They talked on, and little of the night remained for sleep before Dawn. Meanwhile Telemachus’s ship drew near land. They furled the sail, took down the mast, and rowed to the anchorage. They cast the anchors and made the stern cables fast. Then they stepped onto the shore, prepared a meal, and mixed sparkling wine. When they had eaten, Telemachus spoke:
“You others, take the ship on to the city. I will go to the fields and the herdsmen. This evening, after I have looked over my farms, I will come down to town. In the morning I will set a feast before you for your trouble on this voyage.”
Theoclymenus asked, “Where am I to go, dear friend? To which of the chiefs’ houses — or straight to yours and your mother’s?” Telemachus said, “At another time I would send you to my own house; you would lack nothing. Now it would go hard with you — I will be away, and Penelope keeps to her rooms. She rarely shows herself among the suitors, but stays upstairs weaving.”
As he spoke a bird flew by on the right — a hawk, Apollo’s swift messenger, clutching a dove. Feathers drifted between ship and Telemachus. Theoclymenus called him apart from the others, clasped his hand, and said, “Telemachus, that bird did not fly without a god’s will. I knew it when I saw it. No family in Ithaca is more kingly than yours; you will hold power forever.”
Telemachus answered, “Stranger, I wish your words may prove true. If they do, you will meet such friendship and gifts from me that anyone who meets you will call you blessed.” Then he said to his companion Piraeus, “Piraeus, son of Clytius, of all who sailed with me to Pylos you have been the most ready in my service. Take this stranger to your house. Care for him kindly until I come.”
Piraeus answered, “Telemachus, stay as long as you like. I will look after him, and he will not lack welcome.” He went aboard and told the others to cast off. They took their places. But Telemachus bound on his sandals, took a sturdy spear tipped with sharp bronze, and the ship sailed for the city. He strode quickly until he reached the farmstead where his swine were, and where the loyal swineherd slept with a heart friendly to his masters.