WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:05.759 Book twenty four of the Odyssey by Homer, translated by 2 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:09.880 Samuel Butler. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. 3 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:15.960 The Odyssey Book twenty four The Ghosts of the Suitors 4 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:19.120 in Hades, Ulysses and his men go to the house 5 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:23.079 of Laertes. The people of Ithaca come out to attack Ulysses, 6 00:00:23.399 --> 00:00:28.519 but Minerva concludes a peace. Then Mercury of Celini some 7 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:31.440 of the ghosts of the suitors, and in his hand 8 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:34.320 he held a fair golden wand, with which he seals 9 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:37.719 men's eyes in sleep, or wakes them just as he pleases. 10 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:41.679 With this, he roused the ghosts and led them, while 11 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:45.200 they followed, whining and gibbering behind him, as bats fly 12 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:48.359 screening in the hollow of some great cave when one 13 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:50.359 of them has fallen out of the cluster in which 14 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:53.799 they hang. Even so did the ghosts whine and squeal 15 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:56.719 as Mercury, the Heater of Sorrow, led them down into 16 00:00:56.759 --> 00:01:00.119 the dark abode of death. When they had passed the 17 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:03.159 waters of Oceanus and the rock Leucus, they came to 18 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:05.400 the gates of the Sun and the land of Dreams, 19 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:08.719 whereon they reached the meadow of Asphodel, where dwell the 20 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:11.480 souls and shadows of them that can labor no more. 21 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:15.239 Here they found the ghost of Achilles, son of Pelias, 22 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:19.519 with those of Patroclus, Antilochus, and Ajax, who was the 23 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:22.879 finest and handsomest man of all the Denaeans. After the 24 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:26.560 son of Pelias himself. They gathered round the ghost of 25 00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:30.079 the son of Pelias, and the ghost of Agamemnon joined them, 26 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:34.359 sorrowing bitterly. Round him were gathered also the ghosts of 27 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:36.879 those who had perished with him in the house of Aegisthus. 28 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:41.599 And the ghost of Achilles spoke, first, son of Atreus, 29 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:44.519 it said, we used to say that Jove had loved 30 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:47.120 you better from first to last than any other hero, 31 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:50.840 for you were captain over many and brave men when 32 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:54.400 we were all fighting together before Troy. Yet the hand 33 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:57.480 of death, which no mortal can escape, was laid upon 34 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:01.439 you all too early, for you had you fallen at 35 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:04.560 Troy in the heyday of your renown, for the Achaeans 36 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:07.079 would have built a mound over your ashes, and your 37 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:10.319 son would have been heir to your good name. Whereas 38 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:12.280 it has now been your lot to come to a 39 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:17.800 most miserable end happy son of Pelius, answered the ghosts 40 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:21.639 of Agamemnon, for having died at Troy, far from Argos, 41 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.560 while the bravest of the Trojans and the Achaeans fell 42 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:28.159 round you fighting for your body. There you lay in 43 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:32.319 the whirling clouds of dust, all huge and hugely heedless. 44 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:35.319 Now of your chivalry, we fought the whole of the 45 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:38.479 livelong day, Nor should we ever have left off if 46 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.120 Jove had not sent a hurricane to stay us. Then, 47 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:44.000 when we had borne you to the ships out of 48 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:46.719 the fray, we laid you on your bed and cleansed 49 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.280 your fair skin with warm water and with ointments. The 50 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:54.080 Dnaeans tore their hair and wept bitterly round about you. 51 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:57.479 Your mother, when she heard, came with her immortal nymphs 52 00:02:57.479 --> 00:02:59.719 from out of the sea, and the sound of a 53 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:02.360 great wailing went forth over the water, so that the 54 00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:06.400 Achaeans quaked for fear. They would have fled, panic stricken, 55 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.360 to their ships, had not the wise old Nestor, whose 56 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:14.120 counsel was ever truest, checked them, saying, hold our jives fly, 57 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:17.240 not the sons of the Achaeans. This is his mother 58 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:19.960 coming from the sea. With her immortal nymphs to view 59 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.919 the body of her son. Thus he spoke, and the 60 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:27.560 Achaeans feared no more. The daughters of the old Man 61 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:30.800 of the Sea stood round you, weeping bitterly, and clothed 62 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:34.520 you in immortal raiment. The nine muses also came and 63 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:38.199 lifted up their sweet voices in lament, calling and answering 64 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:41.680 one another. There was not an argive, but wept for 65 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:45.439 the pity of the dirge. They chaunted days and nights 66 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:49.319 seven and ten we mourned you, mortals and immortals. But 67 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:52.000 on the eighteenth day we gave you to the flames. 68 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:55.120 And many a fat sheep, with many an ox did 69 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:58.520 we slay in sacrifice. Around you. You were burnt in 70 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:02.039 raiment of the gods, with rich resins and with honey, 71 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:06.280 while heroes horse and foot clashed their armor round the pile, 72 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:08.800 as you were burning with a tramp, as of a 73 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:12.439 great multitude. But when the flames of heaven had done 74 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:15.680 their work, we gathered your white bones at daybreak and 75 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:19.560 laid them in ointments and in pure wine. Your mother 76 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.399 brought us a golden vase to hold them. Gift of 77 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:26.759 Bacchus and work of Vulcan himself. In this we mingled 78 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:29.560 your bleached bones with those of Patroclus who had gone 79 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:33.839 before you, and separate we enclosed also those of Antilochus, 80 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.480 who have been closer to you than any other of 81 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:41.040 your comrades. Now that Petroclus was no more over these, 82 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:44.240 the host of the archives built a noble tomb on 83 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:47.680 a point jutting out over the open Hellespunt, that it 84 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:50.199 might be seen from far out upon the sea by 85 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:53.319 those now living and by them that shall be born hereafter. 86 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:57.639 Your mother begged prizes from the gods and offered them 87 00:04:57.680 --> 00:04:59.959 to be contended for by the noblest of a kien. 88 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:03.279 You must have been present at the funeral of many 89 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:06.399 a hero, when the young men gird themselves and make 90 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:08.879 ready to contend for prizes on the death of some 91 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:12.800 great chieftain. But you never saw such prizes as silver 92 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:16.759 footed Thetis offered in your honor, For the gods loved 93 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:21.079 you well. Thus, even in death, your fame, Achilles, has 94 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:25.279 not been lost, and your name lives evermore among all mankind. 95 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:29.720 But as for me, what solace had I when the 96 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:33.040 days of my fighting were done? For Jove willed my 97 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:36.639 destruction on my return by the hands of Egistus and 98 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:41.800 those of my wicked wife. Thus did they converse, and 99 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:45.000 presently Mercury came up to them with the ghosts of 100 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:48.480 the suitors who had been killed by Ulysses. The ghosts 101 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:51.959 of Agamemnon and Achilles were astonished at seeing them, and 102 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:55.040 went up to them at once. The ghosts of Agamemnon 103 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:59.240 recognized Amphimedon, son of Melanaeus, who lived in Ithaca and 104 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:02.199 had been his home. So it began to talk to him. 105 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:07.160 Amphemiedon it said, what has happened to all you fine 106 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:10.560 young men, all of an age too, that you are 107 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:13.959 come down here under the ground. One could pick no 108 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:17.920 finer body of men from any city. Did Neptune raise 109 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:20.759 his winds and waves against you when you were at sea? 110 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:23.839 Or did your enemies make an end of you on 111 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:26.839 the mainland when you were cattle lifting or sheep stealing, 112 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:29.680 or while fighting in defense of their wives and city? 113 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:34.079 Answer my question, for I have been your guest. Do 114 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:36.079 you not remember how I came to your house with 115 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:39.600 Menelaeus to persuade Ulysses to join us with his ships 116 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:42.759 against Troy. It was a whole month ere we could 117 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:46.040 resume our voyage, for we had hard work to persuade 118 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:50.399 Ulysses to come with us. And the ghost of Amphimedon answered, 119 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:55.079 like Amemnon, son of Atreus, king of Men, I remember 120 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:58.040 everything that you have said, and will tell you fully 121 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:01.160 inaccurately about the way in which are end was brought about. 122 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:05.560 Ulysses have been long gone, and we were courting his wife, 123 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:08.240 who did not say point blank that she would not 124 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:11.879 marry nor yet bring matters to an end, for she 125 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:15.680 meant to compass our destruction. This then, was the trick 126 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:19.000 she played us. She set up a great tambour frame 127 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:21.399 in her room and began to work on an enormous 128 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:26.920 piece of fine needlework. Sweethearts, said she, Ulysses is indeed dead. 129 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:31.079 Still do not press me to marry again immediately, wait, 130 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:34.040 for I would not have my skill in needlework perish 131 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:38.160 unrecorded till I have completed a pall for the hero Laertes, 132 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.839 against the time when death shall take him. He is 133 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:44.519 very rich, and the women of the place will talk 134 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:47.680 if he is laid out without a pall. This is 135 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:51.720 what she said, and we assented. Whereupon we could see 136 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:55.000 her working upon her great web all day long, but 137 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:58.279 at night she would unpick the stitches again by torchlight. 138 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:02.000 She fooled us in this way for three years without 139 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.920 our finding it out. But as time wore on, and 140 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.600 she was now in her fourth year in the waning 141 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:10.600 of moons, and many days had been accomplished, one of 142 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:12.800 her mates, who knew what she was doing, told us, 143 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:15.560 and we caught her in the act of undoing her work. 144 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:18.600 So she had to finish it, whether she would or no. 145 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:21.680 And when she showed us the robe she had made 146 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:24.720 after she had had it washed, its splendor was that 147 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:29.560 of the sun or moon. Then some malicious god conveyed 148 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:33.919 Ulysses to the upland farm where his swineherd lives. Thither 149 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:38.120 presently came also his son, returning from a voyage to Pylos, 150 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:40.799 and the two came to the town when they had 151 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:45.320 hatched their plot for our destruction. Telemachus came first, and 152 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:49.720 then after him, accompanied by the swineherd, came Ulysses, clad 153 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:52.159 in rags and leaning on a staff, as though he 154 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:56.399 were some miserable old beggar. He came so unexpectedly that 155 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:59.000 none of us knew him, not even the older ones 156 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:02.120 among us. We reviled him and threw things at him. 157 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:06.080 He endured both being struck and insulted without a word, 158 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:09.960 though he was in his own house. But when the 159 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.600 will of Egis bearing Jove inspired him, he and Telemachus 160 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:16.120 took the armor and hid it in an inner chamber, 161 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:20.480 bolting the doors behind them. Then he cunningly made his 162 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:22.960 wife offer his bow and a quantity of iron, to 163 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:26.440 be contended for by us ill fated suitors. And this 164 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:29.120 was the beginning of our end. For not one of 165 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:33.320 us could string the bow, nor nearly do so. When 166 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:35.720 it was about to reach the hands of Ulysses, we 167 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:37.799 ol of Us shouted out that it should not be 168 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:40.600 given to him, no matter what he might say, But 169 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:44.200 Telemachus insisted on his having it. When he had got 170 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:46.279 it in his hands, he strung it with ease and 171 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:49.320 sent his arrow through the iron. Then he stood on 172 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:51.720 the floor of the cloister and poured his arrows on 173 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:56.399 the ground, glaring fiercely about him. First he killed Antonus, 174 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:00.679 and then, aiming straight before him, he let fly his darts, 175 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:04.000 and they fell thick on one another. It was plain 176 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:06.480 that some one of the gods was helping him, for 177 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:09.639 they fell upon us with might and main throughout the cloisters, 178 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:12.440 and there was a hideous sound of groaning, as our 179 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:15.480 brains were being battered in and the grounds seethed with 180 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:19.759 our blood. This, Agamemnon, is how we came by our end. 181 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:22.879 And our bodies are lying still uncared for in the 182 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:26.200 house of Ulysses, for our friends at home do not 183 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.159 yet know what has happened, so that they cannot lay 184 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:32.000 us out and wash the black blood from our wounds, 185 00:10:32.039 --> 00:10:34.879 making moan over us according to the offices due to 186 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:40.480 the departed. Happy Ulysses, son of Laertes, replied the ghost 187 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:43.960 of Agamemnon, you are indeed blessed in the possession of 188 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:47.919 a wife endowed with such rare excellence of understanding, and 189 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:51.279 so faithful to her wedded lord as Penelope, the daughter 190 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:55.960 of Vicarius. The fame therefore of her virtue shall never die, 191 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:58.960 and the immortal shall compose a song that shall be 192 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.799 welcome to all men kind in honor of the constancy 193 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:06.159 of Penelope. How far otherwise was the wickedness of the 194 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:10.559 daughter of Tyndareus, who killed her lawful husband. Her song 195 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:14.039 shall be hateful among men, for she has brought disgrace 196 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:18.480 on all womankind, even on the good ones. Thus did 197 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.240 they converse in the house of Hades, deep down within 198 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:25.080 the bows of the earth. Meanwhile, Ulysses and the others 199 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:27.559 passed out of the town and soon reached the fair 200 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:31.399 and well tilled farm of Leertes, which she had reclaimed 201 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:35.399 with infinite labor. Here was his house, with a lean 202 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.240 to running all round it, where the slaves who worked 203 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:41.480 for him slept and sat and ate. While inside the 204 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:44.559 house there was an old seisel woman who looked after 205 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:48.120 him in this his country farm. When Ulysses got there, 206 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:51.039 he said to his son and to the other two, 207 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.480 go to the house and kill the best pig that 208 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:56.559 you can find for dinner. Meanwhile, I want to see 209 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:59.759 whether my father will know me or fail to recognize 210 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:03.679 me after so long an absence. He then took off 211 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:06.759 his armor and gave it to Eumaeus and Felicius, who 212 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:09.679 went straight on to the house, while he turned off 213 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:13.159 into the vineyard to make trial of his father. As 214 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:15.559 he went down into the great orchard, he did not 215 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:18.600 see Dolius, nor any of his sons, nor of the 216 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:21.879 other bondsmen, for they were all gathering thorns to make 217 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:24.399 a fence for the vineyard at the place where the 218 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:28.279 old man had told them. He therefore found his father alone, 219 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:31.720 hoeing a vine. He had on a dirty, old shirt, 220 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:35.840 patched and very shabby. His legs were bound round with 221 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:38.919 thongs of ox hide to save him from the brambles, 222 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:41.960 and he also wore sleeves of leather. He had a 223 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.759 goat skin cap on his head, and was looking very woebegone. 224 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:49.360 When ULYSSI saw him, so worn, so old, and full 225 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:52.679 of sorrow. He stood still under a tall pear tree 226 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.039 and began to weep. He doubted whether to embrace him, 227 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.039 kiss him, and tell him all about his having come home, 228 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:02.720 or whether he should first question him and see what 229 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:06.240 he would say. In the end, he deemed it best 230 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:09.000 to be crafty with him, so in his mind he 231 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:11.679 went up to his father, who was bending down and 232 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:16.440 digging about a plant. I see, sir, said, Ulysses, that 233 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:19.799 you are an excellent gardener. What pains you take with it? 234 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:23.200 To be sure, there is not a single plant, not 235 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:26.960 a fig tree, vine, olive, pear, nor flower bed, but 236 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:31.080 bears the trace of your attention. I trust, however, that 237 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:33.360 you will not be offended if I say that you 238 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:36.840 take better care of your garden than of yourself. You 239 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:41.279 are old, unsavory, and very meanly clad. It cannot be 240 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:43.879 because you are idle that your master takes such poor 241 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.440 care of you. Indeed, your face and figure have nothing 242 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:50.759 of the slave about them, and proclaim you of noble birth. 243 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:53.279 I should have said that you were one of those 244 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:56.639 who should wash well, eat well, and lie soft at night, 245 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:59.639 as old men have a right to do. But tell me, 246 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:03.559 tell me true, whose bondmen are you, and in whose 247 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:07.240 garden are you working? Tell me also about another matter. 248 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:10.559 Is this place that I have come to really Ithaca? 249 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.360 I met a man just now who said so. But 250 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:17.320 he was a dull fellow and had not the patience 251 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:20.039 to hear my story out when I was asking him 252 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:22.759 about an old friend of mine, whether he was still 253 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:25.840 living or was already dead and in the house of Hades. 254 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:29.519 Believe me when I tell you that this man came 255 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.879 to my house once when I was in my own country, 256 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:34.639 and never yet did any stranger come to me whom 257 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:39.039 I liked better. He said that his family came from Ithaca, 258 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:43.120 and that his father was Liertes, son of Arsisius. I 259 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:46.799 received him hospitably, making him welcome to all the abundance 260 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.759 of my house. And when he went away, I gave 261 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:53.519 him all customary presents. I gave him seven talents of 262 00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:56.919 fine gold and a cup of solid silver with flowers 263 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:00.519 chased upon it. I gave him twelve light cloak and 264 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:04.159 as many pieces of tapestry. I also gave him twelve 265 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:08.399 cloaks of single fold, twelve rugs, twelve fair mantles, and 266 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:12.399 an equal number of shirts. To all this, I added 267 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:15.879 four good looking women, skilled in all useful arts, and 268 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:20.080 I let him take his choice. His father shed tears 269 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:24.000 and answered, sir, you have indeed come to the country 270 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:26.759 that you have named, but it has fallen into the 271 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:30.480 hands of wicked people. All this wealth of presents has 272 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:34.200 been given to no purpose. If you could have found 273 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:37.399 your friend here alive in Ithaca, he would have entertained 274 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:40.600 you hospitably, and would have requited your presence amply when 275 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:43.879 you left him, as would have been only right considering 276 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:46.919 what you had already given him. But tell me, and 277 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:49.879 tell me true, how many years is it since you 278 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:55.120 entertained this guest. My unhappy son, as ever was alas 279 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:59.159 he has perished far from his own country, the fishes 280 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:01.879 of the sea have eaten him, or he has fallen 281 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:04.720 a prey to the birds and wild beasts of some continent. 282 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:09.440 Neither his mother nor I his father, who were his parents, 283 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:12.279 could throw our arms about him and wrap him in 284 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:16.120 his shroud, Nor could his excellent and richly doured wife 285 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:20.120 Penelope bewail her husband as was natural upon his death bed, 286 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:23.360 and close his eyes according to the offices due to 287 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:27.759 the departed. But now tell me truly, for I want 288 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:31.360 to know who and whence are you. Tell me of 289 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:34.759 your town and parents. Where is the ship lying that 290 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:37.720 has brought you and your men to Ithaca? Or were 291 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.759 you a passenger on some other manship, and those who 292 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:43.000 brought you here have gone on their way and left you. 293 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:48.960 I will tell you everything, answered, Ulysses, quite truly. I 294 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:52.519 come from Albus, where I have a fine house. I 295 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:55.759 am son of King Ephadus, who is the son of Poalopemon. 296 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:59.519 My own name is a Perrotus. Heaven drove me off 297 00:16:59.559 --> 00:17:02.320 my course as I was leaving Secania, and I have 298 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:05.720 been carried here against my will. As for my ship, 299 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:09.160 it is lying over yonder off the open country outside 300 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.279 the town. And this is the fifth year since Ulysses 301 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:16.240 left my country, poor fellow, Yet the omens were good 302 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:19.039 for him when he left me. The birds all flew 303 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:22.160 on our right hands, and both he and I rejoiced 304 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:24.799 to see them as we parted, for we had every 305 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:28.799 hope that we should have another friendly meeting and exchange presents. 306 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:33.119 A dark cloud of sorrow fell upon Laertes as he listened. 307 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.960 He filled both hands with the dust from off the 308 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:39.400 ground and poured it over his gray head, groaning heavily 309 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:42.720 as he did so. The heart of Ulysses was touched, 310 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:45.720 and his nostrils quivered as he looked upon his father. 311 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:49.519 Then he sprang towards him, flung his arms about him, 312 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:53.400 and kissed him, saying, I am he father about whom 313 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:56.680 you are asking. I have returned after having been away 314 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:01.039 for twenty years. But cease or sighing and lemonation. We 315 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:03.759 have no time to lose, for I should tell you 316 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.000 that I have been killing the suitors in my house 317 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:10.559 to punish them for their insolence and crimes. If you 318 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.559 really are my son, Ulysses, replied Liertes, and have come 319 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:17.720 back again, you must give me such manifest proof of 320 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:22.680 your identity as shall convince me. First observe this scar, 321 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:26.759 answered Ulysses, which I got from a boer's tusk when 322 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:30.119 I was hunting on Mount Parnassus. You and my mother 323 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:33.599 had sent me to Autilicus, my mother's father, to receive 324 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:36.400 the presents which when he was over here he had 325 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:39.839 promised to give me. Furthermore, I will point out to 326 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:42.160 you the trees in the vineyard which you gave me, 327 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:44.680 and I asked you all about them as I followed 328 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:48.079 you round the garden. We went over them all, and 329 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:50.279 you told me their names and what they all were. 330 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:54.279 You gave me thirteen pear trees, ten apple trees, and 331 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:57.960 forty fig trees. You also said you would give me 332 00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:02.799 fifty rows of vines. There was corn planet between each row, 333 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:05.799 and they yield grapes of every kind when the heat 334 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:10.279 of heaven has been laid heavy upon them. The Airte's 335 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:13.240 strength failed him when he heard the convincing proofs which 336 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:16.359 his son had given him. He threw his arms about him, 337 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:19.039 and Ulysses had to support him or he would have 338 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:21.759 gone off into a swoon. But as soon as he 339 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:26.920 came too and was beginning to recover his senses, he said, oh, father, Jove, 340 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:30.640 then you gods are still in Olympus after all, if 341 00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:35.640 the suitors have really been punished for their insolence and folly. Nevertheless, 342 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.799 I am much afraid that I shall have all the 343 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:41.279 townspeople of Ithaca appear directly, and they will be sending 344 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:46.759 messengers everywhere throughout the cities of the Cephelenians. Ulysses answered, 345 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:50.680 take heart, and do not trouble yourself about that. But 346 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:52.920 let us go into the house hard by your garden. 347 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:57.079 I have already told Telemachus, Felicius, and Eumaeus to go 348 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:59.680 on there and get dinner ready as soon as possible. 349 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:04.000 Thus conversing, the two made their way towards the house. 350 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:07.400 When they got there, they found Telemachus with the stockman 351 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:10.359 and the swineherd, cutting up meat and mixing wine with water. 352 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.039 Then the old Seiso woman took the Artes inside and 353 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:17.640 washed him and anointed him with oil. She put him 354 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:20.079 on a good cloak, and Minerva came up to him 355 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:23.440 and gave him a more imposing presence, making him taller 356 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:26.920 and stouter than before. When he came back, his son 357 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:29.440 was surprised to see him looking so like an immortal, 358 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:33.359 and said to him, my dear father, some one of 359 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:36.000 the gods has been making you much taller and better looking. 360 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:41.759 Leartes answered would by Father, Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that 361 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:44.000 I were the man I was when I ruled among 362 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.480 the Cephalonians and took Nerikum, that strong fortress on the foreland. 363 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:52.119 If I were still what I then was, and had 364 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:55.079 been in our house yesterday with my armor on, I 365 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:57.440 should have been able to stand by you and help 366 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:00.279 you against the suitors. I should have killed filled a 367 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:02.839 great many of them, and you would have rejoiced to 368 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:08.519 see it. Thus did they converse, but the others, when 369 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:10.880 they had finished their work and the feast was ready, 370 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:14.200 left off working, and took each his proper place on 371 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:18.960 the benches and seats. Then they began eating. By and by. 372 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:21.759 Old Dolius and his sons left their work and came 373 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:25.480 up for their mother. The Siso, woman who looked after Leertes, 374 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:28.759 now that he was growing old, had been to fetch them. 375 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:31.480 When they saw Ulysses and were certain it was he, 376 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:35.839 they stood there lost in astonishment. But Ulysses scolded them 377 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:39.480 good naturedly, and said, sit down to your dinner, old man, 378 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:43.200 Never mind about your surprise. We have been wanting to 379 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:45.640 begin for some time and have been waiting for you. 380 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:49.519 Then Dolius put out both his hands and went up 381 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:53.759 to Ulysses. Sir, said, he seizing his master's hand and 382 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:56.799 kissing it at the wrist. We have long been wishing 383 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:59.920 you home, and now Heaven has restored you to us, 384 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.920 after we have given up hoping. All hail therefore and 385 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:08.000 made the gods prosper you. But tell me, does Penelope 386 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:11.000 already know of your return? Or shall we send someone 387 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:16.480 to tell her? Old man answered Ulysses, she knows already, 388 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:20.359 so you need not trouble about that. On this he 389 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:23.279 took his seat, and the sons of Dolius gathered round 390 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:26.039 Ulysses to give him greeting and embrace him, one after 391 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:29.160 the other. Then they took their seats in due order 392 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:33.319 near Dolius their father. While they were thus busy getting 393 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:36.799 their dinner ready, rumor went round the town and noised 394 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:41.000 abroad the terrible fate that had befallen the suitors. As 395 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:43.839 soon therefore, as the people heard of it, they gathered 396 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:47.599 from every quarter, groaning and hooting, before the house of Ulysses. 397 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:51.319 They took the dead away, buried every man his own, 398 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:54.119 and put the bodies of those who came from elsewhere 399 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:57.079 on board the fishing vessels, for the fishermen to take 400 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:00.799 each of them to his own place. They met angrily 401 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:04.000