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Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in

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the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit

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LibriVox dot org. The Odyssey by Homer, as translated by

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Samuel Butler, Book twenty four, The Ghosts of the Suitors

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in Hades, Ulysses and his men go to the house

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of Laertes. The people of Ithaca come out to attack Ulysses,

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but Minerva concludes a peace. Then Mercury of Silen summoned

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the ghosts of the suitors, and in his hand he

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held the fair golden wand with which he seals men's

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eyes in sleep, or wakes them just as he pleases.

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With this, he roused the ghosts and led them, while

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they followed, whining and gibbering behind him, as bats fly

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squealing in the hollow of some great cave when one

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of them has fallen out of the cluster in which

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they hang. Even so did the ghosts whine and squeal

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as Mercury, the Healer of sorrow, led them down to

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the dark abode of death. When they had passed the

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waters of Oceanus and the roc Leaulchus, they came to

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the gates of the Sun and the land of dreams,

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whereon they reached the meadow of Asphodel, where dwell the

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souls and shadows of them that can labor no more.

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Here they found the ghost of Achilles, son of Pelius,

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with those of Patroclus and Telochlus, and Ajax, who was

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the finest and handsomest man of all the Danians, after

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the son of Pelias himself. They gathered round the ghost

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of the son of Pelias, and the ghost of Agamemnon

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joined them, sorrowing bitterly. Round him were also gathered the

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ghosts of those who had perished with him in the

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house of Ajastus, and the ghost of Achilles spoke first,

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son of Atreus, It said, we used to say that

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Jove had loved you better from the first to last

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than any other hero. For you were captain over many

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and brave men when we were all fighting together before Troy.

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Yet the hand of death, which no mortal can escape,

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was laid upon you all too early. Better for you

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had you fallen at Troy in the heyday of your renown,

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for the Achaeans would have built a mound over your ashes,

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and your son would have been heir to your good name,

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whereas it has now been your lot to come to

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a most miserable end. Happy son of Pelias, answered the

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ghost of Agamemnon, for having died at Troy, far from Argos,

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while the bravest of the Trojans and the Achaans fell

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round you fighting for your body. There you lay in

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the whirling clouds of dust, all huge and hugely heedless.

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Now of your chivalry, we fought the whole of the

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livelong day. Nor should we ever have left off if

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Jove had not sent a hurricane to stay us. Then,

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when we had borne you to the ships out of

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the fray, we laid you on your bed and cleansed

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your fair skin with warm water and with ointments. The

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Danaeans tore their hair and wept bitterly round about you.

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Your mother, when she heard, came with her immortal nymphs

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from out of the sea, and the sound of a

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great wailing went forth over the waters, so that the

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Achaeans quaked for fear. They would have fled, panic stricken

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to their ships, had not wise old Nestor, whose counsel

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was ever truest, checked them, saying, hold argives fly not

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sons of the Achaeans, this is his mother, coming from

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the sea with her immortal nymphs to view the body

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of her son. Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans feared

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no more. The daughters of the old Man of the

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Sea stood round you, weeping bitterly, and clothed you in

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immortal raiment. The nine muses also came and lifted up

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their sweet voices in lament, calling and answering one another.

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There was not an argive, but wept for pity of

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the dirge. They chanted days and nights, seven and ten.

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We mourned you, mortals and immortals. But on the eighteenth

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day we gave you to the flames. And many a

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fat sheep, with many an ox did we slay in sacrifice.

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Around you. You were burnt in raiment of the gods,

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with rich resins and with honey, while heroes horse and

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foot clashed their armor round the pile, as you were

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burning with a tramp, as of a great multitude. But

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when the flames of heaven had done their work, we

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gathered your white bones at daybreak and laid them in

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ointments and in pure wine. Your mother brought us a

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golden vase to hold them. Gift of Bacchus, and work

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of Vulcan himself. In this we mingled your bleached bones

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with those of Patroclus who had gone before you, and

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separate we enclosed also those of Antilochus, who had been

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closer to you than any other of your comrades. Now

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that Protroclus was no more over these, the host of

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the archives built a noble tomb from a point jutting

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out over the open Hellespont, that it might be seen

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from far out upon the sea by those now living

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and by them that shall be born hereafter, your mother

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begged prizes from the gods and offered them to be

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contended for by the noblest of the Achaeans. You must

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have been present at the funeral of many a hero,

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when the young men gird themselves and make ready to

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contend for prizes on the death of some great chieftain.

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But you never saw such prizes as silver footed Thetis

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offered in your honor, For the gods loved you well. Thus,

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even in death, your fame, Achilles, has not been lost,

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and your name lives evermore among all mankind. But as

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for me, what solace had I when the days of

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my fighting were done? For Jove willed my destruction on

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my return by the hands of Agisthus and those of

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my wicked wife. Thus did they converse, and presently Mercury

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came up to them with the ghosts of the suitors

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who had been killed by Ulysses. The ghosts of Agamemnon

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and Achilles were astonished at seeing them, and went up

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to them. At once. The ghost of Agamemnon recognized Amphemedon,

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son of Melanaeus, who lived in Ithaca and had been

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his host, So it began to talk to him. Amphemiedon

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it said, what has happened to all you fine young men,

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all of an age too? That you come down here

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under the ground. One could pick no finder body of

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men from any city. Did Neptum raise his winds and

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waves against you when you were at sea? Or did

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your enemies make an end of you on the mainland

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when you were cattle lifting or sheep stealing, or while

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fighting in defense of your wives and city? Answer my question,

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for I have been your guest. Do you not remember

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how I came to your house with Menelaeus to persuade

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Ulysses to join us with his ships against Troy. It

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was a whole month ere we could resume our voyage,

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for we had hard work to persuade Ulysses to come

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with us. And the ghost of Amphemedon answered Agamemnon, son

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of Atreus, king of Men, I remember everything that you

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have said, and will tell you fully and accurately about

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the way in which our end was brought about. Lysses

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had been long gone, and we were courting his wife,

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who did not say point blank that she would not

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marry nor yet bring matters to an end, for she

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meant to compass our destruction. This then, was the trick

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she played on us. She set up a great tambour

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frame in her room and began to work on an

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enormous piece of fine needlework. Sweethearts, said she, Ulysses, and

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indeed dead, still, do not press me to marry again

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immediately wait, for I would not have my skill in

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needlework perish unrecorded till I have completed a pall for

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the hero Laertes, against the time when death shall take him.

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He is very rich, and the women of the place

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will talk if he is laid out without a pall.

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This is what she said, and we assented. Whereupon we

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could see her working upon on her great web all

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day long, but at night she would unpick the stitches

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again by torchlight. She fooled us in this way for

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three years without our finding it out. But as time

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wore on, and she was now in her fourth year

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in the waning of moons, and many days had been accomplished,

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one of her maids, who knew what she was doing,

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told us, and we caught her in the act of

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undoing her work. So she had to finish it, whether

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she would or no. And when she showed us the

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robe she had made after she had had it washed,

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its splendor was as that of the sun or moon.

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Then some malicious god conveyed Ulysses to the upland farm

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where his swineherd lives. Thither presently came also his son,

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returning from a voyage to Pylos, and the two came

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to the town when they had had hatched their plot

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for our destruction. Telemachus came first, and then after him,

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accompanied by the swinnard, came Ulysses, clad in rags and

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leaning on a staff, as though he were some miserable

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old beggar. He came so unexpectedly that none of us

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knew him, not even the older ones among us, and

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we reviled him and threw things at him. He endured

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both being struck and insulted, without a word, though he

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was in his own house. But when the will of

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aegis bearing Jove inspired him, he and Telemachus took the

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armor and hid it in an inner chamber, bolting the

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doors behind them. Then he cunningly made his wife offer

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his bow and a quantity of iron, to be contended

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for by us ill fated soars. And this was the

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beginning of our end. For not one of us could

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string the bow, nor nearly do so. When it was

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about to reach the hands of Ulysses, we all of

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us shouted out that it should not be given him,

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no matter what he might say. But Telemachus insisted on

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his having it. When he had got it in his hands,

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he strung it with ease and sent his arrow through

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the iron. Then he stood on the floor the cloister

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and poured his arrows on the ground, glaring fiercely about him.

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First he killed Antinous, and then, aiming straight before him,

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he let fly his deadly darts, and they fell thick

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on one another. It was plain that some one of

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the gods was helping them, for they fell upon us

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with might and main throughout the cloisters, and there was

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a hideous sound of groaning, as our brains were being

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battered in and the ground seethed with our blood. This, Agamemnon,

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is how we came by our end. And our bodies

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are lying still uncared for in the house of Ulysses,

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for our friends at home do not yet know what

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has happened, so that they cannot lay us out and

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wash the black blood from our wounds, making moan over

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us to the offices due to the departed, Happy Ulysses,

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son of Laertes, replied the ghost of Agamemnon, you are

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indeed blessed in the possession of a wife endowed with

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such rare excellence of understanding, and so faithful to her

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wedded lord as Penelope, the daughter of Ecarius. The fame

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therefore of her virtue shall never die, and the immortals

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shall compose a song that shall be welcome to all

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mankind in honor of the constancy of Penelope. How far

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otherwise was the wickedness of the daughter of Tyndareus, who

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killed her lawful husband. Her song shall be hateful among men,

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for she has brought disgrace on all womankind, even on

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the good ones. Thus did they converse in the house

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of Hades, deep down within the bowels of the earth. Meanwhile,

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Ulysses and the others passed out of the town and

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soon reached the fair and well tilled farm of Laertes,

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which he had reclaimed with infinite labor. Here was his house,

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with a lean to running all round it, where the

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slaves who worked for him slept and sat and ate,

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while inside them there was an old sy cell woman

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who looked after him in this his country farm. When

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Ulysses got there, he said to his son and to

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the other two, go to the house and kill the

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best pig that you can find for dinner. Meanwhile, I

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want to see whether my father will know me or

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fail to recognize me after so long an absence. He

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then took off his armor and gave it to Eumaeus

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and Philoetius, who went straight on to the house, while

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he turned off into the vineyard to make trial of

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his father. As he went down into the great orchard,

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he did not see Dolius, nor any of his sons,

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nor of the other bondsmen, for they were all gathering

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thorns to make offense for the vineyard at the place

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where the old man had told them. He therefore found

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his father alone, hoeing a vine. He had on a

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dirty old shirt, patched and very shabby. His legs were

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bound round with thongs of ox hide to save him

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from the brambles, and he also wore sleeves of leather.

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He had a goat skin cap on his head, and

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was looking very woebegone. When Ulysses saw him, so worn,

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so old, and full of sorrow, he stood still under

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a tall pear tree, and began to weep. He doubted

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whether to embrace him, kiss him, and tell him all

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about his having come home, or whether he should first

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question him and see what he would say. In the end,

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he deemed it best to be crafty with him. So

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in this mind he went up to his father, who

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was bending down and digging about a plant. I see, sir,

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00:16:56,879 --> 00:17:01,639
said Ulysses, that you are an excellent guard. What pains

235
00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:04,119
you take with it? To be sure? There is not

236
00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,839
a single plant, not a fig tree, vine, olive, pear,

237
00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,759
nor flower bed, but bears the trace of your attention.

238
00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:17,000
I trust, however, that you will not be offended if

239
00:17:17,039 --> 00:17:20,119
I say that you take better care of your garden

240
00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:25,640
than of yourself. You are old, a savory, and very

241
00:17:25,759 --> 00:17:29,640
meanly clad. It cannot be because you are idle that

242
00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:34,400
your master takes such poor care of you. Indeed, your

243
00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,519
face and figure have nothing of the slave about them,

244
00:17:38,039 --> 00:17:41,920
and proclaim you of noble birth. I should have said

245
00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,440
that you were one of those who should wash well,

246
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:48,640
eat well, and lie soft at night, as old men

247
00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,799
have a right to do. But tell me, and tell

248
00:17:51,839 --> 00:17:56,759
me true, whose bondsman are you and in whose garden

249
00:17:56,799 --> 00:18:00,759
are you working? Tell me also about another manner. Is

250
00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:03,960
this place that I have come to really Ithaca? I

251
00:18:04,039 --> 00:18:06,640
met a man just now who said so. But he

252
00:18:06,759 --> 00:18:09,640
was a dull fellow and had not the patience to

253
00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,279
hear my story out when I was asking him about

254
00:18:12,279 --> 00:18:15,160
an old friend of mine, whether he was still living

255
00:18:15,759 --> 00:18:18,519
or was already dead and in the house of Hades.

256
00:18:19,559 --> 00:18:22,359
Believe me when I tell you that this man came

257
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,240
to my house once when I was in my own country,

258
00:18:25,839 --> 00:18:29,680
and never did yet any stranger come to me whom

259
00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:34,599
I liked better. He said that his family came from Ithaca,

260
00:18:34,759 --> 00:18:40,359
and that his father was Laertes, son of Arsasius. I

261
00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:44,519
received him hospitably, making him welcome to all the abundance

262
00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:47,720
of my house. And when he went away, I gave

263
00:18:47,799 --> 00:18:52,200
him all the customary presents. I gave him seven talents

264
00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,759
of fine gold and a cup of solid silver with

265
00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,400
flowers chased upon it. I gave him twelve of light

266
00:19:00,519 --> 00:19:04,440
cloaks and as many pieces of tapestry. I also gave

267
00:19:04,519 --> 00:19:10,759
him twelve cloaks of single fold, twelve rugs, twelve fair mantles,

268
00:19:10,799 --> 00:19:14,039
and an equal number of shirts. To all this, I

269
00:19:14,079 --> 00:19:17,960
added four good looking women, skilled in all useful arts,

270
00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:23,160
and I let him take his choice. His father shed

271
00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:28,000
tears and answered, Sir, you have indeed come to the

272
00:19:28,039 --> 00:19:31,759
country that you have named, but it has fallen into

273
00:19:31,799 --> 00:19:36,519
the hands of wicked people. All this wealth of presents

274
00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,359
has been given to no purpose. If you could have

275
00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:43,680
found your friend here alive in Ithaca, he would have

276
00:19:43,799 --> 00:19:48,000
entertained you hospitably, and would have requited your presence amply

277
00:19:48,079 --> 00:19:51,440
when you left him, as would have been only right

278
00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:56,079
considering what you had already given him. But tell me,

279
00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:00,279
and tell me true, how many years is its since

280
00:20:00,279 --> 00:20:05,480
you entertained this guest? My unhappy son as ever was

281
00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:11,000
alas he has perished far from his own country, the

282
00:20:11,079 --> 00:20:14,519
fishes of the sea have eaten him, or he has

283
00:20:14,599 --> 00:20:17,759
fallen a prey to the birds and wild beasts of

284
00:20:17,839 --> 00:20:22,960
some continent. Neither his mother nor I his father, who

285
00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:27,000
were his parents, could throw our arms about him and

286
00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:31,559
wrap him in his shroud. Nor could his excellent and

287
00:20:31,759 --> 00:20:37,400
richly dowered wife, Penelope bewail her husband as was natural

288
00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,279
upon his deathbed, and to close his eyes according to

289
00:20:41,319 --> 00:20:47,640
the offices due to the departed. But now tell me truly,

290
00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,039
for I want to know who and whence are you.

291
00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,039
Tell me of your town and parents. Where is the

292
00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,400
ship lying that has brought you and your men to Ithaca?

293
00:20:59,039 --> 00:21:02,480
Or were you a passenger on some other man's ship,

294
00:21:02,799 --> 00:21:05,599
and those who brought you here have gone on their

295
00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:11,200
way and left you. I will tell you everything, answered, Ulysses,

296
00:21:11,599 --> 00:21:15,720
quite truly. I come from Alibis, where I have a

297
00:21:15,759 --> 00:21:20,759
fine house. I am son of King Ephadus, who is

298
00:21:20,799 --> 00:21:26,880
the son of Polypemmon. My own name is Apparatus. Heaven

299
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,720
drove me off my course as I was leaving Psyrcania,

300
00:21:31,039 --> 00:21:34,920
and I have been carried here against my will, as

301
00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:38,240
for my ship. It is lying over yonder off the

302
00:21:38,279 --> 00:21:41,920
open country outside the town. And this is the fifth

303
00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:47,599
year since Ulysses left my country, poor fellow. Yet the

304
00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,480
omens were good for him when he left me. The

305
00:21:50,559 --> 00:21:54,079
birds all flew on our right hands, and both he

306
00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:57,599
and I rejoiced to see them as we parted, for

307
00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,079
we had every hope that we should have another friendly

308
00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:06,559
meeting and exchange presence. A dark cloud of sorrow fell

309
00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:11,160
upon Laertes as he listened. He filled both hands with

310
00:22:11,519 --> 00:22:14,599
dust from off the ground and poured it over his

311
00:22:14,759 --> 00:22:19,920
gray head, groaning heavily as he did so. The heart

312
00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:24,519
of Ulysses was touched and his nostrils quivered as he

313
00:22:24,559 --> 00:22:29,759
looked upon his father. Then he sprang towards him, flung

314
00:22:29,839 --> 00:22:34,279
his arms about him, and kissed him, saying, I am

315
00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,799
he father about whom you are asking. I have returned

316
00:22:38,839 --> 00:22:43,240
after having been away for twenty years. But cease your

317
00:22:43,279 --> 00:22:46,920
sighing and lamentation, for we have no time to lose.

318
00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:49,680
For I should tell you that I have been killing

319
00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,839
the suitors in my house to punish them for their

320
00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:59,920
insolence and crimes. If you really are my son, Ulysses replied,

321
00:23:01,079 --> 00:23:04,680
and have come back again. You must give me such

322
00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:12,680
manifest proof of your identity shall convince me. First observe

323
00:23:12,839 --> 00:23:17,119
this scar, answered Ulysses, which I got from a Boeres

324
00:23:17,279 --> 00:23:22,000
tusk when I was hunting on Mount Parnassus. You and

325
00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,319
my mother had sent me to Autolaichus, my mother's father,

326
00:23:26,039 --> 00:23:29,480
to receive the presence which when he was over here

327
00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:33,279
he had promised to give me. Furthermore, I will point

328
00:23:33,319 --> 00:23:36,359
out to you the trees and the vineyard which you

329
00:23:36,519 --> 00:23:39,599
gave me, and I asked you all about them. As

330
00:23:39,599 --> 00:23:43,200
I followed you round the garden. We went over them all,

331
00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,599
and you told me their names and what they all were.

332
00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,799
You gave me thirteen pear trees, ten apple trees, and

333
00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,880
forty fig trees. You also said you would give me

334
00:23:56,079 --> 00:24:00,680
fifty rows of vines. There was corn planted between each row,

335
00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,200
and they yield grapes of every kind when the heat

336
00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:09,480
of heaven has been laid heavy upon them. Laerti's strength

337
00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,240
failed him when he heard the convincing proofs which his

338
00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:17,240
son had given him. He threw his arms about him,

339
00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,680
and Ulysses had to support him or he would have

340
00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,799
gone off into a swoon. But as soon as he

341
00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:29,640
came too, and was beginning to recover his senses. He said, oh,

342
00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:35,400
Father Jove, then you gods are still in Olympus after all,

343
00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,559
if the suitors have really been punished for their insolence

344
00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:45,079
and folly. Nevertheless, I am much afraid that I shall

345
00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:49,079
have all the townspeople of Ithaca up here directly, and

346
00:24:49,279 --> 00:24:53,480
they will be sending messengers everywhere throughout the cities of

347
00:24:53,519 --> 00:24:58,920
the Cephallenians. Ulysses answered, take heart, and do not trouble

348
00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:02,079
yourself about that. But let us go into the house

349
00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,920
hard by your garden. I have already told Telemachus, Philoetius,

350
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,319
and Eumaeus to go on there and get dinner ready

351
00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:14,799
as soon as possible. Thus conversing, the two made their

352
00:25:14,839 --> 00:25:18,039
way towards the house. When they got there, they found

353
00:25:18,039 --> 00:25:21,599
Telemachus with the stockman and the swinnard, cutting up meat

354
00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:26,319
and mixing wine with water. Then the old size sell

355
00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:30,519
woman took Layertes inside and washed him and anointed him

356
00:25:30,519 --> 00:25:34,480
with oil. She put him on a good cloak, and

357
00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,039
Minerve came up to him and gave him a more

358
00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:42,519
imposing presence, making him taller and stouter than before. When

359
00:25:42,519 --> 00:25:44,960
he came back his son was surprised to see him

360
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,240
looking so like an immortal, and said to him, my

361
00:25:49,319 --> 00:25:52,799
dear father, some one of the gods has been making

362
00:25:52,839 --> 00:26:00,640
you much taller and better looking. Laertis answered would by Father, Jove, Minerva,

363
00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,960
and Apollo, that I were the man I was when

364
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:09,319
I ruled among the Cephallenians and took Nerikum, that strong

365
00:26:09,519 --> 00:26:13,000
fortress on the foreland. If I were still what I

366
00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,319
then was, and had been in our house yesterday with

367
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,799
my armor on, I should have been able to stand

368
00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:24,200
by you and help you against the suitors. I should

369
00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,960
have killed a great many of them, and you would

370
00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:32,160
have rejoiced to see it. Thus did they converse, but

371
00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,559
the others, when they had finished their work, and when

372
00:26:34,559 --> 00:26:38,160
the feast was ready, left off working, and took each

373
00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,839
his proper place on the benches and seats. Then they

374
00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:46,359
began eating by and bye. Old Dolius and his sons

375
00:26:46,799 --> 00:26:50,839
left their work and came up for their mother. The Sisol,

376
00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,480
woman who looked after Laertes now that he was growing old,

377
00:26:55,079 --> 00:26:58,599
had been to fetch them. When they saw Ulysses and

378
00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:03,279
were certain it was they stood there lost in astonishment,

379
00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:09,039
but Ulysses scolded them good naturedly, and said, sit down

380
00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:12,960
to your dinner, old man, and never mind about your surprise.

381
00:27:13,599 --> 00:27:16,319
We have been wanting to begin for some time and

382
00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:20,799
have been waiting for you. Then Dulius put out both

383
00:27:20,799 --> 00:27:25,200
his hands and went up to Ulysses, Sir, said, he

384
00:27:25,319 --> 00:27:28,480
seizing his master's hand and kissing it at the wrist.

385
00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:33,119
We have been long wishing you home, and now Heaven

386
00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:37,000
has restored you to us, after we had given up hoping.

387
00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:43,559
All hail therefore, and may the gods prosper you. But

388
00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:48,079
tell me, does Penelope know of your return? Or shall

389
00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:53,240
we send some one to tell her? Old man answered Ulysses,

390
00:27:53,839 --> 00:27:57,000
she knows already, so you need not trouble about that.

391
00:27:58,079 --> 00:28:00,680
On this he took his seat, and the sons of

392
00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:05,079
Dolius gathered round Ulysses to give him greeting and embrace him,

393
00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,839
one after the other. Then they took their seats in

394
00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:13,880
due order near Dolius their father. While they were thus

395
00:28:14,039 --> 00:28:18,720
busy getting their dinner ready, rumor went round the town

396
00:28:19,079 --> 00:28:23,880
and noised abroad the terrible fate that had befallen the suitors.

397
00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,319
As soon therefore, as the people heard of it, they

398
00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:31,839
gathered from every quarter groaning and hooting before the house

399
00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:36,640
of Ulysses. They took the dead away, buried every man

400
00:28:36,759 --> 00:28:39,559
his own, and put the bodies of those who came

401
00:28:39,599 --> 00:28:43,839
from elsewhere on board the fishing vessels, for the fishermen

402
00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:47,359
to take each of them to his own place. They

403
00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:50,920
then met angrily in the place of assembly, and when

404
00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:55,920
they were got together, Eupaiethes rose to speak. He was

405
00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,920
overwhelmed with grief for the death of his son Antinou,

406
00:29:01,079 --> 00:29:04,839
who had been the first man killed by Ulysses. So

407
00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:10,960
he said, weeping bitterly, my friends, this man has done

408
00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:15,640
the Achaeans great wrong. He took many of our best

409
00:29:15,799 --> 00:29:18,279
men away with him in his fleet, and he has

410
00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:24,400
lost both ships and men. Now moreover, on his return

411
00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:28,400
he has been killing all the foremost men among the Cecealenians.

412
00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:33,359
Let us be up and doing before he can get

413
00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:37,279
away to Pylos or to Ellis, where the Apians rule,

414
00:29:38,279 --> 00:29:43,519
or we shall be ashamed of ourselves forever afterwards. It

415
00:29:43,559 --> 00:29:47,039
will be an everlasting disgrace to us if we do

416
00:29:47,119 --> 00:29:52,119
not avenge the murder of our sons and brothers. For

417
00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,880
my own part, I should have no more pleasure in life,

418
00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:01,839
but had rather die at once let us up then

419
00:30:02,559 --> 00:30:06,039
and after them before they could cross over to the

420
00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:10,920
main land. He wept as he spoke, and every one

421
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:16,559
pitied him. But Madawn and the barred Fhemius had now

422
00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:20,119
woke up and came to them from the house of Ulysses.

423
00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,440
Every one was astonished at seeing them, for they stood

424
00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:29,279
in the middle of the assembly, and medon, said hear me,

425
00:30:29,279 --> 00:30:34,119
men of Ithaca, Ulysses did not do these things against

426
00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:38,319
the will of Heaven. I myself saw and immortal God

427
00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:43,200
take the form of Mentor and stand beside him. This

428
00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:47,119
God appeared now in front of him, encouraging him, and

429
00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:51,359
now going furiously about the court and attacking the suitors,

430
00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:57,000
whereon they fell thick on one another on this pale

431
00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:02,319
Fear laid hold of them, and old halethurses son of Mastor,

432
00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:06,240
rose to speak, for he was the only man among

433
00:31:06,279 --> 00:31:10,960
them who knew both past and future. So he spoke

434
00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:17,440
to them plainly and in all honesty, saying, men of Ithaca,

435
00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:20,839
it is all your own fault that things have turned

436
00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,920
out as they have. You would not listen to me,

437
00:31:25,039 --> 00:31:28,640
nor yet to Mentor, when he bade you check the

438
00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,920
folly of your sons, who were doing much wrong in

439
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:37,079
the wantonness of their hearts, wasting the substance, and dishonoring

440
00:31:37,119 --> 00:31:43,160
the wife of a chieftain, who they thought would not return. Now, however,

441
00:31:43,839 --> 00:31:47,359
let it be as I say, and do as I

442
00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:52,200
tell you. Do not go out against ulysses, or you

443
00:31:52,279 --> 00:31:55,279
may find that you have been drawing down evil on

444
00:31:55,480 --> 00:32:00,799
your own heads. That was what he said, And more

445
00:32:00,839 --> 00:32:05,000
than half raised a loud shout, and at once left

446
00:32:05,119 --> 00:32:09,839
the assembly, But the rest stayed where they were, for

447
00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:15,400
the speech of Halethurses displeased them, and they sided with Eupaiethes.

448
00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,880
They therefore hurried off for their armor, and when they

449
00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:23,559
had armed themselves, they met together in front of the city,

450
00:32:24,119 --> 00:32:28,599
and Eupaiethes led them on. In their folly, he thought

451
00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:31,039
he was going to avenge the murder of his son,

452
00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:36,359
whereas in truth he was never to return, but was

453
00:32:36,519 --> 00:32:43,720
himself to perish in his attempt. Then Minerva said to Jove, father,

454
00:32:44,519 --> 00:32:48,839
son of Saturn, king of Kings, answer me this question,

455
00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:53,200
what do you propose to do? Will you set them

456
00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:57,240
fighting still further? Or will you make peace between them?

457
00:32:58,599 --> 00:33:02,960
And Jove answered, my child, why should you ask me?

458
00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,319
Was it not by your own arrangement that Ulysses came

459
00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:12,680
home and took his revenge upon the suitors. Do whatever

460
00:33:12,759 --> 00:33:16,240
you like, but I will tell you what I think

461
00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:21,960
will be the most reasonable arrangement. Now that Ulysses is revenged,

462
00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:26,920
let them swear to a solemn covenant in virtue of

463
00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:31,319
which he shall continue to rule, while we cause the

464
00:33:31,359 --> 00:33:35,759
others to forgive and forget the massacre of their sons

465
00:33:35,799 --> 00:33:40,680
and brothers. Let them then all become friends as heretofore,

466
00:33:41,359 --> 00:33:47,160
and let peace and plenty reign. This was what Minerva

467
00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:50,960
was already eager to bring about, so down she darted

468
00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:57,240
from off the topmost summits of Olympus. Now, when Laertes

469
00:33:57,279 --> 00:34:00,680
and the others had done dinner, Ulysses began and by saying,

470
00:34:01,559 --> 00:34:03,839
some of you, go out and see if they are

471
00:34:03,839 --> 00:34:07,519
not getting close up to us. So one of Dolis's

472
00:34:07,559 --> 00:34:12,079
sons went, as he was bid. Standing on the threshold,

473
00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:16,239
he could see them all quite near, and said to Ulysses,

474
00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,840
here they are, Let us put on our armor at once.

475
00:34:21,119 --> 00:34:23,440
They put on their armor as fast as they could,

476
00:34:24,119 --> 00:34:27,280
that is to say, Ulysses, his three men, and the

477
00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:32,400
six sons of Dolius. Laertes also and Dolius did the

478
00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:36,960
same warriors by necessity in spite of their gray hair.

479
00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:41,199
When they had all put on their armor, they opened

480
00:34:41,199 --> 00:34:46,519
the gate and sallied forth, Ulysses leading the way. Then

481
00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,400
Jove's daughter Minerva came up to them, having assumed the

482
00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:54,800
form and voice of mentor. Ulysses was glad when he

483
00:34:54,840 --> 00:35:00,400
saw her, and said to his son Telemachus, Telemachus, now

484
00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:03,800
that you are about to fight in an engagement which

485
00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:08,159
will show every man's mettle, be sure not to disgrace

486
00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:13,000
your ancestors, who were eminent for their strength and courage

487
00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:18,079
all the world over. You say truly, my dear father,

488
00:35:18,639 --> 00:35:22,719
answered Telemachus, and you shall see if you will, that

489
00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:28,000
I am in no mind to disgrace your family. Laertes

490
00:35:28,159 --> 00:35:32,000
was delighted when he heard this. Good Heavens, he exclaimed,

491
00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:36,679
what a day I am enjoying. I do indeed rejoice

492
00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:41,039
at it. My son and grandson are vine with one

493
00:35:41,039 --> 00:35:46,920
another in the matter of valor. On this, Minerva came

494
00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:51,519
close up to him and said, son of Arcissius, best

495
00:35:51,599 --> 00:35:54,800
friend I have in the world. Pray to the blue

496
00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:59,079
eyed damsel and to Jove her father. Then poise your

497
00:35:59,199 --> 00:36:05,360
spear and hurl it. As she spoke, she infused fresh

498
00:36:05,519 --> 00:36:08,760
vigor into him, and when he had prayed to her,

499
00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:15,519
he poised his spear and hurled it. He hit Eupaethe's helmet,

500
00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:19,480
and the spear went right through it, for the helmet

501
00:36:19,559 --> 00:36:23,639
stayed it not, and the armor rang rattling round him

502
00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:28,599
as he fell heavily to the ground. Meanwhile, Ulysses and

503
00:36:28,639 --> 00:36:31,159
his son fell upon the front line of the foe

504
00:36:31,679 --> 00:36:36,280
and smote them with their swords and spears. Indeed, they

505
00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,239
would have killed every one of them and prevented them

506
00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:43,599
from ever getting home again. Only Minerva raised her voice

507
00:36:43,639 --> 00:36:48,880
aloud and made everyone pause. Men of Ithaca, She cried,

508
00:36:49,679 --> 00:36:53,519
cease this dreadful war, and settle the matter at once

509
00:36:53,760 --> 00:37:01,159
without further bloodshed. On this pale, fear seized every one.

510
00:37:02,079 --> 00:37:05,840
They were so frightened that their arms dropped from their

511
00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:09,320
hands and fell upon the ground at the sound of

512
00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,960
the goddess's voice, and they fled back to the city

513
00:37:13,039 --> 00:37:18,280
for their lives. But Ulysses gave a great cry, and,

514
00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:24,280
gathering himself together, swooped down like a soaring eagle. Then

515
00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:28,519
the son of Saturn sent a thunderbolt of fire that

516
00:37:28,679 --> 00:37:34,480
fell just in front of Minerva. So she said to Ulysses, Ulysses,

517
00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:41,119
noble son of Laertes, stop this warful strife, or Jove

518
00:37:41,239 --> 00:37:48,079
will be angry with you. Thus spoke Minerva, and Ulysses

519
00:37:48,119 --> 00:37:53,880
obeyed her gladly. Then Minerva assumed the form and voice

520
00:37:53,920 --> 00:38:00,599
of Mentor, and presently made a covenant of peace between

521
00:38:00,639 --> 00:38:08,920
the two contending parties. End of Book twenty four and

522
00:38:09,239 --> 00:38:16,559
End of the Odyssey by Homer, as translated by Samuel Butler,

523
00:38:17,159 --> 00:38:22,559
read by Dennis Sayers and Modesto, California, for LibriVox Fall,

524
00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:24,880
two thousand and six