The Council members and the people of Ithaca assembled in the Council Hall. They had no idea who had summoned them and why. Soon, Telemachus arrived with his faithful dogs prancing about his legs. He held a spear in hand. As he moved towards his father’s seat at the head of the hall, the elderly members made way for him.
When he was seated, a senior member, whose son had accompanied Odysseus to Troy, rose from his seat. “My men, this is the first time the Council has been convened since Odysseus left for Troy. What could be the reason? I urge Telemachus to speak up without hesitation,” he said.
Telemachus stood up and cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, I’ve summoned this Council to find a solution to my personal problems. I’m distraught that I still have no news about my father. It is difficult to pass your days without knowing what has befallen a loved one. Next, assuming that my father is dead, some men are compelling my mother to marry one of them. They seem to have settled down in my palace, spoiling away the wealth accumulated by my father. I admit that I don’t have the courage to stop them. If they have openly robbed me of my wealth, then I could have probably appealed to you for justice. But they act inconspicuously. I remember my father to have been a benevolent ruler, who took a keen interest in your welfare. It’s sad that none of you has come to my aid now.” Telemachus spoke with spite for his mother’s suitors and broke down. The crowd was moved to pity and sympathy.
But Penelope’s suitors would not be browbeaten by his charges. Instead, they accused Penelope of giving them hopes by asking them to wait until she made up her mind.
Telemachus appealed to them to let him live peacefully. “I plan to leave for Sparta and Pylos soon, to gather information about my father. Help me find a fine ship and skilled crew. If I hear that my father is alive and is on his way back home, I shall be assured that you’ll be punished on his return. On the contrary, if I know he is dead, I shall perform his funeral rites with due respect and give my mother in marriage to another man.”
Now, Odysseus’s bosom friend, Mentor who was taking care of his household and property, warned the men: “I guess Telemachus is too soft on you. He should be sterner and tougher. The day is not far when you’ll be punished by Odysseus for your misdeeds.”
The suitors heckled at Mentor. “Stop giving sermons! If you’re so interested in Telemachus’s welfare why don’t you help him find a ship and crew? Aren’t you close to Odysseus and his family?” they sniggered.
The Council dispersed without deciding anything. While the townsmen returned to their homes, the suitors went to Odysseus’s palace.
Telemachus went to the beach. His heart was heavy and a hundred thoughts clashed in his mind. He washed his hands in the ocean waters and knelt down and prayed to the gods. “O Gods, I don’t know which one of you came to my house yesterday, to inspire confidence and courage in me. I’m worried I may not be able to make the voyage as you suggested. Please help me!”
Goddess Athene heard his prayers. Taking the form of Mentes, she appeared beside the lad at once. “Telemachus, you spoke quite sensibly and with confidence in the Council. As I said earlier, you’ve inherited your father’s fine qualities. Don’t bother about the suitors and their conspiracies. They’re bound to perish at your father’s hands. I shall make arrangements for your voyage. Go home and collect the provisions you’ll need for the trip. Get ready some jars of wine, barley-meal, and other things,” she reassured Telemachus.
Telemachus found the suitors in his courtyard. They were skinning goats and roasting pigs for the next meal. When they saw the lad, they started teasing him. “Hey Telemachus, so you’re going on a voyage? What if you got lost and perished in the sea like your father? That’ll only double our troubles. We’ll have to divide your possessions also equally among us.”
The lad ignored their words and walked past. He met the maid in charge of the larder and asked her to get ready a few casks of wine and skins of barley-meal. When he said he was soon going on a voyage to gather news about his father, the faithful old woman expressed anxiety about his safety. Telemachus consoled her and swore her into secrecy. His voyage was not to be revealed until his mother enquired with her.
Meanwhile, Athena had arranged for a ship and collected a group of young men for the crew. At nightfall, Athene went to Odysseus’s palace and lulled the suitors to sleep. Then she called out for Telemachus softly. The crew hauled the provisions aboard and the ship set sail in the murky ocean waters.
Telemachus followed Athena on to the ship and sat next to her. Athena set a favourable wind into motion and the ship sped towards Pylos. Telemachus prayed to the gods for a successful voyage.
(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
- The Adventures of Odysseus - 12
Painting: Telemachus departing from Nestor by Henry Howard (1769–1847)
