ULYSSES.
_Ques._ Who was Ulys´ses?
_Ans._ He was king of Ithaca, and had been, like many other princes of
Greece, a suitor of the beautiful Helen. Believing that he had no hope
for success among so many competitors, Ulys´ses asked the hand of
Penel´ope, daughter of Icarus. His suit was granted; but when he was
about to depart with his bride, Icarus was so much grieved, that he
tried to persuade Penel´ope to remain with him, and not accompany her
husband to Ithaca. Ulys´ses bade her act according to her inclination,
saying that she was free to remain, if such was her desire. Penel´ope
made no reply, but dropped her veil over her face. Icarus urged her no
longer, and when she was gone, he erected a statue to Modesty, on the
spot where they parted. When the Grecian princes were called upon to
revenge the abduction of Helen, Ulys´ses was unwilling to leave his
peaceful kingdom, and sacrifice the happiness he enjoyed in the
company of Penel´ope. Hearing that Palame´des had come to summon him
to the field, he pretended to be insane. He yoked a horse and a bull
together, and began ploughing the sands of the sea-shore, sowing salt
instead of grain. Palame´des caused Telem´achus, the infant son of
Ulys´ses, to be laid before the plough, and the manner in which the
father hastened to remove the child, convinced every one that his
insanity was feigned. He was obliged, therefore, to join the
expedition against Troy, but he never forgave Palame´des for having
exposed his stratagem. The manner in which Ulys´ses revenged himself
is not calculated to give us a very high opinion of the hero. During
the siege, he brought forward a false accusation against Palame´des,
which he supported so well, that the latter was condemned, and put to
death.
Ulys´ses distinguished himself during the war, by his wisdom and
prudence in council, and his courage on the field of battle. We have
already spoken of the part which he took in carrying off the Palladium
of Troy. As a reward for his services, he received the armor of
Achil´les, which Ajax had disputed with him.
After the fall of Troy, Ulys´ses embarked with the intention of
returning to Greece, but he met with so many extraordinary adventures,
that it was only after ten years of peril and hardships, that he was
permitted to land upon the shores of Ithaca.
The Odyssey, the second of the two great poems attributed to Homer,
is a history of the wanderings of Ulys´ses. After some adventures of
minor importance, the ships of the hero were overtaken by a storm
which drove them southward for nine days, and as many nights, until
they reached the country of the Lotus-eaters. When the tempest abated,
Ulys´ses sent some of his companions on shore. They were kindly
entertained by the Lotus-eaters, who regaled them with their own
favorite food, the lotus plant. This was of such a nature, that all
who partook of it forgot home and friends, and were filled with a sort
of indolent contentment, so that they had no other desire than to
remain always in that country. Ulys´ses was obliged to have these men
dragged away by force, and even then, it was necessary to bind them
with ropes to the benches of the ship.
The escape of Ulys´ses from the cavern of the Cyclops and from the
enchantments of Circe has been already related. After passing safely
between Scylla and Charybdis, Ulys´ses landed in the island of
Thrinakia, where the cattle of Hyperion (the Sun) fed in verdant
pastures. Circe had warned the voyagers that these flocks should be
held inviolate, however pressing their wants might be. They were
detained a long time at Thrinakia by contrary winds; and Ulys´ses
bound his companions by an oath that they would not touch the sacred
herds. They were, however, so pressed by famine that they ventured one
day, in the absence of Ulys´ses, to slay a number of the sacred
cattle; vainly endeavoring to propitiate the offended god, by offering
a portion in sacrifice. Ulys´ses returning to the shore, was struck
with horror at their temerity, the more so on account of the fearful
signs which followed. The skins crept on the ground, and the joints of
meat lowed on the spits while roasting.
As the wind was now favorable, Ulys´ses hastened to fly from the fatal
island. The vengeance of the god pursued them on the sea, and a
terrible storm arose, in which all perished, except Ulys´ses himself,
who was spared as having taken no part in the sacrilege. He formed a
raft from the fragments of his ship, and was at length cast by the
waves upon the island of the nymph Calypso. This goddess entertained
Ulys´ses with much kindness, and even offered to share her immortality
with the hero, if he would consent to forget Ithaca and dwell forever
in her happy island. Jupiter, however, sent Mercury to Calypso, with
the command that she should dismiss Ulys´ses, and provide him with all
that was necessary for his homeward voyage.
The goddess reluctantly obeyed; a raft was constructed and furnished,
and Ulys´ses departed from the island. He sped prosperously for some
days, and was almost within sight of land, when a violent storm arose,
in which he would have perished had he not been aided by a
compassionate sea nymph; Minerva, also, smoothed the billows before
him, and he swam safely to land.
The Phæacians, on whose shores he had been cast, received him kindly,
and fitted out a ship in which he sailed for Ithaca. Ulys´ses was
asleep when the vessel touched the strand. The Phæacians carried him
on shore without awaking him, and placed near him a chest filled with
costly gifts, after which they sailed away. Neptune was so much
displeased with the Phæacians for aiding Ulys´ses, that, as their
vessel was returning to port, he transformed it into a rock, which
continued ever after to obstruct the mouth of their harbor.
The arrival of the hero could not have occurred more opportunely for
the deliverance of his wife, the faithful Penel´ope. When a long time
had elapsed after the fall of Troy, and no tidings were received of
Ulys´ses, it was generally believed that he had perished. More than a
hundred nobles of Ithaca and the surrounding islands, became suitors
for the hand of Penel´ope; she however still cherished the hope of her
husband's return, and refused to entertain any proposal of marriage.
The suitors nevertheless persisted; they remained in the palace, which
they filled with riot and feasting, and continually urged Penel´ope to
choose a husband from among their number. She promised, at length,
that she would do so when she had completed a certain web of
embroidery on which she was engaged. They agreed to wait, and
Penel´ope deceived them for a long time, plying her needle diligently
during the day, and undoing the greater part of her work at night.
This device succeeded for three years, at the end of which time the
suitors became so importunate that Penel´ope could no longer resist.
She promised, therefore, that she would marry that man who should send
an arrow from the bow of Ulys´ses, through twelve rings suspended in a
line. The conditions were accepted: and it was on the very eve of the
day appointed for the contest, that Ulys´ses landed in Ithaca. It was
necessary to conceal his return; for this purpose the hero disguised
himself as a beggar, and by the aid of Minerva, so changed his whole
appearance that it was impossible for any one to recognize him. In
this character he was kindly received by Eumæus, a swine-herd, from
whom he learned all that had transpired, and the present distress of
Penel´ope.
Telem´achus, the son of Ulys´ses, had been absent for a long time in
search of his father. He had visited the courts of the other kings who
had taken part in the Trojan war, but without obtaining any certain
tidings. While still engaged in this quest, Minerva bade him return to
Ithaca; he obeyed, and the goddess contrived that he should arrive on
the same day with his father, and meet him in the hut of Eumæus. After
mutual explanations, and affectionate greetings, the two heroes
consulted as to what measures they should take for the punishment of
the suitors, and the deliverance of Penel´ope. It was resolved that
Telem´achus should proceed to the palace, and mingle with the suitors,
as formerly; that Ulys´ses should also go, but in the disguise of a
beggar. Such persons were often admitted, in ancient times, to the
halls of chieftains and princes, where they entertained the guests
with stories of their wanderings, and were regaled with a portion of
the viands. On their arrival at the palace, they found the usual scene
of riot and festivity. The suitors received Telem´achus with affected
joy, although secretly mortified at the failure of their plots against
him. As Ulys´ses entered, a dog which lay in the court, half dead with
age, raised his head in sudden recognition, fawned upon his old
master, and expired. It was Argus, whom Ulys´ses had often led to the
chase.
The banquet proceeded, but Telem´achus had much difficulty in
dissembling his feelings when the suitors made his father a subject of
mockery; and one of them carried his insolence so far as to strike the
disguised hero. At length, the time arrived for the contest of skill
which was to decide the fate of Penel´ope. Twelve rings were suspended
at equal distances, and Telem´achus brought from the armory the mighty
bow of Ulys´ses, with its quiver of arrows; taking care, at the same
time, to remove all other weapons from the hall.
The first thing to be done, was to bend the bow, in order to attach
the string. This Telem´achus tried to do, and was obliged to confess
that his strength was unequal to the effort. He passed the bow to one
of the suitors, who was compelled to yield it in turn, amid the
raillery of his companions. When several had failed in the same
manner, Ulys´ses begged that he might be allowed to try his skill. The
request was received with shouts of derision, and some would have
driven the insolent beggar from the hall. Telem´achus interfered, and
remarking, with affected indifference, that they might as well gratify
the old man, bade him try. Ulys´ses took the bow, and the suitors were
amazed to see him handle the mighty weapon as if it had been a
plaything. Their surprise was still greater, when, having adjusted the
cord, and chosen an arrow from the quiver, he took such steady aim
that the arrow sped unerringly through all the rings; he then
exclaimed, "Now for another mark!" and aimed a second shaft at the
most insolent of the suitors. He fell dead, and as the others rushed
forward, Telem´achus placed himself by his father's side, with Eumæus
and other armed retainers. The suitors, deprived of their weapons, and
terrified at the aspect of the injured prince, whom they recognized
too late, turned to fly, but Eumæus secured the doors. A desperate
struggle ensued, in which all were slain, and Ulys´ses was left master
of his palace and his kingdom. The Odyssey concludes with a
description of the rejoicings which followed, and the happiness
enjoyed by Ulys´ses and Penel´ope after their long separation.