Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/30

xxvi "Taking flight towards the Marathonian plains, she proceeded to the magnificent town of Athens, the famous dwelling-place of long-departed Erechtheus."

After inserting these lines in his poems, Homer prepared to set out for Greece, and passed over to Samos on his way thither. The Samians were employed on his arrival in celebrating the Apaturian games. An inhabitant of Samos, who had seen him in Chios, observing him descending from the vessel, ran to inform his countrymen of the arrival of the poet, whom he praised most enthusiastically. The Samians deputed him to fetch Homer. He immediately retraced his steps, and meeting Homer, thus addressed him: "Chian host, the Samians celebrate the Apaturian festival: the citizens bid you to the feast." Homer consented, and accompanied the messenger.

During their walk, they encountered some women offering a sacrifice to Kourotrophos. The priestess observing him, said angrily to him, "Man, get thee from our sacrifices." Homer reflected awhile on these words, having asked of his conductor who had addressed them to him, and to what deity they sacrificed. The Samian replied, "that it was a woman sacrificing to Kourotrophos." On this, Homer composed and repeated the following lines:

"Hear my prayer, O Kourotrophos! May that woman abhor the caresses of amiable youth! May she be only pleased by those of men whose hair is white with age, whose heart is burning, and whose senses are blunted."

When arrived at the place where the Phratrium feasted, Homer paused on the threshold, and recited these verses to his conductor, while a fire was kindling in the hall: