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eyes from filling； when he remembered his dear brother Antilochus whom
the son of bright Dawn had killed。 Thereon he said to Menelaus；
〃Sir； my father Nestor； when we used to talk about you at home； told
me you were a person of rare and excellent understanding。 If； then； it
be possible； do as I would urge you。 I am not fond of crying while I
am getting my supper。 Morning will come in due course； and in the
forenoon I care not how much I cry for those that are dead and gone。
This is all we can do for the poor things。 We can only shave our heads
for them and wring the tears from our cheeks。 I had a brother who died
at Troy； he was by no means the worst man there； you are sure to
have known him… his name was Antilochus； I never set eyes upon him
myself； but they say that he was singularly fleet of foot and in fight
valiant。〃
〃Your discretion； my friend；〃 answered Menelaus； 〃is beyond your
years。 It is plain you take after your father。 One can soon see when a
man is son to one whom heaven has blessed both as regards wife and
offspring… and it has blessed Nestor from first to last all his
days； giving him a green old age in his own house； with sons about him
who are both we disposed and valiant。 We will put an end therefore
to all this weeping； and attend to our supper again。 Let water be
poured over our hands。 Telemachus and I can talk with one another
fully in the morning。〃
On this Asphalion； one of the servants； poured water over their
hands and they laid their hands on the good things that were before
them。
Then Jove's daughter Helen bethought her of another matter。 She
drugged the wine with an herb that banishes all care； sorrow； and
ill humour。 Whoever drinks wine thus drugged cannot shed a single tear
all the rest of the day； not even though his father and mother both of
them drop down dead； or he sees a brother or a son hewn in pieces
before his very eyes。 This drug； of such sovereign power and virtue；
had been given to Helen by Polydamna wife of Thon； a woman of Egypt；
where there grow all sorts of herbs； some good to put into the
mixing…bowl and others poisonous。 Moreover； every one in the whole
country is a skilled physician； for they are of the race of Paeeon。
When Helen had put this drug in the bowl； and had told the servants to
serve the wine round； she said：
〃Menelaus； son of Atreus； and you my good friends； sons of
honourable men （which is as Jove wills； for he is the giver both of
good and evil； and can do what he chooses）； feast here as you will；
and listen while I tell you a tale in season。 I cannot indeed name
every single one of the exploits of Ulysses； but I can say what he did
when he was before Troy； and you Achaeans were in all sorts of
difficulties。 He covered himself with wounds and bruises； dressed
himself all in rags； and entered the enemy's city looking like a
menial or a beggar。 and quite different from what he did when he was
among his own people。 In this disguise he entered the city of Troy；
and no one said anything to him。 I alone recognized him and began to
question him； but he was too cunning for me。 When； however； I had
washed and anointed him and had given him clothes； and after I had
sworn a solemn oath not to betray him to the Trojans till he had got
safely back to his own camp and to the ships； he told me all that
the Achaeans meant to do。 He killed many Trojans and got much
information before he reached the Argive camp； for all which things
the Trojan women made lamentation； but for my own part I was glad； for
my heart was beginning to oam after my home； and I was unhappy about
wrong that Venus had done me in taking me over there； away from my
country； my girl； and my lawful wedded husband； who is indeed by no
means deficient either in person or understanding。〃
Then Menelaus said； 〃All that you have been saying； my dear wife； is
true。 I have travelled much； and have had much to do with heroes；
but I have never seen such another man as Ulysses。 What endurance too；
and what courage he displayed within the wooden horse； wherein all the
bravest of the Argives were lying in wait to bring death and
destruction upon the Trojans。 At that moment you came up to us； some
god who wished well to the Trojans must have set you on to it and
you had Deiphobus with you。 Three times did you go all round our
hiding place and pat it； you called our chiefs each by his own name；
and mimicked all our wives …Diomed； Ulysses； and I from our seats
inside heard what a noise you made。 Diomed and I could not make up our
minds whether to spring out then and there； or to answer you from
inside； but Ulysses held us all in check； so we sat quite still； all
except Anticlus； who was beginning to answer you； when Ulysses clapped
his two brawny hands over his mouth； and kept them there。 It was
this that saved us all； for he muzzled Anticlus till Minerva took
you away again。〃
〃How sad；〃 exclaimed Telemachus； 〃that all this was of no avail to
save him； nor yet his own iron courage。 But now； sir； be pleased to
send us all to bed； that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed boon of
sleep。〃
On this Helen told the maid servants to set beds in the room that
was in the gatehouse； and to make them with good red rugs； and
spread coverlets on the top of them with woollen cloaks for the guests
to wear。 So the maids went out； carrying a torch； and made the beds；
to which a man…servant presently conducted the strangers。 Thus；
then； did Telemachus and Pisistratus sleep there in the forecourt；
while the son of Atreus lay in an inner room with lovely Helen by
his side。
When the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared； Menelaus
rose and dressed himself。 He bound his sandals on to his comely
feet； girded his sword about his shoulders； and left his room
looking like an immortal god。 Then； taking a seat near Telemachus he
said：
〃And what； Telemachus； has led you to take this long sea voyage to
Lacedaemon？ Are you on public or private business？ Tell me all about
it。〃
〃I have come； sir replied Telemachus； 〃to see if you can tell me
anything about my father。 I am being eaten out of house and home； my
fair estate is being wasted； and my house is full of miscreants who
keep killing great numbers of my sheep and oxen； on the pretence of
paying their addresses to my mother。 Therefore； I am suppliant at your
knees if haply you may tell me about my father's melancholy end；
whether you saw it with your own eyes； or heard it from some other
traveller； for he was a man born to trouble。 Do not soften things
out of any pity for myself； but tell me in all plainness exactly
what you saw。 If my brave father Ulysses ever did you loyal service
either by word or deed； when you Achaeans were harassed by the
Trojans； bear it in mind now as in my favour and tell me truly all。〃
Menelaus on hearing this was very much shocked。 〃So；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃these cowards would usurp a brave man's bed？ A hind
might as well lay her new born young in the lair of a lion； and then
go off to feed in the forest or in some grassy dell： the lion when
he comes back to his lair will make short work with the pair of
them… and so will Ulysses with these suitor