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Telemachus's ship； and invite all the crew； leaving two men only in
charge of the vessel。 Some one else will run and fetch Laerceus the
goldsmith to gild the horns of the heifer。 The rest； stay all of you
where you are； tell the maids in the house to prepare an excellent
dinner； and to fetch seats； and logs of wood for a burnt offering。
Tell them also… to bring me some clear spring water。〃
On this they hurried off on their several errands。 The heifer was
brought in from the plain； and Telemachus's crew came from the ship；
the goldsmith brought the anvil； hammer； and tongs； with which he
worked his gold； and Minerva herself came to the sacrifice。 Nestor
gave out the gold； and the smith gilded the horns of the heifer that
the goddess might have pleasure in their beauty。 Then Stratius and
Echephron brought her in by the horns； Aretus fetched water from the
house in a ewer that had a flower pattern on it； and in his other hand
he held a basket of barley meal； sturdy Thrasymedes stood by with a
sharp axe； ready to strike the heifer； while Perseus held a bucket。
Then Nestor began with washing his hands and sprinkling the barley
meal； and he offered many a prayer to Minerva as he threw a lock
from the heifer's head upon the fire。
When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley meal
Thrasymedes dealt his blow； and brought the heifer down with a
stroke that cut through the tendons at the base of her neck； whereon
the daughters and daughters…in…law of Nestor； and his venerable wife
Eurydice （she was eldest daughter to Clymenus） screamed with
delight。 Then they lifted the heifer's head from off the ground； and
Pisistratus cut her throat。 When she had done bleeding and was quite
dead； they cut her up。 They cut out the thigh bones all in due course；
wrapped them round in two layers of fat； and set some pieces of raw
meat on the top of them； then Nestor laid them upon the wood fire
and poured wine over them； while the young men stood near him with
five…pronged spits in their hands。 When the thighs were burned and
they had tasted the inward meats； they cut the rest of the meat up
small； put the pieces on the spits and toasted them over the fire。
Meanwhile lovely Polycaste； Nestor's youngest daughter； washed
Telemachus。 When she had washed him and anointed him with oil； she
brought him a fair mantle and shirt； and he looked like a god as he
came from the bath and took his seat by the side of Nestor。 When the
outer meats were done they drew them off the spits and sat down to
dinner where they were waited upon by some worthy henchmen； who kept
pouring them out their wine in cups of gold。 As soon as they had had
had enough to eat and drink Nestor said； 〃Sons； put Telemachus's
horses to the chariot that he may start at once。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said； and yoked the
fleet horses to the chariot。 The housekeeper packed them up a
provision of bread； wine； and sweetmeats fit for the sons of
princes。 Then Telemachus got into the chariot； while Pisistratus
gathered up the reins and took his seat beside him。 He lashed the
horses on and they flew forward nothing loth into the open country；
leaving the high citadel of Pylos behind them。 All that day did they
travel； swaying the yoke upon their necks till the sun went down and
darkness was over all the land。 Then they reached Pherae where Diocles
lived； who was son to Ortilochus and grandson to Alpheus。 Here they
passed the night and Diocles entertained them hospitably。 When the
child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared； they again yoked their
horses and drove out through the gateway under the echoing
gatehouse。 Pisistratus lashed the horses on and they flew forward
nothing loth； presently they came to the corn lands Of the open
country； and in the course of time completed their journey； so well
did their steeds take them。
Now when the sun had set and darkness was over the land。
BOOK IV。
THEY reached the low lying city of Lacedaemon them where they
drove straight to the of abode Menelaus ＇and found him in his own
house； feasting with his many clansmen in honour of the wedding of his
son； and also of his daughter； whom he was marrying to the son of that
valiant warrior Achilles。 He had given his consent and promised her to
him while he was still at Troy； and now the gods were bringing the
marriage about； so he was sending her with chariots and horses to
the city of the Myrmidons over whom Achilles' son was reigning。 For
his only son he had found a bride from Sparta； daughter of Alector。
This son； Megapenthes； was born to him of a bondwoman； for heaven
vouchsafed Helen no more children after she had borne Hermione； who
was fair as golden Venus herself。
So the neighbours and kinsmen of Menelaus were feasting and making
merry in his house。 There was a bard also to sing to them and play his
lyre； while two tumblers went about performing in the midst of them
when the man struck up with his tune。＇
Telemachus and the son of Nestor stayed their horses at the gate；
whereon Eteoneus servant to Menelaus came out； and as soon as he saw
them ran hurrying back into the house to tell his Master。 He went
close up to him and said； 〃Menelaus； there are some strangers come
here； two men； who look like sons of Jove。 What are we to do？ Shall we
take their horses out； or tell them to find friends elsewhere as
they best can？〃
Menelaus was very angry and said； 〃Eteoneus； son of Boethous； you
never used to be a fool； but now you talk like a simpleton。 Take their
horses out； of course； and show the strangers in that they may have
supper； you and I have stayed often enough at other people's houses
before we got back here； where heaven grant that we may rest in
peace henceforward。〃
So Eteoneus bustled back and bade other servants come with him。 They
took their sweating hands from under the yoke； made them fast to the
mangers； and gave them a feed of oats and barley mixed。 Then they
leaned the chariot against the end wall of the courtyard； and led
the way into the house。 Telemachus and Pisistratus were astonished
when they saw it； for its splendour was as that of the sun and moon；
then； when they had admired everything to their heart's content；
they went into the bath room and washed themselves。
When the servants had washed them and anointed them with oil； they
brought them woollen cloaks and shirts； and the two took their seats
by the side of Menelaus。 A maidservant brought them water in a
beautiful golden ewer； and poured it into a silver basin for them to
wash their hands； and she drew a clean table beside them。 An upper
servant brought them bread； and offered them many good things of
what there was in the house； while the carver fetched them plates of
all manner of meats and set cups of gold by their side。
Menelaus then greeted them saying； 〃Fall to； and welcome； when you
have done supper I shall ask who you are； for the lineage of such
men as you cannot have been lost。 You must be descended from a line of
sceptre…bearing kings； for poor people do not have such sons as you
are。〃
On this he handed them a piece of fat roast loin； which had been set
near him as being a prime part； and they laid their hands on the
good things that were before them； as soon as they had had enough to
eat and drink； Telemachus said to the son of Nestor； with his head
so close that no one might hear； 〃Look； Pisistratus； man after my
own heart； see the gleam of bronze and gold… of amber； ivory； and
silver。 Everything is so splendid that it is like seeing the palace of
Olympian Jove。 I am lost in admiration。〃
Menelaus overheard him and said； 〃No one； my sons； can hold his
own with Jove； for his house and everything about him is immortal； but
among mortal men… well； there may be another who has as much wealth as
I have； or there may not； but at all events I have travelled much
and have undergone much hardship； for it was nearly eight years before
I could get home with my fleet。 I went to Cyprus； Phoenicia and the
Egyptians； I went also to the Ethiopians； the Sidonians； and the
Erembians； and to Libya where the lambs have horns as soon as they are
born； an