August 16, 2025 • 27 mins
https://www.solgoodmedia.com Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad-free! Step into a world of daily intrigue and timeless tales with our Classic Adventure Podcast Series! Each day, we bring to life a new chapter from a beloved classic, inviting you on an exhilarating journey through some of the greatest adventure stories ever written. Imagine unraveling the mysteries with Sherlock Holmes, exploring bizarre landscapes with Alice, or circumnavigating the globe in just eighty days. Why settle for mundane daily commutes or routine chores when you can escape into the thrilling escapades of "Treasure Island" or the eerie encounters in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"? Our podcast transforms your every day into a captivating adventure, perfect for both the literary enthusiast and the casual listener seeking an escape from the ordinary. Join us as we traverse the dark depths of "Heart of Darkness," soar through the imaginative realms of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," and survive the wilds with "Robinson Crusoe." Each episode is crafted to make the classics accessible and exciting, ensuring that whether you're reliving your favorite tales or discovering them for the first time, you're guaranteed a gripping experience. Subscribe to our Classic Adventure Podcast Series today and start your daily adventure! Let us awaken the explorer in you as we delve into these timeless narratives, chapter by chapter, transforming your daily routine into an extraordinary journey through the pages of history's most thrilling adventures. Don't just listen to stories—live them every day with us!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Book sixteen, Ulysses reveals himself to Telemachus. Meanwhile, Ulysses and
the swineherd had lit a fire in the hut and
were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, for they had sent
the men out with the pigs. When Telemachus came up,
the dogs did not bark, but fawned upon him. So Ulysses,
(00:24):
hearing the sound of feet, and noticing that the dogs
did not bark, said to Eumaeus, Eumaeus, I hear footsteps.
I suppose one of your men, or some one of
your acquaintance is coming here, for the dogs are fawning
upon him and not barking. The words were hardly out
of his mouth before his son stood at the door.
(00:46):
Eumaeus sprang to his feet, and the bulls in which
he was mixing wine fell from his hands. As he
made towards his master, he kissed his head and both
his beautiful eyes, and wept for joy. A father could
not be more delighted at the return of an only son,
the child of his old age, after ten years absence
(01:09):
in a foreign country, and after having gone through much hardship.
He embraced him, kissed him all over as though he
had come back from the dead, and spoke fondly to him, saying,
so you are come, Telemachus, light of my eyes, that
you are. When I heard you had gone to Pylos,
I made sure I was never going to see you
(01:30):
any more. Come in, my dear child, and sit down,
that I may have a good look at you. Now
you are home again. It is not very often you
come into the country to see us herdsmen. You stick
pretty close to the town generally. I suppose you think
it better to keep an eye on what the suitors
are doing. So be it, old friend, answered Telemachus. But
(01:54):
I am come now because I want to see you,
and to learn whether my mother is still at her
old home or whether some one else has married her.
So that the bed of Ulysses is without bedding and
covered with cobwebs, she is still at the house, replied Eumaeus,
grieving and breaking her heart and doing nothing but weep
(02:15):
both night and day continually. As he spoke, he took
Telemachus's spear, whereon he crossed the stone threshold and came inside.
Ulysses rose from his seat to give him place as
he entered, but Telemachus checked him. Sit down stranger, said he,
I can easily find another seat, and there is one
(02:37):
here who will lay it for me. Ulysses went back
to his own place, and Eumaeus strewed some green brushwood
on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of
it for Telemachus to sit upon. Then the swine herd
brought them platters of cold meat, the remains from what
they had eaten the day before, and he filled the
(02:58):
bread baskets with bread fast as he could. He mixed
wine alto in bowls of ivy wood, and took his
seat facing Ulysses. Then they laid their hands on the
good things that were before them, And as soon as
they had had enough to eat and drink, Telemachus said
to Eumaeus, old friend, where does the stranger come from?
(03:21):
How did his crew bring him to Ithaca? And who
were they? For? Assuredly he did not come here by
land to this you answered, O swine heard Eumaeus, my son,
I will tell you the real truth. He says he
is a Cretan, and that he has been a great traveler.
At this moment he is running away from a Thesparotian
(03:44):
ship and has taken refuge at my station, so I
will put him into your hands. Do whatever you like
with him, only remember that he is yours suppliant. I
am very much distressed, said Telemachua by what you have
just told me. How can I take this stranger into
my house? I am as yet young, and am not
(04:07):
strong enough to hold my own if any man attacks me.
My mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay
where she is and look after the house out of
respect for public opinion and the memory of her husband,
or whether the time is now come for her to
take the best man of those who are wooing her,
and the one who will make her the most advantageous offer. Still,
(04:30):
as the stranger has come to your station, I will
find him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with
the sword and sandals, and will send him wherever he
wants to go. Or if you like, you can keep
him here at the station, and I will send him
clothes and food that he may be no burden on
(04:50):
you and on your men. But I will not have
him go near the suitors, for they are very insolent
and are sure to ill treat him in a way
that would grat grieve me. No matter how valiant a
man may be he can do nothing against numbers, for
they will be too strong for him. Then, Ulysses said, sir,
(05:12):
it is right that I should say something myself. I
am much shocked about what you have said about the
insolent way in which the suitors are behaving in despite
of such a man as you are. Tell me, do
you submit to such treatment tamely? Or has some God
set your people against you? May you not complain of
(05:33):
your brothers, For it is to these that a man
may look for support, however great his quarrel may be.
I wish I were as young as you are, and
in my present mind, if I were son to Ulysses,
or indeed Ulysses himself, I would rather some one came
and cut my head off. But I would go to
(05:54):
the house and be the bane of every one of
these men. If they were too many for me, I
being single handed, I would rather die fighting in my
own house than see such disgraceful sights day after day,
strangers grossly maltreated, and men dragging the women servants about
(06:15):
the house in an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and
bread wasted, all to no purpose for an end that
shall never be accomplished, and Telemachus answered, I will tell
you truly everything. There is no enmity between me and
my people, nor can I complain of brothers to whom
(06:37):
a man may look for support, however great his quarrel
may be. Jove has made us a race of only sons.
Laertes was the only son of Archisius, and Ulysses only
son of Laertes. I am myself the only son of Ulysses,
who left me behind him when he went away, so
(06:57):
that I have never been of any use to him.
Hence it comes that my house is in the hands
of numberless marauders. For the chiefs from all the neighboring
islands dulaquiem samee zacynthus as also all the principal men
of Ithaca itself are eating at my house under the
pretext of paying court to my mother, who will neither
(07:20):
say point blank that she will not marry, nor yet
bring matters to an end. So they are making havoc
of my estate, and before long will do so with
myself into the bargain. The issue, however, rests with Heaven.
But do you, old friend Eumaeus, go at once and
tell Penelope that I am safe and have returned from Pylos.
(07:43):
Tell it to herself alone, and then come back here
without letting any one else know, for there are many
who are plotting mischief against me. I understand and heed, you, replied, Eumaeus,
you need instruct me no further. Only I am going
that way. Say whether I had not better let poor
lair Tees know that you were returned. He used to
(08:05):
superintend the work on his farm in spite of his
bitter sorrow about Ulysses, and he would eat and drink
at will along with his servants. But they tell me
that from the day on which you set out for Pylos,
he is neither eaten nor drunk as he ought to do.
Nor does he look after his farm, but sits weeping
(08:26):
and wasting the flesh from off his bones. More's the pity,
answered Telemachus. I am sorry for him, but we must
leave him to himself just now. If people could have
everything their own way, the first thing I should choose
would be the return of my father. But go and
give your message. Then make haste back again, and do
(08:49):
not turn out of your way to tell Laertes. Tell
my mother to send one of her women secretly with
the news at once, and let him hear it from her.
Thus did he urge this wineherd. Eumaeus therefore took his sandals,
bound them to his feet, and started for the town.
Minerva watched him well off the station, and then came
(09:10):
up to it in the form of a woman, fair,
stately and wise. She stood against the side of the
entry and revealed herself to Ulysses. But Telemachus could not
see her and knew not that she was there, for
the gods do not let themselves be seen by everybody.
Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, for they
(09:33):
did not bark, but went scared and whining off to
the other side of the yards. She nodded her head
and motioned to Ulysses with her eyebrows, whereon he left
the hut and stood before her outside the main wall
of the yards. Then she said to him, Ulysses, noble
son of Laertes, it is now time for you to
(09:56):
tell your son. Do not keep him in the dark
any longer, but lay your plans for the destruction of
the suitors, and then make for the town. I will
not be long in joining you, for I am too
eager for the fray. As she spoke, she touched him
with her golden wand first she threw a fair, clean
(10:17):
shirt and cloak about his shoulders. Then she made him
younger and of more imposing presence. She gave him back
his color, filled out his cheeks, and let his beard
become dark again. Then she went away, and Ulysses came
back inside the hut. His son was astounded when he
saw him, and turned his eyes away for fear he
(10:41):
might be looking upon a god stranger. Said he, how
suddenly you have changed from what you were a moment
or two ago. You were dressed differently, and your color
is not the same. Are you some one or other
of the gods that live in heaven? If so, be
propitious to me till I can make you do sacrifice
(11:02):
and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy upon me, And
Ulysses said, I am no god, Why should you take
me for one. I am your father, on whose account
you grieve and suffer so much at the hands of
lawless men. As he spoke, he kissed his son, and
a tear fell from his cheek on to the ground,
(11:25):
for he had restrained all tears till now. But Telemachus
could not yet believe that it was his father, and said,
you are not my father, but some god is flattering
me with vain hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter.
No mortal man could have himself contrive to do as
you have been doing and make yourself old and young
(11:47):
at a moment's notice, unless a god were with him.
A second ago you were old and all in rags,
and now you are like some god come down from heaven.
Ulysses answered Telemachus, you ought not to be so immeasurably
astounded at my being really here. There is no other
(12:08):
Ulysses who will come hereafter such as I am. It
is I who, after long wandering and much hardship, have
got home in the twentieth year, to my own country.
What you wonder at is the work of the redoubtable
goddess Minerva, who does with me whatever she will, for
(12:28):
she can do what she pleases. At one moment she
makes me like a beggar, and the next I am
a young man with good clothes on my back. It
is an easy matter for the gods who live in
heaven to make any man look either rich or poor.
As he spoke, he sat down, and Telemachus threw his
(12:50):
arms about his father and wept. They were both so
much moved that they cried aloud, like eagles or vultures
with crooked ellens that have been robbed of their half
fledged young by peasants. Thus piteously did they weep, and
the sun would have gone down upon their morning if
Telemachus had not suddenly said, in what ship, my dear father,
(13:15):
did your crew bring you to Ithaca? Of what nation
did they declare themselves to be? For you cannot have
come by land. I will tell you the truth, my
son replied Ulysses. It was the Phaeacians who brought me here.
They are great sailors and are in the habit of
giving escorts to any one who reaches their coasts. They
(13:36):
took me over the sea while I was fast asleep,
and landed me in Ithaca, after giving me many presents
in bronze, gold and raiment. These things, by Heaven's mercy,
are lying concealed in a cave. And I am now
come here on the suggestion of Minerva, that we may
consult about killing our enemies. First. Therefore, let me give
(13:59):
a list of the suitors, with their number, that I
may learn who and how many they are. I can
then turn the matter over in my mind and see
whether we two can fight the whole body of them ourselves,
or whether we must find others to help us to this.
Telemachus answered, father, I have always heard of your renown,
(14:23):
both in the field and in council. But the task
you talk of is a very great one. I am
awed at the mere thought of it. Two men cannot
stand against many and brave ones. There are not ten
suitors only, nor twice ten, but ten many times over.
You shall learn their number at once. There are fifty
(14:45):
two chosen youths from Dulichium, and they have six servants
from sameh There are twenty four twenty young Achaeans from Zacynthus,
and twelve from Ithaca itself, all of them well born.
They have with them the servant Medon a bard, and
two men who can carve at table. If we face
(15:08):
such numbers as this, you may have bitter cause to
rue your coming and your revenge. See whether you cannot
think of some one who would be willing to come
and help us. Listen to me, replied Ulysses, and think
whether Minerva and her Father Jove may seem sufficient, or
whether I am to try and find some one else
(15:30):
as well. Those whom you have named, answered, Telemachus, are
a couple of good allies. For though they dwell high
up among the clouds, they have power over both gods
and men. These two, continued ulysses will not keep long
out of the fray when the suitors and we join
(15:50):
the fight in my house. Now, therefore, return home early
tomorrow morning, and go about among the suitors as before laid,
or all the swineherd will bring me to the city
disguised as a miserable old beggar. If you see them
ill treating me, steal your heart against my sufferings, even
(16:11):
though they drag me feet foremost out of the house
or throw things at me, look on and do nothing
beyond gently trying to make them behave more reasonably. But
they will not listen to you, for the day of
their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore, I say, and lay
my saying to your heart. When Minerva shall put it
(16:32):
in my mind, I will gnad my head to you.
And on seeing me do this, you must collect all
the armor that is in the house and hide it
in the strong store room. Make some excuse when the
suitors ask you why you are removing it, Say that
you have taken it to be out of the way
of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what
(16:52):
it was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled
and be grimed with soot. Add to this more particularly
that you are afraid Jove may set them on to
quarrel over their wine, and that they may do each
other some harm, which may disgrace both Banquet and Wooing
for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them.
(17:16):
But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself
and me, and a couple ox hide shields, so that
we can snatch them up at any moment. Jove and
Minerva will then soon quiet these people. There is also
another matter. If you are indeed my son, and my
blood runs in your veins, let no one know that
(17:38):
Ulysses is within the house, neither Laertes, nor yet the swineherd,
nor any of the servants, nor even Penelope herself. Let
you and me exploit the women alone, and let us
also make trial of some other of the men's servants,
to see who is on our side, and whose hand
(17:59):
is against us. Us father replied Telemachus, you will come
to know me by and by, and when you do,
you will find that I can keep your council. I
do not think, however, the plan you propose will turn
it well for either of us. Think it over. It
will take us a long time to go the round
of farms and exploit the men, and all the time
(18:22):
the suitors will be wasting your estate with impunity and
without compunction. Prove the women by all means to see
who are disloyal and who guiltless. But I am not
in favor of going round and trying the men. We
can intend to that later on, if you really have
some sign from Jove that he will support you. Thus
(18:43):
they did converse, And meanwhile, the ship which had brought
Telemachus and his crew from Pylos had reached the town
of Ithaca. When they had come inside the harbor, they
drew the ship on to the land. Their servants came
and took their armor from them, and they left all
the presents at the house of Clytius. Then they sent
(19:04):
a servant to tell Penelope that Telemachus had gone into
the country, but had sent the ship to the town
to prevent her from being alarmed and made unhappy. This
servant and Eumaeus happened to meet when they were both
on the same errand of going to tell Penelope. When
they reached the house, the servant stood up and said
(19:24):
to the queen, in the presence of the waiting women,
your son, Madam, is now returned from Pylos. But Eumaeus
went close up to Penelope and said privately all that
her son had bidden him tell her. When he had
given his message, he left the house with his out
buildings and went back to his pigs again. The suitors
(19:45):
were surprised and angry at what had happened, so they
went outside the great wall that ran round the outer
court and held a council near the main entrance. Eurymachus,
son of Polybus, was the first to speak. My friends,
said he, this voyage of Telemachus's is a very serious matter.
(20:06):
We had made sure that it would come to nothing. Now, however,
let us draw a ship into the water and get
a crew together to send after the others, and tell
them to come back as fast as they can. He
had hardly done speaking when Antphinomus turned in his place
and saw the ship inside the harbor, with the crew
lowering her sails and putting by their oars. So he
(20:29):
laughed and said to the others, we need not send
them any message, for they are here. Some God must
have told them or else. They saw the ship go
by and could not overtake her. On this they rose
and went to the water side. The crew then drew
the ship on shore. Their servants took their armor from them,
(20:49):
and they went up in a body to the place
of assembly. But they would not let any one old
or young, sit along with them. And Antonus, son of
you pe Athos, spoke first. Good heavens, said he see
how the gods have saved this man from destruction. We
kept a succession of scouts upon the headlands all day long,
(21:11):
and when the sun was down, we never went on
shore to sleep, but waited in the ship all night
till morning, in the hope of capturing and killing him.
But some God has conveyed him home in spite of us.
Let us consider how we can make an end of him.
He must not escape us. Our affair is never likely
to come off while he is alive, for he is
(21:32):
very shrewd and public feeling is by no means all
on our side. We must make haste before he can
call the Achaeans in assembly. He will lose no time
in doing so, for he will be furious with us,
and will tell all the world how we plotted to
kill him but failed to take him. The people will
not like this when they come to know of it.
(21:54):
We must see that they do us no hurt, nor
drive us from our own country into exile. Let us
try and lay hold of him, either on his farm
away from the town, or on the road hither. Then
we can divide up his property amongst us, and let
his mother and the man who marries her have the house.
If this does not please you, and you wish Telemachus
(22:15):
to live on and hold his father's property, then we
must not gather here and eat up his goods in
this way, but must make our offers to Penelope, each
from his own house, and she can marry the man
who will give the most for her, and whose lot
it is to win her. They all held their peace
until Lamphinimus rose to speak. He was the son of Nysus,
(22:38):
who was the son to King Ereteus, and he was
foremost among all the suitors from the wheat growing and
well grassed island of Duluchium. His conversation, moreover, was more
agreeable to Penelope than that of any of the other suitors,
for he was a man of good natural disposition, my
(22:59):
friend said, he speaking to them plainly and in all honesty.
I am not in favor of killing Telemachus. It is
a heinous thing to kill one who was of noble blood.
Let us first take counsel of the gods, and if
the oracles of Jove advise it, I will both help
to kill him myself, and will urge every one else
(23:21):
to do so. But if they dissuade us, I would
have you hold your hands. Thus did he speak, and
his words pleased them well. So they rose forthwith and
went to the house of Ulysses, where they took their
accustomed seats. Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself
to the suitors. She knew of the plot against Telemachus,
(23:44):
for the servant Medon had overheard their counsels and had
told her. She went down therefore to the court, attended
by her maidens, and when she reached the suitors, she
stood by one of the bearing posts supporting the roof
of the cloister, holding a veil before her face, and
rebuked Antonus, saying, Antonus insolent and wicked schemer. They say
(24:07):
you are the best speaker and counselor of any man
your own age in Ithaca, But you are nothing of
the kind madman. Why should you try to compass the
death of Telemachus and take no heed of suppliants whose
witness is Jove himself. It is not right for you
to plot thus against one another. Do you not remember
(24:28):
how your father fled to this house and fear of
the people who were enraged against him for having gone
with some Taffian pirates and plundered the Thesprotians who were
at peace with us. They wanted to tear him in
pieces and eat up everything he had, but Ulysses stayed
their hands, although they were infuriated. And now you devour
(24:49):
his property without paying for it, and break my heart
by wooing his wife and trying to kill his son.
Live off doing so, and stop the others. Also to this, Eurymachus,
son of Pollybus, answered, take heart, Queen Penelope, daughter of Vicarius,
and do not trouble yourself about these matters. The man
(25:10):
is not yet born, nor never will be, who shall
lay hands upon your son, Telemachus, while I yet live
to look upon the face of the earth, I say,
and it shall surely be that my spear shall be
reddened with his blood. For many a time his Ulysses
taken me on his knees, held wine up to my
lips to drink, and put pieces of meat into my hands. Therefore,
(25:34):
Telemachus has much the dearest friend I have, and has
nothing to fear from the hands of us suitors. Of course,
if death comes to him from the gods, he cannot
escape it. He said this to quiet her, but in
reality he was plotting against Telemachus. Then Penelope went upstairs
again and mourned her husband till Minerva shed sleep over
(25:58):
her eyes. In the evening, Eumaeus got back to Ulysses
and his son, who had just sacrificed a young pig
of a year old, and were helping one another to
get supper ready. Minerva therefore came up to Ulysses, turned
him into an old man with a stroke of her
wand and clad him in his old clothes again, for
fear that the swineherd might recognize him, and not keep
(26:22):
the secret, but go and tell Penelope. Telemachus was the
first to speak. So you have got back, Eumaeus said he,
what is the news of the town. Have the suitors
returned or are they still waiting over yonder to take
me on my way home. I did not think of
asking about that, replied Eumaeus. When I was in the town,
(26:44):
I thought I would give my message and come back
as soon as I could. I met a man sent
by those who had gone with you to Pylos, and
he was the first to tell the news to your mother.
But I can say what I saw with my own eyes.
I had just got on to the crest of the
hill of Mercury, above the town, when I saw a
ship coming into harbor with a number of men in her.
(27:06):
They had many shields and spears, and I thought it
was the Suitors, but I cannot be sure. On hearing this,
Telemachus smiled to his father, but so that Eumaeus could
not see him. Then, when they had finished their work
and the meal was ready, they ate it, and every
man had his full share, so that all were satisfied.
(27:28):
As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.
End of Book sixteen.
Book sixteen, Ulysses reveals himself to Telemachus. Meanwhile, Ulysses and
the swineherd had lit a fire in the hut and
were getting breakfast ready at daybreak, for they had sent
the men out with the pigs. When Telemachus came up,
the dogs did not bark, but fawned upon him. So Ulysses,
(00:24):
hearing the sound of feet, and noticing that the dogs
did not bark, said to Eumaeus, Eumaeus, I hear footsteps.
I suppose one of your men, or some one of
your acquaintance is coming here, for the dogs are fawning
upon him and not barking. The words were hardly out
of his mouth before his son stood at the door.
(00:46):
Eumaeus sprang to his feet, and the bulls in which
he was mixing wine fell from his hands. As he
made towards his master, he kissed his head and both
his beautiful eyes, and wept for joy. A father could
not be more delighted at the return of an only son,
the child of his old age, after ten years absence
(01:09):
in a foreign country, and after having gone through much hardship.
He embraced him, kissed him all over as though he
had come back from the dead, and spoke fondly to him, saying,
so you are come, Telemachus, light of my eyes, that
you are. When I heard you had gone to Pylos,
I made sure I was never going to see you
(01:30):
any more. Come in, my dear child, and sit down,
that I may have a good look at you. Now
you are home again. It is not very often you
come into the country to see us herdsmen. You stick
pretty close to the town generally. I suppose you think
it better to keep an eye on what the suitors
are doing. So be it, old friend, answered Telemachus. But
(01:54):
I am come now because I want to see you,
and to learn whether my mother is still at her
old home or whether some one else has married her.
So that the bed of Ulysses is without bedding and
covered with cobwebs, she is still at the house, replied Eumaeus,
grieving and breaking her heart and doing nothing but weep
(02:15):
both night and day continually. As he spoke, he took
Telemachus's spear, whereon he crossed the stone threshold and came inside.
Ulysses rose from his seat to give him place as
he entered, but Telemachus checked him. Sit down stranger, said he,
I can easily find another seat, and there is one
(02:37):
here who will lay it for me. Ulysses went back
to his own place, and Eumaeus strewed some green brushwood
on the floor and threw a sheepskin on top of
it for Telemachus to sit upon. Then the swine herd
brought them platters of cold meat, the remains from what
they had eaten the day before, and he filled the
(02:58):
bread baskets with bread fast as he could. He mixed
wine alto in bowls of ivy wood, and took his
seat facing Ulysses. Then they laid their hands on the
good things that were before them, And as soon as
they had had enough to eat and drink, Telemachus said
to Eumaeus, old friend, where does the stranger come from?
(03:21):
How did his crew bring him to Ithaca? And who
were they? For? Assuredly he did not come here by
land to this you answered, O swine heard Eumaeus, my son,
I will tell you the real truth. He says he
is a Cretan, and that he has been a great traveler.
At this moment he is running away from a Thesparotian
(03:44):
ship and has taken refuge at my station, so I
will put him into your hands. Do whatever you like
with him, only remember that he is yours suppliant. I
am very much distressed, said Telemachua by what you have
just told me. How can I take this stranger into
my house? I am as yet young, and am not
(04:07):
strong enough to hold my own if any man attacks me.
My mother cannot make up her mind whether to stay
where she is and look after the house out of
respect for public opinion and the memory of her husband,
or whether the time is now come for her to
take the best man of those who are wooing her,
and the one who will make her the most advantageous offer. Still,
(04:30):
as the stranger has come to your station, I will
find him a cloak and shirt of good wear, with
the sword and sandals, and will send him wherever he
wants to go. Or if you like, you can keep
him here at the station, and I will send him
clothes and food that he may be no burden on
(04:50):
you and on your men. But I will not have
him go near the suitors, for they are very insolent
and are sure to ill treat him in a way
that would grat grieve me. No matter how valiant a
man may be he can do nothing against numbers, for
they will be too strong for him. Then, Ulysses said, sir,
(05:12):
it is right that I should say something myself. I
am much shocked about what you have said about the
insolent way in which the suitors are behaving in despite
of such a man as you are. Tell me, do
you submit to such treatment tamely? Or has some God
set your people against you? May you not complain of
(05:33):
your brothers, For it is to these that a man
may look for support, however great his quarrel may be.
I wish I were as young as you are, and
in my present mind, if I were son to Ulysses,
or indeed Ulysses himself, I would rather some one came
and cut my head off. But I would go to
(05:54):
the house and be the bane of every one of
these men. If they were too many for me, I
being single handed, I would rather die fighting in my
own house than see such disgraceful sights day after day,
strangers grossly maltreated, and men dragging the women servants about
(06:15):
the house in an unseemly way, wine drawn recklessly, and
bread wasted, all to no purpose for an end that
shall never be accomplished, and Telemachus answered, I will tell
you truly everything. There is no enmity between me and
my people, nor can I complain of brothers to whom
(06:37):
a man may look for support, however great his quarrel
may be. Jove has made us a race of only sons.
Laertes was the only son of Archisius, and Ulysses only
son of Laertes. I am myself the only son of Ulysses,
who left me behind him when he went away, so
(06:57):
that I have never been of any use to him.
Hence it comes that my house is in the hands
of numberless marauders. For the chiefs from all the neighboring
islands dulaquiem samee zacynthus as also all the principal men
of Ithaca itself are eating at my house under the
pretext of paying court to my mother, who will neither
(07:20):
say point blank that she will not marry, nor yet
bring matters to an end. So they are making havoc
of my estate, and before long will do so with
myself into the bargain. The issue, however, rests with Heaven.
But do you, old friend Eumaeus, go at once and
tell Penelope that I am safe and have returned from Pylos.
(07:43):
Tell it to herself alone, and then come back here
without letting any one else know, for there are many
who are plotting mischief against me. I understand and heed, you, replied, Eumaeus,
you need instruct me no further. Only I am going
that way. Say whether I had not better let poor
lair Tees know that you were returned. He used to
(08:05):
superintend the work on his farm in spite of his
bitter sorrow about Ulysses, and he would eat and drink
at will along with his servants. But they tell me
that from the day on which you set out for Pylos,
he is neither eaten nor drunk as he ought to do.
Nor does he look after his farm, but sits weeping
(08:26):
and wasting the flesh from off his bones. More's the pity,
answered Telemachus. I am sorry for him, but we must
leave him to himself just now. If people could have
everything their own way, the first thing I should choose
would be the return of my father. But go and
give your message. Then make haste back again, and do
(08:49):
not turn out of your way to tell Laertes. Tell
my mother to send one of her women secretly with
the news at once, and let him hear it from her.
Thus did he urge this wineherd. Eumaeus therefore took his sandals,
bound them to his feet, and started for the town.
Minerva watched him well off the station, and then came
(09:10):
up to it in the form of a woman, fair,
stately and wise. She stood against the side of the
entry and revealed herself to Ulysses. But Telemachus could not
see her and knew not that she was there, for
the gods do not let themselves be seen by everybody.
Ulysses saw her, and so did the dogs, for they
(09:33):
did not bark, but went scared and whining off to
the other side of the yards. She nodded her head
and motioned to Ulysses with her eyebrows, whereon he left
the hut and stood before her outside the main wall
of the yards. Then she said to him, Ulysses, noble
son of Laertes, it is now time for you to
(09:56):
tell your son. Do not keep him in the dark
any longer, but lay your plans for the destruction of
the suitors, and then make for the town. I will
not be long in joining you, for I am too
eager for the fray. As she spoke, she touched him
with her golden wand first she threw a fair, clean
(10:17):
shirt and cloak about his shoulders. Then she made him
younger and of more imposing presence. She gave him back
his color, filled out his cheeks, and let his beard
become dark again. Then she went away, and Ulysses came
back inside the hut. His son was astounded when he
saw him, and turned his eyes away for fear he
(10:41):
might be looking upon a god stranger. Said he, how
suddenly you have changed from what you were a moment
or two ago. You were dressed differently, and your color
is not the same. Are you some one or other
of the gods that live in heaven? If so, be
propitious to me till I can make you do sacrifice
(11:02):
and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy upon me, And
Ulysses said, I am no god, Why should you take
me for one. I am your father, on whose account
you grieve and suffer so much at the hands of
lawless men. As he spoke, he kissed his son, and
a tear fell from his cheek on to the ground,
(11:25):
for he had restrained all tears till now. But Telemachus
could not yet believe that it was his father, and said,
you are not my father, but some god is flattering
me with vain hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter.
No mortal man could have himself contrive to do as
you have been doing and make yourself old and young
(11:47):
at a moment's notice, unless a god were with him.
A second ago you were old and all in rags,
and now you are like some god come down from heaven.
Ulysses answered Telemachus, you ought not to be so immeasurably
astounded at my being really here. There is no other
(12:08):
Ulysses who will come hereafter such as I am. It
is I who, after long wandering and much hardship, have
got home in the twentieth year, to my own country.
What you wonder at is the work of the redoubtable
goddess Minerva, who does with me whatever she will, for
(12:28):
she can do what she pleases. At one moment she
makes me like a beggar, and the next I am
a young man with good clothes on my back. It
is an easy matter for the gods who live in
heaven to make any man look either rich or poor.
As he spoke, he sat down, and Telemachus threw his
(12:50):
arms about his father and wept. They were both so
much moved that they cried aloud, like eagles or vultures
with crooked ellens that have been robbed of their half
fledged young by peasants. Thus piteously did they weep, and
the sun would have gone down upon their morning if
Telemachus had not suddenly said, in what ship, my dear father,
(13:15):
did your crew bring you to Ithaca? Of what nation
did they declare themselves to be? For you cannot have
come by land. I will tell you the truth, my
son replied Ulysses. It was the Phaeacians who brought me here.
They are great sailors and are in the habit of
giving escorts to any one who reaches their coasts. They
(13:36):
took me over the sea while I was fast asleep,
and landed me in Ithaca, after giving me many presents
in bronze, gold and raiment. These things, by Heaven's mercy,
are lying concealed in a cave. And I am now
come here on the suggestion of Minerva, that we may
consult about killing our enemies. First. Therefore, let me give
(13:59):
a list of the suitors, with their number, that I
may learn who and how many they are. I can
then turn the matter over in my mind and see
whether we two can fight the whole body of them ourselves,
or whether we must find others to help us to this.
Telemachus answered, father, I have always heard of your renown,
(14:23):
both in the field and in council. But the task
you talk of is a very great one. I am
awed at the mere thought of it. Two men cannot
stand against many and brave ones. There are not ten
suitors only, nor twice ten, but ten many times over.
You shall learn their number at once. There are fifty
(14:45):
two chosen youths from Dulichium, and they have six servants
from sameh There are twenty four twenty young Achaeans from Zacynthus,
and twelve from Ithaca itself, all of them well born.
They have with them the servant Medon a bard, and
two men who can carve at table. If we face
(15:08):
such numbers as this, you may have bitter cause to
rue your coming and your revenge. See whether you cannot
think of some one who would be willing to come
and help us. Listen to me, replied Ulysses, and think
whether Minerva and her Father Jove may seem sufficient, or
whether I am to try and find some one else
(15:30):
as well. Those whom you have named, answered, Telemachus, are
a couple of good allies. For though they dwell high
up among the clouds, they have power over both gods
and men. These two, continued ulysses will not keep long
out of the fray when the suitors and we join
(15:50):
the fight in my house. Now, therefore, return home early
tomorrow morning, and go about among the suitors as before laid,
or all the swineherd will bring me to the city
disguised as a miserable old beggar. If you see them
ill treating me, steal your heart against my sufferings, even
(16:11):
though they drag me feet foremost out of the house
or throw things at me, look on and do nothing
beyond gently trying to make them behave more reasonably. But
they will not listen to you, for the day of
their reckoning is at hand. Furthermore, I say, and lay
my saying to your heart. When Minerva shall put it
(16:32):
in my mind, I will gnad my head to you.
And on seeing me do this, you must collect all
the armor that is in the house and hide it
in the strong store room. Make some excuse when the
suitors ask you why you are removing it, Say that
you have taken it to be out of the way
of the smoke, inasmuch as it is no longer what
(16:52):
it was when Ulysses went away, but has become soiled
and be grimed with soot. Add to this more particularly
that you are afraid Jove may set them on to
quarrel over their wine, and that they may do each
other some harm, which may disgrace both Banquet and Wooing
for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them.
(17:16):
But leave a sword and a spear apiece for yourself
and me, and a couple ox hide shields, so that
we can snatch them up at any moment. Jove and
Minerva will then soon quiet these people. There is also
another matter. If you are indeed my son, and my
blood runs in your veins, let no one know that
(17:38):
Ulysses is within the house, neither Laertes, nor yet the swineherd,
nor any of the servants, nor even Penelope herself. Let
you and me exploit the women alone, and let us
also make trial of some other of the men's servants,
to see who is on our side, and whose hand
(17:59):
is against us. Us father replied Telemachus, you will come
to know me by and by, and when you do,
you will find that I can keep your council. I
do not think, however, the plan you propose will turn
it well for either of us. Think it over. It
will take us a long time to go the round
of farms and exploit the men, and all the time
(18:22):
the suitors will be wasting your estate with impunity and
without compunction. Prove the women by all means to see
who are disloyal and who guiltless. But I am not
in favor of going round and trying the men. We
can intend to that later on, if you really have
some sign from Jove that he will support you. Thus
(18:43):
they did converse, And meanwhile, the ship which had brought
Telemachus and his crew from Pylos had reached the town
of Ithaca. When they had come inside the harbor, they
drew the ship on to the land. Their servants came
and took their armor from them, and they left all
the presents at the house of Clytius. Then they sent
(19:04):
a servant to tell Penelope that Telemachus had gone into
the country, but had sent the ship to the town
to prevent her from being alarmed and made unhappy. This
servant and Eumaeus happened to meet when they were both
on the same errand of going to tell Penelope. When
they reached the house, the servant stood up and said
(19:24):
to the queen, in the presence of the waiting women,
your son, Madam, is now returned from Pylos. But Eumaeus
went close up to Penelope and said privately all that
her son had bidden him tell her. When he had
given his message, he left the house with his out
buildings and went back to his pigs again. The suitors
(19:45):
were surprised and angry at what had happened, so they
went outside the great wall that ran round the outer
court and held a council near the main entrance. Eurymachus,
son of Polybus, was the first to speak. My friends,
said he, this voyage of Telemachus's is a very serious matter.
(20:06):
We had made sure that it would come to nothing. Now, however,
let us draw a ship into the water and get
a crew together to send after the others, and tell
them to come back as fast as they can. He
had hardly done speaking when Antphinomus turned in his place
and saw the ship inside the harbor, with the crew
lowering her sails and putting by their oars. So he
(20:29):
laughed and said to the others, we need not send
them any message, for they are here. Some God must
have told them or else. They saw the ship go
by and could not overtake her. On this they rose
and went to the water side. The crew then drew
the ship on shore. Their servants took their armor from them,
(20:49):
and they went up in a body to the place
of assembly. But they would not let any one old
or young, sit along with them. And Antonus, son of
you pe Athos, spoke first. Good heavens, said he see
how the gods have saved this man from destruction. We
kept a succession of scouts upon the headlands all day long,
(21:11):
and when the sun was down, we never went on
shore to sleep, but waited in the ship all night
till morning, in the hope of capturing and killing him.
But some God has conveyed him home in spite of us.
Let us consider how we can make an end of him.
He must not escape us. Our affair is never likely
to come off while he is alive, for he is
(21:32):
very shrewd and public feeling is by no means all
on our side. We must make haste before he can
call the Achaeans in assembly. He will lose no time
in doing so, for he will be furious with us,
and will tell all the world how we plotted to
kill him but failed to take him. The people will
not like this when they come to know of it.
(21:54):
We must see that they do us no hurt, nor
drive us from our own country into exile. Let us
try and lay hold of him, either on his farm
away from the town, or on the road hither. Then
we can divide up his property amongst us, and let
his mother and the man who marries her have the house.
If this does not please you, and you wish Telemachus
(22:15):
to live on and hold his father's property, then we
must not gather here and eat up his goods in
this way, but must make our offers to Penelope, each
from his own house, and she can marry the man
who will give the most for her, and whose lot
it is to win her. They all held their peace
until Lamphinimus rose to speak. He was the son of Nysus,
(22:38):
who was the son to King Ereteus, and he was
foremost among all the suitors from the wheat growing and
well grassed island of Duluchium. His conversation, moreover, was more
agreeable to Penelope than that of any of the other suitors,
for he was a man of good natural disposition, my
(22:59):
friend said, he speaking to them plainly and in all honesty.
I am not in favor of killing Telemachus. It is
a heinous thing to kill one who was of noble blood.
Let us first take counsel of the gods, and if
the oracles of Jove advise it, I will both help
to kill him myself, and will urge every one else
(23:21):
to do so. But if they dissuade us, I would
have you hold your hands. Thus did he speak, and
his words pleased them well. So they rose forthwith and
went to the house of Ulysses, where they took their
accustomed seats. Then Penelope resolved that she would show herself
to the suitors. She knew of the plot against Telemachus,
(23:44):
for the servant Medon had overheard their counsels and had
told her. She went down therefore to the court, attended
by her maidens, and when she reached the suitors, she
stood by one of the bearing posts supporting the roof
of the cloister, holding a veil before her face, and
rebuked Antonus, saying, Antonus insolent and wicked schemer. They say
(24:07):
you are the best speaker and counselor of any man
your own age in Ithaca, But you are nothing of
the kind madman. Why should you try to compass the
death of Telemachus and take no heed of suppliants whose
witness is Jove himself. It is not right for you
to plot thus against one another. Do you not remember
(24:28):
how your father fled to this house and fear of
the people who were enraged against him for having gone
with some Taffian pirates and plundered the Thesprotians who were
at peace with us. They wanted to tear him in
pieces and eat up everything he had, but Ulysses stayed
their hands, although they were infuriated. And now you devour
(24:49):
his property without paying for it, and break my heart
by wooing his wife and trying to kill his son.
Live off doing so, and stop the others. Also to this, Eurymachus,
son of Pollybus, answered, take heart, Queen Penelope, daughter of Vicarius,
and do not trouble yourself about these matters. The man
(25:10):
is not yet born, nor never will be, who shall
lay hands upon your son, Telemachus, while I yet live
to look upon the face of the earth, I say,
and it shall surely be that my spear shall be
reddened with his blood. For many a time his Ulysses
taken me on his knees, held wine up to my
lips to drink, and put pieces of meat into my hands. Therefore,
(25:34):
Telemachus has much the dearest friend I have, and has
nothing to fear from the hands of us suitors. Of course,
if death comes to him from the gods, he cannot
escape it. He said this to quiet her, but in
reality he was plotting against Telemachus. Then Penelope went upstairs
again and mourned her husband till Minerva shed sleep over
(25:58):
her eyes. In the evening, Eumaeus got back to Ulysses
and his son, who had just sacrificed a young pig
of a year old, and were helping one another to
get supper ready. Minerva therefore came up to Ulysses, turned
him into an old man with a stroke of her
wand and clad him in his old clothes again, for
fear that the swineherd might recognize him, and not keep
(26:22):
the secret, but go and tell Penelope. Telemachus was the
first to speak. So you have got back, Eumaeus said he,
what is the news of the town. Have the suitors
returned or are they still waiting over yonder to take
me on my way home. I did not think of
asking about that, replied Eumaeus. When I was in the town,
(26:44):
I thought I would give my message and come back
as soon as I could. I met a man sent
by those who had gone with you to Pylos, and
he was the first to tell the news to your mother.
But I can say what I saw with my own eyes.
I had just got on to the crest of the
hill of Mercury, above the town, when I saw a
ship coming into harbor with a number of men in her.
(27:06):
They had many shields and spears, and I thought it
was the Suitors, but I cannot be sure. On hearing this,
Telemachus smiled to his father, but so that Eumaeus could
not see him. Then, when they had finished their work
and the meal was ready, they ate it, and every
man had his full share, so that all were satisfied.
(27:28):
As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.
End of Book sixteen.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.