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ARGUS - Alexander Pope, The Complete Poetical Works of Alexander Pope [1903]

Edition used:

The Complete Poetical Works of Alexander Pope. Cambridge Edition, ed. Henry W. Boynton (Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Co., 1903).

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ARGUS

Written in 1709 and sent in a letter to Henry Cromwell in 1711.

  • When wise Ulysses, from his native coast
  • Long kept by wars, and long by tempests toss’d,
  • Arrived at last, poor, old, disguised, alone,
  • To all his friends, and ev’n his Queen unknown,
  • Changed as he was, with age, and toils, and cares,
  • Furrow’d his rev’rend face, and white his hairs,
  • In his own palace forc’d to ask his bread,
  • Scorn’d by those slaves his former bounty fed,
  • Forgot of all his own domestic crew,
  • The faithful Dog alone his rightful master knew!
  • Unfed, unhous’d, neglected, on the clay,
  • Like an old servant now cashier’d, he lay;
  • Touch’d with resentment of ungrateful man,
  • And longing to behold his ancient lord again.
  • Him when he saw he rose, and crawl’d to meet,
  • (’T was all he could) and fawn’d and kiss’d his feet,
  • Seiz’d with dumb joy; then falling by his side,
  • Own’d his returning lord, look’d up, and died!