Part 13

FINIS LIBRI SEXTI HOM. ODYSS.

[1] _ϒπνῳ καἱ καμἀτῳ ἁρημένος. Sonno et labore afflictus._ Sleep (_καταχρηστικω̑ς_) for the want of sleep.

[2] Intending Dymas’ daughter.

[3] This familiar and near wanton carriage of Nausicaa to her father, joined with that virgin modesty expressed in her after, is much praised by the gravest of Homer’s expositors; with her father’s loving allowance of it, knowing her shamefastness and judgment would not let her exceed at any part. Which note is here inserted, not as if this were more worthy the observation than other every-where strewed flowers of precept, but because this more generally pleasing subject may perhaps find more fitness for the stay of most readers.

[4] The piety and wisdom of the Poet was such, that (agreeing with the Sacred Letter) not the least of things he makes come to pass _sine Numinis providentiâ._ As Spondanus well notes of him.

[5] _Διερὸς βροτός. Cui vitalis vel sensualis humiditas inest. βροτὸς ὰ ῥέω, ut dicatur quasi ῥοτὸς,_ i.e. _ὁ ἐν ῥοᾓ ὢν, quod nihil sit magis fluxum quam homo._

[6] _Ανήρ virili animo præditus, fortis, magnanimus._ Nor are those affirmed to be men, _qui servile quidpiam et abjectum faciunt, vel, facere sustinent_: according to this of Herodotus in Polym. _πολλοὶ μὲν ἄνθρωποι ει͒εν, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἄνδρες._ Many men’s forms sustain, but few are men.

[7] According to another translator: _“Ab Jove nam supplex pauper procedit et hospes, Res brevis, at chara est, magni quoque munaris instar.”_ Which I cite to show his good when he keeps him to the original, and near in any degree expounds it.

[8] He taught their youths modesty by his aged judgment. As receiving the custom of maids then used to that entertainment of men, notwithstanding the modesty of that age, could not be corrupted inwardly for those outward kind observations of guests and strangers, and was therefore privileged. It is easy to avoid show; and those, that most curiously avoid the outward construction, are ever most tainted with the inward corruption.

[9] The city’s description so far forth as may in part induce her promised reason why she took not Ulysses to coach with her.

[10] Not without some little note of our omnisufficient Homer’s general touch of the least fitness lying in his way, may this courtly discretion he describes in Nausicaa be observed, if you please.

[11] More of our Poet’s curious and sweet piety.

THE SEVENTH BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS

THE ARGUMENT

Nausicaa arrives at town; And then Ulysses. He makes known His suit to Arete: who view Takes of his vesture, which she knew, And asks him from whose hands it came. He tells, with all the hapless frame Of his affairs in all the while Since he forsook Calypso’s isle.

ANOTHER ARGUMENT

_Ητα._ The honour’d minds, And welcome things, Ulysses finds In Scheria’s kings.