1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in 2 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:11,800 the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please 3 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:19,839 visit LibriVox dot org. Reading by Robin Cotter, Toronto, Ontario, 4 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:28,440 October two thousand six. The Odyssey by Homer, translated by 5 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:38,039 Samuel Butler, Book sixteen. Ulysses reveals himself to Telemachus. Meanwhile, 6 00:00:38,399 --> 00:00:41,159 Ulysses and the swineherd had lit a fire in the 7 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:45,079 hut and were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, for they 8 00:00:45,079 --> 00:00:49,079 had sent the men out with the pigs. When Telemachus 9 00:00:49,079 --> 00:00:52,880 came up, the dogs did not bark, but fawned upon him. 10 00:00:53,359 --> 00:00:57,439 So Ulysses, hearing the sound of feet, and noticing that 11 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,840 the dogs did not bark, said to you, Maus Eumaeus, 12 00:01:02,039 --> 00:01:05,280 I hear footsteps. I suppose one of your men, or 13 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,200 some one of your acquaintance is coming here, for the 14 00:01:08,239 --> 00:01:12,599 dogs are fawning upon him and not barking. The words 15 00:01:12,599 --> 00:01:15,599 were hardly out of his mouth before his son stood 16 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:19,400 at the door. Eumaeus sprang to his feet, and the 17 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,760 bulls in which he was mixing wine fell from his hands. 18 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,840 As he made towards his master. He kissed his head 19 00:01:27,159 --> 00:01:31,079 and both his beautiful eyes and wept for joy. A 20 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,959 father could not be more delighted at the return of 21 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,760 an only son, the child of his old age, after 22 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,560 ten years absence in a foreign country, and after having 23 00:01:41,599 --> 00:01:45,599 gone through much hardship. He embraced him, kissed him all 24 00:01:45,599 --> 00:01:47,959 over as though he had come back from the dead, 25 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:53,280 and spoke fondly to him, saying, so you were come, Telemachus. 26 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,519 Light of my eyes, that you are. When I heard 27 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,239 you had gone to Pylos, I made sure I was 28 00:01:59,319 --> 00:02:02,200 never going to see you any more. Come in, my 29 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,319 dear child, and sit down, that I may have a 30 00:02:05,319 --> 00:02:08,120 good look at you. Now you are home again. It 31 00:02:08,159 --> 00:02:10,759 is not very often you come into the country to 32 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,000 see us herdsmen. You stick pretty close to the town generally. 33 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:17,759 I suppose you think it better to keep an eye 34 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:22,000 on what the suitors are doing. So be it, old friend, 35 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,280 answered Telemachus. But I am come now because I want 36 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,960 to see you, and to learn whether my mother is 37 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,800 still at her old home, or whether some one else 38 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,919 has married her. So that the bed of Ulysses is 39 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:39,240 without bedding and covered with cobwebs, she is still at 40 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,759 the house, replied Eumaeus, grieving and breaking her heart and 41 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,840 doing nothing but weep both night and day continually. As 42 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:53,120 he spoke, he took Telemachus's spear. Whereon he crossed the 43 00:02:53,199 --> 00:02:57,840 stone threshold and came inside. Ulysses rose from his seat 44 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,080 to give him place as he entered, but Telemachus checked him. 45 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,719 Sit down. Stranger said he, I can easily find another seat, 46 00:03:07,159 --> 00:03:09,280 and there is one here who will lay it for me. 47 00:03:10,199 --> 00:03:13,919 Ulysses went back to his own place, and Eumaeus strewed 48 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,439 some green brushwood on the floor and threw a sheepskin 49 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:21,319 on top of it for Telemachus to sit upon. Then 50 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,520 the swine herd brought them platters of cold meat, the 51 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,680 remains from what they had eaten the day before, and 52 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,000 he filled the bread baskets with bread as fast as 53 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,960 he could. He mixed wine alto in bowls of ivy wood, 54 00:03:35,319 --> 00:03:39,599 and took his seat facing Ulysses. Then they laid their 55 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,639 hands on the good things that were before them, And 56 00:03:42,719 --> 00:03:45,120 as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, 57 00:03:45,639 --> 00:03:50,639 Telemachus said to Eumaeus, old friend, where does this stranger 58 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,719 come from? How did his crew bring him to Ithaca? 59 00:03:54,159 --> 00:03:57,800 And who were they? For? Assuredly he did not come 60 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,759 here by land to this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, 61 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,680 my son, I will tell you the real truth. He 62 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,680 says he is a Cretan, and that he has been 63 00:04:09,719 --> 00:04:13,319 a great traveler. At this moment he is running away 64 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,839 from a Thesparotian ship and has taken refuge at my station. 65 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:21,879 So I will put him into your hands. Do whatever 66 00:04:21,959 --> 00:04:26,279 you like with him, only remember that he is yours suppliant. 67 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,240 I am very much distressed, said Telemachus by what you 68 00:04:31,319 --> 00:04:34,079 have just told me. How can I take this stranger 69 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,319 into my house? I am as yet young, and am 70 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,120 not strong enough to hold my own if any man 71 00:04:40,199 --> 00:04:43,560 attacks me. My mother cannot make up her mind whether 72 00:04:43,639 --> 00:04:46,279 to stay where she is and look after the house 73 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,480 out of respect for public opinion and the memory of 74 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,600 her husband, or whether the time is now come for 75 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,399 her to take the best man of those who are 76 00:04:55,399 --> 00:04:57,839 wooing her, and the one who will make her the 77 00:04:57,879 --> 00:05:02,040 most advantageous offer. Ill as the stranger has come to 78 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,959 your station, I will find him a cloak and shirt 79 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,600 of good wear, with the sword and sandals, and will 80 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:12,879 send him wherever he wants to go, or, if you like, 81 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,480 you can keep him here at the station, and I 82 00:05:16,519 --> 00:05:19,920 will send him clothes and food that he may be 83 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,040 no burden on you and on your men. But I 84 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,439 will not have him go near the suitors, for they 85 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,879 are very insolent and are sure to ill treat him 86 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,839 in a way that would greatly grieve me. No matter 87 00:05:31,879 --> 00:05:34,879 how valiant a man may be, he can do nothing 88 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:39,480 against numbers, for they will be too strong for him. Then, 89 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:43,959 Ulysses said, sir, it is right that I should say 90 00:05:43,959 --> 00:05:47,680 something myself. I am much shocked about what you have 91 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,079 said about the insolent way in which the suitors are 92 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:54,240 behaving in despite of such a man as you are. 93 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,720 Tell me, do you submit to such treatment tamely? Or 94 00:05:58,759 --> 00:06:02,920 has some God set your people against you? May you 95 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,079 not complain of your brothers, for it is to these 96 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,800 that a man may look for support, however great his 97 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,160 quarrel may be. I wish I were as young as 98 00:06:13,199 --> 00:06:16,399 you are, and in my present mind, if I were 99 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:21,199 son to Ulysses, or indeed Ulysses himself, I would rather 100 00:06:21,319 --> 00:06:23,959 some one came and cut my head off. But I 101 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,680 would go to the house and be the bane of 102 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,480 every one of these men if they were too many 103 00:06:30,519 --> 00:06:34,360 for me. I, being single, handed, I would rather die 104 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,519 fighting in my own house than see such disgraceful sights 105 00:06:38,879 --> 00:06:44,439 day after day, strangers grossly maltreated, and men dragging the 106 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:48,879 women servants about the house in an unseemly way, wine 107 00:06:48,959 --> 00:06:53,600 drawn recklessly, and bread wasted, all to no purpose, for 108 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:58,800 an end that shall never be accomplished. And Telemachus answered, 109 00:06:59,639 --> 00:07:03,040 I will tell you truly everything. There is no enmity 110 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,120 between me and my people. Nor can I complain of 111 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,600 brothers to whom a man may look for support, however 112 00:07:09,639 --> 00:07:12,879 great his quarrel may be. Jove has made us a 113 00:07:12,959 --> 00:07:17,160 race of only sons. Laertes was the only son of 114 00:07:17,319 --> 00:07:22,720 Archisius and Ulysses, only son of Laertes. I am myself 115 00:07:22,759 --> 00:07:25,800 the only son of Ulysses, who left me behind him 116 00:07:25,959 --> 00:07:28,680 when he went away, so that I have never been 117 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,079 of any use to him. Hence it comes that my 118 00:07:32,199 --> 00:07:35,800 house is in the hands of numberless marauders. For the 119 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:42,160 chiefs from all the neighboring islands dulaquiem sameh zacynthus as 120 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,120 also all the principal men of Ithaca itself are eating 121 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,920 at my house under the pretext of paying court to 122 00:07:48,959 --> 00:07:52,240 my mother, who will neither say point blank that she 123 00:07:52,279 --> 00:07:55,399 will not marry nor yet bring matters to an end. 124 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,199 So they are making havoc of my estate, and before 125 00:07:59,279 --> 00:08:03,879 long will do so with myself into the bargain. The issue, however, 126 00:08:04,319 --> 00:08:08,519 rests with heaven. But do you, old friend Eumaeus, go 127 00:08:08,639 --> 00:08:11,399 at once and tell Penelope that I am safe and 128 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,639 have returned from Pylos. Tell it to herself alone, and 129 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,120 then come back here without letting any one else know, 130 00:08:18,759 --> 00:08:21,399 For there are many who are plotting mischief against me. 131 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:27,040 I understand and heed, you, replied, Eumaeus, You need instruct 132 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,480 me no further. Only I am going that way. Say 133 00:08:30,519 --> 00:08:33,200 whether I had not better let poor lair Tees know 134 00:08:33,519 --> 00:08:37,039 that you are returned. He used to superintend the work 135 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,720 on his farm in spite of his bitter sorrow about Ulysses, 136 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:43,799 and he would eat and drink at will along with 137 00:08:43,879 --> 00:08:46,840 his servants. But they tell me that from the day 138 00:08:46,919 --> 00:08:49,360 on which you set out for Pilos, he is neither 139 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,960 eaten nor drunk as he ought to do. Nor does 140 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,840 he look after his farm, but sits weeping and wasting 141 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:02,519 the flesh from off his bones. More's the pity, answered Telemachus. 142 00:09:03,039 --> 00:09:05,960 I am sorry for him, But we must leave him 143 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,480 to himself just now. If people could have everything their 144 00:09:09,519 --> 00:09:12,519 own way, the first thing I should choose would be 145 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:16,399 the return of my father. But go and give your message. 146 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,080 Then make haste back again, and do not turn out 147 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:23,240 of your way to tell Laertes. Tell my mother to 148 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:26,080 send one of her women secretly with the news at once, 149 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,559 and let him hear it from her. Thus did he 150 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:34,440 urge the swineherd. Eumaeus therefore took his sandals, bound them 151 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,639 to his feet, and started for the town. Minerva watched 152 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,399 him well off the station, and then came up to 153 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,759 it in the form of a woman fair, stately and wise. 154 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,559 She stood against the side of the entry, and revealed 155 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:53,679 herself to Ulysses. But Telemachus could not see her and 156 00:09:53,759 --> 00:09:56,639 knew not that she was there, for the gods do 157 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:01,399 not let themselves be seen by everybody. Ulysses saw her, 158 00:10:01,799 --> 00:10:04,519 and so did the dogs, for they did not bark, 159 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,080 but went scared and whining off to the other side 160 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,720 of the yards. She nodded her head and motioned to 161 00:10:11,879 --> 00:10:15,720 Ulysses with her eyebrows, whereon he left the hut and 162 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,080 stood before her outside the main wall of the yards. 163 00:10:19,759 --> 00:10:24,480 Then she said to him, Ulysses, noble son of Laerties, 164 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,960 it is now time for you to tell your son, 165 00:10:28,279 --> 00:10:30,879 do not keep him in the dark any longer, but 166 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,159 lay your plans for the destruction of the suitors, and 167 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,120 then make for the town. I will not be long 168 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,200 in joining you, for I am too eager for the fray. 169 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,960 As she spoke, she touched him with her golden wand 170 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,600 first she threw a fair, clean shirt and cloak about 171 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,279 his shoulders. Then she made him younger and of more 172 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:57,679 imposing presents. She gave him back his color, filled out 173 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:02,000 his cheeks, and let his beard be dark again. Then 174 00:11:02,039 --> 00:11:05,440 she went away, and Ulysses came back inside the hut. 175 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,120 His son was astounded when he saw him, and turned 176 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,200 his eyes away for fear he might be looking upon 177 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:17,279 a god stranger. Said he, how suddenly you have changed 178 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,000 from what you were a moment or two ago. You 179 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:22,879 were dressed differently, and your color is not the same. 180 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,080 Are you some one or other of the gods that 181 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:30,440 live in heaven? If so, be propitious to me till 182 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,039 I can make you do sacrifice and offerings of wrought gold. 183 00:11:34,639 --> 00:11:39,519 Have mercy upon me, And Ulysses said, I am no God, 184 00:11:40,039 --> 00:11:42,919 why should you take me for one? I am your father, 185 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,840 on whose account you grieve and suffer so much at 186 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:51,000 the hands of lawless men. As he spoke, he kissed 187 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,039 his son, and a tear fell from his cheek on 188 00:11:54,159 --> 00:11:58,320 to the ground, for he had restrained all tears till now. 189 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,600 But tell Amak could not yet believe that it was 190 00:12:01,639 --> 00:12:05,480 his father, and said, you are not my father, But 191 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,480 some God is flattering me with vain hopes that I 192 00:12:08,519 --> 00:12:12,600 may grieve the more hereafter, No mortal man could have 193 00:12:12,759 --> 00:12:16,120 himself contrived to do as you have been doing and 194 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,799 make yourself old and young at a moment's notice, unless 195 00:12:19,799 --> 00:12:22,639 a god were with him. A second ago you were 196 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,440 old and all in rags, and now you are like 197 00:12:25,519 --> 00:12:32,000 some god come down from heaven. Ulysses answered Telemachus. You 198 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,840 ought not to be so immeasurably astounded at my being 199 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,919 really here. There is no other Ulysses who will come 200 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,600 hereafter such as I am. It is I who, after 201 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:48,440 long wandering and much hardship, have got home in the 202 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,879 twentieth year to my own country. What you wonder at 203 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:57,000 is the work of the redoubtable goddess Minerva, who does 204 00:12:57,039 --> 00:12:59,960 with me whatever she will, for she can do which 205 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,919 she pleases. At one moment she makes me like a beggar, 206 00:13:04,399 --> 00:13:06,919 and the next I am a young man with good 207 00:13:06,919 --> 00:13:09,919 clothes on my back. It is an easy matter for 208 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,879 the gods who live in heaven to make any man 209 00:13:13,279 --> 00:13:18,639 look either rich or poor. As he spoke, he sat down, 210 00:13:19,279 --> 00:13:22,960 and Telemachus threw his arms about his father and wept. 211 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,960 They were both so much moved that they cried aloud, 212 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:31,120 like eagles or vultures with crooked talons that have been 213 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:36,639 robbed of their half fledged young by peasants. Thus piteously 214 00:13:36,759 --> 00:13:39,360 did they weep, and the sun would have gone down 215 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:43,519 upon their morning if Telemachus had not suddenly said, in 216 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,879 what ship, my dear father, did your crew bring you 217 00:13:46,919 --> 00:13:50,559 to Ithaca? Of what nation did they declare themselves to be? 218 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,039 For you cannot have come by land. I will tell 219 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,919 you the truth, my son replied, Ulysses. It was the 220 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:02,000 Phaeacians who brought me here. They are great sailors and 221 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,559 are in the habit of giving escorts to any one 222 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,759 who reaches their coasts. They took me over the sea 223 00:14:07,879 --> 00:14:11,159 while I was fast asleep, and landed me in Ithaca, 224 00:14:11,639 --> 00:14:15,360 after giving me many presents in bronze, gold and raiment. 225 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:20,080 These things, by Heaven's mercy, are lying concealed in a cave. 226 00:14:20,759 --> 00:14:23,679 And I am now come here on the suggestion of Minerva, 227 00:14:24,159 --> 00:14:28,919 that we may consult about killing our enemies. First, therefore, 228 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,960 let me give a list of the suitors with their number, 229 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,960 that I may learn who and how many they are. 230 00:14:36,679 --> 00:14:39,000 I can then turn the matter over in my mind 231 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,480 and see whether we two can fight the whole body 232 00:14:42,519 --> 00:14:46,240 of them ourselves, or whether we must find others to 233 00:14:46,399 --> 00:14:52,120 help us to this. Telemachus answered, father, I have always 234 00:14:52,159 --> 00:14:55,600 heard of your renown, both in the field and in council. 235 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,840 But the task you talk of is a very great one. 236 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,039 I am all at the mere thought of it. Two 237 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:06,279 men cannot stand against many and brave ones. There are 238 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,360 not ten suitors only, nor twice ten, but ten many 239 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,720 times over. You shall learn their number at once. There 240 00:15:14,759 --> 00:15:19,080 are fifty two chosen youths from Dulichium, and they have 241 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:24,039 six servants from sameh There are twenty four twenty young 242 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:29,480 Achaeans from Zacynthus, and twelve from Ithaca itself, all of 243 00:15:29,519 --> 00:15:33,480 them well born. They have with them the servant Medon 244 00:15:33,879 --> 00:15:36,919 a bard, and two men who can carve at table. 245 00:15:37,639 --> 00:15:40,840 If we face such numbers as this, you may have 246 00:15:40,919 --> 00:15:45,240 bitter cause to rue your coming and your revenge. See 247 00:15:45,279 --> 00:15:47,360 whether you cannot think of some one who would be 248 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:52,240 willing to come and help us. Listen to me, replied Ulysses, 249 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,840 and think whether Minerva and her father Jove may seem sufficient, 250 00:15:57,720 --> 00:15:59,840 or whether I am to try and find some one 251 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:04,720 out else as well. Those whom you have named, answered Telemachus, 252 00:16:05,039 --> 00:16:08,000 are a couple of good allies. For though they dwell 253 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,519 high up among the clouds, they have power over both 254 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:17,559 gods and men. These two, continued Ulysses, will not keep 255 00:16:17,639 --> 00:16:20,399 long out of the fray when the suitors and we 256 00:16:20,639 --> 00:16:24,879 join the fight in my house. Now, therefore, return home 257 00:16:24,919 --> 00:16:29,000 early tomorrow morning, and go about among the suitors as before. 258 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,600 Later on the swineherd will bring me to the city 259 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:37,039 disguised as a miserable old beggar. If you see them 260 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:41,240 ill treating me, steal your heart against my sufferings. Even 261 00:16:41,279 --> 00:16:44,159 though they drag me feet foremost out of the house 262 00:16:44,799 --> 00:16:47,679 or throw things at me, look on and do nothing 263 00:16:47,879 --> 00:16:52,240 beyond gently trying to make them behave more reasonably. But 264 00:16:52,279 --> 00:16:54,639 they will not listen to you, for the day of 265 00:16:54,679 --> 00:16:59,399 their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore, I say, and lay 266 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,440 my saying to your heart. When Minerva shall put it 267 00:17:02,519 --> 00:17:04,920 in my mind, I will gnad my head to you. 268 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,440 And on seeing me do this, you must collect all 269 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,000 the armor that is in the house and hide it 270 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,640 in the strong store room. Make some excuse when the 271 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,880 suitors ask you why you are removing it. Say that 272 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:19,599 you have taken it to be out of the way 273 00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:22,839 of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what 274 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,720 it was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled 275 00:17:26,799 --> 00:17:30,960 and be grimed with soot. Add to this more particularly 276 00:17:31,279 --> 00:17:34,240 that you are afraid Jove may set them on to 277 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,519 quarrel over their wine, and that they may do each 278 00:17:37,559 --> 00:17:41,599 other some harm, which may disgrace both Banquet and Wooing, 279 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,960 for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them. 280 00:17:46,759 --> 00:17:49,799 But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself 281 00:17:49,839 --> 00:17:53,359 and me, and a couple ox hide shields, so that 282 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,039 we can snatch them up at any moment. Jove and 283 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:01,759 Minerva will then soon quiet these people. There is also 284 00:18:01,839 --> 00:18:05,680 another matter. If you are indeed my son, and my 285 00:18:05,759 --> 00:18:08,839 blood runs in your veins, let no one know that 286 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:13,680 Ulysses is within the house, neither lairties, nor yet the swineherd, 287 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:18,839 nor any of the servants, nor even Penelope herself. Let 288 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,559 you and me exploit the women alone, and let us 289 00:18:22,599 --> 00:18:25,920 also make trial of some other of the men's servants, 290 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,240 to see who is on our side and whose hand 291 00:18:29,559 --> 00:18:34,759 is against us. Father replied Telemachus. You will come to 292 00:18:34,839 --> 00:18:37,680 know me by and by, and when you do, you 293 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,799 will find that I can keep your counsel. I do 294 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,960 not think, however, the plan you propose will turn it 295 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,519 well for either of us. Think it over. It will 296 00:18:47,519 --> 00:18:49,440 take us a long time to go the round of 297 00:18:49,519 --> 00:18:52,519 farms and exploit the men, and all the time the 298 00:18:52,599 --> 00:18:56,720 suitors will be wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction. 299 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,519 Prove the women by all means to see who are 300 00:19:00,519 --> 00:19:04,279 disloyal and who guiltless. But I am not in favor 301 00:19:04,319 --> 00:19:07,680 of going round and trying the men. We can intend 302 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:10,519 to that later on, if you really have some sign 303 00:19:10,559 --> 00:19:14,240 from Jove that he will support you. Thus they did converse, 304 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,119 And meanwhile, the ship which had brought Telemachus and his 305 00:19:18,279 --> 00:19:22,720 crew from Pylos had reached the town of Ithaca. When 306 00:19:22,759 --> 00:19:25,319 they had come inside the harbor. They drew the ship 307 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,440 on to the land. Their servants came and took their 308 00:19:28,559 --> 00:19:31,319 armor from them, and they left all the presents at 309 00:19:31,319 --> 00:19:35,160 the house of Clytius. Then they sent a servant to 310 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,039 tell Penelope that Telemachus had gone into the country, but 311 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,799 had sent the ship to the town to prevent her 312 00:19:41,839 --> 00:19:46,440 from being alarmed and made unhappy. This servant and Eumaeus 313 00:19:46,519 --> 00:19:48,920 happened to meet when they were both on the same 314 00:19:49,079 --> 00:19:53,240 errand of going to tell Penelope. When they reached the house, 315 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,599 the servants stood up and said to the queen, in 316 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:59,119 the presence of the waiting women, your son, Madam, is 317 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,799 now returned from Pylos. But Eumaeus went close up to 318 00:20:02,839 --> 00:20:06,920 Penelope and said privately all that her son had bidden 319 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,480 him tell her. When he had given his message, he 320 00:20:10,559 --> 00:20:13,599 left the house with his out buildings and went back 321 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,160 to his pigs again. The suitors were surprised and angry 322 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,039 at what had happened, so they went outside the great 323 00:20:20,039 --> 00:20:23,200 wall that ran round the outer court and held a 324 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:28,240 council near the main entrance. Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was 325 00:20:28,279 --> 00:20:33,319 the first to speak. My friends, said he this voyage 326 00:20:33,319 --> 00:20:37,039 of Telemachus's is a very serious matter. We had made 327 00:20:37,039 --> 00:20:40,440 sure that it would come to nothing. Now, however, let 328 00:20:40,519 --> 00:20:42,759 us draw a ship into the water and get a 329 00:20:42,799 --> 00:20:45,799 crew together to send after the others, and tell them 330 00:20:45,799 --> 00:20:48,799 to come back as fast as they can. He had 331 00:20:48,839 --> 00:20:53,279 hardly done speaking when Amphinomus turned in his place and 332 00:20:53,319 --> 00:20:56,400 saw the ship inside the harbor, with the crew lowering 333 00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:00,000 her sails and putting by their oars. So he laughed 334 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,559 and said to the others, we need not send them 335 00:21:02,559 --> 00:21:06,000 any message, for they are here. Some god must have 336 00:21:06,039 --> 00:21:08,480 told them or else. They saw the ship go by 337 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:13,200 and could not overtake her. On this they rose and 338 00:21:13,279 --> 00:21:16,119 went to the water side. The crew then drew the 339 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,680 ship on shore. Their servants took their armor from them, 340 00:21:20,079 --> 00:21:22,200 and they went up in a body to the place 341 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,720 of assembly. But they would not let any one old 342 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:30,720 or young, sit along with them. And Antonus, son of Eupathus, 343 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:35,480 spoke first. Good heavens, said he see how the gods 344 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,920 have saved this man from destruction. We kept a succession 345 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,000 of scouts upon the headlands all day long, and when 346 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,599 the sun was down, we never went on shore to sleep, 347 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,720 but waited in the ship all night till morning, in 348 00:21:47,759 --> 00:21:51,119 the hope of capturing and killing him. But some God 349 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,200 has conveyed him home in spite of us. Let us 350 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,519 consider how we can make an end of him. He 351 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:00,079 must not escape us. Our affair is never likely to 352 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,319 come off while he is alive, for he is very shrewd, 353 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,599 and public feeling is by no means all on our side. 354 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:10,119 We must make haste before he can call the Achaeans 355 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:13,160 and assembly. He will lose no time in doing so, 356 00:22:13,599 --> 00:22:16,359 for he will be furious with us, and will tell 357 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:19,200 all the world how we plotted to kill him but 358 00:22:19,319 --> 00:22:22,839 failed to take him. The people will not like this 359 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,279 when they come to know of it. We must see 360 00:22:25,319 --> 00:22:28,160 that they do us no hurt, nor drive us from 361 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,680 our own country into exile. Let us try and lay 362 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,720 hold of him, either on his farm away from the town, 363 00:22:35,319 --> 00:22:37,920 or on the road hither. Then we can divide up 364 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,640 his property amongst us, and let his mother and the 365 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,680 man who marries her have the house. If this does 366 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,559 not please you, and you wish Telemachus to live on 367 00:22:47,319 --> 00:22:50,519 and hold his father's property, then we must not gather 368 00:22:50,599 --> 00:22:53,400 here and eat up his goods in this way, but 369 00:22:53,559 --> 00:22:57,039 must make our offers to Penelope each from his own house, 370 00:22:57,519 --> 00:22:59,480 and she can marry the man who will give the 371 00:22:59,519 --> 00:23:02,000 most for her her and whose lot it is to 372 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:05,759 win her. They all held her peace until Lamphinimus rose 373 00:23:05,839 --> 00:23:09,519 to speak. He was the son of Nysus, who was 374 00:23:09,599 --> 00:23:13,480 the son to King Ereteus, and he was foremost among 375 00:23:13,559 --> 00:23:16,799 all the suitors, from the wheat growing and well grassed 376 00:23:16,799 --> 00:23:22,119 island of duluchiem His conversation, moreover, was more agreeable to 377 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:25,519 Penelope than that of any of the other suitors, for 378 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:31,000 he was a man of good natural disposition. My friends said, 379 00:23:31,039 --> 00:23:35,720 he speaking to them plainly and in all honesty. I 380 00:23:35,759 --> 00:23:38,599 am not in favor of killing Telemachus. It is a 381 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,240 heinous thing to kill one who is of noble blood. 382 00:23:41,839 --> 00:23:44,759 Let us first take counsel of the gods, and if 383 00:23:44,759 --> 00:23:47,960 the oracles of Jove advise it, I will both help 384 00:23:48,039 --> 00:23:51,319 to kill him myself, and will urge every one else 385 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,559 to do so. But if they dissuade us, I would 386 00:23:54,599 --> 00:23:58,799 have you hold your hands. Thus did he speak, and 387 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:03,160 his words pleased them. So they rose forthwith and went 388 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,720 to the house of Ulysses, where they took their accustomed seats. 389 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,319 Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself to the suitors. 390 00:24:12,039 --> 00:24:15,359 She knew of the plot against Telemachus, for the servant 391 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,680 Medon had overheard their councils and had told her. She 392 00:24:19,759 --> 00:24:22,799 went down therefore to the court, attended by her maidens, 393 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,200 and when she reached the suitors, she stood by one 394 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,240 of the bearing posts supporting the roof of the cloister, 395 00:24:29,759 --> 00:24:35,119 holding a veil before her face, and rebuked Antonus, saying, Antonus, 396 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,720 insolent and wicked schemer. They say you are the best 397 00:24:38,759 --> 00:24:43,160 speaker and counselor of any man your own age in Ithaca, 398 00:24:43,319 --> 00:24:46,880 but you are nothing of the kind madman. Why should 399 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:49,920 you try to compass the death of Telemachus and take 400 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:54,079 no heed of suppliants whose witness is Jove himself. It 401 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,880 is not right for you to plot thus against one another. 402 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,759 Do you not remember how your father fled to this 403 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,480 in fear of the people who were enraged against him 404 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:07,240 for having gone with some Taffian pirates and plundered the 405 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,880 Thesprotians who were at peace with us. They wanted to 406 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,640 tear him in pieces and eat up everything he had, 407 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:18,480 but Ulysses stayed their hands although they were infuriated. And 408 00:25:18,559 --> 00:25:21,519 now you devour his property without paying for it, and 409 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,799 break my heart by wooing his wife and trying to 410 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,759 kill his son. Leave off doing so, and stop the others. 411 00:25:28,759 --> 00:25:34,200 Also to this, Eurymachus, son of Pollybus, answered, take heart, 412 00:25:34,319 --> 00:25:38,640 Queen Penelope, daughter of Vicarius, and do not trouble yourself 413 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:42,160 about these matters. The man is not yet born, nor 414 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,960 never will be, who shall lay hands upon your son, Telemachus. 415 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:48,559 While I yet live to look upon the face of 416 00:25:48,599 --> 00:25:52,640 the earth, I say, and it shall surely be that 417 00:25:52,759 --> 00:25:55,960 my spear shall be reddened with his blood. For many 418 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,119 a time his Ulysses taken me on his knees, held 419 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,079 wine up to my lips to drink, and put pieces 420 00:26:02,079 --> 00:26:06,200 of meat into my hands. Therefore, Telemachus is much the 421 00:26:06,279 --> 00:26:09,880 dearest friend I have, and has nothing to fear from 422 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:13,440 the hands of us suitors. Of course, if death comes 423 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,079 to him from the gods, he cannot escape it. He 424 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,480 said this to quiet her, but in reality he was 425 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:25,680 plotting against Telemachus. Then Penelope went upstairs again and mourned 426 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:30,559 her husband till Minerva sed sleep over her eyes. In 427 00:26:30,599 --> 00:26:33,480 the evening, Eumaeus got back to Ulysses and his son, 428 00:26:33,839 --> 00:26:36,799 who had just sacrificed a young pig of a year old, 429 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,799 and were helping one another to get supper ready. Minerva 430 00:26:40,799 --> 00:26:43,920 therefore came up to Ulysses, turned him into an old 431 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,039 man with a stroke of her wand and clad him 432 00:26:47,039 --> 00:26:50,039 in his old clothes again for fear that the swineherd 433 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:53,680 might recognize him and not keep the secret. But go 434 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,240 and tell Penelope. Telemachus was the first to speak. So 435 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,440 you have got back, Eumaeus, said he. What is the 436 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,799 news of the town. Had the suitors returned or are 437 00:27:04,799 --> 00:27:07,480 they still waiting over yonder to take me on my 438 00:27:07,519 --> 00:27:10,920 way home. I did not think of asking about that, 439 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,720 replied Eumaeus. When I was in the town, I thought 440 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:16,799 I would give my message and come back as soon 441 00:27:16,799 --> 00:27:19,519 as I could. I met a man sent by those 442 00:27:19,559 --> 00:27:22,359 who had gone with you to Pylos, and he was 443 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,960 the first to tell the news to your mother. But 444 00:27:25,039 --> 00:27:27,240 I can say what I saw with my own eyes. 445 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:29,640 I had just got on to the crest of the 446 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:32,759 hill of Mercury, above the town, when I saw a 447 00:27:32,839 --> 00:27:36,160 ship coming into harbor with a number of men in her. 448 00:27:36,799 --> 00:27:39,640 They had many shields and spears, and I thought it 449 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,880 was the Suitors, But I cannot be sure. On Hearing this, 450 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,880 Telemachus smiled to his father, but so that Eumaeus could 451 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,319 not see him. Then, when they had finished their work 452 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,559 and the meal was ready, they ate it, and every 453 00:27:54,599 --> 00:27:57,880 man had his full share, so that all were satisfied. 454 00:27:58,599 --> 00:28:01,039 As soon as they had had an to eat and drink, 455 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:05,359 they lay down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep. 456 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:10,960 End of Book sixteen