Fates of the Heroes

15“ It is said the Myrmidonian spearmen, led
By great Achilles’ famous son, returned
Happily home; as happily the son
Of Paeas, Philoctetes the renowned.
Idomeneus brought also back to Crete
All his companions who survived the war;
The sea took none of them. But you have heard,
Though far away, the fate of Atreus’ son —
How he came home, and how Aegisthus laid
A plot to slay him, yet on his own head
Drew heavy punishment —so fortunate
It is when he who falls by murder leaves
A son; for it was the monarch’s son who took
Vengeance upon the crafty murderer
Aegisthus, by whose hand Atrides died.
You too, my friend, for you are large of frame,
And of a noble presence, be you brave,
That men in time to come may give you praise.”

16Then spoke discreet Telemachus again: —
“O Nestor, son of Neleus, pride of Greece,
Ample was his revenge, and far and wide
The Greeks will spread his fame to be the song
Of future times. O might the gods confer
On me an equal power to avenge myself
On that importunate, overbearing crew
Of suitors, who insult me, and devise
Evil against me! But the gods deny
Such fortune to my father and to me,
And all that now is left me is to bear.”