And now Let me persuade Telemachus to send His mother to her father. They will make A marriage for her there, and give with her A liberal dowry, such as may become A favorite daughter on her wedding-day, Else never will the sons of Greece renounce, I think, the difficult suit.
We do not fear Telemachus himself, though glib of speech, Nor care we for the empty oracle Which thou, old man, dost utter, making thee Only more hated. Still will his estate Be wasted, nor will order e’er return While she defers her marriage with some prince Of the Achaians.
We shall urge our suit For that most excellent of womankind As rivals, nor withdraw to seek the hand Of others, whom we fitly might espouse.”
To this discreet Telemachus replied:—
“Eurymachus, and ye, the illustrious train Of suitors, I have nothing more to ask— No more to say—for now the gods and all The Achaians know the truth. But let me have A gallant barque, and twenty men to make From coast to coast a voyage, visiting Sparta and sandy Pylos, to inquire For my long-absent father, and the chance Of his return, if any of mankind Can tell me aught, or if some rumor come From Jove, since thus are tidings often brought To human knowledge. Should I learn that yet He lives and may return, I then would wait A twelvemonth, though impatient. Should I hear That he no longer lives, I shall return Homeward, and pile his monument on high With funeral honors that become the dead, And give my mother to a second spouse.”