Page 243 - the-odyssey

as they were being driven into them. But Eumaeus called to
his men and said, ‘Bring in the best pig you have, that I may
sacrifice him for this stranger, and we will take toll of him
ourselves. We have had trouble enough this long time feed-
ing pigs, while others reap the fruit of our labour.’
On this he began chopping firewood, while the others
brought in a fine fat five year old boar pig, and set it at the
altar. Eumaeus did not forget the gods, for he was a man of
good principles, so the first thing he did was to cut bristles
from the pig’s face and throw them into the fire, praying to
all the gods as he did so that Ulysses might return home
again. Then he clubbed the pig with a billet of oak which
he had kept back when he was chopping the firewood, and
stunned it, while the others slaughtered and singed it. Then
they cut it up, and Eumaeus began by putting raw pieces
from each joint on to some of the fat; these he sprinkled
with barley meal, and laid upon the embers; they cut the
rest of the meat up small, put the pieces upon the spits and
roasted them till they were done; when they had taken them
off the spits they threw them on to the dresser in a heap.
The swineherd, who was a most equitable man, then stood
up to give every one his share. He made seven portions; one
of these he set apart for Mercury the son of Maia and the
nymphs, praying to them as he did so; the others he dealt
out to the men man by man. He gave Ulysses some slices cut
lengthways down the loin as a mark of especial honour, and
Ulysses was much pleased. ‘I hope, Eumaeus,’ said he, ‘that
Jove will be as well disposed towards you as I am, for the re-
spect you are showing to an outcast like myself.’

The Odyssey