Page:The Iliad of Homer in English Hexameter Verse.djvu/35

 Forth then casting the anchors, they moor'd it fast by the halsers: Forth from the deck came the crew, where the sea-waves broke on the shingle; Forth came the victims doom'd to the shrine of the archer Apollo; Forth came the maid Chrysèis;—in joy from the hold of the galley. Soon, to the shrine of the God, was she led by the subtle Odysseus; Who, to the hands of her father, restored her:—and thus he address'd him.

"Chryses, I here am sent by the King of men, Agamemnon, Both to restore thee thy child, and to Phœbus offer atonement; E'en for the Danaan host;—thus appeasing the wrath of the monarch, Who on the Argive ranks has sent down weeping and wailing."

Speaking, he gave to her father his child; and he joyfully took her. Hastily then they brought full hecatombs, meet for the great God, Unto his well-built altar, and ranged them in order before it. Washing their hands, they waved salt cake o'er the heads of the victims. Then pray'd Chryses aloud, with hands raised high to the heavens.

"Thou of the silver bow!—Thou that art the protector of Chrysa! Guardest Cilla divine, over Tenedos mightily rulest! E'en as when first I invoked thee thou heardest the prayer of thy servant, Honor awarded to him, heavy doom to the sons of Achaia; So now, hear him again! hear the voice of thy servant's petition! Take from the Danaan army the plague thou'st sent to destroy them!" Earnestly pray'd his priest: and the prayer reach'd Phœbus Apollo. Then when the prayers were pray'd, and the salt cakes cast on the victims, Stretching their necks to the full, they smote, and slaughter'd, and flay'd them. Sever'd the thighs for the God, and wrapp'd caul carefully round them, Wrapp'd it in double folds; and placed choice morsels upon it. Then did he kindle the fagots, and pour rich wine on the off'ring: