An unaccustom’d guest? but come thou in,
That I may welcome thee with honour due.’
Thus, as she spoke, the goddess led her in,
And on a seat with silver studs adorn’d,
Fair, richly wrought, a footstool at her feet,
She bade her sit; then thus to Vulcan call’d;
‘Haste hither, Vulcan; Thetis asks thine aid.’
Whom answer’d thus the skill’d artificer:
‘An honour’d and a venerated guest
Our house contains; who sav’d me once from woe,