Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/192

156 understanding; and thou hast related thy story skilfully, as a bard, the sad cares of all the Greeks and of thyself. But come, tell me this, and relate it truly, if thou hast seen any of thy godlike companions, who followed together with thyself to Ilium, and drew on their fate there. This night is very long, immense; nor is there any time to sleep in the palace; but do thou relate to me wondrous deeds: and I could bear it even until divine morning, when thou wouldst endure to recount to me in my palace thine own sorrows."

And him much-planning Ulysses answering addressed: "O King Alcinous, most illustrious of all the people, there is a season for many words, and a season also for sleep. But if thou still desirest to listen, I would not grudge to relate to thee other even more grievous sorrows of my companions, who perished afterwards; who escaped indeed from the sad war of the Trojans, but perished on their return, by the design of an evil woman. When chaste Proserpine had dispersed the souls of women in different places, the soul of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, came up, sorrowing: and the rest were assembled around him, as many as died, and drew on their fate in the house of Ægisthus together with him; and he immediately knew me, when he had drunk the black blood; and he wept shrilly, shedding the warm tear, holding out his hands to me, desiring to lay hold of me. But he had no longer firm strength, nor power at all, such as was before in his bending limbs. I wept indeed, beholding him, and pitied him in my mind, and addressing him I spoke winged words:

O most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, what fate of long-sleeping death subdued thee? Did Neptune subdue thee in thy ships, raising an immense blast of cruel winds? Or did unjust men injure thee on land, while thou wert cutting off their oxen, and beautiful flocks of sheep, or contending for a city, or for women?'

"Thus I spoke; but he immediately addressed me, answering: