s: for methinks they follow hard after me.'


s: And wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Surely I will


s: not drive thee away from our good ship, if thou art fain to


s: come. Follow thou with us then, and in Ithaca thou shalt be


s: Therewith he took from him his spear of bronze, and laid it


s: along the deck of the curved ship, and himself too climbed


s: the seafaring ship. Then he sat him down in the stern and


s: made Theoclymenus to sit beside him; and his company loosed


s: the hawsers. Then Telemachus called unto his company, and


s: bade them lay hands on the tackling, and speedily they


s: hearkened to his call. So they raised the mast of pine


s: tree, and set it in the hole of the cross plank and made it


s: fast with forestays, and hauled up the white sails with


s: twisted ropes of ox-hide. And grey-eyed Athene sent them a


s: favouring breeze, rushing violently through the clear sky


s: that the ship might speedily finish her course over the


s: salt water of the sea. So they passed by Crouni and


s: And the sun set and all the ways were darkened. And the


s: vessel drew nigh to Pheae, being sped before the breeze of


s: Zeus, and then passed goodly Elis where the Epeans bear


s: rule. From thence he drave on again to the Pointed Isles,


s: pondering whether he should escape death or be cut off.


s: Now Odysseus and the goodly swineherd were supping in the


s: hut, and the other men sat at meat with them. So when they


s: had put from them the desire of meat and drink, Odysseus


s: spake among them, to prove the swineherd, whether he would


s: still entertain him diligently, and bid him abide there in


s: the steading or send him forward to the city:


s: 'Listen now, Eumaeus, and all the others of the company. In


s: the morning I would fain be gone to the town to go a


s: begging, that I be not ruinous to thyself and thy fellows.


s: Now advise me well, and lend me a good guide by the way to


s: lead me thither; and through the city will I wander alone


s: as needs I must, if perchance one may give me a cup of


s: water and a morsel of bread. Moreover I would go to the


s: house of divine Odysseus and bear tidings to the wise


s: Penelope, and consort with the wanton wooers, if haply they


s: might grant me a meal out of the boundless store that they


s: have by them. Lightly might I do good service among them,


s: even all that they would. For lo! I will tell thee and do


s: thou mark and listen. By the favour of Hermes, the


s: messenger, who gives grace and glory to all men's work, no


s: mortal may vie with me in the business of a serving-man, in


s: and roasting flesh and in pouring of wine, those offices


s: wherein meaner men serve their betters.'


s: Then didst thou speak to him in heaviness of heart,


s: swineherd Eumaeus: 'Ah! wherefore, stranger, hath such a


s: thought arisen in thine heart? Surely thou art set on


s: perishing utterly there, if thou wouldest indeed go into


s: the throng of the wooers, whose outrage and violence


s: reacheth even to the iron heaven! Not such as thou are


s: their servants; they that minister to them are young and


s: gaily clad in mantles and in doublets, and their heads are


s: anointed with oil and they are fair of face, and the


s: polished boards are laden with bread and flesh and wine.


s: Nay, abide here, for none is vexed by thy presence, neither


s: I nor any of my fellows that are with me. But when the dear


s: son of Odysseus comes, he himself will give thee a mantle


s: and a doublet for raiment, and will send thee whithersoever


s: Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him: 'Oh, that


s: thou mayst so surely be dear to father Zeus as thou art to


s: me, in that thou didst make me to cease from wandering and


s: dread woe! For there is no other thing more mischievous to


s: men than roaming; yet for their cursed belly's need men


s: endure sore distress, to whom come wandering and


s: tribulation and pain. But behold now, since thou stayest me


s: here, and biddest me wait his coming, tell me of the mother


s: of divine Odysseus, and of the father whom at his departure


s: he left behind him on the threshold of old age; are they,


s: it may be, yet alive beneath the sunlight, or already dead


s: Then spake to him the swineherd, a master of men: 'Yea now,


s: stranger, I will plainly tell thee all. Laertes yet lives,


s: and prays evermore to Zeus that his life may waste from out


s: his limbs within his halls. For he has wondrous sorrow for


s: his son that is far away, and for the wedded lady his wise


s: wife, whose death afflicted him in chief and brought him to


s: old age before his day. Now she died of very grief for her


s: son renowned, by an evil death, so may no man perish who


s: dwells here and is a friend to me in word and deed! So long


s: as she was on earth, though in much sorrow, I was glad to


s: ask and enquire concerning her, for that she herself had


s: reared me along with long-robed Ctimene, her noble


s: daughter, the youngest of her children. With her I was


s: reared, and she honoured me little less than her own. But


s: when we both came to the time of our desire, to the flower


s: of age, thereupon they sent her to Same, and got a great


s: bride-price; but my lady clad me in a mantle and a doublet,


s: raiment very fair, and gave me sandals for my feet and sent


s: me forth to the field, and right dear at heart she held me.


s: But of these things now at last am I lacking; yet the


s: blessed gods prosper the work of mine own hands, whereat I


s: abide. Of this my substance I have eaten and drunken and


s: given to reverend strangers. But from my lady I may hear


s: naught pleasant, neither word nor deed, for evil hath


s: fallen on her house, a plague of froward men; yet thralls


s: have a great desire to speak before their mistress and find


s: out all eat and drink, and moreover to carry off somewhat


s: with them to the field, such things as ever comfort the


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'Ah,


s: Eumaeus, how far then didst thou wander from thine own


s: country and thy parents while as yet thou wast but a child!


s: But come, declare me this and plainly tell it all. Was a


s: wide-wayed town of men taken and sacked, wherein dwelt thy


s: father and thy lady mother, or did unfriendly men find thee


s: lonely, tending sheep or cattle, and shipped thee thence,


s: and sold thee into the house of thy master here, who paid


s: Then spake to him the swineherd, a master of men: Stranger,


s: since thou askest and questionest me hereof, give heed now


s: in silence and make merry, and abide here drinking wine.


s: Lo, the nights now are of length untold. Time is there to


s: sleep, and time to listen and be glad; thou needest not


s: turn to bed before the hour; even too much sleep is


s: vexation of spirit. But for the rest, let him whose heart


s: and mind bid him, go forth and slumber, and at the dawning


s: of the day let him break his fast, and follow our master's


s: swine. But let us twain drink and feast within the


s: steading, and each in his neighbour's sorrows take delight,


s: recalling them, for even the memory of griefs is a joy to a


s: man who hath been sore tried and wandered far. Wherefore I


s: will tell thee that whereof thou askest and dost question


s: 'There is a certain isle called Syria, if haply thou hast


s: heard tell of it, over above Ortygia, and there are the


s: turning-places of the sun. It is not very great in compass,


s: though a goodly isle, rich in herds, rich in flocks, with


s: plenty of corn and wine. Dearth never enters the land, and


s: no hateful sickness falls on wretched mortals. But when the


s: tribes of men grow old in that city, then comes Apollo of


s: the silver bow, with Artemis, and slays them with the


s: visitation of his gentle shafts. In that isle are two


s: cities, and the whole land is divided between them, and my


s: father was king over the twain, Ctesius son of Ormenus, a


s: 'Thither came the Phoenicians, mariners renowned, greedy


s: merchant men, with countless gauds in a black ship. Now in


s: my father's house was a Phoenician woman, tall and fair and


s: skilled in bright handiwork; this woman the Phoenicians


s: with their sleights beguiled. First as she was washing


s: clothes, one of them lay with her in love by the hollow


s: ship, for love beguiles the minds of womankind, even of the


s: upright. Then he asked her who she was and whence she came,


s: and straightway she showed him the lofty home of my father,


s: '"From out of Sidon I avow that I come, land rich in


s: bronze, and I am the daughter of Arybas, the deeply


s: wealthy. But Taphians, who were sea-robbers, laid hands on


s: me and snatched me away as I came in from the fields, and


s: brought me hither and sold me into the house of my master,


s: 'Then the man who had lain with her privily, answered:


s: "Say, wouldst thou now return home with us, that thou mayst


s: look again on the lofty house of thy father and mother and


s: on their faces? For truly they yet live, and have a name


s: 'Then the woman answered him and spake, saying: "Even this


s: may well be, if ye sailors will pledge me an oath to bring


s: 'So spake she, and they all swore thereto as she bade them.


s: Now when they had sworn and done that oath, again the woman


s: '"Hold your peace now, and let none of your fellows speak


s: to me and greet me, if they meet me in the street, or even


s: at the well, lest one go and tell it to the old man at


s: home, and he suspect somewhat and bind me in hard bonds and


s: devise death for all of you. But keep ye the matter in


s: mind, and speed the purchase of your homeward freight. And


s: when your ship is freighted with stores, let a message come


s: quickly to me at the house; for I will likewise bring gold,


s: all that comes under my hand. Yea and there is another


s: thing that I would gladly give for my fare. I am nurse to


s: the child of my lord in the halls, a most cunning little


s: boy, that runs out and abroad with me. Him would I bring on


s: board ship, and he should fetch you a great price,


s: wheresoever ye take him for sale among men of strange


s: 'Therewith she went her way to the fair halls. But they


s: abode among us a whole year, and got together much wealth


s: in their hollow ship. And when their hollow ship was now


s: laden to depart, they sent a messenger to tell the tidings


s: to the woman. There came a man versed in craft to my


s: father's house, with a golden chain strung here and there


s: with amber beads. Now the maidens in the hall and my lady


s: mother were handling the chain and gazing on it, and


s: offering him their price; but he had signed silently to the


s: woman, and therewithal gat him away to the hollow ship.


s: Then she took me by the hand and led me forth from the


s: house. And at the vestibule of the house she found the cups


s: and the tables of the guests that had been feasting, who


s: were in waiting on my father. They had gone forth to the


s: session and the place of parley of the people. And she


s: straightway hid three goblets in her bosom, and bare them


s: away, and I followed in my innocence. Then the sun sank and


s: all the ways were darkened and we went quickly and came to


s: the good haven, where was the swift ship of the


s: Phoenicians. So they climbed on board and took us up with


s: them, and sailed over the wet ways, and Zeus sent us a


s: favouring wind. For six days we sailed by day and night


s: continually; but when Zeus, son of Cronos, added the


s: seventh day thereto, then Artemis, the archer, smote the


s: woman that she fell, as a sea-swallow falls, with a plunge


s: into the hold. And they cast her forth to be the prey of


s: seals and fishes, but I was left stricken at heart. And


s: wind and water bare them and brought them to Ithaca, where


s: Laertes bought me with his possessions. And thus it chanced


s: Then Odysseus, of the seed of Zeus, answered him saying:


s: 'Eumaeus, verily thou hast stirred my heart within me with


s: the tale of all these things, of all the sorrow of heart


s: thou hast endured. Yet surely Zeus hath given thee good as


s: well as evil, since after all these adventures thou hast


s: come to the house of a kindly man, who is careful to give


s: thee meat and drink and right well thou livest. But I have


s: come hither still wandering through the many towns of men.'


s: Thus they spake one with the other. Then they laid them


s: down to sleep for no long while, but for a little space,


s: for soon came the throned Dawn. But on the shore the


s: company of Telemachus were striking their sails, and took


s: down the mast quickly and rowed the ship on to anchorage.


s: And they cast anchors and made fast the hawsers, and


s: themselves too stept forth upon the strand of the sea, and


s: made ready the midday meal, and mixed the dark wine. Now


s: when they had put from them the desire of meat and drink,


s: 'Do ye now drive the black ship to the city, while I will


s: go to the fields and to the herdsmen, and at even I will


s: return to the city, when I have seen my lands. And in the


s: morning I will set by you the wages of the voyage, a good


s: Then godlike Theoclymenus answered him: 'And whither shall


s: I go, dear child? To what man's house shall I betake me, of


s: such as are lords in rocky Ithaca? Shall I get me straight


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'In other case I


s: would bid thee go even to our own house; for there is no


s: lack of cheer for strangers, but now would it be worse for


s: thyself, forasmuch as I shall be away nor would my mother


s: see thee. For she comes not often in sight of the wooers in


s: the house, but abides apart from them in her upper chamber,


s: and weaves at her web. Yet there is one whom I will tell


s: thee of, to whom thou mayst go, Eurymachus the glorious son


s: of wise Polybus, whom now the men of Ithaca look upon, even


s: as if he were a god. For he is far the best man of them


s: all, and is most eager to wed my mother and to have the


s: sovereignty of Odysseus. Howbeit, Olympian Zeus, that


s: dwells in the clear sky, knows hereof, whether or no he


s: will fulfill for them the evil day before their marriage.'


s: Now even as he spake, a bird flew out on the right, a hawk,


s: the swift messenger of Apollo. In his talons he held a dove


s: and plucked her, and shed the feathers down to the earth,


s: midway between the ship and Telemachus himself. Then


s: Theoclymenus called him apart from his fellows, and clasped


s: 'Telemachus, surely not without the god's will hath the


s: bird flown out on the right, for I knew when I saw him that


s: he was a bird of omen. There is no other house more kingly


s: than yours in the land of Ithaca; nay, ye have ever the


s: And wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Ah, stranger,


s: would that this word may be accomplished! Soon shouldest


s: thou be aware of kindness and many a gift at my hands, so


s: that whoso met with thee would call thee blessed.'


s: Then he spake to Piraeus, his trusty companion: 'Piraeus,


s: son of Clytius, thou that at other seasons hearkenest to me


s: above all my company who went with me to Pylos, even now, I


s: pray, lead this stranger home with thee, and give heed to


s: treat him lovingly and with worship in thy house till I


s: Then Piraeus, spearsman renowned, answered him saying:


s: 'Telemachus, why, even if thou shouldest tarry here long,


s: yet will I entertain this man, and he shall have no lack of


s: Therewith he went on board, and bade his men themselves to


s: mount and loose the hawsers. And quickly they embarked and


s: sat upon the benches. And Telemachus bound his goodly


s: sandals beneath his feet, and seized a mighty spear, shod


s: with sharp bronze, from the deck of the ship and his men


s: loosed the hawsers. So they thrust off and sailed to the


s: city, as Telemachus bade them, the dear son of divine


s: Odysseus. But swiftly his feet bore him on his forward way,


s: till he came to the court, where were his swine out of


s: number; and among them the good swineherd slept, a man


s: Telemachus sends Eumaeus to the city to tell his mother of


s: his return. And how, in the meantime, Odysseus discovers


s: Now these twain, Odysseus and the goodly swineherd, within


s: the hut had kindled a fire, and were making ready breakfast


s: at the dawn, and had sent forth the herdsmen with the


s: droves of swine. And round Telemachus the hounds, that love


s: to bark, fawned and barked not, as he drew nigh. And goodly


s: Odysseus took note of the fawning of the dogs, and the


s: noise of footsteps fell upon his ears. Then straight he


s: 'Eumaeus, verily some friend or some other of thy familiars


s: will soon be here, for the dogs do not bark but fawn


s: around, and I catch the sound of footsteps.'


s: While the word was yet on his lips, his own dear son stood


s: at the entering in of the gate. Then the swineherd sprang


s: up in amazement, and out of his hands fell the vessels


s: wherewith he was busied in mingling the dark wine. And he


s: came over against his master and kissed his head and both


s: his beautiful eyes and both his hands, and he let a great


s: tear fall. And even as a loving father welcomes his son


s: that has come in the tenth year from a far country, his


s: only son and well-beloved, for whose sake he has had great


s: sorrow and travail, even so did the goodly swineherd fall


s: upon the neck of godlike Telemachus, and kiss him all over


s: as one escaped from death, and he wept aloud and spake to


s: 'Thou art come, Telemachus, a sweet light in the dark;


s: methought I should see thee never again, after thou hadst


s: gone in thy ship to Pylos. Nay now enter, dear child, that


s: my heart may be glad at the sight of thee in mine house,


s: who hast newly come from afar. For thou dost not often


s: visit the field and the herdsmen, but abidest in the town;


s: so it seems has thy good pleasure been, to look on the


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'So be it,


s: father, as thou sayest; and for thy sake am I come hither


s: to see thee with mine eyes, and to hear from thy lips


s: whether my mother yet abides in the halls or another has


s: already wedded her, and the couch of Odysseus, perchance,


s: lies in lack of bedding and deep in foul spider-webs.'


s: Then the swineherd, a master of men, answered him: 'Yea


s: verily, she abides with patient spirit in thy halls, and


s: wearily for her the nights wane always and the days, in


s: So he spake and took from him the spear of bronze. Then


s: Telemachus passed within and crossed the threshold of


s: stone. As he came near, his father Odysseus arose from his


s: seat to give him place; but Telemachus, on his part, stayed


s: 'Be seated, stranger, and we will find a seat some other


s: where in our steading, and there is a man here to set it


s: So he spake, and Odysseus went back and sat him down again.


s: And the swineherd strewed for Telemachus green brushwood


s: below, and a fleece thereupon, and there presently the dear


s: son of Odysseus sat him down. Next the swineherd set by


s: them platters of roast flesh, the fragments that were left


s: from the meal of yesterday. And wheaten bread he briskly


s: heaped up in baskets, and mixed the honey-sweet wine in a


s: goblet of ivy wood, and himself sat down over against


s: divine Odysseus. So they stretched forth their hands upon


s: the good cheer set before them. Now when they had put from


s: them the desire of meat and drink, Telemachus spake to the


s: 'Father, whence came this stranger to thee? How did sailors


s: bring him to Ithaca? and who did they avow them to be? For


s: in no wise, I deem, did he come hither by land.'


s: Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Yea now,


s: my son, I will tell thee all the truth. Of wide Crete he


s: avows him to be by lineage, and he says that round many


s: cities of mortals he has wandered at adventure; even so has


s: some god spun for him the thread of fate. But now, as a


s: runaway from a ship of the Thesprotians, has he come to my


s: steading, and I will give him to thee for thy man; do with


s: him as thou wilt; he avows him for thy suppliant.'


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Eumaeus, verily


s: a bitter word is this that thou speakest. How indeed shall


s: I receive this guest in my house? Myself I am young, and


s: trust not yet to my strength of hands to defend me against


s: the man who does violence without a cause. And my mother


s: has divisions of heart, whether to abide here with me and


s: keep the house, respecting the bed of her lord and the


s: voice of the people, or straightway to go with whomsoever


s: of the Achaeans that woo her in the halls is the best man,


s: and gives most bridal gifts. But behold, as for this guest


s: of thine, now that he has come to thy house, I will clothe


s: him in a mantle and a doublet, goodly raiment, and I will


s: give him a two-edged sword, and shoes for his feet, and


s: send him on his way, whithersoever his heart and his spirit


s: bid him go. Or, if thou wilt, hold him here in the steading


s: and take care of him, and raiment I will send hither, and


s: all manner of food to eat, that he be not ruinous to thee


s: and to thy fellows. But thither into the company of the


s: wooers would I not suffer him to go, for they are exceeding


s: full of infatuate insolence, lest they mock at him, and


s: that would be a sore grief to me. And hard it is for one


s: man, how valiant soever, to achieve aught among a


s: multitude, for verily they are far the stronger.'


s: Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him: 'My


s: friend, since it is indeed my right to answer thee withal,


s: of a truth my heart is rent as I hear your words, such


s: infatuate deeds ye say the wooers devise in the halls, in


s: despite of thee, a man so noble. Say, dost thou willingly


s: submit thee to oppression, or do the people through the


s: township hate thee, obedient to the voice of a god? Or hast


s: thou cause to blame thy brethren, in whose battle a man


s: puts trust, even if a great feud arise? Ah, would that I


s: had the youth, as now I have the spirit, and were either


s: the son of noble Odysseus or Odysseus' very self, {*}


s: straightway then might a stranger sever my head from off my


s: neck, if I went not to the halls of Odysseus, son of


s: Laertes, and made myself the bane of every man among them!


s: But if they should overcome me by numbers, being but one


s: man against so many, far rather would I die slain in mine


s: own halls, than witness for ever these unseemly deeds,


s: strangers shamefully entreated, and men haling the


s: handmaidens in foul wise through the fair house, and wine


s: drawn wastefully and the wooers devouring food all


s: recklessly without avail, at a work that knows no ending.'


s: {* We omit line 101, which spoils the sense of the passage,


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Yea now,


s: stranger I will plainly tell thee all. There is no grudge


s: and hatred borne my by the whole people, neither have I


s: cause to blame my brethren, in whose battle a man puts


s: trust, even if a great feud arise. For thus, as thou seest,


s: Cronion has made us a house of but one heir. Arceisius got


s: him one only son Laertes, and one only son Odysseus was


s: begotten of his father, and Odysseus left me the only child


s: of his getting in these halls, and had no joy of me;


s: wherefore now are foemen innumerable in the house. For all


s: the noblest that are princes in the islands, in Dulichium


s: and Same and wooded Zacynthus, and as many as lord it in


s: rocky Ithaca, all these woo my mother and waste my house.


s: But as for her she neither refuseth the hated bridal, nor


s: hath the heart to make and end; so they devour and minish


s: my house; and ere long will they make havoc likewise of


s: myself. Howbeit these things surely lie on the knees of the


s: gods. Nay, father, but do thou go with haste and tell the


s: constant Penelope that she hath got me safe and that I am


s: come up out of Pylos. As for me, I will tarry here, and do


s: thou return hither when thou hast told the tidings to her


s: alone; but of the other Achaeans let no man learn it, for


s: there be many that devise mischief against me.'


s: Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'I mark, I


s: heed, all this thou speakest to one with understanding. But


s: come, declare me this and tell it plainly; whether or no I


s: shall go the same road with tidings to Laertes, that


s: hapless man, who till lately, despite his great sorrow for


s: Odysseus' sake, yet had oversight of the tillage, and did


s: eat and drink with the thralls in his house, as often as


s: his heart within him bade him. But now, from the day that


s: thou wentest in thy ship to Pylos, never to this hour, they


s: say, hath he so much as eaten and drunken, nor looked to


s: the labours of the field, but with groaning and lamentation


s: he sits sorrowing, and the flesh wastes away about his


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'All the more


s: grievous it is! yet will we let him be, though we sorrow


s: thereat. For if men might in any wise have all their will,


s: we should before ought else choose the day of my father's


s: returning. But do thou when thou hast told the tidings come


s: straight back, and go not wandering through the fields


s: after Laertes. But speak to my mother that with all speed


s: she send forth the house-dame her handmaid, secretly, for


s: With that word he roused the swineherd, who took his


s: sandals in his hands and bound them beneath his feet and


s: departed for the city. Now Athene noted Eumaeus the


s: swineherd pass from the steading, and she drew nigh in the


s: semblance of a woman fair and tall, and skilled in splendid


s: handiwork. And she stood in presence manifest to Odysseus


s: over against the doorway of the hut; but it was so that


s: Telemachus saw her not before him and marked her not; for


s: the gods in no wise appear visibly to all. But Odysseus was


s: ware of her and the dogs likewise, which barked not, but


s: with a low whine shrank cowering to the far side of the


s: steading. Then she nodded at him with bent brows, and


s: goodly Odysseus perceived it, and came forth from the room,


s: past the great wall of the yard, and stood before her, and


s: 'Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many


s: devices, now is the hour to reveal thy word to thy son, and


s: hide it not, that ye twain having framed death and doom for


s: the wooers, may fare to the famous town. Nor will I, even


s: I, be long away from you, being right eager for battle.'


s: Therewith Athene touched him with her golden wand. First


s: she cast about his breast a fresh linen robe and a doublet,


s: and she increased his bulk and bloom. Dark his colour grew


s: again, and his cheeks filled out, and the black beard


s: Now she, when she had so wrought, withdrew again, but


s: Odysseus went into the hut, and his dear son marvelled at


s: him and looked away for very fear lest it should be a god,


s: and he uttered his voice and spake to him winged words:


s: 'Even now, stranger, thou art other in my sight than that


s: thou wert a moment since, and other garments thou hast, and


s: the colour of thy skin is no longer the same. Surely thou


s: art a god of those that keep the wide heaven. Nay then, be


s: gracious, that we may offer to thee well-pleasing


s: sacrifices and golden gifts, beautifully wrought; and spare


s: Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, saying:


s: 'Behold, no god am I; why likenest thou me to the


s: immortals? nay, thy father am I, for whose sake thou


s: sufferest many pains and groanest sore, and submittest thee


s: At the word he kissed his son, and from his cheeks let a


s: tear fall to earth: before, he had stayed the tears


s: continually. But Telemachus (for as yet he believed not


s: that it was his father) answered in turn and spake, saying:


s: 'Thou art not Odysseus my father, but some god beguiles me,


s: that I may groan for more exceeding sorrow. For it cannot


s: be that a mortal man should contrive this by the aid of his


s: own wit, unless a god were himself to visit him, and


s: lightly of his own will to make him young or old. For


s: truly, but a moment gone, thou wert old and foully clad,


s: but now thou art like the gods who keep the wide heaven.'


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:


s: 'Telemachus, it fits thee not to marvel overmuch that thy


s: father is come home, or to be amazed. Nay for thou shalt


s: find no other Odysseus come hither any more; but lo, I, all


s: as I am, after sufferings and much wandering have come in


s: the twentieth year to mine own country. Behold, this is the


s: work of Athene, driver of the spoil, who makes me such


s: manner of man as she will,--for with her it is possible,--


s: now like a beggar, and now again like a young man, and one


s: clad about in rich raiment. Easy it is for the gods who


s: keep the wide heaven to glorify or to abase a mortal man.'


s: With this word then he sat down again; but Telemachus,


s: flinging himself upon his noble father's neck, mourned and


s: shed tears, and in both their hearts arose the desire of


s: lamentation. And they wailed aloud, more ceaselessly than


s: birds, sea-eagles or vultures of crooked claws, whose


s: younglings the country folk have taken from the nest, ere


s: yet they are fledged. Even so pitifully fell the tears


s: beneath their brows. And now would the sunlight have gone


s: down upon their sorrowing, had not Telemachus spoken to his


s: 'And in what manner of ship, father dear, did sailors at


s: length bring thee hither to Ithaca? and who did they avow


s: them to be? For in no wise, I deem, didst thou come hither


s: And the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him: 'Yea now,


s: my child, I will tell thee all the truth. The Phaeacians


s: brought me hither, mariners renowned, who speed other men


s: too upon their way, whosoever comes to them. Asleep in the


s: swift ship they bore me over the seas and set me down in


s: Ithaca, and gave me splendid gifts, bronze and gold in


s: plenty and woven raiment. And these treasures are lying by


s: the gods' grace in the caves. But now I am come hither by


s: the promptings of Athene, that we may take counsel for the


s: slaughter of the foemen. But come, tell me all the tale of


s: the wooers and their number, that I may know how many and


s: what men they be, and that so I may commune with my good


s: heart and advise me, whether we twain shall be able alone


s: to make head against them without aid, or whether we should


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Verily, father,


s: I have ever heard of thy great fame, for a warrior hardy of


s: thy hands, and sage in counsel. But this is a hard saying


s: of thine: awe comes over me; for it may not be that two men


s: should do battle with many men and stalwart. For of the


s: wooers there are not barely ten nor twice ten only, but


s: many a decad more: and straight shalt thou learn the tale


s: of them ere we part. From Dulichium there be two and fifty


s: chosen lords, and six serving men go with them; and out of


s: Same four and twenty men; and from Zacynthus there are


s: twenty lords of the Achaeans; and from Ithaca itself full


s: twelve men of the best, and with them Medon the henchman,


s: and the divine minstrel, and two squires skilled in carving


s: viands. If we shall encounter all these within the halls,


s: see thou to it, lest bitter and baneful for us be the


s: vengeance thou takest on their violence at thy coming. But


s: do thou, if thou canst think of some champion, advise thee


s: of any that may help us with all his heart.'


s: Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, saying:


s: 'Yea now, I will tell thee, and do thou mark and listen to


s: me, and consider whether Athene with Father Zeus will


s: suffice for us twain, or whether I shall cast about for


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Valiant


s: helpers, in sooth, are these two thou namest, whose seat is


s: aloft in the clouds, and they rule among all men and among


s: Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him: 'Yet will


s: the twain not long keep aloof from the strong tumult of


s: war, when between the wooers and us in my halls is held the


s: trial of the might of Ares. But as now, do thou go homeward


s: at the breaking of the day, and consort with the proud


s: wooers. As for me, the swineherd will lead me to the town


s: later in the day, in the likeness of a beggar, a wretched


s: man and an old. And if they shall evil entreat me in the


s: house, let thy heart harden itself to endure while I am


s: shamefully handled, yea even if they drag me by the feet


s: through the house to the doors, or cast at me and smite me:


s: still do thou bear the sight. Howbeit thou shalt surely bid


s: them cease from their folly, exhorting them with smooth


s: words; yet no whit will they hearken, nay for the day of


s: their doom is at hand. Yet another thing will I tell thee,


s: and do thou ponder it in thy heart. When Athene, of deep


s: counsel, shall put it into my heart, I will nod to thee


s: with my head and do thou note it, and carry away all thy


s: weapons of war that lie in the halls, and lay them down


s: every one in the secret place of the lofty chamber. And


s: when the wooers miss them and ask thee concerning them,


s: thou shalt beguile them with soft words, saying:


s: '"Out of the smoke I laid them by, since they were no


s: longer like those that Odysseus left behind him of old when


s: he went to Troy, but they are wholly marred: so mightily


s: hath passed upon them the vapour of fire. Moreover Cronion


s: hath put into my heart this other and greater care, that


s: perchance, when ye are heated with wine, ye set a quarrel


s: between you and wound one the other and thereby shame the


s: feast and the wooing; for iron of itself draws a man


s: thereto." But for us twain alone leave two swords and two


s: spears and two shields of oxhide to grasp, that we may rush


s: upon the arms and seize them; and then shall Pallas Athene


s: and Zeus the counsellor enchant the wooers to their ruin.


s: Yet another thing will I tell thee, and do thou ponder it


s: in thy heart. If in very truth thou art my son and of our


s: blood, then let no man hear that Odysseus is come home;


s: neither let Laertes know it, nor the swineherd nor any of


s: the household nor Penelope herself, but let me and thee


s: alone discover the intent of the women. Yea, and we would


s: moreover make trial of certain of the men among the


s: thralls, and learn who {*} of them chances to honour us and


s: to fear us heartily, and who regards us not at all and


s: holds even thee in no esteem, so noble a man as thou art.'


s: Then his renowned son answered him, and said: 'O my father,


s: of a truth thou shalt learn, methinks, even hereafter what


s: spirit I am of, for no whit doth folly possess me. But I


s: deem not that this device of thine will be gainful to us


s: twain, so I bid thee to give heed. For thou shalt be long


s: time on thy road to little purpose, making trial of each


s: man, while thou visitest the farm lands; but at ease in thy


s: halls the wooers devour thy goods with insolence, and now


s: there is no sparing. Howbeit I would have thee take


s: knowledge of the women, who they be that dishonour thee,


s: and who are guiltless. But of the men I would not that we


s: should make trial in the steadings, but that we should see


s: to this task afterwards, if indeed thou knowest some sign


s: Thus they spake one to the other. And now the well-builded


s: ship was being brought to land at Ithaca, the ship that


s: bare Telemachus from Pylos with all his company. When they


s: were now come within the deep harbour, the men drew up the


s: black ship on the shore, while squires, haughty of heart,


s: bare away their weapons, and straightway carried the


s: glorious gifts to the house of Clytius. Anon they sent


s: forward a herald to the house of Odysseus to bear the


s: tidings to prudent Penelope, namely, how Telemachus was in


s: the field, and had bidden the ship sail to the city, lest


s: the noble queen should be afraid, and let the round tears


s: fall. So these two met, the herald and the goodly


s: swineherd, come on the same errand to tell all to the lady.


s: Now when they were got to the house of the divine king, the


s: herald spake out among all the handmaids saying:


s: 'Verily, O queen, thy son hath come out of Pylos.'


s: But the swineherd went up to Penelope, and told her all


s: that her dear son had bidden him say. So, when he had


s: declared all that had been enjoined him, he went on his way


s: to the swine and left the enclosure and the hall.


s: Now the wooers were troubled and downcast in spirit, and


s: forth they went from the hall past the great wall of the


s: court, and there in front of the gates they held their


s: session. And Eurymachus son of Polybus first spake among


s: 'Verily, friends, a proud deed hath Telemachus accomplished


s: with a high hand, even this journey, and we said that he


s: should never bring it to pass. But come, launch we a black


s: ship, the best there is, and let us get together oarsmen of


s: the sea, who shall straightway bear word to our friends to


s: The word was yet on his lips, when Amphinomus turned in his


s: place and saw the ship within the deep harbour, and the men


s: lowering the sails and with the oars in their hands. Then


s: sweetly he laughed out and spake among his fellows:


s: 'Nay, let us now send no message any more, for lo, they are


s: come home. Either some god has told them all or they


s: themselves have seen the ship of Telemachus go by, and have


s: Thus he spake, and they arose and went to the sea-banks.


s: Swiftly the men drew up the black ship on the shore, and


s: squires, haughty of heart, bare away their weapons. And the


s: wooers all together went to the assembly-place, and


s: suffered none other to sit with them, either of the young


s: men or of the elders. Then Antinous spake among them, the


s: 'Lo now, how the gods have delivered this man from his evil


s: case! All day long did scouts sit along the windy


s: headlands, ever in quick succession, and at the going down


s: of the sun we never rested for a night upon the shore, but


s: sailing with our swift ship on the high seas we awaited the


s: bright Dawn, as we lay in wait for Telemachus, that we


s: might take and slay the man himself; but meanwhile some god


s: has brought him home. But even here let us devise an evil


s: end for him, even for Telemachus, and let him not escape


s: out of our hands, for methinks that while he lives we shall


s: never achieve this task of ours. For he himself has


s: understanding in counsel and wisdom, and the people no


s: longer show us favour in all things. Nay come, before he


s: assembles all the Achaeans to the gathering; for methinks


s: that he will in nowise be slack, but will be exceeding


s: wroth, and will stand up and speak out among them all, and


s: tell how we plotted against him sheer destruction but did


s: not overtake him. Then will they not approve us, when they


s: hear these evil deeds. Beware then lest they do us a harm,


s: and drive us forth from our country, and we come to the


s: land of strangers. Nay, but let us be beforehand and take


s: him in the field far from the city, or by the way; and let


s: us ourselves keep his livelihood and his possessions,


s: making fair division among us, but the house we would give


s: to his mother to keep and to whomsoever marries her. But if


s: this saying likes you not, but ye chose rather that he


s: should live and keep the heritage of his father, no longer


s: then let us gather here and eat all his store of pleasant


s: substance, but let each one from his own hall woo her with


s: his bridal gifts and seek to win her; so should she wed the


s: man that gives the most and comes as the chosen of fate.'


s: So he spake, and they all held their peace. Then Amphinomus


s: made harangue and spake out among them; he was the famous


s: son of Nisus the prince, the son of Aretias, and he led the


s: wooers that came from out Dulichium, a land rich in wheat


s: and in grass, and more than all the rest his words were


s: pleasing to Penelope, for he was of an understanding mind.


s: And now of his good will he made harangue, and spake among


s: 'Friends, I for one would not choose to kill Telemachus; it


s: is a fearful thing to slay one of the stock of kings! Nay,


s: first let us seek to the counsel of the gods, and if the


s: oracles of great Zeus approve, myself I will slay him and


s: bid all the rest to aid. But if the gods are disposed to


s: So spake Amphinomus, and his saying pleased them well. Then


s: straightway they arose and went to the house of Odysseus,


s: and entering in sat down on the polished seats.


s: Then the wise Penelope had a new thought, namely, to show


s: herself to the wooers, so despiteful in their insolence;


s: for she had heard of the death of her son that was to be in


s: the halls, seeing that Medon the henchman had told her of


s: it; who heard their counsels. So she went on her way to the


s: hall, with the women her handmaids. Now when that fair lady


s: had come unto the wooers, she stood by the pillar of the


s: well-builded roof, holding up her glistening tire before


s: her face, and rebuked Antinous and spake and hailed him:


s: 'Antinous, full of all insolence, deviser of mischief! and


s: yet they say that in the land of Ithaca thou art chiefest


s: among thy peers in counsel and in speech. Nay, no such man


s: dost thou show thyself. Fool! why indeed dost thou contrive


s: death and doom for Telemachus, and hast no regard unto


s: suppliants who have Zeus to witness? Nay but it is an


s: impious thing to contrive evil one against another. What!


s: knowest thou not of the day when thy father fled to this


s: house in fear of the people, for verily they were exceeding


s: wroth against him, because he had followed with Taphian sea


s: robbers and harried the Thesprotians, who were at peace


s: with us. So they wished to destroy thy father and wrest


s: from him his dear life, and utterly to devour all his great


s: and abundant livelihood; but Odysseus stayed and withheld


s: them, for all their desire. His house thou now consumest


s: without atonement, and his wife thou wooest, and wouldst


s: slay his son, and dost greatly grieve me. But I bid thee


s: cease, and command the others to do likewise.'


s: Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her saying:


s: 'Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, take courage, and let


s: not thy heart be careful for these things. The man is not,


s: nor shall be, nor ever shall be born, that shall stretch


s: forth his hands against Telemachus, thy son, while I live


s: and am on earth and see the light. For thus will I declare


s: to thee, and it shall surely come to pass. Right quickly


s: shall the black blood of such an one flow about our spear;


s: for Odysseus, waster of cities, of a truth did many a time


s: set me too upon his knees, and gave me roasted flesh into


s: my hand, and held the red wine to my lips. Wherefore


s: Telemachus is far the dearest of all men to me, and I bid


s: him have no fear of death, not from the wooers' hands; but


s: Thus he spake comforting her, but was himself the while


s: Now she ascended to her shining upper chamber, and then was


s: bewailing Odysseus, her dear lord, till grey-eyed Athene


s: And in the evening the goodly swineherd came back to


s: Odysseus and his son, and they made ready and served the


s: supper, when they had sacrificed a swine of a year old.


s: Then Athene drew near Odysseus, son of Laertes, and smote


s: him with her wand, and made him into an old man again. In


s: sorry raiment she clad him about his body, lest the


s: swineherd should look on him and know him, and depart to


s: tell the constant Penelope, and not keep the matter in his


s: Then Telemachus spake first to the swineherd, saying:


s: 'Thou hast come, goodly Eumaeus. What news is there in the


s: town? Are the lordly wooers now come in from their ambush,


s: or do they still watch for me as before on my homeward


s: Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'I had no


s: mind to go down the city asking and inquiring hereof; my


s: heart bade me get me home again, as quick as might be, when


s: once I had told the tidings. And the swift messenger from


s: thy company joined himself unto me, the henchman, who was


s: the first to tell the news to thy mother. Yet this, too, I


s: know, if thou wouldest hear; for I beheld it with mine


s: eyes. Already had I come in my faring above the city, where


s: is the hill Hermaean, when I marked a swift ship entering


s: our haven, and many men there were in her, and she was


s: laden with shields and two-headed spears, and methought


s: they were the wooers, but I know not at all.'


s: So spake he, and the mighty prince Telemachus smiled, and


s: glanced at his father, while he shunned the eye of the


s: Now when they had ceased from the work and got supper


s: ready, they fell to feasting, and their hearts lacked not


s: ought of the equal banquet. But when they had put from them


s: the desire of meat and drink, they bethought them of rest,


s: Telemachus relates to his mother what he had heard at Pylos


s: So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, then


s: Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus, bound beneath


s: his feet his goodly sandals, and took up his mighty spear


s: that fitted his grasp, to make for the city; and he spake


s: 'Verily, father, I am bound for the city, that my mother


s: may see me, for methinks that she will not cease from


s: grievous wailing and tearful lament, until she beholds my


s: very face. But this command I give thee: Lead this


s: stranger, the hapless one, to the city, that there he may


s: beg his meat, and whoso chooses will give him a morsel of


s: bread and a cup of water. As for myself, I can in no wise


s: suffer every guest who comes to me, so afflicted am I in


s: spirit. But if the stranger be sore angered hereat, the


s: more grievous will it be for himself; howbeit I for one


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'I too,


s: my friend, have no great liking to be left behind here. It


s: is better that a beggar should beg his meat in the town


s: than in the fields, and whoso chooses will give it me. For


s: I am not now of an age to abide at the steading, and to


s: obey in all things the word of the master. Nay go, and this


s: man that thou biddest will lead me, so soon as I shall be


s: warmed with the fire, and the sun waxes hot. For woefully


s: poor are these garments of mine, and I fear lest the hoar


s: frost of the dawn overcome me; moreover ye say the city is


s: So he spake, and Telemachus passed out through the


s: steading, stepping forth at a quick pace, and was sowing


s: the seeds of evil for the wooers. Now when he was come to


s: the fair-lying house, he set his spear against the tall


s: pillar and leaned it there, and himself went in and crossed


s: And the nurse Eurycleia saw him far before the rest, as she


s: was strewing skin coverlets upon the carven chairs, and


s: straightway she drew near him, weeping, and all the other


s: maidens of Odysseus, of the hardy heart, were gathered


s: about him, and kissed him lovingly on the head and


s: shoulders. Now wise Penelope came forth from her chamber,


s: like Artemis or golden Aphrodite, and cast her arms about


s: her dear son, and fell a weeping, and kissed his face and


s: both his beautiful eyes, and wept aloud, and spake to him


s: 'Thou art come, Telemachus, a sweet light in the dark;


s: methought I should see thee never again, after thou hadst


s: gone in thy ship to Pylos, secretly and without my will, to


s: seek tidings of thy dear father. Come now, tell me, what


s: And wise Telemachus answered her, saying: 'Mother mine,


s: wake not wailing in my soul, nor stir the heart within the


s: breast of me, that have but now fled from utter death. Nay,


s: but wash thee in water, and take to thee fresh raiment, and


s: go aloft to thine upper chamber with the women thy


s: handmaids, and vow to all the gods an acceptable sacrifice


s: of hecatombs, if haply Zeus may grant that deeds of


s: requital be made. But I will go to the assembly-place to


s: bid a stranger to our house, one that accompanied me as I


s: came hither from Pylos. I sent him forward with my godlike


s: company, and commanded Piraeus to lead him home, and to


s: take heed to treat him lovingly and with worship till I


s: Thus he spake, and wingless her speech remained. And she


s: washed her in water, and took to her fresh raiment, and


s: vowed to all the gods an acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs,


s: if haply Zeus might grant that deeds of requital should be


s: Now Telemachus went out through the hall with the spear in


s: his hand: and two swift hounds bare him company. And Athene


s: shed on him a wondrous grace, and all the people marvelled


s: at him as he came. And the lordly wooers gathered about him


s: with fair words on their lips, but brooding evil in the


s: deep of their heart. Then he avoided the great press of the


s: wooers, but where Mentor sat, and Antiphus, and


s: Halitherses, who were friends of his house from of old,


s: there he went and sat down; and they asked him of all his


s: adventures. Then Piraeus, the famed spearsman, drew nigh,


s: leading the stranger to the assembly-place by the way of


s: the town; and Telemachus kept not aloof from him long, but


s: Then Piraeus first spake to him, saying: 'Bestir the women


s: straightway to go to my house, that I may send thee the


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Piraeus, we


s: know not how these matters will fall out. If the lordly


s: wooers shall slay me by guile in the halls, and divide


s: among them the heritage of my father, then I should wish


s: thee to keep and enjoy the gifts thyself, rather than any


s: of these. But if I shall sow the seeds of death and fate


s: for the wooers, then gladly bring me to the house the gifts


s: Therewith he led the travel-worn stranger to the house. Now


s: when they came to the fair-lying palace, they laid aside


s: their mantles on the chairs and high seats, and went to the


s: polished baths, and bathed them. So when the maidens had


s: bathed them and anointed them with olive oil, and cast


s: about them thick mantles and doublets, they came forth from


s: the baths, and sat upon the seats. Then the handmaid bare


s: water for the hands in a goodly golden ewer, and poured it


s: forth over a silver basin to wash withal, and drew to their


s: side a polished table. And the grave dame bare wheaten


s: bread, and set it by them, and laid on the board many


s: dainties, giving freely of such things as she had by her.


s: And the mother of Telemachus sat over against him by the


s: pillar of the hall, leaning against a chair, and spinning


s: the slender threads from the yarn. And they stretched forth


s: their hands upon the good cheer set before them. Now when


s: they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, the


s: 'Telemachus, verily I will go up to my upper chamber, and


s: lay me in my bed, the place of my groanings, that is ever


s: watered by my tears, since the day that Odysseus departed


s: with the sons of Atreus for Ilios. Yet thou hadst no care


s: to tell me clearly, before the lordly wooers came to this


s: house, concerning the returning of thy father, if haply


s: And wise Telemachus answered her, saying: 'Yea now, mother,


s: I will tell thee all the truth. We went to Pylos and to


s: Nestor, the shepherd of the people, and he received me in


s: his lofty house, and was diligent to entreat me lovingly,


s: as a father might his son that had but newly come from


s: strange lands after many years; even so diligently he cared


s: for me with his renowned sons. Yet he said that he had


s: heard no word from any man on earth concerning Odysseus, of


s: the hardy heart, whether alive or dead. But he sent me


s: forward on my way with horses and a chariot, well compact,


s: to Menelaus, son of Atreus, spearman renowned. There I saw


s: Argive Helen, for whose sake the Argives and Trojans bore


s: much travail by the gods' designs. Then straightway


s: Menelaus, of the loud war-cry, asked me on what quest I had


s: come to goodly Lacedaemon. And I told him all the truth.


s: '"Out upon them, for truly in the bed of a brave-hearted


s: man were they minded to lie, very cravens as they are! Even


s: as when a hind hath couched her newborn fawns unweaned in a


s: strong lion's lair, and searcheth out the mountain-knees


s: and grassy hollows, seeking pasture; and afterward the lion


s: cometh back to his bed, and sendeth forth unsightly death


s: upon that pair, even so shall Odysseus send forth unsightly


s: death upon the wooers. Would to our father Zeus, and


s: Athene, and Apollo, would that in such might as when of old


s: Philomeleides, and threw him mightily, and all the Achaeans


s: rejoiced; would that in such strength Odysseus might


s: consort with the wooers; then should they all have swift


s: fate and bitter wedlock! But for that whereof thou askest


s: and entreatest me, be sure I will not swerve from the truth


s: in aught that I say, nor deceive thee; but of all that the


s: ancient one of the sea, whose speech is sooth, declared to


s: me, not a word will I hide or keep from thee. He said that


s: he saw Odysseus in an island, suffering strong pains in the


s: halls of the nymph Calypso, who holds him there perforce;


s: so that he may not come to his own country, for he has by


s: him no ships with oars, and no companions to send him on


s: his way over the broad back of the sea." So spake Menelaus,


s: son of Atreus, spearsman renowned. Then having fulfilled


s: all, I set out for home, and the deathless gods gave me a


s: fair wind, and brought me swiftly to mine own dear


s: So he spake, and stirred her heart within her breast. And


s: next the godlike Theoclymenus spake among them:


s: 'O wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, verily he hath


s: no clear knowledge; but my word do thou mark, for I will


s: prophesy to thee most truly and hide nought. Now Zeus be


s: witness before any god, and this hospitable board and this


s: hearth of noble Odysseus, whereunto I am come, that


s: Odysseus is even now of a surety in his own country,


s: resting or faring, learning of these evil deeds, and sowing


s: the seeds of evil for all the wooers. So clear was the omen


s: of the bird that I saw as I sat on the decked ship, and I


s: Then wise Penelope answered him, saying: 'Ah, stranger,


s: would that this thy word may be accomplished! Soon


s: shouldest thou be aware of kindness and of many a gift at


s: my hands, so that whoso met with thee would call thee


s: Thus they spake one to the other. But the wooers meantime


s: were before the palace of Odysseus, taking their pleasure


s: in casting of weights and of spears on a levelled place, as


s: heretofore, in their insolence. But when it was now the


s: hour for supper, and the flocks came home from the fields


s: all around, and the men led them whose custom it was, then


s: Medon, who of all the henchmen was most to their mind, and


s: was ever with them at the feast, spake to them, saying:


s: 'Noble youths, now that ye have had sport to your hearts'


s: content, get you into the house, that we may make ready a


s: feast; for truly it is no bad thing to take meat in


s: Even so he spake, and they rose up and departed, and were


s: obedient to his word. Now when they were come into the


s: fair-lying house, they laid aside their mantles on the


s: chairs and high seats, and they sacrificed great sheep and


s: stout goats, yea, and the fatlings of the boars and an


s: heifer of the herd, and got ready the feast.


s: Now all this while Odysseus and the goodly swineherd were


s: bestirring them to go from the field to the city; and the


s: swineherd, a master of men, spake first saying:


s: 'Well, my friend, forasmuch as I see thou art eager to be


s: going to the city to-day, even as my master gave command;--


s: though myself I would well that thou shouldest be left here


s: to keep the steading, but I hold him in reverence and fear,


s: lest he chide me afterwards, and grievous are the rebukes


s: of masters--come then, let us go on our way, for lo, the


s: day is far spent, and soon wilt thou find it colder toward


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'I


s: mark, I heed: all this thou speakest to one with


s: understanding. But let us be going, and be thou my guide


s: withal to the end. And if thou hast anywhere a staff ready


s: cut, give it me to lean upon, for truly ye said that


s: Therewith he cast about his shoulders a mean scrip, all


s: tattered, and a cord withal to hang it, and Eumaeus gave


s: him a staff to his mind. So these twain went on their way,


s: and the dogs and the herdsmen stayed behind to guard the


s: steading. And the swineherd led his lord to the city in the


s: guise of a beggar, a wretched man and an old, leaning on a


s: staff; and sorry was the raiment wherewith he was clothed


s: upon. But as they fared along the rugged path they drew


s: near to the town, and came to the fair flowing spring, with


s: a basin fashioned, whence the people of the city drew


s: water. This well Ithacus and Neritus and Polyctor had


s: builded. And around it was a thicket of alders that grow by


s: the waters, all circlewise, and down the cold stream fell


s: from a rock on high, and above was reared an altar to the


s: Nymphs, whereat all wayfarers made offering. In that place


s: Melanthius, son of Dolius, met them, leading his goats to


s: feast the wooers, the best goats that were in all the


s: herds; and two herdsmen bare him company. Now when he saw


s: them he reviled them, and spake and hailed them, in


s: terrible and evil fashion, and stirred the heart of


s: 'Now in very truth the vile is leading the vile, for god


s: brings ever like to like! Say, whither art thou leading


s: this glutton,--thou wretched swineherd,--this plaguy


s: beggar, a kill-joy of the feast? He is one to stand about


s: and rub his shoulders against many doorposts, begging for


s: scraps of meat, not for swords or cauldrons. If thou


s: wouldst give me the fellow to watch my steading and sweep


s: out the stalls, and carry fresh fodder to the kids, then he


s: might drink whey and get him a stout thigh. Howbeit, since


s: he is practised only in evil, he will not care to betake


s: him to the labour of the farm, but rather chooses to go


s: louting through the land asking alms to fill his insatiate


s: belly. But now I will speak out and my word shall surely be


s: accomplished. If ever he fares to the house of divine


s: Odysseus, many a stool that men's hands hurl shall fly


s: about his head, and break upon his ribs, {*} as they pelt


s: Therewith, as he went past, he kicked Odysseus on the hip,


s: in his witlessness, yet he drave him not from the path, but


s: he abode steadfast. And Odysseus pondered whether he should


s: rush upon him and take away his life with the staff, or


s: lift him in his grasp {*} and smite his head to the earth.


s: Yet he hardened his heart to endure and refrained himself.


s: And the swineherd looked at the other and rebuked him, and


s: {* [Greek] is perhaps best taken as an adverb in [Greek]


s: formed from [Greek], though some letters of the word are


s: still left obscure. Most modern commentators, however,


s: derive it from [Greek] and [Greek] 'near the ground; hence,


s: in this context, 'lift him by the feet.'}


s: 'Nymphs of the well-water, daughters of Zeus, if ever


s: Odysseus burned on your altars pieces of the thighs of rams


s: or kids, in their covering of rich fat, fulfil for me this


s: wish:--oh that he, even he, may come home, and that some


s: god may bring him! Then would he scatter all thy bravery,


s: which now thou flauntest insolently, wandering ever about


s: the city, while evil shepherds destroy the flock.'


s: Then Melanthius, the goatherd, answered: 'Lo now, what a


s: word has this evil-witted dog been saying! Some day I will


s: take him in a black decked ship far from Ithaca, that he


s: may bring me in much livelihood. Would God that Apollo, of


s: the silver bow, might smite Telemachus to-day in the halls,


s: or that he might fall before the wooers, so surely as for


s: Odysseus the day of returning has in a far land gone by!'


s: So he spake and left them there as they walked slowly on.


s: But Melanthius stepped forth, and came very speedily to the


s: house of the prince, and straightway he went in and sat


s: down among the wooers, over against Eurymachus, who chiefly


s: showed him kindness. And they that ministered set by him a


s: portion of flesh, and the grave dame brought wheaten bread


s: and set it by him to eat. Now Odysseus and the goodly


s: swineherd drew near and stood by, and the sound of the


s: hollow lyre rang around them, for Phemius was lifting up


s: his voice amid the company in song, and Odysseus caught the


s: swineherd by the hand, and spake, saying:


s: 'Eumaeus, verily this is the fair house of Odysseus, and


s: right easily might it be known and marked even among many.


s: There is building beyond building, and the court of the


s: house is cunningly wrought with a wall and battlements, and


s: well-fenced are the folding doors; no man may hold it in


s: disdain. And I see that many men keep revel within, for the


s: savour of the fat rises upward, {*} and the voice of the


s: lyre is heard there, which the gods have made to be the


s: Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Easily


s: thou knowest it, for indeed thou never lackest


s: understanding. But come, let us advise us, how things shall


s: fall out here. Either do thou go first within the


s: fair-lying halls, and join the company of the wooers, so


s: will I remain here, or if thou wilt, abide here, and I will


s: go before thy face, and tarry not long, lest one see thee


s: without, and hurl at thee or strike thee. Look well to


s: Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, saying: 'I


s: mark, I heed, all this thou speakest to one with


s: understanding. Do thou then go before me, and I will remain


s: here, for well I know what it is to be smitten and hurled


s: at. My heart is full of hardiness, for much evil have I


s: suffered in perils of waves and war; let this be added to


s: the tale of those. But a ravening belly may none conceal, a


s: thing accursed, that works much ill for men. For this cause


s: too the benched ships are furnished, that bear mischief to


s: Thus they spake one to the other. And lo, a hound raised up


s: his head and pricked his ears, even where he lay, Argos,


s: the hound of Odysseus, of the hardy heart, which of old


s: himself had bred, but had got no joy of him, for ere that,


s: he went to sacred Ilios. Now in time past the young men


s: used to lead the hound against wild goats and deer and


s: hares; but as then, despised he lay (his master being afar)


s: in the deep dung of mules and kine, whereof an ample bed


s: was spread before the doors, till the thralls of Odysseus


s: should carry it away to dung therewith his wide demesne.


s: There lay the dog Argos, full of vermin. Yet even now when


s: he was ware of Odysseus standing by, he wagged his tail and


s: dropped both his ears, but nearer to his master he had not


s: now the strength to draw. But Odysseus looked aside and


s: wiped away a tear that he easily hid from Eumaeus, and


s: 'Eumaeus, verily this is a great marvel, this hound lying


s: here in the dung. Truly he is goodly of growth, but I know


s: not certainly if he have speed with this beauty, or if he


s: be comely only, like as are men's trencher dogs that their


s: lords keep for the pleasure of the eye.'


s: Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'In very


s: truth this is the dog of a man that has died in a far land.


s: If he were what once he was in limb and in the feats of the


s: chase, when Odysseus left him to go to Troy, soon wouldst


s: thou marvel at the sight of his swiftness and his strength.


s: There was no beast that could flee from him in the deep


s: places of the wood, when he was in pursuit; for even on a


s: track he was the keenest hound. But now he is holden in an


s: evil case, and his lord hath perished far from his own


s: country, and the careless women take no charge of him. Nay,


s: thralls are no more inclined to honest service when their


s: masters have lost the dominion, for Zeus, of the far-borne


s: voice, takes away the half of a man's virtue, when the day


s: Therewith he passed within the fair-lying house, and went


s: straight to the hall, to the company of the proud wooers.


s: But upon Argos came the fate of black death even in the


s: hour that he beheld Odysseus again, in the twentieth year.


s: Now godlike Telemachus was far the first to behold the


s: swineherd as he came into the hall, and straightway then he


s: beckoned and called him to his side. So Eumaeus looked


s: about and took a settle that lay by him, where the carver


s: was wont to sit dividing much flesh among the wooers that


s: were feasting in the house. This seat he carried and set by


s: the table of Telemachus over against him, and there sat


s: down himself. And the henchman took a mess and served it


s: him, and wheaten bread out of the basket.


s: And close behind him Odysseus entered the house in the


s: guise of a beggar, a wretched man and an old, leaning on


s: his staff, and clothed on with sorry raiment. And he sat


s: down on the ashen threshold within the doorway, leaning


s: against a pillar of cypress wood, which the carpenter on a


s: time had deftly planed, and thereon made straight the line.


s: And Telemachus called the swineherd to him, and took a


s: whole loaf out of the fair basket, and of flesh so much as


s: his hands could hold in their grasp, saying:


s: 'Take and give this to the stranger, and bid him go about


s: and beg himself of all the wooers in their turn, for shame


s: So he spake, and the swineherd went when he heard that


s: saying, and stood by and spake to him winged words:


s: 'Stranger, Telemachus gives thee these and bids thee go


s: about and beg of all the wooers in their turn, for, he


s: says, "shame ill becomes a beggar man."'


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him and said: 'King


s: Zeus, grant me that Telemachus may be happy among men, and


s: Therewith he took the gift in both hands, and set it there


s: before his feet on his unsightly scrip. Then he ate meat so


s: long as the minstrel was singing in the halls. When he had


s: done supper, and the divine minstrel was ending his song,


s: then the wooers raised a clamour through the halls; but


s: Athene stood by Odysseus, son of Laertes, and moved him to


s: go gathering morsels of bread among the wooers, and learn


s: which were righteous and which unjust. Yet not even so was


s: she fated to redeem one man of them from an evil doom. So


s: he set out, beginning on the right, to ask of each man,


s: stretching out his hand on every side, as though he were a


s: beggar from of old. And they in pity gave him somewhat, and


s: were amazed at the man, asking one another who he was and


s: Then Melanthius, the goatherd, spake among them:


s: 'Listen, ye wooers of the renowned queen, concerning this


s: stranger, for verily I have seen him before. The swineherd


s: truly was his guide hither, but of him I have no certain


s: knowledge, whence he avows him to be born.'


s: So spake he, but Antinous rebuked the swineherd, saying:


s: 'Oh notorious swineherd, wherefore, I pray thee, didst thou


s: bring this man to the city? Have we not vagrants enough


s: besides, plaguy beggars, kill-joys of the feast? Dost thou


s: count it a light thing that they assemble here and devour


s: the living of thy master, but thou must needs {*} call in


s: {* [Greek] can hardly have a local meaning here. If


s: retained, it must be nearly equivalent to [Greek], 'it


s: seems,' with a touch of irony. Cf. i.348. The v. 1. [Greek]


s: is a simpler reading, but by no means certain.}


s: Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Antinous,


s: no fair words are these of thine, noble though thou art.


s: For who ever himself seeks out and bids to the feast a


s: stranger from afar, save only one of those that are


s: craftsmen of the people, a prophet or a healer of ills, or


s: a shipwright or even a godlike minstrel, who can delight


s: all with his song? Nay, these are the men that are welcome


s: over all the wide earth. But none would call a beggar to


s: the banquet, to waste his substance. But thou art ever hard


s: above all the other wooers to the servants of Odysseus,


s: and, beyond all, to me; but behold, I care not, so long as


s: my mistress, the constant Penelope, lives in the halls and


s: Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Be silent,


s: answer him not, I pray thee, with many words, for Antinous


s: is wont ever to chide us shamefully with bitter speech,


s: Therewithal he spake winged words to Antinous: 'Antinous,


s: verily thou hast a good care for me, as it were a father


s: for his son, thou that biddest me drive our guest from the


s: hall with a harsh command. God forbid that such a thing


s: should be! Take somewhat and give it him: lo, I grudge it


s: not; nay, I charge thee to do it. And herein regard not my


s: mother, nor any of the thralls that are in the house of


s: divine Odysseus. Nay, but thou hast no such thought in thy


s: heart, for thou art far more fain to eat thyself than to


s: Then Antinous answered him and spake, saying: 'Telemachus,


s: proud of speech, and unrestrained in fury, what word hast


s: thou spoken? If all the wooers should vouchsafe him as much


s: as I, this house would keep him far enough aloof even for


s: So he spake, and seized the footstool whereon he rested his


s: sleek feet as he sat at the feast, and showed it from


s: beneath the table where it lay. But all the others gave


s: somewhat and filled the wallet with bread and flesh; yea,


s: and even now, Odysseus as he returned to the threshold, was


s: like to escape scot free, making trial of the Achaeans, but


s: he halted by Antinous, and spake to him, saying:


s: 'Friend, give me somewhat; for methinks thou art not the


s: basest of the Achaeans, but the best man of them all, for


s: thou art like a king. Wherefore thou shouldest give me a


s: portion of bread, and that a better than the others; so


s: would I make thee renowned over all the wide earth. For I


s: too, once had a house of mine own among men, a rich man


s: with a wealthy house, and many a time would I give to a


s: wanderer, what manner of man soever he might be, and in


s: whatsoever need he came. And I had thralls out of number,


s: and all else in plenty, wherewith folk live well and have a


s: name for riches. But Zeus, the son of Cronos, made me


s: desolate of all,--for surely it was his will,--who sent me


s: ships. Then verily I bade my loved companions to abide


s: there by the ships, and to guard the ship, and I sent forth


s: scouts to range the points of outlook. Now they gave place


s: to wantonness, being the fools of their own force, and soon


s: fair, and carried away their wives and infant children, and


s: slew the men. And the cry came quickly to the city, and the


s: people heard the shout and came forth at the breaking of


s: the day; and all the plain was filled with footmen and


s: horsemen and with the glitter of bronze. And Zeus, whose


s: joy is in the thunder, sent an evil panic upon my company,


s: and none durst stand and face the foe: for danger


s: encompassed us on every side. There they slew many of us


s: with the edge of the sword, and others they led up with


s: them alive to work for them perforce. But they gave me to a


s: friend who met them, to take to Cyprus, even to Dmetor son


s: of Iasus, who ruled mightily over Cyprus; and thence,


s: behold, am I now come hither in sore distress.'


s: Then Antinous answered, and spake, saying: 'What god hath


s: brought this plague hither to trouble the feast? Stand


s: forth thus in the midst, away from my table, lest thou come


s: art thou and a shameless. Thou standest by all in turn and


s: recklessly they give to thee, for they hold not their hand


s: nor feel any ruth in giving freely of others' goods, for


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels drew back and answered him:


s: 'Lo now, I see thou hast not wisdom with thy beauty! From


s: out of thine own house thou wouldest not give even so much


s: as a grain of salt to thy suppliant, thou who now even at


s: another's board dost sit, and canst not find it in thy


s: heart to take of the bread and give it me, where there is


s: He spake, and Antinous was mightily angered at heart, and


s: looked fiercely on him and spake winged words:


s: 'Henceforth, methinks, thou shalt not get thee out with


s: honour from the hall, seeing thou dost even rail upon me.'


s: Therewith he caught up the foot-stool and smote Odysseus at


s: the base of the right shoulder by the back. But he stood


s: firm as a rock, nor reeled he beneath the blow of Antinous,


s: but shook his head in silence, brooding evil in the deep of


s: his heart. Then he went back to the threshold, and sat him


s: there, and laid down his well-filled scrip, and spake among


s: 'Hear me, ye wooers of the renowned queen, and I will say


s: what my spirit within me bids me. Verily there is neither


s: pain nor grief of heart, when a man is smitten in battle


s: fighting for his own possessions, whether cattle or white


s: sheep. But now Antinous hath stricken me for my wretched


s: belly's sake, a thing accursed, that works much ill for


s: men. Ah, if indeed there be gods and Avengers of beggars,


s: may the issues of death come upon Antinous before his


s: Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him: 'Sit and eat


s: thy meat in quiet, stranger, or get thee elsewhere, lest


s: the young men drag thee by hand or foot through the house


s: for thy evil words, and strip all thy flesh from off thee.'


s: Even so he spake, and they were all exceeding wroth at his


s: word. And on this wise would one of the lordly young men


s: 'Antinous, thou didst ill to strike the hapless wanderer,


s: doomed man that thou art,--if indeed there be a god in


s: heaven. Yea and the gods, in the likeness of strangers from


s: far countries, put on all manner of shapes, and wander


s: through the cities, beholding the violence and the


s: So the wooers spake, but he heeded not their words. Now


s: Telemachus nursed in his heart a mighty grief at the


s: smiting of Odysseus, yet he let no tear fall from his


s: eyelids to the ground, but shook his head in silence,


s: Now when wise Penelope heard of the stranger being smitten


s: in the halls, she spake among her maidens, saying:


s: 'Oh that Apollo, the famed archer, may so smite thee


s: And the house-dame, Eurynome, answered her, saying: 'Oh


s: that we might win fulfilment of our prayers! So should not


s: one of these men come to the fair-throned Dawn.'


s: And wise Penelope answered her: 'Nurse, they are all


s: enemies, for they all devise evil continually, but of them


s: all Antinous is the most like to black fate. Some hapless


s: stranger is roaming about the house, begging alms of the


s: men, as his need bids him; and all the others filled his


s: wallet and gave him somewhat, but Antinous smote him at the


s: base of the right shoulder with a stool.'


s: So she spake among her maidens, sitting in her chamber,


s: while goodly Odysseus was at meat. Then she called to her


s: 'Go thy way, goodly Eumaeus, and bid the stranger come


s: hither, that I may speak him a word of greeting, and ask


s: him if haply he has heard tidings of Odysseus of the hardy


s: heart, or seen him with his eyes; for he seems like one


s: Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Queen, oh


s: that the Achaeans would hold their peace! so would he charm


s: thy very heart, such things doth he say. For I kept him


s: three nights and three days I held him in the steading, for


s: to me he came first when he fled from the ship, yet he had


s: not made an end of the tale of his affliction. Even as when


s: a man gazes on a singer, whom the gods have taught to sing


s: words of yearning joy to mortals, and they have a ceaseless


s: desire to hear him, so long as he will sing; even so he


s: charmed me, sitting by me in the halls. He says that he is


s: a friend of Odysseus and of his house, one that dwells in


s: Crete, where is the race of Minos. Thence he has come


s: hither even now, with sorrow by the way, onward and yet


s: onward wandering; and he stands to it that he has heard


s: tidings of Odysseus nigh at hand and yet alive in the fat


s: land of the men of Thesprotia; and he is bringing many


s: Then wise Penelope answered him, saying: 'Go, call him


s: hither, that he may speak to me face to face. But let these


s: men sit in the doorway and take their pleasure, or even


s: here in the house, since their heart is glad. For their own


s: wealth lies unspoiled at home, bread and sweet wine, and


s: thereon do their servants feed. But they resorting to our


s: house day by day sacrifice oxen and sheep and fat goats,


s: and keep revel and drink the dark wine recklessly; and, lo,


s: our great wealth is wasted, for there is no man now alive,


s: such as Odysseus was, to keep ruin from the house. Oh, if


s: Odysseus might come again to his own country; soon would he


s: and his son avenge the violence of these men!'


s: Even so she spake, and Telemachus sneezed loudly, and


s: around the roof rang wondrously. And Penelope laughed, and


s: straightway spake to Eumaeus winged words:


s: 'Go, call me the stranger, even so, into my presence. Dost


s: thou not mark how my son has sneezed a blessing on all my


s: words? Wherefore no half-wrought doom shall befal the


s: wooers every one, nor shall any avoid death and the fates.


s: Yet another thing will I say, and do thou ponder it in thy


s: heart. If I shall find that he himself speaks nought but


s: truth, I will clothe him with a mantle and a doublet,


s: So she spake, and the swineherd departed when he heard that


s: saying, and stood by the stranger and spake winged words:


s: 'Father and stranger, wise Penelope, the mother of


s: Telemachus, is calling for thee, and her mind bids her


s: inquire as touching her lord, albeit she has sorrowed much


s: already. And if she shall find that thou dost speak nought


s: but truth, she will clothe thee in a mantle and a doublet,


s: whereof thou standest most in need. Moreover thou shalt beg


s: thy bread through the land and shalt fill thy belly, and


s: Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, saying:


s: 'Eumaeus, soon would I tell all the truth to the daughter


s: of Icarius, wise Penelope, for well I know his story, and


s: we have borne our travail together. But I tremble before


s: the throng of the froward wooers, whose outrage and


s: violence reach even to the iron heaven. For even now, as I


s: was going through the house, when this man struck and


s: pained me sore, and that for no ill deed, neither


s: Telemachus nor any other kept off the blow. Wherefore now,


s: bid Penelope tarry in the chambers, for all her eagerness,


s: till the going down of the sun, and then let her ask me


s: concerning her lord, as touching the day of his returning,


s: and let her give me a seat yet nearer to the fire, for


s: behold, I have sorry raiment, and thou knowest it thyself,


s: since I made my supplication first to thee.'


s: Even so he spake, and the swineherd departed when he heard


s: that saying. And as he crossed the threshold Penelope spake


s: 'Thou bringest him not, Eumaeus: what means the wanderer


s: hereby? Can it be that he fears some one out of measure, or


s: is he even ashamed of tarrying in the house? A shamefaced


s: Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'He speaks


s: aright, and but as another would deem, in that he shuns the


s: outrage of overweening men. Rather would he have thee wait


s: till the going down of the sun. Yea, and it is far meeter


s: for thyself, O queen, to utter thy word to the stranger


s: Then the wise Penelope answered: 'Not witless is the


s: stranger; even as he deems, so it well may be. {*} For


s: there are no mortal men, methinks, so wanton as these, and


s: {* Placing at colon at [Greek], and reading [Greek] (cf.


s: So she spake, and the goodly swineherd departed into the


s: throng of the wooers, when he had showed her all his


s: message. And straightway he spake to Telemachus winged


s: words, holding his head close to him, that the others might


s: 'Friend, I am going hence to look after thy swine and the


s: things of the farm, thy livelihood and mine; but do thou


s: take charge of all that is here. Yet first look to thyself


s: and take heed that no evil comes nigh thee, for many of the


s: Achaeans have ill will against us, whom may Zeus confound


s: And wise Telemachus answered him, and said: 'Even so shall


s: it be, father; and do thou get thee on thy way, when thou


s: hast supped. And in the morning come again, and bring fair


s: victims for sacrifice. And all these matters will be a care


s: Thus he spake, and the other sat down again on the polished


s: settle; and when he had satisfied his heart with meat and


s: drink, he went on his way to the swine, leaving the courts


s: and the hall full of feasters; and they were making merry


s: with dance and song, for already it was close on eventide.


s: The fighting at fists of Odysseus with Irus. His


s: admonitions to Amphinomus. Penelope appears before the


s: Then up came a common beggar, who was wont to beg through


s: the town of Ithaca, one that was known among all men for


s: ravening greed, for his endless eating and drinking, yet he


s: had no force or might, though he was bulky enough to look


s: on. Arnaeus was his name, for so had his good mother given


s: it him at his birth, but all the young men called him Irus,


s: because he ran on errands, whensoever any might bid him. So


s: now he came, and would have driven Odysseus from his own


s: house, and began reviling him, and spake winged words:


s: 'Get thee hence, old man, from the doorway, lest thou be


s: even haled out soon by the foot. Seest thou not that all


s: are now giving me the wink, and bidding me drag thee forth?


s: Nevertheless, I feel shame of the task. Nay get thee up,


s: lest our quarrel soon pass even to blows.'


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on him, and


s: spake saying: 'Sir, neither in deed nor word do I harm


s: thee, nor do I grudge that any should give to thee, yea


s: though it were a good handful. But this threshold will hold


s: us both, and thou hast no need to be jealous for the sake


s: of other men's goods. Thou seemest to me to be a wanderer,


s: even as I am, and the gods it is that are like to give us


s: gain. Only provoke me not overmuch to buffeting, lest thou


s: anger me, and old though I be I defile thy breast and lips


s: with blood. Thereby should I have the greater quiet


s: to-morrow, for methinks that thou shalt never again come to


s: Then the beggar Irus spake unto him in anger: 'Lo now, how


s: trippingly and like an old cinder-wife this glutton speaks,


s: on whom I will work my evil will, and smite him right and


s: left, and drive all the teeth from his jaws to the ground,


s: like the tusks of a swine that spoils the corn. Gird


s: thyself now, that even these men all may know our mettle in


s: fight. Nay, how shouldst thou do battle with a younger man


s: Thus did they whet each the other's rage right manfully


s: before the lofty doors upon the polished threshold. And the


s: mighty prince Antinous heard the twain, and sweetly he


s: laughed out, and spake among the wooers:


s: 'Friends, never before has there been such a thing; such


s: goodly game has a god brought to this house. The stranger


s: yonder and Irus are bidding each other to buffets. Quick,


s: let us match them one against the other.'


s: Then all at the word leaped up laughing, and gathered round


s: the ragged beggars, and Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spake


s: among them saying: 'Hear me, ye lordly wooers, and I will


s: say somewhat. Here are goats' bellies lying at the fire,


s: that we laid by at supper-time and filled with fat and


s: blood. Now whichsoever of the twain wins, and shows himself


s: the better man, let him stand up and take his choice of


s: these puddings. And further, he shall always eat at our


s: feasts, nor will we suffer any other beggar to come among


s: So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well. Then


s: Odysseus of many counsels spake among them craftily:


s: 'Friends, an old man and foredone with travail may in no


s: wise fight with a younger. But my belly's call is urgent on


s: me, that evil-worker, to the end that I may be subdued with


s: stripes. But come now, swear me all of you a strong oath,


s: so that none, for the sake of shewing a favour to Irus, may


s: strike me a foul blow with heavy hand and subdue me by


s: So he spake, and they all swore not to strike him, as he


s: bade them. Now when they had sworn and done that oath, the


s: mighty prince Telemachus once more spake among them:


s: 'Stranger, if thy heart and lordly spirit urge thee to rid


s: thee of this fellow, then fear not any other of the


s: Achaeans, for whoso strikes thee shall have to fight with


s: many. Thy host am I, and the princes consent with me,


s: Antinous and Eurymachus, men of wisdom both.'


s: So spake he and they all consented thereto. Then Odysseus


s: girt his rags about his loins, and let his thighs be seen,


s: goodly and great, and his broad shoulders and breast and


s: mighty arms were manifest. And Athene came nigh and made


s: greater the limbs of the shepherd of the people. Then the


s: wooers were exceedingly amazed, and thus would one speak


s: 'Right soon will Irus, un-Irused, have a bane of his own


s: bringing, such a thigh as that old man shows from out his


s: So they spake, and the mind of Irus was pitifully stirred;


s: but even so the servants girded him and led him out


s: perforce in great fear, his flesh trembling on his limbs.


s: Then Antinous chid him, and spake and hailed him:


s: 'Thou lubber, better for thee that thou wert not now, nor


s: ever hadst been born, if indeed thou tremblest before this


s: man, and art so terribly afraid; an old man too he is, and


s: foredone with the travail that is come upon him. But I will


s: tell thee plainly, and it shall surely be accomplished. If


s: this man prevail against thee and prove thy master, I will


s: cast thee into a black ship, and send thee to the mainland


s: to Echetus the king, the maimer of all mankind, who will


s: cut off thy nose and ears with the pitiless steel, and draw


s: out thy vitals and give them raw to dogs to rend.'


s: So he spake, and yet greater trembling gat hold of the


s: limbs of Irus, and they led him into the ring, and the


s: twain put up their hands. Then the steadfast goodly


s: Odysseus mused in himself whether he should smite him in


s: such wise that his life should leave his body, even there


s: where he fell, or whether he should strike him lightly, and


s: stretch him on the earth. And as he thought thereon, this


s: seemed to him the better way, to strike lightly, that the


s: Achaeans might not take note of him, who he was. Then the


s: twain put up their hands, and Irus struck at the right


s: shoulder, but the other smote him on his neck beneath the


s: ear, and crushed in the bones, and straightway the red


s: blood gushed up through his mouth, and with a moan he fell


s: in the dust, and drave together his teeth as he kicked the


s: ground. But the proud wooers threw up their hands, and died


s: outright for laughter. Then Odysseus seized him by the


s: foot, and dragged him forth through the doorway, till he


s: came to the courtyard and the gates of the gallery, and he


s: set him down and rested him against the courtyard wall, and


s: put his staff in his hands, and uttering his voice spake to


s: 'Sit thou there now, and scare off swine and dogs, and let


s: not such an one as thou be lord over strangers and beggars,


s: pitiful as thou art, lest haply some worse thing befal


s: Thus he spake, and cast about his shoulders his mean scrip


s: all tattered, and the cord therewith to hang it, and he gat


s: him back to the threshold, and sat him down there again.


s: Now the wooers went within laughing sweetly, and greeted


s: 'May Zeus, stranger, and all the other deathless gods give


s: thee thy dearest wish, even all thy heart's desire, seeing


s: that thou hast made that insatiate one to cease from his


s: begging in the land! Soon will we take him over to the


s: mainland, to Echetus the king, the maimer of all mankind.'


s: So they spake, and goodly Odysseus rejoiced in the omen of


s: the words. And Antinous set by him the great pudding,


s: stuffed with fat and blood, and Amphinomus took up two


s: loaves from the basket, and set them by him and pledged him


s: 'Father and stranger, hail! may happiness be thine in the


s: time to come; but as now, thou art fast holden in many


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:


s: 'Amphinomus, verily thou seemest to me a prudent man


s: enough; for such too was the father of whom thou art


s: sprung, for I have heard the fair fame of him, how that


s: Nisus of Dulichium was a good man and a rich, and his son


s: they say thou art, and thou seemest a man of understanding.


s: Wherefore I will tell thee, and do thou mark and listen to


s: me. Nought feebler doth the earth nurture than man, of all


s: the creatures that breathe and move upon the face of the


s: earth. Lo, he thinks that he shall never suffer evil in


s: time to come, while the gods give him happiness, and his


s: limbs move lightly. But when again the blessed gods have


s: wrought for him sorrow, even so he bears it, as he must,


s: with a steadfast heart. For the spirit of men upon the


s: earth is even as their day, that comes upon them from the


s: father of gods and men. Yea, and I too once was like to


s: have been prosperous among men, but many an infatuate deed


s: I did, giving place to mine own hardihood and strength, and


s: trusting to my father and my brethren. Wherefore let no man


s: for ever be lawless any more, but keep quietly the gifts of


s: the gods, whatsoever they may give. Such infatuate deeds do


s: I see the wooers devising, as they waste the wealth, and


s: hold in no regard the wife of a man, who, methinks, will


s: not much longer be far from his friends and his own land;


s: nay he is very near. But for thee, may some god withdraw


s: thee hence to thy home, and mayst thou not meet him in the


s: day when he returns to his own dear country! For not


s: without blood, as I deem, will they be sundered, the wooers


s: and Odysseus, when once he shall have come beneath his own


s: Thus he spake, and poured an offering and then drank of the


s: honey-sweet wine, and again set the cup in the hands of the


s: arrayer of the people. But the other went back through the


s: hall, sad at heart and bowing his head; for verily his soul


s: boded evil. Yet even so he avoided not his fate, for Athene


s: had bound him likewise to be slain outright at the hands


s: and by the spear of Telemachus. So he sat down again on the


s: Now the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, put it into the heart of


s: the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, to show herself to


s: the wooers, that she might make their heart all flutter


s: with hope, and that she might win yet more worship from her


s: lord and her son than heretofore. To she laughed an idle


s: laugh, and spake to the nurse, and hailed her, saying:


s: 'Eurynome, my heart yearns, though before I had no such


s: desire, to show myself to the wooers, hateful as they are.


s: I would also say a word to my son, that will be for his


s: weal, namely, that he should not for ever consort with the


s: proud wooers, who speak friendly with their lips, but


s: Then the housewife, Eurynome, spake to her saying: 'Yea my


s: child, all this thou hast spoken as is meet. Go then, and


s: declare thy word to thy son and hide it not, but first wash


s: thee and anoint thy face, and go not as thou art with thy


s: cheeks all stained with tears. Go, for it is little good to


s: sorrow always, and never cease. And lo, thy son is now of


s: an age to hear thee, he whom thou hast above all things


s: prayed the gods that thou mightest see with a beard upon


s: Then wise Penelope answered her, saying: 'Eurynome, speak


s: not thus comfortably to me, for all thy love, bidding me to


s: wash and be anointed with ointment. For the gods that keep


s: Olympus destroyed my bloom, since the day that he departed


s: in the hollow ships. But bid Autonoe and Hippodameia come


s: to me, to stand by my side in the halls. Alone I will not


s: So she spake, and the old woman passed through the chamber


s: to tell the maidens, and hasten their coming.


s: Thereon the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, had another thought.


s: She shed a sweet slumber over the daughter of Icarius, who


s: sank back in sleep, and all her joints were loosened as she


s: lay in the chair, and the fair goddess the while was giving


s: her gifts immortal, that all the Achaeans might marvel at


s: her. Her fair face first she steeped with beauty


s: imperishable, such as that wherewith the crowned Cytherea


s: is anointed, when she goes to the lovely dances of the


s: Graces. And she made her taller and greater to behold, and


s: made her whiter than new-sawn ivory. Now when she had


s: wrought thus, that fair goddess departed, and the


s: white-armed handmaidens came forth from the chamber and


s: drew nigh with a sound of voices. Then sweet sleep left


s: hold of Penelope, and she rubbed her cheeks with her hands,


s: 'Surely soft slumber wrapped me round, most wretched though


s: I be. Oh! that pure Artemis would give me so soft a death


s: even now, that I might no more waste my life in sorrow of


s: heart, and longing for the manifold excellence of my dear


s: lord, for that he was foremost of the Achaeans.'


s: With this word she went down from the shining upper


s: chamber, not alone, for two handmaidens likewise bare her


s: company. But when the fair lady had now come to the wooers,


s: she stood by the pillar of the well-builded roof, holding


s: her glistening tire before her face, and on either side of


s: her stood a faithful handmaid. And straightway the knees of


s: the wooers were loosened, and their hearts were enchanted


s: with love, and each one uttered a prayer that he might be


s: her bed-fellow. But she spake to Telemachus, her dear son:


s: 'Telemachus, thy mind and thy thoughts are no longer stable


s: as they were. While thou wast still a child, thou hadst a


s: yet quicker and more crafty wit, but now that thou art


s: great of growth, and art come to the measure of manhood,


s: and a stranger looking to thy stature and thy beauty might


s: say that thou must be some rich man's son, thy mind and thy


s: thoughts are no longer right as of old. For lo, what manner


s: of deed has been done in these halls, in that thou hast


s: suffered thy guest to be thus shamefully dealt with. How


s: would it be now, if the stranger sitting thus in our house,


s: were to come to some harm all through this evil handling?


s: Shame and disgrace would be thine henceforth among men.'


s: Then wise Telemachus answered her: 'Mother mine, as to this


s: matter I count it no blame that thou art angered. Yet have


s: I knowledge and understanding of each thing, of the good


s: and of the evil; but heretofore I was a child. Howbeit I


s: cannot devise all things according to wisdom, for these men


s: in their evil counsel drive me from my wits, on this side


s: and on that, and there is none to aid me. Howsoever this


s: battle between Irus and the stranger did not fall out as


s: the wooers would have had it, but the stranger proved the


s: better man. Would to Father Zeus and Athene and Apollo,


s: that the wooers in our halls were even now thus vanquished,


s: and wagging their heads, some in the court, and some within


s: the house, and that the limbs of each man were loosened in


s: such fashion as Irus yonder sits now, by the courtyard


s: gates wagging his head, like a drunken man, and cannot


s: stand upright on his feet, nor yet get him home to his own


s: place, seeing that his limbs are loosened!'


s: Thus they spake one to another. But Eurymachus spake to


s: 'Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, if all the Achaeans in


s: Iasian Argos could behold thee, even a greater press of


s: wooers would feast in your halls from to-morrow's dawn,


s: since thou dost surpass all women in beauty and stature,


s: Then wise Penelope answered him: 'Eurymachus, surely my


s: excellence, both of face and form, the gods destroyed in


s: the day when the Argives embarked for Ilios, and with them


s: went my lord Odysseus. If but he might come and watch over


s: this my life, greater thus would be my fame and fairer! But