He ceased; nor made the pensive queen reply, But droop’d her head, and drew a secret sigh. When Theoclymenus the seer began: “O suffering consort of the suffering man! What human knowledge could, those kings might tell, But I the secrets of high heaven reveal. Before the first of gods be this declared, Before the board whose blessings we have shared; Witness the genial rites, and witness all This house holds sacred in her ample wall! E’en now, this instant, great Ulysses, laid At rest, or wandering in his country’s shade, Their guilty deeds, in hearing, and in view, Secret revolves; and plans the vengeance due. Of this sure auguries the gods bestow’d, When first our vessel anchor’d in your road.” “Succeed those omens, Heaven! (the queen rejoin’d) So shall our bounties speak a grateful mind; And every envied happiness attend The man who calls Penelope his friend.” Thus communed they: while in the marble court (Scene of their insolence) the lords resort: Athwart the spacious square each tries his art, To whirl the disk, or aim the missile dart. Now did the hour of sweet repast arrive, And from the field the victim flocks they drive: Medon the herald (one who pleased them best, And honour’d with a portion of their feast), To bid the banquet, interrupts their play: Swift to the hall they haste; aside they lay Their garments, and succinct the victims slay. Then sheep, and goats, and bristly porkers bled, And the proud steer was o’er the marble spread. While thus the copious banquet they provide, Along the road, conversing side by side, Proceed Ulysses and the faithful swain; When thus Eumaeus, generous and humane: “To town, observant of our lord’s behest, Now let us speed; my friend no more my guest! Yet like myself I wish thee here preferr’d, Guard of the flock, or keeper of the herd, But much to raise my master’s wrath I fear; The wrath of princes ever is severe. Then heed his will, and be our journey made While the broad beams of Phœbus are display’d, Or ere brown evening spreads her chilly shade.” “Just thy advice (the prudent chief rejoin’d), And such as suits the dictate of my mind. Lead on: but help me to some staff to stay My feeble step, since rugged is the way.” Across his shoulders then the scrip he flung, Wide-patch’d, and fasten’d by a twisted thong. A staff Eumaeus gave. Along the way Cheerly they fare: behind, the keepers stay: These with their watchful dogs (a constant guard) Supply his absence, and attend the herd. And now his city strikes the monarch’s eyes, Alas! how changed! a man of miseries; Propp’d on a staff, a beggar old and bare In rags dishonest fluttering with the air! Now pass’d the rugged road, they journey down The cavern’d way descending to the town, Where, from the rock, with liquid drops distils A limpid fount; that spread in parting rills Its current thence to serve the city brings; An useful work, adorn’d by ancient kings. Neritus, Ithacus, Polyctor, there, In sculptured stone immortalized their care,