The Odysseys of Homer, together with the shorter poems · Homer
ANOTHER ARGUMENT
All heard; together all From hence and thence met in Ulysses’ hall, Short-breath’d and noiseful, bore out all the dead To instant burial, while their deaths were spread To other neighbour cities where they liv’d, From whence in swiftest fisher-boats arriv’d Men to transfer them home. In mean space here The heavy nobles all in council were; Where, met in much heap, up to all arose Extremely-griev’d Eupitheus so to lose His son Antinous, who, first of all, By great Ulysses’ hand had slaught’rous fall. Whose father, weeping for him, said: “O friends, This man hath author’d works of dismal ends, Long since conveying in his guide to Troy Good men, and many that did ships employ, All which are lost, and all their soldiers dead; And now the best men Cephallenia bred His hand hath slaughter’d. Go we then (before His ’scape to Pylos, or the Elians’ shore, Where rule the Epeans) ’gainst his horrid hand; For we shall grieve, and infamy will brand Our fames for ever, if we see our sons And brothers end in these confusions, Revenge left uninflicted. Nor will I Enjoy one day’s life more, but grieve and die With instant onset. Nor should you survive To keep a base and beastly name alive. Haste, then, lest flight prevent us.”
This with tears His griefs advis’d, and made all sufferers In his affliction. But by this was come Up to the council from Ulysses’ home— When sleep had left them, which the slaughters there And their self-dangers from their eyes in fear Had two nights intercepted—those two men That just Ulysses sav’d out of the slain, Which Medon and the sacred singer were. These stood amidst the council; and the fear The slaughter had impress’d in either’s look Stuck still so ghastly, that amaze it strook Through ev’ry there beholder. To whose ears One thus enforc’d, in his fright, cause of theirs: “Attend me, Ithacensians! This stern fact Done by Ulysses was not put in act Without the Gods’ assistance. These self eyes Saw one of the immortal Deities Close by Ulysses, Mentor’s form put on At ev’ry part. And this sure Deity shone Now near Ulysses, setting on his bold And slaught’rous spirit, now the points controll’d Of all the Wooers’ weapons, round about The arm’d house whisking, in continual rout Their party putting, till in heaps they fell.”
This news new fears did through their spirits impell, When Halitherses (honour’d Mastor’s son, Who of them all saw only what was done Present and future) the much-knowing man And aged heroë this plain course ran Amongst their counsels: “Give me likewise ear, And let me tell ye, friends, that these ills bear On your malignant spleens their sad effects, Who not what I persuaded gave respects, Nor what the people’s pastor, Mentor, said,— That you should see your issues’ follies stay’d In those foul courses, by their petulant life The goods devouring, scandalling the wife Of no mean person, who, they still would say, Could never more see his returning-day. Which yet appearing now, now give it trust, And yield to my free counsels: Do not thrust Your own safe persons on the acts your sons So dearly bought, lest their confusions On your lov’d heads your like addictions draw.” This stood so far from force of any law To curb their loose attempts, that much the more They rush’d to wreak, and made rude tumult roar. The greater part of all the court arose; Good counsel could not ill designs dispose. Eupitheus was persuader of the course, Which, cómplete-arm’d, they put in present force; The rest sat still in council.
These men met Before the broad town, in a place they set All girt in arms; Eupitheus choosing chief To all their follies, who put grief to grief, And in his slaughter’d son’s revenge did burn. But Fate gave never feet to his return, Ordaining there his death. Then Pallas spake To Jove, her Father, with intent to make His will high arbiter of th’ act design’d, And ask’d of him what his unsearchéd mind Held undiscover’d? If with arms, and ill, And grave encounter he, would first fulfill His sacred purpose, or both parts combine In peaceful friendship? He ask’d: “Why incline These doubts thy counsels? Hast not thou decreed That Ithacus should come and give his deed The glory of revenge on these and theirs?
Perform thy will; the frame of these affairs Have this fit issue: When Ulysses’ hand Hath reach’d full wreak, his then renown’d command Shall reign for ever, faithful truces strook ’Twixt him and all; for ev’ry man shall brook His sons’ and brothers’ slaughters; by our mean To send Oblivion in, expunging clean The character of enmity in them all, As in best leagues before. _Peace, festival, And riches in abundance, be the state That crowns the close of wise Ulysses’ Fate.”_ This spurr’d the free, who from heav’n’s continent To th’ Ithacensian isle made straight descent. Where, dinner past, Ulysses said: “Some one Look out to see their nearness.” Dolius’ son Made present speed abroad, and saw them nigh, Ran back, and told, bade arm; and instantly Were all in arms. Ulysses’ part was four, And six more sons of Dolius; all his pow’r Two only more, which were his aged sire And like-year’d Dolius, whose lives’-slak’d fire All-white had left their heads, yet, driv’n by need, Made soldiers both of necessary deed. And now, all-girt in arms, the ports set wide, They sallied forth, Ulysses being their guide; And to them in the instant Pallas came, In form and voice like Mentor, who a flame Inspir’d of comfort in Ulysses’ heart With her seen presence.
To his son, apart, He thus then spake: “Now, son, your eyes shall see, Expos’d in slaught’rous fight, the enemy, Against whom who shall best serve will be seen. Disgrace not then your race, that yet hath been For force and fortitude the foremost tried Of all earth’s offsprings.” His true son replied: “Yourself shall see, lov’d father, if you please, That my deservings shall in nought digress From best fame of our race’s foremost merit.” The old king sprung for joy to hear his spirit, And said: “O lov’d Immortals, what a day Do your clear bounties to my life display! I joy, past measure, to behold my son And nephew close in such contention Of virtues martial.” Pallas, standing near, Said: “O my friend! Of all supremely dear, Seed of Arcesius, pray to Jove and Her That rules in arms, his daughter, and a dart, Spritefully brandish’d, hurl at th’ adverse part.” This said, he pray’d; and she a mighty force Inspir’d within him, who gave instant course To his brave-brandish’d lance, which struck the brass That cheek’d Eupitheus’ casque, and thrust his pass Quite through his head; who fell, and sounded falling, His arms the sound again from earth recalling.
Ulysses and his son rush’d on before, And with their both-way-headed darts did gore Their enemies’ breasts so thick, that all had gone The way of slaughter, had not Pallas thrown Her voice betwixt them, charging all to stay And spare expense of blood. Her voice did fray The blood so from their faces that it left A greenish paleness; all their hands it reft Of all their weapons, falling thence to earth; And to the common mother of their birth, The city, all fled, in desire to save The lives yet left them. Then Ulysses gave A horrid shout, and like Jove’s eagle flew In fiery pursuit, till Saturnius threw His smoking lightning ’twixt them, that had fall Before Minerva, who then out did call Thus to Ulysses: “Born of Jove! Abstain From further bloodshed. Jove’s hand in the slain Hath equall’d in their pains their prides to thee. Abstain, then, lest you move the Deity.” Again then, ’twixt both parts the Seed of Jove, Athenian Pallas, of all future love A league compos’d, and for her form took choice Of Mentor’s likeness both in limb and voice. THE END OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH AND LAST BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.