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

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СКАЧАТЬ of her joints and nerves did steep

       ‭ In his dissolving humour. When, at rest,

       ‭ Pallas her favours varied, when addrest

       ‭ An idol, that Iphthima did present

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

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

       ‭ Eumelus took, that kept in Pheris’ house.

       ‭ This to divine Ulysses’ house she sent,

       ‭ To try her best mean how she might content

       ‭ Mournful Penelope, and make relent

       ‭ The strict addiction in her to deplore.

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

       ‭ Contracts or strains her, did itself convey,

       ‭ Beyond the wards or windings of the key,

       ‭ Into the chamber, and, above her head

       ‭ Her seat assuming, thus she comforted

       ‭ Distress’d Penelope: “Doth sleep thus seize

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

       ‭ The Gods, that nothing troubles, will not see

       ‭ Thy tears nor griefs, in any least degree,

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

       ‭ Safe to his wish’d and native mansión.

       ‭ Since he is no offender of their states,

       ‭ And they to such are firmer than their fates.”

       ‭ The wise Penelope receiv’d her thus,

       ‭ Bound with a slumber most delicious,

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

       ‭ Repair you hither, since so far off lie

       ‭ Your house and household? You were never here

       ‭ Before this hour, and would you now give cheer

       ‭ To my so many woes and miseries,

       ‭ Affecting fitly all the faculties

       ‭ My soul and mind hold, having lost before

       ‭ A husband, that of all the virtues bore

       ‭ The palm amongst the Greeks, and whose renown

       ‭ So ample was that Fame the sound hath blown

       ‭ Through Greece and Argos to her very heart?

       ‭ And now again, a son, that did convert

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

       ‭ A tender plant, that yet was never grown

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

       ‭ For whom more than my husband I complain,

       ‭ And lest he should at any suff’rance touch

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

       ‭ Estrang’d to him that must his consorts be)

       ‭ Fear and chill tremblings shake each joint of me.

       ‭ Besides, his danger sets on foes profess’d

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

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

       ‭ Said: “Be of comfort, nor fears so extreme

       ‭ Let thus dismay thee; thou hast such a mate

       ‭ Attending thee, as some at any rate

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

       ‭ Minerva pities thy delights’ defeat,

       ‭ Whose grace hath sent me to foretell thee these.”

       ‭ “If thou,” said she, “be of the Goddesses,

       ‭ And heardst her tell thee these, thou mayst as well

       ‭ From her tell all things else. Deign then to tell,

       ‭ If yet the man to all misfortunes born,

       ‭ My husband, lives, and sees the sun adorn

       ‭ The darksome earth, or hides his wretched head

       ‭ In Pluto’s house, and lives amongst the dead?”

       ‭ “I will not,” she replied, “my breath exhale

       ‭ In one continued and perpetual tale,

       ‭ Lives he or dies he. ’Tis a filthy use,

       ‭ To be in vain and idle speech profuse.”

       ‭ This said, she, through the key-hole of the door,

       ‭ Vanish’d again into the open blore.

       ‭ Icarius’ daughter started from her sleep,

       ‭ And Joy’s fresh humour her lov’d breast did steep,

       ‭ When now so clear, in that first watch of night,

       ‭ She saw the seen Dream vanish from her sight.

       ‭ The Wooers’ ship the sea’s moist waves did ply,

       ‭ And thought the prince a haughty death should die.

       ‭ There lies a certain island in the sea,

       ‭ Twixt rocky Samos and rough Ithaca,

       ‭ That cliffy is itself, and nothing great,

       ‭ Yet holds convenient havens that two ways let

       ‭ Ships in and out, call’d Asteris; and there

       ‭ The Wooers hop’d to make their massacre.

      ‭ FINIS LIBRI QUARTI HOM. ODYSS.

      ‭[1] Αακεδαἰμονα κητὠσσαν which is expounded Spartam ‭amplam, or πεγἀλην magnam; where κητὠεσσαν signifies ‭properly plurima cete nutrientem.

      ‭[2] Μολπης ἐ ἄρχοντες СКАЧАТЬ