Cornell University Library 
 PR 4970.M9T4 
 
 Thermopylae; Newdlgate verse, 1881. 
 
 3 1924 013 520 345 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013520345 
 
THERMOPYLAE 
 
 NEWDIGATE VERSE, tSSI 
 
 BY 
 
 J. W. MACKAIL 
 
 HONORARY SCHOLAR OF BALLIOL 
 
 OXFORD 
 
 B. H. BLACKWELL, So BROAD STREET 
 
 LONDON 
 
 SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO. 
 
 i83i 
 
LONDOK : PRINTED BY 
 
 SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE 
 
 AND PARLIAMENT STREET 
 
The Dorian lips are gone to dust, 
 That once by the Italian sea 
 Blew that loniaii strain that mtist 
 Make musical Thermopylae 
 In all metis earsXand hearts to be, 
 Who. "Watch the Ue of battle rolled, 
 From Susds palekes of gold, 
 To break on Salmis, as thus 
 They hpti^again the story told 
 Polymhia told Herodotus. 
 
 ' H. C. B. 
 
Veri mendaces erant colles, et multitudo montium. 
 
THERMOPYLAE. 
 
 Midway between the vintage and the spring, 
 The apple-flower and apple-gathering, 
 When the nights lingered from the longest day, 
 And wheat was ripening, and the roads were grey, 
 With thirsty dust along the Phocian hills. 
 And in their hollow beds the shrunken rills 
 Fainted for heat of summer air aflame, 
 From the Greek army at the Isthmus came 
 A vanguard, sent to hold the pass whereby 
 The Persian king must march from Thessaly. 
 
 For Oeta falls in precipices down 
 Sheer to the sea, beside Anthela town. 
 Leaving scant passage for a man to go 
 Between the rocks above him, and below 
 
6 Thermopylae. 
 
 Spercheius flooding all the marshy shore. 
 Here after battle Heracles of yore 
 Had found warm springs to bathe in : to this day 
 They steam and bubble up beside the way, 
 And spill themselves between the cliff and sea ; 
 So that the place was called Thermopylae. 
 
 They therefore, some six thousand men in all, 
 Marched to the pass, and built anew the wall, 
 Built of old time by Phocians to restrain 
 The wild Thessalian riders of the plain, 
 Marauding through their valleys at their will 
 When summer nights were cool on shore and hill. 
 Here they encamped, and waited for the king ; 
 Whose army, pouring with the break of spring 
 Through Phrygia from its winter camp, had rolled 
 Across the bridges of the ford of gold, 
 Army and fleet together ; for at last 
 The wheel had come full circle for the past ; 
 Scamander on Spercheius flooded back, 
 And Troy to Aulis on the self-same track 
 Sent on thwart winds an answering tempest, driven 
 Ruining on Europe out of all the heaven, 
 
Thermopylae. 7 
 
 With flash and tumult, as of old the fire 
 
 That leapt from Ida for the queen's desire, 
 
 News of the captured city ; thus it came, 
 
 With signal answering signal, flame with flame ; 
 
 Thus overstriding the long ridge of sea. 
 
 The travelling torch's splendour joyously. 
 
 Delaying not nor overborne of sleep. 
 
 Kindled and flashed from steep to windy steep, 
 
 Till on the palace roof in Argos town 
 
 Smote the broad radiance, telling Troy was down. 
 
 So now the Eastern host, a fire of doom, 
 
 Drew forward, wrapping all its path in gloom ; 
 
 The strength of Asia, splendider and more 
 
 Than those whom Datis led ten years before 
 
 Across the sea, a tempest backward blown 
 
 Before the Athenian spears at Marathon. 
 
 Four years together, in revenge for these, 
 
 The empire through its hundred provinces 
 
 From north to south had gathered, man by man, 
 
 Persian and Mede, Bactrian and Cissian, 
 
 Out of all lands to battle for the king ; 
 
 And from the sunset and the sunrising 
 
8 Thermopylae. 
 
 The double tribe of Aethiopian men, 
 And infantry from Egypt's populous fen, 
 And Sacian axes and Sarangian spears, 
 Chorasmian horse and Indian charioteers. 
 And Melonian and Mariandyne, 
 And all who dwelt where, swoln with floods di- 
 vine, 
 Tigris or Oxus or Hydaspes ran 
 By hill and plain through spaces Asian. 
 
 And now the innumerable army lay 
 Encamped at Trachis, by the Malian bay. 
 Filling the broad Spercheius-dale with light 
 And sound of armour ; while within their sight, 
 Silent and unconcerned, across the way 
 The Greeks kept guard, and through the summer 
 
 day 
 Practised with quoit and javelin on the dry 
 Cliff-shaded turf, while others quietly 
 Sat combing their long hair outside the wall ; 
 Seeming against their strength a force so- small, 
 They waited certain days, so be that they 
 Might yet lose heart and leave an open way ; 
 
Thermopylae. ij 
 
 Till the king wearying, in impatient scorn 
 Bade them sweep clear the pass the morrow morn. 
 That night a summer storm on sea and plain 
 Swept down with wet winged feet and lashing 
 
 rain, 
 That rushed and streamed through Oeta's rocky 
 
 walls, 
 Till all her sides were loud with waterfalls. 
 The fires glowed red and lightning glimmered 
 
 pale 
 Across the gulf, where, sheltered from the gale. 
 Beneath the Artemisian headland lay 
 The Greek fleet, couched like some- wild beast at 
 
 bay, 
 With angry eyes across the strait of sea 
 Watching the Persian camp at Aphetae. 
 But with the morning from the plain below 
 The Medes and Cissians, eager towards the foe. 
 Streamed forward through the vapour misty -grey. 
 Shot through with splendour of returning day. 
 For hours they fought the narrow way to win ; 
 But steadily the long Greek spears broke in, 
 
lo Thermopylae. 
 
 Met them and pierced them, till, beat down and 
 
 foiled. 
 Their line retreated like a snake uncoiled: 
 Again next day their bravest, with like fate. 
 Assailed afresh the unconquerable gate, 
 Swept back in ruin ; and when evening fell, 
 Thermopylae yet stood impregnable. 
 
 Up the lone gorges where Asopus born 
 Scatters its spray, a pathway, torrent-worn. 
 Climbs the stern cliffs Oetean, winding high 
 Through tall straight-columned pines that ridge 
 
 the sky. 
 Then plunges down a long deep-cloven ravine 
 Through southward slopes thickset with oak woods 
 
 green, 
 Till through their boughs the sea again gleams 
 
 dim. 
 East of the guarded pass's eastern rim. 
 This way the Malian traitor up the height 
 Led on a column through the dead of night ; 
 And those who guarded the steep mountain way 
 Awoke to hear, while yet the east was grey. 
 
Thermopylae. 1 1 
 
 Through the fallen leaves their heavy trampling, 
 
 drawn 
 Nearer and louder in the hush of dawn ; 
 And, panic-stricken, left their post and fled, 
 Huddled together at the mountain head. 
 The great ascending column climbed and crossed, 
 Descended eastward, and the pass was lost. 
 
 The army in the pass by rise of sun 
 Knew all that human strength could do was done. 
 Since now their mountain fortress needs must fall, 
 And naught was left but fair retreat for all. 
 But for the Spartan soldiers no retreat 
 Was left, no backward pathway for their feet. 
 For Sparta through her sacred month delayed. 
 And none in Greece would move when Sparta 
 
 stayed ; 
 Fear numbed their spirit and unnerved their hand. 
 And even the sacred guardians of the land 
 Fainted with terror of ill- ominous signs 
 In Dodonaean or in Delphian shrines ; 
 Pale as above their belt of myrtle trees 
 Glimmer all night the moonlit Phzedriades. 
 
1 2 Thermopylae. 
 
 Though none behind them help or hope could send, 
 Hopeless, they sternly waited for the end. 
 To stay was death ; but how could they return, 
 A beaten army, the reproach and scorn 
 Of boys and stately women and elders grey. 
 In hollow Lacedaemon far away ? 
 
 Thus in the golden morning, sad at heart. 
 The camp broke up, and those who should depart 
 Filed down the valley, while the fated few 
 Watched their long line until it sank from view. 
 Then, while the July sun began to climb, 
 With shortening shadows toward full-market time. 
 The Persians, multitudinous and elate. 
 Streamed in slow masses towards the fatal gate ; 
 And these last fourteen hundred, man by man. 
 Spartan, Boeotian, and Thespian, 
 Alone, outworn, outnumbered, yet with face 
 Calm as if gathering to the holy place 
 Upon this festal morning, even as they 
 Who now, white-robed and chapleted with bay. 
 Walked lightly on the green Olympian plain ; 
 So calmly these, for what might yet remain, 
 
Thermopylae. 1 3 
 
 Of all their glory sealing up the sum, 
 
 Entered the valley whence they should not come. 
 
 Through noon and afternoon the battle burned, 
 As wave on wave retreated and returned, 
 With heavy surge of fight that rose and tossed 
 Around them, ever where the long spears crossed 
 In ruinous flight borne backward, and again 
 The refluent onset and upsurge of men. 
 Shield crashed on shield, spear shivered upon 
 
 spear, 
 Hard iron broke on iron, and brass rang clear, 
 Smitten and sundered with great strength of hand, 
 On the low border of the fatal strand. 
 Where, careless now of life, as those whose cry 
 Is choked beneath deep waters, recklessly 
 They charged the masses that about them swayed, 
 Breaking and trampling through them, till they 
 
 made 
 Such slaughter one might scarce clear-footed tread 
 The meadow ground ; so thick it lay with dead. 
 Themselves too dropping faster, as the day 
 Waned, and their strength was slowly worn away. 
 
14 Thermopylae. 
 
 The Spartan king was down, and round the king 
 Their bravest, done with all their warfaring, 
 Blood spattered on their faces swart and spare. 
 And scarlet tunics and long golden hair. 
 Yet still they fought, while through the ridge of 
 
 spears 
 Flashed in their eyes and sounded in their ears 
 Death, and about their feet and through their breath 
 Death, and above their heads the shadow of death ; 
 Till forced together, when the day grew late, 
 They gathered on a hillock by the gate ; 
 And while the swift continuous arrow-flight 
 Hailed on their armour, and to left and right 
 The hot air seemed to quiver, the earth to reel. 
 Under the intolerable sleet of steel, 
 With dagger or bare teeth or foot and hand. 
 Fiercely, so long as they had strength to stand, 
 The last of those who fought that day so well. 
 Fought on, till fighting to the last they fell. 
 
 And the sun sank, and all the paths were 
 grey; 
 The slow mist crept along the purple bay 
 
Thermopylae. \ 5 
 
 And veiled the heavy marshes, and the light 
 Glimmered through belts of shadow into night. 
 With minted shouts and clamour of diverse speech 
 The victors wound their way along the beach. 
 As when in April woods aflush with spring 
 Dream of the time of longer days to fling 
 On green recesses and untrodden vales 
 Summer, and heat, and noise of nightingales ; 
 So now the conquering army seemed to be. 
 Now and tomorrow more abundantly, 
 Like very gods upon "the slopes of heaven ; 
 Nor dreamed how soon this glory should be driven 
 To helpless ruin, when in two months more. 
 Beside the sacred Salaminian shore, 
 A thousand wrecks should crowd the autumn sea 
 And Salamis aVenge Thermopylae. 
 
 But now among the Eastern host for all 
 This was a night of joy and festival. 
 Whatever lot the jealous fates had turned. 
 Bright in the central camp's pavilion burned, 
 In silver censers piles of spice and gum, 
 Stacte and tragacanth and galbanum, 
 
1 6 Thermopylae. 
 
 With thin red quivering flame and drowsy scent, 
 That round the soft blue Tyrian hangings went, 
 Where at his royal banquet sat the king 
 Amid the Persian nobles, glorying. 
 And all about the camp from line to line 
 Fires blazed, and silver stood abrim with wine ; 
 And over all the stars looked softly down ; 
 While one slow cloud grew dark on Oeta's crown. 
 And from it thunder rolled, and flying fire 
 Ran out and vanished, as some god in ire 
 Flamed from the summit with avenging tread ; 
 Whereat the Persian army, pale with dread, 
 Poured from their cups libation, marvelling . 
 What evil chance the coming days might bring. 
 What shape of terror ; and the air grew chill 
 Oijt of the east, and all the camp was still. 
 
 LONDON : PaiNTED BY 
 
 SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUAKE 
 
 AND PARLIAMENT STREET 
 

 
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 '1 
 
 I 
 
 
O D Y S S E U S 
 IN PHAEACIA 
 
 . (ODYSSETr vt) 
 
 BY J. W. MACKAIL 
 
ODYSSEUS 
 IN PHAEACIA 
 
 BY J. W. MACKAIL 
 
 SOMETIUE FELLOW OF 
 
 BALLIOL COLLEGE 
 
 OXFORD 
 
 LONDON 
 
 Published by DAVID NUTT 
 
 in the Strand 
 
 1896 
 
Edinburgh : T. and A. Cohstable, Printers to Her Majesty 
 
UT FLOS IN SEPTIS SECRETUM NASCITUB HOBTISj 
 
 IGNOTUS FECOBI, NULLO CONTUSUS ABATBO, 
 
 QUEM MULCENT AUBAE^ FIBUAT SOL, EDUCAT IMBEB. 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 (ODYSSEY VI.) 
 
 So slept he there, with toil and slumber' spent. 
 Weary Odysseus. But Athena went 
 To the Phaeacian people's land and town, 
 Who dwelt of old beside the turbulent 
 
 Cyclopes, where the upland lawns lie spread 
 In Hypereia, and were hard bestead 
 Before their overmastering might ; till thence 
 Divine Nausithoiis drew them forth and led, 
 
 And set in Scheria, far off the rout 
 Of merchant-venturers, and walled about 
 A town, and built houses and temples there. 
 And ploughlands to the people parcelled out. 
 5 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 But he to the Dark Realm, laid low by doom. 
 Was gone, and wise Alcinous in his room 
 Reigned by the grace of God : and counselling 
 That brave Odysseus might find convoy home, 
 
 Grey-eyed Athena sought his house that day. 
 And to the carven chamber took her way, 
 Wherein a maiden fair as Goddesses, 
 Nausicaa, daughter of Alcinous, lay. 
 
 Two comely maids lay by her on the floor 
 Across the doorway ; and the glittering door 
 Was shut ; but through it, like a puflF of wind. 
 She passed, and to the bed right on she bore ; 
 
 And standing at her head, the guise put on 
 Of the girl's best-loved girl-companion. 
 Daughter of Dymas, the famed sea-captain : 
 Even in her likeness spoke the Grey-eyed One : 
 
 ' Nausicaa, you idle child ! here lie 
 Your bright clothes, all unheeded : yet is nigh 
 Your wedding day, when fair attire you need 
 Both for yourself and those who lead you by. 
 6 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' For thence comes praise of men to be your meed. 
 And makes my lord and lady glad indeed. 
 Let us go washing with the peep of dawn ; 
 And I will be your workmate for good speed. 
 
 ' Not long shall you be maiden. Even to-day 
 The princeliest in your own Phaeacia 
 From all the land come wooing you. Arise ! 
 Speak to yoiir father, while the dawn is grey, 
 
 ' To yoke a mule-cart that may carry down 
 Bright-coloured coverlet and sash and gown. 
 Nay, even yourself could scarce go well afoot ; 
 So far the washing-pools are off the town.' 
 
 So saying, grey-eyed Athena went her way 
 Up to Olympus ; where the Gods, they say, 
 Dwell in an ageless seat inviolable, 
 That no wind shakes and no rain wets for aye. 
 
 Nor snowflake touches it : but very bright 
 It stretches, all unclouded, and a white 
 Splendour swims over it ; and all their days 
 The blessed Gods therein take their delight. 
 7 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 Thither, her word said to the girl, was gone 
 The Grey-eyed One : and on her shining throne 
 Dawn clomb, and woke fair-gowned Nausicaa ; 
 And at her dream she mused awhile alone. 
 
 Then hastily she sought the palace round. 
 To tell her parents. Both within she found. 
 By the hall-hearth among her handmaidens 
 Her mother sat, and off her spindle wound 
 
 The twisted threads, dim-coloured like the sea. 
 But him she met as to the council he 
 Passed forth, whereto his lords were calling him ; 
 And, standing close, she spoke thus lovingly : 
 
 * Papa dear, would you let me have the high 
 Wheeled cart, to take my dainty clothes, that lie 
 Soiled in the house, down to the watermead. 
 And wash them where the running stream goes by ? 
 
 ' And even for you yourself it is most fit 
 That when the councillors in council sit. 
 Among the princes with clean raiment on 
 You go. And in the palace, bom in it, 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' Five sons are yours : two wedded now, but three 
 Are lusty bachelors, who endlessly 
 Want clothes fresh from the wash that they may go 
 To dances : all this charge is laid on me.' 
 
 So spoke she ; for the word of marriage wrought 
 So strangely in her, she could not speak her thought 
 To her own father. But he understood, 
 And answered, ' Go, my child ; I grudge you nought, 
 
 ' Mules or what else you need your will to do. 
 
 The thralls shall yoke the high wheeled cart for you, 
 
 And fix the tilt on it.' He spoke, and called 
 
 The thralls, and bade them. Forthwith out they drew 
 
 The easy-running mule-cart as he bade. 
 And yoked the mules thereunder : then the maid 
 Forth of the inner room the shining clothes 
 Carried, and in the smooth-planed wagon laid. 
 
 And in the box good food and dainties fine 
 Her mother laid, and filled a skin with wine, 
 And gave her a gold flask of liquid oil 
 For bathing when her maids and she would dine. 
 A 2 9 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 Then the girl, climbing to the wagon-seat, 
 Took whip and reins in hand. With clattering feet 
 The mules went as she lashed them to a run ; 
 And clothes and girl went swinging up the street, 
 
 Her handmaidens behind her following fast ; 
 Till to the lovely riverside at last 
 They came, where all the year abundantly 
 Bright water bubbled in and fleeted past 
 
 From pool to pool, all soil to wash away. 
 
 Then they unyoked, and turned the mules to stray 
 
 Loose by the eddying river, there at will 
 
 To graze the couchgrass honeysweet : but they 
 
 Carried the clothes by armfuls where the unlit 
 Water lay dark, and trod them down in it, 
 Along the conduits, in contending haste. 
 Till of their soilure was not left a whit ; 
 
 And on the seashore spread them each by each. 
 Where the waves cleanest washed the pebble-beach. 
 Then bathing and anointing them with oil. 
 In the strong sun they left the clothes to bleach, 
 
 lO 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 And took their dinner by the riverside. 
 But when the girls with food were satisfied, 
 Their kerchiefs they undid and cast away. 
 To play at ball ; and in the song they plied 
 
 White-armed Nausicaa led them : even so 
 Artemis the Archer down the steep might go 
 Of Erjrmanthus, or Taygetus' 
 Long ridge, rejoicing, while before her bow 
 
 Wild boars and fleet-foot deer flee fast away. 
 And round her path the nymphs of the wildwood play. 
 Daughters of Zeus, the Lord of thunderclouds, 
 And Leto joys at heart : for fair are they. 
 
 Yet fairest her own child where all are fair ; 
 And over all her brows and crown of hair 
 Rise, easily known among them : so among 
 Her maidens shone the mateless maiden there. 
 
 But when the time drew nigh that she was fain 
 To fold the fair clothes up, and yoke the wain. 
 And turn her homeward, then the Grey-eyed One, 
 Divine Athena, counselled yet again 
 
 II 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 To wake Odysseus, so that he might see 
 The lovely maiden who his guide should be 
 To the Phaeacian city. Thereupon 
 The princess at a maid flung suddenly 
 
 The ball, but missed her. In the pool hard by 
 It fell ; and all cried out ; and at the cry 
 He woke, and sat up, thinking inwardly, 
 ' O me ! whose land is this, and where am I ? 
 
 ' Are these fierce lawless men of savage blood. 
 Or hospitable and of godly mood ? 
 And the shrill voices as of womenkind 
 That echo round me now, are these the brood 
 
 ' Of the nymph-maidens who by river- well 
 And mountain-peak and grassy meadow dwell ? 
 Or am I among folk of human speech ? 
 Well, I must take the risk, that I may tell.' 
 
 So saying, lord Odysseus from his lair 
 In the bushes crept, and from the forest fair 
 A leafy bough to hide his nakedness 
 Broke off, and like a mountain-lion there 
 
 12 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 Strode forth, that through the raining blowing night. 
 Fearless in strength, with eyeballs fiery-bright, 
 Goes after the wild woodland deer, or sheep. 
 Or oxen, hunting ; for his hunger's might 
 
 Even the barred homestead where the flocks are pent 
 Bids him adventure : so Odysseus went 
 Among the fair-tressed girls to cast himself. 
 Though naked ; for his need was imminent. 
 
 Dreadful to them the sea-stained form drew nigh ; 
 And up and down they ran dispersedly 
 Along the sandspits, terror-struck : alone 
 The daughter of Alcinoiis did not fly ; 
 
 Such courage put Athena in her mood ; 
 But with unfaltering limbs straight up she stood. 
 Whereat Odysseus hung in doubt awhile 
 Whether to clasp her knees in prayer were good, 
 
 Or from afar with supplicating speech 
 Even where he stood her mercy to beseech. 
 Yet to his thinking with soft words it seemed 
 Best from afar the lovely maid to reach ; 
 A3 13 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 Lest, if he touched her knees, she wrathfuUy 
 Might turn away : then subtle and soft spoke he : 
 ' I kneel to you. Protectress ! God are you 
 Or mortal ? if a God indeed you be, 
 
 ' Such as wide heaven inhabit, then I wis 
 He who should deem you very Artemis, 
 The daughter of high Zeus, so fair you are 
 And tall and beautiful, were least amiss. 
 
 ' But if a mortal, such as dwell on earth. 
 Thrice-fortunate are they who gave you birth. 
 Father and mother, and thrice-fortunate 
 Your brothers : surely evermore great mirth 
 
 ' They all make over you, with hearts elate 
 To see a thing so lovely-delicate 
 Treading a measure in the dance. But yet 
 Far and away is he most fortunate 
 
 ' Beyond the rest, who one day, wooing well. 
 Laden with gifts shall take you home to dwell : 
 For never mortal man nor woman yet r 
 My eyes have looked on so adorable. 
 14 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' In Delos thus indeed a young palm-tree 
 Once it befell me growing up to see 
 Beside Apollo's altar — for there too 
 I voyaged, and much people followed me, 
 
 ' When upon that ill-omened road I went, 
 That brought me woe — and in astonishment 
 I gazed upon it long ; for from no tree 
 A shaft so stately up from earth is sent. 
 
 ' So wondering, so admiring now once more 
 I stand, afraid to clasp your knees, though sore 
 My grief is, lady ; for but yesternight 
 Out of the purple deep I reached the shore, 
 
 ' The twentieth day : so long across the sea 
 From the Far Isle the sharp squalls hurried me 
 Incessant ; and now heaven has flung me here. 
 Doubtless for more misfortunes yet to be : 
 
 ' For not yet can I deem my labour done, 
 Till the Gods perfect what they have begun. 
 Pity me then, Protectress ! for to you 
 Out of woes manifold I first have won ; 
 15 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' And beside you nought else I imderstand 
 Nor know what folk possess this city and land. 
 Then guide me to the town, and give to me, 
 From such clothes-wrappings as you have at hand, 
 
 ' A rag for covering : so what you require 
 May the Gods grant you to your heart's desire ; 
 Husband and house, and in your household ways 
 Fair concord : since no height of bliss is higher 
 
 ' Than when in concord man and wife repose, 
 Holding the house between them : to their foes 
 Great grief it gives, and to their well-wishers 
 Joy : but their own heart best its happiness knows.' 
 
 Thereat white-armed Nausicaa, in his face 
 Looking, made answer, ' Stranger, nowise base 
 Nor witless seem you : but Olympian Zeus 
 Himself allots weal to the human race, 
 
 ' After his pleasure, be they good or ill. 
 This lot is yours, and you must bear it still. 
 Yet now, since to our city and land you come. 
 You shall not lack for clothes or what you will, 
 l6 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' Such as a suppliant in his need might claim 
 From far-oif people to whose hands he came. 
 And I myself will guide you to the town, 
 And tell you what the people have for name. 
 
 ' Phaeacians are the dwellers in this land 
 And city ; and I, who here before you stand, 
 Am daughter of Alcinoiis, who holds 
 Phaeacia's might and force within his hand.' 
 
 She spoke, and to her fair-tressed maidens thus 
 Cried out, ' Stand still, girls ! why so timorous 
 At sight of a strange face ? you do not think 
 This man is here with ill intent to us ? 
 
 ' That living mortal is not, nor shall be. 
 Who to Phaeacia bearing enmity 
 May come : for very dear to heaven we are, 
 And dwell apart amid the surging sea, 
 
 ' At the world's end, where never foot draws near 
 Of other mortals. But this wanderer here 
 We must treat kindly in his misery. 
 Strangers and beggars all to God are dear. 
 17 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' How small soe'er, the grace to these we show 
 Is precious. With this stranger be it so. 
 Give him to eat and drink, and make him bathe 
 Down in the sheltered stream, where no winds blow.' 
 
 So spoke Nausicaa ; and from hand to hand 
 Her women passed along the sign to stand. 
 And set Odysseus in a sheltered place. 
 As great /Alcinoiis' daughter gave command. 
 
 And there beside the running river they 
 Laid down a shirt and cloak for his array. 
 And gave him a gold flask of liquid oil. 
 And bade him wash the soil of the sea away. 
 
 Then to the girls Odysseus made reply, 
 ' Stand apart yonder, women, until I 
 Wash the brine ofl' my shoulders, and rub oil 
 All over me : the day is long gone by 
 
 ' Since last oil of anointing touched my skin. 
 But in your presence I will not begin 
 To bathe ; for shame it were in any place 
 To strip, if fair-tressed maids I found therein.' 
 i8 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 But they, drew backward as Odygpeus said, 
 And told the girl : then in the river-bed 
 He wiped away the brine that caked his back 
 And shoulders broad, and rubbed from out his head 
 
 The barren salt-sea scurf, and every limb 
 Washed clean, and with the oil-flask made him trim. 
 And when thereafter he did on the clothes 
 The mateless maiden had bestowed on him. 
 
 The child of Zeus, Athena, in their sight 
 Gave to his form an ampler breadth and height. 
 And made the long hair cluster on his head 
 Tight-curUng, as a hyacinth-flower curls tight. 
 
 Even as a cunning craftsman, in his trade 
 By Pallas or Hephaestus perfect made, 
 With manifold device of workmanship. 
 Lays gold-leaf upon silver : so she laid 
 
 Grace on his head and shoulders. On the beach, 
 Shining in splendour, just within their reach 
 He sat ; and gazing upon him, the girl 
 Thus to her fair-tressed maidens uttered speech : 
 
 19 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' Listen, white-armed girls, to what I say. 
 Not surely against the will of them whose sway 
 Is over wide Olympus, does this man 
 Reach the divine Fhaeacian land to-day. 
 
 ' Uncomely at first he seemed ; but now I see 
 The heavenly gods are not more fair than he. 
 Would that even such an one were called my lord, 
 Mine, and it pleased him alway thus to be, 
 
 ' Abiding with us here — ah women ! yet 
 Give him such meat and drink as strangers get.'' 
 So spoke she ; and they heard her and obeyed, 
 And by Odysseus meat and drink they set. 
 
 Then ravenously he ate of what they brought. 
 And drank ; for long his fast had been, since aught 
 Weary Odysseus' lips had passed. But now 
 White-armed Nausicaa yet again took thought. 
 
 Folding the clothes, she laid them on the wain. 
 
 And harnessed up the strong-hoofed mules again ; 
 
 Then climbing to her seat, she turned to him 
 
 With counselling words, and spoke out straight and 
 
 plain : 
 
 20 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' Rise now, O guest, and hasten to the town. 
 That I may be your guide, and speed you down 
 To my sage father's house, where you shall see, 
 I promise, all Phaeacia's flower and crown. 
 
 ' Then — ^for I think you wise — do even so : 
 While by the fields and works of men we go, 
 Follow apace behind the mules and cart. 
 Beside the maids ; and I the way will show. 
 
 ' But when we reach the city, round it stand 
 High battlements, and upon either hand 
 Lies a fair haven, and between the two 
 You enter by a narrow spit of land. 
 
 ' Along the road the curving galleys fair. 
 Each in a separate yard, lie beached ; and there, 
 On both sides of the beautifully built 
 Shrine of Poseidon, is the market-square ; 
 
 ' With massy and deep-sunken stones fenced in 
 All round ; and busily the folk therein 
 Work at the rigging of their black-hulled ships, 
 Cables and cordage, and cut oarblades thin. 
 21 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' Since not with bow nor quiver here do we 
 Deem in Phaeacia our concern to be ; 
 But masts and oars, and balanced ships, wherein 
 Rejoicingly we cross the foam-flecked sea. 
 
 ' And bitter speech from them I fain would shun, 
 Hereafter flung in scorn at this I have done. 
 Proud are the common folk : and meeting us 
 Together, thus might say some baser one : 
 
 ' Avd who is this, the stranger tall and gay 
 TTiat our Nausicaa brings behind her, pray ? 
 And where may she have fovmd him ? Ay, no doubt 
 She leads a husband back with her to-day ! 
 
 ' Is he some wamderer from across the foam — 
 Smce no men near our island have their home — 
 Lured hither Jrom his ship ? or has some God, 
 Long prcajed for, heard her prayer at last and come, 
 
 ' Out of the skies descending amorous. 
 To have her all her life-days ? Better thus : 
 Though she must go herse^ to fetch him in, 
 This outland lord I for she despises us, 
 22 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' The people of her own Phaeacian name. 
 Where many men and good to woo her came. 
 So will they say ; and this will bring on me 
 Shame, even as I myself would think it shame 
 
 ' If any other girl in suchlike way, 
 With parents of her own alive, should stray, 
 Heedless of them, in company with men. 
 Nor wait for marriage in the face of day. 
 
 ' Now, guest, mark well my words ; and they are these : 
 So at my father's hands you may with ease 
 Find convoy and home-coming. You will note 
 Athena's goodly grove of poplar- trees, 
 
 ' By the roadside : therein a spring wells out ; 
 And the king's close and croft lie round about, 
 In the rich meadow, as far off the town 
 As a man's voice will carry if he shout. 
 
 ' There, while the rest pass on, sit down and wait 
 Some while, till we have reached the palace gate. 
 But when you reckon we are there, go on 
 Into the town, and ask where holds hi^ state 
 
 23 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 ' My father, great Alcinous : and this 
 Is known most easily ; even a child I wis 
 Might be your guide ; for no Phaeacian house 
 Is built as prince Alcinoiis' palace is. 
 
 ' But when you cross the forecourt, and the tall 
 House covers you, pass swiftly up the hall. 
 Straight to my mother. In the firelight she 
 Sits by the hearth, and off her spindle fall 
 
 * The twisted threads, dim-coloiu'ed like the sea, 
 Marvellous : leaning on the hall-piQar she 
 Sits there, her slaves behind her ; and by hers 
 My father's seat is set, where drinking he 
 
 ' Sits like a deathless god. Yet do not stay 
 By him, but clasp our mother's knees, and pray : 
 So shall the day of glad return for you 
 Dawn swiftly, though your home be far away.' 
 
 Even on the word her shining whip she plied ; 
 And the mules quickly left the riverside. 
 And trotted well, and well swung out and in 
 Their feet, while wisely she, their pace to guide, 
 24 
 
ODYSSEUS IN PHAEACIA 
 
 Laid on the lash, so that but little space 
 Behind, Odysseus and the maids kept pace. 
 And the sun sank as to the stately grove 
 They drew anigh, Athena's holy place. 
 
 There lord Odysseus stayed, and turned to bow 
 To great Zeus' daughter, praying, ' Hearken thou ! 
 Daughter of Zeus, the Lord of thunderclouds. 
 Maiden Unweariable, hear me now ; 
 
 ' Though once before thou heardst me not, when he. 
 The mighty Shaker of Earth, was breaking me. 
 And I was broken : grant me here to find 
 Friendship and pity ! ' So he prayed ; and she 
 
 Heard, but as yet apparent vision none 
 Vouchsafed him : for she feared her father's son ; 
 And he against divine Odysseus raged 
 In furious wise, ere yet his land he won. 
 
 25 
 
Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty 
 at the Edinburgh University Press