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very great one： I am awed at the mere thought of it； two men cannot
stand against many and brave ones。 There are not ten suitors only； nor
twice ten； but ten many times over； you shall learn their number at
once。 There are fifty…two chosen youths from Dulichium； and they
have six servants； from Same there are twenty…four； twenty young
Achaeans from Zacynthus； and twelve from Ithaca itself； all of them
well born。 They have with them a servant Medon； a bard； and two men
who can carve at table。 If we face such numbers as this； you may
have bitter cause to rue your coming； and your revenge。 See whether
you cannot think of some one who would be willing to come and help
us。〃
〃Listen to me；〃 replied Ulysses； 〃and think whether Minerva and
her father Jove may seem sufficient； or whether I am to try and find
some one else as well。〃
〃Those whom you have named；〃 answered Telemachus； 〃are a couple of
good allies； for though they dwell high up among the clouds they
have power over both gods and men。〃
〃These two；〃 continued Ulysses； 〃will not keep long out of the fray；
when the suitors and we join fight in my house。 Now； therefore； return
home early to…morrow morning； and go about among the suitors as
before。 Later on the swineherd will bring me to the city disguised
as a miserable old beggar。 If you see them ill…treating me； steel your
heart against my sufferings； even though they drag me feet foremost
out of the house； or throw things at me； look on and do nothing beyond
gently trying to make them behave more reasonably； but they will not
listen to you； for the day of their reckoning is at hand。
Furthermore I say； and lay my saying to your heart； when Minerva shall
put it in my mind； I will nod my head to you； and on seeing me do this
you must collect all the armour that is in the house and hide it in
the strong store room。 Make some excuse when the suitors ask you why
you are removing it； say that you have taken it to be out of the way
of the smoke； inasmuch as it is no longer what it was when Ulysses
went away； but has become soiled and begrimed with soot。 Add to this
more particularly that you are afraid Jove may set them on to
quarrel over their wine； and that they may do each other some harm
which may disgrace both banquet and wooing； for the sight of arms
sometimes tempts people to use them。 But leave a sword and a spear
apiece for yourself and me； and a couple oxhide shields so that we can
snatch them up at any moment； Jove and Minerva will then soon quiet
these people。 There is also another matter； if you are indeed my son
and my blood runs in your veins； let no one know that Ulysses is
within the house… neither Laertes； nor yet the swineherd； nor any of
the servants； nor even Penelope herself。 Let you and me exploit the
women alone； and let us also make trial of some other of the men
servants； to see who is on our side and whose hand is against us。〃
〃Father；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃you will come to know me by and by；
and when you do you will find that I can keep your counsel。 I do not
think； however； the plan you propose will turn out well for either
of us。 Think it over。 It will take us a long time to go the round of
the farms and exploit the men； and all the time the suitors will be
wasting your estate with impunity and without compunction。 Prove the
women by all means； to see who are disloyal and who guiltless； but I
am not in favour of going round and trying the men。 We can attend to
that later on； if you really have some sign from Jove that he will
support you。〃
Thus did they converse； and meanwhile the ship which had brought
Telemachus and his crew from Pylos had reached the town of Ithaca。
When they had come inside the harbour they drew the ship on to the
land； their servants came and took their armour from them； and they
left all the presents at the house of Clytius。 Then they sent a
servant to tell Penelope that Telemachus had gone into the country；
but had sent the ship to the town to prevent her from being alarmed
and made unhappy。 This servant and Eumaeus happened to meet when
they were both on the same errand of going to tell Penelope。 When they
reached the House； the servant stood up and said to the queen in the
presence of the waiting women； 〃Your son； Madam； is now returned
from Pylos〃； but Eumaeus went close up to Penelope； and said privately
that her son had given bidden him tell her。 When he had given his
message he left the house with its outbuildings and went back to his
pigs again。
The suitors were surprised and angry at what had happened； so they
went outside the great wall that ran round the outer court； and held a
council near the main entrance。 Eurymachus； son of Polybus； was the
first to speak。
〃My friends；〃 said he； 〃this voyage of Telemachus's is a very
serious matter； we had made sure that it would come to nothing。 Now；
however； let us draw a ship into the water； and get a crew together to
send after the others and tell them to come back as fast as they can。〃
He had hardly done speaking when Amphinomus turned in his place
and saw the ship inside the harbour； with the crew lowering her sails；
and putting by their oars； so he laughed； and said to the others；
〃We need not send them any message； for they are here。 Some god must
have told them； or else they saw the ship go by； and could not
overtake her。
On this they rose and went to the water side。 The crew then drew the
ship on shore； their servants took their armour from them； and they
went up in a body to the place of assembly； but they would not let any
one old or young sit along with them； and Antinous； son of
Eupeithes； spoke first。
〃Good heavens；〃 said he； 〃see how the gods have saved this man
from destruction。 We kept a succession of scouts upon the headlands
all day long； and when the sun was down we never went on shore to
sleep； but waited in the ship all night till morning in the hope of
capturing and killing him； but some god has conveyed him home in spite
of us。 Let us consider how we can make an end of him。 He must not
escape us； our affair is never likely to come off while is alive；
for he is very shrewd； and public feeling is by no means all on our
side。 We must make haste before he can call the Achaeans in
assembly； he will lose no time in doing so； for he will be furious
with us； and will tell all the world how we plotted to kill him； but
failed to take him。 The people will not like this when they come to
know of it； we must see that they do us no hurt； nor drive us from our
own country into exile。 Let us try and lay hold of him either on his
farm away from the town； or on the road hither。 Then we can divide
up his property amongst us； and let his mother and the man who marries
her have the house。 If this does not please you； and you wish
Telemachus to live on and hold his father's property； then we must not
gather here and eat up his goods in this way； but must make our offers
to Penelope each from his own house； and she can marry the man who
will give the most for her； and whose lot it is to win her。〃
They all held their peace until Amphinomus rose to speak。 He was the
son of Nisus； who was son to king Aretias