Speaker 1: The twenty third book of the Odyssees of Homer. This
is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
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LibriVox dot org. Recording by Phil Schamp. The twenty third
Book of the Odyssees of Homer, translated by George Chapman.
The argument ulysses to his wife is known a brief
sum of his travels shown himself. His son and servants
go to approve the war's overthrow. Another argument sigh for
all a noise sustained before the true wife's joys now
made the more the servants thus informed, The matron goes
up where the queen was cast in such repose, affected
with a fervent joy, to tell what all this time
she did, with pain conceal her knees revoked their first strength,
and her feet were born above the ground with wings.
To greet the long grieved queen with news her king
was come, and near her said, wake, leave this withdrawn room,
that now your eyes may see at length, though late
the man returned, which all the heavy date your woes
have racked out you have longed to see Ulysses has
come home, and hath set free his court of all
your wars, slaughtering all, for wasting so his goods with
festival his house so vexing, and for violence done so
always varied to his only son. She answered her, the
gods have made thee mad, of whose power? Now thy
powers such proof have had the gods con blind with
follies wisest eyes, and make men foolish, so to make
them wise, For they have hurt even thy grave brain,
that born understanding spirit, Heretofore, why hast thou wake me
to more tears? When Moan hath turned my mind with
tears into her own, thy madness much more blameful that
with lies, thy haste is latent, and both robs mine
eyes of most delightsome sleep, and sleep of them that
now had bound me in his sweet extreme to embrace
my lids and close my visual spheres. I have not
slept so much this twenty years since first my dearest
sleeping mate was gone, For that too ill to speak
of ilion. Hence, take your mad steps back. If any
maid of all my train, besides a part, had played
so bold to wake and tell mine ears such lies
I had returned her to her housewiferies with good proof
of my wrath to such rude dames. But go, your
years have saved their younger blames. She answered her. I'm
nothing wrong, your ear, But tell the truth. Your long
missed lord is here, and with the wooer's slaughter, his
own hand in chief exploit hath to his own command
reduced his house. And that poor guest was he that
all those woors wrought such injury? Telemachus had knowledge long
ago that twas his father, But his wisdom so observed
his counsels to give sure and to that great work
to which they did contend. This called her spirits to
their conceiving places. She sprung for joy from blames into
embraces of her grave. Nurse wiped every tear away from
her fair cheeks, and then began to say what nurse
said over thus, O, nurse, can this be true? Thou sayest?
How could that hand of his alone destroy so many
they would still troop altogether? How could he then kill
such numbers so united? How said she? I have not
seen nor heard, but certainly the deed is done. We
sat within in fear, the doors shut to us, and
from thence might hear the sighs and groans of every
man he slew, but heard nurse saw more, till at
length there flew your son's voice to mine ear that
called to me and bade me then come forth. And
then I see Ulysses standing in the midst of all
your slaughter'd wooers, heaped up like a wall, one on another,
round about his side. It would have done you good
to have described your conquering lord, all smeared with blood
and gore so like a lion straight. Then off they
bore the slaughtered carcasses that now before the forecourt gates
lie one on another piled, And now your victor, all
the hall, defiled with stench of hot death, is perfuming
round and with a mighty fire. The hearth hath crowned.
Thus all the death removed, and every room made sweet
and sightly, that yourself should come. His pleasure sent me come.
Then take you now your mutual fills of comfort grief
on you hath long and many sufferings laid, which length
with many sufferings. Now your virtuous strength of uncorrupted chasteness
hath conferred happy end to he that long hath erred
is safe, arrived at home, his wife, his son found
safe and good. All ill that hath been done on
all the doer's heads, though long prolonged, his right hath reaped,
and in the place they wronged, She answered, do not
you now laugh and boast as you had done some
great act, seeing most into his being. For you know
he won, even through his poor and vile condition, a
kind of prompted thought, that there was placed some virtue
in him, fit to be embraced by all the house,
but most of all by me and by my son.
That was the progeny of both our loves. And yet
it is not he. For all the likely proofs, he
plead to me, some god hath slain the wars in
disdain of the abhorred pride he saw so reign in
those base works they did. No men alive, are good
or bad, whoever did arrive at their abodes once ever
could obtain regard of them. And therefore there so vain
and vile desserts have found as vile an end. But
for Ulysses never will extend his wish to return to Greece,
nor he yet lives. How strange a queen you are,
said she that gives no truth. Your credit that your
husband set close in his house at fire, can purchase
yet no faith of you, but that he still is
far from any home of his, Your wits at war
with all credulity ever, and yet now I'll name a
sign shall force belief from you. I bathed him lately
and beheld the scar that still remains a mark too
ocular to leave your heart yet blinded. And I then
had run and told you, But his hand was fain
to close my lips from the acclamation. My heart was breathing,
and his wisdom won my still retention, till he gave
me leave and charged to tell you this. Now, then
receive my life for gage of his return, which take
in any cruel fashion, if I make all this not
clear to you, love nurse, said she. Though many things
thou know'st Yet these things be veiled in the counsels
the uncreated gods have long time masked, in whose dark
periods tis hard for thee to see into. But come,
let's see my son the slain, and him by whom
they had their slaughter, this said, Down they went, When
on the Queen's part, diverse thoughts were spent. If all this,
given no faith, she still should stand aloof and question more,
or his hugged hand and loved head, she should at first,
as say, with free given kisses. When her doubtful way
had passed the stony pavement, she took seat against her
husband in the opposite heat. The fire then cast upon
the other wall, himself set by the column of the hall,
his looks cast downwards, and expected still when her incredulous
and curious will to shun ridiculous air and the shame
to kiss a husband that was not the same, would
down and win enough faith from his sight, she silent sat,
and her perplexed plight a maze encountered. Sometimes she stood
clear he was her husband. Sometimes the ill where his
person had put on transformed him so that yet his
stamp would hardly current go her son. Her strangeness seeing
blamed her. Thus, mother, ungentle mother, tyrannus, is this too
curious modesty to show? Why sit you from my father?
Nor bestow a word on me to inquire in clear
such doubt as may perplex you found? Man? Ever, out
one other such a wife that could forbear her loved
lord's welcome home When twenty year in infinite sufferance he
had spent apart no flint so hard is as a
woman's heart. Son said, she a maze contains my mind.
Nor can I speak and use the common kind of
those inquiries, nor distain to see with opposite looks his countenance.
If this be my true ulysses now returned, there are
tokens betwixt us of more fitness far to give me argument.
He is my lord, and my assurance of him may
afford my proofs of joy for him. From all these eyes,
with more decorum than object their guise to public notice,
the much sufferer break in laughter out, and to his
son said, take your mother from the priest, that she
may make her own proofs of me, which perhaps may
give more cause to the acknowledgments that drive their show
thus off. But now because I go so poorly clad,
she takes disdain to know, so loath the creature for
her loved lord. Let us consult then, how we may
accord the town to our late action. Some one slain
hath made the all left slaughterer of him fain to
fly his friends and country. But our swords have slain
a city's most supportful lords. The chief peers of the
king kingdom. Therefore, see you use wise means to uphold
your victory. See you to that good father, said the son,
whose counsels have the sovereign glory one from all men living.
None will strive with you, but with unquestioned girlands, grace
your brow to whom our whole alacrities we vow in
free attendants. Nor shall our hands leave your onsets needy
of supplies, to give all the effects that in our
powers can fall. Then, this said he to thee seems
capital of all choice courses. Bathe we first, and then
attire we freshly all our maids and men, and joining
likewise to their best attire the sacred singer. Then let
touch his lyre, and go before us all in graceful dance,
that all without to whose ears shall advance our cheerful accents,
or of travelers by or firm inhabitants, solemnity of frolic nuptials,
may imagine here and this perform we lest the massacre
of all all our wars be divulged about the ample city.
Ere ourselves get out and greet my father in his
grove of trees, whereafter we will prove what policies olympias
shall suggest to overcome our latest toils and crown our
welcome home. This all obeyed. Bathe put on fresh attire,
both men and women did. Then took his lyre the
holy Singer, and set thirst on fire with songs and
faultless dances. All the court rung with the footings that
the numerous sport from jocund men drew, and fair girdled
dames which heard abroad, thus flew the common fames. This
sure the day is when the much wood queen is
richly wed, o wretch that hath not been so constant
as to keep her ample house till the utmost hour
had brought her foremost spouse. Thus some conceiv'd, but little
knew the thing. And now Eurynomy had bade the king
smoothed him with oils, and he himself attired in Vesture's royal.
Her part then inspired the goddess palace, deck'd his head
and face with infinite beauties, gave a goodly grace of
stature to him, a much plumper plight through all his body,
breathed curls soft and bright, adorn'd his head withal, and
made it show as if the flowry. Hyacinth did grow
in all his pride there in the general trim of
every lock and every curious limb. Look how a skillful
artisan well seen in all arts Metaline, as having been
taught by Minerva. And the god of fire, doth gold
with silver mix, so that entire they keep their self distinction.
And yet so that to the silver from the gold
doth flow a much more artificial luster than his own.
And thereby to the gold itself is grown a greater
glory than if wrought alone, both being struck off by
either's mix. So did Minerva hers in his combine, he
more in her, she more in him, did shine like
an immortal. From the bath he rose, And to his
wife did all his grace dispose, encountering this her strangeness.
Cruel dame of all that breathe the gods past steel
and flame have made thee ruthless life, retains not one
of all dames else that bears so overgrown to mind
with abstinence as twenty years to miss her husband drowned
in woes and tears, and at his coming keep aloof
and fair, as of his so long absence and his
care no sense had seized her, Go nurse, make a
bed that I alone may sleep. Her heart is dead
to all reflection to him, Thus replied the wise penelope,
man half deified. Tis not my fashion to be taken
straight with bravest men, nor poorest used to slight. Your
mean appearance made not me retire, Nor this your rich
show makes me now admire, nor moves it all? For
what is all to me? If not my husband? All
this certain I knew at parting, But so long apart
the outward likeness holds no full dessert for me to trust.
To go, nurse, see addressed a soft bed for him,
and the single rest himself affects. So let it be
the bed that stands within our bridal chamber stead, which
he himself made. Bring it forth from thence, and see
it furnished with magnificence. This said she to assay him,
and did stir even his established patience, and to her
whom thus he answered, woman, your words prove my patience. Strangely,
who is it can move my bed out of his place?
It shall oppress Earth's greatest understander. And unless even God
himself come that can easily grace men in their most skills,
it shall hold his place. For man he lives, not
that as not most skilled, so not most young, shall
easily make it yield. If building on the strength in
which he flow, he adds both levers to and iron crows.
For in the fixture of the bed is shown a masterpiece,
a wonder, And twas done by me, and none but me,
and thus was wrought. There was an olive tree that
had his grot amidst a hedge, and was of shadow, proud, fresh,
and the prime age of his verdure showed his leaves
and arms so thick that to the eye it showed
a column for solidity. To this I had a comprehension
to build my bridle bower, which olive stone thick as
the tree of leaves, I raised and cast a roof
about it, nothing meanly graced, put glued doors to it
that OpEd art enough. Then from the olive every broad
leaved bough I locked away, then felled the tree, and
then went over it, both with my axe and plane,
both governed by my line. And then I hewed my
curious bedstead out in which I shewed work of no
common hand. All this begun I could not leave till
to perfection my pains had brought it, took my wimble,
bored the holes as fitted, and did last afford the
varied ornament, which showed no want of silver, gold and
polished elephant an ox hide died in purple. Then I
threw above the cords, and thus to curious view, I
hope I have objected honest sign to prove I author
not that is not mine. But if my bed stand
unremoved or know O woman passeth human wit to know
this sunk her knees and heart to hear so true
the signs. She urged, and first did tears and sue
her rapt assurance. Then she ran and spread her arms
about his neck, kissed oft his head. And thus the
curious day she made excused, ulysses, be not angry that
I use such strange delays to this, since heretofore your
suffering wisdom hath the garland war from all that breathe,
And tis the gods that, thus, with mutual mists so
long afflicting us, have caused my coyness to our youths,
envied that wish society that should have tied our youths
and years together. And since now judgment and duty should
our age allow as full joys therein, as in youth
and blood, see all young anger and reproof withstood for
not at first sight giving up my arms, my heart
still trembling, lest the false alarms that words oft strike
up should ridiculize me. Had our guive Helen known credulity
would bring such plagues with it, and her again as
authoress of them all, with that ful stain to her
and to her country. She had stayed her love and
mixture from a stranger's bed. But God impelled her to
a shameless deed, because she had not in her self
decreed before the attempt that such acts still were shan't
as simply in themselves as in the event by which
not only she herself sustains, but we, for her fault,
have paid mutual pain. Yet now, since these signs of
our certain bed you have discovered and distinguished from all
Earth's others, no one man but you yet ever getting
of it the only show, nor one of all dames
but myself and she my father gave old actor's progeny.
Who ever gathered to ourselves the door of that thick
shaded chamber, I no more will cross your clear persuasion,
though till now I stood too doubtful and austere to you.
These words of hers, so justifying her stay, did more
desire of joyful moan convey to his glad mind than
if at an instant's sight she had allowed him all
his wishes right. He wept for joy to enjoy a
wife so fit for his grave mind, that knew his
depth of wit, and held chaste virtue at a price
so high. And as sad men at sea when shore
is nigh, which long their hearts have wished, their ship
quite lost by Neptune's rigor, and they vexed and tossed
TwixT winds and black waves, swimming for their lives. A
few escaped, and that few that survives, all drenched in
foem and brine, crawl up to land with joy as
much as they did world's command. So dear to his
wife was her husband's sight, who still embraced his neck,
and had till light displayed her silver ensign. If the
dame that bears the blue sky intermixed with flame in
her fair eyes had not enfixed her thought on other joys,
for loves so hardly brought to long for meeting, who
the extended night withheld in long date, Nor would let
the light her winged hoof horse join lampus feet on
those ever colts that bring the morning on to worldly men.
But in her golden chair down to the ocean, by
her silver hair bound her aspirings. Then, Ulysses, said, o wife,
nor yet are my contentions stayed? A most unmeasured labor,
long and hard asks more performance to it, being prepared
by grave Tyresius. When down to Hell, I made dark
passage that his skill might tell my men's return and mine.
But come and now enjoy the sweet rest that our
fates allow. The place of rest is ready, She replied,
Your will it full service, since the deified have brought
you where your right is to command. But since you
know God making understand your searching mind, inform me what
must be your last set labor? Since twill fall to
me I hope to hear it after. Tell me now
the greatest pleasure is before to know. Unhappy, said Ulysses,
to what end importune you this labor? It will lend
nor you nor me delight. But you shall know I
was commanded yet more to bestow my years in travel
many cities more by sea to visit, And when first
for shore I left my shipping, I was willed to
take a naval oar in hand, and with it make
my passage forth till such strange men I met, as
knew no sea, nor ever salt, did eat with any victuals,
who the purple beaks of ships did never see, nor
that which breaks the waves in curls, which is a
fan like ore, and serves as wings with which a
ship doth soar. To let me know, then, when I
was arrived on that strange earth where such a people lived,
he gave me this for an unfailing sign. When anyone
that took that ore of mine borne on my shoulder
for a corn cleansed fan, I met ashore and showed
to be a man of that land's labor. There had
I command to fix mine ore and offer on that
strand to Imperial Neptune, whom I must implore a lamb,
a bull, and a sow ascending boar, And then turn home,
where all the other gods that in the broad heaven
made secure abodes, I must solicit all my curious heed
given to the several rites they have decreed with holy hecatombs,
and then at home, a gentle death should seize me
that would come from out the sea and take me
to his rest in full ripe age about me living
blessed my loving people, to which he presaged the sequel
of my fortunes were engaged. If, then said she, the
gods will please to impose a happier being to your
fortune's clothes than went before. Your hope gives comfort strength
that life shall lend you better days. At length, while
this discourse spent mutual speech, the bed Uryymy and nurse
had made and spread with richest furniture, while torches spent
their parcel guilt thereon to bed. Then went the aged nurse,
and where their sovereigns were Urynymy, the chambermaid did bear
a torch, and went before them to their rest, to
which she left them, and for hers addressed the King
and Queen. Then, now as newlywed, resumed the old laws
of the embracing bed. Telemachus and both his herdsmen then
dissolved the dances, both the maids and men, who in
their shady roofs, took timely sleep. The bride and bridegroom,
having ceased to keep observed love joys. From their fit delight,
they turned to talk. The queen then did recite what
she had suffered by the hateful rout of harmful woars
who had eaten her out, so many oxen and so
many sheep, how many ton of wine their drinking deep
had quite exhausted great ulysses. Then whatever slaughters he had
made of men, whatever sorrows, he himself sustained repeated samply,
and her ears remained with all delight, attentive to their end.
Nor would one wink sleep till he told her all
beginning where he gave the sickens fall from thence his pasted,
the latophagy, the cyclops acts, the putting out his eye,
and the reek of all the soldiers he had eaten.
No less ruth shown to all they could entreat his
way to Eelus, his prompt receipt and kind dismission, his
enforced retreat by sudden tempests to the fishy Maine, and
quite distraction from his course again, his landing at the
least dragonian port, where ships and men in miserable sort
met all their spoils. His ship and he alone got
off from the abhorred confusion his past to Circi heard
a seats in arts, his thence dissension to the infernal parts,
his life's course of the theban prophet learned where all
the slaughtered Grecians he discerned and loved mother his astonished
ear with what the siren's voices made him hear, his
escape from the erring rocks with silhahwahs and rough Charybdis,
with the dangerous pass of all that touched there, his
Sicilian offense given to the sun, his every man destroyed
by thunder, vollied out of heaven that split his ship,
his own endeavors driven to s shift for succors on
the Ogygian shore, where nymph Calypso's such affection bore to
him in his arrival, that with feast she kept in
inner caves and would have blessed his welcome life with
an immortal state, would he have stayed and lived her
nuptial mate, all which she never could persuade him to
his past to the Fiacians spent in woe, their hearty
welcome of him as he were a god descended from
the starry sphere, their kind dismission of him home with
gold brass garments, all things his occasions would this last
word used sleep seized his weary eye that salves all
care to all mortality in mean space. Pallas entertained intent
that when Ulysses thought enough time spent in Lovejoy's with
his wife to raise the day and make his grave
occasions call away, the morning rose and he when thus
he said, O Queen, now satiate with afflictions laid on
both our bosom, you will press it here with cares
for my return. I everywhere by Jove and all the
deities tossed, even till all our hope of my return
was lost, and both arrived at this sweet haven our
bed be your care used to see administered my house possessions,
left those sheep that were consumed in surfeits by your wooers.
Here i'll forge to supply with some and more the
suffering grecians shall be made restore, even till our stalls
receive their wonted fail. And now to comfort my good
father's ill, long suffered for me, to the many treed
and ample vineyard grounds, it is decreed in my next
care that I must haste and see his longed fore presence.
In the meantime be your wisdom used that since the
sun ascended, the fame will soon be through the town,
extended of those I here have slain. Yourself, got close
up to your chamber, see you there repose, cheered with
your women, and nor look afford without your court, nor
any man a word. This said. He arm'd to arms
both son and Swain, his power commanding who did entertain
his charge with spirit, OpEd the gates, and out he
leading all, and now was hurled about Aurora's ruddy fire,
through all whose light Minerva led them through the town
from sight end of the twenty third book