Son of a man whom age finds living in peace in his homestead !
Elsewise heaven hath will'd it : the most ill-fated of all men.
He, as they say, is rny sire. Thus far can I answer thy question."
Him then again gave answer the grey-eyed goddess Athene :
" Surely for thee is the heaven no nameless race in the future
Keeping in store — for a son so worthy of Penelopeia.
Now come, tell me a thing that I ask thee and clearly explain it :
What doth this banqueting mean ? and this crowd ? Why needful thy presence ?
Hold they a wedding ? or bout ? No club-collation it seemeth :
Such is the insolent licence in which they appear to indulge them
Banqueting here in thy hall ! Just cause for a man to be angered.
Were but a sensible person to see such shameful proceeding ! "
Her sage Telemachus addressing in turn gave answer :
"Since, O stranger, thou fain wouldst hear of this matter and learn it.
Once did the house of my sire seem like to be rich and be blameless, —
Like to remain what it was while here in his home he was living.
Other, alas, was the will of immortals who plotted his ruin.
Lo, they have made him to vanish — as utterly vanished hath no man
Ever before. Nay, e'en for his death ne'er thus had I sorrowed.
Had he but met it amidst of his mates in the land of the Trojans,
Or in the arms of his friends, when he wound to an ending the warfare.
