Immured within the silent bower of sleep,

Two portals firm the various phantoms keep;

Of ivory one; whence flit, to mock the brain,

Of winged lies a light fantastic train;

The gate opposed pellucid valves adorn,

And columns fair incased with polish’d horn;

Where images of truth for passage wait,

With visions manifest of future fate.

Not to this troop, I fear, that phantom soar’d,

Which spoke Ulysses to this realm restored;

Delusive semblance!-but my remnant life

Heaven shall determine in a gameful strife;

With that famed bow Ulysses taught to bend,

For me the rival archers shall contend.

As on the listed field he used to place

Six beams, opposed to six in equal space;

Elanced afar by his unerring art,

Sure through six circlets flew the whizzing dart.

So, when the sun restores the purple day,

Their strength and skill the suitors shall assay;

To him the spousal honour is decreed,

Who through the rings directs the feather’d reed.

Torn from these walls (where long the kinder powers

With joy and pomp have wing’d my youthful hours!)

On this poor breast no dawn of bliss shall beam;

The pleasure past supplies a copious theme

For many a dreary thought, and many a doleful dream!”


“Propose the sportive lot (the chief replies),

Nor dread to name yourself the bowyer’s prize;

Ulysses will surprise the unfinish’d game,

Avow’d, and falsify the suitors’ claim.”


To whom with grace serene the queen rejoin’d:

“In all thy speech what pleasing force I find!

O’er my suspended woe thy words prevail;

I part reluctant from the pleasing tale,

But Heaven, that knows what all terrestrials need,

Repose to night, and toil to day decreed;

Grateful vicissitudes! yet me withdrawn,

Wakeful to weep and watch the tardy dawn

Establish’d use enjoins; to rest and joy

Estranged, since dear Ulysses sail’d to Troy!

Meantime instructed is the menial tribe

Your couch to fashion as yourself prescribe.”