All 41 Uses of
wretch
in
The Odyssey by Homer - (translated by: Pope)
- Hermes I sent, while yet his soul remain'd Sincere from royal blood, and faith profaned; To warn the wretch, that young Orestes, grown To manly years, should re-assert the throne.†
Book 1 *
- To Fate's supreme dispose the dead resign, That care be Fate's, a speedy passage thine Still lives the wretch who wrought the death deplored, But lives a victim for thy vengeful sword; Unless with filial rage Orestes glow, And swift prevent the meditated blow: You timely will return a welcome guest, With him to share the sad funereal feast."†
Book 4
- Around their sovereign wept the menial fair, To whom she thus address'd her deep despair: "Behold a wretch whom all the gods consign To woe!†
Book 4
- Then shook the hero, to despair resign'd, And question'd thus his yet unconquer'd mind; "Wretch that I am! what farther fates attend This life of toils, and what my destined end?†
Book 5
- 'tis all a wretch can give.†
Book 8
- "Know first the man (though now a wretch distress'd) Who hopes thee, monarch, for his future guest.†
Book 9
- My soul foreboded I should find the bower Of some fell monster, fierce with barbarous power; Some rustic wretch, who lived in Heaven's despite, Contemning laws, and trampling on the right.†
Book 9
- I deem'd some godlike giant to behold, Or lofty hero, haughty, brave, and bold; Not this weak pigmy wretch, of mean design, Who, not by strength subdued me, but by wine.†
Book 9
- "Thus I with art to move their pity tried, And touch'd the youths; but their stern sire replied: 'Vile wretch, begone! this instant I command Thy fleet accursed to leave our hallow'd land.†
Book 10
- The sailors catch the word, their oars they seize, And sweep with equal strokes the smoky seas; Clear of the rocks the impatient vessel flies; Whilst in the port each wretch encumber'd dies.†
Book 10
- "Sullen and sour, with discontented mien, Jocasta frown'd, the incestuous Theban queen; With her own son she join'd in nuptial bands, Though father's blood imbrued his murderous hands The gods and men the dire offence detest, The gods with all their furies rend his breast; In lofty Thebes he wore the imperial crown, A pompous wretch! accursed upon a throne.†
Book 11
- No more that wretch shall view the joys of life His blooming offspring, or his beauteous wife!†
Book 12
- O tell a wretch in exile doom'd to stray, What air I breathe, what country I survey?†
Book 13
- Pirates and conquerors of harden'd mind, The foes of peace, and scourges of mankind, To whom offending men are made a prey When Jove in vengeance gives a land away; E'en these, when of their ill-got spoils possess'd, Find sure tormentors in the guilty breast: Some voice of God close whispering from within, 'Wretch! this is villainy, and this is sin.'†
Book 14
- The monarch's son a shipwreck'd wretch relieved, The sire with hospitable rites received, And in his palace like a brother placed, With gifts of price and gorgeous garments graced While here I sojourn'd, oft I heard the fame How late Ulysses to the country came.†
Book 14
- Meantime the prince with sacrifice adores Minerva, and her guardian aid implores; When lo! a wretch ran breathless to the shore, New from his crime; and reeking yet with gore.†
Book 15
- Of my own tribe an Argive wretch I slew; Whose powerful friends the luckless deed pursue With unrelenting rage, and force from home The blood-stain'd exile, ever doom'd to roam.†
Book 15
- Swear first (she cried), ye sailors! to restore A wretch in safety to her native shore.†
Book 15
- The seventh, the fraudful wretch (no cause descried), Touch'd by Diana's vengeful arrow, died.†
Book 15
- Wretch! to destroy a prince that friendship gives, While in his guest his murderer he receives; Nor dread superior Jove, to whom belong The cause of suppliants, and revenge of wrong.†
Book 16
- But hateful of the wretch, Eumaeus heaved His hands obtesting, and this prayer conceived: "Daughters of Jove! who from the ethereal bowers Descend to swell the springs, and feed the flowers!†
Book 17
- So spoke the wretch, but, shunning farther fray, Turn'd his proud step, and left them on their way.†
Book 17
- It is not so with want! how few that feed A wretch unhappy, merely for his need!†
Book 17
- Unless at distance, wretch! thou keep behind, Another isle, than Cyprus more unkind, Another Egypt shalt thou quickly find.†
Book 17
- Peace, wretch! and eat thy bread without offence (The suitor cried), or force shall drag thee hence, Scourge through the public street, and cast thee there, A mangled carcase for the hounds to tear.†
Book 17
- But hear me wretch! if recreant in the fray That huge bulk yield this ill-contested day, Instant thou sail'st, to Eschetus resign'd; A tyrant, fiercest of the tyrant kind, Who casts thy mangled ears and nose a prey To hungry dogs, and lops the man away."†
Book 18
- Of all that breathes, or grovelling creeps on earth, Most man in vain! calamitous by birth: To-day, with power elate, in strength he blooms; The haughty creature on that power presumes: Anon from Heaven a sad reverse he feels: Untaught to bear, 'gainst Heaven the wretch rebels.†
Book 18
- Then to the skies her flight Minerva bends, And to the queen the damsel train descends; Waked at their steps, her flowing eyes unclose; The tears she wipes, and thus renews her woes: "Howe'er 'tis well that sleep awhile can free, With soft forgetfulness a wretch like me; Oh! were it given to yield this transient breath, Send, O Diana! send the sleep of death!†
Book 18
- That yon proud suitors, who licentious tread These courts, within these courts like Irus bled: Whose loose head tottering, as with wine oppress'd, Obliquely drops, and nodding knocks his breast; Powerless to move, his staggering feet deny The coward wretch the privilege to fly."†
Book 18
- Such were his words; and Hymen now prepares To light his torch, and give me up to cares; The afflictive hand of wrathful Jove to bear: A wretch the most complete that breathes the air!†
Book 18
- So pays the wretch whom fate constrains to roam, The dues of nature to his natal home!†
Book 19
- The delicacy of your courtly train To wash a wretched wanderer would disdain; But if, in tract of long experience tried, And sad similitude of woes allied, Some wretch reluctant views aerial light, To her mean hand assign the friendly rite.†
Book 19
- …strength of man) Discharging to the day the labour due, Now early to repose the rest withdrew; One maid unequal to the task assign'd, Still turn'd the toilsome mill with anxious mind; And thus in bitterness of soul divined: "Father of gods and men, whose thunders roll O'er the cerulean vault, and shake the pole: Whoe'er from Heaven has gain'd this rare ostent (Of granted vows a certain signal sent), In this blest moment of accepted prayer, Piteous, regard a wretch consumed with care!†
Book 20
- While thus the chief his woes indignant told, Melanthius, master of the bearded fold, The goodliest goats of all the royal herd Spontaneous to the suitors' feast preferr'd; Two grooms assistant bore the victims bound; With quavering cries the vaulted roofs resound; And to the chief austere aloud began The wretch unfriendly to the race of man: "Here vagrant, still? offensive to my lords!†
Book 20
- For journeying on to Hercules, at length That lawless wretch, that man of brutal strength, Deaf to Heaven's voice, the social rites transgress'd; And for the beauteous mares destroy'd his guest.†
Book 21
- To speed the flying shaft through every ring, Wretch! is not thine: the arrows of the king Shall end those hopes, and fate is on the wing!†
Book 21
- Heaven to this wretch (another cried) be kind!†
Book 21
- Swift as the word the parting arrow sings, And bears thy fate, Antinous, on its wings: Wretch that he was, of unprophetic soul!†
Book 22
- Ulysses burn'd With high disdain, and sternly thus return'd: "All, all the treasure that enrich'd our throne Before your rapines, join'd with all your own, If offer'd, vainly should for mercy call; 'tis you that offer, and I scorn them all; Your blood is my demand, your lives the prize, Till pale as yonder wretch each suitor lies.†
Book 22
- Then forth they led Melanthius, and began Their bloody work; they lopp'd away the man, Morsel for dogs! then trimm'd with brazen shears The wretch, and shorten'd of his nose and ears; His hands and feet last felt the cruel steel: He roar'd, and torments gave his soul to hell.†
Book 22
- Wretch that he was! and that I am! my son!†
Book 24
Definition:
-
(wretch) someone you feel sorry for
or:
a person of bad character