William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  That bed with joy the suff’ring Chief renown’d

  Contemplated, and occupying soon

  The middle space, hillock’d it high with leaves.

  As when some swain hath hidden deep his torch 590

  Beneath the embers, at the verge extreme

  Of all his farm, where, having neighbours none,

  He saves a seed or two of future flame

  Alive, doom’d else to fetch it from afar,

  So with dry leaves Ulysses overspread

  His body, on whose eyes Minerva pour’d

  The balm of sleep copious, that he might taste

  Repose again, after long toil severe.

  BOOK VI

  ARGUMENT

  Minerva designing an interview between the daughter of Alcinoüs and

  Ulysses, admonishes her in a dream to carry down her clothes to the

  river, that she may wash them, and make them ready for her approaching

  nuptials. That task performed, the Princess and her train amuse

  themselves with play; by accident they awake Ulysses; he comes forth from

  the wood, and applies himself with much address to Nausicaa, who

  compassionating his distressed condition, and being much affected by the

  dignity of his appearance, interests himself in his favour, and conducts

  him to the city.

  There then the noble suff’rer lay, by sleep

  Oppress’d and labour; meantime, Pallas sought

  The populous city of Phæacia’s sons.

  They, in old time, in Hypereia dwelt

  The spacious, neighbours of a giant race

  The haughty Cyclops, who, endued with pow’r

  Superior, troubled them with frequent wrongs.

  Godlike Nausithoüs then arose, who thence

  To Scheria led them, from all nations versed

  In arts of cultivated life, remote; 10

  With bulwarks strong their city he enclosed,

  Built houses for them, temples to the Gods,

  And gave to each a portion of the soil.

  But he, already by decree of fate

  Had journey’d to the shades, and in his stead

  Alcinoüs, by the Gods instructed, reign’d.

  To his abode Minerva azure-eyed

  Repair’d, neglecting nought which might advance

  Magnanimous Ulysses’ safe return.

  She sought the sumptuous chamber where, in form 20

  And feature perfect as the Gods, the young

  Nausicaa, daughter of the King, reposed.

  Fast by the pillars of the portal lay

  Two damsels, one on either side, adorn’d

  By all the Graces, and the doors were shut.

  Soft as a breathing air, she stole toward

  The royal virgin’s couch, and at her head

  Standing, address’d her. Daughter she appear’d

  Of Dymas, famed for maritime exploits,

  Her friend and her coeval; so disguised 30

  Cærulean-eyed Minerva thus began.

  Nausicaa! wherefore hath thy mother borne

  A child so negligent? Thy garments share,

  Thy most magnificent, no thought of thine.

  Yet thou must marry soon, and must provide

  Robes for thyself, and for thy nuptial train.

  Thy fame, on these concerns, and honour stand;

  These managed well, thy parents shall rejoice.

  The dawn appearing, let us to the place

  Of washing, where thy work-mate I will be 40

  For speedier riddance of thy task, since soon

  The days of thy virginity shall end;

  For thou art woo’d already by the prime

  Of all Phæacia, country of thy birth.

  Come then — solicit at the dawn of day

  Thy royal father, that he send thee forth

  With mules and carriage for conveyance hence

  Of thy best robes, thy mantles and thy zones.

  Thus, more commodiously thou shalt perform

  The journey, for the cisterns lie remote. 50

  So saying, Minerva, Goddess azure-eyed,

  Rose to Olympus, the reputed seat

  Eternal of the Gods, which never storms

  Disturb, rains drench, or snow invades, but calm

  The expanse and cloudless shines with purest day.

  There the inhabitants divine rejoice

  For ever, (and her admonition giv’n)

  Cærulean-eyed Minerva thither flew.

  Now came Aurora bright-enthroned, whose rays

  Awaken’d fair Nausicaa; she her dream 60

  Remember’d wond’ring, and her parents sought

  Anxious to tell them. Them she found within.

  Beside the hearth her royal mother sat,

  Spinning soft fleeces with sea-purple dyed

  Among her menial maidens, but she met

  Her father, whom the Nobles of the land

  Had summon’d, issuing abroad to join

  The illustrious Chiefs in council. At his side

  She stood, and thus her filial suit preferr’d.

  Sir! wilt thou lend me of the royal wains 70

  A sumpter-carriage? for I wish to bear

  My costly cloaths but sullied and unfit

  For use, at present, to the river side.

  It is but seemly that thou should’st repair

  Thyself to consultation with the Chiefs

  Of all Phæacia, clad in pure attire;

  And my own brothers five, who dwell at home,

  Two wedded, and the rest of age to wed,

  Are all desirous, when they dance, to wear

  Raiment new bleach’d; all which is my concern. 80

  So spake Nausicaa; for she dared not name

  Her own glad nuptials to her father’s ear,

  Who, conscious yet of all her drift, replied.

  I grudge thee neither mules, my child, nor aught

  That thou canst ask beside. Go, and my train

  Shall furnish thee a sumpter-carriage forth

  High-built, strong-wheel’d, and of capacious size.

  So saying, he issued his command, whom quick

  His grooms obey’d. They in the court prepared

  The sumpter-carriage, and adjoin’d the mules. 90

  And now the virgin from her chamber, charged

  With raiment, came, which on the car she placed,

  And in the carriage-chest, meantime, the Queen,

  Her mother, viands of all kinds disposed,

  And fill’d a skin with wine. Nausicaa rose

  Into her seat; but, ere she went, received

  A golden cruse of oil from the Queen’s hand

  For unction of herself, and of her maids.

  Then, seizing scourge and reins, she lash’d the mules.

  They trampled loud the soil, straining to draw 100

  Herself with all her vesture; nor alone

  She went, but follow’d by her virgin train.

  At the delightful rivulet arrived

  Where those perennial cisterns were prepared

  With purest crystal of the fountain fed

  Profuse, sufficient for the deepest stains,

  Loosing the mules, they drove them forth to browze

  On the sweet herb beside the dimpled flood.

  The carriage, next, light’ning, they bore in hand

  The garments down to the unsullied wave, 110

  And thrust them heap’d into the pools, their task

  Dispatching brisk, and with an emulous haste.

  When they had all purified, and no spot

  Could now be seen, or blemish more, they spread

  The raiment orderly along the beach

  Where dashing tides had cleansed the pebbles most,

  And laving, next, and smoothing o’er with oil

  Their limbs, all seated on the river’s bank,

  They took repast, leaving the g
arments, stretch’d

  In noon-day fervour of the sun, to dry. 120

  Their hunger satisfied, at once arose

  The mistress and her train, and putting off

  Their head-attire, play’d wanton with the ball,

  The princess singing to her maids the while.

  Such as shaft-arm’d Diana roams the hills,

  Täygetus sky-capt, or Erymanth,

  The wild boar chasing, or fleet-footed hind,

  All joy; the rural nymphs, daughters of Jove,

  Sport with her, and Latona’s heart exults;

  She high her graceful head above the rest 130

  And features lifts divine, though all be fair,

  With ease distinguishable from them all;

  So, all her train, she, virgin pure, surpass’d.

  But when the hour of her departure thence

  Approach’d (the mules now yoked again, and all

  Her elegant apparel folded neat)

  Minerva azure-eyed mused how to wake

  Ulysses, that he might behold the fair

  Virgin, his destin’d guide into the town.

  The Princess, then, casting the ball toward 140

  A maiden of her train, erroneous threw

  And plunged it deep into the dimpling stream.

  All shrieked; Ulysses at the sound awoke,

  And, sitting, meditated thus the cause.

  Ah me! what mortal race inhabit here?

  Rude are they, contumacious and unjust?

  Or hospitable, and who fear the Gods?

  So shrill the cry and feminine of nymphs

  Fills all the air around, such as frequent

  The hills, clear fountains, and herbaceous meads. 150

  Is this a neighbourhood of men endued

  With voice articulate? But what avails

  To ask; I will myself go forth and see.

  So saying, divine Ulysses from beneath

  His thicket crept, and from the leafy wood

  A spreading branch pluck’d forcibly, design’d

  A decent skreen effectual, held before.

  So forth he went, as goes the lion forth,

  The mountain-lion, conscious of his strength,

  Whom winds have vex’d and rains; fire fills his eyes, 160

  And whether herds or flocks, or woodland deer

  He find, he rends them, and, adust for blood,

  Abstains not even from the guarded fold,

  Such sure to seem in virgin eyes, the Chief,

  All naked as he was, left his retreat,

  Reluctant, by necessity constrain’d.

  Him foul with sea foam horror-struck they view’d,

  And o’er the jutting shores fled all dispersed.

  Nausicaa alone fled not; for her

  Pallas courageous made, and from her limbs, 170

  By pow’r divine, all tremour took away.

  Firm she expected him; he doubtful stood,

  Or to implore the lovely maid, her knees

  Embracing, or aloof standing, to ask

  In gentle terms discrete the gift of cloaths,

  And guidance to the city where she dwelt.

  Him so deliberating, most, at length,

  This counsel pleas’d; in suppliant terms aloof

  To sue to her, lest if he clasp’d her knees,

  The virgin should that bolder course resent. 180

  Then gentle, thus, and well-advised he spake.

  Oh Queen! thy earnest suppliant I approach.

  Art thou some Goddess, or of mortal race?

  For if some Goddess, and from heaven arrived,

  Diana, then, daughter of mighty Jove

  I deem thee most, for such as hers appear

  Thy form, thy stature, and thy air divine.

  But if, of mortal race, thou dwell below,

  Thrice happy then, thy parents I account,

  And happy thrice thy brethren. Ah! the joy 190

  Which always for thy sake, their bosoms fill,

  When thee they view, all lovely as thou art,

  Ent’ring majestic on the graceful dance.

  But him beyond all others blest I deem,

  The youth, who, wealthier than his rich compeers,

  Shall win and lead thee to his honour’d home.

  For never with these eyes a mortal form

  Beheld I comparable aught to thine,

  In man or woman. Wonder-wrapt I gaze.

  Such erst, in Delos, I beheld a palm 200

  Beside the altar of Apollo, tall,

  And growing still; (for thither too I sail’d,

  And num’rous were my followers in a voyage

  Ordain’d my ruin) and as then I view’d

  That palm long time amazed, for never grew

  So strait a shaft, so lovely from the ground,

  So, Princess! thee with wonder I behold,

  Charm’d into fixt astonishment, by awe

  Alone forbidden to embrace thy knees,

  For I am one on whom much woe hath fall’n. 210

  Yesterday I escaped (the twentieth day

  Of my distress by sea) the dreary Deep;

  For, all those days, the waves and rapid storms

  Bore me along, impetuous from the isle

  Ogygia; till at length the will of heav’n

  Cast me, that I might also here sustain

  Affliction on your shore; for rest, I think,

  Is not for me. No. The Immortal Gods

  Have much to accomplish ere that day arrive.

  But, oh Queen, pity me! who after long 220

  Calamities endured, of all who live

  Thee first approach, nor mortal know beside

  Of the inhabitants of all the land.

  Shew me your city; give me, although coarse,

  Some cov’ring (if coarse cov’ring thou canst give)

  And may the Gods thy largest wishes grant,

  House, husband, concord! for of all the gifts

  Of heav’n, more precious none I deem, than peace

  ‘Twixt wedded pair, and union undissolved;

  Envy torments their enemies, but joy 230

  Fills ev’ry virtuous breast, and most their own.

  To whom Nausicaa the fair replied.

  Since, stranger! neither base by birth thou seem’st,

  Nor unintelligent, (but Jove, the King

  Olympian, gives to good and bad alike

  Prosperity according to his will,

  And grief to thee, which thou must patient bear,)

  Now, therefore, at our land and city arrived,

  Nor garment thou shalt want, nor aught beside

  Due to a suppliant guest like thee forlorn. 240

  I will both show thee where our city stands,

  And who dwell here. Phæacia’s sons possess

  This land; but I am daughter of their King

  The brave Alcinoüs, on whose sway depends

  For strength and wealth the whole Phæacian race.

  She said, and to her beauteous maidens gave

  Instant commandment — My attendants, stay!

  Why flee ye thus, and whither, from the sight

  Of a mere mortal? Seems he in your eyes

  Some enemy of ours? The heart beats not, 250

  Nor shall it beat hereafter, which shall come

  An enemy to the Phæacian shores,

  So dear to the immortal Gods are we.

  Remote, amid the billowy Deep, we hold

  Our dwelling, utmost of all human-kind,

  And free from mixture with a foreign race.

  This man, a miserable wand’rer comes,

  Whom we are bound to cherish, for the poor

  And stranger are from Jove, and trivial gifts

  To such are welcome. Bring ye therefore food 260

  And wine, my maidens, for the guest’s regale,

  And lave him where the stream is shelter’d most.

  She spake; they stood, and by each other’s word
s

  Encouraged, placed Ulysses where the bank

  O’erhung the stream, as fair Nausicaa bade,

  Daughter of King Alcinoüs the renown’d.

  Apparel also at his side they spread,

  Mantle and vest, and, next, the limpid oil

  Presenting to him in the golden cruse,

  Exhorted him to bathe in the clear stream. 270

  Ulysses then the maidens thus bespake.

  Ye maidens, stand apart, that I may cleanse,

  Myself, my shoulders from the briny surf,

  And give them oil which they have wanted long.

  But in your presence I bathe not, ashamed

  To show myself uncloath’d to female eyes.

  He said; they went, and to Nausicaa told

  His answer; then the Hero in the stream

  His shoulders laved, and loins incrusted rough

  With the salt spray, and with his hands the scum 280

  Of the wild ocean from his locks express’d.

  Thus wash’d all over, and refresh’d with oil,

  He put the garments on, Nausicaa’s gift.

  Then Pallas, progeny of Jove, his form

  Dilated more, and from his head diffused

  His curling locks like hyacinthine flowers.

  As when some artist, by Minerva made

  And Vulcan wise to execute all tasks

  Ingenious, binding with a golden verge

  Bright silver, finishes a graceful work, 290

  Such grace the Goddess o’er his ample chest

  Copious diffused, and o’er his manly brows.

  Retiring, on the beach he sat, with grace

  And dignity illumed, where, viewing him,

  The virgin Princess, with amazement mark’d

  His beauty, and her damsels thus bespake.

  My white-arm’d maidens, listen to my voice!

  Not hated, sure, by all above, this man

  Among Phæacia’s godlike sons arrives.

  At first I deem’d him of plebeian sort 300

  Dishonourable, but he now assumes

  A near resemblance to the Gods above.

  Ah! would to heaven it were my lot to call

  Husband, some native of our land like him

  Accomplish’d, and content to inhabit here!

  Give him, my maidens, food, and give him wine.

  She ended; they obedient to her will,

  Both wine and food, dispatchful, placed, and glad,

  Before Ulysses; he rapacious ate,

  Toil-suff’ring Chief, and drank, for he had lived 310

  From taste of aliment long time estranged.

  On other thoughts meantime intent, her charge

  Of folded vestments neat the Princess placed

  Within the royal wain, then yoked the mules,

  And to her seat herself ascending, call’d

  Ulysses to depart, and thus she spake.