husband whom she took While yet a maid, and who is in his grave; Of these she never speaks. Return thou, then, And give thy goods in charge to one among The handmaids of thy household who shall seem The fittest for the trust, until the gods Bring thee a noble wife. Another word Have I for thee, and bear thou it in mind: The chief among the suitors in the strait Between the rugged Samos and the isle Of Ithaca are lurking, in the hope To slay thee on thy voyage home; but this I think they cannot do before the earth Hold many of the suitor-crew who make Thy wealth a spoil. Steer thou thy gallant barque Far from the isles; sail only in the night. Some god, whoever it may be that keeps Watch over thee, will send a prosperous gale. When to the nearest shore of Ithaca Thou comest in thy ship, let it go on, With all thy comrades, to the town, while thou Repairest to the keeper of thy swine, Whose heart is faithful to thee. There remain With him that night, and send him to the town With tidings to the sage Penelope That thou art come from Pylos and art safe.”
So having said, the goddess took her way Up to the Olympian height. Telemachus Touched with his heel and wakened Nestor’s son From a soft slumber and bespake him thus:—
“Rise, Nestor’s son, Peisistratus, and bring The firm-paced steeds and yoke them to the car, And we will now set forth upon our way.”
And Nestor’s son, Peisistratus, replied: “Telemachus, whatever be our haste, It were not well in darkness to begin Our journey, and the morn will soon be here. Remain till Menelaus, Atreus’ son, The hero mighty with the spear, shall come, And bring his gifts, and place them in our car, And send us on our way with kindly words. Well does a guest remember all his days The generous host who shows himself his friend.”
He spake, and quickly on her car of gold Appeared the Morn. Then Menelaus came, The great in battle, from his couch beside The fair-haired