_Telemachus at the house of Nestor_.
They reached Pylos on the following morning, and found
Nestor, his sons, and all the Pylians celebrating
the feast of Neptune. They were cordially received,
especially by Nestor's son Pisistratus, and were at once
invited to join the festivities. After dinner Nestor
asked them who they were, and Telemachus, emboldened
by Minerva, explained that they came from Ithaca under
Neritum,[7] and that he was seeking news of the death of
his father Ulysses.
When he heard this, Nestor told him all about his own 102
adventures on his way home from Troy, but could give him
no news of Ulysses. He touched, however, on the murder
of Agamemnon by Ægisthus, and the revenge taken by
Orestes.[8]
Telemachus said he wished he might be able to take a like 201
revenge on the suitors of his mother, who were ruining
him; "but this," he exclaimed, "could not happen, not
even if the gods wished it. It is too much even to think
of."
Minerva reproved him sharply. "The hand of heaven," she 229
said, "can reach far when it has a mind to save a man."
Telemachus then changed the conversation, and asked
Nestor how Ægisthus managed to kill Agamemnon, who was so
much the better man of the two. What was Menelaus doing?
"Menelaus," answered Nestor, "had not yet returned 253
from his long wanderings. As for Clytemnestra, she was 266
naturally of a good disposition, but was beguiled by
Ægisthus, who reigned seven years in Mycene after he had
killed Agamemnon. In the eighth year, however, Orestes
came from Athens and killed him, and on the very day when 311
Orestes was celebrating the funeral feast of Ægisthus and
Clytemnestra, Menelaus returned. Go then to Sparta, and
see if he can tell you anything."
By this time the sun had set, and Minerva proposed 329
that she and Telemachus should return to their ship,
but Nestor would not hear of their doing so. Minerva
therefore consented that Telemachus should stay on shore,
and explained that she could not remain with him inasmuch
as she must start on the following morning for the
Cauconians, to recover a large debt that had been long
owing to her.
Having said this, to the astonishment of all present she 371
flew away in the form of an eagle. Whereon Nestor grasped
Telemachus's hand and said he could see that he must be a
very important person. He also at once vowed to gild the
horns of a heifer and sacrifice her to the goddess. He
then took Telemachus home with him and lodged him in his
own house.
Next day Nestor fulfilled his vow; the heifer was brought 404
in from the plains, her horns were gilded, and Nestor's
wife Eurydice and her daughters shouted with delight at
seeing her killed.
After the banquet that ensued Nestor sent Telemachus 477
and his son Pisistratus off in a chariot and pair for
Lacedæmon, which they reached on the following morning,
after passing a night in the house of Diocles at Pheræ.