In bears, boars, lions, battles, combats, deaths, Who wrought that work did never such before, Nor so divinely will do ever more. Soon as he saw, he knew me, and gave speech: ‘Son of Laertes, high in wisdom’s reach, And yet unhappy wretch, for in this heart, Of all exploits achiev’d by thy desert, Thy worth but works out some sinister fate, As I in earth did. I was generate By Jove himself, and yet past mean opprest By one my far inferior, whose proud hest Impos’d abhorréd labours on my hand. Of all which one was, to descend this strand, And hale the dog from thence. He could not think An act that danger could make deeper sink. And yet this depth I drew, and fetch’d as high, As this was low, the dog. The Deity Of sleight and wisdom, as of downright pow’r, Both stoop’d, and rais’d, and made me conqueror.’ This said, he made descent again as low As Pluto’s court; when I stood firm, for show Of more heroës of the times before, And might perhaps have seen my wish of more, (As Theseus and Pirithous, deriv’d From roots of Deity) but before th’ achiev’d Rare sight of these, the rank-soul’d multitude In infinite flocks rose, venting sounds so rude, That pale Fear took me, lest the Gorgon’s head Rush’d in amongst them, thrust up, in my dread, By grim Persephoné. I therefore sent My men before to ship, and after went. Where, boarded, set, and launch’d, the ocean wave Our oars and forewinds speedy passage gave. FINIS LIBRI UNDECIMI HOM. ODYSS. [1] They mourned the event before they knew it. [2] _Misenus apud Virgilium, ingenti mole, etc._ [3] Men that never eat salt with their food. [4] _Γήπᾳ ὑπὸ λιπαρῳ̑._ Which all translate _senectute sub molli._ The epithet _λιπαρῳ̑;_ not of _λιπαρὸς,_ viz, _pinguis,_ or _λιπαρω̑ς, pinguiter,_ but _λιπαρω̑ς_ signifying _flagitanter orando._ To which pious age is ever altogether addicted. [5] Amphiaraus was her husband, whom she betrayed to his ruin at Thebes, for gold taken of Adrastus her brother. [6] _Venustè et salsè dictum._ [7] This advice he followed at his coming home. [8] This place (and a number more) is most miserably mistaken by all translators and commentors. [9] The horse abovesaid. [10] Ajax the son of Telamon. THE TWELFTH BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS THE ARGUMENT He shows from Hell his safe retreat To th’ isle Ææa, Circe’s seat; And how he ’scap’d the Sirens’ calls, With th’ erring rocks, and waters’ falls, That Scylla and Charybdis break; The Sun’ s stol’ n herds; and his sad wreak Both of Ulysses’ ship and men, His own head ’scaping scarce the pain. ANOTHER ARGUMENT _Μυ̑_ The rocks that err’d, The Sirens’ call. The Sun’s stol’n herd. The soldiers’ fall.