[Illustration:  Telemachus departing from Nestor]

That night they slept at the house of a friend, and early next day they continued their journey.  The way grew steep and difficult, great masses of mountains rose near at hand, and at length they entered a wide valley, covered with waving fields of corn.  By sunset they reached the end of their journey, and drew up before the stately portals of King Menelaus.

Telemachus at Sparta

I

Menelaus was keeping the double marriage feast of his son and daughter, and his house was thronged with wedding guests.  All sat silent and attentive, listening to the strains of a harper, and watching the gambols of a pair of tumblers, who were whirling in giddy reels round the hall.  Presently voices were heard at the entrance, and one of the squires of Menelaus came and informed his master that two strangers of noble mien were standing without, craving hospitality.  “Shall I bring them in,” asked the squire, “or send them on to another house?”

“Hast thou lost thy wits?” answered Menelaus in some heat, being touched in his most sensitive point.  “Shall we, who owe so much to the kindness of strangers, in the long years of our wanderings, send any man from our doors?  Unyoke the horses, and bid our new guests enter.”

Four or five servants hastened to do his bidding.  The horses, covered with sweat from their hard journey, were unyoked and led into the stable, and Telemachus, with his companion, was ushered with all courtesy into the great hall of Menelaus.  The palace was one of the wealthiest and most splendid in Greece; and Telemachus, accustomed to a much humbler style of dwelling, stood amazed at the glories which met his eyes.  After bathing and changing their raiment they returned to the hall, and were assigned places close to the chair of Menelaus.

The prince greeted them kindly, and said:  “Welcome to our halls, young sirs.  Ye are, as I see, of no mean descent, for Zeus has set his stamp on your faces,[1] and none can mistake the signs of kingly birth.  When ye have eaten, we will inquire of you further.”

[Footnote 1:  In Homer, all kings and their families are supposed to be descended from Zeus.]

A plentiful and delicate meal was promptly set before the young travellers, and they ate and drank with keen appetite.  When they had finished, Telemachus said to Pisistratus, speaking low, that he might not be overheard:  “Dear son of Nestor, is not this a brave place!  Hast thou ever seen such lavish ornament of silver, and gold, and ivory?  Surely such is the dwelling of Olympian Zeus; more magnificent it can hardly be.”