Part 7 (1/2)

They, as a G.o.d shall reverence the Chief, And in a bark of theirs shall send him thence To his own home, much treasure, bra.s.s and gold And raiment giving him, to an amount Surpa.s.sing all that, had he safe return'd, He should by lot have shared of Ilium's spoil.

Thus Fate appoints Ulysses to regain His country, his own palace, and his friends. 50 He ended, nor the Argicide refused, Messenger of the skies; his sandals fair, Ambrosial, golden, to his feet he bound, Which o'er the moist wave, rapid as the wind, Bear him, and o'er th' illimitable earth, Then took his rod with which, at will, all eyes He closes soft, or opes them wide again.

So arm'd, forth flew the valiant Argicide.

Alighting on Pieria, down he stoop'd To Ocean, and the billows lightly skimm'd 60 In form a sew-mew, such as in the bays Tremendous of the barren Deep her food Seeking, dips oft in brine her ample wing.

In such disguise o'er many a wave he rode, But reaching, now, that isle remote, forsook The azure Deep, and at the s.p.a.cious grot, Where dwelt the amber-tressed nymph arrived, Found her within. A fire on all the hearth Blazed sprightly, and, afar-diffused, the scent Of smooth-split cedar and of cypress-wood 70 Odorous, burning, cheer'd the happy isle.

She, busied at the loom, and plying fast Her golden shuttle, with melodious voice Sat chaunting there; a grove on either side, Alder and poplar, and the redolent branch Wide-spread of Cypress, skirted dark the cave.

There many a bird of broadest pinion built Secure her nest, the owl, the kite, and daw Long-tongued, frequenter of the sandy sh.o.r.es.

A garden-vine luxuriant on all sides 80 Mantled the s.p.a.cious cavern, cl.u.s.ter-hung Profuse; four fountains of serenest lymph Their sinuous course pursuing side by side, Stray'd all around, and ev'ry where appear'd Meadows of softest verdure, purpled o'er With violets; it was a scene to fill A G.o.d from heav'n with wonder and delight.

Hermes, Heav'n's messenger, admiring stood That sight, and having all survey'd, at length Enter'd the grotto; nor the lovely nymph 90 Him knew not soon as seen, for not unknown Each to the other the Immortals are, How far soever sep'rate their abodes.

Yet found he not within the mighty Chief Ulysses; he sat weeping on the sh.o.r.e, Forlorn, for there his custom was with groans Of sad regret t' afflict his breaking heart.

Looking continual o'er the barren Deep.

Then thus Calypso, nymph divine, the G.o.d Question'd, from her resplendent throne august. 100 Hermes! possessor of the potent rod!

Who, though by me much reverenc'd and belov'd, So seldom com'st, say, wherefore comest now?

Speak thy desire; I grant it, if thou ask Things possible, and possible to me.

Stay not, but ent'ring farther, at my board Due rites of hospitality receive.

So saying, the G.o.ddess with ambrosial food Her table cover'd, and with rosy juice Nectareous charged the cup. Then ate and drank 110 The argicide and herald of the skies, And in his soul with that repast divine Refresh'd, his message to the nymph declared.

Questionest thou, O G.o.ddess, me a G.o.d?

I tell thee truth, since such is thy demand.

Not willing, but by Jove constrain'd, I come.

For who would, voluntary, such a breadth Enormous measure of the salt expanse, Where city none is seen in which the G.o.ds Are served with chosen hecatombs and pray'r? 120 But no divinity may the designs Elude, or controvert, of Jove supreme.

He saith, that here thou hold'st the most distrest Of all those warriors who nine years a.s.sail'd The city of Priam, and, (that city sack'd) Departed in the tenth; but, going thence, Offended Pallas, who with adverse winds Opposed their voyage, and with boist'rous waves.

Then perish'd all his gallant friends, but him Billows and storms drove hither; Jove commands 130 That thou dismiss him hence without delay, For fate ordains him not to perish here From all his friends remote, but he is doom'd To see them yet again, and to arrive At his own palace in his native land.

He said; divine Calypso at the sound Shudder'd, and in wing'd accents thus replied.

Ye are unjust, ye G.o.ds, and envious past All others, grudging if a G.o.ddess take A mortal man openly to her arms! 140 So, when the rosy-finger'd Morning chose Orion, though ye live yourselves at ease, Yet ye all envied her, until the chaste Diana from her golden throne dispatch'd A silent shaft, which slew him in Ortygia.

So, when the golden-tressed Ceres, urged By pa.s.sion, took Iasion to her arms In a thrice-labour'd fallow, not untaught Was Jove that secret long, and, hearing it, Indignant, slew him with his candent bolt. 150 So also, O ye G.o.ds, ye envy me The mortal man, my comfort. Him I saved Myself, while solitary on his keel He rode, for with his sulph'rous arrow Jove Had cleft his bark amid the sable Deep.

Then perish'd all his gallant friends, but him Billows and storms drove hither, whom I lov'd Sincere, and fondly destin'd to a life Immortal, un.o.bnoxious to decay.

But since no Deity may the designs 160 Elude or controvert of Jove supreme, Hence with him o'er the barren Deep, if such The Sov'reign's will, and such his stern command.

But undismiss'd he goes by me, who s.h.i.+ps Myself well-oar'd and mariners have none To send with him athwart the s.p.a.cious flood; Yet freely, readily, my best advice I will afford him, that, escaping all Danger, he may regain his native sh.o.r.e.

Then Hermes thus, the messenger of heav'n. 170 Act as thou say'st, fearing the frown of Jove, Lest, if provoked, he spare not even thee.

So saying, the dauntless Argicide withdrew, And she (Jove's mandate heard) all-graceful went, Seeking the brave Ulysses; on the sh.o.r.e She found him seated; tears succeeding tears Delug'd his eyes, while, hopeless of return, Life's precious hours to eating cares he gave Continual, with the nymph now charm'd no more.

Yet, cold as she was am'rous, still he pa.s.s'd 180 His nights beside her in the hollow grot, Constrain'd, and day by day the rocks among Which lined the sh.o.r.e heart-broken sat, and oft While wistfully he eyed the barren Deep, Wept, groaned, desponded, sigh'd, and wept again.

Then, drawing near, thus spake the nymph divine.

Unhappy! weep not here, nor life consume In anguish; go; thou hast my glad consent.

Arise to labour; hewing down the trunks Of lofty trees, fas.h.i.+on them with the ax 190 To a broad raft, which closely floor'd above, Shall hence convey thee o'er the gloomy Deep.

Bread, water, and the red grape's cheering juice Myself will put on board, which shall preserve Thy life from famine; I will also give New raiment for thy limbs, and will dispatch Winds after thee to waft thee home unharm'd, If such the pleasure of the G.o.ds who dwell In yonder boundless heav'n, superior far To me, in knowledge and in skill to judge. 200 She ceas'd; but horror at that sound the heart Chill'd of Ulysses, and in accents wing'd With wonder, thus the n.o.ble Chief replied.

Ah! other thoughts than of my safe return Employ thee, G.o.ddess, now, who bid'st me pa.s.s The perilous gulph of Ocean on a raft, That wild expanse terrible, which even s.h.i.+ps Pa.s.s not, though form'd to cleave their way with ease, And joyful in propitious winds from Jove.

No--let me never, in despight of thee, 210 Embark on board a raft, nor till thou swear, O G.o.ddess! the inviolable oath, That future mischief thou intend'st me none.

He said; Calypso, beauteous G.o.ddess, smiled, And, while she spake, stroaking his cheek, replied.

Thou dost asperse me rudely, and excuse Of ignorance hast none, far better taught; What words were these? How could'st thou thus reply?

Now hear me Earth, and the wide Heav'n above!

Hear, too, ye waters of the Stygian stream 220 Under the earth (by which the blessed G.o.ds Swear trembling, and revere the awful oath!) That future mischief I intend thee none.

No, my designs concerning thee are such As, in an exigence resembling thine, Myself, most sure, should for myself conceive.

I have a mind more equal, not of steel My heart is form'd, but much to pity inclined.

So saying, the lovely G.o.ddess with swift pace Led on, whose footsteps he as swift pursued. 230 Within the vaulted cavern they arrived, The G.o.ddess and the man; on the same throne Ulysses sat, whence Hermes had aris'n, And viands of all kinds, such as sustain The life of mortal man, Calypso placed Before him, both for bev'rage and for food.

She opposite to the ill.u.s.trious Chief Reposed, by her attendant maidens served With nectar and ambrosia. They their hands Stretch'd forth together to the ready feast, 240 And when nor hunger more nor thirst remain'd Unsated, thus the beauteous nymph began.

Laertes' n.o.ble son, for wisdom famed And artifice! oh canst thou thus resolve To seek, incontinent, thy native sh.o.r.es?

I pardon thee. Farewell! but could'st thou guess The woes which fate ordains thee to endure Ere yet thou reach thy country, well-content Here to inhabit, thou would'st keep my grot And be immortal, howsoe'er thy wife 250 Engage thy ev'ry wish day after day.

Yet can I not in stature or in form Myself suspect inferior aught to her, Since compet.i.tion cannot be between Mere mortal beauties, and a form divine.

To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.

Awful Divinity! be not incensed.

I know that my Penelope in form And stature altogether yields to thee, For she is mortal, and immortal thou, 260 From age exempt; yet not the less I wish My home, and languish daily to return.