Spoke to Telemachus the martial maid.

“Lo! on the seas, prepared the vessel stands,

The impatient mariner thy speed demands.”

Swift as she spoke, with rapid pace she leads;

The footsteps of the deity he treads.

Swift to the shore they move along the strand;

The ready vessel rides, the sailors ready stand.


He bids them bring their stores; the attending train

Load the tall bark, and launch into the main,

The prince and goddess to the stern ascend;

To the strong stroke at once the rowers bend.

Full from the west she bids fresh breezes blow;

The sable billows foam and roar below.

The chief his orders gives; the obedient band

With due observance wait the chief’s command;

With speed the mast they rear, with speed unbind

The spacious sheet, and stretch it to the wind.

High o’er the roaring waves the spreading sails

Bow the tall mast, and swell before the gales;

The crooked keel the parting surge divides,

And to the stern retreating roll the tides.

And now they ship their oars, and crown with wine

The holy goblet to the powers divine:

Imploring all the gods that reign above,

But chief the blue-eyed progeny of Jove.


Thus all the night they stem the liquid way,

And end their voyage with the morning ray.


BOOK III.


ARGUMENT.

THE INTERVIEW OF TELEMACHUS AND NESTOR.


Telemachus, guided by Pallas in the shape of Mentor, arrives in the morning at

Pylos, where Nestor and his sons are sacrificing on the sea- shore to Neptune.

Telemachus declares the occasion of his coming: and Nestor relates what passed

in their return from Troy, how their fleets were separated, and he never since

heard of Ulysses. They discourse concerning the death of Agamemnon, the revenge

of Orestes, and the injuries of the suitors. Nestor advises him to go to

Sparta, and inquire further of Menelaus. The sacrifice ending with the night,

Minerva vanishes from them in the form of an eagle: Telemachus is lodged in the