she whom the old man had brought from Tenedos, when Achilles
laid it waste, the daughter of magnanimous Arsinoues, whom the Greeks
selected for him, because he surpassed all in counsel. First she set
forward for them a handsome, cyanus-footed, well-polished table; then
upon it a brazen tray, and on it an onion, a relish[381] for the
draught, as well as new honey, and beside it the fruit of sacred corn.
Likewise a splendid cup[382] near them, which the old man had brought
from home, studded with golden nails. Its handles were four, and around
each were two golden pigeons feeding, and under it were two bottoms.
Another indeed would have removed it with difficulty from the table,
being full; but aged Nestor raised it without difficulty. In it the
woman, like unto the goddesses, had mixed for them Pramnian wine, and
grated over it a goat's-milk cheese with a brazen rasp, and sprinkled
white flour upon it: then bade them drink, as soon as she had prepared
the potion. But when drinking they had removed parching thirst, they
amused themselves, addressing each other in conversation. And Patroclus
stood at the doors, a godlike hero.

[Footnote 380: "Construe [Greek: apeps. kata ton idroxit]. _I.e._
refreshed--cooled--themselves, by standing in front of the breeze
and drying off the perspiration with which their garments were
saturated."--Kennedy.]

[Footnote 381: Probably the onion acted as a stimulant to
drinking, as anchovies and olives are now used.]

[Footnote 382: It was an [Greek: amphikypellon]. Cf. i. 584, and
Buttm. Lexil. p. 93. There were two doves round each handle,
making eight in all.]

But the old man, perceiving him, rose from his splendid seat, and taking
him by the hand, led him, in, and bade him be seated. But Patroclus, on
the other side, declined, and uttered [this] reply:

"No seat [for me], O Jove-nurtured sage, nor wilt thou persuade me.
Revered and irascible[383] is he who sent me forth to inquire who this
man is whom thou leadest wounded; but even I myself know, for I perceive
Machaon, the shepherd of the people. Now, however, in order to deliver
my message, I will return again an ambassador to Achilles; for well dost
thou know, O Jove-nurtured sage, what a terrible man he is; soon would
he blame even the blameless."

[Footnote 383: Or "respected," as the Oxford translator renders
it.]

But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: "But why indeed does
Achi