came:

12 but sweet sleep left her, and she wiped her cheeks with her hands, and spoke:

"Truly a very soft slumber has covered me who suffer grievous things; would that chaste Diana would now immediately give me as soft a death, that no longer lamenting in my mind, I might waste away my life, regretting the various excellence of a dear husband: since he was conspicuous among the Grecians."

Thus having spoken, she descended from the splendid 13 upper-rooms, not alone: [for] two handmaidens followed with her. But when the divine one of women reached the suitors, she stood near the pillar of the strong-made roof, holding up a slender veil before her cheeks: and a prudent handmaiden stood on each side of her. And their knees were loosed, and their minds were soothed with love and all desired to lie near her on her couch.

But she then addressed her dear son Telemachus: "0. Telemachus, no longer is thy mind firm, nor thy counsel: when thou wert still a child, thou didst even more meditate what was profitable in thy mind: but now, when thou art large, and hast reached the measure of youth, and a foreign man would say, that thou art the offspring of a happy man, looking at thy size and beauty; thy mind and thy counsel are no longer proper. What a deed is this which has now been done in the palace, thou who hast suffered a stranger to be treated thus in an unseemly way? How now? if any stranger sitting in our house, thus suffer from terrible violence, it would be a shame and disgrace to thee amongst men."

But her prudent Telemachus addressed in answer: "My mother, I am not indignant that thou shouldst be angry; but I consider and know every thing in my mind, both what is good and what is worse: (but before I was still a babe :) but I cannot perceive all things that are prudent; for these astound me, meditating evils, sitting one with another; and I have no assistants. The conflict however between the stranger and Irus was not made by the will of the suitors; but he was superior in strength. Would that, O father Jove, and Minerva, and Apollo, the suitors may now thus nod their heads,

12 Literally, "coming with talking."

13 See note on xvi. 445.

overcome in our palace, some in the court, and some within the house, and the limbs of each were loosed; as now that Irus sits at the court gates nodding with his head, like unto a drunken man, nor can he stand upright on his feet, nor return home, wherever he has to return: since his limbs are loosed."

Thus then they spoke to one another, but Eurymachus addressed Penelope in words:

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"O prudent Penelope, daughter of Icarus, if all the Grecians in Iasian Argos should behold thee, more suitors would feast in thine house in the morning, since thou excellest women, in form and size, and equal mind within."

But him prudent Penelope then answered: "O Eurymachus, the immortals indeed destroyed my excellence, and form, and person, when the Grecians embarked for Troy: and amongst them was my husband Ulysses. If he should come and manage my household, so would my fame be greater and more noble; but now I am grieved, for so many evils has the deity made to rush upon me. When indeed he went away, leaving his paternal land, taking my right hand by the wrist, he addressed me: 'O lady, I think not that all the wellgreaved Greeks will return from Troy unharmed, for they say that the Trojans are warriors, both javelin-men, and drawers of arrows, and mounters on swift-footed steeds, who would very soon determine the great contest of equal war. Therefore I know not, whether God will let me return, or whether I shall be taken there in Troy: but let all things here be a care to thee. Be mindful of my father and mother in the palace, as now, or still more, when I am away. But when thou seest our son with a beard, marry whom thou wilt, leaving him in thine house.' Thus he spoke; but all these things are now accomplished. It shall be night when hateful marriage shall meet with me undone; from whom Jove has taken away fortune. But this severe grief comes upon my heart and mind: nor was this the usual custom of suitors hitherto, who wish to woo a good wife, and the daughter of a rich man, and contend with each other: they indeed bring oxen and rich sheep, as a feast for the friends of the damsel, and give glorious gifts; but do not consume the livelihood of others with impunity."

Thus she spoke; and much-enduring divine Ulysses re

joiced, because she drew gifts from them, and soothed their mind with mild words; but his 14 thoughts meditated other things.

But her Antinous, son of Eupithes, addressed in turn: "O prudent Penelope, daughter of Icarus, receive gifts from whoever of the Greeks chooses to bring them hither; for it is not well to refuse a present. But we will neither go to our employments, or any where else, before thou art wedded to whoever is the best of the Grecians."

Thus spoke Antinous, and his discourse pleased them: and each sent a herald to bring presents. For Antinous indeed, he brought a large, beautiful; variegated robe; and there were twelve golden clasps in all upon it, fitted with well-bent eyes. 15 And for Eurymachus, he immediately brought a muchvariegated necklace of gold set with amber, like as the sun. And two servants brought ear-rings for Eurydamus, set with triple eye-like drops, beautifully wrought, and much beauty shone from them. And the servants of Pisander, the king, son of Polyctor, brought a collar, a very beautiful ornament. And different of the Grecians brought different handsome gifts. The divine one of women then ascended to the upper rooms; and with her the handmaidens carried the very beautiful presents. But they turning themselves to the dance and lovely song were delighted; and they remained until evening came: and black evening came over them while being delighted. Immediately they placed three braziers 16 in the palace, that they might give light: and they put dry wood around, dried some time ago, very arid, lately cleft with brass and they mixed brands with them: and the women-servants of patient Ulysses lit them up by turns; but the noble much-planning Ulysses himself addressed them:

"Ye women-servants of Ulysses, the long-absent king, go to the house, where is the venerable queen: and near her turn the distaff; and sitting in the palace, delight her, or comb the wool with your hands. But I will give light to all these. For even if they desire to wait till beautiful-throned morn, they shall not overcome me: for I am able to endure much."

Thus he spoke; but they laughed, and looked at one another. But fair-cheeked Melantho chided him shamefully: 14 It is doubtful whether the vóoç refers to Penelope or Ulysses. 15 See Loewe. 16 λαμπτῆρας, ἐσχάρας μετεώρους. Scholiast.

and

her Dolius indeed begot, but Penelope brought her up, nurtured her as her own child, and gave her play-things to delight her mind: but not even thus did she possess the grief of Penelope in her breast. But she was mingled with Eurymachus and loved him; she then chided Ulysses with reproachful words:

"Wretched stranger, thou art some one stricken out of thy senses: thou dost not wish to sleep, going to a brazier's house, or to the public meeting-place; but here thou [boldly speakest much amongst many men; nor dost thou fear at all in thy mind: either wine has laid hold of thine understanding, or thou hast always such a disposition, thou who utterest vain words]. Dost thou exult vainly, because thou hast conquered the vagrant Irus? [Take care], lest some other better than Irus should soon rise up, who, cutting thee about the head with his sturdy hands, will send thee out of the house, besmearing thee with much blood."

But her much-planning Ulysses, sternly beholding, addressed: "Surely I will soon go thither, impudent one, and tell Telemachus, what things thou speakest, that he may forthwith cut thee up limb by limb."

Thus having spoken, he terrified 17 the women with his words: and they went through the house; and the limbs of each were loosed under them through fear; for they said [within themselves] that he spoke truly. But he stood looking upon all, giving light near to the burning hearths: moreover his heart meditated in his breast things which were not to be unaccomplished. But Minerva did not suffer the haughty suitors altogether to refrain from their mind-paining insolence, that grief might still more come upon the heart of Ulysses, son of Laertes. And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak to them, scoffing at Ulysses; and he caused laughter amongst his companions.

"Hear me, ye suitors of the illustrious queen, whilst I speak the things which the mind in my breast commands me. This man does not come to the house of Ulysses without the will of some god: to me however the flame of the torches seems to be from him, and his head; since he has no hair, not even a little."

He spoke, and at the same time addressed city-destroying 17 Literally, "fluttered."

Ulysses: "Stranger, art thou willing to serve, if I would take thee, at the extreme part of the country, (but thou shalt have sufficient pay,) collecting heaps of stones, and planting tall trees? There indeed I would supply thee with food for a whole year, and would put garments on thee, and would give thee sandals for thy feet. But since indeed thou hast learnt evil works, thou wilt not be willing to hasten to work; but thou desirest to beg through the people, until thou hast wherewith to feed thine insatiable belly."

But him much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: Eurymachus, if there were to be a contention of work between us in the spring season, when the days are long, in the grass, and I had a well-bent sickle, and thou also hadst such a one, that we might make trial of our work, fasting until dark, and there was grass at hand; or if again there were oxen to drive, which are the best, sleek, large, both well fed with grass, of equal age, bearing equal burdens, whose strength was not weak, and there was a field of four acres, and the glebe yielded to the plough, then thou wouldst see me, if I would cut through continual furrows. If again the son of Saturn should to-day raise up war from any place, but I had a shield and two spears, and a helmet, all brass, fitted upon my temples; then thou shouldst see me mixed amongst the first fore-fighters; nor wouldst thou speak, reproaching my belly. But thou insultest me very much, and thy mind is cruel; and thou thinkest that thou art some great and mighty person, because thou dost associate with few, and those not excellent: but if Ulysses should come and reach his paternal land, soon the gates, although they are very wide, would be narrow for thee when flying out of doors through the portico."

Thus he spoke; but Eurymachus was more wroth at heart, and sternly regarding him, he addressed to him winged words:

"Ah! wretched one, surely I will soon accomplish some evil upon thee, such things dost thou speak boldly amongst men; nor dost thou at all fear in thy mind; wine in truth has laid hold of thine understanding, or thou hast always such a disposition, thou who utterest vain words. [Dost thou exult vainly, because thou hast conquered the wanderer Irus?"]