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Erembians； and to Libya where the lambs have horns as soon as they are
born； and the sheep lamb down three times a year。 Every one in that
country； whether master or man； has plenty of cheese； meat； and good
milk； for the ewes yield all the year round。 But while I was
travelling and getting great riches among these people； my brother was
secretly and shockingly murdered through the perfidy of his wicked
wife； so that I have no pleasure in being lord of all this wealth。
Whoever your parents may be they must have told you about all this；
and of my heavy loss in the ruin of a stately mansion fully and
magnificently furnished。 Would that I had only a third of what I now
have so that I had stayed at home； and all those were living who
perished on the plain of Troy； far from Argos。 I of grieve； as I sit
here in my house； for one and all of them。 At times I cry aloud for
sorrow； but presently I leave off again； for crying is cold comfort
and one soon tires of it。 Yet grieve for these as I may； I do so for
one man more than for them all。 I cannot even think of him without
loathing both food and sleep； so miserable does he make me； for no one
of all the Achaeans worked so hard or risked so much as he did。 He
took nothing by it； and has left a legacy of sorrow to myself； for
he has been gone a long time； and we know not whether he is alive or
dead。 His old father； his long…suffering wife Penelope； and his son
Telemachus； whom he left behind him an infant in arms； are plunged
in grief on his account。〃
Thus spoke Menelaus； and the heart of Telemachus yearned as he
bethought him of his father。 Tears fell from his eyes as he heard
him thus mentioned； so that he held his cloak before his face with
both hands。 When Menelaus saw this he doubted whether to let him
choose his own time for speaking； or to ask him at once and find
what it was all about。
While he was thus in two minds Helen came down from her high vaulted
and perfumed room； looking as lovely as Diana herself。 Adraste brought
her a seat； Alcippe a soft woollen rug while Phylo fetched her the
silver work…box which Alcandra wife of Polybus had given her。
Polybus lived in Egyptian Thebes； which is the richest city in the
whole world； he gave Menelaus two baths； both of pure silver； two
tripods； and ten talents of gold； besides all this； his wife gave
Helen some beautiful presents； to wit； a golden distaff； and a
silver work…box that ran on wheels； with a gold band round the top
of it。 Phylo now placed this by her side； full of fine spun yarn；
and a distaff charged with violet coloured wool was laid upon the
top of it。 Then Helen took her seat； put her feet upon the
footstool； and began to question her husband。
〃Do we know； Menelaus；〃 said she； 〃the names of these strangers
who have come to visit us？ Shall I guess right or wrong？…but I
cannot help saying what I think。 Never yet have I seen either man or
woman so like somebody else （indeed when I look at him I hardly know
what to think） as this young man is like Telemachus； whom Ulysses left
as a baby behind him； when you Achaeans went to Troy with battle in
your hearts； on account of my most shameless self。〃
〃My dear wife；〃 replied Menelaus； 〃I see the likeness just as you
do。 His hands and feet are just like Ulysses'； so is his hair； with
the shape of his head and the expression of his eyes。 Moreover； when I
was talking about Ulysses； and saying how much he had suffered on my
account； tears fell from his eyes； and he hid his face in his mantle。〃
Then Pisistratus said； 〃Menelaus； son of Atreus； you are right in
thinking that this young man is Telemachus； but he is very modest； and
is ashamed to come here and begin opening up discourse with one
whose conversation is so divinely interesting as your own。 My
father； Nestor； sent me to escort him hither； for he wanted to know
whether you could give him any counsel or suggestion。 A son has always
trouble at home when his father has gone away leaving him without
supporters； and this is how Telemachus is now placed； for his father
is absent； and there is no one among his own people to stand by him。〃
〃Bless my heart；〃 replied Menelaus； 〃then I am receiving a visit
from the son of a very dear friend； who suffered much hardship for
my sake。 I had always hoped to entertain him with most marked
distinction when heaven had granted us a safe return from beyond the
seas。 I should have founded a city for him in Argos； and built him a
house。 I should have made him leave Ithaca with his goods； his son；
and all his people； and should have sacked for them some one of the
neighbouring cities that are subject to me。 We should thus have seen
one another continually； and nothing but death could have
interrupted so close and happy an intercourse。 I suppose； however；
that heaven grudged us such great good fortune； for it has prevented
the poor fellow from ever getting home at all。〃
Thus did he speak； and his words set them all a weeping。 Helen wept；
Telemachus wept； and so did Menelaus； nor could Pisistratus keep his
eyes from filling； when he remembered his dear brother Antilochus whom
the son of bright Dawn had killed。 Thereon he said to Menelaus；
〃Sir； my father Nestor； when we used to talk about you at home； told
me you were a person of rare and excellent understanding。 If； then； it
be possible； do as I would urge you。 I am not fond of crying while I
am getting my supper。 Morning will come in due course； and in the
forenoon I care not how much I cry for those that are dead and gone。
This is all we can do for the poor things。 We can only shave our heads
for them and wring the tears from our cheeks。 I had a brother who died
at Troy； he was by no means the worst man there； you are sure to
have known him… his name was Antilochus； I never set eyes upon him
myself； but they say that he was singularly fleet of foot and in fight
valiant。〃
〃Your discretion； my friend；〃 answered Menelaus； 〃is beyond your
years。 It is plain you take after your father。 One can soon see when a
man is son to one whom heaven has blessed both as regards wife and
offspring… and it has blessed Nestor from first to last all his
days； giving him a green old age in his own house； with sons about him
who are both we disposed and valiant。 We will put an end therefore
to all this weeping； and attend to our supper again。 Let water be
poured over our hands。 Telemachus and I can talk with one another
fully in the morning。〃
On this Asphalion； one of the servants； poured water over their
hands and they laid their hands on the good things that were before
them。
Then Jove's daughter Helen bethought her of another matter。 She
drugged the wine with an herb that banishes all care； sorrow； and
ill humour。 Whoever drinks wine thus drugged cannot shed a single tear
all the rest of the day； not even though his father and mother both of
them drop down dead； or he sees a brother or a son hewn in pieces
before his very eyes。 This drug； of such sovereign power and virtue；
had been given to Helen by Polydamna wife of Thon； a woman of Egypt；
where there grow all sorts of herbs； some good to put into the
mixing…bowl and others poisonous。 Moreover； every one in the whole
country is a skilled physician； for they are of the race of Paeeon。
When Helen had put this drug in the bowl； and had told the servants to
serve the wine round； she said：
〃Menelaus； son of Atreus； and you my good friends； sons of
honourable men （which is as Jove wills； for he is the giver both of
good and evil； and can do what he chooses）； feast here as you will；
and listen while I tell you a tale in season。 I cannot indeed name
every single one of the exploits of Ulysses； but I can say what he did
when he was before Troy； and you Achaeans were in all sorts of
difficulties。 He covered himself with wounds and bruises； dressed
himself all in rags； and entered the enemy's city looking like a
menial or a beggar。 and quite different from what he did when he was
among his own people。 In this disguise he entered the city of Troy；
and no one said anything to him。 I alone recognized him and began to
question him； but he was too cunning for me。 When； however； I had
washed an