1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:07,639 Book seventeen, when the child of mourning rosy fingered Dawn appeared, Telemachus bound 2 00:00:07,679 --> 00:00:11,880 on his sandals and took a strong spear that suited his hands. For he 3 00:00:11,919 --> 00:00:16,679 wanted to go into the city. Old friend, said he to the swineherd. 4 00:00:17,359 --> 00:00:20,039 I will now go to the town and show myself to my mother, 5 00:00:20,519 --> 00:00:25,239 for she will never leave off grieving till she has seen me. As for 6 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,320 this unfortunate stranger, take him to the town and let him beg there of 7 00:00:29,399 --> 00:00:32,679 any one who will give him a drink and a piece of bread. I 8 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:37,840 have trouble enough of my own and cannot be burdened with other people. If 9 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,840 this makes him angry, so much the worse for him. But I like 10 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:45,759 to say what I mean, then, Ulysses said sir, I do not 11 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,799 want to stay here. A beggar can always do better in town than country, 12 00:00:50,119 --> 00:00:53,960 for any one who likes can give him something. I am too old 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,000 to care about remaining here at the beck and call of a master. Therefore, 14 00:00:58,079 --> 00:01:00,719 let this man do as you have just told him, and take me 15 00:01:00,759 --> 00:01:03,359 to the town. As soon as I have had a warm by the fire 16 00:01:03,679 --> 00:01:07,560 and the day has got a little heat in it, my clothes are wretchedly 17 00:01:07,599 --> 00:01:11,640 thin, and this frosty morning I shall be perished with cold, for you 18 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,959 say the city is some way off. On this Telemachus strode off through the 19 00:01:17,079 --> 00:01:21,840 yards, brooding his revenge upon the suitors. When he reached home, he 20 00:01:21,879 --> 00:01:25,959 stood his spear against a bearing post of the cloister, crossed the stone floor 21 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,680 of the cloister itself, and went inside. Nurse Eurycleia saw him long before 22 00:01:30,719 --> 00:01:34,159 any one else did. She was putting the fleeces on to the seats, 23 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,959 and she burst out crying as she ran up to him. All the other 24 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,959 maids came too, and covered his head and shoulders with their kisses. Penelope 25 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,560 came out of her room, looking like Diana or Venus, and wept as 26 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,799 she flung her arms about her son. She kissed his forehead and both his 27 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,239 beautiful eyes. Light of my eyes, she cried, as she spoke fondly 28 00:01:56,239 --> 00:02:00,760 to him. Ah, so you are come home again. I made sure 29 00:02:00,799 --> 00:02:02,920 I was never going to see you any more, to think of your having 30 00:02:02,959 --> 00:02:07,599 gone off to Pylos without saying anything about it or obtaining my consent. But 31 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:14,479 come tell me what you saw. Do not scold me, mother answered Telemachus, 32 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,039 nor vex me, seeing what a narrow escape I have had. But 33 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:22,319 wash your face, change your dress, go upstairs with your maids, and 34 00:02:22,439 --> 00:02:27,520 promise full and sufficient hecatombs to all the gods, if Jove will only grant 35 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,199 us our revenge upon the suitors. I must now go to the place of 36 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:35,240 assembly to invite a stranger who has come back with me from Pylos. I 37 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,479 sent him on with my crew, and told Pireus to take him home and 38 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:43,479 look after him till I could come for him myself. She heeded her son's 39 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,599 words, washed her face, changed her dress, and vowed full and sufficient 40 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:53,199 hecatoms to all the gods if they would only vouchsafe her revenge upon the suitors. 41 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:59,000 Telemachus went through and out of the cloisters, spear in hand, not 42 00:02:59,159 --> 00:03:02,680 alone, for his two fleet dogs went with him. Minerva endowed him with 43 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:07,719 a presence of such divine comeliness that all marveled at him as he went by, 44 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,280 and the suitors gathered round him with fair words in their mouths and malice 45 00:03:12,319 --> 00:03:16,120 in their hearts. But he avoided them and went to sit with Mentor Antiphus 46 00:03:16,319 --> 00:03:22,000 and Halitherses, old friends of his father's house. And they made him tell 47 00:03:22,039 --> 00:03:27,479 them all that had happened to him. Then Pireus came up with theo Clemenus, 48 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,039 whom he had escorted through the town to the place of assembly, whereon 49 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:37,039 Telemachus at once joined them. Pireus was the first to speak. Telemachus said, 50 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:38,960 he, I wish you would send some of your women to my house 51 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:45,240 to take away the presents Menelaus gave you. We do not know. Pireus 52 00:03:45,479 --> 00:03:50,000 answered Telemachus, what may happen if the suitors kill me in my own house 53 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,280 and divide my property among them. I would rather you had the presence than 54 00:03:53,319 --> 00:03:57,639 that any of those people should get hold of them. If, on the 55 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,039 other hand, I managed to kill them, I shall be much obliged if 56 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:05,159 you will kindly bring me my presents. With these words, he took Thioclemenis 57 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,800 to his own house. When they got there, they laid their cloaks on 58 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,520 the benches and seats, went into the baths and washed themselves. When the 59 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,240 maids had washed and anointed them, and had given them cloaks and shirts, 60 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:23,079 they took their seats at table. A maid servant then brought them water in 61 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,480 a beautiful golden ewer and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash 62 00:04:27,519 --> 00:04:31,360 their hands, and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper servant 63 00:04:31,399 --> 00:04:34,839 brought them bread and offered them many good things of what there was in the 64 00:04:34,879 --> 00:04:40,639 house. Opposite them sat Penelope, reclining on a couch by one of the 65 00:04:40,639 --> 00:04:45,839 bearing posts of the cloister and spinning. Then they laid their hands on the 66 00:04:45,879 --> 00:04:48,319 good things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough 67 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:53,639 to eat and drink, Penelope said, Telemachus, I shall go upstairs and 68 00:04:53,759 --> 00:04:57,519 lie down on that sad couch, which I have not ceased to water with 69 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,680 my tears from the day Ulysses set out for Troy with the sons of Atreus. 70 00:05:01,519 --> 00:05:04,279 You failed, however, to make it clear to me before the suitors 71 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:09,000 came back to the house whether or no you had been able to hear anything 72 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,399 about the return of your father. I will tell you then, truth, 73 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:17,240 replied her son. We went to Pylos and saw Nestor, who took me 74 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,600 to his house and treated me as hospitably as though I were a son of 75 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:26,399 his own who had just returned after a long absence. So also did his 76 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,120 sons. But he said he had not heard a word from any human being 77 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,079 about Ulysses, whether he was alive or dead. He sent me therefore with 78 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:40,120 a chariot and horses to Menelaus. There I saw Helen, for whose sake 79 00:05:40,199 --> 00:05:44,480 so many both Argives and Trojans, were in Heaven's wisdom doomed to suffer. 80 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,519 Menelaus asked me what it was that had brought me to Lacedaemon, and I 81 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:54,480 told him the whole truth, whereon he said, so, then these cowards 82 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,639 would usurp a brave man's bed. A hind might as well lay her new 83 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,959 born young in the lair of a lion, and then go off to feed 84 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:05,000 in the forest or in some grassy dell. The lion, when he comes 85 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:09,319 back to his lair, will make short work with the pair of them, 86 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:14,319 and so will Ulysses with these suitors. By Father, Jove, Minerva and 87 00:06:14,399 --> 00:06:17,519 Apollo. If Ulysses is still the man that he was when he wrestled with 88 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:23,959 Philomelides in Lesbos and threw him so heavily that all the Greeks cheered him, 89 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,000 if he is still such and were to come near these suitors, they would 90 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:32,000 have a short shrift and a sorry wedding. As regards your question. However, 91 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,120 I will not prevaricate nor deceive you. But what the old man of 92 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:41,160 the sea told me so much will I tell you in full. He said 93 00:06:41,199 --> 00:06:44,920 he could see Ulysses on an island, sorrowing bitterly in the house of the 94 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,160 nymph Calypso, who was keeping him prisoner, And he could not reach his 95 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:53,839 home, for he had no ships nor sailors to take him over the sea. 96 00:06:54,079 --> 00:06:57,399 This was what Menelaus told me. And when I had heard his story, 97 00:06:57,439 --> 00:07:00,079 I came away. The gods then gave me a fair wind, and 98 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:05,160 soon brought me safe home again. With these words he moved the heart of 99 00:07:05,199 --> 00:07:12,079 Penelope. Then theo Clemenus said to her, Madam, wife of Ulysses. 100 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,279 Telemachus does not understand these things. Listen therefore to me, for I can 101 00:07:16,319 --> 00:07:20,839 divine them surely, and will hide nothing from you. May Jove, the 102 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:26,240 King of Heaven be my witness, and the rights of hospitality with that hearth 103 00:07:26,279 --> 00:07:30,759 of Ulysses to which I now come. That Ulysses himself is even now in 104 00:07:30,839 --> 00:07:34,720 Ithaca, and either going about the country or staying in one place, is 105 00:07:34,759 --> 00:07:40,000 inquiring into all these evil deeds, and preparing a day of reckoning for the 106 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,879 suitors. I saw an omen when I was on the ship which meant this, 107 00:07:44,319 --> 00:07:48,519 and I told Telemachus about it. May it be even so, answered 108 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:54,360 Penelope, if your words come true, you shall have such gifts and such 109 00:07:54,399 --> 00:07:59,680 good will from me that all who see you shall congratulate you. Thus did 110 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,800 they verse. Meanwhile, the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at 111 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,360 a mark on the leveled ground in front of the house, and behaving with 112 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,399 all their old insolence. But when it was now time for dinner, and 113 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:16,040 the flock of sheep and goats had come into the town from all the country 114 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,279 round with their shepherds as usual, then Medon, who was their favorite servant 115 00:08:20,319 --> 00:08:24,920 and who waited upon them at table, said now, then, my young 116 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,439 masters, you have had enough sport, so come inside that we may get 117 00:08:28,439 --> 00:08:33,240 dinner ready. Dinner is not a bad thing. At dinner time, they 118 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:37,399 left their sports as he told them, and when they were within the house, 119 00:08:37,639 --> 00:08:41,919 they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats inside, and then sacrificed 120 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,720 some sheep, goats, pigs, and a heifer, all of them fat 121 00:08:45,759 --> 00:08:50,000 and well grown. Thus they made ready for their meal in the meantime, 122 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:54,960 Ulysses and the swineherd were about starting for the town, and the swineherd said, 123 00:08:56,639 --> 00:08:58,840 stranger, I suppose you still want to go to town today, as 124 00:09:00,039 --> 00:09:03,360 my master said you were to do. For my own part, I should 125 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,559 have liked you to stay here as a station hand. But I must do 126 00:09:05,639 --> 00:09:09,159 as my master tells me, or he will scold me later on. And 127 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:15,240 a scolding from one's master's a very serious thing. Let us then be off, 128 00:09:15,399 --> 00:09:18,480 for it is now broad day. It will be night again directly, 129 00:09:18,519 --> 00:09:22,279 and then you will find it colder. I know and understand you, replied 130 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,399 Ulysses. You need say no more. Let us be going, But if 131 00:09:26,399 --> 00:09:28,879 you have a stick ready cut, let me have it to walk with, 132 00:09:30,279 --> 00:09:33,039 for you say the road is a very rough one. As he spoke, 133 00:09:33,399 --> 00:09:39,000 he threw his shabby, old tattered wallet over his shoulders by the cord from 134 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,159 which it hung, and you may us gave him a stick to his liking. 135 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,840 The two then started leaving the station, in charge of the dogs and 136 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,919 herdsmen who remained behind. The swineherd led the way and his master followed after, 137 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,639 looking like some broken down old tramp as he leaned upon his staff and 138 00:09:56,799 --> 00:10:01,399 his clothes were all in rags. When they had got over the rough steep 139 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,559 ground and were nearing the city, they reached the fountain from which the citizens 140 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,519 drew their water. This had been made by Ithacus, Neretus and Polyctor. 141 00:10:11,799 --> 00:10:15,720 There was a grove of water loving poplars planted in a circle all round it, 142 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:18,519 and the clear, cold water came down to it from a rock high 143 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,600 up, while above the fountain there was an altar to the nymphs at which 144 00:10:22,639 --> 00:10:28,519 all wayfarers used to sacrifice. Here Melanthius, son of Dolius, overtook them 145 00:10:28,519 --> 00:10:33,080 as he was driving down some goats, the best in his flock for the 146 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:37,639 suitor's dinner, and there were two shepherds with him. When he saw Eumaeus 147 00:10:37,639 --> 00:10:43,039 and Ulysses, he reviled them with outrageous and unseemly language, which made Ulysses 148 00:10:43,279 --> 00:10:48,279 very angry. There you go, cried he and a precious pair. You 149 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:52,240 are see how heaven brings birds of the same feather to one another. Where 150 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,960 pray, master, swineherd. Are you taking this poor, miserable object. 151 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,799 It would make any one sick to see such a creature at table. A 152 00:11:00,879 --> 00:11:03,399 fellow like this never won a prize for anything in his life, but will 153 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:09,440 go about rubbing his shoulders against every man's doorpost, and begging not for swords 154 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,799 and cauldrons like a man, but only for a few scraps not worth begging 155 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,720 for. If you would give him to me for a hand on my station, 156 00:11:18,159 --> 00:11:20,879 he might do to clean out the folds, or bring a bit of 157 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,480 sweet feed to the kids, and he could fatten his thighs as much as 158 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,320 he pleased on way. But he has taken to bad ways and will not 159 00:11:28,399 --> 00:11:31,720 go about any kind of work. He will do nothing but beg victuals all 160 00:11:31,759 --> 00:11:37,080 the town over to feed his insatiable belly. I say therefore, and it 161 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:41,120 shall surely be. If he goes near ulysses house, he will get his 162 00:11:41,159 --> 00:11:45,159 head broken by the stools. They will fling at him till they turn him 163 00:11:45,159 --> 00:11:48,600 out. On this. As he passed, he gave Ulysses a kick on 164 00:11:48,639 --> 00:11:54,360 the hip out of pure wantonness. But Ulysses stood firm and did not budge 165 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,200 from the path. For a moment he doubted whether or not to fly at 166 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,720 Melanthius and kill him with his staff, or fling him to the ground and 167 00:12:01,759 --> 00:12:05,879 beat his brains out. He resolved, however, to endure it and keep 168 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,480 himself in check. But the swineherd looked straight at Melanthius and rebuked him, 169 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,679 lifting up his hands and praying to Heaven. As he did so, fountain 170 00:12:13,799 --> 00:12:18,600 nymphs. He cried, Children of Jove, if ever Ulysses burned you thigh 171 00:12:18,639 --> 00:12:24,080 bones covered with fat, whether of lambs or kids, grant my prayer that 172 00:12:24,159 --> 00:12:28,080 Heaven may send him home. He would soon put an end to the swaggering 173 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:33,000 threats with which such men as you go about insulting people, gadding all over 174 00:12:33,039 --> 00:12:37,159 the town, while your flocks are going to ruin through bad shepherding. Then 175 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:43,480 Melanthius the goatherd answered, you, ill conditioned cur what are you talking about? 176 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,679 Some day or other I will put you on board ship and take you 177 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,080 to a foreign country, where I can sell you and pocket the money you 178 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:54,600 will fetch. I wish I were as sure that Apalla would strike Telemachus dead 179 00:12:54,639 --> 00:12:58,200 this very day, or that the suitors would kill him, as I am, 180 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:03,159 that Ulysses will never come home again. With this, he left them 181 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:07,200 to come on at their leisure while he went quickly forward and soon reached the 182 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:11,840 house of his master. When he got there, he went in and took 183 00:13:11,879 --> 00:13:16,360 his seat among the suitors, opposite Eurymachus, who liked him better than any 184 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,279 of the others. The servants brought him a portion of meat, and an 185 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:24,600 upper woman servant set bread before him that he might eat. Presently, Ulysses 186 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,480 and the swineherd came up to the house and stood by it amid a sound 187 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:33,879 of music, for Phemius was just beginning to sing to the suitors. Then 188 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:39,600 Ulysses took hold of the swineherd's hand and said, Eumaeus, this house of 189 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:43,679 Ulysses is a very fine place. No matter how far you go, you 190 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,480 will find few like it. One building keeps following on after another. The 191 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:52,080 outer court has a wall with battlements all round it. The doors are double 192 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:56,879 folding, and of good workmanship. It would be a hard matter to take 193 00:13:56,879 --> 00:14:01,120 it by force of arms. I perceived too that there are many people banqueting 194 00:14:01,159 --> 00:14:03,279 within it, for there is a smell of roast meat, and I hear 195 00:14:03,279 --> 00:14:07,639 a sound of music, which the gods have made to go along with feasting. 196 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,480 Then you may have said you have perceived a aright, as indeed you 197 00:14:11,519 --> 00:14:16,720 generally do. But let us think what will be our best course, will 198 00:14:16,759 --> 00:14:20,240 you go inside first and join the suitors, leaving me here behind you, 199 00:14:20,639 --> 00:14:22,840 Or will you wait here and let me go in first, But do not 200 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:28,039 wait long, or some one may see you loitering about outside and throw something 201 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,879 at you. Consider this matter, I pray you, And Ulysses answered, 202 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:37,080 I understand and heed. Go in first, and leave me here where I 203 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,519 am. I am quite used to being beaten and having things thrown at me. 204 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,240 I have been so much buffeted about in war and by sea that I 205 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:48,440 am case hardened. And this too may go with the rest. But a 206 00:14:48,519 --> 00:14:52,559 man cannot hide away the cravings of a hungry belly. This is an enemy 207 00:14:52,559 --> 00:14:56,039 which gives much trouble to all men. It is because of this that ships 208 00:14:56,039 --> 00:15:00,559 are fitted out to sail the seas and to make war upon other people. 209 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:05,679 As they were thus talking, a dog that had been lying asleep raised his 210 00:15:05,759 --> 00:15:09,360 head and pricked up his ears. This was Argos, whom Ulysses had bred 211 00:15:09,399 --> 00:15:13,840 before setting out for Troy. But he had never had any work out of 212 00:15:13,919 --> 00:15:16,759 him. In the old days, he used to be taken out by the 213 00:15:16,799 --> 00:15:20,399 young men when they went hunting wild goats or deer or hares. But now 214 00:15:20,399 --> 00:15:24,120 that his master was gone. He was lying neglected on the heaps of mule 215 00:15:24,159 --> 00:15:28,759 and cowdung that lay in front of the stable doors, till the men should 216 00:15:28,799 --> 00:15:31,480 come and draw it away to manure. The great close, and he was 217 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:37,600 full of fleas. As soon as he saw Ulysses standing there, he dropped 218 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:41,200 his ears and wagged his tail, but he could not get close up to 219 00:15:41,279 --> 00:15:45,200 his master. When Ulysses saw the dog on the other side of the yard, 220 00:15:45,679 --> 00:15:48,759 dashed a tear from his eyes without Eumaeus seeing it, and said, 221 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:54,120 Eumaeus, what a noble hound that is over yonder on the manure heap. 222 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:58,600 His bild is splendid. Is he as fine a fellow as he looks? 223 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:02,360 Or is he only one of those dogs that come begging about a table and 224 00:16:02,399 --> 00:16:07,600 are kept merely for show? This hound, answered, Eumaeus, belonged to 225 00:16:07,679 --> 00:16:11,840 him who has died in a far country. If he were what he was 226 00:16:11,879 --> 00:16:15,399 when Ulysses left for Troy, he would soon show you what he could do. 227 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,879 There was not a wild beast in the forest that could get away from 228 00:16:18,919 --> 00:16:22,559 him when he was once on its tracks. But now he has fallen on 229 00:16:22,639 --> 00:16:26,480 evil times, for his master is dead and gone, and the women take 230 00:16:26,559 --> 00:16:30,600 no care of him. Servants never do their work when their master's hand is 231 00:16:30,639 --> 00:16:33,159 no longer over them, For Jove takes half the goodness out of a man 232 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:37,559 when he makes a slave of him. As he spoke, he went inside 233 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:41,360 the buildings to the cloister where the suitors were, But Argos died as soon 234 00:16:41,399 --> 00:16:48,320 as he had recognized his master. Telemachus saw Eumaeus long before anyone else did, 235 00:16:48,559 --> 00:16:52,000 and beckoned him to come and sit beside him. So he looked about 236 00:16:52,039 --> 00:16:55,679 and saw a seat lying near where the carver sat serving out their portions to 237 00:16:55,720 --> 00:17:00,399 the suitors. He picked it up, brought it to Telemachus's table, and 238 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:04,039 sat down opposite him. Then the servant brought him his portion and gave him 239 00:17:04,039 --> 00:17:10,799 bread from the bread basket. Immediately afterwards, Ulysses came in side, looking 240 00:17:10,839 --> 00:17:14,960 like a poor, miserable old beggar, leaning on his staff and with his 241 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:19,119 clothes all in rags. He sat down upon the threshold of ashwood, just 242 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:23,440 inside the doors leading from the outer to the inner court, and against a 243 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:29,200 bearing post of cypress wood, which the carpenter had skillfully planed and had made 244 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:33,279 to join truly with rule and line. Telemachus took a whole loaf from the 245 00:17:33,319 --> 00:17:37,759 bread basket with as much meat as he could hold in his two hands, 246 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:41,319 and said to Eumaeus, take this to the stranger, and tell him to 247 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:45,960 go the round of the suitors and beg from them. A beggar must not 248 00:17:45,079 --> 00:17:51,799 be shamefaced. So Eumaeus went up to him and said, stranger, Telemachus 249 00:17:51,799 --> 00:17:55,519 sends you this and says you are to go the round of the suitors begging 250 00:17:55,799 --> 00:18:00,839 for beggars must not be shamefaced. Ulysses answered, may King Jove grant all 251 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:06,920 happiness to Telemachus and fulfill the desire of his heart. Then, with both 252 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,079 hands he took what Telemachus had sent him and laid it on the dirty old 253 00:18:11,079 --> 00:18:15,359 wallet at his feet. He went on eating it while the bard was singing, 254 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,079 and had just finished his dinner. As he left off, the suitors 255 00:18:18,079 --> 00:18:22,599 applauded the bard. Whereon Minerva went up to Ulysses and prompted him to beg 256 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,000 pieces of bread from each one of the suitors, that he might see what 257 00:18:26,079 --> 00:18:30,839 kind of people they were and tell the good from the bad. But come 258 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,519 what might, she was not going to save a single one of them. 259 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,839 Ulysses therefore went on his round, going from left to right, and stretched 260 00:18:37,839 --> 00:18:41,519 out his hands to beg as though he were a real beggar. Some of 261 00:18:41,559 --> 00:18:45,440 them pitied him and were curious about him, asking one another who he was 262 00:18:45,519 --> 00:18:51,400 and where he came from? Whereon the goatherd Melantheus, said, suitors of 263 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,759 my noble mistress, I can tell you something about him, for I have 264 00:18:53,839 --> 00:18:59,279 seen him before the swineherd brought him here, But I know nothing about the 265 00:18:59,319 --> 00:19:04,759 man himself nor where he comes from. On this Antinus began to abuse the 266 00:19:04,799 --> 00:19:10,559 swineherd, You precious idiot, he cried, What have you brought this man 267 00:19:10,599 --> 00:19:14,759 to town? For? Have we not tramps and beggars enough already to pester 268 00:19:14,839 --> 00:19:17,960 us as we sit up? Meat? Do you think it a small thing 269 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,039 that such people gather here to waste your master's property? And must you needs 270 00:19:22,039 --> 00:19:26,079 bring this man as well? And you may us? Answered Antinus, your 271 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,839 birth is good, but your words evil. It was no doing of mine 272 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,559 that he came here. Who is likely to invite a stranger from a foreign 273 00:19:33,599 --> 00:19:37,400 country unless it be one of those who can do public service as a seer, 274 00:19:37,759 --> 00:19:41,039 a healer of hurts, a carpenter, or a bard who can charm 275 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:47,119 Us with his songs. Such men are welcome all the world over, but 276 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:51,279 no one is likely to ask a beggar who will only worry him. You 277 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,319 are always harder on Ulysses servants than any of the other suitors are, and 278 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,079 above all on me. But I do not care so long as Telemachus and 279 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:03,480 Penelope are allow live and hear. But Telemachus said, hush, do not 280 00:20:03,599 --> 00:20:07,440 answer him. Antonus has the bitterest tongue of all the suitors, and he 281 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:12,799 makes the others worse. Then, turning to Antonus, he said, Antonus, 282 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:17,000 you take as much care of my interests as though I were your son. 283 00:20:17,759 --> 00:20:19,440 Why should you want to see this stranger turned out of the house. 284 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:25,160 Heaven forbid take something and give it him yourself. I do not grudge it. 285 00:20:25,519 --> 00:20:29,160 I bid you take it, never mind my mother nor any of the 286 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,440 other servants in the house. But I know you will not do what I 287 00:20:32,519 --> 00:20:36,079 say, for you are more fond of eating things yourself than of giving them 288 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:41,279 to other people. What do you mean, Telemachus replied Antonus, by this 289 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,079 swaggering talk, if all the suitors were to give him as much as I 290 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,240 will, he would not come here again for another three months. As he 291 00:20:48,279 --> 00:20:52,000 spoke, he drew the stool on which he rested his dainty feet from under 292 00:20:52,039 --> 00:20:56,519 the table, and made as though he would throw it at Ulysses. But 293 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,519 the other suitors all gave him something and filled his wallet with bread and meat. 294 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,359 He was about, therefore to go back to the threshold and eat what 295 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,200 the suitors had given him, But he first went up to Antonus and said, 296 00:21:07,839 --> 00:21:12,240 sir, give me something. You are not surely the poorest man here. 297 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:17,920 You seem to be a chief foremost among them all. Therefore you should 298 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:21,559 be the better giver, and I will tell far and wide of your bounty. 299 00:21:22,279 --> 00:21:25,279 I too was a rich man once, and had a fine house of 300 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,799 my own. In those days, I gave to many a tramp such as 301 00:21:27,799 --> 00:21:32,079 I now am, no matter who he might be, nor what he wanted. 302 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:36,279 I had any number of servants and all the other things which people have 303 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:40,559 who live well and are accounted wealthy. But it pleased Jove to take all 304 00:21:40,599 --> 00:21:44,519 away from me. He sent me with a band of roving robbers to Egypt. 305 00:21:44,839 --> 00:21:48,000 It was a long voyage, and I was undone by it. I 306 00:21:48,039 --> 00:21:51,880 stationed my ships and the river Egyptus, and bade my men stay by them 307 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:56,359 and keep guard over them, while we sent out scouts to reconnoiter from every 308 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:00,039 point of vantage. But the men disobeyed my orders, took to their own 309 00:22:00,079 --> 00:22:04,160 devices and ravaged the land of the Egyptians, killing the men and taking their 310 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,559 wives and children captives. The alarm was soon carried to the city, and 311 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,480 when they heard the war cry, the people came out at daybreak, till 312 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:15,759 the plain was filled with soldiers horse and foot, and with a gleam of 313 00:22:15,839 --> 00:22:21,160 armor. Then Jove spread panic among my men, and they would no longer 314 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:25,680 face the enemy, for they found themselves surrounded. The Egyptians killed many of 315 00:22:25,759 --> 00:22:29,720 us and took the rest alive to do forced labor for them. As for 316 00:22:29,799 --> 00:22:33,319 myself, they gave me to a friend who met them, to take to 317 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:37,759 Cyprus, Dumitr by name, son of Yasus, who was a great man 318 00:22:37,759 --> 00:22:41,079 in Cyprus. Thence I am come hither in a state of great misery. 319 00:22:42,519 --> 00:22:48,359 Then Antonus said, what God can have sent such a pestilence to plague us 320 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:52,119 during our dinner. Get out into the open part of the court, or 321 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:56,640 I will give you Egypt and Cyprus over again for your insolence and importunity. 322 00:22:56,440 --> 00:23:00,759 You have begged of all the others, and they have given you lavishly, 323 00:23:00,799 --> 00:23:03,079 for they have abundance round them, and it is easy to be free with 324 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:07,640 other people's property when there is plenty of it. On this Ulysses began to 325 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,839 move off and said, your looks, my fine sir, are better than 326 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,319 your breeding. If you were in your own house, you would not spare 327 00:23:15,319 --> 00:23:18,519 a poor man so much as a pinch of salt. For though you are 328 00:23:18,559 --> 00:23:22,279 in another man's and surrounded with abundance, you cannot find it in you to 329 00:23:22,319 --> 00:23:27,440 give him even a piece of bread. This made Antonus very angry, and 330 00:23:27,559 --> 00:23:30,839 he scowled at him, saying, you shall pay for this before you get 331 00:23:30,839 --> 00:23:34,640 clear of the court. With these words, he threw a footstool at him 332 00:23:34,759 --> 00:23:37,480 and hit him on the right shoulder blade, near the top of his back. 333 00:23:38,519 --> 00:23:42,839 Ulysses stood firm as a rock, and the blow did not even stagger 334 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:48,000 him, but he shook his head in silence as he brooded on his revenge. 335 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,160 Then he went back to the threshold and sat down there, laying his 336 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:57,680 well filled wallet at his feet. Listen to me, he cried, you, 337 00:23:57,839 --> 00:24:03,319 suitors of Queen Penelope, that I may speak even as I am minded. 338 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:07,640 A man knows neither ache nor pain if he gets hit while fighting for 339 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,119 his money, or for his sheep or his cattle. And even so Antonus 340 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:15,920 has hit me while in the service of my miserable belly, which is always 341 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:21,440 getting people into trouble. Still, if the poor have gods and avenging deities 342 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:25,480 at all, I pray them that Antonus may come to a bad end before 343 00:24:25,519 --> 00:24:30,279 his marriage. Sit where you are and eat your victuals in silence, or 344 00:24:30,319 --> 00:24:33,480 be off elsewhere, shouted Antonus. If you say more, I will have 345 00:24:33,599 --> 00:24:37,440 you dragged hand and foot through the courts, and the servants shall flay you 346 00:24:37,599 --> 00:24:44,000 alive. The other suitors were much displeased at this, and one of the 347 00:24:44,079 --> 00:24:47,920 young men said, Antonus, you did ill in striking that poor wretch of 348 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:49,880 a tramp. It will be worse for you if he should turn out to 349 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,880 be some god. And we know the gods go about disguised in all sorts 350 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:57,839 of ways as people from foreign countries, and travel about the world to see 351 00:24:57,839 --> 00:25:03,319 who do amiss and righteously, Thus said the suitors, but Antonus paid them 352 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:07,960 no heed. Meanwhile, Telemachus was furious about the blow that had been given 353 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:11,680 to his father, and though no tear fell from him, He shook his 354 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:18,160 head in silence and brooded on his revenge. Now, when Penelope heard that 355 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,799 the beggar had been struck in the banquet and cloister, she said, before 356 00:25:21,799 --> 00:25:26,880 her maids would that Apollo would so strike you Antonus, And her waiting woman 357 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:30,240 Uriname answered, if our prayers were answered, not one of the suitors would 358 00:25:30,279 --> 00:25:36,519 ever again see the sun rise. Then Penelope said, nurse, I hate 359 00:25:36,559 --> 00:25:40,200 every single one of them, for they mean nothing but mischief. But I 360 00:25:40,279 --> 00:25:45,519 hate Antonus like the darkness of death itself. A poor, unfortunate tramp has 361 00:25:45,519 --> 00:25:49,680 come begging about the house for sheer want. Everyone else has given him something 362 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,279 to put in his wallet, but Antonus has hit him on the right shoulder 363 00:25:53,279 --> 00:25:57,920 blade with a footstool. Thus did she talk with her maids as she sat 364 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:02,640 in her own room, and in the meantime Ulysses was getting his dinner. 365 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:07,839 Then she called for the swineherd and said, Eumaeus, go and tell the 366 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,880 stranger to come here. I want to see him and ask him some questions. 367 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,559 He seems to have traveled much, and he may have seen or heard 368 00:26:15,559 --> 00:26:19,759 something of my unhappy husband. To this, you answered O Swineherd Eumaeus. 369 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:26,200 If these Achaeans, Madam would only keep quiet, you would be charmed with 370 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,160 the history of his adventures. I had him three days and three nights with 371 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,519 me and my hut, which was the first place he reached after running away 372 00:26:33,559 --> 00:26:37,480 from his ship, and he has not yet completed the story of his misfortunes. 373 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:41,480 If he had been the most heaven taught minstrel in the whole world, 374 00:26:41,839 --> 00:26:45,000 on whose lips all hearers hang entranced, I could not have been more charmed 375 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,640 as I sat in my hut and listened to him. He says there is 376 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:52,640 an old friendship between his house and that of Ulysses, and that he comes 377 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:56,960 from Crete, where the descendants of Minos live, after having been driven hither 378 00:26:57,039 --> 00:27:03,160 and thither by every kind of misfortune. He also declares that he has heard 379 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:07,359 of Ulysses as being alive and near at hand among the Thrustpotians, and that 380 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:11,799 he is bringing great wealth home with him. Call him here, then, 381 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:17,000 said Penelope, that I too may hear his story. As for the suitors, 382 00:27:17,079 --> 00:27:19,319 let them take their pleasure indoors or out as they will, for they 383 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:23,960 have nothing to fret about their corn and wine, remain unwated in their houses, 384 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:27,920 with none but servants to consume them, while they keep hanging about our 385 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:33,079 house day after day, sacrificing our oxen sheep and fat goats for their banquets, 386 00:27:33,319 --> 00:27:37,079 and never giving so much as a thought to the quantity of wine they 387 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:41,400 drink. No estate can stand such recklessness, for we have now no Ulysses 388 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:45,960 to protect us. If he were to come again, he and his son 389 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:51,640 would soon have their revenge. As she spoke, Telemachus sneezed so loudly that 390 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:56,519 the whole house resounded with it. Penelope laughed when she heard this, and 391 00:27:56,599 --> 00:28:00,039 said to Eumaeus, go and call the stranger. Do you not hear how 392 00:28:00,079 --> 00:28:03,799 my son sneeze just as I was speaking. This can only mean that all 393 00:28:03,799 --> 00:28:07,599 the suitors are going to be killed, and that not one of them shall 394 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:11,759 escape. Furthermore, I say, and lay my saying to your heart. 395 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,920 If I am satisfied that the stranger is speaking the truth, I shall give 396 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,920 him a shirt and cloak of good wear. When you may has heard this, 397 00:28:19,039 --> 00:28:23,279 he went straight to Ulysses and said, father, stranger, my mistress 398 00:28:23,279 --> 00:28:27,039 Penelope, mother of Telemachus, has sent for you. She is in great 399 00:28:27,079 --> 00:28:30,359 grief, but she wishes to hear anything you can tell her about her husband. 400 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:34,200 And if she is satisfied that you are speaking the truth, she will 401 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:37,160 give you a shirt and cloak, which are the very things that you are 402 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:41,839 most in want of. As for bread, you can get enough of that 403 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:45,400 to fill your belly by begging about the town and letting those give that will. 404 00:28:47,319 --> 00:28:51,920 I will tell Penelope answered, Ulysses, nothing but what is strictly true. 405 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:56,000 I know all about her husband, and have been partner with him in 406 00:28:56,039 --> 00:29:00,480 affliction. But I am afraid of passing through this crowd of cruel suitors, 407 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:04,640 for their pride and insolence reach heaven. Just now. Moreover, as I 408 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:08,000 was going about the house without doing any harm, a man gave me a 409 00:29:08,039 --> 00:29:12,400 blow that hurt me very much, But neither Telemachus nor any one else defended 410 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:18,279 me. Tell Penelope therefore, to be patient and wait till sundown. Let 411 00:29:18,279 --> 00:29:22,440 her give me a seat close up to the fire. For my clothes are 412 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,400 worn very thin. You know they are, for you have seen them ever 413 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,160 since I first asked you to help me. She can then ask me about 414 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:33,960 the return of her husband. The Swineherd went back when he heard this and 415 00:29:33,079 --> 00:29:37,880 Penelope said, as she saw him cross the threshold, why do you not 416 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:41,680 bring him here, Eumayus. Is he afraid that some one will ill treat 417 00:29:41,799 --> 00:29:45,480 him? Or is he shy of coming inside the house at all? Beggars 418 00:29:45,519 --> 00:29:49,279 should not be shamefaced to this, you answered, oh swineherd, Eumaeus, 419 00:29:51,079 --> 00:29:55,119 the stranger is quite reasonable. He is avoiding the suitors and is only doing 420 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:59,480 what anyone else would do. He asks you to wait till sundown, and 421 00:29:59,519 --> 00:30:02,079 it will be much better, madam, that you should have him all to 422 00:30:02,119 --> 00:30:04,000 yourself, when you can hear him and talk to him as you will. 423 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:10,400 The man is no fool, answered Penelope. It would very likely be as 424 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:14,160 he says, for there are no such abominable people in the whole world as 425 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:18,000 these men are. When she had done speaking, Eumayus went back to the 426 00:30:18,039 --> 00:30:23,440 suitors, for he had explained everything. Then he went up to Telemachus and 427 00:30:23,519 --> 00:30:27,200 said in his ear so that none could overhear him. My dear sir, 428 00:30:27,839 --> 00:30:32,119 I will now go back to the pigs to see after your property. In 429 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:36,160 my own business. You will look to what is going on here, but 430 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:38,880 above all be careful to keep out of danger, for there are many who 431 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:44,400 bear you ill, will, may Jove bring them to a bad end before 432 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:48,880 they do us a mischief. Very well, replied Telemachus, Go home when 433 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,920 you have had your dinner, and in the morning come here with the victims 434 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,440 we are to sacrifice for the day. Leave the rest to heaven and me. 435 00:30:56,680 --> 00:31:00,960 On this Eumaeus took his seat again, and when he had finished his 436 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:03,160 dinner, he left the courts and the cloister with the men at table, 437 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:07,599 and went back to his pigs. As for the suitors, they presently began 438 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:11,759 to amuse themselves with singing and dancing, for it was now getting on towards 439 00:31:11,799 --> 00:31:15,759 evening. End of book seventeen.