Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/314

278 and the divine one of women, Euryclea, daughter of Ops, son of Pisenor, exhorted the handmaidens:

"Assemble yourselves together, do some of you, busying yourselves, sweep the house, and sprinkle it; and lay the purple tapestry on the well-made thrones; and do others wipe all the tables with sponges, and clean the cups, and the embossed round bowls: and others of you going to the fountain for water, bring it quickly: for the suitors will not be a long time away from the palace, but they return very early, since there is a feast for all."

Thus she spoke; and they heard her very well, and obeyed her. Twenty went to the black-water fountain; and others laboured skilfully there in the house. And the servants of the Greeks came; they then cleft wood well and skilfully; and the women came from the fountain; and the swineherd came to them, bringing three fatted swine, which were the best amongst all. And them he left to pasture in the beautiful courts, and himself addressed Ulysses in mild [words]:

"Stranger, do the Grecians now regard thee more, or do they dishonour thee in the palace, even as before?"

But him much-planning Ulysses addressed in answer: "Would that indeed, O Eumæus, the gods would revenge the insolence with which they, insulting, contrive disgraceful things in another man's house, nor have they a particle of shame."

Thus they discoursed to one another. And near them came Melanthius the goatherd, bringing goats, which surpassed all the flocks, as a feast for the suitors; and two attendants followed him, and he bound them under the resounding portico, and himself then addressed Ulysses with scoffing words:

"Stranger, wilt thou still now give trouble here in the house, begging alms of the men? and wilt not thou go out of doors? I no longer think that we shall at all settle our quarrel, before we try our hands; since thou beggest not rightly; there are also other feasts of the Grecians."

Thus he spoke; but much-planning Ulysses did not address him at all, but moved his head in silence, deeply devising evils. And after them Philætius, chief of men, came