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Athene and Telemachos reach Pylos:
Telemachos stepped out of the ship, but Athene went first,
and it was the grey-eyed goddess Athene who first spoke to him:
"Telemachos, here is no more need at all of modesty;
for this was why you sailed on the open sea, to find news
of your father, what soil covers him, what fate he has met with.
So come now, go straight up to Nestor, breaker of horses,
for we know what intelligence is hidden inside him.
You yourself must entreat him to speak the whole truth to you.
He will not tell you any falsehood; he is too thoughtful."
Then the thoughtful Telemachos said to her in answer:
"Mentor, how shall I go up to him, how close with him?
I have no experience in close discourse. There is
embarrassment for a young man who must question his elder."
Then in turn the grey-eyed goddess Athene answered him:
"Telemachos, some of it you yourself will see in your own heart,
and some the divinity will put in your mind. I do not
think you could have been born and reared without the gods' will."
So spoke Pallas Athene, and she led the way swiftly,
and the man followed behind her walking in the god's footsteps. |
