Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/100

64 leather thongs, [all things rightly: and ahove they spread out the white sails.] And the high-minded servants brought arms for them, and they moored it on high in the moist sea; and they themselves embarked, and there they took supper, and waited till evening came on.

But prudent Penelope, having ascended to the upper room, lay without taking food, without taking any thing to eat or drink, meditating whether her blameless son would escape death, or whether he would be subdued by the overbearing suitors. But as many things as a lion is wont to meditate in a crowd of men, fearing, when they bring the deceitful circle around him; upon her meditating so many things sweet sleep fell: and she slept reclining; and all her limbs were relaxed. Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva thought of other things; she made an image, and it was like in its body to the lady Iphthima, the daughter of magnanimous Icarius; whom Eumelus, who inhabits a house in Pheræ, had married. And she sent her to the house of divine Ulysses; if she could by any means make Penelope, mourning and grieving, cease from her wailing and tearful grief. But she entered the chamber near the thong of the bolt, and she stood over her head and addressed her in words.

"Art thou sleeping, Penelope, sorrowing in thy dear heart? the gods who live easily by no means suffer thee to weep, nor to be sad, since thy son is still about to return; for he is not at all a sinner against the gods."

But her prudent Penelope answered, sleeping very sweetly at the gates of dreams: "Why, my sister, hast thou come hither? for before thou hast not visited me, since thou dost inhabit a house very far off: and thou exhortest me to cease from my toil, and the many pains which irritate me in my mind and breast: I who before lost my excellent husband, lion-hearted, adorned amongst the Grecians with all kinds of virtues, excellent; whose glory is wide throughout Greece and the middle of Argos. Now my beloved son is gone in a hollow ship, childish, nor well experienced in labours, or