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"Young and mature! (the monarch thus rejoins)
In thee renew'd the soul of Nestor shines:
Form'd by the care of that consummate sage,
In early bloom an oracle of age.

Whene'er his influence Jove vouchsafes to shower
To bless the natal, and the nuptial hour;
From the great sire, transmissive to the race,
The boon devolving gives distinguish'd grace.
Such, happy Nestor! was thy glorious doom:
Around thee full of years, thy offspring bloom,
Expert of arms, and prudent in debate;

The gifts of Heaven to guard thy hoary state.
But now let each becalm his troubled breast,
Wash, and partake serene the friendly feast.
To move thy suit, Telemachus, delay,
Till heaven's revolving lamp restores the day.'
He said. Asphalion swift the laver brings:
Alternate all partake the grateful springs:
Then from the rites of purity repair,

And with keen gust the savoury viands share.
Mean time with genial joy to warm the soul,
Bright Helen mix'd a mirth-inspiring bowl;
Temper'd with drugs of sovereign use, to'assuage
The boiling bosom of tumultuous rage;
To clear the cloudy front of wrinkled care,
And dry the tearful sluices of despair:
Charm'd with that virtuous draught, the'exalted
All sense of woe delivers to the wind: [mind
Though on the blazing pile his parents lay,
Or a loved brother groan'd his life away,
Or darling son, oppress'd by ruffian-force,
Fell breathless at his feet a mangled corse;
From morn to eve, impassive and serene,
The man entranced would view the deathful scene.

These drugs, so friendly to the joys of life,
Bright Helen learn'd from Thone's imperial wife;
Who sway'd the sceptre where prolific Nile
With various simples clothes the fatten'd soil.
With wholesome herbage mix'd, the direful bane
Of vegetable venom taints the plain;

From Pæon sprung, their patron-god imparts
To all the Pharian race his healing arts.

The beverage now prepared to inspire the feast,
The circle thus the beauteous queen address'd-
Throned in omnipotence, supremest Jove

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Tempers the fates of human race above;
By the firm sanction of his sovereign will,
Alternate are decreed our good and ill.
To feastful mirth be this white hour assign'd,
And sweet discourse, the banquet of the mind.
Myself, assisting in the social joy,

Will tell Ulysses' bold exploit in Troy:
Sole witness of the deed I now declare;
Speak you (who saw) his wonders in the war.
'Seam'd o'er with wounds, which his own sabre
In the vile habit of a village slave, [gave,
The foe deceived, he pass'd the tented plain,
In Troy to mingle with the hostile train.
In this attire secure from searching eyes,
Till haply piercing through the dark disguise
The chief I challenged; he, whose practised wit
Knew all the serpent-mazes of deceit,
Eludes my search: but when his form I view'd
Fresh from the bath with fragrant oils renew'd,
His limbs in military purple dress'd; [fess'd.
Each brightening grace the genuine Greek con-
A previous pledge of sacred faith obtain'd,
Till he the lines and Argive fleet regain'd,

To keep his stay conceal'd; the chief declared
The plans of war against the town prepared.
Exploring then the secrets of the state,

He learn❜d what best might urge the Dardan fate:
And, safe returning to the Grecian host,
Sent many a shade to Pluto's dreary coast.
Loud grief resounded through the towers of Troy,
But my pleased bosom glow'd with secret joy:
For then with dire remorse, and conscious shame,
1 view'd the' effects of that disastrous flame,
Which, kindled by the' imperious queen of love,
Constrain❜d me from my native realm to rove:
And oft in bitterness of soul deplored
My absent daughter, and my dearer lord;
Admired among the first of human race,
For every gift of mind and manly grace.'
Right well, (replied the king) your speech
displays

The matchless merit of the chief you praise:
Heroes in various climes myself have found,
For martial deeds, and depth of thought renown'd;
But Ithacus, unrival'd in his claim,
May boast a title to the loudest fame:
In battle calm, he guides the rapid storm,
Wise to resolve, and patent to perform.
What wondrous conduct in the chief appear'd,
When the vast fabric of the steed we rear'd!
Some dæmon, anxious for the Trojan doom,
Urged you with great Deiphobus to come,
To'explore the fraud; with guile opposed to guile
Slow-pacing thrice around the' insidious pile,
Each noted leader's name you thrice invoke,
Your accent varying as their spouses spoke:

The pleasing sounds each latent warrior warm'd,
But most Tydides' and my heart alarm'd:
To quit the steed we both impatient press,
Threatening to answer from the dark recess.
Unmoved the mind of Ithacus remain'd,

And the vain ardours of our love restrain'd:
But Anticlus, unable to control,

Spoke loud the language of his yearning soul:
Ulysses straight with indignation fired,
(For so the common care of Greece required)
Firm to his lips his forceful hands applied,
Till on his tongue the fluttering murmurs died.
Meantime Minerva from the fraudful horse
Back to the court of Priam bent your course.'
Inclement Fate! (Telemachus replies)
Frail is the boasted attribute of wise:
The leader, mingling with the vulgar host,
Is in the common mass of matter lost!
But now let sleep the painful waste repair
Of sad reflection, and corroding care.'

6

He ceased; the menial fair that round her wait, At Helen's beck prepare the room of state; Beneath an ample portico, they spread The downy fleece to form the slumbrous bed, And o'er soft palls of purple grain unfold Rich tapestry, stiff with inwoven gold:

Then through the' illumined dome, to balmy rest The' obsequious herald guides each princely guest:

While to his regal bower the king ascends,
And beauteous Helen on her lord attends.
Soon as the morn, in orient purple dress'd,
Unbarr'd the portal of the roseate east,

The monarch rose; magnificent to view,

The imperial mantle o'er his breast he threw;
The glittering zone athwart his shoulder cast,
A starry falchion low-depending graced;
Clasp'd on his feet the' embroider'd sandals shine;
And forth he moves, majestic and divine.
Instant to young Telemachus he press'd,
And thus benevolent his speech address'd—
'Say, royal youth, sincere of soul, report
What cause hath led you to the Spartan court?
Do public or domestic cares constrain
This toilsome voyage o'er the surgy main?'
'O highly favour'd delegate of Jove!
(Replies the prince) inflamed with filial love,
And anxious hope, to hear my parent's doom,
A suppliant to your royal court I come.
Our sovereign seat a lewd usurping race
With lawless riot and misrule disgrace;
To pamper'd insolence devoted fall
Prime of the flock, and choicest of the stall:
For wild ambition wings their bold desire,
And all to mount the' imperial bed aspire.
But prostrate I implore, O king! relate
The mournful series of my father's fate!
Each known disaster of the man disclose,
Born by his mother to a world of woes!
Recite them! nor in erring pity fear
To wound with storied grief the filial ear:
If e'er Ulysses, to reclaim your right,
Avow'd his zeal in council or in fight,
If Phrygian camps the friendly toils attest,
To the sire's merit give the son's request.'
Deep from his inmost soul Atrides sigh'd,
And thus indignant to the prince replied-

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