The Odyssey (Wisehouse Classics Edition). Homer

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СКАЧАТЬ Pallas, first of gods, prepare the feast,

      Who graced our rites, a more than mortal guest

      Let one, despatchful, bid some swain to lead

      A well-fed bullock from the grassy mead;

      One seek the harbour where the vessels moor,

      And bring thy friends, Telemachus! ashore

      (Leave only two the galley to attend);

      Another Laerceus must we send,

      Artist devine, whose skilful hands infold

      The victim’s horn with circumfusile gold.

      The rest may here the pious duty share,

      And bid the handmaids for the feast prepare,

      The seats to range, the fragrant wood to bring,

      And limpid waters from the living spring.”

      He said, and busy each his care bestow’d;

      Already at the gates the bullock low’d,

      Already came the Ithacensian crew,

      The dexterous smith the tools already drew;

      His ponderous hammer and his anvil sound,

      And the strong tongs to turn the metal round.

      Nor was Minerva absent from the rite,

      She view’d her honours, and enjoyed the sight,

      With reverend hand the king presents the gold,

      Which round the intorted horns the gilder roll’d.

      So wrought as Pallas might with pride behold.

      Young Aretus from forth his bride bower

      Brought the full laver, o’er their hands to pour,

      And canisters of consecrated flour.

      Stratius and Echephron the victim led;

      The axe was held by warlike Thrasymed,

      In act to strike; before him Perseus stood,

      The vase extending to receive the blood.

      The king himself initiates to the power:

      Scatters with quivering hand the sacred flour,

      And the stream sprinkles; from the curling brows

      The hair collected in the fire he throws.

      Soon as due vows on every part were paid,

      And sacred wheat upon the victim laid,

      Strong Thrasymed discharged the speeding blow

      Full on his neck, and cut the nerves in two.

      Down sunk the heavy beast; the females round

      Maids, wives, and matrons, mix a shrilling sound.

      Nor scorned the queen the holy choir to join

      (The first born she, of old Clymenus’ line:

      In youth by Nestor loved, of spotless fame.

      And loved in age, Eurydice her name).

      From earth they rear him, struggling now with death;

      And Nestor’s youngest stops the vents of breath.

      The soul for ever flies; on all sides round

      Streams the black blood, and smokes upon the ground

      The beast they then divide and disunite

      The ribs and limbs, observant of the rite:

      On these, in double cauls involved with art,

      The choicest morsels lay from every part.

      The sacred sage before his altar stands,

      Turns the burnt offering with his holy hands,

      And pours the wine, and bids the flames aspire;

      The youth with instruments surround the fire.

      The thighs now sacrificed, and entrails dress’d,

      The assistants part, transfix, and broil the rest

      While these officious tend the rites divine,

      The last fair branch of the Nestorean line,

      Sweet Polycaste, took the pleasing toil

      To bathe the prince, and pour the fragrant oil.

      O’er his fair limbs a flowery vest he throw,

      And issued, like a god, to mortal view.

      His former seat beside the king he found

      (His people’s father with his peers around);

      All placed at ease the holy banquet join,

      And in the dazzling goblet laughs the wine.

      The rage of thirst and hunger now suppress’d,

      The monarch turns him to his royal guest;

      And for the promised journey bids prepare

      The smooth hair’d horses, and the rapid car.

      Observant of his word, tire word scarce spoke,

      The sons obey, and join them to the yoke.

      Then bread and wine a ready handmaid brings,

      And presents, such as suit the state of kings.

      The glittering seat Telemachus ascends;

      His faithful guide Pisistratus attends;

      With hasty hand the ruling reins he drew;

      He lash’d the coursers, and the coursers flew.

      Beneath the bounding yoke alike they hold

      Their equal pace, and smoked along the field.

      The towers of Pylos sink, its views decay,

      Fields after fields fly back, till close of day;

      Then sunk the sun, and darken’d all the way.

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