Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ODYSSEY: BOOK 5. MERCURY VISITS CALYPSO'S ISLAND, by HOMER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ODYSSEY: BOOK 5. MERCURY VISITS CALYPSO'S ISLAND, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: He stoopt pierea, and thence
Last Line: His heart of comfort.
Subject(s): Mythology - Classical


He stoopt Pierea, and thence
Glid through the aire; and Neptune's Confluence
Kist as he flew, and checkt the waves as light
As any Sea-mew, in her fishing flight,
Her thicke wings soucing in the savorie seas.
Like her, he pass'd a world of wildernesse;
But when the far-off Ile he toucht, he went
Up from the blue sea, to the Continent,
And reacht the ample Caverne of the Queene;
Whom he within found, without, seldome seene.
A Sun-like fire upon the harth did flame;
The matter precious, and divine the frame,
Of Cedar cleft, and Incense was the Pile,
That breath'd an odour round about the Ile.
Her selfe was seated in an inner roome,
Whom sweetly sing he heard; and at her loome,
About a curious web, whose yarne she threw
In, with a golden shittle. A Grove grew
In endlesse spring about her Caverne round,
With odorous Cypresse, Pines, and Poplars crownd.
Where Haulks, Sea-owles, and long-tongu'd Bittours bred,
And other birds their shadie pinions spred.
All Fowles maritimall; none roosted there,
But those whose labours in the waters were.
A Vine did all the hollow Cave embrace;
Still greene, yet still ripe bunches gave it grace.
Four Fountaines, one against another powr'd
Their silver streames; and medowes all enflowrd
With sweete Balme-gentle, and blue Violets hid,
That deckt the soft brests of each fragrant Mead.
Should any one (though he immortall were)
Arrive and see the sacred objects there;
He would admire them, and be over-joyd;
And so stood Hermes ravisht powres employd.
But having all admir'd, he enterd on
The ample Cave; nor could be seene unknowne
Of great Calypso (for all Deities are
Prompt in each others knowledge; though so farre
Severd in dwellings) but he could not see
Ulysses there within. Without was he
Set sad ashore; where 'twas his use to view
Th' unquiet sea; sigh'd, wept, and emptie drew
His heart of comfort.





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