me into well-sewn skins; and let there be twenty measures of ground meal. But do thou only know it. And let all these things be collected; for I shall take them in the evening, when my mother is gone to her upper chamber, and is thinking of bed. For I am going to Sparta and sandy Pylos, to inquire concerning the return of my dear father, if I can any where hear of him."
Thus he spoke; but his dear nurse Euryclea wailed, and mourning she spoke winged words:
"Why, my dear child, is this thought in thy mind? whither dost thou wish to go over much land, being alone beloved? but he, Jove-sprung Ulysses, has perished far away from his country, amongst an unknown people. But they,[1] as soon as thou art gone, will hereafter devise evil things, how thou mayest perish by deceit, and they themselves may divide all these things. But do thou remain here, sitting amongst thine own: nor is it at all fit that thou shouldst suffer harm, or wander over the unfruitful sea."
To her prudent Telemachus [thus] spoke in turn: "Be of good cheer, nurse, since this counsel is by no means without God:[2] but swear that thou wilt not tell these things to my mother, before the eleventh or twelfth day shall arrive, or she herself should inquire, and hear that I am gone; that she may not hurt her beauteous form [by] weeping."
Thus he spoke; but the old woman swore a great oath by the gods. But when she had sworn and concluded the oath, she straightway drew wine for him in the casks, and poured meal into the well-sewn skins. But Telemachus, going into the house, associated with the suitors.[3]
Then again the blue-eyed goddess Minerva thought upon other things; and likened unto Telemachus she went every where through the city, and then standing near each man spoke the word; and bade them in the evening be assembled at the swift ship. She then begged a swift ship of Noemon the glorious son of Phronius; and he willingly promised it to her.
And the sun set, and all the ways were overshadowed; and then she drew down the swift ship to the sea, and placed all
