WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:06.320 Book sixteen of the Odyssey by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler. 2 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:12.039 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Odyssey 3 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:20.519 Book sixteen, Ulysses reveals himself to Telemachus. Meanwhile, Ulysses and 4 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:23.079 the swineherd had lit a fire in the hut and 5 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:26.079 were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, for they had sent 6 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:29.399 the men out with the pigs. When Telemachus came up, 7 00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:33.200 the dogs did not bark, but fawned upon him. So Ulysses, 8 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:35.840 hearing the sound of feet, and noticing that the dogs 9 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:41.359 did not bark, said to Eumaeus, Eumaeus, I hear footsteps. 10 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:44.520 I suppose one of your men, or some one of 11 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:47.799 your acquaintance is coming here, for the dogs are fawning 12 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:52.079 upon him and not barking. The words were hardly out 13 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:54.359 of his mouth before his son stood at the door. 14 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:57.759 Eumaeus sprang to his feet, and the bowls in which 15 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:00.320 he was mixing wine fell from his hands. As he 16 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:03.679 made towards his master. He kissed his head in both 17 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:07.760 his beautiful eyes and wept for joy. A father could 18 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:10.400 not be more delighted at the return of an only son, 19 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:13.879 the child of his old age. After ten years absence 20 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:17.400 in a foreign country, and after having gone through much hardship. 21 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:20.640 He embraced him, kissed him all over as though he 22 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:24.079 had come back from the dead, and spoke fondly to him, saying, 23 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.040 so you are come, Telemachus. Light of my eyes, that 24 00:01:28.120 --> 00:01:31.319 you are. When I heard you had gone to Pylos, 25 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:33.560 I meet sure I was never going to see you 26 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:36.560 any more. Come in, my dear child, and sit down, 27 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:38.599 that I may have a good look at you. Now 28 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.280 you are home again. It is not very often you 29 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:44.079 come into the country to see us, herdsman. You stick 30 00:01:44.120 --> 00:01:47.359 pretty close to the town generally. I suppose you think 31 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:49.120 it better to keep an eye on what the suitors 32 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:53.799 are doing. So be it, old friend, said Telemachus. But 33 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:56.120 I am come now because I want to see you, 34 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:58.599 and to learn whether my mother is still at her 35 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:01.239 old home, or whether some one else has married her. 36 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:04.200 So that the bed of Ulysses is without bedding and 37 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:08.919 covered with cobwebs, she is still at the house, replied Eumaeus, 38 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:12.240 grieving and breaking her heart and doing nothing but weep 39 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:17.199 both night and day continually. As he spoke, he took 40 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:21.759 Telemachus spear whereon he crossed the stone threshold and came inside. 41 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:25.080 Ulysses rose from his seat to give him place as 42 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:29.800 he entered, but Telemachus checked him. Sit down. Stranger said he, 43 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:33.199 I can easily find another seat, and there is one 44 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:36.520 here who will lay it for me. Ulysses went back 45 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:40.080 to his own place, and Eumaeus strewed some green brushwood 46 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:42.159 on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of 47 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:45.960 it for Telemachus to sit upon. Then the swineherd brought 48 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:48.719 them platters of cold meat, the remains from what they 49 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:51.199 had eaten the day before, and he filled the bread 50 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:54.639 baskets with bread as fast as he could. He mixed 51 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:57.680 wine also in bowls of ivywood, and took his seat 52 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:01.159 facing Ulysses. Then they laid their hands on the good 53 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:03.560 things that were before them, And as soon as they 54 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:06.639 had had enough to eat and drink, Telemachus said to Eumaeus, 55 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:11.159 old friend, where does the stranger come from? How did 56 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:14.479 his crew bring him to Ithaca? And who were they? For? 57 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:18.680 Assuredly he did not come here by land to this 58 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:22.960 you answered, O swine heard Eumaeus, my son, I will 59 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:26.120 tell you the real truth. He says he is a Cretan, 60 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:29.599 and that he has been a great traveler. At this 61 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:32.879 moment he is running away from a thust Parchian ship 62 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:36.280 and has taken refuge at my station. So I will 63 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:39.840 put him into your hands. Do whatever you like with him, 64 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:44.599 only remember that he is your suppliant. I am very 65 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:48.479 much distressed, said Telemachus by what you have just told me. 66 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:52.639 How can I take this stranger into my house? I 67 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.199 am as yet young, and am not strong enough to 68 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:58.719 hold my own if any man attacks me. My mother 69 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:01.439 cannot make up her mind whether to stay where she 70 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:03.840 is and look after the house out of respect for 71 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:07.759 public opinion and the memory of her husband, or whether 72 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:09.599 the time has now come for her to take the 73 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:12.120 best man of those who are wooing her, and the 74 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:16.199 one who will make her the most advantageous offer. Still, 75 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:19.000 as the stranger has come to your station, I will 76 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.759 find him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with 77 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:24.720 a sword and sandals, and will send him wherever he 78 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.240 wants to go. Or if you like, you can keep 79 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:30.800 him here at the station, and I will send him 80 00:04:30.839 --> 00:04:33.519 clothes and food that he may be no burden on 81 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:36.240 you and on your men. But I will not have 82 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:39.160 him go near the suitors, for they are very insolent, 83 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:41.759 and are sure to ill treat him in a way 84 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:45.120 that would greatly grieve me. No matter how valiant a 85 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:48.319 man may be, he can do nothing against numbers, for 86 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:53.480 they will be too strong for him. Then, Ulysses said, sir, 87 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:57.199 it is right that I should say something myself. I 88 00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:59.639 am much shocked about what you have said about the 89 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:02.839 insula way in which the suitors are behaving in spite 90 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:06.480 of such a man as you are. Tell me, do 91 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:10.160 you submit to such treatment tamely? Or has some God 92 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:13.639 set your people against you? May you not complain of 93 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.279 your brothers, for it is to these that a man 94 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:19.600 may look for support, however great his quarrel may be. 95 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:22.879 I wish I were as young as you are, and 96 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:26.360 in my present mind, if I were son to Ulysses, 97 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:30.439 or indeed Ulysses himself, I would rather some one came 98 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:32.800 and cut my head off. But I would go to 99 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:34.839 the house and be the bane of every one of 100 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.199 these men if they were too many for me, I 101 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:42.040 being single handed, I would rather die fighting in my 102 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:45.959 own house than see such disgraceful sights day after day, 103 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:50.800 strangers grossly maltreated, and men dragging the women servants about 104 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:54.680 the house in an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and 105 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:57.360 bread wasted, all to no purpose for an end that 106 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:02.600 shall never be accomplished. And Telemachus answered, I will tell 107 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:07.000 you truly everything. There is no enmity between me and 108 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:10.759 my people, nor can I complain of brothers to whom 109 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:13.800 a man may look for support, however great his quarrel 110 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:17.519 may be. Jove has made us a race of only sons. 111 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:22.920 Laertes was the only son of Arsasius, and Ulysses, only 112 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:27.480 son of Laertes. I am myself the only son of Ulysses, 113 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:30.720 who left me behind him when he went away, so 114 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:32.759 that I have never been of any use to him. 115 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:35.759 Hence it comes that my house is in the hands 116 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:39.639 of numberless marauders. For the chiefs from all the neighboring 117 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:44.560 islands to Lycium, sami Zycanthus, as also all the principal 118 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:47.720 men of Ithaca itself are eating up my house under 119 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.600 the pretext of paying court to my mother, who will 120 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.639 neither say point blank that she will not marry, nor 121 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:56.560 yet bring matters to an end. So they are making 122 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:59.879 havoc of my estate, and before long will do so 123 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:04.759 with myself into the bargain The issue, however, rests with heaven. 124 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:08.759 But do you, old friend Eumaeus, go at once and 125 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:12.720 tell Penelope that I am safe and have returned from Pylos. 126 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:16.560 Tell it to herself alone, and then come back here 127 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:19.439 without letting any one else know, For there are many 128 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:25.439 who are plotting mischief against me. I understand and heed, you, replied, Eumaeus, 129 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:29.480 you need instruct me no further. Only, as I am 130 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:31.920 going that way, say whether I had not better let 131 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:35.199 poor Laertes know that you are returned. He used to 132 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:37.600 superintend the work on his farm in spite of his 133 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.040 bitter sorrow about Ulysses, and he would eat and drink 134 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:44.120 at will along with his servants. But they tell me 135 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:46.680 that from the day on which you set out for Pylos, 136 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.560 he has neither eaten nor drunk as he ought to. 137 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:53.079 Nor does he look after his farm, but sits weeping 138 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:57.600 and wasting the flesh from off his bones. More's the pity, 139 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:01.279 answered Telemachus. I am sorry for him, but we must 140 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:04.560 leave him to himself. Just now. If people could have 141 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:07.439 everything their own way, the first thing I should choose 142 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:11.480 would be the return of my father. But go and 143 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:15.160 give your message, then make haste back again, and do 144 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:17.360 not turn out of your way to tell the Aertes. 145 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:20.439 Tell my mother to send one of her women secretly 146 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.639 with the news at once, and let him hear it 147 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:27.959 from her. Thus did he urge the swineherd. Eumaeus therefore 148 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.120 took his sandals, bound them to his feet, and started 149 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.600 for the town. Minerva watched him well off the station, 150 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:36.919 and then came up to it in the form of 151 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:41.399 a woman fair, stately and wise. She stood against the 152 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:44.799 side of the entry and revealed herself to Ulysses. But 153 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:47.840 Telemachus could not see her and knew not that she 154 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.759 was there, for the gods do not let themselves be 155 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:55.039 seen by everybody. Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, 156 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:58.159 for they did not bark, but went scared and whining 157 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:01.200 off to the other side of the yards. She nodded 158 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:04.720 her head and motioned to Ulysses with her eyebrows, whereon 159 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.480 he left the hut and stood before her outside the 160 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:12.320 main wall of the yards. Then she said to him, Ulysses, 161 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:15.440 noble son of Laertes, it is now time for you 162 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:18.120 to tell your son. Do not keep him in the 163 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:21.360 dark any longer, but lay your plants for the destruction 164 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:24.960 of the suitors, and then make for the town. I 165 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.559 will not be long in joining you, for I too 166 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:32.159 am eager for the fray. As she spoke, she touched 167 00:09:32.200 --> 00:09:35.519 him with her golden wand first she threw a fair, 168 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:39.000 clean shirt and cloak about his shoulders. Then she made 169 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:42.679 him younger and of more imposing presents. She gave him 170 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:45.639 back his color, filled out his cheeks, and let his 171 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:49.919 beard become dark again. Then she went away, and Ulysses 172 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:53.919 came back inside the hut. His son was astounded when 173 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:56.840 he saw him, and turned his eyes away for fear 174 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:01.480 he might be looking upon a god. Stranger, said he, 175 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:04.559 how suddenly you have changed from what you were a 176 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:07.840 moment or two ago. You are dressed differently, and your 177 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:10.960 color is not the same. Are you some one or 178 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:14.480 other of the gods that live in heaven? If so, 179 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:17.360 be propitious to me till I can make you do 180 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:21.360 sacrifice and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy upon me. 181 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:27.360 And Ulysses said, I am no god. Why should you 182 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:31.440 take me for one. I am your father, on whose 183 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:34.679 account you grieve and suffer so much at the hands 184 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:39.120 of lawless men. As he spoke, he kissed his son, 185 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:42.159 and a tear fell from his cheek on to the ground, 186 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:47.279 for he had restrained all tears till now. But Telemachus 187 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:50.200 could not yet believe that it was his father, and said, 188 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:54.679 you are not my father, but some god is flattering 189 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:57.639 me with vain hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter. 190 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.639 No mortal man could have himself contrived to do as 191 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:04.360 you have been doing and make yourself old and young 192 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:07.399 at a moment's notice, unless a god were with him 193 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:10.879 a second ago. You are old and all in rags, 194 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:16.120 and now you are like some god come down from heaven. Ulysses, 195 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:20.960 answered Telemachus. You ought not to be so immeasurably astonished 196 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:24.519 at my being really here. There is no other Ulysses 197 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.919 who will come hereafter such as I am. It is 198 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.159 I who, after long wandering and much hardship, have got 199 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:35.679 home in the twentieth year, to my own country. What 200 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:39.159 you wonder at is the work of the redoubtable goddess Minerva, 201 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:42.159 who does with me whatever she will, for she can 202 00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:45.600 do what she pleases. At one moment she makes me 203 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.200 like a beggar, and the next I am a young 204 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:51.240 man with good clothes on my back. It is an 205 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:53.480 easy matter for the gods who live in heaven to 206 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:57.879 make any man look either rich or poor. As he spoke, 207 00:11:57.960 --> 00:12:01.159 he sat down at Telemachus through it arms about his father, 208 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:04.399 and wept. They were both so much moved that they 209 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:08.000 cried aloud, like eagles or vultures with crooked talons that 210 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:10.720 had been robbed of their half fledged young by peasants. 211 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:14.960 Thus piteously did they weep, and the son would have 212 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:18.279 gone down upon their morning if Telemachus had not suddenly said, 213 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.240 a much ship, my dear father, did your crew bring 214 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:26.000 you to Ithaca? Of what nation did they declare themselves 215 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:30.240 to be? For you cannot have come by land. I 216 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:34.320 will tell you the truth, my son replied, Ulysses. It 217 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:37.639 was the Phaeacians who brought me here. They are great 218 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:40.559 sailors and are in the habit of giving escorts to 219 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:43.960 any one who reaches their coasts. They took me over 220 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.720 the sea while I was fast asleep, and landed me 221 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:50.240 in Ithaca, after giving me many presents in bronze, gold 222 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:54.360 and raiment. These things, by Heaven's mercy, are lying concealed 223 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:56.840 in a cave, and I am now come here on 224 00:12:56.919 --> 00:13:02.559 the suggestion of Minerva, that we may consult about killing enemies. First. Therefore, 225 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:05.120 give me a list of the suitors with their number, 226 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:08.200 that I may learn who and how many they are. 227 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:11.720 I can then turn the matter over in my mind 228 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:14.679 and see whether we two can fight the whole body 229 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:17.759 of them ourselves, or whether we must find others to 230 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:23.559 help us to this. Telemachus answered, father, I have always 231 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:26.600 heard of your renown, both in the field and in council. 232 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:30.360 But the task you talk of is a very great one. 233 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:33.039 I am awed at the mere thought of it. Two 234 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:36.840 men cannot stand against many and brave ones. They are 235 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:40.519 not ten suitors only, nor twice ten, but ten many 236 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:44.840 times over. You shall learn their number at once. There 237 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:48.279 are fifty two chosen youth from Delcium, and they have 238 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:52.759 six servants from Sami. There are twenty four twenty young 239 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:56.600 Achaians from Zycanthus, and twelve from Ithaca itself, all of 240 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.840 them well born. They have with them a servant, me 241 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.039 a barred and two men who can carve at table. 242 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:07.120 If we face such numbers as this, you may have 243 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:11.159 bitter cause to rue your coming and your revenge. Say 244 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:13.159 whether you cannot think of some one who would be 245 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:17.519 willing to come and help us. Listen to me, replied Ulysses, 246 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:21.240 and think whether Minerva and her father Jove may seem sufficient, 247 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.840 or whether I am to try and find some one 248 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:28.039 else as well, those whom you have named, answered Telemachus, 249 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:30.960 or a couple of good allies. For though they dwell 250 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:33.679 high up among the clouds, they have power over both 251 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:39.559 gods and men. These two, continued, Ulysses, will not keep 252 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.759 long out of the fray when the suitors and we 253 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:46.120 join fight in my house. Now, therefore, return home early 254 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:49.360 tomorrow morning, and go about among the suitors as before. 255 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:52.759 Later on the swineherd will bring me to the city 256 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:56.240 disguised as a miserable old beggar. If you see them 257 00:14:56.279 --> 00:15:00.679 ill treating me, steal your heart against my sufferings, even 258 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:03.120 though they drag me feet foremost out of the house 259 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.159 or throw things at me, look on and do nothing 260 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:09.759 beyond gently trying to make them behave more reasonably. But 261 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:12.159 they will not listen to you, for the day of 262 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:15.759 their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore, I say, and lay 263 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:19.279 my saying to your heart. When Minervous shall put it 264 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:21.399 in my mind, I will nod my head to you, 265 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.480 and on seeing me do this, you must collect all 266 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:26.440 the armor that is in the house and hide it 267 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:29.639 in the strong store room. Make some excuse when the 268 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.840 suitors ask you why you are removing it, Say that 269 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.519 you have taken it to be out of the way 270 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:37.320 of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what 271 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:40.679 it was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled 272 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:44.360 and begrimed with soot. Add to this more particularly, that 273 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:46.600 you are afraid Jove may set them on to quarrel 274 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:49.039 over their wine, and that they may do each other 275 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.600 some harm, which may disgrace both Banquet and Wooing. For 276 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:56.000 this sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them. 277 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:59.440 But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself 278 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:02.559 and me, and a couple of oxhide shields, so that 279 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:06.080 we can snatch them up at any moment. Jove Vaminerva 280 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:10.039 will then soon quiet these people. There is also another matter. 281 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:13.240 If you are indeed my son and my blood runs 282 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:16.360 in your veins, let no one know that Ulysses is 283 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:20.720 within the house, neither lairities, nor yet the swineherd, nor 284 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:25.480 any of the servants, nor even Penelope herself. Let you 285 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:28.879 and me exploit the women alone and let us also 286 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.919 make trial of some other of the men servants, to 287 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:34.360 see who is on our side and whose hand is 288 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:39.480 against us. Father replied Telemachus, you will come to know 289 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:42.519 me by and by, and when you do, you will 290 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:46.759 find that I can keep your counsel. I do not think, however, 291 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:49.399 the plan you propose will turn not well for either 292 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:52.759 of us. Think it over. It will take us a 293 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:54.799 long time to go the round of the farms and 294 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.159 exploit the men, and all the time the suitors will 295 00:16:58.200 --> 00:17:02.320 be wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction. Prove 296 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:05.440 the women by all means to see who are disloyal 297 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:08.480 and who guiltless. But I am not in favor of 298 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.599 going round and trying the men. We can attend to 299 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.480 that later on, if you really have some sign from 300 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:18.519 Jove that he will support you. Thus did they converse, 301 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:21.599 And meanwhile, the ship which had brought Telemachus and his 302 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:26.119 crew from Pylos, had reached the town of Ithaca. When 303 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:28.359 they had come inside the harbor, they drew the ship 304 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:31.000 on to the land. Their servants came and took their 305 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:33.400 armor from them, and they left all the presents at 306 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:36.640 the house of Clytius. Then they sent a servant to 307 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.960 tell Penelope that Telemachus had gone into the country, but 308 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:42.160 had sent the ship to the town to prevent her 309 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:46.519 from being alarmed and made unhappy. This servant and Eumaeus 310 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.480 happened to meet when they were both on the same 311 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:52.079 errand of going to tell Penelope. When they reached the house, 312 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:54.400 the servants stood up and said to the queen, in 313 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:57.680 the presence of the waiting women, your son, Madam, is 314 00:17:57.720 --> 00:18:01.680 now returned from Pylos. But Eumaeus went close up to 315 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:04.880 Penelope and said privately all that her son had bidden 316 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:08.640 him tell her. When he had given his message, he 317 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.200 left the house with its outbuildings and went back to 318 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.880 his pigs again. The suitors were surprised and angry at 319 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:17.680 what had happened, so they went outside the great wall 320 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:20.400 that ran round the outer court and held a council 321 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:24.400 near the main entrance. Eurymicus, son of Polybus, was the 322 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:28.960 first to speak. My friends, said he, this voyage of 323 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:33.079 Temelicus's is a very serious matter. We had made sure 324 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:36.359 that it would come to nothing. Now, however, let us 325 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:38.720 draw a ship into the water and get a crew 326 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:41.079 together to send after the others and tell them to 327 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:44.559 come back as fast as they can. He had hardly 328 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:47.720 done speaking when Amphinymus turned in his place and saw 329 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:50.640 the ship inside the harbor, with the crew lowering her 330 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:54.000 sails and putting by her oars. So he laughed and 331 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.400 said to the others, we need not send them any message, 332 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.720 for they are here. Some God must have told them 333 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:03.200 or else. They saw the ship go by and could 334 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:06.680 not overtake her. On this they rose and went to 335 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.960 the water side. The crew then drew the ship on shore. 336 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:13.039 Their servants took their armor from them, and they went 337 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:15.799 up in a body to the place of assembly. But 338 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:18.799 they would not let anyone old or young sit along 339 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:24.319 with them. And Antonus, son of Eupathe, spoke first. Good heavens, 340 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:27.200 said he see how the gods have saved this man 341 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:30.680 from destruction. We kept a succession of scouts upon the 342 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:33.599 headlands all day long, and when the sun was down, 343 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:36.400 we never went on shore to sleep, but waited in 344 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:38.640 the ship all night till morning, in the hope of 345 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:42.079 capturing and killing him. But some God has conveyed him 346 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:45.079 home in spite of us. Let us consider how we 347 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:48.039 can make an end of him. He must not escape us. 348 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.759 Our affair is never likely to come off while he 349 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.240 is alive, for he is very shrewd, and public feeling 350 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:57.799 is by no means all on our side. We must 351 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:01.680 make haste before he can call the Achaeans assembly. He 352 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:04.319 will lose no time in doing so, for he will 353 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:06.759 be furious with us, and will tell all the world 354 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.519 how we plotted to kill him but failed to take him. 355 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.759 The people will not like this when they come to 356 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:15.200 know of it. We must see that they do us 357 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:18.480 no hurt, nor drive us from our own country into exile. 358 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:21.240 Let us try and lay hold of him, either on 359 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:23.920 his farm away from the town, or on the road hither. 360 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:27.240 Then we can divide up his property amongst us, and 361 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:29.279 let his mother and the man who marries her have 362 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:32.480 the house. If this does not please you, and you 363 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:35.279 wish Telemachus to live on and hold his father's property, 364 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.599 then we must not gather here and eat up his 365 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:41.319 goods in this way, but must make our efforts to 366 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:44.440 Penelope each from his own house, and she can marry 367 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:46.519 the man who will give the most for her, and 368 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:50.359 whose lot it is to win her. They all held 369 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:54.119 their peace until Amphinymus rose to speak. He was the 370 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:57.519 son of Nissus, who was son to King Aretius, and 371 00:20:57.640 --> 00:20:59.799 he was the foremost among all the suitors from the 372 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:05.079 growing and well grassed island of Dulycium. His conversation, moreover, 373 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:08.079 was more agreeable to Penelope than that of any of 374 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:10.559 the other suitors, for he was a man of good 375 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:16.039 natural disposition. My friends said, he speaking to them plainly 376 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:19.440 and in all honestly. I am not in favor of 377 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:23.039 killing Telemachus. It is a heinous thing to kill one 378 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:26.559 who is of noble blood. Let us first take counsel 379 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:29.640 of the gods, and if the oracles of Jove advise it, 380 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.799 I will both help to kill him myself, and will 381 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:35.720 urge every one else to do so. But if they 382 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:40.599 dissuade us, I would have you hold your hands. Thus 383 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:43.839 did he speak, and his words please them well. So 384 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:46.759 they rose forthwith and went to the house of Ulysses, 385 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:51.400 where they took their accustomed seats. Then Penelope resolved that 386 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:54.400 she would show herself to the suitors. She knew of 387 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:57.839 the plot against Telemachus, for the servant Medan had overheard 388 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:01.960 their counsels and had told her. She went down therefore 389 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:05.200 to the court, attended by her maidens, and when she 390 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:08.079 reached the suitors She stood by one of the bearing 391 00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:10.839 posts supporting the roof of the cloister, holding a veil 392 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:16.640 before her face, and rebuked Antonus, saying, Antonus, insolent and 393 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:20.279 wicked schemer. They say you are the best speaker and 394 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:23.400 counselor of any man your own age in Ithaca, but 395 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:27.200 you are nothing of the kind madman. Why should you 396 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:30.039 try to compass the death of Telemachus and take no 397 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:34.599 heed of suppliants whose witness is Jove himself. It is 398 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:37.279 not right for you to plot thus against one another. 399 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:40.839 Do you not remember how your father fled to this 400 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:44.000 house in fear of the people, who were enraged against 401 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:47.279