“Sufficient they (Telemachus rejoin’d)
Against the banded powers of all mankind: 
They, high enthroned above the rolling clouds,
Wither the strength of man, and awe the gods.”

“Such aids expect (he cries,) when strong in might
We rise terrific to the task of fight. 
But thou, when morn salutes the aerial plain,
The court revisit and the lawless train: 
Me thither in disguise Eumaeus leads,
An aged mendicant in tatter’d weeds. 
There, if base scorn insult my reverend age,
Bear it, my son! repress thy rising rage. 
If outraged, cease that outrage to repel;
Bear it, my son! howe’er thy heart rebel. 
Yet strive by prayer and counsel to restrain
Their lawless insults, though thou strive in vain: 
For wicked ears are deaf to wisdom’s call,
And vengeance strikes whom Heaven has doom’d to fall. 
Once more attend:  when she whose power inspires
The thinking mind, my soul to vengeance fires,
I give the sign:  that instant, from beneath,
Aloft convey the instruments of death,
Armour and arms; and, if mistrust arise,
Thus veil the truth in plausible disguise: 

“’These glittering weapons, ere he sail’d to Troy,
Ulysses view’d with stern heroic joy: 
Then, beaming o’er the illumined wall they shone;
Now dust dishonours, all their lustre gone. 
I bear them hence (so Jove my soul inspires),
From the pollution of the fuming fires;
Lest when the bowl inflames, in vengeful mood
Ye rush to arms, and stain the feast with blood: 
Oft ready swords in luckless hour incite
The hand of wrath, and arm it for the fight.’

“Such be the plea, and by the plea deceive: 
For Jove infatuates all, and all believe. 
Yet leave for each of us a sword to wield,
A pointed javelin, and a fenceful shield. 
But by my blood that in thy bosom glows,
By that regard a son his father owes;
The secret, that thy father lives, retain
Lock’d in thy bosom from the household train;
Hide it from all; e’en from Eumaeus hide,
From my dear father, and my dearer bride. 
One care remains, to note the loyal few
Whose faith yet lasts among the menial crew;
And noting, ere we rise in vengeance, prove
Who love his prince; for sure you merit love.”

To whom the youth:  “To emulate, I aim,
The brave and wise, and my great father’s fame. 
But reconsider, since the wisest err,
Vengeance resolved, ’tis dangerous to defer. 
What length of time must we consume in vain,
Too curious to explore the menial train! 
While the proud foes, industrious to destroy
Thy wealth, in riot the delay enjoy. 
Suffice it in this exigence alone
To mark the damsels that attend the throne: 
Dispersed the youth reside; their faith to prove
Jove grants henceforth, if thou hast spoke from Jove.”