Not fiercer woes thy fortitude could foil,

When the brave partners of thy ten years’ toil

Dire Polypheme devour’d; I then was freed

By patient prudence from the death decreed.”


Thus anchor’d safe on reason’s peaceful coast,

Tempests of wrath his soul no longer toss’d;

Restless his body rolls, to rage resign’d

As one who long with pale-eyed famine pined,

The savoury cates on glowing embers cast

Incessant turns, impatient for repast

Ulysses so, from side to side-devolved,

In self-debate the suitor’s doom resolved

When in the form of mortal nymph array’d,

From heaven descends the Jove-born martial maid;

And hovering o’er his head in view confess’d,

The goddess thus her favourite care address’d:


“O thou, of mortals most inured to woes!

Why roll those eyes unfriended of repose?

Beneath thy palace-roof forget thy care;

Bless’d in thy queen! bless’d in thy blooming heir!

Whom, to the gods when suppliant fathers bow

They name the standard of their dearest vow.”


“Just is thy kind reproach (the chief rejoin’d),

Deeds full of fate distract my various mind,

In contemplation wrapp’d. This hostile crew

What single arm hath prowess to subdue?

Or if, by Jove’s and thy auxiliar aid,

They’re doom’d to bleed; O say, celestial maid!

Where shall Ulysses shun, or how sustain

Nations embattled to revenge the slain?”


“Oh impotence of faith! (Minerva cries,)

If man on frail unknowing man relies,

Doubt you the gods? Lo, Pallas self descends,

Inspires thy counsels, and thy toils attends.

In me affianced, fortify thy breast,

Though myriads leagued thy rightful claim contest

My sure divinity shall bear the shield,

And edge thy sword to reap the glorious field.

Now, pay the debt to craving nature due,

Her faded powers with balmy rest renew.”

She ceased, ambrosial slumbers seal his eyes;

Her care dissolves in visionary joys

The goddess, pleased, regains her natal skies.