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places； I nudged Ulysses who was close to me with my elbow； and he
at once gave me his ear。
〃'Ulysses；' said I； 'this cold will be the death of me； for I have
no cloak； some god fooled me into setting off with nothing on but my
shirt； and I do not know what to do。'
〃Ulysses； who was as crafty as he was valiant； hit upon the
following plan：
〃'Keep still；' said he in a low voice； 'or the others will hear
you。' Then he raised his head on his elbow。
〃'My friends；' said he； 'I have had a dream from heaven in my sleep。
We are a long way from the ships； I wish some one would go down and
tell Agamemnon to send us up more men at once。'
〃On this Thoas son of Andraemon threw off his cloak and set out
running to the ships； whereon I took the cloak and lay in it
comfortably enough till morning。 Would that I were still young and
strong as I was in those days； for then some one of you swineherds
would give me a cloak both out of good will and for the respect due to
a brave soldier； but now people look down upon me because my clothes
are shabby。〃
And Eumaeus answered； 〃Old man； you have told us an excellent story；
and have said nothing so far but what is quite satisfactory； for the
present； therefore； you shall want neither clothing nor anything
else that a stranger in distress may reasonably expect； but
to…morrow morning you have to shake your own old rags about your
body again； for we have not many spare cloaks nor shirts up here；
but every man has only one。 When Ulysses' son comes home again he will
give you both cloak and shirt； and send you wherever you may want to
go。〃
With this he got up and made a bed for Ulysses by throwing some
goatskins and sheepskins on the ground in front of the fire。 Here
Ulysses lay down； and Eumaeus covered him over with a great heavy
cloak that he kept for a change in case of extraordinarily bad
weather。
Thus did Ulysses sleep； and the young men slept beside him。 But
the swineherd did not like sleeping away from his pigs； so he got
ready to go and Ulysses was glad to see that he looked after his
property during his master's absence。 First he slung his sword over
his brawny shoulders and put on a thick cloak to keep out the wind。 He
also took the skin of a large and well fed goat； and a javelin in case
of attack from men or dogs。 Thus equipped he went to his rest where
the pigs were camping under an overhanging rock that gave them shelter
from the North wind。
BOOK XV。
BUT Minerva went to the fair city of Lacedaemon to tell Ulysses' son
that he was to return at once。 She found him and Pisistratus
sleeping in the forecourt of Menelaus's house； Pisistratus was fast
asleep； but Telemachus could get no rest all night for thinking of his
unhappy father； so Minerva went close up to him and said：
〃Telemachus； you should not remain so far away from home any longer；
nor leave your property with such dangerous people in your house； they
will eat up everything you have among them； and you will have been
on a fool's errand。 Ask Menelaus to send you home at once if you
wish to find your excellent mother still there when you get back。
Her father and brothers are already urging her to marry Eurymachus；
who has given her more than any of the others； and has been greatly
increasing his wedding presents。 I hope nothing valuable may have been
taken from the house in spite of you； but you know what women are…
they always want to do the best they can for the man who marries them；
and never give another thought to the children of their first husband；
nor to their father either when he is dead and done with。 Go home；
therefore； and put everything in charge of the most respectable
woman servant that you have； until it shall please heaven to send
you a wife of your own。 Let me tell you also of another matter which
you had better attend to。 The chief men among the suitors are lying in
wait for you in the Strait between Ithaca and Samos； and they mean
to kill you before you can reach home。 I do not much think they will
succeed； it is more likely that some of those who are now eating up
your property will find a grave themselves。 Sail night and day； and
keep your ship well away from the islands； the god who watches over
you and protects you will send you a fair wind。 As soon as you get
to Ithaca send your ship and men on to the town； but yourself go
straight to the swineherd who has charge your pigs； he is well
disposed towards you； stay with him； therefore； for the night； and
then send him to Penelope to tell her that you have got back safe from
Pylos。〃
Then she went back to Olympus； but Telemachus stirred Pisistratus
with his heel to rouse him； and said； 〃Wake up Pisistratus； and yoke
the horses to the chariot； for we must set off home。〃
But Pisistratus said； 〃No matter what hurry we are in we cannot
drive in the dark。 It will be morning soon； wait till Menelaus has
brought his presents and put them in the chariot for us； and let him
say good…bye to us in the usual way。 So long as he lives a guest
should never forget a host who has shown him kindness。〃
As he spoke day began to break； and Menelaus； who had already risen；
leaving Helen in bed； came towards them。 When Telemachus saw him he
put on his shirt as fast as he could； threw a great cloak over his
shoulders； and went out to meet him。 〃Menelaus；〃 said he； 〃let me go
back now to my own country； for I want to get home。〃
And Menelaus answered； 〃Telemachus； if you insist on going I will
not detain you。 not like to see a host either too fond of his guest or
too rude to him。 Moderation is best in all things； and not letting a
man go when he wants to do so is as bad as telling him to go if he
would like to stay。 One should treat a guest well as long as he is
in the house and speed him when he wants to leave it。 Wait； then； till
I can get your beautiful presents into your chariot； and till you have
yourself seen them。 I will tell the women to prepare a sufficient
dinner for you of what there may be in the house； it will be at once
more proper and cheaper for you to get your dinner before setting
out on such a long journey。 If； moreover； you have a fancy for
making a tour in Hellas or in the Peloponnese； I will yoke my
horses； and will conduct you myself through all our principal
cities。 No one will send us away empty handed； every one will give
us something… a bronze tripod； a couple of mules； or a gold cup。〃
〃Menelaus；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃I want to go home at once； for when
I came away I left my property without protection； and fear that while
looking for my father I shall come to ruin myself； or find that
something valuable has been stolen during my absence。〃
When Menelaus heard this he immediately told his wife and servants
to prepare a sufficient dinner from what there might be in the
house。 At this moment Eteoneus joined him； for he lived close by and
had just got up； so Menelaus told him to light the fire and cook
some meat； which he at once did。 Then Menelaus went down into his
fragrant store room； not alone； but Helen went too； with
Megapenthes。 When he reached the place where the treasures of his
house were kept； he