Ulysses now left the haven, and took the rough track up through
the
wooded country and over the crest of the mountain till he
reached
the place where Minerva had said that he would find the
swineherd,
who was the most thrifty servant he had. He found him sitting in
front
of his hut, which was by the yards that he had built on a site
which
could be seen from far. He had made them spacious and fair to
see,
with a free ran for the pigs all round them; he had built them
during
his master's absence, of stones which he had gathered out of the
ground,
without saying anything to Penelope or Laertes, and he had
fenced
them on top with thorn bushes. Outside the yard he had run a
strong
fence of oaken posts, split, and set pretty close together,
while
inside lie had built twelve sties near one another for the sows
to
lie in. There were fifty pigs wallowing in each sty, all of them
breeding
sows; but the boars slept outside and were much fewer in number,
for
the suitors kept on eating them, and die swineherd had to send
them
the best he had continually. There were three hundred and sixty
boar
pigs, and the herdsman's four hounds, which were as fierce as
wolves,
slept always with them. The swineherd was at that moment cutting
out
a pair of sandals from a good stout ox hide. Three of his men
were
out herding the pigs in one place or another, and he had sent
the
fourth to town with a boar that he had been forced to send the
suitors
that they might sacrifice it and have their fill of meat.
When the hounds saw Ulysses they set up a furious barking and
flew
at him, but Ulysses was cunning enough to sit down and loose his
hold
of the stick that he had in his hand: still, he would have been
torn
by them in his own homestead had not the swineherd dropped his
ox
hide, rushed full speed through the gate of the yard and driven
the
dogs off by shouting and throwing stones at them. Then he said
to
Ulysses, "Old man, the dogs were likely to have made short work
of
you, and then you would have got me into trouble. The gods have
given
me quite enough worries without that, for I have lost the best
of
masters, and am in continual grief on his account. I have to
attend
swine for other people to eat, while he, if he yet lives to see
the
light of day, is starving in some distant land. But come inside,
and
when you have had your fill of bread and wine, tell me where you
come
from, and all about your misfortunes."
On this the swineherd led the way into the hut and bade him sit
down.
He strewed a good thick bed of rushes upon the floor, and on the
top
of this he threw the shaggy chamois skin- a great thick one- on
which
he used to sleep by night. Ulysses was pleased at being made
thus
welcome, and said "May Jove, sir, and the rest of the gods grant
you
your heart's desire in return for the kind way in which you have
received
me."
To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, "Stranger, though a
still
poorer man should come here, it would not be right for me to
insult
him, for all strangers and beggars are from Jove. You must take
what
you can get and be thankful, for servants live in fear when they
have
young lords for their masters; and this is my misfortune now,
for
heaven has hindered the return of him who would have been always
good
to me and given me something of my own- a house, a piece of
land,
a good looking wife, and all else that a liberal master allows a
servant
who has worked hard for him, and whose labour the gods have
prospered
as they have mine in the situation which I hold. If my master
had
grown old here he would have done great things by me, but he is
gone,
and I wish that Helen's whole race were utterly destroyed, for
she
has been the death of many a good man. It was this matter that
took
my master to Ilius, the land of noble steeds, to fight the
Trojans
in the cause of kin Agamemnon."
As he spoke he bound his girdle round him and went to the sties
where
the young sucking pigs were penned. He picked out two which he
brought
back with him and sacrificed. He singed them, cut them up, and
spitted
on them; when the meat was cooked he brought it all in and set
it
before Ulysses, hot and still on the spit, whereon Ulysses
sprinkled
it over with white barley meal. The swineherd then mixed wine in
a
bowl of ivy-wood, and taking a seat opposite Ulysses told him to
begin.
"Fall to, stranger," said he, "on a dish of servant's pork. The
fat
pigs have to go to the suitors, who eat them up without shame or
scruple;
but the blessed gods love not such shameful doings, and respect
those
who do what is lawful and right. Even the fierce free-booters
who
go raiding on other people's land, and Jove gives them their
spoil-
even they, when they have filled their ships and got home again
live
conscience-stricken, and look fearfully for judgement; but some
god
seems to have told these people that Ulysses is dead and gone;
they
will not, therefore, go back to their own homes and make their
offers
of marriage in the usual way, but waste his estate by force,
without
fear or stint. Not a day or night comes out of heaven, but they
sacrifice
not one victim nor two only, and they take the run of his wine,
for
he was exceedingly rich. No other great man either in Ithaca or
on
the mainland is as rich as he was; he had as much as twenty men
put
together. I will tell you what he had. There are twelve herds of
cattle
upon the mainland, and as many flocks of sheep, there are also
twelve
droves of pigs, while his own men and hired strangers feed him
twelve
widely spreading herds of goats. Here in Ithaca he runs even
large
flocks of goats on the far end of the island, and they are in
the
charge of excellent goatherds. Each one of these sends the
suitors
the best goat in the flock every day. As for myself, I am in
charge
of the pigs that you see here, and I have to keep picking out
the
best I have and sending it to them."
This was his story, but Ulysses went on eating and drinking
ravenously
without a word, brooding his revenge. When he had eaten enough
and
was satisfied, the swineherd took the bowl from which he usually
drank,
filled it with wine, and gave it to Ulysses, who was pleased,
and
said as he took it in his hands, "My friend, who was this master
of
yours that bought you and paid for you, so rich and so powerful
as
you tell me? You say he perished in the cause of King Agamemnon;
tell
me who he was, in case I may have met with such a person. Jove
and
the other gods know, but I may be able to give you news of him,
for
I have travelled much."
Eumaeus answered, "Old man, no traveller who comes here with
news
will get Ulysses' wife and son to believe his story.
Nevertheless,
tramps in want of a lodging keep coming with their mouths full
of
lies, and not a word of truth; every one who finds his way to
Ithaca
goes to my mistress and tells her falsehoods, whereon she takes
them
in, makes much of them, and asks them all manner of questions,
crying
all the time as women will when they have lost their husbands.
And
you too, old man, for a shirt and a cloak would doubtless make
up
a very pretty story. But the wolves and birds of prey have long
since
torn Ulysses to pieces, or the fishes of the sea have eaten him,
and
his bones are lying buried deep in sand upon some foreign shore;
he
is dead and gone, and a bad business it is for all his friends-
for
me especially; go where I may I shall never find so good a
master,
not even if I were to go home to my mother and father where I
was
bred and born. I do not so much care, however, about my parents
now,
though I should dearly like to see them again in my own country;
it
is the loss of Ulysses that grieves me most; I cannot speak of
him
without reverence though he is here no longer, for he was very
fond
of me, and took such care of me that whereever he may be I shall
always
honour his memory."
"My friend," replied Ulysses, "you are very positive, and very
hard
of belief about your master's coming home again, nevertheless I
will
not merely say, but will swear, that he is coming. Do not give
me
anything for my news till he has actually come, you may then
give
me a shirt and cloak of good wear if you will. I am in great
want,
but I will not take anything at all till then, for I hate a man,
even
as I hate hell fire, who lets his poverty tempt him into lying.
I
swear by king Jove, by the rites of hospitality, and by that
hearth
of Ulysses to which I have now come, that all will surely happen
as
I have said it will. Ulysses will return in this self same year;
with
the end of this moon and the beginning of the next he will be
here
to do vengeance on all those who are ill treating his wife and
son."
To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, "Old man, you will
neither
get paid for bringing good news, nor will Ulysses ever come
home;
drink you wine in peace, and let us talk about something else.
Do
not keep on reminding me of all this; it always pains me when
any
one speaks about my honoured master. As for your oath we will
let
it alone, but I only wish he may come, as do Penelope, his old
father
Laertes, and his son Telemachus. I am terribly unhappy too about
this
same boy of his; he was running up fast into manhood, and bade
fare
to be no worse man, face and figure, than his father, but some
one,
either god or man, has been unsettling his mind, so he has gone
off
to Pylos to try and get news of his father, and the suitors are
lying
in wait for him as he is coming home, in the hope of leaving the
house
of Arceisius without a name in Ithaca. But let us say no more
about
him, and leave him to be taken, or else to escape if the son of
Saturn
holds his hand over him to protect him. And now, old man, tell
me
your own story; tell me also, for I want to know, who you are
and
where you come from. Tell me of your town and parents, what
manner
of ship you came in, how crew brought you to Ithaca, and from
what
country they professed to come- for you cannot have come by
land."
And Ulysses answered, "I will tell you all about it. If there
were
meat and wine enough, and we could stay here in the hut with
nothing
to do but to eat and drink while the others go to their work, I
could
easily talk on for a whole twelve months without ever finishing
the
story of the sorrows with which it has pleased heaven to visit
me.
"I am by birth a Cretan; my father was a well-to-do man, who had
many
sons born in marriage, whereas I was the son of a slave whom he
had
purchased for a concubine; nevertheless, my father Castor son of
Hylax
(whose lineage I claim, and who was held in the highest honour
among
the Cretans for his wealth, prosperity, and the valour of his
sons)
put me on the same level with my brothers who had been born in
wedlock.
When, however, death took him to the house of Hades, his sons
divided
his estate and cast lots for their shares, but to me they gave a
holding
and little else; nevertheless, my valour enabled me to marry
into
a rich family, for I was not given to bragging, or shirking on
the
field of battle. It is all over now; still, if you look at the
straw
you can see what the ear was, for I have had trouble enough and
to
spare. Mars and Minerva made me doughty in war; when I had
picked
my men to surprise the enemy with an ambuscade I never gave
death
so much as a thought, but was the first to leap forward and
spear
all whom I could overtake. Such was I in battle, but I did not
care
about farm work, nor the frugal home life of those who would
bring
up children. My delight was in ships, fighting, javelins, and
arrows-
things that most men shudder to think of; but one man likes one
thing
and another another, and this was what I was most naturally
inclined
to. Before the Achaeans went to Troy, nine times was I in
command
of men and ships on foreign service, and I amassed much wealth.
I
had my pick of the spoil in the first instance, and much more
was
allotted to me later on.
"My house grew apace and I became a great man among the Cretans,
but
when Jove counselled that terrible expedition, in which so many
perished,
the people required me and Idomeneus to lead their ships to
Troy,
and there was no way out of it, for they insisted on our doing
so.
There we fought for nine whole years, but in the tenth we sacked
the
city of Priam and sailed home again as heaven dispersed us. Then
it
was that Jove devised evil against me. I spent but one month
happily
with my children, wife, and property, and then I conceived the
idea
of making a descent on Egypt, so I fitted out a fine fleet and
manned
it. I had nine ships, and the people flocked to fill them. For
six
days I and my men made feast, and I found them many victims both
for
sacrifice to the gods and for themselves, but on the seventh day
we
went on board and set sail from Crete with a fair North wind
behind
us though we were going down a river. Nothing went ill with any
of
our ships, and we had no sickness on board, but sat where we
were
and let the ships go as the wind and steersmen took them. On the
fifth
day we reached the river Aegyptus; there I stationed my ships in
the
river, bidding my men stay by them and keep guard over them
while
I sent out scouts to reconnoitre from every point of vantage.
"But the men disobeyed my orders, took to their own devices, and
ravaged
the land of the Egyptians, killing the men, and taking their
wives
and children captive. The alarm was soon carried to the city,
and
when they heard the war cry, the people came out at daybreak
till
the plain was filled with horsemen and foot soldiers and with
the
gleam of armour. Then Jove spread panic among my men, and they
would
no longer face the enemy, for they found themselves surrounded.
The
Egyptians killed many of us, and took the rest alive to do
forced
labour for them. Jove, however, put it in my mind to do thus-
and
I wish I had died then and there in Egypt instead, for there was
much
sorrow in store for me- I took off my helmet and shield and
dropped
my spear from my hand; then I went straight up to the king's
chariot,
clasped his knees and kissed them, whereon he spared my life,
bade
me get into his chariot, and took me weeping to his own home.
Many
made at me with their ashen spears and tried to kil me in their
fury,
but the king protected me, for he feared the wrath of Jove the
protector
of strangers, who punishes those who do evil.
"I stayed there for seven years and got together much money
among
the Egyptians, for they all gave me something; but when it was
now
going on for eight years there came a certain Phoenician, a
cunning
rascal, who had already committed all sorts of villainy, and
this
man talked me over into going with him to Phoenicia, where his
house
and his possessions lay. I stayed there for a whole twelve
months,
but at the end of that time when months and days had gone by
till
the same season had come round again, he set me on board a ship
bound
for Libya, on a pretence that I was to take a cargo along with
him
to that place, but really that he might sell me as a slave and
take
the money I fetched. I suspected his intention, but went on
board
with him, for I could not help it.
"The ship ran before a fresh North wind till we had reached the
sea
that lies between Crete and Libya; there, however, Jove
counselled
their destruction, for as soon as we were well out from Crete
and
could see nothing but sea and sky, he raised a black cloud over
our
ship and the sea grew dark beneath it. Then Jove let fly with
his
thunderbolts and the ship went round and round and was filled
with
fire and brimstone as the lightning struck it. The men fell all
into
the sea; they were carried about in the water round the ship
looking
like so many sea-gulls, but the god presently deprived them of
all
chance of getting home again. I was all dismayed; Jove, however,
sent
the ship's mast within my reach, which saved my life, for I
clung
to it, and drifted before the fury of the gale. Nine days did I
drift
but in the darkness of the tenth night a great wave bore me on
to
the Thesprotian coast. There Pheidon king of the Thesprotians
entertained
me hospitably without charging me anything at all for his son
found
me when I was nearly dead with cold and fatigue, whereon he
raised
me by the hand, took me to his father's house and gave me
clothes
to wear.
"There it was that I heard news of Ulysses, for the king told me
he
had entertained him, and shown him much hospitality while he was
on
his homeward journey. He showed me also the treasure of gold,
and
wrought iron that Ulysses had got together. There was enough to
keep
his family for ten generations, so much had he left in the house
of
king Pheidon. But the king said Ulysses had gone to Dodona that
he
might learn Jove's mind from the god's high oak tree, and know
whether
after so long an absence he should return to Ithaca openly, or
in
secret. Moreover the king swore in my presence, making
drink-offerings
in his own house as he did so, that the ship was by the water
side,
and the crew found, that should take him to his own country. He
sent
me off however before Ulysses returned, for there happened to be
a
Thesprotian ship sailing for the wheat-growing island of
Dulichium,
and he told those in charge of her to be sure and take me safely
to
King Acastus.
"These men hatched a plot against me that would have reduced me
to
the very extreme of misery, for when the ship had got some way
out
from land they resolved on selling me as a slave. They stripped
me
of the shirt and cloak that I was wearing, and gave me instead
the
tattered old clouts in which you now see me; then, towards
nightfall,
they reached the tilled lands of Ithaca, and there they bound me
with
a strong rope fast in the ship, while they went on shore to get
supper
by the sea side. But the gods soon undid my bonds for me, and
having
drawn my rags over my head I slid down the rudder into the sea,
where
I struck out and swam till I was well clear of them, and came
ashore
near a thick wood in which I lay concealed. They were very angry
at
my having escaped and went searching about for me, till at last
they
thought it was no further use and went back to their ship. The
gods,
having hidden me thus easily, then took me to a good man's door-
for
it seems that I am not to die yet awhile."
To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, "Poor unhappy
stranger,
I have found the story of your misfortunes extremely
interesting,
but that part about Ulysses is not right; and you will never get
me
to believe it. Why should a man like you go about telling lies
in
this way? I know all about the return of my master. The gods one
and
all of them detest him, or they would have taken him before
Troy,
or let him die with friends around him when the days of his
fighting
were done; for then the Achaeans would have built a mound over
his
ashes and his son would have been heir to his renown, but now
the
storm winds have spirited him away we know not whither.
"As for me I live out of the way here with the pigs, and never
go
to the town unless when Penelope sends for me on the arrival of
some
news about Ulysses. Then they all sit round and ask questions,
both
those who grieve over the king's absence, and those who rejoice
at
it because they can eat up his property without paying for it.
For
my own part I have never cared about asking anyone else since
the
time when I was taken in by an Aetolian, who had killed a man
and
come a long way till at last he reached my station, and I was
very
kind to him. He said he had seen Ulysses with Idomeneus among
the
Cretans, refitting his ships which had been damaged in a gale.
He
said Ulysses would return in the following summer or autumn with
his
men, and that he would bring back much wealth. And now you, you
unfortunate
old man, since fate has brought you to my door, do not try to
flatter
me in this way with vain hopes. It is not for any such reason
that
I shall treat you kindly, but only out of respect for Jove the
god
of hospitality, as fearing him and pitying you."
Ulysses answered, "I see that you are of an unbelieving mind; I
have
given you my oath, and yet you will not credit me; let us then
make
a bargain, and call all the gods in heaven to witness it. If
your
master comes home, give me a cloak and shirt of good wear, and
send
me to Dulichium where I want to go; but if he does not come as I
say
he will, set your men on to me, and tell them to throw me from
yonder
precepice, as a warning to tramps not to go about the country
telling
lies."
"And a pretty figure I should cut then," replied Eumaeus, both
now
and hereafter, if I were to kill you after receiving you into my
hut
and showing you hospitality. I should have to say my prayers in
good
earnest if I did; but it is just supper time and I hope my men
will
come in directly, that we may cook something savoury for
supper."
Thus did they converse, and presently the swineherds came up
with
the pigs, which were then shut up for the night in their sties,
and
a tremendous squealing they made as they were being driven into
them.
But Eumaeus called to his men and said, "Bring in the best pig
you
have, that I may sacrifice for this stranger, and we will take
toll
of him ourselves. We have had trouble enough this long time
feeding
pigs, while others reap the fruit of our labour."
On this he began chopping firewood, while the others brought in
a
fine fat five year old boar pig, and set it at the altar.
Eumaeus
did not forget the gods, for he was a man of good principles, so
the
first thing he did was to cut bristles from the pig's face and
throw
them into the fire, praying to all the gods as he did so that
Ulysses
might return home again. Then he clubbed the pig with a billet
of
oak which he had kept back when he was chopping the firewood,
and
stunned it, while the others slaughtered and singed it. Then
they
cut it up, and Eumaeus began by putting raw pieces from each
joint
on to some of the fat; these he sprinkled with barley meal, and
laid
upon the embers; they cut the rest of the meat up small, put the
pieces
upon the spits and roasted them till they were done; when they
had
taken them off the spits they threw them on to the dresser in a
heap.
The swineherd, who was a most equitable man, then stood up to
give
every one his share. He made seven portions; one of these he set
apart
for Mercury the son of Maia and the nymphs, praying to them as
he
did so; the others he dealt out to the men man by man. He gave
Ulysses
some slices cut lengthways down the loin as a mark of especial
honour,
and Ulysses was much pleased. "I hope, Eumaeus," said he, "that
Jove
will be as well disposed towards you as I am, for the respect
you
are showing to an outcast like myself."
To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, "Eat, my good fellow,
and
enjoy your supper, such as it is. God grants this, and withholds
that,
just as he thinks right, for he can do whatever he chooses."
As he spoke he cut off the first piece and offered it as a burnt
sacrifice
to the immortal gods; then he made them a drink-offering, put
the
cup in the hands of Ulysses, and sat down to his own portion.
Mesaulius
brought them their bread; the swineherd had bought this man on
his
own account from among the Taphians during his master's absence,
and
had paid for him with his own money without saying anything
either
to his mistress or Laertes. They then laid their hands upon the
good
things that were before them, and when they had had enough to
eat
and drink, Mesaulius took away what was left of the bread, and
they
all went to bed after having made a hearty supper.
Now the night came on stormy and very dark, for there was no
moon.
It poured without ceasing, and the wind blew strong from the
West,
which is a wet quarter, so Ulysses thought he would see whether
Eumaeus,
in the excellent care he took of him, would take off his own
cloak
and give it him, or make one of his men give him one. "Listen to
me,"
said he, "Eumaeus and the rest of you; when I have said a prayer
I
will tell you something. It is the wine that makes me talk in
this
way; wine will make even a wise man fall to singing; it will
make
him chuckle and dance and say many a word that he had better
leave
unspoken; still, as I have begun, I will go on. Would that I
were
still young and strong as when we got up an ambuscade before
Troy.
Menelaus and Ulysses were the leaders, but I was in command
also,
for the other two would have it so. When we had come up to the
wall
of the city we crouched down beneath our armour and lay there
under
cover of the reeds and thick brush-wood that grew about the
swamp.
It came on to freeze with a North wind blowing; the snow fell
small
and fine like hoar frost, and our shields were coated thick with
rime.
The others had all got cloaks and shirts, and slept comfortably
enough
with their shields about their shoulders, but I had carelessly
left
my cloak behind me, not thinking that I should be too cold, and
had
gone off in nothing but my shirt and shield. When the night was
two-thirds
through and the stars had shifted their their places, I nudged
Ulysses
who was close to me with my elbow, and he at once gave me his
ear.
"'Ulysses,' said I, 'this cold will be the death of me, for I
have
no cloak; some god fooled me into setting off with nothing on
but
my shirt, and I do not know what to do.'
"Ulysses, who was as crafty as he was valiant, hit upon the
following
plan:
"'Keep still,' said he in a low voice, 'or the others will hear
you.'
Then he raised his head on his elbow.
"'My friends,' said he, 'I have had a dream from heaven in my
sleep.
We are a long way from the ships; I wish some one would go down
and
tell Agamemnon to send us up more men at once.'
"On this Thoas son of Andraemon threw off his cloak and set out
running
to the ships, whereon I took the cloak and lay in it comfortably
enough
till morning. Would that I were still young and strong as I was
in
those days, for then some one of you swineherds would give me a
cloak
both out of good will and for the respect due to a brave
soldier;
but now people look down upon me because my clothes are
shabby."
And Eumaeus answered, "Old man, you have told us an excellent
story,
and have said nothing so far but what is quite satisfactory; for
the
present, therefore, you shall want neither clothing nor anything
else
that a stranger in distress may reasonably expect, but to-morrow
morning
you have to shake your own old rags about your body again, for
we
have not many spare cloaks nor shirts up here, but every man has
only
one. When Ulysses' son comes home again he will give you both
cloak
and shirt, and send you wherever you may want to go."
With this he got up and made a bed for Ulysses by throwing some
goatskins
and sheepskins on the ground in front of the fire. Here Ulysses
lay
down, and Eumaeus covered him over with a great heavy cloak that
he
kept for a change in case of extraordinarily bad weather.
Thus did Ulysses sleep, and the young men slept beside him. But
the
swineherd did not like sleeping away from his pigs, so he got
ready
to go and Ulysses was glad to see that he looked after his
property
during his master's absence. First he slung his sword over his
brawny
shoulders and put on a thick cloak to keep out the wind. He also
took
the skin of a large and well fed goat, and a javelin in case of
attack
from men or dogs. Thus equipped he went to his rest where the
pigs
were camping under an overhanging rock that gave them shelter
from
the North wind.