herself to a man from a foreign country； if she had known that the
sons of Achaeans would come after her and bring her back。 Heaven put
it in her heart to do wrong； and she gave no thought to that sin；
which has been the source of all our sorrows。 Now； however； that you
have convinced me by showing that you know all about our bed （which no
human being has ever seen but you and I and a single maid servant； the
daughter of Actor； who was given me by my father on my marriage； and
who keeps the doors of our room） hard of belief though I have been I
can mistrust no longer。〃
Then Ulysses in his turn melted； and wept as he clasped his dear and
faithful wife to his bosom。 As the sight of land is welcome to men who
are swimming towards the shore； when Neptune has wrecked their ship
with the fury of his winds and waves… a few alone reach the land；
and these； covered with brine； are thankful when they find
themselves on firm ground and out of danger… even so was her husband
welcome to her as she looked upon him； and she could not tear her
two fair arms from about his neck。 Indeed they would have gone on
indulging their sorrow till rosy…fingered morn appeared； had not
Minerva determined otherwise； and held night back in the far west；
while she would not suffer Dawn to leave Oceanus； nor to yoke the
two steeds Lampus and Phaethon that bear her onward to break the day
upon mankind。
At last； however； Ulysses said； 〃Wife； we have not yet reached the
end of our troubles。 I have an unknown amount of toil still to
undergo。 It is long and difficult； but I must go through with it；
for thus the shade of Teiresias prophesied concerning me； on the day
when I went down into Hades to ask about my return and that of my
companions。 But now let us go to bed； that we may lie down and enjoy
the blessed boon of sleep。〃
〃You shall go to bed as soon as you please；〃 replied Penelope；
〃now that the gods have sent you home to your own good house and to
your country。 But as heaven has put it in your mind to speak of it；
tell me about the task that lies before you。 I shall have to hear
about it later； so it is better that I should be told at once。〃
〃My dear；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃why should you press me to tell you？
Still； I will not conceal it from you； though you will not like BOOK
it。 I do not like it myself； for Teiresias bade me travel far and
wide； carrying an oar； till I came to a country where the people
have never heard of the sea； and do not even mix salt with their food。
They know nothing about ships； nor oars that are as the wings of a
ship。 He gave me this certain token which I will not hide from you。 He
said that a wayfarer should meet me and ask me whether it was a
winnowing shovel that I had on my shoulder。 On this； I was to fix my
oar in the ground and sacrifice a ram； a bull； and a boar to
Neptune； after which I was to go home and offer hecatombs to all the
gods in heaven； one after the other。 As for myself； he said that death
should come to me from the sea； and that my life should ebb away
very gently when I was full of years and peace of mind； and my
people should bless me。 All this； he said； should surely come to
pass。〃
And Penelope said； 〃If the gods are going to vouchsafe you a happier
time in your old age； you may hope then to have some respite from
misfortune。〃
Thus did they converse。 Meanwhile Eurynome and the nurse took
torches and made the bed ready with soft coverlets； as soon as they
had laid them； the nurse went back into the house to go to her rest；
leaving the bed chamber woman Eurynome to show Ulysses and Penelope to
bed by torch light。 When she had conducted them to their room she went
back； and they then came joyfully to the rites of their own old bed。
Telemachus； Philoetius； and the swineherd now left off dancing； and
made the women leave off also。 They then laid themselves down to sleep
in the cloisters。
When Ulysses and Penelope had had their fill of love they fell
talking with one another。 She told him how much she had had to bear in
seeing the house filled with a crowd of wicked suitors who had
killed so many sheep and oxen on her account； and had drunk so many
casks of wine。 Ulysses in his turn told her what he had suffered；
and how much trouble he had himself given to other people。 He told her
everything； and she was so delighted to listen that she never went
to sleep till he had ended his whole story。
He began with his victory over the Cicons； and how he thence reached
the fertile land of the Lotus…eaters。 He told her all about the
Cyclops and how he had punished him for having so ruthlessly eaten his
brave comrades； how he then went on to Aeolus； who received him
hospitably and furthered him on his way； but even so he was not to
reach home； for to his great grief a hurricane carried him out to
sea again； how he went on to the Laestrygonian city Telepylos； where
the people destroyed all his ships with their crews； save himself
and his own ship only。 Then he told of cunning Circe and her craft；
and how he sailed to the chill house of Hades； to consult the ghost of
the Theban prophet Teiresias； and how he saw his old comrades in arms；
and his mother who bore him and brought him up when he was a child；
how he then heard the wondrous singing of the Sirens； and went on to
the wandering rocks and terrible Charybdis and to Scylla； whom no
man had ever yet passed in safety； how his men then ate the cattle
of the sun…god； and how Jove therefore struck the ship with his
thunderbolts； so that all his men perished together； himself alone
being left alive； how at last he reached the Ogygian island and the
nymph Calypso； who kept him there in a cave； and fed him； and wanted
him to marry her； in which case she intended making him immortal so
that he should never grow old； but she could not persuade him to let
her do so； and how after much suffering he had found his way to the
Phaeacians； who had treated him as though he had been a god； and
sent him back in a ship to his own country after having given him
gold； bronze； and raiment in great abundance。 This was the last
thing about which he told her； for here a deep sleep took hold upon
him and eased the burden of his sorrows。
Then Minerva bethought her of another matter。 When she deemed that
Ulysses had had both of his wife and of repose； she bade
gold…enthroned Dawn rise out of Oceanus that she might shed light upon
mankind。 On this； Ulysses rose from his comfortable bed and said to
Penelope； 〃Wife； we have both of us had our full share of troubles；
you； here； in lamenting my absence； and I in being prevented from
getting home though I was longing all the time to do so。 Now； however；
that we have at last come together； take care of the property that
is in the house。 As for the sheep and goats which the wicked suitors
have eaten； I will take many myself by force from other people； and
will compel the Achaeans to make good the rest till they shall have
filled all my yards。 I am now going to the wooded lands out in the
country to see my father who has so long been grieved on my account；
and to yourself I will give these instructions； though you have little
need of them。 At sunrise it will at once get abroad that I have been
killing the suitors； go upstairs； therefore； and stay there with
your women。 See nobody and ask no questions。〃
As he spoke he girded on his armour。 Then he roused Telemachus；
Philoetius； and Eumaeus； and told them all to put on their armour
also。 This they did； and armed themselves。 When they had done so； they
opened the gates and sallied forth； Ulysses leading the way。 It was
now daylight； but Minerva nevertheless concealed them in darkness
and led them quickly out of the town。
BOOK XXIV。
THEN Mercury of Cyllene summoned the ghosts of the suitors； and in
his hand he held the fair golden wand with which he seals men's eyes
in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases； with this he roused the
ghosts and led them； while they followed whining and gibbering
behind him。 As bats fly squealing in the hollow of some great cave；
when one of them has fallen out of the cluster in which they hang；
even so did the ghosts whine and squeal as Mercury the healer of
sorrow led them down into the dark abode of death。 When they had
passed the waters of Oceanus and the rock Leucas； they came to the
gates of the sun and the land of dreams； whereon they reached the
meadow of asphodel where dwell the souls and shadows of them that
can labour no more。
Here they found the ghost of Achilles son of Peleus； with those of
Patroclus； Antilochus； and Ajax； who was the finest and handsomest man
of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus himself。
They gathered round the ghost of the son of Peleus； and the ghost of
Agamemnon joined them； sorrowing bitterly。 Round him were gathered
also the ghosts of those who had perished with him in the house of
Aeisthus； and the ghost of Achilles spoke first。
〃Son of Atreus；〃 it said； 〃we used to say that Jove had loved you
better from first to last than any other hero； for you were captain
over many and brave men； when we were all fighting together before
Troy； yet the hand of death； which no mortal can escape； was laid upon
you all too early。 Better for you had you fallen at Troy in the
hey…day of your renown； for the Achaeans would have built a mound over
your ashes； and your son would have been heir to your good name；
whereas it has now been your lot to come to a most miserable end。〃
〃Happy son of Peleus；〃 answered the ghost of Agamemnon； 〃for
having died at Troy far from Argos； while the bravest of the Trojans
and the Achaeans fell round you fighting for your body。 There you
lay in the whirling clouds of dust； all huge and hugely； heedless
now of your chivalry。 We fought the whole of the livelong day； nor
should we ever have left off if Jove had not sent a hurricane to
stay us。 Then； when we had borne you to the ships out of the fray；
we laid you on your bed and cleansed your fair skin with warm water
and with ointments。 The Danaans tore their hair and wept bitterly
round about you。 Your mother； when she heard； came with her immortal
nymphs from out of the sea； and the sound