Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/95

592—625. thou mayest make libations to the immortal gods, mindful of me all thy days."

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "O son of Atreus, do not now detain me here a long time. For indeed I could endure to sit with thee for a year, nor would a regret for home and for my parents possess me; for I am very much delighted at hearing thy words and discourse. But now my companions in divine Pylos are wearied; and thou art detaining me here for a long time. But let the present, whatever thou wouldst have given me, be some furniture: for I will not take horses to Ithaca, but will leave them here as an ornament for thee; for thou rulest over the wide plain, in which there is abundance of lotus, and cypress, and wheat, and rye, and wide-springing white barley. But in Ithaca there are neither wide courses, nor is there any meadow: it is fit for feeding goats, although it is more pleasant [to me] than [a land] that pastures horses. For there is not any of the islands, which are shut up by the sea, fit for driving horses, or that has good meadows; and above all Ithaca."

Thus he spoke; but Menelaus strenuous in the din of battle smiled, and stroken him down by the hand, and spoke and addressed him: "Thou art of a good race, my son, such words dost thou say. Wherefore I will change these things for you; for I am able. But of presents, whatever effects lie in my house, I will give thee that which is most beautiful and most valuable. I will give thee a wrought cup; and it is all silver, but the lips are worked with gold. It is the work of Vulcan; but the hero Phædimus, king of the Sidonians, gave it, when his house covered me being about to return from thence; but I wish to give this to thee."

Thus they indeed spoke such things to one another; but the banqueters had gone to the dwelling of the divine king; and they led forth sheep, and brought heartening wine; and their wives with beautiful fillets brought bread for them. Thus they were arranging about supper in the palace.

But the suitors before the palace of Ulysses were delighted