Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Excerpt: ... BOOK FOURTH WHAT BEFEL IN LACEDAEMON AND they to Lacedaemon sunken low Came, and drove onward to the house to go Of glorious Menelaus: him they found On all his clan preparing to bestow The bridal banquet where his palace stood, For twain, a son and daughter of the blood. Her he bestowed upon Achilles' son, The cleaver of the battle, making good The plighted promise that was first laid down In Troy, and now the Gods vouchsafed to crown With wedding: and he sent her forth to reign Queen in the Myrmidons' illustrious town With steeds and chariots; but from Sparta led Alector's daughter home his son to wed, The stripling Megapenthes strong of limb, Begotten on a thrall who shared his bed; Because the Gods ordained no child to be To Helen, since one first-born daughter she, As golden Aphrodite beautiful, Brought forth, the lovely maid Hermione. Thus then the mighty high-roofed hall within Feasted the neighbours and the clan and kin Of glorious Menelaus: in the midst The godlike minstrel made a merry din. And as with voice and viol he began, Two jugglers up and down amid them ran. Then in the forecourt prince Telemachus And the bright son of Nestor, horse and man, Drew up: and Eteoneus went to see Who these new-comers were; a squire was he Of glorious Menelaus, good at need. Up through the house he went then hastily, News to the shepherd of the folk to take; And coming nigh, a winged word he spake: "O high-born Menelaus, lo, there come A pair of strangers hither, and their make "Bears likeness to the race of mighty Zeus. Say, shall we here their fleetfoot steeds unloose, Or send them on, some other house to find Where they may chance on hospitable use?" But fair-haired Menelaus made reply In anger: "Not a fool in days gone by, Son of the Helper, were you wont to be; But like a child you ...
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