Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/176

174 Through the still night they march, and hear the roar

Of murmuring billows on the sounding shore.

To Neptune, ruler of the seas profound,

Whose liquid arms the mighty globe surround,

They pour forth vows, their embassy to bless,

And calm the rage of stern Æacides.

And now arrived, where, on the sandy bay,

The Myrmidonian tents and vessels lay,

Amused at ease, the godlike man they found,

Pleased with the solemn harp's harmonious sound;

The well-wrought harp from conquered Thebæ came,

Of polished silver was its costly frame.

With this he soothes his angry soul, and sings

The immortal deeds of heroes and of kings.

Patroclus only of the royal train,

Placed in his tent, attends the lofty strain:

Full opposite he sat, and listened long,

In silence waiting till he ceased the song.

Unseen the Grecian embassy proceeds

To his high tent; the great Ulysses leads.

Achilles starting, as the chiefs he spied,

Leaped from his seat, and laid the harp aside.

With like surprise arose Menœtius' son:

Pelides grasped their hands, and thus begun:

"Princes, all hail! whatever brought you here,

Or strong necessity, or urgent fear;

Welcome, though Greeks! for not as foes ye came;

To me more dear than all that bear the name."

With that, the chiefs beneath his roof he led,

And placed in seats with purple carpets spread.

Then thus: "Patroclus, crown a larger bowl,

Mix purer wine, and open every soul.

Of all the warriors yonder host can send,

Thy friend most honours these, and these thy friend."

He said: Patroclus, o'er the blazing fire

Heaps in a brazen vase three chines entire:

The brazen vase Automedon sustains,

Which flesh of porket, sheep, and goat contains:

Achilles at the genial feast presides,

The parts transfixes, and with skill divides.

Meanwhile Patroclus sweats the fire to raise;

The tent is brightened with the rising blaze:

Then, when the languid flames at length subside,

He strews a bed of glowing embers wide,

Above the coals the smoking fragments turns,

And sprinkles sacred salt from lifted urns;

With bread the glittering canisters they load,

Which round the board Menœtius' son bestowed:

Himself, opposed to Ulysses full in sight,