The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/The Odyssey/Book 19

by Homer

 

BOOK XIX.

 

ARGUMENT.

During the night Ulysses and Telemachus remove the arms from the hall to an upper chamber. Ulysses then gives a feigned account of himself to Penelope. Euryclea, while washing his feet, recognises him by a scar on his knee; then follows an account of the way in which he was wounded by a boar while hunting in Parnassus.

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.

Thus he spoke; but the word was unwinged:^[2] and she shut the gates of the well-built palace. But Ulysses and his glorious son hastening, carried in the helmets, and embossed shields, and sharp spears: and Pallas Minerva before [them], holding a golden lamp, gave a very beautiful light. Then Telemachus quickly addressed his sire:

"O father, truly I behold this a great marvel with mine eyes: the walls of the palace, and the beautiful intercolumniations,^[3] and the fir-tree beams, and the lofty columns, shine altogether before mine eyes, as with burning fire. Certainly some god is within, [of those] who possess the wide heaven."

But him much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "Be silent; and restrain thy thoughts, nor make inquiries: this indeed is the right of the gods who possess Olympus. But do thou go and lie down; and I will remain here, that I may still excite the handmaidens and thy mother: but she mourning will ask me concerning every thing."

Thus he spoke; and Telemachus went through out of the palace to his chamber to lie down, (shining under the light of torches,) where he before lay down, when sweet sleep came upon him. There indeed he at that time also lay down, and waited for divine morn. But divine Ulysses was left in the palace meditating destruction for the suitors, with Minerva. And prudent Penelope came from her chamber, like unto Diana, and golden Venus: for her indeed they placed a seat near the fire, upon which she sat, turned with ivory and silver; which formerly the artificer Icmalius wrought, and under it he put a footstool for the feet, joined to it, upon which a large fleece was spread. There then prudent Penelope sat down. And white-armed handmaidens came from the palace: and they took away much bread, and the tables, and the cups, from which the over-violent men drank. And they threw the fire from the hearths upon the ground; and heaped up much other wood upon them, to be a light and to give warmth. And Melantho a second time chided Ulysses:

"O stranger, still wilt thou trouble us here, ranging through the house in the night? and wilt thou watch the women? But depart out of doors, wretched one, and enjoy thy meal: or soon, ay, stricken with a torch, thou shalt go out of doors."

But her much-planning Ulysses, sternly regarding, addressed: "Impudent woman, why dost thou thus press upon me with angered mind? is it because I am squalid, and am clothed on my body in bad garments? and beg through the people? for necessity presses upon me. But such are beggars and wanderers. For I also, once wealthy, inhabited an opulent house amongst men, and I often gave to such a wanderer, whoever he might be, and whatever he came wanting. And I had innumerable servants, and many other things, by which men live well and are called opulent: but Jove, the son of Saturn, destroyed me; for he somehow willed [to do so]. Therefore, woman, [beware] lest thou lose all thy beauty, with which thou art now adorned amongst the women-servants, for fear thy mistress, enraged with thee, should be wroth, or Ulysses should return: for there is still some share of hope. But even if he has perished, and is no longer able to return, yet by the will of Apollo he has now such a son, Telemachus; and no one of the women acting impiously in the palace will escape him: since he is no longer of such an age."

Thus he spoke; but prudent Penelope heard him; and she chided her handmaiden, and spoke, and addressed her:

"In no wise, O bold, O shameless one, shalt thou escape me, doing a heinous deed, which thou shalt atone with thine head. For thou knewest full well, since thou didst hear from me myself, that I intend to inquire of the stranger in my palace concerning my husband, since I am continually grieved."

She spoke, and addressed the housekeeper, Eurynome: "O Eurynome, bring a seat and [spread] a skin upon it, that the stranger sitting down may tell me, and hear from me; for I wish to inquire of him."

Thus she spoke; and she very quickly bringing a well-polished seat, set it down, and spread a skin upon it: there then much-enduring divine Ulysses sat down. And to them prudent Penelope began discourse:

"O stranger, I myself will first ask of thee, who art thou? from whence art thou amongst men? where are thy city and parents?"

But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O lady, no one of mortals over the boundless earth would find fault with thee; for thy fame reaches the wide heaven, as of some blameless king, who, godlike, ruling over many and mighty men, upholds equity: and the dark earth produces wheat and barley, and the trees are heavy laden with fruit; and it brings forth strong sheep, and the sea furnishes fish on account of his good government; and the people are virtuous under him. Now therefore inquire of me the other things in thine house: but do not ask my race and paternal land, lest thou shouldst the more fill my mind with pains, as I call things to my recollection: but I am a man of much grief; nor is it at all fit that I should sit in another person's house mourning and wailing; since it is worse to grieve for ever without ceasing; for fear any one of the servants should blame me, or even thou thyself; and should say that I increase my tears, having my mind heavy with wine."

But him prudent Penelope thus answered: "Stranger, of a truth the immortals destroyed my excellence, and form, and person, when the Grecians embarked for Ilium; and amongst them was my husband Ulysses. If he indeed coming should manage my property, so would my fame be greater and more honourable: but now I am grieved; for the deity has made so many evils rush upon me. [For as many chiefs as rule over the islands, Dulichium, and Samos, and woody Zacynthus, and those who govern in western Ithaca itself, these woo me against my will, and waste away mine house.] Therefore I have no regard for strangers, or for suppliants, or at all for heralds, who are public officers: but regretting Ulysses I am melted away in my dear heart. And they hasten on my marriage; but I wind^[4] deceits: first of all the deity inspired my mind to weave a large garment in the palace, having begun^[5] a large web, slender and round; but I straightway addressed them: 'Youths, my suitors, since divine Ulysses has died, do ye remain, urging my marriage; until I shall finish this garment, (that my threads may not perish in vain,) a shroud for the hero Laertes, for the time when the destructive fate of long-sleeping death shall seize on him. Lest some one of the Grecian women amongst the people should be indignant with me, if he, who having possessed many things, should lie without a shroud.' Thus I spoke; and their haughty mind was persuaded. Then during the day I wove the large web, but at night, when I had set the torches near me, I unravelled it. Thus for three years I escaped them, and persuaded the Grecians: but when the fourth year came, and the hours advanced, [the months waning, and many days were completed,] then they caught me, coming upon me through means of the women servants, careless creatures! and chided me with words. So I finished it, although against my will, by necessity; but now I neither can escape marriage, nor do I discover any other counsel: and my parents very much exhort me to marry: and my son grieves at their consuming his property, knowing [that they are doing so]: for now he is a man by all means able to take care of the house, to whom Jove gives renown. But even so tell me thy race, from whence thou art: for thou art not born of an old-fabled oak, or from a rock."

But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O venerable wife of Ulysses, son of Laertes, wilt thou not yet cease inquiring my race? But I will tell thee; thou wilt indeed give me up to more griefs, than [those] by which I am already possessed: for this is the wont, when a man is absent from his country so long a time, as I now am, wandering over many cities of mortals, suffering griefs: but even so I will tell thee that which thou askest and inquirest of me. There is a certain land, Crete, in the middle of the dark sea, beautiful and rich, surrounded with water; and in it there are many men, numberless, and ninety cities. And there is a different language of different men, mixed together; there are in it Achaians, and magnanimous Eteocretans, and Cydonians, and crest-shaking^[6] Dorians, and divine Pelasgians. And amongst them is a large city, Cnossus: there Minos reigned, who every nine years^[7] conversed with mighty Jove, the father of my sire, magnanimous Deucalion. And Deucalion begot me, and king Idomeneus; but he went in the crooked ships to Ilium, together with the sons of Atreus: and my renowned name is Æthon, the youngest in birth; but he was first and best. There I saw Ulysses, and gave him hospitable gifts. For the strength of the wind drove him to Crete, as he was making for Troy, making him to wander from the Maleans; and placed him in Amnisus, (where too is the cave of Ilytheia,) in a dangerous haven; and he scarcely escaped the storms. But immediately coming up to the city, he inquired for Idomeneus; for he said that he was a dear and venerable guest of his. And he had now set out about ten or eleven days with his crooked ships for Troy. I however leading him to my abode, treated him well, entertaining him heartily, having many things in my house: and I gave to him, and to his other companions, who followed with him, meal from the public stores, and dark wine, having collected it, and beeves to sacrifice; that they might satiate their mind. There the divine Grecians remained for twelve days; for a great North wind drifted them, nor suffered them to stand even on land; for some evil deity raised it; but on the thirteenth day the wind fell; and they weighed anchor."

He stopt,^[8] telling many falsehoods like unto truths: and the tears flowed down from her, hearing it, and her body wasted away. And as the snow has melted on the lofty mountains, which the East wind has melted,^[9] when Zephyr poured it upon them, and the rivers as they flow are filled by it melting; so were her fair cheeks melted, as she shed tears, bewailing her husband, who was sitting near her; and Ulysses indeed pitied in his mind his grieving wife, but his eyes stood [firm] as horn or steel, without trembling in his eyelids: and by artifice he concealed his tears. When then she was satiated with tearful mourning, she straightway in answer addressed him:

"Now indeed, O stranger, I think that I will put thee to the test, if in truth, as thou sayest, thou hast entertained my husband with his godlike companions in thy palace. Tell me what kind of garments were put around his body, and himself, what kind of a man he was, and his companions who followed him."

But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O lady, difficult it is to tell, when so long a time has elapsed between: for it is now the twentieth year since he went thence, and departed from my country; but even so I will tell thee, as my heart makes it seem^[10] to me. Divine Ulysses had a purple woollen cloak, double; but there was a clasp of gold made for it with two fastenings:^[11] and in front it was variegated: a dog held in its fore feet a spotted fawn, enjoying it^[12] panting; and all marvelled at it, how they being of gold, the one strangling the kid was enjoying it, but the other, eager to escape, was convulsively struggling with its feet. That beautiful garment I perceived around his body, like as the rind of a slender onion. So soft was it, and it was shining as the sun: many women indeed gazed upon it. But I will tell thee something else, and do thou lay it up in thy mind; I know not whether Ulysses put these garments on his body at home, or whether some one of his companions gave them to him, as he was going in the swift ship, or perhaps some stranger; since Ulysses was dear to many; for there were few of the Grecians like unto him. And I gave to him a brazen sword, and a beautiful, purple, double cloak, and a garment reaching to his feet; and I sent him away honourably, on a well-benched ship. And a herald, a little older than himself, followed him; and I will tell thee concerning him, what kind of a man he was; round-shouldered, dark-coloured, with curly hair, and his name was Eurybates: but Ulysses honoured him chief among his companions, because he knew in his mind what was proper."

Thus he spoke, and still more encouraged the desire of grief in her, recognising the signs, which Ulysses told her plainly. She therefore, after she was satiated with tearful mourning, then indeed addressed him in answer:

"Now indeed, O stranger, although thou wast before an object of pity in my palace, thou shalt be dear and revered: for I myself gave him these garments, which thou dost mention, having folded them up from my chamber: and I put the shining clasp upon them, to be an ornament for him: but him I shall not receive again, returning home to his dear country. Therefore Ulysses went by evil fate in the hollow ship, to see that ill-Troy, not to be named."

But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O venerable wife of Ulysses, son of Laertes, now no longer waste thy beauteous person, nor consume thy mind, mourning for thy husband: however, I could not be angry with thee at all: for any woman, having lost her lawful husband, (to whom she has borne children, and having been mingled with him in love,) though inferior to Ulysses, whom they say is like unto the gods, laments for him. But cease from thy grief, and attend to what I say: for I will tell thee truly, nor will I conceal it, that I lately heard of the return of Ulysses, of his being alive, in a rich people near the Thesprotians: but he brings much and excellent treasure, begging it through the people: but he has lost his beloved companions and his hollow ship, in the dark sea, as he was going from the island of Trinacria: for Jove and the Sun were wrath with him, for his companions slew the oxen [of the Sun]. All of them perished in the boisterous sea; but the wave drove him up on the keel of the ship to the shore, to the land of the Phæacians, who are near to the gods. But him they honoured exceedingly, like as a god, and gave him many things, and themselves wished to escort him home unharmed; and Ulysses would have been here some time ago; but it seemed to him in his mind to be better to go over much land and collect possessions; since Ulysses knew many means of gain above mortal men: nor would any other mortal contend with him, as Pheidon, king of the Thesprotians, told me. And he swore to me myself, pouring out a libation in the house, that the ship was drawn down, and that companions were ready, who would at length escort him to his dear paternal land. But me he sent away first; for a ship of the Thesprotians happened to be coming to wheat-abounding Dulichium. And to me he showed the possessions, whatsoever Ulysses had collected; and they would support another man even to the tenth generation, so many treasures of his lie in the palace of the king. And he said that he was gone to Dodona, that he might ask the counsel of God from the lofty-tressed oak of Jove, in what way he should return to his dear paternal land, having been now a long time absent, whether openly or secretly. So he is thus safe, and will come now very near, nor any more will he for a long time be far away from his friends and paternal land; however I will plight thee an oath: now let Jove first be witness, the highest and most excellent of the gods, and the hearth of blameless Ulysses, to which I am come, all these things shall surely be brought to pass, as I relate them: Ulysses will come here in this same year, when this month wanes, and the next begins."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "Would that, O stranger, this word might be accomplished: then shouldst thou soon experience my friendship, and [receive] many gifts from me; so that any one who met thee would congratulate thee. But thus does it appear to me in my mind, even as it will be: neither will Ulysses any more come home, nor will thou obtain an escort: since there are not masters in the house, such as was Ulysses amongst men, (if ever he was) to send away and to receive venerable strangers. But wash him, handmaidens, and place a bed for him, couches and cloaks, and beautiful rugs, that being well warmed he may reach the golden-throned Morn. But very early in the morning wash and anoint him, that sitting within near Telemachus he may take care of his meal: but it shall be more sad for him, whoever of them afflicting him in mind causes him sorrow, and he shall no more effect any work here, although exceedingly enraged. For how, stranger, wilt thou know of me, whether I excel other women at all in thought, or prudent counsel, if thou feastest in the palace, squalid, ill-clad? but men are short-lived. Whoever is himself cruel, and knows what is cruel, upon him all mortals imprecate griefs hereafter when alive; but all scoff at him when dead: but whoever is himself blameless, and knows what is blameless, his fame strangers bear far and wide amongst all men: and many call him excellent."

But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O venerable wife of Ulysses, son of Laertes, cloaks and beautiful rugs are indeed a burden to me, since I was first separated from the snowy mountains of Crete, going in a long-oared ship. But I will lie, as I have hitherto rested during the sleepless nights. For already have I lain many nights in an unseemly bed, and have waited for beautiful-throned divine morning. Nor are foot-baths for my feet at all agreeable to my mind; nor shall any of the women, who are servants in thy house, touch my foot, unless there is some old woman, who kens what is prudent, who has endured so many things in her mind, as I have, I would not grudge that she should touch my feet."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in answer: "Dear stranger! for not yet has any foreign stranger come, thus prudent, or more welcome to my house, so very skilfully dost thou speak all things that are prudent: I have an old woman, who possesses prudent counsels in her mind, who nurtured well and brought up him, wretched one, having received him in her hands, when his mother first brought him forth, she will wash thy feet, although having but little strength. But come now, O prudent Euryclea, rising up, wash one who is of equal age with thy master: such perhaps is Ulysses now as to feet and hands. For quickly do mortals grow old in misfortune."

Thus she spoke: but the old woman covered her face with her hands, and shed warm tears; and she uttered a mournful word:

"Alas for me! child, I know not what to do on thine account; surely Jove hates thee above men, thee who didst possess a godlike mind. For no one of mortals has ever burnt so many rich thighs to thunder-rejoicing Jove, nor chosen hecatombs, as thou hast given him, praying that thou mightest reach a quiet old age, and mightest bring up thine illustrious son: but now he has thus altogether taken away from thee the day of return. So perchance the women of foreign hosts mock at him, when he comes under their illustrious dwellings, as these impudent ones all mock at thee; shunning whose insolence and many reproaches, thou dost not suffer them to wash thee: but the daughter of Icarius, prudent Penelope, desires me who am not unwilling. Therefore I will wash thy feet, both for Penelope's sake and thine: since my mind is troubled within with cares: but now understand the word which I say, many wretched strangers have already come here, but I do not think that I have ever seen any one thus like, as thou art like unto Ulysses, both in body and voice and feet."

But her much-counselling Ulysses addressed in answer: "O old woman, so they say, as many as have beheld both of us with their eyes, that we are very like one another; as thou thyself wisely sayest."

Thus he spoke; but the old woman took a shining cauldron, in which she washed his feet, and into it she poured much cold water; and then she mixed warm with it: but Ulysses sat on the hearth, but he quickly turned towards a dark place: for he immediately reflected in his mind, that she, finding the scar, would discover him, and that his deeds would become manifest. And she, going near her master, washed him; and she immediately recognised the scar; which once a boar had inflicted upon him with its white tusk, as he was going to Parnassus with Autolycus and his sons, the excellent sire of his mother, who surpassed men in deceitfulness and in oaths: but to him the god Mercury himself gave [this gift]: for to him he burnt the acceptable thighs of lambs and kids; but he willingly accompanied him. But Autolycus coming to the rich people of Ithaca, found the son of his daughter lately born; him Euryclea placed on his dear knees when he ceased from supper; and she spoke and said:

"Autolycus, do thou now thyself find out a name, which thou mayest give to the dear son of thy daughter; for by many prayers has he been obtained."

But her Autolycus answered and addressed in turn: "Do ye, my son-in-law and my daughter, give him the name which I mention: since I have come hither, hated by many men and women, through the many-feeding earth, therefore let the name given to him be Ulysses:^[13] but I, when he, being grown up, comes to Parnassus, to his great maternal house, where are my possessions, will give him some of them, and will send him away rejoicing."

On account of these things came Ulysses, that he might give to him handsome presents. Autolycus, and the sons of Autolycus, welcomed him with their hands and with mild words. But his maternal grandmother Amphithea, embracing Ulysses, kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes. And Autolycus commanded his glorious sons to make ready a banquet; and they heard him inciting them. And they immediately brought a male beeve of five years old: they skinned it, and handled it, and severed it all. And they cut it up skilfully, and fixed it on spits, and roasted it cleverly, and divided the shares. Thus then they feasted during the whole day until sunset; nor did the mind at all want an equal feast. But when the sun set, and darkness came on, then they lay down to rest, and took the gift of sleep. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, they set out to the hunt, both the dogs, and the sons of Autolycus; and divine Ulysses went with them: and they came to the lofty mountain of Parnassus, clad in wood; and they soon reached the windy heights. The sun had just then struck upon the fields from the gentle-flowing, deep-streamed ocean; and the huntsmen came to the dell; and the dogs went before them, searching out their tracks; but behind came the sons of Autolycus, and with them divine Ulysses, near the dogs, brandishing a long-shadowing spear. There a large boar lay down in a dense thicket; which neither the force of the moist-blowing winds breathed through, nor did the shining sun strike it with its beams, nor did the shower penetrate through it; so thick was it, but there was a great mass of dry leaves shed in it. And around him came the sound of the feet of men and dogs, as they came driving on; but he opposite, out of the woody lair, bristling well his neck, and looking fire with his eyes, stood near them; but Ulysses rushed on much the first, holding up his long spear with his strong hand, eager to wound him; but the boar anticipating him, struck him over the knee; and he tore out much flesh with his tusk, rushing obliquely, nor did he reach the bone of the man. But him Ulysses wounded, hitting him on the right shoulder, and straight through him the point of the shining spear passed; and he fell groaning in the dust: and life flew from him. Him however the kind sons of Autolycus took care of, and they skilfully bound the wound of godlike blameless Ulysses: and they stopped the black blood by a spell, and quickly reached the house of their dear sire. Autolycus then, and the sons of Autolycus, having healed him well, and having given him splendid gifts, quickly rejoicing, sent him rejoicing to dear Ithaca: but on his return his father and venerable mother rejoiced, and inquired every thing of him, as to the scar, what he suffered: but he related it well to them, how the boar struck him with his white tusk as he was hunting, having come to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus.

But the old woman, taking it^[14] in her hands placed flat, and wiping it, recognised it: and she let his foot fall: and his leg fell in the cauldron; and the brass resounded, and was turned on one side: and the water was poured out on the ground. And joy and grief possessed her mind at the same time; and her eyes were filled with tears: and her warm voice was choked. And touching Ulysses by the beard, she addressed him:

"Certainly, my dear child, thou art Ulysses: nor did I know thee before I had handled my master all round."

She spoke, and looked at Penelope with her eyes, wishing to tell her that her dear husband was within. But she was neither able to look opposite to her, nor to perceive her; for Minerva turned away her thoughts: but Ulysses holding out his hand, took her by the throat with his right hand; and with the other he himself drew her near and addressed her:

"Nurse, why dost thou wish to destroy me? thou thyself didst nourish me at thy breast, but now, having endured many toils I am returned in the twentieth year to my paternal land. But since thou hast perceived me, and God has put it in thy mind, be silent, lest any other in the palace should hear it. For thus I tell thee, and this shall be accomplished, if God shall subdue the proud suitors under me, I shall not spare thee, although thou art my nurse, when I slay the other women servants in my palace."

But him prudent Euryclea addressed in turn: "My child, what word hast thou uttered? thou knowest how firm my mind is, that it does not yield; but I will keep like as some hard rock, or steel: and I will tell thee something else, and do thou lay it up in thy mind; if God shall subdue the proud suitors under thee, then will I enumerate to thee the women in the palace, who dishonour thee, and who are innocent."

But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "Nurse, why shouldst thou point them out? it is not at all requisite that thou shouldst: I myself can tell them well, and shall know each one. But hold thy peace in silence, and commit it to the gods."

Thus he spoke: and the old woman went through out of the palace, to bring a foot-bath; for all the first was poured out. But when she had washed, and anointed him with the smooth oil, Ulysses again drew his seat nearer the fire to warm himself, but he covered the scar with rags. And prudent Penelope began speaking to them:

"O stranger, I myself will ask this of thee for a little longer; for soon it will be time for delightful sleep, [for] whomsoever sweet sleep lays hold of, although in trouble. But to me the deity has given immeasurable grief; for I am delighted during the days mourning, grieving, looking to my works and those of my handmaidens in the house: but when night comes, and bed receives all, I lie down on my couch, and constant, sharp cares about my heart irritate me, lamenting continually. As when the daughter of Pandarus, the swarthy nightingale, sings beautifully when the spring newly begins, sitting in the thick branches of trees, and she frequently changing, pours forth her much-sounding voice, lamenting her dear Itylus, (whom once she slew with the brass through ignorance,^[15]) the offspring of the king Zethus: so also two ways is my mind excited on one side and the other, whether I should remain with my son, and guard all things firmly, my property, and my servants, and my large lofty-roofed house, reverencing the bed of my spouse, and the voice of the people; or whether I should follow him that is the best of the Grecians, who woos me, in the palace, and gives me infinite bridal gifts. But my son, as long as he was still a child, and weak-minded, did not suffer me to marry, leaving him in the house of my husband; but now when he is full grown, and arrived at the age of manhood, he begs of me to go away from the palace, angry on account of the wealth, which the Grecians are consuming for him. But come, expound a dream for me, and hearken to it: twenty geese in my house eat wheat out of the water, and I was delighted, looking at them; but a large crooked-beaked eagle coming from a mountain, broke the necks of all of them, and slew them: and they were strewn together in the palace, but he was lifted up into the divine air. But I wept and wailed, although in a dream, and the fair-haired Grecian women were assembled around me complaining piteously, that the eagle had killed my geese. But coming back he sat down on the projecting roof; and restrained me with a mortal voice, and spoke: 'Be of good cheer, O daughter of far-famed Icarius; it is not a dream, but an excellent vision,^[16] which shall be brought to pass. The geese are the suitors; and I before was an eagle, but now am come, thy husband, who will bring unseemly fate upon all the suitors.' Thus he spoke; and sweet sleep left me. And looking about, I saw the geese in the palace, eating wheat near the trough, where they before [eat it]."

But her much-counselling Ulysses addressed in answer: "O lady, it is not possible to expound the dream turning in any other way; since Ulysses himself told thee how it will be performed; but destruction has appeared to all the suitors; nor will any one escape death and fate."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "Stranger, dreams are indeed uncertain, and speak things which cannot be determined, nor are all brought to pass for men. For there are two portals of unsubstantial dreams; these are made of horn, and those of ivory; whichever of them^[17] comes through the sawn ivory, they deceive, bringing promises which will never be fulfilled; but those which come out of doors through the polished horn, accomplish what is true, when any one of mortals sees them. But I think not that the terrible dream came to me from thence; so it would be delightful for me and for my son. But I will tell thee something else, and do thou lay it up in thy mind: this is now the hateful morning which will take me away from the house of Ulysses; for now I will propose as a contest the pole-axes which he used to place in order in his palace, like the ribs of a ship,^[18] twelve in all, and he, standing a great way off, shot the arrow through them. Now I will propose this contest to the suitors; whoever shall most easily stretch the bow in his hands, and shoot the arrow through all the twelve hatchets, him will I follow, leaving this house, which I entered when a virgin, very beautiful, full of wealth; which I think I shall some time or other remember, even in a dream."

But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O venerable wife of Ulysses, son of Laertes, no longer now put off this contest in the house; for much-planning Ulysses will come here before they, handling this well-polished bow, stretch the string, and shoot the arrow through the steel."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "If thou wast willing, O stranger, sitting by me in the palace to delight me, sleep would not be shed over my eyelids. But it is not possible for men to be always without sleep; for in every thing the immortals have given their lot to mortals over the fruitful plain. But I indeed, going to the upper room, will lie down on my bed, which has become sad to me, ever moistened with my tears, from the time when Ulysses went to behold ill-Troy, which ought not to be named. There will I lie down; but do thou lie in this house, either strewing [a bed] upon the ground, or let them lay down a couch for thee."

Thus having spoken, she ascended to the beautiful upper rooms, not alone: [for] other handmaidens also went with her. And having ascended to the upper room with her women attendants, she then wept for Ulysses, her dear husband; until blue-eyed Minerva cast sweet sleep upon her eye-lids.

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1. 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.
2. See on xvii. 57.
3. I prefer this interpretation, but the student may take choice among τὰ μεταξὺ τῶν δοοκῶν, or διαφράγματα ἢ διαστήματα μεταξὺ τῶν κιόνῶν. Eustath.
4. i. e. plan, devise.
5. Literally, "having set up."
6. Or, "inhabiting three cities;" for some inhabited Eubœa, others Peloponnesus, and others Crete. Others say, "having three crests." Others, "shaking their crests in battle." See Eustathius.
7. This is evidently the correct interpretation, as we may learn from Plato de Legg. i. p. 565. Læm., τοῦ Μίνω φοιτῶντος πρὸς τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς ἑκάστοτε συνουσίαν δι' ἐννάτον ἔτους, καὶ κατὰ τὰς παρ' ἐκείνου φήμας ταῖς πόλεσιν ὑμῖν θεντὸς τοὺς νόμους; See also Minos, p. 46. F. Dion. Chrysost. Or. i. p. 56. Cicer. Tusc. Q. ii. 13.
8. See Buttmann, Lexil. p. 275—279, and on Od. xxii. 31, who would almost prefer ἴσπεν to ἴσκεν, the true meaning of which is very difficult to settle. For my own part I feel inclined to change the punctuation, joining λέγων ἐτυμοισιν ὁμοῖα, and rendering, "He [thus] counterfeited many false things, speaking words like unto truth." This does least violence to the proper meaning of ἴσχε.
9. Observe the continued repetition, τήκετο—κατατήκετο—κατέτηξεν. Cf. Il. i. 251, sqq. v. 266, sqq. Hesiod, Opp. 27, sq. 97, sq. Pseud-Orpheus Org. 717, sq. Theocrit. xxvii. 66, sqq. Such instances are chiefly found in heroic verse.
10. Hes. Ἰνδάλλεται, ὁμοιοῦται, φαίνεται, δοκεῖ, στοχάζεται. Timæus Lex. φαντάζεται. See Ruhnk. p. 150.
11. Some call ἀυλὸς, the ring of a clasp; but the Scholiast says it is, a straight pipe or channel, in which the clasp was shut up. Old Transl.
12. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. v. λάων, t. ii. p. 467.
13. Ὀδυσεὺς, from the verb ὀδύσσω, to be wroth. See Eustathius.
14. i. e. the wounded foot.
15. She intended to slay the son of her husband's brother Amphion, incited to it by the envy of his wife, who had six children, while herself had only two, but through mistake she slew her son Itylus, and for her punishment was transformed by Jupiter into a nightingale. Cowper.
16. This distinction between ὄναρ and ὕπαρ is illustrated by Blomf. on Æsch. Prom. 482. Valcken. on Ammon. p. 217, 218. Alberti on Hesych. s. v. ὕπαρ.
17. Of dreams.
18. Twelve stakes (rather, pole-axes) were fixed in the earth, each having a ring at the top; the order in which they stood were so exact, that an arrow sent with an even hand through the first ring, would pass them all. Cowper. I have followed the explanation of Liddell and Scott, v. δρυοχοι.