But Athena went to the fair city of
Lacedaemon to tell Odysseus’ son that he was to return
[nostos] at once. She found him and Peisistratos
sleeping in the forecourt of Menelaos’ house; Peisistratos was
fast asleep, but Telemakhos could get no rest all night for thinking
of his unhappy father, so Athena went close up to him and
said:
"Telemakhos, 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
Menelaos 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 Eurymakhos, 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
Telemakhos stirred Peisistratos with his heel to rouse him, and said,
"Wake up Peisistratos, and yoke the horses to the chariot, for we
must set off home."
But Peisistratos said, "No matter
what hurry we are in we cannot drive in the dark. It will be morning
soon; wait till Menelaos 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."
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