They communed thus; while homeward bent their way The swains, fatigued with labours of the day: Dolius, the first, the venerable man; And next his sons, a long succeeding train. For due refection to the bower they came, Call'd by the careful old Sicilian dame, Who nursed the children, and now tends the sire, They see their lord, they gaze, and they admire. On chairs and beds in order seated round, They share the gladsome board; the roofs resound, While thus Ulysses to his ancient friend: "Forbear your wonder, and the feast attend: The rites have waited long." The chief commands Their love in vain; old Dolius spreads his hands, Springs to his master with a warm embrace, And fastens kisses on his hands and face; Then thus broke out: "O long, O daily mourn'd! Beyond our hopes, and to our wish return'd! Conducted sure by Heaven! for Heaven alone Could work this wonder: welcome to thy own! And joys and happiness attend thy throne! Who knows thy bless'd, thy wish'd return? oh say, To the chaste queen shall we the news convey? Or hears she, and with blessings loads the day?"
"Dismiss that care, for to the royal bride Already is it known" (the king replied, And straight resumed his seat); while round him bows Each faithful youth, and breathes out ardent vows: Then all beneath their father take their place, Rank'd by their ages, and the banquet grace.
Now flying Fame the swift report had spread Through all the city, of the suitors dead, In throngs they rise, and to the palace crowd; Their sighs were many and the tumult loud. Weeping they bear the mangled heaps of slain; Inhume the natives in their native plain, The rest in ships are wafted o'er the main. Then sad in council all the seniors sate, Frequent and full, assembled to debate: Amid the circle first Eupithes rose, Big was his eye with tears, his heart with woes: The bold Antinous was his age's pride, The first who by Ulysses' arrow died. Down his wan cheek the trickling torrent ran, As mixing words with sighs he thus began:
"Great deeds, O friends! this wondrous man has wrought, And mighty blessings to his country brought! With ships he parted, and a numerous train, Those, and their ships, he buried in the main. Now he returns, and first essays his hand In the best blood of all his native land. Haste, then, and ere to neighbouring Pyle he flies, Or sacred Elis, to procure supplies; Arise (or ye for ever fall), arise! Shame to this age, and all that shall succeed! If unrevenged your sons and brothers bleed. Prove that we live, by vengeance on his head, Or sink at once forgotten with the dead." Here ceased he, but indignant tears let fall Spoke when he ceased: dumb sorrow touch'd them all. When from the palace to the wondering throng Sage Medon came, and Phemius came along (Restless and early sleep's soft bands they broke); And Medon first the assembled chiefs bespoke;
"Hear me, ye peers and elders of the land, Who deem this act the work of mortal hand; As o'er the heaps of death Ulysses strode, These eyes, these eyes beheld a present god, Who now before him, now beside him stood, Fought as he fought, and mark'd his way with blood: In vain old Mentor's form the god belied; 'Twas Heaven that struck, and Heaven was on his side."
A sudden horror all the assembly shook, When slowly rising, Halitherses spoke (Reverend and wise, whose comprehensive view At once the present and the future knew): "Me too, ye fathers, hear! from you proceed The ills ye mourn; your own the guilty deed. Ye gave your sons, your lawless sons, the rein (Oft warn'd by Mentor and myself in vain); An absent hero's bed they sought to soil, An absent hero's wealth they made their spoil; Immoderate riot, and intemperate lust! The offence was great, the punishment was just. Weigh then my counsels in an equal scale, Nor rush to ruin. Justice will prevail."
His moderate words some better minds persuade: They part, and join him: but the number stay'd. They storm, they shout, with hasty frenzy fired, And second all Eupithes' rage inspired. They case their limbs in brass; to arms they run; The broad effulgence blazes in the sun. Before the city, and in ample plain, They meet: Eupithes heads the frantic train. Fierce for his son, he breathes his threats in air; Fate bears them not, and Death attends him there.
This pass'd on earth, while in the realms above Minerva thus to cloud-compelling Jove! "May I presume to search thy secret soul? O Power Supreme, O Ruler of the whole! Say, hast thou doom'd to this divided state Or peaceful amity or stern debate? Declare thy purpose, for thy will is fate."
"Is not thy thought my own? (the god replies Who rolls the thunder o'er the vaulted skies;) Hath not long since thy knowing soul decreed The chief's return should make the guilty bleed. 'Tis done, and at thy will the Fates succeed. Yet hear the issue: Since Ulysses' hand Has slain the suitors, Heaven shall bless the land. None now the kindred of the unjust shall own; Forgot the slaughter'd brother and the son: Each future day increase of wealth shall bring, And o'er the past Oblivion stretch her wing. Long shall Ulysses in his empire rest, His people blessing, by his people bless'd. Let all be peace."--He said, and gave the nod That binds the Fates; the sanction of the god And prompt to execute the eternal will, Descended Pallas from the Olympian hill.
Now sat Ulysses at the rural feast The rage of hunger and of thirst repress'd: To watch the foe a trusty spy he sent: A son of Dolius on the message went, Stood in the way, and at a glance beheld The foe approach, embattled on the field. With backward step he hastens to the bower, And tells the news. They arm with all their power. Four friends alone Ulysses' cause embrace, And six were all the sons of Dolius' race: Old Dolius too his rusted arms put on; And, still more old, in arms Laertes shone. Trembling with warmth, the hoary heroes stand, And brazen panoply invests the band. The opening gates at once their war display: Fierce they rush forth: Ulysses leads the way. That moment joins them with celestial aid, In Mentor's form, the Jove-descended maid: The suffering hero felt his patient breast Swell with new joy, and thus his son address'd:
"Behold, Telemachus! (nor fear the sight,) The brave embattled, the grim front of fight! The valiant with the valiant must contend. Shame not the line whence glorious you descend. Wide o'er the world their martial fame was spread; Regard thyself, the living and the dead."
"Thy eyes, great father! on this battle cast, Shall learn from me Penelope was chaste."
So spoke Telemachus: the gallant boy Good old Laertes heard with panting joy. "And bless'd! thrice bless'd this happy day! (he cries,) The day that shows me, ere I close my eyes, A son and grandson of the Arcesian name Strive for fair virtue, and contest for fame!"
Then thus Minerva in Laertes' ear: "Son of Arcesius, reverend warrior, hear! Jove and Jove's daughter first implore in prayer, Then, whirling high, discharge thy lance in air." She said, infusing courage with the word. Jove and Jove's daughter then the chief implored, And, whirling high, dismiss'd the lance in air. Full at Eupithes drove the deathful spear: The brass-cheek'd helmet opens to the wound; He falls, earth thunders, and his arms resound. Before the father and the conquering son Heaps rush on heaps, they fight, they drop, they run Now by the sword, and now the javelin, fall The rebel race, and death had swallow'd all; But from on high the blue-eyed virgin cried; Her awful voice detain'd the headlong tide: "Forbear, ye nations, your mad hands forbear From mutual slaughter; Peace descends to spare." Fear shook the nations: at the voice divine They drop their javelins, and their rage resign. All scatter'd round their glittering weapons lie; Some fall to earth, and some confusedly fly. With dreadful shouts Ulysses pour'd along, Swift as an eagle, as an eagle strong. But Jove's red arm the burning thunder aims: Before Minerva shot the livid flames; Blazing they fell, and at her feet expired; Then stopped the goddess, trembled and retired.
"Descended from the gods! Ulysses, cease; Offend not Jove: obey, and give the peace."
So Pallas spoke: the mandate from above The king obey'd. The virgin-seed of Jove, In Mentor's form, confirm'd the full accord, And willing nations knew their lawful lord.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Odyssey of Homer, translated by Alexander Pope