Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/236

200 came on, the North wind having fallen, frosty, but above there was snow, like as hoar-frost, cold, and ice was congealed around our shields. There all the others had cloaks and garments, and they slept quiet, wrapping round their shoulders with their shields; but I, having set out with my companions, foolishly left my cloak, since I did not suppose that it would be excessively cold: but I followed, having a shield only and a shining girdle. But when it was now the third part of the night, and the stars had departed, then I addressed Ulysses, being near me, nudging him with my elbow (but he readily listened): 'O noble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, I shall no longer be amongst the living, but the weather overcomes me; for I have not a cloak: a deity deceived me, so that I should only have one garment: but this can now no longer be avoided.' Thus I spoke, but he immediately had this plan in his mind, such a one was he to take counsel, and to fight. And speaking in a low voice, he thus addressed me: 'Be silent now, for fear some one else of the Grecians should hear thee.' He spoke, and he held his head upon his elbow, and spoke: 'Hear me, friends, a divine dream has come upon me in my sleep; for we have come very far from the ships: but let some one go to tell Agamemnon, son of Atreus, the shepherd of the people, in order that he may incite more [men] to come from the ships.' Thus he spoke, but Thoas, son of Andræmon, quickly arose, and he threw off his purple cloak, and set out to run to the ships; but I lay in his garment gladly; and golden-throned Morning shone. Would that I were now thus young, and my strength was firm, then some one of the swineherds in the stalls would give me a cloak, on both accounts, through love and through reverence of such a man: but now they disregard me, having evil garments on my body."

But him thou didst address in answer, O swineherd Eumæus: "O old man, the story is blameless for thee, as to what thou hast related, nor hast thou spoken any profitless word contrary to what is right. Therefore thou shalt not now be in want of a garment, nor of any thing else of the things that are needful for a suppliant who has undergone much, and entreats one; but in the morning thou shalt shake thine own rags about thee. For there are not many cloaks and change of garments here to put on, but one only for each man. [But