Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/264

228 a slender veil before her cheeks; and she chided Antinous, and spoke and addressed him by name:

"O Antinous, thou who possessest insolence, thou contriver of evil, they say indeed that thou art the most excellent amongst those of thine age in the people of Ithaca in counsel and in words: but thou indeed art not such a one. Frantic one, why dost thou devise death and fate for Telemachus, nor revere suppliants, for whom Jove is a witness? it is not holy to devise evils against one another. Dost thou not know, when thy father came hither a fugitive, dreading the people? for they were very wroth, because following Taphian pirates he injured the Thesprotians; and they were our friends; they wished to destroy him, and to tear in pieces his dear heart, and to consume his large strength-yielding livelihood: but Ulysses hindered and kept them off, although anxious. His house thou now consumest in dishonour, and wooest his wife, and slayest his son, and dost greatly afflict me. But I charge thee to cease, and to exhort the others [to do so]."

But her Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered in turn: "O daughter of Icarus, prudent Penelope, be confident, let not these things be a care to thee in thy mind. There is not that man, nor will there be, nor can there be born, who shall lay his hands on thy son Telemachus, at least whilst I am alive, and behold [the light] upon the earth. For thus I tell thee, and it shall indeed be performed, his black blood shall quickly flow around my spear; since city-destroying Ulysses often having seated me on his knees, put roasted flesh in my hands, and gave me ruby wine. Therefore to me Telemachus is far dearest of all men; nor do I advise him at all to fear death from the suitors; but from the gods it is not possible to avoid it."

Thus he spoke, cheering [her], but he himself prepared destruction for him. She ascending to the splendid upper rooms, wept then for her beloved husband Ulysses; until blue-eyed Minerva shed sweet sleep over her eye-brows. And in the evening the divine swineherd came to Ulysses and his