barley meal； which is the staff of life； in leathern bags； while I
go round the town and beat up volunteers at once。 There are many ships
in Ithaca both old and new； I will run my eye over them for you and
will choose the best； we will get her ready and will put out to sea
without delay。〃
Thus spoke Minerva daughter of Jove； and Telemachus lost no time
in doing as the goddess told him。 He went moodily and found the
suitors flaying goats and singeing pigs in the outer court。 Antinous
came up to him at once and laughed as he took his hand in his own；
saying； 〃Telemachus； my fine fire…eater； bear no more ill blood
neither in word nor deed； but eat and drink with us as you used to do。
The Achaeans will find you in everything… a ship and a picked crew
to boot… so that you can set sail for Pylos at once and get news of
your noble father。〃
〃Antinous；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃I cannot eat in peace； nor take
pleasure of any kind with such men as you are。 Was it not enough
that you should waste so much good property of mine while I was yet
a boy？ Now that I am older and know more about it； I am also stronger；
and whether here among this people； or by going to Pylos； I will do
you all the harm I can。 I shall go； and my going will not be in vain
though； thanks to you suitors； I have neither ship nor crew of my own；
and must be passenger not captain。〃
As he spoke he snatched his hand from that of Antinous。 Meanwhile
the others went on getting dinner ready about the buildings； jeering
at him tauntingly as they did so。
〃Telemachus；〃 said one youngster； 〃means to be the death of us； I
suppose he thinks he can bring friends to help him from Pylos； or
again from Sparta； where he seems bent on going。 Or will he go to
Ephyra as well； for poison to put in our wine and kill us？〃
Another said； 〃Perhaps if Telemachus goes on board ship； he will
be like his father and perish far from his friends。 In this case we
should have plenty to do； for we could then divide up his property
amongst us： as for the house we can let his mother and the man who
marries her have that。〃
This was how they talked。 But Telemachus went down into the lofty
and spacious store…room where his father's treasure of gold and bronze
lay heaped up upon the floor； and where the linen and spare clothes
were kept in open chests。 Here； too； there was a store of fragrant
olive oil； while casks of old； well…ripened wine； unblended and fit
for a god to drink； were ranged against the wall in case Ulysses
should come home again after all。 The room was closed with well…made
doors opening in the middle； moreover the faithful old house…keeper
Euryclea； daughter of Ops the son of Pisenor； was in charge of
everything both night and day。 Telemachus called her to the store…room
and said：
〃Nurse； draw me off some of the best wine you have； after what you
are keeping for my father's own drinking； in case； poor man； he should
escape death； and find his way home again after all。 Let me have
twelve jars； and see that they all have lids； also fill me some
well…sewn leathern bags with barley meal… about twenty measures in
all。 Get these things put together at once； and say nothing about
it。 I will take everything away this evening as soon as my mother
has gone upstairs for the night。 I am going to Sparta and to Pylos
to see if I can hear anything about the return of my dear father。
When Euryclea heard this she began to cry； and spoke fondly to
him； saying； 〃My dear child； what ever can have put such notion as
that into your head？ Where in the world do you want to go to… you； who
are the one hope of the house？ Your poor father is dead and gone in
some foreign country nobody knows where； and as soon as your back is
turned these wicked ones here will be scheming to get you put out of
the way； and will share all your possessions among themselves； stay
where you are among your own people； and do not go wandering and
worrying your life out on the barren ocean。〃
〃Fear not； nurse；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃my scheme is not without
heaven's sanction； but swear that you will say nothing about all
this to my mother； till I have been away some ten or twelve days；
unless she hears of my having gone； and asks you； for I do not want
her to spoil her beauty by crying。〃
The old woman swore most solemnly that she would not； and when she
had completed her oath； she began drawing off the wine into jars；
and getting the barley meal into the bags； while Telemachus went
back to the suitors。
Then Minerva bethought her of another matter。 She took his shape；
and went round the town to each one of the crew； telling them to
meet at the ship by sundown。 She went also to Noemon son of
Phronius； and asked him to let her have a ship… which he was very
ready to do。 When the sun had set and darkness was over all the
land； she got the ship into the water； put all the tackle on board her
that ships generally carry； and stationed her at the end of the
harbour。 Presently the crew came up； and the goddess spoke
encouragingly to each of them。
Furthermore she went to the house of Ulysses； and threw the
suitors into a deep slumber。 She caused their drink to fuddle them；
and made them drop their cups from their hands； so that instead of
sitting over their wine； they went back into the town to sleep； with
their eyes heavy and full of drowsiness。 Then she took the form and
voice of Mentor； and called Telemachus to come outside。
〃Telemachus；〃 said she； 〃the men are on board and at their oars；
waiting for you to give your orders； so make haste and let us be off。〃
On this she led the way； while Telemachus followed in her steps。
When they got to the ship they found the crew waiting by the water
side； and Telemachus said； 〃Now my men； help me to get the stores on
board； they are all put together in the cloister； and my mother does
not know anything about it； nor any of the maid servants except one。〃
With these words he led the way and the others followed after。
When they had brought the things as he told them； Telemachus went on
board； Minerva going before him and taking her seat in the stern of
the vessel； while Telemachus sat beside her。 Then the men loosed the
hawsers and took their places on the benches。 Minerva sent them a fair
wind from the West； that whistled over the deep blue waves whereon
Telemachus told them to catch hold of the ropes and hoist sail； and
they did as he told them。 They set the mast in its socket in the cross
plank； raised it； and made it fast with the forestays； then they
hoisted their white sails aloft with ropes of twisted ox hide。 As
the sail bellied out with the wind； the ship flew through the deep
blue water； and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward。
Then they made all fast throughout the ship； filled the mixing…bowls
to the brim； and made drink offerings to the immortal gods that are
from everlasting； but more particularly to the grey…eyed daughter of
Jove。
Thus； then； the ship sped on her way through the watches of the
night from dark till dawn。
BOOK III。
BUT as the sun was rising from the fair sea into the firmament of
heaven to shed Blight on mortals and immortals； they reached Pylos the
city of Neleus。 Now the people of Pylos were gathered on the sea shore
to offer sacrifice of black bulls to Neptune lord of the Earthquake。
There were nine guilds with five hundred men in each； and there were
nine bulls to each guild。 As they were eating the inward meats and
burning the thigh bones ＇on the embers＇ in the name of Neptune；
Telemachus and his crew arrived； furled their sails； brought their
ship to anchor； and went ashore。
Minerva led the way and Telemachus followed her。 Presently she said；
〃Telemachus； you must not be in the least shy or nervous； you have
taken this voyage to try and find out where your father is buried
and how he came by his end； so go straight up to Nestor that we may
see what he has got to tell us。 Beg of him to speak the truth； and
he will tell no lies； for he is an excellent person。〃
〃But how； Mentor；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃dare I go up to Nestor；
and how am I to address him？ I have never yet been used to holding
long conversations with people； and am ashamed to begin questioning
one who is so much older than myself。〃
〃Some things； Telemachus；〃 answered Minerva； 〃will be suggested to
you by your own instinct； and heaven will prompt you further； for I am
assured that the gods have been with you from the time of your birth
until now。〃
She then went quickly on； and Telemachus followed in her steps
till they reached the place where the guilds of the Pylian people were
assembled。 There they found Nestor sitting with his sons； while his
company round him were busy getting dinner ready； and putting pieces
of meat on to the spits while other pieces were cooking。 When they saw
the strangers they crowded round them； took them by the hand and
bade them take their places。 Nestor's son Pisistratus at once
offered his hand to each of them； and seated them on some soft
sheepskins that were lying on the sands near his father and his
brother Thrasymedes。 Then he gave them their portions of the inward
meats and p