Vultures shall tear thee." Thus incensed they spoke,

While each to chance ascribed the wondrous stroke:

Blind as they were: for death e'en now invades

His destined prey, and wraps them all in shades.

Then, grimly frowning, with a dreadful look,

That wither'd all their hearts, Ulysses spoke:

Dogs, ye have had your day! ye fear'd no more

Ulysses vengeful from the Trojan shore;

While, to your lust and spoil a guardless prey,

Our house, our wealth, our helpless handmaids lay:

Not so content, with bolder frenzy fired,

E'en to our bed presumptuous you aspired:

Laws or divine or human fail'd to move,

Or shame of men, or dread of gods above;

Heedless alike of infamy or praise,

Or Fame's eternal voice in future days;

The hour of vengeance, wretches, now is come;

Impending fate is yours, and instant doom."

Thus dreadful he. Confused the suitors stood,

From their pale cheeks recedes the flying blood:

Trembling they sought their guilty heads to hide.

Alone the bold Eurymachus replied:

"If, as thy words import (he thus began),

547

The Odyssey of Homer