The Odyssey

what advice does Eidothea, daughter of Proteus, the old man of te sea,give King Menelaos on how to catch her father and make Proteus tell Menelaos how to get home?

book IV the odysses

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Proteus' daughter, Eidothea, tells Menelaus to take 3 men (whom she covers with sheep skin) and wait until her father has finished counting his seals and fallen asleep. Then Menelaus is to grab Proteus and hold on regardless of whether Proteus becomes a lion, a boar, water, or fire. Only when Proteus stops morphing and starts asking questions should Menelaus let go and ask him how he can get out of Egypt. After gaining the necessary information about sacrifices and doubling back down the Nile, from Proteus, Menelaus inquires about Odysseus and learns he is being held by Calypso.

Source(s)

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/trojanwarinlit/a/OdysseyIV.htm