Ilus refused to impart the baneful trust;

With friendlier zeal my father’s soul was fired,

The drugs he knew, and gave the boon desired.

Appear’d he now with such heroic port,

As then conspicuous at the Taphian court;

Soon should yon boasters cease their haughty strife,

Or each atone his guilty love with life.

But of his wish’d return the care resign,

Be future vengeance to the powers divine.

My sentence hear: with stern distaste avow’d,

To their own districts drive the suitor-crowd;

When next the morning warms the purple east,

Convoke the peerage, and the gods attest;

The sorrows of your inmost soul relate;

And form sure plans to save the sinking state.

Should second love a pleasing flame inspire,

And the chaste queen connubial rights require;

Dismiss’d with honour, let her hence repair

To great Icarius, whose paternal care

Will guide her passion, and reward her choice

With wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price.

Then let this dictate of my love prevail:

Instant, to foreign realms prepare to sail,

To learn your father’s fortunes; Fame may prove,

Or omen’d voice (the messenger of Jove),

Propitious to the search. Direct your toil

Through the wide ocean first to sandy Pyle;

Of Nestor, hoary sage, his doom demand:

Thence speed your voyage to the Spartan strand;

For young Atrides to the Achaian coast

Arrived the last of all the victor host.

If yet Ulysses views the light, forbear,

Till the fleet hours restore the circling year.

But if his soul hath wing’d the destined flight,

Inhabitant of deep disastrous night;

Homeward with pious speed repass the main,

To the pale shade funereal rites ordain,

Plant the fair column o’er the vacant grave,

A hero’s honours let the hero have.

With decent grief the royal dead deplored,

For the chaste queen select an equal lord.

Then let revenge your daring mind employ,

By fraud or force the suitor train destroy,

And starting into manhood, scorn the boy.