Then he told the old King of the evil deeds I worked by the wooers of his mother, and when he had told of them Telemachus cried out, ’Oh, that the gods would give me such strength that I might take vengeance on them for their many transgressions.’

Then said old Nestor, ’Who knows but Odysseus will win home and requite the violence of these suitors and the insults they have offered to your house.  The goddess Athene might bring this to pass.  Well was she inclined to your father, and never did the gods show such favour to a mortal as the grey-eyed goddess showed to Odysseus, your father.’

But Telemachus answered, ’In no wise can your word be accomplished, King.’

Then Athene, in the likeness of old Mentor, spoke to him and said, ’What word has crossed your lips, Telemachus?  If it should please them, any one of the gods could bring a man home from afar.  Only this the gods may not do—­avert death from a man who has been doomed to it.’

Telemachus answered her and said, ’Mentor, no longer let us talk of these things.  Nestor, the renowned King, has been very gracious to me, but he has nothing to tell me of my father.  I deem now that Odysseus will never return.’

‘Go to Menelaus,’ said Nestor.  ’Go to Menelaus in Sparta.  Lately he has come from a far and a strange country and it may be that he has heard of Odysseus in his wanderings.  You can go to Sparta in your ship.  But if you have a mind to fare by land then will I give you a chariot and horses, and my son will go with you to be a guide for you into Sparta.’

Then Telemachus, with Athene, the grey-eyed goddess in the likeness of old Mentor, would have gone back to their ship, but Nestor the King said, ’Zeus forbid that you two should go back to the ship to take your rest while there is guest-room in my hall.  Come with me to a place where you can lie softly.  Never shall it be said that a son of Odysseus, my dear friend, lay on the hard deck of a ship while I am alive and while children of mine are left in my hall.  Come with me now.’

Then the goddess Athene in the likeness of old Mentor said, ’You have spoken as becomes you, renowned King.  Telemachus should harken to your word and go with you.  But it is meet that the young men who came for the love of him should have an elder with them on the ship to-night.  I shall abide with them.’

So speaking, the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, in the likeness of old Mentor went from the shore, and Telemachus went with Nestor and his sons to the high citadel of Neleus.  And there he was given a bath, and the maiden Polycaste, the youngest daughter of King Nestor, attended him.  She gave him new raiment to wear, a goodly mantle and doublet.  He slept in a room with Peisistratus, the youngest of Nestor’s sons.

In the morning they feasted and did sacrifice, and when he had given judgments to the people, the old King Nestor spoke to his sons,—­

’Lo, now, my sons.  Yoke for Telemachus the horses to the chariot that he may go on his way to Sparta.’