Now the old woman took the scarred limb and passed her hands down it, and knew it by the touch and let the foot drop suddenly, so that the knee fell into the bath, and the brazen vessel rang, being turned over on the other side, and behold, the water was spilled on the ground.  Then joy and anguish came on her in one moment, and both her eyes filled up with tears, and the voice of her utterance was stayed, and touching the chin of Odysseus she spake to him, saying: 

’Yea verily, thou art Odysseus, my dear child, and I knew thee not before, till I had handled all the body of my lord.’

Therewithal she looked towards Penelope, as minded to make a sign that her husband was now home.  But Penelope could not meet her eyes nor take note of her, for Athene had bent her thoughts to other things.  But Odysseus feeling for the old woman’s throat gript it with his right hand and with the other drew her closer to him and spake, saying: 

’Woman, why wouldest thou indeed destroy me?  It was thou that didst nurse me there at thine own breast, and now after travail and much pain I am come in the twentieth year to mine own country.  But since thou art ware of me, and the god has put this in thy heart, be silent, lest another learn the matter in the halls.  For on this wise I will declare it, and it shall surely be accomplished:—­if the gods subdue the lordly wooers unto me, I will not hold my hand from thee, my nurse though thou art, when I slay the other handmaids in my halls.’

Then wise Eurycleia answered, saying:  ’My child, what word hath escaped the door of thy lips?  Thou knowest how firm is my spirit and unyielding, and I will keep me fast as stubborn stone or iron.  Yet another thing will I tell thee, and do thou ponder it in thine heart.  If the gods subdue the lordly wooers to thy hand, then will I tell thee all the tale of the women in the halls, which of them dishonour thee and which be guiltless.’

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her saying:  ’Nurse, wherefore I pray thee wilt thou speak of these?  Thou needest not, for even I myself will mark them well and take knowledge of each.  Nay, do thou keep thy saying to thyself, and leave the rest to the gods.’

Even so he spake, and the old woman passed forth from the hall to bring water for his feet, for that first water was all spilled.  So when she had washed him and anointed him well with olive-oil, Odysseus again drew up his settle nearer to the fire to warm himself, and covered up the scar with his rags.  Then the wise Penelope spake first, saying: 

’Stranger, there is yet a little thing I will make bold to ask thee, for soon will it be the hour for pleasant rest, for him on whomsoever sweet sleep falls, though he be heavy with care.  But to me has the god given sorrow, yea sorrow measureless, for all the day I have my fill of wailing and lamenting, as I look to mine own housewiferies and to the tasks of the maidens in the house.  But when night comes