“Hero and king (Ulysses thus replied) Nor blame her faultless nor suspect of pride: She bade me follow in the attendant train; But fear and reverence did my steps detain, Lest rash suspicion might alarm thy mind: Man’s of a jealous and mistaken kind.” “Far from my soul (he cried) the gods efface All wrath ill-grounded, and suspicion base! Whate’er is honest, stranger, I approve, And would to Phœbus, Pallas, and to Jove, Such as thou art, thy thought and mine were one, Nor thou unwilling to be called my son. In such alliance couldst thou wish to join, A palace stored with treasures should be thine. But if reluctant, who shall force thy stay? Jove bids to set the stranger on his way, And ships shall wait thee with the morning ray. Till then, let slumber cross thy careful eyes: The wakeful mariners shall watch the skies, And seize the moment when the breezes rise: Then gently waft thee to the pleasing shore, Where thy soul rests, and labour is no more. Far as Euboea though thy country lay, Our ships with ease transport thee in a day. Thither of old, earth’s giant son to view, On wings of wind with Rhadamanth they flew; This land, from whence their morning course begun, Saw them returning with the setting sun. Your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale, Our youth how dexterous, and how fleet our sail, When justly timed with equal sweep they row, And ocean whitens in long tracks below.” Thus he. No word the experienced man replies, But thus to heaven (and heavenward lifts his eyes): “O Jove! O father! what the king accords Do thou make perfect! sacred be his words! Wide o’er the world Alcinous’ glory shine! Let fame be his, and ah! my country mine!” Meantime Arete, for the hour of rest, Ordains the fleecy couch, and covering vest; Bids her fair train the purple quilts prepare, And the thick carpets spread with busy care. With torches blazing in their hands they pass’d, And finish’d all their queen’s command with haste: Then gave the signal to the willing guest: He rose with pleasure, and retired to rest. There, soft extended, to the murmuring sound Of the high porch, Ulysses sleeps profound! Within, released from cares, Alcinous lies; And fast beside were closed Arete’s eyes. BOOK VIII. Alcinous calls a council, in which it is resolved to transport Ulysses into his country. After which splendid entertainments are made, where the celebrated musician and poet, Demodocus, plays and sings to the guests. They next proceed to the games, the race, the wrestling, discus, &c., where Ulysses casts a prodigious length, to the admiration of all the spectators. They return again to the banquet and Demodocus sings the loves of Mars and Venus. Ulysses, after a compliment to the poet, desires him to sing the introduction of the wooden horse into Troy, which subject provoking his tears, Alcinous inquires of his guest his name, parentage, and fortunes.