slaughtered well-fed sheep and fading goats, And made a victim of a pampered brawn, And a stalled ox, preparing for the feast. Meantime Ulysses and that noble hind The swineherd hastened to begin their walk To town, and thus the master swineherd spake:—
“Since, stranger, ’tis thy wish to pass today Into the city, as my master bade— Though I by far prefer that thou remain A guardian of the stalls, yet much I fear My master, and am sure that he would chide, And harsh the upbraidings of a master are— Let us depart; the day is now far spent, And chill will be the air of eventide.”
Ulysses, the sagacious, answered thus: “Enough; I know; thy words are heard by one Who understands them. Let us then depart. Lead thou the way; and if thou hast a staff, Cut from the wood to lean on, give it me, Since, as thou say’st, we have a slippery road.”
He spake, and o’er his shoulders flung a scrip, Old, cracked, and hanging by a twisted thong. Eumaeus gave the staff he asked, and both Went forth; the dogs and herdsmen stayed to guard The lodge. The swineherd led his master on Townward, a squalid beggar to the sight, And aged, leaning on a staff, and wrapped In sordid rags. There by the rugged way, As they drew near the town, they passed a fount Wrought by the hand of man, and pouring forth Its pleasant streams, from which the citizens Drew water. Ithacus and Neritus Founded it with Polyctor, and a grove Of alders feeding on the moistened earth Grew round it on all sides. The ice-cold rill Gushed from a lofty rock, upon whose brow An altar stood, at which the passersby Worshipped, and laid their offerings for the Nymphs. There did Melanthius, son of Dolius, meet The twain, as he was driving to the town The finest goats of all the flocks, to make A banquet for the suitors; with him went Two shepherds, following the flock. As soon As he beheld Eumaeus and his guest, He railed at them with rude and violent words, That made the anger of Ulysses rise.