Page 312 - the-odyssey

this man has come to the house of Ulysses; I believe the
light has not been coming from the torches, but from his
own head—for his hair is all gone, every bit of it.’
Then turning to Ulysses he said, ‘Stranger, will you work
as a servant, if I send you to the wolds and see that you are
well paid? Can you build a stone fence, or plant trees? I will
have you fed all the year round, and will find you in shoes
and clothing. Will you go, then? Not you; for you have got
into bad ways, and do not want to work; you had rather fill
your belly by going round the country begging.’
‘Eurymachus,’ answered Ulysses, ‘if you and I were to
work one against the other in early summer when the days
are at their longest—give me a good scythe, and take anoth-
er yourself, and let us see which will last the longer or mow
the stronger, from dawn till dark when the mowing grass is
about. Or if you will plough against me, let us each take a
yoke of tawny oxen, well-mated and of great strength and
endurance: turn me into a four acre field, and see whether
you or I can drive the straighter furrow. If, again, war were
to break out this day, give me a shield, a couple of spears and
a helmet fitting well upon my temples—you would find me
foremost in the fray, and would cease your gibes about my
belly. You are insolent and cruel, and think yourself a great
man because you live in a little world, and that a bad one.
If Ulysses comes to his own again, the doors of his house
are wide, but you will find them narrow when you try to fly
through them.’
Eurymachus was furious at all this. He scowled at him
and cried, ‘You wretch, I will soon pay you out for daring to

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