In her hand she bore the spear, And seemed the stranger Mentes, he who led The Taphians. There before the gate she found The haughty suitors. Some beguiled the time With draughts, while sitting on the hides of beeves Which they had slaughtered. Heralds were with them, And busy menials: some who in the bowls Tempered the wine with water, some who cleansed The tables with light sponges, and who set The banquet forth and carved the meats for all.
Telemachus the godlike was the first To see the goddess as he sat among The crowd of suitors, sad at heart, and thought Of his illustrious father, who might come And scatter those who filled his palace halls, And win new honor, and regain the rule Over his own. As thus he sat and mused Among the suitors, he beheld where stood Pallas, and forth he sprang; he could not bear To keep a stranger waiting at his door. He came, and taking her right hand received The brazen spear, and spake these winged words:—
“Hail, stranger! thou art truly welcome here, First come and share our feast and be refreshed, Then say what thou requirest at our hands.”
He spake and led the way, and in his steps Pallas Athenè followed. Entering then The lofty halls, he set the spear upright By a tall column, in the armory With polished walls, where rested many a lance Of the large-souled Ulysses. Then he placed His guest upon a throne, o’er which he spread A covering many-hued and beautiful, And gave her feet a footstool. Near to her He drew his parti-colored seat, aloof From where the suitors sat; that so his guest Might not amid those haughty revellers Be wearied with the tumult and enjoy His meal the less, and that himself might ask News of his absent father. In a bowl Of silver, from a shapely ewer of gold, A maid poured water for the hands, and set A polished table near them. Then approached A venerable matron bringing bread And delicacies gathered from the board; And he who served the feast before them placed Chargers with various meats, and cups of gold; While