Page 250 - the-odyssey

Peloponnese, I will yoke my horses, and will conduct you
myself through all our principal cities. No one will send us
away empty handed; every one will give us something—a
bronze tripod, a couple of mules, or a gold cup.’
‘Menelaus,’ replied Telemachus, ‘I want to go home at
once, for when I came away I left my property without pro-
tection, and fear that while looking for my father I shall
come to ruin myself, or find that something valuable has
been stolen during my absence.’
When Menelaus heard this he immediately told his wife
and servants to prepare a sufficient dinner from what there
might be in the house. At this moment Eteoneus joined
him, for he lived close by and had just got up; so Menel-
aus told him to light the fire and cook some meat, which
he at once did. Then Menelaus went down into his fragrant
store room, {130} not alone, but Helen went too, with Mega-
penthes. When he reached the place where the treasures of
his house were kept, he selected a double cup, and told his
son Megapenthes to bring also a silver mixing bowl. Mean-
while Helen went to the chest where she kept the lovely
dresses which she had made with her own hands, and took
out one that was largest and most beautifully enriched with
embroidery; it glittered like a star, and lay at the very bot-
tom of the chest. {131} Then they all came back through the
house again till they got to Telemachus, and Menelaus said,
‘Telemachus, may Jove, the mighty husband of Juno, bring
you safely home according to your desire. I will now pres-
ent you with the finest and most precious piece of plate in
all my house. It is a mixing bowl of pure silver, except the