The Odyssey of Homer


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My swains to visit, and the works survey.  
Expect me with the morn, to pay the skies  
Our debt of safe return in feast and sacrifice."  
Then Theoclymenus: "But who shall lend,  
Meantime, protection to thy stranger friend?  
Straight to the queen and palace shall I fly,  
Or yet more distant, to some lord apply?"  
The prince return'd: "Renown'd in days of yore  
Has stood our father's hospitable door;  
No other roof a stranger should receive,  
No other hands than ours the welcome give.  
But in my absence riot fills the place,  
Nor bears the modest queen a stranger's face;  
From noiseful revel far remote she flies,  
But rarely seen, or seen with weeping eyes.  
No--let Eurymachus receive my guest,  
Of nature courteous, and by far the best;  
He woos the queen with more respectful flame,  
And emulates her former husband's fame,  
With what success, 'tis Jove's alone to know,  
And the hoped nuptials turn to joy or woe."  
Thus speaking, on the right up-soar'd in air  
The hawk, Apollo's swift-wing'd messenger:  
397  


Page
395 396 397 398 399

Quick Jump
1 153 306 459 612