Page 231 - the-odyssey

slept always with them. The swineherd was at that moment
cutting out a pair of sandals {127} from a good stout ox hide.
Three of his men were out herding the pigs in one place or
another, and he had sent the fourth to town with a boar that
he had been forced to send the suitors that they might sacri-
fice it and have their fill of meat.
When the hounds saw Ulysses they set up a furious bark-
ing and flew at him, but Ulysses was cunning enough to sit
down and loose his hold of the stick that he had in his hand:
still, he would have been torn by them in his own home-
stead had not the swineherd dropped his ox hide, rushed
full speed through the gate of the yard and driven the dogs
off by shouting and throwing stones at them. Then he said to
Ulysses, ‘Old man, the dogs were likely to have made short
work of you, and then you would have got me into trouble.
The gods have given me quite enough worries without that,
for I have lost the best of masters, and am in continual grief
on his account. I have to attend swine for other people to
eat, while he, if he yet lives to see the light of day, is starving
in some distant land. But come inside, and when you have
had your fill of bread and wine, tell me where you come
from, and all about your misfortunes.’
On this the swineherd led the way into the hut and bade
him sit down. He strewed a good thick bed of rushes upon
the floor, and on the top of this he threw the shaggy cham-
ois skin—a great thick one—on which he used to sleep by
night. Ulysses was pleased at being made thus welcome, and
said ‘May Jove, sir, and the rest of the gods grant you your
heart’s desire in return for the kind way in which you have

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