What nervous arms he boasts! how firm his tread!

His limbs how turn’d! how broad his shoulders spread!

By age unbroke!—but all-consuming care

Destroys perhaps the strength that time would spare:

Dire is the ocean, dread in all its forms!

Man must decay when man contends with storms.”


“Well hast thou spoke (Euryalus replies):

Thine is the guest, invite him thou to rise.”

Swift as the word, advancing from the crowd,

He made obeisance, and thus spoke aloud:


“Vouchsafes the reverend stranger to display

His manly worth, and share the glorious day?

Father, arise! for thee thy port proclaims

Expert to conquer in the solemn games.

To fame arise! for what more fame can yield

Than the swift race, or conflict of the field?

Steal from corroding care one transient day,

To glory give the space thou hast to stay;

Short is the time, and lo! e’en now the gales

Call thee aboard, and stretch the swelling sails.”


To whom with sighs Ulysses gave reply:

“Ah why the ill-suiting pastime must I try?

To gloomy care my thoughts alone are free;

Ill the gay sports with troubled hearts agree;

Sad from my natal hour my days have ran,

A much-afflicted, much-enduring man!

Who, suppliant to the king and peers, implores

A speedy voyage to his native shore.”


“Wide wanders, Laodam, thy erring tongue

The sports of glory to the brave belong

(Retorts Euryalus): he bears no claim

Among the great, unlike the sons of Fame.

A wandering merchant he frequents the main

Some mean seafarer in pursuit of gain;

Studious of freight, in naval trade well skill’d,

But dreads the athletic labours of the field.”


Incensed, Ulysses with a frown replies:

“O forward to proclaim thy soul unwise!

With partial hands the gods their gifts dispense;

Some greatly think, some speak with manly sense;

Here Heaven an elegance of form denies,

But wisdom the defect of form supplies;

This man with energy of thought controls,