Latest / Classic Adventure Books Collection / 15 - The Odyssey - Homer

Transcript

15 - The Odyssey - Homer · Classic Adventure Books Collection

0:00
Book fifteen. But Minerva went to the fair city of Lacedaemon to tell Ulysses's
0:07
son that he was to return at once. She found him in Pisistitus,
0:12
sleeping in the forecourt of Menealeus's house. Pisistitus was fast asleep, but Telemachus
0:18
could get no rest all night for thinking of his unhappy father. So Minerva
0:22
went close up to him and said, Telemachus, you should not remain so
0:27
far away from home any longer, nor leave your property with such dangerous people
0:32
in your house. They will eat up everything you have among them, and
0:36
you will have been on a fool's Errand ask Menieus to send you home at
0:41
once if you wish to find your excellent mother still there. When you get
0:44
back, her father and brothers are already urging her to marry Euymicus, who
0:48
was given more than any of the others, and has been greatly increasing his
0:52
wedding presents. I hope nothing valuable may have been taken from the house in
0:57
spite of you, But you know what woman are. They always want to
1:00
do the best they can for the man who marries them, and never give
1:03
another thought to the children of their first husband. Nor to their father either
1:07
when he is dead and done with. Go home therefore, and put everything
1:12
in charge of the most respectable woman servant that you have, until it shall
1:17
please Heaven to send you a wife of your own. Let me tell you
1:21
also of another matter which you had better attend to. The chief men among
1:26
the suitors are lying in wait for you in the strait between Ithaca and Samos,
1:29
and they mean to kill you before you can reach home. I do
1:33
not much think they will succeed. It is more likely that some of those
1:37
who are now eating up your property will find a grave themselves. Sail night
1:41
and day, and keep your ship well away from the islands. The god
1:45
who watches over you and protects you, will send you a fair wind as
1:49
soon as you get to Ithaca. Send your ship and men on to the
1:52
town. But yourself goes straight to the swineherd who has charged your pigs.
1:57
He is well disposed towards you. Stay with him therefore or for the night,
2:00
and then send him to Penelope to tell her that you have got back
2:04
safe from Pelus. Then she went back to Olympus. But Telemachus stirred Persistitus
2:10
with his heel to rouse him and said, wake up, Pisistitus, and
2:15
yoke the horses to the chariot, for we must set off home. But
2:19
Pasistitus said, no matter what hurry we are in, we cannot drive in
2:23
the dark. It will be morning soon. Wait till Menelaus has brought his
2:28
presents and put them in the chariot for us, and let him say good
2:30
bye to us in the usual way. So long as he lives, I
2:36
guess should never forget a host who has shown him kindness. As he spoke,
2:40
day began to break, and Menelaus, who had already risen, leaving
2:44
Helen in bed, came towards them. When Telemachus saw him, he put
2:49
on his shirt as fast as he could, threw a great cloak over his
2:52
shoulders, and went out to meet him. Menilaeus said, he let me
2:57
go back now to my own country, for I want to get home.
3:01
And Menelaeus answered Telemachus, if you insist on going, I will not detain
3:07
you. I do not like to see a host either too fond of his
3:09
guest or too rude to him. Moderation is best in all things, and
3:15
not letting a man go when he wants to do so is as bad as
3:17
telling him to go if he would like to stay. One should treat a
3:22
guest well as long as he is in the house, and speed him when
3:24
he wants to leave it. Wait then till I can get your beautiful presents
3:30
into your chariot, and till you have yourself seen them. I will tell
3:34
the woman to prepare a sufficient dinner for you, of what there may be
3:37
in the house. It will be at once more proper and cheaper for you
3:40
to get your dinner before setting out in such a long journey. If moreover
3:45
you have a fancy for making a tour of Hellas or in the Peloponnese,
3:49
I will yoke my horses and will conduct you myself through all our principal cities.
3:53
No one will send us away empty handed. Every one will give us
3:57
something a bronze tripod, a couple of mules, or a gold cup.
4:03
Menelaus replied, t Lemachus, I want to go home at once, for
4:08
when I came away, I left my property without protection, and fear that
4:12
while looking for my father I shall come to ruin myself or find that something
4:15
valuable has been stolen during my absence. When Menelaeus heard this, he immediately
4:21
told his wife and servants to prepare a sufficient dinner from what there might be
4:26
in the house. At this moment, Etionius joined him, for he lived
4:30
close by and had just got up, So Menelaeus told him to light the
4:33
fire and cook some meat, which he at once did. Then Menelaeus went
4:39
down into his fragrance store room, not alone, but Helen went too with
4:43
Megapenthes. When he reached a place where the treasures of his house were kept,
4:47
he selected a double cup and told his son Megapenthes to bring also a
4:51
silver mixing bowl. Meanwhile, Helen went to the chest where she kept the
4:58
lovely dresses which she had made with her own hands, and took out one
5:01
that was the largest and most beautifully enriched with embroidery. It glittered like a
5:06
star and lay at the very bottom of the chest. Then they all came
5:12
back through the house again until they got to Telemachus and Meneleeus said, Telemachus,
5:17
may Jove, the mighty husband of Juno, bring you safely home according
5:20
to your desire. I will now present you with the finest and most precious
5:26
piece of plate in all my house. It is a mixing bowl of pure
5:30
silver, except the rim, which is inlaid with gold. And it is
5:33
the work of Vulcan. Fadimus, king of the Sidonians, made me a
5:39
present of it in the course of a visit that I paid him while I
5:42
was on my return home. I should like to give it to you.
5:46
With these words, he placed the double cup in the hands of Telemachus,
5:49
while Megapenthes brought the beautiful mixing bowl and set it before him. Hard By
5:56
stood lovely Helen, with the robe ready in her hand. I to my
6:00
son, said, she have something for you as a keepsake from the hand
6:03
of Helen. It is for your bride to wear upon her wedding day.
6:08
Till then get your dear mother to keep it for you. Thus may you
6:13
go back rejoicing to your own country and to your home. So saying,
6:17
she gave the robe over to him, and he received it gladly. Then
6:21
Pisistitus put the presents into the chariot and admired them all as he did so.
6:28
Presently, Menelaeus took Telemachus and Pisisitus into the house, and they both
6:31
of them sat down to table. A maid servant brought them water in a
6:35
beautiful golden ewer and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their
6:40
hands, and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper servant brought
6:45
them bread and offered them many good things of what there was in the house.
6:49
Etionius carved the meat and gave them each their portions, while Megapenthes poured
6:56
out the wine. Then they laid their hands upon the good things that were
6:59
before them. But as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
7:02
Telemachus and Posisitus yoked the horses and took their places in the chariot.
7:09
They drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer
7:14
court. A Menilaeus came after them with a golden goblet of wine in his
7:17
right hand, that they might make a drink offering. Before they set out,
7:23
he stood in front of the horses and pledged them, saying, farewell
7:27
to both of you. See that you tell Nestor how I have treated you,
7:31
For he was kind to me as any father could be. While we
7:34
Akenes were fighting before Troy. We will be sure, sir, answered Telemachus,
7:41
to tell him everything as soon as we see him. I wish I
7:45
were as certain of finding Ulysses returned when I get back to Ithaca, that
7:49
I might tell him of the very great kindness you have shown me, and
7:53
of the many beautiful presents I am taking with me. As he was thus
7:58
speaking, a bird flew on his right hand, an eagle with a great
8:01
white goose in its talons, which it had carried off from the farm yard,
8:05
and all the men and women were running after it and shouting. It
8:09
came quite close up to them and flew away on their right hands, in
8:11
front of the horses. When they saw it, they were glad, and
8:16
their hearts took comfort within them. Whereon, Posisitus said, tell me,
8:20
Menelaeus, has Heaven sent this omen for us or for you? Menilaeus was
8:26
thinking what would be the most proper answer for him to make, but Helen
8:31
was too quick for him, and said, I will read this matter as
8:33
Heaven has put it in my heart, and as I doubt not that it
8:37
will come to pass. The eagle came from the mountain where it was bred,
8:41
and has its nest an in like manner. Ulysses, having traveled far
8:46
and suffered much, will return to take his revenge, if indeed he is
8:52
not back already and hatching mischief for the suitors. May jove so grant,
8:58
it, replied Telemachus. If it should prove to be so, I will
9:01
make vows to you as though you were a god, even when I am
9:05
at home. As he spoke, he lashed his horses, and they started
9:11
off at full speed through the town towards the open country. They swayed the
9:16
yoke upon their necks and traveled the whole day long till the sun set and
9:20
darkness was over all the land. Then they reached Fury, where Diocles lived,
9:24
who was son of Artilochus, the son of Alpheus. There they passed
9:30
the night and were treated hospitably. When the child of morning, rosy fingered
9:35
dawn appeared, they again yoked their horses and their places in their chariot.
9:41
They drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer
9:45
court. Then Pisistitus lashed his horses on, and they flew towards nothing loathe.
9:50
Ere long they came to Pilos, and then Telemachus said, Pisistitus,
9:56
I hope you will promise to do what I am going to ask you.
10:00
You know, our fathers were old friends before us. Moreover, we are
10:03
both of an age, and this journey has brought us together still more closely.
10:09
Do not, therefore take me past my ship, but leave me there,
10:13
For if I go to your father's house, he will try to keep
10:16
me in the warmth of his good will towards me, and I must go
10:20
home at once. Pasisiciitus thought how he should do what he was asked,
10:24
and in the end he deemed it best to turn his horses towards the ship
10:28
and put Menelaeus's beautiful presence of gold and raiment in the stern of the vessel.
10:35
Then he said, go on board at once, and tell your men
10:37
to do so also, before I can reach home to tell my father.
10:41
I know how obstinate he is, and am sure he will not let you
10:46
go. He will come down here to fetch you, and he will not
10:48
go back without you, but he will be very angry with this. He
10:54
drove his goodly steeds back to the city of the Pilians, and soon reached
10:58
his home. Telemachus called the men together and gave his orders. Now my
11:03
men, said he get everything in order on board the ship, and let
11:07
us set out home. Thus did he speak, and they went on board
11:13
even as he had said. But as Telemachus was thus busied praying also and
11:18
sacrificing to Minerva in the ship's stern, there came to him a man from
11:22
a distant country, a seer, who was flying from Argos because he had
11:26
killed a man. He was descended from Melampus, who used to live in
11:31
Pilas, the land of sheep. He was rich and owned a great house,
11:35
but he was driven into exile by the great and powerful king Nelius.
11:39
Nelius seized his goods and held them for a whole year, during which he
11:45
was a close prisoner in the house of King Philicus, and in much distress
11:50
of mind, both on account of the daughter of Nelius and because he was
11:54
haunted by a great sorrow that dread Irinies had laid upon him. In the
11:58
end, however, he escaped with his life, drove the cattle from Phyllis
12:03
to Pelus, avenged the wrong that had been done to him, and gave
12:07
the daughter of Nelius to his brother. Then he left the country and went
12:11
to Argus, where it was ordained that he should reign over much people.
12:16
There he married, established himself, and had two famous sons Antipides and Mantius.
12:24
Antipides became father of Oeclius and Oeclius of Amphioreus, who was dearly loved
12:30
by both Jove and by Apollo. But he did not live to an old
12:33
age, for he was killed in Thebes by reasons of a woman's gifts.
12:39
His sons were Achmion and Amphilicus. Mantius, the other son of Melampus,
12:43
was father to Polyphides and Cletus. Aurora, throned in gold, carried off
12:50
Clidus for his beauty's sake, that he might dwell among the immortals. But
12:54
Apollom made Polyphides the greatest seer in the whole world. Now that Amphioreus was
12:58
dead, he quarreled with his father and went to live in Hyperasia, where
13:03
he remained and prophesied for all men. His son, Theoclemenus, it was
13:09
who now came up to Telemachus as he was making drink offerings and praying in
13:13
his ship. Friend said he, now that I find you sacrificing in this
13:18
place, I beseech you, by your sacrifices themselves and by the God to
13:24
whom you make them, I pray you also by your own head and by
13:28
those of your followers. Tell me the truth and nothing but the truth.
13:33
Who and whence are you? Tell me also of your town and parents,
13:39
Telemachus said, I will answer you quite truly. I am from Ithaca,
13:43
and my father is Ulysses, as surely as that he ever lived, but
13:48
he has come to some miserable end. Therefore I have taken this ship and
13:52
got my crew together to see if I can hear any news of him,
13:56
for he has been away a long time. I too, answered Theoclemenus,
14:03
am in exile, for I have killed a man of my own race.
14:07
He has many brothers and kinsmen in Argus, and they have great power among
14:11
the Argives. I am flying to escape death at their hands, and am
14:16
thus doomed to be a wanderer on the face of the earth. I am
14:20
your suppliant. Take me therefore on board your ship, that they may not
14:26
kill me, for I know that they are in pursuit. I will not
14:30
refuse you, replied Telemachus. If you wish to join us, come therefore,
14:35
and in Ithaca. We will treat you hospitably according to what we have
14:41
on this He received Theoclemenus's spear and laid it down on the deck of the
14:45
ship. He went on board and sat in the stern, bidding Theoclemenus sit
14:50
beside him. Then the men let go the hawsers. Telemachus told them to
14:56
catch hold of the ropes, and they made all haste to do so.
14:58
They set the mast in its socket in the cross plank, raised it and
15:03
made it fast for the forestays, and they hoisted their white sails with sheets
15:07
of twisted ox hide. Minerva sent them a fair wind that blew fresh and
15:13
strong, to take the ship on her course as fast as possible. Thus,
15:18
then they passed by Croney and Chalcis. Presently the sunset and darkness was
15:24
over all the land. The vessel made a quick passage to Fee and thence
15:28
on to Elis, where the Apians rule. Telemachus then headed her for the
15:33
Flying Islands, wandering within himself whether he should escape death or should be taken
15:39
prisoner. Meanwhile, Ulysses and the swineherd were eating their supper in the hut,
15:46
and the men supped with them. As soon as they had had to
15:50
eat and drink. Ulysses began trying to prove the swineherd and to see whether
15:54
he would continue to treat him kindly, and to ask him to stay on
15:58
at the station or pack came off to the city. So he said,
16:03
Eumaeus and all of you, tomorrow, I want to go away and begin
16:07
begging about the town, so as to be no more trouble to you or
16:10
to your men. Give me your advice therefore, and let me have a
16:15
good guide to go with me and show me the way. I will go
16:18
the round of the city, begging as I needs must to see if any
16:22
one will give me a drink and a piece of bread. I should like
16:26
also to go to the house of Ulysses and bring news of her husband to
16:30
Queen Penelope. I could then go about among the suitors and see if,
16:34
out of all their abundance, they will give me a dinner. I should
16:38
soon make them an excellent servant in all sort of ways. Listen and believe
16:44
when I tell you that, by the blessing of Mercury, who gives grace
16:47
and good name to the works of all men, there is no one living
16:51
who would make a more handy servant than I should. To put fresh wood
16:55
on their fire, chop fuel, carve, cook, pour out wine,
16:59
and do all those services that poor men have to do for their betters.
17:03
The swineherd was very much disturbed when he heard this. Heaven help me,
17:07
he exclaimed, whatever can have put such a notion as that into your head?
17:12
If you go near the suitors, you will be undone to a certainty,
17:17
for their pride and insolence reached the very heavens. They would never think
17:21
of taking a man like you for a servant. Their servants are all young
17:25
men, well dressed, wearing good cloaks and shirts, with well looking faces,
17:29
and their hair always tidy. The tables are kept quite clean, and
17:33
are loaded with bread, meat, and wine. Stay where you are,
17:37
then you are not in anybody's way. I do not mind your being here,
17:41
no more do any of the others. And when Telemachus comes home,
17:45
he will give you a shirt and cloak, and will send you wherever you
17:48
want to go. Ulysses answered, I hope you may be as dear to
17:53
the gods as you are to me, for having saved me from going about
17:57
and getting into trouble. There is nothing worse than being always on the tramp.
18:03
Still, when men have once got low down in the world, they
18:07
will go through a great deal on behalf of their miserable bellies. Since,
18:11
however, you press me to stay here and wait the return of Telemachus.
18:15
Tell about Ulysses's mother and his father, whom he left on the threshold of
18:19
old age when he set out for Troy. Are they still living or are
18:23
they already dead? And in the house of Hades, I will tell you
18:29
all about them, replied Eumaeus. Laertes is still living, and praise Heaven
18:33
to let him depart peacefully his own house, for he is terribly distressed about
18:37
the absence of his son, and also about the death of his wife,
18:41
which grieved him greatly and aged him more than anything else did. She came
18:47
to an unhappy end through sorrow for her son. May no friend or neighbor
18:51
who has dealt kindly by me come to such an end as she did.
18:55
As long as she was living, though she was always grieving. I used
18:59
to like seeing her and asking her how she did, for she brought me
19:03
up along with her daughter, Sintimmony, the youngest of her children. We
19:07
were boy and girl together, and she made little difference between us. When,
19:11
however, we both grew up. They sent Sentimody to Sammy and received
19:15
a splendid diary for her. As for me, my mistress gave me a
19:19
good shirt and cloak with a pair of sandals from my feet, and send
19:22
me off to the country. But she was just as fond as me.
19:26
As ever, this is all over now. Still it has pleased Heaven to
19:32
prosper my work in the situation which I now hold. I have enough to
19:36
eat and drink, and can find something for any respectable stranger who comes here.
19:41
But there is no getting a kind word or deed out of my mistress,
19:45
for the house has fallen into the hands of wicked people. Servants want
19:48
sometimes to see their mistress and have a talk with her. They like to
19:52
have something to eat and drink at the house, and something too to take
19:56
back with them into the country. This is what will keep so servants in
20:00
a good humor. Ulysses answered, then you must have been a very little
20:06
fellow, Eumaeus, when you were taken so far away from your home and
20:08
parents. Tell me, and tell me true, was the city in which
20:14
your father and mother lived sacked and pillaged? Or did some enemies carry you
20:18
off? When you are alone tending sheep or cattle? Ship you off here
20:22
and sell you for whatever your master gave them. Stranger, replied Eumaeus.
20:27
As regards your question, sit still, make yourself comfortable, drink your wine,
20:33
and listen to me. The nights are now at their longest. There
20:36
is plenty of time for both sleeping and sitting up talking together. You ought
20:41
not to go to bed till bedtime. Too much sleep is as bad as
20:44
too little. If any one of the others wishes to go to bed,
20:48
let him leave us and do so. He can then take my master's pigs
20:51
out when he has done breakfast. In the morning, we too will sit
20:55
here, eating and drinking in the hut and telling one another's stories about Arma's
20:59
fortune. For when a man has suffered much and been buffeted about in the
21:03
world, he takes pleasure in recalling the memory of sorrows that have long gone
21:07
by. As regards your question, then my tale is as follows. You
21:14
may have heard of an island called Syria that lies over above Rotigia, where
21:18
the land begins to turn round and look in another direction. It is not
21:23
very thickly peopled, but the soil is good, with much pasture, fit
21:27
for cattle and sheep, and It abounds with wine and wheat. Earth never
21:33
comes there, nor are the people plagued by any sickness. But when they
21:37
grow old, Apollo comes with Diana and kills them with his painless shafts.
21:42
It contains two communities, and the whole country is divided between these two.
21:48
My father Setisius, son of Ormenius, a man comparable to the gods,
21:53
reigned over both. Now to this place, there came some cunning traitors from
21:59
Phoenicia. For the Phoenicians are great mariners, and a ship which they had
22:03
freighted with gagas of all kinds. There happened to be a Phoenician woman in
22:07
my father's house, very tall and comely, and an excellent servant. These
22:14
scoundrels got hold of her one day when she was washing near their ship,
22:18
seduced her and cajolder in a way that no woman can resist, no matter
22:22
how good she may be in nature. The man who seduced her asked her
22:26
who she was and where she came from, And on this she told him
22:30
her father's name. I come from Siddon, she said, and am daughter
22:33
to Erebis, a man rolling in wealth. One day, as I was
22:37
coming into the town, from the country. Some Taphian pirates seized me and
22:42
took me here over the sea, where they sold me to the man who
22:45
owns this house, and he gave them their price for me. The man
22:49
who had seduced her then said, would you like to come along with us
22:53
to see the house of your parents? And your parents themselves they are both
22:56
alive and are said to be well off. I will do so, gladly,
23:00
answered she, if you men will first swear me a solemn oath that
23:04
you will do me no harm. By the way, they all swore as
23:08
she told them, And when they had completed their oath, the woman said,
23:11
hush, and if any of your men meets me in the streets are
23:15
at the well, do not let him speak to me, for fear some
23:18
one should go and tell my master, in which case he would suspect something.
23:22
He would put me in prison and would have all of you murdered.
23:26
Keep your counsel. Therefore, buy your merchandise as fast you can, and
23:32
send me word when you have done loading. I will bring as much gold
23:34
as I can lay my hands on. And there is something else also that
23:37
I can do towards paying my fare. I am nursed the son of the
23:41
good man of the house, a funny little fellow, just able to run
23:45
about. I will carry him off in your ship, and you will get
23:48
a great deal of money for him if you take him and sell them in
23:52
foreign parts. On this she went back to the house. The Phoenicians stayed
23:56
a whole year till they had loaded their ship with much precious merchandise, and
24:00
then when they had got freight enough, they sent to tell the woman.
24:06
Their messenger, a very cunning fellow, came to my father's house bringing a
24:08
necklace of gold with amber beads strung among it, And while my mother and
24:12
the servants had it in their hands, admiring it and bargaining about it,
24:17
he made a sign quietly to the woman, and then went back to the
24:19
ship, whereon she took me by the hand and led me out of the
24:23
house. In the fore part of the house, she saw the tables set
24:27
with the cups of guests who had been feasting with my father as being in
24:30
attendance on him. These were now all gone to a meeting of the public
24:36
assembly. So she snatched up three cups and carried them off in the bosom
24:40
of her dress. While I followed her, for I knew no better.
24:44
The sun was now set and darkness was over all the land, so we
24:48
hurried on as fast as we could, till we reached the harbor where the
24:51
Phoenician's ship was lying. When they had got on board, they sailed their
24:56
ways over the sea, taking us with them, and Jove sent them a
24:59
fair wood. Six days did we sail, both night and day. But
25:03
on the seventh day Diana struck the woman, and she fell heavily down onto
25:07
the ship's hold, as though she were a seagull alighting on the water.
25:11
So they threw her overboard to the seals and fishes, and I was left
25:15
all sorrowful and alone. Presently, the winds and waves took the ship to
25:21
Ithaca, where Laites gave sundry of his chattels for me. And thus it
25:25
was that I ever came to set eyes upon this country. Ulysses answered Eumaeus,
25:33
I have heard the story of your misfortunes with the most lively interest and
25:36
pity. But Jove has given you good as well as evil, For in
25:41
spite of everything you have a good master who sees that you always have enough
25:45
to eat and drink, and you lead a good life, whereas I am
25:48
still going about begging my way from city to city. Thus did they converse,
25:53
and they had only a very little time left for sleep, for soon
25:56
it was daybreak. In the meantime, Telemachus and his crew were nearing land,
26:03
so they loosed the sails, took down the mast, and rowed the
26:07
ship into the harbor. They cast out their mooring stones and made fast for
26:11
the hawsers. They then got out upon the sea shore, mixed their wine,
26:15
and got dinner ready. As soon as they had had enough to eat
26:18
and drink, Telemachus said, take the ship on to the town, but
26:23
leave me here, for I want to look after the herdsmen in one of
26:26
my farms. In the evening. When I have seen all I want,
26:30
I will come down to the city, and tomorrow morning, in return for
26:33
your trouble, I will give you all a good dinner with meat and wine.
26:38
Then Theoclemenus said, and what my dear young friend, is to become
26:42
of me? To whose house among all your chief men am I to repair?
26:48
Or shall I go straight to your house and to your mother? At
26:52
any other time, replied Telemachus, I should have bidden you to go to
26:56
my own house, for you would find no want of hospitality. At the
27:00
present moment, however, you would not be comfortable there, for I shall
27:03
be away and my mother will not see you. She does not often show
27:07
herself even to the suitors, but sits at our loom, weaving in an
27:11
upper chamber, out of their way. But I can tell you a man
27:15
whose house you can go to. I mean Eurymicus, the son of Polybus,
27:18
who is held in the highest estimation by every one in Ithaca. He
27:22
is much the best man and the most persistent wooer of all those who are
27:26
paying court to my mother and trying to take Ulysses place. Jove, however,
27:32
in Heaven alone knows whether or no they will come to a bad end
27:36
before the marriage takes place. As he was speaking, a bird flew by
27:41
upon his right hand, a hawk, Apollo's messenger. It held a dove
27:45
in its talons, and the feathers, as it tore them off, fell
27:48
to the ground midway between Telemachus and the ship. On this Theoclemanius called him
27:55
apart and caught him by the hand. Telemachus said he that bird did not
28:00
fly in your right hand without having been sent here by some god. As
28:03
soon as I saw it, I knew it was an omen. It means
28:07
that you will remain powerful, and there will be no house in Ithaca more
28:11
royal than your own. I wish it may prove so, answered Telemachus.
28:15
If it does, I will show you so much good will and give you
28:18
so many presents that all who meet you will congratulate you. Then he said
28:25
to his friend Piius Perius, son of Clytius, you have throughout shown yourself
28:30
the most willing to serve me of all those who have accompanied me to Pelos.
28:36
I wish you would take this stranger to your own house and entertain him
28:38
hospitably till I can come for him. And Piius answered Telemachus, you may
28:45
stay away as long as you please, but I will look after him for
28:48
you, and he shall find no lack of hospitality. As he spoke,
28:52
he went on board and bade the others do so also, and loose the
28:56
hawcers. So they took their places in the shop. But Telemachus bound on
29:02
his sandals and took a long and doughty spear with a head of sharpened bronze
29:07
from the deck of the ship. Then they loosed the hawsers, thrust the
29:11
ship off from land, and made on towards the city, as they had
29:15
been told to do, while Telemachus strode on as fast as he could,
29:18
till he reached the homestead where his countless herds of swine were feeding, and
29:22
where dwelt the excellent swineherd who was so devoted a servant to his master.
29:30
End of Book fifteen