the ambrosial night: and blue-eyed Minerva standing near addressed [him]:

"O Telemachus, no longer to advantage art thou wandering a long time from thine home, leaving both thy possessions, and men so overbearing in thine house: lest they, having made a division, should consume2 all thy possessions, and thou shouldst have come a vain journey. But as quickly as possible exhort Menelaus, gallant in battle, to send thee, that thou mayest still find thy blameless mother at home; (for now her father and brothers encourage her to marry Eurymachus; for he surpasses all the suitors in gifts, and has increased the bridal presents;) for fear some property should be taken away from thine house against thy will. For thou knowest what is the mind in the breast of a woman; she wishes to increase the house of that man, whoever weds her, but she no longer is mindful of her former children and virgin-wedded3 husband, who is dead, nor does she inquire for him. But do thou thyself go and commit every thing to [one] of the servants, whoever appears to thee to be the best, until the gods show thee a good wife. But I indeed will tell thee something else; and do thou set it in thy mind. The chiefs of the suitors carefully lie in ambush for thee in the strait of Ithaca and rugged Samos, longing to slay thee, before thou dost reach thy paternal land. But I do not think these things [will happen]; the earth will first hold some one of the suitors, who are consuming thy livelihood. But keep thy well-built ship far away from the island, and şail, nevertheless, in the night; and [one] of the immortals will send thee a prosperous gale from behind, whoever guards and preserves thee. But when thou shalt reach the first shore of Ithaca, hasten thy ship and all thy companions to the city; and do thou first go to the swineherd, who is the guardian of thy swine; but, nevertheless, he has a kind disposition. And sleep there during the night; and urge him [to go] within the city to give a message to prudent Penelope, that thou art safe, and hast arrived from Pylos."

Thus having spoken, she departed to lofty Olympus. But he roused the son of Nestor from sweet sleep [moving him with his heel, and addressed him in words]: "Rise, O Pisis2 Cf. xiv. 223, οἰκωφελίη. 3 Or rather, "

true, legitimate." See Buttm. Lexil. p. 393.

tratus, son of Nestor, leading the solid-hoofed steeds, yoke them under the chariot, that we may perform our journey."

But him Pisistratus, the son of Nestor, answered in turn: “O Telemachus, it is not possible for us, although hastening on our journey, to drive through the gloomy night: but it will soon be morning. But remain, until the spear-renowned" hero Atrides, Menelaus, bringing presents, shall place them in our chariot, and addressing us with kindly words, shall send us away. For a guest all his days is mindful of that hospitable man who affords entertainment."

Thus he spoke; and immediately the golden-throned morning came; and Menelaus, gallant in battle, came near them, rising from his bed, from fair-haired Helen. But when the dear son of Ulysses perceived him, the hero hastening put a shining tunic about his body, and threw a large robe over his sturdy shoulders: and he went out of the door, and Telemachus, the dear son of divine Ulysses, standing near addressed him: "O Menelaus, Jove-nurtured son of Atreus, chieftain of the people, now then send me away to my dear paternal land; for now my mind desires to reach home."

But him Menelaus, gallant in battle, answered: "O Telemachus, I will not detain thee here for much time, since thou art anxious for thy return: I should also be indignant at any other man who receives guests, who should love one very much, or hate one very much; but all things that are proper are best. He is an equal evil, both he who urges a guest who is not willing to return, and he who detains one hastening [to depart]. [It is fit to receive a guest kindly when present, and to send him away willingly.4] But remain, until I bring beautiful gifts and place them on the chariot, and thou mayest behold them with thine eyes; and I will tell the women to prepare a banquet in the palace, enough of the things that are within. It is both a glory, and honour, and an advantage, [for men] to set out over a long, boundless tract, having feasted. But if thou dost wish to turn your course through Hellas, and the middle of Argos, then I will myself attend thee, and will yoke my horses, and will show thee the cities of men; nor will any one send us away in vain, but will give

4 Cf. Theocrit. Id. xvi. 27. μηδὲ ξεινοδόκον κακὸν ἔμμεναι· ἀλλὰ τραπέζα μειλίξαντ ̓ ἀποπέμψαι, ἐπὰν ἐθέλωντι νέεσθαι.

us some one thing at least to carry away, either some one of brazen tripods, or cauldrons, or two mules, or a golden cup."

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: O Menelaus, Jove-nurtured son of Atreus, chieftain of the people, I would rather now return to my own home: (for on setting out I did not leave behind a guard over my possessions,) ́lest seeking for my godlike sire, I myself should perish, or some excellent treasure should be lost to me from the palace.” But when Menelaus, gallant in battle, heard this, he immediately commanded his wife and maid-servants to prepare a feast in the palace, enough of the things that were within. And Eteoneus, son of Boëtheus, came near him, rising from his bed, since he did not dwell far off from him: him, Menelaus, gallant in battle, ordered to light a fire, and to roast meat and he, having heard, did not disobey him. But he himself descended to his fragrant chamber, not alone, [for] Helen and Megapenthes went with him. But when they came there, where lay his treasures, the son of Atreus then took a round cup, and ordered his son Megapenthes to carry a silver bowl; and Helen stood near the chests, where were her all-variegated garments, which she herself wrought. Helen, divine one of women, having taken one of these, brought it, which was the most beautiful in its embroidery and the largest and it shone like a star, and lay lowest of all. And they set out to go onward through the house, until they came to Telemachus; but him auburn-haired Menelaus [thus] addressed:

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"O Telemachus, may Jove, the loud-sounding husband of Juno, so accomplish thy return, as thou desirest in thy mind. But of the presents, whatever treasures lie in my house, I will give thee that which is most beautiful and precious. I will give thee a wrought bowl: but it is all silver, and the lips are bound with gold; it is the work of Vulcan: but the hero Phædimus, king of the Sidonians, gave it [to me], when his house sheltered me, as I was returning from thence; but I wish to give this to thee."

'Thus having spoken, the hero Atrides placed the round cup in his hands; but strong Megapenthes bringing the shining silver bowl, placed it before him: and fair-cheeked Helen

5 Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 195.

stood near him, having a garment in her hands, and spoke and said:

"I also give thee this gift, dear child, a memorial of the hands of Helen, against the time of thy most desirable marriage, for thy wife to wear: but in the mean time let it lie in thy palace near thy dear mother; and mayest thou rejoicing reach thy well-built house, and thy paternal land.”

6

Thus having spoken, she placed it in his hands; but he received it rejoicing. And the hero Pisistratus having received them, placed them in the basket, and regarded all things in his mind. But auburn-haired Menelaus led them to the house; and they then sat down on the benches and thrones. And the handmaiden bringing water in a beautiful golden ewer, poured it over a silver cauldron to wash in; and near them she spread a polished table. And the venerable housekeeper bringing food, set it near them [putting many dainties on it, gratifying them as well as she could from the things at hand]. And near [them] the son of Boëthus divided the meat, and distributed the shares, and the son of glorious Menelaus poured out wine: and they stretched out their hands to the food that was lying ready before them. But when they had taken away the desire of drinking and eating, then Telemachus and the illustrious son of Nestor yoked the horses, and mounted the variegated chariot and they drove out of the vestibule and resounding portico. And auburn-haired Menelaus, son of Atreus, went after them, having sweet wine in his right hand, in a golden cup, that they might go, having made a libation. And he stood before

the horses; and pledging them, he spoke:

"Farewell, O youths, and bid Nestor the shepherd of the people [hail], for to me he was mild as a father, as long as we sons of the Grecians waged war in Troy.”

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "And by all means, O thou nurtured of Jove, as thou desirest, when we arrive we will relate all these things to him; so may I, having returned, reaching Ithaca, tell Ulysses in his house how I come, having met with all kindness from thee, and I bring many and excellent treasures."

6 Hesych. πείρινθος. πλέγμα, τό ἐπὶ τῆς ἁμάξης. Schol. on Il. xxiv. 190. πείρινθα, τὸ ἐπικείμενον τῇ ἁμάξῃ πλινθίον, ἐφ ̓ οὗ φέρουσι τὰ φορτία, ὃ καὶ ὑπερτερίαν καλοῦσι.

As he was thus speaking a bird flew on his right hand, an eagle, bearing a large white goose in its talons, tame, from the court and men and women followed shouting: and it, coming near to them, rushed on their right hand before the horses, and they beholding it rejoiced, and the mind of all was delighted in their breasts. But to them Pisistratus, son of Nestor, began the discourse: "Now tell me, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, chieftain of the people, if God has shown this as a sign to us, or to thee thyself."

Thus he spoke: but Mars-beloved Menelaus meditated, reflecting in what way he should answer him rightly. But long-robed Helen spoke, anticipating him: "Listen to me, and I will prophesy, as the immortals put it in my mind, and as I think it will be accomplished. As this [eagle] coming from the mountain, where is its race and birth, snatched away the goose, which had been nurtured delicately in the house; so Ulysses, having suffered many ills, and having wandered much, will return home and be revenged; or is already at home, and devises evil for all the suitors."

"May

But her prudent Telemachus answered in turn: Jove, the loud-sounding husband of Juno, so bring it to pass, then would I, even there, make vows to thee, as to a god."

He spoke, and threw the scourge upon the horses: and they very quickly rushed to the plain from the city, eager. And they all the day, having the yoke around [their necks], shook it and the sun set, and all the ways were overshadowed. And they came to Pheræ, to the house of Diocles, son of Orsilochus, whom Alphëus begot as his son. And there they slept during the night; and he set before them hospitable gifts. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, they yoked the horses, and mounted the variegated chariot and they drove out of the vestibule and resounding portico. And he scourged them that they should go on; and they not unwilling flew. And they quickly came to the lofty citadel of Pylos: and then Telemachus addressed the son of Nestor :

"O son of Nestor, how, having promised what I ask, wouldst thou perform it? throughout we profess ourselves to be acquaintances from the friendship of our fathers; but we are also of equal age; and this journey will more confirm us in unity of mind. Do not take me beyond out of the way of