ULYSSES IN THE HUT WITH EUMAEUS.
Ulysses now left the haven, and took the up through the country and over the of the till he the place where Minerva had said that he would the swineherd, who was the most he had. He him in of his hut, which was by the yards that he had on a site which be from far. He had them spacious126 and to see, with a free for the pigs all them; he had them his master’s absence, of which he had out of the ground, without saying anything to Penelope or Laertes, and he had them on top with bushes. Outside the he had a of posts, split, and set close together, while he had twelve near one another for the to in. There were fifty pigs in each stye, all of them sows; but the slept and were much in number, for the on them, and the had to send them the best he had continually. There were three hundred and sixty pigs, and the herdsman’s four hounds, which were as as wolves, slept always with them. The was at that moment out a pair of sandals127 from a good ox hide. Three of his men were out the pigs in one place or another, and he had sent the fourth to town with a that he had been to send the that they might it and have their of meat.
When the saw Ulysses they set up a barking and at him, but Ulysses was to and his of the that he had in his hand: still, he would have been by them in his own had not the his ox hide, full speed through the gate of the and the dogs off by and at them. Then he said to Ulysses, “Old man, the dogs were likely to have work of you, and then you would have got me into trouble. The gods have me without that, for I have the best of masters, and am in on his account. I have to for other people to eat, while he, if he yet to see the light of day, is in some land. But come inside, and when you have had your of and wine, tell me where you come from, and all about your misfortunes.”
On this the the way into the and him down. He a good thick of upon the floor, and on the top of this he the skin—a great thick one—on which he used to sleep by night. Ulysses was pleased at being thus welcome, and said “May Jove, sir, and the of the gods you your heart’s in return for the way in which you have me.”
To this you answered, O Eumaeus, “Stranger, though a still man should come here, it would not be right for me to him, for all and are from Jove. You must take what you can and be thankful, for live in when they have for their masters; and this is my now, for has the return of him who would have been always good to me and me something of my own—a house, a piece of land, a good looking wife, and all else that a master a who has hard for him, and the gods have as they have mine in the which I hold. If my master had old here he would have done great by me, but he is gone, and I wish that Helen’s whole were destroyed, for she has been the death of many a good man. It was this that took my master to Ilius, the land of steeds, to the Trojans in the of king Agamemnon.”
As he spoke he his him and to the where the pigs were penned. He out two which he with him and sacrificed. He them, cut them up, and them; when the meat was he it all in and set it Ulysses, and still on the spit, Ulysses it over with white meal. The then mixed in a bowl of ivy-wood, and taking a seat opposite Ulysses told him to begin.
“Fall to, stranger,” said he, “on a dish of servant’s pork. The pigs have to go to the suitors, who eat them up without or scruple; but the gods love not such doings, and respect those who do what is and right. Even the who go on other people’s land, and Jove them their spoil—even they, when they have their ships and got home again live conscience-stricken, and look for judgement; but some god to have told these people that Ulysses is and gone; they will not, therefore, go to their own homes and make their offers of marriage in the way, but waste his by force, without or stint. Not a day or night comes out of heaven, but they not one two only, and they take the of his wine, for he was rich. No other great man either in Ithaca or on the is as rich as he was; he had as much as twenty men put together. I will tell you what he had. There are twelve of upon the main land, and as many of sheep, there are also twelve of pigs, while his own men and him twelve of goats. Here in Ithaca he large of on the end of the island, and they are in the of excellent herds. Each one of these sends the the best in the every day. As for myself, I am in of the pigs that you see here, and I have to keep out the best I have and sending it to them.”
This was his story, but Ulysses on and without a word, his revenge. When he had and was satisfied, the took the bowl from which he drank, it with wine, and gave it to Ulysses, who was pleased, and said as he took it in his hands, “My friend, who was this master of yours that you and paid for you, so rich and so powerful as you tell me? You say he in the of King Agamemnon; tell me who he was, in case I may have met with such a person. Jove and the other gods know, but I may be able to give you news of him, for I have much.”
Eumaeus answered, “Old man, no who comes here with news will Ulysses’ wife and son to his story. Nevertheless, in want of a keep with their mouths full of lies, and not a word of truth; every one who his way to Ithaca goes to my and tells her falsehoods, she takes them in, makes much of them, and them all manner of questions, all the time as will when they have their husbands. And you too, old man, for a shirt and a would make up a very story. But the and of have long since Ulysses to pieces, or the of the sea have him, and his are in upon some shore; he is and gone, and a it is for all his friends—for me especially; go where I may I shall so good a master, not if I were to go home to my mother and father where I was and born. I do not so much care, however, about my now, though I should like to see them again in my own country; it is the of Ulysses that me most; I cannot speak of him without though he is here no longer, for he was very of me, and took such of me that he may be I shall always his memory.”
“My friend,” Ulysses, “you are very positive, and very hard of about your master’s home again, I will not say, but will swear, that he is coming. Do not give me anything for my news till he has actually come, you may then give me a shirt and of good wear if you will. I am in great want, but I will not take anything at all till then, for I a man, as I fire, who lets his him into lying. I by king Jove, by the of hospitality, and by that of Ulysses to which I have now come, that all will surely as I have said it will. Ulysses will return in this self same year; with the end of this moon and the of the next he will be here to do on all those who are his wife and son.”
To this you answered, O Eumaeus, “Old man, you will neither paid for good news, will Ulysses come home; drink your in peace, and let us talk about something else. Do not keep on me of all this; it always pains me when any one speaks about my master. As for your we will let it alone, but I only wish he may come, as do Penelope, his old father Laertes, and his son Telemachus. I am too about this same boy of his; he was up fast into manhood, and to be no man, and figure, than his father, but some one, either god or man, has been his mind, so he has gone off to Pylos to try and news of his father, and the are in wait for him as he is home, in the of the house of Arceisius without a name in Ithaca. But let us say no more about him, and him to be taken, or else to if the son of Saturn his hand over him to protect him. And now, old man, tell me your own story; tell me also, for I want to know, who you are and where you come from. Tell me of your town and parents, what manner of ship you came in, how you to Ithaca, and from what country they to come—for you cannot have come by land.”
And Ulysses answered, “I will tell you all about it. If there were meat and enough, and we here in the with nothing to do but to eat and drink while the others go to their work, I easily talk on for a whole twelve months without the of the with which it has pleased to visit me.
“I am by birth a Cretan; my father was a well to do man, who had many sons in marriage, I was the son of a he had purchased for a concubine; nevertheless, my father Castor son of Hylax (whose I claim, and who was in the among the Cretans for his wealth, prosperity, and the of his sons) put me on the same level with my who had been in wedlock. When, however, death took him to the house of Hades, his sons his and for their shares, but to me they gave a and little else; nevertheless, my me to into a rich family, for I was not to bragging, or on the of battle. It is all over now; still, if you look at the you can see what the ear was, for I have had trouble and to spare. Mars and Minerva me in war; when I had my men to the enemy with an I gave death so much as a thought, but was the to and all I overtake. Such was I in battle, but I did not about farm work, the home life of those who would up children. My was in ships, fighting, javelins, and arrows—things that most men to think of; but one man one thing and another another, and this was what I was most naturally to. Before the Achaeans to Troy, nine times was I in of men and ships on service, and I much wealth. I had my of the in the instance, and much more was to me later on.
“My house and I a great man among the Cretans, but when Jove that terrible expedition, in which so many perished, the people me and Idomeneus to lead their ships to Troy, and there was no way out of it, for they on our doing so. There we for nine whole years, but in the tenth we the city of Priam and home again as us. Then it was that Jove against me. I but one month with my children, wife, and property, and then I the idea of making a on Egypt, so I out a and it. I had nine ships, and the people to them. For six days I and my men feast, and I them many for to the gods and for themselves, but on the seventh day we on and set sail from Crete with a North wind us though we were going a river. Nothing with any of our ships, and we had no on board, but sat where we were and let the ships go as the wind and took them. On the day we the river Aegyptus; there I my ships in the river, my men by them and keep over them while I sent out to from every point of vantage.
“But the men my orders, took to their own devices, and the land of the Egyptians, killing the men, and taking their and children captive. The was soon to the city, and when they the cry, the people came out at till the plain was with and soldiers and with the of armour. Then Jove spread panic among my men, and they would no longer the enemy, for they themselves surrounded. The Egyptians killed many of us, and took the alive to do for them. Jove, however, put it in my mind to do thus—and I wish I had died then and there in Egypt instead, for there was much in store for me—I took off my and and my from my hand; then I up to the king’s chariot, his and them, he my life, me into his chariot, and took me to his own home. Many at me with their and to kill me in their fury, but the king protected me, for he the of Jove the protector of strangers, who punishes those who do evil.
“I there for seven years and got together much money among the Egyptians, for they all gave me something; but when it was now going on for eight years there came a Phoenician, a rascal, who had already all of villainy, and this man talked me over into going with him to Phoenicia, where his house and his lay. I there for a whole twelve months, but at the end of that time when months and days had gone by till the same season had come again, he set me on a ship for Libya, on a that I was to take a along with him to that place, but that he might sell me as a and take the money I fetched. I his intention, but on with him, for I not help it.
“The ship ran a fresh North wind till we had the sea that Crete and Libya; there, however, Jove their destruction, for as soon as we were well out from Crete and see nothing but sea and sky, he a black cloud over our ship and the sea dark it. Then Jove let with his and the ship and and was with fire and as the it. The men all into the sea; they were about in the water the ship looking like so many sea-gulls, but the god presently them of all of home again. I was all dismayed. Jove, however, sent the ship’s my reach, which saved my life, for I to it, and the of the gale. Nine days did I but in the of the tenth night a great me on to the Thesprotian coast. There Pheidon king of the Thesprotians me without me anything at all—for his son me when I was nearly with cold and fatigue, he me by the hand, took me to his father’s house and gave me to wear.
“There it was that I news of Ulysses, for the king told me he had him, and him much while he was on his journey. He me also the of gold, and iron that Ulysses had got together. There was to keep his family for ten generations, so much had he left in the house of king Pheidon. But the king said Ulysses had gone to Dodona that he might learn Jove’s mind from the god’s high tree, and know after so long an he should return to Ithaca openly, or in secret. Moreover the king in my presence, making drink-offerings in his own house as he did so, that the ship was by the water side, and the found, that should take him to his own country. He sent me off Ulysses returned, for there to be a Thesprotian ship for the wheat-growing of Dulichium, and he told those in of her to be sure and take me safely to King Acastus.
“These men a plot against me that would have me to the very of misery, for when the ship had got some way out from land they on selling me as a slave. They me of the shirt and that I was wearing, and gave me the old in which you now see me; then, nightfall, they the lands of Ithaca, and there they me with a rope fast in the ship, while they on to supper by the sea side. But the gods soon my for me, and having my over my I the into the sea, where I out and till I was well clear of them, and came near a thick in which I concealed. They were very angry at my having and about for me, till at last they it was no use and to their ship. The gods, having me thus easily, then took me to a good man’s door—for it that I am not to die yet awhile.”
To this you answered, O Eumaeus, “Poor stranger, I have the of your interesting, but that part about Ulysses is not right; and you will me to it. Why should a man like you go about telling in this way? I know all about the return of my master. The gods one and all of them him, or they would have taken him Troy, or let him die with friends around him when the days of his were done; for then the Achaeans would have a over his and his son would have been to his renown, but now the have him away we know not whither.
“As for me I live out of the way here with the pigs, and go to the town unless when Penelope sends for me on the of some news about Ulysses. Then they all and ask questions, those who over the king’s absence, and those who at it they can eat up his property without paying for it. For my own part I have about anyone else since the time when I was taken in by an Aetolian, who had killed a man and come a long way till at last he my station, and I was very to him. He said he had Ulysses with Idomeneus among the Cretans, his ships which had been in a gale. He said Ulysses would return in the or autumn with his men, and that he would much wealth. And now you, you old man, since has you to my door, do not try to me in this way with hopes. It is not for any such that I shall you kindly, but only out of respect for Jove the god of hospitality, as him and you.”
Ulysses answered, “I see that you are of an mind; I have you my oath, and yet you will not me; let us then make a bargain, and call all the gods in to it. If your master comes home, give me a and shirt of good wear, and send me to Dulichium where I want to go; but if he not come as I say he will, set your men on to me, and tell them to me from precipice, as a to not to go about the country telling lies.”
“And a I should cut then,” Eumaeus, “both now and hereafter, if I were to kill you after you into my and you hospitality. I should have to say my prayers in good if I did; but it is just supper time and I my men will come in directly, that we may cook something for supper.”
Thus did they converse, and presently the came up with the pigs, which were then up for the night in their styes, and a they as they were being into them. But Eumaeus called to his men and said, “Bring in the best pig you have, that I may him for this stranger, and we will take of him ourselves. We have had trouble this long time pigs, while others the fruit of our labour.”
On this he firewood, while the others in a five year old pig, and set it at the altar. Eumaeus did not the gods, for he was a man of good principles, so the thing he did was to cut from the pig’s and them into the fire, praying to all the gods as he did so that Ulysses might return home again. Then he the pig with a of which he had when he was the firewood, and it, while the others and it. Then they cut it up, and Eumaeus by pieces from each joint on to some of the fat; these he with meal, and upon the embers; they cut the of the meat up small, put the pieces upon the and them till they were done; when they had taken them off the they them on to the in a heap. The swineherd, who was a most man, then up to give every one his share. He seven portions; one of these he set for Mercury the son of Maia and the nymphs, praying to them as he did so; the others he out to the men man by man. He gave Ulysses some slices cut the as a mark of honour, and Ulysses was much pleased. “I hope, Eumaeus,” said he, “that Jove will be as well you as I am, for the respect you are to an like myself.”
To this you answered, O Eumaeus, “Eat, my good fellow, and your supper, such as it is. God this, and that, just as he thinks right, for he can do he chooses.”
As he spoke he cut off the piece and offered it as a to the gods; then he them a drink-offering, put the cup in the hands of Ulysses, and sat to his own portion. Mesaulius them their bread; the had this man on his own account from among the Taphians his master’s absence, and had paid for him with his own money without saying anything either to his or Laertes. They then their hands upon the good that were them, and when they had had to eat and drink, Mesaulius took away what was left of the bread, and they all to after having a supper.
Now the night came on and very dark, for there was no moon. It without ceasing, and the wind from the West, which is a wet quarter, so Ulysses he would see Eumaeus, in the excellent he took of him, would take off his own and give it him, or make one of his men give him one. “Listen to me,” said he, “Eumaeus and the of you; when I have said a prayer I will tell you something. It is the that makes me talk in this way; will make a wise man to singing; it will make him and and say many a word that he had unspoken; still, as I have begun, I will go on. Would that I were still and as when we got up an Troy. Menelaus and Ulysses were the leaders, but I was in also, for the other two would have it so. When we had come up to the of the city we our and there under of the and thick that about the swamp. It came on to freeze with a North wind blowing; the small and like frost, and our were thick with rime. The others had all got and shirts, and slept with their about their shoulders, but I had left my me, not that I should be too cold, and had gone off in nothing but my shirt and shield. When the night was two-thirds through and the had their places, I Ulysses who was close to me with my elbow, and he at once gave me his ear.
“‘Ulysses,’ said I, ‘this cold will be the death of me, for I have no cloak; some god me into setting off with nothing on but my shirt, and I do not know what to do.’
“Ulysses, who was as as he was valiant, upon the plan:
“‘Keep still,’ said he in a low voice, ‘or the others will you.’ Then he his on his elbow.
“‘My friends,’ said he, ‘I have had a from in my sleep. We are a long way from the ships; I wish some one would go and tell Agamemnon to send us up more men at once.’
“On this Thoas son of Andraemon off his and set out to the ships, I took the and in it till morning. Would that I were still and as I was in those days, for then some one of you would give me a out of good will and for the respect to a soldier; but now people look upon me my are shabby.”
And Eumaeus answered, “Old man, you have told us an excellent story, and have said nothing so but what is satisfactory; for the present, therefore, you shall want neither anything else that a in may expect, but to-morrow you have to shake your own old about your again, for we have not many up here, but every man has only one. When Ulysses’ son comes home again he will give you and shirt, and send you you may want to go.”
With this he got up and a for Ulysses by some and on the ground in of the fire. Here Ulysses down, and Eumaeus him over with a great that he for a in case of weather.
Thus did Ulysses sleep, and the men slept him. But the did not like sleeping away from his pigs, so he got to go outside, and Ulysses was to see that he looked after his property his master’s absence. First he his over his and put on a thick to keep out the wind. He also took the skin of a large and well goat, and a in case of attack from men or dogs. Thus he to his where the pigs were under an that gave them from the North wind.
