[He squeezes her hand in return and leads her thus to the table, upon which sits the wine. This he mixes and pours in the tradition of his people, the ways of whom he has faithfully followed through every strange land. One cup he passes to her and another he sets before himself, but before he will drink of it he must pour the gods' portion: a small vessel sitting by the fireplace receives his libation.]
May Zeus who bears the aegis, bright-eyed Athena, and Phoebus Apollo grant us their benison for as long as they may.
[Well does he understand the irony in praying to the very gods who would and could do nothing to prevent his death, but what he does not know is that it would be Apollo himself, the far-shooter, who would guide the fatal arrow to his flesh. Then he returns to sit across from Ramir and take his own cup.]
How strange it is to remember now, as we come together in friendship to share wine, that once you vexed me as fleas vex a dog. Why, we once boxed and wrestled there on the beach of the Nalawi's land, so intolerable we each found the other!
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May Zeus who bears the aegis, bright-eyed Athena, and Phoebus Apollo grant us their benison for as long as they may.
[Well does he understand the irony in praying to the very gods who would and could do nothing to prevent his death, but what he does not know is that it would be Apollo himself, the far-shooter, who would guide the fatal arrow to his flesh. Then he returns to sit across from Ramir and take his own cup.]
How strange it is to remember now, as we come together in friendship to share wine, that once you vexed me as fleas vex a dog. Why, we once boxed and wrestled there on the beach of the Nalawi's land, so intolerable we each found the other!