Athena Stirs Him

39Odysseus, the sagacious, answered thus:
“May Zeus, the sovereign, make Telemachus
A happy man among the sons of men,
And grant him all his heart desires in life!”

40He spoke, and took the gift in both his hands,
And laid it down upon his tattered scrip
Close to his feet. Then, while the poet sang,
He ate, and, just as he had supped, the bard
Closed his divine recital. Then ensued
Great clamor in the hall, but Athena came
And moved Odysseus to arise, and ask
From every suitor there a dole of bread,
That he might know the better from the worse,
Though none were to be spared. From right to left
He took his way, and asked of every man,
With outstretched hand, as if he had been long
A beggar. And they pitied him, and gave,
And looked at him with wonder, and inquired
One of another who he was, and whence.
Then spoke Melanthius, keeper of the goats: —