ODYSSEY BOOK III
THEN, as the sun rushed up from the beautiful lake of the ocean
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Into a heaven of brass and brought back light for immortals,
Yea and for mortals that live on the earth, rich giver of harvests,
Unto the Pylian city they came, strong castle of Neleus.
Here on the shore of the ocean the people had slain as oblation
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Bulls all black to the blue-haired god, Earth-shaking Poseidon.
Companies nine were there, five hundred seated in each one
Feasting, and nine of the bulls each company kept for a portion.
Busy were all with the tasting of livers and burning of thigh-bones
While to the land these bore with their well-built vessel, and straightway
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Striking the canvas they brailed it aloft; and they moored her and landed.
Out of her Telemachus stept down, and before him Athene.
First then breaking the silence the grey-eyed goddess addressed him :
"Telemachus, no need is at hand, not the least, to be bashful.
Even for this thou hast traversed the ocean—to hear of thy father,
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What land hideth his bones and what was the doom he encountered.
Come now, straightly address thee to Nestor, the tamer of horses,
So shall we learn what counsel he holdeth concealed in his bosom.
Come and entreat him thyself, and the whole of the truth he will tell thee
Ne'er will he speak what is false; right wise is the heart of the hero."
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Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn made answer:
"Mentor, how shall I venture to go—how dare to salute him?
Never as yet was I practised at all in the art of a speaker;
Ay and a youth feels bashful to question a man that is older."
Him forthwith gave answer the grey-eyed goddess Athene:
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"Telemachus, some thoughts thou'lt find in the depths of thy bosom,
Some will be sent by a god, since never and never (I know it)
Save by the will of the gods thou wast born and art come to thy manhood."
These words uttered, at once went forward Pallas Athene
Hastily leading the way; and he followed the steps of the goddess.
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Soon to the throng close-seated they came of the Pylian people.
Here in the midst with his sons sat Nestor; round him his comrades
Roasting or spitting the flesh were busy preparing the banquet.
These, when the strangers they saw, came hurrying eagerly forward,
Hands outstretching in welcome and bidding them both to be seated.
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Foremost was Nestor's son Peisistratus; close he approached them,
Welcomed them both with the hand and gave them as seats at the banquet
Thick soft fleeces that lay on the sand of the salt sea water,
Close by the side of his sire and his brother the prince Thrasymedes.
Portions before them he set of the entrail meat, and he poured them
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Wine in a goblet of gold, and he pledged them a welcome, addressing
Pallas Athena, the daughter of Zeus who beareth the aegis :
“Offer a prayer, O guest, to the King Earth-shaking Poseidon,
Since to the god of the sea is the feast that ye chance to arrive at.
Pour thy libation and offer thy prayer, as the custom ordaineth ;
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Then this goblet of wine honey-sweet pass on to thy comrade
Bidding him make a libation and pray—and I doubt not that he too
Prays to the gods everlasting; for gods are needed by all men.
Younger however he seemeth—in years far rather my equal;
Wherefore first to thyself do I offer the cup of libation."
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These words spoken, the goblet of wine sweet-savoured he tendered.
Much did Athena rejoice at the stripling's wisdom and judgment,
First to herself that he offered the gold-wrought cup of libation;
Fervently then did she utter a prayer to the god of the ocean :
"Hear me, Poseidaon, Earth-girdler, hear me! Refuse not
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Answer to this our prayer! grant all these things a fulfilment !
Firstly to Nestor himself and his sons give glory and honour,
Then to the rest vouchsafe—to the whole of the Pylian people—
Favour and grace in requital of this their splendid oblation.
Us too grant that we safely return, when it all is accomplished,
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All, for the winning of which we are come in the swift black vessel."
Thus as she prayed, of herself she was bringing it all to fulfilment.
Then from the goddess receiving the two-cupped beautiful goblet
Prayed in the selfsame manner the well-loved son of Odysseus.
Now when the outside meat they had roasted and drawn from the skewers,
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All they apportioned and sat them adown to a glorious banquet,
Till, when at last they had lost all longing for meat and the wine-cup,
Then he addressed them, the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor:
"Now is a moment befitting to ask and to question the strangers
Touching themselves for they now are fully contented with feasting.
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Friends, come tell of yourselves. Whence sail ye the paths of the waters?
Come ye to chaffer for gain, or recklessly roaming at random
Like to the pirates and rovers that wander and rob on the ocean,
Setting their lives on the hazard in bringing disaster on others?"
Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn made answer;
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Boldly he spake, for Athena herself in his bosom had planted
Courage to ask of his sire who was vanished so long from his homeland,
Yea and honour and glory to win in the land of the living:
"Nestor, Neleus' son, great glory of all the Achaeans,
Whence we arrive thou hast asked me. Behold, I will tell thee exactly.
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Hither we came from the Ithacan isle 'neath Neïon's headland.
This is a quest of my own, not a matter that toucheth the people.
Following far-spread rumour I journey in search of my father,
Even of godlike Odysseus the brave, who, they tell me, aforetime
Stood at thy side in the battle and plundered the Ilian city.
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Now of the rest of the heroes, as many as warred with the Trojans,
Tidings we hear, where any a pitiful doom hath encountered,
While for the fate of my sire—it is kept untold by Cronion :
None hath the power to say quite certainly where he is perished,
Whether by hostile tribes overwhelmed he was slain on the dry land,
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Whether he lies in the depths mid the billows of Amphitrite.
Wherefore now to thy knees I am come, in the hope thou art willing
News of his pitiful death to impart, if perchance thou beheldst it
Even with thine own eyes, or hast heard some tale from another,
One who has wandered—for destined to ill from his birth was Odysseus.
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Nor do thou shrink to offend, nor speak soft words in compassion;
Tell me exactly the truth—how far thou hast chanced to behold him.
Lo, I entreat thee if ever my father, the noble Odysseus,
Either by word or by action accomplished the thing that he promised
Where in the Trojan land ye Achaeans suffered affliction,
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This, I beseech thee, remember, and tell me the whole as it happened."
Him gave answer the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor:
"Ah, dear friend, thou recallest the sorrows that once in the distant
Trojan land we endured, the invincible sons of Achaea—
All those toils that we suffered in ships on the mist-bound ocean,
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Seeking for spoil wherever Achilles was wishful to lead us.
How too fighting in front of the strong-built city of Priam
Battle we waged. Here fell of Achaeans the best and the bravest;
Here lies Ajax, the equal of Ares; here is Achilles,
Here Patroclus, in counsel a peer of the gods everlasting;
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Here too lieth my son, my beloved, the strong and the noble
Antilochus, who with fleetness excelled in the race and the battle:
Ay and besides all this, what travail unending we suffered—
Where is the mortal on earth to be found that can fully relate it?
Even for five whole years, or for six, 'twere vain to abide here
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Asking to hear of the woes once borne by the noble Achaeans;
Ere it was told, outwearied, I ween, thou'dst sail for thy homeland.
Nine years warring at Troy did we busily scheme for its downfall,
Weaving a tissue of wiles, which Zeus scarce granted fulfilment.
There might never another with him in devices of wisdom
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Dare to compete, since far he surpassed all others in cunning,
Godlike Odysseus I mean, ay even thy father—if truly
He was thy sire; and amazement possesseth me while I behold thee,
Seeing that verily even in speech thou art like him, nor would one
Say that a man so young could speak so like to an elder.
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All these years have never myself and the godlike Odysseus
Spoken diversely at meetings of men or the councils of chieftains;
Ever we held one mind, and with counsels of prudence and wisdom
Planned for the Greeks that it all might turn to the highest advantage.
Yet, when at last we had wasted the high-built city of Priam,
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After from thence we had sailed and a god had dispersed the Achaeans,
Then in his heart did the Father a terrible homeward returning
Plot for them, seeing that neither with wisdom at all nor with justice
Most of them acted; and many encountered a doom right doleful,
Whelmed by the wrath of the grey-eyed daughter of Zeus the Almighty;
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Yea, it was she that the quarrel excited between the Atridae;
These then called to the place of assembly the host of Achaeans
Hurriedly, all in disorderly haste, when the sun was a-sinking.
Heavy with wine they collected together, the sons of Achaea.
Both then spake of the reason for which they had summoned the people;
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First Menelaus addressed him to all the Achaeans and bade them
Think of the homeward return o'er broad expanses of ocean;
Nor pleased this Agamemnon at all, for he ordered the people
Still to remain and sacred oblations of cattle to offer,
Thus to appease by atonement the terrible wrath of Athene,
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Fool that he was, not knowing she ne'er would list to persuasion,
Seeing that lightly is turned not the mind of the gods everlasting.
Thus then violent words exchanging the one with the other
Stood these two; but the host of the well-greaved sons of Achaea
Rose with a terrible din, and in twain was divided the council.
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All that night did we lie and with hearts indignant we brooded,
Angered the one with the other; for Zeus our ruin was planning;
Then, at the dawn, down dragging the ships to the vast salt ocean
Straight we embarked our spoil, deep-girdled women and chattels,
While that a half of the host hung back, and remaining encamped there
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Kept with the King Agamemnon Atrides, as sheep with a shepherd.
Thus then half of us mounted the vessels, and rowing them swiftly
Voyaged—for calmed by a god was the ocean that teemeth with monsters.
Landing on Ténedos island we made to the gods an oblation,
Yearning for home; but the Father of heaven had planned to prevent it,
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Pitiless god, who aroused once more fierce quarrels amongst us.
Some then turning again their twy-beaked galleys departed,
Even the wise and the wary Odysseus with all of his comrades,
Taking the part once more of the King Agamemnon Atrides.
Then with the rest of my ships all following closely behind me
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Thence did I flee; for I saw that a deity plotted us evil;
Fled too, rousing his mates, Tydides equal of Ares.
Following later behind us the fair-haired prince Menelaus
Found us in Lesbos arrived, and the long sea-voyage debating,
Whether to steer for the sea from the coast of precipitous Chios,
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Making the Psyrian isle, and keeping the island to larboard,
Or to the landward of Chios to hold by tempestuous Mimas;
This we entreated the god to declare by an omen, and giving
Manifest answer he bade us the midmost sea to Euboea
Boldly to cross and escape by the path that was shortest from peril.
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Then did a stern-wind shrilling arise, and it blew, and the vessels
Speedily traversed the realm of the fishes, until at Geraestus
During the night they arrived; and we offered of bulls to Poseidon
Many a thigh, since crossed was a mighty expanse of the ocean.
Four days after at Argos a part of the gallant squadron,
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Vessels of Tydeus' son, Diomedes, tamer of horses,
Anchored; but onward for Pylos I held, and the favouring stern-wind
Never was quenched from the day that a deity sent it to waft us.
Thus I arrived, dear child, not knowing what happed, and I learnt not
Aught of the rest—who safely returned, who perished returning;
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Only the rumours I hear as I sit in the hall of my palace;
These, as is right, will I tell to thee fully, and hide from thee nothing.
Safely, they say, came home the ferocious Myrmidon spearmen,
Led by the glorious son of the dauntless-hearted Achilles;
Safely returned Philoctetes, the far-famed offspring of Poias;
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Likewise Idomeneus gained Creta with all his companions,
All that escaped from the war—since none were reft by the ocean.
What was the fate of Atrides ye know, though far is your homeland—
How he returned, and his death was so cruelly planned by Aegisthus:
Ay but Aegisthus himself was repaid in a terrible manner.
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So is it always good for a son to be left when a mortal
Perisheth; even as here 'twas the son of the slain that avenged him,
Killing the crafty Aegisthus, who murdered his glorious father.
Also do thou, dear lad (as in form thou art comely and stalwart),
Show thee courageous, and win thee a name in the age that is coming.”
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Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:
"Nestor, Neleus' son, great glory of all the Achaeans,
Grandly indeed did he wreak his revenge, and the land of Achaea
Ever shall spread his renown till it reach unborn generations.
Would that the gods might will with a strength like his to endue me
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Thus to repay these suitors for all their cruel transgressions,
All the infatuate deeds that they wickedly scheme for my ruin.
Ah but, alas, not such is the fortune that destiny spun us,
Me and my father! Whatever befalls, it is needful to bear it."
Him gave answer the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor:
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"Now that thy words, dear friend, have waked in my mind a remembrance,
Truly they tell me that suitors who woo for thy mother in numbers
Throng to thy palace and do thee despite, devising thy ruin.
Say, dost thou willingly suffer the insult? or else do the people
There in thy country dislike thee, obeying a warning from heaven ?
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Yet—who knows?— he can come and requite this iniquitous outrage,
Either appearing alone or with all of the host of Achaea.
Ah! were only the will of the grey-eyed goddess Athene
Thee such love to vouchsafe as she granted the famous Odysseus
Erst in the Trojan land, where many afflictions we suffered!
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(Never in sooth did I see such visible favour of heaven
Such as the manifest aid he was given by Pallas Athene.)
Were it but only her will such favouring love to vouchsafe thee,
Some of the suitors, methinks, would grow forgetful of wedlock."
Him sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:
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"Sire, not yet, do I fear me, will this thou hast said be accomplished:
Great is the import thereof; awe filleth my heart, and unhoped for
Were the event, should even the gods permit it to happen."
Him forthwith gave answer the grey-eyed goddess Athene :
"Telemachus, what word by the door of thy lips hath escaped thee!
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Easily e'en from afar can a god, if he wishes, restore one.
I for myself would choose full many a toil and affliction,
Ere that I won me a day of return and arrived at my homeland,
Rather than come and be slain at my hearth, like King Agamemnon
Craftily trapped to his death by his wife and the traitor Aegisthus.
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Truly not even the gods have power, though much they may love him,
Death that is common to all to defend from a mortal, whenever
Bringing his destined doom low-laying death overtakes him."
Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer:
"Mentor, hereof let us cease to debate; let us sorrow in silence.
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Never shall this prove true; he shall never return; for already
Planned by the deathless gods is his doom; death's darkness awaits him.
Now I am wishful to turn to a theme far other and question
Nestor, who all surpasseth in wise discernment and counsel,
Since, it is said, he hath reigned through three generations of mortals;
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Yea and he seemeth indeed in appearance like an immortal.
Nestor, Neleus' son, I beseech thee, relate to me truly,
How was Atrides slain, wide-governing King Agamemnon?
Where meanwhile was the prince Menelaus? and how did Aegisthus
Use such craft as to murder a man so greatly the stronger?
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Say, was the prince not there, in Achaea and Argos, but elsewhere
Wandering over the world, when the bold foul crime was accomplished?"
Him gave answer the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor:
"Well then listen, my son, while all of the truth I relate thee.
E'en of thyself canst clearly conceive what end had befallen
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Had but the other Atrides, the fair-haired prince Menelaus,
Coming from Troy discovered Aegisthus alive in the palace:
Verily over the corse of the dead no earth had they scattered;
Dogs and the ravening fowls of the heaven had torn it to pieces,
Cast from the city afar on the plain; of the women of Argos
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None had bewailed him; for truly a terrible deed he committed.
While in a far-off land enduring so many a hardship
Troy we besieged, in his idle retreat mid the meadows of Argos
Aye with his flattering words Agamemnon's wife he was tempting.
Now at the first she rejected the shameless deed he suggested,
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Fair Clytemnestra; for good was the heart that she bare in her bosom.
Yea and moreover at court was a bard, whom King Agamemnon
Sailing for Troy had enjoined full straitly to tend on his consort.
Yet, when at last by the will of the gods was determined her ruin,
Then did Aegisthus removing the bard to a desolate island
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Leave him to furnish a spoil and a feast to the birds of the heaven:
Her to his home as a lover he led, and she willingly followed.
Many a fat ox-thigh did he burn at the shrines of immortals,
Many a rich-worked web and a treasure of gold he suspended,
Now that the deed was fulfilled that his heart ne'er ventured to hope for.
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Meantime homeward returning from Troy were sailing together
I and Atrides the king, our fleets consorted in friendship.
Sunium's cape we had reached, high hallowed headland of Athens;
Here was the pilot of prince Menelaus by Phoebus Apollo
Stricken with painless shafts which smote him and suddenly slew him,
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E'en as the rudder he held and swiftly was speeding the vessel,
Phrontis Onétorides, who surpassed all mortals as helmsman
Vessels to pilot when storms came suddenly sweeping upon them.
Thus was the prince held back, though eager to haste on the journey,
Wishing his mate to inter and with funeral rites to bewail him.
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Hence he at last set sail and, over the wine-dark ocean
Steering his hollow ships, to the mountainous cape of Malea
Straightly he ran; but a course right wretched the god of the thunder
Shaped for him then; outpouring the shrill-voiced blast of the storm-wind,
Rollers he sent upsurging aloft and enormous as mountains.
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Sundered in twain was the fleet: some drave to the island of Creta,
Where the Cydonian race by the streams of Iardanus dwelleth.
Here is a smooth and precipitous rock confronting the ocean
Out in the mist-bound deep on the uttermost borders of Gortyn,
Where, on the left of the cape, great rollers aroused by the south wind
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Sweep upon Phaestus, and small is the rock-spit barring the surges.
Hither arriving with half of the fleet were saved from destruction
Hardly the crews; while hurled on the sharp-edged crags by the rollers
Perished the ships. Five others—the rest of his blue-prow'd vessels—
Carried away by the waves and the wind were drifted to Egypt.
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Here did he gain much wealth, and a treasure of gold he collected,
Wandering thus with his ships midst nations of barbarous language.
Meanwhile plotted Aegisthus at home his iniquitous treason,
Murdered Atrides and bowed to subjection beneath him the people.
Thus seven years did he reign mid the treasures of golden Mycenae;
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Then, in the eighth, o'ertook him his doom, for the godlike Orestes
Back from the city of Athens returned and he slew the assassin,
Crafty Aegisthus, who murdered his sire, great King Agamemnon.
Now, when the slaying was done, and a funeral feast to the Argives
O'er his detestable mother he gave and the craven Aegisthus,
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Lo, on the selfsame day Menelaus good at the war-cry
Landed, and many a treasure he brought as the freight of his vessels.
Ay and, my friend, take care, nor long from thy country absent thee,
Leaving possessions behind, and strangers too in thy homestead,
Mortals outrageous as these, lest parting thy substance among them
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All of thy wealth they devour, and vain prove also thy journey.
Rather I earnestly bid and exhort that to prince Menelaus
Straight thou proceed; for a short while since he returned from a far land,
Ay from a country of men whence none might dream in his spirit
E'er to return, had the blasts of the storm once forced him to wander
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Into a sea so mighty that even the birds of the heaven
Not in a year may traverse the vast and terrible water.
Come, set forth with thy vessel at once and thy comrades; or wilt thou
Rather by land, I will lend thee a chariot gladly and horses,
Ay and my sons will be ready, I know it, as guides to escort thee
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Unto divine Lacedaemon to find fair-haired Menelaus;
Yea and thyself shalt entreat him the whole of the truth to reveal thee;
Ne'er will he speak what is false; right wise is the heart of the hero."
Ere he had ended the sun sank down and the gloom was approaching.
Then from the midst of them answered the grey-eyed goddess Athene:
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"Verily, sire, right well were all these matters related.
Now let us order the tongues to be sliced and the wine to be mingled;
So shall we unto Poseidon and all of the other immortals
Offer libation, and then shall bethink us of sleep—for 'tis bed-time;
Sunk is already the day in the gloom of the west, nor beseems it
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Longer to sit at a feast of the gods, but to think of departure."
Thus she addressed them, the daughter of Zeus. To her words they attended.
Over the hands of the feasters the water was poured by the henchmen,
While that the youths wreathed high with the foaming liquor the wine-bowls.
Then, when to each they had handed a wine-cup primed for libation,
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Casting the tongues in the flames they arose and poured it upon them.
So when at last they had poured and had drunk to their hearts' satisfaction,
Then did Athena and also the godlike son of Odysseus
Both of them wish to be gone and return to the hollow vessel ;
Nestor however with words of persuasion attempted to stay them:
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"Father Zeus and all of the gods everlasting forfend it!
Ne'er will I let you depart to the swift-winged vessel, and treat me
Like to a man whose house quite lacketh in raiment—a pauper—
One that has got no rugs in his home nor plenty of blankets
Both for the use of himself and his guests—soft bedding to sleep in.
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Nay, I possess in my house both wrappers and beautiful blankets,
Nor shall the well-loved son, by my troth, of a man as Odysseus
Sleep on the deck of a ship while yet in the land of the living
Still I exist, or a son or a daughter be left in my palace
Strangers to welcome as guests, should ever they chance to arrive here."
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Him forthwith gave answer the grey-eyed goddess Athene:
"Well is it spoken in sooth, dear father, and well it beseemeth
Telemachus to obey, since thus 'twere certainly better.
Wherefore now let him follow thee hence and repose till the morning
There in the halls of thy palace; but I to the black-hulled vessel
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Mean to return, to inspirit my mates and to bring them the tidings,
Being the one of the crew that alone might claim to be elder,
Since that the others, the striplings that follow as friends and as shipmates,
All are equals in age of the high-souled son of Odysseus.
Then I shall lay me to rest by the side of the black-hulled vessel
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Just for the night, and at dawn to the bold Cauconian people
Mean to depart, to collect me a debt now owing a long time,
Neither a trifle. But him take back to thy home, and to-morrow
Send in a car with thy son as a guide, and provide him with horses,
Even the swiftest of all of thy steeds and the best at endurance."
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These words spoken, departed the grey-eyed goddess Athene
Likened in form to an osprey; and all were filled with amazement,
Yea and the long-lived king was astonished whenas he beheld it.
Grasping the hand of the son of Odysseus he hailed and addressed him :
"Truly, my friend, thou'lt prove as a man not a coward or weakling,
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Seeing that e'en in thy youth thou'rt thus by immortals attended.
Surely was this, of the gods that inhabit Olympian mansions,
None but the daughter of Zeus, most glorious Tritogeneia,
Even the goddess that honoured thy valiant sire mid the Argives.
Grant me thy grace, O queen! Fair fame vouchsafe, I beseech thee,
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Unto myself and my sons and my honoured and well-loved consort;
So shall I offer thee, goddess, a broad-brow'd heifer, a yearling
Still unbroken nor yet brought under the yoke by the ploughman;
Such is the victim I promise to slay, and her horns shall be gilded."
Thus did he speak, and his prayer was accepted by Pallas Athene.
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Then uprising the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor
Led to his beautiful palace his sons and his daughters' husbands.
Now when at length they had come to the far-failed halls of the chieftain,
All of them sat them in order adown on the couches and armchairs,
Then by the ancient monarch was mixed for his guests in a wine-bowl
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Wine sweet-savoured: eleven the years it had stood in the store-room
Ere that the matron had opened the jar, unloosing its cover;
Such was the wine that he mixed in the crater, and making libation
Prayed to Athena, the daughter of Zeus who beareth the aegis.
So when at last they had poured and had drunk to their hearts' satisfaction,
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All of the others departed to sleep, each one to his homestead,
All save Telemachus, dear son of the godlike Odysseus:
Him gave lodgment the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor
Under the echoing porch, on a bedstead with beautiful carvings,
Next to that spearman renown'd, Peisistratus, leader of heroes,
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Sole of his sons still left an unmarried youth in the palace,
Then did he lay him to rest in the innermost room of the mansion,
Where was arrayed by the lady his wife their bedding and bedstead.
Now when the morning was newly arisen, the roseate-fingered,
Hastily roused him the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor.
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Issuing forth from his palace he sat on the polished stonework,
Where in the front of the high house-door were benches of marble
White and gleaming with unguent, whereon was accustomed aforetimes
Neleus oft to recline, that peer of immortals in counsel.
Neleus long since mastered by Fate had departed to Hades;
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Now sat there Gerenian Nestor, Achaea's defender,
Holding his sceptre, and round him his sons came thronging together
Issuing forth each one from his room, Stratius and Echephron,
Perseus and Arétus and the equal of gods Thrasymedes.
These as the sixth the heroic and young Peisistratus followed,
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Bringing the godlike Telemachus; and they set him beside them.
Then brake silence the warrior-knight Gerenian Nestor :
"Haste ye, I pray, dear sons, and quickly accomplish my longing;
Firstly of all will I sue for the grace of the goddess Athene,
Since at my bountiful feast to the god she was visibly present.
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One of you go to the plain for a heifer, and see that she quickly
Hither be brought. Let a herd of the cattle be ordered to drive her.
One to the black-hulled vessel of Telemachus great-hearted
Hasten, to summon his mates, and let twain of them only remain there.
Then let another at once go order Laërces the goldsmith
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Hither to come for the purpose of gilding the horns of the heifer.
All of you others remain here closely and send to the handmaids;
Bid them to spread us a feast in the far-famed hall of the palace,
Also to hand round chairs and to bring bright water and fuel."
So when he spoke all hastened to work; soon come was the heifer
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Out of the plain; soon came from the swift-winged well-built vessel
Comrades of Telemachus great-hearted; and come was the smith too
Bearing the tools of his craft in his hands and his smithy utensils,
Even the anvil and hammer and pincers of delicate fabric,
Made for the working of gold; came also the goddess Athene,
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Fain to receive the oblation; and old Gerenian Nestor
Gave to Laërces the gold, and he gilded the horns of the heifer
Skilfully, making the goddess rejoice at the beautiful victim.
Leading the cow by the horns now came Stratius and Echephron;
Water besides for the hands in a basin with flowery carvings
440
Arétus bare forth from a room; in his left was a basket
Holding the groats of the corn; Thrasymedes steadfast in battle
Stood with his sharp-edged axe by the cow, all ready to fell her;
Perseus lifted the bowl for the blood, while Nestor the aged
Opened the rites with ablution and sprinkled the grain, to Athene
445
Ardently praying, and cast in the flames as an earnest the forelock.
Now when at last were ended the prayers and the barley was sprinkled,
Instantly Nestor's son, high-spirited prince Thrasymedes,
Stepping anigh smote home with the axe: on the nape it descended
Cutting the tendons, and loosened the might of the heifer; and wailing
450
Rose from the women, the wives of the sons and the consort of Nestor,
Eurydice, who of prince Clymenus was the first-born daughter.
Then from the wide-way'd earth they uplifted the head of the victim
Baring the throat, and the leader of men Peisistratus cut it.
Out of it flowed black blood; from the bones departed the spirit.
455
Soon was the body dismembered, and cutting the meat from the thigh-bones
All of it duly they sliced and covered it over with caul-fat,
Making it double, and laid at the top raw chunks of the carcass.
This did the old king burn on the billets, and fiery red wine
Over it poured; and with five-pronged forks stood striplings beside him.
460
Now when the meat of the thighs was consumed and the liver was eaten,
Chopping the rest of it small on the skewers they spitted the pieces;
Then with the long sharp spits in their hands they began with the roasting.
Meantime bathed was the son of Odysseus by fair Polycaste,
Latest-born of the daughters of old Neleïan Nestor.
465
So when at length he was bathed and anointed with oil of the olive,
Round him she cast fair raiment a beautiful mantle and doublet;
Out of the bath then stepping, in semblance like an immortal,
Down by the prince of the people, the old King Nestor, he sat him.
So when the outside meat they had roasted and drawn from the skewers,
470
Sitting them down they partook of the banquet; and nobles as henchmen
Served them and carried the wine in the goblets of gold to the feasters.
Now when at last they had lost all longing for meat and the wine-cup,
Thus brake silence the warrior-knight, Gerenian Nestor :
"Sons, come send for the car and the fair-maned horses, and quickly
475
Yoke them, that Telemachus may forthwith fare on his journey."
Thus did he speak, and they gave good heed to his words and obeyed him;
Unto a car they attached full quickly the fleet-paced horses,
Also provisions of bread and of wine were stowed by the house-dame,
Relishes too such food as is eaten by Zeus-loved princes.
480
Forthwith Telemachus on the beautiful chariot mounted,
Also that leader of men Peisistratus, offspring of Nestor,
Into the car upmounted beside him, and grasping the rein-straps
Whipped to a start, and the horses at once right willingly cantered
Down to the plain, soon leaving the steep-built city of Pylos,
485
Then for the whole of the day kept shaking the yoke on their shoulders,
Till, when the sun sank down and darkened was every roadway,
Unto the township of Phera they came and the house of Diocles,
Offspring of Orsilochus, who was son of the River Alphéus ;
Here did they rest for the night, and as guests he entreated them kindly.
490
Now when the morning was newly arisen, the roseate-fingered,
Straightway yoking the steeds, and the inlaid chariot mounting,
Forth of the echoing portal they drave and the gate of the courtyard.
Then did he whip to a start, and forward they willingly galloped,
First to a plain wide-waving with wheat, then further and further
495
Eager to finish their course pressed onward the fleet-paced horses,
Till, as the sun sank down and darkened was every roadway,
Nestor’s Sacrifice (1805). Engraving after John Flaxman (1755-1826). Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996.