the town unless when Penelope sends for me on the arrival of some news
about Ulysses。 Then they all sit round and ask questions； both those
who grieve over the king's absence； and those who rejoice at it
because they can eat up his property without paying for it。 For my own
part I have never cared about asking anyone else since the time when I
was taken in by an Aetolian； who had killed a man and come a long
way till at last he reached my station； and I was very kind to him。 He
said he had seen Ulysses with Idomeneus among the Cretans； refitting
his ships which had been damaged in a gale。 He said Ulysses would
return in the following summer or autumn with his men； and that he
would bring back much wealth。 And now you； you unfortunate old man；
since fate has brought you to my door； do not try to flatter me in
this way with vain hopes。 It is not for any such reason that I shall
treat you kindly； but only out of respect for Jove the god of
hospitality； as fearing him and pitying you。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃I see that you are of an unbelieving mind； I have
given you my oath； and yet you will not credit me； let us then make
a bargain； and call all the gods in heaven to witness it。 If your
master comes home； give me a cloak and shirt of good wear； and send me
to Dulichium where I want to go； but if he does not come as I say he
will； set your men on to me； and tell them to throw me from yonder
precepice； as a warning to tramps not to go about the country
telling lies。〃
〃And a pretty figure I should cut then；〃 replied Eumaeus； both now
and hereafter； if I were to kill you after receiving you into my hut
and showing you hospitality。 I should have to say my prayers in good
earnest if I did； but it is just supper time and I hope my men will
come in directly； that we may cook something savoury for supper。〃
Thus did they converse； and presently the swineherds came up with
the pigs； which were then shut up for the night in their sties； and
a tremendous squealing they made as they were being driven into
them。 But Eumaeus called to his men and said； 〃Bring in the best pig
you have； that I may sacrifice for this stranger； and we will take
toll of him ourselves。 We have had trouble enough this long time
feeding pigs； while others reap the fruit of our labour。〃
On this he began chopping firewood； while the others brought in a
fine fat five year old boar pig； and set it at the altar。 Eumaeus
did not forget the gods； for he was a man of good principles； so the
first thing he did was to cut bristles from the pig's face and throw
them into the fire； praying to all the gods as he did so that
Ulysses might return home again。 Then he clubbed the pig with a billet
of oak which he had kept back when he was chopping the firewood； and
stunned it； while the others slaughtered and singed it。 Then they
cut it up； and Eumaeus began by putting raw pieces from each joint
on to some of the fat； these he sprinkled with barley meal； and laid
upon the embers； they cut the rest of the meat up small； put the
pieces upon the spits and roasted them till they were done； when
they had taken them off the spits they threw them on to the dresser in
a heap。 The swineherd； who was a most equitable man； then stood up
to give every one his share。 He made seven portions； one of these he
set apart for Mercury the son of Maia and the nymphs； praying to
them as he did so； the others he dealt out to the men man by man。 He
gave Ulysses some slices cut lengthways down the loin as a mark of
especial honour； and Ulysses was much pleased。 〃I hope； Eumaeus；〃 said
he； 〃that Jove will be as well disposed towards you as I am； for the
respect you are showing to an outcast like myself。〃
To this you answered； O swineherd Eumaeus； 〃Eat； my good fellow； and
enjoy your supper； such as it is。 God grants this； and withholds that；
just as he thinks right； for he can do whatever he chooses。〃
As he spoke he cut off the first piece and offered it as a burnt
sacrifice to the immortal gods； then he made them a drink…offering；
put the cup in the hands of Ulysses； and sat down to his own
portion。 Mesaulius brought them their bread； the swineherd had
bought this man on his own account from among the Taphians during
his master's absence； and had paid for him with his own money
without saying anything either to his mistress or Laertes。 They then
laid their hands upon the good things that were before them； and
when they had had enough to eat and drink； Mesaulius took away what
was left of the bread； and they all went to bed after having made a
hearty supper。
Now the night came on stormy and very dark； for there was no moon。
It poured without ceasing； and the wind blew strong from the West；
which is a wet quarter； so Ulysses thought he would see whether
Eumaeus； in the excellent care he took of him； would take off his
own cloak and give it him； or make one of his men give him one。
〃Listen to me；〃 said he； 〃Eumaeus and the rest of you； when I have
said a prayer I will tell you something。 It is the wine that makes
me talk in this way； wine will make even a wise man fall to singing；
it will make him chuckle and dance and say many a word that he had
better leave unspoken； still； as I have begun； I will go on。 Would
that I were still young and strong as when we got up an ambuscade
before Troy。 Menelaus and Ulysses were the leaders； but I was in
command also； for the other two would have it so。 When we had come
up to the wall of the city we crouched down beneath our armour and lay
there under cover of the reeds and thick brush…wood that grew about
the swamp。 It came on to freeze with a North wind blowing； the snow
fell small and fine like hoar frost； and our shields were coated thick
with rime。 The others had all got cloaks and shirts； and slept
comfortably enough with their shields about their shoulders； but I had
carelessly left my cloak behind me； not thinking that I should be
too cold； and had gone off in nothing but my shirt and shield。 When
the night was two…thirds through and the stars had shifted their their
places； I nudged Ulysses who was close to me with my elbow； and he
at once gave me his ear。
〃'Ulysses；' said I； 'this cold will be the death of me； for I have
no cloak； some god fooled me into setting off with nothing on but my
shirt； and I do not know what to do。'
〃Ulysses； who was as crafty as he was valiant； hit upon the
following plan：
〃'Keep still；' said he in a low voice； 'or the others will hear
you。' Then he raised his head on his elbow。
〃'My friends；' said he； 'I have had a dream from heaven in my sleep。
We are a long way from the ships； I wish some one would go down and
tell Agamemnon to send us up more men at once。'
〃On this Thoas son of Andraemon threw off his cloak and set out
running to the ships； whereon I took the cloak and lay in it
comfortably enough till morning。 Would that I were still young and
strong as I was in those days； for then some one of you swineherds
would give me a cloak both out of good will and for the respect due to
a brave soldier； but now people look down upon me because my clothes
are shabby。〃
And Eumaeus answered； 〃Old man； you have told us an excellent story；
and have said nothing so far but what is quite satisfactory； for the
present； therefore； you shall want neither clothing nor anything
else that a stranger in distress may reasonably expect； but
to…morrow morning you have to shake your own old rags about your
body again； for we have not many spare cloaks nor shirts up here；
but every man has only one。 When Ulysses' son comes home again he will
give you both cloak and shirt； and send you wherever you may want to
go。〃
With this he got up and made a bed for Ulysses by throwing some
goatskins and sheepskins on the ground in front of the fire。 Here
Ulysses lay down； and Eumaeus covered him over with a great heavy
cloak that he kept for a change in case of extraordinarily bad
weather。
Thus did Ulysses sleep； and the young men slept beside him。 But
the swineherd did not like sleeping away from his pigs； so he got
ready to go and Ulysses was glad to see that he looked after his
property during his master's absence。 First he slung his sword over
his brawny shoulders and put on a thick cloak to keep out the wind。 He
also took the skin of a large and 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 camping under an overhanging rock that gave them shelter
from the North wind。
BOOK XV。
BUT Minerva went to the fair city of Lacedaemon to tell Ulysses' son
that he was to return at once。 She found him and Pisistratus
sleeping in the forecourt of Menelaus's house； Pisistratus was fast
asleep； but Telemachus could get no rest all night for thinking of his
unhappy father； so Minerva went close up to him and said：
〃Telemachus； you should not remain so far away from home any longer；
nor leave your property with such dangerous people in your house； they
will eat up everything you have among them； and you will have been
on a fool's errand。 Ask Menelaus to send you home at once if you
wish to find your excellent mother still there when