Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/84

48 houses, bringing him from Ithaca with his possessions and his son, [and all his people, having sacked one city of those, which are inhabited around, but are ruled over by me myself.] And we being here, would frequently have associated together; nor would any thing else have separated us twain, being kind to and delighting one another, before at least the time when the black cloud of death had enveloped us. But perhaps the deity himself would have envied these things, who made him alone wretched without a return."

Thus he spoke, but he excited in them all a desire of grief. Argive Helen born of Jupiter wept, Telemachus wept, and Menelaus the son of Atreus; nor did the son of Nestor keep his eyes tearless: for he remembered in his mind blameless Antilochus, whom the glorious son of shining Aurora slew; remembering him he spoke winged words:

"O son of Atreus, aged Nestor said that thou art prudent above mortals, when we mentioned thee [in his palace, and were inquiring of one another]. And now, if it is at all possible, obey me; for I am not delighted, weeping at suppertime; but Aurora, the mother of dawn, will soon be present; I am not at all indignant at weeping for one, who amongst mortals is dead, and has drawn on his fate. This indeed is the only honour to be paid to wretched mortals, to clip the hair, and to pour the tear down from the cheeks. For my brother too died, who was by no means the worst of the Grecians, as thou must be aware; for I have not met with nor seen him, as they say that Antilochus excelled others, that he was exceeding fleet to run, and a warrior."

Auburn-haired Menelaus addressed him in answer: "O friend, since thou hast spoken such things, as a prudent man would speak and do, even one who was more advanced; (for thou art born of such a father, wherefore thou speakest prudent things;) but the son of a man, to whom the son of Saturn has destined happiness when he marries, and when he begets children, is easily to be distinguished. As he has now given to Nestor all his days continually, that he himself should grow old comfortably in his palace, and that his sons should be prudent, and excellent in the use of the spear. But let us indeed leave off our mourning, which was before: and let us again remember our supper, and let them pour water on our hands: but in the morning there shall be conversation