WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:06.599 Book seventeen of the Odyssey by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler. 2 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:12.240 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Odyssey 3 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:18.199 book seventeen Telemachus and his mother meet Ulysses and Eumaeus. 4 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:22.000 Come down to the town, and Ulysses is insulted by Melanthius. 5 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:26.160 He is recognized by the dog Argos. He is insulted 6 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:30.280 and presently struck by Antonas with a stool. Penelope desires 7 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:33.679 that he shall be sent to her. When the child 8 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:37.359 of morning, rosy fingered Dawn appeared, Telemachus bound on his 9 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:40.240 sandals and took a strong spear that suited his hands, 10 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:44.159 for he wanted to go into the city. Old friend, 11 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:47.119 said he to the swineherd. I will now go to 12 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:49.840 the town and show myself to my mother, for she 13 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:52.119 will never leave off grieving till she has seen me. 14 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:56.320 As for this unfortunate stranger. Take him to the town 15 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.280 and let him beg there of any one who will 16 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:01.000 give him a drink and a piece of bread. I 17 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:03.920 have troubled enough of my own and cannot be burdened 18 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.159 with other people. If this makes him angry, so much 19 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:09.359 the worse for him. But I like to say what 20 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:14.560 I mean, then, Ulysses said, Sir, I do not want 21 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:17.560 to stay here. A beggar can always do better in 22 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:20.640 town than country, for any one who likes can give 23 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:24.280 him something. I am too old to care about remaining 24 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:27.640 here at the beck and call of a master. Therefore, 25 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:29.879 let this man do as you have just told him, 26 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:32.200 and take me to the town as soon as I 27 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:34.719 have had a warm by the fire, and the day 28 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:37.400 has got a little heat in it, like clothes are 29 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:40.959 wretchedly thin, and this frosty morning I shall be perished 30 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:44.000 with cold. For you say the city is some way off. 31 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:48.640 On this Telemachus strode off through the yards, brooding his 32 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.879 revenge upon the suitors. When he reached home, he stood 33 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:55.959 his spear against a bearing post of the cloister, crossed 34 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:58.920 the stone floor of the cloister itself, and went inside. 35 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:03.319 Nurse Euyclia saw him long before any one else did. 36 00:02:03.959 --> 00:02:06.480 She was putting the fleeces on to the seats, and 37 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:08.879 she burst out crying as she ran up to him. 38 00:02:09.479 --> 00:02:12.120 All the other maids came up too, and covered his 39 00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:15.560 head and shoulders with their kisses. Penelope came out of 40 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:18.800 her room, looking like Diana or Venus and wept as 41 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:22.039 she flung her arms about her son. She kissed his 42 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:26.199 forehead and both his beautiful eyes. Light of my eyes, 43 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:29.919 she cried as she spoke fondly to him. So you 44 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:33.280 are come home again. I made sure I was never 45 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:36.080 going to see you any more, to think of your 46 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:38.879 having gone off to Pylos without saying anything about it 47 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:43.280 or obtaining my consent. But come tell me what you saw. 48 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:48.280 Do not scold me, mother, answered Telemachus, nor vex me, 49 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:51.560 seeing what a narrow escape I have had. But wash 50 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:54.719 your face, change your dress, go upstairs with your maids, 51 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:58.280 and promise full and sufficient hecatombs to all the gods, 52 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:01.919 if Jove will only grant us our revenge upon the suitors. 53 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.159 I must now go to the place of assembly to 54 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:08.360 invite a stranger who has come back with me from Pylos. 55 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:11.599 I sent him on with my crew and told Pereeus 56 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:13.560 to take him home and look after him till I 57 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:18.159 could come for him myself. She heeded her son's words, 58 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:21.800 washed her face, changed her dress, and vowed full and 59 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:25.080 sufficient hecatombs to all the gods if they would only 60 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:30.120 vouchsafe her revenge upon the suitors. Telemachus went through and 61 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:33.759 out of the cloister's spear in hand, not alone, for 62 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:37.639 as two fleet dogs went with him. Minerva endowed him 63 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:41.000 with a presence of such divine comeliness that all marveled 64 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.800 at him as he went by, and the suitors gathered 65 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:46.520 round him with fair words in their mouths and malice 66 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:50.080 in their hearts. But he avoided them and went to 67 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:54.159 sit with mentor Antipas and Hellathurses, old friends of his 68 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:56.879 father's house, and they made him tell them all that 69 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:01.120 had happened to him. Then Pereus came up with Theoclimenus, 70 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:03.759 whom he had escorted through the town to the place 71 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:08.240 of assembly, whereon Telemachus had once joined them. Pereeus was 72 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:12.800 first to speak. Telemachus said, he, I wish you would 73 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:14.800 send some of your women to my house to take 74 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:18.759 away the presents Menelaeus gave you. We do not know, 75 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:23.240 Pereeus answered Telemachus, what may happen if the suitors kill 76 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:25.959 me in my own house and divide my property among them? 77 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:28.720 I would rather you had the presence than that of 78 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:31.560 any of those people should get hold of them. If, 79 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.959 on the other hand, I managed to kill them, I 80 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:36.360 shall be much obliged, if you will kindly bring me 81 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:40.319 my presence. With these words, he took the Acclemenus to 82 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:43.240 his own house. When they got there, they laid their 83 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:46.160 cloaks on the benches and seats, went into the baths 84 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:49.920 and washed themselves. When the maids had washed and anointed them, 85 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.600 and had given them cloaks and shirts, they took their 86 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:55.959 seats at table. A maid servant then brought them water 87 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:58.279 in a beautiful golden ewer and poured it into a 88 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:01.319 silver basin for them to wash their hands, and she 89 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:04.839 drew a clean table beside them. An upper servant brought 90 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:07.000 them bread and offered them many good things of what 91 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:11.639 there was in the house. Opposite them sat Penelope, reclining 92 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:13.680 on a couch by one of the bearing posts of 93 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:16.920 the cloister and spinning. Then they laid their hands on 94 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:19.360 the good things that were before them, And as soon 95 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:23.240 as they had had enough to eat and drink, Penelope said, Telemachus, 96 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:25.920 I shall go upstairs and lie down on that sad 97 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.759 couch which I have not seized to water with my tears. 98 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:31.480 From the day Ulysses set out for Troy with the 99 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:35.600 sons of Atreus, you failed, however, to make it clear 100 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:37.759 to me before the suitors came back to the house, 101 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:40.519 whether or no you had been able to hear anything 102 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.839 about the return of your father. I will tell you then, truth, 103 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:48.759 replied her son. We went to Pylos and saw Nestor, 104 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:51.480 who took me to his house and treated me as 105 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:54.399 hospitably as though I were a son of his own 106 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:58.000 who had just returned after a long absence. So also 107 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:01.360 did his sons. But he said he had not heard 108 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:04.720 a word from any human being about Ulysses, whether he 109 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:08.000 was alive or dead. He sent me, therefore, with a 110 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:12.879 chariot and horses to Menelaeus. There I saw Helen, for 111 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:17.000 whose sake so many both archives and Trojans, were in 112 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:21.319 Heaven's wisdom doomed to suffer. Menilaus asked me what it 113 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.079 was that had brought me to Lacedaemon, and I told 114 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:28.439 him the whole truth. Whereon he said, so then these 115 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:32.199 cowards would usurp a brave man's bed. A hind might 116 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:34.279 as well lay her new born young in the lair 117 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:36.519 of a lion and then go off to feed in 118 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:40.319 the forest or in some grassy dell. The lion, when 119 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:43.040 he comes back to his lair will make short work 120 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:45.680 with the pair of them, and so will Ulysses with 121 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:51.240 these suitors, by Father, Jove, Minerva and Apollo. If Ulysses 122 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:53.319 is still the man that he was when he rustled 123 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.720 with Philomladies and Lesbos and threw him so heavily that 124 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:59.879 all the Greeks cheered him. If he is still such, 125 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:02.920 and were to come near these suitors, they would have 126 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:07.600 a short shrift and a sorry wedding. As regards your question, however, 127 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:11.120 I will not prefarrogate nor deceive you. But what the 128 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.480 old man of the sea told me so much, will 129 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:17.000 I tell you in full. He said he could see 130 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:20.279 Ulysses on an island, sorrowing bitterly in the house of 131 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:23.839 the nymph Calypso, who was keeping him prisoner, And he 132 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:26.600 could not reach his home, for he had no ships 133 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:29.800 nor sailors to take him over the sea. This was 134 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:33.079 what Menelaeus told me, And when I had heard his story, 135 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:36.319 I came away. The gods then gave me a fair wind, 136 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:40.079 and soon brought me safe home again. With these words, 137 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:45.000 he moved the heart of Penelope. Then Theoclemenus said to her, Madam, 138 00:07:45.160 --> 00:07:49.560 wife of Ulysses, Telemachus does not understand these things. Listen 139 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.639 therefore to me, for I can divine them surely, and 140 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:56.079 will hide nothing from you. May Jove, the King of 141 00:07:56.120 --> 00:07:59.519 Heaven be my witness, and the rights of hospitality with 142 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:03.240 that of Ulysses, to which I now come. That Ulysses 143 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:06.720 himself is even now in Ithaca, and either going about 144 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:10.199 the country or staying in one place, is inquiring into 145 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.920 all these evil deeds and preparing a day of reckoning 146 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:16.199 for the suitors. I saw an omen when I was 147 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:19.199 on the ship which meant this, and I told Telemachus 148 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:24.639 about it. May it be even so, answered Penelope. If 149 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:27.519 your words come true, you shall have such gifts and 150 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:30.040 such good will will come from me that all who 151 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:35.039 see you shall congratulate you. Thus did they converse. Meanwhile, 152 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:37.960 the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at 153 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:40.159 a mark on the level ground in front of the house, 154 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:44.000 and behaving with all their old insolence. But when it 155 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:46.600 was now time for dinner, and the flock of sheep 156 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.720 and goats had come into the town from all the 157 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:52.799 country round with their shepherds as usual, then Medan, who 158 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:55.840 was their favorite servant and who waited upon them at table, 159 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:59.799 said now, then, my young masters, you have had enough, 160 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:03.639 so come inside that we may get dinner ready. Dinner 161 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:07.759 is not a bad thing. At dinner time, they left 162 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:10.159 their sports as he told them, and when they were 163 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:12.840 within the house, they laid their cloaks on the benches 164 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:16.799 and seats inside, and then sacrifice some sheep, goats, pigs, 165 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:19.600 and a heifer, all of them fat and well grown. 166 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:24.120 Thus they made ready for their meal. In the meantime, 167 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:27.360 Ulysses and the swineherd were about starting for the town, 168 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:32.240 and the swineherd said, stranger, I suppose you still want 169 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:34.320 to go to the town to day, as my master 170 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:37.159 said you were to do for my own part, I 171 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.799 should have liked you to stay here as a station hand. 172 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.840 But I must do as my master tells me, or 173 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:45.200 he will scold me later on, and a scolding from 174 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:48.879 one's master is a very serious thing. Let us then 175 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:52.279 be off, for it is now broad day. It will 176 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:55.279 be night again directly, and then you will find it colder. 177 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:00.879 I know and understand you, replied Ulysses. You need say 178 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:04.480 no more. Let us be going. But if you have 179 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:07.200 a stick ready cut, let me have it to walk 180 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:10.039 with for you say, the road is a very rough one. 181 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:14.519 As he spoke, he threw his shabby, old tattered wallet 182 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:16.840 over his shoulders by the cord from which it hung, 183 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.279 and Eumaeus gave him a stick to his liking. The 184 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:23.159 two then started leaving the station, in charge of the 185 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:27.320 dogs and herdsmen, who remained behind. The swineherd led the way, 186 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.879 and his master followed after, looking like some broken down 187 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:33.600 old trap as he leaned upon his staff, and his 188 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:37.080 clothes were all in rags. When they had got over 189 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.679 the rough steep ground and were nearing the city, they 190 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:42.279 reached the fountain from which the citizens drew their water. 191 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:47.039 This had been made by Ithacus, Neratus and Polyctor. There 192 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:49.600 was a grove of water loving poplars planted in a 193 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:52.799 circle all round it, and the clear, cold water came 194 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:55.159 down to it from a rock high up. While the 195 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.840 above fountain there was an altar to the nymphs at 196 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:03.360 which all wayfarers used to sacrifice. Here, Melanthius, son of Dolius, 197 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:06.360 overtook them as he was driving down some goats, the 198 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.440 best in his flock, for the suitor's dinner, and there 199 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:13.399 were two shepherds with him. When he saw Eumaeus and Ulysses. 200 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:17.360 He reviled them with outrageous and unseemly language, which made 201 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:22.720 Ulysses very angry. There you go, cried he and a 202 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:26.519 precious pair. You are see how heaven brings birds of 203 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:30.759 the same feather to one another. Where pray, master, swineherd, 204 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:34.759 are you taking this poor, miserable object. It would make 205 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:37.519 any one sick to see such a creature at table. 206 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:40.720 A fellow like this never won a prize for anything 207 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:43.639 in his life. But we'll go about rubbing his shoulders 208 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:47.720 against every man's doorpost, and begging not for swords and 209 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:51.039 cauldrons like a man, but only for a few scraps 210 00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:54.440 not worth begging for. If you would give him to 211 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:57.120 me for a hand on my station, he might do 212 00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:59.600 to clean out the folds, or bring a bit of 213 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:02.440 sweet feed to the kids. That he could fatten his 214 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:05.480 thighs as much as he pleased on whey. But he 215 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:08.080 has taken to bad ways and will not go about 216 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:11.919 any kind of work. He will do nothing but beg 217 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:15.480 victuals all the town over to feed his insatiable belly. 218 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:19.879 I say therefore, and it shall surely be if he 219 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:23.159 goes near Ulysses house, he will get his head broken 220 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.600 by the stools they fling at him till they turn 221 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:30.159 him out on this. As he passed, he gave Ulysses 222 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:32.879 a kick on the hip out of pure wantonness. But 223 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:35.840 Ulysses stood firm and did not budge from the path. 224 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:39.120 For a moment, he doubted whether or no to fly 225 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:42.159 at Melanthius and kill him with his staff, or fling 226 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:45.840 him to the ground and beat his brains out. He resolved, however, 227 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:48.960 to endure it and keep himself in check. But the 228 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:52.639 swineherd looked straight at Melanthius and rebuked him, lifting up 229 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:54.720 his hands and praying to Heaven. As he did so, 230 00:12:56.039 --> 00:13:00.840 fountain nymphs. He cried, Children of Jove, if ever Ulysses 231 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:04.000 burned you thigh bones covered with fat, whether of lambs 232 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:07.519 or kids, grant my prayer that Heaven may send him home. 233 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:11.600 He would soon put an end to the swaggering threats 234 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:14.279 with which such men as you go about insulting people, 235 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:17.440 gadding all over the town, while your flocks are going 236 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:23.399 to ruin through bad shepherding. Then Melanthius the goatherd answered, you, 237 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:27.679 ill conditioned cur what are you talking about? Some day 238 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:30.200 or other. I will put you on board ship and 239 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:33.039 take you to a foreign country, where I can sell 240 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:36.399 you and pocket the money you will fetch. I wish 241 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:39.200 I were as sure that Apolla would strike Telemachus dead 242 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:42.000 this very day, or that the suitors would kill him, 243 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.960 as I am, that Ulysses will never come home again. 244 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:48.399 With this, he left them to come on at their 245 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:51.600 leisure while he went quickly forward and soon reached the 246 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:55.480 house of his master. When he got there, he went 247 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:58.360 in and took his seat among the suitors, opposite Eurymicus, 248 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:01.799 who liked him better than any of the others. The 249 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:04.759 servants brought him a portion of meat, and an upper 250 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:08.840 woman servant set bread before him that he might eat. Presently, 251 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:11.399 Ulysses and the swineherd came up to the house and 252 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:15.159 stood by it amid a sound of music, for Femius 253 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.759 was just beginning to sing to the suitors. Then Ulysses 254 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:23.240 took hold of the swineherd's hand and said, Eumaeus, this 255 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:27.240 house of Ulysses is a very fine place. No matter 256 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.960 how far you go, you will find few like it. 257 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:34.879 One building keeps following on after another. The outer court 258 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:38.000 has a wall with battlements, all round it. The doors 259 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:41.600 are double folding, and of good workmanship. It would be 260 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:44.039 a hard matter to take it by force of arms. 261 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.480 I perceive too that there are many people banqueting within it, 262 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.600 for there's a smell of roast meat, and I hear 263 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:54.320 a sound of music, which the gods have made to 264 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:59.840 go along with feasting. Then, Eumaeus said, you have perceived aright, 265 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:03.240 as indeed you generally do. But let us think what 266 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:06.639 will be our best course. Will you go inside first 267 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:09.519 and join the suitors, leaving me here behind you, or 268 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:11.679 will you wait here and let me go in first, 269 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.720 but do not wait long, or some one may see 270 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:18.960 you loitering about outside and throw something at you. Consider 271 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:23.960 this matter, I pray you, And Ulysses answered, I understand 272 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:27.080 and heed. Go in first, and leave me here where 273 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:29.960 I am. I am quite used to being beaten and 274 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:33.440 having things thrown at me. I have been so much 275 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:36.279 buffeted about in war and by sea that I am 276 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:39.080 case hardened. And this too may go with the rest. 277 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:42.240 But a man cannot hide away the cravings of a 278 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:45.960 hungry belly. This is an enemy which gives much trouble 279 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:49.159 to all men. It is because of this that ships 280 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:51.519 are fitted out to sail the seas and to make 281 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:56.080 war upon other people. As they were thus talking, a 282 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:58.480 dog that had been lying asleep raised his head and 283 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:02.279 pricked up his ears. This was Argos, whom Ulysses had 284 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:05.159 bred before setting out for Troy, but he had never 285 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:08.399 had any work out of him. In the old days, 286 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.679 he used to be taken out by the young men 287 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:13.519 when they went hunting wild goats or deer or hares. 288 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.480 But now that his master was gone, he was lying 289 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:19.200 neglected on the heaps of mule and cow dung that 290 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:21.320 lay in front of the stable doors, till the men 291 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:24.000 should come and draw it away to manure the great clothes. 292 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:27.720 And he was full of fleas. As soon as he 293 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.919 saw Ulysses standing there, he dropped his ears and wagged 294 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:33.399 his tail, but he could not get close up to 295 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:36.559 his master. When Ulysses saw the dog on the other 296 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.159 side of the yard, he dashed a tear from his 297 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:43.960 eyes without Eumaas seeing it, and said, Eumaeus, what a 298 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:46.879 noble hound that is over yonder on the manure heap. 299 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:51.240 His bild is splendid. Is he as fine a fellow 300 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.039 as he looks? Or is he only one of those 301 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:56.840 dogs that come begging about a table and are kept 302 00:16:56.879 --> 00:17:02.240 merely for show. This hound answered, Eumaeus belonged to him 303 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:05.400 who has died in a far country. If he were 304 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:08.119 what he was when Ulysses left for Troy, he would 305 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:10.920 soon show you what he could do. There was not 306 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:13.279 a wild beast in the forest that could get away 307 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:16.119 from him when he was once on its tracks. But 308 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:19.200 now he has fallen on evil times, for his master 309 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:21.559 is dead and gone, and the women take no care 310 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:25.079 of him. Servants never do their work when their master's 311 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:28.039 hand is no longer over them, For Jove takes half 312 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.000 the goodness out of a man when he makes a 313 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:33.640 slave of him. As he spoke, he went inside the 314 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:37.079 buildings to the cloister where the suitors were, But Argos 315 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:41.440 died as soon as he had recognized his master. Telemachus 316 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:44.640 saw Eumaeus long before any one else did, and beckoned 317 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:48.079 him to come and sit beside him. So he looked 318 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:50.680 about and saw a seat lying near where the carver 319 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:54.519 sat serving out their portions to the suitors. He picked 320 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:57.480 it up, brought it to Telemachus's table, and sat down 321 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:00.880 opposite him. Then the servant brought him in portion and 322 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:05.440 gave him bread from the bread basket. Immediately afterwards, Ulysses 323 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:09.519 came inside, looking like a poor, miserable old beggar, leaning 324 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:12.119 on his staff and with his clothes all in rags. 325 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.799 He sat down upon the threshold of ashwood, just inside 326 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.440 the doors leading from the outer to the inner court, 327 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:21.119 and against a bearing post of cypress wood, which the 328 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:24.759 carpenter had skillfully plained and had made to join truly 329 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:28.440 with rule and line. Telemachus took a whole loaf from 330 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:30.880 the bread basket, with as much meat as he could 331 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:34.880 hold in his two hands, and said to Eumaeus, take 332 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:37.440 this to the stranger, and tell him to go the 333 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:40.599 round of the suitors and beg from them. A beggar 334 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:44.440 must not be shamefaced. So Eumaeus went up to him 335 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:48.680 and said, stranger, Telemachus sends you this and says you 336 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:51.079 are to go the round of the suitors begging for 337 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:56.640 beggars must not be shamefaced. Ulysses answered, may King Jove, 338 00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:00.359 grant all happiness to Telemachus and fulfill the desire of 339 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:04.759 his heart. Then with both hands he took what Telemachus 340 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:07.039 had sent him and laid it on the dirty old 341 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:10.079 wallet at his feet. He went on eating it while 342 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:12.920 the bard was singing, and had just finished his dinner. 343 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:17.400 As he left off, the suitors applauded the bard. Whereon 344 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:20.000 Minerva went up to Ulysses and prompted him to beg 345 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:22.599 pieces of bread from each one of the suitors, that 346 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:25.039 he might see what kind of people they were and 347 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:28.119 tell the good from the bad. But come what might, 348 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:30.480 she was not going to save a single one of them. 349 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:34.839 Ulysses therefore went on his round, going from left to right, 350 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:37.319 and stretched out his hands to beg, as though he 351 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:40.559 were a real beggar. Some of them pitied him and 352 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:43.720 were curious about him, asking one another who he was 353 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:47.480 and where he came from? Whereon the goatherd, Melanthius said, 354 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:51.319 suitors of my noble mistress, I can tell you something 355 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:55.000 about him, for I have seen him before the swineherd 356 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.599 brought him here, But I know nothing about the man 357 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:02.359 himself nor where he comes from. On this Antonus began 358 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:06.880 to abuse the swineherd, You precious idiot, he cried, what 359 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:10.240 have you brought this man to town? For have we 360 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:13.440 not tramps and beggars enough already to pestre us? As 361 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:16.200 we sit at meat to think it a small thing 362 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:19.200 that such people gather here to waste your master's property, 363 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:23.440 And must you needs bring this man as well? And 364 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:28.519 Eumaeus answered Antonus, your birth is good, but your words evil. 365 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:31.440 It was no doing of mind that he came here. 366 00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:34.640 Who is likely to invite a stranger from a foreign 367 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:37.359 country unless it be one of those who can do 368 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:41.000 public service as a seer, a healer of hertz, a carpenter, 369 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:43.559 or a bard who can charm us with his singing. 370 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.359 Such men are welcome all the world over, but no 371 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:49.519 one is likely to ask a beggar who will only 372 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:53.319 worry him. You are always harder on Ulysses servants than 373 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:56.279 any of the other suitors are, and above all on me. 374 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:59.559 But I do not care so long as Telemachus and 375 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:04.920 Penelope are alive and hear. But Telemachus said, hush, do 376 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:08.359 not answer him. Antonus has the bitterest tongue of all 377 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:12.480 the suitors, and he makes the others worse. Then, turning 378 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:16.559 to Antonus, he said, Antonus, you take as much care 379 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:19.640 of my interests as though I were your son. Why 380 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:21.839 should you want to see this stranger turned out of 381 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:26.440 the house? Heaven forbid? Take something and give it him yourself. 382 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:29.359 I do not grudge it. I bid you take it, 383 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.759 never mind my mother nor any of the other servants 384 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:35.279 in the house. But I know you will not do 385 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:37.960 what I say, for you are more fond of eating 386 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:41.880 things yourself than of giving them to other people. What 387 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:46.279 do you mean, Telemachus replied Antonus by this swaggering talk, 388 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.960 if all the suitors were to give him as much 389 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:51.400 as I will, he would not come here again for 390 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:55.839 another three months. As he spoke, he drew the stool 391 00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:58.440 on which he rested his dainty feet from under the table, 392 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:01.599 and made as though he would at ulysses. But the 393 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:04.480 other suitors all gave him something and filled his wallet 394 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:07.960 with bread and meat. He was about, therefore to go 395 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:10.279 back to the threshold and eat what the suitors had 396 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:14.559 given him, but he first went up to Antonas and said, sir, 397 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:19.240 give me something. You are not surely the poorest man here. 398 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:22.920 You seem to be a chief foremost among them all. 399 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:27.000 Therefore you should be the better giver, and I will 400 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:30.799 tell far and wide of your bounty. I too was 401 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:33.559