Then, swift ascending from the azure wave,
He took the path that winded to the cave.
Large was the grot, in which the nymph he found
(The fair-hair'd nymph with every beauty crown'd ;)
She sate and sung: the rocks resound her lays;
The cave was brighten'd with a rising blaze:
Cedar and frankincense, an odorous pile,
Flam'd on the hearth, and wide perfum'd the isle ;
While she with work and song the time divides,
And through the loom the golden shuttle guides.
Without the grot a various silvan scene
Appear'd around, and groves of living green;
Poplars and alders ever quivering play'd,
And nodding cypress form'd a fragrant shade;
On whose high branches, waving with the storm,
The birds of broadest wing their mansion form,
The chough, the sea-mew, the loquacious crow,
And scream aloft, and skim the deeps below.
Depending vines the shelving cavern screen,
With purple clusters blushing through the green.
Four limpid fountains from the clefts distil;
And every fountain pours a several rill,
In mazy windings wandering down the hill:
Where bloomy meads with vivid greens were crown'd,
And glowing violets threw odours round.
A scene, where if a God should cast his sight,
A God might gaze, and wander with delight!
Joy touch'd the messenger of heaven; he stay'd
Entranced, and all the blissful haunt survey'd.
Him, entering in the cave, Calypso knew;
For Powers celestial to each other's view
Stand still confest, though distant far they lie
To habitants of earth, or sea, or sky.
But sad Ulysses, by himself apart,
Pour'd the big sorrows of his swelling heart;
All on the lonely shore he sate to weep,
And roll'd his eyes around the restless deep ;-
Tow'rd his loved coast he roll'd his eyes in vain,
Till, dimm'd with rising grief, they stream'd again.
He ended, nor the Argicide refused,
Messenger of the skies; his sandals fair,
Ambrosial, golden, to his feet he bound,
Which o'er the moist wave, rapid as the wind,
Bear him, and o'er th' illimitable Earth;
Then took his rod, with which, at will, all eyes
He softly shuts, or opens them again.
So arm'd, forth flew the valiant Argicide.
Alighting on Pieria, down he stoop'd
To Ocean, and the billows lightly skimm'd
In form a sea-mew, such as, in the bays
Tremendous of the barren Deep her food
Seeking, dips oft in brine her ample wing.
In such disguise o'er many a wave he rode,
But reaching now that isle remote, forsook
The azure Deep; and, at the spacious grot,
Where dwelt the amber-tressed nymph, arriv'd,
Found her within. A fire on all the hearth
Blaz'd sprightly, and, afar-diffus'd, the scent
Of smooth-split cedar and of cypress-wood
Odorous, burning, cheer'd the happy isle.
She, busied at the loom, and plying fast
Her golden shuttle, with melodious voice
Sat chanting there; a grove on either side,
Alder and poplar, and the redolent branch
Of cypress hemm'd the dark retreat around.
There many a bird of broadest pinion built
Secure her nest, the owl, the kite, and daw,
Long-tongued, frequenter of the sandy shores.
A garden-vine, luxuriant on all sides,
Mantled the spacious cavern, cluster-hung
Profuse; four fountains of serenest lymph,
Their sinuous course pursuing side by side,
Stray'd all around, and ev'rywhere appear'd
Meadows of softest verdure, purpled o'er
With violets; it was a scene to fill
A God from Heav'n with wonder and delight.
Hermes, Heav'n's messenger, admiring stood
That sight, and having all survey'd, at length
Enter'd the grotto; nor the lovely nymph
Him knew not soon as seen, for not unknown
Each to the other the Immortals are,
How far soever sep'rate their abodes.
Yet found he not within the mighty chief,
Ulysses; he sat weeping on the shore,
Forlorn; for there his custom was with groans
Of sad regret t' afflict his breaking heart,
Looking continual o'er the barren Deep.
Nor Hermes disobey'd, but swiftly bound
The ambrosial sandals his fair feet around.
The golden sandals that his flight upbear
O'er earth and ocean, fleet as fleetest air:
Then, took his wand, of power at will to close,
Or raise the lid of mortals from repose.
Thus graced, the god to high Pieria pass'd,
Thence downward 'mid the main his body cast,
Swift as the sea-mew, whose voracious sweep
Catches on flight the fish that cleaves the deep,
And dips his wing in brine: thus Hermes sped,
Light-ruffling as he skimm'd the ocean bed.
But now, when reached the island's distant strand,
The god ascending fix'd his foot on land,
Pass'd on, and found within her spacious cave
The fair-hair'd nymph, the goddess of the wave:
The fire wide blazed, and o'er the isle outspread
Cedar and incense fragrant odours shed.
Bent o'er her web the goddess sweetly sung,
While thro' the threads the golden shuttle rung,
Groves round her grot, the poplar, alder wreathed,
And as the cypress waved fresh odours breathed:
Birds of broad pennons there their plumage dress'd,
The owl, the hawk, couch'd peaceful in their nest,
And thin-tongued daws, that from their airy flight
On the low margin of the sea alight.
Round the dim cave the vine's lithe tendrils flow'd,
And the ripe grape in purple clusters glow'd ;
Four fountains, nigh each other, to and fro
Wreathed their pure streams, and gush'd with gurgling flow :
Mid the soft meads the undying parsley bloom'd,
And the grass gleam'd with violets illumed.
'Twas there, where gods might feast the ravish'd sight,
Stood Hermes, wrapt in wonder and delight.
But when the god there long had tranced his view,
Him, as he sought her grot, the sea-nymph knew ;
For not unknown, tho' distant their abode,
A god at once acknowledges a god.
He found not there Ulysses: far apart
Lone on the beach he fed with grief his heart,
Sore groan'd, and gazing on the boundless deep
Where oft the wretch had wept, return'd to weep.
LEIGH HUNT (FROM "FOLIAGE.")
He said; and straight the herald Argicide
Beneath his feet the feathery sandals tied,
Immortal, golden, that his flight could bear
O'er seas and lands, like waftage of the air;
His rod too, that can close the eyes of men
In balmy sleep, and open them again,
He took, and holding it in hand, went flying;
Till from Pieria's top the sea descrying,
Down to it sheer he dropp'd, and scour'd away
Like the wild gull, that fishing o'er the bay
Flaps on, with pinions dipping in the brine;
So went on the far sea the shape divine.
And now arriving at the isle, he springs
Oblique, and landing with subsided wings,
Walks to the cavern 'twixt the tall green rocks,
Where dwelt the Goddess with the lovely locks.
He paus'd; and there came on him, as he stood,
A smell of citron and of cedar wood,
That threw a perfume all about the isle ;
And she within sat spinning all the while,
And sang a lovely song, that made him hark and smile.
A silvan nook it was, grown round with trees,
Poplars, and elms, and odorous cypresses,
In which all birds of ample wing, the owl
And hawk, had nests, and broad-tongued waterfowl.
The cave in front was spread with a green vine,
Whose dark round bunches almost burst with wine;
And from four springs, running a sprightly race
Four fountains, clear and crisp, refresh'd the place;
While all about, a meadowy ground was seen,
Of violets mingling with the parsley green:
So that a stranger, though a god were he,
Might well admire it, and stand there to see;
And so admiring, there stood Mercury.
M. T. CHAPMAN (TRINITY COLLEGE, cambridge.) He said; nor disobey'd the messenger, Slayer of Argus; to his feet he bound Sandals, ambrosial, beautiful, of gold,
Which ferry him over the flood, and o'er
The vast round earth, quick as the wind-breath goes;
And took his wand, with which he charms men's eyes,
Whom he would lull to sleep, or else at will
Wakens the sleeping; having which he flew.
Standing on the Pierian-top, he shot
From ether on the sea, and skimm'd the wave
Quick as a sea-gull; which in the deep folds
Of the untill'd salt sea-surge hunts for fish,
Dipping his feathers in the briny foam;
Not less quick o'er the white wave Hermes rode.
But when he reach'd the island far-apart,
Forth from the violet-colour'd deep he went
On dry land; where dwelt in her cavern'd home
Well-tress'd Calypso; her he found within.
Blazed on the hearth a mighty fragrant fire
Of fissile cedar and of incense-wood,
Far through the island odorous as they burn'd;
And her sweet voice kept murmuring into song,
As she with golden shuttle plied the web.
All round the cavern grew a verdant grove;
Alder and poplar, cypress sweet of smell:
And there the long-wing'd birds would couch themselves;
Owls, sea-hawks, choughs, and far-voiced cormorants,
Whose farms are on the deep. And there the vine
With lively tendrils twined around the cave,
Heavy with clustering grapes. Forth issued thence
Four fountains flowing with a limpid stream,
Their water-courses in sweet neighbourhood;
Soft meadows bloom'd around, with violets
And parsley purfled. There well-pleased might gaze,
Should one arrive, an Immortality;
There stood and gazed Hermes the messenger.
He gazed his fill; then went into the cave.
Nor knew him not, seeing him face to face,
Calypso, the divine of Goddesses;
(For to Immortals not at sight unknown
Immortals are, though one may dwell apart.)
High-heart Ulysses found he not within,
For he upon the sea-shore sat and wept;
Where was his wont, with tears and groans and griefs,
To look upon the sea, dropping down tears.
He said the Argicide obey'd;
Fast to his feet his sandals made,
Celestial, golden-through the skies
With these o'er lands and seas he hies,
Fleet as the wind-his rod then takes,
With which he or the slumberer wakes,
Or at his will with slumber seals
The wakeful. So prepared, he wheels
On pinion strong his airy flight,
Descends upon Pieria's height;
Thence towering, o'er the billows sweeps:
As sea-bird in vast ocean's deeps
Dips oft its wing in quest of prey-
So skimm'd the God the salt sea-spray.
Soon as he reach'd the distant isle,
Lighting he paced the beach awhile;
Till to a spacious cave he came,
Where sate within a bright-tress'd dame:
Blazed on the hearth a cedar pile,
And woods high-scented, o'er the isle
Diffusing odours far and wide:
She still her golden shuttle plied,
And sang the while a witching lay,
As 'mid the threads her fingers play.
Around, thick groves their summer-dress
Wore in luxuriant loveliness
Alder and poplar quiver'd there,
And fragrant cypress tower'd in air.
And there broad-pinion'd birds were seen,
Nesting amid the foliage green;
Birds, which the marge of ocean haunt―
Gull, prating daw, and cormorant ;
And there, the deep mouth of the cave
Fringing, the cluster'd vine-boughs wave.
Sprung from near sources, bright and gay
Four limpid fountains urge their way,
Divergent, o'er the parsley'd mead,
Where the sweet violet droops its head-
A scene, should Gods survey the sight,
E'en Gods might gaze on with delight!
Raptured stood Hermes and amazed,
And long and fondly round him gazed;
The cave then enter'd. Straight her guest
Calypso knew-for Gods confest
Are known of Gods, though sunder'd wide
In distant mansions they abide.
But no Ulysses was within-
On the lone shore, his sorrow's scene,
His longing eyes he frequent threw
O'er the wild ocean tossing blue,
With many a tear and deep-drawn sigh
Heaved to the thought of days gone by!
Hermes obey'd: then bound the herald fleet
The ambrosial golden sandals on his feet;
With these he rushes like a blast of wind,
And leaves the ocean-leaves the land behind.
He grasp'd the wand-with which in slumber deep
Of whom he will, he bids the troubles sleep;
Again the potent rod if he should wave,
Dispels the slumber which before it gave.
Bold Argiphontes, brandishing this wand,
Pursued his easy flight o'er sea and land.
At length he gain'd Pieria's rugged steep,
Then stoop'd his headlong passage to the deep:
Lightly he skimm'd-as when the wild sea-mew,
Dipping his lusty wing in briny dew,
Pursues his fishy prey with rapid glance
O'er the rough bosom of the vast expanse:
Like him his wings in ocean Hermes laves,
And rides like him in triumph o'er the waves.
But where the lonely isle its shore extends,
From the blue waters he the path ascends:
He came to where the spacious grotto show'd
The fair-hair'd goddess' beautiful abode.
Within she sat-before her clear and bright
The blazing cedar pour'd its fragrant light;
And as the slender fagots cheer'd the gloom,
Rich incense rose, and delicate perfume;
The golden shuttle ran the weft along;
She cheer'd the labour with her sweet-toned song.
In verdant harmony around the cave
Poplar, and alder, and sweet cypress wave;
Here broad-wing'd birds erect their airy nest,
Owls, and sea-hawks, and croaking ravens rest;
All of that strong-plum'd tribe here safely sleep
Who hunt their prey across the stormy deep.
Thick o'er the front was spread a shady vine,
Rich in rife clusters of the promised wine.
Four founts in order gush'd with crystal clear,
Turn'd to each other, and each other near;
Meadows enamell'd with sweet flowers of spring,
Eternal verdure o'er the landscape fling.
A deity might bend his downward flight,
View the rich scene-and view it with delight.
The herald-god in admiration stay'd
His hasty course: till all its charm survey'd,
The grot he enters :-him at earliest view,
Fairest of goddesses, Calypso, knew;
For should their dwelling e'en be far and lone,
To each immortal are the immortals known.
But there was not Ulysses :-on the strand
He mourns in solitude his native land;
With sighs and groans and choking griefs his heart
Pants from this sweet imprisonment to part.
O'er the wide sea his longing gaze he threw,
Till rising tears bedim the hopeless view.
The messenger of gods, the Argicide,
Obey'd, and on his feet the sandals tied,
Sandals of gold, ambrosial, useful these
To waft him swiftly as the winged breeze
Across the boundless earth, or the far rolling seas.
That rod, wherewith he lulls the eyes of men,
And as he lists, from sleep can rouse again—
Great Hermes seized :-down to Pieria's steep,
Thence, sheer through air, he plunged upon the deep,
Whose waves he skimm'd along,-(like the sea-mew
That doth o'er ocean's lap the fish pursue,
And dips his closely-feather'd wings in spray)
Thus o'er the numerous waves, great Hermes sped his way.
The violet-colour'd sea he leaves for land,
Since the sequester'd isle is now at hand,
Straight to the mainland, and the cavern borne
Where dwells the nymph whom lovely locks adorn.
Within the cave a blazing hearth he found,
Diffusing heat and fragrance all around,
By fissile cedar, and rich incense fed,
Which o'er the isle refreshing odours shed.
Plying the loom she trills her warbling song,
While the gold shuttle swiftly shoots along.
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