abide here five years or six to listen. For nine whole years we
were busy, devising the ruin of the enemy, which yet Zeus brought
not to pass. And always Ulysses passed the rest in craft, thy
father Ulysses, if indeed thou art his son, and verily thy speech
is like to his; one would not think that a younger man could be so
like to an elder. But listen to my tale. When we had sacked the
town, I returned across the sea without delay, leaving behind the
others, so that I know not of my own knowledge which of the Greeks
was saved and which was lost. But wander not thou, my son, far
from home, while strangers devour thy substance. Go to Menelaus,
for he hath but lately come back from a far country; go and ask
him to tell thee all that he knoweth. If thou wilt, go with thy
ships, or, if it please thee better, I will send thee with a
chariot and horses, and my sons shall be thy guides."

Then said Athene: "Let us cut up the tongues of the beasts, and
mix the wine, and pour offerings to Poseidon and the other gods,
and so bethink us of sleep, for it is the time."

So she spake, and they hearkened to her words. And when they had
finished, Athene and Telemachus would have gone back to their
ship. But Nestor stayed them, saying: "Now Zeus and all the gods
forbid that ye should depart to your ships from my house, as
though it were the dwelling of a needy man that hath not rugs and
blankets in his house, whereon his guests may sleep! Not so; I
have rugs and blankets enough. Never shall the son of my friend
Ulysses lay him down on his ship's deck, while I am alive, or my
children after me, to entertain strangers in my hall."

Thereupon said the false Mentor: "This is good, dear father. Let