_Ulysses in the hut of Eumæus_.
Ulysses followed a steep path that led from the harbour
through the forest and over the top of the mountain, till
he reached the hut of Eumæus, who was the most thrifty
servant he had, and had built a number of fine yards and
pigstyes during his master's absence.
Ulysses found him sitting at the door of his hut, which 5
had been built high up in a place that could been seen
from far; he had his four fierce dogs about him, and was
cutting himself out a pair of sandal shoes.
The dogs flew at Ulysses, and it was all Eumæus could do 29
to check them; "They were like," said he, "to have made
an end of you, which would have got me into a scrape,
and I am in sorrow enough already through the loss, which
I deplore without ceasing, of the best of masters. But
come in, have something to eat, and then tell me your
story."
On this he brought him inside, threw some brushwood on 48
the floor, and spread a goat's skin over it for Ulysses
to lie on. "I cannot do much for you," he said; "servants
go in fear when they have young lords over them, as I now
have, for my good old master went to Troy with Agamemnon
and I shall never see him again."
He then went out and killed two sucking pigs, singed 72
them, cut them up, put the pieces of meat on skewers
to roast on the embers, and brought them smoking hot,
skewers and all, to Ulysses, who floured them. "Eat,"
said the swineherd, "a dish of servant's pork; the fuller
grown meat has to go down to the suitors." He then
explained how rich Ulysses was.
"And who, pray," said Ulysses, "was this noble master of 115
yours? You say that he fell at Troy, and in that case I
might be able to give you news of him."
"That," answered Eumæus, "may not be: people are always 121
coming and flattering my poor mistress with false hopes,
but they are all liars. My master Ulysses is dead and
gone, and I shall never see another like him. I cannot
bear even to mention his name."
"My friend," replied Ulysses, "do not be too hard of 148
belief. I swear by this hearth to which I am now come,
that Ulysses will return before the present month is
over. If he comes you shall give me a shirt and cloak,
but I will take nothing till then."
"My friend," said Eumæus, "say not another word. You 165
will never get your shirt and cloak. Now, moreover, I
am as anxious about his son Telemachus as I have been
about Ulysses himself; for he is gone to Pylos, and the
suitors are lying in wait for him on his return. Let us,
however, say no more about him now; tell me, rather,
about yourself who you are, and how you came here."
Then Ulysses told him a long lying story about his 191
adventures in Crete: how he was compelled to go to Troy
in joint command with Idomeneus over the Cretan forces;
how he made a descent on Egypt, got taken prisoner,
acquired wealth, and afterwards was inveigled into going
to Libya; how on the voyage thither, after leaving Crete,
the ship was wrecked and he was cast on the coast of
Thesprotia. "Here it was," he continued, "that I heard
of Ulysses from King Pheidon, who was expecting him
back daily from Dodona, where he had been to consult
the oracle; he told me Ulysses was to return to Ithaca
immediately, but there was a ship bound for Dulichium,
and the king sent me on board it before Ulysses returned
from Dodona. The sailors on this ship resolved to sell me
as a slave, and bound me; but they landed on the coast of
Ithaca, where I gave them the slip, and found my way to
your hut."
"Poor man," answered the swineherd, "but you will never 360
get me to believe about Ulysses. Why should you tell me
such lies? I have heard these stories too often, and will
never believe them again."
Ulysses tried still further to convince him, but it was 390
no use, and presently the under swineherds came back with
the pigs that had been out feeding, and Eumæus told them
to kill the best pig they had, and get supper ready,
which they accordingly did. He was a good man and mindful
of his duties to the gods, so when the pig was killed
he threw some of its bristles into the fire and prayed
heaven for the return of Ulysses. Then they supped and
went to bed.
Now it was a wild rough night, and after they had lain 457
down, Ulysses, fearing that he might be cold, told
another lying story of an adventure he had had at Troy
in company with Ulysses, by means of which Eumæus was
induced to cover him over with a spare cloak of his
own. Then the swineherd went out to pass the night with
the pigs--and Ulysses was pleased at seeing how well
he looked after his property, though he believed his
master to be absent. First he slung his sword over his
shoulders, and put on a thick cloak to keep out the wind;
he also took the skin of a well-fed goat, and a javelin
in case of attack from men or dogs. Thus equipped he
went to his rest where the pigs were camped under an
overhanging rock that sheltered them from the North Wind.