labour for them； as for myself； they gave me to a friend who met them；
to take to Cyprus； Dmetor by name； son of Iasus； who was a great man
in Cyprus。 Thence I am come hither in a state of great misery。〃
Then Antinous said； 〃What god can have sent such a pestilence to
plague us during our dinner？ Get out； into the open part of the court；
or I will give you Egypt and Cyprus over again for your insolence
and importunity； you have begged of all the others； and they have
given you lavishly； for they have abundance round them； and it is easy
to be free with other people's property when there is plenty of it。〃
On this Ulysses began to move off； and said； 〃Your looks； my fine
sir； are better than your breeding； if you were in your own house
you would not spare a poor man so much as a pinch of salt； for
though you are in another man's； and surrounded with abundance； you
cannot find it in you to give him even a piece of bread。〃
This made Antinous very angry； and he scowled at him saying； 〃You
shall pay for this before you get clear of the court。〃 With these
words he threw a footstool at him； and hit him on the right
shoulder…blade near the top of his back。 Ulysses stood firm as a
rock and the blow did not even stagger him； but he shook his head in
silence as he brooded on his revenge。 Then he went back to the
threshold and sat down there； laying his well…filled wallet at his
feet。
〃Listen to me；〃 he cried； 〃you suitors of Queen Penelope； that I may
speak even as I am minded。 A man knows neither ache nor pain if he
gets hit while fighting for his money； or for his sheep or his cattle；
and even so Antinous has hit me while in the service of my miserable
belly； which is always getting people into trouble。 Still； if the poor
have gods and avenging deities at all； I pray them that Antinous may
come to a bad end before his marriage。〃
〃Sit where you are； and eat your victuals in silence； or be off
elsewhere；〃 shouted Antinous。 〃If you say more I will have you dragged
hand and foot through the courts； and the servants shall flay you
alive。〃
The other suitors were much displeased at this； and one of the young
men said； 〃Antinous； you did ill in striking that poor wretch of a
tramp： it will be worse for you if he should turn out to be some
god… and we know the gods go about disguised in all sorts of ways as
people from foreign countries； and travel about the world to see who
do amiss and who righteously。〃
Thus said the suitors； but Antinous paid them no heed。 Meanwhile
Telemachus was furious about the blow that had been given to his
father； and though no tear fell from him； he shook his head in silence
and brooded on his revenge。
Now when Penelope heard that the beggar had been struck in the
banqueting…cloister； she said before her maids； 〃Would that Apollo
would so strike you； Antinous；〃 and her waiting woman Eurynome
answered； 〃If our prayers were answered not one of the suitors would
ever again see the sun rise。〃 Then Penelope said； 〃Nurse； I hate every
single one of them； for they mean nothing but mischief； but I hate
Antinous like the darkness of death itself。 A poor unfortunate tramp
has come begging about the house for sheer want。 Every one else has
given him something to put in his wallet； but Antinous has hit him
on the right shoulder…blade with a footstool。〃
Thus did she talk with her maids as she sat in her own room； and
in the meantime Ulysses was getting his dinner。 Then she called for
the swineherd and said； 〃Eumaeus； go and tell the stranger to come
here； I want to see him and ask him some questions。 He seems to have
travelled much； and he may have seen or heard something of my
unhappy husband。〃
To this you answered； O swineherd Eumaeus； 〃If these Achaeans；
Madam； would only keep quiet； you would be charmed with the history of
his adventures。 I had him three days and three nights with me in my
hut； which was the first place he reached after running away from
his ship； and he has not yet completed the story of his misfortunes。
If he had been the most heaven…taught minstrel in the whole world；
on whose lips all hearers hang entranced； I could not have been more
charmed as I sat in my hut and listened to him。 He says there is an
old friendship between his house and that of Ulysses； and that he
comes from Crete where the descendants of Minos live； after having
been driven hither and thither by every kind of misfortune； he also
declares that he has heard of Ulysses as being alive and near at
hand among the Thesprotians； and that he is bringing great wealth home
with him。〃
〃Call him here； then；〃 said Penelope； 〃that I too may hear his
story。 As for the suitors； let them take their pleasure indoors or out
as they will； for they have nothing to fret about。 Their corn and wine
remain unwasted in their houses with none but servants to consume
them； while they keep hanging about our house day after day
sacrificing our oxen； sheep； and fat goats for their banquets； and
never giving so much as a thought to the quantity of wine they
drink。 No estate can stand such recklessness； for we have now no
Ulysses to protect us。 If he were to come again； he and his son
would soon have their revenge。〃
As she spoke Telemachus sneezed so loudly that the whole house
resounded with it。 Penelope laughed when she heard this； and said to
Eumaeus； 〃Go and call the stranger； did you not hear how my son
sneezed just as I was speaking？ This can only mean that all the
suitors are going to be killed； and that not one of them shall escape。
Furthermore I say； and lay my saying to your heart： if I am
satisfied that the stranger is speaking the truth I shall give him a
shirt and cloak of good wear。〃
When Eumaeus heard this he went straight to Ulysses and said；
〃Father stranger； my mistress Penelope； mother of Telemachus； has sent
for you； she is in great grief； but she wishes to hear anything you
can tell her about her husband； and if she is satisfied that you are
speaking the truth； she will give you a shirt and cloak； which are the
very things that you are most in want of。 As for bread； you can get
enough of that to fill your belly； by begging about the town； and
letting those give that will。〃
〃I will tell Penelope；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃nothing but what is
strictly true。 I know all about her husband； and have been partner
with him in affliction； but I am afraid of passing。 through this crowd
of cruel suitors； for their pride and insolence reach heaven。 Just
now； moreover； as I was going about the house without doing any
harm； a man gave me a blow that hurt me very much； but neither
Telemachus nor any one else defended me。 Tell Penelope； therefore；
to be patient and wait till sundown。 Let her give me a seat close up
to the fire； for my clothes are worn very thin… you know they are； for
you have seen them ever since I first asked you to help me… she can
then ask me about the return of her husband。〃
The swineherd went back when he heard this； and Penelope said as she
saw him cross the threshold； 〃Why do you not bring him here；
Eumaeus？ Is he afraid that some one will ill…treat him； or is he shy
of coming inside the house at all？ Beggars should not be shamefaced。〃
To this you answered； O swineherd Eumaeus； 〃The stranger is quite
reasonable。 He is avoiding the suitors； and is only doing what any one
else would do。 He asks you to wait till sundown； and it will be much
better； madam； that you should have him all to yourself； when you
can hear him and talk to him as you will。〃
〃The man is no fool；〃 answered Penelope； 〃it would very likely be as
he says； for there are no such abominable people in the whole world as
these men are。〃
When she had done speaking Eumaeus went back to the suitors； for
he had explained everything。 Then he went up to Telemachus and said in
his ear so that none could overhear him； 〃My dear sir； I will now go
back to the pigs； to see after your property and my own business。
You will look to what is going on here； but above all be careful to
keep out of danger； for there are many who bear you ill will。 May Jove
bring them to a bad end before they do us a mischief。〃
〃Very well；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃go home when you have had your
dinner； and in the morning come here with the victims we are to
sacrifice for the day。 Leave the rest to heaven and me。〃
On this Eumaeus took his seat again； and when he had finished his
dinner he left the courts and the cloister with the men at table；
and went back to his pigs。 As for the suitors； they presently began to
amuse themselves with singing and dancing； for it was now getting on
towards evening。
BOOK XVIII。
NOW there came a certain common tramp who used to go begging all
over the city of Ithaca； and was notorious as an incorrigible
glutton and drunkard。 This man had no strength nor stay in him； but he
was a great hulking fellow to look at； his real name； the one his
mother gave him； was Arnaeus； but the young men of the place called
him Irus； because he used to run errands for any one who would send
him。 As soon as he came he began to insult Ulysses； and to try and
drive him out of his own house。
〃Be off； old man；〃 he cried；