The Third Book of the Odyssey

The sacred Sun, above the waters rais'd, Thro' Heav'ns eternal, brazen portals blaz'd; And wide o'er earth diffus'd his chearing ray, To Gods and men to give the golden day. Now on the coast of Pyle the vessel falls, Before old Neleus' venerable walls. There, suppliant to the Monarch of the flood, At nine green Theatres the Pylians stood, Each held five hundred, (a deputed train) At each, nine oxen on the sand lay slain. They taste the entrails, and the altars load With smoaking thighs, an offering to the God. Full for the port the Ithacensians stand, And furl their sails, and issue on the land. Telemachus already prest the shore; Not first, the Pow'r of Wisdom march'd before, And ere the sacrificing throng he join'd, Admonish'd thus his well-attending mind.

Proceed my son! this youthful shame expel; An honest business never blush to tell. To learn what fates thy wretched sire detain, We past the wide, immeasurable main. Meet then the Senior, far renown'd for sense, With rev'rent awe, but decent confidence: Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies; And sure he will: For Wisdom never lies.

Oh tell me Mentor! tell me faithful guide, (The youth with prudent modesty reply'd) How shall I meet, or how accost the Sage, Unskill'd in speech, nor yet mature of age? Awful th'approach, and hard the task appears, To question wisely men of riper years.

To whom the martial Goddess thus rejoyn'd. Search, for some thoughts, thy own suggesting mind; And others, dictated by heav'nly pow'r, Shall rise spontaneous in the needful hour. For nought unprosp'rous shall thy ways attend, Born with good omens, and with heav'n thy friend.

She spoke, and led the way with swiftest speed: As swift, the youth pursu'd the way she led; And join'd the band before the sacred fire, Where sate, encompast with his sons, the Sire. The youth of Pylos, some on pointed wood Transfix'd the fragments, some prepar'd the food. In friendly throngs they gather, to embrace Their unknown guests, and at the banquet place. Pisistratus was first, to grasp their hands, And spread soft hydes upon the yellow sands; Along the shore th'illustrious pair he led, Where Nestor sate with youthful Thrasymed. To each a portion of the Feast he bore, And held the golden goblet foaming o'er; Then first approaching to the elder guest, The latent Goddess in these words addrest.

Whoe'er thou art, whom fortune brings to keep These rites of Neptune, monarch of the deep, Thee first it fits, oh stranger! to prepare The due libation and the solemn prayer: Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine; Tho' much thy younger, and his years like mine, He too, I deem, implores the pow'rs divine: For all mankind alike require their grace, All born to want; a miserable race!

He spake, and to her hand preferr'd the bowl: A secret pleasure touch'd Athena's soul, To see the pref'rence due to sacred age Regarded ever by the just and sage. Of Ocean's King she then implores the grace. Oh thou! whose arms this ample globe embrace, Fullfil our wish, and let thy glory shine On Nestor first, and Nestor's royal line; Next grant the Pylian states their just desires, Pleas'd with their Hecatomb's ascending fires; Last deign Telemachus and me to bless, And crown our voyage with desir'd success.

Thus she; and having paid the rite divine, Gave to Ulysses' son the rosie wine. Suppliant he pray'd. And now the victims drest They draw, they part, and celebrate the feast. The banquet done, the Narrative old man Thus mild, the pleasing conference began.

Now, gentle guests! the genial banquet o'er, It fits to ask ye, what your native shore, And whence your race? on what adventure, say, Thus far ye wander thro' the watry way? Relate, if business, or the thirst of gain Engage your journey o'er the pathless main? Where savage Pyrates seek thro' seas unknown The lives of others, vent'rous of their own.

Urg'd by the precepts by the Goddess giv'n, And fill'd with confidence infus'd from heav'n, The Youth, whom Pallas destin'd to be wise, And fam'd among the sons of men, replies. Enquir'st thou, father! from what coast we came? (Oh grace and glory of the Grecian name!) From where high Ithaca o'erlooks the floods, Brown with o'er-arching shades and pendent woods, Us to these shores our filial duty draws, A private sorrow, not a publick cause. My sire I seek, where-e'er the voice of fame Has told the glories of his noble name, The great Ulysses; fam'd from shore to shore For valour much, for hardy suff'ring more. Long time with thee before proud Ilion's wall In arms he fought; with thee beheld her fall. Of all the Chiefs, this Heroe's fate alone Has Jove reserv'd, unheard of, and unknown; Whether in fields by hostile fury slain, Or sunk by tempests in the gulphy main? Of this to learn, opprest with tender fears Lo at thy knee his suppliant son appears. If or thy certain eye, or curious ear, Have learnt his fate, the whole dark story clear: And oh! whate'er heav'n destin'd to betide Let neither flatt'ry smooth, nor pity hide. Prepar'd I stand: he was but born to try The lot of man; to suffer, and to die. Oh then, if ever thro' the ten years war The wise, the good Ulysses claim'd thy care; If e'er he join'd thy council, or thy sword, True in his deed, and constant to his word; Far as thy mind thro' backward time can see, Search all thy stores of faithful memory: 'Tis sacred truth I ask, and ask of thee.

To him experienc'd Nestor thus rejoin'd. O friend! what sorrows dost thou bring to mind? Shall I the long, laborious scenes review, And open all the wounds of Greece anew? What toils by sea! where dark in quest of prey Dauntless we rov'd; Achilles led the way: What toils by land! where mixt in fatal fight Such numbers fell, such Heroes sunk to night: There Ajax great, Achilles there the brave, There wise Patroclus, fill an early grave: There too my son—ah once my best delight, Once swift of foot, and terrible in fight, In whom stern courage with soft virtue join'd, A faultless body, and a blameless mind: Antilochus—what more can I relate? How trace the tedious series of our fate? Not added years on years my task could close, The long historian of my country's woes: Back to thy native Islands might'st thou sail, And leave half-heard the melancholy tale. Nine painful years, on that detested shore What stratagems we form'd, what toils we bore? Still lab'ring on, 'till scarce at last we found Great Jove propitious, and our conquest crown'd. Far o'er the rest thy mighty father shin'd, In wit, in prudence, and in force of mind. Art thou the son of that illustrious sire? With joy I grasp thee, and with love admire: So like your voices, and your words so wise, Who finds thee younger must consult his eyes. Thy Sire and I were one; nor vary'd aught In publick sentence, or in private thought; Alike to Council or th' Assembly came, With equal souls, and sentiments the same. But when (by wisdom won) proud Ilion burn'd, And in their ships the conqu'ring Greeks return'd; 'Twas God's high will the victors to divide, And turn th'event, confounding human pride: Some he destroy'd, some scatter'd as the dust, (Not all were prudent, and not all were just) Then Discord, sent by Pallas from above, (Stern daughter of the great Avenger Jove) The Brother-Kings inspir'd with fell debate; Who call'd to council all th' Achaian state, But call'd untimely (not the sacred rite Observ'd, nor heedful of the setting light, Nor herald sworn, the session to proclaim) Sour with debauch, a reeling tribe, they came. To these the cause of meeting they explain, And Menelaus moves to cross the main; Not so the King of Men: he will'd to stay; The sacred rites and hecatombs to pay, And calm Minerva's wrath. Oh blind to fate! The Gods not lightly change their love, or hate. With ire-full taunts each other they oppose, 'Till in loud tumult all the Greeks arose: Now diff'rent counsels ev'ry breast divide, Each burns with rancour to the adverse side. Th' unquiet night strange projects entertain'd; (So Jove, that urg'd us to our fate, ordain'd.) We, with the rising morn our ships unmoor'd, And brought our captives and our stores aboard; But half the people with respect obey'd The King of Men, and at his bidding stay'd. Now on the wings of winds our course we keep, (For God had smooth'd the waters of the deep) For Tenedos we spread our eager oars, There land, and pay due victims to the pow'rs: To bless our safe return we join in pray'r, But angry Jove dispers'd our vows in air, And rais'd new discord. Then (so Heav'n decreed) Ulysses first and Nestor dis-agreed: Wise as he was, by various Counsels sway'd, He there, tho' late, to please the Monarch, stay'd. But I, determin'd, stem the foamy floods, Warn'd of the coming fury of the Gods. With us Tydides fear'd, and urg'd his haste: And Menelaus came, but came the last. He join'd our vessels in the Lesbian bay, While yet we doubted of our watry way; If to the right to urge the pilot's toil, (The safer road) beside the Psyrian isle; Or the strait course to rocky Chios plow, And anchor under Mimas' shaggy brow? We sought direction of the pow'r divine: The God propitious gave the guiding sign; Thro' the mid seas he bids our navy steer, And in Eubea shun the woes we fear. The whistling winds already wak'd the sky; Before the whistling winds the vessels fly, With rapid swiftness cut the liquid way, And reach Gerestus at the point of day. There hecatombs of bulls to Neptune slain High-flaming please the monarch of the main. The fourth day shone, when all their labours o'er Tydides' vessels touch'd the wish'd-for shore: But I to Pylos scud before the gales, The God still breathing on my swelling sails; Sep'rate from all, I safely landed here; Their fates or fortunes never reach'd my ear. Yet what I learn'd, attend; as here I sate, And ask'd each voyager each Hero's fate; Curious to know, and willing to relate.

Safe reach'd the Mirmydons their native land, Beneath Achilles' warlike son's command. Those, whom the heir of great Apollo's art Brave Philoctetes, taught to wing the dart; And those whom Idomen from Ilion's plain Had led, securely crost the dreadful main. How Agamemnon touch'd his Argive coast, And how his life by fraud and force he lost, And how the Murd'rer pay'd his forfeit breath; What lands so distant from that scene of death But trembling heard the Fame? and heard, admire How well the son appeas'd his slaughter'd sire! Ev'n to th'unhappy, that unjustly bleed, Heav'n gives Posterity, t'avenge the deed. So fell Aegysthus; and may'st thou, my friend, (On whom the virtues of thy sire descend) Make future times thy equal act adore, And be, what brave Orestes was before!

The prudent youth reply'd. Oh thou, the grace And lasting glory of the Grecian race! Just was the vengeance, and to latest days Shall long posterity resound the praise. Some God this arm with equal prowess bless! And the proud Suitors shall its force confess: Injurious men! who while my soul is sore Of fresh affronts, are meditating more. But heav'n denies this honour to my hand, Nor shall my father repossess the land: The father's fortune never to return, And the sad son's, to suffer and to mourn!

Thus he, and Nestor took the word: My son, Is it then true, as distant rumours run, That crowds of rivals for thy mother's charms Thy Palace fill with insults and alarms? Say, is the fault, thro' tame submission, thine? Or leagu'd against thee, do thy people join, Mov'd by some Oracle, or voice divine? And yet who knows, but ripening lies in fate An hour of vengeance for th' afflicted state; When great Ulysses shall suppress these harms, Ulysses singly, or all Greece in arms. But if Athena, War's triumphant maid, The happy son, will, as the father, aid, (Whose fame and safety was her constant care In ev'ry danger and in ev'ry war: Never on man did heav'nly favour shine With rays so strong, distinguish'd, and divine, As those with which Minerva mark'd thy sire) So might she love thee, so thy soul inspire! Soon shou'd their hopes in humble dust be laid, And long oblivion of the bridal bed.

Ah! no such hope (the Prince with sighs replies) Can touch my breast; that blessing heav'n denies. Ev'n by celestial favour were it giv'n, Fortune or fate wou'd cross the will of heav'n.

What words are these, and what imprudence thine? (Thus interpos'd the Martial maid divine) Forgetful youth! but know, the Pow'r above With ease can save each object of his love; Wide as his will, extends his boundless grace; Nor lost in time, nor circumscrib'd by place. Happier his lot, who, many sorrows past, Long-lab'ring gains his natal shore at last; Than who too speedy, hastes to end his life By some stern ruffian, or adultrous wife. Death only is the lot which none can miss, And all is possible to heav'n, but this. The best, the dearest fav'rite of the sky Must taste that cup, for man is born to die.

Thus check'd, reply'd Ulysses' prudent heir: Mentor, no more—the mournful thought forbear; For he no more must draw his country's breath, Already snatch'd by Fate, and the black doom of death! Pass we to other subjects; and engage On themes remote the venerable Sage: (Who thrice has seen the perishable kind Of men decay, and thro' three Ages shin'd, Like Gods majestic, and like Gods in mind.) For much he knows, and just conclusions draws From various precedents, and various laws. O son of Neleus! awful Nestor, tell How he, the mighty, Agamemnon fell? By what strange fraud Aegysthus wrought, relate, (By force he could not) such a Heroe's fate? Liv'd Menelaus not in Greece? or where Was then the martial brother's pious care? Condemn'd perhaps some foreign shore to tread; Or sure Aegysthus had not dar'd the deed.

To whom the Full of Days. Illustrious youth, Attend (tho' partly thou hast guest) the truth. For had the martial Menelaus found The ruffian breathing yet on Argive ground; Nor earth had hid his carcase from the skies, Nor Grecian virgins shriek'd his obsequies, But fowls obscene dismember'd his remains, And dogs had torn him on the naked plains. While us the works of bloody Mars employ'd, The wanton youth inglorious peace enjoy'd; He, stretch'd at ease in Argos' calm recess, (Whose stately steeds luxuriant pastures bless) With flattery's insinuating art Sooth'd the frail Queen, and poyson'd all her heart. At first with worthy shame and decent pride, The royal dame his lawless suit deny'd. For Virtue's image yet possest her mind, Taught by a Master of the tuneful kind: Atrides, parting for the Trojan war, Consign'd the youthful Consort to his care; True to his charge, the Bard preserv'd her long In honour's limits (such the pow'r of Song) But when the Gods these objects of their hate Dragg'd to destruction, by the links of fate; The bard they banish'd from his native soil, And left all helpless in a desart Isle: There he, the sweetest of the sacred train, Sung dying to the rocks, but sung in vain. Then Virtue was no more (her guard away) She fell, to lust a voluntary prey. Ev'n to the temple stalk'd th' adult'rous spouse, With impious thanks, and mockery of vows, With images, with garments, and with gold, And od'rous fumes from loaded altars roll'd.

Mean time from flaming Troy we cut the way, With Menelaus, thro' the curling sea. But when to Sunium's sacred point we came, Crown'd with the temple of th' Athenian dame; Atrides' pilot, Phrontes, there expir'd; (Phrontes, of all the sons of men admir'd To steer the bounding bark with steddy toil, When the storm thickens, and the billows boil) While yet he exercis'd the steerman's art, Apollo touch'd him with his gentle dart; Ev'n with the rudder in his hand, he fell. To pay whose honours to the Shades of hell We check'd our haste, by pious office bound, And laid our old companion in the ground. And now, the rites discharg'd, our course we keep Far on the gloomy bosom of the deep: Soon as Malaea's misty tops arise, Sudden the Thund'rer blackens all the skies, And the winds whistle, and the surges roll Mountains on mountains, and obscure the pole. The tempest scatters, and divides our fleet; Part, the storm urges on the coast of Creet, Where winding round the rich Cydonian plain, The streams of Jardan issue to the main. There stands a rock, high eminent and steep, Whose shaggy brow o'erhangs the shady deep, And views Gortyna on the western side; On this, rough Auster drove th'impetuous tyde: With broken force the billows rowl'd away, And heav'd the fleet into the neighb'ring bay. Thus sav'd from death they gain'd the Phaestan shores, With shatter'd vessels, and disabled oars: But five tall barks the winds and waters tost Far from their fellows, on th' Aegyptian coast. There wander'd Menelaus thro' foreign shores, Amassing gold, and gath'ring naval stores; While curst Aegysthus the detested deed By fraud fulfill'd, and his great brother bled. Sev'n years, the traytor rich Mycenae sway'd, And his stern rule the groaning land obey'd; The eighth, from Athens to his realm restor'd, Orestes brandish'd the revenging sword, Slew the dire pair, and gave to fun'ral flame The vile assassin, and adult'rous dame. That day, ere yet the bloody triumphs cease, Return'd Atrides to the coast of Greece, And safe to Argos' port his navy brought, With gifts of price and pond'rous treasure fraught. Hence warn'd, my son beware! nor idly stand Too long a stranger to thy native land; Lest heedless absence wear thy wealth away, While lawless feasters in thy palace sway; Perhaps may seize thy realm, and share the spoil; And thou return, with disappointed toil, From thy vain journey, to a rifled Isle. Howe'er, my friend, indulge one labour more, And seek Atrides on the Spartan shore. He, wand'ring long, a wider circle made, And many-languag'd nations has survey'd; And measur'd tracts unknown to other ships, Amid the monstrous wonders of the deeps; (A length of Ocean and unbounded sky, Which scarce the sea-fowl in a year o'erfly) Go then; to Sparta take the watry way, Thy ship and sailors but for orders stay; Or if by land thou chuse thy course to bend, My steeds, my chariots, and my sons attend: Thee to Atrides they shall safe convey, Guides of thy road, companions of thy way. Urge him with truth to frame his free replies, And sure he will, for Menelas is wise.

Thus while he speaks, the ruddy sun descends, And twylight gray her evening shade extends. Then thus the blue-ey'd Maid: O full of days! Wise are thy words, and just are all thy ways. Now immolate the Tongues, and mix the wine, Sacred to Neptune and the pow'rs divine. The lamp of day is quench'd beneath the deep, And soft approach the balmy hours of sleep: Nor fits it to prolong the heav'nly feast Timeless, indecent, but retire to rest.

So spake Jove's daughter, the celestial maid. The sober train attended and obey'd. The sacred heralds on their hands around Pour'd the full urns; the youths the goblets crown'd: From bowl to bowl the holy bev'rage flows; While to the final sacrifice they rose. The tongues they cast upon the fragrant flame, And pour, above, the consecrated stream. And now, their thirst by copious draughts allay'd, The youthful Hero and th' Athenian maid Propose departure from the finish'd rite, And in their hollow bark to pass the night: But this the hospitable Sage denied. Forbid it, Jove! and all the Gods! he cried, Thus from my walls the much-lov'd son to send Of such a heroe, and of such a friend? Me, as some needy peasant, would ye leave, Whom heav'n denies the blessing to relieve? Me would ye leave, who boast imperial sway, When beds of royal state invite your stay? No—long as life this mortal shall inspire, Or as my children imitate their sire, Here shall the wand'ring stranger find his home, And hospitable rites adorn the dome.

Well hast thou spoke (the blue-ey'd maid replies) Belov'd old man! benevolent as wise. Be the kind dictates of thy heart obey'd, And let thy words Telemachus persuade: He to thy palace shall thy steps pursue; I to the ship, to give the orders due, Prescribe directions, and confirm the crew. For I alone sustain their naval cares, Who boast experience from these silver hairs; All Youths the rest, whom to this journey move Like years, like tempers, and their Prince's love. There in the vessel shall I pass the night; And soon as morning paints the fields of light, I go to challenge, from the Caucons bold, A debt, contracted in the days of old. But this thy guest, receiv'd with friendly care, Let thy strong coursers swift to Sparta bear; Prepare thy chariot at the dawn of day, And be thy son companion of his way.

Then turning with the word, Minerva flies, And soars an Eagle thro' the liquid skies. Vision divine! The throng'd spectators gaze In holy wonder fixt, and still amaze. But chief the rev'rend Sage admir'd; he took The hand of young Telemachus, and spoke.

Oh happy Youth! and favour'd of the skies, Distinguish'd care of guardian deities! Whose early years for future worth engage, No vulgar manhood, no ignoble age. For lo! none other of the court above, Than she, the daughter of almighty Jove, Pallas herself, the War-triumphant Maid, Confest, is thine, as once thy father's aid. So guide me, Goddess! so propitious shine On me, my consort, and my royal line! A yearling bullock to thy name shall smoke, Untam'd, unconscious of the galling yoke; With ample forehead, and yet tender horns Whose budding honours ductile gold adorns.

Submissive thus the hoary Sire preferr'd His holy vow: the fav'ring Goddess heard. Then slowly rising, o'er the sandy space Precedes the father, follow'd by his race, (A long procession) timely marching home In comely order to the regal dome. There when arriv'd, on thrones around him plac'd, His sons and grand-sons the wide circle grac'd. To these the hospitable Sage, in sign Of social welcome, mix'd the racy wine, (Late from the mellowing cask restor'd to light, By ten long years refin'd, and rosy-bright.) To Pallas high the foaming bowl he crown'd, And sprinkled large Libation on the ground. Each drinks a full oblivion of his cares, And to the gifts of balmy sleep repairs. Deep in a rich Alcove the Prince was laid, And slept beneath the pompous Colonnade; Fast by his side Pisistratus lay spread, (In age his equal) on a splendid bed: But in an inner court, securely clos'd, The rev'rend Nestor with his Queen repos'd.

When now Aurora, daughter of the dawn, With rosie lustre purpled o'er the lawn; The old man early rose, walk'd forth, and sate On polish'd stone before his Palace gate: With unguents smooth the lucid marble shone, Where antient Neleus sate, a rustic throne; But he descending to th' infernal shade, Sage Nestor fill'd it, and the sceptre sway'd. His sons around him mild obeysance pay, And duteous take the orders of the day. First Echephron and Stratius quit their bed; Then Perseus, Aretus, and Thrasymed; The last Pisistratus arose from rest: They came, and near him plac'd the stranger-guest. To these the Senior thus declar'd his will: My sons! the dictates of your sire fulfil. To Pallas, first of Gods, prepare the feast, Who grac'd our rites, a more than mortal guest. Let one, dispatchful, bid some swain to lead A well-fed bullock from the grassy mead; One seek the harbour where the vessels moor, And bring thy friends, Telemachus! a-shore, (Leave only two the gally to attend) Another to Laerceus must we send, Artist divine, whose skilful hands infold The victim's horn with circumfusile gold. The rest may here the pious duty share, And bid the handmaids for the feast prepare, The seats to range, the fragrant wood to bring, And limpid waters from the living spring.

He said, and busy each his care bestow'd; Already at the gates the bullock low'd, Already came the Ithacensian crew, The dextrous smith the tools already drew: His pond'rous hammer, and his anvil sound, And the strong tongs to turn the metal round. Nor was Minerva absent from the rite, She view'd her honours, and enjoy'd the sight. With rev'rent hand the King presents the gold, Which round th'intorted horns the gilder roll'd; So wrought, as Pallas might with pride behold. Young Aretus from forth his bridal bow'r Brought the full laver, o'er their hands to pour, And canisters of consecrated flour. Stratius and Echephron the victim led; The axe was held by warlike Thrasymed, In act to strike: Before him Perseus stood, The vase extending to receive the blood. The King himself initiates to the Pow'r; Scatters with quiv'ring hand the sacred flour, And the stream sprinkles: From the curling brows The hair collected in the fire he throws. Soon as due vows on ev'ry part were pay'd, And sacred wheat upon the victim lay'd, Strong Thrasymed discharg'd the speeding blow Full on his neck, and cut the nerves in two. Down sunk the heavy beast: the females round Maids, wives, and matrons, mix a shrilling sound. Nor scorn'd the Queen the holy Choir to join, (The first-born she, of old Clymenus' line; In youth by Nestor lov'd, of spotless fame, And lov'd in age, Eurydicé her name) From earth they rear him, struggling now with death; And Nestor's Youngest stops the vents of breath. The soul for ever flies: on all sides round Streams the black blood, and smokes upon the ground. The beast they then divide, and dis-unite The ribs and limbs, observant of the rite: On these, in double cawls involv'd with art, The choicest morsels lay from ev'ry part. The sacred Sage before his altar stands, Turns the burnt-off'ring with his holy hands, And pours the wine, and bids the flames aspire: The youth with instruments surround the fire. The thighs now sacrific'd, and entrails drest, Th'assistants part, transfix, and broil the rest. While these officious tend the rites divine, The last fair branch of the Nestorean line Sweet Polycaste, took the pleasing toil To bathe the Prince, and pour the fragrant oil. O'er his fair limbs a flow'ry vest he threw, And issu'd, like a God to mortal view. His former feat beside the King he found, (His people's Father with his Peers around) All plac'd at ease the holy banquet join, And in the dazling goblet laughs the wine.

The rage of thirst and hunger now supprest, The Monarch turns him to his royal guest; And for the promis'd journey bids prepare The smooth-hair'd horses, and the rapid car, Observant of his word. The word scarce spoke, The sons obey, and join them to the yoke. Then bread and wine a ready handmaid brings, And presents, such as suit the state of Kings. The glitt'ring seat Telemachus ascends; His faithful guide Pisistratus attends: With hasty hand the ruling reins he drew: He lash'd the coursers, and the coursers flew. Beneath the bounding yoke alike they held Their equal pace, and smoak'd along the held. The tow'rs of Pylos sink, its views decay, Fields after fields fly back, till close of day: Then sunk the Sun, and darken'd all the way.

To Pherae now, Diocleus' stately seat, (Of Alpheus' race) the weary youths retreat. His house affords the hospitable rite, And pleas'd they sleep (the blessing of the night.) But when Aurora, daughter of the dawn, With rosy lustre purpled o'er the lawn; Again they mount, their journey to renew, And from the sounding portico they flew. Along the waving fields their way they hold, The fields receding as the chariot roll'd: Then slowly sunk the ruddy globe of light, And o'er the shaded landscape rush'd the night.