Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/157

198—236. gave me: because, reverencing him, we saved him with his children and his wife; for he dwelt in the woody grove of Phœbus Apollo; he therefore gave unto me illustrious presents; he gave to me indeed seven talents of well-wrought gold; and he gave me a cup all silver; but besides drawing wine in twelve casks in all, pleasant, unadulterated, a divine drink; nor did any of his servants know of it, nor his handmaidens in his house, but himself and his dear wife, and his one housekeeper alone. But when he drank this sweet ruby wine, filling one cup, he poured in it up to twenty measures of water; and a sweet odour wafted from the cup, divine; then it would by no means have been agreeable to abstain. Having filled a large skin with this, I carried it, and provisions in a satchel; for my noble mind immediately conjectured, that a man would come endued with great might, wild, not well acquainted with justice, nor rights. And we quickly reached the cave, nor did we find him within; but he was pasturing his cattle in the rich pasture. And coming to the cave we regarded every thing; his presses indeed were filled with cheeses, and his pens were straightened with lambs and kids; and each were shut up separate; the older ones apart, and the middle-aged apart, and again the tender ones apart; and all his vessels swam with cream, his milk pails, and bowls, wrought, into which he milked. Then my companions first of all besought me with words, that we should go back, having taken some of his cheeses; but afterwards, quickly driving kids and lambs from the pens to the swift ship, to sail over the briny water. But I did not obey them, (it would indeed have been much better,) in order that I might both see him, and whether he would give me hospitable presents. Nor was he about to be, when he appeared, agreeable to my companions. But there having lighted a fire we sacrificed; and we too taking of the cheeses eat; and we waited for him, sitting within until he came, having pastured [his flocks]; but he was bearing a vast weight of dry wood, that it might serve as a light for him at supper. And throwing it without the cave, he made a clamour; and we, afraid, rushed