Beneath this covert great Ulysses crept.

Of gather’d leaves an ample bed he made

(Thick strewn by tempest through the bowery shade);

Where three at least might winter’s cold defy,

Though Boreas raged along the inclement sky.

This store with joy the patient hero found,

And, sunk amidst them, heap’d the leaves around.

As some poor peasant, fated to reside

Remote from neighbours in a forest wide,

Studious to save what human wants require,

In embers heap’d, preserves the seeds of fire:

Hid in dry foliage thus Ulysses lies,

Till Pallas pour’d soft slumbers on his eyes;

And golden dreams (the gift of sweet repose)

Lull’d all his cares, and banish’d all his woes.


BOOK VI.


ARGUMENT.


Pallas appearing in a dream in to Nausicaa (the daughter of Alcinous, king of

Phæacia, commands her to descend to the river, and wash the robes of state, in

preparation for her nuptials. Nausicaa goes with her handmaidens to the river;

where, while the garments are spread on the bank, they divert themselves in

sports. Their voices awaken Ulysses, who, addressing himself to the princess,

is by her relieved and clothed, and receives directions in what manner to apply

to the king and queen of the island.


While thus the weary wanderer sunk to rest,

And peaceful slumbers calmed his anxious breast,

The martial maid from heaven’s aërial height

Swift to Phæacia wing’d her rapid flight.

In elder times the soft Phæacian train

In ease possess’d the wide Hyperian plain;

Till the Cyclopæan race in arms arose,

A lawless nation of gigantic foes;

Then great Nausithous from Hyperia far,

Through seas retreating from the sounds of war,

The recreant nation to fair Scheria led,

Where never science rear’d her laurell’d head;

There round his tribes a strength of wall he raised;

To heaven the glittering domes and temples blazed;

Just to his realms, he parted grounds from grounds,

And shared the lands, and gave the lands their bounds.