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her room and began to work on an enormous piece of fine needlework。
'Sweethearts；' said she； 'Ulysses is indeed dead； still； do not
press me to marry again immediately； wait… for I would not have my
skill in needlework perish unrecorded… till I have completed a pall
for the hero Laertes； against the time when death shall take him。 He
is very rich； and the women of the place will talk if he is laid out
without a pall。' This is what she said； and we assented； whereupon
we could see her working upon her great web all day long； but at night
she would unpick the stitches again by torchlight。 She fooled us in
this way for three years without our finding it out； but as time
wore on and she was now in her fourth year； in the waning of moons and
many days had been accomplished； one of her maids who knew what she
was doing told us； and we caught her in the act of undoing her work；
so she had to finish it whether she would or no； and when she showed
us the robe she had made； after she had had it washed； its splendour
was as that of the sun or moon。
〃Then some malicious god conveyed Ulysses to the upland farm where
his swineherd lives。 Thither presently came also his son； returning
from a voyage to Pylos； and the two came to the town when they had
hatched their plot for our destruction。 Telemachus came first； and
then after him； accompanied by the swineherd； came Ulysses； clad in
rags and leaning on a staff as though he were some miserable old
beggar。 He came so unexpectedly that none of us knew him； not even the
older ones among us； and we reviled him and threw things at him。 He
endured both being struck and insulted without a word； though he was
in his own house； but when the will of Aegis…bearing Jove inspired
him； he and Telemachus took the armour and hid it in an inner chamber；
bolting the doors behind them。 Then he cunningly made his wife offer
his bow and a quantity of iron to be contended for by us ill…fated
suitors； and this was the beginning of our end； for not one of us
could string the bow… nor nearly do so。 When it was about to reach the
hands of Ulysses； we all of us shouted out that it should not be given
him； no matter what he might say； but Telemachus insisted on his
having it。 When he had got it in his hands he strung it with ease
and sent his arrow through the iron。 Then he stood on the floor of the
cloister and poured his arrows on the ground； glaring fiercely about
him。 First he killed Antinous； and then； aiming straight before him；
he let fly his deadly darts and they fell thick on one another。 It was
plain that some one of the gods was helping them； for they fell upon
us with might and main throughout the cloisters； and there was a
hideous sound of groaning as our brains were being battered in； and
the ground seethed with our blood。 This； Agamemnon； is how we came
by our end； and our bodies are lying still un…cared for in the house
of Ulysses； for our friends at home do not yet know what has happened；
so that they cannot lay us out and wash the black blood from our
wounds； making moan over us according to the offices due to the
departed。〃
〃Happy Ulysses； son of Laertes；〃 replied the ghost of Agamemnon；
〃you are indeed blessed in the possession of a wife endowed with
such rare excellence of understanding； and so faithful to her wedded
lord as Penelope the daughter of Icarius。 The fame； therefore； of
her virtue shall never die； and the immortals shall compose a song
that shall be welcome to all mankind in honour of the constancy of
Penelope。 How far otherwise was the wickedness of the daughter of
Tyndareus who killed her lawful husband； her song shall be hateful
among men； for she has brought disgrace on all womankind even on the
good ones。〃
Thus did they converse in the house of Hades deep down within the
bowels of the earth。 Meanwhile Ulysses and the others passed out of
the town and soon reached the fair and well…tilled farm of Laertes；
which he had reclaimed with infinite labour。 Here was his house；
with a lean…to running all round it； where the slaves who worked for
him slept and sat and ate； while inside the house there was an old
Sicel woman； who looked after him in this his country…farm。 When
Ulysses got there； he said to his son and to the other two：
〃Go to the house； and kill the best pig that you can find for
dinner。 Meanwhile I want to see whether my father will know me； or
fail to recognize me after so long an absence。〃
He then took off his armour and gave it to Eumaeus and Philoetius；
who went straight on to the house； while he turned off into the
vineyard to make trial of his father。 As he went down into the great
orchard； he did not see Dolius； nor any of his sons nor of the other
bondsmen； for they were all gathering thorns to make a fence for the
vineyard； at the place where the old man had told them； he therefore
found his father alone； hoeing a vine。 He had on a dirty old shirt；
patched and very shabby； his legs were bound round with thongs of
oxhide to save him from the brambles； and he also wore sleeves of
leather； he had a goat skin cap on his head； and was looking very
woe…begone。 When Ulysses saw him so worn； so old and full of sorrow；
he stood still under a tall pear tree and began to weep。 He doubted
whether to embrace him； kiss him； and tell him all about his having
come home； or whether he should first question him and see what he
would say。 In the end he deemed it best to be crafty with him； so in
this mind he went up to his father； who was bending down and digging
about a plant。
〃I see； sir；〃 said Ulysses； 〃that you are an excellent gardener…
what pains you take with it； to be sure。 There is not a single
plant； not a fig tree； vine； olive； pear； nor flower bed； but bears
the trace of your attention。 I trust； however； that you will not be
offended if I say that you take better care of your garden than of
yourself。 You are old； unsavoury； and very meanly clad。 It cannot be
because you are idle that your master takes such poor care of you；
indeed your face and figure have nothing of the slave about them；
and proclaim you of noble birth。 I should have said that you were
one of those who should wash well； eat well； and lie soft at night
as old men have a right to do； but tell me； and tell me true； whose
bondman are you； and in whose garden are you working？ Tell me also
about another matter。 Is this place that I have come to really Ithaca？
I met a man just now who said so； but he was a dull fellow； and had
not the patience to hear my story out when I was asking him about an
old friend of mine； whether he was still living； or was already dead
and in the house of Hades。 Believe me when I tell you that this man
came to my house once when I was in my own country and never yet did
any stranger come to me whom I liked better。 He said that his family
came from Ithaca and that his father was Laertes； son of Arceisius。
I received him hospitably； making him welcome to all the abundance
of my house； and when he went away I gave him all customary
presents。 I gave him seven talents of fine gold； and a cup of solid
silver with flowers chased upon it。 I gave him twelve light cloaks；
and as many pieces of tapestry； I also gave him twelve cloaks of
single fold； twelve rugs； twelve fair mantles； and an equal number
of shirts。 To all this I added four good looking women skilled in
all useful arts； and I let him take his choice。〃
His father shed tears and answered； 〃Sir； you have indeed come to
the country that you have named； but it is fallen into the hands of
wicked people。 All this wealth of presents has been given to no
purpose。 If you could have found your friend here alive in Ithaca；
he would have entertained you hospitably and would have required
your presents amply when you left him… as would have been only right
considering what you have already given him。 But tell me； and tell
me true； how many years is it since you entertained this guest… my
unhappy son； as ever was？ Alas！ He has perished far from his own
country； the fishes of the sea have eaten him； or he has fallen a prey
to the birds and wild beasts of some continent。 Neither his mother；
nor I his father； who were his pa