Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/274

238 blows; my mind is daring, since I have suffered many evils on the waves, and in war: and let this happen after these. But it is not possible to conceal a craving belly, pernicious, which gives many evils to men: on account of this even well-yoked ships are fitted out for the barren sea, bringing evils to the hostile."

Thus they spoke to one another. But Argus, the dog of patient Ulysses, lying down, held up his head and ears, [the dog] which he himself formerly nourished, nor did he enjoy the use [of him]: but he previously went away to sacred Ilium: but young men had before led him against wild goats, and harts, and hares. There he lay cast out, his master having gone away, amongst much dung of mules and oxen, which was spread before the doors in great quantities: until the servants of Ulysses should take it away to manure the extensive ground: there lay the dog Argus, full of vermin. Then, when he saw Ulysses near, he fawned with his tail, and laid down both his ears: but he could no more come nearer his master; but he beholding him at a distance wiped away a tear, easily escaping the notice of Eumæus: but he inquired of him immediately:

"O Eumæus, it is indeed a wonder; this dog lies in the manure; he is beautiful as to his body, but this I do not well know, whether besides his beauty of form he was swift to run, or uselessly, as are the dogs at the tables of men, his masters take care of him for the sake of ornament."

But him thou didst address in answer, O swineherd Eumæus: "This indeed is the dog of a man who has died far off. If he were such, both in body and in feats, as Ulysses left him, when going to Troy, thou wouldst soon be surprised, beholding his swiftness and courage. For he did not fly from any monster that he had pursued in the thickets of the deep wood: and he was well acquainted with their tracks: but he is now possessed by misfortune: and his master has perished elsewhere away from his country; and the neglectful women do not take care of him. But servants, when their masters no longer rule over them, are then no longer willing to do proper things: for loud-sounding Jove takes away half the excellence of a man, when the day of slavery seizes hold of him."

Thus having spoken, he entered the well-built house: and he went straight through the palace to the illustrious suitors.