He spake; the sun went down; the darkness crept Over the earth, and blue-eyed Pallas said:— “Most wisely hast thou spoken, ancient man. Now cut ye out the tongues, and mingle wine, That we to Neptune and the other gods May pour libations, and then think of rest; For now the hour is come; the light is gone, Nor at a feast in honor of the gods Should we long sit, but in good time withdraw.”
Jove’s daughter spake; they hearkened to her words; The heralds came to them, and on their hands Poured water; boys began to fill the bowls To the hard brim, and ministered to each From left to right. Then threw they to the flames The victims’ tongues, and, rising, poured on earth Wine to the gods; and when that rite was paid, And when their thirst was satiate, Pallas rose With nobly-born Telemachus to go To their good ship, but Nestor still detained The twain, and chidingly bespake them thus:—
“Now Jove and all the other gods forbid That ye should go from me to your good ship, As from some half-clad wretch, too poor to own Mantles and blankets in whose soft warm folds He and his guests might sleep; but I have both— Mantles and blankets—beautifully wrought, And never shall the son of that great man Ulysses lie upon a galley’s deck While I am living. After me I hope My sons, who dwell within my palace-halls, Will duly welcome all who enter here.”
And thus again the blue-eyed Pallas spake:— “Well hast thou said, my aged friend, and well Doth it become Telemachus to heed Thy words, for that were best. Let him remain With thee and sleep in thine abode, while I Repair to our black ship, encouraging The crew, and setting them their proper tasks, For I am eldest of them all; the rest Are young men yet, and moved by friendship joined Our enterprise; the peers in age are they Of the large-souled Telemachus. Tonight I sleep within the hull of our black ship, And sail with early morning for the land Of the Cauconians, large of soul, from whom A debt is due me, neither new nor small. Send meantime from thy palace in a car, And with thy son, this youth, and be the steeds The fleetest and the strongest in thy stalls.”