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killed so many sheep and oxen on her account； and had drunk so many
casks of wine。 Ulysses in his turn told her what he had suffered；
and how much trouble he had himself given to other people。 He told her
everything； and she was so delighted to listen that she never went
to sleep till he had ended his whole story。
He began with his victory over the Cicons； and how he thence reached
the fertile land of the Lotus…eaters。 He told her all about the
Cyclops and how he had punished him for having so ruthlessly eaten his
brave comrades； how he then went on to Aeolus； who received him
hospitably and furthered him on his way； but even so he was not to
reach home； for to his great grief a hurricane carried him out to
sea again； how he went on to the Laestrygonian city Telepylos； where
the people destroyed all his ships with their crews； save himself
and his own ship only。 Then he told of cunning Circe and her craft；
and how he sailed to the chill house of Hades； to consult the ghost of
the Theban prophet Teiresias； and how he saw his old comrades in arms；
and his mother who bore him and brought him up when he was a child；
how he then heard the wondrous singing of the Sirens； and went on to
the wandering rocks and terrible Charybdis and to Scylla； whom no
man had ever yet passed in safety； how his men then ate the cattle
of the sun…god； and how Jove therefore struck the ship with his
thunderbolts； so that all his men perished together； himself alone
being left alive； how at last he reached the Ogygian island and the
nymph Calypso； who kept him there in a cave； and fed him； and wanted
him to marry her； in which case she intended making him immortal so
that he should never grow old； but she could not persuade him to let
her do so； and how after much suffering he had found his way to the
Phaeacians； who had treated him as though he had been a god； and
sent him back in a ship to his own country after having given him
gold； bronze； and raiment in great abundance。 This was the last
thing about which he told her； for here a deep sleep took hold upon
him and eased the burden of his sorrows。
Then Minerva bethought her of another matter。 When she deemed that
Ulysses had had both of his wife and of repose； she bade
gold…enthroned Dawn rise out of Oceanus that she might shed light upon
mankind。 On this； Ulysses rose from his comfortable bed and said to
Penelope； 〃Wife； we have both of us had our full share of troubles；
you； here； in lamenting my absence； and I in being prevented from
getting home though I was longing all the time to do so。 Now； however；
that we have at last come together； take care of the property that
is in the house。 As for the sheep and goats which the wicked suitors
have eaten； I will take many myself by force from other people； and
will compel the Achaeans to make good the rest till they shall have
filled all my yards。 I am now going to the wooded lands out in the
country to see my father who has so long been grieved on my account；
and to yourself I will give these instructions； though you have little
need of them。 At sunrise it will at once get abroad that I have been
killing the suitors； go upstairs； therefore； and stay there with
your women。 See nobody and ask no questions。〃
As he spoke he girded on his armour。 Then he roused Telemachus；
Philoetius； and Eumaeus； and told them all to put on their armour
also。 This they did； and armed themselves。 When they had done so； they
opened the gates and sallied forth； Ulysses leading the way。 It was
now daylight； but Minerva nevertheless concealed them in darkness
and led them quickly out of the town。
BOOK XXIV。
THEN Mercury of Cyllene summoned the ghosts of the suitors； and in
his hand he held the fair golden wand with which he seals men's eyes
in sleep or wakes them just as he pleases； with this he roused the
ghosts and led them； while they followed whining and gibbering
behind him。 As bats fly squealing in the hollow of some great cave；
when one of them has fallen out of the cluster in which they hang；
even so did the ghosts whine and squeal as Mercury the healer of
sorrow led them down into the dark abode of death。 When they had
passed the waters of Oceanus and the rock Leucas； they came to the
gates of the sun and the land of dreams； whereon they reached the
meadow of asphodel where dwell the souls and shadows of them that
can labour no more。
Here they found the ghost of Achilles son of Peleus； with those of
Patroclus； Antilochus； and Ajax； who was the finest and handsomest man
of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus himself。
They gathered round the ghost of the son of Peleus； and the ghost of
Agamemnon joined them； sorrowing bitterly。 Round him were gathered
also the ghosts of those who had perished with him in the house of
Aeisthus； and the ghost of Achilles spoke first。
〃Son of Atreus；〃 it said； 〃we used to say that Jove had loved you
better from first to last than any other hero； for you were captain
over many and brave men； when we were all fighting together before
Troy； yet the hand of death； which no mortal can escape； was laid upon
you all too early。 Better for you had you fallen at Troy in the
hey…day of your renown； for the Achaeans would have built a mound over
your ashes； and your son would have been heir to your good name；
whereas it has now been your lot to come to a most miserable end。〃
〃Happy son of Peleus；〃 answered the ghost of Agamemnon； 〃for
having died at Troy far from Argos； while the bravest of the Trojans
and the Achaeans fell round you fighting for your body。 There you
lay in the whirling clouds of dust； all huge and hugely； heedless
now of your chivalry。 We fought the whole of the livelong day； nor
should we ever have left off if Jove had not sent a hurricane to
stay us。 Then； when we had borne you to the ships out of the fray；
we laid you on your bed and cleansed your fair skin with warm water
and with ointments。 The Danaans tore their hair and wept bitterly
round about you。 Your mother； when she heard； came with her immortal
nymphs from out of the sea； and the sound of a great wailing went
forth over the waters so that the Achaeans quaked for fear。 They would
have fled panic…stricken to their ships had not wise old Nestor
whose counsel was ever truest checked them saying； 'Hold； Argives； fly
not sons of the Achaeans； this is his mother coming from the sea
with her immortal nymphs to view the body of her son。'
〃Thus he spoke； and the Achaeans feared no more。 The daughters of
the old man of the sea stood round you weeping bitterly； and clothed
you in immortal raiment。 The nine muses also came and lifted up
their sweet voices in lament… calling and answering one another； there
was not an Argive but wept for pity of the dirge they chaunted。 Days
and nights seven and ten we mourned you； mortals and immortals； but on
the eighteenth day we gave you to the flames； and many a fat sheep
with many an ox did we slay in sacrifice around you。 You were burnt in
raiment of the gods； with rich resins and with honey； while heroes；
horse and foot； clashed their armour round the pile as you were
burning； with the tramp as of