HOMER'S ILIAD COMPLETE

Rhapsody 24

Literally Translated, with Explanatory Notes, by Theodore Alois Buckley

Homer Bilingual Anthology  Studies  Homer in Print

Page 12

But her godlike Priam answering, addressed:

"O spouse, certainly I will not disobey thee, advising this; for it is good to raise one's hands to Jove, if perchance he may compassionate me."

The old man spoke, and bade the attending servant pour pure water upon his hands; for a handmaid stood by, holding in her hands a basin, and also an ewer; and having washed himself, he took the goblet from his wife. Then he prayed, standing in the midst of the enclosure, and poured out a libation of wine, looking towards heaven; and raising his voice, spoke:

"O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most great, grant me to come acceptable and pitied to [the tent] of Achilles; and send the swift bird, thy messenger, which is the most agreeable of birds to thee, and whose strength is very great, on my right hand; that I myself, perceiving him with my eyes, may go, relying on him, to the ships of the fleet-horsed Greeks."

Thus he spoke, praying; but to him provident Jove hearkened, and immediately sent an eagle, the Black Hunter, the most certain augury of birds, which they also call Percnos.[788] As large as the well-bolted, closely-fitted door of the lofty-roofed chamber of a wealthy man, so great were its wings on each side; and it appeared to them, rushing on the right hand over the city. But they, having seen it, rejoiced, and the soul was overjoyed in their bosoms. Then the old man, hastening, mounted his polished car, and drove out of the vestibule and much-echoing porch. Before, indeed, the mules drew the four-wheeled car, which prudent Idaeus drove; but after [came] the horses, which the old man cheered on, driving briskly through the city with his lash; but all his friends accompanied, greatly weeping for him, as if going to death. But when they had descended from the city, and reached the plain, his sons and sons-in-law then returned to Ilium. Nor did these two, advancing on the plain, escape the notice of far-seeing Jove; but, seeing the old man, he pitied him, and straightway addressed his beloved son:

[Footnote 788: See Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. pp. 622, 941; Villois on Apoll. Lex. p. 556.]

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