Page 258 - the-odyssey

as you are to me, for having saved me from going about and
getting into trouble; there is nothing worse than being al-
ways on the tramp; still, when men have once got low down
in the world they will go through a great deal on behalf
of their miserable bellies. Since, however, you press me to
stay here and await the return of Telemachus, tell me about
Ulysses’ mother, and his father whom he left on the thresh-
old of old age when he set out for Troy. Are they still living
or are they already dead and in the house of Hades?’
‘I will tell you all about them,’ replied Eumaeus, ‘Laertes
is still living and prays heaven to let him depart peacefully
in his own house, for he is terribly distressed about the ab-
sence of his son, and also about the death of his wife, which
grieved him greatly and aged him more than anything else
did. She came to an unhappy end {133} through sorrow for
her son: may no friend or neighbour who has dealt kindly
by me come to such an end as she did. As long as she was
still living, though she was always grieving, I used to like
seeing her and asking her how she did, for she brought me
up along with her daughter Ctimene, the youngest of her
children; we were boy and girl together, and she made little
difference between us. When, however, we both grew up,
they sent Ctimene to Same and received a splendid dowry
for her. As for me, my mistress gave me a good shirt and
cloak with a pair of sandals for my feet, and sent me off into
the country, but she was just as fond of me as ever. This is
all over now. Still it has pleased heaven to prosper my work
in the situation which I now hold. I have enough to eat and
drink, and can find something for any respectable stranger