Chapter XX: Book XV

_Telemachus returns from Pylos, and on landing goes to
the hut of Eumæus_.

Minerva now went to Lacedæmon and found Telemachus and
Pisistratus fast asleep. She appeared to Telemachus in
a dream, and told him that he was to return at once to
Ithaca, for his mother was about to marry Eurymachus, and
would probably go off with some of his property. She also 17
told him how the suitors were lying in wait for him in
the straits between Ithaca and Samos. She said that as
soon as he reached Ithaca he was to leave the ship before 29
sending it on to the town, and go to the swineherd's hut.
"Sleep there," she said, "and in the morning send the
swineherd to tell Penelope that you have returned safely."

Then she went away and Telemachus woke up. He kicked 43
Pisistratus to wake him, and said that they must start at
once. Pisistratus answered that this was impossible; it
was still dark, and they must say good bye to Menelaus,
who, if Telemachus would only wait, would be sure to give
them a present.

At break of day, seeing Menelaus up and about, Telemachus 56
flung on his shirt and cloak, and told him that they must
go.

Menelaus said he would not detain them, but on the score 67
alike of propriety and economy, they must have something
to eat before starting, and also receive the presents
that were waiting Telemachus's acceptance. "I will tell
the servants," said he, "to get something ready for you
of what there may be in the house, and if you would like
to make a tour of the principal cities of the Peloponese,
I will conduct you. No one will send us away empty
handed. Every one will give us something."

But Telemachus said he must start at once, for he had 86
left property behind him that was insecurely guarded.

When Menelaus heard this he told his wife and servants to 92
get dinner ready at once. Eteoneus, who lived at no great
distance, now came up, and Menelaus told him to light the
fire and begin cooking; and he did as he was told.

Menelaus then went down into his store room together with 99
Megapenthes, and brought up a double cup and a silver
mixing bowl, while Helen fetched a dress of wondrous 125
beauty, the work of her own hands. Menelaus presented the
cup and mixing bowl, and then Helen said, "Take this, my
son, as a keepsake from the hand of Helen, and let your
bride wear it on her wedding day. Till then let your dear
mother keep it for you. Thus may you go on your way with
a light heart."

Telemachus thanked her; Pisistratus stowed the presents 130
in the chariot, and they all sat down to dinner. Eteoneus
carved, and Megapenthes served round the wine. When they
had done eating the two young men prepared to set out.

As they were on the point of starting, an eagle flew upon 160
their right hand, with a goose in its talons which it had
carried off from the farm yard. This omen was so good
that every one was delighted to see it, and Pisistratus
said, "Say, king Menelaus, is the omen for us or for
yourself?"

Menelaus was in doubt how to answer, but Helen said that 169
as the eagle had come from a mountain and seized the
goose, so Ulysses should return and take vengeance on the
suitors. Telemachus said he only hoped it might prove so,
and the pair then drove on. They reached Pylos on the
following day, and Telemachus urged Pisistratus to drive 199
him straight to his ship, for fear Nestor should detain
him if he went to his house.

"I know," said Pisistratus, "how obstinate he is. He 211
would come down to your ship, if he knew you were there,
and would never go back without you. But he will be very
angry." He then drove to the ship, and Telemachus told
the crew to get her under way as fast as they could.

Now as he was attending to every thing and sacrificing 222
to Minerva, there came to him a man of the race of
Melampus who was flying from Argos because he had killed
a man. His name was Theoclymenus and he came of an old
and highly honourable family, his father and grandfather
having been celebrated prophets and divines. He besought
Telemachus to take him to Ithaca and thus save him from
enemies who were in pursuit. Telemachus consented, took
Theoclymenus on board, and laid his spear down on the
deck.

Then they sailed away, and next day they got among the 297
flying islands,[26] whereon Telemachus wondered whether
he should be taken or should escape.

All this time Ulysses was in the hut with Eumæus, and 301
after supper Ulysses said he should like to go down to
the town next day, and see if the suitors would take him
into their service. Eumæus at once explained to him that
any such idea was out of the question. "You do not know,"
he said, "what men these suitors are; their insolence
reaches heaven; the young men who wait on them have good
looking faces and well kempt heads; the tables are always
clean and loaded with abundance. The suitors would be the
death of you; stay here, then, where you are in nobody's
way, till Telemachus returns from Pylos."

Ulysses thanked Eumæus for his information, and then 340
began to ask whether his father and mother were still
living; he was told that Anticlea was dead,[27] and that
Laertes, though still alive, would be glad to follow her.
Eumæus said he had been brought up in their service, and
was better off formerly, for there was no getting a good
word out of his mistress now, inasmuch as the suitors had
turned the house upside down. "Servants," he said, "like
to have a talk with their mistress and hear things from
her own lips; they like being told to eat and drink, and
being allowed to take something back with them into the
country. This is what will keep servants cheerful and
contented."

On being further questioned by Ulysses, Eumæus told 380
how he had been kidnapped as a child by some Phœnician
traders who had seduced his nurse (also a Phœnician) and
persuaded her to go away with them, and bring him with
her.

"I was born," he said, "in the island of Syra over 403
against Ortygia, where the sun turns.[28] It is not
populous, but contains two cities which occupy the whole
land between them, and my father was king over them both.
A few days after my nurse had kidnapped me, and while we
were on our voyage, Diana killed her, and she was flung
overboard, but I was taken to Ithaca where Laertes bought
me."

Ulysses and Eumæus spent the greater part of the night 493
talking with one another, and at dawn Telemachus's crew
drew near to land, furled their sails and rowed into the
harbour. There they threw out their mooring stones, made
their ship fast, landed, and ate their dinner on the
shore. When they had done, Telemachus said, "Now take
the ship on to the city; I will go to look after my farm
and will come down in the evening. Tomorrow morning I
will give you all a hearty meal to reward you for your
trouble."

"But what," said Theoclymenus, "is to become of me? To 508
whose house am I to go?"

"At any other time," answered Telemachus, "I should take 512
you to my own house, but you would not find it convenient
now, for I shall not be there, and my mother will not
see you. I shall therefore send you to the house of
Eurymachus, who is one of the first men we have, and is
most eager in his suit for my mother's hand."

As he spoke a hawk flew on Telemachus's right hand, with 525
a dove whose feathers it was plucking while it flew.
Theoclymenus assured Telemachus that this was an omen
which boded most happily for the prosperity of his house.
It was then settled that Theoclymenus should go to the
house of Piræus the son of Clytius.

The crew now loosed the ship from her moorings and went 547
on as they had been told to do, while Telemachus wended
his way in all haste to the pig farm where Eumæus lived.