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to the birds and wild beasts of some continent。 Neither his mother；
nor I his father； who were his parents； could throw our arms about him
and wrap him in his shroud； nor could his excellent and richly dowered
wife Penelope bewail her husband as was natural upon his death bed；
and close his eyes according to the offices due to the departed。 But
now； tell me truly for I want to know。 Who and whence are you… tell me
of your town and parents？ Where is the ship lying that has brought you
and your men to Ithaca？ Or were you a passenger on some other man's
ship； and those who brought you here have gone on their way and left
you？〃
〃I will tell you everything；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃quite truly。 I come
from Alybas； where I have a fine house。 I am son of king Apheidas； who
is the son of Polypemon。 My own name is Eperitus； heaven drove me
off my course as I was leaving Sicania； and I have been carried here
against my will。 As for my ship it is lying over yonder； off the
open country outside the town； and this is the fifth year since
Ulysses left my country。 Poor fellow； yet the omens were good for
him when he left me。 The birds all flew on our right hands； and both
he and I rejoiced to see them as we parted； for we had every hope that
we should have another friendly meeting and exchange presents。〃
A dark cloud of sorrow fell upon Laertes as he listened。 He filled
both hands with the dust from off the ground and poured it over his
grey head； groaning heavily as he did so。 The heart of Ulysses was
touched； and his nostrils quivered as he looked upon his father；
then he sprang towards him； flung his arms about him and kissed him；
saying； 〃I am he； father； about whom you are asking… I have returned
after having been away for twenty years。 But cease your sighing and
lamentation… we have no time to lose； for I should tell you that I
have been killing the suitors in my house； to punish them for their
insolence and crimes。〃
〃If you really are my son Ulysses；〃 replied Laertes； 〃and have
come back again； you must give me such manifest proof of your identity
as shall convince me。〃
〃First observe this scar；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃which I got from a
boar's tusk when I was hunting on Mount Parnassus。 You and my mother
had sent me to Autolycus； my mother's father； to receive the
presents which when he was over here he had promised to give me。
Furthermore I will point out to you the trees in the vineyard which
you gave me； and I asked you all about them as I followed you round
the garden。 We went over them all； and you told me their names and
what they all were。 You gave me thirteen pear trees； ten apple
trees； and forty fig trees； you also said you would give me fifty rows
of vines； there was corn planted between each row； and they yield
grapes of every kind when the heat of heaven has been laid heavy
upon them。〃
Laertes' strength failed him when he heard the convincing proofs
which his son had given him。 He threw his arms about him； and
Ulysses had to support him； or he would have gone off into a swoon；
but as soon as he came to； and was beginning to recover his senses； he
said； 〃O father Jove； then you gods are still in Olympus after all； if
the suitors have really been punished for their insolence and folly。
Nevertheless； I am much afraid that I shall have all the townspeople
of Ithaca up here directly； and they will be sending messengers
everywhere throughout the cities of the Cephallenians。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Take heart and do not trouble yourself about
that； but let us go into the house hard by your garden。 I have already
told Telemachus； Philoetius； and Eumaeus to go on there and get dinner
ready as soon as possible。〃
Thus conversing the two made their way towards the house。 When
they got there they found Telemachus with the stockman and the
swineherd cutting up meat and mixing wine with water。 Then the old
Sicel woman took Laertes inside and washed him and anointed him with
oil。 She put him on a good cloak； and Minerva came up to him and
gave him a more imposing presence； making him taller and stouter
than before。 When he came back his son was surprised to see him
looking so like an immortal； and said to him； 〃My dear father； some
one of the gods has been making you much taller and better…looking。〃
Laertes answered； 〃Would； by Father Jove； Minerva； and Apollo；
that I were the man I was when I ruled among the Cephallenians； and
took Nericum； that strong fortress on the foreland。 If I were still
what I then was and had been in our house yesterday with my armour on；
I should have been able to stand by you and help you against the
suitors。 I should have killed a great many of them； and you would have
rejoiced to see it。〃
Thus did they converse； but the others； when they had finished their
work and the feast was ready； left off working； and took each his
proper place on the benches and seats。 Then they began eating； by
and by old Dolius and his sons left their work and came up； for
their mother； the Sicel woman who looked after Laertes now that he was
growing old； had been to fetch them。 When they saw Ulysses and were
certain it was he； they stood there lost in astonishment； but
Ulysses scolded them good…naturedly and said； 〃Sit down to your
dinner； old man； and never mind about your surprise； we have been
wanting to begin for some time and have been waiting for you。〃
Then Dolius put out both his hands and went up to Ulysses。 〃Sir；〃
said he； seizing his master's hand and kissing it at the wrist； 〃we
have long been wishing you home： and now heaven has restored you to us
after we had given up hoping。 All hail； therefore； and may the gods
prosper you。 But tell me； does Penelope already know of your return；
or shall we send some one to tell her？〃
〃Old man；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃she knows already； so you need not
trouble about that。〃 On this he took his seat； and the sons of
Dolius gathered round Ulysses to give him greeting and embrace him one
after the other； then they took their seats in due order near Dolius
their father。
While they were thus busy getting their dinner ready； Rumour went
round the town； and noised abroad the terrible fate that had
befallen the suitors； as soon； therefore； as the people heard of it
they gathered from every quarter； groaning and hooting before the
house of Ulysses。 They took the dead away； buried every man his own；
and put the bodies of those who came from elsewhere on board the
fishing vessels； for the fishermen to take each of them to his own
place。 They then met angrily in the place of assembly； and when they
were got together Eupeithes rose to speak。 He was overwhelmed with
grief for the death of his son Antinous； who had been the first man
killed by Ulysses； so he said； weeping bitterly； 〃My friend； this
man has done the Achaeans great wrong。 He took many of our best men
away with him in his fleet； and he has lost both ships and men； now；
moreover； on his return he has been killing all the foremost men among
the Cephallenians。 Let us be up and doing before he can get away to
Pylos or to Elis where the Epeans rule； or we shall be ashamed of
ourselves for ever afterwards。 It will be an everlasting disgrace to
us if we do not avenge the murder of our sons and brothers。 For my own
part I should have no mote pleasure in life； but had rather die at
once。 Let us be up； then； and after them； before they can cross over
to the mainland。〃
He wept as he spoke and every one pitied him。 But Medon and the bard
Phemius had now woke up； and came to them from the house of Ulysses。
Every one was astonished at seeing them； but they stood in the
middle of the assembly； and Medon said； 〃Hear me； men of Ithaca。
Ulysses did not do these things against the will of heaven。 I myself
saw an immortal god take the form of Mentor and stand beside him。 This
god appeared； now in front of him encouraging him； and now going
furiously about the court and attacking the suitors whereon they
fell thick on one another。〃
On this pale fear laid hold of them； and old Halitherses； son of
Mastor； rose to speak； for he was the only man among them who knew
both past and future； so he spoke to them plainly and in all
hones