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When they had brought the things as he told them,
Telemachus went on board, Minerva going before him and taking her seat
in the stern of the vessel, while Telemachus sat beside her. Then the
men loosed the hawsers and took their places on the benches. Minerva
sent them a fair wind from the West, that whistled over the deep
blue waves, whereon Telemachus told them to catch hold of the ropes
and hoist sail, and they did as he told them. They set the mast in its
socket in the cross plank, raised it, and made it fast with the
forestays; then they hoisted their white sails aloft with ropes of
twisted ox hide. As the sail bellied out with the wind, the ship flew
through the deep blue water, and the foam hissed against her bows as
she sped onward. Then they made all fast throughout the ship, filled
the mixing bowls to the brim, and made drink offerings to the immortal
gods that are from everlasting, but more particularly to the grey-eyed
daughter of Jove. |