Of sad reflection and corroding care.”

He ceased; the menial fair that round her wait,

At Helen’s beck prepare the room of state;

Beneath an ample portico they spread

The downy fleece to form the slumberous bed;

And o’er soft palls of purple grain unfold

Rich tapestry, stiff with interwoven gold:

Then, through the illumined dome, to balmy rest

The obsequious herald guides each princely guest;

While to his regal bower the king ascends,

And beauteous Helen on her lord attends.

Soon as the morn, in orient purple dress’d,

Unbarr’d the portal of the roseate east,

The monarch rose; magnificent to view,

The imperial mantle o’er his vest he threw;

The glittering zone athwart his shoulders cast,

A starry falchion low-depending graced;

Clasp’d on his feet the embroidered sandals shine;

And forth he moves, majestic and divine,

Instant to young Telemachus he press’d;

And thus benevolent his speech addressed:


“Say, royal youth, sincere of soul report

Whit cause hath led you to the Spartan court?

Do public or domestic care constrain

This toilsome voyage o’er the surgy main?”


“O highly-favour’d delegate of Jove!

(Replies the prince) inflamed with filial love,

And anxious hope, to hear my parent’s doom,

A suppliant to your royal court I come:

Our sovereign seat a lewd usurping race

With lawless riot and misrule disgrace;

To pamper’d insolence devoted fall

Prime of the flock, and choicest of the stall:

For wild ambition wings their bold desire,

And all to mount the imperial bed aspire.

But prostrate I implore, O king! relate

The mournful series of my father’s fate:

Each known disaster of the man disclose,

Born by his mother to a world of woes!

Recite them; nor in erring pity fear

To wound with storied grief the filial ear.

If e’er Ulysses, to reclaim your right,

Avow’d his zeal in council or in fight,

If Phrygian camps the friendly toils attest,

To the sire’s merit give the son’s request.”