By fraud fulfilled, and his great brother bled.

Seven years, the traitor rich Mycenae sway’d,

And his stern rule the groaning land obey’d;

The eighth, from Athens to his realm restored,

Orestes brandish’d the avenging sword,

Slew the dire pair, and gave to funeral flame

The vile assassin and adulterous dame.

That day, ere yet the bloody triumphs cease,

Return’d Atrides to the coast of Greece,

And safe to Argos port his navy brought,

With gifts of price and ponderous treasure fraught.

Hence warn’d, my son, beware! nor idly stand

Too long a stranger to thy native land;

Lest heedless absence wear thy wealth away,

While lawless feasters in thy palace away;

Perhaps may seize thy realm, and share the spoil;

And though return, with disappointed toil,

From thy vain journey, to a rifled isle.

However, my friend, indulge one labour more,

And seek Atrides on the Spartan shore.

He, wandering long a wider circle made,

And many-languaged nations has survey’d:

And measured tracks unknown to other ships,

Amid the monstrous wonders of the deeps,

(A length of ocean and unbounded sky.

Which scarce the sea-fowl in a year o’erfly);

Go then; to Sparta take the watery way,

Thy ship and sailors but for orders stay;

Or, if my land then choose thy course to bend,

My steeds, my chariots, and my songs, attend;

Thee to Atrides they shall safe convey,

Guides of thy road, companions of thy way.

Urge him with truth to frame his wise replies,

And sure he will; for Menelaus is wise.”

Thus while he speaks the ruddy sun descends,

And twilight grey her evening shade extends.

Then thus the blue-eyed maid: “O full of days!

Wise are thy words, and just are all thy ways.

Now immolate the tongues, and mix the wine,

Sacred to Neptune and the powers divine,

The lamp of day is quench’d beneath the deep,

And soft approach the balmy hours of sleep;

Nor fits it to prolong the heavenly feast,

Timeless, indecent, but retire to rest.”