Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/363

262—302. my word, when I inquired of him concerning my host, whether he is alive and exists, or is now dead and in the house of Pluto. For I tell thee plainly, and do thou attend, and listen to me: I once entertained a man in my dear paternal land, having come to my house, and never yet has any other mortal of foreign strangers come more welcome to my house. He boasted his race to be of Ithaca, and he said that his father was Laertes, son of Arcesias. Him I entertained well, bringing him to my house, receiving him carefully, when many were in my house, and gave him hospitable presents, such as are becoming. I gave him seven talents of well-wrought gold, and I gave him a cup all silver, embossed with flowers, twelve single cloaks and as many pieces of tapestry, and as many beautiful robes, and as many tunics added to these: besides four beautiful women, skilled in blameless works, whom he himself wished to take."

But him his father then answered, shedding a tear: "Stranger, thou indeed art come to the land, concerning which thou inquirest: but insolent and infatuated men possess it. But thou hast conferred these thy gifts in vain, giving numberless [presents]; for would that thou hadst found him alive amongst the people of Ithaca, then would he have sent thee away, having requited thee with presents and good entertainment; for it is the right [of him], whoever begins. But come, tell me this, and relate it truly, how many years is it since thou didst entertain him thine unhappy guest, my son? if he was so; wretched one, whom some where, far away from his friends and paternal land, either the fish have eaten in the sea, or he has become a prey to the beasts and birds on the shore: nor did his mother mourn him, covering him around, nor his father, we who gave him birth: nor did his well-dowered wife, prudent Penelope, wail for her dear husband in her bed, as was fitting, wasting away her eyes: for this is the honour of the dead. And tell me this truly, that I may know it well; who art thou? from whence art thou amongst men? where are thy city and thy parents? where is the swift ship stationed, which brought thee and thy godlike companions hither? or hast thou come a passenger on another man's ship, and have they gone, having landed thee on shore?"

But him much-planning Ulysses answering addressed: "Therefore will I tell thee these things very accurately. For