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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 have
been in trouble all the time。 As for you； Achilles； no one was ever
yet so fortunate as you have been； nor ever will be； for you were
adored by all us Argives as long as you were alive； and now that you
are here you are a great prince among the dead。 Do not； therefore；
take it so much to heart even if you are dead。'
〃'Say not a word；' he answered； 'in death's favour； I would rather
be a paid servant in a poor man's house and be above ground than
king of kings among the dead。 But give me news about son； is he gone
to the wars and will he be a great soldier； or is this not so？ Tell me
also if you have heard anything about my father Peleus… does he
still rule among the Myrmidons； or do they show him no respect
throughout Hellas and Phthia now that he is old and his limbs fail
him？ Could I but stand by his side； in the light of day； with the same
strength that I had when I killed the bravest of our foes upon the
plain of Troy… could I but be as I then was and go even for a short
time to