Page 40 - the-odyssey

on the barren ocean.’
‘Fear not, nurse,’ answered Telemachus, ‘my scheme is
not without heaven’s sanction; but swear that you will say
nothing about all this to my mother, till I have been away
some ten or twelve days, unless she hears of my having
gone, and asks you; for I do not want her to spoil her beauty
by crying.’
The old woman swore most solemnly that she would not,
and when she had completed her oath, she began drawing
off the wine into jars, and getting the barley meal into the
bags, while Telemachus went back to the suitors.
Then Minerva bethought her of another matter. She took
his shape, and went round the town to each one of the crew,
telling them to meet at the ship by sundown. She went also
to Noemon son of Phronius, and asked him to let her have a
ship—which he was very ready to do. When the sun had set
and darkness was over all the land, she got the ship into the
water, put all the tackle on board her that ships generally
carry, and stationed her at the end of the harbour. Presently
the crew came up, and the goddess spoke encouragingly to
each of them.
Furthermore she went to the house of Ulysses, and threw
the suitors into a deep slumber. She caused their drink to
fuddle them, and made them drop their cups from their
hands, so that instead of sitting over their wine, they went
back into the town to sleep, with their eyes heavy and full
of drowsiness. Then she took the form and voice of Mentor,
and called Telemachus to come outside.
‘Telemachus,’ said she, ‘the men are on board and at their