each sty； all of them breeding sows； but the boars slept outside and
were much fewer in number； for the suitors kept on eating them； and
die swineherd had to send them the best he had continually。 There were
three hundred and sixty boar pigs； and the herdsman's four hounds；
which were as fierce as wolves； slept always with them。 The
swineherd was at that moment cutting out a pair of sandals from a good
stout ox hide。 Three of his men were out herding the pigs in one place
or another； and he had sent the fourth to town with a boar that he had
been forced to send the suitors that they might sacrifice it and
have their fill of meat。
When the hounds saw Ulysses they set up a furious barking and flew
at him； but Ulysses was cunning enough to sit down and loose his
hold of the stick that he had in his hand： still； he would have been
torn by them in his own homestead had not the swineherd dropped his ox
hide； rushed full speed through the gate of the yard and driven the
dogs off by shouting and throwing stones at them。 Then he said to
Ulysses； 〃Old man； the dogs were likely to have made short work of
you； and then you would have got me into trouble。 The gods have
given me quite enough worries without that； for I have lost the best
of masters； and am in continual grief on his account。 I have to attend
swine for other people to eat； while he； if he yet lives to see the
light of day； is starving in some distant land。 But come inside； and
when you have had your fill of bread and wine； tell me where you
come from； and all about your misfortunes。〃
On this the swineherd led the way into the hut and bade him sit
down。 He strewed a good thick bed of rushes upon the floor； and on the
top of this he threw the shaggy chamois skin… a great thick one… on
which he used to sleep by night。 Ulysses was pleased at being made
thus welcome； and said 〃May Jove； sir； and the rest of the gods
grant you your heart's desire in return for the kind way in which
you have received me。〃
To this you answered； O swineherd Eumaeus； 〃Stranger； though a still
poorer man should come here； it would not be right for me to insult
him； for all strangers and beggars are from Jove。 You must take what
you can get and be thankful； for servants live in fear when they
have young lords for their masters； and this is my misfortune now； for
heaven has hindered the return of him who would have been always
good to me and given me something of my own… a house； a piece of land；
a good looking wife； and all else that a liberal master allows a
servant who has worked hard for him； and whose labour the gods have
prospered as they have mine in the situation which I hold。 If my
master had grown old here he would have done great things by me； but
he is gone； and I wish that Helen's whole race were utterly destroyed；
for she has been the death of many a good man。 It was this matter that
took my master to Ilius； the land of noble steeds； to fight the
Trojans in the cause of kin Agamemnon。〃
As he spoke he bound his girdle round him and went to the sties
where the young sucking pigs were penned。 He picked out two which he
brought back with him and sacrificed。 He singed them； cut them up； and
spitted on them； when the meat was cooked he brought it all in and set
it before Ulysses； hot and still on the spit； whereon Ulysses
sprinkled it over with white barley meal。 The swineherd then mixed
wine in a bowl of ivy…wood； and taking a seat opposite Ulysses told
him to begin。
〃Fall to； stranger；〃 said he； 〃on a dish of servant's pork。 The
fat pigs have to go to the suitors； who eat them up without shame or
scruple； but the blessed gods love not such shameful doings； and
respect those who do what is lawful and right。 Even the fierce
free…booters who go raiding on other people's land； and Jove gives
them their spoil… even they； when they have filled their ships and got
home again live conscience…stricken； and look fearfully for judgement；
but some god seems to have told these people that Ulysses is dead
and gone； they will not； therefore； go back to their own homes and
make their offers of marriage in the usual way； but waste his estate
by force； without fear or stint。 Not a day or night comes out of
heaven； but they sacrifice not one victim nor two only； and they
take the run of his wine； for he was exceedingly rich。 No other
great man either in Ithaca or on the mainland is as rich as he was； he
had as much as twenty men put together。 I will tell you what he had。
There are twelve herds of cattle upon the mainland； and as many flocks
of sheep； there are also twelve droves of pigs； while his own men
and hired strangers feed him twelve widely spreading herds of goats。
Here in Ithaca he runs even large flocks of goats on the far end of
the island； and they are in the charge of excellent goatherds。 Each
one of these sends the suitors the best goat in the flock every day。
As for myself； I am in charge of the pigs that you see here； and I
have to keep picking out the best I have and sending it to them。〃
This was his story； but Ulysses went on eating and drinking
ravenously without a word； brooding his revenge。 When he had eaten
enough and was satisfied； the swineherd took the bowl from which he
usually drank； filled it with wine； and gave it to Ulysses； who was
pleased； and said as he took it in his hands； 〃My friend； who was this
master of yours that bought you and paid for you； so rich and so
powerful as you tell me？ You say he perished in the cause of King
Agamemnon； tell me who he was； in case I may have met with such a
person。 Jove and the other gods know； but I may be able to give you
news of him； for I have travelled much。〃
Eumaeus answered； 〃Old man； no traveller who comes here with news
will get Ulysses' wife and son to believe his story。 Nevertheless；
tramps in want of a lodging keep coming with their mouths full of
lies； and not a word of truth； every one who finds his way to Ithaca
goes to my mistress and tells her falsehoods； whereon she takes them
in； makes much of them； and asks them all manner of questions；
crying all the time as women will when they have lost their
husbands。 And you too； old man； for a shirt and a cloak would
doubtless make up a very pretty story。 But the wolves and birds of
prey have long since torn Ulysses to pieces； or the fishes of the
sea have eaten him； and his bones are lying buried deep in sand upon
some foreign shore； he is dead and gone； and a bad business it is
for all his friends… for me especially； go where I may I shall never
find so good a master； not even if I were to go home to my mother
and father where I was bred and born。 I do not so much care；
however； about my parents now； though I should dearly like to see them
again in my own country； it is the loss of Ulysses that grieves me
most； I cannot speak of him without reverence though he is here no
longer； for he was very fond of me； and took such care of me that
whereever he may be I shall always honour his memory。〃
〃My friend；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃you are very positive； and very
hard of belief about your master's coming home again； nevertheless I
will not merely say； but will swear； that he is coming。 Do not give me
anything for my news till he has actually come； you may then give me a
shirt and cloak of good wear if you will。 I am in great want； but I
will not take anything at all till then； for I hate a man； even as I
hate hell fire； who lets his poverty tempt him into lying。 I swear
by king Jove； by the rites of hospitality； and by that hearth of
Ulysses to which I have now come； that all will surely happen as I
have said it will。 Ulysses will return in this self same year； with
the end of this moon and the beginning of the next he will be here
to do vengeance on all those who are ill treating his wife and son。〃
To this you answered； O swineherd Eumaeus； 〃Old man； you will
neither get paid for bringing good news； nor will Ulysses ever come
home； drink you wine in peace； and let us talk about something else。
Do not keep on reminding me of all this； it always pains me when any
one speaks about my honoured master。 As for your oath we will let it
alone； but I only wish he may come； as do Penelope； his old father
Laertes； and his son Telemachus。 I am terribly unhappy too about
this same boy of his； he was running up fast into manhood； and bade
fare to be no worse man； face and figure； than his father； but some
one； either god or man； has been unsettling his mind； so he has gone
off to Pylos to try and get news of his father； and the suitors are
lying in wait for him as he is coming home； in the hope of leaving the
house of Arceisius without a name in Ithaca。 But let us say no more
about him； and leave him to be taken； or else to escape if the son
of Saturn holds his hand over him to protect him。 And now； old man；
tell me your own story； tell me also； for I want to know； who you
are and where you come from。 Tell me of your town and parents； what
manner of ship you came in； how crew brought you to Ithaca； and from
what country they professed to come… for you cannot have come by
land。〃
And Ulysses answered； 〃I will tell you all about it。 If there were
meat and wine enough；