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that you might have one。〃
'Son…in…law and daughter；〃 replied Autolycus； 〃call the child
thus： I am highly displeased with a large number of people in one
place and another； both men and women； so name the child 'Ulysses；' or
the child of anger。 When he grows up and comes to visit his mother's
family on Mount Parnassus； where my possessions lie； I will make him a
present and will send him on his way rejoicing。〃
Ulysses； therefore； went to Parnassus to get the presents from
Autolycus； who with his sons shook hands with him and gave him
welcome。 His grandmother Amphithea threw her arms about him； and
kissed his head； and both his beautiful eyes； while Autolycus
desired his sons to get dinner ready； and they did as he told them。
They brought in a five year old bull； flayed it； made it ready and
divided it into joints； these they then cut carefully up into
smaller pieces and spitted them； they roasted them sufficiently and
served the portions round。 Thus through the livelong day to the
going down of the sun they feasted； and every man had his full share
so that all were satisfied； but when the sun set and it came on
dark； they went to bed and enjoyed the boon of sleep。
When the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared； the sons of
Autolycus went out with their hounds hunting； and Ulysses went too。
They climbed the wooded slopes of Parnassus and soon reached its
breezy upland valleys； but as the sun was beginning to beat upon the
fields； fresh…risen from the slow still currents of Oceanus； they came
to a mountain dell。 The dogs were in front searching for the tracks of
the beast they were chasing； and after them came the sons of
Autolycus； among whom was Ulysses； close behind the dogs； and he had a
long spear in his hand。 Here was the lair of a huge boar among some
thick brushwood； so dense that the wind and rain could not get through
it； nor could the sun's rays pierce it； and the ground underneath
lay thick with fallen leaves。 The boar heard the noise of the men's
feet； and the hounds baying on every side as the huntsmen came up to
him； so rushed from his lair； raised the bristles on his neck； and
stood at bay with fire flashing from his eyes。 Ulysses was the first
to raise his spear and try to drive it into the brute； but the boar
was too quick for him； and charged him sideways； ripping him above the
knee with a gash that tore deep though it did not reach the bone。 As
for the boar； Ulysses hit him on the right shoulder； and the point
of the spear went right through him； so that he fell groaning in the
dust until the life went out of him。 The sons of Autolycus busied
themselves with the carcass of the boar； and bound Ulysses' wound；
then； after saying a spell to stop the bleeding； they went home as
fast as they could。 But when Autolycus and his sons had thoroughly
healed Ulysses； they made him some splendid presents； and sent him
back to Ithaca with much mutual good will。 When he got back； his
father and mother were rejoiced to see him； and asked him all about
it； and how he had hurt himself to get the scar； so he told them how
the boar had ripped him when he was out hunting with Autolycus and his
sons on Mount Parnassus。
As soon as Euryclea had got the scarred limb in her hands and had
well hold of it； she recognized it and dropped the foot at once。 The
leg fell into the bath； which rang out and was overturned； so that all
the water was spilt on the ground； Euryclea's eyes between her joy and
her grief filled with tears； and she could not speak； but she caught
Ulysses by the beard and said； 〃My dear child； I am sure you must be
Ulysses himself； only I did not know you till I had actually touched
and handled you。〃
As she spoke she looked towards Penelope； as though wanting to
tell her that her dear husband was in the house； but Penelope was
unable to look in that direction and observe what was going on； for
Minerva had diverted her attention； so Ulysses caught Euryclea by
the throat with his right hand and with his left drew her close to
him； and said； 〃Nurse； do you wish to be the ruin of me； you who
nursed me at your own breast； now that after twenty years of wandering
I am at last come to my own home again？ Since it has been borne in
upon you by heaven to recognize me； hold your tongue； and do not say a
word about it any one else in the house； for if you do I tell you… and
it shall surely be… that if heaven grants me to take the lives of
these suitors； I will not spare you； though you are my own nurse； when
I am killing the other women。〃
〃My child；〃 answered Euryclea； 〃what are you talking about？ You know
very well that nothing can either bend or break me。 I will hold my
tongue like a stone or a piece of iron； furthermore let me say； and
lay my saying to your heart； when heaven has delivered the suitors
into your hand； I will give you a list of the women in the house who
have been ill…behaved； and of those who are guiltless。〃
And Ulysses answered； 〃Nurse； you ought not to speak in that way；
I am well able to form my own opinion about one and all of them；
hold your tongue and leave everything to heaven。〃
As he said this Euryclea left the cloister to fetch some more water；
for the first had been all spilt； and when she had washed him and
anointed him with oil； Ulysses drew his seat nearer to the fire to
warm himself； and hid the scar under his rags。 Then Penelope began
talking to him and said：
〃Stranger； I should like to speak with you briefly about another
matter。 It is indeed nearly bed time… for those； at least； who can
sleep in spite of sorrow。 As for myself； heaven has given me a life of
such unmeasurable woe； that even by day when I am attending to my
duties and looking after the servants； I am still weeping and
lamenting during the whole time； then； when night comes； and we all of
us go to bed； I lie awake thinking； and my heart comes a prey to the
most incessant and cruel tortures。 As the dun nightingale； daughter of
Pandareus； sings in the early spring from her seat in shadiest
covert hid； and with many a plaintive trill pours out the tale how
by mishap she killed her own child Itylus； son of king Zethus； even so
does my mind toss and turn in its uncertainty whether I ought to
stay with my son here； and safeguard my substance； my bondsmen； and
the greatness of my house； out of regard to public opinion and the
memory of my late husband； or whether it is not now time for me to
go with the best of these suitors who are wooing me and making me such
magnificent presents。 As long as my son was still young； and unable to
understand； he would not hear of my leaving my husband's house； but
now that he is full grown he begs and prays me to do so； being
incensed at the way in which the suitors are eating up his property。
Listen； then； to a dream that I have had and interpret it for me if
you can。 I have twenty geese about the house that eat mash out of a
trough； and of which I am exceedingly fond。 I dreamed that a great
eagle came swooping down from a mountain； and dug his curved beak into
the neck of each of them till he had killed them all。 Presently he
soared off into the sky； and left them lying dead