Telemachus,  during  the  voyage,  prevails  upon  Mentor  to  explain  many  dif-
ficulties in  the  art  of  government,  particularly  that  of  distinguishing  the
characters  of  men,  so  as  to  employ  the  good,  and  avoid  being  deceived
by  the  bad.  During  this  conversation,  a  calm  obliges  them  to  put  into  a
little  island  where  Ulysses  had  just  gone  ashore.  Telemachus  sees  and
speaks  to  him  without  knowing  who  he  is ;  but,  after  having  seen  him
embark,  feels  a  secret  uneasiness,  of  which  he  cannot  imagine  the  cause.
Mentor  explains  it,  and  comforts  him,  assuring  him  that  he  shall  soon
meet  with  his  father  again.  He  puts  his  patience  and  piety  to  another
trial,  by  detaining  him  to  sacrifice  to  Minerva.  Finally,  the  goddess,
who  had  been  concealed  under  the  figure  of  Mentor,  resumes  her  own
form,  and  is  known  and  acknowledged  by  Telemachus.  She  gives  him
her  last  instructions,  and  disappears.  Telemachus  arrives  in  Ithaca,  and
finds  his  father  at  the  house  of  his  faithful  servant  Eumenes 539


LIFE    OF    FENELON

BY    LAMARTINE.
A.  D.  1651—1715.
