Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/365

342—380. and each was sown between with corn: but there are all kinds of grapes, when the seasons of Jove come heavy upon them."

Thus he spoke, but his knees and heart were loosed, as he recognised the signs, which Ulysses told him truly. And he threw his arms around his dear son: and much-enduring divine Ulysses drew him fainting to him. But when he recovered, and his mind was raised to his breast, he immediately answering addressed him:

"O father Jove, surely ye gods are still in lofty Olympus, if indeed the suitors have paid for their infatuate insolence. But now I very much dread in my mind, lest all the Ithacans should soon come here, and hasten messages on all sides to the cities of the Cephallenians."

But him much-counselling Ulysses answering addressed: "Be of good cheer, let not these things be a care to thee in thy mind: but let us go to the house which lies near the orchard. For there I sent forward Telemachus and the herdsman and swineherd, that they may get ready supper as quickly as possible."

Thus having conversed, the two went to the beautiful house. But when they now reached the well-built dwelling, they found Telemachus and the herdsman and swineherd cutting up much meat, and mixing the dark wine. But in the mean time the Sicilian handmaiden washed magnanimous Laertes in his house, and anointed him with oil: and she threw a beautiful cloak around him, and Minerva standing near increased the limbs of the shepherd of the people, and made him mightier and stouter to behold than before. And he went out of the bath: but his dear son marvelled at him, when he saw him with his eyes, like unto the immortal gods to look at. And addressing him, he spoke winged words:

"O father, certainly some one of the immortal gods has made thee noble in thy form and size to behold."

The prudent Laertes answered him in turn: "For would that I, O father Jove, and Minerva, and Apollo, such as when I took Nericus a well-built citadel, a town of the continent, ruling over the Cephallenians, being such a one yesterday in our palace, having arms upon my shoulders, I had stood against and warded off the suitors: then would I have loosed