Those pile together in a blood-red bowl,
And pour the gift of Pallas o'er the whole,
The ruddy liquor of the jolly god,
With sparkling salt, the attendant on our food,
And brought from Eastern lands the pungent spice,
liough-coated, black, and of enormous price,
With other condiments that serve to excite
The dormant powers of jaded appetite.
While seethes the caldron o'er the tripod's flame
Invoke each godhead by his secret name :
720
Full well the powers above are pleased to hear Their mystic names rise
with the muttered prayer. Pray that Megaera, aye devising hurt, Far
from the bubbling caldron they avert, But that the spirit from the
fount of light Down to the sacred mess may wing his flight. When boiled
the flesh the mystic feast prepare ; But from the tripod let each eat
his share, All that is left the earth must cover o'er : Last, on the
hallowed spot libations pour,
730 Milk and the ruddy wine and fragrant oil,
With
these combine the beehive's flowery spoil : And, last, with chaplets
woven from the boughs Dear to the virgin goddess crown your brows ; Nor
let it shame you though in open day Stripped of your robes to take your
homeward way, Nor once turn back as from the place ye come, But with
your eyes bent forward hasten home ; And if a traveller meet you as ye
go, Beware no greeting on him ye bestow ; But offered to the gods, on
your return Let fragrant spices on the altar burn.—
740
Such rites performed, all future things I know : What the airy birds by
all their warblings show, What beasts of prey as through the woods they
prowl Denote, loud answering with responsive howl. Hence known to me
the Nebrite, gem divine, A gift to mortals from the god of wine
: The gods with favour its possessor see, Accept his offerings, to his
prayers agree. If with revengeful fang the serpent fierce Pressed by
the incautious foot thy body pierce,
