Δ- Menelaus and Fair Helen

The two guests sat down as the custom of hospitality commanded at the wedding table, without yet revealing their names, and began a conversation with Menelaus about the futility of glory. Then the king wept over the death of his brother at Mycenae by his wife and her lover, and was moved when he remembered Odysseus who had not yet returned to his homeland. At that moment, Telemachus also wept upon hearing the story with his father.

Then the Beautiful Helen asked to know the reason why the two men came to Sparta. Telemachus and his companion introduced themselves, bringing tears to the eyes of Menelaus and those at the table.

Menelaus recounted his own adventures as well, until he and his wife managed to return to their home. When they set sail from Troy, his ship was blown by stormy winds as far away as Egypt. There the goddess Idothea, daughter of Proteus, took pity on them and helped them. He even told them that Odysseus was a captive of the witch Calypso on her island. "So far I know Telemachus, about Odysseus. May the gods help him to return too," replied Menelaus.

Meanwhile, the Suitors in Penelope's palace decided to set a murderous ambush on Telemachus on his return to Ithaca. A servant who heard them, went and informed Penelope. She wept sweetly, begging the goddess Athena for a while to protect her son, until she fell asleep exhausted. In a dream then the Goddess came to her transformed as her sister Iphthimi, who spoke words of comfort to her, assuring her that her son would return her safely.