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 those people
should get hold of them。 If on the other hand I manage to kill them； I
shall be much obliged if you will kindly bring me my presents。〃
With these words he took Theoclymenus to his own house。 When they
got there they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats； went into
the baths； and washed themselves。 When the maids had washed and
anointed them； and had given them cloaks and shirts； they took their
seats at table。 A maid servant then brought them water in a
beautiful golden ewer； and poured it into a silver basin for them to
wash their hands； and she drew a clean table beside them。 An upper
servant brought them bread and offered them many good things of what
there was in the house。 Opposite them sat Penelope； reclining on a
couch by one of the bearing…posts of the cloister； and spinning。
Then they laid their hands on the good things that were before them；
and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Penelope said：
〃Telemachus； I shall go upstairs and lie down on that sad couch；
which I have not ceased to water with my tears； from the day Ulysses
set out for Troy with the sons of Atreus。 You failed； however； to make
it clear to me before the suitors came back to the house； whether or
no you had been able to hear anything about the return of your
father。〃
〃I will tell you then truth；〃 replied her son。 〃We went to Pylos and
saw Nestor； who took me to his house and treated me as hospitably as
though I were a son of his own who had just returned after a long
absence； so also did his sons； but he said he had not heard a word
from any human being about Ulysses； whether he was alive or dead。 He
sent me； therefore； with a chariot and horses to Menelaus。 There I saw
Helen； for whose sake so many； both Argives and Trojans； were in
heaven's wisdom doomed to suffer。 Menelaus asked me what it was that
had brought me to Lacedaemon； and I told him the whole truth；
whereon he said； 'So； then； these cowards would usurp a brave man's
bed？ A hind might as well lay her new…born young in the lair of a
lion； and then go off to feed in the forest or in some grassy dell。
The lion； when he comes back to his lair； will make short work with
the pair of them； and so will Ulysses with these suitors。 By father
Jove； Minerva； and Apollo； if Ulysses is still the man that he was
when he wrestled with Philomeleides in Lesbos； and threw him so
heavily that all the Greeks cheered him… if he is still such； and were
to come near these suitors； they would have a short shrift and a sorry
wedding。 As regards your question； however； I will not prevaricate nor
deceive you； but what the old man of the sea told me； so much will I
tell you in full。 He said he could see Ulysses on an island
sorrowing bitterly in the house of the nymph Calypso； who was
keeping him prisoner； and he could not reach his home； for he had no
ships nor sailors to take him over the sea。' This was what Menelaus
told me； and when I had heard his story I came away； the gods then
gave me a fair wind and soon brought me safe home again。〃
With these words he moved the heart of Penelope。 Then Theoclymenus
said to her：
〃Madam； wife of Ulysses； Telemachus does not understand these
things； listen therefore to me； for I can divine them surely； and will
hide nothing from you。 May Jove the king of heaven be my witness；
and the rites of hospitality； with that hearth of Ulysses to which I
now come； that Ulysses himself is even now in Ithaca； and； either
going about the country or staying in one place； is enquiring into all
these evil deeds and preparing a day of reckoning for the suitors。 I
saw an omen when I was on the ship which meant this； and I told
Telemachus about it。〃
〃May it be even so；〃 answered Penelope； 〃if your words come true；
you shall have such gifts and such good will from me that all who
see you shall congratulate you。〃
Thus did they converse。 Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discs；
or aiming with spears at a mark on the levelled ground in front of the
house； and behaving with all their old insolence。 But when it was
now time for dinner； and the flock of sheep and goats had come into
the town from all the country round； with their shepherds as usual；
then Medon； who was their favourite servant； and who waited upon
them at table； said； 〃Now then； my young masters； you have had
enough sport； so come inside that we may get dinner ready。 Dinner is
not a bad thing； at dinner time。〃
They left their sports as he told them； and when they were within
the house； they laid their cloaks on the benches and seats inside； and
then sacrificed some sheep； goats； pigs； and a heifer； all of them fat
and well grown。 Thus they made ready for their meal。 In the meantime
Ulysses and the swineherd were about starting for the town； and the
swineherd said； 〃Stranger； I suppose you still want to go to town
to…day； as my master said you were to do； for my own part I should
have liked you to stay here as a station hand； but I must do as my
master tells me； or he will scold me later on； and a scolding from
one's master is a very serious thing。 Let us then be off； for it is
now broad day； it will be night again directly and then you will
find it colder。〃
〃I know； and understand you；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃you need say no
more。 Let us be going； but if you have a stick ready cut； let me
have it to walk with； for you say the road is a very rough one。〃
As he spoke he threw his shabby old tattered wallet over his
shoulders； by the cord from which it hung； and Eumaeus gave him a
stick to his liking。 The two then started； leaving the station in
charge of the dogs and herdsmen who remained behind； the swineherd led
the way and his master followed after； looking like some broken…down
old tramp as he leaned upon his staff； and his clothes were all in
rags。 When they had got over the rough steep ground and were nearing
the city； they reached the fountain from which the citizens drew their
water。 This had been made by Ithacus； Neritus； and Polyctor。 There was
a grove of water…loving poplars planted in a circle all round it；
and the clear cold water came down to it from a rock high up； while
above the fountain there was an altar to the nymphs； at which all
wayfarers used to sacrifice。 Here Melanthius son of Dolius overtook
them as he was driving down some goats； the best in his flock； for the
suitors' dinner； and there were two shepherds with him。 When he saw
Eumaeus and Ulysses he reviled them with outrageous and unseemly
language； which made Ulysses very angry。
〃There you go；〃 cried he； 〃and a precious pair you are。 See how
heaven brings birds of the same feather to one another。 Where； pray；
master swineherd； are you taking this poor miserable object？ It
would make any one sick to see such a creature at table。 A fellow like
this never won a prize for anything in his life； but will go about
rubbing his shoulders against every man's door post； and begging；
not for swords and cauldrons like a man； but only for a few scraps not
worth begging for。 If you would give him to me for a hand on my
station； he might do to clean out the folds； or bring a bit of sweet
feed to the kids； and he could fatten his thighs as much as he pleased
on whey； but he has taken to bad ways and will not go about any kind
of work； he will do nothing but beg victuals all the town over； to
feed his insatiable belly。 I say； therefore and it shall surely be… if
he goes near Ulysses' house he will get his head broken by the
stools they will fling at him； till they turn him out。〃
On this； as he passed； he gave Ulysses a kick on the hip out of pure
wantonness； but Ulysses stood firm； and did not budge from the path。
For a moment he doubted whether or no to fly at Melanthius and kill
him with his staff； or fling him to the ground and beat his brains
out； he resolved； however； to endure it and keep himself in check； but
the swineherd looked straight at Melanthius and rebuked him； lifting
up his hands and praying to heaven as he did so。
〃Fountain nymphs；〃 he cried； 〃children of Jove； if ever Ulysses
burned you thigh bones covered with fat whether of lambs or kids；
grant my prayer that heaven may send him home。 He would soon put an
end to the swaggering threats with which such men as you go about
insulting people…gadding all over the town while your flocks are going
to ruin through bad shepherding。〃
Then Melanthius the goatherd answered； 〃You ill…conditioned cur；
what are you talking about？ Some day or other I will put you on
board ship and take you to a foreign country； where I can sell you and
pocket the money you will fetch。 I wish I were as sure that Apollo
would strike Telemachus dead this very day； or that the suitors
would kill him； as I am that Ulysses will never come home again。〃
With this he left them to come on at their leisure； while he went
quickly forward and soon reached the house of his master。 When he
got there he went in and took his seat among the suitors opposite
Eurymachus； who liked him better than any of the others。 The
servants brought him a portion of meat；