Book II · Episode 3 of 4
Athena’s Promise, Suitors’ Jeers
As Mentor, Athena promises ship, crew
Scenes
- Prayer to Athena — Telemachus prays by shore, Athena answers
- He washes hands in the gray surf
- She appears wearing Mentor’s form and voice
- Assures he has his father’s courage
- Suitors are blind to death closing in
- She vows to fit out a ship
- Antinoüs’s Mockery — Antinoüs mocks, Telemachus vows revenge
- Suitors are flaying goats, roasting swine
- Antinoüs laughs, clasps Telemachus’ hand
- He promises Achaeans will supply a ship
- Telemachus pulls his hand free
- Says he’ll sail as another’s passenger
- Suitors’ Taunts — Suitors taunt Telemachus, hope he drowns
- One jeers he seeks allies to kill
- Or poison from Ephyre in one draught
- Another guesses he’ll drown like father
- That would spare them dividing his goods
- And the palace to whoever weds her