the dear son of Ulysses comes, he will put on thee a cloak and tunic as garments, and will send thee wherever thy heart and mind bids thee."
But him much-enduring divine Ulysses then answered: "Mayest thou be as dear to the father Jove, O Eumæus, as [thou art] to me, because thou hast made me cease from my wandering and grievous toil: for there is nothing else worse for mortals than wandering. But on account of their pernicious belly men possess evil cares, upon whom wandering and calamity and grief come. But now, since thou detainest me, and commandest me to wait for him, come, tell me about the mother of divine Ulysses, and his sire, whom when he set out he left upon the threshold of old age, if they are by chance still alive under the beams of the sun, or are now dead, and in the houses of Pluto."
But him the swineherd, chief of men, addressed in turn: "Therefore I will tell thee very truly, O stranger: Laertes is still alive, but is for ever praying to Jove, that his life may perish from his limbs in his own palace: for he is violently grieved for his absent son, and his skilful virgin wife, who most of all grieved him when she died, and placed him in an immature old age. But she, through sorrow for her renowned son, perished by a miserable death;[1] so may not any one die, whoever dwelling here is a friend to me, and does friendly acts. Whilst indeed then she was alive, although grieving, so long was it dear to me to inquire and ask her, because she herself nurtured me with long-robed Ctimena, her illustrious daughter, whom she bore youngest of her children: with her I was brought up, and she honoured me but little less. But when we both reached much desirable youth, they immediately sent her to Samos, and received large [dowries]. But me she sent to the country, having clad me with a cloak and tunic, very beautiful garments, and having given me sandals for my feet; but she loved me in her heart still more. But now I am in want of these things; yet the blessed gods increase for me the work, in which I abide; from these things I have eaten and drunk, and have given to objects of pity.[2] But from my mistress I cannot hear any
- ↑ She either died of a broken heart, or hung herself. See Eustathius.
- ↑ Venerable, because objects of a regard almost amounting to superstition, as being the necessary objects of hospitality.
