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upon the wicked suitors。 Everything； therefore； seemed quite different
to him… the long straight tracks； the harbours； the precipices； and
the goodly trees； appeared all changed as he started up and looked
upon his native land。 So he smote his thighs with the flat of his
hands and cried aloud despairingly。
〃Alas；〃 he exclaimed； 〃among what manner of people am I fallen？
Are they savage and uncivilized or hospitable and humane？ Where
shall I put all this treasure； and which way shall I go？ I wish I
had stayed over there with the Phaeacians； or I could have gone to
some other great chief who would have been good to me and given me
an escort。 As it is I do not know where to put my treasure； and I
cannot leave it here for fear somebody else should get hold of it。
In good truth the chiefs and rulers of the Phaeacians have not been
dealing fairly by me； and have left me in the wrong country； they said
they would take me back to Ithaca and they have not done so： may
Jove the protector of suppliants chastise them； for he watches over
everybody and punishes those who do wrong。 Still； I suppose I must
count my goods and see if the crew have gone off with any of them。〃
He counted his goodly coppers and cauldrons； his gold and all his
clothes； but there was nothing missing； still he kept grieving about
not being in his own country； and wandered up and down by the shore of
the sounding sea bewailing his hard fate。 Then Minerva came up to
him disguised as a young shepherd of delicate and princely mien；
with a good cloak folded double about her shoulders； she had sandals
on her comely feet and held a javelin in her hand。 Ulysses was glad
when he saw her； and went straight up to her。
〃My friend；〃 said he； 〃you are the first person whom I have met with
in this country； I salute you； therefore； and beg you to be will
disposed towards me。 Protect these my goods； and myself too； for I
embrace your knees and pray to you as though you were a god。 Tell
me； then； and tell me truly； what land and country is this？ Who are
its inhabitants？ Am I on an island； or is this the sea board of some
continent？〃
Minerva answered； 〃Stranger； you must be very simple； or must have
come from somewhere a long way off； not to know what country this
is。 It is a very celebrated place； and everybody knows it East and
West。 It is rugged and not a good driving country； but it is by no
means a bid island for what there is of it。 It grows any quantity of
corn and also wine； for it is watered both by rain and dew； it
breeds cattle also and goats； all kinds of timber grow here； and there
are watering places where the water never runs dry； so； sir； the
name of Ithaca is known even as far as Troy； which I understand to
be a long way off from this Achaean country。〃
Ulysses was glad at finding himself； as Minerva told him； in his own
country； and he began to answer； but he did not speak the truth； and
made up a lying story in the instinctive wiliness of his heart。
〃I heard of Ithaca；〃 said he； 〃when I was in Crete beyond the
seas； and now it seems I have reached it with all these treasures。 I
have left as much more behind me for my children； but am flying
because I killed Orsilochus son of Idomeneus； the fleetest runner in
Crete。 I killed him because he wanted to rob me of the spoils I had
got from Troy with so much trouble and danger both on the field of
battle and by the waves of the weary sea； he said I had not served his
father loyally at Troy as vassal； but had set myself up as an
independent ruler； so I lay in wait for him and with one of my
followers by the road side； and speared him as he was coming into town
from the country。 my It was a very dark night and nobody saw us； it
was not known； therefore； that I had killed him； but as soon as I
had done so I went to a ship and besought the owners； who were
Phoenicians； to take me on board and set me in Pylos or in Elis
where the Epeans rule； giving them as much spoil as satisfied them。
They meant no guile； but the wind drove them off their course； and
we sailed on till we came hither by night。 It was all we could do to
get inside the harbour； and none of us said a word about supper though
we wanted it badly； but we all went on shore and lay down just as we
were。 I was very tired and fell asleep directly； so they took my goods
out of the ship； and placed them beside me where I was lying upon
the sand。 Then they sailed away to Sidonia； and I was left here in
great distress of mind。〃
Such was his story； but Minerva smiled and caressed him with her
hand。 Then she took the form of a woman； fair； stately； and wise；
〃He must be indeed a shifty lying fellow；〃 said she； 〃who could
surpass you in all manner of craft even though you had a god for
your antagonist。 Dare…devil that you are； full of guile； unwearying in
deceit； can you not drop your tricks and your instinctive falsehood；
even now that you are in your own country again？ We will say no
more； however； about this； for we can both of us deceive upon
occasion… you are the most accomplished counsellor and orator among
all mankind； while I for diplomacy and subtlety have no equal among
the gods。 Did you not know Jove's daughter Minerva… me； who have
been ever with you； who kept watch over you in all your troubles；
and who made the Phaeacians take so great a liking to you？ And now；
again； I am come here to talk things over with you； and help you to
hide the treasure I made the Phaeacians give you； I want to tell you
about the troubles that await you in your own house； you have got to
face them； but tell no one； neither man nor woman； that you have
come home again。 Bear everything； and put up with every man's
insolence； without a word。〃
And Ulysses answered； 〃A man； goddess； may know a great deal； but
you are so constantly changing your appearance that when he meets
you it is a hard matter for him to know whether it is you or not。 This
much； however； I know exceedingly well； you were very kind to me as
long as we Achaeans were fighting before Troy； but from the day on
which we went on board ship after having sacked the city of Priam； and
heaven dispersed us… from that day； Minerva； I saw no more of you； and
cannot ever remember your coming to my ship to help me in a
difficulty； I had to wander on sick and sorry till the gods
delivered me from evil and I reached the city of the Phaeacians； where
you encouraged me and took me into the town。 And now； I beseech you in
your father's name； tell me the truth； for I do not believe I am
really back in Ithaca。 I am in some other country and you are
mocking me and deceiving me in all you have been saying。 Tell me
then truly； have I really got back to my own country？〃
〃You are always taking something of that sort into your head；〃
replied Minerva； 〃and that is why I cannot desert you in your
afflictions； you are so plausible； shrewd and shifty。 Any one but
yourself on returning from so long a voyage would at once have gone
home to see his wife and children； but you do not seem to care about
asking after them or hearing any news about them till you have
exploited your wife； who remains at home vainly grieving for you；
and having no peace night or day for the tears she sheds on your
behalf。 As for my not coming near you； I was never uneasy about you；
for I was certain you would get back safely though you would lose
all your men； and I did not wish to quarrel with my uncle Neptune； who
never forgave you for having blinded his son。 I will now； however；
point out to you the lie of the land； and you will then perhaps
believe me。 This is the haven of the old merman Phorcys； and here is
the olive tree that grows at the head of it； ＇near it is the cave
sacred to the Naiads；＇ here too is the overarching cavern in which you
have offered many an acceptable hecatomb to the nymphs； and this is
the wooded mountain Neritum。〃
As she spoke the goddess dispersed the mist and the land appeared。
Then Ulysses rejoiced at finding himself again in his own land； and
kissed the bounteous soil； he lifted up his hands and prayed to the
nymphs； saying； 〃Naiad nymphs； daughters of Jove； I made sure that I
was never again to see you； now therefo