He spake and took his seat, and then arose Mentor, once comrade of the excellent chief Ulysses, who, departing with his fleet, Consigned his household to the aged man, That they should all obey him, and that he Should safely keep his charge. He rose amid The assembly, and addressed them wisely thus:—
“Hear and attend, ye men of Ithaca, To what I say. Let never sceptred king Henceforth be gracious, mild, and merciful, And righteous; rather be he deaf to prayer And prone to deeds of wrong, since no one now Remembers the divine Ulysses more, Among the people over whom he ruled Benignly like a father. Yet I bear No envy to the haughty suitors here, Moved as they are to deeds of violence By evil counsels, since, in pillaging The substance of Ulysses, who they say Will nevermore return, they risk their lives. But I am angry with the rest, with all Of you who sit here mute,