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PinkMonkey.com Digital Library - PinkMonkey.com - The Odyssey by Homer
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
went to the chest where she kept the lovely dresses which she had made with her own
hands, and took out one that was largest and most beautifully enriched with
embroidery; it glittered like a star, and lay at the very bottom of the chest. Then they all
came back through the house again till they got to Telemachus, and Menelaus said,
“Telemachus, may Jove, the mighty husband of Juno, bring you safely home according
to your desire. I will now present you with the finest and most precious piece of plate
in all my house.

It is a mixing-bowl of pure silver, except the rim, which is inlaid with gold, and it is the
work of Vulcan. Phaedimus king of the Sidonians made me a present of it in the course
of a visit that I paid him while I was on my return home. I should like to give it to you.”
With these words he placed the double cup in the hands of Telemachus, while
Megapenthes brought the beautiful mixing-bowl and set it before him. Hard by stood
lovely Helen with the robe ready in her hand.

“I too, my son,” said she, “have something for you as a keepsake from the hand of
Helen; it is for your bride to wear upon her wedding day. Till then, get your dear
mother to keep it for you; thus may you go back rejoicing to your own country and to
your home.” So saying she gave the robe over to him and he received it gladly. Then
Pisistratus put the presents into the chariot, and admired them all as he did so.
Presently Menelaus took Telemachus and Pisistratus into the house, and they both of
them sat down to table. A maid servant brought them water in a beautiful golden ewer,
and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands, and she drew a clean
table beside them; an upper servant brought them bread and offered them many good
things of what there was in the house. Eteoneus carved the meat and gave them each
their portions, while Megapenthes poured out the wine. Then they laid their hands
upon the good things that were before them, but as soon as they had had had enough
to eat and drink Telemachus and Pisistratus yoked the horses, and took their places in
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PinkMonkey.com Digital Library - PinkMonkey.com - The Odyssey by Homer



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