Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/276

240 any one from evil. And he set out on the right hand to beg of every man, stretching out his hand every where, as if he were a beggar of old. But they, pitying him, bestowed on him, and were astonished at him; and asked of one another, who he was, and whence he came. But them Melanthius, the goatherd, [thus] addressed:

"Hear me, ye suitors of the illustrious queen, with regard to this stranger: for I have seen him before. The swineherd forsooth brought him hither; but I do not clearly know him, from whence he boasts his race to be."

Thus he spoke; but Antinous rebuked the swineherd with words: "O notorious swineherd, why didst thou bring him to the city? have we not enough of wanderers, and other sordid beggars, the destroyers of banquets? dost thou profit at all, that assembled here they consume the property of thy master? and from whence didst thou invite him?"

But him thou didst address in answer, O swineherd Eumæus: "O Antinous, although thou art good, thou dost not speak honourable things: for who, when he himself comes from elsewhere, invites another stranger, except [one] of those, who are public officers? a prophet, or curer of ills, or carpenter of planks, or even a divine bard, who may delight them, singing? for these mortals over the boundless earth are invited: no one would invite a beggar, who will devour him himself. But thou art always, above all the suitors, severe to the servants of Ulysses, and especially to me; but I care not, so long as prudent Penelope and godlike Telemachus live in the palace."

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "Be silent, do not answer him much with words. But Antinous is ever accustomed to contend evilly with bitter words, and he encourages others also."

He spoke, and to Antinous addressed winged words: "O Antinous, thou takest good care of me, as a father of his son, thou who commandest me to send a stranger from the palace by a violent speech; may not the deity bring this to pass. Take and give to him: I grudge it not: for I advise it. Nor in this regard my mother, nor any other of the servants, who are in the house of divine Ulysses. But thou hast no such