Page 242 - the-odyssey

and come a long way till at last he reached my station, and
I was very kind to him. He said he had seen Ulysses with
Idomeneus among the Cretans, refitting his ships which
had been damaged in a gale. He said Ulysses would return
in the following summer or autumn with his men, and that
he would bring back much wealth. And now you, you un-
fortunate old man, since fate has brought you to my door,
do not try to flatter me in this way with vain hopes. It is not
for any such reason that I shall treat you kindly, but only
out of respect for Jove the god of hospitality, as fearing him
and pitying you.’
Ulysses answered, ‘I see that you are of an unbelieving
mind; I have given you my oath, and yet you will not cred-
it me; let us then make a bargain, and call all the gods in
heaven to witness it. If your master comes home, give me
a cloak and shirt of good wear, and send me to Dulichium
where I want to go; but if he does not come as I say he will,
set your men on to me, and tell them to throw me from yon-
der precipice, as a warning to tramps not to go about the
country telling lies.’
‘And a pretty figure I should cut then,’ replied Eumaeus,
‘both now and hereafter, if I were to kill you after receiving
you into my hut and showing you hospitality. I should have
to say my prayers in good earnest if I did; but it is just sup-
per time and I hope my men will come in directly, that we
may cook something savoury for supper.’
Thus did they converse, and presently the swineherds
came up with the pigs, which were then shut up for the
night in their styes, and a tremendous squealing they made

1