And long-robed Helen took the word and spake, saying:  ’Hear me, and I will prophesy as the immortals put it into my heart, and as I deem it will be accomplished.  Even as yonder eagle came down from the hill, the place of his birth and kin, and snatched away the goose that was fostered in the house, even so shall Odysseus return home after much trial and long wanderings and take vengeance; yea, or even now is he at home and sowing the seeds of evil for all the wooers.’

Then wise Telemachus answered her, saying:  ’Now may Zeus ordain it so, Zeus the thunderer and the lord of Here.  Then would I do thee worship, as to a god, even in my home afar.’

He spake and smote the horses with the lash, and they sped quickly towards the plain, in eager course through the city.  So all day long they swayed the yoke they bore upon their necks.  And the sun sank, and all the ways were darkened.  And they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles, son of Orsilochus, the child begotten of Alpheus.  There they rested for the night, and by them he set the entertainment of strangers.

Now so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, they yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid car.  And forth they drave from the gateway and the echoing gallery.  And he touched the horses with the whip to start them, and the pair flew onward nothing loth.  And soon thereafter they reached the steep hold of Pylos.  Then Telemachus spake unto the son of Nestor, saying: 

’Son of Nestor, in what wise mightest thou make me a promise and fulfil my bidding?  For we claim to be friends by reason of our fathers’ friendship from of old.  Moreover we are equals in age, and this journey shall turn to our greater love.  Take me not hence past my ship, O fosterling of Zeus, but leave me there, lest that old man keep me in his house in my despite, out of his eager kindness, for I must go right quickly home.’

So spake he, and the some of Nestor communed with his own heart how he might make promise, and duly fulfil the same.  So as he thought thereon, in this wise it seemed to him best.  He turned back his horses toward the swift ship and the sea-banks, and took forth the fair gifts and set them in the hinder part of the ship, the raiment and the gold which Menelaus gave him.  And he called to Telemachus and spake to him winged words: 

’Now climb the ship with all haste, and bid all thy company do likewise, ere I reach home and bring the old man word.  For well I know in my mind and heart that, being so wilful of heart, he will not let thee go, but he himself will come hither to bid thee to his house, and methinks that he will not go back without thee; for very wroth will he be despite thine excuse.’

Thus he spake, and drave the horses with the flowing manes back to the town of the Pylians, and came quickly to the halls.  And Telemachus called to his companions and commanded them, saying: 

’Set ye the gear in order, my friends, in the black ship, and let us climb aboard that we may make way upon our course.’