“Hear and attend, ye men of Ithaca, To what I say. Let never sceptred king Henceforth be gracious, mild, and merciful, And righteous; rather be he deaf to prayer And prone to deeds of wrong, since no one now Remembers the divine Ulysses more, Among the people over whom he ruled Benignly like a father. Yet I bear No envy to the haughty suitors here, Moved as they are to deeds of violence By evil counsels, since, in pillaging The substance of Ulysses, who they say Will nevermore return, they risk their lives. But I am angry with the rest, with all Of you who sit here mute, nor even with words Of stern reproof restrain their violence, Though ye so many are and they so few.”
Leiocritus, Evenor’s son, rejoined:— “Malicious Mentor, foolish man! what talk Is this of holding us in check? ’Twere hard For numbers even greater than our own To drive us from a feast. And should the prince Of Ithaca, Ulysses, come himself, Thinking to thrust the illustrious suitors forth That banquet in these palace halls, his queen Would have no cause for joy at his return, Greatly as she desired it. He would draw Sure death upon himself in strife with us Who are so many. Thou hast spoken ill. Now let the people who are gathered here Disperse to their employments. We will leave Mentor and Halitherses, who were both His father’s early comrades, to provide For the youth’s voyage. He will yet remain A long time here, I think, to ask for news In Ithaca, and never will set sail.”
Thus having said, he instantly dismissed The people; they departed to their homes; The suitors sought the palace of the prince.
Then to the ocean-side, apart from all, Went forth Telemachus, and washed his hands In the gray surf, and prayed to Pallas thus:—
“Hear me, thou deity who yesterday, In visiting our palace, didst command That I should traverse the black deep to learn News of my absent father, and the chance Of his return! The Greeks themselves withstand, My purpose; the proud suitors most of all.”