The Story of the Odyssey | Page 4

my
heart to hear it. Surely, of all women I am the most unhappy, so famous
was the husband for whom I mourn."
But Telemachus made reply: "Why dost thou grudge the minstrel, my
mother, to make us glad in such fashion as his spirit biddeth him? It is
no blame to him that he singeth of the unhappy return of the Greeks,
for men most prize the song that soundeth newest in their ears. Endure,
therefore, to listen, for not Ulysses only missed his return, but many a
famous chief besides. Go, then, to thy chamber, and mind thy
household affairs, and bid thy handmaids ply their tasks. Speech
belongeth unto men, and chiefly to me that am the master in this
house."
Then went she back to her chamber, for she was amazed at her son,
with such authority did he speak. Then she bewailed her lord, till
Athene sent down sleep upon her eyes.
When she was gone, Telemachus spake to the suitors, saying: "Let us
now feast and be merry, and let there be no brawling among us. It is a
good thing to listen to a minstrel that hath a voice as the voice of a god.
But in the morning let us go to the assembly, that I may declare my
purpose, to wit, that ye leave this hall, and eat your own substance. But
if ye deem it a better thing that ye should waste another man's goods,
and make no recompense, then work your will. But certainly Zeus shall
repay you."
So he spake, and they all marvelled that he used such boldness. And
Antinous [Footnote: An-ti'-no-us.] answered: "Surely, Telemachus, it is
by the bidding of the gods that thou speakest so boldly. Therefore I
pray that Zeus may never make thee King in Ithaca."

Then said Telemachus: "It is no ill thing to be a king, for his house
groweth rich, and he himself is honoured. But there are others in Ithaca,
young and old, who may have the kingship, now that Ulysses is dead.
Yet know that I will be lord of my own house and of the slaves which
Ulysses won for himself with his own spear."
Thereupon spake Eurymachus [Footnote: Eu-rym'-a-chus.], saying: "It
is with the gods to say who shall be King in Ithaca; but no man can
deny that thou shouldest keep thine own goods and be lord in thine own
house. Tell me, who is this stranger that came but just now to thy house?
Did he bring tidings of thy father? Or came he on some matter of his
own? In strange fashion did he depart, nor did he tarry that we might
know him."
Telemachus made answer: "Verily, Eurymachus, the day of my father's
return hath gone by forever. As for this stranger, he said that he was
Mentes, King of the Taphians."
So spake Telemachus, but in his heart he knew that the stranger was
Athene. Then the suitors turned them to the dance and to the song,
making merry till the darkness fell. Then went they each to his own
house to sleep.
But Telemachus went to his chamber, pondering many things in his
heart. And Eurycleia, [Footnote: Eu-ry-clei'-a] who had nursed him
when he was little, went with him, bearing torches in her hands. He
opened the door of the chamber, and took off his doublet, and put it in
the wise woman's hands. She folded it, and smoothed it, and hung it on
a pin, and went forth from the room, and pulled to the door, and made it
fast. And all the night Telemachus thought in his heart of the journey
which Athene had showed him.

CHAPTER II
THE ASSEMBLY

When the morning came, Telemachus bade the heralds call the people
to the assembly. So the heralds called them, and they came in haste.
And when they were gathered together, he went his way to the place of
meeting, holding in his hand a spear, and two dogs followed him. Then
did Athene shed a marvellous grace upon him, so that all men
wondered at him, as he sat him down in his father's place.
First spake Aegyptus [Footnote: AE-gyp'-tus.], who was bowed with
many years, and was very wise. Four sons he had. One had gone with
Ulysses to Troy, and one was among the suitors of the Queen, and two
abode with their father in the field. He said: "Hearken to me, men of
Ithaca! Never hath an assembly been called in Ithaca since Ulysses
departed. Who now hath called us together? If it be Telemachus, what
doth he want? Hath he heard any tidings of the coming back of the host?
He, methinks, is a true man. May Zeus be with him and grant him his