“Thou sayest well,” answered Odysseus; “I have no mind to remain here.  I am too old to take orders from a master, and it is better to beg my living in the town than in the fields.  Therefore I will go, when I have warmed me at the fire, and the sun is up; for I am ill equipped to face the frosts of morning.”

Away went Telemachus, covering the ground with rapid strides, his mind occupied all the way with thoughts of vengeance against the wooers.  The first who saw him when he crossed the threshold of his home was his old nurse, Eurycleia, who was just then spreading fleeces on the seats in the great hall.  With a cry of joy she ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and all the faithful handmaids of Penelope crowded round to welcome their young master home.  The sound of their voices reached the ears of Penelope, and with swift steps she came gliding into the hall, fair as Artemis, or golden Aphrodite.  When she saw Telemachus she flung her arms round his neck and covered his face with kisses.  “Welcome,” she sobbed, “Telemachus, my heart’s darling, restored to me beyond all hope!  Say, hast thou brought any news of thy father?”

But Telemachus was too full of the stern task which lay before him to leave room for softer emotions.  Gently extricating himself from his mother’s embrace he said:  “Dear mother, thou shalt hear all in due season; at present I have other work to do.  Go thou to thy chamber, and put on clean raiment, and when thou hast purified thyself pray to all the immortal gods to hasten the day of atonement for those who have wronged our house.  I will return presently, when I have done my business in the town.”

The gentle Penelope went to do her son’s bidding, and Telemachus started for the town, with two hounds following close at his heels.  He seemed taller and manlier after his short absence, and many an eye followed him with wonder as he passed through the streets.  Presently he came to the place where the wooers were assembled, and they came crowding about him with false words of welcome.  But he turned his back on them with scorn, and seeing a little group of his father’s friends, among whom were Mentor and the aged Halitherses, he went and sat down among them.  While they were questioning him about his travels, Peiraeus came up, bringing with him the seer, Theoclymenus, whom Telemachus had left in his charge the day before.  “I restore to thee thy guest,” said Peiraeus, “who has been entertained in all honour at my house; and if thou wilt send thy handmaids, I will deliver unto them the treasure which thou hast brought with thee from Pylos.”

“I thank thee,” answered Telemachus; “Theoclymenus shall go with me; but as to the treasure, do thou keep it for me until these evil days are passed.  If aught untoward befall me, I had rather it remained with thee than that it should fall into the hands of the wooers.”