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for yet another twelve months。 If on the other hand you hear of his
death； come home at once； celebrate his funeral rites with all due
pomp； build a barrow to his memory； and make your mother marry
again。 Then； having done all this； think it well over in your mind
how； by fair means or foul； you may kill these suitors in your own
house。 You are too old to plead infancy any longer； have you not heard
how people are singing Orestes' praises for having killed his father's
murderer Aegisthus？ You are a fine； smart looking fellow； show your
mettle； then； and make yourself a name in story。 Now； however； I
must go back to my ship and to my crew； who will be impatient if I
keep them waiting longer； think the matter over for yourself； and
remember what I have said to you。〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃it has been very kind of you to talk to
me in this way； as though I were your own son； and I will do all you
tell me； I know you want to be getting on with your voyage； but stay a
little longer till you have taken a bath and refreshed yourself。 I
will then give you a present； and you shall go on your way
rejoicing； I will give you one of great beauty and value… a keepsake
such as only dear friends give to one another。〃
Minerva answered； 〃Do not try to keep me； for I would be on my way
at once。 As for any present you may be disposed to make me； keep it
till I come again； and I will take it home with me。 You shall give
me a very good one； and I will give you one of no less value in
return。〃
With these words she flew away like a bird into the air； but she had
given Telemachus courage； and had made him think more than ever
about his father。 He felt the change； wondered at it； and knew that
the stranger had been a god； so he went straight to where the
suitors were sitting。
Phemius was still singing； and his hearers sat rapt in silence as he
told the sad tale of the return from Troy； and the ills Minerva had
laid upon the Achaeans。 Penelope； daughter of Icarius； heard his
song from her room upstairs； and came down by the great staircase； not
alone； but attended by two of her handmaids。 When she reached the
suitors she stood by one of the bearing posts that supported the
roof of the cloisters with a staid maiden on either side of her。 She
held a veil； moreover； before her face； and was weeping bitterly。
〃Phemius；〃 she cried； 〃you know many another feat of gods and
heroes； such as poets love to celebrate。 Sing the suitors some one
of these； and let them drink their wine in silence； but cease this sad
tale； for it breaks my sorrowful heart； and reminds me of my lost
husband whom I mourn ever without ceasing； and whose name was great
over all Hellas and middle Argos。〃
〃Mother；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃let the bard sing what he has a mind
to； bards do not make the ills they sing of； it is Jove； not they； who
makes them； and who sends weal or woe upon mankind according to his
own good pleasure。 This fellow means no harm by singing the
ill…fated return of the Danaans； for people always applaud the
latest songs most warmly。 Make up your mind to it and bear it； Ulysses
is not the only man who never came back from Troy； but many another
went down as well as he。 Go； then； within the house and busy
yourself with your daily duties； your loom； your distaff； and the
ordering of your servants； for speech is man's matter； and mine
above all others… for it is I who am master here。〃
She went wondering back into the house； and laid her son's saying in
her heart。 Then； going upstairs with her handmaids into her room；
she mourned her dear husband till Minerva shed sweet sleep over her
eyes。 But the suitors were clamorous throughout the covered cloisters；
and prayed each one that he might be her bed fellow。
Then Telemachus spoke； 〃Shameless；〃 he cried； 〃and insolent suitors；
let us feast at our pleasure now； and let there be no brawling； for it
is a rare thing to hear a man with such a divine voice as Phemius has；
but in the morning meet me in full assembly that I may give you formal
notice to depart； and feast at one another's houses； turn and turn
about； at your own cost。 If on the other hand you choose to persist in
spunging upon one man； heaven help me； but Jove shall reckon with
you in full； and when you fall in my father's house there shall be
no man to avenge you。〃
The suitors bit their lips as they heard him； and marvelled at the
boldness of his speech。 Then； Antinous； son of Eupeithes； said； 〃The
gods seem to have given you lessons in bluster and tall talking； may
Jove never grant you to be chief in Ithaca as your father was before
you。〃
Telemachus answered； 〃Antinous； do not chide with me； but； god
willing； I will be chief too if I can。 Is this the worst fate you
can think of for me？ It is no bad thing to be a chief； for it brings
both riches and honour。 Still； now that Ulysses is dead there are many
great men in Ithaca both old and young； and some other may take the
lead among them； nevertheless I will be chief in my own house； and
will rule those whom Ulysses has won for me。〃
Then Eurymachus； son of Polybus； answered； 〃It rests with heaven
to decide who shall be chief among us； but you shall be master in your
own house and over your own possessions； no one while there is a man
in Ithaca shall do you violence nor rob you。 And now； my good
fellow； I want to know about this stranger。 What country does he
come from？ Of what family is he； and where is his estate？ Has he
brought you news about the return of your father； or was he on
business of his own？ He seemed a well…to…do man； but he hurried off so
suddenly that he was gone in a moment before we could get to know
him。〃
〃My father is dead and gone；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃and even if some
rumour reaches me I put no more faith in it now。 My mother does indeed
sometimes send for a soothsayer and question him； but I give his
prophecyings no heed。 As for the stranger； he was Mentes； son of
Anchialus； chief of the Taphians； an old friend of my father's。〃 But
in his heart he knew that it had been the goddess。
The suitors then returned to their singing and dancing until the
evening； but when night fell upon their pleasuring they went home to
bed each in his own abode。 Telemachus's room was high up in a tower
that looked on to the outer court； hither； then； he hied； brooding and
full of thought。 A good old woman； Euryclea； daughter of Ops； the
son of Pisenor； went before him with a couple of blazing torches。
Laertes had bought her with his own money when she was quite young； he
gave the worth of twenty oxen for her； and shewed as much respect to
her in his household as he did to his own wedded wife； but he did
not take her to his bed for he feared his wife's resentment。 She it
was who now lighted Telemachus to his room； and she loved him better
than any of the other women in the house did； for she had nursed him
when he was a baby。 He opened the door of his bed room and sat down
upon the bed； as he took off his shirt he gave it to the good old
woman； who folded it tidily up； and hung it for him over a peg by
his bed side； after which she went out； pulled the door to by a silver
catch； an