knew all these things, and I gave him whatever he commanded, bread and sweet wine; but he received a great oath from me, that I would not tell thee, before the twelfth day came, or thou thyself didst desire me, and hadst heard of his having set out; so that thou mightest not hurt thy beauteous person by weeping. But having washed thyself, and putting clean garments on thy body, ascending to the upper room, with thy women attendants, pray to Minerva the daughter of Ægis-bearing Jove: for she will then save him, even from death. But do not grieve the afflicted old man; for I do not think that the race of the son of Arcesius[1] is altogether hated by the blessed gods: but some one will survive, who shall possess the lofty-roofed houses, and the rich fields afar."
Thus she spoke; and laid her grief to sleep, and restrained her eyes from grief. But she, having washed herself, and putting clean garments on her body, ascended to the upper room with her women attendants: and she put cakes in a basket, and prayed to Minerva. "Hear me, thou daughter of Ægis-bearing Jove, unsubdued, if ever much-counselling Ulysses has burnt in his palace the fat thighs of an ox or a sheep, of these, I pray thee, be mindful now, and save my dear son, and ward off the suitors who are wickedly over-bearing."
Thus having spoken she lamented; but the goddess heard her prayer. And the suitors were making a tumult in the shaded palace; and thus some one of the over-bearing youths spoke: "In truth the much-wooed queen is preparing nuptials for us; nor kens she at all that slaughter is devised for her son." Thus some one said; but they knew not these things, how they were destined. But Antinous harangued and addressed them:
"Sirs, avoid all vaunting words entirely, lest by chance some one may tell them even within. But come, standing up thus in silence, let us accomplish our design, which even now has pleased us all in our breasts."
Thus having spoken, he chose twenty of the best men; and they hastened to the swift ship and the shore of the sea. First of all they drew the ship into the deep of the sea: and placed a mast and sails in the black ship: and fitted the oars to the
- ↑ Laertes was the son of Arcesius, son of Jupiter.
