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and to Pylos in quest of my father who has so long been missing。
Some one may tell me something； or （and people often hear things in
this way） some heaven…sent message may direct me。 If I can hear of him
as alive and on his way home I will put up with the waste you
suitors will make for yet another twelve months。 If on the other
hand I hear of his death； I will return at once； celebrate his funeral
rites with all due pomp； build a barrow to his memory； and make my
mother marry again。〃
With these words he sat down； and Mentor who had been a friend of
Ulysses； and had been left in charge of everything with full authority
over the servants； rose to speak。 He； then； plainly and in all honesty
addressed them thus：
〃Hear me； men of Ithaca； I hope that you may never have a kind and
well…disposed ruler any more； nor one who will govern you equitably； I
hope that all your chiefs henceforward may be cruel and unjust； for
there is not one of you but has forgotten Ulysses； who ruled you as
though he were your father。 I am not half so angry with the suitors；
for if they choose to do violence in the naughtiness of their
hearts； and wager their heads that Ulysses will not return； they can
take the high hand and eat up his estate； but as for you others I am
shocked at the way in which you all sit still without even trying to
stop such scandalous goings on…which you could do if you chose； for
you are many and they are few。〃
Leiocritus； son of Evenor； answered him saying； 〃Mentor； what
folly is all this； that you should set the people to stay us？ It is
a hard thing for one man to fight with many about his victuals。 Even
though Ulysses himself were to set upon us while we are feasting in
his house； and do his best to oust us； his wife； who wants him back so
very badly； would have small cause for rejoicing； and his blood
would be upon his own head if he fought against such great odds。 There
is no sense in what you have been saying。 Now； therefore； do you
people go about your business； and let his father's old friends；
Mentor and Halitherses； speed this boy on his journey； if he goes at
all… which I do not think he will； for he is more likely to stay where
he is till some one comes and tells him something。〃
On this he broke up the assembly； and every man went back to his own
abode； while the suitors returned to the house of Ulysses。
Then Telemachus went all alone by the sea side； washed his hands
in the grey waves； and prayed to Minerva。
〃Hear me；〃 he cried； 〃you god who visited me yesterday； and bade
me sail the seas in search of my father who has so long been
missing。 I would obey you； but the Achaeans； and more particularly the
wicked suitors； are hindering me that I cannot do so。〃
As he thus prayed； Minerva came close up to him in the likeness
and with the voice of Mentor。 〃Telemachus；〃 said she； 〃if you are made
of the same stuff as your father you will be neither fool nor coward
henceforward； for Ulysses never broke his word nor left his work
half done。 If； then； you take after him； your voyage will not be
fruitless； but unless you have the blood of Ulysses and of Penelope in
your veins I see no likelihood of your succeeding。 Sons are seldom
as good men as their fathers； they are generally worse； not better；
still； as you are not going to be either fool or coward
henceforward； and are not entirely without some share of your father's
wise discernment； I look with hope upon your undertaking。 But mind you
never make common cause with any of those foolish suitors； for they
have neither sense nor virtue； and give no thought to death and to the
doom that will shortly fall on one and all of them； so that they shall
perish on the same day。 As for your voyage； it shall not be long
delayed； your father was such an old friend of mine that I will find
you a ship； and will come with you myself。 Now； however； return
home； and go about among the suitors； begin getting provisions ready
for your voyage； see everything well stowed； the wine in jars； and the
barley meal； which is the staff of life； in leathern bags； while I
go round the town and beat up volunteers at once。 There are many ships
in Ithaca both old and new； I will run my eye over them for you and
will choose the best； we will get her ready and will put out to sea
without delay。〃
Thus spoke Minerva daughter of Jove； and Telemachus lost no time
in doing as the goddess told him。 He went moodily and found the
suitors flaying goats and singeing pigs in the outer court。 Antinous
came up to him at once and laughed as he took his hand in his own；
saying； 〃Telemachus； my fine fire…eater； bear no more ill blood
neither in word nor deed； but eat and drink with us as you used to do。
The Achaeans will find you in everything… a ship and a picked crew
to boot… so that you can set sail for Pylos at once and get news of
your noble father。〃
〃Antinous；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃I cannot eat in peace； nor take
pleasure of any kind with such men as you are。 Was it not enough
that you should waste so much good property of mine while I was yet
a boy？ Now that I am older and know more about it； I am also stronger；
and whether here among this people； or by going to Pylos； I will do
you all the harm I can。 I shall go； and my going will not be in vain
though； thanks to you suitors； I have neither ship nor crew of my own；
and must be passenger not captain。〃
As he spoke he snatched his hand from that of Antinous。 Meanwhile
the others went on getting dinner ready about the buildings； jeering
at him tauntingly as they did so。
〃Telemachus；〃 said one youngster； 〃means to be the death of us； I
suppose he thinks he can bring friends to help him from Pylos； or
again from Sparta； where he seems bent on going。 Or will he go to
Ephyra as well； for poison to put in our wine and kill us？〃
Another said； 〃Perhaps if Telemachus goes on board ship； he will
be like his father and perish far from his friends。 In this case we
should have plenty to do； for we could then divide up his property
amongst us： as for the house we can let his mother and the man who
marries her have that。〃
This was how they talked。 But Telemachus went down into the lofty
and spacious store…room where his father's treasure of gold and bronze
lay heaped up upon the floor； and where the linen and spare clothes
were kept in open chests。 Here； too； there was a store of fragrant
olive oil； while casks of old； well…ripened wine； unblended and fit
for a god to drink； were ranged against the wall in case Ulysses
should come home again after all。 The room was closed with well…made
doors opening in the middle； moreover the faithful old house…keeper
Euryclea； daughter of Ops the son of Pisenor； was in charge of
everything both night and day。 Telemachus called her to the store…room
and said：
〃Nurse； draw me off some of the best wine you have； after what you
are keeping for my father's own drinking； in case； poor man； he should
escape death； and find his way home again after all。 Let me have
twelve jars； and see that they all have lids； also fill me some
well…sewn leathern bags with barley meal… about twenty measures in
all。 Get these things put together at once； and say nothing about
it。 I will take everything away this evening as soon as my mother
has gone upstairs for the night。 I am going to Sparta and to Pylos
to see if I can hear anything about the return of my dear father。
When Euryclea heard this she began to cry； and spoke fondly to
him； saying； 〃My dear child； what ever can have put such notion as
that into your head？ Where in the world do you want to go to… you； who
are the one hope of the house？ Your poor father is dead and gone in
some foreign country nobody knows where； and as soon as your back is
turned these wicked ones here will be scheming to get you put out of
the way； and will share all your possessions among themselves； stay
where you are among your own people； and do not go wandering and
worrying your life out on the barren ocean。〃
〃Fear not； nurse；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃my scheme is not without
heaven's sanction； but swear that you will say nothing about all
this to my mother； till I have been away some ten or twe