 Book XV. Of the Odyssey by Homer. Translated by Samuel Butler. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Odyssey. Book XV. Minerva summons Telemachus from Lassidemmon. He meets with the acclimatists at Pylos and brings him to Ithaca. On landing he goes to the hut of Yumeis. But Minerva went to the fair city of Lassidemmon to tell Ulysses' son that he was to return at once. She found him in Pisistratus sleeping in the forecourt of Menelaus' house. Pisistratus was fast to sleep, but Telemachus could get no rest all night for thinking of his unhappy father, so Minerva went close up to him and said, Telemachus, you should not remain so far away from home any longer, nor leave your property with such dangerous people in your house. They will eat up everything you have among them, and you'll have been on a fool's errand. Ask Menelaus to send you home at once if he wished to find your excellent mother still there when you get back. Her father and brothers are already urging her to marry Urymachus, who has given her more than any of the others, and has been greatly increasing his wedding presence. I hope nothing valuable may be taken from the house in spite of you, but you know what women are. They always want to do the best they can for the man who marries them, and never give another thought to the children of their first husband, nor to their father either when he is dead and done with. Go home, therefore, and put everything in charge of the most respectable woman-servant that you have, until it shall please heaven to send you a wife of your own. Let me tell you also of another matter which you had better attend to. The chief men among the suitors are lying and wait for you in the strait between Ithaca and Samus, and they mean to kill you before you can reach home. I do not much think they will succeed. It is more likely that some of those who are now eating up your property will find a grave themselves. Sail night and day, and keep your ship well away from the islands. The God who watches over you and protects you will send you a fair wind. As soon as you get to Ithaca, send your ship and men on to the town, but yourself go straight to the swine-herd who has charge of your pigs. He is well disposed towards you. Stay with him, therefore, for the night, and then send him to Penelope to tell her that you have got back safe from Pylos. Then she went back to Olympus, but Telemachus stirred Pizastratus with his heel to rouse him and said, Wake up, Pizastratus, and yoke the horses to the chariot, for we must set off home. But Pizastratus said, No matter what hurry we are in, we cannot drive in the dark. It will be morning soon. Wait till Menelaus has brought his presence and put them in the chariot for us, and then let him say good-bye to us in the usual way. So long as he lives a guest should never forget a host who has shown him kindness. As he spoke, day began to break, and Menelaus, who had already risen, leaving Helen in bed, came towards them. When Telemachus saw him he put on his shirt as fast as he could, threw a great cloak over his shoulders, and went out to meet him. Menelaus said he, Let me go back now to my own country, for I want to go home. And Menelaus answered, Telemachus, if you insist on going, I will not detain you. I do not like to see a host either too fond of his guest or too rude to him. Moderation is best in all things. And not letting a man go when he wants to do so is as bad as telling him to go if he would like to stay. One should treat a guest well as long as he is in the house and speed him when he wants to leave it. Wait then till I get your beautiful presence into your chariot, until you have yourself seen them. I will tell the women to prepare a sufficient dinner for you of what there may be in the house. It will be at once more proper and cheaper for you to get your dinner before setting out on such a long journey. If, moreover, you have a fancy for making a tour in Hellis or in the Peloponnese, I will yoke my horses and will conduct you myself through all our principal cities. No one will send us away empty-handed. Every one will give us something, a bronze tripod, a couple of mules or a gold cup. Menelaus, reply Telemachus, I want to go home at once, for when I came away I left my property without protection, and fear that while looking for my father I shall come to ruin myself, or find that something valuable has been stolen during my absence. When Menelaus heard this, he immediately told his wife and servants to prepare a sufficient dinner from what there might be in the house. At this moment Etionius joined him, for he lived close by and had just got up, so Menelaus told him to light the fire and cook some meat, which he at once did. Then Menelaus went down into his fragrant storeroom, not alone, but Helen went too, with megapenthes. When he reached the place where the treasures of his house were kept, he selected a double cup and told his son megapenthes to bring also a silver mixing-ball. Meanwhile, Helen went to the chest where she kept the lovely dresses which she had made with her own hands, and took out one that was largest and most beautifully enriched with embroidery. It glittered like a star, and lay at the very bottom of the chest. Then the all came back through the house again till they got to Telemachus, and Menelaus said, Telemachus, may Jove, the mighty husband of Juno, bring you safely home according to your desire. I will now present you with the finest and most precious piece of plate in all my house. It is a mixing-ball of pure silver, except the rim, which is inlaid with gold, and is the work of Vulcan. Fadimas, king of the Sedonians, made me a present of it in the course of a visit that I paid him while I was on my return home. I should like to give it to you. With these words he placed a double cup in the hands of Telemachus, while megapenthes brought the beautiful mixing-ball and set it before him. Hard-by stood lovely Helen with the robe ready in her hand. I, too, my son, said she, have something for you as a keepsake from the hand of Helen. It is for your bride to wear upon her wedding day. Till then, get your dear mother to keep it for you, thus may you go back rejoicing to your own country and to your home. So saying she gave the robe over to him and he received it gladly. Then Pissastratus put the presents into the chariot, and admired them all as he did so. Presently Menelaus took Telemachus and Pissastratus into the house, and they both of them sat down to table. A maidservant brought them water in a beautiful golden ure, and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands, and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper-servant brought them bread and offered them many good things of what there was in the house. Etionius carved the meat and gave them each their portions, while megapenthes poured out the wine. Then they laid their hands upon the good things that were before them. But as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Telemachus and Pissastratus yoked the horses, and took their places in the chariot. They drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court, and Menelaus came after them with a golden goblet of wine in his right hand that they might make a drink offering before they set out. He stood in front of the horses and pledged them, saying, Farewell to both of you, see that you tell Nestor how I have treated you, for he was as kind to me as any father could be while we Achaeans were fighting before Troy. We will be sure, sir, answer Telemachus, to tell him everything as soon as we see him. I wish I were as certain of finding Ulysses return when I get back to Ithaca that I might tell him of the very great kindness you have shown me, and of the many beautiful presence I am taking with me. As he was thus speaking a bird flew on his right hand, an eagle with a great white goose in its talons which it had carried off from the farmyard. And all the men and women were running after it and shouting. It came quite close up to them and flew away on their right hands in front of the horses. When they saw it they were glad, and their hearts took comfort with them. Whereon Pizastratus said, Tell me, Menelaus, has Heaven sent this omen for us or for you? Menelaus was thinking what would be the most proper answer for him to make, but Helen was too quick for him and said, I will read this matter as Heaven has put it in my heart, and as I doubt not that it will come to pass. The eagle came from the mountain where it was bred and has its nest, and in like manner Ulysses, after having traveled far and suffered much, will return to take his revenge, if indeed he is not back already and hatching mischief for the suitors. May Joveso grant it, replied Telemachus. If it should prove to be so, I will make vows to you as though you were a god, even when I am at home. As he spoke he lashed his horses and they started off at full speed through the town towards the open country. They swayed the yoke upon their necks and traveled the whole day long till the sun set and darkness was over the land. Then they reached Ferry, where Diocles lived who was son of Ortilicus, the son of Alpheus. There they passed the night and were treated hospitably. When the child of morning, rosy-finger dawn appeared, they again yoke their horses and their places in the chariot. They drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gate-house of the outer court. Then Pizzastratus lashed his horses on and they flew forward nothing loath. Air long they came to Pylos and then Telemachus said, Pizzastratus, I hope you will promise to do what I am going to ask you. You know our fathers were old friends before us. Moreover, we are both of an age, and this journey has brought us together still more closely. Do not therefore take me past my ship, but leave me there, for if I go to your father's house he will try to keep me in the warmth of his good will towards me, and I must go home at once. Pizzastratus thought how he should do as he was asked, and in the end he deemed it best to turn his horses towards the ship and put Menelaus' beautiful presence of gold and raiment in the stern of the vessel. Then he said, Go on board at once and tell your men to do so also before I can reach home to tell my father. I know how obstinate he is and am sure he will not let you go. He will come down here to fetch you, and he will not go back without you, but he will be very angry. With this he drove his goodly steeds back to the city of the Pylians, and soon reached his home, but Telemachus called the men together and gave his orders. Now my men, said he, get everything in order on board the ship, and let us set out home. Thus did he speak, and they went on board even as he had said. But as Telemachus was thus busyed, praying also and sacrificing to Minerva in the ship's stern, there came to him a man from a distant country, a seer, who was flying from Argos because he had killed a man. He was descended from Malampus, who used to live in Pylos, the land of sheep. He was rich and owned a great house, but he was driven into exile by the great and powerful King Nelius. Nelius seized his goods and held them for a whole year, during which he was a close prisoner in the house of King Filicus, and in much distress of mind both on account of the daughter of Nelius and because he was haunted by a great sorrow that dread Orinnes had laid upon him. In the end, however, he escaped with his life, drove the cattle from Philaeus to Pylos, avenged the wrong that had been done him, and gave the daughter of Nelius to his brother. Then he left the country and went to Argos, where it was ordained that he should reign over much people. There he married, established himself, and had two famous sons, Antifides and Mantius. Antifides became father of Oecleus, and Oecleus of Amphiraeus, who was dearly loved both by Jov and by Apollo, but he did not live to an old age, for he was killed in thieves by reason of a woman's gifts. His sons were Alchmion and Amphilicus. Mantius, the other son of Malampus, was father to Polyphades and Cleotus. Aurora, thrown in gold, carried off Cleotus for his beauty-sake that he might dwell among the immortals, but Apollo made Polyphades the greatest seer in the whole world, now that Amphiraeus was dead. He quarreled with his father and went to live in Hyperesia, where he remained and prophesied for all men. His son, Theocliminus, it was, who now came up to Telemachus as he was making drink offerings and praying in his ship. Friend, said he, now that I find you sacrificing in this place, I beseech you by your sacrifices themselves and by the God to whom you make them. I pray you also by your own head and by those of your followers tell me the truth and nothing but the truth. Who and whence are you? Tell me also of your town and parents. Telemachus said, I will answer you quite truly. I am from Ithaca, and my father is Ulysses, as surely as that he ever lived. But he has come to some miserable end. Therefore I have taken this ship and got my crew together to see if I can hear any news of him, for he has been away a long time. I too, answered Theocliminus, am in exile, for I have killed a man of my own race. He has many brothers and kinsmen in Argos, and they have great power among the Arjives. I am flying to escape death at their hands, and am thus doomed to be a wanderer on the face of the earth. I am your suppliant. Take me therefore on board your ship that they may not kill me, for I know they are in pursuit. I will not refuse you, replied Telemachus. If you wish to join us, come therefore, and in Ithaca we will treat you hospitably, according to what we have. On this he received Theocliminus' spear and laid it down on the deck of the ship. He went on board and sat in the stern, bidding Theocliminus sit beside him. Then the men let go the hausers. Telemachus told them to catch hold of the ropes, and they made all haste to do so. They set the mast in its socket in the cross-plank, raised it, and made it fast with the force-days, and they hoisted their white sails with sheets of twisted ox-hide. Minerva sent them a fair wind that blew fresh and strong to take the ship on her course as fast as possible. Thus then they passed by Cruny and Kelsus. Presently the sun's set and darkness was over all the land. The vessel made a quick passage to Fia and thence on to Elis, where the Appians rule. Telemachus then headed her for the flying islands, wondering within himself whether he should escape death or should be taken prisoner. Meanwhile, Ulysses and the swine-herd were eating their supper in the hut, and the men supped with them. As soon as they had had to eat and drink, Ulysses began trying to prove the swine-herd and see whether he would continue to treat him kindly, and ask him to stay on at the station or pack him off to the city. So he said, You mayas and all of you, tomorrow I want to go away and begin begging about the town, so as to be no more trouble to you or to your men. Give me your advice, therefore, and let me have a good guide to go with me and show me the way. I will go round of the city begging, as I needs must, to see if any one will give me a drink and a piece of bread. I should like also to go to the house of Ulysses and bring news of her husband to Queen Penelope. I could then go about among the suitors and see if out of all their abundance they will give me a dinner. I should soon make them an excellent servant in all sorts of ways. Listen and believe when I tell you that by the blessing of Mercury, who gives grace and good name to the works of all men, there is no one living who would make a more handy servant than I should. To put fresh wood on the fire, chop fuel, carve, cook, pour out wine, and do all those services that poor men have to do for their betters. The swine-herd was very much disturbed when he heard this. Heaven, help me, he exclaimed, whatever can have put such a notion as that into your head. If you go near the suitors you will be undone to a certainty, for their pride and insolence reached the very heavens. They would never think of taking a man like you for a servant. Their servants are all young men, well dressed, wearing good cloaks and shirts, with well-looking faces and their hair always tidy. The tables are kept quite clean and are loaded with bread, meat, and wine. Stay where you are, then, you are not in anybody's way. I do not mind your being here, no more do any of the others, and when Telemachus comes home he will give you a shirt and cloak and will send you wherever you want to go. Ulysses answered, I hope you may be as clear to the gods as you are to me, for having saved me from going about and getting into trouble. There is nothing worse than being always on the tramp. Still, when men have once got low down in the world, they will go through a great deal on behalf of their miserable bellies. Since, however, you press me to stay here and await the return of Telemachus, tell me about Ulysses' mother and his father whom he left on the threshold of old age when he set out for Troy. Are they still living, or are they already dead and in the house of Hades? I will tell you all about them, replied Umeus. Laertes is still living and prays heaven to let him depart peacefully in his own house, for he is terribly distressed about the absence of his son, and also about the death of his wife, which grieved him greatly and aged him more than anything else did. She came to an unhappy end through sorrow for her son. May no friend or neighbor who has dealt kindly by me come to such an end as she did. As long as she was still living, though she was always grieving, I used to like seeing her and asking her how she did, for she brought me up along with her daughter Timmy, the youngest of her children. We were boy and girl together, and she made little difference between us. When, however, we both grew up, they sent Timmy to Sommy and received a splendid dowry for her. As for me, my mistress gave me a good shirt and cloak with a pair of sandals for my feet, and sent me off into the country, but she was just as fond of me as ever. This is all over now. Still, it has pleased heaven to prosper my work in the situation which I now hold. I have enough to eat and drink, and can find something for any respectable stranger that comes here. But there is no getting a kind word or deed out of my mistress, for the house has fallen into the hands of wicked people. Servants want sometimes to see their mistress and have a talk with her. They like to have something to eat and drink at the house, and something too to take back with them into the country. This is what will keep servants in a good humor. Ulysses answered, Then you must have been a very little fellow, Umeus, when you were taken so far away from your home and parents. Tell me, and tell me true. Was the city in which your father and mother lived sacked and pillaged, or did some enemies carry you off when you were alone tending sheep or cattle, ship you off here and sell you for whatever your master gave them? Stranger, replied Umeus, as regards your question, sit still, make yourself comfortable, drink your wine, and listen to me. The nights are now at their longest. There is plenty of time both for sleeping and sitting up talking together. You ought not to go to bed till bedtime. Too much sleep is as bad as too little. If any one of the others wishes to go to bed, let him leave us and do so. He can then take my master's pigs out when he has done breakfast in the morning. We, too, will sit here eating and drinking in the hut and telling one another stories about our misfortunes. For when a man has suffered much and been buffeted about in the world, he takes pleasure in recalling the memory of sorrows that have gone by. As regards your question, then, my tale is as follows. You may have heard of an island called Cyra that lives over above Ortigia, where the land begins to turn round and look in another direction. It is not very thickly peopled, but the soil is good, with much pasture fit for cattle and sheep, and it abounds with wine and wheat. Darth never comes there, nor are the people plagued by any sickness, but when they grow old Apollo comes with Diana and kills them with his painless shafts. It contains two communities, and the whole country is divided between these two. My father Tessius, son of Ormenus, a man comparable to the gods, reigned over both. Now to this place there came some cunning traitors from Phoenicia, for the Phoenicians are great mariners, in a ship which they had freighted with gigaus of all kinds. There happened to be a Phoenician woman in my father's house, very tall and comely, and an excellent servant. These scoundrels got hold of her one day when she was washing near their ship, seduced her, and cajoled her in ways that no woman can resist, no matter how good she may be by nature. The man who had seduced her asked her who she was and where she came from, and on this she told him her father's name. I come from Sidon, said she, and am daughter to Erebus, a man rolling in wealth. One day, as I was coming into the town from the country, some taffy and pirate seized me and took me here over the sea, where they sold me to the man who owns this house, and he gave them their price for me. The man who had seduced her then said, Would you like to come along with us to see the house of your parents and your parents themselves? They are both alive and are said to be well off. I will do so gladly, answered she, if you men will first swear me a solemn oath that you will do me no harm by the way. They all swore, as she told them, and when they had completed their oath the woman said, Hush, and if any of your men meets me in the street or at the well, do not let him speak to me, for fear someone should go and tell my master, in which case he would suspect something. He would put me in prison, and would have all of you murdered. Keep your own counsel, therefore. Buy your merchandise as fast as you can, and send me word when you have done loading. I will bring as much gold as I can lay my hands on, and there is something else also that I can do towards paying my fare. I am nursed to the son of the good man of the house, a funny little fellow just able to run about. I will carry him off in your ship, and you will get a great deal of money for him if you take him and sell him in foreign parts. On this she went back to the house. The Phoenicians stayed a whole year till they had loaded their ship with much precious merchandise, and then, when they had got freight enough, they sent to tell the woman. Their messenger, a very cunning fellow, came to my father's house bringing a necklace of gold with amber beads strung among it. And while my mother and the servants had it in their hands admiring it and bargaining about it, he made a sign quietly to the woman and then went back to the ship, whereon she took me by the hand and led me out of the house. In the four part of the house she saw the tables set with the cups of guests who had been feasting with my father, as being in attendance on him. These were now all gone to a meeting of the public assembly. So she snatched up three cups and carried them off in the bosom of her dress, while I followed her, for I knew no better. The sun was now set and darkness was over all the land, so we hurried on as fast as we could till we reached the harbor, where the Phoenician ship was lying. When they had got on board they sailed their ways over the sea, taking us with them, and Joves sent them a fair wind. Six days did we sail both night and day, but on the seventh day Diana struck the woman and she fell heavily down into the ship's hold, as though she were a seagull alighting on the water. So they threw her overboard to the seals and fishes, and I was left all sorrowful and alone. Presently the winds and waves took the ship to Ithaca, where Laertes gave sundry of his chattels for me, and thus it was that ever I came to set eyes upon this country. Ulysses answered, You mayas, I have heard the story of your misfortunes with the most lively interest and pity, but Joves has given you good as well as evil, for in spite of everything you have a good master who sees that you always have enough to eat and drink, and you lead a good life, whereas I am still going about begging my way from city to city. Thus did they converse, and they had only a very little time left for sleep, for it was soon daybreak. In the meantime, Telemachus and his crew were nearing land, so they loosed the sails, took down the mast, and rode the ship into the harbour. They cast out their mooring stones and made fast the hausers. They then got out upon the seashore, mixed their wine, and got dinner ready. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Telemachus said, Take the ship on to the town, but leave me here, for I want to look after the herdsmen on one of my farms. In the evening, when I have seen all I want, I will come down to the city, and to-morrow morning, in return for your trouble, I will give you all a good dinner with mead and wine. Then the Telemachus said, And what, my dear young friend, is to become of me? To whose house, among all your chief men, am I to repair? Or shall I go straight to your own house and to your mother? At any other time, replied Telemachus, I should have bid you to go to my own house, for you would find no want of hospitality. At the present moment, however, you would not be comfortable there, for I shall be away, and my mother will not see you. She does not often show herself even to the suitors, but sits at her loom weaving in an upper chamber, out of their way. But I can tell you a man whose house you can go to. I mean Yurimachus, son of Polybus, who is held in the highest estimation by every one in Ithaca. He is much the best man and most persistent whore of all those who are paying court to my mother and trying to take you to his place. Jove, however, in heaven alone knows whether or no they will come to a bad end before the marriage takes place. As he was speaking, a bird flew by upon his right hand, a hawk, Apollo's messenger. It held a dove in its talons, and the feathers, as it tore them off, fell to the ground midway between Telemachus and the ship. On this the acliminus called him apart and caught him by the hand. Telemachus, said he, that bird did not fly on your right hand without having been sent there by some god. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was an omen. It means that you will remain powerful, and there will be no house in Ithaca more royal than your own. I wish it may prove so, answered Telemachus. If it does, I will show you so much good will and give you so many presents that all who meet you will congratulate you. Then he said to his friend Piraeus. Piraeus, son of Clidius, you have throughout shown yourself the most willing to serve me of all those who have accompanied me to Pylos. I wish you would take this stranger to your own house and entertain him hospitably till I can come for him. At Piraeus answered, Telemachus, you may stay away as long as you please, but I will look after him for you, and he shall find no lack of hospitality. As he spoke he went on board and made the others do so also and loose the hausers, so they took their places in the ship. But Telemachus bound on his sandals and took a long and dowdy spear with a head of sharpened bronze from the deck of the ship. Then they loose the hausers, thrust the ship off from land, and made on towards the city as they had been told to do, while Telemachus strode on as fast as he could till he reached the homestead where his countless herds of swine were feeding and where dwelt the excellent swine-herd who was so devoted a servant to his master. End of Book 15 Book 16 Of the Odyssey by Homer Translated by Samuel Butler This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Odyssey Book 16 Ulysses Reveals Himself to Telemachus Meanwhile Ulysses and the swine-herd had lit a fire in the hut and were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, for they had sent the men out with the pigs. When Telemachus came up the dogs did not bark but fawned upon him, so Ulysses, hearing the sound of feet and noticing that the dogs did not bark, said to Umeis, Umeis, I hear footsteps. I suppose one of your men or some one of your acquaintances coming here, for the dogs are fawning upon him and not barking. The words were hardly out of his mouth before his son stood at the door. You may have sprang to his feet and the bowls in which he was mixing wine fell from his hands as he made towards his master. He kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes and wept for joy. A father could not be more delighted at the return of an only son, the child of his old age, after ten years absence in a foreign country and after having gone through much hardship. He embraced him, kissed him all over as though he had come back from the dead and spoke fondly to him, saying, So you are come to Telemachus, light of my eyes that you are. When I heard you had gone to Pylos I made sure I was never going to see you any more. Come in, my dear child, and sit down, that I may have a good look at you now, you are home again. It is not very often you come into the country to see us herdsmen. You stick pretty close to the town generally. I suppose you think it better to keep an eye on what the suitors are doing. So be it, old friend, said Telemachus, but I am come now because I want to see you and to learn whether my mother is still at her old home or whether someone else has married her so that the bed of Ulysses is without bedding and covered with cobwebs. She is still at the house, replied Umeis, grieving and breaking her heart and doing nothing but weep, both night and day continually. As he spoke he took Telemachus' spear, whereon he crossed the stone threshold and came inside. Ulysses rose from his seat to give him place as he entered, but Telemachus checked him. "'Sit down, stranger,' said he. I can easily find another seat, and there is one here who will lay it for me.' Ulysses went back to his own place, and Umeis strewed some green brushwood on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of it for Telemachus to sit upon. Then the swine-herd brought them platters of cold meat, the remains from what they had eaten the day before, and he filled the bread baskets with bread as fast as he could. He mixed wine also in bowls of ivy wood and took his seat facing Ulysses. Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Telemachus said to Umeis, "'Old friend, where does this stranger come from? How did his crew bring him to Ithaca, and who were they? For assuredly, he did not come here by land.' "'To this,' you answered, O swine-herd Umeis. My son, I will tell you the real truth. He says he is a Cretan, and that he has been a great traveller. At this moment he is running away from a Thesprochian ship, and has taken refuge at my station, so I will put him into your hands. Do whatever you like with him. Only remember that he is your suppliant.' "'I am very much distressed,' said Telemachus, by what you have just told me. How can I take this stranger into my house? I am as yet young, and I am not strong enough to hold my own if any man attacks me. My mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay where she is and look after the house out of respect for public opinion and the memory of her husband, or whether the time is now come for her to take the best man of those who are wooing her, and the one who will make her the most advantageous offer. Still, as the stranger has come to your station, I will find him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with a sword and sandals, and will send him wherever he wants to go. Or, if you like, you can keep him here at the station, and I will send him clothes and food, that he may be no burden on you and on your men. But I will not have him go near the suitors, for they are very insolent and are sure to ill treat him in a way that would greatly grieve me. No matter how valiant a man may be, he can do nothing against numbers, for they will be too strong for him. Then Ulysses said, Sir, it is right that I should say something myself. I am much shocked about what you have said about the insolent way in which the suitors are behaving in spite of such a man as you are. Tell me, do you submit to such treatment tamely, or has some God set your people against you? May you not complain of your brothers, for it is to these that a man may look for support, however great his quarrel may be. I wish I were as young as you are, and in my present mind. If I were son to Ulysses, or indeed Ulysses himself, I would rather someone came and cut my head off, but I would go to the house and be the bane of every one of these men. If they were too many for me, I being single-handed, I would rather die fighting in my own house than seize such disgraceful sights day after day, strangers grossly maltreated, and men dragging the women servants about the house in an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and bread wasted all to no purpose for an end that shall never be accomplished. Antelemachus answered, I will tell you truly everything. There is no enmity between me and my people, nor can I complain of brothers to whom a man may look for support however great his quarrel may be. Jove has made us a race of only sons. Laertes was the only son of Arsaceus, and Ulysses only son of Laertes. I am myself the only son of Ulysses, who left me behind him when he went away, so that I have never been of any use to him. Hence it comes that my house is in the hands of numberless marauders. For the chiefs from all the neighbouring islands, Dullichium, Sámi, Zacanthus, as also all the principal men of Ithaca itself, are eating up my house under the pretext of paying court to my mother, who will neither say point blank that she will not marry, nor yet bring matters to an end, so they are making havoc of my estate, and before long will do so with myself into the bargain. The issue, however, rests with heaven. But do you, old friend Umeus, go at once and tell Penelope that I am safe and have returned from Pylos. Tell it to herself alone, and then come back here without letting anyone else know, for there are many who are plotting mischief against me. I understand and heed you, replied Umeus. You need instruct me no further. Only, as I am going that way, say whether I had not better let poor learties know that you are returned. He used to superintend the work on his farm in spite of his bitter sorrow about Ulysses, and he would eat and drink at will along with his servants. But they tell me that from the day on which you set out for Pylos, he is neither eaten nor drunk as he ought to, nor does he look after his farm, but sits weeping and wasting the flesh from off his bones. More is the pity, answered Telemachus. I am sorry for him, but we must leave him to himself just now. If people could have everything their own way, the first thing I should choose would be the return of my father. But go, and give your message. Then make haste back again, and do not turn out of your way to tell the learties. Tell my mother to send one of her women secretly with the news at once, and let him hear it from her. Thus did he urge the swine-herd. Umeus, therefore, took his sandals, bound them to his feet, and started for the town. Minerva watched him well off the station, and then came up to it in the form of a woman, fair, stately, and wise. She stood against the side of the entry, and revealed herself to Ulysses. But Telemachus could not see her, and knew not that she was there, for the gods do not let themselves be seen by everybody. Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, for they did not bark, but went scared and whining off to the other side of the yards. She nodded her head and motioned to Ulysses with her eyebrows, whereon he left the hut and stood before her outside the main wall of the yards. Then she said to him, Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, it is now time for you to tell your son. Do not keep him in the dark any longer, but lay your plans for the destruction of the suitors, and then make for the town. I will not be long in joining you, for I too am eager for the fray. As she spoke, she touched him with her golden wand. First she threw a fair clean shirt and cloak about his shoulders. Then she made him younger and of more imposing presence. She gave him back his color, filled out his cheeks, and let his beard become dark again. Then she went away, and Ulysses came back inside the hut. His son was astounded when he saw him, and turned his eyes away for fear he might be looking upon a god. Stranger, said he, how suddenly you have changed from what you were a moment or two ago. You are dressed differently, and your color is not the same. Are you someone or other of the gods that live in heaven? If so, be propitious to me till I can make you due sacrifice and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy upon me. And Ulysses said, I am no god. Why should you take me for one? I am your father, on whose account you grieve and suffer so much at the hands of lawless men. As he spoke he kissed his son, and a tear fell from his cheek onto the ground, for he had restrained all tears till now. But Telemachus could not yet believe that it was his father, and said, You are not my father, but some god is flattering me with vain hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter. No mortal man could of himself contrive to do as you have been doing, and make yourself old and young at a moment's notice, unless a god were with him. A second ago you were old and all in rags, and now you are like some god come down from heaven. Ulysses answered, Telemachus, you ought not to be so immeasurably astonished at my being really here. There is no other Ulysses who will come hereafter. Such as I am, it is I, who after long wandering and much hardship have got home in the twentieth year to my own country. What you wonder at is the work of the redoubtable goddess Minerva, who does with me whatever she will, for she can do what she pleases. At one moment she makes me like a beggar, and the next I am a young man with good clothes on my back. It is an easy matter for the gods who live in heaven to make any man look either rich or poor. As he spoke he sat down, and Telemachus threw his arms about his father and wept. They were both so much moved that they cried aloud like eagles or vultures with crooked talons that had been robbed of their half fledged young by peasants. Thus piteously did they weep, and the sun would have gone down upon their morning if Telemachus had not suddenly said, In what ship, my dear father, did your crew bring you to Ithaca? Of what nation did they declare themselves to be, for you cannot have come by land? I will tell you the truth, my son, replied Ulysses. It was the Phaeacians who brought me here. They are great sailors, and are in the habit of giving escorts to anyone who reaches their coasts. They took me over the sea while I was fast asleep, and landed me in Ithaca, after giving me many presents in bronze, gold, and raiment. These things by heaven's mercy are lying concealed in a cave, and I am now come here on the suggestion of Minerva that we may consult about killing our enemies. First, therefore, give me a list of the suitors with their number, that I may learn who and how many they are. I can then turn the matter over in my mind, and see whether we too can fight the whole body of them ourselves, or whether we must find others to help us. To this Telemachus answered, Father, I have always heard of your renown, both in the field and in council, but the task you talk of is a very great one. I am awed at the mere thought of it. Two men cannot stand against many and brave ones. They are not ten suitors only, nor twice ten, but ten many times over. You shall learn their number at once. There are fifty-two chosen youths from Delicium, and they have six servants. From Sámi there are twenty-four, twenty young Achaeans from Zacanthus, and twelve from Ithaca itself, all of them well-born. They have with them a servant, a maiden, a bard, and two men who can carve at table. If we face such numbers as this, you may have bitter cause to rue your coming and your revenge. Say whether you cannot think of someone who would be willing to come and help us. Listen to me, replied Ulysses, and think whether Minerva and her Father Jove may seem sufficient, or whether I am to try and find someone else as well. Those whom you have named, answered Telemachus, or a couple of good allies, for though they dwell high up among the clouds, they have power over both gods and men. These, too, continued Ulysses, will not keep long out of the fray when the suitors and weed join fight in my house. Now, therefore, return home early to-morrow morning, and go about among the suitors as before. Later on the swine herd will bring me to the city disguised as a miserable old beggar. If you see them ill-treating me, steal your heart against my sufferings. Even though they drag me feet foremost out of the house, or throw things at me, look on and do nothing beyond gently trying to make them behave more reasonably. But they will not listen to you, for the day of their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore, I say, and lay my saying to your heart, When Minerva shall put it in my mind I will nod my head to you, and on seeing me do this you must collect all the armor that is in the house and hide it in the strong storeroom. Make some excuse when the suitors ask you why you are removing it. Say that you have taken it to be out of the way of the smoke, in as much as it is no longer what it was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled and begrimmed with soot. Add to this more particularly that you are afraid Jove may set them onto quarrel over their wine, and that they may do each other some harm which may disgrace both banquet and wooing, for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them. But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself and me, and a couple of oxide shields so that we could snatch them up at any moment. Jove and Minerva will then soon quiet these people. There is also another matter. If you are indeed my son, and my blood runs in your veins, let no one know that Ulysses is within the house. Neither laertes, nor yet the swine herd, nor any of the servants, nor even Penelope herself. Let you and me exploit the women alone, and let us also make trial of some other of the men's servants, to see who is on our side and whose hand is against us. Father, replied Telemachus, you will come to know me by and by, and when you do, you will find that I can keep your counsel. I do not think, however, the plan you propose will turn out well for either of us. Think it over. It will take us a long time to go the round of the farms and exploit the men, and all the time the suitors will be wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction. Prove the women by all means to see who are disloyal and who guiltless. But I am not in favor of going round and trying the men. We can attend to that later on if you really have some sign from Jove that he will support you. Thus did they converse, and meanwhile the ship which had brought Telemachus and his crew from Pylos had reached the town of Ithaca. When they had come inside the harbor, they drew the ship onto the land. Their servants came and took their armor from them, and they left all the presence at the house of Clidius. Then they sent a servant to tell Penelope that Telemachus had gone into the country, but had sent the ship to the town to prevent her from being alarmed and made unhappy. This servant and Eumaeus happened to meet when they were both on the same errand of going to tell Penelope. When they reached the house, the servant stood up and said to the queen in the presence of the waiting women, Your son, madam, is now returned from Pylos. But Eumaeus went close up to Penelope and said privately all that her son had bidden him tell her. When he had given his message, he left the house with its outbuildings and went back to his pigs again. The suitors were surprised and angry at what had happened, so they went outside the great wall that ran round the outer court and held a council near the main entrance. Eurimachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak. My friends, said he, this voyage of Telemachus' is a very serious matter. We had made sure that it would come to nothing. Now, however, let us draw a ship into the water and get a crew together to send after the others and tell them to come back as fast as they can. He had hardly done speaking when Amphinimus turned in his place and saw the ship inside the harbour, with the crew lowering her sails and putting by her oars. So he laughed and said to the others, We need not send them any message, for they are here. Some God must have told them, or else they saw the ship go by and could not overtake her. On this they rose and went to the waterside. The crew then drew the ship on shore. Their servants took their armor from them and they went up in a body to the place of assembly. But they would not let anyone, old or young, sit along with them. An Antonus, son of Eupathie, spoke first. Good heavens, said he, see how the gods have saved this man from destruction. We kept a succession of scouts upon the headlands all day long, and when the sun was down we never went on shore to sleep, but waited in the ship all night till morning in the hope of capturing and killing him. But some God has conveyed him home in spite of us. Let us consider how we can make an end of him. He must not escape us. Our affair is never likely to come off while he is alive, for he is very shrewd, and public feeling is by no means all on our side. We must make haste before he can call the Achaeans in assembly. He will lose no time in doing so, for he will be furious with us, and will tell all the world how we plotted to kill him, but fail to take him. The people will not like this when they come to know of it. We must see that they do us no hurt, nor drive us from our own country into exile. Let us try and lay hold of him, either on his farm away from the town, or on the road hither. Then we can divide up his property amongst us, and let his mother and the man who marries her have the house. If this does not please you, and you wish Telemachus to live on and hold his father's property, then we must not gather here and eat up his goods in this way, but must make our efforts to Penelope each from his own house, and she can marry the man who will give the most for her, and whose lot it is to win her. They all held their peace until Amphinimus rose to speak. He was the son of Nisus, who was son to King Aredius, and he was the foremost among all the suitors from the wheat-growing and well-grassed island of Dullichium. His conversation, moreover, was more agreeable to Penelope than that of any of the other suitors, for he was a man of good natural disposition. My friends, said he, speaking to them plainly and in all honestly, I am not in favor of killing Telemachus. It is a heinous thing to kill one who is of noble blood. Let us first take counsel of the gods, and if the oracles of Job advise it, I will both help to kill him myself and will urge everyone else to do so, but if they dissuade us, I would have you hold your hands. Thus did he speak, and his words pleased them well, so they rose forthwith and went to the house of Ulysses, where they took their accustomed seats. Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself to the suitors. She knew of the plot against Telemachus, for the servant Meeden had overheard their counsels and had told her. She went down therefore to the court, attended by her maidens, and when she reached the suitors, she stood by one of the bearing posts supporting the roof of the cloister holding available for her face, and rebuked Antonus, saying, Antonus, insolent and wicked schemer, they say you are the best speaker and counselor of any man your own age in Ithaca, but you are nothing of the kind. Madman, why should you try to compass the death of Telemachus and take no heed of suppliance whose witness is Job himself? It is not right for you to plot thus against one another. Do you not remember how your father fled to this house in fear of the people, who were enraged against him for having gone with some taffian pirates and plundered the Thesprocians who were at peace with us? They wanted to tear him in pieces and eat up everything he had, but Ulysses stayed their hands although they were infuriated, and now you devour his property without paying for it and break my heart by wooing his wife and trying to kill his son. Leave off doing so and stop the others also. To this Eurimachus, son of Polybus, answered, Take heart, Queen Penelope, daughter of Icarius, and do not trouble yourself about these matters. The man is not yet born, nor never will be, who shall lay hands upon your son Telemachus while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth. I say, and it shall surely be, that my spear shall be reddened with his blood, for many a time has Ulysses taken me on his knees, held wine up to my lips to drink, and put pieces of meat into my hands. Therefore Telemachus is much the dearest friend I have and has nothing to fear from the hands of us suitors. Of course, if death comes to him from the gods, he cannot escape it. He said this to quiet her, but in reality he was plotting against Telemachus. Then Penelope went upstairs again and mourned her husband till Minerva shed sleep over her eyes. In the evening you may escort back to Ulysses and his son, who had just sacrificed a young pig of a year old and were helping one another to get supper ready. Minerva, therefore, came up to Ulysses, turned him into an old man with a stroke of Rwand, and clad him in his old clothes again, for fear that the swineherd might recognize him and not keep the secret, but go and tell Penelope. Telemachus was the first to speak. So you have got back, you mayas, said he. What is the news of the town? Have the suitors returned, or are they still waiting over Yonder to take me on my way home? I did not think of asking about that, replied you mayas, when I was in the town. I thought I would give my message and come back as soon as I could. I met a man sent by those who had gone with you to Pylos, and he was the first to tell the news to your mother, but I can say what I saw with my own eyes. I just got on to the crest of the hill of Mercury, above the town, when I saw a ship coming into the harbour with a number of men in her. They had many shields and spears, and I thought it was the suitors, but I cannot be sure. On hearing this, Telemachus smiled to his father, but so that you mayas could not see him. Then, when they had finished their work and the meal was ready, they ate it and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep. When the child of morning, Rosie-finger Dawn, appeared, Telemachus bound on his sandals and took a strong spear that suited his hands, for he wanted to go into the city. Old friend, said he to the swine-herd, I will now go to the town and show myself to my mother, for she will never leave off grieving till she has seen me. As for this unfortunate stranger, take him to the town and let him beg there of anyone who will give him a drink and a piece of bread. I have trouble enough of my own, and cannot be burdened with other people. If this makes him angry, so much the worse for him, but I like to say what I mean. Then Ulysses said, Sir, I do not want to stay here. A beggar can always do better in town than country, for anyone who likes can give him something. I am too old to care about remaining here at the beckon call of a master. Therefore let this man do as you have just told him, and take me to the town as soon as I have had a warm by the fire, and the day has got a little heat in it. My clothes are wretchedly thin, and this frosty morning I shall be perished with cold, for you say the city is some way off. On this Telemachus strode off through the yards, brooding his revenge upon the suitors. When he reached home he stood his spear against a bearing-post of the cloister, crossed the stone floor of the cloister itself, and went inside. Nurse Eureklius saw him long before anyone else did. She was putting the fleeces onto the seats, and she burst out crying as she ran up to him. All the other maids came up too, and covered his head and shoulders with their kisses. Penelope came out of a room looking like Diana or Venus, and wept as she flung her arms about her son. She kissed his forehead and both his beautiful eyes. Light of my eyes, she cried as she spoke fondly to him. So you are come home again. I made sure I was never going to see you any more. To think of your having gone off to Pylos without saying anything about it, or obtaining my consent. But come, tell me what you saw. Do not scold me, mother, answer Telemachus, nor vex me, seeing what a narrow escape I have had. But wash your face, change your dress, go upstairs with your maids, and promise full and sufficient hecatombs to all the gods if Jove will only grant us our revenge upon the suitors. I must now go to the place of assembly to invite a stranger who has come back with me from Pylos. I sent him on with my crew, and told Piraeus to take him home and look after him till I could come for him myself. She heeded her son's words, washed her face, changed her dress, and vowed full and sufficient hecatombs to all the gods if they would only vouchsafe her revenge upon the suitors. Telemachus went through and out of the cloisters spear in hand, not alone, for his two fleet dogs went with him. Minerva endowed him with a presence of such divine comeliness that all marveled at him as he went by, and the suitors gathered round him with fair words in their mouths and malice in their hearts. But he avoided them, and went to sit with Mentor, Antifas, and Helithurses, old friends of his father's house, and they made him tell them all that had happened to him. Then Piraeus came up with Theocliminus, whom he had escorted through the town to the place of assembly, whereon Telemachus at once joined them. Piraeus was first to speak. Telemachus, said he. I wish you would send some of your women to my house to take away the presence Menelaus gave you. We do not know, Piraeus, answered Telemachus, what may happen? If the suitors kill me in my own house and divide my property among them, I would rather you had the presence than that of any of those people should get hold of them. If, on the other hand, I managed to kill them, I shall be much obliged if you will kindly bring me my presence. With these words he took Theocliminus to his own house. When they got there they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats, went into the baths, and washed themselves. When the maids had washed and anointed them, and had given them cloaks and shirts, they took their seats at table. A maid-servant then brought them water in a beautiful golden ure and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands, and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper-servant brought them bread and offered them many good things of what there was in the house. Opposite them sat Penelope, reclining on a couch by one of the baring posts of the cloister and spinning. Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Penelope said, Telemachus, I shall go upstairs and lie down on that sad couch, which I have not seized to water with my tears, from the day Ulysses set out for Troy with the sons of Atreus. You failed, however, to make it clear to me before the suitors came back to the house whether or no you had been able to hear anything about the return of your father. I will tell you then truth, replied her son. We went to Pylos and saw Nestor, who took me to his house and treated me as hospitably as though I were a son of his own who had just returned after a long absence. So also did his sons. But he said he had not heard a word from any human being about Ulysses, whether he was alive or dead. He sent me, therefore, with a chariot and horses to Menelaus. There I saw Helen, for whose sake so many, both Argives and Trojans, were in heaven's wisdom doomed to suffer. Menelaus asked me what it was that had brought me to Lassidemmon, and I told him the whole truth. Whereon, he said, So then, these cowards would usurp a brave man's bed? A hind might as well lay her newborn young in the lair of a lion, and then go off to feed in the forest or in some grassy dell. The lion, when he comes back to his lair, will make short work with a pair of them, and so will Ulysses with these suitors. By Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, if Ulysses is still the man that he was when he ruzzled with phylum-eladies and lesbos, and threw him so heavily that all the Greeks cheered him, if he is still such, and were to come near these suitors, they would have a short shrift and a sorry wedding. As regards your question, however, I will not preverigate nor deceive you, but what the old man of the sea told me, so much will I tell you in full. He said he could see Ulysses on an island, sorrowing bitterly in the house of the nymph Calypso, who was keeping him prisoner, and he could not reach his home, for he had no ships nor sailors to take him over the sea. This was what Menelaus told me, and when I had heard his story, I came away. The gods then gave me a fair wind and soon brought me safe home again. With these words he moved the heart of Penelope. Then Theocliminus said to her, Madam, wife of Ulysses, Telemachus does not understand these things. Listen therefore to me, for I can divine them surely, and will hide nothing from you. May Job, the king of heaven, be my witness, and the rites of hospitality, with that hearth of Ulysses to which I now come, that Ulysses himself is even now in Ithaca, and either going about the country or staying in one place, is inquiring into all these evil deeds and preparing a day of reckoning for the suitors. I saw an omen when I was on the ship which meant this, and I told Telemachus about it. May it be even so, answered Penelope, if your words come true, you shall have such gifts and such good will will come for me that all who see you shall congratulate you. Thus did they converse. Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark on the level ground in front of the house, and behaving with all their old insolence. But when it was now time for dinner, and the flock of sheep and goats had come into the town from all the country round, with their shepherds as usual, then Meeden, who was their favorite servant, and who waited upon them at table, said, Now then, my young masters, you have had enough sport, so come inside that we may get dinner ready. Dinner is not a bad thing at dinner time. They left their sports as he told them, and when they were within the house, they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats inside, and then sacrificed some sheep, goats, pigs, and a heifer, all of them fat and well grown. Thus they made ready for their meal. In the meantime Ulysses and the swineherd were about starting for the town, and the swineherd said, Stranger, I suppose you still want to go to the town today, as my master said you were to do. For my own part, I should have liked you to stay here as a station hand, but I must do as my master tells me, or he will scold me later on, and a scolding from one's master is a very serious thing. Let us then be off, for it is now broad day. It will be night again directly, and then you will find it colder. I know and understand you, replied Ulysses. You need say no more. Let us be going. But if you have a stick-ready cut, let me have it to walk with, for you say the road is a very rough one. As he spoke he threw his shabby old tattered wallet over his shoulders by the cord from which it hung, and Umeis gave him a stick to his liking. The two then started, leaving the station in charge of the dogs and herdsmen who remained behind. The swineherd led the way, and his master followed after, looking like some broken down old trap as he leaned upon his staff, and his clothes were all in rags. When they had got over the rough steep ground and were nearing the city, they reached the fountain from which the citizens drew their water. This had been made by Ithicus, Neritus, and Polyctor. There was a grove of water-loving poplars planted in a circle all round it, and the clear cold water came down to it from a rock high up, while the above fountain there was an altar to the nymphs, at which all wayfarers used to sacrifice. Here Melanthius, son of Dolius overtook them as he was driving down some goats, the best in his flock for the suitor's dinner, and there were two shepherds with him. When he saw Umeis and Ulysses he reviled them with outrageous and unseemly language, which made Ulysses very angry. There you go, cried he, and a precious pair you are! See how heaven brings birds of the same feather to one another! Fair pray, Master Swineherd, are you taking this poor, miserable object? It would make any one sick to see such a creature at table. A fellow like this never won a prize for anything in his life, but will go about rubbing his shoulders against every man's doorpost, and begging, not for swords and cauldrons like a man, but only for a few scraps not worth begging for. If you would give him to me for a hand on my station, he might do to clean out the folds or bring a bit of sweet feed to the kids, and he could fatten his thighs as much as he pleased on way. But he has taken to bad ways and will not go about any kind of work. He will do nothing but beg vituals all the town over to feed his insatiable belly. I say therefore, and it shall surely be, if he goes near Ulysses' house, he will get his head broken by the stools they fling at him till they turn him out. On this, as he passed, he gave Ulysses a kick on the hip out of pure wattiness, but Ulysses stood firm and did not budge from the path. For a moment he doubted whether or not to fly at Melanthias and kill him with his staff, or fling him to the ground and beat his brains out. He resolved, however, to endure it and keep himself in check, but the swine-herd looked straight at Melanthias and rebuked him, lifting up his hands and praying to heaven as he did so. He went to Nymphs, he cried, children of Jove. If ever Ulysses burned you thigh-bones covered with fat, whether of lambs or kids, grant my prayer that heaven may send him home. He would soon put an end to the swaggering threats with which such men as you go about insulting people, gadding all over the town while your flocks are going to ruin through bad shepherding. Then Melanthias the goat-herd answered, You ill-conditioned cur, what are you talking about? Some day or other I will put you on board ship and take you to a foreign country, where I can sell you and pocket the money you will fetch. I wish I were as sure that Apollo would strike Telemachus dead this very day, or that the suitors would kill him, as I am that Ulysses will never come home again. With this he left them to come on at their leisure, while he went quickly forward and soon reached the house of his master. When he got there he went in and took his seat among the suitors opposite Eurimachus, who liked him better than any of the others. The servants brought him a portion of meat, and an upper-woman servant set bread before him that he might eat. Presently Ulysses and the swine-herd came up to the house and stood by it amid a sound of music, for Femmius was just beginning to sing to the suitors. Then Ulysses took hold of the swine-herd's hand and said, �The Umeis, this house of Ulysses is a very fine place. No matter how far you go, you will find few like it. One building keeps following on after another. The outer court has a wall with battlements all round it. The doors are double-folding and of good workmanship. It would be a hard matter to take it by force of arms. I perceive, too, that there are many people banqueting within it, for there is a smell of roast meat, and I hear a sound of music, which the gods have made to go along with feasting.� �Then you may,� said. �You have perceived a right, as indeed you generally do. But let us think what will be our best course. Will you go inside first and join the suitors, leaving me here behind you, or will you wait here and let me go in first? Or do not wait long, or someone may see you loitering about outside and throw something at you. Consider this matter, I pray you.� And Ulysses answered, �I understand and heed. Go in first and leave me here where I am. I am quite used to being beaten and having things thrown at me. I have been so much buffeted about in war and by sea that I am case-hardened and this too may go with the rest. But a man cannot hide away the cravings of a hungry belly. This is an enemy which gives much trouble to all men. It is because of this that ships are fitted out to sail the seas and to make war upon other people.� As they were thus talking, a dog that had been lying asleep raised his head and pricked up his ears. This was Argos, whom Ulysses had bred before setting out for Troy, but he had never had any work out of him. In the old days he used to be taken out by the young men when they went hunting wild goats or deer or hares, but now that his master was gone he was lying neglected on the heaps of mule and cow dung that lay in front of the stable doors till the men should come and draw it away to manure the great clothes. And he was full of fleas. As soon as he saw Ulysses standing there he dropped his ears and wagged his tail, but he could not get close up to his master. When Ulysses saw the dog on the other side of the yard he dashed a tear from his eyes without Umea seeing it and said, �Umeas, what a noble hound that is over yonder on the manure heap! His build is splendid! Is he as fine a fellow as he looks? Or is he only one of those dogs that come begging about a table and are kept merely for show?� This hound, answered Umeas, belonged to him who has died in a far country. If he were what he was when Ulysses left for Troy he would soon show you what he could do. There was not a wild beast in the forest that could get away from him when he was once on its tracks. But now he has fallen on evil times, for his master is dead and gone and the women take no care of him. Servants never do their work when their master's hand is no longer over them, for Jove takes half the goodness out of a man when he makes a slave of him. As he spoke he went inside the buildings to the cloister where the suitors were, but Argos died as soon as he had recognized his master. Telemachus saw Umeas long before anyone else did, and beckoned him to come and sit beside him. So he looked about and saw a seat lying near where the carver sat serving out their portions to the suitors. He picked it up, brought it to Telemachus's table, and sat down opposite him. Then the servant brought him his portion and gave him bread from the bread-basket. Immediately afterwards Ulysses came inside, looking like a poor, miserable old beggar, leaning on his staff and with his clothes all in rags. He sat down upon the threshold of Ashwood just inside the doors leading from the outer to the inner court and against a bearing-post of cypress wood which the carpenter had skillfully planed, and had made to join truly with rule and line. Telemachus took a whole loaf from the bread-basket, with as much meat as he could hold in his two hands, and said to Umeas, Take this to the stranger and tell him to go the round of the suitors and beg from them. A beggar must not be shame-faced. So Umeas went up to him and said, Stranger, Telemachus sends you this and says you are to go the round of the suitors begging, for beggars must not be shame-faced. Ulysses answered, May King Jove grant all happiness to Telemachus and fulfill the desire of his heart. Then with both hands he took what Telemachus had sent him and laid it on the dirty old wallet at his feet. He went on eating it while the bard was singing, and had just finished his dinner as he left off. The suitors applauded the bard, whereon Minerva went up to Ulysses and prompted him to beg pieces of bread from each one of the suitors that he might see what kind of people they were and tell the good from the bad. But come what might, she was not going to save a single one of them. Ulysses, therefore, went on his round, going from left to right, and stretched out his hands to beg as though he were a real beggar. Some of them pitied him and were curious about him, asking one another who he was and where he came from. Whereon the goat heard Melanthea said, Suitors of my noble mistress, I can tell you something about him, for I have seen him before. The swine-herd brought him here, but I know nothing about the man himself nor where he comes from. On this Antonus began to abuse the swine-herd. You precious idiot, he cried, what have you brought this man to town for? Have we not tramps and beggars enough already to pester us as we sit at meat? Do you think it a small thing that such people gather here to waste your master's property? And must you needs bring this man as well? And you may have answered. Antonus, your birth is good, but your words evil. It was no doing of mind that he came here. Who is likely to invite a stranger from a foreign country, unless it be one of those who can do public service as a seer, a healer of hurts, a carpenter, or a bard who can charm us with his singing? Such men are welcome all the world over, but no one is likely to ask a beggar who will only worry him. You are always harder on Ulysses servants than any of the other suitors are, and above all on me, but I do not care so long as Telemachus and Penelope are alive and here. But Telemachus said, Hush, do not answer him. Antonus has the bitterest tongue of all the suitors, and he makes the others worse. Then, turning to Antonus, he said, Antonus, you take as much care of my interests as though I were your son. Why should you want to see this stranger turned out of the house? Heaven forbid. Take something and give it him yourself. I do not grudge it. I bid you take it. Never mind my mother, nor any of the other servants in the house. But I know you will not do what I say, for you are more fond of eating things yourself than of giving them to other people. What do you mean, Telemachus? replied Antonus, by this swaggering talk. If all the suitors were to give him as much as I will, he would not come here again for another three months. As he spoke, he drew the stool on which he rested his dainty feet from under the table and made as though he would throw it at Ulysses, but the other suitors all gave him something and filled his wallet with bread and meat. He was about, therefore, to go back to the threshold and eat what the suitors had given him, but he first went up to Antonus and said, Sir, give me something. You are not surely the poorest man here. You seem to be a chief, foremost among them all. Therefore you should be the better giver, and I will tell far and wide of your bounty. I, too, was a rich man once, and had a fine house of my own. In those days I gave too many a tramp such as I am now, no matter who he might be nor what he wanted. I had any number of servants and all the other things which people have who live well and are accounted wealthy, but it pleased Jove to take all away from me. He sent me with a band of roving robbers to Egypt. It was a long voyage and I was undone by it. I stationed my ships in the river Egyptis and bade my men stay by them and keep guard over them, while I sent out scouts to reconnoiter from every point of vantage. But the men disobeyed my orders, took to their own devices and ravaged the land of the Egyptians, killing the men and taking their wives and children captives. The alarm was soon carried to the city, and when they heard the war cry the people came out at daybreak till the plain was filled with soldiers, horse and foot, and with the gleam of armor. Then Jove spread panic among my men and they would no longer face the enemy, for they found themselves surrounded. The Egyptians killed many of us and took the rest alive to do forced labor for them. As for myself, they gave me to a friend who met them to take to Cyprus, to meet her by name, Son of Eesus, who is a great man in Cyprus. Thence I have come hither in a state of great misery. Then Anton has said, What God can have sent such a pestilence to plague us during our dinner? Get out, into the open part of the court, or I will give you Egypt and Cyprus over again for your insolence and importunity. You have begged of all the others and they have given you lavishly, for they have abundance round them, and it is easy to be free with other people's property when there is plenty of it. On this Ulysses began to move off and said, Your looks, my fine sir, are better than your breeding. If you were in your own house, you would not spare a poor man so much as a pinch of salt. For though you are in another man's and surrounded with abundance, you cannot find it in you to give him even a piece of bread. This made Antonus very angry and he scowled at him, saying, You shall pay for this before you get clear of the court. With these words he threw a footstool at him and hid him on the right shoulder blade near the top of his back. Ulysses stood firm as a rock and the blow did not even stagger him, but he shook his head in silence as he brooded on his revenge. Then he went back to the threshold and sat down there, laying his well-filled wallet at his feet. Listen to me, he cried. You suitors of queen Penelope, that I may speak even as I am minded. A man knows neither ache nor pain if he gets hit while fighting for his money, or for his sheep or his cattle. And even so Antonus has hit me while in the service of my miserable belly, which is always getting people into trouble. Still, if the poor have gods and avenging deities at all, I pray them that Antonus may come to a bad end before his marriage. Sit where you are and eat your victuals in silence or be off elsewhere, shouted Antonus. If you say more, I will have you dragged handed foot through the courts and the servant shall flay you alive. The other suitors were much displeased at this, and one of the young men said, Antonus, you did ill in striking that poor wretch of a tramp. It will be worse for you if you should turn out to be some god. And we know that gods go about disguised in all sorts of ways as people from foreign countries and travel about the world to see who do amiss and who righteously. Thus said the suitors, but Antonus paid them no heed. Meanwhile, Telemachus was furious about the blow that had been given to his father, and though no tear fell from him, he shook his head in silence and brooded on his revenge. Now, when Penelope heard that the beggar had been struck in the banquet in Cloyster, she said before her maids, Would that Apollo would so strike you, Antonus? And her waiting woman, your enemy, answered, If our prayers were answered, not one of the suitors would ever again see the sun rise. Then Penelope said, Nurse, I hate every single one of them, for they mean nothing but mischief. But I hate Antonus like the darkness of death itself. A poor unfortunate tramp has come begging about the house for sheer want. Everyone else has given him something to put in his wallet, but Antonus has hit him on the right shoulder blade with a footstool. Thus did she talk with her maids, as she sat in her own room, and in the meantime Ulysses was getting his dinner. Then she called for the swine herd and said, You mayas, go and tell the stranger to come here. I want to see him and ask him some questions. He seems to have traveled much, and he may have seen or heard something of my unhappy husband. To this you answered, O swine herd, you mayas. If these Achaeans, madam, would only keep quiet, you would be charmed with the history of his adventures. I had him three days and three nights with me in my hut, which was the first place he reached after running away from his ship, and he has not yet completed the story of his misfortunes. If he had been the most heaven-taught minstrel in the whole world, on whose lips all hearers hang entranced, I could not have been more charmed as I sat in my hut and listened to him. He says there is an old friendship between his house and that of Ulysses, and that he comes from Crete where the descendants of Minos live, after having been driven hither and thither by every kind of misfortune. He also declares that he has heard of Ulysses as being alive and near at hand among the Thesprosians, and that he's bringing great wealth home with him. "'Call him here, then,' said Penelope, that I too may hear his story. As for the suitors, let them take their pleasure indoors or out as they will, for they have nothing to fret about. Their corn and wine remain unwasted in their houses, with none but servants to consume them, while they keep hanging about our house day after day, sacrificing our oxen, sheep, and fat goats for their banquets, and never giving so much as a thought to the quantity of wine they drink. No estate can stand such recklessness, for we have now no Ulysses to protect us. If he were to come again, he and his son would soon have their revenge.' As she spoke, Telemica sneezed so loudly that the whole house resounded with it. Penelope laughed when she heard this, and said to Yumaeus, "'Go and call the stranger. Did you not hear how my son sneezed just as I was speaking?' This can only mean that all the suitors are going to be killed, and that not one of them shall escape. Furthermore, I say, and lay my saying to your heart, if I am satisfied that the stranger is speaking the truth, I shall give him a shirt and cloak of good wear.' When Yumaeus heard this, he went straight to Ulysses and said, "'Father Stranger, my mistress Penelope, mother of Telemicas, has sent for you. She is in great grief, but she wishes to hear anything you can tell her about her husband, and if she is satisfied that you are speaking the truth, she will give you a shirt and cloak, which are the very things that you are most in want of. As for bread, you can get enough of that to fill your belly by begging about the town and letting those give that will.' "'I will tell Penelope,' answered Yuleces, "'nothing but what is strictly true. I know all about her husband, and have been partner with him in affliction, but I am afraid of passing through this crowd of cruel suitors, for their pride and insolence reach heaven. Just now, moreover, as I was going about the house without doing any harm, a man gave me a blow that hurt me very much, but neither Telemachus nor any one else defended me. Tell Penelope, therefore, to be patient and wait till sundown. Let her give me a seat close up to the fire, for my clothes are worn very thin. You know they are, for you have seen them ever since I first asked you to help me. She can then ask me about the return of her husband.' The swine-herd went back when he heard this, and Penelope said as she saw him cross the threshold. "'Why do you not bring him here, Yumeas? Is he afraid that someone will ill-treat him, or is he shy of coming inside the house at all? Beggar should not be shame-faced.' "'To this you answered, O swine-herd, Yumeas. The stranger is quite reasonable. He is avoiding the suitors, and is only doing what any one else would do. He asks you to wait till sundown, and it will be much better, madam, that you should have him all to yourself, when you can hear him and talk to him as you will.' "'The man is no fool,' answered Penelope. It would very likely be as he says, for there are no such abominable people in the whole world as these men are.' When she had done speaking, Yumeas went back to the suitors, for he had explained everything. Then he went up to Telemachus and said in his ear, so that none could overhear him. "'My dear sir, I will now go back to the pigs to see after your property and my own business. You will look to what is going on here, but above all be careful to keep out of danger, for there are many who bear you ill-will. May Jove bring them to a bad end before they do us a mischief.' "'Very well,' replied Telemachus. Go home when you have had your dinner, and in the morning come here with the victims we are to sacrifice for the day. Leave the rest to heaven and me.' "'On this, Yumeas took his seat again, and when he had finished his dinner he left the courts on the cloister with the men at table, and went back to his pigs. As for the suitors they presently began to amuse themselves with singing and dancing, for it was now getting on towards evening.' End of Book 17. Book 18. Of the Odyssey by Homer. Translated by Samuel Butler. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Odyssey. Book 18. The fight with Iris. Ulysses warns Amphiminus. Penelope gets presents from the suitors. The braziers. Ulysses rebukes Euramachus. Now there came a certain common tramp who used to go begging all over the city of Ithaca, and was notorious as an incorrigible glutton and drunkard. This man had no strength nor stay in him, but he was a great hulking-fellow to look at. His real name, the one his mother gave him, was Arneus, but the young men of the place called him Iris, because he used to run errands for anyone who would send him. As soon as he came he began to insult Ulysses, and to try and drive him out of his own house. "'Be off, old man,' he cried, from the doorway, or you shall be dragged out neck and heels. Do you not see that they are all giving me the wink and wanting me to turn you out by force? Only, I do not like to do so. Get up, then, and go of yourself, or we shall come to blows.' Ulysses frowned on him and said, My friend, I do you no manner of harm. People give you a great deal, but I am not jealous. There is room enough in this doorway for the pair of us, and you need not grudge me things that are not yours to give. You seed me just such another tramp as myself, but perhaps the gods will give us better luck by and by. Do not, however, talk too much about fighting, or you will incense me, and old though I am, I shall cover your mouth and chest with blood. I shall have more peace to-morrow if I do, for you will not come to the house of Ulysses any more.' Iris was very angry, and answered, "'You filthy glutton! You run on trippingly like an old fish-fag! I have a good mind to lay both hands about you and knock your teeth out of your head like so many boarse tusks. Get ready, therefore, and let these people here stand by and look on. You will never be able to fight one who is much younger than yourself.' Thus roundly did they raid one another on the smooth pavement in front of the doorway, and when Antonus saw what was going on he laughed heartily and said to the others, "'This is the finest sport that you ever saw. Heaven never yet sent anything like it into this house. The stranger and Iris have quarreled and are going to fight. Let us set them on to do so at once.' The suitors all came up laughing and gathered round the two ragged tramps. "'Listen to me,' said Antonus. "'There are some goats-punches down at the fire, which we have filled with blood and fat, and set aside for supper. He who is victorious improves himself to be the better man shall have his pick of the lot. He shall be free of our table, and we will not allow any other beggar about the house at all.' The others all agreed, but Ulysses, to throw them off the scent, said, "'Sirs, an old man like myself, worn out with suffering, cannot hold his own against a young one, but my irrepressible belly urges me on, though I know it can only end in my getting a drubbing. You must swear, however, that none of you will give me a foul blow to favour Iris and secure him the victory.' They swore, as he told them, and when they had completed their oath, Telemachus put in a word and said, "'Stranger, if you have a mind to settle with this fellow, you need not be afraid of any one here. Whoever strikes you will have to fight more than one. I am host, and the other chiefs, Antonus and Eurymachus, both of them men of understanding, or of the same mind as I am.' Everyone ascended, and Ulysses girded his old rags about his loins, thus bearing his stalwart thighs, his broad chest and shoulders, and his mighty arms. But Minerva came up to him and made his limbs even stronger still. The suitors were beyond measure astonished, and one would turn towards his neighbour, saying, "'The stranger has brought such a thigh out of his old rags that there will soon be nothing left of Iris.' Iris began to be very uneasy as he heard them, but the servants girded him by force, and brought him into the open part of the court in such a fright that his limbs were all of a tremble. Antonus scolded him and said, "'You swaggering bully, you ought never to have been born at all if you are afraid of such an old broken-down creature as this tramp is. I say therefore, and it shall surely be, if he beats you and proves himself the better man, I shall pack you off on board ship to the mainland and send you to King Eccitus, who kills everyone that comes near him. He will cut off your nose and ears and draw out your entrails for the dogs to eat.' This frightened Iris still more, but they brought him into the middle of the court, and the two men raised their hands to fight. Then Ulysses considered whether he should let drive so hard at him as to make an end of him then and there, or whether he should give him a lighter blow that should only knock him down. In the end he deemed it best to give the lighter blow, for fear the Achaean should begin to suspect who he was. Then they began to fight, and Iris hit Ulysses on the right shoulder. But Ulysses gave Iris a blow on the neck under the ear that broke in the bones of his skull, and the blood came gushing out of his mouth. He fell groaning in the dust, gnashing his teeth and kicking on the ground. But the suitors threw up their hands and nearly died of laughter, as Ulysses caught hold of him by the foot and dragged him into the outer court as far as the gate-house. There he propped him up against the wall and put his staff in his hands. "'Sit here,' said he, and keep the dogs and pigs off. You are a pitiful creature, and if you try to make yourself king of the beggars any more, you shall fare still worse.' Then he threw his dirty old wallet, all tattered and torn over his shoulder, with the cord by which it hung, and went back to sit down upon the threshold. But the suitors went within the cloisters, laughing and saluting him. "'May Jove and all the other gods,' said they, "'grant you whatever you want for having put an end to the importunity of this insatiable tramp. We will take him over to the mainland presently to King Eccitus, who kills everyone that comes near him.' Ulysses hailed this as of good omen, and Antonus set a great goats-punch before him filled with blood and fat. Amphinamus took two loaves out of the bread-basket and brought them to him, pledging him, as he did so, in a golden goblet of wine. "'Good luck to you,' he said, Father Stranger. You are very badly off at present, but I hope you'll have better times by and by.' To this, Ulysses answered, "'Amphinamus, you seem to be a man of good understanding, as indeed you may well be, seeing who son you are. I have heard your father well spoken of. He is Nissus of Delicium, a man both brave and wealthy. They tell me you are his son, and you appear to be a considerable person. Listen, therefore, and take heed to what I am saying. Man is the vainest of all creatures that have their being upon earth. As long as heaven vouchsaves him health and strength, he thinks that he shall come to no harm hereafter, and even when the blessed gods bring sour upon him, he bears it as if he needs must and makes the best of it, for God Almighty gives men their daily minds day by day. I know all about it, for I was a rich man once, and did much wrong in the stubbornness of my pride, and in the confidence that my father and my brothers would support me. Therefore let a man fear God in all things always, and take the good that heaven may see fit to send him without vain glory. Consider the infamy of what these suitors are doing. See how they are wasting the estate and doing dishonor to the wife of one who is certain to return some day, and that too not long hence. Nay, he will be here soon. May heaven send you home quietly first that you may not meet him in the day of his coming, for once he is here, but the suitors and he will not part bloodlessly. With these words he made a drink offering, and when he had drunk he put the gold cup into the hands of Amphiminus, who walked away serious and bowing his head, for he foreboded evil. But even so he did not escape destruction, for Minerva had doomed him to fall by the hand of Telemachus, so he took his seat again at the place from which he had come. Then Minerva put into the mind of Penelope to show herself to the suitors that she might make them still more enamored of her, and win still further honour from her son and husband. So she faint a mocking laugh and said, Your enemy, I have changed my mind, and have a fancy to show myself to the suitors although I detest them. I should like also to give my son a hint that he had better not have anything more to do with them. They speak fairly enough, but they mean mischief. My dear child, answered Your enemy, all that you have said is true, go and tell your son about it, but first wash yourself and anoint your face. Do not go about with your cheeks all covered with tears. It is not right that you should grieve so incessantly. For Telemachus, whom you always prayed that you might live to see with a beard, is already grown up. I know, Your enemy, replied Penelope, that you mean well, but do not try and persuade me to wash and to anoint myself, for heaven roved me of all my beauty on the day my husband sailed. Nevertheless, tell Atanui and Hippodamia that I want them. They must be with me when I am in the cloister. I am not going among the men alone. It would not be proper for me to do so. On this the old woman went out of the room to bid the maids go to their mistress. In the meantime Minerva but thought her of another matter, and said Penelope off into a sweet slumber. So she laid down on her couch and her limbs became heavy with sleep. Then the goddess shed grace and beauty over her that all the Achaeans might admire her. She washed her face with the ambrosial loveliness that Venus wears when she goes dancing with the graces. She made her taller and of a more commanding figure, while as for her complexion it was wider than saw on ivory. When Minerva had done all this she went away, whereon the maids came in from the women's room and woke Penelope with the sound of their talking. What an exquisitely delicious sleep I have been having, said she as she passed her hands over her face. In spite of all my misery. I wish Diana would let me die so sweetly now at this very moment that I might no longer waste in despair for the loss of my dear husband who possessed every kind of good quality and was the most distinguished man among the Achaeans. With these words she came down from her upper room, not alone but attended by two of her maidens, and when she reached the suitors she stood by one of the bearing-posts supporting the roof of the cloister holding a veil before her face, and with a staid maid servant on either side of her. As they beheld her the suitors were so overpowered and became so desperately enamored of her that each one prayed he might win her for his own bed-fellow. Telemachus, said she, addressing her son, I fear you are no longer so discreet and well-conducted as you used to be. When you were younger you had a greater sense of propriety. Now, however, that you were grown up, though a stranger to look at you would take you for the son of a well-to-do father as far as size and good looks go. Your conduct is by no means what it should be. What is all this disturbance that has been going on, and how came you to allow a stranger to be so disgracefully ill-treated? What would have happened if he had suffered serious injury while a suppliant in our house? Surely this would have been very discreditable to you. I am not surprised, my dear mother, at your displeasure, replied Telemachus. I understand all about it and know when things are not as they should be, which I could not do when I was younger. I cannot, however, behave with perfect propriety at all times. First one and then another of these wicked people here keeps driving me out of my mind, and I have no one to stand by me. After all, however, this fight between Iris and the stranger did not turn out as the sooters meant it to do, for the stranger got the best of it. I wish Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo would break the neck of every one of these wooers of yours, some inside the house and some out, and I wish they might all be as limp as Iris over yonder in the gate of the outer court. See how he nods his head like a drunken man. He has had such a thrashing that he cannot stand on his feet nor get back to his home, wherever that may be, for he has no strength left in him. Thus did they converse. Eurymicus then came up and said, Queen Penelope, daughter of Icarus, if all the Achaeans in the Asian Argos could see you at this moment they would have still more sooters in your house by tomorrow morning, for you were the most admirable woman in the whole world both as regards personal beauty and strength of understanding. To this Penelope replied, Eurymicus, heaven roved me of all my beauty whether a face or figure when the arch-eye set sail for Troy and my dear husband with them. If he were to return and look after my affairs I should both be more respected and show a better presence to the world. As it is I am oppressed with care and with afflictions which heaven has seen fit to heap upon me. My husband foresaw it all and when he was leaving home he took my right wrist in his hand. Wife, he said, we shall not all of us come safe home from Troy, for the Trojans fight well both with bow and spear. They are excellent also at fighting from chariots and nothing decides the issue of a fight sooner than this. I know not therefore whether heaven will send me back to you or whether I shall not fall over there at Troy. In the meantime do you look after things here. Take care of my father and mother as at present and even more so during my absence, but when you see our son growing a beard then marry whom you will and leave this your present home. This is what he said and now it is all coming true. A night will come when I shall have to yield myself to a marriage which I detest, for Jove has taken from me all hope of happiness. This further grief moreover cuts me to the very heart. You suitors are not wooing me after the custom of my country. When men are courting a woman who they think will be a good wife to them and who is of noble birth and when they are each trying to win her for himself they usually bring oxen and sheep to feast the friends of the lady and they make their magnificent presents. Instead of eating up other people's property without paying for it. This was what she said and Ulysses was glad when he heard her trying to get presents out of the suitors and flattering them with fair words which he knew she did not mean. Then Antonis said, Queen Penelope, daughter of Icarius, take as many presents as you please from anyone who will give them to you. It is not well to refuse a present, but we will not go about our business nor stir from where we are till you have married the best man among us whoever he may be. The others applauded what Antonis had said and each one sent his servant to bring his present. Antonis's man returned with a large and lovely dress most exquisitely embroidered. It had twelve beautifully made brooch pins of pure gold with which to fasten it. Eurymachus immediately brought her a magnificent chain of gold and amber beads that gleamed like sunlight. Eurymachus's two men returned with some earrings fashioned into three brilliant pendants which glistened most beautifully. While King Pissander, son of Pollictor, gave her a necklace of the rarest workmanship and everyone else brought her a beautiful present of some kind. Then the Queen went back to her room upstairs and her maids brought the presents after her. Meanwhile the suitors took to singing and dancing and stayed till evening came. They danced and sang till it grew dark. They then brought in three braziers to give light and piled them up with chopped firewood very old and dry. And they lit torches from them which the maids held up turn and turn about. Then Ulysses said, Maids, servants of Ulysses, who have so long been absent, go to the Queen inside the house, sit with her and amuse her, or spin and pick wool. I will hold the light for all these people. They may stay till morning, but shall not beat me, for I can stand a great deal. The maids looked at one another and laughed, while Pretty Melantho began to jib at him contemptuously. She was daughter to Ulysses, but had been brought up by Penelope, who used to give her toys to play with, and looked after her when she was a child. But in spite of all this, she showed no consideration for the sorrows of her mistress, and used to misconduct herself with the Eurymachus, with whom she was in love. Poor Wretch, said she, are you gone clean out of your mind? Go and sleep in some smithy, or place of public gossips, instead of chattering here. Are you not ashamed of opening your mouth before your bedders, so many of them too? Has the wine been getting into your head, or do you always babble in this way? You seem to have lost your wits because you beat the tramp Iris. Take care that a better man than he does not come and cudger you about the head till he pack you bleeding out of the house. Vixen, replied Ulysses, scowling at her, I will go and tell Telemachus what you have been saying, and he will have you torn limb from limb. With these words he scared the women, and they went off into the body of the house. They trembled all over, for they thought he would do as he said. But Ulysses took his stand near the burning braziers, holding up torches and looking at the people, brooding the while on things that should surely come to pass. But Minerva would not let the suitors for one moment cease their insolence, for she wanted Ulysses to become even more bitter against them. She therefore set Eurymachus' son of Pulibus on to jibet him, which made the others laugh. "'Listen to me,' said he, you suitors of Queen Penelope, that I may speak even as I am minded. It is not for nothing that this man has come to the house of Ulysses. I believe the light has not been coming from the torches, but from his own head, for his hair is all gone, every bit of it.' Then, turning to Ulysses, he said, Stranger, will you work as a servant if I send you to the wolds and see that you are well paid? Can you build a stone fence or plant trees? I will have you fed all the year round, and we'll find you in shoes and clothing. Will you go then?' "'Not you, for you have got into bad ways, and do not want to work. You had rather fill your belly by going around the country begging.' "'Urymachus,' answered Ulysses, if you and I were to work one against the other in early summer, when the days are at their longest, give me a good scythe and take another yourself, and let us see which will last the longer, or mow the stronger, from dawn till dark when the mowing grass is about. Or if you will plow against me, let us each take a yoke of tawny oxen, well mated and of great strength and endurance. Turn me into a four-acre field and see whether you or I can drive the straight or furrow. If again, war were to break out this day, give me a shield, a couple of spears, and a helmet fitting well upon my temples, you will find me foremost in the fray, and would cease your jibes about my belly. You are insolent and cruel, and think yourself a great man because you live in a little world, and that a bad one. If Ulysses comes to his own again, the doors of his house are wide, but you will find them narrow when you try to fly through them. Eurymachus was furious at all this. He scowled at him and cried, You wretch, I will soon pay you out for daring to say such things to me, and in public too. Has the wine been getting into your head, or do you always babble in this way? You seem to have lost your wits because you beat the tramp virus. With this he caught hold of a footstool, but Ulysses sought protection at the knees of Anthuminus of Delicium, for he was afraid. The stool hit the cup-air on his right hand and knocked him down. The man fell with a cry flat on his back, and his wine-jug fell ringing to the ground. The suitors in the covered cloister were now in an uproar, and one would turn towards his neighbor saying, I wish the stranger had gone somewhere else, bad luck to him, for all the trouble he gives us. We cannot permit such disturbance about a beggar, if such ill councils are to prevail, we shall have no more pleasure at our banquet. On this Telemachus came forward and said, Sirs, are you mad? Can you not carry your meat and your liquor decently? Some evil spirit has possessed you. I do not wish to drive any of you away, but you have had your suppers, and the sooner you all go home to bed, the better. The suitors bit their lips and marveled at the boldness of his speech, but Amphiminus, son of Nicus, who was son to Oritius, said, Do not let us take offence. It is reasonable, so let us make no answer. Neither let us do violence to the stranger, nor to any of Ulysses' servants. Let the cup-air go round with the drink-offerings, that we may make them and go home to our rest. As for the stranger, let us leave Telemachus to deal with him, for it is to his house that he has come. Thus did he speak, and his saying pleased them well, so Milius of Delicium, servant to Amphinimus, mixed them a bowl of wine and water and handed round to each of them man by man, whereon they made their drink-offerings to the Blessed Gods. Then, when they had made their drink-offerings and had drunk each one as he was minded, they took their several ways each of them to his own abode. END OF BOOK 18