Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/260

224 canst think of any assistant, mention him; whoever would aid us with a ready mind."

But him much-enduring divine Ulysses addressed in turn: "Therefore I will tell thee; and do thou attend, and listen to me, and consider, if Minerva, with father Jove, will suffice for us, or shall I think of some other assistant?"

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "These twain whom thou mentionest are excellent assistants, although sitting on high in the clouds; they also rule over other men, and the immortal gods."

But him much-enduring divine Ulysses addressed in turn: "They twain indeed will not be a long time absent from the severe contest, when the strength of Mars is determined in my palace between the suitors and us. But do thou go home, with the dawning morn, and associate with the perfidious suitors: but the swineherd shall afterwards take me to the city, like unto a sordid beggar and aged man. And if they shall dishonour me in the house, let thy dear heart endure it in thy breast, when I am ill treated, although they should drag me through the house by my feet, or should strike at me with weapons: but do thou looking on restrain thyself; but, however, desire them to cease from their foolishness, speaking to them with mild words; but they will not obey thee; for their fatal day now stands near them. [And I tell thee something else, but do thou lay it up in thy mind; when much-counselling Minerva shall put it in my mind, I will nod to thee with my head; do thou then, when thou perceivest it, take as many warlike arms as lie in the palace, and place them in the recess of the lofty chamber; but deceive the suitors with mild words, when desiring them they inquire of you, [saying,] 'I have placed them out of the smoke; since they are no longer like unto those, which Ulysses left, departing for Troy, but they are soiled, as far as the vapour of the fire has reached them. But this also of still greater consequence the son of Saturn has put in my mind, lest by chance intoxicated, having raised a quarrel amongst you, ye should wound one another, and disgrace the feast, and the wooing; for the steel of itself draws on a man.' But for us alone