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； but attended by two of her handmaids。 When she reached the
suitors she stood by one of the bearing posts that supported the
roof of the cloisters with a staid maiden on either side of her。 She
held a veil； moreover； before her face； and was weeping bitterly。
〃Phemius；〃 she cried； 〃you know many another feat of gods and
heroes； such as poets love to celebrate。 Sing the suitors some one
of these； and let them drink their wine in silence； but cease this sad
tale； for it breaks my sorrowful heart； and reminds me of my lost
husband whom I mourn ever without ceasing； and whose name was great
over all Hellas and middle Argos。〃
〃Mother；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃let the bard sing what he has a mind
to； bards do not make the ills they sing of； it is Jove； not they； who
makes them； and who sends weal or woe upon mankind according to his
own good pleasure。 This fellow means no harm by singing the
ill…fated return of the Danaans； for people always applaud the
latest songs most warmly。 Make up your mind to it and bear it； Ulysses
is not the only man who never came back from Troy； but many another
went down as well as he。 Go； then； within the house and busy
yourself with your daily duties； your loom； your distaff； and the
ordering of your servants； for speech is man's matter； and mine
above all others… for it is I who am master here。〃
She went wondering back into the house； and laid her son's saying in
her heart。 Then； going upstairs with her handmaids into her room；
she mourned her dear husband till Minerva shed sweet sleep over her
eyes。 But the suitors were clamorous throughout the covered cloisters；
and prayed each one that he might be her bed fellow。
Then Telemachus spoke； 〃Shameless；〃 he cried； 〃and insolent suitors；
let us feast at our pleasure now； and let there be no brawling； for it
is a rare thing to hear a man with such a divine voice as Phemius has；
but in the morning meet me in full assembly that I may give you formal
notice to depart； and feast at one another's houses； turn and turn
about； at your own cost。 If on the other hand you choose to persist in
spunging upon one man； heaven help me； but Jove shall reckon with
you in full； and when you fall in my father's house there shall be
no man to avenge you。〃
The suitors bit their lips as they heard him； and marvelled at the
boldness of his speech。 Then； Antinous； son of Eupeithes； said； 〃The
gods seem to have given you lessons in bluster and tall talking； may
Jove never grant you to be chief in Ithaca as your father was before
you。〃
Telemachus answered； 〃Antinous； do not chide with me； but； god
willing； I will be chief too if I can。 Is this the worst fate you
can think of for me？ It is no bad thing to be a chief； for it brings
both riches and honour。 Still； now that Ulysses is dead there are many
great men in Ithaca both old and young； and some other may take the
lead among them； nevertheless I will be chief in my own house； and
will rule those whom Ulysses has won for me。〃
Then Eurymachus； son of Polybus； answered； 〃It rests with heaven
to decide who shall be chief among us； but you shall be master in your
own house and over your own possessions； no one while there is a man
in Ithaca shall do you violence nor rob you。 And now； my good
fellow； I want to know about this stranger。 What country does he
come from？ Of what family is he； and where is his estate？ Has he
brought you news about the return of your father； or was he on
business of his own？ He seemed a well…to…do man； but he hurried off so
suddenly that he was gone in a moment before we could get to know
him。〃
〃My father is dead and gone；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃and even if some
rumour reaches me I put no more faith in it now。 My mother does indeed
sometimes send for a soothsayer and question him； but I give his
prophecyings no heed。 As for the stranger； he was Mentes； son of
Anchialus； chief of the Taphians； an old friend of my father's。〃 But
in his heart he knew that it had been the goddess。
The suitors then returned to their singing and dancing until th