He said, my master with Idomeneus,
Among the Cretans, putting in repair
His galleys, shattered by a furious storm,
And in the summer time he would be here,

Or in the autumn, bringing ample wealth,

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And his brave comrades with him. Seek not then, O aged sufferer, whom some deity

Has guided hither, to amuse my grief

With fictions that may bring back pleasant

thoughts,

Since not for them I minister to thee

And love thee, but through reverence for Jove,

The stranger's friend, — and pity for thyself."
Ulysses, the sagacious, spake again :
"Within thy bosom thou dost bear a heart
Of slow belief, since not the oath I take
Persuades or even moves thee. Make we now
A covenant, and let the gods who dwell

Upon Olympus be our witnesses,

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That when thy master comes to this abode
Thou wilt bestow a tunic and a cloak,

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And wilt despatch me clothed in seemly garb
Hence to Dulichium, whither I would go.

But if he come not as I have foretold,

Then charge thy servants that they cast me down 490 From a tall rock, that never beggar more

May think to cozen thee with lying tales."

The noble swineherd answered him and said: "Great would my honor be, and I should gain

Great praise for worth among the sons of men,
If, having welcomed thee into my lodge
And spread the board for thee, I took thy life;
Then boldly might I pray to Saturn's son.
But see, the supper hour is come, and soon
Will my companions be within, and they
Will make a liberal banquet ready here."

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Thus did the twain confer. Now came the swine, And those who tended them. They penned the herd

In their enclosure, and a din of cries

Rose as they entered. Then the swineherd called 505
To his companions: "Bring the best of all,
And we will make an offering for the sake

Of one who comes from far and is my guest.

And we will also feast, for we have toiled

Long time in tendance of this white-toothed herd, 510 And others waste, unpunished, what we rear."

So spake he, and began to cleave the wood With the sharp steel; the others chose and brought A fatted brawn, and placed him on the hearth. Nor was the swineherd careless of the rites Due to the gods, — such was his piety.

From off the white-toothed victim first he sheared The bristles of the forehead, casting them

Into the flames, and prayed to all the gods

For wise Ulysses and his safe return.

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Next, with a fragment of the oaken trunk

Which he had just then cleft, he smote the boar,

And the life left it. Then they cut its throat,

And, having singed it, quickly hewed the parts
Asunder, while the swineherd took and laid,
On the rich fat, raw portions from the limbs
For sacrifice, and other parts he cast,
Sprinkled with flour of meal, into the flames;
The rest they duly sliced and fixed on spits,
And roasted carefully, and drew it back,
And heaped it on the board. And now arose
The swineherd to divide the whole, for well
He knew the duty of a host. He made
Seven parts; and one he offered to the Nymphs,
To Hermes, son of Maia, one, and both
With prayer; the rest he set before the guests,
But, honoring Ulysses, gave to him

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The white-toothed victim's ample chine. The king, The wise Ulysses, was well pleased, and said :—

"Eumæus, be thou ever dear to Jove

As to myself, since with thy benefits
Thou freely honorest such a one as I."

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And thou, Eumæus, madest answer thus:

"Eat, venerable stranger, and enjoy What is before us. At his pleasure God

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Gives or withholds; his power is over all."

He spake, and burned to the eternal gods The firstlings, and poured out the dark red wine, And to Ulysses, spoiler of walled towns, Who sat beside the table, gave the cup.

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Meantime to each Mesaulius brought the bread,— A servant whom Eumæus, while his lord

Was far away, had taken for himself,
Without the order of Penelope

Or old Laertes; from the Taphian tribe

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With his own goods he bought him. Now the guests Put forth their hands and shared the ready feast; And when their thirst and hunger were appeased Mesaulius took the bread away, and all,

Satiate with food and wine, lay down to rest.

Then came the darkness on, without a moon;

And Jupiter the whole night long sent down
The rain, and strong the showery west-wind blew.
And now to try the swineherd, if with all
His kindly ministrations to his guest

He yet would spare to him his cloak, or bid
Another do the like, Ulysses spake :-

"Eumæus, hearken thou, and all the rest,
Thy comrades, while I utter boastful words.
Wine makes me foolish, it can even cause
The wise to sing and laugh a silly laugh
And dance, and often to the lips it brings

Words that were better left unsaid. But since

I have begun to prattle, I will not

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Keep back my thought. I would I were as young 575

And in the same full strength as when I formed

Part of an ambush near the walls of Troy.

The leaders were Ulysses, and the son

Of Atreus, Menelaus, with myself

The third, for they desired it. When we reached 500 The city and the lofty walls we lay

50€

Couched in a marshy spot among the reeds
And thick-grown shrubs, with all our armor on.
T was an inclement night, and the north-wind
Blew bitter chill, the cold snow fell and lay
White like hoar-frost; ice gathered on our shields.
The rest had cloaks and tunics, and they slept
At ease, their shoulders covered with their shields.
I only, when I joined the squadron, left
My cloak unwisely, for I had not thought
Of such fierce cold. I went but with my shield
And my embroidered girdle. When the night
Was in its later watches, and the stars

Were turning toward their set, I thus bespake
Ulysses near me, thrusting in his side

My elbow, and he listened readily:

"Son of Laertes, nobly born and wise! Ulysses, I shall not be long among

The living; for I perish with the cold.

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I have no cloak; some god misled my thought, 600
So that I brought one garment and no more,
And now I see there is no help for me.'

"I spake, and instantly his mind conceived.
This stratagem, such was his readiness
In council and in battle, and he said

To me in a low voice: 'Be silent now,
And let no others of the Achaians hear!'

And leaning on his elbow thus he spake :—

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"Hear me, my friends: a dream has come from

heaven