Book XIV

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Odysseus, in the form of a beggar, goes to Eumaeus, the

master of his swine, where he is well used and tells a

feigned story, and informs himself of the behaviour of the

wooers.

But Odysseus fared forth from the haven by the rough track,

up the wooded country and through the heights, where Athene

had showed him that he should find the goodly swineherd,

who cared most for his substance of all the thralls that

goodly Odysseus had gotten.

Now he found him sitting at the vestibule of the house,

where his courtyard was builded high, in a place with wide

prospect; a great court it was and a fair, with free range

round it. This the swineherd had builded by himself for the

swine of his lord who was afar, and his mistress and the

old man Laertes knew not of it. With stones from the quarry

had he builded it, and coped it with a fence of white

thorn, and he had split an oak to the dark core, and

without he had driven stakes the whole length thereof on

either side, set thick and close; and within the courtyard

he made twelve styes hard by one another to be beds for the

swine, and in each stye fifty grovelling swine were penned,

brood swine; but the boars slept without. Now these were

far fewer in number, the godlike wooers minishing them at

their feasts, for the swineherd ever sent in the best of

all the fatted hogs. And their tale was three hundred and

three-score. And by them always slept four dogs, as fierce

as wild beasts, which the swineherd had bred, a master of

men. Now he was fitting sandals to his feet, cutting a good

brown oxhide, while the rest of his fellows, three in all,

were abroad this way and that, with the droves of swine;

while the fourth he had sent to the city to take a boar to

the proud wooers, as needs he must, that they might

sacrifice it and satisfy their soul with flesh.

And of a sudden the baying dogs saw Odysseus, and they ran

at him yelping, but Odysseus in his wariness sat him down,

and let the staff fall from his hand. There by his own

homestead would he have suffered foul hurt, but the

swineherd with quick feet hasted after them, and sped

through the outer door, and let the skin fall from his

hand. And the hounds he chid and drave them this way and

that, with a shower of stones, and he spake unto his lord,

saying:

'Old man, truly the dogs went nigh to be the death of thee

all of a sudden, so shouldest thou have brought shame on

me. Yea, and the gods have given me other pains and griefs

enough. Here I sit, mourning and sorrowing for my godlike

lord, and foster the fat swine for others to eat, while he

craving, perchance, for food, wanders over some land and

city of men of a strange speech, if haply he yet lives and

beholds the sunlight. But come with me, let us to the inner

steading, old man, that when thy heart is satisfied with

bread and wine, thou too mayest tell thy tale and declare

whence thou art, and how many woes thou hast endured.'

Therewith the goodly swineherd led him to the steading, and

took him in and set him down, and strewed beneath him thick

brushwood, and spread thereon the hide of a shaggy wild

goat, wide and soft, which served himself for a mattress.

And Odysseus rejoiced that he had given him such welcome,

and spake and hailed him:

'May Zeus, O stranger, and all the other deathless gods

grant thee thy dearest wish, since thou hast received me

heartily!'

Then, O swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou answer him, saying:

'Guest of mine, it were an impious thing for me to slight a

stranger, even if there came a meaner man than thou; for

from Zeus are all strangers and beggars; and a little gift

from such as we, is dear; for this is the way with thralls,

who are ever in fear when young lords like ours bear rule

over them. For surely the gods have stayed the returning of

my master, who would have loved me diligently, and given me

somewhat of my own, a house and a parcel of ground, and a

comely {*} wife, such as a kind lord gives to his man, who

hath laboured much for him and the work of whose hands God

hath likewise increased, even as he increaseth this work of

mine whereat I abide. Therefore would my lord have rewarded

me greatly, had he grown old at home. But he hath perished,

as I would that all the stock of Helen had perished

utterly, forasmuch as she hath caused the loosening of many

a man's knees. For he too departed to Ilios of the goodly

steeds, to get atonement for Agamemnon, that so he might

war with the Trojans.'

{* Reading [Greek]}

Therewith he quickly bound up his doublet with his girdle,

and went his way to the styes, where the tribes of the

swine were penned. Thence he took and brought forth two,

and sacrificed them both, and singed them and cut them

small, and spitted them. And when he had roasted all, he

bare and set it by Odysseus, all hot as it was upon the

spits, and he sprinkled thereupon white barley-meal. Then

in a bowl of ivywood he mixed the honey-sweet wine, and

himself sat over against him and bade him fall to:

'Eat now, stranger, such fare as thralls have to hand, even

flesh of sucking pigs; but the fatted hogs the wooers

devour, for they know not the wrath of the gods nor any

pity. Verily the blessed gods love not froward deeds, but

they reverence justice and the righteous acts of men. Yet

even foes and men unfriendly, that land on a strange coast,

and Zeus grants them a prey, and they have laden their

ships and depart for home; yea, even on their hearts falls

strong fear of the wrath of the gods. But lo you, these men

know somewhat,--for they have heard an utterance of a god

--, even the tidings of our lord's evil end, seeing that

they are not minded justly to woo, nor to go back to their

own, but at ease they devour our wealth with insolence, and

now there is no sparing. For every day and every night that

comes from Zeus, they make sacrifice not of one victim

only, nor of two, and wine they draw and waste it

riotously. For surely his livelihood was great past

telling, no lord in the dark mainland had so much, nor any

in Ithaca itself; nay, not twenty men together have wealth

so great, and I will tell thee the sum thereof. Twelve

herds of kine upon the mainland, as many flocks of sheep,

as many droves of swine, as many ranging herds of goats,

that his own shepherds and strangers pasture. And ranging

herds of goats, eleven in all, graze here by the extremity

of the island with trusty men to watch them. And day by day

each man of these ever drives one of the flock to the

wooers, whichsoever seems the best of the fatted goats. But

as for me I guard and keep these swine and I choose out for

them, as well as I may, the best of the swine and send it

hence.'

So spake he, but Odysseus ceased not to eat flesh and drink

wine right eagerly and in silence, and the while was sowing

the seeds of evil for the wooers. Now when he had well

eaten and comforted his heart with food, then the herdsman

filled him the bowl out of which he was wont himself to

drink, and he gave it him brimming with wine, and he took

it and was glad at heart, and uttering his voice spake to

him winged words:

'My friend, who was it then that bought thee with his

wealth, a man so exceedingly rich and mighty as thou

declarest? Thou saidest that he perished to get atonement

for Agamemnon; tell me, if perchance I may know him, being

such an one as thou sayest. For Zeus, methinks, and the

other deathless gods know whether I may bring tidings of

having seen him; for I have wandered far.'

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

man, no wanderer who may come hither and bring tidings of

him can win the ear of his wife and his dear son; but

lightly do vagrants lie when they need entertainment, and

care not to tell truth. Whosoever comes straying to the

land of Ithaca, goes to my mistress and speaks words of

guile. And she receives him kindly and lovingly and

inquires of all things, and the tears fall from her eyelids

for weeping, as is meet for a woman when her lord hath died

afar. And quickly enough wouldst thou too, old man, forge a

tale, if any would but give thee a mantle and a doublet for

raiment. But as for him, dogs and swift fowls are like

already to have torn his skin from the bones, and his

spirit hath left him. Or the fishes have eaten him in the

deep, and there lie his bones swathed in sand-drift on the

shore. Yonder then hath he perished, but for his friends

nought is ordained but care, for all, but for me in chief.

For never again shall I find a lord so gentle, how far

soever I may go, not though again I attain unto the house

of my father and my mother, where at first I was born, and

they nourished me themselves and with their own hands they

reared me. Nor henceforth it is not for these that I sorrow

so much, though I long to behold them with mine eyes in

mine own country, but desire comes over me for Odysseus who

is afar. His name, stranger, even though he is not here, it

shameth me to speak, for he loved me exceedingly, and cared

for me at heart; nay, I call him "worshipful," albeit he is

far hence.'

Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus spake to him again: 'My

friend, forasmuch as thou gainsayest utterly, and sayest

that henceforth he will not come again, and thine heart is

ever slow to believe, therefore will I tell thee not

lightly but with an oath, that Odysseus shall return. And

let me have the wages of good tidings as soon as ever he in

his journeying shall come hither to his home. Then clothe

me in a mantle and a doublet, goodly raiment. But ere that,

albeit I am sore in need I will not take aught, for hateful

to me even as the gates of hell, is that man, who under

stress of poverty speaks words of guile. Now be Zeus my

witness before any god, and the hospitable board 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 shall he return to his

home, and shall take vengeance on all who here dishonour

his wife and noble son.'

Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Old man,

it is not I then, that shall ever pay thee these wages of

good tidings, nor henceforth shall Odysseus ever come to

his home. Nay drink in peace, and let us turn our thoughts

to other matters, and bring not these to my remembrance,

for surely my heart within me is sorrowful whenever any man

puts me in mind of my true lord. But as for thine oath, we

will let it go by; yet, oh that Odysseus may come according

to my desire, and the desire of Penelope and of that old

man Laertes and godlike Telemachus! But now I make a

comfortless lament for the boy begotten of Odysseus, even

for Telemachus. When the gods had reared him like a young

sapling, and I thought that he would be no worse man among

men than his dear father, glorious in form and face, some

god or some man marred his good wits within him, and he

went to fair Pylos after tidings of his sire. And now the

lordly wooers lie in wait for him on his way home, that the

race of godlike Arceisius may perish nameless out of

Ithaca. Howbeit, no more of him now, whether he shall be

taken or whether he shall escape, and Cronion stretch out

his hand to shield him. But come, old man, do thou tell me

of thine own troubles. And herein tell me true, that I may

surely know. Who art thou of the sons of men, and whence?

Where is thy city, where are they that begat thee? Say on

what manner of ship didst thou come, and how did sailors

bring thee to Ithaca, and who did they avow them to be? For

in nowise do I deem that thou camest hither by land.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'Yea

now, I will tell thee all most plainly. Might we have food

and sweet wine enough to last for long, while we abide

within thy hut to feast thereon in quiet, and others betake

them to their work; then could I easily speak for a whole

year, nor yet make a full end of telling all the troubles

of my spirit, all the travail I have wrought by the will of

the gods.

'I avow that I come by lineage from wide Crete, and am the

son of a wealthy man. And many other sons he had born and

bred in the halls, lawful born of a wedded wife; but the

mother that bare me was a concubine bought with a price.

Yet Castor son of Hylax, of whose blood I avow me to be,

gave me no less honour than his lawful sons. Now he at the

time got worship even as a god from the Cretans in the

land, for wealth and riches and sons renowned. Howbeit the

fates of death bare him away to the house of Hades, and his

gallant sons divided among them his living and cast lots

for it. But to me they gave a very small gift and assigned

me a dwelling, and I took unto me a wife, the daughter of

men that had wide lands, by reason of my valour, for that I

was no weakling nor a dastard; but now all my might has

failed me, yet even so I deem that thou mightest guess from

seeing the stubble what the grain has been, for of trouble

I have plenty and to spare. But then verily did Ares and

Athene give me boldness and courage to hurl through the

press of men, whensoever I chose the best warriors for an

ambush, sowing the seeds of evil for my foes; no boding of

death was ever in my lordly heart, but I would leap out the

foremost and slay with the spear whoso of my foes was less

fleet of foot than I. Such an one was I in war, but the

labour of the field I never loved, nor home-keeping thrift,

that breeds brave children, but galleys with their oars

were dear to me, and wars and polished shafts and darts--

baneful things whereat others use to shudder. But that,

methinks, was dear to me which the god put in my heart, for

divers men take delight in divers deeds. For ere ever the

sons of the Achaeans had set foot on the land of Troy, I

had nine times been a leader of men and of swift-faring

ships against a strange people, and wealth fell ever to my

hands. Of the booty I would choose out for me all that I

craved, and much thereafter I won by lot. So my house got

increase speedily, and thus I waxed dread and honourable

among the Cretans. But when Zeus, of the far-borne voice,

devised at the last that hateful path which loosened the

knees of many a man in death, then the people called on me

and on renowned Idomeneus to lead the ships to Ilios, nor

was there any way whereby to refuse, for the people's voice

bore hard upon us. There we sons of the Achaeans warred for

nine whole years, and then in the tenth year we sacked the

city of Priam, and departed homeward with our ships, and a

god scattered the Achaeans. But Zeus, the counsellor,

devised mischief against me, wretched man that I was! For

one month only I abode and had joy in my children and my

wedded wife, and all that I had; and thereafter my spirit

bade me fit out ships in the best manner and sail to Egypt

with my godlike company. Nine ships I fitted out and the

host was gathered quickly; and then for six days my dear

company feasted, and I gave them many victims that they

might sacrifice to the gods and prepare a feast for

themselves. But on the seventh day we set sail from wide

Crete, with a North Wind fresh and fair, and lightly we ran

as it were down stream, yea and no harm came to any ship of

mine, but we sat safe and hale, while the wind and the

pilots guided the barques. And on the fifth day we came to

the fair-flowing Aegyptus, and in the river Aegyptus I

stayed my curved ships. Then verily I bade my dear

companions to abide there by the ships and to guard them,

and I sent forth scouts to range the points of outlook. But

my men 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 led away their wives and

infant children and slew the men. And the cry came quickly

to the city, and the people hearing the shout came forth at

the breaking of the day, and all the plain was filled with

footmen and chariots 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 as for me,

Zeus himself put a thought into my heart; would to God that

I had rather died, and met my fate there in Egypt, for

sorrow was still mine host! Straightway I put off my

well-wrought helmet from my head, and the shield from off

my shoulders, and I cast away my spear from my hand, and I

came over against the chariots of the king, and clasped and

kissed his knees, and he saved me and delivered me, and

setting me on his own chariot took me weeping to his home.

Truly many an one made at me with their ashen spears, eager

to slay me, for verily they were sore angered. But the king

kept them off and had respect unto the wrath of Zeus, the

god of strangers, who chiefly hath displeasure at evil

deeds. So for seven whole years I abode with their king,

and gathered much substance among the Egyptians, for they

all gave me gifts. But when the eighth year came in due

season, there arrived a Phoenician practised in deceit, a

greedy knave, who had already done much mischief among men.

He wrought on me with his cunning, and took me with him

until he came to Phoenicia, where was his house and where

his treasures lay. There I abode with him for the space of

a full year. But when now the months and days were

fulfilled, as the year came round and the seasons returned,

he set me aboard a seafaring ship for Libya, under colour

as though I was to convey a cargo thither with him, but his

purpose was to sell me in Libya, and get a great price. So

I went with him on board, perforce, yet boding evil. And

the ship ran before a North Wind fresh and fair, through

the mid sea over above Crete, and Zeus contrived the

destruction of the crew. But when we left Crete, and no

land showed in sight but sky and sea only, even then the

son of Cronos stayed a dark cloud over the hollow ship, and

the deep grew dark beneath it. And in the same moment Zeus

thundered and smote his bolt into the ship, and she reeled

all over being stricken by the bolt of Zeus, and was filled

with fire and brimstone, and all the crew fell overboard.

And like sea-gulls they were borne hither and thither on

the waves about the black ship, and the god cut off their

return. But in this hour of my affliction Zeus himself put

into my hands the huge mast of the dark-prowed ship, that

even yet I might escape from harm. So I clung round the

mast and was borne by the ruinous winds. For nine days was

I borne, and on the tenth black night the great rolling

wave brought me nigh to the land of the Thesprotians. There

the king of the Thesprotians, the lord Pheidon, took me in

freely, for his dear son lighted on me and raised me by the

hand and led me to his house, foredone with toil and the

keen air, till he came to his father's palace. And he

clothed me in a mantle and a doublet for raiment.

'There I heard tidings of Odysseus, for the king told me

that he had entertained him, and kindly entreated him on

his way to his own country; and he showed me all the wealth

that Odysseus had gathered, bronze and gold and

well-wrought iron; 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. 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

the fat land of Ithaca after long absence, whether openly

or by stealth. 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 ere that,

he sent me off, for it chanced that a ship of the

Thesprotians was starting for Dulichium, a land rich in

grain. Thither he bade them bring me with all diligence to

the king Acastus. But an evil counsel concerning me found

favour in their sight, that even yet I might reach the

extremity of sorrow. When the seafaring ship had sailed a

great way from the land, anon they sought how they might

compass for me the day of slavery. They stript me of my

garments, my mantle and a doublet, and changed my raiment

to a vile wrap and doublet, tattered garments, even those

thou seest now before thee; and in the evening they reached

the fields of clear-seen Ithaca. There in the decked ship

they bound me closely with a twisted rope, and themselves

went ashore, and hasted to take supper by the sea-banks.

Meanwhile the gods themselves lightly unclasped my bands,

and muffling my head with the wrap I slid down the smooth

lading-plank, and set my breast to the sea and rowed hard

with both hands as I swam, and very soon I was out of the

water and beyond their reach. Then I went up where there

was a thicket, a wood in full leaf, and lay there

crouching. And they went hither and thither making great

moan; but when now it seemed to them little avail to go

further on their quest, they departed back again aboard

their hollow ship. And the gods themselves hid me easily

and brought me nigh to the homestead of a wise man; for

still, methinks, I am ordained to live on.'

Then didst thou make answer to him, swineherd Eumaeus: 'Ah!

wretched guest, verily thou hast stirred my heart with the

tale of all these things, of thy sufferings and thy

wanderings. Yet herein, methinks, thou speakest not aright,

and never shalt thou persuade me with the tale about

Odysseus; why should one in thy plight lie vainly? Well I

know of mine own self, as touching my lord's return, that

he was utterly hated by all the gods, in that they smote

him not among the Trojans nor in the arms of his friends,

when he had wound up the clew of war. So should the whole

Achaean host have builded him a barrow; yea and for his son

would he have won great glory in the after days; but now

all ingloriously the spirits of the storm have snatched him

away. But as for me I dwell apart by the swine and go not

to the city, unless perchance wise Penelope summons me

thither, when tidings of my master are brought I know not

whence. Now all the people sit round and straitly question

the news-bearer, both such as grieve for their lord that is

long gone, and such as rejoice in devouring his living

without atonement. But I have no care to ask or to inquire,

since the day that an Aetolian cheated me with his story,

one who had slain his man and wandered over wide lands and

came to my steading, and I dealt lovingly with him. He said

that he had seen my master among the Cretans at the house

of Idomeneus, mending his ships which the storms had

broken. And he said that he would come home either by the

summer or the harvest-tide, bringing much wealth with the

godlike men of his company. And thou too, old man of many

sorrows, seeing that some god hath brought thee to me, seek

not my grace with lies, nor give me any such comfort; not

for this will I have respect to thee or hold thee dear, but

only for the fear of Zeus, the god of strangers, and for

pity of thyself.'

And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: 'Verily

thy heart within thee is slow to believe, seeing that even

with an oath I have not won thee, nor find credence with

thee. But come now, let us make a covenant; and we will

each one have for witnesses the gods above, who hold

Olympus. If thy lord shall return to this house, put on me

a mantle and doublet for raiment, and send me on my way to

Dulichium, whither I had a desire to go. But if thy lord

return not according to my word, set thy thralls upon me,

and cast me down from a mighty rock, that another beggar in

his turn may beware of deceiving.'

And the goodly swineherd answered him, saying: 'Yea

stranger, even so should I get much honour and good luck

among men both now and ever hereafter, if after bringing

thee to my hut and giving thee a stranger's cheer, I should

turn again and slay thee and take away thy dear life. Eager

indeed thereafter should I be to make a prayer to Zeus the

son of Cronos! But now it is supper-time, and would that my

fellows may speedily be at home, that we may make ready a

dainty supper within the hut.'

Thus they spake one to the other. And lo, the swine and the

swineherds drew nigh. And the swine they shut up to sleep

in their lairs, and a mighty din arose as the swine were

being stalled. Then the goodly swineherd called to his

fellows, saying:

'Bring the best of the swine, that I may sacrifice it for a

guest of mine from a far land: and we too will have good

cheer therewith, for we have long suffered and toiled by

reason of the white-tusked swine, while others devour the

fruit of our labour without atonement.'

Therewithal he cleft logs with the pitiless axe, and the

others brought in a well-fatted boar of five years old; and

they set him by the hearth nor did the swineherd forget the

deathless gods, for he was of an understanding heart. But

for a beginning of sacrifice he cast bristles from the head

of the white-tusked boar upon the fire, and prayed to all

the gods that wise Odysseus might return to his own house.

Then he stood erect, and smote the boar with a billet of

oak which he had left in the cleaving, and the boar yielded

up his life. Then they cut the throat and singed the

carcass and quickly cut it up, and the swineherd took a

first portion from all the limbs, and laid the raw flesh on

the rich fat. And some pieces he cast into the fire after

sprinkling them with bruised barley-meal, and they cut the

rest up small, and pierced it, and spitted and roasted it

carefully, and drew it all off from the spits, and put the

whole mess together on trenchers. Then the swineherd stood

up to carve, for well he knew what was fair, and he cut up

the whole and divided it into seven portions. One, when he

had prayed, he set aside for the nymphs and for Hermes son

of Maia, and the rest he distributed to each. And he gave

Odysseus the portion of honour, the long back of the

white-tusked boar, and the soul of his lord rejoiced at

this renown, and Odysseus of many counsels hailed him

saying:

'Eumaeus, oh that thou mayest so surely be dear to father

Zeus, as thou art to me, seeing that thou honourest me with

a good portion, such an one as I am!'

Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus:

'Eat, luckless stranger, and make merry with such fare as

is here. And one thing the god will give and another

withhold, even as he will, for with him all things are

possible.'

So he spake, and made burnt offering of the hallowed parts

to the everlasting gods, and poured the dark wine for a

drink offering, and set the cup in the hands of Odysseus,

the waster of cities, and sat down by his own mess. And

Mesaulius bare them wheaten bread, a thrall that the

swineherd had gotten all alone, while his lord was away,

without the knowledge of his mistress and the old Laertes:

yea he had bought him of the Taphians with his own

substance. So they stretched forth their hands upon the

good cheer spread before them. Now after they had put from

them the desire of meat and drink, Mesaulius cleared away

the bread, and they, now that they had eaten enough of

bread and flesh, were moved to go to rest.

Now it was so that night came on foul with a blind moon,

and Zeus rained the whole night through, and still the

great West Wind, the rainy wind, was blowing. Then Odysseus

spake among them that he might make trial of the swineherd,

and see whether he would take off his own mantle and give

it to him or bid one of his company strip, since he cared

for him so greatly:

'Listen now, Eumaeus, and all of you his companions, with a

prayer will I utter my word; so bids me witless wine, which

drives even the wisest to sing and to laugh softly, and

rouses him to dance, yea and makes him to speak out a word

which were better unspoken. Howbeit, now that I have broken

into speech, I will not hide aught. Oh that I were young,

and my might were steadfast, as in the day when we arrayed

our ambush and led it beneath Troy town! And Odysseus, and

Menelaus son of Atreus, were leaders and with them I was a

third in command; for so they bade me. Now when we had come

to the city and the steep wall, we lay about the citadel in

the thick brushwood, crouching under our arms among the

reeds and the marsh land, and behold, the night came on

foul, with frost, as the North Wind went down, while the

snow fell from above, and crusted like rime, bitter cold,

and the ice set thick about our shields. Now the others all

had mantles and doublets, and slept in peace with their

shields buckled close about their shoulders; but I as I

went forth had left my mantle behind with my men, in my

folly, thinking that even so I should not be cold: so I

came with only my shield and bright leathern apron. But

when it was now the third watch of the night and the stars

had passed the zenith, in that hour I spake unto Odysseus

who was nigh me, and thrust him with my elbow, and he

listened straightway:

'"Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many

devices, verily I shall cease from among living men, for

this wintry cold is slaying me, seeing that I have no

mantle. Some god beguiled me to wear a doublet only, and

henceforth is no way of escape."

'So I spake, and he apprehended a thought in his heart,

such an one as he was in counsel and in fight. So he

whispered and spake to me, saying:

'"Be silent now, lest some other Achaeans hear thee."

Therewith he raised his head upon his elbow, and spake,

saying: "Listen, friends, a vision from a god came to me in

my sleep. Lo, we have come very far from the ships; I would

there were one to tell it to Agamemnon, son of Atreus,

shepherd of the host, if perchance he may send us hither a

greater company from the ships."

'So spake he, and Thoas, son of Andraemon, rose up quickly

and cast off his purple mantle. And he started to run unto

the ships, but I lay gladly in his garment, and the

golden-throned Dawn showed her light. Oh! that I were young

as then and my might steadfast! Then should some of the

swineherds in the homestead give me a mantle, alike for

love's sake and for pity of a good warrior. But now they

scorn me for that sorry raiment is about my body.'

Then didst thou make answer, O swineherd Eumaeus: 'Old man,

the tale that thou hast told in his praise is very good,

and so far thou hast not misspoken aught, nor uttered a

word unprofitably. Wherefore for this night thou shalt lack

neither raiment nor aught else that is the due of a hapless

suppliant, when he has met them that can befriend him. But

in the morning thou shalt go shuffling in thine own rags,

for there are not many mantles here or changes of doublet;

for each man hath but one coat. But when the dear son of

Odysseus comes, he himself will give thee a mantle and

doublet for raiment, and send thee whithersoever thy heart

and spirit bid.'

With that he sprang up and set a bed for Odysseus near the

fire, and thereon he cast skins of sheep and goats. There

Odysseus laid him down and Eumaeus cast a great thick

mantle over him, which he had ever by him for a change of

covering, when any terrible storm should arise.

So there Odysseus slept, and the young men slept beside

him. But the swineherd had no mind to lie there in a bed

away from the boars. So he made him ready to go forth and

Odysseus was glad, because he had a great care for his

master's substance while he was afar. First he cast his

sharp sword about his strong shoulders, then he clad him in

a very thick mantle, to keep the wind away; and he caught

up the fleece of a great and well-fed goat, and seized his

sharp javelin, to defend him against dogs and men. Then he

went to lay him down even where the white-tusked boars were

sleeping, beneath the hollow of the rock, in a place of

shelter from the North Wind.

Read next: Book XV

Read previous: Book XIII

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