The Story of the Odyssey Part 10

Even with an oath have I not persuaded thee. But come, let us make an agreement together, and the G.o.ds shall be our witnesses. If thy lord shall return, then shalt thou give me a mantle and a tunic, and send me on my way, whither I desire to go. But if he come not back according to my word, then let thy men throw me down from a great rock, that others may fear to deceive."

Then the swineherd said: "Much credit, truly, should I gain among men, if, having entertained thee in my house, I should turn and slay thee; and with a good heart, hereafter, should I pray to Zeus. But it is time for supper, and I would that my men were returned that we might make ready a meal."

While he spake, the swine and the swineherds drew near; and Eumaeus called to his fellows, saying: "Bring the best of the swine, for I would entertain a guest who comes from far. Verily, we endure much toil for these beasts, while others devour them, and make no return."

So they brought a hog of five years old; and the swineherd kindled a fire, and when he had cast bristles from the hog into the fire, to do honour to the G.o.ds, he slew the beast, and made ready the flesh. Seven portions he made; one he set apart for the nymphs and for Hermes, and of the rest he gave one to each. But Ulysses had the chief portion, even the chine.

Then was Ulysses glad, and spake, saying, "Eumaeus, mayest thou be dear to Zeus, for thou hast dealt kindly with me."

And Eumaeus answered: "Eat, stranger, and make merry with what thou hast. The G.o.ds give some things, and some things they withhold."

Now the night was cold, and it rained without ceasing; for the west wind, that ever bringeth rain, was blowing; and Ulysses was minded to try the swineherd, whether he would give him his own mantle, or bid another do so. Therefore, when they were about to sleep, he said:--

"Listen to me. O that I was young, and my strength unbroken, as in the days when we fought before the city of Troy.

"Once upon a time we laid an ambush near to the city of Troy. And Menelaus and Ulysses and I were the leaders of it. In the reeds we sat, and the night was cold, and the snow lay upon our shields.

Now all the others had cloaks, but I had left mine behind at the ships. So, when the night was three parts spent, I spake to Ulysses, 'Here am I without a cloak; soon, methinks, shall I perish with the cold.' Soon did he bethink him of a remedy, for he was ever ready with counsel. Therefore he said: 'Hush, lest some one hear thee; and to the others, 'I have been warned in a dream.

We are very far from the ships, and in peril. Therefore, let some one run to the ships, to King Agamemnon, that he send more men to help.' Then one rose up and ran, casting off his cloak; and this I took, and slept warmly therein. Were I this night such as then I was, I should not lack such kindness even now."

Then said Eumaeus: "This is well spoken, old man. Thou shalt have a cloak to cover thee. But in the morning thou must put on thy own rags again. Yet, perchance, when the son of Ulysses shall come, he will give thee new garments."

Thereupon he arose, and set a bed for Ulysses, making it with sheepskins and goatskins, near to the fire; and when Ulysses lay down, he cast a thick cloak over him, that he had in case a great storm should arise. But he himself slept beside the boars, to guard them; and Ulysses was glad to see that he was very careful for his master's substance, even though he was so long time away.

CHAPTER XVI

THE RETURN OF TELEMACHUS

Now all this time Telemachus tarried in Sparta with King Menelaus, and the son of Nestor was with him. To him, therefore, Athene went. Nestor's son she found overcome with slumber, but Telemachus could not sleep for thoughts of his father. And Athene stood near him, and spake:--

"It is not well, Telemachus, that thou shouldest tarry longer away from thy home, for there are some who spoil and devour thy substance. Come, therefore, rouse thy host Menelaus, and pray him that he send thee on thy way. For thy mother's father and her brethren urge her to take Eurymachus [Footnote: Eu-rym'-a-chus.]

for her husband, seeing that he hath far surpa.s.sed all the other suitors in his gifts. Hearken also to another matter. The bravest of the suitors lie in wait for thee in the strait that is between Ithaca and Samos, desirous to slay thee before thou shalt come again to thy home. Keep thy ship, therefore, far from the place, and sail both by night and by day, and one of the G.o.ds shall send thee a fair breeze. Also, when thou comest to the land of Ithaca, send thy ship and thy company to the city, but seek thyself the swineherd Eumaeus, for he hath been ever true to thee. Rest there the night, and bid him go to the city on the day following, and carry tidings to thy mother of thy safe return."

Then Telemachus woke the son of Nestor, touching him with his heel, and saying: "Awake, son of Nestor, bring up thy horses, and yoke them to the chariot, that we may go upon our way."

But Peisistratus made answer: "We may not drive through the darkness, how eager soever we be to depart. Soon will it be dawn.

Tarry thou till Menelaus shall bring his gifts and set them on the car, and send thee on thy way, for a guest should take thought of the host that showeth him kindness."

And when the morning was come, and Menelaus was risen from his bed, Telemachus spake to him, saying, "Menelaus, send me now with all speed to my own country, for I am greatly desirous to go there."

To him Menelaus made answer: "I will not keep thee long, seeing that thou desirest to return. But stay till I bring my gifts and set them in the chariot. Let me also bid the women prepare the meal in my hall, for it is both honour to me and a profit to you that ye should eat well before ye set forth on a far journey. But if thou wilt go further through the land, then let me go with thee; to many cities will we go, and none will send us empty away."

But Telemachus said: "Not so, Menelaus; rather would I go back straightway to mine own land, for I left none to watch over my goods. It were ill done were I to perish seeking my father, or to lose some precious possession out of my house."

Then Menelaus bade his wife and the maids prepare the meal, and his squire he bade kindle a fire and roast flesh; and he himself went to his treasury, and Helen and his son with him. He himself took therefrom a double cup, and bade his son bear a mixing-bowl of silver; as for Helen, she took from her chests a robe that she had wrought with her own hands. The fairest it was of all, and shone as shines a star, and it lay beneath all the rest.

Then said Menelaus: "Take this mixing-bowl; it is wrought of silver, but the lips are finished with gold; the G.o.d Hephaestus [Footnote: He-phaes'-tus.] wrought it with his own hands, and the King of the Sidonians [Footnote: Si-do'-ni-ans.] gave it me. This cup also I give thee."

And beautiful Helen came, holding the robe in her hands, and spake, saying: "Take, dear child, this memorial of Helen's handiwork; keep it against thy marriage day, for thy bride to wear. Meanwhile, let thy mother have charge of it. And now mayest thou return with joy to thy native country and thy home!"

Then they sat down to eat and drink; and when they had finished, then did Telemachus and Nestor's son yoke the horses and climb into the chariot.

But Menelaus came forth bringing wine in a cup of gold, that they might pour out an offering to the G.o.ds before they departed. And he stood before the horses, and spake, saying:--

"Farewell, gallant youths, and salute Nestor for me; verily, he was as a father to me, when we were waging war against Troy."

To him Telemachus made answer: "That will we do; and may the G.o.ds grant that I find my father at home and tell him what grace I have found in thy sight!"

But even as he spake there flew forth at his right hand an eagle, carrying a goose in his claws, that he had s.n.a.t.c.hed from the yard, and men and women followed it with loud shouting. Across the horses it flew, still going to the right; and they were glad when they saw it.

Then said Nestor's son: "Think, Menelaus! Did Zeus send this sign to us or thee?"

But while Menelaus pondered the matter, Helen spake, saying: "Hear me while I say what the G.o.ds have put in my heart. Even as this eagle came down from the hill where he was bred, and s.n.a.t.c.hed away the goose from the house, so shall Ulysses come back to his home after many wanderings, and take vengeance; yea, even now he is there, plotting evil for the suitors."

Then they departed and sped across the plain. But when they came the next day to Pylos, Telemachus said to Peisistratus: "Son of Nestor, wilt thou be as a friend to me, and do my bidding? Leave me at my ship; take me not past, lest the old man, thy father, keep me out of his kindness against my will, for, indeed, I am desirous to go home."

And Nestor's son did so. He turned his horses towards the sh.o.r.e and the ship. And coming there, he took out the gifts, and laid them in the hinder part of the ship. This done, he called Telemachus and said: "Climb now into thy ship, and depart, ere I can reach my home. Well I know that my father will come down, and bid thee return with him to his house; nor, indeed, if he find thee here, will he go back without thee, so wilful is he of heart."

And Telemachus bade his companions climb on the ship; and they did so.

So they departed; and Athene sent a wind that blew from behind, and they sped on their way.

Meanwhile Ulysses sat with the swineherd and his men, and supped.

And Ulysses, willing to try the man's temper, said: "In the morning I would fain go to the city, to the house of Ulysses, for I would not be burdensome to thee. Perchance the suitors might give me a meal. Well could I serve them. No man can light a fire, or cleave wood, or carve flesh, or pour out wine, better than I."

"Nay," said the swineherd, "thou hadst best not go among the suitors, so proud and lawless are they. They that serve them are not such as thou. They are young, and fair, and gaily clad, and their heads are anointed with oil. Abide here; thou art not burdensome to us; and when the son of Ulysses shall come, he will give thee, may be, a mantle and a tunic."

Ulysses answered: "Now may Zeus bless thee for thy kindness, for thou makest me to cease from my wanderings. Surely, nothing is more grievous to a man than to wander; but hunger compels him.

Tell me now about the mother of Ulysses and about his father. Are they yet alive?"

Then said the swineherd: "I will tell thee all. Laertes, the father of Ulysses, yet lives; yet doth he daily pray to die, for he sorroweth for his son, who is far away from his home, and for his wife, who is dead. Verily, it was her death that brought him to old age before his time. And it was of grief for her son that she died. Much kindness did I receive at her hands, while she yet lived; but now I lack it. As for my lady Penelope, a great trouble hath fallen upon her house, even a plague of evil-minded men."

CHAPTER XVII

ULYSSES AND TELEMACHUS

Telemachus in his ship came safe to the island of Ithaca, at the place that was nearest to the swineherd's house. There they beached the ship, and made it fast with anchors at the fore part and hawsers at the stern, and they landed, and made ready a meal.

When they had had enough of meat and drink, Telemachus said: "Take now the ship to the city. I will come thither in the evening, having first seen my farm; and then I will pay you your wages."

Now the herdsman and Ulysses had kindled a fire, and were making ready breakfast.