The Odyssey 17.553–559
bids her make enquiry about her husband, though she has suffered many woes. And if she finds that thou speakest all things truly, she will clothe thee in a cloak and tunic, which thou needest most of all. As for thy food, thou shalt beg it through the land, and feed thy belly, and whoso will shall give it thee.”
ξεῖνε πάτερ, καλέει σε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
μήτηρ Τηλεμάχοιο· μεταλλῆσαί τί ἑ θυμὸς
ἀμφὶ πόσει κέλεται, καὶ κήδεά περ πεπαθυίῃ.
εἰ δέ κέ σε γνώῃ νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποντα,
ἕσσει σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, τῶν σὺ μάλιστα
χρηΐζεις· σῖτον δὲ καὶ αἰτίζων κατὰ δῆμον
γαστέρα βοσκήσεις· δώσει δέ τοι ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.