Meanwhile Ulysses and the swineherd had lit a fire in the hut
and
were were getting breakfast ready at daybreak for they had sent
the
men out with the pigs. When Telemachus came up, the dogs did not
bark,
but fawned upon him, so Ulysses, hearing the sound of feet and
noticing
that the dogs did not bark, said to Eumaeus:
"Eumaeus, I hear footsteps; I suppose one of your men or some
one
of your acquaintance is coming here, for the dogs are fawning
urn
him and not barking."
The words were hardly out of his mouth before his son stood at
the
door. Eumaeus sprang to his feet, and the bowls in which he was
mixing
wine fell from his hands, as he made towards his master. He
kissed
his head and both his beautiful eyes, and wept for joy. A father
could
not be more delighted at the return of an only son, the child of
his
old age, after ten years' absence in a foreign country and after
having
gone through much hardship. He embraced him, kissed him all over
as
though he had come back from the dead, and spoke fondly to him
saying:
"So you are come, Telemachus, light of my eyes that you are.
When
I heard you had gone to Pylos I made sure I was never going to
see
you any more. Come in, my dear child, and sit down, that I may
have
a good look at you now you are home again; it is not very often
you
come into the country to see us herdsmen; you stick pretty close
to
the town generally. I suppose you think it better to keep an eye
on
what the suitors are doing."
"So be it, old friend," answered Telemachus, "but I am come now
because
I want to see you, and to learn whether my mother is still at
her
old home or whether some one else has married her, so that the
bed
of Ulysses is without bedding and covered with cobwebs."
"She is still at the house," replied Eumaeus, "grieving and
breaking
her heart, and doing nothing but weep, both night and day
continually."
As spoke he took Telemachus' spear, whereon he crossed the stone
threshold
and came inside. Ulysses rose from his seat to give him place as
he
entered, but Telemachus checked him; "Sit down, stranger." said
he,
"I can easily find another seat, and there is one here who will
lay
it for me."
Ulysses went back to his own place, and Eumaeus strewed some
green
brushwood on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of it for
Telemachus
to sit upon. Then the swineherd brought them platters of cold
meat,
the remains from what they had eaten the day before, and he
filled
the bread baskets with bread as fast as he could. He mixed wine
also
in bowls of ivy-wood, and took his seat facing Ulysses. Then
they
laid their hands on the good things that were before them, and
as
soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Telemachus said to
Eumaeus,
"Old friend, where does this stranger come from? How did his
crew
bring him to Ithaca, and who were they?-for assuredly he did not
come
here by land"'
To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, "My son, I will tell
you
the real truth. He says he is a Cretan, and that he has been a
great
traveller. At this moment he is running away from a Thesprotian
ship,
and has refuge at my station, so I will put him into your hands.
Do
whatever you like with him, only remember that he is your
suppliant."
"I am very much distressed," said Telemachus, "by what you have
just
told me. How can I take this stranger into my house? I am as yet
young,
and am not strong enough to hold my own if any man attacks me.
My
mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay where she is and
look
after the house out of respect for public opinion and the memory
of
her husband, or whether the time is now come for her to take the
best
man of those who are wooing her, and the one who will make her
the
most advantageous offer; still, as the stranger has come to your
station
I will find him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with a sword and
sandals,
and will send him wherever he wants to go. Or if you like you
can
keep him here at the station, and I will send him clothes and
food
that he may be no burden on you and on your men; but I will not
have
him go near the suitors, for they are very insolent, and are
sure
to ill-treat him in a way that would greatly grieve me; no
matter
how valiant a man may be he can do nothing against numbers, for
they
will be too strong for him."
Then Ulysses said, "Sir, it is right that I should say something
myself.
I am much shocked about what you have said about the insolent
way
in which the suitors are behaving in despite of such a man as
you
are. Tell me, do you submit to such treatment tamely, or has
some
god set your people against you? May you not complain of your
brothers-
for it is to these that a man may look for support, however
great
his quarrel may be? I wish I were as young as you are and in my
present
mind; if I were son to Ulysses, or, indeed, Ulysses himself, I
would
rather some one came and cut my head off, but I would go to the
house
and be the bane of every one of these men. If they were too many
for
me- I being single-handed- I would rather die fighting in my own
house
than see such disgraceful sights day after day, strangers
grossly
maltreated, and men dragging the women servants about the house
in
an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and bread wasted all to
no
purpose for an end that shall never be accomplished."
And Telemachus answered, "I will tell you truly everything.
There
is no emnity between me and my people, nor can I complain of
brothers,
to whom a man may look for support however great his quarrel may
be.
Jove has made us a race of only sons. Laertes was the only son
of
Arceisius, and Ulysses only son of Laertes. I am myself the only
son
of Ulysses who left me behind him when he went away, so that I
have
never been of any use to him. Hence it comes that my house is in
the
hands of numberless marauders; for the chiefs from all the
neighbouring
islands, Dulichium, Same, Zacynthus, as also all the principal
men
of Ithaca itself, are eating up my house under the pretext of
paying
court to my mother, who will neither say point blank that she
will
not marry, nor yet bring matters to an end, so they are making
havoc
of my estate, and before long will do so with myself into the
bargain.
The issue, however, rests with heaven. But do you, old friend
Eumaeus,
go at once and tell Penelope that I am safe and have returned
from
Pylos. Tell it to herself alone, and then come back here without
letting
any one else know, for there are many who are plotting mischief
against
me."
"I understand and heed you," replied Eumaeus; "you need instruct
me
no further, only I am going that way say whether I had not
better
let poor Laertes know that you are returned. He used to
superintend
the work on his farm in spite of his bitter sorrow about
Ulysses,
and he would eat and drink at will along with his servants; but
they
tell me that from the day on which you set out for Pylos he has
neither
eaten nor drunk as he ought to do, nor does he look after his
farm,
but sits weeping and wasting the flesh from off his bones."
"More's the pity," answered Telemachus, "I am sorry for him, but
we
must leave him to himself just now. If people could have
everything
their own way, the first thing I should choose would be the
return
of my father; but go, and give your message; then make haste
back
again, and do not turn out of your way to tell Laertes. Tell my
mother
to send one of her women secretly with the news at once, and let
him
hear it from her."
Thus did he urge the swineherd; Eumaeus, therefore, took his
sandals,
bound them to his feet, and started for the town. Minerva
watched
him well off the station, and then came up to it in the form of
a
woman- fair, stately, and wise. She stood against the side of
the
entry, and revealed herself to Ulysses, but Telemachus could not
see
her, and knew not that she was there, for the gods do not let
themselves
be seen by everybody. Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, for
they
did not bark, but went scared and whining off to the other side
of
the yards. She nodded her head and motioned to Ulysses with her
eyebrows;
whereon he left the hut and stood before her outside the main
wall
of the yards. Then she said to him:
"Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, it is now time for you to tell
your
son: do not keep him in the dark any longer, but lay your plans
for
the destruction of the suitors, and then make for the town. I
will
not be long in joining you, for I too am eager for the fray."
As she spoke she touched him with her golden wand. First she
threw
a fair clean shirt and cloak about his shoulders; then she made
him
younger and of more imposing presence; she gave him back his
colour,
filled out his cheeks, and let his beard become dark again. Then
she
went away and Ulysses came back inside the hut. His son was
astounded
when he saw him, and turned his eyes away for fear he might be
looking
upon a god.
"Stranger," said he, "how suddenly you have changed from what
you
were a moment or two ago. You are dressed differently and your
colour
is not the same. Are you some one or other of the gods that live
in
heaven? If so, be propitious to me till I can make you due
sacrifice
and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy upon me."
And Ulysses said, "I am no god, why should you take me for one?
I
am your father, on whose account you grieve and suffer so much
at
the hands of lawless men."
As he spoke he kissed his son, and a tear fell from his cheek on
to
the ground, for he had restrained all tears till now. but
Telemachus
could not yet believe that it was his father, and said:
"You are not my father, but some god is flattering me with vain
hopes
that I may grieve the more hereafter; no mortal man could of
himself
contrive to do as you have been doing, and make yourself old and
young
at a moment's notice, unless a god were with him. A second ago
you
were old and all in rags, and now you are like some god come
down
from heaven."
Ulysses answered, "Telemachus, you ought not to be so
immeasurably
astonished at my being really here. There is no other Ulysses
who
will come hereafter. Such as I am, it is I, who after long
wandering
and much hardship have got home in the twentieth year to my own
country.
What you wonder at is the work of the redoubtable goddess
Minerva,
who does with me whatever she will, for she can do what she
pleases.
At one moment she makes me like a beggar, and the next I am a
young
man with good clothes on my back; it is an easy matter for the
gods
who live in heaven to make any man look either rich or poor."
As he spoke he sat down, and Telemachus threw his arms about his
father
and wept. They were both so much moved that they cried aloud
like
eagles or vultures with crooked talons that have been robbed of
their
half fledged young by peasants. Thus piteously did they weep,
and
the sun would have gone down upon their mourning if Telemachus
had
not suddenly said, "In what ship, my dear father, did your crew
bring
you to Ithaca? Of what nation did they declare themselves to be-
for
you cannot have come by land?"
"I will tell you the truth, my son," replied Ulysses. "It was
the
Phaeacians who brought me here. They are great sailors, and are
in
the habit of giving escorts to any one who reaches their coasts.
They
took me over the sea while I was fast asleep, and landed me in
Ithaca,
after giving me many presents in bronze, gold, and raiment.
These
things by heaven's mercy are lying concealed in a cave, and I am
now
come here on the suggestion of Minerva that we may consult about
killing
our enemies. First, therefore, give me a list of the suitors,
with
their number, that I may learn who, and how many, they are. I
can
then turn the matter over in my mind, and see whether we two can
fight
the whole body of them ourselves, or whether we must find others
to
help us."
To this Telemachus answered, "Father, I have always heard of
your
renown both in the field and in council, but the task you talk
of
is a very great one: I am awed at the mere thought of it; two
men
cannot stand against many and brave ones. There are not ten
suitors
only, nor twice ten, but ten many times over; you shall learn
their
number at once. There are fifty-two chosen youths from
Dulichium,
and they have six servants; from Same there are twenty-four;
twenty
young Achaeans from Zacynthus, and twelve from Ithaca itself,
all
of them well born. They have with them a servant Medon, a bard,
and
two men who can carve at table. If we face such numbers as this,
you
may have bitter cause to rue your coming, and your revenge. See
whether
you cannot think of some one who would be willing to come and
help
us."
"Listen to me," replied Ulysses, "and think whether Minerva and
her
father Jove may seem sufficient, or whether I am to try and find
some
one else as well."
"Those whom you have named," answered Telemachus, "are a couple
of
good allies, for though they dwell high up among the clouds they
have
power over both gods and men."
"These two," continued Ulysses, "will not keep long out of the
fray,
when the suitors and we join fight in my house. Now, therefore,
return
home early to-morrow morning, and go about among the suitors as
before.
Later on the swineherd will bring me to the city disguised as a
miserable
old beggar. If you see them ill-treating me, steel your heart
against
my sufferings; even though they drag me feet foremost out of the
house,
or throw things at me, look on and do nothing beyond gently
trying
to make them behave more reasonably; but they will not listen to
you,
for the day of their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore I say,
and
lay my saying to your heart, when Minerva shall put it in my
mind,
I will nod my head to you, and on seeing me do this you must
collect
all the armour that is in the house and hide it in the strong
store
room. Make some excuse when the suitors ask you why you are
removing
it; say that you have taken it to be out of the way of the
smoke,
inasmuch as it is no longer what it was when Ulysses went away,
but
has become soiled and begrimed with soot. Add to this more
particularly
that you are afraid Jove may set them on to quarrel over their
wine,
and that they may do each other some harm which may disgrace
both
banquet and wooing, for the sight of arms sometimes tempts
people
to use them. But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself
and
me, and a couple oxhide shields so that we can snatch them up at
any
moment; Jove and Minerva will then soon quiet these people.
There
is also another matter; if you are indeed my son and my blood
runs
in your veins, let no one know that Ulysses is within the house-
neither
Laertes, nor yet the swineherd, nor any of the servants, nor
even
Penelope herself. Let you and me exploit the women alone, and
let
us also make trial of some other of the men servants, to see who
is
on our side and whose hand is against us."
"Father," replied Telemachus, "you will come to know me by and
by,
and when you do you will find that I can keep your counsel. I do
not
think, however, the plan you propose will turn out well for
either
of us. Think it over. It will take us a long time to go the
round
of the farms and exploit the men, and all the time the suitors
will
be wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction.
Prove
the women by all means, to see who are disloyal and who
guiltless,
but I am not in favour of going round and trying the men. We can
attend
to that later on, if you really have some sign from Jove that he
will
support you."
Thus did they converse, and meanwhile the ship which had brought
Telemachus
and his crew from Pylos had reached the town of Ithaca. When
they
had come inside the harbour they drew the ship on to the land;
their
servants came and took their armour from them, and they left all
the
presents at the house of Clytius. Then they sent a servant to
tell
Penelope that Telemachus had gone into the country, but had sent
the
ship to the town to prevent her from being alarmed and made
unhappy.
This servant and Eumaeus happened to meet when they were both on
the
same errand of going to tell Penelope. When they reached the
House,
the servant stood up and said to the queen in the presence of
the
waiting women, "Your son, Madam, is now returned from Pylos";
but
Eumaeus went close up to Penelope, and said privately that her
son
had given bidden him tell her. When he had given his message he
left
the house with its outbuildings and went back to his pigs
again.
The suitors were surprised and angry at what had happened, so
they
went outside the great wall that ran round the outer court, and
held
a council near the main entrance. Eurymachus, son of Polybus,
was
the first to speak.
"My friends," said he, "this voyage of Telemachus's is a very
serious
matter; we had made sure that it would come to nothing. Now,
however,
let us draw a ship into the water, and get a crew together to
send
after the others and tell them to come back as fast as they
can."
He had hardly done speaking when Amphinomus turned in his place
and
saw the ship inside the harbour, with the crew lowering her
sails,
and putting by their oars; so he laughed, and said to the
others,
"We need not send them any message, for they are here. Some god
must
have told them, or else they saw the ship go by, and could not
overtake
her.
On this they rose and went to the water side. The crew then drew
the
ship on shore; their servants took their armour from them, and
they
went up in a body to the place of assembly, but they would not
let
any one old or young sit along with them, and Antinous, son of
Eupeithes,
spoke first.
"Good heavens," said he, "see how the gods have saved this man
from
destruction. We kept a succession of scouts upon the headlands
all
day long, and when the sun was down we never went on shore to
sleep,
but waited in the ship all night till morning in the hope of
capturing
and killing him; but some god has conveyed him home in spite of
us.
Let us consider how we can make an end of him. He must not
escape
us; our affair is never likely to come off while is alive, for
he
is very shrewd, and public feeling is by no means all on our
side.
We must make haste before he can call the Achaeans in assembly;
he
will lose no time in doing so, for he will be furious with us,
and
will tell all the world how we plotted to kill him, but failed
to
take him. The people will not like this when they come to know
of
it; we must see that they do us no hurt, nor drive us from our
own
country into exile. Let us try and lay hold of him either on his
farm
away from the town, or on the road hither. Then we can divide up
his
property amongst us, and let his mother and the man who marries
her
have the house. If this does not please you, and you wish
Telemachus
to live on and hold his father's property, then we must not
gather
here and eat up his goods in this way, but must make our offers
to
Penelope each from his own house, and she can marry the man who
will
give the most for her, and whose lot it is to win her."
They all held their peace until Amphinomus rose to speak. He was
the
son of Nisus, who was son to king Aretias, and he was foremost
among
all the suitors from the wheat-growing and well grassed island
of
Dulichium; his conversation, moreover, was more agreeable to
Penelope
than that of any of the other for he was a man of good natural
disposition.
"My friends," said he, speaking to them plainly and in all
honestly,
"I am not in favour of killing Telemachus. It is a heinous thing
to
kill one who is of noble blood. Let us first take counsel of the
gods,
and if the oracles of Jove advise it, I will both help to kill
him
myself, and will urge everyone else to do so; but if they
dissuade
us, I would have you hold your hands."
Thus did he speak, and his words pleased them well, so they rose
forthwith
and went to the house of Ulysses where they took their
accustomed
seats.
Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself to the
suitors.
She knew of the plot against Telemachus, for the servant Medon
had
overheard their counsels and had told her; she went down
therefore
to the court attended by her maidens, and when she reached the
suitors
she stood by one of the bearing-posts supporting the roof of the
cloister
holding a veil before her face, and rebuked Antinous saying:
"Antinous, insolent and wicked schemer, they say you are the
best
speaker and counsellor of any man your own age in Ithaca, but
you
are nothing of the kind. Madman, why should you try to compass
the
death of Telemachus, and take no heed of suppliants, whose
witness
is Jove himself? It is not right for you to plot thus against
one
another. Do you not remember how your father fled to this house
in
fear of the people, who were enraged against him for having gone
with
some Taphian pirates and plundered the Thesprotians who were at
peace
with us? They wanted to tear him in pieces and eat up everything
he
had, but Ulysses stayed their hands although they were
infuriated,
and now you devour his property without paying for it, and break
my
heart by his wooing his wife and trying to kill his son. Leave
off
doing so, and stop the others also."
To this Eurymachus son of Polybus answered, "Take heart, Queen
Penelope
daughter of Icarius, and do not trouble yourself about these
matters.
The man is not yet born, nor never will be, who shall lay hands
upon
your son Telemachus, while I yet live to look upon the face of
the
earth. I say- and it shall surely be- that my spear shall be
reddened
with his blood; for many a time has Ulysses taken me on his
knees,
held wine up to my lips to drink, and put pieces of meat into my
hands.
Therefore Telemachus is much the dearest friend I have, and has
nothing
to fear from the hands of us suitors. Of course, if death comes
to
him from the gods, he cannot escape it." He said this to quiet
her,
but in reality he was plotting against Telemachus.
Then Penelope went upstairs again and mourned her husband till
Minerva
shed sleep over her eyes. In the evening Eumaeus got back to
Ulysses
and his son, who had just sacrificed a young pig of a year old
and
were ready; helping one another to get supper ready; Minerva
therefore
came up to Ulysses, turned him into an old man with a stroke of
her
wand, and clad him in his old clothes again, for fear that the
swineherd
might recognize him and not keep the secret, but go and tell
Penelope.
Telemachus was the first to speak. "So you have got back,
Eumaeus,"
said he. "What is the news of the town? Have the suitors
returned,
or are they still waiting over yonder, to take me on my way
home?"
"I did not think of asking about that," replied Eumaeus, "when I
was
in the town. I thought I would give my message and come back as
soon
as I could. I met a man sent by those who had gone with you to
Pylos,
and he was the first to tell the new your mother, but I can say
what
I saw with my own eyes; I had just got on to the crest of the
hill
of Mercury above the town when I saw a ship coming into harbour
with
a number of men in her. They had many shields and spears, and I
thought
it was the suitors, but I cannot be sure."
On hearing this Telemachus smiled to his father, but so that
Eumaeus
could not see him.
Then, when they had finished their work and the meal was ready,
they
ate it, and every man had his full share so that all were
satisfied.
As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, they laid down
to
rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.