SAMUEL DANIEL
ULYSSES AND THE SIREN
Siren. f^ OME worthy Greek ! Ulysses, come ;
Possess these shores with me !
The winds and seas are troublesome,
And here we may be free.
Here may we sit and view their toil 5
That travail in the deep,
And joy the day in mirth the while
And spend the night in sleep.
Ulysses. Fair nymph, if fame, or honour were
To be attained with ease iq
Then would I come, and rest me there,
And leave such toils as these.
But here it dwells, and here must I
With danger seek it forth,
To spend the time luxuriously 15
Becomes not men of worth.
Siren, Ulysses, O! be not deceived
With that unreal name:
This honour is a thing conceived,
And rests on other's fame. 20
Begotten only to molest
Our peace, and to beguile
The best thing of our life, our rest,
And give us up to toil.
Ulysses. Delicious nymph, suppose there were 25
Nor honour, nor report,
Yet manliness would scorn to wear
The time in idle sport.