Life yet made short their admiratións, Who God-opposéd Otus had to name, And Ephialtes far in sound of fame. The prodigal earth so fed them, that they grew To most huge stature, and had fairest hue Of all men, but Orion, under heav’n. At nine years old nine cubits they were driv’n Abroad in breadth, and sprung nine fathoms high. They threaten’d to give battle to the sky, And all th’ Immortals. They were setting on Ossa upon Olympus, and upon Steep Ossa leavy Pelius, that ev’n They might a highway make with lofty heav’n; And had perhaps perform’d it, had they liv’d Till they were striplings; but Jove’s son depriv’d Their limbs of life, before th’ age that begins The flow’r of youth, and should adorn their chins. Phædra and Procris, with wise Minos’ flame, Bright Ariadne, to the off’ring came. Whom whilome Theseus made his prise from Crete, That Athens’ sacred soil might kiss her feet, But never could obtain her virgin flow’r, Till, in the sea-girt Dia, Dian’s pow’r Detain’d his homeward haste, where (in her fane, By Bacchus witness’d) was the fatal wane Of her prime glory, Mæra, Clymene, I witness’d there; and loath’d Eriphyle, That honour’d gold more than she lov’d her spouse.[5] But, all th’ heroesses in Pluto’s house That then encounter’d me, exceeds my might To name or number, and ambrosian night Would quite be spent, when now the formal hours Present to sleep our all disposéd pow’rs, If at my ship, or here. My home-made vow I leave for fit grace to the Gods and you.” This said; the silence his discourse had made With pleasure held still through the house’s shade, When white-arm’d Areté this speech began: “Phæacians! How appears to you this man, So goodly person’d, and so match’d with mind? My guest he is, but all you stand combin’d In the renown he doth us. Do not then With careless haste dismiss him, nor the main Of his dispatch to one so needy maim, The Gods’ free bounty gives us all just claim To goods enow.” This speech, the oldest man Of any other Phæacensian, The grave heroë, Echinëus, gave All approbation, saying: “Friends! ye have The motion of the wise queen in such words As have not miss’d the mark, with which accords My clear opinion. But Alcinous, In word and work, must be our rule.” He thus; And then Alcinous said: “This then must stand, If while I live I rule in the command Of this well-skill’d-in-navigation state: Endure then, guest, though most importunate Be your affects for home. A little stay If your expectance bear, perhaps it may Our gifts make more complete. The cares of all Your due deduction asks; but principal I am therein the ruler.” He replied: “Alcinous, the most duly glorified With rule of all of all men, if you lay Commandment on me of a whole year’s stay, So all the while your preparations rise, As well in gifts as time,[6] ye can devise No better wish for me; for I shall come Much fuller-handed, and more honoured, home, And dearer to my people, in whose loves The richer evermore the better proves.”