No More Learning

Then the henchman drew near, leading with him the beloved minstrel, whom the muse loved dearly, and she gave him both good and evil ; of his sight she reft him, but granted him sweet song. Then Pontonous, the henchman, set for him a high chair inlaid with silver, in the midst of the guests, leaning it against the tall pillar, and he hung the loud lyre on a pin, close above his head, and showed him how to lay his hands on it. And close by him he placed a basket, and a fair table, and a goblet of wine by his side, to drink when his spirit bade him. So they stretched forth their hands upon the good cheer spread before them. But after they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, the muse stirred the minstrel to sing the songs of famous men, even that lay whereof the fame had then reached the wide heaven, namely, the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles, son of Peleus ; how once on a time they con tended in fierce words at a rich festival of the gods, but Aga memnon, king of men, was inly glad when the noblest of the Achaeans fell at variance. For so Phoebus Apollo in his sooth
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saying had told him that it must be, in goodly Pytho, what time he crossed the threshold of stone, to seek to the oracle. For in those days the first wave of woe was rolling on Trojans and Danaans through the counsel of great Zeus.
This song it was that the famous minstrel sang ; but Odys seus caught his great purple cloak with his stalwart hands, and drew it down over his head, and hid his comely face, for he was ashamed to shed tears beneath his brows in presence of the Phaeacians. Yea, and oft as the divine minstrel paused in his song, Odysseus would wipe away the tears, and draw the cloak from off his head, and take the double goblet and pour forth before the gods. But whensoever he began again, and the chiefs of the Phaeacians stirred him to sing, in delight at the lay, again would Odysseus cover up his head and make moan. Now none of all the company marked him weeping, but Alcin- ous alone noted it and was ware thereof as he sat by him and heard him groaning heavily. And presently he spake among the Phaeacians, masters of the oar : —
"Hearken, ye captains and counselors of the Phaeacians, now have our souls been satisfied with the good feast, and with the lyre, which is the mate of the rich banquet. Let us go forth anon, and make trial of divers games, that the stranger may tell his friends, when home he returneth, how greatly we excel all men in boxing, and wrestling, and leaping, and speed of foot. "
He spake, and led the way, and they went with him. And the henchman hung the loud lyre on the pin, and took the hand of Demodocus, and led him forth from the hall, and guided him by the same way whereby those others, the chiefs of the Phaeacians, had gone to gaze upon the games. So they went on their way to the place of assembly, and with them a great company innumerable ; and many a noble youth stood up to play. There rose Acroneus, and Ocyalus, and Elatreus, and Nauteus, and Prymneus, and Anchialus, and Eretmeus, and Ponteus, and Proreus, Thoon, and Anabesineus, and Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tekton, and likewise Euryalus, the peer of murderous Ares, the son of Naubolus, who in face and form was goodliest of all the Phaeacians next to noble Laoda- mas. And there stood up the three sons of noble Alcinous, Laodamas, and Halius, and godlike Clytoneus. And behold, these all first tried the issue in the foot race. From the very start they strained at utmost speed: and all together they flew
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forward swiftly, raising the dust along the plain. And noble Clytoneus was far the swiftest of them all in running, and by the length of the furrow that mules cleave in a fallow field, so far did he shoot to the front, and came to the crowd by the lists, while those other were left behind. Then they made trial of strong wrestling, and here in turn Euryalus excelled all the best. And in leaping Amphialus was far the foremost, and Elatreus in weight throwing, and in boxing Laodamas, the good son of Alcinous. Now when they had all taken their pleasure in the games, Laodamas, son of Alcinous, spake among them : —
" Come, my friends, let us ask the stranger whether he is skilled or practiced in any sport. Ill fashioned, at least, he is not in his thighs and sinewy legs and hands withal, and his stalwart neck and mighty strength : yea and he lacks not youth, but is crushed by many troubles. For I tell thee there is naught else worse than the sea to confound a man, how hardy soever he may be. " "
And Euryalus in turn made answer, and said :
Laodamas, verily thou hast spoken this word in season. Go now thyself
and challenge him, and declare thy saying. "
Now when the good son of Alcinous heard this, he went
and stood in the midst, and spake unto Odysseus : " Come, do thou too, father and stranger, try thy skill in the sports, if haply thou art practiced in any; and thou art like to have knowledge of games, for there is no greater glory for a man while yet he lives, than that which he achieves by hand and foot. Come, then, make essay, and cast away care from thy soul : thy journey shall not now be long delayed ; lo, thy ship is even now drawn down to the sea, and the men of thy com pany are ready. "
" And Odysseus of many counsels answered him, saying : Laodamas, wherefore do ye mock me, requiring this thing of me ? Sorrow is far nearer my heart than sports, for much have I endured and labored sorely in time past, and now I sit in this your gathering, craving my return, and making my prayer to
the king and all the people. " " And Euryalus answered, and rebuked him to his face :
No, truly, stranger, nor do I think thee at all like one that is skilled in games, whereof there are many among men ; rather art thou such an one as comes and goes in a benched ship, a master of sailors that are merchantmen, one with a memory for his freight,
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or that hath the charge of a cargo homeward hound, and of greedily gotten gains ; thou seemest not a man of thy hands. "
Then Odysseus of many counsels looked askance and spake unto him : " Stranger, thou hast not spoken well ; thou art like a man presumptuous. So true it is that the gods do not give every gracious gift to all, neither shapeliness, nor wisdom, nor skilled speech. For one man is feebler than another in pres ence, yet the god crowns his words with beauty, and men be hold him and rejoice, and his speech runs surely on his way with a sweet modesty, and he shines forth among the gathering of his people, and as he passes through the town men gaze on him as a god. Another again is like the deathless gods for beauty, but his words have no crown of grace about them ; even as thou art in comeliness preeminent, nor could a god himself fashion thee for the better, but in wit thou art a weakling. Yea, thou hast stirred my spirit in my breast by speaking thus amiss. I am not all unversed in sports, as thy words go, but methinks I was among the foremost while as yet I trusted in my youth and my hands, but now am I holden in misery and pains : for I have endured much in passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves of the sea. Yet even so, for all my affliction, I will essay the games, for thy word hath bitten to the quick, and thou hast roused me with thy saying. "
He spake, and clad even as he was in his mantle leaped to his feet, and caught up a weight larger than the rest, a huge weight heavier far than those wherewith the Phaeacians con tended in casting. With one whirl he sent it from his stout hand, and the stone flew hurtling: and the Phaeacians, of the long oars, those mariners renowned, crouched to earth beneath the rushing of the stone. Beyond all the marks it flew, so lightly it sped from his hand, and Athene in the fashion of a man marked the place, and spake and hailed him : —
" Yea, even a blind man, stranger, might discern that token if he groped for it, for it is in no wise lost among the throng of the others, but is far the first ; for this bout then take heart: not one of the Phaeacians shall attain thereunto or overpass it. "
*******
So spake she ; and the steadfast goodly Odysseus rejoiced and was glad, for that he saw a true friend in the lists.
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X.
Then Alcinous bade Halius and Laodamas dance alone, for none ever contended with them. So when they had taken in their hands the goodly ball of purple hue, that cunning Poly bus had wrought for them, the one would bend backwards, and throw it towards the shadowy clouds ; and the other would leap upward from the earth, and catch it lightly in his turn, before his feet touched the ground. Now after they had made trial of throwing the ball straight up, the twain set to dance upon the bounteous earth, tossing the ball from hand to hand, and the other youths stood by the lists and beat time, and a great din uprose.
" Then it was that goodly Odysseus spake unto Alcinous :
My lord Alcinous, most notable among all the people, thou didst boast thy dancers to be the best in the world, and lo, thy words are fulfilled; I wonder as I look on them. "
So spake he, and the mighty king Alcinous rejoiced and spake at once among the Phseacians, masters of the oar : —
"Hearken ye, captains and counselors of the Phaeacians, this stranger seems to me a wise man enough. Come then, let us give him a stranger's gift, as is meet. Behold, there are twelve glorious princes who rule among this people and bear sway, and I myself am the thirteenth. Now each man among you bring a fresh robe and a doublet, and a talent of fine gold, and let us speedily carry all these gifts together, that the stranger may take them in his hands, and go to supper with a glad heart. As for Euryalus let him yield amends to the man himself with soft speech and with a gift, for his was no gentle saying. "
So spake he, and they all assented thereto, and would have it so. And each one sent forth his henchman to fetch his gift, and "Euryalus answered the king and spake, saying : —
My lord Alcinous, most notable among all the people, I will make atonement to thy guest according to thy word. I will give him a hanger all of bronze, with a silver hilt thereto, and a sheath of fresh-sawn ivory covers it about, and it shall be to him a thing of price. "
Therewith he puts into his hands the hanger dight with silver, and uttering his voice spake to him winged words : " Hail, stranger and father ; and if aught grievous hath been spoken, may the stormwinds soon snatch and bear it away.
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But may the gods grant thee to see thy wife and to come to thine own country, for all too long hast thou endured affliction away from thy friends. "
" And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying :
Thou too, my friend, all hail; and may the gods vouchsafe thee happiness, and mayst thou never miss this sword which thou hast given me, thou that with soft speech hast yielded me amends. "
He spake and hung about his shoulders the silver-studded sword. And the sun sank, and the noble gifts were brought him. Then the proud henchmen bare them to the palace of Alcinous, and the sons of noble Alcinous took the fair gifts, and set them by their reverend mother. And the mighty king Alcinous led the way, and they came in and sat them down on the high seats. And the mighty Alcinous spake unto Arete :
" Bring me hither, my lady, a choice coffer, the best thou hast, and thyself place therein a fresh robe and a doublet, and heat for our guest a caldron on the fire, and warm water, that after the bath the stranger may see all the gifts duly arrayed which the noble Phaeacians bare hither, and that he may have joy in the feast, and in hearing the song of the minstrelsy. Also I will give him a beautiful golden chalice of mine own, that he may be mindful of me all the days of his life when he poureth the drink offering to Zeus and to the other gods. "
So spake he, and Arete bade her handmaids to set a great caldron on the fire with what speed they might. And they set the caldron for the filling of the bath on the blazing fire, and poured water therein, and took fagots and kindled them beneath. So the fire began to circle round the belly of the caldron, and the water waxed hot. Meanwhile Arete brought forth for her guest the beautiful coffer from the treasure cham ber, and bestowed fair gifts therein, raiment and gold, which the Phaeacians gave him. And with her own hands she placed therein a robe and goodly doublet, and uttering her voice spake to him winged words : —
" Do thou now look to the lid, and quickly tie the knot, lest any man spoil thy goods by the way, when presently thou fallest on sweet sleep traveling in thy black ship. "
Now when the steadfast goodly Odysseus heard this saying, forthwith he fixed on the lid, and quickly tied the curious knot, which the lady Circe on a time had taught him. Then straight way the housewife bade him go to the bath and bathe him ; and he saw the warm water and was glad, for he was not wont
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to be so cared for, from the day that he left the house of fair- tressed Calypso, but all that while he had comfort continually as a god.
Now after the maids had bathed him and anointed him with olive oil, and had cast a fair mantle and a doublet upon him, he stept forth from the bath, and went to be with the chiefs at their wine. And Nausicaa, dowered with beauty by the gods, stood by the doorpost of the well-builded hall, and marveled at Odysseus, beholding him before her eyes, and she uttered her voice and spake to him winged words : —
" Farewell, stranger, and even in thine own country bethink thee of me upon a time, for that to me first thou owest the
ransom of life. " " And Odysseus of many counsels answered her, saying :
Nau sicaa, daughter of great-hearted Alcinous, yea, may Zeus, the thunderer, the lord of Here, grant me to reach my home and see the day of my returning ; so would I, even there, do thee worship as to a god, all my days for evermore, for thou, lady,
hast given me my life. "
He spake and sat him in the high seat by king Alcinous.
And now they were serving out the portions and mixing the wine. Then the henchman drew nigh leading the sweet min strel, Demodocus, that was had in honor of the people. So he set him in the midst of the feasters, and made him lean against a tall column. Then to the henchman spake Odysseus of many counsels, for he had cut off a portion of the chine of a white- toothed boar, whereon yet more was left, with rich fat on either side": —
Lo, henchman, take this mess, and hand it to Demodocus, that he may eat, and I will bid him hail, despite my sorrow. For minstrels of all men on earth get their meed of honor and worship ; inasmuch as the muse teacheth them the paths of song, and loveth the tribe of minstrels. "
XI.
So spake he, and dead silence fell on all, and they were spell bound throughout the shadowy halls. Thereupon Alcinous answered him, and spake, saying : —
" Odysseus, now that thou hast come to my high house with floor of bronze, never, methinks, shalt thou be driven from thy way ere thou returnest, though thou hast been sore afflicted. And for each man among you, that in these halls of mine drink
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evermore the dark wine of the elders, and hearken to the min strel, this is my word and command. Garments for the stranger are already laid up in a polished coffer, with gold curiously wrought, and all other such gifts as the counselors of the Phseacians bare hither. Come now, let us each of us give him a great tripod and a caldron, and we in turn will gather goods among the people and get us recompense ; for it were hard that one man should give without return. "
So spake Alcinous, and the saying pleased them well. Then they went each one to his house to lay him down to rest ; but so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, they hasted to the ship and bare the bronze, the joy of men. And the mighty king Alcinous himself went about the ship and diligently be stowed the gifts beneath the benches, that they might not hinder any of the crew in their rowing, when they labored at their oars. Then they betook them to the house of Alcinous and fell to feasting. And the mighty king Alcinous sacrificed before them an ox to Zeus, the son of Cronos, that dwells in the dark clouds, who is lord of all. And when they had burnt the pieces of the thighs, they shared the glorious feast and made merry, and among them harped the divine minstrel De- modocus, whom the people honored. But Odysseus would ever turn his head toward the splendor of the sun, being fain to hasten his setting : for verily he was most eager to return. And as when a man longs for his supper, for whom all day long two dark oxen drag through the fallow field the jointed plow, yea and welcome to such an one the sunlight sinketh, that so he may get him to supper, for his knees wax faint by the way, even so welcome was the sinking of the sunlight to Odysseus. Then straight he spake among the Phseacians, masters of the oar, and to Alcinous in chief he made known his word, saying : —
" My lord Alcinous, most notable of all the people, pour ye the drink offering, and send me safe upon my way, and as for you, fare ye well. For now have I all that my heart desired, an escort and loving gifts. May the gods of heaven give me good fortune with them, and may I find my noble wife in my home with my friends unharmed, while ye, for your part, abide here and make glad your gentle wives and children ; and may the gods vouchsafe all manner of good, and may no evil come nigh the people ! "
So spake he, and they all consented thereto and bade send the stranger on his way, in that he had spoken aright. Then
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the mighty king Alcinous spake to the henchman : " Pontonous, mix the bowl and serve out the wine to all in the hall, that we may pray to Father Zeus, and send the stranger on his way to his own country. "
So spake he, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine, and served it to all in turn. And they poured forth before the blessed gods that keep wide heaven, even there as they sat. Then goodly Odysseus uprose, and placed in Arete's hand the double cup, and uttering his voice spake to her winged words : —
" Fare thee well, O queen, all the days of thy life, till old age come and death, that visit all mankind. But I go home ward, and do thou in this thy house rejoice in thy children and thy people and Alcinous the king. "
Therewith goodly Odysseus stept over the threshold. And with him the mighty Alcinous sent forth a henchman to guide him to the swift ship and the sea banks. And Arete sent in his train certain maidens of her household, one bearing a fresh robe and a doublet, and another she joined to them to carry the strong coffer, and yet another bare bread and red wine. Now when they had come down to the ship and to the sea, straightway the good men of the escort took these things and laid them by in the hollow ship, even all the meat and drink. Then they strewed for Odysseus a rug and a sheet of linen, on the decks of the hollow ship in the hinder part thereof, that he might sleep sound. Then he too climbed aboard and laid him down in silence, while they sat upon the benches, every man in order, and unbound the hawser from the pierced stone. So soon as they leant backwards and tossed the sea water with the oar blade, a deep sleep fell upon his eyelids, a sound sleep, very sweet, and next akin to death. And even as on a plain a yoke of four stallions comes springing all together beneath the lash, leaping high and speedily accomplishing the way, so leaped the stern of that ship, and the dark wave of the sounding sea rushed mightily in the wake, and she ran ever surely on her way, nor could a circling hawk keep pace with her, of winged things the swiftest. Even thus she lightly sped and cleft the waves of the sea, bearing a man whose counsel was as the coun sel of the gods, one that erewhile had suffered much sorrow of heart, in passing through the wars of men, and the grievous waves ; but for that time he slept in peace, forgetful of all that he had suffered.
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XII.
So when the star came up, that is brightest of all, and goes ever heralding the light of early Dawn, even then did the sea faring ship draw nigh the island. There is in the land of Ithaca a certain haven of Phorcys, the ancient one of the sea, and thereby are two headlands of sheer cliff, which slope to the sea on the haven's side and break the mighty wave that ill winds roll without, but within, the decked ships ride unmoored when once they have attained to that landing place. Now at the harbor's head is a long-leaved olive tree, and hard by is a pleasant cave and shadowy, sacred to the nymphs, that are called the Naiads. And therein are mixing bowls and jars of stone, and there moreover do bees hive. And there are great looms of stone, whereon the nymphs weave raiment of purple stain, a marvel to behold, and therein are waters welling ever more. Two gates there are to the cave, the one set toward the North Wind whereby men may go down, but the portals toward the South pertain rather to the gods, whereby men may not enter : it is the way of the immortals.
Thither they, as having knowledge of that place, let drive their ship ; and now the vessel in full course ran ashore, half her keel's length high ; so well was she sped by the hands of the oarsmen. Then they alighted from the benched ship upon the land, and first they lifted Odysseus from out the hollow ship, all as he was in the sheet of linen and the bright rug, and laid him yet heavy with slumber on the sand. And they took forth the goods which the lordly Phaeacians had given him on his homeward way by grace of the great-hearted Athene. These they set in a heap by the trunk of the olive tree, a little aside from the road, lest some wayfaring man, before Odysseus awakened, should come and spoil them. Then themselves departed homeward again.
*******
Even then the goodly Odysseus awoke where he slept on his native land ; nor knew he the same again, having now been long afar, for around him the goddess had shed a mist, even Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, to the end that she might make him undiscovered for that he was, and might expound to him all things, that so his wife should not know him, neither his townsmen and kinsfolk, ere the wooers had paid for all
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their transgressions. Wherefore each thing showed strange to the lord of the land, the long paths and the sheltering havens and the steep rocks and the trees in their bloom. So he started up, and stood and looked upon his native land, and then he made moan withal, and smote on both his thighs with the down stroke of his hands, and making lament, he spake, saying : —
" Oh, woe is me, unto what mortals' land am I now come ? Say, are they froward, and wild, and unjust, or hospitable and of a god-fearing mind ? Whither shall I bear all this wealth ? Yea where shall I myself go wandering? Oh ! that it had abided with the Phaeacians where it was, and that I had gone to some other of the mighty princes, who would have entreated me kindly and sent me on my way. But now I know not where to bestow my treasure, and yet I will not leave it here behind, lest haply other men make spoil of it. Lo now, they were not wholly wise or just, the princes and counselors of the Phaea cians, who carried me to a strange land. Verily they promised to bring me to clear-seen Ithaca, but they performed it not. May Zeus requite them, the god of suppliants, seeing that he watches over all men and punishes the transgressor ! But come, I will reckon up these goods and look to them, lest the men be gone, and have taken back of their gifts upon their hollow ship. "
Therewith he set to number the fair tripods and the cal drons and the gold and the goodly woven raiment ; and of all these he lacked not aught, but he bewailed him for his own country, as he walked downcast by the shore of the sounding sea, and made sore lament. Then Athene came nigh him in the guise of a young man, the herdsman of a flock, a young man most delicate, such as are the sons of kings. And she had a well-wrought mantle that fell in two folds about her shoulders, and beneath her smooth feet she had sandals bound, and a jave lin in her hands. And Odysseus rejoiced as he saw her, and came over against her, and uttering his voice spake to her winged words : —
" Friend, since thou art the first that I have chanced on in this land, hail to thee, and with no ill will mayest thou meet me ! Nay, save this my substance and save me too, for to thee as to a god I make prayer, and to thy dear knees have I come. And herein tell me true, that I may surely know. What land, what people is this ? what men dwell herein ? Is it, perchance,
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some clear-seen isle, or a shore of the rich mainland that lies and leans upon the deep ? "
Then the goddess, gray-eyed Athene, spake to him again : "Thou art witless, stranger, or thou art come from afar, if indeed thou askest of this land ; nay, it is not so very name
less but that many men know it, both all those who dwell toward the dawning and the sun, and they that abide over against the light toward the shadowy west. Verily it is rough and not fit for the driving of horses, yet is it not a very sorry isle, though narrow withal. For herein is corn past telling, and herein too wine is found, and the rain is on it evermore, and the fresh dew. And it is good for feeding goats and feed ing kine ; all manner of wood is here, and watering places unfailing are herein. Wherefore, stranger, the name of Ithaca hath reached even unto Troy-land, which men say is far from this Achsean shore. "
So spake she, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus was glad, and had joy in his own country, according to the word of Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, lord of the aegis. And he uttered his voice and spake unto her winged words ; yet he did not speak the truth, but wrested the word into guile, for he had a gainful and a nimble wit within his breast : —
" Of Ithaca have I heard tell, even in broad Crete, far over the seas ; and now have I come hither myself with these my goods. And I left as much again to my children, when I turned outlaw for the slaying of the dear son of Idomeneus, Orsilochus, swift of foot, who in wide Crete was the swiftest of all men that live by bread. Now he would have despoiled me of all that booty of Troy, for the which I had endured pain of heart, in passing through the wars of men, and the grievous waves of the sea, for this cause that I would not do a favor to his father, and make me his squire in the land of the Trojans, but commanded other fellowship of mine own. So I smote him with a bronze-shod spear as he came home from the field, lying in ambush for him by the wayside, with one of my com panions. And dark midnight held the heavens, and no man marked us, but privily I took his life away. Now after I had slain him with the sharp spear, straightway I went to a ship and besought the lordly Phoenicians, and gave them spoil to their hearts' desire. I charged them to take me on board, and land me at Pylos or at goodly Elis where the Epeans bear rule. Howbeit of a truth, the might of the wind drave them out of
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their course, sore against their will, nor did they willfully play me false. Thence we were driven wandering, and came hither by night. And with much ado we rowed onward into harbor, nor took we any thought of supper, though we stood sore in need thereof, but even as we were we stept ashore and all lay down. Then over me there came sweet slumber in my weari ness, but they took forth my goods from the hollow ship, and set them by me where I myself lay upon the sands. Then they went on board, and departed for the fair-lying land of Sidon ; while as for me I was left stricken at heart. "
So spake he, and the goddess, gray-eyed Athene, smiled, and caressed him with her hand ; and straightway she changed to the semblance of a woman, fair and tall, and skilled in splendid handiwork. And uttering her voice she spake unto him winged words : —
" Crafty must he be and knavish, who would outdo thee in all manner of guile, even if it were a god encountered thee. Hardy man, subtle of wit, of guile insatiate, so thou wast not even in thine own country to cease from thy sleights and knavish words, which thou lovest from the bottom of thine heart! But come, no more let us tell of these things, being both of us practiced in deceits, for that thou art of all men far the first in counsel and in discourse, and I in the company of all the gods win renown for my wit and wile. Yet thou knewest not me, Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, who am always by thee and guard thee in all adventures. Yea, and I made thee to be beloved of all the Phaeacians. And now am I come hither to contrive a plot with thee and to hide away the goods, that by my counsel and design the noble Phseacians gave thee on thy homeward way. And I would tell thee how great a measure of trouble thou art ordained to fulfill within thy well-builded house. But do thou harden thy heart, for so it must be, and tell none neither man nor woman of all the folk, that thou hast indeed returned from wandering, but in silence endure much sorrow, submitting thee to the despite of men. "
" And Odysseus of many counsels answered her, saying :
Hard is it, goddess, for a mortal man that meets thee to discern thee, howsoever wise he be ; for thou takest upon thee every shape. But this I know well, that of old thou wast kindly to me, so long as we sons of the Achaeans made war in Troy. But so soon as we had sacked the steep city of
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Priam and had gone on board our ships, and the god had scattered the Achaeans, thereafter I have never beheld thee, daughter of Zeus, nor seen thee coming on board my ship, to ward off sorrow from me. But I wandered evermore with a stricken heart, till the gods delivered me from my evil case, even till the day when, within the fat land of the men of Phaeacia, thou didst comfort me with thy words, and thyself didst lead me to their city. And now I beseech thee in thy father's name to tell me : for I deem not that I am come to clear-seen Ithaca, but I roam over some other land, and me- thinks that thou speakest thus to mock me and beguile my mind. Tell me whether in very deed I am come to mine own dear country. "
Then the goddess, gray-eyed Athene, answered him : "Yea, such a thought as this is ever in thy breast. Wherefore I may in no wise leave thee in all thy grief, so wary art thou, so ready of wit and so prudent. Right gladly would any other man on his return from wandering have hasted to behold his children and his wife in his halls ; but thou hast no will to learn or to hear aught, till thou hast furthermore made trial of thy wife, who sits as ever in her halls, and wearily for her the nights wane always and the days, in shedding of tears. But of this I never doubted, but ever knew it in my heart that thou wouldest come home with the loss of all thy company. Yet, I tell thee, I had no mind to be at strife with Poseidon, my own father's brother, who laid up wrath in his heart against thee, being angered at the blinding of his dear son. But come, and I will show thee the place of the dwelling of Ithaca, that thou mayst be assured.
Lo, here is the haven of Phorcys, the ancient one of the sea, and here at the haven's head is the olive tree with spreading leaves, and hard by it is the pleasant cave and shadowy, sacred to the nymphs that are called the Naiads. Yonder, behold, is the roofed cavern, where thou offeredst many an acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs to the nymphs ; and lo, this hill is Neriton, all clothed in forest. "
Therewith the goddess scattered the mist, and the land appeared. Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus was glad, rejoicing in his own land, and he kissed the earth, the grain giver. And anon he prayed to the nymphs, and lifted up his hands, saying : —
" Ye Naiad nymphs, daughters of Zeus, never did I think to look on you again, but now be ye greeted in my loving
vol. n. —18
274 GLAUCUS AND CIRCE.
prayers : yea and gifts as aforetime I will give, if the daugh ter of Zeus, driver of the spoil, suffer me of her grace myself to live, and bring my dear son to manhood. "
" Then the goddess, gray-eyed Athene, spake to him again :
Be of good courage, and let not thy heart be careful about these things. But come, let us straightway set thy goods in the secret place of the wondrous cave, that there they may abide for thee safe. And let us for ourselves advise us how all may be for the very best. "
Therewith the goddess plunged into the shadowy cave, searching out the chambers of the cavern. Meanwhile Odys seus brought up his treasure, the gold and the unyielding bronze and fair woven raiment, which the Phseacians gave him. And these things he laid by with care, and Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, lord of the aegis, set a stone against the door of the cave. Then they twain sat down by the trunk of the sacred olive tree, and devised death for the froward wooers.
GLAUCUS AND CIRCE. By JOHN KEATS.
(From " Endymion. ")
[John Keats : An English poet, sometimes called " The Poets' Poet "; born at Moorsfleld, London, October 31, 1795 ; died at Rome, Italy, February 23, 1821. His first poem, " Endymion," was issued when he was twenty-three. It has beautiful passages, but the story is very difficult to follow, and is mainly a vehicle for luscious verbal music. Its promise was more than fulfilled in his second volume, published in 1820, and containing many noble sonnets, the im mortal "Ode on a Grecian Urn," "The Eve of St. Agnes," etc. His highest flight was reached in the sublime " Hyperion," but he had no constructive im agination and let it drop after the first canto. He had enormous effect on the coming poets of his time, and Tennyson was his thoroughgoing disciple. The "Love Letters to Fanny Brawne" appeared in 1878 ; his " Letters to his Family and Friends " in 1891. ]
Ah, Scylla fair ! Why did poor Glaucus ever — ever dare
To sue thee to his heart ? Kind stranger youth ! I loved her to the very white of truth,
And she would not conceive it. Timid thing! She fled me swift as sea bird on the wing,
Round every isle, and point, and promontory, From where large Hercules wound up his story
GLAUCUS AND CIKCE.
Far as Egyptian Nile. My passion grew The more, the more I saw her dainty hue Gleam delicately through the azure clear: Until 'twas too fierce agony to bear;
And in that agony, across my grief —
It flashed, that Circe might find some relief
Cruel enchantress ! So above the water
I reared my head, and looked for Phoebus' daughter. j? Eaea's isle was wondering at the moon : —
It seemed to vhirl around me, and a swoon Left me dead drifting to that fatal power.
When I awoke, 'twas in a twilight bower ;
Just when the light of morn, with hum of bees, Stole through its verdurous matting of fresh trees. How sweet, and sweeter ! for I heard a lyre,
And over it a sighing voice expire.
It ceased —
The fairest face that morn e'er looked upon Pushed through a screen of roses. Starry Jove ! With tears, and smiles, and honey words she wove A net whose thraldom was more bliss than all
The range of flowered Elysium. Thus did fall The dew of her rich speech :
I caught light footsteps ; and anon
"Ah! Art awake? 0 let me hear thee speak, for Cupid's sake !
1 am so oppressed with joy ! Why, I have shed An urn of tears, as though thou wert cold dead; And now I find thee living, I will pour
From these devoted eyes their silver store, Until exhausted of the latest drop,
So it will pleasure thee, and force thee stop Here, that I too may live : but if beyond
Such cool and sorrowful offerings, thou art fond Of soothing warmth, of dalliance supreme ;
If thou art ripe to taste a long love dream ; If smiles, if dimples, tongues for ardor mute, Hang in thy vision like a tempting fruit,
O let me pluck it for thee. "
Thus she linked Her charming syllables, till indistinct
Their music came to my o'er-sweetened soul ; And then she hovered over me, and stole
So near, that if no nearer it had been
This furrowed visage thou hadst never seen.
GLAUCUS AND CIRCE.
Young man of Latmus ! thus particular
Am I, that thou may'st plainly see how far
This fierce temptation went : and thou mayst not Exclaim, How then, was Scylla quite forgot ?
Who could resist ? Who in this universe ? She did so breathe ambrosia ; so immerse
My fine existence in a golden clime.
She took me like a child of suckling time, And cradled me in roses. Thus condemned, The current of my former life was stemmed, And to this arbitrary queen of sense
I bowed a tranced vassal ; nor would thence
Have moved, even though Amphion's harp had wooed Me back to Scylla o'er the billows rude.
For as Apollo each eve doth devise
A new appareling for western skies ;
So every eve, nay every spendthrift hour
Shed balmy consciousness within that bower.
And I was free of haunts umbrageous ;
Could wander in the mazy forest house
Of squirrels, foxes shy, and antlered deer,
And birds from coverts innermost and drear Warbling for very joy mellifluous sorrow —
To me new-born delights !
Now let me borrow, For moments few, a temperament as stern
As Pluto's scepter, that my words not burn These uttering lips, while I in calm speech tell How specious heaven was changed to real hell.
One morn she left me sleeping : half awake
I sought for her smooth arms and lips, to slake My greedy thirst with nectarous camel draughts ; But she was gone. Whereat the barbed shafts
Of disappointment stuck in me so sore
That out I ran and searched the forest o'er. Wandering about in pine and cedar gloom
Damp awe assailed me ; for there 'gan to boom
A sound of moan, an agony of sound,
Sepulchral from the distance all around.
Then came a conquering earth thunder, and rumbled That fierce complain to silence : while I stumbled Down a precipitous path, as if impelled.
I
came to a dark valley.
GLAUCUS AND CIKCE.
Groanings swelled Poisonous about my ears, and louder grew,
The nearer I approached a flame's gaunt blue, That glared before me through a thorny brake. This fire, like the eye of gordian snake, Bewitched me towards ; and I soon was near
A sight too fearful for the feel of fear :
In thicket hid I cursed the haggard scene — The banquet of my arms, my arbor queen,
Seated upon an uptorn forest root ;
And all around her shapes, wizard and brute, Laughing, and wailing, groveling, serpenting, Showing tooth, tusk, and venom bag, and sting I O such deformities ! Old Charon's self,
Should he give up awhile his penny pelf,
And take a dream 'mong rushes Stygian,
It could not be so phantasied. Fierce, wan,
And tyrannizing was the lady's look,
As over them a gnarled staff she shook.
Ofttimes upon the sudden she laughed out,
And from a basket emptied to the rout
Clusters of grapes, the which they ravened quick And roared for more ; with many a hungry lick About their shaggy jaws. Avenging, slow,
Anon she took a branch of mistletoe,
And emptied on't a black dull-gurgling phial : Groaned one and all, as if some piercing trial
Was sharpening for their pitiable bones.
She lifted up the charm : appealing groans
From their poor breasts went suing to her ear
In vain ; remorseless as an infant's bier
She whisked against their eyes the sooty oil. Whereat was heard a noise of painful toil, Increasing gradual to a tempest rage,
Shrieks, yells, and groans of torture pilgrimage ; Until their grieved bodies 'gan to bloat
And puff from the tail's end to stifled throat : Then was appalling silence : then a sight
More wildering than all that hoarse affright ;
For the whole herd, as by a whirlwind writhen, Went through the dismal air like one huge Python Antagonizing Boreas, — and so vanished.
Yet there was not a breath of wind : she banished These phantoms with a nod. Lo ! from the dark Come waggish fauns, and nymphs, and satyrs stark,
GLAUCUS AND CIRCE.
With dancing and loud revelry, — and went Swifter than centaurs after rapine bent. — Sighing, an elephant appeared and bowed Before the fierce witch, speaking thus aloud In human accent : " Potent goddess ! chief Of pains resistless ! make my being brief, Or let me from this heavy prison fly :
Or give me to the air, or let me die !
I
I
I sue not for my lone, my widowed wife ;
I sue not for my ruddy drops of life,
My children fair, my lovely girls and boys !
sue not for my happy crown again ; sue not for my phalanx on the plain ;
I will forget them ; —
I will pass these joys ;
Ask naught so heavenward, so too
Only I pray, as fairest boon, to die,
Or be delivered from this cumbrous flesh,
From this gross, detestable, filthy mesh,
And merely given to the cold, bleak air. * Have mercy, goddess I Circe, feel my prayer !
That curst magician's name fell icy numb Upon my wild conjecturing : truth had come Naked and saberlike against my heart.
I saw a fury whetting a death dart ;
And my slain spirit, overwrought with fright, Fainted away in that dark lair of night.
Think, my deliverer, how desolate
My waking must have been I disgust, and hate, And terrors manifold divided me
A spoil amongst them. I prepared to flee
Into the dungeon core of that wild wood :
I fled three days — when lo ! before me stood Glaring the angry witch. O Dis, even now,
A clammy dew is bending on my brow,
At mere remembering her pale laugh, and curse. "Ha! ha! Sir Dainty! there must be a nurse Made of rose leaves and thistledown, express, To cradle thee, my sweet, and lull thee : yes,
I am too flinty-hard for thy nice touch :
My tenderest squeeze is but a giant's clutch.
So, fairy thing, it shall have lullabies
Unheard of yet ; and it shall still its cries Upon some breast more lily feminine.
Oh, no — it shall not pine, and pine, and pine
too high:
GLAUCUS AND CIRCE.
More than one pretty, trifling thousand years ; And then 'twere pity, but fate's gentle shears Cut short its immortality. Sea flirt !
Young dove of the waters ! truly I'll not hurt One hair of thine : see how I weep and sigh, That our heart-broken parting is so nigh.
And must we part ? Ah, yes, it must be so.
Yet, ere thou leavest me in utter woe,
Let me sob over thee my last adieus,
. And speak a blessing. Mark me ! Thou hast thews Immortal, for thou art of heavenly race ;
But such a love is mine, that here I chase Eternally away from thee all bloom
Of youth, and destine thee towards a tomb. Hence shalt thou quickly to the watery vast ; And there, ere many days be overpast, Disabled age shall seize thee ; and even then Thou shalt not go the way of aged men ;
But live and wither, cripple and still breathe Ten hundred years ; which gone, I then bequeath Thy fragile bones to unknown burial.
Adieu, sweet love, adieu ! "
As shot stars fall, She fled ere I could groan for mercy. Stung
And poisoned was my spirit : despair sung
A war song of defiance 'gainst all hell.
A hand was at my shoulder to compel
My sullen steps ; another 'fore my eyes Moved on with pointed finger. In this guise Enforced, at the last by ocean's foam
I found me ; by my fresh, my native home. Its tempering coolness, to my life akin,
Came salutary as I waded in ;
And, with a blind, voluptuous rage,
Battle to the swollen billow ridge, and drave
Large froth before me, while there yet remained Hale strength, nor from my bones all marrow drained.
Young lover, I must weep — such hellish spite With dry cheek who can tell ? While thus my might Proving upon this element, dismayed,
Upon a dead thing's face my hand I laid ;
I looked — 'twas Scylla! Cursed, cursed Circe!
O vulture witch, hast never heard of mercy ?
I
gave
280
THE STRAYED REVELER.
Could not thy harshest vengeance be content, But thou must nip this tender innocent Because I loved her ? — Cold, O cold indeed Were her fair limbs, and like a common weed The sea swell took her hair. Dead as she was I clung about her waist, nor ceased to pass Fleet as an arrow through unfathomed brine, Until there shone a fabric crystalline,
Ribbed and inlaid with coral, pebble, and pearl. Headlong I darted ; at one eager swirl
Gained its bright portal, entered, and behold I 'Twas vast, and desolate, and icy cold ;
And all around — But wherefore this to thee,
Who, in few minutes more, thyself shalt see ? —
I left poor Scylla in a niche and fled.
My fevered parchings up, my scathing dread
Met palsy halfway; soon these limbs became Gaunt, withered, sapless, feeble, cramped, and lame.
THE STRAYED REVELER.
By MATTHEW ARNOLD.
[For biographical sketch, see Principles of Homeric Translation. ]
Scene : The Portico of Circe's Palace. Evening. Present : A Youth,
Ciece.
The Youth — Faster, faster,
O Circe, Goddess,
Let the wild, thronging train, The bright procession
Of eddying forms,
Sweep through my soul !
Thou standest, smiling
Down on me ! thy right arm,
Leaned up against the column there, Props thy soft cheek ;
Thy left holds, hanging loosely,
The deep cup, ivy-cinctured,
1 held but now.
Circe —
THE STRAYED REVELER.
Is it then evening
So soon ? I see, the night dews, Clustered in thick beads, dim The agate brooch stones
On thy white shoulder;
The cool night wind, too,
Blows through the portico,
Stirs thy hair, Goddess,
Waves thy white robe !
Whence art thou, sleeper ?
The Youth — When the white dawn first Through the rough fir planks Of my hut, by the chestnuts,
Circe —
Thy palace, Goddess, Smokeless, empty !
Trembling, I entered; beheld The court all silent,
The lions sleeping,
On the altar this bowl.
I drank, Goddess !
And sank down here, sleeping, On the steps of thy portico.
Foolish boy ! Why tremblest thou ? Thou lovest then, my wine
Wouldst more of See, how glows,
Up at the valley head,
Came breaking, Goddess !
I sprang up, I threw round me
My dappled fawn skin ;
Passing out, from the wet turf,
Where they lay, by the hut door,
I snatched up my vine crown, my fir staff, All drenched in dew —
Came swift down to join
The rout early gathered
In the town, round the temple,
Iacchus' white fane
On yonder hill.
Quick I passed, following The woodcutters' cart track
I saw On my left, through the beeches,
Down the dark valley ; —
it ?
it,
?
282
THE STRAYED REVELER.
Through the delicate, flushed marble, The red, creaming liquor,
Strown with dark seeds !
Drink, then !
I chide thee not, Deny thee not my bowl.
Come, stretch forth thy hand, then Drink — drink again !
The Youth — Thanks, gracious one ! — Ah, the sweet fumes again !
—
so!
Circe —
Ulysses —
More soft, ah me,
More subtle-winding Than Pan's flute music ! Faint — faint ! Ah me, Again the sweet sleep !
Hist! Thou — within there! Come forth, Ulysses !
Art tired with hunting ? While we range the woodland, See what the day brings.
Circe —
Ever new magic !
Hast thou then lured hither,
Wonderful Goddess, by thy art,
The young, languid-eyed Ampelus,
Iacchus' darling —
Or some youth beloved of Pan,
Of Pan and the Nymphs ?
That he sits, bending downward
His white, delicate neck
To the ivy-wreathed marge
Of thy cup ; the bright, glancing vine leaves That crown his hair,
Falling forward, mingling —
With the dark ivy plants
His fawn skin, half untied,
Smeared with red wine stains ?
That he sits, overweighed
By fumes of wine and sleep,
So late, in thy portico ?
What youth, Goddess, — what guest
Of Gods or mortals ?
Hist ! he wakes !
I lured him not hither, Ulysses. Nay, ask him !
Who is he,
THE STRAYED REVELER. 283
The Youth — Who speaks ! Ah, who comes forth To thy side, Goddess, from within ?
Ulysses —
How shall I name him ? This spare, dark-featured,
Quick-eyed stranger ?
Ah, and I see too
His sailor's bonnet,
His short coat, travel-tarnished, With one arm bare ! —
Art thou not he, whom fame
This long time rumors
The favored guest of Circe, brought by the waves ? Art thou he, stranger ?
The wise Ulysses,
Laertes' son ?
I am Ulysses.
And thou, too, sleeper ?
Thy voice is sweet.
It may be thou hast followed
Through the islands some divine bard, By age taught many things,
Age and the Muses ;
And heard him delighting
The chiefs and people
In the banquet, and learned his songs, Of Gods and Heroes,
Of war and arts,
And peopled cities,
Inland, or built
By the gray sea — If so, then hail!
I honor and welcome thee.
The Youth — The Gods are happy. They turn on all sides
Their shining eyes, And see below them The earth and men.
They see Tiresias Sitting, staff in hand, On the warm, grassy Asopus bank,
His robe drawn over His old, sightless head, Revolving inly
The doom of Thebes.
THE STRAYED REVELER.
They see the Centaurs
In the upper glens
Of Pelion, in the streams,
Where red-berried ashes fringe The clear-brown shallow pools, With streaming flanks, and heads Reared proudly, snuffing
The mountain wind.
They see the Indian
Drifting, knife in hand,
His frail boat moored to
A floating isle thick-matted
With large-leaved, low-creeping melon plants, And the dark cucumber.
He reaps, and stows them,
Drifting —drifting ; —round him,
Round his green harvest plot,
Flow the cool lake waves,
The mountains ring them.
They see the Scythian
On the wide stepp, unharnessing
His wheeled house at noon.
He tethers his beast down, and makes his meal — Mares' milk, and bread
Baked on the embers ; — all around
The boundless, waving grass plains stretch, thick-starred With saffron and the yellow hollyhock
And flag-leaved iris flowers.
Sitting in his cart
He makes his meal ; before him, for long miles,
Alive with bright green lizards,
And the springing bustard fowl,
The track, a straight black line,
Furrows the rich soil ; here and there
Clusters of lonely mounds
Topped with rough-hewn,
Gray, rain-bleared statues, overpeer
The sunny waste.
They see the ferry
On the broad, clay-laden —
Lone Chorasmian stream ;
With snort and strain,
Two horses, strongly swimming, tow
thereon,
THE STRAYED REVELER.
The ferryboat, with woven ropes
To either bow
Firm-harnessed by the mane ; a chief, With shout and shaken spear,
285
Stands at the prow, and guides them ; but astern The cowering merchants in long robes
Sit pale beside their wealth
Of silk bales and of balsam drops,
Of gold and ivory,
Of turquoise earth and amethyst,
Jasper and chalcedony,
And milk-barred onyx stones. The loaded boat swings groaning In the yellow eddies ;
The Gods behold them.
They see the Heroes
Sitting in the dark ship
On the foamless, long-heaving, Violet sea,
At sunset nearing
The Happy Islands.
These things, Ulysses, The wise bards also Behold and sing.