Ulysses answered:  “Since it is free for any man to speak in presence of your greatness, I must say that my heart puts on a wolfish inclination to tear and to devour, hearing your speech, that these suitors should with such injustice rage, where you should have the rule solely.  What should the cause be? do you wilfully give way to their ill manners? or has your government been such as has procured ill will towards you from your people? or do you mistrust your kinsfolk and friends in such sort, as without trial to decline their aid? a man’s kindred are they that he might trust to when extremities ran high.”

Telemachus replied:  “The kindred of Ulysses are few.  I have no brothers to assist me in the strife.  But the suitors are powerful in kindred and friends.  The house of old Arcesius has had this fate from the heavens, that from old it still has been supplied with single heirs.  To Arcesius Laertes only was born, from Laertes descended only Ulysses, from Ulysses I alone have sprung, whom he left so young, that from me never comfort arose to him.  But the end of all rests in the hands of the gods.”

Then Eumaeus departing to see to some necessary business of his herds, Minerva took a woman’s shape, and stood in the entry of the door, and was seen to Ulysses, but by his son she was not seen, for the presences of the gods are invisible save to those to whom they will to reveal themselves.  Nevertheless the dogs which were about the door saw the goddess, and durst not bark, but went crouching and licking of the dust for fear.  And giving signs to Ulysses that the time was now come in which he should make himself known to his son, by her great power she changed back his shape into the same which it was before she transformed him; and Telemachus, who saw the change, but nothing of the manner by which it was effected, only he saw the appearance of a king in the vigour of his age where but just now he had seen a worn and decrepit beggar, was struck with fear, and said, “Some god has done this house this honour,” and he turned away his eyes, and would have worshipped.  But his father permitted not, but said, “Look better at me; I am no deity, why put you upon me the reputation of godhead?  I am no more but thy father:  I am even he; I am that Ulysses, by reason of whose absence thy youth has been exposed to such wrongs from injurious men.”  Then kissed he his son, nor could any longer refrain those tears which he had held under such mighty restraint before, though they would ever be forcing themselves out in spite of him; but now, as if their sluices had burst, they came out like rivers, pouring upon the warm cheeks of his son.  Nor yet by all these violent arguments could Telemachus be persuaded to believe that it was his father, but he said, some deity had taken that shape to mock him; for he affirmed, that it was not in the power of any man, who is sustained by mortal food, to change his shape so in a moment from age to youth:  for “but now,” said he, “you were all wrinkles, and were old, and now you look as the gods are pictured.”