“Our Father, son of Saturn, king of kings, Tell me, I pray, the purpose of thy heart Yet unrevealed. Shall there be cruel war And deadly combats, or wilt thou ordain That these shall henceforth dwell in amity?”
And cloud-compelling Jove made answer thus:
“My child, why ask me? Was it not with thee A cherished purpose, that, returning home, Ulysses amply should avenge himself Upon the suitors? Do, then, as thou wilt. Yet this, as the most fitting, I advise. Now that the great Ulysses has avenged His wrongs, let there be made a faithful league With oaths, and let Ulysses ever reign; And we will cause the living to forget Their sons and brothers slain, and all shall dwell In friendship as they heretofore have dwelt, And there shall be prosperity and peace.”
He spake, and eager as she was before, Encouraged by his words, the goddess plunged Down from the summits of the Olympian mount.
Now when they all had feasted to the full, The much-enduring chief, Ulysses, said: “Go, one of you, and see if they are near.”
He spake; a son of Dolius at his word Went forth, and, coming to the threshold, stopped. He saw them all at hand, and instantly Bespake Ulysses thus, with winged words: “They are upon us; we must arm at once.”
He spake; they rose, and quickly were in arms. Four were Ulysses and his friends, and six The sons of Dolius. Old Laertes then, And Dolius, put on armor with the rest, Gray-headed as they were, for now their aid Was needed. When they all had clad themselves In shining brass, they threw the portals wide And sallied forth, Ulysses at their head.