The Odysseys of Homer, together with the shorter poems · Homer
ANOTHER ARGUMENT
But when the wise Ulysses once had laid His fingers on it, and to proof survey’d The still sound plight it held, as one of skill In song, and of the harp, doth at his will, In tuning of his instrument, extend A string out with his pin, touch all, and lend To ev’ry well-wreath’d string his perfect sound, Struck all together; with such ease drew round The King the bow. Then twang’d he up the string, That as a swallow in the air doth sing With no continued tune, but, pausing still, Twinks out her scatter’d voice in accents shrill; So sharp the string sung when he gave it touch, Once having bent and drawn it. Which so much Amaz’d the Wooers, that their colours went And came most grievously. And then Jove rent The air with thunder; which at heart did cheer The now-enough-sustaining traveller, That Jove again would his attempt enable.
Then took he into hand, from off the table, The first drawn arrow: and a number more Spent shortly on the Wooers; but this one He measur’d by his arm, as if not known The length were to him, nock’d it then, and drew; And through the axes, at the first hole, flew The steel-charg’d arrow; which when he had done He thus bespake the Prince: “You have not won Disgrace yet by your guest; for I have strook The mark I shot at, and no such toil took In wearying the bow with fat and fire As did the Wooers. Yet reserv’d entire, Thank Heav’n, my strength is, and myself am tried, No man to be so basely vilified As these men pleas’d to think me. But, free way Take that, and all their pleasures; and while day Holds her torch to you, and the hour of feast Hath now full date, give banquet, and the rest, Poem and harp, that grace a well-fill’d board.” This said, he beckon’d to his son; whose sword He straight girt to him, took to hand his lance, And cómplete-arm’d did to his sire advance. THE END OF THE TWENTY-FIRST BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS. [1] _Εὐπηγής, bene compactus et coagmentatus._ The Wooers in Minerva’s sight Slain by Ulysses; all the light And lustful housewives by his son And servants are to slaughter done.
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