are。 And there is this further difficulty； which is still more
considerable。 Supposing that with Jove's and your assistance I succeed
in killing them； I must ask you to consider where I am to escape to
from their avengers when it is all over。〃
〃For shame；〃 replied Minerva； 〃why； any one else would trust a worse
ally than myself； even though that ally were only a mortal and less
wise than I am。 Am I not a goddess； and have I not protected you
throughout in all your troubles？ I tell you plainly that even though
there were fifty bands of men surrounding us and eager to kill us； you
should take all their sheep and cattle； and drive them away with
you。 But go to sleep； it is a very bad thing to lie awake all night；
and you shall be out of your troubles before long。〃
As she spoke she shed sleep over his eyes； and then went back to
Olympus。
While Ulysses was thus yielding himself to a very deep slumber
that eased the burden of his sorrows； his admirable wife awoke； and
sitting up in her bed began to cry。 When she had relieved herself by
weeping she prayed to Diana saying； 〃Great Goddess Diana； daughter
of Jove； drive an arrow into my heart and slay me； or let some
whirlwind snatch me up and bear me through paths of darkness till it
drop me into the mouths of overflowing Oceanus； as it did the
daughters of Pandareus。 The daughters of Pandareus lost their father
and mother； for the gods killed them； so they were left orphans。 But
Venus took care of them； and fed them on cheese； honey； and sweet
wine。 Juno taught them to excel all women in beauty of form and
understanding； Diana gave them an imposing presence； and Minerva
endowed them with every kind of accomplishment； but one day when Venus
had gone up to Olympus to see Jove about getting them married （for
well does he know both what shall happen and what not happen to
every one） the storm winds came and spirited them away to become
handmaids to the dread Erinyes。 Even so I wish that the gods who
live in heaven would hide me from mortal sight； or that fair Diana
might strike me； for I would fain go even beneath the sad earth if I
might do so still looking towards Ulysses only； and without having
to yield myself to a worse man than he was。 Besides； no matter how
much people may grieve by day； they can put up with it so long as they
can sleep at night； for when the eyes are closed in slumber people
forget good and ill alike； whereas my misery haunts me even in my
dreams。 This very night methought there was one lying by my side who
was like Ulysses as he was when he went away with his host； and I
rejoiced； for I believed that it was no dream； but the very truth
itself。〃
On this the day broke； but Ulysses heard the sound of her weeping；
and it puzzled him； for it seemed as though she already knew him and
was by his side。 Then he gathered up the cloak and the fleeces on
which he had lain； and set them on a seat in the cloister； but he took
the bullock's hide out into the open。 He lifted up his hands to
heaven； and prayed； saying 〃Father Jove； since you have seen fit to
bring me over land and sea to my own home after all the afflictions
you have laid upon me； give me a sign out of the mouth of some one
or other of those who are now waking within the house； and let me have
another sign of some kind from outside。〃
Thus did he pray。 Jove heard his prayer and forthwith thundered high
up among the from the splendour of Olympus； and Ulysses was glad
when he heard it。 At the same time within the house； a miller…woman
from hard by in the mill room lifted up her voice and gave him another
sign。 There were twelve miller…women whose business it was to grind
wheat and barley which are the staff of life。 The others had ground
their task and had gone to take their rest； but this one had not yet
finished； for she was not so strong as they were； and when she heard
the thunder she stopped grinding and gave the sign to her master。
〃Father Jove；〃 said she； 〃you who rule over heaven and earth； you have
thundered from a clear sky without so much as a cloud in it； and
this means something for somebody； grant the prayer； then； of me
your poor servant who calls upon you； and let this be the very last
day that the suitors dine in the house of Ulysses。 They have worn me
out with the labour of grinding meal for them； and I hope they may
never have another dinner anywhere at all。〃
Ulysses was glad when he heard the omens conveyed to him by the
woman's speech； and by the thunder； for he knew they meant that he
should avenge himself on the suitors。
Then the other maids in the house rose and lit the fire on the
hearth； Telemachus also rose and put on his clothes。 He girded his
sword about his shoulder； bound his sandals on his comely feet； and
took a doughty spear with a point of sharpened bronze； then he went to
the threshold of the cloister and said to Euryclea； 〃Nurse； did you
make the stranger comfortable both as regards bed and board； or did
you let him shift for himself？… for my mother； good woman though she
is； has a way of paying great attention to second…rate people； and
of neglecting others who are in reality much better men。〃
〃Do not find fault child；〃 said Euryclea； 〃when there is no one to
find fault with。 The stranger sat and drank his wine as long as he
liked： your mother did ask him if he would take any more bread and
he said he would not。 When he wanted to go to bed she told the
servants to make one for him； but he said he was re such wretched
outcast that he would not sleep on a bed and under blankets； he
insisted on having an undressed bullock's hide and some sheepskins put
for him in the cloister and I threw a cloak over him myself。〃
Then Telemachus went out of the court to the place where the
Achaeans were meeting in assembly； he had his spear in his hand； and
he was not alone； for his two dogs went with him。 But Euryclea
called the maids and said； 〃Come； wake up； set about sweeping the
cloisters and sprinkling them with water to lay the dust； put the
covers on the seats； wipe down the tables； some of you； with a wet
sponge； clean out the mixing…jugs and the cups； and for water from the
fountain at once； the suitors will be here directly； they will be here
early； for it is a feast day。〃
Thus did she speak； and they did even as she had said： twenty of
them went to the fountain for water； and the others set themselves
busily to work about the house。 The men who were in attendance on
the suitors also came up and began chopping firewood。 By and by the
women returned from the fountain； and the swineherd came after them
with the three best pigs he could pick out。 These he let feed about
the premises； and then he said good…humouredly to Ulysses；
〃Stranger； are the suitors treating you any better now； or are they as
insolent as ever？〃
〃May heaven；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃requite to them the wickedness with
which they deal high…handedly in another man's house without any sense
of shame。〃
Thus did they converse； meanwhile Melanthius the goatherd came up；
for he too was bringing in his best goats for the suitors' dinner； and
he had two shepherds with him。 They tied the goats up under the
gatehouse； and then Melanthius began gibing at Ulysses。 〃Are you still
here； stranger；〃 said he； 〃to pester people by begging about the
house？ Why can you not go elsewhere？ You and I shall not come to an
understanding before we have given each other a taste of our fists。
You beg without any sense of decency： are there not feasts elsewhere
among the Achaeans； as well as here？〃
Ulysses made no answer； but bowed his head and brooded。 Then a third
man； Philoetius； joined them； who was bringing in a barren heifer
and some goats。 These were brought over by the boatmen who are there
to take people over when any one comes to them。 So Philoetius made his
heifer and his goats secure under the gatehouse； and then went up to
the swineherd。 〃Who； Swineherd；〃 said he； 〃is this stranger that is
lately come here？ Is he one of your men？ What is his family？ Where
does he come from？ Poor fellow； he looks as if he had been some
great man； but the gods give sorrow to whom they will… even to kings
if it so pleases them
As he spoke he went up to Ulysses and saluted him with his right
hand； 〃Good day to you； father stranger；〃 said he； 〃you seem to be
very poorly off now； but I hope you will have better times by and
by。 Father Jove； of all gods you are the most malicious。 We are your
own children； yet you show us no mercy in all our misery and
afflictions。 A sweat came over me when I saw this man； and my eyes
filled with tears； for he reminds me of Ulysses； who I fear is going
about in just such rags as this man's are； if indeed he is still among
the living。 If he is already dead and in the house of Hades； then；
alas！ for my good master； who made me his stockman when I was quite
young among the Cephallenians； and now his cattle are countless； no
one could have done better with them than I have； for they have bred
like ears of corn； nevertheless I have to keep bringing them in for
others to eat； who take no heed of his son though he is in the
house； and fear not the wrath of heaven； but are already eage