Prayer to Poseidon

5Thus having said, the blue-eyed Athena moved
With hasty pace before, and in her steps
He followed close, until they reached the seats
Of those assembled Pylians. Nestor there
Sat with his sons, while his companions stood
Around him and prepared the feast, and some
Roasted the flesh at fires, and some transfixed
The parts with spits. As they beheld the approach
Of strangers they advanced, and took their hands,
And bade them sit. Peisistratus, a son
Of Nestor, came the first of all, and took
A hand of each, and placed them at the feast
On the soft hides that over the ocean sand
Were spread beside his brother Thrasymedes
And his own father; brought for their repast
Parts of the entrails, poured for them the wine
Into a golden goblet, held it forth
In his right hand, and with these words bespoke
Athena, the child of aegis-bearing Zeus: —

6“Pray, stranger, to King Poseidon. You have chanced
Upon his feast in coming to our coast.
And after your libation poured, and prayer
Made to the god, give over to your friend
The goblet of choice wine that he may make
Libation also; he, I question not,
Prays to the gods; we all have need of them.
A younger man is he than you, and seems
In age to be my equal; therefore I
Will give the golden goblet first to you.”

7He spoke, and in the hands of Athena placed
The goblet of choice wine. Well pleased was she
With one so just and so discreet —well pleased
That first to her he reached the cup of gold,
And thus she prayed to Poseidon fervently: —

8“Hear, Poseidon, you who do embrace the earth,
And of your grace disdain not to bestow
These blessings on your suppliants. First of all
Vouchsafe to Nestor and his sons increase
Of glory; on the Pylian people next
Bestow, for this most sumptuous hecatomb,
Large recompense; and, lastly, grant to us —
Telemachus and me —a safe return
To our own country with the end attained
Which brought us hither in our gallant barque.”

9Thus did she pray, while she fulfilled the prayer;
And then she handed to Telemachus
The fair round goblet, and in words like hers
The dear son of Odysseus prayed. Meanwhile
The Pylians, having roasted well the flesh
And drawn it from the spits, distributing
To each his portion, held high festival.
And when the calls of hunger and of thirst
Were silenced, Nestor, the Gerenian knight,
Began discourse, and thus bespoke his guests: —