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[1] 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
- ↑ The explanation of this passage is due to Loewe, who alone has seen that καὶ is equivalent to quamvis, the sense being, "Ithaca sana non est locus equis pascendis bene inserviens, quamvis sit longe gratior mihi quam terra equos pascens, sc. tanquam terra quæ me genuit, quæ me aluit."
