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humour。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Then you must have been a very little fellow；
Eumaeus； when you were taken so far away from your home and parents。
Tell me； and tell me true； was the city in which your father and
mother lived sacked and pillaged； or did some enemies carry you off
when you were alone tending sheep or cattle； ship you off here； and
sell you for whatever your master gave them？〃
〃Stranger；〃 replied Eumaeus； 〃as regards your question： sit still；
make yourself comfortable； drink your wine； and listen to me。 The
nights are now at their longest； there is plenty of time both for
sleeping and sitting up talking together； you ought not to go to bed
till bed time； too much sleep is as bad as too little； if any one of
the others wishes to go to bed let him leave us and do so； he can then
take my master's pigs out when he has done breakfast in the morning。
We two will sit here eating and drinking in the hut； and telling one
another stories about our misfortunes； for when a man has suffered
much； and been buffeted about in the world； he takes pleasure in
recalling the memory of sorrows that have long gone by。 As regards
your question； then； my tale is as follows：
〃You may have heard of an island called Syra that lies over above
Ortygia； where the land begins to turn round and look in another
direction。 It is not very thickly peopled； but the soil is good；
with much pasture fit for cattle and sheep； and it abounds with wine
and wheat。 Dearth never comes there； nor are the people plagued by any
sickness； but when they grow old Apollo comes with Diana and kills
them with his painless shafts。 It contains two communities； and the
whole country is divided between these two。 My father Ctesius son of
Ormenus； a man comparable to the gods； reigned over both。
〃Now to this place there came some cunning traders from Phoenicia
（for the Phoenicians are great mariners） in a ship which they had
freighted with gewgaws of all kinds。 There happened to be a Phoenician
woman in my father's house； very tall and comely； and an excellent
servant； these scoundrels got hold of her one day when she was washing
near their ship； seduced her； and cajoled her in ways that no woman
can resist； no matter how good she may be by nature。 The man who had
seduced her asked her who she was and where she came from； and on
this she told him her father's name。 'I come from Sidon；' said she；
'and am daughter to Arybas； a man rolling in wealth。 One day as I
was coming into the town from the country some Taphian pirates
seized me and took me here over the sea； where they sold me to the man
who owns this house； and he gave them their price for me。'
〃The man who had seduced her then said； 'Would you like to come
along with us to see the house of your parents and your parents
themselves？ They are both alive and are said to be well off。'
〃'I will do so gladly；' answered she； 'if you men will first swear
me a solemn oath that you will do me no harm by the way。'
〃They all swore as she told them； and when they had completed
their oath the woman said； 'Hush； and if any of your men meets me in
the street or at the well； do not let him speak to me； for fear some
one should go and tell my master； in which case he would suspect
something。 He would put me in prison； and would have all of you
murdered； keep your own counsel therefore； buy your merchandise as
fast as you can； and send me word when you have done loading。 I will
bring as much gold as I can lay my hands on； and there is something
else also that I can do towards paying my fare。 I am nurse to the
son of the good man of the house； a funny little fellow just able to
run about。 I will carry him off in your ship； and you will get a great
deal of money for him if you take him and sell him in foreign parts。'
〃On this she went back to the house。 The Phoenicians stayed a
whole year till they had loaded their ship with much precious
merchandise； and then； when they had got freight enough； they sent
to tell the woman。 Their messenger； a very cunning fellow； came to
my father's house bringing a necklace of gold with amber beads
strung among it； and while my mother and the servants had it in
their hands admiring it and bargaining about it； he made a sign
quietly to the woman and then went back to the ship； whereon she
took me by the hand and led me out of the house。 In the fore part of
the house she saw the tables set with the cups of guests who had
been feasting with my father； as being in attendance on him； these
were now all gone to a meeting of the public assembly； so she snatched
up three cups and carried them off in the bosom of her dress； while
I followed her； for I knew no better。 The sun was now set； and
darkness was over all the land； so we hurried on as fast as we could
till we reached the harbour； where the Phoenician ship was lying。 When
they had got on board they sailed their ways over the sea； taking us
with them； and Jove sent then a fair wind； six days did we sail both
night and day； but on the seventh day Diana struck the woman and she
fell heavily down into the ship's hold as though she were a sea gull
alighting on the water； so they threw her overboard to the seals and
fishes； and I was left all sorrowful and alone。 Presently the winds
and waves took the ship to Ithaca； where Laertes gave sundry of his
chattels for me； and thus it was that ever I came to set eyes upon
this country。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Eumaeus； I have heard the story of your
misfortunes with the most lively interest and pity； but Jove has given
you good as well as evil； for in spite of everything you have a good
master； who sees that you always have enough to eat and drink； and you
lead a good life； whereas I am still going about begging my way from
city to city。〃
Thus did they converse； and they had only a very little time left
for sleep； for it was soon daybreak。 In the meantime Telemachus and
his crew were nearing land； so they loosed the sails； took down the
mast； and rowed the ship into the harbour。 They cast out their mooring
stones and made fast the hawsers； they then got out upon the sea
shore； mixed their wine； and got dinner ready。 As soon as they had had
enough to eat and drink Telemachus said； 〃Take the ship on to the
town； but leave me here； for I want to look after the herdsmen on
one of my farms。 In the evening； when I have seen all I want； I will
come down to the city； and to…morrow morning in return for your
trouble I will give you all a good dinner with meat and wine。〃
Then Theoclymenus said； 'And what； my dear young friend； is to
become of me？ To whose house； among all your chief men； am I to
repair？ or shall I go straight to your own house and to your mother？〃
〃At any other time；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃I should have bidden you
go to my own house； for you would find no want of hospitality； at
the present moment； however； you would not be comfortable there； for I
shall be away； and my mother will not see you； she does not often show
herself even to the suitors； but sits at her loom weaving in an
upper chamber； out of their way； but I can tell you a man whose
house you can go to… I mean Eurymachus the son of Polybus； who is held
in the highest estimation by every one in Ithaca。 He is much the
best man and the most persistent wooer； of all those who are paying
court to my mother and trying to take Ulysses' place。 Jove； however；
in heaven alone knows whether or no they will come to a bad end before
the marriage takes place。〃
As he was speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand… a hawk；
Apollo's messenger。 It held a dove in its talons； and the feathers； as
it tore them off； fell to the ground midway between Telemachus and the
ship。 On this Theoclymenus called him apart and caught him by the
hand。 〃Telemachus；〃 said he； 〃that bird did not fly on your right hand
without having been sent there by some god。 As soon as I saw it I knew
it was an omen； it means that you will remain powerful and that
there will be no house in Ithaca more royal than your own。〃
〃I wish it may prove so；〃 answered Telemachus。 〃If it does； I will
show you so much good will and give you so many presents that all
who meet you will congratulate you。〃
Then he said to his friend Piraeus； 〃Piraeus； son of Clytius； you
have throughout shown yourself the most willing to serve me of all
those who have accompanied me to Pylos； I wish you would take this
stranger to your own house and entertain him hospitably till I can
come for him。〃
And Piraeus answered； 〃Telemachus； you may stay away as long as
you please； but I will look after him for you； and he shall find no
lack of hospitality。〃
As he spoke he went on board； and bade the others do so also and
loose the hawsers； so they took their places in the ship。 But
Telemachus bound on his sandals； and took a long and doughty spear
with a head of sharpened bronze from the deck of the ship。 Then they
loosed the hawsers； thrust the ship off from land； and made on towards
the city as they had been told to do； while Telemachus strode on as
fast as he could； till he reached the homestead where his countless
herds of swine were feeding； and where dwelt the excellent
swineherd； who