the tackle in it, which well-benched ships carry. And she stood at the extremity of the port; and her excellent companions were collected together around her; and the goddess incited each.
Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva thought of other things, and hastened to the dwelling of godlike Ulysses: there she shed sweet sleep over the suitors, and caused them to wander while drinking; and cast the cups out of their hands.[1] And they[2] hastened through the city to sleep; nor did they sit any longer, when sleep fell upon their eye-lids. But blue-eyed Minerva addressed Telemachus, having called him forth out of the well-inhabited palace, likened unto Mentor both in her person and her voice.
"Telemachus, already are thy well-greaved companions sitting at their oars, awaiting your approach. Now let us go, nor delay the voyage any longer."
Thus having spoken, Pallas Minerva quickly led the way; but he straightway followed the steps of the goddess. And when they came to the ship and to the sea, then they found their long-haired companions on the shore; and the sacred might of Telemachus[3] addressed them: "Hither, my friends, let us bring provisions; for all things are now collected in the dwelling; and my mother knows it not at all; nor do the other female servants, but one only has heard the matter."
Thus having spoken he led the way; and they followed with him. And bringing all the things, they placed them on the well-benched ship, as the dear son of Ulysses gave orders. Telemachus then embarked in the ship, and Minerva led and sat down in the stern, and near her sat Telemachus. And they loosed the hawsers; and themselves embarking, sat on the benches. But to them blue-eyed Minerva sent a favourable gale,[4] a brisk zephyr whistling over the dark sea. But Telemachus exhorting his companions ordered them to fit their
- ↑ i. e. caused them to drop from their tired hands.
- ↑ i. e. the guests who were on a visit to the suitors. Eustathius.
- ↑ These circumlocutions are very common in Homer, and, as they are always used to express personal might and prowess, it much detracts from the simple grandeur of heroic language to render them merely by the English adjective.
- ↑ Loewe, however, derives ἴκμενον from ἵκμας = ὕγρον ποιῶν. He observes however that it is rather to be regarded as a general epithet of Zephyr, than as implying rain on the present occasion.
