Hetil iid Helen pyrene ta MAI a ‘ili ty SSSR : riiaid Testa ; reat NORRIS tart a en 17 1a f} (ily ti Hf itt Ane Me i He Dh iS er Hf eae Crab tiles Be Ta Hea ii dH t ty f i, i! i ett i tt HEAD TE Petes f ih ti a To ny ii Sti siti scant eon Ne a Nea WF WEN ry Bea. cad ea SERIES OF ECLECTIC READINGS FOR CHILDREN» PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY For Youngest Readers — 6 to 8 Years of Age Bakewell’s True Fairy Stories . Baldwin’s Fairy Reader . . Fairy Stories and Fables . Fifty Famous Stories Retold. Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe Retold (Baldwin) . s Eggleston’s Stories of Great Ameri- cans for Little Americans . Lane’s Stories for Children . Logie & Uecke’s Story Reader . -25 -30 McCullough’s Little Stories for Little People . . give Schwartz’s Five Little Strangers Shaw’s Big People and Little People of Other Lands . . Discoverers and Explorers Simms’s Child Literature . Smythe’s Reynard the Fox . Stafford’s Animal Fables . . Wood’s Children’s First Story Book . $0.25 .40 For Children of 9 to 11 Years of Age Abbott’s Boy ona F Baldwin’s Golden F Old Greek Stories Old Stories of the Thirty More Fam Bartlett’s Animals a Bradish’s Old Norse Stories of Countr Dickens’s Child’s C David Copperf Story of Little Ne Eggleston’s Storie: Life and Adve: Foote & Skinner’s Founders of A: Hall’s Homeric Stc Hawkes’s Trail to 1 Horne & Scobey’s - Artists . Johnson’s Waste Stories . . Arnold’s Stories of Baldwin’s Abrahan Conquest of the Discovery of the Clarke’s Story of /uuas. Arabian Nights . Story of Ceesar Story of Troy . Story of Ulysses . Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe (Stephens) Dickens’s Tale of Two Cities (Kirk) Twelve Christmas Stories (Gordon) . Dutton’s Little Stories of France. Little Stories of Germany . Guerber’s Story of the English Story of the Thirteen Colonies Story of the Great Republic. Story of the Greeks. Mita TRINITY COLLEG LIBRARY DURHAM : NORTH CAROLINA rt Stories of Our Shy “isit to the Hawaiian hina PAA pd Stories Worth » Usefal Animale. ‘ ils and Their Wild 2s ok Water, Land, intry ‘in Poem and V erse for Children E ble Friends . s Stories of Great hmon "Ekees A cal and Biographi- Se es «26 ze f the Romans ~nosen People . es of Animal Life with the Lower Animals bat oe ts with Fishes, Reptiles, and Birds . . dere Half Hours with Mammals 2iNg Marden’s Stories from Life . Markwick & Smith’s True Citizen Needham’s Outdoor Studies . . Pitman’s Stories of Old France Scott’s Kenilworth (Norris) Quentin Durward (Norris) . Talisman (Dewey). . . Smiles’s Self-Help (Bower) . . Walker’s Our Birds and Their Nest- lings . Winterburn’s Spanish i in the Southwest 5 5 For latest additions see inside back cover. ( Frontispiece, ) Reading from Homer. peony OF ULYSSES BY M. CLARKE AUTHOR OF “STORY OF TROY,” ‘“STORY OF AENEAS, “STORY OF CAESAR” aca Ug NEW YORK ::- CINCINNATI -:: CHICAGO AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY me aight ‘ - bf COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY STORY OF ULYSSES. pWaPe 07, SCHOOL OF RELIGION CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION: PAGE [Ca uROYS : : . . . . ° . . ° 7 Il. JUDGMENT OF PARIS. . - 2 - : : : 8 III. ABDUCTION OF HELEN . : - ‘ . . ° : 9 IV. THE TROJAN WAR 5 - . é 5 - a PoEE V. THE OpyssEY “ : E = ° . : ~ Sly ie Vir DHE Gops) | ° : ° . . . : . see 2S CHAPTER I. FEIGNING MADNESS . . . ° . . - . a ea II. THE WooDEN HorRSsE ° . . . ° . PM; III. AMONG THE CICONIANS . . . eats . : ae IV. THe Lotus Eaters . c . . . . ° . ae es V. THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS . = : 2 - : an 2.40 VI. IN THE Cyclops’ CAVE . > . . < . - “HAs VII. POLYPHEMUS PUNISHED . . . . : . : Eater gO VIII. THE KING OF THE WINDs : : . . . ° ee: IX. AMONG THE LASTRYGONIANS . * p = 5 Os X. In Circe’s IsLe : : : - : : esc kaeT o. aat OV XI. IN THE REGIONS OF THE DEap A A é 3 > ey) XII. DREAD SIGHTS IN PLUTO’s REALM . : 2 3 : Shoe XIII. Circe’s PROPHECY AND WARNING . : : 5 4 pea rery XIV. THE SIRENS : : : Sees : : 2 : ~ © OF XV. ScyLLA AND CHARYBDIS . : 3 “ . ° - Saeiey.t XVI. THE OXEN OF THE SUN . : ° : . : ° yf CHAPTER XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII. XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL. XLI. XLII. XLII. In CALypso’s ISLAND MINERVA VISITS TELEMACHUS PENELOPE’S WEB TELEMACHUS GOES ON A VOYAGE TELEMACHUS VISITS KING NESTOR IN THE PALACE OF MENELAUS . THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA THE DREAM OF PENELOPE A VOYAGE ON A RAFT CasT ASHORE IN PH-EACIA THE PALACE OF ALCINOUS HONORED BY THE PHA®ACIANS ITHACA AT LAST DisGuIsED AS A BEGGAR EuM£uUs, THE SWINEHERD TELEMACHUS RETURNS TO ITHACA TELEMACHUS MEETS HIS FATHER THE INSOLENT GOATHERD THE FaiIrHruL Doc ARGUS THE BEGGAR IRUS . 5 : DISCOVERED BY THE SCAR : . THE VISION OF PENELOPE j THE WARNING OF THEOCLYMENUS THE CONTEST OF THE Bow THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SUITORS. PENELOPE Happy A LEAGUE OF PEACE PRONUNCIATION OF PROPER NAMES 281 INTRODUCTION. Te SOY. In this book we are to tell of the wonderful adventures of the Greek chief or king, U-lys’ses, during his long voyage home to his native island, Ith’a-ca, after the siege and destruction of Troy, — an event much celebrated in the poetry and legend- ary history of ancient times. Troy was a great and rich city of A’si-a Mi’nor. It was situated on the northwest coast, about three miles from the shore of the At-ge’an Sea, at the foot of Mount I’da, and not far from the entrance to the channel formerly called the Hel’les-pont, but now known as the Dar-da-nelles’. One of the kings of Troy was named I'lus, and from him the city was called I]’1-um or II’i-on. His grandson, Pri‘am, was king of Troy during the famous siege. This Priam, we are told, had fifty sons. They were all brave warriors, as kings and princes had to be in those days, when there were many wars, and when it was part of the duty of a 7 8 king to lead his soldiers in the field of battle, and ~ fight valiantly at their head. In ancient times a “good king” meant a king who was a strong and brave man and a good fighter, who could defend his people well against the attacks of enemies. Il. JUDGMENT OF PARE THE bravest of King Priam’s sons was Hec’‘tor. He was commander of the armies of Troy during the greater part of the siege, and he was so valiant and skillful and wise a commander that while he lived the Greeks were not able to take the city. But in the Greek army there was a warrior braver and greater even than Hector. This was the fa- mous A-chil‘les, son of Pe’leus, king of Thes’‘sa-ly. Achilles killed Hector in single combat, but soon after he was himself killed by Par‘is, another of Priam’s sons. It was this Paris, also named Al-ex-an’der, who . brought about the ruin of Troy by provoking the great war, which ended in the destruction of the city. He was a very handsome young prince, and once when there was a dispute between the three goddesses, Ju’no, Ve’nus, and Mi-ner’va, as to which was the most beautiful, he was appointed by Ju’pi- ter, king of the gods, to settle the dispute. The 9 three goddesses were required to appear before him on Mount I’da, so that he might see their charms with his own eyes, and be the better able to give a just decision. Each goddess tried by bribes to per- suade Paris to decide in her favor. Juno offered him wealth and power; Minerva promised him great wisdom; Venus tempted him by an offer of the fairest woman in the world for his wife. The Trojan prince already had a wife, the charming young nymph, CE-no’ne, who loved him dearly; but he was weak enough to yield to the inducement ~ offered by the goddess of beauty, and so gave judgment in her favor. PL. ABOUCTION: OF, HELEN. _ Tue fairest woman in the world at that time was Hel’en, wife of Men-e-la’us, king of Lac-e-de- mo’ni-a, or Spar’ta, in Greece. The old legends tell us how Paris, prompted and directed by Venus, sailed from Troy with a number of ships and com- panions, and, arriving in Greece, made his way to the royal palace of Sparta. Here he and his ret- inue were honorably received by King Menelaus, who had no suspicion of the object of the Trojan prince’s visit. This, however, was soon disclosed. Some time previous to the arrival of Paris, the (10) Abduction of Helen. If Spartan king had accepted an invitation to join a hunting expedition in the island of Crete. On leaving home for this purpose, he intrusted to his wife, the beauteous Queen Helen, ‘the duty of entertaining his Trojan guests until his return, The absence of Menelaus was the opportunity desired by Paris. He told Helen of the promise of Venus, and, making her believe that it was the will of the gods that she should be his wife, he induced her to abandon her home and her husband and fly with him to Troy. From her husband’s stranger-sheltering home He tempted Helen o’er the ocean foam. Eton, Coluthus. Besides taking away Helen, he also carried off a large quantity of gold and other valuable things from the palace of the Spartan king. IV. THE TROJAN WAR. OATH OF THE SUITORS. Wuen word of what had happened was brought to Menelaus, he speedily returned to Sparta, filled with grief and anger, and he immediately began to take steps to avenge the base conduct of the Trojan. prince. At that time Greece, or Hel’las, as it was called, 12 was divided into many separate states or kingdoms, each ruled by its own king. The greatest and most powerful of these kings was Ag-a-mem‘non, king of My-ce’ne. He was the brother of Mene- laus, and his wife, Clyt-em-nes’tra, was Helen’s sister. When Helen was a maiden, the fame of her beauty brought all the young princes of Hellas to the court of her father, Tyn’da-rus, to seek her in marriage. Tyndarus, who was then king of Sparta, was thus placed in an embarrassing situation. He feared that by giving Helen to any one of the princes he should offend and draw upon himself the enmity of all the others. At last, on_the advice of Ulysses, who was himself one of the suitors for the hand of Helen, Tyn- darus resolved to allow his daughter to choose for _herself, but at the same time to require all the princes to promise on oath that they would sub- mit to her decision, and that if any attempt should be made to carry her away from the husband of. her choice, they would join in protecting her and in punishing the offender. It may appear to us to have been very absurd to require such an oath, but it was not so con- sidered in those ancient times when kings and princes very often had little regard for justice, 13 and when none were secure in the possession and enjoyment of their property except those who were strong enough to defend it: by force. The kings and chiefs of Hellas, therefore, took oath to defend Helen and her husband against all violence. Helen then made choice of Menelaus and they were married, and, on the death of Tyn- darus, Menelaus became king of Sparta. When Menelaus returned home, after Helen had been carried off, he summoned the kings and princes, and told them of the outrage committed by Paris. Then he called upon them to keep their oath and join with him in avenging the wrong. They all consented and at once resolved to declare war against Troy. But first they sent ambassadors to King Priam to demand the restitution of Helen and the treasures which Paris had taken away. Unwisely and unhappily for himself and his family and country, the Trojan king refused this demand, and upon the return of the ambassadors, one of whom was Ulysses, the chiefs of Hellas set about to prepare for war. Ten long years it took them to get ready, and then in more than a thou- “sand ships the Greeks, one hundred thousand in number, sailed across the Afgean Sea, and landed and encamped on the Trojan coast, just in view of the famous city of Troy. se 14 Here for ten years more was_waged the great struggle known as the siege of Troy. The city was protected by walls strong enough to resist all the strength of the enemy, and it was defended by numerous and powerful forces that had come from many parts of Asia to help the Trojans. Great warriors there were on both sides. King Aga- memnon was commander-in-chief of the Greeks, and among the other valiant princes of Hellas who distinguished themselves in the war were Achilles and Nes-tor, the two A‘jax-es, Menelaus and Ulysses, Di-o-me’de and Ne-op-tol’e-mus, and many more. Hector was the foremost champion on the Trojan side. With him were numbers of renowned warriors including Sar-pe’don and Mem’- non and Rhe’sus and Aé-ne’as besides Paris and several of the other sons of Priam. How the city was at length taken and destroyed in the tenth year of the war, comes within the Story of Ulysses, and will therefore be related further on. V. THE ODYSSEY. Tue praises of the heroes of the Trojan War were much celebrated by the poets of ancient times. Homer, the first and greatest of those poets, who is said to have lived about nine hundred years 15 before the birth of Christ, describes some of the principal events of the siege in his famous poem called the Iliad. This poem is written in the Greek language, and is so named because it tells about | Ilium, or Troy. It is universally regarded as the most beautiful poetic production of any age or time. Another great poem by Homer is the Od’ys- sey. It is so called because it tells of the adven- tures of Ulysses, or O-dys’seus, which is the Greek form of the name. In the following pages we make some quotations from the Odyssey as trans- lated into English by our American poet, William Cullen Bryant, and also some from the translation by the English poet, Alexander Pope. Vie ei GOS. Tue ancient Greeks, like the ancient inhabitants of most other countries, believed in.a great many gods. According to their religion, all parts of the universe were ruled by different gods. They be- lieved that there were gods of war and of peace, gods of music and of poetry, and of all the arts and occupations in which men were engaged. In some respects the gods were like human beings. In appearance they were represented as like men and women, and like men and women IS 17 they married and had children. But they were far _ more powerful than men, and being gods they never died, and never grew old. They could change themselves into any form. They could make themselves visible and invisible at pleasure, and they could travel through the skies, or over the earth or ocean, with the rapidity of lightning. They were greatly feared by men, and when any disaster occurred, —if lives were lost by earthquakes, or by any other calamity,—it was said to be a punish- ment sent by the gods. The usual place of residence of the principal gods was on the top of Mount O-lym’pus in Greece. Here they dwelt in golden palaces, and feasted at grand banquets. Their food was_ambrosia, which conferred immortality and perpetual youth on those who partook of it, and their drink was a delicious wine called nectar. Grand temples wére erected to the gods in all the principal cities. At their shrines costly gifts in gold and silver were presented, and on their altars, sometimes built in the open air, beasts were killed and portions of the flesh burned as sacrifice. Such offerings were supposed to be very pleasing to the gods. The greatest and most powerful of the gods was called Jupiter, or Jove, by the Romans, and Zeus STO, OF ULYSSES — 2 18 by the Greeks. He was king of the gods. The wife of Jupiter, and queen of heaven, was called Juno by the Romans, and by the Greeks, He’ra; and so each of the gods had a Greek name and a Roman name. One of the daughters of Jupiter, called Venus, or Aph-ro-di’te, was the goddess of beauty. Nep’tune, or Po-sei’don, was god of the sea. He is usually represented as bearing in his hand a trident, or three-pronged scepter, the emblem of his authority. Mars, or A’res, was the god of war, and Plu’to, also called Ha’des, was the god of the lower regions, or regions of the dead. A-pol’lo, or Phee’bus, was the god of the sun, and of medicine, music, and poetry. The other principal deities of the ancient Greeks were Minerva, or A-the’ne, goddess of wis- dom, Di-an’a, or Ar’te-mis, goddess of the moon and of the chase, Vul’can, god of fire, Mer’cu-ry, or Her’mes, usually represented as the messenger of Jupiter, Bac’chus, or Di-o-ny’sus, god of wine, - Ce’res, or De-me’ter, goddess of the harvest, and Ves‘ta, or Hes’ti-a, goddess of the hearth. The gods, it was believed, made their will known to men in various ways: sometimes by dreams, sometimes by appearing on earth under different forms, and speaking directly to kings and warriors. Very often men learned the will of the gods by con- 19 sulting seers and soothsayers, or augurs. These were persons who were supposed to have the power of foretelling events. : There were temples also where the gods gave answers through priests. Such answers were called oracles, and this name was also given to the priests. The most celebrated oracle of ancient times, was that of Apollo at Del’phi, in Greece. People came from all parts of the world to consult the god at this place, and the answers were given by a priest- ess called Pyth’1-a. The most ancient oracle of Greece was at Do- do‘na, a city of Epirus. This oracle, it is said, was founded by a dove. According to the legend, two black doves took their flight from Thebes in Egypt. One of them flew to the temple of Jupiter in Libya, a country of Africa; the other flew to Dodona, and each spoke in a voice as of a human being telling the people that Jupiter had consecrated the place and would in future give oracles there. v| ee elt K a lOvVHdOL07 SISSATO SOuVH TO SONTUMGNVY AM GHD b SONIMOHS dV¥W s 7 o a dior , uoyAqeg wi loa ‘ on a . ono vein s °. se qubus yey %e C) or $0 Dio vyandge soph wm Ig v>. Rue) a4 REF) oe gon SSNHINAOVZ & VINSTIWHdad yy Svio VISADO. Dag UDruoy My ViliaHOS coe te a3 s SNVSYOSHSdAH (20) eomecoy Sl@RY;OF ULYSSES I. FEIGNING MADNESS. Ir you look at the map of Greece (see opposite page) you will find, near the northwest coast, in the I-o’ni-an Sea, the small island of Ithaca. This was once a very famous island, for it was the birth- place and home of Ulysses, celebrated in ancient times both as a brave warrior and a man “skilled in all kinds of stratagems and prudent in counsel.” The father of Ulysses was La-er’tes, king of Ithaca. He was a good father and took care to have his son instructed in all things which in those days it was proper for young princes to know. He took care, especially, to make him a good soldier. Young Ulysses was taught to handle the bow and arrow, the long spear or javelin, and the sword and dagger, which were the weapons used in war by the ancient Greeks. Ulysses was also trained in all kinds of athletic exercises, such as running and boxing and wrestling and throwing heavy stones or quoits. And when he grew up to 21 22 be a man he was so well fit to be a king that La- ertes resigned the crown in his favor, and Ulysses became king of Ithaca. We have seen that it was on the advice of Ulysses that Tyndarus required all the suitors for the hand of Helen to take oath that they would support her in her choice. In gratitude for his wise counsel Tyndarus gave Ulysses a very beautiful young princess to be his wife. Her name was Pe-nel’o-pe, and she was a daughter of I-ca’ri-us, brother of Tyndarus. Icarius loved his daughter so much that he wished her and Ulysses. to reside with him in Lacedzmonia after their marriage, but Ulysses preferred his own island home, and so he and his young wife sailed away to Ithaca. Here they lived happily together, and after a time they became still more happy in having a little son to whom they gave the name Te-lem’a-chus. But the happiness of the young king and queen of Ithaca was not of long duration. When Aga- memnon and the other chiefs of Hellas had com- pleted their preparations for war against Troy, they summoned Ulysses to join them, in accordance with the oath which he as well as all the other Greek princes had taken at the time of the marriage of Helen and Menelaus. Ulysses was very unwilling to leave his wife and son, whom he tenderly loved. 23 A soothsayer had told him that if he went to the war he would not return for twenty years; and so he paid no attention to the call of the commander- in-chief. Then Agamemnon resolved to go him- self to Ithaca to use his personal influence with the unwilling Ulysses, who even at that time was well known all over Greece, not only as a valiant soldier but as a man skilled in all kinds of strategy or artifice. This sort of wisdom, called cunning or craft, was indeed the quality for which Ulysses was most cele- brated; and it was a quality highly esteemed in ancient times, for it made men better able to defend themselves against enemies in war. Homer hardly ever mentions the king of Ithaca except with some expression designating his well-known character, such as “the crafty Ulysses” or “the very shrewd Ulysses,” or “the man of many arts.” - Ulysses, man of many arts, Son of Laertes, reared in Ithaca, That rugged isle, and skilled in every form Of shrewd device, and action wisely planned. Bryant, //zad, Book ITI. Such a man as this could not well be spared from the great war, and so Agamemnon went to Ithaca to persuade Ulysses to join the expedition against *‘SSOUPPI SuIUSIE,qg sessh[N I | | { ee (24) 25 Troy. He took with him his brother Menelaus and a chief named Pal-a-me’des, who was also very shrewd and crafty, as we shall presently see. When Ulysses heard of their arrival in Ithaca, he attempted to deceive them by a trick quite in keeping with his character. He pretended to be insane, and in order to make Agamemnon and his companions believe that he was really mad, he set about plowing the beach at the seaside with a horse and an ox yoked together, and brought salt to scat- ter over the plowed sand, as if it were seed corn. But Palamedes saw through this artful scheme, and by another device equally shrewd he proved that Ulysses was only feigning madness. He took the young Telemachus down to the beach, and laid him on the sand just in front of the father’s plow. Ulysses instantly turned the team aside so as not to injure his child, and by so doing showed that he was in his full senses. His pretense of madness thus exposed, Ulysses had no reasonable excuse for remaining at home, so he was obliged to consent to join his brother princes in their expedition against Troy. And having resolved to do so, he set about his prepa- rations with spirit and energy. He got together a number of brave men from the neighboring islands that were subject to his rule, and in a fleet 26 of twelve ships or galleys with a hundred soldiers in each, he set sail for Au'lis, on the eastern coast of Greece, where the other chiefs and kings had already assembled their forces. When Ulysses ar- rived he found a vast fleet numbering more than a thousand ships in the harbor of Aulis and along the shores. This fleet carried a hundred thousand men, with Agamemnon as their general, across the sea to the opposite coast of Asia. Then began the Trojan War, which is so much celebrated by the poets and historians of ancient times. vv II. THE WOODEN HORSE. Durinc the ten years’ siege of Troy Ulysses per- formed many great deeds of valor, but it was by his various artifices that he did best service against the enemy. One of his most noted achievements was the stealing of the Pal-la’di-um from the citadel of Troy. The Palladium was a wooden statue of the goddess Minerva (called by the Greeks Pal’las). It was said to have dropped down from heaven in front of the tent of Ilus when he was about to begin the building of the city. On the spot where he found the statue he built the citadel or fort, and here the Palladium was kept with great care, for the Trojans believed that on its preservation depended the safety of their city and country. Ulysses learned from a soothsayer that Troy could not be taken while the Palladium remained within its walls, and so he resolved to steal it. With this purpose he entered the city, after deceiv- ing the guards at the gate by representing him- self as a Greek slave escaping from his master who had cruelly ill-treated him. 27 28 “ He had given himself Unseemly stripes, and o’er his shoulders flung Vile garments like a slave’s, and entered thus The enemy’s town, and walked its spacious streets. Another man he seemed in that disguise.” - Bryant, Odyssey, Book IV. Helen saw and recognized Ulysses in his disguise, and she had a secret meeting with him and told him how to get the Palladium; for she now repented of her folly, and longed to get back to her home and husband in Sparta. /- “T already longed For my old home, and deeply I deplored The evil fate that Venus brought on me, Who led me thither from my own dear land, _ And from my lawful spouse.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IV. After getting from Helen the information about the statue, Ulysses contrived to leave the city with- out being recognized. In a few days he returned, - accompanied by Diomede. They entered the city by scaling the walls at night; Diomede climbed on the shoulders of Ulysses and made his way into the citadel; there he found the Palladium, and he and Ulysses carried it off to the Greek camp. The sacred Palladium being gone, Troy no longer. had the protection of Minerva, who now inspired Ulysses with the idea of the wooden horse, through 29 which the city at last fell into the hands of the Greeks. This horse was of immense size, large enough for a hundred men to hide within its body. When it was completed, Ulysses and Menelaus, and several other Greek heroes, went into it by a trap- door on its side, and “the door was fastened on the ‘olitside. Then all the other Greeks went aboard their ships and sailed away, leaving the wooden horse on the plain before the city. Great was the joy of the Trojans when from their battlements and towers they beheld the enemy depart as they thought forever. Immediately the gates were thrown open, and the citizens, with King Priam at their head, crowded out into the plain in great numbers. Their attention was soon attracted by the wooden horse, and they wondered much what it meant. Many opinions were given as to what should be done with it. Some thought. it could be intended for.no good to Troy, and that it should be burned. Others thought it should be dragged into the city. Hearing the latter proposal, La-oc’o-6n, a son of Priam, and a priest of Apollo, cried out in words of warning : “What folly is this, O men of Troy! Are you so simple as to believe that the enemy is really gone, and to suppose that there is no treacherous Bes 9 A Weeedt- coke bemty 41 PTS design in this horse? Either Greeks are concealed in it, or it is meant for some evil to our city. What- ever it may be, I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts.” Thus speaking Laocoén hurled his spear against the side of the horse, and it. sent forth a sound as of a deep groan from men within. “Against the steed he threw His forceful spear, which hissing as it flew, Pierced through the yielding planks of jointed wood, And trembling in the hollow belly stood. The sides transpierced return a rattling sound And groans of Greeks inclosed come issuing through the wound.” VeERGIL, Zeid, Book II. But just then a stranger who appeared to be a Greek was brought before the king. Being asked who he was, he said that his name was Si‘non, that he had been condemned to be offered up by the Greeks as a sacrifice to the gods, and that to escape death he had fled, and concealed himself during the night in the reeds on the river banks. When asked about the horse and for what purpose it was erected, he answered that it was’ a peace offering to the goddess Minerva, in atonement for. the crime of Ulysses and Diomede in carrying off her statue from Troy. He said moreover that a soothsayer had advised the Greeks to make the 31 horse of enormous size so that the Trojans could not get it within their walls, for if they took it into the city, it would be a protection to them forever, but if they did any violence to it, ruin would come upon the kingdom of Priam and his people. No sooner had Sinon ceased speaking than the eyes of the multitude were attracted by a fearful spectacle. Two huge serpents were seen gliding up from the sea, and seizing and crushing to death in their dreadful coils the priest Laoco6én and his two sons while engaged at an altar on the beach, offering sacrifice to the gods. “First round his two young sons they wreathe, And grind their limbs with savage teeth ; Then, as with arms he comes to aid, The wretched father they invade And twine in giant folds.” VERGIL, 4nezd, Book II. This terrible fate of Laocoén was understood by the Trojans as a punishment from heaven for his impious violence upon the wooden horse, which they now believed to be a sacred thing. With one voice they resolved to drag the huge figure into the city. This they did after attaching rollers to its feet and strong ropes to its limbs, and breaking down a portion of the wall to admit it, for it was too large to get it in by the gate. Laocoon. 33 Then they placed the wooden horse in the cita- del amid universal acclamations, and chiefs and people spent the remainder of the day feasting and rejoicing. They retired to rest in the happy belief that at last the war was over, and their homes and country free from the danger of destruction which had so long threatened them. But very soon King Priam and his people were roused from slumber by the clash of arms and the shouts of the triumphant Greeks. For in the dead of night the treacherous Sinon opened the trap- door in the wooden horse, and Ulysses and his companions came forth into the streets of Troy. Sinon also lighted a fire on the beach, as a signal to Agamemnon and his great army, who had gone only-as far as Ten’e-dos, an island three miles from the shore. Quickly the fleet returned and quickly the Greeks by thousands poured into the city. King Priam and most of the male members of his family were slain without mercy. Paris had been killed some time before the erection of the wooden horse. Aé£neas escaped, and with a number of followers had many adventures by sea and Jand in a voyage to Italy where, it is said, his descendants became the founders of Rome. After the slaughter of the Trojan heroes, the Greek chiefs carried off the treasures of Troy to STO. OF ULYSSES—3 34 their ships, each getting his share of the rich spoil. Then they set fire to the city, which in a few hours was reduced to a mass of ruins. Thus ended the celebrated Trojan War. The surviving Greek heroes set out for home with hopes which for many of them were never realized. Some perished at sea. Agamemnon safely arrived at his city of Mycene, but was there treacherously slain by A#-gis’thus whom his wife had married in his absence. The venerable Nestor, the oldest of all the Greek warriors, returned without misfortune or accident, and ended his days in peace in his kingdom of Py’los. Menelaus pardoned his wife Helen and took her with him to Sparta which, however, they did not reach for some years. But none of all the chiefs of Hellas who fought at Troy encountered such perils or endured such sufferings in returning home as the famous Ulysses, whose adventures will be related in the succeeding chapters. III. AMONG THE CICONIANS. THE adventures of Ulysses after the Trojan War are related in the Odyssey of Homer. As is usual in epic poems, that is, poems which tell about great actions of heroes, the Odyssey begins by invoking the aid of the Muse, or goddess of poetry. Tell me, O Muse, of that sagacious man Who, having overthrown the sacred town Of Ilium, wandered far and visited The capitals of many nations, learned The customs of their dwellers, and endured Great suffering on the deep ; his life was oft In peril, as he labored to bring back His comrades to their homes. BRYANT, Odyssey, Book I. Very soon after leaving Troy, Ulysses began to encounter misfortunes. He sailed away with the twelve ships in which he had set forth from Ithaca ten years before, but he had not so many of his | brave men, for at least one half of them had perished in the war. At the very outset of their voyage they met with unfavorable winds. Their proper course, as you 35 36 will see by looking at the map, would have been south —through the A‘gean Sea, round the south- ern point of Greece, and along the west coast to Ithaca. But instead of being able to take this route the fleet of Ulysses was driven northwest to the coast of Thrace, to the land of the Ci-co’ni-ans, whose chief town was Is’ma-rus. The Ciconians had been friends of Troy, and therefore Ulysses landed with his men and attacked - and captured their city. He divided among his fol- lowers the rich spoils he found there, and then he ordered them to fly to their ships. But the foolish Ith’a-cans lingered on the shore feasting on the beef and wine and the other good things they had taken from Ismarus. Meanwhile, the Ciconians sent for help to their neighbors in the interior, and great numbers from all quarters speedily answered the call. “Tn swarms they came, Thick as new leaves or morning flowers in spring.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. Ulysses and his unfortunate A-cha‘ians, as the Greeks were sometimes called, had now to fight for their lives, and after a fierce battle which lasted a whole day they were forced to take refuge in their ships. ‘ . oh “While yet ’twas morning, and the holy light Of day waxed brighter, we withstood the assault And kept our ground, although more numerous they. But when the sun was sloping toward the west The enemy prevailed ; the Achaian band Was routed, and was made to flee. ‘That day There perished from each galley of our fleet © Six valiant men ; the rest escaped with life.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. Six men from each ship, is the poet’s way of tell- ing the number of the Greeks who were killed in this battle, but doubtless the meaning is an average of six, which would make seventy-two altogether. Lamenting their dear companions thus lost, the Ithacans hastened their departure from the land of the Ciconians. } IV. THE LOTUS-EATERS: Tue fleet of Ulysses was hardly out of sight of Ci-co’ni-a when a terrific hurricane, sent by Jupi- ter, shattered the sails so that the sailors had to haul them down and run their galleys for safety to the nearest coast on the Greek mainland. Here they were obliged to remain two days under stress of weather. The storm having then abated they again set sail, and steering south with a favorable wind they came to Cape Ma-le’a, the southernmost extremity of the Pel-o-pon-ne’sus. They hoped to ‘round this point and soon reach their beloved Ithaca; but once more they were overtaken by a furious wind, which drove them past the island of Cy-the’ra and over the sea, they knew not where, for nine days and nine nights. On the tenth morning they came to the land of the Lo-toph’a-gi, or Lo’tus-eaters, on the north coast of Af’ri-ca. These people lived on the flower of the lotus plant as their food; and wonderful food it was, for any stranger who tasted of it forgot his country and his home, and desired no greater hap- piness than to remain forever among the Lotophagi, eating the delicious flower. 38 39 “ Whoever tasted once of that sweet food Wished not to see his native country more Nor give his friends the knowledge of his fate.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. The Ithacans went ashore for water and they had their evening meal on the beach. Then Ulysses sent three of his men into the country to ascertain whether there were any inhabitants, and if so what sort of people they were. But as the men did not return, Ulysses, with some of his companions, went in search of them. He found them seated among a company of the Lotophagi, who had received them with kindness and given them freely of their tempting food. The Greeks were enjoying it so much that they had no wish to rejoin their friends or to sail any more on the sea. Most weary seemed the sea, weary the oar, Weary the wandering fields of barren foam, Then some one said, ‘‘ We will return no more ;” And all at once they sang, ‘‘ Our island home Is far beyond the wave ; ‘ve will no longer roam.” Tennyson, The Lotus-Eaters. Ulysses had to carry off his men by force and bind them fast in one of the ships, and they wept bitterly because they were not permitted to dwell for the remainder. of their lives in the happy land of the Lotus-eaters. V. THE LAND OF THE AFTER going on board their ships, the Ithacans hastened away from the shores of the Lotophagi, and sailed westward until they came to the land of the Cy’clops. Where this land was is not now exactly beewn but the Cyclops were a strange people who did not live as other men. They had no laws. They did not plow or dig the ground or sow seed or plant anything in the fields. But in their land there was plenty of corn and vines. These grew without being sown or planted, and the vines pro- duced rich clusters of grapes which gave good wine. “The country of the Cyclops, an untamed And lawless race, who, trusting to the gods, Plant not, nor plow the fields, but all things spring From them untended, — barley, wheat, and vines Yielding large clusters filled with wine.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. The Cyclops held no councils together. They dwelt in caves at the mountain tops, each by him- self with his wife and children, if he had any, and 40 4 ruling his family as he pleased. They cared little for one another. Outside the port of entrance to the land of the Cyclops there was a woody island in which there were great numbers of wild goats. It was a very beautiful island, with soft, green meadows stretch- - ing along the shore, but there were no men there to plow or sow; nor were there any sheep or cat- tle to graze in the beautiful meadows. The island was inhabited only by goats, and no hunters came te disturb them, for the Cyclops had no ships and held no communication with other countries. “The Cyclops have no barks with crimson prows, Nor shipwrights skilled to frame a galley’s deck With benches for the rowers, and equipped For any service, voyaging by turns To all the cities, as is often done By men who cross the deep from place to place, And make a prosperous region of an isle.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book TX. There was a good harbor in the island where ships, even without anchors, might be safe from storms. At the head of the harbor was a cave in a rock from which sprung a fountain of clear water, and poplars grew around it. The fleet of Ulysses approached this island as if guided by the gods, for it was night and there 42 was a dense mist, and the Ithacans did not see the land until their galleys touched the shore. Then they disembarked and slept on the beach till morning. At dawn of day they arose, and soon they be- held flocks of goats which the woodland nymphs, daughters of Jove, had roused from their resting places that the strangers might have their morn- ing meal. The crew divided themselves into hunt- ing parties, and they were so successful with their bows and arrows and long javelins that they killed goats enough to allot nine to each galley and ten to that of their chief. Then they feasted on roast meat and good red ‘wine. As they sat upon the grass looking toward the mainland they saw smoke issuing from moun- tain caves. They also heard the bleating of sheep, and voices as of men, and they wondered what it might be, for they did not know whether the place was inhabited by human beings. Nab EN DEES SCY CLOPS -CAVE. NeExT morning Ulysses resolved to go over to the mainland to see if there were any men in that country, and to find out of what race they might be. So taking with him a number of his compan- ions in his own galley, and ordering the others to remain in the little island haven until he should return, he steered for the opposite coast. When they reached the shore, they saw a cave in a high hill not far from the sea. It had a lofty en- trance, with laurels growing over and about it, and in front there was a large court inclosed by a wall built of rough stones, and having around it tall pine and oak trees. In this cave dwelt a giant of enormous size. His name was Pol-y-phe’mus. He lived by himself and tended his herds of goats and sheep apart from others of the Cyclops race. «A giant shepherd here his flock maintains Far from the rest, and solitary reigns, In shelter thick of horrid shade reclined ; And gloomy mischiefs labor in his mind. 43 44 A form enormous ! far unlike the race Of human birth, in stature, or in face.” Pore, Odyssey, Book IX. Ulysses with twelve of his bravest companions, whom he selected to accompany him, went forward to explore the cave. They carried with them a supply of food and a goatskin of wine. This wine was very strong and of rich flavor. It was part of what Ulysses had got at Ismarus from the priest Ma’‘ron, whom he had saved from death, with his wife and children. In gratitude to the Ithacan chief the priest gave him presents of gold and silver and twelve casks of rich wine, “a divine drink,” as the poet describes it. So strong it was indeed that Maron never gave any of it to his own people without mixing it with much water. “Whensoe’er They drank this rich red wine, he only filled A single cup with wine, and tempered that With twenty more of water.” : Bryant, Odyssey, Book 1X. The prudent Ulysses thought it well to have some of this wine on his expedition to the cave. “No doubt,” said he to himself, “we may meet with some men, strong and fierce, having no sense of 45 justice or right, and good wine may make them friendly to us.” When they entered the cave they found no one init. The giant was away in the mountains attend- ing to his flocks. But they saw baskets around filled with cheeses, and pens with lambs and kids placed according to their age, the older in a pen by themselves, the younger in another, and the very youngest ina third. There were pails of milk, too, rich with cream, and bowls into which the giant milked his sheep and goats. The companions of Ulysses did not like the appearance of the place and they wanted to re- turn immediately to their galley. It would have been better for them if they had done so; but Ulysses wished to see what sort of man he was who dwelt in that strange place, and whether he would give them friendly hospitality, so he decided to remain in the cave for a while. Then they made a fire and burned some of the cheese as a Sacrifice to the gods. They ate some cheese, too, after which they sat down and waited for the arrival of the master of the cave. He came in the evening bearing on his shoulder a great bundle of firewood which he threw on the ground outside the door, making such a crash that Ulysses and his companions ran in terror into a 46 corner of the cave. Then he drove in the sheep and goats that gave milk, leaving the others in the court without, and he stopped up the entrance with a rock so huge and heavy that a score of four- wheeled wagons could not move it. The giant now sat down and milked his sheep and goats. Half the milk he curdled and put into vessels for cheese; the other half he set aside in bowls to drink at his supper. When he had fin- ished this work he made a fire, and the cave being thus lighted up, the giant caught sight of the stran- gers. He immediately spoke to them, asking who they were, where they came from, and what was their business. His deep voice resounded through the cavern like thunder, and his form was frightful to behold, such a monster was he in size. Never- theless Ulysses took courage to reply. “We are of Greece,” he said, “and we come from Troy, driven by storms over many seas. We fought under Agamemnon, that great king whose fame has spread to every land under heaven, so mighty was the city he destroyed and so many warriors did he slay. In the name of the gods and of Jupiter, who protects strangers and avenges their wrongs, we ask of you the hospitality due to strangers.” But Polyphemus had little respect for the gods and so he answered: 47 “ How foolish thou art, O stranger, to speak to me in the name of the gods. We Cyclops care not for the -gods, for we are better than they. Nor would I, through fear of Jupiter, spare thee or thy companions if my will were not so inclined. But tell me, for I desire to know, where hast thou left thy ship? Is it near, or in a distant port of the island?” The shrewd Ithacan understood the purpose of these questions and returned a deceitful answer. “ King Neptune has broken my ships against the rocks on the coast of this land of thine,” said he, “and I and my companions here have with difficulty escaped destruction.” ~To this Polyphemus made no answer, but rushing forward, seized two of the comrades of Ulysses to- gether and, striking them with a huge rock, killed them instantly. Then the cruel monster proceeded to make a meal of the bodies. | “He hewed them limb from limb for his repast, And, like a lion of the mountain wilds, Devoured them as they were, and left no part, — Entrails nor flesh nor marrowy bones.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. The Ithacans, beholding this terrible deed, held up their hands to heaven and wept aloud in grief (48) Cruelty of Polyphemus. 49 and despair. But the savage Cyclops paid no heed to their cries. He finished his horrid meal with large draughts of milk, after which he stretched himself on the floor and was soon fast aslcep. The first impulse of Ulysses was to plunge his sword through the heart of the sleeping monster, but presently he thought of the huge rock at the door. It fitted close as a door on hinges, and how could they remove it and get out of the cave if the giant were dead? There was nothing for them to do but to wait, and so with sad hearts and sleepless eyes they waited for the morning. STO. OF ULYSSES—4 VII. POLYPHEMUS PUNISEEE: POLYPHEMUS was up at early dawn. First he made a fire, and after milking his sheep and goats as on the previous night, he seized two more of the unhappy Greeks and devoured them for his morn- ing meal. Then he moved the great stone from the entrance and drove his flocks to pasture for the day. But before leaving he took care to replace the rock at the door so that his prisoners might not be able to escape. As soon as the Cyclops had departed, Ulysses set his mind to thinking how he might punish the monster, and save himself and his companions from the frightful death that awaited them all if they should have to remain much longer the guests of Polyphemus. Now there lay on the floor of the cave a huge club or pole of newly cut olive wood, which the giant had intended when dried to use as a walking cane. It was as thick and as long as the mast of a ship. Ulysses cut off a piece six feet in length, and he and his companions sharpened it to a point at the top. Then they put the sharpened end into 50 51 the fire, and when it became dry and hard they took it out and covered it with some rubbish that lay in the cave. The plan of Ulysses was to blind the monster by thrusting this sharp stake into his eye while asleep. Four of the men were chosen by lot to assist their chief in the dangerous enterprise, and then they waited for the coming of the giant. In the evening he came as before, and he drove all his flock into the cave, the rams as well as the sheep and goats. He also closed up the entrance with the great rock, and after performing his usual work of milking, he seized and devoured two more of the unfortunate Ithacans. Ulysses now prepared to carry out his plan. First he filled a cup with wine from his goatskin, and presenting it to the monster as he sat on the ground, said: “QO Cyclops, take this wine and drink. I bring it to thee as an offering that thou mayest have pity, and let us depart to our home in safety. How canst thou expect other men to come and see thee, when thou hast dealt so cruelly with us?” The giant drank off the wine, and he liked it so well that he asked for more. “Give me more of this drink,” he said, “and tell me thy name, and I will bestow on thee a gift that will please thee. The Cyclops have good wine, §2 but not so good as this, which in truth is like the nectar of the gods.” The cup was filled a second and a third time, and the monster drank greedily. Soon the strong wine began to get to his head. Then the wily Ulysses spoke, saying: “Thou didst ask of me my name, O Cyclops. I will tell it to thee, so that thou mayest give me a good gift as thou hast promised. My name is Noman. It is the name my father and mother gave me, and so all my friends call me.” “Noman!” said the giant, “then I shall eat thee the last of all thy band. This shall be my gift in return for thy wine.” As he spoke these words he sank back on the floor, overcome with the wine, and soon he fell into a deep sleep. Then Ulysses and four of his com- panions, who had been chosen by lot, raised the pole of olive wood, and put the sharp end of it into the burning cinders. And when it was almost blazing they took it out and thrust the red-hot point of it into the giant’s eye, for he had but one, which was of great size and set in the middle of his forehead. The monster howled frightfully, and he drew the stake from his eye and hurled it madly across the floor. Then he jumped to his feet, roaring loudly 53 and calling to his brother Cyclops, who dwelt in neighboring caves. They knew his voice, and quickly they came crowding around the door. Then one of them inquired: “What hurts thee, Polyphemus, that thou dost thus disturb our sleep with thy cries? Has any one tried to kill thee?” “OQ my friends,” answered Polyphemus, “it is Noman who tried to kill me by cunning; he could not do it by force.” “Huge Polyphemus answered from his den : — “O friends, ’tis Noman who is killing me; By treachery Noman kills me ; none by force.’” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. “Tf that be so,” said the other Cyclops, “if no man hurts thee, what help canst thou have from us? Thy trouble doubtless is sent by the gods. Then pray to thy father Neptune for help.” So saying, he departed with his brother giants, and they returned to their mountain dens, while Ulysses rejoiced at the success of his trick. “Tn my heart I laughed to think that by the name I took, And by my shrewd device, I had deceived The Cyclops.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. Meanwhile the light of morning began to appear. Polyphemus, groaning with pain, removed the stone 54 : ba from the door as usual. Then he cunningly sat J down at the entrance and groped with his hands to catch any of the Greeks who should attempt to get out with the sheep. Once more, however, the crafty Ulysses was able to outwit the Cyclops. It was fortunate for him that the rams had been taken into the cave the night before. They were large and strong animals, and had thick woolly fleeces. Ulysses placed a number of them three by three abreast, and bound them together by osier twigs which the giant had in his cave to make his bed with. Then under the middle ram of each three Ulysses tied one of his companions. For himself he chose the finest and largest ram of all, and binding one on each side of it, he crept down under it, and clung tightly to its fleece with both hands and feet. By this time the sheep had begun to leave the cave. Polyphemus with outstretched hands felt their backs as they passed; but the Greeks being underneath, escaped his touch, and got safely through. The ram to which Ulysses clung was the last to come, and it moved slowly. It was the giant's favorite of all his flock, and he knew it by the touch and spoke to it. “ My favorite ram, why art thou thus the last to leave to-day? Hitherto thou hast not been behind ‘snmeydAjog woIy sy9eI5 aq} Jo edeosq (55) 56 the others, but the first to hasten to the green pastures and the fresh streams. Perhaps thou art grieving for thy master whose eye this wicked Noman has put out. If thou wert able to speak and tell me where he hides, I would dash his brains upon the ground and thus make him pay for the evil he has done to me.” Polyphemus then let the ram pass on. As soon as the flock had gone a little way from the cave, Ulysses quickly got to his feet and unbound his companions. Then they drove off a number of the fat sheep to their galley. Their comrades, who had been waiting in anxiety, welcomed them joyfully, but they grieved when they heard of the sad fate of those who had perished in the giant’s cave. They would have wept aloud, but Ulysses forbade it, warning them that their cries might bring the Cyclops down upon them. After getting the sheep into the galley, they all hastened on board, and the men plied their oars with vigor. When they were some distance from land, but not too far for a voice to be heard on the shore, Ulysses shouted out to the giant, who was then stalking on the beach: “O Cyclops, those whom thou didst devour in thy den were the friends of one who was able to avenge them. By my hands the gods have 57 punished thee for thy cruelty to strangers and guests.” These words enraged the monster so that in his fury he wrenched off the top of a mountain crag that stood near the water’s edge and hurled it into the sea in the direction from which he had heard the voice of Ulysses. The huge rock fell close to the galley and raised a great wave which swept the vessel back almost to the land. “From a mountain peak he wrenched Its summit, hurling it to fall beside Our galley, where it almost touched the helm. The rock dashed high the water where it fell, And the returning billow swept us back And toward the shore.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. Ulysses seized a long pole and pushed the galley again into deep water, and when they were some distance from land he once more shouted to the Cyclops. His friends tried to prevent him from provoking the savage a second time. “What boots the godless giant to provoke, Whose arm may sink us at a single stroke? Already when the dreadful rock he threw, Old Ocean shook, and back his surges flew.” Pore, Odyssey, Book IX. But Ulysses would not be advised or hindered, and so he shouted to the giant in a loud voice: 58 “ Cyclops, if any man inquire about thy blindness and ask the cause, say it was done by Ulysses, the son of Laertes, who dwells in Ithaca.” When the giant heard this he wailed aloud and exclaimed : “ Alas! the oracles of old have come true. There dwelt a prophet here among the Cyclops, a good and great man, Tel’e-mus Eu-rym’e-des, who told me that I should be deprived of my sight by Ulysses. I thought, indeed, that the man would be one of great stature and mighty strength, whereas now a mere weakling has done it by a trick and not by force. But come back Ulysses that I may give thee suitable presents. And Neptune, at my entreaty, may guide thee to thy home in safety, for he is my father. Perhaps, too, he will cure me of my blindness.” But Ulysses was not so foolish as to place him- self again in the power of the terrible Polyphemus, and so he answered : “ Rather would I destroy thy life, O Cyclops, if I could do it, and send thee to the region of Hades where not even Neptune could cure thee.” Then Polyphemus stretching forth his hands to heaven, prayed aloud to Neptune: . “Hear me, O Neptune, if indeed I am thy son and thou dost own thyself to be my father. Grant ‘snuraydAjog SurAyoq sossATN (59 60 that this Ulysses may never see his native land. But if he do return to his country and family may it be only after losing all his companions, and may he find sorrow in his home.” | When he had finished his prayer, the Cyclops took up another huge rock, and whirling it round, he cast it with terrific force in the direction of the © galley. It fellclose behind the vessel ee ae great wave, almost mountain high. But fortunately for the Ithacans this wave drove their galley rapidly forward toward the little haven in the outer island where the other ships were stationed. They soon reached the fleet and rejoined their friends, who welcomed them joyfully, for they had almost de- spaired of ever seeing them again. The sheep carried off from Polyphemus were divided equally among all the galleys, and to Ulysses was given the ram which had carried him safely out of the cave of the Cyclops. He offered it as a sacrifice to Jupiter. Then they all feasted together on roast flesh and good wine and at night they lay down to sleep on the shore. Vill. THE KING OF THE WINDS. Farty in the morning, Ulysses and his compan- . ions went aboard their galleys and sailed away from the land of the Cyclops. In a short time they came to the island of At-o'li-a. Here dwelt ZE’o-lus, king of the winds. The island was sur- rounded by a wall of brass and there were smooth rocks along the shores. fZolus had six sons and six daughters, and he and his queen and their sons and daughters feasted every day at grand banquets where they had the richest food and the most delicious drinks, while through the palace halls the sound of music was heard, and the air was fragrant with sweet odors. “ All day they feast, all day the bowls flow round And joy and music through the isle resound.” Pore, Odyssey, Book X. fEolus entertained the Ithacans hospitably for a month. He inquired about Troy and the war, and Ulysses told him how the city had been taken, and related to him his own adventures. And when the 61 62 Greek chief expressed a wish to proceed on his journey homeward, the king of the winds gave him a skin bag in which he had bound up all the winds that could hinder him on his voyage. But the west wind he left free to waft the wanderers speedily to their native country. A®olus himself tied the skin bag in the galley of Ulysses with-a-silver_cord, and fastened it so well at the mouth that not a breath of the contrary winds could escape. For nine days and nine nights they sailed until they came in sight of the long-sought Ithaca. They were so near it that they could distinguish lights on the shore. Just then Ulysses lay down to rest and he soon fell into a heavy sleep, for he was exhausted with long watching and labor, as he had worked at the rudder himself for several days, so eager was he to reach his beloved island. While he thus lay sleeping some of his compan- ions talked about the gift of AZolus. They thought that the bag comineea rich presents which Ulysses meant to keep all for himself. “ Doubtless,” said they, “it contains gold and silver. Come, let us see how much there is in it.” Without another word they untied and opened the bag. Instantly the winds rushed furiously forth, and whirling round the ships, drove them far out into the sea. 63 ““They untied the sack And straight the winds rushed forth and seized the ships, And swept the crews, lamenting bitterly, Far from their country out upon the deep.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. The cries of the men awoke Ulysses and when he found what had happened, he was so over- whelmed with grief that he thought for a moment of casting himself overboard and putting an end to his life in the depths of the sea. But he quickly dismissed the evil temptation and resolved to endure his misfortunes patiently. So he wrapped himself up in his cloak and sat down in his ship while the storm raged around him. The fleet was driven back to A*olia, and the Ithacans went ashore and refreshed themselves with food and drink. Ulysses then proceeded once more to the palace of A£olus, taking with him two of his companions. They found the king feasting with his family. He was astonished to behold his late visitors so soon again, and he inquired how it was that they had not reached their home. Ulysses related what had happened, and begged AZolus to help him again. But the king was very angry and in a stern voice he replied: “Away! Betake thyself quickly from this island. 64 I must not again aid one who is hated by the blessed gods, as surely thou art hated.” “Hence with thee ! Leave our island instantly : Vilest of living men! It may not be That I receive or aid\as he departs One who is hated by the blessed gods, — And thou art hated by the gods. Away!” Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. Ulysses and his companions at once departed, and sorrowfully they rejoined their comrades at the shore. Then all embarked in the ships, and they sailed away from the island of the King of the Winds. IX. AMONG THE LASTRYGONIANS. For six days and nights they sailed, and on the seventh they came to La’mos, a city of the Lzs-try- goni-ans. In that country the sheep and the cattle grazed in the same pastures, the one by day and the other by night, so that if a man could do without sleep, he might earn double pay. “There might a man who never yields to sleep Earn double wages, first in pasturing herds, And then in tending sheep ; for there the fields Grazed in the daytime are by others grazed At night.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. There was a good harbor in this place, with lofty cliffs on each side and a narrow mouth. Ulysses made his galley fast to a rock outside, but the others entered the harbor where the water was calm and smooth. Then he sent two of his men with a herald to inquire what race of people inhab- ited the land. They found a good road leading to the city, and on their way they met a young woman carrying water. She was the daughter of An-tiph’- a-tes, king of the country, and in answer te their inquiries she showed them her father’s palace, STO. OF ULYSSES— 5 65 66 They entered the building, and there they saw the wife of Antiphates, a woman of gigantic size, — “tall as a mountain peak,”—and they shuddered with fear as they \beheld her. She immediately called her husband, the king, and when he came, he instantly seized one of the Ithacans and slew him on the spot. The two others fled in terror to the ships. Then Antiphates shouted in a voice as loud as thunder which was heard throughout the city, and his Lzstrygonians — giants like himself — rushed forth in great numbers and hurled huge rocks from the cliffs upon the fleet of the Greeks. They broke all the galleys to pieces and killed the men, spear- ing them like fishes, and then carried their bodies away to be devoured. “They speared our friends Like fishes for their horrid feasts ; and thus Bore them away.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. But the galley of Ulysses and those who were with him in it escaped, for they were outside the harbor and were not seen by the giants. They could do nothing to help their friends, so they vigorously plied their oars and were soon beyond the reach of the terrible Lzestrygonians. x ERECIRCE'’S ISLE. AFTER they got out to sea, Ulysses and his sur- viving companions sailed onward until they came to the island of At-e’a. Here dwelt the goddess Cir’ce, daughter of the Sun. They soon found a good haven where they went ashore and as they were much fatigued they rested on the beach for two days. On the third day Ulysses took his spear and sword and went up a hill to find if there were any signs that the island was inhabited by men. When he got to the top and looked around he saw smoke coming from a house in the middle of a forest. This was the palace of Circe. Ulysses was about to go straight to the palace, but after thinking awhile it seemed to him better to send some of his men to examine the place and make inquiries. As he was returning to the shore a large stag, on its way to drink at a stream, ran into his very path. Ulysses hurled his spear at the animal and pierced it through the body. Then he bound its feet together with osier twigs and carried it on his shoulders to his companions, who were 67 68 astonished at its size. That evening they feasted on the flesh of the stag, and they rep Oee for the night on the beach. In the morning Ulysses told his people that the place where they were was an island, for from the top of the hill he had seen the sea all round it. He also told them of the palace and the smoke. They were much troubled at this and they wept aloud, thinking of their lost comrades and of the terrible Cyclops and Lzstrygonians. But Ulysses encouraged them with comforting words. Then he divided his whole company into two parties with a chief for each—himself for one and Eu-ryl’o-chus for the other, and they cast lots to decide which should go to the palace in the woods, to inquire who dwelt there. The lot fell on Eurylochus, and so he set out with his party of twenty-two. They were not long in coming to the house of Circe. It was a beautiful house built of polished stone. About the door were several wolves and lions, but they were quite tame and did not hurt the strangers. They only wagged their tails and fawned upon the men as a dog fawns upon his master. When Eurylochus and his companions reached the door they heard the sweet voice of Circe sing- 69 ing as she weaved at her loom in one of the halls of her palace: “They heard Her sweet voice singing, as within she threw The shuttle through the wide immortal web, Such as is woven by the goddesses, — Delicate, bright of hue, and beautiful.” . Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. As soon as the goddess learned that there were strangers at the door she came forth and invited them to enter. They all did so except Eurylochus, ‘who suspected treachery, and so remained outside. Circe led the others into the palace and seated them on thrones. Then she gave them cheese and honey to eat and good wine to drink. But in the wine she had put a drug which made any one who tasted it lose all thought of country or home. As soon as the Ithacans drank of this wine Circe waved her wand over their heads, and instantly they were all changed into swine. “She touched them with a wand, and shut them up In sties, transformed to swine in head and voice, Bristles and shape, though still the human mind Remained to them.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. Meanwhile Eurylochus, after waiting a long time at the door, returned to the ship and with tears in his eyes told of the disappearance of his compan- *QUIMS oY} PU 2dII9 a | i th i (70) VA! ions. Ulysses resolved to go immediately in search of them, so he slung his bow and silver-hilted sword upon his shoulder, and set forth in the direc- tion of the palace. He had not gone far when he met a youth of graceful mien who saluted him in a friendly manner. This was Mercury, the messenger of the gods, who had come down from Olympus to warn him against the wiles of Circe and to instruct him how to escape them. “OQ rash man,” said the heavenly messenger, “art thou going unaided to recover thy friends whom Circe has transformed into swine? Dost thou not fear that the same evil may befall thyself? But I will be thy protector. Take this drug and keep it about thee and her drink will do thee no hurt. When she smites thee with her wand, draw thy sword and rush forward as if to slay her. She will crave thy good will, but do thou not yield until she shall swear a great oath to do thee no wrong.” Then Mercury gave Ulysses an herb, the root of which was black, and the flower white as milk. This herb was called Mo’ly by the gods, and it was difficult for mortal man to find it or pluck it from the earth when found. The divine messenger now returned to Olympus and Ulysses proceeded on his way to Circe’s palace, 72 The goddess received him as she had received the others, and after giving him the same kind of drink, she waved her wand crying: “ Away now to thy sty, and be as thy friends.” But instantly Ulysses rushed at her with his sword, and then in amazement and fear she threw herself at his knees and exclaimed: “Who art thou and whence dost thou come? No other man before has taken of my wine and been able to resist my power. Art thou that Ulysses of whom the golden-wanded Mercury often told me that he would come here, on his way from Troy? If so, lay aside thy sword and let us be at peace with one another.” But Ulysses, not forgetting any part of the advice of Mercury, told her that she must take an oath not to do any evil against him. Circe immediately took the oath, and then she prepared a rich ban- quet, with meats of the choicest kinds, and invited Ulysses to eat. But he sat in silence and would not touch the food and when Circe noticed this, she said: “O Ulysses, why dost thou sit as one dumb? And why wilt thou not eat and drink? Thou canst not fear evil from me now, ’since I have sworn a great oath to do thee no hurt?” “O, Circe,” answered Ulysses, “how can I enjoy 73 meat or drink until I see my dear companions? If thou dost desire me to partake of thy hospitality, first make me happy by giving to me my friends.” Circe immediately took her wand in her hand, and requesting Ulysses to accompany her, she went to the sty and drove out the swine. Then going among them she touched each with a magic drug. Instantly they resumed the forms of men, and they appeared much younger and stronger than they had been before they were turned into swine. Great was their happiness at being delivered from their wretched condition and at seeing their beloved chief, whom they recognized at once and embraced with tears of joy. Circe herself shared in the rejoicings, and when she heard of the misfor- tunes and sufferings of the wanderers, she invited them all to come to her palace to remain as her guests until they should recruit their strength by rest from care and toil. le EEN Ni! V4 oN f y Y YY Wa S\N Ww NW? WT XI. IN THE REGIONS OF THES Utyssss and his party stayed a full year in Circe’s isle enjoying the hospitality of the goddess. Then they began to long for home, and begged Circe to permit them to depart. The goddess answered that she would not have them remain in her house against their will, but there was, she said, another journey they must make before they could reach their native land. They must visit the regions of the dead, the kingdom of Pluto, and his queen, Pros’er-pine, and there consult the spirit of the prophet Ti-re’sias. To him, but to no other mortal, the gods had given after death the power to tell of future events. Ulysses was almost heartbroken on hearing this. He wept aloud saying: “We know not the way, and who will guide us? No ship has ever sailed to the realm of Pluto.” “Son of Laertes,” answered the goddess, “be not troubled about a guide. Only raise thy mast, and spread thy sails, and the north wind shall waft thee to the shores of Proserpine, where are tall poplars — and willows. Anchor thy galley and go into the 74 75 spacious land of Pluto. Thou shalt see there the dark stream of the Ach’e-ron and flowing into it; the fiery Phleg’e-thon, and the Co-cy’tus, an arm of the: Styx. “ Near where the loud-resounding waters meet, dig a trench a cubit in length and width. Around it pour milk and honey and sweet wine as libations to the dead, and pray to the shades, promising that on thy return to Ithaca thou wilt sacrifice to them the best heifer of thy flock and a black ram to Tiresias. When thou hast offered up thy prayer, sacrifice a ram and a black sheep, with their faces toward the abodes of the dead, and bid thy friends flay and burn the bodies, after which pay worship to the mighty Pluto and the dread Proserpine. “There shall then gather around thee multitudes of souls. None may speak with thee without tast- ing the blood of thy sacrifice, but draw thy sword and suffer none to touch the blood until thou shalt have seen and spoken with Tiresias. He will come and tell thee how thou mayest reach thy home over the measureless deep.” The companions of Ulysses wept and tore their hair when they heard of the dangerous voyage they were now to undertake. But their chief encouraged them and they immediately began preparations for their departure. One of them, a youth named EIl- 76 pe’nor, had lain down to sleep in the cool air on the roof of the castle. The noise made by his companions awoke him, and he started to his feet and rushed forward to descend, but missing his step on the ladder, he fell to the ground and was killed. When all was ready the party embarked and sailed away from Circe’s fair island, sorrowing for their lost friend. The goddess sent after them a gentle wind which wafted their galley pleasantly along. By sundown, they came to the land of the Cim-me’rl-ans, on the confines of O-ce’an-us, the great water that inclosed the world around. The people there dwelt in eternal darkness. They never beheld the glorious sun, either in the morning when he ascended into the heavens or in the evening when he sank to rest. “There in a lonely land, and gloomy cells, The dusky nation of Cimmeria dwells ; The sun ne’er views the uncomfortable seats, When radiant he advances, or retreats : Unhappy race ! whom endless night invades, Clouds the dull air, and wraps them round in shades.” Pore, Odyssey, Book XI. Shortly afterward they reached the shore of the — kingdom of Pluto. Ulysses followed the directions of Circe, and soon beheld the shades of the dead crowding round him in great numbers. There 77 were young wives and unwedded maidens, old men worn out with years and toil, and warriors in the armor of battle, bearing the marks of many wounds. Ulysses drew his sword and would suffer none to approach the blood until he had spoken with the renowned prophet. But first the spirit of Elpenor advanced toward him. The youth was not as yet among the shades of Pluto’s kingdom. None could be admitted there except those who had been buried, and his com- rades, desiring to hasten their departure from the island of Circe, had left without performing his funeral rites. “He was not buried yet In earth’s broad bosom. We had left him dead In Circe’s halls, unwept and unentombed.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XI. Elpenor, therefore, was at liberty to converse with Ulysses without touching the blood, and so he approached his old chief who spoke to him with tears of pity in his eyes. “QO, Elpenor,” said he, “thou hast come to these dark realms with more speed on foot than I in my swift galley.” The spirit, answering mournfully, told Ulysses how he had fallen from the roof of Circe’s palace. Then he begged him to give his body funeral rites, 78 for he knew that on their return from Hades the chief and his companions would again visit the /Eean isle. “T conjure thee That there, O king, thou wilt remember me, And leave me not when thou departest thence Unwept, unburied, lest I bring on thee The anger of the gods. But burn me there With all the armor that I wore, and pile, Close to the hoary deep, a mound for me.” BryAnt, Odyssey, Book XI. Ulysses promised that he would do these things. Then in a little while he saw the shade of his mother, An-ti-cle’a, whom he had left alive in Ithaca when he went to the Trojan War. He wept with grief on beholding her, but he forbade her to come near the blood until he should first have conversed with Tiresias. At length the prophet appeared, ee in his hand a golden scepter. After having tasted the blood of the sacrifice he spoke to the Ithacan Bing and said: = “QO illustrious Ulysses, thou seckemy an easy return to thy native land. But I fear thou mayest find it hard, for the anger of Neptune is against thee, because thou hast blinded his dear son. Nevertheless thou mayest escape evils, if thou and thy companions do no hurt to the cattle of the Sun 79 in the island of Tri-na‘cri-a. But if thou harm these, destruction will surely come upon thy ship and thy companions. And if thou thyself dost reach thy home, it will be after much suffering and there shall be troubles in thy house. Thou shalt find evil men wasting thy wealth and seeking to have thy wife and thy kingdom. But these thou shalt slay in thy palace, and thou shalt die in peace in thy old age.” Having spoken thus, the prophet Tiresias passed away among the shades. Then the mother of Ulys- ses came and drank of the blood, and she immedi- ately recognized her son and spoke to him. She asked him how it was that though still alive, he had come to the regions of the dead. “ How didst thou come, my child, a living man, Into this place of darkness? Difficult It is for those who breathe the breath of life To visit these abodes, through which are rolled Great rivers, fearful floods, — the first of these Oceanus, whose waters none can cross On foot, or save on board a trusty bark.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XI. Ulysses told her how and why he had come to the land of spirits, and then he eagerly inquired about his home. “Tell me of my son,” said he, “and of my father. 80 Do they think I shall return no more? And tell me of Penelope. Does she still remain with Te- lemachus, or. has some one of the Grecians taken her for wife?” In answer to these questions Anticlea told Ulys- ses that all was well in Ithaca except that they were sorrowing because of his long absence, and now they were beginning to fear he was dead. “ Penelope,” said she, “remains faithful in thy palace, and her days and nights are spent in tears mourning for thee. Telemachus manages thy es- tates and lives as befits a young prince. But thy father mourns for thee, dwelling in the country and never coming to the town. He sleeps where the laborers sleep and wears the laborer’s garb. Sor row has oppressed his old age, even as it did mine, for it was grief for thee, O my son, that de- prived me of life.”. When his mother ceased speaking, Ulysses longed to clasp her to his breast, and three times he tried to embrace her, but her form passed through his arms like a shadow. Then in great sorrow he cried out: “Why may I not take thee in my arms, beloved - mother, that we may, even for a moment, relieve our grief and soothe our misery?” “ My son,” said she, “it is the lot of mortals when 8I they are dead, for then they no longer have bones or flesh.” “No more the sinews bind The bones and flesh, when once from the white bones The life departs. Then like a dream the soul Flies off, and flits about from place to place.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XI. Anticlea now disappeared from the sight of her son, leaving him in sorrow thinking of his aged father and his beloved wife. STO. OF ULYSSES —6 XII. DREAD SIGHTS IN PLUIGS SRE As soon as his mother had passed from his view, Ulysses saw crowds of shades gathering round him. He spoke to some of them when they had drunk of the dark blood, conversing with each in turn. He saw the shades of many of his brother chiefs who had fought with him at Troy, and had either perished at sea after sailing for Greece, or had been slain by treacherous foes after reaching home. He saw the illustrious Agamemnon, who told him the story of how he had been murdered in his own palace by A‘gisthus, whom his false wife Clyt- emnestra had married while he was at the great siege. He saw the mighty Ajax, and the famous Achilles, and Pa-tro’clus, the dear friend and com- panion of Achilles, whom Hector slew in combat before the walls of Troy. The shade of Achilles seemed sadder than the others, and Ulysses tried to comfort him by speaking of his renown on earth, where he was already honored almost as a god, and of his great power even among the dead. 82 83 “ Alive we hailed thee with our guardian gods, And dead thou rulest a king in these abodes.” Pops, Odyssey, Book XI. But Achilles answered him in sorrowful voice, saying that he would prefer the lot of the poorest _Jaborer among mortal men to being king over all _the regions of the dead. “ Noble Ulysses, speak not thus of death, As if thou couldst console me. I would be A laborer on earth, and serve for hire Some man of mean estate, who makes scant cheer, Rather than reign o’er all who have gone down To death.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XI. Achilles then inquired about his son Ne-op-tol’e- mus, asking whether he had fought among the heroes in the war, and Ulysses told him of the youth’s many deeds of valor. This Neoptolemus went to Troy after his father had been killed, and he was one of the Greeks who concealed them- selves in the famous wooden horse, and took part in the destruction of the city. Ulysses described to - Achilles the bravery of Neoptolemus in this great enterprise, and told how, when the war was over, he embarked for home without having received a wound, and laden with rich spoil taken from the enemy. 84 The shade of Achilles now passed away, and after conversing with other heroes, Ulysses saw some of those who were suffering severe punish- ment for evil deeds they had committed while on earth. There sat Mi’nos, one of the stern judges of Pluto’s realm, with a golden scepter in his hand, passing sentence on the spirits as they came before him. Near by Ulysses saw Tan’ta-lus standing in a lake up to his chin, and though his mouth was parched with thirst, he could not drink, for when he moved his lips toward the water it sank out of sight, and he saw nothing but the black earth beneath. There were also branches of fruit trees laden with all kinds of delicious fruits, — pears and pomegranates and apples and figs, — but whenever he stretched forth his hand to pluck them, a sudden blast of wind whirled them far into the dark clouds. Tantalus was thus punished for killing his own son. He was guilty of the impiety, too, of steal- ing ambrosia and nectar from the table of the im- mortal gods when he was admitted to one of the heavenly banquets on Mount Olympus. Ulysses also saw the robber Sis’y-phus pushing a huge stone with both hands up a steep hill; but when near the top some secret force sent it flying to the bottom. Then the unhappy man, 85 covered with sweat, and in a cloud raised by the whirling rock, had to roll it up again only to see it once more driven down to the valley below. “With many a weary step, and many a groan, Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone: The huge round stone, resulting with a bound, Thunders impetuous down, and smokes along the ground. Again the restless orb his toil renews, Dust mounts in clouds, and sweat descends in dews.” Pore, Odyssey, Book XI. Then Ulysses saw the specter of the mighty Her’cu-les, but the hero himself dwelt with the immortal gods on high Olympus. The specter wore a belt on which were forms wondrous and fearful to behold — bears and lions and wild boars —and pictures of battles in which men were fiercely slain. When the specter disappeared, myriads of the dead flocked around Ulysses with a mighty and terrific noise, and he grew pale with fear lest he should behold the Gor’gon. This was a female monster who, instead of hair, had writhing and hiss- ing serpents coiled round her head. So frightful was her aspect that any one who looked at her was instantly turned into stone. “No more my heart the dismal din sustains, And my cold blood hangs shivering in my veins ; 86 Lest Gorgon, rising from the infernal lakes, With horrors armed, and curls of hissing snakes, Should fix me stiffened at the monstrous sight, A stony image, in eternal night !” Pore, Odyssey, Book XI. To avoid so terrible a fate, Ulysses hastened to his ship and embarked with his companions, after which they departed from the shore of the Land of Shades. “Straight from the direful coast to purer air . I speed my flight, and to my mates repair. My mates ascend the ship ; they strike their oars ; The mountains lessen, and retreat the shores; Swift o’er the waves we fly ; the freshening gales Sing through the shrouds, and stretch the swelling sails.” Pore, Odyssey, Book XI. SE PerIRCE’S “PROPHECY AND’ WARNING, As the wind was favorable it did not take the Ithacans long to make the voyage through Oceanus and back to the island of Circe. They landed in the same haven as before, and the first thing they did was to honor the remains of their dead com- rade, Elpenor, with the customary funeral rites. They burned the body on a funeral pyre built of the trunks of trees, and placed the ashes in a tomb erected on the shore. Then Circe entertained them hospitably, and they feasted on rich viands and good wine. And at night when his companions had retired to rest, the goddess requested Ulysses to tell her all about his journey to the kingdom of Pluto, what he had ~ seen and heard in the abodes of the dead. He told her everything, and when he had finished his story, Circe talked to him of dangers that he had yet to meet before reaching his native land, and instructed him how to avoid them. “ First,” said she, “thou wilt come to the Land of the Sirens, whose sweet singing is death to those who listen. Whoever hears their enchanting 87 88 voice nevermore returns to his home or sees his wife or children. The Sirens sit in a meadow and charm people by their song, while around them are the bones of dead men. To escape them thou must stop the ears of thy companions with wax, so that they may not hear. But if thou thyself wouldst hear the ravishing music, thy men must bind thee hands and feet to the mast of thy ship, and thou must command them to bind thee yet more fast, in case thou shouldst entreat them to set thee free. “Other dangers lie in thy way after passing the Sirens. There is a narrow strait having on one side_a cliff with a sharp point reaching to the clouds. So steep and so slippery is it that no mortal man could ascend it, even though he had twenty hands and twenty feet. On the side toward the strait is a cavern as high above the water as an arrow could be shot from a ship. “There dwells the monster Scyl’la, making the air resound with her fearful cries. Of hideous form is she, with twelve unshapely feet, six long necks and as many heads, and in each three rows of teeth. Half her body rests in the dark cave, but her heads she ever holds forth to seize her prey —dolphins, or sea dogs, or great whales which Am-phi-tri‘te, the wife of Neptune, breeds. Never have any sailors passed by the dread monster un- 89 harmed, for with each of her mouths she snatches a living man and bears him away. “On the other side of the strait is a lower rock out of which a fig tree grows. Underneath is the abode of Cha-ryb’dis who three times each day sucks in the dark water and three times sends it forth with deafening noise. Beware of being near when she sucks it in, for then not even Neptune could save thee from destruction. Sooner take thy. course by the dread Scylla, since it is better for thee to lose six of thy companions than that all should perish.” “But can I not attack this monster Scylla with my sword,” said Ulysses, “and so escape Charybdis and defend my companions?” “O rash man,” replied the goddess, “ vain would it be to take arms against her, since she is immortal and cannot die. It is best to flee, for if thou shouldst wait to fight, more of thy men would surely perish. In flight is thy only safety. “When thou shalt have passed the monster’s cave, thou wilt come to the island of Trinacria where the sheep and oxen of the Sun feed, tended by two fair-haired nymphs, the goddesses Lam- pe-ti’a and Pha-é-thu’sa. There are seven herds of fat oxen with fifty in each, and as many beautiful sheep. If thou leave these unharmed, thou and 90 thy companions may reach Ithaca in safety. But if through thee or thy people the flock or herds of the Sun suffer hurt, then destruction will come upon thy ship and thy companions, and thou thy- self wilt return to thy home in sorrow only after long years of wandering.” Thus Circe instructed and counseled Ulysses. Next morning he and his companions embarked, and the goddess sent them a favorable wind to waft them onwards. . AIV.. THE, SERENS. THEY soon came within view of the island of the Sirens, three fair maidens or nymphs of the sea, who dwelt there to decoy unwary voyagers. Ulysses had already told his companions of the warning of Circe. He now took a large cake of wax, and after softening and kneading it in the heat of the sun, he pressed portions of it into the ears of all his men, so that they could not hear the least sound. Then his comrades bound him to “the mast of the ship, tying his hands and feet firmly with strong cords. Thus the Ithacans were secure against the be- witching songs of the nymphs, and they plied their oars vigorously. As they approached the island, melodious sounds reached the ears of .Ulysses. The Sirens knew of his coming, and when they saw his galley sailing by their meadows near the shore they began to sing an alluring song: “Oh, stay, O pride of Greece! Ulysses, stay. Oh, cease thy course, and listen to our lay! gr 92 Blest is the man ordain’d our voice to hear, The song instructs the soul, and charms the ear. Approach ! thy soul shall into raptures rise ; Approach ! and learn new wisdom from the wise. We know whate’er the kings of mighty name Achieved at Ilion in the field of fame ; Whate’er beneath the sun’s bright journey lies, Oh, stay, and learn new wisdom from the wise !” Pope, Odyssey, Book XII. The sweet music and the artful words filled the heart of Ulysses with a longing desire to stay and hear more, so he signed and nodded to his com- panions to loose the cords that bound him. But instead of yielding to his entreaties, they plied their oars more vigorously, and Eurylochus and Per-i- me’des took stronger cords and tied him still more firmly to the mast. When they had sailed past the island and were no longer within hearing distance of the singers, the men took the wax from their ears and then set free their chief. “Then, scudding swiftly from the dangerous ground, The deafened ear unlocked, the chains unbound.” Pore, Odyssey, Book XII. The Sirens were so enraged and disappointed that they threw themselves into the sea and per- ished. An oracle had told them that they should be destroyed as soon as any one, after hearing their 93 song, should resist the allurement and depart in safety. Ulysses was the first who escaped except the famous musician Or’pheus and his companions. Others who had come near the island had gone ashore and sat listening, entranced, until they died from want of food. Orpheus saved himself and his party by drowning the voice of the Sirens with the music-of his lyre, which he had received from his father Apollo, the god of music and song. XV. SCYLLA AND CHARYSEES: ScarcELy had they passed the isle of the Sirens when they heard a deafening roar of waters and saw before them waves mountain high and a dark mist thrown up by the raging surf. The men were stricken with sudden fear, and so terrified were the rowers that the oars dropped from their hands. Ulysses quickly went among them speaking words of, encouragement. “We have met greater dangers than this, my friends,” said he, “and have overcome them. We were prisoners in the Cyclops’ cave and through my good counsel we escaped. Be now advised by me. Go to your oars and ply with all your strength. And thou, helmsman, take care to keep outside the mist and boiling surf, lest being sucked into the hole we all should perish.” The crafty chief said nothing to them about Scylla, for he thought that if they knew of the monster being there, they would cease to row and retreat into the hold of the ship through fear, as soon as they came near the cliff. But Ulysses him- self prepared to fight, forgetful, for the moment, of 94 95 Circe’s warning. He put on his shining armor, and took his long spears and stood upon the prow to await the appearance of the enemy. The galley had now sailed into the strait between the two rocks, with Scylla on.one side and on the other Charybdis swallowing the huge waves into her horrid gulf and casting them forth again with a terrific roaring noise. “Dire Scylla there a scene-of horror forms. And here Charybdis fills the deep with storms. When the tide rushes from her rumbling caves, The rough rock roars, tumultuous boil the waves ; They toss, they foam, a wild confusion raise, Like waters bubbling o’er the fiery blaze.” Pore, Odyssey, Book XII. The companions of Ulysses grew pale with fear. From the deck of their galley they could see into the vast whirlpool to the blue sand at the bottom. Hastily they steered toward the tall cliff to avoid being drawn into the yawning abyss, when suddenly the dread Scylla, thrusting forth her hideous heads, seized six of them in her frightful jaws and bore them off to her den. Ulysses beheld them as they were being raised on high. He heard their ago- nized cries calling upon him by name, and he saw them stretch their hands toward him when the monster was devouring them at the mouth of her 96 cavern. Nothing he had seen during all his ad- ventures was so lamentable as this. “Scylla devoured them at her cavern’s mouth, Stretching their hands to me with piercing cries Of anguish. ’Twas in truth the saddest sight, Whatever I have suffered and where’er Have roamed the waters, that mine eyes have seen.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XII. Though Ulysses had put on his armor and had weapons in his hand, he was prudent enough not to attempt battle with an enemy that could not be vanquished by mortal strength or valor. He thought it better to follow the wise counsel . of Circe, so he urged his companions to increased speed, and they soon passed out of the narrow strait of Scylla and Charybdis. xVi THE’ OXEN OF- THE SUN. AFTER leaving Scylla and Charybdis, Ulysses and his remaining companions sailed on until they came to a beautiful island. It was the island of Trinacria, and as they approached it, they heard the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen. These were the cattle of the Sun, and Ulysses, remembering the warning of the prophet Tiresias and of Circe, said to his men that it would be better to pass on and not land on the island, lest some evil should happen to them. But they would not give heed to his wise counsel. They were fatigued with toil and want of sleep, and longed to rest and refresh themselves on dry land. And so they disregarded the wish of their chief, and went ashore. But Ulysses made them promise that they would not harm the oxen or the sheep they should find on the island. } “ Now all of you Bind yourselves to me firmly, by an oath, That if ye haply here shall meet a herd Of beeves or flock of sheep, ye will not dare STO. OF ULYSSES — 7 97 98 To slay a single ox or sheep, but feed Contented on the stores that Circe gave.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XII. As soon as they landed they prepared their even- ing meal, for it was near sunset, and when they had eaten and drunk, they lay down to sleep. In the morning there was a great storm which prevented them from resuming their voyage, so they drew their galley into a cave or grotto at the head of the small haven or creek where they had landed. In this grotto they saw the seats of the sea nymphs and the places where they danced. For a whole month the winds continued so un- favorable that they could not leave the island. As long as their provisions lasted they did not touch the oxen. Even when their supply of bread was consumed they eat fish and birds, or anything that came to their hands. But soon they grew weak from want of more and better food. One day Ulysses went away from his companions to another part of the island to pray to the gods to help him and grant them some means of returning to their native land. While thus engaged he fell into a soft sleep. Meantime, Eurylochus talked with his companions assembled at the ship. “ My comrades,” said he, “death in any form is dreadful to men, but death by hunger is the most oF dreadful of all. Let us then kill and eat some of these oxen that we see around us and when we come to Ithaca we will make amends. We will build a grand temple to the Sun and offer up gifts and sacrifices to the gods to atone for the fault we commit here to save our lives. But if it be the will of the gods to destroy our ship in the sea, it is better to perish in the deep than to die a lingering death by famine.” All the men approved of the proposal of Eurylo- chus. Then they selected the best of one of the herds of oxen that were grazing near by, and immediately slaughtered them, and prepared a fire to roast some of the flesh. While they were thus engaged, Ulysses, after awaking from his sleep, re- turned to the shore. When he saw what had been done he was filled with grief and alarm. Meanwhile, Lampetia, one of the guardian god- desses who tended the flocks, hastened up to heaven to tell the Sun that his beautiful oxen had been slain by the companions of Ulysses. Great was the anger of the god when he heard of the impious deed, and forthwith he demanded of the other deities of Olympus that the offenders should be punished. “O father Jupiter,” said he, “and ye other im- mortal gods, avenge this wrong upon the compan- ions of Ulysses. They have slain the oxen in which 100 I took delight each day as I ascended into the starry heavens and sank from the heavens to earth. If they are not punished as they deserve, I shall go down into the regions of Pluto, there to shine among the dead, and no more shall I give light to © mortal men on earth,” “QO Sun,” replied Jupiter, “shine forever in the bright heavens and with thy glorious beams make the earth fruitful and give joy to men. Avs for these Greeks, they shall be quickly punished. I will cleave their galley with my thunderbolts and sink them in the depths of the sea.” While the doom of his companions was being thus pronounced, Ulysses was severely reproving them for their mad folly. But the evil that was done could not be remedied. The oxen were dead and some of the meat was roasting on spits. Just at this moment a wonderful thing happened. The skins of the dead beasts crawled along the ground and the pieces of flesh lowed like living oxen. “ And now with prodigies the gods Amazed my companions, — the skins moved and crawled, The flesh both raw and roasted on the spits Lowed with the voice of oxen.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XII. But though they were amazed at the prodigy, the men feasted on the flesh, and they remained IOI six days longer killing the best of the oxen and eat- ing the meat. On the seventh day the wind was favorable, and they embarked and set sail. But scarcely were they out of sight of land when a dark cloud appeared above their heads, and immediately afterward a furious storm arose. In a few moments, waves mountain high were raging around the galley. The wind tore up the deck, shattered the sails and rigging and broke the mast, which fell backward on the pilot, crushing him to death. Then Jupiter sent down his thunderbolts which struck the ship with a mighty crash, filled it with sulphurous vapor, and hurled the men into the foaming sea. Ulysses held on until the vessel fell asunder. The sides parted from the bottom, and the keel drifted before the waves. The mast was broken off at the base, but there was a thong of bullock’s hide around it. With this thong Ulysses bound the mast and keel together, and sat firmly upon them, and in this posture he was driven along the surface of the waves by a violent west wind. Soon the west wind ceased and a south wind came on, which Ulysses feared would carry him -back.to the terrible Charybdis. And so it happened. After being borne on- ward during the whole night he found himself in _ 102 the morning at the entrance to the narrow strait, with Scylla on one side and Charybdis on the other. It was just at the moment when Charybdis was sucking in the waters. The raft of Ulysses was swept into the gulf, and he himself would have been swallowed up in the awful abyss had he not jumped forward and grasped a branch of the over- hanging fig tree, to which he clung like a bat. He could find no place to rest his feet, nor could he climb into the tree, for.the boughs were so far apart that he could not reach from one to another. So with all his strength he held on to the stout bough until Charybdis again sent forth the waters and the mast and keel reappeared below. Then he dropped himself down upon his raft and sitting on it as before, he rowed away with both his hands and with all his might. POS IN CALYPSO Ss; ISLAND: For nine days Ulysses floated on the sea, but on the tenth he came to the island of O-gyg’i-a. Here in a beautiful grotto dwelt the fair nymph or god- dess Ca-lyp’so, daughter of At’las, the mighty hero who bore the heavens on his shoulders. Calypso received the Ithacan chief kindly and entertained him hospitably. She promised to make him immortal if he would stay with her forever and consent to be her husband. Ulysses, however, longed for his home and family and would gladly have ventured to sea again, but he had no ships or men to help him on a voyage. To his dear native land Depart he cannot: ship arrayed with oars And seamen has he none, to bear him o’er The breast of the broad ocean. Bryant, Odyssey, Book V. For seven long years he was detained in Ca- lypso’s isle, and often he sat on the beach looking out over the sea and mourning for his dear wife and son. At length it appeared fitting to the gods that he 103 104 should be permitted to return home. They were all favorable to him except Neptune, who hated him for what he had done to his son Polyphemus. But at this time Neptune was away in At£-thi-o’pi-a at a banquet, and in his absence there was an assembly of the gods on Olympus. There Minerva appealed to Jupiter in behalf of Ulysses. “O King of Kings,” said she, “my heart is grieved for the unhappy Ulysses kept away from those he loves. The daughter of Atlas detains him with soft words in her forest island, seeking to make him forget Ithaca. Let us send our messenger Mercury down to Ogygia to make known to the fair-haired nymph Calypso our will that Ulysses return to his home. I myself will repair to Ithaca to counsel his son, and I will tell him to go to Sparta and to Pylos to inquire for his father. So he shall become known and have great fame among the men of Hellas.” Jupiter consented to the proposal of Minerva and he sent Mercury down to Calypso with a message that Ulysses must immediately depart from Ogygia XVIII: MINERVA VISITS TELEMACHUS. MeaNwuiLe Minerva prepared to set out on her visit to Ithaca. Under her feet she fastened her golden sandals. The fair, ambrosial golden sandals worn To bear her over ocean like the wind And o’er the boundless land. Bryant, Odyssey, Book I. When she had put on her sandals she took in her hand her mighty brass-tipped spear, with which, when angry, she could destroy whole armies of heroes. Then she sped down to Ithaca like a flash of lightning and stood at the door of the palace of Ulysses. But she disguised herself by taking the form of Men‘tor, a chief of a neighbor- ing people called Ta’phi-ans, and a friend of Ulysses in the Trojan War. As she stood at the door the goddess saw a number of men eating and drinking in the hall, while servants were waiting upon them, bringing them meat and pouring out wine for them to drink. These were the suitors—young princes of the surrounding isles who sought to make Penelope 105 Minerva. 107 believe that Ulysses was dead and to persuade her to take one of them for her husband. Telemachus was sitting among them thinking of his father and sorrowing for his absence. He was the first to notice the stranger at the door, and he went forward and courteously welcomed him. Then he led him to a seat apart from the others and commanded the servants to bring food and wine. At the same time the harper Phe’mi-us played music for the suitors, and when the disguised Mentor had finished his meal, Telemachus leaned forward and spoke to him. “ Good stranger,” said he, “these revelers eat and drink and enjoy music not at their own cost. They are consuming the substance of another man who _is tossed about on the ocean, or perhaps dead. If he should return and see them here, they would need swift feet to bear them away from his wrath. But tell me, I pray, who art thou and whence dost thou come? Hast thou at any time been my father’s guest? For often strangers came to our house, when he was its master.” “Tam Mentor, king of the Taphians,” replied the stranger, “I am on my way to Cy’prus to exchange my steel for brass. My ship is in a haven at the _back of the town. I am a friend of thy family, as Laertes may tell thee if thou wilt ask him. I came 108 to see thy father for I heard he had’ returned. Some god hinders him on his journey. But he will . yet come home. This I know, though I am not a seer. But tell me, art thou not the son of Ulysses, for indeed thou dost greatly resemble him.” “O stranger,” replied Telemachus, “I am indeed the son of Ulysses. Would that a happier lot had been his and mine.” “May the gods make thy race glorious,” said Mentor. “But who are these and what feast is this? Is it a banquet given to invited guests? Whoe’er they be their revels are unseemly.” “ These,’ answered Telemachus, “are men of note in Ithaca and chiefs who rule in neighboring isles. They woo my mother and waste my father’s means, for they are here every day eating and drinking of our substance. My mother fears to offend them by blunt refusal and she cannot bear to think of marriage.” When Mentor heard these things he advised Telemachus to call the chief men of Ithaca together next day, and in their presence command the suitors to depart to their homes. “Then,” said he, “get ready a ship and go and inquire about thy father. First go to Pylos to the venerable Nestor. Next go to Sparta. Perhaps Menelaus may have tidings of him, for he is the latest who has returned . 109 from the war. If thou shouldst learn that thy father lives, thou mayest have patience for yet a year. But if thou shouldst find that he is dead, return home and perform the funeral rites. Then thy mother may wed and thou canst take steps to punish the suitors. Thou art no longera boy. Be brave, that men hereafter may honor thy name. And now I must leave thee, for my companions may be anxiously awaiting me.” Telemachus thanked him for his good counsel and pressed him to stay until some rich gift could be prepared for him, such as in ancient times it was customary for friendly hosts to bestow upon their guests. But the stranger begged Telemachus not to detain him. He promised to receive his gift at another time and to present one in return. Then he arose and ascended into the air like a bird, suddenly disappearing from view. Telema- chus now knew that it was the goddess Minerva who had been his visitor, and his heart was filled with strength and courage. XIX. PENELOPE’S Wik: Next day heralds were sent out to call the chiefs together, as Mentor had advised. They quickly came, and when they were all assembled in the forum or open market place, where meetings of the people were usually held, Telemachus took his seat as president of the council. The first speaker was the venerable chief A‘-gyp’tius, a hero bent with age, whose son, An’ti-phus, was one of the unhappy victims of the monster Polyphemus. His son, the warlike Antiphus, Went with the great Ulysses in his fleet .To courser-breeding Troy, and afterwards The cruel Cyclops, in the vaulted cave, Slew him for his last meal. Bryant, Odyssey, Book II. The father of the unfortunate hero rose in the - council of the chiefs to inquire what was the object of the assemblage. “Men of Ithaca,” said he, “we have had no council since the great Ulysses departed from our isle. Why are we now summoned? Is there an enemy coming to attack us, or if not, what 110 II! other matter concerning the general welfare are we called to discuss?” Then Telemachus arose to speak, holding in his hand his father’s golden scepter. “I have not called you,” said he, “to hear of an approaching enemy or to discuss anything concerning the public good. But I would talk to you about my own troubles. My father I fear I have lost. He was your king, and ruled over you with love and mildness. But while he is away evil comes upon his family. Every day those suitors, the sons of men of rank in our isle, come to try to persuade my mother to marry. And they feast upon our substance, killing and eating our oxen and sheep and drinking our wine; for there is no one to prevent them or to protect us. Is it not a shame, O my friends, that these things are done in the house of Ulysses? Better were it that we should die than live suffering these. wrongs for which in vain we seek redress.” After he had thus spoken Telemachus, filled with grief and anger, dashed his scepter to the ground and burst into a flood of tears. The people were moved to pity, and for a few moments there was deep silence. Then one of the suitors, An-tin’o-us by name, the most insolent of them all, arose and said: “QO presumptuous youth, dost thou dare to blame 112 us when it is thy mother who is in fault? Skilled in craft as she is, she has now for three years been deceiving us with false hopes. A cunning device she planned, to weave a shroud for Laertes, and when she began the work of her loom she spoke to us, saying: ‘Young men, do not ask me to marry until I have finished this web for a funeral vesture for the chief Laertes. Great dishonor it would be, and the Grecian dames would think it ill of me if I should leave him without a shroud at death’ So she spoke, and she began to weave her web; but by night she unraveled what she wove by day.” “So went she on, Weaving that ample web, and every night Unraveled it by torchlight. ‘Three full years She practiced thus, and by the fraud deceived The Grecian youths ; but when the hours had brought The fourth year round, a woman who knew all Revealed the mystery, and we ourselves Saw her unraveling the ample web.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book II. “ Thus,” continued Antinous, “has thy mother deceived us. Now hear our answer to thee. Send thy mother to the home of her father, and let her marry any one of the Grecian youths she may choose. But if thou wilt not, or if. she will not choose for husband one of the suitors, we will not depart hence nor cease consuming thy goods.” 113 But Telemachus would not consent to this pro- posal. “ Think you,” said he, “that I could do this wrong to the mother that nursed me? If I should send her away from my father’s house against her will, the deed would draw upon my head the anger of the gods. Never shall I do aught so evil. And now I command you to cease consuming what is mine and to depart to your own homes. If you refuse to obey, I shall call on the immortal gods to punish you.” As Telemachus ceased speaking, Jupiter sent two eagles, which were seen flying together until they came right over the heads of the assembled chiefs. There they paused, and after looking down for a moment on the people below, they tore each other with their talons and then darted away. The Thunderer, Jove, Sent flying from a lofty mountain-top Two eagles. First they floated on the wind Close to each other and with wings outspread ; But as they came to where the murmuring crowd Was gathered just beneath their flight, they turned And clapped their heavy pinions, looking down With deadly omen on the heads below, And with their talons tore each other’s cheeks And necks, and then they darted to the right Away through Ithaca among its roofs. Bryant, Odyssey, Book II. STO. OF ULYSSES —8 114 Great was the astonishment of the assembly on beholding this prodigy, and all wondered what it meant. But the aged hero Ha-li-ther’ses, who was also a soothsayer, arose and said: : “OQ men of Ithaca, hear me, and _ particularly you suitors. Great danger hangs over your heads. Ulysses is not far from his home. When he comes it will fare ill with you, if you do not cease from injuring his family. Pay heed to my words. I do not speak without knowledge of the future. Long ago when the Greeks were embarking for Troy, I foretold that our chief would not return for twenty years, nor until all his comrades were lost. These things are now coming to pass.” But the suitors would not listen to the warnings of the soothsayer. Then Telemachus begged them to give him a ship that he might go to Pylos and Sparta to seek tidings of his father. But they only laughed at his request, and soon afterwards the assembly broke up. x TELEMACHUS GOES ON A VOVAGE. AFTER the council the suitors went to the palace and Telemachus walked alone to the seashore. There he washed his hands in the foaming surf and prayed aloud to Minerva. “Hear me,” said he, “O goddess, who hast com- manded me to cross the sea to inquire about my dear father. I cannot go without a ship, and the suitors will not help me.” Then Minerva immediately appeared and stood by his side, again taking the form of Mentor, and she encouraged him, saying : “ Telemachus, if thy father’s spirit be in thee, thy journey will not be in vain. Regard not the suitors. Thou shalt have a ship, and I myself will accom- pany thee to be thy guide and protector. Hasten now and get ready provisions for thy voyage, while I go among the people and find good men who will gladly serve thee. Ships there are plenty in Ithaca, and I will choose the best and have it well prepared.” Joyfully Telemachus returned to the palace to make preparations for his departure. The suitors 115, 116 were sitting around well-spread tables banqueting on rich viands, and as they noticed the young prince they spoke of him in slighting words. “ Doubtless,” said one, “he expects to bring men from Pylos and Sparta to destroy us all.” “Perhaps,” said another, “he may perish far away from home like his father and then we shall have his wealth to divide among us, and one of us shall be king in Ithaca.” But Telemachus paid no heed to the talk of the suitors. He hastened to his own apartments, and there he found the faithful housekeeper, Eu-ry-cle’a, who was his old nurse and to him the most affec- tionate of all the domestics of the family. She loved Her young lord more than all the other maids, And she had nursed him in his tender years. Bryant, Odyssey, Book I. Telemachus told her that he was going away to search for news of his father, and he requested her to get ready provisions for his journey. “ Fill twelve jars with good wine,” said he, “and put twenty measures of meal in strong bags. I will come for them in the evening after my mother has retired to rest, for she must not know that I am going.” The kind-hearted woman burst ‘into tears and wept aloud. “O my child,” cried she, “ what is this 117 thou art about todo? Think of what has happened to thy father. And these wicked men will plot against thy life when thou art gone, and divide thy wealth among themselves. Do thou remain here, among thy people, for it is not safe for one so young to wander over the wild sea.” Telemachus comforted the good woman by tell- ing her that his journey was ordered by a god. Then he made her promise that she would not let his mother know of his departure until eleven or twelve days after he had gone, lest she should wear herself away with grief. Meanwhile Minerva, taking the form and appear- ance of Telemachus, went through the city, and picking out good men for a crew she ordered them to be at the ship at nightfall. The ship she bor- rowed from a generous man, No-e’mon, who will- ingly gave it for the son of the noble Ulysses. By evening the vessel and crew were ready. Minerva now repaired to the palace where the suitors were feasting, and she shed over them a sense of drowsiness which made them all hasten to their chambers and go to sleep. Then she assumed the form and voice of Mentor, and going to Te- lemachus told him that it was time to depart. Both immediately went together to the beach where they found the men awaiting them. Telemachus took a 118 few of them with him to the palace to fetch the wine and meal, which were quickly carried down and stored in the ship. Then all the men embarked. Telemachus went up The vessel’s side, but Pallas first embarked, And at the stern sat down, while next to her Telemachus was seated. Then the crew Cast loose the fastenings and went all on board, And took their places on the rowers’ seats, While blue-eyed Pallas sent a favoring breeze, A fresh wind from the west, that murmuring swept The dark-blue main. Bryant, Odyssey, Book II. And so with a favoring wind and a good guide and counselor, Telemachus sailed away to seek for intelligence of his beloved father. XXI. TELEMACHUS VISITS KING NESTOR. TELEMACHUS sailed all night, and the next morn- ing came to the city of Pylos on the seacoast. There the people were assembled in great numbers, offering sacrifices of black oxen to Neptune. On nine seats they sat, Five hundred on each seat ; nine steers were slain For each five hundred there. Bryant, Odyssey, Book III. The Ithacans moored their ship at the shore and landed, and Mentor and Telemachus went up to where the people sat. Among them were the ven- erable King Nestor and his sons, and men were roasting meat on spits and preparing other things for a feast. As soon as the strangers were noticed, many came to welcome them. Pi-sis‘tra-tus, the king’s son, greeted them kindly and led them to seats near his father. Then he placed meat before them, and wine in golden cups, and bade them offer libation and prayer to Neptune, in whose honor the feast was made. Mentor took the cup, and pouring wine on the 119 120 ground in honor of Neptune, prayed to the god to give glory to Nestor and all his people, and to grant to himself and his friends good fortune in the business on which they had come, and a safe return to their country. Telemachus also made. libation to the god and prayed in like manner. Then they all feasted on the good things set before them, and when the banquet was over, Nestor ad- dressed the strangers, inquiring who they were and what was the object of their voyage. Telemachus answered that he had come from Ithaca to make inquiries about his father Ulysses ; and he begged Nestor to tell him if he knew aught of him — whether he was dead, or what fate had befallen him since they had taken and sacked the great city of Ilum. The old man replied, telling much of what had happened to many of the heroes after they had sailed from Troy, and praising Ulysses as the great- est of them all. “ Far o’er the rest thy mighty father shined, In wit, in prudence, and in force of mind. Art thou the son of that illustrious sire? With joy I grasp thee, and with love admire.” Pore, Odyssey, Book III. Nestor, however, had no news to tell of Ulysses since he had left Troy. He knew that Agamemnon 121 had been cruelly slain upon reaching his own palace, and that Menelaus had recently returned to Sparta with his wife Helen; but of the fate of the brave warrior of Ithaca, he had learned nothing. -He had indeed heard of the suitors, and of their insults to Penelope, and of their other evil doings; and he encouraged Telemachus to believe that his father would one day return and take fitting vengeance on those insolent men. The king and his guests continued their conver- sation until the shades of evening came on, and then Nestor advised Telemachus and his companions to go to Sparta and make inquiries of Menelaus. That hero had himself had many adventures on his voyage home, and he might possibly have seen or heard of Ulysses. They could journey to Sparta in their ship, or if they preferred to travel by land, he would furnish them with a carriage and horses and send his son with them as a guide. Grateful for the hospitality and kindness of the king, Telemachus ‘and Mentor now rose to return to their ship, but Nestor invited them to come to his palace and remain as his guests for the night. “This is well, good friend,” said Mentor, “and Telemachus may stay with thee. But I must hasten away to other tasks. To-night I shall be at the ship; to-morrow I depart for distant lands.” 122 So saying, Mentor ascended into the sky like an eagle, and vanished from their sight. All were astonished, but the king knew who it was, and he said to Telemachus: “ Thou must surely be a good youth, since the gods thus accompany thee. This was no other than the daughter of Jove, the glorious Minerva who honored also thy excellent father.” Early in the morning the king arose. He came down to the lofty gate of the palace, and sat on a polished stone bench in front of the gate, with Te- lemachus at his side. Then Nestor ordered one of his sons to bring a heifer, the best of the herd, for a sacrifice to Minerva. He ordered another to’ command the goldsmith La-er’ceus to decorate the heifer’s horns with gold, that the offering might be more pleasing to the goddess. He ordered a third to bring the companions of Telemachus from the ship, and he directed that the maids of the palace should prepare a grand banquet. Immediately all were busily occupied, and when the golden-horned heifer was slain, portions of it © were burned and the king poured wine upon them. He was surrounded by his family — his wife, Queen Eu-ryd’i-ce, and his daughters and sons all taking part in the religious ceremonies. After the sacrifice they sat down and feasted on 123 rich viands, and when the meal was over, Nestor ordered his sons to make preparations for the de- parture of Telemachus. Immediately swift horses were yoked to a chariot, and the housekeeper put in some provisions for the journey — good wine and rich food such as only kings eat. Then Te- lemachus mounted into his seat and Pisistratus, the king’s son, climbed in after him and took the reins. Quickly the fleet horses were dashing along the plain on the road to Sparta and soon they had left Pylos far behind. » eR ee es XXII. IN THE PALACE OF. MENEEAG Tue travelers made no stop until evening when they came to the city of Phere. Here they remained for the night and were hospitably enter- tained by King Dry’o-cles. Next morning they resumed their journey and by sundown reached Sparta and drove up to the gate of the royal palace of King Menelaus. On this day it happened that they had a double wedding feast in the palace. The king’s daughter, Her-mi‘o-ne, had been wedded to Neoptolemus, the son of the great Achilles, and his son Meg-a-pen- thes had taken for wife the daughter of a neighbor- ing prince. And so there was great festivity in the halls of Menelaus when Telemachus and Pisis- tratus arrived. They were soon noticed by the servants, one. of whom hastened to tell his master that two strangers of noble appearance were at the gate, and to ask whether they should be received or sent to seek entertainment elsewhere. “Why dost thou talk of turning strangers from our door?” replied Menelaus angrily. “This is 124 125 not the hospitality we ourselves have so often received from others. Loose the horses quickly, and give the strangers fitting welcome.” The servants hastened to obey. Telemachus and Pisistratus were immediately conducted into the palace. After they had refreshed themselves by bathing in magnificent baths, and arrayed them- selves in beautiful tunics supplied by the attendants, they were led into the banqueting hall. Here the king was waiting to receive them, and he made them sit near himself on golden thrones. Then servy- ants brought water in vessels of gold and silver, and set before the guests a table covered with the choicest meats. The king giving his hand to each of them bade them welcome, and invited them to eat. When they had finished their meal, Telemachus, bending his head toward his companion, said in a low voice so that his words might not be heard by Menelaus: “© son of Nestor, how beautiful is everything in this house. Behold the shining brass and the gold and the silver and the ivory and the amber. In truth the palace of Olympian Jove cannot be more splendid than this.” But Menelaus overheard the words and he said to his guests: “No house of mortal man can equal the palace 126 of the gods. But even mortals may compare in wealth with me. That which I possess I have wandered much and suffered many hardships to gain. Yet gladly would I sacrifice my riches if thereby I could restore to life my dear comrades who perished before the walls of Troy. Often sitting here in my palace I mourn for them all, but for none so much as for Ulysses. No other of all the Greeks accomplished so much as he. Where he is, whether alive or dead, we know not. His aged father Laertes, and the virtuous Penelope, _ and his son Telemachus, whom he left an infant in Ithaca, must be mourning much for him.” When Menelaus ceased speaking he saw tears flowing down the cheeks of one of the strangers. Then it occurred to him that the young man might be that Telemachus whose name he had just men- tioned, and he began to think whether it would be best to question him or wait until the youth should himself speak and tell who he was. At that moment the beautiful Helen entered the room. She was attended by three of her maids. One of them placed a seat of rich workmanship beside the throne of Menelaus for her mistress to sit on. Another brought a silver basket filled with violet threads, and upon it a golden distaff, which the queen herself used in her spinning; for in 127 ancient times the noblest ladies did not think it beneath them to do useful work. After taking her seat, Queen Helen inquired about the strangers. “ Knowest thou, Menelaus,” said she, “ who these visitors are? I think one of the youths is so very like the noble Ulysses that he must, indeed, be no other than his son, Telemachus, whom his father left at home, a babe, when he went with the heroes of Greece to fight the Trojans for my sake.” “TI am of thy opinion, wife,” replied Menelaus, “he has the face and eyes of Ulysses, and a little while ago he shed tears when I mentioned the noble chief’s name.” Then Pisistratus for the first time spoke, saying that his companion was indeed Telemachus, the son of Ulysses, and that he himself was son of King Nestor, who had sent him to guide his young friend ‘to Sparta. Hearing this, King Menelaus again welcomed his guests for the sake of their fathers, and he spoke of his great love for Ulysses. “I thought,” said he, “that I should welcome him here when Olympian Jove had granted us a safe return from Troy. I would have founded a city for him in my own country and built dwellings, and brought him and his people and his goods from Ithaca. We might 128 then have met often as dear friends and neighbors, and only death would have parted us. But some god, no doubt, has seen that this would be too great a happiness for us, and has prevented the return of Ulysses.” . They all wept, thinking of the absent hero, but after a little while Menelaus bade them lay aside their grief, and he ordered the attendants to place more refreshments on the tables. Helen mixed the wine with nepenthe, a powerful drug which made men forget all their sorrows. Whoever tasted of this drug would not shed a tear even though father and mother should be slain before their eyes. Helen, Jove-born dame, Had other thoughts, and with the wine they drank Mingled a drug, an antidote to grief And anger, bringing quick forgetfulness Of all life’s evils. Whoso drinks, when once It is infused and in the cup, that day Shall never wet his cheeks with tears, although His father and his mother lie in death, Nor though his brother or beloved son Fall butchered by the sword before his eyes. Bryant, Odyssey, Book IV. When they had drunk of this wine and had for a time forgotten all their griefs, Helen told them the story, related in an earlier chapter, of how Ulysses 129 disguised as a slave had entered the city of Troy to steal the famous Palladium. Menelaus then told about the wooden horse. The trick would have been discovered, he said, had it not been for the wisdom of Ulysses. For, while the horse was standing before the walls in the midst of the wondering Trojans, Helen came out from the city and walked three times round the figure calling upon the Greek heroes by name, and imitating the voices of their wives to tempt them to answer. This she did, prompted by some god who wished to give the victory to the Trojans. One of the Greeks, An’ti-clus by name, was about to answer aloud, when Ulysses pressed his hands tightly upon his mouth and prevented him from speaking. Thus the “man of many arts” saved his countrymen, for if Anticlus had cried out, the Trojans would have heard the voice and destroyed the wooden horse and killed all who were within. * All the Achaian chiefs Kept silence save Anticlus, who alone _ Began to speak, when, with his powerful hands, Ulysses pressed together instantly The opening lips, and saved us all.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book IV. In such conversation about the Greek heroes at the Trojan War, King Menelaus and Queen Helen STO, OF ULYSSES —9Q 130 and their guests spent the evening until the hour came for retiring to rest. Then the heralds, or attendants, conducted Telemachus and his com- panion to magnificent beds hung with beautiful tapestries. Helen called her maids To make up couches in the portico, And throw fair purple blankets over them, And tapestry above, and cover all With shaggy cloaks. Forth from the palace halls They went with torches, and made ready soon The couches ; thither heralds led the guests. Bryant, Odyssey, Book IV. Si THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA. Earty in the morning Menelaus and his guests arose, and the king, taking Telemachus apart from the others, sat by his side, and asked the object of his journey to Sparta. Telemachus answered that he had come in search of news of his father, and he begged Menelaus to inform him whether he had seen or heard anything of him. Then he told about the suitors and their insulting treatment of his mother. Menelaus was exceedingly angry on hearing the story. ‘“ Base cowards they are,” said he, “thus to insult the wife of an absent man, but they will get the punishment they deserve. 7, 5. i ts quiver when all the others had tried and failed. He also directed him to tell the women to lock the doors of the palace, and not to open them or attempt to leave the house, if they should hear any cries from the banquet hall. To Philztius he in- trusted the duty of locking and securing all the gates of the courtyard, so that none of the suitors could - escape, and none of their friends could get in to assist — them. When these arrangements were completed, Ulys- ses returned to the hall and took his seat near the door. Eumzeus and Philztius followed soon after, and mixed among the suitors. Eurymachus was — just then making trial with the bow, and having — failed to bend it, he cried out in a sad voice: “Alas! this will be a grief and shame among my people. I lament not so much the loss of Penelope, for there are many other beautiful women in Greece, but it will be a great dishonor to us that we are so much inferior in strength to Ulysses that we cannot bend his bow.” Then Antinous spoke out and said: “It will not be so, Eurymachus, for we shall yet win. But this is the feast day of Apollo, the god of archery, and he is offended that we contest on the day sacred to him. Lay the bow aside, and let the poles stand. To-morrow Melanthius shall bring ‘ ‘ = = Od ee UF 0 i ieee > =) 249 goats, the best of his flock, and after sacrificing to the god, we will try again.” All the suitors were pleased at the. proposal of Antinous, and they poured out libations of wine and continued their feasting. But in a little while Ulysses arose, and addressing the assembly, said: “Ye suitors of the queen, you do well to cease from the contest on the day sacred to the god. In the morning he will grant victory to one whom he chooses. But now give me the bow that I may try my hand and see if I have still the strength that once was mine.” ~A loud cry of anger arose from all the suitors at the presumption of a beggar in tattered garb ask- ing to be permitted to share in the warlike exercises of noble chiefs, and Antinous sternly rebuked the stranger at the door: _ “Impudent beggar!” said he, “art thou not con- tent to sit and feast with noble men? Must thou also seek to compete with them in honorable contests? Hold thy peace, or we will send thee speedily to the land of King .Echetus, from whom thou shouldst find no escape.” Then Penelope spoke a word for the stranger, saying that he should be permitted to make trial of his skill. “Thou dost not expect, Antinous,” said she, 250 : aT “that if the poor beggar should bend the bow of Ulysses, he could expect to have me for his wife. q No such hope can be in his mind.” | “O Penelope,” answered Eurymachus, “we do not indeed think that he could have thee for wife, but it would be a disgrace to us if people could say: ‘These men woo the wife of a king, — and they are not able to bend his bow which a wandering beggar bends with ease.’ That would — be much of a reproach to us.” “ But this stranger,” answered Penelope, “is aman of good seeming, and he says that he is of noble — race. Let him, therefore, try his skill, and if Apollo give him the glory that he bend the bow, I will furnish him with fitting garments and send him forth to go wheresoever he may desire.” Then Telemachus, wishing that his mother should withdraw to her own apartments, and not be a witness of what he knew was soon to happen, spoke to her and said: “Mother, it is for me more than any other to give or refuse the bow, and if such were my will I might bestow it on this stranger to take it as his own. Withdraw, therefore, with thy maidens to thy household cares, — the distaff and the loom,— and leave the contest of arms to men, for it is their concern,” A 2 “See eee s ree ese See ee > = J we iy 251 The queen perceived the wisdom of her son’s words, and without making any reply, she retired from the hall with her attendants. Eumzus, the swineherd, now took up i bow and the quiver and was proceeding to carry them toward where Ulysses sat. All at once the suitors cried out to him in angry and threatening words, seeking to stop him; but Telemachus, in a voice of authority, bade him go forward and give the weapon to the stranger. Eumzus hastened to obey. He placed the bow in the hands of his mas- ter, and set the quiver of arrows at his side. Then the swineherd went to Euryclea to tell her to lock the doors of the palace, which was promptly done; and the goatherd, Philztius, took care at the right time to securely fasten all the outer gates, so that no one could enter from the city. After performing these duties, the two faithful servants returned to the hall to be ready for further service to their master, as soon as it should be required. Ulysses handled the bow with such ease and familiarity that the suitors were aston- ished as well as angry. “ This beggar,” said one to another, “handles the bow as if he had as good a one at home, or as if he were skilled in archery.” But Ulysses paid no heed to their words. He 234 are) Te « continued to examine the bow, looking at it on all sides to see that it was in perfect condition. And he bent it without seeming to make an effort. . As a singer, skilled to play the harp, Stretches with ease on its new fastenings A string, the twisted entrails of a sheep, _ Made fast on either end, so easily Ulysses bent that mighty bow. Brvant, Odyssey, Book XXII. Then he tried the string and it twanged with a sound clear as the voice of a bird. Suddenly a _ deafening peal of thunder was heard, and Ulysses rejoiced, for he regarded it as a favorable omen sent by Jupiter. He now took an arrow and placed the notch of it against the bow. Then, without rising from his seat, he drew the string and shooting forth the arrow, sent it straight through all the twelve rings of the poles. He missed no ring of all; from first to last The brass-tipped arrow threaded every one. Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXL Thus Ulysses ended the contest of the bow. Then he cried out to his son: “ Telemachus, the stranger has not dishonored 253 thee! He has not missed the mark, nor did he labor long to bend the bow.” He nodded to his son as he spoke, and imme- diately Telemachus girt his sword by his side, took a spear in his hand, and came and stood by his father where he sat. He spake, and nodded to Telemachus, His well-beloved son, who girded on His trenchant sword, and took in hand his spear, And, armed with glittering brass for battle came, And took his station by his father’s seat. BrYANT, Odyssey, Book XXI. XLI. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SUITORS. — Great was the astonishment of the suitors to see a beggar in ragged garb perform a feat which they — had all tried in vain to accomplish. But Ulysses — did not give them much time to express their sur-— prise or anger. He bounded from his seat to the ~ door and standing with his bow in his hand and a_ quiver of arrows on the floor beside him, he cried — out in a loud voice : “The contest is over. Now I will try whether I~ can hit another mark!” % So saying, he aimed an arrow at Antinous who — was just about raising a golden cup of wine to his — lips, little thinking that his doom was so near. The — weapon struck him in the throat and passed right — through his neck. He sank to the ground, and in — his fall his feet struck and overturned the table and — scattered the viands about the floor. ‘ In amazement the other suitors jumped from their — seats, and looked round for the weapons that had — hung upon the walls, but there was not a weapon to 2 254 255 be seen. They did not yets however, suppose that the stranger had shot at Antinous intentionally, and some of them cried out: “Stranger, what madness has made thee aim thy arrow ata man? Thou hast slain the best youth of Ithaca, and for thy crime thy body shall be given to the dogs and vultures.” But Ulysses was not daunted by their threats. He answered them in a loud and stern voice, and at last made known to them who he was: Ens Dogs!” he cried, “ you thought I would return no more, and therefore you wasted my substance and wooed my wife, having no fear of the anger of the gods or of the vengeance of man. But destruc- tion now awaits you all.” Filled with terror, the suitors turned around on - every side seeking for a means of escape. Eurym- achus was the only one who had the courage to speak, and he raised his voice. and said to Ulysses: “If indeed thou art Ulysses returned to thy home, thou hast spoken justly, for much evil has been done to thee in thy house. But the man who was the cause of all, lies here slain. He it was who brought about these evil deeds, thinking not so much to gain thy wife as to rule over thy kingdom. But he is now punished, and do thou spare thy 256 people. As for us we shall gladly make full amends to thee for the waste of thy goods.” But it was now too late for repentance and so Ulysses quickly made answer: “ Eurymachus, even though thou shouldst give ~me all thy wealth | would not stay my hands from vengeance.” Then Eurymachus cried out to his compan- ions to prepare to fight for their lives: “This man,” said he, “ will not stop until he has slain us all. Let us quickly draw our swords and fight. Hold up the tables as shields against his arrows, and try if we cannot all together thrust him from the door. Then let us alarm the city and soon he shall have drawn his last bow.” Thus speaking, Eurymachus drew his sword and with a loud shout rushed forward to strike Ulysses down. Instantly an arrow sped forth from the bow of the king, which pierced the breast of the assail- ant, and sent him lifeless to the ground. Am-phi- mous next advanced with drawn sword, and made straight for the hero at the door, but Telemachus came upon him from behind and pierced him through the body with his spear. Then hastening up to his father, he exclaimed: “ Now, father, I will bring thee two spears and a helmet and a shield, and brazen armor; and | will we el 5 | ae? 257 ‘ give arms to the swineherd and the goatherd that they may help us.” “ Bring them quickly, my son,” replied Ulysses, “lest I have naught to fight with, for only a few arrows now remain near me.” Very soon the weapons and the armor were brought, but while he had any arrows left Ulysses continued to aim at the suitors, and with every shot he struck one of them dead. When his arrows were all exhausted, he put on the brazen armor, instead of the beggar’s garb which he had cast off, and took in his hands two strong spears tipped with brass. But Melanthius the goatherd, at the bidding of Agelaus, one of the suitors, contrived to get through a small opening at the back of the hall, which had been left unguarded. Then he ascended to the room in which the weapons had been stored, and carried down shields and spears and helmets to the suitors. As soon as Ulysses saw Melanthius distributing the arms, he called to Telemachus and said _ that some of the servants must have proved treacher- ous. But Telemachus answered that the fault was his, for in his haste he had left the door of the storeroom open after taking out the armor and weapons. STO. OF ULYSSES — 17 258 Then they sent Eumzeus and Philztius to s at the door, and ordered them, if they should find Melanthius taking more arms, to hang him to a beam ~ underneath the roof, and leave him there to die. — The two faithful servants hastened up to the cham- ber, and, as they expected, they found the traitor there. Instantly they seized him and bound him — hand and foot with strong cords. Then they put — a rope round his neck and swung him from a stout — beam, and after mockingly bidding him keep watch — on the weapons for the night, they locked the door, — and descended to the banqueting hall. q The goddess Minerva now appeared on the scene. This time again she took the form and likeness of Mentor, and when Ulysses saw her, he — begged her aid, speaking to her as if to the old — friend of his youth, though he knew it was the © goddess. But Agelaus cried out to Mentor and 5. threatened that if he should help Ulysses they would — kill him when they had slain both father and son, Minerva was enraged at the words of Agelaus, and she spoke to Ulysses in reproachful language, saying that he was not fighting now as bravely as he had fought before the walls of Troy. She thus upbraided him to urge him to greater fury against the suitors. Then to put the strength and courage of the hero and his son still further to the test, she 259 withdrew from their presence, and taking the form of a swallow, she perched on one of the beams near the lofty roof of the hall. The suitors, led on by Agelaus, now made a united attack, all at the same time hurling their javelins at Ulysses and his small band. But Minerva turned their weapons aside, and caused some of them to strike the pillars, others the doors, and others the walls. Then Ulysses and his little party hurled their spears, and with each throw they killed a man. The suitors retreated in dismay to the back of the hall, but in a little while they again took courage and once more cast their javelins, only, however, to be once more turned aside from their aim by the watchful goddess. Again the suitors threw their spears ; again Did Pallas cause their aim to err. One struck A pillar of the massive pile, and one The paneled door ; another ashen shaft, Heavy with metal, rang against the wall. Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXII. But the companions of the victorious hero did not escape entirely unharmed. Amphimedon wounded Telemachus slightly on the wrist, and Ctesippus wounded Eumzeus on the shoulder, the weapon, however, only grazing the skin. Then 260 the herdsman, Philztius, struck Ctesippus through . the breast with his spear, crying out, as the suitor fell to the ground: “ This is a present for thee in return for the ox- foot thou didst give to Ulysses in his own hall.” The battle now raged fiercely. Minerva from the roof of the hall showed her terrible aegis, or flaming shield, which struck mortal fear into the hearts of the remaining suitors. Then Pallas held On high her fatal egis. From the roof She showed it, and their hearts grew wild with fear. They fled along the hall as flees a herd Of kine, when the swift gadfly suddenly Has come among them, and has scattered them In springtime when the days are growing long. Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXII. At last the work of destruction was completed. All the suitors were slain, but the minstrel Phe- mius was spared at the request of Telemachus, for it was only by compulsion that he had played on his harp and sung at the banquets of the suitors. Te- lemachus also interceded for Medon, the herald, who had loved him and cared for him when he was a child, and so his life was spared. Ulysses now bade Telemachus to call Euryclea. In a few minutes the old nurse came into the 261 hall, and beheld with awe and astonishment the fate that had befallen the suitors. Then the other servants who had been faithful and loyal to their mistress gathered round Ulysses and_ joyfully greeted him. They embraced him and kissed his head and shoulders, and he wept with joy that at last he was in his own home in the midst of loving friends. Forth they issued, bearing in their hands Torches, and, crowding round Ulysses, gave Glad greeting, seized his hands, embraced him, kissed His hands and brow and shoulders. ‘The desire To weep for joy o’ercame the chief; his eyes O’erflowed with tears; he sobbed ; he knew them all. Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXII. XLII. PENELOPE HAPPY. MEAnwui_e Euryclea, in a transport of joy, has- tened up to the chamber of her mistress, who had retired to rest, to tell her the glad tidings of the return of her husband. “ Penelope, my dear child,” she exclaimed, “ Ulys- ses has arrived, and he has slain the haughty suitors who insulted thee and wasted his wealth.” But Penelope would not believe the old woman’s words. “Dear nurse,” she said, “the gods have taken away thy senses. Why dost thou disturb me from my sleep with thy idle story? Leave me to my rest. If any other of my women had come to tell me such things, I would have sent her away with , a severe rebuke.” “ My dear child,” replied Euryclea, “I tell thee no idle story. Ulysses has indeed come home. The stranger whom they dishonored and insulted in the hall is thy husband. Telemachus knew it, but wisely kept it a secret until his father had pun- ished the wicked suitors.” 262 263 Then Penelope hastily arose and with tears in her eyes embraced the old woman and questioned her, saying: “ Dear nurse, is it indeed true that Ulysses, my husband, has come home? It is hard to think that he alone could prevail against those suitors, they being so many.” “I did not see it done,” replied the nurse, “but I heard the cries of the suitors. And I saw Ulysses standing in the midst of dead men. And the bodies are cleared away from the hall, and the floors and tables are washed and sponged. But come, follow me, that your heart may rejoice. Thy long hope is accomplished, for thy husband has indeed returned to his dear wife and son.” But Penelope was still doubtful. She could not believe that one man could have slain all the suit- ors. It must have been done by the gods, she said, and Ulysses would never return, for he had surely perished, far from his beloved Ithaca. “Why art thou thus incredulous?” replied Eury- clea. “But come, | will tell thee something that will convince thee. When I was washing his feet I saw the scar on his knee which long ago the boar left upon him with his tusk. I would have told thee, but he placed his hand on my mouth and would not allow me to speak, for he had wisely 264 planned it otherwise. But now come and follow, — and my life be the forfeit if I deceive thee.” Penelope then descended to the hall, but she was still in doubt whether to embrace the stranger as her husband or hold aloof for a while. There was a fire on the hearth and the blazing logs lighted the room. When Penelope entered, Ulysses was sitting by one of the pillars, with the light full upon him. He did not move or speak. Penelope took her seat at the wall opposite to him, and she remained silent for a long time. Once or twice she looked him straight in the face, and she thought she recognized him, but again doubts oppressed her mind and she could not believe that he was really her husband. At last Telemachus spoke to her and reproached her for her seeming indifference. “ Mother,” said he, “thou art surely cruel of heart. Why dost thou sit apart from my father and not speak to him? No other woman would have been thus unfeeling to her husband coming home after twenty years of suffering. Thy heart is indeed harder than a stone.” “My son,” answered Penelope, “I am in doubt and trouble what to think. But I shall soon be certain whether he be indeed Ulysses, for there are secrets between us which none else can tell of.” 265 Ulysses now spoke for the first time since his wife had entered the hall, and addressing Telema- chus, he said: “My son, thy mother will know me soon. In these rough garments she does not recognize me, nor can she think that I am her husband. But now let us consider what we must do that the friends of those we have slain may not come upon us.” “ My father,” answered Telemachus, “thou art skilled in wise counsels and canst best tell what ought to be done. We shall follow whatever course thou mayst advise.” “It seems to me to be best,” answered Ulysses, “that we bathe ourselves and put on fair tunics, and let the maidens of the palace also array them- selves in their best garments. Then let the minstrel play upon his lyre, and let the youth join in the dance so that the people outside will think it is a wedding feast. Thus we may prevent the rumor of the slaughter spreading through the city, until we go forth and consult with our friends in the country.” They all made haste to carry out these wise instructions, and soon the sound of music and dancing was heard throughout the palace. And people outside thought that it was indeed a wed- ding, and many of them said: “Truly, some one has married Penelope. Alas, that she could not wait in patience for her husband — to return!” el Ulysses was among the first to go to the bath — and put on fresh garments, and he soon appeared — arrayed in splendor and with the air of a king, for Minerva had shed beauty upon his form q made him taller and larger to behold. Pallas on the hero’s head Shed grace and majesty ; she made him seem Taller and statelier, made his locks flow down In curls like blossoms of the hyacinth, As when a workman skilled in many arts, And taught by Pallas and Minerva, twines A golden border round the silver mass, A glorious work ; so did the goddess shed Grace o’er his face and form. Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXIII. Thus, Ulysses, in appearance and in reality a king, — entered the great hall and sat down opposite to Penelope. Then he spoke to her and said: “Lady, the immortal gods have given thee a hard heart. No other woman would have been so unfeeling to her husband coming home after — twenty years of hardships.” “ Noble sir,” answered Penelope, “I do not at all disregard thee. Well do I remember what thou — 267 - wert when thou didst sail away from Ithaca. But come, Euryclea, prepare a bed for him without the chamber, the bed which he himself has made. Carry it out and cover it with thick fleeces and beautiful rugs.” _ She said this to test whether he was indeed her husband, for she referred to the secret that was known only to her and to him. “Lady,” replied he, “thou hast given Euryclea a hard task. It would not be easy for any but a god to remove that bed from its place. I myself made it. There was an olive tree, tall and thick, which grew within the court. I built a chamber round about it, roofed it well and fitted it with doors. Then I lopped away the branches, and, after cutting off the trunk above the roots, I dressed the stump and polished it and made it into a post for the bed. Next I made the frame, inlaying it with ivory and gold and silver, and stretched upon it thongs of oxhide purple dyed. I know not, lady, whether some one may not have cut off the olive root and taken that bed away and placed it elsewhere.” Then at last Penelope was convinced that it was her husband who spoke to her, for the way in which the bed had been made was a secret known only to themselves. She rose hastily from her seat, embraced dep ind kissed him. After a few ‘mo- ments’ silent enjoyment of her happiness she said to him: “Be not angry with me that I did not at fale -embrace thee. I feared that I might be deceived, for many there are who seek to profit by decep- tion. But now I know that thou art indeed ny husband.” Ulysses wept as she spoke, and he folded her in his arms, and thus at last the faithful Penelope was rewarded for all her long years of patience and devotion. ‘ SMEMoee LEAGUE ‘OF PEACE. ULYSSES was now master in his own palace, but he had yet to provide against the danger of a combination against him of the relations and friends of the slain suitors. The tidings of their fate would quickly reach their families, who had great influence and power in Ithaca and the neigh- boring islands, and it might go hard with Ulysses if they should unite their strength and make war upon him in his palace. But the first thought that occurred to Ulysses was to visit his aged father, Laertes. With this object he rose before dawn, and arousing Telem- achus he bade him call the swineherd and goat- herd, who had remained in the palace over night. When they were ready he directed them to take their weapons, and soon after they opened the gate of the palace and went out into the city. It was now daylight, but Minerva shed a darkness round the hero and his companions, so that they could pursue their way through the streets and out into the country without being seen by any of the people of the city. 269 270 aes oF Meanwhile Mercury, the messenger of the g came down to Ithaca to conduct the souls of ~ suitors to the regions of the dead. The divine me: senger held in his hand the golden wand with which he soothed men to sleep or awaked them at pleasur and he called forth the shades of the chiefs whon Ulysses in his wrath had slain. Hermes summoned forth the souls — Of the slain suitors. In his hand he bore The beautiful golden wand, with which at will He shuts the eyes of men, or opens them From sleep. With this he guided on their way The ghostly rout ; they followed, uttering A shrilly wail. As when a flock of bats Deep in a dismal cavern, fly about And squeak, if one have fallen from the place Where, clinging to each other and the rock, They rested, so that crowd of ghosts went forth With shrill and plaintive cries. Before them moved Beneficent Hermes through those dreary ways, And past the ocean stream they went, and past Leucadia’s rock, the portals of the Sun, And people of the land of dreams, until They reached the fields of asphodel, where dwell The souls, the bodiless forms of those who die. Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXIV. In the regions of the dead the suitors saw many of the great kings and chiefs of Greece who fought — at the Trojan War— Achilles and Agamemnon and ~ 271 Ajax and other famous heroes. Agamemnon rec- ognized Amphimedon, for he once had visited him at his house in Ithaca, and now he inquired how he and so many chiefs, all of equal age, had thus come together to the abode of Pluto. Then Amphi- medon told the story of the suitors and their fate — how they had wooed Penelope for so many years, thinking that Ulysses would never return, and how at last he came back in the garb of a beggar and slew them all. When the shade of Amphimedon had finished telling of the achievements of Ulysses and the fidelity of Penelope, the illustrious Agamemnon spoke words of admiration of both: “ Never shall the fame Of his great valor perish, and the gods _ Themselves shall frame, for those who dwell on earth, Sweet strains in praise of sage Penelope.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXIV. Meanwhile Ulysses and Telemachus and the two faithful herdsmen reached the farm on which dwelt the aged Laertes. Next the house were sheds or huts in which his servants and workmen lived. Ulysses wished to see whether his father would recognize him, and so he directed Telemachus and the two men to enter the house while he himself 272 went down to the orchard in which he had dea that the old man was then busy at work. i. He found him alone, hoeing around a Beis 4 z that had been newly planted. He was dressed in humble garb, patched and soiled. On his hands h e wore coarse gloves to protect them against the thorns of the bushes, and he wore a goatskin cap. Ulysses could not help shedding a tear when he saw his father worn with age and bearing the mz uk of sorrow and suffering. He approached the old man and began to speak to him: a “This orchard is well kept, old man,” he call . “every tree shows signs of careful treatment, but be not angry if I tell thee that thou thyself art ill cared ~ for. Thou art burdened with age and thy gar- ments are squalid and unseemly. Thy master can- not neglect thee thus because of thy idleness, nor — dost thou seem in form or stature as a servant, for thou art like unto a king. But tell me who is thy master? And I would know, for I ‘am a stranger, if this is Ithaca, as I was told while coming hither. I once entertained a man in my house who said that, he came from Ithaca and that his father was Laer- tes. I entertained him well and gave him rich — presents before he departed.” ry. “Stranger,” answered the old man, “this is — indeed Ithaca, but wicked men now possess it. 273 Would that thou hadst found here him of whom thou speakest! Then he would have requited thee with gifts and hospitality. But tell me, I pray, how long is it since thou didst entertain my son, if he it was? Unhappy man! I fear he has perished far from friends and home, where his mother could not mourn him, nor his father, nor his faithful wife, Penelope, wait by his dying bed. Tell me also who art thou and whence dost thou come, and where is the ship that brought thee hither?” Ulysses answered by a story such as he had told the swineherd, Eumezus, in his lodge. But when he was finished he was so overpowered with emotion that he could no longer restrain himself, and throwing his arms round the old man’s neck he kissed him and told him who he was. “Tam that Ulysses of whom thou inquirest,” he exclaimed. “I am indeed he, come back to my home after twenty years of suffering. But I tell thee more. I have slain the suitors in my palace, and thus punished them for their evil deeds.” But the old man hesitated to believe that it was his son: “Tf thou art indeed Ulysses,” said he, “give me some proof so that I may not doubt.” “ That I will gladly do,” answered Ulysses. “First, behold the mark of the wound which the boar in- STO, OF ULYSSES — 18 274 flicted upon me with its tusk. Then I will reece to thee the trees which thou once gavest me w en as a child I followed thee in the garden. As we passed them thou didst tell me their names. Thou gavest me thirteen pear trees, and ten apple trees, and fifty fig trees, and thou saidst thou wonkinhs give me fifty rows of vines.’ 4 The old man trembled with joy and embraced his son, and when he had composed himself so as — to speak he said: “The immortal gods are still the avengers of — wrong, since those suitors have paid the penalty of — their crimes. But now I fear their friends may come ~ to attack us.” “Be of good cheer,” replied Ulysses. “ Se things shall be cared for. But now let us go to the © house, for I sent Telemachus and the swineherd — and goatherd to await us there.” et When they reached the house they found that the housekeeper, an old Sicilian woman, had pre- pared the evening meal with the assistance of Telemachus and the two faithful men, who were now honored as his companions. But before sit- ting down to table, Laertes took a bath and anointed himself with oil, and the old Sicilian put a fine mantle upon him, and the goddess Minerva gave him strength and beauty, removing 275 all signs of gtief and suffering, so that he looked once more like a king. Pallas gave the monarch’s limbs An ampler roundness ; taller to the sight He stood, and statelier. As he left the bath, His son beheld with wonder in his eyes, So like a god Laertes seemed. Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXIV. Then they sat down to the banquet which had been prepared for them, and Do'li-us, one of the servants of the farm, came with his sons to see and welcome Ulysses. But in the meantime the news of the fate of the suitors had spread through the city, and their friends came to the palace and carried away the bodies. Then a great number of them assembled in the forum and Eu-pi‘thes, the father of Antinous, stood up and addressed them saying: “This man has done a wicked deed. He has slain our sons and brothers. If we avenge them not, the disgrace will go down to our children.” The herald Medon then spoke and said that Ulysses did not do these things without the will of the immortals, for that he himself saw a god standing near him encouraging him. Halitherses, the soothsayer, was also there and he spoke to the assemblage: 276 “Listen to me, men of Ithaca,” said he. “} ou yourselves are to blame for all that has happened. You would not pay heed to my warning or to the warning of Mentor, to make your sons cease from wasting the substance of an excellent man and insulting his wife. And now I advise you to do naught against Ulysses, lest you bring greater evil upon your heads.” The words of Halitherses seemed to nee a warn- ing effect upon some, but the greater number of the assemblage raised a great shout and declared that they would follow Eupithes, and fight against Ulysses. Then they rushed to arms and with Eu- — pithes at their head they marched for the house of Laertes, for they had learned that Ulysses 1} d gone there early in the morning. But Minerva, ever watchful of the safety of the hero whom she had so often protected, now ap- proached the throne of Jupiter in his palace on high Olympus and said to him: vi “O King of Kings, what is now thy purpose? Is it thy will that there shall be cruel war in Ithaca, or wilt thou decree friendship on both sides?” “My child,” answered Jupiter, “why ask me abc these things? For didst thou not thyself d that Ulysses should return and punish the suitors? 277 Do then, as it seems best to thee. But this I would counsel: since Ulysses has now punished those men for their evil deeds, let him reign in peace in his own kingdom.” “ Now that the great Ulysses has avenged His wrongs, let there be made a faithful league With oaths, and let Ulysses ever reign ; And we will causé the living to forget Their sons and brothers slain, and all shall dwell In friendship as they heretofore have dwelt, And there shall be prosperity and peace.” Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXIV. Such was the counsel and such the will of Jupiter. As soon as he had spoken, the goddess swiftly de- scended from lofty Olympus. In the meantime one of the sons of Dolius stand- ing at the door of the house of Laertes saw an armed force approaching from the direction of the city and he instantly gave the alarm to his master and his guests. Quickly they arose from the table and taking their weapons they hastily went forth to meet the enemy. They were a small force but they were valiant men. There were Ulysses and Telemachus with their two faithful followers, and there were Laertes and Dolius with six brave sons. Such was the army that marched forth to encounter Eupithes and his friends. 278 Soon they came close to the enemy and Ulysses, glad to have his son by his side at the moment of — conflict, said to him: “My son, well I know thou wilt now show thy courage and bring no dishonor on the race of your fathers who were famed over all the earth for their valor.” “My dear father,” replied ‘Telemachus, “ thou wilt quickly see that I shall bring no, discredit on our race or family.” When the venerable Laertes heard these words he was proud of the young warrior and he said: “A day of joy this is to me, indeed, when I see my son and grandson rivaling each other in valor.” As the old man spoke, the goddess Minerva stood beside him and bade him cast forth his long spear. Then Laertes hurled his javelin at Eupithes, the leader of the hostile force. The weapon struck him on the head, and piercing through his skull sent him lifeless to the earth. Ulysses and Telemachus now rushed furiously — on the followers of the fallen leader, and they would have slain them all had not Minerva cried out in a loud voice: “ Ithacans, forbear from further combat. There must now be peace.” They heard the voice of the goddess and they — i ee alte i ae i ee, pe eo oe 279 knew it, and they grew pale with fear. Then they dropped their weapons from their hands and fled away toward the city. Ulysses was about to pursue them, when Jupiter sent down a thunderbolt which flashed before the face of the goddess, who imme- diately addressed the hero saying: “Son of Laertes, refrain. Cease from conflict, lest thou provoke the wrath of Jupiter.” Ulysses obeyed the command, and the goddess, assuming the form of Mentor, made a league of peace between Ulysses and his people. She spake, and gladly he obeyed; and then Pallas, the child of zgis-bearing Jove, Plighted, in Mentor’s form with Mentor’s voice, A covenant of peace between the foes. BrYANT, Odyssey, Book XXIV. This was the end of the wars and adventures of the famous Ulysses, who now returned to his palace where he lived the remainder of his life in peace and happiness. PRONUNCIATION OF PROPER NAMES. A eha’ ians (-yans) Aeh’ e ron A ehil’ lés He! a ZE ge’ an ZE gis’ thus ZE gyp’ tius ZE ne’ as fH 0! lia ZK’ o lus ZK thi 0’ pia Af’ riea Agamem’ non Age la’ us A’ jax Al cin’ ous Alex an’ der Am phi’ a lus Am phim’ e don Am phi’ mous Am phin’ 0 mous Am phi tri’ te An tiele’a _ An’ ti elus An tin’ ous An tiph’ a tes An’ ti phus Aph ro di’ te A pol’ lo A’ res A re’ te Ar é thu’ sa Ar’ gus Ar nee’ us Ar’ te mis A’ sia Minor A the’ ne At’ las A’ treus (-trus) Aw’ lis Bac’ehus ad’ mus €a lyp’ so Geph al le’ nia Ce’ res €ha ryb’ dis Qi ed’ nia Ci eo’ ni ans Cim mé’ ria Gim mé’ ri ans Cir’ ge €lyt em nes’ tra €lyt o ne’ us €o cy’ tus €o! rax rete Cte sip’pus (Te-) Gy’ clops Qy" prus Cy the’ ra 281 Dar da nelles’ ~Dé@’ los Del’ phi De me’ ter De mod’ 0 eus Dian’ a Di o eles Dio mé’ de Dio ny’ sus Do do’ na Do’ ius Du lieh’ ium Dy’ mas Eeh e ne’ us Eeh’ e tus HY gypt E la’ treus (tris) El pe’ nor E pi’ rus Et me’ us Eu pi’ thes Eu ry’ alus Eu ryb’ a tes Eu ry ele’ a Eu ryd’ i ce Eu ryl’ o ehus Eu rym’ a ehus Gor’ gon Greece Greek Ha’ dég Hal i ther’ seg Ha’ lius - Hee’ tor Hel’ en Hel’ las Hel’ les pont Hé ra Hér’ en lég Hér’ még Her mi’ one Hes’ tia Ho’ mer Tea’ ri us I'da I dom e ne’ us I do’ thea Il’ iad Ilion ll’ium Y lus 10’ nian Iph thi! ma I’ ris Tl’ rus Is’ ma rus Ith’ aea Jove Ju’ no Jw’ pi ter Lac e de m0’ nia La er’ ceus La ér’ tés Les try go’ niang La’ mos Lam pe ti’ a La de’ o 6n La od’ a mas Lei’ o des Leu ed’ thea Leu ea’ dia Me’ don Meg a pen’ thes Me lan’ tho Me lan’ thi us Mem’ non Men e la’ us Men’ tor Mér’ ea ry Mi nér’ va Mi’ nos Mo’ ly My ¢é’ ne Na’ iads (-yadz) Nau sie’ afi Nau sith’ 0 us Ne op tol’ e mus Nep’ tune Ner’ i tos Nes’tor Noe’ man No’ man O ce’ a nus O d¥s’ seus (-siis) Od’ ys sey CE no’ ne O g¥g’ ia O l¥m’ pus Or’ pheus (-{ts) Pal a mé’ dés Pal la’ di um Pal’ las Pon ton’ o us Po sei’ don Pri‘ am Pros’er pine Prd’ teus (-tiis) | Sef! la Si cil’ ian Sig’ ily Si’ non Si’ rens Sis’ ¥ phus Spar’ ta Styx Tan’ ta lus 283 Ta’ phi ans Thés’ sa l¥ U lys’ sés Te lém’ a ehus Thrace Ve’ nus Tel’e mus Eurym’edes | Ti re’ si as Vér’ gil Tén’ e dés Tri na’ eria Ves’ ta Thébes Tro’ jan ‘Val’ ean The o cl¥m’ e nus Troy Za cyn’ thus Thes pro’ tia Tyn’ da rus Zeus (Zis) CARPENTER’S GEOGRAPHICAL READERS By FRANK G. CARPENTER HE purpose of Carpenter’s Geographical Readers is to supplement the regular text-books on the subject, giving life and interest to the study. In this way they accom- plish two separate purposes—they afford valuable instruction — in geography, and provide drill in reading. 4] The books are intensely absorbing—they were written by Mr. Carpenter on the spots described, and present an accurate pen-picture of places and people. The style is simple and easy, and throughout each volume there runs a strong personal note which makes the reader feel that he is actually seeing everything with his own eyes. 4| As advocated by leading educators, attention is directed principally to the various peoples, their strange customs and ways of living, and to some extent to their economic condi- tion, At the same time, there is included a graphic description of the curious animals, rare birds, wonderful physical features, natural resources, and great industries of each country. | The numerous illustrations and maps deserve special men- tion. The illustrations for the most part are reproductions of photographs taken by the author, and are in perfect harmony with the text. The maps showing the route taken over each continent are one of the best features of the series. {| The publication of this series has been a distinct relief to teachers. No longer is the study of geography dry and mean- ingless, no longer is it a waste of time. Since the appear- ance of the first volume, Carpenter’s Readers have met with an extraordinary success throughout the country. AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY (is) (11) BROOKS’S READERS By STRATTON D. BROOKS, Superintendent of Schools, Boston, Mass. FIVE BOOK SERIES EIGHT BOOK SERIES LNT. MCE ote BirsteVieak es) cats wn Os25 ECONG mY Calm units nisin Sumiers mecondsVear favre nen sds TT eG GS or ole mibirdsViear'ss ©.) ten feuten 40 Fourth and Fifth Years. . OurchpYieary | <0. cio «40 Sixth, Seventh, and Bieter ise eneatay a 4.O Eighth) Years. 5.5 SixthmViean a0 (abel si enn gO Seventhpyeans sas en AO Ip theveary ceo sees) 40 HESE readers form a good all-round basal series, suit- able for use in any school; but they will appeal to teachers particularly, because of their very easy gradation. Both in thought and expression, the books are so carefully graded that each selection is but slightly more difficult than the preceding onc, and there is no real gap anywhere. 4] Although a wide variety of reading matter is provided, good literature, embodying child interests, has been considered of fundamental importance. Lessons of a similar nature are grouped together, and topics relating to kindred subjects recur somewhat regularly. All are designed to quicken the child’s observation, and increase his appreciation. | By the use of this series, the child will be taught to read in such a manner as will appeal to his interests, and at the same time he will be made acquainted with the masterpieces of many fa- mous writers. He will gain a knowledge of many subjects, and acquire pure and attractive ideals of life and conduct. His imagi- nation will be cultivated by pleasing tales of fancy, and he will also be taught a love of country, and given glimpses into the life of other lands. €| The books are very attractive in mechanical appearance, and contain a large number of original illustrations, besides reproductions of many celebrated paintings. AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY STEPS IN By A. C. McLEAN, A.M., Principal of Luckey School, Pittsburg; THOMAS C. BLAISDELL, A.M., Pro- fessor of English, Fifth Avenue Normal High School, Pittsburg; and JOHN MORRO'V, Superintendent of Schools, Allegheny, Pa. Book One, For third, fourth, and fifth years . oe) eee Book Two. For sixth, seventh, and cighth years. . . - . . 60 HIS series presents a new method of teaching language i which is in marked contrast with the antiquated systems in vogue a generation ago. The books meet modern conditions in every respect, and teach the child how to ex- press his thoughts in language rather than furnish an undue amount of grammar and rules, 4] From the start the attempt has been made to base the work on subjects in which the child is genuinely interested. Lessons in writing language are employed simultaneously with those in conversation, while picture-study, the study of literary selec- tions, and letter-writing are presented at frequent intervals. The lessons are of a proper length, well arranged, and well graded. The books mark out the daily work for the teacher in 2 clearly defined manner by telling him what to do, and when to do it. Many unique mechanical devices, ¢. g-, labor-saving method of correcting papers, a graphic system diagramming, etc., form a valuable feature of the work. “| These books ate unlike any other series on market. They do not shoot over the heads of the nor do they show a marked effort in writing the supposed level of young minds. They do not contain too much technical grammar, nor are they filled with what is sentimental and meaningless. No exaggerated attention is given to analyzing by diagramming, and to exceptions to ordi- nary rules, which have proved so unsatisfactory, AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY F of 4 re ’ Via, s - yee 7 ee * Wy ms SCHOOL OF RELIGION Date Due L. B. Cat. No. 1137 MN ~ D201121836M iM PL ‘a yoqued eves on