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letra de the odyssey (book xii) - alexander pope

“thus o’er the rolling surge the vessel flies
till from the waves the ææan hills arise
here the g-y morn resides in radiant bowers
here keeps her revels with the dancing hours;
here phœbus, rising in the ethereal way
through heaven’s bright portals pours the beamy day
at once we fix our halsers on the land
at once descend, and press the desert sand:
there, worn and wasted, lose our cares in sleep
to the ho-rs- murmurs of the rolling deep
“soon as the morn restored the day, we paid
sepulchral honours to elpenor’s shade
now by the axe the rushing forest bends
and the huge pile along the shore ascends
around we stand, a melancholy train
and a loud groan re-echoes from the main
fierce o’er the pyre, by fanning breezes spread
the hungry flames devour the silent dead
a rising tomb, the silent dead to grace
fast by the roarings of the main we place;
the rising tomb a lofty column bore
and high above it rose the tapering oar

“meantime the goddess our return survey’d
from the pale ghosts and h-ll’s tremendous shade
swift she descends: a train of nymphs divine
bear the rich viands and the generous wine:
in act to speak the power of magic stands
and graceful thus accosts the listening bands;

“‘o sons of woe? decreed by adverse fates
alive to pass through h-ll’s eternal gates!
all, soon or late, are doom’d that path to tread;
more wretched you! twice number’d with the dead!
this day adjourn your cares, exalt your souls
indulge the taste, and drain the sparkling bowls;
and when the morn unveils her saffron ray
spread your broad sails, and plough the liquid way:
lo, i this night, your faithful guide, explain
your woes by land, your dangers on the main.’
“the goddess spoke. in feasts we waste the day
till phœbus downward plunged his burning ray;
then sable night ascends, and balmy rest
seals every eye, and calms the troubled breast
then curious she commands me to relate
the dreadful scenes of pluto’s dreary state
she sat in silence while the tale i tell
the wondrous visions and the laws of h-ll

“then thus: ‘the lot of man the gods dispose;
these ills are past: now hear thy future woes
o prince attend; some favouring power be kind
and print the important story on thy mind!

“‘next, where the sirens dwell, you plough the seas;
their song is death, and makes destruction please
unblest the man, whom music wins to stay
nigh the cursed shore and listen to the lay
no more that wretch shall view the joys of life
his blooming offspring, or his beauteous wife!
in verdant meads they sport; and wide around
lie human bones that whiten all the ground:
the ground polluted floats with human gore
and human carnage taints the dreadful shore
fly swift the dangerous coast: let every ear
be stopp’d against the song! ’tis death to hear!
firm to the mast with chains thyself be bound
nor trust thy virtue to the enchanting sound
if, mad with transport, freedom thou demand
be every fetter strain’d, and added band to band
“‘these seas o’erpass’d, be wise! but i refrain
to mark distinct thy voyage o’er the main:
new horrors rise! let prudence be thy guide
and guard thy various passage through the tide

“‘high o’er the main two rocks exalt their brow,’
the boiling billows thundering roll below;
through the vast waves the dreadful wonders move
hence named erratic by the gods above
no bird of air, no dove of swiftest wing
that bears ambrosia to the ethereal king
shuns the dire rocks: in vain she cuts the skies;
the dire rocks meet, and crush her as she flies:
not the fleet bark, when prosperous breezes play
ploughs o’er that roaring surge its desperate way;
o’erwhelm’d it sinks: while round a smoke expires
and the waves flashing seem to burn with fires
scarce the famed argo pass’d these raging floods
the sacred argo, fill’d with demigods!
e’en she had sunk, but jove’s imperial bride
wing’d her fleet sail, and push’d her o’er the tide

“‘high in the air the rock its summit shrouds
in brooding tempests, and in rolling clouds;
loud storms around, and mists eternal rise
beat its bleak brow, and intercept the skies
when all the broad expansion, bright with day
glows with the autumnal or the summer ray
the summer and the autumn glow in vain
the sky for ever lowers, for ever clouds remain
impervious to the step of man it stands
though borne by twenty feet, though arm’d with twenty hands;
smooth as the polish of the mirror rise
the slippery sides, and shoot into the skies
full in the centre of this rock display’d
a yawning cavern casts a dreadful shade:
nor the fleet arrow from the tw-nging bow
sent with full force, could reach the depth below
wide to the west the horrid gulf extends
and the dire passage down to h-ll descends
o fly the dreadful sight! expand thy sails
ply the strong oar, and catch the nimble gales;
here scylla bellows from the dire abodes
tremendous pest, abhorr’d by man and gods!
hideous her voice, and with less terrors roar
the whelps of lions in the midnight hour
twelve feet, deform’d and foul, the fiend dispreads;
six horrid necks she rears, and six terrific heads;
her jaws grin dreadful with three rows of t–th;
jaggy they stand, the gaping den of death;
her parts obscene the raging billows hide;
her bosom terribly o’erlooks the tide
when stung with hunger she embroils the flood
the sea-dog and the dolphin are her food;
she makes the huge leviathan her prey
and all the monsters of the watery way;
the swiftest racer of the azure plain
here fills her sails, and spreads her oars in vain;
fell scylla rises, in her fury roars
at once six mouths expands, at once six men devours

“‘close by, a rock of less enormous height
breaks the wild waves, and forms a dangerous strait;
full on its crown a fig’s green branches rise
and shoot a leafy forest to the skies;
beneath, charybdis holds her boisterous reign
’midst roaring whirlpools, and absorbs the main;
thrice in her gulfs the boiling seas subside
thrice in dire thunders she refunds the tide
oh, if thy vessel plough the direful waves
when seas retreating roar within her caves
ye perish all! though he who rules the main
lends his strong aid, his aid he lends in vain
ah, shun the horrid gulf! by scylla fly
’tis better six to lose, than all to die.’

“i then: ‘o nymph propitious to my prayer
goddess divine, my guardian power, declare
is the foul fiend from human vengeance freed?
or, if i rise in arms, can scylla bleed?’

“then she: ‘o worn by toils, o broke in fight
still are new toils and war thy dire delight?
will martial flames for ever fire thy mind
and never, never be to heaven resign’d?
how vain thy efforts to avenge the wrong!
deathless the pest! impenetrably strong!
furious and fell, tremendous to behold!
e’en with a look she withers all the bold!
she mocks the weak attempts of human might;
oh, fly her rage! thy conquest is thy flight
if but to seize thy arms thou make delay
again thy fury vindicates her prey;
her six mouths yawn, and six are sn-tch’d away
from her foul wound crataeis gave to air
this dreadful pest! to her direct thy prayer
to curb the monster in her dire abodes
and guard thee through the tumult of the floods
thence to trinacria’s shore you bend your way
where graze thy herds, ill-strious source of day!
seven herds, seven flocks enrich the sacred plains
each herd, each flock full fifty heads contains;
the wondrous kind a length of age survey
by breed increase not, nor by death decay
two sister goddesses possess the plain
the constant guardian of the woolly train;
lampetie fair, and phaethusa young
from phœbus and the bright neæra sprung;
here, watchful o’er the flocks, in shady bowers
and flowery meads, they waste the joyous hours
rob not the gods! and so propitious gales
attend thy voyage, and impel thy sails;
but if thy impious hands the flocks destroy
the gods, the gods avenge it, and ye die!
’tis thine alone (thy friends and navy lost)
through tedious toils to view thy native coast.’

she ceased: and now arose the morning ray;
swift to her dome the goddess held her way
then to my mates i measured back the plain
climb’d the tall bark, and rush’d into the main;
then, bending to the stroke, their oars they drew
to their broad br–sts, and swift the galley flew
up sprung a brisker breeze; with freshening gales
the friendly goddess stretch’d the swelling sails;
we drop our oars; at ease the pilot guides;
the vessel light along the level glides
when, rising sad and slow, with pensive look
thus to the melancholy train i spoke:

“‘o friends, oh ever partners of my woes
attend while i what heaven foredooms disclose
hear all! fate hangs o’er all; on you it lies
to live or perish! to be safe, be wise!

“‘in flowery meads the sportive sirens play
touch the soft lyre, and tune the vocal lay;
me, me alone, with fetters firmly bound
the gods allow to hear the dangerous sound
hear and obey; if freedom i demand
be every fetter strain’d, be added band to band.’

“while yet i speak the winged galley flies
and lo! the siren shores like mists arise
sunk were at once the winds; the air above
and waves below, at once forgot to move;
some demon calm’d the air and smooth’d the deep
hush’d the loud winds, and charm’d the waves to sleep
now every sail we furl, each oar we ply;
lash’d by the stroke, the frothy waters fly
the ductile wax with busy hands i mould
and cleft in fragments, and the fragments roll’d;
the aërial region now grew warm with day
the wax dissolved beneath the burning ray;
then every ear i barr’d against the strain
and from access of frenzy lock’d the brain
now round the masts my mates the fetters roll’d
and bound me limb by limb with fold on fold
then bending to the stroke, the active train
plunge all at once their oars, and cleave the main

“while to the shore the rapid vessel flies
our swift approach the siren choir descries;
celestial music warbles from their tongue
and thus the sweet deluders tune the song:

“‘oh stay, o pride of greece! ulysses, stay!
oh cease thy course, and listen to our lay!
blest is the man ordain’d our voice to hear
the song instructs the soul, and charms the ear
approach! thy soul shall into raptures rise!
approach! and learn new wisdom from the wise!
we know whate’er the kings of mighty name
achieved at ilion in the field of fame;
whate’er beneath the sun’s bright journey lies
oh stay, and learn new wisdom from the wise!’

“thus the sweet charmers warbled o’er the main;
my soul takes wing to meet the heavenly strain;
i give the sign, and struggle to be free;
swift row my mates, and shoot along the sea;
new chains they add, and rapid urge the way
till, dying off, the distant sounds decay;
then scudding swiftly from the dangerous ground
the deafen’d ear unlock’d, the chains unbound

“now all at once tremendous scenes unfold;
thunder’d the deeps, the smoky billows roll’d!
tumultuous waves embroil the bellowing flood
all trembling, deafen’d, and aghast we stood!
no more the vessel plough’d the dreadful wave
fear seized the mighty, and unnerved the brave;
each dropp’d his oar; but swift from man to man
with looks serene i turn’d, and thus began:
‘o friends! o often tried in adverse storms!
with ills familiar in more dreadful forms!
deep in the dire cyclopæan den you lay
yet safe return’d—ulysses led the way
learn courage hence, and in my care confide;
lo! still the same ulysses is your guide
attend my words! your oars incessant ply;
strain every nerve, and bid the vessel fly
if from yon jostling rocks and wavy war
jove safety grants, he grants it to your care
and thou, whose guiding hand directs our way
pilot, attentive listen and obey!
bear wide thy course, nor plough those angry waves
where rolls yon smoke, yon tumbling ocean raves;
steer by the higher rock; lest whirl’d around
we sink, beneath the circling eddy drown’d.’
while yet i speak, at once their oars they seize
stretch to the stroke, and brush the working seas
cautious the name of scylla i suppress’d;
that dreadful sound had chill’d the boldest breast

“meantime, forgetful of the voice divine
all dreadful bright my limbs in armour shine;
high on the deck i take my dangerous stand
two glittering javelins lighten in my hand;
prepared to whirl the whizzing spear i stay
till the fell fiend arise to seize her prey
around the dungeon, studious to behold
the hideous pest, my labouring eyes i roll’d;
in vain! the dismal dungeon, dark as night
veils the dire monster, and confounds the sight

“now through the rocks, appall’d with deep dismay
we bend our course, and stem the desperate way;
dire scylla there a scene of horror forms
and here charybdis fills the deep with storms
when the tide rushes from her rumbling caves
the rough rock roars, tumultuous boil the waves;
they toss, they foam, a wild confusion raise
like waters bubbling o’er the fiery blaze;
eternal mists obscure the aërial plain
and high above the rock she spouts the main;
when in her gulfs the rushing sea subsides
she drains the ocean with the refluent tides;
the rock re-bellows with a thundering sound;
deep, wondrous deep, below appears the ground

“struck with despair, with trembling hearts we view’d
the yawning dungeon, and the tumbling flood;
when lo! fierce scylla stoop’d to seize her prey
stretch’d her dire jaws, and swept six men away
chiefs of renown! loud-echoing shrieks arise;
i turn, and view them quivering in the skies;
they call, and aid with outstretch’d arms implore;
in vain they call! those arms are stretch’d no more
as from some rock that overhangs the flood
the silent fisher casts the insidious food
with fraudful care he waits the finny prize
and sudden lifts it quivering to the skies:
so the foul monster lifts her prey on high
so pant the wretches struggling in the sky;
in the wide dungeon she devours her food
and the flesh trembles while she churns the blood
worn as i am with griefs, with care decay’d
never, i never scene so dire survey’d!
my shivering blood, congeal’d, forgot to flow;
aghast i stood, a monument of woe!

“now from the rocks the rapid vessel flies
and the ho-rs- din like distant thunder dies;
to sol’s bright isle our voyage we pursue
and now the glittering mountains rise to view
there, sacred to the radiant god of day
graze the fair herds, the flocks promiscuous stray:
then suddenly was heard along the main
to low the ox, to bleat the woolly train
straight to my anxious thoughts the sound convey’d
the words of circe and the theban shade;
warn’d by their awful voice these shores to shun
with cautious fears oppress’d i thus begun:

“‘o friends! o ever exercised in care!
hear heaven’s commands, and reverence what ye hear!
to fly these shores the prescient theban shade
and circe warn! oh be their voice obey’d;
some mighty woe relentless heaven forebodes:
fly these dire regions, and revere the gods!’

“while yet i spoke, a sudden sorrow ran
through every breast, and spread from man to man
till wrathful thus eurylochus began:

“‘o cruel thou! some fury sure has steel’d
that stubborn soul, by toil untaught to yield!
from sleep debarr’d, we sink from woes to woes:
and cruel, enviest thou a short repose?
still must we restless rove, new seas explore
the sun descending, and so near the shore?
and lo! the night begins her gloomy reign
and doubles all the terrors of the main:
oft in the dead of night loud winds arise
lash the wild surge, and bl-ster in the skies
oh, should the fierce south-west his rage display
and toss with rising storms the watery way
though gods descend from heaven’s aërial plain
to lend us aid, the gods descend in vain
then while the night displays her awful shade
sweet time of slumber! be the night obey’d!
haste ye to land! and when the morning ray
sheds her bright beam, pursue the destined way.’
a sudden joy in every bosom rose:
so will’d some demon, minister of woes!

“to whom with grief: ‘o swift to be undone!
constrain’d i act what wisdom bids me shun
but yonder herbs and yonder flocks forbear;
attest the heavens, and call the gods to hear:
content, an innocent repast display
by circe given, and fly the dangerous prey.’

“thus i: and while to shore the vessel flies
with hands uplifted they attest the skies:
then, where a fountain’s gurgling waters play
they rush to land, and end in feasts the day:
they feed; they quaff; and now (their hunger fled)
sigh for their friends devour’d, and mourn the dead;
nor cease the tears till each in slumber shares
a sweet forgetfulness of human cares
now far the night advanced her gloomy reign
and setting stars roll’d down the azure plain:
when at the voice of jove wild whirlwinds rise
and clouds and double darkness veil the skies;
the moon, the stars, the bright ethereal host
seem as extinct, and all their splendours lost:
the furious tempest roars with dreadful sound:
air thunders, rolls the ocean, groans the ground
all night it raged: when morning rose to land
we haul’d our bark, and moor’d it on the strand
where in a beauteous grotto’s cool recess
dance the green nereids of the neighbouring seas

“there while the wild winds whistled o’er the main
thus careful i address’d the listening train:

“‘o friends, be wise! nor dare the flocks destroy
of these fair pastures: if ye touch, ye die
warn’d by the high command of heaven, be awed:
holy the flocks, and dreadful is the god!
that god who spreads the radiant beams of light
and views wide earth and heaven’s unmeasured height.’

“and now the moon had run her monthly round
the south-east bl-stering with a dreadful sound:
unhurt the beeves, untouch’d the woolly train
low through the grove, or touch the flowery plain:
then fail’d our food: then fish we make our prey
or fowl that screaming haunt the watery way
till now from sea or flood no succour found
famine and meagre want besieged us round
pensive and pale from grove to grove i stray’d
from the loud storms to find a sylvan shade;
there o’er my hands the living wave i pour;
and heaven and heaven’s immortal thrones implore
to calm the roarings of the stormy main
and guide me peaceful to my realms again
then o’er my eyes the gods soft slumbers shed
while thus eurylochus arising said:

“‘o friends, a thousand ways frail mortals lead
to the cold tomb, and dreadful all to tread;
but dreadful most, when by a slow decay
pale hunger wastes the manly strength away
why cease ye then to implore the powers above
and offer hecatombs to thundering jove?
why seize ye not yon beeves, and fleecy prey?
arise unanimous; arise and slay!
and if the gods ordain a safe return
to phœbus shrines shall rise, and altars burn
but should the powers that o’er mankind preside
decree to plunge us in the whelming tide
better to rush at once to shades below
than linger life away, and nourish woe.’

“thus he: the beeves around securely stray
when swift to ruin they invade the prey;
they seize, they k!ll!—but for the rite divine
the barley fail’d, and for libations wine
swift from the oak they strip the shady pride;
and verdant leaves the flowery cake supplied

“with prayer they now address the ethereal train
slay the selected beeves, and flay the slain;
the thighs, with fat involved, divide with art
strew’d o’er with morsels cut from every part
water, instead of wine, is brought in urns
and pour’d profanely as the victim burns
the thighs thus offer’d, and the entrails dress’d
they roast the fragments, and prepare the feast

“‘twas then soft slumber fled my troubled brain;
back to the bark i speed along the main
when lo! an odour from the feast exhales
spreads o’er the coast and scents the tainted gales;
a chilly fear congeal’d my vital blood
and thus, obtesting heaven, i mourn’d aloud;

“‘o sire of men and gods, immortal jove!
o all ye blissful powers that reign above!
why were my cares beguiled in short repose?
o fatal slumber, paid with lasting woes!
a deed so dreadful all the gods alarms
vengeance is on the wing, and heaven in arms!’

“meantime lampetie mounts the aërial way
and kindles into rage the god of day;

“‘vengeance, ye powers (he cries), and then whose hand
aims the red bolt, and hurls the writhen brand!
slain are those herds which i with pride survey
when through the ports of heaven i pour the day
or deep in ocean plunge the burning ray
vengeance, ye gods! or i the skies forego
and bear the lamp of heaven to shades below.’

“to whom the thundering power: ‘o source of day
whose radiant lamp adorns the azure way
still may thy beams through heaven’s bright portal rise
the joy of earth, the glory of the skies:
lo! my red arm i bare, my thunders guide
to dash the offenders in the whelming tide.’

“to fair calypso, from the bright abodes
hermes convey’d these counsels of the gods

“meantime from man to man my tongue exclaims
my wrath is kindled, and my soul in flames
in vain! i view perform’d the direful deed
beeves, slain in heaps, along the ocean bleed

“now heaven gave signs of wrath: along the ground
crept the raw hides, and with a bellowing sound
roar’d the dead limbs; the burning entrails groan’d
six guilty days my wretched mates employ
in impious feasting, and unhallowed joy;
the seventh arose, and now the sire of gods
rein’d the rough storms; and calm’d the tossing floods:
with speed the bark we climb; the sp-cious sails
loosed from the yards invite the impelling gales
past sight of shore, along the surge we bound
and all above is sky, and ocean all around;
when lo! a murky cloud the thunderer forms
full o’er our heads, and blackens heaven with storms
night dwells o’er all the deep: and now outflies
the gloomy west, and whistles in the skies
the mountain-billows roar! the furious blast
howls o’er the shroud, and rends it from the mast:
the mast gives way, and, crackling as it bends
tears up the deck; then all at once descends:
the pilot by the tumbling ruin slain
dash’d from the helm, falls headlong in the main
then jove in anger bids his thunders roll
and forky lightnings flash from pole to pole:
fierce at our heads his deadly bolt he aims
red with uncommon wrath, and wrapp’d in flames:
full on the bark it fell; now high, now low
toss’d and retoss’d, it reel’d beneath the blow;
at once into the main the crew it shook:
sulphurous odours rose, and smouldering smoke
like fowl that haunt the floods, they sink, they rise
now lost, now seen, with shrieks and dreadful cries;
and strive to gain the bark, but jove denies
firm at the helm i stand, when fierce the main
rush’d with dire noise, and dash’d the sides in twain;
again impetuous drove the furious blast
snapp’d the strong helm, and bore to sea the mast
firm to the mast with cords the helm i bind
and ride aloft, to providence resign’d
through tumbling billows and a war of wind
“now sunk the west, and now a southern breeze
more dreadful than the tempest lash’d the seas;
for on the rocks it bore where scylla raves
and dire charybdis rolls her thundering waves
all night i drove; and at the dawn of day
fast by the rocks beheld the desperate way;
just when the sea within her gulfs subsides
and in the roaring whirlpools rush the tides
swift from the float i vaulted with a bound
the lofty fig-tree seized, and clung around;
so to the beam the bat tenacious clings
and pendent round it clasps his leather wings
high in the air the tree its boughs display’d
and o’er the dungeon cast a dreadful shade;
all unsustain’d between the wave and sky
beneath my feet the whirling billows fly
what time the judge forsakes the noisy bar
to take repast, and stills the wordy war
charybdis, rumbling from her inmost caves
the mast refunded on her refluent waves
swift from the tree, the floating mass to gain
sudden i dropp’d amidst the flashing main;
once more undaunted on the ruin rode
and oar’d with labouring arms along the flood
unseen i pass’d by scylla’s dire abodes
so jove decreed (dread sire of men and gods)
then nine long days i plow’d the calmer seas
heaved by the surge, and wafted by the breeze
weary and wet the ogygian shores i gain
when the tenth sun descended to the main
there, in calypso’s ever-fragrant bowers
refresh’d i lay, and joy beguiled the hours
“my following fates to thee, o king, are known
and the bright partner of thy royal throne
enough: in misery can words avail?
and what so tedious as a twice-told tale?”

- alexander pope

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