Page:The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer (IA iliadodysseyofho02home).pdf/88

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HOMER's ODYSSEY.
Book IV.

Such drugs Jove's daughter own'd, with skill prepar'd,
And of prime virtue, by the wife of Thone, 286
Ægyptian Polydamna, giv'n her.
For Ægypt teems with drugs, yielding no few
Which, mingled with the drink, are good, and many
Of baneful juice, and enemies to life. 290
There ev'ry man in skill medicinal
Excels, for they are sons of Pæon all.
That drug infused, she bade her servant pour
The bev'rage forth, and thus her speech resumed.
Atrides! Menelaus! dear to Jove! 295
These also are the sons of Chiefs renown'd,
(For Jove, as pleases him, to each assigns
Or good or evil, whom all things obey)
Now therefore, feasting at your ease reclin'd,
Listen with pleasure, for myself, the while, 300
Will matter seasonable interpose.
I cannot all rehearse, nor even name,
(Omitting none) the conflicts and exploits
Of brave Ulysses; but with what address
Successful, one atchievement he perform'd 305
At Ilium, where Achaia's sons endured
Such hardship, will I speak. Inflicting wounds
Dishonourable on himself, he took
A tatter'd garb, and like a serving-man
Enter'd the spacious city of your foes. 310
So veil'd, some mendicant he seem'd, although
No Greecian less deserved that name than he.

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