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, fired
With great revenge, immortal praise acquired?
His virgin sword, Egysthus' 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 Temesè return'd, your royal court I 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' etherial 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 joined the suitor throng;
Hush'd in attention to the warbled song.
His tender theme the charming lyrist chose,
Minerva's anger, and the direful woes
Which voyaging from Troy the victors bore,
While storms vindictive intercept the shore.
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 etherial rays, resistless fire, The chanter's soul and raptured song inspire; Instinct divine! nor blame, severe, his choice, Warbling the Grecian woes with harp 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. [gloom,
What Greeks, now wandering on the Stygian
With your Ulysses shared an equal doom!
Your widow'd hours, apart, with female toil
And 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 admires
His 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 profane With 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 propose The 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 decreed
For 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,
[tongue.
Rage gnaw'd the lip, and Wonder chain'd the
Silence at length the gay Antinoüs broke,
Constrain'd a smile, and thus ambiguous spoke-

What god to your untutor❜d youth affords
This headlong torrent of amazing words?
May Jove delay thy reign, and cumber late
So bright a genius with the toils of state!'

Those toils (Telemachus, serene, replies) Have charms, with all their weight, to' allure the wise.

Fast by the throne obsequious Fame resides,
And Wealth incessant rolls her golden tides.
Nor let Antinoüs rage, if strong desire
Of 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 realms 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 reign
Sole o'er my vassals, and domestic train.'

To this Eurymachus- To Heaven alone
Refer 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 grace,
Speak him descended of no vulgar race:
Did he some loan of ancient right require,
Or came forerunner of your sceptred sire?'
'O 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 everhonour'd name, of old
High in Ulysses' social list enroll'd.'

Thus he, though conscious of the'etherial guest,
Answer'd evasive of the sly request.
Meantime the lyre rejoins the sprightly lay;
Love-dittied airs, and dance, conclude the day.
But when the star of eve, with golden light
Adorn'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,