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Idomeneus had already set sail for Troy some ten or twelve days
earlier； so I took him to my own house and showed him every kind of
hospitality； for I had abundance of everything。 Moreover； I fed the
men who were with him with barley meal from the public store； and
got subscriptions of wine and oxen for them to sacrifice to their
heart's content。 They stayed with me twelve days； for there was a gale
blowing from the North so strong that one could hardly keep one's feet
on land。 I suppose some unfriendly god had raised it for them； but
on the thirteenth day the wind dropped； and they got away。〃
Many a plausible tale did Ulysses further tell her； and Penelope
wept as she listened； for her heart was melted。 As the snow wastes
upon the mountain tops when the winds from South East and West have
breathed upon it and thawed it till the rivers run bank full with
water； even so did her cheeks overflow with tears for the husband
who was all the time sitting by her side。 Ulysses felt for her and was
for her； but he kept his eyes as hard as or iron without letting
them so much as quiver； so cunningly did he restrain his tears。
Then； when she had relieved herself by weeping； she turned to him
again and said： 〃Now； stranger； I shall put you to the test and see
whether or no you really did entertain my husband and his men； as
you say you did。 Tell me； then； how he was dressed； what kind of a man
he was to look at； and so also with his companions。〃
〃Madam；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃it is such a long time ago that I can
hardly say。 Twenty years are come and gone since he left my home；
and went elsewhither； but I will tell you as well as I can
recollect。 Ulysses wore a mantle of purple wool； double lined； and
it was fastened by a gold brooch with two catches for the pin。 On
the face of this there was a device that showed a dog holding a
spotted fawn between his fore paws； and watching it as it lay
panting upon the ground。 Every one marvelled at the way in which these
things had been done in gold； the dog looking at the fawn； and
strangling it； while the fawn was struggling convulsively to escape。
As for the shirt that he wore next his skin； it was so soft that it
fitted him like the skin of an onion； and glistened in the sunlight to
the admiration of all the women who beheld it。 Furthermore I say；
and lay my saying to your heart； that I do not know whether Ulysses
wore these clothes when he left home； or whether one of his companions
had given them to him while he was on his voyage； or possibly some one
at whose house he was staying made him a present of them； for he was a
man of many friends and had few equals among the Achaeans。 I myself
gave him a sword of bronze and a beautiful purple mantle； double
lined； with a shirt that went down to his feet； and I sent him on
board his ship with every mark of honour。 He had a servant with him； a
little older than himself； and I can tell you what he was like； his
shoulders were hunched； he was dark； and he had thick curly hair。
His name was Eurybates； and Ulysses treated him with greater
familiarity than he did any of the others； as being the most
like…minded with himself。〃
Penelope was moved still more deeply as she heard the indisputable
proofs that Ulysses laid before her； and when she had again found
relief in tears she said to him； 〃Stranger； I was already disposed
to pity you； but henceforth you shall be honoured and made welcome
in my house。 It was I who gave Ulysses the clothes you speak of。 I
took them out of the store room and folded them up myself； and I
gave him also the gold brooch to wear as an ornament。 Alas！ I shall
never welcome him home again。 It was by an ill fate that he ever set
out for that detested city whose very name I cannot bring myself
even to mention。〃
Then Ulysses answered； 〃Madam； wife of Ulysses； do not disfigure
yourself further by grieving thus bitterly for your loss； though I can
hardly blame you for doing so。 A woman who has loved her husband and
borne him children； would naturally be grieved at losing him； even
though he were a worse man than Ulysses； who they say was like a
god。 Still； cease your tears and listen to what I can tell I will hide
nothing from you； and can say with perfect truth that I have lately
heard of Ulysses as being alive and on his way home； he is among the
Thesprotians； and is bringing back much valuable treasure that he
has begged from one and another of them； but his ship and all his crew
were lost as they were leaving the Thrinacian island； for Jove and the
sun…god were angry with him because his men had slaughtered the
sun…god's cattle； and they were all drowned to a man。 But Ulysses
stuck to the keel of the ship and was drifted on to the land of the
Phaecians； who are near of kin to the immortals； and who treated him
as though he had been a god； giving him many presents； and wishing
to escort him home safe and sound。 In fact Ulysses would have been
here long ago； had he not thought better to go from land to land
gathering wealth； for there is no man living who is so wily as he
is； there is no one can compare with him。 Pheidon king of the
Thesprotians told me all this； and he swore to me… making
drink…offerings in his house as he did so… that the ship was by the
water side and the crew found who would take Ulysses to his own
country。 He sent me off first； for there happened to be a
Thesprotian ship sailing for the wheat…growing island of Dulichium；
but he showed me all treasure Ulysses had got together； and he had
enough lying in the house of king Pheidon to keep his family for ten
generations； but the king said Ulysses had gone to Dodona that he
might learn Jove's mind from the high oak tree； and know whether after
so long an absence he should return to Ithaca openly or in secret。
So you may know he is safe and will be here shortly； he is close at
hand and cannot remain away from home much longer； nevertheless I will
confirm my words with an oath； and call Jove who is the first and
mightiest of all gods to witness； as also that hearth of Ulysses to
which I have now come； that all I have spoken shall surely come to
pass。 Ulysses will return in this self same year； with the end of this
moon and the beginning of the next he will be here。〃
〃May it be even so；〃 answered Penelope； 〃if your words come true you
shall have such gifts and such good will from me that all who see
you shall congratulate you； but I know very well how it will be。
Ulysses will not return； neither will you get your escort hence； for
so surely as that Ulysses ever was； there are now no longer any such
masters in the house as he was； to receive honourable strangers or
to further them on their way home。 And now； you maids； wash his feet
for him； and make him a bed on a couch with rugs and blankets； that he
may be warm and quiet till morning。 Then； at day break wash him and
anoint him again； that he may sit in the cloister and take his meals
with Telemachus。 It shall be the worse for any one of these hateful
people who is uncivil to him； like it or not； he shall have no more to
do in this house。 For how； sir； shall you be able to learn whether
or no I am superior to others of my sex both in goodness of heart
and understanding； if I let you dine in my cloisters squalid and ill
clad？ Men live but for a little season； if they are hard； and deal
hardly； people wish them ill so long as they are alive； and speak
contemptuously of them when they are dead； but he that is righteous
and deals righteously； the people tell of his praise among all
lands； and many shall call him blessed。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Madam； I have foresworn rugs and blankets from
the day that I left the snowy ranges of Crete to go on shipboard。 I
will lie as I have lain on many a sleepless night hitherto。 Night
after night have I passed in any rough sleeping place； and waited
for morning。 Nor； again； do I like having my feet washed； I shall
not let any of the young hussies about your house touch my feet；
but； if you have any old and respectable woman who has gone through as
much trouble as I have； I will allow her to wash them。〃
To this Penelope said； 〃My dear sir； of all the guests who ever
yet