Canto II.]
Orion.
15
With other isles the Ithacans exchanged,
And each was well supplied. Encolyon's brain
Some goddess—and 't was Discord, as results
Made plain—one night inspired with sage alarms,
And straight the King of Ithaca he sought,
Imploring him, "if that he duly prized
A heaven-blest crown and subjects all content,
To drive the ships, sent from the neighbouring isles,
Forth from his port, or sink the grain they brought:
Else would his people, over-fed, grow slothful,
Rude, and importunate with new conceits,
And soon degenerating in their race,
Neglect their proper island, and their King.
But, on its own resources nobly forced,
Then would the stony Ithaca become
Great in herself by self-dependent power."
And each was well supplied. Encolyon's brain
Some goddess—and 't was Discord, as results
Made plain—one night inspired with sage alarms,
And straight the King of Ithaca he sought,
Imploring him, "if that he duly prized
A heaven-blest crown and subjects all content,
To drive the ships, sent from the neighbouring isles,
Forth from his port, or sink the grain they brought:
Else would his people, over-fed, grow slothful,
Rude, and importunate with new conceits,
And soon degenerating in their race,
Neglect their proper island, and their King.
But, on its own resources nobly forced,
Then would the stony Ithaca become
Great in herself by self-dependent power."
To this the King gave ear, and on the shore
He, with Encolyon, for an omen prayed;
And soon along the horizontal line
Rising, they saw a threatening rack of clouds,
Black as the fleet from Aulis 'gainst doomed Troy,—
In after-time well known. Encolyon cried
"Behold propitious anger on the isle,
He, with Encolyon, for an omen prayed;
And soon along the horizontal line
Rising, they saw a threatening rack of clouds,
Black as the fleet from Aulis 'gainst doomed Troy,—
In after-time well known. Encolyon cried
"Behold propitious anger on the isle,
