I have twelve brood mares there with yearling mule foals by their side
not yet broken in； and I want to bring one of them over here and break
him。〃
They were astounded when they heard this； for they had made sure
that Telemachus had not gone to the city of Neleus。 They thought he
was only away somewhere on the farms； and was with the sheep； or
with the swineherd； so Antinous said； 〃When did he go？ Tell me
truly； and what young men did he take with him？ Were they freemen or
his own bondsmen… for he might manage that too？ Tell me also； did
you let him have the ship of your own free will because he asked
you； or did he take it without yourleave？〃
〃I lent it him；〃 answered Noemon； 〃what else could I do when a man
of his position said he was in a difficulty； and asked me to oblige
him？ I could not possibly refuse。 As for those who went with him
they were the best young men we have； and I saw Mentor go on board
as captain… or some god who was exactly like him。 I cannot
understand it； for I saw Mentor here myself yesterday morning； and yet
he was then setting out for Pylos。〃
Noemon then went back to his father's house； but Antinous and
Eurymachus were very angry。 They told the others to leave off playing；
and to come and sit down along with themselves。 When they came；
Antinous son of Eupeithes spoke in anger。 His heart was black with
rage； and his eyes flashed fire as he said：
〃Good heavens； this voyage of Telemachus is a very serious matter；
we had made sure that it would come to nothing； but the young fellow
has got away in spite of us； and with a picked crew too。 He will be
giving us trouble presently； may Jove take him before he is full
grown。 Find me a ship； therefore； with a crew of twenty men； and I
will lie in wait for him in the straits between Ithaca and Samos； he
will then rue the day that he set out to try and get news of his
father。〃
Thus did he speak； and the others applauded his saying； they then
all of them went inside the buildings。
It was not long ere Penelope came to know what the suitors were
plotting； for a man servant； Medon； overheard them from outside the
outer court as they were laying their schemes within； and went to tell
his mistress。 As he crossed the threshold of her room Penelope said：
〃Medon； what have the suitors sent you here for？ Is it to tell the
maids to leave their master's business and cook dinner for them？ I
wish they may neither woo nor dine henceforward； neither here nor
anywhere else； but let this be the very last time； for the waste you
all make of my son's estate。 Did not your fathers tell you when you
were children how good Ulysses had been to them… never doing
anything high…handed； nor speaking harshly to anybody？ Kings may say
things sometimes； and they may take a fancy to one man and dislike
another； but Ulysses never did an unjust thing by anybody… which shows
what bad hearts you have； and that there is no such thing as gratitude
left in this world。〃
Then Medon said； 〃I wish； Madam； that this were all； but they are
plotting something much more dreadful now… may heaven frustrate
their design。 They are going to try and murder Telemachus as he is
coming home from Pylos and Lacedaemon； where he has been to get news
of his father。〃
Then Penelope's heart sank within her； and for a long time she was
speechless； her eyes filled with tears； and she could find no
utterance。 At last； however； she said； 〃Why did my son leave me？
What business had he to go sailing off in ships that make long voyages
over the ocean like sea…horses？ Does he want to die without leaving
any one behind him to keep up his name？〃
〃I do not know；〃 answered Medon； 〃whether some god set him on to it；
or whether he went on his own impulse to see if he could find out if
his father was dead； or alive and on his way home。〃
Then he went downstairs again； leaving Penelope in an agony of
grief。 There were plenty of seats in the house； but she。 had no
heart for sitting on any one of them； she could only fling herself
on the floor of her own room and cry； whereon all the maids in the
house； both old and young； gathered round her and began to cry too；
till at last in a transport of sorrow she exclaimed；
〃My dears； heaven has been pleased to try me with more affliction
than any other woman of my age and country。 First I lost my brave
and lion…hearted husband； who had every good quality under heaven； and
whose name was great over all Hellas and middle Argos； and now my
darling son is at the mercy of the winds and waves； without my
having heard one word about his leaving home。 You hussies； there was
not one of you would so much as think of giving me a call out of my
bed； though you all of you very well knew when he was starting。 If I
had known he meant taking this voyage； he would have had to give it
up； no matter how much he was bent upon it； or leave me a corpse
behind him… one or other。 Now； however； go some of you and call old
Dolius； who was given me by my father on my marriage； and who is my
gardener。 Bid him go at once and tell everything to Laertes； who may
be able to hit on some plan for enlisting public sympathy on our side；
as against those who are trying to exterminate his own race and that
of Ulysses。〃
Then the dear old nurse Euryclea said； 〃You may kill me； Madam； or
let me live on in your house； whichever you please； but I will tell
you the real truth。 I knew all about it； and gave him everything he
wanted in the way of bread and wine； but he made me take my solemn
oath that I would not tell you anything for some ten or twelve days；
unless you asked or happened to hear of his having gone； for he did
not want you to spoil your beauty by crying。 And now； Madam； wash your
face； change your dress； and go upstairs with your maids to offer
prayers to Minerva； daughter of Aegis…bearing Jove； for she can save
him even though he be in the jaws of death。 Do not trouble Laertes： he
has trouble enough already。 Besides； I cannot think that the gods hate
die race of the race of the son of Arceisius so much； but there will
be a son left to come up after him； and inherit both the house and the
fair fields that lie far all round it。〃
With these words she made her mistress leave off crying； and dried
the tears from her eyes。 Penelope washed her face； changed her
dress； and went upstairs with her maids。 She then put some bruised
barley into a basket and began praying to Minerva。
〃Hear me；〃 she cried； 〃Daughter of Aegis…bearing Jove；
unweariable。 If ever Ulysses while he was here burned you fat thigh
bones of sheep or heifer； bear it in mind now as in my favour； and
save my darling son from the villainy of the suitors。〃
She cried aloud as she spoke； and the goddess heard her prayer；
meanwhile the suitors were clamorous throughout the covered
cloister； and one of them said：
〃The queen is preparing for her marriage with one or other of us。
Little does she dream that her son has now been doomed to die。〃
This was what they said； but they did not know what was going to
happen。 Then Antinous said； 〃Comrades； let there be no loud talking；
lest some of it get carried inside。 Let us be up and do that in
silence； about which we are all of a mind。〃
He then chose twenty men； and they went down to their。 ship and to
the sea side； they drew the vessel into the water and got her mast and
sails inside her； they bound the oars to the thole…pins with twisted
thongs of leather； all in due course； and spread the white sails
aloft； while their fine servants brought them their armour。 Then
they made the ship fast a little way out； came on shore again； got
their suppers； and waited till night should fall。
But Penelope lay in her own room upstairs unable to eat or drink；
and wondering whether her brave son would escape； or be overpowered by
the wicked suitors。 Like a lioness caught in the toils with huntsmen
hemming her in on every side she thought and thought till she sank
into a slumber； and lay on her bed bereft of thought and motion。
Then Minerva bethought her of another matter； and made a vision in
the likeness of Penelope's sister Iphthime daughter of Icarius who had
married Eumelus and lived in Pherae。 She told the vision to go to
the house of Ulysses； and to make Penelope leave off crying； so it
came into her room by the hole through which the thong went for
pulling the door to； and hovered over her head； saying；
〃You are asleep； Penelope： the gods who live at ease will not suffer
you to weep and be so sad。 Your son has done them no wrong； so he will
yet come back to you。〃
Penelope； who was sleeping sweetly at the gates of dreamland；
answered； 〃Sister； why have you come here？ You do not come very often；
but I suppose that is because you live such a long way off。 Am I；
then； to leave off crying and refrain from all the sad thoughts that
torture me？ I； who have lost my brave and lion…hearted husband； who
had every good quality under heaven； and whose name was great over all
Hellas and middle Argos； and now my darling son has gone off on
board of a ship… a foolish fellow who has never been used to
roughing it； nor to going about among gatherings of men。 I am even
more anxious about him