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

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       ‭ Of those his guard, that on the shore arrives.

       ‭ When having view’d, and told them forth by fives,

       ‭ He takes place in their midst, and there doth sleep,

       ‭ Like to a shepherd midst his flock of sheep.

       ‭ In his first sleep, call up your hardiest cheer,

       ‭ Vigour and violence, and hold him there,

       ‭ In spite of all his strivings to be gone.

       ‭ He then will turn himself to ev’ry one

       ‭ Of all things that in earth creep and respire,

       ‭ In water swim, or shine in heav’nly fire.

       ‭ Yet still hold you him firm, and much the more

       ‭ Press him from passing. But when, as before,

       ‭ When sleep first bound his pow’rs, his form ye see,

       ‭ Then cease your force, and th’ old heroë free,

       ‭ And then demand, which heav’n-born it may be

       ‭ That so afflicts you, hind’ring your retreat,

       ‭ And free sea-passage to your native seat.’

       ‭ This said, she div’d into the wavy seas,

       ‭ And I my course did to my ships address,

       ‭ That on the sands stuck; where arriv’d, we made

       ‭ Our supper ready. Then th’ ambrosian shade

       ‭ Of night fell on us, and to sleep we fell.

       ‭ Rosy Aurora rose; we rose as well,

       ‭ And three of them on whom I most relied,

       ‭ For firm at ev’ry force, I choos’d, and hied

       ‭ Straight to the many-river-servéd seas;

       ‭ And all assistance ask’d the Deities.

       ‭ Mean time Idothea the sea’s broad breast

       ‭ Embrac’d, and brought for me, and all my rest,

       ‭ Four of the sea-calves’ skins but newly flay’d,

       ‭ To work a wile which she had fashionéd

       ‭ Upon her father. Then, within the sand

       ‭ A covert digging, when these calves should land,

       ‭ She sat expecting. We came close to her;

       ‭ She plac’d us orderly, and made us wear

       ‭ Each one his calf’s skin. But we then must pass

       ‭ A huge exploit. The sea-calves’ savour was

       ‭ So passing sour, they still being bred at seas,

       ‭ It much afflicted us; for who can please

       ‭ To lie by one of these same sea-bred whales?

       ‭ But she preserves us, and to memory calls

       ‭ A rare commodity; she fetch’d to us

       ‭ Ambrosia, that an air most odorous

       ‭ Bears still about it, which she ‘nointed round

       ‭ Our either nosthrils, and in it quite drown’d

       ‭ The nasty whale-smell. Then the great event

       ‭ The whole morn’s date, with spirits patient,

       ‭ We lay expecting. When bright noon did flame,

       ‭ Forth from the sea in shoals the sea-calves came,

       ‭ And orderly, at last lay down and slept

       ‭ Along the sands. And then th’ old Sea-God crept

       ‭ From forth the deeps, and found his fat calves there,

       ‭ Survey’d, and number’d, and came never near

       ‭ The craft we us’d, but told us five for calves.

       ‭ His temples then dis-eas’d with sleep he salves;

       ‭ And in rush’d we, with an abhorréd cry,

       ‭ Cast all our hands about him manfully;

       ‭ And then th’ old Forger all his forms began:

       ‭ First was a lion with a mighty mane,

       ‭ Then next a dragon, a pied panther then,

       ‭ A vast boar next, and suddenly did strain

       ‭ All into water. Last he was a tree,

       ‭ Curl’d all at top, and shot up to the sky.

       ‭ We, with resolv’d hearts, held him firmly still,

       ‭ When th’ old one (held too strait for all his skill

       ‭ To extricate) gave words, and question’d me:

       ‭ “Which of the Gods, O Atreus’ son,’ said he,

       ‭ ‘Advis’d and taught thy fortitude this sleight,

       ‭ To take and hold me thus in my despite?’

       ‭ ‘What asks thy wish now?’ I replied. 'Thou know’st.

       ‭ Why dost thou ask? What wiles are these thou show’st?

       ‭ I have within this isle been held for wind

       ‭ A wondrous time, and can by no means find

       ‭ An end to my retention. It hath spent

       ‭ The very heart in me. Give thou then vent

       ‭ To doubts thus bound in me, ye Gods know all,

       ‭ Which of the Godheads doth so foully fall

       ‭ On my addression home, to stay me here,

       ‭ Avert me from my way, the fishy clear

       ‭ Barr’d to my passage?’ He replied: ‘Of force,

       ‭ If to thy home thou wishest free recourse,

       ‭ To Jove, and all the other Deities,

       ‭ Thou must exhibit solemn sacrifice;

       ‭ And then СКАЧАТЬ