但是密涅瓦去了美丽的城市拉斯达蒙，告诉尤利西斯的儿子他必须马上回来。她发现他和庇西特拉图在墨涅劳斯家的前院睡觉;皮西特拉图睡得很香，但忒勒马科斯一整夜都不能休息，因为他一直想着他不幸的父亲，于是密涅瓦走到他身边说:“忒勒马科斯，你不应该再离家这么远了，也不应该把你的财产留给这么危险的人;他们必吃尽你在他们中间所有的，你就徒然行了。让墨涅劳斯马上送你回家如果你想在你回来的时候看到你优秀的母亲还在那里的话。她的父亲和兄弟们已经催促她嫁给欧律马库斯，他给她的礼物比其他任何人都多，并且大大增加了他的结婚礼物。我希望家里没有什么贵重的东西因为你的缘故而被偷走，可是你知道女人是什么样的人——她们总是要为嫁给她们的男人尽自己最大的努力，从来不为她们第一任丈夫的孩子们考虑，也不为她们的父亲考虑，即使他已经去世了。所以，回家去吧，把一切事务交给你最可敬的一个婢女，直到上天给你一个自己的妻子。让我告诉你另一件你最好去处理的事。那些追求者中的头目正埋伏在伊萨卡和萨摩斯之间的海峡里等着你，他们想在你回家之前杀了你。 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 selected a double cup, and told his son Megapenthes to bring also a silver mixing-bowl. Meanwhile Helen we