1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:09,599 Book sixteen, Ulysses reveals himself to Telemachus. Meanwhile, Ulysses and the swineherd 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:14,199 had lit a fire in the hut and were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, 3 00:00:14,519 --> 00:00:19,320 for they had sent the men out with the pigs. When Telemachus came up, 4 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:24,160 the dogs did not bark, but fawned upon him. So Ulysses, 5 00:00:24,559 --> 00:00:28,679 hearing the sound of feet, and noticing that the dogs did not bark, 6 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:34,520 said to Eumaeus, Eumaeus, I hear footsteps. I suppose one of your 7 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,399 men, or some one of your acquaintance is coming here, for the dogs 8 00:00:38,399 --> 00:00:43,320 are fawning upon him and not barking. The words were hardly out of his 9 00:00:43,399 --> 00:00:48,399 mouth before his son stood at the door. Eumaeus sprang to his feet, 10 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,159 and the bulls in which he was mixing wine fell from his hands. As 11 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:58,439 he made towards his master, he kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes, 12 00:00:58,759 --> 00:01:03,200 and wept for joy. A father could not be more delighted at the 13 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,799 return of an only son, the child of his old age, after ten 14 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,760 years absence in a foreign country, and after having gone through much hardship. 15 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:17,280 He embraced him, kissed him all over as though he had come back from 16 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:22,120 the dead, and spoke fondly to him, saying, so you are come, 17 00:01:22,239 --> 00:01:26,319 Telemachus, light of my eyes, that you are. When I heard 18 00:01:26,359 --> 00:01:30,040 you had gone to Pylos, I made sure I was never going to see 19 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,760 you any more. Come in, my dear child, and sit down, 20 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,000 that I may have a good look at you. Now you are home again. 21 00:01:37,719 --> 00:01:41,120 It is not very often you come into the country to see us, 22 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:46,239 herdsman. You stick pretty close to the town generally. I suppose you think 23 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,799 it better to keep an eye on what the suitors are doing. So be 24 00:01:49,959 --> 00:01:55,719 it, old friend, answered Telemachus. But I am come now because I 25 00:01:55,799 --> 00:01:59,319 want to see you, and to learn whether my mother is still at her 26 00:01:59,319 --> 00:02:02,560 old home or whether some one else has married her. So that the bed 27 00:02:02,599 --> 00:02:08,080 of Ulysses is without betting and covered with cobwebs, she is still at the 28 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:14,759 house, replied Eumaeus, grieving and breaking her heart and doing nothing but weep 29 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:21,080 both night and day continually. As he spoke, he took Telemachus's spear, 30 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:27,639 whereon he crossed the stone threshold and came inside. Ulysses rose from his seat 31 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,759 to give him place as he entered, but Telemachus checked him. Sit down 32 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:37,439 stranger, said he, I can easily find another seat, and there is 33 00:02:37,479 --> 00:02:40,400 one here who will lay it for me. Ulysses went back to his own 34 00:02:40,439 --> 00:02:46,199 place, and Eumaeus strewed some green brushwood on the floor and threw a sheepskin 35 00:02:46,319 --> 00:02:52,240 on top of it for Telemachus to sit upon. Then the swine herd brought 36 00:02:52,319 --> 00:02:55,400 them platters of cold meat, the remains from what they had eaten the day 37 00:02:55,439 --> 00:03:00,240 before, and he filled the bread baskets with bread as fast as he could. 38 00:03:01,039 --> 00:03:06,039 He mixed wine all twin bowls of ivy wood, and took his seat 39 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,560 facing Ulysses. Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before 40 00:03:10,599 --> 00:03:14,919 them, And as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, 41 00:03:15,439 --> 00:03:21,039 Telemachus said to Eumaeus, old friend, where does the stranger come from? 42 00:03:21,439 --> 00:03:24,560 How did his crew bring him to Ithaca? And who were they? For? 43 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:30,719 Assuredly, he did not come here by land to this you answered, 44 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:35,800 oh swineherd, Eumaeus, my son, I will tell you the real truth. 45 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,400 He says he is a Cretan and that he has been a great traveler. 46 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:46,360 At this moment he is running away from a Thesprotian ship and has taken 47 00:03:46,439 --> 00:03:51,120 refuge at my station, so I will put him into your hands. Do 48 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:57,080 whatever you like with him, only remember that he is yours suppliant. I 49 00:03:57,159 --> 00:04:00,960 am very much distressed, said Telemaccha by what you have just told me. 50 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,360 How can I take this stranger into my house? I am as yet young, 51 00:04:05,759 --> 00:04:10,560 and am not strong enough to hold my own if any man attacks me. 52 00:04:11,479 --> 00:04:14,960 My mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay where she is and 53 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,399 look after the house out of respect for public opinion and the memory of her 54 00:04:18,439 --> 00:04:23,560 husband, or whether the time is now come for her to take the best 55 00:04:23,639 --> 00:04:27,519 man of those who are wooing her, and the one who will make her 56 00:04:27,519 --> 00:04:31,439 the most advantageous offer. Still, as the stranger has come to your station, 57 00:04:31,959 --> 00:04:35,279 I will find him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with the 58 00:04:35,399 --> 00:04:41,519 sword and sandals, and will send him wherever he wants to go. Or 59 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:46,240 if you like, you can keep him here at the station, and I 60 00:04:46,319 --> 00:04:50,079 will send him clothes and food that he may be no burden on you and 61 00:04:50,199 --> 00:04:54,639 on your men. But I will not have him go near the suitors, 62 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:59,279 for they are very insolent and are sure to ill treat him in a way 63 00:04:59,319 --> 00:05:02,000 that would grace grieve me, no matter how valiant a man may be, 64 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,800 he can do nothing against numbers, for they will be too strong for him. 65 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,680 Then, Ulysses said, sir, it is right that I should say 66 00:05:13,759 --> 00:05:18,079 something myself. I am much shocked about what you have said about the insolent 67 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:23,800 way in which the suitors are behaving in despite of such a man as you 68 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:28,720 are. Tell me, do you submit to such treatment tamely? Or has 69 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:33,240 some God set your people against you? May you not complain of your brothers, 70 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:39,040 For it is to these that a man may look for support, however 71 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,319 great his quarrel may be. I wish I were as young as you are, 72 00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:46,800 and in my present mind, if I were son to Ulysses, or 73 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:53,079 indeed Ulysses himself, I would rather some one came and cut my head off. 74 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,240 But I would go to the house and be the bane of every one 75 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,160 of these men. If they were too many for me, I being single 76 00:06:01,199 --> 00:06:06,839 handed, I would rather die fighting in my own house than see such disgraceful 77 00:06:06,879 --> 00:06:15,160 sights day after day, strangers grossly maltreated, and men dragging the women servants 78 00:06:15,199 --> 00:06:20,319 about the house in an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and bread wasted, 79 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:27,199 all to no purpose for an end that she'll never be accomplished. And 80 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:32,319 Telemachus answered, I will tell you truly everything. There is no enmity between 81 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,519 me and my people, nor can I complain of brothers to whom a man 82 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:42,360 may look for support, however great his quarrel may be. Jove has made 83 00:06:42,439 --> 00:06:46,839 us a race of only sons. Layertes was the only son of Arcissus, 84 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:54,040 and Ulysses only son of Layertes. I am myself the only son of Ulysses, 85 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,839 who left me behind him when he went away, so that I have 86 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:01,480 never been of any use to him. Hence it comes that my house is 87 00:07:01,519 --> 00:07:06,759 in the hands of numberless marauders. For the chiefs from all the neighboring islands 88 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:15,879 du lachiem sammey zacynthus as also all the principal men of Ithaca itself are eating 89 00:07:15,959 --> 00:07:19,079 up my house under the pretext of paying court to my mother, who will 90 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:24,720 neither say point blank that she will not marry, nor yet bring matters to 91 00:07:24,759 --> 00:07:29,319 an end. So they are making havoc of my estate, and before long 92 00:07:29,399 --> 00:07:33,519 will do so with myself into the bargain. The issue, however, rests 93 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:39,120 with Heaven. But do you, old friend Eumaeus, go at once and 94 00:07:39,199 --> 00:07:44,000 tell Penelope that I am safe and have returned from Pylos. Tell it to 95 00:07:44,079 --> 00:07:46,959 herself alone, and then come back here without letting any one else know, 96 00:07:47,519 --> 00:07:53,600 for there are many who are plotting mischief against me. I understand and heed, 97 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,439 you, replied, Eumaeus, you need and struck me no further. 98 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,040 Only I am going that way, say whether I had not better Let poor 99 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:05,920 Layer Tees know that you are returned. He used to superintend the work on 100 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,639 his farm in spite of his bitter sorrow about Ulysses, and he would eat 101 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:16,319 and drink at will along with his servants. But they tell me that from 102 00:08:16,319 --> 00:08:20,040 the day on which you set out for Pylos, he is neither eaten nor 103 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,959 drunk as he ought to do. Nor does he look after his farm, 104 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:30,639 but sits weeping and wasting the flesh from off his bones. More's the pity, 105 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,759 answered Telemachus. I am sorry for him, but we must leave him 106 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,840 to himself. Just now. If people could have everything their own way, 107 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,279 the first thing I should choose would be the return of my father. But 108 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:48,159 go and give your message. Then make haste back again, and do not 109 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:52,360 turn out of your way to tell Layer Tease. Tell my mother to send 110 00:08:52,399 --> 00:08:56,320 one of her women secretly with the news at once and let him hear it 111 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:03,200 from her. Thus did he urge this wineherd. Eumaeus therefore took his sandals, 112 00:09:03,639 --> 00:09:07,399 bound them to his feet, and started for the town. Minerva watched 113 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,120 him well off the station, and then came up to it in the form 114 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:16,799 of a woman fair stately and wise. She stood against the side of the 115 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,840 entry and revealed herself to Ulysses. But Telemachus could not see her and knew 116 00:09:22,879 --> 00:09:26,919 not that she was there, for the gods do not let themselves be seen 117 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:33,519 by everybody. Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, for they 118 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:37,960 did not bark, but went scared and whining off to the other side of 119 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:43,039 the yards. She nodded her head and motioned to Ulysses with her eyebrows, 120 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:48,320 whereon he left the hut and stood before her outside the main wall of the 121 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:54,320 yards. Then she said to him, Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, 122 00:09:54,879 --> 00:09:58,879 it is now time for you to tell your son. Do not keep him 123 00:09:58,919 --> 00:10:01,720 in the dark any longer, but lay your plans for the destruction of the 124 00:10:01,799 --> 00:10:07,000 suitors, and then make for the town. I will not be long in 125 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:11,399 joining you, for I am too eager for the fray. As she spoke, 126 00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:16,519 she touched him with her golden wand first she threw a fair, clean 127 00:10:16,639 --> 00:10:22,039 shirt and cloak about his shoulders. Then she made him younger and of more 128 00:10:22,159 --> 00:10:28,080 imposing presents. She gave him back his color, filled out his cheeks, 129 00:10:28,519 --> 00:10:33,840 and let his beard become dark again. Then she went away, and Ulysses 130 00:10:33,879 --> 00:10:37,919 came back inside the hut. His son was astounded when he saw him, 131 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:43,919 and turned his eyes away for fear he might be looking upon a god stranger. 132 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:48,320 Said he, how suddenly you have changed from what you were a moment 133 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,279 or two ago. You were dressed differently, and your color is not the 134 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,559 same. Are you some one or other of the gods that live in heaven? 135 00:10:56,279 --> 00:11:01,879 If so, be propitious to me till I can make you do sacrifice 136 00:11:01,159 --> 00:11:07,559 and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy upon me, And Ulysses said, 137 00:11:07,399 --> 00:11:11,159 I am no god, Why should you take me for one. I am 138 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:16,159 your father, on whose account you grieve and suffer so much at the hands 139 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:22,039 of lawless men. As he spoke, he kissed his son, and a 140 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:26,720 tear fell from his cheek on to the ground, for he had restrained all 141 00:11:26,799 --> 00:11:31,919 tears till now. But Telemachus could not yet believe that it was his father, 142 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,600 and said, you are not my father, but some god is flattering 143 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:41,840 me with vain hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter. No mortal man 144 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:46,960 could of himself contrived to do as you have been doing and make yourself old 145 00:11:46,039 --> 00:11:50,399 and young at a moment's notice, unless a god were with him. A 146 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,159 second ago you were old and all in rags, and now you are like 147 00:11:54,279 --> 00:12:01,320 some god come down from heaven. Ulysses, answered Telemachus. You ought not 148 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:07,320 to be so immeasurably astounded at my being really here. There is no other 149 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:13,080 Ulysses who will come hereafter such as I am. It is I who, 150 00:12:13,159 --> 00:12:18,080 after long wandering and much hardship, have got home in the twentieth year, 151 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:24,519 to my own country. What you wonder at is the work of the redoubtable 152 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:28,440 goddess Minerva, who does with me whatever she will, for she can do 153 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:33,240 what she pleases. At one moment she makes me like a beggar, and 154 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:37,399 the next I am a young man with good clothes on my back. It 155 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:41,720 is an easy matter for the gods who live in heaven to make any man 156 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:48,120 look either rich or poor. As he spoke, he sat down, and 157 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:54,799 Telemachus threw his arms about his father and wept. They were both so much 158 00:12:54,840 --> 00:13:00,519 moved that they cried aloud, like eagles or vultures with crooked howe ellens that 159 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:05,840 have been robbed of their half fledged young by peasants. Thus piteously did they 160 00:13:05,879 --> 00:13:11,519 weep, and the sun would have gone down upon their mourning if Telemachus had 161 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:16,159 not suddenly said, in what ship, my dear father, did your crew 162 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:20,320 bring you to Ithaca? Of what nation did they declare themselves to be? 163 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:24,440 For you cannot have come by land. I will tell you the truth, 164 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,559 my son replied, Ulysses. It was the Phaeacians who brought me here. 165 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,519 They are great sailors and are in the habit of giving escorts to anyone who 166 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:39,039 reaches their coasts. They took me over the sea while I was fast asleep, 167 00:13:39,519 --> 00:13:43,639 and landed me in Ithaca, after giving me many presents in bronze, 168 00:13:43,919 --> 00:13:48,399 gold and raiment. These things, by Heaven's mercy, are lying concealed in 169 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,799 a cave. And I am now come here on the suggestion of Minerva, 170 00:13:52,879 --> 00:13:58,399 that we may consult about killing our enemies first. Therefore, let me give 171 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:03,000 a list of the suitors with their number, that I may learn who and 172 00:14:03,159 --> 00:14:07,759 how many they are. I can then turn the matter over in my mind 173 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:13,159 and see whether we two can fight the whole body of them ourselves, or 174 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:20,559 whether we must find others to help us to this. Telemachus answered, father, 175 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:24,840 I have always heard of your renown, both in the field and in 176 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,360 council. But the task you talk of is a very great one. I 177 00:14:28,399 --> 00:14:33,759 am awed at the mere thought of it. Two men cannot stand against many 178 00:14:33,039 --> 00:14:37,639 and brave ones. There are not ten suitors only, nor twice ten, 179 00:14:39,039 --> 00:14:43,519 but ten many times over. You shall learn their number at once. There 180 00:14:43,559 --> 00:14:50,919 are fifty two chosen youths from Dulichium, and they have six servants from Psame. 181 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:56,759 There are twenty four twenty young Achaeans from Zacynthus, and twelve from Ithaca 182 00:14:56,879 --> 00:15:03,240 itself, all of them well bornorn. They have with them the servant meadonn 183 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,080 a Bard, and two men who can carve at table. If we face 184 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:13,039 such numbers as this, you may have bitter cause to rue your coming and 185 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,440 your revenge. See whether you cannot think of some one who would be willing 186 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:22,039 to come and help us. Listen to me, replied Ulysses, and think 187 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:28,399 whether Minerva and her father Jove may seem sufficient, or whether I am to 188 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:33,039 try and find some one else as well. Those whom you have named, 189 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:37,799 answered, Telemachus, are a couple of good allies. For though they dwell 190 00:15:37,879 --> 00:15:41,720 high up among the clouds, they have power over both gods and men. 191 00:15:43,399 --> 00:15:48,519 These two, continued, Ulysses, will not keep long out of the fray 192 00:15:48,919 --> 00:15:52,440 when the suitors and we join the fight in my house. Now, therefore, 193 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,759 return home early tomorrow morning and go about among the suitors as before, 194 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:03,279 lad are on the swineherd will bring me to the city disguised as a miserable 195 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:08,519 old beggar. If you see them ill treating me, steal your heart against 196 00:16:08,559 --> 00:16:14,600 my sufferings, even though they drag me feed foremost out of the house or 197 00:16:14,679 --> 00:16:18,360 throw things at me, look on and do nothing beyond gently trying to make 198 00:16:18,399 --> 00:16:23,000 them behave more reasonably. But they will not listen to you, for the 199 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:29,200 day of their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore, I say, and lay 200 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,919 my saying to your heart. When Minerva shall put it in my mind, 201 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,480 I will nod my head to you, And on seeing me do this, 202 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,840 you must collect all the armor that is in the house, and hide it 203 00:16:40,879 --> 00:16:45,639 in the strong storeroom. Make some excuse when the suitors ask you why you 204 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,159 were removing it, Say that you have taken it to be out of the 205 00:16:48,159 --> 00:16:52,519 way of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what it was when 206 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:59,399 Ulysses went away, but has become soiled and begrimed with soot. Add to 207 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:03,839 this more particularly that you are afraid Jove may set them on to quarrel over 208 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:08,119 their wine, and that they may do each other some harm, which may 209 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:15,519 disgrace both Banquet and Wooing for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use 210 00:17:15,559 --> 00:17:18,960 them. But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself and me, 211 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:23,599 and a couple ox hide shields, so that we can snatch them up at 212 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:30,200 any moment. Jove and Minerva will then soon quiet these people. There is 213 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:36,279 also another matter. If you are indeed my son, and my blood runs 214 00:17:36,279 --> 00:17:40,319 in your veins, let no one know that Ulysses is within the house, 215 00:17:40,799 --> 00:17:45,960 neither Layerties, nor yet the swineherd, nor any of the servants, nor 216 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:52,119 even Penelope herself. Let you and me exploit the women alone, and let 217 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:56,960 us also make trial of some other of the men's servants to see who is 218 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:03,599 on our side and whose hand is against us. Us father replied Telemachus, 219 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,960 you will come to know me by and by, and when you do, 220 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:11,200 you will find that I can keep your counsel. I do not think, 221 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:15,240 however, the plan you propose will turn out well for either of us. 222 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,119 Think it over. It will take us a long time to go the round 223 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:22,079 of farms and exploit the men, and all the time the suitors will be 224 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:29,119 wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction. Prove the women by all means 225 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,039 to see who are disloyal and who guiltless. But I am not in favor 226 00:18:33,079 --> 00:18:37,359 of going round and trying the men. We can attend to that later on, 227 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,960 if you really have some sign from Jove that he will support you. 228 00:18:41,759 --> 00:18:47,759 Thus they did converse, And meanwhile, the ship which had brought Telemachus and 229 00:18:47,839 --> 00:18:52,039 his crew from Pylos had reached the town of Ithaca. When they had come 230 00:18:52,079 --> 00:18:56,359 inside the harbor, they drew the ship on to the land. Their servants 231 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,880 came and took their armor from them, and they lie at all the presence 232 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:06,200 at the house of Clytius. Then they sent a servant to tell Penelope the 233 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,359 Telemachus had gone into the country, but had sent the ship to the town 234 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:15,680 to prevent her from being alarmed and made unhappy. This servant and Eumaeus happened 235 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,839 to meet when they were both on the same errand of going to tell Penelope. 236 00:19:21,839 --> 00:19:23,799 When they reached the house, the servant stood up and said to the 237 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,519 queen, in the presence of the waiting women, your son, Madam, 238 00:19:27,839 --> 00:19:33,000 is now returned from Pylos. But Eumaeus went close up to Penelope and said 239 00:19:33,079 --> 00:19:38,519 privately all that her son had bidden him tell her. When he had given 240 00:19:38,559 --> 00:19:42,640 his message, he left the house with its outbuildings and went back to his 241 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:48,440 pigs again. The suitors were surprised and angry at what had happened, so 242 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:52,000 they went outside the great wall that ran round the outer court and held a 243 00:19:52,039 --> 00:19:57,599 council near the main entrance. Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first 244 00:19:57,799 --> 00:20:03,400 to speak. My friends, said he, this voyage of Telemachuses is a 245 00:20:03,519 --> 00:20:07,160 very serious matter. We had made sure that it would come to nothing. 246 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,519 Now, however, let us draw a ship into the water and get a 247 00:20:11,559 --> 00:20:15,359 crew together to send after the others, and tell them to come back as 248 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:22,319 fast as they can. He had hardly done speaking when Amphonomas turned in his 249 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:26,839 place and saw the ship inside the harbor, with the crew lowering her sails 250 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:30,880 and putting by their oars. So he laughed and said to the others, 251 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:34,359 we need not send them any message, for they are here. Some God 252 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:38,119 must have told them or else. They saw the ship go by and could 253 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:44,240 not overtake her. On this they rose and went to the water side. 254 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,240 The crew then drew the ship on shore. Their servants took their armor from 255 00:20:48,279 --> 00:20:52,640 them, and they went up in a body to the place of assembly. 256 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,240 But they would not let any one old or young sit along with them. 257 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:03,559 A Antonus, son of eupae Athos, spoke first. Good heavens, said 258 00:21:03,599 --> 00:21:07,119 he see how the gods have saved this man from destruction. We kept a 259 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,319 succession of scouts upon the headlands all day long, and when the sun was 260 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:15,960 down, we never went on shore to sleep, but waited in the ship 261 00:21:15,039 --> 00:21:19,200 all night till morning, in the hope of capturing and killing him. But 262 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:23,680 some God has conveyed him home in spite of us. Let us consider how 263 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:27,400 we can make an end of him. He must not escape us. Our 264 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:32,119 affair is never likely to come off. While he is alive, for he 265 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,319 is very shrewd, and public feeling is by no means all on our side. 266 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:41,240 We must make haste before he can call the Achaeans an assembly. He 267 00:21:41,319 --> 00:21:45,359 will lose no time in doing so, for he will be furious with us, 268 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,480 and will tell all the world how we plotted to kill him but failed 269 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:52,559 to take him. The people will not like this when they come to know 270 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:56,559 of it. We must see that they do us no hurt, nor drive 271 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,839 us from our own country into exile. Let us try and lay hold of 272 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,720 him, either on his farm away from the town, or on the road 273 00:22:04,799 --> 00:22:08,880 hither. Then we can divide up his property amongst us, and let his 274 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:12,599 mother and the man who marries her have the house. If this does not 275 00:22:12,759 --> 00:22:18,680 please you, and you wish Telemachus to live on and hold his father's property, 276 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:22,519 then we must not gather here and eat up his goods in this way, 277 00:22:22,079 --> 00:22:26,799 but must make our offers to Penelope, each from his own house, 278 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,759 and she can marry the man who give the most for her, and whose 279 00:22:30,839 --> 00:22:34,519 lot it is to win her. They all held their peace until Lamphinomus rose 280 00:22:34,599 --> 00:22:40,000 to speak. He was the son of Nysus, who was the son to 281 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:44,839 King Ereteus, and he was foremost among all the suitors, from the wheat 282 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:51,039 growing and well grassed island of Dulichium. His conversation, moreover, was more 283 00:22:51,079 --> 00:22:55,680 agreeable to Penelope than that of any of the other suitors, for he was 284 00:22:55,680 --> 00:23:02,200 a man of good natural disposition. My friend said, he speaking to them 285 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:07,640 plainly and in all honesty. I am not in favor of killing Telemachus. 286 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,759 It is a heinous thing to kill one who was of noble blood. Let 287 00:23:11,839 --> 00:23:15,200 us first take counsel of the gods, and if the oracles of Jove advise 288 00:23:15,279 --> 00:23:21,079 it, I will both help to kill him myself and will urge everyone else 289 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:25,200 to do so. But if they dissuade us, I would have you hold 290 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:30,160 your hands. Thus did he speak, and his words pleased them well. 291 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,200 So they rose forthwith and went to the house of Ulysses, where they took 292 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:41,799 their accustomed seats. Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself to the suitors. 293 00:23:41,839 --> 00:23:45,640 She knew of the plot against Telemachus, for the servant Medon had overheard 294 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:51,119 their counsels and had told her. She went down therefore to the court, 295 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:56,000 attended by her maidens, and when she reached the suitors She stood by one 296 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:00,720 of the bearing posts supporting the roof of the cloister, holding a veil before 297 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:06,799 her face, and rebuked Antonus, saying, Antonus, insolent and wicked schemer. 298 00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:11,039 They say you are the best speaker and counselor of any man of your 299 00:24:11,079 --> 00:24:15,400 own age in Ithaca, but you are nothing of the kind madman. Why 300 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:21,039 should you try to compass the death of Telemachus and take no heed of suppliants 301 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:25,640 whose witness is Jove himself. It is not right for you to plot thus 302 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:30,079 against one another. Do you not remember how your father fled to this house 303 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,519 and fear of the people who were enraged against him for having gone with some 304 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:40,559 Taffian pirates and plundered the Thesprotians who were at peace with us. They wanted 305 00:24:40,599 --> 00:24:45,160 to tear him in pieces and eat up everything he had, but Ulysses stayed 306 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:49,279 their hands, although they were infuriated. And now you devour his property without 307 00:24:49,319 --> 00:24:53,599 paying for it, and break my heart by wooing his wife and trying to 308 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:57,960 kill his son. Leave off doing so, and stop the others. Also 309 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,359 to this, Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered, take heart, Queen 310 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:08,359 Penelope, daughter of Vicarius, and do not trouble yourself about these matters. 311 00:25:08,839 --> 00:25:12,599 The man is not yet born, nor never will be, who shall lay 312 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:17,920 hands upon your son, Telemachus. While I yet live to look upon the 313 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:22,640 face of the earth, I say, and it shall surely be that my 314 00:25:22,759 --> 00:25:26,400 spear shall be reddened with his blood. For many a time his Ulysses taken 315 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:30,000 me on his knees, held wine up to my lips to drink, and 316 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:36,519 put pieces of meat into my hands. Therefore, Telemachus is much the dearest 317 00:25:36,559 --> 00:25:40,960 friend I have, and has nothing to fear from the hands of us suitors. 318 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:45,279 Of course, if death comes to him from the gods, he cannot 319 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:49,240 escape it. He said this to quiet her, but in reality he was 320 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:56,160 plotting against Telemachus. Then Penelope went upstairs again and mourned her husband till Minerva 321 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:02,640 shed sleep over her eyes. In the evening, Eumaeus got back to Ulysses 322 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:06,599 and his son, who had just sacrificed a young pig of a year old, 323 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:11,319 and were helping one another to get supper ready. Minerva therefore came up 324 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:15,599 to Ulysses, turned him into an old man with a stroke of her wand 325 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:19,680 and clad him in his old clothes again for fear that the swineherd might recognize 326 00:26:19,759 --> 00:26:26,119 him, and nought keep the secret, but go and tell Penelope. Telemachus 327 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:30,240 was the first to speak. So you have got back, Eumaeus said he, 328 00:26:30,799 --> 00:26:33,559 what is the news of the town. Have the suitors returned or are 329 00:26:33,599 --> 00:26:38,359 they still waiting over yonder to take me on my way home. I did 330 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:42,160 not think of asking about that, replied Eumaeus. When I was in the 331 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,720 town, I thought I would give my message and come back as soon as 332 00:26:45,759 --> 00:26:49,240 I could. I met a man sent by those who had gone with you 333 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:53,039 to Pylos, and he was the first to tell the news to your mother. 334 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:57,039 But I can say what I saw with my own eyes. I had 335 00:26:57,079 --> 00:27:00,319 just got on to the crest of the hill of Mercury, above the town, 336 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,720 when I saw a ship coming into harbor with a number of men in 337 00:27:04,799 --> 00:27:08,720 her. They had many shields and spears, and I thought it was the 338 00:27:08,759 --> 00:27:15,119 Suitors, but I cannot be sure. On hearing this, Telemachus smiled to 339 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,920 his father, but so that Eumaeus could not see him. Then, when 340 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,359 they had finished their work and the meal was ready, they ate it, 341 00:27:22,839 --> 00:27:27,519 and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied. As 342 00:27:27,519 --> 00:27:32,119 soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, they laid down to 343 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:37,079 rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep. End of Book sixteen.