Telemachus looked at the guest who had arrived at the threshold of his palace. He looked noble and held a spear in his hand. The prince welcomed him with respect and conducted him to a high seat. He first helped him wash his hand and feet and offered food and drink.
As he attended to him, Penelope’s suitors
barged into the room and headed towards the table laden with a rich feast.
After gorging on the food and drinking their fill, they danced to the music
produced from the harp of Phemius, the celebrated Greek poet.
Telemachus’s face shrunk in disgust at
this. He lamented to the guest, “Look at these men, they don’t feel shameful to
occupy my palace and spoil my father’s wealth. I don’t know where my father is
suffering right now or whether he is still alive. Whether he has proper food to
eat and a shelter to live in. People assure me that he’ll return one day. But
I’ve lost all hopes. It’s nearly twenty years since he left Ithaca.”
Then he looked at Goddess Athene who was
the guest, and asked, “ Sir, who are you? How did you reach my country? What
brought you here? Do you already know my family?”
Athene introduced her disguised self to
Telemachus. “Young man, I’m Mentes, an old friend of your father Odysseus. I’m
the king of Taphia, a country of seafarers. We are basically tradesmen and
visit several countries to procure and sell goods. My ship has been docked in a
nearby harbour now. Your father and I spent a good number of days together as
young men. Yes, I’m a family friend, and I know your grandfather Laertes very
well,” assured the guest.
He
continued, “Do not worry, young man. There is no other Greek who surpasses your
father in bravery and wisdom. I’m not a soothsayer, but your father is delayed
only because he has been held up somewhere by the wrathful gods. He’ll
certainly come home one of these days. And he’ll punish these men who’ve ruined
his wealth and kingdom,” said Mentes.
Telemachus
was upset over his father’s ill fate. “If my father is still alive he is the
most unlucky man on earth. It’s a torture to wander away from one’s homeland
instead of enjoying its wealth and comfort. I’d not be so bothered even if he
had been dead in the war at Troy. These men here are pestering my mother to
marry one of them. But she says she isn’t interested in them. But they insist
on her to make a choice and here they stay depleting my father’s wealth,” said
Telemachus.
“Telemachus,
why don’t you go in search of your father? You can meet the warriors who
accompanied your father to Troy and ask them about his whereabouts. That is the
only way to gather news about him. You can start with Nestor, the king of
Pylos. Then you can go to Sparta to meet Meneleaus who was the last of the
Greeks to return home.
Athene
continued, “Telemachus, you’re not a young boy any more. It’s time you gathered
courage to order these men to leave your home. People should remember you as a
gallant prince,” said Athene and bid goodbye to Telemachus. She rose high and
flew through the roof and disappeared out of sight.
Telemachus
recognised his guest to be a divine being and resolved to follow the advice
given. He felt more confident now. Inside, the suitors grew tired of dancing.
They now asked Phemius to sing for them. The bard strummed his harp and chose
the theme of the woes that had befallen the Greeks who went into war with Troy.
Strains of
the song wafted up to Penelope’s suite and she was anguished. She rushed down
with her maids and stormed into the hall. “Phemius, stop the song. Can’t you
think of some other subject to sing? This one tugs at my heart and brings back
memories of my dear Odysseus.”
Telemachus
stood up and spoke to his mother, “Mother, you should not worry over such
things. The bard has the right to sing whichever theme pleases him. And my
father isn’t the only person who has not returned from Troy. Moreover, people
enjoy listening to the latest happenings. I’m the master of the house and I bid
you return to your room and work at your loom.”
Penelope
was surprised. She had never heard her son talk with such composure before. She
understood that he spoke rightly and retired to her room.
Penelope’s
sudden appearance caused the suitors to quarrel over her hand. Telemachus was annoyed at this and addressed
the men gathered in the hall: “Gentlemen, please listen to Phemius’s singing in
silence. And there’s something else I want to tell you. I think it’s time for
you to leave my palace and go home. If you choose to do otherwise, I warn you
that you shall perish at my hands. Anything else that you want to know gather at
the Council tomorrow morning.”
The next
morning, Telemachus sent his men to announce the meeting of the council to its
members.
(To be continued)
- The Adventures of Odysseus - An Introduction
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 1
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 2
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 3
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 4
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 5
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 6
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 7
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 8
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 9
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 10
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 11
Painting: Penelope Unravelling Her Work at Night by Dora Wheeler Keith (1886)
