Halitherses

The people wondered as they saw them, and asked each other what this might be.

whereon Halitherses, who was the best prophet and reader of omens among them, spoke to them plainly and in all honesty, saying, Hear me, men of Ithaca, and I speak more particularly to the suitors, for I see mischief brewing for them.

Ulysses is not going to be away much longer.

Indeed, he is close at hand to deal out death and destruction, not on them alone, but on many another of us who live in Ithaca.

Leocritus, son of Evanor, answered him, saying, "'Mentor, what folly is all this, that you should set the people to stay us? It is a hard thing for one man to fight with many about his victuals.

Even though Ulysses himself were to set upon us while we are feasting in his house, and do his best to oust us, his wife, who wants him back so very badly, would have small cause for rejoicing, and his blood would be upon his own head if he fought against such great odds.' There is no sense in what you have been saying.

Now, therefore, do you people go about your business, and let his father's old friends, Mentor and Halitherses, speed this boy on his journey, if he goes at all, which I do not think he will, for he is more likely to stay where he is till someone comes and tells him something.

On this he broke up the assembly, and every man went back to his own abode, while the suitors returned to the house of Ulysses.