I
Early next day Odysseus rose and donned his armour, and having charged
Penelope to keep close in her chamber, and admit no one into the
house, he set forth to visit Laertes on his farm, attended by
Telemachus and the two faithful herdsmen, all armed to the teeth.
Arrived at the farmhouse he left his companions there, bidding them
prepare the morning meal, and went out alone to find his father.
Passing through the courtyard gate, he entered a large plot of ground,
planted by Laertes as a garden and orchard; and there he found the old
man, who was digging about the roots of a young tree. With strange
emotions Odysseus noted every detail of his dress and figure--the
soiled and tattered coat, the gaiters of clouted leather, the old
gauntlets on his hands, and the goatskin cap. He who had once been the
wealthiest prince in Ithaca had now the appearance of an ancient
serving-man, broken down with years and toil.
But in the midst of his sorrow a freakish whim came into the head of
Odysseus, characteristic of his subtle and tortuous nature.
Approaching his father, who was still stooping over his work, he said
to him in a disguised voice: "Old man, I perceive that thou art well
skilled in the gardener's art: never saw I a garden better tended--not
a tree, not a shrub, but bears witness to thy fostering care. And be
not wroth with me if I say that is a wonder to see the keeper of so
fair a garden himself so squalid and unkempt. Surely he whom thou
servest must be an ungrateful master. Tell me his name, if thou wilt,
and answer me truly if this be indeed the land of Ithaca to which I am
come, as I heard from a man whom I met by the way. He seemed a
churlish fellow, and would not stay to answer my questions; for I was
fain to ask him concerning a friend whom I once entertained in my
house, a native of Ithaca, as he told me, and a son of one Laertes.
Many days he dwelt with me, eating and drinking of the best, and I
sent him away laden with rich gifts, gold and silver, and costly
raiment."
"Friend," answered Laertes, shedding tears, "to Ithaca indeed art thou
come, but he of whom thou askest is no longer here. In vain were thy
gifts bestowed, for he who would have repaid thee richly for all thy
kindness hath perished long ago, and his bones lie bleaching on the
bare earth, or at the bottom of the sea. Tell me, how long is it since
thou didst receive him, and who art thou, and where is thy home?"
"I am a man of Alybas," replied Odysseus, "the son of Apheidas the son
of Polypemon, and Eperitus is my name; and it is now five years since
Odysseus departed from my home. Fair omens attended him on his
starting, and we parted in high hopes that we should meet again in his
own land."
At these words of Odysseus the poor old man was overwhelmed with
sorrow, and he heaped dust upon his grey head, groaning in bitterness
of spirit. Odysseus was moved with pity at the sight of his distress,
and thinking that he had now tried him enough, he revealed himself,
pointing as proofs to the scar above his knee, and to certain trees
which Laertes had allowed him to call his own when he walked with him,
hand-in-hand, as a little child, through the garden.
The sudden shock of joyful recognition was too much for the old man,
and he fell fainting into his son's arms. When he was somewhat
recovered they went back together towards the house, and on the way
Odysseus spoke of the slaying of the wooers, and of the danger which
threatened him from the vengeance of their friends.