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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 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