Prayer to Athena

16Then to the ocean-side, apart from all,
Went forth Telemachus, and washed his hands
In the gray surf, and prayed to Athena thus: —

17“Hear me, you deity who yesterday,
In visiting our palace, did command
That I should traverse the black deep to learn
News of my absent father, and the chance
Of his return! The Greeks themselves withstand,
My purpose; the proud suitors most of all.”

18Such was his prayer, and straightway Athena stood,
In form and voice like Mentor, by his side,
And thus accosted him with winged words: —

19“Telemachus, you henceforth shall not lack
Valor or wisdom. If with you abides
Your father’s gallant spirit, as he was
In deed and word, you will not vainly make
This voyage. But if you be not in truth
The son of him and of Penelope,
Then I rely not on you to perform
What you do meditate. Few sons are like
Their fathers: most are worse, a very few
Excel their parents. Since you will not lack
Valor and wisdom in the coming time,
Nor is your father’s shrewdness wanting quite
In you, great hope there is that happily
This plan will be fulfilled. Regard not then
The suitor train, their purposes and plots.
Senseless are they, as little wise as just,
And have no thought of the black doom of death
Now drawing near to sweep them in a day
To their destruction. But your enterprise
Must suffer no delay. So much am I
Your father’s friend and yours, that I will cause
A swift barque to be fitted out for sea,
And will myself attend you. Go now hence
Among the suitors, and make ready there
The needful stores, and let them all be put
In vessels —wine in jars, and meal, the strength
Of man, in close thick skins —while I engage,
Among the people here, a willing crew.
Ships are there in our seagirt Ithaca
Full many, new and old, and I will choose
The best of these, and see it well equipped.
Then will we drag it down to the broad sea.”