Thy father came to us a fugitive,
In terror of the people, who were wroth Because he joined the Taphian pirate-race, And plundered the Thesprotians, our allies. The people would have slain him, and have torn His heart out, and have pillaged his large wealth; Ulysses checked their rage, and held them back, Fierce as they were. Now thou dost waste his
Most shamefully, and woo his wife, and slay His son, and multiply my woes.
I charge thee, and persuade the rest to cease."
Eurymachus, the son of Polybus,
Replied: "O daughter of Icarius, sage Penelope, take heart; let no such thought Possess thy mind. There is no man on earth, Nor will there be, who shall lay violent hands Upon Telemachus, thy son, while I
Am living, and yet keep the gift of sight.
I say, and will perform it, - his black blood Shall flow and bathe my spear. Ulysses oft, Spoiler of realms, would take me on his knee, And put the roasted meats into my hands, And give me ruddy wine. I therefore hold Telemachus of all mankind most dear, And I will bid him have no fear of death From any of the suitors. If it come, Sent by the gods, he cannot then escape."
So spake he to appease her, while he planned, 540
The murder of her son. The queen went up To the fair upper chambers, and there wept Ulysses, her dear spouse, till o'er her lids The blue-eyed Pallas poured the balm of sleep. At evening to Ulysses and his son The noble swineherd went, while busily They made the supper ready, having slain A porker one year old. Then instantly
Stood Pallas by Ulysses, and put forth
Her wand and touched him, making him again 550 Old, and clad sordidly in beggar's weeds, Lest that the swineherd, knowing at a look His master, might not keep the knowledge locked In his own breast, but, hastening forth, betray The secret to the chaste Penelope.
Then to the swineherd said Telemachus : "Noble Eumæus, welcome; what reports Are in the town? Have those large-minded men, The suitors, left their ambush and returned, Or are they waiting yet for me to pass?"
And thus, Eumæus, thou didst make reply: "Of that, indeed, I never thought to ask, In going through the town. My only care Was to return, as soon as I had given My message, with such speed as I could make. I met a messenger, a herald sent By thy companions, who was first to tell Thy mother of thy safe return. Yet this I know, for I beheld it with my eyes.
When outside of the city, where the hill Of Hermes stands, I saw a gallant bark Entering the port, and carrying many men. Heavy it was with shields and two-edged spears; 'T was they, I thought, and yet I cannot tell." He spake; Telemachus the valiant looked Upon his father with a smile unmarked
By good Eumæus. When their task was done, And the board spread, they feasted.
His portion of the common meal. Their thirst And hunger satisfied, they laid them down
To rest, and so received the gift of sleep.
The dear son of the great Ulysses, bound The shapely sandals underneath his feet, And took the massive spear that fitted well His grasp, and, as he stood in act to go Up to the town, bespake the swineherd thus: "Father, I hasten to the town, that there My mother may behold me; for I think
She will not cease to grieve, and fear, and weep,
Till her eyes rest on me. I leave with thee The charge of leading our unfortunate guest Into the city, there to beg his bread. Whoever will may give him food and drink. All men I cannot feed, and I have cares Enough already. If he chafe at this,
The worse for him. I like to speak my mind." And thus Ulysses, the sagacious, spake : "Nor do I wish, my friend, to loiter here. Better it is for one like me to beg
In town than in the country. In the town, Whoever chooses will bestow his dole;
But here, if I remain about the stalls,
I am no longer of an age to do
All that a master may require. Go thou;
This man, at thy command, will lead me hence,
As soon as I have warmed me at the fire,
And the air grows milder. This keen morning-cold May end me, and the way, ye say, is long."
He ended; from the lodge Telemachus Passed quickly, meditating to destroy The suitors. Coming to his stately home, He leaned his spear against a column's shaft, And, crossing the stone threshold, entered in. First Eurycleia, who had been his nurse, Beheld him, as she spread the beautiful thrones With skins, and ran to him with weeping eyes; And round him other handmaids of the house Of resolute Ulysses thronged. They gave
Fond welcome, kissing him upon the brow
And shoulders. Issuing from her chamber next The chaste Penelope, like Dian's self
In beauty, or like golden Venus, came, And, weeping, threw her arms about her son, And kissed him on his forehead and on both His glorious eyes, and said, amidst her tears: Light of my eyes! O my Telemachus!
Art thou, then, come? I never thought again To see thee, when I heard thou hadst embarked For Pylos,
Some tidings of thy father. Tell me now All that has happened, all that thou hast seen."
And thus discreet Telemachus replied:
"Nay, mother, waken not my griefs again, Nor move my heart to rage. I have just now Escaped a cruel death. But go and bathe, And put fresh garments on, and when thou com'st Into thy chamber with thy maidens, make A vow to all the gods that thou wilt burn A sacrifice of chosen hecatombs When Jupiter shall have avenged our wrongs. Now must I hasten to the market-place
In quest of one who came with me a guest From Pylos. Him, with all my faithful crew, I sent before me to this port, and bade Piræus lead him to his own abode, There to be lodged and honored till I came."
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