had driven out of his course[1] to so vast a sea; from whence not even birds can come in the same year, since it is vast and terrible. But go now with thy ship and thy companions; or, if thou dost prefer it on land, there is a chariot and horses ready for thee, and my sons are ready, who will be thy conductors to divine Lacedæmon, where auburn-haired Menelaus dwells. And beseech him, that he may tell thee true: but he will not speak a falsehood; for he is very prudent."
Thus he spoke: but the sun set, and darkness came on; and the blue-eyed goddess Minerva addressed them:
"Old man, of a truth thou hast spoken these things rightly; but come, cut[2] indeed the tongues, and mix the wine, that having made libations to Neptune and the other immortals, we may think of our bed; for [this is] the hour for it. For now the light is gone under the gloom; nor is it right to sit long at a feast of the gods, but to return."
The daughter of Jove spoke, and they heard her addressing [them]. And the heralds poured water upon their hands, and the youths crowned the bowls of wine; and they distributed to all, beginning with the cups; and they threw the tongues in the fire, and standing up poured out a libation. But when they had made a libation, and had drunk as much as their mind wished, then indeed Minerva and godlike Telemachus both desired to go to their hollow ship; but Nestor hindered them, chiding them with words:
"May Jove hinder this, and the other immortal gods,[3] that ye should go from me to your swift ship, as from one who is altogether without a garment, or poor, who has neither cloaks or many blankets in his house, nor wherein for himself or his guests to sleep softly. But I indeed have cloaks and beautiful blankets. The dear son of this man Ulysses shall by no means lie down on the deck of a ship, whilst I am alive; but afterwards may my sons be left in my palace to entertain the guests, whoever may come to my house."
- ↑ This is the full sense of ἀποσφήλωσιν, understanding ὁδοῦ. See Loewe.
- ↑ It was customary at a feast, to cut off the tongues of the sacrifices and burn them, when it was time to retire to bed; meaning that conversation should cease; and that the company should now go to rest. See the Scholiast.
- ↑ On this formula, Ζεὺς καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι, see my note on Æsch. Prom. p. 3, n. 3, ed. Bohn.
