BOOK XIII. He ceas'd; but left so pleasing on their ear 5 No longer now from shore to shore to roam, 15 A gen'ral tribute, which the state shall owe. drest To sep❜rate mansions, and retir'd to rest. 20 25 Now did the rosy-finger'd morn arise, And shed her sacred light along the skies. Down to the haven and the ships in haste They bore the treasures, and in safety plac'd. The king himself the vases rang'd with care: Then bade his followers to the feast repair. A victim ox beneath the sacred hand Of great Alcinous falls, and stains the sand. To Jove th' eternal (pow'r above all pow'rs! Who wings the winds, and darkens heav'n with show'rs), The flames ascend: till ev'ning they prolong The rites, more sacred made by heav'nly song: For in the midst, with public honours grac❜d, Thy lyre divine, Demodocus! was plac'd. All, but Ulysses, heard with fix'd delight: 30 $5 He sat, and ey'd the sun, and wish'd the night; When home, with feeble knees, he bends his way Then instant, to Alcinous and the rest 45 (The Scherian states) he turn'd, and thus addrest: O thou, the first in merit and command! And you the peers and princes of the land! May ev'ry joy be yours! nor this the least, 51 When due libation shall have crown'd the feast, Sure fix'd on virtue may your nation stand, 60 His words well weigh'd, the gen❜ral voice ap- Benign, and instant his dismission mov'd. To fill the goblet high with rosy wine: 65 The luscious wine th' obedient herald brought; Around the mansion flow'd the purple draught: Each from his seat to each immortal pours, Whom glory circles in th' Olympian bow'rs. Ulysses sole with air majestic stands, 70 The bowl presenting to Arete's hands; 81 Thus he; then parting prints the sandy shore Three chosen maids attend him to the main ; A various casket that, of rich inlay, 85 And bread and wine the third. The cheerful mates Safe in the hollow poop dispose the cates: Upon the deck, soft painted robes they spread, With linen cover'd, for the hero's bed. He climb'd the lofty stern; then gently prest 90 The swelling couch, and lay compos'd to rest. Now plac'd in order, the Phæacian train Their cables loose, and launch into the main: At once they bend, and strike their equal oars, And leave the sinking hills, and less'ning shores. While on the deck the chief in silence lies, And pleasing slumbers steal upon his eyes. As fiery coursers in the rapid race, Urg'd by fierce drivers through the dusty space, Toss their high heads, and scour along the plain; So mounts the bounding vessel o'er the main. 101 Back to the stern the parted billows flow, And the black ocean foams and roars below. Thus with spread sails the winged galley flies; Less swift an eagle cuts the liquid skies: A man in wisdom equal to a god! 105 Much danger, long and mighty toils he bore, But when the morning star with early ray Flam'd in the front of heav'n, and promis'd day; Like distant clouds the mariner descries, Fair Ithaca's emerging hills arise. 115 |