And a handmaid bringing water, poured it from a beautiful golden ewer, over a silver bowl, to wash in; and near them spread a polished table. And the venerable housekeeper brought bread and set it near them, laying down many dainties,[1] gratifying them as well as she could out of the provisions that were at hand. And the cook taking dishes of all kinds of meat, placed them near, and by their side set golden cups. And the herald went about continually pouring out wine for them. And the haughty suitors entered; they then sat down in order amongst the couches and thrones: and the heralds poured water on their hands; [and they distributed to all beginning with the cups.][2] And the handmaidens heaped up bread in the baskets; but they stretched forth their hands to the viands lying ready before them, and the boys crowned the goblets with liquor. But when the suitors had taken away the desire of eating and drinking, other things were a care to their minds, the song and the dance; for these are the ornaments of a banquet. Then the herald placed a beautiful harp in the hands of Phemius, who sung among the suitors by constraint. He then, playing on the harp, struck up[3] to sing beautifully; but Telemachus addressed the blue-eyed Minerva, keeping his head near her, that the others might not hear.
"Dear stranger, wilt thou be angry with me on account of what I shall say? To these, these things, the harp and the song, are a care, easily, forsooth, since they are consuming with impunity the livelihood of another man, whose white bones are rotting some where in the shower, lying on the continent, or the wave rolls them in the sea. If, however, they were to see him returning to Ithaca, they would all pray to be swifter of foot than richer[4] in gold and raiment. But now he has thus perished by an evil fate, nor is there any comfort for us, even if any one of men on earth should say that he
- ↑ "εἴδατα, pulmenta, quicquid cum pane et carne comeditur." Loewe.
- ↑ A doubtful verse. It is, however, pretty certain that ἐπάρξασθαι is used in a religious sense, = "auspicari," "by drinking in honour of the gods." See Buttm. Lexil. p. 167, sqq.
- ↑ ἀναβάλλομαι = "to play the prelude," hence "to commence to do any thing."
- ↑ Observe the two comparatives.
Telemachus now addresses her as Mentes, whereas Homer before spoke of him as a goddess.
