He spake, and in the hands of Pallas placed The goblet of choice wine. Well pleased was she With one so just and so discreet—well pleased That first to her he reached the cup of gold, And thus she prayed to Neptune fervently:—
“Hear, Neptune, thou who dost embrace the earth, And of thy grace disdain not to bestow These blessings on thy suppliants. First of all Vouchsafe to Nestor and his sons increase Of glory; on the Pylian people next Bestow, for this most sumptuous hecatomb, Large recompense; and, lastly, grant to us— Telemachus and me—a safe return To our own country with the end attained Which brought us hither in our gallant barque.”
Thus did she pray, while she fulfilled the prayer; And then she handed to Telemachus The fair round goblet, and in words like hers The dear son of Ulysses prayed. Meanwhile The Pylians, having roasted well the flesh And drawn it from the spits, distributing To each his portion, held high festival. And when the calls of hunger and of thirst Were silenced, Nestor, the Gerenian knight, Began discourse, and thus bespake his guests:—
“The fitting time is come to ask our guests Who they may be, since now their feast is o’er. Say then, O strangers, who ye are, and whence Ye come along the pathway of the deep. Have ye an errand here, or do ye roam The seas at large, like pirates, braving death, And visiting with ravage foreign states?”
And then discreet Telemachus replied
Boldly—for Pallas strengthened in that hour His heart that he might confidently ask News of his absent father, and so win A worthy fame among the sons of men:—
“O Nestor, son of Neleus, pride of Greece! Thou bid’st us tell thee whence we came, and I Will faithfully declare it. We are come From