Speaker 1: The nineteenth Book of the Odyssees of Homer. This is
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Recording by Phil Schamp. The Nineteenth Book of the Odyssees
of Homer, translated by George Chapman. The argument Ulysses and
his son a Shu offending of the wooer's view with
any armor his birth seat, Ulysses tells his queen is
crete Eurycleia. The truth yet found, discovered a scar, healed
wound which in Parnassus's tops a bore struck by him
in his chase, did gore another argument taw the king
still hid by what he said, by what he did
informs his maid. Yet did divine Ulysses keep his rough
and with Minerva plotted still the proof of all the
war's deaths. When thus tis his son he taught with
these four councils, we must run a close course with
these arms, and lay them by, and to the woers,
make so fair a sky as it would never thunder.
Let me then, that you may well retain. Repeat again
what in Eumius's cottage. I advised, if when they see
no leisure exercised in fetching down your arms, and asked
what use your mind will give them, say tis their
abuse with smoke and rust that makes you take them down.
This not being like the armory well known to the
leavings of Laertes's son consorting the design for ilion, your
eyes may see how much they are infected, as all
fire's vapors ever since reflected on those soul arms. Besides,
a graver thought, jove graves within you, lest their spirits
wrought above their pitch with wine, they might contend at
some high banquet, and to wounds transcend their feast, inverting
which perhaps may be their nuptial feast. With wise Penelope,
the ready weapon when the blood is up doubles the
uproar heightened by the cup. Wrath's means for act, curb
all the ways ye can as lodestones draw the steel,
so steel draws. Man retain these words, nor what does
good think? Thus received at second hand superfluous the son, obeying,
did euryclea call and bade her shut in the utter
porches all the other women, till himself brought down his
father's arms, which all were overgrown by his neglect. With rust.
His father gone, and he too childish to spend thoughts
upon those manly implements. But he would now reform those
young neglects, and the arms bestow past reach of smoke.
The loving nurse replied, I wish, o, son, your powers
would once provide for wisdom's habit. See your household were
in thrifty manage, and tend all things there. But if
these arms must down, and every maid be shut in
utter rooms, who else should aid your work with life? Light?
He answered this, my guest, there shall no one in
my house taste my feast or join in my knave
that shall idly live, however far hence he his home derive,
he said, and his words stood. The doors she shut
of that so well filled house, and the other put
their thoughts in act. Best shields helms, sharpened, lances brought down,
and pallace before both advances a golden cresset that did
cast a light, as if the day sat in the
throne of night. When half amazed, the prince said, O,
my father, mine eyes, my soul's powers all in wonder gather,
For though the walls and goodly wind beams. Here all
all these pillars, that their heads so rare, and all
of fur they seem, yet all of fire. Some god
is surely with us. His wise sire bade peace and
keep the counsels of the gods, Nor asked the word.
Powers that use abodes above the stars have power from
thence to shine through night in all shades, to earth's
inmost mine. Go thou for sleep, and leave me here
to wake the women and the queen, whose heart doth
ache to make inquiry for myself of me, He went
to sleep, where lights did endlessly burn in his night rooms,
where he feasted rest till day's fair weed did all
the world invest Thus was the Monulysses left alone with Pallace,
plotting foul confusion to all the wars. Forth, then came
the Queen Phoebe, with golden Catheria scene her port presented,
whom they set a chair aside the fire, the fashioned circular,
the substance silver and rich elephant, whose fabric did the
cunning finger vaunt of Great Echmolius, who besides had done
a footstool for her that did suit her throne, on
which they cast an apple skin to be the cushion
for her other royalty. And there she sat about whom
came her maids, who brought upon a table store of
breads and bulls, that, with the wooer's wine, were crowned
the embers. Then they cast upon the ground from out
the lamps and other fuel added that, still with cheerful
flame the sad house gladded Melantha, seeing still ulysses there.
Thus she held out her spleen, still stranger here thus
late in night, to see what ladies do of aunt
you wretch. Hence, go without doors, go and quickly too,
lest ye be singed away with burning fire brands. He thus,
seeing their frey, continued by her with such bleen, replied, minion,
what makes your angry blood? Thus chied my presence still
is it? Because you see I shine not in your
wanton bravery, but wear these rags. It fits the needy
fate that makes me beg Thus of the common state,
such poor souls and such beggars, yet are men, And
even my mean means means had to maintain a wealthy
house and kept a manly press, was counted blessed. And
the poor access of any beggar did not scorn, but
feed with often hand, and any man of need relieved
as fitted kept My servants too, not few, but did
with those additions go that call choice men the honest,
who are styled the rich the great. But what such
great ones build jove off pulls down, as thus he
ruined me. His will was such which is his equity.
And therefore, woman, bear your fitting hand on your behavior.
Lest your spirit, thus manned and cherished with your beauties,
when they wane, comes down your pride now being then
your bane, and in the mean space, shun the present danger,
lest your bold fashion breed your sovereign's anger, or lest
ulysses come of whom even yet hope find some life
in fate, or be his seat amongst the merely ruined.
Yet his son, whose life's heat Phoebus saves, is such
a one as can discover, who doth well deserve of
any woman. Here his years now serve. The Queen gave
ear and thus suppressed the flame. Thou quite without a
brow past female shame. I hear thy monstrous boldness, which
thy head shall pay me pains, for thou hast heard
it said, and from myself too, and every part thy
knowledge serves thee that to ease my heart so punish'd
in thy witness. My desire dwelt on this stranger, that
I might inquire my lost friend's being. But tis ever tried,
both man and God are still forgot with pride your enemy.
Bring here this guest a seat, and cushion on it,
that we too may treat of the affair in question.
Set it near, that I may softly speak. Yet he
well here she did this little freely, and he sat
close by the queen, who asked him whence and what
he was himself? And what the inhabited place where lived
his parents? Whence he fetched his race? O woman? He replied,
with whom no man that moves in Earth's unbounded circle
can maintain contention for true honor, given whose fame hath
reached the fairly flowing heaven, who like a never ill
deserving king that is well spoke of first for worshiping
and striving to resemble God in empire, whose equal hand
impartially doth temper greatness and goodness, to whom therefore bears
the black Earth's store of all grain trees confers cracking
with burthen long lived herds creates all which the sea
with her sorts emulates, and all this feeds beneath his
powerful hand men, valiant many, making strong his land with
happy lives. Led nothing else the cause of all these blessings,
but well ordered laws, like such a king. Are you
in love, in fame, and all the bliss that deifies
a dame? And therefore do not mix this with a
moan so wretched as is now in question. Ask not
my race nor country, lest you fill my heart yet
fuller with repeated ill, for I must follow it with
many tears. Though tis not seemly to set wounding ears
in public roofs. With our particular life. Time's worst expense
is still repeated grief. I should be irksome to your
ladies here, and you yourself would say you urged your
ear to what offends it My still broken eye, supposing
wounded with your too much wine, stranger said she, you
fear your own excess with giving me too great a
nobleness the gods, my person, beauty, virtue too long since subverted.
When the Ilian woe the Greek design attempted, in which
went my praise and honor in his government? Had I
deserved your utmost grace, But now sinister deity makes dishonor
woo in show of grace my ruin. All the peers Sylvans,
Acinthus and Dulichius, Spheares, Samos and Ithaca, strange strifes have
shown to win me, spending on me all mine own
will wed me in my spite. And these are those
that take from me all virtue to dispose, or guest
or suppliant, or take any course amongst my heralds, that
should all disperse to order anything. Though I need none
to give me grief at home abroad heirrs one that
my veins shrink, for whom these holding gone their nuptials,
hasten and find me as slow. Good spirits prompt me
to make a show of undertaking a most curious task
that an unmeasured space of time would ask, which they,
enduring long, would often say, when ends thy work. I
soon had my delay and prayed their stay, For though
my lord were dead, his father's life yet mattered. Ministre,
that must employ me which to tell them true was
that great work I named for now near drew Laerti's death,
and on my hand did lie his funeral robe, whose
end being now so nigh, I must not leave and
lose so much begun the rather lest the Greek dames
might be won to tax mine honor. If a man
so great should greet his grave without his winding sheet,
pride made them credulous, and I went on. When whatsoever
all the day had done, I made the knight helped
to undo again, though oil and watch it cost and
equal pain. Three years, my wits secured me undiscern'd. Yet
when the fourth came by my maid's discern'd, false careless wenches,
how they were deluded. When by my light discern'd they
all intruded, using threatening words, and made me give it end.
And then could I to no more length extend my
linger'd nuptials. Not a council more was to be stood upon.
My parants bore continual hand on me to make me wed.
My son grew angry that so ruined his goods were
by them. He is now a man wise in a
great degree, and one that can himself give order to
his household fair and Jove give equal glory to his care.
But thus you must not pass me. I must know
it may be for more end. From whence doth grow
your race and you for I suppose you none sprung
of old oak or ustled out of stone, He answered, Oh, Ulysses,
reverend wife. Yet hold you purpose to inquire my life.
I'll tell you, though it much afflict me, more than
all the sorrows I have felt before, as worthily it may,
since so long time as I have wandered from my
native clime, through human cities, and in sufferance still to
rip all wounds up. Though of all their ill I touch,
but part must actuate all their pain. But ask you still,
I'll tell those still sustain. In the middle of the
Sable Sea there lies an isle called Crete, a ravisher
of eyes, fruitful and manned with many, an infinite store
where ninety cities crown the famous shore, mixed with all
languaged men. There. Greeks survive there, the great mind Etocretans
live there, the Dornsian never out of war, the Sidons there,
and there the singular Palestian people. There does Nosus stand
that mighty city where had most command great Jove's disciple Minos,
who nine years conferred with Jove both great familiars in
mutual councils. And this Minos's son, the Mighty Minded King
Doukelion was sire to me and royal Idomen, who with
atrides went to Ilian. Then my elder brother and the
better man my name Ethan. At that time began my
knowledge of Ulysses, whom my home received with guest rights.
He was thither come by force of weather from the
Malian coast, but knew got off where he the navy lost,
then under sail for Troy and wind bound, lay long
in the Nisses, hardly got away from horrid storms that
made him anchor there in havens that sacred to Lucina
were dreadful and dangerous, in whose bosom crept Lucina's cavern.
But in my roof slept Ulysses shored in Crete, who
first inquire for Royal Idomen, and much desired to taste
his guest rites, since to him had been a welcome guest.
My brother I Doman, the tenth or eleventh light on
Ulysses shined in stay at Crete, attending then the wind
for threatened Ilion, all which time my house, with love
and entertainments curious embraced his person. Though a number more
my hospitable roofs received before his men I likewise called
and from the store allowed them meal and heat, exciting
wine and oxen for their slaughter to confine in my
free hand. The utmost of their twelve days, the Greek
stayed ere. They got them freed a gale so bitter
blue out of the north that none could stand on earth,
being tumbled forth by some stern god. But on the
thirteenth day the tempest ceased, and then went Greeks their way.
Thus many tales, Ulysses told his wife, at most but painting,
yet most like the life of which her heart such
sense took through her ears. It made her weep, as
she would turn to tears, and as from off the
mountains melts the snow which Zephyr's breath concealed, but was
made flow by hollow Urus, which so fast pours down
that with their torrent floods have overflown, so down her
fair cheeks, her kind tears did glide her. Miss Lord
mourning set so near her side, Ulysses much was moved
to see her morn, whose eyes yet stood as dry
as iron or horn in his untroubled lids, which in
his craft of bridling passion he from issue sacked aft.
When she had given her moan so many tears that
now twas satiate her, yet loving fears asked, thus much further,
You have thus far tried my love's credulity. But if
gratified with so long stay he was with you, you
can describe what weed he wore, what kind of man
both he himself was, and what followers observed him there
Alas said he, the years have grown so many since this,
making now their twentieth revolution, that my show of these
slight notes will set my memory sore. But to my
now remembrance this he wore a double purple robe, drawn
close before, with golden buttons plaited thick, and bore a
facing where a hundred colors shined about the skirts. A
hound of freckled hind in full course hunted on the
four skirts, Yet he pinched and pulled her down, when
with her feet and all her force she struggled hard
for flight, which had such life in gold that to
the sight it seemed the Hind itself, for every hue
the hound, and also answering the view that all admired,
all I observed beside his inner weed so rarely beautified,
that dumb amaze it bread and was as thin as
any dry and tender onion skin as soft twas too,
and glistered like the sun. The women were to loving
wonder one by him and by his weeds. But by
the way, you must excuse me that I cannot say
he brought this suit from home, or had it there
sent for some present, or perhaps elsewhere, received it for
his guest gift. For your lord had friends not few,
the fleet did not afford many that had not fewer.
I bestowed a well edged sword on him, a robe
that flowed in folds in fullness, and did reach his
feet the richest purple. Brought him to his fleet with
all my honor. And besides, to add to all his
sifted circumstance, he had a herald there in height, a
little more put from the earth, that thicker shoulders wore,
a swarthy companion, and a curled head. His name Eurybtes.
And much instead he stood your King employ'd in most command,
since most of all his mind could understand. When all
these signs she knew, for chiefly true desire of moan
upon her beauties grew. And yet even that desire sufficed,
she said, till this, my guest, a wretched state arrayed,
your ill used person. But from this hour forth you
shall be honor'd and find all the worth that fits
a friend. Those weeds these hands bestowed from out my wardrobe,
those gold buttons sewed before for closure and for ornament.
But never more must his return present the person that
gave those adornment state. And therefore under an abhorred fate
was he induced to feed the common fame to visit
vile troy, I too vile to name no more. Yet
morn said he nor thus see pined your lovely person,
weeping waste the mind. And yet I blame you not,
for any deem that weds one young and brings to
him his name, whatever man he is, will mourn his
loss much more respectful. Then must show your woes that weep.
Thus for Ulysses, who Fame says, was equal with the
gods in all his ways. But where no cause is
there must be no moan. And therefore hear me my
relation shall lay the clear truth naked to your view.
I heard amongst the thesprots, for most true that Lord
Ulysses lived and stood just now on his return for home.
That wealth did flow in his possession, which he made
not known, but begg'd amongst the people, since alone he
quite was left. For all his men were lost in
getting off from the Trunacrian coast. Jovin the sun was
wroth with them, for rape made of his oxen, and
no man let scape the rugged deeps of Neptune. Only
he the ship's keel. Only keeping was by sea, cast
on the fair Phaeacian continent, where men survived that are
the God's descent, and like a god receiv'd him, gave
him heaps of wealthy gifts, and would conduct his steps
themselves safe home, which he might long ago his pleasure make.
But Prophet would not. So he gathered going, and had
mighty store of gold and safeguard so beyond the shore
that common sails kept. His high flood of wit bore
glorious top, and all the world for it hath far
exceeded all his feet on. Told that doth the scepter
of Thesprotia hold, who swore to me in household sacrifice.
The ship was launched, and men to man the prize
that soon should set him on his country. Earth showed
me the goods enough to serve the birth that in
the tenth age of his seed should spring yet in
his court contain'd. But then the King, your husband for Dodona,
was in way that from the oraculous oak he might
display Jove's will. What course for home would best prevail
to come in pomp or bear a secret sail? But
me the King despatch'd in course before a ship then
bound for the Dulichian shore. So thus you see his
safety whom you mourn, who now is passing near, and
his return no more will punish with delays, But see
his friends and country, all which truth to thee I'll
seal with sacred oath. Be witness Jove, thou first and
best of all, the throned above, and thou house of
the great Laertes, heir to whose high roofs I tender
my repair, that what I tell the Queen event shall
crown this year Ulysses shall possess his own nay Ere
the next month ends shall here arrive, nay ere it
enters here abide alive. O may this prove, said she
gifts French, then should make your name the most renowned
of men. But tis of me received, and must so
sort that nor my lord shall ever see his court,
nor you gain your deduction. Thence for now the altered
house doth no such man allow, as was Ulysses, if
he ever were to entertain a reverend passenger and give
him fair dismission. But maids see ye bathe his feet,
and then with tapestry best sheets and blankets, make his bed,
and lay soft waistcoats by him that lodged warm. He
may even till the golden seated morning's ray enjoy good rest,
and then with her first light bathe and give alms
that cherish appetite. He may apply within our hall and
sit safe by Telemachus. Or if the unfit and harmful
mind of any be so base to grieve his age again,
let none give grace of doing any deed, he shall command,
how wroth soever to his barbarous hand. For how shall ye,
you guessed, know me for a dame that passed so far? Nay,
turn and wine the fame of other dames for wisdom
and the frame of household usage. If your poor thin weeds,
I let draw on you want and worser deeds that
may perhaps cause here your latest day. The life of
man is short and flies away. And if the ruler's
self of households be ungentle studying in humanity. The rest
prove worse, But he bears all the blame. All men
will living vow against his name, mischiefs and miseries, and
dead supply with bitter epitaphs his memory. But if himself
be noble, noble things doing and knowing, all his underlings
will imitate his No bless and all guests give it
in many, many interests. But worthiest queen said he, where
you command baths and rich beds for me, I scorn
to stand on such state now, nor ever thought it yet.
Since first I left the snowy hills of crete, where
once I fell a shipboard, those thoughts fled, I love
to take now as long since my bed. Though I
began the use with sleepless nights, I many a darkness
with right homely rites have spent ere this hour and
desire the morn would come and make sleep to the
world a scorn. Nor run these dainty baths in my
rude head, nor any handmaid to your service bread shall
touch my ill kept feet unless there live some poor
old drudge here that hath learned to give old men
good usage. And no work will fly as having suffered
ill as much as I. But if there lived one
such in your command, I will not shame to give
my foot her hand. She gave this answer, Oh, my
loved guest, there never entered these kind rofs for rest,
stranger or friend, that so much wisdom laid engage for
guest rights as your lips have paid. There lives an
old maid in my charge, that no the good you
speak of, by her many woes, that nourished and brought
up with curious care. The unhappy man, your old familiar,
even since his mother let him view the light and oft,
hath felt in her weak arms his weight. And she,
though now much weaker, shall apply her maiden service to
your modesty. Eurycleia, rise and wash the feet of one
that is of one age. With your sovereign gone, such hands,
such feet hath, though of altered grace. Much grief in
men will bring un change of pace. She, from her
aged slumber, waked, did clear her heavy eyes, and instantly
to hear her Sovereign's name had work enough to dry
her cheeks from tears. And to his memory these moans
did offer O my son said she. I can never
take grief enough for thee whom goodness hurts, and whom
even Jove's high spleen. Since thou art Jove like hates
the most of men, for none hath offered him so
many thighs, nor such whole hecatomes of sacrifice, fat and
selected as thy zeal. Hath done for all, but praying
that thy noble son, thy happy age, might see at
state of man. And yet hath Jove, with Miss Sumerian
put out the light of his returning day, as you yourself,
o father, in your way, took these fair roofs for
hospitable rights, Yet find for them are dogged women's spites.
So he, in like course, being driven to proof long time,
ere this what such a royal roof would yield. His
miseries found such usage there. And you now flying the
foul language here, and many a filthy fact of our
fair dames, fly me like them, and put on causeless
shames to let me cleanse your feet. For not the
cause the Queen's command yields is the power that draws
my will to wash your feet. But what I do
proceeds from her charge, and your reverence too, since I
in soul am stricken with a ruth of your distresses
and past show of truth, your strangeness, claiming little interest
in my affections. And yet many a guest of poor
condition hath been harbored here, But never any did so
write up here, like King Ulysses, as yourself for state,
both of your stature, voice and very gait. So all
have said said he, that ever yet had the proportions
of our figures met in their observance. So right your
eye proves in your soul your judging faculty. Thus took
she up a cauldron brightly scoured to cleanse his feet
in and into it poured store of cold wave, which
on the fire she set, and therein bathed, being temperately
heat her sovereign's feet, who turned him from the light,
since suddenly he doubted her conceit so rightly, touching at
his state before a scar, now seeing on his foot
that bore, an old note to discern him might describe
the absolute truth, which witness by her eye was straight approved.
He first received this sore as in Parnassus's tops, a
white toothed bore. He stood in chase with Awe, who
struck him there at such time as he lived the
sojourner with his grandsire Autolicus, who the art of theft
and swearing not out of the heart, but by equivocation,
first adorned your witty man with awe, and was suborne
by Joe's descent ingenious Mercury, who did bestow it, since
so many a thigh of lambs and kids he had
on him bestowed in sacred flames, who, therefore, when he vowed,
was ever with him. And this man imposed Ulysses name,
the light being first disclosed to his first sight. Then,
when his grandsire came to see the then prefer of
his fame his loved daughter, the first supper done, Euryclea
put in his lap her son and prayed him to
bethink and give his name, Since that desire did all
desires inflame. Daughter and son in law, said he led,
then the name that I shall give him stand with men.
Since I arrived here at the hour of pain in
which mine own kind entrails did sustain, moaned for my
daughter's yet unended throes. And when so many men's and
women's woes in joint compassion met of human birth, brought
forth to attend the many feeding earth, let Odysseus be
his name as one exposed a just constraint of all
men's mown. When here at home he is arrived at
state of man's first youth, he shall initiate his practiced
feet in travel made abroad and two parnasses, where mine
own abode, and chief means lie address his way, or
I will give him from my open treasury, what shall
return him well and fit the fame of one that
had the honor of his name. For these fair gifts
he went and found all grace of hands and words
in him, and all his race. Amphythia, his mother's mother, too,
applied her to his love withal to do a grand
dame's welcomes both his fair eyes kissed and brows. And
then commanded to assist were all her sons by their
respected sire in furnishing a feast, whose ears did fire
their minds with his command, who home straight led a
five years old male ox felled, slew and flayed, gathered
about him, cut him up with art, spitted and roasted,
and his every part divided orderly. So all the day
they spent in feast, no man went his way without
his fit fill. When the sun was set and darkness rose.
They slept till the day's fire had the enlightened earth,
and then on hunting went both hounds in all Ataucolus's descent,
in whose guide did divine Ulysses go, climbed steep parnasses,
on whose forehead grow all sylvan offsprings round, and soon
they reached the concaves, whence airs sounding vapors fetched their
loud descent. As soon as any sun had from the ocean,
where his waters run in silent deepness, raised his golden head.
The early huntsmen all the hill had spread their hounds
before them. On the searching trail. They near, and, ever
eager to assail Ulysses, brandishing a lengthful lance, of whose
first flight he longed to prove. The chance then found
they lodged a bore of bulk extreme in such a
creach as never any beam the sun shot pierced, nor
any pass let find the moist impressions of the fiercest wind,
nor any storm the sternest winter drives such proof it was,
yet all within lay leaves in mighty thickness, And through
all this flew the hound's loud mouths, the sounds, the
tumult threw and altogether roused the boar that rushed amongst
their thickest all his bristles pushed from forth his rough neck,
and with flaming eyes, stood close and dared all on
which horrid prize Ulysses first chart arched whom above the knee,
the savage struck and raised it crookedly along the skin,
yet never reached the bone. Ulysses glance yet threw him
quite was thrown at his right shoulder, entering at his left.
The bright head passaged to his keenness cleft, and showed
his point guilt. With the gushing gore. Down in the
dust fell the extended boar, and forth his life flew
to Ulysses round his uncle drew, who, woeful for his wound,
with all art, bounded up and with a charm stayed
the blood went home. And when the harm received full cure,
with gifts and all event of joy and love, to
his loved home, they sent their honored nephew, whose return
his sire and reverend mother took with joy's entire and
quired all passages, all which he gave in good relation.
Nor of all would save his wound from utterance. By
whose scar he came to be discovered by this aged dame, which,
when she cleansing th elt and noted well down from
her lap into the cauldron fell his weighty foot that
made the brass resound, turned all aside, and on the
embruid ground spilt all the water, joy and grief together
her breast invaded and of weeping weather. Her eyes stood full,
her small voice stuck within her part expressive till at
length his chin she took and spake to him, O son,
said she thou art Ulysses, nor canst other be? Nor
could I know thee yet till all my king I
had gone over with the warmed spring. Then looked she
for the Queen to tell her all, and yet knew
nothing sure, though nought could fall in compass of all
thoughts to make her doubt. Minerva that distraction struck throughout
her mind's rapped forces, that she might not tell Ulysses,
noting yet her aptness well with one hand took her
chin and made all show of favor to her. With
the other drew her offered parting closer asked her why
she whose kind breast had nursed so tenderly his infant
life would now his age destroy, though twenty years had
held him from the joy of his loved country. But
since only she God putting her in mind, now knew
twas he he charged her silence, and to let no
ear in all the court more know his being there.
Lest if God gave into his equal hand the insulting
Woo's lives, he did not stand on any partial respect
with her, because his nurse and to the rest prefer
her safety. Therefore, but when they should feel his punishing finger,
give her equal steel. What words said she fly your
retentive powers. You know you lock your counsels in your towers,
in my firm bosom, and that I am far from
those loose frailties, like an iron bar or a bolt
of solid stone. I will contain and tell you this. Besides,
that if you gained by God's good aid the war's
lives in and yours, what dames are here their shameless paramours,
and have done most dishonor to your worth, My information
well shall paint you forth. It shall not need said
he myself will soon While thus I ask here set
on every one my sure observance of the worst and
best be thou then silent, and leave God the rest.
This said the old dame. For more water went. The
rest was all upon the pavement spent by known ulysses.
Foot more brought, and he supplied beside the sweetest ointments.
She his seat drew near the fire to keep him warm,
and with his pierced rags hiding close his harm, the
queen came near and said, yet, guest, afford your further
patience till but in a word, I tell my woes
to you, for well I know that rest sweet hour.
Her soft foot orders now when all poor men, how
much soever grieved, would gladly get their woe watched powers relief.
But God hath given my grief a heart so great
it will not down with rest. And so I set
my judgment up to make it my delight. All day
I mourn yet nothing let the right I owe my charge,
both in my work and maids. And when the night
brings rest to others, aids, I toss my bed distress
with twenty points, slaughtering the powers that to my turning
joints convey the vital heat. And as all night Pandarius's
daughter poor edon sings, clad in the verdure of the
yearly springs when she for Italus, her loved son. By
Zephus's issue in his men is done to cruel death
pours out her hourly moan and draws the ears to
her of every one. So flows my moan that cuts
into my mind, And here and there gives my discourse
the wind uncertain, whether I shall with my son abide
still here the safe possession and guard of all goods,
reverence to the bed of my loved lord, and to
put my far off spread fame with the people, putting
still in use, or follow any best Greek I can
choose to his fit house with treasure infinite one to
his nuptials, while the infant plight and want of judgment
kept my son and guide. He was not willing with
my being a bride, nor with my parting from his court.
But now arrived at man state, he would have me
vow my love to some one of my woars here
and leave his court offended that their cheers should so
consume his free possessions. To settle then a choice in
these my moans here in expound a dream that did
engrave my sleeping fancy. Twenty geese. I have all which methought,
mine eye saw tasting wheat in water, steeped and joy'd
to see them eat. When straight a crook beaked eagle
from a hill stooped and trusted all their necks, and
all did kill. When all left scatter'd on the pavement.
There she took her wing up to the God's fair sphere.
I even abid my dream, did weep and mourn to
see the eagle with so shrewd a turn stoop my
sad turrets. When methought there came about my mornings many
a Grecian dame to cheer my sorrows, in whose most extreme.
The hawk came back, and on the prominent beam that
crossed my chamber fell and used to me a human
voice that sounded horribly, and said, be confident I carry
us a seed. This is no dream, but what shall chance?
Indeed the geese the wooers are The eagle eye was
heretofore a fowl, But now imply thy husband's being, and
am come to give the wooer's death, that on my
treasure live With this sleep left me and my waking way,
I took to try if any violent prey were made
of those my fowls, which well enough I as before
found feeding at their trough their yoaded wheat. O woman,
he replied, thy dream can no interpretation bide. But what
the Eagle maid, who was your lord and said himself,
would sure effect afford to what he told you, that
confusion to all the wars should appear, and none escape
the fate and death he had decreed. She answered him, Oh, guest,
these dreams exceed the art of man to interpret and
appear without all choice or form, nor ever were performed
to all at all parts. But there are to these
light dreams that, like thin Vapor's fair two leaved gates,
the one of Ivory the other horn. Those dreams that
fantasy takes from the polish'd ivory port delude the dreamer, ever,
and no truth include those that the glittering horn gate
that's abroad do. Evermore, some certain truth abode. But this
my dream I hold of no such sort to fly from. Thence,
yet whichever so ported had access from it did highly
please my son and me. And this my thoughts profess
that day that lights me from Ulysses court, shall both
my infamy and curse consort. I therefore propose to propose
them now in strong contention ulysses bow, which he that
easily draws, and from his draft shoots through twelve axes,
as did his shaft, all set up in a row,
and from them all his stand far off kept firm.
My fortunes shall dispose and take me to his house
from hence where I was wed a maid, in confluence
of feast and riches, such a court here, then, as
I shall ever in my dreams retain, do not, said
he defer the gameful prize, but set to task their
importunities with something else than nuptials. For your lord will
to his court and kingdom be restored before they thread
those steals or draw his bow. O guest replied, Penelope,
would you thus sit and please me with your speech?
Mine ears would never mind eyelids close their spheres, But
none can live without the death of sleep. The immortals
in our mortal memories keep our ends and deaths by sleep, dividing,
so as by the fate and portion of our woe
are time spent here to let us nightly try that
which we live, as much live as we die, in
which youse I will to my bed ascend which I
bedo with tears and sigh passed end through all my
hours spent since I lost my joy for vile Leod,
never to be named Troy. Yet there I'll prove for sleep,
which take you here or on the earth, if that
your custom were, or have a bed disposed for warmer rest.
Thus she left with her ladies, her old guest, ascended
her fair chamber and her bed, whose sight did ever
duly make her shed tears for her lord, which still
her eyes did steep, till Pallas shut them with the
lightsome sleep. End of the nineteenth book St.