he day of thy marriage, "when thy bride shall
wear it." A most beautiful motive, worthy indeed of Helen and of
Helen's art; Telemachus is to transfer to his bride, and to her alone,
his "keepsake of Helen," his memory of her, his ideal gotten during
this journey. Finally Helen appears as prophetess and foretells the
total destruction of the Suitors at the hands of returning Ulysses.
Such is the last appearance of Helen to Telemachus, giving strong
encouragement, suggesting in her two acts a new outlook for the youth
both upon Family and State. No wonder his words to her rise into
adoration: "Zeus so ordering, there at home I shall pray unto thee as
unto a God."

Telemachus in his return will not pass through Pylos lest he be delayed
by the importunate hospitality of good old Nestor. And indeed what can
he gain thereby? He has already seen and heard the Pylian sage. So he
sends the latter's son home while he himself goes aboard his ship. But
just before he sets sail, there comes "a stranger, a seer, a fugitive,
having slain a man." Theoclymenus it is, of the prophetic race of
Melampus, the history of which is here given. The victim of a fateful
deed now beseeches Telemachus for protection and receives it; the
prophet hereafter will give his forewarnings to the Suitors. Yet he
could not save himself from his own fate in spite of his foresight; so
all the seers of the family of Melampus have a strain of fatality in
them; they foreknow, but cannot master their destiny.

II. The scene shifts (l. 301) to the hut of the swineherd, which is the
present destination of Telemachus. The reader beholds a further
unfolding of the character of Eumaeus, in fact this portion of the Book
might be called his discipline or preparation to take part in the
impending enterprise.

Ulysses still further tests the charity and humanity of the swineherd
by offering to go to town in order to beg for his bread among the
Suitors, as well as to do their menial tasks. Whereat Eumaeus earnestly
seeks to dissuade him, reminding him of the insolence of those men and
of their elegant servants in livery, and assuring him that "no one here
is annoyed at thy presence, neither I nor the others." Well may Ulysses
respond to such a manifestation of charity. "May thou be as dear to
Zeus, the Father, as thou art to me!"

The stranger now tests the swineherd's interest in and devotion to
Laertes and Eurycleia, who are the parents of Ulysses, the old father
and