Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/225

61—97. fear, when young masters rule over them: for certainty the gods have hindered the return of him at least, who indeed loved me earnestly, and would have given me possessions, such as a kind master is used to give to his servant, a house, and allotment, and a much-wooed wife, who has served him much, and God increases his toil; as also for me this labour is increased, in which I abide. Thus my master would have profited me much, if he had grown old here; but he has perished; so I wish that the race of Helen had perished entirely, since she loosed the knees of many men: for he too went on account of the honour of Agamemnon to steed-surpassing Ilium, that he might fight with the Trojans."

Thus having spoken, he quickly fastened his cloak with a girdle; and he hastened to the styes, where the litters of pigs were kept: from thence having taken two, he brought them, and sacrificed both; and he scalded them, and cut them up, and stuck them on spits. And having cooked all, then carrying it, he set it near Ulysses, warm on the very spits; and he sprinkled white meal [over the flesh], and in an ivy cup he mixed sweet wine; and he himself sat opposite him, and encouraging addressed him:

"Eat now, O stranger, the pigs which are at hand for the servants; but the suitors are eating the fatted swine, not thinking in their minds of observation or pity. The blessed gods indeed love not impious works, but honour, justice, and the righteous works of men; and even enemies and hostile men, who make incursions on a foreign land, and unto whom Jove has given booty, and [who], having filled their ships, have each gone home, upon these also strong fear of observation falls in their minds. But they even somewhat know, and have heard some voice of a god, [about] his miserable death, since they are not willing to woo justly, nor to return to their own [house]; but securely they violently destroy his goods, nor is there any sparing. For as many nights and days as are from Jove, they never sacrifice even one victim or two only; and they waste his wine, violently drawing it off. For truly his