would come back; for his return is lost. But come, tell me this and detail it truly; Who art thou? from whence amongst men? where are thy city and thy parents? in what kind of a ship didst thou come? and how did sailors conduct thee to Ithaca? who do they boast themselves to be? for I do not think that thou didst by any means come hither on foot. And tell me this truly, that I may be well informed; whether art thou just now arrived, or art thou a guest of my father's? since many other men are acquainted with our house; for he was conversant with men."
But him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva addressed in turn: "I will tell thee then, indeed, these things very accurately; I say that I am[1] Mentes, the son of the warlike Anchialus, and I rule over the oar-loving Taphians. And I am now come hither with my ship and my companions, sailing over the dark sea to men of a different language, to Temese, for brass; and I [also] bring shining steel. But my ship is stationed off the country at a distance from the city, in the port Reithrus, under woody Neïus. But we say that we are guests of one another's fathers from the first, if thou shouldest go and inquire of the old hero Laertes; whom they say no longer comes to the city, but far off in the country endures griefs in company with an old female servant, who sets before him meat and drink, when labour comes upon his limbs, crawling over the fruitful soil of the wine-producing vineyard. But now I am come; for they for a long time said that thy father is returned; but now the gods hinder him on his journey: for divine Ulysses has not yet died on the earth, but is still detained alive some where on the wide ocean, in a sea-girt island; and cruel men are detaining him, savage, who keep him away some where against his will. But now, indeed, I will prophesy to thee, as the immortals suggest to my mind; and as I think will be brought to pass, not being at all a prophet, nor skilled in omens by birds. He will be absent not a long time from his dear father-land, even if bonds of steel hold him; but he will plan how he may return, since he is full of contrivances. But come, tell me this and detail it truly, whether thou, who art of such an age,[2] art of a truth the son
