Book XVII

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Telemachus relates to his mother what he had heard at Pylos

and Sparta

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

Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus, bound beneath

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

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

to his swineherd, saying:

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

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

grievous wailing and tearful lament, until she beholds my

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

love to speak the truth.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

far away.'

So he spake, and Telemachus passed out through the

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

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

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

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

the threshold of stone.

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

was strewing skin coverlets upon the carven chairs, and

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

maidens of Odysseus, of the hardy heart, were gathered

about him, and kissed him lovingly on the head and

shoulders. Now wise Penelope came forth from her chamber,

like Artemis or golden Aphrodite, and cast her arms about

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

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

winged words:

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

methought I should see thee never again, after thou hadst

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

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

sight thou didst get of him?'

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

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

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

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

go aloft to thine upper chamber with the women thy

handmaids, and vow to all the gods an acceptable sacrifice

of hecatombs, if haply Zeus may grant that deeds of

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

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

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

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

take heed to treat him lovingly and with worship till I

should come.'

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

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

vowed to all the gods an acceptable sacrifice of hecatombs,

if haply Zeus might grant that deeds of requital should be

made.

Now Telemachus went out through the hall with the spear in

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

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

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

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

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

wooers, but where Mentor sat, and Antiphus, and

Halitherses, who were friends of his house from of old,

there he went and sat down; and they asked him of all his

adventures. Then Piraeus, the famed spearsman, drew nigh,

leading the stranger to the assembly-place by the way of

the town; and Telemachus kept not aloof from him long, but

went up to him.

Then Piraeus first spake to him, saying: 'Bestir the women

straightway to go to my house, that I may send thee the

gifts that Menelaus gave thee.'

Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Piraeus, we

know not how these matters will fall out. If the lordly

wooers shall slay me by guile in the halls, and divide

among them the heritage of my father, then I should wish

thee to keep and enjoy the gifts thyself, rather than any

of these. But if I shall sow the seeds of death and fate

for the wooers, then gladly bring me to the house the gifts

that I will gladly take.'

Therewith he led the travel-worn stranger to the house. Now

when they came to the fair-lying palace, they laid aside

their mantles on the chairs and high seats, and went to the

polished baths, and bathed them. So when the maidens had

bathed them and anointed them with olive oil, and cast

about them thick mantles and doublets, they came forth from

the baths, and sat upon the seats. Then the handmaid bare

water for the hands in a goodly golden ewer, and poured it

forth over a silver basin to wash withal, and drew to their

side a polished table. And the grave dame bare wheaten

bread, and set it by them, and laid on the board many

dainties, giving freely of such things as she had by her.

And the mother of Telemachus sat over against him by the

pillar of the hall, leaning against a chair, and spinning

the slender threads from the yarn. And they stretched forth

their hands upon the good cheer set before them. Now when

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

wise Penelope first spake among them:

'Telemachus, verily I will go up to my upper chamber, and

lay me in my bed, the place of my groanings, that is ever

watered by my tears, since the day that Odysseus departed

with the sons of Atreus for Ilios. Yet thou hadst no care

to tell me clearly, before the lordly wooers came to this

house, concerning the returning of thy father, if haply

thou hast heard thereof.'

And wise Telemachus answered her, saying: 'Yea now, mother,

I will tell thee all the truth. We went to Pylos and to

Nestor, the shepherd of the people, and he received me in

his lofty house, and was diligent to entreat me lovingly,

as a father might his son that had but newly come from

strange lands after many years; even so diligently he cared

for me with his renowned sons. Yet he said that he had

heard no word from any man on earth concerning Odysseus, of

the hardy heart, whether alive or dead. But he sent me

forward on my way with horses and a chariot, well compact,

to Menelaus, son of Atreus, spearman renowned. There I saw

Argive Helen, for whose sake the Argives and Trojans bore

much travail by the gods' designs. Then straightway

Menelaus, of the loud war-cry, asked me on what quest I had

come to goodly Lacedaemon. And I told him all the truth.

Then he made answer, and spake, saying:

'"Out upon them, for truly in the bed of a brave-hearted

man were they minded to lie, very cravens as they are! Even

as when a hind hath couched her newborn fawns unweaned in a

strong lion's lair, and searcheth out the mountain-knees

and grassy hollows, seeking pasture; and afterward the lion

cometh back to his bed, and sendeth forth unsightly death

upon that pair, even so shall Odysseus send forth unsightly

death upon the wooers. Would to our father Zeus, and

Athene, and Apollo, would that in such might as when of old

in stablished Lesbos he rose up in strife and wrestled with

Philomeleides, and threw him mightily, and all the Achaeans

rejoiced; would that in such strength Odysseus might

consort with the wooers; then should they all have swift

fate and bitter wedlock! But for that whereof thou askest

and entreatest me, be sure I will not swerve from the truth

in aught that I say, nor deceive thee; but of all that the

ancient one of the sea, whose speech is sooth, declared to

me, not a word will I hide or keep from thee. He said that

he saw Odysseus in an island, suffering strong pains in the

halls of the nymph Calypso, who holds him there perforce;

so that he may not come to his own country, for he has by

him no ships with oars, and no companions to send him on

his way over the broad back of the sea." So spake Menelaus,

son of Atreus, spearsman renowned. Then having fulfilled

all, I set out for home, and the deathless gods gave me a

fair wind, and brought me swiftly to mine own dear

country.'

So he spake, and stirred her heart within her breast. And

next the godlike Theoclymenus spake among them:

'O wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, verily he hath

no clear knowledge; but my word do thou mark, for I will

prophesy to thee most truly and hide nought. Now Zeus be

witness before any god, and this hospitable board and this

hearth of noble Odysseus, whereunto I am come, that

Odysseus is even now of a surety in his own country,

resting or faring, learning of these evil deeds, and sowing

the seeds of evil for all the wooers. So clear was the omen

of the bird that I saw as I sat on the decked ship, and I

proclaimed it to Telemachus.'

Then wise Penelope answered him, saying: 'Ah, stranger,

would that this thy word may be accomplished! Soon

shouldest thou be aware of kindness and of many a gift at

my hands, so that whoso met with thee would call thee

blessed.'

Thus they spake one to the other. But the wooers meantime

were before the palace of Odysseus, taking their pleasure

in casting of weights and of spears on a levelled place, as

heretofore, in their insolence. But when it was now the

hour for supper, and the flocks came home from the fields

all around, and the men led them whose custom it was, then

Medon, who of all the henchmen was most to their mind, and

was ever with them at the feast, spake to them, saying:

'Noble youths, now that ye have had sport to your hearts'

content, get you into the house, that we may make ready a

feast; for truly it is no bad thing to take meat in

season.'

Even so he spake, and they rose up and departed, and were

obedient to his word. Now when they were come into the

fair-lying house, they laid aside their mantles on the

chairs and high seats, and they sacrificed great sheep and

stout goats, yea, and the fatlings of the boars and an

heifer of the herd, and got ready the feast.

Now all this while Odysseus and the goodly swineherd were

bestirring them to go from the field to the city; and the

swineherd, a master of men, spake first saying:

'Well, my friend, forasmuch as I see thou art eager to be

going to the city to-day, even as my master gave command;--

though myself I would well that thou shouldest be left here

to keep the steading, but I hold him in reverence and fear,

lest he chide me afterwards, and grievous are the rebukes

of masters--come then, let us go on our way, for lo, the

day is far spent, and soon wilt thou find it colder toward

evening.'

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'I

mark, I heed: all this thou speakest to one with

understanding. But let us be going, and be thou my guide

withal to the end. And if thou hast anywhere a staff ready

cut, give it me to lean upon, for truly ye said that

slippery was the way.'

Therewith he cast about his shoulders a mean scrip, all

tattered, and a cord withal to hang it, and Eumaeus gave

him a staff to his mind. So these twain went on their way,

and the dogs and the herdsmen stayed behind to guard the

steading. And the swineherd led his lord to the city in the

guise of a beggar, a wretched man and an old, leaning on a

staff; and sorry was the raiment wherewith he was clothed

upon. But as they fared along the rugged path they drew

near to the town, and came to the fair flowing spring, with

a basin fashioned, whence the people of the city drew

water. This well Ithacus and Neritus and Polyctor had

builded. And around it was a thicket of alders that grow by

the waters, all circlewise, and down the cold stream fell

from a rock on high, and above was reared an altar to the

Nymphs, whereat all wayfarers made offering. In that place

Melanthius, son of Dolius, met them, leading his goats to

feast the wooers, the best goats that were in all the

herds; and two herdsmen bare him company. Now when he saw

them he reviled them, and spake and hailed them, in

terrible and evil fashion, and stirred the heart of

Odysseus, saying:

'Now in very truth the vile is leading the vile, for god

brings ever like to like! Say, whither art thou leading

this glutton,--thou wretched swineherd,--this plaguy

beggar, a kill-joy of the feast? He is one to stand about

and rub his shoulders against many doorposts, begging for

scraps of meat, not for swords or cauldrons. If thou

wouldst give me the fellow to watch my steading and sweep

out the stalls, and carry fresh fodder to the kids, then he

might drink whey and get him a stout thigh. Howbeit, since

he is practised only in evil, he will not care to betake

him to the labour of the farm, but rather chooses to go

louting through the land asking alms to fill his insatiate

belly. But now I will speak out and my word shall surely be

accomplished. If ever he fares to the house of divine

Odysseus, many a stool that men's hands hurl shall fly

about his head, and break upon his ribs, {*} as they pelt

him through the house.'

{* Reading [Greek]}

Therewith, as he went past, he kicked Odysseus on the hip,

in his witlessness, yet he drave him not from the path, but

he abode steadfast. And Odysseus pondered whether he should

rush upon him and take away his life with the staff, or

lift him in his grasp {*} and smite his head to the earth.

Yet he hardened his heart to endure and refrained himself.

And the swineherd looked at the other and rebuked him, and

lifting up his hands prayed aloud:

{* [Greek] is perhaps best taken as an adverb in [Greek]

formed from [Greek], though some letters of the word are

still left obscure. Most modern commentators, however,

derive it from [Greek] and [Greek] 'near the ground; hence,

in this context, 'lift him by the feet.'}

'Nymphs of the well-water, daughters of Zeus, if ever

Odysseus burned on your altars pieces of the thighs of rams

or kids, in their covering of rich fat, fulfil for me this

wish:--oh that he, even he, may come home, and that some

god may bring him! Then would he scatter all thy bravery,

which now thou flauntest insolently, wandering ever about

the city, while evil shepherds destroy the flock.'

Then Melanthius, the goatherd, answered: 'Lo now, what a

word has this evil-witted dog been saying! Some day I will

take him in a black decked ship far from Ithaca, that he

may bring me in much livelihood. Would God that Apollo, of

the silver bow, might smite Telemachus to-day in the halls,

or that he might fall before the wooers, so surely as for

Odysseus the day of returning has in a far land gone by!'

So he spake and left them there as they walked slowly on.

But Melanthius stepped forth, and came very speedily to the

house of the prince, and straightway he went in and sat

down among the wooers, over against Eurymachus, who chiefly

showed him kindness. And they that ministered set by him a

portion of flesh, and the grave dame brought wheaten bread

and set it by him to eat. Now Odysseus and the goodly

swineherd drew near and stood by, and the sound of the

hollow lyre rang around them, for Phemius was lifting up

his voice amid the company in song, and Odysseus caught the

swineherd by the hand, and spake, saying:

'Eumaeus, verily this is the fair house of Odysseus, and

right easily might it be known and marked even among many.

There is building beyond building, and the court of the

house is cunningly wrought with a wall and battlements, and

well-fenced are the folding doors; no man may hold it in

disdain. And I see that many men keep revel within, for the

savour of the fat rises upward, {*} and the voice of the

lyre is heard there, which the gods have made to be the

mate of the feast.'

{* Reading [Greek]}

Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Easily

thou knowest it, for indeed thou never lackest

understanding. But come, let us advise us, how things shall

fall out here. Either do thou go first within the

fair-lying halls, and join the company of the wooers, so

will I remain here, or if thou wilt, abide here, and I will

go before thy face, and tarry not long, lest one see thee

without, and hurl at thee or strike thee. Look well to

this, I bid thee.'

Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, saying: 'I

mark, I heed, all this thou speakest to one with

understanding. Do thou then go before me, and I will remain

here, for well I know what it is to be smitten and hurled

at. My heart is full of hardiness, for much evil have I

suffered in perils of waves and war; let this be added to

the tale of those. But a ravening belly may none conceal, a

thing accursed, that works much ill for men. For this cause

too the benched ships are furnished, that bear mischief to

foemen over the unharvested seas.'

Thus they spake one to the other. And lo, a hound raised up

his head and pricked his ears, even where he lay, Argos,

the hound of Odysseus, of the hardy heart, which of old

himself had bred, but had got no joy of him, for ere that,

he went to sacred Ilios. Now in time past the young men

used to lead the hound against wild goats and deer and

hares; but as then, despised he lay (his master being afar)

in the deep dung of mules and kine, whereof an ample bed

was spread before the doors, till the thralls of Odysseus

should carry it away to dung therewith his wide demesne.

There lay the dog Argos, full of vermin. Yet even now when

he was ware of Odysseus standing by, he wagged his tail and

dropped both his ears, but nearer to his master he had not

now the strength to draw. But Odysseus looked aside and

wiped away a tear that he easily hid from Eumaeus, and

straightway he asked him, saying:

'Eumaeus, verily this is a great marvel, this hound lying

here in the dung. Truly he is goodly of growth, but I know

not certainly if he have speed with this beauty, or if he

be comely only, like as are men's trencher dogs that their

lords keep for the pleasure of the eye.'

Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'In very

truth this is the dog of a man that has died in a far land.

If he were what once he was in limb and in the feats of the

chase, when Odysseus left him to go to Troy, soon wouldst

thou marvel at the sight of his swiftness and his strength.

There was no beast that could flee from him in the deep

places of the wood, when he was in pursuit; for even on a

track he was the keenest hound. But now he is holden in an

evil case, and his lord hath perished far from his own

country, and the careless women take no charge of him. Nay,

thralls are no more inclined to honest service when their

masters have lost the dominion, for Zeus, of the far-borne

voice, takes away the half of a man's virtue, when the day

of slavery comes upon him.'

Therewith he passed within the fair-lying house, and went

straight to the hall, to the company of the proud wooers.

But upon Argos came the fate of black death even in the

hour that he beheld Odysseus again, in the twentieth year.

Now godlike Telemachus was far the first to behold the

swineherd as he came into the hall, and straightway then he

beckoned and called him to his side. So Eumaeus looked

about and took a settle that lay by him, where the carver

was wont to sit dividing much flesh among the wooers that

were feasting in the house. This seat he carried and set by

the table of Telemachus over against him, and there sat

down himself. And the henchman took a mess and served it

him, and wheaten bread out of the basket.

And close behind him Odysseus entered the house in the

guise of a beggar, a wretched man and an old, leaning on

his staff, and clothed on with sorry raiment. And he sat

down on the ashen threshold within the doorway, leaning

against a pillar of cypress wood, which the carpenter on a

time had deftly planed, and thereon made straight the line.

And Telemachus called the swineherd to him, and took a

whole loaf out of the fair basket, and of flesh so much as

his hands could hold in their grasp, saying:

'Take and give this to the stranger, and bid him go about

and beg himself of all the wooers in their turn, for shame

is an ill mate of a needy man.'

So he spake, and the swineherd went when he heard that

saying, and stood by and spake to him winged words:

'Stranger, Telemachus gives thee these and bids thee go

about and beg of all the wooers in their turn, for, he

says, "shame ill becomes a beggar man."'

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him and said: 'King

Zeus, grant me that Telemachus may be happy among men, and

may he have all his heart's desire!'

Therewith he took the gift in both hands, and set it there

before his feet on his unsightly scrip. Then he ate meat so

long as the minstrel was singing in the halls. When he had

done supper, and the divine minstrel was ending his song,

then the wooers raised a clamour through the halls; but

Athene stood by Odysseus, son of Laertes, and moved him to

go gathering morsels of bread among the wooers, and learn

which were righteous and which unjust. Yet not even so was

she fated to redeem one man of them from an evil doom. So

he set out, beginning on the right, to ask of each man,

stretching out his hand on every side, as though he were a

beggar from of old. And they in pity gave him somewhat, and

were amazed at the man, asking one another who he was and

whence he came?

Then Melanthius, the goatherd, spake among them:

'Listen, ye wooers of the renowned queen, concerning this

stranger, for verily I have seen him before. The swineherd

truly was his guide hither, but of him I have no certain

knowledge, whence he avows him to be born.'

So spake he, but Antinous rebuked the swineherd, saying:

'Oh notorious swineherd, wherefore, I pray thee, didst thou

bring this man to the city? Have we not vagrants enough

besides, plaguy beggars, kill-joys of the feast? Dost thou

count it a light thing that they assemble here and devour

the living of thy master, but thou must needs {*} call in

this man too?'

{* [Greek] can hardly have a local meaning here. If

retained, it must be nearly equivalent to [Greek], 'it

seems,' with a touch of irony. Cf. i.348. The v. 1. [Greek]

is a simpler reading, but by no means certain.}

Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Antinous,

no fair words are these of thine, noble though thou art.

For who ever himself seeks out and bids to the feast a

stranger from afar, save only one of those that are

craftsmen of the people, a prophet or a healer of ills, or

a shipwright or even a godlike minstrel, who can delight

all with his song? Nay, these are the men that are welcome

over all the wide earth. But none would call a beggar to

the banquet, to waste his substance. But thou art ever hard

above all the other wooers to the servants of Odysseus,

and, beyond all, to me; but behold, I care not, so long as

my mistress, the constant Penelope, lives in the halls and

godlike Telemachus.'

Then wise Telemachus answered him, saying: 'Be silent,

answer him not, I pray thee, with many words, for Antinous

is wont ever to chide us shamefully with bitter speech,

yea, and urges the others thereto.'

Therewithal he spake winged words to Antinous: 'Antinous,

verily thou hast a good care for me, as it were a father

for his son, thou that biddest me drive our guest from the

hall with a harsh command. God forbid that such a thing

should be! Take somewhat and give it him: lo, I grudge it

not; nay, I charge thee to do it. And herein regard not my

mother, nor any of the thralls that are in the house of

divine Odysseus. Nay, but thou hast no such thought in thy

heart, for thou art far more fain to eat thyself than to

give to another.'

Then Antinous answered him and spake, saying: 'Telemachus,

proud of speech, and unrestrained in fury, what word hast

thou spoken? If all the wooers should vouchsafe him as much

as I, this house would keep him far enough aloof even for

three months' space.'

So he spake, and seized the footstool whereon he rested his

sleek feet as he sat at the feast, and showed it from

beneath the table where it lay. But all the others gave

somewhat and filled the wallet with bread and flesh; yea,

and even now, Odysseus as he returned to the threshold, was

like to escape scot free, making trial of the Achaeans, but

he halted by Antinous, and spake to him, saying:

'Friend, give me somewhat; for methinks thou art not the

basest of the Achaeans, but the best man of them all, for

thou art like a king. Wherefore thou shouldest give me a

portion of bread, and that a better than the others; so

would I make thee renowned over all the wide earth. 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 thralls out of number,

and all else in plenty, wherewith 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,--who sent me

with wandering sea-robbers to go to Egypt, a far road, to

my ruin. And in the river Aegyptus I stayed my curved

ships. Then verily I bade my loved companions to abide

there by the ships, and to guard the ship, and I sent forth

scouts to range the points of outlook. Now they gave place

to wantonness, being the fools of their own force, and soon

they fell to wasting the fields of the Egyptians, exceeding

fair, and carried away their wives and infant children, and

slew the men. And the cry came quickly to the city, and the

people heard the shout and came forth at the breaking of

the day; and all the plain was filled with footmen and

horsemen and with the glitter of bronze. And Zeus, whose

joy is in the thunder, sent an evil panic upon my company,

and none durst stand and face the foe: for danger

encompassed us on every side. There they slew many of us

with the edge of the sword, and others they led up with

them alive to work for them perforce. But they gave me to a

friend who met them, to take to Cyprus, even to Dmetor son

of Iasus, who ruled mightily over Cyprus; and thence,

behold, am I now come hither in sore distress.'

Then Antinous answered, and spake, saying: 'What god hath

brought this plague hither to trouble the feast? Stand

forth thus in the midst, away from my table, lest thou come

soon to a bitter Egypt and a sad Cyprus; for a bold beggar

art thou and a shameless. Thou standest by all in turn and

recklessly they give to thee, for they hold not their hand

nor feel any ruth in giving freely of others' goods, for

that each man has plenty by him.'

Then Odysseus of many counsels drew back and answered him:

'Lo now, I see thou hast not wisdom with thy beauty! From

out of thine own house thou wouldest not give even so much

as a grain of salt to thy suppliant, thou who now even at

another's board dost sit, and canst not find it in thy

heart to take of the bread and give it me, where there is

plenty to thy hand.'

He spake, and Antinous was mightily angered at heart, and

looked fiercely on him and spake winged words:

'Henceforth, methinks, thou shalt not get thee out with

honour from the hall, seeing thou dost even rail upon me.'

Therewith he caught up the foot-stool and smote Odysseus at

the base of the right shoulder by the back. But he stood

firm as a rock, nor reeled he beneath the blow of Antinous,

but shook his head in silence, brooding evil in the deep of

his heart. Then he went back to the threshold, and sat him

there, and laid down his well-filled scrip, and spake among

the wooers:

'Hear me, ye wooers of the renowned queen, and I will say

what my spirit within me bids me. Verily there is neither

pain nor grief of heart, when a man is smitten in battle

fighting for his own possessions, whether cattle or white

sheep. But now Antinous hath stricken me for my wretched

belly's sake, a thing accursed, that works much ill for

men. Ah, if indeed there be gods and Avengers of beggars,

may the issues of death come upon Antinous before his

wedding!'

Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, answered him: 'Sit and eat

thy meat in quiet, stranger, or get thee elsewhere, lest

the young men drag thee by hand or foot through the house

for thy evil words, and strip all thy flesh from off thee.'

Even so he spake, and they were all exceeding wroth at his

word. And on this wise would one of the lordly young men

speak:

'Antinous, thou didst ill to strike the hapless wanderer,

doomed man that thou art,--if indeed there be a god in

heaven. Yea and the gods, in the likeness of strangers from

far countries, put on all manner of shapes, and wander

through the cities, beholding the violence and the

righteousness of men.'

So the wooers spake, but he heeded not their words. Now

Telemachus nursed in his heart a mighty grief at the

smiting of Odysseus, yet he let no tear fall from his

eyelids to the ground, but shook his head in silence,

brooding evil in the deep of his heart.

Now when wise Penelope heard of the stranger being smitten

in the halls, she spake among her maidens, saying:

'Oh that Apollo, the famed archer, may so smite thee

thyself, Antinous!'

And the house-dame, Eurynome, answered her, saying: 'Oh

that we might win fulfilment of our prayers! So should not

one of these men come to the fair-throned Dawn.'

And wise Penelope answered her: 'Nurse, they are all

enemies, for they all devise evil continually, but of them

all Antinous is the most like to black fate. Some hapless

stranger is roaming about the house, begging alms of the

men, as his need bids him; and all the others filled his

wallet and gave him somewhat, but Antinous smote him at the

base of the right shoulder with a stool.'

So she spake among her maidens, sitting in her chamber,

while goodly Odysseus was at meat. Then she called to her

the goodly swineherd and spake, saying:

'Go thy way, goodly Eumaeus, and bid the stranger come

hither, that I may speak him a word of greeting, and ask

him if haply he has heard tidings of Odysseus of the hardy

heart, or seen him with his eyes; for he seems like one

that has wandered far.'

Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Queen, oh

that the Achaeans would hold their peace! so would he charm

thy very heart, such things doth he say. For I kept him

three nights and three days I held him in the steading, for

to me he came first when he fled from the ship, yet he had

not made an end of the tale of his affliction. Even as when

a man gazes on a singer, whom the gods have taught to sing

words of yearning joy to mortals, and they have a ceaseless

desire to hear him, so long as he will sing; even so he

charmed me, sitting by me in the halls. He says that he is

a friend of Odysseus and of his house, one that dwells in

Crete, where is the race of Minos. Thence he has come

hither even now, with sorrow by the way, onward and yet

onward wandering; and he stands to it that he has heard

tidings of Odysseus nigh at hand and yet alive in the fat

land of the men of Thesprotia; and he is bringing many

treasures to his home.'

Then wise Penelope answered him, saying: 'Go, call him

hither, that he may speak to me face to face. But let these

men sit in the doorway and take their pleasure, or even

here in the house, since their heart is glad. For their own

wealth lies unspoiled at home, bread and sweet wine, and

thereon do their servants feed. But they resorting to our

house day by day sacrifice oxen and sheep and fat goats,

and keep revel and drink the dark wine recklessly; and, lo,

our great wealth is wasted, for there is no man now alive,

such as Odysseus was, to keep ruin from the house. Oh, if

Odysseus might come again to his own country; soon would he

and his son avenge the violence of these men!'

Even so she spake, and Telemachus sneezed loudly, and

around the roof rang wondrously. And Penelope laughed, and

straightway spake to Eumaeus winged words:

'Go, call me the stranger, even so, into my presence. Dost

thou not mark how my son has sneezed a blessing on all my

words? Wherefore no half-wrought doom shall befal the

wooers every one, nor shall any avoid death and the fates.

Yet another thing will I say, and do thou ponder it in thy

heart. If I shall find that he himself speaks nought but

truth, I will clothe him with a mantle and a doublet,

goodly raiment.'

So she spake, and the swineherd departed when he heard that

saying, and stood by the stranger and spake winged words:

'Father and stranger, wise Penelope, the mother of

Telemachus, is calling for thee, and her mind bids her

inquire as touching her lord, albeit she has sorrowed much

already. And if she shall find that thou dost speak nought

but truth, she will clothe thee in a mantle and a doublet,

whereof thou standest most in need. Moreover thou shalt beg

thy bread through the land and shalt fill thy belly, and

whosoever will, shall give to thee.'

Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, saying:

'Eumaeus, soon would I tell all the truth to the daughter

of Icarius, wise Penelope, for well I know his story, and

we have borne our travail together. But I tremble before

the throng of the froward wooers, whose outrage and

violence reach even to the iron heaven. For even now, as I

was going through the house, when this man struck and

pained me sore, and that for no ill deed, neither

Telemachus nor any other kept off the blow. Wherefore now,

bid Penelope tarry in the chambers, for all her eagerness,

till the going down of the sun, and then let her ask me

concerning her lord, as touching the day of his returning,

and let her give me a seat yet nearer to the fire, for

behold, I have sorry raiment, and thou knowest it thyself,

since I made my supplication first to thee.'

Even so he spake, and the swineherd departed when he heard

that saying. And as he crossed the threshold Penelope spake

to him:

'Thou bringest him not, Eumaeus: what means the wanderer

hereby? Can it be that he fears some one out of measure, or

is he even ashamed of tarrying in the house? A shamefaced

man makes a bad beggar.'

Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'He speaks

aright, and but as another would deem, in that he shuns the

outrage of overweening men. Rather would he have thee wait

till the going down of the sun. Yea, and it is far meeter

for thyself, O queen, to utter thy word to the stranger

alone, and to listen to his speech.'

Then the wise Penelope answered: 'Not witless is the

stranger; even as he deems, so it well may be. {*} For

there are no mortal men, methinks, so wanton as these, and

none that devise such infatuate deeds.'

{* Placing at colon at [Greek], and reading [Greek] (cf.

xix.312).}

So she spake, and the goodly swineherd departed into the

throng of the wooers, when he had showed her all his

message. And straightway he spake to Telemachus winged

words, holding his head close to him, that the others might

not hear:

'Friend, I am going hence to look after thy swine and the

things of the farm, thy livelihood and mine; but do thou

take charge of all that is here. Yet first look to thyself

and take heed that no evil comes nigh thee, for many of the

Achaeans have ill will against us, whom may Zeus confound

before their mischief falls on us!'

And wise Telemachus answered him, and said: 'Even so shall

it be, father; and do thou get thee on thy way, when thou

hast supped. And in the morning come again, and bring fair

victims for sacrifice. And all these matters will be a care

to me and to the deathless gods.'

Thus he spake, and the other sat down again on the polished

settle; and when he had satisfied his heart with meat and

drink, he went on his way to the swine, leaving the courts

and the hall full of feasters; and they were making merry

with dance and song, for already it was close on eventide.

Read next: Book XVIII

Read previous: Book XVI

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