the majority of people must always fail to understand a great piece of
contemporary literature. One may sift the instances of modern
temperament and comment on them, but one should not try to mould the
residue into a like form. The Bible story paints King David, for
example, as a truculent, bloodthirsty, canting monster--a complete
portrait. The immorality and stupidity lies in trying to reconcile his
Old Testament enormities with the revelations of the New.
So with Ulysses, Circe, Calypso, Nausicaa, and even in later years the
legendary Erippe, all fall truly, artistically and naturally into the
mosaic of the hero's life.
One interesting point in the pleasure-loving side of Ulysses' nature
should by no means be disregarded. Not only did he take eagerly such
joys as the Fates apportioned, but he was a true and discriminating
Sybarite.
We find him taking stringent precautions against disaster from the
Sirens, yet determined to enjoy the luxury of their song. It is a
pleasure not to be missed and not to be paid for. In after years we
may imagine him relating his unique and delicious experience to his
friends with an undoubted complacency.
In the commendable and ancient virtues of filial love, a cardinal
virtue in the old world, a forgotten duty to-day, Ulysses was
singularly strong. His tenderest inquiries in Hades, the most
passionate expressions of affection, are protested to the shade of
Anticlea, his mother. One of the most touching scenes in the _Odyssey_
is the meeting between Ulysses and Laertes, his father, after the long
wanderings are over. "_He flung his arms around his father and cried
out, 'Oh, my father, I am here indeed once more. I have come back to
you at last! Dry your tears, for mine is the victory.'_"
A many-sided man. Hard as a diamond and as bright, with every facet in
his many-sided nature cut and polished by the hand of a master.
C. R. G.
THE END
_Colston & Coy, Limited, Printers, Edinburgh_
_ADVERTISEMENT_
BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT
[Decoration]
TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING
W. CLARKSON
THEATRICAL COSTUMIER AND PERRUQUIER
WIGS, COSTUMES, MASKS, LIMELIGHT
SCENERY AND PROPERTIES
Amateur Theatricals and Tableaux Vivants attended in
town or country on most reasonable terms
Thoroughly competent men sent with every
Requisite
[Decoration]
[Decoration] Clarkson's Lillie Powder [Decoration]
In Three Shades--BLANCHE, NATURELLE, RACHEL
1s. per box; 1s. 3d. post free
Used by Mrs Langtry and all the leading
ladies of the theatrical profession
[Decoration]
W. CLARKSON
45 & 44 WELLINGTON ST., STRAND
[Decoration] LONDON, W.C.
Transcriber's Note
The author's surname is hyphenated throughout this book, although the
Library of Congress lists his name without the hyphen.
The author varies slightly from _The Odyssey_ in places--for instance,
the number of years Ulysses remains with Calypso. These variations are
preserved as written.
There is no page number reference on the illustration facing page 83.
The author uses some variant spelling which is preserved as printed.
This includes Phoeacians, Vergil, Melesegenes, dogrells, both Græcian
and Grecian, and both lotos and lotus. These latter two variations
appear in different sections of the book, so may well be deliberate on
the part of the author.
Minor punctuation errors have been repaired. The following amendments
have also been made:
Page 10--discrimena amended to discrimina--Per varios casus
per tot discrimina rerum ...
Page 32--smiled amended to smile--A cruel smile played on his
face.
Page 74--ago years amended to years ago--It was nine years ago
that the pale gaunt waif of the sea ...
Page 94--iufluence amended to influence--There was some
strange influence in the air ...
The frontispiece illustration has been moved to follow the title page.
Other illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are
not in the middle of a paragraph.