Odyssey — The Odyssey: Book 24

“Eumaeus, and all of you, to-morrow I want to go away and begin begging about the town, so as to be no more trouble to you or to your men.

Give me your advice therefore, and let me have a good guide to go with me and show me the way.

I will go the round of the city begging as I needs must, to see if any one will give me a drink and a piece of bread.

I

should like also to go to the house of Ulysses and bring news of her husband to Queen Penelope.

I could then go about among the suitors and see if out of all their abundance they will give me a dinner.

I should soon make them an excellent servant in all sorts of ways.

Listen and believe when I tell you that by the blessing of Mercury who gives grace and good name to the works of all men, there is no one living who would make a more handy servant than I should—to put fresh wood on the fire, chop fuel, carve, cook, pour out wine, and do all those services that poor men have to do for their betters.

” The swineherd was very much disturbed when he heard this.

“Heaven help me,” he exclaimed, “what ever can have put such a notion as that into your head?

If you go near the suitors you will be undone to a certainty, for their pride and insolence reach the very heavens.

They would never think of taking a man like you for a servant.

Their servants are all young men, well dressed, wearing good cloaks and shirts, with well looking faces and their hair always tidy, the tables are kept quite clean and are loaded with bread, meat, and wine.

Stay where you are, then; you are not in anybody’s way; I do not mind your being here, no more do any of the others, and when Telemachus comes home he will give you a shirt and cloak and will send you wherever you want to go.

” Ulysses answered, “I hope you may be as dear to the gods as you are to me, for having saved me from going about and getting into trouble;

there is nothing worse than being always on the tramp; still, when men have once got low down in the world they will go through a great deal on behalf of their miserable bellies.

Since, however, you press me to stay here and await the return of Telemachus, tell me about Ulysses’ mother, and his father whom he left on the threshold of old age when he set out for Troy.

Are they still living or are they already dead and in the house of Hades?

” “I will tell you all about them,” replied Eumaeus, “Laertes is still living and prays heaven to let him depart peacefully in his own house, for he is terribly distressed about the absence of his son, and also about the death of his wife, which grieved him greatly and aged him more than anything else did.

She came to an unhappy end133 through sorrow for her son: may no friend or neighbour who has dealt kindly by me come to such an end as she did.

As long as she was still living, though she was always grieving, I used to like seeing her and asking her how she did, for she brought me up along with her daughter Ctimene, the youngest of her children; we were boy and girl together, and she made little difference between us.

When, however, we both grew up, they sent Ctimene to Same and received a splendid dowry for her.

As for me, my mistress gave me a good shirt and cloak with a pair of sandals for my feet, and sent me off into the country, but she was just as fond of me as ever.

This is all over now.

Still it has pleased heaven to prosper my work in the situation which I now hold.

I have enough to eat and drink, and can find something for any respectable stranger who comes here; but there is no getting a kind word or deed out of my mistress, for the house has fallen into the hands of wicked people.

Servants want sometimes to see their mistress and have a talk with her;

they like to have something to eat and drink at the house, and something too to take back with them into the country.

This is what will keep servants in a good humour.

” Ulysses answered, “Then you must have been a very little fellow, Eumaeus, when you were taken so far away from your home and parents.

Tell me, and tell me true, was the city in which your father and mother lived sacked and pillaged, or did some enemies carry you off when you were alone tending sheep or cattle, ship you off here, and sell you for whatever your master gave them?

” “Stranger,” replied Eumaeus, “as regards your question: sit still, make yourself comfortable, drink your wine, and listen to me.

The nights are now at their longest; there is plenty of time both for sleeping and sitting up talking together; you ought not to go to bed till bed time, too much sleep is as bad as too little; if any one of the others wishes to go to bed let him leave us and do so; he can then take my master’s pigs out when he has done breakfast in the morning.

We too will sit here eating and drinking in the hut, and telling one another stories about our misfortunes; for when a man has suffered much, and been buffeted about in the world, he takes pleasure in recalling the memory of sorrows that have long gone by.

As regards your question, then, my tale is as follows: “You may have heard of an island called Syra that lies over above Ortygia,134 where the land begins to turn round and look in another direction.

135 It is not very thickly peopled, but the soil is good, with much pasture fit for cattle and sheep, and it abounds with wine and wheat.

Dearth never comes there, nor are the people plagued by any sickness, but when they grow old Apollo comes with Diana and kills them with his painless shafts.

It contains two communities, and the whole country is divided between these two.

My father Ctesius son of Ormenus, a man comparable to the gods, reigned over both.

“Now to this place there came some cunning traders from Phoenicia (for the Phoenicians are great mariners) in a ship which they had freighted with gewgaws of all kinds.

There happened to be a Phoenician woman in my father’s house, very tall and comely, and an excellent servant;

these scoundrels got hold of her one day when she was washing near their ship, seduced her, and cajoled her in ways that no woman can resist, no matter how good she may be by nature.

The man who had seduced her asked her who she was and where she came from, and on this she told him her father’s name.

‘I come from Sidon,’ said she, ‘and am daughter to Arybas, a man rolling in wealth.

One day as I was coming into the town from the country, some Taphian pirates seized me and took me here over the sea, where they sold me to the man who owns this house, and he gave them their price for me.

’ “The man who had seduced her then said, ‘Would you like to come along with us to see the house of your parents and your parents themselves?

They are both alive and are said to be well off.

’ “‘I will do so gladly,’ answered she, ‘if you men will first swear me a solemn oath that you will do me no harm by the way.

’ “They all swore as she told them, and when they had completed their oath the woman said, ‘Hush; and if any of your men meets me in the street or at the well, do not let him speak to me, for fear some one should go and tell my master, in which case he would suspect something.

He would put me in prison, and would have all of you murdered; keep your own counsel therefore; buy your merchandise as fast as you can, and send me word when you have done loading.

I will bring as much gold as I can lay my hands on, and there is something else also that I can do towards paying my fare.

I am nurse to the son of the good man of the house, a funny little fellow just able to run about.

I will carry him off in your ship, and you will get a great deal of money for him if you take him and sell him in foreign parts.

’ “On this she went back to the house.

The Phoenicians stayed a whole year till they had loaded their ship with much precious merchandise, and then, when they had got freight enough, they sent to tell the woman.

Their messenger, a very cunning fellow, came to my father’s house bringing a necklace of gold with amber beads strung among it; and while my mother and the servants had it in their hands admiring it and bargaining about it, he made a sign quietly to the woman and then went back to the ship, whereon she took me by the hand and led me out of the house.

In the fore part of the house she saw the tables set with the cups of guests who had been feasting with my father, as being in attendance on him; these were now all gone to a meeting of the public assembly, so she snatched up three cups and carried them off in the bosom of her dress, while I followed her, for I knew no better.

The sun was now set, and darkness was over all the land, so we hurried on as fast as we could till we reached the harbour, where the Phoenician ship was lying.

When they had got on board they sailed their ways over the sea, taking us with them, and Jove sent then a fair wind; six days did we sail both night and day, but on the seventh day Diana struck the woman and she fell heavily down into the ship’s hold as though she were a sea gull alighting on the water; so they threw her overboard to the seals and fishes, and I was left all sorrowful and alone.

Presently the winds and waves took the ship to Ithaca, where Laertes gave sundry of his chattels for me, and thus it was that ever I came to set eyes upon this country.

” Ulysses answered, “Eumaeus, I have heard the story of your misfortunes with the most lively interest and pity, but Jove has given you good as well as evil, for in spite of everything you have a good master, who sees that you always have enough to eat and drink; and you lead a good life, whereas I am still going about begging my way from city to city.

” Thus did they converse, and they had only a very little time left for sleep, for it was soon daybreak.

In the mean time Telemachus and his crew were nearing land, so they loosed the sails, took down the mast, and rowed the ship into the harbour.

136 They cast out their mooring stones and made fast the hawsers; they then got out upon the sea shore, mixed their wine, and got dinner ready.

As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Telemachus said, “Take the ship on to the town, but leave me here, for I want to look after the herdsmen on one of my farms.

In the evening, when I have seen all I want, I will come down to the city, and to-morrow morning in return for your trouble I will give you all a good dinner with meat and wine.

” 137 Then Theoclymenus said, “And what, my dear young friend, is to become of me?

To whose house, among all your chief men, am I to repair?

or shall I go straight to your own house and to your mother?

” “At any other time,” replied Telemachus, “I should have bidden you go to my own house, for you would find no want of hospitality; at the present moment, however, you would not be comfortable there, for I shall be away, and my mother will not see you; she does not often show herself even to the suitors, but sits at her loom weaving in an upper chamber, out of their way; but I can tell you a man whose house you can go to—I mean Eurymachus the son of Polybus, who is held in the highest estimation by every one in Ithaca.

He is much the best man and the most persistent wooer, of all those who are paying court to my mother and trying to take Ulysses’ place.

Jove, however, in heaven alone knows whether or no they will come to a bad end before the marriage takes place.

” As he was speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand—a hawk, Apollo’s messenger.

It held a dove in its talons, and the feathers, as it tore them off,138 fell to the ground midway between Telemachus and the ship.

On this Theoclymenus called him apart and caught him by the hand.

“Telemachus,” said he, “that bird did not fly on your right hand without having been sent there by some god.

As soon as I saw it I knew it was an omen; it means that you will remain powerful and that there will be no house in Ithaca more royal than your own.

” “I wish it may prove so,” answered Telemachus.

“If it does, I will show you so much good will and give you so many presents that all who meet you will congratulate you.

” Then he said to his friend Piraeus, “Piraeus, son of Clytius, you have throughout shown yourself the most willing to serve me of all those who have accompanied me to Pylos; I wish you would take this stranger to your own house and entertain him hospitably till I can come for him.

” And Piraeus answered, “Telemachus, you may stay away as long as you please, but I will look after him for you, and he shall find no lack of hospitality.

” As he spoke he went on board, and bade the others do so also and loose the hawsers, so they took their places in the ship.

But Telemachus bound on his sandals, and took a long and doughty spear with a head of sharpened bronze from the deck of the ship.

Then they loosed the hawsers, thrust the ship off from land, and made on towards the city as they had been told to do, while Telemachus strode on as fast as he could, till he reached the homestead where his countless herds of swine were feeding, and where dwelt the excellent swineherd, who was so devoted a servant to his master.

BOOK XVI ULYSSES REVEALS HIMSELF TO TELEMACHUS.

Meanwhile Ulysses and the swineherd had lit a fire in the hut and were were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, for they had sent the men out with the pigs.

When Telemachus came up, the dogs did not bark but fawned upon him, so Ulysses, hearing the sound of feet and noticing that the dogs did not bark, said to Eumaeus: “Eumaeus, I hear footsteps; I suppose one of your men or some one of your acquaintance is coming here, for the dogs are fawning upon him and not barking.

” The words were hardly out of his mouth before his son stood at the door.

Eumaeus sprang to his feet, and the bowls in which he was mixing wine fell from his hands, as he made towards his master.

He kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes, and wept for joy.

A father could not be more delighted at the return of an only son, the child of his old age, after ten years’ absence in a foreign country and after having gone through much hardship.

He embraced him, kissed him all over as though he had come back from the dead, and spoke fondly to him saying: “So you are come, Telemachus, light of my eyes that you are.

When I heard you had gone to Pylos I made sure I was never going to see you any more.

Come in, my dear child, and sit down, that I may have a good look at you now you are home again; it is not very often you come into the country to see us herdsmen; you stick pretty close to the town generally.

I suppose you think it better to keep an eye on what the suitors are doing.

” “So be it, old friend,” answered Telemachus, “but I am come now because I want to see you, and to learn whether my mother is still at her old home or whether some one else has married her, so that the bed of Ulysses is without bedding and covered with cobwebs.

” “She is still at the house,” replied Eumaeus, “grieving and breaking her heart, and doing nothing but weep, both night and day continually.

” As he spoke he took Telemachus’ spear, whereon he crossed the stone threshold and came inside.

Ulysses rose from his seat to give him place as he entered, but Telemachus checked him; “Sit down, stranger,” said he, “I can easily find another seat, and there is one here who will lay it for me.

” Ulysses went back to his own place, and Eumaeus strewed some green brushwood on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of it for Telemachus to sit upon.

Then the swineherd brought them platters of cold meat, the remains from what they had eaten the day before, and he filled the bread baskets with bread as fast as he could.

He mixed wine also in bowls of ivy-wood, and took his seat facing Ulysses.

Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Telemachus said to Eumaeus, “Old friend, where does this stranger come from?

How did his crew bring him to Ithaca, and who were they?

—for assuredly he did not come here by land.

” To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, “My son, I will tell you the real truth.

He says he is a Cretan, and that he has been a great traveller.

At this moment he is running away from a Thesprotian ship, and has taken refuge at my station, so I will put him into your hands.

Do whatever you like with him, only remember that he is your suppliant.

” “I am very much distressed,” said Telemachus, “by what you have just told me.

How can I take this stranger into my house?

I am as yet young, and am not strong enough to hold my own if any man attacks me.

My mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay where she is and look after the house out of respect for public opinion and the memory of her husband, or whether the time is now come for her to take the best man of those who are wooing her, and the one who will make her the most advantageous offer; still, as the stranger has come to your station I will find him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with a sword and sandals, and will send him wherever he wants to go.

Or if you like you can keep him here at the station, and I will send him clothes and food that he may be no burden on you and on your men; but I will not have him go near the suitors, for they are very insolent, and are sure to ill treat him in a way that would greatly grieve me; no matter how valiant a man may be he can do nothing against numbers, for they will be too strong for him.

” Then Ulysses said, “Sir, it is right that I should say something myself.

I am much shocked about what you have said about the insolent way in which the suitors are behaving in despite of such a man as you are.

Tell me, do you submit to such treatment tamely, or has some god set your people against you?

May you not complain of your brothers—for it is to these that a man may look for support, however great his quarrel may be?

I wish I were as young as you are and in my present mind; if I were son to Ulysses, or, indeed, Ulysses himself, I would rather some one came and cut my head off, but I would go to the house and be the bane of every one of these men.

139 If they were too many for me—I being single-handed—I would rather die fighting in my own house than see such disgraceful sights day after day, strangers grossly maltreated, and men dragging the women servants about the house in an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and bread wasted all to no purpose for an end that shall never be accomplished.

” And Telemachus answered, “I will tell you truly everything.

There is no enmity between me and my people, nor can I complain of brothers, to whom a man may look for support however great his quarrel may be.

Jove has made us a race of only sons.

Laertes was the only son of Arceisius, and Ulysses only son of Laertes.

I am myself the only son of Ulysses who left me behind him when he went away, so that I have never been of any use to him.

Hence it comes that my house is in the hands of numberless marauders; for the chiefs from all the neighbouring islands, Dulichium, Same, Zacynthus, as also all the principal men of Ithaca itself, are eating up my house under the pretext of paying court to my mother, who will neither say point blank that she will not marry, nor yet bring matters to an end, so they are making havoc of my estate, and before long will do so with myself into the bargain.

The issue, however, rests with heaven.

But do you, old friend Eumaeus, go at once and tell Penelope that I am safe and have returned from Pylos.

Tell it to herself alone, and then come back here without letting any one else know, for there are many who are plotting mischief against me.

” “I understand and heed you,” replied Eumaeus; “you need instruct me no further, only as I am going that way say whether I had not better let poor Laertes know that you are returned.

He used to superintend the work on his farm in spite of his bitter sorrow about Ulysses, and he would eat and drink at will along with his servants; but they tell me that from the day on which you set out for Pylos he has neither eaten nor drunk as he ought to do, nor does he look after his farm, but sits weeping and wasting the flesh from off his bones.

” “More’s the pity,” answered Telemachus, “I am sorry for him, but we must leave him to himself just now.

If people could have everything their own way, the first thing I should choose would be the return of my father; but go, and give your message; then make haste back again, and do not turn out of your way to tell Laertes.

Tell my mother to send one of her women secretly with the news at once, and let him hear it from her.

” Thus did he urge the swineherd; Eumaeus, therefore, took his sandals, bound them to his feet, and started for the town.

Minerva watched him well off the station, and then came up to it in the form of a woman—fair, stately, and wise.

She stood against the side of the entry, and revealed herself to Ulysses, but Telemachus could not see her, and knew not that she was there, for the gods do not let themselves be seen by everybody.

Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, for they did not bark, but went scared and whining off to the other side of the yards.

She nodded her head and motioned to Ulysses with her eyebrows; whereon he left the hut and stood before her outside the main wall of the yards.

Then she said to him: “Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, it is now time for you to tell your son: do not keep him in the dark any longer, but lay your plans for the destruction of the suitors, and then make for the town.

I will not be long in joining you, for I too am eager for the fray.

” As she spoke she touched him with her golden wand.

First she threw a fair clean shirt and cloak about his shoulders; then she made him younger and of more imposing presence; she gave him back his colour, filled out his cheeks, and let his beard become dark again.

Then she went away and Ulysses came back inside the hut.

His son was astounded when he saw him, and turned his eyes away for fear he might be looking upon a god.

“Stranger,” said he, “how suddenly you have changed from what you were a moment or two ago.

You are dressed differently and your colour is not the same.

Are you some one or other of the gods that live in heaven?

If so, be propitious to me till I can make you due sacrifice and offerings of wrought gold.

Have mercy upon me.

” And Ulysses said, “I am no god, why should you take me for one?

I am your father, on whose account you grieve and suffer so much at the hands of lawless men.

” As he spoke he kissed his son, and a tear fell from his cheek on to the ground, for he had restrained all tears till now.

But Telemachus could not yet believe that it was his father, and said: “You are not my father, but some god is flattering me with vain hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter; no mortal man could of himself contrive to do as you have been doing, and make yourself old and young at a moment’s notice, unless a god were with him.

A second ago you were old and all in rags, and now you are like some god come down from heaven.

” Ulysses answered, “Telemachus, you ought not to be so immeasurably astonished at my being really here.

There is no other Ulysses who will come hereafter.

Such as I am, it is I, who after long wandering and much hardship have got home in the twentieth year to my own country.

What you wonder at is the work of the redoubtable goddess Minerva, who does with me whatever she will, for she can do what she pleases.

At one moment she makes me like a beggar, and the next I am a young man with good clothes on my back; it is an easy matter for the gods who live in heaven to make any man look either rich or poor.

” As he spoke he sat down, and Telemachus threw his arms about his father and wept.

They were both so much moved that they cried aloud like eagles or vultures with crooked talons that have been robbed of their half fledged young by peasants.

Thus piteously did they weep, and the sun would have gone down upon their mourning if Telemachus had not suddenly said, “In what ship, my dear father, did your crew bring you to Ithaca?

Of what nation did they declare themselves to be—for you cannot have come by land?

” “I will tell you the truth, my son,” replied Ulysses.

“It was the Phaeacians who brought me here.

They are great sailors, and are in the habit of giving escorts to any one who reaches their coasts.

They took me over the sea while I was fast asleep, and landed me in Ithaca, after giving me many presents in bronze, gold, and raiment.

These things by heaven’s mercy are lying concealed in a cave, and I am now come here on the suggestion of Minerva that we may consult about killing our enemies.

First, therefore, give me a list of the suitors, with their number, that I may learn who, and how many, they are.

I can then turn the matter over in my mind, and see whether we two can fight the whole body of them ourselves, or whether we must find others to help us.

” To this Telemachus answered, “Father, I have always heard of your renown both in the field and in council, but the task you talk of is a very great one: I am awed at the mere thought of it; two men cannot stand against many and brave ones.

There are not ten suitors only, nor twice ten, but ten many times over; you shall learn their number at once.

There are fifty-two chosen youths from Dulichium, and they have six servants; from Same there are twenty-four; twenty young Achaeans from Zacynthus, and twelve from Ithaca itself, all of them well born.

They have with them a servant Medon, a bard, and two men who can carve at table.

If we face such numbers as this, you may have bitter cause to rue your coming, and your revenge.

See whether you cannot think of some one who would be willing to come and help us.

” “Listen to me,” replied Ulysses, “and think whether Minerva and her father Jove may seem sufficient, or whether I am to try and find some one else as well.

” “Those whom you have named,” answered Telemachus, “are a couple of good allies, for though they dwell high up among the clouds they have power over both gods and men.

” “These two,” continued Ulysses, “will not keep long out of the fray, when the suitors and we join fight in my house.

Now, therefore, return home early to-morrow morning, and go about among the suitors as before.

Later on the swineherd will bring me to the city disguised as a miserable old beggar.

If you see them ill treating me, steel your heart against my sufferings; even though they drag me feet foremost out of the house, or throw things at me, look on and do nothing beyond gently trying to make them behave more reasonably; but they will not listen to you, for the day of their reckoning is at hand.

Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart; when Minerva shall put it in my mind, I will nod my head to you, and on seeing me do this you must collect all the armour that is in the house and hide it in the strong store room.

Make some excuse when the suitors ask you why you are removing it; say that you have taken it to be out of the way of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what it was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled and begrimed with soot.

Add to this more particularly that you are afraid Jove may set them on to quarrel over their wine, and that they may do each other some harm which may disgrace both banquet and wooing, for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them.

But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself and me, and a couple of oxhide shields so that we can snatch them up at any moment; Jove and Minerva will then soon quiet these people.

There is also another matter; if you are indeed my son and my blood runs in your veins, let no one know that Ulysses is within the house—neither Laertes, nor yet the swineherd, nor any of the servants, nor even Penelope herself.

Let you and me exploit the women alone, and let us also make trial of some other of the men servants, to see who is on our side and whose hand is against us.

” “Father,” replied Telemachus, “you will come to know me by and by, and when you do you will find that I can keep your counsel.

I do not think, however, the plan you propose will turn out well for either of us.

Think it over.

It will take us a long time to go the round of the farms and exploit the men, and all the time the suitors will be wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction.

Prove the women by all means, to see who are disloyal and who guiltless, but I am not in favour of going round and trying the men.

We can attend to that later on, if you really have some sign from Jove that he will support you.

” Thus did they converse, and meanwhile the ship which had brought Telemachus and his crew from Pylos had reached the town of Ithaca.

When they had come inside the harbour they drew the ship on to the land;

their servants came and took their armour from them, and they left all the presents at the house of Clytius.

Then they sent a servant to tell Penelope that Telemachus had gone into the country, but had sent the ship to the town to prevent her from being alarmed and made unhappy.

This servant and Eumaeus happened to meet when they were both on the same errand of going to tell Penelope.

When they reached the House, the servant stood up and said to the queen in the presence of the waiting women, “Your son, Madam, is now returned from Pylos”; but Eumaeus went close up to Penelope, and said privately all that her son had bidden him tell her.

When he had given his message he left the house with its outbuildings and went back to his pigs again.

The suitors were surprised and angry at what had happened, so they went outside the great wall that ran round the outer court, and held a council near the main entrance.

Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak.

“My friends,” said he, “this voyage of Telemachus’s is a very serious matter; we had made sure that it would come to nothing.

Now, however, let us draw a ship into the water, and get a crew together to send after the others and tell them to come back as fast as they can.

” He had hardly done speaking when Amphinomus turned in his place and saw the ship inside the harbour, with the crew lowering her sails, and putting by their oars; so he laughed, and said to the others, “We need not send them any message, for they are here.

Some god must have told them, or else they saw the ship go by, and could not overtake her.

” On this they rose and went to the water side.

The crew then drew the ship on shore; their servants took their armour from them, and they went up in a body to the place of assembly, but they would not let any one old or young sit along with them, and Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke first.

“Good heavens,” said he, “see how the gods have saved this man from destruction.

We kept a succession of scouts upon the headlands all day long, and when the sun was down we never went on shore to sleep, but waited in the ship all night till morning in the hope of capturing and killing him; but some god has conveyed him home in spite of us.

Let us consider how we can make an end of him.

He must not escape us; our affair is never likely to come off while he is alive, for he is very shrewd, and public feeling is by no means all on our side.

We must make haste before he can call the Achaeans in assembly; he will lose no time in doing so, for he will be furious with us, and will tell all the world how we plotted to kill him, but failed to take him.

The people will not like this when they come to know of it; we must see that they do us no hurt, nor drive us from our own country into exile.

Let us try and lay hold of him either on his farm away from the town, or on the road hither.

Then we can divide up his property amongst us, and let his mother and the man who marries her have the house.

If this does not please you, and you wish Telemachus to live on and hold his father’s property, then we must not gather here and eat up his goods in this way, but must make our offers to Penelope each from his own house, and she can marry the man who will give the most for her, and whose lot it is to win her.

” They all held their peace until Amphinomus rose to speak.

He was the son of Nisus, who was son to king Aretias, and he was foremost among all the suitors from the wheat-growing and well grassed island of Dulichium; his conversation, moreover, was more agreeable to Penelope than that of any of the other suitors, for he was a man of good natural disposition.

“My friends,” said he, speaking to them plainly and in all honestly, “I am not in favour of killing Telemachus.

It is a heinous thing to kill one who is of noble blood.

Let us first take counsel of the gods, and if the oracles of Jove advise it, I will both help to kill him myself, and will urge everyone else to do so; but if they dissuade us, I would have you hold your hands.

” Thus did he speak, and his words pleased them well, so they rose forthwith and went to the house of Ulysses, where they took their accustomed seats.

Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself to the suitors.

She knew of the plot against Telemachus, for the servant Medon had overheard their counsels and had told her; she went down therefore to the court attended by her maidens, and when she reached the suitors she stood by one of the bearing-posts supporting the roof of the cloister holding a veil before her face, and rebuked Antinous saying: “Antinous, insolent and wicked schemer, they say you are the best speaker and counsellor of any man your own age in Ithaca, but you are nothing of the kind.

Madman, why should you try to compass the death of Telemachus, and take no heed of suppliants, whose witness is Jove himself?

It is not right for you to plot thus against one another.

Do you not remember how your father fled to this house in fear of the people, who were enraged against him for having gone with some Taphian pirates and plundered the Thesprotians who were at peace with us?

They wanted to tear him in pieces and eat up everything he had, but Ulysses stayed their hands although they were infuriated, and now you devour his property without paying for it, and break my heart by wooing his wife and trying to kill his son.

Leave off doing so, and stop the others also.

” To this Eurymachus son of Polybus answered, “Take heart, Queen Penelope daughter of Icarius, and do not trouble yourself about these matters.

The man is not yet born, nor never will be, who shall lay hands upon your son Telemachus, while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth.

I say—and it shall surely be—that my spear shall be reddened with his blood; for many a time has Ulysses taken me on his knees, held wine up to my lips to drink, and put pieces of meat into my hands.

Therefore Telemachus is much the dearest friend I have, and has nothing to fear from the hands of us suitors.

Of course, if death comes to him from the gods, he cannot escape it.

” He said this to quiet her, but in reality he was plotting against Telemachus.

Then Penelope went upstairs again and mourned her husband till Minerva shed sleep over her eyes.

In the evening Eumaeus got back to Ulysses and his son, who had just sacrificed a young pig of a year old and were helping one another to get supper ready; Minerva therefore came up to Ulysses, turned him into an old man with a stroke of her wand, and clad him in his old clothes again, for fear that the swineherd might recognise him and not keep the secret, but go and tell Penelope.

Telemachus was the first to speak.

“So you have got back, Eumaeus,” said he.

“What is the news of the town?

Have the suitors returned, or are they still waiting over yonder, to take me on my way home?

” “I did not think of asking about that,” replied Eumaeus, “when I was in the town.

I thought I would give my message and come back as soon as I could.

I met a man sent by those who had gone with you to Pylos, and he was the first to tell the news to your mother, but I can say what I saw with my own eyes; I had just got on to the crest of the hill of Mercury above the town when I saw a ship coming into harbour with a number of men in her.

They had many shields and spears, and I thought it was the suitors, but I cannot be sure.

” On hearing this Telemachus smiled to his father, but so that Eumaeus could not see him.

Then, when they had finished their work and the meal was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied.

As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.

BOOK XVII

TELEMACHUS AND HIS MOTHER MEET—ULYSSES AND EUMAEUS COME DOWN TO THE TOWN, AND ULYSSES IS INSULTED BY MELANTHIUS—HE IS RECOGNISED BY THE DOG ARGOS—HE IS INSULTED AND PRESENTLY STRUCK BY ANTINOUS WITH A STOOL—PENELOPE DESIRES THAT HE SHALL BE SENT TO HER.

When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, Telemachus bound on his sandals and took a strong spear that suited his hands, for he wanted to go into the city.

“Old friend,” said he to the swineherd, “I will now go to the town and show myself to my mother, for she will never leave off grieving till she has seen me.

As for this unfortunate stranger, take him to the town and let him beg there of any one who will give him a drink and a piece of bread.

I have trouble enough of my own, and cannot be burdened with other people.

If this makes him angry so much the worse for him, but I like to say what I mean.

” Then Ulysses said, “Sir, I do not want to stay here; a beggar can always do better in town than country, for any one who likes can give him something.

I am too old to care about remaining here at the beck and call of a master.

Therefore let this man do as you have just told him, and take me to the town as soon as I have had a warm by the fire, and the day has got a little heat in it.

My clothes are wretchedly thin, and this frosty morning I shall be perished with cold, for you say the city is some way off.

” On this Telemachus strode off through the yards, brooding his revenge upon the suitors.

When he reached home he stood his spear against a bearing-post of the cloister, crossed the stone floor of the cloister itself, and went inside.

Nurse Euryclea saw him long before any one else did.

She was putting the fleeces on to the seats, and she burst out crying as she ran up to him; all the other maids came up too, and covered his head and shoulders with their kisses.

Penelope came out of her room looking like Diana or Venus, and wept as she flung her arms about her son.

She kissed his forehead and both his beautiful eyes, “Light of my eyes,” she cried as she spoke fondly to him, “so you are come home again; I made sure I was never going to see you any more.

To think of your having gone off to Pylos without saying anything about it or obtaining my consent.

But come, tell me what you saw.

” “Do not scold me, mother,” answered Telemachus, “nor vex me, seeing what a narrow escape I have had, but wash your face, change your dress, go upstairs with your maids, and promise full and sufficient hecatombs to all the gods if Jove will only grant us our revenge upon the suitors.

I must now go to the place of assembly to invite a stranger who has come back with me from Pylos.

I sent him on with my crew, and told Piraeus to take him home and look after him till I could come for him myself.

” She heeded her son’s words, washed her face, changed her dress, and vowed full and sufficient hecatombs to all the gods if they would only vouchsafe her revenge upon the suitors.

Telemachus went through, and out of, the cloisters spear in hand—not alone, for his two fleet dogs went with him.

Minerva endowed him with a presence of such divine comeliness that all marvelled at him as he went by, and the suitors gathered round him with fair words in their mouths and malice in their hearts; but he avoided them, and went to sit with Mentor, Antiphus, and Halitherses, old friends of his father’s house, and they made him tell them all that had happened to him.

Then Piraeus came up with Theoclymenus, whom he had escorted through the town to the place of assembly, whereon Telemachus at once joined them.

Piraeus was first to speak: “Telemachus,” said he, “I wish you would send some of your women to my house to take away the presents Menelaus gave you.

” “We do not know, Piraeus,” answered Telemachus, “what may happen.

If the suitors kill me in my own house and divide my property among them, I would rather you had the presents than that any of those people should get hold of them.

If on the other hand I managed to kill them, I shall be much obliged if you will kindly bring me my presents.

” With these words he took Theoclymenus to his own house.

When they got there they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats, went into the baths, and washed themselves.

When the maids had washed and anointed them, and had given them cloaks and shirts, they took their seats at table.

A maid servant then brought them water in a beautiful golden ewer, and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands;

and she drew a clean table beside them.

An upper servant brought them bread and offered them many good things of what there was in the house.

Opposite them sat Penelope, reclining on a couch by one of the bearing-posts of the cloister, and spinning.

Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Penelope said: “Telemachus, I shall go upstairs and lie down on that sad couch, which I have not ceased to water with my tears, from the day Ulysses set out for Troy with the sons of Atreus.

You failed, however, to make it clear to me before the suitors came back to the house, whether or no you had been able to hear anything about the return of your father.

” “I will tell you then truth,” replied her son.

“We went to Pylos and saw Nestor, who took me to his house and treated me as hospitably as though I were a son of his own who had just returned after a long absence; so also did his sons; but he said he had not heard a word from any human being about Ulysses, whether he was alive or dead.

He sent me, therefore, with a chariot and horses to Menelaus.

There I saw Helen, for whose sake so many, both Argives and Trojans, were in heaven’s wisdom doomed to suffer.

Menelaus asked me what it was that had brought me to Lacedaemon, and I told him the whole truth, whereon he said, ‘So, then, these cowards would usurp a brave man’s bed?

A hind might as well lay her new-born young in the lair of a lion, and then go off to feed in the forest or in some grassy dell.

The lion, when he comes back to his lair, will make short work with the pair of them, and so will Ulysses with these suitors.

By father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, if Ulysses is still the man that he was when he wrestled with Philomeleides in Lesbos, and threw him so heavily that all the Greeks cheered him—if he is still such, and were to come near these suitors, they would have a short shrift and a sorry wedding.

As regards your question, however, I will not prevaricate nor deceive you, but what the old man of the sea told me, so much will I tell you in full.

He said he could see Ulysses on an island sorrowing bitterly in the house of the nymph Calypso, who was keeping him prisoner, and he could not reach his home, for he had no ships nor sailors to take him over the sea.