Light of my eyes, thou com'st; it is thyself,

  Sweetest Telemachus! I had no hope

  To see thee more, once told that o'er the Deep

  Thou hadst departed for the Pylian coast. 30

  Enter, my precious son; that I may sooth

  My soul with sight of thee from far arrived,

  For seldom thou thy feeders and thy farm

  Visitest, in the city custom'd much

  To make abode, that thou may'st witness there

  The manners of those hungry suitors proud.

  To whom Telemachus, discrete, replied.

  It will be so. There is great need, my friend!

  But here, for thy sake, have I now arrived,

  That I may look on thee, and from thy lips 40

  Learn if my mother still reside at home,

  Or have become spouse of some other Chief,

  Leaving untenanted Ulysses' bed

  To be by noisome spiders webb'd around.

  To whom the master swine-herd in return.

  Not so, she, patient still as ever, dwells

  Beneath thy roof, but all her cheerless days

  Despairing wastes, and all her nights in tears.

  So saying, Eumæus at his hand received

  His brazen lance, and o'er the step of stone 50

  Enter'd Telemachus, to whom his sire

  Relinquish'd, soon as he appear'd, his seat,

  But him Telemachus forbidding, said--

  Guest, keep thy seat; our cottage will afford

  Some other, which Eumæus will provide.

  He ceased, and he, returning at the word,

  Reposed again; then good Eumæus spread

  Green twigs beneath, which, cover'd with a fleece,

  Supplied Ulysses' offspring with a seat.

  He, next, disposed his dishes on the board 60

  With relicts charged of yesterday; with bread,

  Alert, he heap'd the baskets; with rich wine

  His ivy cup replenish'd; and a seat

  Took opposite to his illustrious Lord

  Ulysses. They toward the plenteous feast

  Stretch'd forth their hands, (and hunger now and thirst

  Both satisfied) Telemachus, his speech

  Addressing to their gen'rous host, began.

  Whence is this guest, my father? How convey'd

  Came he to Ithaca? What country boast 70

  The mariners with whom he here arrived?

  For, that on foot he found us not, is sure.

  To whom Eumæus, thou didst thus reply.

  I will with truth answer thee, O my son!

  He boasts him sprung from ancestry renown'd

  In spacious Crete, and hath the cities seen

  Of various lands, by fate ordain'd to roam.

  Ev'n now, from a Thesprotian ship escaped,

  He reach'd my cottage--but he is thy own;

  I yield him to thee; treat him as thou wilt; 80

  He is thy suppliant, and depends on thee.

  Then thus, Telemachus, discrete, replied.

  Thy words, Eumæus, pain my very soul.

  For what security can I afford

  To any in my house? myself am young,

  Nor yet of strength sufficient to repel

  An offer'd insult, and my mother's mind

  In doubtful balance hangs, if, still with me

  An inmate, she shall manage my concerns,

  Attentive only to her absent Lord 90

  And her own good report, or shall espouse

  The noblest of her wooers, and the best

  Entitled by the splendour of his gifts.

  But I will give him, since I find him lodg'd

  A guest beneath thy roof, tunic and cloak,

  Sword double-edged, and sandals for his feet,

  With convoy to the country of his choice.

  Still, if it please thee, keep him here thy guest,

  And I will send him raiment, with supplies

  Of all sorts, lest he burthen thee and thine. 100

  But where the suitors come, there shall not he

  With my consent, nor stand exposed to pride

  And petulance like theirs, lest by some sneer

  They wound him, and through him, wound also me;

  For little is it that the boldest can

  Against so many; numbers will prevail.

  Him answer'd then Ulysses toil-inured.

  Oh amiable and good! since even I

  Am free to answer thee, I will avow

  My heart within me torn by what I hear 110

  Of those injurious suitors, who the house

  Infest of one noble as thou appear'st.

  But say--submittest thou to their controul

  Willingly, or because the people, sway'd

  By some response oracular, incline

  Against thee? Thou hast brothers, it may chance,

  Slow to assist thee--for a brother's aid

  Is of importance in whatever cause.

  For oh that I had youth as I have will,

  Or that renown'd Ulysses were my sire, 120

  Or that himself might wander home again.

  Whereof hope yet remains! then might I lose

  My head, that moment, by an alien's hand,

  If I would fail, ent'ring Ulysses' gate,

  To be the bane and mischief of them all.

  But if alone to multitudes opposed

  I should perchance be foiled; nobler it were

  With my own people, under my own roof

  To perish, than to witness evermore

  Their unexampled deeds, guests shoved aside, 130

  Maidens dragg'd forcibly from room to room,

  Casks emptied of their rich contents, and them

  Indulging glutt'nous appetite day by day

  Enormous, without measure, without end.

  To whom, Telemachus, discrete, replied.

  Stranger! thy questions shall from me receive

  True answer. Enmity or hatred none

  Subsists the people and myself between,

  Nor have I brothers to accuse, whose aid

  Is of importance in whatever cause, 140

  For Jove hath from of old with single heirs

  Our house supplied; Arcesias none begat

  Except Laertes, and Laertes none

  Except Ulysses, and Ulysses me

  Left here his only one, and unenjoy'd.

  Thence comes it that our palace swarms with foes;

  For all the rulers of the neighbour isles,

  Samos, Dulichium, and the forest-crown'd

  Zacynthus, others also rulers here

  In craggy Ithaca, my mother seek 150

  In marriage, and my household stores consume.

  But neither she those nuptial rites abhorr'd

  Refuses absolute, nor yet consents

  To end them; they my patrimony waste

  Meantime, and will destroy me also soon,

  As I expect, but heav'n disposes all.

  Eumæus! haste, my father! bear with speed

  News to Penelope that I am safe,

  And have arrived from Pylus; I will wait

  Till thou return; and well beware that none

  Hear thee beside, for I have many foes.

  To whom Eumæus, thou didst thus reply.

  It is enough. I understand. Thou speak'st

  To one intelligent. But say beside,

  Shall I not also, as I go, inform

  Distress'd Laertes? who while yet he mourn'd

  Ulysses only, could o'ersee the works,

  And dieted among his menials oft

  As hunger prompted him, but now, they say,

  Since thy departure to the Pylian shore, 170

  He neither eats as he was wont, nor drinks,

  Nor oversees his hinds, but sighing sits

  And weeping, wasted even to the bone.

  Him then Telemachus answer'd discrete.

  Hard though it be, yet to his tears and sighs

  Him leave we now. We cannot what we would.

  For, were the ordering of all events

  Referr'd to our own choice, our first desire

  Should be to see my father's glad return.

  But once thy tidings told, wander not thou 180

  In quest of Him, but hither speed again.

  Rather request my mother that she send

  Her household's governess without delay

  Privately to him; she shall best inform

  The ancient King that I have safe arrived.

  He said, and urged him forth, who binding on

  His sandals, to the city bent his way.

  Nor went Eumæus from his home unmark'd

  By Pallas, who in semblance of a fair

  Damsel, accomplish'd in domestic arts, 190

  Approaching to the cottage' entrance, stood

  Opposite, by Ulysses plain discern'd,

  But to his son invisible; for the Gods

  Appear not manifest alike to all.

  The mastiffs saw her also, and with tone

  Querulous hid themselves, yet bark'd they not.

  She beckon'd him abroad. Ulysses saw

  The sign, and, issuing through the outer court,

  Approach'd her, whom the Goddess thus bespake.

  Laertes' progeny, for wiles renown'd! 200

  Disclose thyself to thy own son, that, death

  Concerting and destruction to your foes,

  Ye may the royal city seek, nor long

  Shall ye my presence there desire in vain,

  For I am ardent to begin the fight.

  Minerva spake, and with her rod of gold

  Touch'd him; his mantle, first, and vest she made

  Pure as new-blanch'd; dilating, next, his form,

  She gave dimensions ampler to his limbs;

  Swarthy again his manly hue became, 210

  Round his full face, and black his bushy chin.

  The change perform'd, Minerva disappear'd,

  And the illustrious Hero turn'd again

  Into the cottage; wonder at that sight

  Seiz'd on Telemachus; askance he look'd,

  Awe-struck, not unsuspicious of a God,

  And in wing'd accents eager thus began.

  Thou art no longer, whom I lately saw,

  Nor are thy cloaths, nor is thy port the same.

  Thou art a God, I know, and dwell'st in heav'n. 220

  Oh, smile on us, that we may yield thee rites

  Acceptable, and present thee golden gifts

  Elaborate; ah spare us, Pow'r divine!

  To whom Ulysses, Hero toil-inured.

  I am no God. Why deem'st thou me divine?

  I am thy father, for whose sake thou lead'st

  A life of woe, by violence oppress'd.

  So saying, he kiss'd his son, while from his cheeks

  Tears trickled, tears till then, perforce restrained.

  Telemachus, (for he believed him not 230

  His father yet) thus, wond'ring, spake again.

  My father, said'st thou? no. Thou art not He,

  But some Divinity beguiles my soul

  With mock'ries to afflict me still the more;

  For never mortal man could so have wrought

  By his own pow'r; some interposing God

  Alone could render thee both young and old,

  For old thou wast of late, and foully clad,

  But wear'st the semblance, now, of those in heav'n!

  To whom Ulysses, ever-wise, replied. 240

  Telemachus! it is not well, my son!

  That thou should'st greet thy father with a face

  Of wild astonishment, and stand aghast.

  Ulysses, save myself, none comes, be sure.

  Such as thou seest, after ten thousand woes

  Which I have borne, I visit once again

  My native country in the twentieth year.

  This wonder Athenæan Pallas wrought,

  She cloath'd me even with what form she would,

  For so she can. Now poor I seem and old, 250

  Now young again, and clad in fresh attire.

  The Gods who dwell in yonder heav'n, with ease

  Dignify or debase a mortal man.

  So saying, he sat. Then threw Telemachus

  His arms around his father's neck, and wept.

  Desire intense of lamentation seized

  On both; soft murmurs utt'ring, each indulged

  His grief, more frequent wailing than the bird,

  (Eagle, or hook-nail'd vulture) from whose nest

  Some swain hath stol'n her yet unfeather'd young. 260

  So from their eyelids they big drops distill'd

  Of tend'rest grief, nor had the setting sun

  Cessation of their weeping seen, had not

  Telemachus his father thus address'd.

  What ship convey'd thee to thy native shore,

  My father! and what country boast the crew?

  For, that on foot thou not arriv'dst, is sure.

  Then thus divine Ulysses toil-inured.

  My son! I will explicit all relate.

  Conducted by Phæacia's maritime sons 270

  I came, a race accustom'd to convey

  Strangers who visit them across the Deep.

  Me, o'er the billows in a rapid bark

  Borne sleeping, on the shores of Ithaca

  They lay'd; rich gifts they gave me also, brass,

  Gold in full bags, and beautiful attire,

  Which, warn'd from heav'n, I have in caves conceal'd.

  By Pallas prompted, hither I repair'd

  That we might plan the slaughter of our foes,

  Whose numbers tell me now, that I may know 280

  How pow'rful, certainly, and who they are,

  And consultation with my dauntless heart

  May hold, if we be able to contend

  Ourselves with all, or must have aid beside.

  Then, answer thus his son, discrete, return'd.

  My father! thy renown hath ever rung

  In thy son's ears, and by report thy force

  In arms, and wisdom I have oft been told.

  But terribly thou speak'st; amazement-fixt

  I hear; can two a multitude oppose, 290

  And valiant warriors all? for neither ten

  Are they, nor twenty, but more num'rous far.

  Learn, now, their numbers. Fifty youths and two

  Came from Dulichium; they are chosen men,

  And six attendants follow in their train;

  From Samos twenty youths and four arrive,

  Zacynthus also of Achaia's sons

  Sends twenty more, and our own island adds,

  Herself, her twelve chief rulers; Medon, too,

  Is there the herald, and the bard divine, 300

  With other two, intendants of the board.

  Should we within the palace, we alone,

  Assail them all, I fear lest thy revenge

  Unpleasant to thyself and deadly prove,

  Frustrating thy return. But recollect--

  Think, if thou canst, on whose confed'rate arm

  Strenuous on our behalf we may rely.

  To him replied his patient father bold.

  I will inform thee. Mark. Weigh well my words.

  Will Pallas and the everlasting Sire 310

  Alone suffice? or need we other aids?

  Then answer thus Telemachus return'd.

  Good friends indeed are they whom thou hast named,

  Though throned above the clouds; for their controul

  Is universal both in earth and heav'n.

  To whom Ulysses, toil-worn Chief renown'd.

  Not long will they from battle stand aloof,

  When once, within my palace, in the strength

  Of Mars, to sharp decision we shall urge

  The suitors. But thyself at early dawn 320

  Our mansion seek, that thou may'st mingle there

  With that imperious throng; me in due time

  Eumæus to the city shall conduct,

  In form a miserable beggar old.

  But should they with dishonourable scorn

  Insult me, thou unmov'd my wrongs endure,

  And should they even drag me by the feet

  Abroad, or smite me with the spear, thy wrath

  Refraining, gently counsel them to cease

  From such extravagance; but well I know 330

  That cease they will not, for their hour is come.

  And mark me well; treasure what now I say

  Deep in thy soul. When Pallas shall, herself,

  Suggest the measure, then, shaking my brows,

  I will admonish thee; thou, at the sign,

  Remove what arms soever in the hall

  Remain, and in the upper palace safe

  Dispose them; should the suitors, missing them,

  Perchance interrogate thee, then reply

  Gently--I have removed them from the smoke; 340

  For they appear no more the arms which erst

  Ulysses, going hence to Ilium, left,

  But smirch'd and sullied by the breath of fire.

  This weightier reason (thou shalt also say)

  Jove taught me; lest, intoxicate with wine,

  Ye should assault each other in your brawls,

  Shaming both feast and courtship; for the view

  Itself of arms incites to their abuse.

  Yet leave two faulchions for ourselves alone,

  Two spears, two bucklers, which with sudden force 350

  Impetuous we will seize, and Jove all-wise

  Their valour shall, and Pallas, steal away.

  This word store also in remembrance deep--

  If mine in truth thou art, and of my blood,

  Then, of Ulysses to his home returned

  Let none hear news from thee, no, not my sire

  Laertes, nor Eumæus, nor of all

  The menials any, or ev'n Penelope,

  That thou and I, alone, may search the drift

  Of our domestic women, and may prove 360

  Our serving-men, who honours and reveres

  And who contemns us both, but chiefly thee

  So gracious and so worthy to be loved.

  Him then thus answer'd his illustrious son.

  Trust me, my father! thou shalt soon be taught

  That I am not of drowsy mind obtuse.

  But this I think not likely to avail

  Or thee or me; ponder it yet again;

  For tedious were the task, farm after farm

  To visit of those servants, proving each, 370

  And the proud suitors merciless devour

  Meantime thy substance, nor abstain from aught.

  Learn, if thou wilt, (and I that course myself

  Advise) who slights thee of the female train,

  And who is guiltless; but I would not try

  From house to house the men, far better proved