The king then demands the name and lineage of Ulysses, and inquired why flowed his tears when Troy was the theme? reminding him that the ways Ulysses, after congratulating

of heaven were just.

6

the king on the peace and prosperity enjoyed by his people, remarks, how pleasant it is to listen to the poet's enchanting lays, and to witness the happiness of a people blest with peace and abundance; why then, amidst so much felicity, should the king seek to learn the adventures of a miserable man?'

The hero of Troy then proceeds to relate his name, with the renown he had acquired; describing in glowing language the fair Isle which gave him birth; declaring that no pomp or splendor could ever banish from his remembrance the image of his beloved country, or repress his strong desire to be once more united with the friends he so ardently loves.

When Ulysses had detailed minutely his wonderful adventures to the king and his peers, who had listened in rapt attention to his wonderful tale, Alcinous, touched with sympathy, arose and expressed his warm desire that, in addition to the costly gifts already bestowed, each peer should present their princely guest with an ample tripod and vase, expressive of the public love, who, after so many toils, might now find repose and be conveyed with joy to his beloved home. The counsel of the king was received with pleasure; but, as night was approaching, all retired to seek repose in their separate mansions.

No sooner had the morning dawned, than each of the princes hasted to the bark with his noble present

preceded by the king, who himself arranged with care the ample treasures and splendid vases, that all might be transported uninjured; then bade all present repair to the palace and partake of the parting feast.

A victim ox, beneath the sacred hand

Of great Alcinous, falls and stains the sand;
To Jove the Eternal, (power above all powers!

Who wings the wind and darkens heaven with showers)
The flames ascend till evening they prolong

The rites, more sacred made by heavenly song.*

When all had shared the hospitable feast, Ulysses, who had watched with anxiety the setting sun, the signal for his departure, now arose, and addressing the king and court, pours forth his whole soul in bidding them adieu.' He invokes heaven to enrich with its choicest blessings his generous and noble friends, whose abundant goodness he trusts will be confirmed by the protection of the immortal gods; and their happy guest, after due libation, be safely conveyed to the home so deeply imaged in his soul.

His words well weigh'd, the general voice approv'd
Benign, and instant his dismission mov'd;

The monarch to Pontonous gave the sign,

To fill the goblet high with rosy wine :
Great Jove the Father, first (he cried) implore,
Then send the stranger to his native shore.

The luscious wine the obedient herald brought;
Around the mansion flowed the purple draught.

* Odyssey, Book xii. p. 8.

Each from his seat to each immortal pours,
Whom glory circles in the Olympian bowers,
Ulysses sole with air majestic stands,

The bowl presenting to Arete's hands:
Then thus: O queen, farewell! be still possest
Of dear remembrance, blessing still and blest!
Till age and death shall gently call thee hence,
(Sure fate of every mortal excellence!)
Farewell! and joys successive ever spring
To thee, to thine, the people, and the king!*

Thus having said, Ulysses left the palace, and was ushered to the bark by a royal herald, attended by some maidens of Areté's train, bearing the presents, with ample store of food and wine of crimson hue, which, on arriving where the galley rode, they gave in charge to some of the brave mariners. Meantime soft painted arras was spread, with linen of the finest texture, for the bed of the hero, who embarking, silently reposed on his splendid couch, where, soothed by visions of happiness, he profoundly slept till the bright star of heaven gave promise of the rising day, and the bark arrived at the fair and spacious port of Ithaca.t

The beautiful portraiture of domestic manners and

* Odyssey, Book xiii. p. 8.

The wonderful rapidity with which Ulysses was conveyed to his home by Phæaciau mariners, whom, he was assured, could impel their ships with great celerity regardless of conflicting elements, appears to have some analogy to the velocity of steam navigation; should this supposition be correct, it affords a striking example of the progress and vicissitude of the arts.

ancient hospitality here exhibited, affords abundant testimony, that the notions commonly entertained in reference to the insensibility of the former inhabitants of the earth to the endearing charities of life, together with their ignorance of the attributes and supremacy of God, cannot be sustained by any candid exposition of their writings. Accordingly we find that the supporters of these opinions, when compelled to explain the source from whence they originated, resort to casuistry and vague conjecture to sustain the theory adopted.

Those who wish to limit the beneficence of the Deity to a small portion of his creatures, whilst, in conformity with these crude notions, the great mass of intelligent beings are enveloped in darkness and doubt, and deprived of the cheering light which alone can guide them to a glorious immortality, must, in our apprehension, be deficient in true piety and those exalted impressions of the high and lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, which His attributes inspire and demand.

However opinions may be modified or varied, all mankind agree in ascribing unbounded goodness, wisdom, and power to the great Parent of the Universe, although many vague and contradictory notions are entertained by those who are incapable of comprehending the extent of His gracious designs. Nevertheless it is an enigma difficult to solve, when we find enlighted men embracing views so unworthy of the all-perfect Mind; and thus profaning His glorious attributes, by confining in one narrow channel those living waters which have ever flowed from the great fountain of

light and gladdened the whole earth. Do not the scriptures declare, in the most plain and decided terms, that the tender mercies of God are over all his works?" and that 'at sundry times and in divers manners He hath instructed our fathers by the prophets, and in these latter days hath sent His son also?' In the parable of the vineyard, the messengers sent all made the same demand; and the son was sent with no new instructions, but with the expectation that his superior dignity would command the respect and reverence of the husbandmen.

The magnificent canopy of the heavens was exhibited in all its splendor to the admiring gaze of the pagan world, who failed not to arrange the wonderful assemblage of the starry host, or to observe the order, beauty and design, which governed all their movements; how then could they be ignorant of Him who formed and fashioned and regulated the amazing whole? For the invisible things of God, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.'

Religion should be presented bright and pure as imaged in nature by the Almighty hand; and exemplified cleansed from earthly pollution by His glorious messenger Jesus Christ. Surely we may ask, without irreligion or irreverence, what can be more cheering than to trace by other means and from other sources the same great truths, the same exciting hopes which are positively revealed!' No arguments we apprehend are so well adapted to silence the objections of sceptics, as those which exhibit the beautiful analogy existing