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； and we could stay here in the hut with nothing
to do but to eat and drink while the others go to their work； I
could easily talk on for a whole twelve months without ever
finishing the story of the sorrows with which it has pleased heaven to
visit me。
〃I am by birth a Cretan； my father was a well…to…do man； who had
many sons born in marriage； whereas I was the son of a slave whom he
had purchased for a concubine； nevertheless； my father Castor son of
Hylax （whose lineage I claim； and who was held in the highest honour
among the Cretans for his wealth； prosperity； and the valour of his
sons） put me on the same level with my brothers who had been born in
wedlock。 When； however； death took him to the house of Hades； his sons
divided his estate and cast lots for their shares； but to me they gave
a holding and little else； nevertheless； my valour enabled me to marry
into a rich family； for I was not given to bragging； or shirking on
the field of battle。 It is all over now； still； if you look at the
straw you can see what the ear was； for I have had trouble enough
and to spare。 Mars and Minerva made me doughty in war； when I had
picked my men to surprise the enemy with an ambuscade I never gave
death so much as a thought； but was the first to leap forward and
spear all whom I could overtake。 Such was I in battle； but I did not
care about farm work； nor the frugal home life of those who would
bring up children。 My delight was in ships； fighting； javelins； and
arrows… things that most men shudder to think of； but one man likes
one thing and another another； and this was what I was most
naturally inclined to。 Before the Achaeans went to Troy； nine times
was I in command of men and ships on foreign service； and I amassed
much wealth。 I had my pick of the spoil in the first instance； and
much more was allotted to me later on。
〃My house grew apace and I became a great man among the Cretans； but
when Jove counselled that terrible expedition； in which so many
perished； the people required me and Idomeneus to lead their ships
to Troy； and there was no way out of it； for they insisted on our
doing so。 There we fought for nine whole years； but in the tenth we
sacked the city of Priam and sailed home again as heaven dispersed us。
Then it was that Jove devised evil against me。 I spent but one month
happily with my children； wife； and property； and then I conceived the
idea of making a descent on Egypt； so I fitted out a fine fleet and
manned it。 I had nine ships； and the people flocked to fill them。
For six days I and my men made feast； and I found them many victims
both for sacrifice to the gods and for themselves； but on the
seventh day we went on board and set sail from Crete with a fair North
wind behind us though we were going down a river。 Nothing went ill
with any of our ships； and we had no sickness on board； but sat
where we were and let the ships go as the wind and steersmen took
them。 On the fifth day we reached the river Aegyptus； there I
stationed my ships in the river； bidding my men stay by them and
keep guard over them while I sent out scouts to reconnoitre from every
point of vantage。
〃But the men disobeyed my orders； took to their own devices； and
ravaged the land of the Egyptians； killing the men； and taking their
wives and children captive。 The alarm was soon carried to the city；
and when they heard the war cry； the people came out at daybreak
till the plain was filled with horsemen and foot soldiers and with the
gleam of armour。 Then Jove spread panic among my men； and they would
no longer face the enemy； for they found themselves surrounded。 The
Egyptians killed many of us； and took the rest alive to do forced
labour for them。 Jove； however； put it in my mind to do thus… and I
wish I had died then and there in Egypt instead； for there was much
sorrow in store for me… I took off my helmet and shield and dropped my
spear from my hand； then I went straight up to the king's chariot；
clasped his knees and kissed them； whereon he spared my life； bade
me get into his chariot； and took me weeping to his own home。 Many
made at me with their ashen spears and tried to kil me in their
fury； but the king protected me； for he feared the wrath of Jove the
protector of strangers； who punishes those who do evil。
〃I stayed there for seven years and got together much money among
the Egyptians； for they all gave me something； but when it was now
going on for eight years there came a certain Phoenician； a cunning
rascal； who had already committed all sorts of villainy； and this
man talked me over into going with him to Phoenicia； where his house
and his possessions lay。 I stayed there for a whole twelve months； but
at the end of that time when months and days had gone by till the same
season had come round again； he set me on board a ship bound for
Libya； on a pretence that I was to take a cargo along with him to that
place； but really that he might sell me as a slave and take the
money I fetched。 I suspected his intention； but went on board with
him； for I could not help it。
〃The ship ran before a fresh North wind till we had reached the
sea that lies between Crete and Libya； there； however； Jove counselled
their destruction； for as soon as we were well out from Crete and
could see nothing but sea and sky； he raised a black cloud over our
ship and the sea grew dark beneath it。 Then Jove let fly with his
thunderbolts and the ship went round and round and was filled with
fire and brimstone as the lightning struck it。 The men fell all into
the sea； they were carried about in the water round the ship looking
like so many sea…gulls； but the god presently deprived them of all
chance of getting home again。 I was all dismayed； Jove； however；
sent the ship's mast within my reach； which saved my life； for I clung
to it； and drifted before the fury of the gale。 Nine days did I
drift but in the darkness of the tenth night a great wave bore me on
to the Thesprotian coast。 There Pheidon king of the Thesprotians
entertained me hospitably without charging me anything at all for
his son found me when I was nearly dead with cold and fatigue； whereon
he raised me by the hand； took me to his father's house and gave me
clothes to wear。
〃There it was that I heard news of Ulysses； for the king told me
he had entertained him； and shown him much hospitality while he was on
his homeward journey。 He showed me also the treasure of gold； and
wrought iron that Ulysses had got together。 There was enough to keep
his family for ten generations； so much had he left in the house of
king Pheidon。 But the king said Ulysses had gone to Dodona that he
might learn Jove's mind from the god's high oak tree； and know whether
after so long an absence he should return to Ithaca openly； or in
secret。 Moreover the king swore in my presence； making drink…offerings
in his own house as he did so； that the ship was by the water side；
and the crew found； that should take him to his own country。 He sent
me off however before Ulysses returned； for there happened to be a
Thesprotian ship sailing for the wheat…growing island of Dulichium；
and he told those in charge of her to be sure and take me safely to
King Acastus。
〃These men hatched a plot against me that would have reduced me to
the very extreme of misery； for when the ship had got some way out
from land they resolved on selling me as a slave。 They stripped me
of the shirt and cloak that I was wearing； and gave me instead the
tattered old clouts in which you now see me； then； towards
nightfall； they reached the tilled lands of Ithaca； and there they
bound me with a strong rope fast in the ship； while they went on shore
to get supper by the sea side。 But the gods soon undid my bonds for
me； and having drawn my rags over my head I slid down the rudder
into the sea； where I struck out and swam till I was well clear of
them； and came ashore near a thick wood in which I lay concealed。 They
were very angry at my having escaped and went searching about for
me； till at last they thought it was no further use and went back to
their ship。 The gods； having hidden me thus easily； then took me to
a good man's door… for it seems that I am not to die yet awhile。〃
To this you answered； O swineherd Eumaeus； 〃Poor unhappy stranger； I
have found the story of your misfortunes extremely interesting； but
that part about Ulysses is not right； and you will never get me to
believe it。 Why should a man like you go about telling lies in this
way？ I know all about the return of my master。 The gods one and all of
them detest him； or they would have taken him before Troy； or let
him die with friends around him when the days of his fighting were
done； for then the Achaeans would have built a mound over his ashes
and his son would have been heir to his renown； but now the storm
winds have spirited him away we know not whither。
〃As for me I live out of the way here with the pigs； and never go to
the town unless when Penelope sends for me on the arrival of some news
about