1 Telemachus saw her long before any one else did.
2 With this Telemachus dashed his staff to the ground and burst into tears.
3 Now when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared Telemachus rose and dressed himself.
4 Telemachus answered, "Antinous, do not chide with me, but, god willing, I will be chief too if I can."
5 Telemachus took this speech as of good omen and rose at once, for he was bursting with what he had to say.
6 Then Telemachus went all alone by the sea side, washed his hands in the grey waves, and prayed to Minerva.
7 My mother," answered Telemachus, "tells me I am son to Ulysses, but it is a wise child that knows his own father.
8 My father is dead and gone," answered Telemachus, "and even if some rumour reaches me I put no more faith in it now.
9 As soon as he touched his lyre and began to sing Telemachus spoke low to Minerva, with his head close to hers that no man might hear.
10 With these words she flew away like a bird into the air, but she had given Telemachus courage, and had made him think more than ever about his father.
11 Then Telemachus said, "Eurymachus, and you other suitors, I shall say no more, and entreat you no further, for the gods and the people of Ithaca now know my story."
12 Ulysses has died in a far country, and it is a pity you are not dead along with him, instead of prating here about omens and adding fuel to the anger of Telemachus which is fierce enough as it is.
13 As for Telemachus, I warn him in the presence of you all to send his mother back to her father, who will find her a husband and provide her with all the marriage gifts so dear a daughter may expect.
14 Mother," answered Telemachus, "let the bard sing what he has a mind to; bards do not make the ills they sing of; it is Jove, not they, who makes them, and who sends weal or woe upon mankind according to his own good pleasure.
15 Sir," said Telemachus, "as regards your question, so long as my father was here it was well with us and with the house, but the gods in their displeasure have willed it otherwise, and have hidden him away more closely than mortal man was ever yet hidden.
16 We shall go back and continue to eat up Telemachus's estate without paying him, till such time as his mother leaves off tormenting us by keeping us day after day on the tiptoe of expectation, each vying with the other in his suit for a prize of such rare perfection.
17 Sir," answered Telemachus, "it has been very kind of you to talk to me in this way, as though I were your own son, and I will do all you tell me; I know you want to be getting on with your voyage, but stay a little longer till you have taken a bath and refreshed yourself.
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