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rather than a longer purse； for money would not serve them； but he；
alas； has fallen on an ill fate； and even when people do sometimes say
that he is coming； we no longer heed them； we shall never see him
again。 And now； sir； tell me and tell me true； who you are and where
you come from。 Tell me of your town and parents； what manner of ship
you came in； how your crew brought you to Ithaca； and of what nation
they declared themselves to be… for you cannot have come by land。 Tell
me also truly； for I want to know； are you a stranger to this house；
or have you been here in my father's time？ In the old days we had many
visitors for my father went about much himself。〃
And Minerva answered； 〃I will tell you truly and particularly all
about it。 I am Mentes； son of Anchialus； and I am King of the
Taphians。 I have come here with my ship and crew； on a voyage to men
of a foreign tongue being bound for Temesa with a cargo of iron； and I
shall bring back copper。 As for my ship； it lies over yonder off the
open country away from the town； in the harbour Rheithron under the
wooded mountain Neritum。 Our fathers were friends before us； as old
Laertes will tell you； if you will go and ask him。 They say；
however； that he never comes to town now； and lives by himself in
the country； faring hardly； with an old woman to look after him and
get his dinner for him； when he comes in tired from pottering about
his vineyard。 They told me your father was at home again； and that was
why I came； but it seems the gods are still keeping him back； for he
is not dead yet not on the mainland。 It is more likely he is on some
sea…girt island in mid ocean； or a prisoner among savages who are
detaining him against his will I am no prophet； and know very little
about omens； but I speak as it is borne in upon me from heaven； and
assure you that he will not be away much longer； for he is a man of
such resource that even though he were in chains of iron he would find
some means of getting home again。 But tell me； and tell me true； can
Ulysses really have such a fine looking fellow for a son？ You are
indeed wonderfully like him about the head and eyes； for we were close
friends before he set sail for Troy where the flower of all the
Argives went also。 Since that time we have never either of us seen the
other。〃
〃My mother；〃 answered Telemachus； tells me I am son to Ulysses；
but it is a wise child that knows his own father。 Would that I were
son to one who had grown old upon his own estates； for； since you
ask me； there is no more ill…starred man under heaven than he who they
tell me is my father。〃
And Minerva said； 〃There is no fear of your race dying out yet；
while Penelope has such a fine son as you are。 But tell me； and tell
me true； what is the meaning of all this feasting； and who are these
people？ What is it all about？ Have you some banquet； or is there a
wedding in the family… for no one seems to be bringing any
provisions of his own？ And the guests… how atrociously they are
behaving； what riot they make over the whole house； it is enough to
disgust any respectable person who comes near them。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Telemachus； 〃as regards your question； so long as my
father was here it was well with us and with the house； but the gods
in their displeasure have willed it otherwise； and have hidden him
away more closely than mortal man was ever yet hidden。 I could have
borne it better even though he were dead； if he had fallen with his
men before Troy； or had died with friends around him when the days
of his fighting were done； for then the Achaeans would have built a
mound over his ashes； and I should myself have been heir to his
renown； but now the storm…winds have spirited him away we know not
wither； he is gone without leaving so much as a trace behind him；
and I inherit nothing but dismay。 Nor does the matter end simply
with grief for the loss of my father； heaven has laid sorrows upon
me of yet another kind； for the chiefs from all our islands；
Dulichium； Same； and the woodland island of Zacynthus； as also all the
principal men of Ithaca itself； are eating up my house under the
pretext of paying their court to my mother； who will neither point
blank say that she will not marry； nor yet bring matters to an end； so
they are making havoc of my estate； and before long will do so also
with myself。〃
〃Is that so？〃 exclaimed Minerva； 〃then you do indeed want Ulysses
home again。 Give him his helmet； shield； and a couple lances； and if
he is the man he was when I first knew him in our house； drinking
and making merry； he would soon lay his hands about these rascally
suitors； were he to stand once more upon his own threshold。 He was
then coming from Ephyra； where he had been to beg poison for his
arrows from Ilus； son of Mermerus。 Ilus feared the ever…living gods
and would not give him any； but my father let him have some； for he
was very fond of him。 If Ulysses is the man he then was these
suitors will have a short shrift and a sorry wedding。
〃But there！ It rests with heaven to determine whether he is to
return； and take his revenge in his own house or no； I would； however；
urge you to set about trying to get rid of these suitors at once。 Take
my advice； call the Achaean heroes in assembly to…morrow …lay your
case before them； and call heaven to bear you witness。 Bid the suitors
take themselves off； each to his own place； and if your mother's
mind is set on marrying again； let her go back to her father； who will
find her a husband and provide her with all the marriage gifts that so
dear a daughter may expect。 As for yourself； let me prevail upon you
to take the best ship you can get； with a crew of twenty men； and go
in quest of your father who has so long been missing。 Some one may
tell you something； or （and people often hear things in this way） some
heaven…sent message may direct you。 First go to Pylos and ask
Nestor； thence go on to Sparta and visit Menelaus； for he got home
last of all the Achaeans； if you hear that your father is alive and on
his way home； you can put up with the waste these suitors will make
for yet another twelve months。 If on the other hand you hear of his
death； come home at once； celebrate his funeral rites with all due
pomp； build a barrow to his memory； and make your mother marry
again。 Then； having done all this； think it well over in your mind
how； by fair means or foul； you may kill these suitors in your own
house。 You are too old to plead infancy any longer； have you not heard
how people are singing Orestes' praises for having killed his father's
murderer Aegisthus？ You are a fine； smart looking fellow； show your
mettle； then； and make yourself a name in story。 Now； however； I
must go back to my ship and to my crew； who will be impatient if I
keep them waiting longer； think the matter over for yourself； and
remember what I have said to you。〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃it has been very kind of you to talk to
me in this way； as though I were your own son； and I will do all you
tell me； I know you want to be getting on with your voyage； but stay a
little longer till you have taken a bath and refreshed yourself。 I
will then give you a present； and you shall go on your way
rejoicing； I will give you one of great beauty and value… a keepsake
such as only dear friends give to one another。〃
Minerva answered； 〃Do not try to keep me； for I would be on my way
at once。 As for any present you may be disposed to make me； keep it
till I come again； and I will take it home with me。 You shall give
me a very good one； and I will give you one of no less value in
return。〃
With these words she flew away like a bird into the air； but she had
given Telemachus courage； and had made him think more than ever
about his father。 He felt the change； wondered at it； and knew that
the stranger had been a god； so he went straight to where the
suitors were sitting。
Phemius was still singing； and his hearers sat rapt in silence as he
told the sad tale of the return from Troy； and the ills Minerva had
laid upon the Achaeans。 Penelope； daughter of Icarius； heard his
song from her room upstairs； and came down by the great staircase； not
alone； bu