s: now am I in sorrow; such a host of ills some god has sent


s: against me. Ah, well do I remember, when he set forth and


s: left his own country, how he took me by the right hand at


s: '"Lady, methinks that all the goodly-greaved Achaeans will


s: not win a safe return from Troy; for the Trojans too, they


s: say, are good men at arms, as spearsmen, and bowmen, and


s: drivers of fleet horses, such as ever most swiftly


s: determine the great strife of equal battle. Wherefore I


s: know not if the gods will suffer me to return, or whether I


s: shall be cut off there in Troy; so do thou have a care for


s: all these things. Be mindful of my father and my mother in


s: the halls, even as now thou art, or yet more than now,


s: while I am far away. But when thou seest thy son a bearded


s: man, marry whom thou wilt and leave thine own house."


s: 'Even so did he speak, and now all these things have an


s: end. The night shall come when a hateful marriage shall


s: find me out, me most luckless, whose good hap Zeus has


s: taken away. But furthermore this sore trouble has come on


s: my heart and soul; for this was not the manner of wooers in


s: time past. Whoso wish to woo a good lady and the daughter


s: of a rich man, and vie one with another, themselves bring


s: with them oxen of their own and goodly flocks, a banquet


s: for the friends of the bride, and they give the lady


s: splendid gifts, but do not devour another's livelihood


s: Thus she spake, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus rejoiced


s: because she drew from them gifts, and beguiled their souls


s: with soothing words, while her heart was set on other


s: Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered her again:


s: 'Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, the gifts which any of


s: the Achaeans may choose to bring hither, do thou take; for


s: it were ill to withhold a gift. But we for our part will


s: neither go to our lands nor otherwhere, before thou art


s: wedded to the best man of the Achaeans.'


s: So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well, and


s: each man sent a henchman to bring his gifts. For Antinous


s: his henchman bare a broidered robe, great and very fair,


s: wherein were golden brooches, twelve in all, fitted with


s: well bent clasps. And the henchman straightway bare


s: Eurymachus a golden chain of curious work, strung with


s: amber beads, shining like the sun. And his squires bare for


s: Eurydamas a pair of ear-rings, with three drops well


s: wrought, and much grace shone from them. And out of the


s: house of Peisander the prince, the son of Polyctor, the


s: the Achaeans brought each one some other beautiful gift.


s: Then the fair lady went aloft to her upper chamber, and her


s: attendant maidens bare for her the lovely gifts, while the


s: wooers turned to dancing and the delight of song, and


s: therein took their pleasure, and awaited the coming of


s: eventide. And dark evening came on them at their pastime.


s: Anon they set up three braziers in the halls, to give them


s: seasoned long since and sere, and new split with the axe.


s: And midway by the braziers they placed torches, and the


s: maids of Odysseus, of the hardy heart, held up the lights


s: in turn. Then the prince Odysseus of many counsels himself


s: 'Ye maidens of Odysseus, the lord so long afar, get ye into


s: the chambers where the honoured queen abides, and twist the


s: yarn at her side, and gladden her heart as ye sit in the


s: chamber, or card the wools with your hands; but I will


s: minister light to all these that are here. For even if they


s: are minded to wait the throned Dawn, they shall not outstay


s: So he spake, but they laughed and looked one at the other.


s: And the fair Melantho chid him shamefully, Melantho that


s: Dolius begat, but Penelope reared, and entreated her


s: tenderly as she had been her own child, and gave her


s: playthings to her heart's desire. Yet, for all that, sorrow


s: for Penelope touched not her heart, but she loved


s: Eurymachus and was his paramour. Now she chid Odysseus with


s: 'Wretched guest, surely thou art some brain-struck man,


s: seeing that thou dost not choose to go and sleep at a


s: smithy, or at some place of common resort, but here thou


s: pratest much and boldly among many lords and hast no fear


s: at heart. Verily wine has got about thy wits, or perchance


s: thou art always of this mind, and so thou dost babble idly.


s: Art thou beside thyself for joy, because thou hast beaten


s: the beggar Irus? Take heed lest a better man than Irus rise


s: up presently against thee, to lay his mighty hands about


s: thy head and bedabble thee with blood, and send thee hence


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on her, and


s: said: 'Yea, straight will I go yonder and tell Telemachus


s: hereof, thou shameless thing, for this thy speech, that


s: forthwith he may cut thee limb from limb.'


s: So he spake, and with his saying scared away the women, who


s: fled through the hall, and the knees of each were loosened


s: for fear, for they deemed that his words were true. But


s: Odysseus took his stand by the burning braziers, tending


s: the lights, and gazed on all the men: but far other matters


s: he pondered in his heart, things not to be unfulfilled.


s: Now Athene would in no wise suffer the lordly wooers to


s: abstain from biting scorn, that the pain might sink yet the


s: deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes. So


s: Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak among them,


s: girding at Odysseus, and so made mirth for his friends:


s: 'Hear me ye wooers of the queen renowned, that I may say


s: that which my spirit within me bids me. Not without the


s: gods' will has this man come to the house of Odysseus;


s: methinks at least that the torchlight flares forth from {*}


s: that head of his, for there are no hairs on it, nay never


s: {* Accepting the conjecture [Greek] = [Greek] for the MSS.


s: He spake and withal addressed Odysseus, waster of cities:


s: 'Stranger, wouldest thou indeed be my hireling, if I would


s: take thee for my man, at an upland farm, and thy wages


s: shall be assured thee, and there shalt thou gather stones


s: for walls and plant tall trees? There would I provide thee


s: bread continual, and clothe thee with raiment, and give


s: thee shoes for thy feet. Howbeit, since thou art practised


s: only in evil, thou wilt not care to go to the labours of


s: the field, but wilt choose rather to go louting through the


s: land, that thou mayst have wherewithal to feed thine


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him and said:


s: 'Eurymachus, would that there might be a trial of labour


s: between us twain, in the season of spring, when the long


s: days begin! In the deep grass might it be, and I should


s: have a crooked scythe, and thou another like it, that we


s: might try each the other in the matter of labour, fasting


s: till late eventide, and grass there should be in plenty. Or


s: would again, that there were oxen to drive, the best there


s: may be, large and tawny, both well filled with fodder, of


s: equal age and force to bear the yoke and of strength


s: untiring! And it should be a field of four ploughgates, and


s: the clod should yield before the ploughshare. Then


s: shouldest thou see me, whether or no I would cut a clean


s: furrow unbroken before me. Or would that this very day


s: Cronion might waken war whence he would, and that I had a


s: shield and two spears, and a helmet all of bronze, close


s: fitting on my temples! Then shouldest thou see me mingling


s: in the forefront of the battle, nor speak and taunt me with


s: this my belly. Nay, thou art exceeding wanton and thy heart


s: is hard, and thou thinkest thyself some great one and


s: mighty, because thou consortest with few men and feeble.


s: Ah, if Odysseus might but return and come to his own


s: country, right soon would yonder doors full wide as they


s: are, prove all too strait for thee in thy flight through


s: Thus he spake, and Eurymachus waxed yet the more wroth at


s: heart, and looking fiercely on him spake to him winged


s: 'Ah, wretch that thou art, right soon will I work thee


s: mischief, so boldly thou pratest among many lords, and hast


s: no fear at heart. Verily wine has got about thy wits, or


s: perchance thou art always of this mind, and so thou dost


s: babble idly. Art thou beside thyself for joy, because thou


s: Therewith he caught up a footstool, but Odysseus sat him


s: down at the knees of Amphinomus of Dulichium, in dread of


s: Eurymachus. And Eurymachus cast and smote the cup-bearer on


s: the right hand, and the ladle cup dropped to the ground


s: with a clang, while the young man groaned and fell


s: backwards in the dust. Then the wooers clamoured through


s: the shadowy halls, and thus one would say looking to his


s: 'Would that our wandering guest had perished otherwhere, or


s: ever he came hither; so should he never have made all this


s: tumult in our midst! But now we are all at strife about


s: beggars, and there will be no more joy of the good feast,


s: Then the mighty prince Telemachus spake among them:


s: 'Sirs, ye are mad; now doth your mood betray that ye have


s: eaten and drunken; some one of the gods is surely moving


s: you. Nay, now that ye have feasted well, go home and lay


s: you to rest, since your spirit so bids; for as for me, I


s: Thus he spake, and they all bit their lips and marvelled at


s: Telemachus, in that he spake boldly. Then Amphinomus made


s: harangue, and spake among them, Amphinomus, the famous son


s: of Nisus the prince, the son of Aretias:


s: 'Friends, when a righteous word has been spoken, none


s: surely would rebuke another with hard speech and be angry.


s: Misuse ye not this stranger, neither any of the thralls


s: that are in the house of godlike Odysseus. But come, let


s: the wine-bearer pour for libation into each cup in turn,


s: that after the drink-offering we may get us home to bed.


s: But the stranger let us leave in the halls of Odysseus for


s: a charge to Telemachus: for to his home has he come.'


s: Thus he spake, and his word was well-pleasing to them all.


s: Then the lord Mulius mixed for them the bowl, the henchman


s: out of Dulichium, who was squire of Amphinomus. And he


s: stood by all and served it to them in their turn; and they


s: poured forth before the blessed gods, and drank the


s: honey-sweet wine. Now when they had poured forth and had


s: drunken to their hearts' content, they departed to lie


s: Telemachus removes the arms out of the hall. Odysseus


s: disburseth with Penelope. And is known by his nurse, but


s: concealed. And the hunting of the boar upon that occasion


s: Now the goodly Odysseus was left behind in the hall,


s: devising with Athene's aid the slaying of the wooers, and


s: straightway he spake winged words to Telemachus:


s: 'Telemachus, we must needs lay by the weapons of war


s: within, every one; and when the wooers miss them and ask


s: thee concerning them, thou shalt beguile them with soft


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


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


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


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


s: 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: Thus he spake, and Telemachus hearkened to his dear father,


s: and called forth to him the nurse Eurycleia and spake to


s: 'Nurse, come now I pray thee, shut up the women in their


s: chambers till I shall have laid by in the armoury the


s: goodly weapons of my father, which all uncared for the


s: smoke dims in the hall, since my father went hence, and I


s: was still but a child. Now I wish to lay them by where the


s: vapour of the fire will not reach them.'


s: Then the good nurse Eurycleia answered him, saying: 'Ah, my


s: child, if ever thou wouldest but take careful thought in


s: such wise as to mind the house, and guard all this wealth!


s: But come, who shall fetch the light and bear it, if thou


s: hast thy way, since thou wouldest not that the maidens, who


s: might have given light, should go before thee?'


s: Then wise Telemachus made answer to her: 'This stranger


s: here, for I will keep no man in idleness who eats of my


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


s: closed the doors of the fair-lying chambers. Then they


s: twain sprang up, Odysseus and his renowned son, and set to


s: carry within the helmets and the bossy shields, and the


s: sharp-pointed spears; and before them Pallas Athene bare a


s: golden cresset and cast a most lovely light. Thereon


s: Telemachus spake to his father suddenly:


s: 'Father, surely a great marvel is this that I behold with


s: mine eyes; meseems, at least, that the walls of the hall


s: and the fair main-beams of the roof and the cross-beams of


s: pine, and the pillars that run aloft, are bright as it were


s: with flaming fire. Verily some god is within, of those that


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered him and said: 'Hold


s: thy peace and keep thy thoughts in check and ask not


s: hereof. Lo, this is the wont of the gods that hold Olympus.


s: But do thou go and lay thee down, and I will abide here,


s: that I may yet further provoke the maids ant thy mother to


s: answer; and she in her sorrow will ask me concerning each


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


s: his chamber to lie down, by the light of the flaming


s: torches, even to the chamber where of old he took his rest,


s: when sweet sleep came over him. There now too he lay down


s: and awaited the bright Dawn. But goodly Odysseus was left


s: behind in the hall, devising with Athene's aid the slaying


s: Now forth from her chamber came the wise Penelope, like


s: Artemis or golden Aphrodite, and they set a chair for her


s: hard by before the fire, where she was wont to sit, a chair


s: well-wrought and inlaid with ivory and silver, which on a


s: time the craftsman Icmalius had fashioned, and had joined


s: thereto a footstool, that was part of the chair, whereon a


s: great fleece was used to be laid. Here then, the wise


s: Penelope sat her down, and next came white-armed handmaids


s: from the women's chamber, and began to take away the many


s: fragments of food, and the tables and the cups whence the


s: proud lords had been drinking, and they raked out the fire


s: from the braziers on to the floor, and piled many fresh


s: logs upon them, to give light and warmth.


s: Then Melantho began to revile Odysseus yet a second time,


s: saying: 'Stranger, wilt thou still be a plague to us here,


s: circling round the house in the night, and spying the


s: women? Nay, get thee forth, thou wretched thing, and be


s: thankful for thy supper, or straightway shalt thou even be


s: smitten with a torch and so fare out of the doors.'


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on her, and


s: said: 'Good woman, what possesses thee to assail me thus


s: out of an angry heart? Is it because I go filthy and am


s: clothed about in sorry raiment, and beg through the land,


s: for necessity is laid on me? This is the manner of beggars


s: and of wandering men. For I too once had a house of mine


s: own among men, a rich man with a wealthy house, and many a


s: time would I give to a wanderer, what manner of man soever


s: he might be, and in whatsoever need he came. And I had


s: countless thralls, and all else in plenty, whereby folk


s: live well and have a name for riches. But Zeus, the son of


s: Cronos, made me desolate of all, for surely it was his


s: will. Wherefore, woman, see lest some day thou too lose all


s: thy fine show wherein thou now excellest among the


s: handmaids, as well may chance, if thy mistress be provoked


s: to anger with thee, or if Odysseus come home, for there is


s: yet a place for hope. And even if he hath perished as ye


s: deem, and is never more to return, yet by Apollo's grace he


s: hath a son like him, Telemachus, and none of the women


s: works wantonness in his halls without his knowledge, for he


s: Thus he spake, and the wise Penelope heard him, and rebuked


s: 'Thou reckless thing and unabashed, be sure thy great sin


s: is not hidden from me, and thy blood shall be on thine own


s: head for the same! Four thou knewest right well, in that


s: thou hadst heard it from my lips, how that I was minded to


s: ask the stranger in my halls for tidings of my lord; for I


s: Therewith she spake likewise to the housedame, Eurynome,


s: 'Eurynome, bring hither a settle with a fleece thereon,


s: that the stranger may sit and speak with me and hear my


s: words, for I would ask him all his story.'


s: So she spake, and the nurse made haste and brought a


s: polished settle, and cast a fleece thereon; and then the


s: steadfast goodly Odysseus sat him down there, and the wise


s: 'Stranger, I will make bold first to ask thee this: who art


s: thou of the sons of men, and whence? Where is thy city, and


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said: 'Lady,


s: no one of mortal men in the wide world could find fault


s: with thee, for lo, thy fame goes up to the wide heaven, as


s: doth the fame of a blameless king, one that fears the gods


s: and reigns among many men and mighty, maintaining right,


s: and the black earth bears wheat and barley, and the trees


s: are laden with fruit, and the sheep bring forth and fail


s: not, and the sea gives store of fish, and all out of his


s: good guidance, and the people prosper under him. Wherefore


s: do thou ask me now in thy house all else that thou wilt,


s: but inquire not concerning my race and mine own country,


s: lest as I think thereupon thou fill my heart the more with


s: pains, for I am a man of many sorrows. Moreover it beseems


s: me not to sit weeping and wailing in another's house, for


s: it is little good to mourn always without ceasing, lest


s: perchance one of the maidens, or even thyself, be angry


s: with me and say that I swim in tears, as one that is heavy


s: Then wise Penelope answered him, and said: 'Stranger,


s: surely my excellence, both of face and form, the gods


s: destroyed, in the day when the Argives embarked for Ilios,


s: and with them went my lord Odysseus. If but he might come


s: and watch over this my life, greater and fairer thus would


s: be my fame! But now am I in sorrow, such a host of ills


s: some god has sent against me. For all the noblest that are


s: princes in the isles, in Dulichium and Same and wooded


s: Zacynthus, and they that dwell around even in clear-seen


s: Ithaca, these are wooing me against my will, and devouring


s: the house. Wherefore I take no heed of strangers, nor


s: suppliants, nor at all of heralds, the craftsmen of the


s: people. But I waste my heart away in longing for Odysseus;


s: so they speed on my marriage and I weave a web of wiles.


s: First some god put it into my heart to set up a great web


s: in the halls, and thereat to weave a robe fine of woof and


s: very wide; and anon I spake among them, saying: "Ye


s: princely youths, my wooers, now that goodly Odysseus is


s: dead, do ye abide patiently, how eager soever to speed on


s: this marriage of mine, till I finish the robe. I would not


s: that the threads perish to no avail, even this shroud for


s: the hero Laertes, against the day when the ruinous doom


s: shall bring him low, of death that lays men at their


s: length. So shall none of the Achaean women in the land


s: count it blame in me, as well might be, were he to lie


s: without a winding sheet, a man that had gotten great


s: 'So spake I, and their high hearts consented thereto. So


s: then in the daytime I would weave the mighty web, and in


s: the night unravel the same, when I had let place the


s: torches by me. Thus for the space of three years I hid the


s: thing by craft and beguiled the minds of the Achaeans. But


s: when the fourth year arrived, and the seasons came round as


s: the months waned, and many days were accomplished, then it


s: was that by help of the handmaids, shameless things and


s: reckless, the wooers came and trapped me, and chid me


s: loudly. Thus did I finish the web by no will of mine, for


s: so I must. And now I can neither escape the marriage nor


s: devise any further counsel, and my parents are instant with


s: me to marry, and my son chafes that these men devour his


s: livelihood, as he takes note of all; for by this time he


s: has come to man's estate; and is full able to care for a


s: household, for one to which Zeus vouchsafes honour. But


s: even so tell me of thine own stock, whence thou art, for


s: thou art not sprung of oak or rock, whereof old tales


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:


s: 'O wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, wilt thou


s: never have done asking me about mine own race? Nay, but I


s: will tell thee: yet surely thou wilt give me over to


s: sorrows yet more than those wherein I am holden, for so it


s: ever is when a man has been afar from his own country, so


s: long as now I am, wandering in sore pain to many cities of


s: mortals. Yet even so I will tell thee what thou askest and


s: inquirest. There is a land called Crete in the midst of the


s: wine-dark sea, a fair land and a rich, begirt with water,


s: and therein are many men innumerable, and ninety cities.


s: And all have not the same speech, but there is confusion of


s: tongues; there dwell Achaeans and there too Cretans of


s: Crete, high of heart, and Cydonians there and Dorians of


s: waving plumes and goodly Pelasgians. And among these cities


s: is the mighty city Cnosus, wherein Minos when he was nine


s: years old began to rule, he who held converse with great


s: Zeus, and was the father of my father, even of Deucalion,


s: high of heart. Now Deucalion begat me and Idomeneus the


s: prince. Howbeit, he had gone in his beaked ships up into


s: Ilios, with the sons of Atreus; but my famed name is


s: Aethon, being the younger of the twain and he was the first


s: born and the better man. There I saw Odysseus, and gave him


s: guest-gifts, for the might of the wind bare him too to


s: Crete, as he was making for Troy land, and had driven him


s: wandering past Malea. So he stayed his ships in Amnisus,


s: whereby is the cave of Eilithyia, in havens hard to win,


s: and scarce he escaped the tempest. Anon he came up to the


s: city and asked for Idomeneus, saying that he was his friend


s: and held by him in love and honour. But it was now the


s: tenth or the eleventh dawn since Idomeneus had gone in his


s: beaked ships up into Ilios. Then I led him to the house,


s: and gave him good entertainment with all loving-kindness


s: out of the plenty in my house, and for him and for the rest


s: of his company, that went with him, I gathered and gave


s: barley meal and dark wine out of the public store, and oxen


s: to sacrifice to his heart's desire.  There the goodly


s: Achaeans abode twelve days, for the strong North Wind


s: penned them there, and suffered them not to stay upon the


s: coast, for some angry god had roused it. On the thirteenth


s: day the wind fell, and then they lifted anchor.'


s: So he told many a false tale in the likeness of truth, and


s: her tears flowed as she listened, and her flesh melted. And


s: even as the snow melts in the high places of the hills, the


s: snow that the South-East wind has thawed, when the West has


s: scattered it abroad, and as it wastes the river streams run


s: full, even so her fair cheeks melted beneath her tears, as


s: she wept her own lord, who even then was sitting by her.


s: Now Odysseus had compassion of heart upon his wife in her


s: lamenting, but his eyes kept steadfast between his eyelids


s: as it were horn or iron, and craftily he hid his tears. But


s: she, when she had taken her fill of tearful lamentation,


s: 'Friend as thou art, even now I think to make trial of


s: thee, and learn whether in very truth thou didst entertain


s: my lord there in thy halls with his godlike company, as


s: thou sayest. Tell me what manner of raiment he was clothed


s: in about his body, and what manner of man he was himself,


s: and tell me of his fellows that went with him.'


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Lady,


s: it is hard for one so long parted from him to tell thee all


s: this, for it is now the twentieth year since he went


s: thither and left my country. Yet even so I will tell thee


s: as I see him in spirit. Goodly Odysseus wore a thick purple


s: mantle, twofold, which had a brooch fashioned in gold, with


s: two sheathes for the pins, and on the face of it was a


s: curious device: a hound in his forepaws held a dappled fawn


s: and gazed on it as it writhed. And all men marvelled at the


s: workmanship, how, wrought as they were in gold, the hound


s: was gazing on the fawn and strangling it, and the fawn was


s: writhing with his feet and striving to flee. Moreover, I


s: marked the shining doublet about his body, like the gleam


s: over the skin of a dried onion, so smooth it was, and


s: glistering as the sun; truly many women looked thereon and


s: wondered. Yet another thing will I tell thee, and do thou


s: ponder it in thy heart. I know not if Odysseus was thus


s: clothed upon at home, or if one of his fellows gave him the


s: raiment as he went on board the swift ship, or even it may


s: be some stranger, seeing that to many men was Odysseus


s: dear, for few of the Achaeans were his peers. I, too, gave


s: him a sword of bronze, and a fair purple mantle with double


s: fold, and a tasseled doublet, and I sent him away with all


s: honour on his decked ship. Moreover, a henchman bare him


s: company, somewhat older than he, and I will tell thee of


s: him too, what manner of man he was. He was


s: round-shouldered, black-skinned, and curly-headed, his name


s: Eurybates; and Odysseus honoured him above all his company,


s: because in all things he was like-minded with himself.'


s: So he spake, and in her heart he stirred yet more the


s: desire of weeping, as she knew the certain tokens that


s: Odysseus showed her. So when she had taken her fill of


s: tearful lament, then she answered him, and spake saying:


s: 'Now verily, stranger, thou that even before wert held in


s: pity, shalt be dear and honourable in my halls, for it was


s: I who gave him these garments, as judging from thy words,


s: and folded them myself, and brought them from the chamber,


s: him I shall never welcome back, returned home to his own


s: dear country. Wherefore with an evil fate it was that


s: Odysseus went hence in the hollow ship to see that evil


s: And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Wife


s: revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, destroy not now thy


s: fair flesh any more, nor waste thy heart with weeping for


s: thy lord;--not that I count it any blame in thee, for many


s: a woman weeps that has lost her wedded lord, to whom she


s: has borne children in her love,--albeit a far other man


s: than Odysseus, who, they say, is like the gods. Nay, cease


s: from thy lamenting, and lay up my word in thy heart; for I


s: will tell thee without fail, and will hide nought, how but


s: lately I heard tell of the return of Odysseus, that he is


s: nigh at hand, and yet alive in the fat land of the men of


s: Thesprotia, and is bringing with him many choice treasures,


s: as he begs through the land. But he has lost his dear


s: companions and his hollow ship on the wine-dark sea, on his


s: way from the isle Thrinacia: for Zeus and Helios had a


s: grudge against him, because his company had slain the kine


s: of Helios. They for their part all perished in the wash of


s: the sea, but the wave cast him on the keel of the ship out


s: upon the coast, on the land of the Phaeacians that are near


s: of kin to the gods, and they did him all honour heartily as


s: unto a god, and gave him many gifts, and themselves would


s: fain have sent him scathless home. Yea and Odysseus would


s: have been here long since, but he thought it more


s: profitable to gather wealth, as he journeyed over wide


s: lands; so truly is Odysseus skilled in gainful arts above


s: all men upon earth, nor may any mortal men contend with


s: him. So Pheidon king of the Thesprotians told me. Moreover


s: he sware, in mine own presence, as he poured the


s: drink-offering in his house, that the ship was drawn down


s: to the sea and his company were ready, who were to convey


s: him to his own dear country. But me he first sent off, for


s: it chanced that a ship of the Thesprotians was on her way


s: to Dulichium, a land rich in grain. And he showed me all


s: the wealth that Odysseus had gathered, yea it would suffice


s: for his children after him, even to the tenth generation,


s: so great were the treasures he had stored in the chambers


s: of the king. As for him he had gone, he said, to Dodona to


s: hear the counsel of Zeus, from the high leafy oak tree of


s: the god, how he should return to his own dear country,


s: having now been long afar, whether openly or by stealth.


s: 'In this wise, as I tell thee, he is safe and will come


s: shortly, and very near he is and will not much longer be


s: far from his friends and his own country; yet withal I will


s: give thee my oath on it. Zeus be my witness first, of gods


s: the highest and best, and the hearth of noble Odysseus


s: whereunto I am come, that all these things shall surely be


s: accomplished even as I tell thee. In this same year


s: Odysseus shall come hither, as the old moon wanes and the


s: Then wise Penelope answered him: 'Ah! stranger, would that


s: this word may be accomplished. Soon shouldst thou be aware


s: of kindness and many a gift at my hands, so that whoso met


s: with thee would call thee blessed. But on this wise my


s: heart has a boding, and so it shall be. Neither shall


s: Odysseus come home any more, nor shalt thou gain an escort


s: hence, since there are not now such masters in the house as


s: Odysseus was among men,--if ever such an one there was,--


s: to welcome guests revered and speed them on their way. But


s: do ye, my handmaids, wash this man's feet and strew a couch


s: for him, bedding and mantles and shining blankets, that


s: well and warmly he may come to the time of golden-throned


s: Dawn. And very early in the morning bathe him and anoint


s: him, that within the house beside Telemachus he may eat


s: meat, sitting quietly in the hall. And it shall be the


s: worse for any hurtful man of the wooers, that vexes the


s: stranger, yea he shall not henceforth profit himself here,


s: for all his sore anger. For how shalt thou learn concerning


s: me, stranger, whether indeed I excel all women in wit and


s: thrifty device, if all unkempt and evil clad thou sittest


s: at supper in my halls? Man's life is brief enough! And if


s: any be a hard man and hard at heart, all men cry evil on


s: him for the time to come, while yet he lives, and all men


s: mock him when he is dead. But if any be a blameless man and


s: blameless of heart, his guests spread abroad his fame over


s: the whole earth and many people call him noble.'


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said: 'O


s: wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, mantles verily


s: and shining blankets are hateful to me, since first I left


s: behind me the snowy hills of Crete, voyaging in the


s: long-oared galley; nay, I will lie as in time past I was


s: used to rest through the sleepless nights. For full many a


s: night I have lain on an unsightly bed, and awaited the


s: bright throned Dawn. And baths for the feet are no longer


s: my delight, nor shall any women of those who are serving


s: maidens in thy house touch my foot, unless there chance to


s: be some old wife, true of heart, one that has borne as much


s: trouble as myself; I would not grudge such an one to touch


s: Then wise Penelope answered him: 'Dear stranger, for never


s: yet has there come to my house, of strangers from afar, a


s: dearer man or so discreet as thou, uttering so heedfully


s: the words of wisdom. I have an ancient woman of an


s: understanding heart, that diligently nursed and tended that


s: hapless man my lord, she took him in her arms in the hour


s: when his mother bare him. She will wash thy feet, albeit


s: her strength is frail. Up now, wise Eurycleia, and wash


s: this man, whose years are the same as thy master's. Yea and


s: perchance such even now are the feet of Odysseus, and such


s: too his hands, for quickly men age in misery.'


s: So she spake, and the old woman covered her face with her


s: hands and shed hot tears, and spake a word of lamentation,


s: 'Ah, woe is me, child, for thy sake, all helpless that I


s: am! Surely Zeus hated thee above all men, though thou hadst


s: a god-fearing spirit! For never yet did any mortal burn so


s: many fat pieces of the thigh and so many choice hecatombs


s: to Zeus, whose joy is in the thunder, as thou didst give to


s: him, praying that so thou mightest grow to a smooth old age


s: and rear thy renowned son. But now from thee alone hath


s: Zeus wholly cut off the day of thy returning.  Haply at him


s: too did the women mock in a strange land afar, whensoever


s: he came to the famous palace of any lord, even as here


s: these shameless ones all mock at thee. To shun their


s: insults and many taunts it is that thou sufferest them not


s: to wash thy feet, but the daughter of Icarius, wise


s: Penelope, hath bidden me that am right willing to this


s: task. Wherefore I will wash thy feet, both for Penelope's


s: sake and for thine own, for that my heart within me is


s: moved and troubled. But come, mark the word that I shall


s: speak. Many strangers travel-worn have ere now come hither,


s: but I say that I have never seen any so like another, as


s: thou art like Odysseus, in fashion in voice and in feet.'


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Old


s: wife, even so all men declare, that have beheld us twain,


s: that we favour each other exceedingly, even as thou dost


s: Thereupon the crone took the shining cauldron, wherefrom


s: {*} she set to wash his feet, and poured in much cold water


s: and next mingled therewith the warm. Now Odysseus sat aloof


s: from the hearth, and of a sudden he turned his face to the


s: darkness, for anon he had a misgiving of heart lest when


s: she handled him she might know the scar again, and all


s: should be revealed. Now she drew near her lord to wash him,


s: and straightway she knew the scar of the wound, that the


s: boar had dealt him with his white tusk long ago, when


s: Odysseus went to Parnassus to see Autolycus, and the sons


s: of Autolycus, his mother's noble father, who outdid all men


s: in thievery and skill in swearing. This skill was the gift


s: of the god himself, even Hermes, for that he burned to him


s: the well-pleasing sacrifice of the thighs of lambs and


s: kids; wherefore Hermes abetted him gladly. Now Autolycus


s: once had gone to the rich land of Ithaca, and found his


s: daughter's son a child new-born, and when he was making an


s: end of supper, behold, Eurycleia set the babe on his knees,


s: and spake and hailed him: 'Autolycus find now a name


s: thyself to give thy child's own son; for lo, he is a child


s: Then Autolycus made answer and spake: 'My daughter and my


s: daughter's lord, give ye him whatsoever name I tell you.


s: Forasmuch as I am come hither in wrath against many a one,


s: both man and woman, over the fruitful earth, wherefore let


s: the child's name be "a man of wrath," Odysseus. But when


s: the child reaches his full growth, and comes to the great


s: house of his mother's kin at Parnassus, whereby are my


s: possessions, I will give him a gift out of these and send


s: Therefore it was that Odysseus went to receive the splendid


s: gifts. And Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus grasped his


s: hands and greeted him with gentle words, and Amphithea, his


s: mother's mother, clasped him in her arms and kissed his


s: face and both his fair eyes. Then Autolycus called to his


s: renowned sons to get ready the meal, and they hearkened to


s: the call. So presently they led in a five-year-old bull,


s: which they flayed and busily prepared, and cut up all the


s: limbs and deftly chopped them small, and pierced them with


s: spits and roasted them cunningly, dividing the messes. So


s: for that livelong day they feasted till the going down of


s: the sun, and their soul lacked not ought of the equal


s: banquet. But when the sun sank and darkness came on, they


s: laid them to rest and took the boon of sleep.


s: Now so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,


s: they all went forth to the chase, the hounds and the sons


s: of Autolycus, and with them went the goodly Odysseus. So


s: they fared up the steep hill of wood-clad Parnassus, and


s: quickly they came to the windy hollows. Now the sun was but


s: just striking on the fields, and was come forth from the


s: soft flowing stream of deep Oceanus. Then the beaters


s: reached a glade of the woodland, and before them went the


s: hounds tracking a scent, but behind came the sons of


s: Autolycus, and among them goodly Odysseus followed close on


s: the hounds, swaying a long spear. Thereby in a thick lair


s: was a great boar lying, and through the coppice the force


s: of the wet winds blew never, neither did the bright sun


s: light on it with his rays, nor could the rain pierce


s: through, so thick it was, and of fallen leaves there was


s: great plenty therein. Then the tramp of the men's feet and


s: of the dogs' came upon the boar, as they pressed on in the


s: chase, and forth from his lair he sprang towards them with


s: crest well bristled and fire shining in his eyes, and stood


s: at bay before them all. Then Odysseus was the first to rush


s: in, holding his spear aloft in his strong hand, most eager


s: to stab him; but the boar was too quick and drave a gash


s: above the knee, ripping deep into the flesh with his tusk


s: as he charged sideways, but he reached not to the bone of


s: the man. Then Odysseus aimed well and smote him on his


s: right shoulder, so that the point of the bright spear went


s: clean through, and the boar fell in the dust with a cry,


s: and his life passed from him. Then the dear sons of


s: Autolycus began to busy them with the carcase, and as for


s: the wound of the noble godlike Odysseus, they bound it up


s: skilfully, and stayed the black blood with a song of


s: healing, and straight-way returned to the house of their


s: dear father. Then Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus got


s: him well healed of his hurt, and gave him splendid gifts,


s: and quickly sent him with all love to Ithaca, gladly


s: speeding a glad guest. There his father and lady mother


s: were glad of his returning, and asked him of all his


s: adventures, and of his wound how he came by it, and duly he


s: told them all, namely how the boar gashed him with his


s: white tusk in the chase, when he had gone to Parnassus with


s: Now the old woman took the scarred limb and passed her


s: hands down it, and knew it by the touch and let the foot


s: drop suddenly, so that the knee fell into the bath, and the


s: brazen vessel rang, being turned over on the other side,


s: and behold, the water was spilled on the ground. Then joy


s: and anguish came on her in one moment, and both her eyes


s: filled up with tears, and the voice of her utterance was


s: stayed, and touching the chin of Odysseus she spake to him,


s: 'Yea verily, thou art Odysseus, my dear child, and I knew


s: thee not before, till I had handled all the body of my


s: Therewithal she looked towards Penelope, as minded to make


s: a sign that her husband was now home. But Penelope could


s: not meet her eyes nor take note of her, for Athene had bent


s: her thoughts to other things. But Odysseus feeling for the


s: old woman's throat gript it with his right hand and with


s: the other drew her closer to him and spake, saying:


s: 'Woman, why wouldest thou indeed destroy me? It was thou


s: that didst nurse me there at thine own breast, and now


s: after travail and much pain I am come in the twentieth year


s: to mine own country. But since thou art ware of me, and the


s: god has put this in thy heart, be silent, lest another


s: learn the matter in the halls. For on this wise I will


s: declare it, and it shall surely be accomplished:--if the


s: gods subdue the lordly wooers unto me, I will not hold my


s: hand from thee, my nurse though thou art, when I slay the


s: Then wise Eurycleia answered, saying: 'My child, what word


s: hath escaped the door of thy lips? Thou knowest how firm is


s: my spirit and unyielding, and I will keep me fast as


s: stubborn stone or iron. Yet another thing will I tell thee,


s: and do thou ponder it in thine heart. If the gods subdue


s: the lordly wooers to thy hand, then will I tell thee all


s: the tale of the women in the halls, which of them dishonour


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Nurse,


s: wherefore I pray thee wilt thou speak of these? Thou


s: needest not, for even I myself will mark them well and take


s: knowledge of each. Nay, do thou keep thy saying to thyself,


s: Even so he spake, and the old woman passed forth from the


s: hall to bring water for his feet, for that first water was


s: all spilled. So when she had washed him and anointed him


s: well with olive-oil, Odysseus again drew up his settle


s: nearer to the fire to warm himself, and covered up the scar


s: with his rags. Then the wise Penelope spake first, saying:


s: 'Stranger, there is yet a little thing I will make bold to


s: ask thee, for soon will it be the hour for pleasant rest,


s: for him on whomsoever sweet sleep falls, though he be heavy


s: with care. But to me has the god given sorrow, yea sorrow


s: measureless, for all the day I have my fill of wailing and


s: lamenting, as I look to mine own housewiferies and to the


s: tasks of the maidens in the house. But when night comes and


s: sleep takes hold of all, I lie on my couch, and shrewd


s: cares, thick thronging about my inmost heart, disquiet me


s: in my sorrowing. Even as when the daughter of Pandareus,


s: the nightingale of the greenwood, sings sweet in the first


s: of the trees, and with many a turn and trill she pours


s: forth her full-voiced music bewailing her child, dear


s: Itylus, whom on a time she slew with the sword unwitting,


s: Itylus the son of Zethus the prince; even as her song, my


s: troubled soul sways to and fro. Shall I abide with my son,


s: and keep all secure, all the things of my getting, my


s: thralls and great high-roofed home, having respect unto the


s: bed of my lord and the voice of the people, or even now


s: follow with the best of the Achaeans that woos me in the


s: halls, and gives a bride-price beyond reckoning? Now my


s: son, so long as he was a child and light of heart, suffered


s: me not to marry and leave the house of my husband; but now


s: that he is great of growth, and is come to the full measure


s: of manhood, lo now he prays me to go back home from these


s: walls, being vexed for his possessions that the Achaeans


s: devour before his eyes. But come now, hear a dream of mine


s: and tell me the interpretation thereof. Twenty geese I have


s: in the house, that eat wheat, coming forth from the water,


s: and I am gladdened at the sight. Now a great eagle of


s: crooked beak swooped from the mountain, and brake all their


s: necks and slew them; and they lay strewn in a heap in the


s: halls, while he was borne aloft to the bright air. Thereon


s: I wept and wailed, in a dream though it was, and around me


s: were gathered the fair-tressed Achaean women as I made


s: piteous lament, for that the eagle had slain my geese. But


s: he came back and sat him down on a jutting point of the


s: roof-beam, and with the voice of a man he spake, and stayed


s: '"Take heart, O daughter of renowned Icarius; this is no


s: dream but a true vision, that shall be accomplished for


s: thee. The geese are the wooers, and I that before was the


s: eagle am now thy husband come again, who will let slip


s: unsightly death upon all the wooers." With that word sweet


s: slumber let me go, and I looked about, and beheld the geese


s: in the court pecking their wheat at the trough, where they


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:


s: 'Lady, none may turn aside the dream to interpret it


s: otherwise, seeing that Odysseus himself hath showed thee


s: how he will fulfil it. For the wooers destruction is


s: clearly boded, for all and every one; not a man shall avoid


s: Then wise Penelope answered him: 'Stranger, verily dreams


s: are hard, and hard to be discerned; nor are all things


s: therein fulfilled for men. Twain are the gates of shadowy


s: dreams, the one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory. Such


s: dreams as pass through the portals of sawn ivory are


s: deceitful, and bear tidings that are unfulfilled. But the


s: dreams that come forth through the gates of polished horn


s: bring a true issue, whosoever of mortals beholds them. Yet


s: methinks my strange dream came not thence; of a truth that


s: would be most welcome to me and to my son. But another


s: thing will I tell thee, and do thou ponder it in thy heart.


s: Lo, even now draws nigh the morn of evil name, that is to


s: sever me from the house of Odysseus, for now I am about to


s: ordain for a trial those axes that he would set up in a row


s: in his halls, like stays of oak in ship-building, twelve in


s: all, and he would stand far apart and shoot his arrow


s: through them all. And now I will offer this contest to the


s: wooers; whoso shall most easily string the bow in his


s: hands, and shoot through all twelve axes, with him will I


s: go and forsake this house, this house of my wedlock, so


s: fair and filled with all livelihood, which methinks I shall


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said: 'Wife


s: revered of Odysseus son of Laertes, no longer delay this


s: contest in thy halls; for, lo, Odysseus of many counsels


s: will be here, before these men, for all their handling of


s: this polished bow, shall have strung it, and shot the arrow


s: Then the wise Penelope answered him: 'Stranger, if only


s: thou wert willing still to sit beside me in the halls and


s: to delight me, not upon my eyelids would sleep be shed. But


s: men may in no wise abide sleepless ever, for the immortals


s: have made a time for all things for mortals on the


s: grain-giving earth. Howbeit I will go aloft to my upper


s: chamber, and lay me on my bed, the place of my groanings,


s: that is ever watered by my tears, since the day that


s: Odysseus went to see that evil Ilios, never to be named.


s: There will I lay me down, but do thou lie in this house;


s: either strew thee somewhat on the floor, or let them lay


s: Therewith she ascended to her shining upper chamber, not


s: alone, for with her likewise went her handmaids. So she


s: went aloft to her upper chamber with the women her


s: handmaids, and there was bewailing Odysseus, her dear lord,


s: till grey-eyed Athene cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.


s: Pallas and Odysseus consult of the killing of the wooers.


s: But the goodly Odysseus laid him down to sleep in the


s: vestibule of the house. He spread an undressed bull's hide


s: on the ground and above it many fleeces of sheep, that the


s: Achaeans were wont to slay in sacrifice, and Eurynome threw


s: a mantle over him where he lay. There Odysseus lay wakeful,


s: with evil thoughts against the wooers in his heart. And the


s: women came forth from their chamber, that aforetime were


s: wont to lie with the wooers, making laughter and mirth


s: among themselves. Then the heart of Odysseus was stirred


s: within his breast, and much he communed with his mind and


s: soul, whether he should leap forth upon them and deal death


s: to each, or suffer them to lie with the proud wooers, now


s: for the last and latest time. And his heart growled


s: tender whelps growling, when she spies a man she knows not,


s: and she is eager to assail him, so growled his heart within


s: him in his wrath at their evil deeds. Then he smote upon


s: his breast and rebuked his own heart, saying:


s: 'Endure, my heart; yea, a baser thing thou once didst bear,


s: on that day when the Cyclops, unrestrained in fury,


s: devoured the mighty men of my company; but still thou didst


s: endure till thy craft found a way for thee forth from out


s: the cave, where thou thoughtest to die.'


s: So spake he, chiding his own spirit within him, and his


s: heart verily abode steadfast in obedience to his word. But


s: Odysseus himself lay tossing this way and that. And as when


s: a man by a great fire burning takes a paunch full of fat


s: and blood, and turns it this way and that and longs to have


s: it roasted most speedily, so Odysseus tossed from side to


s: side, musing how he might stretch forth his hands upon the


s: shameless wooers, being but one man against so many. Then


s: down from heaven came Athene and drew nigh him, fashioned


s: in the likeness of a woman. And she stood over his head and


s: 'Lo now again, wherefore art thou watching, most luckless


s: of all men living? Is not this thy house and is not thy


s: wife there within and thy child, such a son as men wish to


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Yea,


s: goddess, all this thou hast spoken as is meet. But my heart


s: within me muses in some measure upon this, how I may


s: stretch forth my hands upon the shameless wooers, being but


s: one man, while they abide ever in their companies within.


s: Moreover this other and harder matter I ponder in my heart:


s: even if I were to slay them by thy will and the will of


s: Zeus, whither should I flee from the avengers? Look well to


s: Then answered the goddess, grey-eyed Athene: 'O hard of


s: belief! yea, many there be that trust even in a weaker


s: friend than I am, in one that is a mortal and knows not


s: such craft as mine; but I am a god, that preserve thee to


s: the end, in all manner of toils. And now I will tell thee


s: plainly; even should fifty companies of mortal men compass


s: us about eager to slay us in battle, even their kine


s: shouldst thou drive off and their brave flocks. But let


s: sleep in turn come over thee; to wake and to watch all


s: night, this too is vexation of spirit; and soon shalt thou


s: So she spake and poured slumber upon his eyelids, but for


s: her part the fair goddess went back to Olympus.


s: While sleep laid hold of him loosening the cares of his


s: soul, sleep that loosens the limbs of men, his good wife


s: awoke and wept as she sat on her soft bed. But when she had


s: taken her fill of weeping, to Artemis first the fair lady


s: 'Artemis, lady and goddess, daughter of Zeus, would that


s: even now thou wouldst plant thy shaft within my breast and


s: take my life away, even in this hour! Or else, would that


s: the stormwind might snatch me up, and bear me hence down


s: the dusky ways, and cast me forth where the back-flowing


s: Oceanus mingles with the sea. It should be even as when the


s: stormwinds bare away the daughters of Pandareus. Their


s: father and their mother the gods had slain, and the maidens


s: were left orphans in the halls, and fair Aphrodite


s: cherished them with curds and sweet honey and delicious


s: wine. And Here gave them beauty and wisdom beyond the lot


s: of women, and holy Artemis dowered them with stature, and


s: Athene taught them skill in all famous handiwork. Now while


s: fair Aphrodite was wending to high Olympus, to pray that a


s: glad marriage might be accomplished for the maidens,--and


s: to Zeus she went whose joy is in the thunder, for he knows


s: all things well, what the fates give and deny to mortal


s: men--in the meanwhile the spirits of the storm snatched


s: away these maidens, and gave them to be handmaids to the


s: hateful Erinyes. Would that in such wise they that hold the


s: mansions of Olympus would take me from the sight of men, or


s: that fair-stressed Artemis would strike me, that so with a


s: vision of Odysseus before mine eyes I might even pass


s: beneath the dreadful earth, nor ever make a baser man's


s: delight! But herein is an evil that may well be borne,


s: namely, when a man weeps all the day long in great sorrow


s: of heart, but sleep takes him in the night, for sleep makes


s: him forgetful of all things, of good and evil, when once it


s: has overshadowed his eyelids. But as for me, even the


s: dreams that the gods send upon me are evil. For


s: furthermore, this very night one seemed to lie by my side,


s: in the likeness of my lord, as he was when he went with the


s: host, and then was my heart glad, since methought it was no


s: vain dream but a clear vision at the last.'


s: So she spake, and anon came the golden throned Dawn. Now


s: goodly Odysseus caught the voice of her weeping, and then


s: he fell a musing, and it seemed to him that even now she


s: knew him and was standing by his head. So he took up the


s: mantle and the fleeces whereon he was lying, and set them


s: on a high seat in the hall, and bare out the bull's hide


s: out of doors and laid it there, and lifting up his hands he


s: 'Father Zeus, if ye gods of your good will have led me over


s: wet and dry, to mine own country, after ye had plagued me


s: sore, let some one I pray of the folk that are waking show


s: me a word of good omen within, and without let some sign


s: So he spake in prayer, and Zeus, the counsellor, heard him.


s: Straightway he thundered from shining Olympus, from on high


s: from the place of clouds; and goodly Odysseus was glad.


s: Moreover a woman, a grinder at the mill, uttered a voice of


s: omen from within the house hard by, where stood the mills


s: of the shepherd of the people. At these handmills twelve


s: women in all plied their task, making meal of barley and of


s: wheat, the marrow of men. Now all the others were asleep,


s: for they had ground out their task of grain, but one alone


s: rested not yet, being the weakest of all. She now stayed


s: her quern and spake a word, a sign to her lord:


s: 'Father Zeus, who rulest over gods and men, loudly hast


s: thou thundered from the starry sky, yet nowhere is there a


s: cloud to be seen: this surely is a portent thou art showing


s: to some mortal. Fulfil now, I pray thee, even to miserable


s: me, the word that I shall speak. May the wooers, on this


s: day, for the last and latest time make their sweet feasting


s: in the halls of Odysseus! They that have loosened my knees


s: with cruel toil to grind their barley meal, may they now


s: Thus she spake, and goodly Odysseus was glad in the omen of


s: the voice and in the thunder of Zeus; for he thought that


s: he had gotten his vengeance on the guilty.


s: Now the other maidens in the fair halls of Odysseus had


s: gathered, and were kindling on the hearth the never-resting


s: fire. And Telemachus rose from his bed, a godlike man, and


s: put on his raiment, and slung a sharp sword about his


s: shoulders, and beneath his shining feet he bound his goodly


s: sandals. And he caught up his mighty spear shod with sharp


s: bronze, and went and stood by the threshold, and spake to


s: 'Dear nurse, have ye honoured our guest in the house with


s: food and couch, or does he lie uncared for, as he may? For


s: this is my mother's way, wise as she is: blindly she


s: honours one of mortal men, even the worse, but the better


s: Then the prudent Eurycleia answered: 'Nay, my child, thou


s: shouldst not now blame her where no blame is. For the


s: stranger sat and drank wine, so long as he would, and of


s: food he said he was no longer fain, for thy mother asked


s: him. Moreover, against the hour when he should bethink him


s: of rest and sleep, she bade the maidens strew for him a


s: bed. But he, as one utterly wretched and ill-fated, refused


s: to lie on a couch and under blankets, but on an undressed


s: hide and on the fleeces of sheep he slept in the vestibule,


s: So she spake, and Telemachus passed out through the hall


s: with his lance in his hand, and two fleet dogs bare him


s: company. He went on his way to the assembly-place to join


s: the goodly-greaved Achaeans. But the good lady Eurycleia,


s: daughter of Ops son of Peisenor, called aloud to her


s: 'Come hither, let some of you go busily and sweep the hall,


s: and sprinkle it, and on the fair-fashioned seats throw


s: purple coverlets, and others with sponges wipe all the


s: tables clean, and cleanse the mixing bowls and well-wrought


s: double beakers, and others again go for water to the well,


s: and return with it right speedily. For the wooers will not


s: long be out of the hall but will return very early, for it


s: is a feast day, yea for all the people.'


s: So she spake, and they all gave ready ear and hearkened.


s: Twenty of them went to the well of dark water, and the


s: others there in the halls were busy with skilful hands.


s: Then in came the serving-men of the Achaeans. Thereon they


s: women came back from the well. Then the swineherd joined


s: them leading three fatted boars, the best in all the flock.


s: These he left to feed at large in the fair courts, but as


s: for him he spake to Odysseus gently, saying:


s: 'Tell me, stranger, do the Achaeans at all look on thee


s: with more regard, or do they dishonour thee in the halls,


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:


s: 'Oh, that the gods, Eumaeus, may avenge the scorn wherewith


s: these men deal insolently, and devise infatuate deeds in


s: another's house, and have no place for shame!'


s: On such wise they spake one to another. And Melanthius drew


s: near them, the goatherd, leading the goats that were most


s: excellent in all the herds to be a dinner for the wooers,


s: and two shepherds bare him company. So he tethered the


s: goats beneath the echoing gallery, and himself spake to


s: 'Stranger, wilt thou still be a plague to us here in the


s: hall, with thy begging of men, and wilt not get thee gone?


s: In no wise do I think we twain will be sundered, till we


s: taste each the other's fists, for thy begging is out of all


s: order. Also there are elsewhere other feasts of the


s: So he spake, but Odysseus of many counsels answered him not


s: a word, but in silence he shook his head, brooding evil in


s: Moreover a third man came up, Philoetius, a master of men,


s: leading a barren heifer for the wooers and fatted goats.


s: Now ferrymen had brought them over from the mainland,


s: boatmen who send even other folks on their way, whosoever


s: comes to them. The cattle he tethered carefully beneath the


s: echoing gallery, and himself drew close to the swineherd,


s: 'Swineherd, who is this stranger but newly come to our


s: house? From what men does he claim his birth? Where are his


s: kin and his native fields? Hapless is he, yet in fashion he


s: is like a royal lord; but the gods mar the goodliness of


s: wandering men, when even for kings they have woven the web


s: So he spake, and came close to him offering his right hand


s: in welcome, and uttering his voice spake to him winged


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: sorrows! Father Zeus, none other god is more baneful than


s: thou; thou hast no compassion on men, that are of thine own


s: begetting, but makest them to have fellowship with evil and


s: with bitter pains. The sweat brake out on me when I beheld


s: him, and mine eyes stand full of tears for memory of


s: Odysseus, for he too, methinks, is clad in such vile


s: raiment as this, and is wandering among men, if haply he


s: yet lives and sees the sunlight. But if he be dead already


s: and in the house of Hades, then woe is me for the noble


s: Odysseus, who set me over his cattle while I was but a lad


s: in the land of the Cephallenians. And now these wax


s: numberless; in no better wise could the breed of


s: broad-browed cattle of any mortal increase, even as the


s: ears of corn. But strangers command me to be ever driving


s: these for themselves to devour, and they care nothing for


s: the heir in the house, nor tremble at the vengeance of the


s: gods, for they are eager even now to divide among


s: themselves the possessions of our lord who is long afar.


s: Now my heart within my breast often revolves this thing.


s: Truly it were an evil deed, while a son of the master is


s: yet alive, to get me away to the land of strangers, and go


s: off, with cattle and all, to alien men. But this is more


s: grievous still, to abide here in affliction watching over


s: the herds of other men. Yea, long ago I would have fled and


s: gone forth to some other of the proud kings, for things are


s: now past sufferance; but still my thought is of that


s: hapless one, if he might come I know not whence, and make a


s: Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:


s: 'Neatherd, seeing thou art not like to an evil man or a


s: foolish, and of myself I mark how that thou hast gotten


s: understanding of heart, therefore I will tell thee


s: somewhat, and swear a great oath to confirm it. Be Zeus now


s: my witness before any god, and the hospitable board and the


s: hearth of noble Odysseus, whereunto I am come, that while


s: thou art still in this place Odysseus shall come home, and


s: thou shalt see with thine eyes, if thou wilt, the slaying


s: 'Ah, would, stranger, that Cronion may accomplish this


s: word! So shouldst thou know what my might is, and how my


s: In like manner Eumaeus prayed to all the gods, that wise


s: On such wise they spake one to the other, but the wooers at


s: that time were framing death and doom for Telemachus. Even


s: so there came by them a bird on their left, an eagle of


s: lofty flight, with a cowering dove in his clutch. Then


s: Amphinomus made harangue and spake among them:


s: 'Friends, this counsel of ours will not go well, namely,


s: the slaying of Telemachus; rather let us bethink us of the


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


s: passed into the halls of godlike Odysseus and laid by their


s: mantles on the chairs and high seats, and sacrificed great


s: sheep and stout goats and the fatlings of the boars and the


s: heifer of the herd; then they roasted the entrails and


s: served them round and mixed wine in the bowl, and the


s: swineherd set a cup by each man. And Philoetius, a master


s: of men, handed them wheaten bread in beautiful baskets, and


s: Melanthius poured out the wine. So they put forth their


s: hands on the good cheer set before them.


s: Now Telemachus, in his crafty purpose, made Odysseus to sit


s: down within the stablished hall by the threshold of stone,


s: and placed for him a mean settle and a little table. He set


s: by him his mess of the entrails, and poured wine into a


s: 'There, sit thee down, drinking thy wine among the lords,


s: and the taunts and buffets of all the wooers I myself will


s: ward off from thee, for this is no house of public resort,


s: but the very house of Odysseus, and for me he won it. But,


s: ye wooers, refrain your minds from rebukes and your hands


s: from buffets, that no strife and feud may arise.'


s: So he said, and they all bit their lips and marvelled at


s: Telemachus, in that he spake boldly. Then Antinous, son of


s: 'Hard though the word be, let us accept it, Achaeans, even


s: the word of Telemachus, though mightily he threatens us in


s: his speech. For Zeus Cronion hath hindered us of our


s: purpose, else would we have silenced him in our halls,


s: So spake Antinous, but Telemachus took no heed of his


s: words. Now the henchmen were leading through the town the


s: holy hecatomb of the gods, and lo, the long-haired Achaeans


s: were gathered beneath the shady grove of Apollo, the prince


s: Now when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off


s: the spits, they divided the messes and shared the glorious


s: feast. And beside Odysseus they that waited set an equal


s: share, the same as that which fell to themselves, for so


s: Telemachus commanded, the dear son of divine Odysseus.


s: Now Athene would in nowise suffer the lordly wooers to


s: abstain from biting scorn, that the pain might sink yet the


s: deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes. There


s: was among the wooers a man of a lawless heart, Ctesippus


s: was his name, and in Same was his home, who trusting,


s: forsooth, to his vast possessions, was wooing the wife of


s: Odysseus the lord long afar. And now he spake among the


s: 'Hear me, ye lordly wooers, and I will say somewhat. The


s: stranger verily has long had his due portion, as is meet,


s: an equal share; for it is not fair nor just to rob the


s: guests of Telemachus of their right, whosoever they may be


s: that come to this house. Go to then, I also will bestow on


s: him a stranger's gift, that he in turn may give a present


s: either to the bath-woman, or to any other of the thralls


s: Therewith he caught up an ox's foot from the dish, where it


s: lay, and hurled it with strong hand. But Odysseus lightly


s: avoided it with a turn of his head, and smiled right grimly


s: in his heart, and the ox's foot smote the well-builded


s: wall. Then Telemachus rebuked Ctesippus, saying:


s: 'Verily, Ctesippus, it has turned out happier for thy


s: heart's pleasure as it is! Thou didst not smite the


s: stranger, for he himself avoided that which was cast at


s: him, else surely would I have struck thee through the midst


s: with the sharp spear, and in place of wedding banquet thy


s: father would have had to busy him about a funeral feast in


s: this place. Wherefore let no man make show of unseemly


s: deeds in this my house, for now I have understanding to


s: discern both good and evil, but in time past I was yet a


s: child. But as needs we must, we still endure to see these


s: deeds, while sheep are slaughtered and wine drunken and


s: bread devoured, for hard it is for one man to restrain


s: many. But come, no longer work me harm out of an evil


s: heart; but if ye be set on slaying me, even me, with the


s: sword, even that would I rather endure, and far better


s: would it be to die than to witness for ever these unseemly


s: deeds--strangers shamefully entreated, and men haling the


s: handmaidens in foul wise through the fair house.'


s: So he spake, and they were all hushed in silence. And late


s: and at last spake among them Agelaus, son of Damastor:


s: 'Friends, when a righteous word has been spoken, none


s: surely would rebuke another with hard speech and be angry.


s: Misuse ye not this stranger, nor any of the thralls that


s: are in the house of godlike Odysseus. But to Telemachus


s: himself I would speak a soft word and to his mother, if


s: perchance it may find favour with the mind of those twain.


s: So long as your hearts within you had hope of the wise


s: Odysseus returning to his own house, so long none could be


s: wroth that ye waited and held back the wooers in the halls,


s: for so had it been better, if Odysseus had returned and


s: come back to his own home. But now the event is plain, that


s: he will return no more. Go then, sit by thy mother and tell


s: her all, namely, that she must wed the best man that wooes


s: her, and whose gives most gifts; so shalt thou with


s: gladness live on the heritage of thy father, eating and


s: drinking, while she cares for another's house.'


s: Then wise Telemachus answered, and said: 'Nay by Zeus,


s: Agelaus, and by the griefs of my father, who far away


s: methinks from Ithaca has perished or goes wandering, in


s: nowise do I delay my mother's marriage; nay, I bid her be


s: married to what man she will, and withal I offer gifts


s: without number. But I do indeed feel shame to drive her


s: forth from the hall, despite her will, by a word of


s: compulsion; God forbid that ever this should be.'


s: So spake Telemachus, but among the wooers Pallas Athene


s: roused laughter unquenchable, and drave their wits


s: wandering. And now they were laughing with alien lips, and


s: blood-bedabbled was the flesh they ate, and their eyes were


s: filled with tears and their soul was fain of lamentation.


s: Then the godlike Theoclymenus spake among them:


s: 'Ah, wretched men, what woe is this ye suffer? Shrouded in


s: night are your heads and your faces and your knees, and


s: kindled is the voice of wailing, and all cheeks are wet


s: with tears, and the walls and the fair main-beams of the


s: roof are sprinkled with blood. And the porch is full, and


s: full is the court, of ghosts that hasten hellwards beneath


s: the gloom, and the sun has perished out of heaven, and an


s: So spake he, and they all laughed sweetly at him. Then


s: Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak to them, saying:


s: 'The guest that is newly come from a strange land is beside


s: himself. Quick, ye young men, and convey him forth out of


s: doors, that he may go to the place of the gathering, since


s: Then godlike Theoclymenus answered him: 'Eurymachus, in


s: nowise do I seek guides of thee to send me on my way. Eyes


s: have I, and ears, and both my feet, and a stable mind in my


s: breast of no mean fashioning. With these I will go forth,


s: for I see evil coming on you, which not one man of the


s: wooers may avoid or shun, of all you who in the house of


s: divine Odysseus deal insolently with men and devise


s: Therewith he went forth from out the fair-lying halls, and


s: came to Peiraeus who received him gladly. Then all the


s: wooers, looking one at the other, provoked Telemachus to


s: anger, laughing at his guests. And thus some one of the


s: 'Telemachus, no man is more luckless than thou in his


s: guests, seeing thou keepest such a filthy wanderer,


s: whosoever he be, always longing for bread and wine, and


s: skilled in no peaceful work nor any deed of war, but a mere


s: burden of the earth. And this other fellow again must stand


s: up to play the seer! Nay, but if thou wouldest listen to


s: me, much better it were. Let us cast these strangers on


s: board a benched ship, and send them to the Sicilians,


s: whence they would fetch thee their price.' {*}


s: {* Reading [Greek], which is a correction. Or keeping the


s: MSS. [Greek] 'and this should bring thee in a goodly


s: price,' the subject to [Greek] being, probably, THE SALE,


s: So spake the wooers, but he heeded not their words, in


s: silence he looked towards his father, expecting evermore


s: the hour when he should stretch forth his hands upon the


s: Now the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, had set her


s: fair chair over against them, and heard the words of each


s: one of the men in the halls. For in the midst of laughter


s: they had got ready the midday meal, a sweet meal and


s: abundant, for they had sacrificed many cattle. But never


s: could there be a banquet less gracious than that supper,


s: such an one as the goddess and the brave man were soon to


s: spread for them; for that they had begun the devices of


s: Penelope bringeth forth her husband's bow, which the


s: suitors could not bend, but was bent by Odysseus.


s: Now the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, put it into the heart of


s: the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, to set the bow and


s: the axes of grey iron, for the wooers in the halls of


s: Odysseus, to be the weapons of the contest, and the


s: beginning of death. So she descended the tall staircase of


s: her chamber, and took the well-bent key in her strong hand,


s: a goodly key of bronze, whereon was a handle of ivory. And


s: she betook her, with her handmaidens, to the


s: treasure-chamber in the uttermost part of the house, where


s: lay the treasures of her lord, bronze and gold and


s: well-wrought iron. And there lay the back-bent bow and the


s: quiver for the arrows, and many shafts were therein, winged


s: for death, gifts of a friend of Odysseus, that met with him


s: in Lacedaemon, Iphitus son of Eurytus, a man like to the


s: gods. These twain fell in with one another in Messene, in


s: the house of wise Ortilochus. Now Odysseus had gone thither


s: to recover somewhat that was owing to him from all the


s: people, for the men of Messene had lifted three hundred


s: sheep in benched ships from out of Ithaca, with the


s: shepherds of the flock. In quest of these it was that


s: Odysseus went on a far embassy, being yet a lad; for his


s: father and the other elders sent him forth. Moreover,


s: Iphitus came thither in his search for twelve brood mares,


s: which he had lost, with sturdy mules at the teat. These


s: same it was that brought him death and destiny in the


s: latter end, when he came to the child of Zeus, hardy of


s: heart, the man Heracles, that had knowledge of great


s: adventures, who smote Iphitus though his guest in his


s: house, in his frowardness, and had no regard for the


s: vengeance of the gods, nor for the table which he spread


s: before him; for after the meal he slew him, his guest


s: though he was, and kept for himself in the halls the horses


s: strong of hoof. After these was Iphitus asking, when he met


s: with Odysseus, and he gave him the bow, which of old great


s: Eurytus bare and had left at his death to his son in his


s: lofty house. And Odysseus gave Iphitus a sharp sword and a


s: mighty spear, for the beginning of a loving friendship; but


s: never had they acquaintance one of another at the board;


s: ere that might be, the son of Zeus slew Iphitus son of


s: Eurytus, a man like to the immortals, the same that gave


s: Odysseus the bow. But goodly Odysseus would never take it


s: with him on the black ships, as he went to the wars, but


s: the bow was laid by at home in the halls as a memorial of a


s: dear guest, and he carried it on his own land.


s: Now when the fair lady had come even to the


s: treasure-chamber, and had stept upon the threshold of oak,


s: which the carpenter had on a time planed cunningly, and


s: over it had made straight the line,--doorposts also had he


s: fitted thereby, whereon he set shining doors,--anon she


s: quickly loosed the strap from the handle of the door, and


s: thrust in the key, and with a straight aim shot back the


s: bolts. And even as a bull roars that is grazing in a


s: meadow, so mightily roared the fair doors smitten by the


s: key; and speedily they flew open before her. Then she stept


s: on to the high floor, where the coffers stood, wherein the


s: fragrant raiment was stored. Thence she stretched forth her


s: hand, and took the bow from off the pin, all in the bright


s: case which sheathed it around. And there she sat down, and


s: set the case upon her knees, and cried aloud and wept, and


s: took out the bow of her lord. Now when she had her fill of


s: tearful lament, she set forth to go to the hall to the


s: company of the proud wooers, with the back-bent bow in her


s: hands, and the quiver for the arrows, and many shafts were


s: therein winged for death. And her maidens along with her


s: bare a chest, wherein lay much store of iron and bronze,


s: the gear of combat of their lord. Now when the 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 a faithful maiden stood on either side of


s: her, and straightway she spake out among the wooers and


s: 'Hear me, ye lordly wooers, who have vexed this house, that


s: ye might eat and drink here evermore, forasmuch as the


s: master is long gone, nor could ye find any other mark {*}


s: for your speech, but all your desire was to wed me and take


s: me to wife. Nay come now, ye wooers, seeing that this is


s: the prize that is put before you. I will set forth for you


s: the great bow of divine Odysseus, and whoso shall most


s: easily string the bow in his hands, and shoot through all


s: twelve axes, with him will I go and forsake this house,


s: this house of my wedlock, so fair and filled with all


s: livelihood, which methinks I shall yet remember, aye, in a


s: {* The accepted interpretation of [Greek] (a word which


s: occurs only here) is 'pretext'; but this does not agree


s: with any of the meanings of the verb from which the noun is


s: derived. The usage of [Greek] in Od. xix. 71, xxii. 75, of


s: suggests rather for [Greek] the idea of 'aiming at a


s: So spake she, and commanded Eumaeus, the goodly swineherd,


s: to set the bow for the wooers and the axes of grey iron.


s: And Eumaeus took them with tears, and laid them down; and


s: otherwhere the neatherd wept, when he beheld the bow of his


s: lord. Then Antinous rebuked them, and spake and hailed


s: 'Foolish boors, whose thoughts look not beyond the day, ah,


s: wretched pair, wherefore now do ye shed tears, and stir the


s: soul of the lady within her, when her heart already lies


s: low in pain, for that she has lost her dear lord? Nay sit,


s: and feast in silence, or else get ye forth and weep, and


s: leave the bow here behind, to be a terrible contest for the


s: wooers, for methinks that this polished bow does not


s: lightly yield itself to be strung. For there is no man


s: among all these present such as Odysseus was, and I myself


s: saw him, yea I remember it well, though I was still but a


s: So spake he, but his heart within him hoped that he would


s: string the bow, and shoot through the iron. Yet verily, he


s: was to be the first that should taste the arrow at the


s: hands of the noble Odysseus, whom but late he was


s: dishonouring as he sat in the halls, and was inciting all


s: Then the mighty prince Telemachus spake among them, saying:


s: 'Lo now, in very truth, Cronion has robbed me of my wits!


s: My dear mother, wise as she is, declares that she will go


s: with a stranger and forsake this house; yet I laugh and in


s: my silly heart I am glad. Nay come now, ye wooers, seeing


s: that this is the prize which is set before you, a lady, the


s: like of whom there is not now in the Achaean land, neither


s: in sacred Pylos, nor in Argos, nor in Mycenae, nor yet in


s: Ithaca, nor in the dark mainland. Nay but ye know all this


s: yourselves,--why need I praise my mother? Come therefore,


s: delay not the issue with excuses, nor hold much longer


s: aloof from the drawing of the bow, that we may see the


s: thing that is to be. Yea and I myself would make trial of


s: this bow. If I shall string it, and shoot through the iron,


s: then should I not sorrow if my lady mother were to quit


s: these halls and go with a stranger, seeing that I should be


s: left behind, well able now to lift my father's goodly gear


s: Therewith he cast from off his neck his cloak of scarlet,


s: and sprang to his full height, and put away the sword from


s: his shoulders. First he dug a good trench and set up the


s: axes, one long trench for them all, and over it he made


s: straight the line and round about stamped in the earth. And


s: amazement fell on all that beheld how orderly he set the


s: axes, though never before had he seen it so. Then he went


s: and stood by the threshold and began to prove the bow.


s: Thrice he made it to tremble in his great desire to draw


s: it, and thrice he rested from his effort, though still he


s: hoped in his heart to string the bow, and shoot through the


s: iron. And now at last he might have strung it, mightily


s: straining thereat for the fourth time, but Odysseus nodded


s: frowning and stayed him, for all his eagerness. Then the


s: strong prince Telemachus spake among them again:


s: 'Lo you now, even to the end of my days I shall be a coward


s: and a weakling, or it may be I am too young, and have as


s: yet no trust in my hands to defend me from such an one as


s: does violence without a cause. But come now, ye who are


s: mightier men than I, essay the bow and let us make an end


s: Therewith he put the bow from him on the ground, leaning it


s: against the smooth and well-compacted doors, and the swift


s: shaft he propped hard by against the fair bow-tip, and then


s: he sat down once more on the high seat, whence he had


s: Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spake among them, saying:


s: 'Rise up in order, all my friends, beginning from the left,


s: even from the place whence the wine is poured.'


s: So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well. Then


s: first stood up Leiodes, son of Oenops, who was their


s: soothsayer and ever sat by the fair mixing bowl at the


s: extremity of the hall; he alone hated their infatuate deeds


s: and was indignant with all the wooers. He now first took


s: the bow and the swift shaft, and he went and stood by the


s: threshold, and began to prove the bow; but he could not


s: bend it; or ever that might be, his hands grew weary with


s: the straining, his unworn, delicate hands; so he spake


s: 'Friends, of a truth I cannot bend it, let some other take


s: it. Ah, many of our bravest shall this bow rob of spirit


s: and of life, since truly it is far better for us to die,


s: than to live on and to fail of that for which we assemble


s: evermore in this place, day by day expecting the prize.


s: Many there be even now that hope in their hearts and desire


s: to wed Penelope, the bedfellow of Odysseus: but when such


s: an one shall make trial of the bow and see the issue,


s: thereafter let him woo some other fair-robed Achaean woman


s: with his bridal gifts and seek to win her. So may our lady


s: wed the man that gives most gifts, and comes as the chosen


s: So he spake, and put from him the bow leaning it against


s: the smooth and well-compacted doors, and the swift shaft he


s: propped hard by against the fair bow-tip, and then he sat


s: down once more on the high seat, whence he had risen.


s: But Antinous rebuked him, and spake and hailed him:


s: 'Leiodes, what word hath escaped the door of thy lips; a


s: hard word, and a grievous? Nay, it angers me to hear it,


s: and to think that a bow such as this shall rob our bravest


s: of spirit and of life, and all because thou canst not draw


s: it. For I tell thee that thy lady mother bare thee not of


s: such might as to draw a bow and shoot arrows: but there be


s: others of the proud wooers that shall draw it soon.'


s: So he spake, and commanded Melanthius, the goatherd,


s: saying: 'Up now, light a fire in the halls, Melanthius; and


s: place a great settle by the fire and a fleece thereon, and


s: bring forth a great ball of lard that is within, that we


s: young men may warm and anoint the bow therewith and prove


s: So he spake, and Melanthius soon kindled the never-resting


s: fire, and drew up a settle and placed it near, and put a


s: fleece thereon, and he brought forth a great ball of lard


s: that was within. Therewith the young men warmed the bow,


s: and made essay, but could not string it, for they were


s: greatly lacking of such might. And Antinous still held to


s: the task and godlike Eurymachus, chief men among the


s: wooers, who were far the most excellent of all.


s: But those other twain went forth both together from the


s: house, the neatherd and the swineherd of godlike Odysseus;


s: and Odysseus passed out after them. But when they were now


s: gotten without the gates and the courtyard, he uttered his


s: voice and spake to them in gentle words:


s: 'Neatherd and thou swineherd, shall I say somewhat or keep


s: it to myself? Nay, my spirit bids me declare it. What


s: manner of men would ye be to help Odysseus, if he should


s: come thus suddenly, I know not whence, and some god were to


s: bring him? Would ye stand on the side of the wooers or of


s: Odysseus? Tell me even as your heart and spirit bid you.'


s: Then the neatherd answered him, saying: 'Father Zeus, if


s: but thou wouldst fulfil this wish: {*}--oh, that that man


s: might come, and some god lead him hither! So shouldest thou


s: know what my might is, and how my hands follow to obey.'


s: In like manner Eumaeus prayed to all the gods that wise


s: Now when he knew for a surety what spirit they were of,


s: once more he answered and spake to them, saying:


s: 'Behold, home am I come, even I; after much travail and


s: sore am I come in the twentieth year to mine own country.


s: And I know how that my coming is desired by you alone of


s: all my thralls, for from none besides have I heard a prayer


s: that I might return once more to my home. And now I will


s: tell you all the truth, even as it shall come to pass. If


s: the god shall subdue the proud wooers to my hands, I will


s: bring you each one a wife, and will give you a heritage of


s: your own and a house builded near to me, and ye twain shall


s: be thereafter in mine eyes as the brethren and companions


s: of Telemachus. But behold, I will likewise show you a most


s: manifest token, that ye may know me well and be certified


s: in heart, even the wound that the boar dealt me with his


s: white tusk long ago, when I went to Parnassus with the sons


s: Therewith he drew aside the rags from the great scar. And


s: when the twain had beheld it and marked it well, they cast


s: their arms about the wise Odysseus, and fell a weeping; and


s: kissed him lovingly on head and shoulders. And in like


s: manner Odysseus too kissed their heads and hands. And now


s: would the sunlight have gone down upon their sorrowing, had


s: not Odysseus himself stayed them saying:


s: 'Cease ye from weeping and lamentation, lest some one come


s: forth from the hall and see us, and tell it likewise in the


s: house. Nay, go ye within one by one and not both together,


s: I first and you following, and let this be the token


s: between us. All the rest, as many as are proud wooers, will


s: not suffer that I should be given the bow and quiver; do


s: thou then, goodly Eumaeus, as thou bearest the bow through


s: the hall, set it in my hands and speak to the women that


s: they bar the well-fitting doors of their chamber. And if


s: any of them hear the sound of groaning or the din of men


s: within our walls, let them not run forth but abide where


s: they are in silence at their work. But on thee, goodly


s: Philoetius, I lay this charge, to bolt and bar the outer


s: gate of the court and swiftly to tie the knot.'


s: Therewith he passed within the fair-lying halls, and went


s: and sat upon the settle whence he had risen. And likewise


s: the two thralls of divine Odysseus went within.


s: And now Eurymachus was handling the bow, warming it on this


s: side and on that at the light of the fire; yet even so he


s: could not string it, and in his great heart he groaned


s: mightily; and in heaviness of spirit he spake and called


s: 'Lo you now, truly am I grieved for myself and for you all!


s: Not for the marriage do I mourn so greatly, afflicted


s: though I be; there are many Achaean women besides, some in


s: sea-begirt Ithaca itself and some in other cities. Nay, but


s: I grieve, if indeed we are so far worse than godlike


s: Odysseus in might, seeing that we cannot bend the bow. It


s: will be a shame even for men unborn to hear thereof.'


s: Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him: 'Eurymachus,


s: this shall not be so, and thou thyself too knowest it. For


s: to-day the feast of the archer god is held in the land, a


s: holy feast. Who at such a time would be bending bows? Nay,


s: set it quietly by; what and if we should let the axes all


s: stand as they are? None methinks will come to the hall of


s: Odysseus, son of Laertes, and carry them away. Go to now,


s: let the wine-bearer pour for libation into each cup in


s: turn, that after the drink-offering we may set down the


s: curved bow. And in the morning bid Melanthius, the


s: goatherd, to lead hither the very best goats in all his


s: herds, that we may lay pieces of the thighs on the altar of


s: Apollo the archer, and assay the bow and make an end of the


s: So spake Antinous, and the saying pleased them well. Then


s: the henchmen poured water on their hands, and pages crowned


s: the mixing-bowls with drink, and served out the wine to


s: all, when they had poured for libation into each cup in


s: turn. But when they had poured forth and had drunken to


s: their hearts' desire, Odysseus of many counsels spake among


s: 'Hear me, ye wooers of the renowned queen, that I may say


s: that which my heart within me bids. And mainly to


s: Eurymachus I make my prayer and to the godlike Antinous,


s: forasmuch as he has spoken even this word aright, namely,


s: that for this present ye cease from your archery and leave


s: the issue to the gods; and in the morning the god will give


s: the victory to whomsoever he will. Come therefore, give me


s: the polished bow, that in your presence I may prove my


s: hands and strength, whether I have yet any force such as


s: once was in my supple limbs, or whether my wanderings and


s: So spake he and they all were exceeding wroth, for fear


s: lest he should string the polished bow. And Antinous


s: 'Wretched stranger, thou hast no wit, nay never so little.


s: Art thou not content to feast at ease in our high company,


s: and to lack not thy share of the banquet, but to listen to


s: our speech and our discourse, while no guest and beggar


s: beside thee hears our speech? Wine it is that wounds thee,


s: honey sweet wine, that is the bane of others too, even of


s: all who take great draughts and drink out of measure. Wine


s: it was that darkened the mind even of the Centaur, renowned


s: Eurytion, in the hall of high-hearted Peirithous, when he


s: went to the Lapithae; and after that his heart was darkened


s: with wine, he wrought foul deeds in his frenzy, in the


s: house of Peirithous. Then wrath fell on all the heroes, and


s: they leaped up and dragged him forth through the porch,


s: when they had shorn off his ears and nostrils with the


s: pitiless sword, and then with darkened mind he bare about


s: with him the burden of his sin in foolishness of heart.


s: Thence was the feud begun between the Centaurs and mankind;


s: but first for himself gat he hurt, being heavy with wine.


s: And even so I declare great mischief unto thee if thou


s: shalt string the bow, for thou shalt find no courtesy at


s: the hand of anyone in our land, and anon we will send thee


s: in a black ship to Echetus, the maimer of all men, and


s: thence thou shalt not be saved alive. Nay then, drink at


s: thine ease, and strive not still with men that are younger


s: Then wise Penelope answered him: 'Antinous, truly it is not


s: fair nor just to rob the guests of Telemachus of their due,


s: whosoever he may be that comes to this house. Dost thou


s: think if yonder stranger strings the great bow of Odysseus,


s: in the pride of his might and of his strength of arm, that


s: he will lead me to his home and make me his wife? Nay he


s: himself, methinks, has no such hope in his breast; so, as


s: for that, let not any of you fret himself while feasting in


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


s: 'Daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, it is not that we deem


s: that he will lead thee to his home,--far be such a thought


s: from us,--but we dread the speech of men and women, lest


s: some day one of the baser sort among the Achaeans say:


s: "Truly men far too mean are wooing the wife of one that is


s: noble, nor can they string the polished bow. But a stranger


s: and a beggar came in his wanderings, and lightly strung the


s: bow, and shot through the iron." Thus will they speak, and


s: Then wise Penelope answered him: 'Eurymachus, never can


s: there be fair fame in the land for those that devour and


s: dishonour the house of a prince, but why make ye this thing


s: into a reproach? But, behold, our guest is great of growth


s: and well-knit, and avows him to be born the son of a good


s: father. Come then, give ye him the polished bow, that we


s: may see that which is to be. For thus will I declare my


s: saying, and it shall surely come to pass. If he shall


s: string the bow and Apollo grant him renown, I will clothe


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


s: give him a sharp javelin to defend him against dogs and


s: men, and a two-edged sword and sandals to bind beneath his


s: feet, and I will send him whithersoever his heart and


s: Then wise Telemachus answered her, saying: 'My mother, as


s: for the bow, no Achaean is mightier than I to give or to


s: deny it to whomso I will, neither as many as are lords in


s: rocky Ithaca nor in the isles on the side of Elis, the


s: pastureland of horses. Not one of these shall force me in


s: mine own despite, if I choose to give this bow, yea once


s: and for all, to the stranger to bear away with him. But do


s: thou go to thine own chamber and mind thine own


s: housewiferies, the loom and distaff, and bid thine


s: handmaids ply their tasks. But the bow shall be for men,


s: for all, but for me in chief, for mine is the lordship in


s: Then in amaze she went back to her chamber, for she laid up


s: the wise saying of her son in her heart. She ascended to


s: her upper chamber with the women her handmaids, and then


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


s: Athene cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.


s: Now the goodly swineherd had taken the curved bow, and was


s: bearing it, when the wooers all cried out upon him in the


s: halls. And thus some one of the haughty youths would speak:


s: 'Whither now art thou bearing the curved bow, thou wretched


s: swineherd, crazed in thy wits? Lo, soon shall the swift


s: hounds of thine own breeding eat thee hard by thy swine,


s: alone and away from men, if Apollo will be gracious to us


s: Even so they spake, and he took and set down the bow in


s: that very place, being affrighted because many cried out on


s: him in the halls. Then Telemachus from the other side spake


s: 'Father, bring hither the bow, soon shalt thou rue it that


s: thou servest many masters. Take heed, lest I that am


s: younger than thou pursue thee to the field, and pelt thee


s: with stones, for in might I am the better. If only I were


s: so much mightier in strength of arm than all the wooers


s: that are in the halls, soon would I send many an one forth


s: on a woeful way from out our house, for they imagine


s: So he spake, and all the wooers laughed sweetly at him, and


s: ceased now from their cruel anger toward Telemachus. Then


s: the swineherd bare the bow through the hall, and went up to


s: wise Odysseus, and set it in his hands. And he called forth


s: the nurse Eurycleia from the chamber and spake to her:


s: 'Wise Eurycleia, Telemachus bids thee bar the well-fitting


s: doors of thy chamber, and if any of the women hear the


s: sound of groaning or the din of men within our walls, let


s: them not go forth, but abide where they are in silence at


s: So he spake, and wingless her speech remained, and she


s: barred the doors of the fair-lying chambers.


s: Then Philoetius hasted forth silently from the house, and


s: barred the outer gates of the fenced court. Now there lay


s: beneath the gallery the cable of a curved ship, fashioned


s: of the byblus plant, wherewith he made fast the gates, and


s: then himself passed within. Then he went and sat on the


s: settle whence he had risen, and gazed upon Odysseus. He


s: already was handling the bow, turning it every way about,


s: and proving it on this side and on that, lest the worms


s: might have eaten the horns when the lord of the bow was


s: away. And thus men spake looking each one to his neighbour:


s: 'Verily he has a good eye, and a shrewd turn for a bow!


s: Either, methinks, he himself has such a bow lying by at


s: home or else he is set on making one, in such wise does he


s: turn it hither and thither in his hands, this evil-witted


s: And another again of the haughty youths would say: 'Would


s: that the fellow may have profit thereof, just so surely as


s: he shall ever prevail to bend this bow!'


s: So spake the wooers, but Odysseus of many counsels had


s: lifted the great bow and viewed it on every side, and even


s: as when a man that is skilled in the lyre and in


s: minstrelsy, easily stretches a cord about a new peg, after


s: tying at either end the twisted sheep-gut, even so Odysseus


s: straightway bent the great bow, all without effort, and


s: took it in his right hand and proved the bow-string, which


s: rang sweetly at the touch, in tone like a swallow. Then


s: great grief came upon the wooers, and the colour of their


s: countenance was changed, and Zeus thundered loud showing


s: forth his tokens. And the steadfast goodly Odysseus was


s: glad thereat, in that the son of deep-counselling Cronos


s: had sent him a sign. Then he caught up a swift arrow which


s: lay by his table, bare, but the other shafts were stored


s: within the hollow quiver, those whereof the Achaeans were


s: soon to taste. He took and laid it on the bridge of the


s: bow, and held the notch and drew the string, even from the


s: settle whereon he sat, and with straight aim shot the shaft


s: and missed not one of the axes, beginning from the first


s: axe-handle, and the bronze-weighted shaft passed clean


s: through and out at the last. Then he spake to Telemachus,


s: 'Telemachus, thy guest that sits in the halls does thee no