The king resolves, for mercy sways the brave

That instant Irus his huge arm extends,

Full on his shoulder the rude weight descends;

The sage Ulysses, fearful to disclose

The hero latent in the man of woes,

Check’d half his might; yet rising to the stroke,

His jawbone dash’d, the crashing jawbone broke:

Down dropp’d he stupid from the stunning wound;

His feet extended quivering, beat the ground;

His mouth and nostrils spout a purple flood;

His teeth, all shatter’d, rush inmix’d with blood.


The peers transported, as outstretch’d he lies,

With bursts of laughter rend the vaulted skies;

Then dragg’d along, all bleeding from the wound,

His length of carcase trailing prints the ground:

Raised on his feet, again he reels, he falls,

Till propp’d, reclining on the palace walls:

Then to his hand a staff the victor gave,

And thus with just reproach address’d the slave:

“There terrible, affright with dogs, and reign

A dreaded tyrant o’er the bestial train!

But mercy to the poor and stranger show,

Lest Heaven in vengeance send some mightier woe.”


Scornful he spoke, and o’er his shoulder flung

The broad-patch’d scrip in tatters hung

Ill join’d, and knotted to a twisted thong.

Then, turning short, disdain’d a further stay;

But to the palace measured back the way.

There, as he rested gathering in a ring,

The peers with smiles address’d their unknown king:

“Stranger, may Jove and all the aërial powers

With every blessing crown thy happy hours!

Our freedom to thy prowess’d arm we owe

From bold intrusion of thy coward foe:

Instant the flying sail the slave shall wing

To Eschetus, the monster of a king.”


While pleased he hears, Antinous bears the food,

A kid’s well-fatted entrails, rich with blood;

The bread from canisters of shining mould

Amphinomus; and wines that laugh in gold:

“And oh! (he mildly cries) may Heaven display

A beam of glory o’er thy future day!