Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/251

491—530. meat and drink; and thou livest a good life: but I come here, having wandered over many cities of mortals."

Thus they spoke to one another; but they slept for no long time, but for a very little while; for beautiful-throned Morn soon came. But upon the shore the companions of Telemachus loosed the sails, and quickly took down the mast, and drew it on to the port with their oars. And they threw out the anchors, and bound down the halsers. And they themselves went out upon the beach of the sea, and got ready a meal, and mixed the dark wine. But when they had taken away the desire of drinking and eating, to them prudent Telemachus began discourse:

"Do ye indeed now drive the black ship to the city, but I will go to the country and to [my] shepherds; but in the evening, having seen my fields, I will go to the city: and in the morning I will give you wages for your journey, an excellent feast of flesh and sweet-drinking wine."

But him godlike Theoclymenus addressed in turn: "Where shall I go, my dear son? to the house of whom of the men, who rule over rugged Ithaca, shall I come? Should I go direct to thy mother's and thine house?"

And him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "Otherwise I should desire thee to go to our house; for there would be no lacking of hospitable entertainment; but it is worse for thee [to do so]: since I shall be absent, nor will my mother see thee; for she does not by any means appear frequently to the suitors in the house, but away from them weaves a web in the upper room. But I mention to you another man, to whom thou mayest come, Eurymachus, the noble son of wise Polybus, whom the Ithacans now regard equally as a god. For he is by far the best man, and is especially desirous to marry my mother, and to obtain the honour due to Ulysses. But Olympian Jove, who dwells in the sky, knows this, if their evil day will end before marriage."

Whilst he spoke thus, a bird flew on his right hand, a hawk, the swift messenger of Apollo; and in its feet it tore a dove, holding it, and poured the feathers down on the ground, between the ship and Telemachus himself. But Theoclymenus, calling him apart from his companions, took hold of him by the hand, and spoke and addressed him:

"O Telemachus, this bird did not fly on thy right hand