[8] The whole end of this counsel was to persuade his soldiers to explore those parts, which he knew would prove a most unpleasing motion to them: for their fellows’ terrible entertainment with Antiphas, and Polyph. and therefore he prepares the little he hath to say with this long circumstance; implying a necessity of that service, and necessary resolution to add the trial of the event to their other adventures.
[9] Κεδνὸς, cujus animus curas prudentes versat.
[10] Seeing them, he thought of his fellows.
[11] The herb Moly, which, with Ulysses’ whole narration, hath in chief an allegorical exposition. Notwithstanding I say with our Spondanus, Credo in hoc vasto mundi ambitu extare res innumeras mirandæ facultatis: adeo, ut ne quidem ista quæ ad transformanda corpora pertinet, jure è mundo eximi possit, etc.
[12] Φράσσαντό τε πάντα. Commemorabantque omnia. Intending all their miseries, escapes, and meetings.
[13] Κλυτὰ ἕθνεα νεκρω̑ν. Which is expounded Inclyta examina mortuorum: but κλυτὸς is the epithet of Pluto; and by analogy belongs to the dead, quod ad se omnes advocat.
THE ELEVENTH BOOK OF HOMER’S ODYSSEYS
THE ARGUMENT
Ulysees’ way to Hell appears;
Where he the grave Tiresias hears;
Enquires his own and others’ fates;
His mother sees, and th’ after states
In which were held by sad decease
Heroës, and Heroesses,
A number, that at Troy wag’d war;
As Ajax that was still at jar
With Ithacus, for th’ arms he lost;
And with the great Achilles’ ghost.