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when they saw it； for its splendour was as that of the sun and moon；
then； when they had admired everything to their heart's content；
they went into the bath room and washed themselves。
When the servants had washed them and anointed them with oil； they
brought them woollen cloaks and shirts； and the two took their seats
by the side of Menelaus。 A maidservant brought them water in a
beautiful golden ewer； and poured it into a silver basin for them to
wash their hands； and she drew a clean table beside them。 An upper
servant brought them bread； and offered them many good things of
what there was in the house； while the carver fetched them plates of
all manner of meats and set cups of gold by their side。
Menelaus then greeted them saying； 〃Fall to； and welcome； when you
have done supper I shall ask who you are； for the lineage of such
men as you cannot have been lost。 You must be descended from a line of
sceptre…bearing kings； for poor people do not have such sons as you
are。〃
On this he handed them a piece of fat roast loin； which had been set
near him as being a prime part； and they laid their hands on the
good things that were before them； as soon as they had had enough to
eat and drink； Telemachus said to the son of Nestor； with his head
so close that no one might hear； 〃Look； Pisistratus； man after my
own heart； see the gleam of bronze and gold… of amber； ivory； and
silver。 Everything is so splendid that it is like seeing the palace of
Olympian Jove。 I am lost in admiration。〃
Menelaus overheard him and said； 〃No one； my sons； can hold his
own with Jove； for his house and everything about him is immortal； but
among mortal men… well； there may be another who has as much wealth as
I have； or there may not； but at all events I have travelled much
and have undergone much hardship； for it was nearly eight years before
I could get home with my fleet。 I went to Cyprus； Phoenicia and the
Egyptians； I went also to the Ethiopians； the Sidonians； and the
Erembians； and to Libya where the lambs have horns as soon as they are
born； and the sheep lamb down three times a year。 Every one in that
country； whether master or man； has plenty of cheese； meat； and good
milk； for the ewes yield all the year round。 But while I was
travelling and getting great riches among these people； my brother was
secretly and shockingly murdered through the perfidy of his wicked
wife； so that I have no pleasure in being lord of all this wealth。
Whoever your parents may be they must have told you about all this；
and of my heavy loss in the ruin of a stately mansion fully and
magnificently furnished。 Would that I had only a third of what I now
have so that I had stayed at home； and all those were living who
perished on the plain of Troy； far from Argos。 I of grieve； as I sit
here in my house； for one and all of them。 At times I cry aloud for
sorrow； but presently I leave off again； for crying is cold comfort
and one soon tires of it。 Yet grieve for these as I may； I do so for
one man more than for them all。 I cannot even think of him without
loathing both food and sleep； so miserable does he make me； for no one
of all the Achaeans worked so hard or risked so much as he did。 He
took nothing by it； and has left a legacy of sorrow to myself； for
he has been gone a long time； and we know not whether he is alive or
dead。 His old father； his long…suffering wife Penelope； and his son
Telemachus； whom he left behind him an infant in arms； are plunged
in grief on his account。〃
Thus spoke Menelaus； and the heart of Telemachus yearned as he
bethought him of his father。 Tears fell from his eyes as he heard
him thus mentioned； so that he held his cloak before his face with
both hands。 When Menelaus saw this he doubted whether to let him
choose his own time for speaking； or to ask him at once and find
what it was all about。
While he was thus in two minds Helen came down from her high vaulted
and perfumed room； looking as lovely as Diana herself。 Adraste brought
her a seat； Alcippe a soft woollen rug while Phylo fetched her the
silver work…box which Alcandra wife of Polybus had given her。
Polybus lived in Egyptian Thebes； which is the richest city in the
whole world； he gave Menelaus two baths； both of pure silver； two
tripods； and ten talents of gold； besides all this； his wife gave
Helen some beautiful presents； to wit； a golden distaff； and a
silver work…box that ran on wheels； with a gold band round the top
of it。 Phylo now placed this by her side； full of fine spun yarn；
and a distaff charged with violet coloured wool was laid upon the
top of it。 Then Helen took her seat； put her feet upon the
footstool； and began to question her husband。
〃Do we know； Menelaus；〃 said she； 〃the names of these strangers
who have come to visit us？ Shall I guess right or wrong？…but I
cannot help saying what I think。 Never yet have I seen either man or
woman so like somebody else （indeed when I look at him I hardly know
what to think） as this young man is like Telemachus； whom Ulysses left
as a baby behind him； when you Achaeans went to Troy with battle in
your hearts； on account of my most shameless self。〃
〃My dear wife；〃 replied Menelaus； 〃I see the likeness just as you
do。 His hands and feet are just like Ulysses'； so is his hair； with
the shape of his head and the expression of his eyes。 Moreover； when I
was talking about Ulysses； and saying how much he had suffered on my
account； tears fell from his eyes； and he hid his face in his mantle。〃
Then Pisistratus said； 〃Menelaus； son of Atreus； you are right in
thinking that this young man is Telemachus； but he is very modest； and
is ashamed to come here and begin opening up discourse with one
whose conversation is so divinely interesting as your own。 My
father； Nestor； sent me to escort him hither； for he wanted to know
whether you could give him any counsel or suggestion。 A son has always
trouble at home when his father has gone away leaving him without
supporters； and this is how Telemachus is now placed； for his father
is absent； and there is no one among his own people to stand by him。〃
〃Bless my heart；〃 replied Menelaus； 〃then I am receiving a visit
from the son of a very dear friend； who suffered much hardship for
my sake。 I had always hoped to entertain him with most marked
distinction when heaven had granted us a safe return from beyond the
seas。 I should have founded a city for him in Argos； and built him a
house。 I should have made him leave Ithaca with his goods； his son；
and all his people； and should have sacked for them some one of the
neighbouring cities that are subject to me。 We should thus have seen
one another continually； and nothing but death could have
interrupted so close and happy an intercourse。 I suppose； however；
that heaven grudged us such great good fortune； for it has prevented
the poor fellow from ever getting home at all。〃
Thus did he speak； and his words set them all a weeping。 Helen wept；
Telemachus wept； and so did Menelaus； nor could Pisistratus keep his
eyes from filling； when he remembered his dear brother Antilochus whom
the son of bright Dawn had killed。 Thereon he said to Menelaus