Odysseus, in the form of a beggar, goes to Eumaeus, the master of his
swine, where he is well used and tells a feigned story, and informs
himself of the behaviour of the wooers.
But Odysseus fared forth from the haven by the rough track, up the
wooded country and through the heights, where Athene had showed him
that he should find the goodly swineherd, who cared most for his
substance of all the thralls that goodly Odysseus had gotten.
Now he found him sitting at the vestibule of the house, where his
courtyard was builded high, in a place with wide prospect; a great
court it was and a fair, with free range round it. This the swineherd
had builded by himself for the swine of his lord who was afar, and his
mistress and the old man Laertes knew not of it. With stones from the
quarry had he builded it, and coped it with a fence of white thorn, and
he had split an oak to the dark core, and without he had driven stakes
the whole length thereof on either side, set thick and close; and
within the courtyard he made twelve styes hard by one another to be
beds for the swine, and in each stye fifty grovelling swine were
penned, brood swine; but the boars slept without. Now these were far
fewer in number, the godlike wooers minishing them at their feasts, for
the swineherd ever sent in the best of all the fatted hogs. And their
tale was three hundred and three-score. And by them always slept four
dogs, as fierce as wild beasts, which the swineherd had bred, a master
of men. Now he was fitting sandals to his feet, cutting a good brown
oxhide, while the rest of his fellows, three in all, were abroad this
way and that, with the droves of swine; while the fourth he had sent to
the city to take a boar to the proud wooers, as needs he must, that
they might sacrifice it and satisfy their soul with flesh.
And of a sudden the baying dogs saw Odysseus, and they ran at him
yelping, but Odysseus in his wariness sat him down, and let the staff
fall from his hand. There by his own homestead would he have suffered
foul hurt, but the swineherd with quick feet hasted after them, and
sped through the outer door, and let the skin fall from his hand. And
the hounds he chid and drave them this way and that, with a shower of
stones, and he spake unto his lord, saying:
“Old man, truly the dogs went nigh to be the death of thee all of a
sudden, so shouldest thou have brought shame on me. Yea, and the gods
have given me other pains and griefs enough. Here I sit, mourning and
sorrowing for my godlike lord, and foster the fat swine for others to
eat, while he craving, perchance, for food, wanders over some land and
city of men of a strange speech, if haply he yet lives and beholds the
sunlight. But come with me, let us to the inner steading, old man, that
when thy heart is satisfied with bread and wine, thou too mayest tell
thy tale and declare whence thou art, and how many woes thou hast
endured.”
Therewith the goodly swineherd led him to the steading, and took him in
and set him down, and strewed beneath him thick brushwood, and spread
thereon the hide of a shaggy wild goat, wide and soft, which served
himself for a mattress. And Odysseus rejoiced that he had given him
such welcome, and spake and hailed him:
“May Zeus, O stranger, and all the other deathless gods grant thee thy
dearest wish, since thou hast received me heartily!”
Then, O swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou answer him, saying: “Guest of
mine, it were an impious thing for me to slight a stranger, even if
there came a meaner man than thou; for from Zeus are all strangers and
beggars; and a little gift from such as we, is dear; for this is the
way with thralls, who are ever in fear when young lords like ours bear
rule over them. For surely the gods have stayed the returning of my
master, who would have loved me diligently, and given me somewhat of my
own, a house and a parcel of ground, and a comely[25] wife, such as a
kind lord gives to his man, who hath laboured much for him and the work
of whose hands God hath likewise increased, even as he increaseth this
work of mine whereat I abide. Therefore would my lord have rewarded me
greatly, had he grown old at home. But he hath perished, as I would
that all the stock of Helen had perished utterly, forasmuch as she hath
caused the loosening of many a man’s knees. For he too departed to
Ilios of the goodly steeds, to get atonement for Agamemnon, that so he
might war with the Trojans.”
[25] Reading ἐύμορφόν.
Therewith he quickly bound up his doublet with his girdle, and went his
way to the styes, where the tribes of the swine were penned. Thence he
took and brought forth two, and sacrificed them both, and singed them
and cut them small, and spitted them. And when he had roasted all, he
bare and set it by Odysseus, all hot as it was upon the spits, and he
sprinkled thereupon white barley-meal. Then in a bowl of ivywood he
mixed the honey-sweet wine, and himself sat over against him and bade
him fall to:
“Eat now, stranger, such fare as thralls have to hand, even flesh of
sucking pigs; but the fatted hogs the wooers devour, for they know not
the wrath of the gods nor any pity. Verily the blessed gods love not
froward deeds, but they reverence justice and the righteous acts of
men. Yet even foes and men unfriendly, that land on a strange coast,
and Zeus grants them a prey, and they have laden their ships and depart
for home; yea, even on their hearts falls strong fear of the wrath of
the gods. But lo you, these men know somewhat,—for they have heard an
utterance of a god—, even the tidings of our lord’s evil end, seeing
that they are not minded justly to woo, nor to go back to their own,
but at ease they devour our wealth with insolence, and now there is no
sparing. For every day and every night that comes from Zeus, they make
sacrifice not of one victim only, nor of two, and wine they draw and
waste it riotously. For surely his livelihood was great past telling,
no lord in the dark mainland had so much, nor any in Ithaca itself;
nay, not twenty men together have wealth so great, and I will tell thee
the sum thereof. Twelve herds of kine upon the mainland, as many flocks
of sheep, as many droves of swine, as many ranging herds of goats, that
his own shepherds and strangers pasture. And ranging herds of goats,
eleven in all, graze here by the extremity of the island with trusty
men to watch them. And day by day each man of these ever drives one of
the flock to the wooers, whichsoever seems the best of the fatted
goats. But as for me I guard and keep these swine and I choose out for
them, as well as I may, the best of the swine and send it hence.”
So spake he, but Odysseus ceased not to eat flesh and drink wine right
eagerly and in silence, and the while was sowing the seeds of evil for
the wooers. Now when he had well eaten and comforted his heart with
food, then the herdsman filled him the bowl out of which he was wont
himself to drink, and he gave it him brimming with wine, and he took it
and was glad at heart, and uttering his voice spake to him winged
words:
“My friend, who was it then that bought thee with his wealth, a man so
exceedingly rich and mighty as thou declarest? Thou saidest that he
perished to get atonement for Agamemnon; tell me, if perchance I may
know him, being such an one as thou sayest. For Zeus, methinks, and the
other deathless gods know whether I may bring tidings of having seen
him; for I have wandered far.”
Then the swineherd, a master of men, answered him: “Old man, no
wanderer who may come hither and bring tidings of him can win the ear
of his wife and his dear son; but lightly do vagrants lie when they
need entertainment, and care not to tell truth. Whosoever comes
straying to the land of Ithaca, goes to my mistress and speaks words of
guile. And she receives him kindly and lovingly and inquires of all
things, and the tears fall from her eyelids for weeping, as is meet for
a woman when her lord hath died afar. And quickly enough wouldst thou
too, old man, forge a tale, if any would but give thee a mantle and a
doublet for raiment. But as for him, dogs and swift fowls are like
already to have torn his skin from the bones, and his spirit hath left
him. Or the fishes have eaten him in the deep, and there lie his bones
swathed in sand-drift on the shore. Yonder then hath he perished, but
for his friends nought is ordained but care, for all, but for me in
chief. For never again shall I find a lord so gentle, how far soever I
may go, not though again I attain unto the house of my father and my
mother, where at first I was born, and they nourished me themselves and
with their own hands they reared me. Nor henceforth it is not for these
that I sorrow so much, though I long to behold them with mine eyes in
mine own country, but desire comes over me for Odysseus who is afar.
His name, stranger, even though he is not here, it shameth me to speak,
for he loved me exceedingly, and cared for me at heart; nay, I call him
‘worshipful,’ albeit he is far hence.”
Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus spake to him again: “My friend,
forasmuch as thou gainsayest utterly, and sayest that henceforth he
will not come again, and thine heart is ever slow to believe, therefore
will I tell thee not lightly but with an oath, that Odysseus shall
return. And let me have the wages of good tidings as soon as ever he in
his journeying shall come hither to his home. Then clothe me in a
mantle and a doublet, goodly raiment. But ere that, albeit I am sore in
need I will not take aught, for hateful to me even as the gates of
hell, is that man, who under stress of poverty speaks words of guile.
Now be Zeus my witness before any god, and the hospitable board and the
hearth of noble Odysseus whereunto I am come, that all these things
shall surely be accomplished even as I tell thee. In this same year
Odysseus shall come hither; as the old moon wanes and the new is born
shall he return to his home, and shall take vengeance on all who here
dishonour his wife and noble son.”
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: “Old man, it is not I
then, that shall ever pay thee these wages of good tidings, nor
henceforth shall Odysseus ever come to his home. Nay drink in peace,
and let us turn our thoughts to other matters, and bring not these to
my remembrance, for surely my heart within me is sorrowful whenever any
man puts me in mind of my true lord. But as for thine oath, we will let
it go by; yet, oh that Odysseus may come according to my desire, and
the desire of Penelope and of that old man Laertes and godlike
Telemachus! But now I make a comfortless lament for the boy begotten of
Odysseus, even for Telemachus. When the gods had reared him like a
young sapling, and I thought that he would be no worse man among men
than his dear father, glorious in form and face, some god or some man
marred his good wits within him, and he went to fair Pylos after
tidings of his sire. And now the lordly wooers lie in wait for him on
his way home, that the race of godlike Arceisius may perish nameless
out of Ithaca. Howbeit, no more of him now, whether he shall be taken
or whether he shall escape, and Cronion stretch out his hand to shield
him. But come, old man, do thou tell me of thine own troubles. And
herein tell me true, that I may surely know. Who art thou of the sons
of men, and whence? Where is thy city, where are they that begat thee?
Say on what manner of ship didst thou come, and how did sailors bring
thee to Ithaca, and who did they avow them to be? For in nowise do I
deem that thou camest hither by land.”
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: “Yea now, I will
tell thee all most plainly. Might we have food and sweet wine enough to
last for long, while we abide within thy hut to feast thereon in quiet,
and others betake them to their work; then could I easily speak for a
whole year, nor yet make a full end of telling all the troubles of my
spirit, all the travail I have wrought by the will of the gods.
“I avow that I come by lineage from wide Crete, and am the son of a
wealthy man. And many other sons he had born and bred in the halls,
lawful born of a wedded wife; but the mother that bare me was a
concubine bought with a price. Yet Castor son of Hylax, of whose blood
I avow me to be, gave me no less honour than his lawful sons. Now he at
the time got worship even as a god from the Cretans in the land, for
wealth and riches and sons renowned. Howbeit the fates of death bare
him away to the house of Hades, and his gallant sons divided among them
his living and cast lots for it. But to me they gave a very small gift
and assigned me a dwelling, and I took unto me a wife, the daughter of
men that had wide lands, by reason of my valour, for that I was no
weakling nor a dastard; but now all my might has failed me, yet even so
I deem that thou mightest guess from seeing the stubble what the grain
has been, for of trouble I have plenty and to spare. But then verily
did Ares and Athene give me boldness and courage to hurl through the
press of men, whensoever I chose the best warriors for an ambush,
sowing the seeds of evil for my foes; no boding of death was ever in my
lordly heart, but I would leap out the foremost and slay with the spear
whoso of my foes was less fleet of foot than I. Such an one was I in
war, but the labour of the field I never loved, nor home-keeping
thrift, that breeds brave children, but galleys with their oars were
dear to me, and wars and polished shafts and darts—baneful things
whereat others use to shudder. But that, methinks, was dear to me which
the god put in my heart, for divers men take delight in divers deeds.
For ere ever the sons of the Achaeans had set foot on the land of Troy,
I had nine times been a leader of men and of swift-faring ships against
a strange people, and wealth fell ever to my hands. Of the booty I
would choose out for me all that I craved, and much thereafter I won by
lot. So my house got increase speedily, and thus I waxed dread and
honourable among the Cretans. But when Zeus, of the far-borne voice,
devised at the last that hateful path which loosened the knees of many
a man in death, then the people called on me and on renowned Idomeneus
to lead the ships to Ilios, nor was there any way whereby to refuse,
for the people’s voice bore hard upon us. There we sons of the Achaeans
warred for nine whole years, and then in the tenth year we sacked the
city of Priam, and departed homeward with our ships, and a god
scattered the Achaeans. But Zeus, the counsellor, devised mischief
against me, wretched man that I was! For one month only I abode and had
joy in my children and my wedded wife, and all that I had; and
thereafter my spirit bade me fit out ships in the best manner and sail
to Egypt with my godlike company. Nine ships I fitted out and the host
was gathered quickly; and then for six days my dear company feasted,
and I gave them many victims that they might sacrifice to the gods and
prepare a feast for themselves. But on the seventh day we set sail from
wide Crete, with a North Wind fresh and fair, and lightly we ran as it
were down stream, yea and no harm came to any ship of mine, but we sat
safe and hale, while the wind and the pilots guided the barques. And on
the fifth day we came to the fair-flowing Aegyptus, and in the river
Aegyptus I stayed my curved ships. Then verily I bade my dear
companions to abide there by the ships and to guard them, and I sent
forth scouts to range the points of outlook. But my men gave place to
wantonness, being the fools of their own force, and soon they fell to
wasting the fields of the Egyptians, exceeding fair, and led away their
wives and infant children and slew the men. And the cry came quickly to
the city, and the people hearing the shout came forth at the breaking
of the day, and all the plain was filled with footmen and chariots and
with the glitter of bronze. And Zeus, whose joy is in the thunder, sent
an evil panic upon my company, and none durst stand and face the foe,
for danger encompassed us on every side. There they slew many of us
with the edge of the sword, and others they led up with them alive to
work for them perforce. But as for me, Zeus himself put a thought into
my heart; would to God that I had rather died, and met my fate there in
Egypt, for sorrow was still mine host! Straightway I put off my
well-wrought helmet from my head, and the shield from off my shoulders,
and I cast away my spear from my hand, and I came over against the
chariots of the king, and clasped and kissed his knees, and he saved me
and delivered me, and setting me on his own chariot took me weeping to
his home. Truly many an one made at me with their ashen spears, eager
to slay me, for verily they were sore angered. But the king kept them
off and had respect unto the wrath of Zeus, the god of strangers, who
chiefly hath displeasure at evil deeds. So for seven whole years I
abode with their king, and gathered much substance among the Egyptians,
for they all gave me gifts. But when the eighth year came in due
season, there arrived a Phoenician practised in deceit, a greedy knave,
who had already done much mischief among men. He wrought on me with his
cunning, and took me with him until he came to Phoenicia, where was his
house and where his treasures lay. There I abode with him for the space
of a full year. But when now the months and days were fulfilled, as the
year came round and the seasons returned, he set me aboard a seafaring
ship for Libya, under colour as though I was to convey a cargo thither
with him, but his purpose was to sell me in Libya, and get a great
price. So I went with him on board, perforce, yet boding evil. And the
ship ran before a North Wind fresh and fair, through the mid sea over
above Crete, and Zeus contrived the destruction of the crew. But when
we left Crete, and no land showed in sight but sky and sea only, even
then the son of Cronos stayed a dark cloud over the hollow ship, and
the deep grew dark beneath it. And in the same moment Zeus thundered
and smote his bolt into the ship, and she reeled all over being
stricken by the bolt of Zeus, and was filled with fire and brimstone,
and all the crew fell overboard. And like sea-gulls they were borne
hither and thither on the waves about the black ship, and the god cut
off their return. But in this hour of my affliction Zeus himself put
into my hands the huge mast of the dark-prowed ship, that even yet I
might escape from harm. So I clung round the mast and was borne by the
ruinous winds. For nine days was I borne, and on the tenth black night
the great rolling wave brought me nigh to the land of the Thesprotians.
There the king of the Thesprotians, the lord Pheidon, took me in
freely, for his dear son lighted on me and raised me by the hand and
led me to his house, foredone with toil and the keen air, till he came
to his father’s palace. And he clothed me in a mantle and a doublet for
raiment.
“There I heard tidings of Odysseus, for the king told me that he had
entertained him, and kindly entreated him on his way to his own
country; and he showed me all the wealth that Odysseus had gathered,
bronze and gold and well-wrought iron; yea it would suffice for his
children after him even to the tenth generation, so great were the
treasures he had stored in the chambers of the king. He had gone, he
said, to Dodona to hear the counsel of Zeus, from the high leafy oak
tree of the god, how he should return to the fat land of Ithaca after
long absence, whether openly or by stealth. Moreover, he sware, in mine
own presence, as he poured the drink offering in his house, that the
ship was drawn down to the sea and his company were ready, who were to
convey him to his own dear country. But ere that, he sent me off, for
it chanced that a ship of the Thesprotians was starting for Dulichium,
a land rich in grain. Thither he bade them bring me with all diligence
to the king Acastus. But an evil counsel concerning me found favour in
their sight, that even yet I might reach the extremity of sorrow. When
the seafaring ship had sailed a great way from the land, anon they
sought how they might compass for me the day of slavery. They stript me
of my garments, my mantle and a doublet, and changed my raiment to a
vile wrap and doublet, tattered garments, even those thou seest now
before thee; and in the evening they reached the fields of clear-seen
Ithaca. There in the decked ship they bound me closely with a twisted
rope, and themselves went ashore, and hasted to take supper by the
sea-banks. Meanwhile the gods themselves lightly unclasped my bands,
and muffling my head with the wrap I slid down the smooth lading-plank,
and set my breast to the sea and rowed hard with both hands as I swam,
and very soon I was out of the water and beyond their reach. Then I
went up where there was a thicket, a wood in full leaf, and lay there
crouching. And they went hither and thither making great moan; but when
now it seemed to them little avail to go further on their quest, they
departed back again aboard their hollow ship. And the gods themselves
hid me easily and brought me nigh to the homestead of a wise man; for
still, methinks, I am ordained to live on.”
Then didst thou make answer to him, swineherd Eumaeus: “Ah! wretched
guest, verily thou hast stirred my heart with the tale of all these
things, of thy sufferings and thy wanderings. Yet herein, methinks,
thou speakest not aright, and never shalt thou persuade me with the
tale about Odysseus; why should one in thy plight lie vainly? Well I
know of mine own self, as touching my lord’s return, that he was
utterly hated by all the gods, in that they smote him not among the
Trojans nor in the arms of his friends, when he had wound up the clew
of war. So should the whole Achaean host have builded him a barrow; yea
and for his son would he have won great glory in the after days; but
now all ingloriously the spirits of the storm have snatched him away.
But as for me I dwell apart by the swine and go not to the city, unless
perchance wise Penelope summons me thither, when tidings of my master
are brought I know not whence. Now all the people sit round and
straitly question the news-bearer, both such as grieve for their lord
that is long gone, and such as rejoice in devouring his living without
atonement. But I have no care to ask or to inquire, since the day that
an Aetolian cheated me with his story, one who had slain his man and
wandered over wide lands and came to my steading, and I dealt lovingly
with him. He said that he had seen my master among the Cretans at the
house of Idomeneus, mending his ships which the storms had broken. And
he said that he would come home either by the summer or the
harvest-tide, bringing much wealth with the godlike men of his company.
And thou too, old man of many sorrows, seeing that some god hath
brought thee to me, seek not my grace with lies, nor give me any such
comfort; not for this will I have respect to thee or hold thee dear,
but only for the fear of Zeus, the god of strangers, and for pity of
thyself.”
And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: “Verily thy heart
within thee is slow to believe, seeing that even with an oath I have
not won thee, nor find credence with thee. But come now, let us make a
covenant; and we will each one have for witnesses the gods above, who
hold Olympus. If thy lord shall return to this house, put on me a
mantle and doublet for raiment, and send me on my way to Dulichium,
whither I had a desire to go. But if thy lord return not according to
my word, set thy thralls upon me, and cast me down from a mighty rock,
that another beggar in his turn may beware of deceiving.”
And the goodly swineherd answered him, saying: “Yea stranger, even so
should I get much honour and good luck among men both now and ever
hereafter, if after bringing thee to my hut and giving thee a
stranger’s cheer, I should turn again and slay thee and take away thy
dear life. Eager indeed thereafter should I be to make a prayer to Zeus
the son of Cronos! But now it is supper-time, and would that my fellows
may speedily be at home, that we may make ready a dainty supper within
the hut.”
Thus they spake one to the other. And lo, the swine and the swineherds
drew nigh. And the swine they shut up to sleep in their lairs, and a
mighty din arose as the swine were being stalled. Then the goodly
swineherd called to his fellows, saying:
“Bring the best of the swine, that I may sacrifice it for a guest of
mine from a far land: and we too will have good cheer therewith, for we
have long suffered and toiled by reason of the white-tusked swine,
while others devour the fruit of our labour without atonement.”
Therewithal he cleft logs with the pitiless axe, and the others brought
in a well-fatted boar of five years old; and they set him by the hearth
nor did the swineherd forget the deathless gods, for he was of an
understanding heart. But for a beginning of sacrifice he cast bristles
from the head of the white-tusked boar upon the fire, and prayed to all
the gods that wise Odysseus might return to his own house. Then he
stood erect, and smote the boar with a billet of oak which he had left
in the cleaving, and the boar yielded up his life. Then they cut the
throat and singed the carcass and quickly cut it up, and the swineherd
took a first portion from all the limbs, and laid the raw flesh on the
rich fat. And some pieces he cast into the fire after sprinkling them
with bruised barley-meal, and they cut the rest up small, and pierced
it, and spitted and roasted it carefully, and drew it all off from the
spits, and put the whole mess together on trenchers. Then the swineherd
stood up to carve, for well he knew what was fair, and he cut up the
whole and divided it into seven portions. One, when he had prayed, he
set aside for the nymphs and for Hermes son of Maia, and the rest he
distributed to each. And he gave Odysseus the portion of honour, the
long back of the white-tusked boar, and the soul of his lord rejoiced
at this renown, and Odysseus of many counsels hailed him saying:
“Eumaeus, oh that thou mayest so surely be dear to father Zeus, as thou
art to me, seeing that thou honourest me with a good portion, such an
one as I am!”
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus:
“Eat, luckless stranger, and make merry with such fare as is here. And
one thing the god will give and another withhold, even as he will, for
with him all things are possible.”
So he spake, and made burnt offering of the hallowed parts to the
everlasting gods, and poured the dark wine for a drink offering, and
set the cup in the hands of Odysseus, the waster of cities, and sat
down by his own mess. And Mesaulius bare them wheaten bread, a thrall
that the swineherd had gotten all alone, while his lord was away,
without the knowledge of his mistress and the old Laertes: yea he had
bought him of the Taphians with his own substance. So they stretched
forth their hands upon the good cheer spread before them. Now after
they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, Mesaulius cleared
away the bread, and they, now that they had eaten enough of bread and
flesh, were moved to go to rest.
Now it was so that night came on foul with a blind moon, and Zeus
rained the whole night through, and still the great West Wind, the
rainy wind, was blowing. Then Odysseus spake among them that he might
make trial of the swineherd, and see whether he would take off his own
mantle and give it to him or bid one of his company strip, since he
cared for him so greatly:
“Listen now, Eumaeus, and all of you his companions, with a prayer will
I utter my word; so bids me witless wine, which drives even the wisest
to sing and to laugh softly, and rouses him to dance, yea and makes him
to speak out a word which were better unspoken. Howbeit, now that I
have broken into speech, I will not hide aught. Oh that I were young,
and my might were steadfast, as in the day when we arrayed our ambush
and led it beneath Troy town! And Odysseus, and Menelaus son of Atreus,
were leaders and with them I was a third in command; for so they bade
me. Now when we had come to the city and the steep wall, we lay about
the citadel in the thick brushwood, crouching under our arms among the
reeds and the marsh land, and behold, the night came on foul, with
frost, as the North Wind went down, while the snow fell from above, and
crusted like rime, bitter cold, and the ice set thick about our
shields. Now the others all had mantles and doublets, and slept in
peace with their shields buckled close about their shoulders; but I as
I went forth had left my mantle behind with my men, in my folly,
thinking that even so I should not be cold: so I came with only my
shield and bright leathern apron. But when it was now the third watch
of the night and the stars had passed the zenith, in that hour I spake
unto Odysseus who was nigh me, and thrust him with my elbow, and he
listened straightway:
“‘Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, verily
I shall cease from among living men, for this wintry cold is slaying
me, seeing that I have no mantle. Some god beguiled me to wear a
doublet only, and henceforth is no way of escape.’
“So I spake, and he apprehended a thought in his heart, such an one as
he was in counsel and in fight. So he whispered and spake to me,
saying:
“‘Be silent now, lest some other Achaeans hear thee.’ Therewith he
raised his head upon his elbow, and spake, saying: ‘Listen, friends, a
vision from a god came to me in my sleep. Lo, we have come very far
from the ships; I would there were one to tell it to Agamemnon, son of
Atreus, shepherd of the host, if perchance he may send us hither a
greater company from the ships.’
“So spake he, and Thoas, son of Andraemon, rose up quickly and cast off
his purple mantle. And he started to run unto the ships, but I lay
gladly in his garment, and the golden-throned Dawn showed her light.
Oh! that I were young as then and my might steadfast! Then should some
of the swineherds in the homestead give me a mantle, alike for love’s
sake and for pity of a good warrior. But now they scorn me for that
sorry raiment is about my body.”
Then didst thou make answer, O swineherd Eumaeus: “Old man, the tale
that thou hast told in his praise is very good, and so far thou hast
not misspoken aught, nor uttered a word unprofitably. Wherefore for
this night thou shalt lack neither raiment nor aught else that is the
due of a hapless suppliant, when he has met them that can befriend him.
But in the morning thou shalt go shuffling in thine own rags, for there
are not many mantles here or changes of doublet; for each man hath but
one coat. But when the dear son of Odysseus comes, he himself will give
thee a mantle and doublet for raiment, and send thee whithersoever thy
heart and spirit bid.”
With that he sprang up and set a bed for Odysseus near the fire, and
thereon he cast skins of sheep and goats. There Odysseus laid him down
and Eumaeus cast a great thick mantle over him, which he had ever by
him for a change of covering, when any terrible storm should arise.
So there Odysseus slept, and the young men slept beside him. But the
swineherd had no mind to lie there in a bed away from the boars. So he
made him ready to go forth and Odysseus was glad, because he had a
great care for his master’s substance while he was afar. First he cast
his sharp sword about his strong shoulders, then he clad him in a very
thick mantle, to keep the wind away; and he caught up the fleece of a
great and well-fed goat, and seized his sharp javelin, to defend him
against dogs and men. Then he went to lay him down even where the
white-tusked boars were sleeping, beneath the hollow of the rock, in a
place of shelter from the North Wind.