Meanwhile Ulysses and the swineherd had lit a fire in the hut
and were were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, for they had
sent the men out with the pigs. When Telemachus came up, the
dogs did not bark but fawned upon him, so Ulysses, hearing the
sound of feet and noticing that the dogs did not bark, said to
Eumaeus:
"Eumaeus, I hear footsteps; I suppose one of your men or some
one of your acquaintance is coming here, for the dogs are
fawning upon him and not barking."
The words were hardly out of his mouth before his son stood at
the door. Eumaeus sprang to his feet, and the bowls in which he
was mixing wine fell from his hands, as he made towards his
master. He kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes, and wept
for joy. A father could not be more delighted at the return of
an only son, the child of his old age, after ten years' absence
in a foreign country and after having gone through much
hardship. He embraced him, kissed him all over as though he had
come back from the dead, and spoke fondly to him saying:
"So you are come, Telemachus, light of my eyes that you are.
When I heard you had gone to Pylos I made sure I was never going
to see you any more. Come in, my dear child, and sit down, that
I may have a good look at you now you are home again; it is not
very often you come into the country to see us herdsmen; you
stick pretty close to the town generally. I suppose you think it
better to keep an eye on what the suitors are doing."
"So be it, old friend," answered Telemachus, "but I am come now
because I want to see you, and to learn whether my mother is
still at her old home or whether some one else has married her,
so that the bed of Ulysses is without bedding and covered with
cobwebs."
"She is still at the house," replied Eumaeus, "grieving and
breaking her heart, and doing nothing but weep, both night and
day continually."
As he spoke he took Telemachus' spear, whereon he crossed the
stone threshold and came inside. Ulysses rose from his seat to
give him place as he entered, but Telemachus checked him; "Sit
down, stranger," said he, "I can easily find another seat, and
there is one here who will lay it for me."
Ulysses went back to his own place, and Eumaeus strewed some
green brushwood on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of it
for Telemachus to sit upon. Then the swineherd brought them
platters of cold meat, the remains from what they had eaten the
day before, and he filled the bread baskets with bread as fast
as he could. He mixed wine also in bowls of ivy-wood, and took
his seat facing Ulysses. Then they laid their hands on the good
things that were before them, and as soon as they had had enough
to eat and drink Telemachus said to Eumaeus, "Old friend, where
does this stranger come from? How did his crew bring him to
Ithaca, and who were they?--for assuredly he did not come here
by land."
To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaeus, "My son, I will tell
you the real truth. He says he is a Cretan, and that he has been
a great traveller. At this moment he is running away from a
Thesprotian ship, and has taken refuge at my station, so I will
put him into your hands. Do whatever you like with him, only
remember that he is your suppliant."
"I am very much distressed," said Telemachus, "by what you have
just told me. How can I take this stranger into my house? I am
as yet young, and am not strong enough to hold my own if any man
attacks me. My mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay
where she is and look after the house out of respect for public
opinion and the memory of her husband, or whether the time is
now come for her to take the best man of those who are wooing
her, and the one who will make her the most advantageous offer;
still, as the stranger has come to your station I will find him
a cloak and shirt of good wear, with a sword and sandals, and
will send him wherever he wants to go. Or if you like you can
keep him here at the station, and I will send him clothes and
food that he may be no burden on you and on your men; but I will
not have him go near the suitors, for they are very insolent,
and are sure to ill treat him in a way that would greatly grieve
me; no matter how valiant a man may be he can do nothing against
numbers, for they will be too strong for him."
Then Ulysses said, "Sir, it is right that I should say something
myself. I am much shocked about what you have said about the
insolent way in which the suitors are behaving in despite of
such a man as you are. Tell me, do you submit to such treatment
tamely, or has some god set your people against you? May you not
complain of your brothers--for it is to these that a man may
look for support, however great his quarrel may be? I wish I
were as young as you are and in my present mind; if I were son
to Ulysses, or, indeed, Ulysses himself, I would rather some one
came and cut my head off, but I would go to the house and be the
bane of every one of these men. If they were too many for
me--I being single-handed--I would rather die fighting in my own
house than see such disgraceful sights day after day, strangers
grossly maltreated, and men dragging the women servants about
the house in an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and bread
wasted all to no purpose for an end that shall never be
accomplished."
And Telemachus answered, "I will tell you truly everything.
There is no enmity between me and my people, nor can I complain
of brothers, to whom a man may look for support however great
his quarrel may be. Jove has made us a race of only sons.
Laertes was the only son of Arceisius, and Ulysses only son of
Laertes. I am myself the only son of Ulysses who left me behind
him when he went away, so that I have never been of any use to
him. Hence it comes that my house is in the hands of numberless
marauders; for the chiefs from all the neighbouring islands,
Dulichium, Same, Zacynthus, as also all the principal men of
Ithaca itself, are eating up my house under the pretext of
paying court to my mother, who will neither say point blank that
she will not marry, nor yet bring matters to an end, so they are
making havoc of my estate, and before long will do so with
myself into the bargain. The issue, however, rests with heaven.
But do you, old friend Eumaeus, go at once and tell Penelope
that I am safe and have returned from Pylos. Tell it to herself
alone, and then come back here without letting any one else
know, for there are many who are plotting mischief against me."
"I understand and heed you," replied Eumaeus; "you need instruct
me no further, only as I am going that way say whether I had not
better let poor Laertes know that you are returned. He used to
superintend the work on his farm in spite of his bitter sorrow
about Ulysses, and he would eat and drink at will along with his
servants; but they tell me that from the day on which you set
out for Pylos he has neither eaten nor drunk as he ought to do,
nor does he look after his farm, but sits weeping and wasting
the flesh from off his bones."
"More's the pity," answered Telemachus, "I am sorry for him, but
we must leave him to himself just now. If people could have
everything their own way, the first thing I should choose would
be the return of my father; but go, and give your message; then
make haste back again, and do not turn out of your way to tell
Laertes. Tell my mother to send one of her women secretly with
the news at once, and let him hear it from her."
Thus did he urge the swineherd; Eumaeus, therefore, took his
sandals, bound them to his feet, and started for the town.
Minerva watched him well off the station, and then came up to it
in the form of a woman--fair, stately, and wise. She stood
against the side of the entry, and revealed herself to Ulysses,
but Telemachus could not see her, and knew not that she was
there, for the gods do not let themselves be seen by everybody.
Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, for they did not bark, but
went scared and whining off to the other side of the yards. She
nodded her head and motioned to Ulysses with her eyebrows;
whereon he left the hut and stood before her outside the main
wall of the yards. Then she said to him:
"Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, it is now time for you to tell
your son: do not keep him in the dark any longer, but lay your
plans for the destruction of the suitors, and then make for the
town. I will not be long in joining you, for I too am eager for
the fray."
As she spoke she touched him with her golden wand. First she
threw a fair clean shirt and cloak about his shoulders; then she
made him younger and of more imposing presence; she gave him
back his colour, filled out his cheeks, and let his beard become
dark again. Then she went away and Ulysses came back inside the
hut. His son was astounded when he saw him, and turned his eyes
away for fear he might be looking upon a god.
"Stranger," said he, "how suddenly you have changed from what
you were a moment or two ago. You are dressed differently and
your colour is not the same. Are you some one or other of the
gods that live in heaven? If so, be propitious to me till I can
make you due sacrifice and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy
upon me."
And Ulysses said, "I am no god, why should you take me for one?
I am your father, on whose account you grieve and suffer so much
at the hands of lawless men."
As he spoke he kissed his son, and a tear fell from his cheek on
to the ground, for he had restrained all tears till now. But
Telemachus could not yet believe that it was his father, and
said:
"You are not my father, but some god is flattering me with vain
hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter; no mortal man could
of himself contrive to do as you have been doing, and make
yourself old and young at a moment's notice, unless a god were
with him. A second ago you were old and all in rags, and now you
are like some god come down from heaven."
Ulysses answered, "Telemachus, you ought not to be so
immeasurably astonished at my being really here. There is no
other Ulysses who will come hereafter. Such as I am, it is I,
who after long wandering and much hardship have got home in the
twentieth year to my own country. What you wonder at is the work
of the redoubtable goddess Minerva, who does with me whatever
she will, for she can do what she pleases. At one moment she
makes me like a beggar, and the next I am a young man with good
clothes on my back; it is an easy matter for the gods who live
in heaven to make any man look either rich or poor."
As he spoke he sat down, and Telemachus threw his arms about his
father and wept. They were both so much moved that they cried
aloud like eagles or vultures with crooked talons that have been
robbed of their half fledged young by peasants. Thus piteously
did they weep, and the sun would have gone down upon their
mourning if Telemachus had not suddenly said, "In what ship, my
dear father, did your crew bring you to Ithaca? Of what nation
did they declare themselves to be--for you cannot have come by
land?"
"I will tell you the truth, my son," replied Ulysses. "It was
the Phaeacians who brought me here. They are great sailors, and
are in the habit of giving escorts to any one who reaches their
coasts. They took me over the sea while I was fast asleep, and
landed me in Ithaca, after giving me many presents in bronze,
gold, and raiment. These things by heaven's mercy are lying
concealed in a cave, and I am now come here on the suggestion of
Minerva that we may consult about killing our enemies. First,
therefore, give me a list of the suitors, with their number,
that I may learn who, and how many, they are. I can then turn
the matter over in my mind, and see whether we two can fight the
whole body of them ourselves, or whether we must find others to
help us."
To this Telemachus answered, "Father, I have always heard of
your renown both in the field and in council, but the task you
talk of is a very great one: I am awed at the mere thought of
it; two men cannot stand against many and brave ones. There are
not ten suitors only, nor twice ten, but ten many times over;
you shall learn their number at once. There are fifty-two chosen
youths from Dulichium, and they have six servants; from Same
there are twenty-four; twenty young Achaeans from Zacynthus, and
twelve from Ithaca itself, all of them well born. They have with
them a servant Medon, a bard, and two men who can carve at
table. If we face such numbers as this, you may have bitter
cause to rue your coming, and your revenge. See whether you
cannot think of some one who would be willing to come and help
us."
"Listen to me," replied Ulysses, "and think whether Minerva and
her father Jove may seem sufficient, or whether I am to try and
find some one else as well."
"Those whom you have named," answered Telemachus, "are a couple
of good allies, for though they dwell high up among the clouds
they have power over both gods and men."
"These two," continued Ulysses, "will not keep long out of the
fray, when the suitors and we join fight in my house. Now,
therefore, return home early to-morrow morning, and go about
among the suitors as before. Later on the swineherd will bring
me to the city disguised as a miserable old beggar. If you see
them ill treating me, steel your heart against my sufferings;
even though they drag me feet foremost out of the house, or
throw things at me, look on and do nothing beyond gently trying
to make them behave more reasonably; but they will not listen to
you, for the day of their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore I
say, and lay my saying to your heart; when Minerva shall put it
in my mind, I will nod my head to you, and on seeing me do this
you must collect all the armour that is in the house and hide it
in the strong store room. Make some excuse when the suitors ask
you why you are removing it; say that you have taken it to be
out of the way of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what it
was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled and begrimed
with soot. Add to this more particularly that you are afraid
Jove may set them on to quarrel over their wine, and that they
may do each other some harm which may disgrace both banquet and
wooing, for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use
them. But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself and me,
and a couple of oxhide shields so that we can snatch them up at
any moment; Jove and Minerva will then soon quiet these people.
There is also another matter; if you are indeed my son and my
blood runs in your veins, let no one know that Ulysses is within
the house--neither Laertes, nor yet the swineherd, nor any of
the servants, nor even Penelope herself. Let you and me exploit
the women alone, and let us also make trial of some other of the
men servants, to see who is on our side and whose hand is
against us."
"Father," replied Telemachus, "you will come to know me by and
by, and when you do you will find that I can keep your counsel.
I do not think, however, the plan you propose will turn out well
for either of us. Think it over. It will take us a long time to
go the round of the farms and exploit the men, and all the time
the suitors will be wasting your estate with impunity and
without compunction. Prove the women by all means, to see who
are disloyal and who guiltless, but I am not in favour of going
round and trying the men. We can attend to that later on, if you
really have some sign from Jove that he will support you."
Thus did they converse, and meanwhile the ship which had brought
Telemachus and his crew from Pylos had reached the town of
Ithaca. When they had come inside the harbour they drew the ship
on to the land; their servants came and took their armour from
them, and they left all the presents at the house of Clytius.
Then they sent a servant to tell Penelope that Telemachus had
gone into the country, but had sent the ship to the town to
prevent her from being alarmed and made unhappy. This servant
and Eumaeus happened to meet when they were both on the same
errand of going to tell Penelope. When they reached the House,
the servant stood up and said to the queen in the presence of
the waiting women, "Your son, Madam, is now returned from
Pylos"; but Eumaeus went close up to Penelope, and said
privately all that her son had bidden him tell her. When he had
given his message he left the house with its outbuildings and
went back to his pigs again.
The suitors were surprised and angry at what had happened, so
they went outside the great wall that ran round the outer court,
and held a council near the main entrance. Eurymachus, son of
Polybus, was the first to speak.
"My friends," said he, "this voyage of Telemachus's is a very
serious matter; we had made sure that it would come to nothing.
Now, however, let us draw a ship into the water, and get a crew
together to send after the others and tell them to come back as
fast as they can."
He had hardly done speaking when Amphinomus turned in his place
and saw the ship inside the harbour, with the crew lowering her
sails, and putting by their oars; so he laughed, and said to the
others, "We need not send them any message, for they are here.
Some god must have told them, or else they saw the ship go by,
and could not overtake her."
On this they rose and went to the water side. The crew then drew
the ship on shore; their servants took their armour from them,
and they went up in a body to the place of assembly, but they
would not let any one old or young sit along with them, and
Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke first.
"Good heavens," said he, "see how the gods have saved this man
from destruction. We kept a succession of scouts upon the
headlands all day long, and when the sun was down we never went
on shore to sleep, but waited in the ship all night till morning
in the hope of capturing and killing him; but some god has
conveyed him home in spite of us. Let us consider how we can
make an end of him. He must not escape us; our affair is never
likely to come off while he is alive, for he is very shrewd, and
public feeling is by no means all on our side. We must make
haste before he can call the Achaeans in assembly; he will lose
no time in doing so, for he will be furious with us, and will
tell all the world how we plotted to kill him, but failed to
take him. The people will not like this when they come to know
of it; we must see that they do us no hurt, nor drive us from
our own country into exile. Let us try and lay hold of him
either on his farm away from the town, or on the road hither.
Then we can divide up his property amongst us, and let his
mother and the man who marries her have the house. If this does
not please you, and you wish Telemachus to live on and hold his
father's property, then we must not gather here and eat up his
goods in this way, but must make our offers to Penelope each
from his own house, and she can marry the man who will give the
most for her, and whose lot it is to win her."
They all held their peace until Amphinomus rose to speak. He
was the son of Nisus, who was son to king Aretias, and he was
foremost among all the suitors from the wheat-growing and well
grassed island of Dulichium; his conversation, moreover, was
more agreeable to Penelope than that of any of the other
suitors, for he was a man of good natural disposition. "My
friends," said he, speaking to them plainly and in all honestly,
"I am not in favour of killing Telemachus. It is a heinous thing
to kill one who is of noble blood. Let us first take counsel of
the gods, and if the oracles of Jove advise it, I will both help
to kill him myself, and will urge everyone else to do so; but if
they dissuade us, I would have you hold your hands."
Thus did he speak, and his words pleased them well, so they rose
forthwith and went to the house of Ulysses, where they took
their accustomed seats.
Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself to the
suitors. She knew of the plot against Telemachus, for the
servant Medon had overheard their counsels and had told her; she
went down therefore to the court attended by her maidens, and
when she reached the suitors she stood by one of the
bearing-posts supporting the roof of the cloister holding a veil
before her face, and rebuked Antinous saying:
"Antinous, insolent and wicked schemer, they say you are the
best speaker and counsellor of any man your own age in Ithaca,
but you are nothing of the kind. Madman, why should you try to
compass the death of Telemachus, and take no heed of suppliants,
whose witness is Jove himself? It is not right for you to plot
thus against one another. Do you not remember how your father
fled to this house in fear of the people, who were enraged
against him for having gone with some Taphian pirates and
plundered the Thesprotians who were at peace with us? They
wanted to tear him in pieces and eat up everything he had, but
Ulysses stayed their hands although they were infuriated, and
now you devour his property without paying for it, and break my
heart by wooing his wife and trying to kill his son. Leave off
doing so, and stop the others also."
To this Eurymachus son of Polybus answered, "Take heart, Queen
Penelope daughter of Icarius, and do not trouble yourself about
these matters. The man is not yet born, nor never will be, who
shall lay hands upon your son Telemachus, while I yet live to
look upon the face of the earth. I say--and it shall surely
be--that my spear shall be reddened with his blood; for many a
time has Ulysses taken me on his knees, held wine up to my lips
to drink, and put pieces of meat into my hands. Therefore
Telemachus is much the dearest friend I have, and has nothing to
fear from the hands of us suitors. Of course, if death comes to
him from the gods, he cannot escape it." He said this to quiet
her, but in reality he was plotting against Telemachus.
Then Penelope went upstairs again and mourned her husband till
Minerva shed sleep over her eyes. In the evening Eumaeus got
back to Ulysses and his son, who had just sacrificed a young pig
of a year old and were helping one another to get supper ready;
Minerva therefore came up to Ulysses, turned him into an old man
with a stroke of her wand, and clad him in his old clothes
again, for fear that the swineherd might recognise him and not
keep the secret, but go and tell Penelope.
Telemachus was the first to speak. "So you have got back,
Eumaeus," said he. "What is the news of the town? Have the
suitors returned, or are they still waiting over yonder, to take
me on my way home?"
"I did not think of asking about that," replied Eumaeus, "when I
was in the town. I thought I would give my message and come back
as soon as I could. I met a man sent by those who had gone with
you to Pylos, and he was the first to tell the news to your
mother, but I can say what I saw with my own eyes; I had just
got on to the crest of the hill of Mercury above the town when I
saw a ship coming into harbour with a number of men in her. They
had many shields and spears, and I thought it was the suitors,
but I cannot be sure."
On hearing this Telemachus smiled to his father, but so that
Eumaeus could not see him.
Then, when they had finished their work and the meal was ready,
they ate it, and every man had his full share so that all were
satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, they
laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.
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