BOOK XIX.
ARGUMENT.
But divine Ulysses was left in the palace, meditating destruction for the suitors with Minerva. And he immediately addressed to Telemachus winged words:
"Telemachus, it behoves [thee] to lay up all the warlike arms within; but to deceive the suitors with mild words, when desiring them they inquire of thee; [saying], I have placed them out of the smoke; since they are no longer like unto those which Ulysses once left, when going to Troy, but are become soiled, as much as the vapour of fire has reached them. But the deity has put this still greater matter in my mind, lest by chance intoxicated, having made a quarrel amongst you, ye should wound one another, and disgrace the feast, and the wooing; for the steel itself draws on a man."
Thus he spoke; and Telemachus obeyed his dear father: and calling out the nurse Euryclea, he addressed her:
"Nurse, come now, shut the women in the palace, whilst I lay up the beautiful arms of my sire in the chamber, which the smoke besmears, not taken care of in the house, whilst my sire is absent: but I was yet a child; but now I wish to lay them up, where the vapour of fire will not reach them."
But him the dear nurse Euryclea addressed in turn: "Would that, my child, thou wouldst at length assume prudence to thyself, to take care of thy house, and to guard all thy possessions. But come, who then going with thee, shall carry a light? Thou dost not suffer the handmaidens, who would have given light, to come forward."
But her prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "This stranger [will]: for I will not allow him to be without employment, whoever touches my food,[1] although having come from afar.
- ↑ Χοῖνιξ is properly a measure containing two sextarii; and from thence signifies any thing that is measured, or, as it is here used, food in general. See Eustathius.
