WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:06.480 Book nineteen of the Odyssey by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler. 2 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:11.439 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Odyssey 3 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:19.920 Book nineteen, Telemachus and Ulysses remove the armor. Ulysses interviews Penelope. Euryclia, 4 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:22.719 washes his feet and recognizes the scar on his leg. 5 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:28.280 Penelope tells her dream to Ulysses. Ulysses was left in 6 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:31.839 the cloister, pondering on the means whereby, with Minerva's help, 7 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:35.280 he might be able to kill the suitors. Presently, he 8 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:39.679 said to Telemachus. Telemachus, we must get the armor together 9 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:43.039 and take it down inside. Make some excuse when the 10 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:45.880 suitors ask you why you have removed it, Say that 11 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:47.439 you have taken it to be out of the way 12 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:50.039 of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what 13 00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:53.280 it was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled 14 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:57.799 and begrimed with soot. Add to this more particularly, that 15 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:00.640 you are afraid Jove may set them on to quarrel 16 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:03.359 over their wine, and that they may do each other 17 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:06.920 some harm, which may disgrace both Banquet and Wooing. For 18 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:09.799 this sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them 19 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:14.840 Telemachus approved of what his father had said, so he 20 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:19.000 called nurse Euryclia and said, Nurse, shut the women up 21 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:21.239 in their rooms, while I take the armor that my 22 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:24.640 father left behind him down into the storeroom. No one 23 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:27.480 looks after it. Now my father is gone, and it 24 00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:30.560 has got all smirched with soot during my own boyhood. 25 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.480 I want to take it down where the smoke cannot 26 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:38.719 reach it. I wish child, answered Eurycleia that you would 27 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:41.159 take the management of the house into your own hands 28 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:45.599 altogether and look after all the property yourself. But who 29 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:47.840 is to go with you and light you to the storeroom? 30 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.519 The maids would have done so, but you would not 31 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:55.719 let them. The stranger said Telemachus, shall show me a light. 32 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:58.920 When people eat my bread, they must earn it, no 33 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:03.040 matter where they come from. Euryclia did as she was 34 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:07.400 told and bolted the women inside their room. Then Ulysses 35 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:10.560 and his son made all haste to take the helmets, shields, 36 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:14.400 and spears inside, and Minerva went before them with a 37 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.080 gold lamp in her hand that shed a soft and 38 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:22.800 brilliant radiance, whereon Telemachus said, father, my eyes behold a 39 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:26.719 great marvel. The walls, with the rafters, cross beams, and 40 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:29.639 the supports on which they rest are all aglow as 41 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:33.159 with a flaming fire. Surely there is some god here 42 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:37.840 who has come down from heaven. Hush, answered Ulysses. Hold 43 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:40.800 your peace and ask no questions, for this is the 44 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.840 manner of the gods. Get you to your bed and 45 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:46.280 leave me here to talk with your mother and the maids. 46 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:49.280 Your mother, in her grief, will ask me all sorts 47 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:53.840 of questions. On this Telemachus went by torchlight to the 48 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:56.280 other side of the inner court, to the room in 49 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:59.840 which he always slept. There he lay in his bed 50 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:03.639 till morning, while Ulysses was left in the cloister, pondering 51 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:06.639 on the means whereby, with Minerva's help, he might be 52 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:11.199 able to kill the suitors. Then Penelope came down from 53 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:14.719 her room, looking like Venus or Diana, and they set 54 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.560 her a seat inlaid with scrolls of silver and ivory, 55 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.400 near the fire in her accustomed place. It had been 56 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:24.240 made by Ichmelius and had a footstool all in one 57 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:27.280 piece with the seat itself, and it was covered with 58 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:30.840 a thick fleece. On this she now sat, and the 59 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:34.039 maids came from the women's room to join her. They 60 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:36.879 set about removing the tables at which the wicked suitors 61 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:39.439 had been dining, and took away the bread that was 62 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:42.439 left with the cups from which they had drunk. They 63 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:45.319 emptied the embers out of the braziers and heaped much 64 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:48.680 wood upon them to give both light and heat. But 65 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:54.479 Melantho began to rail at Ulysses a second time, and said, stranger, 66 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:56.919 do you mean to plague us by hanging about the 67 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:00.560 house all night and spying upon the women beyond? You 68 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:04.400 wretch outside and eat your supper there, or you shall 69 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:08.680 be driven out with a firebrand. Ulysses scowled at her 70 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:12.479 and answered, my good woman, why should you be so 71 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:15.680 angry with me? Is it because I am not clean 72 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:18.759 and my clothes are all in rags? And because I 73 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.360 am obliged to go begging about after the manner of 74 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:25.319 tramps and beggars. Generally, I too was a rich man once, 75 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:29.079 and had a fine house of my own. In those days, 76 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:31.879 I gave to many a tramp such as I now am, 77 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.079 no matter who he might be, nor what he wanted. 78 00:04:35.959 --> 00:04:38.639 I had any number of servants, and all the other 79 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:41.920 things which people have who live well and are accounted wealthy, 80 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:47.240 but it pleased Jove to take all away from me. Therefore, woman, 81 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.879 beware lest you too come to lose that pride and 82 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:54.000 place in which you now want. And above your fellows, 83 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:57.040 have a care lest you get out of favor with 84 00:04:57.079 --> 00:05:00.959 your mistress, and lest Ulysses should come home, for there 85 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:04.360 is still a chance that he may do so. Moreover, 86 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:06.680 though he may be dead, as you think he is, 87 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:11.360 yet by Apollo's will, he has left a son behind him, Telemagus, 88 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:14.279 who will note anything done amiss by the maids in 89 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:17.399 the house, for he is now no longer in his boyhood. 90 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:21.759 Penelope heard what he was saying and scolded the maid 91 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:27.560 impudent Baggage, said she, I see how abominably you are behaving, 92 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:31.360 and you shall smart for it. You knew perfectly well, 93 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:33.639 for I told you myself that I was going to 94 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:36.439 see the stranger and ask him about my husband, for 95 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:40.920 whose sake I am in such continual sorrow. Then she 96 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:44.040 said to her head, waiting, woman, your enemy, bring a 97 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.199 seat with a fleece upon it for the stranger to 98 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:49.160 sit upon while he tells his story, and listen to 99 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:51.920 what I have to say. I wish to ask him 100 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:56.120 some questions. Eurynymy brought the seat at once and set 101 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:58.920 a fleece upon it, And as soon as Ulysses had 102 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:03.439 sat down Penelope, he began by saying, stranger, I shall 103 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:06.399 first ask you who and whence are you? Tell me 104 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:11.879 of your town and parents. Madam answered Ulysses, who on 105 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:14.319 the face of the whole earth can dare to chide 106 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:18.920 with you? Your fame reaches the firmament of heaven itself. You 107 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.000 are like some blameless king who upholds righteousness, as the 108 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:27.680 monarch over a great and valiant nation. The earth yields 109 00:06:27.720 --> 00:06:30.800 its wheat and barley, the trees are loaded with fruit, 110 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:34.879 the ewes bring forth lambs, and the sea abounds with fish. 111 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:38.519 By reason of his virtues, and his people do good 112 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:43.319 deeds under him. Nevertheless, as I sit here in your house, 113 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:46.600 ask me some other question, and do not seek to 114 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:50.199 know my race and family, or you will recall memories 115 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:53.800 that will yet more increase my sorrow. I am full 116 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:56.759 of heaviness. But I ought not to sit weeping and 117 00:06:56.839 --> 00:07:00.399 wailing in another person's house, Nor is it well to 118 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:04.120 be thus grieving continually. I shall have one of the 119 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:07.759 servants or even yourself, complaining of me and saying that 120 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:11.199 my eyes swim with tears because I am heavy with wine. 121 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:17.439 Then Penelope answered, stranger, Heaven robbed me of all beauty, 122 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:21.160 whether of face or figure, when the argive set sail 123 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:24.480 for Troy, and my dear husband with them. If he 124 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:27.480 were to return and look after my affairs, I should 125 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:30.199 be both more respected and should show a better presence 126 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:34.279 to the world. As it is, I am oppressed with 127 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:37.519 care and with the afflictions which Heaven has seen fit 128 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:41.319 to keep upon me. The chiefs from all our islands, 129 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:46.040 to Lycium, Sami, and Zycanthus, as also from Ithaca itself, 130 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.560 are wooing me against my will, and are wasting my estate. 131 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:54.079 I can therefore show no attention to strangers, nor suppliants, 132 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:57.160 nor to people who say that they are skilled artisans, 133 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:01.759 but am all the time broken hearted about ulysses. They 134 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:04.360 want me to marry again at once, and I have 135 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:08.279 to invent stratagems in order to deceive them. In the 136 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:10.839 first place, Heaven put it in my mind to set 137 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:13.439 up a great tamber frame in my room, and to 138 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:17.680 begin working upon an enormous piece of fine needlework. Then 139 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:22.759 I said to them, sweethearts, Ulysses is indeed dead. Still, 140 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:26.920 do not press me to marry again immediately, wait, for 141 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:30.079 I would not have my skill in Needlbork perish unrecorded 142 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:32.919 till I have finished making a pall for the hero 143 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:36.240 Laarites to be ready against the time when death shall 144 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:39.720 take him. He is very rich, and the women of 145 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:41.960 the place will talk if he is laid out without 146 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:45.799 a pall. This was what I said, and they assented. 147 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:49.600 Whereon I used to keep working at my great web 148 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:52.720 all day long, but at night I would unpick the 149 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:56.240 stitches again by torchlight. I fooled them in this way 150 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:59.600 for three years without their finding it out. But as 151 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:02.799 time and I was now in my fourth year in 152 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:05.759 the waning of moons, and many days had been accomplished, 153 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:09.039 those good for nothing hussies my maids betrayed me to 154 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:11.960 the suitors, who broke in upon me and caught me. 155 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:15.480 They were very angry with me, so I was forced 156 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:18.600 to finish my work, whether I would or no. And 157 00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:20.879 now I do not see how I can find another 158 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:24.360 further shift for getting out of this marriage. My parents 159 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:27.639 are putting great pressure upon me and my son Chafs 160 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:30.360 at the ravages the suitors are making upon his estate, 161 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.600 for he is now old enough to understand all about it, 162 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:36.399 and is perfectly able to look after his own affairs, 163 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:41.399 for Heaven has blessed him with an excellent disposition. Still, 164 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:44.759 notwithstanding all this, tell me who you are and where 165 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:47.399 you come from. For you must have had father and 166 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:50.080 mother of some sort. You cannot be the son of 167 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:55.360 an oak or of a rock, then, Ulysses, answered Madam, 168 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:59.240 wife of Ulysses. Since you persist in asking me about 169 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:02.720 my family, I will answer, no matter what it costs me. 170 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:06.639 People must expect to be pained when they have been 171 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:09.759 exiled as long as I have, and suffered as much 172 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:14.279 among as many peoples. Nevertheless, as regards your question, I 173 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:17.440 will tell you all you ask. There is a fair 174 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:20.799 and fruitful island in mid ocean called Crete. It is 175 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:24.639 thickly peopled, and there are ninety cities in it. The 176 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:28.559 people speak many different languages which overlap one another. For 177 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:33.000 there are Achaeans, brave et Eucretans, Dorians of threefold race, 178 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:37.159 and noble Pulaski. There is a great town there, Gnosus, 179 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:40.519 where Minus reigned, who every nine years had a conference 180 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:45.000 with Jove himself. Minus was father to Ducalian, whose son 181 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:49.480 I am for. Ducalian had two sons, I Dominaeus and myself. 182 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:53.799 I Dominaeus sailed for Troy, and I, who am the younger, 183 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:57.840 am called Athon. My brother, however, was at once the 184 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:01.399 older and the more valiant of the two. Hence it 185 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:05.440 was in Crete that I saw Ulysses and showed him hospitality, 186 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:08.200 for the winds. Took him there as he was on 187 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:11.080 his way to Troy, carrying him out of his course 188 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:14.480 from kate Malia and leaving him an Amnisis off the 189 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:17.759 cave of Ilithoia, where the harbors are difficult to enter, 190 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:20.159 and he could hardly find shelter from the winds that 191 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:23.879 were then raging. As soon as he got there, he 192 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:27.080 went into the town and asked for I Domineus, claiming 193 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:30.320 to be his old and valued friend. But I Domineus 194 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:32.919 had already set sail for Troy, some ten or twelve 195 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:35.840 days earlier. So I took him to my own house 196 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:39.080 and showed him every kind of hospitality, for I had 197 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:43.320 abundance of everything. Moreover, I fed the men who were 198 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:46.519 with him with barleymeal from the public store, and got 199 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:49.799 subscriptions of wine and oxen for them to sacrifice to 200 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:53.840 their heart's content. They stayed with me twelve days, for 201 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:56.720 there was a gale blowing from the north, so strong 202 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.200 that one could hardly keep one's feet on land. I 203 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:03.600 suppose some unfriendly God had raised it for them. But 204 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:06.759 on the thirteenth day the wind dropped and they got away. 205 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:12.279 Many a plausible tale did Ulysses further tell her, And 206 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:15.720 Penelope wept as she listened, for her heart was melted 207 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:19.000 as the snow wastes upon the mountain tops when the 208 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:22.000 winds from southeast and west have breathed upon it, and 209 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:24.799 thought it till the rivers run blank full with water. 210 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:28.919 Even so did her cheeks overflow with tears. For the husband, 211 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:32.799 who was all the time sitting by her side. Ulysses 212 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:35.519 felt for her and was sorry for her, But he 213 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:38.200 kept his eyes as hard as horn or iron, without 214 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:41.240 letting them so much as quiver. So cunningly did he 215 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:45.919 restrain his tears. Then, when she had relieved herself by weeping, 216 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:50.240 she turned to him again and said, now, stranger, I 217 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:52.440 shall put you to the test and see whether or 218 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:55.080 no you really did entertain my husband and his men 219 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:58.679 as you say you did tell me then how he 220 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:01.200 was dressed, what kind of a man he was to 221 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:07.440 look at, and so also with his companions. Madam answered, Ulysses, 222 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:10.279 it is such a long time ago that I can 223 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:13.799 hardly say twenty years are come and gone since he 224 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:17.519 left my home and went elsewhether, but I will tell 225 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:21.039 you as well as I can recollect. Ulysses wore a 226 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:25.000 mantle of purple wool, double lined, and it was fastened 227 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:27.639 by a gold brooch with two catches for the pin. 228 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:31.120 On the face of this there was a device that 229 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:34.200 showed a dog holding a spotted fawn between his fore 230 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:37.759 paws and watching it as it lay panting upon the ground. 231 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:41.240 Everyone marveled at the way in which these things had 232 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:44.120 been done in gold, the dog looking at the fawn 233 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:49.279 and strangling it, while the fawn was struggling convulsively to escape. 234 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:52.000 As for the shirt that he wore next his skin, 235 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:55.399 it was so soft that it fitted him like the 236 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:58.519 skin of an onion, and glistened in the sunlight, to 237 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:02.559 the admiration of all the women who beheld it. Furthermore, 238 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.440 I say, and laying my saying to your heart, that 239 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:08.039 I do not know whether Ulysses wore these clothes when 240 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:10.600 he left home, or whether one of his companions had 241 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:13.159 given them to him while he was on his voyage, 242 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:16.480 or possibly some one at whose house he was staying 243 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:18.960 made him a present of them, for he was a 244 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:22.799 man of many friends, and had few equals among the Achaeans. 245 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.519 I myself gave him a sword of bronze and a 246 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:30.159 beautiful purple mantle, double lined, with a shirt that went 247 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:32.759 down to his feet, and I sent him on board 248 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:35.879 his ship with every mark of honor. He had a 249 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:39.240 servant with him a little older than himself, and I 250 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:43.240 can tell you what he was like. His shoulders were hunched, 251 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:47.879 he was dark, and he had thick, curly hair. His 252 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:52.320 name was Eurybatees. And Ulysses treated him with greater familiarity 253 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:54.720 than he did any of the others, as being the 254 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:59.879 most like minded with himself. Penelope was moved still more 255 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:03.879 deeply as she heard the indisputable proofs that Ulysses laid 256 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:07.759 before her, And when she had again found relief in tears, 257 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:12.480 she said to him, stranger, I was already disposed to 258 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:15.759 pity you, but henceforth you shall be honored and made 259 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:19.440 welcome in my house. It was I who gave Ulysses 260 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:22.600 the clothes you speak of. I took them out of 261 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:25.720 the storeroom and folded them up myself, and gave him 262 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:29.840 also the gold brooch to wear as an ornament alas 263 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.559 I shall never welcome him home again. It was by 264 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.679 an ill fate that he ever set out for that 265 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:39.639 detested city, whose very name I cannot bring myself even 266 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:46.200 to mention. Then Ulysses answered, Madame, wife of Ulysses, do 267 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:50.480 not disfigure yourself further by grieving thus bitterly for your loss, 268 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:54.159 though I can hardly blame you for doing so. A 269 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:56.960 woman who has loved her husband and borne him children 270 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.399 would naturally be grieved at losing him, even though he 271 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:03.559 were a worse man than Ulysses, who they say was 272 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:07.759 like a god. Still, seize your tears and listen to 273 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:10.720 what I can tell you. I will hide nothing from you, 274 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.600 and can say with perfect truth that I have lately 275 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.440 heard of Ulysses as being alive and on his way home. 276 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:20.960 He is among the Thesperocians, and is bringing back much 277 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:23.960 valuable treasure that he has begged from one and another 278 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:27.240 of them. But his ship and all his crew were lost, 279 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:30.279 as they were leaving the the nation island, for Jove 280 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:32.559 and the Sun God were angry with him because his 281 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:35.600 men had slaughtered the Sun God's cattle, and they were 282 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:39.799 all drowned to a man. But Ulysses stuck to the 283 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:42.159 keel of the ship and was drifted on to the 284 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:44.879 land of the Phaeacians, who were near of kin to 285 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:47.639 the immortals, and who treated him as though he had 286 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:50.879 been a god, giving him many presents and wishing to 287 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:55.279 escort him home safe and sound. In fact, Ulysses would 288 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:57.960 have been here long ago had he not thought better 289 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:01.120 to go from land to land gathering wealth. For there 290 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:03.840 is no man living who is so wily as he is. 291 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:07.880 There is no one who can compare with him. Phadan, 292 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:10.839 king of the Thesprosians, told me all this, and he 293 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:13.839 swore to me, making drink offerings in his house as 294 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:16.599 he did. So that the ship was by the water side, 295 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.960 and the crew found who could take Ulysses to his 296 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:23.720 own country. He sent me off first, for there happened 297 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:26.680 to be a Thesperocian ship sailing for the wheat growing 298 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:29.720 island of Delythium. But he showed me all the treasure 299 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:32.839 Ulysses had got together, and he had enough lying in 300 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:35.079 the house of King Phaedan to keep his family for 301 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:40.160 ten generations. But the king said Ulysses had gone to Dodona, 302 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.839 that he might learn Jove's mind from the high oak 303 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:45.960 tree and know whether, after so long an absence, he 304 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.839 should return to Ithaca openly or in secret, so you 305 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:52.279 may know he is safe and will be here shortly. 306 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:55.599 He is close at hand and cannot remain away from 307 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:59.640 home much longer. Nevertheless, I will confirm my words with 308 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:02.240 an other, and call Jove, who is the first and 309 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:05.839 mightiest of all gods, to witness, as also that hearth 310 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:08.759 of Ulysses, to which I have now come, that all 311 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:13.279 I have spoken shall surely come to pass. Ulysses will 312 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:16.720 return in this self same year, with the end of 313 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:19.440 this moon and the beginning of the next, he will 314 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:25.160 be here. May it be even so, answered Penelope, if 315 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:28.400 your words come true, you shall have such gifts and 316 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:30.960 such good will from me that all who see you 317 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:34.680 shall congratulate you. But I know very well how it 318 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:39.759 will be. Ulysses will not return, neither will you get 319 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:43.640 your escort. Hence, for so surely as that Ulysses ever was, 320 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:47.079 there are now no longer any such masters in the house, 321 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.519 as he was to receive honorable strangers, or to further 322 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:54.160 them on their way home. And now you maids, wash 323 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:55.960 his feet for him, and make him a bed on 324 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.720 a couch with rugs and blankets, that he may be 325 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:03.279 warm and quiet till more. Then at daybreak, wash him 326 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:05.880 and anoint him again, that he may sit in the 327 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:09.519 cloister and take his meals with Telemachus. It shall be 328 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.799 the worse for any one of these hateful people who 329 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:14.880 is uncivil to him, Like it or not, he shall 330 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:18.839 have no more to do in this house. For how sir, 331 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:21.680 shall you be able to learn whether or no I 332 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:24.680 am superior to others of my sex, both in goodness 333 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:27.519 of heart and understanding, if I let you dine in 334 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:31.839 my cloister. Squalid and ill clad men live but for 335 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:35.279 a little season. If they are hard and deal hardly, 336 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:38.079 people wish them ill so long as they are alive, 337 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:42.039 as speak contemptuously of them when they are dead. But 338 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:45.480 he that is righteous and deals righteously, the people tell 339 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:48.680 of his praise among all lands, and many shall call 340 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:55.119 him blessed. Ulysses answered, Madam, I have forsworn rugs and 341 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:58.240 blankets from the day that I left the snowy ranges 342 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:01.319 of crete to go on shipboard. I will lie as 343 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:04.920 I have lain on many a sleepless night hitherto night 344 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:07.839 after night have I passed in any rough sleeping place 345 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:11.519 and waited for morning? Nor again do I like having 346 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:14.119 my feet washed. I shall not let any of the 347 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:17.559 young hussies about your house touch my feet. But if 348 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:20.160 you have any old and respectable woman who has gone 349 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.839 through as much trouble as I have, I will allow 350 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:28.000 her to wash them. To this Penelope, said my dear sir. 351 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:30.599 Of all the guests who have ever yet come to 352 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:33.440 my house, there never was one who spoke in all 353 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:37.400 things with such admirable propriety as you do. There happens 354 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:39.759 to be in the house a most respectable old woman, 355 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.880 the same who received my poor dear husband in her 356 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:46.200 arms the night he was born, and nursed him in infancy. 357 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:50.279 She is very feeble now, but she shall wash your feet. 358 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:55.480 Come here, said she, Euryclia, and wash your master's age. Mate. 359 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:58.799 I suppose Ulysses hands and feet are very much the 360 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:01.720 same now as his are. For trouble ages, all of 361 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:06.920 us dreadfully fast on these words The old woman covered 362 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:09.880 her face with her hands. She began to weep and 363 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:15.160 made lamentation, saying, my dear child, I cannot think whatever 364 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:17.960 I am to do with you. I am certain no 365 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:21.440 one was ever more god fearing than yourself, and yet 366 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:25.920 Jove hates you. No one in the whole world ever 367 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:29.880 burned him more thigh bones, nor gave him finer hecatombs. 368 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:32.519 When you prayed you might come to a green old 369 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:35.319 age yourself and see your son grow up to take 370 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:38.920 after you. Yet see how he has prevented you alone 371 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:41.880 from ever getting back to your own home. I have 372 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:45.000 no doubt the women in some foreign place which Ulysses 373 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:47.720 has got to are gibing at him, as all these 374 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:51.279 sluts here have been gibing at you. I do not 375 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:53.880 wonder at your not choosing to let them wash you 376 00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:57.559 after the manner in which they have insulted you. I 377 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:01.240 will wash your feet myself gladly enough, as Penelope has 378 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:03.880 said that I am to do so. I will wash 379 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:07.079 them both for Penelope's sake and for your own. For 380 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:10.079 you have raised the most lively feelings of compassion in 381 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:14.880 my mind. And let me say this moreover, which pray 382 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:18.240 attend to we have had all kinds of strangers in 383 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:21.880 distress come here before now, But I make bold to 384 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.480 say that no one ever yet came who is so 385 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:27.839 like Ulysses in figure, voice and feet as you are. 386 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:33.240 Those who have seen us both answered, Ulysses have always 387 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:36.400 said we were wonderfully like each other, and now you 388 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:40.319 have noticed it too. Then the old woman took the 389 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:42.519 cauldron in which she was going to wash his feet, 390 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:45.920 and poured plenty of cold water into it, adding hot 391 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:50.240 till the bath was warm enough. Ulysses sat by the fire, 392 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:53.759 but ere long he turned away from the light, for 393 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:56.240 it occurred to him that when the old woman had 394 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:59.359 hold of his leg, she would recognize a certain scar 395 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:04.599 which had whereon the whole truth would come out. And indeed, 396 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:07.880 as soon as she began washing her master, she at 397 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:10.480 once knew the scar as one that had been given 398 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:13.039 him by a wild boar when he was hunting on 399 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:17.119 Mount Parnassus with his excellent grandfather, Aetolicus, who was the 400 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:20.680 most accomplished thief and perjurer in the whole world, and 401 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:25.480