Let not your soul be sunk in sad despair;

He lives, he breathes this heavenly vital air,

Among a savage race, whose shelfy bounds

With ceaseless roar the foaming deep surrounds.

The thoughts which roll within my ravish’d breast,

To me, no seer, the inspiring gods suggest;

Nor skill’d nor studious, with prophetic eye

To judge the winged omens of the sky.

Yet hear this certain speech, nor deem it vain;

Though adamantine bonds the chief restrain,

The dire restraint his wisdom will defeat,

And soon restore him to his regal seat.

But generous youth! sincere and free declare,

Are you, of manly growth, his royal heir?

For sure Ulysses in your look appears,

The same his features, if the same his years.

Such was that face, on which I dwelt with joy

Ere Greece assembled stemm’d the tides to Troy;

But, parting then for that detested shore,

Our eyes, unhappy never greeted more.”


“To prove a genuine birth (the prince replies)

On female truth assenting faith relies.

Thus manifest of right, I build my claim

Sure-founded on a fair maternal fame,

Ulysses’ son: but happier he, whom fate

Hath placed beneath the storms which toss the great!

Happier the son, whose hoary sire is bless’d

With humble affluence, and domestic rest!

Happier than I, to future empire born,

But doom’d a father’s wretch’d fate to mourn!”


To whom, with aspect mild, the guest divine:

“Oh true descendant of a sceptred line!

The gods a glorious fate from anguish free

To chaste Penelope’s increase decree.

But say, yon jovial troops so gaily dress’d,

Is this a bridal or a friendly feast?

Or from their deed I rightlier may divine,

Unseemly flown with insolence and wine?

Unwelcome revellers, whose lawless joy

Pains the sage ear, and hurts the sober eye.”


“Magnificence of old (the prince replied)

Beneath our roof with virtue could reside;

Unblamed abundance crowned the royal board,

What time this dome revered her prudent lord;