按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
herds of swine were feeding； and where dwelt the excellent
swineherd； who was so devoted a servant to his master。
BOOK XVI。
MEANWHILE Ulysses and the swineherd had lit a fire in the hut and
were were getting breakfast ready at daybreak for they had sent the
men out with the pigs。 When Telemachus came up； the dogs did not bark；
but fawned upon him； so Ulysses； hearing the sound of feet and
noticing that the dogs did not bark； said to Eumaeus：
〃Eumaeus； I hear footsteps； I suppose one of your men or some one of
your acquaintance is coming here； for the dogs are fawning urn him and
not barking。〃
The words were hardly out of his mouth before his son stood at the
door。 Eumaeus sprang to his feet； and the bowls in which he was mixing
wine fell from his hands； as he made towards his master。 He kissed his
head and both his beautiful eyes； and wept for joy。 A father could not
be more delighted at the return of an only son； the child of his old
age； after ten years' absence in a foreign country and after having
gone through much hardship。 He embraced him； kissed him all over as
though he had come back from the dead； and spoke fondly to him saying：
〃So you are come； Telemachus； light of my eyes that you are。 When
I heard you had gone to Pylos I made sure I was never going to see you
any more。 Come in； my dear child； and sit down； that I may have a good
look at you now you are home again； it is not very often you come into
the country to see us herdsmen； you stick pretty close to the town
generally。 I suppose you think it better to keep an eye on what the
suitors are doing。〃
〃So be it； old friend；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃but I am come now
because I want to see you； and to learn whether my mother is still
at her old home or whether some one else has married her； so that
the bed of Ulysses is without bedding and covered with cobwebs。〃
〃She is still at the house；〃 replied Eumaeus； 〃grieving and breaking
her heart； and doing nothing but weep； both night and day
continually。〃
As spoke he took Telemachus' spear； whereon he crossed the stone
threshold and came inside。 Ulysses rose from his seat to give him
place as he entered； but Telemachus checked him； 〃Sit down； stranger。〃
said he； 〃I can easily find another seat； and there is one here who
will lay it for me。〃
Ulysses went back to his own place； and Eumaeus strewed some green
brushwood on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of it for
Telemachus to sit upon。 Then the swineherd brought them platters of
cold meat； the remains from what they had eaten the day before； and he
filled the bread baskets with bread as fast as he could。 He mixed wine
also in bowls of ivy…wood； and took his seat facing Ulysses。 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 Telemachus said to Eumaeus；
〃Old friend； where does this stranger come from？ How did his crew
bring him to Ithaca； and who were they？…for assuredly he did not
come here by land〃'
To this you answered； O swineherd Eumaeus； 〃My son； I will tell
you the real truth。 He says he is a Cretan； and that he has been a
great traveller。 At this moment he is running away from a
Thesprotian ship； and has refuge at my station； so I will put him into
your hands。 Do whatever you like with him； only remember that he is
your suppliant。〃
〃I am very much distressed；〃 said Telemachus； 〃by what you have just
told me。 How can I take this stranger into my house？ I am as yet
young； and am not strong enough to hold my own if any man attacks
me。 My mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay where she is and
look after the house out of respect for public opinion and the
memory of her husband； or whether the time is now come for her to take
the best man of those who are wooing her； and the one who will make
her the most advantageous offer； still； as the stranger has come to
your station I will find him a cloak and shirt of good wear； with a
sword and sandals； and will send him wherever he wants to go。 Or if
you like you can keep him here at the station； and I will send him
clothes and food that he may be no burden on you and on your men；
but I will not have him go near the suitors； for they are very
insolent； and are sure to ill…treat him in a way that would greatly
grieve me； no matter how valiant a man may be he can do nothing
against numbers； for they will be too strong for him。〃
Then Ulysses said； 〃Sir； it is right that I should say something
myself。 I am much shocked about what you have said about the
insolent way in which the suitors are behaving in despite of such a
man as you are。 Tell me； do you submit to such treatment tamely； or
has some god set your people against you？ May you not complain of your
brothers… for it is to these that a man may look for support；
however great his quarrel may be？ I wish I were as young as you are
and in my present mind； if I were son to Ulysses； or； indeed；
Ulysses himself； I would rather some one came and cut my head off； but
I would go to the house and be the bane of every one of these men。
If they were too many for me… I being single…handed… I would rather
die fighting in my own house than see such disgraceful sights day
after day； strangers grossly maltreated； and men dragging the women
servants about the house in an unseemly way； wine drawn recklessly；
and bread wasted all to no purpose for an end that shall never be
accomplished。〃
And Telemachus answered； 〃I will tell you truly everything。 There is
no emnity between me and my people； nor can I complain of brothers； to
whom a man may look for support however great his quarrel may be。 Jove
has made us a race of only sons。 Laertes was the only son of
Arceisius； and Ulysses only son of Laertes。 I am myself the only son
of Ulysses who left me behind him when he went away； so that I have
never been of any use to him。 Hence it comes that my house is in the
hands of numberless marauders； for the chiefs from all the
neighbouring islands； Dulichium； Same； Zacynthus； as also all the
principal men of Ithaca itself； are eating up my house under the
pretext of paying court to my mother； who will neither say point blank
that she will not marry； nor yet bring matters to an end； so they
are making havoc of my estate； and before long will do so with
myself into the bargain。 The issue； however； rests with heaven。 But do
you； old friend Eumaeus； go at once and tell Penelope that I am safe
and have returned from Pylos。 Tell it to herself alone； and then
come back here without letting any one else know； for there are many
who are plotting mischief against me。〃
〃I understand and heed you；〃 replied Eumaeus； 〃you need instruct
me no further； only I am going that way say whether I had not better
let poor Laertes know that you are returned。 He used to superintend
the work on his farm in spite of his bitter sorrow about Ulysses；
and he would eat and drink at will along with his servants； but they
tell me that from the day on which you set out for Pylos he has
neither eaten nor drunk as he ought to do； nor does he look after
his farm； but sits weeping and wasting the flesh from off his bones。〃
〃More's the pity；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃I am sorry for him； but
we must leave him to himself just now。 If people could have everything
their own way； the first thing I should choose would be the return
of my father； but go； and give your message； then make haste back
again； and do not turn out of your way to tell Laertes。 Tell my mother
to send one of her women secretly with the news at once； and let him
hear it from her。〃
Thus did he urge the swineherd； Eumaeus； therefore； took his
sandals； bound them to his feet； and started for the town。 Minerva
watched him well off the station； and then came up to it in the form
of a woman… fair； stately； and wise。 She stood against the side of the
entry； and revealed herself to Ulysses； but Telemachus could not see
her； and knew not that she was there； for the gods do not let
themselves be seen by everybody。 Ulysses saw her； and so did the dogs；
for they did not bark； but went scared and whining off to the other
side of the yards。 She nodded her head and motioned to Ulysses with
her eyebrows； whereon he left the hut and stood before her outside the
main wall of the yards。 Then she said to him：
〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； it is now time for you to tell
your son： do not keep him in the dark any longer； but lay your plans
for the destruction of the suitors； and then make for the town。 I will
not be long in joining you； for I too am eager for the fray。〃
As she spoke she touched him with her golden wand。 First she threw a
fair clean shirt and cloak about his shoulders； then she made him
younger and of more imposing presence； she gave him back his colour；
filled out his cheeks； and let his beard become dark again。 Then she
went away and Ulysses came back inside the hut。 His son was
astounded when he saw him； and turned his eyes away for fear he
might be looking upon a god。
〃Stranger；〃 said he； 〃how suddenly you have changed from what you
were a moment or two ago。 You are dressed differently and your
colour is not the s