The Odyssey of Homer


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She veils the torrent of her tearful eyes;  
And thus impassion'd to herself replies:  
"
Son of my love, and monarch of my cares,  
What pangs for thee this wretched bosom bears!  
Are thus by Jove who constant beg his aid  
With pious deed, and pure devotion, paid?  
He never dared defraud the sacred fane  
Of perfect hecatombs in order slain:  
There oft implored his tutelary power,  
Long to protract the sad sepulchral hour;  
That, form'd for empire with paternal care,  
His realm might recognize an equal heir.  
O destined head! The pious vows are lost;  
His God forgets him on a foreign coast!--  
Perhaps, like thee, poor guest! in wanton pride  
The rich insult him, and the young deride!  
Conscious of worth reviled, thy generous mind  
The friendly rite of purity declined;  
My will concurring with my queen's command,  
Accept the bath from this obsequious hand.  
A strong emotion shakes my anguish'd breast:  
In thy whole form Ulysses seems express'd;  
Of all the wretched harboured on our coast,  
None imaged e'er like thee my master lost."  
491  


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489 490 491 492 493

Quick Jump
1 153 306 459 612