§15.74χρὴ ξεῖνον παρεόντα φιλεῖν, ἐθέλοντα δὲ πέμπειν.
One should cherish a guest while he is present, and send him on his way when he wishes to go.
§15.75ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θείω §15.76καλά, σὺ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδῃς, εἴπω δὲ γυναιξὶ §15.77δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.
But wait until I bring beautiful gifts and place them on your chariot, and you see them with your eyes, and I tell the women to prepare a meal in the halls from the abundant store within.
It is both a glory, a splendor, and a benefit, that you should dine before going over the wide, boundless earth.
§15.80εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις τραφθῆναι ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος, §15.81ὄφρα τοι αὐτὸς ἕπωμαι, ὑποζεύξω δέ τοι ἵππους, §15.82ἄστεα δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἡγήσομαι· οὐδέ τις ἡμέας §15.83αὔτως ἀππέμψει, δώσει δέ τι ἕν γε φέρεσθαι, §15.84ἠέ τινα τριπόδων εὐχάλκων ἠὲ λεβήτων, §15.85ἠὲ δύʼ ἡμιόνους ἠὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισον. §15.86τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα· §15.87Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν, §15.88βούλομαι ἤδη νεῖσθαι ἐφʼ ἡμέτερʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὄπισθεν §15.89οὖρον ἰὼν κατέλειπον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν·
And if you wish to turn your course through Hellas and mid-Argos, so that I myself may accompany you, I will yoke horses for you, and guide you through the cities of men; nor will anyone send us away empty-handed, but will give us some one thing to carry away, either some tripod of fine bronze, or a cauldron, or two mules, or a golden cup." To him in turn wise Telemachus spoke in answer: "Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the people, I wish now to return to our own home; for when I departed I left behind no guardian over my possessions.
§15.90μὴ πατέρʼ ἀντίθεον διζήμενος αὐτὸς ὄλωμαι, §15.91ἤ τί μοι ἐκ μεγάρων κειμήλιον ἐσθλὸν ὄληται. §15.92αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος, §15.93αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ᾗ ἀλόχῳ ἠδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε §15.94δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.
Lest while seeking my godlike father I myself should perish, or some goodly treasure be lost to me from my halls." When therefore Menelaus, good at the war-cry, heard this, straightway he ordered his wife and her handmaids to prepare a meal in the halls from the abundant store within.
§15.95ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Βοηθοΐδης Ἐτεωνεύς, §15.96ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολὺ ναῖεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ· §15.97τὸν πῦρ κῆαι ἄνωγε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος §15.98ὀπτῆσαί τε κρεῶν· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.
And near him came Eteoneus, son of Boethous, rising from his bed, since he dwelt not far from him; Menelaus, good at the war-cry, ordered him to kindle a fire and roast meat; and he indeed, having heard, did not disobey.
But he himself went down into his fragrant store-chamber, not alone, but Helen and Megapenthes went with him.
§15.101ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι κειμήλια κεῖτο, §15.102Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἔπειτα δέπας λάβεν ἀμφικύπελλον, §15.103υἱὸν δὲ κρητῆρα φέρειν Μεγαπένθεʼ ἄνωγεν §15.104ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο φωριαμοῖσιν,
But when indeed they came where the treasures were stored, then the son of Atreus took a two-handled cup, and ordered his son Megapenthes to carry a mixing-bowl of silver; and Helen stood by the chests, where were her richly-embroidered robes, which she herself had wrought.
§15.105ἔνθʼ ἔσαν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλοι, οὓς κάμεν αὐτή. §15.106τῶν ἕνʼ ἀειραμένη Ἑλένη φέρε, δῖα γυναικῶν, §15.107ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος, §15.108ἀστὴρ δʼ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν· ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.
One of these Helen, fairest of women, lifted and carried, which was the most beautiful in embroidery and the largest, and shone like a star; and it lay beneath all the others.
§15.109βὰν δʼ ἰέναι προτέρω διὰ δώματος, ἧος ἵκοντο §15.110Τηλέμαχον· τὸν δὲ προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος· §15.111Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι νόστον, ὅπως φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς, §15.112ὥς τοι Ζεὺς τελέσειεν, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.
And they went forward through the house until they came to Telemachus; and fair-haired Menelaus spoke to him: "Telemachus, indeed may Zeus, the loud-thundering husband of Hera, accomplish for you your return, just as you desire in your heart.
And of the gifts, as many as are stored as treasures in my house, I will give you the one which is finest and most precious.
§15.115δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ §15.116ἐστὶν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται, §15.117ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο· πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως, §15.118Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε §15.119κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι. §15.120ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον §15.121ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης· ὁ δʼ ἄρα κρητῆρα φαεινὸν §15.122θῆκʼ αὐτοῦ προπάροιθε φέρων κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης, §15.123ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο καλλιπάρῃος §15.124πέπλον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χερσίν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε· §15.125δῶρόν τοι καὶ ἐγώ, τέκνον φίλε, τοῦτο δίδωμι, §15.126μνῆμʼ Ἑλένης χειρῶν, πολυηράτου ἐς γάμου ὥρην, §15.127σῇ ἀλόχῳ φορέειν· τῆος δὲ φίλῃ παρὰ μητρὶ §15.128κείσθω ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ.
I will give you a well-wrought mixing-bowl; it is all of silver, and the lips are finished with gold, the work of Hephaestus; and the hero Phadimus, king of the Sidonians, gave it to me, when his house sheltered me as I returned thence; and to you I wish to present this." Thus having spoken, the hero, son of Atreus, placed the two-handled cup in his hand; and then strong Megapenthes brought the shining silver mixing-bowl and set it before him; and fair-cheeked Helen stood by him having the robe in her hands, and spoke and addressed him: "I too give you this gift, dear child, a memorial of Helen's hands, for the season of your longed-for marriage, for your wife to wear; but until then let it lie in your hall beside your dear mother.
σὺ δέ μοι χαίρων ἀφίκοιο §15.129οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν. §15.130ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.
And may you return with joy to your well-built house and to your native land." Thus having spoken, she placed it in his hands, and he received it rejoicing.
And the hero Pisistratus received them and placed them in the wicker-basket, and admired them all in his heart.
§15.133τοὺς δʼ ἦγε πρὸς δῶμα κάρη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος. §15.134ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε.
And fair-haired Menelaus led them to the house; and then they sat down on the couches and chairs.
§15.135χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα §15.136καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος, §15.137νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
And a handmaid brought water in a beautiful golden pitcher and poured it over a silver basin, to wash their hands; and beside them she drew a polished table.
And the respected housekeeper brought bread and set it before them, laying on many dainties, favoring them from what was at hand.
And near them the son of Boethous carved the meat and distributed portions, and the son of glorious Menelaus poured the wine.
§15.142οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
And they stretched forth their hands to the good things lying ready before them.