Book fifteen of the Odyssey by Homer. The Odyssey Book fifteen, Minerva summons
Telemachus from Lacedemmon. He meets with Theoclimenus at Pylos and brings him to Ithaca.
On landing, he goes to the hut of Eumaeus, but Minerva went
to the fair city of Lacedaemon to tell Ulysses son that he was to return
at once. She found him and Pisistratus sleeping in the forecourt of Menelaus's house.
Pisistratus was fast asleep, but Telemachus could get no rest all night for
thinking of his unhappy father. So Minerva went close up to him and said,
Telemachus, you should not remain so far away from home any longer,
nor leave your property with such dangerous people in your house. They will eat
up everything you have among them, and you will have been on a fool's
Errand ask Menelaus to send you home at once if you wish to find your
excellent mother still there when you get back. Her father and brothers are already
urging her to marry Eurymachus, who has given her more than any of the
others, and has been greatly increasing his wedding presents. I hope nothing valuable
may be taken from the house in spite of you. But you know what
women are. They always want to do the best they can for the man
who marries them, and never give another thought to the children of their first
husband, nor to their father, either when he is dead and done with.
Go home therefore, and put everything in charge of the most respectable woman
servant that you have, until it shall please Heaven to send you a wife
of your own. Let me tell you also of another matter which you had
better attend to. The chief men among the suitors are lying in wait for
you in the strait between Ithaca and Samos, and they mean to kill you
before you can reach home. I do not much think they will succeed.
It is more likely that some of those who are now eating up your property
will find a grave themselves. Sail night and day, and keep your ship
well away from the islands. The god who watches over you and protects you
will send you a fair wind as soon as you get to Ithaca. Send
your ship and men on to the town, but yourself go straight to the
swineherd who has charge of your pigs. He is well disposed towards you.
Stay with him therefore for the night, and then send him to Penelope to
tell her that you have got back safe from Pylos. Then she went back
to Olympus. But Telemachus stirred Pisistratus with his heel to rouse him, and
said, wake up, Pisistratus, and yoke the horses to the chariot,
for we must set off home. But Pisistratus said, no matter what hurry
we are in, we cannot drive in the dark. It will be morning
soon. Wait till Menelaus has brought his presence, and put them in the
chariot for us, and then let him say goodbye to us in the usual
way. So long as he lives, a guest should never forget a host
who has shown him kindness. As he spoke, day began to break,
and Menelaus, who had already risen, leaving Helen in bed, came towards
them. When Telemachus saw him, he put on his shirt as fast as
he could, throw a great cloak over his shoulders, and went out to
meet him. Menelaus said, he let me go back now to my own
country, for I want to go home, and Menelaus answered Telemachus, if
you insist on going, I will not detain you. I do not like
to see a host either too fond of his guest or too rude to him.
Moderation is best in all things, and not letting a man go when
he wants to do so is as bad as telling him to go if he
would like to stay. One should treat a guest well as long as he
is in the house, and speed him when he wants to leave it.
Wait then till I get your beautiful presence into your chariot. Until you have
yourself seen them, I will tell the women to prepare a sufficient dinner for
you, of what there may be in the house. It will be at
once more proper and cheaper for you to get your dinner before setting out on
such a long journey. If moreover, you have a fancy for making a
tour in Hellas or in the Peloponnese, I will yoke my horses and will
conduct you myself through all our principal cities. No one will send us away
empty handed. Everyone will give us something a bronze tripod, a couple of
mules, or a gold cup. Menilaus replied Telemachus, I want to go
home at once, for when I came away, I left my property without
protection, and fear that while looking for my father, I shall come to
ruin myself or find that something valuable has been stolen during my absence. When
Menilaius heard this, he immediately told his wife and servants to prepare us efficient
dinner from what there might be in the house. At this moment, Etioneus
joined him, for he lived close by and had just got up, So
Menileaus told him to light the fire and cook some meat, which he at
once did. Then Menileaus went down into his fragrant storeroom, not alone,
but Helen went to with Megapenthes. When he reached the place where the treasures
of his house were kept, he selected double cup and told his son Megapenthes
to bring also a silver mixing bowl. Meanwhile, Helen went to the chest
where she kept the lovely dresses which she had made with her own hands,
and took out one that was largest and most beautifully enriched with embroidery. It
glittered like a star and lay at the very bottom of the chest. Then
they all came back through the house again till they got to Telemachus and Menelaus
said, Telemachus made Jove, the mighty husband of Juno, bring you safely
home according to your desire. I will now present you with the finest and
most precious piece of plate in all my house. It is a mixing bowl
of pure silver, except the rim, which is inlaid with gold, and
is the work of Vulcan. Fadimas king of the Sedonians, made me a
present of it in the course of a visit that I paid him while I
was on my return home. I should like to give it to you.
With these words, he placed the double cup in the hands of Telemachus,
while Megapenthes brought the beautiful mixing bowl and set it before him. Hard By
stood lovely Helen, with the robe ready in her hand. I too,
my son, said, she have something for you as a keepsake from the
hand of Helen. It is for your bride to wear upon her wedding day.
Till then get your dear mother to keep it for you. Thus may
you go back rejoicing to your own country and to your home. So saying,
she gave the robe over to him, and he received it gladly.
Then Pisistratus put the presents into the chariot and admired them all as he did
so. Presently, Menelaus took Telemachus and Pisistratus into the house, and they
both of them sat down to table. A maid servant brought them water in
a beautiful golden ewer and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash
their hands, and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper servant
brought them bread and offered them many good things of what there was in the
house. Etioneus carved the meat and gave them eat their portions, while Megapenthes
poured out the wine. Then they laid their hands upon the good things were
before them. But as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
Telemachus and Pisistratus yoked the horses and took their places in the chariot.
They drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer
court, and Menelaus came after them with a golden goblet of wine in his
right hand, that they might make a drink offering. Before they set out,
he stood in front of the horses and pledged them, saying, farewell
to both of you. See that you tell Nestor how I have treated you,
For he was as kind to me as any father could be while we
Achaeans were fighting before Troy. We will be sure, sir, answered Telemachus,
to tell him everything as soon as we see him. I wish I
were as certain of finding Ulysses return when I get back to Ithaca, that
I might tell him of the very great kindness you have shown me, and
of the many beautiful presents I am taking with me. As he was thus
speaking, a bird flew on his right hand, an eagle with a great
white goose in its talents, which it had carried off from the farmyard,
and all the men and women and were running after it and shouting. It
came quite close up to them and flew away on their right hands, in
front of the horses. When they saw it, they were glad, and
their hearts took comfort with them. Whereon, Pisistratus said, tell me,
Menelaus, has Heaven said this omen for us or for you Menelaus was thinking
what would be the most proper answer for him to make, but Helen was
too quick for him, and said, I will read this matter, as
Heaven has put it in my heart, and as I doubt not that it
will come to pass. The eagle came from the mountain where it was bred
and has its nest, and in like manner, Ulysses, after having traveled
far and suffered much, will return to take his revenge, if indeed he
is not back already and hatching mischief for the suitors. May jove so grant,
it replied Telemachus. If it should prove to be so, I will
make vows to you as though you were a god, even when I am
at home. As he spoke, he lashed his horse, and they started
off at full speed through the town towards the open country. They swayed the
yoke upon their necks and traveled the whole day long till the sun set and
darkness was over the land. Then they reached Fairy, where Diocles lived,
to a son of Ortillicus, the son of Alpheus. There they passed the
night and were treated hospitably. When the child of morning, rosy finger dawn
appeared, they again yoked their horses and their places in the chariot. They
drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court.
Then Pisistratus lashed his horses on, and they flew forward nothing loth ere
long they came to Pylos, and then Telemachus said, Pisistratus, I hope
you will promise to do what I am going to ask you. You know,
our fathers were old friends before us. Moreover, we are both of
an age, and this journey has brought us together still more closely. Do
not therefore take me past my ship, but leave me there, for if
I go to your father's house, he will try to keep me in the
warmth of his good will towards me, and I must go home at once.
Pisistratus thought how he should do as he was asked, and in the
end he deemed it best to turn his horses towards the ship and put Menelaus's
beautiful presence of gold and raiment in the stern of the vessel. Then he
said, go on board at once, and tell your men to do so
also, before I can reach home to tell my father. I know how
obstinate he is, and am sure he will not let you go. He
will come down here to fetch you, and he will not go back without
you, but he will be very angry with this. He drove his goodly
steeds back to the city of the Pylians, and soon reached his home.
But Telemachus called the men together and gave his orders. Now, my men,
said, he get everything in order on board the ship, and let
us set out home. Thus did he speak, and they went on board
even as he had said. But as Telemachus was thus busied praying also and
sacrificing to Minerva in the ship Stern, there came to him a man from
a distant country, a seer, who was flying from Argos because he had
killed a man. He was descended from Melampus, who used to live in
Pylos, the land of sheep. He was rich and owned a great house,
but he was driven into exile by the great and powerful king Nelius.
Nellius seized his goods and held them for a whole year, during which he
was a close prisoner in the house of King Philicus, and in much distress
of mind, both on account of the daughter of Nellius and because he was
haunted by a great sorrow that dread Ernes had laid upon him. In the
end, however, he escaped with his life drove the cattle from Philes to
Pylos, avenged the wrong that had been done him, and gave the daughter
of Nellius to his brother. Then he left the country and went to Argos,
where it was ordained that he should reign over much people. There he
married, established himself and had two famous sons, Antiphides and Manteus. Antiphides
became father of Boeclius and Oheclius, of Amphyreus, who was dearly loved both
by Jove and by Apollo. But he did not live to an old age,
for he was killed in thieves by reasonable woman's gifts. His sons were
Alcmion and Amphilicus. Manteus, the other son of Melampus, was father to
Polyphatees and Cletus. Aurora, throned in gold, carried off Cletus for his
beauty's sake, that he might dwell among the immortals, But Apollo made Polyphades
the greatest seer in the whole world. Now that Amphiarius was dead, he
quarreled with his father and went to live in Hyperresia, where he remained in
prophesied for all men. His son, Theoclemenus, it was who now came
up to Telemachus as he was making drink offerings and praying in his ship.
Friend said he, now that I find you sacrificing in this place, I
beseech you, by your sacrifices themselves and by the God to whom you make
them. I pray you also by your own head and by those of your
followers. Tell me the truth, and nothing but the truth. Who and
whence are you? Tell me also of your town and parents? Telemachus said,
I will answer you quite truly. I am from Ithaca, and my
father is Ulysses, as surely as that he ever lived, but he has
come to some miserable end. Therefore I have taken this ship and got my
crew together to see if I can hear any news of him, for he
has been away a long time. I too, answered theocleminus, am an
exile, for I have killed a man of my own race. He has
many brothers and kinsmen in Argos, and they have great power among the Argives.
I am flying to escape death at their hands, and am thus doomed
to be a wanderer on the face of the earth. I am your suppliant.
Take me therefore on board your ship that they may not kill me,
for I know they are in pursuit. I will not refuse you, replied
Telemachus. If you wish to join us, come therefore and in Ithaca.
We will treat you hospitably according to what we have on this He received their
cleminus spear and laid it down on the deck of the ship. He went
on board and sat in the stern, bidding thea cleminus sit beside him.
Then the men let go the hawsers. Telemachus told them to catch hold of
the ropes, and they made all haste to do so. They set the
mast in a socket in the cross plank, raised it and made it fast
with the forest. Days, and they hoisted their white sails with sheets of
twisted ox hide. Minervas sent them a fair wind that blew fresh and strong,
to take the ship on her course as fast as possible. Thus,
then they passed by Crooney and Chelsis. Presently the sun set and darkness was
over all the land. The vessel made a quick passage to Fia, and
thence on to Ellis, where the Appean's rule. Telemachus then headed her for
the Flying Islands, wondering within himself whether he should escape death or should be
taken prisoner. Meanwhile, Ulysses and the swineherd were eating their supper in the
hut, and the men and supped with them. As soon as they had
had to eat and drink. Ulysses began trying to prove the swineherd and see
whether he would continue to treat him kindly and ask him to stay on at
the station or pack him off to the city. So he said, Eumaeus
and all of you, tomorrow, I want to go away and begin begging
about the town, so as to be no more trouble to you or to
your men. Give me your advice therefore, and let me have a good
guide to go with me and show me the way. I will go round
of the city, begging as I needs must to see if anyone will give
me a drink and a piece of bread. I should like also to go
to the house of Ulysses and bring news of her husband to Queen Penelope.
I could then go about among the suitors and see if, out of all
their abundance, they will give me a dinner. I should soon make them
an excellent servant in all sorts of ways. Listen and believe when I tell
you that, by the blessing of Mercury, who gives grace and good name
to the works of all men, there is no one living who would make
a more handy servant than I should. To put fresh wood on the fire,
chop fuel, carve, cook, pour out wine, and do all
those services that poor men have to do for their betters. The swineherd was
very much disturbed when he heard this. Heaven help me, he exclaimed,
whatever can have put such a notion as that into your head? If you
go near the suitors, you will be undone to a certainty, for their
pride and insolence reach the very heavens. They would never think of taking a
man like you for a servant. Their servants are all young men, well
dressed, wearing good cloaks and shirts, with well looking faces, and their
hair always tidy. The tables are kept quite clean and are loaded with bread,
meat, and wine. Stay where you are, then you are not
in anybody's way. I do not mind your being here, no more do
any of the others. And when Telemachus comes home, he will give you
a shirt and cloak, and will send you wherever you want to go.
Ulysses answered I hope you may be as clear to the gods as you are
to me, for having saved me from going about and getting into trouble.
There is nothing worse than being always on the tramp. Still, when men
have once got low down in the world, they will go through a great
deal on behalf of their miserable bellies. Since, however, you press me
to stay here and await the return of Telemachus, tell me about Ulysses mother
and his father, whom he left on the threshold of old age when he
set out for Troy. Are they still living or are they already dead?
And in the house of Hades, I will tell you all about them,
replied Eumaeus. Laertes is still living, and praise Heaven to let him depart
peacefully in his own house, for he is terribly distressed about the absence of
his son, and also about the death of his wife, which grieved him
greatly and aged him more than anything else did. She came to an unhappy
end through sorrow for her son. May no friend or neighbor who has dealt
kindly by me come to such an end as she did. As long as
she was still living, though she was always grieving I used to like seeing
her and asking her how she did, For she brought me up along with
her daughter, Timmody, the youngest of her children. We were boy and
girl together, and she made a little difference between us. When, however,
we both grew up. They sent Timody to Sammy and received a splendid
dowry for her. As for me, my mistress gave me a good shirt
and cloak, with a pair of sandals for my feet, and set me
off into the country. But she was just as fond of me as ever.
This is all over now. Still it has pleased Heaven to prosper my
work in the situation which I now hold. I have enough to eat and
drink, and can find something for any respectable stranger that comes here. But
there is no getting a kind word or deed out of my mistress, for
the house has fallen into the hands of wicked people. Servants want sometimes to
see their mistress and have a talk with her. They'd like to have something
to eat, eat and drink at the house, and something too to take
back with them into the country. This is what will keep servants in a
good humor. Ulysses answered, then you must have been a very little fellow,
Eumaeus, when you were taken so far away from your home and parents,
tell me, and tell me true, was the city in which your
father and mother lived sacked and pillaged? Or did some enemies carry you off
when you were alone tending sheep or cattle, ship you off here and sell
you for whatever your master gave them? Stranger, replied Eumaeus. As regards
your question, sit still, make yourself comfortable, drink your wine, and
listen to me. The nights are now at their longest. There is plenty
of time both for sleeping and sitting up talking together. You ought not to
go to bed till bedtime. Too much sleep is as bad as too little.
If any one of the others wishes to go to bed, let him
leave us and do so. He can then take my master's pigs out when
he has done breakfast. In the morning, we two will sit here,
eating and drinking in the hut and telling one another stories about our misfortunes.
For when a man has suffered much and been buffeted about in the world,
he takes pleasure in recalling the memory of sorrows that have gone by. As
regards your question, then my tale is as follows. You may have heard
of an island called Syrah, that lives over above Ortigia, where the land
begins to turn round and look in another direction. It is not very thickly
peopled, but the soil is good, with much pasture fit for cattle and
sheep, and it abounds with wine and wheat. Darth never comes there,
nor are the people plagued by any sickness, but when they grow old,
Apollo comes with Diana and kills them with his painless shafts. It contains two
communities, and the whole country is divided between these two. My father,
Tesseus, son of Ormenus, a man comparable to the gods, reigned over
both. Now to this place there came some cunning traders from Phoenicia, for
the Phoenicians are great mariners. In a ship which they had freighted with geegaws
of all kinds, there happened to be a Phoenician woman in my father's house,
very tall and comely and an excellent servant. These scoundrels got hold of
her one day when she was washing near their ship, seduced her and cajoled
her in ways that no woman can resist, no matter how good she may
be by nature. The man who had seduced her asked her who she was
and where she came from, And on this she told him her father's name.
I come from Sidon, said she, and am daughter to Erebus,
a man rolling in wealth. One day, as I was coming into the
town from the country, some Taffian pirates seized me and took me here over
the sea, where they sold me to the man who owns this house,
and he gave them their price for me. The man who had seduced her
then said, would you like to come along with us to see the house
of your parents? And your parents themselves they are both alive and are said
to be well off. I will do so, gladly, answered she,
if you men will first swear me a solemn oath that you will do me
no harm. By the way, they all swore as she told them,
And when they had completed their oath, the woman said, hush, and
if any of your men meets me in the street or at the well,
do not let him speak to me, for fear some one should go and
tell my master, in which case he would suspect something, he would put
me in prison and would have all of you murdered. Keep your own counsel.
Therefore, buy your merchandise as fast as you can, and send me
word when you have done loading. I will bring as much gold as I
can lay my hands on. And there is something else also that I can
do towards paying my fare. I am nursed to the son of the good
man of the house, a funny little fellow, just able to run about.
I will carry him off in your ship, and you will get a
great deal of money for him if you take him and sell him in foreign
parts. On this she went back to the house. The Phoenicians stayed a
whole year till they had loaded their ship with much precious merchandise, and then
when they had got freight enough, they sent to tell the woman. Their
messenger, a very cunning fellow, came to my father's house bringing a necklace
of gold with amber beats strung among it, And while my mother and the
servants had it in their hands, admiring it and bargaining about it, he
made a sign quietly to the woman, and then went back to the ship,
whereon she took me by the hand and led me out of the house.
In the fore part of the house, she saw the table set with
the cups of guests who had been feasting with my father as being in attendance
on him. These were now all gone to a meeting of the public assembly.
So she snatched up three cups and carried them off in the bosom of
her dress, while I followed her, for I knew no better. The
sun was now set and darkness was over all the land, So we hurried
on as fast as we could, till we reached the harbor where the Phoenician
ship was lying. When they had got on board, they sailed ways over
the sea, taking us with them, and Jove sent them a fair wind.
Six days did we sail, both night and day. But on the
seventh day Diana struck the woman, and she fell heavily down into the ship's
hold, as though she were a seagull alighting on the water. So they
threw her overboard to the seals and fishes, and I was left all sorrowful
and alone. Presently, the winds and waves took the ship to Ithaca,
where Laertes gave sundry of his chattels for me. And thus it was that
ever I came to set eyes upon this country. Ulysses answered Eumaeus, I
have heard the story of your misfortunes with the most lively interest and pity.
But Jove has given you good as well as evil, for in spite of
everything you have a good master who sees that you always have enough to eat
and drink, and you lead a good life, whereas I am still going
about begging my way from city to city. Thus did they converse, and
they had only a very little time left for sleep, for it was soon
daybreak. In the meantime, Telemachus and his crew were nearing land, so
they loosed the sails, took down the mast, and rowed the ship into
the harbor. They cast out their mooring stones and made fast the hawsers.
They then got out upon the seashore, mixed their wine, and got dinner
ready. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Telemachus
said, take the ship on to the town, but leave me here,
for I want to look after the herdsman on one of my farms. In
the evening. When I have seen all I want, I will come down
to the city, and tomorrow morning, in return for your trouble, I
will give you all a good dinner with meat and wine. Then theo Clemenus
said, and what my dear young friend is to become of me? To
whose house among all your chief men, am I to repair? Or shall
I go straight to your own house and to your mother at any other time?
Replied Telemachus, I should have bid you to go to my own house,
for you would find no want of hospitality. At the present moment,
however, you would not be comfortable there, for I shall be away,
and my mother will not see you. She does not often show herself even
to the suitors, but sits at her loom, weaving in an upper chamber,
out of their way. But I can tell you a man whose house
you can go to. I mean Eurymachus, son of Polybus, who is
held in the highest estimation by every one in Ithaca. He is much the
best man and most persistent wooer of all those who are paying court to my
mother and trying to take Ulyssi's place. Jove, however, in Heaven alone
knows whether or no they will come to a bad end before the marriage takes
place. As he was speaking, a bird flew by upon his right hand,
a hawk, Apollo's messenger. It held a dove in its talents,
and the feathers, as it tore them off, fell to the ground midway
between Telemachus and the ship. On this Theoclemenus called him apart and caught him
by the hand. Telemachus said, he that bird did not fly on your
right hand without having been sent there by some god. As soon as I
saw it, I knew it was an omen. It means that you will
remain powerful, and there will be no house in Ithaca more royal than your
own. I wish it may prove so, answered Telemachus. If it does,
I will show you so much good will and give you so many presents
that all who meet you will congratulate you. Then he said to his friend
Pireus, Pireus, son of Clydius, you have throughout shown yourself the most
willing to serve me of all those who have accompanied me to Pylos. I
wish you would take this stranger to your own house and entertain him hospitably till
I can come for him. And Piraeus answered Telemachus, you may stay away
as long as you please, but I will look after him for you,
and he shall find no lack of hospitality. As he spoke, he went
on board, and bade the others do so also, and loose the hawsers.
So they took their places in the ship. But Telemachus bound on his
sandals and took a long and doughty spear with a head of sharpened bronze from
the deck of the ship. Then they loosed the hawsers, thrust the ship
off from land, and made on towards the city, as they had been
told to do. While Telemachus strode on as fast as he could, till
he reached the homestead where his countless herds of swine were feeding, and where
dwelt the excellent swineherd who was so devoted a servant to his master. End
of Book fifteen.