William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  And to the city meditating quick

  Departure now, the swine-herd thus bespake.

  Father! I seek the city, to convince

  My mother of my safe return, whose tears,

  I judge, and lamentation shall not cease

  Till her own eyes behold me. But I lay 10

  On thee this charge. Into the city lead,

  Thyself, this hapless guest, that he may beg

  Provision there, a morsel and a drop

  From such as may, perchance, vouchsafe the boon.

  I cannot, vext and harass’d as I am,

  Feed all, and should the stranger take offence,

  The worse for him. Plain truth is my delight.

  To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.

  Nor is it my desire to be detained.

  Better the mendicant in cities seeks 20

  His dole, vouchsafe it whosoever may,

  Than in the villages. I am not young,

  Nor longer of an age that well accords

  With rural tasks, nor could I all perform

  That it might please a master to command.

  Go then, and when I shall have warm’d my limbs

  Before the hearth, and when the risen sun

  Shall somewhat chase the cold, thy servant’s task

  Shall be to guide me thither, as thou bidd’st,

  For this is a vile garb; the frosty air 30

  Of morning would benumb me thus attired,

  And, as ye say, the city is remote.

  He ended, and Telemachus in haste

  Set forth, his thoughts all teeming as he went

  With dire revenge. Soon in the palace-courts

  Arriving, he reclined his spear against

  A column, and proceeded to the hall.

  Him Euryclea, first, his nurse, perceived,

  While on the variegated seats she spread

  Their fleecy cov’ring; swift with tearful eyes 40

  She flew to him, and the whole female train

  Of brave Ulysses swarm’d around his son,

  Clasping him, and his forehead and his neck

  Kissing affectionate; then came, herself,

  As golden Venus or Diana fair,

  Forth from her chamber to her son’s embrace,

  The chaste Penelope; with tears she threw

  Her arms around him, his bright-beaming eyes

  And forehead kiss’d, and with a murmur’d plaint

  Maternal, in wing’d accents thus began. 50

  Thou hast return’d, light of my eyes! my son!

  My lov’d Telemachus! I had no hope

  To see thee more when once thou hadst embark’d

  For Pylus, privily, and with no consent

  From me obtain’d, news seeking of thy sire.

  But haste; unfold. Declare what thou hast seen.

  To whom Telemachus, discrete, replied.

  Ah mother! let my sorrows rest, nor me

  From death so lately ‘scaped afflict anew,

  But, bathed and habited in fresh attire, 60

  With all the maidens of thy train ascend

  To thy superior chamber, there to vow

  A perfect hecatomb to all the Gods,

  When Jove shall have avenged our num’rous wrongs.

  I seek the forum, there to introduce

  A guest, my follower from the Pylian shore,

  Whom sending forward with my noble band,

  I bade Piræus to his own abode

  Lead him, and with all kindness entertain

  The stranger, till I should myself arrive. 70

  He spake, nor flew his words useless away.

  She, bathed and habited in fresh attire,

  Vow’d a full hecatomb to all the Gods,

  Would Jove but recompense her num’rous wrongs.

  Then, spear in hand, went forth her son, two dogs

  Fleet-footed following him. O’er all his form

  Pallas diffused a dignity divine,

  And ev’ry eye gazed on him as he pass’d.

  The suitors throng’d him round, joy on their lips

  And welcome, but deep mischief in their hearts. 80

  He, shunning all that crowd, chose to himself

  A seat, where Mentor sat, and Antiphus,

  And Halytherses, long his father’s friends

  Sincere, who of his voyage much enquired.

  Then drew Piræus nigh, leading his guest

  Toward the forum; nor Telemachus

  Stood long aloof, but greeted his approach,

  And was accosted by Piræus thus.

  Sir! send thy menial women to bring home

  The precious charge committed to my care, 90

  Thy gifts at Menelaus’ hands received.

  To whom Telemachus, discrete, replied.

  Piræus! wait; for I not yet foresee

  The upshot. Should these haughty ones effect

  My death, clandestine, under my own roof,

  And parcel my inheritance by lot,

  I rather wish those treasures thine, than theirs.

  But should I with success plan for them all

  A bloody death, then, wing’d with joy, thyself

  Bring home those presents to thy joyful friend. 100

  So saying, he led the anxious stranger thence

  Into the royal mansion, where arrived,

  Each cast his mantle on a couch or throne,

  And plung’d his feet into a polish’d bath.

  There wash’d and lubricated with smooth oils,

  From the attendant maidens each received

  Tunic and shaggy mantle. Thus attired,

  Forth from the baths they stepp’d, and sat again.

  A maiden, next, with golden ewer charged,

  And silver bowl, pour’d water on their hands, 110

  And spread the polish’d table, which with food

  Of all kinds, remnants of the last regale,

  The mistress of the household charge supplied.

  Meantime, beside a column of the dome

  His mother, on a couch reclining, twirl’d

  Her slender threads. They to the furnish’d board

  Stretch’d forth their hands, and, hunger now and thirst

  Both satisfied, Penelope began.

  Telemachus! I will ascend again,

  And will repose me on my woeful bed; 120

  For such it hath been, and with tears of mine

  Ceaseless bedew’d, e’er since Ulysses went

  With Atreus’ sons to Troy. For not a word

  Thou would’st vouchsafe me till our haughty guests

  Had occupied the house again, of all

  That thou hast heard (if aught indeed thou hast)

  Of thy long-absent father’s wish’d return.

  Her answer’d then Telemachus discrete.

  Mother, at thy request I will with truth

  Relate the whole. At Pylus shore arrived 130

  We Nestor found, Chief of the Pylian race.

  Receiving me in his august abode,

  He entertain’d me with such welcome kind

  As a glad father shews to his own son

  Long-lost and newly found; so Nestor me,

  And his illustrious offspring, entertain’d,

  But yet assured me that he nought had heard

  From mortal lips of my magnanimous sire,

  Whether alive or dead; with his own steeds

  He sent me, and with splendid chariot thence 140

  To spear-famed Menelaus, Atreus’ son.

  There saw I Helen, by the Gods’ decree

  Auth’ress of trouble both to Greece and Troy.

  The Hero Menelaus then enquired

  What cause had urged me to the pleasant vale

  Of Lacedæmon; plainly I rehearsed

  The occasion, and the Hero thus replied.

  Ye Gods! they are ambitious of the bed

  Of a brave man, however base themselves.

  But, as it chances wh
en the hart hath laid 150

  Her fawns new-yean’d and sucklings yet, to rest

  In some resistless lion’s den, she roams,

  Meantime, the hills, and in the grassy vales

  Feeds heedless, but the lion to his lair

  Returning soon, both her and hers destroys,

  So shall thy father, brave Ulysses, them.

  Jove! Pallas! and Apollo! oh that such

  As erst in well-built Lesbos, where he strove

  With Philomelides, whom wrestling, flat

  He threw, when all Achaia’s sons rejoiced, 160

  Ulysses, now, might mingle with his foes!

  Short life and bitter nuptials should be theirs,

  But thy enquiries neither indirect

  Will I evade, nor give thee false reply,

  But all that from the Ancient of the Deep

  I have received will utter, hiding nought.

  The God declared that he had seen thy sire

  In a lone island, sorrowing, and detain’d

  An inmate in the grotto of the nymph

  Calypso, wanting also means by which 170

  To reach the country of his birth again,

  For neither gallant barks nor friends had he

  To speed his passage o’er the boundless waves.

  So Menelaus spake, the spear-renown’d.

  My errand thus accomplish’d, I return’d —

  And by the Gods with gales propitious blest,

  Was wafted swiftly to my native shore.

  He spake, and tumult in his mother’s heart

  So speaking, raised. Consolatory, next,

  The godlike Theoclymenus began. 180

  Consort revered of Laertiades!

  Little the Spartan knew, but list to me,

  For I will plainly prophesy and sure.

  Be Jove of all in heav’n my witness first,

  Then this thy hospitable board, and, last,

  The household Gods of the illustrious Chief

  Ulysses, at whose hearth I have arrived,

  That, even now, within his native isle

  Ulysses somewhere sits, or creeps obscure,

  Witness of these enormities, and seeds 190

  Sowing of dire destruction for his foes;

  So sure an augury, while on the deck

  Reclining of the gallant bark, I saw,

  And with loud voice proclaim’d it to thy son.

  Him answer’d then Penelope discrete.

  Grant heav’n, my guest, that this good word of thine

  Fail not! then shalt thou soon such bounty share

  And friendship at my hands, that at first sight

  Whoe’er shall meet thee shall pronounce thee blest.

  Thus they conferr’d. Meantime the suitors hurl’d 200

  The quoit and lance on the smooth area spread

  Before Ulysses’ gate, the custom’d scene

  Of their contentions, sports, and clamours rude.

  But when the hour of supper now approach’d,

  And from the pastures on all sides the sheep

  Came with their wonted drivers, Medon then

  (For he of all the heralds pleas’d them most,

  And waited at the board) them thus address’d.

  Enough of play, young princes! ent’ring now

  The house, prepare we sedulous our feast, 210

  Since in well-timed refreshment harm is none.

  He spake, whose admonition pleas’d. At once

  All, rising, sought the palace; there arrived,

  Each cast his mantle off, which on his throne

  Or couch he spread, then, brisk, to slaughter fell

  Of many a victim; sheep and goats and brawns

  They slew, all fatted, and a pastur’d ox,

  Hast’ning the banquet; nor with less dispatch

  Ulysses and Eumæus now prepared

  To seek the town, when thus the swain began. 220

  My guest! since thy fixt purpose is to seek

  This day the city as my master bade,

  Though I, in truth, much rather wish thee here

  A keeper of our herds, yet, through respect

  And rev’rence of his orders, whose reproof

  I dread, for masters seldom gently chide,

  I would be gone. Arise, let us depart,

  For day already is far-spent, and soon

  The air of even-tide will chill thee more.

  To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied. 230

  It is enough. I understand. Thou speak’st

  To one intelligent. Let us depart,

  And lead, thyself, the way; but give me, first,

  (If thou have one already hewn) a staff

  To lean on, for ye have described the road

  Rugged, and ofttimes dang’rous to the foot.

  So saying, his tatter’d wallet o’er his back

  He cast, suspended by a leathern twist,

  Eumæus gratified him with a staff,

  And forth they went, leaving the cottage kept 240

  By dogs and swains. He city-ward his King

  Led on, in form a squalid beggar old,

  Halting, and in unseemly garb attired.

  But when, slow-travelling the craggy way,

  They now approach’d the town, and had attain’d

  The marble fountain deep, which with its streams

  Pellucid all the citizens supplied,

  (Ithacus had that fountain framed of old

  With Neritus and Polyctor, over which

  A grove of water-nourish’d alders hung 250

  Circular on all sides, while cold the rill

  Ran from the rock, on whose tall summit stood

  The altar of the nymphs, by all who pass’d

  With sacrifice frequented, still, and pray’r)

  Melantheus, son of Dolius, at that fount

  Met them; the chosen goats of ev’ry flock,

  With two assistants, from the field he drove,

  The suitors’ supper. He, seeing them both,

  In surly accent boorish, such as fired

  Ulysses with resentment, thus began. 260

  Ay — this is well — The villain leads the vile —

  Thus evermore the Gods join like to like.

  Thou clumsy swine-herd, whither would’st conduct

  This morsel-hunting mendicant obscene,

  Defiler base of banquets? many a post

  Shall he rub smooth that props him while he begs

  Lean alms, sole object of his low pursuit,

  Who ne’er to sword or tripod yet aspired.

  Would’st thou afford him to me for a guard

  Or sweeper of my stalls, or to supply 270

  My kids with leaves, he should on bulkier thewes

  Supported stand, though nourish’d but with whey.

  But no such useful arts hath he acquired,

  Nor likes he work, but rather much to extort

  From others food for his unsated maw.

  But mark my prophecy, for it is true,

  At famed Ulysses’ house should he arrive,

  His sides shall shatter many a footstool hurl’d

  Against them by the offended princes there.

  He spake, and drawing nigh, with his rais’d foot, 280

  Insolent as he was and brutish, smote

  Ulysses’ haunch, yet shook not from his path

  The firm-set Chief, who, doubtful, mused awhile

  Whether to rush on him, and with his staff

  To slay him, or uplifting him on high,

  Downward to dash him headlong; but his wrath

  Restraining, calm he suffer’d the affront.

  Him then Eumæus with indignant look

  Rebuking, rais’d his hands, and fervent pray’d.

  Nymphs of the fountains, progeny of Jove! 290

  If e’er Ulysses on your altar burn’d

  The thighs of fatted lambs or kidlings, grant

  This my request. O let the Hero soon
,

  Conducted by some Deity, return!

  So shall he quell that arrogance which safe

  Thou now indulgest, roaming day by day

  The city, while bad shepherds mar the flocks.

  To whom the goat-herd answer thus return’d

  Melantheus. Marvellous! how rare a speech

  The subtle cur hath framed! whom I will send 300

  Far hence at a convenient time on board

  My bark, and sell him at no little gain.

  I would, that he who bears the silver bow

  As sure might pierce Telemachus this day

  In his own house, or that the suitors might,

  As that same wand’rer shall return no more!

  He said, and them left pacing slow along,

  But soon, himself, at his Lord’s house arrived;

  There ent’ring bold, he with the suitors sat

  Opposite to Eurymachus, for him 310

  He valued most. The sewers his portion placed

  Of meat before him, and the maiden, chief

  Directress of the household gave him bread.

  And now, Ulysses, with the swain his friend

  Approach’d, when, hearing the harmonious lyre,

  Both stood, for Phemius had begun his song.

  He grasp’d the swine-herd’s hand, and thus he said.

  This house, Eumæus! of Ulysses seems

  Passing magnificent, and to be known

  With ease for his among a thousand more. 320

  One pile supports another, and a wall

  Crested with battlements surrounds the court;

  Firm, too, the folding doors all force of man

  Defy; but num’rous guests, as I perceive,

  Now feast within; witness the sav’ry steam

  Fast-fuming upward, and the sounding harp,

  Divine associate of the festive board.

  To whom, Eumæus, thou didst thus reply.

  Thou hast well-guess’d; no wonder, thou art quick

  On ev’ry theme; but let us well forecast 330

  This business. Wilt thou, ent’ring first, thyself,

  The splendid mansion, with the suitors mix,

  Me leaving here? or shall I lead the way

  While thou remain’st behind? yet linger not,

  Lest, seeing thee without, some servant strike

  Or drive thee hence. Consider which were best.

  Him answer’d, then, the patient Hero bold.

  It is enough. I understand. Thou speak’st

  To one intelligent. Lead thou the way

  Me leaving here, for neither stripes nor blows 340

  To me are strange. Much exercised with pain

  In fight and on the Deep, I have long since

  Learn’d patience. Follow, next, what follow may!

  But, to suppress the appetite, I deem

  Impossible; the stomach is a source

  Of ills to man, an avaricious gulph