Page 327 - the-odyssey

said she, ‘Euryclea, and wash your master’s age-mate; I sup-
pose Ulysses’ hands and feet are very much the same now as
his are, for trouble ages all of us dreadfully fast.’
On these words the old woman covered her face with
her hands; she began to weep and made lamentation say-
ing, ‘My dear child, I cannot think whatever I am to do with
you. I am certain no one was ever more god-fearing than
yourself, and yet Jove hates you. No one in the whole world
ever burned him more thigh bones, nor gave him finer hec-
atombs when you prayed you might come to a green old age
yourself and see your son grow up to take after you: yet see
how he has prevented you alone from ever getting back to
your own home. I have no doubt the women in some for-
eign palace which Ulysses has got to are gibing at him as all
these sluts here have been gibing at you. I do not wonder at
your not choosing to let them wash you after the manner
in which they have insulted you; I will wash your feet my-
self gladly enough, as Penelope has said that I am to do so; I
will wash them both for Penelope’s sake and for your own,
for you have raised the most lively feelings of compassion
in my mind; and let me say this moreover, which pray at-
tend to; we have had all kinds of strangers in distress come
here before now, but I make bold to say that no one ever yet
came who was so like Ulysses in figure, voice, and feet as
you are.’
‘Those who have seen us both,’ answered Ulysses, ‘have
always said we were wonderfully like each other, and now
you have noticed it too.’
Then the old woman took the cauldron in which she

The Odyssey