Athena’s Warning

1Then Athena, hastening to the mighty realm
Of Lacedaemon, sought the illustrious son
Of great Odysseus, to remind the youth
Of home, and bid him think of his return.
She found Telemachus and Nestor’s son
Upon their couches in the portico
Of Menelaus, the renowned. Deep sleep
Held Nestor’s son; but to Telemachus
The welcome slumber came not, for his thoughts
Uneasily through all the quiet night
Dwelt on his father. Now beside his bed
The blue-eyed Athena took her stand and spoke: —

2“Telemachus, it is no longer well
That you should wander from your home, and leave
All your possessions, and those arrogant men
That crowd your halls. Beware, lest they devour
Your substance utterly, dividing all
Among them, and this journey be for naught.
Make suit to Menelaus, great in war,
Quickly to send you home, that you may join
Your blameless mother in your halls; for now
Her father and her brothers counsel her
To wed Eurymachus, whose gifts exceed
Those of the other suitors, and besides
He offers a yet richer bridal dower.
It were not hard without your leave to take
Wealth from a palace. What a wife will do
You know. It is her pleasure to increase
The riches of the man whom she has wed.
Care of her former children has she none,
Nor memory of the husband whom she took
While yet a maid, and who is in his grave;
Of these she never speaks. Return you, then,
And give your goods in charge to one among
The handmaids of your household who shall seem
The fittest for the trust, until the gods
Bring you a noble wife. Another word
Have I for you, and bear you it in mind:
The chief among the suitors in the strait
Between the rugged Samos and the isle
Of Ithaca are lurking, in the hope
To slay you on your voyage home; but this
I think they cannot do before the earth
Hold many of the suitor-crew who make
Your wealth a spoil. Steer you your gallant barque
Far from the isles; sail only in the night.
Some god, whoever it may be that keeps
Watch over you, will send a prosperous gale.
When to the nearest shore of Ithaca
You come in your ship, let it go on,
With all your comrades, to the town, while you
Repair to the keeper of your swine,
Whose heart is faithful to you. There remain
With him that night, and send him to the town
With tidings to the sage Penelope
That you are come from Pylos and are safe.”