Page 264 - the-odyssey

called him apart and caught him by the hand. ‘Telemachus,’
said he, ‘that bird did not fly on your right hand without
having been sent there by some god. As soon as I saw it I
knew it was an omen; it means that you will remain pow-
erful and that there will be no house in Ithaca more royal
than your own.’
‘I wish it may prove so,’ answered Telemachus. ‘If it does,
I will show you so much good will and give you so many
presents that all who meet you will congratulate you.’
Then he said to his friend Piraeus, ‘Piraeus, son of Cly-
tius, you have throughout shown yourself the most willing
to serve me of all those who have accompanied me to Pylos;
I wish you would take this stranger to your own house and
entertain him hospitably till I can come for him.’
And Piraeus answered, ‘Telemachus, you may stay away
as long as you please, but I will look after him for you, and
he shall find no lack of hospitality.’
As he spoke he went on board, and bade the others do so
also and loose the hawsers, so they took their places in the
ship. But Telemachus bound on his sandals, and took a long
and doughty spear with a head of sharpened bronze from
the deck of the ship. Then they loosed the hawsers, thrust
the ship off from land, and made on towards the city as they
had been told to do, while Telemachus strode on as fast as
he could, till he reached the homestead where his countless
herds of swine were feeding, and where dwelt the excellent
swineherd, who was so devoted a servant to his master.