So spake Jove’s daughter, the celestial maid,

The sober train attended and obey’d.

The sacred heralds on their hands around

Pour’d the full urns; the youths the goblets crown’d;

From bowl to bowl the homely beverage flows;

While to the final sacrifice they rose.

The tongues they cast upon the fragrant flame,

And pour, above, the consecrated stream.

And now, their thirst by copious draughts allay’d,

The youthful hero and the Athenian maid

Propose departure from the finish’d rite,

And in their hollow bark to pass the night;

But this hospitable sage denied,

“Forbid it, Jove! and all the gods! (he cried),

Thus from my walls and the much-loved son to send

Of such a hero, and of such a friend!

Me, as some needy peasant, would ye leave,

Whom Heaven denies the blessing to relieve?

Me would ye leave, who boast imperial sway,

When beds of royal state invite your stay?

No—long as life this mortal shall inspire,

Or as my children imitate their sire.

Here shall the wandering stranger find his home,

And hospitable rites adorn the dome.”


“Well hast thou spoke (the blue-eyed maid replies),

Beloved old man! benevolent as wise.

Be the kind dictates of thy heart obey’d,

And let thy words Telemachus persuade:

He to thy palace shall thy steps pursue;

I to the ship, to give the orders due,

Prescribe directions and confirm the crew.

For I alone sustain their naval cares,

Who boast experience from these silver hairs;

All youths the rest, whom to this journey move

Like years, like tempers, and their prince’s love

There in the vessel shall I pass the night;

And, soon as morning paints the fields of light,

I go to challenge from the Caucons bold

A debt, contracted in the days of old,

But this, thy guest, received with friendly care

Let thy strong coursers swift to Sparta bear;

Prepare thy chariot at the dawn of day,

And be thy son companion of his way.”


Then, turning with the word, Minerva flies,