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though he were a worse man than Ulysses； who they say was like a
god。 Still； cease your tears and listen to what I can tell I will hide
nothing from you； and can say with perfect truth that I have lately
heard of Ulysses as being alive and on his way home； he is among the
Thesprotians； and is bringing back much valuable treasure that he
has begged from one and another of them； but his ship and all his crew
were lost as they were leaving the Thrinacian island； for Jove and the
sun…god were angry with him because his men had slaughtered the
sun…god's cattle； and they were all drowned to a man。 But Ulysses
stuck to the keel of the ship and was drifted on to the land of the
Phaecians； who are near of kin to the immortals； and who treated him
as though he had been a god； giving him many presents； and wishing
to escort him home safe and sound。 In fact Ulysses would have been
here long ago； had he not thought better to go from land to land
gathering wealth； for there is no man living who is so wily as he
is； there is no one can compare with him。 Pheidon king of the
Thesprotians told me all this； and he swore to me… making
drink…offerings in his house as he did so… that the ship was by the
water side and the crew found who would take Ulysses to his own
country。 He sent me off first； for there happened to be a
Thesprotian ship sailing for the wheat…growing island of Dulichium；
but he showed me all treasure Ulysses had got together； and he had
enough lying in the house of king Pheidon to keep his family for ten
generations； but the king said Ulysses had gone to Dodona that he
might learn Jove's mind from the high oak tree； and know whether after
so long an absence he should return to Ithaca openly or in secret。
So you may know he is safe and will be here shortly； he is close at
hand and cannot remain away from home much longer； nevertheless I will
confirm my words with an oath； and call Jove who is the first and
mightiest of all gods to witness； as also that hearth of Ulysses to
which I have now come； that all I have spoken shall surely come to
pass。 Ulysses will return in this self same year； with the end of this
moon and the beginning of the next he will be here。〃
〃May it be even so；〃 answered Penelope； 〃if your words come true you
shall have such gifts and such good will from me that all who see
you shall congratulate you； but I know very well how it will be。
Ulysses will not return； neither will you get your escort hence； for
so surely as that Ulysses ever was； there are now no longer any such
masters in the house as he was； to receive honourable strangers or
to further them on their way home。 And now； you maids； wash his feet
for him； and make him a bed on a couch with rugs and blankets； that he
may be warm and quiet till morning。 Then； at day break wash him and
anoint him again； that he may sit in the cloister and take his meals
with Telemachus。 It shall be the worse for any one of these hateful
people who is uncivil to him； like it or not； he shall have no more to
do in this house。 For how； sir； shall you be able to learn whether
or no I am superior to others of my sex both in goodness of heart
and understanding； if I let you dine in my cloisters squalid and ill
clad？ Men live but for a little season； if they are hard； and deal
hardly； people wish them ill so long as they are alive； and speak
contemptuously of them when they are dead； but he that is righteous
and deals righteously； the people tell of his praise among all
lands； and many shall call him blessed。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Madam； I have foresworn rugs and blankets from
the day that I left the snowy ranges of Crete to go on shipboard。 I
will lie as I have lain on many a sleepless night hitherto。 Night
after night have I passed in any rough sleeping place； and waited
for morning。 Nor； again； do I like having my feet washed； I shall
not let any of the young hussies about your house touch my feet；
but； if you have any old and respectable woman who has gone through as
much trouble as I have； I will allow her to wash them。〃
To this Penelope said； 〃My dear sir； of all the guests who ever
yet came to my house there never was one who spoke in all things
with such admirable propriety as you do。 There happens to be in the
house a most respectable old woman… the same who received my poor dear
husband in her arms the night he was born； and nursed him in
infancy。 She is very feeble now； but she shall wash your feet。〃
〃Come here；〃 said she； 〃Euryclea； and wash your master's age…mate； I
suppose Ulysses' hands and feet are very much the same now as his are；
for trouble ages all of us dreadfully fast。〃
On these words the old woman covered her face with her hands； she
began to weep and made lamentation saying； 〃My dear child； I cannot
think whatever I am to do with you。 I am certain no one was ever
more god…fearing than yourself； and yet Jove hates you。 No one in
the whole world ever burned him more thigh bones； nor gave him finer
hecatombs when you prayed you might come to a green old age yourself
and see your son grow up to take after you； yet see how he has
prevented you alone from ever getting back to your own home。 I have no
doubt the women in some foreign palace which Ulysses has got to are
gibing at him as all these sluts here have been gibing you。 I do not
wonder at your not choosing to let them wash you after the manner in
which they have insulted you； I will wash your feet myself gladly
enough； as Penelope has said that I am to do so； I will wash them both
for Penelope's sake and for your own； for you have raised the most
lively feelings of compassion in my mind； and let me say this
moreover； which pray attend to； we have had all kinds of strangers
in distress come here before now； but I make bold to say that no one
ever yet came who was so like Ulysses in figure； voice； and feet as
you are。〃
〃Those who have seen us both；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃have always said
we were wonderfully like each other； and now you have noticed it too。
Then the old woman took the cauldron in which she was going to
wash his feet； and poured plenty of cold water into it； adding hot
till the bath was warm enough。 Ulysses sat by the fire； but ere long
he turned away from the light； for it occurred to him that when the
old woman had hold of his leg she would recognize a certain scar which
it bore； whereon the whole truth would come out。 And indeed as soon as
she began washing her master； she at once knew the scar as one that
had been given him by a wild boar when he was hunting on Mount
Parnassus with his excellent grandfather Autolycus… who was the most
accomplished thief and perjurer in the whole world… and with the
sons of Autolycus。 Mercury himself had endowed him with this gift； for
he used to burn the thigh bones of goats and kids to him； so he took
pleasure in his companionship。 It happened once that Autolycus had
gone to Ithaca and had found the child of his daughter just born。 As
soon as he had done supper Euryclea set the infant upon his knees
and said； you must find a name for your grandson； you greatly wished
that you might have one。〃
'Son…in…law and daughter；〃 replied Autolycus； 〃cal