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.”
Such was his prayer, and straightway Pallas stood, In form and voice like Mentor, by his side, And thus accosted him with winged words:—
“Telemachus, thou henceforth shalt not lack Valor or wisdom. If with thee abides Thy father’s gallant spirit, as he was In deed and word, thou wilt not vainly make This voyage. But if thou be not in truth The son of him and of Penelope, Then I rely not on thee to perform What thou dost meditate. Few sons are like Their fathers: most are worse, a very few Excel their parents. Since thou wilt not lack Valor and wisdom in the coming time, Nor is thy father’s shrewdness wanting quite In thee, great hope there is that happily This plan will be fulfilled. Regard not then The suitor train, their purposes and plots. Senseless are they, as little wise as just, And have no thought of the black doom of death Now drawing near to sweep them in a day To their destruction. But thy enterprise Must suffer no delay. So much am I Thy father’s friend and thine, that I will cause A swift barque to be fitted out for sea, And will myself attend thee. Go now