Book II: The Council of Ithaca

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

iambic pentameter · heroic couplets · 475 lines · from The Odyssey

Now reddening from the dawn, the morning rayGlow’d in the front of heaven, and gave the dayThe youthful hero, with returning light,Rose anxious from the inquietudes of night.A royal robe he wore with graceful pride,A two-edged falchion threaten’d by his side,Embroider’d sandals glitter’d as he trod,And forth he moved, majestic as a god.Then by his heralds, restless of delay,To council calls the peers: the peers obey.Soon as in solemn form the assembly sate,From his high dome himself descends in state.Bright in his hand a ponderous javelin shined;Two dogs, a faithful guard, attend behind;Pallas with grace divine his form improves,And gazing crowds admire him as he moves,

His father’s throne he fill’d; while distant stoodThe hoary peers, and aged wisdom bow’d.

’Twas silence all. At last AEgyptius spoke;AEgyptius, by his age and sorrow broke;A length of days his soul with prudence crown’d,A length of days had bent him to the ground.His eldest hope in arms to Ilion came,By great Ulysses taught the path to fame;But (hapless youth) the hideous Cyclops toreHis quivering limbs, and quaff’d his spouting gore.Three sons remain’d; to climb with haughty firesThe royal bed, Eurynomus aspires;The rest with duteous love his griefs assuage,And ease the sire of half the cares of age.Yet still his Antiphus he loves, he mourns,And, as he stood, he spoke and wept by turns,

“Since great Ulysses sought the Phrygian plains,Within these walls inglorious silence reigns.Say then, ye peers! by whose commands we meet?Why here once more in solemn council sit?Ye young, ye old, the weighty cause disclose:Arrives some message of invading foes?Or say, does high necessity of stateInspire some patriot, and demand debate?The present synod speaks its author wise;Assist him, Jove, thou regent of the skies!”

He spoke. Telemachus with transport glows,Embraced the omen, and majestic rose(His royal hand the imperial sceptre sway’d);Then thus, addressing to AEgyptius, said:

“Reverend old man! lo here confess’d he standsBy whom ye meet; my grief your care demands.No story I unfold of public woes,Nor bear advices of impending foes:Peace the blest land, and joys incessant crown:Of all this happy realm, I grieve alone.For my lost sire continual sorrows spring,The great, the good; your father and your king.Yet more; our house from its foundation bows,Our foes are powerful, and your sons the foes;Hither, unwelcome to the queen, they come;Why seek they not the rich Icarian dome?If she must wed, from other hands requireThe dowry: is Telemachus her sire?Yet through my court the noise of revel rings,And waste the wise frugality of kings.Scarce all my herds their luxury suffice;Scarce all my wine their midnight hours supplies.Safe in my youth, in riot still they grow,Nor in the helpless orphan dread a foe.But come it will, the time when manhood grantsMore powerful advocates than vain complaints.Approach that hour! insufferable wrongCries to the gods, and vengeance sleeps too long.Rise then, ye peers! with virtuous anger rise;Your fame revere, but most the avenging skies.By all the deathless powers that reign above,By righteous Themis and by thundering Jove(Themis, who gives to councils, or deniesSuccess; and humbles, or confirms the wise),Rise in my aid! suffice the tears that flowFor my lost sire, nor add new woe to woe.If e’er he bore the sword to strengthen ill,Or, having power to wrong, betray’d the will,On me, on me your kindled wrath assuage,And bid the voice of lawless riot rage.If ruin to your royal race ye doom,Be you the spoilers, and our wealth consume.Then might we hope redress from juster laws,And raise all Ithaca to aid our cause:But while your sons commit the unpunish’d wrong,You make the arm of violence too strong.”

While thus he spoke, with rage and grief he frown’d,And dash’d the imperial sceptre to the ground.The big round tear hung trembling in his eye:The synod grieved, and gave a pitying sigh,Then silent sate—at length Antinous burnsWith haughty rage, and sternly thus returns:

“O insolence of youth! whose tongue affordsSuch railing eloquence, and war of words.Studious thy country’s worthies to defame,Thy erring voice displays thy mother’s shame.Elusive of the bridal day, she givesFond hopes to all, and all with hopes deceives.Did not the sun, through heaven’s wide azure roll’d,For three long years the royal fraud behold?While she, laborious in delusion, spreadThe spacious loom, and mix’d the various thread:Where as to life the wondrous figures rise,Thus spoke the inventive queen, with artful sighs:

“Though cold in death Ulysses breathes no more,Cease yet awhile to urge the bridal hour:Cease, till to great Laertes I bequeathA task of grief, his ornaments of death.Lest when the Fates his royal ashes claim,The Grecian matrons taint my spotless fame;When he, whom living mighty realms obey’d,Shall want in death a shroud to grace his shade.’

“Thus she: at once the generous train complies,Nor fraud mistrusts in virtue’s fair disguise.The work she plied; but, studious of delay,By night reversed the labours of the day.While thrice the sun his annual journey made,The conscious lamp the midnight fraud survey’d;Unheard, unseen, three years her arts prevail;The fourth her maid unfolds the amazing tale.We saw, as unperceived we took our stand,The backward labours of her faithless hand.Then urged, she perfects her illustrious toils;A wondrous monument of female wiles!

“But you, O peers! and thou, O prince! give ear(I speak aloud, that every Greek may hear):Dismiss the queen; and if her sire approvesLet him espouse her to the peer she loves:Bid instant to prepare the bridal train,Nor let a race of princes wait in vain.Though with a grace divine her soul is blest,And all Minerva breathes within her breast,In wondrous arts than woman more renown’d,And more than woman with deep wisdom crown’d;Though Tyro nor Mycene match her name,Not great Alcmena (the proud boasts of fame);Yet thus by heaven adorn’d, by heaven’s decreeShe shines with fatal excellence, to thee:With thee, the bowl we drain, indulge the feast,Till righteous heaven reclaim her stubborn breast.What though from pole to pole resounds her name!The son’s destruction waits the mother’s fame:For, till she leaves thy court, it is decreed,Thy bowl to empty and thy flock to bleed.”

While yet he speaks, Telemachus replies:“Ev’n nature starts, and what ye ask denies.Thus, shall I thus repay a mother’s cares,Who gave me life, and nursed my infant years!While sad on foreign shores Ulysses treads.Or glides a ghost with unapparent shades;How to Icarius in the bridal hourShall I, by waste undone, refund the dower?How from my father should I vengeance dread!How would my mother curse my hated head!And while in wrath to vengeful fiends she cries,How from their hell would vengeful fiends arise!Abhorr’d by all, accursed my name would grow,The earth’s disgrace, and human-kind my foe.If this displease, why urge ye here your stay?Haste from the court, ye spoilers, haste away: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 flocks shall bleed;Judge, and assert my right, impartial Jove!By him, and all the immortal host above(A sacred oath), if heaven the power supply,Vengeance I vow, and for your wrongs ye die.”

With that, two eagles from a mountain’s heightBy Jove’s command direct their rapid flight;Swift they descend, with wing to wing conjoin’d,Stretch their broad plumes, and float upon the wind.Above the assembled peers they wheel on high,And clang their wings, and hovering beat the sky;With ardent eyes the rival train they threat,And shrieking loud denounce approaching fate.They cuff, they tear; their cheeks and neck they rend,And from their plumes huge drops of blood descend;Then sailing o’er the domes and towers, they fly,Full toward the east, and mount into the sky.

The wondering rivals gaze, with cares oppress’d,And chilling horrors freeze in every breast,Till big with knowledge of approaching woes,The prince of augurs, Halitherses, rose:Prescient he view’d the aërial tracks, and drewA sure presage from every wing that flew.

“Ye sons (he cried) of Ithaca, give ear;Hear all! but chiefly you, O rivals! hear.Destruction sure o’er all your heads impendsUlysses comes, and death his steps attends.Nor to the great alone is death decreed;We and our guilty Ithaca must bleed.Why cease we then the wrath of heaven to stay?Be humbled all, and lead, ye great! the way.For lo my words no fancied woes relate;I speak from science and the voice of fate.

“When great Ulysses sought the Phrygian shoresTo shake with war proud Ilion’s lofty towers,Deeds then undone my faithful tongue foretold:Heaven seal’d my words, and you those deeds behold.I see (I cried) his woes, a countless train;I see his friends o’erwhelm’d beneath the main;How twice ten years from shore to shore he roams:Now twice ten years are past, and now he comes!”

To whom Eurymachus—“Fly, dotard fly,With thy wise dreams, and fables of the sky.Go prophesy at home, thy sons advise:Here thou art sage in vain—I better read the skiesUnnumber’d birds glide through the aërial way;Vagrants of air, and unforeboding stray.Cold in the tomb, or in the deeps below,Ulysses lies; oh wert thou laid as low!Then would that busy head no broils suggest,For fire to rage Telemachus’ breast,From him some bribe thy venal tongue requires,And interest, not the god, thy voice inspires.His guideless youth, if thy experienced ageMislead fallacious into idle rage,Vengeance deserved thy malice shall repress.And but augment the wrongs thou would’st redress,Telemachus may bid the queen repairTo great Icarius, whose paternal careWill guide her passion, and reward her choiceWith wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price.Till she retires, determined we remain,And both the prince and augur threat in vain:His pride of words, and thy wild dream of fate,Move not the brave, or only move their hate,Threat on, O prince! elude the bridal day.Threat on, till all thy stores in waste decay.True, Greece affords a train of lovely dames,In wealth and beauty worthy of our flames:But never from this nobler suit we cease;For wealth and beauty less than virtue please.”

To whom the youth: “Since then in vain I tellMy numerous woes, in silence let them dwell.But Heaven, and all the Greeks, have heard my wrongs;To Heaven, and all the Greeks, redress belongs;Yet this I ask (nor be it ask’d in vain),A bark to waft me o’er the rolling main,The realms of Pyle and Sparta to explore,And seek my royal sire from shore to shore;If, or to fame his doubtful fate be known,Or to be learn’d from oracles alone,If yet he lives, with patience I forbear,Till the fleet hours restore the circling year;But if already wandering in the trainOf empty shades, I measure back the main,Plant the fair column o’er the mighty dead,And yield his consort to the nuptial bed.”

He ceased; and while abash’d the peers attend,Mentor arose, Ulysses’ faithful friend:(When fierce in arms he sought the scenes of war,“My friend (he cried), my palace be thy care;Years roll’d on years my godlike sire decay,Guard thou his age, and his behests obey.”)Stern as he rose, he cast his eyes around,That flash’d with rage; and as spoke, he frown’d,

“O never, never more let king be just,Be mild in power, or faithful to his trust!Let tyrants govern with an iron rod,Oppress, destroy, and be the scourge of God;Since he who like a father held his reign,So soon forgot, was just and mild in vain!True, while my friend is grieved, his griefs I share;Yet now the rivals are my smallest care:They for the mighty mischiefs they devise,Ere long shall pay—their forfeit lives the price.But against you, ye Greeks! ye coward train!Gods! how my soul is moved with just disdain!Dumb ye all stand, and not one tongue affordsHis injured prince the little aid of words.”

While yet he spoke, Leocritus rejoined:“O pride of words, and arrogance of mind!Would’st thou to rise in arms the Greeks advise?Join all your powers? in arms, ye Greeks, arise!Yet would your powers in vain our strength oppose.The valiant few o’ermatch a host of foes.Should great Ulysses stern appear in arms,While the bowl circles and the banquet warms;Though to his breast his spouse with transport flies,Torn from her breast, that hour, Ulysses dies.But hence retreating to your domes repair.To arm the vessel, Mentor! be thy care,And Halitherses! thine: be each his friend;Ye loved the father: go, the son attend.But yet, I trust, the boaster means to staySafe in the court, nor tempt the watery way.”

Then, with a rushing sound the assembly bendDiverse their steps: the rival rout ascendThe royal dome; while sad the prince exploresThe neighbouring main, and sorrowing treads the shores.There, as the waters o’er his hands he shed,The royal suppliant to Minerva pray’d:

“O goddess! who descending from the skiesVouchsafed thy presence to my wondering eyes,By whose commands the raging deeps I trace,And seek my sire through storms and rolling seas!Hear from thy heavens above, O warrior maid!Descend once more, propitious to my aid.Without thy presence, vain is thy command:Greece, and the rival train, thy voice withstand.”

Indulgent to his prayer, the goddess tookSage Mentor’s form, and thus like Mentor spoke:

“O prince, in early youth divinely wise,Born, the Ulysses of thy age to riseIf to the son the father’s worth descends,O’er the wide wave success thy ways attendsTo tread the walks of death he stood prepared;And what he greatly thought, he nobly dared.Were not wise sons descendant of the wise,And did not heroes from brave heroes rise,Vain were my hopes: few sons attain the praiseOf their great sires, and most their sires disgrace.But since thy veins paternal virtue fires,And all Penelope thy soul inspires,Go, and succeed: the rivals’ aims despise;For never, never wicked man was wise.Blind they rejoice, though now, ev’n now they fall;Death hastes amain: one hour o’erwhelms them all!And lo, with speed we plough the watery way;My power shall guard thee, and my hand convey:The winged vessel studious I prepare,Through seas and realms companion of thy care.Thou to the court ascend: and to the shores(When night advances) bear the naval stores;Bread, that decaying man with strength supplies,And generous wine, which thoughtful sorrow flies.Meanwhile the mariners, by my command,Shall speed aboard, a valiant chosen band.Wide o’er the bay, by vessel vessel rides;The best I choose to waft then o’er the tides.”

She spoke: to his high dome the prince returns,And, as he moves, with royal anguish mourns.’Twas riot all, among the lawless train;Boar bled by boar, and goat by goat lay slain.Arrived, his hand the gay Antinous press’d,And thus deriding, with a smile address’d:

“Grieve not, O daring prince! that noble heart;Ill suits gay youth the stern heroic part.Indulge the genial hour, unbend thy soul,Leave thought to age, and drain the flowing bowl.Studious to ease thy grief, our care providesThe bark, to waft thee o’er the swelling tides.”

“Is this (returns the prince) for mirth a time?When lawless gluttons riot, mirth’s a crime;The luscious wines, dishonour’d, lose their taste;The song is noise, and impious is the feast.Suffice it to have spent with swift decayThe wealth of kings, and made my youth a prey.But now the wise instructions of the sage,And manly thoughts inspired by manly age,Teach me to seek redress for all my woe,Here, or in Pyle—in Pyle, or here, your foe.Deny your vessels, ye deny in vain:A private voyager I pass the main.Free breathe the winds, and free the billows flow;And where on earth I live, I live your foe.”

He spoke and frown’d, nor longer deign’d to stay,Sternly his hand withdrew, and strode away.

Meantime, o’er all the dome, they quaff, they feast,Derisive taunts were spread from guest to guest,And each in jovial mood his mate address’d:

“Tremble ye not, O friends, and coward fly,Doom’d by the stern Telemachus to die?To Pyle or Sparta to demand supplies,Big with revenge, the mighty warrior flies;Or comes from Ephyre with poisons fraught,And kills us all in one tremendous draught!”

“Or who can say (his gamesome mate replies)But, while the danger of the deeps he triesHe, like his sire, may sink deprived of breath,And punish us unkindly by his death?What mighty labours would he then create,To seize his treasures, and divide his state,The royal palace to the queen convey,Or him she blesses in the bridal day!”

Meantime the lofty rooms the prince surveys,Where lay the treasures of the Ithacian race:Here ruddy brass and gold refulgent blazed;There polished chests embroider’d vestures graced;Here jars of oil breathed forth a rich perfume;There casks of wine in rows adorn’d the dome(Pure flavorous wine, by gods in bounty givenAnd worthy to exalt the feasts of heaven).Untouch’d they stood, till, his long labours o’er,The great Ulysses reach’d his native shore.A double strength of bars secured the gates;Fast by the door the wise Euryclea waits;Euryclea, who great Ops! thy lineage shared,And watch’d all night, all day, a faithful guard.

To whom the prince: “O thou whose guardian careNursed the most wretched king that breathes the air;Untouch’d and sacred may these vessels stand,Till great Ulysses views his native land.But by thy care twelve urns of wine be fill’d;Next these in worth, and firm these urns be seal’d;And twice ten measures of the choicest flourPrepared, ere yet descends the evening hour.For when the favouring shades of night arise,And peaceful slumbers close my mother’s eyes,Me from our coast shall spreading sails convey,To seek Ulysses through the watery way.”

While yet he spoke, she fill’d the walls with cries,And tears ran trickling from her aged eyes.“O whither, whither flies my son (she cried)To realms; that rocks and roaring seas divide?In foreign lands thy father’s days decay’d.And foreign lands contain the mighty dead.The watery way ill-fated if thou try,All, all must perish, and by fraud you die!Then stay, my, child! storms beat, and rolls the main,Oh, beat those storms, and roll the seas in vain!”

“Far hence (replied the prince) thy fears be driven:Heaven calls me forth; these counsels are of Heaven.But, by the powers that hate the perjured, swear,To keep my voyage from the royal ear,Nor uncompell’d the dangerous truth betray,Till twice six times descends the lamp of day,Lest the sad tale a mother’s life impair,And grief destroy what time awhile would spare.”

Thus he. The matron with uplifted eyesAttests the all-seeing sovereign of the skies.Then studious she prepares the choicest flour,The strength of wheat and wines an ample store.While to the rival train the prince returns,The martial goddess with impatience burns;Like thee, Telemachus, in voice and size,With speed divine from street to street she flies,She bids the mariners prepared to stand,When night descends, embodied on the strand.Then to Noëmon swift she runs, she flies,And asks a bark: the chief a bark supplies.

And now, declining with his sloping wheels,Down sunk the sun behind the western hillsThe goddess shoved the vessel from the shores,And stow’d within its womb the naval stores,Full in the openings of the spacious mainIt rides; and now descends the sailor-train,

Next, to the court, impatient of delay.With rapid step the goddess urged her way;There every eye with slumberous chains she bound,And dash’d the flowing goblet to the ground.Drowsy they rose, with heavy fumes oppress’d,Reel’d from the palace, and retired to rest.Then thus, in Mentor’s reverend form array’d,Spoke to Telemachus the martial maid.“Lo! on the seas, prepared the vessel stands,The impatient mariner thy speed demands.”Swift as she spoke, with rapid pace she leads;The footsteps of the deity he treads.Swift to the shore they move along the strand;The ready vessel rides, the sailors ready stand.

He bids them bring their stores; the attending trainLoad the tall bark, and launch into the main,The prince and goddess to the stern ascend;To the strong stroke at once the rowers bend.Full from the west she bids fresh breezes blow;The sable billows foam and roar below.The chief his orders gives; the obedient bandWith due observance wait the chief’s command;With speed the mast they rear, with speed unbindThe spacious sheet, and stretch it to the wind.High o’er the roaring waves the spreading sailsBow the tall mast, and swell before the gales;The crooked keel the parting surge divides,And to the stern retreating roll the tides.And now they ship their oars, and crown with wineThe holy goblet to the powers divine:Imploring all the gods that reign above,But chief the blue-eyed progeny of Jove.

Thus all the night they stem the liquid way,And end their voyage with the morning ray.

Words in this poem 93

falchion n.: A broad-bladed sword, slightly curved, shorter and lighter than the ordinary sword; -- used in the Middle Ages. [OE. fauchon, OF. fauchon, LL. fälcio, fr. L. falx, falcis, a sickle, cf. Gr. falcon; cf. It. falcione. Cf. Defalcation.]
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.]
pallas n.: Pallas Athene, the Grecian goddess of wisdom, called also Athene, and identified, at a later period, with the Roman Minerva.
admire v. t.: To regard with wonder or astonishment; to view with surprise; to marvel at. [F. admirer, fr. L. admirari; ad + mirari to wonder, for smirari, akin to Gr. smi, and E. smile.]
hoary a.: White or whitish."The hoary willows."
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.]
broke v. i.: To transact business for another. Brome. [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
hapless a.: Without hap or luck; luckless; unfortunate; unlucky; unhappy; as, hapless youth; hapless maid.
tore n.: The dead grass that remains on mowing land in winter and spring. Mortimer. [Probably from the root of tear; cf. W. tór a break, cut, tóri to break, cut.]
quaff v. t.: To drink with relish; to drink copiously of; to swallow in large draughts. [For quach, fr. Gael. & Ir. cuach a drinking cup; cf. L. caucus a drinking vessel. Cf. Quaigh.]
haughty a.: High; lofty; bold. [OE. hautein, F. hautain, fr. haut high, OF. also halt, fr. L. altus. See Altitude.]
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.]
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
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.]
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.]
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.]
reverend a.: Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; venerable. [F. révérend, L. reverendus, fr. revereri. See Revere.]
icarian a.: Soaring too high for safety, like Icarus; adventurous in flight.
dowry n.: A gift; endowment. [Contr. from dowery; cf. LL. dotarium. See Dower.]
scarce a.: Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
suffice v. i.: To be enough, or sufficient; to meet the need (of anything); to be equal to the end proposed; to be adequate. [OE. suffisen, OF. soufire, F. suffire (cf. suffisant, p.pr.), L. sufficere to put under, to substitute, to avail for, to suffice; sub under + facere to make. Se]
virtuous a.: Possessing or exhibiting virtue. Specifically: -- (a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [OE. vertuous, OF. vertuos, vertuous, F. vertueux, fr. L. Virtuous. See Virtue, and cf. Virtuoso.]
revere v. t.: To regard with reverence, or profound respect and affection, mingled with awe or fear; to venerate; to reverence; to honor in estimation. [L. revereri; pref. re- re- + vereri to fear, perh. akin to E. wary: cf. F. révérer.]
deathless a.: Not subject to death, destruction, or extinction; immortal; undying; imperishable; as, deathless beings; deathless fame.
themis n.: The goddess of law and order; the patroness of existing rights.
thundering a.: Emitting thunder.
humbles n.: Entrails of a deer. Johnson. [See Nombles.]
wealth n.: Weal; welfare; prosperity; good. [OE. welthe, from wele; cf. D. weelde luxury. See Weal prosperity.]
pitying a.: Expressing pity; as, a pitying eye, glance, or word.
sternly adv.: In a stern manner.
insolence n.: The quality of being unusual or novel. [F. insolence, L. insolentia. See Insolent.]
elusive a.: Tending to elude; using arts or deception to escape; adroitly escaping or evading; eluding the grasp; fallacious.
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
artful a.: Performed with, or characterized by, art or skill. [From Art.]
awhile adv.: For a while; for some time; for a short time. [Adj. a + while time, interval.]
bequeath v. t.: To give or leave by will; to give by testament; -- said especially of personal property. [OE. biquethen, AS. becwe to say, affirm, bequeath; pref. be- + cwe to say, speak. See Quoth.]
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,]
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.]
unheard a.: Not heard; not perceived by the ear; as, words unheard by those present.
unseen a.: Not seen or discovered.
amazing a.: Causing amazement; very wonderful; as, amazing grace.
aloud adv.: With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly. [Pref. a- + loud.]
espouse v. t.: To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse. [OF. espouser, esposer, F. épouser, L. sponsare to betroth, espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p. of spondere to promise solemnly or sacredly. Cf. Spouse.]
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.]
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.]
undone a.: Not done or performed; neglected. [Pref. un- not + done.]
refund v. t.: To fund again or anew; to replace (a fund or loan) by a new fund; as, to refund a railroad loan. [Pref. re- + fund.]
vengeful a.: Vindictive; retributive; revengeful.
displease v. i.: To give displeasure or offense.
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.]
clang v. t.: To strike together so as to produce a ringing metallic sound. [L. clangere; akin to Gr. clank.]
denounce v. t.: To make known in a solemn or official manner; to declare; to proclaim (especially an evil). [F. dénoncer, OF. denoncier, fr. L. denuntiare, denunciare; de- + nunciare, nuntiare, to announce, report, nuntius a messenger, message. See Nuncio, and cf. Denu]
cuff v. t.: To strike; esp., to smite with the palm or flat of the hand; to slap. [Cf. Sw. kuffa to knock, push,kufva to check, subdue, and E. cow, v. t.]
prescient a.: Having knowledge of coming events; foreseeing; conscious beforehand. [L. praesciens, -entis, p. pr. of praescire to foreknow; prae before + scire to know: cf. F. prescient. See Science.]
countless a.: Incapable of being counted; not ascertainable; innumerable.
bribe n.: A gift begged; a present. [F. bribe a lump of bread, scraps, leavings of meals (that are generally given to a beggar), LL. briba scrap of bread; cf. OF. briber, brifer, to eat gluttonousl]
guideless a.: Without a guide.
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
waft v. t.: To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon. [Prob. originally imp. & p. p. of wave, v. t. See Wave to waver.]
explore v. t.: To seek for or after; to strive to attain by search; to look wisely and carefully for. [L. explorare to explore; ex out+plorare to cry out aloud,prob. orig., to cause to flow; perh. akin to E. flow: cf. F. explorer.]
mentor n.: A wise and faithful counselor or monitor. [From Mentor, the counselor of Telemachus, Gr. Monitor.]
scourge n.: A lash; a strap or cord; especially, a lash used to inflict pain or punishment; an instrument of punishment or discipline; a whip. [F. escourgée, fr. L. excoriata (sc. scutica) a stripped off (lash or whip), fr. excoriate to strip, to skin. See Excoriate.]
valiant a.: Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant, valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L. valere to be strong. See Wield, and cf. Avail, Convalesce, ]
spouse v. t.: To wed; to espouse. [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.]
neighbouring a.: Living or being near; adjacent; as, the neighboring nations or countries.
suppliant a.: Asking earnestly and submissively; entreating; beseeching; supplicating. [F., p.pr. of supplier to entreat, L. supplicare. See Supplicate, and cf. Supplicant.]
nobly adv.: Of noble extraction; as, nobly born or descended.
penelope n.: A genus of curassows, including the guans.
despise v. t.: To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of. [OF. despis-, in some forms of despire to despise, fr. L. despicere, despectum, to look down upon, despise; de- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy, and cf. Des]
amain adv.: With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly. [Pref. a- + main. See 2d Main, n.]
meanwhile n.: The intervening time; as, in the meantime (or mean time).
aboard adv.: On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence, into or within a railway car. [Pref. a- on, in + board.]
genial a.: Contributing to, or concerned in, propagation or production; generative; procreative; productive. [L. genialis: cf. OF. genial. See Genius.]
unbend v. t.: To free from flexure; to make, or allow to become, straight; to loosen; as, to unbend a bow. [1st pref. un- + bend.]
luscious a.: Sweet; delicious; very grateful to the taste; toothsome; excessively sweet or rich. [Prob. for lustious, fr. lusty, or perh. a corruption of luxurious. Cf. Lush, Lusty.]
dishonour n.: Lack of honor; disgrace; ignominy; shame; reproach. [OE. deshonour, dishonour, OF. deshonor, deshonur, F. déshonneur; pref. des- (L. dis-) + honor, honur, F. honneur, fr. L. honor. See Honor.]
voyager n.: One who voyages; one who sails or passes by sea or water. [Cf. F. voyager traveling.]
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]
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.]
fraught n.: A freight; a cargo. [OE.fraight, fraght; akin to Dan. fragt, Sw. frakt, D. vracht, G. fracht, cf. OHG. fr merit, reward; perh. from corresponding to E. for + The root of E. own. Cf.]
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.]
gamesome a.: Gay; sportive; playful; frolicsome; merry.
unkindly a.: Not kindly; unkind; ungracious.
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.]
graced a.: Endowed with grace; beautiful; full of graces; honorable.
flavorous a.: Imparting flavor; pleasant to the taste or smell; sapid.
bounty n.: Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth. [OE. bounte goodness, kindness, F. bonté, fr. L. bonitas, fr. bonus good, for older duonus; cf. Skr. duvas honor, respect.]
whither adv.: To what place; -- used interrogatively; as, whither goest thou [OE. whider. AS. hwider; akin to E. where, who; cf. Goth. hvadre whither. See Who, and cf. Hither, Thither.]
perjured a.: Guilty of perjury; having sworn falsely; forsworn.
womb n.: The belly; the abdomen. [OE. wombe, wambe, AS. wamb, womb; akin to D. wam belly, OS. & OHG. wamba, G. wamme, wampe, Icel. vömb, Sw. v&mb, Dan. vom, Goth. wamba.]
slumberous a.: Inviting slumber; soporiferous.
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.]
imploring a.: That implores; beseeching; entreating.

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

About this text

Book II: The Council of 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 II: The Council of Ithaca, in The Odyssey (1726), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #3160, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/homer-odyssey/book-ii-the-council-of-ithaca.html, id L14038.

Form and metre

Book II: The Council of Ithaca is 475 lines in 41 verse paragraphs. It is in rhyming couplets, 79% of the lines: heroic couplets. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 89%). 96% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.1 syllables. 15 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 13% 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 AABBCCDDAAEEFFGG ray^A · day^A · light^B · night^B · pride^C · side^C · trod^D · god^D · delay^A · obey^A · sate^E · state^E · shined^F · behind^F · improves^G · moves^G
3 AABBCCDDEEFF-- spoke^A · broke^A · crown'd^B · ground^B · came^C · fame^C · tore^D · gore^D · fires^E · aspires^E · assuage^F · age^F · mourns · turns
4 AA--BBCCDD plains^A · reigns^A · meet · sit · disclose^B · foes^B · state^C · debate^C · wise^D · skies^D
5 AA-- glows^A · rose^A · sway'd · said
6 AABB--CC--DDEEFF--GG--HHII--IIJJKKLLMM--NN stands^A · demands^A · woes^B · foes^B · crown · alone · spring^C · king^C · bows · foes · come^D · dome^D · require^E · sire^E · rings^F · kings^F · suffice · supplies · grow^G · foe^G · grants · complaints · wrong^H · long^H · rise^I · skies^I · above · jove · denies^I · wise^I · flow^J · woe^J · ill^K · will^K · assuage^L · rage^L · doom^M · consume^M · laws · cause · wrong^N · strong^N
7 AABBCC frown'd^A · ground^A · eye^B · sigh^B · burns^C · returns^C
8 --AA--BBCCDD affords · words · defame^A · shame^A · gives · deceives · roll'd^B · behold^B · spread^C · thread^C · rise^D · sighs^D
9 ----AABB more · hour · bequeath · death · claim^A · fame^A · obey'd^B · shade^B
10 AABBCCDDEE-- complies^A · disguise^A · delay^B · day^B · made^C · survey'd^C · prevail^D · tale^D · stand^E · hand^E · toils · wiles
11 AA--BBCCDDEEFF-CEEGG ear^A · hear^A · approves · loves · train^B · vain^B · blest^C · breast^C · renown'd^D · crown'd^D · name^E · fame^E · decree^F · thee^F · feast · breast^C · name^E · fame^E · decreed^G · bleed^G
12 AA----BBCCAADDEEFFGG--HH replies^A · denies^A · cares · years · treads · shades · hour^B · dower^B · dread^C · head^C · cries^A · arise^A · grow^D · foe^D · stay^E · away^E · allows^F · carouse^F · decreed^G · bleed^G · jove · above · supply^H · die^H
13 AA--BB--CCBB height^A · flight^A · conjoin'd · wind · high^B · sky^B · threat · fate · rend^C · descend^C · fly^B · sky^B
14 AABBCC oppress'd^A · breast^A · woes^B · rose^B · drew^C · flew^C
15 AABBCCDDEE ear^A · hear^A · impends^B · attends^B · decreed^C · bleed^C · stay^D · way^D · relate^E · fate^E
16 --AABB-- shores · towers · foretold^A · behold^A · train^B · main^B · roams · comes
17 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHII--JJKKCCLL-- fly^A · sky^A · advise^B · skies^B · way^C · stray^C · below^D · low^D · suggest^E · breast^E · requires^F · inspires^F · age^G · rage^G · repress^H · redress^H · repair^I · care^I · choice · price · remain^J · vain^J · fate^K · hate^K · day^C · decay^C · dames^L · flames^L · cease · please
18 AABBCCDDEEFFCCGG tell^A · dwell^A · wrongs^B · belongs^B · vain^C · main^C · explore^D · shore^D · known^E · alone^E · forbear^F · year^F · train^C · main^C · dead^G · bed^G
19 AA--BBCC attend^A · friend^A · war · care · decay^B · obey^B · around^C · frown'd^C
20 AABBCCDDEECC-- just^A · trust^A · rod^B · god^B · reign^C · vain^C · share^D · care^D · devise^E · price^E · train^C · disdain^C · affords · words
21 --AABB--AACCDDEE rejoined · mind · advise^A · arise^A · oppose^B · foes^B · arms · warms · flies^A · dies^A · repair^C · care^C · friend^D · attend^D · stay^E · way^E
22 AABB-- bend^A · ascend^A · explores^B · shores^B · shed · pray'd
23 AA--BBCC skies^A · eyes^A · trace · seas · maid^B · aid^B · command^C · withstand^C
25 AABBCCAAD-DDAAEEFFGGHHAAIIJJ wise^A · rise^A · descends^B · attends^B · prepared^C · dared^C · wise^A · rise^A · praise^D · disgrace · fires^D · inspires^D · despise^A · wise^A · fall^E · all^E · way^F · convey^F · prepare^G · care^G · shores^H · stores^H · supplies^A · flies^A · command^I · band^I · rides^J · tides^J
26 --AABB returns · mourns · train^A · slain^A · press'd^B · address'd^B
27 AABBCC heart^A · part^A · soul^B · bowl^B · provides^C · tides^C
28 AA--BBCCDDEEDD time^A · crime^A · taste · feast · decay^B · prey^B · sage^C · age^C · woe^D · foe^D · vain^E · main^E · flow^D · foe^D
29 AA stay^A · away^A
30 -AA feast · guest^A · address'd^A
31 AABB-- fly^A · die^A · supplies^B · flies^B · fraught · draught
32 AABBCCDD replies^A · tries^A · breath^B · death^B · create^C · state^C · convey^D · day^D
33 ----------AA-- surveys · race · blazed · graced · perfume · dome · given · heaven · o'er · shore · gates^A · waits^A · shared · guard
34 AABB--CCDDEE care^A · air^A · stand^B · land^B · fill'd · seal'd · flour^C · hour^C · arise^D · eyes^D · convey^E · way^E
35 AABB--CCDD cries^A · eyes^A · cried^B · divide^B · decay'd · dead · try^C · die^C · main^D · vain^D
36 --AABBAA driven · heaven · swear^A · ear^A · betray^B · day^B · impair^A · spare^A
37 AA--BBAACCAA eyes^A · skies^A · flour · store · returns^B · burns^B · size^A · flies^A · stand^C · strand^C · flies^A · supplies^A
38 --AABB wheels · hills · shores^A · stores^A · main^B · train^B
39 AABBCCDDEE--FF delay^A · way^A · bound^B · ground^B · oppress'd^C · rest^C · array'd^D · maid^D · stands^E · demands^E · leads · treads · strand^F · stand^F
40 AABBCCDDDDEEFFGG-- train^A · main^A · ascend^B · bend^B · blow^C · below^C · band^D · command^D · unbind^D · wind^D · sails^E · gales^E · divides^F · tides^F · wine^G · divine^G · above · jove
41 AA way^A · ray^A

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
Now reddening from the dawn, the morning ray	10	·/˘····/˘·
Glow’d in the front of heaven, and gave the day	10	·····/····
The youthful hero, with returning light,	10	·/˘/˘·˘/˘·
Rose anxious from the inquietudes of night.	10	·/˘·······
A royal robe he wore with graceful pride,	10	·/˘····/˘·
A two-edged falchion threaten’d by his side,	10	···/˘/˘···
Embroider’d sandals glitter’d as he trod,	10	˘/˘/˘/˘···
And forth he moved, majestic as a god.	10	····˘/˘···
Then by his heralds, restless of delay,	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
To council calls the peers: the peers obey.	10	·/˘·····˘/
Soon as in solemn form the assembly sate,	11	···/˘··˘/˘·
From his high dome himself descends in state.	10	····˘/˘/··
Bright in his hand a ponderous javelin shined;	10	·····/˘/˘·
Two dogs, a faithful guard, attend behind;	10	···/˘·˘/··
Pallas with grace divine his form improves,	10	····˘/··˘/
And gazing crowds admire him as he moves,	10	·/˘·˘/····
His father’s throne he fill’d; while distant stood	10	·/˘····/˘·
The hoary peers, and aged wisdom bow’d.	9	·/˘···/˘·
’Twas silence all. At last AEgyptius spoke;	10	·/˘·······
AEgyptius, by his age and sorrow broke;	10	·······/˘·
A length of days his soul with prudence crown’d,	10	·······/˘·
A length of days had bent him to the ground.	10	··········
His eldest hope in arms to Ilion came,	10	·/˘·······
By great Ulysses taught the path to fame;	10	··˘/˘·····
But (hapless youth) the hideous Cyclops tore	10	·/˘··/˘/··
His quivering limbs, and quaff’d his spouting gore.	10	·/˘····/˘·
Three sons remain’d; to climb with haughty fires	11	··˘/···/˘/˘
The royal bed, Eurynomus aspires;	11	·/˘·····˘/˘
The rest with duteous love his griefs assuage,	11	···/˘˘···˘/
And ease the sire of half the cares of age.	10	···/······
Yet still his Antiphus he loves, he mourns,	10	··········
And, as he stood, he spoke and wept by turns,	10	··········
“Since great Ulysses sought the Phrygian plains,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Within these walls inglorious silence reigns.	10	····˘/˘/˘·
Say then, ye peers! by whose commands we meet?	10	······˘/··
Why here once more in solemn council sit?	10	·····/˘/˘·
Ye young, ye old, the weighty cause disclose:	10	·····/˘·˘/
Arrives some message of invading foes?	10	˘/·/˘·˘/˘·
Or say, does high necessity of state	10	····˘/˘˘··
Inspire some patriot, and demand debate?	10	˘/·/˘·˘/˘/
The present synod speaks its author wise;	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Assist him, Jove, thou regent of the skies!”	10	˘/···/˘···
He spoke. Telemachus with transport glows,	10	·······˘/·
Embraced the omen, and majestic rose	10	˘/·/˘·˘/˘·
(His royal hand the imperial sceptre sway’d);	11	·/˘··˘/˘/˘·
Then thus, addressing to AEgyptius, said:	10	··˘/˘·····
“Reverend old man! lo here confess’d he stands	10	/˘····˘/··
By whom ye meet; my grief your care demands.	10	········˘/
No story I unfold of public woes,	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
Nor bear advices of impending foes:	10	··˘/˘·˘/˘·
Peace the blest land, and joys incessant crown:	10	······˘/˘·
Of all this happy realm, I grieve alone.	10	···/˘···˘/
For my lost sire continual sorrows spring,	10	···/˘/˘/˘·
The great, the good; your father and your king.	10	·····/˘···
Yet more; our house from its foundation bows,	10	··/···˘/˘·
Our foes are powerful, and your sons the foes;	10	/··/˘·····
Hither, unwelcome to the queen, they come;	10	/˘˘/˘·····
Why seek they not the rich Icarian dome?	11	······˘/˘˘·
If she must wed, from other hands require	11	·····/˘··/˘
The dowry: is Telemachus her sire?	11	·/˘······/˘
Yet through my court the noise of revel rings,	10	·······/˘·
And waste the wise frugality of kings.	10	····˘/˘˘··
Scarce all my herds their luxury suffice;	10	·····/˘˘˘/
Scarce all my wine their midnight hours supplies.	10	·····/·/˘/
Safe in my youth, in riot still they grow,	10	·····/˘···
Nor in the helpless orphan dread a foe.	10	···/˘/˘···
But come it will, the time when manhood grants	10	·······/··
More powerful advocates than vain complaints.	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
Approach that hour! insufferable wrong	10	˘/·/˘/˘˘˘·
Cries to the gods, and vengeance sleeps too long.	10	·····/˘···
Rise then, ye peers! with virtuous anger rise;	10	·····/˘/˘·
Your fame revere, but most the avenging skies.	11	··˘/···˘/˘·
By all the deathless powers that reign above,	10	···/˘/····
By righteous Themis and by thundering Jove	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
(Themis, who gives to councils, or denies	10	/˘···/˘·˘/
Success; and humbles, or confirms the wise),	10	˘/·/˘·˘/··
Rise in my aid! suffice the tears that flow	10	····˘/····
For my lost sire, nor add new woe to woe.	10	···/······
If e’er he bore the sword to strengthen ill,	10	·······/˘·
Or, having power to wrong, betray’d the will,	10	·/˘/··˘/··
On me, on me your kindled wrath assuage,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And bid the voice of lawless riot rage.	10	·····/˘/˘·
If ruin to your royal race ye doom,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Be you the spoilers, and our wealth consume.	10	···/˘·/·˘/
Then might we hope redress from juster laws,	10	····˘/·/˘·
And raise all Ithaca to aid our cause:	10	···/˘˘··/·
But while your sons commit the unpunish’d wrong,	11	····˘/·˘/˘·
You make the arm of violence too strong.”	10	·····/˘˘··
While thus he spoke, with rage and grief he frown’d,	10	··········
And dash’d the imperial sceptre to the ground.	11	···˘/˘/˘···
The big round tear hung trembling in his eye:	10	·····/˘···
The synod grieved, and gave a pitying sigh,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Then silent sate—at length Antinous burns	10	·/˘·······
With haughty rage, and sternly thus returns:	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
“O insolence of youth! whose tongue affords	10	·/˘˘····˘/
Such railing eloquence, and war of words.	10	·/˘/˘˘····
Studious thy country’s worthies to defame,	10	/˘·/˘/˘·˘/
Thy erring voice displays thy mother’s shame.	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
Elusive of the bridal day, she gives	10	˘/˘··/˘···
Fond hopes to all, and all with hopes deceives.	10	········˘/
Did not the sun, through heaven’s wide azure roll’d,	11	·····/˘·/˘·
For three long years the royal fraud behold?	10	·····/˘·˘/
While she, laborious in delusion, spread	10	··˘/˘·˘/˘·
The spacious loom, and mix’d the various thread:	10	·/˘····/˘·
Where as to life the wondrous figures rise,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Thus spoke the inventive queen, with artful sighs:	11	···˘/˘··/˘·
“Though cold in death Ulysses breathes no more,	10	····˘/˘···
Cease yet awhile to urge the bridal hour:	11	··˘/···/˘/˘
Cease, till to great Laertes I bequeath	10	········˘/
A task of grief, his ornaments of death.	10	·····/˘˘··
Lest when the Fates his royal ashes claim,	10	·····/˘/˘·
The Grecian matrons taint my spotless fame;	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
When he, whom living mighty realms obey’d,	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Shall want in death a shroud to grace his shade.’	10	··········
“Thus she: at once the generous train complies,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Nor fraud mistrusts in virtue’s fair disguise.	10	··˘/·/˘·˘/
The work she plied; but, studious of delay,	10	·····/˘·˘/
By night reversed the labours of the day.	10	··˘/·/˘···
While thrice the sun his annual journey made,	10	·····/˘/˘·
The conscious lamp the midnight fraud survey’d;	10	·/˘··/··˘/
Unheard, unseen, three years her arts prevail;	10	˘/˘/····˘/
The fourth her maid unfolds the amazing tale.	11	····˘/·˘/˘·
We saw, as unperceived we took our stand,	10	········/·
The backward labours of her faithless hand.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Then urged, she perfects her illustrious toils;	10	···˘/·˘/˘·
A wondrous monument of female wiles!	10	·/˘/˘˘·/··
“But you, O peers! and thou, O prince! give ear	10	··········
(I speak aloud, that every Greek may hear):	10	··˘/·/˘···
Dismiss the queen; and if her sire approves	10	˘/·····/˘/
Let him espouse her to the peer she loves:	10	··˘/······
Bid instant to prepare the bridal train,	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
Nor let a race of princes wait in vain.	10	·····/˘···
Though with a grace divine her soul is blest,	10	····˘/····
And all Minerva breathes within her breast,	10	··˘/˘·····
In wondrous arts than woman more renown’d,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And more than woman with deep wisdom crown’d;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Though Tyro nor Mycene match her name,	9	·/˘······
Not great Alcmena (the proud boasts of fame);	10	··········
Yet thus by heaven adorn’d, by heaven’s decree	11	···/˘/·/˘˘/
She shines with fatal excellence, to thee:	10	···/˘/˘˘··
With thee, the bowl we drain, indulge the feast,	10	······˘/··
Till righteous heaven reclaim her stubborn breast.	10	·/˘/˘/·/˘·
What though from pole to pole resounds her name!	10	·······/··
The son’s destruction waits the mother’s fame:	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
For, till she leaves thy court, it is decreed,	10	········˘/
Thy bowl to empty and thy flock to bleed.”	10	···/˘·····
While yet he speaks, Telemachus replies:	10	········˘/
“Ev’n nature starts, and what ye ask denies.	10	·/˘·····˘/
Thus, shall I thus repay a mother’s cares,	10	····˘/·/˘·
Who gave me life, and nursed my infant years!	10	·······/˘·
While sad on foreign shores Ulysses treads.	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Or glides a ghost with unapparent shades;	10	··········
How to Icarius in the bridal hour	11	·······/˘/˘
Shall I, by waste undone, refund the dower?	10	····˘/˘/··
How from my father should I vengeance dread!	10	···/˘··/˘·
How would my mother curse my hated head!	10	···/˘··/˘·
And while in wrath to vengeful fiends she cries,	10	·····/˘···
How from their hell would vengeful fiends arise!	10	·····/˘·˘/
Abhorr’d by all, accursed my name would grow,	10	˘/········
The earth’s disgrace, and human-kind my foe.	10	··˘/·/˘···
If this displease, why urge ye here your stay?	10	··˘/······
Haste from the court, ye spoilers, haste away:	10	·····/˘·˘/
Waste in wild riot what your land allows,	10	···/˘···˘/
There ply the early feast, and late carouse.	10	···/˘···˘/
But if to honour lost, ’tis still decreed	10	···/˘···˘/
For you my bowl shall flow, my flocks shall bleed;	10	··········
Judge, and assert my right, impartial Jove!	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
By him, and all the immortal host above	11	·····˘/˘···
(A sacred oath), if heaven the power supply,	10	·/˘··/·/˘/
Vengeance I vow, and for your wrongs ye die.”	10	/˘········
With that, two eagles from a mountain’s height	10	···/˘··/˘·
By Jove’s command direct their rapid flight;	10	··˘/˘/·/˘·
Swift they descend, with wing to wing conjoin’d,	10	··˘/·····/
Stretch their broad plumes, and float upon the wind.	10	··········
Above the assembled peers they wheel on high,	11	···˘/˘·····
And clang their wings, and hovering beat the sky;	10	·····/˘···
With ardent eyes the rival train they threat,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And shrieking loud denounce approaching fate.	10	·/˘·˘/˘/˘·
They cuff, they tear; their cheeks and neck they rend,	10	··········
And from their plumes huge drops of blood descend;	10	········˘/
Then sailing o’er the domes and towers, they fly,	10	·/˘····/··
Full toward the east, and mount into the sky.	11	···········
The wondering rivals gaze, with cares oppress’d,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
And chilling horrors freeze in every breast,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Till big with knowledge of approaching woes,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
The prince of augurs, Halitherses, rose:	10	···/˘·····
Prescient he view’d the aërial tracks, and drew	10	/˘········
A sure presage from every wing that flew.	10	··/˘·/˘···
“Ye sons (he cried) of Ithaca, give ear;	10	·····/˘˘··
Hear all! but chiefly you, O rivals! hear.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Destruction sure o’er all your heads impends	10	˘/˘·····˘/
Ulysses comes, and death his steps attends.	10	˘/˘·····˘/
Nor to the great alone is death decreed;	10	····˘/··˘/
We and our guilty Ithaca must bleed.	10	··//˘/˘˘··
Why cease we then the wrath of heaven to stay?	10	·······/··
Be humbled all, and lead, ye great! the way.	10	·/˘·······
For lo my words no fancied woes relate;	10	·····/˘·˘/
I speak from science and the voice of fate.	10	···/˘·····
“When great Ulysses sought the Phrygian shores	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
To shake with war proud Ilion’s lofty towers,	11	·······/˘/˘
Deeds then undone my faithful tongue foretold:	10	··˘/·/˘·˘/
Heaven seal’d my words, and you those deeds behold.	10	/·······˘/
I see (I cried) his woes, a countless train;	10	·······/˘·
I see his friends o’erwhelm’d beneath the main;	10	··········
How twice ten years from shore to shore he roams:	10	··········
Now twice ten years are past, and now he comes!”	10	··········
To whom Eurymachus—“Fly, dotard fly,	10	·······/˘·
With thy wise dreams, and fables of the sky.	10	·····/˘···
Go prophesy at home, thy sons advise:	10	·/˘˘····˘/
Here thou art sage in vain—I better read the skies	12	·······/˘···
Unnumber’d birds glide through the aërial way;	10	··········
Vagrants of air, and unforeboding stray.	11	/˘·········
Cold in the tomb, or in the deeps below,	10	··········
Ulysses lies; oh wert thou laid as low!	10	˘/˘·······
Then would that busy head no broils suggest,	10	···/˘···˘/
For fire to rage Telemachus’ breast,	10	·/˘·······
From him some bribe thy venal tongue requires,	11	·····/˘·˘/˘
And interest, not the god, thy voice inspires.	10	·/˘·····˘/
His guideless youth, if thy experienced age	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Mislead fallacious into idle rage,	10	˘/˘/˘··/˘·
Vengeance deserved thy malice shall repress.	10	/˘˘/·/˘·˘/
And but augment the wrongs thou would’st redress,	10	··˘/····˘/
Telemachus may bid the queen 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	·/˘··/˘···
Till she retires, determined we remain,	10	··˘/˘/˘·˘/
And both the prince and augur threat in vain:	10	·····/˘···
His pride of words, and thy wild dream of fate,	10	··········
Move not the brave, or only move their hate,	10	·····/˘···
Threat on, O prince! elude the bridal day.	10	····˘/·/˘·
Threat on, till all thy stores in waste decay.	10	········˘/
True, Greece affords a train of lovely dames,	10	··˘/···/˘·
In wealth and beauty worthy of our flames:	10	···/˘/˘·/·
But never from this nobler suit we cease;	10	·/˘··/˘···
For wealth and beauty less than virtue please.”	10	···/˘··/˘·
To whom the youth: “Since then in vain I tell	10	··········
My numerous woes, in silence let them dwell.	10	·/˘··/˘···
But Heaven, and all the Greeks, have heard my wrongs;	10	·/········
To Heaven, and all the Greeks, redress belongs;	10	·/····˘/˘/
Yet this I ask (nor be it ask’d in vain),	10	··········
A bark to waft me o’er the rolling main,	10	·······/˘·
The realms of Pyle and Sparta to explore,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And seek my royal sire from shore to shore;	10	···/˘/····
If, or to fame his doubtful fate be known,	10	·····/˘···
Or to be learn’d from oracles alone,	10	·····/˘˘˘/
If yet he lives, with patience I forbear,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Till the fleet hours restore the circling year;	10	···/˘/·/˘·
But if already wandering in the train	10	··˘/˘/˘···
Of empty shades, I measure back the main,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Plant the fair column o’er the mighty dead,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And yield his consort to the nuptial bed.”	10	···˘/··/˘·
He ceased; and while abash’d the peers attend,	10	····˘/··˘/
Mentor arose, Ulysses’ faithful friend:	10	/·˘/˘/˘/˘·
(When fierce in arms he sought the scenes of war,	10	··········
“My friend (he cried), my palace be thy care;	10	·····/˘···
Years roll’d on years my godlike sire decay,	10	·····/˘/˘/
Guard thou his age, and his behests obey.”)	10	······˘/˘/
Stern as he rose, he cast his eyes around,	10	··········
That flash’d with rage; and as spoke, he frown’d,	9	·········
“O never, never more let king be just,	10	·/˘/˘·····
Be mild in power, or faithful to his trust!	10	···/·/˘···
Let tyrants govern with an iron rod,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Oppress, destroy, and be the scourge of God;	10	˘/˘/······
Since he who like a father held his reign,	10	·····/˘···
So soon forgot, was just and mild in vain!	10	··˘/······
True, while my friend is grieved, his griefs I share;	10	··········
Yet now the rivals are my smallest care:	10	···/˘··/˘·
They for the mighty mischiefs they devise,	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Ere long shall pay—their forfeit lives the price.	10	·····/˘···
But against you, ye Greeks! ye coward train!	10	·······/˘·
Gods! how my soul is moved with just disdain!	10	········˘/
Dumb ye all stand, and not one tongue affords	10	········˘/
His injured prince the little aid of words.”	10	·/˘··/˘···
While yet he spoke, Leocritus rejoined:	10	·······˘/˘
“O pride of words, and arrogance of mind!	10	·····/˘˘··
Would’st thou to rise in arms the Greeks advise?	10	········˘/
Join all your powers? in arms, ye Greeks, arise!	10	···/····˘/
Yet would your powers in vain our strength oppose.	10	···/··/·˘/
The valiant few o’ermatch a host of foes.	10	·/˘·······
Should great Ulysses stern appear in arms,	10	··˘/˘·˘/··
While the bowl circles and the banquet warms;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Though to his breast his spouse with transport flies,	10	·······˘/·
Torn from her breast, that hour, Ulysses dies.	10	·····/˘/˘·
But hence retreating to your domes repair.	10	··˘/˘···˘/
To arm the vessel, Mentor! be thy care,	10	···/˘/····
And Halitherses! thine: be each his friend;	10	··········
Ye loved the father: go, the son attend.	10	···/˘···˘/
But yet, I trust, the boaster means to stay	10	·····/˘···
Safe in the court, nor tempt the watery way.”	10	·······/˘·
Then, with a rushing sound the assembly bend	11	···/˘··˘/˘·
Diverse their steps: the rival rout ascend	10	˘/···/˘·˘/
The royal dome; while sad the prince explores	10	·/˘·····˘/
The neighbouring main, and sorrowing treads the shores.	10	·/˘··/˘···
There, as the waters o’er his hands he shed,	10	···/˘·····
The royal suppliant to Minerva pray’d:	11	·/˘/˘˘·˘/˘·
“O goddess! who descending from the skies	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
Vouchsafed thy presence to my wondering eyes,	10	···/˘··/˘·
By whose commands the raging deeps I trace,	10	··˘/·/˘···
And seek my sire through storms and rolling seas!	10	···/···/˘·
Hear from thy heavens above, O warrior maid!	11	···/˘···/˘·
Descend once more, propitious to my aid.	10	˘/··˘/˘···
Without thy presence, vain is thy command:	10	···/˘···˘/
Greece, and the rival train, thy voice withstand.”	10	···/˘···˘/
Indulgent to his prayer, the goddess took	10	˘/˘····/˘·
Sage Mentor’s form, and thus like Mentor spoke:	10	·/·····/··
“O prince, in early youth divinely wise,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Born, the Ulysses of thy age to rise	10	··˘/˘·····
If to the son the father’s worth descends,	10	·····/˘·˘/
O’er the wide wave success thy ways attends	10	····˘/··˘/
To tread the walks of death he stood prepared;	10	········˘/
And what he greatly thought, he nobly dared.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Were not wise sons descendant of the wise,	10	····˘/˘···
And did not heroes from brave heroes rise,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Vain were my hopes: few sons attain the praise	10	······˘/··
Of their great sires, and most their sires disgrace.	10	········˘/
But since thy veins paternal virtue fires,	11	····˘/˘/˘/˘
And all Penelope thy soul inspires,	10	··˘/˘˘··˘/
Go, and succeed: the rivals’ aims despise;	10	··˘/·/˘·˘/
For never, never wicked man was wise.	10	·/˘/˘/˘···
Blind they rejoice, though now, ev’n now they fall;	10	··˘/······
Death hastes amain: one hour o’erwhelms them all!	10	··˘/·/····
And lo, with speed we plough the watery way;	10	·······/˘·
My power shall guard thee, and my hand convey:	10	·/······˘/
The winged vessel studious I prepare,	10	··/˘/˘˘·˘/
Through seas and realms companion of thy care.	10	····˘/˘···
Thou to the court ascend: and to the shores	10	····˘/····
(When night advances) bear the naval stores;	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Bread, that decaying man with strength supplies,	10	··˘/˘···˘/
And generous wine, which thoughtful sorrow flies.	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Meanwhile the mariners, by my command,	10	/··/˘˘··˘/
Shall speed aboard, a valiant chosen band.	10	··˘/·/˘/˘·
Wide o’er the bay, by vessel vessel rides;	10	·····/˘/˘·
The best I choose to waft then o’er the tides.”	10	··········
She spoke: to his high dome the prince returns,	10	········˘/
And, as he moves, with royal anguish mourns.	10	·····/˘/˘·
’Twas riot all, among the lawless train;	10	·/˘····/˘·
Boar bled by boar, and goat by goat lay slain.	10	··········
Arrived, his hand the gay Antinous press’d,	10	˘/········
And thus deriding, with a smile address’d:	10	··˘/˘···˘/
“Grieve not, O daring prince! that noble heart;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Ill suits gay youth the stern heroic part.	10	······˘/˘·
Indulge the genial hour, unbend thy soul,	10	˘/·/˘/·/··
Leave thought to age, and drain the flowing bowl.	10	·······/˘·
Studious to ease thy grief, our care provides	10	/˘····/·˘/
The bark, to waft thee o’er the swelling tides.”	10	·······/˘·
“Is this (returns the prince) for mirth a time?	10	··˘/······
When lawless gluttons riot, mirth’s a crime;	10	·/˘/˘/˘···
The luscious wines, dishonour’d, lose their taste;	10	·/˘·······
The song is noise, and impious is the feast.	11	·····˘/˘···
Suffice it to have spent with swift decay	10	˘/······˘/
The wealth of kings, and made my youth a prey.	10	··········
But now the wise instructions of the sage,	10	····˘/˘···
And manly thoughts inspired by manly age,	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
Teach me to seek redress for all my woe,	10	····˘/····
Here, or in Pyle—in Pyle, or here, your foe.	10	··········
Deny your vessels, ye deny in vain:	10	˘/·/˘·˘/··
A private voyager I pass the main.	10	·/˘/˘˘····
Free breathe the winds, and free the billows flow;	10	·······/˘·
And where on earth I live, I live your foe.”	10	··········
He spoke and frown’d, nor longer deign’d to stay,	10	·····/˘···
Sternly his hand withdrew, and strode away.	10	/˘··˘/··˘/
Meantime, o’er all the dome, they quaff, they feast,	10	/·········
Derisive taunts were spread from guest to guest,	10	˘/˘·······
And each in jovial mood his mate address’d:	10	···/˘···˘/
“Tremble ye not, O friends, and coward fly,	10	/˘·····/˘·
Doom’d by the stern Telemachus to die?	10	··········
To Pyle or Sparta to demand supplies,	10	···/˘·˘/˘/
Big with revenge, the mighty warrior flies;	10	··˘/·/˘/˘·
Or comes from Ephyre with poisons fraught,	9	······/˘·
And kills us all in one tremendous draught!”	10	······˘/˘·
“Or who can say (his gamesome mate replies)	10	·····/˘·˘/
But, while the danger of the deeps he tries	10	···/˘·····
He, like his sire, may sink deprived of breath,	10	···/··˘/··
And punish us unkindly by his death?	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
What mighty labours would he then create,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
To seize his treasures, and divide his state,	10	···/˘·˘/··
The royal palace to the queen convey,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
Or him she blesses in the bridal day!”	10	···/˘··/˘·
Meantime the lofty rooms the prince surveys,	10	/··/˘···˘/
Where lay the treasures of the Ithacian race:	11	···/˘······
Here ruddy brass and gold refulgent blazed;	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
There polished chests embroider’d vestures graced;	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
Here jars of oil breathed forth a rich perfume;	10	········˘/
There casks of wine in rows adorn’d the dome	10	······˘/··
(Pure flavorous wine, by gods in bounty given	11	·/˘˘····/˘/
And worthy to exalt the feasts of heaven).	11	·/˘·˘/···/˘
Untouch’d they stood, till, his long labours o’er,	10	˘/·····/˘·
The great Ulysses reach’d his native shore.	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
A double strength of bars secured the gates;	10	·/˘···˘/··
Fast by the door the wise Euryclea waits;	11	···········
Euryclea, who great Ops! thy lineage shared,	11	········/˘·
And watch’d all night, all day, a faithful guard.	10	·······/˘·
To whom the prince: “O thou whose guardian care	10	·······/˘·
Nursed the most wretched king that breathes the air;	10	···/˘·····
Untouch’d and sacred may these vessels stand,	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
Till great Ulysses views his native land.	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
But by thy care twelve urns of wine be fill’d;	10	··········
Next these in worth, and firm these urns be seal’d;	10	··········
And twice ten measures of the choicest flour	11	···/˘··/˘/˘

The first 400 of 475 lines; the reader marks them all.

Notes from the edition 1

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

Stanza 6, line 17 Their luxury. Coleridge well observes, that " it cannot be denied, that the Odyssey does also betray the fact of an advance in the refinement, or at least in the complication of society; and there is a sort of conflict observable in many parts of the poem between the genuine heroic manners and the apparently encroaching habits of a more modern system. Telemachus, Pisistratus, the court of Alcinoiis, and the suitors of Penelope, seem removed to the third or fourth generation from the godlike warriors who fought on the Plains of Troy; they appear as much astonished at the strength and courage of those heroes as we are ourselves; and there is a confession of inferiority and degeneracy in the Odyssey, which forms a striking contrast with the haughty and successful pretensions so often asserted in the Iliad."

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