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.
And Ulysses heard the steps of a man, and, as the dogs barked not,
he said to Eumaeus, "Lo! there comes some comrade or friend, for
the dogs bark not."
And as he spake, Telemachus stood in the doorway; and the
swineherd let fall from his hand the bowl in which he was mixing
wine, and ran to him and kissed his head and his eyes and his
hands. As a father kisses his only son, coming back to him from a
far country after ten years, so did the swineherd kiss Telemachus.
And when Telemachus came in, the false beggar, though indeed he
was his father, rose, and would have given place to him; but
Telemachus allowed him not to do so. And when they had eaten and
drunk, Telemachus asked of the swineherd who this stranger might
be.
Then the swineherd told him what he had heard, and afterwards
said, "I hand him to thee; do as thou wilt."
But Telemachus answered: "Nay, Eumaeus. For am I master in my
house? Do not the suitors devour it? And does not my mother doubt
whether she will abide with me, remembering the great Ulysses, who
was her husband, or will follow some one of those who are suitors
to her? I will give this stranger, indeed, food and clothing and a
sword, and will send him whithersoever he will, but I would not
that he should go among the suitors, so haughty are they and
violent."
Then said Ulysses: "But why dost thou bear with these men? Do the
people hate thee, that thou canst not avenge thyself on them? and
hast thou not kinsmen to help thee? As for me, I would rather die
than see such shameful things done in a house of mine."
And Telemachus answered: "My people hate me not; but as for
kinsmen, I have none, for my grandfather had but one son, Laertes,
and he but one, Ulysses, and Ulysses had none other but me.
Therefore do these men spoil my substance, and, it may be, will
take my life also. These things, however, the gods will order. But
do thou, Eumaeus, go to Penelope, and tell her that I am returned;
and let no man know thereof, for they plan evil against me; but I
will stay here meanwhile."
So Eumaeus departed. And when he had gone, Athene came, like a
woman tall and fair; but Telemachus saw her not, for it is not
given to all to see the immortal gods; but Ulysses saw her, and
the dogs saw her, and whimpered for fear. She signed to Ulysses,
and he went forth, and she said:--
"Hide not the matter from thy son, but plan with him how ye may
slay the suitors, and lo! I am with you."
Then she touched him with her golden wand. First she put about him
a fresh robe of linen and new tunic. Also she made him larger and
fairer to behold. More dark did he grow, and his cheeks were
rounded again, and the beard spread out black upon his chin.
Having so done, she passed away. But when Ulysses went into the
hut, his son looked at him, greatly marvelling. Indeed, he feared
that it might be some god.
"Stranger," he said, "surely thou art not what thou wast but a
moment since; other garments hast thou, and the colour of thy skin
is changed. Verily, thou must be some god from heaven. Stay
awhile, that we may offer to thee sacrifice, so shalt thou have
mercy on us!"
Ulysses made answer, "I am no god; I am thy father, for whom thou
hast sought with much trouble of heart."
So saying, he kissed his son, and let fall a tear, but before he
had kept in his tears continually.
But Telemachus, doubting yet whether this could indeed be his
father, made reply: "Thou canst not be my father; some god
deceiveth me that I may have sorrow upon sorrow. No mortal man
could contrive this, making himself now young, now old, at his
pleasure. A moment since thou wast old, and clad in vile garments;
now thou art as one of the gods in heaven."
But Ulysses answered him, saying: "Telemachus, it is not fitting
for thee to marvel so much at thy father's coming home. It is
indeed my very self who am come, now at last in the twentieth
year, having suffered many things and wandered over many lands.
And this at which thou wonderest is Athene's work; she it is that
maketh me now like to an old man and a beggar and now to a young
man clad in rich raiment."
So speaking, he sat him down again, and Telemachus threw himself
upon his father's neck and wept, and his father wept also. And
when they had dried their tears, Telemachus said, "Tell me how
thou camest back, my father?"
So Ulysses told him, saying: "The Phaeacians brought me back from
their country while I slept. Many gifts did they send with me.
These have I hidden in a cave. And to this place have I come by
the counsel of Athene, that we may plan together for the slaying
of the suitors. But come, tell me the number of the suitors, how
many they are and what manner of men. Shall we twain be able to
make war upon them or must we get the help of others?"
Then said Telemachus: "Thou art, I know, a great and wise warrior,
my father, but this thing we cannot do; for these men are not ten,
no, nor twice ten, but from Dulichium [Footnote: Du-lich'-i-um.]
come fifty and two, and from Samos four and twenty, and from
Zacynthus [Footnote: Za-cyn'-thus.] twenty, and from Ithaca
twelve; and they have Medon, the herald, and a minstrel also, and
attendants."
Then said Ulysses: "Go thou home in the morning and mingle with
the suitors, and I will come as an old beggar; and if they treat
me shamefully, endure to see it, yea, if they drag me to the door.
Only, if thou wilt, speak to them prudent words; but they will not
heed thee, for indeed their doom is near. Heed this also: when I
give thee a sign, take all the arms from the dwelling and hide
them in thy chamber. And when they shall ask thee why thou doest
thus, say that thou takest them out of the smoke, for that they
are not such as Ulysses left behind him when he went to Troy, but
that the smoke has soiled them. Say, also, that perchance they
might stir up strife sitting at their cups, and that it is not
well that arms should be at hand, for that the very steel draws on
a man to fight. But keep two swords and two spears and two
shields--these shall be for thee and me. Only let no one know of
my coming back--not Laertes, nor the swineherd; no, nor Penelope
herself."
Meanwhile the ship of Telemachus came to the city, and a herald
went to the palace with tidings for Penelope, lest she should be
troubled for her son. So these two, the herald and the swineherd,
came together, having the same errand. The herald spake out among
the handmaids, saying: "O Queen, thy son is returned from Pylos!"
But the swineherd went up to Penelope by herself, and told her all
that Telemachus had bidden him to say. When he had so done, he
turned about, and went home to his house and to the swine.
But the suitors were troubled in heart; and Eurymachus said: "This
is a bold thing that Telemachus hath done. He hath accomplished
his journey, which we said he never would accomplish. Let us,
therefore, get rowers together, and send a ship, that we may bid
our friends come back with all the speed they may."
But even while he spake, Amphinomus [Footnote: Am-phi'-no-mus.]
turned him about, and saw the ship in the harbour, and the men
lowering the sails. Then he laughed and said: "No need is there to
send a message, for the men themselves have come. Maybe some god
hath told them; maybe they saw the ship of Telemachus go by, and
could not overtake it."
Then all the suitors went together to the place of assembly, and
Antinous stood up and spake: "See how the gods have delivered this
man! All day long our scouts sat and watched upon the headlands,
one man taking another's place; and at sunset we rested not on the
shore, but sailed on the sea, waiting for the morning. Yet some
god hath brought him home. Nevertheless, we will bring him to an
evil end, for so long as he liveth we shall not accomplish our
end. Let us make haste before he assemble the people and tell them
how we plotted against him. Then will they hate us, and we shall
be driven forth from the land. Let us slay him, therefore, either
in the field or by the way; and let us divide his possessions, but
his house will we give to his mother and to him who shall marry
her."
Then spake Amphinomus,--not one of the suitors was of a more
understanding heart than he,--"Friends, I would not that
Telemachus should be slain; it is a fearful thing to slay the son
of a king. First, let us ask counsel of the gods. If the oracles
of Zeus approve, then will I slay him with mine own hand; but if
they forbid, then I would have you refrain."
Thereupon they departed from the place of assembly, and went to
the house of Ulysses.
Now Penelope had heard from Medon, the herald, how the suitors had
plotted to slay her son; therefore she went to the hall, and her
maidens with her, and stood in the door, holding her veil before
her face, and spake, saying:--
"Antinous, men say that thou art the best in counsel and speech of
all the princes of Ithaca. But, in truth, I do find thee thus.
Dost thou plot against the life of my son, having no regard for
the gods, nor any memory of good deeds? Dost thou not remember how
thy father fled to this house, fearing the anger of the people?
Yet it is this man's house that thou dost waste, and his son that
thou wouldest slay."
But Eurymachus made answer: "Take courage, wise Penelope, and let
not thy heart be troubled. The man is not, nor shall be born, who
shall raise a hand against Telemachus, so long as I live upon the
earth. Many a time hath Ulysses set me upon his knees, and given
me roasted flesh, and held the wine-cup to my lips. Therefore
Telemachus is the dearest of men to me. Fear not death for him
from the suitors."
So he spake, as if he would comfort her; but all the while he
plotted the death of her son.
After this she went to her chamber, and wept for her lord till
Athene dropped sweet sleep upon her eyes.
Meanwhile the swineherd went back to his home. But before he came
Athene changed Ulysses again into the likeness of a beggar man,
lest he should know him and tell the matter to Penelope.
Telemachus spake to him, saying: "What news is there in the city?
Are the suitors come back from their ambush, or do they still
watch for my ship?"
Eumaeus answered: "I did not think to go about the city asking
questions; but I will tell what I know. The messenger from thy
company joined himself to me, and, indeed, was the first to tell
the news to the Queen. This also I know, that I saw a ship
entering the harbour, and that there were many men in her, and
spears, and shields. These, perchance, were the suitors, but I
know not of a certainty."
Then Telemachus looked to his father, but the swineherd's eye he
shunned.