himself first into a lion with a great mane； then all of a sudden he
became a dragon； a leopard； a wild boar； the next moment he was
running water； and then again directly he was a tree； but we stuck
to him and never lost hold； till at last the cunning old creature
became distressed； and said； Which of the gods was it； Son of
Atreus； that hatched this plot with you for snaring me and seizing
me against my will？ What do you want？'
〃'You know that yourself； old man；' I answered； 'you will gain
nothing by trying to put me off。 It is because I have been kept so
long in this island； and see no sign of my being able to get away。 I
am losing all heart； tell me； then； for you gods know everything；
which of the immortals it is that is hindering me； and tell me also
how I may sail the sea so as to reach my home？'
〃Then；' he said； 'if you would finish your voyage and get home
quickly； you must offer sacrifices to Jove and to the rest of the gods
before embarking； for it is decreed that you shall not get back to
your friends； and to your own house； till you have returned to the
heaven fed stream of Egypt； and offered holy hecatombs to the immortal
gods that reign in heaven。 When you have done this they will let you
finish your voyage。'
〃I was broken hearted when I heard that I must go back all that long
and terrible voyage to Egypt； nevertheless； I answered； 'I will do
all； old man； that you have laid upon me； but now tell me； and tell me
true； whether all the Achaeans whom Nestor and I left behind us when
we set sail from Troy have got home safely； or whether any one of them
came to a bad end either on board his own ship or among his friends
when the days of his fighting were done。'
〃'Son of Atreus；' he answered； 'why ask me？ You had better not
know what I can tell you； for your eyes will surely fill when you have
heard my story。 Many of those about whom you ask are dead and gone；
but many still remain； and only two of the chief men among the
Achaeans perished during their return home。 As for what happened on
the field of battle… you were there yourself。 A third Achaean leader
is still at sea； alive； but hindered from returning。 Ajax was wrecked；
for Neptune drove him on to the great rocks of Gyrae； nevertheless； he
let him get safe out of the water； and in spite of all Minerva's
hatred he would have escaped death； if he had not ruined himself by
boasting。 He said the gods could not drown him even though they had
tried to do so； and when Neptune heard this large talk； he seized
his trident in his two brawny hands； and split the rock of Gyrae in
two pieces。 The base remained where it was； but the part on which Ajax
was sitting fell headlong into the sea and carried Ajax with it； so he
drank salt water and was drowned。
〃'Your brother and his ships escaped； for Juno protected him； but
when he was just about to reach the high promontory of Malea； he was
caught by a heavy gale which carried him out to sea again sorely
against his will； and drove him to the foreland where Thyestes used to
dwell； but where Aegisthus was then living。 By and by； however； it
seemed as though he was to return safely after all； for the gods
backed the wind into its old quarter and they reached home； whereon
Agamemnon kissed his native soil； and shed tears of joy at finding
himself in his own country。
〃'Now there was a watchman whom Aegisthus kept always on the
watch； and to whom he had promised two talents of gold。 This man had
been looking out for a whole year to make sure that Agamemnon did
not give him the slip and prepare war； when； therefore； this man saw
Agamemnon go by； he went and told Aegisthus who at once began to lay a
plot for him。 He picked twenty of his bravest warriors and placed them
in ambuscade on one side the cloister； while on the opposite side he
prepared a banquet。 Then he sent his chariots and horsemen to
Agamemnon； and invited him to the feast； but he meant foul play。 He
got him there； all unsuspicious of the doom that was awaiting him； and
killed him when the banquet was over as though he were butchering an
ox in the shambles； not one of Agamemnon's followers was left alive；
nor yet one of Aegisthus'； but they were all killed there in the
cloisters。'
〃Thus spoke Proteus； and I was broken hearted as I heard him。 I
sat down upon the sands and wept； I felt as though I could no longer
bear to live nor look upon the light of the sun。 Presently； when I had
had my fill of weeping and writhing upon the ground； the old man of
the sea said； 'Son of Atreus； do not waste any more time in crying
so bitterly； it can do no manner of good； find your way home as fast
as ever you can； for Aegisthus be still alive； and even though Orestes
has beforehand with you in kilting him； you may yet come in for his
funeral。'
〃On this I took comfort in spite of all my sorrow； and said； 'I
know； then； about these two； tell me； therefore； about the third man
of whom you spoke； is he still alive； but at sea； and unable to get
home？ or is he dead？ Tell me； no matter how much it may grieve me。'
〃'The third man；' he answered； 'is Ulysses who dwells in Ithaca。 I
can see him in an island sorrowing bitterly in the house of the
nymph Calypso； who is keeping him prisoner； and he cannot reach his
home for he has no ships nor sailors to take him over the sea。 As
for your own end； Menelaus； you shall not die in Argos； but the gods
will take you to the Elysian plain； which is at the ends of the world。
There fair…haired Rhadamanthus reigns； and men lead an easier life
than any where else in the world； for in Elysium there falls not rain；
nor hail； nor snow； but Oceanus breathes ever with a West wind that
sings softly from the sea； and gives fresh life to all men。 This
will happen to you because you have married Helen； and are Jove's
son…in…law。'
〃As he spoke he dived under the waves； whereon I turned back to
the ships with my companions； and my heart was clouded with care as
I went along。 When we reached the ships we got supper ready； for night
was falling； and camped down upon the beach。 When the child of
morning； rosy…fingered Dawn appeared； we drew our ships into the
water； and put our masts and sails within them； then we went on
board ourselves； took our seats on the benches； and smote the grey sea
with our oars。 I again stationed my ships in the heaven…fed stream
of Egypt； and offered hecatombs that were full and sufficient。 When
I had thus appeased heaven's anger； I raised a barrow to the memory of
Agamemnon that his name might live for ever； after which I had a quick
passage home； for the gods sent me a fair wind。
〃And now for yourself… stay here some ten or twelve days longer； and
I will then speed you on your way。 I will make you a noble present
of a chariot and three horses。 I will also give you a beautiful
chalice that so long as you live you may think of me whenever you make
a drink…offering to the immortal gods。〃
〃Son of Atreus；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃do not press me to stay
longer； I should be contented to remain with you for another twelve
months； I find your conversation so delightful that I should never
once wish myself at home with my parents； but my crew whom I have left
at Pylos are already impatient； and you are detaining me from them。 As
for any present you may be disposed to make me； I had rather that it
should he a piece of plate。 I will take no horses back with me to
Ithaca； but will leave them to adorn your own stables； for you have
much flat ground in your kingdom where lotus thrives； as also
meadowsweet and wheat and barley； and oats with their white and
spreading ears； whereas in Ithaca we have neither open fields nor
racecourses； and the country is more fit for goats than horses； and
I like it the better for that。 None of our islands have much level
ground； suitable for horses； and Ithaca least of all。〃
Menelaus smiled and took Telemachus's hand within his own。 〃What you
say；〃 said he； 〃shows that you come of good family。 I both can； and
will； make this exchange for you； by giving you the finest and most
precious piece of plate in all my house。 It is a mixing…bowl by
Vulcan's own hand； of pure silver； except the rim； which is inlaid
with gold。 Phaedimus； king of the Sidonians； gave it me in the
course of a visit which I paid him when I returned thither on my
homeward journey。 I will make you a present of it。〃
Thus did they converse ＇and guests kept coming to the king's
house。 They brought sheep and wine； while their wives had put up bread
for them to take with them； so they were busy cooking their dinners in
the courts＇。
Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at a
mark on the levelled ground in front of Ulysses' house； and were
behaving with all their old insolence。 Antinous and Eurymachus； who
were their ringleaders and much the foremost among them all； were
sitting together when Noemon son of Phronius came up and said to
Antinous；
〃Have we any idea； Antinous； on what day Telemachus returns from
Pylos？ He has a ship of mine； and I want it； to cross over to Elis：
I have twelve brood mares there with yearling mule foals by their side
not yet broken in； and I want to bring on