Journey to Pylos

22He spoke, and touched the coursers with the lash;
And through the city rapidly they went
And toward the plain, and all day long they shook
The yoke upon their necks. The sun went down:
The roads all lay in darkness as they came
To Pherae, and the house of Diodes,
Whose father was Orsilochus, and he
The offspring of Alpheius. There that night
They slept; their host was liberal of his cheer.
But when appeared the daughter of the dawn,
The rosy-fingered Eos, they yoked the steeds
And climbed the sumptuous car, and drove afield
From underneath the echoing portico.
The son of Nestor plied the lash; the steeds
Flew not unwillingly, and quickly reached
The lofty citadel of Pylos. There
Telemachus bespoke his comrade thus: —

23“Will you consent to do what I shall ask,
O son of Nestor? It is our boast that we
Are friends because our fathers were; besides,
We are of equal age, and journeying thus
Has made our friendship firmer. Take me not,
O foster-child of Zeus, beyond the spot
Where lies my galley, lest against my will
The aged Nestor should detain me here
Through kindness, when I needs must hasten home.”

24He spoke, and then the son of Nestor mused
How what his friend desired might best be done.
And this seemed wisest after careful thought:
He turned the chariot to the ship and shore,
And taking out the garments and the gold —
Beautiful gifts which Menelaus gave —
He put them in the galley’s stern, and thus
Bespoke Telemachus with winged words: —

25“Embark in haste, and summon all your crew
On board before I reach my home and tell
The aged king. I know how vehement
His temper is; he will not let you go,
But hastening hither to enforce your stay,
At Pylos, will not, I am sure, go back
Without you; his displeasure will be great.”