Our vessel safe, by making well inclined state 230 Of our affairs' success, which Circe had In their elections, they might life elect, To be enlarged, they should with much more band 250 Her wings to waft us, and so urged our keel. Chopp'd it in fragments with my sword, and wrought With strong hand every piece, till all were soft. I stopp'd their ears: and they as fair did ply Then took they seat, and forth our passage strook, The foamy sea beneath their labour shook. 1 favorable wind 2 gentle 3 hawsers And these learn'd numbers made the Sirens' song: "Come here, thou worthy of a world of praise, That dost so high the Grecian glory raise; Ulysses! stay thy ship, and that song hear That none pass'd ever but it bent his ear, But left him ravish'd and instructed more By us, than any ever heard before. For we know all things whatsoever were In wide Troy labour'd; whatsoever there The Grecians and the Trojans both sustain❜d 280 By those high issues that the Gods ordain'd. And whatsoever all the earth can show T' inform a knowledge of desert, we know.” This they gave accent in the sweetest strain That ever open'd an enamour'd vein.2 When my constrain'd heart needs would have mine ear Yet more delighted, force way forth, and hear. To which end I commanded with all sign Stern looks could make (for not a joint of mine Had power to stir) my friends to rise, and give My limbs free way. They freely strived to drive When, far from will to Their ship still on. loose, Eurylochus and Perimedes rose 293 To wrap me surer, and oppress'd me more With many a halser than had use before. When, rowing on without the reach of sound. My friends unstopp'd their ears, and me unbound, And that isle quite we quitted. Restore thy blush unto Aurora bright; To Thetis give the honour of thy feet. Let Venus have thy graces her resigned; And thy sweet voice give back unto the spheres: But yet restore thy fierce and cruel mind To Hyrcan tigers and to ruthless bears. 12 Yield to the marble thy hard heart again; So shalt thou cease to plague and I to pain. LIV Care-charmer Sleep, son of the sable Night, Brother to Death, in silent darkness born: Relieve my languish, and restore the light; With dark forgetting of my care, return! And let the day be time enough to mourn The shipwreck of my ill-adventured youth: Let waking eyes suffice to wail their scorn, Without the torment of the night's untruth. Cease, dreams, the images of day-desires, To model forth the passions of the morrow; Never let rising sun approve1 you liars, 11 To add more grief to aggravate my sorrow. Still let me sleep, embracing clouds in vain; And never wake to feel the day's disdain. He sees the face of Right t' appear as manifold As are the passions of uncertain man; Nor is he mov'd with all the thundercracks Of tyrants' threats, or with the surly brow checks. The storms of sad confusion, that may grow Up in the present for the coming times, 1 as judge Since there's no help, come, let us kiss and part! Nay, I have done; you get no more of me!. And I am glad, yea, glad, with all my heart, That thus so cleanly I myself can free. Shake hands for ever! Cancel all our vows! And when we meet at any time again, Now at the last gasp of Love's latest breath, When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies; When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death, And Innocence is closing up his eyes, Now, if thou wouldst, when all have given him over, From death to life thou might'st him yet recover! |