Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/303

331—372. self blameless, and knows what is blameless, his fame strangers bear far and wide amongst all men: and many call him excellent."

But her much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "O venerable wife of Ulysses, son of Laertes, cloaks and beautiful rugs are indeed a burden to me, since I was first separated from the snowy mountains of Crete, going in a long-oared ship. But I will lie, as I have hitherto rested during the sleepless nights. For already have I lain many nights in an unseemly bed, and have waited for beautiful-throned divine morning. Nor are foot-baths for my feet at all agreeable to my mind; nor shall any of the women, who are servants in thy house, touch my foot, unless there is some old woman, who kens what is prudent, who has endured so many things in her mind, as I have, I would not grudge that she should touch my feet."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in answer: "Dear stranger! for not yet has any foreign stranger come, thus prudent, or more welcome to my house, so very skilfully dost thou speak all things that are prudent: I have an old woman, who possesses prudent counsels in her mind, who nurtured well and brought up him, wretched one, having received him in her hands, when his mother first brought him forth, she will wash thy feet, although having but little strength. But come now, O prudent Euryclea, rising up, wash one who is of equal age with thy master: such perhaps is Ulysses now as to feet and hands. For quickly do mortals grow old in misfortune."

Thus she spoke: but the old woman covered her face with her hands, and shed warm tears; and she uttered a mournful word:

"Alas for me! child, I know not what to do on thine account; surely Jove hates thee above men, thee who didst possess a godlike mind. For no one of mortals has ever burnt so many rich thighs to thunder-rejoicing Jove, nor chosen hecatombs, as thou hast given him, praying that thou mightest reach a quiet old age, and mightest bring up thine illustrious son: but now he has thus altogether taken away from thee the day of return. So perchance the women of foreign hosts mock at him, when he comes under their illustrious dwellings, as these impudent ones all mock at thee; shunning