Page 318 - the-odyssey

why should you be so angry with me? Is it because I am
not clean, and my clothes are all in rags, and because I am
obliged to go begging about after the manner of tramps and
beggars generally? I too was a rich man once, and had a fine
house of my own; in those days I gave to many a tramp such
as I now am, no matter who he might be nor what he want-
ed. I had any number of servants, and all the other things
which people have who live well and are accounted wealthy,
but it pleased Jove to take all away from me; therefore, wom-
an, beware lest you too come to lose that pride and place in
which you now wanton above your fellows; have a care lest
you get out of favour with your mistress, and lest Ulysses
should come home, for there is still a chance that he may do
so. Moreover, though he be dead as you think he is, yet by
Apollo’s will he has left a son behind him, Telemachus, who
will note anything done amiss by the maids in the house,
for he is now no longer in his boyhood.’
Penelope heard what he was saying and scolded the
maid, ‘Impudent baggage,’ said she, ‘I see how abominably
you are behaving, and you shall smart for it. You knew per-
fectly well, for I told you myself, that I was going to see the
stranger and ask him about my husband, for whose sake I
am in such continual sorrow.’
Then she said to her head waiting woman Eurynome,
‘Bring a seat with a fleece upon it, for the stranger to sit
upon while he tells his story, and listens to what I have to
say. I wish to ask him some questions.’
Eurynome brought the seat at once and set a fleece upon
it, and as soon as Ulysses had sat down Penelope began by

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