aged seer Was wearied out, in spite of all his wiles. And questioned me in speech at last and said:—
“ ‘O son of Atreus! who of all the gods Hath taught thee how to take me in this snare, Unwilling as I am? What wouldst thou have?’
“He spake; I answered: ‘Aged prophet, well Thou knowest. Why deceitfully inquire? It is that I am held a prisoner long Within this isle, and vainly seek the means Of my escape, and grief consumes my heart. Now—since the gods know all things—tell me this, What deity it is, that, hindering thus My voyage, keeps me here, and tell me how To cross the fishy deep and reach my home.’
“Such were my words, and he in answer said:— ‘But thou to Jove and to the other gods Shouldst first have paid acceptable sacrifice, And shouldst have then embarked to reach with speed Thy native land across the dark-blue deep. Now it is not thy fate to see again Thy friends, thy stately palace, and the land That saw thy birth, until thou stand once more Beside the river that through Egypt flows From Jove, and offer sacred hecatombs To the ever-living gods inhabiting The boundless heaven, and they will speed thee forth Upon the voyage thou dost long to make.’