Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/287

157—197. eyed goddess Minerva put it in the mind of the daughter of Icarus, prudent Penelope, to appear to the suitors, that as much as possible she might lay open the mind of the suitors, and be more honoured by her husband and son, than she was before. And she laughed feignedly, and spoke and said:

"Eurynome, my mind desires, though [it did not] before, to appear to the suitors, however detested. But I would speak a word to my son, which would be better, not altogether to associate with the overbearing suitors, who speak well indeed, but intend evilly afterwards."

But her the housekeeper Eurynome addressed in turn: "Of a truth indeed, my child, thou hast spoken all these things rightly; but go, and tell thy son, nor conceal it, having washed thy body and anointed thy cheeks. Do not go thus, defiled as to thy face with tears; since it is worse to grieve for ever without ceasing. For now thy son is of such an age, as thou especially didst pray to the immortals, when he was born, that thou shouldst see him with a beard."

But her prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "O Eurynome, do not advise me this, although anxious for me, to wash my body and anoint myself with oil: for the gods who possess Olympus, have destroyed my beauty, since he departed in his hollow ships. But command Autonoe and Hippodamia to come to me, that they may stand near me in the palace, for I will not go alone amongst men; for I am ashamed."

Thus she spoke; and the old woman went through out of the palace, to bear word to the women, and to urge them to return. Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva meditated something else; she shed sweet sleep upon the daughter of Icarus, and lying down she slumbered, and all her limbs were loosed there in the couch: in the mean time the divine one of goddesses gave her immortal gifts, that the Grecians might admire her: first she anointed her beauteous face with ambrosial loveliness, such as that with which beautiful-crowned Venus is anointed, when she goes to the delightful chorus of the Graces. And she made her taller and larger to look upon: and she made her whiter than sawn ivory. The divine one of goddesses thus having done, departed. And the white-armed handmaidens came from the palace, talking as they