Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/343

371—413. But much-planning Ulysses, smiling on him, addressed him: "Be confident, since he has freed thee and saved thee, that thou mayest know in thy mind, and mayest also tell to another, how far better doing good is than doing evil. But going out of the palace into the hall, sit out of doors, away from the slaughter, thou and the much-voiced bard, whilst I labour in the house, what I have need."

Thus he spoke; and they two went out, going from the palace. Then they sat at the altar of mighty Jove, looking about on all sides, continually expecting death. But Ulysses looked about in his house, whether any one of men still alive was concealed, avoiding black Fate. And he saw them all fallen in blood and dust, in great numbers, as fish, which the fishermen have drawn upon the hollow beach out from the hoary sea with a net of many holes: and they all regretting the waves of the sea have been poured out upon the sands, but their life the shining Sun has taken away: thus then the suitors were poured over one another. Then at length much-planning Ulysses addressed Telemachus:

"Telemachus, come, call to me the nurse Euryclea, that I may tell her something which is in my mind."

Thus he spoke; and Telemachus obeyed his dear father; and moving the door, he addressed the nurse Euryclea: "Now arise [to come] hither, O ancient old woman, thou who art the overseer of our women-servants in the palace: come; my father calls thee, that he may tell thee something."

Thus he spoke; and to her the word was unwinged; and she opened the gates of the well-inhabited palace, and hastened to go: but Telemachus first led the way. She then found Ulysses amongst the slain and dead, besmeared with blood and gore; like as a lion who comes, having devoured a field-dwelling ox, and all his breast, and his cheeks on both sides are bloody; and he is terrible in his visage to behold: thus was Ulysses besmeared as to his feet and hands above. But she, when she beheld the corses, and the immense quantity of blood, proceeded to shout out, since she beheld a terrible deed; but Ulysses restrained and hindered her, although eager, and addressing her, he spoke winged words:

"Rejoice, O aged woman, in thy mind, and restrain thyself, nor shout out; it is not holy to boast over slain men. But the fate of the gods has subdued these, and their foolish deeds;