Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/313

108—145. making meal of barley and wheat, the marrow of men. The rest indeed were sleeping, when they had ground their wheat: but she alone had not yet ceased, for she was the weakest: she then, stopping the mill, spoke a word, a sign to her master:

"O father Jove, who rulest over gods and men, thou indeed hast thundered very loudly from the starry heaven, nor is there a cloud any where: thou showest this as a sign to some one: perform even now for wretched me a request, which I crave: may the suitors for the last and latest time on this day take a delightful banquet in the palace of Ulysses: they who have now loosed my knees with grievous toil, grinding their meal; now may they feast for the last time."

Thus she spoke, and divine Ulysses rejoiced in the omen, and in the thunder of Jove; for he thought that he should be revenged on the sinners. But the other handmaidens in the beautiful house of Ulysses waking, lighted an unwearied fire upon the hearth. And Telemachus, godlike man, arose from his bed, having put on his garments; and around his shoulder he girt a sharp sword: and he bound beautiful sandals under his smooth feet, and he took a strong spear tipt with sharp brass. And going to the threshold he stood there, and addressed Euryclea:

"Dear nurse, how hast thou honoured the stranger in the house with a bed and food? or does he lie where he can, uncared for? for such is my mother, although prudent; she foolishly honours one of articulately-speaking men, who is worse, and sends away a better, having neglected [him]."

But him prudent Euryclea addressed in turn: "Thou shouldst not, my child, blame one that is blameless. For sitting down he drank wine, as long as he listed; and he said that he no longer hungered for bread; for it was asked of him. But when she was now mindful of rest and sleep, she desired the handmaidens to strew a couch [for him]; but he, as one altogether overcome with toil, and ill-fated, did not wish to sleep on a bed and in rugs, but lay down in the vestibule on an undressed bull's hide and skins of sheep: and we put a cloak over him."

Thus she spoke; and Telemachus went through out of the palace, holding his spear: and swift-footed dogs followed him. And he went to the forum amongst the well-greaved Grecians,