"If only
the bright-eyed goddess chose to love you just
as she lavished care on brave Odysseus, years ago
in the land of Troy where we Achaeans struggled!
I’ve never seen the immortals show so much affection
as Pallas openly showed him, standing by your father –
if only she’d favor you, tend you with all her heart,
many a suitor then would lose all thought of marriage,
blotted out forever."
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 247-255. Nestor’s words to Telemachus, wishing that Athena loved and helped him as much as she did Odysseus, are ironic. For the reader is aware that the goddess cares very much for Telemachus and his father and is dedicated to helping them both.