thy hands. And if thou wilt yet more of what I have, I give it willingly and instantly, Rather, O loved of Jove, than lose a place In thy good-will, and sin against the gods.”
The son of large-souled Nestor, speaking thus, Led forth the mare, and gave her to the hand Of Menelaus, o’er whose spirit came A gladness. As upon a field of wheat Bristling with ears gathers the freshening dew, So was his spirit gladdened in his breast, And he bespake the youth with wingèd words:—
“Antilochus, now shall my anger cease, For hitherto thou hast not shown thyself Foolish or fickle, though the heat of youth Just now hath led thee wrong. In time to come, Beware to practise stealthy arts on men Of higher rank than thou. No other Greek Would easily have made his peace with me. But thou hast suffered much, and much hast done— Thou, and thy worthy father, and his son, Thy brother—for my sake. I therefore yield To thy petition; yet I give to thee The mare, though mine she be, that these who stand Around us may perceive that I am not Of unforgiving or unyielding mood.”