Why cease we then the wrath of heaven to stay?

Be humbled all, and lead, ye great! the way.

For lo my words no fancied woes relate;

I speak from science and the voice of fate.


“When great Ulysses sought the Phrygian shores

To shake with war proud Ilion’s lofty towers,

Deeds then undone my faithful tongue foretold:

Heaven seal’d my words, and you those deeds behold.

I see (I cried) his woes, a countless train;

I see his friends o’erwhelm’d beneath the main;

How twice ten years from shore to shore he roams:

Now twice ten years are past, and now he comes!”


To whom Eurymachus—“Fly, dotard fly,

With thy wise dreams, and fables of the sky.

Go prophesy at home, thy sons advise:

Here thou art sage in vain—I better read the skies

Unnumber’d birds glide through the aërial way;

Vagrants of air, and unforeboding stray.

Cold in the tomb, or in the deeps below,

Ulysses lies; oh wert thou laid as low!

Then would that busy head no broils suggest,

For fire to rage Telemachus’ breast,

From him some bribe thy venal tongue requires,

And interest, not the god, thy voice inspires.

His guideless youth, if thy experienced age

Mislead fallacious into idle rage,

Vengeance deserved thy malice shall repress.

And but augment the wrongs thou would’st redress,

Telemachus may bid the queen repair

To great Icarius, whose paternal care

Will guide her passion, and reward her choice

With wealthy dower, and bridal gifts of price.

Till she retires, determined we remain,

And both the prince and augur threat in vain:

His pride of words, and thy wild dream of fate,

Move not the brave, or only move their hate,

Threat on, O prince! elude the bridal day.

Threat on, till all thy stores in waste decay.

True, Greece affords a train of lovely dames,

In wealth and beauty worthy of our flames:

But never from this nobler suit we cease;

For wealth and beauty less than virtue please.”


To whom the youth: “Since then in vain I tell