The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy

dwelling in the wildest part of the island, and had built a wall round it, and had made for the swine pens in the courtyard-twelve pens, and in each pen there were fifty swi

ooked an ancient beggar, Eum?us said, 'Old man, it is well that my dogs did not tear thee, for they might have brought upon me the shame of thy death. I have grief and pains enough, the gods know, without such a hap

and spread for him a shaggy goat-skin. Odysseus was glad of his servant's welcome, and he said, 'May Ze

my master Odysseus should return. Ah, if Odysseus were here, he would give me something which I could hold as mine own-a piece of ground t

the meat. When all was cooked, he brought portions to Odysseus sprinkled with barley meal, and he brought him,

to her-tell her a tale of having seen or of having heard of her lord, to win her ear. But as for Odysseus, no matter what wanderers or vagrants say, he will never return-dogs, or wild birds, or the fishes of the deep have devoured his

ee that Odysseus will return and in this same year. And as sure as the old moon wanes and the young moon is born, he will take vengeanc

and cheated us with a story. He told us that he had seen Odysseus in the land of the Cretans, in the house of the hero Idomeneus, mend

into their pens. Supper time came on, and Eum?us and Odysseus and the younger swineherds sat down to a meal. Eum?us carved the swineflesh, giving the best portion to Odysse

for treating a stranger kindly, said, 'Eat, str

e young and could endure this bitter night! O that I were better off! Then would one of you swineherds give m

e kept for a covering when great storms should arise. Then, that he might better guard the swine, Eum?us, wrapping himself up in

uide. I would go to the house of Odysseus, and see if I can earn a little from the wooers who are there. Right well could I serve them if th

until the son of Odysseus, Telemachus, returns, and he will do something for thee. Go not near th

s and the younger swineherds were seated at the fire, Odysseus said, 'Thou, too, Eum?us, hast w

F EUM?US TH

er against Ortygia. That island has two cit

n, and there was in my father's house a Ph?nician slave-woman who nursed me. Once, when she was washing clothes, one of

my father was named Artybas, and was famous for his riches. Sea robbers caught me one day as I was cross

e still alive, I know, and they have lost none of their

she would come down to it, and that she would bring what gold she could lay her hands on away from her master's house, and that she would

chain of gold with amber beads strung here and there, for my mother to buy. And, while my mother and her handmaids were handli

me back, they raised the mast and sails, and took the oars in their hands, and drew the ship away from our land. We sailed away and I was left stricken at heart. For six days we sailed over th

sent me to work in the fields. But always she treated me kindly. Now Laertes' lady is dead, she wasted away from grief when she heard no tidings of her only son, Odysseus. Laertes yet lives, but since the death o

ad lain in wait for him, and had posted sentinels to watch for his ship; nevertheless Telemachus had passed by without being seen by his enemies. And having come to Ithaka, he bade one of his comrad