Thus he spake comforting her, but was himself the
while framing death for her son.
Now she ascended to her shining upper chamber, and
then was bewailing Odysseus, her dear lord, till grey-eyed
Athene cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.
And in the evening the goodly swineherd came back
to Odysseus and his son, and they made ready and served
the supper, when they had sacrificed a swine of a
year old. Then Athene drew near Odysseus, son
of Laertes, and smote him with her wand, and made
him into an old man again. In sorry raiment she
clad him about his body, lest the swineherd should
look on him and know him, and depart to tell the constant
Penelope, and not keep the matter in his heart.
Then Telemachus spake first to the swineherd, saying:
’Thou hast come, goodly Eumaeus. What news
is there in the town? Are the lordly wooers now
come in from their ambush, or do they still watch
for me as before on my homeward way?’
Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus:
’I had no mind to go down the city asking and
inquiring hereof; my heart bade me get me home again,
as quick as might be, when once I had told the tidings.
And the swift messenger from thy company joined himself
unto me, the henchman, who was the first to tell the
news to thy mother. Yet this, too, I know, if
thou wouldest hear; for I beheld it with mine eyes.
Already had I come in my faring above the city, where
is the hill Hermaean, when I marked a swift ship entering
our haven, and many men there were in her, and she
was laden with shields and two-headed spears, and
methought they were the wooers, but I know not at
all.’
So spake he, and the mighty prince Telemachus smiled,
and glanced at his father, while he shunned the eye
of the swineherd.
Now when they had ceased from the work and got supper
ready, they fell to feasting, and their hearts lacked
not ought of the equal banquet. But when they
had put from them the desire of meat and drink, they
bethought them of rest, and took the boon of sleep.
Telemachus relates to his mother what
he had heard at Pylos
and Sparta.
So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered,
then Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus,
bound beneath his feet his goodly sandals, and took
up his mighty spear that fitted his grasp, to make
for the city; and he spake to his swineherd, saying:
’Verily, father, I am bound for the city, that
my mother may see me, for methinks that she will not
cease from grievous wailing and tearful lament, until
she beholds my very face. But this command I
give thee: Lead this stranger, the hapless one,
to the city, that there he may beg his meat, and whoso
chooses will give him a morsel of bread and a cup
of water. As for myself, I can in no wise suffer
every guest who comes to me, so afflicted am I in
spirit. But if the stranger be sore angered hereat,
the more grievous will it be for himself; howbeit
I for one love to speak the truth.’
