Departure of Telemachus from Ithaca
The chief men of Ithaca assembled by Telemachus—His complaint of the suitors—Their attempt to justify themselves—Prophecy of the return of Ulysses by the seer, Halitherses—Request of Telemachus for a vessel to visit Pylos and Sparta, in quest of his father, granted by the assembly—Preparations for his departure.
Now when the Morning, child of Dawn, appeared, The dear son of Ulysses left his bed And put his garments on. His trenchant sword He hung upon his shoulders, and made fast His shapely sandals to his shining feet, And issued from his chamber like a god. At once he bade the clear-voiced heralds call The long-haired Greeks to council. They obeyed, Quickly the chiefs assembled, and when all Were at the appointed place, Telemachus Went to the council, bearing in his hand A brazen spear, yet went he not alone. Two swift dogs followed him, while Pallas shed A heavenly beauty over him, and all Admired him as he came. He took the seat Of his great father, and the aged men Made way for him. And then Aegyptius spake— A hero bowed with age, who much had seen And known. His son, the warlike Antiphus, Went with the great Ulysses in his fleet To courser-breeding Troy, and afterward The cruel Cyclops, in the vaulted cave, Slew him for his last meal. Three other sons There were, and one of these, Eurynomus, Was of the suitor train; the others took Charge of their father’s acres. Never yet Had he forgotten his lost son or ceased To grieve for him, and as he spoke he wept
“Hear, men of Ithaca, what I shall say. No council, no assembly, have we held Since great Ulysses in his roomy ships Departed from our isle. Who now is he That summons us? On which of our young men Or elders