Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/353

253—294. companions and myself. But come, wife, let us go to bed, that even now going to rest, we may be delighted with sweet sleep."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "A bed indeed then there shall be for thee, whenever thou desirest it in thine own mind; since the gods have made thee reach thy well-built house, and thy paternal land. But since thou hast mentioned it, and God has put it in thy mind, come, tell me the toil; since I think I shall hear it afterwards: but it is not worse to hear it immediately."

But her much-counselling Ulysses answering addressed: "Unhappy one! why indeed dost thou again desire me to speak, urging me very much? but I will relate [my adventures], nor will I conceal them. Thy mind indeed will not rejoice; for neither do I myself rejoice; since he has desired me to go to very many cities of mortals, having in my hands a well-fitted oar; until I come to those men, who know not the sea, and who do not eat food mixed with salt, they indeed neither know the purple-cheeked ships, nor the well-fitted oars, which are wings for ships. But he told me this plain sign; (nor will I conceal it from thee;) when indeed another traveller meeting me should say that I have a winnowing-fan upon my glorious shoulder, then he desired me, having fixed an oar in the earth, and having offered excellent sacrifices to king Neptune, a ram, and a bull, and a boar, the mate of swine, to go away home, and to offer up sacred hecatombs to the immortal gods, who possess the wide heaven, to all in order: but death will come upon me away from the sea, gentle, such a one as will kill me overcome by happy old age: and around me the people will be prosperous; all these things, he said, would be performed."

But him prudent Penelope addressed in turn: "If of a truth the gods make for thee a better old age, then indeed there is hope that there will be a refuge from ills."

Thus they spoke to one another; but in the mean time Eurynome and the nurse prepared a bed of soft clothing, by the light of shining torches, busying themselves. And when they had strewed the thick bed, the old woman went back to the house to lie down. But the chambermaid Eurynome led them going to bed, holding a torch in her