Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/97

666—706. a ship, and having chosen out the best amongst the people. He will begin to be even a further evil; but may Jupiter destroy his might, before he begets harm for us. But come, give me a swift ship and twenty companions, that I may lie in ambush for him, and watch him as he is returning, in the strait of Ithaca and rugged Samos; so that to his sorrow he may sail for the sake of his father."

Thus he spoke; and they all praised and urged him [to go]: immediately then rising they went into the house of Ulysses; nor was Penelope long without hearing their words, which the suitors meditated deeply in their minds. For the herald Medon told it her, who heard their counsels, being outside the hall; but they had planned their counsel secretly. He was hastening through the house to tell it to Penelope; but as he was crossing the threshold Penelope addressed him.

"O herald, why have the illustrious suitors sent thee forward? Is it that thou mayest tell the handmaidens of divine Ulysses to cease from their employments, and prepare a feast for them? Would that, not wooing me, nor keeping company any where else, they would now sup here for the last and most extreme time. Ye who, assembled together, consume much livelihood, the possession of prudent Telemachus, have ye not before heard from your fathers, when ye were children, what a man was Ulysses amongst your parents, neither treating any one unjustly, nor speaking aught amongst the people, which is the custom of divine kings; in that one may hate some mortals, and may love others. But he never at all treated a man unjustly: but your mind and disgraceful deeds are apparent, nor is there any gratitude afterwards for benefits."

Medon, acquainted with prudent things, addressed her in turn: "I would indeed, O queen, this may be the worst evil, but the suitors are planning another much greater, and more grievous, which may not the son of Saturn accomplish: they desire to kill Telemachus with the sharp brass, as he is returning home; but he has gone for news of his father to sacred Pylos, and to divine Lacedæmon."

Thus he spoke; and her knees and heart were loosed; and speechlessness seized her for a long time: and her eyes were filled with tears, and her full voice was checked. But at length answering him with words she addressed him: "O