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cattle of Iphicles from the grazing grounds of Phylace； and this was a
hard task。 The only man who would undertake to raid them was a certain
excellent seer； but the will of heaven was against him； for the
rangers of the cattle caught him and put him in prison； nevertheless
when a full year had passed and the same season came round again；
Iphicles set him at liberty； after he had expounded all the oracles of
heaven。 Thus； then； was the will of Jove accomplished。
〃And I saw Leda the wife of Tyndarus； who bore him two famous
sons； Castor breaker of horses； and Pollux the mighty boxer。 Both
these heroes are lying under the earth； though they are still alive；
for by a special dispensation of Jove； they die and come to life
again； each one of them every other day throughout all time； and
they have the rank of gods。
〃After her I saw Iphimedeia wife of Aloeus who boasted the embrace
of Neptune。 She bore two sons Otus and Ephialtes； but both were
short lived。 They were the finest children that were ever born in this
world； and the best looking； Orion only excepted； for at nine years
old they were nine fathoms high； and measured nine cubits round the
chest。 They threatened to make war with the gods in Olympus； and tried
to set Mount Ossa on the top of Mount Olympus； and Mount Pelion on the
top of Ossa； that they might scale heaven itself； and they would
have done it too if they had been grown up； but Apollo； son of Leto；
killed both of them； before they had got so much as a sign of hair
upon their cheeks or chin。
〃Then I saw Phaedra； and Procris； and fair Ariadne daughter of the
magician Minos； whom Theseus was carrying off from Crete to Athens；
but he did not enjoy her； for before he could do so Diana killed her
in the island of Dia on account of what Bacchus had said against her。
〃I also saw Maera and Clymene and hateful Eriphyle； who sold her own
husband for gold。 But it would take me all night if I were to name
every single one of the wives and daughters of heroes whom I saw；
and it is time for me to go to bed； either on board ship with my crew；
or here。 As for my escort； heaven and yourselves will see to it。〃
Here he ended； and the guests sat all of them enthralled and
speechless throughout the covered cloister。 Then Arete said to them：
〃What do you think of this man； O Phaecians？ Is he not tall and good
looking； and is he not Clever？ True； he is my own guest； but all of
you share in the distinction。 Do not he a hurry to send him away；
nor niggardly in the presents you make to one who is in such great
need； for heaven has blessed all of you with great abundance。〃
Then spoke the aged hero Echeneus who was one of the oldest men
among them； 〃My friends；〃 said he； 〃what our august queen has just
said to us is both reasonable and to the purpose； therefore be
persuaded by it； but the decision whether in word or deed rests
ultimately with King Alcinous。〃
〃The thing shall be done；〃 exclaimed Alcinous； 〃as surely as I still
live and reign over the Phaeacians。 Our guest is indeed very anxious
to get home； still we must persuade him to remain with us until
to…morrow； by which time I shall be able to get together the whole sum
that I mean to give him。 As regards… his escort it will be a matter
for you all； and mine above all others as the chief person among you。〃
And Ulysses answered； 〃King Alcinous； if you were to bid me to
stay here for a whole twelve months； and then speed me on my way；
loaded with your noble gifts； I should obey you gladly and it would
redound greatly to my advantage； for I should return fuller…handed
to my own people； and should thus be more respected and beloved by all
who see me when I get back to Ithaca。〃
〃Ulysses；〃 replied Alcinous； 〃not one of us who sees you has any
idea that you are a charlatan or a swindler。 I know there are many
people going about who tell such plausible stories that it is very
hard to see through them； but there is a style about your language
which assures me of your good disposition。 Moreover you have told
the story of your own misfortunes； and those of the Argives； as though
you were a practised bard； but tell me； and tell me true； whether
you saw any of the mighty heroes who went to Troy at the same time
with yourself； and perished there。 The evenings are still at their
longest； and it is not yet bed time… go on； therefore； with your
divine story； for I could stay here listening till to…morrow
morning； so long as you will continue to tell us of your adventures。〃
〃Alcinous；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃there is a time for making
speeches； and a time for going to bed； nevertheless； since you so
desire； I will not refrain from telling you the still sadder tale of
those of my comrades who did not fall fighting with the Trojans； but
perished on their return； through the treachery of a wicked woman。
〃When Proserpine had dismissed the female ghosts in all
directions； the ghost of Agamemnon son of Atreus came sadly up tome；
surrounded by those who had perished with him in the house of
Aegisthus。 As soon as he had tasted the blood he knew me； and
weeping bitterly stretched out his arms towards me to embrace me；
but he had no strength nor substance any more； and I too wept and
pitied him as I beheld him。 'How did you come by your death；' said
I； 'King Agamemnon？ Did Neptune raise his winds and waves against
you when you were at sea； or did your enemies make an end of you on
the mainland when you were cattle…lifting or sheep…stealing； or
while they were fighting in defence of their wives and city？'
〃'Ulysses；' he answered； 'noble son of Laertes； was not lost at
sea in any storm of Neptune's raising； nor did my foes despatch me
upon the mainland； but Aegisthus and my wicked wife were the death
of me between them。 He asked me to his house； feasted me； and then
butchered me most miserably as though I were a fat beast in a
slaughter house； while all around me my comrades were slain like sheep
or pigs for the wedding breakfast； or picnic； or gorgeous banquet of
some great nobleman。 You must have seen numbers of men killed either
in a general engagement； or in single combat； but you never saw
anything so truly pitiable as the way in which we fell in that
cloister； with the mixing…bowl and the loaded tables lying all
about； and the ground reeking with our…blood。 I heard Priam's daughter
Cassandra scream as Clytemnestra killed her close beside me。 I lay
dying upon the earth with the sword in my body； and raised my hands to
kill the slut of a murderess； but she slipped away from me； she
would not even close my lips nor my eyes when I was dying； for there
is nothing in this world so cruel and so shameless as a woman when she
has fallen into such guilt as hers was。 Fancy murdering her own
husband！ I thought I was going to be welcomed home by my children
and my servants； but her abominable crime has brought disgrace on
herself and all women who shall come after… even on the good ones。'
〃And I said； 'In truth Jove has hated the house of Atreus from first
to last in the matter of their women's counsels。 See how many of us
fell for Helen's sake； and now it seems that Clytemnestra hatched
mischief against too during your absence。'
〃'Be sure； therefore；' continued Agamemnon； 'and not be too friendly
even with your own wife。 Do not tell her all that you know perfectly
well yourself。 Tell her a part only； and keep your own counsel about
the rest。 Not that your wife； Ulysses； is likely to murder you； for
Penelope is a very admirable woman； and has an excellent nature。 We
left her a young bride with an infant at her breast when we set out
for Troy。 This child no doubt is now grown up happily to man's estate；
and he and his father will have a joyful meeting and embrace one
another as it is right they should do； whereas my wicked wife did
not even allow me the happiness of looking upon my son； but killed
me ere I could do so。 Furthermore I say… and lay my saying to your
heart… do not tell people when you are bringing your ship to Ithaca；
but steal a march upon them； for after all this there is no trusting
women。 But now tell me； and tell me true； can you give me any news
of my son Orestes？ Is he in Orchomenus； or at Pylos； or is he at
Sparta with Menelaus… for I presume that he is still living。'
〃And I said； 'Agamemnon； why do you ask me？ I do not know whether
your son is alive or dead； and it is not right to talk when one does
not know。'
〃As we two sat weeping and talking thus sadly with one another the
ghost of Achilles came up to us with Patroclus； Antilochus； and Ajax
who was the finest and goodliest man of all the Danaans after the
son of Peleus。 The fleet descendant of Aeacus knew me and spoke
piteously； saying； 'Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； what deed of daring
will you undertake next； that you venture down to the house of Hades
among us silly dead； who are but the ghosts of them that can labour no
more？'
〃And I said； 'Achilles； son of Peleus； foremost champion of the
Achaeans； I came to consult Teiresias； and see if he could advise me
about my return home to Ithaca； for I have never yet been able to
get near the Achaean land； nor to set foot in my own country； but