The Odyssey of Homer


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A widow, and a slave on foreign shores.  
So from the sluices of Ulysses' eyes  
Fast fell the tears, and sighs succeeded sighs:  
Conceal'd he grieved: the king observed alone  
The silent tear, and heard the secret groan;  
Then to the bard aloud: "O cease to sing,  
Dumb be thy voice, and mute the tuneful string;  
To every note his tears responsive flow,  
And his great heart heaves with tumultuous woe;  
Thy lay too deeply moves: then cease the lay,  
And o'er the banquet every heart be gay:  
This social right demands: for him the sails,  
Floating in air, invite the impelling gales:  
His are the gifts of love: the wise and good  
Receive the stranger as a brother's blood.  
"But, friend, discover faithful what I crave;  
Artful concealment ill becomes the brave:  
Say what thy birth, and what the name you bore,  
Imposed by parents in the natal hour?  
(
For from the natal hour distinctive names,  
One common right, the great and lowly claims:)  
Say from what city, from what regions toss'd,  
And what inhabitants those regions boast?  
So shalt thou instant reach the realm assign'd,  
208  


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206 207 208 209 210

Quick Jump
1 153 306 459 612