both of an age； and this journey has brought us together still more
closely； do not； therefore； take me past my ship； but leave me
there； for if I go to your father's house he will try to keep me in
the warmth of his good will towards me； and I must go home at once。〃
Pisistratus thought how he should do as he was asked； and in the end
he deemed it best to turn his horses towards the ship； and put
Menelaus's beautiful presents of gold and raiment in the stern of
the vessel。 Then he said； 〃Go on board at once and tell your men to do
so also before I can reach home to tell my father。 I know how
obstinate he is； and am sure he will not let you go； he will come down
here to fetch you； and he will not go back without you。 But he will be
very angry。〃
With this he drove his goodly steeds back to the city of the Pylians
and soon reached his home； but Telemachus called the men together
and gave his orders。 〃Now； my men；〃 said he； 〃get everything in
order on board the ship； and let us set out home。〃
Thus did he speak； and they went on board even as he had said。 But
as Telemachus was thus busied； praying also and sacrificing to Minerva
in the ship's stern； there came to him a man from a distant country； a
seer； who was flying from Argos because he had killed a man。 He was
descended from Melampus； who used to live in Pylos； the land of sheep；
he was rich and owned a great house； but he was driven into exile by
the great and powerful king Neleus。 Neleus seized his goods and held
them for a whole year； during which he was a close prisoner in the
house of king Phylacus； and in much distress of mind both on account
of the daughter of Neleus and because he was haunted by a great sorrow
that dread Erinyes had laid upon him。 In the end； however； he
escaped with his life； drove the cattle from Phylace to Pylos； avenged
the wrong that had been done him； and gave the daughter of Neleus to
his brother。 Then he left the country and went to Argos； where it
was ordained that he should reign over much people。 There he
married； established himself； and had two famous sons Antiphates and
Mantius。 Antiphates became father of Oicleus； and Oicleus of
Amphiaraus； who was dearly loved both by Jove and by Apollo； but he
did not live to old age； for he was killed in Thebes by reason of a
woman's gifts。 His sons were Alcmaeon and Amphilochus。 Mantius； the
other son of Melampus； was father to Polypheides and Cleitus。
Aurora； throned in gold； carried off Cleitus for his beauty's sake；
that he might dwell among the immortals； but Apollo made Polypheides
the greatest seer in the whole world now that Amphiaraus was dead。
He quarrelled with his father and went to live in Hyperesia； where
he remained and prophesied for all men。
His son； Theoclymenus； it was who now came up to Telemachus as he
was making drink…offerings and praying in his ship。 〃Friend'〃 said he；
〃now that I find you sacrificing in this place； I beseech you by
your sacrifices themselves； and by the god to whom you make them； I
pray you also by your own head and by those of your followers； tell me
the truth and nothing but the truth。 Who and whence are you？ Tell me
also of your town and parents。〃
Telemachus said； 〃I will answer you quite truly。 I am from Ithaca；
and my father is 'Ulysses； as surely as that he ever lived。 But he has
come to some miserable end。 Therefore I have taken this ship and got
my crew together to see if I can hear any news of him； for he has been
away a long time。〃
〃I too；〃 answered Theoclymenus； am an exile； for I have killed a man
of my own race。 He has many brothers and kinsmen in Argos； and they
have great power among the Argives。 I am flying to escape death at
their hands； and am thus doomed to be a wanderer on the face of the
earth。 I am your suppliant； take me； therefore； on board your ship
that they may not kill me； for I know they are in pursuit。〃
〃I will not refuse you；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃if you wish to join
us。 Come； therefore； and in Ithaca we will treat you hospitably
according to what we have。〃
On this he received Theoclymenus' spear and laid it down on the deck
of the ship。 He went on board and sat in the stern； bidding
Theoclymenus sit beside him； then the men let go the hawsers。
Telemachus told them to catch hold of the ropes； and they made all
haste to do so。 They set the mast in its socket in the cross plank；
raised it and made it fast with the forestays； and they hoisted
their white sails with sheets of twisted ox hide。 Minerva sent them
a fair wind that blew fresh and strong to take the ship on her
course as fast as possible。 Thus then they passed by Crouni and
Chalcis。
Presently the sun set and darkness was over all the land。 The vessel
made a quick pass sage to Pheae and thence on to Elis； where the
Epeans rule。 Telemachus then headed her for the flying islands；
wondering within himself whether he should escape death or should be
taken prisoner。
Meanwhile Ulysses and the swineherd were eating their supper in
the hut； and the men supped with them。 As soon as they had had to
eat and drink； Ulysses began trying to prove the swineherd and see
whether he would continue to treat him kindly； and ask him to stay
on at the station or pack him off to the city； so he said：
〃Eumaeus； and all of you； to…morrow I want to go away and begin
begging about the town； so as to be no more trouble to you or to
your men。 Give me your advice therefore； and let me have a good
guide to go with me and show me the way。 I will go the round of the
city begging as I needs must； to see if any one will give me a drink
and a piece of bread。 I should like also to go to the house of Ulysses
and bring news of her husband to queen Penelope。 I could then go about
among the suitors and see if out of all their abundance they will give
me a dinner。 I should soon make them an excellent servant in all sorts
of ways。 Listen and believe when I tell you that by the blessing of
Mercury who gives grace and good name to the works of all men； there
is no one living who would make a more handy servant than I should… to
put fresh wood on the fire； chop fuel； carve； cook； pour out wine； and
do all those services that poor men have to do for their betters。〃
The swineherd was very much disturbed when he heard this。 〃Heaven
help me；〃 he exclaimed； 〃what ever can have put such a notion as
that into your head？ If you go near the suitors you will be undone
to a certainty； for their pride and insolence reach the very
heavens。 They would never think of taking a man like you for a
servant。 Their servants are all young men； well dressed； wearing
good cloaks and shirts； with well looking faces and their hair
always tidy； the tables are kept quite clean and are loaded with
bread； meat； and wine。 Stay where you are； then； you are not in
anybody's way； I do not mind your being here； no more do any of the
others； and when Telemachus comes home he will give you a shirt and
cloak and will send you wherever you want to go。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃I hope you may be as dear to the gods as you
are to me； for having saved me from going about and getting into
trouble； there is nothing worse than being always ways on the tramp；
still； when men have once got low down in the world they will go
through a great deal on behalf of their miserable bellies。 Since
however you press me to stay here and await the return of
Telemachus； tell about Ulysses' mother； and his father whom he left on
the threshold of old age when he set out for Troy。 Are they still
living or are they already dead and in the house of Hades？〃
〃I will tell you all about them；〃 replied Eumaeus； 〃Laertes is still
living and prays heaven to let him depart peacefully his own house；
for he is terribly distressed about the absence of his son； and also
about the death of his wife； which grieved him greatly and aged him
more than anything else did。 She came to an unhappy end through sorrow
for her son： may no friend or neighbour who has dealt kindly by me
come to such an end as she did。 As long as she was still living；
though she was always grieving； I used to like seeing her and asking
her how she did； for she brought me up along with her daughter
Ctimene； the youngest of her children； we were boy and girl
together； and she made little difference between us。 When； however； we
both grew up； they sent Ctimene to Same and received a splendid
dowry for her。 As for me； my mistress gave me a good shirt and cloak
with a pair of sandals for my feet； and sent me off into the
country； but she was just as fond of me as ever。 This is all over now。
Still it has pleased heaven to prosper my work in the situation
which I now hold。 I have enough to eat and drink； and can find
something for any respectable stranger who comes here； but there is no
getting a kind word or deed out of my mistress； for the house has
fallen into the hands of wicked people。 Servants want sometimes to see
their mistress and have a talk with her； they like to have something
to eat and drink at the house； and something too to take back with
them into the country。 This is what will keep servants in a good
humour。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Then you must have been a very little