But Telemachus wept to hear mention of his father, holding up his
purple cloak before his eyes. This Menelaus saw, and knew who he
was, and pondered whether he should wait till he should himself
speak of his father, or should rather ask him of his errand. But
while he pondered there came in the fair Helen, and three maidens
with her, of whom one set a couch for her to sit, and one spread a
carpet for her feet, and one bare a basket of purple wool; but she
herself had a distaff of gold in her hand. And when she saw the
strangers she said:--

"Who are these, Menelaus? Never have I seen such likeness in man
or woman as this one bears to Ulysses. Surely 'tis his son
Telemachus, whom he left an infant at home when ye went to Troy
for my sake!"

Then said Menelaus: "It must indeed be so, lady. For these are the
hands and feet of Ulysses, and the look of his eyes and his hair.
And but now, when I made mention of his name, he wept, holding his
mantle before his face."

Then said Peisistratus: "King Menelaus, thou speakest truth. This
is indeed the son of Ulysses who is come to thee; perchance thou
canst help him by word or deed."

And Menelaus answered: "Then is he the son of a man whom I loved
right well. I thought to give him a city in this land, bringing
him from Ithaca with all his goods. Then should naught have
divided us but death itself. But these things the gods have
ordered otherwise."