Myself above them from a rising ground 455
Guide the sharp stake, and twirl it round and round.
As when a shipwright stands his workmen o’er,
Who ply the wimble, some huge beam to bore;
Urged on all hands, it nimbly spins about,
The grain deep-piercing till it scoops it out: 460
In his broad eye so whirls the fiery wood;
From the pierc’d pupil spouts the boiling blood;
Singed are his brows; the scorching lids grow black;
The jelly bubbles, and the fibres crack.
And as when arm’rers temper in the ford 465
The keen-edg’d pole-axe, or the shining sword,
The red-hot metal hisses in the lake,
Thus in his eye-ball hiss’d the plunging stake.
He sends a dreadful groan, the rocks around
Thro’ all their inmost winding caves resound. 470
Scared we receded. Forth with frantic hand,
He tore, and dash’d on earth the gory brand:
Then calls the Cyclops, all that round him dwell,
With voice like thunder, and a direful yell.
From al their dens the one-eyed race repair, 475
From rifted rocks, and mountains bleak in air.
All haste, assembled at his well-known roar,
Inquire the cause, and crowd the cavern door.
‘“What hurts thee, Polypheme? what strange affright
Thus breaks our slumbers, and disturbs the night? 480
Does any mortal, in th’ unguarded hour
Of sleep, oppress thee, or by fraud or power?
Or thieves insidious thy fair flock surprise?”
Thus they: the Cyclop from his den replies:
‘“Friends, Noman kills me; Noman, in the hour 485
Of sleep, oppresses me with fraudful power.”
“If no man hurt thee, but the hand divine
Inflict disease, it fits thee to resign:
To Jove or to thy father Neptune pray!”
The brethren cried, and instant strode away. 490
‘Joy touch’d my secret soul and conscious heart,
Pleas’d with th’ effect of conduct and of art.
Meantime the Cyclop, raging with his wound,
Spreads his wide arms, and searches round and round:
At last, the stone removing from the gate, 495
With hands extended in the midst he sate:
And search’d each passing sheep, and felt it o’er,
Secure to seize us ere we reach’d the door
(Such as his shallow wit he deem’d was mine);
But secret I revolv’d the deep design: 500
‘T was for our lives my lab’ring bosom wrought;
Each scheme I turn’d, and sharpen’d ev’ry thought;
This way and that I cast to save my friends,
Till one resolve my varying counsel ends.
‘Strong were the rams, with native purple fair, 505
Well fed, and largest of the fleecy care.
These, three and three, with osier bands we tied
(The twining bands the Cyclop’s bed supplied);
The midmost bore a man, the outword two
Secured each side: so bound we all the crew. 510
One ram remain’d, the leader of the flock;
In his deep fleece my grasping hands I lock,
And fast beneath, in woolly curls inwove,
There cling implicit, and confide in Jove.
When rosy morning glimmer’d o’er the dales, 515
He drove to pasture all the lusty males:
The ewes still folded, with distended thighs
Unmilk’d, lay bleating in distressful cries.
But heedless of those cares, with anguish stung,
He felt their fleeces as they pass’d along, 520
(Fool that he was), and let them safely go,
All unsuspecting of their freight below.
‘The master ram at last approach’d the gate,
Charged with his wool, and with Ulysses’ fate.
Him, while he pass’d, the monster blind bespoke: 525
“What makes my ram the lag of all the flock?
First thou wert wont to crop the flow’ry mead,
First to the field and river’s bank to lead;
And first with stately step at ev’ning hour
The fleecy fellows usher to their bower. 530
Now far the last, with pensive pace and slow
Thou mov’st, as conscious of thy master’s woe!
Seest thou these lids that now unfold in vain?
(The deed of Noman and his wicked train!)
Oh! didst thou feel for thy afflicted lord, 535
And would but Fate the power of speech afford,
Soon might’st thou tell me, where in secret here
The dastard lurks, all trembling with his fear:
Swung round and round, and dash’d from rock to rock,
His bater’d brains should on the pavement smoke. 540
No ease, no pleasure my sad heart receives,
While such a monster as vile Noman lives.”
‘The giant spoke, and thro’ the hollow rock
Dismiss’d the ram, the father of the flock.
No sooner freed, and thro’ th’ inclosure pass’d, 545
First I release myself, my fellows last:
Fat sheep and goats in throngs we drive before,
And reach our vessel on the winding shore.
With joy the sailors view their friends return’d,
And hail us living, whom as dead they mourn’d. 550
Big tears of transport stand in ev’ry eye:
I check their fondness, and command to fly.
Aboard in haste they heave the wealthy sheep,
And snatch their oars, and rush into the deep.
‘Now off at sea, and from the shallows clear, 555
As far as human voice could reach the ear,
With taunts the distant giant I accost:
“Hear me, O Cyclop! hear, ungracious host!
‘T was on no coward, no ignoble slave,
Thou meditat’dst thy meal in yonder cave; 560
But one the vengeance fated from above
Doom’d to inflict; the instrument of Jove.
Thy barb’rous breach of hospitable bands
The God, the God revenges by my hands.”
‘These words the Cyclop’s burning rage provoke; 565
From the tall hill he rends a pointed rock;
High o’er the billows flew the massy load,
And near the ship came thund’ring on the flood.
It almost brush’d the helm, and fell before:
The whole sea shook, and refluent beat the shore. 570
The strong concussion on the heaving tide
Roll’d back the vessel to the island’s side:
Again I shov’d her off; our fate to fly,
Each nerve we stretch, and ev’ry oar we ply.
Just ‘scaped impending death, when now again 575
We twice as far had furrow’d back the main,
Once more I raise my voice; my friends, afraid,
With mild entreaties my design dissuade:
“What boots the godless giant to provoke,
Whose arm may sink us at a single stroke? 580
Already, when the dreadful rock he threw,
Old Ocean shook, and back his surges flew.
The sounding voice directs his aim again;
The rock o’erwhelms us, and we ‘scaped in vain.”
‘But I, of mind elate, and scorning fear, 585
Thus with new taunts insult the monster’s ear:
“Cyclop! is any, pitying thy disgrace,
Ask who disfigured thus that eyeless face?
Say ‘t was Ulysses; ‘t was his deed, declare,
Laërtes’ son, of Ithaca the fair; 590
Ulysses, far in fig
hting fields renown’d,
Before whose arm Troy tumbled to the ground.”
‘Th’ astonish’d savage with a roar replies:
“Oh Heav’ns! oh faith of ancient prophecies!
This Telemus Eurymedes foretold 595
(The mighty seer who on these hills grew old;
Skill’d the dark fates of mortals to declare,
And learn’d in all wing’d omens of the air);
Long since he menaced, such was Fate’s command;
And named Ulysses’ as the destin’d hand. 600
I deem’d some godlike giant to behold,
Or lofty hero, haughty, brave, and bold;
Not this weak pigmy-wretch, of mean design,
Who not by strength subdued me, but by wine.
But come, accept our gifts, and join to pray 605
Great Neptune’s blessing on the wat’ry way;
For his I am, and I the lineage own;
Th’ immortal father no less boasts the son.
His power can heal me, and re-light my eye;
And only his, of all the Gods on high.” 610
‘“Oh! could this arm” (I thus aloud rejoin’d)
“From that vast bulk dislodge thy bloody mind,
And send thee howling to the realms of night,
As sure as Neptune cannot give thee sight!”
‘Thus I; while raging he repeats his cries, 615
With hands uplifted to the starry skies:
“Hear me, O Neptune; thou whose arms are hurl’d
From shore to shore, and gird the solid world.
If thine I am, nor thou my birth disown,
And if th’ unhappy Cyclop be thy son, 620
Let not Ulysses breathe his native air,
Laërtes’ son, of Ithaca the fair!
If to review his country be his fate,
Be it thro’ toils and suff’rings, long and late;
His lost companions let him first deplore; 625
Some vessel, not his own, transport him o’er;
And when at home from foreign suff’rings freed,
More near and deep, domestic woes succeed!”
‘With imprecations thus he fill’d the air,
And angry Neptune heard th’ unrighteous prayer. 630
A larger rock then heaving from the plain,
He whirl’d it round; it sung across the main;
It fell, and brush’d the stern: the billows roar,
Shake at the weight, and refluent beat the shore.
‘With all our force we kept aloof to sea, 635
And gain’d the island where our vessels lay.
Our sight the whole collected navy cheer’d,
Who, waiting long, by turns had hoped and fear’d.
There, disembarking on the green sea side,
We land our cattle, and the spoil divide: 640
Of these due shares to ev’ry sailor fall;
The master ram was voted mine by all:
And him (the guardian of Ulysses’ fate)
With pious mind to Heav’n I consecrate.
But the great God, whose thunder rends the skies, 645
Averse, beholds the smoking sacrifice;
And sees me wand’ring still from coast to coast:
And all my vessels, all my people, lost!
While thoughtless we indulge the genial rite,
As plenteous cates and flowing bowls invite; 650
Till ev’ning Phœbus roll’d away the light:
Stretch’d on the shores in careless ease we rest,
Till ruddy morning purpled o’er the east;
Then from their anchors all our ships unbind,
And mount the decks, and call the willing wind. 655
Now ranged in order on our banks, we sweep
With hasty strokes the hoarse resounding deep;
Blind to the future, pensive with our fears,
Glad for the living, for the dead in tears.’
Odyssey Book X. Adventures with Æolus, the Læstrygons, and Circe
THE ARGUMENT
Ulysses arrives at the island of Æolus, who gives him prosperous winds, and incloses the adverse ones in a bag, which his companions untying, they are driven back again, and rejected. Then they sail to the Læstrygons, where they lose eleven ships, and, with one only remaining, proceed to the island of Circe. Eurylochus is sent first with some companions, all which, except Eurylochus, are transformed into swine. Ulysses then undertakes the adventure, and by the help of Mercury, who gives him the herb Moly, overcomes the enchantress, and procures the restoration of his men. After a year’s stay with her, he prepares, at her instigation for his voyage to the infernal shades.
‘AT length we reach’d Æolia’s sea-girt shore,
Where great Hippotades the sceptre bore,
A floating isle! High rais’d by toil divine,
Strong walls of brass the rocky coast confine.
Six blooming youths, in private grandeur bred, 5
And six fair daughters, graced the royal bed:
These sons their sisters wed, and all remain
Their parents’ pride, and pleasure of their reign.
All day they feast, all day the bowls flow round,
And joy and music thro’ the isle resound: 10
At night each pair on splendid carpets lay,
And crown’d with love the pleasures of the day.
‘This happy port affords our wand’ring fleet
A month’s reception, and a safe retreat.
Full oft the Monarch urged me to relate 15
The fall of Ilion, and the Grecian Fate;
Full oft I told; at length for parting mov’d;
The King with mighty gifts my suit approv’d.
The adverse winds in leathern bags he braced,
Compress’d their force, and lock’d each struggling blast: 20
For him the mighty Sire of Gods assign’d
The tempest’s lord, the Tyrant of the Wind:
His word alone the list’ning storms obey,
To smooth the deep, or swell the foamy sea.
These in my hollow ship the Monarch hung, 25
Securely fetter’d by a silver thong:
But Zephyrus exempt, with friendly gales
He charged to fill and guide the swelling sails:
Rare gift! but O, what gift to fools avails?
‘Nine prosp’rous days we plied the lab’ring oar; 30
The tenth presents our welcome native shore:
The hills display the beacon’s friendly light,
And rising mountains gain upon our sight.
Then first my eyes, by watchful toils oppress’d,
Complied to take the balmy gifts of rest: 35
Then first my hands did from the rudder part
(So much the love of home possess’d my heart):
When lo! on board a fond debate arose,
What rare device those vessels might inclose?
What sum, what prize from Æolus I brought? 40
Whilst to his neighbour each express’d his thought:
‘“Say, whence, ye Gods, contending nations strive
Who most shall please, who most our hero give?
Long have his coffers groan’d with Trojan spoils;
Whilst we, the wretched partners of his toils, 45
Reproach’d by want, our fruitless labours mourn,
And only rich in barren fame return.
Now Æolus, ye see, augments his store:
But come, my friends, these mystic gifts explore.”
They said: and (oh curs’d Fate!) the thongs unbound; 50
The gushing tempest sweeps the ocean round;
Snatch’d in the whirl, the hurried navy flew,
The ocean widen’d, and the shores withdrew.
Rous’d from my fatal sleep, I long debate
If still to live, or desp’rate plunge to fate; 55
Thus doubting, prostrate on the deck I lay,
; Till all the coward thoughts of death gave way.
‘Meanwhile our vessels plough the liquid plain,
And soon the known Æolian coast regain;
Our groans the rocks remurmur’d to the main. 60
We leap’d on shore, and with a scanty feast
Our thirst and hunger hastily repress’d;
That done, two chosen heralds straight attend
Our second progress to my royal friend:
And him amidst his jovial sons we found; 65
The banquet steaming, and the goblets crown’d:
There humbly stopp’d with conscious shame and awe,
Nor nearer than the gate presumed to draw.
But soon his sons their well-known guest descried,
And, starting from their couches, loudly cried, 70
“Ulysses here! what dæmon couldst thou meet
To thwart thy passage, and repel thy fleet?
Wast thou not furnish’d by our choicest care
For Greece, for home, and all thy soul held dear?”
Thus they; in silence long my fate I mourn’d, 75
At length these words with accent low return’d:
“Me, lock’d in sleep, my faithless crew bereft
Of all the blessings of your godlike gift!
But grant, oh grant our loss we may retrieve;
A favour you, and you alone can give.” 80
‘Thus I with art to move their pity tried,
And touch’d the youths; but their stern Sire replied:
“Vile wretch, begone! this instant I command
Thy fleet accurs’d to leave our hallow’d land.
His baneful suit pollutes these bless’d abodes, 85
Whose Fate proclaims him hateful to the Gods.”
‘Thus fierce he said: we sighing went our way,
And with desponding hearts put off to sea.
The sailors spent with toils their folly mourn,
But mourn in vain; no prospect of return. 90
Six days and nights a doubtful course we steer;
The next proud Lamos’ stately towers appear,
And Læstrygonia’s gates arise distinct in air.
The shepherd, quitting here at night the plain,
Calls, to succeed his cares, the watchful swain; 95
But he that scorns the chains of sleep to wear,
And adds the herdsman’s to the shepherd’s care,
So near the pastures, and so short the way,
His double toils may claim a double pay,
And join the labours of the night and day. 100
‘Within a long recess a bay there lies,
Edg’d round with cliffs high pointing to the skies;
The jutting shores that swell on either side
Contract its mouth, and break the rushing tide.
Our eager sailors seize the fair retreat, 105
Alexander Pope - Delphi Poets Series Page 130