With unguents smooth the lucid marble shone,

Where ancient Neleus sate, a rustic throne;

But he descending to the infernal shade,

Sage Nestor fill’d it, and the sceptre sway’d.

His sons around him mild obeisance pay,

And duteous take the orders of the day.

First Echephron and Stratius quit their bed;

Then Perseus, Aretus, and Thrasymed;

The last Pisistratus arose from rest:

They came, and near him placed the stranger-guest.

To these the senior thus declared his will:

“My sons! the dictates of your sire fulfil.

To Pallas, first of gods, prepare the feast,

Who graced our rites, a more than mortal guest

Let one, despatchful, bid some swain to lead

A well-fed bullock from the grassy mead;

One seek the harbour where the vessels moor,

And bring thy friends, Telemachus! ashore

(Leave only two the galley to attend);

Another Laerceus must we send,

Artist devine, whose skilful hands infold

The victim’s horn with circumfusile gold.

The rest may here the pious duty share,

And bid the handmaids for the feast prepare,

The seats to range, the fragrant wood to bring,

And limpid waters from the living spring.”


He said, and busy each his care bestow’d;

Already at the gates the bullock low’d,

Already came the Ithacensian crew,

The dexterous smith the tools already drew;

His ponderous hammer and his anvil sound,

And the strong tongs to turn the metal round.

Nor was Minerva absent from the rite,

She view’d her honours, and enjoyed the sight,

With reverend hand the king presents the gold,

Which round the intorted horns the gilder roll’d.

So wrought as Pallas might with pride behold.

Young Aretus from forth his bridal bower

Brought the full laver, o’er their hands to pour,

And canisters of consecrated flour.

Stratius and Echephron the victim led;

The axe was held by warlike Thrasymed,

In act to strike; before him Perseus stood,

The vase extending to receive the blood.