galleys of the fishermen, That they might bear them home. And then they came Sorrowing together in the marketplace. There, when the assembly now was full, arose Eupeithes and addressed them. In his heart Was sorrow, that could never be consoled, For his slain son Antinoüs, who was first To fall before Ulysses. Weeping rose The father, and harangued the assembly thus:—
“Great things, indeed, my friends, hath this man done For us Achaians. Many valiant men He gathered in his ships and led abroad, And lost his gallant ships, and lost his men; And now, returning, he has put to death The best of all the Cephallenian race. Come, then, and ere he find a safe retreat In Pylos, or in hallowed Elis, where The Epeians rule, pursue him; endless shame Will be our portion else, and they who live In future years will hear of our disgrace. If we avenge not on these men of blood The murder of our sons and brothers, life Will not be sweet to me, and I would go At once, and gladly, down among the dead. Rise, then, and fall upon them ere they flee.”
So spake he, weeping; and the Greeks were moved With pity as they heard him. Now appeared The herald Medon and the sacred bard, As, rising from the sleep of night, they left The palace of Ulysses. They stood forth Amid the multitude, who all beheld With wonder. Then sagacious Medon spake:—
“Give ear, ye men of Ithaca, and know That not without the approval of the gods Ulysses hath done this. I saw, myself, One of the immortals taking part with him, In all things like to Mentor. Now the god Standing before Ulysses strengthened him For combat, and now drove the routed band Of suitors through the hall; in heaps they fell.”
He spake, and all who heard were pale with fear. The aged hero, Halitherses, son Of Mastor, then came forward; he alone Knew what was past and what was yet to come, And, wisely judging, to the assembly said:—