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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24856-0.txt b/24856-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3185912 --- /dev/null +++ b/24856-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5695 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca, by Homer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca + Adapted from the Third Book of the Primary Schools of Athens, Greece + +Author: Homer + +Editor: Mary Elizabeth Burt + +Translator: Zenaïde Alexeïevna Ragozin + +Release Date: March 16, 2008 [eBook #24856] +[Most recently updated: March 3, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Ron Swanson + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODYSSEUS, THE HERO OF ITHACA *** + + + + +[Frontispiece: ODYSSEUS AS A YOUTH AT HOME WITH HIS MOTHER] + + + + +ODYSSEUS +THE HERO OF ITHACA + +ADAPTED FROM THE THIRD BOOK OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF ATHENS, GREECE + + +BY + +MARY E. BURT + +_Author of "Literary Landmarks," "Stories from Plato," "Story of the +German Iliad," "The Child-Life Reading Study"; Editor of "Little +Nature Studies"; Teacher in the John A. Browning School, New York +City_ + +AND + +ZENAÏDE A. RAGOZIN + +_Author of "The Story of Chaldea," "The Story of Assyria," "The Story +of Media, Babylon, and Persia," "The Story of Vedic India"; Member +of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, of the +American Oriental Society, of the Société Ethnologique of Paris, +etc._ + + + + +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + + To + THE TEACHER + WHOSE INTEGRITY AND PEDAGOGICAL SPIRIT + HAVE CREATED A SCHOOL WHEREIN THE IDEAL MAY + PROVE ITSELF THE PRACTICAL + AND + THOSE ENTHUSIASTIC PUPILS + WHO LOVE THE LOYALTY AND BRAVERY OF ODYSSEUS + THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED + + + + +CONTENTS + + PAGE +INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii + + +PART I +AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF THE HERO, ODYSSEUS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I. About Troy and the Journey of Paris to Greece . . . . . 3 + + II. The Flight of Helen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 + + III. The Greeks Sail for Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 + + IV. The Fall of Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 + + +PART II +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO HIS OWN COUNTRY + +CHAPTER PAGE + V. Odysseus on the Island of Calypso . . . . . . . . . . . 21 + + VI. Odysseus Constructs a Raft and Leaves the Island . . . 25 + + VII. Odysseus is Saved on the Island of Scheria . . . . . . 29 + + VIII. Nausicaä is Sent to the River by Athena . . . . . . . . 31 + + IX. Odysseus Arrives at the Palace of Alkinoös . . . . . . 38 + + X. Odysseus in the Halls of Alkinoös . . . . . . . . . . . 42 + + XI. The Banquet in Honor of Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . 47 + + XII. Odysseus Relates His Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 + + XIII. The Lotus-Eaters and the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . 57 + + XIV. The Cave of the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 + + XV. The Blinding of the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 + + XVI. Odysseus and His Companions Leave the Land of the + Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 + + XVII. The Adventures of Odysseus on the Island of Æolus . . . 72 + + XVIII. Odysseus at the Home of Circè . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 + + XIX. Circè Instructs Odysseus Concerning His Descent to + Hades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 + + XX. The Adventures of Odysseus in Hades . . . . . . . . . . 84 + + XXI. Odysseus Converses with His Mother and Agamemnon . . . 87 + + XXII. Conversation with Achilles and Other Heroes . . . . . . 90 + + XXIII. The Return of Odysseus to the Island of Circè . . . . . 94 + + XXIV. Odysseus Meets the Sirens, Skylla, and Charybdis . . . 98 + + XXV. Odysseus on the Island of Hēlios . . . . . . . . . . . 101 + + XXVI. The Departure of Odysseus from the Island of Scheria . 105 + + XXVII. Odysseus Arrives at Ithaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 + + XXVIII. Odysseus Seeks the Swineherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 + + +PART III +THE TRIUMPH OF ODYSSEUS + +CHAPTER PAGE + XXIX. Athena Advises Telemachos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 + + XXX. Telemachos Astonishes the Wooers . . . . . . . . . . . 128 + + XXXI. Penelope's Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 + + XXXII. The Journey of Telemachos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 + + XXXIII. Telemachos in Pylos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 + + XXXIV. Telemachos in Sparta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 + + XXXV. Menelaos Relates His Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 + + XXXVI. The Conspiracy of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 + + XXXVII. Telemachos Returns to Ithaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 + +XXXVIII. Telemachos and the Swineherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 + + XXXIX. Telemachos Recognizes Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 + + XL. Telemachos Returns to the Palace . . . . . . . . . . . 165 + + XLI. Odysseus is Recognized by His Dog . . . . . . . . . . . 169 + + XLII. Odysseus Comes, a Beggar, to His Own House . . . . . . 172 + + XLIII. Conversation of Odysseus and Penelope . . . . . . . . . 176 + + XLIV. Eurycleia Recognizes Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 + + XLV. Penelope's Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 + + XLVI. Athena Encourages Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 + + XLVII. The Last Banquet of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 + + XLVIII. Odysseus Bends the Bow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 + + XLIX. Death of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 + + L. Eurycleia Announces the Return of Odysseus to Penelope 203 + + LI. Odysseus Visits His Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 + + Vocabulary and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +ODYSSEUS AS A YOUTH AT HOME WITH HIS MOTHER . . . . . . Frontispiece + + FACING PAGE +THE SILVER-FOOTED THETIS RISING FROM THE WAVES . . . . . . . . . 10 + +ODYSSEUS AND MENELAOS PERSUADING AGAMEMNON TO SACRIFICE + IPHIGENEIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 + +ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 + +THE SWINEHERD TELLING HIS STORY TO ODYSSEUS . . . . . . . . . . 119 + +ODYSSEUS FEIGNS MADNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +It has long been the opinion of many of the more progressive teachers +of the United States that, next to Herakles, Odysseus is the hero +closest to child-life, and that the stories from the "Odyssey" are +the most suitable for reading-lessons. These conclusions have been +reached through independent experiments not related to educational +work in foreign countries. + +While sojourning in Athens I had the pleasure of visiting the best +schools, both public and private, and found the reading especially +spirited. I examined the books in use and found the regular +reading-books to consist of the classic tales of the country, the +stories of Herakles, Theseus, Perseus, and so forth, in the reader +succeeding the primer, and the stories of Odysseus, or Ulysses, as +we commonly call him, following as a third book, answering to our +second or third reader. This book I brought home with me and had a +careful, literal translation made. I submitted this translation to +that notable scholar, Zenaïde A. Ragozin, with whom I faithfully +traversed the ground, word by word and sentence by sentence. This +version I have carefully compared with Bryant and rewritten, making +the language as simple as could be consistent with the dignity of +the subject-matter. + +The introduction to the original book as I found it in Greece contains +many interesting points, since it shows that educators in foreign +countries, notably in Germany, had come to the same conclusion with +our best American teachers. The editor of the little Greek +reading-book says: + +"In editing this work we have made use not only of Homer's 'Odyssey,' +_but also of that excellent reader which is used in the public schools +of Germany_, Willman's 'Lesebuch aus Homer.' We have divided the +little volume into three parts, the first of which gives a short +_resumé_ of the war against Troy and the destruction of that city, +the second the wanderings of Odysseus till his arrival in Ithaca, +the third his arrival and the killing of the wooers. We have no apology +to make in presenting this book to the public as a school-book, since +many people superior to us have shown the need of such books in +school-work. The new public schools, as is well known, have a mission +of the highest importance. They do not aim, as formerly, at absolute +knowledge pounded into the heads of children in a mechanical way. +Their aim is the mental and ethical development of the pupils. Reading +and writing lead but half way to this goal. With all nations the +readers used in the public schools are a collection of the noblest +thoughts of their authors." + +The Greek editor had never read the inane rat and cat stories of +American school "readers" when he wrote that. He continues: + +"Happily the Greek nation, more than any other, abounds in literary +masterpieces. Nearly all of the Greek writings contain an abundance +of practical wisdom and virtue. Their worth is so great that even +the most advanced European nations do not hesitate to introduce them +into their schools. The Germans do this, although their habits and +customs are so different from ours. They especially admire Homer's +works. These books, above all others, afford pleasure to the young, +and the reason for it is clearly set forth by the eminent educator +Herbart: + +"'The little boy is grieved when told that he is little. Nor does +he enjoy the stories of little children. This is because his +imagination reaches out and beyond his environments. I find the +stories from Homer to be more suitable reading for young children +than the mass of juvenile books, because they contain grand truths.' + +"Therefore these stories are held in as high esteem by the German +children as by the Greek. In no other works do children find the grand +and noble traits in human life so faithfully and charmingly depicted +as in Homer. Here all the domestic, civic, and religious virtues of +the people are marvellously brought to light and the national feeling +is exalted. The Homeric poetry, and especially the 'Odyssey,' is +adapted to very young children, not only because it satisfies so well +the needs which lead to mental development, but also for another +reason. As with the people of olden times bravery was considered the +greatest virtue, so with boys of this age and all ages. No other +ethical idea has such predominance as that of prowess. Strength of +body and a firm will characterize those whom boys choose as their +leaders. Hence the pleasure they derive from the accounts of +celebrated heroes of yore whose bravery, courage, and prudence they +admire." + +The editor further extols the advantages arising from the study of +Homer, it making the youthful students acquainted with the earliest +periods of Greek history, the manners and customs of the people, and +he ends by quoting from Herbart: + +"Boys must first get acquainted with the noisy market-place of Ithaca +and then be led to the Athens of Miltiades and Themistokles." + +With equal truth the American can say that the child whose patriotism +is kindled by the Homeric fire will the more gladly respond to the +ideals set forth in the history of a Columbus or a Washington. + +MARY E. BURT. + + + + +PART I +AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF THE HERO, ODYSSEUS + + + + +CHAPTER I +ABOUT TROY AND THE JOURNEY OF PARIS TO GREECE + + +On the northern shore of Asia Minor there lies a plateau watered by +many small rivers and surrounded on all sides by mountains, only on +the north it slopes gently to the sea. On this plateau, between the +Simois and Scamandros rivers, in the oldest times there stood a very +rich and powerful city, whose name was Troy. It was the capital of +a large and fertile district, known as the Troad. + +There, about 1200 B.C., reigned a king by the name of Priam, possessed +of great power and boundless wealth. He had many sons and daughters. +It was said, indeed, that he had fifty sons who were all married and +living in their own homes, which they had built by the king's wish +around the royal palace. + +They were all handsome and heroic young men. One of the youngest, +Paris, also named Alexandros, surpassed the others in beauty. He was +a restless youth and not fond of his home, as were the others. He +had set his heart on travelling and seeing strange countries and +cities. King Priam was extremely fond of his large family, and took +pride in having all his children about him, so that at first he was +greatly opposed to the wishes of Paris. + +But the youth was so persistent and unhappy that the king at last +consented to let him go. Without delay, Paris called together a few +friends with tastes as adventurous as his own. They embarked in a +new ship well provided with all that travellers need, and set sail +for the famous land on the shores of the Ægean Sea, of which they +had heard so many wonderful things, and which was called Hellas. + +Nearly in the middle of the plain which forms the southern part of +Hellas was the city of Sparta. It was on the river Eurotas, and was +the capital of a large district called Lacedæmon, and it was to this +city that Paris came. + +Now, there was a mysterious reason for this strange desire of +Paris--his passionate longing to travel. In his early youth, while +he was still minding his herds on the rich pastures of Mount Ida, +he received a visit from the three greatest goddesses of Olympos. + +Hera, the queen of Heaven and consort of Zeus--Athena, the goddess +of wisdom, and Zeus's favorite daughter--and Aphrodite, the goddess +of love and beauty, had a dispute among themselves. + +Each thought herself the most beautiful of the three, and they would +have come to high words about it had not Athena proposed that they +should ask the handsomest man in the world to settle the question. +This happened to be the young royal shepherd, Paris. So the three +goddesses floated down to the slope of Mount Ida on a snowy cloud +and placed the question before him, each promising to reward him +royally if he gave his verdict in her favor. + +Paris, as might have been expected, decided in favor of Aphrodite, +who had promised him that the fairest woman living in the whole world +should be his wife. This promise had to be kept, being given by a +goddess, but it was the source of endless misfortune, for Paris had +a young and lovely wife who was tenderly attached to him, while the +fairest of living women--acknowledged as such by fame in all known +countries--was Queen Helen of Sparta, herself the wife of another +man. + +Her husband was one of the most renowned heroes of Hellas, King +Menelaos, a son of Atreus and brother of the leader of the Greek chiefs, +Agamemnon, King of Mycenæ. It was Aphrodite, then, who inspired Paris +with an insane desire to forsake his parents, brothers, and wife. +It was her secret guidance which led him across the seas and through +the dangers lurking among the hundreds of islands of the Archipelagos +straight to the land of Lacedæmon. This is the central of the three +peninsulas in which the Peloponnesus ends, and might be called the +middle finger of that large hand of which Arcadia is the palm. + +Paris landed, with all his companions, on the shores of Lacedæmon, +where the people received him kindly and helped him on his journey +to Sparta, where Menelaos and Helen gave him a cordial welcome. + + + + +CHAPTER II +THE FLIGHT OF HELEN + + +Aphrodite, while leading Paris to the shores of Lacedæmon, had not +forgotten her promise, and in Sparta itself she was at work at its +fulfilment. She inspired Queen Helen with a growing discontent and +restlessness of spirit. Menelaos had not noticed any change in her, +and it was with an utterly unsuspicious mind that he received the +fatal strangers and made them welcome guests in his land and home. + +More than that, having heard the news from Crete that his presence +there was desirable on account of some urgent business, he did not +hesitate to set sail for that island, in the expectation of finding +Paris and his companions still enjoying the hospitality of his palace +after a short absence. + +This was the chance which wily Aphrodite had contrived for Paris. +He took the hint and carried Helen away to his ship, together with +as much treasure as they could lay hands on, and then they sailed +for Troy. Little did he heed, in his mad desire to call the most +beautiful woman in the world his wife, that she was already the wife +of a hero who had received him as an honored guest in his house, and +that he was about to destroy the peace and honor of his host. + +As soon as Menelaos heard of the flight of his wife, he hastened back +to Sparta, where he found his palace deserted and his treasure-house +robbed. + +Then his heart was filled with great wrath. He set out at once to +see his brother, Agamemnon, to consult with him about what was to +be done. Agamemnon was ruler over Mycenæ, and highly respected in +all Hellas on account of his power and riches. + +After the two brothers had talked over this grave affair, they +announced to all the leaders in Hellas the great and detestable crime, +and asked them for their assistance. All the king's chiefs of Hellas +lent a willing ear to this demand, for in this breach of hospitality, +committed against one of them, each felt himself personally aggrieved +and bound to help in the punishment of what, in those times, was +considered the most unpardonable of all crimes. Only one of the kings +held back for awhile and needed much persuasion to join the league. +This was Odysseus of Ithaca, who could well consider himself at the +time the happiest of mortals, for he had lately married Penelope, +one of the fairest and most virtuous maidens of Greece. He had an +infant son of great beauty and promise, and he owned much land and +countless herds of cattle, sheep, and swine. Added to that, all the +petty nobles of the island acknowledged him as their chief. + +But a soothsayer, or seer, had greatly disturbed him by informing +him that if he went to a great war he would be kept away from his +home for the space of twenty years, and even then return to it in +the guise of a beggar, after having suffered wrecks, captivity, +endless wanderings, and loss of comrades. + +No one could doubt that Odysseus was brave, but no one could blame +him for wishing to be excused from taking part in the war against +Troy. Menelaos and his brother, however, would accept no excuse from +him, as he was the wisest and craftiest of all the leaders, and when +Odysseus finally consented to join them he set about arming and +directing the young Greek warriors with all his heart and soul. + +There was another young prince whom it was absolutely necessary to +secure, for a much venerated oracle had given it as a decree of the +gods that Troy could never be taken without his help. This was Achilles, +son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons in Thessaly, and of the beauteous +ocean nymph, Thetis. Notwithstanding his extreme youth, his father +would not disappoint the whole country, and he let him go with those +who came for him. But he sent along with him his adopted son, Patroklos, +who was several years older, and to whom the boy was passionately +attached, and also his oldest and most trusted servant, Phœnix. These +two, the old man and the youth, he charged, as they hoped for the +mercy of Zeus, to keep watchful guard over Achilles, whose exceedingly +impetuous and reckless temper exposed him to many dangers which might +be averted by a sensible and loving word spoken in time. + +[Illustration: THE SILVER-FOOTED THETIS RISING FROM THE WAVES] + +The Greeks took counsel together, and it was resolved that Menelaos +should go in person to Troy and demand back his wife, Helen, as well +as his treasure and a suitable apology for the wrong done to him and +to all Hellas. He chose for his companion the cunning Odysseus. On +their arrival in Troy, Menelaos and Odysseus presented themselves +before Priam and demanded the return of Helen and the treasures. + +The king at once called his people together to deliberate upon the +matter, and the two Greek kings bravely denounced the mean act of +Paris. But the Trojans, stirred up by that youth, abused the +ambassadors and drove them out of their city. + + + + +CHAPTER III +THE GREEKS SAIL FOR TROY + + +The kings and chieftains of Hellas, having heard that Odysseus and +Menelaos had been driven out of Troy, hastened to call together their +fleets and armies at Aulis, a city of Bœotia on a ridge of rock running +out into the sea between two little bays, each of which was a harbor +for many ships. A hundred thousand men and a thousand ships were +gathered there under the leadership of the celebrated and heroic +chiefs. The commander-in-chief of the whole army was Agamemnon. + +Among the renowned leaders were Menelaos, the sagacious Odysseus, +Ajax, and many others. Just as they were offering a sacrifice to the +gods, in order to start out to the war with their good will, a great +miracle happened. A fearful snake crept from under the altar and +climbed a tree in which there was a sparrow's nest nearly hidden by +the leaves. There were eight young sparrows in the nest, nine birds +with the mother. The snake devoured the fluttering little birds, +around which the mother circled as if overcome by grief. + +Then the snake darted at the mother-bird and swallowed it, when Zeus +changed the reptile into a stone. The Greeks wondered at the sight, +but the soothsayer, Calchas, said to them: "Why do ye wonder at this? +The all-powerful Zeus has sent us this sign because our deeds shall +live forever in the minds of men. Just as the snake has devoured the +eight little sparrows and their mother, so shall the war swallow up +the nine coming years, and in the tenth we shall overcome Troy." + +The ships of the Greeks lay in the bays of Aulis while the warriors +waited impatiently to set sail. But the winds were contrary; they +would not blow, and the boats waited there year after year; for a +sacred hind had been slain by Agamemnon, one that belonged to the +goddess Artemis, and it was ordered by that goddess that no wind should +arise to take them on toward Troy until her wrath had been appeased. + +So Agamemnon went to Calchas, the seer, and asked his advice, +whereupon the old prophet told him to send for his lovely young +daughter, Iphigeneia, and offer her up on the altar as the only +acceptable sacrifice to Artemis. When he had placed her upon the altar +and the priest was raising his knife, the goddess took pity on +Agamemnon and carried the girl away in a cloud, leaving a fine white +doe instead. + +[Illustration: ODYSSEUS AND MENELAOS PERSUADING AGAMEMNON TO +SACRIFICE IPHIGENEIA] + +And now arose a favorable wind, and the Greeks arrived safely before +Troy. How they fought with the Trojans, how many of the heroes outlived +the struggle, and how many fell in the battle, all this we can learn +from an old book called the "Iliad." We shall select from it only +those things which refer to our hero, Odysseus; and to complete the +history of that hero we shall go to another book, called the "Odyssey." + +Both of these books are the work of the great poet Homer, who lived +many years after the war with Troy. That we may understand better +what happened later on, we must give a short account of the fall of +Troy and of the return of Menelaos and Agamemnon to their own country. + + + + +CHAPTER IV +THE FALL OF TROY + + +The war lasted nine years, and in the tenth the Greeks conquered Troy, +not in battle, but by means of a trick which had come into the mind +of Odysseus. He told a skilful carpenter to build a wooden horse of +gigantic size, and in it he hid the bravest Greek warriors. When he +had done this he advised all the other Greeks to depart without leaving +anything behind them, and so lead the Trojans to believe that they +had given up the fight and gone home. + +So the Greeks burned their tents and put off to sea, while the Trojans +from their walls watched them with great joy, thinking themselves +well rid of an enemy. When the last ship had gone, the Trojans threw +open the gates of their city and rushed down into the plain where +the Greeks had had their camp, to see how the place looked. + +There they found the wooden horse, and one of the Greeks tied to a +tree, who told them he was left there as a punishment, and that the +wooden horse was an offering to the gods. The Trojans made up their +minds to carry it into their city and give it the best place on their +highest hill. + +Then Laocoön, a priest of Apollo, stepped forth, and said to them: +"Unhappy people! what madness possesses you? Do ye think the enemy +gone? Do ye know Odysseus so little? There are Greek warriors hidden +in this horse, or else some other mischief is lurking there. Fear +the Greeks even when they bring gifts." + +With these words, he thrust his spear into the flank of the horse, +and the arms of the hidden enemy clashed with a loud noise. Just then +two snakes of great size, sent by Athena, rose from the sea, and sprang +upon Laocoön and his two sons, and, coiling around them, bit them +to death. The Trojans, in great fear at the sight, took this as a +sign from the gods that the horse was sacred and that they must protect +it, and they moved it at once into their city, breaking down a part +of their wall to get it in. + +Having done this, they gave themselves up to feasting and making merry, +without the slightest thought that any evil was in store for them. +But when night had come, and all were in a deep sleep, the ships of +the Greeks, which had been hiding all the while behind a neighboring +island, came back. The warriors who were concealed in the wooden horse +sprang out and rushing wildly through the city, slew the Trojans right +and left without mercy. From all sides came wailings and groans, and +the flames of the burning city rose up to the sky. + +A deadly struggle took place between the Trojans and the Greeks. Priam +was slain, and Paris and many other heroes. The victory was to the +Greeks. Troy fell never to rise again, and the women and children +were led off to become slaves to their conquerors. + +Thus was destroyed in one night the great and glorious city of Troy, +all on account of the crime which Paris had committed against the +laws of hospitality. + +The trials of the Greeks were not yet at an end. After their victory +at Troy they embarked in their ships and started eagerly for their +homes. But Zeus prepared a sad fate for them, because Ajax had +violently dragged Cassandra, the beautiful daughter of Priam, from +the altar of Athena and had made her his slave. Thus many of the leaders +perished in the sea far from home, and some were cast on foreign shores +to die. + +Menelaos was thrown by wind and waves on the island of Crete, and +he lost many of the ships on the cliffs. Thence he strayed to the +island of Cyprus, noted for its mines; and he roved through other +lands until he came to Egypt, where he wandered about for eight years, +when he returned to Sparta, taking Helen with him. He became +reconciled to his wife, and they lived a quiet life far removed from +the enchantments of the wily Aphrodite. + +But the saddest fate of all overtook Agamemnon, who met his death +in his own house at the hands of his wife and brother. + +Agamemnon, without any accident at sea, reached his native land. Full +of gratitude, he kissed the earth and wept tears of joy at the thought +of meeting his wife and son. + +He entered his home with a glad heart, and his faithless wife came +to meet him, but she had prepared a hot bath for him, and there he +met his death, entangled in a net which she threw over him, for she +had not forgotten the loss of her beautiful daughter, Iphigeneia, +whom she believed to have been offered up as a sacrifice on the altar +of Artemis. + +She was assisted in this dreadful deed by her husband's brother, who +became ruler over the land, holding sway eight years, when Orestes, +the son of Agamemnon, slew him and regained the kingdom. + +And now we come to the return of Odysseus, the wisest of the Greeks, +who wandered to the remotest part of the earth and learned the customs +of many people, and who suffered terrible things by land and sea. + + + + +PART II +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO HIS OWN COUNTRY + + + + +CHAPTER V +ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF CALYPSO + + +All the Greeks who had escaped from the destruction of Troy and had +been spared the terrors of the sea returned to their homes. But the +unfortunate Odysseus was delayed by the fair nymph Calypso on her +island, where she made her home in a cool and beautiful grotto. There +he wept and mourned, desiring to see his wife again and his native +land. Each of the gods save one, Poseidon, god of the sea, wished +to help him to find the way home. Odysseus had brought Poseidon's +wrath upon himself through inflicting a terrible injury upon the +favorite son of that deity, and for that reason the wrath of the god +fell on him and he was wrecked. One day all the other gods had assembled +in the hall of Zeus, on Mount Olympos, when Athena, the favorite +daughter of Zeus and firm friend of Odysseus, knowing that her father +in his heart was well-disposed toward the hero, began to plead for +him in a way to excite greater pity still. + +"O my father, thou great king among the gods," she said, "my heart +is troubled on account of the wise Odysseus, who lingers on an island, +far away from home, and suffers greatly; for a nymph lives on the +island, the daughter of great Atlas, and with sweet words she strives +to make Odysseus forget his native land. But he bewails his fate and +is full of sorrow, his only wish being to have a glimpse of the smoke +of his beloved country." + +Zeus thereupon ordered Hermes to depart at once for the island and +tell the nymph to send Odysseus to his home without delay. Hermes +obeyed quickly. He bound his winged sandals to his feet, and, taking +his golden wand in his hand, flew like a meteor over land and sea +till he reached the island where the nymph Calypso made her abode. +He found her within the grotto, singing sweetly while she wove a fine +web on a golden loom. + +All about the grotto there was a grove of cypress-trees in which birds +of gay colors were sporting and springs of pure water bubbling, and +the fragrance of strange flowers filled the air. When Hermes had gazed +upon these wonders he entered the grotto. It was bright with a blazing +fire on a spacious hearth, and fragrant with the odor of burning cedar +and cypress. + +Calypso saw him as he came in and knew him. She bade him sit down +on a throne dazzling with jewels, and, placing a table before him +laden with nectar and ambrosia, invited him to eat and drink. After +he had finished his repast, Hermes told her that Zeus had sent him +to her with the command that she should send Odysseus without delay +to his native land. Having given this message, he disappeared, leaving +Calypso in great grief. + +Odysseus in the meantime sat by the shore mourning and gazing out +upon the sea. Calypso found him there, sitting alone, weeping and +longing for his home. She stood by him and said: "Odysseus, my unhappy +friend, do not waste thy life any longer in sorrow. The end of thy +grief has come. Arise and prepare to depart for thy home. Build thee +a raft of the trunks of trees which thou shalt hew down. I will put +bread and water and delicate wine on board; and I will clothe thee +in comfortable garments, and send a favorable wind that thou mayest +safely reach thy native land." + +Thus spoke the lovely goddess, but Odysseus could hardly believe her, +and said: "I fear, O goddess, that thou hast some other thought in +thy mind, and that thou dost not wish to send me home when thou biddest +me sail over this stormy and dangerous sea. I shall never go on to +the raft against thy wish, and thou must swear the great oath of the +gods that no harm shall come to me." + +The goddess smiled at these words, and, taking the hero by the hand, +rejoined: "Thou art a wise man, and thy answer is well made. I will +pledge thee a solemn oath, by the heavens and the earth, and the waters +of the Styx, that I have no plan of evil against thee. And I advise +thee to do as I have instructed thee, to be ready for any crisis." + +Speaking thus, the goddess went into the grotto and Odysseus followed +her. When he had come into the spacious hall, he sat down on his throne +and the nymph brought him rich food and wine. Then she took a seat +opposite him, and her attendants brought her ambrosia and nectar, +which she would gladly have shared with Odysseus, that he, too, might +become an immortal. + +When the repast was over, Calypso narrated to him all the trials he +would have to undergo before he could reach his native land. While +she was relating these things the sun sank down, and darkness came +upon the island, and all who had their abode in the grotto sought +rest and slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER VI +ODYSSEUS CONSTRUCTS A RAFT AND LEAVES THE ISLAND + + +At daybreak the goddess gave Odysseus a large axe and a sharp adze, +and led him to the heights of the island, where the largest trees +grew. He went to work at once and cut down twenty trees, which he +hewed into proper shape, and then tied them together with ropes which +he himself made of bark. + +In this way he built a raft which was very large and strong enough +to stand the onset of the waves. He wove a railing of willow and fitted +it around the sides of the raft, to protect himself against the dashing +waves; and he raised a strong mast with sails shaped to it, and tightly +bound by cords and ropes. He filled the crevices of the raft with +wax and pitch and attached a rudder. + +At the end of the fourth day his work was all done, and his little +ship was ready to be launched. On the fifth day the beautiful goddess +prepared the hero a bath and gave him new garments fragrant with +perfumes. She went down to the boat with him and put on board a skin +of dark-red wine, a larger one full of water, and a bag of dainty +food. Then she bade Odysseus a kind farewell, and sent a gentle and +friendly wind to waft him over the waves. + +Odysseus was wild with joy at the thought that he was really on his +way home once more. He spread his sails to catch the breeze and took +his seat at the helm, steering the vessel with great skill. He did +not dare to take any sleep, for he had to watch the sky and stars +constantly and use them as guides on his course. He sailed along in +this way seventeen days. On the eighteenth he spied land in the +distance. It was the land of the Phæacians, lying like a dark spot +off in the sea. + +Then Poseidon, who was returning from Ethiopia, saw him, and his wrath +grew hot against the hero. He raised up his head and said to himself: +"Alas! the gods have strangely changed their minds about Odysseus +during my absence in Africa. Behold! in a little while he will be +in the land of the Phæacians, where he will find an end to his troubles. +Nevertheless, it is in my power to chastise him." + +Speaking thus, Poseidon called the clouds together, and seizing his +trident he stirred up the sea; then he set loose all the winds until +there was a general hurricane, and he wrapped heaven and earth in +the thick darkness of night. + +The mighty waves dashed over the raft, and Odysseus sank on his knees +and trembled. With a deep groan he said: "Ah me, unhappy! Am I to +bear more disasters? I fear that the warning of the goddess was too +true, and that I shall be for a long time cast about on the waves +before I reach home. With what dark clouds Zeus has shrouded the sky! +The storm grows wild. What terrible waves are these! Helplessly I +must perish. Happy the Greeks who fell before Troy, fighting for their +country! Would that I, too, had met death the day when the Trojans +hurled their spears at me as they strove to take the body of Achilles. +If I had died then, the Greeks would have buried me with great honors. +Now I shall die an inglorious death." + +As he spoke a huge wave struck the raft with such terrible force that +it whirled it around and overturned it. The helm was wrung from his +hand and he fell into the angry breakers. The mast was snapped in +two and the ropes and sails flew off into the sea. + +Odysseus was under water a long time, striving in vain to come to +the surface. Finally he rose, spitting the bitter brine out of his +mouth. Although he was in such a desperate plight, his mind was on +the raft. Battling bravely with the waves he reached it, and springing +on board sat down in the middle of it. Thus he escaped death. + +The angry waves tossed him hither and thither as the wind scatters +the leaves over a field. Then Ino, the daughter of Cadmus, saw him +and took pity on him. She took the form of a bird, and, perching on +his raft, she said to him: "O, luckless man! why is Poseidon so angry +with thee? Fear nothing, however; he cannot take thy life. Obey me +and thou shalt not suffer much longer. Lay aside thy clothes, leave +the raft to the mercy of the winds and waves, and swim to the land. +Take my veil and wind it about thy breast, and thou shalt not have +anything to fear. As soon as thou hast reached the land, take it off +and throw it back into the sea. Then hurry away inland." + +Odysseus hesitated to follow Ino's advice, fearing some treachery. +But Poseidon sent a huge wave which struck him and scattered the raft +as if it were dry chaff. Then Odysseus at once got astride of the +swimming timber. He bound the veil around his breast and bravely +plunged into the boiling waters. + +Poseidon saw him, and shaking his head he said: "I verily believe +thou wilt come out alive from the sea. But the sea has had thee long +enough, so that thou wilt know its power hereafter and fear it." Saying +this he lashed up his horses and drove off. + + + + +CHAPTER VII +ODYSSEUS IS SAVED ON THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA + + +Athena, the daughter of Zeus, seeing Odysseus struggling through the +waves, pitied him, and bade the winds become quiet. Two days and two +nights Odysseus floated about, but on the third the wind calmed down +and the sea became smooth. + +In a short time he found himself near land once more. But the shore +was wild and full of sharp rocks and high cliffs. He could see no +place on which to set foot, and he grew downhearted. His knees gave +way, and, groaning deeply, he cried out: "O, luckless one! In vain +have I braved the dangers of the sea to escape death. Now all hope +has abandoned me, since there is no way for me to get out of the water. +I fear that when I try to approach the land the waves will throw me +against the cliffs, and should I try to find a safe landing-place +by swimming, the surf may carry me back into the wild sea, where some +sea-monster will swallow me up. Whatever I may do, I see no help for +me." + +While he pondered over these things a huge wave cast him on the foamy +shore. His bones were nearly broken, and he lay exhausted until the +wave returned, when he was hurled again with great force back into +the sea. Now the unfortunate wanderer took to swimming as his last +resort, and reached the mouth of a river, where he was able to land. + +Too tired to breathe or speak, he sank down in a swoon. His knees +and arms trembled, and his whole body was bruised and swollen. When +his senses returned he rose and untied the veil that Ino had given +him and cast it back into the sea. Then he knelt down and kissed the +earth, and moved to a sheltered spot where a wild and a tame olive-tree +were standing close together, whose branches had mingled with one +another, and there he found a safe hiding-place. + +Then the godlike Odysseus lay down on a bed of dry leaves, covering +himself up as one does an ember, lest it should go out. Athena came +and poured sweet sleep over his eyes, that he might find quiet rest +after all his toils. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII +NAUSICAÄ IS SENT TO THE RIVER BY ATHENA + + +While Odysseus lay in a deep sleep, the goddess Athena went to the +royal dwelling of the king of the Phæacians, Alkinoös, in order to +hasten the return of Odysseus to his native land. She entered the +house, where she found Nausicaä, the king's daughter, sleeping in +her beautiful chamber. Near her lay two maids who served her. + +Athena came as softly as a breath of air, and caused the maiden to +dream that her marriage-day was near and that it was her duty to arise +and hasten to the place by the river where they washed their clothing. +In her dream the princess seemed to hear Athena say: "Nausicaä, why +art thou so slothful? Thy beautiful robes lie neglected and thy +wedding-day is at hand, on which thou surely shouldst wear garments +of dazzling whiteness, and thou shouldst give such garments to those +maidens who lead thee forth to thy bridegroom. Therefore, as soon +as day breaks thou must ask thy father to give thee a pair of mules, +and we will hasten to the washing-place down by the river." + +At the first dawn of day Nausicaä went in haste to her father and +mother to tell them of her dream. She found them in their splendid +hall. Her mother sat with her maidens spinning, and the king stood +on the threshold, just going forth to meet his chiefs in council. +The princess approached her father and said: "Dearest father, I pray +that thou wilt give me two mules and a wagon, that I may go with my +maids to the river and take all the clothes that need washing, for +it becomes the king and his sons to wear clean garments when they +go to the council of the chiefs. Thou hast five sons, three of whom +are youths not wedded, and they should be provided with fresh robes; +they will need them in the dance." + +The king smiled, for he saw what was in her mind, and he ordered the +mules. Then his beautiful daughter brought from the linen-room the +soiled garments and put them on the wagon, while the queen prepared +a goodly lunch of cold meat and bread and a skin of sweet wine. + +Nausicaä further received from her mother a bottle of fragrant oil +with which to anoint herself after the washing. Then she mounted the +wagon, seized the whip and reins, and drove out of the city, the +maidens of her train following her on foot. + +When they came to the place where the river was flowing bright and +clear, they unhitched the mules and let them browse along the bank. +Then they took their garments down from the wagon and tossed them +into the marble vats which they had filled with the limpid water of +the stream. When they had washed them clean they spread them on the +white pebbles to dry. Having finished the task, they took a bath and +anointed themselves with oil. Then they sat down on the shore and +ate their lunch. + +The repast over, they began to play ball. First the white-armed +Nausicaä threw the ball. She looked as tall and royal among her maids +as did Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, among her nymphs. + +Nausicaä sang a song as they frolicked on the sand. + +When it was time to go home they put the clean garments upon the wagon +and harnessed up the mules. Just as they started, Nausicaä once more +threw the ball to one of the maidens, who failed to catch it. The +ball rebounded from the rocks and fell into the river, at which the +girls raised such a shout that Odysseus, who was sleeping close by, +awoke. + +He opened his eyes and sat up, saying to himself: "Woe is me! Have +I reached a country where people dwell? Are they wild and inhospitable, +or friendly to the stranger and god-fearing? It seems to me I heard +cries of women. Perhaps they were those of the nymphs who inhabit +the mountain heights, the springs of rivers, and the green meadows, +or those of people who live near by. But I will see who they are." + +So Odysseus clothed himself as best he could, by winding slender +branches covered with leaves about him, and left the thicket where +he was hidden. He went in the direction of the voices, stalking along +like a great lion. When the girls saw him they shrieked and scattered +in every direction. Nausicaä alone stood her ground, for Athena gave +her courage. When Odysseus saw her he wondered which would be the +better, to throw himself at the feet of the maiden and beg her to +give him some clothes and to show him the way to the city, or to speak +to her with more formality. + +It seemed better to him to remain at a distance, and so he addressed +her gently, saying: "O queen, I know not whether thou art a goddess +or a woman. If thou art a goddess, I should take thee to be Artemis, +because thou art so tall and graceful. If, however, thou art a mortal, +thrice happy thy father and honored mother. Greatly must they rejoice +when they see their beautiful child in the choral dance. But he will +be the happiest who shall win thee for a bride. + +"I once saw a young palm-tree growing up beside Apollo's altar in +the island of Dēlos. It was the most beautiful tree the earth ever +produced, and I gazed upon it with wonder and reverence. So am I amazed +at thy beauty, and I fear to approach thee and throw myself as a +suppliant at thy feet, although I am in sore distress, for great +misfortunes have befallen me. + +"It was only last night that I escaped from the sea. On my way from +Calypso's isle I was driven about for twenty days by the angry waves +in a violent storm. Now some god has cast me on this shore to make +me undergo new trials, for I do not believe my sufferings have come +to an end. Have pity on me, O queen, because thou art the first human +being I have met after so many misfortunes. + +"I do not know one person in this country. Show me thy city, I pray, +and give me an old robe to wear, no matter how coarse and poor, and +may the gods bestow all blessings upon thee." + +Nausicaä looked at Odysseus in pity and answered: "Stranger, thou +dost not seem to me to be a man of mean birth or breeding, and thou +art surely in distress. But it is Zeus who distributes gifts to mortals, +both the good and the evil things of life, and thou must submit to +his will with patience. + +"Since thou hast come into our land devoid of all things, even garments, +and art helpless, I will give thee clothing and tell thee the way +to the city. And I will tell thee about the people living in it, for +I am the daughter of the king, Alkinoös, who reigns over this island." +When Nausicaä had spoken thus to Odysseus, she turned to her maids +and commanded them not to flee from the wanderer, but to bring him +food and drink, since Zeus sent the poor and the stranger to be cared +for. + +And she told them to lead him to some lonely spot by the side of the +river, where he might bathe at his ease. So the maids came back and +led the hero to a sheltered place and laid a cloak and tunic on the +sand, and the bottle of oil which the queen had given Nausicaä, that +Odysseus might anoint and clothe himself after his bath; then they +ran back to the princess. + +Odysseus bathed in the fresh water of the river and washed the salt +sea-foam from his hair, and when the bath was over he put on the robes +that Nausicaä had sent. Athena shed a halo of beauty over him and +caused him to look taller and stronger than before. + +As he walked along the beach to rejoin the maidens, they admired his +noble and kingly bearing, and Nausicaä said to her maids: "Surely +this man does not come among our godlike brothers against the will +of the gods. I thought him rough and homely, but now he seems like +one of the immortals. I would that I might call a man like him my +husband. Make haste to give him food and wine, for he has fasted a +long time." + +The maids hastened to obey. They looked over what was left of the +abundant lunch and bade Odysseus eat and drink, which he was glad +to do. The princess then yoked up the mules and they started for home. + + + + +CHAPTER IX +ODYSSEUS ARRIVES AT THE PALACE OF ALKINOÖS + + +After Nausicaä had mounted to her seat on the cart, she said to +Odysseus: "Get ready now, stranger, and we will lead thee to my +father's palace, where thou wilt meet the chiefs of the Phæacians. +If thou art wise, take well to heart what I shall say to thee. As +long as we are at a good distance from the city there is no harm in +going along with us. Just follow close to the wagon with my maids. + +"But when we come near to the town thou must go more slowly and tarry +behind a little, till we have reached my father's hall, because I +dread the gossip of the baser sort of people whom we may meet. After +thou hast seen us enter the city, then thou mayest enter it also and +inquire the way to the king's palace. It is very beautiful. Thou mayest +easily find it by thyself, for there is no other house in the city +as large as ours. + +"Enter at once and find my mother and sue to her for protection and +help, that thou mayest reach thy native land and thy dear ones again." + +Having spoken these words, Nausicaä touched the mules with her long +whip and they quickly left the river, wending their way toward the +city. They reached it at sunset, but Odysseus sat down in the sacred +grove of Athena, outside of the city to wait, and prayed to the goddess +that he might receive pity from the people of Phæacia. + +While he prayed, the damsels went on and soon reached the king's palace. +Nausicaä's brothers came out and welcomed them, and unhitched the +mules. When Odysseus had given them time to get home, he arose and +found his way to the town. He had hardly entered it when Athena, in +the form of a young girl carrying a pitcher of water, met him. + +"My daughter," Odysseus said to her, "canst thou show me the way to +the king's palace? I am a stranger, and here for the first time." +Athena answered him: "With pleasure, stranger; the king is our +neighbor. Follow me, and I will lead thee thither. But on the way +do not greet anyone or ask questions, for the people here are not +fond of those who come from other lands." + +Thus spoke Athena and pursued her way with Odysseus following her. +She threw a veil of darkness over the hero to hide him from rude gazers. +Odysseus beheld the beautiful port with astonishment--the large +ships, the great market-place, and the high walls of the city. + +When they reached the palace, the girl stopped and said: "This is +the house of the king. Go in without any fear, for they love brave +men, even when they come from afar. The first thing to do is to find +the queen, whose name is Aretè. + +"She is greatly honored by the king, and all the people treat her +as if she were a goddess, on account of her gentleness and virtue. +In case the queen looks upon thee with favor, thou mayest be sure +of safely reaching home." + +Having spoken these words, the goddess took a friendly leave of the +hero, and he entered the outer hall of Alkinoös, where he was +bewildered by the splendor. The walls were of brass, the doors of +gold, and the thresholds and lintels of pure silver. On each side +of the main entrance gold and silver dogs stood guard. They were +endowed with life and were immortal, the work and gift of the divine +Hephæstus. + +There were two rows of splendid seats in the large dining-hall. They +were covered with costly mats, and the Phæacian leaders were wont +to sit there and enjoy themselves. Golden statues of boys with lighted +torches in their hands stood on beautiful pedestals and spread light +over the merry banquets. There were fifty maid-servants in the palace. +Some of them were grinding corn in the mill. Some spent their time +in spinning and weaving, for as the men were renowned sailors, the +women also were famous for making fine cloth. + +There was a large orchard all around the palace, surrounded by a thick +hedge. In the orchard there was a great variety of fruit-trees--pear, +apple, pomegranate, olive, and fig. The trees were never bare of fruit, +either in summer or in winter, for an ever-blowing west wind created +such a mild climate that the trees were constantly blooming and +ripening their fruit. + +There was to be seen a tree full of blossoms, while another bent down +under the load of ripe fruit. Thus it was with the grape-vines in +the vineyard close to the orchard. Some were blooming, others had +only begun to form fruit-buds, while some were loaded with ripe +clusters ready for the wine-press. At the end of the orchard there +was a magnificent flower-garden, in which the most fragrant flowers +were blooming. Two springs also bubbled from the ground. One watered +the orchard, and the other ran to the very door of the palace, and +all the people filled their pitchers there. Such were the gifts +Alkinoös had received from the gods. + + + + +CHAPTER X +ODYSSEUS IN THE HALLS OF ALKINOÖS + + +After Odysseus had contemplated these wonders to his heart's content, +he entered the main hall. There he found the leaders of the Phæacians +bringing offerings of wine to Hermes, as the hour of sleep had arrived, +and this was always their last ceremony before seeking slumber. No +one saw Odysseus as he crossed the spacious room and came close to +the king and queen, for he was still concealed in the thick mist which +Athena had thrown round him. Suddenly the cloud vanished, and Odysseus +threw himself at the feet of Aretè, and raised his voice in +supplication. + +"Aretè," he prayed, "I have come to thy husband and to thy feet through +many hardships and sorrows. May the gods give thee a long and happy +life. For many years I have been a wanderer from home and all I love. +I beg that thou wilt give me a guide and send me to my own land." + +When Odysseus had spoken these words he sat down amidst the ashes, +close to the fire, and all the guests grew silent and looked at him +with wonder. Then the oldest of the chiefs arose and said: "Alkinoös, +this is not a royal seat for a stranger, among the cinders of the +hearth. I pray thee, raise him up and place him on a throne, and order +the heralds to fill a cup with wine, that we may pour a libation to +Zeus, the protector of suppliants, and bid the guest welcome to our +good cheer." + +Then Alkinoös arose and took Odysseus by the hand. He led him to a +splendid throne but little lower than his own, while the herald placed +a table before him loaded with dainty food. When Odysseus had eaten +and drunk, the attendants filled the cups to pour libations in honor +of Zeus, and Alkinoös said to them: "Listen, ye leaders and chiefs +of the Phæacians. To-morrow we shall greet the stranger in our palace +with honors and offer a great sacrifice to the gods. And then we will +consider the best way of sending him home. But if we should find that +he is a god instead of a mortal, we will do what seems best, for the +gods do sometimes visit us in human shape." + +Then said Odysseus: "Nay, Alkinoös, I am not a god, nor like the gods +in form or looks. I am only a wanderer, and I could tell of fearful +sorrows; and I would willingly die if I could only see my home once +more." + +The guests all greeted Odysseus with approving words, and promised +to aid him. Then they rose, and each man went to his own home. + +Odysseus remained in the hall with Aretè and Alkinoös. As they +conversed, the queen noticed the garments of Odysseus, because she +had woven them herself, and she said to him: "Stranger, who art thou, +and from what land? Didst thou not say thou hadst come here after +many wanderings and voyages on the stormy sea? Who gave thee garments +of my weaving?" + +Odysseus answered her: "It would not be easy, gracious queen, to tell +about all my hardships and sufferings. Yet I will do thy bidding. +I was shipwrecked long since, and thrown upon an island far out in +the sea, where Calypso, the daughter of Atlas, lives. She cared for +me most kindly, and would have made me, like herself, an immortal, +but I chose instead the hope of seeing my own native land. + +"The goddess detained me seven long years on her island before she +bade me start for home. I built a raft, which she stored with food, +and she sent a pleasant breeze to carry me across the waters. But +Poseidon stirred the winds and waves against me, and I was thrown +upon the shores of this island, near the lavers, where thy daughter +and her maids went to wash the household linen. There the princess +found me, and supplied me with food and the garments I have on." + +"One duty my daughter left undone," Alkinoös said. "She should have +brought thee home with her." "Do not blame her, I entreat," replied +Odysseus, "for she bade me come with her maids, but I lingered in +a grove to offer a prayer to Athena." When Alkinoös had heard this +tale from Odysseus, he promised once more to give him a ship and +sailors to escort him home. + +Meanwhile the queen bade her servants prepare a bed for the hero out +on the portico, and they covered a couch with shaggy rugs and purple +tapestries, where he could rest. With a grateful heart Odysseus arose, +and, thanking the king for his generous hospitality, sought the bed, +where he gave himself to happy dreams. + +Odysseus rose early the next morning and went with Alkinoös to the +market-place, close to the sea, where all the Phæacians had assembled. +The people gazed with admiration at their stranger-guest, for Athena +lent him greater dignity and beauty, and she went among the crowds, +moving their hearts to sympathy with him. + +Alkinoös then addressed the assembled multitude: "Hear me, ye chiefs +of the Phæacians," he said. "This stranger has come to our land after +many wanderings and adventures. And he asks me to send him back to +his own country. Let us fit out a ship for him quickly and launch +it, and give him fifty-two young men from among our best sailors, +who shall get everything ready for the long journey. + +"While they are doing this the stranger shall come to my halls with +the chiefs and princes, where we will make a great banquet. Summon +also the bard, Demodokos, that he may enliven the festival with his +harp and songs." + +Having spoken, Alkinoös rose and led his guest back to the palace, +the princes following him. Fifty-two youths were soon chosen from +among the best seamen, and they launched a ship speedily and went +up to the royal palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XI +THE BANQUET IN HONOR OF ODYSSEUS + + +Alkinoös now ordered a sumptuous feast in honor of his guest. When +the table was spread, the herald who had gone for Demodokos came in +leading the bard, who was blind. The gods had deprived him of sight, +but had bestowed upon him the gift of song. They gave him a seat on +a silver throne, amid the guests, and hung his harp against a lofty +pillar, close above his head, where he could easily reach it. + +When all had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, Demodokos took +his lyre and began to sing about the heroes of Troy. It was a song +whose fame had reached over the whole world, the story of a friendly +strife between Achilles and Odysseus before Troy, in which Achilles +held that Troy would fall by force, but Odysseus maintained that it +would come to an end through the cunning of a few brave Greeks. + +All the guests enjoyed listening to the thrilling song, but Odysseus +was deeply touched, and tears fell from his eyes. He brushed them +away stealthily, so that no one should observe them, and drew a large +purple veil over his face until the song was finished, when he put +it away and took a goblet of wine, which he poured out on the ground +as a libation to the gods. + +Again the minstrel took his harp and sang, and again Odysseus wept. +Alkinoös noticed that the song of Demodokos moved Odysseus to tears, +and thought it might be well to stay the music awhile and begin the +games, that the stranger might witness the athletic skill of the +Phæacians. All the princes instantly arose and walked down to the +market-place, the king leading and the people following. + +When the chiefs had taken their seats a great number of young men +hastened forward to begin the games. Some of them darted over the +plain in a foot-race, raising a cloud of dust. Others strove with +all their might in wrestling-matches, while some threw the quoit or +played at boxing and leaping. After they had enjoyed looking at the +games, Laodamas, a son of Alkinoös, said to his friends: "Let us ask +the stranger to take part in the games. His strong arms and legs and +powerful neck show that he is no weakling. Nor has he lost his youthful +vigor after all his hardships, although nothing tires a man so much +as being tossed about on the sea." + +Then the friends of Laodamas advised him to challenge Odysseus to +take part in the games; and this seemed right to the prince, so he +said to him: "Father, I think thou must be skilful in these games. +Let us see thee try them. We will not delay thee long. Thy ship is +ready for thee on the sea, and the crew is there, waiting. But there +is no greater glory or pleasure for a man than to excel in swiftness +of foot and strength of muscle." + +Odysseus answered him: "Why dost thou urge me, O Laodamas? How can +I take part in the games or find any pleasure in them after all that +I have suffered? Here I sit, a suppliant, praying to be sent back +to my wife and home." Then Euryalos scoffed at him, saying: "Thou +art right, stranger, for thy countenance shows thou art anything but +an athlete. + +"Methinks thou art the owner of some merchant-vessel. Thou art a +trader, whose head is full of bargains. Such men can take heed of +nothing except how to increase wealth." + +These mocking words vexed Odysseus, and he retorted: "My friend, thou +dost not speak like a man of good mind. The gods do not bestow their +gifts equally on all men. To thee they have given great beauty, but +they have denied thee wit. Thy words carry no weight. Learn, then, +that I am not unskilled in the games. When I was young and strong +I was one of the best athletes. But even now, after all my shipwrecks +and hardships, I will strive with thee, for thy words are offensive +and challenge me to the proof." + +Having said this, Odysseus seized a much larger and heavier quoit +than the Phæacian prince could use, and swinging it in his powerful +hand he hurled it forth. The stone whirred through the air and fell +to the ground away beyond the marks of the other disks. Then Athena +took the form of a Phæacian and set a mark where the quoit fell, and +exclaimed as she did so: "Stranger, even a blind man could easily +find thy mark, for it is far beyond the others. Sit down in peace +and do not fear that anybody else can throw so far." Odysseus was +pleased when he heard these friendly words. With a light heart he +said to the Phæacian youths: "Reach my mark, if you can, young men, +and I will send a stone farther yet. But if you cannot reach it, and +prefer a match at boxing or wrestling or foot-race, come forth. I +am ready to try any of the games with you. I can throw a spear farther +than any of you can shoot an arrow. I fear nothing unless it may be +the foot-race, for I have lost my strength with want of food and being +tossed by the waves." + +He ended, and King Alkinoös stepped forward, for the young men were +all silent. "Stranger," he said, "thou art our dearly loved guest, +and no one can doubt thy bravery. We do not boast that we are fine +boxers or wrestlers. We excel in the dance and are unsurpassed in +sailing ships. Come, then, young men, show your skill in dancing, +that our guest may tell his people when he reaches his home how much +we outdo all others in that art. And let a herald hasten to the palace +and bring the lyre of Demodokos, which has been left there." + +The young men arranged themselves in two rows on the polished floors +and began the dance, while the minstrel, standing in their midst, +played on the lyre and sang most sweetly. Odysseus looked on and +greatly admired the swift and rhythmical movements of their feet. +All danced very well; but two of the sons of the king came out and +danced alone, for none of the others equalled them. One of them held +a golden ball in his hand, and bending backward threw it so high that +it seemed to touch the clouds. The other sprang up and caught it easily +before it touched the ground. + +They both danced, going through intricate and rhythmical figures, +while the other young men stood around in a circle and clapped their +hands, keeping time. Then Odysseus said to Alkinoös: "Truly, no one +excels the Phæacian princes in dancing. I see the twinkling of their +feet with amazement." + +These words pleased Alkinoös greatly, and he said to his people: +"Listen, my chiefs, for our guest seems to be a wise man. It becomes +us now to bestow upon him the gifts of hospitality. In this land there +are twelve kings. I am the thirteenth. Let each one of us bring a +fine cloak, and a tunic, and a talent of gold, that our guest may +see them before he partakes of the evening banquet. And let Euryalos, +who spoke such scoffing words to him, try to win back his friendship +and bring a costly gift." All the chiefs approved the words of King +Alkinoös, and each one sent a servant to his house to bring a valuable +present. + +Euryalos cheerfully obeyed the king. He brought a brass sword with +a silver hilt to Odysseus, and said: "My father, if I have uttered +any offensive word to thee, may the winds scatter all remembrance +of it. May the gods grant thee a speedy return to thy country, where +thou shalt see thy wife and friends from whom thou hast so long been +separated." + +Odysseus answered: "Hail to thee, also, my friend! May the gods give +thee all that there is good, and may no need of this sword ever come +to thee." Odysseus took the sword and threw it across his shoulders. + +The sun had set, and the servants carried the gifts to the royal palace, +where the queen took care of them. King Alkinoös led the way to the +palace, his guest at his side and the princes following. When they +had taken their seats on high thrones, the king told his wife to lay +the royal presents in a chest, adding a much richer cloak and tunic +than anyone else had given as a gift from himself. + +Aretè did as her husband wished, and placed a beautiful cup of gold +also in the chest, and led Odysseus up to look at the presents. Then +she taught him how to lock the chest and unlock it, and her maids +called him to a warm bath, after which he anointed himself with +fragrant oil and put on fresh garments. + +While he was wending his way to the men who sat before their wine, +he met Nausicaä in her goddess-like beauty, standing near a pillar. +"Stranger, farewell," she said. "I wish thee joy and a safe return +to thy native land. Do not forget that I was the first to befriend +thee in the land of the Phæacians." + +Odysseus answered: "May the gods be as sure to favor my return to +my home as I shall be to make a prayer daily in thy behalf, fair maiden, +who hath saved my life." Then Odysseus entered the great hall and +took his place at the feast. + + + + +CHAPTER XII +ODYSSEUS RELATES HIS ADVENTURES + + +When they had all eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, the hero +begged Demodokos to sing about the invention of the wooden horse with +which Odysseus had artfully tricked the Trojans to their own +destruction. + +The minstrel felt the inspiration of the song, and began where the +Greeks threw firebrands into their own tents and sailed away from +Troy, pretending that they had given up the war. + +He told how the Trojans wondered what to do with the huge wooden horse +which the enemy had left in their city, whether to hew it to pieces +and burn it, or to drag it to the edge of a high rock and throw it +over, or whether to spare it as an act of reverence to the gods. This +last was done, and in the night Odysseus and his men came out of the +great wooden trap and set fire to the city while the men of Troy slept. + +As Demodokos sang, tears rolled down the cheeks of Odysseus. but no +one noticed his weeping except the king, who said: "It is better to +stop the song of Demodokos, as it does not delight us all. Ever since +the bard began to sing, our guest has been weeping. He carries some +great trouble in his heart. Let the song cease, and let us all make +merry. Let no grief mar our banquet. And, honored stranger, tell us +the name of thy father, and the city which is thy home. Our seamen +shall take thee safely to thine own land, although there is a prophecy +that one of our good ships shall be changed into a high rock, to stand +forever in front of our city, if we show such courtesies to strangers. + +"Tell us truly who thou art and whither thou hast roamed, what tribes +of men thou hast seen, and why thou dost weep when the minstrel sings +of Troy. Didst thou lose a noble kinsman there, or a dear friend? +For a friend is often dearer than a brother." Odysseus replied: "In +truth, O king, it is a pleasant thing to listen to a bard like Demodokos, +for his voice is as sweet as the voice of a god. + +"And I cannot think of anything more delightful than the joy of a +contented people listening to a great poet and singer while seated +at a feast in a royal hall. But I pine to be at home, and I will declare +my name and tell the story of my sufferings. + +"I am the chieftain Odysseus, son of Laertes, and widely known to +fame. I dwell in sunny Ithaca, whose high mountains are seen from +afar, covered with rustling trees. Around it are many smaller islands, +full of people. Ithaca has low shores on the east. It is a rugged +island, but it is the sweetest land on earth, and has a noble race +of mortals. When the Trojan war was at an end, I started for home +with my twelve ships, but a contrary wind drove us to Ismaros, the +city of the Kikonians. + +"We captured it and put the inhabitants to the sword. Then I exhorted +my comrades to fly, but, like madmen, they remained on the sea-shore. +Then they slaughtered a large number of sheep and oxen and made a +feast. The Kikonians called on their strong neighbors to come and +help them, and they came in swarms with their brazen spears. They +fell upon our men and killed six of them from each ship, and drove +the rest back to their boats. + +"Brisk handling of our oars soon carried us out into the sea, but +Jove sent a hurricane that tore our sails and split our masts, so +that our sailors drew them into the ships in fear. Two days and nights +we lay helpless in our boats, worn out with fear and grief, but the +third day the sun shone on us again, and we raised the masts and sails +to take the breeze, hoping to reach our own land." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII +THE LOTUS-EATERS AND THE CYCLOPS + + +"We sailed onward in a westerly direction, heading for the Grecian +shore, and thought our trials would soon be at an end. But in this +we were disappointed, for when we were about to round the cape at +the southern point of Greece, we met an evil wind which always blows +there, and it drove us far to the east, beyond the island of Cythera. + +"Nine days and nine nights we were driven about on the sea by the +violent storm, and on the tenth we reached the land of the Lotus-eaters. +These men eat flowers that look like water-lilies, and they have no +other food. We landed on the shore of the mainland, and my comrades +took their evening meal close to the boats. + +"When our hunger was satisfied, I sent out two of the best men to +explore the country about and find out what sort of people the +Lotus-eaters were. I sent a herald with them, whom they might send +back with the news. + +"They soon found themselves among the Lotus-eaters, who were gentle +and friendly, and gave them the lotus plant to eat. This food is +pleasant to the taste, but dangerous; for anyone who eats of it loses +all desire to return to his own home. He forgets his cares and troubles, +but also his friends. + +"As soon as my comrades had eaten of the lotus, they became attached +to the Lotus-eaters, and desired to remain with them. They wept +bitterly when I commanded them to return to the ships, and I was +obliged to force them to go. + +"I bound them down to the benches in the ships, and the whole company +went on board in haste lest they should never think of their homes +again. Each man bent to his oars, and the waves were soon white with +the beating of the ships against them as we sailed with all haste +in the direction of our own land. + +"We sailed about on unknown seas and with sorrowing hearts until we +came to the land of the Cyclops. They are a wild people who have no +laws. They never plough the fields nor plant them, for everything +grows of its own accord--wheat, and barley, and the vine. The grapes +yield good wine. The Cyclops do not come together in a friendly way, +but live in caves near the mountain tops, each one in his own den. +They do not care much for one another, and each rules his wife and +children as he likes. + +"There is a little woody island lying at the entrance to the land +of the Cyclops, on which swarm numberless wild goats, never disturbed +by human beings, for the Cyclops have no ships to take them over. +This island is very fertile, but there are no sheep to eat the grass +and no people to plough the fields. The goats are the only inhabitants. +The island has a harbor which is safe, and the ships that enter it +have no need of anchors or fastenings. + +"In the midst of the harbor there is a cliff, from which bubbles forth +a spring of excellent water, and poplar-trees grow all around it. +The soil is so rich it might bear all kinds of fruit, if there were +anyone to plant them. There are beautiful meadows all along the coast, +which are gay with yellow fruit and pink blossoms. + +"We were shaping our course toward this island, and a good breeze +brought us there on a dark night. The moon did not shine and none +of the crew saw the land until we were upon the shore. We lowered +our sails and rested there until morning. When daylight appeared we +beheld with wonder the island where the wild goats abounded. My +comrades walked around, admiring the beauty of the place, while the +nymphs, daughters of Zeus, roused the goats that they might give us +milk. We took our bows and arrows from the ships immediately and, +forming three hunting-parties, killed a great number of the nimble +creatures. Each of my twelve ships received nine goats as its share, +but mine received ten. The remainder of the day we passed in eating +and drinking." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV +THE CAVE OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"The next day I started with twelve men, the crew of my own ship, +to find out what kind of men inhabited the country opposite us, leaving +all the other boats and their men on the island. When we sailed up +to the coast of the mainland, we heard the voices of giants, and the +bleating of their sheep and goats. And we saw a cave with a high roof, +over whose entrance grew laurel shrubs, and many cattle, sheep, and +goats were lying around at rest. We found an enclosure of rough stone +in the form of a court, with tall pines and leafy oaks at the mouth +of the cave. + +"The largest giant of all the race of Cyclops dwelt there and took +care of his cattle all alone. Usually he spent his time prowling all +by himself around the mountains. He had nothing to do with his +neighbors, but led a solitary life, plotting wicked deeds. He looked +more like a huge mountain top, with shaggy overhanging forests, +towering above other mountains, than a human being. + +"We were soon inside the cave, but we did not find the owner at home. +We had carried with us a wine-skin full of wine which a priest of +Apollo had given us. The wine was very fragrant and so pleasant that +no one who had once tasted it, could let it alone. We had taken along +a basket of food also, for fear of meeting with men of great strength +and no sense of the courtesy due to strangers. + +"As we looked around the cave we wondered at what we saw. There were +baskets all about heaped with cheeses, and pens of lambs separated +into three folds, the older in one pen, the younger in another, and +the youngest in a third. And there were pails full of whey, and buckets +of milk. My companions ate as much of the cheese as they liked, after +which they begged to drive all the lambs and kids down to the ship. + +"But I would not allow this. It was my wish to stay there and see +the cave-dweller and find out what kind of a man he was. I thought +he would give me a handsome present, according to the laws of +hospitality. It was cold in the cave, so we lit a fire and sat down +to wait for the owner to arrive. + +"He came toward evening, carrying a load of wood on his back, which +he threw down with such a crash that my men ran with terror into the +corners of the cave. The giant drove all such sheep and goats as would +give him milk into the cave, leaving the others in the outside court, +and then closed up the entrance with a rock so large that twenty-four +four-wheeled wagons could not have moved it. Having done this, he +sat down and milked the sheep and goats and gave to each its young +one. + +"Next, he curdled half of the milk and put the curd into woven baskets, +but he kept the other half for his evening meal. When he had ended +this work he lit a fire, and seeing the strangers he began to ask +them questions, to find out who they were. His voice was deep and +frightful, like the rumbling of a volcano, and our hearts trembled, +but I found words to answer him: 'We are Greeks, and come from Troy. +It was our intention to return home, but contrary winds have driven +us on this shore. + +"'We belong to the army of Agamemnon, whose fame is very great because +he has overcome a strong city and conquered many nations. But now +we throw ourselves at thy feet and pray that thou wilt receive us +as guests, or else give us the gifts that are due to strangers, lest +the gods avenge us.' + +"Having said this, I stopped, but the Cyclops told us that we were +fools to believe in the gods. 'The Cyclops,' he said, 'care nothing +for the gods. We are better than they are. If I spare thee it will +be of my own free will, and not for fear of the gods. But where are +thy ships? Are they near here or far off?' This he said hoping to +deceive us, but I saw through his trick, and replied: 'The storm has +thrown our ships upon the cliffs and broken them to pieces, and we +had to swim for our lives.' + +"The cruel monster did not answer me again, but he seized two of my +companions and dashed them to the ground with such force that they +died on the spot. He devoured them as a lion devours his prey. He +left nothing of them, neither bones nor flesh nor hair. We wept aloud +and prayed to Zeus with our hearts full of despair." + + + + +CHAPTER XV +THE BLINDING OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"When the monster had filled himself with food, he stretched out on +the floor of the cave to sleep. Then the thought came to me to thrust +a sword into his heart. But this was not a wise course to take, because +we should never have been able to remove the stone from the entrance +to the cave. + +"We passed the night in mourning and lamentations. As soon as daylight +appeared, the Cyclops woke up and lit a fire and milked his sheep +again. Then he seized two more of my companions and devoured them. +When his morning meal was done he rolled the stone back from the door +and drove his beasts out, not forgetting to secure the entrance. We +could hear his noisy shouts afar off as he led his flocks over the +grassy heights, and we began to make plans to destroy him. + +"We found a great club of green olive-wood in the cave; one that the +Cyclops had cut for his own use. It was as large as the mast of a +ship, and he had laid it away to dry. I cut off a fathom's length +from this club and handed the piece to my companions, who smoothed +off its sides and sharpened it at one end. This being done, I put +the sharp end of it into the fire. The stick became very hard, and +then I hid the weapon under a heap of litter which was piled up in +the cave. We cast lots to see who should assist me to put out the +eye of the Cyclops when he was asleep. + +"When evening came the Cyclops returned to the cave with his fat sheep +and kids. He seemed to suspect that there was mischief afoot, for +he did not leave any of them outside. After milking the ewes and goats +he again seized two of my companions and made his supper of them. +But I filled a large drinking-vessel with the wine from our wine-skin +and stepped boldly out and said to him: 'Here is a cup of wine which +I brought, hoping that thou wouldst spare my life, O Cyclops, for +thy wrath is boundless.' He took the cup and drank. The wine delighted +him greatly, and he handed me the cup after emptying it and said: +'Give me another draught and tell me thy name. I will give thee a +generous gift, such as becomes a host. We, too, have wine, but not +such as yours. That tastes like nectar and ambrosia.' + +"Three times I filled the cup and brought it to him, and three times +the Cyclops drank it like a madman. When the wine had overpowered +him, I said to him: 'Cyclops, thou dost wish to know my name, and +I will tell it, but thou must give me the present thou hast promised. +My name is Nobody. My father and mother gave me this name and my friends +all call me by it.' 'Then,' said the Cyclops, 'I shall eat Nobody +last of all. This is my present.' + +"After these words he fell asleep and, being very drunk, he began +to spew out the wine and flesh he had taken. I took the piece of +olive-wood which my men had sharpened and put the point of it into +the fire and held it there until it was a glowing coal. My comrades +stood near me and I encouraged them with brave words. We thrust the +burning stick into the Cyclops' eye and put it out. He howled with +pain, and, stung to madness, he seized the stick and flung it across +the cave. + +"He called to the other Cyclops, who lived in divers caves on the +surrounding mountains, while we hid ourselves in fear in the most +remote corners of the cave. The giants heard him and came running +to help him, but they could not get into the cave. They stood near +the stone, close to the door, and called out: 'What ails thee, +Polyphemus? Is anyone trying to kill thee?' 'Woe is me!' cried +Polyphemus, 'Nobody is trying to kill me.' 'Then why dost thou shout +and cry for help?' said they. 'If nobody hurts thee, then thou art +not hurt.' + +"With these words they went off, and we rejoiced greatly that my trick +had deceived them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI +ODYSSEUS AND HIS COMPANIONS LEAVE THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"Polyphemus, groaning with pain, tried to feel his way with his hands +to the mouth of the cavern. Having succeeded in this, he rolled back +the stone and sat down at the entrance and stretched out his hands +in order to catch us if we should happen to try to get out among the +sheep. + +"But we were not so foolish as to be caught in this way. There were +in the cave a number of stout and woolly rams. Of these I put three +abreast and tied them together with twigs that happened to be in the +cave. Under each middle ram I tied one of my companions. The two sheep, +one on each side of him, hid the man completely. For myself I selected +the stoutest ram of the flock, and, seizing his long shaggy wool with +my hands, held fast to him with my knees and arms. + +"The sun rose and the animals began to hasten out to the pastures. +The Cyclops, though nearly exhausted with pain, passed his hands over +the backs of the sheep to find out whether any of us were trying to +ride out of the cave. He did not find out our trick, and my companions +all escaped safely. Last of all, the ram that carried me came to the +door, because I was so heavy that he could hardly walk with me hanging +to him. + +"Polyphemus felt of his back and recognized him at once as his favorite +ram, and said: 'Dearest of all my sheep, why dost thou go last? +Commonly thou wert the first of the flock to hasten to the rich pasture +and the cool spring, just as thou wert the first in the evening to +return to thy manger. But to-day thou art last of all. Dost thou grieve +because thy master hath lost his eye, which Nobody has put out? But +wait a little. He shall not escape death. Couldst thou only speak, +my ram, thou wouldst tell me at once where the scoundrel is; then +thou shouldst see how I would dash him against the rocks.' + +"Speaking such words as these, he let the ram go. When we were safely +out of the cave, we gladly took to our feet and drove the fat sheep +down to our boat with all haste. Our friends received us with tears +of joy, for they thought we had surely perished. I made signs to them +not to weep aloud, and to hurry the sheep on board the ship. They +did this with all haste, and each man took his place at the oars. + +"When we were beyond the reach of the Cyclops, I called out to tease +him, 'Ha! Cyclops, Cyclops, thou hast not been entertaining a coward. +Zeus and the other gods have avenged the brave men whom thou didst +so cruelly destroy.' + +"The Cyclops heard my words and grew furious. He seized a large rock +and threw it with all his might toward the place where he had heard +my voice. + +"The rock fell in front of my ship, and the waves which it raised +carried us back on shore. I seized a large pole and shoved the boat +back into the water, commanding my men to ply their oars vigorously, +that we might escape destruction. My companions begged me not to +excite the dangerous monster further; but when we were a long way +out I shouted to him: 'Cyclops, if ever anybody asks thee who put +out thine eye, tell him it was Odysseus, the son of Laertes, conqueror +of Troy.' + +"When Polyphemus heard these words he gave a deep groan, and said +to me: 'Truly did the wise seer, Telemos, foretell that I was to be +blinded by Odysseus. But I thought there would come a large and +powerful man, not such an insignificant little fellow who would cheat +me with wine. Come back, Odysseus, and let me bestow upon you the +gifts which are due to strangers. I will pray to my father, Poseidon, +to give thee a safe and speedy return to thy native land. He can restore +my eye whenever he will, so I cherish no anger against thee.' + +"I knew his deceit, however, and replied: 'I would rather take thy +life, and send thee down to the dark halls of the dead, where thy +father could never restore thy sight.' + +"As soon as Polyphemus heard this, he raised his hands to heaven and +prayed to Poseidon, 'My father,' he said, 'hear me, if in truth I +am thy son. Grant me this prayer. May Odysseus never return to his +own country, or, if it be thy will that he reach home and friends +again, let his return be late and sorrowful. May his comrades all +be lost, and may he go back in a borrowed ship, and find new troubles +waiting for him in his house.' + +"Poseidon was moved to wrath against me by this prayer, and determined +to take vengeance on me. The Cyclops seized another stone, much larger +than the last, and swinging it round, threw it at us with tremendous +strength. It fell close to the ship, but this time it drove the boat +out into the sea and in the direction of the island where we first +landed. + +"When we reached the island we found the friends we had left there +waiting anxiously for our return. My men drew their boat up on to +the smooth sand and stepped upon the beach, taking the sheep along +with them. Each man took an equal share, but they gave me the ram +which had saved my life. We took him out upon the beach and offered +him up as a sacrifice to Zeus. + +"But sacrifices were vain, for Zeus had more evil for us in his mind. +We spent the rest of the day on the island, eating and drinking, and +when the sun went down we camped on the shore for the night. In the +morning I called my men to climb the decks and cut the ropes that +kept us fastened to the shore. With all speed they went aboard and +took their oars in hand and set sail for home, glad to escape, but +sorrowing for our lost companions." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII +THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF ÆOLUS + + +"We sailed about on unknown seas for many days, when we reached the +island where Æolus made his abode. This island was surrounded by +smooth rocks and guarded by a wall of shining brass. + +"Æolus had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and they +banqueted on an endless variety of meats from day to day all the year +round. Æolus was a kindly, genial god; he was master of the winds, +and one could hear the music of sweet pipes in his halls all day, +and the air was fresh and fragrant there. + +"Æolus welcomed us hospitably and kept us with him a whole month. +He inquired of the fate of all our companions in the war with Troy, +and we stated what had happened to them. Then we prayed him to send +us home, and the god very kindly gave us a sack made of skin in which +he had tied up all the contrary winds, leaving only the west wind +free to carry us safely home. + +"I took the great bag of winds and bound it fast to the main mast +of the ship with a silver chain, so that no rude wind could escape +and blow us out of our way. We sailed along nine days and nine nights, +blown by the friendly breeze from the west, and on the tenth we saw +in the distance the mountain tops of Ithaca and the fires along the +shore. + +"And now I was overcome by a heavy sleep, for I had been guiding the +ship, not daring to trust it to the hand of any of the crew. While +I lay unconscious of what was going on, my companions talked among +themselves and said they believed that the bag which Æolus had given +me contained vast amounts of gold and silver. And they spoke with +great jealousy of the prizes which I had received wherever we had +landed, while they went empty-handed. + +"The more they talked to one another the more jealous and angry they +grew. They untied the sack and the winds rushed out, much to their +astonishment, and seized the ship, driving it round and round in a +furious storm. I started out of my sleep suddenly and found the bag +open I had so carefully guarded and my companions weeping bitterly. + +"For a moment I had a mind to throw myself into the sea and make an +end of my troubles forever. But the thought came to me that such an +action would not be noble, so I hid my head in my mantle and lay down +in the bottom of the ship while the violent winds and towering waves +drove us back to the island we had left. We landed there again, and, +having partaken of some food and wine, I sought the halls of Æolus. + +"I found the king and his wife and children at table taking their +evening meal. When Æolus saw me he was amazed, and asked me what had +happened to me. I told him about the senseless action of my companions, +and begged him to assist me once more. But with a terrible voice he +replied: 'Begone as fast as thou canst out of my island. I will not +befriend a man who is hated of the gods.' In this unkind way he sent +me off, and we sadly entered our ships and made for the open sea, +trusting to the mercy of the winds." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII +ODYSSEUS AT THE HOME OF CIRCÈ + + +"For six days and six nights we sailed without interruption, but on +the seventh day we reached the city of the Læstrygonians. There the +pastures are so rich in grass that the fields, which are grazed by +one flock of sheep during the day, yield abundant food for another +flock by night. The inhabitants were not only inhospitable, but they +received us with a shower of stones, which they hurled at us and at +our galleys. They broke our ships and killed my companions, spearing +them like fish. Then they carried them ashore to be devoured. With +the greatest difficulty I succeeded in saving one ship and a few +companions from the hands of these giants, and I fled with them out +to the high sea. + +"Sadly we continued our course until we reached an island, where the +goddess Circè, a daughter of the Sun and Ocean, lived. We landed +silently, and gave two days and nights to rest, for we were worn out +with toil and grief. On the third day I climbed to the top of a high +hill and looked over the island. Down below I saw a marble palace, +surrounded by a thick forest. There was smoke rising from the grounds, +so I resolved to return to my men and send out some of them to look +about and explore. + +"A large stag ran down into my path, on his way to a river to drink, +and I thrust my spear through him and flung him across my neck and +took him to the ship. I threw him at the feet of my men, who were +astonished at his size. They prepared a banquet at once, and we feasted +upon the meat. + +"That night we slept on the shore again, and in the morning I told +them that I had seen a palace standing in a thick wood, and that I +wanted to send several men there to try to get food. When my companions +thought of all their comrades who had been slain they wept aloud. +But their tears were useless. I divided them into two equal bands, +and we cast lots to see which party should make the adventure. + +"The lot fell to Eurylochos and his band of men. They started forth, +and soon came to a beautiful valley, in which was the splendid house +of Circè, which was built of well-hewn stone. There were beasts of +prey, lions and wolves, around it. The animals were tame; they wagged +their tails and fawned like dogs, but the men were afraid of them. +Circè was weaving in the palace and singing a beautiful song. She +had bright, sunny hair and a sweet voice. The men heard her as she +went back and forth weaving, and they called aloud. She came to the +door and threw it wide open and bade them enter. + +"Eurylochos alone did not go in, for he feared that some evil would +come of it. The others followed her, and Circè seated them on thrones +and gave them food and wine, but in the wine she had secretly infused +a magic juice which made them forget home and friends and all desire +to see their native land. + +"When they had eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, she waved +her wand over them, and at once the poor wretches were changed into +grunting pigs, which she shut up in pigsties and threw acorns and +other food fit for swine before them. Although thus transformed and +covered with bristles, they still retained the human mind. + +"Eurylochos stayed a long time outside awaiting the return of his +companions. But as they tarried so long, he hastened back to the ship +to tell the news. Thereupon I quickly hung my sword over my shoulder +and, taking my bow and arrows, hurried off alone, and soon found myself +not far from Circè's palace." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX +CIRCÈ INSTRUCTS ODYSSEUS CONCERNING HIS DESCENT TO HADES + + +"As I lingered in that dangerous valley there appeared to me a youth +whom I knew at once to be Hermes, the messenger of the gods. He gently +took hold of my hand and, looking compassionately on me, said: 'Thou +most unhappy man! Why art thou roaming alone in these wild parts? +Or art thou bound on the errand of delivering thy friends who have +all been changed by Circè into swine? Much do I fear that thou mayest +meet with the same fate. Listen to my words and heed them well if +thou wouldst destroy the treacherous schemes of Circè. + +"'Take this little flower. Its name is Moly among the gods, and no +wicked sorcery can hurt the man who treasures it carefully. Its root +is black. Its blossom is as white as milk, and it is hard for men +to tear it from the ground. Take this herb and go fearlessly into +the dwelling of the sorceress; it will guard thee against all mishap. +She will bring thee a bowl of wine mingled with the juice of +enchantment, but do not fear to eat or drink anything she may offer +thee, and when she touches thy head with her magic wand, then rush +upon her quickly with drawn sword as though about to slay her. She +will crouch in fear and entreat thee with soft words to spare her. +But do not give way to her until she has pledged herself by the great +oath of the gods to do thee no harm.' + +"When Hermes had spoken thus he left me, to return to high Olympos, +and I walked to the house of Circè with a braver heart. As I came +near the palace I called out to the goddess with a loud voice, and +she threw open the doors for me to enter. She bade me sit down on +a beautiful throne and placed a golden foot-stool under my feet. Then +she gave me the dangerous cup and I drank it off, but her charm did +not work. + +"Scarcely had I drained the cup when the goddess struck me with her +wand and said: 'Off with you! Go to the pigsty, where friends await +thy coming!' In a twinkling I had my sword in hand and rushed upon +her as if to kill her. Circè shrieked with fear and fell on her knees +to implore my mercy. 'Who art thou and whence dost thou come?' said +Circè. 'Thou art the first man over whom my magic wine has had no +power. Art thou really that Odysseus of whom Hermes told me that he +was to come here after many wanderings? But put up thy sword and cease +to be angry with me and let us trust each other.' + +"I answered her: 'O, goddess, how can I have faith in thy words, since +thou hast changed my companions into swine and dost plot the same +fate for me? Swear me the great oath that thou wilt not harm me, and +I shall trust thy words.' + +"Circè at once took the great oath, that she would never again try +to do me any harm, and she ordered her servants to spread a feast +before me. But I had no desire to eat. I sat down in silence, my mind +full of grief and doubt. + +"When Circè saw that I did not touch the food she said: 'Why art thou +so quiet and speechless? And why dost thou not taste the food and +wine? I have pledged myself by the great oath to do thee no harm!' +But I answered: 'What man with a loyal heart, O goddess, could eat +and drink with any pleasure while his comrades are kept in bondage +and degradation? If thou art really kind and wouldst have me enjoy +this bounteous feast, O let me see my dear companions free once more!' + +"The goddess took her wand and went to the pen and drove out the swine. +She then anointed them with a magic ointment, and their bristles fell +off and they stood up and were men again. They knew me, and each one +seized my hand, shedding tears of joy. Then I sent for the rest of +my men at the ship, who eagerly came up, and together we entered the +halls of Circè, all of us weeping with joy. + +"Circè's heart was softened also, and she said to me: 'Son of Laertes, +noble Odysseus, do not weep and grieve any longer. I know what +hardships thou hast endured on land and sea. Take courage, for thy +sufferings will soon be at an end. Go down to the sea and hide thy +boat near the shore and come back to my halls, thou and all thy men, +where I will make it a happy home for all until thou art rested and +ready to sail again for thy native land.' + +"We stayed a whole year on the island of Circè, feasting and enjoying +ourselves, and fully recovered our strength. The desire of reaching +my beloved Ithaca grew stronger within me day by day, and at last +I begged Circè to allow us to depart. 'I am not willing, O son of +Laertes,' Circè answered, 'that thou shouldst remain here against +thy wish, but it is necessary that thou shouldst, before departing +from my island, descend into Hades, to the palace of Pluto and +Persephone, to consult the spirit of the Theban seer, Tiresias, on +whom Persephone has bestowed the priceless gift of preserving his +memory even in Hades, whereas all the other souls are moving about +as empty shadows.' + +"Hearing this, I grew desperate and no longer had any desire to live +or see the light of day. I said to the goddess: 'Who will show me +the way to Hades? for no living mortal has ever gone there before.' +She replied: 'Do not worry about a guide, Odysseus, for there will +be no need of one. Launch thy boat, unfurl the sails, and quietly +sit down. The north wind will waft thee to the shore of Hades. There +flows the river Styx, black and terrible. It flows between the poplars +and willows in the groves of Persephone, and meets the broad waters +of Okeanos. Sail up its dark stream until thou dost reach the rock +where its two branches meet and swirl and roar. There leave thy boat +and dig a ditch in the ground, a foot deep and a foot wide, in which +thou shalt pour honey, milk, wine, and water as an offering to the +dead. + +"'At the same time pray to the gods of Hades, and promise the shades +of the dead that after thou hast arrived in Ithaca thou wilt sacrifice +to them a whole heifer, the best of thy flock, and to Tiresias +especially a black ram. Then take two sheep, a male and a female, +kill them, and burn them as a sacrifice to the nations of the dead. + +"'At once there will arrive the souls of the departed. They will come +by thousands, anxious to drink of the blood, that they may have their +minds again. But draw thy sword and hold them back until the spirit +of Tiresias arrives. He will tell thee how to get back to thy native +land.' + +"As Circè said this the daylight appeared, and I woke my companions +and told them to make ready to go with me. We started at once for +our ship, and got everything in readiness to leave. I told them that +before setting out for our own country we had, by the advice of Circè, +to go down to Hades in order to consult the seer Tiresias about our +journey. When they heard this they sat down, and wept, and began to +tear the hair from their heads. + +"Circè meantime came up by stealth, and put two sheep into the ship, +and we sailed sadly away." + + + + +CHAPTER XX +THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS IN HADES + + +"With a heavy heart we sailed from Circè's island bound for the gloomy +Hades. As the wind was favorable, we soon reached the place of which +the goddess had told us. There we left the ship and did those things +which Circè had counselled us to do. As soon as the dark blood of +the sheep began to flow into the trench countless souls came flocking +from Hades and begged to taste of the blood, that their mortal minds +might be restored to them. + +"Young wives and girls, old men and young warriors who had fallen +in battle, airy forms, ghosts of all kinds of people, flitted like +bats around me in that dark place with fearful cries, and I turned +pale with fear. I drew my sword and waved them back until I should +question the soul of Tiresias. + +"But first came the soul of Elpenor, one of my companions who had +gone with me to the palace of Circè. We had left him dead in the halls +of the goddess, since we had no time to bury him. Now, when I saw +him a great pity stirred my heart, and I shed tears and said to him: +'Elpenor, how didst thou come into these dread regions of darkness? +Thou hast come more quickly on foot than I in my quick ship.' + +"The phantom knew me, for, being as yet unburied, he was not one of +the shades, and had not lost his memory or voice, nor did he need +to drink of the blood. He moaned and replied: 'Noble Odysseus, it +was an evil fate which the gods had decreed for me. I drank too much +wine and that caused my death. I lay down to sleep on the roof of +Circè's palace and could not remember the way to the stairs when thou +didst call us to the ships. In my haste I fell from the roof and broke +my neck, and my soul came down to Hades. + +"'I pray thee now by all those whom thou dost love--thy wife, thy +father, and thy son--that thou leave not my body unburied in the palace +halls, lest I bring on thee the anger of the gods. But on thy return +to Circè's isle burn my body, together with my armor, and pile up +a mound of earth over my ashes. Plant my oar upon my tomb--the oar +with which I used to row while I was living.' + +"I made the promise, but at this moment the soul of my mother, whom +I had left hale and strong among the living when I went to the war, +approached and tried to get at the trench. I wept to see her, but +with a heavy heart I forbade her coming nearer until I had spoken +with Tiresias. At this moment troops of souls came flocking out of +Hades, and from the countless throng the Theban seer came leaning +on a golden staff, and he ordered me to lay aside my sword and permit +him to drink of the blood. + +"When he had drunk, he spoke to me and said: 'Odysseus, man of many +woes, why dost thou leave the light of the sun and come down among +the dead? Doubtless thy heart's desire is to return safely home. But +much suffering is in store for thee. Poseidon will not permit it, +because thou hast blinded his son, Polyphemus. Still, thou mayest +overcome all difficulties and see Ithaca at last, if thou dost not +harm the cattle and fat sheep of the Sun on the island of Trinacria. + +"'But if thou dost kill them and eat of their flesh, I warn thee that +nothing will save thy comrades or thy ships. Even then thou mayest +be saved, but it will be on a strange ship, alone, and after dreadful +sufferings. And at home thou wilt find other misfortunes awaiting +thee. + +"'There will be a mob of lawless men rioting in thy house, squandering +thy riches, and trying to get thy wife to marry one of them. Thou +shalt kill these violent men in thy halls by craft or in open fight. +After that thou shalt reach a good and prosperous old age, and find +a peaceful death far away from the sea. All that I tell thee shall +surely happen.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI +ODYSSEUS CONVERSES WITH HIS MOTHER AND AGAMEMNON + + +"When Tiresias had gone, my mother came back to the dark trench and +drank of the blood. She knew me at once and cried out: 'Oh, my child, +how didst thou ever come down to this gloomy place alive? Art thou +on thy way home from Troy? And hast thou not seen Ithaca yet, nor +thy wife and child?' + +"I answered her: 'Dear mother, I was compelled to come down here in +order to consult the soul of the prophet Tiresias about my return; +for I have not yet touched foot to Grecian soil. I have been driven +about on strange seas from year to year, and have suffered misfortune +after misfortune. Oh, tell me, my mother, how didst thou die? Did +some lingering disease waste thy life, or didst thou meet a sudden, +painless death? + +"'Tell me of my father and of my son. Do they still hold rule over +Ithaca? Or has someone snatched it away from them, thinking I was +never to return? How fares my wife, Penelope? Is she still faithful +to the husband of her youth, or has she married another?' + +"To all this my mother answered: 'My son, Penelope is in the home +where thou didst leave her, and she weeps for thee day and night. +Nobody has usurped thy kingdom, and Telemachos has charge of thy royal +estates. But thy father dwells on thy farm, and shares the life of +the servants. He seldom goes down to the city. The grief he feels +for loss of thee has made him old, and will hasten his death, as it +caused mine, for I could not live without thee.' + +"So spake my mother, and I longed to clasp her to my heart. Three +times I threw my arms around her, and three times she passed through +them like a shadow. Then I cried out in sorrow: 'Oh, my dear mother! +why can I not clasp thee to my heart and hold thee in my arms, that +we may lose for a while our sense of loneliness and misery?' + +"My mother spoke and said: 'It is the lot of all our race when they +are dead. When life departs we have no bones and flesh, but the soul +flies off and flits about from one place to another. Hasten back to +the pleasant daylight, and when thou dost reach home tell thy wife +what I have said.' + +"When my mother had gone, I saw the soul of Agamemnon approaching, +together with the shades of those of his companions who had perished +with him. The moment he had drunk of the blood he knew me and raised +a loud wail. He stretched out his hands to me, and I tried to seize +them, but I clutched only the empty air. + +"Then I began to weep, too, and said to him: 'Famous son of Atreus, +King Agamemnon, tell me how thou didst die. Did Poseidon wreck thee +on the sea in a terrible storm, or didst thou fall in war, fighting +on the land?' + +"Whereupon the king told me the dire story of his home-coming and +his death at traitors' hands. 'When I trod my native soil again after +a long absence,' he said, 'I was overcome with joy at the thought +of seeing my wife and children once more. But I was slain in my own +home, and my wife did not even close my eyes as my soul came on its +way to these dark realms.' + +"I answered: 'Alas! how the gods must hate the family of Atreus on +account of the unfaithfulness of its women!' + +"Agamemnon replied: 'Oh, son of Laertes, thou art a fortunate man, +for thou hast a faithful wife. Penelope is wise and virtuous. I +remember, when we were ready to start for Troy she was a young wife +with a little babe in her arms, which she pressed to her bosom. He +must be a man now. Thou art a happy father. Thou wilt see thy son +at home in Ithaca. + +"'No such good fortune can ever come to me. My wife did not even let +me see my son before she slew me. Tell me about him, I beseech thee, +how he is. Does he still live in Sparta?' + +"'Son of Atreus,' I said, 'do not ask me where thy son is. I cannot +tell whether he is alive or not, and this is no time for idle +conjectures;' and we wept as I spoke." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII +CONVERSATION WITH ACHILLES AND OTHER HEROES + + +"While we were conversing thus, the shades of Achilles and Patroklos +came near. The soul of Achilles recognized me, and he said: 'Odysseus, +son of Laertes, how darest thou descend into the gloomy habitation +of the dead? This is the greatest labor thou hast undertaken.' + +"I answered: 'Godlike Achilles, I came here to consult the seer +Tiresias about my return to my own country, for I have never yet +reached Grecian soil, but have wandered about suffering great +misfortunes. No one is happier than thou art, O Achilles. When thou +wert alive all men honored thee as if thou wert a god, and now thou +art a king and rulest over the dead.' + +"Then he replied: 'Do not try to console me, Odysseus. I would rather +be the slave of a poor man, and in the light of the sun, than to be +in Hades and rule over all the dead. But tell me, Odysseus, how fares +my noble son? Does he fight in the wars, and is he in the front ranks? +And Peleus, my aged father, tell me of him. Is he still king of the +Myrmidons? Or do they hold him in contempt, now that he is old, and +I am not there to uphold him?' + +"I answered him: 'I know nothing about thy aged father, O Achilles, +but I have many things to tell thee about thy son. I brought him from +Skyros, myself, in a ship to Troy, and placed him in the Greek army. +There he surpassed everyone except Nestor and myself in the wisdom +of his advice, and when we went forth to battle he fought among the +foremost, slaying many illustrious foes. + +"'Above all, his powers shone forth when we were hidden in the wooden +horse. All the other leaders of the Greeks gave signs of fear. They +grew white and shed tears; but his face never turned pale, and no +tear came into his eyes. He called on me to leave the horse and rush +upon the foe, and he smote the Trojans, carrying death and destruction +among them. When we finally subdued the city, thy son took rich booty +and safely reached his own country.' + +"As soon as Achilles heard this news he rejoiced. He strode proudly +off over the field of Elysian asphodels, well pleased that he had +left such a mighty son on earth. + +"After Achilles had departed, many other souls came and talked with +me. Only the soul of Ajax kept aloof, still angry over a victory which +I gained near the ships when I took the weapons of Achilles as my +share of the booty. Little did that victory and the arms please me, +since they caused the grave to close over such a hero as Ajax. + +"I spoke to his soul in gentle words: 'Ajax, son of Telamon, did not +even death appease the anger against me which thou didst feel on +account of my receiving the arms that brought such a calamity upon +the Greeks? For thou wast our tower of strength, and the weapons proved +fatal to thee. Come nearer and speak to me, for I bewail thy death.' +I spoke soothingly yet Ajax gave no answer. His spirit vanished away +among the other spirits. + +"Then I beheld Minos, the lawgiver of Crete, who held a golden sceptre +in his hand and judged the dead. He had under him the great wrong-doers +of one part of Hades. With him I saw Tantalos, who stood in a pool +of water, suffering at the same time a painful thirst. As often as +he tried to put his lips to the water it sank down away from him so +that he could not reach it. + +"I saw Sisyphos, also, who suffered great punishment, for he rolled +a large rock uphill with both hands, straining every muscle of his +body to the utmost to move it. No sooner had he pushed it to the top +of the hill than it rolled back with deafening noise to the bottom +of the valley. Again the unfortunate man toiled to move it upward, +the sweat covering his body and clouds of dust hovering over his head. + +"Then I saw the shade of Herakles, but the hero himself sits among +the gods on Mount Olympos. And there came myriads of souls, making +a terrible noise, which filled me with dread, lest I might look upon +the Gorgon, and I hastened back to the ship. I ordered the crew to +go on board, and they took their oars and rowed until we reached the +open sea, where favorable winds caught by the sails wafted us back +to Circè's isle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO THE ISLAND OF CIRCÈ + + +"When we reached Circè's isle, we dragged our vessel up on to the +beach, and lay down to sleep on the shore. At break of day I sent +my comrades forth to bring the body of Elpenor from the palace. We +took it out to a rocky place on the shore, and cut down trees to build +a funeral pyre. There we burned the body and performed the funeral +rites, and we built a tomb and placed an oar at the top of it. + +"All this was done quietly, but Circè saw us and came with her maids, +bringing a generous supply of food and wine. Standing in our midst, +she said: 'Brave men, who living have gone down to Hades, all men +die once, but you are permitted to die twice. Take food, eat and drink +all day long, and to-morrow at daylight depart for your native land. +I will show you the way and teach you how to avoid all danger.' + +"We spent the whole day on the shore, eating and drinking, but when +the sun sank down and the earth was covered with darkness my companions +went near the ship to seek rest. But I sat down by Circè, who questioned +me about my visit to Hades. After I had told her everything, she said: +'Odysseus, so far all is well, but there are a great many new dangers +ahead. Listen carefully to what I say. First, thou must pass the Sirens, +who bewitch with their melodious voices all who listen to them. Woe +to him who allows his ship to go near them! He will never reach his +native land, or see his wife and children again. The Sirens sit in +a green field and sing, while the bones of dead men lie in heaps near +them. Do not listen to them, but pass them by unnoticed. + +"'Or, if thou wouldst enjoy the matchless singing and not pay the +forfeit with thy life, let thy men bind thee hand and foot to the +mast of thy ship, so that thou canst not by any effort stir a limb +when the great longing seizes thee. And give thy men strict orders +to make thy bonds tighter shouldst thou entreat them to loose thee. +Before thou art bound, thou shalt knead soft wax in thy palms and +fill the ears of thy companions with it, that no sound may enter. + +"'Thence thou wilt come to the narrows where Skylla and Charybdis +dwell. On each side of the narrows is a steep cliff, one of which +is so high that its sharp top reaches the sky. It is so slippery that +no one is able to climb up or down its sides, nor could he if he had +twenty hands and feet. Not even a bird can safely perch on it. + +"'No boat has ever come to the spot and left it without being wrecked, +except Jason's, when he was in search of the Golden Fleece, and he +escaped because a goddess was his guide, to pilot him through. A dark +gray fog forever broods over the head of the cliff, and on its western +side there yawns a fearful cave, where Skylla lives. + +"'She is a terrible monster that barks like a savage dog, day and +night. She has twelve shapeless feet, and six heads set on long necks. +Each of her mouths shows three rows of deadly teeth. Half of her body +is hidden in the rock, but she thrusts out her heads and snatches +her prey, fish, whales, dolphins, or men. No sailor escapes, or, +indeed, any living creature that passes that way. + +"'The other cliff is not so high, but is still more dangerous. There, +under the foliage of a wild fig-tree, Charybdis dwells, who sucks +in the dark waters of the sea three times a day and belches them forth +again three times with a terrible noise. Woe to thee if thou art near +when she sucks the waters down, for not even Poseidon himself could +save thee. It would be better far to steer close to Skylla, for then +only six of thy men would be snatched from the benches, but if +Charybdis seizes thy ship all must perish. + +"'These pests are immortal. Do not try to overcome them. They cannot +die. It is better to fly from them with all haste. It would be rashness +and not courage to attack them. + +"'Next in thy voyage thou wilt come to the island of Trinacria, where +the fine flocks of Hēlios are feeding. Two shining nymphs, daughters +of the Sun, tend them. There are seven herds of oxen and seven herds +of sheep, fifty in each herd and flock. These creatures are immortal, +and greatly beloved of Hēlios, who will send destruction to thy ship +and crew if any harm come to them. Forbid thy men to touch the cattle, +even though suffering for food. If thou art wise enough to escape +these dangers, thou shalt reach thy home without further mischance.' + +"As the goddess finished, day broke. Circè sought her own dwelling, +while we put to sea with a favorable wind, and soon the island faded +from our sight." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV +ODYSSEUS MEETS THE SIRENS, SKYLLA, AND CHARYBDIS + + +"When I saw that we were near the home of the Sirens, I said to my +men: 'It is not wise that only one of us should know the oracles of +Circè, and I will tell you all she said to me, that ye may escape +from the perils before us; and I disclosed her sayings to them. Then +I took a handful of wax and warmed it in the sun until it was soft, +and carefully clogged up their ears. + +"They, in turn, tied me to the mast, hand and foot, so firmly that +I could not stir a limb, having first received my command that they +should not loose my bonds on any account. Then they bent to their +oars, and rowed close to the Sirens, so that they could see me and +I could hear their bewitching songs. + +"'Come to us, O renowned Odysseus,' they sang; 'pride of the Greeks, +come and listen to our voices. No one ever yet passed us without +stopping and admiring our sweet songs. Come, that we may sing to thee +about Troy and thy friends, for we know everything that is going on +in the whole world.' + +"Thus they sang, and their songs thrilled me. A great desire came +over me to stop and listen to them, and with nods I entreated my +comrades to set me free. But they sprang up and bound other cords +about me, so that I struggled in vain. Then all the men plied their +oars until the water was white with foam, and when we were out of +sight of the island and could no longer hear the songs of the Sirens, +my men set me free, and I took the wax from their ears. + +"Hardly had we escaped from the Sirens when we beheld a black fog +and towering waves and heard a frightful noise. My men were so scared +that the oars fell from their hands and the ship stood still. I +hastened from one end of the boat to the other, speaking cheerful +words to each rower. 'My dear friends,' I said, 'have no fear. This +is not the first time we have encountered danger. We have been saved +from the hands of the Cyclops through our own valor and clever devices, +and we are not going to break down now. Listen, and I will tell you +what is to be done. Keep your seats and ply your oars with all your +might; but thou, O helmsman, steer thy ship clear of that fog and +the whirling waves.' Thus I spoke, and they willingly obeyed my words. + +"Yet I said nothing to them about Skylla, lest they should lose heart +and hide in the bottom of the ship. Thus we passed in between the +two cliffs, the one of which harbored Skylla and the other Charybdis, +who, with a terrible noise, swallowed the brine of the sea and belched +it out again with a roar like the mingling of fire and water. + +"But I forgot the command of Circè to fly from these monsters without +fighting. I put on my shining armor and took a spear in each hand, +and went on deck, and stood in warlike attitude ready to attack Skylla +if she should raise a hand to seize one of my men. I looked for a +long time, but I could not see her. + +"We sailed on, the uproar increasing. My men grew white with fear. +The salt waters whirled so that we could look into a deep watery pit +and see the blue sand. The rocks were hidden by a thick mist. Suddenly +Skylla thrust forth a mighty hand and snatched six of my brave men, +as a fisherman pulls out fish with a hook. I saw their hands +outstretched toward me as they were lifted up into the air, and I +heard their cries for help. Woe is me! This sight will haunt me as +long as I have life." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV +ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF HĒLIOS + + +"When we had escaped from the terrible Skylla and Charybdis, we came +to the island of Hēlios, the island of the Sun, and heard from afar +the lowing of the cattle and the bleating of the sheep. Then I +remembered the words of Tiresias and Circè, and I advised my +companions not to land there at all, but to go right on, lest we suffer +some new disaster. + +"My crew would not listen to me. They commanded me to land on the +isle. I then made them take an oath not even to look at any of the +cattle. We prepared our evening meal, and when it was over we talked +of our dear companions whom Skylla had devoured, and we mourned over +them until we fell asleep. + +"We remained a whole month on this island, on account of unfavorable +winds. We found the roomy grot where the nymphs danced, and the seats +where they sat--the nymphs who tended the flocks of Hēlios. + +"As long as we had a plenty of bread and wine my comrades were satisfied +and spared the cattle. But when our store of food was exhausted they +roamed all over the island to see what they could get to appease their +hunger. They snared birds and caught fish with hooks, and lived on +them or anything else that came to hand. But they grew poor and lean +with hunger and nearly starved. I went off alone into the island, +where I had found a quiet nook, and sent up prayers to the gods to +show us the way out of our difficulties. There I fell asleep. + +"While I slumbered, Eurylochos called my men together, and said: 'All +kinds of death are bad enough, my brave friends, but death by +starvation is the worst. Let us kill the best of these cattle and +offer sacrifices to the gods, and then eat and live. If we ever get +to Ithaca we will make restitution, for we will build altars to the +Sun and place costly gifts upon his shrine. But if it is his will +to destroy us in his anger, then let us die amid the billows of the +deep, for that is better than to die by famine.' + +"Thus spoke Eurylochos, and the others lent a willing ear. They seized +the best of the cattle at once, and slaughtered them, and prepared +a hearty meal. They offered up petitions to the gods, standing round +their victims with young oak-leaves in their hands. Then they covered +the thighs with caul, and laid slices of fat over these, and poured +on water and roasted it until it was consumed. All the rest was cut +into smaller portions and scorched on iron prongs. + +"At this moment I awoke and hurried down to the ship, and with horror +found the dreadful meal prepared. One of the nymphs, immortal +shepherdess, flew to the Sun to tell him that my men had slain his +cattle. Hēlios was deeply angered, and spoke thus before the assembled +gods: 'Father Zeus and all ye immortal gods, behold the comrades of +Odysseus! They have slaughtered my heifers, which gladdened my heart +as I went up to heaven and down to earth. + +"'If they do not pay me well for this great wrong, I shall go down +among the dead and give them light, but I will give no light to the +living.' 'Shine on, O Sun, in the bright sky,' said Zeus, 'for I will +cut their ship to pieces with a thunder-bolt, as it tosses on a black +sea.' I could only chide my comrades. I could not think of any +sufficient redress, for the cattle were dead. + +"And here happened a wonder which amazed my comrades. The skins of +the dead animals crawled over the ground, and the flesh lowed as they +had done when alive. Nevertheless, my companions continued to kill +and eat the best oxen in the herds for six days, when a favorable +wind sprang up, and we went on board and set sail once more. + +"After we had lost sight of land, and nothing was before us but sky +and sea, a sudden darkness shrouded the heavens, and there arose a +violent storm. The vessel was hurled hither and thither by the +towering billows; the hurricane tore the sails and dashed the mast +against the pilot's head, crushing the bones, and he was cast headlong +into the sea. + +"Then Zeus sent a thunder-bolt into the ship, and broke it nearly +in two. The boat was filled with a sulphurous smoke, and my comrades +were shaken off into the sea and drowned. They floated round me, but +I moved about in the ship until the bottom and the sides had broken +away from each other and the mast had snapped off at its base. I took +the mast, which had a thong of bull's-hide round it, and tied it to +the keel. I took my seat upon this frail craft, and the storm whirled +me about. + +"After awhile the west wind ceased, and the south wind began to blow, +which was still worse for me, since it took me back to dread Charybdis. +All night long I was tossed on the waves, and at dawn I drew near +to Charybdis. As the monster was swallowing the salt brine, I caught +hold of the fig-tree and clung to it like a bat till she should throw +up my poor raft. I waited long, but at last the timbers were thrown +out of the whirlpool, and I dropped down upon them, and sat on them +and rowed with my hands. I floated about on the waters for nine long +days, and on the tenth I came to Calypso's island. She welcomed me, +and detained me seven years, as I have already told thee, O Aretè, +and why should I repeat a tale already narrated?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI +THE DEPARTURE OF ODYSSEUS FROM THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA + + +All the guests had listened with deep attention to the recital of +Odysseus; all were greatly interested, and when he ended they did +not stir or speak a word. Alkinoös was the first to break the silence, +and he said: "Renowned Odysseus, since thou hast come to our country, +I hope that thy sufferings are at an end and that thou wilt reach +thy native land safely and soon." Then the King turned to his guests +and addressed them: "Phæacians, let us each present one more gift, +a large tripod and a vase, to the hero who has come among us." + +The Phæacians received his words approvingly, and each went at once +to his home to sleep. But when morning came they all sent their gifts +to the ship, where they were packed carefully under the benches by +the King himself, and the guests returned to the palace, where a +banquet was spread for them. + +Alkinoös sacrificed an ox to Zeus, and they sat down at the table. +The enjoyment ran high, and the old poet, Demodokos, sang sweet songs. +They feasted all day, and when the sun was near its setting Odysseus +said: "King Alkinoös, let us pour out the last libation and offer +up the last prayer, for all things have come to pass that my soul +desired. May the gods bless thy gifts. May I find my home, my wife +and child, and friends. I pray the gods to grant thee all that is +good, and may no evil ever befall thy land. Be pleased to send me +hence, and fare thee well." + +Thus he spoke, right glad that the day was done and eager to set sail. +The people approved his timely words, and seizing their goblets they +poured out wine on to the ground, an offering to the gods, and they +wished godspeed to their guest. Odysseus arose and placed a goblet +in the hands of the Queen, addressing her thus: "Farewell, O Queen, +I wish thee a long and happy life, a peaceful old age down to the +grave, from which no one may escape; rejoice in the possession of +thy home, thy people, thy children, and the King, thy husband." + +So spoke Odysseus, and left the hall. The King sent a herald to show +him the way to the port where the ship was waiting for him. At the +same time Aretè also sent down some maids, who carried a new cloak +and tunic, a well-wrought coffer full of gifts, and an abundance of +food for the journey. + +These things the crew took from their hands and stowed away in the +hold of the vessel. They spread a nice bed for him on the deck, where +he might sleep quietly. When every thing was ready, Odysseus embarked, +and the sailors slipped the cables and took their seats at the oars. +Odysseus fell into a deep, sweet slumber, but the ship flew forward +faster than a bird could fly, making rapid headway toward the island +of Ithaca. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII +ODYSSEUS ARRIVES AT ITHACA + + +When the morning star arose the ship reached Ithaca. It entered a +harbor called Phorkys, where there was a grotto sacred to the nymphs, +and it was shaded at the entrance by an olive-tree. Stone vases stood +around in the grotto, and there bees had stored up honey. The nymphs +spun their fine thread from stone spindles there, and wove their +sea-purple robes. Springs of cool water flowed through the grotto, +and there was an entrance for mortals and one which was kept holy +for the gods. + +When the ship touched the beach the sailors disembarked and carried +the sleeping Odysseus on a rug on to the shore and laid him down. +They brought his presents also from under the ship's benches and laid +them under the olive-tree, a short distance from the road, for fear +that some evil-minded person would take them before Odysseus woke +up. + +Then the crew sailed homeward, but Poseidon saw them and was angry +because his purpose to cause Odysseus endless suffering had been +thwarted. He at once complained to Zeus that the Phæacians had +restored Odysseus to his native land, with gifts finer and more +valuable than anything he could have brought from Troy. Zeus listened +to his complaint and gave him authority to destroy the Phæacian boat +and its crew. Poseidon promptly repaired to the island of Scheria, +and when the ship came in sight of the town he transformed it into +a towering rock, that it might hide the island from mariners and the +Phæacians would no longer be tempted to escort strangers to their +homes. + +The ship had gone, and it was broad daylight when Odysseus awoke. +He did not recognize his own country, he had been away from it for +such a long time, and besides that, Athena had spread a dense fog +over it. His first thought was that the Phæacians had deceived him +and left him on an unknown shore. He began to accuse them of treachery, +and prayed to Zeus to punish them. He looked around and found that +his gifts had been carefully placed, so he knew that he had not been +robbed. He counted his gifts and examined them. + +There were tripods and vases of gold and brass and beautiful +hand-woven garments. He paced up and down the shore and wept and wailed +aloud. Then Athena appeared to him disguised as a shepherd lad. + +When Odysseus saw her, he hastened to her and said: "Hail, fair youth! +I am a stranger and find myself for the first time in this place. +I entreat thee to tell me the name of this country, and what kind +of people inhabit it." The goddess answered him: "Truly, stranger, +thou must come from a far-off land that thou dost not know Ithaca, +which is known from the rising to the setting of the sun. + +"It is indeed a stony island but it is not barren, nor is it a good +place for raising horses. It is rich in grain and grapes. It has an +abundance of dew and rain, and most delicious wine is made here. +Nowhere can be found handsomer goats or finer cattle. Every kind of +tree grows in its forests, and its springs are never dry. The fame +of Ithaca has reached even as far as Troy itself which, I am told, +lies far from Hellas." + +Odysseus was overjoyed to find that he was in his own country. But +he did not venture to tell his name to the shepherd, nor whence he +came. Instead of that he told a long story that he came from Crete, +which he had been obliged to leave because he had killed the King's +son, who had robbed him. + +Athena smiled and, assuming the form of a beautiful woman, took him +by the hand and said: "Thou crafty man, why dost thou tell such lies? +Dost thou not know Athena, daughter of Zeus, who has protected thee +everywhere and saved thee from all danger? I have just come again +to assist thee in hiding thy treasures and to tell thee what thou +must encounter in thine own palace. But thou must not repeat anything +which I tell thee, nor make thyself known to any man or woman. And +thou must bear many indignities in silence until the right time comes, +for there are many violent men in thy halls." + +Odysseus's heart was filled with joy. He knelt down and kissed the +soil of his native land. "Tell me, is it true," he said, "that I am +in my own beloved Ithaca? I pray thee, goddess, do not jest with me." + +"Thy native land! Such ever is thy thought," answered the goddess. +"Any other man would have hastened with all speed to his wife and +home. But thou must wait and come not at once into the presence of +Penelope. She sits within thy palace, weeping night and day because +thou dost not come. Hide thy gifts here in this grotto, and I will +tell thee what to do next." + +With a glad heart Odysseus saluted the nymphs of the cave and spring: +"Hail to you, nymphs of my native land, daughters of Zeus! I thought +I should never see you again. I shall bring you rich gifts in days +to come, if it please Athena to keep me from harm." After he had carried +the presents into the grotto and carefully hidden them, he sat down +with the goddess among the gnarled roots of the olive-tree, and they +laid plots to destroy Penelope's impudent suitors. Athena told him +about the trouble they had caused her; how they had established +themselves in her own home, trying to win her for a wife. For three +years the noble Penelope had kept these arrogant men in suspense, +deluded with empty hopes, while she waited for her husband's return. +When Odysseus heard these words he was greatly disturbed, and said: +"Woe is me! I might have been slain in my own home but for these timely +words. Now I am forearmed. Stand by me, I pray, in my great need, +and give me strength to meet my enemies. If thou art my helper, I +can resist, single-handed, three hundred foes." + +"Take courage," said the goddess. "But to carry out our plans I must +change thee to a miserable old man with a wrinkled face and clad in +ragged garments, so that no one can recognize thee. + +"Then must thou go to thy faithful swineherd, Eumaios, who loves thy +wife and child and thy whole house. + +"Thou wilt find him as he feeds the swine on acorns in a field near +the mountain, Korax, and the spring, Arethusa. He will tell thee all +the doings in thy house. Meantime I will take my way to Sparta. +Telemachos, thy son, is there. He went to visit Menelaos and try to +find out if there were any news of thee. I will call him to return +to Ithaca." + +The goddess touched Odysseus with her magic wand. At once he shrank +and withered into a wrinkled, shabby, old beggar. Then she gave him +a staff and a tattered sack and sent him to his loyal swineherd while +she took her way to Sparta. + +[Illustration: ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII +ODYSSEUS SEEKS THE SWINEHERD + + +Odysseus left the haven by a narrow stony path and took his way to +the dwelling of his faithful swineherd, who thought more of the +welfare of his master than did all the rest of the servants whom +Odysseus had. He found him seated in the yard which he himself had +made of stone for the swine of the absent King, and had enclosed with +a thick hedge of thorns. He had driven strong posts of oak around +it, also. Inside the yard he had made twelve sties, and in each sty +there were fifty sows with their little ones. The males were kept +outside and were fewer in number, for Eumaios was compelled to send +a very fat one to the suitors every day, and therefore there were +only eighteen score. + +Near them were four large savage dogs as guards. They were more like +wolves than dogs. Eumaios was busy making a pair of sandals from an +ox-hide, for his own use. The other swineherds had gone on errands, +three of them to drive pigs to pasture, while the fourth had taken +a hog to the suitors in the city. + +When the dogs saw Odysseus they barked and rushed upon him, and they +would have torn him to pieces, but Eumaios drove them off with stones +and said: "Thou poor old man, the dogs came very near tearing thee +limb from limb, and that would have been a great shame and sorrow +to me. + +"The gods have already sent me trouble enough. Here I sit weeping +and mourning for my beloved master, and take care of his swine in +order that strangers may eat them. Who knows where he may be wandering +as a beggar among people who speak another tongue? But come, old man, +let us go into my lodge and eat, and then thou mayest tell me who +thou art and what misfortunes thou hast suffered." + +Odysseus followed the swineherd into the cabin. Eumaios threw an +armful of rushes on the floor and covered it with a rug of goat-skin +and bade his guest be seated. + +Odysseus was gratified at this kind reception, and said to the +swineherd: "May Zeus and all the other immortal gods give thee, my +host, all the good of earth for thy hospitality." + +The good swineherd answered him: "My guest, I should consider it a +great sin not to receive a stranger hospitably, even if he looked +more miserable than thou. Strangers and beggars are children of Zeus. +The hospitality I can extend to thee is slight but sincere, for +servants have little to offer, especially when, like me, they have +new masters. Odysseus loved me much. Would that the gods might send +him back to us. He would have paid me for my toil. He would have given +me a home, a little land, and a wife. But he is dead. May the whole +race of Helen be destroyed, for it was she who brought noble men to +destruction." + +The swineherd drew his belt around him and hastened to the pen where +the pigs were shut up. He seized two little pigs and slew them and +roasted them on a spit over the fire. He sprinkled salt over the savory +meat and brought it to Odysseus. And he brought delicate wine in a +wooden cup, as well. + +Then he said: "Eat, stranger, for this is the best I have to give. +The suitors, who fear neither god nor man, eat the fat hogs. They +gorge themselves with the costliest food in the house, both wine and +meat, and only these little lean porkers are left for us. Yet there +is still an abundance, for my master was very rich. He had twelve +herds of horned cattle and as many swine on the mainland, and twelve +flocks of sheep and goats. Here, on the island, graze eleven flocks +of goats, tended by as many trusty herdsmen, each of whom has to send +a fattened goat for the table of the suitors every day. As for myself, +I take care of these swine, and each day I choose the best to send +to the city." + +Odysseus ate the flesh and drank the wine while Eumaios was telling +him these things, and could hardly keep from giving vent to his anger. +But he kept silence and meditated vengeance on the suitors. When the +meal was done he said: "Tell me, I pray thee, all about thy rich and +kind master. Thou didst say that he went out with Agamemnon to fight +the Trojans. Perhaps I know him and can give thee some information +concerning him." + +The noble swineherd answered: "Be silent, aged man, for we have ceased +to believe the tales told us by wanderers. Every beggar who comes +this way calls on my mistress and tells her falsehoods about seeing +Odysseus, and tries to make her think that he will come home in a +short time. Then she treats him kindly and loads him with gifts. + +"How shall we know but thou dost make up just such a story in order +to receive a tunic and a mantle? It is a fact that my master does +not return. Who knows on what spot of the earth his bones are +mouldering, or what dogs and birds have devoured him? I shall never +cease to grieve for him. He loved me as he would have loved a son. +I shall never find such a kind master again. Even my father and mother +were not so good to me. Although he will never be with us any more, +I keep on doing his will." + +[Illustration: THE SWINEHERD TELLING HIS STORY TO ODYSSEUS] + +Odysseus replied: "Thou dost see that I am half naked for want of +clothing, but I will never take a reward, even though I am in rags, +until Odysseus is really here. I hate the wretch who tells lies to +enrich himself as I hate death. I call Zeus to witness, and this +hospitable board and the hearth of Odysseus, that what I tell thee +will come true. Odysseus will be here at the end of this month, and +he will be avenged on those men who have robbed him and insulted his +wife and son." + +"And yet I will not give thee any reward for thy news, old man," said +Eumaios, "for Odysseus is dead. He will never come again. Drink in +peace and let us talk of other things. Do not take this great oath, +as much as we wish--Laertes, Penelope, Telemachos, and I--that +Odysseus might come. But now, as if we had not troubles enough, a +new one has come upon us. I know not what evil demon put it into the +mind of Telemachos to go to Sparta to inquire about his father. And +the ungodly suitors have sent out a ship to watch for him, and kill +him on his return. We shall lose him, too, if Zeus does not hold a +protecting hand over him. + +"But tell me, dear old man, from what country dost thou come? Who +are thy parents? Tell me of thy toils and sufferings." + +The time had not yet come when Odysseus thought it best to reveal +himself. He wanted to stay with the swineherd until his son should +return, and he had had the opportunity of making the best plan for +ridding his house of the suitors. So he told the swineherd a long +string of stories. He said he was a son of the King of Crete; that +he went to Troy, where he met Odysseus and fought by his side. +Returning, he wandered about, and, after many adventures, met +Odysseus again getting ready to return to Ithaca. As for himself, +he had been robbed even to his clothing and cast on this island. + +He told the tale so well that the swineherd believed him, and even +killed a fat hog in his honor. And he made him welcome to his lodge +and prepared a good bed for him near the fire, and covered him with +goat-skins. The night was cold and damp, and a cutting wind was blowing +outside. The other servants lay down near Odysseus to sleep, but +Eumaios took a sharp sword and thick mantle and went out near the +pens to watch the swine all night. Odysseus saw with gratitude how +faithfully this servant attended to his duty. + + + + +PART III +THE TRIUMPH OF ODYSSEUS + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX +ATHENA ADVISES TELEMACHOS + + +At the time when Odysseus was wrecked, after his comrades had eaten +of the cattle of Hēlios, and he was cast up on to the island of Calypso, +Athena prayed to Zeus, her mighty sire, that he might be restored +to Ithaca, his native land. She prayed that Hermes, the messenger +of the gods, might be sent to Calypso with the express command that +she should send Odysseus home. Zeus smiled and granted the request. + +Then Athena tied golden sandals under her feet and taking a long, +heavy spear, she rushed like a whirlwind down from the heights of +Olympos and stood at the doorway of Odysseus' house, among the men +of Ithaca. She found the haughty suitors assembled there eating and +drinking. + +Telemachos saw the goddess before anyone else. She was disguised to +resemble Mentor, a wise chief who had led the Taphians in the Trojan +war. Telemachos rose at once, like a gracious host, and took the right +hand of the stranger and gave him a hearty welcome. Athena saw with +anger how the ungodly wooers ate and drank and rioted gluttonously, +while the servants of Telemachos were obliged to administer to their +wants. Some of them were kept mixing the wines and water in large +craters; others had to clear and clean the tables, and others again +prepared and carved the meats and carried them round to the suitors. + +Telemachos led the stranger away from this noisy hall, that he might +not be annoyed by their boisterous behavior. He bade him sit down +on a throne, and placed a foot-stool under his feet. Then he drew +his own chair from among the suitors and sat near the stranger, hoping +to hear news of his absent father. A maid brought a silver pitcher +and basin and let the stranger wash his hands. A table was placed +before him, laden with the choicest viands, while a herald filled +a goblet with wine for him. When they had enjoyed their meal, +Telemachos asked the stranger his name and country. + +"I am Mentor, son of the Taphian King," said Athena. "I came here +in my ship with a crew of friends, on a journey to the Isle of Cyprus, +in search of copper, and I brought iron to give in exchange. I am +an old friend of Odysseus. I have left my ship in the bay, back of +the forest. Laertes will tell thee who I am. It is said that he does +not come to the palace any more, but lives alone in the country, +mourning over the loss of his son day and night. It seems that the +gods have long delayed Odysseus. Who knows where he is? I am sure +that he is not dead. And now tell me, what feast is going on here, +and who are these men? Are they invited guests? Is it a banquet I +see, or is there to be a wedding? It is not a pleasant sight in any +case, for the men are coarse in their actions and ungodly in their +speech. Every friend of Odysseus must feel sad to see them in this +place." + +"As long as my father was here," answered Telemachos, "our house was +respectable and rich. But the gods have forsaken us, and we are +destined to destruction. No news of my father's death has ever reached +us; nevertheless, all the young men of the first families of Ithaca +and the surrounding isles flock to our house and seek my mother for +a wife and squander my father's riches. My mother does not favor the +idea of another marriage, and has not promised herself to any of the +suitors. She fears them, and so she does not reject their suits, yet +she will not end the trouble by marrying one of them. They will not +go away, but make themselves at home here and eat up my inheritance. +They only want a favorable opportunity to kill me." + +Athena grew angry at this, and said: "I would that Odysseus might +come this very moment to chastise these atrocious fellows. Woe to +them if he should appear at the door with his helmet and shield and +two tough spears, just as he looked when I first beheld him in my +own home. Then these suitors would find a bitter marriage-feast and +a speedy end. Vengeance, however, rests with the gods. + +"Now, let me consider the best way to get these suitors out of the +house. As an old friend of thy father, let me advise thee. To-morrow +call thy people together in council and tell the suitors to depart. +If thy mother has any inclination to wed again, send her to her +father's house. He is rich and powerful, and can give her a splendid +wedding, such as is suitable for the daughter of a king, and bestow +an ample dower. + +"Then launch thy finest ship. Man it with twenty good oarsmen and +put out to sea in search of thy father. Sail to Pylos first and consult +with Nestor, and go to Sparta next and see Menelaos, who has returned +from Troy recently. Stay with him awhile if he can assure thee that +thy father lives. But if he tells thee that thy father is surely dead, +return as quickly as possible and build a mound to him, and cause +the altar to be piled high with sacrifices and the funeral games to +take place. Then let thy mother marry again. + +"Thou art no longer a child, and it is not seemly to allow such +indignities. Be brave and act without fear, that men may honor thee. +When thou hast performed these deeds, let thy care be to drive out +the suitors. But now I must return to my ship, for my companions will +be uneasy over my long absence." + +"Thou hast spoken to me as a father speaks to a son," answered +Telemachos. "I shall bear thy words in mind. And now I pray thee stay +awhile to rest and bathe. I cannot let thee go to thy ship without +some handsome gift, such as one always bestows upon an honored guest." + +"Telemachos, do not detain me longer," replied Athena. "I must depart +at once. Keep thy gift until I return, and then I will take it to +my home." She vanished as she spoke, and all that Telemachos saw was +a fleet-winged bird flying upward high in the air. Telemachos was +astonished, and knew that he had been talking face to face with some +deity. He thought over all that the goddess had told him, and resolved +to do exactly as he had been instructed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX +TELEMACHOS ASTONISHES THE WOOERS + + +The feast continued. The wooers ate and drank but were silent, for +an illustrious bard was singing to them of the Trojan war. Telemachos +walked forth in the midst of them, his heart inspired with courage. +Penelope had heard the song as she sat in her chamber over the hall, +and she came down the lofty stairway attended by two maids. She +implored the bard, with tears to change the song, since it was the +one most sacred to her and made her sad. + +Then said Telemachos: "My mother, let thy heart be strong to bear +this song which all men love. The bard must sing the song with which +he is inspired. Retire now, I pray thee, to thy room, and take thy +maids with thee. There teach them to spin and weave--a task meet for +a princess. But leave to me the ordering of the feast and the care +of the suitors. Such a duty belongs to a man, and the authority is +mine." Penelope was amazed at his words. She withdrew to her own rooms +with her attendants and wept and mourned for her absent lord until +she fell asleep. + +When the minstrel had finished his song, the suitors began to be noisy +and riotous again. Telemachos could no longer restrain himself. "Ye +insolent suitors of my mother," he said to them, "cease your uproar. +Your lawlessness knows no bounds. To-morrow I will call a general +assembly of all the Ithacans and warn you to depart. If ye remain +in my house wasting my goods and eating food that is not your own +I will call down vengeance from the gods, and ye shall die in this +very palace." + +The suitors were astonished at his courage and his words. He had never +before spoken out with authority. Antinoös and Eurymachos, the most +insolent of them, began to ridicule him and excite the others to make +fun of him. And they asked Telemachos what guest he had been +entertaining so secretly and what news he had brought from his father. +The suitors danced and sang, eating and drinking, until evening, +before they went home. + +Telemachos then sought his own couch. His old nurse, Eurycleia, led +the way with two torches. She had been a faithful servant since Laertes, +in his early manhood, had bought her for the price of a hundred oxen. + +Telemachos sat down on his bed, and removing his tunic handed it to +the nurse, who folded it and smoothed it and hung it up. He lay down +and covered himself with soft fleeces, while Eurycleia went out and +carefully locked the door. But sleep did not come to him. All night +he thought of what the coming day would bring. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI +PENELOPE'S WEB + + +The next morning, at dawn of day, Telemachos rose from his bed and +put on his garments. He hung his sword over his shoulder and fastened +his sandals on his feet and strode bravely forth. He summoned his +heralds at once and bade them call a council of the Ithacans. The +people came at the appointed time, and Telemachos, sceptre in hand, +took his place before the assembly and called it to order. + +"I have not summoned you, my friends," he said, "in order that ye +may see some entertaining show, but out of dire necessity. I bring +no news of war and I have nothing to say that concerns the public +good. You all know the grief which has befallen me on account of my +father, your king and leader, who loved you as a parent loves his +children. But Odysseus is gone and there is no hope of his return. +This misfortune is not enough, for every day the young men of the +leading families of Ithaca and the surrounding isles meet in my house +and vex my mother with unseemly and importunate offers of marriage. + +"There they are now installed, eating our food, drinking our wine, +and wasting our money, for Odysseus is not here to drive them out. +I have no way of expelling them from my home. My friends, consider +these wrongs and help me to drive these robbers from the house of +your king. It would be a shame to the people of Ithaca if it were +noised around that they left the son of their chief in the hands of +plunderers without giving him help." + +Thus spoke Telemachos, the tears running down his cheeks, and he threw +the sceptre on the ground. The people were greatly moved, and felt +pity for the youth who had to suffer such wrongs, but they were silent. +Only Antinoös, the most insolent of the suitors, took up the word +and said: "Shameless Telemachos, how dost thou dare to chide us for +this state of things! Thy mother is the one to blame. She has been +leading us on for three whole years. She is skilful and crafty. She +promised, three years ago, to choose one of us for a husband as soon +as she should finish the winding-sheets for old Laertes in case of +his death. + +"Then she began to weave upon her loom a dainty web of vast length +and width. And she said to each one of us: 'Do not urge me to marry, +I pray, until I finish these shrouds for the hero Laertes, when his +hour of death shall come. I have spun an abundance of fine thread, +and it must not be wasted. Besides that, the dames of Greece would +speak ill of me if I should leave my husband's father without a shroud, +for he has had great wealth all his life.' In this way Penelope gave +us hope, and we were too generous to persist in forcing her to choose +at once. + +"She went on in this way, weaving the great web by day, and every +night she unravelled by torchlight all that she had woven by sunlight. +She has deceived us long enough. We have discovered her fraud; for +a woman who has seen her unravelling the web has told us all about +it. She must finish the work and make her choice among her suitors. +If thou dost wish us to leave thy house, thou shalt send thy mother +to her parents and let her father command her to marry one of us, +according to her choice. When this is done no one will disturb thee +any longer. + +"If, however, Penelope prefers to treat the noble sons of Greece with +such malice and craft, we will go right on consuming thy goods. She +will thus make a great name for herself, but she will impoverish thee." + +"I shall never send my mother away from her husband's house," rejoined +Telemachos. "Living or dead, my father is in distant lands, and if +I should dismiss his wife of my own will, I should invite the hatred +of the gods on my guilty head. She would call upon the Furies to haunt +me; all men would curse me; and her father would demand ample +satisfaction of me. I will never speak the word to send her forth. +Now, get you gone and cease squandering my riches or I will call down +the wrath of the gods on you." + +Having said this, Telemachos sat down, and Zeus sent two eagles flying +over the heads of the wooers, close to each other. They looked down +upon the crowd of people and tore each other's heads and vanished. +The Ithacans saw the deadly omen, and a venerable prophet among them +stood up and said: "Noble youths, I advise you seriously to depart +from this royal house, for this is a sign that Odysseus is coming +home. Woe to you if he finds you in his palace. You will all meet +a direful end." + +Eurymachos answered him: "Old man, keep thy advice and thy forebodings +for thine own children. We do not need them. Advise Telemachos to +change his mind and send his mother home to her father, instead of +prating foolishly to us. As long as he keeps her here we shall continue +to consume his wealth, until he has nothing left. And we will punish +thee severely if thou dost incite this young man to violence." + +Telemachos, thinking it best to be discreet, replied: "Now hear me, +Eurymachos, and all ye suitors. Give me a good ship and twenty men, +that I may go from land to land in search of my father. If I find +that he lives and may return, I will wait one year longer for him +to reach home. But if I hear that he is not alive, I will come back +and build a mound to his memory and give him a funeral worthy of such +a king. Then shall my mother make her choice and wed." + +Mentor, the stanch friend and adviser of Odysseus, sat among the +Ithacans in the assembly. When he saw how Telemachos was put to shame, +he grew angry. He rose to his feet, and addressed the people: "No +king ever again should be wise and good. He should be hard and unjust, +since no one of you has enough love for Odysseus to stand by his son. +I am less ashamed of the impudent suitors, than I am of the weaklings +who see what they are doing and who dare not interfere." + +"Foolish old Mentor," said one of the suitors, "what art thou saying! +If Odysseus, himself, should come hither, he would not be able to +drive us out. If anyone thinks himself strong enough to do it, let +him try it. Ye Ithacans disperse to your homes, and leave Mentor to +provide the boy with a ship." So saying he dispersed the crowd, and +the wooers all went into the palace to continue their revelry. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII +THE JOURNEY OF TELEMACHOS + + +Telemachos left the assembly and went down to the sea-shore alone, +and washing his hands in the surf called on the goddess who had +appeared to him the day before to come to his assistance. At once +Athena stood by his side in the guise and with the voice of Mentor. +She urged him to hasten his journey. Telemachos took new courage, +and returned at once to his house where he found his old nurse, +Eurycleia, alone. He revealed to her his intention, and asked her +to assist him in getting everything ready for the journey. He bade +her draw twelve jars of the best wine, and twelve skins of the finest +meal to put aboard the ship. + +When the old nurse heard this she wept and beat her breast. "Dear +child," she said, "who has put such a thought into thy mind? Why +shouldst thou, an only son and well beloved, wander off to a distant +land? Be warned by what thy father had to suffer because he left his +own country. The suitors will plot to kill thee and divide thy wealth. +Stay here, at home; there is no need that thou shouldst venture over +the fearful sea." + +Telemachos answered her: "Take courage, my good nurse; this journey +is advised of a god. Do not let my mother know of my departure for +eleven or twelve days, lest she weep and mourn." + +The nurse promised most solemnly that she would keep his secret and +execute his orders. She drew the wine into the jars and filled the +strong skins with meal. Meantime, Athena, blue-eyed goddess, taking +the form of Telemachos, went through the city and urged the men to +repair to the ships at sundown, for she had chosen the best boats +in Ithaca for the youth, and found for him a crew that was glad to +serve him. + +Then the blue-eyed maid went to the palace and poured sleep upon the +eyelids of the drunken suitors. They gladly sought their beds in their +own homes. Taking the form of Mentor, she next appeared to Telemachos +and bade him follow her to the beach. When they reached the galley, +he found his comrades waiting. They hurried up to the palace for the +wine and meal, which they soon brought to the ship and stored in the +hold. Then the crew slipped the cables which held the ship to the +shore. Athena took her seat at the stern and Telemachos sat near her. +The sails were spread and the sailors began to ply their oars. Athena +raised a favorable breeze and the vessel glided forward cutting her +way through the roaring waters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII +TELEMACHOS IN PYLOS + + +At sunrise the ship arrived at Pylos. The people of that town were +all assembled on the shore, where they were sacrificing coal-black +oxen to Poseidon. Some were burning fat upon the altar, and others +were distributing food among those who were offering up the sacrifices, +while all were eating. + +The Ithacans touched land. Telemachos and Athena disembarked, +leaving the crew to guard the ship, and went up to the crowd. On the +way Athena cheered Telemachos and advised him what to say to the people. +When they had come near enough to the inhabitants to be seen by them, +the people rose and came to meet the strangers. First of all, the +son of Nestor, Peisistratos, approached and took each of them by the +hand and led them to the feast. He bade them be seated near his father +and brought them the choicest meat. + +After the strangers had eaten, Peisistratos filled a golden goblet +with wine, and handed it to Mentor, as the elder. Mentor was pleased +with the young man's good breeding and he took the goblet and poured +out a part of it on the ground as a sacrifice to Poseidon, with a +prayer for a safe return. Then he handed the goblet to Telemachos, +and he did likewise. + +When the feast was over, Nestor, the King of Pylos, said to his guests: +"The time has come, dear strangers, when it is fitting to ask your +names, and from what land you come. Do you roam the seas as pirates, +or do you come on an errand?" + +"We are Greeks," said Telemachos. "We come from Ithaca to seek tidings +of my father, the unfortunate Odysseus, who went to war against Troy +with thee and the other Greek chiefs. We have never heard anything +of him during all these long years and do not know whether he is living +or dead. I pray thee tell me anything thou may'st know about him, +and conceal nothing." + +"My son," Nestor replied, "thou dost call to mind the great sufferings +borne by the men of Greece ere we succeeded in conquering Priam's +town. It would take years to tell thee of the brave deeds of the Greeks, +how they fought and where they fell. We passed nine years in worrying +the enemy, and there was no man who gave better counsel or performed +nobler deeds than did Odysseus. Art thou then his son? I look on thee +in wonder. Yes, thou art like him. How strange to hear so young a +man speak as he did! + +"After the destruction of Troy, the surviving Greeks embarked, and +we set out for home. But when we reached Tenedos, thy father returned +to Troy to join Agamemnon and the others, who had stayed behind, to +appease the wrath of Athena, for a Greek had committed sacrilege in +her temple. + +"Our voyage was prosperous, and we all reached home except Menelaos, +who wandered about in Crete and Egypt for a long time. It is said +that the noble son of Achilles returned home safely, and that +Agamemnon was slain in his own house, and his son took vengeance on +his murderers. There is a rumor, too, that many suitors hang about +thy mother, and, in spite of thy remonstrances, consume thy riches. +Be brave, my son, and yield not. Odysseus may come again. Go at once +to Menelaos, for he may have news of thy father. I will give thee +swift horses and a chariot, and my sons will drive." + +All day Telemachos discoursed with Nestor, and when the sun went down, +they poured wine on the earth and burned an offering to the gods. +Telemachos and Mentor arose to retire to their ship, but Nestor begged +them to be his guests and go to the royal palace. Mentor, as the elder +of the two, excused himself, in order to join the crew, and suddenly +disappeared. Nestor recognized that Telemachos was attended by the +goddess, and offered a prayer to her. The assembly dispersed, and +Nestor, with his guest and his sons, retired to his palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV +TELEMACHOS IN SPARTA + + +Before the sun was fairly up, they all arose and seated themselves +on the smooth stone benches that loomed up in the gloaming, white +and shining, before the gates of the palace. Nestor bade one of his +sons to prepare an offering to Athena, of the best heifer in the fields. +He sent another son to call a skilled workman to plate the heifer's +horns with gold, and two others yet to bring the crew from the ship. +He told the remaining two sons to bid the maids prepare a sumptuous +feast in honor of their guest. + +In a moment there was a busy scene. The heifer was brought up from +the fields, and her horns were adorned with pure gold in hopes that +Athena would see it and be pleased. The sailors came from the ship, +except two who were left as guards. The heifer was slain and parts +were burned as an offering to the goddess, and cakes and wine also +were thrown into the flames to complete the sacrifice. They roasted +the flesh on long iron forks with five prongs, and feasted upon it. + +Then Nestor said to his sons: "Bring now the chariot and horses and +let our guest depart in search of news concerning his renowned +father." The horses were soon harnessed to the car, which was stored +with wine and bread and dainties fit for a prince. Telemachos climbed +into the seat. Peisistratos took his place beside him and grasped +the reins. The horses dashed off in high spirit, and Pylos was soon +left in the distance. All day the horses sped along. At night they +rested by the way and early the next morning went on again as swiftly +as before. As the sun went down they found themselves in Sparta, the +land of plenty, and at the gates of Menelaos, the king. + +Here they found many guests assembled at the wedding banquet of +Hermione, the daughter of Menelaos. That day she had been given as +a bride to Neoptolemos, the son of Achilles. A minstrel was playing +a harp and singing, while two dancers performed graceful feats to +give life to the feast. + +One of the attendants of Menelaos saw the strangers drive up, and +stepped out to see who was coming. Then he hastened back to Menelaos +and told him that two strangers of princely bearing were at the palace +gate, and asked if he should unharness their horses or send them on +their way. Menelaos was vexed that any of his servants should be so +lax in hospitality, and told him he had acted like a foolish child, +and reminded him of the gifts that had been showered on them when +they wandered so long in foreign lands. And he bade him hasten to +unharness the steeds, and give them oats and barley, and bid the +strangers welcome to the feast. + +Telemachos and Peisistratos were amazed at the beauty of the palace. +They bathed in the marble baths, rubbed themselves with oil and put +on the splendid tunics that were brought them. After that they entered +the great hall, where each was seated on a throne near the king. A +handmaid brought a golden pitcher and a silver bowl for their hands, +and a table was placed before them laden with choice food. When they +had eaten enough, golden beakers of wine were handed them, and then +the monarch gave his hand to each of them, saying: "Ye have come in +good time, my friends. As soon as ye have finished your feast, I will +ask your names and whence ye come, for ye look like sons of kings." + +As they sat there Telemachos, bending his head toward Peisistratos, +said, in a low tone, so that he thought no one else would hear: "Surely, +O son of Nestor, the Olympian home of Zeus himself could not be more +glorious than this palace. See the gold and ivory, and shining brass. +These things are beyond price in richness." Menelaos caught the words, +although he spoke so low, and said: "My sons, there is no palace that +can compare with the home of the gods. The riches which you look at +in astonishment I collected while wandering in Egypt and in Crete. +I find no pleasure in them, however, for I found my brother, King +Agamemnon slain when I reached home. Would that the men who fought +before Troy had their share of this wealth! I often weep and mourn +for them in my palace, and am unable to eat or sleep on account of +the misery I have brought upon my friends. + +"For none of them do I mourn so much as I do for Odysseus, who suffered +the most of all on my behalf. I would gladly give all my wealth, if +I only knew him to be safe. But we do not know whether he is dead +or living. How much his old father must have grieved for him. How +many tears his wife, Penelope, must have shed, and his high-minded +son, Telemachos, what sorrow he has suffered." + +New despair filled the heart of Telemachos, and tears fell from his +eyes. He held his purple mantle to hide his grief and wept in silence. +When Menelaos saw this, he at once suspected that the young man was +no other than the sorrowing son of Odysseus, and he felt perplexed +for want of suitable words. He could not decide whether to question +him about his father, or to wait and let the youth speak out of his +own will. + +Just then Helen entered the hall from her high-roofed chamber, looking +like a goddess in her dazzling beauty. She sat down at her husband's +feet, while servants ran to bring the mat which she was weaving and +the distaff filled with fine-spun purple thread. Her fingers flew +over the dainty work while she questioned the king: "Didst thou ask +the strangers their names? It is not possible that there can be any +man so like to Odysseus except his son, as is this youth! I see him +with astonishment. His father left him at home a little babe, when +the Greeks went forth to war for my sake. Is it not true that this +is Telemachos?" + +Menelaos replied: "My wife, I think thou hast spoken truly. The young +man has the hands, the feet, and the features of Odysseus, and he +cannot hide his grief at the mention of that hero's name." +Peisistratos took up the word and said: "He is, indeed, the son of +Odysseus, O king! My father, Nestor, sent me with him to inquire what +you might know of the long-lost chieftain, and to beg you to give +him advice, for he has to suffer great wrongs in his house and there +is no one to assist him." + +Menelaos was heartily glad to hear that his guest was really +Telemachos. But the remembrance of his old friend overcame him and +he wept bitter tears. "I thought when I was in Troy," he said, "that +I should one day welcome Odysseus to my home. I would have given him +land and cities and brought to Sparta all his people and his wealth. +Then we would always have lived close together and nothing could have +parted us. But he has never returned." The tears fell from his eyes +and Helen wept as well. Peisistratos then said to Menelaos: "Son of +Atreus, my father says that thou art good and wise. Let us not, I +entreat, continue this sad discourse, since this is a day that should +not be given to lamentations. I lost a brother, also, at Troy. But +we will honor these heroes at a proper time, with tears and by cutting +off our locks. Let us not spoil the feast with mourning." + +They spent the rest of the day in making the festival as cheerful +as if there were no grief to be hidden, and when night came the Argive +Helen ordered the servants to prepare beds for them in the portico +and cover them with tapestries, while she poured for them a soothing +wine and dismissed them to their slumbers. The heralds led them to +their couches, where they found a welcome rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV +MENELAOS RELATES HIS ADVENTURES + + +The next morning Menelaos rose from his couch very early, put on his +garments, hung his sword over his shoulder, laced his sandals, and +went into his hall looking like a god. He sat down near Telemachos, +and asked him to tell him frankly why he had come to Sparta. + +Telemachos then told him of the evil deeds of the suitors, and besought +him to give him every possible clew to his father's whereabouts. +Menelaos was indignant over the young man's wrongs. + +"Shame on the cowards who wish to rule over thy father's house," he +said. "Let Odysseus return and he will tear them to pieces as a lion +tears a young deer. Grant, O father Zeus, and Athena, and Apollo, +that Odysseus may yet give those ungodly suitors a bitter wedding +feast. But I will tell thee of my travels and what was told me by +the Ancient Spirit of the sea. + +"It happened that the gods detained me many days in Egypt to sacrifice +and do penance, for I had forgotten to make proper offerings to them. +The island of Pharos lies just off the coast of Egypt. There I remained +until the daughter of the Ancient Sea King, seeing my distress, came +to my rescue. + +"My men and I had wandered over the island in search of food until +we were nearly starved, when she discovered us, and told us that our +efforts would be useless unless we consulted with her father. 'If +thou canst ensnare him and hold him in thy grasp,' she said, 'he will +tell thee how to reach thy home. He is a seer, and can tell thee all +that has taken place there during thy absence. At noon-tide he comes +out from the ocean caves covered with brine, and lies down among the +sea-calves, rank with the smell of salt. He counts them five at a +time, and then he stretches himself out among them and goes to sleep. +He is very shrewd, and when thou hast caught him he will struggle +and take all sorts of forms to escape thee. He will turn into a reptile, +and into fire and then will change to water. But hold him fast, and +when he looks as he did when first perceived by thee, ask him how +to find thy home.' + +"The next morning, I sought the aged sea-god as I had been bidden. +I took three old comrades whom I knew to be trusty, and we went down +into the depths of the sea. The goddess brought us four fresh hides +that had just been taken from sea-calves newly slaughtered, and we +dressed ourselves in them to deceive her father. She scooped out +places for us to lie in on the sands and we waited for him to come. +The smell was sickening and beyond endurance, so the goddess put +ambrosia under our noses. When the sun was highest in the heavens, +the sea-calves came in groups and ranged themselves around in rows +on the sand. The old seer came out and counted all, and did not notice +our fraud. Then he lay down to sleep. At once, we rushed upon him +and caught him. He began to take all kinds of shapes. First, he was +a lion; then a serpent, a panther, a boar, a fountain of water, and +a tree. We held on until he was tired of trying to escape. + +"At last he took his proper form, and began to question me. 'Son of +Atreus,' he said, 'who hath taught thee how to make me a prisoner? +What is it thou wouldst know?' 'Tell me what god is angry with me, +O Proteus,' I replied. 'Why am I detained on this island? Why can +I not reach my home?' 'Thou didst not make acceptable sacrifices to +Zeus,' said Proteus. 'And thou wilt never see thy home again until +thou hast offered up a hundred oxen to the immortal gods.' + +"'I will perform that rite speedily, oh prophet,' I replied. 'But +tell me about my comrades in the Trojan war. Did they reach home in +safety?' + +"Then Proteus told me all; how Ajax died amid his ships; how Agamemnon +was slain in his own hall; and of Laertes' son he said that he had +seen him sitting in a grotto on Calypso's Isle. There upon the rocks +or at the ocean-side he weeps and mourns day after day, and gazes +out upon the deep. His comrades are lost, and he has no ship with +which to return to Ithaca. And after he had spoken he plunged into +the sea while I returned to my ships, offered up the hundred oxen +to Zeus and sailed for home. And now, Telemachos, I pray thee remain +awhile with me, and I will dismiss thee with a chariot and swift horses, +and a cup of priceless worth with which to pour libations to the gods." + +Telemachos took new courage when he heard that his father still lived, +and begged that he might go back at once to Pylos to join his crew. +In a moment all were busy in the palace of Menelaos preparing gifts +and a feast that the youths might depart on the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI +THE CONSPIRACY OF THE SUITORS + + +One day while Telemachos was in Sparta, the guest of Menelaos, the +suitors were more riotous than usual. They diverted themselves in +the palace of Odysseus by throwing the discus and javelin. Only +Antinoös and the handsome Eurymachos kept apart from them. Then Noëmon, +who had given Telemachos his ship a few days before, approached them +and said: "Antinoös, I would gladly know when Telemachos will return +from Pylos. I lent him my ship, and I need it for I intend to go to +Elis, where I have business." + +The suitors were completely taken by surprise, for they had not heard +that Telemachos had gone to Pylos. They thought that he was out at +the farm with his swineherd. Antinoös asked: "When did Telemachos +sail, and what crew did he take? Did he use force in getting thy ship +or didst thou lend it willingly?" + +"He was welcome to the ship," replied Noëmon. "Who would not have +done such a service to a man who has had so much to endure? The young +men who went with him belong to the best families of Ithaca." Noëmon +could not get any news of Telemachos, so he went home; but the suitors +conspired to kill Telemachos. They decided that Antinoös should man +a ship with a crew of twenty men, and lie in ambush in the waters +near Ithaca, in order that they might catch Telemachos, on his return. + +This wicked plot of the suitors was betrayed to the queen, by her +faithful herald, Medon. Penelope was overcome with grief, and wept +bitterly, and her loyal attendants mourned with her. "What new grief +is this which befalls me now?" she said. "Is it not enough that death +has robbed me of my husband? Am I also to lose my only child, without +even having seen him before his departure? Alas! why did no one tell +me he was going, that I might have prevented his journey? Haste ye +to Laertes and tell him what has happened, that he may make some plan +to upset this plot to destroy his heir, the son of Odysseus." + +Then Eurycleia, the nurse, tried to console her with these soothing +words: "My daughter, I will not hide the truth from thee any longer. +I gave Telemachos a generous supply of food and wine, all that he +could use on his journey. And I promised him solemnly that I would +not tell thee of his departure, since he had a great dread that thou +wouldst weep and mourn, and spoil thy lovely face and injure thy health. +Now dry thy tears and bathe, and put on fresh robes. Then go to thine +altar in the upper chamber with thy maids. There pray to Athena and +burn incense to her. Do not alarm good old Laertes needlessly." + +Penelope followed the old nurse's advice. She went to the altar, at +the highest part of the house, and there she prayed to Athena: "Hear +me, daughter of Zeus! If ever my beloved husband has sacrificed to +thee the fat limbs of oxen or sheep, and has built thee altars, save +my son, Telemachos, and destroy the suitors, who fain would destroy +him." The goddess heard her prayer, and sent sweet slumber and a +pleasant dream to assuage her grief. In her sleep she saw her sister, +who said to her: "Be of good cheer, Penelope; no harm will come to +thy son, for a god goes with him." To her, the wise Penelope, yet +dreaming, answered: "My sister, why is it thou hast never come to +me before? Thy home is far away. I weep because I have lost my noble +husband, and now his enemies conspire to slay my only son." The dream +replied: "Take heart. Do not fear. Athena sent me to tell thee that +she will protect thy son." + +"Oh, tell me," cried the queen, in her dreams, "tell me if my husband +lives, since thou art sent by a goddess." But the shadow vanished +through the closed door, and mingled with the air. Penelope awoke +with a glad heart, cheered by the prophetic dream. + +In the meantime the suitors spoke among themselves, for they were +too foolish to understand the spirit of the queen. "Surely," they +said, "Penelope is making ready for her wedding. She does not suspect +that we have planned to kill her son." "Do not deceive yourselves, +my friends," said Antinoös. "Be silent and act." Then he chose twenty +men, and they went down to a well-fitted ship, and took their places +at the oars. They waited until it was dark, when they quietly rowed +out into a narrow strait, through which, they thought, Telemachos +was sure to sail on his return, and there they waited. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII +TELEMACHOS RETURNS TO ITHACA + + +Having encouraged Penelope, the goddess Athena sped to Sparta, where +she found Telemachos, with Nestor's son, asleep upon the porch. She +stood beside his bed, and warned him that he ought to return home, +since Penelope's father had given her counsel to wed the richest of +the suitors, and had promised a generous dower. "Do not delay," the +goddess said to him; "no one can tell what a woman will do to help +the man she is to marry. + +"And also beware of the suitors, whom thou hast offended. They lie +in wait in the narrow passage between Samos and Ithaca. They hope +to catch thee on thy way home and slay thee. Do not go that way. Sail +only when it is dark. A god will watch over thee. When thou dost come +to the first harbor in Ithaca, disembark, and let thy crew go on in +the ship and take it back to the town. But thou shalt make thy way +to the hut of thy loyal swineherd, and he will take tidings of thy +safe return to thy mother." + +Athena said this and vanished. Telemachos turned to Peisistratos and +said: "Let us arise and set forth on our journey with all haste, oh +son of Nestor." But Peisistratos begged him to wait until it was fairly +light. Menelaos had slept lightly, he was so agitated with the great +event of seeing his beloved comrade's son, and he rose as soon as +it was light. Telemachos heard him approaching, and hastily threw +on his tunic and cloak and went to meet him. + +Telemachos urged a hasty departure and Menelaos did not think it +proper to try to detain him. He said: "A host is hateful who is too +affectionate. It is as wrong to keep a guest who is in a hurry to +go as it is to thrust a stranger out when he wants to stay. Let me +bring thee costly gifts, and when thou hast had thy morning meal I +will hasten thee on thy way." The car was heaped with gifts, a golden +goblet, a silver beaker, a robe that glistened with hand-wrought +embroidery, the work of Helen, a goblet of silver with golden lips. +Peisistratos gazed with wonder at their beauty as he placed them in +the car. + +They washed their hands in a silver bowl and ate and drank from the +bounty which had been placed before them. Then they mounted the car +which had been brought to the palace gates. Nestor's son took the +reins, Menelaos poured wine on the ground, an offering to the gods +for their safety and prosperity, and off they sped over the plain. +Two birds flew on before them, an eagle that had clutched a goose +and bore it off in its talons, a sign that Odysseus would come and +put an end to the suitors, and this omen cheered Telemachos. + +All day the horses bounded on shaking their splendid harness. The +son of Nestor plied the lash. At night they rested in a friendly lodge +and the second day they reached Pylos. They drove directly to the +ship, lest Nestor, in his great love for his guest, should detain +him. With an offering and a prayer to Athena he set sail. A prospering +breeze swept over the sea and bore them rapidly along. At night +Telemachos landed at the nearest port and sent the crew on to take +the ship to the town. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII +TELEMACHOS AND THE SWINEHERD + + +When daylight appeared Odysseus and Eumaios rose from their beds and +sent the serving men out into the fields with their swine, but they +themselves remained at home and prepared breakfast. In a little while +they heard footsteps outside. The dogs pricked up their ears and +wagged their tails without barking. + +Odysseus, perceiving this, said to the swineherd: "There must be some +friend of thine coming, since the dogs do not bark." The words had +hardly passed his lips when Telemachos entered the hut. Eumaios +started to his feet and hastened to welcome his young master. He took +him in his arms as a father would a son who had been away a long time, +and kissed his face and hands. + +Tears dropped from his eyes and he said: "My dear Telemachos, I did +not dare to hope ever to behold thee again. Come in that I may rejoice +with all my heart at seeing thee once more enter my cabin after thy +return from a strange country. Seldom dost thou come to see thy +servants, for thou dost live in town, where thou must watch the suitor +train consume thy wealth day by day." + +To this Telemachos made answer: "This is quite true, my father; but +I come here to learn of thee how matters are at the palace. Is my +mother there, or has some wooer won her for a bride?" + +"Thy mother is still at home," replied the sturdy swineherd. "She +has a loyal heart, but she wastes her life in weeping." Saying this +he took the lance from the young prince, who had come farther into +the cabin. Odysseus arose to give him his seat, but Telemachos said +to him: "Keep thy seat, stranger, I will sit elsewhere." + +Odysseus sat down again. The swineherd took an armful of twigs and +covered it with fleeces, and Telemachos seated himself upon it. Next +he brought bread and meat and set them before his young master, who, +when he had eaten, asked his faithful servant who the stranger was +and whence he came. + +"The stranger says that he came from Crete," answered Eumaios. "Lately +he has run away from a ship where he was robbed, and has come here. +I leave him to thee, however; do with him as thou dost like." "Thy +words do not please me, Eumaios," said Telemachos. "How can I receive +a stranger in my house, since I cannot protect him there if any of +the godless wooers insult him. It would be better for him to stay +here; and lest he be a burden to you I will send out food and clothes +for him, and I will help him to go wherever he wishes." + +To him the sagacious Odysseus replied: "My friend, I hear with grief +the story of thy wrongs. Art thou willing to let this go on? If I +were as young as thou art I would lose my life before I would suffer +such things--thy guests insulted, thy servants beaten, thy riches +thrown away, thy food consumed by gluttons." + +"Thy words are sharp, dear stranger, and I shall answer them with +the truth," said Telemachos. "Thou dost not yet understand that there +is a great crowd of suitors; not simply five or ten. What can I do +single-handed against such a multitude? But you, Eumaios, hasten to +the city, secretly, and tell my mother that I have returned and am +staying here. Then come back at once and let no one know where I am, +for the lovers are plotting a bloody death for me." The swineherd +hastily bound his sandals on to his feet, took his staff, and hurried +off. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX +TELEMACHOS RECOGNIZES ODYSSEUS + + +It was not long after Eumaios had left the cabin when Athena, in the +guise of a beautiful woman, appeared to Odysseus and beckoned him +to come outside. Telemachos was opposite to her, but he did not see +her, for the gods are not visible to all. Only Odysseus and the dogs +were conscious of her presence. The dogs did not bark but ran into +a corner of the cabin, crouching and whining. Odysseus left the room +and stood before the goddess, who spoke to him in these words: "Son +of Laertes, of noble birth and great wisdom, make thyself known to +thy son. Tell him all the truth. Advise with him how to put an end +to that insolent crowd of suitors. I shall never be far from thee +myself and will help thee. I long to see them attacked." + +When she had finished speaking she touched Odysseus with her golden +wand. That touch changed him instantly into a handsome, well-made +man in the full vigor of robust manhood. His rags became seemly +garments. His cheeks flushed with renewed health and the heavy beard +on his chin grew dark again. After the goddess had done this she +vanished and Odysseus went back into the lodge. His son glanced at +him in amazement and then turned his eyes away from him lest he should +irreverently look upon a god. + +"Stranger," he said, "I think thou art an immortal whose home is in +the heavens, for thou hast been transformed in looks and garb. Let +me bring a sacrifice and offer it to thee, together with beautiful +gifts, and perhaps thou wilt be gracious to us and keep us from harm." + +Odysseus replied: "Nay, I am not a god, nor like the gods. I am thy +father, he for whom thou hast mourned and endured so many sufferings." +Saying this he kissed his son and wept. + +"I pray thee do not deceive me," said Telemachos. "Thou surely art +a deity and not my father. No mortal could change from a ragged old +beggar to a young and stately man in a moment." + +Odysseus answered him: "Telemachos, it is not like a son to gaze upon +thy father with astonishment. No other Odysseus will ever come into +this cabin. I am thy father. I have wandered twenty years in foreign +lands, and now have come to my own home. Thou hast seen a miracle +which Athena wrought, for she makes me look like a beggar or a king +as she pleases. The gods have all power to put men in high places +or to humble them." + +Odysseus sat down and his dear son approached him and threw his arms +around him in a loving embrace, and together they wept tears of joy. +At last Telemachos inquired: "Dear father, in what ship hast thou +come, and what sailors brought thee hither? Thou couldst not have +come on foot." + +"The Phæacians brought me across the sea and left me sleeping on the +shore in Ithaca," replied Odysseus. "And they gave me rich presents +of gold, and silver, and brass, and embroidered garments hand-woven +from their own looms. + +"These have I hidden, and Athena has sent me to advise with thee how +best to destroy the arrogant crew of suitors that so long has robbed +my house and vexed my wife. Tell me now how many there are and what +kind of men, so that I can judge whether we two alone may attack them, +or whether we need the help of others." + +"My father," answered Telemachos, "thy sweet fame has resounded +through our halls, my whole life long. How often have I heard of thy +courage and the strength of thy powerful arm. But how is it possible +for us two to fight against such a multitude? Fifty-two of the wooers +come from one town with six servants. Twenty-four come from Samos, +and twenty more from Zakynthos, and twelve from Ithaca. If we attack +them all I fear that we shall come to grief. It is better for us to +look around and find an ally." + +Again Odysseus made reply: "Dear son, take courage. Zeus and Athena, +most powerful of the gods, are on our side. Early to-morrow thou must +go to the city and mingle with the suitors. The swineherd shall lead +me disguised as an old beggar to my palace. Keep down thy wrath if +the wooers speak insultingly to me. Do not resent it except to +administer a gentle reproof, though they strike me with their spears +and abuse me with bad language. The day of their death is at hand. +When Athena gives me the sign, I will nod to thee and thou shalt remove +my weapons from the great hall to an upper room. Tell the suspicious +suitors that the arms gather too much dust where they now hang on +the walls, and besides that, a god has warned thee that in their +drunken brawls, the wooers may harm each other. Let no one know of +my arrival, not even Laertes, Eumaios, or my wife, Penelope." + +All day the illustrious father and his son conversed and laid their +plans. At noon they killed a yearling pig, and roasted it and made +a hearty lunch. Once more Athena touched Odysseus with her wand and +changed him into a poor old beggar, that Eumaios should not recognize +him. At evening the swineherd returned. On entering his cabin he told +his young master that the suitors had learned of his safe return to +Ithaca. Then he prepared a supper for them, and they ate and drank +to their hearts' content, when they retired to rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XL +TELEMACHOS RETURNS TO THE PALACE + + +Early the next morning Telemachos rose, tied his shining sandals under +his feet, took his spear and stood ready to go to the city. He called +the swineherd to him, and said: "Eumaios, I am going back to the town +to see my mother. I know that she will not cease to be anxious about +me until she sees me in my own home. Take this stranger there, too, +where he may beg, and thus supply his wants. I cannot receive every +poor man into my own house; my trials are too great. It makes no +difference to me whether he likes it or not. I am forced to tell the +truth about it." + +"My friend," said Odysseus, "I do not care to stay any longer. I think +myself it is better for me to go to the city, where a beggar may have +a fair chance. I am too old to be of service here. Go thy way, my +son, and let thy servant lead me hence, as thou hast commanded. But +let me first warm me at the fire, for I am cold and the way is long." + +Then Telemachos went out of the lodge and sped toward the city. His +old nurse, Eurycleia, was the first to see him, and she ran out to +welcome him, and the other servants came around rejoicing. Next came +Penelope, as beautiful as Artemis, and threw her arms about her son, +and kissed him on his brow and eyes. "Hast thou indeed returned, +Telemachos, my son? I never hoped to see thee again. Tell me about +thy father. Hast thou any news of him? What has happened? What hast +thou seen?" So did the queen greet her son. + +"Dear mother, do not waken my grief again," Telemachos replied. "I +have barely escaped a cruel death. But go to thy bath and put fresh +garments on, and then pray to the gods and promise them great +sacrifices if Zeus will avenge our wrongs." Penelope willingly did +her son's bidding, but Telemachos betook himself to the market place +to show himself to the people. + +When Telemachos came into the public square the suitors thronged +around him with smooth speeches, but in their hearts they kept on +plotting his death. He wanted them to see that he was in Ithaca, but +he did not care to be in their company, so he took his place among +some friends of his father. One of the crew came up to ask where he +might deposit the splendid gifts of Menelaos, and Telemachos told +him to hide them until the suitors had been defeated or had won the +victory. + +Then Telemachos came back to the palace in company with a stranger +who had joined his crew at Pylos, and they sat down near the queen, +who was spinning. The servants brought them wine and food, and after +they had eaten, Penelope begged that her son would recite to her the +story of his journey. In the meantime Odysseus and Eumaios had started +for the city. When they reached the spring where the citizens of the +city went for water, they encountered Melanthios, a goatherd, driving +goats into town. Two servants followed, helping him. As soon as he +saw Eumaios and his guest, he said: "Look! There is one knave leading +another. Verily, the gods bring like and like together. Thou miserable +swineherd, whither dost thou take that worthless beggar, this +vagabond who rubs his shoulders on every door-post, asking for crusts, +eating gluttonously, and telling tales of woe? + +"Just hand him over to me to guard my stables and clean my yard, and +I will give him whey to drink, which will fatten his limbs. But work +does not suit such a fellow. He would rather ramble idly about and +beg for food to fill his empty stomach. Let him once come to the palace +of Odysseus and the guests that woo the queen will fling footstools +at him." With that Melanthios kicked him in the thigh. Odysseus +hesitated a moment and considered whether it were better to slay the +goatherd with a blow from his staff, or whether he should submit to +the indignity in silence. The latter seemed the better course. + +But Eumaios grew angry and said: "Melanthios, wait till Odysseus +returns. He will give thee thy deserts, thou villain! All day long +dost thou loaf in the city, leaving thy master's flocks to take care +of themselves." Melanthios answered him: "Just hear what this cur +has to say! I shall take him off and sell him for a slave some day. +Would that Telemachos might die this moment under the hands of the +suitors, and go down to Hades to join his father!" With these words +he hurried off to the house of his master where he sat down among +the crowd of wooers. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI +ODYSSEUS IS RECOGNIZED BY HIS DOG + + +After awhile Odysseus and Eumaios came to the house. As they drew +near they waited a little to listen to the music, for a minstrel had +begun a song, and while singing he played the lyre. "Surely, Eumaios," +said Odysseus, "anyone would know that this is the palace of a king. +See how stately the structure is, and how spacious the court beyond +the massive gates! And there are walls and towers and countless rooms. +No one but Odysseus could have built such a fortress. I hear the sound +of the lute and perceive the tempting odor of roasting meat, and there +are crowds of guests coming and going. There must be a banquet within." + +Eumaios replied: "True, my friend, this is the house of Odysseus. +Now, let us consider what we are to do. Shall I take the lead and +go in first, or wilt thou go first and let me follow?" Odysseus, the +sagacious, made answer: "Go in before me, and I will follow by and +by." + +They were standing near the stable doors while talking. The filth +from the stalls of the mules and oxen had been piled there by slovenly +servants, who should have removed it day by day to fertilize the fields. +There, on the unwholesome heap, a poor, neglected dog was lying, +devoured by noxious insects and vermin. It was Argus, whom Odysseus +himself had raised before he went to Troy. In times gone by, the young +men of Ithaca had made him most useful in the chase. He had scented +the stag, the hare, and the wild goat for them many a time. But now +that he was old no one cared for him, and he was left to die. + +As soon as he saw Odysseus drawing near he pricked up his ears and +wagged his tail. But he had not strength enough to get up and come +to his master, although he moved as if he would gladly have done so. +Odysseus saw this and burst into tears, but he turned his face away +in hopes that Eumaios would not notice it. + +But the good swineherd saw it and so Odysseus questioned him: "Eumaios, +what dog is this that lies upon this filth? He is well built, and +surely is of a fine stock. Is he fleet in the chase or a mere house-dog +kept for show?" + +"This dog, stranger," answered Eumaios, "belongs to my dear master. +If thou hadst only seen him before Odysseus went to Troy thou wouldst +have been astonished at his swiftness. He performed wonders in the +chase. No wild animal was able to escape him. But his master has died +far from home, and the careless servants will not even throw him a +bone." + +The swineherd passed on into the hall where the suitors sat, but +Odysseus stood looking at the faithful beast, the only creature that +had recognized him. The joy of seeing his old master was too great, +and Argus sank down and died. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII +ODYSSEUS COMES, A BEGGAR, TO HIS OWN HOUSE + + +Telemachos was the first to notice the swineherd entering the hall, +and he made a sign for him to come and sit by him. Presently Odysseus, +too, entered in the guise of a forlorn old beggar, and sat down near +the door. Telemachos handed Eumaios a whole loaf of bread and as much +meat as he could hold in his two hands, and bade him take it to the +beggar. And he told him to tell the poor old man to ask a pittance +from every suitor present. + +Odysseus took the food, and after thanking Telemachos, prayed to the +gods to give him everything good. Then he placed his food in a wallet +on the ground, and began to eat, while a minstrel entertained the +assembly with sweet music. When the bard ceased his singing, the +suitors began a noisy conversation, and having a signal from Athena, +Odysseus arose and went from one wooer to another asking alms. Each +one gave him something, and asked him who he was and whence he came. + +Melanthios, the goatherd, and the favorite of Eurymachos, wishing +to make mischief, told them that Eumaios had brought the old man along +but did not, himself, know who he was. Antinoös hearing this, said: +"Eumaios, foolish swineherd, why didst thou bring that vile beggar +here? Are there not beggars enough to eat up the wealth of thy master +without him?" + +Eumaios answered him most courteously: "Antinoös, though thou art +high born thou art not well bred. Thou hast always spoken +contemptuously to all the servants of Odysseus, but chiefly to me. +Beggars come as they like. No one expects to invite them. Only people +of rank are invited to a feast. But I heed not thy abuse so long as +I can serve the wise Penelope and her powerful son." + +Then Telemachos, seeing that a quarrel was brewing, interposed: "Hold +thy peace, Eumaios, make no words with Antinoös. He takes delight +in ugly words. Nothing pleases him more than to stir up ill-feeling. +Surely Antinoös, thou art a father to me when thou dost bid me turn +a stranger into the street and insult him. Pray let the old beggar +approach thee and receive a pittance, for thou shouldst not feast +on the food belonging to others and never bestow any gifts. All the +suitors except thyself have given him a dole." + +Antinoös made response: "Telemachos, thou boaster, if each suitor +would bestow upon him such a gift as I will make, he would not come +here again very soon." With that he seized a footstool and held it +up where all could see it. The beggar approached him with a pitiful +story of wanderings and hardships. Antinoös spurned him saying: "What +demon hath brought this chattering beggar to spoil our pleasure? Get +thee gone, or thou wilt soon be much the worse for coming. Thou art +a bold and impudent old beggar." + +Odysseus withdrew, saying as he went: "How strange it is that so fine +a form can conceal so foul a mind. Thou wouldst not give even salt +to a suppliant, nor a crust of bread from thine own table, without +begrudging it. But thou dost feed gluttonously at the table of an +absent chief." Antinoös grew more angry, and rejoined: "Thou insolent +beggar, thou shalt not leave this hall unpunished." With that he +raised the footstool and struck Odysseus on the shoulder. The chief +stood like a rock, not in the least disturbed. But he made menacing +motions with his head and retired to the door, where he put down his +wallet and lifted up his voice to call down vengeance from the gods. + +Antinoös spoke again with insulting words, and one of the guests +rebuked him. He was so angry, however, that he did not heed it. +Telemachos saw the blow, and could hardly restrain his anger. Word +was carried to Penelope that a penniless stranger had been insulted +and struck in her halls, and she said to her maids: "I would that +Apollo with his bow might strike Antinoös down." + +Then she called the swineherd to her apartment and said: "Bring the +beggar hither. I should like to speak with him. It may be that he +has seen Odysseus, for he seems to have wandered far." + +The swineherd took the queen's message to the stranger, but he begged +that he might not comply with the request until the suitors had left +the house. "I knew Odysseus well," he said, "but I dread these violent +men. Therefore, ask Penelope to let me wait until sunset when I can +sit by the fire and warm myself, and tell her all that she shall +inquire." + +The queen thought the beggar's answer was a prudent one, and was +satisfied. At sundown the swineherd left the palace to return to his +hut. The suitors kept up the revel until late in the evening, and +then went home leaving Odysseus in his own palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII +CONVERSATION OF ODYSSEUS AND PENELOPE + + +After the revellers had left the palace, Odysseus said to his son: +"Now is the time to hide all these weapons where the suitors cannot +find them, when their hour of need shall come. If they ask for them +tell them that the arms were losing their polish in these smoky rooms, +and also that the gods had warned thee to remove them since some +dispute might arise in which the wooers heated with wine and anger +would attack each other." + +Telemachos at once obeyed. He called his old nurse to see that the +servants were in their own apartments and the doors of the palace +made fast while he removed the arms to an upper room. Then he retired +to rest, leaving Odysseus sitting by the hearth in the large +dining-hall awaiting the arrival of Penelope. She was not long in +coming. Her maids placed a chair, inlaid with silver and ivory, for +her near the fire, and threw a large woolly rug before it for her +feet. + +The queen, stately as a goddess, took her seat there while her maids +carried away the dishes and food left by the suitors. They heaped +great logs on the fire. Then Melantho, an impudent maid, said to +Odysseus: "Art thou here, thou beggar! Begone, or I will take a +firebrand and drive thee out!" Odysseus rejoined: "Such is the fate +of beggars. They must wander far and take abuse. It is true that I +am ragged, but I am not unclean. Once I was rich and had my own palace. +I often gave to beggars and I had many servants. But it pleased the +gods to make me poor. Thou pert woman, surely the queen, Penelope, +never taught thee, and thy bad conduct will not escape the eye of +Telemachos." + +Penelope saw and heard all this and the high-breeding of the beggar +did not escape her keen notice. She turned to the saucy maid and said: +"Shame on thee, thou bold creature. Thou dost know full well that +this stranger has remained here at my own request, that I might inquire +if he knows aught of my husband." + +Then the queen asked her matron to spread a rug for the poor old man. +Odysseus sat down and Penelope began to question him. "Who art thou, +stranger?" she asked. "Where is thy home? Whence hast thou come?" +Odysseus answered her: "My gracious queen, I am the son of a king +and I come from Crete. I am a man of sorrows and have wandered far. +But do not ask me of these things, for I do not wish to lament over +unhappy days. + +"Strong ties of friendship bind me to Odysseus. Twenty years ago, +when he went to Troy, I received him as a guest in my house, because +contrary winds and a stormy sea had thrown him upon my island. I led +him to my palace and gave him the best of food and wine. Twelve days +he remained with me, both himself and his companions. On the +thirteenth a favorable wind arose and they went on to Troy." + +Odysseus kept on inventing one tale after another, such as might seem +probable, and the tears rolled down Penelope's cheeks. Odysseus could +have wept, too, when he saw how deep her loyalty and affection were +rooted. The lady had no doubt of the genuine character of her guest, +but she cautiously strove to prove the truth of his words, so she +questioned him yet farther, asking him to describe Odysseus and his +comrades--how he looked and what dress he wore. + +Odysseus responded truthfully: "He wore a cloak of purple wool, with +two clasps of gold, hand-wrought. The pattern showed a hound +struggling with a spotted fawn, intent to kill it. Besides this he +had on a delicate tunic of shining cloth, spun, doubtless, by his +queen, for the women gazed at it in wonder. + +"He was accompanied by a herald named Eurybates, a hunchback with +a dark complexion, but Odysseus seemed to value him above all the +rest, for he was a clever and a faithful man." + +When Odysseus had finished speaking, Penelope exclaimed, with a burst +of passionate grief: "Stranger, I was moved to pity when I first saw +thee in my halls, but thou shalt be held as an honored guest from +this time forward. Thou hast spoken truly of the garments, for I shaped +the folds in them myself and put on the clasps. Alas! I shall never +see him again. It was a cruel fate that took him from me." + +Odysseus was deeply moved, and tried to speak consoling words. "Weep +not," he said, "for grief will wear away thy beauty and thy health. +Odysseus lives and will return. I met him lately on his homeward way, +laden with wealth which he had gathered in the country of the +Thesprotians. + +"He will come alone, for his comrades were destroyed off the island +of Trinacria, for they had slain the oxen of the Sun. He would have +arrived here before me, only that he stopped to consult an oracle +whether to come secretly or not. He is safe and will not long remain +away from thee. Here I take the great oath that Odysseus will come +within a month." + +The wise queen answered him: "I would that thy words might prove true, +O stranger, but the thought is deep in my heart that Odysseus is no +more. My maidens, lead this guest to the bath and spread a couch for +him where he can rest quietly, and to-morrow he shall share the morning +meal with Telemachos." + +Then said Odysseus to her: "Fair queen, I care not for fine covers +and soft beds. Wilt thou permit me to lie down on the floor near the +fire, as I am used to do? I care not for the bath, either, unless +there is some old servant who knows how to give a foot-bath to aged +feet." + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV +EURYCLEIA RECOGNIZES ODYSSEUS + + +Penelope admired the prudence of the poor old beggar, and called +Eurycleia, bidding her to bathe the stranger's feet as carefully as +if they were the feet of her master. The nurse filled a bright brass +basin with warm water and knelt down to execute the command of her +royal mistress, saying: "My poor Odysseus! My heart is sore for him. +Who knows but he may be wandering like thee, weary and footsore! +Perhaps he is an object of ridicule among serving-women who will not +suffer him to come near the bath. + +"Stranger, I will wash thy feet for the sake of my absent master, +and to please that gracious queen who has commanded me to do so; but +most of all because thou art in need of it through suffering. Surely +I never saw anyone who bore so close a resemblance to my lord as thou." + +Odysseus replied: "It has often been said that I look like Odysseus +by those who knew us both, O aged dame." Then he turned his feet away +from the light, for fear that Eurycleia would recognize a scar and +discover who he was. But it was in vain, for as soon as she passed +her hand over it she knew it. It was a scar that came where a wild +boar had once torn the flesh when Odysseus was hunting on Parnassos. + +The old servant was so overcome with joy that she laughed and cried +at the same time. She let his foot fall against the basin, which was +upset with a loud clang, while the water was spilled over the floor. +She laid her hand on Odysseus' beard, and said in a voice trembling +with emotion: "Dear son, thou art Odysseus. I knew thee the moment +that I touched the scar." + +Then Eurycleia turned to tell Penelope that her lord had come, for +the queen had not seen the upsetting of the basin. But Odysseus laid +his finger on the old servant's lips, and with his left hand drew +her closer and said: "Be silent. Let no one know that I have come, +for I must slay the suitors by stratagem. If they know that I am here +they will prevent me and destroy us all." + +The loyal handmaid arose to bring another basin of water. She bathed +his feet and anointed them. And he moved to the fire and took his +seat, while he pulled his ragged garments over the scar to hide it, +lest it might betray him. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV +PENELOPE'S DREAM + + +When Odysseus was again seated by the hearth, Penelope began to speak +to him further: "Stranger, one more question I must ask thee, and +then I will leave thee, for the hour of sleep is near. All day long +I keep at my tasks to try to forget my grief, for the gods have visited +me with sore misfortunes. I teach my maids to spin and weave and care +for the palace. But when night comes strange dreams flit through my +mind, and new sorrows spring up in my heart. + +"There are from day to day assembled in my home all the young men +of the best families of Ithaca and the neighboring isles, who insist +that I shall choose one of them for a husband. But as I am not willing +to comply, they remain in my house and destroy my property. I am not +able to drive them out, and do not know how to help myself. Listen +to a dream I had the other night. Perhaps thou canst explain it to +me. + +"I dreamt that there was a flock of twenty geese in my court-yard, +and they picked corn out of the water and ate greedily. Suddenly an +eagle swooped down upon them from above and broke their necks and +tore them to pieces. Then he flew off, leaving them scattered about +the yard. I bitterly bewailed the loss of my geese, and so did my +maids. After awhile the eagle came back and, perching on the roof, +said to me: 'Take courage, Penelope, this is no dream. The geese are +the wooers, but I, the eagle, am thy husband, and I have come to kill +those impudent robbers that vex thee.'" + +Odysseus answered her: "The eagle gave the right explanation, O lady. +The dream could not have had any other meaning. Odysseus will come +and slay the wooers, and not one shall escape him." + +"Dreams do not always come to pass," rejoined Penelope, "but I +heartily wish that this might be fulfilled. Be patient a little longer, +for I have one thing more to say. To-morrow is a decisive day, for +it may be the one that drives me from the palace. I shall propose +a contest for my hand. Twenty years ago Odysseus set up twelve axes, +one behind the other, in the court. Through the rings of the handles +he shot an arrow, although he stood at a great distance. I will +challenge the suitors to take the same bow and send the arrow through +the rings as Odysseus did. He who succeeds shall lead me forth a bride, +to his own palace." + +Odysseus responded: "Do not let the contest be put off. Odysseus will +be at hand a long time before any of the suitors can bend his bow." + +"Thy words, O stranger, are comforting," said Penelope. "I could sit +and listen to thee all night. But as thou art in need of rest, I will +retire to my apartment, and the maids shall spread rugs before the +fire for thee." Penelope, having said this, went up to her room, her +maids following her, and she wept, thinking of her royal lord, until +Athena closed her eyes in sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI +ATHENA ENCOURAGES ODYSSEUS + + +Odysseus was lying on his bed, but he could not sleep, for he was +thinking how he might destroy the suitors. Suddenly Athena appeared +to him, and said: "Odysseus, why dost thou lie awake? Thou art in +thine own house and near thy wife and child." "All this is true, O +goddess," answered Odysseus. "But I am only one and the suitors are +many. How shall I, single-handed, meet this multitude of men?" + +"Sleep in peace, Odysseus," returned Athena. "To lie awake saps the +life and strength of men. The time has come when all thy sufferings +shall end. The gods protect thee and they are stronger than armed +warriors." Thus spoke the goddess, and, closing his eyelids with sweet +slumber, she flew up to Olympos. + +While Odysseus was sleeping, his wife had waked, and, sitting on her +bed, addressed a prayer to Artemis: "Rather let me die, O goddess, +than become the wife of any other man than Odysseus. The very thought +vexes me day and night. Just now I had a dream. I seemed to see Odysseus +just as he was when he started out for Troy. I was so glad that I +could not believe that it was not a reality." + +She prayed aloud, and soon daylight appeared. Odysseus heard the voice +and it filled his heart with anxiety. He arose and hastily placed +the rugs on which he had slept on a bench in the palace. Then he went +out into the open air. Telemachos had risen also, and he went forth +to the market-place. Eurycleia called the servants together and +ordered them to be quick about their work, for a festival was to be +celebrated that day and the wooers would come early. + +There was a busy time. The menials obeyed, some bringing water, some +sweeping the floors, others polishing the benches and covering them +with royal tapestries. The servants of the suitors came also and cut +wood for the fires. Eumaios arrived early, driving three fat hogs. +He saluted Odysseus and asked him if he were well treated by the +suitors, or if they continued to scoff at him. Odysseus answered him: +"May the gods punish the ruthless men who perpetrate such wrongs in +a stranger's home." While they were talking together the goatherd +joined him, and repeated the sneers and abuse of the preceding day. +Odysseus took no notice of it, except to shake his head as one who +plans direful things. + +The master herdsman now came along with a fat heifer and choice goats +for the day's banquet. Offering his hand to Odysseus, he exclaimed: +"Hail to thee, stranger! A long and happy life be thine! Methinks +my master must be clothed in rags and wandering like thee. Thou dost +bring his image to my mind. I hope he may return and drive these suitors +out of his palace." "Be sure that he will come, herdsman; thou wilt +see him with thine own eyes, when he slays the ruthless suitors, and +then thou wilt know who is lord of the palace," replied Odysseus. + +The suitors were talking apart from the rest and conspiring to take +the life of Telemachos, when an eagle wheeled over their heads, +tearing a timid dove. With hearts foreboding ill at this omen, they +went into the hall to begin the banquet, while the herdsman went his +way first saying, "When Odysseus comes, call on me, and I will show +how strong my arm is to deal a blow at his enemies." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII +THE LAST BANQUET OF THE SUITORS + + +The suitors had now arrived in the great banquet-hall and taken their +places at the tables. The servants brought bread and meat and placed +it before them, while Melanthios filled their goblets with wine. +Telemachos placed Odysseus near the door, and gave him an ample supply +of food, saying: "Eat and drink, stranger, without fear. None of the +wooers shall assail thee, for I will stand guard." + +One of the suitors, an evil-minded man with a rich father, said to +his companions: "My friends, this stranger enjoys his meal greatly. +It does not become any one of us to begrudge good things to the guests +of Telemachos. I, too, wish to give him a present, which he in turn +may bestow on some other beggar." With that he seized an ox's foot +and hurled it at Odysseus. + +Odysseus dodged it by holding down his head. Telemachos grew angry +and rebuked the suitor in these words: "Ktesippos, thou hast escaped +death. It is well that this stranger avoided thy blow, for if thou +hadst struck him, my sharp spear would have pinned thee to the wall, +and thy father would have prepared a burial instead of a wedding for +thee." + +Dreadful forebodings of woe began to fill the hearts of the suitors. +Their speech became rambling and they laughed insanely. They ate and +drank like men deranged. + +Penelope now entered the great hall and took her seat upon a +magnificent throne, right in front of the suitors. She heard the +maudlin laughter and saw the gluttonous feasting as the revel ran +high. Then Athena came and moved her mind to immediate action, and +she went up to the farthest chamber with her maids, where the arms +of Odysseus were stored. His bow and deadly arrows, so long unused, +were there, with rich treasures and perfumed garments. She wept as +she took the bow from its case and went out, followed by the servants, +who carried down costly prizes, such as Odysseus gave when festivals +with games were held in his halls. + +She took her place, standing before the suitors, and addressed them: +"Ye noble suitors, listen to my words. Cease to eat and drink and +come to the contest. Too long have ye lived at my table, giving as +an excuse that ye would win me as a bride. The suitor who can bend +this bow and send this arrow through these twelve axes shall claim +me as his wife, and I will follow him to his home." + +Penelope called to the swineherd and the herdsmen to place the rings +and carry the bow to the suitors. Each in turn tried to do so, but +were overcome with grief at seeing their master's weapons, and laid +them down. + +Antinoös lifted up his voice and chid them: "Ye foolish peasants, +must your eyes flow with tears at this feast? Bring the bow or leave +the palace. Methinks we shall have hard work to bend this bow, for +none of us have such sinews as had Odysseus." + +Then Telemachos took up the bow and laughed. "I must have lost my +wits," he said, "for I am glad that this contest will take place. +There is not such another woman in Greece as my stately mother. Make +no delay then. I long to see the man who can bend the bow. I would +that I might bend it myself and win the right to keep her in her own +home. Then I should be spared the grief of losing her." + +Telemachos took off his cloak and laid his sword aside. He placed +the axes in a row and took the bow and made three attempts to bend +it, but did not succeed. He would have accomplished the feat if he +had made one more effort, but Odysseus made a sign to him to desist, +so he set the bow against the wall and went back to his seat. + +The first suitor to make the trial had never been pleased with the +insolence of the wooers, and had great foresight and was called their +seer. His hands were soft and delicate. He could not bend the bow, +but he predicted that it would be the instrument to bring death to +the whole crew. + +Antinoös reproached him for his prophecies, and ordered Melanthios +to light a fire and bring a slice of fat, that the bow might be warmed +and oiled to make it pliable. They warmed it and rubbed it with oil, +and tried to bend it. One after another, each in turn, they made trials, +but all in vain. + +In the meantime Odysseus went to the swineherd and the master of the +herds, who had displayed such loyalty. He said to them: "My friends, +what if Odysseus should come; would you take part with him, or join +the crowd of suitors? Speak truly." The two men answered, appealing +to the gods to bear witness, that they would stand by their master +to the end. + +"Behold," said Odysseus, "I am the master that you love. I have come +to my own land after twenty years of suffering, and among all my +servants I hear none pray for my return save you two. And now that +you may surely recognize me I will show you the scar made by a boar +on Parnassos." He raised his ragged tunic for a moment and they looked +at the scar. They recognized their long-lost master, and threw their +arms around him and wept, and kissed his hands and feet. + +Odysseus begged them to desist, lest the suitors should notice it +and discover him. And he instructed them to bring the bow to him and +place it in his hands, after all the wooers had failed to bend it. +And he told them to shut and lock the doors, so that the maid-servants +could not hear the groans of the dying men, for they might run out +and warn the town. + +Eurymachos and Antinoös were the last to make trial of the bow. +Eurymachos sat before the fire and warmed it on both sides, but he +could not bend it. He was vexed beyond measure, and said: "It is not +that I care for Penelope, for there are other women that would suit +me just as well, but if we are weaker than Odysseus our sons will +hear of it in future times and be ashamed of us." + +Antinoös took up the word: "Eurymachos," he said, "this is a day held +sacred to Apollo, god of the silver bow. He should have no rival. +Let the bow alone, lest the god be angry and leave the axes standing +in a row. No one will dare to touch them. Let Melanthios bring goats, +and we will offer up sacrifices to the god and invite his aid. Then +we shall have strength to win in this struggle." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII +ODYSSEUS BENDS THE BOW + + +The suitors approved the words of Antinoös. The heralds filled their +cups with wine, and the wise Odysseus waited until they had drunk +to their hearts' content. + +Then he lifted up his voice and said: "Hear me, ye suitors of Penelope, +while I advise that you defer this trial of your strength until another +day. Apollo will then bestow the power on one of you to triumph over +the others. Let me practise with the bow to-day, to see if I have +any of my youthful strength, or if I have lost it through suffering +and want." + +The suitors were moved with desperate fear and anger. "Thou senseless +beggar," said Antinoös, "is it not enough that we allow thee to sit +at a banquet with the proudest men alive? Thou art drunk and thy mind +wanders. What would come to thee if thou shouldst bend this bow? Verily +we would sell thee for a slave to the great enemy of men." + +Then said Penelope: "Indeed, Antinoös, it is not large-minded to deny +this poor old man the pleasure of trying the bow. + +"Dost thou think I would go forth as the wife of a beggar? Nay, the +stranger has no hope of that. Do not let your minds be teased with +such thoughts." + +Eurymachos, the leading suitor, rejoined: "Our care is not that thou +wilt wed this man. But we fear the ridicule of the people, who will +say, 'These are great men, indeed, who are outdone in strength and +skill by a miserable old beggar.' It would be a never-ending shame +to us." + +"Nay, Eurymachos," replied Penelope, "real shame comes on him who +robs a good man and brings trouble to his family. This beggar claims +to be of good blood, and his arm is sinewy. Let him try the bow. I +make a solemn promise that if Apollo grant him the honor of bending +the bow, I shall do no less than bestow upon him a tunic and a cloak, +and sandals, and I will give him a sword with which he can defend +himself. Then he can go where he likes." + +Telemachos saw that the great crisis was at hand. "Mother," he said, +"it rests with me to give the bow or withhold it. Such matters belong +to men, and in this palace the authority is mine. Take thy maids, +then, and retire to thy apartments, and ply the tasks most suitable +to women." + +The queen recognized her son's wisdom, and withdrew with her maids +to the upper rooms. There she wept for the beloved monarch, her absent +lord, until Athena sent a soothing sleep to comfort her. + +In the meanwhile the swineherd took up the bow and undertook to carry +it to Odysseus. The suitors shouted their disapproval, and he became +confused and set it down. Telemachos called out above the clamor and +gave command for him to carry it along. The suitors laughed to hear +the young man's voice ring out like a trumpet and drown all other +noises. Odysseus took the bow and turned it from side to side, +examining it in every part. Telemachos, in a low tone, bade Eurycleia +make fast all the doors, and the master herdsman tied the gates of +the outer court with a ship's cable. + +The suitors grew uneasy, and one of them said to another: "See the +beggar, how he turns the bow this way and that! He would have us think +that he is an expert in the use of bows." Odysseus stretched the cord +and made it fast from end to end. He put it to his ear to try its +tenseness as a minstrel tunes his harp. It sang like a bird. With +perfect ease he drew the cord and let the arrow fly. It screamed like +a swallow and went through every ring from the first one to the last. +The suitors turned pale. Zeus sent a loud thunder-clap and Odysseus +rejoiced at the omen. He sprang to the threshold with his bow in hand +and a quiver full of arrows at his side, and shouted: "The contest +is ended. Now I will choose another target." + +Antinoös had just put a golden goblet to his lips, and was about to +drink the delicious wine. An arrow pierced his throat. He dropped +the cup and fell to the ground, and as he fell his feet struck the +table. The bread and meat were scattered in every direction over the +floor. The suitors sprang to their feet and looked for the weapons +on the walls. The spears were gone, and the lances and all the armor. + +Even yet they were blind to the fact that the stranger had slain +Antinoös purposely. They poured out threats. "Fool," they said, "what +art thou doing? How couldst thou be so careless! Thou hast slain the +noblest man in Ithaca. Dogs and vultures shall devour thee. Never +again shalt thou be allowed a trial with the bow." + +"Dogs," cried Odysseus, "ye little thought your chief would ever +return from Troy, and therefore ye have robbed me of my wealth and +vexed my wife with offers of marriage, regardless of the laws of god +and man. But now the hour of your death has come and your doom is +certain." + +The suitors trembled and looked for some open door through which to +fly for safety. Only Eurymachos took courage to make a defence. "If +thou art indeed Odysseus, thou hast good cause to complain of wrongs," +he said. "But thou hast slain the leader, Antinoös, who prompted us +to do these wrongs. He had no thought of love for thy wife. He wanted +to gain thy land and rule over thy people. Spare the rest of us and +we will make ample restitution." + +A dreadful frown spread over Odysseus' face, and he replied: +"Eurymachos, I will not take thy wealth nor will I spare thy life. +Now choose between the two, either to fight or fly from death. Be +sure no suitor shall escape my vengeance." + +The suitors all grew faint with fear. Eurymachos cried out to them: +"Ye Ithacans, this man will stand there at the door and shoot us all +down one by one. Out with your swords! Hold up the tables for shields, +and rush upon him, all of you, at once. Drive him out of the gates, +and then hurry through the city and give a general alarm." + +With a fearful shout Eurymachos then drew his own sword and sprang +toward Odysseus. A deadly arrow from the famous bow met him and he +fell upon the table, upsetting it, and he went spinning round with +it on the paved floor, while the food and cup of wine were scattered +all about. His head struck upon a stone and his feet against a chair. +Death closed his eyes. + +Another suitor drew his sword and rushed toward Odysseus. Telemachos +met him with a lance and slew him. Then Telemachos sprang to his +father's side and said: "My father, I will bring thee javelins and +a shield, and I will arm myself and the swineherd and the master +herdsmen." "Make haste, my son," responded Odysseus, "for I have but +few arrows left." + +Telemachos hastened to the room where the arms had been stored and +clothed himself in brass. His loyal herdsmen also put on splendid +armor, and they hastened back to Odysseus with a complete outfit for +him. The chief had used up his arrows, and now he dressed himself +in armor and took the lances. Just then he perceived that the suitors +had by some means been supplied with armor also. He called to +Telemachos, who had left the door ajar leading to the apartment where +the arms had been placed for safety. + +Melanthios, the goatherd, had sneaked in and was slyly bringing +shields and helmets down to them. Telemachos saw him, and gave orders +to the herdsmen to lock the doors of the armory and secure the spy. +They hastened to the armory and found Melanthios, who had come back +for a second load. They cast him on the floor and tied his arms down +so that he could not move them. Then they took a rope and made two +loops in it and swung him safely to the timbers in the roof, saying: +"Melanthios, thou hast a soft bed, and it is where thou canst keep +watch. In the morning thou canst drive thy goats to the suitors' +banquet." They locked the doors and left him there and took their +places at Odysseus' side. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX +DEATH OF THE SUITORS + + +The combat grew more stubborn. Athena, in the guise of Mentor, stood +near Odysseus and cheered him on. "Woe unto thee, Mentor, if thou +dost dare to help Odysseus," cried one of the suitors. "We will not +spare thee when we have slain him. More yet, we will drive thy wife +and children out of Ithaca and keep thy wealth." The goddess, in great +anger at this audacity, turned toward Odysseus and said: "Thou art +not so swift and terrible in fighting, O Chieftain, as thou wert before +the walls of Troy." + +Athena said this to spur Odysseus on, but she did not remain at his +side. She changed herself into a swallow and perched upon a rafter +of the great hall, to put his prowess to a greater test. When she +had gone, the suitors grew braver and threw their spears at Odysseus +thick and fast. But their aim was uncertain, and they struck pillars +and panels and the wall, for the goddess turned their shafts aside. + +Odysseus and Telemachos and their faithful servants hurled their +lances, and the weapons always hit the mark. The cowherd struck +Ktesippos in the breast and exclaimed, as the suitor fell: "Ktesippos, +I give thee this spear in exchange for the ox's foot which thou didst +throw at Odysseus as a gift when he asked alms of thee." + +Four of the wooers fell to the ground at once and the remainder +retreated to the farthest corner of the hall. Still they rallied for +another onset. Odysseus rushed in upon them and cut them down right +and left, while Athena from above shook her fearful ægis. The +surviving wooers were stricken with terror and ran about like a herd +of oxen chased by a swarm of gadflies. Only the minstrel Phemios and +the herald Medon were spared. Both of them had served the suitors +most unwillingly and had secretly advised with Telemachos. + +Odysseus searched up and down the hall to see if any suitor could +be found alive. As fishes lie upon the beach when they have been poured +out from the nets upon the sand, so lay the multitude of wooers. Not +one survived. + +Then Odysseus called Eurycleia and bade her summon all of the impudent +and unfaithful servants who had taken sides with the suitors. They +came into the hall and with loud laments took up the slain and carried +them out as they were commanded, and placed them in a walled court. +Then they cleaned the hall with water and sponges, and polished the +wood and set everything in order. + +When this was done, they were driven like a flock of birds into a +narrow place outside and hung to a beam to die wretchedly. Melanthios +also was brought down from the armory and cast among the dogs to die. + +The palace now was purged with the smoke of sulphur, and the air was +purified with incense. The loyal servants crowded about their +chieftain and welcomed him with glad salutations. They kissed his +hands and face, and wept and laughed for joy. Odysseus was deeply +moved and sobbed aloud. + + + + +CHAPTER L +EURYCLEIA ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO PENELOPE + + +Eurycleia, with an exulting heart, now hurried up the lofty stairs +and stood by the queen in her royal chamber. "Penelope," she cried, +"my child, Odysseus has come. Thy husband is here, and he has slain +the whole crew of insolent suitors who squandered his riches and +scoffed at his son." Prudent Penelope answered her: "Eurycleia, thou +art mad. The gods have taken thy wits away. Do not mock me with such +idle tales. If any other maid had come on such an errand and waked +me from sleep, I would have dismissed her with anger." + +"Nay, dear child, I do not mock thee; Odysseus has come and is now +sitting by the hearth. The beggar whom they scoffed at in the hall +was Odysseus. Telemachos knew it, but dared not tell thee until the +suitors should be slain." + +Penelope rose from her couch and seized Eurycleia by the hands. + +"Tell me, dear nurse," she said, "tell me truly, if in fact my husband +has returned, how was it possible that he alone could destroy such +a multitude of haughty men!" "I did not see it," responded the old +nurse, "but I heard the groans of the dying men as I sat with the +other maids in our own rooms. The doors were locked to bar us from +the hall. When Telemachos called me, I found Odysseus surrounded by +the slain. When we had washed the hall and purged it with smoke and +purified the air with incense, thy husband ordered me to call thee. +Follow me now, my child, that your heart may be gladdened after it +has been oppressed so long with sorrows." + +Penelope replied again: "Nay, I cannot believe it. The gods may have +slain the suitors under the guise of Odysseus, but he has perished +far away from home and never will return." + +"My daughter," said the aged nurse, "what words are these? I +recognized Odysseus myself by the well-known scar made by the boar's +tusk. I turned to tell thee, but he laid his finger on my lips and +said: 'Be silent. Let no one know that I am here until the suitors +all are slain, or else they will destroy me.' Now follow me. I pledge +my life that I speak the truth." + +Penelope descended from her royal bower uncertain how to meet her +lord. She crossed the threshold and sat down at the hearth, opposite +Odysseus, who was seated beside a stately column in the blazing light +of the fire. He did not lift his eyes to look at his wife, but waited +for her to make the way open for him to speak. Penelope was speechless. +She looked at her husband and seemed sometimes to recognize him, and +then the resemblance faded out and he did not seem at all like +Odysseus. + +Telemachos became impatient and spoke to her, chiding her. "Mother," +he said, "thou art hard-hearted and unkind. Any other woman would +extend a hearty welcome to her husband after he had suffered so many +years of hardship, wandering in foreign lands. Take thy place at my +father's side and question him. Verily thy heart is harder than a +stone." "My son," answered Penelope, "I seem to have lost the power +to speak. I am dazed and cannot even command myself to look at him. +If this is indeed Odysseus we soon shall know each other, for there +are secrets known to us two only." + +Odysseus smiled and said: "My son, be patient, and let thy mother +put me to the test. She does not know me in these rags, but she will +soon be convinced that I am Odysseus. It is more important now to +prevent the news that the suitors have been slain from spreading. +They have friends all over the city. Who knows but what they may rise +up against us. I deem it best that we bathe and put on fresh garments, +and let the servants do the same. + +"And let the minstrel bring his lyre and strike up such music as +prompts the dance, so that those living near us may report that a +wedding is being celebrated. Then we may safely venture forth and +see what is to be done." + +Thus spoke the monarch, and his commands were gladly obeyed. +Telemachos and the servants went their way to the baths and arrayed +themselves in splendid clothing. The bard took his harp and woke the +pleasing strains, and the palace halls resounded with mirth and +dancing. + +After awhile those outside were heard to say: "Shame on Penelope! +She weds a second time, and does not even know whether her absent +lord is dead or living. She might have waited for him to return." + +Meantime Odysseus followed a servant to the bath, and when he had +been bathed and anointed he put on garments suitable for a king. Athena +gave him a more majestic appearance, and caused his hair to fall in +heavy curls, like the petals of the hyacinth. When he came back to +the great hall and stood before the queen, he looked like an immortal. + +"Lady," he said, "the gods have given thee a stubborn heart. Any other +woman would have given a glad welcome to her husband after he had +been absent twenty years." To this Penelope responded: "Not so; I +have no pride nor a cold heart. But I should be unworthy of my lord +if I accepted a stranger without putting him to the proof. I remember +well when thou didst go to Troy. Thou didst command Eurycleia to carry +thy massive bed out into the open air and cover it with fleeces." + +"Nay, woman, no living man could perform such a feat. I built that +massive frame myself. It was a tall olive-tree that grew within one +of the courts. Round it I built a royal bower, and, cutting off the +great limbs of the tree, shaped them and fastened them to the trunk. +In this wise I built the frame, and no one could move it without +dragging the tree out by the roots. That is a secret known only to +thee and me." + +Penelope had put the final test, and knew that this was surely Odysseus. +She rose from where she sat and ran to him and threw her arms about +his neck and kissed his brow. "Odysseus, do not be angry with me," +she said. "Many are they who have tried to practise deception upon +me. Thou hast made me believe in thee." These words pierced Odysseus' +heart and brought him the relief of tears. He pressed his faithful +wife to his bosom again and again. + + + + +CHAPTER LI +ODYSSEUS VISITS HIS FATHER + + +Early the next morning Odysseus dressed himself in his splendid armor +and bade his son and servants accompany him to the farm. They took +their weapons and went forth, Odysseus leading the way. It was not +long before they came to the green fields which were cared for by +Laertes. He had built his house there, and surrounded it with cabins, +where his servants slept. + +Odysseus was anxious to know whether his father would recognize him +or not, so he said to one of the men: "Go into the house and call +my father. Let me see whether he will know me, after I have been so +long away." Placing his weapons in their hands, he went down into +the orchard. There were no servants about, for they had all gone off +to gather thorns with which to build a fence. + +There Odysseus saw his father working around a young tree that he +had just planted. He was clad in old, coarse clothes that had been +repeatedly patched, a goat-skin cap, and gloves to protect his hands +from the briers. + +It was pitiful to see the want of hope in the old man's face as he +moved about brooding over his troubles. Odysseus was uncertain +whether he should throw his arms about his father's neck and clasp +him to his heart and kiss him, or whether it were better to question +him. + +He approached Laertes gently and, having greeted him, said: "My friend, +thou art a skilful farmer. Every fig and vine and pear and olive has +been carefully trained. But no one seems to care for thee. Thy master +treats thee badly, for thou art ill-clad and unkempt. An old man +deserves better things. Thy face does not look like the face of a +servant. Indeed one might take thee for a king. Now tell me, who owns +this orchard? And tell me also if this land is Ithaca. I desire to +learn what became of Odysseus, the son of Laertes. He was once my +guest and one that I made most welcome." + +Laertes wept. "Thou art indeed in Ithaca, O stranger," he said. "But +thou dost seek in vain for Odysseus. The land is full of wicked men, +and there is no host to load thee with generous gifts, a recompense +for thy hospitality. Oh, tell me of my son; when did he lodge with +thee? Woe is me! The beasts and birds have long since devoured him. +No mother folded his shroud about him, nor did his father or his loyal +wife weep upon his bier. Tell me, what is thy name? Where is thy ship? +How didst thou come here?" + +Odysseus was overcome with pity, and invented a tale to prepare +Laertes for his unexpected coming. Then he clasped the dear old man +in his arms and kissed his trembling hands, and said: "I am thy son, +my father; I am the Odysseus of whom thou dost inquire. Here is the +scar given me by the wild boar as I hunted on Parnassos. And for further +proof I will tell thee of the orchard-trees thou gavest me when I +was a child. There were thirteen pear-trees, forty fig-trees, and +ten apple-trees. Forbear thy weeping and cease to mourn. I have slain +the suitor-robbers who were destroying my riches, and I have taken +possession of my house again." + +Overwhelmed with joy, the old king trembled from head to foot. The +sturdy chieftain, Odysseus, saw it and drew him to his heart to keep +him from fainting, and held him there until his strength came back. +Then they went up to the house, where a supper had been prepared, +and Telemachos was waiting. Laertes went to the bath and came back +clad like a king. The grief had left his face, and he took on his +old majestic appearance. As they sat at the banquet, relating the +experiences of the past years, Dolius and his sons, the servants who +had gone in search of thorns, returned. Dolius recognized Odysseus +and seized him by the hand and saluted him with joyful greetings, +and his sons gathered round the chieftain eager to take his hand. + +Meantime the souls of the suitors had gone down to the abode of Pluto. +Hermes led them, and they followed, crying and wailing like bats in +a dark cave. The shades of Achilles, Agamemnon, Ajax, and other heroes +saw them and constrained them to relate the mishaps that had brought +them there. Then Agamemnon's ghost responded: "Fortunate Odysseus! +His fame shall last forever, and poets shall sing the praises of +Penelope in all the coming ages." + +Ere Odysseus and Laertes had finished their feast, the news of the +dreadful death of the suitors spread over the city. The wooers had +many friends, and they came to the palace weeping and mourning, ready +to avenge their slaughter. Finding that Odysseus was not at home, +they proceeded to the market-place. The father of Antinoös arose and +lifted up his voice crying for vengeance, but Medon, the herald, +warned them that a god had taken part against them and that strife +would be useless. + +Halitherses, a wise and reverend citizen, took up the word: "Ye men +of Ithaca," he said, "give ear to what I have to say. Odysseus was +not the cause of your misfortunes, but you, yourselves. Ye would not +check the insolence of the suitors, even when Mentor bade you do it. +Contend not with Odysseus nor bring down his wrath upon us." + +The Ithacans were now divided against themselves. Half of them took +up arms to make war on Odysseus, and started for his father's house. +In this adversity Athena did not forget her favorite chief, but armed +herself, and, taking on the guise of Mentor, placed herself at +Odysseus' side. A son of Dolius was first to announce that a crowd +was marching against them, when they all arose quickly, donned their +armor, and went outside. + +Then Odysseus cried out to Telemachos: "Now is the moment to show +thyself a hero, my son. Do not bring disgrace upon thy forefathers, +for they are renowned over the whole world for their bravery." +Telemachos responded: "There is no danger of that, my dear father, +as I shall show thee presently." When Laertes heard this he rejoiced +and said: "This is a happy day for me. How blest am I to see my son +and grandson rivals in brave deeds." + +Athena now drew near to the old king, and inspired him with youthful +courage. He swung his spear aloft and threw it at the leader of the +host and smote him to the earth. Odysseus and Telemachos rushed into +the fray with double-edged swords. They would have made an end of +the whole multitude, but Athena called aloud: "People of Ithaca, cease +from fighting! Retire at once from this contest and shed no more +blood." + +The Ithacans grew pale with fright at hearing the voice of the goddess. +They threw down their weapons and ran toward the city in a panic of +fear. Odysseus shouted in triumph as he gave chase, but Zeus sent +a thunder-bolt down as a sign to Athena that she should restrain him. +The goddess called to him to cease the pursuit, and, taking the guise +of Mentor, she moved the minds of Odysseus and his enemies to mutual +pledges of peace and good-will. + + + + +VOCABULARY AND NOTES + + +A chil' les--also called Pelides, the hero of the "Iliad." He was +the son of Peleus (king of Phthia in Thessaly) and the sea-nymph, +Thetis. + +Æ gē' an--a sea east of Greece. + +Æ' o lus--the keeper of the winds, and king of Lipara, one of the +Æolian isles north of Sicily. + +Ag a mem' non--leader of all the Greek chiefs in the Trojan war. + +A' jax, or Aias--king of Salamis and cousin of Achilles. He was the +son of Telamon and was called Ajax the Greater. + +Al ex ăn' drŏs--Paris, son of Priam. + +Al kin' ŏ ös--king of Scheria, father of Nausicaä. He gave aid to +Odysseus when he was stranded on the island. + +An tin' o ös--the boldest of the suitors. + +Aph ro dī' te--Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. The island of +Kythera (Cythera), south of Greece, was the seat of her worship. + +A pŏl' lo--the Sun-god, brother of Artemis and son of Zeus and Leto. +The island of Dēlos was his mythical birthplace and his principal +oracle was at Delphi. + +Ar ca' di a, or Arkadia--the central district of the Peloponnesus. + +A re' tè (ä rā' tā)--wife of Alkinoös and queen of Scheria. + +Ar e thū' sa--a spring "where the swine of Eumaios ate 'abundance +of acorns and drank the black water.'" (See Baedeker's +Greece--Ithaca.) Arethusa was also the name of a water-nymph +inhabiting the spring. + +Ar' gus, or Argos--the most celebrated dog known to fame. He belonged +to Odysseus. + +Ar' te mis, or Diana--goddess of the moon and sister to Apollo. She +was called the hunter-goddess and the protector of animals. + +As' phō del--a flower sacred to Persephone. The souls of the departed +were supposed to wander in meadows adorned with these beautiful +flowers. + +A thē' nē, or Athena; Latin, Minerva--the patron deity of Athens. +The city was named for her. Ruskin calls her the "Queen of the Air," +and explains her real significance as being the inspiration of the +soul, which corresponds to the physical vigor and life received by +inhaling the pure air. She is always called the "Goddess of Wisdom." + +A' treus (a' trūse)--son of Pelops and father of Agamemnon. + +Au' lis--a bay and town on the coast of Greece, about thirty miles +north of Athens. "The scanty ruins of Aulis lie on the rugged ridge +of rock which stretches into the sea between the two bays. The little +town never attained any importance, for its site was unfavorable for +the development of a community; but the two sheltered bays were +excellently adapted to be the rendezvous of a fleet." (See Baedeker's +Greece--Aulis.) + +Cad' mus, or Kadmos--the founder of Thebes in Bœotia. According to +tradition, he came from Phœnicia and brought the alphabet to the +Greeks and the knowledge of working in metals. + +Cal' chas, or Kalchas--a soothsayer. He offended Agamemnon by +declaring that the Greeks suffered from the wrath of the gods through +his offences. + +Ca lyp' so--the goddess of Silence, daughter of Oceanos and Tethys, +and queen of Ogygia. She tried by every art to detain Odysseus on +his way home from Troy. + +Cas san' dra--a daughter of Priam, and a prophetess, taken captive +in the Trojan war and awarded to Agamemnon. + +Cha ryb' dis--a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily, a little to the +north of Messina. + +Cir' cè, or Kirkē--the daughter of Hēlios, the Sun. She was an +enchantress who lived on the island Ææa. She infused into the vine +the intoxicating quality found in the juice of the grape. "The grave +of Circe used to be pointed out on the island of St. George, close +to Salamis." (See Baedeker's Greece--Salamis.) + +Cy' clops, or Kyklops, also called Polyphemus--a monstrous one-eyed +giant. He was the son of Poseidon. It was due to his prayer for revenge +that Odysseus was kept so long wandering on the sea. + +Cy the' ra, or Kythera--a rocky island lying south of Greece. It was +the seat of the worship of Aphrodite. + +Dē' los--an island about sixty miles southeast of Athens. It is the +mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. + +Dē mod' o kos--a bard at the court of Alkinoös. + +E' lis--a district and a city in the northwestern part of the +Peloponnesus. Like Sparta, the city had no walls. It was protected +by the sacred peace of Olympia. + +The plain or precinct of Olympia is situated in the district of Elis. +Pyrgos is the nearest railroad station. "Olympia owed its high +importance throughout the entire Grecian world to the famous Olympic +games in honor of Zeus, which took place periodically for centuries. +Excavations there have brought to light many magnificent pieces of +sculpture, among them the Hermes of Praxiteles." + +El pē' nor--one of the comrades of Odysseus. He fell from the roof +of Circè's palace and was killed. + +E lys' ian--pertaining to Elysium, the abode of dead heroes and other +happy spirits. + +Eu mai' os, or Eumæus--the swineherd of Odysseus. + +Eu rō' tas--a river of southern Greece. + +Eu ry' a los--a son of Alkinoös. + +Eu ry clei' a (ū ry clī' ä)--the nurse of Odysseus and Telemachos. + +Eu ry' lŏ chos, or Eurylochus--one of the companions of Odysseus. + +Eu ry' ma chos, or Eurymachus--one of the suitors of Penelope. + +Gor' gon--a monster of fearful aspect, a daughter of Phorkys and Ceto. +Her hair was entwined with serpents, her hands were of brass, her +body covered with scales, and anyone gazing upon her was turned into +stone. + +Hel' en, or Helenē--a daughter of Tyndareus and Leda. She was the +wife of Menelaos and was always called "the most beautiful woman in +the world." + +Hel' las--Greece, the land of the Hellenes. + +Hē' li os--the god of the Sun. + +He phais' tos, or Hephæstus--Vulcan. He was the blacksmith god, the +god of fire, and a worker in metals. + +Hē' ra, Hērē--Juno, the wife of Zeus. She was worshipped as the queen +of heaven and was regarded as a model of womanly virtue. Argos was +the chief centre of the worship of Hera. + +Hēr' a kles, or Hercules--a celebrated hero whose deeds are connected +with many localities. There is a cave near Nemea where he is said +to have slain a lion, not far from Stymphalos, where he put the Harpies +to flight, and Erymanthos, the scene of the killing of the Erymanthian +boar. There are traditions of his heroism connected with Thessaly +(Thebes) and Locris, also. + +Her' bart--a German philosopher and pedagogian. + +Her' mēs, or Mercury--the messenger of the gods, also their herald. + +Her mi' ŏ ne--the daughter of Menelaos and Helen. + +Ho' mer--the greatest of the Greek poets and author of the "Iliad" +and "Odyssey." + +I' da--a mountain of Asia Minor, east of Troy. + +Il' i ad--an epic poem, probably the greatest ever written, devoted +to the deeds of Achilles, and taken by the best scholars of modern +times as an interpretation of Greek life, Greek thought, and the Greek +religion. + +I' no, or Leucothea--a daughter of Cadmus, a sea-nymph who helped +Odysseus by giving him an enchanted veil. + +Iph i gen ei' a--the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. "Ulrichs +has discovered the site of the famous Temple of Artemis or Diana, +where Agamemnon was on the point of sacrificing his daughter +Iphigeneia, before the departure of the Greek fleet for Troy." (See +Baedeker's Greece--Aulis.) To appreciate the character of this +famous woman one must read the "Iphigeneia in Aulis" of Euripides +and the "Iphigeneia in Tauris" of Goethe. + +Ith' a ca, or Ithaka, Greek Ithákē--rocky island with an area of 37½ +square miles and 12,500 inhabitants. "The world-wide fame of this +little island is of course due to the Homeric epic of the Odyssey, +in which the misfortunes and wiles, the wanderings, and home-coming +of Ulysses (Odysseus), King of Ithaca, have been handed down to +posterity in undying verse. Even if the person of the hero be relegated +to the realm of myths, it is indisputable that the descriptions of +the poem rest upon a more or less exact local knowledge; and this +is evident not only in the account of the situation and general +character of the island but also in numerous small details.... The +island became almost entirely depopulated in the middle ages, in +consequence of the raids of pirates and the Turkish wars, and did +not begin to recover until the Venetian epoch. But similar conditions +of life make the modern islanders resemble the ancient. To this day +the Ithacans are distinguished by their bold seamanship, their love +of home, and their hospitality." (See Baedeker's Greece--Ithaca.) + +Ja' son, or Iason--the hero who undertook the expedition in search +of the Golden Fleece. + +Ktes ip' pos, or Ctesippus--one of the suitors of Penelope. + +Lak e dai' mon, or Lacedæmon--a district in southeastern Greece. +Sparta was its capital. + +La ër' tes--the father of Odysseus. + +La o' da màs--a son of Alkinoös. + +La o' co ön, or Laokoön--a young priest of Apollo. He warned the +Trojans not to accept the wooden horse left by the Greeks and was +destroyed by a serpent. + +Lo' tus--the Egyptian water-lily, also a tree. The lotus-eaters ate +of the fruit of the lotus-tree and forgot their homes and friends. + +Me lăn' thi os--a servant of Odysseus, a goatherd who sympathized +with the suitors and served them. + +Men e lā' os, or Menelaus--a son of Atreus and brother of Agamemnon. +Menelaos was the king of Sparta and husband of Helen. + +Men' tor--the wise counsellor of Telemachos. + +Mil tī' ä des--the hero of the battle of Marathon, fought 490 B.C. +In this battle the Greeks, numbering 10,000 men, conquered ten times +as many Persians. + +Mi' nos--a son of Zeus and ruler over Crete. + +Mo' ly--a fabulous plant having magic properties. It had a white +blossom and a black root. + +My cē' næ, or Mykēnai--an ancient city of Argolis, in the northeastern +Peloponnesus. "Dr. Henry Schliemann, in 1876, made rich discoveries +there, weapons, ornaments, vessels of gold, silver and clay," +skeletons "surrounded by bands of gold, golden shovels engraved with +battle-scenes," etc. (See Baedeker's Greece--Mycenæ and Athens.) + +Myr' mĭ dŏns--a warlike people of Thrace, ruled by Achilles and taken +by him to the Trojan war as followers. + +Nau sic' a ä--the daughter of Alkinoös. + +Nē ŏp tŏl' ĕ mŏs--the son of Achilles. + +Nĕs' tor--the leader of the warriors of Pylos, in southwestern Greece. + +O ke' a nos, or Oceanus--the god of the river Oceanus, and son of +Heaven and Earth. + +Od ys' seus (sūse), or Ulysses--the son of Laertes and Anticleia and +the hero of Homer's Odyssey. Being summoned to the Trojan war, he +feigned madness, and harnessed a mule and a cow to a plough and began +ploughing the sea-shore. Palamedes, to test his madness, placed his +infant son, Telemachos, in front of the plough, and Odysseus quickly +turned it aside. He became famous for his bravery and craft in the +war. He is looked upon by critics as the most perfect type of adult +Greek ideals. + +[Illustration: ODYSSEUS FEIGNS MADNESS] + +O lymp' os, or Olympus--a mountain in Thrace. The home of the gods. + +O rĕs' tēs--the son of Agamemnon. + +Par' is, or Alexandros--a son of Priam. At his birth there was a +prophecy that he would be the ruin of his country; hence he was cast +out upon Mount Ida, where he was found and rescued by a shepherd. +(See Introduction.) + +Par nas' sos--a mountain near the north coast of the Corinthian Gulf. +It is 8,070 feet high and commands a view of Mount Olympos to the +north, Eubœa on the east, the islands of the Archipelago, the +Peloponnesus, and even Mount Korax. + +Pat' rŏ klos, or Patroclus--the intimate friend of Achilles. His death +at the hands of the Trojans provoked Achilles to action. + +Pei sis' tra tos--a son of Nestor. + +Pē' leus--the father of Achilles. + +Pel op on nēs' us--the peninsula of lower Greece. + +Pe nel' o pe--the wife of Odysseus. The greatest heroine of ancient +romance. + +Pĕr sĕph' ō ne, or Proserpine--daughter of Demeter (Ceres). "She was +the goddess of Spring and was allowed to spend two-thirds of the year +with her mother, while the remaining time she dwelt with her husband, +Hades, in his underground abode." Eleusis, twelve miles west of Athens, +was the centre of the worship of Demeter and Persephone. (See +Baedeker's Greece--Eleusis.) + +Phai a' ki ans, or Phæacians--the people of the island of Scheria, +over whom Alkinoös ruled. + +Phē' mi os--a bard at the court of Odysseus. + +Phor' kys--the harbor where the Phæacians landed Odysseus on his +return to Ithaca. "The Bay of Vathy," says Baedeker, "disputes with +the Bay of Dexiá the honor of being the Harbour of Phorkys." + +Plu' to, or Hades--a son of Rhea and Kronos and brother of Zeus and +Poseidon. Pluto was the ruler of the lower world. + +Po sei' don, or Neptune--brother of Zeus and Hades. Poseidon was the +ruler of the seas and was the first to train and employ horses. + +Pol y phe' mus, or Polyphemos or Cyclops--the son of Poseidon. He +was one of the Cyclops or Kyklops who were said to live in the heart +of burning mountains, particularly in Mount Ætna. + +Pri' am, or Priamos--king of Troy and father of Paris. + +Pro' teus--an ocean deity who lived at the bottom of the sea. He took +care of Poseidon's sea-calves and was famous for his evasiveness. + +Py' los--a town (and bay) in the southwestern part of lower Greece. +It was the centre of Nestor's kingdom. + +Sa' mos--"at present a little village on the island of Cephalonia, +the starting-point of the boats to Ithaca. In Homer, the _island_ +of Cephalonia, or its east part, is called Samē; and in the latter +part of the Odyssey, Samos appears as belonging to the kingdom of +Ithaca." (Baedeker.) Samos, a large island near Asia Minor, is not +related to the Samos of the Odyssey. + +Ska man' dros, or Scamander--a river of the Troad or plains of Troy. + +Scher' i a--an island northwest of Greece. "The ancients identified +Corfù with the Phæacian island of Scheria, mentioned in the 'Odyssey,' +as ruled over by Alkinoös." (Baedeker.) + +Skyl' la--a rock in southwestern Italy. It was supposed to be the +abode of a monster with many heads and hands. + +Sky' ros--a large island east of Greece. + +Sim' o is--a river in the Troad, and a branch of the Scamander. + +Si' rens--daughters of Achelöos and a Muse, or, according to another +account, daughters of Phorkys. They failed to care for Persephone +when Pluto seized her to carry her off, and Demeter took revenge by +transforming them into monsters half woman and half bird. + +Sis' y phos--a hero who secured a fountain to the citadel of Corinth +by betraying Zeus. Sisyphos was punished by being obliged to roll +stones up-hill in Hades. + +Spar' ta--a town in the southern part of the Peloponnesus, on the +Eurotas. It was the chief city of Lacedæmon and the home of Menelaos +and Helen. It had no walls, but its acropolis was covered with temples. +Ancient Sparta was noted for the bravery of its people. At present +Sparta has about 3,600 inhabitants. There are few relics of its +ancient greatness. + +Styx--a stream of water in central lower Greece. "The thread of water +descends from a huge cliff against a background of dark moss, which +has earned for the brook the name of 'Black Water.' At the bottom +of the cliff the water loses itself in a chaos of rocks. The ancients +saw in the icy coldness of the water and in the barren tract around +an image of the underworld." (See Baedeker's Greece.) To swear by +the Styx was to take "the great oath of the gods." + +Tan' ta los--a king of Phrygia punished by the gods for treachery +and for cruelty to his son. He was doomed to suffer from hunger and +thirst while standing close to food and water which he could not reach. + +Tē lĕ' ma chos--the son of Odysseus and Penelope. + +Ten' e dos--an island in the neighborhood of Troy or Ilium. + +Them is' to kles--a great statesman of Athens, and a leader of the +Greeks in the Persian war when the Greeks won the battle of Salamis. + +The' seus (Thē' sūse)--a son of Ægeus and Æthra. Like his counterpart +Herakles, Theseus performed wonderful deeds, and finally became +ruler of Athens. + +Thes' sa ly--a large province of northern Greece. + +Thĕ' tis--a sea-nymph, the mother of Achilles. + +Ti res' ias, or Teiresias--a Theban seer. He retained his +consciousness after death, and Odysseus descended into Hades to +consult with him before he could reach Ithaca. + +Troy, Ilios, or Ilium--a city of Asia Minor and the scene of the Trojan +war. Dr. Schliemann has identified the city with Hissarlik, and in +his excavations there found many evidences of the war, such as spears, +helmets, etc. + +Zeus, or Jupiter--a son of Kronos and Rhea. His abode was supposed +to be on Mount Olympos, in Thessaly. He was considered the highest +of the gods, ruler of the heavens and the earth. + +Za' kyn thos, or Zante--an island near Corfù. + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The publishers of this book used an unusual +convention in which only a single pair of quotation marks surround +a quote, even when the quote extends over multiple paragraphs or +multiple chapters. This transcription has conventional usage of +quotation marks.] + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODYSSEUS, THE HERO OF ITHACA *** + +***** This file should be named 24856-0.txt or 24856-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/5/24856/ + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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Burt</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + + body {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align:justify} + h1 {text-align:center} + h2 {text-align:center} + h3 {text-align:center} + h4 {text-align:center} + +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold;'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca, by Homer</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca<br> +Adapted from the Third Book of the Primary Schools of Athens, Greece</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Homer</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Editor: Mary Elizabeth Burt</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: Zenaïde Alexeïevna Ragozin</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March 16, 2008 [eBook #24856]<br> +[Most recently updated: March 3, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Ron Swanson</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODYSSEUS, THE HERO OF ITHACA ***</div> + +<a name="ill1" id="ill1"></a> +<table align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" +summary="frontispiece"> +<tr> +<td width="619"><img src="images/1.jpg" alt= +"ODYSSEUS AS A YOUTH AT HOME WITH HIS MOTHER"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="619" align="center">ODYSSEUS AS A YOUTH AT HOME WITH +HIS MOTHER</td> +</tr> +</table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>ODYSSEUS</h1> +<h2>THE HERO OF ITHACA</h2> +<br> +<center><big>A</big>DAPTED FROM THE <big>T</big>HIRD +<big>B</big>OOK OF THE <big>P</big>RIMARY<br> +<big>S</big>CHOOLS OF <big>A</big>THENS, +<big>G</big>REECE</center> +<br> +<br> +<center>BY</center> +<h3>MARY E. BURT</h3> +<center><small><i>Author of "Literary Landmarks," "Stories from +Plato," "Story of the<br> +German Iliad," "The Child-Life Reading Study"; Editor of<br> +"Little Nature Studies"; Teacher in the John A.<br> +Browning School, New York City</i></small></center> +<br> +<br> +<center><small>AND</small></center> +<h3>ZENAÏDE A. RAGOZIN</h3> +<center><small><i>Author of "The Story of Chaldea," "The Story of +Assyria," "The Story<br> +of Media, Babylon, and Persia," "The Story of Vedic India";<br> +Member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and<br> +Ireland, of the American Oriental Society, of the<br> +Société Ethnologique of Paris, +etc.</i></small></center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS</h2> +<h4>NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<center>C<small>OPYRIGHT</small>, 1898, <small>BY</small><br> +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS<br> +<hr width="10%"> +Printed in the United States of America</center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<center>To<br> +<br> +<big>THE TEACHER</big><br> +<br> +WHOSE INTEGRITY AND PEDAGOGICAL SPIRIT<br> +<br> +HAVE CREATED A SCHOOL WHEREIN THE IDEAL MAY<br> +<br> +PROVE ITSELF THE PRACTICAL<br> +<br> +<small>AND</small><br> +<br> +<big>THOSE ENTHUSIASTIC PUPILS</big><br> +<br> +WHO LOVE THE LOYALTY AND BRAVERY OF ODYSSEUS<br> +<br> +THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED</center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<a href="#introduction"><big>I</big>NTRODUCTION</a><br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<h3>PART I</h3> +<center><big>A</big>N <big>I</big>NTRODUCTION TO THE +<big>L</big>IFE OF THE <big>H</big>ERO, +<big>O</big>DYSSEUS</center> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" summary= +"part 1"> +<tr> +<td align="right"><small><small> CHAPTER</small></small></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">I.</td> +<td><a href="#chap1">About Troy and the Journey of Paris to +Greece</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">II.</td> +<td><a href="#chap2">The Flight of Helen</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">III.</td> +<td><a href="#chap3">The Greeks Sail for Troy</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">IV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap4">The Fall of Troy</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<h3>PART II</h3> +<center><big>T</big>HE <big>R</big>ETURN OF <big>O</big>DYSSEUS +TO <big>H</big>IS <big>O</big>WN <big>C</big>OUNTRY</center> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" summary= +"part 2"> +<tr> +<td align="right"><small><small> CHAPTER</small></small></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">V.</td> +<td><a href="#chap5">Odysseus on the Island of Calypso</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">VI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap6">Odysseus Constructs a Raft and Leaves the +Island</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">VII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap7">Odysseus is Saved on the Island of +Scheria</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap8">Nausicaä is Sent to the River by +Athena</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">IX.</td> +<td><a href="#chap9">Odysseus Arrives at the Palace of +Alkinoös</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">X.</td> +<td><a href="#chap10">Odysseus in the Halls of +Alkinoös</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap11">The Banquet in Honor of Odysseus</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap12">Odysseus Relates His Adventures</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap13">The Lotus-Eaters and the Cyclops</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XIV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap14">The Cave of the Cyclops</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap15">The Blinding of the Cyclops</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XVI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap16">Odysseus and His Companions Leave the Land +of the Cyclops</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XVII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap17">The Adventures of Odysseus on the Island of +Æolus</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XVIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap18">Odysseus at the Home of +Circè</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XIX.</td> +<td><a href="#chap19">Circè Instructs Odysseus Concerning +His Descent to Hades</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XX.</td> +<td><a href="#chap20">The Adventures of Odysseus in +Hades</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap21">Odysseus Converses with His Mother and +Agamemnon</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap22">Conversation with Achilles and Other +Heroes</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap23">The Return of Odysseus to the Island of +Circè</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXIV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap24">Odysseus Meets the Sirens, Skylla, and +Charybdis</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap25">Odysseus on the Island of +Hēlios</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXVI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap26">The Departure of Odysseus from the Island +of Scheria</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXVII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap27">Odysseus Arrives at Ithaca</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXVIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap28">Odysseus Seeks the Swineherd</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<h3>PART III</h3> +<center><big>T</big>HE <big>T</big>RIUMPH OF +<big>O</big>DYSSEUS</center> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" summary= +"part 3"> +<tr> +<td align="right"><small><small>CHAPTER</small></small></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXIX.</td> +<td><a href="#chap29">Athena Advises Telemachos</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXX.</td> +<td><a href="#chap30">Telemachos Astonishes the Wooers</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap31">Penelope's Web</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap32">The Journey of Telemachos</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap33">Telemachos in Pylos</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXIV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap34">Telemachos in Sparta</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap35">Menelaos Relates His Adventures</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXVI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap36">The Conspiracy of the Suitors</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXVII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap37">Telemachos Returns to Ithaca</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXVIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap38">Telemachos and the Swineherd</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXIX.</td> +<td><a href="#chap39">Telemachos Recognizes Odysseus</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XL.</td> +<td><a href="#chap40">Telemachos Returns to the Palace</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap41">Odysseus is Recognized by His Dog</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap42">Odysseus Comes, a Beggar, to His Own +House</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap43">Conversation of Odysseus and +Penelope</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLIV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap44">Eurycleia Recognizes Odysseus</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLV.</td> +<td><a href="#chap45">Penelope's Dream</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLVI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap46">Athena Encourages Odysseus</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLVII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap47">The Last Banquet of the Suitors</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLVIII.</td> +<td><a href="#chap48">Odysseus Bends the Bow</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">XLIX.</td> +<td><a href="#chap49">Death of the Suitors</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">L.</td> +<td><a href="#chap50">Eurycleia Announces the Return of Odysseus +to Penelope</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right">LI.</td> +<td><a href="#chap51">Odysseus Visits His Father</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"> </td> +<td><a href="#vocabulary">Vocabulary and Notes</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<br> +<p><a href="#ill1">O<small>DYSSEUS AS A</small> Y<small>OUTH +AT</small> H<small>OME WITH</small> H<small>IS</small> +M<small>OTHER</small></a></p> +<p><a href="#ill2">T<small>HE</small> +S<small>ILVER</small>-F<small>OOTED</small> T<small>HETIS</small> +R<small>ISING FROM THE</small> W<small>AVES</small></a></p> +<p><a href="#ill3">O<small>DYSSEUS AND</small> +M<small>ENELAOS</small> P<small>ERSUADING</small> +A<small>GAMEMNON TO</small> S<small>ACRIFICE</small> +I<small>PHIGENEIA</small></a></p> +<p><a href="#ill4">A<small>LPHEUS AND</small> +A<small>RETHUSA</small></a></p> +<p><a href="#ill5">T<small>HE</small> S<small>WINEHERD</small> +T<small>ELLING</small> H<small>IS</small> S<small>TORY TO</small> +O<small>DYSSEUS</small></a></p> +<p><a href="#ill6">O<small>DYSSEUS</small> F<small>EIGNS</small> +M<small>ADNESS</small></a></p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<a name="introduction" id="introduction"></a> +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> +<br> +<p>It has long been the opinion of many of the more progressive +teachers of the United States that, next to Herakles, Odysseus is +the hero closest to child-life, and that the stories from the +"Odyssey" are the most suitable for reading-lessons. These +conclusions have been reached through independent experiments not +related to educational work in foreign countries.</p> +<p>While sojourning in Athens I had the pleasure of visiting the +best schools, both public and private, and found the reading +especially spirited. I examined the books in use and found the +regular reading-books to consist of the classic tales of the +country, the stories of Herakles, Theseus, Perseus, and so forth, +in the reader succeeding the primer, and the stories of Odysseus, +or Ulysses, as we commonly call him, following as a third book, +answering to our second or third reader. This book I brought home +with me and had a careful, literal translation made. I submitted +this translation to that notable scholar, Zenaïde A. +Ragozin, with whom I faithfully traversed the ground, word by +word and sentence by sentence. This version I have carefully +compared with Bryant and rewritten, making the language as simple +as could be consistent with the dignity of the +subject-matter.</p> +<p>The introduction to the original book as I found it in Greece +contains many interesting points, since it shows that educators +in foreign countries, notably in Germany, had come to the same +conclusion with our best American teachers. The editor of the +little Greek reading-book says:</p> +<p>"In editing this work we have made use not only of Homer's +'Odyssey,' <i>but also of that excellent reader which is used in +the public schools of Germany</i>, Willman's 'Lesebuch aus +Homer.' We have divided the little volume into three parts, the +first of which gives a short <i>resumé</i> of the war +against Troy and the destruction of that city, the second the +wanderings of Odysseus till his arrival in Ithaca, the third his +arrival and the killing of the wooers. We have no apology to make +in presenting this book to the public as a school-book, since +many people superior to us have shown the need of such books in +school-work. The new public schools, as is well known, have a +mission of the highest importance. They do not aim, as formerly, +at absolute knowledge pounded into the heads of children in a +mechanical way. Their aim is the mental and ethical development +of the pupils. Reading and writing lead but half way to this +goal. With all nations the readers used in the public schools are +a collection of the noblest thoughts of their authors."</p> +<p>The Greek editor had never read the inane rat and cat stories +of American school "readers" when he wrote that. He +continues:</p> +<p>"Happily the Greek nation, more than any other, abounds in +literary masterpieces. Nearly all of the Greek writings contain +an abundance of practical wisdom and virtue. Their worth is so +great that even the most advanced European nations do not +hesitate to introduce them into their schools. The Germans do +this, although their habits and customs are so different from +ours. They especially admire Homer's works. These books, above +all others, afford pleasure to the young, and the reason for it +is clearly set forth by the eminent educator Herbart:</p> +<p>"'The little boy is grieved when told that he is little. Nor +does he enjoy the stories of little children. This is because his +imagination reaches out and beyond his environments. I find the +stories from Homer to be more suitable reading for young children +than the mass of juvenile books, because they contain grand +truths.'</p> +<p>"Therefore these stories are held in as high esteem by the +German children as by the Greek. In no other works do children +find the grand and noble traits in human life so faithfully and +charmingly depicted as in Homer. Here all the domestic, civic, +and religious virtues of the people are marvellously brought to +light and the national feeling is exalted. The Homeric poetry, +and especially the 'Odyssey,' is adapted to very young children, +not only because it satisfies so well the needs which lead to +mental development, but also for another reason. As with the +people of olden times bravery was considered the greatest virtue, +so with boys of this age and all ages. No other ethical idea has +such predominance as that of prowess. Strength of body and a firm +will characterize those whom boys choose as their leaders. Hence +the pleasure they derive from the accounts of celebrated heroes +of yore whose bravery, courage, and prudence they admire."</p> +<p>The editor further extols the advantages arising from the +study of Homer, it making the youthful students acquainted with +the earliest periods of Greek history, the manners and customs of +the people, and he ends by quoting from Herbart:</p> +<p>"Boys must first get acquainted with the noisy market-place of +Ithaca and then be led to the Athens of Miltiades and +Themistokles."</p> +<p>With equal truth the American can say that the child whose +patriotism is kindled by the Homeric fire will the more gladly +respond to the ideals set forth in the history of a Columbus or a +Washington.</p> +<div align="right">M<small>ARY</small> E. +B<small>URT</small>. </div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>PART I</h4> +<h2>AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE<br> +OF THE HERO, ODYSSEUS</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap1" id="chap1"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<h4>ABOUT TROY AND THE JOURNEY OF PARIS TO GREECE</h4> +<br> +<p>On the northern shore of Asia Minor there lies a plateau +watered by many small rivers and surrounded on all sides by +mountains, only on the north it slopes gently to the sea. On this +plateau, between the Simois and Scamandros rivers, in the oldest +times there stood a very rich and powerful city, whose name was +Troy. It was the capital of a large and fertile district, known +as the Troad.</p> +<p>There, about 1200 <small>B.C.</small>, reigned a king by the +name of Priam, possessed of great power and boundless wealth. He +had many sons and daughters. It was said, indeed, that he had +fifty sons who were all married and living in their own homes, +which they had built by the king's wish around the royal +palace.</p> +<p>They were all handsome and heroic young men. One of the +youngest, Paris, also named Alexandros, surpassed the others in +beauty. He was a restless youth and not fond of his home, as were +the others. He had set his heart on travelling and seeing strange +countries and cities. King Priam was extremely fond of his large +family, and took pride in having all his children about him, so +that at first he was greatly opposed to the wishes of Paris.</p> +<p>But the youth was so persistent and unhappy that the king at +last consented to let him go. Without delay, Paris called +together a few friends with tastes as adventurous as his own. +They embarked in a new ship well provided with all that +travellers need, and set sail for the famous land on the shores +of the Ægean Sea, of which they had heard so many wonderful +things, and which was called Hellas.</p> +<p>Nearly in the middle of the plain which forms the southern +part of Hellas was the city of Sparta. It was on the river +Eurotas, and was the capital of a large district called +Lacedæmon, and it was to this city that Paris came.</p> +<p>Now, there was a mysterious reason for this strange desire of +Paris—his passionate longing to travel. In his early youth, +while he was still minding his herds on the rich pastures of +Mount Ida, he received a visit from the three greatest goddesses +of Olympos.</p> +<p>Hera, the queen of Heaven and consort of Zeus—Athena, +the goddess of wisdom, and Zeus's favorite daughter—and +Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, had a dispute among +themselves.</p> +<p>Each thought herself the most beautiful of the three, and they +would have come to high words about it had not Athena proposed +that they should ask the handsomest man in the world to settle +the question. This happened to be the young royal shepherd, +Paris. So the three goddesses floated down to the slope of Mount +Ida on a snowy cloud and placed the question before him, each +promising to reward him royally if he gave his verdict in her +favor.</p> +<p>Paris, as might have been expected, decided in favor of +Aphrodite, who had promised him that the fairest woman living in +the whole world should be his wife. This promise had to be kept, +being given by a goddess, but it was the source of endless +misfortune, for Paris had a young and lovely wife who was +tenderly attached to him, while the fairest of living +women—acknowledged as such by fame in all known +countries—was Queen Helen of Sparta, herself the wife of +another man.</p> +<p>Her husband was one of the most renowned heroes of Hellas, +King Menelaos, a son of Atreus and brother of the leader of the +Greek chiefs, Agamemnon, King of Mycenæ. It was Aphrodite, +then, who inspired Paris with an insane desire to forsake his +parents, brothers, and wife. It was her secret guidance which led +him across the seas and through the dangers lurking among the +hundreds of islands of the Archipelagos straight to the land of +Lacedæmon. This is the central of the three peninsulas in +which the Peloponnesus ends, and might be called the middle +finger of that large hand of which Arcadia is the palm.</p> +<p>Paris landed, with all his companions, on the shores of +Lacedæmon, where the people received him kindly and helped +him on his journey to Sparta, where Menelaos and Helen gave him a +cordial welcome.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap2" id="chap2"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<h4>THE FLIGHT OF HELEN</h4> +<br> +<p>Aphrodite, while leading Paris to the shores of +Lacedæmon, had not forgotten her promise, and in Sparta +itself she was at work at its fulfilment. She inspired Queen +Helen with a growing discontent and restlessness of spirit. +Menelaos had not noticed any change in her, and it was with an +utterly unsuspicious mind that he received the fatal strangers +and made them welcome guests in his land and home.</p> +<p>More than that, having heard the news from Crete that his +presence there was desirable on account of some urgent business, +he did not hesitate to set sail for that island, in the +expectation of finding Paris and his companions still enjoying +the hospitality of his palace after a short absence.</p> +<p>This was the chance which wily Aphrodite had contrived for +Paris. He took the hint and carried Helen away to his ship, +together with as much treasure as they could lay hands on, and +then they sailed for Troy. Little did he heed, in his mad desire +to call the most beautiful woman in the world his wife, that she +was already the wife of a hero who had received him as an honored +guest in his house, and that he was about to destroy the peace +and honor of his host.</p> +<p>As soon as Menelaos heard of the flight of his wife, he +hastened back to Sparta, where he found his palace deserted and +his treasure-house robbed.</p> +<p>Then his heart was filled with great wrath. He set out at once +to see his brother, Agamemnon, to consult with him about what was +to be done. Agamemnon was ruler over Mycenæ, and highly +respected in all Hellas on account of his power and riches.</p> +<p>After the two brothers had talked over this grave affair, they +announced to all the leaders in Hellas the great and detestable +crime, and asked them for their assistance. All the king's chiefs +of Hellas lent a willing ear to this demand, for in this breach +of hospitality, committed against one of them, each felt himself +personally aggrieved and bound to help in the punishment of what, +in those times, was considered the most unpardonable of all +crimes. Only one of the kings held back for awhile and needed +much persuasion to join the league. This was Odysseus of Ithaca, +who could well consider himself at the time the happiest of +mortals, for he had lately married Penelope, one of the fairest +and most virtuous maidens of Greece. He had an infant son of +great beauty and promise, and he owned much land and countless +herds of cattle, sheep, and swine. Added to that, all the petty +nobles of the island acknowledged him as their chief.</p> +<p>But a soothsayer, or seer, had greatly disturbed him by +informing him that if he went to a great war he would be kept +away from his home for the space of twenty years, and even then +return to it in the guise of a beggar, after having suffered +wrecks, captivity, endless wanderings, and loss of comrades.</p> +<p>No one could doubt that Odysseus was brave, but no one could +blame him for wishing to be excused from taking part in the war +against Troy. Menelaos and his brother, however, would accept no +excuse from him, as he was the wisest and craftiest of all the +leaders, and when Odysseus finally consented to join them he set +about arming and directing the young Greek warriors with all his +heart and soul.</p> +<p>There was another young prince whom it was absolutely +necessary to secure, for a much venerated oracle had given it as +a decree of the gods that Troy could never be taken without his +help. This was Achilles, son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons in +Thessaly, and of the beauteous ocean nymph, Thetis. +Notwithstanding his extreme youth, his father would not +disappoint the whole country, and he let him go with those who +came for him. But he sent along with him his adopted son, +Patroklos, who was several years older, and to whom the boy was +passionately attached, and also his oldest and most trusted +servant, Phœnix. These two, the old man and the youth, he +charged, as they hoped for the mercy of Zeus, to keep watchful +guard over Achilles, whose exceedingly impetuous and reckless +temper exposed him to many dangers which might be averted by a +sensible and loving word spoken in time.</p> +<a name="ill2" id="ill2"></a> +<table align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" +summary="thetis"> +<tr> +<td width="630"><img src="images/2.jpg" alt= +"THE SILVER-FOOTED THETIS RISING FROM THE WAVES"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="630" align="center">THE SILVER-FOOTED THETIS RISING +FROM THE WAVES</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>The Greeks took counsel together, and it was resolved that +Menelaos should go in person to Troy and demand back his wife, +Helen, as well as his treasure and a suitable apology for the +wrong done to him and to all Hellas. He chose for his companion +the cunning Odysseus. On their arrival in Troy, Menelaos and +Odysseus presented themselves before Priam and demanded the +return of Helen and the treasures.</p> +<p>The king at once called his people together to deliberate upon +the matter, and the two Greek kings bravely denounced the mean +act of Paris. But the Trojans, stirred up by that youth, abused +the ambassadors and drove them out of their city.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap3" id="chap3"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<h4>THE GREEKS SAIL FOR TROY</h4> +<br> +<p>The kings and chieftains of Hellas, having heard that Odysseus +and Menelaos had been driven out of Troy, hastened to call +together their fleets and armies at Aulis, a city of Bœotia +on a ridge of rock running out into the sea between two little +bays, each of which was a harbor for many ships. A hundred +thousand men and a thousand ships were gathered there under the +leadership of the celebrated and heroic chiefs. The +commander-in-chief of the whole army was Agamemnon.</p> +<p>Among the renowned leaders were Menelaos, the sagacious +Odysseus, Ajax, and many others. Just as they were offering a +sacrifice to the gods, in order to start out to the war with +their good will, a great miracle happened. A fearful snake crept +from under the altar and climbed a tree in which there was a +sparrow's nest nearly hidden by the leaves. There were eight +young sparrows in the nest, nine birds with the mother. The snake +devoured the fluttering little birds, around which the mother +circled as if overcome by grief.</p> +<p>Then the snake darted at the mother-bird and swallowed it, +when Zeus changed the reptile into a stone. The Greeks wondered +at the sight, but the soothsayer, Calchas, said to them: "Why do +ye wonder at this? The all-powerful Zeus has sent us this sign +because our deeds shall live forever in the minds of men. Just as +the snake has devoured the eight little sparrows and their +mother, so shall the war swallow up the nine coming years, and in +the tenth we shall overcome Troy."</p> +<p>The ships of the Greeks lay in the bays of Aulis while the +warriors waited impatiently to set sail. But the winds were +contrary; they would not blow, and the boats waited there year +after year; for a sacred hind had been slain by Agamemnon, one +that belonged to the goddess Artemis, and it was ordered by that +goddess that no wind should arise to take them on toward Troy +until her wrath had been appeased.</p> +<p>So Agamemnon went to Calchas, the seer, and asked his advice, +whereupon the old prophet told him to send for his lovely young +daughter, Iphigeneia, and offer her up on the altar as the only +acceptable sacrifice to Artemis. When he had placed her upon the +altar and the priest was raising his knife, the goddess took pity +on Agamemnon and carried the girl away in a cloud, leaving a fine +white doe instead.</p> +<a name="ill3" id="ill3"></a> +<table align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" +summary="agamemnon"> +<tr> +<td width="681"><img src="images/3.jpg" alt= +"ODYSSEUS AND MENELAOS PERSUADING AGAMEMNON TO SACRIFICE IPHIGENEIA"> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="681" align="center">ODYSSEUS AND MENELAOS PERSUADING +AGAMEMNON TO SACRIFICE IPHIGENEIA</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>And now arose a favorable wind, and the Greeks arrived safely +before Troy. How they fought with the Trojans, how many of the +heroes outlived the struggle, and how many fell in the battle, +all this we can learn from an old book called the "Iliad." We +shall select from it only those things which refer to our hero, +Odysseus; and to complete the history of that hero we shall go to +another book, called the "Odyssey."</p> +<p>Both of these books are the work of the great poet Homer, who +lived many years after the war with Troy. That we may understand +better what happened later on, we must give a short account of +the fall of Troy and of the return of Menelaos and Agamemnon to +their own country.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap4" id="chap4"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<h4>THE FALL OF TROY</h4> +<br> +<p>The war lasted nine years, and in the tenth the Greeks +conquered Troy, not in battle, but by means of a trick which had +come into the mind of Odysseus. He told a skilful carpenter to +build a wooden horse of gigantic size, and in it he hid the +bravest Greek warriors. When he had done this he advised all the +other Greeks to depart without leaving anything behind them, and +so lead the Trojans to believe that they had given up the fight +and gone home.</p> +<p>So the Greeks burned their tents and put off to sea, while the +Trojans from their walls watched them with great joy, thinking +themselves well rid of an enemy. When the last ship had gone, the +Trojans threw open the gates of their city and rushed down into +the plain where the Greeks had had their camp, to see how the +place looked.</p> +<p>There they found the wooden horse, and one of the Greeks tied +to a tree, who told them he was left there as a punishment, and +that the wooden horse was an offering to the gods. The Trojans +made up their minds to carry it into their city and give it the +best place on their highest hill.</p> +<p>Then Laocoön, a priest of Apollo, stepped forth, and said +to them: "Unhappy people! what madness possesses you? Do ye think +the enemy gone? Do ye know Odysseus so little? There are Greek +warriors hidden in this horse, or else some other mischief is +lurking there. Fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts."</p> +<p>With these words, he thrust his spear into the flank of the +horse, and the arms of the hidden enemy clashed with a loud +noise. Just then two snakes of great size, sent by Athena, rose +from the sea, and sprang upon Laocoön and his two sons, and, +coiling around them, bit them to death. The Trojans, in great +fear at the sight, took this as a sign from the gods that the +horse was sacred and that they must protect it, and they moved it +at once into their city, breaking down a part of their wall to +get it in.</p> +<p>Having done this, they gave themselves up to feasting and +making merry, without the slightest thought that any evil was in +store for them. But when night had come, and all were in a deep +sleep, the ships of the Greeks, which had been hiding all the +while behind a neighboring island, came back. The warriors who +were concealed in the wooden horse sprang out and rushing wildly +through the city, slew the Trojans right and left without mercy. +From all sides came wailings and groans, and the flames of the +burning city rose up to the sky.</p> +<p>A deadly struggle took place between the Trojans and the +Greeks. Priam was slain, and Paris and many other heroes. The +victory was to the Greeks. Troy fell never to rise again, and the +women and children were led off to become slaves to their +conquerors.</p> +<p>Thus was destroyed in one night the great and glorious city of +Troy, all on account of the crime which Paris had committed +against the laws of hospitality.</p> +<p>The trials of the Greeks were not yet at an end. After their +victory at Troy they embarked in their ships and started eagerly +for their homes. But Zeus prepared a sad fate for them, because +Ajax had violently dragged Cassandra, the beautiful daughter of +Priam, from the altar of Athena and had made her his slave. Thus +many of the leaders perished in the sea far from home, and some +were cast on foreign shores to die.</p> +<p>Menelaos was thrown by wind and waves on the island of Crete, +and he lost many of the ships on the cliffs. Thence he strayed to +the island of Cyprus, noted for its mines; and he roved through +other lands until he came to Egypt, where he wandered about for +eight years, when he returned to Sparta, taking Helen with him. +He became reconciled to his wife, and they lived a quiet life far +removed from the enchantments of the wily Aphrodite.</p> +<p>But the saddest fate of all overtook Agamemnon, who met his +death in his own house at the hands of his wife and brother.</p> +<p>Agamemnon, without any accident at sea, reached his native +land. Full of gratitude, he kissed the earth and wept tears of +joy at the thought of meeting his wife and son.</p> +<p>He entered his home with a glad heart, and his faithless wife +came to meet him, but she had prepared a hot bath for him, and +there he met his death, entangled in a net which she threw over +him, for she had not forgotten the loss of her beautiful +daughter, Iphigeneia, whom she believed to have been offered up +as a sacrifice on the altar of Artemis.</p> +<p>She was assisted in this dreadful deed by her husband's +brother, who became ruler over the land, holding sway eight +years, when Orestes, the son of Agamemnon, slew him and regained +the kingdom.</p> +<p>And now we come to the return of Odysseus, the wisest of the +Greeks, who wandered to the remotest part of the earth and +learned the customs of many people, and who suffered terrible +things by land and sea.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>PART II</h4> +<h2>THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO<br> +HIS OWN COUNTRY</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap5" id="chap5"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER V</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF CALYPSO</h4> +<br> +<p>All the Greeks who had escaped from the destruction of Troy +and had been spared the terrors of the sea returned to their +homes. But the unfortunate Odysseus was delayed by the fair nymph +Calypso on her island, where she made her home in a cool and +beautiful grotto. There he wept and mourned, desiring to see his +wife again and his native land. Each of the gods save one, +Poseidon, god of the sea, wished to help him to find the way +home. Odysseus had brought Poseidon's wrath upon himself through +inflicting a terrible injury upon the favorite son of that deity, +and for that reason the wrath of the god fell on him and he was +wrecked. One day all the other gods had assembled in the hall of +Zeus, on Mount Olympos, when Athena, the favorite daughter of +Zeus and firm friend of Odysseus, knowing that her father in his +heart was well-disposed toward the hero, began to plead for him +in a way to excite greater pity still.</p> +<p>"O my father, thou great king among the gods," she said, "my +heart is troubled on account of the wise Odysseus, who lingers on +an island, far away from home, and suffers greatly; for a nymph +lives on the island, the daughter of great Atlas, and with sweet +words she strives to make Odysseus forget his native land. But he +bewails his fate and is full of sorrow, his only wish being to +have a glimpse of the smoke of his beloved country."</p> +<p>Zeus thereupon ordered Hermes to depart at once for the island +and tell the nymph to send Odysseus to his home without delay. +Hermes obeyed quickly. He bound his winged sandals to his feet, +and, taking his golden wand in his hand, flew like a meteor over +land and sea till he reached the island where the nymph Calypso +made her abode. He found her within the grotto, singing sweetly +while she wove a fine web on a golden loom.</p> +<p>All about the grotto there was a grove of cypress-trees in +which birds of gay colors were sporting and springs of pure water +bubbling, and the fragrance of strange flowers filled the air. +When Hermes had gazed upon these wonders he entered the grotto. +It was bright with a blazing fire on a spacious hearth, and +fragrant with the odor of burning cedar and cypress.</p> +<p>Calypso saw him as he came in and knew him. She bade him sit +down on a throne dazzling with jewels, and, placing a table +before him laden with nectar and ambrosia, invited him to eat and +drink. After he had finished his repast, Hermes told her that +Zeus had sent him to her with the command that she should send +Odysseus without delay to his native land. Having given this +message, he disappeared, leaving Calypso in great grief.</p> +<p>Odysseus in the meantime sat by the shore mourning and gazing +out upon the sea. Calypso found him there, sitting alone, weeping +and longing for his home. She stood by him and said: "Odysseus, +my unhappy friend, do not waste thy life any longer in sorrow. +The end of thy grief has come. Arise and prepare to depart for +thy home. Build thee a raft of the trunks of trees which thou +shalt hew down. I will put bread and water and delicate wine on +board; and I will clothe thee in comfortable garments, and send a +favorable wind that thou mayest safely reach thy native +land."</p> +<p>Thus spoke the lovely goddess, but Odysseus could hardly +believe her, and said: "I fear, O goddess, that thou hast some +other thought in thy mind, and that thou dost not wish to send me +home when thou biddest me sail over this stormy and dangerous +sea. I shall never go on to the raft against thy wish, and thou +must swear the great oath of the gods that no harm shall come to +me."</p> +<p>The goddess smiled at these words, and, taking the hero by the +hand, rejoined: "Thou art a wise man, and thy answer is well +made. I will pledge thee a solemn oath, by the heavens and the +earth, and the waters of the Styx, that I have no plan of evil +against thee. And I advise thee to do as I have instructed thee, +to be ready for any crisis."</p> +<p>Speaking thus, the goddess went into the grotto and Odysseus +followed her. When he had come into the spacious hall, he sat +down on his throne and the nymph brought him rich food and wine. +Then she took a seat opposite him, and her attendants brought her +ambrosia and nectar, which she would gladly have shared with +Odysseus, that he, too, might become an immortal.</p> +<p>When the repast was over, Calypso narrated to him all the +trials he would have to undergo before he could reach his native +land. While she was relating these things the sun sank down, and +darkness came upon the island, and all who had their abode in the +grotto sought rest and slumber.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap6" id="chap6"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER VI</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS CONSTRUCTS A RAFT AND LEAVES THE ISLAND</h4> +<br> +<p>At daybreak the goddess gave Odysseus a large axe and a sharp +adze, and led him to the heights of the island, where the largest +trees grew. He went to work at once and cut down twenty trees, +which he hewed into proper shape, and then tied them together +with ropes which he himself made of bark.</p> +<p>In this way he built a raft which was very large and strong +enough to stand the onset of the waves. He wove a railing of +willow and fitted it around the sides of the raft, to protect +himself against the dashing waves; and he raised a strong mast +with sails shaped to it, and tightly bound by cords and ropes. He +filled the crevices of the raft with wax and pitch and attached a +rudder.</p> +<p>At the end of the fourth day his work was all done, and his +little ship was ready to be launched. On the fifth day the +beautiful goddess prepared the hero a bath and gave him new +garments fragrant with perfumes. She went down to the boat with +him and put on board a skin of dark-red wine, a larger one full +of water, and a bag of dainty food. Then she bade Odysseus a kind +farewell, and sent a gentle and friendly wind to waft him over +the waves.</p> +<p>Odysseus was wild with joy at the thought that he was really +on his way home once more. He spread his sails to catch the +breeze and took his seat at the helm, steering the vessel with +great skill. He did not dare to take any sleep, for he had to +watch the sky and stars constantly and use them as guides on his +course. He sailed along in this way seventeen days. On the +eighteenth he spied land in the distance. It was the land of the +Phæacians, lying like a dark spot off in the sea.</p> +<p>Then Poseidon, who was returning from Ethiopia, saw him, and +his wrath grew hot against the hero. He raised up his head and +said to himself: "Alas! the gods have strangely changed their +minds about Odysseus during my absence in Africa. Behold! in a +little while he will be in the land of the Phæacians, where +he will find an end to his troubles. Nevertheless, it is in my +power to chastise him."</p> +<p>Speaking thus, Poseidon called the clouds together, and +seizing his trident he stirred up the sea; then he set loose all +the winds until there was a general hurricane, and he wrapped +heaven and earth in the thick darkness of night.</p> +<p>The mighty waves dashed over the raft, and Odysseus sank on +his knees and trembled. With a deep groan he said: "Ah me, +unhappy! Am I to bear more disasters? I fear that the warning of +the goddess was too true, and that I shall be for a long time +cast about on the waves before I reach home. With what dark +clouds Zeus has shrouded the sky! The storm grows wild. What +terrible waves are these! Helplessly I must perish. Happy the +Greeks who fell before Troy, fighting for their country! Would +that I, too, had met death the day when the Trojans hurled their +spears at me as they strove to take the body of Achilles. If I +had died then, the Greeks would have buried me with great honors. +Now I shall die an inglorious death."</p> +<p>As he spoke a huge wave struck the raft with such terrible +force that it whirled it around and overturned it. The helm was +wrung from his hand and he fell into the angry breakers. The mast +was snapped in two and the ropes and sails flew off into the +sea.</p> +<p>Odysseus was under water a long time, striving in vain to come +to the surface. Finally he rose, spitting the bitter brine out of +his mouth. Although he was in such a desperate plight, his mind +was on the raft. Battling bravely with the waves he reached it, +and springing on board sat down in the middle of it. Thus he +escaped death.</p> +<p>The angry waves tossed him hither and thither as the wind +scatters the leaves over a field. Then Ino, the daughter of +Cadmus, saw him and took pity on him. She took the form of a +bird, and, perching on his raft, she said to him: "O, luckless +man! why is Poseidon so angry with thee? Fear nothing, however; +he cannot take thy life. Obey me and thou shalt not suffer much +longer. Lay aside thy clothes, leave the raft to the mercy of the +winds and waves, and swim to the land. Take my veil and wind it +about thy breast, and thou shalt not have anything to fear. As +soon as thou hast reached the land, take it off and throw it back +into the sea. Then hurry away inland."</p> +<p>Odysseus hesitated to follow Ino's advice, fearing some +treachery. But Poseidon sent a huge wave which struck him and +scattered the raft as if it were dry chaff. Then Odysseus at once +got astride of the swimming timber. He bound the veil around his +breast and bravely plunged into the boiling waters.</p> +<p>Poseidon saw him, and shaking his head he said: "I verily +believe thou wilt come out alive from the sea. But the sea has +had thee long enough, so that thou wilt know its power hereafter +and fear it." Saying this he lashed up his horses and drove +off.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap7" id="chap7"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER VII</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS IS SAVED ON THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA</h4> +<br> +<p>Athena, the daughter of Zeus, seeing Odysseus struggling +through the waves, pitied him, and bade the winds become quiet. +Two days and two nights Odysseus floated about, but on the third +the wind calmed down and the sea became smooth.</p> +<p>In a short time he found himself near land once more. But the +shore was wild and full of sharp rocks and high cliffs. He could +see no place on which to set foot, and he grew downhearted. His +knees gave way, and, groaning deeply, he cried out: "O, luckless +one! In vain have I braved the dangers of the sea to escape +death. Now all hope has abandoned me, since there is no way for +me to get out of the water. I fear that when I try to approach +the land the waves will throw me against the cliffs, and should I +try to find a safe landing-place by swimming, the surf may carry +me back into the wild sea, where some sea-monster will swallow me +up. Whatever I may do, I see no help for me."</p> +<p>While he pondered over these things a huge wave cast him on +the foamy shore. His bones were nearly broken, and he lay +exhausted until the wave returned, when he was hurled again with +great force back into the sea. Now the unfortunate wanderer took +to swimming as his last resort, and reached the mouth of a river, +where he was able to land.</p> +<p>Too tired to breathe or speak, he sank down in a swoon. His +knees and arms trembled, and his whole body was bruised and +swollen. When his senses returned he rose and untied the veil +that Ino had given him and cast it back into the sea. Then he +knelt down and kissed the earth, and moved to a sheltered spot +where a wild and a tame olive-tree were standing close together, +whose branches had mingled with one another, and there he found a +safe hiding-place.</p> +<p>Then the godlike Odysseus lay down on a bed of dry leaves, +covering himself up as one does an ember, lest it should go out. +Athena came and poured sweet sleep over his eyes, that he might +find quiet rest after all his toils.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap8" id="chap8"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII</h3> +<h4>NAUSICAÄ IS SENT TO THE RIVER BY ATHENA</h4> +<br> +<p>While Odysseus lay in a deep sleep, the goddess Athena went to +the royal dwelling of the king of the Phæacians, +Alkinoös, in order to hasten the return of Odysseus to his +native land. She entered the house, where she found +Nausicaä, the king's daughter, sleeping in her beautiful +chamber. Near her lay two maids who served her.</p> +<p>Athena came as softly as a breath of air, and caused the +maiden to dream that her marriage-day was near and that it was +her duty to arise and hasten to the place by the river where they +washed their clothing. In her dream the princess seemed to hear +Athena say: "Nausicaä, why art thou so slothful? Thy +beautiful robes lie neglected and thy wedding-day is at hand, on +which thou surely shouldst wear garments of dazzling whiteness, +and thou shouldst give such garments to those maidens who lead +thee forth to thy bridegroom. Therefore, as soon as day breaks +thou must ask thy father to give thee a pair of mules, and we +will hasten to the washing-place down by the river."</p> +<p>At the first dawn of day Nausicaä went in haste to her +father and mother to tell them of her dream. She found them in +their splendid hall. Her mother sat with her maidens spinning, +and the king stood on the threshold, just going forth to meet his +chiefs in council. The princess approached her father and said: +"Dearest father, I pray that thou wilt give me two mules and a +wagon, that I may go with my maids to the river and take all the +clothes that need washing, for it becomes the king and his sons +to wear clean garments when they go to the council of the chiefs. +Thou hast five sons, three of whom are youths not wedded, and +they should be provided with fresh robes; they will need them in +the dance."</p> +<p>The king smiled, for he saw what was in her mind, and he +ordered the mules. Then his beautiful daughter brought from the +linen-room the soiled garments and put them on the wagon, while +the queen prepared a goodly lunch of cold meat and bread and a +skin of sweet wine.</p> +<p>Nausicaä further received from her mother a bottle of +fragrant oil with which to anoint herself after the washing. Then +she mounted the wagon, seized the whip and reins, and drove out +of the city, the maidens of her train following her on foot.</p> +<p>When they came to the place where the river was flowing bright +and clear, they unhitched the mules and let them browse along the +bank. Then they took their garments down from the wagon and +tossed them into the marble vats which they had filled with the +limpid water of the stream. When they had washed them clean they +spread them on the white pebbles to dry. Having finished the +task, they took a bath and anointed themselves with oil. Then +they sat down on the shore and ate their lunch.</p> +<p>The repast over, they began to play ball. First the +white-armed Nausicaä threw the ball. She looked as tall and +royal among her maids as did Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, among +her nymphs.</p> +<p>Nausicaä sang a song as they frolicked on the sand.</p> +<p>When it was time to go home they put the clean garments upon +the wagon and harnessed up the mules. Just as they started, +Nausicaä once more threw the ball to one of the maidens, who +failed to catch it. The ball rebounded from the rocks and fell +into the river, at which the girls raised such a shout that +Odysseus, who was sleeping close by, awoke.</p> +<p>He opened his eyes and sat up, saying to himself: "Woe is me! +Have I reached a country where people dwell? Are they wild and +inhospitable, or friendly to the stranger and god-fearing? It +seems to me I heard cries of women. Perhaps they were those of +the nymphs who inhabit the mountain heights, the springs of +rivers, and the green meadows, or those of people who live near +by. But I will see who they are."</p> +<p>So Odysseus clothed himself as best he could, by winding +slender branches covered with leaves about him, and left the +thicket where he was hidden. He went in the direction of the +voices, stalking along like a great lion. When the girls saw him +they shrieked and scattered in every direction. Nausicaä +alone stood her ground, for Athena gave her courage. When +Odysseus saw her he wondered which would be the better, to throw +himself at the feet of the maiden and beg her to give him some +clothes and to show him the way to the city, or to speak to her +with more formality.</p> +<p>It seemed better to him to remain at a distance, and so he +addressed her gently, saying: "O queen, I know not whether thou +art a goddess or a woman. If thou art a goddess, I should take +thee to be Artemis, because thou art so tall and graceful. If, +however, thou art a mortal, thrice happy thy father and honored +mother. Greatly must they rejoice when they see their beautiful +child in the choral dance. But he will be the happiest who shall +win thee for a bride.</p> +<p>"I once saw a young palm-tree growing up beside Apollo's altar +in the island of Dēlos. It was the most beautiful tree the +earth ever produced, and I gazed upon it with wonder and +reverence. So am I amazed at thy beauty, and I fear to approach +thee and throw myself as a suppliant at thy feet, although I am +in sore distress, for great misfortunes have befallen me.</p> +<p>"It was only last night that I escaped from the sea. On my way +from Calypso's isle I was driven about for twenty days by the +angry waves in a violent storm. Now some god has cast me on this +shore to make me undergo new trials, for I do not believe my +sufferings have come to an end. Have pity on me, O queen, because +thou art the first human being I have met after so many +misfortunes.</p> +<p>"I do not know one person in this country. Show me thy city, I +pray, and give me an old robe to wear, no matter how coarse and +poor, and may the gods bestow all blessings upon thee."</p> +<p>Nausicaä looked at Odysseus in pity and answered: +"Stranger, thou dost not seem to me to be a man of mean birth or +breeding, and thou art surely in distress. But it is Zeus who +distributes gifts to mortals, both the good and the evil things +of life, and thou must submit to his will with patience.</p> +<p>"Since thou hast come into our land devoid of all things, even +garments, and art helpless, I will give thee clothing and tell +thee the way to the city. And I will tell thee about the people +living in it, for I am the daughter of the king, Alkinoös, +who reigns over this island." When Nausicaä had spoken thus +to Odysseus, she turned to her maids and commanded them not to +flee from the wanderer, but to bring him food and drink, since +Zeus sent the poor and the stranger to be cared for.</p> +<p>And she told them to lead him to some lonely spot by the side +of the river, where he might bathe at his ease. So the maids came +back and led the hero to a sheltered place and laid a cloak and +tunic on the sand, and the bottle of oil which the queen had +given Nausicaä, that Odysseus might anoint and clothe +himself after his bath; then they ran back to the princess.</p> +<p>Odysseus bathed in the fresh water of the river and washed the +salt sea-foam from his hair, and when the bath was over he put on +the robes that Nausicaä had sent. Athena shed a halo of +beauty over him and caused him to look taller and stronger than +before.</p> +<p>As he walked along the beach to rejoin the maidens, they +admired his noble and kingly bearing, and Nausicaä said to +her maids: "Surely this man does not come among our godlike +brothers against the will of the gods. I thought him rough and +homely, but now he seems like one of the immortals. I would that +I might call a man like him my husband. Make haste to give him +food and wine, for he has fasted a long time."</p> +<p>The maids hastened to obey. They looked over what was left of +the abundant lunch and bade Odysseus eat and drink, which he was +glad to do. The princess then yoked up the mules and they started +for home.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap9" id="chap9"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER IX</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS ARRIVES AT THE PALACE OF ALKINOÖS</h4> +<br> +<p>After Nausicaä had mounted to her seat on the cart, she +said to Odysseus: "Get ready now, stranger, and we will lead thee +to my father's palace, where thou wilt meet the chiefs of the +Phæacians. If thou art wise, take well to heart what I +shall say to thee. As long as we are at a good distance from the +city there is no harm in going along with us. Just follow close +to the wagon with my maids.</p> +<p>"But when we come near to the town thou must go more slowly +and tarry behind a little, till we have reached my father's hall, +because I dread the gossip of the baser sort of people whom we +may meet. After thou hast seen us enter the city, then thou +mayest enter it also and inquire the way to the king's palace. It +is very beautiful. Thou mayest easily find it by thyself, for +there is no other house in the city as large as ours.</p> +<p>"Enter at once and find my mother and sue to her for +protection and help, that thou mayest reach thy native land and +thy dear ones again."</p> +<p>Having spoken these words, Nausicaä touched the mules +with her long whip and they quickly left the river, wending their +way toward the city. They reached it at sunset, but Odysseus sat +down in the sacred grove of Athena, outside of the city to wait, +and prayed to the goddess that he might receive pity from the +people of Phæacia.</p> +<p>While he prayed, the damsels went on and soon reached the +king's palace. Nausicaä's brothers came out and welcomed +them, and unhitched the mules. When Odysseus had given them time +to get home, he arose and found his way to the town. He had +hardly entered it when Athena, in the form of a young girl +carrying a pitcher of water, met him.</p> +<p>"My daughter," Odysseus said to her, "canst thou show me the +way to the king's palace? I am a stranger, and here for the first +time." Athena answered him: "With pleasure, stranger; the king is +our neighbor. Follow me, and I will lead thee thither. But on the +way do not greet anyone or ask questions, for the people here are +not fond of those who come from other lands."</p> +<p>Thus spoke Athena and pursued her way with Odysseus following +her. She threw a veil of darkness over the hero to hide him from +rude gazers. Odysseus beheld the beautiful port with +astonishment—the large ships, the great market-place, and +the high walls of the city.</p> +<p>When they reached the palace, the girl stopped and said: "This +is the house of the king. Go in without any fear, for they love +brave men, even when they come from afar. The first thing to do +is to find the queen, whose name is Aretè.</p> +<p>"She is greatly honored by the king, and all the people treat +her as if she were a goddess, on account of her gentleness and +virtue. In case the queen looks upon thee with favor, thou mayest +be sure of safely reaching home."</p> +<p>Having spoken these words, the goddess took a friendly leave +of the hero, and he entered the outer hall of Alkinoös, +where he was bewildered by the splendor. The walls were of brass, +the doors of gold, and the thresholds and lintels of pure silver. +On each side of the main entrance gold and silver dogs stood +guard. They were endowed with life and were immortal, the work +and gift of the divine Hephæstus.</p> +<p>There were two rows of splendid seats in the large +dining-hall. They were covered with costly mats, and the +Phæacian leaders were wont to sit there and enjoy +themselves. Golden statues of boys with lighted torches in their +hands stood on beautiful pedestals and spread light over the +merry banquets. There were fifty maid-servants in the palace. +Some of them were grinding corn in the mill. Some spent their +time in spinning and weaving, for as the men were renowned +sailors, the women also were famous for making fine cloth.</p> +<p>There was a large orchard all around the palace, surrounded by +a thick hedge. In the orchard there was a great variety of +fruit-trees—pear, apple, pomegranate, olive, and fig. The +trees were never bare of fruit, either in summer or in winter, +for an ever-blowing west wind created such a mild climate that +the trees were constantly blooming and ripening their fruit.</p> +<p>There was to be seen a tree full of blossoms, while another +bent down under the load of ripe fruit. Thus it was with the +grape-vines in the vineyard close to the orchard. Some were +blooming, others had only begun to form fruit-buds, while some +were loaded with ripe clusters ready for the wine-press. At the +end of the orchard there was a magnificent flower-garden, in +which the most fragrant flowers were blooming. Two springs also +bubbled from the ground. One watered the orchard, and the other +ran to the very door of the palace, and all the people filled +their pitchers there. Such were the gifts Alkinoös had +received from the gods.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap10" id="chap10"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER X</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS IN THE HALLS OF ALKINOÖS</h4> +<br> +<p>After Odysseus had contemplated these wonders to his heart's +content, he entered the main hall. There he found the leaders of +the Phæacians bringing offerings of wine to Hermes, as the +hour of sleep had arrived, and this was always their last +ceremony before seeking slumber. No one saw Odysseus as he +crossed the spacious room and came close to the king and queen, +for he was still concealed in the thick mist which Athena had +thrown round him. Suddenly the cloud vanished, and Odysseus threw +himself at the feet of Aretè, and raised his voice in +supplication.</p> +<p>"Aretè," he prayed, "I have come to thy husband and to +thy feet through many hardships and sorrows. May the gods give +thee a long and happy life. For many years I have been a wanderer +from home and all I love. I beg that thou wilt give me a guide +and send me to my own land."</p> +<p>When Odysseus had spoken these words he sat down amidst the +ashes, close to the fire, and all the guests grew silent and +looked at him with wonder. Then the oldest of the chiefs arose +and said: "Alkinoös, this is not a royal seat for a +stranger, among the cinders of the hearth. I pray thee, raise him +up and place him on a throne, and order the heralds to fill a cup +with wine, that we may pour a libation to Zeus, the protector of +suppliants, and bid the guest welcome to our good cheer."</p> +<p>Then Alkinoös arose and took Odysseus by the hand. He led +him to a splendid throne but little lower than his own, while the +herald placed a table before him loaded with dainty food. When +Odysseus had eaten and drunk, the attendants filled the cups to +pour libations in honor of Zeus, and Alkinoös said to them: +"Listen, ye leaders and chiefs of the Phæacians. To-morrow +we shall greet the stranger in our palace with honors and offer a +great sacrifice to the gods. And then we will consider the best +way of sending him home. But if we should find that he is a god +instead of a mortal, we will do what seems best, for the gods do +sometimes visit us in human shape."</p> +<p>Then said Odysseus: "Nay, Alkinoös, I am not a god, nor +like the gods in form or looks. I am only a wanderer, and I could +tell of fearful sorrows; and I would willingly die if I could +only see my home once more."</p> +<p>The guests all greeted Odysseus with approving words, and +promised to aid him. Then they rose, and each man went to his own +home.</p> +<p>Odysseus remained in the hall with Aretè and +Alkinoös. As they conversed, the queen noticed the garments +of Odysseus, because she had woven them herself, and she said to +him: "Stranger, who art thou, and from what land? Didst thou not +say thou hadst come here after many wanderings and voyages on the +stormy sea? Who gave thee garments of my weaving?"</p> +<p>Odysseus answered her: "It would not be easy, gracious queen, +to tell about all my hardships and sufferings. Yet I will do thy +bidding. I was shipwrecked long since, and thrown upon an island +far out in the sea, where Calypso, the daughter of Atlas, lives. +She cared for me most kindly, and would have made me, like +herself, an immortal, but I chose instead the hope of seeing my +own native land.</p> +<p>"The goddess detained me seven long years on her island before +she bade me start for home. I built a raft, which she stored with +food, and she sent a pleasant breeze to carry me across the +waters. But Poseidon stirred the winds and waves against me, and +I was thrown upon the shores of this island, near the lavers, +where thy daughter and her maids went to wash the household +linen. There the princess found me, and supplied me with food and +the garments I have on."</p> +<p>"One duty my daughter left undone," Alkinoös said. "She +should have brought thee home with her." "Do not blame her, I +entreat," replied Odysseus, "for she bade me come with her maids, +but I lingered in a grove to offer a prayer to Athena." When +Alkinoös had heard this tale from Odysseus, he promised once +more to give him a ship and sailors to escort him home.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the queen bade her servants prepare a bed for the +hero out on the portico, and they covered a couch with shaggy +rugs and purple tapestries, where he could rest. With a grateful +heart Odysseus arose, and, thanking the king for his generous +hospitality, sought the bed, where he gave himself to happy +dreams.</p> +<p>Odysseus rose early the next morning and went with +Alkinoös to the market-place, close to the sea, where all +the Phæacians had assembled. The people gazed with +admiration at their stranger-guest, for Athena lent him greater +dignity and beauty, and she went among the crowds, moving their +hearts to sympathy with him.</p> +<p>Alkinoös then addressed the assembled multitude: "Hear +me, ye chiefs of the Phæacians," he said. "This stranger +has come to our land after many wanderings and adventures. And he +asks me to send him back to his own country. Let us fit out a +ship for him quickly and launch it, and give him fifty-two young +men from among our best sailors, who shall get everything ready +for the long journey.</p> +<p>"While they are doing this the stranger shall come to my halls +with the chiefs and princes, where we will make a great banquet. +Summon also the bard, Demodokos, that he may enliven the festival +with his harp and songs."</p> +<p>Having spoken, Alkinoös rose and led his guest back to +the palace, the princes following him. Fifty-two youths were soon +chosen from among the best seamen, and they launched a ship +speedily and went up to the royal palace.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap11" id="chap11"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XI</h3> +<h4>THE BANQUET IN HONOR OF ODYSSEUS</h4> +<br> +<p>Alkinoös now ordered a sumptuous feast in honor of his +guest. When the table was spread, the herald who had gone for +Demodokos came in leading the bard, who was blind. The gods had +deprived him of sight, but had bestowed upon him the gift of +song. They gave him a seat on a silver throne, amid the guests, +and hung his harp against a lofty pillar, close above his head, +where he could easily reach it.</p> +<p>When all had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, +Demodokos took his lyre and began to sing about the heroes of +Troy. It was a song whose fame had reached over the whole world, +the story of a friendly strife between Achilles and Odysseus +before Troy, in which Achilles held that Troy would fall by +force, but Odysseus maintained that it would come to an end +through the cunning of a few brave Greeks.</p> +<p>All the guests enjoyed listening to the thrilling song, but +Odysseus was deeply touched, and tears fell from his eyes. He +brushed them away stealthily, so that no one should observe them, +and drew a large purple veil over his face until the song was +finished, when he put it away and took a goblet of wine, which he +poured out on the ground as a libation to the gods.</p> +<p>Again the minstrel took his harp and sang, and again Odysseus +wept. Alkinoös noticed that the song of Demodokos moved +Odysseus to tears, and thought it might be well to stay the music +awhile and begin the games, that the stranger might witness the +athletic skill of the Phæacians. All the princes instantly +arose and walked down to the market-place, the king leading and +the people following.</p> +<p>When the chiefs had taken their seats a great number of young +men hastened forward to begin the games. Some of them darted over +the plain in a foot-race, raising a cloud of dust. Others strove +with all their might in wrestling-matches, while some threw the +quoit or played at boxing and leaping. After they had enjoyed +looking at the games, Laodamas, a son of Alkinoös, said to +his friends: "Let us ask the stranger to take part in the games. +His strong arms and legs and powerful neck show that he is no +weakling. Nor has he lost his youthful vigor after all his +hardships, although nothing tires a man so much as being tossed +about on the sea."</p> +<p>Then the friends of Laodamas advised him to challenge Odysseus +to take part in the games; and this seemed right to the prince, +so he said to him: "Father, I think thou must be skilful in these +games. Let us see thee try them. We will not delay thee long. Thy +ship is ready for thee on the sea, and the crew is there, +waiting. But there is no greater glory or pleasure for a man than +to excel in swiftness of foot and strength of muscle."</p> +<p>Odysseus answered him: "Why dost thou urge me, O Laodamas? How +can I take part in the games or find any pleasure in them after +all that I have suffered? Here I sit, a suppliant, praying to be +sent back to my wife and home." Then Euryalos scoffed at him, +saying: "Thou art right, stranger, for thy countenance shows thou +art anything but an athlete.</p> +<p>"Methinks thou art the owner of some merchant-vessel. Thou art +a trader, whose head is full of bargains. Such men can take heed +of nothing except how to increase wealth."</p> +<p>These mocking words vexed Odysseus, and he retorted: "My +friend, thou dost not speak like a man of good mind. The gods do +not bestow their gifts equally on all men. To thee they have +given great beauty, but they have denied thee wit. Thy words +carry no weight. Learn, then, that I am not unskilled in the +games. When I was young and strong I was one of the best +athletes. But even now, after all my shipwrecks and hardships, I +will strive with thee, for thy words are offensive and challenge +me to the proof."</p> +<p>Having said this, Odysseus seized a much larger and heavier +quoit than the Phæacian prince could use, and swinging it +in his powerful hand he hurled it forth. The stone whirred +through the air and fell to the ground away beyond the marks of +the other disks. Then Athena took the form of a Phæacian +and set a mark where the quoit fell, and exclaimed as she did so: +"Stranger, even a blind man could easily find thy mark, for it is +far beyond the others. Sit down in peace and do not fear that +anybody else can throw so far." Odysseus was pleased when he +heard these friendly words. With a light heart he said to the +Phæacian youths: "Reach my mark, if you can, young men, and +I will send a stone farther yet. But if you cannot reach it, and +prefer a match at boxing or wrestling or foot-race, come forth. I +am ready to try any of the games with you. I can throw a spear +farther than any of you can shoot an arrow. I fear nothing unless +it may be the foot-race, for I have lost my strength with want of +food and being tossed by the waves."</p> +<p>He ended, and King Alkinoös stepped forward, for the +young men were all silent. "Stranger," he said, "thou art our +dearly loved guest, and no one can doubt thy bravery. We do not +boast that we are fine boxers or wrestlers. We excel in the dance +and are unsurpassed in sailing ships. Come, then, young men, show +your skill in dancing, that our guest may tell his people when he +reaches his home how much we outdo all others in that art. And +let a herald hasten to the palace and bring the lyre of +Demodokos, which has been left there."</p> +<p>The young men arranged themselves in two rows on the polished +floors and began the dance, while the minstrel, standing in their +midst, played on the lyre and sang most sweetly. Odysseus looked +on and greatly admired the swift and rhythmical movements of +their feet. All danced very well; but two of the sons of the king +came out and danced alone, for none of the others equalled them. +One of them held a golden ball in his hand, and bending backward +threw it so high that it seemed to touch the clouds. The other +sprang up and caught it easily before it touched the ground.</p> +<p>They both danced, going through intricate and rhythmical +figures, while the other young men stood around in a circle and +clapped their hands, keeping time. Then Odysseus said to +Alkinoös: "Truly, no one excels the Phæacian princes +in dancing. I see the twinkling of their feet with +amazement."</p> +<p>These words pleased Alkinoös greatly, and he said to his +people: "Listen, my chiefs, for our guest seems to be a wise man. +It becomes us now to bestow upon him the gifts of hospitality. In +this land there are twelve kings. I am the thirteenth. Let each +one of us bring a fine cloak, and a tunic, and a talent of gold, +that our guest may see them before he partakes of the evening +banquet. And let Euryalos, who spoke such scoffing words to him, +try to win back his friendship and bring a costly gift." All the +chiefs approved the words of King Alkinoös, and each one +sent a servant to his house to bring a valuable present.</p> +<p>Euryalos cheerfully obeyed the king. He brought a brass sword +with a silver hilt to Odysseus, and said: "My father, if I have +uttered any offensive word to thee, may the winds scatter all +remembrance of it. May the gods grant thee a speedy return to thy +country, where thou shalt see thy wife and friends from whom thou +hast so long been separated."</p> +<p>Odysseus answered: "Hail to thee, also, my friend! May the +gods give thee all that there is good, and may no need of this +sword ever come to thee." Odysseus took the sword and threw it +across his shoulders.</p> +<p>The sun had set, and the servants carried the gifts to the +royal palace, where the queen took care of them. King +Alkinoös led the way to the palace, his guest at his side +and the princes following. When they had taken their seats on +high thrones, the king told his wife to lay the royal presents in +a chest, adding a much richer cloak and tunic than anyone else +had given as a gift from himself.</p> +<p>Aretè did as her husband wished, and placed a beautiful +cup of gold also in the chest, and led Odysseus up to look at the +presents. Then she taught him how to lock the chest and unlock +it, and her maids called him to a warm bath, after which he +anointed himself with fragrant oil and put on fresh garments.</p> +<p>While he was wending his way to the men who sat before their +wine, he met Nausicaä in her goddess-like beauty, standing +near a pillar. "Stranger, farewell," she said. "I wish thee joy +and a safe return to thy native land. Do not forget that I was +the first to befriend thee in the land of the +Phæacians."</p> +<p>Odysseus answered: "May the gods be as sure to favor my return +to my home as I shall be to make a prayer daily in thy behalf, +fair maiden, who hath saved my life." Then Odysseus entered the +great hall and took his place at the feast.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap12" id="chap12"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS RELATES HIS ADVENTURES</h4> +<br> +<p>When they had all eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, +the hero begged Demodokos to sing about the invention of the +wooden horse with which Odysseus had artfully tricked the Trojans +to their own destruction.</p> +<p>The minstrel felt the inspiration of the song, and began where +the Greeks threw firebrands into their own tents and sailed away +from Troy, pretending that they had given up the war.</p> +<p>He told how the Trojans wondered what to do with the huge +wooden horse which the enemy had left in their city, whether to +hew it to pieces and burn it, or to drag it to the edge of a high +rock and throw it over, or whether to spare it as an act of +reverence to the gods. This last was done, and in the night +Odysseus and his men came out of the great wooden trap and set +fire to the city while the men of Troy slept.</p> +<p>As Demodokos sang, tears rolled down the cheeks of Odysseus. +but no one noticed his weeping except the king, who said: "It is +better to stop the song of Demodokos, as it does not delight us +all. Ever since the bard began to sing, our guest has been +weeping. He carries some great trouble in his heart. Let the song +cease, and let us all make merry. Let no grief mar our banquet. +And, honored stranger, tell us the name of thy father, and the +city which is thy home. Our seamen shall take thee safely to +thine own land, although there is a prophecy that one of our good +ships shall be changed into a high rock, to stand forever in +front of our city, if we show such courtesies to strangers.</p> +<p>"Tell us truly who thou art and whither thou hast roamed, what +tribes of men thou hast seen, and why thou dost weep when the +minstrel sings of Troy. Didst thou lose a noble kinsman there, or +a dear friend? For a friend is often dearer than a brother." +Odysseus replied: "In truth, O king, it is a pleasant thing to +listen to a bard like Demodokos, for his voice is as sweet as the +voice of a god.</p> +<p>"And I cannot think of anything more delightful than the joy +of a contented people listening to a great poet and singer while +seated at a feast in a royal hall. But I pine to be at home, and +I will declare my name and tell the story of my sufferings.</p> +<p>"I am the chieftain Odysseus, son of Laertes, and widely known +to fame. I dwell in sunny Ithaca, whose high mountains are seen +from afar, covered with rustling trees. Around it are many +smaller islands, full of people. Ithaca has low shores on the +east. It is a rugged island, but it is the sweetest land on +earth, and has a noble race of mortals. When the Trojan war was +at an end, I started for home with my twelve ships, but a +contrary wind drove us to Ismaros, the city of the Kikonians.</p> +<p>"We captured it and put the inhabitants to the sword. Then I +exhorted my comrades to fly, but, like madmen, they remained on +the sea-shore. Then they slaughtered a large number of sheep and +oxen and made a feast. The Kikonians called on their strong +neighbors to come and help them, and they came in swarms with +their brazen spears. They fell upon our men and killed six of +them from each ship, and drove the rest back to their boats.</p> +<p>"Brisk handling of our oars soon carried us out into the sea, +but Jove sent a hurricane that tore our sails and split our +masts, so that our sailors drew them into the ships in fear. Two +days and nights we lay helpless in our boats, worn out with fear +and grief, but the third day the sun shone on us again, and we +raised the masts and sails to take the breeze, hoping to reach +our own land."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap13" id="chap13"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XIII</h3> +<h4>THE LOTUS-EATERS AND THE CYCLOPS</h4> +<br> +<p>"We sailed onward in a westerly direction, heading for the +Grecian shore, and thought our trials would soon be at an end. +But in this we were disappointed, for when we were about to round +the cape at the southern point of Greece, we met an evil wind +which always blows there, and it drove us far to the east, beyond +the island of Cythera.</p> +<p>"Nine days and nine nights we were driven about on the sea by +the violent storm, and on the tenth we reached the land of the +Lotus-eaters. These men eat flowers that look like water-lilies, +and they have no other food. We landed on the shore of the +mainland, and my comrades took their evening meal close to the +boats.</p> +<p>"When our hunger was satisfied, I sent out two of the best men +to explore the country about and find out what sort of people the +Lotus-eaters were. I sent a herald with them, whom they might +send back with the news.</p> +<p>"They soon found themselves among the Lotus-eaters, who were +gentle and friendly, and gave them the lotus plant to eat. This +food is pleasant to the taste, but dangerous; for anyone who eats +of it loses all desire to return to his own home. He forgets his +cares and troubles, but also his friends.</p> +<p>"As soon as my comrades had eaten of the lotus, they became +attached to the Lotus-eaters, and desired to remain with them. +They wept bitterly when I commanded them to return to the ships, +and I was obliged to force them to go.</p> +<p>"I bound them down to the benches in the ships, and the whole +company went on board in haste lest they should never think of +their homes again. Each man bent to his oars, and the waves were +soon white with the beating of the ships against them as we +sailed with all haste in the direction of our own land.</p> +<p>"We sailed about on unknown seas and with sorrowing hearts +until we came to the land of the Cyclops. They are a wild people +who have no laws. They never plough the fields nor plant them, +for everything grows of its own accord—wheat, and barley, +and the vine. The grapes yield good wine. The Cyclops do not come +together in a friendly way, but live in caves near the mountain +tops, each one in his own den. They do not care much for one +another, and each rules his wife and children as he likes.</p> +<p>"There is a little woody island lying at the entrance to the +land of the Cyclops, on which swarm numberless wild goats, never +disturbed by human beings, for the Cyclops have no ships to take +them over. This island is very fertile, but there are no sheep to +eat the grass and no people to plough the fields. The goats are +the only inhabitants. The island has a harbor which is safe, and +the ships that enter it have no need of anchors or +fastenings.</p> +<p>"In the midst of the harbor there is a cliff, from which +bubbles forth a spring of excellent water, and poplar-trees grow +all around it. The soil is so rich it might bear all kinds of +fruit, if there were anyone to plant them. There are beautiful +meadows all along the coast, which are gay with yellow fruit and +pink blossoms.</p> +<p>"We were shaping our course toward this island, and a good +breeze brought us there on a dark night. The moon did not shine +and none of the crew saw the land until we were upon the shore. +We lowered our sails and rested there until morning. When +daylight appeared we beheld with wonder the island where the wild +goats abounded. My comrades walked around, admiring the beauty of +the place, while the nymphs, daughters of Zeus, roused the goats +that they might give us milk. We took our bows and arrows from +the ships immediately and, forming three hunting-parties, killed +a great number of the nimble creatures. Each of my twelve ships +received nine goats as its share, but mine received ten. The +remainder of the day we passed in eating and drinking."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap14" id="chap14"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XIV</h3> +<h4>THE CAVE OF THE CYCLOPS</h4> +<br> +<p>"The next day I started with twelve men, the crew of my own +ship, to find out what kind of men inhabited the country opposite +us, leaving all the other boats and their men on the island. When +we sailed up to the coast of the mainland, we heard the voices of +giants, and the bleating of their sheep and goats. And we saw a +cave with a high roof, over whose entrance grew laurel shrubs, +and many cattle, sheep, and goats were lying around at rest. We +found an enclosure of rough stone in the form of a court, with +tall pines and leafy oaks at the mouth of the cave.</p> +<p>"The largest giant of all the race of Cyclops dwelt there and +took care of his cattle all alone. Usually he spent his time +prowling all by himself around the mountains. He had nothing to +do with his neighbors, but led a solitary life, plotting wicked +deeds. He looked more like a huge mountain top, with shaggy +overhanging forests, towering above other mountains, than a human +being.</p> +<p>"We were soon inside the cave, but we did not find the owner +at home. We had carried with us a wine-skin full of wine which a +priest of Apollo had given us. The wine was very fragrant and so +pleasant that no one who had once tasted it, could let it alone. +We had taken along a basket of food also, for fear of meeting +with men of great strength and no sense of the courtesy due to +strangers.</p> +<p>"As we looked around the cave we wondered at what we saw. +There were baskets all about heaped with cheeses, and pens of +lambs separated into three folds, the older in one pen, the +younger in another, and the youngest in a third. And there were +pails full of whey, and buckets of milk. My companions ate as +much of the cheese as they liked, after which they begged to +drive all the lambs and kids down to the ship.</p> +<p>"But I would not allow this. It was my wish to stay there and +see the cave-dweller and find out what kind of a man he was. I +thought he would give me a handsome present, according to the +laws of hospitality. It was cold in the cave, so we lit a fire +and sat down to wait for the owner to arrive.</p> +<p>"He came toward evening, carrying a load of wood on his back, +which he threw down with such a crash that my men ran with terror +into the corners of the cave. The giant drove all such sheep and +goats as would give him milk into the cave, leaving the others in +the outside court, and then closed up the entrance with a rock so +large that twenty-four four-wheeled wagons could not have moved +it. Having done this, he sat down and milked the sheep and goats +and gave to each its young one.</p> +<p>"Next, he curdled half of the milk and put the curd into woven +baskets, but he kept the other half for his evening meal. When he +had ended this work he lit a fire, and seeing the strangers he +began to ask them questions, to find out who they were. His voice +was deep and frightful, like the rumbling of a volcano, and our +hearts trembled, but I found words to answer him: 'We are Greeks, +and come from Troy. It was our intention to return home, but +contrary winds have driven us on this shore.</p> +<p>"'We belong to the army of Agamemnon, whose fame is very great +because he has overcome a strong city and conquered many nations. +But now we throw ourselves at thy feet and pray that thou wilt +receive us as guests, or else give us the gifts that are due to +strangers, lest the gods avenge us.'</p> +<p>"Having said this, I stopped, but the Cyclops told us that we +were fools to believe in the gods. 'The Cyclops,' he said, 'care +nothing for the gods. We are better than they are. If I spare +thee it will be of my own free will, and not for fear of the +gods. But where are thy ships? Are they near here or far off?' +This he said hoping to deceive us, but I saw through his trick, +and replied: 'The storm has thrown our ships upon the cliffs and +broken them to pieces, and we had to swim for our lives.'</p> +<p>"The cruel monster did not answer me again, but he seized two +of my companions and dashed them to the ground with such force +that they died on the spot. He devoured them as a lion devours +his prey. He left nothing of them, neither bones nor flesh nor +hair. We wept aloud and prayed to Zeus with our hearts full of +despair."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap15" id="chap15"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XV</h3> +<h4>THE BLINDING OF THE CYCLOPS</h4> +<br> +<p>"When the monster had filled himself with food, he stretched +out on the floor of the cave to sleep. Then the thought came to +me to thrust a sword into his heart. But this was not a wise +course to take, because we should never have been able to remove +the stone from the entrance to the cave.</p> +<p>"We passed the night in mourning and lamentations. As soon as +daylight appeared, the Cyclops woke up and lit a fire and milked +his sheep again. Then he seized two more of my companions and +devoured them. When his morning meal was done he rolled the stone +back from the door and drove his beasts out, not forgetting to +secure the entrance. We could hear his noisy shouts afar off as +he led his flocks over the grassy heights, and we began to make +plans to destroy him.</p> +<p>"We found a great club of green olive-wood in the cave; one +that the Cyclops had cut for his own use. It was as large as the +mast of a ship, and he had laid it away to dry. I cut off a +fathom's length from this club and handed the piece to my +companions, who smoothed off its sides and sharpened it at one +end. This being done, I put the sharp end of it into the fire. +The stick became very hard, and then I hid the weapon under a +heap of litter which was piled up in the cave. We cast lots to +see who should assist me to put out the eye of the Cyclops when +he was asleep.</p> +<p>"When evening came the Cyclops returned to the cave with his +fat sheep and kids. He seemed to suspect that there was mischief +afoot, for he did not leave any of them outside. After milking +the ewes and goats he again seized two of my companions and made +his supper of them. But I filled a large drinking-vessel with the +wine from our wine-skin and stepped boldly out and said to him: +'Here is a cup of wine which I brought, hoping that thou wouldst +spare my life, O Cyclops, for thy wrath is boundless.' He took +the cup and drank. The wine delighted him greatly, and he handed +me the cup after emptying it and said: 'Give me another draught +and tell me thy name. I will give thee a generous gift, such as +becomes a host. We, too, have wine, but not such as yours. That +tastes like nectar and ambrosia.'</p> +<p>"Three times I filled the cup and brought it to him, and three +times the Cyclops drank it like a madman. When the wine had +overpowered him, I said to him: 'Cyclops, thou dost wish to know +my name, and I will tell it, but thou must give me the present +thou hast promised. My name is Nobody. My father and mother gave +me this name and my friends all call me by it.' 'Then,' said the +Cyclops, 'I shall eat Nobody last of all. This is my +present.'</p> +<p>"After these words he fell asleep and, being very drunk, he +began to spew out the wine and flesh he had taken. I took the +piece of olive-wood which my men had sharpened and put the point +of it into the fire and held it there until it was a glowing +coal. My comrades stood near me and I encouraged them with brave +words. We thrust the burning stick into the Cyclops' eye and put +it out. He howled with pain, and, stung to madness, he seized the +stick and flung it across the cave.</p> +<p>"He called to the other Cyclops, who lived in divers caves on +the surrounding mountains, while we hid ourselves in fear in the +most remote corners of the cave. The giants heard him and came +running to help him, but they could not get into the cave. They +stood near the stone, close to the door, and called out: 'What +ails thee, Polyphemus? Is anyone trying to kill thee?' 'Woe is +me!' cried Polyphemus, 'Nobody is trying to kill me.' 'Then why +dost thou shout and cry for help?' said they. 'If nobody hurts +thee, then thou art not hurt.'</p> +<p>"With these words they went off, and we rejoiced greatly that +my trick had deceived them."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap16" id="chap16"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XVI</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS AND HIS COMPANIONS LEAVE THE LAND OF THE +CYCLOPS</h4> +<br> +<p>"Polyphemus, groaning with pain, tried to feel his way with +his hands to the mouth of the cavern. Having succeeded in this, +he rolled back the stone and sat down at the entrance and +stretched out his hands in order to catch us if we should happen +to try to get out among the sheep.</p> +<p>"But we were not so foolish as to be caught in this way. There +were in the cave a number of stout and woolly rams. Of these I +put three abreast and tied them together with twigs that happened +to be in the cave. Under each middle ram I tied one of my +companions. The two sheep, one on each side of him, hid the man +completely. For myself I selected the stoutest ram of the flock, +and, seizing his long shaggy wool with my hands, held fast to him +with my knees and arms.</p> +<p>"The sun rose and the animals began to hasten out to the +pastures. The Cyclops, though nearly exhausted with pain, passed +his hands over the backs of the sheep to find out whether any of +us were trying to ride out of the cave. He did not find out our +trick, and my companions all escaped safely. Last of all, the ram +that carried me came to the door, because I was so heavy that he +could hardly walk with me hanging to him.</p> +<p>"Polyphemus felt of his back and recognized him at once as his +favorite ram, and said: 'Dearest of all my sheep, why dost thou +go last? Commonly thou wert the first of the flock to hasten to +the rich pasture and the cool spring, just as thou wert the first +in the evening to return to thy manger. But to-day thou art last +of all. Dost thou grieve because thy master hath lost his eye, +which Nobody has put out? But wait a little. He shall not escape +death. Couldst thou only speak, my ram, thou wouldst tell me at +once where the scoundrel is; then thou shouldst see how I would +dash him against the rocks.'</p> +<p>"Speaking such words as these, he let the ram go. When we were +safely out of the cave, we gladly took to our feet and drove the +fat sheep down to our boat with all haste. Our friends received +us with tears of joy, for they thought we had surely perished. I +made signs to them not to weep aloud, and to hurry the sheep on +board the ship. They did this with all haste, and each man took +his place at the oars.</p> +<p>"When we were beyond the reach of the Cyclops, I called out to +tease him, 'Ha! Cyclops, Cyclops, thou hast not been entertaining +a coward. Zeus and the other gods have avenged the brave men whom +thou didst so cruelly destroy.'</p> +<p>"The Cyclops heard my words and grew furious. He seized a +large rock and threw it with all his might toward the place where +he had heard my voice.</p> +<p>"The rock fell in front of my ship, and the waves which it +raised carried us back on shore. I seized a large pole and shoved +the boat back into the water, commanding my men to ply their oars +vigorously, that we might escape destruction. My companions +begged me not to excite the dangerous monster further; but when +we were a long way out I shouted to him: 'Cyclops, if ever +anybody asks thee who put out thine eye, tell him it was +Odysseus, the son of Laertes, conqueror of Troy.'</p> +<p>"When Polyphemus heard these words he gave a deep groan, and +said to me: 'Truly did the wise seer, Telemos, foretell that I +was to be blinded by Odysseus. But I thought there would come a +large and powerful man, not such an insignificant little fellow +who would cheat me with wine. Come back, Odysseus, and let me +bestow upon you the gifts which are due to strangers. I will pray +to my father, Poseidon, to give thee a safe and speedy return to +thy native land. He can restore my eye whenever he will, so I +cherish no anger against thee.'</p> +<p>"I knew his deceit, however, and replied: 'I would rather take +thy life, and send thee down to the dark halls of the dead, where +thy father could never restore thy sight.'</p> +<p>"As soon as Polyphemus heard this, he raised his hands to +heaven and prayed to Poseidon, 'My father,' he said, 'hear me, if +in truth I am thy son. Grant me this prayer. May Odysseus never +return to his own country, or, if it be thy will that he reach +home and friends again, let his return be late and sorrowful. May +his comrades all be lost, and may he go back in a borrowed ship, +and find new troubles waiting for him in his house.'</p> +<p>"Poseidon was moved to wrath against me by this prayer, and +determined to take vengeance on me. The Cyclops seized another +stone, much larger than the last, and swinging it round, threw it +at us with tremendous strength. It fell close to the ship, but +this time it drove the boat out into the sea and in the direction +of the island where we first landed.</p> +<p>"When we reached the island we found the friends we had left +there waiting anxiously for our return. My men drew their boat up +on to the smooth sand and stepped upon the beach, taking the +sheep along with them. Each man took an equal share, but they +gave me the ram which had saved my life. We took him out upon the +beach and offered him up as a sacrifice to Zeus.</p> +<p>"But sacrifices were vain, for Zeus had more evil for us in +his mind. We spent the rest of the day on the island, eating and +drinking, and when the sun went down we camped on the shore for +the night. In the morning I called my men to climb the decks and +cut the ropes that kept us fastened to the shore. With all speed +they went aboard and took their oars in hand and set sail for +home, glad to escape, but sorrowing for our lost companions."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap17" id="chap17"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XVII</h3> +<h4>THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF ÆOLUS</h4> +<br> +<p>"We sailed about on unknown seas for many days, when we +reached the island where Æolus made his abode. This island +was surrounded by smooth rocks and guarded by a wall of shining +brass.</p> +<p>"Æolus had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, +and they banqueted on an endless variety of meats from day to day +all the year round. Æolus was a kindly, genial god; he was +master of the winds, and one could hear the music of sweet pipes +in his halls all day, and the air was fresh and fragrant +there.</p> +<p>"Æolus welcomed us hospitably and kept us with him a +whole month. He inquired of the fate of all our companions in the +war with Troy, and we stated what had happened to them. Then we +prayed him to send us home, and the god very kindly gave us a +sack made of skin in which he had tied up all the contrary winds, +leaving only the west wind free to carry us safely home.</p> +<p>"I took the great bag of winds and bound it fast to the main +mast of the ship with a silver chain, so that no rude wind could +escape and blow us out of our way. We sailed along nine days and +nine nights, blown by the friendly breeze from the west, and on +the tenth we saw in the distance the mountain tops of Ithaca and +the fires along the shore.</p> +<p>"And now I was overcome by a heavy sleep, for I had been +guiding the ship, not daring to trust it to the hand of any of +the crew. While I lay unconscious of what was going on, my +companions talked among themselves and said they believed that +the bag which Æolus had given me contained vast amounts of +gold and silver. And they spoke with great jealousy of the prizes +which I had received wherever we had landed, while they went +empty-handed.</p> +<p>"The more they talked to one another the more jealous and +angry they grew. They untied the sack and the winds rushed out, +much to their astonishment, and seized the ship, driving it round +and round in a furious storm. I started out of my sleep suddenly +and found the bag open I had so carefully guarded and my +companions weeping bitterly.</p> +<p>"For a moment I had a mind to throw myself into the sea and +make an end of my troubles forever. But the thought came to me +that such an action would not be noble, so I hid my head in my +mantle and lay down in the bottom of the ship while the violent +winds and towering waves drove us back to the island we had left. +We landed there again, and, having partaken of some food and +wine, I sought the halls of Æolus.</p> +<p>"I found the king and his wife and children at table taking +their evening meal. When Æolus saw me he was amazed, and +asked me what had happened to me. I told him about the senseless +action of my companions, and begged him to assist me once more. +But with a terrible voice he replied: 'Begone as fast as thou +canst out of my island. I will not befriend a man who is hated of +the gods.' In this unkind way he sent me off, and we sadly +entered our ships and made for the open sea, trusting to the +mercy of the winds."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap18" id="chap18"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS AT THE HOME OF CIRCÈ</h4> +<br> +<p>"For six days and six nights we sailed without interruption, +but on the seventh day we reached the city of the +Læstrygonians. There the pastures are so rich in grass that +the fields, which are grazed by one flock of sheep during the +day, yield abundant food for another flock by night. The +inhabitants were not only inhospitable, but they received us with +a shower of stones, which they hurled at us and at our galleys. +They broke our ships and killed my companions, spearing them like +fish. Then they carried them ashore to be devoured. With the +greatest difficulty I succeeded in saving one ship and a few +companions from the hands of these giants, and I fled with them +out to the high sea.</p> +<p>"Sadly we continued our course until we reached an island, +where the goddess Circè, a daughter of the Sun and Ocean, +lived. We landed silently, and gave two days and nights to rest, +for we were worn out with toil and grief. On the third day I +climbed to the top of a high hill and looked over the island. +Down below I saw a marble palace, surrounded by a thick forest. +There was smoke rising from the grounds, so I resolved to return +to my men and send out some of them to look about and +explore.</p> +<p>"A large stag ran down into my path, on his way to a river to +drink, and I thrust my spear through him and flung him across my +neck and took him to the ship. I threw him at the feet of my men, +who were astonished at his size. They prepared a banquet at once, +and we feasted upon the meat.</p> +<p>"That night we slept on the shore again, and in the morning I +told them that I had seen a palace standing in a thick wood, and +that I wanted to send several men there to try to get food. When +my companions thought of all their comrades who had been slain +they wept aloud. But their tears were useless. I divided them +into two equal bands, and we cast lots to see which party should +make the adventure.</p> +<p>"The lot fell to Eurylochos and his band of men. They started +forth, and soon came to a beautiful valley, in which was the +splendid house of Circè, which was built of well-hewn +stone. There were beasts of prey, lions and wolves, around it. +The animals were tame; they wagged their tails and fawned like +dogs, but the men were afraid of them. Circè was weaving +in the palace and singing a beautiful song. She had bright, sunny +hair and a sweet voice. The men heard her as she went back and +forth weaving, and they called aloud. She came to the door and +threw it wide open and bade them enter.</p> +<p>"Eurylochos alone did not go in, for he feared that some evil +would come of it. The others followed her, and Circè +seated them on thrones and gave them food and wine, but in the +wine she had secretly infused a magic juice which made them +forget home and friends and all desire to see their native +land.</p> +<p>"When they had eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, she +waved her wand over them, and at once the poor wretches were +changed into grunting pigs, which she shut up in pigsties and +threw acorns and other food fit for swine before them. Although +thus transformed and covered with bristles, they still retained +the human mind.</p> +<p>"Eurylochos stayed a long time outside awaiting the return of +his companions. But as they tarried so long, he hastened back to +the ship to tell the news. Thereupon I quickly hung my sword over +my shoulder and, taking my bow and arrows, hurried off alone, and +soon found myself not far from Circè's palace."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap19" id="chap19"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XIX</h3> +<h4>CIRCÈ INSTRUCTS ODYSSEUS CONCERNING HIS DESCENT TO +HADES</h4> +<br> +<p>"As I lingered in that dangerous valley there appeared to me a +youth whom I knew at once to be Hermes, the messenger of the +gods. He gently took hold of my hand and, looking compassionately +on me, said: 'Thou most unhappy man! Why art thou roaming alone +in these wild parts? Or art thou bound on the errand of +delivering thy friends who have all been changed by Circè +into swine? Much do I fear that thou mayest meet with the same +fate. Listen to my words and heed them well if thou wouldst +destroy the treacherous schemes of Circè.</p> +<p>"'Take this little flower. Its name is Moly among the gods, +and no wicked sorcery can hurt the man who treasures it +carefully. Its root is black. Its blossom is as white as milk, +and it is hard for men to tear it from the ground. Take this herb +and go fearlessly into the dwelling of the sorceress; it will +guard thee against all mishap. She will bring thee a bowl of wine +mingled with the juice of enchantment, but do not fear to eat or +drink anything she may offer thee, and when she touches thy head +with her magic wand, then rush upon her quickly with drawn sword +as though about to slay her. She will crouch in fear and entreat +thee with soft words to spare her. But do not give way to her +until she has pledged herself by the great oath of the gods to do +thee no harm.'</p> +<p>"When Hermes had spoken thus he left me, to return to high +Olympos, and I walked to the house of Circè with a braver +heart. As I came near the palace I called out to the goddess with +a loud voice, and she threw open the doors for me to enter. She +bade me sit down on a beautiful throne and placed a golden +foot-stool under my feet. Then she gave me the dangerous cup and +I drank it off, but her charm did not work.</p> +<p>"Scarcely had I drained the cup when the goddess struck me +with her wand and said: 'Off with you! Go to the pigsty, where +friends await thy coming!' In a twinkling I had my sword in hand +and rushed upon her as if to kill her. Circè shrieked with +fear and fell on her knees to implore my mercy. 'Who art thou and +whence dost thou come?' said Circè. 'Thou art the first +man over whom my magic wine has had no power. Art thou really +that Odysseus of whom Hermes told me that he was to come here +after many wanderings? But put up thy sword and cease to be angry +with me and let us trust each other.'</p> +<p>"I answered her: 'O, goddess, how can I have faith in thy +words, since thou hast changed my companions into swine and dost +plot the same fate for me? Swear me the great oath that thou wilt +not harm me, and I shall trust thy words.'</p> +<p>"Circè at once took the great oath, that she would +never again try to do me any harm, and she ordered her servants +to spread a feast before me. But I had no desire to eat. I sat +down in silence, my mind full of grief and doubt.</p> +<p>"When Circè saw that I did not touch the food she said: +'Why art thou so quiet and speechless? And why dost thou not +taste the food and wine? I have pledged myself by the great oath +to do thee no harm!' But I answered: 'What man with a loyal +heart, O goddess, could eat and drink with any pleasure while his +comrades are kept in bondage and degradation? If thou art really +kind and wouldst have me enjoy this bounteous feast, O let me see +my dear companions free once more!'</p> +<p>"The goddess took her wand and went to the pen and drove out +the swine. She then anointed them with a magic ointment, and +their bristles fell off and they stood up and were men again. +They knew me, and each one seized my hand, shedding tears of joy. +Then I sent for the rest of my men at the ship, who eagerly came +up, and together we entered the halls of Circè, all of us +weeping with joy.</p> +<p>"Circè's heart was softened also, and she said to me: +'Son of Laertes, noble Odysseus, do not weep and grieve any +longer. I know what hardships thou hast endured on land and sea. +Take courage, for thy sufferings will soon be at an end. Go down +to the sea and hide thy boat near the shore and come back to my +halls, thou and all thy men, where I will make it a happy home +for all until thou art rested and ready to sail again for thy +native land.'</p> +<p>"We stayed a whole year on the island of Circè, +feasting and enjoying ourselves, and fully recovered our +strength. The desire of reaching my beloved Ithaca grew stronger +within me day by day, and at last I begged Circè to allow +us to depart. 'I am not willing, O son of Laertes,' Circè +answered, 'that thou shouldst remain here against thy wish, but +it is necessary that thou shouldst, before departing from my +island, descend into Hades, to the palace of Pluto and +Persephone, to consult the spirit of the Theban seer, Tiresias, +on whom Persephone has bestowed the priceless gift of preserving +his memory even in Hades, whereas all the other souls are moving +about as empty shadows.'</p> +<p>"Hearing this, I grew desperate and no longer had any desire +to live or see the light of day. I said to the goddess: 'Who will +show me the way to Hades? for no living mortal has ever gone +there before.' She replied: 'Do not worry about a guide, +Odysseus, for there will be no need of one. Launch thy boat, +unfurl the sails, and quietly sit down. The north wind will waft +thee to the shore of Hades. There flows the river Styx, black and +terrible. It flows between the poplars and willows in the groves +of Persephone, and meets the broad waters of Okeanos. Sail up its +dark stream until thou dost reach the rock where its two branches +meet and swirl and roar. There leave thy boat and dig a ditch in +the ground, a foot deep and a foot wide, in which thou shalt pour +honey, milk, wine, and water as an offering to the dead.</p> +<p>"'At the same time pray to the gods of Hades, and promise the +shades of the dead that after thou hast arrived in Ithaca thou +wilt sacrifice to them a whole heifer, the best of thy flock, and +to Tiresias especially a black ram. Then take two sheep, a male +and a female, kill them, and burn them as a sacrifice to the +nations of the dead.</p> +<p>"'At once there will arrive the souls of the departed. They +will come by thousands, anxious to drink of the blood, that they +may have their minds again. But draw thy sword and hold them back +until the spirit of Tiresias arrives. He will tell thee how to +get back to thy native land.'</p> +<p>"As Circè said this the daylight appeared, and I woke +my companions and told them to make ready to go with me. We +started at once for our ship, and got everything in readiness to +leave. I told them that before setting out for our own country we +had, by the advice of Circè, to go down to Hades in order +to consult the seer Tiresias about our journey. When they heard +this they sat down, and wept, and began to tear the hair from +their heads.</p> +<p>"Circè meantime came up by stealth, and put two sheep +into the ship, and we sailed sadly away."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap20" id="chap20"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XX</h3> +<h4>THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS IN HADES</h4> +<br> +<p>"With a heavy heart we sailed from Circè's island bound +for the gloomy Hades. As the wind was favorable, we soon reached +the place of which the goddess had told us. There we left the +ship and did those things which Circè had counselled us to +do. As soon as the dark blood of the sheep began to flow into the +trench countless souls came flocking from Hades and begged to +taste of the blood, that their mortal minds might be restored to +them.</p> +<p>"Young wives and girls, old men and young warriors who had +fallen in battle, airy forms, ghosts of all kinds of people, +flitted like bats around me in that dark place with fearful +cries, and I turned pale with fear. I drew my sword and waved +them back until I should question the soul of Tiresias.</p> +<p>"But first came the soul of Elpenor, one of my companions who +had gone with me to the palace of Circè. We had left him +dead in the halls of the goddess, since we had no time to bury +him. Now, when I saw him a great pity stirred my heart, and I +shed tears and said to him: 'Elpenor, how didst thou come into +these dread regions of darkness? Thou hast come more quickly on +foot than I in my quick ship.'</p> +<p>"The phantom knew me, for, being as yet unburied, he was not +one of the shades, and had not lost his memory or voice, nor did +he need to drink of the blood. He moaned and replied: 'Noble +Odysseus, it was an evil fate which the gods had decreed for me. +I drank too much wine and that caused my death. I lay down to +sleep on the roof of Circè's palace and could not remember +the way to the stairs when thou didst call us to the ships. In my +haste I fell from the roof and broke my neck, and my soul came +down to Hades.</p> +<p>"'I pray thee now by all those whom thou dost love—thy +wife, thy father, and thy son—that thou leave not my body +unburied in the palace halls, lest I bring on thee the anger of +the gods. But on thy return to Circè's isle burn my body, +together with my armor, and pile up a mound of earth over my +ashes. Plant my oar upon my tomb—the oar with which I used +to row while I was living.'</p> +<p>"I made the promise, but at this moment the soul of my mother, +whom I had left hale and strong among the living when I went to +the war, approached and tried to get at the trench. I wept to see +her, but with a heavy heart I forbade her coming nearer until I +had spoken with Tiresias. At this moment troops of souls came +flocking out of Hades, and from the countless throng the Theban +seer came leaning on a golden staff, and he ordered me to lay +aside my sword and permit him to drink of the blood.</p> +<p>"When he had drunk, he spoke to me and said: 'Odysseus, man of +many woes, why dost thou leave the light of the sun and come down +among the dead? Doubtless thy heart's desire is to return safely +home. But much suffering is in store for thee. Poseidon will not +permit it, because thou hast blinded his son, Polyphemus. Still, +thou mayest overcome all difficulties and see Ithaca at last, if +thou dost not harm the cattle and fat sheep of the Sun on the +island of Trinacria.</p> +<p>"'But if thou dost kill them and eat of their flesh, I warn +thee that nothing will save thy comrades or thy ships. Even then +thou mayest be saved, but it will be on a strange ship, alone, +and after dreadful sufferings. And at home thou wilt find other +misfortunes awaiting thee.</p> +<p>"'There will be a mob of lawless men rioting in thy house, +squandering thy riches, and trying to get thy wife to marry one +of them. Thou shalt kill these violent men in thy halls by craft +or in open fight. After that thou shalt reach a good and +prosperous old age, and find a peaceful death far away from the +sea. All that I tell thee shall surely happen.'"</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap21" id="chap21"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXI</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS CONVERSES WITH HIS MOTHER AND AGAMEMNON</h4> +<br> +<p>"When Tiresias had gone, my mother came back to the dark +trench and drank of the blood. She knew me at once and cried out: +'Oh, my child, how didst thou ever come down to this gloomy place +alive? Art thou on thy way home from Troy? And hast thou not seen +Ithaca yet, nor thy wife and child?'</p> +<p>"I answered her: 'Dear mother, I was compelled to come down +here in order to consult the soul of the prophet Tiresias about +my return; for I have not yet touched foot to Grecian soil. I +have been driven about on strange seas from year to year, and +have suffered misfortune after misfortune. Oh, tell me, my +mother, how didst thou die? Did some lingering disease waste thy +life, or didst thou meet a sudden, painless death?</p> +<p>"'Tell me of my father and of my son. Do they still hold rule +over Ithaca? Or has someone snatched it away from them, thinking +I was never to return? How fares my wife, Penelope? Is she still +faithful to the husband of her youth, or has she married +another?'</p> +<p>"To all this my mother answered: 'My son, Penelope is in the +home where thou didst leave her, and she weeps for thee day and +night. Nobody has usurped thy kingdom, and Telemachos has charge +of thy royal estates. But thy father dwells on thy farm, and +shares the life of the servants. He seldom goes down to the city. +The grief he feels for loss of thee has made him old, and will +hasten his death, as it caused mine, for I could not live without +thee.'</p> +<p>"So spake my mother, and I longed to clasp her to my heart. +Three times I threw my arms around her, and three times she +passed through them like a shadow. Then I cried out in sorrow: +'Oh, my dear mother! why can I not clasp thee to my heart and +hold thee in my arms, that we may lose for a while our sense of +loneliness and misery?'</p> +<p>"My mother spoke and said: 'It is the lot of all our race when +they are dead. When life departs we have no bones and flesh, but +the soul flies off and flits about from one place to another. +Hasten back to the pleasant daylight, and when thou dost reach +home tell thy wife what I have said.'</p> +<p>"When my mother had gone, I saw the soul of Agamemnon +approaching, together with the shades of those of his companions +who had perished with him. The moment he had drunk of the blood +he knew me and raised a loud wail. He stretched out his hands to +me, and I tried to seize them, but I clutched only the empty +air.</p> +<p>"Then I began to weep, too, and said to him: 'Famous son of +Atreus, King Agamemnon, tell me how thou didst die. Did Poseidon +wreck thee on the sea in a terrible storm, or didst thou fall in +war, fighting on the land?'</p> +<p>"Whereupon the king told me the dire story of his home-coming +and his death at traitors' hands. 'When I trod my native soil +again after a long absence,' he said, 'I was overcome with joy at +the thought of seeing my wife and children once more. But I was +slain in my own home, and my wife did not even close my eyes as +my soul came on its way to these dark realms.'</p> +<p>"I answered: 'Alas! how the gods must hate the family of +Atreus on account of the unfaithfulness of its women!'</p> +<p>"Agamemnon replied: 'Oh, son of Laertes, thou art a fortunate +man, for thou hast a faithful wife. Penelope is wise and +virtuous. I remember, when we were ready to start for Troy she +was a young wife with a little babe in her arms, which she +pressed to her bosom. He must be a man now. Thou art a happy +father. Thou wilt see thy son at home in Ithaca.</p> +<p>"'No such good fortune can ever come to me. My wife did not +even let me see my son before she slew me. Tell me about him, I +beseech thee, how he is. Does he still live in Sparta?'</p> +<p>"'Son of Atreus,' I said, 'do not ask me where thy son is. I +cannot tell whether he is alive or not, and this is no time for +idle conjectures;' and we wept as I spoke."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap22" id="chap22"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXII</h3> +<h4>CONVERSATION WITH ACHILLES AND OTHER HEROES</h4> +<br> +<p>"While we were conversing thus, the shades of Achilles and +Patroklos came near. The soul of Achilles recognized me, and he +said: 'Odysseus, son of Laertes, how darest thou descend into the +gloomy habitation of the dead? This is the greatest labor thou +hast undertaken.'</p> +<p>"I answered: 'Godlike Achilles, I came here to consult the +seer Tiresias about my return to my own country, for I have never +yet reached Grecian soil, but have wandered about suffering great +misfortunes. No one is happier than thou art, O Achilles. When +thou wert alive all men honored thee as if thou wert a god, and +now thou art a king and rulest over the dead.'</p> +<p>"Then he replied: 'Do not try to console me, Odysseus. I would +rather be the slave of a poor man, and in the light of the sun, +than to be in Hades and rule over all the dead. But tell me, +Odysseus, how fares my noble son? Does he fight in the wars, and +is he in the front ranks? And Peleus, my aged father, tell me of +him. Is he still king of the Myrmidons? Or do they hold him in +contempt, now that he is old, and I am not there to uphold +him?'</p> +<p>"I answered him: 'I know nothing about thy aged father, O +Achilles, but I have many things to tell thee about thy son. I +brought him from Skyros, myself, in a ship to Troy, and placed +him in the Greek army. There he surpassed everyone except Nestor +and myself in the wisdom of his advice, and when we went forth to +battle he fought among the foremost, slaying many illustrious +foes.</p> +<p>"'Above all, his powers shone forth when we were hidden in the +wooden horse. All the other leaders of the Greeks gave signs of +fear. They grew white and shed tears; but his face never turned +pale, and no tear came into his eyes. He called on me to leave +the horse and rush upon the foe, and he smote the Trojans, +carrying death and destruction among them. When we finally +subdued the city, thy son took rich booty and safely reached his +own country.'</p> +<p>"As soon as Achilles heard this news he rejoiced. He strode +proudly off over the field of Elysian asphodels, well pleased +that he had left such a mighty son on earth.</p> +<p>"After Achilles had departed, many other souls came and talked +with me. Only the soul of Ajax kept aloof, still angry over a +victory which I gained near the ships when I took the weapons of +Achilles as my share of the booty. Little did that victory and +the arms please me, since they caused the grave to close over +such a hero as Ajax.</p> +<p>"I spoke to his soul in gentle words: 'Ajax, son of Telamon, +did not even death appease the anger against me which thou didst +feel on account of my receiving the arms that brought such a +calamity upon the Greeks? For thou wast our tower of strength, +and the weapons proved fatal to thee. Come nearer and speak to +me, for I bewail thy death.' I spoke soothingly yet Ajax gave no +answer. His spirit vanished away among the other spirits.</p> +<p>"Then I beheld Minos, the lawgiver of Crete, who held a golden +sceptre in his hand and judged the dead. He had under him the +great wrong-doers of one part of Hades. With him I saw Tantalos, +who stood in a pool of water, suffering at the same time a +painful thirst. As often as he tried to put his lips to the water +it sank down away from him so that he could not reach it.</p> +<p>"I saw Sisyphos, also, who suffered great punishment, for he +rolled a large rock uphill with both hands, straining every +muscle of his body to the utmost to move it. No sooner had he +pushed it to the top of the hill than it rolled back with +deafening noise to the bottom of the valley. Again the +unfortunate man toiled to move it upward, the sweat covering his +body and clouds of dust hovering over his head.</p> +<p>"Then I saw the shade of Herakles, but the hero himself sits +among the gods on Mount Olympos. And there came myriads of souls, +making a terrible noise, which filled me with dread, lest I might +look upon the Gorgon, and I hastened back to the ship. I ordered +the crew to go on board, and they took their oars and rowed until +we reached the open sea, where favorable winds caught by the +sails wafted us back to Circè's isle."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap23" id="chap23"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIII</h3> +<h4>THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO THE ISLAND OF CIRCÈ</h4> +<br> +<p>"When we reached Circè's isle, we dragged our vessel up +on to the beach, and lay down to sleep on the shore. At break of +day I sent my comrades forth to bring the body of Elpenor from +the palace. We took it out to a rocky place on the shore, and cut +down trees to build a funeral pyre. There we burned the body and +performed the funeral rites, and we built a tomb and placed an +oar at the top of it.</p> +<p>"All this was done quietly, but Circè saw us and came +with her maids, bringing a generous supply of food and wine. +Standing in our midst, she said: 'Brave men, who living have gone +down to Hades, all men die once, but you are permitted to die +twice. Take food, eat and drink all day long, and to-morrow at +daylight depart for your native land. I will show you the way and +teach you how to avoid all danger.'</p> +<p>"We spent the whole day on the shore, eating and drinking, but +when the sun sank down and the earth was covered with darkness my +companions went near the ship to seek rest. But I sat down by +Circè, who questioned me about my visit to Hades. After I +had told her everything, she said: 'Odysseus, so far all is well, +but there are a great many new dangers ahead. Listen carefully to +what I say. First, thou must pass the Sirens, who bewitch with +their melodious voices all who listen to them. Woe to him who +allows his ship to go near them! He will never reach his native +land, or see his wife and children again. The Sirens sit in a +green field and sing, while the bones of dead men lie in heaps +near them. Do not listen to them, but pass them by unnoticed.</p> +<p>"'Or, if thou wouldst enjoy the matchless singing and not pay +the forfeit with thy life, let thy men bind thee hand and foot to +the mast of thy ship, so that thou canst not by any effort stir a +limb when the great longing seizes thee. And give thy men strict +orders to make thy bonds tighter shouldst thou entreat them to +loose thee. Before thou art bound, thou shalt knead soft wax in +thy palms and fill the ears of thy companions with it, that no +sound may enter.</p> +<p>"'Thence thou wilt come to the narrows where Skylla and +Charybdis dwell. On each side of the narrows is a steep cliff, +one of which is so high that its sharp top reaches the sky. It is +so slippery that no one is able to climb up or down its sides, +nor could he if he had twenty hands and feet. Not even a bird can +safely perch on it.</p> +<p>"'No boat has ever come to the spot and left it without being +wrecked, except Jason's, when he was in search of the Golden +Fleece, and he escaped because a goddess was his guide, to pilot +him through. A dark gray fog forever broods over the head of the +cliff, and on its western side there yawns a fearful cave, where +Skylla lives.</p> +<p>"'She is a terrible monster that barks like a savage dog, day +and night. She has twelve shapeless feet, and six heads set on +long necks. Each of her mouths shows three rows of deadly teeth. +Half of her body is hidden in the rock, but she thrusts out her +heads and snatches her prey, fish, whales, dolphins, or men. No +sailor escapes, or, indeed, any living creature that passes that +way.</p> +<p>"'The other cliff is not so high, but is still more dangerous. +There, under the foliage of a wild fig-tree, Charybdis dwells, +who sucks in the dark waters of the sea three times a day and +belches them forth again three times with a terrible noise. Woe +to thee if thou art near when she sucks the waters down, for not +even Poseidon himself could save thee. It would be better far to +steer close to Skylla, for then only six of thy men would be +snatched from the benches, but if Charybdis seizes thy ship all +must perish.</p> +<p>"'These pests are immortal. Do not try to overcome them. They +cannot die. It is better to fly from them with all haste. It +would be rashness and not courage to attack them.</p> +<p>"'Next in thy voyage thou wilt come to the island of +Trinacria, where the fine flocks of Hēlios are feeding. Two +shining nymphs, daughters of the Sun, tend them. There are seven +herds of oxen and seven herds of sheep, fifty in each herd and +flock. These creatures are immortal, and greatly beloved of +Hēlios, who will send destruction to thy ship and crew if +any harm come to them. Forbid thy men to touch the cattle, even +though suffering for food. If thou art wise enough to escape +these dangers, thou shalt reach thy home without further +mischance.'</p> +<p>"As the goddess finished, day broke. Circè sought her +own dwelling, while we put to sea with a favorable wind, and soon +the island faded from our sight."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap24" id="chap24"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIV</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS MEETS THE SIRENS, SKYLLA, AND CHARYBDIS</h4> +<br> +<p>"When I saw that we were near the home of the Sirens, I said +to my men: 'It is not wise that only one of us should know the +oracles of Circè, and I will tell you all she said to me, +that ye may escape from the perils before us; and I disclosed her +sayings to them. Then I took a handful of wax and warmed it in +the sun until it was soft, and carefully clogged up their +ears.</p> +<p>"They, in turn, tied me to the mast, hand and foot, so firmly +that I could not stir a limb, having first received my command +that they should not loose my bonds on any account. Then they +bent to their oars, and rowed close to the Sirens, so that they +could see me and I could hear their bewitching songs.</p> +<p>"'Come to us, O renowned Odysseus,' they sang; 'pride of the +Greeks, come and listen to our voices. No one ever yet passed us +without stopping and admiring our sweet songs. Come, that we may +sing to thee about Troy and thy friends, for we know everything +that is going on in the whole world.'</p> +<p>"Thus they sang, and their songs thrilled me. A great desire +came over me to stop and listen to them, and with nods I +entreated my comrades to set me free. But they sprang up and +bound other cords about me, so that I struggled in vain. Then all +the men plied their oars until the water was white with foam, and +when we were out of sight of the island and could no longer hear +the songs of the Sirens, my men set me free, and I took the wax +from their ears.</p> +<p>"Hardly had we escaped from the Sirens when we beheld a black +fog and towering waves and heard a frightful noise. My men were +so scared that the oars fell from their hands and the ship stood +still. I hastened from one end of the boat to the other, speaking +cheerful words to each rower. 'My dear friends,' I said, 'have no +fear. This is not the first time we have encountered danger. We +have been saved from the hands of the Cyclops through our own +valor and clever devices, and we are not going to break down now. +Listen, and I will tell you what is to be done. Keep your seats +and ply your oars with all your might; but thou, O helmsman, +steer thy ship clear of that fog and the whirling waves.' Thus I +spoke, and they willingly obeyed my words.</p> +<p>"Yet I said nothing to them about Skylla, lest they should +lose heart and hide in the bottom of the ship. Thus we passed in +between the two cliffs, the one of which harbored Skylla and the +other Charybdis, who, with a terrible noise, swallowed the brine +of the sea and belched it out again with a roar like the mingling +of fire and water.</p> +<p>"But I forgot the command of Circè to fly from these +monsters without fighting. I put on my shining armor and took a +spear in each hand, and went on deck, and stood in warlike +attitude ready to attack Skylla if she should raise a hand to +seize one of my men. I looked for a long time, but I could not +see her.</p> +<p>"We sailed on, the uproar increasing. My men grew white with +fear. The salt waters whirled so that we could look into a deep +watery pit and see the blue sand. The rocks were hidden by a +thick mist. Suddenly Skylla thrust forth a mighty hand and +snatched six of my brave men, as a fisherman pulls out fish with +a hook. I saw their hands outstretched toward me as they were +lifted up into the air, and I heard their cries for help. Woe is +me! This sight will haunt me as long as I have life."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap25" id="chap25"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXV</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF HĒLIOS</h4> +<br> +<p>"When we had escaped from the terrible Skylla and Charybdis, +we came to the island of Hēlios, the island of the Sun, and +heard from afar the lowing of the cattle and the bleating of the +sheep. Then I remembered the words of Tiresias and Circè, +and I advised my companions not to land there at all, but to go +right on, lest we suffer some new disaster.</p> +<p>"My crew would not listen to me. They commanded me to land on +the isle. I then made them take an oath not even to look at any +of the cattle. We prepared our evening meal, and when it was over +we talked of our dear companions whom Skylla had devoured, and we +mourned over them until we fell asleep.</p> +<p>"We remained a whole month on this island, on account of +unfavorable winds. We found the roomy grot where the nymphs +danced, and the seats where they sat—the nymphs who tended +the flocks of Hēlios.</p> +<p>"As long as we had a plenty of bread and wine my comrades were +satisfied and spared the cattle. But when our store of food was +exhausted they roamed all over the island to see what they could +get to appease their hunger. They snared birds and caught fish +with hooks, and lived on them or anything else that came to hand. +But they grew poor and lean with hunger and nearly starved. I +went off alone into the island, where I had found a quiet nook, +and sent up prayers to the gods to show us the way out of our +difficulties. There I fell asleep.</p> +<p>"While I slumbered, Eurylochos called my men together, and +said: 'All kinds of death are bad enough, my brave friends, but +death by starvation is the worst. Let us kill the best of these +cattle and offer sacrifices to the gods, and then eat and live. +If we ever get to Ithaca we will make restitution, for we will +build altars to the Sun and place costly gifts upon his shrine. +But if it is his will to destroy us in his anger, then let us die +amid the billows of the deep, for that is better than to die by +famine.'</p> +<p>"Thus spoke Eurylochos, and the others lent a willing ear. +They seized the best of the cattle at once, and slaughtered them, +and prepared a hearty meal. They offered up petitions to the +gods, standing round their victims with young oak-leaves in their +hands. Then they covered the thighs with caul, and laid slices of +fat over these, and poured on water and roasted it until it was +consumed. All the rest was cut into smaller portions and scorched +on iron prongs.</p> +<p>"At this moment I awoke and hurried down to the ship, and with +horror found the dreadful meal prepared. One of the nymphs, +immortal shepherdess, flew to the Sun to tell him that my men had +slain his cattle. Hēlios was deeply angered, and spoke thus +before the assembled gods: 'Father Zeus and all ye immortal gods, +behold the comrades of Odysseus! They have slaughtered my +heifers, which gladdened my heart as I went up to heaven and down +to earth.</p> +<p>"'If they do not pay me well for this great wrong, I shall go +down among the dead and give them light, but I will give no light +to the living.' 'Shine on, O Sun, in the bright sky,' said Zeus, +'for I will cut their ship to pieces with a thunder-bolt, as it +tosses on a black sea.' I could only chide my comrades. I could +not think of any sufficient redress, for the cattle were +dead.</p> +<p>"And here happened a wonder which amazed my comrades. The +skins of the dead animals crawled over the ground, and the flesh +lowed as they had done when alive. Nevertheless, my companions +continued to kill and eat the best oxen in the herds for six +days, when a favorable wind sprang up, and we went on board and +set sail once more.</p> +<p>"After we had lost sight of land, and nothing was before us +but sky and sea, a sudden darkness shrouded the heavens, and +there arose a violent storm. The vessel was hurled hither and +thither by the towering billows; the hurricane tore the sails and +dashed the mast against the pilot's head, crushing the bones, and +he was cast headlong into the sea.</p> +<p>"Then Zeus sent a thunder-bolt into the ship, and broke it +nearly in two. The boat was filled with a sulphurous smoke, and +my comrades were shaken off into the sea and drowned. They +floated round me, but I moved about in the ship until the bottom +and the sides had broken away from each other and the mast had +snapped off at its base. I took the mast, which had a thong of +bull's-hide round it, and tied it to the keel. I took my seat +upon this frail craft, and the storm whirled me about.</p> +<p>"After awhile the west wind ceased, and the south wind began +to blow, which was still worse for me, since it took me back to +dread Charybdis. All night long I was tossed on the waves, and at +dawn I drew near to Charybdis. As the monster was swallowing the +salt brine, I caught hold of the fig-tree and clung to it like a +bat till she should throw up my poor raft. I waited long, but at +last the timbers were thrown out of the whirlpool, and I dropped +down upon them, and sat on them and rowed with my hands. I +floated about on the waters for nine long days, and on the tenth +I came to Calypso's island. She welcomed me, and detained me +seven years, as I have already told thee, O Aretè, and why +should I repeat a tale already narrated?"</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap26" id="chap26"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXVI</h3> +<h4>THE DEPARTURE OF ODYSSEUS FROM THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA</h4> +<br> +<p>All the guests had listened with deep attention to the recital +of Odysseus; all were greatly interested, and when he ended they +did not stir or speak a word. Alkinoös was the first to +break the silence, and he said: "Renowned Odysseus, since thou +hast come to our country, I hope that thy sufferings are at an +end and that thou wilt reach thy native land safely and soon." +Then the King turned to his guests and addressed them: +"Phæacians, let us each present one more gift, a large +tripod and a vase, to the hero who has come among us."</p> +<p>The Phæacians received his words approvingly, and each +went at once to his home to sleep. But when morning came they all +sent their gifts to the ship, where they were packed carefully +under the benches by the King himself, and the guests returned to +the palace, where a banquet was spread for them.</p> +<p>Alkinoös sacrificed an ox to Zeus, and they sat down at +the table. The enjoyment ran high, and the old poet, Demodokos, +sang sweet songs. They feasted all day, and when the sun was near +its setting Odysseus said: "King Alkinoös, let us pour out +the last libation and offer up the last prayer, for all things +have come to pass that my soul desired. May the gods bless thy +gifts. May I find my home, my wife and child, and friends. I pray +the gods to grant thee all that is good, and may no evil ever +befall thy land. Be pleased to send me hence, and fare thee +well."</p> +<p>Thus he spoke, right glad that the day was done and eager to +set sail. The people approved his timely words, and seizing their +goblets they poured out wine on to the ground, an offering to the +gods, and they wished godspeed to their guest. Odysseus arose and +placed a goblet in the hands of the Queen, addressing her thus: +"Farewell, O Queen, I wish thee a long and happy life, a peaceful +old age down to the grave, from which no one may escape; rejoice +in the possession of thy home, thy people, thy children, and the +King, thy husband."</p> +<p>So spoke Odysseus, and left the hall. The King sent a herald +to show him the way to the port where the ship was waiting for +him. At the same time Aretè also sent down some maids, who +carried a new cloak and tunic, a well-wrought coffer full of +gifts, and an abundance of food for the journey.</p> +<p>These things the crew took from their hands and stowed away in +the hold of the vessel. They spread a nice bed for him on the +deck, where he might sleep quietly. When every thing was ready, +Odysseus embarked, and the sailors slipped the cables and took +their seats at the oars. Odysseus fell into a deep, sweet +slumber, but the ship flew forward faster than a bird could fly, +making rapid headway toward the island of Ithaca.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap27" id="chap27"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXVII</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS ARRIVES AT ITHACA</h4> +<br> +<p>When the morning star arose the ship reached Ithaca. It +entered a harbor called Phorkys, where there was a grotto sacred +to the nymphs, and it was shaded at the entrance by an +olive-tree. Stone vases stood around in the grotto, and there +bees had stored up honey. The nymphs spun their fine thread from +stone spindles there, and wove their sea-purple robes. Springs of +cool water flowed through the grotto, and there was an entrance +for mortals and one which was kept holy for the gods.</p> +<p>When the ship touched the beach the sailors disembarked and +carried the sleeping Odysseus on a rug on to the shore and laid +him down. They brought his presents also from under the ship's +benches and laid them under the olive-tree, a short distance from +the road, for fear that some evil-minded person would take them +before Odysseus woke up.</p> +<p>Then the crew sailed homeward, but Poseidon saw them and was +angry because his purpose to cause Odysseus endless suffering had +been thwarted. He at once complained to Zeus that the +Phæacians had restored Odysseus to his native land, with +gifts finer and more valuable than anything he could have brought +from Troy. Zeus listened to his complaint and gave him authority +to destroy the Phæacian boat and its crew. Poseidon +promptly repaired to the island of Scheria, and when the ship +came in sight of the town he transformed it into a towering rock, +that it might hide the island from mariners and the +Phæacians would no longer be tempted to escort strangers to +their homes.</p> +<p>The ship had gone, and it was broad daylight when Odysseus +awoke. He did not recognize his own country, he had been away +from it for such a long time, and besides that, Athena had spread +a dense fog over it. His first thought was that the +Phæacians had deceived him and left him on an unknown +shore. He began to accuse them of treachery, and prayed to Zeus +to punish them. He looked around and found that his gifts had +been carefully placed, so he knew that he had not been robbed. He +counted his gifts and examined them.</p> +<p>There were tripods and vases of gold and brass and beautiful +hand-woven garments. He paced up and down the shore and wept and +wailed aloud. Then Athena appeared to him disguised as a shepherd +lad.</p> +<p>When Odysseus saw her, he hastened to her and said: "Hail, +fair youth! I am a stranger and find myself for the first time in +this place. I entreat thee to tell me the name of this country, +and what kind of people inhabit it." The goddess answered him: +"Truly, stranger, thou must come from a far-off land that thou +dost not know Ithaca, which is known from the rising to the +setting of the sun.</p> +<p>"It is indeed a stony island but it is not barren, nor is it a +good place for raising horses. It is rich in grain and grapes. It +has an abundance of dew and rain, and most delicious wine is made +here. Nowhere can be found handsomer goats or finer cattle. Every +kind of tree grows in its forests, and its springs are never dry. +The fame of Ithaca has reached even as far as Troy itself which, +I am told, lies far from Hellas."</p> +<p>Odysseus was overjoyed to find that he was in his own country. +But he did not venture to tell his name to the shepherd, nor +whence he came. Instead of that he told a long story that he came +from Crete, which he had been obliged to leave because he had +killed the King's son, who had robbed him.</p> +<p>Athena smiled and, assuming the form of a beautiful woman, +took him by the hand and said: "Thou crafty man, why dost thou +tell such lies? Dost thou not know Athena, daughter of Zeus, who +has protected thee everywhere and saved thee from all danger? I +have just come again to assist thee in hiding thy treasures and +to tell thee what thou must encounter in thine own palace. But +thou must not repeat anything which I tell thee, nor make thyself +known to any man or woman. And thou must bear many indignities in +silence until the right time comes, for there are many violent +men in thy halls."</p> +<p>Odysseus's heart was filled with joy. He knelt down and kissed +the soil of his native land. "Tell me, is it true," he said, +"that I am in my own beloved Ithaca? I pray thee, goddess, do not +jest with me."</p> +<p>"Thy native land! Such ever is thy thought," answered the +goddess. "Any other man would have hastened with all speed to his +wife and home. But thou must wait and come not at once into the +presence of Penelope. She sits within thy palace, weeping night +and day because thou dost not come. Hide thy gifts here in this +grotto, and I will tell thee what to do next."</p> +<p>With a glad heart Odysseus saluted the nymphs of the cave and +spring: "Hail to you, nymphs of my native land, daughters of +Zeus! I thought I should never see you again. I shall bring you +rich gifts in days to come, if it please Athena to keep me from +harm." After he had carried the presents into the grotto and +carefully hidden them, he sat down with the goddess among the +gnarled roots of the olive-tree, and they laid plots to destroy +Penelope's impudent suitors. Athena told him about the trouble +they had caused her; how they had established themselves in her +own home, trying to win her for a wife. For three years the noble +Penelope had kept these arrogant men in suspense, deluded with +empty hopes, while she waited for her husband's return. When +Odysseus heard these words he was greatly disturbed, and said: +"Woe is me! I might have been slain in my own home but for these +timely words. Now I am forearmed. Stand by me, I pray, in my +great need, and give me strength to meet my enemies. If thou art +my helper, I can resist, single-handed, three hundred foes."</p> +<p>"Take courage," said the goddess. "But to carry out our plans +I must change thee to a miserable old man with a wrinkled face +and clad in ragged garments, so that no one can recognize +thee.</p> +<p>"Then must thou go to thy faithful swineherd, Eumaios, who +loves thy wife and child and thy whole house.</p> +<p>"Thou wilt find him as he feeds the swine on acorns in a field +near the mountain, Korax, and the spring, Arethusa. He will tell +thee all the doings in thy house. Meantime I will take my way to +Sparta. Telemachos, thy son, is there. He went to visit Menelaos +and try to find out if there were any news of thee. I will call +him to return to Ithaca."</p> +<p>The goddess touched Odysseus with her magic wand. At once he +shrank and withered into a wrinkled, shabby, old beggar. Then she +gave him a staff and a tattered sack and sent him to his loyal +swineherd while she took her way to Sparta.</p> +<a name="ill4" id="ill4"></a> +<table align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" +summary="alpheus"> +<tr> +<td width="626"><img src="images/4.jpg" alt= +"ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="626" align="center">ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA</td> +</tr> +</table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap28" id="chap28"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXVIII</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS SEEKS THE SWINEHERD</h4> +<br> +<p>Odysseus left the haven by a narrow stony path and took his +way to the dwelling of his faithful swineherd, who thought more +of the welfare of his master than did all the rest of the +servants whom Odysseus had. He found him seated in the yard which +he himself had made of stone for the swine of the absent King, +and had enclosed with a thick hedge of thorns. He had driven +strong posts of oak around it, also. Inside the yard he had made +twelve sties, and in each sty there were fifty sows with their +little ones. The males were kept outside and were fewer in +number, for Eumaios was compelled to send a very fat one to the +suitors every day, and therefore there were only eighteen +score.</p> +<p>Near them were four large savage dogs as guards. They were +more like wolves than dogs. Eumaios was busy making a pair of +sandals from an ox-hide, for his own use. The other swineherds +had gone on errands, three of them to drive pigs to pasture, +while the fourth had taken a hog to the suitors in the city.</p> +<p>When the dogs saw Odysseus they barked and rushed upon him, +and they would have torn him to pieces, but Eumaios drove them +off with stones and said: "Thou poor old man, the dogs came very +near tearing thee limb from limb, and that would have been a +great shame and sorrow to me.</p> +<p>"The gods have already sent me trouble enough. Here I sit +weeping and mourning for my beloved master, and take care of his +swine in order that strangers may eat them. Who knows where he +may be wandering as a beggar among people who speak another +tongue? But come, old man, let us go into my lodge and eat, and +then thou mayest tell me who thou art and what misfortunes thou +hast suffered."</p> +<p>Odysseus followed the swineherd into the cabin. Eumaios threw +an armful of rushes on the floor and covered it with a rug of +goat-skin and bade his guest be seated.</p> +<p>Odysseus was gratified at this kind reception, and said to the +swineherd: "May Zeus and all the other immortal gods give thee, +my host, all the good of earth for thy hospitality."</p> +<p>The good swineherd answered him: "My guest, I should consider +it a great sin not to receive a stranger hospitably, even if he +looked more miserable than thou. Strangers and beggars are +children of Zeus. The hospitality I can extend to thee is slight +but sincere, for servants have little to offer, especially when, +like me, they have new masters. Odysseus loved me much. Would +that the gods might send him back to us. He would have paid me +for my toil. He would have given me a home, a little land, and a +wife. But he is dead. May the whole race of Helen be destroyed, +for it was she who brought noble men to destruction."</p> +<p>The swineherd drew his belt around him and hastened to the pen +where the pigs were shut up. He seized two little pigs and slew +them and roasted them on a spit over the fire. He sprinkled salt +over the savory meat and brought it to Odysseus. And he brought +delicate wine in a wooden cup, as well.</p> +<p>Then he said: "Eat, stranger, for this is the best I have to +give. The suitors, who fear neither god nor man, eat the fat +hogs. They gorge themselves with the costliest food in the house, +both wine and meat, and only these little lean porkers are left +for us. Yet there is still an abundance, for my master was very +rich. He had twelve herds of horned cattle and as many swine on +the mainland, and twelve flocks of sheep and goats. Here, on the +island, graze eleven flocks of goats, tended by as many trusty +herdsmen, each of whom has to send a fattened goat for the table +of the suitors every day. As for myself, I take care of these +swine, and each day I choose the best to send to the city."</p> +<p>Odysseus ate the flesh and drank the wine while Eumaios was +telling him these things, and could hardly keep from giving vent +to his anger. But he kept silence and meditated vengeance on the +suitors. When the meal was done he said: "Tell me, I pray thee, +all about thy rich and kind master. Thou didst say that he went +out with Agamemnon to fight the Trojans. Perhaps I know him and +can give thee some information concerning him."</p> +<p>The noble swineherd answered: "Be silent, aged man, for we +have ceased to believe the tales told us by wanderers. Every +beggar who comes this way calls on my mistress and tells her +falsehoods about seeing Odysseus, and tries to make her think +that he will come home in a short time. Then she treats him +kindly and loads him with gifts.</p> +<p>"How shall we know but thou dost make up just such a story in +order to receive a tunic and a mantle? It is a fact that my +master does not return. Who knows on what spot of the earth his +bones are mouldering, or what dogs and birds have devoured him? I +shall never cease to grieve for him. He loved me as he would have +loved a son. I shall never find such a kind master again. Even my +father and mother were not so good to me. Although he will never +be with us any more, I keep on doing his will."</p> +<a name="ill5" id="ill5"></a> +<table align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" +summary="swineherd"> +<tr> +<td width="717"><img src="images/5.jpg" alt= +"THE SWINEHERD TELLING HIS STORY TO ODYSSEUS"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="717" align="center">THE SWINEHERD TELLING HIS STORY TO +ODYSSEUS</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>Odysseus replied: "Thou dost see that I am half naked for want +of clothing, but I will never take a reward, even though I am in +rags, until Odysseus is really here. I hate the wretch who tells +lies to enrich himself as I hate death. I call Zeus to witness, +and this hospitable board and the hearth of Odysseus, that what I +tell thee will come true. Odysseus will be here at the end of +this month, and he will be avenged on those men who have robbed +him and insulted his wife and son."</p> +<p>"And yet I will not give thee any reward for thy news, old +man," said Eumaios, "for Odysseus is dead. He will never come +again. Drink in peace and let us talk of other things. Do not +take this great oath, as much as we wish—Laertes, Penelope, +Telemachos, and I—that Odysseus might come. But now, as if +we had not troubles enough, a new one has come upon us. I know +not what evil demon put it into the mind of Telemachos to go to +Sparta to inquire about his father. And the ungodly suitors have +sent out a ship to watch for him, and kill him on his return. We +shall lose him, too, if Zeus does not hold a protecting hand over +him.</p> +<p>"But tell me, dear old man, from what country dost thou come? +Who are thy parents? Tell me of thy toils and sufferings."</p> +<p>The time had not yet come when Odysseus thought it best to +reveal himself. He wanted to stay with the swineherd until his +son should return, and he had had the opportunity of making the +best plan for ridding his house of the suitors. So he told the +swineherd a long string of stories. He said he was a son of the +King of Crete; that he went to Troy, where he met Odysseus and +fought by his side. Returning, he wandered about, and, after many +adventures, met Odysseus again getting ready to return to Ithaca. +As for himself, he had been robbed even to his clothing and cast +on this island.</p> +<p>He told the tale so well that the swineherd believed him, and +even killed a fat hog in his honor. And he made him welcome to +his lodge and prepared a good bed for him near the fire, and +covered him with goat-skins. The night was cold and damp, and a +cutting wind was blowing outside. The other servants lay down +near Odysseus to sleep, but Eumaios took a sharp sword and thick +mantle and went out near the pens to watch the swine all night. +Odysseus saw with gratitude how faithfully this servant attended +to his duty.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>PART III</h4> +<h2>THE TRIUMPH OF ODYSSEUS</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap29" id="chap29"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIX</h3> +<h4>ATHENA ADVISES TELEMACHOS</h4> +<br> +<p>At the time when Odysseus was wrecked, after his comrades had +eaten of the cattle of Hēlios, and he was cast up on to the +island of Calypso, Athena prayed to Zeus, her mighty sire, that +he might be restored to Ithaca, his native land. She prayed that +Hermes, the messenger of the gods, might be sent to Calypso with +the express command that she should send Odysseus home. Zeus +smiled and granted the request.</p> +<p>Then Athena tied golden sandals under her feet and taking a +long, heavy spear, she rushed like a whirlwind down from the +heights of Olympos and stood at the doorway of Odysseus' house, +among the men of Ithaca. She found the haughty suitors assembled +there eating and drinking.</p> +<p>Telemachos saw the goddess before anyone else. She was +disguised to resemble Mentor, a wise chief who had led the +Taphians in the Trojan war. Telemachos rose at once, like a +gracious host, and took the right hand of the stranger and gave +him a hearty welcome. Athena saw with anger how the ungodly +wooers ate and drank and rioted gluttonously, while the servants +of Telemachos were obliged to administer to their wants. Some of +them were kept mixing the wines and water in large craters; +others had to clear and clean the tables, and others again +prepared and carved the meats and carried them round to the +suitors.</p> +<p>Telemachos led the stranger away from this noisy hall, that he +might not be annoyed by their boisterous behavior. He bade him +sit down on a throne, and placed a foot-stool under his feet. +Then he drew his own chair from among the suitors and sat near +the stranger, hoping to hear news of his absent father. A maid +brought a silver pitcher and basin and let the stranger wash his +hands. A table was placed before him, laden with the choicest +viands, while a herald filled a goblet with wine for him. When +they had enjoyed their meal, Telemachos asked the stranger his +name and country.</p> +<p>"I am Mentor, son of the Taphian King," said Athena. "I came +here in my ship with a crew of friends, on a journey to the Isle +of Cyprus, in search of copper, and I brought iron to give in +exchange. I am an old friend of Odysseus. I have left my ship in +the bay, back of the forest. Laertes will tell thee who I am. It +is said that he does not come to the palace any more, but lives +alone in the country, mourning over the loss of his son day and +night. It seems that the gods have long delayed Odysseus. Who +knows where he is? I am sure that he is not dead. And now tell +me, what feast is going on here, and who are these men? Are they +invited guests? Is it a banquet I see, or is there to be a +wedding? It is not a pleasant sight in any case, for the men are +coarse in their actions and ungodly in their speech. Every friend +of Odysseus must feel sad to see them in this place."</p> +<p>"As long as my father was here," answered Telemachos, "our +house was respectable and rich. But the gods have forsaken us, +and we are destined to destruction. No news of my father's death +has ever reached us; nevertheless, all the young men of the first +families of Ithaca and the surrounding isles flock to our house +and seek my mother for a wife and squander my father's riches. My +mother does not favor the idea of another marriage, and has not +promised herself to any of the suitors. She fears them, and so +she does not reject their suits, yet she will not end the trouble +by marrying one of them. They will not go away, but make +themselves at home here and eat up my inheritance. They only want +a favorable opportunity to kill me."</p> +<p>Athena grew angry at this, and said: "I would that Odysseus +might come this very moment to chastise these atrocious fellows. +Woe to them if he should appear at the door with his helmet and +shield and two tough spears, just as he looked when I first +beheld him in my own home. Then these suitors would find a bitter +marriage-feast and a speedy end. Vengeance, however, rests with +the gods.</p> +<p>"Now, let me consider the best way to get these suitors out of +the house. As an old friend of thy father, let me advise thee. +To-morrow call thy people together in council and tell the +suitors to depart. If thy mother has any inclination to wed +again, send her to her father's house. He is rich and powerful, +and can give her a splendid wedding, such as is suitable for the +daughter of a king, and bestow an ample dower.</p> +<p>"Then launch thy finest ship. Man it with twenty good oarsmen +and put out to sea in search of thy father. Sail to Pylos first +and consult with Nestor, and go to Sparta next and see Menelaos, +who has returned from Troy recently. Stay with him awhile if he +can assure thee that thy father lives. But if he tells thee that +thy father is surely dead, return as quickly as possible and +build a mound to him, and cause the altar to be piled high with +sacrifices and the funeral games to take place. Then let thy +mother marry again.</p> +<p>"Thou art no longer a child, and it is not seemly to allow +such indignities. Be brave and act without fear, that men may +honor thee. When thou hast performed these deeds, let thy care be +to drive out the suitors. But now I must return to my ship, for +my companions will be uneasy over my long absence."</p> +<p>"Thou hast spoken to me as a father speaks to a son," answered +Telemachos. "I shall bear thy words in mind. And now I pray thee +stay awhile to rest and bathe. I cannot let thee go to thy ship +without some handsome gift, such as one always bestows upon an +honored guest."</p> +<p>"Telemachos, do not detain me longer," replied Athena. "I must +depart at once. Keep thy gift until I return, and then I will +take it to my home." She vanished as she spoke, and all that +Telemachos saw was a fleet-winged bird flying upward high in the +air. Telemachos was astonished, and knew that he had been talking +face to face with some deity. He thought over all that the +goddess had told him, and resolved to do exactly as he had been +instructed.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap30" id="chap30"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXX</h3> +<h4>TELEMACHOS ASTONISHES THE WOOERS</h4> +<br> +<p>The feast continued. The wooers ate and drank but were silent, +for an illustrious bard was singing to them of the Trojan war. +Telemachos walked forth in the midst of them, his heart inspired +with courage. Penelope had heard the song as she sat in her +chamber over the hall, and she came down the lofty stairway +attended by two maids. She implored the bard, with tears to +change the song, since it was the one most sacred to her and made +her sad.</p> +<p>Then said Telemachos: "My mother, let thy heart be strong to +bear this song which all men love. The bard must sing the song +with which he is inspired. Retire now, I pray thee, to thy room, +and take thy maids with thee. There teach them to spin and +weave—a task meet for a princess. But leave to me the +ordering of the feast and the care of the suitors. Such a duty +belongs to a man, and the authority is mine." Penelope was amazed +at his words. She withdrew to her own rooms with her attendants +and wept and mourned for her absent lord until she fell +asleep.</p> +<p>When the minstrel had finished his song, the suitors began to +be noisy and riotous again. Telemachos could no longer restrain +himself. "Ye insolent suitors of my mother," he said to them, +"cease your uproar. Your lawlessness knows no bounds. To-morrow I +will call a general assembly of all the Ithacans and warn you to +depart. If ye remain in my house wasting my goods and eating food +that is not your own I will call down vengeance from the gods, +and ye shall die in this very palace."</p> +<p>The suitors were astonished at his courage and his words. He +had never before spoken out with authority. Antinoös and +Eurymachos, the most insolent of them, began to ridicule him and +excite the others to make fun of him. And they asked Telemachos +what guest he had been entertaining so secretly and what news he +had brought from his father. The suitors danced and sang, eating +and drinking, until evening, before they went home.</p> +<p>Telemachos then sought his own couch. His old nurse, +Eurycleia, led the way with two torches. She had been a faithful +servant since Laertes, in his early manhood, had bought her for +the price of a hundred oxen.</p> +<p>Telemachos sat down on his bed, and removing his tunic handed +it to the nurse, who folded it and smoothed it and hung it up. He +lay down and covered himself with soft fleeces, while Eurycleia +went out and carefully locked the door. But sleep did not come to +him. All night he thought of what the coming day would bring.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap31" id="chap31"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXI</h3> +<h4>PENELOPE'S WEB</h4> +<br> +<p>The next morning, at dawn of day, Telemachos rose from his bed +and put on his garments. He hung his sword over his shoulder and +fastened his sandals on his feet and strode bravely forth. He +summoned his heralds at once and bade them call a council of the +Ithacans. The people came at the appointed time, and Telemachos, +sceptre in hand, took his place before the assembly and called it +to order.</p> +<p>"I have not summoned you, my friends," he said, "in order that +ye may see some entertaining show, but out of dire necessity. I +bring no news of war and I have nothing to say that concerns the +public good. You all know the grief which has befallen me on +account of my father, your king and leader, who loved you as a +parent loves his children. But Odysseus is gone and there is no +hope of his return. This misfortune is not enough, for every day +the young men of the leading families of Ithaca and the +surrounding isles meet in my house and vex my mother with +unseemly and importunate offers of marriage.</p> +<p>"There they are now installed, eating our food, drinking our +wine, and wasting our money, for Odysseus is not here to drive +them out. I have no way of expelling them from my home. My +friends, consider these wrongs and help me to drive these robbers +from the house of your king. It would be a shame to the people of +Ithaca if it were noised around that they left the son of their +chief in the hands of plunderers without giving him help."</p> +<p>Thus spoke Telemachos, the tears running down his cheeks, and +he threw the sceptre on the ground. The people were greatly +moved, and felt pity for the youth who had to suffer such wrongs, +but they were silent. Only Antinoös, the most insolent of +the suitors, took up the word and said: "Shameless Telemachos, +how dost thou dare to chide us for this state of things! Thy +mother is the one to blame. She has been leading us on for three +whole years. She is skilful and crafty. She promised, three years +ago, to choose one of us for a husband as soon as she should +finish the winding-sheets for old Laertes in case of his +death.</p> +<p>"Then she began to weave upon her loom a dainty web of vast +length and width. And she said to each one of us: 'Do not urge me +to marry, I pray, until I finish these shrouds for the hero +Laertes, when his hour of death shall come. I have spun an +abundance of fine thread, and it must not be wasted. Besides +that, the dames of Greece would speak ill of me if I should leave +my husband's father without a shroud, for he has had great wealth +all his life.' In this way Penelope gave us hope, and we were too +generous to persist in forcing her to choose at once.</p> +<p>"She went on in this way, weaving the great web by day, and +every night she unravelled by torchlight all that she had woven +by sunlight. She has deceived us long enough. We have discovered +her fraud; for a woman who has seen her unravelling the web has +told us all about it. She must finish the work and make her +choice among her suitors. If thou dost wish us to leave thy +house, thou shalt send thy mother to her parents and let her +father command her to marry one of us, according to her choice. +When this is done no one will disturb thee any longer.</p> +<p>"If, however, Penelope prefers to treat the noble sons of +Greece with such malice and craft, we will go right on consuming +thy goods. She will thus make a great name for herself, but she +will impoverish thee."</p> +<p>"I shall never send my mother away from her husband's house," +rejoined Telemachos. "Living or dead, my father is in distant +lands, and if I should dismiss his wife of my own will, I should +invite the hatred of the gods on my guilty head. She would call +upon the Furies to haunt me; all men would curse me; and her +father would demand ample satisfaction of me. I will never speak +the word to send her forth. Now, get you gone and cease +squandering my riches or I will call down the wrath of the gods +on you."</p> +<p>Having said this, Telemachos sat down, and Zeus sent two +eagles flying over the heads of the wooers, close to each other. +They looked down upon the crowd of people and tore each other's +heads and vanished. The Ithacans saw the deadly omen, and a +venerable prophet among them stood up and said: "Noble youths, I +advise you seriously to depart from this royal house, for this is +a sign that Odysseus is coming home. Woe to you if he finds you +in his palace. You will all meet a direful end."</p> +<p>Eurymachos answered him: "Old man, keep thy advice and thy +forebodings for thine own children. We do not need them. Advise +Telemachos to change his mind and send his mother home to her +father, instead of prating foolishly to us. As long as he keeps +her here we shall continue to consume his wealth, until he has +nothing left. And we will punish thee severely if thou dost +incite this young man to violence."</p> +<p>Telemachos, thinking it best to be discreet, replied: "Now +hear me, Eurymachos, and all ye suitors. Give me a good ship and +twenty men, that I may go from land to land in search of my +father. If I find that he lives and may return, I will wait one +year longer for him to reach home. But if I hear that he is not +alive, I will come back and build a mound to his memory and give +him a funeral worthy of such a king. Then shall my mother make +her choice and wed."</p> +<p>Mentor, the stanch friend and adviser of Odysseus, sat among +the Ithacans in the assembly. When he saw how Telemachos was put +to shame, he grew angry. He rose to his feet, and addressed the +people: "No king ever again should be wise and good. He should be +hard and unjust, since no one of you has enough love for Odysseus +to stand by his son. I am less ashamed of the impudent suitors, +than I am of the weaklings who see what they are doing and who +dare not interfere."</p> +<p>"Foolish old Mentor," said one of the suitors, "what art thou +saying! If Odysseus, himself, should come hither, he would not be +able to drive us out. If anyone thinks himself strong enough to +do it, let him try it. Ye Ithacans disperse to your homes, and +leave Mentor to provide the boy with a ship." So saying he +dispersed the crowd, and the wooers all went into the palace to +continue their revelry.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap32" id="chap32"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXII</h3> +<h4>THE JOURNEY OF TELEMACHOS</h4> +<br> +<p>Telemachos left the assembly and went down to the sea-shore +alone, and washing his hands in the surf called on the goddess +who had appeared to him the day before to come to his assistance. +At once Athena stood by his side in the guise and with the voice +of Mentor. She urged him to hasten his journey. Telemachos took +new courage, and returned at once to his house where he found his +old nurse, Eurycleia, alone. He revealed to her his intention, +and asked her to assist him in getting everything ready for the +journey. He bade her draw twelve jars of the best wine, and +twelve skins of the finest meal to put aboard the ship.</p> +<p>When the old nurse heard this she wept and beat her breast. +"Dear child," she said, "who has put such a thought into thy +mind? Why shouldst thou, an only son and well beloved, wander off +to a distant land? Be warned by what thy father had to suffer +because he left his own country. The suitors will plot to kill +thee and divide thy wealth. Stay here, at home; there is no need +that thou shouldst venture over the fearful sea."</p> +<p>Telemachos answered her: "Take courage, my good nurse; this +journey is advised of a god. Do not let my mother know of my +departure for eleven or twelve days, lest she weep and +mourn."</p> +<p>The nurse promised most solemnly that she would keep his +secret and execute his orders. She drew the wine into the jars +and filled the strong skins with meal. Meantime, Athena, +blue-eyed goddess, taking the form of Telemachos, went through +the city and urged the men to repair to the ships at sundown, for +she had chosen the best boats in Ithaca for the youth, and found +for him a crew that was glad to serve him.</p> +<p>Then the blue-eyed maid went to the palace and poured sleep +upon the eyelids of the drunken suitors. They gladly sought their +beds in their own homes. Taking the form of Mentor, she next +appeared to Telemachos and bade him follow her to the beach. When +they reached the galley, he found his comrades waiting. They +hurried up to the palace for the wine and meal, which they soon +brought to the ship and stored in the hold. Then the crew slipped +the cables which held the ship to the shore. Athena took her seat +at the stern and Telemachos sat near her. The sails were spread +and the sailors began to ply their oars. Athena raised a +favorable breeze and the vessel glided forward cutting her way +through the roaring waters.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap33" id="chap33"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXIII</h3> +<h4>TELEMACHOS IN PYLOS</h4> +<br> +<p>At sunrise the ship arrived at Pylos. The people of that town +were all assembled on the shore, where they were sacrificing +coal-black oxen to Poseidon. Some were burning fat upon the +altar, and others were distributing food among those who were +offering up the sacrifices, while all were eating.</p> +<p>The Ithacans touched land. Telemachos and Athena disembarked, +leaving the crew to guard the ship, and went up to the crowd. On +the way Athena cheered Telemachos and advised him what to say to +the people. When they had come near enough to the inhabitants to +be seen by them, the people rose and came to meet the strangers. +First of all, the son of Nestor, Peisistratos, approached and +took each of them by the hand and led them to the feast. He bade +them be seated near his father and brought them the choicest +meat.</p> +<p>After the strangers had eaten, Peisistratos filled a golden +goblet with wine, and handed it to Mentor, as the elder. Mentor +was pleased with the young man's good breeding and he took the +goblet and poured out a part of it on the ground as a sacrifice +to Poseidon, with a prayer for a safe return. Then he handed the +goblet to Telemachos, and he did likewise.</p> +<p>When the feast was over, Nestor, the King of Pylos, said to +his guests: "The time has come, dear strangers, when it is +fitting to ask your names, and from what land you come. Do you +roam the seas as pirates, or do you come on an errand?"</p> +<p>"We are Greeks," said Telemachos. "We come from Ithaca to seek +tidings of my father, the unfortunate Odysseus, who went to war +against Troy with thee and the other Greek chiefs. We have never +heard anything of him during all these long years and do not know +whether he is living or dead. I pray thee tell me anything thou +may'st know about him, and conceal nothing."</p> +<p>"My son," Nestor replied, "thou dost call to mind the great +sufferings borne by the men of Greece ere we succeeded in +conquering Priam's town. It would take years to tell thee of the +brave deeds of the Greeks, how they fought and where they fell. +We passed nine years in worrying the enemy, and there was no man +who gave better counsel or performed nobler deeds than did +Odysseus. Art thou then his son? I look on thee in wonder. Yes, +thou art like him. How strange to hear so young a man speak as he +did!</p> +<p>"After the destruction of Troy, the surviving Greeks embarked, +and we set out for home. But when we reached Tenedos, thy father +returned to Troy to join Agamemnon and the others, who had stayed +behind, to appease the wrath of Athena, for a Greek had committed +sacrilege in her temple.</p> +<p>"Our voyage was prosperous, and we all reached home except +Menelaos, who wandered about in Crete and Egypt for a long time. +It is said that the noble son of Achilles returned home safely, +and that Agamemnon was slain in his own house, and his son took +vengeance on his murderers. There is a rumor, too, that many +suitors hang about thy mother, and, in spite of thy +remonstrances, consume thy riches. Be brave, my son, and yield +not. Odysseus may come again. Go at once to Menelaos, for he may +have news of thy father. I will give thee swift horses and a +chariot, and my sons will drive."</p> +<p>All day Telemachos discoursed with Nestor, and when the sun +went down, they poured wine on the earth and burned an offering +to the gods. Telemachos and Mentor arose to retire to their ship, +but Nestor begged them to be his guests and go to the royal +palace. Mentor, as the elder of the two, excused himself, in +order to join the crew, and suddenly disappeared. Nestor +recognized that Telemachos was attended by the goddess, and +offered a prayer to her. The assembly dispersed, and Nestor, with +his guest and his sons, retired to his palace.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap34" id="chap34"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXIV</h3> +<h4>TELEMACHOS IN SPARTA</h4> +<br> +<p>Before the sun was fairly up, they all arose and seated +themselves on the smooth stone benches that loomed up in the +gloaming, white and shining, before the gates of the palace. +Nestor bade one of his sons to prepare an offering to Athena, of +the best heifer in the fields. He sent another son to call a +skilled workman to plate the heifer's horns with gold, and two +others yet to bring the crew from the ship. He told the remaining +two sons to bid the maids prepare a sumptuous feast in honor of +their guest.</p> +<p>In a moment there was a busy scene. The heifer was brought up +from the fields, and her horns were adorned with pure gold in +hopes that Athena would see it and be pleased. The sailors came +from the ship, except two who were left as guards. The heifer was +slain and parts were burned as an offering to the goddess, and +cakes and wine also were thrown into the flames to complete the +sacrifice. They roasted the flesh on long iron forks with five +prongs, and feasted upon it.</p> +<p>Then Nestor said to his sons: "Bring now the chariot and +horses and let our guest depart in search of news concerning his +renowned father." The horses were soon harnessed to the car, +which was stored with wine and bread and dainties fit for a +prince. Telemachos climbed into the seat. Peisistratos took his +place beside him and grasped the reins. The horses dashed off in +high spirit, and Pylos was soon left in the distance. All day the +horses sped along. At night they rested by the way and early the +next morning went on again as swiftly as before. As the sun went +down they found themselves in Sparta, the land of plenty, and at +the gates of Menelaos, the king.</p> +<p>Here they found many guests assembled at the wedding banquet +of Hermione, the daughter of Menelaos. That day she had been +given as a bride to Neoptolemos, the son of Achilles. A minstrel +was playing a harp and singing, while two dancers performed +graceful feats to give life to the feast.</p> +<p>One of the attendants of Menelaos saw the strangers drive up, +and stepped out to see who was coming. Then he hastened back to +Menelaos and told him that two strangers of princely bearing were +at the palace gate, and asked if he should unharness their horses +or send them on their way. Menelaos was vexed that any of his +servants should be so lax in hospitality, and told him he had +acted like a foolish child, and reminded him of the gifts that +had been showered on them when they wandered so long in foreign +lands. And he bade him hasten to unharness the steeds, and give +them oats and barley, and bid the strangers welcome to the +feast.</p> +<p>Telemachos and Peisistratos were amazed at the beauty of the +palace. They bathed in the marble baths, rubbed themselves with +oil and put on the splendid tunics that were brought them. After +that they entered the great hall, where each was seated on a +throne near the king. A handmaid brought a golden pitcher and a +silver bowl for their hands, and a table was placed before them +laden with choice food. When they had eaten enough, golden +beakers of wine were handed them, and then the monarch gave his +hand to each of them, saying: "Ye have come in good time, my +friends. As soon as ye have finished your feast, I will ask your +names and whence ye come, for ye look like sons of kings."</p> +<p>As they sat there Telemachos, bending his head toward +Peisistratos, said, in a low tone, so that he thought no one else +would hear: "Surely, O son of Nestor, the Olympian home of Zeus +himself could not be more glorious than this palace. See the gold +and ivory, and shining brass. These things are beyond price in +richness." Menelaos caught the words, although he spoke so low, +and said: "My sons, there is no palace that can compare with the +home of the gods. The riches which you look at in astonishment I +collected while wandering in Egypt and in Crete. I find no +pleasure in them, however, for I found my brother, King Agamemnon +slain when I reached home. Would that the men who fought before +Troy had their share of this wealth! I often weep and mourn for +them in my palace, and am unable to eat or sleep on account of +the misery I have brought upon my friends.</p> +<p>"For none of them do I mourn so much as I do for Odysseus, who +suffered the most of all on my behalf. I would gladly give all my +wealth, if I only knew him to be safe. But we do not know whether +he is dead or living. How much his old father must have grieved +for him. How many tears his wife, Penelope, must have shed, and +his high-minded son, Telemachos, what sorrow he has +suffered."</p> +<p>New despair filled the heart of Telemachos, and tears fell +from his eyes. He held his purple mantle to hide his grief and +wept in silence. When Menelaos saw this, he at once suspected +that the young man was no other than the sorrowing son of +Odysseus, and he felt perplexed for want of suitable words. He +could not decide whether to question him about his father, or to +wait and let the youth speak out of his own will.</p> +<p>Just then Helen entered the hall from her high-roofed chamber, +looking like a goddess in her dazzling beauty. She sat down at +her husband's feet, while servants ran to bring the mat which she +was weaving and the distaff filled with fine-spun purple thread. +Her fingers flew over the dainty work while she questioned the +king: "Didst thou ask the strangers their names? It is not +possible that there can be any man so like to Odysseus except his +son, as is this youth! I see him with astonishment. His father +left him at home a little babe, when the Greeks went forth to war +for my sake. Is it not true that this is Telemachos?"</p> +<p>Menelaos replied: "My wife, I think thou hast spoken truly. +The young man has the hands, the feet, and the features of +Odysseus, and he cannot hide his grief at the mention of that +hero's name." Peisistratos took up the word and said: "He is, +indeed, the son of Odysseus, O king! My father, Nestor, sent me +with him to inquire what you might know of the long-lost +chieftain, and to beg you to give him advice, for he has to +suffer great wrongs in his house and there is no one to assist +him."</p> +<p>Menelaos was heartily glad to hear that his guest was really +Telemachos. But the remembrance of his old friend overcame him +and he wept bitter tears. "I thought when I was in Troy," he +said, "that I should one day welcome Odysseus to my home. I would +have given him land and cities and brought to Sparta all his +people and his wealth. Then we would always have lived close +together and nothing could have parted us. But he has never +returned." The tears fell from his eyes and Helen wept as well. +Peisistratos then said to Menelaos: "Son of Atreus, my father +says that thou art good and wise. Let us not, I entreat, continue +this sad discourse, since this is a day that should not be given +to lamentations. I lost a brother, also, at Troy. But we will +honor these heroes at a proper time, with tears and by cutting +off our locks. Let us not spoil the feast with mourning."</p> +<p>They spent the rest of the day in making the festival as +cheerful as if there were no grief to be hidden, and when night +came the Argive Helen ordered the servants to prepare beds for +them in the portico and cover them with tapestries, while she +poured for them a soothing wine and dismissed them to their +slumbers. The heralds led them to their couches, where they found +a welcome rest.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap35" id="chap35"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXV</h3> +<h4>MENELAOS RELATES HIS ADVENTURES</h4> +<br> +<p>The next morning Menelaos rose from his couch very early, put +on his garments, hung his sword over his shoulder, laced his +sandals, and went into his hall looking like a god. He sat down +near Telemachos, and asked him to tell him frankly why he had +come to Sparta.</p> +<p>Telemachos then told him of the evil deeds of the suitors, and +besought him to give him every possible clew to his father's +whereabouts. Menelaos was indignant over the young man's +wrongs.</p> +<p>"Shame on the cowards who wish to rule over thy father's +house," he said. "Let Odysseus return and he will tear them to +pieces as a lion tears a young deer. Grant, O father Zeus, and +Athena, and Apollo, that Odysseus may yet give those ungodly +suitors a bitter wedding feast. But I will tell thee of my +travels and what was told me by the Ancient Spirit of the +sea.</p> +<p>"It happened that the gods detained me many days in Egypt to +sacrifice and do penance, for I had forgotten to make proper +offerings to them. The island of Pharos lies just off the coast +of Egypt. There I remained until the daughter of the Ancient Sea +King, seeing my distress, came to my rescue.</p> +<p>"My men and I had wandered over the island in search of food +until we were nearly starved, when she discovered us, and told us +that our efforts would be useless unless we consulted with her +father. 'If thou canst ensnare him and hold him in thy grasp,' +she said, 'he will tell thee how to reach thy home. He is a seer, +and can tell thee all that has taken place there during thy +absence. At noon-tide he comes out from the ocean caves covered +with brine, and lies down among the sea-calves, rank with the +smell of salt. He counts them five at a time, and then he +stretches himself out among them and goes to sleep. He is very +shrewd, and when thou hast caught him he will struggle and take +all sorts of forms to escape thee. He will turn into a reptile, +and into fire and then will change to water. But hold him fast, +and when he looks as he did when first perceived by thee, ask him +how to find thy home.'</p> +<p>"The next morning, I sought the aged sea-god as I had been +bidden. I took three old comrades whom I knew to be trusty, and +we went down into the depths of the sea. The goddess brought us +four fresh hides that had just been taken from sea-calves newly +slaughtered, and we dressed ourselves in them to deceive her +father. She scooped out places for us to lie in on the sands and +we waited for him to come. The smell was sickening and beyond +endurance, so the goddess put ambrosia under our noses. When the +sun was highest in the heavens, the sea-calves came in groups and +ranged themselves around in rows on the sand. The old seer came +out and counted all, and did not notice our fraud. Then he lay +down to sleep. At once, we rushed upon him and caught him. He +began to take all kinds of shapes. First, he was a lion; then a +serpent, a panther, a boar, a fountain of water, and a tree. We +held on until he was tired of trying to escape.</p> +<p>"At last he took his proper form, and began to question me. +'Son of Atreus,' he said, 'who hath taught thee how to make me a +prisoner? What is it thou wouldst know?' 'Tell me what god is +angry with me, O Proteus,' I replied. 'Why am I detained on this +island? Why can I not reach my home?' 'Thou didst not make +acceptable sacrifices to Zeus,' said Proteus. 'And thou wilt +never see thy home again until thou hast offered up a hundred +oxen to the immortal gods.'</p> +<p>"'I will perform that rite speedily, oh prophet,' I replied. +'But tell me about my comrades in the Trojan war. Did they reach +home in safety?'</p> +<p>"Then Proteus told me all; how Ajax died amid his ships; how +Agamemnon was slain in his own hall; and of Laertes' son he said +that he had seen him sitting in a grotto on Calypso's Isle. There +upon the rocks or at the ocean-side he weeps and mourns day after +day, and gazes out upon the deep. His comrades are lost, and he +has no ship with which to return to Ithaca. And after he had +spoken he plunged into the sea while I returned to my ships, +offered up the hundred oxen to Zeus and sailed for home. And now, +Telemachos, I pray thee remain awhile with me, and I will dismiss +thee with a chariot and swift horses, and a cup of priceless +worth with which to pour libations to the gods."</p> +<p>Telemachos took new courage when he heard that his father +still lived, and begged that he might go back at once to Pylos to +join his crew. In a moment all were busy in the palace of +Menelaos preparing gifts and a feast that the youths might depart +on the morrow.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap36" id="chap36"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXVI</h3> +<h4>THE CONSPIRACY OF THE SUITORS</h4> +<br> +<p>One day while Telemachos was in Sparta, the guest of Menelaos, +the suitors were more riotous than usual. They diverted +themselves in the palace of Odysseus by throwing the discus and +javelin. Only Antinoös and the handsome Eurymachos kept +apart from them. Then Noëmon, who had given Telemachos his +ship a few days before, approached them and said: "Antinoös, +I would gladly know when Telemachos will return from Pylos. I +lent him my ship, and I need it for I intend to go to Elis, where +I have business."</p> +<p>The suitors were completely taken by surprise, for they had +not heard that Telemachos had gone to Pylos. They thought that he +was out at the farm with his swineherd. Antinoös asked: +"When did Telemachos sail, and what crew did he take? Did he use +force in getting thy ship or didst thou lend it willingly?"</p> +<p>"He was welcome to the ship," replied Noëmon. "Who would +not have done such a service to a man who has had so much to +endure? The young men who went with him belong to the best +families of Ithaca." Noëmon could not get any news of +Telemachos, so he went home; but the suitors conspired to kill +Telemachos. They decided that Antinoös should man a ship +with a crew of twenty men, and lie in ambush in the waters near +Ithaca, in order that they might catch Telemachos, on his +return.</p> +<p>This wicked plot of the suitors was betrayed to the queen, by +her faithful herald, Medon. Penelope was overcome with grief, and +wept bitterly, and her loyal attendants mourned with her. "What +new grief is this which befalls me now?" she said. "Is it not +enough that death has robbed me of my husband? Am I also to lose +my only child, without even having seen him before his departure? +Alas! why did no one tell me he was going, that I might have +prevented his journey? Haste ye to Laertes and tell him what has +happened, that he may make some plan to upset this plot to +destroy his heir, the son of Odysseus."</p> +<p>Then Eurycleia, the nurse, tried to console her with these +soothing words: "My daughter, I will not hide the truth from thee +any longer. I gave Telemachos a generous supply of food and wine, +all that he could use on his journey. And I promised him solemnly +that I would not tell thee of his departure, since he had a great +dread that thou wouldst weep and mourn, and spoil thy lovely face +and injure thy health. Now dry thy tears and bathe, and put on +fresh robes. Then go to thine altar in the upper chamber with thy +maids. There pray to Athena and burn incense to her. Do not alarm +good old Laertes needlessly."</p> +<p>Penelope followed the old nurse's advice. She went to the +altar, at the highest part of the house, and there she prayed to +Athena: "Hear me, daughter of Zeus! If ever my beloved husband +has sacrificed to thee the fat limbs of oxen or sheep, and has +built thee altars, save my son, Telemachos, and destroy the +suitors, who fain would destroy him." The goddess heard her +prayer, and sent sweet slumber and a pleasant dream to assuage +her grief. In her sleep she saw her sister, who said to her: "Be +of good cheer, Penelope; no harm will come to thy son, for a god +goes with him." To her, the wise Penelope, yet dreaming, +answered: "My sister, why is it thou hast never come to me +before? Thy home is far away. I weep because I have lost my noble +husband, and now his enemies conspire to slay my only son." The +dream replied: "Take heart. Do not fear. Athena sent me to tell +thee that she will protect thy son."</p> +<p>"Oh, tell me," cried the queen, in her dreams, "tell me if my +husband lives, since thou art sent by a goddess." But the shadow +vanished through the closed door, and mingled with the air. +Penelope awoke with a glad heart, cheered by the prophetic +dream.</p> +<p>In the meantime the suitors spoke among themselves, for they +were too foolish to understand the spirit of the queen. "Surely," +they said, "Penelope is making ready for her wedding. She does +not suspect that we have planned to kill her son." "Do not +deceive yourselves, my friends," said Antinoös. "Be silent +and act." Then he chose twenty men, and they went down to a +well-fitted ship, and took their places at the oars. They waited +until it was dark, when they quietly rowed out into a narrow +strait, through which, they thought, Telemachos was sure to sail +on his return, and there they waited.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap37" id="chap37"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXVII</h3> +<h4>TELEMACHOS RETURNS TO ITHACA</h4> +<br> +<p>Having encouraged Penelope, the goddess Athena sped to Sparta, +where she found Telemachos, with Nestor's son, asleep upon the +porch. She stood beside his bed, and warned him that he ought to +return home, since Penelope's father had given her counsel to wed +the richest of the suitors, and had promised a generous dower. +"Do not delay," the goddess said to him; "no one can tell what a +woman will do to help the man she is to marry.</p> +<p>"And also beware of the suitors, whom thou hast offended. They +lie in wait in the narrow passage between Samos and Ithaca. They +hope to catch thee on thy way home and slay thee. Do not go that +way. Sail only when it is dark. A god will watch over thee. When +thou dost come to the first harbor in Ithaca, disembark, and let +thy crew go on in the ship and take it back to the town. But thou +shalt make thy way to the hut of thy loyal swineherd, and he will +take tidings of thy safe return to thy mother."</p> +<p>Athena said this and vanished. Telemachos turned to +Peisistratos and said: "Let us arise and set forth on our journey +with all haste, oh son of Nestor." But Peisistratos begged him to +wait until it was fairly light. Menelaos had slept lightly, he +was so agitated with the great event of seeing his beloved +comrade's son, and he rose as soon as it was light. Telemachos +heard him approaching, and hastily threw on his tunic and cloak +and went to meet him.</p> +<p>Telemachos urged a hasty departure and Menelaos did not think +it proper to try to detain him. He said: "A host is hateful who +is too affectionate. It is as wrong to keep a guest who is in a +hurry to go as it is to thrust a stranger out when he wants to +stay. Let me bring thee costly gifts, and when thou hast had thy +morning meal I will hasten thee on thy way." The car was heaped +with gifts, a golden goblet, a silver beaker, a robe that +glistened with hand-wrought embroidery, the work of Helen, a +goblet of silver with golden lips. Peisistratos gazed with wonder +at their beauty as he placed them in the car.</p> +<p>They washed their hands in a silver bowl and ate and drank +from the bounty which had been placed before them. Then they +mounted the car which had been brought to the palace gates. +Nestor's son took the reins, Menelaos poured wine on the ground, +an offering to the gods for their safety and prosperity, and off +they sped over the plain. Two birds flew on before them, an eagle +that had clutched a goose and bore it off in its talons, a sign +that Odysseus would come and put an end to the suitors, and this +omen cheered Telemachos.</p> +<p>All day the horses bounded on shaking their splendid harness. +The son of Nestor plied the lash. At night they rested in a +friendly lodge and the second day they reached Pylos. They drove +directly to the ship, lest Nestor, in his great love for his +guest, should detain him. With an offering and a prayer to Athena +he set sail. A prospering breeze swept over the sea and bore them +rapidly along. At night Telemachos landed at the nearest port and +sent the crew on to take the ship to the town.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap38" id="chap38"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXVIII</h3> +<h4>TELEMACHOS AND THE SWINEHERD</h4> +<br> +<p>When daylight appeared Odysseus and Eumaios rose from their +beds and sent the serving men out into the fields with their +swine, but they themselves remained at home and prepared +breakfast. In a little while they heard footsteps outside. The +dogs pricked up their ears and wagged their tails without +barking.</p> +<p>Odysseus, perceiving this, said to the swineherd: "There must +be some friend of thine coming, since the dogs do not bark." The +words had hardly passed his lips when Telemachos entered the hut. +Eumaios started to his feet and hastened to welcome his young +master. He took him in his arms as a father would a son who had +been away a long time, and kissed his face and hands.</p> +<p>Tears dropped from his eyes and he said: "My dear Telemachos, +I did not dare to hope ever to behold thee again. Come in that I +may rejoice with all my heart at seeing thee once more enter my +cabin after thy return from a strange country. Seldom dost thou +come to see thy servants, for thou dost live in town, where thou +must watch the suitor train consume thy wealth day by day."</p> +<p>To this Telemachos made answer: "This is quite true, my +father; but I come here to learn of thee how matters are at the +palace. Is my mother there, or has some wooer won her for a +bride?"</p> +<p>"Thy mother is still at home," replied the sturdy swineherd. +"She has a loyal heart, but she wastes her life in weeping." +Saying this he took the lance from the young prince, who had come +farther into the cabin. Odysseus arose to give him his seat, but +Telemachos said to him: "Keep thy seat, stranger, I will sit +elsewhere."</p> +<p>Odysseus sat down again. The swineherd took an armful of twigs +and covered it with fleeces, and Telemachos seated himself upon +it. Next he brought bread and meat and set them before his young +master, who, when he had eaten, asked his faithful servant who +the stranger was and whence he came.</p> +<p>"The stranger says that he came from Crete," answered Eumaios. +"Lately he has run away from a ship where he was robbed, and has +come here. I leave him to thee, however; do with him as thou dost +like." "Thy words do not please me, Eumaios," said Telemachos. +"How can I receive a stranger in my house, since I cannot protect +him there if any of the godless wooers insult him. It would be +better for him to stay here; and lest he be a burden to you I +will send out food and clothes for him, and I will help him to go +wherever he wishes."</p> +<p>To him the sagacious Odysseus replied: "My friend, I hear with +grief the story of thy wrongs. Art thou willing to let this go +on? If I were as young as thou art I would lose my life before I +would suffer such things—thy guests insulted, thy servants +beaten, thy riches thrown away, thy food consumed by +gluttons."</p> +<p>"Thy words are sharp, dear stranger, and I shall answer them +with the truth," said Telemachos. "Thou dost not yet understand +that there is a great crowd of suitors; not simply five or ten. +What can I do single-handed against such a multitude? But you, +Eumaios, hasten to the city, secretly, and tell my mother that I +have returned and am staying here. Then come back at once and let +no one know where I am, for the lovers are plotting a bloody +death for me." The swineherd hastily bound his sandals on to his +feet, took his staff, and hurried off.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap39" id="chap39"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XXXIX</h3> +<h4>TELEMACHOS RECOGNIZES ODYSSEUS</h4> +<br> +<p>It was not long after Eumaios had left the cabin when Athena, +in the guise of a beautiful woman, appeared to Odysseus and +beckoned him to come outside. Telemachos was opposite to her, but +he did not see her, for the gods are not visible to all. Only +Odysseus and the dogs were conscious of her presence. The dogs +did not bark but ran into a corner of the cabin, crouching and +whining. Odysseus left the room and stood before the goddess, who +spoke to him in these words: "Son of Laertes, of noble birth and +great wisdom, make thyself known to thy son. Tell him all the +truth. Advise with him how to put an end to that insolent crowd +of suitors. I shall never be far from thee myself and will help +thee. I long to see them attacked."</p> +<p>When she had finished speaking she touched Odysseus with her +golden wand. That touch changed him instantly into a handsome, +well-made man in the full vigor of robust manhood. His rags +became seemly garments. His cheeks flushed with renewed health +and the heavy beard on his chin grew dark again. After the +goddess had done this she vanished and Odysseus went back into +the lodge. His son glanced at him in amazement and then turned +his eyes away from him lest he should irreverently look upon a +god.</p> +<p>"Stranger," he said, "I think thou art an immortal whose home +is in the heavens, for thou hast been transformed in looks and +garb. Let me bring a sacrifice and offer it to thee, together +with beautiful gifts, and perhaps thou wilt be gracious to us and +keep us from harm."</p> +<p>Odysseus replied: "Nay, I am not a god, nor like the gods. I +am thy father, he for whom thou hast mourned and endured so many +sufferings." Saying this he kissed his son and wept.</p> +<p>"I pray thee do not deceive me," said Telemachos. "Thou surely +art a deity and not my father. No mortal could change from a +ragged old beggar to a young and stately man in a moment."</p> +<p>Odysseus answered him: "Telemachos, it is not like a son to +gaze upon thy father with astonishment. No other Odysseus will +ever come into this cabin. I am thy father. I have wandered +twenty years in foreign lands, and now have come to my own home. +Thou hast seen a miracle which Athena wrought, for she makes me +look like a beggar or a king as she pleases. The gods have all +power to put men in high places or to humble them."</p> +<p>Odysseus sat down and his dear son approached him and threw +his arms around him in a loving embrace, and together they wept +tears of joy. At last Telemachos inquired: "Dear father, in what +ship hast thou come, and what sailors brought thee hither? Thou +couldst not have come on foot."</p> +<p>"The Phæacians brought me across the sea and left me +sleeping on the shore in Ithaca," replied Odysseus. "And they +gave me rich presents of gold, and silver, and brass, and +embroidered garments hand-woven from their own looms.</p> +<p>"These have I hidden, and Athena has sent me to advise with +thee how best to destroy the arrogant crew of suitors that so +long has robbed my house and vexed my wife. Tell me now how many +there are and what kind of men, so that I can judge whether we +two alone may attack them, or whether we need the help of +others."</p> +<p>"My father," answered Telemachos, "thy sweet fame has +resounded through our halls, my whole life long. How often have I +heard of thy courage and the strength of thy powerful arm. But +how is it possible for us two to fight against such a multitude? +Fifty-two of the wooers come from one town with six servants. +Twenty-four come from Samos, and twenty more from Zakynthos, and +twelve from Ithaca. If we attack them all I fear that we shall +come to grief. It is better for us to look around and find an +ally."</p> +<p>Again Odysseus made reply: "Dear son, take courage. Zeus and +Athena, most powerful of the gods, are on our side. Early +to-morrow thou must go to the city and mingle with the suitors. +The swineherd shall lead me disguised as an old beggar to my +palace. Keep down thy wrath if the wooers speak insultingly to +me. Do not resent it except to administer a gentle reproof, +though they strike me with their spears and abuse me with bad +language. The day of their death is at hand. When Athena gives me +the sign, I will nod to thee and thou shalt remove my weapons +from the great hall to an upper room. Tell the suspicious suitors +that the arms gather too much dust where they now hang on the +walls, and besides that, a god has warned thee that in their +drunken brawls, the wooers may harm each other. Let no one know +of my arrival, not even Laertes, Eumaios, or my wife, +Penelope."</p> +<p>All day the illustrious father and his son conversed and laid +their plans. At noon they killed a yearling pig, and roasted it +and made a hearty lunch. Once more Athena touched Odysseus with +her wand and changed him into a poor old beggar, that Eumaios +should not recognize him. At evening the swineherd returned. On +entering his cabin he told his young master that the suitors had +learned of his safe return to Ithaca. Then he prepared a supper +for them, and they ate and drank to their hearts' content, when +they retired to rest.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap40" id="chap40"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XL</h3> +<h4>TELEMACHOS RETURNS TO THE PALACE</h4> +<br> +<p>Early the next morning Telemachos rose, tied his shining +sandals under his feet, took his spear and stood ready to go to +the city. He called the swineherd to him, and said: "Eumaios, I +am going back to the town to see my mother. I know that she will +not cease to be anxious about me until she sees me in my own +home. Take this stranger there, too, where he may beg, and thus +supply his wants. I cannot receive every poor man into my own +house; my trials are too great. It makes no difference to me +whether he likes it or not. I am forced to tell the truth about +it."</p> +<p>"My friend," said Odysseus, "I do not care to stay any longer. +I think myself it is better for me to go to the city, where a +beggar may have a fair chance. I am too old to be of service +here. Go thy way, my son, and let thy servant lead me hence, as +thou hast commanded. But let me first warm me at the fire, for I +am cold and the way is long."</p> +<p>Then Telemachos went out of the lodge and sped toward the +city. His old nurse, Eurycleia, was the first to see him, and she +ran out to welcome him, and the other servants came around +rejoicing. Next came Penelope, as beautiful as Artemis, and threw +her arms about her son, and kissed him on his brow and eyes. +"Hast thou indeed returned, Telemachos, my son? I never hoped to +see thee again. Tell me about thy father. Hast thou any news of +him? What has happened? What hast thou seen?" So did the queen +greet her son.</p> +<p>"Dear mother, do not waken my grief again," Telemachos +replied. "I have barely escaped a cruel death. But go to thy bath +and put fresh garments on, and then pray to the gods and promise +them great sacrifices if Zeus will avenge our wrongs." Penelope +willingly did her son's bidding, but Telemachos betook himself to +the market place to show himself to the people.</p> +<p>When Telemachos came into the public square the suitors +thronged around him with smooth speeches, but in their hearts +they kept on plotting his death. He wanted them to see that he +was in Ithaca, but he did not care to be in their company, so he +took his place among some friends of his father. One of the crew +came up to ask where he might deposit the splendid gifts of +Menelaos, and Telemachos told him to hide them until the suitors +had been defeated or had won the victory.</p> +<p>Then Telemachos came back to the palace in company with a +stranger who had joined his crew at Pylos, and they sat down near +the queen, who was spinning. The servants brought them wine and +food, and after they had eaten, Penelope begged that her son +would recite to her the story of his journey. In the meantime +Odysseus and Eumaios had started for the city. When they reached +the spring where the citizens of the city went for water, they +encountered Melanthios, a goatherd, driving goats into town. Two +servants followed, helping him. As soon as he saw Eumaios and his +guest, he said: "Look! There is one knave leading another. +Verily, the gods bring like and like together. Thou miserable +swineherd, whither dost thou take that worthless beggar, this +vagabond who rubs his shoulders on every door-post, asking for +crusts, eating gluttonously, and telling tales of woe?</p> +<p>"Just hand him over to me to guard my stables and clean my +yard, and I will give him whey to drink, which will fatten his +limbs. But work does not suit such a fellow. He would rather +ramble idly about and beg for food to fill his empty stomach. Let +him once come to the palace of Odysseus and the guests that woo +the queen will fling footstools at him." With that Melanthios +kicked him in the thigh. Odysseus hesitated a moment and +considered whether it were better to slay the goatherd with a +blow from his staff, or whether he should submit to the indignity +in silence. The latter seemed the better course.</p> +<p>But Eumaios grew angry and said: "Melanthios, wait till +Odysseus returns. He will give thee thy deserts, thou villain! +All day long dost thou loaf in the city, leaving thy master's +flocks to take care of themselves." Melanthios answered him: +"Just hear what this cur has to say! I shall take him off and +sell him for a slave some day. Would that Telemachos might die +this moment under the hands of the suitors, and go down to Hades +to join his father!" With these words he hurried off to the house +of his master where he sat down among the crowd of wooers.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap41" id="chap41"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLI</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS IS RECOGNIZED BY HIS DOG</h4> +<br> +<p>After awhile Odysseus and Eumaios came to the house. As they +drew near they waited a little to listen to the music, for a +minstrel had begun a song, and while singing he played the lyre. +"Surely, Eumaios," said Odysseus, "anyone would know that this is +the palace of a king. See how stately the structure is, and how +spacious the court beyond the massive gates! And there are walls +and towers and countless rooms. No one but Odysseus could have +built such a fortress. I hear the sound of the lute and perceive +the tempting odor of roasting meat, and there are crowds of +guests coming and going. There must be a banquet within."</p> +<p>Eumaios replied: "True, my friend, this is the house of +Odysseus. Now, let us consider what we are to do. Shall I take +the lead and go in first, or wilt thou go first and let me +follow?" Odysseus, the sagacious, made answer: "Go in before me, +and I will follow by and by."</p> +<p>They were standing near the stable doors while talking. The +filth from the stalls of the mules and oxen had been piled there +by slovenly servants, who should have removed it day by day to +fertilize the fields. There, on the unwholesome heap, a poor, +neglected dog was lying, devoured by noxious insects and vermin. +It was Argus, whom Odysseus himself had raised before he went to +Troy. In times gone by, the young men of Ithaca had made him most +useful in the chase. He had scented the stag, the hare, and the +wild goat for them many a time. But now that he was old no one +cared for him, and he was left to die.</p> +<p>As soon as he saw Odysseus drawing near he pricked up his ears +and wagged his tail. But he had not strength enough to get up and +come to his master, although he moved as if he would gladly have +done so. Odysseus saw this and burst into tears, but he turned +his face away in hopes that Eumaios would not notice it.</p> +<p>But the good swineherd saw it and so Odysseus questioned him: +"Eumaios, what dog is this that lies upon this filth? He is well +built, and surely is of a fine stock. Is he fleet in the chase or +a mere house-dog kept for show?"</p> +<p>"This dog, stranger," answered Eumaios, "belongs to my dear +master. If thou hadst only seen him before Odysseus went to Troy +thou wouldst have been astonished at his swiftness. He performed +wonders in the chase. No wild animal was able to escape him. But +his master has died far from home, and the careless servants will +not even throw him a bone."</p> +<p>The swineherd passed on into the hall where the suitors sat, +but Odysseus stood looking at the faithful beast, the only +creature that had recognized him. The joy of seeing his old +master was too great, and Argus sank down and died.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap42" id="chap42"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLII</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS COMES, A BEGGAR, TO HIS OWN HOUSE</h4> +<br> +<p>Telemachos was the first to notice the swineherd entering the +hall, and he made a sign for him to come and sit by him. +Presently Odysseus, too, entered in the guise of a forlorn old +beggar, and sat down near the door. Telemachos handed Eumaios a +whole loaf of bread and as much meat as he could hold in his two +hands, and bade him take it to the beggar. And he told him to +tell the poor old man to ask a pittance from every suitor +present.</p> +<p>Odysseus took the food, and after thanking Telemachos, prayed +to the gods to give him everything good. Then he placed his food +in a wallet on the ground, and began to eat, while a minstrel +entertained the assembly with sweet music. When the bard ceased +his singing, the suitors began a noisy conversation, and having a +signal from Athena, Odysseus arose and went from one wooer to +another asking alms. Each one gave him something, and asked him +who he was and whence he came.</p> +<p>Melanthios, the goatherd, and the favorite of Eurymachos, +wishing to make mischief, told them that Eumaios had brought the +old man along but did not, himself, know who he was. +Antinoös hearing this, said: "Eumaios, foolish swineherd, +why didst thou bring that vile beggar here? Are there not beggars +enough to eat up the wealth of thy master without him?"</p> +<p>Eumaios answered him most courteously: "Antinoös, though +thou art high born thou art not well bred. Thou hast always +spoken contemptuously to all the servants of Odysseus, but +chiefly to me. Beggars come as they like. No one expects to +invite them. Only people of rank are invited to a feast. But I +heed not thy abuse so long as I can serve the wise Penelope and +her powerful son."</p> +<p>Then Telemachos, seeing that a quarrel was brewing, +interposed: "Hold thy peace, Eumaios, make no words with +Antinoös. He takes delight in ugly words. Nothing pleases +him more than to stir up ill-feeling. Surely Antinoös, thou +art a father to me when thou dost bid me turn a stranger into the +street and insult him. Pray let the old beggar approach thee and +receive a pittance, for thou shouldst not feast on the food +belonging to others and never bestow any gifts. All the suitors +except thyself have given him a dole."</p> +<p>Antinoös made response: "Telemachos, thou boaster, if +each suitor would bestow upon him such a gift as I will make, he +would not come here again very soon." With that he seized a +footstool and held it up where all could see it. The beggar +approached him with a pitiful story of wanderings and hardships. +Antinoös spurned him saying: "What demon hath brought this +chattering beggar to spoil our pleasure? Get thee gone, or thou +wilt soon be much the worse for coming. Thou art a bold and +impudent old beggar."</p> +<p>Odysseus withdrew, saying as he went: "How strange it is that +so fine a form can conceal so foul a mind. Thou wouldst not give +even salt to a suppliant, nor a crust of bread from thine own +table, without begrudging it. But thou dost feed gluttonously at +the table of an absent chief." Antinoös grew more angry, and +rejoined: "Thou insolent beggar, thou shalt not leave this hall +unpunished." With that he raised the footstool and struck +Odysseus on the shoulder. The chief stood like a rock, not in the +least disturbed. But he made menacing motions with his head and +retired to the door, where he put down his wallet and lifted up +his voice to call down vengeance from the gods.</p> +<p>Antinoös spoke again with insulting words, and one of the +guests rebuked him. He was so angry, however, that he did not +heed it. Telemachos saw the blow, and could hardly restrain his +anger. Word was carried to Penelope that a penniless stranger had +been insulted and struck in her halls, and she said to her maids: +"I would that Apollo with his bow might strike Antinoös +down."</p> +<p>Then she called the swineherd to her apartment and said: +"Bring the beggar hither. I should like to speak with him. It may +be that he has seen Odysseus, for he seems to have wandered +far."</p> +<p>The swineherd took the queen's message to the stranger, but he +begged that he might not comply with the request until the +suitors had left the house. "I knew Odysseus well," he said, "but +I dread these violent men. Therefore, ask Penelope to let me wait +until sunset when I can sit by the fire and warm myself, and tell +her all that she shall inquire."</p> +<p>The queen thought the beggar's answer was a prudent one, and +was satisfied. At sundown the swineherd left the palace to return +to his hut. The suitors kept up the revel until late in the +evening, and then went home leaving Odysseus in his own +palace.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap43" id="chap43"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLIII</h3> +<h4>CONVERSATION OF ODYSSEUS AND PENELOPE</h4> +<br> +<p>After the revellers had left the palace, Odysseus said to his +son: "Now is the time to hide all these weapons where the suitors +cannot find them, when their hour of need shall come. If they ask +for them tell them that the arms were losing their polish in +these smoky rooms, and also that the gods had warned thee to +remove them since some dispute might arise in which the wooers +heated with wine and anger would attack each other."</p> +<p>Telemachos at once obeyed. He called his old nurse to see that +the servants were in their own apartments and the doors of the +palace made fast while he removed the arms to an upper room. Then +he retired to rest, leaving Odysseus sitting by the hearth in the +large dining-hall awaiting the arrival of Penelope. She was not +long in coming. Her maids placed a chair, inlaid with silver and +ivory, for her near the fire, and threw a large woolly rug before +it for her feet.</p> +<p>The queen, stately as a goddess, took her seat there while her +maids carried away the dishes and food left by the suitors. They +heaped great logs on the fire. Then Melantho, an impudent maid, +said to Odysseus: "Art thou here, thou beggar! Begone, or I will +take a firebrand and drive thee out!" Odysseus rejoined: "Such is +the fate of beggars. They must wander far and take abuse. It is +true that I am ragged, but I am not unclean. Once I was rich and +had my own palace. I often gave to beggars and I had many +servants. But it pleased the gods to make me poor. Thou pert +woman, surely the queen, Penelope, never taught thee, and thy bad +conduct will not escape the eye of Telemachos."</p> +<p>Penelope saw and heard all this and the high-breeding of the +beggar did not escape her keen notice. She turned to the saucy +maid and said: "Shame on thee, thou bold creature. Thou dost know +full well that this stranger has remained here at my own request, +that I might inquire if he knows aught of my husband."</p> +<p>Then the queen asked her matron to spread a rug for the poor +old man. Odysseus sat down and Penelope began to question him. +"Who art thou, stranger?" she asked. "Where is thy home? Whence +hast thou come?" Odysseus answered her: "My gracious queen, I am +the son of a king and I come from Crete. I am a man of sorrows +and have wandered far. But do not ask me of these things, for I +do not wish to lament over unhappy days.</p> +<p>"Strong ties of friendship bind me to Odysseus. Twenty years +ago, when he went to Troy, I received him as a guest in my house, +because contrary winds and a stormy sea had thrown him upon my +island. I led him to my palace and gave him the best of food and +wine. Twelve days he remained with me, both himself and his +companions. On the thirteenth a favorable wind arose and they +went on to Troy."</p> +<p>Odysseus kept on inventing one tale after another, such as +might seem probable, and the tears rolled down Penelope's cheeks. +Odysseus could have wept, too, when he saw how deep her loyalty +and affection were rooted. The lady had no doubt of the genuine +character of her guest, but she cautiously strove to prove the +truth of his words, so she questioned him yet farther, asking him +to describe Odysseus and his comrades—how he looked and +what dress he wore.</p> +<p>Odysseus responded truthfully: "He wore a cloak of purple +wool, with two clasps of gold, hand-wrought. The pattern showed a +hound struggling with a spotted fawn, intent to kill it. Besides +this he had on a delicate tunic of shining cloth, spun, +doubtless, by his queen, for the women gazed at it in wonder.</p> +<p>"He was accompanied by a herald named Eurybates, a hunchback +with a dark complexion, but Odysseus seemed to value him above +all the rest, for he was a clever and a faithful man."</p> +<p>When Odysseus had finished speaking, Penelope exclaimed, with +a burst of passionate grief: "Stranger, I was moved to pity when +I first saw thee in my halls, but thou shalt be held as an +honored guest from this time forward. Thou hast spoken truly of +the garments, for I shaped the folds in them myself and put on +the clasps. Alas! I shall never see him again. It was a cruel +fate that took him from me."</p> +<p>Odysseus was deeply moved, and tried to speak consoling words. +"Weep not," he said, "for grief will wear away thy beauty and thy +health. Odysseus lives and will return. I met him lately on his +homeward way, laden with wealth which he had gathered in the +country of the Thesprotians.</p> +<p>"He will come alone, for his comrades were destroyed off the +island of Trinacria, for they had slain the oxen of the Sun. He +would have arrived here before me, only that he stopped to +consult an oracle whether to come secretly or not. He is safe and +will not long remain away from thee. Here I take the great oath +that Odysseus will come within a month."</p> +<p>The wise queen answered him: "I would that thy words might +prove true, O stranger, but the thought is deep in my heart that +Odysseus is no more. My maidens, lead this guest to the bath and +spread a couch for him where he can rest quietly, and to-morrow +he shall share the morning meal with Telemachos."</p> +<p>Then said Odysseus to her: "Fair queen, I care not for fine +covers and soft beds. Wilt thou permit me to lie down on the +floor near the fire, as I am used to do? I care not for the bath, +either, unless there is some old servant who knows how to give a +foot-bath to aged feet."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap44" id="chap44"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLIV</h3> +<h4>EURYCLEIA RECOGNIZES ODYSSEUS</h4> +<br> +<p>Penelope admired the prudence of the poor old beggar, and +called Eurycleia, bidding her to bathe the stranger's feet as +carefully as if they were the feet of her master. The nurse +filled a bright brass basin with warm water and knelt down to +execute the command of her royal mistress, saying: "My poor +Odysseus! My heart is sore for him. Who knows but he may be +wandering like thee, weary and footsore! Perhaps he is an object +of ridicule among serving-women who will not suffer him to come +near the bath.</p> +<p>"Stranger, I will wash thy feet for the sake of my absent +master, and to please that gracious queen who has commanded me to +do so; but most of all because thou art in need of it through +suffering. Surely I never saw anyone who bore so close a +resemblance to my lord as thou."</p> +<p>Odysseus replied: "It has often been said that I look like +Odysseus by those who knew us both, O aged dame." Then he turned +his feet away from the light, for fear that Eurycleia would +recognize a scar and discover who he was. But it was in vain, for +as soon as she passed her hand over it she knew it. It was a scar +that came where a wild boar had once torn the flesh when Odysseus +was hunting on Parnassos.</p> +<p>The old servant was so overcome with joy that she laughed and +cried at the same time. She let his foot fall against the basin, +which was upset with a loud clang, while the water was spilled +over the floor. She laid her hand on Odysseus' beard, and said in +a voice trembling with emotion: "Dear son, thou art Odysseus. I +knew thee the moment that I touched the scar."</p> +<p>Then Eurycleia turned to tell Penelope that her lord had come, +for the queen had not seen the upsetting of the basin. But +Odysseus laid his finger on the old servant's lips, and with his +left hand drew her closer and said: "Be silent. Let no one know +that I have come, for I must slay the suitors by stratagem. If +they know that I am here they will prevent me and destroy us +all."</p> +<p>The loyal handmaid arose to bring another basin of water. She +bathed his feet and anointed them. And he moved to the fire and +took his seat, while he pulled his ragged garments over the scar +to hide it, lest it might betray him.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap45" id="chap45"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLV</h3> +<h4>PENELOPE'S DREAM</h4> +<br> +<p>When Odysseus was again seated by the hearth, Penelope began +to speak to him further: "Stranger, one more question I must ask +thee, and then I will leave thee, for the hour of sleep is near. +All day long I keep at my tasks to try to forget my grief, for +the gods have visited me with sore misfortunes. I teach my maids +to spin and weave and care for the palace. But when night comes +strange dreams flit through my mind, and new sorrows spring up in +my heart.</p> +<p>"There are from day to day assembled in my home all the young +men of the best families of Ithaca and the neighboring isles, who +insist that I shall choose one of them for a husband. But as I am +not willing to comply, they remain in my house and destroy my +property. I am not able to drive them out, and do not know how to +help myself. Listen to a dream I had the other night. Perhaps +thou canst explain it to me.</p> +<p>"I dreamt that there was a flock of twenty geese in my +court-yard, and they picked corn out of the water and ate +greedily. Suddenly an eagle swooped down upon them from above and +broke their necks and tore them to pieces. Then he flew off, +leaving them scattered about the yard. I bitterly bewailed the +loss of my geese, and so did my maids. After awhile the eagle +came back and, perching on the roof, said to me: 'Take courage, +Penelope, this is no dream. The geese are the wooers, but I, the +eagle, am thy husband, and I have come to kill those impudent +robbers that vex thee.'"</p> +<p>Odysseus answered her: "The eagle gave the right explanation, +O lady. The dream could not have had any other meaning. Odysseus +will come and slay the wooers, and not one shall escape him."</p> +<p>"Dreams do not always come to pass," rejoined Penelope, "but I +heartily wish that this might be fulfilled. Be patient a little +longer, for I have one thing more to say. To-morrow is a decisive +day, for it may be the one that drives me from the palace. I +shall propose a contest for my hand. Twenty years ago Odysseus +set up twelve axes, one behind the other, in the court. Through +the rings of the handles he shot an arrow, although he stood at a +great distance. I will challenge the suitors to take the same bow +and send the arrow through the rings as Odysseus did. He who +succeeds shall lead me forth a bride, to his own palace."</p> +<p>Odysseus responded: "Do not let the contest be put off. +Odysseus will be at hand a long time before any of the suitors +can bend his bow."</p> +<p>"Thy words, O stranger, are comforting," said Penelope. "I +could sit and listen to thee all night. But as thou art in need +of rest, I will retire to my apartment, and the maids shall +spread rugs before the fire for thee." Penelope, having said +this, went up to her room, her maids following her, and she wept, +thinking of her royal lord, until Athena closed her eyes in +sleep.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap46" id="chap46"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLVI</h3> +<h4>ATHENA ENCOURAGES ODYSSEUS</h4> +<br> +<p>Odysseus was lying on his bed, but he could not sleep, for he +was thinking how he might destroy the suitors. Suddenly Athena +appeared to him, and said: "Odysseus, why dost thou lie awake? +Thou art in thine own house and near thy wife and child." "All +this is true, O goddess," answered Odysseus. "But I am only one +and the suitors are many. How shall I, single-handed, meet this +multitude of men?"</p> +<p>"Sleep in peace, Odysseus," returned Athena. "To lie awake +saps the life and strength of men. The time has come when all thy +sufferings shall end. The gods protect thee and they are stronger +than armed warriors." Thus spoke the goddess, and, closing his +eyelids with sweet slumber, she flew up to Olympos.</p> +<p>While Odysseus was sleeping, his wife had waked, and, sitting +on her bed, addressed a prayer to Artemis: "Rather let me die, O +goddess, than become the wife of any other man than Odysseus. The +very thought vexes me day and night. Just now I had a dream. I +seemed to see Odysseus just as he was when he started out for +Troy. I was so glad that I could not believe that it was not a +reality."</p> +<p>She prayed aloud, and soon daylight appeared. Odysseus heard +the voice and it filled his heart with anxiety. He arose and +hastily placed the rugs on which he had slept on a bench in the +palace. Then he went out into the open air. Telemachos had risen +also, and he went forth to the market-place. Eurycleia called the +servants together and ordered them to be quick about their work, +for a festival was to be celebrated that day and the wooers would +come early.</p> +<p>There was a busy time. The menials obeyed, some bringing +water, some sweeping the floors, others polishing the benches and +covering them with royal tapestries. The servants of the suitors +came also and cut wood for the fires. Eumaios arrived early, +driving three fat hogs. He saluted Odysseus and asked him if he +were well treated by the suitors, or if they continued to scoff +at him. Odysseus answered him: "May the gods punish the ruthless +men who perpetrate such wrongs in a stranger's home." While they +were talking together the goatherd joined him, and repeated the +sneers and abuse of the preceding day. Odysseus took no notice of +it, except to shake his head as one who plans direful things.</p> +<p>The master herdsman now came along with a fat heifer and +choice goats for the day's banquet. Offering his hand to +Odysseus, he exclaimed: "Hail to thee, stranger! A long and happy +life be thine! Methinks my master must be clothed in rags and +wandering like thee. Thou dost bring his image to my mind. I hope +he may return and drive these suitors out of his palace." "Be +sure that he will come, herdsman; thou wilt see him with thine +own eyes, when he slays the ruthless suitors, and then thou wilt +know who is lord of the palace," replied Odysseus.</p> +<p>The suitors were talking apart from the rest and conspiring to +take the life of Telemachos, when an eagle wheeled over their +heads, tearing a timid dove. With hearts foreboding ill at this +omen, they went into the hall to begin the banquet, while the +herdsman went his way first saying, "When Odysseus comes, call on +me, and I will show how strong my arm is to deal a blow at his +enemies."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap47" id="chap47"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLVII</h3> +<h4>THE LAST BANQUET OF THE SUITORS</h4> +<br> +<p>The suitors had now arrived in the great banquet-hall and +taken their places at the tables. The servants brought bread and +meat and placed it before them, while Melanthios filled their +goblets with wine. Telemachos placed Odysseus near the door, and +gave him an ample supply of food, saying: "Eat and drink, +stranger, without fear. None of the wooers shall assail thee, for +I will stand guard."</p> +<p>One of the suitors, an evil-minded man with a rich father, +said to his companions: "My friends, this stranger enjoys his +meal greatly. It does not become any one of us to begrudge good +things to the guests of Telemachos. I, too, wish to give him a +present, which he in turn may bestow on some other beggar." With +that he seized an ox's foot and hurled it at Odysseus.</p> +<p>Odysseus dodged it by holding down his head. Telemachos grew +angry and rebuked the suitor in these words: "Ktesippos, thou +hast escaped death. It is well that this stranger avoided thy +blow, for if thou hadst struck him, my sharp spear would have +pinned thee to the wall, and thy father would have prepared a +burial instead of a wedding for thee."</p> +<p>Dreadful forebodings of woe began to fill the hearts of the +suitors. Their speech became rambling and they laughed insanely. +They ate and drank like men deranged.</p> +<p>Penelope now entered the great hall and took her seat upon a +magnificent throne, right in front of the suitors. She heard the +maudlin laughter and saw the gluttonous feasting as the revel ran +high. Then Athena came and moved her mind to immediate action, +and she went up to the farthest chamber with her maids, where the +arms of Odysseus were stored. His bow and deadly arrows, so long +unused, were there, with rich treasures and perfumed garments. +She wept as she took the bow from its case and went out, followed +by the servants, who carried down costly prizes, such as Odysseus +gave when festivals with games were held in his halls.</p> +<p>She took her place, standing before the suitors, and addressed +them: "Ye noble suitors, listen to my words. Cease to eat and +drink and come to the contest. Too long have ye lived at my +table, giving as an excuse that ye would win me as a bride. The +suitor who can bend this bow and send this arrow through these +twelve axes shall claim me as his wife, and I will follow him to +his home."</p> +<p>Penelope called to the swineherd and the herdsmen to place the +rings and carry the bow to the suitors. Each in turn tried to do +so, but were overcome with grief at seeing their master's +weapons, and laid them down.</p> +<p>Antinoös lifted up his voice and chid them: "Ye foolish +peasants, must your eyes flow with tears at this feast? Bring the +bow or leave the palace. Methinks we shall have hard work to bend +this bow, for none of us have such sinews as had Odysseus."</p> +<p>Then Telemachos took up the bow and laughed. "I must have lost +my wits," he said, "for I am glad that this contest will take +place. There is not such another woman in Greece as my stately +mother. Make no delay then. I long to see the man who can bend +the bow. I would that I might bend it myself and win the right to +keep her in her own home. Then I should be spared the grief of +losing her."</p> +<p>Telemachos took off his cloak and laid his sword aside. He +placed the axes in a row and took the bow and made three attempts +to bend it, but did not succeed. He would have accomplished the +feat if he had made one more effort, but Odysseus made a sign to +him to desist, so he set the bow against the wall and went back +to his seat.</p> +<p>The first suitor to make the trial had never been pleased with +the insolence of the wooers, and had great foresight and was +called their seer. His hands were soft and delicate. He could not +bend the bow, but he predicted that it would be the instrument to +bring death to the whole crew.</p> +<p>Antinoös reproached him for his prophecies, and ordered +Melanthios to light a fire and bring a slice of fat, that the bow +might be warmed and oiled to make it pliable. They warmed it and +rubbed it with oil, and tried to bend it. One after another, each +in turn, they made trials, but all in vain.</p> +<p>In the meantime Odysseus went to the swineherd and the master +of the herds, who had displayed such loyalty. He said to them: +"My friends, what if Odysseus should come; would you take part +with him, or join the crowd of suitors? Speak truly." The two men +answered, appealing to the gods to bear witness, that they would +stand by their master to the end.</p> +<p>"Behold," said Odysseus, "I am the master that you love. I +have come to my own land after twenty years of suffering, and +among all my servants I hear none pray for my return save you +two. And now that you may surely recognize me I will show you the +scar made by a boar on Parnassos." He raised his ragged tunic for +a moment and they looked at the scar. They recognized their +long-lost master, and threw their arms around him and wept, and +kissed his hands and feet.</p> +<p>Odysseus begged them to desist, lest the suitors should notice +it and discover him. And he instructed them to bring the bow to +him and place it in his hands, after all the wooers had failed to +bend it. And he told them to shut and lock the doors, so that the +maid-servants could not hear the groans of the dying men, for +they might run out and warn the town.</p> +<p>Eurymachos and Antinoös were the last to make trial of +the bow. Eurymachos sat before the fire and warmed it on both +sides, but he could not bend it. He was vexed beyond measure, and +said: "It is not that I care for Penelope, for there are other +women that would suit me just as well, but if we are weaker than +Odysseus our sons will hear of it in future times and be ashamed +of us."</p> +<p>Antinoös took up the word: "Eurymachos," he said, "this +is a day held sacred to Apollo, god of the silver bow. He should +have no rival. Let the bow alone, lest the god be angry and leave +the axes standing in a row. No one will dare to touch them. Let +Melanthios bring goats, and we will offer up sacrifices to the +god and invite his aid. Then we shall have strength to win in +this struggle."</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap48" id="chap48"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLVIII</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS BENDS THE BOW</h4> +<br> +<p>The suitors approved the words of Antinoös. The heralds +filled their cups with wine, and the wise Odysseus waited until +they had drunk to their hearts' content.</p> +<p>Then he lifted up his voice and said: "Hear me, ye suitors of +Penelope, while I advise that you defer this trial of your +strength until another day. Apollo will then bestow the power on +one of you to triumph over the others. Let me practise with the +bow to-day, to see if I have any of my youthful strength, or if I +have lost it through suffering and want."</p> +<p>The suitors were moved with desperate fear and anger. "Thou +senseless beggar," said Antinoös, "is it not enough that we +allow thee to sit at a banquet with the proudest men alive? Thou +art drunk and thy mind wanders. What would come to thee if thou +shouldst bend this bow? Verily we would sell thee for a slave to +the great enemy of men."</p> +<p>Then said Penelope: "Indeed, Antinoös, it is not +large-minded to deny this poor old man the pleasure of trying the +bow.</p> +<p>"Dost thou think I would go forth as the wife of a beggar? +Nay, the stranger has no hope of that. Do not let your minds be +teased with such thoughts."</p> +<p>Eurymachos, the leading suitor, rejoined: "Our care is not +that thou wilt wed this man. But we fear the ridicule of the +people, who will say, 'These are great men, indeed, who are +outdone in strength and skill by a miserable old beggar.' It +would be a never-ending shame to us."</p> +<p>"Nay, Eurymachos," replied Penelope, "real shame comes on him +who robs a good man and brings trouble to his family. This beggar +claims to be of good blood, and his arm is sinewy. Let him try +the bow. I make a solemn promise that if Apollo grant him the +honor of bending the bow, I shall do no less than bestow upon him +a tunic and a cloak, and sandals, and I will give him a sword +with which he can defend himself. Then he can go where he +likes."</p> +<p>Telemachos saw that the great crisis was at hand. "Mother," he +said, "it rests with me to give the bow or withhold it. Such +matters belong to men, and in this palace the authority is mine. +Take thy maids, then, and retire to thy apartments, and ply the +tasks most suitable to women."</p> +<p>The queen recognized her son's wisdom, and withdrew with her +maids to the upper rooms. There she wept for the beloved monarch, +her absent lord, until Athena sent a soothing sleep to comfort +her.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile the swineherd took up the bow and undertook +to carry it to Odysseus. The suitors shouted their disapproval, +and he became confused and set it down. Telemachos called out +above the clamor and gave command for him to carry it along. The +suitors laughed to hear the young man's voice ring out like a +trumpet and drown all other noises. Odysseus took the bow and +turned it from side to side, examining it in every part. +Telemachos, in a low tone, bade Eurycleia make fast all the +doors, and the master herdsman tied the gates of the outer court +with a ship's cable.</p> +<p>The suitors grew uneasy, and one of them said to another: "See +the beggar, how he turns the bow this way and that! He would have +us think that he is an expert in the use of bows." Odysseus +stretched the cord and made it fast from end to end. He put it to +his ear to try its tenseness as a minstrel tunes his harp. It +sang like a bird. With perfect ease he drew the cord and let the +arrow fly. It screamed like a swallow and went through every ring +from the first one to the last. The suitors turned pale. Zeus +sent a loud thunder-clap and Odysseus rejoiced at the omen. He +sprang to the threshold with his bow in hand and a quiver full of +arrows at his side, and shouted: "The contest is ended. Now I +will choose another target."</p> +<p>Antinoös had just put a golden goblet to his lips, and +was about to drink the delicious wine. An arrow pierced his +throat. He dropped the cup and fell to the ground, and as he fell +his feet struck the table. The bread and meat were scattered in +every direction over the floor. The suitors sprang to their feet +and looked for the weapons on the walls. The spears were gone, +and the lances and all the armor.</p> +<p>Even yet they were blind to the fact that the stranger had +slain Antinoös purposely. They poured out threats. "Fool," +they said, "what art thou doing? How couldst thou be so careless! +Thou hast slain the noblest man in Ithaca. Dogs and vultures +shall devour thee. Never again shalt thou be allowed a trial with +the bow."</p> +<p>"Dogs," cried Odysseus, "ye little thought your chief would +ever return from Troy, and therefore ye have robbed me of my +wealth and vexed my wife with offers of marriage, regardless of +the laws of god and man. But now the hour of your death has come +and your doom is certain."</p> +<p>The suitors trembled and looked for some open door through +which to fly for safety. Only Eurymachos took courage to make a +defence. "If thou art indeed Odysseus, thou hast good cause to +complain of wrongs," he said. "But thou hast slain the leader, +Antinoös, who prompted us to do these wrongs. He had no +thought of love for thy wife. He wanted to gain thy land and rule +over thy people. Spare the rest of us and we will make ample +restitution."</p> +<p>A dreadful frown spread over Odysseus' face, and he replied: +"Eurymachos, I will not take thy wealth nor will I spare thy +life. Now choose between the two, either to fight or fly from +death. Be sure no suitor shall escape my vengeance."</p> +<p>The suitors all grew faint with fear. Eurymachos cried out to +them: "Ye Ithacans, this man will stand there at the door and +shoot us all down one by one. Out with your swords! Hold up the +tables for shields, and rush upon him, all of you, at once. Drive +him out of the gates, and then hurry through the city and give a +general alarm."</p> +<p>With a fearful shout Eurymachos then drew his own sword and +sprang toward Odysseus. A deadly arrow from the famous bow met +him and he fell upon the table, upsetting it, and he went +spinning round with it on the paved floor, while the food and cup +of wine were scattered all about. His head struck upon a stone +and his feet against a chair. Death closed his eyes.</p> +<p>Another suitor drew his sword and rushed toward Odysseus. +Telemachos met him with a lance and slew him. Then Telemachos +sprang to his father's side and said: "My father, I will bring +thee javelins and a shield, and I will arm myself and the +swineherd and the master herdsmen." "Make haste, my son," +responded Odysseus, "for I have but few arrows left."</p> +<p>Telemachos hastened to the room where the arms had been stored +and clothed himself in brass. His loyal herdsmen also put on +splendid armor, and they hastened back to Odysseus with a +complete outfit for him. The chief had used up his arrows, and +now he dressed himself in armor and took the lances. Just then he +perceived that the suitors had by some means been supplied with +armor also. He called to Telemachos, who had left the door ajar +leading to the apartment where the arms had been placed for +safety.</p> +<p>Melanthios, the goatherd, had sneaked in and was slyly +bringing shields and helmets down to them. Telemachos saw him, +and gave orders to the herdsmen to lock the doors of the armory +and secure the spy. They hastened to the armory and found +Melanthios, who had come back for a second load. They cast him on +the floor and tied his arms down so that he could not move them. +Then they took a rope and made two loops in it and swung him +safely to the timbers in the roof, saying: "Melanthios, thou hast +a soft bed, and it is where thou canst keep watch. In the morning +thou canst drive thy goats to the suitors' banquet." They locked +the doors and left him there and took their places at Odysseus' +side.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap49" id="chap49"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER XLIX</h3> +<h4>DEATH OF THE SUITORS</h4> +<br> +<p>The combat grew more stubborn. Athena, in the guise of Mentor, +stood near Odysseus and cheered him on. "Woe unto thee, Mentor, +if thou dost dare to help Odysseus," cried one of the suitors. +"We will not spare thee when we have slain him. More yet, we will +drive thy wife and children out of Ithaca and keep thy wealth." +The goddess, in great anger at this audacity, turned toward +Odysseus and said: "Thou art not so swift and terrible in +fighting, O Chieftain, as thou wert before the walls of +Troy."</p> +<p>Athena said this to spur Odysseus on, but she did not remain +at his side. She changed herself into a swallow and perched upon +a rafter of the great hall, to put his prowess to a greater test. +When she had gone, the suitors grew braver and threw their spears +at Odysseus thick and fast. But their aim was uncertain, and they +struck pillars and panels and the wall, for the goddess turned +their shafts aside.</p> +<p>Odysseus and Telemachos and their faithful servants hurled +their lances, and the weapons always hit the mark. The cowherd +struck Ktesippos in the breast and exclaimed, as the suitor fell: +"Ktesippos, I give thee this spear in exchange for the ox's foot +which thou didst throw at Odysseus as a gift when he asked alms +of thee."</p> +<p>Four of the wooers fell to the ground at once and the +remainder retreated to the farthest corner of the hall. Still +they rallied for another onset. Odysseus rushed in upon them and +cut them down right and left, while Athena from above shook her +fearful ægis. The surviving wooers were stricken with +terror and ran about like a herd of oxen chased by a swarm of +gadflies. Only the minstrel Phemios and the herald Medon were +spared. Both of them had served the suitors most unwillingly and +had secretly advised with Telemachos.</p> +<p>Odysseus searched up and down the hall to see if any suitor +could be found alive. As fishes lie upon the beach when they have +been poured out from the nets upon the sand, so lay the multitude +of wooers. Not one survived.</p> +<p>Then Odysseus called Eurycleia and bade her summon all of the +impudent and unfaithful servants who had taken sides with the +suitors. They came into the hall and with loud laments took up +the slain and carried them out as they were commanded, and placed +them in a walled court. Then they cleaned the hall with water and +sponges, and polished the wood and set everything in order.</p> +<p>When this was done, they were driven like a flock of birds +into a narrow place outside and hung to a beam to die wretchedly. +Melanthios also was brought down from the armory and cast among +the dogs to die.</p> +<p>The palace now was purged with the smoke of sulphur, and the +air was purified with incense. The loyal servants crowded about +their chieftain and welcomed him with glad salutations. They +kissed his hands and face, and wept and laughed for joy. Odysseus +was deeply moved and sobbed aloud.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap50" id="chap50"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER L</h3> +<h4>EURYCLEIA ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO PENELOPE</h4> +<br> +<p>Eurycleia, with an exulting heart, now hurried up the lofty +stairs and stood by the queen in her royal chamber. "Penelope," +she cried, "my child, Odysseus has come. Thy husband is here, and +he has slain the whole crew of insolent suitors who squandered +his riches and scoffed at his son." Prudent Penelope answered +her: "Eurycleia, thou art mad. The gods have taken thy wits away. +Do not mock me with such idle tales. If any other maid had come +on such an errand and waked me from sleep, I would have dismissed +her with anger."</p> +<p>"Nay, dear child, I do not mock thee; Odysseus has come and is +now sitting by the hearth. The beggar whom they scoffed at in the +hall was Odysseus. Telemachos knew it, but dared not tell thee +until the suitors should be slain."</p> +<p>Penelope rose from her couch and seized Eurycleia by the +hands.</p> +<p>"Tell me, dear nurse," she said, "tell me truly, if in fact my +husband has returned, how was it possible that he alone could +destroy such a multitude of haughty men!" "I did not see it," +responded the old nurse, "but I heard the groans of the dying men +as I sat with the other maids in our own rooms. The doors were +locked to bar us from the hall. When Telemachos called me, I +found Odysseus surrounded by the slain. When we had washed the +hall and purged it with smoke and purified the air with incense, +thy husband ordered me to call thee. Follow me now, my child, +that your heart may be gladdened after it has been oppressed so +long with sorrows."</p> +<p>Penelope replied again: "Nay, I cannot believe it. The gods +may have slain the suitors under the guise of Odysseus, but he +has perished far away from home and never will return."</p> +<p>"My daughter," said the aged nurse, "what words are these? I +recognized Odysseus myself by the well-known scar made by the +boar's tusk. I turned to tell thee, but he laid his finger on my +lips and said: 'Be silent. Let no one know that I am here until +the suitors all are slain, or else they will destroy me.' Now +follow me. I pledge my life that I speak the truth."</p> +<p>Penelope descended from her royal bower uncertain how to meet +her lord. She crossed the threshold and sat down at the hearth, +opposite Odysseus, who was seated beside a stately column in the +blazing light of the fire. He did not lift his eyes to look at +his wife, but waited for her to make the way open for him to +speak. Penelope was speechless. She looked at her husband and +seemed sometimes to recognize him, and then the resemblance faded +out and he did not seem at all like Odysseus.</p> +<p>Telemachos became impatient and spoke to her, chiding her. +"Mother," he said, "thou art hard-hearted and unkind. Any other +woman would extend a hearty welcome to her husband after he had +suffered so many years of hardship, wandering in foreign lands. +Take thy place at my father's side and question him. Verily thy +heart is harder than a stone." "My son," answered Penelope, "I +seem to have lost the power to speak. I am dazed and cannot even +command myself to look at him. If this is indeed Odysseus we soon +shall know each other, for there are secrets known to us two +only."</p> +<p>Odysseus smiled and said: "My son, be patient, and let thy +mother put me to the test. She does not know me in these rags, +but she will soon be convinced that I am Odysseus. It is more +important now to prevent the news that the suitors have been +slain from spreading. They have friends all over the city. Who +knows but what they may rise up against us. I deem it best that +we bathe and put on fresh garments, and let the servants do the +same.</p> +<p>"And let the minstrel bring his lyre and strike up such music +as prompts the dance, so that those living near us may report +that a wedding is being celebrated. Then we may safely venture +forth and see what is to be done."</p> +<p>Thus spoke the monarch, and his commands were gladly obeyed. +Telemachos and the servants went their way to the baths and +arrayed themselves in splendid clothing. The bard took his harp +and woke the pleasing strains, and the palace halls resounded +with mirth and dancing.</p> +<p>After awhile those outside were heard to say: "Shame on +Penelope! She weds a second time, and does not even know whether +her absent lord is dead or living. She might have waited for him +to return."</p> +<p>Meantime Odysseus followed a servant to the bath, and when he +had been bathed and anointed he put on garments suitable for a +king. Athena gave him a more majestic appearance, and caused his +hair to fall in heavy curls, like the petals of the hyacinth. +When he came back to the great hall and stood before the queen, +he looked like an immortal.</p> +<p>"Lady," he said, "the gods have given thee a stubborn heart. +Any other woman would have given a glad welcome to her husband +after he had been absent twenty years." To this Penelope +responded: "Not so; I have no pride nor a cold heart. But I +should be unworthy of my lord if I accepted a stranger without +putting him to the proof. I remember well when thou didst go to +Troy. Thou didst command Eurycleia to carry thy massive bed out +into the open air and cover it with fleeces."</p> +<p>"Nay, woman, no living man could perform such a feat. I built +that massive frame myself. It was a tall olive-tree that grew +within one of the courts. Round it I built a royal bower, and, +cutting off the great limbs of the tree, shaped them and fastened +them to the trunk. In this wise I built the frame, and no one +could move it without dragging the tree out by the roots. That is +a secret known only to thee and me."</p> +<p>Penelope had put the final test, and knew that this was surely +Odysseus. She rose from where she sat and ran to him and threw +her arms about his neck and kissed his brow. "Odysseus, do not be +angry with me," she said. "Many are they who have tried to +practise deception upon me. Thou hast made me believe in thee." +These words pierced Odysseus' heart and brought him the relief of +tears. He pressed his faithful wife to his bosom again and +again.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<hr width="20%"></center> +<br> +<br> +<a name="chap51" id="chap51"></a> +<h3>CHAPTER LI</h3> +<h4>ODYSSEUS VISITS HIS FATHER</h4> +<br> +<p>Early the next morning Odysseus dressed himself in his +splendid armor and bade his son and servants accompany him to the +farm. They took their weapons and went forth, Odysseus leading +the way. It was not long before they came to the green fields +which were cared for by Laertes. He had built his house there, +and surrounded it with cabins, where his servants slept.</p> +<p>Odysseus was anxious to know whether his father would +recognize him or not, so he said to one of the men: "Go into the +house and call my father. Let me see whether he will know me, +after I have been so long away." Placing his weapons in their +hands, he went down into the orchard. There were no servants +about, for they had all gone off to gather thorns with which to +build a fence.</p> +<p>There Odysseus saw his father working around a young tree that +he had just planted. He was clad in old, coarse clothes that had +been repeatedly patched, a goat-skin cap, and gloves to protect +his hands from the briers.</p> +<p>It was pitiful to see the want of hope in the old man's face +as he moved about brooding over his troubles. Odysseus was +uncertain whether he should throw his arms about his father's +neck and clasp him to his heart and kiss him, or whether it were +better to question him.</p> +<p>He approached Laertes gently and, having greeted him, said: +"My friend, thou art a skilful farmer. Every fig and vine and +pear and olive has been carefully trained. But no one seems to +care for thee. Thy master treats thee badly, for thou art +ill-clad and unkempt. An old man deserves better things. Thy face +does not look like the face of a servant. Indeed one might take +thee for a king. Now tell me, who owns this orchard? And tell me +also if this land is Ithaca. I desire to learn what became of +Odysseus, the son of Laertes. He was once my guest and one that I +made most welcome."</p> +<p>Laertes wept. "Thou art indeed in Ithaca, O stranger," he +said. "But thou dost seek in vain for Odysseus. The land is full +of wicked men, and there is no host to load thee with generous +gifts, a recompense for thy hospitality. Oh, tell me of my son; +when did he lodge with thee? Woe is me! The beasts and birds have +long since devoured him. No mother folded his shroud about him, +nor did his father or his loyal wife weep upon his bier. Tell me, +what is thy name? Where is thy ship? How didst thou come +here?"</p> +<p>Odysseus was overcome with pity, and invented a tale to +prepare Laertes for his unexpected coming. Then he clasped the +dear old man in his arms and kissed his trembling hands, and +said: "I am thy son, my father; I am the Odysseus of whom thou +dost inquire. Here is the scar given me by the wild boar as I +hunted on Parnassos. And for further proof I will tell thee of +the orchard-trees thou gavest me when I was a child. There were +thirteen pear-trees, forty fig-trees, and ten apple-trees. +Forbear thy weeping and cease to mourn. I have slain the +suitor-robbers who were destroying my riches, and I have taken +possession of my house again."</p> +<p>Overwhelmed with joy, the old king trembled from head to foot. +The sturdy chieftain, Odysseus, saw it and drew him to his heart +to keep him from fainting, and held him there until his strength +came back. Then they went up to the house, where a supper had +been prepared, and Telemachos was waiting. Laertes went to the +bath and came back clad like a king. The grief had left his face, +and he took on his old majestic appearance. As they sat at the +banquet, relating the experiences of the past years, Dolius and +his sons, the servants who had gone in search of thorns, +returned. Dolius recognized Odysseus and seized him by the hand +and saluted him with joyful greetings, and his sons gathered +round the chieftain eager to take his hand.</p> +<p>Meantime the souls of the suitors had gone down to the abode +of Pluto. Hermes led them, and they followed, crying and wailing +like bats in a dark cave. The shades of Achilles, Agamemnon, +Ajax, and other heroes saw them and constrained them to relate +the mishaps that had brought them there. Then Agamemnon's ghost +responded: "Fortunate Odysseus! His fame shall last forever, and +poets shall sing the praises of Penelope in all the coming +ages."</p> +<p>Ere Odysseus and Laertes had finished their feast, the news of +the dreadful death of the suitors spread over the city. The +wooers had many friends, and they came to the palace weeping and +mourning, ready to avenge their slaughter. Finding that Odysseus +was not at home, they proceeded to the market-place. The father +of Antinoös arose and lifted up his voice crying for +vengeance, but Medon, the herald, warned them that a god had +taken part against them and that strife would be useless.</p> +<p>Halitherses, a wise and reverend citizen, took up the word: +"Ye men of Ithaca," he said, "give ear to what I have to say. +Odysseus was not the cause of your misfortunes, but you, +yourselves. Ye would not check the insolence of the suitors, even +when Mentor bade you do it. Contend not with Odysseus nor bring +down his wrath upon us."</p> +<p>The Ithacans were now divided against themselves. Half of them +took up arms to make war on Odysseus, and started for his +father's house. In this adversity Athena did not forget her +favorite chief, but armed herself, and, taking on the guise of +Mentor, placed herself at Odysseus' side. A son of Dolius was +first to announce that a crowd was marching against them, when +they all arose quickly, donned their armor, and went outside.</p> +<p>Then Odysseus cried out to Telemachos: "Now is the moment to +show thyself a hero, my son. Do not bring disgrace upon thy +forefathers, for they are renowned over the whole world for their +bravery." Telemachos responded: "There is no danger of that, my +dear father, as I shall show thee presently." When Laertes heard +this he rejoiced and said: "This is a happy day for me. How blest +am I to see my son and grandson rivals in brave deeds."</p> +<p>Athena now drew near to the old king, and inspired him with +youthful courage. He swung his spear aloft and threw it at the +leader of the host and smote him to the earth. Odysseus and +Telemachos rushed into the fray with double-edged swords. They +would have made an end of the whole multitude, but Athena called +aloud: "People of Ithaca, cease from fighting! Retire at once +from this contest and shed no more blood."</p> +<p>The Ithacans grew pale with fright at hearing the voice of the +goddess. They threw down their weapons and ran toward the city in +a panic of fear. Odysseus shouted in triumph as he gave chase, +but Zeus sent a thunder-bolt down as a sign to Athena that she +should restrain him. The goddess called to him to cease the +pursuit, and, taking the guise of Mentor, she moved the minds of +Odysseus and his enemies to mutual pledges of peace and +good-will.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<a name="vocabulary" id="vocabulary"></a> +<h2>VOCABULARY AND NOTES</h2> +<br> +<p>A chil' les—also called Pelides, the hero of the +"Iliad." He was the son of Peleus (king of Phthia in Thessaly) +and the sea-nymph, Thetis.</p> +<p>Æ gē' an—a sea east of Greece.</p> +<p>Æ' o lus—the keeper of the winds, and king of +Lipara, one of the Æolian isles north of Sicily.</p> +<p>Ag a mem' non—leader of all the Greek chiefs in the +Trojan war.</p> +<p>A' jax, or Aias—king of Salamis and cousin of Achilles. +He was the son of Telamon and was called Ajax the Greater.</p> +<p>Al ex ăn' drŏs—Paris, son of Priam.</p> +<p>Al kin' ŏ ös—king of Scheria, father of +Nausicaä. He gave aid to Odysseus when he was stranded on +the island.</p> +<p>An tin' o ös—the boldest of the suitors.</p> +<p>Aph ro dī' te—Venus, the goddess of love and +beauty. The island of Kythera (Cythera), south of Greece, was the +seat of her worship.</p> +<p>A pŏl' lo—the Sun-god, brother of Artemis and son +of Zeus and Leto. The island of Dēlos was his mythical +birthplace and his principal oracle was at Delphi.</p> +<p>Ar ca' di a, or Arkadia—the central district of the +Peloponnesus.</p> +<p>A re' tè (ä rā' tā)—wife of +Alkinoös and queen of Scheria.</p> +<p>Ar e thū' sa—a spring "where the swine of Eumaios +ate 'abundance of acorns and drank the black water.'" (See +Baedeker's Greece—Ithaca.) Arethusa was also the name of a +water-nymph inhabiting the spring.</p> +<p>Ar' gus, or Argos—the most celebrated dog known to fame. +He belonged to Odysseus.</p> +<p>Ar' te mis, or Diana—goddess of the moon and sister to +Apollo. She was called the hunter-goddess and the protector of +animals.</p> +<p>As' phō del—a flower sacred to Persephone. The +souls of the departed were supposed to wander in meadows adorned +with these beautiful flowers.</p> +<p>A thē' nē, or Athena; Latin, Minerva—the +patron deity of Athens. The city was named for her. Ruskin calls +her the "Queen of the Air," and explains her real significance as +being the inspiration of the soul, which corresponds to the +physical vigor and life received by inhaling the pure air. She is +always called the "Goddess of Wisdom."</p> +<p>A' treus (a' trūse)—son of Pelops and father of +Agamemnon.</p> +<p>Au' lis—a bay and town on the coast of Greece, about +thirty miles north of Athens. "The scanty ruins of Aulis lie on +the rugged ridge of rock which stretches into the sea between the +two bays. The little town never attained any importance, for its +site was unfavorable for the development of a community; but the +two sheltered bays were excellently adapted to be the rendezvous +of a fleet." (See Baedeker's Greece—Aulis.)</p> +<p>Cad' mus, or Kadmos—the founder of Thebes in +Bœotia. According to tradition, he came from Phœnicia +and brought the alphabet to the Greeks and the knowledge of +working in metals.</p> +<p>Cal' chas, or Kalchas—a soothsayer. He offended +Agamemnon by declaring that the Greeks suffered from the wrath of +the gods through his offences.</p> +<p>Ca lyp' so—the goddess of Silence, daughter of Oceanos +and Tethys, and queen of Ogygia. She tried by every art to detain +Odysseus on his way home from Troy.</p> +<p>Cas san' dra—a daughter of Priam, and a prophetess, +taken captive in the Trojan war and awarded to Agamemnon.</p> +<p>Cha ryb' dis—a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily, a +little to the north of Messina.</p> +<p>Cir' cè, or Kirkē—the daughter of +Hēlios, the Sun. She was an enchantress who lived on the +island Ææa. She infused into the vine the +intoxicating quality found in the juice of the grape. "The grave +of Circe used to be pointed out on the island of St. George, +close to Salamis." (See Baedeker's Greece—Salamis.)</p> +<p>Cy' clops, or Kyklops, also called Polyphemus—a +monstrous one-eyed giant. He was the son of Poseidon. It was due +to his prayer for revenge that Odysseus was kept so long +wandering on the sea.</p> +<p>Cy the' ra, or Kythera—a rocky island lying south of +Greece. It was the seat of the worship of Aphrodite.</p> +<p>Dē' los—an island about sixty miles southeast of +Athens. It is the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.</p> +<p>Dē mod' o kos—a bard at the court of +Alkinoös.</p> +<p>E' lis—a district and a city in the northwestern part of +the Peloponnesus. Like Sparta, the city had no walls. It was +protected by the sacred peace of Olympia.</p> +<p>The plain or precinct of Olympia is situated in the district +of Elis. Pyrgos is the nearest railroad station. "Olympia owed +its high importance throughout the entire Grecian world to the +famous Olympic games in honor of Zeus, which took place +periodically for centuries. Excavations there have brought to +light many magnificent pieces of sculpture, among them the Hermes +of Praxiteles."</p> +<p>El pē' nor—one of the comrades of Odysseus. He fell +from the roof of Circè's palace and was killed.</p> +<p>E lys' ian—pertaining to Elysium, the abode of dead +heroes and other happy spirits.</p> +<p>Eu mai' os, or Eumæus—the swineherd of +Odysseus.</p> +<p>Eu rō' tas—a river of southern Greece.</p> +<p>Eu ry' a los—a son of Alkinoös.</p> +<p>Eu ry clei' a (ū ry clī' ä)—the nurse of +Odysseus and Telemachos.</p> +<p>Eu ry' lŏ chos, or Eurylochus—one of the companions +of Odysseus.</p> +<p>Eu ry' ma chos, or Eurymachus—one of the suitors of +Penelope.</p> +<p>Gor' gon—a monster of fearful aspect, a daughter of +Phorkys and Ceto. Her hair was entwined with serpents, her hands +were of brass, her body covered with scales, and anyone gazing +upon her was turned into stone.</p> +<p>Hel' en, or Helenē—a daughter of Tyndareus and +Leda. She was the wife of Menelaos and was always called "the +most beautiful woman in the world."</p> +<p>Hel' las—Greece, the land of the Hellenes.</p> +<p>Hē' li os—the god of the Sun.</p> +<p>He phais' tos, or Hephæstus—Vulcan. He was the +blacksmith god, the god of fire, and a worker in metals.</p> +<p>Hē' ra, Hērē—Juno, the wife of Zeus. She +was worshipped as the queen of heaven and was regarded as a model +of womanly virtue. Argos was the chief centre of the worship of +Hera.</p> +<p>Hēr' a kles, or Hercules—a celebrated hero whose +deeds are connected with many localities. There is a cave near +Nemea where he is said to have slain a lion, not far from +Stymphalos, where he put the Harpies to flight, and Erymanthos, +the scene of the killing of the Erymanthian boar. There are +traditions of his heroism connected with Thessaly (Thebes) and +Locris, also.</p> +<p>Her' bart—a German philosopher and pedagogian.</p> +<p>Her' mēs, or Mercury—the messenger of the gods, +also their herald.</p> +<p>Her mi' ŏ ne—the daughter of Menelaos and +Helen.</p> +<p>Ho' mer—the greatest of the Greek poets and author of +the "Iliad" and "Odyssey."</p> +<p>I' da—a mountain of Asia Minor, east of Troy.</p> +<p>Il' i ad—an epic poem, probably the greatest ever +written, devoted to the deeds of Achilles, and taken by the best +scholars of modern times as an interpretation of Greek life, +Greek thought, and the Greek religion.</p> +<p>I' no, or Leucothea—a daughter of Cadmus, a sea-nymph +who helped Odysseus by giving him an enchanted veil.</p> +<p>Iph i gen ei' a—the daughter of Agamemnon and +Clytemnestra. "Ulrichs has discovered the site of the famous +Temple of Artemis or Diana, where Agamemnon was on the point of +sacrificing his daughter Iphigeneia, before the departure of the +Greek fleet for Troy." (See Baedeker's Greece—Aulis.) To +appreciate the character of this famous woman one must read the +"Iphigeneia in Aulis" of Euripides and the "Iphigeneia in Tauris" +of Goethe.</p> +<p>Ith' a ca, or Ithaka, Greek Ithákē—rocky +island with an area of 37½ square miles and 12,500 +inhabitants. "The world-wide fame of this little island is of +course due to the Homeric epic of the Odyssey, in which the +misfortunes and wiles, the wanderings, and home-coming of Ulysses +(Odysseus), King of Ithaca, have been handed down to posterity in +undying verse. Even if the person of the hero be relegated to the +realm of myths, it is indisputable that the descriptions of the +poem rest upon a more or less exact local knowledge; and this is +evident not only in the account of the situation and general +character of the island but also in numerous small details.... +The island became almost entirely depopulated in the middle ages, +in consequence of the raids of pirates and the Turkish wars, and +did not begin to recover until the Venetian epoch. But similar +conditions of life make the modern islanders resemble the +ancient. To this day the Ithacans are distinguished by their bold +seamanship, their love of home, and their hospitality." (See +Baedeker's Greece—Ithaca.)</p> +<p>Ja' son, or Iason—the hero who undertook the expedition +in search of the Golden Fleece.</p> +<p>Ktes ip' pos, or Ctesippus—one of the suitors of +Penelope.</p> +<p>Lak e dai' mon, or Lacedæmon—a district in +southeastern Greece. Sparta was its capital.</p> +<p>La ër' tes—the father of Odysseus.</p> +<p>La o' da màs—a son of Alkinoös.</p> +<p>La o' co ön, or Laokoön—a young priest of +Apollo. He warned the Trojans not to accept the wooden horse left +by the Greeks and was destroyed by a serpent.</p> +<p>Lo' tus—the Egyptian water-lily, also a tree. The +lotus-eaters ate of the fruit of the lotus-tree and forgot their +homes and friends.</p> +<p>Me lăn' thi os—a servant of Odysseus, a goatherd +who sympathized with the suitors and served them.</p> +<p>Men e lā' os, or Menelaus—a son of Atreus and +brother of Agamemnon. Menelaos was the king of Sparta and husband +of Helen.</p> +<p>Men' tor—the wise counsellor of Telemachos.</p> +<p>Mil tī' ä des—the hero of the battle of +Marathon, fought 490 <small>B.C.</small> In this battle the +Greeks, numbering 10,000 men, conquered ten times as many +Persians.</p> +<p>Mi' nos—a son of Zeus and ruler over Crete.</p> +<p>Mo' ly—a fabulous plant having magic properties. It had +a white blossom and a black root.</p> +<p>My cē' næ, or Mykēnai—an ancient city of +Argolis, in the northeastern Peloponnesus. "Dr. Henry Schliemann, +in 1876, made rich discoveries there, weapons, ornaments, vessels +of gold, silver and clay," skeletons "surrounded by bands of +gold, golden shovels engraved with battle-scenes," etc. (See +Baedeker's Greece—Mycenæ and Athens.)</p> +<p>Myr' mĭ dŏns—a warlike people of Thrace, ruled +by Achilles and taken by him to the Trojan war as followers.</p> +<p>Nau sic' a ä—the daughter of Alkinoös.</p> +<p>Nē ŏp tŏl' ĕ mŏs—the son of +Achilles.</p> +<p>Nĕs' tor—the leader of the warriors of Pylos, in +southwestern Greece.</p> +<p>O ke' a nos, or Oceanus—the god of the river Oceanus, +and son of Heaven and Earth.</p> +<p>Od ys' seus (sūse), or Ulysses—the son of Laertes +and Anticleia and the hero of Homer's Odyssey. Being summoned to +the Trojan war, he feigned madness, and harnessed a mule and a +cow to a plough and began ploughing the sea-shore. Palamedes, to +test his madness, placed his infant son, Telemachos, in front of +the plough, and Odysseus quickly turned it aside. He became +famous for his bravery and craft in the war. He is looked upon by +critics as the most perfect type of adult Greek ideals.</p> +<a name="ill6" id="ill6"></a> +<table align="center" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" +summary="madness"> +<tr> +<td width="648"><img src="images/6.jpg" alt= +"ODYSSEUS FEIGNS MADNESS"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="648" align="center">ODYSSEUS FEIGNS MADNESS</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p>O lymp' os, or Olympus—a mountain in Thrace. The home of +the gods.</p> +<p>O rĕs' tēs—the son of Agamemnon.</p> +<p>Par' is, or Alexandros—a son of Priam. At his birth +there was a prophecy that he would be the ruin of his country; +hence he was cast out upon Mount Ida, where he was found and +rescued by a shepherd. (See <a href= +"#introduction">Introduction</a>.)</p> +<p>Par nas' sos—a mountain near the north coast of the +Corinthian Gulf. It is 8,070 feet high and commands a view of +Mount Olympos to the north, Eubœa on the east, the islands +of the Archipelago, the Peloponnesus, and even Mount Korax.</p> +<p>Pat' rŏ klos, or Patroclus—the intimate friend of +Achilles. His death at the hands of the Trojans provoked Achilles +to action.</p> +<p>Pei sis' tra tos—a son of Nestor.</p> +<p>Pē' leus—the father of Achilles.</p> +<p>Pel op on nēs' us—the peninsula of lower +Greece.</p> +<p>Pe nel' o pe—the wife of Odysseus. The greatest heroine +of ancient romance.</p> +<p>Pĕr sĕph' ō ne, or Proserpine—daughter of +Demeter (Ceres). "She was the goddess of Spring and was allowed +to spend two-thirds of the year with her mother, while the +remaining time she dwelt with her husband, Hades, in his +underground abode." Eleusis, twelve miles west of Athens, was the +centre of the worship of Demeter and Persephone. (See Baedeker's +Greece—Eleusis.)</p> +<p>Phai a' ki ans, or Phæacians—the people of the +island of Scheria, over whom Alkinoös ruled.</p> +<p>Phē' mi os—a bard at the court of Odysseus.</p> +<p>Phor' kys—the harbor where the Phæacians landed +Odysseus on his return to Ithaca. "The Bay of Vathy," says +Baedeker, "disputes with the Bay of Dexiá the honor of +being the Harbour of Phorkys."</p> +<p>Plu' to, or Hades—a son of Rhea and Kronos and brother +of Zeus and Poseidon. Pluto was the ruler of the lower world.</p> +<p>Po sei' don, or Neptune—brother of Zeus and Hades. +Poseidon was the ruler of the seas and was the first to train and +employ horses.</p> +<p>Pol y phe' mus, or Polyphemos or Cyclops—the son of +Poseidon. He was one of the Cyclops or Kyklops who were said to +live in the heart of burning mountains, particularly in Mount +Ætna.</p> +<p>Pri' am, or Priamos—king of Troy and father of +Paris.</p> +<p>Pro' teus—an ocean deity who lived at the bottom of the +sea. He took care of Poseidon's sea-calves and was famous for his +evasiveness.</p> +<p>Py' los—a town (and bay) in the southwestern part of +lower Greece. It was the centre of Nestor's kingdom.</p> +<p>Sa' mos—"at present a little village on the island of +Cephalonia, the starting-point of the boats to Ithaca. In Homer, +the <i>island</i> of Cephalonia, or its east part, is called +Samē; and in the latter part of the Odyssey, Samos appears +as belonging to the kingdom of Ithaca." (Baedeker.) Samos, a +large island near Asia Minor, is not related to the Samos of the +Odyssey.</p> +<p>Ska man' dros, or Scamander—a river of the Troad or +plains of Troy.</p> +<p>Scher' i a—an island northwest of Greece. "The ancients +identified Corfù with the Phæacian island of +Scheria, mentioned in the 'Odyssey,' as ruled over by +Alkinoös." (Baedeker.)</p> +<p>Skyl' la—a rock in southwestern Italy. It was supposed +to be the abode of a monster with many heads and hands.</p> +<p>Sky' ros—a large island east of Greece.</p> +<p>Sim' o is—a river in the Troad, and a branch of the +Scamander.</p> +<p>Si' rens—daughters of Achelöos and a Muse, or, +according to another account, daughters of Phorkys. They failed +to care for Persephone when Pluto seized her to carry her off, +and Demeter took revenge by transforming them into monsters half +woman and half bird.</p> +<p>Sis' y phos—a hero who secured a fountain to the citadel +of Corinth by betraying Zeus. Sisyphos was punished by being +obliged to roll stones up-hill in Hades.</p> +<p>Spar' ta—a town in the southern part of the +Peloponnesus, on the Eurotas. It was the chief city of +Lacedæmon and the home of Menelaos and Helen. It had no +walls, but its acropolis was covered with temples. Ancient Sparta +was noted for the bravery of its people. At present Sparta has +about 3,600 inhabitants. There are few relics of its ancient +greatness.</p> +<p>Styx—a stream of water in central lower Greece. "The +thread of water descends from a huge cliff against a background +of dark moss, which has earned for the brook the name of 'Black +Water.' At the bottom of the cliff the water loses itself in a +chaos of rocks. The ancients saw in the icy coldness of the water +and in the barren tract around an image of the underworld." (See +Baedeker's Greece.) To swear by the Styx was to take "the great +oath of the gods."</p> +<p>Tan' ta los—a king of Phrygia punished by the gods for +treachery and for cruelty to his son. He was doomed to suffer +from hunger and thirst while standing close to food and water +which he could not reach.</p> +<p>Tē lĕ' ma chos—the son of Odysseus and +Penelope.</p> +<p>Ten' e dos—an island in the neighborhood of Troy or +Ilium.</p> +<p>Them is' to kles—a great statesman of Athens, and a +leader of the Greeks in the Persian war when the Greeks won the +battle of Salamis.</p> +<p>The' seus (Thē' sūse)—a son of Ægeus and +Æthra. Like his counterpart Herakles, Theseus performed +wonderful deeds, and finally became ruler of Athens.</p> +<p>Thes' sa ly—a large province of northern Greece.</p> +<p>Thĕ' tis—a sea-nymph, the mother of Achilles.</p> +<p>Ti res' ias, or Teiresias—a Theban seer. He retained his +consciousness after death, and Odysseus descended into Hades to +consult with him before he could reach Ithaca.</p> +<p>Troy, Ilios, or Ilium—a city of Asia Minor and the scene +of the Trojan war. Dr. Schliemann has identified the city with +Hissarlik, and in his excavations there found many evidences of +the war, such as spears, helmets, etc.</p> +<p>Zeus, or Jupiter—a son of Kronos and Rhea. His abode was +supposed to be on Mount Olympos, in Thessaly. He was considered +the highest of the gods, ruler of the heavens and the earth.</p> +<p>Za' kyn thos, or Zante—an island near Corfù.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p>[Transcriber's note: The publishers of this book used an +unusual convention in which only a single pair of quotation marks +surround a quote, even when the quote extends over multiple +paragraphs or multiple chapters. This transcription has +conventional usage of quotation marks.]</p> + +<div style='display:block;margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HERO OF ITHACA ***</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This file should be named 24856-h.htm or 24856-h.zip</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/5/24856/</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6eed537 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #24856 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24856) diff --git a/old/24856-8.txt b/old/24856-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e62e7e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/24856-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5711 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca, by Homer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca + Adapted from the Third Book of the Primary Schools of Athens, Greece + +Author: Homer + +Editor: Mary Elizabeth Burt + +Translator: Zenade Alexeevna Ragozin + +Release Date: March 16, 2008 [EBook #24856] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODYSSEUS, THE HERO OF ITHACA *** + + + + +Produced by Ron Swanson + + + + + +[Frontispiece: ODYSSEUS AS A YOUTH AT HOME WITH HIS MOTHER] + + + + +ODYSSEUS +THE HERO OF ITHACA + +ADAPTED FROM THE THIRD BOOK OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF ATHENS, GREECE + + +BY + +MARY E. BURT + +_Author of "Literary Landmarks," "Stories from Plato," "Story of the +German Iliad," "The Child-Life Reading Study"; Editor of "Little +Nature Studies"; Teacher in the John A. Browning School, New York +City_ + +AND + +ZENADE A. RAGOZIN + +_Author of "The Story of Chaldea," "The Story of Assyria," "The Story +of Media, Babylon, and Persia," "The Story of Vedic India"; Member +of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, of the +American Oriental Society, of the Socit Ethnologique of Paris, +etc._ + + + + +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + + To + THE TEACHER + WHOSE INTEGRITY AND PEDAGOGICAL SPIRIT + HAVE CREATED A SCHOOL WHEREIN THE IDEAL MAY + PROVE ITSELF THE PRACTICAL + AND + THOSE ENTHUSIASTIC PUPILS + WHO LOVE THE LOYALTY AND BRAVERY OF ODYSSEUS + THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED + + + + +CONTENTS + + PAGE +INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii + + +PART I +AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF THE HERO, ODYSSEUS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I. About Troy and the Journey of Paris to Greece . . . . . 3 + + II. The Flight of Helen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 + + III. The Greeks Sail for Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 + + IV. The Fall of Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 + + +PART II +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO HIS OWN COUNTRY + +CHAPTER PAGE + V. Odysseus on the Island of Calypso . . . . . . . . . . . 21 + + VI. Odysseus Constructs a Raft and Leaves the Island . . . 25 + + VII. Odysseus is Saved on the Island of Scheria . . . . . . 29 + + VIII. Nausica is Sent to the River by Athena . . . . . . . . 31 + + IX. Odysseus Arrives at the Palace of Alkinos . . . . . . 38 + + X. Odysseus in the Halls of Alkinos . . . . . . . . . . . 42 + + XI. The Banquet in Honor of Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . 47 + + XII. Odysseus Relates His Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 + + XIII. The Lotus-Eaters and the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . 57 + + XIV. The Cave of the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 + + XV. The Blinding of the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 + + XVI. Odysseus and His Companions Leave the Land of the + Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 + + XVII. The Adventures of Odysseus on the Island of olus . . . 72 + + XVIII. Odysseus at the Home of Circ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 + + XIX. Circ Instructs Odysseus Concerning His Descent to + Hades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 + + XX. The Adventures of Odysseus in Hades . . . . . . . . . . 84 + + XXI. Odysseus Converses with His Mother and Agamemnon . . . 87 + + XXII. Conversation with Achilles and Other Heroes . . . . . . 90 + + XXIII. The Return of Odysseus to the Island of Circ . . . . . 94 + + XXIV. Odysseus Meets the Sirens, Skylla, and Charybdis . . . 98 + + XXV. Odysseus on the Island of Helios . . . . . . . . . . . 101 + + XXVI. The Departure of Odysseus from the Island of Scheria . 105 + + XXVII. Odysseus Arrives at Ithaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 + + XXVIII. Odysseus Seeks the Swineherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 + + +PART III +THE TRIUMPH OF ODYSSEUS + +CHAPTER PAGE + XXIX. Athena Advises Telemachos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 + + XXX. Telemachos Astonishes the Wooers . . . . . . . . . . . 128 + + XXXI. Penelope's Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 + + XXXII. The Journey of Telemachos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 + + XXXIII. Telemachos in Pylos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 + + XXXIV. Telemachos in Sparta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 + + XXXV. Menelaos Relates His Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 + + XXXVI. The Conspiracy of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 + + XXXVII. Telemachos Returns to Ithaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 + +XXXVIII. Telemachos and the Swineherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 + + XXXIX. Telemachos Recognizes Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 + + XL. Telemachos Returns to the Palace . . . . . . . . . . . 165 + + XLI. Odysseus is Recognized by His Dog . . . . . . . . . . . 169 + + XLII. Odysseus Comes, a Beggar, to His Own House . . . . . . 172 + + XLIII. Conversation of Odysseus and Penelope . . . . . . . . . 176 + + XLIV. Eurycleia Recognizes Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 + + XLV. Penelope's Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 + + XLVI. Athena Encourages Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 + + XLVII. The Last Banquet of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 + + XLVIII. Odysseus Bends the Bow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 + + XLIX. Death of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 + + L. Eurycleia Announces the Return of Odysseus to Penelope 203 + + LI. Odysseus Visits His Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 + + Vocabulary and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +ODYSSEUS AS A YOUTH AT HOME WITH HIS MOTHER . . . . . . Frontispiece + + FACING PAGE +THE SILVER-FOOTED THETIS RISING FROM THE WAVES . . . . . . . . . 10 + +ODYSSEUS AND MENELAOS PERSUADING AGAMEMNON TO SACRIFICE + IPHIGENEIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 + +ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 + +THE SWINEHERD TELLING HIS STORY TO ODYSSEUS . . . . . . . . . . 119 + +ODYSSEUS FEIGNS MADNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +It has long been the opinion of many of the more progressive teachers +of the United States that, next to Herakles, Odysseus is the hero +closest to child-life, and that the stories from the "Odyssey" are +the most suitable for reading-lessons. These conclusions have been +reached through independent experiments not related to educational +work in foreign countries. + +While sojourning in Athens I had the pleasure of visiting the best +schools, both public and private, and found the reading especially +spirited. I examined the books in use and found the regular +reading-books to consist of the classic tales of the country, the +stories of Herakles, Theseus, Perseus, and so forth, in the reader +succeeding the primer, and the stories of Odysseus, or Ulysses, as +we commonly call him, following as a third book, answering to our +second or third reader. This book I brought home with me and had a +careful, literal translation made. I submitted this translation to +that notable scholar, Zenade A. Ragozin, with whom I faithfully +traversed the ground, word by word and sentence by sentence. This +version I have carefully compared with Bryant and rewritten, making +the language as simple as could be consistent with the dignity of +the subject-matter. + +The introduction to the original book as I found it in Greece contains +many interesting points, since it shows that educators in foreign +countries, notably in Germany, had come to the same conclusion with +our best American teachers. The editor of the little Greek +reading-book says: + +"In editing this work we have made use not only of Homer's 'Odyssey,' +_but also of that excellent reader which is used in the public schools +of Germany_, Willman's 'Lesebuch aus Homer.' We have divided the +little volume into three parts, the first of which gives a short +_resum_ of the war against Troy and the destruction of that city, +the second the wanderings of Odysseus till his arrival in Ithaca, +the third his arrival and the killing of the wooers. We have no apology +to make in presenting this book to the public as a school-book, since +many people superior to us have shown the need of such books in +school-work. The new public schools, as is well known, have a mission +of the highest importance. They do not aim, as formerly, at absolute +knowledge pounded into the heads of children in a mechanical way. +Their aim is the mental and ethical development of the pupils. Reading +and writing lead but half way to this goal. With all nations the +readers used in the public schools are a collection of the noblest +thoughts of their authors." + +The Greek editor had never read the inane rat and cat stories of +American school "readers" when he wrote that. He continues: + +"Happily the Greek nation, more than any other, abounds in literary +masterpieces. Nearly all of the Greek writings contain an abundance +of practical wisdom and virtue. Their worth is so great that even +the most advanced European nations do not hesitate to introduce them +into their schools. The Germans do this, although their habits and +customs are so different from ours. They especially admire Homer's +works. These books, above all others, afford pleasure to the young, +and the reason for it is clearly set forth by the eminent educator +Herbart: + +"'The little boy is grieved when told that he is little. Nor does +he enjoy the stories of little children. This is because his +imagination reaches out and beyond his environments. I find the +stories from Homer to be more suitable reading for young children +than the mass of juvenile books, because they contain grand truths.' + +"Therefore these stories are held in as high esteem by the German +children as by the Greek. In no other works do children find the grand +and noble traits in human life so faithfully and charmingly depicted +as in Homer. Here all the domestic, civic, and religious virtues of +the people are marvellously brought to light and the national feeling +is exalted. The Homeric poetry, and especially the 'Odyssey,' is +adapted to very young children, not only because it satisfies so well +the needs which lead to mental development, but also for another +reason. As with the people of olden times bravery was considered the +greatest virtue, so with boys of this age and all ages. No other +ethical idea has such predominance as that of prowess. Strength of +body and a firm will characterize those whom boys choose as their +leaders. Hence the pleasure they derive from the accounts of +celebrated heroes of yore whose bravery, courage, and prudence they +admire." + +The editor further extols the advantages arising from the study of +Homer, it making the youthful students acquainted with the earliest +periods of Greek history, the manners and customs of the people, and +he ends by quoting from Herbart: + +"Boys must first get acquainted with the noisy market-place of Ithaca +and then be led to the Athens of Miltiades and Themistokles." + +With equal truth the American can say that the child whose patriotism +is kindled by the Homeric fire will the more gladly respond to the +ideals set forth in the history of a Columbus or a Washington. + +MARY E. BURT. + + + + +PART I +AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF THE HERO, ODYSSEUS + + + + +CHAPTER I +ABOUT TROY AND THE JOURNEY OF PARIS TO GREECE + + +On the northern shore of Asia Minor there lies a plateau watered by +many small rivers and surrounded on all sides by mountains, only on +the north it slopes gently to the sea. On this plateau, between the +Simois and Scamandros rivers, in the oldest times there stood a very +rich and powerful city, whose name was Troy. It was the capital of +a large and fertile district, known as the Troad. + +There, about 1200 B.C., reigned a king by the name of Priam, possessed +of great power and boundless wealth. He had many sons and daughters. +It was said, indeed, that he had fifty sons who were all married and +living in their own homes, which they had built by the king's wish +around the royal palace. + +They were all handsome and heroic young men. One of the youngest, +Paris, also named Alexandros, surpassed the others in beauty. He was +a restless youth and not fond of his home, as were the others. He +had set his heart on travelling and seeing strange countries and +cities. King Priam was extremely fond of his large family, and took +pride in having all his children about him, so that at first he was +greatly opposed to the wishes of Paris. + +But the youth was so persistent and unhappy that the king at last +consented to let him go. Without delay, Paris called together a few +friends with tastes as adventurous as his own. They embarked in a +new ship well provided with all that travellers need, and set sail +for the famous land on the shores of the gean Sea, of which they +had heard so many wonderful things, and which was called Hellas. + +Nearly in the middle of the plain which forms the southern part of +Hellas was the city of Sparta. It was on the river Eurotas, and was +the capital of a large district called Lacedmon, and it was to this +city that Paris came. + +Now, there was a mysterious reason for this strange desire of +Paris--his passionate longing to travel. In his early youth, while +he was still minding his herds on the rich pastures of Mount Ida, +he received a visit from the three greatest goddesses of Olympos. + +Hera, the queen of Heaven and consort of Zeus--Athena, the goddess +of wisdom, and Zeus's favorite daughter--and Aphrodite, the goddess +of love and beauty, had a dispute among themselves. + +Each thought herself the most beautiful of the three, and they would +have come to high words about it had not Athena proposed that they +should ask the handsomest man in the world to settle the question. +This happened to be the young royal shepherd, Paris. So the three +goddesses floated down to the slope of Mount Ida on a snowy cloud +and placed the question before him, each promising to reward him +royally if he gave his verdict in her favor. + +Paris, as might have been expected, decided in favor of Aphrodite, +who had promised him that the fairest woman living in the whole world +should be his wife. This promise had to be kept, being given by a +goddess, but it was the source of endless misfortune, for Paris had +a young and lovely wife who was tenderly attached to him, while the +fairest of living women--acknowledged as such by fame in all known +countries--was Queen Helen of Sparta, herself the wife of another +man. + +Her husband was one of the most renowned heroes of Hellas, King +Menelaos, a son of Atreus and brother of the leader of the Greek chiefs, +Agamemnon, King of Mycen. It was Aphrodite, then, who inspired Paris +with an insane desire to forsake his parents, brothers, and wife. +It was her secret guidance which led him across the seas and through +the dangers lurking among the hundreds of islands of the Archipelagos +straight to the land of Lacedmon. This is the central of the three +peninsulas in which the Peloponnesus ends, and might be called the +middle finger of that large hand of which Arcadia is the palm. + +Paris landed, with all his companions, on the shores of Lacedmon, +where the people received him kindly and helped him on his journey +to Sparta, where Menelaos and Helen gave him a cordial welcome. + + + + +CHAPTER II +THE FLIGHT OF HELEN + + +Aphrodite, while leading Paris to the shores of Lacedmon, had not +forgotten her promise, and in Sparta itself she was at work at its +fulfilment. She inspired Queen Helen with a growing discontent and +restlessness of spirit. Menelaos had not noticed any change in her, +and it was with an utterly unsuspicious mind that he received the +fatal strangers and made them welcome guests in his land and home. + +More than that, having heard the news from Crete that his presence +there was desirable on account of some urgent business, he did not +hesitate to set sail for that island, in the expectation of finding +Paris and his companions still enjoying the hospitality of his palace +after a short absence. + +This was the chance which wily Aphrodite had contrived for Paris. +He took the hint and carried Helen away to his ship, together with +as much treasure as they could lay hands on, and then they sailed +for Troy. Little did he heed, in his mad desire to call the most +beautiful woman in the world his wife, that she was already the wife +of a hero who had received him as an honored guest in his house, and +that he was about to destroy the peace and honor of his host. + +As soon as Menelaos heard of the flight of his wife, he hastened back +to Sparta, where he found his palace deserted and his treasure-house +robbed. + +Then his heart was filled with great wrath. He set out at once to +see his brother, Agamemnon, to consult with him about what was to +be done. Agamemnon was ruler over Mycen, and highly respected in +all Hellas on account of his power and riches. + +After the two brothers had talked over this grave affair, they +announced to all the leaders in Hellas the great and detestable crime, +and asked them for their assistance. All the king's chiefs of Hellas +lent a willing ear to this demand, for in this breach of hospitality, +committed against one of them, each felt himself personally aggrieved +and bound to help in the punishment of what, in those times, was +considered the most unpardonable of all crimes. Only one of the kings +held back for awhile and needed much persuasion to join the league. +This was Odysseus of Ithaca, who could well consider himself at the +time the happiest of mortals, for he had lately married Penelope, +one of the fairest and most virtuous maidens of Greece. He had an +infant son of great beauty and promise, and he owned much land and +countless herds of cattle, sheep, and swine. Added to that, all the +petty nobles of the island acknowledged him as their chief. + +But a soothsayer, or seer, had greatly disturbed him by informing +him that if he went to a great war he would be kept away from his +home for the space of twenty years, and even then return to it in +the guise of a beggar, after having suffered wrecks, captivity, +endless wanderings, and loss of comrades. + +No one could doubt that Odysseus was brave, but no one could blame +him for wishing to be excused from taking part in the war against +Troy. Menelaos and his brother, however, would accept no excuse from +him, as he was the wisest and craftiest of all the leaders, and when +Odysseus finally consented to join them he set about arming and +directing the young Greek warriors with all his heart and soul. + +There was another young prince whom it was absolutely necessary to +secure, for a much venerated oracle had given it as a decree of the +gods that Troy could never be taken without his help. This was Achilles, +son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons in Thessaly, and of the beauteous +ocean nymph, Thetis. Notwithstanding his extreme youth, his father +would not disappoint the whole country, and he let him go with those +who came for him. But he sent along with him his adopted son, Patroklos, +who was several years older, and to whom the boy was passionately +attached, and also his oldest and most trusted servant, Phoenix. These +two, the old man and the youth, he charged, as they hoped for the +mercy of Zeus, to keep watchful guard over Achilles, whose exceedingly +impetuous and reckless temper exposed him to many dangers which might +be averted by a sensible and loving word spoken in time. + +[Illustration: THE SILVER-FOOTED THETIS RISING FROM THE WAVES] + +The Greeks took counsel together, and it was resolved that Menelaos +should go in person to Troy and demand back his wife, Helen, as well +as his treasure and a suitable apology for the wrong done to him and +to all Hellas. He chose for his companion the cunning Odysseus. On +their arrival in Troy, Menelaos and Odysseus presented themselves +before Priam and demanded the return of Helen and the treasures. + +The king at once called his people together to deliberate upon the +matter, and the two Greek kings bravely denounced the mean act of +Paris. But the Trojans, stirred up by that youth, abused the +ambassadors and drove them out of their city. + + + + +CHAPTER III +THE GREEKS SAIL FOR TROY + + +The kings and chieftains of Hellas, having heard that Odysseus and +Menelaos had been driven out of Troy, hastened to call together their +fleets and armies at Aulis, a city of Boeotia on a ridge of rock running +out into the sea between two little bays, each of which was a harbor +for many ships. A hundred thousand men and a thousand ships were +gathered there under the leadership of the celebrated and heroic +chiefs. The commander-in-chief of the whole army was Agamemnon. + +Among the renowned leaders were Menelaos, the sagacious Odysseus, +Ajax, and many others. Just as they were offering a sacrifice to the +gods, in order to start out to the war with their good will, a great +miracle happened. A fearful snake crept from under the altar and +climbed a tree in which there was a sparrow's nest nearly hidden by +the leaves. There were eight young sparrows in the nest, nine birds +with the mother. The snake devoured the fluttering little birds, +around which the mother circled as if overcome by grief. + +Then the snake darted at the mother-bird and swallowed it, when Zeus +changed the reptile into a stone. The Greeks wondered at the sight, +but the soothsayer, Calchas, said to them: "Why do ye wonder at this? +The all-powerful Zeus has sent us this sign because our deeds shall +live forever in the minds of men. Just as the snake has devoured the +eight little sparrows and their mother, so shall the war swallow up +the nine coming years, and in the tenth we shall overcome Troy." + +The ships of the Greeks lay in the bays of Aulis while the warriors +waited impatiently to set sail. But the winds were contrary; they +would not blow, and the boats waited there year after year; for a +sacred hind had been slain by Agamemnon, one that belonged to the +goddess Artemis, and it was ordered by that goddess that no wind should +arise to take them on toward Troy until her wrath had been appeased. + +So Agamemnon went to Calchas, the seer, and asked his advice, +whereupon the old prophet told him to send for his lovely young +daughter, Iphigeneia, and offer her up on the altar as the only +acceptable sacrifice to Artemis. When he had placed her upon the altar +and the priest was raising his knife, the goddess took pity on +Agamemnon and carried the girl away in a cloud, leaving a fine white +doe instead. + +[Illustration: ODYSSEUS AND MENELAOS PERSUADING AGAMEMNON TO +SACRIFICE IPHIGENEIA] + +And now arose a favorable wind, and the Greeks arrived safely before +Troy. How they fought with the Trojans, how many of the heroes outlived +the struggle, and how many fell in the battle, all this we can learn +from an old book called the "Iliad." We shall select from it only +those things which refer to our hero, Odysseus; and to complete the +history of that hero we shall go to another book, called the "Odyssey." + +Both of these books are the work of the great poet Homer, who lived +many years after the war with Troy. That we may understand better +what happened later on, we must give a short account of the fall of +Troy and of the return of Menelaos and Agamemnon to their own country. + + + + +CHAPTER IV +THE FALL OF TROY + + +The war lasted nine years, and in the tenth the Greeks conquered Troy, +not in battle, but by means of a trick which had come into the mind +of Odysseus. He told a skilful carpenter to build a wooden horse of +gigantic size, and in it he hid the bravest Greek warriors. When he +had done this he advised all the other Greeks to depart without leaving +anything behind them, and so lead the Trojans to believe that they +had given up the fight and gone home. + +So the Greeks burned their tents and put off to sea, while the Trojans +from their walls watched them with great joy, thinking themselves +well rid of an enemy. When the last ship had gone, the Trojans threw +open the gates of their city and rushed down into the plain where +the Greeks had had their camp, to see how the place looked. + +There they found the wooden horse, and one of the Greeks tied to a +tree, who told them he was left there as a punishment, and that the +wooden horse was an offering to the gods. The Trojans made up their +minds to carry it into their city and give it the best place on their +highest hill. + +Then Laocon, a priest of Apollo, stepped forth, and said to them: +"Unhappy people! what madness possesses you? Do ye think the enemy +gone? Do ye know Odysseus so little? There are Greek warriors hidden +in this horse, or else some other mischief is lurking there. Fear +the Greeks even when they bring gifts." + +With these words, he thrust his spear into the flank of the horse, +and the arms of the hidden enemy clashed with a loud noise. Just then +two snakes of great size, sent by Athena, rose from the sea, and sprang +upon Laocon and his two sons, and, coiling around them, bit them +to death. The Trojans, in great fear at the sight, took this as a +sign from the gods that the horse was sacred and that they must protect +it, and they moved it at once into their city, breaking down a part +of their wall to get it in. + +Having done this, they gave themselves up to feasting and making merry, +without the slightest thought that any evil was in store for them. +But when night had come, and all were in a deep sleep, the ships of +the Greeks, which had been hiding all the while behind a neighboring +island, came back. The warriors who were concealed in the wooden horse +sprang out and rushing wildly through the city, slew the Trojans right +and left without mercy. From all sides came wailings and groans, and +the flames of the burning city rose up to the sky. + +A deadly struggle took place between the Trojans and the Greeks. Priam +was slain, and Paris and many other heroes. The victory was to the +Greeks. Troy fell never to rise again, and the women and children +were led off to become slaves to their conquerors. + +Thus was destroyed in one night the great and glorious city of Troy, +all on account of the crime which Paris had committed against the +laws of hospitality. + +The trials of the Greeks were not yet at an end. After their victory +at Troy they embarked in their ships and started eagerly for their +homes. But Zeus prepared a sad fate for them, because Ajax had +violently dragged Cassandra, the beautiful daughter of Priam, from +the altar of Athena and had made her his slave. Thus many of the leaders +perished in the sea far from home, and some were cast on foreign shores +to die. + +Menelaos was thrown by wind and waves on the island of Crete, and +he lost many of the ships on the cliffs. Thence he strayed to the +island of Cyprus, noted for its mines; and he roved through other +lands until he came to Egypt, where he wandered about for eight years, +when he returned to Sparta, taking Helen with him. He became +reconciled to his wife, and they lived a quiet life far removed from +the enchantments of the wily Aphrodite. + +But the saddest fate of all overtook Agamemnon, who met his death +in his own house at the hands of his wife and brother. + +Agamemnon, without any accident at sea, reached his native land. Full +of gratitude, he kissed the earth and wept tears of joy at the thought +of meeting his wife and son. + +He entered his home with a glad heart, and his faithless wife came +to meet him, but she had prepared a hot bath for him, and there he +met his death, entangled in a net which she threw over him, for she +had not forgotten the loss of her beautiful daughter, Iphigeneia, +whom she believed to have been offered up as a sacrifice on the altar +of Artemis. + +She was assisted in this dreadful deed by her husband's brother, who +became ruler over the land, holding sway eight years, when Orestes, +the son of Agamemnon, slew him and regained the kingdom. + +And now we come to the return of Odysseus, the wisest of the Greeks, +who wandered to the remotest part of the earth and learned the customs +of many people, and who suffered terrible things by land and sea. + + + + +PART II +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO HIS OWN COUNTRY + + + + +CHAPTER V +ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF CALYPSO + + +All the Greeks who had escaped from the destruction of Troy and had +been spared the terrors of the sea returned to their homes. But the +unfortunate Odysseus was delayed by the fair nymph Calypso on her +island, where she made her home in a cool and beautiful grotto. There +he wept and mourned, desiring to see his wife again and his native +land. Each of the gods save one, Poseidon, god of the sea, wished +to help him to find the way home. Odysseus had brought Poseidon's +wrath upon himself through inflicting a terrible injury upon the +favorite son of that deity, and for that reason the wrath of the god +fell on him and he was wrecked. One day all the other gods had assembled +in the hall of Zeus, on Mount Olympos, when Athena, the favorite +daughter of Zeus and firm friend of Odysseus, knowing that her father +in his heart was well-disposed toward the hero, began to plead for +him in a way to excite greater pity still. + +"O my father, thou great king among the gods," she said, "my heart +is troubled on account of the wise Odysseus, who lingers on an island, +far away from home, and suffers greatly; for a nymph lives on the +island, the daughter of great Atlas, and with sweet words she strives +to make Odysseus forget his native land. But he bewails his fate and +is full of sorrow, his only wish being to have a glimpse of the smoke +of his beloved country." + +Zeus thereupon ordered Hermes to depart at once for the island and +tell the nymph to send Odysseus to his home without delay. Hermes +obeyed quickly. He bound his winged sandals to his feet, and, taking +his golden wand in his hand, flew like a meteor over land and sea +till he reached the island where the nymph Calypso made her abode. +He found her within the grotto, singing sweetly while she wove a fine +web on a golden loom. + +All about the grotto there was a grove of cypress-trees in which birds +of gay colors were sporting and springs of pure water bubbling, and +the fragrance of strange flowers filled the air. When Hermes had gazed +upon these wonders he entered the grotto. It was bright with a blazing +fire on a spacious hearth, and fragrant with the odor of burning cedar +and cypress. + +Calypso saw him as he came in and knew him. She bade him sit down +on a throne dazzling with jewels, and, placing a table before him +laden with nectar and ambrosia, invited him to eat and drink. After +he had finished his repast, Hermes told her that Zeus had sent him +to her with the command that she should send Odysseus without delay +to his native land. Having given this message, he disappeared, leaving +Calypso in great grief. + +Odysseus in the meantime sat by the shore mourning and gazing out +upon the sea. Calypso found him there, sitting alone, weeping and +longing for his home. She stood by him and said: "Odysseus, my unhappy +friend, do not waste thy life any longer in sorrow. The end of thy +grief has come. Arise and prepare to depart for thy home. Build thee +a raft of the trunks of trees which thou shalt hew down. I will put +bread and water and delicate wine on board; and I will clothe thee +in comfortable garments, and send a favorable wind that thou mayest +safely reach thy native land." + +Thus spoke the lovely goddess, but Odysseus could hardly believe her, +and said: "I fear, O goddess, that thou hast some other thought in +thy mind, and that thou dost not wish to send me home when thou biddest +me sail over this stormy and dangerous sea. I shall never go on to +the raft against thy wish, and thou must swear the great oath of the +gods that no harm shall come to me." + +The goddess smiled at these words, and, taking the hero by the hand, +rejoined: "Thou art a wise man, and thy answer is well made. I will +pledge thee a solemn oath, by the heavens and the earth, and the waters +of the Styx, that I have no plan of evil against thee. And I advise +thee to do as I have instructed thee, to be ready for any crisis." + +Speaking thus, the goddess went into the grotto and Odysseus followed +her. When he had come into the spacious hall, he sat down on his throne +and the nymph brought him rich food and wine. Then she took a seat +opposite him, and her attendants brought her ambrosia and nectar, +which she would gladly have shared with Odysseus, that he, too, might +become an immortal. + +When the repast was over, Calypso narrated to him all the trials he +would have to undergo before he could reach his native land. While +she was relating these things the sun sank down, and darkness came +upon the island, and all who had their abode in the grotto sought +rest and slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER VI +ODYSSEUS CONSTRUCTS A RAFT AND LEAVES THE ISLAND + + +At daybreak the goddess gave Odysseus a large axe and a sharp adze, +and led him to the heights of the island, where the largest trees +grew. He went to work at once and cut down twenty trees, which he +hewed into proper shape, and then tied them together with ropes which +he himself made of bark. + +In this way he built a raft which was very large and strong enough +to stand the onset of the waves. He wove a railing of willow and fitted +it around the sides of the raft, to protect himself against the dashing +waves; and he raised a strong mast with sails shaped to it, and tightly +bound by cords and ropes. He filled the crevices of the raft with +wax and pitch and attached a rudder. + +At the end of the fourth day his work was all done, and his little +ship was ready to be launched. On the fifth day the beautiful goddess +prepared the hero a bath and gave him new garments fragrant with +perfumes. She went down to the boat with him and put on board a skin +of dark-red wine, a larger one full of water, and a bag of dainty +food. Then she bade Odysseus a kind farewell, and sent a gentle and +friendly wind to waft him over the waves. + +Odysseus was wild with joy at the thought that he was really on his +way home once more. He spread his sails to catch the breeze and took +his seat at the helm, steering the vessel with great skill. He did +not dare to take any sleep, for he had to watch the sky and stars +constantly and use them as guides on his course. He sailed along in +this way seventeen days. On the eighteenth he spied land in the +distance. It was the land of the Phacians, lying like a dark spot +off in the sea. + +Then Poseidon, who was returning from Ethiopia, saw him, and his wrath +grew hot against the hero. He raised up his head and said to himself: +"Alas! the gods have strangely changed their minds about Odysseus +during my absence in Africa. Behold! in a little while he will be +in the land of the Phacians, where he will find an end to his troubles. +Nevertheless, it is in my power to chastise him." + +Speaking thus, Poseidon called the clouds together, and seizing his +trident he stirred up the sea; then he set loose all the winds until +there was a general hurricane, and he wrapped heaven and earth in +the thick darkness of night. + +The mighty waves dashed over the raft, and Odysseus sank on his knees +and trembled. With a deep groan he said: "Ah me, unhappy! Am I to +bear more disasters? I fear that the warning of the goddess was too +true, and that I shall be for a long time cast about on the waves +before I reach home. With what dark clouds Zeus has shrouded the sky! +The storm grows wild. What terrible waves are these! Helplessly I +must perish. Happy the Greeks who fell before Troy, fighting for their +country! Would that I, too, had met death the day when the Trojans +hurled their spears at me as they strove to take the body of Achilles. +If I had died then, the Greeks would have buried me with great honors. +Now I shall die an inglorious death." + +As he spoke a huge wave struck the raft with such terrible force that +it whirled it around and overturned it. The helm was wrung from his +hand and he fell into the angry breakers. The mast was snapped in +two and the ropes and sails flew off into the sea. + +Odysseus was under water a long time, striving in vain to come to +the surface. Finally he rose, spitting the bitter brine out of his +mouth. Although he was in such a desperate plight, his mind was on +the raft. Battling bravely with the waves he reached it, and springing +on board sat down in the middle of it. Thus he escaped death. + +The angry waves tossed him hither and thither as the wind scatters +the leaves over a field. Then Ino, the daughter of Cadmus, saw him +and took pity on him. She took the form of a bird, and, perching on +his raft, she said to him: "O, luckless man! why is Poseidon so angry +with thee? Fear nothing, however; he cannot take thy life. Obey me +and thou shalt not suffer much longer. Lay aside thy clothes, leave +the raft to the mercy of the winds and waves, and swim to the land. +Take my veil and wind it about thy breast, and thou shalt not have +anything to fear. As soon as thou hast reached the land, take it off +and throw it back into the sea. Then hurry away inland." + +Odysseus hesitated to follow Ino's advice, fearing some treachery. +But Poseidon sent a huge wave which struck him and scattered the raft +as if it were dry chaff. Then Odysseus at once got astride of the +swimming timber. He bound the veil around his breast and bravely +plunged into the boiling waters. + +Poseidon saw him, and shaking his head he said: "I verily believe +thou wilt come out alive from the sea. But the sea has had thee long +enough, so that thou wilt know its power hereafter and fear it." Saying +this he lashed up his horses and drove off. + + + + +CHAPTER VII +ODYSSEUS IS SAVED ON THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA + + +Athena, the daughter of Zeus, seeing Odysseus struggling through the +waves, pitied him, and bade the winds become quiet. Two days and two +nights Odysseus floated about, but on the third the wind calmed down +and the sea became smooth. + +In a short time he found himself near land once more. But the shore +was wild and full of sharp rocks and high cliffs. He could see no +place on which to set foot, and he grew downhearted. His knees gave +way, and, groaning deeply, he cried out: "O, luckless one! In vain +have I braved the dangers of the sea to escape death. Now all hope +has abandoned me, since there is no way for me to get out of the water. +I fear that when I try to approach the land the waves will throw me +against the cliffs, and should I try to find a safe landing-place +by swimming, the surf may carry me back into the wild sea, where some +sea-monster will swallow me up. Whatever I may do, I see no help for +me." + +While he pondered over these things a huge wave cast him on the foamy +shore. His bones were nearly broken, and he lay exhausted until the +wave returned, when he was hurled again with great force back into +the sea. Now the unfortunate wanderer took to swimming as his last +resort, and reached the mouth of a river, where he was able to land. + +Too tired to breathe or speak, he sank down in a swoon. His knees +and arms trembled, and his whole body was bruised and swollen. When +his senses returned he rose and untied the veil that Ino had given +him and cast it back into the sea. Then he knelt down and kissed the +earth, and moved to a sheltered spot where a wild and a tame olive-tree +were standing close together, whose branches had mingled with one +another, and there he found a safe hiding-place. + +Then the godlike Odysseus lay down on a bed of dry leaves, covering +himself up as one does an ember, lest it should go out. Athena came +and poured sweet sleep over his eyes, that he might find quiet rest +after all his toils. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII +NAUSICA IS SENT TO THE RIVER BY ATHENA + + +While Odysseus lay in a deep sleep, the goddess Athena went to the +royal dwelling of the king of the Phacians, Alkinos, in order to +hasten the return of Odysseus to his native land. She entered the +house, where she found Nausica, the king's daughter, sleeping in +her beautiful chamber. Near her lay two maids who served her. + +Athena came as softly as a breath of air, and caused the maiden to +dream that her marriage-day was near and that it was her duty to arise +and hasten to the place by the river where they washed their clothing. +In her dream the princess seemed to hear Athena say: "Nausica, why +art thou so slothful? Thy beautiful robes lie neglected and thy +wedding-day is at hand, on which thou surely shouldst wear garments +of dazzling whiteness, and thou shouldst give such garments to those +maidens who lead thee forth to thy bridegroom. Therefore, as soon +as day breaks thou must ask thy father to give thee a pair of mules, +and we will hasten to the washing-place down by the river." + +At the first dawn of day Nausica went in haste to her father and +mother to tell them of her dream. She found them in their splendid +hall. Her mother sat with her maidens spinning, and the king stood +on the threshold, just going forth to meet his chiefs in council. +The princess approached her father and said: "Dearest father, I pray +that thou wilt give me two mules and a wagon, that I may go with my +maids to the river and take all the clothes that need washing, for +it becomes the king and his sons to wear clean garments when they +go to the council of the chiefs. Thou hast five sons, three of whom +are youths not wedded, and they should be provided with fresh robes; +they will need them in the dance." + +The king smiled, for he saw what was in her mind, and he ordered the +mules. Then his beautiful daughter brought from the linen-room the +soiled garments and put them on the wagon, while the queen prepared +a goodly lunch of cold meat and bread and a skin of sweet wine. + +Nausica further received from her mother a bottle of fragrant oil +with which to anoint herself after the washing. Then she mounted the +wagon, seized the whip and reins, and drove out of the city, the +maidens of her train following her on foot. + +When they came to the place where the river was flowing bright and +clear, they unhitched the mules and let them browse along the bank. +Then they took their garments down from the wagon and tossed them +into the marble vats which they had filled with the limpid water of +the stream. When they had washed them clean they spread them on the +white pebbles to dry. Having finished the task, they took a bath and +anointed themselves with oil. Then they sat down on the shore and +ate their lunch. + +The repast over, they began to play ball. First the white-armed +Nausica threw the ball. She looked as tall and royal among her maids +as did Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, among her nymphs. + +Nausica sang a song as they frolicked on the sand. + +When it was time to go home they put the clean garments upon the wagon +and harnessed up the mules. Just as they started, Nausica once more +threw the ball to one of the maidens, who failed to catch it. The +ball rebounded from the rocks and fell into the river, at which the +girls raised such a shout that Odysseus, who was sleeping close by, +awoke. + +He opened his eyes and sat up, saying to himself: "Woe is me! Have +I reached a country where people dwell? Are they wild and inhospitable, +or friendly to the stranger and god-fearing? It seems to me I heard +cries of women. Perhaps they were those of the nymphs who inhabit +the mountain heights, the springs of rivers, and the green meadows, +or those of people who live near by. But I will see who they are." + +So Odysseus clothed himself as best he could, by winding slender +branches covered with leaves about him, and left the thicket where +he was hidden. He went in the direction of the voices, stalking along +like a great lion. When the girls saw him they shrieked and scattered +in every direction. Nausica alone stood her ground, for Athena gave +her courage. When Odysseus saw her he wondered which would be the +better, to throw himself at the feet of the maiden and beg her to +give him some clothes and to show him the way to the city, or to speak +to her with more formality. + +It seemed better to him to remain at a distance, and so he addressed +her gently, saying: "O queen, I know not whether thou art a goddess +or a woman. If thou art a goddess, I should take thee to be Artemis, +because thou art so tall and graceful. If, however, thou art a mortal, +thrice happy thy father and honored mother. Greatly must they rejoice +when they see their beautiful child in the choral dance. But he will +be the happiest who shall win thee for a bride. + +"I once saw a young palm-tree growing up beside Apollo's altar in +the island of Delos. It was the most beautiful tree the earth ever +produced, and I gazed upon it with wonder and reverence. So am I amazed +at thy beauty, and I fear to approach thee and throw myself as a +suppliant at thy feet, although I am in sore distress, for great +misfortunes have befallen me. + +"It was only last night that I escaped from the sea. On my way from +Calypso's isle I was driven about for twenty days by the angry waves +in a violent storm. Now some god has cast me on this shore to make +me undergo new trials, for I do not believe my sufferings have come +to an end. Have pity on me, O queen, because thou art the first human +being I have met after so many misfortunes. + +"I do not know one person in this country. Show me thy city, I pray, +and give me an old robe to wear, no matter how coarse and poor, and +may the gods bestow all blessings upon thee." + +Nausica looked at Odysseus in pity and answered: "Stranger, thou +dost not seem to me to be a man of mean birth or breeding, and thou +art surely in distress. But it is Zeus who distributes gifts to mortals, +both the good and the evil things of life, and thou must submit to +his will with patience. + +"Since thou hast come into our land devoid of all things, even garments, +and art helpless, I will give thee clothing and tell thee the way +to the city. And I will tell thee about the people living in it, for +I am the daughter of the king, Alkinos, who reigns over this island." +When Nausica had spoken thus to Odysseus, she turned to her maids +and commanded them not to flee from the wanderer, but to bring him +food and drink, since Zeus sent the poor and the stranger to be cared +for. + +And she told them to lead him to some lonely spot by the side of the +river, where he might bathe at his ease. So the maids came back and +led the hero to a sheltered place and laid a cloak and tunic on the +sand, and the bottle of oil which the queen had given Nausica, that +Odysseus might anoint and clothe himself after his bath; then they +ran back to the princess. + +Odysseus bathed in the fresh water of the river and washed the salt +sea-foam from his hair, and when the bath was over he put on the robes +that Nausica had sent. Athena shed a halo of beauty over him and +caused him to look taller and stronger than before. + +As he walked along the beach to rejoin the maidens, they admired his +noble and kingly bearing, and Nausica said to her maids: "Surely +this man does not come among our godlike brothers against the will +of the gods. I thought him rough and homely, but now he seems like +one of the immortals. I would that I might call a man like him my +husband. Make haste to give him food and wine, for he has fasted a +long time." + +The maids hastened to obey. They looked over what was left of the +abundant lunch and bade Odysseus eat and drink, which he was glad +to do. The princess then yoked up the mules and they started for home. + + + + +CHAPTER IX +ODYSSEUS ARRIVES AT THE PALACE OF ALKINOS + + +After Nausica had mounted to her seat on the cart, she said to +Odysseus: "Get ready now, stranger, and we will lead thee to my +father's palace, where thou wilt meet the chiefs of the Phacians. +If thou art wise, take well to heart what I shall say to thee. As +long as we are at a good distance from the city there is no harm in +going along with us. Just follow close to the wagon with my maids. + +"But when we come near to the town thou must go more slowly and tarry +behind a little, till we have reached my father's hall, because I +dread the gossip of the baser sort of people whom we may meet. After +thou hast seen us enter the city, then thou mayest enter it also and +inquire the way to the king's palace. It is very beautiful. Thou mayest +easily find it by thyself, for there is no other house in the city +as large as ours. + +"Enter at once and find my mother and sue to her for protection and +help, that thou mayest reach thy native land and thy dear ones again." + +Having spoken these words, Nausica touched the mules with her long +whip and they quickly left the river, wending their way toward the +city. They reached it at sunset, but Odysseus sat down in the sacred +grove of Athena, outside of the city to wait, and prayed to the goddess +that he might receive pity from the people of Phacia. + +While he prayed, the damsels went on and soon reached the king's palace. +Nausica's brothers came out and welcomed them, and unhitched the +mules. When Odysseus had given them time to get home, he arose and +found his way to the town. He had hardly entered it when Athena, in +the form of a young girl carrying a pitcher of water, met him. + +"My daughter," Odysseus said to her, "canst thou show me the way to +the king's palace? I am a stranger, and here for the first time." +Athena answered him: "With pleasure, stranger; the king is our +neighbor. Follow me, and I will lead thee thither. But on the way +do not greet anyone or ask questions, for the people here are not +fond of those who come from other lands." + +Thus spoke Athena and pursued her way with Odysseus following her. +She threw a veil of darkness over the hero to hide him from rude gazers. +Odysseus beheld the beautiful port with astonishment--the large +ships, the great market-place, and the high walls of the city. + +When they reached the palace, the girl stopped and said: "This is +the house of the king. Go in without any fear, for they love brave +men, even when they come from afar. The first thing to do is to find +the queen, whose name is Aret. + +"She is greatly honored by the king, and all the people treat her +as if she were a goddess, on account of her gentleness and virtue. +In case the queen looks upon thee with favor, thou mayest be sure +of safely reaching home." + +Having spoken these words, the goddess took a friendly leave of the +hero, and he entered the outer hall of Alkinos, where he was +bewildered by the splendor. The walls were of brass, the doors of +gold, and the thresholds and lintels of pure silver. On each side +of the main entrance gold and silver dogs stood guard. They were +endowed with life and were immortal, the work and gift of the divine +Hephstus. + +There were two rows of splendid seats in the large dining-hall. They +were covered with costly mats, and the Phacian leaders were wont +to sit there and enjoy themselves. Golden statues of boys with lighted +torches in their hands stood on beautiful pedestals and spread light +over the merry banquets. There were fifty maid-servants in the palace. +Some of them were grinding corn in the mill. Some spent their time +in spinning and weaving, for as the men were renowned sailors, the +women also were famous for making fine cloth. + +There was a large orchard all around the palace, surrounded by a thick +hedge. In the orchard there was a great variety of fruit-trees--pear, +apple, pomegranate, olive, and fig. The trees were never bare of fruit, +either in summer or in winter, for an ever-blowing west wind created +such a mild climate that the trees were constantly blooming and +ripening their fruit. + +There was to be seen a tree full of blossoms, while another bent down +under the load of ripe fruit. Thus it was with the grape-vines in +the vineyard close to the orchard. Some were blooming, others had +only begun to form fruit-buds, while some were loaded with ripe +clusters ready for the wine-press. At the end of the orchard there +was a magnificent flower-garden, in which the most fragrant flowers +were blooming. Two springs also bubbled from the ground. One watered +the orchard, and the other ran to the very door of the palace, and +all the people filled their pitchers there. Such were the gifts +Alkinos had received from the gods. + + + + +CHAPTER X +ODYSSEUS IN THE HALLS OF ALKINOS + + +After Odysseus had contemplated these wonders to his heart's content, +he entered the main hall. There he found the leaders of the Phacians +bringing offerings of wine to Hermes, as the hour of sleep had arrived, +and this was always their last ceremony before seeking slumber. No +one saw Odysseus as he crossed the spacious room and came close to +the king and queen, for he was still concealed in the thick mist which +Athena had thrown round him. Suddenly the cloud vanished, and Odysseus +threw himself at the feet of Aret, and raised his voice in +supplication. + +"Aret," he prayed, "I have come to thy husband and to thy feet through +many hardships and sorrows. May the gods give thee a long and happy +life. For many years I have been a wanderer from home and all I love. +I beg that thou wilt give me a guide and send me to my own land." + +When Odysseus had spoken these words he sat down amidst the ashes, +close to the fire, and all the guests grew silent and looked at him +with wonder. Then the oldest of the chiefs arose and said: "Alkinos, +this is not a royal seat for a stranger, among the cinders of the +hearth. I pray thee, raise him up and place him on a throne, and order +the heralds to fill a cup with wine, that we may pour a libation to +Zeus, the protector of suppliants, and bid the guest welcome to our +good cheer." + +Then Alkinos arose and took Odysseus by the hand. He led him to a +splendid throne but little lower than his own, while the herald placed +a table before him loaded with dainty food. When Odysseus had eaten +and drunk, the attendants filled the cups to pour libations in honor +of Zeus, and Alkinos said to them: "Listen, ye leaders and chiefs +of the Phacians. To-morrow we shall greet the stranger in our palace +with honors and offer a great sacrifice to the gods. And then we will +consider the best way of sending him home. But if we should find that +he is a god instead of a mortal, we will do what seems best, for the +gods do sometimes visit us in human shape." + +Then said Odysseus: "Nay, Alkinos, I am not a god, nor like the gods +in form or looks. I am only a wanderer, and I could tell of fearful +sorrows; and I would willingly die if I could only see my home once +more." + +The guests all greeted Odysseus with approving words, and promised +to aid him. Then they rose, and each man went to his own home. + +Odysseus remained in the hall with Aret and Alkinos. As they +conversed, the queen noticed the garments of Odysseus, because she +had woven them herself, and she said to him: "Stranger, who art thou, +and from what land? Didst thou not say thou hadst come here after +many wanderings and voyages on the stormy sea? Who gave thee garments +of my weaving?" + +Odysseus answered her: "It would not be easy, gracious queen, to tell +about all my hardships and sufferings. Yet I will do thy bidding. +I was shipwrecked long since, and thrown upon an island far out in +the sea, where Calypso, the daughter of Atlas, lives. She cared for +me most kindly, and would have made me, like herself, an immortal, +but I chose instead the hope of seeing my own native land. + +"The goddess detained me seven long years on her island before she +bade me start for home. I built a raft, which she stored with food, +and she sent a pleasant breeze to carry me across the waters. But +Poseidon stirred the winds and waves against me, and I was thrown +upon the shores of this island, near the lavers, where thy daughter +and her maids went to wash the household linen. There the princess +found me, and supplied me with food and the garments I have on." + +"One duty my daughter left undone," Alkinos said. "She should have +brought thee home with her." "Do not blame her, I entreat," replied +Odysseus, "for she bade me come with her maids, but I lingered in +a grove to offer a prayer to Athena." When Alkinos had heard this +tale from Odysseus, he promised once more to give him a ship and +sailors to escort him home. + +Meanwhile the queen bade her servants prepare a bed for the hero out +on the portico, and they covered a couch with shaggy rugs and purple +tapestries, where he could rest. With a grateful heart Odysseus arose, +and, thanking the king for his generous hospitality, sought the bed, +where he gave himself to happy dreams. + +Odysseus rose early the next morning and went with Alkinos to the +market-place, close to the sea, where all the Phacians had assembled. +The people gazed with admiration at their stranger-guest, for Athena +lent him greater dignity and beauty, and she went among the crowds, +moving their hearts to sympathy with him. + +Alkinos then addressed the assembled multitude: "Hear me, ye chiefs +of the Phacians," he said. "This stranger has come to our land after +many wanderings and adventures. And he asks me to send him back to +his own country. Let us fit out a ship for him quickly and launch +it, and give him fifty-two young men from among our best sailors, +who shall get everything ready for the long journey. + +"While they are doing this the stranger shall come to my halls with +the chiefs and princes, where we will make a great banquet. Summon +also the bard, Demodokos, that he may enliven the festival with his +harp and songs." + +Having spoken, Alkinos rose and led his guest back to the palace, +the princes following him. Fifty-two youths were soon chosen from +among the best seamen, and they launched a ship speedily and went +up to the royal palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XI +THE BANQUET IN HONOR OF ODYSSEUS + + +Alkinos now ordered a sumptuous feast in honor of his guest. When +the table was spread, the herald who had gone for Demodokos came in +leading the bard, who was blind. The gods had deprived him of sight, +but had bestowed upon him the gift of song. They gave him a seat on +a silver throne, amid the guests, and hung his harp against a lofty +pillar, close above his head, where he could easily reach it. + +When all had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, Demodokos took +his lyre and began to sing about the heroes of Troy. It was a song +whose fame had reached over the whole world, the story of a friendly +strife between Achilles and Odysseus before Troy, in which Achilles +held that Troy would fall by force, but Odysseus maintained that it +would come to an end through the cunning of a few brave Greeks. + +All the guests enjoyed listening to the thrilling song, but Odysseus +was deeply touched, and tears fell from his eyes. He brushed them +away stealthily, so that no one should observe them, and drew a large +purple veil over his face until the song was finished, when he put +it away and took a goblet of wine, which he poured out on the ground +as a libation to the gods. + +Again the minstrel took his harp and sang, and again Odysseus wept. +Alkinos noticed that the song of Demodokos moved Odysseus to tears, +and thought it might be well to stay the music awhile and begin the +games, that the stranger might witness the athletic skill of the +Phacians. All the princes instantly arose and walked down to the +market-place, the king leading and the people following. + +When the chiefs had taken their seats a great number of young men +hastened forward to begin the games. Some of them darted over the +plain in a foot-race, raising a cloud of dust. Others strove with +all their might in wrestling-matches, while some threw the quoit or +played at boxing and leaping. After they had enjoyed looking at the +games, Laodamas, a son of Alkinos, said to his friends: "Let us ask +the stranger to take part in the games. His strong arms and legs and +powerful neck show that he is no weakling. Nor has he lost his youthful +vigor after all his hardships, although nothing tires a man so much +as being tossed about on the sea." + +Then the friends of Laodamas advised him to challenge Odysseus to +take part in the games; and this seemed right to the prince, so he +said to him: "Father, I think thou must be skilful in these games. +Let us see thee try them. We will not delay thee long. Thy ship is +ready for thee on the sea, and the crew is there, waiting. But there +is no greater glory or pleasure for a man than to excel in swiftness +of foot and strength of muscle." + +Odysseus answered him: "Why dost thou urge me, O Laodamas? How can +I take part in the games or find any pleasure in them after all that +I have suffered? Here I sit, a suppliant, praying to be sent back +to my wife and home." Then Euryalos scoffed at him, saying: "Thou +art right, stranger, for thy countenance shows thou art anything but +an athlete. + +"Methinks thou art the owner of some merchant-vessel. Thou art a +trader, whose head is full of bargains. Such men can take heed of +nothing except how to increase wealth." + +These mocking words vexed Odysseus, and he retorted: "My friend, thou +dost not speak like a man of good mind. The gods do not bestow their +gifts equally on all men. To thee they have given great beauty, but +they have denied thee wit. Thy words carry no weight. Learn, then, +that I am not unskilled in the games. When I was young and strong +I was one of the best athletes. But even now, after all my shipwrecks +and hardships, I will strive with thee, for thy words are offensive +and challenge me to the proof." + +Having said this, Odysseus seized a much larger and heavier quoit +than the Phacian prince could use, and swinging it in his powerful +hand he hurled it forth. The stone whirred through the air and fell +to the ground away beyond the marks of the other disks. Then Athena +took the form of a Phacian and set a mark where the quoit fell, and +exclaimed as she did so: "Stranger, even a blind man could easily +find thy mark, for it is far beyond the others. Sit down in peace +and do not fear that anybody else can throw so far." Odysseus was +pleased when he heard these friendly words. With a light heart he +said to the Phacian youths: "Reach my mark, if you can, young men, +and I will send a stone farther yet. But if you cannot reach it, and +prefer a match at boxing or wrestling or foot-race, come forth. I +am ready to try any of the games with you. I can throw a spear farther +than any of you can shoot an arrow. I fear nothing unless it may be +the foot-race, for I have lost my strength with want of food and being +tossed by the waves." + +He ended, and King Alkinos stepped forward, for the young men were +all silent. "Stranger," he said, "thou art our dearly loved guest, +and no one can doubt thy bravery. We do not boast that we are fine +boxers or wrestlers. We excel in the dance and are unsurpassed in +sailing ships. Come, then, young men, show your skill in dancing, +that our guest may tell his people when he reaches his home how much +we outdo all others in that art. And let a herald hasten to the palace +and bring the lyre of Demodokos, which has been left there." + +The young men arranged themselves in two rows on the polished floors +and began the dance, while the minstrel, standing in their midst, +played on the lyre and sang most sweetly. Odysseus looked on and +greatly admired the swift and rhythmical movements of their feet. +All danced very well; but two of the sons of the king came out and +danced alone, for none of the others equalled them. One of them held +a golden ball in his hand, and bending backward threw it so high that +it seemed to touch the clouds. The other sprang up and caught it easily +before it touched the ground. + +They both danced, going through intricate and rhythmical figures, +while the other young men stood around in a circle and clapped their +hands, keeping time. Then Odysseus said to Alkinos: "Truly, no one +excels the Phacian princes in dancing. I see the twinkling of their +feet with amazement." + +These words pleased Alkinos greatly, and he said to his people: +"Listen, my chiefs, for our guest seems to be a wise man. It becomes +us now to bestow upon him the gifts of hospitality. In this land there +are twelve kings. I am the thirteenth. Let each one of us bring a +fine cloak, and a tunic, and a talent of gold, that our guest may +see them before he partakes of the evening banquet. And let Euryalos, +who spoke such scoffing words to him, try to win back his friendship +and bring a costly gift." All the chiefs approved the words of King +Alkinos, and each one sent a servant to his house to bring a valuable +present. + +Euryalos cheerfully obeyed the king. He brought a brass sword with +a silver hilt to Odysseus, and said: "My father, if I have uttered +any offensive word to thee, may the winds scatter all remembrance +of it. May the gods grant thee a speedy return to thy country, where +thou shalt see thy wife and friends from whom thou hast so long been +separated." + +Odysseus answered: "Hail to thee, also, my friend! May the gods give +thee all that there is good, and may no need of this sword ever come +to thee." Odysseus took the sword and threw it across his shoulders. + +The sun had set, and the servants carried the gifts to the royal palace, +where the queen took care of them. King Alkinos led the way to the +palace, his guest at his side and the princes following. When they +had taken their seats on high thrones, the king told his wife to lay +the royal presents in a chest, adding a much richer cloak and tunic +than anyone else had given as a gift from himself. + +Aret did as her husband wished, and placed a beautiful cup of gold +also in the chest, and led Odysseus up to look at the presents. Then +she taught him how to lock the chest and unlock it, and her maids +called him to a warm bath, after which he anointed himself with +fragrant oil and put on fresh garments. + +While he was wending his way to the men who sat before their wine, +he met Nausica in her goddess-like beauty, standing near a pillar. +"Stranger, farewell," she said. "I wish thee joy and a safe return +to thy native land. Do not forget that I was the first to befriend +thee in the land of the Phacians." + +Odysseus answered: "May the gods be as sure to favor my return to +my home as I shall be to make a prayer daily in thy behalf, fair maiden, +who hath saved my life." Then Odysseus entered the great hall and +took his place at the feast. + + + + +CHAPTER XII +ODYSSEUS RELATES HIS ADVENTURES + + +When they had all eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, the hero +begged Demodokos to sing about the invention of the wooden horse with +which Odysseus had artfully tricked the Trojans to their own +destruction. + +The minstrel felt the inspiration of the song, and began where the +Greeks threw firebrands into their own tents and sailed away from +Troy, pretending that they had given up the war. + +He told how the Trojans wondered what to do with the huge wooden horse +which the enemy had left in their city, whether to hew it to pieces +and burn it, or to drag it to the edge of a high rock and throw it +over, or whether to spare it as an act of reverence to the gods. This +last was done, and in the night Odysseus and his men came out of the +great wooden trap and set fire to the city while the men of Troy slept. + +As Demodokos sang, tears rolled down the cheeks of Odysseus. but no +one noticed his weeping except the king, who said: "It is better to +stop the song of Demodokos, as it does not delight us all. Ever since +the bard began to sing, our guest has been weeping. He carries some +great trouble in his heart. Let the song cease, and let us all make +merry. Let no grief mar our banquet. And, honored stranger, tell us +the name of thy father, and the city which is thy home. Our seamen +shall take thee safely to thine own land, although there is a prophecy +that one of our good ships shall be changed into a high rock, to stand +forever in front of our city, if we show such courtesies to strangers. + +"Tell us truly who thou art and whither thou hast roamed, what tribes +of men thou hast seen, and why thou dost weep when the minstrel sings +of Troy. Didst thou lose a noble kinsman there, or a dear friend? +For a friend is often dearer than a brother." Odysseus replied: "In +truth, O king, it is a pleasant thing to listen to a bard like Demodokos, +for his voice is as sweet as the voice of a god. + +"And I cannot think of anything more delightful than the joy of a +contented people listening to a great poet and singer while seated +at a feast in a royal hall. But I pine to be at home, and I will declare +my name and tell the story of my sufferings. + +"I am the chieftain Odysseus, son of Laertes, and widely known to +fame. I dwell in sunny Ithaca, whose high mountains are seen from +afar, covered with rustling trees. Around it are many smaller islands, +full of people. Ithaca has low shores on the east. It is a rugged +island, but it is the sweetest land on earth, and has a noble race +of mortals. When the Trojan war was at an end, I started for home +with my twelve ships, but a contrary wind drove us to Ismaros, the +city of the Kikonians. + +"We captured it and put the inhabitants to the sword. Then I exhorted +my comrades to fly, but, like madmen, they remained on the sea-shore. +Then they slaughtered a large number of sheep and oxen and made a +feast. The Kikonians called on their strong neighbors to come and +help them, and they came in swarms with their brazen spears. They +fell upon our men and killed six of them from each ship, and drove +the rest back to their boats. + +"Brisk handling of our oars soon carried us out into the sea, but +Jove sent a hurricane that tore our sails and split our masts, so +that our sailors drew them into the ships in fear. Two days and nights +we lay helpless in our boats, worn out with fear and grief, but the +third day the sun shone on us again, and we raised the masts and sails +to take the breeze, hoping to reach our own land." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII +THE LOTUS-EATERS AND THE CYCLOPS + + +"We sailed onward in a westerly direction, heading for the Grecian +shore, and thought our trials would soon be at an end. But in this +we were disappointed, for when we were about to round the cape at +the southern point of Greece, we met an evil wind which always blows +there, and it drove us far to the east, beyond the island of Cythera. + +"Nine days and nine nights we were driven about on the sea by the +violent storm, and on the tenth we reached the land of the Lotus-eaters. +These men eat flowers that look like water-lilies, and they have no +other food. We landed on the shore of the mainland, and my comrades +took their evening meal close to the boats. + +"When our hunger was satisfied, I sent out two of the best men to +explore the country about and find out what sort of people the +Lotus-eaters were. I sent a herald with them, whom they might send +back with the news. + +"They soon found themselves among the Lotus-eaters, who were gentle +and friendly, and gave them the lotus plant to eat. This food is +pleasant to the taste, but dangerous; for anyone who eats of it loses +all desire to return to his own home. He forgets his cares and troubles, +but also his friends. + +"As soon as my comrades had eaten of the lotus, they became attached +to the Lotus-eaters, and desired to remain with them. They wept +bitterly when I commanded them to return to the ships, and I was +obliged to force them to go. + +"I bound them down to the benches in the ships, and the whole company +went on board in haste lest they should never think of their homes +again. Each man bent to his oars, and the waves were soon white with +the beating of the ships against them as we sailed with all haste +in the direction of our own land. + +"We sailed about on unknown seas and with sorrowing hearts until we +came to the land of the Cyclops. They are a wild people who have no +laws. They never plough the fields nor plant them, for everything +grows of its own accord--wheat, and barley, and the vine. The grapes +yield good wine. The Cyclops do not come together in a friendly way, +but live in caves near the mountain tops, each one in his own den. +They do not care much for one another, and each rules his wife and +children as he likes. + +"There is a little woody island lying at the entrance to the land +of the Cyclops, on which swarm numberless wild goats, never disturbed +by human beings, for the Cyclops have no ships to take them over. +This island is very fertile, but there are no sheep to eat the grass +and no people to plough the fields. The goats are the only inhabitants. +The island has a harbor which is safe, and the ships that enter it +have no need of anchors or fastenings. + +"In the midst of the harbor there is a cliff, from which bubbles forth +a spring of excellent water, and poplar-trees grow all around it. +The soil is so rich it might bear all kinds of fruit, if there were +anyone to plant them. There are beautiful meadows all along the coast, +which are gay with yellow fruit and pink blossoms. + +"We were shaping our course toward this island, and a good breeze +brought us there on a dark night. The moon did not shine and none +of the crew saw the land until we were upon the shore. We lowered +our sails and rested there until morning. When daylight appeared we +beheld with wonder the island where the wild goats abounded. My +comrades walked around, admiring the beauty of the place, while the +nymphs, daughters of Zeus, roused the goats that they might give us +milk. We took our bows and arrows from the ships immediately and, +forming three hunting-parties, killed a great number of the nimble +creatures. Each of my twelve ships received nine goats as its share, +but mine received ten. The remainder of the day we passed in eating +and drinking." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV +THE CAVE OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"The next day I started with twelve men, the crew of my own ship, +to find out what kind of men inhabited the country opposite us, leaving +all the other boats and their men on the island. When we sailed up +to the coast of the mainland, we heard the voices of giants, and the +bleating of their sheep and goats. And we saw a cave with a high roof, +over whose entrance grew laurel shrubs, and many cattle, sheep, and +goats were lying around at rest. We found an enclosure of rough stone +in the form of a court, with tall pines and leafy oaks at the mouth +of the cave. + +"The largest giant of all the race of Cyclops dwelt there and took +care of his cattle all alone. Usually he spent his time prowling all +by himself around the mountains. He had nothing to do with his +neighbors, but led a solitary life, plotting wicked deeds. He looked +more like a huge mountain top, with shaggy overhanging forests, +towering above other mountains, than a human being. + +"We were soon inside the cave, but we did not find the owner at home. +We had carried with us a wine-skin full of wine which a priest of +Apollo had given us. The wine was very fragrant and so pleasant that +no one who had once tasted it, could let it alone. We had taken along +a basket of food also, for fear of meeting with men of great strength +and no sense of the courtesy due to strangers. + +"As we looked around the cave we wondered at what we saw. There were +baskets all about heaped with cheeses, and pens of lambs separated +into three folds, the older in one pen, the younger in another, and +the youngest in a third. And there were pails full of whey, and buckets +of milk. My companions ate as much of the cheese as they liked, after +which they begged to drive all the lambs and kids down to the ship. + +"But I would not allow this. It was my wish to stay there and see +the cave-dweller and find out what kind of a man he was. I thought +he would give me a handsome present, according to the laws of +hospitality. It was cold in the cave, so we lit a fire and sat down +to wait for the owner to arrive. + +"He came toward evening, carrying a load of wood on his back, which +he threw down with such a crash that my men ran with terror into the +corners of the cave. The giant drove all such sheep and goats as would +give him milk into the cave, leaving the others in the outside court, +and then closed up the entrance with a rock so large that twenty-four +four-wheeled wagons could not have moved it. Having done this, he +sat down and milked the sheep and goats and gave to each its young +one. + +"Next, he curdled half of the milk and put the curd into woven baskets, +but he kept the other half for his evening meal. When he had ended +this work he lit a fire, and seeing the strangers he began to ask +them questions, to find out who they were. His voice was deep and +frightful, like the rumbling of a volcano, and our hearts trembled, +but I found words to answer him: 'We are Greeks, and come from Troy. +It was our intention to return home, but contrary winds have driven +us on this shore. + +"'We belong to the army of Agamemnon, whose fame is very great because +he has overcome a strong city and conquered many nations. But now +we throw ourselves at thy feet and pray that thou wilt receive us +as guests, or else give us the gifts that are due to strangers, lest +the gods avenge us.' + +"Having said this, I stopped, but the Cyclops told us that we were +fools to believe in the gods. 'The Cyclops,' he said, 'care nothing +for the gods. We are better than they are. If I spare thee it will +be of my own free will, and not for fear of the gods. But where are +thy ships? Are they near here or far off?' This he said hoping to +deceive us, but I saw through his trick, and replied: 'The storm has +thrown our ships upon the cliffs and broken them to pieces, and we +had to swim for our lives.' + +"The cruel monster did not answer me again, but he seized two of my +companions and dashed them to the ground with such force that they +died on the spot. He devoured them as a lion devours his prey. He +left nothing of them, neither bones nor flesh nor hair. We wept aloud +and prayed to Zeus with our hearts full of despair." + + + + +CHAPTER XV +THE BLINDING OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"When the monster had filled himself with food, he stretched out on +the floor of the cave to sleep. Then the thought came to me to thrust +a sword into his heart. But this was not a wise course to take, because +we should never have been able to remove the stone from the entrance +to the cave. + +"We passed the night in mourning and lamentations. As soon as daylight +appeared, the Cyclops woke up and lit a fire and milked his sheep +again. Then he seized two more of my companions and devoured them. +When his morning meal was done he rolled the stone back from the door +and drove his beasts out, not forgetting to secure the entrance. We +could hear his noisy shouts afar off as he led his flocks over the +grassy heights, and we began to make plans to destroy him. + +"We found a great club of green olive-wood in the cave; one that the +Cyclops had cut for his own use. It was as large as the mast of a +ship, and he had laid it away to dry. I cut off a fathom's length +from this club and handed the piece to my companions, who smoothed +off its sides and sharpened it at one end. This being done, I put +the sharp end of it into the fire. The stick became very hard, and +then I hid the weapon under a heap of litter which was piled up in +the cave. We cast lots to see who should assist me to put out the +eye of the Cyclops when he was asleep. + +"When evening came the Cyclops returned to the cave with his fat sheep +and kids. He seemed to suspect that there was mischief afoot, for +he did not leave any of them outside. After milking the ewes and goats +he again seized two of my companions and made his supper of them. +But I filled a large drinking-vessel with the wine from our wine-skin +and stepped boldly out and said to him: 'Here is a cup of wine which +I brought, hoping that thou wouldst spare my life, O Cyclops, for +thy wrath is boundless.' He took the cup and drank. The wine delighted +him greatly, and he handed me the cup after emptying it and said: +'Give me another draught and tell me thy name. I will give thee a +generous gift, such as becomes a host. We, too, have wine, but not +such as yours. That tastes like nectar and ambrosia.' + +"Three times I filled the cup and brought it to him, and three times +the Cyclops drank it like a madman. When the wine had overpowered +him, I said to him: 'Cyclops, thou dost wish to know my name, and +I will tell it, but thou must give me the present thou hast promised. +My name is Nobody. My father and mother gave me this name and my friends +all call me by it.' 'Then,' said the Cyclops, 'I shall eat Nobody +last of all. This is my present.' + +"After these words he fell asleep and, being very drunk, he began +to spew out the wine and flesh he had taken. I took the piece of +olive-wood which my men had sharpened and put the point of it into +the fire and held it there until it was a glowing coal. My comrades +stood near me and I encouraged them with brave words. We thrust the +burning stick into the Cyclops' eye and put it out. He howled with +pain, and, stung to madness, he seized the stick and flung it across +the cave. + +"He called to the other Cyclops, who lived in divers caves on the +surrounding mountains, while we hid ourselves in fear in the most +remote corners of the cave. The giants heard him and came running +to help him, but they could not get into the cave. They stood near +the stone, close to the door, and called out: 'What ails thee, +Polyphemus? Is anyone trying to kill thee?' 'Woe is me!' cried +Polyphemus, 'Nobody is trying to kill me.' 'Then why dost thou shout +and cry for help?' said they. 'If nobody hurts thee, then thou art +not hurt.' + +"With these words they went off, and we rejoiced greatly that my trick +had deceived them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI +ODYSSEUS AND HIS COMPANIONS LEAVE THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"Polyphemus, groaning with pain, tried to feel his way with his hands +to the mouth of the cavern. Having succeeded in this, he rolled back +the stone and sat down at the entrance and stretched out his hands +in order to catch us if we should happen to try to get out among the +sheep. + +"But we were not so foolish as to be caught in this way. There were +in the cave a number of stout and woolly rams. Of these I put three +abreast and tied them together with twigs that happened to be in the +cave. Under each middle ram I tied one of my companions. The two sheep, +one on each side of him, hid the man completely. For myself I selected +the stoutest ram of the flock, and, seizing his long shaggy wool with +my hands, held fast to him with my knees and arms. + +"The sun rose and the animals began to hasten out to the pastures. +The Cyclops, though nearly exhausted with pain, passed his hands over +the backs of the sheep to find out whether any of us were trying to +ride out of the cave. He did not find out our trick, and my companions +all escaped safely. Last of all, the ram that carried me came to the +door, because I was so heavy that he could hardly walk with me hanging +to him. + +"Polyphemus felt of his back and recognized him at once as his favorite +ram, and said: 'Dearest of all my sheep, why dost thou go last? +Commonly thou wert the first of the flock to hasten to the rich pasture +and the cool spring, just as thou wert the first in the evening to +return to thy manger. But to-day thou art last of all. Dost thou grieve +because thy master hath lost his eye, which Nobody has put out? But +wait a little. He shall not escape death. Couldst thou only speak, +my ram, thou wouldst tell me at once where the scoundrel is; then +thou shouldst see how I would dash him against the rocks.' + +"Speaking such words as these, he let the ram go. When we were safely +out of the cave, we gladly took to our feet and drove the fat sheep +down to our boat with all haste. Our friends received us with tears +of joy, for they thought we had surely perished. I made signs to them +not to weep aloud, and to hurry the sheep on board the ship. They +did this with all haste, and each man took his place at the oars. + +"When we were beyond the reach of the Cyclops, I called out to tease +him, 'Ha! Cyclops, Cyclops, thou hast not been entertaining a coward. +Zeus and the other gods have avenged the brave men whom thou didst +so cruelly destroy.' + +"The Cyclops heard my words and grew furious. He seized a large rock +and threw it with all his might toward the place where he had heard +my voice. + +"The rock fell in front of my ship, and the waves which it raised +carried us back on shore. I seized a large pole and shoved the boat +back into the water, commanding my men to ply their oars vigorously, +that we might escape destruction. My companions begged me not to +excite the dangerous monster further; but when we were a long way +out I shouted to him: 'Cyclops, if ever anybody asks thee who put +out thine eye, tell him it was Odysseus, the son of Laertes, conqueror +of Troy.' + +"When Polyphemus heard these words he gave a deep groan, and said +to me: 'Truly did the wise seer, Telemos, foretell that I was to be +blinded by Odysseus. But I thought there would come a large and +powerful man, not such an insignificant little fellow who would cheat +me with wine. Come back, Odysseus, and let me bestow upon you the +gifts which are due to strangers. I will pray to my father, Poseidon, +to give thee a safe and speedy return to thy native land. He can restore +my eye whenever he will, so I cherish no anger against thee.' + +"I knew his deceit, however, and replied: 'I would rather take thy +life, and send thee down to the dark halls of the dead, where thy +father could never restore thy sight.' + +"As soon as Polyphemus heard this, he raised his hands to heaven and +prayed to Poseidon, 'My father,' he said, 'hear me, if in truth I +am thy son. Grant me this prayer. May Odysseus never return to his +own country, or, if it be thy will that he reach home and friends +again, let his return be late and sorrowful. May his comrades all +be lost, and may he go back in a borrowed ship, and find new troubles +waiting for him in his house.' + +"Poseidon was moved to wrath against me by this prayer, and determined +to take vengeance on me. The Cyclops seized another stone, much larger +than the last, and swinging it round, threw it at us with tremendous +strength. It fell close to the ship, but this time it drove the boat +out into the sea and in the direction of the island where we first +landed. + +"When we reached the island we found the friends we had left there +waiting anxiously for our return. My men drew their boat up on to +the smooth sand and stepped upon the beach, taking the sheep along +with them. Each man took an equal share, but they gave me the ram +which had saved my life. We took him out upon the beach and offered +him up as a sacrifice to Zeus. + +"But sacrifices were vain, for Zeus had more evil for us in his mind. +We spent the rest of the day on the island, eating and drinking, and +when the sun went down we camped on the shore for the night. In the +morning I called my men to climb the decks and cut the ropes that +kept us fastened to the shore. With all speed they went aboard and +took their oars in hand and set sail for home, glad to escape, but +sorrowing for our lost companions." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII +THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF OLUS + + +"We sailed about on unknown seas for many days, when we reached the +island where olus made his abode. This island was surrounded by +smooth rocks and guarded by a wall of shining brass. + +"olus had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and they +banqueted on an endless variety of meats from day to day all the year +round. olus was a kindly, genial god; he was master of the winds, +and one could hear the music of sweet pipes in his halls all day, +and the air was fresh and fragrant there. + +"olus welcomed us hospitably and kept us with him a whole month. +He inquired of the fate of all our companions in the war with Troy, +and we stated what had happened to them. Then we prayed him to send +us home, and the god very kindly gave us a sack made of skin in which +he had tied up all the contrary winds, leaving only the west wind +free to carry us safely home. + +"I took the great bag of winds and bound it fast to the main mast +of the ship with a silver chain, so that no rude wind could escape +and blow us out of our way. We sailed along nine days and nine nights, +blown by the friendly breeze from the west, and on the tenth we saw +in the distance the mountain tops of Ithaca and the fires along the +shore. + +"And now I was overcome by a heavy sleep, for I had been guiding the +ship, not daring to trust it to the hand of any of the crew. While +I lay unconscious of what was going on, my companions talked among +themselves and said they believed that the bag which olus had given +me contained vast amounts of gold and silver. And they spoke with +great jealousy of the prizes which I had received wherever we had +landed, while they went empty-handed. + +"The more they talked to one another the more jealous and angry they +grew. They untied the sack and the winds rushed out, much to their +astonishment, and seized the ship, driving it round and round in a +furious storm. I started out of my sleep suddenly and found the bag +open I had so carefully guarded and my companions weeping bitterly. + +"For a moment I had a mind to throw myself into the sea and make an +end of my troubles forever. But the thought came to me that such an +action would not be noble, so I hid my head in my mantle and lay down +in the bottom of the ship while the violent winds and towering waves +drove us back to the island we had left. We landed there again, and, +having partaken of some food and wine, I sought the halls of olus. + +"I found the king and his wife and children at table taking their +evening meal. When olus saw me he was amazed, and asked me what had +happened to me. I told him about the senseless action of my companions, +and begged him to assist me once more. But with a terrible voice he +replied: 'Begone as fast as thou canst out of my island. I will not +befriend a man who is hated of the gods.' In this unkind way he sent +me off, and we sadly entered our ships and made for the open sea, +trusting to the mercy of the winds." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII +ODYSSEUS AT THE HOME OF CIRC + + +"For six days and six nights we sailed without interruption, but on +the seventh day we reached the city of the Lstrygonians. There the +pastures are so rich in grass that the fields, which are grazed by +one flock of sheep during the day, yield abundant food for another +flock by night. The inhabitants were not only inhospitable, but they +received us with a shower of stones, which they hurled at us and at +our galleys. They broke our ships and killed my companions, spearing +them like fish. Then they carried them ashore to be devoured. With +the greatest difficulty I succeeded in saving one ship and a few +companions from the hands of these giants, and I fled with them out +to the high sea. + +"Sadly we continued our course until we reached an island, where the +goddess Circ, a daughter of the Sun and Ocean, lived. We landed +silently, and gave two days and nights to rest, for we were worn out +with toil and grief. On the third day I climbed to the top of a high +hill and looked over the island. Down below I saw a marble palace, +surrounded by a thick forest. There was smoke rising from the grounds, +so I resolved to return to my men and send out some of them to look +about and explore. + +"A large stag ran down into my path, on his way to a river to drink, +and I thrust my spear through him and flung him across my neck and +took him to the ship. I threw him at the feet of my men, who were +astonished at his size. They prepared a banquet at once, and we feasted +upon the meat. + +"That night we slept on the shore again, and in the morning I told +them that I had seen a palace standing in a thick wood, and that I +wanted to send several men there to try to get food. When my companions +thought of all their comrades who had been slain they wept aloud. +But their tears were useless. I divided them into two equal bands, +and we cast lots to see which party should make the adventure. + +"The lot fell to Eurylochos and his band of men. They started forth, +and soon came to a beautiful valley, in which was the splendid house +of Circ, which was built of well-hewn stone. There were beasts of +prey, lions and wolves, around it. The animals were tame; they wagged +their tails and fawned like dogs, but the men were afraid of them. +Circ was weaving in the palace and singing a beautiful song. She +had bright, sunny hair and a sweet voice. The men heard her as she +went back and forth weaving, and they called aloud. She came to the +door and threw it wide open and bade them enter. + +"Eurylochos alone did not go in, for he feared that some evil would +come of it. The others followed her, and Circ seated them on thrones +and gave them food and wine, but in the wine she had secretly infused +a magic juice which made them forget home and friends and all desire +to see their native land. + +"When they had eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, she waved +her wand over them, and at once the poor wretches were changed into +grunting pigs, which she shut up in pigsties and threw acorns and +other food fit for swine before them. Although thus transformed and +covered with bristles, they still retained the human mind. + +"Eurylochos stayed a long time outside awaiting the return of his +companions. But as they tarried so long, he hastened back to the ship +to tell the news. Thereupon I quickly hung my sword over my shoulder +and, taking my bow and arrows, hurried off alone, and soon found myself +not far from Circ's palace." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX +CIRC INSTRUCTS ODYSSEUS CONCERNING HIS DESCENT TO HADES + + +"As I lingered in that dangerous valley there appeared to me a youth +whom I knew at once to be Hermes, the messenger of the gods. He gently +took hold of my hand and, looking compassionately on me, said: 'Thou +most unhappy man! Why art thou roaming alone in these wild parts? +Or art thou bound on the errand of delivering thy friends who have +all been changed by Circ into swine? Much do I fear that thou mayest +meet with the same fate. Listen to my words and heed them well if +thou wouldst destroy the treacherous schemes of Circ. + +"'Take this little flower. Its name is Moly among the gods, and no +wicked sorcery can hurt the man who treasures it carefully. Its root +is black. Its blossom is as white as milk, and it is hard for men +to tear it from the ground. Take this herb and go fearlessly into +the dwelling of the sorceress; it will guard thee against all mishap. +She will bring thee a bowl of wine mingled with the juice of +enchantment, but do not fear to eat or drink anything she may offer +thee, and when she touches thy head with her magic wand, then rush +upon her quickly with drawn sword as though about to slay her. She +will crouch in fear and entreat thee with soft words to spare her. +But do not give way to her until she has pledged herself by the great +oath of the gods to do thee no harm.' + +"When Hermes had spoken thus he left me, to return to high Olympos, +and I walked to the house of Circ with a braver heart. As I came +near the palace I called out to the goddess with a loud voice, and +she threw open the doors for me to enter. She bade me sit down on +a beautiful throne and placed a golden foot-stool under my feet. Then +she gave me the dangerous cup and I drank it off, but her charm did +not work. + +"Scarcely had I drained the cup when the goddess struck me with her +wand and said: 'Off with you! Go to the pigsty, where friends await +thy coming!' In a twinkling I had my sword in hand and rushed upon +her as if to kill her. Circ shrieked with fear and fell on her knees +to implore my mercy. 'Who art thou and whence dost thou come?' said +Circ. 'Thou art the first man over whom my magic wine has had no +power. Art thou really that Odysseus of whom Hermes told me that he +was to come here after many wanderings? But put up thy sword and cease +to be angry with me and let us trust each other.' + +"I answered her: 'O, goddess, how can I have faith in thy words, since +thou hast changed my companions into swine and dost plot the same +fate for me? Swear me the great oath that thou wilt not harm me, and +I shall trust thy words.' + +"Circ at once took the great oath, that she would never again try +to do me any harm, and she ordered her servants to spread a feast +before me. But I had no desire to eat. I sat down in silence, my mind +full of grief and doubt. + +"When Circ saw that I did not touch the food she said: 'Why art thou +so quiet and speechless? And why dost thou not taste the food and +wine? I have pledged myself by the great oath to do thee no harm!' +But I answered: 'What man with a loyal heart, O goddess, could eat +and drink with any pleasure while his comrades are kept in bondage +and degradation? If thou art really kind and wouldst have me enjoy +this bounteous feast, O let me see my dear companions free once more!' + +"The goddess took her wand and went to the pen and drove out the swine. +She then anointed them with a magic ointment, and their bristles fell +off and they stood up and were men again. They knew me, and each one +seized my hand, shedding tears of joy. Then I sent for the rest of +my men at the ship, who eagerly came up, and together we entered the +halls of Circ, all of us weeping with joy. + +"Circ's heart was softened also, and she said to me: 'Son of Laertes, +noble Odysseus, do not weep and grieve any longer. I know what +hardships thou hast endured on land and sea. Take courage, for thy +sufferings will soon be at an end. Go down to the sea and hide thy +boat near the shore and come back to my halls, thou and all thy men, +where I will make it a happy home for all until thou art rested and +ready to sail again for thy native land.' + +"We stayed a whole year on the island of Circ, feasting and enjoying +ourselves, and fully recovered our strength. The desire of reaching +my beloved Ithaca grew stronger within me day by day, and at last +I begged Circ to allow us to depart. 'I am not willing, O son of +Laertes,' Circ answered, 'that thou shouldst remain here against +thy wish, but it is necessary that thou shouldst, before departing +from my island, descend into Hades, to the palace of Pluto and +Persephone, to consult the spirit of the Theban seer, Tiresias, on +whom Persephone has bestowed the priceless gift of preserving his +memory even in Hades, whereas all the other souls are moving about +as empty shadows.' + +"Hearing this, I grew desperate and no longer had any desire to live +or see the light of day. I said to the goddess: 'Who will show me +the way to Hades? for no living mortal has ever gone there before.' +She replied: 'Do not worry about a guide, Odysseus, for there will +be no need of one. Launch thy boat, unfurl the sails, and quietly +sit down. The north wind will waft thee to the shore of Hades. There +flows the river Styx, black and terrible. It flows between the poplars +and willows in the groves of Persephone, and meets the broad waters +of Okeanos. Sail up its dark stream until thou dost reach the rock +where its two branches meet and swirl and roar. There leave thy boat +and dig a ditch in the ground, a foot deep and a foot wide, in which +thou shalt pour honey, milk, wine, and water as an offering to the +dead. + +"'At the same time pray to the gods of Hades, and promise the shades +of the dead that after thou hast arrived in Ithaca thou wilt sacrifice +to them a whole heifer, the best of thy flock, and to Tiresias +especially a black ram. Then take two sheep, a male and a female, +kill them, and burn them as a sacrifice to the nations of the dead. + +"'At once there will arrive the souls of the departed. They will come +by thousands, anxious to drink of the blood, that they may have their +minds again. But draw thy sword and hold them back until the spirit +of Tiresias arrives. He will tell thee how to get back to thy native +land.' + +"As Circ said this the daylight appeared, and I woke my companions +and told them to make ready to go with me. We started at once for +our ship, and got everything in readiness to leave. I told them that +before setting out for our own country we had, by the advice of Circ, +to go down to Hades in order to consult the seer Tiresias about our +journey. When they heard this they sat down, and wept, and began to +tear the hair from their heads. + +"Circ meantime came up by stealth, and put two sheep into the ship, +and we sailed sadly away." + + + + +CHAPTER XX +THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS IN HADES + + +"With a heavy heart we sailed from Circ's island bound for the gloomy +Hades. As the wind was favorable, we soon reached the place of which +the goddess had told us. There we left the ship and did those things +which Circ had counselled us to do. As soon as the dark blood of +the sheep began to flow into the trench countless souls came flocking +from Hades and begged to taste of the blood, that their mortal minds +might be restored to them. + +"Young wives and girls, old men and young warriors who had fallen +in battle, airy forms, ghosts of all kinds of people, flitted like +bats around me in that dark place with fearful cries, and I turned +pale with fear. I drew my sword and waved them back until I should +question the soul of Tiresias. + +"But first came the soul of Elpenor, one of my companions who had +gone with me to the palace of Circ. We had left him dead in the halls +of the goddess, since we had no time to bury him. Now, when I saw +him a great pity stirred my heart, and I shed tears and said to him: +'Elpenor, how didst thou come into these dread regions of darkness? +Thou hast come more quickly on foot than I in my quick ship.' + +"The phantom knew me, for, being as yet unburied, he was not one of +the shades, and had not lost his memory or voice, nor did he need +to drink of the blood. He moaned and replied: 'Noble Odysseus, it +was an evil fate which the gods had decreed for me. I drank too much +wine and that caused my death. I lay down to sleep on the roof of +Circ's palace and could not remember the way to the stairs when thou +didst call us to the ships. In my haste I fell from the roof and broke +my neck, and my soul came down to Hades. + +"'I pray thee now by all those whom thou dost love--thy wife, thy +father, and thy son--that thou leave not my body unburied in the palace +halls, lest I bring on thee the anger of the gods. But on thy return +to Circ's isle burn my body, together with my armor, and pile up +a mound of earth over my ashes. Plant my oar upon my tomb--the oar +with which I used to row while I was living.' + +"I made the promise, but at this moment the soul of my mother, whom +I had left hale and strong among the living when I went to the war, +approached and tried to get at the trench. I wept to see her, but +with a heavy heart I forbade her coming nearer until I had spoken +with Tiresias. At this moment troops of souls came flocking out of +Hades, and from the countless throng the Theban seer came leaning +on a golden staff, and he ordered me to lay aside my sword and permit +him to drink of the blood. + +"When he had drunk, he spoke to me and said: 'Odysseus, man of many +woes, why dost thou leave the light of the sun and come down among +the dead? Doubtless thy heart's desire is to return safely home. But +much suffering is in store for thee. Poseidon will not permit it, +because thou hast blinded his son, Polyphemus. Still, thou mayest +overcome all difficulties and see Ithaca at last, if thou dost not +harm the cattle and fat sheep of the Sun on the island of Trinacria. + +"'But if thou dost kill them and eat of their flesh, I warn thee that +nothing will save thy comrades or thy ships. Even then thou mayest +be saved, but it will be on a strange ship, alone, and after dreadful +sufferings. And at home thou wilt find other misfortunes awaiting +thee. + +"'There will be a mob of lawless men rioting in thy house, squandering +thy riches, and trying to get thy wife to marry one of them. Thou +shalt kill these violent men in thy halls by craft or in open fight. +After that thou shalt reach a good and prosperous old age, and find +a peaceful death far away from the sea. All that I tell thee shall +surely happen.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI +ODYSSEUS CONVERSES WITH HIS MOTHER AND AGAMEMNON + + +"When Tiresias had gone, my mother came back to the dark trench and +drank of the blood. She knew me at once and cried out: 'Oh, my child, +how didst thou ever come down to this gloomy place alive? Art thou +on thy way home from Troy? And hast thou not seen Ithaca yet, nor +thy wife and child?' + +"I answered her: 'Dear mother, I was compelled to come down here in +order to consult the soul of the prophet Tiresias about my return; +for I have not yet touched foot to Grecian soil. I have been driven +about on strange seas from year to year, and have suffered misfortune +after misfortune. Oh, tell me, my mother, how didst thou die? Did +some lingering disease waste thy life, or didst thou meet a sudden, +painless death? + +"'Tell me of my father and of my son. Do they still hold rule over +Ithaca? Or has someone snatched it away from them, thinking I was +never to return? How fares my wife, Penelope? Is she still faithful +to the husband of her youth, or has she married another?' + +"To all this my mother answered: 'My son, Penelope is in the home +where thou didst leave her, and she weeps for thee day and night. +Nobody has usurped thy kingdom, and Telemachos has charge of thy royal +estates. But thy father dwells on thy farm, and shares the life of +the servants. He seldom goes down to the city. The grief he feels +for loss of thee has made him old, and will hasten his death, as it +caused mine, for I could not live without thee.' + +"So spake my mother, and I longed to clasp her to my heart. Three +times I threw my arms around her, and three times she passed through +them like a shadow. Then I cried out in sorrow: 'Oh, my dear mother! +why can I not clasp thee to my heart and hold thee in my arms, that +we may lose for a while our sense of loneliness and misery?' + +"My mother spoke and said: 'It is the lot of all our race when they +are dead. When life departs we have no bones and flesh, but the soul +flies off and flits about from one place to another. Hasten back to +the pleasant daylight, and when thou dost reach home tell thy wife +what I have said.' + +"When my mother had gone, I saw the soul of Agamemnon approaching, +together with the shades of those of his companions who had perished +with him. The moment he had drunk of the blood he knew me and raised +a loud wail. He stretched out his hands to me, and I tried to seize +them, but I clutched only the empty air. + +"Then I began to weep, too, and said to him: 'Famous son of Atreus, +King Agamemnon, tell me how thou didst die. Did Poseidon wreck thee +on the sea in a terrible storm, or didst thou fall in war, fighting +on the land?' + +"Whereupon the king told me the dire story of his home-coming and +his death at traitors' hands. 'When I trod my native soil again after +a long absence,' he said, 'I was overcome with joy at the thought +of seeing my wife and children once more. But I was slain in my own +home, and my wife did not even close my eyes as my soul came on its +way to these dark realms.' + +"I answered: 'Alas! how the gods must hate the family of Atreus on +account of the unfaithfulness of its women!' + +"Agamemnon replied: 'Oh, son of Laertes, thou art a fortunate man, +for thou hast a faithful wife. Penelope is wise and virtuous. I +remember, when we were ready to start for Troy she was a young wife +with a little babe in her arms, which she pressed to her bosom. He +must be a man now. Thou art a happy father. Thou wilt see thy son +at home in Ithaca. + +"'No such good fortune can ever come to me. My wife did not even let +me see my son before she slew me. Tell me about him, I beseech thee, +how he is. Does he still live in Sparta?' + +"'Son of Atreus,' I said, 'do not ask me where thy son is. I cannot +tell whether he is alive or not, and this is no time for idle +conjectures;' and we wept as I spoke." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII +CONVERSATION WITH ACHILLES AND OTHER HEROES + + +"While we were conversing thus, the shades of Achilles and Patroklos +came near. The soul of Achilles recognized me, and he said: 'Odysseus, +son of Laertes, how darest thou descend into the gloomy habitation +of the dead? This is the greatest labor thou hast undertaken.' + +"I answered: 'Godlike Achilles, I came here to consult the seer +Tiresias about my return to my own country, for I have never yet +reached Grecian soil, but have wandered about suffering great +misfortunes. No one is happier than thou art, O Achilles. When thou +wert alive all men honored thee as if thou wert a god, and now thou +art a king and rulest over the dead.' + +"Then he replied: 'Do not try to console me, Odysseus. I would rather +be the slave of a poor man, and in the light of the sun, than to be +in Hades and rule over all the dead. But tell me, Odysseus, how fares +my noble son? Does he fight in the wars, and is he in the front ranks? +And Peleus, my aged father, tell me of him. Is he still king of the +Myrmidons? Or do they hold him in contempt, now that he is old, and +I am not there to uphold him?' + +"I answered him: 'I know nothing about thy aged father, O Achilles, +but I have many things to tell thee about thy son. I brought him from +Skyros, myself, in a ship to Troy, and placed him in the Greek army. +There he surpassed everyone except Nestor and myself in the wisdom +of his advice, and when we went forth to battle he fought among the +foremost, slaying many illustrious foes. + +"'Above all, his powers shone forth when we were hidden in the wooden +horse. All the other leaders of the Greeks gave signs of fear. They +grew white and shed tears; but his face never turned pale, and no +tear came into his eyes. He called on me to leave the horse and rush +upon the foe, and he smote the Trojans, carrying death and destruction +among them. When we finally subdued the city, thy son took rich booty +and safely reached his own country.' + +"As soon as Achilles heard this news he rejoiced. He strode proudly +off over the field of Elysian asphodels, well pleased that he had +left such a mighty son on earth. + +"After Achilles had departed, many other souls came and talked with +me. Only the soul of Ajax kept aloof, still angry over a victory which +I gained near the ships when I took the weapons of Achilles as my +share of the booty. Little did that victory and the arms please me, +since they caused the grave to close over such a hero as Ajax. + +"I spoke to his soul in gentle words: 'Ajax, son of Telamon, did not +even death appease the anger against me which thou didst feel on +account of my receiving the arms that brought such a calamity upon +the Greeks? For thou wast our tower of strength, and the weapons proved +fatal to thee. Come nearer and speak to me, for I bewail thy death.' +I spoke soothingly yet Ajax gave no answer. His spirit vanished away +among the other spirits. + +"Then I beheld Minos, the lawgiver of Crete, who held a golden sceptre +in his hand and judged the dead. He had under him the great wrong-doers +of one part of Hades. With him I saw Tantalos, who stood in a pool +of water, suffering at the same time a painful thirst. As often as +he tried to put his lips to the water it sank down away from him so +that he could not reach it. + +"I saw Sisyphos, also, who suffered great punishment, for he rolled +a large rock uphill with both hands, straining every muscle of his +body to the utmost to move it. No sooner had he pushed it to the top +of the hill than it rolled back with deafening noise to the bottom +of the valley. Again the unfortunate man toiled to move it upward, +the sweat covering his body and clouds of dust hovering over his head. + +"Then I saw the shade of Herakles, but the hero himself sits among +the gods on Mount Olympos. And there came myriads of souls, making +a terrible noise, which filled me with dread, lest I might look upon +the Gorgon, and I hastened back to the ship. I ordered the crew to +go on board, and they took their oars and rowed until we reached the +open sea, where favorable winds caught by the sails wafted us back +to Circ's isle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO THE ISLAND OF CIRC + + +"When we reached Circ's isle, we dragged our vessel up on to the +beach, and lay down to sleep on the shore. At break of day I sent +my comrades forth to bring the body of Elpenor from the palace. We +took it out to a rocky place on the shore, and cut down trees to build +a funeral pyre. There we burned the body and performed the funeral +rites, and we built a tomb and placed an oar at the top of it. + +"All this was done quietly, but Circ saw us and came with her maids, +bringing a generous supply of food and wine. Standing in our midst, +she said: 'Brave men, who living have gone down to Hades, all men +die once, but you are permitted to die twice. Take food, eat and drink +all day long, and to-morrow at daylight depart for your native land. +I will show you the way and teach you how to avoid all danger.' + +"We spent the whole day on the shore, eating and drinking, but when +the sun sank down and the earth was covered with darkness my companions +went near the ship to seek rest. But I sat down by Circ, who questioned +me about my visit to Hades. After I had told her everything, she said: +'Odysseus, so far all is well, but there are a great many new dangers +ahead. Listen carefully to what I say. First, thou must pass the Sirens, +who bewitch with their melodious voices all who listen to them. Woe +to him who allows his ship to go near them! He will never reach his +native land, or see his wife and children again. The Sirens sit in +a green field and sing, while the bones of dead men lie in heaps near +them. Do not listen to them, but pass them by unnoticed. + +"'Or, if thou wouldst enjoy the matchless singing and not pay the +forfeit with thy life, let thy men bind thee hand and foot to the +mast of thy ship, so that thou canst not by any effort stir a limb +when the great longing seizes thee. And give thy men strict orders +to make thy bonds tighter shouldst thou entreat them to loose thee. +Before thou art bound, thou shalt knead soft wax in thy palms and +fill the ears of thy companions with it, that no sound may enter. + +"'Thence thou wilt come to the narrows where Skylla and Charybdis +dwell. On each side of the narrows is a steep cliff, one of which +is so high that its sharp top reaches the sky. It is so slippery that +no one is able to climb up or down its sides, nor could he if he had +twenty hands and feet. Not even a bird can safely perch on it. + +"'No boat has ever come to the spot and left it without being wrecked, +except Jason's, when he was in search of the Golden Fleece, and he +escaped because a goddess was his guide, to pilot him through. A dark +gray fog forever broods over the head of the cliff, and on its western +side there yawns a fearful cave, where Skylla lives. + +"'She is a terrible monster that barks like a savage dog, day and +night. She has twelve shapeless feet, and six heads set on long necks. +Each of her mouths shows three rows of deadly teeth. Half of her body +is hidden in the rock, but she thrusts out her heads and snatches +her prey, fish, whales, dolphins, or men. No sailor escapes, or, +indeed, any living creature that passes that way. + +"'The other cliff is not so high, but is still more dangerous. There, +under the foliage of a wild fig-tree, Charybdis dwells, who sucks +in the dark waters of the sea three times a day and belches them forth +again three times with a terrible noise. Woe to thee if thou art near +when she sucks the waters down, for not even Poseidon himself could +save thee. It would be better far to steer close to Skylla, for then +only six of thy men would be snatched from the benches, but if +Charybdis seizes thy ship all must perish. + +"'These pests are immortal. Do not try to overcome them. They cannot +die. It is better to fly from them with all haste. It would be rashness +and not courage to attack them. + +"'Next in thy voyage thou wilt come to the island of Trinacria, where +the fine flocks of Helios are feeding. Two shining nymphs, daughters +of the Sun, tend them. There are seven herds of oxen and seven herds +of sheep, fifty in each herd and flock. These creatures are immortal, +and greatly beloved of Helios, who will send destruction to thy ship +and crew if any harm come to them. Forbid thy men to touch the cattle, +even though suffering for food. If thou art wise enough to escape +these dangers, thou shalt reach thy home without further mischance.' + +"As the goddess finished, day broke. Circ sought her own dwelling, +while we put to sea with a favorable wind, and soon the island faded +from our sight." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV +ODYSSEUS MEETS THE SIRENS, SKYLLA, AND CHARYBDIS + + +"When I saw that we were near the home of the Sirens, I said to my +men: 'It is not wise that only one of us should know the oracles of +Circ, and I will tell you all she said to me, that ye may escape +from the perils before us; and I disclosed her sayings to them. Then +I took a handful of wax and warmed it in the sun until it was soft, +and carefully clogged up their ears. + +"They, in turn, tied me to the mast, hand and foot, so firmly that +I could not stir a limb, having first received my command that they +should not loose my bonds on any account. Then they bent to their +oars, and rowed close to the Sirens, so that they could see me and +I could hear their bewitching songs. + +"'Come to us, O renowned Odysseus,' they sang; 'pride of the Greeks, +come and listen to our voices. No one ever yet passed us without +stopping and admiring our sweet songs. Come, that we may sing to thee +about Troy and thy friends, for we know everything that is going on +in the whole world.' + +"Thus they sang, and their songs thrilled me. A great desire came +over me to stop and listen to them, and with nods I entreated my +comrades to set me free. But they sprang up and bound other cords +about me, so that I struggled in vain. Then all the men plied their +oars until the water was white with foam, and when we were out of +sight of the island and could no longer hear the songs of the Sirens, +my men set me free, and I took the wax from their ears. + +"Hardly had we escaped from the Sirens when we beheld a black fog +and towering waves and heard a frightful noise. My men were so scared +that the oars fell from their hands and the ship stood still. I +hastened from one end of the boat to the other, speaking cheerful +words to each rower. 'My dear friends,' I said, 'have no fear. This +is not the first time we have encountered danger. We have been saved +from the hands of the Cyclops through our own valor and clever devices, +and we are not going to break down now. Listen, and I will tell you +what is to be done. Keep your seats and ply your oars with all your +might; but thou, O helmsman, steer thy ship clear of that fog and +the whirling waves.' Thus I spoke, and they willingly obeyed my words. + +"Yet I said nothing to them about Skylla, lest they should lose heart +and hide in the bottom of the ship. Thus we passed in between the +two cliffs, the one of which harbored Skylla and the other Charybdis, +who, with a terrible noise, swallowed the brine of the sea and belched +it out again with a roar like the mingling of fire and water. + +"But I forgot the command of Circ to fly from these monsters without +fighting. I put on my shining armor and took a spear in each hand, +and went on deck, and stood in warlike attitude ready to attack Skylla +if she should raise a hand to seize one of my men. I looked for a +long time, but I could not see her. + +"We sailed on, the uproar increasing. My men grew white with fear. +The salt waters whirled so that we could look into a deep watery pit +and see the blue sand. The rocks were hidden by a thick mist. Suddenly +Skylla thrust forth a mighty hand and snatched six of my brave men, +as a fisherman pulls out fish with a hook. I saw their hands +outstretched toward me as they were lifted up into the air, and I +heard their cries for help. Woe is me! This sight will haunt me as +long as I have life." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV +ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF HELIOS + + +"When we had escaped from the terrible Skylla and Charybdis, we came +to the island of Helios, the island of the Sun, and heard from afar +the lowing of the cattle and the bleating of the sheep. Then I +remembered the words of Tiresias and Circ, and I advised my +companions not to land there at all, but to go right on, lest we suffer +some new disaster. + +"My crew would not listen to me. They commanded me to land on the +isle. I then made them take an oath not even to look at any of the +cattle. We prepared our evening meal, and when it was over we talked +of our dear companions whom Skylla had devoured, and we mourned over +them until we fell asleep. + +"We remained a whole month on this island, on account of unfavorable +winds. We found the roomy grot where the nymphs danced, and the seats +where they sat--the nymphs who tended the flocks of Helios. + +"As long as we had a plenty of bread and wine my comrades were satisfied +and spared the cattle. But when our store of food was exhausted they +roamed all over the island to see what they could get to appease their +hunger. They snared birds and caught fish with hooks, and lived on +them or anything else that came to hand. But they grew poor and lean +with hunger and nearly starved. I went off alone into the island, +where I had found a quiet nook, and sent up prayers to the gods to +show us the way out of our difficulties. There I fell asleep. + +"While I slumbered, Eurylochos called my men together, and said: 'All +kinds of death are bad enough, my brave friends, but death by +starvation is the worst. Let us kill the best of these cattle and +offer sacrifices to the gods, and then eat and live. If we ever get +to Ithaca we will make restitution, for we will build altars to the +Sun and place costly gifts upon his shrine. But if it is his will +to destroy us in his anger, then let us die amid the billows of the +deep, for that is better than to die by famine.' + +"Thus spoke Eurylochos, and the others lent a willing ear. They seized +the best of the cattle at once, and slaughtered them, and prepared +a hearty meal. They offered up petitions to the gods, standing round +their victims with young oak-leaves in their hands. Then they covered +the thighs with caul, and laid slices of fat over these, and poured +on water and roasted it until it was consumed. All the rest was cut +into smaller portions and scorched on iron prongs. + +"At this moment I awoke and hurried down to the ship, and with horror +found the dreadful meal prepared. One of the nymphs, immortal +shepherdess, flew to the Sun to tell him that my men had slain his +cattle. Helios was deeply angered, and spoke thus before the assembled +gods: 'Father Zeus and all ye immortal gods, behold the comrades of +Odysseus! They have slaughtered my heifers, which gladdened my heart +as I went up to heaven and down to earth. + +"'If they do not pay me well for this great wrong, I shall go down +among the dead and give them light, but I will give no light to the +living.' 'Shine on, O Sun, in the bright sky,' said Zeus, 'for I will +cut their ship to pieces with a thunder-bolt, as it tosses on a black +sea.' I could only chide my comrades. I could not think of any +sufficient redress, for the cattle were dead. + +"And here happened a wonder which amazed my comrades. The skins of +the dead animals crawled over the ground, and the flesh lowed as they +had done when alive. Nevertheless, my companions continued to kill +and eat the best oxen in the herds for six days, when a favorable +wind sprang up, and we went on board and set sail once more. + +"After we had lost sight of land, and nothing was before us but sky +and sea, a sudden darkness shrouded the heavens, and there arose a +violent storm. The vessel was hurled hither and thither by the +towering billows; the hurricane tore the sails and dashed the mast +against the pilot's head, crushing the bones, and he was cast headlong +into the sea. + +"Then Zeus sent a thunder-bolt into the ship, and broke it nearly +in two. The boat was filled with a sulphurous smoke, and my comrades +were shaken off into the sea and drowned. They floated round me, but +I moved about in the ship until the bottom and the sides had broken +away from each other and the mast had snapped off at its base. I took +the mast, which had a thong of bull's-hide round it, and tied it to +the keel. I took my seat upon this frail craft, and the storm whirled +me about. + +"After awhile the west wind ceased, and the south wind began to blow, +which was still worse for me, since it took me back to dread Charybdis. +All night long I was tossed on the waves, and at dawn I drew near +to Charybdis. As the monster was swallowing the salt brine, I caught +hold of the fig-tree and clung to it like a bat till she should throw +up my poor raft. I waited long, but at last the timbers were thrown +out of the whirlpool, and I dropped down upon them, and sat on them +and rowed with my hands. I floated about on the waters for nine long +days, and on the tenth I came to Calypso's island. She welcomed me, +and detained me seven years, as I have already told thee, O Aret, +and why should I repeat a tale already narrated?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI +THE DEPARTURE OF ODYSSEUS FROM THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA + + +All the guests had listened with deep attention to the recital of +Odysseus; all were greatly interested, and when he ended they did +not stir or speak a word. Alkinos was the first to break the silence, +and he said: "Renowned Odysseus, since thou hast come to our country, +I hope that thy sufferings are at an end and that thou wilt reach +thy native land safely and soon." Then the King turned to his guests +and addressed them: "Phacians, let us each present one more gift, +a large tripod and a vase, to the hero who has come among us." + +The Phacians received his words approvingly, and each went at once +to his home to sleep. But when morning came they all sent their gifts +to the ship, where they were packed carefully under the benches by +the King himself, and the guests returned to the palace, where a +banquet was spread for them. + +Alkinos sacrificed an ox to Zeus, and they sat down at the table. +The enjoyment ran high, and the old poet, Demodokos, sang sweet songs. +They feasted all day, and when the sun was near its setting Odysseus +said: "King Alkinos, let us pour out the last libation and offer +up the last prayer, for all things have come to pass that my soul +desired. May the gods bless thy gifts. May I find my home, my wife +and child, and friends. I pray the gods to grant thee all that is +good, and may no evil ever befall thy land. Be pleased to send me +hence, and fare thee well." + +Thus he spoke, right glad that the day was done and eager to set sail. +The people approved his timely words, and seizing their goblets they +poured out wine on to the ground, an offering to the gods, and they +wished godspeed to their guest. Odysseus arose and placed a goblet +in the hands of the Queen, addressing her thus: "Farewell, O Queen, +I wish thee a long and happy life, a peaceful old age down to the +grave, from which no one may escape; rejoice in the possession of +thy home, thy people, thy children, and the King, thy husband." + +So spoke Odysseus, and left the hall. The King sent a herald to show +him the way to the port where the ship was waiting for him. At the +same time Aret also sent down some maids, who carried a new cloak +and tunic, a well-wrought coffer full of gifts, and an abundance of +food for the journey. + +These things the crew took from their hands and stowed away in the +hold of the vessel. They spread a nice bed for him on the deck, where +he might sleep quietly. When every thing was ready, Odysseus embarked, +and the sailors slipped the cables and took their seats at the oars. +Odysseus fell into a deep, sweet slumber, but the ship flew forward +faster than a bird could fly, making rapid headway toward the island +of Ithaca. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII +ODYSSEUS ARRIVES AT ITHACA + + +When the morning star arose the ship reached Ithaca. It entered a +harbor called Phorkys, where there was a grotto sacred to the nymphs, +and it was shaded at the entrance by an olive-tree. Stone vases stood +around in the grotto, and there bees had stored up honey. The nymphs +spun their fine thread from stone spindles there, and wove their +sea-purple robes. Springs of cool water flowed through the grotto, +and there was an entrance for mortals and one which was kept holy +for the gods. + +When the ship touched the beach the sailors disembarked and carried +the sleeping Odysseus on a rug on to the shore and laid him down. +They brought his presents also from under the ship's benches and laid +them under the olive-tree, a short distance from the road, for fear +that some evil-minded person would take them before Odysseus woke +up. + +Then the crew sailed homeward, but Poseidon saw them and was angry +because his purpose to cause Odysseus endless suffering had been +thwarted. He at once complained to Zeus that the Phacians had +restored Odysseus to his native land, with gifts finer and more +valuable than anything he could have brought from Troy. Zeus listened +to his complaint and gave him authority to destroy the Phacian boat +and its crew. Poseidon promptly repaired to the island of Scheria, +and when the ship came in sight of the town he transformed it into +a towering rock, that it might hide the island from mariners and the +Phacians would no longer be tempted to escort strangers to their +homes. + +The ship had gone, and it was broad daylight when Odysseus awoke. +He did not recognize his own country, he had been away from it for +such a long time, and besides that, Athena had spread a dense fog +over it. His first thought was that the Phacians had deceived him +and left him on an unknown shore. He began to accuse them of treachery, +and prayed to Zeus to punish them. He looked around and found that +his gifts had been carefully placed, so he knew that he had not been +robbed. He counted his gifts and examined them. + +There were tripods and vases of gold and brass and beautiful +hand-woven garments. He paced up and down the shore and wept and wailed +aloud. Then Athena appeared to him disguised as a shepherd lad. + +When Odysseus saw her, he hastened to her and said: "Hail, fair youth! +I am a stranger and find myself for the first time in this place. +I entreat thee to tell me the name of this country, and what kind +of people inhabit it." The goddess answered him: "Truly, stranger, +thou must come from a far-off land that thou dost not know Ithaca, +which is known from the rising to the setting of the sun. + +"It is indeed a stony island but it is not barren, nor is it a good +place for raising horses. It is rich in grain and grapes. It has an +abundance of dew and rain, and most delicious wine is made here. +Nowhere can be found handsomer goats or finer cattle. Every kind of +tree grows in its forests, and its springs are never dry. The fame +of Ithaca has reached even as far as Troy itself which, I am told, +lies far from Hellas." + +Odysseus was overjoyed to find that he was in his own country. But +he did not venture to tell his name to the shepherd, nor whence he +came. Instead of that he told a long story that he came from Crete, +which he had been obliged to leave because he had killed the King's +son, who had robbed him. + +Athena smiled and, assuming the form of a beautiful woman, took him +by the hand and said: "Thou crafty man, why dost thou tell such lies? +Dost thou not know Athena, daughter of Zeus, who has protected thee +everywhere and saved thee from all danger? I have just come again +to assist thee in hiding thy treasures and to tell thee what thou +must encounter in thine own palace. But thou must not repeat anything +which I tell thee, nor make thyself known to any man or woman. And +thou must bear many indignities in silence until the right time comes, +for there are many violent men in thy halls." + +Odysseus's heart was filled with joy. He knelt down and kissed the +soil of his native land. "Tell me, is it true," he said, "that I am +in my own beloved Ithaca? I pray thee, goddess, do not jest with me." + +"Thy native land! Such ever is thy thought," answered the goddess. +"Any other man would have hastened with all speed to his wife and +home. But thou must wait and come not at once into the presence of +Penelope. She sits within thy palace, weeping night and day because +thou dost not come. Hide thy gifts here in this grotto, and I will +tell thee what to do next." + +With a glad heart Odysseus saluted the nymphs of the cave and spring: +"Hail to you, nymphs of my native land, daughters of Zeus! I thought +I should never see you again. I shall bring you rich gifts in days +to come, if it please Athena to keep me from harm." After he had carried +the presents into the grotto and carefully hidden them, he sat down +with the goddess among the gnarled roots of the olive-tree, and they +laid plots to destroy Penelope's impudent suitors. Athena told him +about the trouble they had caused her; how they had established +themselves in her own home, trying to win her for a wife. For three +years the noble Penelope had kept these arrogant men in suspense, +deluded with empty hopes, while she waited for her husband's return. +When Odysseus heard these words he was greatly disturbed, and said: +"Woe is me! I might have been slain in my own home but for these timely +words. Now I am forearmed. Stand by me, I pray, in my great need, +and give me strength to meet my enemies. If thou art my helper, I +can resist, single-handed, three hundred foes." + +"Take courage," said the goddess. "But to carry out our plans I must +change thee to a miserable old man with a wrinkled face and clad in +ragged garments, so that no one can recognize thee. + +"Then must thou go to thy faithful swineherd, Eumaios, who loves thy +wife and child and thy whole house. + +"Thou wilt find him as he feeds the swine on acorns in a field near +the mountain, Korax, and the spring, Arethusa. He will tell thee all +the doings in thy house. Meantime I will take my way to Sparta. +Telemachos, thy son, is there. He went to visit Menelaos and try to +find out if there were any news of thee. I will call him to return +to Ithaca." + +The goddess touched Odysseus with her magic wand. At once he shrank +and withered into a wrinkled, shabby, old beggar. Then she gave him +a staff and a tattered sack and sent him to his loyal swineherd while +she took her way to Sparta. + +[Illustration: ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII +ODYSSEUS SEEKS THE SWINEHERD + + +Odysseus left the haven by a narrow stony path and took his way to +the dwelling of his faithful swineherd, who thought more of the +welfare of his master than did all the rest of the servants whom +Odysseus had. He found him seated in the yard which he himself had +made of stone for the swine of the absent King, and had enclosed with +a thick hedge of thorns. He had driven strong posts of oak around +it, also. Inside the yard he had made twelve sties, and in each sty +there were fifty sows with their little ones. The males were kept +outside and were fewer in number, for Eumaios was compelled to send +a very fat one to the suitors every day, and therefore there were +only eighteen score. + +Near them were four large savage dogs as guards. They were more like +wolves than dogs. Eumaios was busy making a pair of sandals from an +ox-hide, for his own use. The other swineherds had gone on errands, +three of them to drive pigs to pasture, while the fourth had taken +a hog to the suitors in the city. + +When the dogs saw Odysseus they barked and rushed upon him, and they +would have torn him to pieces, but Eumaios drove them off with stones +and said: "Thou poor old man, the dogs came very near tearing thee +limb from limb, and that would have been a great shame and sorrow +to me. + +"The gods have already sent me trouble enough. Here I sit weeping +and mourning for my beloved master, and take care of his swine in +order that strangers may eat them. Who knows where he may be wandering +as a beggar among people who speak another tongue? But come, old man, +let us go into my lodge and eat, and then thou mayest tell me who +thou art and what misfortunes thou hast suffered." + +Odysseus followed the swineherd into the cabin. Eumaios threw an +armful of rushes on the floor and covered it with a rug of goat-skin +and bade his guest be seated. + +Odysseus was gratified at this kind reception, and said to the +swineherd: "May Zeus and all the other immortal gods give thee, my +host, all the good of earth for thy hospitality." + +The good swineherd answered him: "My guest, I should consider it a +great sin not to receive a stranger hospitably, even if he looked +more miserable than thou. Strangers and beggars are children of Zeus. +The hospitality I can extend to thee is slight but sincere, for +servants have little to offer, especially when, like me, they have +new masters. Odysseus loved me much. Would that the gods might send +him back to us. He would have paid me for my toil. He would have given +me a home, a little land, and a wife. But he is dead. May the whole +race of Helen be destroyed, for it was she who brought noble men to +destruction." + +The swineherd drew his belt around him and hastened to the pen where +the pigs were shut up. He seized two little pigs and slew them and +roasted them on a spit over the fire. He sprinkled salt over the savory +meat and brought it to Odysseus. And he brought delicate wine in a +wooden cup, as well. + +Then he said: "Eat, stranger, for this is the best I have to give. +The suitors, who fear neither god nor man, eat the fat hogs. They +gorge themselves with the costliest food in the house, both wine and +meat, and only these little lean porkers are left for us. Yet there +is still an abundance, for my master was very rich. He had twelve +herds of horned cattle and as many swine on the mainland, and twelve +flocks of sheep and goats. Here, on the island, graze eleven flocks +of goats, tended by as many trusty herdsmen, each of whom has to send +a fattened goat for the table of the suitors every day. As for myself, +I take care of these swine, and each day I choose the best to send +to the city." + +Odysseus ate the flesh and drank the wine while Eumaios was telling +him these things, and could hardly keep from giving vent to his anger. +But he kept silence and meditated vengeance on the suitors. When the +meal was done he said: "Tell me, I pray thee, all about thy rich and +kind master. Thou didst say that he went out with Agamemnon to fight +the Trojans. Perhaps I know him and can give thee some information +concerning him." + +The noble swineherd answered: "Be silent, aged man, for we have ceased +to believe the tales told us by wanderers. Every beggar who comes +this way calls on my mistress and tells her falsehoods about seeing +Odysseus, and tries to make her think that he will come home in a +short time. Then she treats him kindly and loads him with gifts. + +"How shall we know but thou dost make up just such a story in order +to receive a tunic and a mantle? It is a fact that my master does +not return. Who knows on what spot of the earth his bones are +mouldering, or what dogs and birds have devoured him? I shall never +cease to grieve for him. He loved me as he would have loved a son. +I shall never find such a kind master again. Even my father and mother +were not so good to me. Although he will never be with us any more, +I keep on doing his will." + +[Illustration: THE SWINEHERD TELLING HIS STORY TO ODYSSEUS] + +Odysseus replied: "Thou dost see that I am half naked for want of +clothing, but I will never take a reward, even though I am in rags, +until Odysseus is really here. I hate the wretch who tells lies to +enrich himself as I hate death. I call Zeus to witness, and this +hospitable board and the hearth of Odysseus, that what I tell thee +will come true. Odysseus will be here at the end of this month, and +he will be avenged on those men who have robbed him and insulted his +wife and son." + +"And yet I will not give thee any reward for thy news, old man," said +Eumaios, "for Odysseus is dead. He will never come again. Drink in +peace and let us talk of other things. Do not take this great oath, +as much as we wish--Laertes, Penelope, Telemachos, and I--that +Odysseus might come. But now, as if we had not troubles enough, a +new one has come upon us. I know not what evil demon put it into the +mind of Telemachos to go to Sparta to inquire about his father. And +the ungodly suitors have sent out a ship to watch for him, and kill +him on his return. We shall lose him, too, if Zeus does not hold a +protecting hand over him. + +"But tell me, dear old man, from what country dost thou come? Who +are thy parents? Tell me of thy toils and sufferings." + +The time had not yet come when Odysseus thought it best to reveal +himself. He wanted to stay with the swineherd until his son should +return, and he had had the opportunity of making the best plan for +ridding his house of the suitors. So he told the swineherd a long +string of stories. He said he was a son of the King of Crete; that +he went to Troy, where he met Odysseus and fought by his side. +Returning, he wandered about, and, after many adventures, met +Odysseus again getting ready to return to Ithaca. As for himself, +he had been robbed even to his clothing and cast on this island. + +He told the tale so well that the swineherd believed him, and even +killed a fat hog in his honor. And he made him welcome to his lodge +and prepared a good bed for him near the fire, and covered him with +goat-skins. The night was cold and damp, and a cutting wind was blowing +outside. The other servants lay down near Odysseus to sleep, but +Eumaios took a sharp sword and thick mantle and went out near the +pens to watch the swine all night. Odysseus saw with gratitude how +faithfully this servant attended to his duty. + + + + +PART III +THE TRIUMPH OF ODYSSEUS + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX +ATHENA ADVISES TELEMACHOS + + +At the time when Odysseus was wrecked, after his comrades had eaten +of the cattle of Helios, and he was cast up on to the island of Calypso, +Athena prayed to Zeus, her mighty sire, that he might be restored +to Ithaca, his native land. She prayed that Hermes, the messenger +of the gods, might be sent to Calypso with the express command that +she should send Odysseus home. Zeus smiled and granted the request. + +Then Athena tied golden sandals under her feet and taking a long, +heavy spear, she rushed like a whirlwind down from the heights of +Olympos and stood at the doorway of Odysseus' house, among the men +of Ithaca. She found the haughty suitors assembled there eating and +drinking. + +Telemachos saw the goddess before anyone else. She was disguised to +resemble Mentor, a wise chief who had led the Taphians in the Trojan +war. Telemachos rose at once, like a gracious host, and took the right +hand of the stranger and gave him a hearty welcome. Athena saw with +anger how the ungodly wooers ate and drank and rioted gluttonously, +while the servants of Telemachos were obliged to administer to their +wants. Some of them were kept mixing the wines and water in large +craters; others had to clear and clean the tables, and others again +prepared and carved the meats and carried them round to the suitors. + +Telemachos led the stranger away from this noisy hall, that he might +not be annoyed by their boisterous behavior. He bade him sit down +on a throne, and placed a foot-stool under his feet. Then he drew +his own chair from among the suitors and sat near the stranger, hoping +to hear news of his absent father. A maid brought a silver pitcher +and basin and let the stranger wash his hands. A table was placed +before him, laden with the choicest viands, while a herald filled +a goblet with wine for him. When they had enjoyed their meal, +Telemachos asked the stranger his name and country. + +"I am Mentor, son of the Taphian King," said Athena. "I came here +in my ship with a crew of friends, on a journey to the Isle of Cyprus, +in search of copper, and I brought iron to give in exchange. I am +an old friend of Odysseus. I have left my ship in the bay, back of +the forest. Laertes will tell thee who I am. It is said that he does +not come to the palace any more, but lives alone in the country, +mourning over the loss of his son day and night. It seems that the +gods have long delayed Odysseus. Who knows where he is? I am sure +that he is not dead. And now tell me, what feast is going on here, +and who are these men? Are they invited guests? Is it a banquet I +see, or is there to be a wedding? It is not a pleasant sight in any +case, for the men are coarse in their actions and ungodly in their +speech. Every friend of Odysseus must feel sad to see them in this +place." + +"As long as my father was here," answered Telemachos, "our house was +respectable and rich. But the gods have forsaken us, and we are +destined to destruction. No news of my father's death has ever reached +us; nevertheless, all the young men of the first families of Ithaca +and the surrounding isles flock to our house and seek my mother for +a wife and squander my father's riches. My mother does not favor the +idea of another marriage, and has not promised herself to any of the +suitors. She fears them, and so she does not reject their suits, yet +she will not end the trouble by marrying one of them. They will not +go away, but make themselves at home here and eat up my inheritance. +They only want a favorable opportunity to kill me." + +Athena grew angry at this, and said: "I would that Odysseus might +come this very moment to chastise these atrocious fellows. Woe to +them if he should appear at the door with his helmet and shield and +two tough spears, just as he looked when I first beheld him in my +own home. Then these suitors would find a bitter marriage-feast and +a speedy end. Vengeance, however, rests with the gods. + +"Now, let me consider the best way to get these suitors out of the +house. As an old friend of thy father, let me advise thee. To-morrow +call thy people together in council and tell the suitors to depart. +If thy mother has any inclination to wed again, send her to her +father's house. He is rich and powerful, and can give her a splendid +wedding, such as is suitable for the daughter of a king, and bestow +an ample dower. + +"Then launch thy finest ship. Man it with twenty good oarsmen and +put out to sea in search of thy father. Sail to Pylos first and consult +with Nestor, and go to Sparta next and see Menelaos, who has returned +from Troy recently. Stay with him awhile if he can assure thee that +thy father lives. But if he tells thee that thy father is surely dead, +return as quickly as possible and build a mound to him, and cause +the altar to be piled high with sacrifices and the funeral games to +take place. Then let thy mother marry again. + +"Thou art no longer a child, and it is not seemly to allow such +indignities. Be brave and act without fear, that men may honor thee. +When thou hast performed these deeds, let thy care be to drive out +the suitors. But now I must return to my ship, for my companions will +be uneasy over my long absence." + +"Thou hast spoken to me as a father speaks to a son," answered +Telemachos. "I shall bear thy words in mind. And now I pray thee stay +awhile to rest and bathe. I cannot let thee go to thy ship without +some handsome gift, such as one always bestows upon an honored guest." + +"Telemachos, do not detain me longer," replied Athena. "I must depart +at once. Keep thy gift until I return, and then I will take it to +my home." She vanished as she spoke, and all that Telemachos saw was +a fleet-winged bird flying upward high in the air. Telemachos was +astonished, and knew that he had been talking face to face with some +deity. He thought over all that the goddess had told him, and resolved +to do exactly as he had been instructed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX +TELEMACHOS ASTONISHES THE WOOERS + + +The feast continued. The wooers ate and drank but were silent, for +an illustrious bard was singing to them of the Trojan war. Telemachos +walked forth in the midst of them, his heart inspired with courage. +Penelope had heard the song as she sat in her chamber over the hall, +and she came down the lofty stairway attended by two maids. She +implored the bard, with tears to change the song, since it was the +one most sacred to her and made her sad. + +Then said Telemachos: "My mother, let thy heart be strong to bear +this song which all men love. The bard must sing the song with which +he is inspired. Retire now, I pray thee, to thy room, and take thy +maids with thee. There teach them to spin and weave--a task meet for +a princess. But leave to me the ordering of the feast and the care +of the suitors. Such a duty belongs to a man, and the authority is +mine." Penelope was amazed at his words. She withdrew to her own rooms +with her attendants and wept and mourned for her absent lord until +she fell asleep. + +When the minstrel had finished his song, the suitors began to be noisy +and riotous again. Telemachos could no longer restrain himself. "Ye +insolent suitors of my mother," he said to them, "cease your uproar. +Your lawlessness knows no bounds. To-morrow I will call a general +assembly of all the Ithacans and warn you to depart. If ye remain +in my house wasting my goods and eating food that is not your own +I will call down vengeance from the gods, and ye shall die in this +very palace." + +The suitors were astonished at his courage and his words. He had never +before spoken out with authority. Antinos and Eurymachos, the most +insolent of them, began to ridicule him and excite the others to make +fun of him. And they asked Telemachos what guest he had been +entertaining so secretly and what news he had brought from his father. +The suitors danced and sang, eating and drinking, until evening, +before they went home. + +Telemachos then sought his own couch. His old nurse, Eurycleia, led +the way with two torches. She had been a faithful servant since Laertes, +in his early manhood, had bought her for the price of a hundred oxen. + +Telemachos sat down on his bed, and removing his tunic handed it to +the nurse, who folded it and smoothed it and hung it up. He lay down +and covered himself with soft fleeces, while Eurycleia went out and +carefully locked the door. But sleep did not come to him. All night +he thought of what the coming day would bring. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI +PENELOPE'S WEB + + +The next morning, at dawn of day, Telemachos rose from his bed and +put on his garments. He hung his sword over his shoulder and fastened +his sandals on his feet and strode bravely forth. He summoned his +heralds at once and bade them call a council of the Ithacans. The +people came at the appointed time, and Telemachos, sceptre in hand, +took his place before the assembly and called it to order. + +"I have not summoned you, my friends," he said, "in order that ye +may see some entertaining show, but out of dire necessity. I bring +no news of war and I have nothing to say that concerns the public +good. You all know the grief which has befallen me on account of my +father, your king and leader, who loved you as a parent loves his +children. But Odysseus is gone and there is no hope of his return. +This misfortune is not enough, for every day the young men of the +leading families of Ithaca and the surrounding isles meet in my house +and vex my mother with unseemly and importunate offers of marriage. + +"There they are now installed, eating our food, drinking our wine, +and wasting our money, for Odysseus is not here to drive them out. +I have no way of expelling them from my home. My friends, consider +these wrongs and help me to drive these robbers from the house of +your king. It would be a shame to the people of Ithaca if it were +noised around that they left the son of their chief in the hands of +plunderers without giving him help." + +Thus spoke Telemachos, the tears running down his cheeks, and he threw +the sceptre on the ground. The people were greatly moved, and felt +pity for the youth who had to suffer such wrongs, but they were silent. +Only Antinos, the most insolent of the suitors, took up the word +and said: "Shameless Telemachos, how dost thou dare to chide us for +this state of things! Thy mother is the one to blame. She has been +leading us on for three whole years. She is skilful and crafty. She +promised, three years ago, to choose one of us for a husband as soon +as she should finish the winding-sheets for old Laertes in case of +his death. + +"Then she began to weave upon her loom a dainty web of vast length +and width. And she said to each one of us: 'Do not urge me to marry, +I pray, until I finish these shrouds for the hero Laertes, when his +hour of death shall come. I have spun an abundance of fine thread, +and it must not be wasted. Besides that, the dames of Greece would +speak ill of me if I should leave my husband's father without a shroud, +for he has had great wealth all his life.' In this way Penelope gave +us hope, and we were too generous to persist in forcing her to choose +at once. + +"She went on in this way, weaving the great web by day, and every +night she unravelled by torchlight all that she had woven by sunlight. +She has deceived us long enough. We have discovered her fraud; for +a woman who has seen her unravelling the web has told us all about +it. She must finish the work and make her choice among her suitors. +If thou dost wish us to leave thy house, thou shalt send thy mother +to her parents and let her father command her to marry one of us, +according to her choice. When this is done no one will disturb thee +any longer. + +"If, however, Penelope prefers to treat the noble sons of Greece with +such malice and craft, we will go right on consuming thy goods. She +will thus make a great name for herself, but she will impoverish thee." + +"I shall never send my mother away from her husband's house," rejoined +Telemachos. "Living or dead, my father is in distant lands, and if +I should dismiss his wife of my own will, I should invite the hatred +of the gods on my guilty head. She would call upon the Furies to haunt +me; all men would curse me; and her father would demand ample +satisfaction of me. I will never speak the word to send her forth. +Now, get you gone and cease squandering my riches or I will call down +the wrath of the gods on you." + +Having said this, Telemachos sat down, and Zeus sent two eagles flying +over the heads of the wooers, close to each other. They looked down +upon the crowd of people and tore each other's heads and vanished. +The Ithacans saw the deadly omen, and a venerable prophet among them +stood up and said: "Noble youths, I advise you seriously to depart +from this royal house, for this is a sign that Odysseus is coming +home. Woe to you if he finds you in his palace. You will all meet +a direful end." + +Eurymachos answered him: "Old man, keep thy advice and thy forebodings +for thine own children. We do not need them. Advise Telemachos to +change his mind and send his mother home to her father, instead of +prating foolishly to us. As long as he keeps her here we shall continue +to consume his wealth, until he has nothing left. And we will punish +thee severely if thou dost incite this young man to violence." + +Telemachos, thinking it best to be discreet, replied: "Now hear me, +Eurymachos, and all ye suitors. Give me a good ship and twenty men, +that I may go from land to land in search of my father. If I find +that he lives and may return, I will wait one year longer for him +to reach home. But if I hear that he is not alive, I will come back +and build a mound to his memory and give him a funeral worthy of such +a king. Then shall my mother make her choice and wed." + +Mentor, the stanch friend and adviser of Odysseus, sat among the +Ithacans in the assembly. When he saw how Telemachos was put to shame, +he grew angry. He rose to his feet, and addressed the people: "No +king ever again should be wise and good. He should be hard and unjust, +since no one of you has enough love for Odysseus to stand by his son. +I am less ashamed of the impudent suitors, than I am of the weaklings +who see what they are doing and who dare not interfere." + +"Foolish old Mentor," said one of the suitors, "what art thou saying! +If Odysseus, himself, should come hither, he would not be able to +drive us out. If anyone thinks himself strong enough to do it, let +him try it. Ye Ithacans disperse to your homes, and leave Mentor to +provide the boy with a ship." So saying he dispersed the crowd, and +the wooers all went into the palace to continue their revelry. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII +THE JOURNEY OF TELEMACHOS + + +Telemachos left the assembly and went down to the sea-shore alone, +and washing his hands in the surf called on the goddess who had +appeared to him the day before to come to his assistance. At once +Athena stood by his side in the guise and with the voice of Mentor. +She urged him to hasten his journey. Telemachos took new courage, +and returned at once to his house where he found his old nurse, +Eurycleia, alone. He revealed to her his intention, and asked her +to assist him in getting everything ready for the journey. He bade +her draw twelve jars of the best wine, and twelve skins of the finest +meal to put aboard the ship. + +When the old nurse heard this she wept and beat her breast. "Dear +child," she said, "who has put such a thought into thy mind? Why +shouldst thou, an only son and well beloved, wander off to a distant +land? Be warned by what thy father had to suffer because he left his +own country. The suitors will plot to kill thee and divide thy wealth. +Stay here, at home; there is no need that thou shouldst venture over +the fearful sea." + +Telemachos answered her: "Take courage, my good nurse; this journey +is advised of a god. Do not let my mother know of my departure for +eleven or twelve days, lest she weep and mourn." + +The nurse promised most solemnly that she would keep his secret and +execute his orders. She drew the wine into the jars and filled the +strong skins with meal. Meantime, Athena, blue-eyed goddess, taking +the form of Telemachos, went through the city and urged the men to +repair to the ships at sundown, for she had chosen the best boats +in Ithaca for the youth, and found for him a crew that was glad to +serve him. + +Then the blue-eyed maid went to the palace and poured sleep upon the +eyelids of the drunken suitors. They gladly sought their beds in their +own homes. Taking the form of Mentor, she next appeared to Telemachos +and bade him follow her to the beach. When they reached the galley, +he found his comrades waiting. They hurried up to the palace for the +wine and meal, which they soon brought to the ship and stored in the +hold. Then the crew slipped the cables which held the ship to the +shore. Athena took her seat at the stern and Telemachos sat near her. +The sails were spread and the sailors began to ply their oars. Athena +raised a favorable breeze and the vessel glided forward cutting her +way through the roaring waters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII +TELEMACHOS IN PYLOS + + +At sunrise the ship arrived at Pylos. The people of that town were +all assembled on the shore, where they were sacrificing coal-black +oxen to Poseidon. Some were burning fat upon the altar, and others +were distributing food among those who were offering up the sacrifices, +while all were eating. + +The Ithacans touched land. Telemachos and Athena disembarked, +leaving the crew to guard the ship, and went up to the crowd. On the +way Athena cheered Telemachos and advised him what to say to the people. +When they had come near enough to the inhabitants to be seen by them, +the people rose and came to meet the strangers. First of all, the +son of Nestor, Peisistratos, approached and took each of them by the +hand and led them to the feast. He bade them be seated near his father +and brought them the choicest meat. + +After the strangers had eaten, Peisistratos filled a golden goblet +with wine, and handed it to Mentor, as the elder. Mentor was pleased +with the young man's good breeding and he took the goblet and poured +out a part of it on the ground as a sacrifice to Poseidon, with a +prayer for a safe return. Then he handed the goblet to Telemachos, +and he did likewise. + +When the feast was over, Nestor, the King of Pylos, said to his guests: +"The time has come, dear strangers, when it is fitting to ask your +names, and from what land you come. Do you roam the seas as pirates, +or do you come on an errand?" + +"We are Greeks," said Telemachos. "We come from Ithaca to seek tidings +of my father, the unfortunate Odysseus, who went to war against Troy +with thee and the other Greek chiefs. We have never heard anything +of him during all these long years and do not know whether he is living +or dead. I pray thee tell me anything thou may'st know about him, +and conceal nothing." + +"My son," Nestor replied, "thou dost call to mind the great sufferings +borne by the men of Greece ere we succeeded in conquering Priam's +town. It would take years to tell thee of the brave deeds of the Greeks, +how they fought and where they fell. We passed nine years in worrying +the enemy, and there was no man who gave better counsel or performed +nobler deeds than did Odysseus. Art thou then his son? I look on thee +in wonder. Yes, thou art like him. How strange to hear so young a +man speak as he did! + +"After the destruction of Troy, the surviving Greeks embarked, and +we set out for home. But when we reached Tenedos, thy father returned +to Troy to join Agamemnon and the others, who had stayed behind, to +appease the wrath of Athena, for a Greek had committed sacrilege in +her temple. + +"Our voyage was prosperous, and we all reached home except Menelaos, +who wandered about in Crete and Egypt for a long time. It is said +that the noble son of Achilles returned home safely, and that +Agamemnon was slain in his own house, and his son took vengeance on +his murderers. There is a rumor, too, that many suitors hang about +thy mother, and, in spite of thy remonstrances, consume thy riches. +Be brave, my son, and yield not. Odysseus may come again. Go at once +to Menelaos, for he may have news of thy father. I will give thee +swift horses and a chariot, and my sons will drive." + +All day Telemachos discoursed with Nestor, and when the sun went down, +they poured wine on the earth and burned an offering to the gods. +Telemachos and Mentor arose to retire to their ship, but Nestor begged +them to be his guests and go to the royal palace. Mentor, as the elder +of the two, excused himself, in order to join the crew, and suddenly +disappeared. Nestor recognized that Telemachos was attended by the +goddess, and offered a prayer to her. The assembly dispersed, and +Nestor, with his guest and his sons, retired to his palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV +TELEMACHOS IN SPARTA + + +Before the sun was fairly up, they all arose and seated themselves +on the smooth stone benches that loomed up in the gloaming, white +and shining, before the gates of the palace. Nestor bade one of his +sons to prepare an offering to Athena, of the best heifer in the fields. +He sent another son to call a skilled workman to plate the heifer's +horns with gold, and two others yet to bring the crew from the ship. +He told the remaining two sons to bid the maids prepare a sumptuous +feast in honor of their guest. + +In a moment there was a busy scene. The heifer was brought up from +the fields, and her horns were adorned with pure gold in hopes that +Athena would see it and be pleased. The sailors came from the ship, +except two who were left as guards. The heifer was slain and parts +were burned as an offering to the goddess, and cakes and wine also +were thrown into the flames to complete the sacrifice. They roasted +the flesh on long iron forks with five prongs, and feasted upon it. + +Then Nestor said to his sons: "Bring now the chariot and horses and +let our guest depart in search of news concerning his renowned +father." The horses were soon harnessed to the car, which was stored +with wine and bread and dainties fit for a prince. Telemachos climbed +into the seat. Peisistratos took his place beside him and grasped +the reins. The horses dashed off in high spirit, and Pylos was soon +left in the distance. All day the horses sped along. At night they +rested by the way and early the next morning went on again as swiftly +as before. As the sun went down they found themselves in Sparta, the +land of plenty, and at the gates of Menelaos, the king. + +Here they found many guests assembled at the wedding banquet of +Hermione, the daughter of Menelaos. That day she had been given as +a bride to Neoptolemos, the son of Achilles. A minstrel was playing +a harp and singing, while two dancers performed graceful feats to +give life to the feast. + +One of the attendants of Menelaos saw the strangers drive up, and +stepped out to see who was coming. Then he hastened back to Menelaos +and told him that two strangers of princely bearing were at the palace +gate, and asked if he should unharness their horses or send them on +their way. Menelaos was vexed that any of his servants should be so +lax in hospitality, and told him he had acted like a foolish child, +and reminded him of the gifts that had been showered on them when +they wandered so long in foreign lands. And he bade him hasten to +unharness the steeds, and give them oats and barley, and bid the +strangers welcome to the feast. + +Telemachos and Peisistratos were amazed at the beauty of the palace. +They bathed in the marble baths, rubbed themselves with oil and put +on the splendid tunics that were brought them. After that they entered +the great hall, where each was seated on a throne near the king. A +handmaid brought a golden pitcher and a silver bowl for their hands, +and a table was placed before them laden with choice food. When they +had eaten enough, golden beakers of wine were handed them, and then +the monarch gave his hand to each of them, saying: "Ye have come in +good time, my friends. As soon as ye have finished your feast, I will +ask your names and whence ye come, for ye look like sons of kings." + +As they sat there Telemachos, bending his head toward Peisistratos, +said, in a low tone, so that he thought no one else would hear: "Surely, +O son of Nestor, the Olympian home of Zeus himself could not be more +glorious than this palace. See the gold and ivory, and shining brass. +These things are beyond price in richness." Menelaos caught the words, +although he spoke so low, and said: "My sons, there is no palace that +can compare with the home of the gods. The riches which you look at +in astonishment I collected while wandering in Egypt and in Crete. +I find no pleasure in them, however, for I found my brother, King +Agamemnon slain when I reached home. Would that the men who fought +before Troy had their share of this wealth! I often weep and mourn +for them in my palace, and am unable to eat or sleep on account of +the misery I have brought upon my friends. + +"For none of them do I mourn so much as I do for Odysseus, who suffered +the most of all on my behalf. I would gladly give all my wealth, if +I only knew him to be safe. But we do not know whether he is dead +or living. How much his old father must have grieved for him. How +many tears his wife, Penelope, must have shed, and his high-minded +son, Telemachos, what sorrow he has suffered." + +New despair filled the heart of Telemachos, and tears fell from his +eyes. He held his purple mantle to hide his grief and wept in silence. +When Menelaos saw this, he at once suspected that the young man was +no other than the sorrowing son of Odysseus, and he felt perplexed +for want of suitable words. He could not decide whether to question +him about his father, or to wait and let the youth speak out of his +own will. + +Just then Helen entered the hall from her high-roofed chamber, looking +like a goddess in her dazzling beauty. She sat down at her husband's +feet, while servants ran to bring the mat which she was weaving and +the distaff filled with fine-spun purple thread. Her fingers flew +over the dainty work while she questioned the king: "Didst thou ask +the strangers their names? It is not possible that there can be any +man so like to Odysseus except his son, as is this youth! I see him +with astonishment. His father left him at home a little babe, when +the Greeks went forth to war for my sake. Is it not true that this +is Telemachos?" + +Menelaos replied: "My wife, I think thou hast spoken truly. The young +man has the hands, the feet, and the features of Odysseus, and he +cannot hide his grief at the mention of that hero's name." +Peisistratos took up the word and said: "He is, indeed, the son of +Odysseus, O king! My father, Nestor, sent me with him to inquire what +you might know of the long-lost chieftain, and to beg you to give +him advice, for he has to suffer great wrongs in his house and there +is no one to assist him." + +Menelaos was heartily glad to hear that his guest was really +Telemachos. But the remembrance of his old friend overcame him and +he wept bitter tears. "I thought when I was in Troy," he said, "that +I should one day welcome Odysseus to my home. I would have given him +land and cities and brought to Sparta all his people and his wealth. +Then we would always have lived close together and nothing could have +parted us. But he has never returned." The tears fell from his eyes +and Helen wept as well. Peisistratos then said to Menelaos: "Son of +Atreus, my father says that thou art good and wise. Let us not, I +entreat, continue this sad discourse, since this is a day that should +not be given to lamentations. I lost a brother, also, at Troy. But +we will honor these heroes at a proper time, with tears and by cutting +off our locks. Let us not spoil the feast with mourning." + +They spent the rest of the day in making the festival as cheerful +as if there were no grief to be hidden, and when night came the Argive +Helen ordered the servants to prepare beds for them in the portico +and cover them with tapestries, while she poured for them a soothing +wine and dismissed them to their slumbers. The heralds led them to +their couches, where they found a welcome rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV +MENELAOS RELATES HIS ADVENTURES + + +The next morning Menelaos rose from his couch very early, put on his +garments, hung his sword over his shoulder, laced his sandals, and +went into his hall looking like a god. He sat down near Telemachos, +and asked him to tell him frankly why he had come to Sparta. + +Telemachos then told him of the evil deeds of the suitors, and besought +him to give him every possible clew to his father's whereabouts. +Menelaos was indignant over the young man's wrongs. + +"Shame on the cowards who wish to rule over thy father's house," he +said. "Let Odysseus return and he will tear them to pieces as a lion +tears a young deer. Grant, O father Zeus, and Athena, and Apollo, +that Odysseus may yet give those ungodly suitors a bitter wedding +feast. But I will tell thee of my travels and what was told me by +the Ancient Spirit of the sea. + +"It happened that the gods detained me many days in Egypt to sacrifice +and do penance, for I had forgotten to make proper offerings to them. +The island of Pharos lies just off the coast of Egypt. There I remained +until the daughter of the Ancient Sea King, seeing my distress, came +to my rescue. + +"My men and I had wandered over the island in search of food until +we were nearly starved, when she discovered us, and told us that our +efforts would be useless unless we consulted with her father. 'If +thou canst ensnare him and hold him in thy grasp,' she said, 'he will +tell thee how to reach thy home. He is a seer, and can tell thee all +that has taken place there during thy absence. At noon-tide he comes +out from the ocean caves covered with brine, and lies down among the +sea-calves, rank with the smell of salt. He counts them five at a +time, and then he stretches himself out among them and goes to sleep. +He is very shrewd, and when thou hast caught him he will struggle +and take all sorts of forms to escape thee. He will turn into a reptile, +and into fire and then will change to water. But hold him fast, and +when he looks as he did when first perceived by thee, ask him how +to find thy home.' + +"The next morning, I sought the aged sea-god as I had been bidden. +I took three old comrades whom I knew to be trusty, and we went down +into the depths of the sea. The goddess brought us four fresh hides +that had just been taken from sea-calves newly slaughtered, and we +dressed ourselves in them to deceive her father. She scooped out +places for us to lie in on the sands and we waited for him to come. +The smell was sickening and beyond endurance, so the goddess put +ambrosia under our noses. When the sun was highest in the heavens, +the sea-calves came in groups and ranged themselves around in rows +on the sand. The old seer came out and counted all, and did not notice +our fraud. Then he lay down to sleep. At once, we rushed upon him +and caught him. He began to take all kinds of shapes. First, he was +a lion; then a serpent, a panther, a boar, a fountain of water, and +a tree. We held on until he was tired of trying to escape. + +"At last he took his proper form, and began to question me. 'Son of +Atreus,' he said, 'who hath taught thee how to make me a prisoner? +What is it thou wouldst know?' 'Tell me what god is angry with me, +O Proteus,' I replied. 'Why am I detained on this island? Why can +I not reach my home?' 'Thou didst not make acceptable sacrifices to +Zeus,' said Proteus. 'And thou wilt never see thy home again until +thou hast offered up a hundred oxen to the immortal gods.' + +"'I will perform that rite speedily, oh prophet,' I replied. 'But +tell me about my comrades in the Trojan war. Did they reach home in +safety?' + +"Then Proteus told me all; how Ajax died amid his ships; how Agamemnon +was slain in his own hall; and of Laertes' son he said that he had +seen him sitting in a grotto on Calypso's Isle. There upon the rocks +or at the ocean-side he weeps and mourns day after day, and gazes +out upon the deep. His comrades are lost, and he has no ship with +which to return to Ithaca. And after he had spoken he plunged into +the sea while I returned to my ships, offered up the hundred oxen +to Zeus and sailed for home. And now, Telemachos, I pray thee remain +awhile with me, and I will dismiss thee with a chariot and swift horses, +and a cup of priceless worth with which to pour libations to the gods." + +Telemachos took new courage when he heard that his father still lived, +and begged that he might go back at once to Pylos to join his crew. +In a moment all were busy in the palace of Menelaos preparing gifts +and a feast that the youths might depart on the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI +THE CONSPIRACY OF THE SUITORS + + +One day while Telemachos was in Sparta, the guest of Menelaos, the +suitors were more riotous than usual. They diverted themselves in +the palace of Odysseus by throwing the discus and javelin. Only +Antinos and the handsome Eurymachos kept apart from them. Then Nomon, +who had given Telemachos his ship a few days before, approached them +and said: "Antinos, I would gladly know when Telemachos will return +from Pylos. I lent him my ship, and I need it for I intend to go to +Elis, where I have business." + +The suitors were completely taken by surprise, for they had not heard +that Telemachos had gone to Pylos. They thought that he was out at +the farm with his swineherd. Antinos asked: "When did Telemachos +sail, and what crew did he take? Did he use force in getting thy ship +or didst thou lend it willingly?" + +"He was welcome to the ship," replied Nomon. "Who would not have +done such a service to a man who has had so much to endure? The young +men who went with him belong to the best families of Ithaca." Nomon +could not get any news of Telemachos, so he went home; but the suitors +conspired to kill Telemachos. They decided that Antinos should man +a ship with a crew of twenty men, and lie in ambush in the waters +near Ithaca, in order that they might catch Telemachos, on his return. + +This wicked plot of the suitors was betrayed to the queen, by her +faithful herald, Medon. Penelope was overcome with grief, and wept +bitterly, and her loyal attendants mourned with her. "What new grief +is this which befalls me now?" she said. "Is it not enough that death +has robbed me of my husband? Am I also to lose my only child, without +even having seen him before his departure? Alas! why did no one tell +me he was going, that I might have prevented his journey? Haste ye +to Laertes and tell him what has happened, that he may make some plan +to upset this plot to destroy his heir, the son of Odysseus." + +Then Eurycleia, the nurse, tried to console her with these soothing +words: "My daughter, I will not hide the truth from thee any longer. +I gave Telemachos a generous supply of food and wine, all that he +could use on his journey. And I promised him solemnly that I would +not tell thee of his departure, since he had a great dread that thou +wouldst weep and mourn, and spoil thy lovely face and injure thy health. +Now dry thy tears and bathe, and put on fresh robes. Then go to thine +altar in the upper chamber with thy maids. There pray to Athena and +burn incense to her. Do not alarm good old Laertes needlessly." + +Penelope followed the old nurse's advice. She went to the altar, at +the highest part of the house, and there she prayed to Athena: "Hear +me, daughter of Zeus! If ever my beloved husband has sacrificed to +thee the fat limbs of oxen or sheep, and has built thee altars, save +my son, Telemachos, and destroy the suitors, who fain would destroy +him." The goddess heard her prayer, and sent sweet slumber and a +pleasant dream to assuage her grief. In her sleep she saw her sister, +who said to her: "Be of good cheer, Penelope; no harm will come to +thy son, for a god goes with him." To her, the wise Penelope, yet +dreaming, answered: "My sister, why is it thou hast never come to +me before? Thy home is far away. I weep because I have lost my noble +husband, and now his enemies conspire to slay my only son." The dream +replied: "Take heart. Do not fear. Athena sent me to tell thee that +she will protect thy son." + +"Oh, tell me," cried the queen, in her dreams, "tell me if my husband +lives, since thou art sent by a goddess." But the shadow vanished +through the closed door, and mingled with the air. Penelope awoke +with a glad heart, cheered by the prophetic dream. + +In the meantime the suitors spoke among themselves, for they were +too foolish to understand the spirit of the queen. "Surely," they +said, "Penelope is making ready for her wedding. She does not suspect +that we have planned to kill her son." "Do not deceive yourselves, +my friends," said Antinos. "Be silent and act." Then he chose twenty +men, and they went down to a well-fitted ship, and took their places +at the oars. They waited until it was dark, when they quietly rowed +out into a narrow strait, through which, they thought, Telemachos +was sure to sail on his return, and there they waited. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII +TELEMACHOS RETURNS TO ITHACA + + +Having encouraged Penelope, the goddess Athena sped to Sparta, where +she found Telemachos, with Nestor's son, asleep upon the porch. She +stood beside his bed, and warned him that he ought to return home, +since Penelope's father had given her counsel to wed the richest of +the suitors, and had promised a generous dower. "Do not delay," the +goddess said to him; "no one can tell what a woman will do to help +the man she is to marry. + +"And also beware of the suitors, whom thou hast offended. They lie +in wait in the narrow passage between Samos and Ithaca. They hope +to catch thee on thy way home and slay thee. Do not go that way. Sail +only when it is dark. A god will watch over thee. When thou dost come +to the first harbor in Ithaca, disembark, and let thy crew go on in +the ship and take it back to the town. But thou shalt make thy way +to the hut of thy loyal swineherd, and he will take tidings of thy +safe return to thy mother." + +Athena said this and vanished. Telemachos turned to Peisistratos and +said: "Let us arise and set forth on our journey with all haste, oh +son of Nestor." But Peisistratos begged him to wait until it was fairly +light. Menelaos had slept lightly, he was so agitated with the great +event of seeing his beloved comrade's son, and he rose as soon as +it was light. Telemachos heard him approaching, and hastily threw +on his tunic and cloak and went to meet him. + +Telemachos urged a hasty departure and Menelaos did not think it +proper to try to detain him. He said: "A host is hateful who is too +affectionate. It is as wrong to keep a guest who is in a hurry to +go as it is to thrust a stranger out when he wants to stay. Let me +bring thee costly gifts, and when thou hast had thy morning meal I +will hasten thee on thy way." The car was heaped with gifts, a golden +goblet, a silver beaker, a robe that glistened with hand-wrought +embroidery, the work of Helen, a goblet of silver with golden lips. +Peisistratos gazed with wonder at their beauty as he placed them in +the car. + +They washed their hands in a silver bowl and ate and drank from the +bounty which had been placed before them. Then they mounted the car +which had been brought to the palace gates. Nestor's son took the +reins, Menelaos poured wine on the ground, an offering to the gods +for their safety and prosperity, and off they sped over the plain. +Two birds flew on before them, an eagle that had clutched a goose +and bore it off in its talons, a sign that Odysseus would come and +put an end to the suitors, and this omen cheered Telemachos. + +All day the horses bounded on shaking their splendid harness. The +son of Nestor plied the lash. At night they rested in a friendly lodge +and the second day they reached Pylos. They drove directly to the +ship, lest Nestor, in his great love for his guest, should detain +him. With an offering and a prayer to Athena he set sail. A prospering +breeze swept over the sea and bore them rapidly along. At night +Telemachos landed at the nearest port and sent the crew on to take +the ship to the town. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII +TELEMACHOS AND THE SWINEHERD + + +When daylight appeared Odysseus and Eumaios rose from their beds and +sent the serving men out into the fields with their swine, but they +themselves remained at home and prepared breakfast. In a little while +they heard footsteps outside. The dogs pricked up their ears and +wagged their tails without barking. + +Odysseus, perceiving this, said to the swineherd: "There must be some +friend of thine coming, since the dogs do not bark." The words had +hardly passed his lips when Telemachos entered the hut. Eumaios +started to his feet and hastened to welcome his young master. He took +him in his arms as a father would a son who had been away a long time, +and kissed his face and hands. + +Tears dropped from his eyes and he said: "My dear Telemachos, I did +not dare to hope ever to behold thee again. Come in that I may rejoice +with all my heart at seeing thee once more enter my cabin after thy +return from a strange country. Seldom dost thou come to see thy +servants, for thou dost live in town, where thou must watch the suitor +train consume thy wealth day by day." + +To this Telemachos made answer: "This is quite true, my father; but +I come here to learn of thee how matters are at the palace. Is my +mother there, or has some wooer won her for a bride?" + +"Thy mother is still at home," replied the sturdy swineherd. "She +has a loyal heart, but she wastes her life in weeping." Saying this +he took the lance from the young prince, who had come farther into +the cabin. Odysseus arose to give him his seat, but Telemachos said +to him: "Keep thy seat, stranger, I will sit elsewhere." + +Odysseus sat down again. The swineherd took an armful of twigs and +covered it with fleeces, and Telemachos seated himself upon it. Next +he brought bread and meat and set them before his young master, who, +when he had eaten, asked his faithful servant who the stranger was +and whence he came. + +"The stranger says that he came from Crete," answered Eumaios. "Lately +he has run away from a ship where he was robbed, and has come here. +I leave him to thee, however; do with him as thou dost like." "Thy +words do not please me, Eumaios," said Telemachos. "How can I receive +a stranger in my house, since I cannot protect him there if any of +the godless wooers insult him. It would be better for him to stay +here; and lest he be a burden to you I will send out food and clothes +for him, and I will help him to go wherever he wishes." + +To him the sagacious Odysseus replied: "My friend, I hear with grief +the story of thy wrongs. Art thou willing to let this go on? If I +were as young as thou art I would lose my life before I would suffer +such things--thy guests insulted, thy servants beaten, thy riches +thrown away, thy food consumed by gluttons." + +"Thy words are sharp, dear stranger, and I shall answer them with +the truth," said Telemachos. "Thou dost not yet understand that there +is a great crowd of suitors; not simply five or ten. What can I do +single-handed against such a multitude? But you, Eumaios, hasten to +the city, secretly, and tell my mother that I have returned and am +staying here. Then come back at once and let no one know where I am, +for the lovers are plotting a bloody death for me." The swineherd +hastily bound his sandals on to his feet, took his staff, and hurried +off. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX +TELEMACHOS RECOGNIZES ODYSSEUS + + +It was not long after Eumaios had left the cabin when Athena, in the +guise of a beautiful woman, appeared to Odysseus and beckoned him +to come outside. Telemachos was opposite to her, but he did not see +her, for the gods are not visible to all. Only Odysseus and the dogs +were conscious of her presence. The dogs did not bark but ran into +a corner of the cabin, crouching and whining. Odysseus left the room +and stood before the goddess, who spoke to him in these words: "Son +of Laertes, of noble birth and great wisdom, make thyself known to +thy son. Tell him all the truth. Advise with him how to put an end +to that insolent crowd of suitors. I shall never be far from thee +myself and will help thee. I long to see them attacked." + +When she had finished speaking she touched Odysseus with her golden +wand. That touch changed him instantly into a handsome, well-made +man in the full vigor of robust manhood. His rags became seemly +garments. His cheeks flushed with renewed health and the heavy beard +on his chin grew dark again. After the goddess had done this she +vanished and Odysseus went back into the lodge. His son glanced at +him in amazement and then turned his eyes away from him lest he should +irreverently look upon a god. + +"Stranger," he said, "I think thou art an immortal whose home is in +the heavens, for thou hast been transformed in looks and garb. Let +me bring a sacrifice and offer it to thee, together with beautiful +gifts, and perhaps thou wilt be gracious to us and keep us from harm." + +Odysseus replied: "Nay, I am not a god, nor like the gods. I am thy +father, he for whom thou hast mourned and endured so many sufferings." +Saying this he kissed his son and wept. + +"I pray thee do not deceive me," said Telemachos. "Thou surely art +a deity and not my father. No mortal could change from a ragged old +beggar to a young and stately man in a moment." + +Odysseus answered him: "Telemachos, it is not like a son to gaze upon +thy father with astonishment. No other Odysseus will ever come into +this cabin. I am thy father. I have wandered twenty years in foreign +lands, and now have come to my own home. Thou hast seen a miracle +which Athena wrought, for she makes me look like a beggar or a king +as she pleases. The gods have all power to put men in high places +or to humble them." + +Odysseus sat down and his dear son approached him and threw his arms +around him in a loving embrace, and together they wept tears of joy. +At last Telemachos inquired: "Dear father, in what ship hast thou +come, and what sailors brought thee hither? Thou couldst not have +come on foot." + +"The Phacians brought me across the sea and left me sleeping on the +shore in Ithaca," replied Odysseus. "And they gave me rich presents +of gold, and silver, and brass, and embroidered garments hand-woven +from their own looms. + +"These have I hidden, and Athena has sent me to advise with thee how +best to destroy the arrogant crew of suitors that so long has robbed +my house and vexed my wife. Tell me now how many there are and what +kind of men, so that I can judge whether we two alone may attack them, +or whether we need the help of others." + +"My father," answered Telemachos, "thy sweet fame has resounded +through our halls, my whole life long. How often have I heard of thy +courage and the strength of thy powerful arm. But how is it possible +for us two to fight against such a multitude? Fifty-two of the wooers +come from one town with six servants. Twenty-four come from Samos, +and twenty more from Zakynthos, and twelve from Ithaca. If we attack +them all I fear that we shall come to grief. It is better for us to +look around and find an ally." + +Again Odysseus made reply: "Dear son, take courage. Zeus and Athena, +most powerful of the gods, are on our side. Early to-morrow thou must +go to the city and mingle with the suitors. The swineherd shall lead +me disguised as an old beggar to my palace. Keep down thy wrath if +the wooers speak insultingly to me. Do not resent it except to +administer a gentle reproof, though they strike me with their spears +and abuse me with bad language. The day of their death is at hand. +When Athena gives me the sign, I will nod to thee and thou shalt remove +my weapons from the great hall to an upper room. Tell the suspicious +suitors that the arms gather too much dust where they now hang on +the walls, and besides that, a god has warned thee that in their +drunken brawls, the wooers may harm each other. Let no one know of +my arrival, not even Laertes, Eumaios, or my wife, Penelope." + +All day the illustrious father and his son conversed and laid their +plans. At noon they killed a yearling pig, and roasted it and made +a hearty lunch. Once more Athena touched Odysseus with her wand and +changed him into a poor old beggar, that Eumaios should not recognize +him. At evening the swineherd returned. On entering his cabin he told +his young master that the suitors had learned of his safe return to +Ithaca. Then he prepared a supper for them, and they ate and drank +to their hearts' content, when they retired to rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XL +TELEMACHOS RETURNS TO THE PALACE + + +Early the next morning Telemachos rose, tied his shining sandals under +his feet, took his spear and stood ready to go to the city. He called +the swineherd to him, and said: "Eumaios, I am going back to the town +to see my mother. I know that she will not cease to be anxious about +me until she sees me in my own home. Take this stranger there, too, +where he may beg, and thus supply his wants. I cannot receive every +poor man into my own house; my trials are too great. It makes no +difference to me whether he likes it or not. I am forced to tell the +truth about it." + +"My friend," said Odysseus, "I do not care to stay any longer. I think +myself it is better for me to go to the city, where a beggar may have +a fair chance. I am too old to be of service here. Go thy way, my +son, and let thy servant lead me hence, as thou hast commanded. But +let me first warm me at the fire, for I am cold and the way is long." + +Then Telemachos went out of the lodge and sped toward the city. His +old nurse, Eurycleia, was the first to see him, and she ran out to +welcome him, and the other servants came around rejoicing. Next came +Penelope, as beautiful as Artemis, and threw her arms about her son, +and kissed him on his brow and eyes. "Hast thou indeed returned, +Telemachos, my son? I never hoped to see thee again. Tell me about +thy father. Hast thou any news of him? What has happened? What hast +thou seen?" So did the queen greet her son. + +"Dear mother, do not waken my grief again," Telemachos replied. "I +have barely escaped a cruel death. But go to thy bath and put fresh +garments on, and then pray to the gods and promise them great +sacrifices if Zeus will avenge our wrongs." Penelope willingly did +her son's bidding, but Telemachos betook himself to the market place +to show himself to the people. + +When Telemachos came into the public square the suitors thronged +around him with smooth speeches, but in their hearts they kept on +plotting his death. He wanted them to see that he was in Ithaca, but +he did not care to be in their company, so he took his place among +some friends of his father. One of the crew came up to ask where he +might deposit the splendid gifts of Menelaos, and Telemachos told +him to hide them until the suitors had been defeated or had won the +victory. + +Then Telemachos came back to the palace in company with a stranger +who had joined his crew at Pylos, and they sat down near the queen, +who was spinning. The servants brought them wine and food, and after +they had eaten, Penelope begged that her son would recite to her the +story of his journey. In the meantime Odysseus and Eumaios had started +for the city. When they reached the spring where the citizens of the +city went for water, they encountered Melanthios, a goatherd, driving +goats into town. Two servants followed, helping him. As soon as he +saw Eumaios and his guest, he said: "Look! There is one knave leading +another. Verily, the gods bring like and like together. Thou miserable +swineherd, whither dost thou take that worthless beggar, this +vagabond who rubs his shoulders on every door-post, asking for crusts, +eating gluttonously, and telling tales of woe? + +"Just hand him over to me to guard my stables and clean my yard, and +I will give him whey to drink, which will fatten his limbs. But work +does not suit such a fellow. He would rather ramble idly about and +beg for food to fill his empty stomach. Let him once come to the palace +of Odysseus and the guests that woo the queen will fling footstools +at him." With that Melanthios kicked him in the thigh. Odysseus +hesitated a moment and considered whether it were better to slay the +goatherd with a blow from his staff, or whether he should submit to +the indignity in silence. The latter seemed the better course. + +But Eumaios grew angry and said: "Melanthios, wait till Odysseus +returns. He will give thee thy deserts, thou villain! All day long +dost thou loaf in the city, leaving thy master's flocks to take care +of themselves." Melanthios answered him: "Just hear what this cur +has to say! I shall take him off and sell him for a slave some day. +Would that Telemachos might die this moment under the hands of the +suitors, and go down to Hades to join his father!" With these words +he hurried off to the house of his master where he sat down among +the crowd of wooers. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI +ODYSSEUS IS RECOGNIZED BY HIS DOG + + +After awhile Odysseus and Eumaios came to the house. As they drew +near they waited a little to listen to the music, for a minstrel had +begun a song, and while singing he played the lyre. "Surely, Eumaios," +said Odysseus, "anyone would know that this is the palace of a king. +See how stately the structure is, and how spacious the court beyond +the massive gates! And there are walls and towers and countless rooms. +No one but Odysseus could have built such a fortress. I hear the sound +of the lute and perceive the tempting odor of roasting meat, and there +are crowds of guests coming and going. There must be a banquet within." + +Eumaios replied: "True, my friend, this is the house of Odysseus. +Now, let us consider what we are to do. Shall I take the lead and +go in first, or wilt thou go first and let me follow?" Odysseus, the +sagacious, made answer: "Go in before me, and I will follow by and +by." + +They were standing near the stable doors while talking. The filth +from the stalls of the mules and oxen had been piled there by slovenly +servants, who should have removed it day by day to fertilize the fields. +There, on the unwholesome heap, a poor, neglected dog was lying, +devoured by noxious insects and vermin. It was Argus, whom Odysseus +himself had raised before he went to Troy. In times gone by, the young +men of Ithaca had made him most useful in the chase. He had scented +the stag, the hare, and the wild goat for them many a time. But now +that he was old no one cared for him, and he was left to die. + +As soon as he saw Odysseus drawing near he pricked up his ears and +wagged his tail. But he had not strength enough to get up and come +to his master, although he moved as if he would gladly have done so. +Odysseus saw this and burst into tears, but he turned his face away +in hopes that Eumaios would not notice it. + +But the good swineherd saw it and so Odysseus questioned him: "Eumaios, +what dog is this that lies upon this filth? He is well built, and +surely is of a fine stock. Is he fleet in the chase or a mere house-dog +kept for show?" + +"This dog, stranger," answered Eumaios, "belongs to my dear master. +If thou hadst only seen him before Odysseus went to Troy thou wouldst +have been astonished at his swiftness. He performed wonders in the +chase. No wild animal was able to escape him. But his master has died +far from home, and the careless servants will not even throw him a +bone." + +The swineherd passed on into the hall where the suitors sat, but +Odysseus stood looking at the faithful beast, the only creature that +had recognized him. The joy of seeing his old master was too great, +and Argus sank down and died. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII +ODYSSEUS COMES, A BEGGAR, TO HIS OWN HOUSE + + +Telemachos was the first to notice the swineherd entering the hall, +and he made a sign for him to come and sit by him. Presently Odysseus, +too, entered in the guise of a forlorn old beggar, and sat down near +the door. Telemachos handed Eumaios a whole loaf of bread and as much +meat as he could hold in his two hands, and bade him take it to the +beggar. And he told him to tell the poor old man to ask a pittance +from every suitor present. + +Odysseus took the food, and after thanking Telemachos, prayed to the +gods to give him everything good. Then he placed his food in a wallet +on the ground, and began to eat, while a minstrel entertained the +assembly with sweet music. When the bard ceased his singing, the +suitors began a noisy conversation, and having a signal from Athena, +Odysseus arose and went from one wooer to another asking alms. Each +one gave him something, and asked him who he was and whence he came. + +Melanthios, the goatherd, and the favorite of Eurymachos, wishing +to make mischief, told them that Eumaios had brought the old man along +but did not, himself, know who he was. Antinos hearing this, said: +"Eumaios, foolish swineherd, why didst thou bring that vile beggar +here? Are there not beggars enough to eat up the wealth of thy master +without him?" + +Eumaios answered him most courteously: "Antinos, though thou art +high born thou art not well bred. Thou hast always spoken +contemptuously to all the servants of Odysseus, but chiefly to me. +Beggars come as they like. No one expects to invite them. Only people +of rank are invited to a feast. But I heed not thy abuse so long as +I can serve the wise Penelope and her powerful son." + +Then Telemachos, seeing that a quarrel was brewing, interposed: "Hold +thy peace, Eumaios, make no words with Antinos. He takes delight +in ugly words. Nothing pleases him more than to stir up ill-feeling. +Surely Antinos, thou art a father to me when thou dost bid me turn +a stranger into the street and insult him. Pray let the old beggar +approach thee and receive a pittance, for thou shouldst not feast +on the food belonging to others and never bestow any gifts. All the +suitors except thyself have given him a dole." + +Antinos made response: "Telemachos, thou boaster, if each suitor +would bestow upon him such a gift as I will make, he would not come +here again very soon." With that he seized a footstool and held it +up where all could see it. The beggar approached him with a pitiful +story of wanderings and hardships. Antinos spurned him saying: "What +demon hath brought this chattering beggar to spoil our pleasure? Get +thee gone, or thou wilt soon be much the worse for coming. Thou art +a bold and impudent old beggar." + +Odysseus withdrew, saying as he went: "How strange it is that so fine +a form can conceal so foul a mind. Thou wouldst not give even salt +to a suppliant, nor a crust of bread from thine own table, without +begrudging it. But thou dost feed gluttonously at the table of an +absent chief." Antinos grew more angry, and rejoined: "Thou insolent +beggar, thou shalt not leave this hall unpunished." With that he +raised the footstool and struck Odysseus on the shoulder. The chief +stood like a rock, not in the least disturbed. But he made menacing +motions with his head and retired to the door, where he put down his +wallet and lifted up his voice to call down vengeance from the gods. + +Antinos spoke again with insulting words, and one of the guests +rebuked him. He was so angry, however, that he did not heed it. +Telemachos saw the blow, and could hardly restrain his anger. Word +was carried to Penelope that a penniless stranger had been insulted +and struck in her halls, and she said to her maids: "I would that +Apollo with his bow might strike Antinos down." + +Then she called the swineherd to her apartment and said: "Bring the +beggar hither. I should like to speak with him. It may be that he +has seen Odysseus, for he seems to have wandered far." + +The swineherd took the queen's message to the stranger, but he begged +that he might not comply with the request until the suitors had left +the house. "I knew Odysseus well," he said, "but I dread these violent +men. Therefore, ask Penelope to let me wait until sunset when I can +sit by the fire and warm myself, and tell her all that she shall +inquire." + +The queen thought the beggar's answer was a prudent one, and was +satisfied. At sundown the swineherd left the palace to return to his +hut. The suitors kept up the revel until late in the evening, and +then went home leaving Odysseus in his own palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII +CONVERSATION OF ODYSSEUS AND PENELOPE + + +After the revellers had left the palace, Odysseus said to his son: +"Now is the time to hide all these weapons where the suitors cannot +find them, when their hour of need shall come. If they ask for them +tell them that the arms were losing their polish in these smoky rooms, +and also that the gods had warned thee to remove them since some +dispute might arise in which the wooers heated with wine and anger +would attack each other." + +Telemachos at once obeyed. He called his old nurse to see that the +servants were in their own apartments and the doors of the palace +made fast while he removed the arms to an upper room. Then he retired +to rest, leaving Odysseus sitting by the hearth in the large +dining-hall awaiting the arrival of Penelope. She was not long in +coming. Her maids placed a chair, inlaid with silver and ivory, for +her near the fire, and threw a large woolly rug before it for her +feet. + +The queen, stately as a goddess, took her seat there while her maids +carried away the dishes and food left by the suitors. They heaped +great logs on the fire. Then Melantho, an impudent maid, said to +Odysseus: "Art thou here, thou beggar! Begone, or I will take a +firebrand and drive thee out!" Odysseus rejoined: "Such is the fate +of beggars. They must wander far and take abuse. It is true that I +am ragged, but I am not unclean. Once I was rich and had my own palace. +I often gave to beggars and I had many servants. But it pleased the +gods to make me poor. Thou pert woman, surely the queen, Penelope, +never taught thee, and thy bad conduct will not escape the eye of +Telemachos." + +Penelope saw and heard all this and the high-breeding of the beggar +did not escape her keen notice. She turned to the saucy maid and said: +"Shame on thee, thou bold creature. Thou dost know full well that +this stranger has remained here at my own request, that I might inquire +if he knows aught of my husband." + +Then the queen asked her matron to spread a rug for the poor old man. +Odysseus sat down and Penelope began to question him. "Who art thou, +stranger?" she asked. "Where is thy home? Whence hast thou come?" +Odysseus answered her: "My gracious queen, I am the son of a king +and I come from Crete. I am a man of sorrows and have wandered far. +But do not ask me of these things, for I do not wish to lament over +unhappy days. + +"Strong ties of friendship bind me to Odysseus. Twenty years ago, +when he went to Troy, I received him as a guest in my house, because +contrary winds and a stormy sea had thrown him upon my island. I led +him to my palace and gave him the best of food and wine. Twelve days +he remained with me, both himself and his companions. On the +thirteenth a favorable wind arose and they went on to Troy." + +Odysseus kept on inventing one tale after another, such as might seem +probable, and the tears rolled down Penelope's cheeks. Odysseus could +have wept, too, when he saw how deep her loyalty and affection were +rooted. The lady had no doubt of the genuine character of her guest, +but she cautiously strove to prove the truth of his words, so she +questioned him yet farther, asking him to describe Odysseus and his +comrades--how he looked and what dress he wore. + +Odysseus responded truthfully: "He wore a cloak of purple wool, with +two clasps of gold, hand-wrought. The pattern showed a hound +struggling with a spotted fawn, intent to kill it. Besides this he +had on a delicate tunic of shining cloth, spun, doubtless, by his +queen, for the women gazed at it in wonder. + +"He was accompanied by a herald named Eurybates, a hunchback with +a dark complexion, but Odysseus seemed to value him above all the +rest, for he was a clever and a faithful man." + +When Odysseus had finished speaking, Penelope exclaimed, with a burst +of passionate grief: "Stranger, I was moved to pity when I first saw +thee in my halls, but thou shalt be held as an honored guest from +this time forward. Thou hast spoken truly of the garments, for I shaped +the folds in them myself and put on the clasps. Alas! I shall never +see him again. It was a cruel fate that took him from me." + +Odysseus was deeply moved, and tried to speak consoling words. "Weep +not," he said, "for grief will wear away thy beauty and thy health. +Odysseus lives and will return. I met him lately on his homeward way, +laden with wealth which he had gathered in the country of the +Thesprotians. + +"He will come alone, for his comrades were destroyed off the island +of Trinacria, for they had slain the oxen of the Sun. He would have +arrived here before me, only that he stopped to consult an oracle +whether to come secretly or not. He is safe and will not long remain +away from thee. Here I take the great oath that Odysseus will come +within a month." + +The wise queen answered him: "I would that thy words might prove true, +O stranger, but the thought is deep in my heart that Odysseus is no +more. My maidens, lead this guest to the bath and spread a couch for +him where he can rest quietly, and to-morrow he shall share the morning +meal with Telemachos." + +Then said Odysseus to her: "Fair queen, I care not for fine covers +and soft beds. Wilt thou permit me to lie down on the floor near the +fire, as I am used to do? I care not for the bath, either, unless +there is some old servant who knows how to give a foot-bath to aged +feet." + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV +EURYCLEIA RECOGNIZES ODYSSEUS + + +Penelope admired the prudence of the poor old beggar, and called +Eurycleia, bidding her to bathe the stranger's feet as carefully as +if they were the feet of her master. The nurse filled a bright brass +basin with warm water and knelt down to execute the command of her +royal mistress, saying: "My poor Odysseus! My heart is sore for him. +Who knows but he may be wandering like thee, weary and footsore! +Perhaps he is an object of ridicule among serving-women who will not +suffer him to come near the bath. + +"Stranger, I will wash thy feet for the sake of my absent master, +and to please that gracious queen who has commanded me to do so; but +most of all because thou art in need of it through suffering. Surely +I never saw anyone who bore so close a resemblance to my lord as thou." + +Odysseus replied: "It has often been said that I look like Odysseus +by those who knew us both, O aged dame." Then he turned his feet away +from the light, for fear that Eurycleia would recognize a scar and +discover who he was. But it was in vain, for as soon as she passed +her hand over it she knew it. It was a scar that came where a wild +boar had once torn the flesh when Odysseus was hunting on Parnassos. + +The old servant was so overcome with joy that she laughed and cried +at the same time. She let his foot fall against the basin, which was +upset with a loud clang, while the water was spilled over the floor. +She laid her hand on Odysseus' beard, and said in a voice trembling +with emotion: "Dear son, thou art Odysseus. I knew thee the moment +that I touched the scar." + +Then Eurycleia turned to tell Penelope that her lord had come, for +the queen had not seen the upsetting of the basin. But Odysseus laid +his finger on the old servant's lips, and with his left hand drew +her closer and said: "Be silent. Let no one know that I have come, +for I must slay the suitors by stratagem. If they know that I am here +they will prevent me and destroy us all." + +The loyal handmaid arose to bring another basin of water. She bathed +his feet and anointed them. And he moved to the fire and took his +seat, while he pulled his ragged garments over the scar to hide it, +lest it might betray him. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV +PENELOPE'S DREAM + + +When Odysseus was again seated by the hearth, Penelope began to speak +to him further: "Stranger, one more question I must ask thee, and +then I will leave thee, for the hour of sleep is near. All day long +I keep at my tasks to try to forget my grief, for the gods have visited +me with sore misfortunes. I teach my maids to spin and weave and care +for the palace. But when night comes strange dreams flit through my +mind, and new sorrows spring up in my heart. + +"There are from day to day assembled in my home all the young men +of the best families of Ithaca and the neighboring isles, who insist +that I shall choose one of them for a husband. But as I am not willing +to comply, they remain in my house and destroy my property. I am not +able to drive them out, and do not know how to help myself. Listen +to a dream I had the other night. Perhaps thou canst explain it to +me. + +"I dreamt that there was a flock of twenty geese in my court-yard, +and they picked corn out of the water and ate greedily. Suddenly an +eagle swooped down upon them from above and broke their necks and +tore them to pieces. Then he flew off, leaving them scattered about +the yard. I bitterly bewailed the loss of my geese, and so did my +maids. After awhile the eagle came back and, perching on the roof, +said to me: 'Take courage, Penelope, this is no dream. The geese are +the wooers, but I, the eagle, am thy husband, and I have come to kill +those impudent robbers that vex thee.'" + +Odysseus answered her: "The eagle gave the right explanation, O lady. +The dream could not have had any other meaning. Odysseus will come +and slay the wooers, and not one shall escape him." + +"Dreams do not always come to pass," rejoined Penelope, "but I +heartily wish that this might be fulfilled. Be patient a little longer, +for I have one thing more to say. To-morrow is a decisive day, for +it may be the one that drives me from the palace. I shall propose +a contest for my hand. Twenty years ago Odysseus set up twelve axes, +one behind the other, in the court. Through the rings of the handles +he shot an arrow, although he stood at a great distance. I will +challenge the suitors to take the same bow and send the arrow through +the rings as Odysseus did. He who succeeds shall lead me forth a bride, +to his own palace." + +Odysseus responded: "Do not let the contest be put off. Odysseus will +be at hand a long time before any of the suitors can bend his bow." + +"Thy words, O stranger, are comforting," said Penelope. "I could sit +and listen to thee all night. But as thou art in need of rest, I will +retire to my apartment, and the maids shall spread rugs before the +fire for thee." Penelope, having said this, went up to her room, her +maids following her, and she wept, thinking of her royal lord, until +Athena closed her eyes in sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI +ATHENA ENCOURAGES ODYSSEUS + + +Odysseus was lying on his bed, but he could not sleep, for he was +thinking how he might destroy the suitors. Suddenly Athena appeared +to him, and said: "Odysseus, why dost thou lie awake? Thou art in +thine own house and near thy wife and child." "All this is true, O +goddess," answered Odysseus. "But I am only one and the suitors are +many. How shall I, single-handed, meet this multitude of men?" + +"Sleep in peace, Odysseus," returned Athena. "To lie awake saps the +life and strength of men. The time has come when all thy sufferings +shall end. The gods protect thee and they are stronger than armed +warriors." Thus spoke the goddess, and, closing his eyelids with sweet +slumber, she flew up to Olympos. + +While Odysseus was sleeping, his wife had waked, and, sitting on her +bed, addressed a prayer to Artemis: "Rather let me die, O goddess, +than become the wife of any other man than Odysseus. The very thought +vexes me day and night. Just now I had a dream. I seemed to see Odysseus +just as he was when he started out for Troy. I was so glad that I +could not believe that it was not a reality." + +She prayed aloud, and soon daylight appeared. Odysseus heard the voice +and it filled his heart with anxiety. He arose and hastily placed +the rugs on which he had slept on a bench in the palace. Then he went +out into the open air. Telemachos had risen also, and he went forth +to the market-place. Eurycleia called the servants together and +ordered them to be quick about their work, for a festival was to be +celebrated that day and the wooers would come early. + +There was a busy time. The menials obeyed, some bringing water, some +sweeping the floors, others polishing the benches and covering them +with royal tapestries. The servants of the suitors came also and cut +wood for the fires. Eumaios arrived early, driving three fat hogs. +He saluted Odysseus and asked him if he were well treated by the +suitors, or if they continued to scoff at him. Odysseus answered him: +"May the gods punish the ruthless men who perpetrate such wrongs in +a stranger's home." While they were talking together the goatherd +joined him, and repeated the sneers and abuse of the preceding day. +Odysseus took no notice of it, except to shake his head as one who +plans direful things. + +The master herdsman now came along with a fat heifer and choice goats +for the day's banquet. Offering his hand to Odysseus, he exclaimed: +"Hail to thee, stranger! A long and happy life be thine! Methinks +my master must be clothed in rags and wandering like thee. Thou dost +bring his image to my mind. I hope he may return and drive these suitors +out of his palace." "Be sure that he will come, herdsman; thou wilt +see him with thine own eyes, when he slays the ruthless suitors, and +then thou wilt know who is lord of the palace," replied Odysseus. + +The suitors were talking apart from the rest and conspiring to take +the life of Telemachos, when an eagle wheeled over their heads, +tearing a timid dove. With hearts foreboding ill at this omen, they +went into the hall to begin the banquet, while the herdsman went his +way first saying, "When Odysseus comes, call on me, and I will show +how strong my arm is to deal a blow at his enemies." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII +THE LAST BANQUET OF THE SUITORS + + +The suitors had now arrived in the great banquet-hall and taken their +places at the tables. The servants brought bread and meat and placed +it before them, while Melanthios filled their goblets with wine. +Telemachos placed Odysseus near the door, and gave him an ample supply +of food, saying: "Eat and drink, stranger, without fear. None of the +wooers shall assail thee, for I will stand guard." + +One of the suitors, an evil-minded man with a rich father, said to +his companions: "My friends, this stranger enjoys his meal greatly. +It does not become any one of us to begrudge good things to the guests +of Telemachos. I, too, wish to give him a present, which he in turn +may bestow on some other beggar." With that he seized an ox's foot +and hurled it at Odysseus. + +Odysseus dodged it by holding down his head. Telemachos grew angry +and rebuked the suitor in these words: "Ktesippos, thou hast escaped +death. It is well that this stranger avoided thy blow, for if thou +hadst struck him, my sharp spear would have pinned thee to the wall, +and thy father would have prepared a burial instead of a wedding for +thee." + +Dreadful forebodings of woe began to fill the hearts of the suitors. +Their speech became rambling and they laughed insanely. They ate and +drank like men deranged. + +Penelope now entered the great hall and took her seat upon a +magnificent throne, right in front of the suitors. She heard the +maudlin laughter and saw the gluttonous feasting as the revel ran +high. Then Athena came and moved her mind to immediate action, and +she went up to the farthest chamber with her maids, where the arms +of Odysseus were stored. His bow and deadly arrows, so long unused, +were there, with rich treasures and perfumed garments. She wept as +she took the bow from its case and went out, followed by the servants, +who carried down costly prizes, such as Odysseus gave when festivals +with games were held in his halls. + +She took her place, standing before the suitors, and addressed them: +"Ye noble suitors, listen to my words. Cease to eat and drink and +come to the contest. Too long have ye lived at my table, giving as +an excuse that ye would win me as a bride. The suitor who can bend +this bow and send this arrow through these twelve axes shall claim +me as his wife, and I will follow him to his home." + +Penelope called to the swineherd and the herdsmen to place the rings +and carry the bow to the suitors. Each in turn tried to do so, but +were overcome with grief at seeing their master's weapons, and laid +them down. + +Antinos lifted up his voice and chid them: "Ye foolish peasants, +must your eyes flow with tears at this feast? Bring the bow or leave +the palace. Methinks we shall have hard work to bend this bow, for +none of us have such sinews as had Odysseus." + +Then Telemachos took up the bow and laughed. "I must have lost my +wits," he said, "for I am glad that this contest will take place. +There is not such another woman in Greece as my stately mother. Make +no delay then. I long to see the man who can bend the bow. I would +that I might bend it myself and win the right to keep her in her own +home. Then I should be spared the grief of losing her." + +Telemachos took off his cloak and laid his sword aside. He placed +the axes in a row and took the bow and made three attempts to bend +it, but did not succeed. He would have accomplished the feat if he +had made one more effort, but Odysseus made a sign to him to desist, +so he set the bow against the wall and went back to his seat. + +The first suitor to make the trial had never been pleased with the +insolence of the wooers, and had great foresight and was called their +seer. His hands were soft and delicate. He could not bend the bow, +but he predicted that it would be the instrument to bring death to +the whole crew. + +Antinos reproached him for his prophecies, and ordered Melanthios +to light a fire and bring a slice of fat, that the bow might be warmed +and oiled to make it pliable. They warmed it and rubbed it with oil, +and tried to bend it. One after another, each in turn, they made trials, +but all in vain. + +In the meantime Odysseus went to the swineherd and the master of the +herds, who had displayed such loyalty. He said to them: "My friends, +what if Odysseus should come; would you take part with him, or join +the crowd of suitors? Speak truly." The two men answered, appealing +to the gods to bear witness, that they would stand by their master +to the end. + +"Behold," said Odysseus, "I am the master that you love. I have come +to my own land after twenty years of suffering, and among all my +servants I hear none pray for my return save you two. And now that +you may surely recognize me I will show you the scar made by a boar +on Parnassos." He raised his ragged tunic for a moment and they looked +at the scar. They recognized their long-lost master, and threw their +arms around him and wept, and kissed his hands and feet. + +Odysseus begged them to desist, lest the suitors should notice it +and discover him. And he instructed them to bring the bow to him and +place it in his hands, after all the wooers had failed to bend it. +And he told them to shut and lock the doors, so that the maid-servants +could not hear the groans of the dying men, for they might run out +and warn the town. + +Eurymachos and Antinos were the last to make trial of the bow. +Eurymachos sat before the fire and warmed it on both sides, but he +could not bend it. He was vexed beyond measure, and said: "It is not +that I care for Penelope, for there are other women that would suit +me just as well, but if we are weaker than Odysseus our sons will +hear of it in future times and be ashamed of us." + +Antinos took up the word: "Eurymachos," he said, "this is a day held +sacred to Apollo, god of the silver bow. He should have no rival. +Let the bow alone, lest the god be angry and leave the axes standing +in a row. No one will dare to touch them. Let Melanthios bring goats, +and we will offer up sacrifices to the god and invite his aid. Then +we shall have strength to win in this struggle." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII +ODYSSEUS BENDS THE BOW + + +The suitors approved the words of Antinos. The heralds filled their +cups with wine, and the wise Odysseus waited until they had drunk +to their hearts' content. + +Then he lifted up his voice and said: "Hear me, ye suitors of Penelope, +while I advise that you defer this trial of your strength until another +day. Apollo will then bestow the power on one of you to triumph over +the others. Let me practise with the bow to-day, to see if I have +any of my youthful strength, or if I have lost it through suffering +and want." + +The suitors were moved with desperate fear and anger. "Thou senseless +beggar," said Antinos, "is it not enough that we allow thee to sit +at a banquet with the proudest men alive? Thou art drunk and thy mind +wanders. What would come to thee if thou shouldst bend this bow? Verily +we would sell thee for a slave to the great enemy of men." + +Then said Penelope: "Indeed, Antinos, it is not large-minded to deny +this poor old man the pleasure of trying the bow. + +"Dost thou think I would go forth as the wife of a beggar? Nay, the +stranger has no hope of that. Do not let your minds be teased with +such thoughts." + +Eurymachos, the leading suitor, rejoined: "Our care is not that thou +wilt wed this man. But we fear the ridicule of the people, who will +say, 'These are great men, indeed, who are outdone in strength and +skill by a miserable old beggar.' It would be a never-ending shame +to us." + +"Nay, Eurymachos," replied Penelope, "real shame comes on him who +robs a good man and brings trouble to his family. This beggar claims +to be of good blood, and his arm is sinewy. Let him try the bow. I +make a solemn promise that if Apollo grant him the honor of bending +the bow, I shall do no less than bestow upon him a tunic and a cloak, +and sandals, and I will give him a sword with which he can defend +himself. Then he can go where he likes." + +Telemachos saw that the great crisis was at hand. "Mother," he said, +"it rests with me to give the bow or withhold it. Such matters belong +to men, and in this palace the authority is mine. Take thy maids, +then, and retire to thy apartments, and ply the tasks most suitable +to women." + +The queen recognized her son's wisdom, and withdrew with her maids +to the upper rooms. There she wept for the beloved monarch, her absent +lord, until Athena sent a soothing sleep to comfort her. + +In the meanwhile the swineherd took up the bow and undertook to carry +it to Odysseus. The suitors shouted their disapproval, and he became +confused and set it down. Telemachos called out above the clamor and +gave command for him to carry it along. The suitors laughed to hear +the young man's voice ring out like a trumpet and drown all other +noises. Odysseus took the bow and turned it from side to side, +examining it in every part. Telemachos, in a low tone, bade Eurycleia +make fast all the doors, and the master herdsman tied the gates of +the outer court with a ship's cable. + +The suitors grew uneasy, and one of them said to another: "See the +beggar, how he turns the bow this way and that! He would have us think +that he is an expert in the use of bows." Odysseus stretched the cord +and made it fast from end to end. He put it to his ear to try its +tenseness as a minstrel tunes his harp. It sang like a bird. With +perfect ease he drew the cord and let the arrow fly. It screamed like +a swallow and went through every ring from the first one to the last. +The suitors turned pale. Zeus sent a loud thunder-clap and Odysseus +rejoiced at the omen. He sprang to the threshold with his bow in hand +and a quiver full of arrows at his side, and shouted: "The contest +is ended. Now I will choose another target." + +Antinos had just put a golden goblet to his lips, and was about to +drink the delicious wine. An arrow pierced his throat. He dropped +the cup and fell to the ground, and as he fell his feet struck the +table. The bread and meat were scattered in every direction over the +floor. The suitors sprang to their feet and looked for the weapons +on the walls. The spears were gone, and the lances and all the armor. + +Even yet they were blind to the fact that the stranger had slain +Antinos purposely. They poured out threats. "Fool," they said, "what +art thou doing? How couldst thou be so careless! Thou hast slain the +noblest man in Ithaca. Dogs and vultures shall devour thee. Never +again shalt thou be allowed a trial with the bow." + +"Dogs," cried Odysseus, "ye little thought your chief would ever +return from Troy, and therefore ye have robbed me of my wealth and +vexed my wife with offers of marriage, regardless of the laws of god +and man. But now the hour of your death has come and your doom is +certain." + +The suitors trembled and looked for some open door through which to +fly for safety. Only Eurymachos took courage to make a defence. "If +thou art indeed Odysseus, thou hast good cause to complain of wrongs," +he said. "But thou hast slain the leader, Antinos, who prompted us +to do these wrongs. He had no thought of love for thy wife. He wanted +to gain thy land and rule over thy people. Spare the rest of us and +we will make ample restitution." + +A dreadful frown spread over Odysseus' face, and he replied: +"Eurymachos, I will not take thy wealth nor will I spare thy life. +Now choose between the two, either to fight or fly from death. Be +sure no suitor shall escape my vengeance." + +The suitors all grew faint with fear. Eurymachos cried out to them: +"Ye Ithacans, this man will stand there at the door and shoot us all +down one by one. Out with your swords! Hold up the tables for shields, +and rush upon him, all of you, at once. Drive him out of the gates, +and then hurry through the city and give a general alarm." + +With a fearful shout Eurymachos then drew his own sword and sprang +toward Odysseus. A deadly arrow from the famous bow met him and he +fell upon the table, upsetting it, and he went spinning round with +it on the paved floor, while the food and cup of wine were scattered +all about. His head struck upon a stone and his feet against a chair. +Death closed his eyes. + +Another suitor drew his sword and rushed toward Odysseus. Telemachos +met him with a lance and slew him. Then Telemachos sprang to his +father's side and said: "My father, I will bring thee javelins and +a shield, and I will arm myself and the swineherd and the master +herdsmen." "Make haste, my son," responded Odysseus, "for I have but +few arrows left." + +Telemachos hastened to the room where the arms had been stored and +clothed himself in brass. His loyal herdsmen also put on splendid +armor, and they hastened back to Odysseus with a complete outfit for +him. The chief had used up his arrows, and now he dressed himself +in armor and took the lances. Just then he perceived that the suitors +had by some means been supplied with armor also. He called to +Telemachos, who had left the door ajar leading to the apartment where +the arms had been placed for safety. + +Melanthios, the goatherd, had sneaked in and was slyly bringing +shields and helmets down to them. Telemachos saw him, and gave orders +to the herdsmen to lock the doors of the armory and secure the spy. +They hastened to the armory and found Melanthios, who had come back +for a second load. They cast him on the floor and tied his arms down +so that he could not move them. Then they took a rope and made two +loops in it and swung him safely to the timbers in the roof, saying: +"Melanthios, thou hast a soft bed, and it is where thou canst keep +watch. In the morning thou canst drive thy goats to the suitors' +banquet." They locked the doors and left him there and took their +places at Odysseus' side. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX +DEATH OF THE SUITORS + + +The combat grew more stubborn. Athena, in the guise of Mentor, stood +near Odysseus and cheered him on. "Woe unto thee, Mentor, if thou +dost dare to help Odysseus," cried one of the suitors. "We will not +spare thee when we have slain him. More yet, we will drive thy wife +and children out of Ithaca and keep thy wealth." The goddess, in great +anger at this audacity, turned toward Odysseus and said: "Thou art +not so swift and terrible in fighting, O Chieftain, as thou wert before +the walls of Troy." + +Athena said this to spur Odysseus on, but she did not remain at his +side. She changed herself into a swallow and perched upon a rafter +of the great hall, to put his prowess to a greater test. When she +had gone, the suitors grew braver and threw their spears at Odysseus +thick and fast. But their aim was uncertain, and they struck pillars +and panels and the wall, for the goddess turned their shafts aside. + +Odysseus and Telemachos and their faithful servants hurled their +lances, and the weapons always hit the mark. The cowherd struck +Ktesippos in the breast and exclaimed, as the suitor fell: "Ktesippos, +I give thee this spear in exchange for the ox's foot which thou didst +throw at Odysseus as a gift when he asked alms of thee." + +Four of the wooers fell to the ground at once and the remainder +retreated to the farthest corner of the hall. Still they rallied for +another onset. Odysseus rushed in upon them and cut them down right +and left, while Athena from above shook her fearful gis. The +surviving wooers were stricken with terror and ran about like a herd +of oxen chased by a swarm of gadflies. Only the minstrel Phemios and +the herald Medon were spared. Both of them had served the suitors +most unwillingly and had secretly advised with Telemachos. + +Odysseus searched up and down the hall to see if any suitor could +be found alive. As fishes lie upon the beach when they have been poured +out from the nets upon the sand, so lay the multitude of wooers. Not +one survived. + +Then Odysseus called Eurycleia and bade her summon all of the impudent +and unfaithful servants who had taken sides with the suitors. They +came into the hall and with loud laments took up the slain and carried +them out as they were commanded, and placed them in a walled court. +Then they cleaned the hall with water and sponges, and polished the +wood and set everything in order. + +When this was done, they were driven like a flock of birds into a +narrow place outside and hung to a beam to die wretchedly. Melanthios +also was brought down from the armory and cast among the dogs to die. + +The palace now was purged with the smoke of sulphur, and the air was +purified with incense. The loyal servants crowded about their +chieftain and welcomed him with glad salutations. They kissed his +hands and face, and wept and laughed for joy. Odysseus was deeply +moved and sobbed aloud. + + + + +CHAPTER L +EURYCLEIA ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO PENELOPE + + +Eurycleia, with an exulting heart, now hurried up the lofty stairs +and stood by the queen in her royal chamber. "Penelope," she cried, +"my child, Odysseus has come. Thy husband is here, and he has slain +the whole crew of insolent suitors who squandered his riches and +scoffed at his son." Prudent Penelope answered her: "Eurycleia, thou +art mad. The gods have taken thy wits away. Do not mock me with such +idle tales. If any other maid had come on such an errand and waked +me from sleep, I would have dismissed her with anger." + +"Nay, dear child, I do not mock thee; Odysseus has come and is now +sitting by the hearth. The beggar whom they scoffed at in the hall +was Odysseus. Telemachos knew it, but dared not tell thee until the +suitors should be slain." + +Penelope rose from her couch and seized Eurycleia by the hands. + +"Tell me, dear nurse," she said, "tell me truly, if in fact my husband +has returned, how was it possible that he alone could destroy such +a multitude of haughty men!" "I did not see it," responded the old +nurse, "but I heard the groans of the dying men as I sat with the +other maids in our own rooms. The doors were locked to bar us from +the hall. When Telemachos called me, I found Odysseus surrounded by +the slain. When we had washed the hall and purged it with smoke and +purified the air with incense, thy husband ordered me to call thee. +Follow me now, my child, that your heart may be gladdened after it +has been oppressed so long with sorrows." + +Penelope replied again: "Nay, I cannot believe it. The gods may have +slain the suitors under the guise of Odysseus, but he has perished +far away from home and never will return." + +"My daughter," said the aged nurse, "what words are these? I +recognized Odysseus myself by the well-known scar made by the boar's +tusk. I turned to tell thee, but he laid his finger on my lips and +said: 'Be silent. Let no one know that I am here until the suitors +all are slain, or else they will destroy me.' Now follow me. I pledge +my life that I speak the truth." + +Penelope descended from her royal bower uncertain how to meet her +lord. She crossed the threshold and sat down at the hearth, opposite +Odysseus, who was seated beside a stately column in the blazing light +of the fire. He did not lift his eyes to look at his wife, but waited +for her to make the way open for him to speak. Penelope was speechless. +She looked at her husband and seemed sometimes to recognize him, and +then the resemblance faded out and he did not seem at all like +Odysseus. + +Telemachos became impatient and spoke to her, chiding her. "Mother," +he said, "thou art hard-hearted and unkind. Any other woman would +extend a hearty welcome to her husband after he had suffered so many +years of hardship, wandering in foreign lands. Take thy place at my +father's side and question him. Verily thy heart is harder than a +stone." "My son," answered Penelope, "I seem to have lost the power +to speak. I am dazed and cannot even command myself to look at him. +If this is indeed Odysseus we soon shall know each other, for there +are secrets known to us two only." + +Odysseus smiled and said: "My son, be patient, and let thy mother +put me to the test. She does not know me in these rags, but she will +soon be convinced that I am Odysseus. It is more important now to +prevent the news that the suitors have been slain from spreading. +They have friends all over the city. Who knows but what they may rise +up against us. I deem it best that we bathe and put on fresh garments, +and let the servants do the same. + +"And let the minstrel bring his lyre and strike up such music as +prompts the dance, so that those living near us may report that a +wedding is being celebrated. Then we may safely venture forth and +see what is to be done." + +Thus spoke the monarch, and his commands were gladly obeyed. +Telemachos and the servants went their way to the baths and arrayed +themselves in splendid clothing. The bard took his harp and woke the +pleasing strains, and the palace halls resounded with mirth and +dancing. + +After awhile those outside were heard to say: "Shame on Penelope! +She weds a second time, and does not even know whether her absent +lord is dead or living. She might have waited for him to return." + +Meantime Odysseus followed a servant to the bath, and when he had +been bathed and anointed he put on garments suitable for a king. Athena +gave him a more majestic appearance, and caused his hair to fall in +heavy curls, like the petals of the hyacinth. When he came back to +the great hall and stood before the queen, he looked like an immortal. + +"Lady," he said, "the gods have given thee a stubborn heart. Any other +woman would have given a glad welcome to her husband after he had +been absent twenty years." To this Penelope responded: "Not so; I +have no pride nor a cold heart. But I should be unworthy of my lord +if I accepted a stranger without putting him to the proof. I remember +well when thou didst go to Troy. Thou didst command Eurycleia to carry +thy massive bed out into the open air and cover it with fleeces." + +"Nay, woman, no living man could perform such a feat. I built that +massive frame myself. It was a tall olive-tree that grew within one +of the courts. Round it I built a royal bower, and, cutting off the +great limbs of the tree, shaped them and fastened them to the trunk. +In this wise I built the frame, and no one could move it without +dragging the tree out by the roots. That is a secret known only to +thee and me." + +Penelope had put the final test, and knew that this was surely Odysseus. +She rose from where she sat and ran to him and threw her arms about +his neck and kissed his brow. "Odysseus, do not be angry with me," +she said. "Many are they who have tried to practise deception upon +me. Thou hast made me believe in thee." These words pierced Odysseus' +heart and brought him the relief of tears. He pressed his faithful +wife to his bosom again and again. + + + + +CHAPTER LI +ODYSSEUS VISITS HIS FATHER + + +Early the next morning Odysseus dressed himself in his splendid armor +and bade his son and servants accompany him to the farm. They took +their weapons and went forth, Odysseus leading the way. It was not +long before they came to the green fields which were cared for by +Laertes. He had built his house there, and surrounded it with cabins, +where his servants slept. + +Odysseus was anxious to know whether his father would recognize him +or not, so he said to one of the men: "Go into the house and call +my father. Let me see whether he will know me, after I have been so +long away." Placing his weapons in their hands, he went down into +the orchard. There were no servants about, for they had all gone off +to gather thorns with which to build a fence. + +There Odysseus saw his father working around a young tree that he +had just planted. He was clad in old, coarse clothes that had been +repeatedly patched, a goat-skin cap, and gloves to protect his hands +from the briers. + +It was pitiful to see the want of hope in the old man's face as he +moved about brooding over his troubles. Odysseus was uncertain +whether he should throw his arms about his father's neck and clasp +him to his heart and kiss him, or whether it were better to question +him. + +He approached Laertes gently and, having greeted him, said: "My friend, +thou art a skilful farmer. Every fig and vine and pear and olive has +been carefully trained. But no one seems to care for thee. Thy master +treats thee badly, for thou art ill-clad and unkempt. An old man +deserves better things. Thy face does not look like the face of a +servant. Indeed one might take thee for a king. Now tell me, who owns +this orchard? And tell me also if this land is Ithaca. I desire to +learn what became of Odysseus, the son of Laertes. He was once my +guest and one that I made most welcome." + +Laertes wept. "Thou art indeed in Ithaca, O stranger," he said. "But +thou dost seek in vain for Odysseus. The land is full of wicked men, +and there is no host to load thee with generous gifts, a recompense +for thy hospitality. Oh, tell me of my son; when did he lodge with +thee? Woe is me! The beasts and birds have long since devoured him. +No mother folded his shroud about him, nor did his father or his loyal +wife weep upon his bier. Tell me, what is thy name? Where is thy ship? +How didst thou come here?" + +Odysseus was overcome with pity, and invented a tale to prepare +Laertes for his unexpected coming. Then he clasped the dear old man +in his arms and kissed his trembling hands, and said: "I am thy son, +my father; I am the Odysseus of whom thou dost inquire. Here is the +scar given me by the wild boar as I hunted on Parnassos. And for further +proof I will tell thee of the orchard-trees thou gavest me when I +was a child. There were thirteen pear-trees, forty fig-trees, and +ten apple-trees. Forbear thy weeping and cease to mourn. I have slain +the suitor-robbers who were destroying my riches, and I have taken +possession of my house again." + +Overwhelmed with joy, the old king trembled from head to foot. The +sturdy chieftain, Odysseus, saw it and drew him to his heart to keep +him from fainting, and held him there until his strength came back. +Then they went up to the house, where a supper had been prepared, +and Telemachos was waiting. Laertes went to the bath and came back +clad like a king. The grief had left his face, and he took on his +old majestic appearance. As they sat at the banquet, relating the +experiences of the past years, Dolius and his sons, the servants who +had gone in search of thorns, returned. Dolius recognized Odysseus +and seized him by the hand and saluted him with joyful greetings, +and his sons gathered round the chieftain eager to take his hand. + +Meantime the souls of the suitors had gone down to the abode of Pluto. +Hermes led them, and they followed, crying and wailing like bats in +a dark cave. The shades of Achilles, Agamemnon, Ajax, and other heroes +saw them and constrained them to relate the mishaps that had brought +them there. Then Agamemnon's ghost responded: "Fortunate Odysseus! +His fame shall last forever, and poets shall sing the praises of +Penelope in all the coming ages." + +Ere Odysseus and Laertes had finished their feast, the news of the +dreadful death of the suitors spread over the city. The wooers had +many friends, and they came to the palace weeping and mourning, ready +to avenge their slaughter. Finding that Odysseus was not at home, +they proceeded to the market-place. The father of Antinos arose and +lifted up his voice crying for vengeance, but Medon, the herald, +warned them that a god had taken part against them and that strife +would be useless. + +Halitherses, a wise and reverend citizen, took up the word: "Ye men +of Ithaca," he said, "give ear to what I have to say. Odysseus was +not the cause of your misfortunes, but you, yourselves. Ye would not +check the insolence of the suitors, even when Mentor bade you do it. +Contend not with Odysseus nor bring down his wrath upon us." + +The Ithacans were now divided against themselves. Half of them took +up arms to make war on Odysseus, and started for his father's house. +In this adversity Athena did not forget her favorite chief, but armed +herself, and, taking on the guise of Mentor, placed herself at +Odysseus' side. A son of Dolius was first to announce that a crowd +was marching against them, when they all arose quickly, donned their +armor, and went outside. + +Then Odysseus cried out to Telemachos: "Now is the moment to show +thyself a hero, my son. Do not bring disgrace upon thy forefathers, +for they are renowned over the whole world for their bravery." +Telemachos responded: "There is no danger of that, my dear father, +as I shall show thee presently." When Laertes heard this he rejoiced +and said: "This is a happy day for me. How blest am I to see my son +and grandson rivals in brave deeds." + +Athena now drew near to the old king, and inspired him with youthful +courage. He swung his spear aloft and threw it at the leader of the +host and smote him to the earth. Odysseus and Telemachos rushed into +the fray with double-edged swords. They would have made an end of +the whole multitude, but Athena called aloud: "People of Ithaca, cease +from fighting! Retire at once from this contest and shed no more +blood." + +The Ithacans grew pale with fright at hearing the voice of the goddess. +They threw down their weapons and ran toward the city in a panic of +fear. Odysseus shouted in triumph as he gave chase, but Zeus sent +a thunder-bolt down as a sign to Athena that she should restrain him. +The goddess called to him to cease the pursuit, and, taking the guise +of Mentor, she moved the minds of Odysseus and his enemies to mutual +pledges of peace and good-will. + + + + +VOCABULARY AND NOTES + + +A chil' les--also called Pelides, the hero of the "Iliad." He was +the son of Peleus (king of Phthia in Thessaly) and the sea-nymph, +Thetis. + + g[=e]' an--a sea east of Greece. + +' o lus--the keeper of the winds, and king of Lipara, one of the +olian isles north of Sicily. + +Ag a mem' non--leader of all the Greek chiefs in the Trojan war. + +A' jax, or Aias--king of Salamis and cousin of Achilles. He was the +son of Telamon and was called Ajax the Greater. + +Al ex [)a]n' dr[)o]s--Paris, son of Priam. + +Al kin' [)o] s--king of Scheria, father of Nausica. He gave aid +to Odysseus when he was stranded on the island. + +An tin' o s--the boldest of the suitors. + +Aph ro d[=i]' te--Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. The island +of Kythera (Cythera), south of Greece, was the seat of her worship. + +A p[)o]l' lo--the Sun-god, brother of Artemis and son of Zeus and +Leto. The island of Delos was his mythical birthplace and his +principal oracle was at Delphi. + +Ar ca' di a, or Arkadia--the central district of the Peloponnesus. + +A re' t ( r[=a]' t[=a])--wife of Alkinos and queen of Scheria. + +Ar e th[=u]' sa--a spring "where the swine of Eumaios ate 'abundance +of acorns and drank the black water.'" (See Baedeker's +Greece--Ithaca.) Arethusa was also the name of a water-nymph +inhabiting the spring. + +Ar' gus, or Argos--the most celebrated dog known to fame. He belonged +to Odysseus. + +Ar' te mis, or Diana--goddess of the moon and sister to Apollo. She +was called the hunter-goddess and the protector of animals. + +As' ph[=o] del--a flower sacred to Persephone. The souls of the +departed were supposed to wander in meadows adorned with these +beautiful flowers. + +A th[=e]' n[=e], or Athena; Latin, Minerva--the patron deity of Athens. +The city was named for her. Ruskin calls her the "Queen of the Air," +and explains her real significance as being the inspiration of the +soul, which corresponds to the physical vigor and life received by +inhaling the pure air. She is always called the "Goddess of Wisdom." + +A' treus (a' tr[=u]se)--son of Pelops and father of Agamemnon. + +Au' lis--a bay and town on the coast of Greece, about thirty miles +north of Athens. "The scanty ruins of Aulis lie on the rugged ridge +of rock which stretches into the sea between the two bays. The little +town never attained any importance, for its site was unfavorable for +the development of a community; but the two sheltered bays were +excellently adapted to be the rendezvous of a fleet." (See Baedeker's +Greece--Aulis.) + +Cad' mus, or Kadmos--the founder of Thebes in Boeotia. According to +tradition, he came from Phoenicia and brought the alphabet to the +Greeks and the knowledge of working in metals. + +Cal' chas, or Kalchas--a soothsayer. He offended Agamemnon by +declaring that the Greeks suffered from the wrath of the gods through +his offences. + +Ca lyp' so--the goddess of Silence, daughter of Oceanos and Tethys, +and queen of Ogygia. She tried by every art to detain Odysseus on +his way home from Troy. + +Cas san' dra--a daughter of Priam, and a prophetess, taken captive +in the Trojan war and awarded to Agamemnon. + +Cha ryb' dis--a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily, a little to the +north of Messina. + +Cir' c, or Kirke--the daughter of Helios, the Sun. She was an +enchantress who lived on the island a. She infused into the vine +the intoxicating quality found in the juice of the grape. "The grave +of Circe used to be pointed out on the island of St. George, close +to Salamis." (See Baedeker's Greece--Salamis.) + +Cy' clops, or Kyklops, also called Polyphemus--a monstrous one-eyed +giant. He was the son of Poseidon. It was due to his prayer for revenge +that Odysseus was kept so long wandering on the sea. + +Cy the' ra, or Kythera--a rocky island lying south of Greece. It was +the seat of the worship of Aphrodite. + +D[=e]' los--an island about sixty miles southeast of Athens. It is +the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. + +D[=e] mod' o kos--a bard at the court of Alkinos. + +E' lis--a district and a city in the northwestern part of the +Peloponnesus. Like Sparta, the city had no walls. It was protected +by the sacred peace of Olympia. + +The plain or precinct of Olympia is situated in the district of Elis. +Pyrgos is the nearest railroad station. "Olympia owed its high +importance throughout the entire Grecian world to the famous Olympic +games in honor of Zeus, which took place periodically for centuries. +Excavations there have brought to light many magnificent pieces of +sculpture, among them the Hermes of Praxiteles." + +El p[=e]' nor--one of the comrades of Odysseus. He fell from the roof +of Circ's palace and was killed. + +E lys' ian--pertaining to Elysium, the abode of dead heroes and other +happy spirits. + +Eu mai' os, or Eumus--the swineherd of Odysseus. + +Eu r[=o]' tas--a river of southern Greece. + +Eu ry' a los--a son of Alkinos. + +Eu ry clei' a ([=u] ry cl[=i]' )--the nurse of Odysseus and +Telemachos. + +Eu ry' l[)o] chos, or Eurylochus--one of the companions of Odysseus. + +Eu ry' ma chos, or Eurymachus--one of the suitors of Penelope. + +Gor' gon--a monster of fearful aspect, a daughter of Phorkys and Ceto. +Her hair was entwined with serpents, her hands were of brass, her +body covered with scales, and anyone gazing upon her was turned into +stone. + +Hel' en, or Helene--a daughter of Tyndareus and Leda. She was the +wife of Menelaos and was always called "the most beautiful woman in +the world." + +Hel' las--Greece, the land of the Hellenes. + +H[=e]' li os--the god of the Sun. + +He phais' tos, or Hephstus--Vulcan. He was the blacksmith god, the +god of fire, and a worker in metals. + +H[=e]' ra, H[=e]r[=e]--Juno, the wife of Zeus. She was worshipped +as the queen of heaven and was regarded as a model of womanly virtue. +Argos was the chief centre of the worship of Hera. + +H[=e]r' a kles, or Hercules--a celebrated hero whose deeds are +connected with many localities. There is a cave near Nemea where he +is said to have slain a lion, not far from Stymphalos, where he put +the Harpies to flight, and Erymanthos, the scene of the killing of +the Erymanthian boar. There are traditions of his heroism connected +with Thessaly (Thebes) and Locris, also. + +Her' bart--a German philosopher and pedagogian. + +Her' m[=e]s, or Mercury--the messenger of the gods, also their herald. + +Her mi' [)o] ne--the daughter of Menelaos and Helen. + +Ho' mer--the greatest of the Greek poets and author of the "Iliad" +and "Odyssey." + +I' da--a mountain of Asia Minor, east of Troy. + +Il' i ad--an epic poem, probably the greatest ever written, devoted +to the deeds of Achilles, and taken by the best scholars of modern +times as an interpretation of Greek life, Greek thought, and the Greek +religion. + +I' no, or Leucothea--a daughter of Cadmus, a sea-nymph who helped +Odysseus by giving him an enchanted veil. + +Iph i gen ei' a--the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. "Ulrichs +has discovered the site of the famous Temple of Artemis or Diana, +where Agamemnon was on the point of sacrificing his daughter +Iphigeneia, before the departure of the Greek fleet for Troy." (See +Baedeker's Greece--Aulis.) To appreciate the character of this +famous woman one must read the "Iphigeneia in Aulis" of Euripides +and the "Iphigeneia in Tauris" of Goethe. + +Ith' a ca, or Ithaka, Greek Ithke--rocky island with an area of 37 +square miles and 12,500 inhabitants. "The world-wide fame of this +little island is of course due to the Homeric epic of the Odyssey, +in which the misfortunes and wiles, the wanderings, and home-coming +of Ulysses (Odysseus), King of Ithaca, have been handed down to +posterity in undying verse. Even if the person of the hero be relegated +to the realm of myths, it is indisputable that the descriptions of +the poem rest upon a more or less exact local knowledge; and this +is evident not only in the account of the situation and general +character of the island but also in numerous small details.... The +island became almost entirely depopulated in the middle ages, in +consequence of the raids of pirates and the Turkish wars, and did +not begin to recover until the Venetian epoch. But similar conditions +of life make the modern islanders resemble the ancient. To this day +the Ithacans are distinguished by their bold seamanship, their love +of home, and their hospitality." (See Baedeker's Greece--Ithaca.) + +Ja' son, or Iason--the hero who undertook the expedition in search +of the Golden Fleece. + +Ktes ip' pos, or Ctesippus--one of the suitors of Penelope. + +Lak e dai' mon, or Lacedmon--a district in southeastern Greece. +Sparta was its capital. + +La r' tes--the father of Odysseus. + +La o' da ms--a son of Alkinos. + +La o' co n, or Laokon--a young priest of Apollo. He warned the +Trojans not to accept the wooden horse left by the Greeks and was +destroyed by a serpent. + +Lo' tus--the Egyptian water-lily, also a tree. The lotus-eaters ate +of the fruit of the lotus-tree and forgot their homes and friends. + +Me l[)a]n' thi os--a servant of Odysseus, a goatherd who sympathized +with the suitors and served them. + +Men e l[=a]' os, or Menelaus--a son of Atreus and brother of Agamemnon. +Menelaos was the king of Sparta and husband of Helen. + +Men' tor--the wise counsellor of Telemachos. + +Mil t[=i]' des--the hero of the battle of Marathon, fought 490 B.C. +In this battle the Greeks, numbering 10,000 men, conquered ten times +as many Persians. + +Mi' nos--a son of Zeus and ruler over Crete. + +Mo' ly--a fabulous plant having magic properties. It had a white +blossom and a black root. + +My c[=e]' n, or Myk[=e]nai--an ancient city of Argolis, in the +northeastern Peloponnesus. "Dr. Henry Schliemann, in 1876, made rich +discoveries there, weapons, ornaments, vessels of gold, silver and +clay," skeletons "surrounded by bands of gold, golden shovels +engraved with battle-scenes," etc. (See Baedeker's Greece--Mycen +and Athens.) + +Myr' m[)i] d[)o]ns--a warlike people of Thrace, ruled by Achilles +and taken by him to the Trojan war as followers. + +Nau sic' a --the daughter of Alkinos. + +N[=e] [)o]p t[)o]l' [)e] m[)o]s--the son of Achilles. + +N[)e]s' tor--the leader of the warriors of Pylos, in southwestern +Greece. + +O ke' a nos, or Oceanus--the god of the river Oceanus, and son of +Heaven and Earth. + +Od ys' seus (s[=u]se), or Ulysses--the son of Laertes and Anticleia +and the hero of Homer's Odyssey. Being summoned to the Trojan war, +he feigned madness, and harnessed a mule and a cow to a plough and +began ploughing the sea-shore. Palamedes, to test his madness, placed +his infant son, Telemachos, in front of the plough, and Odysseus +quickly turned it aside. He became famous for his bravery and craft +in the war. He is looked upon by critics as the most perfect type +of adult Greek ideals. + +[Illustration: ODYSSEUS FEIGNS MADNESS] + +O lymp' os, or Olympus--a mountain in Thrace. The home of the gods. + +O r[)e]s' t[=e]s--the son of Agamemnon. + +Par' is, or Alexandros--a son of Priam. At his birth there was a +prophecy that he would be the ruin of his country; hence he was cast +out upon Mount Ida, where he was found and rescued by a shepherd. +(See Introduction.) + +Par nas' sos--a mountain near the north coast of the Corinthian Gulf. +It is 8,070 feet high and commands a view of Mount Olympos to the +north, Euboea on the east, the islands of the Archipelago, the +Peloponnesus, and even Mount Korax. + +Pat' r[)o] klos, or Patroclus--the intimate friend of Achilles. His +death at the hands of the Trojans provoked Achilles to action. + +Pei sis' tra tos--a son of Nestor. + +P[=e]' leus--the father of Achilles. + +Pel op on n[=e]s' us--the peninsula of lower Greece. + +Pe nel' o pe--the wife of Odysseus. The greatest heroine of ancient +romance. + +P[)e]r s[)e]ph' [=o] ne, or Proserpine--daughter of Demeter (Ceres). +"She was the goddess of Spring and was allowed to spend two-thirds +of the year with her mother, while the remaining time she dwelt with +her husband, Hades, in his underground abode." Eleusis, twelve miles +west of Athens, was the centre of the worship of Demeter and Persephone. +(See Baedeker's Greece--Eleusis.) + +Phai a' ki ans, or Phacians--the people of the island of Scheria, +over whom Alkinos ruled. + +Ph[=e]' mi os--a bard at the court of Odysseus. + +Phor' kys--the harbor where the Phacians landed Odysseus on his +return to Ithaca. "The Bay of Vathy," says Baedeker, "disputes with +the Bay of Dexi the honor of being the Harbour of Phorkys." + +Plu' to, or Hades--a son of Rhea and Kronos and brother of Zeus and +Poseidon. Pluto was the ruler of the lower world. + +Po sei' don, or Neptune--brother of Zeus and Hades. Poseidon was the +ruler of the seas and was the first to train and employ horses. + +Pol y phe' mus, or Polyphemos or Cyclops--the son of Poseidon. He +was one of the Cyclops or Kyklops who were said to live in the heart +of burning mountains, particularly in Mount tna. + +Pri' am, or Priamos--king of Troy and father of Paris. + +Pro' teus--an ocean deity who lived at the bottom of the sea. He took +care of Poseidon's sea-calves and was famous for his evasiveness. + +Py' los--a town (and bay) in the southwestern part of lower Greece. +It was the centre of Nestor's kingdom. + +Sa' mos--"at present a little village on the island of Cephalonia, +the starting-point of the boats to Ithaca. In Homer, the _island_ +of Cephalonia, or its east part, is called Same; and in the latter +part of the Odyssey, Samos appears as belonging to the kingdom of +Ithaca." (Baedeker.) Samos, a large island near Asia Minor, is not +related to the Samos of the Odyssey. + +Ska man' dros, or Scamander--a river of the Troad or plains of Troy. + +Scher' i a--an island northwest of Greece. "The ancients identified +Corf with the Phacian island of Scheria, mentioned in the 'Odyssey,' +as ruled over by Alkinos." (Baedeker.) + +Skyl' la--a rock in southwestern Italy. It was supposed to be the +abode of a monster with many heads and hands. + +Sky' ros--a large island east of Greece. + +Sim' o is--a river in the Troad, and a branch of the Scamander. + +Si' rens--daughters of Achelos and a Muse, or, according to another +account, daughters of Phorkys. They failed to care for Persephone +when Pluto seized her to carry her off, and Demeter took revenge by +transforming them into monsters half woman and half bird. + +Sis' y phos--a hero who secured a fountain to the citadel of Corinth +by betraying Zeus. Sisyphos was punished by being obliged to roll +stones up-hill in Hades. + +Spar' ta--a town in the southern part of the Peloponnesus, on the +Eurotas. It was the chief city of Lacedmon and the home of Menelaos +and Helen. It had no walls, but its acropolis was covered with temples. +Ancient Sparta was noted for the bravery of its people. At present +Sparta has about 3,600 inhabitants. There are few relics of its +ancient greatness. + +Styx--a stream of water in central lower Greece. "The thread of water +descends from a huge cliff against a background of dark moss, which +has earned for the brook the name of 'Black Water.' At the bottom +of the cliff the water loses itself in a chaos of rocks. The ancients +saw in the icy coldness of the water and in the barren tract around +an image of the underworld." (See Baedeker's Greece.) To swear by +the Styx was to take "the great oath of the gods." + +Tan' ta los--a king of Phrygia punished by the gods for treachery +and for cruelty to his son. He was doomed to suffer from hunger and +thirst while standing close to food and water which he could not reach. + +T[=e] l[)e]' ma chos--the son of Odysseus and Penelope. + +Ten' e dos--an island in the neighborhood of Troy or Ilium. + +Them is' to kles--a great statesman of Athens, and a leader of the +Greeks in the Persian war when the Greeks won the battle of Salamis. + +The' seus (Th[=e]' s[=u]se)--a son of geus and thra. Like his +counterpart Herakles, Theseus performed wonderful deeds, and finally +became ruler of Athens. + +Thes' sa ly--a large province of northern Greece. + +Th[)e]' tis--a sea-nymph, the mother of Achilles. + +Ti res' ias, or Teiresias--a Theban seer. He retained his +consciousness after death, and Odysseus descended into Hades to +consult with him before he could reach Ithaca. + +Troy, Ilios, or Ilium--a city of Asia Minor and the scene of the Trojan +war. Dr. Schliemann has identified the city with Hissarlik, and in +his excavations there found many evidences of the war, such as spears, +helmets, etc. + +Zeus, or Jupiter--a son of Kronos and Rhea. His abode was supposed +to be on Mount Olympos, in Thessaly. He was considered the highest +of the gods, ruler of the heavens and the earth. + +Za' kyn thos, or Zante--an island near Corf. + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The publishers of this book used an unusual +convention in which only a single pair of quotation marks surround +a quote, even when the quote extends over multiple paragraphs or +multiple chapters. This transcription has conventional usage of +quotation marks.] + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca, by Homer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODYSSEUS, THE HERO OF ITHACA *** + +***** This file should be named 24856-8.txt or 24856-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/5/24856/ + +Produced by Ron Swanson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/24856-8.zip b/old/24856-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a77edbd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/24856-8.zip diff --git a/old/24856.txt b/old/24856.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6fdc1c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/24856.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5712 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca, by Homer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca + Adapted from the Third Book of the Primary Schools of Athens, Greece + +Author: Homer + +Editor: Mary Elizabeth Burt + +Translator: Zenade Alexeevna Ragozin + +Release Date: March 16, 2008 [EBook #24856] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODYSSEUS, THE HERO OF ITHACA *** + + + + +Produced by Ron Swanson + + + + + +[Frontispiece: ODYSSEUS AS A YOUTH AT HOME WITH HIS MOTHER] + + + + +ODYSSEUS +THE HERO OF ITHACA + +ADAPTED FROM THE THIRD BOOK OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF ATHENS, GREECE + + +BY + +MARY E. BURT + +_Author of "Literary Landmarks," "Stories from Plato," "Story of the +German Iliad," "The Child-Life Reading Study"; Editor of "Little +Nature Studies"; Teacher in the John A. Browning School, New York +City_ + +AND + +ZENAIDE A. RAGOZIN + +_Author of "The Story of Chaldea," "The Story of Assyria," "The Story +of Media, Babylon, and Persia," "The Story of Vedic India"; Member +of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, of the +American Oriental Society, of the Societe Ethnologique of Paris, +etc._ + + + + +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + + To + THE TEACHER + WHOSE INTEGRITY AND PEDAGOGICAL SPIRIT + HAVE CREATED A SCHOOL WHEREIN THE IDEAL MAY + PROVE ITSELF THE PRACTICAL + AND + THOSE ENTHUSIASTIC PUPILS + WHO LOVE THE LOYALTY AND BRAVERY OF ODYSSEUS + THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED + + + + +CONTENTS + + PAGE +INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii + + +PART I +AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF THE HERO, ODYSSEUS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I. About Troy and the Journey of Paris to Greece . . . . . 3 + + II. The Flight of Helen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 + + III. The Greeks Sail for Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 + + IV. The Fall of Troy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 + + +PART II +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO HIS OWN COUNTRY + +CHAPTER PAGE + V. Odysseus on the Island of Calypso . . . . . . . . . . . 21 + + VI. Odysseus Constructs a Raft and Leaves the Island . . . 25 + + VII. Odysseus is Saved on the Island of Scheria . . . . . . 29 + + VIII. Nausicaa is Sent to the River by Athena . . . . . . . . 31 + + IX. Odysseus Arrives at the Palace of Alkinoos . . . . . . 38 + + X. Odysseus in the Halls of Alkinoos . . . . . . . . . . . 42 + + XI. The Banquet in Honor of Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . 47 + + XII. Odysseus Relates His Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 + + XIII. The Lotus-Eaters and the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . 57 + + XIV. The Cave of the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 + + XV. The Blinding of the Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 + + XVI. Odysseus and His Companions Leave the Land of the + Cyclops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 + + XVII. The Adventures of Odysseus on the Island of AEolus . . 72 + + XVIII. Odysseus at the Home of Circe . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 + + XIX. Circe Instructs Odysseus Concerning His Descent to + Hades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 + + XX. The Adventures of Odysseus in Hades . . . . . . . . . . 84 + + XXI. Odysseus Converses with His Mother and Agamemnon . . . 87 + + XXII. Conversation with Achilles and Other Heroes . . . . . . 90 + + XXIII. The Return of Odysseus to the Island of Circe . . . . . 94 + + XXIV. Odysseus Meets the Sirens, Skylla, and Charybdis . . . 98 + + XXV. Odysseus on the Island of Helios . . . . . . . . . . . 101 + + XXVI. The Departure of Odysseus from the Island of Scheria . 105 + + XXVII. Odysseus Arrives at Ithaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 + + XXVIII. Odysseus Seeks the Swineherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 + + +PART III +THE TRIUMPH OF ODYSSEUS + +CHAPTER PAGE + XXIX. Athena Advises Telemachos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 + + XXX. Telemachos Astonishes the Wooers . . . . . . . . . . . 128 + + XXXI. Penelope's Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 + + XXXII. The Journey of Telemachos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 + + XXXIII. Telemachos in Pylos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 + + XXXIV. Telemachos in Sparta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 + + XXXV. Menelaos Relates His Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 + + XXXVI. The Conspiracy of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 + + XXXVII. Telemachos Returns to Ithaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 + +XXXVIII. Telemachos and the Swineherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 + + XXXIX. Telemachos Recognizes Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 + + XL. Telemachos Returns to the Palace . . . . . . . . . . . 165 + + XLI. Odysseus is Recognized by His Dog . . . . . . . . . . . 169 + + XLII. Odysseus Comes, a Beggar, to His Own House . . . . . . 172 + + XLIII. Conversation of Odysseus and Penelope . . . . . . . . . 176 + + XLIV. Eurycleia Recognizes Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 + + XLV. Penelope's Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 + + XLVI. Athena Encourages Odysseus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 + + XLVII. The Last Banquet of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 + + XLVIII. Odysseus Bends the Bow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 + + XLIX. Death of the Suitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 + + L. Eurycleia Announces the Return of Odysseus to Penelope 203 + + LI. Odysseus Visits His Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 + + Vocabulary and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +ODYSSEUS AS A YOUTH AT HOME WITH HIS MOTHER . . . . . . Frontispiece + + FACING PAGE +THE SILVER-FOOTED THETIS RISING FROM THE WAVES . . . . . . . . . 10 + +ODYSSEUS AND MENELAOS PERSUADING AGAMEMNON TO SACRIFICE + IPHIGENEIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 + +ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 + +THE SWINEHERD TELLING HIS STORY TO ODYSSEUS . . . . . . . . . . 119 + +ODYSSEUS FEIGNS MADNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +It has long been the opinion of many of the more progressive teachers +of the United States that, next to Herakles, Odysseus is the hero +closest to child-life, and that the stories from the "Odyssey" are +the most suitable for reading-lessons. These conclusions have been +reached through independent experiments not related to educational +work in foreign countries. + +While sojourning in Athens I had the pleasure of visiting the best +schools, both public and private, and found the reading especially +spirited. I examined the books in use and found the regular +reading-books to consist of the classic tales of the country, the +stories of Herakles, Theseus, Perseus, and so forth, in the reader +succeeding the primer, and the stories of Odysseus, or Ulysses, as +we commonly call him, following as a third book, answering to our +second or third reader. This book I brought home with me and had a +careful, literal translation made. I submitted this translation to +that notable scholar, Zenaide A. Ragozin, with whom I faithfully +traversed the ground, word by word and sentence by sentence. This +version I have carefully compared with Bryant and rewritten, making +the language as simple as could be consistent with the dignity of +the subject-matter. + +The introduction to the original book as I found it in Greece contains +many interesting points, since it shows that educators in foreign +countries, notably in Germany, had come to the same conclusion with +our best American teachers. The editor of the little Greek +reading-book says: + +"In editing this work we have made use not only of Homer's 'Odyssey,' +_but also of that excellent reader which is used in the public schools +of Germany_, Willman's 'Lesebuch aus Homer.' We have divided the +little volume into three parts, the first of which gives a short +_resume_ of the war against Troy and the destruction of that city, +the second the wanderings of Odysseus till his arrival in Ithaca, +the third his arrival and the killing of the wooers. We have no apology +to make in presenting this book to the public as a school-book, since +many people superior to us have shown the need of such books in +school-work. The new public schools, as is well known, have a mission +of the highest importance. They do not aim, as formerly, at absolute +knowledge pounded into the heads of children in a mechanical way. +Their aim is the mental and ethical development of the pupils. Reading +and writing lead but half way to this goal. With all nations the +readers used in the public schools are a collection of the noblest +thoughts of their authors." + +The Greek editor had never read the inane rat and cat stories of +American school "readers" when he wrote that. He continues: + +"Happily the Greek nation, more than any other, abounds in literary +masterpieces. Nearly all of the Greek writings contain an abundance +of practical wisdom and virtue. Their worth is so great that even +the most advanced European nations do not hesitate to introduce them +into their schools. The Germans do this, although their habits and +customs are so different from ours. They especially admire Homer's +works. These books, above all others, afford pleasure to the young, +and the reason for it is clearly set forth by the eminent educator +Herbart: + +"'The little boy is grieved when told that he is little. Nor does +he enjoy the stories of little children. This is because his +imagination reaches out and beyond his environments. I find the +stories from Homer to be more suitable reading for young children +than the mass of juvenile books, because they contain grand truths.' + +"Therefore these stories are held in as high esteem by the German +children as by the Greek. In no other works do children find the grand +and noble traits in human life so faithfully and charmingly depicted +as in Homer. Here all the domestic, civic, and religious virtues of +the people are marvellously brought to light and the national feeling +is exalted. The Homeric poetry, and especially the 'Odyssey,' is +adapted to very young children, not only because it satisfies so well +the needs which lead to mental development, but also for another +reason. As with the people of olden times bravery was considered the +greatest virtue, so with boys of this age and all ages. No other +ethical idea has such predominance as that of prowess. Strength of +body and a firm will characterize those whom boys choose as their +leaders. Hence the pleasure they derive from the accounts of +celebrated heroes of yore whose bravery, courage, and prudence they +admire." + +The editor further extols the advantages arising from the study of +Homer, it making the youthful students acquainted with the earliest +periods of Greek history, the manners and customs of the people, and +he ends by quoting from Herbart: + +"Boys must first get acquainted with the noisy market-place of Ithaca +and then be led to the Athens of Miltiades and Themistokles." + +With equal truth the American can say that the child whose patriotism +is kindled by the Homeric fire will the more gladly respond to the +ideals set forth in the history of a Columbus or a Washington. + +MARY E. BURT. + + + + +PART I +AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF THE HERO, ODYSSEUS + + + + +CHAPTER I +ABOUT TROY AND THE JOURNEY OF PARIS TO GREECE + + +On the northern shore of Asia Minor there lies a plateau watered by +many small rivers and surrounded on all sides by mountains, only on +the north it slopes gently to the sea. On this plateau, between the +Simois and Scamandros rivers, in the oldest times there stood a very +rich and powerful city, whose name was Troy. It was the capital of +a large and fertile district, known as the Troad. + +There, about 1200 B.C., reigned a king by the name of Priam, possessed +of great power and boundless wealth. He had many sons and daughters. +It was said, indeed, that he had fifty sons who were all married and +living in their own homes, which they had built by the king's wish +around the royal palace. + +They were all handsome and heroic young men. One of the youngest, +Paris, also named Alexandros, surpassed the others in beauty. He was +a restless youth and not fond of his home, as were the others. He +had set his heart on travelling and seeing strange countries and +cities. King Priam was extremely fond of his large family, and took +pride in having all his children about him, so that at first he was +greatly opposed to the wishes of Paris. + +But the youth was so persistent and unhappy that the king at last +consented to let him go. Without delay, Paris called together a few +friends with tastes as adventurous as his own. They embarked in a +new ship well provided with all that travellers need, and set sail +for the famous land on the shores of the AEgean Sea, of which they +had heard so many wonderful things, and which was called Hellas. + +Nearly in the middle of the plain which forms the southern part of +Hellas was the city of Sparta. It was on the river Eurotas, and was +the capital of a large district called Lacedaemon, and it was to this +city that Paris came. + +Now, there was a mysterious reason for this strange desire of +Paris--his passionate longing to travel. In his early youth, while +he was still minding his herds on the rich pastures of Mount Ida, +he received a visit from the three greatest goddesses of Olympos. + +Hera, the queen of Heaven and consort of Zeus--Athena, the goddess +of wisdom, and Zeus's favorite daughter--and Aphrodite, the goddess +of love and beauty, had a dispute among themselves. + +Each thought herself the most beautiful of the three, and they would +have come to high words about it had not Athena proposed that they +should ask the handsomest man in the world to settle the question. +This happened to be the young royal shepherd, Paris. So the three +goddesses floated down to the slope of Mount Ida on a snowy cloud +and placed the question before him, each promising to reward him +royally if he gave his verdict in her favor. + +Paris, as might have been expected, decided in favor of Aphrodite, +who had promised him that the fairest woman living in the whole world +should be his wife. This promise had to be kept, being given by a +goddess, but it was the source of endless misfortune, for Paris had +a young and lovely wife who was tenderly attached to him, while the +fairest of living women--acknowledged as such by fame in all known +countries--was Queen Helen of Sparta, herself the wife of another +man. + +Her husband was one of the most renowned heroes of Hellas, King +Menelaos, a son of Atreus and brother of the leader of the Greek chiefs, +Agamemnon, King of Mycenae. It was Aphrodite, then, who inspired Paris +with an insane desire to forsake his parents, brothers, and wife. +It was her secret guidance which led him across the seas and through +the dangers lurking among the hundreds of islands of the Archipelagos +straight to the land of Lacedaemon. This is the central of the three +peninsulas in which the Peloponnesus ends, and might be called the +middle finger of that large hand of which Arcadia is the palm. + +Paris landed, with all his companions, on the shores of Lacedaemon, +where the people received him kindly and helped him on his journey +to Sparta, where Menelaos and Helen gave him a cordial welcome. + + + + +CHAPTER II +THE FLIGHT OF HELEN + + +Aphrodite, while leading Paris to the shores of Lacedaemon, had not +forgotten her promise, and in Sparta itself she was at work at its +fulfilment. She inspired Queen Helen with a growing discontent and +restlessness of spirit. Menelaos had not noticed any change in her, +and it was with an utterly unsuspicious mind that he received the +fatal strangers and made them welcome guests in his land and home. + +More than that, having heard the news from Crete that his presence +there was desirable on account of some urgent business, he did not +hesitate to set sail for that island, in the expectation of finding +Paris and his companions still enjoying the hospitality of his palace +after a short absence. + +This was the chance which wily Aphrodite had contrived for Paris. +He took the hint and carried Helen away to his ship, together with +as much treasure as they could lay hands on, and then they sailed +for Troy. Little did he heed, in his mad desire to call the most +beautiful woman in the world his wife, that she was already the wife +of a hero who had received him as an honored guest in his house, and +that he was about to destroy the peace and honor of his host. + +As soon as Menelaos heard of the flight of his wife, he hastened back +to Sparta, where he found his palace deserted and his treasure-house +robbed. + +Then his heart was filled with great wrath. He set out at once to +see his brother, Agamemnon, to consult with him about what was to +be done. Agamemnon was ruler over Mycenae, and highly respected in +all Hellas on account of his power and riches. + +After the two brothers had talked over this grave affair, they +announced to all the leaders in Hellas the great and detestable crime, +and asked them for their assistance. All the king's chiefs of Hellas +lent a willing ear to this demand, for in this breach of hospitality, +committed against one of them, each felt himself personally aggrieved +and bound to help in the punishment of what, in those times, was +considered the most unpardonable of all crimes. Only one of the kings +held back for awhile and needed much persuasion to join the league. +This was Odysseus of Ithaca, who could well consider himself at the +time the happiest of mortals, for he had lately married Penelope, +one of the fairest and most virtuous maidens of Greece. He had an +infant son of great beauty and promise, and he owned much land and +countless herds of cattle, sheep, and swine. Added to that, all the +petty nobles of the island acknowledged him as their chief. + +But a soothsayer, or seer, had greatly disturbed him by informing +him that if he went to a great war he would be kept away from his +home for the space of twenty years, and even then return to it in +the guise of a beggar, after having suffered wrecks, captivity, +endless wanderings, and loss of comrades. + +No one could doubt that Odysseus was brave, but no one could blame +him for wishing to be excused from taking part in the war against +Troy. Menelaos and his brother, however, would accept no excuse from +him, as he was the wisest and craftiest of all the leaders, and when +Odysseus finally consented to join them he set about arming and +directing the young Greek warriors with all his heart and soul. + +There was another young prince whom it was absolutely necessary to +secure, for a much venerated oracle had given it as a decree of the +gods that Troy could never be taken without his help. This was Achilles, +son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons in Thessaly, and of the beauteous +ocean nymph, Thetis. Notwithstanding his extreme youth, his father +would not disappoint the whole country, and he let him go with those +who came for him. But he sent along with him his adopted son, Patroklos, +who was several years older, and to whom the boy was passionately +attached, and also his oldest and most trusted servant, Phoenix. These +two, the old man and the youth, he charged, as they hoped for the +mercy of Zeus, to keep watchful guard over Achilles, whose exceedingly +impetuous and reckless temper exposed him to many dangers which might +be averted by a sensible and loving word spoken in time. + +[Illustration: THE SILVER-FOOTED THETIS RISING FROM THE WAVES] + +The Greeks took counsel together, and it was resolved that Menelaos +should go in person to Troy and demand back his wife, Helen, as well +as his treasure and a suitable apology for the wrong done to him and +to all Hellas. He chose for his companion the cunning Odysseus. On +their arrival in Troy, Menelaos and Odysseus presented themselves +before Priam and demanded the return of Helen and the treasures. + +The king at once called his people together to deliberate upon the +matter, and the two Greek kings bravely denounced the mean act of +Paris. But the Trojans, stirred up by that youth, abused the +ambassadors and drove them out of their city. + + + + +CHAPTER III +THE GREEKS SAIL FOR TROY + + +The kings and chieftains of Hellas, having heard that Odysseus and +Menelaos had been driven out of Troy, hastened to call together their +fleets and armies at Aulis, a city of Boeotia on a ridge of rock running +out into the sea between two little bays, each of which was a harbor +for many ships. A hundred thousand men and a thousand ships were +gathered there under the leadership of the celebrated and heroic +chiefs. The commander-in-chief of the whole army was Agamemnon. + +Among the renowned leaders were Menelaos, the sagacious Odysseus, +Ajax, and many others. Just as they were offering a sacrifice to the +gods, in order to start out to the war with their good will, a great +miracle happened. A fearful snake crept from under the altar and +climbed a tree in which there was a sparrow's nest nearly hidden by +the leaves. There were eight young sparrows in the nest, nine birds +with the mother. The snake devoured the fluttering little birds, +around which the mother circled as if overcome by grief. + +Then the snake darted at the mother-bird and swallowed it, when Zeus +changed the reptile into a stone. The Greeks wondered at the sight, +but the soothsayer, Calchas, said to them: "Why do ye wonder at this? +The all-powerful Zeus has sent us this sign because our deeds shall +live forever in the minds of men. Just as the snake has devoured the +eight little sparrows and their mother, so shall the war swallow up +the nine coming years, and in the tenth we shall overcome Troy." + +The ships of the Greeks lay in the bays of Aulis while the warriors +waited impatiently to set sail. But the winds were contrary; they +would not blow, and the boats waited there year after year; for a +sacred hind had been slain by Agamemnon, one that belonged to the +goddess Artemis, and it was ordered by that goddess that no wind should +arise to take them on toward Troy until her wrath had been appeased. + +So Agamemnon went to Calchas, the seer, and asked his advice, +whereupon the old prophet told him to send for his lovely young +daughter, Iphigeneia, and offer her up on the altar as the only +acceptable sacrifice to Artemis. When he had placed her upon the altar +and the priest was raising his knife, the goddess took pity on +Agamemnon and carried the girl away in a cloud, leaving a fine white +doe instead. + +[Illustration: ODYSSEUS AND MENELAOS PERSUADING AGAMEMNON TO +SACRIFICE IPHIGENEIA] + +And now arose a favorable wind, and the Greeks arrived safely before +Troy. How they fought with the Trojans, how many of the heroes outlived +the struggle, and how many fell in the battle, all this we can learn +from an old book called the "Iliad." We shall select from it only +those things which refer to our hero, Odysseus; and to complete the +history of that hero we shall go to another book, called the "Odyssey." + +Both of these books are the work of the great poet Homer, who lived +many years after the war with Troy. That we may understand better +what happened later on, we must give a short account of the fall of +Troy and of the return of Menelaos and Agamemnon to their own country. + + + + +CHAPTER IV +THE FALL OF TROY + + +The war lasted nine years, and in the tenth the Greeks conquered Troy, +not in battle, but by means of a trick which had come into the mind +of Odysseus. He told a skilful carpenter to build a wooden horse of +gigantic size, and in it he hid the bravest Greek warriors. When he +had done this he advised all the other Greeks to depart without leaving +anything behind them, and so lead the Trojans to believe that they +had given up the fight and gone home. + +So the Greeks burned their tents and put off to sea, while the Trojans +from their walls watched them with great joy, thinking themselves +well rid of an enemy. When the last ship had gone, the Trojans threw +open the gates of their city and rushed down into the plain where +the Greeks had had their camp, to see how the place looked. + +There they found the wooden horse, and one of the Greeks tied to a +tree, who told them he was left there as a punishment, and that the +wooden horse was an offering to the gods. The Trojans made up their +minds to carry it into their city and give it the best place on their +highest hill. + +Then Laocoon, a priest of Apollo, stepped forth, and said to them: +"Unhappy people! what madness possesses you? Do ye think the enemy +gone? Do ye know Odysseus so little? There are Greek warriors hidden +in this horse, or else some other mischief is lurking there. Fear +the Greeks even when they bring gifts." + +With these words, he thrust his spear into the flank of the horse, +and the arms of the hidden enemy clashed with a loud noise. Just then +two snakes of great size, sent by Athena, rose from the sea, and sprang +upon Laocoon and his two sons, and, coiling around them, bit them +to death. The Trojans, in great fear at the sight, took this as a +sign from the gods that the horse was sacred and that they must protect +it, and they moved it at once into their city, breaking down a part +of their wall to get it in. + +Having done this, they gave themselves up to feasting and making merry, +without the slightest thought that any evil was in store for them. +But when night had come, and all were in a deep sleep, the ships of +the Greeks, which had been hiding all the while behind a neighboring +island, came back. The warriors who were concealed in the wooden horse +sprang out and rushing wildly through the city, slew the Trojans right +and left without mercy. From all sides came wailings and groans, and +the flames of the burning city rose up to the sky. + +A deadly struggle took place between the Trojans and the Greeks. Priam +was slain, and Paris and many other heroes. The victory was to the +Greeks. Troy fell never to rise again, and the women and children +were led off to become slaves to their conquerors. + +Thus was destroyed in one night the great and glorious city of Troy, +all on account of the crime which Paris had committed against the +laws of hospitality. + +The trials of the Greeks were not yet at an end. After their victory +at Troy they embarked in their ships and started eagerly for their +homes. But Zeus prepared a sad fate for them, because Ajax had +violently dragged Cassandra, the beautiful daughter of Priam, from +the altar of Athena and had made her his slave. Thus many of the leaders +perished in the sea far from home, and some were cast on foreign shores +to die. + +Menelaos was thrown by wind and waves on the island of Crete, and +he lost many of the ships on the cliffs. Thence he strayed to the +island of Cyprus, noted for its mines; and he roved through other +lands until he came to Egypt, where he wandered about for eight years, +when he returned to Sparta, taking Helen with him. He became +reconciled to his wife, and they lived a quiet life far removed from +the enchantments of the wily Aphrodite. + +But the saddest fate of all overtook Agamemnon, who met his death +in his own house at the hands of his wife and brother. + +Agamemnon, without any accident at sea, reached his native land. Full +of gratitude, he kissed the earth and wept tears of joy at the thought +of meeting his wife and son. + +He entered his home with a glad heart, and his faithless wife came +to meet him, but she had prepared a hot bath for him, and there he +met his death, entangled in a net which she threw over him, for she +had not forgotten the loss of her beautiful daughter, Iphigeneia, +whom she believed to have been offered up as a sacrifice on the altar +of Artemis. + +She was assisted in this dreadful deed by her husband's brother, who +became ruler over the land, holding sway eight years, when Orestes, +the son of Agamemnon, slew him and regained the kingdom. + +And now we come to the return of Odysseus, the wisest of the Greeks, +who wandered to the remotest part of the earth and learned the customs +of many people, and who suffered terrible things by land and sea. + + + + +PART II +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO HIS OWN COUNTRY + + + + +CHAPTER V +ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF CALYPSO + + +All the Greeks who had escaped from the destruction of Troy and had +been spared the terrors of the sea returned to their homes. But the +unfortunate Odysseus was delayed by the fair nymph Calypso on her +island, where she made her home in a cool and beautiful grotto. There +he wept and mourned, desiring to see his wife again and his native +land. Each of the gods save one, Poseidon, god of the sea, wished +to help him to find the way home. Odysseus had brought Poseidon's +wrath upon himself through inflicting a terrible injury upon the +favorite son of that deity, and for that reason the wrath of the god +fell on him and he was wrecked. One day all the other gods had assembled +in the hall of Zeus, on Mount Olympos, when Athena, the favorite +daughter of Zeus and firm friend of Odysseus, knowing that her father +in his heart was well-disposed toward the hero, began to plead for +him in a way to excite greater pity still. + +"O my father, thou great king among the gods," she said, "my heart +is troubled on account of the wise Odysseus, who lingers on an island, +far away from home, and suffers greatly; for a nymph lives on the +island, the daughter of great Atlas, and with sweet words she strives +to make Odysseus forget his native land. But he bewails his fate and +is full of sorrow, his only wish being to have a glimpse of the smoke +of his beloved country." + +Zeus thereupon ordered Hermes to depart at once for the island and +tell the nymph to send Odysseus to his home without delay. Hermes +obeyed quickly. He bound his winged sandals to his feet, and, taking +his golden wand in his hand, flew like a meteor over land and sea +till he reached the island where the nymph Calypso made her abode. +He found her within the grotto, singing sweetly while she wove a fine +web on a golden loom. + +All about the grotto there was a grove of cypress-trees in which birds +of gay colors were sporting and springs of pure water bubbling, and +the fragrance of strange flowers filled the air. When Hermes had gazed +upon these wonders he entered the grotto. It was bright with a blazing +fire on a spacious hearth, and fragrant with the odor of burning cedar +and cypress. + +Calypso saw him as he came in and knew him. She bade him sit down +on a throne dazzling with jewels, and, placing a table before him +laden with nectar and ambrosia, invited him to eat and drink. After +he had finished his repast, Hermes told her that Zeus had sent him +to her with the command that she should send Odysseus without delay +to his native land. Having given this message, he disappeared, leaving +Calypso in great grief. + +Odysseus in the meantime sat by the shore mourning and gazing out +upon the sea. Calypso found him there, sitting alone, weeping and +longing for his home. She stood by him and said: "Odysseus, my unhappy +friend, do not waste thy life any longer in sorrow. The end of thy +grief has come. Arise and prepare to depart for thy home. Build thee +a raft of the trunks of trees which thou shalt hew down. I will put +bread and water and delicate wine on board; and I will clothe thee +in comfortable garments, and send a favorable wind that thou mayest +safely reach thy native land." + +Thus spoke the lovely goddess, but Odysseus could hardly believe her, +and said: "I fear, O goddess, that thou hast some other thought in +thy mind, and that thou dost not wish to send me home when thou biddest +me sail over this stormy and dangerous sea. I shall never go on to +the raft against thy wish, and thou must swear the great oath of the +gods that no harm shall come to me." + +The goddess smiled at these words, and, taking the hero by the hand, +rejoined: "Thou art a wise man, and thy answer is well made. I will +pledge thee a solemn oath, by the heavens and the earth, and the waters +of the Styx, that I have no plan of evil against thee. And I advise +thee to do as I have instructed thee, to be ready for any crisis." + +Speaking thus, the goddess went into the grotto and Odysseus followed +her. When he had come into the spacious hall, he sat down on his throne +and the nymph brought him rich food and wine. Then she took a seat +opposite him, and her attendants brought her ambrosia and nectar, +which she would gladly have shared with Odysseus, that he, too, might +become an immortal. + +When the repast was over, Calypso narrated to him all the trials he +would have to undergo before he could reach his native land. While +she was relating these things the sun sank down, and darkness came +upon the island, and all who had their abode in the grotto sought +rest and slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER VI +ODYSSEUS CONSTRUCTS A RAFT AND LEAVES THE ISLAND + + +At daybreak the goddess gave Odysseus a large axe and a sharp adze, +and led him to the heights of the island, where the largest trees +grew. He went to work at once and cut down twenty trees, which he +hewed into proper shape, and then tied them together with ropes which +he himself made of bark. + +In this way he built a raft which was very large and strong enough +to stand the onset of the waves. He wove a railing of willow and fitted +it around the sides of the raft, to protect himself against the dashing +waves; and he raised a strong mast with sails shaped to it, and tightly +bound by cords and ropes. He filled the crevices of the raft with +wax and pitch and attached a rudder. + +At the end of the fourth day his work was all done, and his little +ship was ready to be launched. On the fifth day the beautiful goddess +prepared the hero a bath and gave him new garments fragrant with +perfumes. She went down to the boat with him and put on board a skin +of dark-red wine, a larger one full of water, and a bag of dainty +food. Then she bade Odysseus a kind farewell, and sent a gentle and +friendly wind to waft him over the waves. + +Odysseus was wild with joy at the thought that he was really on his +way home once more. He spread his sails to catch the breeze and took +his seat at the helm, steering the vessel with great skill. He did +not dare to take any sleep, for he had to watch the sky and stars +constantly and use them as guides on his course. He sailed along in +this way seventeen days. On the eighteenth he spied land in the +distance. It was the land of the Phaeacians, lying like a dark spot +off in the sea. + +Then Poseidon, who was returning from Ethiopia, saw him, and his wrath +grew hot against the hero. He raised up his head and said to himself: +"Alas! the gods have strangely changed their minds about Odysseus +during my absence in Africa. Behold! in a little while he will be +in the land of the Phaeacians, where he will find an end to his troubles. +Nevertheless, it is in my power to chastise him." + +Speaking thus, Poseidon called the clouds together, and seizing his +trident he stirred up the sea; then he set loose all the winds until +there was a general hurricane, and he wrapped heaven and earth in +the thick darkness of night. + +The mighty waves dashed over the raft, and Odysseus sank on his knees +and trembled. With a deep groan he said: "Ah me, unhappy! Am I to +bear more disasters? I fear that the warning of the goddess was too +true, and that I shall be for a long time cast about on the waves +before I reach home. With what dark clouds Zeus has shrouded the sky! +The storm grows wild. What terrible waves are these! Helplessly I +must perish. Happy the Greeks who fell before Troy, fighting for their +country! Would that I, too, had met death the day when the Trojans +hurled their spears at me as they strove to take the body of Achilles. +If I had died then, the Greeks would have buried me with great honors. +Now I shall die an inglorious death." + +As he spoke a huge wave struck the raft with such terrible force that +it whirled it around and overturned it. The helm was wrung from his +hand and he fell into the angry breakers. The mast was snapped in +two and the ropes and sails flew off into the sea. + +Odysseus was under water a long time, striving in vain to come to +the surface. Finally he rose, spitting the bitter brine out of his +mouth. Although he was in such a desperate plight, his mind was on +the raft. Battling bravely with the waves he reached it, and springing +on board sat down in the middle of it. Thus he escaped death. + +The angry waves tossed him hither and thither as the wind scatters +the leaves over a field. Then Ino, the daughter of Cadmus, saw him +and took pity on him. She took the form of a bird, and, perching on +his raft, she said to him: "O, luckless man! why is Poseidon so angry +with thee? Fear nothing, however; he cannot take thy life. Obey me +and thou shalt not suffer much longer. Lay aside thy clothes, leave +the raft to the mercy of the winds and waves, and swim to the land. +Take my veil and wind it about thy breast, and thou shalt not have +anything to fear. As soon as thou hast reached the land, take it off +and throw it back into the sea. Then hurry away inland." + +Odysseus hesitated to follow Ino's advice, fearing some treachery. +But Poseidon sent a huge wave which struck him and scattered the raft +as if it were dry chaff. Then Odysseus at once got astride of the +swimming timber. He bound the veil around his breast and bravely +plunged into the boiling waters. + +Poseidon saw him, and shaking his head he said: "I verily believe +thou wilt come out alive from the sea. But the sea has had thee long +enough, so that thou wilt know its power hereafter and fear it." Saying +this he lashed up his horses and drove off. + + + + +CHAPTER VII +ODYSSEUS IS SAVED ON THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA + + +Athena, the daughter of Zeus, seeing Odysseus struggling through the +waves, pitied him, and bade the winds become quiet. Two days and two +nights Odysseus floated about, but on the third the wind calmed down +and the sea became smooth. + +In a short time he found himself near land once more. But the shore +was wild and full of sharp rocks and high cliffs. He could see no +place on which to set foot, and he grew downhearted. His knees gave +way, and, groaning deeply, he cried out: "O, luckless one! In vain +have I braved the dangers of the sea to escape death. Now all hope +has abandoned me, since there is no way for me to get out of the water. +I fear that when I try to approach the land the waves will throw me +against the cliffs, and should I try to find a safe landing-place +by swimming, the surf may carry me back into the wild sea, where some +sea-monster will swallow me up. Whatever I may do, I see no help for +me." + +While he pondered over these things a huge wave cast him on the foamy +shore. His bones were nearly broken, and he lay exhausted until the +wave returned, when he was hurled again with great force back into +the sea. Now the unfortunate wanderer took to swimming as his last +resort, and reached the mouth of a river, where he was able to land. + +Too tired to breathe or speak, he sank down in a swoon. His knees +and arms trembled, and his whole body was bruised and swollen. When +his senses returned he rose and untied the veil that Ino had given +him and cast it back into the sea. Then he knelt down and kissed the +earth, and moved to a sheltered spot where a wild and a tame olive-tree +were standing close together, whose branches had mingled with one +another, and there he found a safe hiding-place. + +Then the godlike Odysseus lay down on a bed of dry leaves, covering +himself up as one does an ember, lest it should go out. Athena came +and poured sweet sleep over his eyes, that he might find quiet rest +after all his toils. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII +NAUSICAA IS SENT TO THE RIVER BY ATHENA + + +While Odysseus lay in a deep sleep, the goddess Athena went to the +royal dwelling of the king of the Phaeacians, Alkinoos, in order to +hasten the return of Odysseus to his native land. She entered the +house, where she found Nausicaa, the king's daughter, sleeping in +her beautiful chamber. Near her lay two maids who served her. + +Athena came as softly as a breath of air, and caused the maiden to +dream that her marriage-day was near and that it was her duty to arise +and hasten to the place by the river where they washed their clothing. +In her dream the princess seemed to hear Athena say: "Nausicaa, why +art thou so slothful? Thy beautiful robes lie neglected and thy +wedding-day is at hand, on which thou surely shouldst wear garments +of dazzling whiteness, and thou shouldst give such garments to those +maidens who lead thee forth to thy bridegroom. Therefore, as soon +as day breaks thou must ask thy father to give thee a pair of mules, +and we will hasten to the washing-place down by the river." + +At the first dawn of day Nausicaa went in haste to her father and +mother to tell them of her dream. She found them in their splendid +hall. Her mother sat with her maidens spinning, and the king stood +on the threshold, just going forth to meet his chiefs in council. +The princess approached her father and said: "Dearest father, I pray +that thou wilt give me two mules and a wagon, that I may go with my +maids to the river and take all the clothes that need washing, for +it becomes the king and his sons to wear clean garments when they +go to the council of the chiefs. Thou hast five sons, three of whom +are youths not wedded, and they should be provided with fresh robes; +they will need them in the dance." + +The king smiled, for he saw what was in her mind, and he ordered the +mules. Then his beautiful daughter brought from the linen-room the +soiled garments and put them on the wagon, while the queen prepared +a goodly lunch of cold meat and bread and a skin of sweet wine. + +Nausicaa further received from her mother a bottle of fragrant oil +with which to anoint herself after the washing. Then she mounted the +wagon, seized the whip and reins, and drove out of the city, the +maidens of her train following her on foot. + +When they came to the place where the river was flowing bright and +clear, they unhitched the mules and let them browse along the bank. +Then they took their garments down from the wagon and tossed them +into the marble vats which they had filled with the limpid water of +the stream. When they had washed them clean they spread them on the +white pebbles to dry. Having finished the task, they took a bath and +anointed themselves with oil. Then they sat down on the shore and +ate their lunch. + +The repast over, they began to play ball. First the white-armed +Nausicaa threw the ball. She looked as tall and royal among her maids +as did Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, among her nymphs. + +Nausicaa sang a song as they frolicked on the sand. + +When it was time to go home they put the clean garments upon the wagon +and harnessed up the mules. Just as they started, Nausicaa once more +threw the ball to one of the maidens, who failed to catch it. The +ball rebounded from the rocks and fell into the river, at which the +girls raised such a shout that Odysseus, who was sleeping close by, +awoke. + +He opened his eyes and sat up, saying to himself: "Woe is me! Have +I reached a country where people dwell? Are they wild and inhospitable, +or friendly to the stranger and god-fearing? It seems to me I heard +cries of women. Perhaps they were those of the nymphs who inhabit +the mountain heights, the springs of rivers, and the green meadows, +or those of people who live near by. But I will see who they are." + +So Odysseus clothed himself as best he could, by winding slender +branches covered with leaves about him, and left the thicket where +he was hidden. He went in the direction of the voices, stalking along +like a great lion. When the girls saw him they shrieked and scattered +in every direction. Nausicaa alone stood her ground, for Athena gave +her courage. When Odysseus saw her he wondered which would be the +better, to throw himself at the feet of the maiden and beg her to +give him some clothes and to show him the way to the city, or to speak +to her with more formality. + +It seemed better to him to remain at a distance, and so he addressed +her gently, saying: "O queen, I know not whether thou art a goddess +or a woman. If thou art a goddess, I should take thee to be Artemis, +because thou art so tall and graceful. If, however, thou art a mortal, +thrice happy thy father and honored mother. Greatly must they rejoice +when they see their beautiful child in the choral dance. But he will +be the happiest who shall win thee for a bride. + +"I once saw a young palm-tree growing up beside Apollo's altar in +the island of Delos. It was the most beautiful tree the earth ever +produced, and I gazed upon it with wonder and reverence. So am I amazed +at thy beauty, and I fear to approach thee and throw myself as a +suppliant at thy feet, although I am in sore distress, for great +misfortunes have befallen me. + +"It was only last night that I escaped from the sea. On my way from +Calypso's isle I was driven about for twenty days by the angry waves +in a violent storm. Now some god has cast me on this shore to make +me undergo new trials, for I do not believe my sufferings have come +to an end. Have pity on me, O queen, because thou art the first human +being I have met after so many misfortunes. + +"I do not know one person in this country. Show me thy city, I pray, +and give me an old robe to wear, no matter how coarse and poor, and +may the gods bestow all blessings upon thee." + +Nausicaa looked at Odysseus in pity and answered: "Stranger, thou +dost not seem to me to be a man of mean birth or breeding, and thou +art surely in distress. But it is Zeus who distributes gifts to mortals, +both the good and the evil things of life, and thou must submit to +his will with patience. + +"Since thou hast come into our land devoid of all things, even garments, +and art helpless, I will give thee clothing and tell thee the way +to the city. And I will tell thee about the people living in it, for +I am the daughter of the king, Alkinoos, who reigns over this island." +When Nausicaa had spoken thus to Odysseus, she turned to her maids +and commanded them not to flee from the wanderer, but to bring him +food and drink, since Zeus sent the poor and the stranger to be cared +for. + +And she told them to lead him to some lonely spot by the side of the +river, where he might bathe at his ease. So the maids came back and +led the hero to a sheltered place and laid a cloak and tunic on the +sand, and the bottle of oil which the queen had given Nausicaa, that +Odysseus might anoint and clothe himself after his bath; then they +ran back to the princess. + +Odysseus bathed in the fresh water of the river and washed the salt +sea-foam from his hair, and when the bath was over he put on the robes +that Nausicaa had sent. Athena shed a halo of beauty over him and +caused him to look taller and stronger than before. + +As he walked along the beach to rejoin the maidens, they admired his +noble and kingly bearing, and Nausicaa said to her maids: "Surely +this man does not come among our godlike brothers against the will +of the gods. I thought him rough and homely, but now he seems like +one of the immortals. I would that I might call a man like him my +husband. Make haste to give him food and wine, for he has fasted a +long time." + +The maids hastened to obey. They looked over what was left of the +abundant lunch and bade Odysseus eat and drink, which he was glad +to do. The princess then yoked up the mules and they started for home. + + + + +CHAPTER IX +ODYSSEUS ARRIVES AT THE PALACE OF ALKINOOS + + +After Nausicaa had mounted to her seat on the cart, she said to +Odysseus: "Get ready now, stranger, and we will lead thee to my +father's palace, where thou wilt meet the chiefs of the Phaeacians. +If thou art wise, take well to heart what I shall say to thee. As +long as we are at a good distance from the city there is no harm in +going along with us. Just follow close to the wagon with my maids. + +"But when we come near to the town thou must go more slowly and tarry +behind a little, till we have reached my father's hall, because I +dread the gossip of the baser sort of people whom we may meet. After +thou hast seen us enter the city, then thou mayest enter it also and +inquire the way to the king's palace. It is very beautiful. Thou mayest +easily find it by thyself, for there is no other house in the city +as large as ours. + +"Enter at once and find my mother and sue to her for protection and +help, that thou mayest reach thy native land and thy dear ones again." + +Having spoken these words, Nausicaa touched the mules with her long +whip and they quickly left the river, wending their way toward the +city. They reached it at sunset, but Odysseus sat down in the sacred +grove of Athena, outside of the city to wait, and prayed to the goddess +that he might receive pity from the people of Phaeacia. + +While he prayed, the damsels went on and soon reached the king's palace. +Nausicaa's brothers came out and welcomed them, and unhitched the +mules. When Odysseus had given them time to get home, he arose and +found his way to the town. He had hardly entered it when Athena, in +the form of a young girl carrying a pitcher of water, met him. + +"My daughter," Odysseus said to her, "canst thou show me the way to +the king's palace? I am a stranger, and here for the first time." +Athena answered him: "With pleasure, stranger; the king is our +neighbor. Follow me, and I will lead thee thither. But on the way +do not greet anyone or ask questions, for the people here are not +fond of those who come from other lands." + +Thus spoke Athena and pursued her way with Odysseus following her. +She threw a veil of darkness over the hero to hide him from rude gazers. +Odysseus beheld the beautiful port with astonishment--the large +ships, the great market-place, and the high walls of the city. + +When they reached the palace, the girl stopped and said: "This is +the house of the king. Go in without any fear, for they love brave +men, even when they come from afar. The first thing to do is to find +the queen, whose name is Arete. + +"She is greatly honored by the king, and all the people treat her +as if she were a goddess, on account of her gentleness and virtue. +In case the queen looks upon thee with favor, thou mayest be sure +of safely reaching home." + +Having spoken these words, the goddess took a friendly leave of the +hero, and he entered the outer hall of Alkinoos, where he was +bewildered by the splendor. The walls were of brass, the doors of +gold, and the thresholds and lintels of pure silver. On each side +of the main entrance gold and silver dogs stood guard. They were +endowed with life and were immortal, the work and gift of the divine +Hephaestus. + +There were two rows of splendid seats in the large dining-hall. They +were covered with costly mats, and the Phaeacian leaders were wont +to sit there and enjoy themselves. Golden statues of boys with lighted +torches in their hands stood on beautiful pedestals and spread light +over the merry banquets. There were fifty maid-servants in the palace. +Some of them were grinding corn in the mill. Some spent their time +in spinning and weaving, for as the men were renowned sailors, the +women also were famous for making fine cloth. + +There was a large orchard all around the palace, surrounded by a thick +hedge. In the orchard there was a great variety of fruit-trees--pear, +apple, pomegranate, olive, and fig. The trees were never bare of fruit, +either in summer or in winter, for an ever-blowing west wind created +such a mild climate that the trees were constantly blooming and +ripening their fruit. + +There was to be seen a tree full of blossoms, while another bent down +under the load of ripe fruit. Thus it was with the grape-vines in +the vineyard close to the orchard. Some were blooming, others had +only begun to form fruit-buds, while some were loaded with ripe +clusters ready for the wine-press. At the end of the orchard there +was a magnificent flower-garden, in which the most fragrant flowers +were blooming. Two springs also bubbled from the ground. One watered +the orchard, and the other ran to the very door of the palace, and +all the people filled their pitchers there. Such were the gifts +Alkinoos had received from the gods. + + + + +CHAPTER X +ODYSSEUS IN THE HALLS OF ALKINOOS + + +After Odysseus had contemplated these wonders to his heart's content, +he entered the main hall. There he found the leaders of the Phaeacians +bringing offerings of wine to Hermes, as the hour of sleep had arrived, +and this was always their last ceremony before seeking slumber. No +one saw Odysseus as he crossed the spacious room and came close to +the king and queen, for he was still concealed in the thick mist which +Athena had thrown round him. Suddenly the cloud vanished, and Odysseus +threw himself at the feet of Arete, and raised his voice in +supplication. + +"Arete," he prayed, "I have come to thy husband and to thy feet through +many hardships and sorrows. May the gods give thee a long and happy +life. For many years I have been a wanderer from home and all I love. +I beg that thou wilt give me a guide and send me to my own land." + +When Odysseus had spoken these words he sat down amidst the ashes, +close to the fire, and all the guests grew silent and looked at him +with wonder. Then the oldest of the chiefs arose and said: "Alkinoos, +this is not a royal seat for a stranger, among the cinders of the +hearth. I pray thee, raise him up and place him on a throne, and order +the heralds to fill a cup with wine, that we may pour a libation to +Zeus, the protector of suppliants, and bid the guest welcome to our +good cheer." + +Then Alkinoos arose and took Odysseus by the hand. He led him to a +splendid throne but little lower than his own, while the herald placed +a table before him loaded with dainty food. When Odysseus had eaten +and drunk, the attendants filled the cups to pour libations in honor +of Zeus, and Alkinoos said to them: "Listen, ye leaders and chiefs +of the Phaeacians. To-morrow we shall greet the stranger in our palace +with honors and offer a great sacrifice to the gods. And then we will +consider the best way of sending him home. But if we should find that +he is a god instead of a mortal, we will do what seems best, for the +gods do sometimes visit us in human shape." + +Then said Odysseus: "Nay, Alkinoos, I am not a god, nor like the gods +in form or looks. I am only a wanderer, and I could tell of fearful +sorrows; and I would willingly die if I could only see my home once +more." + +The guests all greeted Odysseus with approving words, and promised +to aid him. Then they rose, and each man went to his own home. + +Odysseus remained in the hall with Arete and Alkinoos. As they +conversed, the queen noticed the garments of Odysseus, because she +had woven them herself, and she said to him: "Stranger, who art thou, +and from what land? Didst thou not say thou hadst come here after +many wanderings and voyages on the stormy sea? Who gave thee garments +of my weaving?" + +Odysseus answered her: "It would not be easy, gracious queen, to tell +about all my hardships and sufferings. Yet I will do thy bidding. +I was shipwrecked long since, and thrown upon an island far out in +the sea, where Calypso, the daughter of Atlas, lives. She cared for +me most kindly, and would have made me, like herself, an immortal, +but I chose instead the hope of seeing my own native land. + +"The goddess detained me seven long years on her island before she +bade me start for home. I built a raft, which she stored with food, +and she sent a pleasant breeze to carry me across the waters. But +Poseidon stirred the winds and waves against me, and I was thrown +upon the shores of this island, near the lavers, where thy daughter +and her maids went to wash the household linen. There the princess +found me, and supplied me with food and the garments I have on." + +"One duty my daughter left undone," Alkinoos said. "She should have +brought thee home with her." "Do not blame her, I entreat," replied +Odysseus, "for she bade me come with her maids, but I lingered in +a grove to offer a prayer to Athena." When Alkinoos had heard this +tale from Odysseus, he promised once more to give him a ship and +sailors to escort him home. + +Meanwhile the queen bade her servants prepare a bed for the hero out +on the portico, and they covered a couch with shaggy rugs and purple +tapestries, where he could rest. With a grateful heart Odysseus arose, +and, thanking the king for his generous hospitality, sought the bed, +where he gave himself to happy dreams. + +Odysseus rose early the next morning and went with Alkinoos to the +market-place, close to the sea, where all the Phaeacians had assembled. +The people gazed with admiration at their stranger-guest, for Athena +lent him greater dignity and beauty, and she went among the crowds, +moving their hearts to sympathy with him. + +Alkinoos then addressed the assembled multitude: "Hear me, ye chiefs +of the Phaeacians," he said. "This stranger has come to our land after +many wanderings and adventures. And he asks me to send him back to +his own country. Let us fit out a ship for him quickly and launch +it, and give him fifty-two young men from among our best sailors, +who shall get everything ready for the long journey. + +"While they are doing this the stranger shall come to my halls with +the chiefs and princes, where we will make a great banquet. Summon +also the bard, Demodokos, that he may enliven the festival with his +harp and songs." + +Having spoken, Alkinoos rose and led his guest back to the palace, +the princes following him. Fifty-two youths were soon chosen from +among the best seamen, and they launched a ship speedily and went +up to the royal palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XI +THE BANQUET IN HONOR OF ODYSSEUS + + +Alkinoos now ordered a sumptuous feast in honor of his guest. When +the table was spread, the herald who had gone for Demodokos came in +leading the bard, who was blind. The gods had deprived him of sight, +but had bestowed upon him the gift of song. They gave him a seat on +a silver throne, amid the guests, and hung his harp against a lofty +pillar, close above his head, where he could easily reach it. + +When all had eaten and drunk as much as they desired, Demodokos took +his lyre and began to sing about the heroes of Troy. It was a song +whose fame had reached over the whole world, the story of a friendly +strife between Achilles and Odysseus before Troy, in which Achilles +held that Troy would fall by force, but Odysseus maintained that it +would come to an end through the cunning of a few brave Greeks. + +All the guests enjoyed listening to the thrilling song, but Odysseus +was deeply touched, and tears fell from his eyes. He brushed them +away stealthily, so that no one should observe them, and drew a large +purple veil over his face until the song was finished, when he put +it away and took a goblet of wine, which he poured out on the ground +as a libation to the gods. + +Again the minstrel took his harp and sang, and again Odysseus wept. +Alkinoos noticed that the song of Demodokos moved Odysseus to tears, +and thought it might be well to stay the music awhile and begin the +games, that the stranger might witness the athletic skill of the +Phaeacians. All the princes instantly arose and walked down to the +market-place, the king leading and the people following. + +When the chiefs had taken their seats a great number of young men +hastened forward to begin the games. Some of them darted over the +plain in a foot-race, raising a cloud of dust. Others strove with +all their might in wrestling-matches, while some threw the quoit or +played at boxing and leaping. After they had enjoyed looking at the +games, Laodamas, a son of Alkinoos, said to his friends: "Let us ask +the stranger to take part in the games. His strong arms and legs and +powerful neck show that he is no weakling. Nor has he lost his youthful +vigor after all his hardships, although nothing tires a man so much +as being tossed about on the sea." + +Then the friends of Laodamas advised him to challenge Odysseus to +take part in the games; and this seemed right to the prince, so he +said to him: "Father, I think thou must be skilful in these games. +Let us see thee try them. We will not delay thee long. Thy ship is +ready for thee on the sea, and the crew is there, waiting. But there +is no greater glory or pleasure for a man than to excel in swiftness +of foot and strength of muscle." + +Odysseus answered him: "Why dost thou urge me, O Laodamas? How can +I take part in the games or find any pleasure in them after all that +I have suffered? Here I sit, a suppliant, praying to be sent back +to my wife and home." Then Euryalos scoffed at him, saying: "Thou +art right, stranger, for thy countenance shows thou art anything but +an athlete. + +"Methinks thou art the owner of some merchant-vessel. Thou art a +trader, whose head is full of bargains. Such men can take heed of +nothing except how to increase wealth." + +These mocking words vexed Odysseus, and he retorted: "My friend, thou +dost not speak like a man of good mind. The gods do not bestow their +gifts equally on all men. To thee they have given great beauty, but +they have denied thee wit. Thy words carry no weight. Learn, then, +that I am not unskilled in the games. When I was young and strong +I was one of the best athletes. But even now, after all my shipwrecks +and hardships, I will strive with thee, for thy words are offensive +and challenge me to the proof." + +Having said this, Odysseus seized a much larger and heavier quoit +than the Phaeacian prince could use, and swinging it in his powerful +hand he hurled it forth. The stone whirred through the air and fell +to the ground away beyond the marks of the other disks. Then Athena +took the form of a Phaeacian and set a mark where the quoit fell, +and exclaimed as she did so: "Stranger, even a blind man could easily +find thy mark, for it is far beyond the others. Sit down in peace +and do not fear that anybody else can throw so far." Odysseus was +pleased when he heard these friendly words. With a light heart he +said to the Phaeacian youths: "Reach my mark, if you can, young men, +and I will send a stone farther yet. But if you cannot reach it, and +prefer a match at boxing or wrestling or foot-race, come forth. I +am ready to try any of the games with you. I can throw a spear farther +than any of you can shoot an arrow. I fear nothing unless it may be +the foot-race, for I have lost my strength with want of food and being +tossed by the waves." + +He ended, and King Alkinoos stepped forward, for the young men were +all silent. "Stranger," he said, "thou art our dearly loved guest, +and no one can doubt thy bravery. We do not boast that we are fine +boxers or wrestlers. We excel in the dance and are unsurpassed in +sailing ships. Come, then, young men, show your skill in dancing, +that our guest may tell his people when he reaches his home how much +we outdo all others in that art. And let a herald hasten to the palace +and bring the lyre of Demodokos, which has been left there." + +The young men arranged themselves in two rows on the polished floors +and began the dance, while the minstrel, standing in their midst, +played on the lyre and sang most sweetly. Odysseus looked on and +greatly admired the swift and rhythmical movements of their feet. +All danced very well; but two of the sons of the king came out and +danced alone, for none of the others equalled them. One of them held +a golden ball in his hand, and bending backward threw it so high that +it seemed to touch the clouds. The other sprang up and caught it easily +before it touched the ground. + +They both danced, going through intricate and rhythmical figures, +while the other young men stood around in a circle and clapped their +hands, keeping time. Then Odysseus said to Alkinoos: "Truly, no one +excels the Phaeacian princes in dancing. I see the twinkling of their +feet with amazement." + +These words pleased Alkinoos greatly, and he said to his people: +"Listen, my chiefs, for our guest seems to be a wise man. It becomes +us now to bestow upon him the gifts of hospitality. In this land there +are twelve kings. I am the thirteenth. Let each one of us bring a +fine cloak, and a tunic, and a talent of gold, that our guest may +see them before he partakes of the evening banquet. And let Euryalos, +who spoke such scoffing words to him, try to win back his friendship +and bring a costly gift." All the chiefs approved the words of King +Alkinoos, and each one sent a servant to his house to bring a valuable +present. + +Euryalos cheerfully obeyed the king. He brought a brass sword with +a silver hilt to Odysseus, and said: "My father, if I have uttered +any offensive word to thee, may the winds scatter all remembrance +of it. May the gods grant thee a speedy return to thy country, where +thou shalt see thy wife and friends from whom thou hast so long been +separated." + +Odysseus answered: "Hail to thee, also, my friend! May the gods give +thee all that there is good, and may no need of this sword ever come +to thee." Odysseus took the sword and threw it across his shoulders. + +The sun had set, and the servants carried the gifts to the royal palace, +where the queen took care of them. King Alkinoos led the way to the +palace, his guest at his side and the princes following. When they +had taken their seats on high thrones, the king told his wife to lay +the royal presents in a chest, adding a much richer cloak and tunic +than anyone else had given as a gift from himself. + +Arete did as her husband wished, and placed a beautiful cup of gold +also in the chest, and led Odysseus up to look at the presents. Then +she taught him how to lock the chest and unlock it, and her maids +called him to a warm bath, after which he anointed himself with +fragrant oil and put on fresh garments. + +While he was wending his way to the men who sat before their wine, +he met Nausicaa in her goddess-like beauty, standing near a pillar. +"Stranger, farewell," she said. "I wish thee joy and a safe return +to thy native land. Do not forget that I was the first to befriend +thee in the land of the Phaeacians." + +Odysseus answered: "May the gods be as sure to favor my return to +my home as I shall be to make a prayer daily in thy behalf, fair maiden, +who hath saved my life." Then Odysseus entered the great hall and +took his place at the feast. + + + + +CHAPTER XII +ODYSSEUS RELATES HIS ADVENTURES + + +When they had all eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, the hero +begged Demodokos to sing about the invention of the wooden horse with +which Odysseus had artfully tricked the Trojans to their own +destruction. + +The minstrel felt the inspiration of the song, and began where the +Greeks threw firebrands into their own tents and sailed away from +Troy, pretending that they had given up the war. + +He told how the Trojans wondered what to do with the huge wooden horse +which the enemy had left in their city, whether to hew it to pieces +and burn it, or to drag it to the edge of a high rock and throw it +over, or whether to spare it as an act of reverence to the gods. This +last was done, and in the night Odysseus and his men came out of the +great wooden trap and set fire to the city while the men of Troy slept. + +As Demodokos sang, tears rolled down the cheeks of Odysseus. but no +one noticed his weeping except the king, who said: "It is better to +stop the song of Demodokos, as it does not delight us all. Ever since +the bard began to sing, our guest has been weeping. He carries some +great trouble in his heart. Let the song cease, and let us all make +merry. Let no grief mar our banquet. And, honored stranger, tell us +the name of thy father, and the city which is thy home. Our seamen +shall take thee safely to thine own land, although there is a prophecy +that one of our good ships shall be changed into a high rock, to stand +forever in front of our city, if we show such courtesies to strangers. + +"Tell us truly who thou art and whither thou hast roamed, what tribes +of men thou hast seen, and why thou dost weep when the minstrel sings +of Troy. Didst thou lose a noble kinsman there, or a dear friend? +For a friend is often dearer than a brother." Odysseus replied: "In +truth, O king, it is a pleasant thing to listen to a bard like Demodokos, +for his voice is as sweet as the voice of a god. + +"And I cannot think of anything more delightful than the joy of a +contented people listening to a great poet and singer while seated +at a feast in a royal hall. But I pine to be at home, and I will declare +my name and tell the story of my sufferings. + +"I am the chieftain Odysseus, son of Laertes, and widely known to +fame. I dwell in sunny Ithaca, whose high mountains are seen from +afar, covered with rustling trees. Around it are many smaller islands, +full of people. Ithaca has low shores on the east. It is a rugged +island, but it is the sweetest land on earth, and has a noble race +of mortals. When the Trojan war was at an end, I started for home +with my twelve ships, but a contrary wind drove us to Ismaros, the +city of the Kikonians. + +"We captured it and put the inhabitants to the sword. Then I exhorted +my comrades to fly, but, like madmen, they remained on the sea-shore. +Then they slaughtered a large number of sheep and oxen and made a +feast. The Kikonians called on their strong neighbors to come and +help them, and they came in swarms with their brazen spears. They +fell upon our men and killed six of them from each ship, and drove +the rest back to their boats. + +"Brisk handling of our oars soon carried us out into the sea, but +Jove sent a hurricane that tore our sails and split our masts, so +that our sailors drew them into the ships in fear. Two days and nights +we lay helpless in our boats, worn out with fear and grief, but the +third day the sun shone on us again, and we raised the masts and sails +to take the breeze, hoping to reach our own land." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII +THE LOTUS-EATERS AND THE CYCLOPS + + +"We sailed onward in a westerly direction, heading for the Grecian +shore, and thought our trials would soon be at an end. But in this +we were disappointed, for when we were about to round the cape at +the southern point of Greece, we met an evil wind which always blows +there, and it drove us far to the east, beyond the island of Cythera. + +"Nine days and nine nights we were driven about on the sea by the +violent storm, and on the tenth we reached the land of the Lotus-eaters. +These men eat flowers that look like water-lilies, and they have no +other food. We landed on the shore of the mainland, and my comrades +took their evening meal close to the boats. + +"When our hunger was satisfied, I sent out two of the best men to +explore the country about and find out what sort of people the +Lotus-eaters were. I sent a herald with them, whom they might send +back with the news. + +"They soon found themselves among the Lotus-eaters, who were gentle +and friendly, and gave them the lotus plant to eat. This food is +pleasant to the taste, but dangerous; for anyone who eats of it loses +all desire to return to his own home. He forgets his cares and troubles, +but also his friends. + +"As soon as my comrades had eaten of the lotus, they became attached +to the Lotus-eaters, and desired to remain with them. They wept +bitterly when I commanded them to return to the ships, and I was +obliged to force them to go. + +"I bound them down to the benches in the ships, and the whole company +went on board in haste lest they should never think of their homes +again. Each man bent to his oars, and the waves were soon white with +the beating of the ships against them as we sailed with all haste +in the direction of our own land. + +"We sailed about on unknown seas and with sorrowing hearts until we +came to the land of the Cyclops. They are a wild people who have no +laws. They never plough the fields nor plant them, for everything +grows of its own accord--wheat, and barley, and the vine. The grapes +yield good wine. The Cyclops do not come together in a friendly way, +but live in caves near the mountain tops, each one in his own den. +They do not care much for one another, and each rules his wife and +children as he likes. + +"There is a little woody island lying at the entrance to the land +of the Cyclops, on which swarm numberless wild goats, never disturbed +by human beings, for the Cyclops have no ships to take them over. +This island is very fertile, but there are no sheep to eat the grass +and no people to plough the fields. The goats are the only inhabitants. +The island has a harbor which is safe, and the ships that enter it +have no need of anchors or fastenings. + +"In the midst of the harbor there is a cliff, from which bubbles forth +a spring of excellent water, and poplar-trees grow all around it. +The soil is so rich it might bear all kinds of fruit, if there were +anyone to plant them. There are beautiful meadows all along the coast, +which are gay with yellow fruit and pink blossoms. + +"We were shaping our course toward this island, and a good breeze +brought us there on a dark night. The moon did not shine and none +of the crew saw the land until we were upon the shore. We lowered +our sails and rested there until morning. When daylight appeared we +beheld with wonder the island where the wild goats abounded. My +comrades walked around, admiring the beauty of the place, while the +nymphs, daughters of Zeus, roused the goats that they might give us +milk. We took our bows and arrows from the ships immediately and, +forming three hunting-parties, killed a great number of the nimble +creatures. Each of my twelve ships received nine goats as its share, +but mine received ten. The remainder of the day we passed in eating +and drinking." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV +THE CAVE OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"The next day I started with twelve men, the crew of my own ship, +to find out what kind of men inhabited the country opposite us, leaving +all the other boats and their men on the island. When we sailed up +to the coast of the mainland, we heard the voices of giants, and the +bleating of their sheep and goats. And we saw a cave with a high roof, +over whose entrance grew laurel shrubs, and many cattle, sheep, and +goats were lying around at rest. We found an enclosure of rough stone +in the form of a court, with tall pines and leafy oaks at the mouth +of the cave. + +"The largest giant of all the race of Cyclops dwelt there and took +care of his cattle all alone. Usually he spent his time prowling all +by himself around the mountains. He had nothing to do with his +neighbors, but led a solitary life, plotting wicked deeds. He looked +more like a huge mountain top, with shaggy overhanging forests, +towering above other mountains, than a human being. + +"We were soon inside the cave, but we did not find the owner at home. +We had carried with us a wine-skin full of wine which a priest of +Apollo had given us. The wine was very fragrant and so pleasant that +no one who had once tasted it, could let it alone. We had taken along +a basket of food also, for fear of meeting with men of great strength +and no sense of the courtesy due to strangers. + +"As we looked around the cave we wondered at what we saw. There were +baskets all about heaped with cheeses, and pens of lambs separated +into three folds, the older in one pen, the younger in another, and +the youngest in a third. And there were pails full of whey, and buckets +of milk. My companions ate as much of the cheese as they liked, after +which they begged to drive all the lambs and kids down to the ship. + +"But I would not allow this. It was my wish to stay there and see +the cave-dweller and find out what kind of a man he was. I thought +he would give me a handsome present, according to the laws of +hospitality. It was cold in the cave, so we lit a fire and sat down +to wait for the owner to arrive. + +"He came toward evening, carrying a load of wood on his back, which +he threw down with such a crash that my men ran with terror into the +corners of the cave. The giant drove all such sheep and goats as would +give him milk into the cave, leaving the others in the outside court, +and then closed up the entrance with a rock so large that twenty-four +four-wheeled wagons could not have moved it. Having done this, he +sat down and milked the sheep and goats and gave to each its young +one. + +"Next, he curdled half of the milk and put the curd into woven baskets, +but he kept the other half for his evening meal. When he had ended +this work he lit a fire, and seeing the strangers he began to ask +them questions, to find out who they were. His voice was deep and +frightful, like the rumbling of a volcano, and our hearts trembled, +but I found words to answer him: 'We are Greeks, and come from Troy. +It was our intention to return home, but contrary winds have driven +us on this shore. + +"'We belong to the army of Agamemnon, whose fame is very great because +he has overcome a strong city and conquered many nations. But now +we throw ourselves at thy feet and pray that thou wilt receive us +as guests, or else give us the gifts that are due to strangers, lest +the gods avenge us.' + +"Having said this, I stopped, but the Cyclops told us that we were +fools to believe in the gods. 'The Cyclops,' he said, 'care nothing +for the gods. We are better than they are. If I spare thee it will +be of my own free will, and not for fear of the gods. But where are +thy ships? Are they near here or far off?' This he said hoping to +deceive us, but I saw through his trick, and replied: 'The storm has +thrown our ships upon the cliffs and broken them to pieces, and we +had to swim for our lives.' + +"The cruel monster did not answer me again, but he seized two of my +companions and dashed them to the ground with such force that they +died on the spot. He devoured them as a lion devours his prey. He +left nothing of them, neither bones nor flesh nor hair. We wept aloud +and prayed to Zeus with our hearts full of despair." + + + + +CHAPTER XV +THE BLINDING OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"When the monster had filled himself with food, he stretched out on +the floor of the cave to sleep. Then the thought came to me to thrust +a sword into his heart. But this was not a wise course to take, because +we should never have been able to remove the stone from the entrance +to the cave. + +"We passed the night in mourning and lamentations. As soon as daylight +appeared, the Cyclops woke up and lit a fire and milked his sheep +again. Then he seized two more of my companions and devoured them. +When his morning meal was done he rolled the stone back from the door +and drove his beasts out, not forgetting to secure the entrance. We +could hear his noisy shouts afar off as he led his flocks over the +grassy heights, and we began to make plans to destroy him. + +"We found a great club of green olive-wood in the cave; one that the +Cyclops had cut for his own use. It was as large as the mast of a +ship, and he had laid it away to dry. I cut off a fathom's length +from this club and handed the piece to my companions, who smoothed +off its sides and sharpened it at one end. This being done, I put +the sharp end of it into the fire. The stick became very hard, and +then I hid the weapon under a heap of litter which was piled up in +the cave. We cast lots to see who should assist me to put out the +eye of the Cyclops when he was asleep. + +"When evening came the Cyclops returned to the cave with his fat sheep +and kids. He seemed to suspect that there was mischief afoot, for +he did not leave any of them outside. After milking the ewes and goats +he again seized two of my companions and made his supper of them. +But I filled a large drinking-vessel with the wine from our wine-skin +and stepped boldly out and said to him: 'Here is a cup of wine which +I brought, hoping that thou wouldst spare my life, O Cyclops, for +thy wrath is boundless.' He took the cup and drank. The wine delighted +him greatly, and he handed me the cup after emptying it and said: +'Give me another draught and tell me thy name. I will give thee a +generous gift, such as becomes a host. We, too, have wine, but not +such as yours. That tastes like nectar and ambrosia.' + +"Three times I filled the cup and brought it to him, and three times +the Cyclops drank it like a madman. When the wine had overpowered +him, I said to him: 'Cyclops, thou dost wish to know my name, and +I will tell it, but thou must give me the present thou hast promised. +My name is Nobody. My father and mother gave me this name and my friends +all call me by it.' 'Then,' said the Cyclops, 'I shall eat Nobody +last of all. This is my present.' + +"After these words he fell asleep and, being very drunk, he began +to spew out the wine and flesh he had taken. I took the piece of +olive-wood which my men had sharpened and put the point of it into +the fire and held it there until it was a glowing coal. My comrades +stood near me and I encouraged them with brave words. We thrust the +burning stick into the Cyclops' eye and put it out. He howled with +pain, and, stung to madness, he seized the stick and flung it across +the cave. + +"He called to the other Cyclops, who lived in divers caves on the +surrounding mountains, while we hid ourselves in fear in the most +remote corners of the cave. The giants heard him and came running +to help him, but they could not get into the cave. They stood near +the stone, close to the door, and called out: 'What ails thee, +Polyphemus? Is anyone trying to kill thee?' 'Woe is me!' cried +Polyphemus, 'Nobody is trying to kill me.' 'Then why dost thou shout +and cry for help?' said they. 'If nobody hurts thee, then thou art +not hurt.' + +"With these words they went off, and we rejoiced greatly that my trick +had deceived them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI +ODYSSEUS AND HIS COMPANIONS LEAVE THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS + + +"Polyphemus, groaning with pain, tried to feel his way with his hands +to the mouth of the cavern. Having succeeded in this, he rolled back +the stone and sat down at the entrance and stretched out his hands +in order to catch us if we should happen to try to get out among the +sheep. + +"But we were not so foolish as to be caught in this way. There were +in the cave a number of stout and woolly rams. Of these I put three +abreast and tied them together with twigs that happened to be in the +cave. Under each middle ram I tied one of my companions. The two sheep, +one on each side of him, hid the man completely. For myself I selected +the stoutest ram of the flock, and, seizing his long shaggy wool with +my hands, held fast to him with my knees and arms. + +"The sun rose and the animals began to hasten out to the pastures. +The Cyclops, though nearly exhausted with pain, passed his hands over +the backs of the sheep to find out whether any of us were trying to +ride out of the cave. He did not find out our trick, and my companions +all escaped safely. Last of all, the ram that carried me came to the +door, because I was so heavy that he could hardly walk with me hanging +to him. + +"Polyphemus felt of his back and recognized him at once as his favorite +ram, and said: 'Dearest of all my sheep, why dost thou go last? +Commonly thou wert the first of the flock to hasten to the rich pasture +and the cool spring, just as thou wert the first in the evening to +return to thy manger. But to-day thou art last of all. Dost thou grieve +because thy master hath lost his eye, which Nobody has put out? But +wait a little. He shall not escape death. Couldst thou only speak, +my ram, thou wouldst tell me at once where the scoundrel is; then +thou shouldst see how I would dash him against the rocks.' + +"Speaking such words as these, he let the ram go. When we were safely +out of the cave, we gladly took to our feet and drove the fat sheep +down to our boat with all haste. Our friends received us with tears +of joy, for they thought we had surely perished. I made signs to them +not to weep aloud, and to hurry the sheep on board the ship. They +did this with all haste, and each man took his place at the oars. + +"When we were beyond the reach of the Cyclops, I called out to tease +him, 'Ha! Cyclops, Cyclops, thou hast not been entertaining a coward. +Zeus and the other gods have avenged the brave men whom thou didst +so cruelly destroy.' + +"The Cyclops heard my words and grew furious. He seized a large rock +and threw it with all his might toward the place where he had heard +my voice. + +"The rock fell in front of my ship, and the waves which it raised +carried us back on shore. I seized a large pole and shoved the boat +back into the water, commanding my men to ply their oars vigorously, +that we might escape destruction. My companions begged me not to +excite the dangerous monster further; but when we were a long way +out I shouted to him: 'Cyclops, if ever anybody asks thee who put +out thine eye, tell him it was Odysseus, the son of Laertes, conqueror +of Troy.' + +"When Polyphemus heard these words he gave a deep groan, and said +to me: 'Truly did the wise seer, Telemos, foretell that I was to be +blinded by Odysseus. But I thought there would come a large and +powerful man, not such an insignificant little fellow who would cheat +me with wine. Come back, Odysseus, and let me bestow upon you the +gifts which are due to strangers. I will pray to my father, Poseidon, +to give thee a safe and speedy return to thy native land. He can restore +my eye whenever he will, so I cherish no anger against thee.' + +"I knew his deceit, however, and replied: 'I would rather take thy +life, and send thee down to the dark halls of the dead, where thy +father could never restore thy sight.' + +"As soon as Polyphemus heard this, he raised his hands to heaven and +prayed to Poseidon, 'My father,' he said, 'hear me, if in truth I +am thy son. Grant me this prayer. May Odysseus never return to his +own country, or, if it be thy will that he reach home and friends +again, let his return be late and sorrowful. May his comrades all +be lost, and may he go back in a borrowed ship, and find new troubles +waiting for him in his house.' + +"Poseidon was moved to wrath against me by this prayer, and determined +to take vengeance on me. The Cyclops seized another stone, much larger +than the last, and swinging it round, threw it at us with tremendous +strength. It fell close to the ship, but this time it drove the boat +out into the sea and in the direction of the island where we first +landed. + +"When we reached the island we found the friends we had left there +waiting anxiously for our return. My men drew their boat up on to +the smooth sand and stepped upon the beach, taking the sheep along +with them. Each man took an equal share, but they gave me the ram +which had saved my life. We took him out upon the beach and offered +him up as a sacrifice to Zeus. + +"But sacrifices were vain, for Zeus had more evil for us in his mind. +We spent the rest of the day on the island, eating and drinking, and +when the sun went down we camped on the shore for the night. In the +morning I called my men to climb the decks and cut the ropes that +kept us fastened to the shore. With all speed they went aboard and +took their oars in hand and set sail for home, glad to escape, but +sorrowing for our lost companions." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII +THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF AEOLUS + + +"We sailed about on unknown seas for many days, when we reached the +island where AEolus made his abode. This island was surrounded by +smooth rocks and guarded by a wall of shining brass. + +"AEolus had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and they +banqueted on an endless variety of meats from day to day all the year +round. AEolus was a kindly, genial god; he was master of the winds, +and one could hear the music of sweet pipes in his halls all day, +and the air was fresh and fragrant there. + +"AEolus welcomed us hospitably and kept us with him a whole month. +He inquired of the fate of all our companions in the war with Troy, +and we stated what had happened to them. Then we prayed him to send +us home, and the god very kindly gave us a sack made of skin in which +he had tied up all the contrary winds, leaving only the west wind +free to carry us safely home. + +"I took the great bag of winds and bound it fast to the main mast +of the ship with a silver chain, so that no rude wind could escape +and blow us out of our way. We sailed along nine days and nine nights, +blown by the friendly breeze from the west, and on the tenth we saw +in the distance the mountain tops of Ithaca and the fires along the +shore. + +"And now I was overcome by a heavy sleep, for I had been guiding the +ship, not daring to trust it to the hand of any of the crew. While +I lay unconscious of what was going on, my companions talked among +themselves and said they believed that the bag which AEolus had given +me contained vast amounts of gold and silver. And they spoke with +great jealousy of the prizes which I had received wherever we had +landed, while they went empty-handed. + +"The more they talked to one another the more jealous and angry they +grew. They untied the sack and the winds rushed out, much to their +astonishment, and seized the ship, driving it round and round in a +furious storm. I started out of my sleep suddenly and found the bag +open I had so carefully guarded and my companions weeping bitterly. + +"For a moment I had a mind to throw myself into the sea and make an +end of my troubles forever. But the thought came to me that such an +action would not be noble, so I hid my head in my mantle and lay down +in the bottom of the ship while the violent winds and towering waves +drove us back to the island we had left. We landed there again, and, +having partaken of some food and wine, I sought the halls of AEolus. + +"I found the king and his wife and children at table taking their +evening meal. When AEolus saw me he was amazed, and asked me what +had happened to me. I told him about the senseless action of my +companions, and begged him to assist me once more. But with a terrible +voice he replied: 'Begone as fast as thou canst out of my island. +I will not befriend a man who is hated of the gods.' In this unkind +way he sent me off, and we sadly entered our ships and made for the +open sea, trusting to the mercy of the winds." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII +ODYSSEUS AT THE HOME OF CIRCE + + +"For six days and six nights we sailed without interruption, but on +the seventh day we reached the city of the Laestrygonians. There the +pastures are so rich in grass that the fields, which are grazed by +one flock of sheep during the day, yield abundant food for another +flock by night. The inhabitants were not only inhospitable, but they +received us with a shower of stones, which they hurled at us and at +our galleys. They broke our ships and killed my companions, spearing +them like fish. Then they carried them ashore to be devoured. With +the greatest difficulty I succeeded in saving one ship and a few +companions from the hands of these giants, and I fled with them out +to the high sea. + +"Sadly we continued our course until we reached an island, where the +goddess Circe, a daughter of the Sun and Ocean, lived. We landed +silently, and gave two days and nights to rest, for we were worn out +with toil and grief. On the third day I climbed to the top of a high +hill and looked over the island. Down below I saw a marble palace, +surrounded by a thick forest. There was smoke rising from the grounds, +so I resolved to return to my men and send out some of them to look +about and explore. + +"A large stag ran down into my path, on his way to a river to drink, +and I thrust my spear through him and flung him across my neck and +took him to the ship. I threw him at the feet of my men, who were +astonished at his size. They prepared a banquet at once, and we feasted +upon the meat. + +"That night we slept on the shore again, and in the morning I told +them that I had seen a palace standing in a thick wood, and that I +wanted to send several men there to try to get food. When my companions +thought of all their comrades who had been slain they wept aloud. +But their tears were useless. I divided them into two equal bands, +and we cast lots to see which party should make the adventure. + +"The lot fell to Eurylochos and his band of men. They started forth, +and soon came to a beautiful valley, in which was the splendid house +of Circe, which was built of well-hewn stone. There were beasts of +prey, lions and wolves, around it. The animals were tame; they wagged +their tails and fawned like dogs, but the men were afraid of them. +Circe was weaving in the palace and singing a beautiful song. She +had bright, sunny hair and a sweet voice. The men heard her as she +went back and forth weaving, and they called aloud. She came to the +door and threw it wide open and bade them enter. + +"Eurylochos alone did not go in, for he feared that some evil would +come of it. The others followed her, and Circe seated them on thrones +and gave them food and wine, but in the wine she had secretly infused +a magic juice which made them forget home and friends and all desire +to see their native land. + +"When they had eaten and drunk to their hearts' content, she waved +her wand over them, and at once the poor wretches were changed into +grunting pigs, which she shut up in pigsties and threw acorns and +other food fit for swine before them. Although thus transformed and +covered with bristles, they still retained the human mind. + +"Eurylochos stayed a long time outside awaiting the return of his +companions. But as they tarried so long, he hastened back to the ship +to tell the news. Thereupon I quickly hung my sword over my shoulder +and, taking my bow and arrows, hurried off alone, and soon found myself +not far from Circe's palace." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX +CIRCE INSTRUCTS ODYSSEUS CONCERNING HIS DESCENT TO HADES + + +"As I lingered in that dangerous valley there appeared to me a youth +whom I knew at once to be Hermes, the messenger of the gods. He gently +took hold of my hand and, looking compassionately on me, said: 'Thou +most unhappy man! Why art thou roaming alone in these wild parts? +Or art thou bound on the errand of delivering thy friends who have +all been changed by Circe into swine? Much do I fear that thou mayest +meet with the same fate. Listen to my words and heed them well if +thou wouldst destroy the treacherous schemes of Circe. + +"'Take this little flower. Its name is Moly among the gods, and no +wicked sorcery can hurt the man who treasures it carefully. Its root +is black. Its blossom is as white as milk, and it is hard for men +to tear it from the ground. Take this herb and go fearlessly into +the dwelling of the sorceress; it will guard thee against all mishap. +She will bring thee a bowl of wine mingled with the juice of +enchantment, but do not fear to eat or drink anything she may offer +thee, and when she touches thy head with her magic wand, then rush +upon her quickly with drawn sword as though about to slay her. She +will crouch in fear and entreat thee with soft words to spare her. +But do not give way to her until she has pledged herself by the great +oath of the gods to do thee no harm.' + +"When Hermes had spoken thus he left me, to return to high Olympos, +and I walked to the house of Circe with a braver heart. As I came +near the palace I called out to the goddess with a loud voice, and +she threw open the doors for me to enter. She bade me sit down on +a beautiful throne and placed a golden foot-stool under my feet. Then +she gave me the dangerous cup and I drank it off, but her charm did +not work. + +"Scarcely had I drained the cup when the goddess struck me with her +wand and said: 'Off with you! Go to the pigsty, where friends await +thy coming!' In a twinkling I had my sword in hand and rushed upon +her as if to kill her. Circe shrieked with fear and fell on her knees +to implore my mercy. 'Who art thou and whence dost thou come?' said +Circe. 'Thou art the first man over whom my magic wine has had no +power. Art thou really that Odysseus of whom Hermes told me that he +was to come here after many wanderings? But put up thy sword and cease +to be angry with me and let us trust each other.' + +"I answered her: 'O, goddess, how can I have faith in thy words, since +thou hast changed my companions into swine and dost plot the same +fate for me? Swear me the great oath that thou wilt not harm me, and +I shall trust thy words.' + +"Circe at once took the great oath, that she would never again try +to do me any harm, and she ordered her servants to spread a feast +before me. But I had no desire to eat. I sat down in silence, my mind +full of grief and doubt. + +"When Circe saw that I did not touch the food she said: 'Why art thou +so quiet and speechless? And why dost thou not taste the food and +wine? I have pledged myself by the great oath to do thee no harm!' +But I answered: 'What man with a loyal heart, O goddess, could eat +and drink with any pleasure while his comrades are kept in bondage +and degradation? If thou art really kind and wouldst have me enjoy +this bounteous feast, O let me see my dear companions free once more!' + +"The goddess took her wand and went to the pen and drove out the swine. +She then anointed them with a magic ointment, and their bristles fell +off and they stood up and were men again. They knew me, and each one +seized my hand, shedding tears of joy. Then I sent for the rest of +my men at the ship, who eagerly came up, and together we entered the +halls of Circe, all of us weeping with joy. + +"Circe's heart was softened also, and she said to me: 'Son of Laertes, +noble Odysseus, do not weep and grieve any longer. I know what +hardships thou hast endured on land and sea. Take courage, for thy +sufferings will soon be at an end. Go down to the sea and hide thy +boat near the shore and come back to my halls, thou and all thy men, +where I will make it a happy home for all until thou art rested and +ready to sail again for thy native land.' + +"We stayed a whole year on the island of Circe, feasting and enjoying +ourselves, and fully recovered our strength. The desire of reaching +my beloved Ithaca grew stronger within me day by day, and at last +I begged Circe to allow us to depart. 'I am not willing, O son of +Laertes,' Circe answered, 'that thou shouldst remain here against +thy wish, but it is necessary that thou shouldst, before departing +from my island, descend into Hades, to the palace of Pluto and +Persephone, to consult the spirit of the Theban seer, Tiresias, on +whom Persephone has bestowed the priceless gift of preserving his +memory even in Hades, whereas all the other souls are moving about +as empty shadows.' + +"Hearing this, I grew desperate and no longer had any desire to live +or see the light of day. I said to the goddess: 'Who will show me +the way to Hades? for no living mortal has ever gone there before.' +She replied: 'Do not worry about a guide, Odysseus, for there will +be no need of one. Launch thy boat, unfurl the sails, and quietly +sit down. The north wind will waft thee to the shore of Hades. There +flows the river Styx, black and terrible. It flows between the poplars +and willows in the groves of Persephone, and meets the broad waters +of Okeanos. Sail up its dark stream until thou dost reach the rock +where its two branches meet and swirl and roar. There leave thy boat +and dig a ditch in the ground, a foot deep and a foot wide, in which +thou shalt pour honey, milk, wine, and water as an offering to the +dead. + +"'At the same time pray to the gods of Hades, and promise the shades +of the dead that after thou hast arrived in Ithaca thou wilt sacrifice +to them a whole heifer, the best of thy flock, and to Tiresias +especially a black ram. Then take two sheep, a male and a female, +kill them, and burn them as a sacrifice to the nations of the dead. + +"'At once there will arrive the souls of the departed. They will come +by thousands, anxious to drink of the blood, that they may have their +minds again. But draw thy sword and hold them back until the spirit +of Tiresias arrives. He will tell thee how to get back to thy native +land.' + +"As Circe said this the daylight appeared, and I woke my companions +and told them to make ready to go with me. We started at once for +our ship, and got everything in readiness to leave. I told them that +before setting out for our own country we had, by the advice of Circe, +to go down to Hades in order to consult the seer Tiresias about our +journey. When they heard this they sat down, and wept, and began to +tear the hair from their heads. + +"Circe meantime came up by stealth, and put two sheep into the ship, +and we sailed sadly away." + + + + +CHAPTER XX +THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS IN HADES + + +"With a heavy heart we sailed from Circe's island bound for the gloomy +Hades. As the wind was favorable, we soon reached the place of which +the goddess had told us. There we left the ship and did those things +which Circe had counselled us to do. As soon as the dark blood of +the sheep began to flow into the trench countless souls came flocking +from Hades and begged to taste of the blood, that their mortal minds +might be restored to them. + +"Young wives and girls, old men and young warriors who had fallen +in battle, airy forms, ghosts of all kinds of people, flitted like +bats around me in that dark place with fearful cries, and I turned +pale with fear. I drew my sword and waved them back until I should +question the soul of Tiresias. + +"But first came the soul of Elpenor, one of my companions who had +gone with me to the palace of Circe. We had left him dead in the halls +of the goddess, since we had no time to bury him. Now, when I saw +him a great pity stirred my heart, and I shed tears and said to him: +'Elpenor, how didst thou come into these dread regions of darkness? +Thou hast come more quickly on foot than I in my quick ship.' + +"The phantom knew me, for, being as yet unburied, he was not one of +the shades, and had not lost his memory or voice, nor did he need +to drink of the blood. He moaned and replied: 'Noble Odysseus, it +was an evil fate which the gods had decreed for me. I drank too much +wine and that caused my death. I lay down to sleep on the roof of +Circe's palace and could not remember the way to the stairs when thou +didst call us to the ships. In my haste I fell from the roof and broke +my neck, and my soul came down to Hades. + +"'I pray thee now by all those whom thou dost love--thy wife, thy +father, and thy son--that thou leave not my body unburied in the palace +halls, lest I bring on thee the anger of the gods. But on thy return +to Circe's isle burn my body, together with my armor, and pile up +a mound of earth over my ashes. Plant my oar upon my tomb--the oar +with which I used to row while I was living.' + +"I made the promise, but at this moment the soul of my mother, whom +I had left hale and strong among the living when I went to the war, +approached and tried to get at the trench. I wept to see her, but +with a heavy heart I forbade her coming nearer until I had spoken +with Tiresias. At this moment troops of souls came flocking out of +Hades, and from the countless throng the Theban seer came leaning +on a golden staff, and he ordered me to lay aside my sword and permit +him to drink of the blood. + +"When he had drunk, he spoke to me and said: 'Odysseus, man of many +woes, why dost thou leave the light of the sun and come down among +the dead? Doubtless thy heart's desire is to return safely home. But +much suffering is in store for thee. Poseidon will not permit it, +because thou hast blinded his son, Polyphemus. Still, thou mayest +overcome all difficulties and see Ithaca at last, if thou dost not +harm the cattle and fat sheep of the Sun on the island of Trinacria. + +"'But if thou dost kill them and eat of their flesh, I warn thee that +nothing will save thy comrades or thy ships. Even then thou mayest +be saved, but it will be on a strange ship, alone, and after dreadful +sufferings. And at home thou wilt find other misfortunes awaiting +thee. + +"'There will be a mob of lawless men rioting in thy house, squandering +thy riches, and trying to get thy wife to marry one of them. Thou +shalt kill these violent men in thy halls by craft or in open fight. +After that thou shalt reach a good and prosperous old age, and find +a peaceful death far away from the sea. All that I tell thee shall +surely happen.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI +ODYSSEUS CONVERSES WITH HIS MOTHER AND AGAMEMNON + + +"When Tiresias had gone, my mother came back to the dark trench and +drank of the blood. She knew me at once and cried out: 'Oh, my child, +how didst thou ever come down to this gloomy place alive? Art thou +on thy way home from Troy? And hast thou not seen Ithaca yet, nor +thy wife and child?' + +"I answered her: 'Dear mother, I was compelled to come down here in +order to consult the soul of the prophet Tiresias about my return; +for I have not yet touched foot to Grecian soil. I have been driven +about on strange seas from year to year, and have suffered misfortune +after misfortune. Oh, tell me, my mother, how didst thou die? Did +some lingering disease waste thy life, or didst thou meet a sudden, +painless death? + +"'Tell me of my father and of my son. Do they still hold rule over +Ithaca? Or has someone snatched it away from them, thinking I was +never to return? How fares my wife, Penelope? Is she still faithful +to the husband of her youth, or has she married another?' + +"To all this my mother answered: 'My son, Penelope is in the home +where thou didst leave her, and she weeps for thee day and night. +Nobody has usurped thy kingdom, and Telemachos has charge of thy royal +estates. But thy father dwells on thy farm, and shares the life of +the servants. He seldom goes down to the city. The grief he feels +for loss of thee has made him old, and will hasten his death, as it +caused mine, for I could not live without thee.' + +"So spake my mother, and I longed to clasp her to my heart. Three +times I threw my arms around her, and three times she passed through +them like a shadow. Then I cried out in sorrow: 'Oh, my dear mother! +why can I not clasp thee to my heart and hold thee in my arms, that +we may lose for a while our sense of loneliness and misery?' + +"My mother spoke and said: 'It is the lot of all our race when they +are dead. When life departs we have no bones and flesh, but the soul +flies off and flits about from one place to another. Hasten back to +the pleasant daylight, and when thou dost reach home tell thy wife +what I have said.' + +"When my mother had gone, I saw the soul of Agamemnon approaching, +together with the shades of those of his companions who had perished +with him. The moment he had drunk of the blood he knew me and raised +a loud wail. He stretched out his hands to me, and I tried to seize +them, but I clutched only the empty air. + +"Then I began to weep, too, and said to him: 'Famous son of Atreus, +King Agamemnon, tell me how thou didst die. Did Poseidon wreck thee +on the sea in a terrible storm, or didst thou fall in war, fighting +on the land?' + +"Whereupon the king told me the dire story of his home-coming and +his death at traitors' hands. 'When I trod my native soil again after +a long absence,' he said, 'I was overcome with joy at the thought +of seeing my wife and children once more. But I was slain in my own +home, and my wife did not even close my eyes as my soul came on its +way to these dark realms.' + +"I answered: 'Alas! how the gods must hate the family of Atreus on +account of the unfaithfulness of its women!' + +"Agamemnon replied: 'Oh, son of Laertes, thou art a fortunate man, +for thou hast a faithful wife. Penelope is wise and virtuous. I +remember, when we were ready to start for Troy she was a young wife +with a little babe in her arms, which she pressed to her bosom. He +must be a man now. Thou art a happy father. Thou wilt see thy son +at home in Ithaca. + +"'No such good fortune can ever come to me. My wife did not even let +me see my son before she slew me. Tell me about him, I beseech thee, +how he is. Does he still live in Sparta?' + +"'Son of Atreus,' I said, 'do not ask me where thy son is. I cannot +tell whether he is alive or not, and this is no time for idle +conjectures;' and we wept as I spoke." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII +CONVERSATION WITH ACHILLES AND OTHER HEROES + + +"While we were conversing thus, the shades of Achilles and Patroklos +came near. The soul of Achilles recognized me, and he said: 'Odysseus, +son of Laertes, how darest thou descend into the gloomy habitation +of the dead? This is the greatest labor thou hast undertaken.' + +"I answered: 'Godlike Achilles, I came here to consult the seer +Tiresias about my return to my own country, for I have never yet +reached Grecian soil, but have wandered about suffering great +misfortunes. No one is happier than thou art, O Achilles. When thou +wert alive all men honored thee as if thou wert a god, and now thou +art a king and rulest over the dead.' + +"Then he replied: 'Do not try to console me, Odysseus. I would rather +be the slave of a poor man, and in the light of the sun, than to be +in Hades and rule over all the dead. But tell me, Odysseus, how fares +my noble son? Does he fight in the wars, and is he in the front ranks? +And Peleus, my aged father, tell me of him. Is he still king of the +Myrmidons? Or do they hold him in contempt, now that he is old, and +I am not there to uphold him?' + +"I answered him: 'I know nothing about thy aged father, O Achilles, +but I have many things to tell thee about thy son. I brought him from +Skyros, myself, in a ship to Troy, and placed him in the Greek army. +There he surpassed everyone except Nestor and myself in the wisdom +of his advice, and when we went forth to battle he fought among the +foremost, slaying many illustrious foes. + +"'Above all, his powers shone forth when we were hidden in the wooden +horse. All the other leaders of the Greeks gave signs of fear. They +grew white and shed tears; but his face never turned pale, and no +tear came into his eyes. He called on me to leave the horse and rush +upon the foe, and he smote the Trojans, carrying death and destruction +among them. When we finally subdued the city, thy son took rich booty +and safely reached his own country.' + +"As soon as Achilles heard this news he rejoiced. He strode proudly +off over the field of Elysian asphodels, well pleased that he had +left such a mighty son on earth. + +"After Achilles had departed, many other souls came and talked with +me. Only the soul of Ajax kept aloof, still angry over a victory which +I gained near the ships when I took the weapons of Achilles as my +share of the booty. Little did that victory and the arms please me, +since they caused the grave to close over such a hero as Ajax. + +"I spoke to his soul in gentle words: 'Ajax, son of Telamon, did not +even death appease the anger against me which thou didst feel on +account of my receiving the arms that brought such a calamity upon +the Greeks? For thou wast our tower of strength, and the weapons proved +fatal to thee. Come nearer and speak to me, for I bewail thy death.' +I spoke soothingly yet Ajax gave no answer. His spirit vanished away +among the other spirits. + +"Then I beheld Minos, the lawgiver of Crete, who held a golden sceptre +in his hand and judged the dead. He had under him the great wrong-doers +of one part of Hades. With him I saw Tantalos, who stood in a pool +of water, suffering at the same time a painful thirst. As often as +he tried to put his lips to the water it sank down away from him so +that he could not reach it. + +"I saw Sisyphos, also, who suffered great punishment, for he rolled +a large rock uphill with both hands, straining every muscle of his +body to the utmost to move it. No sooner had he pushed it to the top +of the hill than it rolled back with deafening noise to the bottom +of the valley. Again the unfortunate man toiled to move it upward, +the sweat covering his body and clouds of dust hovering over his head. + +"Then I saw the shade of Herakles, but the hero himself sits among +the gods on Mount Olympos. And there came myriads of souls, making +a terrible noise, which filled me with dread, lest I might look upon +the Gorgon, and I hastened back to the ship. I ordered the crew to +go on board, and they took their oars and rowed until we reached the +open sea, where favorable winds caught by the sails wafted us back +to Circe's isle." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII +THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO THE ISLAND OF CIRCE + + +"When we reached Circe's isle, we dragged our vessel up on to the +beach, and lay down to sleep on the shore. At break of day I sent +my comrades forth to bring the body of Elpenor from the palace. We +took it out to a rocky place on the shore, and cut down trees to build +a funeral pyre. There we burned the body and performed the funeral +rites, and we built a tomb and placed an oar at the top of it. + +"All this was done quietly, but Circe saw us and came with her maids, +bringing a generous supply of food and wine. Standing in our midst, +she said: 'Brave men, who living have gone down to Hades, all men +die once, but you are permitted to die twice. Take food, eat and drink +all day long, and to-morrow at daylight depart for your native land. +I will show you the way and teach you how to avoid all danger.' + +"We spent the whole day on the shore, eating and drinking, but when +the sun sank down and the earth was covered with darkness my companions +went near the ship to seek rest. But I sat down by Circe, who questioned +me about my visit to Hades. After I had told her everything, she said: +'Odysseus, so far all is well, but there are a great many new dangers +ahead. Listen carefully to what I say. First, thou must pass the Sirens, +who bewitch with their melodious voices all who listen to them. Woe +to him who allows his ship to go near them! He will never reach his +native land, or see his wife and children again. The Sirens sit in +a green field and sing, while the bones of dead men lie in heaps near +them. Do not listen to them, but pass them by unnoticed. + +"'Or, if thou wouldst enjoy the matchless singing and not pay the +forfeit with thy life, let thy men bind thee hand and foot to the +mast of thy ship, so that thou canst not by any effort stir a limb +when the great longing seizes thee. And give thy men strict orders +to make thy bonds tighter shouldst thou entreat them to loose thee. +Before thou art bound, thou shalt knead soft wax in thy palms and +fill the ears of thy companions with it, that no sound may enter. + +"'Thence thou wilt come to the narrows where Skylla and Charybdis +dwell. On each side of the narrows is a steep cliff, one of which +is so high that its sharp top reaches the sky. It is so slippery that +no one is able to climb up or down its sides, nor could he if he had +twenty hands and feet. Not even a bird can safely perch on it. + +"'No boat has ever come to the spot and left it without being wrecked, +except Jason's, when he was in search of the Golden Fleece, and he +escaped because a goddess was his guide, to pilot him through. A dark +gray fog forever broods over the head of the cliff, and on its western +side there yawns a fearful cave, where Skylla lives. + +"'She is a terrible monster that barks like a savage dog, day and +night. She has twelve shapeless feet, and six heads set on long necks. +Each of her mouths shows three rows of deadly teeth. Half of her body +is hidden in the rock, but she thrusts out her heads and snatches +her prey, fish, whales, dolphins, or men. No sailor escapes, or, +indeed, any living creature that passes that way. + +"'The other cliff is not so high, but is still more dangerous. There, +under the foliage of a wild fig-tree, Charybdis dwells, who sucks +in the dark waters of the sea three times a day and belches them forth +again three times with a terrible noise. Woe to thee if thou art near +when she sucks the waters down, for not even Poseidon himself could +save thee. It would be better far to steer close to Skylla, for then +only six of thy men would be snatched from the benches, but if +Charybdis seizes thy ship all must perish. + +"'These pests are immortal. Do not try to overcome them. They cannot +die. It is better to fly from them with all haste. It would be rashness +and not courage to attack them. + +"'Next in thy voyage thou wilt come to the island of Trinacria, where +the fine flocks of Helios are feeding. Two shining nymphs, daughters +of the Sun, tend them. There are seven herds of oxen and seven herds +of sheep, fifty in each herd and flock. These creatures are immortal, +and greatly beloved of Helios, who will send destruction to thy ship +and crew if any harm come to them. Forbid thy men to touch the cattle, +even though suffering for food. If thou art wise enough to escape +these dangers, thou shalt reach thy home without further mischance.' + +"As the goddess finished, day broke. Circe sought her own dwelling, +while we put to sea with a favorable wind, and soon the island faded +from our sight." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV +ODYSSEUS MEETS THE SIRENS, SKYLLA, AND CHARYBDIS + + +"When I saw that we were near the home of the Sirens, I said to my +men: 'It is not wise that only one of us should know the oracles of +Circe, and I will tell you all she said to me, that ye may escape +from the perils before us; and I disclosed her sayings to them. Then +I took a handful of wax and warmed it in the sun until it was soft, +and carefully clogged up their ears. + +"They, in turn, tied me to the mast, hand and foot, so firmly that +I could not stir a limb, having first received my command that they +should not loose my bonds on any account. Then they bent to their +oars, and rowed close to the Sirens, so that they could see me and +I could hear their bewitching songs. + +"'Come to us, O renowned Odysseus,' they sang; 'pride of the Greeks, +come and listen to our voices. No one ever yet passed us without +stopping and admiring our sweet songs. Come, that we may sing to thee +about Troy and thy friends, for we know everything that is going on +in the whole world.' + +"Thus they sang, and their songs thrilled me. A great desire came +over me to stop and listen to them, and with nods I entreated my +comrades to set me free. But they sprang up and bound other cords +about me, so that I struggled in vain. Then all the men plied their +oars until the water was white with foam, and when we were out of +sight of the island and could no longer hear the songs of the Sirens, +my men set me free, and I took the wax from their ears. + +"Hardly had we escaped from the Sirens when we beheld a black fog +and towering waves and heard a frightful noise. My men were so scared +that the oars fell from their hands and the ship stood still. I +hastened from one end of the boat to the other, speaking cheerful +words to each rower. 'My dear friends,' I said, 'have no fear. This +is not the first time we have encountered danger. We have been saved +from the hands of the Cyclops through our own valor and clever devices, +and we are not going to break down now. Listen, and I will tell you +what is to be done. Keep your seats and ply your oars with all your +might; but thou, O helmsman, steer thy ship clear of that fog and +the whirling waves.' Thus I spoke, and they willingly obeyed my words. + +"Yet I said nothing to them about Skylla, lest they should lose heart +and hide in the bottom of the ship. Thus we passed in between the +two cliffs, the one of which harbored Skylla and the other Charybdis, +who, with a terrible noise, swallowed the brine of the sea and belched +it out again with a roar like the mingling of fire and water. + +"But I forgot the command of Circe to fly from these monsters without +fighting. I put on my shining armor and took a spear in each hand, +and went on deck, and stood in warlike attitude ready to attack Skylla +if she should raise a hand to seize one of my men. I looked for a +long time, but I could not see her. + +"We sailed on, the uproar increasing. My men grew white with fear. +The salt waters whirled so that we could look into a deep watery pit +and see the blue sand. The rocks were hidden by a thick mist. Suddenly +Skylla thrust forth a mighty hand and snatched six of my brave men, +as a fisherman pulls out fish with a hook. I saw their hands +outstretched toward me as they were lifted up into the air, and I +heard their cries for help. Woe is me! This sight will haunt me as +long as I have life." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV +ODYSSEUS ON THE ISLAND OF HELIOS + + +"When we had escaped from the terrible Skylla and Charybdis, we came +to the island of Helios, the island of the Sun, and heard from afar +the lowing of the cattle and the bleating of the sheep. Then I +remembered the words of Tiresias and Circe, and I advised my +companions not to land there at all, but to go right on, lest we suffer +some new disaster. + +"My crew would not listen to me. They commanded me to land on the +isle. I then made them take an oath not even to look at any of the +cattle. We prepared our evening meal, and when it was over we talked +of our dear companions whom Skylla had devoured, and we mourned over +them until we fell asleep. + +"We remained a whole month on this island, on account of unfavorable +winds. We found the roomy grot where the nymphs danced, and the seats +where they sat--the nymphs who tended the flocks of Helios. + +"As long as we had a plenty of bread and wine my comrades were satisfied +and spared the cattle. But when our store of food was exhausted they +roamed all over the island to see what they could get to appease their +hunger. They snared birds and caught fish with hooks, and lived on +them or anything else that came to hand. But they grew poor and lean +with hunger and nearly starved. I went off alone into the island, +where I had found a quiet nook, and sent up prayers to the gods to +show us the way out of our difficulties. There I fell asleep. + +"While I slumbered, Eurylochos called my men together, and said: 'All +kinds of death are bad enough, my brave friends, but death by +starvation is the worst. Let us kill the best of these cattle and +offer sacrifices to the gods, and then eat and live. If we ever get +to Ithaca we will make restitution, for we will build altars to the +Sun and place costly gifts upon his shrine. But if it is his will +to destroy us in his anger, then let us die amid the billows of the +deep, for that is better than to die by famine.' + +"Thus spoke Eurylochos, and the others lent a willing ear. They seized +the best of the cattle at once, and slaughtered them, and prepared +a hearty meal. They offered up petitions to the gods, standing round +their victims with young oak-leaves in their hands. Then they covered +the thighs with caul, and laid slices of fat over these, and poured +on water and roasted it until it was consumed. All the rest was cut +into smaller portions and scorched on iron prongs. + +"At this moment I awoke and hurried down to the ship, and with horror +found the dreadful meal prepared. One of the nymphs, immortal +shepherdess, flew to the Sun to tell him that my men had slain his +cattle. Helios was deeply angered, and spoke thus before the assembled +gods: 'Father Zeus and all ye immortal gods, behold the comrades of +Odysseus! They have slaughtered my heifers, which gladdened my heart +as I went up to heaven and down to earth. + +"'If they do not pay me well for this great wrong, I shall go down +among the dead and give them light, but I will give no light to the +living.' 'Shine on, O Sun, in the bright sky,' said Zeus, 'for I will +cut their ship to pieces with a thunder-bolt, as it tosses on a black +sea.' I could only chide my comrades. I could not think of any +sufficient redress, for the cattle were dead. + +"And here happened a wonder which amazed my comrades. The skins of +the dead animals crawled over the ground, and the flesh lowed as they +had done when alive. Nevertheless, my companions continued to kill +and eat the best oxen in the herds for six days, when a favorable +wind sprang up, and we went on board and set sail once more. + +"After we had lost sight of land, and nothing was before us but sky +and sea, a sudden darkness shrouded the heavens, and there arose a +violent storm. The vessel was hurled hither and thither by the +towering billows; the hurricane tore the sails and dashed the mast +against the pilot's head, crushing the bones, and he was cast headlong +into the sea. + +"Then Zeus sent a thunder-bolt into the ship, and broke it nearly +in two. The boat was filled with a sulphurous smoke, and my comrades +were shaken off into the sea and drowned. They floated round me, but +I moved about in the ship until the bottom and the sides had broken +away from each other and the mast had snapped off at its base. I took +the mast, which had a thong of bull's-hide round it, and tied it to +the keel. I took my seat upon this frail craft, and the storm whirled +me about. + +"After awhile the west wind ceased, and the south wind began to blow, +which was still worse for me, since it took me back to dread Charybdis. +All night long I was tossed on the waves, and at dawn I drew near +to Charybdis. As the monster was swallowing the salt brine, I caught +hold of the fig-tree and clung to it like a bat till she should throw +up my poor raft. I waited long, but at last the timbers were thrown +out of the whirlpool, and I dropped down upon them, and sat on them +and rowed with my hands. I floated about on the waters for nine long +days, and on the tenth I came to Calypso's island. She welcomed me, +and detained me seven years, as I have already told thee, O Arete, +and why should I repeat a tale already narrated?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI +THE DEPARTURE OF ODYSSEUS FROM THE ISLAND OF SCHERIA + + +All the guests had listened with deep attention to the recital of +Odysseus; all were greatly interested, and when he ended they did +not stir or speak a word. Alkinoos was the first to break the silence, +and he said: "Renowned Odysseus, since thou hast come to our country, +I hope that thy sufferings are at an end and that thou wilt reach +thy native land safely and soon." Then the King turned to his guests +and addressed them: "Phaeacians, let us each present one more gift, +a large tripod and a vase, to the hero who has come among us." + +The Phaeacians received his words approvingly, and each went at once +to his home to sleep. But when morning came they all sent their gifts +to the ship, where they were packed carefully under the benches by +the King himself, and the guests returned to the palace, where a +banquet was spread for them. + +Alkinoos sacrificed an ox to Zeus, and they sat down at the table. +The enjoyment ran high, and the old poet, Demodokos, sang sweet songs. +They feasted all day, and when the sun was near its setting Odysseus +said: "King Alkinoos, let us pour out the last libation and offer +up the last prayer, for all things have come to pass that my soul +desired. May the gods bless thy gifts. May I find my home, my wife +and child, and friends. I pray the gods to grant thee all that is +good, and may no evil ever befall thy land. Be pleased to send me +hence, and fare thee well." + +Thus he spoke, right glad that the day was done and eager to set sail. +The people approved his timely words, and seizing their goblets they +poured out wine on to the ground, an offering to the gods, and they +wished godspeed to their guest. Odysseus arose and placed a goblet +in the hands of the Queen, addressing her thus: "Farewell, O Queen, +I wish thee a long and happy life, a peaceful old age down to the +grave, from which no one may escape; rejoice in the possession of +thy home, thy people, thy children, and the King, thy husband." + +So spoke Odysseus, and left the hall. The King sent a herald to show +him the way to the port where the ship was waiting for him. At the +same time Arete also sent down some maids, who carried a new cloak +and tunic, a well-wrought coffer full of gifts, and an abundance of +food for the journey. + +These things the crew took from their hands and stowed away in the +hold of the vessel. They spread a nice bed for him on the deck, where +he might sleep quietly. When every thing was ready, Odysseus embarked, +and the sailors slipped the cables and took their seats at the oars. +Odysseus fell into a deep, sweet slumber, but the ship flew forward +faster than a bird could fly, making rapid headway toward the island +of Ithaca. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII +ODYSSEUS ARRIVES AT ITHACA + + +When the morning star arose the ship reached Ithaca. It entered a +harbor called Phorkys, where there was a grotto sacred to the nymphs, +and it was shaded at the entrance by an olive-tree. Stone vases stood +around in the grotto, and there bees had stored up honey. The nymphs +spun their fine thread from stone spindles there, and wove their +sea-purple robes. Springs of cool water flowed through the grotto, +and there was an entrance for mortals and one which was kept holy +for the gods. + +When the ship touched the beach the sailors disembarked and carried +the sleeping Odysseus on a rug on to the shore and laid him down. +They brought his presents also from under the ship's benches and laid +them under the olive-tree, a short distance from the road, for fear +that some evil-minded person would take them before Odysseus woke +up. + +Then the crew sailed homeward, but Poseidon saw them and was angry +because his purpose to cause Odysseus endless suffering had been +thwarted. He at once complained to Zeus that the Phaeacians had +restored Odysseus to his native land, with gifts finer and more +valuable than anything he could have brought from Troy. Zeus listened +to his complaint and gave him authority to destroy the Phaeacian boat +and its crew. Poseidon promptly repaired to the island of Scheria, +and when the ship came in sight of the town he transformed it into +a towering rock, that it might hide the island from mariners and the +Phaeacians would no longer be tempted to escort strangers to their +homes. + +The ship had gone, and it was broad daylight when Odysseus awoke. +He did not recognize his own country, he had been away from it for +such a long time, and besides that, Athena had spread a dense fog +over it. His first thought was that the Phaeacians had deceived him +and left him on an unknown shore. He began to accuse them of treachery, +and prayed to Zeus to punish them. He looked around and found that +his gifts had been carefully placed, so he knew that he had not been +robbed. He counted his gifts and examined them. + +There were tripods and vases of gold and brass and beautiful +hand-woven garments. He paced up and down the shore and wept and wailed +aloud. Then Athena appeared to him disguised as a shepherd lad. + +When Odysseus saw her, he hastened to her and said: "Hail, fair youth! +I am a stranger and find myself for the first time in this place. +I entreat thee to tell me the name of this country, and what kind +of people inhabit it." The goddess answered him: "Truly, stranger, +thou must come from a far-off land that thou dost not know Ithaca, +which is known from the rising to the setting of the sun. + +"It is indeed a stony island but it is not barren, nor is it a good +place for raising horses. It is rich in grain and grapes. It has an +abundance of dew and rain, and most delicious wine is made here. +Nowhere can be found handsomer goats or finer cattle. Every kind of +tree grows in its forests, and its springs are never dry. The fame +of Ithaca has reached even as far as Troy itself which, I am told, +lies far from Hellas." + +Odysseus was overjoyed to find that he was in his own country. But +he did not venture to tell his name to the shepherd, nor whence he +came. Instead of that he told a long story that he came from Crete, +which he had been obliged to leave because he had killed the King's +son, who had robbed him. + +Athena smiled and, assuming the form of a beautiful woman, took him +by the hand and said: "Thou crafty man, why dost thou tell such lies? +Dost thou not know Athena, daughter of Zeus, who has protected thee +everywhere and saved thee from all danger? I have just come again +to assist thee in hiding thy treasures and to tell thee what thou +must encounter in thine own palace. But thou must not repeat anything +which I tell thee, nor make thyself known to any man or woman. And +thou must bear many indignities in silence until the right time comes, +for there are many violent men in thy halls." + +Odysseus's heart was filled with joy. He knelt down and kissed the +soil of his native land. "Tell me, is it true," he said, "that I am +in my own beloved Ithaca? I pray thee, goddess, do not jest with me." + +"Thy native land! Such ever is thy thought," answered the goddess. +"Any other man would have hastened with all speed to his wife and +home. But thou must wait and come not at once into the presence of +Penelope. She sits within thy palace, weeping night and day because +thou dost not come. Hide thy gifts here in this grotto, and I will +tell thee what to do next." + +With a glad heart Odysseus saluted the nymphs of the cave and spring: +"Hail to you, nymphs of my native land, daughters of Zeus! I thought +I should never see you again. I shall bring you rich gifts in days +to come, if it please Athena to keep me from harm." After he had carried +the presents into the grotto and carefully hidden them, he sat down +with the goddess among the gnarled roots of the olive-tree, and they +laid plots to destroy Penelope's impudent suitors. Athena told him +about the trouble they had caused her; how they had established +themselves in her own home, trying to win her for a wife. For three +years the noble Penelope had kept these arrogant men in suspense, +deluded with empty hopes, while she waited for her husband's return. +When Odysseus heard these words he was greatly disturbed, and said: +"Woe is me! I might have been slain in my own home but for these timely +words. Now I am forearmed. Stand by me, I pray, in my great need, +and give me strength to meet my enemies. If thou art my helper, I +can resist, single-handed, three hundred foes." + +"Take courage," said the goddess. "But to carry out our plans I must +change thee to a miserable old man with a wrinkled face and clad in +ragged garments, so that no one can recognize thee. + +"Then must thou go to thy faithful swineherd, Eumaios, who loves thy +wife and child and thy whole house. + +"Thou wilt find him as he feeds the swine on acorns in a field near +the mountain, Korax, and the spring, Arethusa. He will tell thee all +the doings in thy house. Meantime I will take my way to Sparta. +Telemachos, thy son, is there. He went to visit Menelaos and try to +find out if there were any news of thee. I will call him to return +to Ithaca." + +The goddess touched Odysseus with her magic wand. At once he shrank +and withered into a wrinkled, shabby, old beggar. Then she gave him +a staff and a tattered sack and sent him to his loyal swineherd while +she took her way to Sparta. + +[Illustration: ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII +ODYSSEUS SEEKS THE SWINEHERD + + +Odysseus left the haven by a narrow stony path and took his way to +the dwelling of his faithful swineherd, who thought more of the +welfare of his master than did all the rest of the servants whom +Odysseus had. He found him seated in the yard which he himself had +made of stone for the swine of the absent King, and had enclosed with +a thick hedge of thorns. He had driven strong posts of oak around +it, also. Inside the yard he had made twelve sties, and in each sty +there were fifty sows with their little ones. The males were kept +outside and were fewer in number, for Eumaios was compelled to send +a very fat one to the suitors every day, and therefore there were +only eighteen score. + +Near them were four large savage dogs as guards. They were more like +wolves than dogs. Eumaios was busy making a pair of sandals from an +ox-hide, for his own use. The other swineherds had gone on errands, +three of them to drive pigs to pasture, while the fourth had taken +a hog to the suitors in the city. + +When the dogs saw Odysseus they barked and rushed upon him, and they +would have torn him to pieces, but Eumaios drove them off with stones +and said: "Thou poor old man, the dogs came very near tearing thee +limb from limb, and that would have been a great shame and sorrow +to me. + +"The gods have already sent me trouble enough. Here I sit weeping +and mourning for my beloved master, and take care of his swine in +order that strangers may eat them. Who knows where he may be wandering +as a beggar among people who speak another tongue? But come, old man, +let us go into my lodge and eat, and then thou mayest tell me who +thou art and what misfortunes thou hast suffered." + +Odysseus followed the swineherd into the cabin. Eumaios threw an +armful of rushes on the floor and covered it with a rug of goat-skin +and bade his guest be seated. + +Odysseus was gratified at this kind reception, and said to the +swineherd: "May Zeus and all the other immortal gods give thee, my +host, all the good of earth for thy hospitality." + +The good swineherd answered him: "My guest, I should consider it a +great sin not to receive a stranger hospitably, even if he looked +more miserable than thou. Strangers and beggars are children of Zeus. +The hospitality I can extend to thee is slight but sincere, for +servants have little to offer, especially when, like me, they have +new masters. Odysseus loved me much. Would that the gods might send +him back to us. He would have paid me for my toil. He would have given +me a home, a little land, and a wife. But he is dead. May the whole +race of Helen be destroyed, for it was she who brought noble men to +destruction." + +The swineherd drew his belt around him and hastened to the pen where +the pigs were shut up. He seized two little pigs and slew them and +roasted them on a spit over the fire. He sprinkled salt over the savory +meat and brought it to Odysseus. And he brought delicate wine in a +wooden cup, as well. + +Then he said: "Eat, stranger, for this is the best I have to give. +The suitors, who fear neither god nor man, eat the fat hogs. They +gorge themselves with the costliest food in the house, both wine and +meat, and only these little lean porkers are left for us. Yet there +is still an abundance, for my master was very rich. He had twelve +herds of horned cattle and as many swine on the mainland, and twelve +flocks of sheep and goats. Here, on the island, graze eleven flocks +of goats, tended by as many trusty herdsmen, each of whom has to send +a fattened goat for the table of the suitors every day. As for myself, +I take care of these swine, and each day I choose the best to send +to the city." + +Odysseus ate the flesh and drank the wine while Eumaios was telling +him these things, and could hardly keep from giving vent to his anger. +But he kept silence and meditated vengeance on the suitors. When the +meal was done he said: "Tell me, I pray thee, all about thy rich and +kind master. Thou didst say that he went out with Agamemnon to fight +the Trojans. Perhaps I know him and can give thee some information +concerning him." + +The noble swineherd answered: "Be silent, aged man, for we have ceased +to believe the tales told us by wanderers. Every beggar who comes +this way calls on my mistress and tells her falsehoods about seeing +Odysseus, and tries to make her think that he will come home in a +short time. Then she treats him kindly and loads him with gifts. + +"How shall we know but thou dost make up just such a story in order +to receive a tunic and a mantle? It is a fact that my master does +not return. Who knows on what spot of the earth his bones are +mouldering, or what dogs and birds have devoured him? I shall never +cease to grieve for him. He loved me as he would have loved a son. +I shall never find such a kind master again. Even my father and mother +were not so good to me. Although he will never be with us any more, +I keep on doing his will." + +[Illustration: THE SWINEHERD TELLING HIS STORY TO ODYSSEUS] + +Odysseus replied: "Thou dost see that I am half naked for want of +clothing, but I will never take a reward, even though I am in rags, +until Odysseus is really here. I hate the wretch who tells lies to +enrich himself as I hate death. I call Zeus to witness, and this +hospitable board and the hearth of Odysseus, that what I tell thee +will come true. Odysseus will be here at the end of this month, and +he will be avenged on those men who have robbed him and insulted his +wife and son." + +"And yet I will not give thee any reward for thy news, old man," said +Eumaios, "for Odysseus is dead. He will never come again. Drink in +peace and let us talk of other things. Do not take this great oath, +as much as we wish--Laertes, Penelope, Telemachos, and I--that +Odysseus might come. But now, as if we had not troubles enough, a +new one has come upon us. I know not what evil demon put it into the +mind of Telemachos to go to Sparta to inquire about his father. And +the ungodly suitors have sent out a ship to watch for him, and kill +him on his return. We shall lose him, too, if Zeus does not hold a +protecting hand over him. + +"But tell me, dear old man, from what country dost thou come? Who +are thy parents? Tell me of thy toils and sufferings." + +The time had not yet come when Odysseus thought it best to reveal +himself. He wanted to stay with the swineherd until his son should +return, and he had had the opportunity of making the best plan for +ridding his house of the suitors. So he told the swineherd a long +string of stories. He said he was a son of the King of Crete; that +he went to Troy, where he met Odysseus and fought by his side. +Returning, he wandered about, and, after many adventures, met +Odysseus again getting ready to return to Ithaca. As for himself, +he had been robbed even to his clothing and cast on this island. + +He told the tale so well that the swineherd believed him, and even +killed a fat hog in his honor. And he made him welcome to his lodge +and prepared a good bed for him near the fire, and covered him with +goat-skins. The night was cold and damp, and a cutting wind was blowing +outside. The other servants lay down near Odysseus to sleep, but +Eumaios took a sharp sword and thick mantle and went out near the +pens to watch the swine all night. Odysseus saw with gratitude how +faithfully this servant attended to his duty. + + + + +PART III +THE TRIUMPH OF ODYSSEUS + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX +ATHENA ADVISES TELEMACHOS + + +At the time when Odysseus was wrecked, after his comrades had eaten +of the cattle of Helios, and he was cast up on to the island of Calypso, +Athena prayed to Zeus, her mighty sire, that he might be restored +to Ithaca, his native land. She prayed that Hermes, the messenger +of the gods, might be sent to Calypso with the express command that +she should send Odysseus home. Zeus smiled and granted the request. + +Then Athena tied golden sandals under her feet and taking a long, +heavy spear, she rushed like a whirlwind down from the heights of +Olympos and stood at the doorway of Odysseus' house, among the men +of Ithaca. She found the haughty suitors assembled there eating and +drinking. + +Telemachos saw the goddess before anyone else. She was disguised to +resemble Mentor, a wise chief who had led the Taphians in the Trojan +war. Telemachos rose at once, like a gracious host, and took the right +hand of the stranger and gave him a hearty welcome. Athena saw with +anger how the ungodly wooers ate and drank and rioted gluttonously, +while the servants of Telemachos were obliged to administer to their +wants. Some of them were kept mixing the wines and water in large +craters; others had to clear and clean the tables, and others again +prepared and carved the meats and carried them round to the suitors. + +Telemachos led the stranger away from this noisy hall, that he might +not be annoyed by their boisterous behavior. He bade him sit down +on a throne, and placed a foot-stool under his feet. Then he drew +his own chair from among the suitors and sat near the stranger, hoping +to hear news of his absent father. A maid brought a silver pitcher +and basin and let the stranger wash his hands. A table was placed +before him, laden with the choicest viands, while a herald filled +a goblet with wine for him. When they had enjoyed their meal, +Telemachos asked the stranger his name and country. + +"I am Mentor, son of the Taphian King," said Athena. "I came here +in my ship with a crew of friends, on a journey to the Isle of Cyprus, +in search of copper, and I brought iron to give in exchange. I am +an old friend of Odysseus. I have left my ship in the bay, back of +the forest. Laertes will tell thee who I am. It is said that he does +not come to the palace any more, but lives alone in the country, +mourning over the loss of his son day and night. It seems that the +gods have long delayed Odysseus. Who knows where he is? I am sure +that he is not dead. And now tell me, what feast is going on here, +and who are these men? Are they invited guests? Is it a banquet I +see, or is there to be a wedding? It is not a pleasant sight in any +case, for the men are coarse in their actions and ungodly in their +speech. Every friend of Odysseus must feel sad to see them in this +place." + +"As long as my father was here," answered Telemachos, "our house was +respectable and rich. But the gods have forsaken us, and we are +destined to destruction. No news of my father's death has ever reached +us; nevertheless, all the young men of the first families of Ithaca +and the surrounding isles flock to our house and seek my mother for +a wife and squander my father's riches. My mother does not favor the +idea of another marriage, and has not promised herself to any of the +suitors. She fears them, and so she does not reject their suits, yet +she will not end the trouble by marrying one of them. They will not +go away, but make themselves at home here and eat up my inheritance. +They only want a favorable opportunity to kill me." + +Athena grew angry at this, and said: "I would that Odysseus might +come this very moment to chastise these atrocious fellows. Woe to +them if he should appear at the door with his helmet and shield and +two tough spears, just as he looked when I first beheld him in my +own home. Then these suitors would find a bitter marriage-feast and +a speedy end. Vengeance, however, rests with the gods. + +"Now, let me consider the best way to get these suitors out of the +house. As an old friend of thy father, let me advise thee. To-morrow +call thy people together in council and tell the suitors to depart. +If thy mother has any inclination to wed again, send her to her +father's house. He is rich and powerful, and can give her a splendid +wedding, such as is suitable for the daughter of a king, and bestow +an ample dower. + +"Then launch thy finest ship. Man it with twenty good oarsmen and +put out to sea in search of thy father. Sail to Pylos first and consult +with Nestor, and go to Sparta next and see Menelaos, who has returned +from Troy recently. Stay with him awhile if he can assure thee that +thy father lives. But if he tells thee that thy father is surely dead, +return as quickly as possible and build a mound to him, and cause +the altar to be piled high with sacrifices and the funeral games to +take place. Then let thy mother marry again. + +"Thou art no longer a child, and it is not seemly to allow such +indignities. Be brave and act without fear, that men may honor thee. +When thou hast performed these deeds, let thy care be to drive out +the suitors. But now I must return to my ship, for my companions will +be uneasy over my long absence." + +"Thou hast spoken to me as a father speaks to a son," answered +Telemachos. "I shall bear thy words in mind. And now I pray thee stay +awhile to rest and bathe. I cannot let thee go to thy ship without +some handsome gift, such as one always bestows upon an honored guest." + +"Telemachos, do not detain me longer," replied Athena. "I must depart +at once. Keep thy gift until I return, and then I will take it to +my home." She vanished as she spoke, and all that Telemachos saw was +a fleet-winged bird flying upward high in the air. Telemachos was +astonished, and knew that he had been talking face to face with some +deity. He thought over all that the goddess had told him, and resolved +to do exactly as he had been instructed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX +TELEMACHOS ASTONISHES THE WOOERS + + +The feast continued. The wooers ate and drank but were silent, for +an illustrious bard was singing to them of the Trojan war. Telemachos +walked forth in the midst of them, his heart inspired with courage. +Penelope had heard the song as she sat in her chamber over the hall, +and she came down the lofty stairway attended by two maids. She +implored the bard, with tears to change the song, since it was the +one most sacred to her and made her sad. + +Then said Telemachos: "My mother, let thy heart be strong to bear +this song which all men love. The bard must sing the song with which +he is inspired. Retire now, I pray thee, to thy room, and take thy +maids with thee. There teach them to spin and weave--a task meet for +a princess. But leave to me the ordering of the feast and the care +of the suitors. Such a duty belongs to a man, and the authority is +mine." Penelope was amazed at his words. She withdrew to her own rooms +with her attendants and wept and mourned for her absent lord until +she fell asleep. + +When the minstrel had finished his song, the suitors began to be noisy +and riotous again. Telemachos could no longer restrain himself. "Ye +insolent suitors of my mother," he said to them, "cease your uproar. +Your lawlessness knows no bounds. To-morrow I will call a general +assembly of all the Ithacans and warn you to depart. If ye remain +in my house wasting my goods and eating food that is not your own +I will call down vengeance from the gods, and ye shall die in this +very palace." + +The suitors were astonished at his courage and his words. He had never +before spoken out with authority. Antinoos and Eurymachos, the most +insolent of them, began to ridicule him and excite the others to make +fun of him. And they asked Telemachos what guest he had been +entertaining so secretly and what news he had brought from his father. +The suitors danced and sang, eating and drinking, until evening, +before they went home. + +Telemachos then sought his own couch. His old nurse, Eurycleia, led +the way with two torches. She had been a faithful servant since Laertes, +in his early manhood, had bought her for the price of a hundred oxen. + +Telemachos sat down on his bed, and removing his tunic handed it to +the nurse, who folded it and smoothed it and hung it up. He lay down +and covered himself with soft fleeces, while Eurycleia went out and +carefully locked the door. But sleep did not come to him. All night +he thought of what the coming day would bring. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI +PENELOPE'S WEB + + +The next morning, at dawn of day, Telemachos rose from his bed and +put on his garments. He hung his sword over his shoulder and fastened +his sandals on his feet and strode bravely forth. He summoned his +heralds at once and bade them call a council of the Ithacans. The +people came at the appointed time, and Telemachos, sceptre in hand, +took his place before the assembly and called it to order. + +"I have not summoned you, my friends," he said, "in order that ye +may see some entertaining show, but out of dire necessity. I bring +no news of war and I have nothing to say that concerns the public +good. You all know the grief which has befallen me on account of my +father, your king and leader, who loved you as a parent loves his +children. But Odysseus is gone and there is no hope of his return. +This misfortune is not enough, for every day the young men of the +leading families of Ithaca and the surrounding isles meet in my house +and vex my mother with unseemly and importunate offers of marriage. + +"There they are now installed, eating our food, drinking our wine, +and wasting our money, for Odysseus is not here to drive them out. +I have no way of expelling them from my home. My friends, consider +these wrongs and help me to drive these robbers from the house of +your king. It would be a shame to the people of Ithaca if it were +noised around that they left the son of their chief in the hands of +plunderers without giving him help." + +Thus spoke Telemachos, the tears running down his cheeks, and he threw +the sceptre on the ground. The people were greatly moved, and felt +pity for the youth who had to suffer such wrongs, but they were silent. +Only Antinoos, the most insolent of the suitors, took up the word +and said: "Shameless Telemachos, how dost thou dare to chide us for +this state of things! Thy mother is the one to blame. She has been +leading us on for three whole years. She is skilful and crafty. She +promised, three years ago, to choose one of us for a husband as soon +as she should finish the winding-sheets for old Laertes in case of +his death. + +"Then she began to weave upon her loom a dainty web of vast length +and width. And she said to each one of us: 'Do not urge me to marry, +I pray, until I finish these shrouds for the hero Laertes, when his +hour of death shall come. I have spun an abundance of fine thread, +and it must not be wasted. Besides that, the dames of Greece would +speak ill of me if I should leave my husband's father without a shroud, +for he has had great wealth all his life.' In this way Penelope gave +us hope, and we were too generous to persist in forcing her to choose +at once. + +"She went on in this way, weaving the great web by day, and every +night she unravelled by torchlight all that she had woven by sunlight. +She has deceived us long enough. We have discovered her fraud; for +a woman who has seen her unravelling the web has told us all about +it. She must finish the work and make her choice among her suitors. +If thou dost wish us to leave thy house, thou shalt send thy mother +to her parents and let her father command her to marry one of us, +according to her choice. When this is done no one will disturb thee +any longer. + +"If, however, Penelope prefers to treat the noble sons of Greece with +such malice and craft, we will go right on consuming thy goods. She +will thus make a great name for herself, but she will impoverish thee." + +"I shall never send my mother away from her husband's house," rejoined +Telemachos. "Living or dead, my father is in distant lands, and if +I should dismiss his wife of my own will, I should invite the hatred +of the gods on my guilty head. She would call upon the Furies to haunt +me; all men would curse me; and her father would demand ample +satisfaction of me. I will never speak the word to send her forth. +Now, get you gone and cease squandering my riches or I will call down +the wrath of the gods on you." + +Having said this, Telemachos sat down, and Zeus sent two eagles flying +over the heads of the wooers, close to each other. They looked down +upon the crowd of people and tore each other's heads and vanished. +The Ithacans saw the deadly omen, and a venerable prophet among them +stood up and said: "Noble youths, I advise you seriously to depart +from this royal house, for this is a sign that Odysseus is coming +home. Woe to you if he finds you in his palace. You will all meet +a direful end." + +Eurymachos answered him: "Old man, keep thy advice and thy forebodings +for thine own children. We do not need them. Advise Telemachos to +change his mind and send his mother home to her father, instead of +prating foolishly to us. As long as he keeps her here we shall continue +to consume his wealth, until he has nothing left. And we will punish +thee severely if thou dost incite this young man to violence." + +Telemachos, thinking it best to be discreet, replied: "Now hear me, +Eurymachos, and all ye suitors. Give me a good ship and twenty men, +that I may go from land to land in search of my father. If I find +that he lives and may return, I will wait one year longer for him +to reach home. But if I hear that he is not alive, I will come back +and build a mound to his memory and give him a funeral worthy of such +a king. Then shall my mother make her choice and wed." + +Mentor, the stanch friend and adviser of Odysseus, sat among the +Ithacans in the assembly. When he saw how Telemachos was put to shame, +he grew angry. He rose to his feet, and addressed the people: "No +king ever again should be wise and good. He should be hard and unjust, +since no one of you has enough love for Odysseus to stand by his son. +I am less ashamed of the impudent suitors, than I am of the weaklings +who see what they are doing and who dare not interfere." + +"Foolish old Mentor," said one of the suitors, "what art thou saying! +If Odysseus, himself, should come hither, he would not be able to +drive us out. If anyone thinks himself strong enough to do it, let +him try it. Ye Ithacans disperse to your homes, and leave Mentor to +provide the boy with a ship." So saying he dispersed the crowd, and +the wooers all went into the palace to continue their revelry. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII +THE JOURNEY OF TELEMACHOS + + +Telemachos left the assembly and went down to the sea-shore alone, +and washing his hands in the surf called on the goddess who had +appeared to him the day before to come to his assistance. At once +Athena stood by his side in the guise and with the voice of Mentor. +She urged him to hasten his journey. Telemachos took new courage, +and returned at once to his house where he found his old nurse, +Eurycleia, alone. He revealed to her his intention, and asked her +to assist him in getting everything ready for the journey. He bade +her draw twelve jars of the best wine, and twelve skins of the finest +meal to put aboard the ship. + +When the old nurse heard this she wept and beat her breast. "Dear +child," she said, "who has put such a thought into thy mind? Why +shouldst thou, an only son and well beloved, wander off to a distant +land? Be warned by what thy father had to suffer because he left his +own country. The suitors will plot to kill thee and divide thy wealth. +Stay here, at home; there is no need that thou shouldst venture over +the fearful sea." + +Telemachos answered her: "Take courage, my good nurse; this journey +is advised of a god. Do not let my mother know of my departure for +eleven or twelve days, lest she weep and mourn." + +The nurse promised most solemnly that she would keep his secret and +execute his orders. She drew the wine into the jars and filled the +strong skins with meal. Meantime, Athena, blue-eyed goddess, taking +the form of Telemachos, went through the city and urged the men to +repair to the ships at sundown, for she had chosen the best boats +in Ithaca for the youth, and found for him a crew that was glad to +serve him. + +Then the blue-eyed maid went to the palace and poured sleep upon the +eyelids of the drunken suitors. They gladly sought their beds in their +own homes. Taking the form of Mentor, she next appeared to Telemachos +and bade him follow her to the beach. When they reached the galley, +he found his comrades waiting. They hurried up to the palace for the +wine and meal, which they soon brought to the ship and stored in the +hold. Then the crew slipped the cables which held the ship to the +shore. Athena took her seat at the stern and Telemachos sat near her. +The sails were spread and the sailors began to ply their oars. Athena +raised a favorable breeze and the vessel glided forward cutting her +way through the roaring waters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII +TELEMACHOS IN PYLOS + + +At sunrise the ship arrived at Pylos. The people of that town were +all assembled on the shore, where they were sacrificing coal-black +oxen to Poseidon. Some were burning fat upon the altar, and others +were distributing food among those who were offering up the sacrifices, +while all were eating. + +The Ithacans touched land. Telemachos and Athena disembarked, +leaving the crew to guard the ship, and went up to the crowd. On the +way Athena cheered Telemachos and advised him what to say to the people. +When they had come near enough to the inhabitants to be seen by them, +the people rose and came to meet the strangers. First of all, the +son of Nestor, Peisistratos, approached and took each of them by the +hand and led them to the feast. He bade them be seated near his father +and brought them the choicest meat. + +After the strangers had eaten, Peisistratos filled a golden goblet +with wine, and handed it to Mentor, as the elder. Mentor was pleased +with the young man's good breeding and he took the goblet and poured +out a part of it on the ground as a sacrifice to Poseidon, with a +prayer for a safe return. Then he handed the goblet to Telemachos, +and he did likewise. + +When the feast was over, Nestor, the King of Pylos, said to his guests: +"The time has come, dear strangers, when it is fitting to ask your +names, and from what land you come. Do you roam the seas as pirates, +or do you come on an errand?" + +"We are Greeks," said Telemachos. "We come from Ithaca to seek tidings +of my father, the unfortunate Odysseus, who went to war against Troy +with thee and the other Greek chiefs. We have never heard anything +of him during all these long years and do not know whether he is living +or dead. I pray thee tell me anything thou may'st know about him, +and conceal nothing." + +"My son," Nestor replied, "thou dost call to mind the great sufferings +borne by the men of Greece ere we succeeded in conquering Priam's +town. It would take years to tell thee of the brave deeds of the Greeks, +how they fought and where they fell. We passed nine years in worrying +the enemy, and there was no man who gave better counsel or performed +nobler deeds than did Odysseus. Art thou then his son? I look on thee +in wonder. Yes, thou art like him. How strange to hear so young a +man speak as he did! + +"After the destruction of Troy, the surviving Greeks embarked, and +we set out for home. But when we reached Tenedos, thy father returned +to Troy to join Agamemnon and the others, who had stayed behind, to +appease the wrath of Athena, for a Greek had committed sacrilege in +her temple. + +"Our voyage was prosperous, and we all reached home except Menelaos, +who wandered about in Crete and Egypt for a long time. It is said +that the noble son of Achilles returned home safely, and that +Agamemnon was slain in his own house, and his son took vengeance on +his murderers. There is a rumor, too, that many suitors hang about +thy mother, and, in spite of thy remonstrances, consume thy riches. +Be brave, my son, and yield not. Odysseus may come again. Go at once +to Menelaos, for he may have news of thy father. I will give thee +swift horses and a chariot, and my sons will drive." + +All day Telemachos discoursed with Nestor, and when the sun went down, +they poured wine on the earth and burned an offering to the gods. +Telemachos and Mentor arose to retire to their ship, but Nestor begged +them to be his guests and go to the royal palace. Mentor, as the elder +of the two, excused himself, in order to join the crew, and suddenly +disappeared. Nestor recognized that Telemachos was attended by the +goddess, and offered a prayer to her. The assembly dispersed, and +Nestor, with his guest and his sons, retired to his palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV +TELEMACHOS IN SPARTA + + +Before the sun was fairly up, they all arose and seated themselves +on the smooth stone benches that loomed up in the gloaming, white +and shining, before the gates of the palace. Nestor bade one of his +sons to prepare an offering to Athena, of the best heifer in the fields. +He sent another son to call a skilled workman to plate the heifer's +horns with gold, and two others yet to bring the crew from the ship. +He told the remaining two sons to bid the maids prepare a sumptuous +feast in honor of their guest. + +In a moment there was a busy scene. The heifer was brought up from +the fields, and her horns were adorned with pure gold in hopes that +Athena would see it and be pleased. The sailors came from the ship, +except two who were left as guards. The heifer was slain and parts +were burned as an offering to the goddess, and cakes and wine also +were thrown into the flames to complete the sacrifice. They roasted +the flesh on long iron forks with five prongs, and feasted upon it. + +Then Nestor said to his sons: "Bring now the chariot and horses and +let our guest depart in search of news concerning his renowned +father." The horses were soon harnessed to the car, which was stored +with wine and bread and dainties fit for a prince. Telemachos climbed +into the seat. Peisistratos took his place beside him and grasped +the reins. The horses dashed off in high spirit, and Pylos was soon +left in the distance. All day the horses sped along. At night they +rested by the way and early the next morning went on again as swiftly +as before. As the sun went down they found themselves in Sparta, the +land of plenty, and at the gates of Menelaos, the king. + +Here they found many guests assembled at the wedding banquet of +Hermione, the daughter of Menelaos. That day she had been given as +a bride to Neoptolemos, the son of Achilles. A minstrel was playing +a harp and singing, while two dancers performed graceful feats to +give life to the feast. + +One of the attendants of Menelaos saw the strangers drive up, and +stepped out to see who was coming. Then he hastened back to Menelaos +and told him that two strangers of princely bearing were at the palace +gate, and asked if he should unharness their horses or send them on +their way. Menelaos was vexed that any of his servants should be so +lax in hospitality, and told him he had acted like a foolish child, +and reminded him of the gifts that had been showered on them when +they wandered so long in foreign lands. And he bade him hasten to +unharness the steeds, and give them oats and barley, and bid the +strangers welcome to the feast. + +Telemachos and Peisistratos were amazed at the beauty of the palace. +They bathed in the marble baths, rubbed themselves with oil and put +on the splendid tunics that were brought them. After that they entered +the great hall, where each was seated on a throne near the king. A +handmaid brought a golden pitcher and a silver bowl for their hands, +and a table was placed before them laden with choice food. When they +had eaten enough, golden beakers of wine were handed them, and then +the monarch gave his hand to each of them, saying: "Ye have come in +good time, my friends. As soon as ye have finished your feast, I will +ask your names and whence ye come, for ye look like sons of kings." + +As they sat there Telemachos, bending his head toward Peisistratos, +said, in a low tone, so that he thought no one else would hear: "Surely, +O son of Nestor, the Olympian home of Zeus himself could not be more +glorious than this palace. See the gold and ivory, and shining brass. +These things are beyond price in richness." Menelaos caught the words, +although he spoke so low, and said: "My sons, there is no palace that +can compare with the home of the gods. The riches which you look at +in astonishment I collected while wandering in Egypt and in Crete. +I find no pleasure in them, however, for I found my brother, King +Agamemnon slain when I reached home. Would that the men who fought +before Troy had their share of this wealth! I often weep and mourn +for them in my palace, and am unable to eat or sleep on account of +the misery I have brought upon my friends. + +"For none of them do I mourn so much as I do for Odysseus, who suffered +the most of all on my behalf. I would gladly give all my wealth, if +I only knew him to be safe. But we do not know whether he is dead +or living. How much his old father must have grieved for him. How +many tears his wife, Penelope, must have shed, and his high-minded +son, Telemachos, what sorrow he has suffered." + +New despair filled the heart of Telemachos, and tears fell from his +eyes. He held his purple mantle to hide his grief and wept in silence. +When Menelaos saw this, he at once suspected that the young man was +no other than the sorrowing son of Odysseus, and he felt perplexed +for want of suitable words. He could not decide whether to question +him about his father, or to wait and let the youth speak out of his +own will. + +Just then Helen entered the hall from her high-roofed chamber, looking +like a goddess in her dazzling beauty. She sat down at her husband's +feet, while servants ran to bring the mat which she was weaving and +the distaff filled with fine-spun purple thread. Her fingers flew +over the dainty work while she questioned the king: "Didst thou ask +the strangers their names? It is not possible that there can be any +man so like to Odysseus except his son, as is this youth! I see him +with astonishment. His father left him at home a little babe, when +the Greeks went forth to war for my sake. Is it not true that this +is Telemachos?" + +Menelaos replied: "My wife, I think thou hast spoken truly. The young +man has the hands, the feet, and the features of Odysseus, and he +cannot hide his grief at the mention of that hero's name." +Peisistratos took up the word and said: "He is, indeed, the son of +Odysseus, O king! My father, Nestor, sent me with him to inquire what +you might know of the long-lost chieftain, and to beg you to give +him advice, for he has to suffer great wrongs in his house and there +is no one to assist him." + +Menelaos was heartily glad to hear that his guest was really +Telemachos. But the remembrance of his old friend overcame him and +he wept bitter tears. "I thought when I was in Troy," he said, "that +I should one day welcome Odysseus to my home. I would have given him +land and cities and brought to Sparta all his people and his wealth. +Then we would always have lived close together and nothing could have +parted us. But he has never returned." The tears fell from his eyes +and Helen wept as well. Peisistratos then said to Menelaos: "Son of +Atreus, my father says that thou art good and wise. Let us not, I +entreat, continue this sad discourse, since this is a day that should +not be given to lamentations. I lost a brother, also, at Troy. But +we will honor these heroes at a proper time, with tears and by cutting +off our locks. Let us not spoil the feast with mourning." + +They spent the rest of the day in making the festival as cheerful +as if there were no grief to be hidden, and when night came the Argive +Helen ordered the servants to prepare beds for them in the portico +and cover them with tapestries, while she poured for them a soothing +wine and dismissed them to their slumbers. The heralds led them to +their couches, where they found a welcome rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV +MENELAOS RELATES HIS ADVENTURES + + +The next morning Menelaos rose from his couch very early, put on his +garments, hung his sword over his shoulder, laced his sandals, and +went into his hall looking like a god. He sat down near Telemachos, +and asked him to tell him frankly why he had come to Sparta. + +Telemachos then told him of the evil deeds of the suitors, and besought +him to give him every possible clew to his father's whereabouts. +Menelaos was indignant over the young man's wrongs. + +"Shame on the cowards who wish to rule over thy father's house," he +said. "Let Odysseus return and he will tear them to pieces as a lion +tears a young deer. Grant, O father Zeus, and Athena, and Apollo, +that Odysseus may yet give those ungodly suitors a bitter wedding +feast. But I will tell thee of my travels and what was told me by +the Ancient Spirit of the sea. + +"It happened that the gods detained me many days in Egypt to sacrifice +and do penance, for I had forgotten to make proper offerings to them. +The island of Pharos lies just off the coast of Egypt. There I remained +until the daughter of the Ancient Sea King, seeing my distress, came +to my rescue. + +"My men and I had wandered over the island in search of food until +we were nearly starved, when she discovered us, and told us that our +efforts would be useless unless we consulted with her father. 'If +thou canst ensnare him and hold him in thy grasp,' she said, 'he will +tell thee how to reach thy home. He is a seer, and can tell thee all +that has taken place there during thy absence. At noon-tide he comes +out from the ocean caves covered with brine, and lies down among the +sea-calves, rank with the smell of salt. He counts them five at a +time, and then he stretches himself out among them and goes to sleep. +He is very shrewd, and when thou hast caught him he will struggle +and take all sorts of forms to escape thee. He will turn into a reptile, +and into fire and then will change to water. But hold him fast, and +when he looks as he did when first perceived by thee, ask him how +to find thy home.' + +"The next morning, I sought the aged sea-god as I had been bidden. +I took three old comrades whom I knew to be trusty, and we went down +into the depths of the sea. The goddess brought us four fresh hides +that had just been taken from sea-calves newly slaughtered, and we +dressed ourselves in them to deceive her father. She scooped out +places for us to lie in on the sands and we waited for him to come. +The smell was sickening and beyond endurance, so the goddess put +ambrosia under our noses. When the sun was highest in the heavens, +the sea-calves came in groups and ranged themselves around in rows +on the sand. The old seer came out and counted all, and did not notice +our fraud. Then he lay down to sleep. At once, we rushed upon him +and caught him. He began to take all kinds of shapes. First, he was +a lion; then a serpent, a panther, a boar, a fountain of water, and +a tree. We held on until he was tired of trying to escape. + +"At last he took his proper form, and began to question me. 'Son of +Atreus,' he said, 'who hath taught thee how to make me a prisoner? +What is it thou wouldst know?' 'Tell me what god is angry with me, +O Proteus,' I replied. 'Why am I detained on this island? Why can +I not reach my home?' 'Thou didst not make acceptable sacrifices to +Zeus,' said Proteus. 'And thou wilt never see thy home again until +thou hast offered up a hundred oxen to the immortal gods.' + +"'I will perform that rite speedily, oh prophet,' I replied. 'But +tell me about my comrades in the Trojan war. Did they reach home in +safety?' + +"Then Proteus told me all; how Ajax died amid his ships; how Agamemnon +was slain in his own hall; and of Laertes' son he said that he had +seen him sitting in a grotto on Calypso's Isle. There upon the rocks +or at the ocean-side he weeps and mourns day after day, and gazes +out upon the deep. His comrades are lost, and he has no ship with +which to return to Ithaca. And after he had spoken he plunged into +the sea while I returned to my ships, offered up the hundred oxen +to Zeus and sailed for home. And now, Telemachos, I pray thee remain +awhile with me, and I will dismiss thee with a chariot and swift horses, +and a cup of priceless worth with which to pour libations to the gods." + +Telemachos took new courage when he heard that his father still lived, +and begged that he might go back at once to Pylos to join his crew. +In a moment all were busy in the palace of Menelaos preparing gifts +and a feast that the youths might depart on the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI +THE CONSPIRACY OF THE SUITORS + + +One day while Telemachos was in Sparta, the guest of Menelaos, the +suitors were more riotous than usual. They diverted themselves in +the palace of Odysseus by throwing the discus and javelin. Only +Antinoos and the handsome Eurymachos kept apart from them. Then Noemon, +who had given Telemachos his ship a few days before, approached them +and said: "Antinoos, I would gladly know when Telemachos will return +from Pylos. I lent him my ship, and I need it for I intend to go to +Elis, where I have business." + +The suitors were completely taken by surprise, for they had not heard +that Telemachos had gone to Pylos. They thought that he was out at +the farm with his swineherd. Antinoos asked: "When did Telemachos +sail, and what crew did he take? Did he use force in getting thy ship +or didst thou lend it willingly?" + +"He was welcome to the ship," replied Noemon. "Who would not have +done such a service to a man who has had so much to endure? The young +men who went with him belong to the best families of Ithaca." Noemon +could not get any news of Telemachos, so he went home; but the suitors +conspired to kill Telemachos. They decided that Antinoos should man +a ship with a crew of twenty men, and lie in ambush in the waters +near Ithaca, in order that they might catch Telemachos, on his return. + +This wicked plot of the suitors was betrayed to the queen, by her +faithful herald, Medon. Penelope was overcome with grief, and wept +bitterly, and her loyal attendants mourned with her. "What new grief +is this which befalls me now?" she said. "Is it not enough that death +has robbed me of my husband? Am I also to lose my only child, without +even having seen him before his departure? Alas! why did no one tell +me he was going, that I might have prevented his journey? Haste ye +to Laertes and tell him what has happened, that he may make some plan +to upset this plot to destroy his heir, the son of Odysseus." + +Then Eurycleia, the nurse, tried to console her with these soothing +words: "My daughter, I will not hide the truth from thee any longer. +I gave Telemachos a generous supply of food and wine, all that he +could use on his journey. And I promised him solemnly that I would +not tell thee of his departure, since he had a great dread that thou +wouldst weep and mourn, and spoil thy lovely face and injure thy health. +Now dry thy tears and bathe, and put on fresh robes. Then go to thine +altar in the upper chamber with thy maids. There pray to Athena and +burn incense to her. Do not alarm good old Laertes needlessly." + +Penelope followed the old nurse's advice. She went to the altar, at +the highest part of the house, and there she prayed to Athena: "Hear +me, daughter of Zeus! If ever my beloved husband has sacrificed to +thee the fat limbs of oxen or sheep, and has built thee altars, save +my son, Telemachos, and destroy the suitors, who fain would destroy +him." The goddess heard her prayer, and sent sweet slumber and a +pleasant dream to assuage her grief. In her sleep she saw her sister, +who said to her: "Be of good cheer, Penelope; no harm will come to +thy son, for a god goes with him." To her, the wise Penelope, yet +dreaming, answered: "My sister, why is it thou hast never come to +me before? Thy home is far away. I weep because I have lost my noble +husband, and now his enemies conspire to slay my only son." The dream +replied: "Take heart. Do not fear. Athena sent me to tell thee that +she will protect thy son." + +"Oh, tell me," cried the queen, in her dreams, "tell me if my husband +lives, since thou art sent by a goddess." But the shadow vanished +through the closed door, and mingled with the air. Penelope awoke +with a glad heart, cheered by the prophetic dream. + +In the meantime the suitors spoke among themselves, for they were +too foolish to understand the spirit of the queen. "Surely," they +said, "Penelope is making ready for her wedding. She does not suspect +that we have planned to kill her son." "Do not deceive yourselves, +my friends," said Antinoos. "Be silent and act." Then he chose twenty +men, and they went down to a well-fitted ship, and took their places +at the oars. They waited until it was dark, when they quietly rowed +out into a narrow strait, through which, they thought, Telemachos +was sure to sail on his return, and there they waited. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII +TELEMACHOS RETURNS TO ITHACA + + +Having encouraged Penelope, the goddess Athena sped to Sparta, where +she found Telemachos, with Nestor's son, asleep upon the porch. She +stood beside his bed, and warned him that he ought to return home, +since Penelope's father had given her counsel to wed the richest of +the suitors, and had promised a generous dower. "Do not delay," the +goddess said to him; "no one can tell what a woman will do to help +the man she is to marry. + +"And also beware of the suitors, whom thou hast offended. They lie +in wait in the narrow passage between Samos and Ithaca. They hope +to catch thee on thy way home and slay thee. Do not go that way. Sail +only when it is dark. A god will watch over thee. When thou dost come +to the first harbor in Ithaca, disembark, and let thy crew go on in +the ship and take it back to the town. But thou shalt make thy way +to the hut of thy loyal swineherd, and he will take tidings of thy +safe return to thy mother." + +Athena said this and vanished. Telemachos turned to Peisistratos and +said: "Let us arise and set forth on our journey with all haste, oh +son of Nestor." But Peisistratos begged him to wait until it was fairly +light. Menelaos had slept lightly, he was so agitated with the great +event of seeing his beloved comrade's son, and he rose as soon as +it was light. Telemachos heard him approaching, and hastily threw +on his tunic and cloak and went to meet him. + +Telemachos urged a hasty departure and Menelaos did not think it +proper to try to detain him. He said: "A host is hateful who is too +affectionate. It is as wrong to keep a guest who is in a hurry to +go as it is to thrust a stranger out when he wants to stay. Let me +bring thee costly gifts, and when thou hast had thy morning meal I +will hasten thee on thy way." The car was heaped with gifts, a golden +goblet, a silver beaker, a robe that glistened with hand-wrought +embroidery, the work of Helen, a goblet of silver with golden lips. +Peisistratos gazed with wonder at their beauty as he placed them in +the car. + +They washed their hands in a silver bowl and ate and drank from the +bounty which had been placed before them. Then they mounted the car +which had been brought to the palace gates. Nestor's son took the +reins, Menelaos poured wine on the ground, an offering to the gods +for their safety and prosperity, and off they sped over the plain. +Two birds flew on before them, an eagle that had clutched a goose +and bore it off in its talons, a sign that Odysseus would come and +put an end to the suitors, and this omen cheered Telemachos. + +All day the horses bounded on shaking their splendid harness. The +son of Nestor plied the lash. At night they rested in a friendly lodge +and the second day they reached Pylos. They drove directly to the +ship, lest Nestor, in his great love for his guest, should detain +him. With an offering and a prayer to Athena he set sail. A prospering +breeze swept over the sea and bore them rapidly along. At night +Telemachos landed at the nearest port and sent the crew on to take +the ship to the town. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII +TELEMACHOS AND THE SWINEHERD + + +When daylight appeared Odysseus and Eumaios rose from their beds and +sent the serving men out into the fields with their swine, but they +themselves remained at home and prepared breakfast. In a little while +they heard footsteps outside. The dogs pricked up their ears and +wagged their tails without barking. + +Odysseus, perceiving this, said to the swineherd: "There must be some +friend of thine coming, since the dogs do not bark." The words had +hardly passed his lips when Telemachos entered the hut. Eumaios +started to his feet and hastened to welcome his young master. He took +him in his arms as a father would a son who had been away a long time, +and kissed his face and hands. + +Tears dropped from his eyes and he said: "My dear Telemachos, I did +not dare to hope ever to behold thee again. Come in that I may rejoice +with all my heart at seeing thee once more enter my cabin after thy +return from a strange country. Seldom dost thou come to see thy +servants, for thou dost live in town, where thou must watch the suitor +train consume thy wealth day by day." + +To this Telemachos made answer: "This is quite true, my father; but +I come here to learn of thee how matters are at the palace. Is my +mother there, or has some wooer won her for a bride?" + +"Thy mother is still at home," replied the sturdy swineherd. "She +has a loyal heart, but she wastes her life in weeping." Saying this +he took the lance from the young prince, who had come farther into +the cabin. Odysseus arose to give him his seat, but Telemachos said +to him: "Keep thy seat, stranger, I will sit elsewhere." + +Odysseus sat down again. The swineherd took an armful of twigs and +covered it with fleeces, and Telemachos seated himself upon it. Next +he brought bread and meat and set them before his young master, who, +when he had eaten, asked his faithful servant who the stranger was +and whence he came. + +"The stranger says that he came from Crete," answered Eumaios. "Lately +he has run away from a ship where he was robbed, and has come here. +I leave him to thee, however; do with him as thou dost like." "Thy +words do not please me, Eumaios," said Telemachos. "How can I receive +a stranger in my house, since I cannot protect him there if any of +the godless wooers insult him. It would be better for him to stay +here; and lest he be a burden to you I will send out food and clothes +for him, and I will help him to go wherever he wishes." + +To him the sagacious Odysseus replied: "My friend, I hear with grief +the story of thy wrongs. Art thou willing to let this go on? If I +were as young as thou art I would lose my life before I would suffer +such things--thy guests insulted, thy servants beaten, thy riches +thrown away, thy food consumed by gluttons." + +"Thy words are sharp, dear stranger, and I shall answer them with +the truth," said Telemachos. "Thou dost not yet understand that there +is a great crowd of suitors; not simply five or ten. What can I do +single-handed against such a multitude? But you, Eumaios, hasten to +the city, secretly, and tell my mother that I have returned and am +staying here. Then come back at once and let no one know where I am, +for the lovers are plotting a bloody death for me." The swineherd +hastily bound his sandals on to his feet, took his staff, and hurried +off. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX +TELEMACHOS RECOGNIZES ODYSSEUS + + +It was not long after Eumaios had left the cabin when Athena, in the +guise of a beautiful woman, appeared to Odysseus and beckoned him +to come outside. Telemachos was opposite to her, but he did not see +her, for the gods are not visible to all. Only Odysseus and the dogs +were conscious of her presence. The dogs did not bark but ran into +a corner of the cabin, crouching and whining. Odysseus left the room +and stood before the goddess, who spoke to him in these words: "Son +of Laertes, of noble birth and great wisdom, make thyself known to +thy son. Tell him all the truth. Advise with him how to put an end +to that insolent crowd of suitors. I shall never be far from thee +myself and will help thee. I long to see them attacked." + +When she had finished speaking she touched Odysseus with her golden +wand. That touch changed him instantly into a handsome, well-made +man in the full vigor of robust manhood. His rags became seemly +garments. His cheeks flushed with renewed health and the heavy beard +on his chin grew dark again. After the goddess had done this she +vanished and Odysseus went back into the lodge. His son glanced at +him in amazement and then turned his eyes away from him lest he should +irreverently look upon a god. + +"Stranger," he said, "I think thou art an immortal whose home is in +the heavens, for thou hast been transformed in looks and garb. Let +me bring a sacrifice and offer it to thee, together with beautiful +gifts, and perhaps thou wilt be gracious to us and keep us from harm." + +Odysseus replied: "Nay, I am not a god, nor like the gods. I am thy +father, he for whom thou hast mourned and endured so many sufferings." +Saying this he kissed his son and wept. + +"I pray thee do not deceive me," said Telemachos. "Thou surely art +a deity and not my father. No mortal could change from a ragged old +beggar to a young and stately man in a moment." + +Odysseus answered him: "Telemachos, it is not like a son to gaze upon +thy father with astonishment. No other Odysseus will ever come into +this cabin. I am thy father. I have wandered twenty years in foreign +lands, and now have come to my own home. Thou hast seen a miracle +which Athena wrought, for she makes me look like a beggar or a king +as she pleases. The gods have all power to put men in high places +or to humble them." + +Odysseus sat down and his dear son approached him and threw his arms +around him in a loving embrace, and together they wept tears of joy. +At last Telemachos inquired: "Dear father, in what ship hast thou +come, and what sailors brought thee hither? Thou couldst not have +come on foot." + +"The Phaeacians brought me across the sea and left me sleeping on +the shore in Ithaca," replied Odysseus. "And they gave me rich +presents of gold, and silver, and brass, and embroidered garments +hand-woven from their own looms. + +"These have I hidden, and Athena has sent me to advise with thee how +best to destroy the arrogant crew of suitors that so long has robbed +my house and vexed my wife. Tell me now how many there are and what +kind of men, so that I can judge whether we two alone may attack them, +or whether we need the help of others." + +"My father," answered Telemachos, "thy sweet fame has resounded +through our halls, my whole life long. How often have I heard of thy +courage and the strength of thy powerful arm. But how is it possible +for us two to fight against such a multitude? Fifty-two of the wooers +come from one town with six servants. Twenty-four come from Samos, +and twenty more from Zakynthos, and twelve from Ithaca. If we attack +them all I fear that we shall come to grief. It is better for us to +look around and find an ally." + +Again Odysseus made reply: "Dear son, take courage. Zeus and Athena, +most powerful of the gods, are on our side. Early to-morrow thou must +go to the city and mingle with the suitors. The swineherd shall lead +me disguised as an old beggar to my palace. Keep down thy wrath if +the wooers speak insultingly to me. Do not resent it except to +administer a gentle reproof, though they strike me with their spears +and abuse me with bad language. The day of their death is at hand. +When Athena gives me the sign, I will nod to thee and thou shalt remove +my weapons from the great hall to an upper room. Tell the suspicious +suitors that the arms gather too much dust where they now hang on +the walls, and besides that, a god has warned thee that in their +drunken brawls, the wooers may harm each other. Let no one know of +my arrival, not even Laertes, Eumaios, or my wife, Penelope." + +All day the illustrious father and his son conversed and laid their +plans. At noon they killed a yearling pig, and roasted it and made +a hearty lunch. Once more Athena touched Odysseus with her wand and +changed him into a poor old beggar, that Eumaios should not recognize +him. At evening the swineherd returned. On entering his cabin he told +his young master that the suitors had learned of his safe return to +Ithaca. Then he prepared a supper for them, and they ate and drank +to their hearts' content, when they retired to rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XL +TELEMACHOS RETURNS TO THE PALACE + + +Early the next morning Telemachos rose, tied his shining sandals under +his feet, took his spear and stood ready to go to the city. He called +the swineherd to him, and said: "Eumaios, I am going back to the town +to see my mother. I know that she will not cease to be anxious about +me until she sees me in my own home. Take this stranger there, too, +where he may beg, and thus supply his wants. I cannot receive every +poor man into my own house; my trials are too great. It makes no +difference to me whether he likes it or not. I am forced to tell the +truth about it." + +"My friend," said Odysseus, "I do not care to stay any longer. I think +myself it is better for me to go to the city, where a beggar may have +a fair chance. I am too old to be of service here. Go thy way, my +son, and let thy servant lead me hence, as thou hast commanded. But +let me first warm me at the fire, for I am cold and the way is long." + +Then Telemachos went out of the lodge and sped toward the city. His +old nurse, Eurycleia, was the first to see him, and she ran out to +welcome him, and the other servants came around rejoicing. Next came +Penelope, as beautiful as Artemis, and threw her arms about her son, +and kissed him on his brow and eyes. "Hast thou indeed returned, +Telemachos, my son? I never hoped to see thee again. Tell me about +thy father. Hast thou any news of him? What has happened? What hast +thou seen?" So did the queen greet her son. + +"Dear mother, do not waken my grief again," Telemachos replied. "I +have barely escaped a cruel death. But go to thy bath and put fresh +garments on, and then pray to the gods and promise them great +sacrifices if Zeus will avenge our wrongs." Penelope willingly did +her son's bidding, but Telemachos betook himself to the market place +to show himself to the people. + +When Telemachos came into the public square the suitors thronged +around him with smooth speeches, but in their hearts they kept on +plotting his death. He wanted them to see that he was in Ithaca, but +he did not care to be in their company, so he took his place among +some friends of his father. One of the crew came up to ask where he +might deposit the splendid gifts of Menelaos, and Telemachos told +him to hide them until the suitors had been defeated or had won the +victory. + +Then Telemachos came back to the palace in company with a stranger +who had joined his crew at Pylos, and they sat down near the queen, +who was spinning. The servants brought them wine and food, and after +they had eaten, Penelope begged that her son would recite to her the +story of his journey. In the meantime Odysseus and Eumaios had started +for the city. When they reached the spring where the citizens of the +city went for water, they encountered Melanthios, a goatherd, driving +goats into town. Two servants followed, helping him. As soon as he +saw Eumaios and his guest, he said: "Look! There is one knave leading +another. Verily, the gods bring like and like together. Thou miserable +swineherd, whither dost thou take that worthless beggar, this +vagabond who rubs his shoulders on every door-post, asking for crusts, +eating gluttonously, and telling tales of woe? + +"Just hand him over to me to guard my stables and clean my yard, and +I will give him whey to drink, which will fatten his limbs. But work +does not suit such a fellow. He would rather ramble idly about and +beg for food to fill his empty stomach. Let him once come to the palace +of Odysseus and the guests that woo the queen will fling footstools +at him." With that Melanthios kicked him in the thigh. Odysseus +hesitated a moment and considered whether it were better to slay the +goatherd with a blow from his staff, or whether he should submit to +the indignity in silence. The latter seemed the better course. + +But Eumaios grew angry and said: "Melanthios, wait till Odysseus +returns. He will give thee thy deserts, thou villain! All day long +dost thou loaf in the city, leaving thy master's flocks to take care +of themselves." Melanthios answered him: "Just hear what this cur +has to say! I shall take him off and sell him for a slave some day. +Would that Telemachos might die this moment under the hands of the +suitors, and go down to Hades to join his father!" With these words +he hurried off to the house of his master where he sat down among +the crowd of wooers. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI +ODYSSEUS IS RECOGNIZED BY HIS DOG + + +After awhile Odysseus and Eumaios came to the house. As they drew +near they waited a little to listen to the music, for a minstrel had +begun a song, and while singing he played the lyre. "Surely, Eumaios," +said Odysseus, "anyone would know that this is the palace of a king. +See how stately the structure is, and how spacious the court beyond +the massive gates! And there are walls and towers and countless rooms. +No one but Odysseus could have built such a fortress. I hear the sound +of the lute and perceive the tempting odor of roasting meat, and there +are crowds of guests coming and going. There must be a banquet within." + +Eumaios replied: "True, my friend, this is the house of Odysseus. +Now, let us consider what we are to do. Shall I take the lead and +go in first, or wilt thou go first and let me follow?" Odysseus, the +sagacious, made answer: "Go in before me, and I will follow by and +by." + +They were standing near the stable doors while talking. The filth +from the stalls of the mules and oxen had been piled there by slovenly +servants, who should have removed it day by day to fertilize the fields. +There, on the unwholesome heap, a poor, neglected dog was lying, +devoured by noxious insects and vermin. It was Argus, whom Odysseus +himself had raised before he went to Troy. In times gone by, the young +men of Ithaca had made him most useful in the chase. He had scented +the stag, the hare, and the wild goat for them many a time. But now +that he was old no one cared for him, and he was left to die. + +As soon as he saw Odysseus drawing near he pricked up his ears and +wagged his tail. But he had not strength enough to get up and come +to his master, although he moved as if he would gladly have done so. +Odysseus saw this and burst into tears, but he turned his face away +in hopes that Eumaios would not notice it. + +But the good swineherd saw it and so Odysseus questioned him: "Eumaios, +what dog is this that lies upon this filth? He is well built, and +surely is of a fine stock. Is he fleet in the chase or a mere house-dog +kept for show?" + +"This dog, stranger," answered Eumaios, "belongs to my dear master. +If thou hadst only seen him before Odysseus went to Troy thou wouldst +have been astonished at his swiftness. He performed wonders in the +chase. No wild animal was able to escape him. But his master has died +far from home, and the careless servants will not even throw him a +bone." + +The swineherd passed on into the hall where the suitors sat, but +Odysseus stood looking at the faithful beast, the only creature that +had recognized him. The joy of seeing his old master was too great, +and Argus sank down and died. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII +ODYSSEUS COMES, A BEGGAR, TO HIS OWN HOUSE + + +Telemachos was the first to notice the swineherd entering the hall, +and he made a sign for him to come and sit by him. Presently Odysseus, +too, entered in the guise of a forlorn old beggar, and sat down near +the door. Telemachos handed Eumaios a whole loaf of bread and as much +meat as he could hold in his two hands, and bade him take it to the +beggar. And he told him to tell the poor old man to ask a pittance +from every suitor present. + +Odysseus took the food, and after thanking Telemachos, prayed to the +gods to give him everything good. Then he placed his food in a wallet +on the ground, and began to eat, while a minstrel entertained the +assembly with sweet music. When the bard ceased his singing, the +suitors began a noisy conversation, and having a signal from Athena, +Odysseus arose and went from one wooer to another asking alms. Each +one gave him something, and asked him who he was and whence he came. + +Melanthios, the goatherd, and the favorite of Eurymachos, wishing +to make mischief, told them that Eumaios had brought the old man along +but did not, himself, know who he was. Antinoos hearing this, said: +"Eumaios, foolish swineherd, why didst thou bring that vile beggar +here? Are there not beggars enough to eat up the wealth of thy master +without him?" + +Eumaios answered him most courteously: "Antinoos, though thou art +high born thou art not well bred. Thou hast always spoken +contemptuously to all the servants of Odysseus, but chiefly to me. +Beggars come as they like. No one expects to invite them. Only people +of rank are invited to a feast. But I heed not thy abuse so long as +I can serve the wise Penelope and her powerful son." + +Then Telemachos, seeing that a quarrel was brewing, interposed: "Hold +thy peace, Eumaios, make no words with Antinoos. He takes delight +in ugly words. Nothing pleases him more than to stir up ill-feeling. +Surely Antinoos, thou art a father to me when thou dost bid me turn +a stranger into the street and insult him. Pray let the old beggar +approach thee and receive a pittance, for thou shouldst not feast +on the food belonging to others and never bestow any gifts. All the +suitors except thyself have given him a dole." + +Antinoos made response: "Telemachos, thou boaster, if each suitor +would bestow upon him such a gift as I will make, he would not come +here again very soon." With that he seized a footstool and held it +up where all could see it. The beggar approached him with a pitiful +story of wanderings and hardships. Antinoos spurned him saying: "What +demon hath brought this chattering beggar to spoil our pleasure? Get +thee gone, or thou wilt soon be much the worse for coming. Thou art +a bold and impudent old beggar." + +Odysseus withdrew, saying as he went: "How strange it is that so fine +a form can conceal so foul a mind. Thou wouldst not give even salt +to a suppliant, nor a crust of bread from thine own table, without +begrudging it. But thou dost feed gluttonously at the table of an +absent chief." Antinoos grew more angry, and rejoined: "Thou insolent +beggar, thou shalt not leave this hall unpunished." With that he +raised the footstool and struck Odysseus on the shoulder. The chief +stood like a rock, not in the least disturbed. But he made menacing +motions with his head and retired to the door, where he put down his +wallet and lifted up his voice to call down vengeance from the gods. + +Antinoos spoke again with insulting words, and one of the guests +rebuked him. He was so angry, however, that he did not heed it. +Telemachos saw the blow, and could hardly restrain his anger. Word +was carried to Penelope that a penniless stranger had been insulted +and struck in her halls, and she said to her maids: "I would that +Apollo with his bow might strike Antinoos down." + +Then she called the swineherd to her apartment and said: "Bring the +beggar hither. I should like to speak with him. It may be that he +has seen Odysseus, for he seems to have wandered far." + +The swineherd took the queen's message to the stranger, but he begged +that he might not comply with the request until the suitors had left +the house. "I knew Odysseus well," he said, "but I dread these violent +men. Therefore, ask Penelope to let me wait until sunset when I can +sit by the fire and warm myself, and tell her all that she shall +inquire." + +The queen thought the beggar's answer was a prudent one, and was +satisfied. At sundown the swineherd left the palace to return to his +hut. The suitors kept up the revel until late in the evening, and +then went home leaving Odysseus in his own palace. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII +CONVERSATION OF ODYSSEUS AND PENELOPE + + +After the revellers had left the palace, Odysseus said to his son: +"Now is the time to hide all these weapons where the suitors cannot +find them, when their hour of need shall come. If they ask for them +tell them that the arms were losing their polish in these smoky rooms, +and also that the gods had warned thee to remove them since some +dispute might arise in which the wooers heated with wine and anger +would attack each other." + +Telemachos at once obeyed. He called his old nurse to see that the +servants were in their own apartments and the doors of the palace +made fast while he removed the arms to an upper room. Then he retired +to rest, leaving Odysseus sitting by the hearth in the large +dining-hall awaiting the arrival of Penelope. She was not long in +coming. Her maids placed a chair, inlaid with silver and ivory, for +her near the fire, and threw a large woolly rug before it for her +feet. + +The queen, stately as a goddess, took her seat there while her maids +carried away the dishes and food left by the suitors. They heaped +great logs on the fire. Then Melantho, an impudent maid, said to +Odysseus: "Art thou here, thou beggar! Begone, or I will take a +firebrand and drive thee out!" Odysseus rejoined: "Such is the fate +of beggars. They must wander far and take abuse. It is true that I +am ragged, but I am not unclean. Once I was rich and had my own palace. +I often gave to beggars and I had many servants. But it pleased the +gods to make me poor. Thou pert woman, surely the queen, Penelope, +never taught thee, and thy bad conduct will not escape the eye of +Telemachos." + +Penelope saw and heard all this and the high-breeding of the beggar +did not escape her keen notice. She turned to the saucy maid and said: +"Shame on thee, thou bold creature. Thou dost know full well that +this stranger has remained here at my own request, that I might inquire +if he knows aught of my husband." + +Then the queen asked her matron to spread a rug for the poor old man. +Odysseus sat down and Penelope began to question him. "Who art thou, +stranger?" she asked. "Where is thy home? Whence hast thou come?" +Odysseus answered her: "My gracious queen, I am the son of a king +and I come from Crete. I am a man of sorrows and have wandered far. +But do not ask me of these things, for I do not wish to lament over +unhappy days. + +"Strong ties of friendship bind me to Odysseus. Twenty years ago, +when he went to Troy, I received him as a guest in my house, because +contrary winds and a stormy sea had thrown him upon my island. I led +him to my palace and gave him the best of food and wine. Twelve days +he remained with me, both himself and his companions. On the +thirteenth a favorable wind arose and they went on to Troy." + +Odysseus kept on inventing one tale after another, such as might seem +probable, and the tears rolled down Penelope's cheeks. Odysseus could +have wept, too, when he saw how deep her loyalty and affection were +rooted. The lady had no doubt of the genuine character of her guest, +but she cautiously strove to prove the truth of his words, so she +questioned him yet farther, asking him to describe Odysseus and his +comrades--how he looked and what dress he wore. + +Odysseus responded truthfully: "He wore a cloak of purple wool, with +two clasps of gold, hand-wrought. The pattern showed a hound +struggling with a spotted fawn, intent to kill it. Besides this he +had on a delicate tunic of shining cloth, spun, doubtless, by his +queen, for the women gazed at it in wonder. + +"He was accompanied by a herald named Eurybates, a hunchback with +a dark complexion, but Odysseus seemed to value him above all the +rest, for he was a clever and a faithful man." + +When Odysseus had finished speaking, Penelope exclaimed, with a burst +of passionate grief: "Stranger, I was moved to pity when I first saw +thee in my halls, but thou shalt be held as an honored guest from +this time forward. Thou hast spoken truly of the garments, for I shaped +the folds in them myself and put on the clasps. Alas! I shall never +see him again. It was a cruel fate that took him from me." + +Odysseus was deeply moved, and tried to speak consoling words. "Weep +not," he said, "for grief will wear away thy beauty and thy health. +Odysseus lives and will return. I met him lately on his homeward way, +laden with wealth which he had gathered in the country of the +Thesprotians. + +"He will come alone, for his comrades were destroyed off the island +of Trinacria, for they had slain the oxen of the Sun. He would have +arrived here before me, only that he stopped to consult an oracle +whether to come secretly or not. He is safe and will not long remain +away from thee. Here I take the great oath that Odysseus will come +within a month." + +The wise queen answered him: "I would that thy words might prove true, +O stranger, but the thought is deep in my heart that Odysseus is no +more. My maidens, lead this guest to the bath and spread a couch for +him where he can rest quietly, and to-morrow he shall share the morning +meal with Telemachos." + +Then said Odysseus to her: "Fair queen, I care not for fine covers +and soft beds. Wilt thou permit me to lie down on the floor near the +fire, as I am used to do? I care not for the bath, either, unless +there is some old servant who knows how to give a foot-bath to aged +feet." + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV +EURYCLEIA RECOGNIZES ODYSSEUS + + +Penelope admired the prudence of the poor old beggar, and called +Eurycleia, bidding her to bathe the stranger's feet as carefully as +if they were the feet of her master. The nurse filled a bright brass +basin with warm water and knelt down to execute the command of her +royal mistress, saying: "My poor Odysseus! My heart is sore for him. +Who knows but he may be wandering like thee, weary and footsore! +Perhaps he is an object of ridicule among serving-women who will not +suffer him to come near the bath. + +"Stranger, I will wash thy feet for the sake of my absent master, +and to please that gracious queen who has commanded me to do so; but +most of all because thou art in need of it through suffering. Surely +I never saw anyone who bore so close a resemblance to my lord as thou." + +Odysseus replied: "It has often been said that I look like Odysseus +by those who knew us both, O aged dame." Then he turned his feet away +from the light, for fear that Eurycleia would recognize a scar and +discover who he was. But it was in vain, for as soon as she passed +her hand over it she knew it. It was a scar that came where a wild +boar had once torn the flesh when Odysseus was hunting on Parnassos. + +The old servant was so overcome with joy that she laughed and cried +at the same time. She let his foot fall against the basin, which was +upset with a loud clang, while the water was spilled over the floor. +She laid her hand on Odysseus' beard, and said in a voice trembling +with emotion: "Dear son, thou art Odysseus. I knew thee the moment +that I touched the scar." + +Then Eurycleia turned to tell Penelope that her lord had come, for +the queen had not seen the upsetting of the basin. But Odysseus laid +his finger on the old servant's lips, and with his left hand drew +her closer and said: "Be silent. Let no one know that I have come, +for I must slay the suitors by stratagem. If they know that I am here +they will prevent me and destroy us all." + +The loyal handmaid arose to bring another basin of water. She bathed +his feet and anointed them. And he moved to the fire and took his +seat, while he pulled his ragged garments over the scar to hide it, +lest it might betray him. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV +PENELOPE'S DREAM + + +When Odysseus was again seated by the hearth, Penelope began to speak +to him further: "Stranger, one more question I must ask thee, and +then I will leave thee, for the hour of sleep is near. All day long +I keep at my tasks to try to forget my grief, for the gods have visited +me with sore misfortunes. I teach my maids to spin and weave and care +for the palace. But when night comes strange dreams flit through my +mind, and new sorrows spring up in my heart. + +"There are from day to day assembled in my home all the young men +of the best families of Ithaca and the neighboring isles, who insist +that I shall choose one of them for a husband. But as I am not willing +to comply, they remain in my house and destroy my property. I am not +able to drive them out, and do not know how to help myself. Listen +to a dream I had the other night. Perhaps thou canst explain it to +me. + +"I dreamt that there was a flock of twenty geese in my court-yard, +and they picked corn out of the water and ate greedily. Suddenly an +eagle swooped down upon them from above and broke their necks and +tore them to pieces. Then he flew off, leaving them scattered about +the yard. I bitterly bewailed the loss of my geese, and so did my +maids. After awhile the eagle came back and, perching on the roof, +said to me: 'Take courage, Penelope, this is no dream. The geese are +the wooers, but I, the eagle, am thy husband, and I have come to kill +those impudent robbers that vex thee.'" + +Odysseus answered her: "The eagle gave the right explanation, O lady. +The dream could not have had any other meaning. Odysseus will come +and slay the wooers, and not one shall escape him." + +"Dreams do not always come to pass," rejoined Penelope, "but I +heartily wish that this might be fulfilled. Be patient a little longer, +for I have one thing more to say. To-morrow is a decisive day, for +it may be the one that drives me from the palace. I shall propose +a contest for my hand. Twenty years ago Odysseus set up twelve axes, +one behind the other, in the court. Through the rings of the handles +he shot an arrow, although he stood at a great distance. I will +challenge the suitors to take the same bow and send the arrow through +the rings as Odysseus did. He who succeeds shall lead me forth a bride, +to his own palace." + +Odysseus responded: "Do not let the contest be put off. Odysseus will +be at hand a long time before any of the suitors can bend his bow." + +"Thy words, O stranger, are comforting," said Penelope. "I could sit +and listen to thee all night. But as thou art in need of rest, I will +retire to my apartment, and the maids shall spread rugs before the +fire for thee." Penelope, having said this, went up to her room, her +maids following her, and she wept, thinking of her royal lord, until +Athena closed her eyes in sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI +ATHENA ENCOURAGES ODYSSEUS + + +Odysseus was lying on his bed, but he could not sleep, for he was +thinking how he might destroy the suitors. Suddenly Athena appeared +to him, and said: "Odysseus, why dost thou lie awake? Thou art in +thine own house and near thy wife and child." "All this is true, O +goddess," answered Odysseus. "But I am only one and the suitors are +many. How shall I, single-handed, meet this multitude of men?" + +"Sleep in peace, Odysseus," returned Athena. "To lie awake saps the +life and strength of men. The time has come when all thy sufferings +shall end. The gods protect thee and they are stronger than armed +warriors." Thus spoke the goddess, and, closing his eyelids with sweet +slumber, she flew up to Olympos. + +While Odysseus was sleeping, his wife had waked, and, sitting on her +bed, addressed a prayer to Artemis: "Rather let me die, O goddess, +than become the wife of any other man than Odysseus. The very thought +vexes me day and night. Just now I had a dream. I seemed to see Odysseus +just as he was when he started out for Troy. I was so glad that I +could not believe that it was not a reality." + +She prayed aloud, and soon daylight appeared. Odysseus heard the voice +and it filled his heart with anxiety. He arose and hastily placed +the rugs on which he had slept on a bench in the palace. Then he went +out into the open air. Telemachos had risen also, and he went forth +to the market-place. Eurycleia called the servants together and +ordered them to be quick about their work, for a festival was to be +celebrated that day and the wooers would come early. + +There was a busy time. The menials obeyed, some bringing water, some +sweeping the floors, others polishing the benches and covering them +with royal tapestries. The servants of the suitors came also and cut +wood for the fires. Eumaios arrived early, driving three fat hogs. +He saluted Odysseus and asked him if he were well treated by the +suitors, or if they continued to scoff at him. Odysseus answered him: +"May the gods punish the ruthless men who perpetrate such wrongs in +a stranger's home." While they were talking together the goatherd +joined him, and repeated the sneers and abuse of the preceding day. +Odysseus took no notice of it, except to shake his head as one who +plans direful things. + +The master herdsman now came along with a fat heifer and choice goats +for the day's banquet. Offering his hand to Odysseus, he exclaimed: +"Hail to thee, stranger! A long and happy life be thine! Methinks +my master must be clothed in rags and wandering like thee. Thou dost +bring his image to my mind. I hope he may return and drive these suitors +out of his palace." "Be sure that he will come, herdsman; thou wilt +see him with thine own eyes, when he slays the ruthless suitors, and +then thou wilt know who is lord of the palace," replied Odysseus. + +The suitors were talking apart from the rest and conspiring to take +the life of Telemachos, when an eagle wheeled over their heads, +tearing a timid dove. With hearts foreboding ill at this omen, they +went into the hall to begin the banquet, while the herdsman went his +way first saying, "When Odysseus comes, call on me, and I will show +how strong my arm is to deal a blow at his enemies." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII +THE LAST BANQUET OF THE SUITORS + + +The suitors had now arrived in the great banquet-hall and taken their +places at the tables. The servants brought bread and meat and placed +it before them, while Melanthios filled their goblets with wine. +Telemachos placed Odysseus near the door, and gave him an ample supply +of food, saying: "Eat and drink, stranger, without fear. None of the +wooers shall assail thee, for I will stand guard." + +One of the suitors, an evil-minded man with a rich father, said to +his companions: "My friends, this stranger enjoys his meal greatly. +It does not become any one of us to begrudge good things to the guests +of Telemachos. I, too, wish to give him a present, which he in turn +may bestow on some other beggar." With that he seized an ox's foot +and hurled it at Odysseus. + +Odysseus dodged it by holding down his head. Telemachos grew angry +and rebuked the suitor in these words: "Ktesippos, thou hast escaped +death. It is well that this stranger avoided thy blow, for if thou +hadst struck him, my sharp spear would have pinned thee to the wall, +and thy father would have prepared a burial instead of a wedding for +thee." + +Dreadful forebodings of woe began to fill the hearts of the suitors. +Their speech became rambling and they laughed insanely. They ate and +drank like men deranged. + +Penelope now entered the great hall and took her seat upon a +magnificent throne, right in front of the suitors. She heard the +maudlin laughter and saw the gluttonous feasting as the revel ran +high. Then Athena came and moved her mind to immediate action, and +she went up to the farthest chamber with her maids, where the arms +of Odysseus were stored. His bow and deadly arrows, so long unused, +were there, with rich treasures and perfumed garments. She wept as +she took the bow from its case and went out, followed by the servants, +who carried down costly prizes, such as Odysseus gave when festivals +with games were held in his halls. + +She took her place, standing before the suitors, and addressed them: +"Ye noble suitors, listen to my words. Cease to eat and drink and +come to the contest. Too long have ye lived at my table, giving as +an excuse that ye would win me as a bride. The suitor who can bend +this bow and send this arrow through these twelve axes shall claim +me as his wife, and I will follow him to his home." + +Penelope called to the swineherd and the herdsmen to place the rings +and carry the bow to the suitors. Each in turn tried to do so, but +were overcome with grief at seeing their master's weapons, and laid +them down. + +Antinoos lifted up his voice and chid them: "Ye foolish peasants, +must your eyes flow with tears at this feast? Bring the bow or leave +the palace. Methinks we shall have hard work to bend this bow, for +none of us have such sinews as had Odysseus." + +Then Telemachos took up the bow and laughed. "I must have lost my +wits," he said, "for I am glad that this contest will take place. +There is not such another woman in Greece as my stately mother. Make +no delay then. I long to see the man who can bend the bow. I would +that I might bend it myself and win the right to keep her in her own +home. Then I should be spared the grief of losing her." + +Telemachos took off his cloak and laid his sword aside. He placed +the axes in a row and took the bow and made three attempts to bend +it, but did not succeed. He would have accomplished the feat if he +had made one more effort, but Odysseus made a sign to him to desist, +so he set the bow against the wall and went back to his seat. + +The first suitor to make the trial had never been pleased with the +insolence of the wooers, and had great foresight and was called their +seer. His hands were soft and delicate. He could not bend the bow, +but he predicted that it would be the instrument to bring death to +the whole crew. + +Antinoos reproached him for his prophecies, and ordered Melanthios +to light a fire and bring a slice of fat, that the bow might be warmed +and oiled to make it pliable. They warmed it and rubbed it with oil, +and tried to bend it. One after another, each in turn, they made trials, +but all in vain. + +In the meantime Odysseus went to the swineherd and the master of the +herds, who had displayed such loyalty. He said to them: "My friends, +what if Odysseus should come; would you take part with him, or join +the crowd of suitors? Speak truly." The two men answered, appealing +to the gods to bear witness, that they would stand by their master +to the end. + +"Behold," said Odysseus, "I am the master that you love. I have come +to my own land after twenty years of suffering, and among all my +servants I hear none pray for my return save you two. And now that +you may surely recognize me I will show you the scar made by a boar +on Parnassos." He raised his ragged tunic for a moment and they looked +at the scar. They recognized their long-lost master, and threw their +arms around him and wept, and kissed his hands and feet. + +Odysseus begged them to desist, lest the suitors should notice it +and discover him. And he instructed them to bring the bow to him and +place it in his hands, after all the wooers had failed to bend it. +And he told them to shut and lock the doors, so that the maid-servants +could not hear the groans of the dying men, for they might run out +and warn the town. + +Eurymachos and Antinoos were the last to make trial of the bow. +Eurymachos sat before the fire and warmed it on both sides, but he +could not bend it. He was vexed beyond measure, and said: "It is not +that I care for Penelope, for there are other women that would suit +me just as well, but if we are weaker than Odysseus our sons will +hear of it in future times and be ashamed of us." + +Antinoos took up the word: "Eurymachos," he said, "this is a day held +sacred to Apollo, god of the silver bow. He should have no rival. +Let the bow alone, lest the god be angry and leave the axes standing +in a row. No one will dare to touch them. Let Melanthios bring goats, +and we will offer up sacrifices to the god and invite his aid. Then +we shall have strength to win in this struggle." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII +ODYSSEUS BENDS THE BOW + + +The suitors approved the words of Antinoos. The heralds filled their +cups with wine, and the wise Odysseus waited until they had drunk +to their hearts' content. + +Then he lifted up his voice and said: "Hear me, ye suitors of Penelope, +while I advise that you defer this trial of your strength until another +day. Apollo will then bestow the power on one of you to triumph over +the others. Let me practise with the bow to-day, to see if I have +any of my youthful strength, or if I have lost it through suffering +and want." + +The suitors were moved with desperate fear and anger. "Thou senseless +beggar," said Antinoos, "is it not enough that we allow thee to sit +at a banquet with the proudest men alive? Thou art drunk and thy mind +wanders. What would come to thee if thou shouldst bend this bow? Verily +we would sell thee for a slave to the great enemy of men." + +Then said Penelope: "Indeed, Antinoos, it is not large-minded to deny +this poor old man the pleasure of trying the bow. + +"Dost thou think I would go forth as the wife of a beggar? Nay, the +stranger has no hope of that. Do not let your minds be teased with +such thoughts." + +Eurymachos, the leading suitor, rejoined: "Our care is not that thou +wilt wed this man. But we fear the ridicule of the people, who will +say, 'These are great men, indeed, who are outdone in strength and +skill by a miserable old beggar.' It would be a never-ending shame +to us." + +"Nay, Eurymachos," replied Penelope, "real shame comes on him who +robs a good man and brings trouble to his family. This beggar claims +to be of good blood, and his arm is sinewy. Let him try the bow. I +make a solemn promise that if Apollo grant him the honor of bending +the bow, I shall do no less than bestow upon him a tunic and a cloak, +and sandals, and I will give him a sword with which he can defend +himself. Then he can go where he likes." + +Telemachos saw that the great crisis was at hand. "Mother," he said, +"it rests with me to give the bow or withhold it. Such matters belong +to men, and in this palace the authority is mine. Take thy maids, +then, and retire to thy apartments, and ply the tasks most suitable +to women." + +The queen recognized her son's wisdom, and withdrew with her maids +to the upper rooms. There she wept for the beloved monarch, her absent +lord, until Athena sent a soothing sleep to comfort her. + +In the meanwhile the swineherd took up the bow and undertook to carry +it to Odysseus. The suitors shouted their disapproval, and he became +confused and set it down. Telemachos called out above the clamor and +gave command for him to carry it along. The suitors laughed to hear +the young man's voice ring out like a trumpet and drown all other +noises. Odysseus took the bow and turned it from side to side, +examining it in every part. Telemachos, in a low tone, bade Eurycleia +make fast all the doors, and the master herdsman tied the gates of +the outer court with a ship's cable. + +The suitors grew uneasy, and one of them said to another: "See the +beggar, how he turns the bow this way and that! He would have us think +that he is an expert in the use of bows." Odysseus stretched the cord +and made it fast from end to end. He put it to his ear to try its +tenseness as a minstrel tunes his harp. It sang like a bird. With +perfect ease he drew the cord and let the arrow fly. It screamed like +a swallow and went through every ring from the first one to the last. +The suitors turned pale. Zeus sent a loud thunder-clap and Odysseus +rejoiced at the omen. He sprang to the threshold with his bow in hand +and a quiver full of arrows at his side, and shouted: "The contest +is ended. Now I will choose another target." + +Antinoos had just put a golden goblet to his lips, and was about to +drink the delicious wine. An arrow pierced his throat. He dropped +the cup and fell to the ground, and as he fell his feet struck the +table. The bread and meat were scattered in every direction over the +floor. The suitors sprang to their feet and looked for the weapons +on the walls. The spears were gone, and the lances and all the armor. + +Even yet they were blind to the fact that the stranger had slain +Antinoos purposely. They poured out threats. "Fool," they said, "what +art thou doing? How couldst thou be so careless! Thou hast slain the +noblest man in Ithaca. Dogs and vultures shall devour thee. Never +again shalt thou be allowed a trial with the bow." + +"Dogs," cried Odysseus, "ye little thought your chief would ever +return from Troy, and therefore ye have robbed me of my wealth and +vexed my wife with offers of marriage, regardless of the laws of god +and man. But now the hour of your death has come and your doom is +certain." + +The suitors trembled and looked for some open door through which to +fly for safety. Only Eurymachos took courage to make a defence. "If +thou art indeed Odysseus, thou hast good cause to complain of wrongs," +he said. "But thou hast slain the leader, Antinoos, who prompted us +to do these wrongs. He had no thought of love for thy wife. He wanted +to gain thy land and rule over thy people. Spare the rest of us and +we will make ample restitution." + +A dreadful frown spread over Odysseus' face, and he replied: +"Eurymachos, I will not take thy wealth nor will I spare thy life. +Now choose between the two, either to fight or fly from death. Be +sure no suitor shall escape my vengeance." + +The suitors all grew faint with fear. Eurymachos cried out to them: +"Ye Ithacans, this man will stand there at the door and shoot us all +down one by one. Out with your swords! Hold up the tables for shields, +and rush upon him, all of you, at once. Drive him out of the gates, +and then hurry through the city and give a general alarm." + +With a fearful shout Eurymachos then drew his own sword and sprang +toward Odysseus. A deadly arrow from the famous bow met him and he +fell upon the table, upsetting it, and he went spinning round with +it on the paved floor, while the food and cup of wine were scattered +all about. His head struck upon a stone and his feet against a chair. +Death closed his eyes. + +Another suitor drew his sword and rushed toward Odysseus. Telemachos +met him with a lance and slew him. Then Telemachos sprang to his +father's side and said: "My father, I will bring thee javelins and +a shield, and I will arm myself and the swineherd and the master +herdsmen." "Make haste, my son," responded Odysseus, "for I have but +few arrows left." + +Telemachos hastened to the room where the arms had been stored and +clothed himself in brass. His loyal herdsmen also put on splendid +armor, and they hastened back to Odysseus with a complete outfit for +him. The chief had used up his arrows, and now he dressed himself +in armor and took the lances. Just then he perceived that the suitors +had by some means been supplied with armor also. He called to +Telemachos, who had left the door ajar leading to the apartment where +the arms had been placed for safety. + +Melanthios, the goatherd, had sneaked in and was slyly bringing +shields and helmets down to them. Telemachos saw him, and gave orders +to the herdsmen to lock the doors of the armory and secure the spy. +They hastened to the armory and found Melanthios, who had come back +for a second load. They cast him on the floor and tied his arms down +so that he could not move them. Then they took a rope and made two +loops in it and swung him safely to the timbers in the roof, saying: +"Melanthios, thou hast a soft bed, and it is where thou canst keep +watch. In the morning thou canst drive thy goats to the suitors' +banquet." They locked the doors and left him there and took their +places at Odysseus' side. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX +DEATH OF THE SUITORS + + +The combat grew more stubborn. Athena, in the guise of Mentor, stood +near Odysseus and cheered him on. "Woe unto thee, Mentor, if thou +dost dare to help Odysseus," cried one of the suitors. "We will not +spare thee when we have slain him. More yet, we will drive thy wife +and children out of Ithaca and keep thy wealth." The goddess, in great +anger at this audacity, turned toward Odysseus and said: "Thou art +not so swift and terrible in fighting, O Chieftain, as thou wert before +the walls of Troy." + +Athena said this to spur Odysseus on, but she did not remain at his +side. She changed herself into a swallow and perched upon a rafter +of the great hall, to put his prowess to a greater test. When she +had gone, the suitors grew braver and threw their spears at Odysseus +thick and fast. But their aim was uncertain, and they struck pillars +and panels and the wall, for the goddess turned their shafts aside. + +Odysseus and Telemachos and their faithful servants hurled their +lances, and the weapons always hit the mark. The cowherd struck +Ktesippos in the breast and exclaimed, as the suitor fell: "Ktesippos, +I give thee this spear in exchange for the ox's foot which thou didst +throw at Odysseus as a gift when he asked alms of thee." + +Four of the wooers fell to the ground at once and the remainder +retreated to the farthest corner of the hall. Still they rallied for +another onset. Odysseus rushed in upon them and cut them down right +and left, while Athena from above shook her fearful aegis. The +surviving wooers were stricken with terror and ran about like a herd +of oxen chased by a swarm of gadflies. Only the minstrel Phemios and +the herald Medon were spared. Both of them had served the suitors +most unwillingly and had secretly advised with Telemachos. + +Odysseus searched up and down the hall to see if any suitor could +be found alive. As fishes lie upon the beach when they have been poured +out from the nets upon the sand, so lay the multitude of wooers. Not +one survived. + +Then Odysseus called Eurycleia and bade her summon all of the impudent +and unfaithful servants who had taken sides with the suitors. They +came into the hall and with loud laments took up the slain and carried +them out as they were commanded, and placed them in a walled court. +Then they cleaned the hall with water and sponges, and polished the +wood and set everything in order. + +When this was done, they were driven like a flock of birds into a +narrow place outside and hung to a beam to die wretchedly. Melanthios +also was brought down from the armory and cast among the dogs to die. + +The palace now was purged with the smoke of sulphur, and the air was +purified with incense. The loyal servants crowded about their +chieftain and welcomed him with glad salutations. They kissed his +hands and face, and wept and laughed for joy. Odysseus was deeply +moved and sobbed aloud. + + + + +CHAPTER L +EURYCLEIA ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS TO PENELOPE + + +Eurycleia, with an exulting heart, now hurried up the lofty stairs +and stood by the queen in her royal chamber. "Penelope," she cried, +"my child, Odysseus has come. Thy husband is here, and he has slain +the whole crew of insolent suitors who squandered his riches and +scoffed at his son." Prudent Penelope answered her: "Eurycleia, thou +art mad. The gods have taken thy wits away. Do not mock me with such +idle tales. If any other maid had come on such an errand and waked +me from sleep, I would have dismissed her with anger." + +"Nay, dear child, I do not mock thee; Odysseus has come and is now +sitting by the hearth. The beggar whom they scoffed at in the hall +was Odysseus. Telemachos knew it, but dared not tell thee until the +suitors should be slain." + +Penelope rose from her couch and seized Eurycleia by the hands. + +"Tell me, dear nurse," she said, "tell me truly, if in fact my husband +has returned, how was it possible that he alone could destroy such +a multitude of haughty men!" "I did not see it," responded the old +nurse, "but I heard the groans of the dying men as I sat with the +other maids in our own rooms. The doors were locked to bar us from +the hall. When Telemachos called me, I found Odysseus surrounded by +the slain. When we had washed the hall and purged it with smoke and +purified the air with incense, thy husband ordered me to call thee. +Follow me now, my child, that your heart may be gladdened after it +has been oppressed so long with sorrows." + +Penelope replied again: "Nay, I cannot believe it. The gods may have +slain the suitors under the guise of Odysseus, but he has perished +far away from home and never will return." + +"My daughter," said the aged nurse, "what words are these? I +recognized Odysseus myself by the well-known scar made by the boar's +tusk. I turned to tell thee, but he laid his finger on my lips and +said: 'Be silent. Let no one know that I am here until the suitors +all are slain, or else they will destroy me.' Now follow me. I pledge +my life that I speak the truth." + +Penelope descended from her royal bower uncertain how to meet her +lord. She crossed the threshold and sat down at the hearth, opposite +Odysseus, who was seated beside a stately column in the blazing light +of the fire. He did not lift his eyes to look at his wife, but waited +for her to make the way open for him to speak. Penelope was speechless. +She looked at her husband and seemed sometimes to recognize him, and +then the resemblance faded out and he did not seem at all like +Odysseus. + +Telemachos became impatient and spoke to her, chiding her. "Mother," +he said, "thou art hard-hearted and unkind. Any other woman would +extend a hearty welcome to her husband after he had suffered so many +years of hardship, wandering in foreign lands. Take thy place at my +father's side and question him. Verily thy heart is harder than a +stone." "My son," answered Penelope, "I seem to have lost the power +to speak. I am dazed and cannot even command myself to look at him. +If this is indeed Odysseus we soon shall know each other, for there +are secrets known to us two only." + +Odysseus smiled and said: "My son, be patient, and let thy mother +put me to the test. She does not know me in these rags, but she will +soon be convinced that I am Odysseus. It is more important now to +prevent the news that the suitors have been slain from spreading. +They have friends all over the city. Who knows but what they may rise +up against us. I deem it best that we bathe and put on fresh garments, +and let the servants do the same. + +"And let the minstrel bring his lyre and strike up such music as +prompts the dance, so that those living near us may report that a +wedding is being celebrated. Then we may safely venture forth and +see what is to be done." + +Thus spoke the monarch, and his commands were gladly obeyed. +Telemachos and the servants went their way to the baths and arrayed +themselves in splendid clothing. The bard took his harp and woke the +pleasing strains, and the palace halls resounded with mirth and +dancing. + +After awhile those outside were heard to say: "Shame on Penelope! +She weds a second time, and does not even know whether her absent +lord is dead or living. She might have waited for him to return." + +Meantime Odysseus followed a servant to the bath, and when he had +been bathed and anointed he put on garments suitable for a king. Athena +gave him a more majestic appearance, and caused his hair to fall in +heavy curls, like the petals of the hyacinth. When he came back to +the great hall and stood before the queen, he looked like an immortal. + +"Lady," he said, "the gods have given thee a stubborn heart. Any other +woman would have given a glad welcome to her husband after he had +been absent twenty years." To this Penelope responded: "Not so; I +have no pride nor a cold heart. But I should be unworthy of my lord +if I accepted a stranger without putting him to the proof. I remember +well when thou didst go to Troy. Thou didst command Eurycleia to carry +thy massive bed out into the open air and cover it with fleeces." + +"Nay, woman, no living man could perform such a feat. I built that +massive frame myself. It was a tall olive-tree that grew within one +of the courts. Round it I built a royal bower, and, cutting off the +great limbs of the tree, shaped them and fastened them to the trunk. +In this wise I built the frame, and no one could move it without +dragging the tree out by the roots. That is a secret known only to +thee and me." + +Penelope had put the final test, and knew that this was surely Odysseus. +She rose from where she sat and ran to him and threw her arms about +his neck and kissed his brow. "Odysseus, do not be angry with me," +she said. "Many are they who have tried to practise deception upon +me. Thou hast made me believe in thee." These words pierced Odysseus' +heart and brought him the relief of tears. He pressed his faithful +wife to his bosom again and again. + + + + +CHAPTER LI +ODYSSEUS VISITS HIS FATHER + + +Early the next morning Odysseus dressed himself in his splendid armor +and bade his son and servants accompany him to the farm. They took +their weapons and went forth, Odysseus leading the way. It was not +long before they came to the green fields which were cared for by +Laertes. He had built his house there, and surrounded it with cabins, +where his servants slept. + +Odysseus was anxious to know whether his father would recognize him +or not, so he said to one of the men: "Go into the house and call +my father. Let me see whether he will know me, after I have been so +long away." Placing his weapons in their hands, he went down into +the orchard. There were no servants about, for they had all gone off +to gather thorns with which to build a fence. + +There Odysseus saw his father working around a young tree that he +had just planted. He was clad in old, coarse clothes that had been +repeatedly patched, a goat-skin cap, and gloves to protect his hands +from the briers. + +It was pitiful to see the want of hope in the old man's face as he +moved about brooding over his troubles. Odysseus was uncertain +whether he should throw his arms about his father's neck and clasp +him to his heart and kiss him, or whether it were better to question +him. + +He approached Laertes gently and, having greeted him, said: "My friend, +thou art a skilful farmer. Every fig and vine and pear and olive has +been carefully trained. But no one seems to care for thee. Thy master +treats thee badly, for thou art ill-clad and unkempt. An old man +deserves better things. Thy face does not look like the face of a +servant. Indeed one might take thee for a king. Now tell me, who owns +this orchard? And tell me also if this land is Ithaca. I desire to +learn what became of Odysseus, the son of Laertes. He was once my +guest and one that I made most welcome." + +Laertes wept. "Thou art indeed in Ithaca, O stranger," he said. "But +thou dost seek in vain for Odysseus. The land is full of wicked men, +and there is no host to load thee with generous gifts, a recompense +for thy hospitality. Oh, tell me of my son; when did he lodge with +thee? Woe is me! The beasts and birds have long since devoured him. +No mother folded his shroud about him, nor did his father or his loyal +wife weep upon his bier. Tell me, what is thy name? Where is thy ship? +How didst thou come here?" + +Odysseus was overcome with pity, and invented a tale to prepare +Laertes for his unexpected coming. Then he clasped the dear old man +in his arms and kissed his trembling hands, and said: "I am thy son, +my father; I am the Odysseus of whom thou dost inquire. Here is the +scar given me by the wild boar as I hunted on Parnassos. And for further +proof I will tell thee of the orchard-trees thou gavest me when I +was a child. There were thirteen pear-trees, forty fig-trees, and +ten apple-trees. Forbear thy weeping and cease to mourn. I have slain +the suitor-robbers who were destroying my riches, and I have taken +possession of my house again." + +Overwhelmed with joy, the old king trembled from head to foot. The +sturdy chieftain, Odysseus, saw it and drew him to his heart to keep +him from fainting, and held him there until his strength came back. +Then they went up to the house, where a supper had been prepared, +and Telemachos was waiting. Laertes went to the bath and came back +clad like a king. The grief had left his face, and he took on his +old majestic appearance. As they sat at the banquet, relating the +experiences of the past years, Dolius and his sons, the servants who +had gone in search of thorns, returned. Dolius recognized Odysseus +and seized him by the hand and saluted him with joyful greetings, +and his sons gathered round the chieftain eager to take his hand. + +Meantime the souls of the suitors had gone down to the abode of Pluto. +Hermes led them, and they followed, crying and wailing like bats in +a dark cave. The shades of Achilles, Agamemnon, Ajax, and other heroes +saw them and constrained them to relate the mishaps that had brought +them there. Then Agamemnon's ghost responded: "Fortunate Odysseus! +His fame shall last forever, and poets shall sing the praises of +Penelope in all the coming ages." + +Ere Odysseus and Laertes had finished their feast, the news of the +dreadful death of the suitors spread over the city. The wooers had +many friends, and they came to the palace weeping and mourning, ready +to avenge their slaughter. Finding that Odysseus was not at home, +they proceeded to the market-place. The father of Antinoos arose and +lifted up his voice crying for vengeance, but Medon, the herald, +warned them that a god had taken part against them and that strife +would be useless. + +Halitherses, a wise and reverend citizen, took up the word: "Ye men +of Ithaca," he said, "give ear to what I have to say. Odysseus was +not the cause of your misfortunes, but you, yourselves. Ye would not +check the insolence of the suitors, even when Mentor bade you do it. +Contend not with Odysseus nor bring down his wrath upon us." + +The Ithacans were now divided against themselves. Half of them took +up arms to make war on Odysseus, and started for his father's house. +In this adversity Athena did not forget her favorite chief, but armed +herself, and, taking on the guise of Mentor, placed herself at +Odysseus' side. A son of Dolius was first to announce that a crowd +was marching against them, when they all arose quickly, donned their +armor, and went outside. + +Then Odysseus cried out to Telemachos: "Now is the moment to show +thyself a hero, my son. Do not bring disgrace upon thy forefathers, +for they are renowned over the whole world for their bravery." +Telemachos responded: "There is no danger of that, my dear father, +as I shall show thee presently." When Laertes heard this he rejoiced +and said: "This is a happy day for me. How blest am I to see my son +and grandson rivals in brave deeds." + +Athena now drew near to the old king, and inspired him with youthful +courage. He swung his spear aloft and threw it at the leader of the +host and smote him to the earth. Odysseus and Telemachos rushed into +the fray with double-edged swords. They would have made an end of +the whole multitude, but Athena called aloud: "People of Ithaca, cease +from fighting! Retire at once from this contest and shed no more +blood." + +The Ithacans grew pale with fright at hearing the voice of the goddess. +They threw down their weapons and ran toward the city in a panic of +fear. Odysseus shouted in triumph as he gave chase, but Zeus sent +a thunder-bolt down as a sign to Athena that she should restrain him. +The goddess called to him to cease the pursuit, and, taking the guise +of Mentor, she moved the minds of Odysseus and his enemies to mutual +pledges of peace and good-will. + + + + +VOCABULARY AND NOTES + + +A chil' les--also called Pelides, the hero of the "Iliad." He was +the son of Peleus (king of Phthia in Thessaly) and the sea-nymph, +Thetis. + +AE g[=e]' an--a sea east of Greece. + +AE' o lus--the keeper of the winds, and king of Lipara, one of the +AEolian isles north of Sicily. + +Ag a mem' non--leader of all the Greek chiefs in the Trojan war. + +A' jax, or Aias--king of Salamis and cousin of Achilles. He was the +son of Telamon and was called Ajax the Greater. + +Al ex [)a]n' dr[)o]s--Paris, son of Priam. + +Al kin' [)o] [:o]s--king of Scheria, father of Nausicaa. He gave aid +to Odysseus when he was stranded on the island. + +An tin' o [:o]s--the boldest of the suitors. + +Aph ro d[=i]' te--Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. The island +of Kythera (Cythera), south of Greece, was the seat of her worship. + +A p[)o]l' lo--the Sun-god, brother of Artemis and son of Zeus and +Leto. The island of Delos was his mythical birthplace and his +principal oracle was at Delphi. + +Ar ca' di a, or Arkadia--the central district of the Peloponnesus. + +A re' t['e] ([:a] r[=a]' t[=a])--wife of Alkinoos and queen of +Scheria. + +Ar e th[=u]' sa--a spring "where the swine of Eumaios ate 'abundance +of acorns and drank the black water.'" (See Baedeker's +Greece--Ithaca.) Arethusa was also the name of a water-nymph +inhabiting the spring. + +Ar' gus, or Argos--the most celebrated dog known to fame. He belonged +to Odysseus. + +Ar' te mis, or Diana--goddess of the moon and sister to Apollo. She +was called the hunter-goddess and the protector of animals. + +As' ph[=o] del--a flower sacred to Persephone. The souls of the +departed were supposed to wander in meadows adorned with these +beautiful flowers. + +A th[=e]' n[=e], or Athena; Latin, Minerva--the patron deity of Athens. +The city was named for her. Ruskin calls her the "Queen of the Air," +and explains her real significance as being the inspiration of the +soul, which corresponds to the physical vigor and life received by +inhaling the pure air. She is always called the "Goddess of Wisdom." + +A' treus (a' tr[=u]se)--son of Pelops and father of Agamemnon. + +Au' lis--a bay and town on the coast of Greece, about thirty miles +north of Athens. "The scanty ruins of Aulis lie on the rugged ridge +of rock which stretches into the sea between the two bays. The little +town never attained any importance, for its site was unfavorable for +the development of a community; but the two sheltered bays were +excellently adapted to be the rendezvous of a fleet." (See Baedeker's +Greece--Aulis.) + +Cad' mus, or Kadmos--the founder of Thebes in Boeotia. According to +tradition, he came from Phoenicia and brought the alphabet to the +Greeks and the knowledge of working in metals. + +Cal' chas, or Kalchas--a soothsayer. He offended Agamemnon by +declaring that the Greeks suffered from the wrath of the gods through +his offences. + +Ca lyp' so--the goddess of Silence, daughter of Oceanos and Tethys, +and queen of Ogygia. She tried by every art to detain Odysseus on +his way home from Troy. + +Cas san' dra--a daughter of Priam, and a prophetess, taken captive +in the Trojan war and awarded to Agamemnon. + +Cha ryb' dis--a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily, a little to the +north of Messina. + +Cir' c['e], or Kirke--the daughter of Helios, the Sun. She was an +enchantress who lived on the island AEaea. She infused into the vine +the intoxicating quality found in the juice of the grape. "The grave +of Circe used to be pointed out on the island of St. George, close +to Salamis." (See Baedeker's Greece--Salamis.) + +Cy' clops, or Kyklops, also called Polyphemus--a monstrous one-eyed +giant. He was the son of Poseidon. It was due to his prayer for revenge +that Odysseus was kept so long wandering on the sea. + +Cy the' ra, or Kythera--a rocky island lying south of Greece. It was +the seat of the worship of Aphrodite. + +D[=e]' los--an island about sixty miles southeast of Athens. It is +the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. + +D[=e] mod' o kos--a bard at the court of Alkinoos. + +E' lis--a district and a city in the northwestern part of the +Peloponnesus. Like Sparta, the city had no walls. It was protected +by the sacred peace of Olympia. + +The plain or precinct of Olympia is situated in the district of Elis. +Pyrgos is the nearest railroad station. "Olympia owed its high +importance throughout the entire Grecian world to the famous Olympic +games in honor of Zeus, which took place periodically for centuries. +Excavations there have brought to light many magnificent pieces of +sculpture, among them the Hermes of Praxiteles." + +El p[=e]' nor--one of the comrades of Odysseus. He fell from the roof +of Circe's palace and was killed. + +E lys' ian--pertaining to Elysium, the abode of dead heroes and other +happy spirits. + +Eu mai' os, or Eumaeus--the swineherd of Odysseus. + +Eu r[=o]' tas--a river of southern Greece. + +Eu ry' a los--a son of Alkinoos. + +Eu ry clei' a ([=u] ry cl[=i]' [:a])--the nurse of Odysseus and +Telemachos. + +Eu ry' l[)o] chos, or Eurylochus--one of the companions of Odysseus. + +Eu ry' ma chos, or Eurymachus--one of the suitors of Penelope. + +Gor' gon--a monster of fearful aspect, a daughter of Phorkys and Ceto. +Her hair was entwined with serpents, her hands were of brass, her +body covered with scales, and anyone gazing upon her was turned into +stone. + +Hel' en, or Helene--a daughter of Tyndareus and Leda. She was the +wife of Menelaos and was always called "the most beautiful woman in +the world." + +Hel' las--Greece, the land of the Hellenes. + +H[=e]' li os--the god of the Sun. + +He phais' tos, or Hephaestus--Vulcan. He was the blacksmith god, the +god of fire, and a worker in metals. + +H[=e]' ra, H[=e]r[=e]--Juno, the wife of Zeus. She was worshipped +as the queen of heaven and was regarded as a model of womanly virtue. +Argos was the chief centre of the worship of Hera. + +H[=e]r' a kles, or Hercules--a celebrated hero whose deeds are +connected with many localities. There is a cave near Nemea where he +is said to have slain a lion, not far from Stymphalos, where he put +the Harpies to flight, and Erymanthos, the scene of the killing of +the Erymanthian boar. There are traditions of his heroism connected +with Thessaly (Thebes) and Locris, also. + +Her' bart--a German philosopher and pedagogian. + +Her' m[=e]s, or Mercury--the messenger of the gods, also their herald. + +Her mi' [)o] ne--the daughter of Menelaos and Helen. + +Ho' mer--the greatest of the Greek poets and author of the "Iliad" +and "Odyssey." + +I' da--a mountain of Asia Minor, east of Troy. + +Il' i ad--an epic poem, probably the greatest ever written, devoted +to the deeds of Achilles, and taken by the best scholars of modern +times as an interpretation of Greek life, Greek thought, and the Greek +religion. + +I' no, or Leucothea--a daughter of Cadmus, a sea-nymph who helped +Odysseus by giving him an enchanted veil. + +Iph i gen ei' a--the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. "Ulrichs +has discovered the site of the famous Temple of Artemis or Diana, +where Agamemnon was on the point of sacrificing his daughter +Iphigeneia, before the departure of the Greek fleet for Troy." (See +Baedeker's Greece--Aulis.) To appreciate the character of this +famous woman one must read the "Iphigeneia in Aulis" of Euripides +and the "Iphigeneia in Tauris" of Goethe. + +Ith' a ca, or Ithaka, Greek Ithake--rocky island with an area of 37-1/2 +square miles and 12,500 inhabitants. "The world-wide fame of this +little island is of course due to the Homeric epic of the Odyssey, +in which the misfortunes and wiles, the wanderings, and home-coming +of Ulysses (Odysseus), King of Ithaca, have been handed down to +posterity in undying verse. Even if the person of the hero be relegated +to the realm of myths, it is indisputable that the descriptions of +the poem rest upon a more or less exact local knowledge; and this +is evident not only in the account of the situation and general +character of the island but also in numerous small details.... The +island became almost entirely depopulated in the middle ages, in +consequence of the raids of pirates and the Turkish wars, and did +not begin to recover until the Venetian epoch. But similar conditions +of life make the modern islanders resemble the ancient. To this day +the Ithacans are distinguished by their bold seamanship, their love +of home, and their hospitality." (See Baedeker's Greece--Ithaca.) + +Ja' son, or Iason--the hero who undertook the expedition in search +of the Golden Fleece. + +Ktes ip' pos, or Ctesippus--one of the suitors of Penelope. + +Lak e dai' mon, or Lacedaemon--a district in southeastern Greece. +Sparta was its capital. + +La [:e]r' tes--the father of Odysseus. + +La o' da m['a]s--a son of Alkinoos. + +La o' co [:o]n, or Laoko[:o]n--a young priest of Apollo. He warned +the Trojans not to accept the wooden horse left by the Greeks and +was destroyed by a serpent. + +Lo' tus--the Egyptian water-lily, also a tree. The lotus-eaters ate +of the fruit of the lotus-tree and forgot their homes and friends. + +Me l[)a]n' thi os--a servant of Odysseus, a goatherd who sympathized +with the suitors and served them. + +Men e l[=a]' os, or Menelaus--a son of Atreus and brother of Agamemnon. +Menelaos was the king of Sparta and husband of Helen. + +Men' tor--the wise counsellor of Telemachos. + +Mil t[=i]' [:a] des--the hero of the battle of Marathon, fought 490 +B.C. In this battle the Greeks, numbering 10,000 men, conquered ten +times as many Persians. + +Mi' nos--a son of Zeus and ruler over Crete. + +Mo' ly--a fabulous plant having magic properties. It had a white +blossom and a black root. + +My c[=e]' nae, or Myk[=e]nai--an ancient city of Argolis, in the +northeastern Peloponnesus. "Dr. Henry Schliemann, in 1876, made rich +discoveries there, weapons, ornaments, vessels of gold, silver and +clay," skeletons "surrounded by bands of gold, golden shovels +engraved with battle-scenes," etc. (See Baedeker's Greece--Mycenae +and Athens.) + +Myr' m[)i] d[)o]ns--a warlike people of Thrace, ruled by Achilles +and taken by him to the Trojan war as followers. + +Nau sic' a [:a]--the daughter of Alkinoos. + +N[=e] [)o]p t[)o]l' [)e] m[)o]s--the son of Achilles. + +N[)e]s' tor--the leader of the warriors of Pylos, in southwestern +Greece. + +O ke' a nos, or Oceanus--the god of the river Oceanus, and son of +Heaven and Earth. + +Od ys' seus (s[=u]se), or Ulysses--the son of Laertes and Anticleia +and the hero of Homer's Odyssey. Being summoned to the Trojan war, +he feigned madness, and harnessed a mule and a cow to a plough and +began ploughing the sea-shore. Palamedes, to test his madness, placed +his infant son, Telemachos, in front of the plough, and Odysseus +quickly turned it aside. He became famous for his bravery and craft +in the war. He is looked upon by critics as the most perfect type +of adult Greek ideals. + +[Illustration: ODYSSEUS FEIGNS MADNESS] + +O lymp' os, or Olympus--a mountain in Thrace. The home of the gods. + +O r[)e]s' t[=e]s--the son of Agamemnon. + +Par' is, or Alexandros--a son of Priam. At his birth there was a +prophecy that he would be the ruin of his country; hence he was cast +out upon Mount Ida, where he was found and rescued by a shepherd. +(See Introduction.) + +Par nas' sos--a mountain near the north coast of the Corinthian Gulf. +It is 8,070 feet high and commands a view of Mount Olympos to the +north, Euboea on the east, the islands of the Archipelago, the +Peloponnesus, and even Mount Korax. + +Pat' r[)o] klos, or Patroclus--the intimate friend of Achilles. His +death at the hands of the Trojans provoked Achilles to action. + +Pei sis' tra tos--a son of Nestor. + +P[=e]' leus--the father of Achilles. + +Pel op on n[=e]s' us--the peninsula of lower Greece. + +Pe nel' o pe--the wife of Odysseus. The greatest heroine of ancient +romance. + +P[)e]r s[)e]ph' [=o] ne, or Proserpine--daughter of Demeter (Ceres). +"She was the goddess of Spring and was allowed to spend two-thirds +of the year with her mother, while the remaining time she dwelt with +her husband, Hades, in his underground abode." Eleusis, twelve miles +west of Athens, was the centre of the worship of Demeter and Persephone. +(See Baedeker's Greece--Eleusis.) + +Phai a' ki ans, or Phaeacians--the people of the island of Scheria, +over whom Alkinoos ruled. + +Ph[=e]' mi os--a bard at the court of Odysseus. + +Phor' kys--the harbor where the Phaeacians landed Odysseus on his +return to Ithaca. "The Bay of Vathy," says Baedeker, "disputes with +the Bay of Dexia the honor of being the Harbour of Phorkys." + +Plu' to, or Hades--a son of Rhea and Kronos and brother of Zeus and +Poseidon. Pluto was the ruler of the lower world. + +Po sei' don, or Neptune--brother of Zeus and Hades. Poseidon was the +ruler of the seas and was the first to train and employ horses. + +Pol y phe' mus, or Polyphemos or Cyclops--the son of Poseidon. He +was one of the Cyclops or Kyklops who were said to live in the heart +of burning mountains, particularly in Mount AEtna. + +Pri' am, or Priamos--king of Troy and father of Paris. + +Pro' teus--an ocean deity who lived at the bottom of the sea. He took +care of Poseidon's sea-calves and was famous for his evasiveness. + +Py' los--a town (and bay) in the southwestern part of lower Greece. +It was the centre of Nestor's kingdom. + +Sa' mos--"at present a little village on the island of Cephalonia, +the starting-point of the boats to Ithaca. In Homer, the _island_ +of Cephalonia, or its east part, is called Same; and in the latter +part of the Odyssey, Samos appears as belonging to the kingdom of +Ithaca." (Baedeker.) Samos, a large island near Asia Minor, is not +related to the Samos of the Odyssey. + +Ska man' dros, or Scamander--a river of the Troad or plains of Troy. + +Scher' i a--an island northwest of Greece. "The ancients identified +Corfu with the Phaeacian island of Scheria, mentioned in the +'Odyssey,' as ruled over by Alkinoos." (Baedeker.) + +Skyl' la--a rock in southwestern Italy. It was supposed to be the +abode of a monster with many heads and hands. + +Sky' ros--a large island east of Greece. + +Sim' o is--a river in the Troad, and a branch of the Scamander. + +Si' rens--daughters of Acheloos and a Muse, or, according to another +account, daughters of Phorkys. They failed to care for Persephone +when Pluto seized her to carry her off, and Demeter took revenge by +transforming them into monsters half woman and half bird. + +Sis' y phos--a hero who secured a fountain to the citadel of Corinth +by betraying Zeus. Sisyphos was punished by being obliged to roll +stones up-hill in Hades. + +Spar' ta--a town in the southern part of the Peloponnesus, on the +Eurotas. It was the chief city of Lacedaemon and the home of Menelaos +and Helen. It had no walls, but its acropolis was covered with temples. +Ancient Sparta was noted for the bravery of its people. At present +Sparta has about 3,600 inhabitants. There are few relics of its +ancient greatness. + +Styx--a stream of water in central lower Greece. "The thread of water +descends from a huge cliff against a background of dark moss, which +has earned for the brook the name of 'Black Water.' At the bottom +of the cliff the water loses itself in a chaos of rocks. The ancients +saw in the icy coldness of the water and in the barren tract around +an image of the underworld." (See Baedeker's Greece.) To swear by +the Styx was to take "the great oath of the gods." + +Tan' ta los--a king of Phrygia punished by the gods for treachery +and for cruelty to his son. He was doomed to suffer from hunger and +thirst while standing close to food and water which he could not reach. + +T[=e] l[)e]' ma chos--the son of Odysseus and Penelope. + +Ten' e dos--an island in the neighborhood of Troy or Ilium. + +Them is' to kles--a great statesman of Athens, and a leader of the +Greeks in the Persian war when the Greeks won the battle of Salamis. + +The' seus (Th[=e]' s[=u]se)--a son of AEgeus and AEthra. Like his +counterpart Herakles, Theseus performed wonderful deeds, and finally +became ruler of Athens. + +Thes' sa ly--a large province of northern Greece. + +Th[)e]' tis--a sea-nymph, the mother of Achilles. + +Ti res' ias, or Teiresias--a Theban seer. He retained his +consciousness after death, and Odysseus descended into Hades to +consult with him before he could reach Ithaca. + +Troy, Ilios, or Ilium--a city of Asia Minor and the scene of the Trojan +war. Dr. Schliemann has identified the city with Hissarlik, and in +his excavations there found many evidences of the war, such as spears, +helmets, etc. + +Zeus, or Jupiter--a son of Kronos and Rhea. His abode was supposed +to be on Mount Olympos, in Thessaly. He was considered the highest +of the gods, ruler of the heavens and the earth. + +Za' kyn thos, or Zante--an island near Corfu. + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The publishers of this book used an unusual +convention in which only a single pair of quotation marks surround +a quote, even when the quote extends over multiple paragraphs or +multiple chapters. This transcription has conventional usage of +quotation marks.] + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca, by Homer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ODYSSEUS, THE HERO OF ITHACA *** + +***** This file should be named 24856.txt or 24856.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/8/5/24856/ + +Produced by Ron Swanson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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