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heaven's sanction； but swear that you will say nothing about all
this to my mother； till I have been away some ten or twelve days；
unless she hears of my having gone； and asks you； for I do not want
her to spoil her beauty by crying。〃
The old woman swore most solemnly that she would not； and when she
had completed her oath； she began drawing off the wine into jars；
and getting the barley meal into the bags； while Telemachus went
back to the suitors。
Then Minerva bethought her of another matter。 She took his shape；
and went round the town to each one of the crew； telling them to
meet at the ship by sundown。 She went also to Noemon son of
Phronius； and asked him to let her have a ship… which he was very
ready to do。 When the sun had set and darkness was over all the
land； she got the ship into the water； put all the tackle on board her
that ships generally carry； and stationed her at the end of the
harbour。 Presently the crew came up； and the goddess spoke
encouragingly to each of them。
Furthermore she went to the house of Ulysses； and threw the
suitors into a deep slumber。 She caused their drink to fuddle them；
and made them drop their cups from their hands； so that instead of
sitting over their wine； they went back into the town to sleep； with
their eyes heavy and full of drowsiness。 Then she took the form and
voice of Mentor； and called Telemachus to come outside。
〃Telemachus；〃 said she； 〃the men are on board and at their oars；
waiting for you to give your orders； so make haste and let us be off。〃
On this she led the way； while Telemachus followed in her steps。
When they got to the ship they found the crew waiting by the water
side； and Telemachus said； 〃Now my men； help me to get the stores on
board； they are all put together in the cloister； and my mother does
not know anything about it； nor any of the maid servants except one。〃
With these words he led the way and the others followed after。
When they had brought the things as he told them； Telemachus went on
board； Minerva going before him and taking her seat in the stern of
the vessel； while Telemachus sat beside her。 Then the men loosed the
hawsers and took their places on the benches。 Minerva sent them a fair
wind from the West； that whistled over the deep blue waves whereon
Telemachus told them to catch hold of the ropes and hoist sail； and
they did as he told them。 They set the mast in its socket in the cross
plank； raised it； and made it fast with the forestays； then they
hoisted their white sails aloft with ropes of twisted ox hide。 As
the sail bellied out with the wind； the ship flew through the deep
blue water； and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward。
Then they made all fast throughout the ship； filled the mixing…bowls
to the brim； and made drink offerings to the immortal gods that are
from everlasting； but more particularly to the grey…eyed daughter of
Jove。
Thus； then； the ship sped on her way through the watches of the
night from dark till dawn。
BOOK III。
BUT as the sun was rising from the fair sea into the firmament of
heaven to shed Blight on mortals and immortals； they reached Pylos the
city of Neleus。 Now the people of Pylos were gathered on the sea shore
to offer sacrifice of black bulls to Neptune lord of the Earthquake。
There were nine guilds with five hundred men in each； and there were
nine bulls to each guild。 As they were eating the inward meats and
burning the thigh bones ＇on the embers＇ in the name of Neptune；
Telemachus and his crew arrived； furled their sails； brought their
ship to anchor； and went ashore。
Minerva led the way and Telemachus followed her。 Presently she said；
〃Telemachus； you must not be in the least shy or nervous； you have
taken this voyage to try and find out where your father is buried
and how he came by his end； so go straight up to Nestor that we may
see what he has got to tell us。 Beg of him to speak the truth； and
he will tell no lies； for he is an excellent person。〃
〃But how； Mentor；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃dare I go up to Nestor；
and how am I to address him？ I have never yet been used to holding
long conversations with people； and am ashamed to begin questioning
one who is so much older than myself。〃
〃Some things； Telemachus；〃 answered Minerva； 〃will be suggested to
you by your own instinct； and heaven will prompt you further； for I am
assured that the gods have been with you from the time of your birth
until now。〃
She then went quickly on； and Telemachus followed in her steps
till they reached the place where the guilds of the Pylian people were
assembled。 There they found Nestor sitting with his sons； while his
company round him were busy getting dinner ready； and putting pieces
of meat on to the spits while other pieces were cooking。 When they saw
the strangers they crowded round them； took them by the hand and
bade them take their places。 Nestor's son Pisistratus at once
offered his hand to each of them； and seated them on some soft
sheepskins that were lying on the sands near his father and his
brother Thrasymedes。 Then he gave them their portions of the inward
meats and poured wine for them into a golden cup； handing it to
Minerva first； and saluting her at the same time。
〃Offer a prayer； sir；〃 said he； 〃to King Neptune； for it is his
feast that you are joining； when you have duly prayed and made your
drink…offering； pass the cup to your friend that he may do so also。
I doubt not that he too lifts his hands in prayer； for man cannot live
without God in the world。 Still he is younger than you are； and is
much of an age with myself； so I he handed I will give you the
precedence。〃
As he spoke he handed her the cup。 Minerva thought it very right and
proper of him to have given it to herself first； she accordingly began
praying heartily to Neptune。 〃O thou；〃 she cried； 〃that encirclest the
earth； vouchsafe to grant the prayers of thy servants that call upon
thee。 More especially we pray thee send down thy grace on Nestor and
on his sons； thereafter also make the rest of the Pylian people some
handsome return for the goodly hecatomb they are offering you。 Lastly；
grant Telemachus and myself a happy issue； in respect of the matter
that has brought us in our to Pylos。〃
When she had thus made an end of praying； she handed the cup to
Telemachus and he prayed likewise。 By and by； when the outer meats
were roasted and had been taken off the spits； the carvers gave
every man his portion and they all made an excellent dinner。 As soon
as they had had enough to eat and drink； Nestor； knight of Gerene；
began to speak。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃that our guests have done their dinner； it will
be best to ask them who they are。 Who； then； sir strangers； are you；
and from what port have you sailed？ Are you traders？ or do you sail
the seas as rovers with your hand against every man； and every man's
hand against you？〃
Telemachus answered boldly； for Minerva had given him courage to ask
about his father and get himself a good name。
〃Nestor；〃 said he； 〃son of Neleus； honour to the Achaean name； you
ask whence we come； and I will tell you。 We come from Ithaca under
Neritum； and the matter about which I would speak is of private not
public import。 I seek news of my unhappy father Ulysses； who is said
to have sacked the town of Troy in company with yourself。 We know what
fate befell each one of the other heroes who fought at Troy； but as
regards Ulysses heaven has hidden from us the knowledge even that he
is dead at all； for no one can certify us in what place he perished；
nor say whether he fell in battle on the mainland； or was lost at
sea amid the waves of Amphitrite。 Therefore I am suppliant at your
knees； if haply you may be pleased to tell me of his melancholy end；
whether you saw it with your own eyes； or heard it from some other
traveller； for he was a man born to trouble。 Do not soften things
out of any pity for me； but tell me in all plainness exactly what
you saw。 If my brave father Ulysses ever did you loyal service； either
by word or deed； when you Achaeans were harassed among the Trojans；
bear it in mind now as in my favour and tell me truly all。〃