Antiphates became father of Oicleus, and Oicleus of Amphiaraus, who was dearly loved both by Jove and by Apollo, but he did not live to old age, for he was killed in Thebes by reason of a woman’s gifts.  His sons were Alcmaeon and Amphilochus.  Mantius, the other son of Melampus, was father to Polypheides and Cleitus.  Aurora, throned in gold, carried off Cleitus for his beauty’s sake, that he might dwell among the immortals, but Apollo made Polypheides the greatest seer in the whole world now that Amphiaraus was dead.  He quarrelled with his father and went to live in Hyperesia, where he remained and prophesied for all men.

His son, Theoclymenus, it was who now came up to Telemachus as he was making drink-offerings and praying in his ship.  “Friend,” said he, “now that I find you sacrificing in this place, I beseech you by your sacrifices themselves, and by the god to whom you make them, I pray you also by your own head and by those of your followers tell me the truth and nothing but the truth.  Who and whence are you?  Tell me also of your town and parents.”

Telemachus said, “I will answer you quite truly.  I am from Ithaca, and my father is Ulysses, as surely as that he ever lived.  But he has come to some miserable end.  Therefore I have taken this ship and got my crew together to see if I can hear any news of him, for he has been away a long time.”

“I too,” answered Theoclymenus, “am an exile, for I have killed a man of my own race.  He has many brothers and kinsmen in Argos, and they have great power among the Argives.  I am flying to escape death at their hands, and am thus doomed to be a wanderer on the face of the earth.  I am your suppliant; take me, therefore, on board your ship that they may not kill me, for I know they are in pursuit.”

“I will not refuse you,” replied Telemachus, “if you wish to join us.  Come, therefore, and in Ithaca we will treat you hospitably according to what we have.”

On this he received Theoclymenus’ spear and laid it down on the deck of the ship.  He went on board and sat in the stern, bidding Theoclymenus sit beside him; then the men let go the hawsers.  Telemachus told them to catch hold of the ropes, and they made all haste to do so.  They set the mast in its socket in the cross plank, raised it and made it fast with the forestays, and they hoisted their white sails with sheets of twisted ox hide.  Minerva sent them a fair wind that blew fresh and strong to take the ship on her course as fast as possible.  Thus then they passed by Crouni and Chalcis.

Presently the sun set and darkness was over all the land.  The vessel made a quick passage to Pheae and thence on to Elis, where the Epeans rule.  Telemachus then headed her for the flying islands, {132} wondering within himself whether he should escape death or should be taken prisoner.

Meanwhile Ulysses and the swineherd were eating their supper in the hut, and the men supped with them.  As soon as they had had to eat and drink, Ulysses began trying to prove the swineherd and see whether he would continue to treat him kindly, and ask him to stay on at the station or pack him off to the city; so he said: