Page 261 - the-odyssey

said to be well off.’
‘‘I will do so gladly,’ answered she, ‘if you men will first
swear me a solemn oath that you will do me no harm by
the way.’
‘They all swore as she told them, and when they had com-
pleted their oath the woman said, ‘Hush; and if any of your
men meets me in the street or at the well, do not let him
speak to me, for fear some one should go and tell my mas-
ter, in which case he would suspect something. He would
put me in prison, and would have all of you murdered; keep
your own counsel therefore; buy your merchandise as fast
as you can, and send me word when you have done load-
ing. I will bring as much gold as I can lay my hands on, and
there is something else also that I can do towards paying my
fare. I am nurse to the son of the good man of the house, a
funny little fellow just able to run about. I will carry him off
in your ship, and you will get a great deal of money for him
if you take him and sell him in foreign parts.’
‘On this she went back to the house. The Phoenicians
stayed a whole year till they had loaded their ship with much
precious merchandise, and then, when they had got freight
enough, they sent to tell the woman. Their messenger, a very
cunning fellow, came to my father’s house bringing a neck-
lace of gold with amber beads strung among it; and while
my mother and the servants had it in their hands admir-
ing it and bargaining about it, he made a sign quietly to the
woman and then went back to the ship, whereon she took
me by the hand and led me out of the house. In the fore part
of the house she saw the tables set with the cups of guests

0 The Odyssey