Then Menelaus drew near to Telemachus, and taking his hand kindly said:  “Welcome again, and thrice welcome to these halls, thou son of my trustiest friend and helper!  It was the dream of my life to bring Odysseus and all his household from Ithaca, and give him a home and a city in this land, that we might grow old together in friendship and loving-kindness, never to be parted until death.  But envious heaven has blighted my hopes and hindered his return.”

At these sad words every eye was moist, and all sat silent, absorbed in sorrowful memories.  Pisistratus was the first to speak, and his words roused the rest from their melancholy mood.  “Son of Atreus,” he said, “my father has often spoken of thy wisdom, and perchance it has taught thee that sorrow is an ill guest at a banquet.  The dead, indeed, claim their due, and he would be hard-hearted who would grudge them the poor tribute of a tear.  But we cannot mourn for ever, even for such a one as my brother Antilochus, whom I never saw, but thou knewest him well, stout in battle, and swift in the pursuit.”

“’Tis well said,” replied Menelaus.  “Thou art wise beyond thy years, and a true son of Nestor.  Happy is he, beyond the common lot of men, and smooth and fair runs the thread of his Destiny.  He dwells in a green old age in his father’s house, and sees his sons growing up around him, true heirs of his valour and prudence.  Now let us banish care, and get to our supper, for the day is far spent, and we have matter for talk which will last us all the morrow.”

When they had finished eating, and the cups were about to be replenished, Helen rose from her seat, and, whispering a few words to the cupbearer, left the hall.  In a few minutes she returned, carrying in her hand a small phial, whose contents she poured into the great mixing-bowl from which the cups were filled.  “Now, drink,” she said, “and fear not that black care will pay us a second visit to-night.  I have poured into the wine a drug of wondrous potency and virtue, which was given me in Egypt by Polydamna, the wife of Thon.  Many such drugs the soil of Egypt bears, some baneful and some good.  And the Egyptians are skilled in such craft beyond all mankind.  He who drinks of this drug will be armed for that day against all the assaults of sorrow, and will not shed one tear, though his father and mother were to die, no, not though he saw his brother or his son slain before his eyes.  So mighty is the virtue of this drug.”  And when they had drunk of the magic potion Helen began again:  “’Tis now the witching hour, when all hearts are opened, and the burden of life presses lightest on men’s shoulders.  Come, let me tell you a story, one among many, of the deeds and the hardihood of Odysseus.  It was in the days of the siege, and the Trojans were kept close prisoners in their city by the leaguer of the Greeks.  Then he disguised himself as a beggar, clothed himself in filthy rags, and marred his goodly person with