Stories from the Odyssey | Page 9

the blame on Penelope, who, he said, had beguiled them
for three years by holding out promises which she never meant to fulfil.
Then he told the story of Penelope's web, and concluded his speech
with these words:
"As long as thy mother continues in this mind, so long will we stay
here and consume thy living. If thou wouldst be quit of us, send her to
her father's house and bid her marry the man of her choice."
Telemachus replied: "How can I drive away the mother who bare me
and nourished me? And where shall I find means to pay back her dower?
But most of all I dread my mother's curse. No, never shall that word be
spoken by me. Therefore, if ye know aught of fair and honest dealing,
depart from my house, and live on your own goods; but if it seems
good to you to eat up another man's living, then will I appeal to the
justice of heaven, and pray for vengeance on your heads."
"Behold, his prayer is answered," cried Halitherses, a venerable elder,
with snow-white beard, who was skilled in augury; and looking up they
saw two eagles winging their way at full speed towards the place of
assembly. Now the two great birds hovered over the meeting; and just
at this moment they wheeled round and attacked each other fiercely
with beak and claw. After fighting for some time they shot away to the
right and were soon lost to view. Then Halitherses spake again,
interpreting the omen: "Hearken, men of Ithaca, to my words, and to
you, the suitors of Penelope, especially do I speak. Woe is coming
upon you; I see it rising and swelling as a wave. Not long shall
Odysseus be absent, but even now he is near at hand hatching mischief
for those who sit here. And many another shall suffer, besides these
who have done the wrong. Therefore, I say, let us stop their evil deeds,
or let them cease themselves. The hour is near at hand which I foretold,
when Odysseus embarked for Troy: I said that after many sufferings,
having lost all his comrades, unknown to all in the twentieth year he
should come home. And now all these things are coming to pass."
Then up rose Eurymachus, in an angry and scornful mood. "Old man,"
said he, "go home and prophesy to thine own children, lest some harm
befall thee here. Thinkest thou that every fowl of the air is a messenger

from heaven? Odysseus has perished, and would that thou hadst
perished with him! Art thou not ashamed to take sides with this
malapert boy, feeding his passion and folly with thy crazy prophecies?
Doubtless thou lookest to him for favour and reward, but thou wilt find
that his friendship will cost thee dear. Telemachus has heard our
answer to his complaint; let him keep his eloquence for his froward
mother, and bring her to a better mind, for neither his speeches nor thy
prophecies will turn us from our purpose."
The principal object of the meeting was now attained: the villainy of
the suitors had been publicly exposed, and they were left without
excuse or hope of mercy when the day of reckoning should arrive.
Accordingly Telemachus, dismissing the subject of his wrongs, now
spoke of his intended voyage to Pylos and Sparta, and begged for the
loan of a ship to carry him and his comrades to the mainland.
No response was made to his request; but one man still attempted to
rouse public opinion against the suitors. This was Mentor, an old friend
of Odysseus, who had been left in charge of his household on his
departure from Ithaca. "Is there not one among you," he cried
indignantly, "who will speak a word for Telemachus, or testify against
the wickedness of these men? No more let kings be gentle and merciful
towards their people, as was Odysseus when he ruled over you, loving
and tender-hearted as a father. Let righteousness give place to
oppression, if these are its rewards. There you sit, like cowed and
beaten men, and suffer a handful of worthless men to lord it over you
all."
After this last appeal, which was as fruitless as the others, the meeting
broke up, and the suitors returned to their revels in the house of
Odysseus.
II
Full of anxious thought, Telemachus went down to the shore,
wondering how he should find means to accomplish his voyage.
Stooping down, he bathed his hands in the sea, and after this act of
purification he lifted up his hands and prayed to Athene: "O thou who
camest yesterday to our house, and badest me go on this quest, give ear
and help me in this strait."
He had hardly