THE GHOSTS OF THE SUITORS IN HADES—ULYSSES AND HIS MEN GO TO THE HOUSE OF LAERTES—THE PEOPLE OF ITHACA COME OUT TO ATTACK ULYSSES, BUT MINERVA CONCLUDES A PEACE.
Then Mercury of Cyllene the of the suitors, and in his hand he the with which he men’s in sleep or them just as he pleases; with this he the and them, while they and him. As in the of some great cave, when one of them has out of the in which they hang, so did the and as Mercury the of them into the dark of death. When they had passed the of Oceanus and the Leucas, they came to the gates of the sun and the land of dreams, they the of where the and of them that can no more.
Here they the of Achilles son of Peleus, with those of Patroclus, Antilochus, and Ajax, who was the and man of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus himself.
They the of the son of Peleus, and the of Agamemnon joined them, bitterly. Round him were also the of those who had with him in the house of Aegisthus; and the of Achilles spoke first.
“Son of Atreus,” it said, “we used to say that Jove had loved you from to last than any other hero, for you were captain over many and men, when we were all together Troy; yet the hand of death, which no can escape, was upon you all too early. Better for you had you at Troy in the hey-day of your renown, for the Achaeans would have a over your ashes, and your son would have been to your good name, it has now been your to come to a most end.”
“Happy son of Peleus,” answered the of Agamemnon, “for having died at Troy from Argos, while the of the Trojans and the Achaeans you for your body. There you in the clouds of dust, all and hugely, now of your chivalry. We the whole of the day, should we have left off if Jove had not sent a to us. Then, when we had you to the ships out of the fray, we you on your and your skin with warm water and with ointments. The Danaans their and about you. Your mother, when she heard, came with her from out of the sea, and the of a great over the so that the Achaeans for fear. They would have panic-stricken to their ships had not wise old Nestor was them saying, ‘Hold, Argives, not sons of the Achaeans, this is his mother from the sea with her to view the of her son.’
“Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans no more. The of the old man of the sea you bitterly, and you in raiment. The nine also came and up their sweet voices in lament—calling and one another; there was not an Argive but for of the they chaunted. Days and nights seven and ten we you, and immortals, but on the eighteenth day we gave you to the flames, and many a sheep with many an ox did we in around you. You were in of the gods, with rich and with honey, while heroes, and foot, their the as you were burning, with the as of a great multitude. But when the of had done their work, we your white at and them in and in pure wine. Your mother us a to them—gift of Bacchus, and work of Vulcan himself; in this we your with those of Patroclus who had gone you, and we also those of Antilochus, who had been closer to you than any other of your now that Patroclus was no more.
“Over these the of the Argives a tomb, on a point out over the open Hellespont, that it might be from out upon the sea by those now and by them that shall be hereafter. Your mother from the gods, and offered them to be for by the of the Achaeans. You must have been present at the of many a hero, when the men themselves and make to for on the death of some great chieftain, but you saw such as silver-footed Thetis offered in your honour; for the gods loved you well. Thus in death your fame, Achilles, has not been lost, and your name among all mankind. But as for me, what had I when the days of my were done? For Jove my on my return, by the hands of Aegisthus and those of my wife.”
Thus did they converse, and presently Mercury came up to them with the of the who had been killed by Ulysses. The of Agamemnon and Achilles were at them, and up to them at once. The of Agamemnon Amphimedon son of Melaneus, who in Ithaca and had been his host, so it to talk to him.
“Amphimedon,” it said, “what has to all you men—all of an age too—that you are come here under the ground? One no of men from any city. Did Neptune his and against you when you were at sea, or did your make an end of you on the when you were cattle-lifting or sheep-stealing, or while in of their and city? Answer my question, for I have been your guest. Do you not how I came to your house with Menelaus, to Ulysses to join us with his ships against Troy? It was a whole month we our voyage, for we had hard work to Ulysses to come with us.”
And the of Amphimedon answered, “Agamemnon, son of Atreus, king of men, I that you have said, and will tell you and about the way in which our end was about. Ulysses had been long gone, and we were his wife, who did not say point blank that she would not marry, yet to an end, for she meant to our destruction: this, then, was the she played us. She set up a great in her room and to work on an piece of needlework. ‘Sweethearts,’ said she, ‘Ulysses is dead, still, do not press me to again immediately; wait—for I would not have my skill in unrecorded—till I have a for the hero Laertes, against the time when death shall take him. He is very rich, and the of the place will talk if he is out without a pall.’ This is what she said, and we assented; we see her upon her great all day long, but at night she would the again by torchlight. She us in this way for three years without our it out, but as time on and she was now in her fourth year, in the of and many days had been accomplished, one of her who what she was doing told us, and we her in the act of her work, so she had to it she would or no; and when she us the she had made, after she had had it washed,186 its was as that of the sun or moon.
“Then some god Ulysses to the farm where his lives. Thither presently came also his son, returning from a to Pylos, and the two came to the town when they had their plot for our destruction. Telemachus came first, and then after him, by the swineherd, came Ulysses, in and on a staff as though he were some old beggar. He came so that none of us him, not the older ones among us, and we him and at him. He being and without a word, though he was in his own house; but when the will of Aegis-bearing Jove him, he and Telemachus took the and it in an chamber, the doors them. Then he his wife offer his and a quantity of iron to be for by us ill-fated suitors; and this was the of our end, for not one of us the bow—nor nearly do so. When it was about to the hands of Ulysses, we all of us out that it should not be him, no what he might say, but Telemachus on his having it. When he had got it in his hands he it with and sent his through the iron. Then he on the of the and his on the ground, about him. First he killed Antinous, and then, him, he let his and they thick on one another. It was plain that some one of the gods was helping them, for they upon us with might and main the cloisters, and there was a of as our were being in, and the ground with our blood. This, Agamemnon, is how we came by our end, and our are still for in the house of Ulysses, for our friends at home do not yet know what has happened, so that they cannot us out and wash the black blood from our wounds, making over us according to the offices to the departed.”
“Happy Ulysses, son of Laertes,” the of Agamemnon, “you are in the of a wife with such of understanding, and so to her lord as Penelope the of Icarius. The fame, therefore, of her shall die, and the shall a song that shall be welcome to all in of the of Penelope. How otherwise was the of the of Tyndareus who killed her husband; her song shall be among men, for she has on all on the good ones.”
Thus did they in the house of Hades the of the earth. Meanwhile Ulysses and the others passed out of the town and soon the and well-tilled farm of Laertes, which he had with labour. Here was his house, with a lean-to all it, where the who for him slept and sat and ate, while 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 for dinner. Meanwhile I want to see my father will know me, or fail to me after so long an absence.”
He then took off his and gave it to Eumaeus and Philoetius, who on to the house, while he off into the to make trial of his father. As he into the great orchard, he did not see Dolius, any of his sons of the other bondsmen, for they were all to make a for the vineyard, at the place where the old man had told them; he therefore his father alone, a vine. He had on a dirty old shirt, and very shabby; his were with of to save him from the brambles, and he also of leather; he had a skin cap on his head, and was looking very woe-begone. When Ulysses saw him so worn, so old and full of sorrow, he still under a tall tree and to weep. He to him, him, and tell him all about his having come home, or he should question him and see what he would say. In the end he it best to be with him, so in this mind he up to his father, who was and 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 tree, vine, olive, pear, flower bed, but the of your attention. I trust, however, that you will not be if I say that you take of your garden than of yourself. You are old, unsavoury, and very clad. It cannot be you are that your master takes such of you, your and have nothing of the about them, and you of birth. I should have said that you were one of those who should wash well, eat well, and soft at night as old men have a right to do; but tell me, and tell me true, are you, and in garden are you working? Tell me also about another matter. Is this place that I have come to Ithaca? I met a man just now who said so, but he was a fellow, and had not the patience to my out when I was him about an old friend of mine, he was still living, or was already 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 yet did any come to me I liked better. He said that his family came from Ithaca and that his father was Laertes, son of Arceisius. I him hospitably, making him welcome to all the of my house, and when he away I gave him all presents. I gave him seven of gold, and a cup of solid with flowers upon it. I gave him twelve light cloaks, and as many pieces of tapestry; I also gave him twelve of single fold, twelve rugs, twelve mantles, and an equal number of shirts. To all this I added four good looking in all useful arts, and I let him take his choice.”
His father and answered, “Sir, you have come to the country that you have named, but it is into the hands of people. All this of presents has been to no purpose. If you have your friend here alive in Ithaca, he would have you and would have your presents when you left him—as would have been only right what you had already him. But tell me, and tell me true, how many years is it since you this guest—my son, as was? Alas! He has from his own country; the of the sea have him, or he has a to the and wild of some continent. Neither his mother, I his father, who were his parents, our arms about him and him in his shroud, his excellent and wife Penelope her husband as was natural upon his death bed, and close his according to the offices to the departed. But now, tell me for I want to know. Who and are you—tell me of your town and parents? Where is the ship that has you and your men to Ithaca? Or were you a on some other man’s ship, and those who 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 house. I am son of king Apheidas, who is the son of Polypemon. My own name is Eperitus; me off my as I was Sicania, and I have been here against my will. As for my ship it is over yonder, off the open country the town, and this is the year since Ulysses left my country. Poor fellow, yet the were good for him when he left me. The all on our right hands, and he and I to see them as we parted, for we had every that we should have another meeting and presents.”
A dark cloud of upon Laertes as he listened. He hands with the from off the ground and it over his head, as he did so. The of Ulysses was touched, and his as he looked upon his father; then he him, his arms about him and him, saying, “I am he, father, about you are asking—I have returned after having been away for twenty years. But your and lamentation—we have no time to lose, for I should tell you that I have been killing the in my house, to them for their and crimes.”
“If you are my son Ulysses,” Laertes, “and have come again, you must give me such proof of your identity as shall me.”
“First this scar,” answered Ulysses, “which I got from a boar’s when I was on Mt. Parnassus. You and my mother had sent me to Autolycus, my mother’s father, to 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 which you gave me, and I asked you all about them as I you the garden. We over them all, and you told me their names and what they all were. You gave me thirteen trees, ten apple trees, and trees; you also said you would give me fifty of vines; there was planted each row, and they of every when the of has been upon them.”
Laertes’ failed him when he the proofs which his son had him. He 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 to his senses, he said, “O father Jove, then you gods are still in Olympus after all, if the have been for their and folly. Nevertheless, I am much that I shall have all the of Ithaca up here directly, and they will be sending the of the Cephallenians.”
Ulysses answered, “Take and do not trouble 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 dinner as soon as possible.”
Thus the two their way the house. When they got there they Telemachus with the and the up meat and mixing with water. Then the old Sicel woman took Laertes and him and him with oil. She put him on a good cloak, and Minerva came up to him and gave him a more presence, making him and than before. When he came his son was 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 and better-looking.”
Laertes answered, “Would, by Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I were the man I was when I among the Cephallenians, and took Nericum, that on the foreland. If I were still what I then was and had been in our house yesterday with my on, I should have been able to by you and help you against the suitors. I should have killed a great many of them, and you would have to see it.”
Thus did they converse; but the others, when they had their work and the was ready, left off working, and took each his proper place on the benches and seats. Then they 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 old, had been to them. When they saw Ulysses and were it was he, they there in astonishment; but Ulysses them good and said, “Sit to your dinner, old man, and mind about your surprise; we have been wanting to for some time and have been waiting for you.”
Then Dolius put out his hands and up to Ulysses. “Sir,” said he, his master’s hand and it at the wrist, “we have long been you home: and now has you to us after we had up hoping. All hail, therefore, and may the gods you.187 But tell me, Penelope already know of your return, or shall we send some one to tell her?”
“Old man,” answered Ulysses, “she already, so you need not trouble about that.” On this he took his seat, and the sons of Dolius Ulysses to give him and him one after the other; then they took their seats in order near Dolius their father.
While they were thus their dinner ready, Rumour the town, and the terrible that had the suitors; as soon, therefore, as the people of it they from every quarter, and the house of Ulysses. They took the away, every man his own, and put the of those who came from on the vessels, for the to take each of them to his own place. They then met in the place of assembly, and when they were got together Eupeithes rose to speak. He was with for the death of his son Antinous, who had been the man killed by Ulysses, so he said, bitterly, “My friends, this man has done the Achaeans great wrong. He took many of our best men away with him in his fleet, and he has ships and men; now, moreover, on his return he has been killing all the men among the Cephallenians. Let us be up and doing he can away to Pylos or to Elis where the Epeans rule, or we shall be of ourselves for afterwards. It will be an to us if we do not the of our sons and brothers. For my own part I should have no more in life, but had die at once. Let us be up, then, and after them, they can over to the main land.”
He as he spoke and every one him. But Medon and the Phemius had now up, and came to them from the house of Ulysses. Every one was at them, but they in the middle of the assembly, and Medon said, “Hear me, men of Ithaca. Ulysses did not do these against the will of heaven. I myself saw an god take the of Mentor and him. This god appeared, now in of him him, and now going about the and the they thick on one another.”
On this of them, and old Halitherses, son of Mastor, rose to speak, for he was the only man among them who past and future; so he spoke to them and in all honesty, saying,
“Men of Ithaca, it is all your own fault that have out as they have; you would not to me, yet to Mentor, when we you check the of your sons who were doing much in the of their hearts—wasting the and the wife of a who they would not return. Now, however, let it be as I say, and do as I tell you. Do not go out against Ulysses, or you may that you have been on your own heads.”
This was what he said, and more than a loud shout, and at once left the assembly. But the where they were, for the speech of Halitherses them, and they with Eupeithes; they therefore off for their armour, and when they had themselves, they met together in of the city, and Eupeithes them on in their folly. He he was going to the of his son, in truth he was to return, but was himself to in his attempt.
Then Minerva said to Jove, “Father, son of Saturn, king of kings, answer me this question—What do you to do? Will you set them still further, or will you make peace them?”
And Jove answered, “My child, why should you ask me? Was it not by your own that Ulysses came home and took his upon the suitors? Do you like, but I will tell you what I think will be most arrangement. Now that Ulysses is revenged, let them to a covenant, in of which he shall continue to rule, while we the others to and the of their sons and brothers. Let them then all friends as heretofore, and let peace and reign.”
This was what Minerva was already to about, so she from off the of Olympus.
Now when Laertes and the others had done dinner, Ulysses by saying, “Some of you go out and see if they are not close up to us.” So one of Dolius’s sons as he was bid. Standing on the he see them all near, and said to Ulysses, “Here they are, let us put on our at once.”
They put on their as fast as they could—that is to say Ulysses, his three men, and the six sons of Dolius. Laertes also and Dolius did the same—warriors by in of their hair. When they had all put on their armour, they opened the gate and forth, Ulysses leading the way.
Then Jove’s Minerva came up to them, having the and voice of Mentor. Ulysses was when he saw her, and said to his son Telemachus, “Telemachus, now that you are about to in an engagement, which will every man’s mettle, be sure not to your ancestors, who were for their and all the world over.”
“You say truly, my dear father,” answered Telemachus, “and you shall see, if you will, that I am in no mind to your family.”
Laertes was when he this. “Good heavens,” he exclaimed, “what a day I am enjoying: I do at it. My son and are with one another in the of valour.”
On this Minerva came close up to him and said, “Son of Arceisius—-best friend I have in the world—pray to the blue-eyed damsel, and to Jove her father; then your and it.”
As she spoke she fresh into him, and when he had prayed to her he his and it. He Eupeithes’ helmet, and the right through it, for the it not, and his him as he to the ground. Meantime Ulysses and his son upon the line of the and them with their and spears; indeed, they would have killed every one of them, and them from home again, only Minerva her voice aloud, and every one pause. “Men of Ithaca,” she cried, “cease this war, and settle the at once without bloodshed.”
On this every one; they were so that their arms from their hands and upon the ground at the of the goddess’ voice, and they to the city for their lives. But Ulysses gave a great cry, and himself together like a eagle. Then the son of Saturn sent a of fire that just in of Minerva, so she said to Ulysses, “Ulysses, son of Laertes, stop this strife, or Jove will be angry with you.”
Thus spoke Minerva, and Ulysses her gladly. Then Minerva the and voice of Mentor, and presently a of peace the two parties.
