1. O pride of my noble brothers Odysseous
These horses, say, were they a prize?

2. Or did the lord of Chios drive them here expressly as a gift?
As the sun flames in glory when he mounts his brightest sky.

3. Old am I now, and the young warriors of old are gone,
All but these two. I avoid the dances and the crowds.

4. Yet such a life I never knew, so full of pleasure and so rich.
For the Gods grant us their favour, and all good things.

5. Both of you are close to the Gods' hearts,
His beloved son and daughter.

6. Then Odysseus answered: Nestor, glory of Achaia, wisest of men.
The gods, even the lords of heaven, are a gracious race.

7. Had it pleased them so to grant, far better steeds than these
They could have given, steeds swifter than the wind.

8. But these horses, look at them, newcomers here, whom bold Iraklion
Sent as a gift to the sons of Atreus, kings of men.

9. And with them came that hero, their groom, tall, fair-haired Artemakhos
On his way to the ships, a friend, and yet a spy.