"Father," replied Telemakhos,
"you will come to know me by and by, and when you do you will find
that I can keep your counsel. I do not think, however, the plan you
propose will be a gain [kerdos] for either of us.
Think it over. It will take us a long time to go the round of the
farms and exploit the men, and all the time the suitors will be
wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction. Prove the
women by all means, to see who are disloyal and who guiltless, but I
am not in favor of going round and trying the men. We can attend to
that later on, if you really have some sign from Zeus that he will
support you."
Thus did they converse, and
meanwhile the ship which had brought Telemakhos and his crew from
Pylos had reached the town of Ithaca. When they had come inside the
harbor they drew the ship on to the land; their servants came and
took their armor from them, and they left all the presents at the
house of Klytios. Then they sent a servant to tell Penelope that
Telemakhos had gone into the country, but had sent the ship to the
town to prevent her from being alarmed and made unhappy. This servant
and Eumaios happened to meet when they were both on the same errand
of going to tell Penelope. When they reached the House, the servant
stood up and said to the queen in the presence of the waiting women,
"Your son, my lady, is now returned from Pylos"; but Eumaios went
close up to Penelope, and said privately that her son had given
bidden him tell her. When he had given his message he left the house
with its outbuildings and went back to his pigs again.
The suitors were surprised and
angry at what had happened, so they went outside the great wall that
ran round the outer court, and held a council near the main entrance.
Eurymakhos, son of Polybos, was the first to speak.
"My friends," said he, "this
voyage of Telemakhos’ is a very serious matter; we had made sure
that it would come to nothing. Now, however, let us draw a ship into
the water, and get a crew together to send after the others and tell
them to come back as fast as they can."
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