Book I: Minerva’s Descent to Ithaca

Homer (about 725 BC), translated by Alexander Pope · 1726

iambic pentameter · heroic couplets · 558 lines · from The Odyssey

The man for wisdom’s various arts renown’d,Long exercised in woes, O Muse! resound;Who, when his arms had wrought the destined fallOf sacred Troy, and razed her heaven-built wall,Wandering from clime to clime, observant stray’d,Their manners noted, and their states survey’d,On stormy seas unnumber’d toils he bore,Safe with his friends to gain his natal shore:Vain toils! their impious folly dared to preyOn herds devoted to the god of day;The god vindictive doom’d them never more(Ah, men unbless’d!) to touch that natal shore.Oh, snatch some portion of these acts from fate,Celestial Muse! and to our world relate.

Now at their native realms the Greeks arrived;All who the wars of ten long years survived;And ’scaped the perils of the gulfy main.Ulysses, sole of all the victor train,An exile from his dear paternal coast,Deplored his absent queen and empire lost.Calypso in her caves constrain’d his stay,With sweet, reluctant, amorous delay;In vain-for now the circling years discloseThe day predestined to reward his woes.At length his Ithaca is given by fate,Where yet new labours his arrival wait;At length their rage the hostile powers restrain,All but the ruthless monarch of the main.But now the god, remote, a heavenly guest,In Æthiopia graced the genial feast(A race divided, whom with sloping raysThe rising and descending sun surveys);There on the world’s extremest verge reveredWith hecatombs and prayer in pomp preferr’d,Distant he lay: while in the bright abodesOf high Olympus, Jove convened the gods:The assembly thus the sire supreme address’d,AEgysthus’ fate revolving in his breast,Whom young Orestes to the dreary coastOf Pluto sent, a blood-polluted ghost.

“Perverse mankind! whose wills, created free,Charge all their woes on absolute degree;All to the dooming gods their guilt translate,And follies are miscall’d the crimes of fate.When to his lust AEgysthus gave the rein,Did fate, or we, the adulterous act constrain?Did fate, or we, when great Atrides died,Urge the bold traitor to the regicide?Hermes I sent, while yet his soul remain’dSincere from royal blood, and faith profaned;To warn the wretch, that young Orestes, grownTo manly years, should re-assert the throne.Yet, impotent of mind, and uncontroll’d,He plunged into the gulf which Heaven foretold.”

Here paused the god; and pensive thus repliesMinerva, graceful with her azure eyes:

“O thou! from whom the whole creation springs,The source of power on earth derived to kings!His death was equal to the direful deed;So may the man of blood be doomed to bleed!But grief and rage alternate wound my breastFor brave Ulysses, still by fate oppress’d.Amidst an isle, around whose rocky shoreThe forests murmur, and the surges roar,The blameless hero from his wish’d-for homeA goddess guards in her enchanted dome;(Atlas her sire, to whose far-piercing eyeThe wonders of the deep expanded lie;The eternal columns which on earth he rearsEnd in the starry vault, and prop the spheres).By his fair daughter is the chief confined,Who soothes to dear delight his anxious mind;Successless all her soft caresses prove,To banish from his breast his country’s love;To see the smoke from his loved palace rise,While the dear isle in distant prospect lies,With what contentment could he close his eyes!And will Omnipotence neglect to saveThe suffering virtue of the wise and brave?Must he, whose altars on the Phrygian shoreWith frequent rites, and pure, avow’d thy power,Be doom’d the worst of human ills to prove,Unbless’d, abandon’d to the wrath of Jove?”

“Daughter! what words have pass’d thy lips unweigh’d!(Replied the Thunderer to the martial maid;)Deem not unjustly by my doom oppress’d,Of human race the wisest and the best.Neptune, by prayer repentant rarely won,Afflicts the chief, to avenge his giant son,Whose visual orb Ulysses robb’d of light;Great Polypheme, of more than mortal might?Him young Thousa bore (the bright increaseOf Phorcys, dreaded in the sounds and seas);Whom Neptune eyed with bloom of beauty bless’d,And in his cave the yielding nymph compress’dFor this the god constrains the Greek to roam,A hopeless exile from his native home,From death alone exempt—but cease to mourn;Let all combine to achieve his wish’d return;Neptune atoned, his wrath shall now refrain,Or thwart the synod of the gods in vain.”

“Father and king adored!” Minerva cried,“Since all who in the Olympian bower resideNow make the wandering Greek their public care,Let Hermes to the Atlantic isle repair;Bid him, arrived in bright Calypso’s court,The sanction of the assembled powers report:That wise Ulysses to his native landMust speed, obedient to their high command.Meantime Telemachus, the blooming heirOf sea-girt Ithaca, demands my care;’Tis mine to form his green, unpractised yearsIn sage debates; surrounded with his peers,To save the state, and timely to restrainThe bold intrusion of the suitor-train;Who crowd his palace, and with lawless powerHis herds and flocks in feastful rites devour.To distant Sparta, and the spacious wasteOf Sandy Pyle, the royal youth shall haste.There, warm with filial love, the cause inquireThat from his realm retards his god-like sire;Delivering early to the voice of fameThe promise of a green immortal name.”

She said: the sandals of celestial mould,Fledged with ambrosial plumes, and rich with gold,Surround her feet: with these sublime she sailsThe aërial space, and mounts the winged gales;O’er earth and ocean wide prepared to soar,Her dreaded arm a beamy javelin bore,Ponderous and vast: which, when her fury burns,Proud tyrants humbles, and whole hosts o’erturns.From high Olympus prone her flight she bends,And in the realms of Ithaca descends,Her lineaments divine, the grave disguiseOf Mentes’ form conceal’d from human eyes(Mentes, the monarch of the Taphian land);A glittering spear waved awful in her hand.There in the portal placed, the heaven-born maidEnormous riot and misrule survey’d.On hides of beeves, before the palace gate(Sad spoils of luxury), the suitors sate.With rival art, and ardour in their mien,At chess they vie, to captivate the queen;Divining of their loves. Attending nigh,A menial train the flowing bowl supply.Others, apart, the spacious hall prepare,And form the costly feast with busy care.There young Telemachus, his bloomy faceGlowing celestial sweet, with godlike graceAmid the circle shines: but hope and fear(Painful vicissitude!) his bosom tear.Now, imaged in his mind, he sees restoredIn peace and joy the people’s rightful lord;The proud oppressors fly the vengeful sword.While his fond soul these fancied triumphs swell’d,The stranger guest the royal youth beheld;Grieved that a visitant so long should waitUnmark’d, unhonour’d, at a monarch’s gate;Instant he flew with hospitable haste,And the new friend with courteous air embraced.“Stranger, whoe’er thou art, securely rest,Affianced in my faith, a ready guest;Approach the dome, the social banquet share,And then the purpose of thy soul declare.”

Thus affable and mild, the prince precedes,And to the dome the unknown celestial leads.The spear receiving from the hand, he placedAgainst a column, fair with sculpture graced;Where seemly ranged in peaceful order stoodUlysses’ arms now long disused to blood.He led the goddess to the sovereign seat,Her feet supported with a stool of state(A purple carpet spread the pavement wide);Then drew his seat, familiar, to her side;Far from the suitor-train, a brutal crowd,With insolence, and wine, elate and loud:Where the free guest, unnoted, might relate,If haply conscious, of his father’s fate.The golden ewer a maid obsequious brings,Replenish’d from the cool, translucent springs;With copious water the bright vase suppliesA silver laver of capacious size;They wash. The tables in fair order spread,They heap the glittering canisters with bread:Viands of various kinds allure the taste,Of choicest sort and savour, rich repast!Delicious wines the attending herald brought;The gold gave lustre to the purple draught.Lured with the vapour of the fragrant feast,In rush’d the suitors with voracious haste;Marshall’d in order due, to each a sewerPresents, to bathe his hands, a radiant ewer.Luxurious then they feast. Observant roundGay stripling youths the brimming goblets crown’d.The rage of hunger quell’d, they all advanceAnd form to measured airs the mazy dance;To Phemius was consign’d the chorded lyre,Whose hand reluctant touch’d the warbling wire;Phemius, whose voice divine could sweetest singHigh strains responsive to the vocal string.

Meanwhile, in whispers to his heavenly guestHis indignation thus the prince express’d:

“Indulge my rising grief, whilst these (my friend)With song and dance the pompous revel end.Light is the dance, and doubly sweet the lays,When for the dear delight another pays.His treasured stores those cormarants consume,Whose bones, defrauded of a regal tombAnd common turf, lie naked on the plain,Or doom’d to welter in the whelming main.Should he return, that troop so blithe and bold,With purple robes inwrought, and stiff with gold,Precipitant in fear would wing their flight,And curse their cumbrous pride’s unwieldy weight.But ah, I dream!-the appointed hour is fled.And hope, too long with vain delusion fed,Deaf to the rumour of fallacious fame,Gives to the roll of death his glorious name!With venial freedom let me now demandThy name, thy lineage, and paternal land;Sincere from whence began thy course, recite,And to what ship I owe the friendly freight?Now first to me this visit dost thou deign,Or number’d in my father’s social train?All who deserved his choice he made his own,And, curious much to know, he far was known.”

“My birth I boast (the blue-eyed virgin cries)From great Anchialus, renown’d and wise;Mentes my name; I rule the Taphian race,Whose bounds the deep circumfluent waves embrace;A duteous people, and industrious isle,To naval arts inured, and stormy toil.Freighted with iron from my native land,I steer my voyage to the Brutian strandTo gain by commerce, for the labour’d mass,A just proportion of refulgent brass.Far from your capital my ship residesAt Reitorus, and secure at anchor rides;Where waving groves on airy Neign grow,Supremely tall and shade the deeps below.Thence to revisit your imperial dome,An old hereditary guest I come;Your father’s friend. Laertes can relateOur faith unspotted, and its early date;Who, press’d with heart-corroding grief and years,To the gay court a rural shed prefers,Where, sole of all his train, a matron sageSupports with homely fond his drooping age,With feeble steps from marshalling his vinesReturning sad, when toilsome day declines.

“With friendly speed, induced by erring fame,To hail Ulysses’ safe return I came;But still the frown of some celestial powerWith envious joy retards the blissful hour.Let not your soul be sunk in sad despair;He lives, he breathes this heavenly vital air,Among a savage race, whose shelfy boundsWith ceaseless roar the foaming deep surrounds.The thoughts which roll within my ravish’d breast,To me, no seer, the inspiring gods suggest;Nor skill’d nor studious, with prophetic eyeTo judge the winged omens of the sky.Yet hear this certain speech, nor deem it vain;Though adamantine bonds the chief restrain,The dire restraint his wisdom will defeat,And soon restore him to his regal seat.But generous youth! sincere and free declare,Are you, of manly growth, his royal heir?For sure Ulysses in your look appears,The same his features, if the same his years.Such was that face, on which I dwelt with joyEre Greece assembled stemm’d the tides to Troy;But, parting then for that detested shore,Our eyes, unhappy never greeted more.”

“To prove a genuine birth (the prince replies)On female truth assenting faith relies.Thus manifest of right, I build my claimSure-founded on a fair maternal fame,Ulysses’ son: but happier he, whom fateHath placed beneath the storms which toss the great!Happier the son, whose hoary sire is bless’dWith humble affluence, and domestic rest!Happier than I, to future empire born,But doom’d a father’s wretch’d fate to mourn!”

To whom, with aspect mild, the guest divine:“Oh true descendant of a sceptred line!The gods a glorious fate from anguish freeTo chaste Penelope’s increase decree.But say, yon jovial troops so gaily dress’d,Is this a bridal or a friendly feast?Or from their deed I rightlier may divine,Unseemly flown with insolence and wine?Unwelcome revellers, whose lawless joyPains the sage ear, and hurts the sober eye.”

“Magnificence of old (the prince replied)Beneath our roof with virtue could reside;Unblamed abundance crowned the royal board,What time this dome revered her prudent lord;Who now (so Heaven decrees) is doom’d to mourn,Bitter constraint, erroneous and forlorn.Better the chief, on Ilion’s hostile plain,Had fall’n surrounded with his warlike train;Or safe return’d, the race of glory pass’d,New to his friends’ embrace, and breathed his last!Then grateful Greece with streaming eyes would raise,Historic marbles to record his praise;His praise, eternal on the faithful stone,Had with transmissive honour graced his son.Now snatch’d by harpies to the dreary coast.Sunk is the hero, and his glory lost;Vanish’d at once! unheard of, and unknown!And I his heir in misery alone.Nor for a dear lost father only flowThe filial tears, but woe succeeds to woeTo tempt the spouseless queen with amorous wilesResort the nobles from the neighbouring isles;From Samos, circled with the Ionian main,Dulichium, and Zacynthas’ sylvan reign;Ev’n with presumptuous hope her bed to ascend,The lords of Ithaca their right pretend.She seems attentive to their pleaded vows,Her heart detesting what her ear allows.They, vain expectants of the bridal hour,My stores in riotous expense devour.In feast and dance the mirthful months employ,And meditate my doom to crown their joy.”

With tender pity touch’d, the goddess cried:“Soon may kind Heaven a sure relief provide,Soon may your sire discharge the vengeance due,And all your wrongs the proud oppressors rue!Oh! in that portal should the chief appear,Each hand tremendous with a brazen spear,In radiant panoply his limbs incased(For so of old my father’s court he graced,When social mirth unbent his serious soul,O’er the full banquet, and the sprightly bowl);He then from Ephyre, the fair domainOf Ilus, sprung from Jason’s royal strain,Measured a length of seas, a toilsome length, in vain.For, voyaging to learn the direful artTo taint with deadly drugs the barbed dart;Observant of the gods, and sternly just,Ilus refused to impart the baneful trust;With friendlier zeal my father’s soul was fired,The drugs he knew, and gave the boon desired.Appear’d he now with such heroic port,As then conspicuous at the Taphian court;Soon should yon boasters cease their haughty strife,Or each atone his guilty love with life.But of his wish’d return the care resign,Be future vengeance to the powers divine.My sentence hear: with stern distaste avow’d,To their own districts drive the suitor-crowd;When next the morning warms the purple east,Convoke the peerage, and the gods attest;The sorrows of your inmost soul relate;And form sure plans to save the sinking state.Should second love a pleasing flame inspire,And the chaste queen connubial rights require;Dismiss’d with honour, let her hence repairTo great Icarius, whose paternal careWill guide her passion, and reward her choiceWith wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price.Then let this dictate of my love prevail:Instant, to foreign realms prepare to sail,To learn your father’s fortunes; Fame may prove,Or omen’d voice (the messenger of Jove),Propitious to the search. Direct your toilThrough the wide ocean first to sandy Pyle;Of Nestor, hoary sage, his doom demand:Thence speed your voyage to the Spartan strand;For young Atrides to the Achaian coastArrived the last of all the victor host.If yet Ulysses views the light, forbear,Till the fleet hours restore the circling year.But if his soul hath wing’d the destined flight,Inhabitant of deep disastrous night;Homeward with pious speed repass the main,To the pale shade funereal rites ordain,Plant the fair column o’er the vacant grave,A hero’s honours let the hero have.With decent grief the royal dead deplored,For the chaste queen select an equal lord.Then let revenge your daring mind employ,By fraud or force the suitor train destroy,And starting into manhood, scorn the boy.Hast thou not heard how young Orestes, firedWith great revenge, immortal praise acquired?His virgin-sword AEgysthus’ veins imbrued;The murderer fell, and blood atoned for blood.O greatly bless’d with every blooming grace!With equal steps the paths of glory trace;Join to that royal youth’s your rival name,And shine eternal in the sphere of fame.But my associates now my stay deplore,Impatient on the hoarse-resounding shore.Thou, heedful of advice, secure proceed;My praise the precept is, be thine the deed.

“The counsel of my friend (the youth rejoin’d)Imprints conviction on my grateful mind.So fathers speak (persuasive speech and mild)Their sage experience to the favourite child.But, since to part, for sweet refection due,The genial viands let my train renew;And the rich pledge of plighted faith receive,Worthy the heir of Ithaca to give.”

“Defer the promised boon (the goddess cries,Celestial azure brightening in her eyes),And let me now regain the Reithrian port;From Temese return’d, your royal courtI shall revisit, and that pledge receive;And gifts, memorial of our friendship, leave.”

Abrupt, with eagle-speed she cut the sky;Instant invisible to mortal eye.Then first he recognized the ethereal guest;Wonder and joy alternate fire his breast;Heroic thoughts, infused, his heart dilate;Revolving much his father’s doubtful fate.At length, composed, he join’d the suitor-throng;Hush’d in attention to the warbled song.His tender theme the charming lyrist chose.Minerva’s anger, and the dreadful woesWhich voyaging from Troy the victors bore,While storms vindictive intercept the store.The shrilling airs the vaulted roof rebounds,Reflecting to the queen the silver sounds.With grief renew’d the weeping fair descends;Their sovereign’s step a virgin train attends:A veil, of richest texture wrought, she wears,And silent to the joyous hall repairs.There from the portal, with her mild command,Thus gently checks the minstrel’s tuneful hand:

“Phemius! let acts of gods, and heroes old,What ancient bards in hall and bower have told,Attemper’d to the lyre, your voice employ;Such the pleased ear will drink with silent joy.But, oh! forbear that dear disastrous name,To sorrow sacred, and secure of fame;My bleeding bosom sickens at the sound,And every piercing note inflicts a wound.”

“Why, dearest object of my duteous love,(Replied the prince,) will you the bard reprove?Oft, Jove’s ethereal rays (resistless fire)The chanter’s soul and raptured song inspireInstinct divine? nor blame severe his choice,Warbling the Grecian woes with heart and voice;For novel lays attract our ravish’d ears;But old, the mind with inattention hears:Patient permit the sadly pleasing strain;Familiar now with grief, your tears refrain,And in the public woe forget your own;You weep not for a perish’d lord alone.What Greeks new wandering in the Stygian gloom,Wish your Ulysses shared an equal doom!Your widow’d hours, apart, with female toilAnd various labours of the loom beguile;There rule, from palace-cares remote and free;That care to man belongs, and most to me.”

Mature beyond his years, the queen admiresHis sage reply, and with her train retires.Then swelling sorrows burst their former bounds,With echoing grief afresh the dome resounds;Till Pallas, piteous of her plaintive cries,In slumber closed her silver-streaming eyes.

Meantime, rekindled at the royal charms,Tumultuous love each beating bosom warms;Intemperate rage a wordy war began;But bold Telemachus assumed the man.“Instant (he cried) your female discord end,Ye deedless boasters! and the song attend;Obey that sweet compulsion, nor profaneWith dissonance the smooth melodious strain.Pacific now prolong the jovial feast;But when the dawn reveals the rosy east,I, to the peers assembled, shall proposeThe firm resolve, I here in few disclose;No longer live the cankers of my court;All to your several states with speed resort;Waste in wild riot what your land allows,There ply the early feast, and late carouse.But if, to honour lost, ’tis still decreedFor you my bowl shall flow, my flock shall bleed;Judge and revenge my right, impartial Jove!By him and all the immortal thrones above(A sacred oath), each proud oppressor slain,Shall with inglorious gore this marble stain.”

Awed by the prince, thus haughty, bold, and young,Rage gnaw’d the lip, and wonder chain’d the tongue.Silence at length the gay Antinous broke,Constrain’d a smile, and thus ambiguous spoke:“What god to your untutor’d youth affordsThis headlong torrent of amazing words?May Jove delay thy reign, and cumber lateSo bright a genius with the toils of state!”

“Those toils (Telemachus serene replies)Have charms, with all their weight, t’allure the wise.Fast by the throne obsequious fame resides,And wealth incessant rolls her golden tides.Nor let Antinous rage, if strong desireOf wealth and fame a youthful bosom fire:Elect by Jove, his delegate of sway,With joyous pride the summons I’d obey.Whene’er Ulysses roams the realm of night,Should factious power dispute my lineal right,Some other Greeks a fairer claim may plead;To your pretence their title would precede.At least, the sceptre lost, I still should reignSole o’er my vassals, and domestic train.”

To this Eurymachus: “To Heaven aloneRefer the choice to fill the vacant throne.Your patrimonial stores in peace possess;Undoubted, all your filial claim confess:Your private right should impious power invade,The peers of Ithaca would arm in aid.But say, that stranger guest who late withdrew,What and from whence? his name and lineage shew.His grave demeanour and majestic graceSpeak him descended of no vulgar race:Did he some loan of ancient right require,Or came forerunner of your sceptr’d sire?”

“Oh son of Polybus!” the prince replies,“No more my sire will glad these longing eyes;The queen’s fond hope inventive rumour cheers,Or vain diviners’ dreams divert her fears.That stranger-guest the Taphian realm obeys,A realm defended with encircling seas.Mentes, an ever-honour’d name, of oldHigh in Ulysses’ social list enroll’d.”

Thus he, though conscious of the ethereal guest,Answer’d evasive of the sly request.Meantime the lyre rejoins the sprightly lay;Love-dittied airs, and dance, conclude the dayBut when the star of eve with golden lightAdorn’d the matron brow of sable night,The mirthful train dispersing quit the court,And to their several domes to rest resort.A towering structure to the palace join’d;To this his steps the thoughtful prince inclined:In his pavilion there, to sleep repairs;The lighted torch, the sage Euryclea bears(Daughter of Ops, the just Pisenor’s son,For twenty beeves by great Laertes won;In rosy prime with charms attractive graced,Honour’d by him, a gentle lord and chaste,With dear esteem: too wise, with jealous strifeTo taint the joys of sweet connubial life.Sole with Telemachus her service ends,A child she nursed him, and a man attends).Whilst to his couch himself the prince address’d,The duteous dame received the purple vest;The purple vest with decent care disposed,The silver ring she pull’d, the door reclosed,The bolt, obedient to the silken cord,To the strong staple’s inmost depth restored,Secured the valves. There, wrapped in silent shade,Pensive, the rules the goddess gave he weigh’d;Stretch’d on the downy fleece, no rest he knows,And in his raptured soul the vision glows.

Words in this poem 157

razed a.: Slashed or striped in patterns.
clime n.: A climate; a tract or region of the earth. See Climate. [L. clima. See Climate.]
natal a.: Of or pertaining to one's birth; accompying or dating from one's birth; native. [L. natalis, fr. natus, p.p. of nasci to be born: cf. F. natal. See Nation, and cf. Noel.]
vindictive a.: Disposed to revenge; prompted or characterized by revenge; revengeful. [For vindicative, confused with L. vindicta revenge, punishment, fr. vindicare to vindicate. Cf. Vindicative.]
gulfy a.: Full of whirlpools or gulfs. Chapman.
ruthless a.: Having no ruth; cruel; pitiless.
graced a.: Endowed with grace; beautiful; full of graces; honorable.
genial a.: Contributing to, or concerned in, propagation or production; generative; procreative; productive. [L. genialis: cf. OF. genial. See Genius.]
jove n.: The chief divinity of the ancient Romans; Jupiter. [L. Jupiter, gen. Jovis, OL. Jovis, nom. & gen. for Djovis; akin to E. Tuesday. See Tuesday, and cf. Jupiter.]
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
dreary a.: Sorrowful; distressful. [OE. dreori, dreri, AS. dreórig, sad; akin to G. traurig, and prob. to AS. dreósan to fall, Goth. driusan. Cf. Dross, Drear, Drizzle, Drowse.]
ghost n.: The spirit; the soul of man. [OE. gast, gost, soul, spirit, AS. gast breath, spirit, soul; akin to OS. g spirit, soul, D. geest, G. geist, and prob. to E. gaze, ghastly.]
lust v. i.: To list; to like. [AS. lystan. See Lust, n., and cf. List to choose.]
adulterous a.: Guilty of, or given to, adultery; pertaining to adultery; illicit.
regicide n.: One who kills or who murders a king; specifically (Eng.Hist.), one of the judges who condemned Charles I. to death. [F. régicide; L. rex, regis, a king + caedere to kill. Cf. Homicide.]
minerva n.: The goddess of wisdom, of war, of the arts and sciences, of poetry, and of spinning and weaving; -- identified with the Grecian Pallas Athene. [L.]
direful a.: Dire; dreadful; terrible; calamitous; woeful; as, a direful fiend; a direful day. [Dire + -ful.]
amidst prep.: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
isle v. t.: To cause to become an island, or like an island; to surround or encompass; to island.
enchanted a.: Under the power of enchantment; possessed or exercised by enchanters; as, an enchanted castle.
starry a.: Abounding with stars; adorned with stars.
successless a.: Having no success.
omnipotence n.: The state of being omnipotent; almighty power; hence, one who is omnipotent; the Deity. [L. omnipotentia: cf.F. omnipotence.]
avow v. t.: To bind, or to devote, by a vow. Wyclif. [OF. avouer, fr. LL. votare to vow, fr. L. votun. See Vote, n.]
thunderer n.: One who thunders; -- used especially as a translation of L.
deem v. t.: To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d, OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme, Goth. d. See Doom, n., an]
repentant a.: Penitent; sorry for sin. [F. repentant.]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
girt v. t.: To gird; to encircle; to invest by means of a girdle; to measure the girth of; as, to girt a tree. [From Girt, n., cf. Girth, v.]
suitor n.: One who sues, petitions, or entreats; a petitioner; an applicant.
feastful a.: Festive; festal; joyful; sumptuous; luxurious.
filial a.: Of or pertaining to a son or daughter; becoming to a child in relation to his parents; as, filial obedience. [L. filialis, fr. filius son, filia daughter; akin to e. female, feminine. Cf. Fitz.]
mould n.: Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See Meal, and cf. Mole a]
ambrosial a.: Consisting of, or partaking of the nature of, ambrosia; delighting the taste or smell; delicious.
beamy a.: Emitting beams of light; radiant; shining.
humbles n.: Entrails of a deer. Johnson. [See Nombles.]
misrule v. t.: To rule badly; to misgovern.
beeves n.: ; plural of Beef, the animal.
sate v. t.: To satisfy the desire or appetite of; to satiate; to glut; to surfeit. [Probably shortened fr. satiate: cf. L. satus full. See Satiate.]
ardour n.: Heat, in a literal sense; as, the ardor of the sun's rays. [L. ardor, fr. ardere to burn: cf. OF. ardor, ardur, F. ardeur.]
captivate v. t.: To take prisoner; to capture; to subdue. [L. captivatus, p. p. of captivare to capture, fr. captivus captive. See Captive.]
bloomy a.: Full of bloom; flowery; flourishing with the vigor of youth; as, a bloomy spray.
amid prep.: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
vicissitude n.: Regular change or succession from one thing to another; alternation; mutual succession; interchange. [L. vicissitudo, fr. vicis change, turn: cf. F. vicissitude. See Vicarious.]
rightful a.: Righteous; upright; just; good; -- said of persons.
vengeful a.: Vindictive; retributive; revengeful.
visitant n.: One who visits; a guest; a visitor. [L. visitans, -antis; p. pr.: cf. F. visitant.]
insolence n.: The quality of being unusual or novel. [F. insolence, L. insolentia. See Insolent.]
elate a.: Lifted up; raised; elevated. [L. elatus elevated, fig., elated, proud (the figure, perh., being borrowed from a prancing horse); e out + latus (used as p. p. of ferre to bear), for tlatus, a]
haply adv.: By hap, chance, luck, or accident; perhaps; it may be.
ewer n.: A kind of widemouthed pitcher or jug; esp., one used to hold water for the toilet. [OF. ewer, euwier, prop. a water carrier, F. évier a washing place, sink, aiguière ewer, L. aquarius, adj., water carrying, n., a water carrier, fr. aqua water; ]
obsequious a.: Promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another; devoted. [L.obsequiosus, fr. obsequium compliance, fr. obsequi, fr. obsequi: cf. F. obséquieux, See Obsequent, and cf. Obsequy.]
savour v. t.: To perceive by the smell or the taste; hence, to perceive; to note. B. Jonson.
lustre n.: A period of five years; a lustrum. [L. lustrum: cf. F. lustre.]
vapour n.: Any substance in the gaseous, or aëriform, state, the condition of which is ordinarily that of a liquid or solid. [OE. vapour, OF. vapour, vapor, vapeur, F. vapeur, L. vapor; probably for cvapor, and akin to Gr. kvepti to breathe, smell, Russ. kopote fine soot. Cf. Vapid.]
stripling n.: A youth in the state of adolescence, or just passing from boyhood to manhood; a lad. [Dim. of strip; as if a small strip from the main stock or steam.]
brimming a.: Full to the brim; overflowing.
quell v. t.: To take the life of; to kill. [OE. quellen to kill, AS. cwellan, causative of cwelan to die; akin to OHG. quellen to torment, Icel. kvelja. See Quail to cower.]
consign v. i.: To submit; to surrender or yield one's self.
responsive a.: That responds; ready or inclined to respond. [Cf. F. resposif.]
meanwhile n.: The intervening time; as, in the meantime (or mean time).
welter v. i.: To roll, as the body of an animal; to tumble about, especially in anything foul or defiling; to wallow. [Freq. of OE. walten to roll over, AS. wealtan; akin to LG. weltern, G. walzen to roll, to waltz, sich wälzen to welter, OHG. walzan to roll, Icel. velta, Dan. v]
blithe a.: Gay; merry; sprightly; joyous; glad; cheerful; as, a blithe spirit. [AS. bli blithe, kind; akin to Goth. blei kind, Icel. bli mild, gentle, Dan. & Sw. blid gentle, D. blijd blithe, OHG. blidi kind, blithe.]
inwrought p. p.: Wrought or worked in or among other things; worked into any fabric so as to from a part of its texture; wrought or adorned, as with figures. [Pref. in- + wrought. Cf. Inwork.]
precipitant a.: Falling or rushing headlong; rushing swiftly, violently, or recklessly; moving precipitately. [L. praecipitans, -antis, p. pr. of praecipitare: cf. F. précipitant. See Precipitate.]
cumbrous a.: Rendering action or motion difficult or toilsome; serving to obstruct or hinder; burdensome; clogging.
rumour n.: A flying or popular report; the common talk; hence, public fame; notoriety. [F. rumeur, L. rumor; cf. rumificare, rumitare to rumor, Skr. ru to cry.]
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
deign v. t.: To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice; -- opposed to disdain. [OE. deinen, deignen, OF. degner, deigner, daigner, F. daigner, fr. L. dignari to deem worthy, deign, fr. dignus worthy; akin to decere to be fitting. See Decent]
curious a.: Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure.]
circumfluent a.: Flowing round; surrounding in the manner of a fluid. [L. circumfluere, p. pr. of circumfluere; circum + fluere to flow; also L. circumfluus.]
duteous a.: Fulfilling duty; dutiful; having the sentiments due to a superior, or to one to whom respect or service is owed; obedient; as, a duteous son or daughter. [From Duty.]
industrious a.: Given to industry; characterized by diligence; constantly, regularly, or habitually occupied; busy; assiduous; not slothful or idle; -- commonly implying devotion to lawful and useful labor. [L. industrius, industriosus: cf. F. industrieux. See Industry.]
refulgent a.: Casting a bright light; radiant; brilliant; resplendent; shining; splendid; as, refulgent beams. [L. refulgens, p. pr. of refulgere to flash back, to shine bright; pref. re- re- + fulgere to shine. See Fulgent.]
supremely adv.: In a supreme manner.
revisit v. t.: To visit again.
unspotted a.: Not spotted; free from spot or stain; especially, free from moral stain; unblemished; immaculate; as, an unspotted reputation.
homely a.: Belonging to, or having the characteristics of, home; domestic; familiar; intimate. [From Home, n.]
envious a.: Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.]
blissful a.: Full of, characterized by, or causing, joy and felicity; happy in the highest degree.
shelfy a.: Abounding in shelves; full of dangerous shallows.
ceaseless a.: Without pause or end; incessant.
dire a.: Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens. [L. dirus; of uncertain origin.]
defeat v. t.: To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [From F. défait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe défaire, OF. desfaire, to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
generous a.: Of honorable birth or origin; highborn. [F. généreux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.]
assenting a.: Giving or implying assent.
maternal a.: Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly; as, maternal love; maternal tenderness. [F. maternel, L. maternus, fr. mater mother. See Mother.]
hoary a.: White or whitish."The hoary willows."
affluence n.: A flowing to or towards; a concourse; an influx. [F. affluence, L. affluentia, fr. affluens, p. pr. of affluere to flow to; ad + fluere to flow. See Flux.]
penelope n.: A genus of curassows, including the guans.
jovial a.: Of or pertaining to the god, or the planet, Jupiter. [F., fr. L. Jovialis pertaining to Jove. The planet Jupiter was thought to make those born under it joyful or jovial. See Jove.]
gaily adv.: Merrily; showily. See gaily. [From Gay.]
flown a.: Flushed, inflated.
magnificence n.: The act of doing what magnificent; the state or quality of being magnificent. Acts xix. 27. [F. magnificence, L. magnificentia. See Magnific.]
forlorn a.: Deserted abandoned; lost. [OE., p.p. of forlesen to lose utterly, AS. forleósan (p.p. forloren); pref. for- + leósan (in comp.) to lose; cf. D. verliezen to lose, G. verlieren, Sw. förlor]
streaming a.: Sending forth streams.
historic a.: Of or pertaining to history, or the record of past events; as, an historical poem; the historic page. [L. historicus, Gr. historique. See History.]
transmissive a.: Capable of being transmitted; derived, or handed down, from one to another.
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
unheard a.: Not heard; not perceived by the ear; as, words unheard by those present.
spouseless a.: Destitute of a spouse; unmarried.
neighbouring a.: Living or being near; adjacent; as, the neighboring nations or countries.
circled a.: Having the form of a circle; round.
ionian a.: Of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians; Ionic. [L. Ionius. See Ionic.]
tremendous a.: Fitted to excite fear or terror; such as may astonish or terrify by its magnitude, force, or violence; terrible; dreadful; as, a tremendous wind; a tremendous shower; a tremendous shock or fall. [L. tremendus that is to be trembled at, fearful, fr. tremere to tremble. See Tremble.]
panoply n.: Defensive armor in general; a full suit of defensive armor.
sternly adv.: In a stern manner.
baneful a.: Having poisonous qualities; deadly; destructive; injurious; noxious; pernicious.
boon n.: A prayer or petition. [OE. bone, boin, a petition, fr. Icel. b; akin to Sw. & Dan. b, AS. b, and perh. to E. ban; but influenced by F. bon good, fr. L. bonus. Ban, Bounty.]
haughty a.: High; lofty; bold. [OE. hautein, F. hautain, fr. haut high, OF. also halt, fr. L. altus. See Altitude.]
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
atone v. t.: To set at one; to reduce to concord; to reconcile, as parties at variance; to appease.
convoke v. t.: To call together; to summon to meet; to assemble by summons. [L. convocare: cf. F. convoquer. See Convocate.]
peerage n.: The rank or dignity of a peer. Blackstone. [See Peer an equal, and cf. Parage.]
attest v. t.: To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be true or genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing, a copy of record. [L. attestari; ad + testari to bear witness: cf. F. attester.]
inmost a.: Deepest within; farthest from the surface or external part; innermost. [OE. innemest, AS. innemest, a double superlative form fr. inne within, fr. in in. The modern form is due to confusion with most. See In, and cf. Aftermost, Fore]
nestor n.: A genus of parrots with gray heads. of New Zeland and papua, allied to the cockatoos. See Kaka.
achaian a.: Of or pertaining to Achaia in Greece; also, Grecian.
disastrous a.: Full of unpropitious stellar influences; unpropitious; ill-boding. [Cf. F. désastreux. See Disaster.]
homeward a.: Being in the direction of home; as, the homeward way.
repass v. t.: To pass again; to pass or travel over in the opposite direction; to pass a second time; as, to repass a bridge or a river; to repass the sea. [Pref. re- + pass: cf. F. repasser. Cf. Repace.]
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
deplore v. t.: To feel or to express deep and poignant grief for; to bewail; to lament; to mourn; to sorrow over. [L. deplorare; de- + plorare to cry out, wail, lament; prob. akin to pluere to rain, and to E. flow: cf. F. déplorer. Cf. Flow.]
rejoin v. t.: To join again; to unite after separation. [F. rejoindre; pref. re- re- + joindre to join. See Join, and cf. Rejoinder.]
refection n.: Refreshment after hunger or fatique; a repast; a lunch. [L. refectio: cf. F. réfection. See Refect, Fact.]
lyrist n.: A musician who plays on the harp or lyre; a composer of lyrical poetry. Shelley. [L. lyristes, Gr. lyriste.]
dreadful a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
tuneful a.: Harmonious; melodious; musical; as, tuneful notes.
resistless a.: Having no power to resist; making no opposition.
chanter n.: One who chants; a singer or songster. [Cf. F. chanteur.]
sadly adv.: Wearily; heavily; firmly.
stygian a.: Of or pertaining to the river Styx; hence, hellish; infernal.
afresh adv.: Anew; again; once more; newly. [Pref. a- + fresh.]
pallas n.: Pallas Athene, the Grecian goddess of wisdom, called also Athene, and identified, at a later period, with the Roman Minerva.
deedless a.: Not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits; inactive.
dissonance n.: A mingling of discordant sounds; an inharmonious combination of sounds; discord. [L. dissonantia: cf. F. dissonance.]
propose v. i.: To speak; to converse.
oppressor n.: One who oppresses; one who imposes unjust burdens on others; one who harasses others with unjust laws or unreasonable severity. [L.]
inglorious a.: Not glorious; not bringing honor or glory; not accompanied with fame, honor, or celebrity; obscure; humble; as, an inglorious life of ease. [L. inglorious; pref. in- not + gloria glory, fame: cf. F. inglorieux. See Glory.]
broke v. i.: To transact business for another. Brome. [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
spoke n.: The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
amazing a.: Causing amazement; very wonderful; as, amazing grace.
cumber n.: Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [Cf. encombre hindrance, impediment. See Cuber,v.]
wealth n.: Weal; welfare; prosperity; good. [OE. welthe, from wele; cf. D. weelde luxury. See Weal prosperity.]
pretence n.: The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption; pretension. [LL. praetensus, for L. praetentus, p. p. of praetendere. See Pretend, and cf. Tension.]
sceptre n.: A staff or baton borne by a sovereign, as a ceremonial badge or emblem of authority; a royal mace. [F. sceptre, L. sceptrum, from Gr. shaft. See Shaft, and cf. Scape a stem, shaft.]
patrimonial a.: Of or pertaining to a patrimony; inherited from ancestors; as, a patrimonial estate. [L.patrimonialis: cf. F. patrimonial.]
undoubted a.: Not doubted; not called in question; indubitable; indisputable; as, undoubted proof; undoubted hero.
shew n.: Show. [Obs. except in shewbread.]
demeanour n.: Management; treatment; conduct. [For demeanure, fr. demean. See Demean, v. t.]
evasive a.: Tending to evade, or marked by evasion; elusive; shuffling; avoiding by artifice. [Cf. F. évasif. See Evade.]
conclude v. t.: To shut up; to inclose. [L. concludere, conclusum; con- + claudere to shut. See Close, v. t.]
sable n.: A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family (Mustela zibellina) native of the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia, and America, -- noted for its fine, soft, and valuable fur. [OF. sable, F. zibeline sable (in sense 4), LL. sabellum; cf. D. sabel, Dan. sabel, zobel, Sw. sabel, sobel, G. zobel; all fr. Russ. sóbole.]
towering a.: Very high; elevated; rising aloft; as, a towering height.
pavilion n.: A temporary movable habitation; a large tent; a marquee; esp., a tent raised on posts. [F. pavillon, fr. L. pavilio a butterfly, also, a tent, because spread out like a butterfly's wings.]
dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
vest n.: An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe. [L. vestis a garment, vesture; akin to Goth. wasti, and E. wear: cf. F. veste. See Wear to carry on the person, and cf. Divest, Invest, Travesty.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Book I: Minerva’s Descent to Ithaca is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Odyssey, Project Gutenberg ebook #3160, the Alexander Pope translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Homer, Book I: Minerva’s Descent to Ithaca, in The Odyssey (1726), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #3160, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/homer-odyssey/book-i-minerva-s-descent-to-ithaca.html, id L14037.

Form and metre

Book I: Minerva’s Descent to Ithaca is 558 lines in 29 verse paragraphs. It is in rhyming couplets, 81% of the lines: heroic couplets. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 89%). 95% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.1 syllables. 19 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 17% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in heroic couplets, other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 AABBCCDDEEDDFF renown'd^A · resound^A · fall^B · wall^B · stray'd^C · survey'd^C · bore^D · shore^D · prey^E · day^E · more^D · shore^D · fate^F · relate^F
2 AABBC-DDEEFFBBG-HH----GGCC arrived^A · survived^A · main^B · train^B · coast^C · lost · stay^D · delay^D · disclose^E · woes^E · fate^F · wait^F · restrain^B · main^B · guest^G · feast · rays^H · surveys^H · revered · preferr'd · abodes · gods · address'd^G · breast^G · coast^C · ghost^C
3 AABBCCDDEEFFGG free^A · degree^A · translate^B · fate^B · rein^C · constrain^C · died^D · regicide^D · remain'd^E · profaned^E · grown^F · throne^F · uncontroll'd^G · foretold^G
4 AA replies^A · eyes^A
5 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJJKKD-I- springs^A · kings^A · deed^B · bleed^B · breast^C · oppress'd^C · shore^D · roar^D · home^E · dome^E · eye^F · lie^F · rears^G · spheres^G · confined^H · mind^H · prove^I · love^I · rise^J · lies^J · eyes^J · save^K · brave^K · shore^D · power · prove^I · jove
6 --AABBCC--AADD--EE unweigh'd · maid · oppress'd^A · best^A · won^B · son^B · light^C · might^C · increase · seas · bless'd^A · compress'd^A · roam^D · home^D · mourn · return · refrain^E · vain^E
7 AABBCCDDBBEEFFGGHH--II cried^A · reside^A · care^B · repair^B · court^C · report^C · land^D · command^D · heir^B · care^B · years^E · peers^E · restrain^F · train^F · power^G · devour^G · waste^H · haste^H · inquire · sire · fame^I · name^I
8 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLLMMLLNNNOOPPQQRRSS mould^A · gold^A · sails^B · gales^B · soar^C · bore^C · burns^D · o'erturns^D · bends^E · descends^E · disguise^F · eyes^F · land^G · hand^G · maid^H · survey'd^H · gate^I · sate^I · mien^J · queen^J · nigh^K · supply^K · prepare^L · care^L · face^M · grace^M · fear^L · tear^L · restored^N · lord^N · sword^N · swell'd^O · beheld^O · wait^P · gate^P · haste^Q · embraced^Q · rest^R · guest^R · share^S · declare^S
9 AABBCC--DDEEFFGGHHIIJJ--JJKKLLMM--NN precedes^A · leads^A · placed^B · graced^B · stood^C · blood^C · seat · state · wide^D · side^D · crowd^E · loud^E · relate^F · fate^F · brings^G · springs^G · supplies^H · size^H · spread^I · bread^I · taste^J · repast^J · brought · draught · feast^J · haste^J · sewer^K · ewer^K · round^L · crown'd^L · advance^M · dance^M · lyre · wire · sing^N · string^N
10 AA guest^A · express'd^A
11 AABBCCDDEEFGHHIIJJFGDDKK friend^A · end^A · lays^B · pays^B · consume^C · tomb^C · plain^D · main^D · bold^E · gold^E · flight^F · weight^G · fled^H · fed^H · fame^I · name^I · demand^J · land^J · recite^F · freight^G · deign^D · train^D · own^K · known^K
12 AABB--CCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKK cries^A · wise^A · race^B · embrace^B · isle · toil · land^C · strand^C · mass^D · brass^D · resides^E · rides^E · grow^F · below^F · dome^G · come^G · relate^H · date^H · years^I · prefers^I · sage^J · age^J · vines^K · declines^K
13 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHCCIIJJKK fame^A · came^A · power^B · hour^B · despair^C · air^C · bounds^D · surrounds^D · breast^E · suggest^E · eye^F · sky^F · vain^G · restrain^G · defeat^H · seat^H · declare^C · heir^C · appears^I · years^I · joy^J · troy^J · shore^K · more^K
14 AABBCCDDEE replies^A · relies^A · claim^B · fame^B · fate^C · great^C · bless'd^D · rest^D · born^E · mourn^E
15 AABB--AA-- divine^A · line^A · free^B · decree^B · dress'd · feast · divine^A · wine^A · joy · eye
16 AABBCCDDEEFFG---GGHHIIJJKKLLMMNN replied^A · reside^A · board^B · lord^B · mourn^C · forlorn^C · plain^D · train^D · pass'd^E · last^E · raise^F · praise^F · stone^G · son · coast · lost · unknown^G · alone^G · flow^H · woe^H · wiles^I · isles^I · main^J · reign^J · ascend^K · pretend^K · vows^L · allows^L · hour^M · devour^M · employ^N · joy^N
17 AABBCC--DDEEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLL--MM--NN--OO----PPQQRRSSTTUUVVWWWXX-XYYZZaabb cried^A · provide^A · due^B · rue^B · appear^C · spear^C · incased · graced · soul^D · bowl^D · domain^E · strain^E · vain^E · art^F · dart^F · just^G · trust^G · fired^H · desired^H · port^I · court^I · strife^J · life^J · resign^K · divine^K · avow'd^L · crowd^L · east · attest · relate^M · state^M · inspire · require · repair^N · care^N · choice · price · prevail^O · sail^O · prove · jove · toil · pyle · demand^P · strand^P · coast^Q · host^Q · forbear^R · year^R · flight^S · night^S · main^T · ordain^T · grave^U · have^U · deplored^V · lord^V · employ^W · destroy^W · boy^W · fired^X · acquired^X · imbrued · blood^X · grace^Y · trace^Y · name^Z · fame^Z · deplore^a · shore^a · proceed^b · deed^b
18 --AABB-- rejoin'd · mind · mild^A · child^A · due^B · renew^B · receive · give
19 AABBCC cries^A · eyes^A · port^B · court^B · receive^C · leave^C
20 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ sky^A · eye^A · guest^B · breast^B · dilate^C · fate^C · throng^D · song^D · chose^E · woes^E · bore^F · store^F · rebounds^G · sounds^G · descends^H · attends^H · wears^I · repairs^I · command^J · hand^J
21 AABBCCDD old^A · told^A · employ^B · joy^B · name^C · fame^C · sound^D · wound^D
22 --AABBCCDDEEFF--GG love · reprove · fire^A · inspire^A · choice^B · voice^B · ears^C · hears^C · strain^D · refrain^D · own^E · alone^E · gloom^F · doom^F · toil · beguile · free^G · me^G
23 AABBCC admires^A · retires^A · bounds^B · resounds^B · cries^C · eyes^C
24 --AABBCCDDEEFFGGHH--CC charms · warms · began^A · man^A · end^B · attend^B · profane^C · strain^C · feast^D · east^D · propose^E · disclose^E · court^F · resort^F · allows^G · carouse^G · decreed^H · bleed^H · jove · above · slain^C · stain^C
25 AABB--CC young^A · tongue^A · broke^B · spoke^B · affords · words · late^C · state^C
26 AABBCCDDEEFFGG replies^A · wise^A · resides^B · tides^B · desire^C · fire^C · sway^D · obey^D · night^E · right^E · plead^F · precede^F · reign^G · train^G
27 AABBCCDDEEFF alone^A · throne^A · possess^B · confess^B · invade^C · aid^C · withdrew^D · shew^D · grace^E · race^E · require^F · sire^F
28 AABB--CC replies^A · eyes^A · cheers^B · fears^B · obeys · seas · old^C · enroll'd^C
29 AABBCCDD--EEFFGGHHIIAAJJKKLLMM guest^A · request^A · lay^B · day^B · light^C · night^C · court^D · resort^D · join'd · inclined · repairs^E · bears^E · son^F · won^F · graced^G · chaste^G · strife^H · life^H · ends^I · attends^I · address'd^A · vest^A · disposed^J · reclosed^J · cord^K · restored^K · shade^L · weigh'd^L · knows^M · glows^M

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
The man for wisdom’s various arts renown’d,	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Long exercised in woes, O Muse! resound;	10	·/˘······/
Who, when his arms had wrought the destined fall	10	·······/˘·
Of sacred Troy, and razed her heaven-built wall,	10	·/˘····/··
Wandering from clime to clime, observant stray’d,	10	/˘····˘/˘·
Their manners noted, and their states survey’d,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
On stormy seas unnumber’d toils he bore,	10	·/˘·······
Safe with his friends to gain his natal shore:	10	·······/˘·
Vain toils! their impious folly dared to prey	11	···˘/˘/˘···
On herds devoted to the god of day;	10	··˘/˘·····
The god vindictive doom’d them never more	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
(Ah, men unbless’d!) to touch that natal shore.	10	·······/˘·
Oh, snatch some portion of these acts from fate,	10	···/˘·····
Celestial Muse! and to our world relate.	10	˘/˘···/·˘/
Now at their native realms the Greeks arrived;	10	···/˘···˘/
All who the wars of ten long years survived;	10	········˘/
And ’scaped the perils of the gulfy main.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Ulysses, sole of all the victor train,	10	˘/˘····/˘·
An exile from his dear paternal coast,	10	·/····˘/˘·
Deplored his absent queen and empire lost.	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
Calypso in her caves constrain’d his stay,	10	˘/····˘/··
With sweet, reluctant, amorous delay;	10	··˘/˘/˘˘˘/
In vain-for now the circling years disclose	10	·····/˘·˘/
The day predestined to reward his woes.	10	···/˘·˘/··
At length his Ithaca is given by fate,	10	···/˘˘·/··
Where yet new labours his arrival wait;	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
At length their rage the hostile powers restrain,	10	·····/˘/˘/
All but the ruthless monarch of the main.	10	···/˘/····
But now the god, remote, a heavenly guest,	10	····˘/·/˘·
In Æthiopia graced the genial feast	9	····˘·/˘·
(A race divided, whom with sloping rays	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
The rising and descending sun surveys);	10	·/˘·˘/˘·˘/
There on the world’s extremest verge revered	10	····˘/˘·˘/
With hecatombs and prayer in pomp preferr’d,	10	········˘/
Distant he lay: while in the bright abodes	10	/˘······˘/
Of high Olympus, Jove convened the gods:	10	··˘/˘·˘/··
The assembly thus the sire supreme address’d,	11	·˘/˘··/˘/˘/
AEgysthus’ fate revolving in his breast,	10	····˘/˘···
Whom young Orestes to the dreary coast	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Of Pluto sent, a blood-polluted ghost.	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
“Perverse mankind! whose wills, created free,	10	˘///··˘/˘·
Charge all their woes on absolute degree;	10	·····/˘·˘/
All to the dooming gods their guilt translate,	10	···/˘···˘/
And follies are miscall’d the crimes of fate.	10	·/˘·······
When to his lust AEgysthus gave the rein,	10	··········
Did fate, or we, the adulterous act constrain?	11	·····˘/˘·˘/
Did fate, or we, when great Atrides died,	10	··········
Urge the bold traitor to the regicide?	10	···/˘··/˘˘
Hermes I sent, while yet his soul remain’d	10	/˘······˘/
Sincere from royal blood, and faith profaned;	10	˘/·/˘···˘/
To warn the wretch, that young Orestes, grown	10	······˘/˘·
To manly years, should re-assert the throne.	10	·/˘···˘/··
Yet, impotent of mind, and uncontroll’d,	10	·/˘˘····˘/
He plunged into the gulf which Heaven foretold.”	10	·······/˘/
Here paused the god; and pensive thus replies	10	·····/˘·˘/
Minerva, graceful with her azure eyes:	10	˘/˘/˘··/˘·
“O thou! from whom the whole creation springs,	10	······˘/˘·
The source of power on earth derived to kings!	10	···/··˘/··
His death was equal to the direful deed;	10	···/˘··/˘·
So may the man of blood be doomed to bleed!	10	··········
But grief and rage alternate wound my breast	10	····/˘····
For brave Ulysses, still by fate oppress’d.	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Amidst an isle, around whose rocky shore	10	˘/·····/˘·
The forests murmur, and the surges roar,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
The blameless hero from his wish’d-for home	10	·/˘/˘·····
A goddess guards in her enchanted dome;	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
(Atlas her sire, to whose far-piercing eye	10	/˘·/···/˘·
The wonders of the deep expanded lie;	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
The eternal columns which on earth he rears	11	·˘/˘/˘·····
End in the starry vault, and prop the spheres).	10	···/˘·····
By his fair daughter is the chief confined,	10	···/˘···˘/
Who soothes to dear delight his anxious mind;	10	····˘/·/˘·
Successless all her soft caresses prove,	10	˘/˘···˘/˘·
To banish from his breast his country’s love;	10	·/˘····/˘·
To see the smoke from his loved palace rise,	10	·······/˘·
While the dear isle in distant prospect lies,	10	·····/˘/˘·
With what contentment could he close his eyes!	10	··˘/˘·····
And will Omnipotence neglect to save	10	··˘/˘˘˘/··
The suffering virtue of the wise and brave?	10	·/˘/˘·····
Must he, whose altars on the Phrygian shore	10	···/˘··/˘·
With frequent rites, and pure, avow’d thy power,	11	·/˘···˘/·/˘
Be doom’d the worst of human ills to prove,	10	·····/˘···
Unbless’d, abandon’d to the wrath of Jove?”	10	··˘/˘·····
“Daughter! what words have pass’d thy lips unweigh’d!	10	/˘········
(Replied the Thunderer to the martial maid;)	11	˘/·/˘˘··/˘·
Deem not unjustly by my doom oppress’d,	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Of human race the wisest and the best.	10	·/˘··/˘···
Neptune, by prayer repentant rarely won,	10	/˘··˘/˘/˘·
Afflicts the chief, to avenge his giant son,	11	˘/···˘/·/˘·
Whose visual orb Ulysses robb’d of light;	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
Great Polypheme, of more than mortal might?	10	·······/˘·
Him young Thousa bore (the bright increase	9	·······˘/
Of Phorcys, dreaded in the sounds and seas);	10	···/˘·····
Whom Neptune eyed with bloom of beauty bless’d,	10	·/˘····/˘·
And in his cave the yielding nymph compress’d	10	·····/˘·˘/
For this the god constrains the Greek to roam,	10	····˘/····
A hopeless exile from his native home,	10	·/˘/···/˘·
From death alone exempt—but cease to mourn;	10	··˘/˘/····
Let all combine to achieve his wish’d return;	11	··/˘·˘/··˘/
Neptune atoned, his wrath shall now refrain,	10	/˘˘/····˘/
Or thwart the synod of the gods in vain.”	10	···/˘·····
“Father and king adored!” Minerva cried,	10	/˘··˘/˘/˘·
“Since all who in the Olympian bower reside	11	·····˘/˘/˘/
Now make the wandering Greek their public care,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Let Hermes to the Atlantic isle repair;	11	·/˘··˘/˘·˘/
Bid him, arrived in bright Calypso’s court,	10	··˘/··˘/··
The sanction of the assembled powers report:	11	·/˘··˘/˘/˘/
That wise Ulysses to his native land	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Must speed, obedient to their high command.	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Meantime Telemachus, the blooming heir	10	/······/˘·
Of sea-girt Ithaca, demands my care;	10	···/˘˘˘/··
’Tis mine to form his green, unpractised years	10	··········
In sage debates; surrounded with his peers,	10	··˘/˘/˘···
To save the state, and timely to restrain	10	·····/˘·˘/
The bold intrusion of the suitor-train;	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Who crowd his palace, and with lawless power	11	···/˘··/˘/˘
His herds and flocks in feastful rites devour.	11	·····/˘·˘/˘
To distant Sparta, and the spacious waste	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Of Sandy Pyle, the royal youth shall haste.	10	·/˘··/˘···
There, warm with filial love, the cause inquire	10	···/˘···˘/
That from his realm retards his god-like sire;	11	····˘/···/˘
Delivering early to the voice of fame	10	˘/˘/˘·····
The promise of a green immortal name.”	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
She said: the sandals of celestial mould,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Fledged with ambrosial plumes, and rich with gold,	10	··˘/˘·····
Surround her feet: with these sublime she sails	10	˘/····˘/··
The aërial space, and mounts the winged gales;	10	········˘·
O’er earth and ocean wide prepared to soar,	10	···/˘·˘/··
Her dreaded arm a beamy javelin bore,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Ponderous and vast: which, when her fury burns,	10	/˘·····/˘·
Proud tyrants humbles, and whole hosts o’erturns.	10	·/˘/˘·····
From high Olympus prone her flight she bends,	10	··˘/˘·····
And in the realms of Ithaca descends,	10	·····/˘˘˘/
Her lineaments divine, the grave disguise	10	····˘/··˘/
Of Mentes’ form conceal’d from human eyes	9	···˘/·/˘·
(Mentes, the monarch of the Taphian land);	9	··/······
A glittering spear waved awful in her hand.	10	·/˘··/˘···
There in the portal placed, the heaven-born maid	10	···/˘··/··
Enormous riot and misrule survey’d.	10	˘/˘/˘·˘/˘/
On hides of beeves, before the palace gate	10	·······/˘·
(Sad spoils of luxury), the suitors sate.	10	···/˘˘·/˘·
With rival art, and ardour in their mien,	10	·/˘··/˘···
At chess they vie, to captivate the queen;	10	·····/˘···
Divining of their loves. Attending nigh,	10	˘/˘···˘/˘·
A menial train the flowing bowl supply.	10	·/˘˘··/·˘/
Others, apart, the spacious hall prepare,	10	/˘˘/·/˘·˘/
And form the costly feast with busy care.	10	···/˘··/˘·
There young Telemachus, his bloomy face	10	·······/˘·
Glowing celestial sweet, with godlike grace	10	/˘˘/˘··/˘·
Amid the circle shines: but hope and fear	10	˘/·/˘·····
(Painful vicissitude!) his bosom tear.	10	/˘·/˘˘·/˘·
Now, imaged in his mind, he sees restored	10	·/˘·····˘/
In peace and joy the people’s rightful lord;	10	·····/˘/˘·
The proud oppressors fly the vengeful sword.	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
While his fond soul these fancied triumphs swell’d,	10	·····/˘/˘·
The stranger guest the royal youth beheld;	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Grieved that a visitant so long should wait	10	···/˘˘····
Unmark’d, unhonour’d, at a monarch’s gate;	10	˘/·····/··
Instant he flew with hospitable haste,	10	/˘···//˘˘·
And the new friend with courteous air embraced.	10	·····/˘·˘/
“Stranger, whoe’er thou art, securely rest,	10	/˘····˘/˘·
Affianced in my faith, a ready guest;	10	··˘····/˘·
Approach the dome, the social banquet share,	10	˘/···/˘/˘·
And then the purpose of thy soul declare.”	10	···/˘···˘/
Thus affable and mild, the prince precedes,	10	·/˘˘····˘/
And to the dome the unknown celestial leads.	11	·····˘/˘/˘·
The spear receiving from the hand, he placed	10	··˘/˘·····
Against a column, fair with sculpture graced;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Where seemly ranged in peaceful order stood	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Ulysses’ arms now long disused to blood.	10	˘/˘···˘/··
He led the goddess to the sovereign seat,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Her feet supported with a stool of state	10	··˘/˘·····
(A purple carpet spread the pavement wide);	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Then drew his seat, familiar, to her side;	10	····˘/˘···
Far from the suitor-train, a brutal crowd,	10	···/˘··/˘·
With insolence, and wine, elate and loud:	10	·/˘˘··˘/··
Where the free guest, unnoted, might relate,	10	········˘/
If haply conscious, of his father’s fate.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
The golden ewer a maid obsequious brings,	11	·/˘/˘··˘/˘·
Replenish’d from the cool, translucent springs;	10	˘/˘···˘/˘·
With copious water the bright vase supplies	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
A silver laver of capacious size;	10	·/˘/˘·˘/˘·
They wash. The tables in fair order spread,	10	···/˘··/˘·
They heap the glittering canisters with bread:	10	···/˘/˘˘··
Viands of various kinds allure the taste,	10	···/˘·˘/··
Of choicest sort and savour, rich repast!	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Delicious wines the attending herald brought;	11	˘/˘··˘/˘/˘·
The gold gave lustre to the purple draught.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Lured with the vapour of the fragrant feast,	10	···/˘··/˘·
In rush’d the suitors with voracious haste;	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Marshall’d in order due, to each a sewer	11	/˘·/˘····/˘
Presents, to bathe his hands, a radiant ewer.	11	˘/·····/˘/˘
Luxurious then they feast. Observant round	10	˘/˘···˘/˘·
Gay stripling youths the brimming goblets crown’d.	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
The rage of hunger quell’d, they all advance	10	···/˘···˘/
And form to measured airs the mazy dance;	10	···/˘··/˘·
To Phemius was consign’d the chorded lyre,	10	····˘/·/˘·
Whose hand reluctant touch’d the warbling wire;	10	··˘/˘··/˘/
Phemius, whose voice divine could sweetest sing	10	····˘/·/˘·
High strains responsive to the vocal string.	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Meanwhile, in whispers to his heavenly guest	10	/··/˘··/˘·
His indignation thus the prince express’d:	10	··˘/˘···˘/
“Indulge my rising grief, whilst these (my friend)	10	˘/·/˘·····
With song and dance the pompous revel end.	10	·····/˘/˘·
Light is the dance, and doubly sweet the lays,	10	·····/˘···
When for the dear delight another pays.	10	····˘/˘/˘·
His treasured stores those cormarants consume,	10	·/˘·····˘/
Whose bones, defrauded of a regal tomb	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
And common turf, lie naked on the plain,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Or doom’d to welter in the whelming main.	10	···/˘·····
Should he return, that troop so blithe and bold,	10	··˘/······
With purple robes inwrought, and stiff with gold,	10	·/˘·˘/····
Precipitant in fear would wing their flight,	10	˘/˘˘······
And curse their cumbrous pride’s unwieldy weight.	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
But ah, I dream!-the appointed hour is fled.	11	·····˘/˘/··
And hope, too long with vain delusion fed,	10	······˘/˘·
Deaf to the rumour of fallacious fame,	10	····˘·˘/˘·
Gives to the roll of death his glorious name!	10	·······/˘·
With venial freedom let me now demand	11	·/˘˘/˘···˘/
Thy name, thy lineage, and paternal land;	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Sincere from whence began thy course, recite,	10	˘/··˘/··˘/
And to what ship I owe the friendly freight?	10	·······/˘·
Now first to me this visit dost thou deign,	10	·····/˘···
Or number’d in my father’s social train?	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
All who deserved his choice he made his own,	10	··˘/······
And, curious much to know, he far was known.”	10	·/˘·······
“My birth I boast (the blue-eyed virgin cries)	10	·······/˘·
From great Anchialus, renown’d and wise;	9	·····˘/··
Mentes my name; I rule the Taphian race,	9	·········
Whose bounds the deep circumfluent waves embrace;	10	········˘/
A duteous people, and industrious isle,	11	·/˘˘/˘·˘/˘·
To naval arts inured, and stormy toil.	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
Freighted with iron from my native land,	10	/˘·/˘··/˘·
I steer my voyage to the Brutian strand	10	···/˘·····
To gain by commerce, for the labour’d mass,	10	···/˘·····
A just proportion of refulgent brass.	10	··˘/˘·˘/˘·
Far from your capital my ship resides	10	···/˘˘··˘/
At Reitorus, and secure at anchor rides;	11	·····˘/·/˘·
Where waving groves on airy Neign grow,	9	·/˘··/˘··
Supremely tall and shade the deeps below.	10	˘/˘·······
Thence to revisit your imperial dome,	10	··˘/˘·˘/˘·
An old hereditary guest I come;	10	··˘/˘·˘···
Your father’s friend. Laertes can relate	10	·/˘·····˘/
Our faith unspotted, and its early date;	10	/·˘/˘··/˘·
Who, press’d with heart-corroding grief and years,	10	····˘/˘···
To the gay court a rural shed prefers,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Where, sole of all his train, a matron sage	10	·······/˘·
Supports with homely fond his drooping age,	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
With feeble steps from marshalling his vines	10	·/˘··/˘˘··
Returning sad, when toilsome day declines.	10	˘/˘··/˘·˘/
“With friendly speed, induced by erring fame,	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
To hail Ulysses’ safe return I came;	10	··˘/˘·˘/··
But still the frown of some celestial power	11	······˘/˘/˘
With envious joy retards the blissful hour.	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘/
Let not your soul be sunk in sad despair;	10	········˘/
He lives, he breathes this heavenly vital air,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Among a savage race, whose shelfy bounds	10	···/˘··/˘·
With ceaseless roar the foaming deep surrounds.	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
The thoughts which roll within my ravish’d breast,	10	··········
To me, no seer, the inspiring gods suggest;	11	·····˘/˘·˘/
Nor skill’d nor studious, with prophetic eye	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
To judge the winged omens of the sky.	10	····˘/˘···
Yet hear this certain speech, nor deem it vain;	10	···/˘·····
Though adamantine bonds the chief restrain,	10	········˘/
The dire restraint his wisdom will defeat,	10	··˘/·/˘·˘/
And soon restore him to his regal seat.	10	··˘/···/˘·
But generous youth! sincere and free declare,	10	·/˘·˘/··˘/
Are you, of manly growth, his royal heir?	10	···/˘··/˘·
For sure Ulysses in your look appears,	10	··˘/˘···˘/
The same his features, if the same his years.	10	···/˘·····
Such was that face, on which I dwelt with joy	10	··········
Ere Greece assembled stemm’d the tides to Troy;	10	··˘/˘·····
But, parting then for that detested shore,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Our eyes, unhappy never greeted more.”	10	/·˘/˘/˘/˘·
“To prove a genuine birth (the prince replies)	10	···/˘···˘/
On female truth assenting faith relies.	10	·/··˘/˘·˘/
Thus manifest of right, I build my claim	10	·/˘·······
Sure-founded on a fair maternal fame,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Ulysses’ son: but happier he, whom fate	10	˘/˘··/˘···
Hath placed beneath the storms which toss the great!	10	··········
Happier the son, whose hoary sire is bless’d	10	/˘···/˘/··
With humble affluence, and domestic rest!	10	·/˘/˘·˘/˘·
Happier than I, to future empire born,	10	/˘···/˘/˘·
But doom’d a father’s wretch’d fate to mourn!”	10	···/˘/˘···
To whom, with aspect mild, the guest divine:	10	···/····˘/
“Oh true descendant of a sceptred line!	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
The gods a glorious fate from anguish free	10	···/˘··/˘·
To chaste Penelope’s increase decree.	10	··˘/˘˘˘/˘/
But say, yon jovial troops so gaily dress’d,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Is this a bridal or a friendly feast?	10	···/˘··/˘·
Or from their deed I rightlier may divine,	10	········˘/
Unseemly flown with insolence and wine?	10	˘/˘··/˘˘··
Unwelcome revellers, whose lawless joy	10	˘/˘/˘˘·/˘·
Pains the sage ear, and hurts the sober eye.”	10	·······/˘·
“Magnificence of old (the prince replied)	10	˘/˘˘····˘/
Beneath our roof with virtue could reside;	10	··/··/˘·˘/
Unblamed abundance crowned the royal board,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
What time this dome revered her prudent lord;	10	····˘/·/˘·
Who now (so Heaven decrees) is doom’d to mourn,	10	···/˘/····
Bitter constraint, erroneous and forlorn.	10	/˘˘/˘/˘·˘/
Better the chief, on Ilion’s hostile plain,	10	/˘·····˘/·
Had fall’n surrounded with his warlike train;	10	··˘/˘··/··
Or safe return’d, the race of glory pass’d,	10	··˘/···/˘·
New to his friends’ embrace, and breathed his last!	10	····˘/····
Then grateful Greece with streaming eyes would raise,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Historic marbles to record his praise;	10	˘/˘/˘·˘/··
His praise, eternal on the faithful stone,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Had with transmissive honour graced his son.	10	··˘/˘/˘···
Now snatch’d by harpies to the dreary coast.	9	······/˘·
Sunk is the hero, and his glory lost;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Vanish’d at once! unheard of, and unknown!	10	/˘··˘/··˘/
And I his heir in misery alone.	10	·····/˘˘˘/
Nor for a dear lost father only flow	10	·····/˘/˘·
The filial tears, but woe succeeds to woe	10	·/˘···˘/··
To tempt the spouseless queen with amorous wiles	10	···/˘··/˘·
Resort the nobles from the neighbouring isles;	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
From Samos, circled with the Ionian main,	12	·/˘/˘··˘/˘˘·
Dulichium, and Zacynthas’ sylvan reign;	10	·······/˘·
Ev’n with presumptuous hope her bed to ascend,	11	··˘/˘····˘/
The lords of Ithaca their right pretend.	10	···/˘˘··˘/
She seems attentive to their pleaded vows,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Her heart detesting what her ear allows.	10	··˘/˘···˘/
They, vain expectants of the bridal hour,	11	··˘/˘··/˘/˘
My stores in riotous expense devour.	11	···/˘˘˘/˘/˘
In feast and dance the mirthful months employ,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And meditate my doom to crown their joy.”	10	·/˘·······
With tender pity touch’d, the goddess cried:	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
“Soon may kind Heaven a sure relief provide,	10	···/··˘/˘/
Soon may your sire discharge the vengeance due,	10	···/˘/·/˘·
And all your wrongs the proud oppressors rue!	10	······˘/˘·
Oh! in that portal should the chief appear,	10	···/˘···˘/
Each hand tremendous with a brazen spear,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
In radiant panoply his limbs incased	11	·/˘˘/˘˘··/˘
(For so of old my father’s court he graced,	10	·····/˘···
When social mirth unbent his serious soul,	10	·/˘····/˘·
O’er the full banquet, and the sprightly bowl);	10	···/˘··/˘·
He then from Ephyre, the fair domain	9	·······˘/
Of Ilus, sprung from Jason’s royal strain,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Measured a length of seas, a toilsome length, in vain.	12	/˘·····/˘···
For, voyaging to learn the direful art	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
To taint with deadly drugs the barbed dart;	10	···/˘···˘·
Observant of the gods, and sternly just,	10	˘/˘····/˘·
Ilus refused to impart the baneful trust;	11	··˘/·˘/·/˘·
With friendlier zeal my father’s soul was fired,	10	·/˘··/˘··/
The drugs he knew, and gave the boon desired.	11	········˘/˘
Appear’d he now with such heroic port,	10	˘/····˘/˘·
As then conspicuous at the Taphian court;	10	··˘/˘·····
Soon should yon boasters cease their haughty strife,	10	·······/˘·
Or each atone his guilty love with life.	10	··˘/·/˘···
But of his wish’d return the care resign,	10	····˘/··˘/
Be future vengeance to the powers divine.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘/
My sentence hear: with stern distaste avow’d,	10	·/˘···˘/˘/
To their own districts drive the suitor-crowd;	10	···/˘··/˘·
When next the morning warms the purple east,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Convoke the peerage, and the gods attest;	10	˘/·/˘···˘/
The sorrows of your inmost soul relate;	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And form sure plans to save the sinking state.	10	·······/˘·
Should second love a pleasing flame inspire,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And the chaste queen connubial rights require;	11	····˘/˘˘··/
Dismiss’d with honour, let her hence repair	10	˘/·/˘···˘/
To great Icarius, whose paternal care	10	······˘/˘·
Will guide her passion, and reward her choice	10	···/˘·˘/··
With wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price.	10	·/˘··/˘···
Then let this dictate of my love prevail:	10	···/····˘/
Instant, to foreign realms prepare to sail,	10	/˘·/˘·˘/··
To learn your father’s fortunes; Fame may prove,	10	···/˘/˘···
Or omen’d voice (the messenger of Jove),	10	·····/˘˘··
Propitious to the search. Direct your toil	10	˘/˘···˘/··
Through the wide ocean first to sandy Pyle;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Of Nestor, hoary sage, his doom demand:	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
Thence speed your voyage to the Spartan strand;	10	···/˘··/˘·
For young Atrides to the Achaian coast	10	··········
Arrived the last of all the victor host.	10	˘/·····/˘·
If yet Ulysses views the light, forbear,	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Till the fleet hours restore the circling year.	10	···/˘/·/˘·
But if his soul hath wing’d the destined flight,	10	·······/˘·
Inhabitant of deep disastrous night;	10	˘/˘˘··˘/˘·
Homeward with pious speed repass the main,	10	/˘·/˘·˘/··
To the pale shade funereal rites ordain,	11	····˘/˘˘·˘/
Plant the fair column o’er the vacant grave,	10	···/˘··/˘·
A hero’s honours let the hero have.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
With decent grief the royal dead deplored,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
For the chaste queen select an equal lord.	10	····˘/·/˘·
Then let revenge your daring mind employ,	10	··˘/·/˘·˘/
By fraud or force the suitor train destroy,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And starting into manhood, scorn the boy.	10	·/˘··/····
Hast thou not heard how young Orestes, fired	11	······˘/˘/˘
With great revenge, immortal praise acquired?	11	··˘/˘/˘·˘/˘
His virgin-sword AEgysthus’ veins imbrued;	10	·/˘······˘
The murderer fell, and blood atoned for blood.	10	·/˘···˘/··
O greatly bless’d with every blooming grace!	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
With equal steps the paths of glory trace;	10	·/˘····/˘·
Join to that royal youth’s your rival name,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And shine eternal in the sphere of fame.	10	··˘/˘·····
But my associates now my stay deplore,	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Impatient on the hoarse-resounding shore.	10	˘/˘···˘/˘·
Thou, heedful of advice, secure proceed;	10	·/˘·˘/˘/˘/
My praise the precept is, be thine the deed.	10	···/······
“The counsel of my friend (the youth rejoin’d)	10	·/˘·····˘/
Imprints conviction on my grateful mind.	10	˘/˘/˘··/˘·

The first 400 of 558 lines; the reader marks them all.

Notes from the edition 10

Notes by Theodore Alois Buckley to Pope's Odyssey (Bohn, 1854), from an Internet Archive scan, placed on the lines they gloss.

Stanza 1, line 11 The limits. The limits necessitated by the dimensions of this volume have compelled me to be less diffuse in the illustration of the Odyssey, than of the Iliad. I have therefore omitted introducing parallel passages.
Stanza 1, line 1 The man. " The Odyssey or Ulysseid is a story exclusively concerning, and devoted to the honour of the one man Ulysses; every event is connected, all men are compared, with him; weeping or stern, patient or furious, silent
Stanza 8, line 8 Iris. Iris is, in the Odyssey, invested with the same symbols of office as Mercury in the. Iliad.
Stanza 8, line 25 Young Telemachus. " Telemachus is very skilfully drawn, so as to be always subordinate to Ms fatber, and yet sufficiently full of promise and opening prowess to justify bis beroic blood, and to give him a becoming eminence amongst the other characters of the poem: and when this is carried so far as to represent him a mere youth, on the point of bending a bow, which the suitors were unable to achieve, the real improbability is lost in a sense of poetical propriety, whilst, at the same time, his instantaneous submission to his father's nod replaces him in that relation of filial inferiority and obedience
Stanza 15, line 4 Chaste Penelope. "Penelope does not interest us in an equaldegree with her husband. She is chaste and prudent; but as Ulysses scruples not to accept the favours of Calypso and Circe, so she evidently goes considerable lengths in the way of coquetry with her suitors. Antinous declares in public that she had made 'promises to every one of them, and had sent messages to them: she undoubtedly wishes earnestly for her husband's return, and seems sincere in her dislike of the prospect of a second marriage; nevertheless, she is not insensible to the charm of being admired and courted, and does not appear very seriously angry at the boldness of Antinous and others, to which, it should seem, she might have put a stop by removing to her father's house,, as Telemac thus repeatedly hints she ought to do, and then choosing or refusing a husband as she pleased. She permits the constant spoil and dilapidation of her husband's or son's substance, and even the life of the latter to be perpetually exposed to the violence and hostility of men whom, according to their frequent professions, she had the means of leading in another direction." — Coleridge, p. 257.
Stanza 16, line 24 Dulichium. The site of this island has never been satisfactorily ascertained. Some have identified it with Cephalema, an opinion which Strabo condemns. Dodwell thinks that it has probably been swallowed by an earth-
Stanza 17, line 11 Ephyre. Strabo thinks the Ephyre here mentioned was in Elis. Others placed it in Thesprotia.
Stanza 17, line 21 Taphian. The Taphian isles were in the Ionian Sea, between Achaia and Leucadia.
Stanza 17, line 43 Pyle. Nestor was born at a small village called Gerenus, near Pyle, in Elis.
Stanza 29, line 22 The duteous dame. There is much amusing simplicity in this pictui*e of ancient manners. The offices, however, performed by the chambermaids in some parts of Sweden, render the duties of Euryclea less strange, considering the heroic age, than would at first appear.

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