Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/349

89—130. Ulysses in the light of the fire, against the other wall: but he sat against a tall pillar, looking down, expecting, whether his noble wife would speak to him, when she beheld him with her eyes. But she sat in silence for a long time, and astonishment came upon her heart. At one moment indeed she looked face to face at him with her eyes, but at another moment she knew him not, having evil garments on his body. But Telemachus chided her, and spoke, and addressed her:

"O mother mine, ill-mother, who hast a cruel mind, why dost thou thus keep away from my father, nor sitting near him, dost question [him] with words, or inquire? No other woman indeed would thus with hardy mind have stood away from her husband, who, having suffered many ills had reached his paternal land in the twentieth year: but thy heart is harder than stone."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "My child, my mind in my breast is astonished; neither can I speak any word to him, nor inquire of him, nor regard his face opposite; but if indeed it is Ulysses, and he has reached home, even better shall we know one another; for there are signs between us, which we know, secreted from others."

Thus she spoke; but much-enduring divine Ulysses smiled, and he immediately addressed to Telemachus winged words:

"Telemachus, suffer then thy mother in the palace to try me; and soon she will know me more certainly. But now, because I am squalid, and am clothed with evil garments around my body, therefore does she disregard me, and does not yet account that I am he. But let us consider, how it will be best. For a man having slain one man amongst a people, who has not many avengers hereafter, flies, leaving his relations and his paternal land: but we have slain the defence of a city, those who are far the best of the youths in Ithaca; therefore I beg of thee to consider."

But him prudent Telemachus answered in turn: "Dost thou look to these things, my dear father; for they say that thy plan is the best amongst men, nor would any other man among mortal men contend with thee. But we eagerly will follow with thee, nor do I think that we shall at all want courage, whatever power we have."

But him much-counselling Ulysses answering addressed: "Therefore will I say, as it seems to me to be best. First