Thus he spoke: but they were all excessively indignant; and thus some one of the proud youths spoke: "Antinous, not well didst thou hurl at the wretched wanderer, O thou doomed to destruction, if there is any god in heaven. For the gods, like unto foreign strangers, being [seen] in all forms, go about cities, looking into the insolence and the good conduct of men."
Thus spoke the suitors, but he heeded not their words. And Telemachus cherished great grief in his heart for him that was stricken, nor did he shed a tear from his eye-lids on the ground, but he moved his head in silence, deeply devising evils.
When then prudent Penolope heard of him that was stricken in the palace, she spoke to her handmaidens: "So may bow-renowned Apollo strike thee thyself." But her the housekeeper Eurynome addressed in turn:
"Ay, if an end were made to our prayers, no one of these would reach the beautiful-throned morn."
But her prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "Nurse, they are all hateful, since they contrive evils: but Antinous is especially like unto black Fate. Some unhappy stranger is wandering through the house, asking alms of the men; (for need ordered him;) there all the others filled [his satchel] and gave to him; but he[1] with a footstool struck his right shoulder at the bottom."
Thus she spoke amongst her women servants, sitting in the chamber; but divine Ulysses feasted: and she having called the divine swineherd to her, addressed him:
"Come, O divine Eumæus, going desire the stranger to come, that I may converse somewhat with him, and inquire, whether he has either heard of patient Ulysses, or beheld him with his eyes: for he is like unto one who has wandered much."
But her thou didst address in answer, O swineherd Eumæus: "If indeed, O queen, the Grecians would be silent, such things as he relates would soothe thy dear heart. For I had him for three nights, and detained him three days in my lodge; (for he came to me first, having escaped from the ship;) but he has not yet finished relating his misfortunes. And as when a man looks upon a bard, who from the gods skilfully sings verses delightful to mortals, and they desire to hear his voice without ceasing, when he sings; so he, sitting near me in my house, soothed me. And he says that he is an ancestral friend
- ↑ i. e. Antinous.
