The Adventures of Ulysses
The Adventures of Ulysses
This work is designed as a supplement to the Adventures of Telemachus. Ittreats of the conduct and sufferings of Ulysses, the father of Telemachus.The picture which it exhibits is that of a brave man struggling withadversity; by a wise use of events, and with an inimitable presence ofmind under difficulties, forcing out a way for himself through theseverest trials to which human life can be exposed; with enemies naturaland preternatural surrounding him on all sides. The agents in this tale,besides men and women, are giants, enchanters, sirens: things which denoteexternal force or internal temptations, the twofold danger which a wisefortitude must expect to encounter in its course through this world. Thefictions contained in it will be found to comprehend some of the mostadmired inventions of Grecian mythology.
Book Excerpt
hose a stake from among the wood which the Cyclop had piled up for firing, in length and thickness like a mast, which he sharpened and hardened in the fire, and selected four men, and instructed them what they should do with this stake, and made them perfect in their parts.
When the evening was come, the Cyclop drove home his sheep; and as fortune directed it, either of purpose, or that his memory was overruled by the gods to his hurt (as in the issue it proved), he drove the males of his flock, contrary to his custom, along with the dams into the pens. Then shutting-to the stone of the cave, he fell to his horrible supper. When he had despatched two more of the Grecians, Ulysses waxed bold with the contemplation of his project, and took a bowl of Greek wine, and merrily dared the Cyclop to drink.
[Illustration: 'Cyclop,' he said, 'take a bowl of wine from the hand of your guest.']
"Cyclop," he said, "take a bowl of wine from the hand of your guest: it may serve to digest the man
