escape us； our affair is never likely to come off while is alive；
for he is very shrewd； and public feeling is by no means all on our
side。 We must make haste before he can call the Achaeans in
assembly； he will lose no time in doing so； for he will be furious
with us； and will tell all the world how we plotted to kill him； but
failed to take him。 The people will not like this when they come to
know of it； we must see that they do us no hurt； nor drive us from our
own country into exile。 Let us try and lay hold of him either on his
farm away from the town； or on the road hither。 Then we can divide
up his property amongst us； and let his mother and the man who marries
her have the house。 If this does not please you； and you wish
Telemachus to live on and hold his father's property； then we must not
gather here and eat up his goods in this way； but must make our offers
to Penelope each from his own house； and she can marry the man who
will give the most for her； and whose lot it is to win her。〃
They all held their peace until Amphinomus rose to speak。 He was the
son of Nisus； who was son to king Aretias； and he was foremost among
all the suitors from the wheat…growing and well grassed island of
Dulichium； his conversation； moreover； was more agreeable to
Penelope than that of any of the other for he was a man of good
natural disposition。 〃My friends；〃 said he； speaking to them plainly
and in all honestly； 〃I am not in favour of killing Telemachus。 It
is a heinous thing to kill one who is of noble blood。 Let us first
take counsel of the gods； and if the oracles of Jove advise it； I will
both help to kill him myself； and will urge everyone else to do so；
but if they dissuade us； I would have you hold your hands。〃
Thus did he speak； and his words pleased them well； so they rose
forthwith and went to the house of Ulysses where they took their
accustomed seats。
Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself to the suitors。
She knew of the plot against Telemachus； for the servant Medon had
overheard their counsels and had told her； she went down therefore
to the court attended by her maidens； and when she reached the suitors
she stood by one of the bearing…posts supporting the roof of the
cloister holding a veil before her face； and rebuked Antinous saying：
〃Antinous； insolent and wicked schemer； they say you are the best
speaker and counsellor of any man your own age in Ithaca； but you
are nothing of the kind。 Madman； why should you try to compass the
death of Telemachus； and take no heed of suppliants； whose witness
is Jove himself？ It is not right for you to plot thus against one
another。 Do you not remember how your father fled to this house in
fear of the people； who were enraged against him for having gone
with some Taphian pirates and plundered the Thesprotians who were at
peace with us？ They wanted to tear him in pieces and eat up everything
he had； but Ulysses stayed their hands although they were
infuriated； and now you devour his property without paying for it； and
break my heart by his wooing his wife and trying to kill his son。
Leave off doing so； and stop the others also。〃
To this Eurymachus son of Polybus answered； 〃Take heart； Queen
Penelope daughter of Icarius； and do not trouble yourself about
these matters。 The man is not yet born； nor never will be； who shall
lay hands upon your son Telemachus； while I yet live to look upon
the face of the earth。 I say… and it shall surely be… that my spear
shall be reddened with his blood； for many a time has Ulysses taken me
on his knees； held wine up to my lips to drink； and put pieces of meat
into my hands。 Therefore Telemachus is much the dearest friend I have；
and has nothing to fear from the hands of us suitors。 Of course； if
death comes to him from the gods； he cannot escape it。〃 He said this
to quiet her； but in reality he was plotting against Telemachus。
Then Penelope went upstairs again and mourned her husband till
Minerva shed sleep over her eyes。 In the evening Eumaeus got back to
Ulysses and his son； who had just sacrificed a young pig of a year old
and were ready； helping one another to get supper ready； Minerva
therefore came up to Ulysses； turned him into an old man with a stroke
of her wand； and clad him in his old clothes again； for fear that
the swineherd might recognize him and not keep the secret； but go
and tell Penelope。
Telemachus was the first to speak。 〃So you have got back；
Eumaeus；〃 said he。 〃What is the news of the town？ Have the suitors
returned； or are they still waiting over yonder； to take me on my
way home？〃
〃I did not think of asking about that；〃 replied Eumaeus； 〃when I was
in the town。 I thought I would give my message and come back as soon
as I could。 I met a man sent by those who had gone with you to
Pylos； and he was the first to tell the new your mother； but I can say
what I saw with my own eyes； I had just got on to the crest of the
hill of Mercury above the town when I saw a ship coming into harbour
with a number of men in her。 They had many shields and spears； and I
thought it was the suitors； but I cannot be sure。〃
On hearing this Telemachus smiled to his father； but so that Eumaeus
could not see him。
Then； when they had finished their work and the meal was ready； they
ate it； and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied。
As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink； they laid down to
rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep。
BOOK XVII。
WHEN the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared；
Telemachus bound on his sandals and took a strong spear that suited
his hands； for he wanted to go into the city。 〃Old friend；〃 said he to
the swineherd； 〃I will now go to the town and show myself to my
mother； for she will never leave off grieving till she has seen me。 As
for this unfortunate stranger； take him to the town and let him beg
there of any one who will give him a drink and a piece of bread。 I
have trouble enough of my own； and cannot be burdened with other
people。 If this makes him angry so much the worse for him； but I
like to say what I mean。〃
Then Ulysses said； 〃Sir； I do not want to stay here； a beggar can
always do better in town than country； for any one who likes can
give him something。 I am too old to care about remaining here at the
beck and call of a master。 Therefore let this man do as you have
just told him； and take me to the town as soon as I have had a warm by
the fire； and the day has got a little heat in it。 My clothes are
wretchedly thin； and this frosty morning I shall be perished with
cold； for you say the city is some way off。〃
On this Telemachus strode off through the yards； brooding his
revenge upon the When he reached home he stood his spear against a
bearing…post of the cloister； crossed the stone floor of the
cloister itself； and went inside。
Nurse Euryclea saw him long before any one else did。 She was putting
the fleeces on to the seats； and she burst out crying as she ran up to
him； all the other maids came up too； and covered his head and
shoulders with their kisses。 Penelope came out of her room looking
like Diana or Venus； and wept as she flung her arms about her son。 She
kissed his forehead and both his beautiful eyes； 〃Light of my eyes；〃
she cried as she spoke fondly to him； 〃so you are come home again； I
made sure I was never going to see you any more。 To think of your
having gone off to Pylos without saying anything about it or obtaining
my consent。 But come； tell me what you saw。〃
〃Do not scold me； mother；' answered Telemachus； 〃nor vex me；
seeing what a narrow escape I have had； but wash your face； change
your dress； go upstairs with your maids； and promise full and
sufficient hecatombs to all the gods if Jove will only grant us our
revenge upon the suitors。 I must now go to the place of assembly to
invite a stranger who has come back with me from Pylos。 I sent him
on with my crew； and told Piraeus to take him home and look after
him till I could come for him myself。〃
She heeded her son's words； washed her face； changed her dress；
and vowed full and sufficient hecatombs to all the gods if they
would only vouchsafe her revenge upon the suitors。
Telemachus went through； and out of； the cloisters spear in hand…
not alone； for his two fleet dogs went with him。 Minerva endowed him
with a presence of such divine comeliness that all marvelled at him as
he went by； and the suitors gathered round him with fair words in
their mouths and malice in their hearts； but he avoided them； and went
to sit with Mentor； Antiphus； and Halitherses； old friends of his
father's house； and they made him tell them all that had happened to
him。 Then Piraeus came up with Theoclymenus； whom he had escorted
through the town to the place of assembly； whereon Telemachus at
once joined them。 Piraeus was first to speak： 〃Telemachus；〃 said he；
〃I wish you would send some of your women to my house to take awa
the presents Menelaus gave you。〃
〃We do not know； Piraeus；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃what may happen。 If
the suitors kill me in my own house and divide my property among them；
I would rather you had the presents than that any of