The vessels of the fleet that followed me, Fled on my way, perceiving that some god Was meditating evil. With us fled, Encouraging his men, the warlike son Of Tydeus. Fair-haired Menelaus came Later to us in Lesbos, where we planned For a long voyage, whether we should sail Around the rugged Chios, toward the isle Of Psyria, keeping that upon the left, Or under Chios pass beside the steeps Of windy Mimas. We besought the god That he would show a sign, and he complied, And bade us to Euboea cross the deep Right in the midst, the sooner to escape All danger. Then the wind blew strong and shrill, And swiftly o’er the fishy gulfs our fleet Flew on, and reached Geraestus in the night. There, having passed the mighty deep, we made To Neptune offerings of many a thigh Of beeves. The fourth day dawned, and now the men Of Diomed, the mighty horseman, son Of Tydeus, stopped at Argos with their fleet, While I went on to Pylos with the wind, Which never, from the moment that the god First sent it o’er the waters, ceased to blow.
“So, my dear child, I reached my home, nor knew Nor heard from others who among the Greeks Was saved, or who had perished on the way. Yet what I since have heard while here I sit Within my palace thou shalt duly learn. Nor is it what I ought to keep from thee.
“ ’Tis said the Myrmidonian spearmen, led By great Achilles’ famous son, returned Happily home; as happily the son Of Paeas, Philoctetes the renowned. Idomeneus brought also back to Crete All his companions who survived the war; The sea took none of them. But ye have heard, Though far away, the fate of Atreus’ son— How he came home, and how Aegisthus laid A plot to slay him, yet on his own head Drew heavy punishment—so fortunate It is when he who falls by murder leaves A son; for ’twas the monarch’s son who took Vengeance upon the crafty murderer Aegisthus, by whose hand Atrides died. Thou too, my friend, for thou art large of frame, And of a noble presence, be thou brave, That men in time to come may give thee praise.”