Part 5 (2/2)

Atrides, why these questions? Need is none That thou should'st all my secrets learn, which once Reveal'd, thou would'st not long dry-eyed remain.

Of those no few have died, and many live; But leaders, two alone, in their return 600 Have died (thou also hast had war to wage) And one, still living, roams the boundless sea.

Ajax,[17] surrounded by his galleys, died.

Him Neptune, first, against the bulky rocks The Gyrae drove, but saved him from the Deep; Nor had he perish'd, hated as he was By Pallas, but for his own impious boast In frenzy utter'd that he would escape The billows, even in the G.o.ds' despight.

Neptune that speech vain-glorious hearing, grasp'd 610 His trident, and the huge Gyraean rock Smiting indignant, dash'd it half away; Part stood, and part, on which the boaster sat When, first, the brainsick fury seiz'd him, fell, Bearing him with it down into the gulphs Of Ocean, where he drank the brine, and died.

But thy own brother in his barks escaped That fate, by Juno saved; yet when, at length, He should have gain'd Malea's craggy sh.o.r.e, Then, by a sudden tempest caught, he flew 620 With many a groan far o'er the fishy Deep To the land's utmost point, where once his home Thyestes had, but where Thyestes' son Dwelt then, aegisthus. Easy lay his course And open thence, and, as it pleased the G.o.ds, The s.h.i.+fted wind soon bore them to their home.

He, high in exultation, trod the sh.o.r.e That gave him birth, kiss'd it, and, at the sight, The welcome sight of Greece, shed many a tear.

Yet not unseen he landed; for a spy, 630 One whom the shrewd aegisthus had seduced By promise of two golden talents, mark'd His coming from a rock where he had watch'd The year complete, lest, pa.s.sing unperceived, The King should rea.s.sert his right in arms.

Swift flew the spy with tidings to this Lord, And He, incontinent, this project framed Insidious. Twenty men, the boldest hearts Of all the people, from the rest he chose, Whom he in ambush placed, and others charged 640 Diligent to prepare the festal board.

With horses, then, and chariots forth he drove Full-fraught with mischief, and conducting home The unsuspicious King, amid the feast Slew him, as at his crib men slay an ox.

Nor of thy brother's train, nor of his train Who slew thy brother, one survived, but all, Welt'ring in blood together, there expired.

He ended, and his words beat on my heart As they would break it. On the sands I sat 650 Weeping, nor life nor light desiring more.

But when I had in dust roll'd me, and wept To full satiety, mine ear again The oracle of Ocean thus address'd.

Sit not, O son of Atreus! weeping here Longer, for remedy can none be found; But quick arising, trial make, how best Thou shalt, and soonest, reach thy home again.

For either him still living thou shalt find, Or ere thou come, Orestes shall have slain 660 The traytor, and thine eyes shall see his tomb.

He ceas'd, and I, afflicted as I was, Yet felt my spirit at that word refresh'd, And in wing'd accents answer thus return'd.

Of these I am inform'd; but name the third Who, dead or living, on the boundless Deep Is still detain'd; I dread, yet wish to hear.

So I; to whom thus Proteus in return.

Laertes' son, the Lord of Ithaca-- Him in an island weeping I beheld, 670 Guest of the nymph Calypso, by constraint Her guest, and from his native land withheld By sad necessity; for s.h.i.+ps well-oar'd, Or faithful followers hath he none, whose aid Might speed him safely o'er the s.p.a.cious flood.

But, Menelaus dear to Jove! thy fate Ordains not thee the stroke of death to meet In steed-fam'd Argos, but far hence the G.o.ds Will send thee to Elysium, and the earth's Extremest bounds; (there Rhadamanthus dwells, 680 The golden-hair'd, and there the human kind Enjoy the easiest life; no snow is there, No biting winter, and no drenching show'r, But zephyr always gently from the sea Breathes on them to refresh the happy race) For that fair Helen is by nuptial bands Thy own, and thou art son-in-law of Jove.

So saying, he plunged into the billowy waste, I then, with my brave comrades to the fleet Return'd, deep-musing as I went, and sad. 690 No sooner had I reach'd my s.h.i.+p beside The ocean, and we all had supp'd, than night From heav'n fell on us, and, at ease reposed Along the margin of the sea, we slept.

But when Aurora, daughter of the dawn, Look'd rosy forth, drawing our galleys down Into the sacred Deep, we rear'd again The mast, unfurl'd the sail, and to our seats On board returning, thresh'd the foamy flood.

Once more, at length, within the hallow'd stream 700 Of aegypt mooring, on the sh.o.r.e I slew Whole hecatombs, and (the displeasure thus Of the immortal G.o.ds appeased) I reared To Agamemnon's never-dying fame A tomb, and finis.h.i.+ng it, sail'd again With such a gale from heaven vouchsafed, as sent My s.h.i.+ps swift-scudding to the sh.o.r.es of Greece.

But come--eleven days wait here, or twelve A guest with me, when I will send thee hence n.o.bly, and honour'd with ill.u.s.trious gifts, 710 With polish'd chariot, with three princely steeds, And with a gorgeous cup, that to the G.o.ds Libation pouring ever while thou liv'st From that same cup, thou may'st remember me.

Him, prudent, then answer'd Telemachus.

Atrides, seek not to detain me here Long time; for though contented I could sit The year beside thee, nor regret my home Or parents, (so delightful thy discourse Sounds in my ear) yet, even now, I know, 720 That my attendants to the Pylian sh.o.r.e Wish my return, whom thou thus long detain'st.

What boon soe'er thou giv'st me, be it such As I may treasur'd keep; but horses none Take I to Ithaca; them rather far Keep thou, for thy own glory. Thou art Lord Of an extended plain, where copious springs The lotus, herbage of all savours, wheat, Pulse, and white barley of luxuriant growth.

But Ithaca no level champaign owns, 730 A nursery of goats, and yet a land Fairer than even pastures to the eye.

No sea-encircled isle of ours affords Smooth course commodious and expanse of meads, But my own Ithaca transcends them all!

He said; the Hero Menelaus smiled, And stroaking tenderly his cheek, replied.

Dear youth! thy speech proclaims thy n.o.ble blood.

I can with ease supply thee from within With what shall suit thee better, and the gift 740 Of all that I possess which most excels In beauty, and the n.o.blest shall be thine.

I give thee, wrought elaborate, a cup Itself all silver, bound with lip of gold.

It is the work of Vulcan, which to me The Hero Phaedimus imparted, King Of the Sidonians, when on my return His house received me. That shall be thy own.

Thus they conferr'd; and now the busy train Of menials culinary,[18] at the gate 750 Enter'd of Menelaus, Chief renown'd; They brought him sheep, with heart-enn.o.bling wine, While all their wives, their brows with frontlets bound, Came charg'd with bread. Thus busy they prepared A banquet in the mansion of the King.

Meantime, before Ulysses' palace gate The suitors sported with the quoit and spear On the smooth area, customary scene Of all their strife and angry clamour loud.

There sat Antinous, and the G.o.dlike youth 760 Eurymachus, superior to the rest And Chiefs among them, to whom Phronius' son Noemon drawing nigh, with anxious mien Question'd Antinous, and thus began.

Know we, Antinous! or know we not, When to expect Telemachus at home Again from Pylus? in my s.h.i.+p he went, Which now I need, that I may cross the sea To Elis, on whose s.p.a.cious plain I feed Twelve mares, each suckling a mule-colt as yet 770 Unbroken, but of which I purpose one To ferry thence, and break him into use.

He spake, whom they astonish'd heard; for him They deem'd not to Neleian Pylus gone, But haply into his own fields, his flocks To visit, or the steward of his swine.

Then thus, Eupithes' son, Antinous, spake.

Say true. When sail'd he forth? of all our youth, Whom chose he for his followers? his own train Of slaves and hirelings? hath he pow'r to effect 780 This also? Tell me too, for I would learn-- Took he perforce thy sable bark away, Or gav'st it to him at his first demand?

To whom Noemon, Phronius' son, replied.

I gave it voluntary; what could'st thou, Should such a prince pet.i.tion for thy bark In such distress? Hard were it to refuse.

Brave youths (our bravest youths except yourselves) Attend him forth; and with them I observed Mentor embarking, ruler o'er them all, 790 Or, if not him, a G.o.d; for such he seem'd.

But this much moves my wonder. Yester-morn I saw, at day-break, n.o.ble Mentor here, Whom s.h.i.+pp'd for Pylus I had seen before.

He ceas'd; and to his father's house return'd; They, hearing, sat aghast. Their games meantime Finish'd, the suitors on their seats reposed, To whom Eupithes' son, Antinous, next, Much troubled spake; a black storm overcharged His bosom, and his vivid eyes flash'd fire. 800 Ye G.o.ds, a proud exploit is here atchieved, This voyage of Telemachus, by us p.r.o.nounced impracticable; yet the boy In downright opposition to us all, Hath headlong launched a s.h.i.+p, and, with a band Selected from our bravest youth, is gone.

He soon will prove more mischievous, whose pow'r Jove wither, ere we suffer its effects!

But give me a swift bark with twenty rowers, That, watching his return within the streights 810 Of rocky Samos and of Ithaca, I may surprise him; so shall he have sail'd To seek his Sire, fatally for himself.

He ceased and loud applause heard in reply, With warm encouragement. Then, rising all, Into Ulysses' house at once they throng'd.

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