“But as to thy question concerning Menelaus, he left Troy in my company, as I told thee, and we sailed together as far as Sunium.  There Menelaus lost his steersman, who was visited by Apollo with sudden death, as he sat by the helm; so he remained there to bury his comrade.  But his misfortunes were not yet over; for when he reached the steep headland at Malea a violent storm arose, and parted his fleet.  Some of his ships ran into Crete for shelter, while he himself was carried away to Egypt, where he remained many days, and gathered store of wealth.

“Now thou understandest why AEgisthus was able to work his will on Agamemnon, and why he escaped vengeance so long.  For seven years he sat on the throne of golden Mycenae, and grievously oppressed the people.  But in the eighth year came Orestes, and cut him off in the fulness of his sin; and on that very day Menelaus came to him, loaded with the treasures of Egypt.

“Far and long had he wandered; but so do not thou, my child.  Leave not thy house unguarded, while so many foes are gathered against thee, lest when thou return thou find thyself stripped of all.  But to Menelaus I would have thee go; him thou must by all means consult; for who knows what he may have learnt on that wondrous voyage?  Vast is the space of water over which he has travelled, not to be measured in one year by a bird in her speediest flight.  If thou wilt, thou canst go to Sparta in thy ship, or if thou choose to go by land, my chariots and my horses are thine for this service, and my sons shall guide you on the way.”

II

Amid such talk as this, with many a brave story “of moving accidents by flood and field,” and many a pithy saw from the white-haired Nestor, who had lived so long and seen so much, the hours glided swiftly by, and the red sun was stooping to the horizon when Mentor rose from his seat and said:  “We must be going; the hour of rest is at hand, and to-morrow we have far to go.”

“Tarry yet a little,” said Nestor, “and eat a morsel and drink a cup with us.  And after that, if ye are fain to sleep, ye shall have fit lodging in my house.  Heaven forbid that I should suffer such guests as you to sleep on the cold deck, covered with dew, as if I were some needy wretch, with never a blanket to spare for a friend.  May the gods preserve me from such a reproach!”

“Thou sayest well,” answered Mentor, “and Telemachus shall be thy guest to-night.  But for me, I pray thee have me excused.  My place is on the ship, that I may give an eye to the crew, for I am the only man of experience among them.  And to-morrow I must go to Elis, to recover a debt of long standing due to me there.  I leave Telemachus to thy care, that thou mayest cherish him and speed him on his way.”