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