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him slept and sat and ate； while inside the house there was an old
Sicel woman； who looked after him in this his country…farm。 When
Ulysses got there； he said to his son and to the other two：
〃Go to the house； and kill the best pig that you can find for
dinner。 Meanwhile I want to see whether my father will know me； or
fail to recognize me after so long an absence。〃
He then took off his armour and gave it to Eumaeus and Philoetius；
who went straight on to the house； while he turned off into the
vineyard to make trial of his father。 As he went down into the great
orchard； he did not see Dolius； nor any of his sons nor of the other
bondsmen； for they were all gathering thorns to make a fence for the
vineyard； at the place where the old man had told them； he therefore
found his father alone； hoeing a vine。 He had on a dirty old shirt；
patched and very shabby； his legs were bound round with thongs of
oxhide to save him from the brambles； and he also wore sleeves of
leather； he had a goat skin cap on his head； and was looking very
woe…begone。 When Ulysses saw him so worn； so old and full of sorrow；
he stood still under a tall pear tree and began to weep。 He doubted
whether to embrace him； kiss him； and tell him all about his having
come home； or whether he should first question him and see what he
would say。 In the end he deemed it best to be crafty with him； so in
this mind he went up to his father； who was bending down and digging
about a plant。
〃I see； sir；〃 said Ulysses； 〃that you are an excellent gardener…
what pains you take with it； to be sure。 There is not a single
plant； not a fig tree； vine； olive； pear； nor flower bed； but bears
the trace of your attention。 I trust； however； that you will not be
offended if I say that you take better care of your garden than of
yourself。 You are old； unsavoury； and very meanly clad。 It cannot be
because you are idle that your master takes such poor care of you；
indeed your face and figure have nothing of the slave about them；
and proclaim you of noble birth。 I should have said that you were
one of those who should wash well； eat well； and lie soft at night
as old men have a right to do； but tell me； and tell me true； whose
bondman are you； and in whose garden are you working？ Tell me also
about another matter。 Is this place that I have come to really Ithaca？
I met a man just now who said so； but he was a dull fellow； and had
not the patience to hear my story out when I was asking him about an
old friend of mine； whether he was still living； or was already dead
and in the house of Hades。 Believe me when I tell you that this man
came to my house once when I was in my own country and never yet did
any stranger come to me whom I liked better。 He said that his family
came from Ithaca and that his father was Laertes； son of Arceisius。
I received him hospitably； making him welcome to all the abundance
of my house； and when he went away I gave him all customary
presents。 I gave him seven talents of fine gold； and a cup of solid
silver with flowers chased upon it。 I gave him twelve light cloaks；
and as many pieces of tapestry； I also gave him twelve cloaks of
single fold； twelve rugs； twelve fair mantles； and an equal number
of shirts。 To all this I added four good looking women skilled in
all useful arts； and I let him take his choice。〃
His father shed tears and answered； 〃Sir； you have indeed come to
the country that you have named； but it is fallen into the hands of
wicked people。 All this wealth of presents has been given to no
purpose。 If you could have found your friend here alive in Ithaca；
he would have entertained you hospitably and would have required
your presents amply when you left him… as would have been only right
considering what you have already given him。 But tell me； and tell
me true； how many years is it since you entertained this guest… my
unhappy son； as ever was？ Alas！ He has perished far from his own
country； the fishes of the sea have eaten him； or he has fallen a prey
to the birds and wild beasts of some continent。 Neither his mother；
nor I his father； who were his parents； could throw our arms about him
and wrap him in his shroud； nor could his excellent and richly dowered
wife Penelope bewail her husband as was natural upon his death bed；
and close his eyes according to the offices due to the departed。 But
now； tell me truly for I want to know。 Who and whence are you… tell me
of your town and parents？ Where is the ship lying that has brought you
and your men to Ithaca？ Or were you a passenger on some other man's
ship； and those who brought you here have gone on their way and left
you？〃
〃I will tell you everything；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃quite truly。 I come
from Alybas； where I have a fine house。 I am son of king Apheidas； who
is the son of Polypemon。 My own name is Eperitus； heaven drove me
off my course as I was leaving Sicania； and I have been carried here
against my will。 As for my ship it is lying over yonder； off the
open country outside the town； and this is the fifth year since
Ulysses left my country。 Poor fellow； yet the omens were good for
him when he left me。 The birds all flew on our right hands； and both
he and I rejoiced to see them as we parted； for we had every hope that
we should have another friendly meeting and exchange presents。〃
A dark cloud of sorrow fell upon Laertes as he listened。 He filled
both hands with the dust from off the ground and poured it over his
grey head； groaning heavily as he did so。 The heart of Ulysses was
touched； and his nostrils quivered as he looked upon his father；
then he sprang towards him； flung his arms about him and kissed him；
saying； 〃I am he； father； about whom you are asking… I have returned
after having been away for twenty years。 But cease your sighing and
lamentation… we have no time to lose； for I should tell you that I
have been killing the suitors in my house； to punish them for their
insolence and crimes。〃
〃If you really are my son Ulysses；〃 replied Laertes； 〃and have
come back again； you must give me such manifest proof of your identity
as shall convince me。〃
〃First observe this scar；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃which I got from a
boar's tusk when I was hunting on Mount Parnassus。 You and my mother
had sent me to Autolycus； my mother's father； to receive the
presents which when he was over here he had promised to give me。
Furthermore I will point out to you the trees in the vineyard which
you gave me； and I asked you all about them as I followed you round
the garden。 We went over them all； and you told me their names and
what they all were。 You gave me thirteen pear trees； ten apple
trees； and forty fig trees； you also said you would give me fifty rows
of vines； there was corn planted between each row； and they yield
grapes of every kind when the heat of heaven has been laid heavy
upon them。〃
Laertes' strength failed him when he heard the convincing proofs
which his son had given him。 He threw his arms about him； and
Ulysses had to support him； or he would have gone off into a swoon；
but as soon as he came to； and was beginning to recover his senses； he
said； 〃O father Jove； then you gods are st