As swift, the youth pursued the way she led;

and join’d the band before the sacred fire,

Where sate, encompass’d with his sons, the sire.

The youth of Pylos, some on pointed wood

Transfix’d the fragments, some prepared the food:

In friendly throngs they gather to embrace

Their unknown guests, and at the banquet place,

Pisistratus was first to grasp their hands,

And spread soft hides upon the yellow sands;

Along the shore the illustrious pair he led,

Where Nestor sate with youthful Thrasymed,

To each a portion of the feast he bore,

And held the golden goblet foaming o’er;

Then first approaching to the elder guest,

The latent goddess in these words address’d:

“Whoe’er thou art, whom fortune brings to keep

These rites of Neptune, monarch of the deep,

Thee first it fits, O stranger! to prepare

The due libation and the solemn prayer;

Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine;

Though much thy younger, and his years like mine,

He too, I deem, implores the power divine;

For all mankind alike require their grace,

All born to want; a miserable race!”

He spake, and to her hand preferr’d the bowl;

A secret pleasure touch’d Athena’s soul,

To see the preference due to sacred age

Regarded ever by the just and sage.

Of Ocean’s king she then implores the grace.

“O thou! whose arms this ample globe embrace,

Fulfil our wish, and let thy glory shine

On Nestor first, and Nestor’s royal line;

Next grant the Pylian states their just desires,

Pleased with their hecatomb’s ascending fires;

Last, deign Telemachus and me to bless,

And crown our voyage with desired success.”


Thus she: and having paid the rite divine,

Gave to Ulysses’ son the rosy wine.

Suppliant he pray’d. And now the victims dress’d

They draw, divide, and celebrate the feast.

The banquet done, the narrative old man,

Thus mild, the pleasing conference began:


“Now gentle guests! the genial banquet o’er,