Book XIX

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Telemachus removes the arms out of the hall. Odysseus

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

concealed. And the hunting of the boar upon that occasion

related.

Now the goodly Odysseus was left behind in the hall,

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

straightway he spake winged words to Telemachus:

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

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

thee concerning them, thou shalt beguile them with soft

words, saying:

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

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

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

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

put into my heart this other and greater care, that

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

between you and wound one the other, and thereby shame the

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

thereto.'

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

and called forth to him the nurse Eurycleia and spake to

her, saying:

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

chambers till I shall have laid by in the armoury the

goodly weapons of my father, which all uncared for the

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

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

vapour of the fire will not reach them.'

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

child, if ever thou wouldest but take careful thought in

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

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

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

might have given light, should go before thee?'

Then wise Telemachus made answer to her: 'This stranger

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

bread, even if he have come from afar.'

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

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

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

carry within the helmets and the bossy shields, and the

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

golden cresset and cast a most lovely light. Thereon

Telemachus spake to his father suddenly:

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

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

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

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

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

hold the wide heaven.'

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

thy peace and keep thy thoughts in check and ask not

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

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

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

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

thing, one by one.'

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

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

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

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

and awaited the bright Dawn. But goodly Odysseus was left

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

of the wooers.

Now forth from her chamber came the wise Penelope, like

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

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

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

time the craftsman Icmalius had fashioned, and had joined

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

logs upon them, to give light and warmth.

Then Melantho began to revile Odysseus yet a second time,

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

circling round the house in the night, and spying the

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

thankful for thy supper, or straightway shalt thou even be

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

Then Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely on her, and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

countless thralls, and all else in plenty, whereby folk

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

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

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

thy fine show wherein thou now excellest among the

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

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

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

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

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

works wantonness in his halls without his knowledge, for he

is no longer of an age not to mark it,

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

the handmaid, and spake and hailed her:

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

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

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

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

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

am grievously afflicted.'

Therewith she spake likewise to the housedame, Eurynome,

saying:

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

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

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

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

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

steadfast goodly Odysseus sat him down there, and the wise

Penelope spake first, saying:

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

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

where are they that begat thee?'

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

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

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

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

and reigns among many men and mighty, maintaining right,

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

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

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

good guidance, and the people prosper under him. Wherefore

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

but inquire not concerning my race and mine own country,

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

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

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

it is little good to mourn always without ceasing, lest

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

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

with wine.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

princes in the isles, in Dulichium and Same and wooded

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

princely youths, my wooers, now that goodly Odysseus is

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

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

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

the hero Laertes, against the day when the ruinous doom

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

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

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

without a winding sheet, a man that had gotten great

possessions."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

was that by help of the handmaids, shameless things and

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

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

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

devise any further counsel, and my parents are instant with

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

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

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

household, for one to which Zeus vouchsafes honour. But

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

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

tell.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and therein are many men innumerable, and ninety cities.

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

tongues; there dwell Achaeans and there too Cretans of

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

waving plumes and goodly Pelasgians. And among these cities

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

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

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

high of heart. Now Deucalion begat me and Idomeneus the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

tenth or the eleventh dawn since Idomeneus had gone in his

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

and gave him good entertainment with all loving-kindness

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

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

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

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

Achaeans abode twelve days, for the strong North Wind

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now Odysseus had compassion of heart upon his wife in her

lamenting, but his eyes kept steadfast between his eyelids

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

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

answered him in turn and spake, saying:

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

thee, and learn whether in very truth thou didst entertain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

marked the shining doublet about his body, like the gleam

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

glistering as the sun; truly many women looked thereon and

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

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

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

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

be some stranger, seeing that to many men was Odysseus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eurybates; and Odysseus honoured him above all his company,

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

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

desire of weeping, as she knew the certain tokens that

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

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

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

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

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

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

and added besides the shining brooch to be his jewel. But

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

dear country. Wherefore with an evil fate it was that

Odysseus went hence in the hollow ship to see that evil

Ilios, never to be named.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Wife

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thesprotia, and is bringing with him many choice treasures,

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

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

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

grudge against him, because his company had slain the kine

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

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

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

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

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

fain have sent him scathless home. Yea and Odysseus would

have been here long since, but he thought it more

profitable to gather wealth, as he journeyed over wide

lands; so truly is Odysseus skilled in gainful arts above

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the wealth that Odysseus had gathered, yea it would suffice

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

so great were the treasures he had stored in the chambers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the highest and best, and the hearth of noble Odysseus

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

accomplished even as I tell thee. In this same year

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

new is born.'

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

this word may be accomplished. Soon shouldst thou be aware

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

for him, bedding and mantles and shining blankets, that

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

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

him, that within the house beside Telemachus he may eat

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

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

stranger, yea he shall not henceforth profit himself here,

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

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

thrifty device, if all unkempt and evil clad thou sittest

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

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

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

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

blameless of heart, his guests spread abroad his fame over

the whole earth and many people call him noble.'

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

wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, mantles verily

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

behind me the snowy hills of Crete, voyaging in the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

my feet.'

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

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

dearer man or so discreet as thou, uttering so heedfully

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

understanding heart, that diligently nursed and tended that

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

saying:

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

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

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

many fat pieces of the thigh and so many choice hecatombs

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

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

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

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

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

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

these shameless ones all mock at thee. To shun their

insults and many taunts it is that thou sufferest them not

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

Penelope, hath bidden me that am right willing to this

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying: 'Old

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

that we favour each other exceedingly, even as thou dost

mark and say.'

Thereupon the crone took the shining cauldron, wherefrom

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

and next mingled therewith the warm. Now Odysseus sat aloof

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

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

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

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

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

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

Odysseus went to Parnassus to see Autolycus, and the sons

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

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

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

the well-pleasing sacrifice of the thighs of lambs and

kids; wherefore Hermes abetted him gladly. Now Autolycus

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

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

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

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

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

of many prayers.'

{* Reading [Greek]}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

him on his way rejoicing.'

Therefore it was that Odysseus went to receive the splendid

gifts. And Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus grasped his

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

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

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

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

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

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

limbs and deftly chopped them small, and pierced them with

spits and roasted them cunningly, dividing the messes. So

for that livelong day they feasted till the going down of

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

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

laid them to rest and took the boon of sleep.

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

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

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

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

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

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

soft flowing stream of deep Oceanus. Then the beaters

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

hounds tracking a scent, but behind came the sons of

Autolycus, and among them goodly Odysseus followed close on

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

skilfully, and stayed the black blood with a song of

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

dear father. Then Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus got

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

and quickly sent him with all love to Ithaca, gladly

speeding a glad guest. There his father and lady mother

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

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

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

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

the sons of Autolycus.

Now the old woman took the scarred limb and passed her

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

saying:

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

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

lord.'

Therewithal she looked towards Penelope, as minded to make

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

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

her thoughts to other things. But Odysseus feeling for the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

other handmaids in my halls.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

thee and which be guiltless.'

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

wherefore I pray thee wilt thou speak of these? Thou

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

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

and leave the rest to the gods.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

cares, thick thronging about my inmost heart, disquiet me

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

the nightingale of the greenwood, sings sweet in the first

season of the spring, from her place in the thick leafage

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

forth her full-voiced music bewailing her child, dear

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

walls, being vexed for his possessions that the Achaeans

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

and tell me the interpretation thereof. Twenty geese I have

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

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

crooked beak swooped from the mountain, and brake all their

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

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

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

were gathered the fair-tressed Achaean women as I made

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

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

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

my weeping:

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

dream but a true vision, that shall be accomplished for

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

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

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

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

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

were wont before.'

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:

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

otherwise, seeing that Odysseus himself hath showed thee

how he will fulfil it. For the wooers destruction is

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

death and the fates.'

Then wise Penelope answered him: 'Stranger, verily dreams

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

therein fulfilled for men. Twain are the gates of shadowy

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

dreams as pass through the portals of sawn ivory are

deceitful, and bear tidings that are unfulfilled. But the

dreams that come forth through the gates of polished horn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

wooers; whoso shall most easily string the bow in his

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

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

fair and filled with all livelihood, which methinks I shall

yet remember, aye, in a dream.'

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

revered of Odysseus son of Laertes, no longer delay this

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

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

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

through the iron.'

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

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

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

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

have made a time for all things for mortals on the

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

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

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

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

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

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

bedding for thee.'

Therewith she ascended to her shining upper chamber, not

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

went aloft to her upper chamber with the women her

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

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

Read next: Book XX

Read previous: Book XVIII

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