“Now tell me, Menelaus, loved of Jove, Prince of the people! does the god who sends This portent mean the sign for us or thee?”
He spake; and Menelaus, dear to Mars, Paused, thinking how to answer him aright, When thus the long-robed Helen interposed:—
“Listen to me, and I will prophesy As the gods prompt me, and as I believe The event will be. Just as this eagle came From the wild hills, his birthplace and his haunt, And seized and bore away the waterfowl Reared near our halls, so will Ulysses come, After much hardship and long wanderings, To his own home, to be avenged: perchance Already is at home, and meditates An evil end to all the suitor crew.”
Then spake discreet Telemachus in turn: “May Juno’s husband, Jove the Thunderer, So order the event, and I will there Make vows to thee as to a deity.”
He spake, and touched the coursers with the lash; And through the city rapidly they went And toward the plain, and all day long they shook The yoke upon their necks. The sun went down: The roads all lay in darkness as they came To Pherae, and the house of Diodes, Whose father was Orsilochus, and he The offspring of Alpheius. There that night They slept; their host was liberal of his cheer. But when appeared the daughter of the Dawn, The rosy-fingered Morn, they yoked the steeds And climbed the sumptuous car, and drove afield From underneath the echoing portico. The son of Nestor plied the lash; the steeds Flew not unwillingly, and quickly reached The lofty citadel of Pylos. There Telemachus bespake his comrade thus:—
“Wilt thou consent to do what I shall ask, O son of Nestor? ’Tis our boast that we Are friends because our fathers were; besides, We are of equal age, and journeying thus Has made our friendship firmer. Take me not, O foster-child of Jove, beyond the spot Where lies my galley, lest against my will The aged Nestor should detain me here Through kindness, when I needs must hasten home.”