cruel stripes.  In such fashion he entered the foemen’s walls, as if he were a slave flying from a hard master.[1] And I alone in all the city knew who he was.  So I brought him to my house, and began to question him; but he made as if he understood not.  But when I entertained him as an honoured guest, and swore a solemn oath not to betray him, he trusted me, and declared all the purpose of the Greeks.  At dead of night he stole out into the town, and, having slain many of the Trojans with the edge of the sword, he went back to the camp, and brought much information to his friends.

[Footnote 1:  Compare the stratagem of Zopyrus, in “Stories from Greek History.”]

“When morning came, the voice of wailing rose high in the streets of Troy; but my heart rejoiced, for I was filled with longing for my home, and my eyes were opened to the folly which I had wrought by the beguilement of Aphrodite, when I left my fatherland and broke faith with my lord.”

“Tis a good story, and thou hast told it well, fair wife,” said Menelaus.  “Now hear my tale.  It was the time when I and the other champions were shut up in the wooden horse; and Odysseus was with us.  Then thou camest thither, led, I suppose, by some god, hostile to Greece, who wished to work our ruin; and Deiphobus followed thee.  Three times thou didst pace around our hollow ambush, feeling it with thy hands, and calling aloud to the princes of Greece by name; and thy voice was like the voice of all their wives.  There we sat, I, and Diomede, and the rest, and heard thee calling.  Now I and Diomede were minded to answer thee, or to go forth and confer with thee; but Odysseus suffered it not, and when one of our number was about to lift up his voice he pressed his hands on that foolish mouth, and restrained him by force until thou hadst left the place.  And so he saved all our lives.”

“Yes,” said Telemachus, “he had a heart of iron.  But what has it availed him?  It could not save him from ruin.  Howbeit, no more of this; ’tis time to go to rest and forget our cares in sleep.”

II

Early next morning Telemachus found his host sitting by his bedside; and as soon as he was dressed Menelaus led him to a quiet place, and inquired the reason of his coming.  He listened with attention while Telemachus explained the purpose of his visit; but when he heard of the suitors, and their riot and waste, he was filled with indignation.

“What!” he cried, “would these dastards fill the seat and wed the wife of that mighty man?  Their lot shall be the lot of a pair of fawns, left by the mother hind in a lion’s lair.  The hind goes forth to pasture, and in her absence the lion returns, and devours them where they lie.  Even so shall Odysseus return, and bring swift destruction on the whole crew.