whence you errd; And to what Clime of men would be transferrd; With all their faire Townes; be they, as they are; If rude, vniust, and all irregular; Or hospitable, bearing minds that please The mightie D••itie. Which one of these You would be set at, say; and you are there; And therefore what afflicts you? why, to heare The Fate of Greece and Ilion, mourne you so? The Gods haue done it; as to all, they do Destine destruction; that from thence may rise A Poeme to instruct posterities. Fell any kinsman before Ilion? Some worthy Sire-in-law, or like-neare sonne? Whom next our owne blood, and selfe-race we loue? Or any friend perhaps, in whom did moue A knowing soule, and no vnpleasing thing? Since such a good one, is no vnderling To any brother: for, what fits true friends, True wisedom•• is,* 1.37 that blood and birth transcends.

Finis libri octaui Hom. Odyss.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pallas like the Herald.
• * 1.2

  Alcinous exhorts the Phaeacians to the beliefe of Vlysses.
• * 1.3

  Demodocus Poeta.
• * 1.4

  The contention of Achilles and Vlysses.
• * 1.5

  Vlys••i mouetur fletus.
• * 1.6

  The continued pie••ie of Vlysses through all pla∣ces, times, and oc∣casions.
• * 1.7

  Since the Phaea∣cians were not only dwellers by sea, bu•• studious also of sea qua••li¦ties: their names se••me to vsurpe their faculties therein.
• * 1.8

  All consisting of sea-faring signi∣fication, except Laodamas.
• * 1.9

  As Acroneus, sūma seu extre∣ma Nauis pars. Ocyalus velox in mari•• Elatre∣us, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Remex. &c.
• * 1.10

  Laodamas vr∣geth Vlysses to their sports.
• * 1.11

  The word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signif••ing: deductio: qua transue••endum curamus ••um q••i nobiscum aliquandiu est versatus.
• * 1.12

  Euryalu•• vp∣braids Vlysses,
• * 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.14

  Vlysses angry.
• * 1.15

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Damnorum magnorum auctor.
• * 1.16

  He names Lao∣damas onely for all the other brothers; since in his exception, the others en∣uies were curbd: for brother•• ei∣ther are or should be of one acceptation in all fit things.
• * 1.17

  And Laodamas, he calles his host, being eldest son to Alcinous: the heire being euer the yong master; nor might he conue∣niently prefer Alcinous in his exception, since he stood not in competition at these contenti∣ons.
• * 1.18

  Apollo.
• * 1.19

  The ingen••ous and ro••all speech of Alcinous to Vlysses.
• * 1.20

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signi∣fies splendor vibran••; a twinckd splen∣dor: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Vibrare vel••ti radios solares.
• * 1.21

  Ayre rar••fied turns first.
• * 1.22

  The matter whereof none can see.
• * 1.23

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.24

  Vulcans com∣plaint.
• * 1.25

  Intending thē sound of foote; when they out∣goe the soundest.
• * 1.26

  This is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. &c. Par∣ua mag••e dice∣re▪ graue sen∣tence out of lightest vapor.
• * 1.27

  Vlysses to Alci∣nous.
• * 1.28

  Nausicaa enfla∣med with Vlysses
• * 1.29

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ Poetam cuius hominibus dig∣na est societas.
• * 1.30

  Vlysses.
• * 1.31

  As by the diuine fury directly in∣spired so, for V∣lysses glory.
• * 1.32

  In that the slaughters he made were ex∣prest so liuely.
• * 1.33

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Metaph. signifying, con∣sumo, tabes••o.
• * 1.34

  Simile.
• * 1.35

  This 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or affirmation of miracles, how impossible soeuer in these times as∣sured, yet in those ages they were neither absurd nor strāge. Those inanimate things hauing (it seemd•• certain 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in whose powers, they supposed, their ships facul∣ties. As others haue affirmed Okes to haue sence of hearing: and so the ship of Argos was said to haue a Mast made of D••don••∣an Oke, that was vocall, and co••l•• speake▪
• * 1.36

  Intending his fa¦ther Nausithous.
• * 1.37

  True wisedome fits true friends.