King Nestor, Book III

After Telemachus and Athena arrive at Pylos, they are greeted by King Nestor, his sons and nobles at a feast. Observing the proper forms for greeting guests, King Nestor invites the strangers to join them. Before partaking of the generous helpings of meat and drink, Athena offered a libation to her uncle, Poseidon. After the feasting was done, Nestor asked about his guests, using the accustomed formula: Now's the time, now they've enjoyed their meal, to probe our guests and find out who they are. Strangers-friends, who are you? Where did you sail from, over the running sea-lanes? Out on a trading spree or roving the waves like pirates, sea-wolves raiding at will, who risk their lives to plunder other men? (III, 77-83) Telemachus, inspired by Athena, replied to Nestor's questions: Nestor, son of Neleus, Achaea's pride and glory- where are we from, you ask? I will tell you all. We hail from Ithaca, under the heights of Nion. Our mission here is personal, nothing public now, I am on the trail of my father's widespread fame, you see, searching the earth to catch some news King Nestor of great-hearted King Odysseus, who, they say, fought with you to demolish Troy some years ago. (III, 87-94) Nestor details the fighting on the plains of Troy, and indicates that: “.. . no one there could hope to rival Odysseus,/not for sheer cunning-/at every twist of strategy he excelled us all./Your father, yes, if you are in fact his son” (III, 134-137). Nestor's ambiguous acceptance of Telemachus as the son of Odysseus, would have unnerved the Prince earlier in the tale, but now, it does not seem to affect him. Nestor then relates the death of Agamemnon, returning to the theme of the parallel between Orestes/Agamemnon and Telemachus/Odysseus: But Atreus' son Agamemnon . . .you yourselves, even in far-off Ithaca, must have heard how he returned, how Aegisthus hatched the king's horrendous death. But what a price he paid, in blood, in suffering. Ah how fine it is, when a man is brought down, to leave a son behind! Orestes took revenge, He killed that cunning, murderous Aegisthus, who's killed his famous father. And you, my friend- how tall and handsome I see you now-be brave, you too, so men to come will sing your praises down the years. (III 218-227)