And then again the great Ulysses spake: “Eumaeus, the sad story of thy wrongs And sufferings moves me deeply; yet hath Jove Among thy evil fortunes given this good, That, after all thy sufferings, thou art lodged With a good master, who abundantly Provides thee meat and drink; thou leadest here A pleasant life, while I am come to thee From wandering long and over many lands.”
So talked they with each other. No long time They passed in sleep, for soon the Morning came, Throned on her car of gold. Beside the shore The comrades of Telemachus cast loose The sails, took down the mast, and with their oars Brought in the vessel to its place. They threw The anchors out and bound the hawsers fast, And went upon the sea-beach, where they dressed Their morning meal, and mingled purple wine. Then, when the calls of thirst and hunger ceased, Discreet Telemachus bespake the crew:—
“Take the black ship to town. I visit first The fields, and see my herdsmen, and at eve Will come to town. Tomorrow I will give The parting feast, rich meats and generous wine.”
Then said the godlike Theoclymenus: “Whither, my son, am I to go? What house Of all the chiefs of rugged Ithaca Shall I seek shelter in? with thee, perhaps, In thine own palace where thy mother dwells.”
And thus discreet Telemachus replied: “I would have asked thee at another time To make our house thy home, for there would be No lack of kindly welcome. ’Twere not well To ask thee now, for I shall not be there, Nor will my mother see thee—since not oft Doth she appear before the suitor-train, But in an upper room, apart from them, Weaves at her loom a web. Another man I name, Eurymachus, the illustrious son Of the sage Polybus, to be thy host. The noblest of the suitors he, and seeks Most earnestly to wed the queen, and take The rank Ulysses held. Olympian Jove, Who dwells in ether, knows the fatal day That may o’ertake the suitors ere she wed.”