Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/262

226 things, whatever her dear son had commanded him to relate. And after he had told all his commission, he then went to go to the swine, and he left the enclosures and the palace. But the suitors were vexed and astounded in their mind: and they come out of the palace, outside the great wall of the hall, and there they sat before the doors: but Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to harangue them:

"O friends, a daring deed has in truth been performed with mighty boldness by Telemachus, this voyage [forsooth]; but we said it would not be accomplished. But come, we will draw out a black ship, whichever is the best; and will collect together fishermen for rowers, who with all haste may bid them return home quickly."

Scarcely had all been said, when Amphinomus, turning from his place, beheld the ship within the very deep haven, and [the crew] furling the sails, and holding the oars in their hands. And laughing pleasantly, he addressed his companions:

"We need not any more urge on any message; for they are within; either some one of the gods has told this to them, or they have themselves seen the ship passing, but could not reach it."

Thus he spoke; but they rising up, went to the shore of the sea. And they immediately drew the black ship on the shore, and the noble-minded servants took away their arms. But they went together to the assembly, nor did they suffer any one of the others, either young or old, to sit with them: but Antinous, son of Eupithes, addressed them:

"Alas! how have the gods freed this man from evil. During the days, spies in continual succession sat on the windy promontories; and with the setting sun we never slept on shore during the night, but sailing with our swift ship in the sea, we waited for the divine Morn, lying in ambush for Telemachus, that having taken, we might destroy him: but in the mean while the deity has brought him home. But let us here devise mournful destruction for Telemachus; nor let him escape us; for I do not think that, while he is alive, at least, these things will be accomplished. For he is himself knowing in counsel and in thought; nor do the people any longer at all