“Frequent, O king, was Nestor wont to raise And charm attention with thy copious praise; To crowd thy various gifts, the sage assign’d The glory of a firm capacious mind; With that superior attribute control This unavailing impotence of soul, Let not your roof with echoing grief resound, Now for the feast the friendly bowl is crown’d; But when, from dewy shade emerging bright, Aurora streaks the sky with orient light, Let each deplore his dead; the rites of woe Are all, alas! the living can bestow; O’er the congenial dust enjoin’d to shear The graceful curl, and drop the tender tear. Then, mingling in the mournful pomp with you, I’ll pay my brother’s ghost a warrior’s due, And mourn the brave Antilochus, a name Not unrecorded in the rolls of fame; With strength and speed superior form’d, in fight To face the foe, or intercept his flight; Too early snatch’d by fate ere known to me! I boast a witness of his worth in thee.” “Young and mature! (the monarch thus rejoins,) In thee renew’d the soul of Nestor shines; Form’d by the care of that consummate sage, In early bloom an oracle of age. Whene’er his influence Jove vouchsafes to shower, To bless the natal and the nuptial hour; From the great sire transmissive to the race, The boon devolving gives distinguish’d grace. Such, happy Nestor! was thy glorious doom, Around thee, full of years, thy offspring bloom. Expert of arms, and prudent in debate; The gifts of Heaven to guard thy hoary state. But now let each becalm his troubled breast, Wash, and partake serene the friendly feast. To move thy suit, Telemachus, delay, Till heaven’s revolving lamp restores the day.” He said, Asphalion swift the laver brings; Alternate, all partake the grateful springs; Then from the rites of purity repair, And with keen gust the savoury viands share. Meantime, with genial joy to warm the soul, Bright Helen mix’d a mirth inspiring bowl; Temper’d with drugs of sovereign use, to assuage The boiling bosom of tumultuous rage; To clear the cloudy front of wrinkled Care, And dry the tearful sluices of Despair; Charm’d with that virtuous draught, the exalted mind All sense of woe delivers to the wind. Though on the blazing pile his parent lay, Or a loved brother groan’d his life away, Or darling son, oppress’d by ruffian force, Fell breathless at his feet, a mangled corse; From morn to eve, impassive and serene, The man entranced would view the dreadful scene. These drugs, so friendly to the joys of life, Bright Helen learn’d from Thone’s imperial wife; Who sway’d the sceptre, where prolific Nile With various simples clothes the fatten’d soil. With wholesome herbage mix’d, the direful bane Of vegetable venom taints the plain; From Paeon sprung, their patron-god imparts To all the Pharian race his healing arts. The beverage now prepared to inspire the feast, The circle thus the beauteous queen addressed: