The peers transported, as outstretch’d he lies, With bursts of laughter rend the vaulted skies; Then dragg’d along, all bleeding from the wound, His length of carcase trailing prints the ground: Raised on his feet, again he reels, he falls, Till propp’d, reclining on the palace walls: Then to his hand a staff the victor gave, And thus with just reproach address’d the slave: “There terrible, affright with dogs, and reign A dreaded tyrant o’er the bestial train! But mercy to the poor and stranger show, Lest Heaven in vengeance send some mightier woe.” Scornful he spoke, and o’er his shoulder flung The broad-patch’d scrip in tatters hung Ill join’d, and knotted to a twisted thong. Then, turning short, disdain’d a further stay; But to the palace measured back the way. There, as he rested gathering in a ring, The peers with smiles address’d their unknown king: “Stranger, may Jove and all the aërial powers With every blessing crown thy happy hours! Our freedom to thy prowess’d arm we owe From bold intrusion of thy coward foe: Instant the flying sail the slave shall wing To Eschetus, the monster of a king.” While pleased he hears, Antinous bears the food, A kid’s well-fatted entrails, rich with blood; The bread from canisters of shining mould Amphinomus; and wines that laugh in gold: “And oh! (he mildly cries) may Heaven display A beam of glory o’er thy future day! Alas, the brave too oft is doom’d to bear The gripes of poverty and stings of care.” To whom with thought mature the king replies: “The tongue speaks wisely, when the soul is wise: Such was thy father! in imperial state, Great without vice, that oft attends the great; Nor from the sire art thou, the son, declin’d; Then hear my words, and grace them in thy mind! Of all that breathes, or grovelling creeps on earth, Most vain is man! calamitous by birth: To-day, with power elate, in strength he blooms; The haughty creature on that power presumes: Anon from Heaven a sad reverse he feels: Untaught to bear, ’gainst Heaven the wretch rebels. For man is changeful, as his bliss or woe! Too high when prosperous, when distress’d too low. There was a day, when with the scornful great I swell’d in pomp and arrogance of state; Proud of the power that to high birth belongs; And used that power to justify my wrongs. Then let not man be proud; but firm of mind, Bear the best humbly; and the worst resign’d; Be dumb when Heaven afflicts! unlike yon train Of haughty spoilers, insolently vain; Who make their queen and all her wealth a prey: But vengeance and Ulysses wing their way. O may’st thou, favour’d by some guardian power, Far, far be distant in that deathful hour! For sure I am, if stern Ulysses breathe, These lawless riots end in blood and death.”