Book IV

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Telemachus' entertainment at Sparta, where Menelaus tells

him what befell many of the Greeks on their return; that

Odysseus was with Calypso in the isle Ogygia, as he was

told by Proteus.

And they came to Lacedaemon lying low among the caverned

hills, and drave to the dwelling of renowned Menelaus. Him

they found giving a feast in his house to many friends of

his kin, a feast for the wedding of his noble son and

daughter. His daughter he was sending to the son of

Achilles, cleaver of the ranks of men, for in Troy he first

had promised and covenanted to give her, and now the gods

were bringing about their marriage. So now he was speeding

her on her way with chariot and horses, to the famous city

of the Myrmidons, among whom her lord bare rule. And for

his son he was bringing to his home the daughter of Alector

out of Sparta, for his well-beloved son, strong

Megapenthes, {*} born of a slave woman, for the gods no

more showed promise of seed to Helen, from the day that she

bare a lovely child, Hermione, as fair as golden Aphrodite.

So they were feasting through the great vaulted hall, the

neighbours and the kinsmen of renowned Menelaus, making

merry; and among them a divine minstrel was singing to the

lyre, and as he began the song two tumblers in the company

whirled through the midst of them.

{* A son of sorrow: Tristram.}

Meanwhile those twain, the hero Telemachus and the splendid

son of Nestor, made halt at the entry of the gate, they and

their horses. And the lord Eteoneus came forth and saw

them, the ready squire of renowned Menelaus; and he went

through the palace to bear the tidings to the shepherd of

the people, and standing near spake to him winged words:

'Menelaus, fosterling of Zeus, here are two strangers,

whosoever they be, two men like to the lineage of great

Zeus. Say, shall we loose their swift horses from under the

yoke, or send them onward to some other host who shall

receive them kindly?'

Then in sore displeasure spake to him Menelaus of the fair

hair: 'Eteoneus son of Boethous, truly thou wert not a fool

aforetime, but now for this once, like a child thou talkest

folly. Surely ourselves ate much hospitable cheer of other

men, ere we twain came hither, even if in time to come Zeus

haply give us rest from affliction. Nay go, unyoke the

horses of the strangers, and as for the men, lead them

forward to the house to feast with us.'

So spake he, and Eteoneus hasted from the hall, and called

the other ready squires to follow with him. So they loosed

the sweating horses from beneath the yoke, and fastened

them at the stalls of the horses, and threw beside them

spelt, and therewith mixed white barley, and tilted the

chariot against the shining faces of the gateway, and led

the men into the hall divine. And they beheld and marvelled

as they gazed throughout the palace of the king, the

fosterling of Zeus; for there was a gleam as it were of sun

or moon through the lofty palace of renowned Menelaus. But

after they had gazed their fill, they went to the polished

baths and bathed them. Now when the maidens had bathed them

and anointed them with olive oil, and cast about them thick

cloaks and doublets, they sat on chairs by Menelaus, son of

Atreus. And a handmaid bare water for the hands in a goodly

golden ewer, and poured it forth over a silver basin to

wash withal; and to their side she drew a polished table,

and a grave dame bare food and set it by them, and laid

upon the board many dainties, giving freely of such things

as she had by her, and a carver lifted and placed by them

platters of divers kinds of flesh, and nigh them he set

golden bowls. So Menelaus of the fair hair greeted the

twain and spake:

'Taste ye food and be glad, and thereafter when ye have

supped, we will ask what men ye are; for the blood of your

parents is not lost in you, but ye are of the line of men

that are sceptred kings, the fosterlings of Zeus; for no

churls could beget sons like you.'

So spake he, and took and set before them the fat ox-chine

roasted, which they had given him as his own mess by way of

honour. And they stretched forth their hands upon the good

cheer set before them. Now when they had put from them the

desire of meat and drink Telemachus spake to the son of

Nestor, holding his head close to him, that those others

might not hear:

'Son of Nestor, delight of my heart, mark the flashing of

bronze through the echoing halls, and the flashing of gold

and of amber and of silver and of ivory. Such like,

methinks, is the court of Olympian Zeus within, for the

world of things that are here; wonder comes over me as I

look thereon.'

And as he spake Menelaus of the fair hair was ware of him,

and uttering his voice spake to them winged words:

'Children dear, of a truth no one of mortal men may contend

with Zeus, for his mansions and his treasures are

everlasting: but of men there may be who will vie with me

in treasure, or there may be none. Yea, for after many a

woe and wanderings manifold, I brought my wealth home in

ships, and in the eighth year came hither. I roamed over

Cyprus and Phoenicia and Egypt, and reached the Aethiopians

and Sidonians and Erembi and Libya, where lambs are horned

from the birth. For there the ewes yean thrice within the

full circle of a year; there neither lord nor shepherd

lacketh aught of cheese or flesh or of sweet milk, but ever

the flocks yield store of milk continual. While I was yet

roaming in those lands, gathering much livelihood, meantime

another slew my brother privily, at unawares, by the guile

of his accursed wife. Thus, look you, I have no joy of my

lordship among these my possessions: and ye are like to

have heard hereof from your fathers, whosoever they be, for

I have suffered much and let a house go to ruin that was

stablished fair, and had in it much choice substance. I

would that I had but a third part of those my riches, and

dwelt in my halls, and that those men were yet safe, who

perished of old in the wide land of Troy, far from Argos,

the pastureland of horses. Howbeit, though I bewail them

all and sorrow oftentimes as I sit in our halls,--awhile

indeed I satisfy my soul with lamentation, and then again I

cease; for soon hath man enough of chill lamentation--yet

for them all I make no such dole, despite my grief, as for

one only, who causes me to loathe both sleep and meat, when

I think upon him. For no one of the Achaeans toiled so

greatly as Odysseus toiled and adventured himself: but to

him it was to be but labour and trouble, and to me grief

ever comfortless for his sake, so long he is afar, nor know

we aught, whether he be alive or dead. Yea methinks they

lament him, even that old Laertes and the constant Penelope

and Telemachus, whom he left a child new-born in his

house.'

So spake he, and in the heart of Telemachus he stirred a

yearning to lament his father; and at his father's name he

let a tear fall from his eyelids to the ground, and held up

his purple mantle with both his hands before his eyes. And

Menelaus marked him and mused in his mind and his heart

whether he should leave him to speak of his father, or

first question him and prove him in every word.

While yet he pondered these things in his mind and in his

heart, Helen came forth from her fragrant vaulted chamber,

like Artemis of the golden arrows; and with her came

Adraste and set for her the well-wrought chair, and Alcippe

bare a rug of soft wool, and Phylo bare a silver basket

which Alcandre gave her, the wife of Polybus, who dwelt in

Thebes of Egypt, where is the chiefest store of wealth in

the houses. He gave two silver baths to Menelaus, and

tripods twain, ad ten talents of gold. And besides all

this, his wife bestowed on Helen lovely gifts; a golden

distaff did she give, and a silver basket with wheels

beneath, and the rims thereof were finished with gold. This

it was that the handmaid Phylo bare and set beside her,

filled with dressed yarn, and across it was laid a distaff

charged with wool of violet blue. So Helen sat her down in

the chair, and beneath was a footstool for the feet. And

anon she spake to her lord and questioned him of each

thing:

'Menelaus, fosterling of Zeus, know we now who these men

avow themselves to be that have come under our roof? Shall

I dissemble or shall I speak the truth? Nay, I am minded to

tell it. None, I say, have I ever yet seen so like another,

man or woman--wonder comes over me as I look on him--as

this man is like the son of great-hearted Odysseus,

Telemachus, whom he left a new born child in his house,

when for the sake of me, shameless woman that I was, ye

Achaeans came up under Troy with bold war in your hearts.'

And Menelaus of the fair hair answered her, saying: 'Now I

too, lady, mark the likeness even as thou tracest it. For

such as these were his feet, such his hands, and the

glances of his eyes, and his head, and his hair withal.

Yea, and even now I was speaking of Odysseus, as I

remembered him, of all his woeful travail for my sake;

when, lo, he let fall a bitter tear beneath his brows, and

held his purple cloak up before his eyes.'

And Peisistratus, son of Nestor, answered him, saying:

'Menelaus, son of Atreus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the

host, assuredly this is the son of that very man, even as

thou sayest. But he is of a sober wit, and thinketh it

shame in his heart as on this his first coming to make show

of presumptuous words in the presence of thee, in whose

voice we twain delight as in the voice of a god. Now Nestor

of Gerenia, lord of chariots, sent me forth to be his guide

on the way: for he desired to see thee that thou mightest

put into his heart some word or work. For a son hath many

griefs in his halls when his father is away, if perchance

he hath none to stand by him. Even so it is now with

Telemachus; his father is away, nor hath he others in the

township to defend him from distress.'

And Menelaus of the fair hair answered him, and said: 'Lo

now, in good truth there has come unto my house the son of

a friend indeed, who for my sake endured many adventures.

And I thought to welcome him on his coming more nobly than

all the other Argives, if but Olympian Zeus, of the

far-borne voice, had vouchsafed us a return over the sea in

our swift ships,--that such a thing should be. And in Argos

I would have given him a city to dwell in, and stablished

for him a house, and brought him forth from Ithaca with his

substance and his son and all his people, making one city

desolate of those that lie around, and are in mine own

domain. Then ofttimes would we have held converse here, and

nought would have parted us, the welcoming and the

welcomed, {*} ere the black cloud of death overshadowed us.

Howsoever, the god himself, methinks, must have been

jealous hereof, who from that hapless man alone cut off his

returning.'

{* Mr. Evelyn Abbott of Balliol College has suggested to us

that [Greek] and [Greek] are here correlatives, and denote

respectively the parts of host and of guest. This is

sufficiently borne out by the usage of the words

elsewhere.}

So spake he, and in the hearts of all he stirred the desire

of lamentation. She wept, even Argive Helen the daughter of

Zeus, and Telemachus wept, and Menelaus the son of Atreus;

nay, nor did the son of Nestor keep tearless eyes. For he

bethought him in his heart of noble Antilochus, whom the

glorious son of the bright Dawn had slain. Thinking upon

him he spake winged words:

'Son of Atreus, the ancient Nestor in his own halls was

ever wont to say that thou wert wise beyond man's wisdom,

whensoever we made mention of thee and asked one another

concerning thee. And now, if it be possible, be persuaded

by me, who for one have no pleasure in weeping at supper

time--the new-born day will right soon be upon us. {*} Not

indeed that I deem it blame at all to weep for any mortal

who hath died and met his fate. Lo, this is now the only

due we pay to miserable men, to cut the hair and let the

tear fall from the cheek. For I too have a brother dead,

nowise the meanest of the Argives, and thou art like to

have known him, for as for me I never encountered him,

never beheld him. But men say that Antilochus outdid all,

being excellent in speed of foot and in the fight.'

{* Cf. B. xv.50}

And Menelaus of the fair hair answered him, and said: 'My

friend, lo, thou hast said all that a wise man might say or

do, yea, and an elder than thou;--for from such a sire too

thou art sprung, wherefore thou dost even speak wisely.

Right easily known is that man's seed, for whom Cronion

weaves the skein of luck at bridal and at birth: even as

now hath he granted prosperity to Nestor for ever for all

his days, that he himself should grow into a smooth old age

in his halls, and his sons moreover should be wise and the

best of spearsmen. But we will cease now the weeping which

was erewhile made, and let us once more bethink us of our

supper, and let them pour water over our hands. And again

in the morning there will be tales for Telemachus and me to

tell one to the other, even to the end.'

So spake he, and Asphalion poured water over their hands,

the ready squire of renowned Menelaus. And they put forth

their hands upon the good cheer spread before them.

Then Helen, daughter of Zeus, turned to new thoughts.

Presently she cast a drug into the wine whereof they drank,

a drug to lull all pain and anger, and bring forgetfulness

of every sorrow. Whoso should drink a draught thereof, when

it is mingled in the bowl, on that day he would let no tear

fall down his cheeks, not though his mother and his father

died, not though men slew his brother or dear son with the

sword before his face, and his own eyes beheld it.

Medicines of such virtue and so helpful had the daughter of

Zeus, which Polydamna, the wife of Thon, had given her, a

woman of Egypt, where earth the grain-giver yields herbs in

greatest plenty, many that are healing in the cup, and many

baneful. There each man is a leech skilled beyond all human

kind; yea, for they are of the race of Paeeon. Now after

she had cast in the drug and bidden pour forth of the wine,

she made answer once again, and spake unto her lord:

'Son of Atreus, Menelaus, fosterling of Zeus, and lo, ye

sons of noble men, forasmuch as now to one and now to

another Zeus gives good and evil, for to him all things are

possible,--now, verily, sit ye down and feast in the halls,

and take ye joy in the telling of tales, and I will tell

you one that fits the time. Now all of them I could not

tell or number, so many as were the adventures of Odysseus

of the hardy heart; but, ah, what a deed was this he

wrought and dared in his hardiness in the land of the

Trojans, where ye Achaeans suffered affliction. He subdued

his body with unseemly stripes, and a sorry covering he

cast about his shoulders, and in the fashion of a servant

he went down into the wide-wayed city of the foemen, and he

hid himself in the guise of another, a beggar, though in no

wise such an one was he at the ships of the Achaeans. In

this semblance he passed into the city of the Trojans, and

they wist not who he was, and I alone knew him in that

guise, and I kept questioning him, but in his subtlety he

avoided me. But when at last I was about washing him and

anointing him with olive oil, and had put on him raiment,

and sworn a great oath not to reveal Odysseus amid the

Trojans, ere he reached the swift ships and the huts, even

then he told me all the purpose of the Achaeans. And after

slaying many of the Trojans with the long sword, he

returned to the Argives and brought back word again of all.

Then the other Trojan women wept aloud, but my soul was

glad, for already my heart was turned to go back again even

to my home: and now at the last I groaned for the blindness

that Aphrodite gave me, when she led me thither away from

mine own country, forsaking my child and my bridal chamber

and my lord, that lacked not aught whether for wisdom or

yet for beauty.'

And Menelaus of the fair hair answered her, saying: 'Verily

all this tale, lady, thou hast duly told. Ere now have I

learned the counsel and the thought of many heroes, and

travelled over many a land, but never yet have mine eyes

beheld any such man of heart as was Odysseus; such another

deed as he wrought and dared in his hardiness even in the

shapen horse, wherein sat all we chiefs of the Argives,

bearing to the Trojans death and doom. Anon thou camest

thither, and sure some god must have bidden thee, who

wished to bring glory to the Trojans. Yea and godlike

Deiphobus went with thee on thy way. Thrice thou didst go

round about the hollow ambush and handle it, calling aloud

on the chiefs of the Argives by name, and making thy voice

like the voices of the wives of all the Argives. Now I and

the son of Tydeus and goodly Odysseus sat in the midst and

heard thy call; and verily we twain had a desire to start

up and come forth or presently to answer from within; but

Odysseus stayed and held us there, despite our eagerness.

Then all the other sons of the Achaeans held their peace,

but Anticlus alone was still minded to answer thee. Howbeit

Odysseus firmly closed his mouth with strong hands, and so

saved all the Achaeans, and held him until such time as

Pallas Athene led thee back.'

Then wise Telemachus answered him, and said: 'Menelaus, son

of Atreus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the host, all the

more grievous it is! for in no way did this courage ward

from him pitiful destruction, not though his heart within

him had been very iron. But come, bid us to bed, that

forthwith we may take our joy of rest beneath the spell of

sleep.'

So spake he, and Argive Helen bade her handmaids set out

bedsteads beneath the gallery, and fling on them fair

purple blankets and spread coverlets above, and thereon lay

thick mantles to be a clothing over all. So they went from

the hall with torch in hand, and spread the beds, and the

henchman led forth the guests. Thus they slept there in the

vestibule of the house, the hero Telemachus and the

splendid son of Nestor. But the son of Atreus slept, as his

custom was, in the inmost chamber of the lofty house, and

by him lay long-robed Helen, that fair lady.

Soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, Menelaus

of the loud war-shout gat him up from his bed and put on

his raiment, and cast his sharp sword about his shoulder,

and beneath his smooth feet bound his goodly sandals, and

stept forth from his chamber, in presence like a god, and

sat by Telemachus, and spake and hailed him:

'To what end hath thy need brought thee hither, hero

Telemachus, unto fair Lacedaemon, over the broad back of

the sea? Is it a matter of the common weal or of thine own?

Herein tell me the plain truth.'

Then wise Telemachus answered him, and said: 'Menelaus, son

of Atreus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the host, I have

come if perchance thou mayest tell me some tidings of my

father. My dwelling is being devoured and my fat lands are

ruined, and of unfriendly men my house is full,--who

slaughter continually my thronging flocks, and my kine with

trailing feet and shambling gait,--none other than the

wooers of my mother, despiteful out of measure. So now am I

come hither to thy knees, if haply thou art willing to tell

me of his pitiful death, as one that saw it perchance with

thine own eyes, or heard the story from some other

wanderer; for his mother bare him to exceeding sorrow. And

speak me no soft words in ruth or pity, but tell me plainly

how thou didst get sight of him. Ah, I pray thee, if ever

at all my father, good Odysseus, made promise to thee of

word or work and fulfilled the same in the land of the

Trojans, where ye Achaeans suffered affliction, these

things, I pray thee, now remember and tell me truth.'

Then in heavy displeasure spake to him Menelaus of the fair

hair: 'Out upon them, for truly in the bed of a

brave-hearted man were they minded to lie, very cravens as

they are! Even as when a hind hath couched her newborn

fawns unweaned in a strong lion's lair, and searcheth out

the mountain knees and grassy hollows, seeking pasture, and

afterward the lion cometh back to his bed, and sendeth

forth unsightly death upon that pair, even so shall

Odysseus send forth unsightly death upon the wooers. Would

to our father Zeus and Athene and Apollo, would that in

such might as when of old in stablished Lesbos he rose up

and wrestled a match with Philomeleides and threw him

mightily, and all the Achaeans rejoiced; would that in such

strength Odysseus might consort with the wooers: then

should they all have swift fate, and bitter wedlock! But

for that whereof thou askest and entreatest me, be sure I

will not swerve from the truth in aught that I say, nor

deceive thee; but of all that the ancient one of the sea,

whose speech is sooth, declared to me, not a word will I

hide or keep from thee.

'In the river Aegyptus, {*} though eager I was to press

onward home, the gods they stayed me, for that I had not

offered them the acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs, and the

gods ever desired that men should be mindful of their

commandments. Now there is an island in the wash of the

waves over against Aegyptus, and men call it Pharos, within

one day's voyage of a hollow ship, when shrill winds blow

fair in her wake. And therein is a good haven, whence men

launch the gallant ships into the deep when they have drawn

a store of deep black water. There the gods held me twenty

days, nor did the sea-winds ever show their breath, they

that serve to waft ships over the broad back of the sea.

And now would all our corn have been spent, and likewise

the strength of the men, except some goddess had taken pity

on me and saved me, Eidothee, daughter of mighty Proteus,

the ancient one of the sea. For most of all I moved her

heart, when she met me wandering alone apart from my

company, who were ever roaming round the isle, fishing with

bent hooks, for hunger was gnawing at their belly. So she

stood by, and spake and uttered her voice saying:

{* The only name for the Nile in Homer. Cf. Wilkinson,

Ancient Egyptians (1878), vol. i. p. 7.}

'"Art thou so very foolish, stranger, and feeble-witted, or

art thou wilfully remiss, and hast pleasure in suffering?

So long time art thou holden in the isle and canst find no

issue therefrom, while the heart of thy company faileth

within them?"

'Even so she spake, and I answered her saying: "I will

speak forth, what goddess soever thou art, and tell thee

that in no wise am I holden here by mine own will, but it

needs must be that I have sinned against the deathless

gods, who keep the wide heaven. Howbeit, do thou tell

me--for the gods know all things--which of the immortals it

is that binds me here and hath hindered me from my way, and

declare as touching my returning how I may go over the

teeming deep."

'So I spake, and straightway the fair goddess made answer:

"Yea now, sir, I will plainly tell thee all. Hither

resorteth that ancient one of the sea, whose speech is

sooth, the deathless Egyptian Proteus, who knows the depths

of every sea, and is the thrall of Poseidon, and who, they

say, is my father that begat me. If thou couldst but lay an

ambush and catch him, he will surely declare to thee the

way and the measure of thy path, and will tell thee of thy

returning, how thou mayest go over the teeming deep. Yea,

and he will show thee, O fosterling of Zeus, if thou wilt,

what good thing and what evil hath been wrought in thy

halls, whilst thou has been faring this long and grievous

way."

'So she spake, but I answered and said unto her: "Devise

now thyself the ambush to take this ancient one divine,

lest by any chance he see me first, or know of my coming,

and avoid me. For a god is hard for mortal man to quell."

'So spake I, and straightway the fair goddess made answer:

"Yea now, sir, I will plainly tell thee all. So often as

the sun in his course stands high in mid heaven, then forth

from the brine comes the ancient one of the sea, whose

speech is sooth, before the breath of the West Wind he

comes, and the sea's dark ripple covers him. And when he is

got forth, he lies down to sleep in the hollow of the

caves. And around him the seals, the brood of the fair

daughter of the brine, sleep all in a flock, stolen forth

from the grey sea water, and bitter is the scent they

breathe of the deeps of the salt sea. There will I lead

thee at the breaking of the day, and couch you all orderly;

so do thou choose diligently three of thy company, the best

thou hast in thy decked ships. And I will tell thee all the

magic arts of that old man. First, he will number the seals

and go over them; but when he has told their tale and

beheld them, he will lay him down in the midst, as a

shepherd mid the sheep of his flock. So soon as ever ye

shall see him couched, even then mind you of your might and

strength, and hold him there, despite his eagerness and

striving to be free. And he will make assay, and take all

manner of shapes of things that creep upon the earth, of

water likewise, and of fierce fire burning. But do ye grasp

him steadfastly and press him yet the more, and at length

when he questions thee in his proper shape, as he was when

first ye saw him laid to rest, then, hero, hold thy strong

hands, and let the ancient one go free, and ask him which

of the gods is hard upon thee, and as touching thy

returning, how thou mayest go over the teeming deep."

'Therewith she dived beneath the heaving sea, but I betook

me to the ships where they stood in the sand, and my heart

was darkly troubled as I went. But after I had come down to

the ship and to the sea, and we had made ready our supper

and immortal night had come on, then did we lay us to rest

upon the sea-beach. So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the

rosy fingered, in that hour I walked by the shore of the

wide-wayed sea, praying instantly to the gods; and I took

with me three of my company, in whom I trusted most for

every enterprise.

'Meanwhile, so it was that she had plunged into the broad

bosom of the sea, and had brought from the deep the skins

of four sea-calves, and all were newly flayed, for she was

minded to lay a snare for her father. She scooped lairs on

the sea-sand, and sat awaiting us, and we drew very nigh

her, and she made us all lie down in order, and cast a skin

over each. There would our ambush have been most terrible,

for the deadly stench of the sea bred seals distressed us

sore: nay, who would lay him down by a beast of the sea?

But herself she wrought deliverance, and devised a great

comfort. She took ambrosia of a very sweet savour, and set

it beneath each man's nostril, and did away with the stench

of the beast. So all the morning we waited with steadfast

heart, and the seals came forth in troops from the brine,

and then they couched them all orderly by the sea-beach.

And at high day the ancient one came forth from out of the

brine, and found his fatted seals, yea and he went along

their line and told their tale; and first among the

sea-beasts he reckoned us, and guessed not that there was

guile, and afterward he too laid him down. Then we rushed

upon him with a cry, and cast our hands about him, nor did

that ancient one forget his cunning. Now behold, at the

first he turned into a bearded lion, and thereafter into a

snake, and a pard, and a huge boar; then he took the shape

of running water, and of a tall and flowering tree. We the

while held him close with steadfast heart. But when now

that ancient one of the magic arts was aweary, then at last

he questioned me and spake unto me, saying:

'"Which of the gods was it, son of Atreus, that aided thee

with his counsel, that thou mightest waylay and take me

perforce? What wouldest thou thereby?"

'Even so he spake, but I answered him saying; "Old man,

thou knowest all, wherefore dost thou question me thereof

with crooked words? For lo, I am holden long time in this

isle, neither can I find any issue therefrom, and my heart

faileth within me. Howbeit do thou tell me--for the gods

know all things--which of the immortals it is that bindeth

me here, and hath hindered me from my way; and declare as

touching my returning, how I may go over the teeming deep."

'Even so I spake, and he straightway answered me, saying:

"Nay, surely thou shouldest have done goodly sacrifice to

Zeus and the other gods ere thine embarking, that with most

speed thou mightst reach thy country, sailing over the

wine-dark deep. For it is not thy fate to see thy friends,

and come to thy stablished house and thine own country,

till thou hast passed yet again within the waters of

Aegyptus, the heaven-fed stream, and offered holy hecatombs

to the deathless gods who keep the wide heaven. So shall

the gods grant thee the path which thou desirest."

'So spake he, but my spirit within me was broken, for that

he bade me again to go to Aegyptus over the misty deep, a

long and grievous way.

'Yet even so I answered him saying: "Old man, all this will

I do, according to thy word. But come, declare me this, and

tell it all plainly. Did all those Achaeans return safe

with their ships, all whom Nestor and I left as we went

from Troy, or perished any by a shameful death aboard his

own ship, or in the arms of his friends, after he had wound

up the clew of war?"

'So spake I, and anon he answered me, saying: "Son of

Atreus, why dost thou straitly question me hereof? Nay, it

is not for thy good to know or learn my thought; for I tell

thee thou shalt not long be tearless, when thou hast heard

it all aright. For many of these were taken, and many were

left; but two only of the leaders of the mail-coated

Achaeans perished in returning; as for the battle, thou

thyself wast there. And one methinks is yet alive, and is

holden on the wide deep. Aias in truth was smitten in the

midst of his ships of the long oars. Poseidon at first

brought him nigh to Gyrae, to the mighty rocks, and

delivered him from the sea. And so he would have fled his

doom, albeit hated by Athene, had he not let a proud word

fall in the fatal darkening of his heart. He said that in

the gods' despite he had escaped the great gulf of the sea;

and Poseidon heard his loud boasting, and presently caught

up his trident into his strong hands, and smote the rock

Gyraean and cleft it in twain. And the one part abode in

his place, but the other fell into the sea, the broken

piece whereon Aias sat at the first, when his heart was

darkened. And the rock bore him down into the vast and

heaving deep; so there he perished when he had drunk of the

salt sea water. But thy brother verily escaped the fates

and avoided them in his hollow ships, for queen Hera saved

him. But now when he was like soon to reach the steep mount

of Malea, lo, the storm wind snatched him away and bore him

over the teeming deep, making great moan, to the border of

the country whereof old Thyestes dwelt, but now Aegisthus

abode there, the son of Thyestes. But when thence too there

showed a good prospect of safe returning, and the gods

changed the wind to a fair gale, and they had reached home,

then verily did Agamemnon set foot with joy upon his

country's soil, and as he touched his own land he kissed

it, and many were the hot tears he let fall, for he saw his

land and was glad. And it was so that the watchman spied

him from his tower, the watchman whom crafty Aegisthus had

led and posted there, promising him for a reward two

talents of gold. Now he kept watch for the space of a year,

lest Agamemnon should pass by him when he looked not, and

mind him of his wild prowess. So he went to the house to

bear the tidings to the shepherd of the people. And

straightway Aegisthus contrived a cunning treason. He chose

out twenty of the best men in the township, and set an

ambush, and on the further side of the hall he commanded to

prepare a feast. Then with chariot and horses he went to

bid to the feast Agamemnon, shepherd of the people; but

caitiff thoughts were in his heart. He brought him up to

his house, all unwitting of his doom, and when he had

feasted him slew him, as one slayeth an ox at the stall.

And none of the company of Atreides that were of his

following were left, nor any of the men of Aegisthus, but

they were all killed in the halls."

'So spake he, and my spirit within me was broken, and I

wept as I sat upon the sand, nor was I minded any more to

live and see the light of the sun. But when I had taken my

fill of weeping and grovelling on the ground, then spake

the ancient one of the sea, whose speech is sooth:

'"No more, son of Atreus, hold this long weeping without

cease, for we shall find no help therein. Rather with all

haste make essay that so thou mayest come to thine own

country. For either thou shalt find Aegisthus yet alive, or

it may be Orestes was beforehand with thee and slew him; so

mayest thou chance upon his funeral feast."

'So he spake, and my heart and lordly soul again were

comforted for all my sorrow, and I uttered my voice and I

spake to him winged words:

'"Their fate I now know; but tell me of the third; who is

it that is yet living and holden on the wide deep, or

perchance is dead? and fain would I hear despite my

sorrow."

'So spake I, and straightway he answered, and said: "It is

the son of Laertes, whose dwelling is in Ithaca; and I saw

him in an island shedding big tears in the halls of the

nymph Calypso, who holds him there perforce; so he may not

come to his own country, for he has by him no ships with

oars, and no companions to send him on his way over the

broad back of the sea. But thou, Menelaus, son of Zeus, art

not ordained to die and meet thy fate in Argos, the

pasture-land of horses, but the deathless gods will convey

thee to the Elysian plain and the world's end, where is

Rhadamanthus of the fair hair, where life is easiest for

men. No snow is there, nor yet great storm, nor any rain;

but always ocean sendeth forth the breeze of the shrill

West to blow cool on men; yea, for thou hast Helen to wife,

and thereby they deem thee to be son of Zeus."

'So spake he, and plunged into the heaving sea; but I

betook me to the ships with my godlike company, and my

heart was darkly troubled as I went. Now after I had come

down to the ship and to the sea, and had made ready our

supper, and immortal night had come on, then did we lay us

to rest upon the sea-beach. So soon as early Dawn shone

forth, the rosy-fingered, first of all we drew down our

ships to the fair salt sea and placed the masts and the

sails in the gallant ships, and the crew too climbed on

board, and sat upon the benches and smote the grey sea

water with their oars. Then back I went to the waters of

Aegyptus, the heaven-fed stream, and there I moored the

ships and offered the acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs. So

when I had appeased the anger of the everlasting gods, I

piled a barrow to Agamemnon, that his fame might never be

quenched. So having fulfilled all, I set out for home, and

the deathless gods gave me a fair wind, and brought me

swiftly to mine own dear country. But lo, now tarry in my

halls till it shall be the eleventh day hence or the

twelfth. Then will I send thee with all honour on thy way,

and give thee splendid gifts, three horses and a polished

car; and moreover I will give thee a goodly chalice, that

thou mayest pour forth before the deathless gods, and be

mindful of me all the days of thy life.'

Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Son of Atreus,

nay, hold me not long time here. Yea even for a year would

I be content to sit by thee, and no desire for home or

parents would come upon me; for I take wondrous pleasure in

thy tales and talk. But already my company wearieth in fair

Pylos, and yet thou art keeping me long time here. And

whatsoever gift thou wouldest give me, let it be a thing to

treasure; but horses I will take none to Ithaca, but leave

them here to grace thine own house, for thou art lord of a

wide plain wherein is lotus great plenty, and therein is

spear-reed and wheat and rye, and white and spreading

barley. In Ithaca there are no wide courses, nor meadow

land at all. It is a pasture-land of goats, and more

pleasant in my sight than one that pastureth horses; for of

the isles that lie and lean upon the sea, none are fit for

the driving of horses, or rich in meadow land, and least of

all is Ithaca.'

So spake he, and Menelaus, of the loud war cry, smiled, and

caressed him with his hand, and spake and hailed him:

'Thou art of gentle blood, dear child, so gentle the words

thou speakest. Therefore I will make exchange of the

presents, as I may. Of the gifts, such as are treasures

stored in my house, I will give thee the goodliest and

greatest of price. I will give thee a mixing bowl

beautifully wrought; it is all of silver, and the lips

thereof are finished with gold, the work of Hephaestus; and

the hero Phaedimus, the king of the Sidonians, gave it me,

when his house sheltered me on my coming thither, and to

thee now would I give it.'

Even so they spake one to another, while the guests came to

the palace of the divine king. They drave their sheep, and

brought wine that maketh glad the heart of man: and their

wives with fair tire sent them wheaten bread. Thus were

these men preparing the feast in the halls.

But the wooers meantime were before the palace of Odysseus,

taking their pleasure in casting of weights and spears, on

a levelled place, as heretofore, in their insolence. And

Antinous and god-like Eurymachus were seated there, the

chief men of the wooers, who were far the most excellent of

all. And Noemon, son of Phromius, drew nigh to them and

spake unto Antinous and questioned him, saying:

'Antinous, know we at all, or know we not, when Telemachus

will return from sandy Pylos? He hath departed with a ship

of mine, and I have need thereof, to cross over into

spacious Elis, where I have twelve brood mares with hardy

mules unbroken at the teat; I would drive off one of these

and break him in.'

So spake he, and they were amazed, for they deemed not that

Telemachus had gone to Neleian Pylos, but that he was at

home somewhere in the fields, whether among the flocks, or

with the swineherd.

Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spake to him in turn:

'Tell me the plain truth; when did he go, and what noble

youths went with him? Were they chosen men of Ithaca or

hirelings and thralls of his own? He was in case to bring

even that about. And tell me this in good sooth, that I may

know for a surety: did he take thy black ship from thee

perforce against thy will? or didst thou give it him of

free will at his entreaty?

Then Noemon, son of Phromius, answered him saying: 'I gave

it him myself of free will. What can any man do, when such

an one, so bestead with care, begs a favour? it were hard

to deny the gift. The youths who next to us are noblest in

the land, even these have gone with him; and I marked their

leader on board ship, Mentor, or a god who in all things

resembled Mentor. But one matter I marvel at: I saw the

goodly Mentor here yesterday toward dawn, though already he

had embarked for Pylos.'

He spake and withal departed to his father's house. And the

proud spirits of these twain were angered, and they made

the wooers sit down together and cease from their games.

And among them spake Antinous, son of Eupeithes, in

displeasure; and his black heart was wholly filled with

rage, and his eyes were like flaming fire:

'Out on him, a proud deed hath Telemachus accomplished with

a high hand, even this journey, and we thought that he

would never bring it to pass! This lad hath clean gone

without more ado, in spite of us all; his ship he hath let

haul to the sea, and chosen the noblest in the township. He

will begin to be our bane even more than heretofore; but

may Zeus destroy his might, not ours, ere he reach the

measure of manhood! But come, give me a swift ship and

twenty men, that I may lie in watch and wait even for him

on his way home, in the strait between Ithaca and rugged

Samos, that so he may have a woeful end of his cruising in

quest of his father.'

So spake he, and they all assented thereto, and bade him to

the work. And thereupon they arose and went to the house of

Odysseus.

Now it was no long time before Penelope heard of the

counsel that the wooers had devised in the deep of their

heart. For the henchman Medon told her thereof, who stood

without the court and heard their purposes, while they were

weaving their plot within. So he went on his way through

the halls to bring the news to Penelope; and as he stept

down over the threshold, Penelope spake unto him:

'Henchman, wherefore have the noble wooers sent thee forth?

Was it to tell the handmaids of divine Odysseus to cease

from their work, and prepare a banquet for them? Nay, after

thus much wooing, never again may they come together, but

here this day sup for their last and latest time; all ye

who assemble so often, and waste much livelihood, the

wealth of wise Telemachus! Long ago when ye were children,

ye marked not your fathers' telling, what manner of man was

Odysseus among them, one that wrought no iniquity toward

any man, nor spake aught unrighteous in the township, as is

the wont of divine kings. One man a king is like to hate,

another he might chance to love. But never did he do aught

at all presumptuously to any man. Nay, it is plain what

spirit ye are of, and your unseemly deeds are manifest to

all, nor is there any gratitude left for kindness done.'

Then Medon, wise of heart, answered her: 'Would, oh queen,

that this were the crowning evil! But the wooers devise

another far greater and more grievous, which I pray the son

of Cronos may never fulfil! They are set on slaying

Telemachus with the edge of the sword on his homeward way;

for he is gone to fair Pylos and goodly Lacedaemon, to seek

tidings of his father.'

So spake he, but her knees were loosened where she stood,

and her heart melted within her, and long time was she

speechless, and lo, her eyes were filled with tears and the

voice of her utterance was stayed. And at the last she

answered him and said:

'Henchman, wherefore I pray thee is my son departed? There

is no need that he should go abroad on swift ships, that

serve men for horses on the sea, and that cross the great

wet waste. Is it that even his own name may no more be left

upon earth?'

Then Medon, wise of heart, answered her: 'I know not

whether some god set him on or whether his own spirit

stirred him to go to Pylos to seek tidings of his father's

return, or to hear what end he met.'

He spake, and departed through the house of Odysseus, and

on her fell a cloud of consuming grief; so that she might

no more endure to seat her on a chair, whereof there were

many in the house, but there she crouched on the threshold

of her well-builded chamber, wailing piteously, and her

handmaids round her made low moan, as many as were in the

house with her, young and old. And Penelope spake among

them pouring forth her lamentation:

'Hear me, my friends, for the Olympian sire hath given me

pain exceedingly beyond all women who were born and bred in

my day. For erewhile I lost my noble lord of the lion

heart, adorned with all perfection among the Danaans, my

good lord, whose fame is noised abroad from Hellas to mid

Argos. And now again the storm-winds have snatched away my

well-beloved son without tidings from our halls, nor heard

I of his departure. Oh, women, hard of heart, that even ye

did not each one let the thought come into your minds, to

rouse me from my couch when he went to the black hollow

ship, though ye knew full well thereof! For had I heard

that he was purposing this journey, verily he should have

stayed here still, though eager to be gone, or have left me

dead in the halls. Howbeit let some one make haste to call

the ancient Dolius, my thrall, whom my father gave me ere

yet I had come hither, who keepeth my garden of trees. So

shall he go straightway and sit by Laertes, and tell him

all, if perchance Laertes may weave some counsel in his

heart, and go forth and make his plaint to the people, who

are purposed to destroy his seed, and the seed of god-like

Odysseus.'

Then the good nurse Eurycleia answered her: 'Dear lady,

aye, slay me if thou wilt with the pitiless sword or let me

yet live on in the house,--yet will I not hide my saying

from thee. I knew all this, and gave him whatsoever he

commanded, bread and sweet wine. And he took a great oath

of me not to tell thee till at least the twelfth day should

come, or thou thyself shouldst miss him and hear of his

departure, that thou mightest not mar thy fair flesh with

thy tears. But now, wash thee in water, and take to thee

clean raiment and ascend to thy upper chamber with the

women thy handmaids, and pray to Athene, daughter of Zeus,

lord of the aegis. For so may she save him even from death.

And heap not troubles on an old man's trouble; for the seed

of the son of Arceisius, is not, methinks, utterly hated by

the blessed gods, but someone will haply yet remain to

possess these lofty halls, and the fat fields far away.'

So spake she, and lulled her queen's lamentation, and made

her eyes to cease from weeping. So she washed her in water,

and took to her clean raiment, and ascended to the upper

chamber with the women her handmaids, and placed the meal

for sprinkling in a basket, and prayed unto Athene:

'Hear me, child of Zeus, lord of the aegis, unwearied

maiden! If ever wise Odysseus in his halls burnt for thee

fat slices of the thighs of heifer or of sheep, these

things, I pray thee, now remember, and save my dear son,

and ward from him the wooers in the naughtiness of their

pride.'

Therewith she raised a cry, and the goddess heard her

prayer. But the wooers clamoured through the shadowy halls,

and thus would some proud youth say:

'Verily this queen of many wooers prepareth our marriage,

nor knoweth at all how that for her son death hath been

ordained.'

Thus would certain of them speak, but they knew not how

these things were ordained. And Antinous made harangue and

spake among them:

'Good sirs, my friends, shun all disdainful words alike,

lest someone hear and tell it even in the house. But come

let us arise, and in silence accomplish that whereof we

spake, for the counsel pleased us every one.'

Therewith he chose twenty men that were the best, and they

departed to the swift ship and the sea-banks. So first of

all they drew the ship down to the deep water, and placed

the mast and sails in the black ship, and fixed the oars in

leathern loops all orderly, and spread forth the white

sails. And squires, haughty of heart, bare for them their

arms. And they moored her high out in the shore water, and

themselves disembarked. There they supped and waited for

evening to come on.

But the wise Penelope lay there in her upper chamber,

fasting and tasting neither meat nor drink, musing whether

her noble son should escape death, or even fall before the

proud wooers. And as a lion broods all in fear among the

press of men, when they draw the crafty ring around him, so

deeply was she musing when deep sleep came over her. And

she sank back in sleep and all her joints were loosened.

Now the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, turned to other

thoughts. She made a phantom, and fashioned it after the

likeness of a woman, Iphthime, daughter of great-hearted

Icarius, whom Eumelus wedded, whose dwelling was in Pherae.

And she sent it to the house of divine Odysseus to bid

Penelope, amid her sorrow and lamenting, to cease from her

weeping and tearful lamentation. So the phantom passed into

the chamber by the thong of the bolt, and stood above her

head and spake unto her, saying:

'Sleepest thou, Penelope, stricken at heart? Nay, even the

gods who live at ease suffer thee not to wail or be

afflicted, seeing that thy son is yet to return; for no

sinner is he in the eyes of the gods.'

Then wise Penelope made her answer as she slumbered very

softly at the gates of dreams:

'Wherefore, sister, hast thou come hither, that before wert

not wont to come, for thou hast thine habitation very far

away? Biddest thou me indeed to cease from the sorrows and

pains, so many that disquiet my heart and soul? Erewhile I

lost my noble lord of the lion heart, adorned with all

perfection among the Danaans, my true lord, whose fame is

noised abroad from Hellas to mid Argos. And now, again, my

well-beloved son is departed on his hollow ship, poor

child, not skilled in toils or in the gatherings of men.

For him I sorrow yet more than for my lord, and I tremble

and fear for him lest aught befal him, whether, it may be,

amid that folk where he is gone, or in the deep. For many

foemen devise evil against him, and go about to kill him,

or ever he come to his own country.'

And the dim phantom answered her, and said: 'Take courage,

and be not so sorely afraid. For lo, such a friend goes to

guide him, as all men pray to stand by them, for that she

hath the power, even Pallas Athene. And she pitieth thee in

thy sorrow, and now hath sent me forth to speak these words

to thee.'

And wise Penelope answered her, saying: 'If thou art indeed

a god, and hast heard the word of a god, come, I pray thee,

and tell me tidings concerning that ill-fated man, whether

perchance he is yet alive and sees the light of the sun, or

hath already died, and is a dweller in the house of Hades.'

And the dim phantom answered her and said: 'Concerning him

I will not tell thee all the tale, whether he be alive or

dead; it is ill to speak words light as wind.'

Therewith the phantom slipped away by the bolt of the door

and passed into the breath of the wind. And the daughter of

Icarius started up from sleep; and her heart was cheered,

so clear was the vision that sped toward her in the dead of

the night.

Meanwhile the wooers had taken ship and were sailing over

the wet ways, pondering in their hearts sheer death for

Telemachus. Now there is a rocky isle in the mid sea,

midway between Ithaca and rugged Samos, Asteris, a little

isle; and there is a harbour therein with a double

entrance, where ships may ride. There the Achaeans abode

lying in wait for Telemachus.

Read next: Book V

Read previous: Book III

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