They reached the low lying city of
Lacedaemon, where they drove straight to the halls of Menelaos. They
found him in his own house, feasting with his many clansmen in honor
of the wedding of his son, and also of his daughter, whom he was
marrying to the son of that valiant warrior Achilles. He had given
his consent and promised her to him while he was still at Troy, and
now the gods were bringing the marriage about; so he was sending her
with chariots and horses to the city of the Myrmidons over whom
Achilles’ son was reigning. For his only son he had found a
bride from Sparta, daughter of Alektor. This son, Megapenthes, was
born to him of a bondwoman, for heaven granted Helen no more children
after she had borne Hermione, who was fair as golden Aphrodite
herself.
So the neighbors and kinsmen of
Menelaos were feasting and making merry in his house. There was a
singer also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two tumblers
went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up
with his tune.
Telemakhos and the son of Nestor
stayed their horses at the gate, whereon Eteoneus servant to Menelaos
came out, and as soon as he saw them ran hurrying back into the house
to tell his Master. He went close up to him and said, "Menelaos,
there are some strangers come here, two men, who look like sons of
Zeus. What are we to do? Shall we take their horses out, or tell them
to find friends elsewhere as they best can?"
Menelaos was very angry and said,
"Eteoneus, son of Boethoos, you never used to be a fool, but now you
talk like a simpleton. Take their horses out, of course, and show the
strangers in that they may have supper; you and I have stayed often
enough at other people's houses before we got back here, where
heaven grant that we may rest in peace henceforward."
Homer. The Odyssey. Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Samuel Butler. Based on public domain edition, revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. A. C. Fifield, London. 1900 (?).
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