“Behold, my friends, Telemachus has done A marvellous thing; this voyage, which we thought He could not make, is made. Now let us launch A ship, the best that we can find, and man With fishermen the benches, sending it To find our friends, and hasten their return.”
Scarce had he spoken when Amphinomus, In turning where he stood, beheld a barque Enter the port’s deep waters, with a crew That furled the sails and held the oars in hand. He laughed, well pleased, and to the suitors said:—
“There needs no message to be sent, for they Are here already. Haply hath some god Given them the knowledge, or perchance they saw, But could not overtake, the prince’s ship.”
He spake; they rose and hastened to the strand, And quickly drew the galley up the beach. The ready servants bore the arms away; Then met they all in council, suffering none Save of the suitor-train to meet with them— None, either young or old. Eupeithes’ son, Antinoüs, standing forth, bespake them thus:—
“How strangely do the gods