“To the Æolian island we attain’d, That swum about still on the sea, where reign’d The God-lov’d Æolus Hippotades. A wall of steel it had; and in the seas A wave-beat-smooth rock mov’d about the wall. Twelve children in his house imperial Were born to him; of which six daughters were, And six were sons, that youth’s sweet flow’r did bear. His daughters to his sons he gave as wives; Who spent in feastful comforts all their lives, Close seated by their sire and his grave spouse. Past number were the dishes that the house Made ever savour; and still full the hall As long as day shin’d; in the night-time, all Slept with their chaste wives, each his fair carv’d bed Most richly furnish’d; and this life they led. We reach’d the city and fair roofs of these, Where, a whole month’s time, all things that might please The king vouchsaf’d us; of great Troy inquir’d, The Grecian fleet, and how the Greeks retir’d. To all which I gave answer as behov’d. The fit time come when I dismission mov’d, He nothing would deny me, but addrest My pass with such a bounty, as might best Teach me contentment; for he did enfold Within an ox-hide, flay’d at nine years old, All th’ airy blasts that were of stormy kinds. Saturnius made him Steward of his Winds, And gave him pow’r to raise and to assuage. And these he gave me, curb’d thus of their rage, Which in a glitt’ring silver band I bound, And hung-up in my ship, enclos’d so round That no egression any breath could find; Only he left abroad the Western Wind, To speed our ships, and us with blasts secure. But our securities made all unsure; Nor could he consummate our course alone, When all the rest had got egressión; Which thus succeeded: Nine whole days and nights We sail’d in safety; and the tenth, the lights Borne on our country-earth we might descry, So near we drew; and yet ev’n then fell I, Being overwatch’d, into a fatal sleep, For I would suffer no man else to keep The foot that rul’d my vessel’s course, to lead[1] The faster home. My friends then Envy fed About the bag I hung-up, and suppos’d That gold and silver I had there enclos’d, As gift from Æolus, and said: ‘O heav’n! What grace and grave price is by all men giv’n To our commander! Whatsoever coast Or town he comes to, how much he engrost Of fair and precious prey, and brought from Troy! We the same voyage went, and yet enjoy In our return these empty hands for all. This bag, now, Æolus was so liberal To make a guest-gift to him; let us try Of what consists the fair-bound treasury, And how much gold and silver it contains.’ _Ill counsel present approbation gains._ They op’d the bag, and out the vapours brake, When instant tempest did our vessel take, That bore us back to sea, to mourn anew Our absent country. Up amaz’d I flew, And desp’rate things discours’d; if I should cast Myself to ruin in the seas, or taste Amongst the living more moan, and sustain? Silent, I did so, and lay hid again Beneath the hatches, while an ill wind took