He ended; from the lodge Telemachus Passed quickly, meditating to destroy The suitors. Coming to his stately home, He leaned his spear against a column’s shaft, And, crossing the stone threshold, entered in.
First Eurycleia, who had been his nurse, Beheld him, as she spread the beautiful thrones With skins, and ran to him with weeping eyes; And round him other handmaids of the house Of resolute Ulysses thronged. They gave Fond welcome, kissing him upon the brow And shoulders.
Issuing from her chamber next The chaste Penelope, like Dian’s self In beauty, or like golden Venus, came, And, weeping, threw her arms about her son, And kissed him on his forehead and on both His glorious eyes, and said, amidst her tears:—
“Light of my eyes! O my Telemachus! Art thou, then, come? I never thought again To see thee, when I heard thou hadst embarked For Pylos—secretly, and knowing me Unwilling—in the hope to gather there Some tidings of thy father. Tell me now All that has happened, all that thou hast seen.”
And thus discreet Telemachus replied:
“Nay, mother, waken not my griefs again, Nor move my heart to rage. I have just now Escaped a cruel death. But go and bathe, And put fresh garments on, and when thou com’st Into thy chamber with thy maidens, make A vow to all the gods that thou wilt burn A sacrifice of chosen hecatombs When Jupiter shall have avenged our wrongs. Now must I hasten to the marketplace In quest of one who came with me a guest From Pylos. Him, with all my faithful crew, I sent before me to this port, and bade Piraeus lead him to his own abode, There to be lodged and honored till I came.”