Book X - Mentor acquaints himself with Salente and instructs Idomeneus in the art of governing; he stresses peace, agriculture, and disinterestedness, and the suppression of luxury

Summary

Nestor, in the name of the allies, demands the assistance of Idomeneus against their enemies the Daunians. Mentor, who was desirous of establishing a good order and policy in Salente, and of engaging the people to apply themselves to agriculture, prevailed upon them to accept Telemachus as the head of a hundred noble Cretans. After his departure, Mentor takes an exact survey of the city and port; informs himself of every particular detail; directs Idomeneus to make several regulations in regard to commerce and policy, and to divide his people into seven classes, whom he distinguished by different dresses, according to their rank and birth; he prevails upon him to suppress luxury and useless arts in order to employ those who practiced them in agriculture, which is rendered an honorable occupation.

In the meantime the whole army of the allies had now pitched their tents, and the fields were covered all over with rich pavilions of all sorts of colors, in which the fatigued Hesperians waited for sleep. When the kings, with their train, had entered the city, they were amazed to find so many magnificent edifices erected in so short a time, and that the embarrassment of so great a war had not prevented the sudden increase and embellishment of the infant city.

They admired the wisdom and vigilance of Idomeneus, the founder of so fine a kingdom; and they all agreed that should he, now that the peace was concluded, join the allies against the Daunians, their strength would be considerably increased.