Of one lost joy, I lose what yet remain.”


His purpose when the generous warrior heard,

He charged the household cates to be prepared.

Now with the dawn, from his adjoining home,

Was Boethoedes Eteoneus come;

Swift at the word he forms the rising blaze,

And o’er the coals the smoking fragments lays.

Meantime the king, his son, and Helen went

Where the rich wardrobe breathed a costly scent;

The king selected from the glittering rows

A bowl; the prince a silver beaker chose.

The beauteous queen revolved with careful eyes

Her various textures of unnumber’d dyes,

And chose the largest; with no vulgar art

Her own fair hands embroider’d every part;

Beneath the rest it lay divinely bright,

Like radiant Hesper o’er the gems of night,

Then with each gift they hasten’d to their guest,

And thus the king Ulysses’ heir address’d:

“Since fix’d are thy resolves, may thundering Jove

With happiest omens thy desires approve!

This silver bowl, whose costly margins shine

Enchased with gold, this valued gift be thine;

To me this present, of Vulcanian frame,

From Sidon’s hospitable monarch came;

To thee we now consign the precious load,

The pride of kings, and labour of a god.”


Then gave the cup, while Megapenthe brought

The silver vase with living sculpture wrought.

The beauteous queen, advancing next, display’d

The shining veil, and thus endearing said:


“Accept, dear youth, this monument of love,

Long since, in better days, by Helen wove:

Safe in thy mother’s care the vesture lay,

To deck thy bride and grace thy nuptial day.

Meantime may’st thou with happiest speed regain

Thy stately palace, and thy wide domain.”


She said, and gave the veil; with grateful look

The prince the variegated present took.

And now, when through the royal dome they pass’d,

High on a throne the king each stranger placed.

A golden ewer the attendant damsel brings,

Replete with water from the crystal springs;