The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tales of Troy

ut his sandals on his feet, and took his spear in h

ar from my own lips the tale of my journey. And I have an order to leave with thee. Take th

an age to wait about a hut and courtyard, obeying the orders of a master, even if that master be as good a man

with joy. To Eurycleia he spoke of the guest who had come on his ship, Theoclymenus. He told her that this guest would be in the house that day, and that he was to be treated with all honou

ulders and he carried a staff that the swineherd had given him to help him over the slippery ground. They went by a rugged path and they ca

long. He was a goatherd, and Melanthius was his name. He was leading a flock of goats fo

else is he good for. But if thou wouldst give him to me, swineherd, I would make him watch my fields, and sweep out my stalls, and carry fresh water to the kids. He'd have his dish of whey from me. But a fellow like thi

m with his flock of goats. And as he

upon the ground. But in the end he hardened his heart to endure the insult, and let

for me this wish-that he-even Odysseus-may come to his own home, and

wooers were now feasting, and Phemius the minstrel was singing to them. And when Odysseus came bef

s, standing as of old, with building beyond building; with its walls and its battlements; its courts and its doors. The house of Odysseus, ve

I bring thee into the hall and before the company of wooers, w

e go in before me

ad trained him before he went to the wars of Troy. Argos was his name. Now as Odysseus came near, the hound Argos knew him, and stood up before him and whined and dropped his ears, but had no strength to come near him. Odysseus knew the hound and stopped and gazed

etchedly clad and leaning on an old man's staff. Odysseus looked upon the young lords who

ad and meat, and said, 'Take these, and give them to the stranger at the doorwa

song. When it was finished he rose up, and went int

eherd, why didst thou bring this fellow here? Have we not enough vagabonds? Is it n

d mine. I marvel that thou hast such good care. But wouldst thou have me drive a stranger from the door? The go

g to keep him from beggary for a three months' space,' said Antin

me a better thing than any of the others have given me. Look upon me. I too had a house of mine own, and was accounted wealthy amon

y table, thou wretched

se thou wouldst not give a grain of salt to a suppliant. And even whilst thou dost sit at another ma

e back, at the base of the right shoulder. Such a blow would have knocked another man over, but Odysseus stood steadfa

father. But he let no tear fall from his eyes and he sat very still, brooding in

w that a man may get in battle. But in the blow that Antinous has given me-a blow aimed at a beggar-there is pain and there is shame. A

ut, 'or else thou wilt be dragged through the house by t

t Odysseus. Eum?us came and told him of Penelope's request. But Odysseus said, 'Eum?us, right willing am I to tell the truth about Odysseus to the fair and wise Penelope. But now I may not speak to her.

lord will return to his house. As I came here on the ship of Telemachus, thy son, I saw a happening that is an omen of the return of Odysseus. A bird flew out on the right, a hawk.

way to look after his swine. But still the wooers continued to feast, and s