Perform'd their office, or his weight upheld: Now parting from the stream, Ulysses found 'What will ye next ordain, ye powers on high! And yet, ah yet, what fates are we to try? Here by the stream, if I the night outwear, Thus spent already, how shall nature bear The dews descending, and nocturnal air; Or chilly vapours, breathing from the flood When morning rises?— -If I take the wood, And in thick shelter of innumerous boughs Enjoy the comfort gentle sleep allows; [pass'd, Though fenced from cold, and though my toil be What savage beasts may wander in the waste! Perhaps I yet may fall a bloody prey To prowling bears, or lions in the way.' Thus long debating in himself he stood: At length he took the passage to the wood, Whose shady horrors on a rising brow Waved high, and frown'd upon the stream below. There grew two olives, closest of the grove, Where three at least might winter's cold defy, Till Pallas pour'd soft slumbers on his eyes; BOOK VI. The Argument. Pallas appearing in a dream to Nausicaa (the daughter of Alcinous king of Phæacia) commands her to descend to the river, and wash the robes of state, in preparation to her nuptials. Nausicaa goes with her handmaids to the river; where, while the garments are spread on the bank, they divert themselves in sports. Their voices awake Ulysses, who, addressing himself to the princess, is by her relieved and clothed, and receives directions in what manner to apply to the king and queen of the island. WHILE thus the weary wanderer sunk to rest, Then great Nausithous from Hyperia far, Where never science rear'd her laurel'd head: Now in the silent grave the monarch lay, Through the thick gloom the shining portals blaze: Twonymphs the portals guard, each nymph a grace. Light as the viewless air, the warrior maid Glides through the valves, and hovers round her head; A favourite virgin's blooming form she took, From Dymas sprung, and thus the vision spoke— 'Oh indolent! to waste thy hours away! And sleep'st thou careless of the bridal day? Thy spousal ornament neglected lies; Arise, prepare the bridal train, arise! A just applause the cares of dress impart, And give soft transport to a parent's heart. Haste, to the limpid stream direct thy way, When the gay morn unveils her smiling ray: Haste to the stream! companion of thy care, Lo, I thy steps attend, thy labours share. Virgin, awake! the marriage hour is nigh, See! from their thrones thy kindred monarchs The royal car at early dawn obtain, And order mules obedient to the rein; For rough the way, and distant rolls the wave, Where their fair vests Phæacian virgins lave. In pomp ride forth; for pomp becomes the great, And majesty derives a grace from state.' [sigh! Then to the palaces of heaven she sails, Incumbent on the wings of wafting gales: The seat of gods! the regions mild of peace, Full joy, and calm eternity of ease. rise; There no rude winds presume to shake the skies, Now from her rosy car Aurora shed The dawn, and all the orient flamed with red. Uprose the virgin with the morning light, Obedient to the vision of the night. [stow'd The queen she sought the queen her hours beIn curious works; the whirling spindle glow'd With crimson threads, while busy damsels cull The snowy fleece, or twist the purpled wool, Meanwhile Phæacia's peers in council sat: From his high dome the king descends in state, Then with a filial awe the royal maid Approach'd him passing, and submissive said : Will my dread sire his ear regardful deign, And may his child the royal car obtain? Say, with thy garments shall I bend my way Where through the vales the mazy waters stray? A dignity of dress adorns the great, And kings draw lustre from the robe of state. Five sons thou hast three wait the bridal day, And spotless robes become the young and gay: So when with praise amid the dance they shine, By these my cares adorn'd, that praise is mine.' Thus she: but blushes, ill restrain'd, betray Her thoughts intentive on the bridal day. The conscious sire the dawning blush survey'd, And smiling thus bespoke the blooming maidMy child, my darling joy, the car receive; That, and whate'er our daughter asks, we give.' Swift at the royal nod the' attending train The car prepare, the mules incessant rein. The blooming virgin with dispatchful cares Tunics, and stoles, and robes imperial bears. The queen, assiduous, to her train assigns The sumptuous viands, and the flavorous wines. |