Therewith the hero Atrides set the two-handled cup in his hands.  And the strong Megapenthes bare the shining silver bowl and set it before him.  And Helen came up, beautiful Helen, with the robe in her hands, and spake and hailed him: 

’Lo!  I too give thee this gift, dear child, a memorial of the hands of Helen, against the day of thy desire, even of thy bridal, for thy bride to wear it.  But meanwhile let it lie by thy dear mother in her chamber.  And may joy go with thee to thy well-builded house, and thine own country.’

With that she put it into his hands, and he took it and was glad.  And the hero Peisistratus took the gifts and laid them in the chest of the car, and gazed on all and wondered.  Then Menelaus of the fair hair led them to the house.  Then they twain sat them down on chairs and high seats, and a handmaid bare water for the hands in a goodly golden ewer, and poured it forth over a silver basin to wash withal, and drew to their side a polished table.  And a grave dame bare wheaten bread and set it by them, and laid on the board many dainties, giving freely of such things as she had by her.  And the son of Boethous carved by the board and divided the messes, and the son of renowned Menelaus poured forth the wine.  So they stretched forth their hands upon the good cheer set before them.  Now when they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, then did Telemachus and the glorious son of Nestor yoke the horses and climb into the inlaid car.  And they drave forth from the gateway and the echoing gallery.  After these Menelaus, of the fair hair, the son of Atreus, went forth bearing in his right hand a golden cup of honey-hearted wine, that they might pour a drink-offering ere they departed.  And he stood before the horses and spake his greeting: 

’Farewell, knightly youths, and salute in my name Nestor, the shepherd of the people; for truly he was gentle to me as a father, while we sons of the Achaeans warred in the land of Troy.’

And wise Telemachus answered him, saying:  ’Yea verily, O fosterling of Zeus, we will tell him all on our coming even as thou sayest.  Would God that when I return to Ithaca I may find Odysseus in his home and tell him all, so surely as now I go on my way having met with all loving-kindness at thy hands, and take with me treasures many and goodly!’

And even as he spake a bird flew forth at his right hand, an eagle that bare in his claws a great white goose, a tame fowl from the yard, and men and women followed shouting.  But the bird drew near them and flew off to the right, across the horses, and they that saw it were glad, and their hearts were all comforted within them.  And Peisistratus, son of Nestor, first spake among them: 

’Consider, Menelaus, fosterling of Zeus, leader of the people, whether god hath showed forth this sign for us twain, or for thee thyself.’

So spake he, and the warrior Menelaus pondered thereupon, how he should take heed to answer, and interpret it aright.