Then thus broke out: “O long, O daily mourn’d!

Beyond our hopes, and to our wish return’d!

Conducted sure by Heaven! for Heaven alone

Could work this wonder: welcome to thy own!

And joys and happiness attend thy throne!

Who knows thy bless’d, thy wish’d return? oh say,

To the chaste queen shall we the news convey?

Or hears she, and with blessings loads the day?”


“Dismiss that care, for to the royal bride

Already is it known” (the king replied,

And straight resumed his seat); while round him bows

Each faithful youth, and breathes out ardent vows:

Then all beneath their father take their place,

Rank’d by their ages, and the banquet grace.


Now flying Fame the swift report had spread

Through all the city, of the suitors dead,

In throngs they rise, and to the palace crowd;

Their sighs were many and the tumult loud.

Weeping they bear the mangled heaps of slain;

Inhume the natives in their native plain,

The rest in ships are wafted o’er the main.

Then sad in council all the seniors sate,

Frequent and full, assembled to debate:

Amid the circle first Eupithes rose,

Big was his eye with tears, his heart with woes:

The bold Antinous was his age’s pride,

The first who by Ulysses’ arrow died.

Down his wan cheek the trickling torrent ran,

As mixing words with sighs he thus began:


“Great deeds, O friends! this wondrous man has wrought,

And mighty blessings to his country brought!

With ships he parted, and a numerous train,

Those, and their ships, he buried in the main.

Now he returns, and first essays his hand

In the best blood of all his native land.

Haste, then, and ere to neighbouring Pyle he flies,

Or sacred Elis, to procure supplies;

Arise (or ye for ever fall), arise!

Shame to this age, and all that shall succeed!

If unrevenged your sons and brothers bleed.

Prove that we live, by vengeance on his head,

Or sink at once forgotten with the dead.”

Here ceased he, but indignant tears let fall