men-these two noble youths have and virgins. The bluest bend of room in their hearts to receive each heaven that ever hung the Ionian other, for as yet they have known Isles and all their shadows among not love. Each is chaste as Hippo- the soft confusion of water and of lytus; and their bosoms glow with air-one grovey wilderness of upless selfish passions. Their life ward-and-downward-growing trees, breathes a heroic innocence. On and miraculous temples-never was a carved couch, beneath the resound. purer, ing porch, Telemachus lies down to With its white families of happy sleep-and near him Pisistratus. They keep conversing till midnight

clouds," --and we could—though Homer has than was the lofty arch of his spirit not recorded it make a poem of letting fall gentle light on the heads their talk about heroes.

of the brave and beautiful- the mild The rosy-fingered morn sees Nesand the lovely—and all the bright tor sitting alone (probably in Mono- world—vision-like in its reality-in logue, for his tongue never tired) on which youth breathes empyrean air the Seat of Justice before his gates -and human life is invested with a -of white polished, oil-glistening grandeur of joy breathed from the stone, (marble ?) with his sceptre in heart of uncorrupted nature. his hand, and the finest beard in all Behold the Twain in “ LacedeGreece. Minerva had revealed her- mon's hollow vale” before the gates self the evening before, in the shape of of Menelaus' palace. How fortuan eagle-and to her he commands a nate their arrival during the celesolemn sacrifice. For hours his sons bration of a double marriage! And are busy in preparations--nor idle- such nuptials! Why, Hermione, we may well believe-nor far apart“ graced with Aphrodite's charms,” - those two illustrious boys. In the leaves Lacedemon for “ Phthia's gloevening they are to set out in their rious city,” with chariots and with chariot for Phera-Diocleus' Dome horses, to bless the bed of Neoptole-one-third of the way perhaps to mus, a son whose fame had tranLacedemon. But not till

scended that of the most glorious

sire, had not that sire been Achilles. “Nestor's youngest daughter deign'd to

And to Megapenthes, his son by a lave

handmaid, for Helen had but one Ulysses' offspring in the tepid wave, With oil anointed, and the tunic bound,

child almost as bright as herself, And the resplendent robe his limbs

now the Phthian Queen, Menelaus around

was now giving for wife Alector's Fresh from the bath, the prince, a God

beauteous child, the flower of Sparta. in grace

The Twain draw up their smoking Stepped forth, and sat by Nestor's ho.

steeds in the palace porch-but read nour'd place.”

the scene in Sotheby, almost as

alive as in Homer'Tis thus old Homer sings to boys

“ While in his palace porch, great Nestor's son,
And the Prince staid the steeds, their journey done,
Them, Eteoneus, issuing forth, survey'd,
And backward speeding, to Atrides said:

"Lo! Jove-born Menelaus, at thy gate
Two strangers, likest gods, thy word await :
Shall we bere loose their steeds, and claim their stay,
Or to some roof more willing send away?".

"• Thou wert not once,' the indignant king replied,
• Devoid of sense, untaught thy words to guide.
Thou babblest like a child-from dome to dome
We, hospitably feasted, reach'd our home :
So Jove may benceforth guard us : loose the steed,
And to our banquet, haste, the strangers lead.'

“ He spake: nor Eteoneus disobey'd,
But, summoning the menials, urged their aid,
Loosed the hot yoke, and where the steeds reposed,

Within the monarch's spacious stalls enclosed,
VOL. XXXV, NO. CCXVII.

Oats and fine barley, in their manger threw,
And to the radiant wall the chariot drew:
Then usher'd in the guests, who, wondering, gazed,
As the proud palace of Atrides blazed,
Which like the lunar orb, or solar light
With strange magnificence amazed their sight.
But, when their wonder paused, they went to lave
Their bodies in the bath's refreshing wave;
Tben, when the females with anointing oil
And the warm flood had freed their limbs from toil,
And the bright vest and mantle round them cast,
They, nigh the king, partook the rich repast.
In a bright vase of burnish'd silver wrought
On a gold stand, a maid pure water brought.
Spread for the feast, with dainties largely stored,
A matron placed the tables' polish'd board :
The sewer with varied flesh their food supplied,
And served with golden cups of royal pride.
Then, with kind warmth their bands Atrides press'd,
And welcoming the strangers, thus address'd :

«« Feast, and rejoice-wben satiate keen desire,
I, who my guests, and whence you came, enquire.
Not yet, I deem, has pass'd away from earth
The memory of the men who boast your birth.
In yours, the form of Jove. born kings I trace,
For ne'er vile fathers bred such godlike race.'

“ Then deign'd himsell their portion'd feast assign, The monarch's share, the bullock's roasted chine.

“ They richly feasted, and, the banquet o'er, When thirst and satiate hunger sought no more, Then, bow'd o'er Nestor's son, that none might hear, The Prince thus whisper'd in his listening ear :

"• Round this refulgent dome, my friend! behold What blaze of amber, ivory, silver, gold: Such Jove's Olympian hall 'mid realms of light, The infinity of splendour awes my sight.'

« His whisper'd wonder Menelaus heard, And to the admiring guests thus spake the word :

"No-let not mortal man contend with Jove, 'Tis immortality stamps all above. Man may with me hold contest, or decline, Whate'er my wealth, toil, suffering made it mine, Brought from far wandering, by my restless sail, Ere the eight year, I bade my country hail. To Cyprus, Ægypt, to Phænicia's shore, To Æthiopia me, my vessel bore, The Erembi, Sidon, Lybia, where the horn Crowns the fair forehead of the lamb new-born, Where sheep thrice yearly breed, nor lord nor swain For dearth of cheese, or flesh, or milk complain, Nor ere throughout the year the udder fails To tempt the hand that fills the milking pails. While thus I stray'd, and with incessant toil Vast wealth amass'd from many a distant soil, By a vile wife's dark guile, the sudden blow Smote unawares, and laid a brother low. Thus rich, I joyless reign-yet, ye have heard Whate'er your race, your sires have spread the word, How sore I suffer'd, and to ruin brought A hospitable home with luxury fraught ; With half its wealth, I would contented dwell, Were they but living who at Ilion fell. How oft beneath my roof I lone deplore The loss of those who here return no more :

Now feed my soul with grief, and now at peace
Rest, when, worn out with plaint, afflictions cease;
Yet less I weep them all, tho' sore I weep,
Than one whose loss embitters food and sleep,
Mindful of him whose ardour unrepress'd
Sustain'd the weight of woe that bow'd the rest,
Thee, loved Ulysses, bound by fate to grief,
And to my soul by woe without relief
Where the long-absent hero? whither sped ?
Strays he alive, or slumbers with the dead?
His loss bows down to earth his aged sire,
Penelope consumes with vain desire,
And whom he left, the babe just sprung to day,

Telemachus, deplores his long delay.' We always liked, but now we arms, Nestor and Ulysses. For Neslore Menelaus. That Helen should tor wore arms—but Menelaus knows have left such a man for Paris! Brave not who the youths may be-he loves as his own sword-bright in honour them for their own noble sakes—and as his own shield-hospitable as his well one of them will ever after love own board strong as the tree at his the Great Spartan King, for having own palace-gate-tender withal, as mourned so for Ulysses, and Laertes, well as true-with a heart in his man- and Penelope-and for him who now Jy bosom overflowing with all kind with both hands upholds before his affections-love, friendship, grief, face his purple robe, that it may bide pity-and yearning not towards kith his gushing tears. But where is Heand kin alone-but, as now, towards len? the sons of his old companions in

LITERALLY. LINE FOR LINE WITH THE ORIGINAL. CHRISTOPHER NORTH. Whilst he was revolving these things in his mind and heart, Helen from her odoriferous, lofty-roofed chamber outCame, like to Diana with-the-golden-arrows : For her then did Adrasta place a beautifully-fabricated couch, And Alcippe bore a carpet of soft wool : Pbylo carried a silver basket, which to her (Helen) gave Alcandra, the wife of Polybus, who dwelt in Thebes Of Egypt, where most-numerous possessions lie in-the-louses. Wbo to Menelaus gave two silver baths. And two tripods, and ten talents of gold. Apart (from these) did his wife besides bestow on Helen beautiful gifts, A golden spindle, and added a basket rimmed-beneath Of silver, but its lips were perfected of-gold. This then did the attendant Phylo bear and place before her, Completely.filled with elaborately wrought thread; and over it Was extended the spindle having wool of-a-deep-violet-hue. ( Helen on ber reclining-couch sat down, and under ber feet was a footstool, And forth with she questioned her husband on all.

SOTHEBY.
While thus the Monarch paused with doubt o'ercast,
Forth from her fragrant chamber Helen past,
Like gold-bowed Dian ; and Adraste came,

The bearer of her throne's majestic frame;
Her carpets' fine-wrought fleece Alcippe bore,
Pnyio her basket bright with silver ore,
Gift of the wife of Polybus, who sway'd
Where Thebes, the Ægyptian Thebes, vast wealth display'd ;
There too the monarch's hospitable hand
To Atreus' son, departing from his land,
Gave ten weigh'd talents, all of purest gold,
Two tripods and two baths of silver mould.
His wife, Alcandra, from her treasured store
A golden spindle to fair Helen bore,

And a bright silver basket, on whose round
A rim of burnish'd gold was closely bound;
Before her sovereign placed, this Phylo brought
And charged with wool elaborately wrought;
There the bright spindle lay, whence Ilelen drew
The fleece that richly flow'd with purple hue-
Thus on her foot-stooled throne the Queen reclined,
And to her lord unbosom'd all her mind.

M. T. CHAPMAN. (TR. COL. CAM.)
From her high-roofd and fragrant chamber came,
Like to Diana of the golden shaft,
Helen: her following, Adraste placed
A well-made couch for her; Alcippe brought
A carpet of soft wool; Paylo the gift
(A silver basket) which Alcandra inade
To the bright Queen,--the wife of Polybus,
Who in Egyptian Thebes his dwelling had,
Where in his palace lie treasures immense;
He gave to Menelaus tripods twain,
Two silver baths, and talents ten of gold;
His wife, besides, made Helen gifts of price
And beautiful,- a distaff all of gold,
And silver basket, silvery circling round,
But tipp'd with gold; which stuff 'd with threads made fit
To spin withal, Phylo her handmaid brought;
The distaff was upon it, wrapt with wool
Of violet colour. On her couch she sat,
And on a cushion placed her dainty feet.

GEORGE DRAKE. (KIRKTHORPE.)
While thus his thoughts in doubtful current flow,
Like the bright Goddess of the golden bow,
Forth from her lofty chamber the fair dame-
Her chamber rich in perfumes-Helen came.
For her a well-wrought couch Adraste bare :
A carpet of soft wool Alcippe's care :
Phylo a silver basket brought :-her load
Alcandra, wife of Polybus, bestow'd,
With divers treasures on their Spartan guest,
When they in Thebes of Egypt wealth possess'd ;
Two golden lavers, two of tripod mould,
And ten pure talents were annex'd of gold :
Besides his spouse rich works of rare device
To Helen gave, and gems of costly price;
A golden distaff, and a sculptured vase,
She gave, of silver on a rounded base,
Whose upper rims with burnish'd gold were wrought :
The same now Phylo for her mistress brought,
Fill'd with spun thread : and on the pile she threw
A distaff charg'd with wool of purple hue.
A footstool underneatb, a couch above
Received the queenly form of beauteous love.

'Tis impossible to hate the traitress. woman--nay, start not at the homely Homer himself loved her-and so words-for we have seen honest did Hector. In Troy we could not women beautiful as angels. Meneforgive her-for the tears of the Fair Jaus suspected from his weeping, at Penitent were shed on the bosom of mention of Ulysses, that it was TeParis. Alas! and a-lack-a-day! what lemachus; but Helen-whose beaucould she do ? For wicked Venus tiful eyes were always wide-a wake would shew her gratitude for the knew that it must be the son of golden apple after her own wicked the great-hearted Ulysses-from his way; but Helen is again an honest wondrous likeness to the hero. Then the king-but not before-sees the she is yet alive, what matters it that likeness too_in feet, hands, head, Troy has ceased to be even a heap hair, and eyes! Helen can still make of ashes ? him see-or not see—any thing ; but Pisistratus declares it is no other for our parts, we now see nothing than Telemachus. but her own radiant self, and since

LITERALLY. LINE FOR LINE WITH THE ORIGINAL. CURISTOPHER NORTII.

Him the auburn-(haired) Menelaus answering addressed : * Ye Gods ! of a truth indeed hath the son of a most friendly man to my house Come, who for my sake hath toiled in many combats : And him when he came, I said, that I would welcome conspicuously above all The Greeks, is to us a return over the sea, should grant The Olympian, far-seeing Jupiter,-to take place in (our) swift ships. And I should have caused-to-be-inhabited for him a city in Argos, and a palace

should have built,
Bringing him from Ithaca with his possessions and his son,
And all his people, removing-the-inhabitants from one city,
(Of those) which are-dwelled-in-around (me,) and are-ruled-over by myself.
And having much intercourse here we should have mingled together, nor us two,
Loving and pleased with each other), should any thing have separated,
Until the dark cloud of death had veiled-us-around.
But-it-was-to-be that a God himself should-be-jealous of these things,
Who, him alone, the wretched-one, hath destined not-to-return."

Thus be spoke ; and among them all stirred-up a longing for lamentation.
The Argive Helen born of Jove on the one hand wept,
And on the other wept Telemachus, and Menelaus the-son-of-Atreus.
Nor verily had Nestor's son tearless eyes:
For he-called-to-mind, in his heart, the amiable Antilochus,
Whom the illustrious son of the brilliant Aurora slew.

But weeping soon becomes cold may better endure the softened comfort -- and “they to the good beauty mellowing away in the mist things lying before them ready their of a momentary dream. hands outstretched.” Hungry and Yes - Helen is an Enchantress. thirsty as they are after their long She is going to drug their wine. travel-scarcely can they either eat Down she drops spindle and distaff or drink for gazing upon Helen. -and will herself be cupbearer. Homer does not say so—but it was Or glides she on a sandal of swan80-for there she sits, spinning like down close behind the youths, and an enchantress-her white hands so interposing between them the gleam lovely among the violet coloured of her right arm, imposes a charm wool — and her arms gracefully more divine than Hermes' Moly into twirling the distaff till their eyes are the liquid ruby that sends its perdazzled with the light of lilies, and fume into the joyous brain ? Hear closed of their own accord, that they Homer.

LITERALLY. LINE FOR LINE WITH THE ORIGINAL. CHRISTOPHER NORTH.
Then truly did Helen born of Jove devise another (plan),
For forth with she mixed a drug in the wine of which they were drinking,
(A drug) grief-assuaging and anger-dispelling, inducing-forgetfulness of all evils.
He who shall-bave-swallowed-it-down, when it shall have-been-mixed in the goblet,
Shall not during-the-whole-day be pouring down bis cheeks the tear,
Not even if his father and mother should have died,
Not even if before him, his brother, or his beloved son,
One should have cut off with the sword, and he looking on with his eyes.
Such a drug skilfully-prepared had the daughter of Jove (Helen),
Efficacious, which Polydamna the wife of Thon gave her
(Polydamna) the Egyptian : in which (country) the all-beautiful soil produces most.

numerous
Drugs, many of-good when mixed, and many destructive
And (there) every physician is skilled beyond all
Men : for their descent is from Pæon.