On this he received
Theoklymenos’ spear and laid it down on the deck of the ship. He
went on board and sat in the stern, bidding Theoklymenos sit beside
him; then the men let go the hawsers. Telemakhos told them to catch
hold of the ropes, and they made all haste to do so. They set the
mast in its socket in the cross plank, raised it and made it fast
with the forestays, and they hoisted their white sails with sheets of
twisted ox hide. Athena sent them a fair wind that blew fresh and
strong to take the ship on her course as fast as possible. Thus then
they passed by Krounoi and Khalkis.
Presently the sun set and
darkness was over all the land. The vessel made a quick passage to
Pherai and thence on to Elis, where the Epeans rule. Telemakhos then
headed her for the flying islands, wondering within himself whether
he should escape death or should be taken prisoner.
Meanwhile Odysseus and the
swineherd were eating their supper in the hut, and the men supped
with them. As soon as they had had to eat and drink, Odysseus began
trying to prove the swineherd and see whether he would continue to
treat him kindly, and ask him to stay on at the station or pack him
off to the city; so he said:
"Eumaios, and all of you,
tomorrow I want to go away and begin begging about the town, so as to
be no more trouble to you or to your men. Give me your advice
therefore, and let me have a good guide to go with me and show me the
way. I will go the round of the city begging as I needs must, to see
if any one will give me a drink and a piece of bread. I should like
also to go to the house of Odysseus and bring news of her husband to
queen Penelope. I could then go about among the suitors and see if
out of all their abundance they will give me a dinner. I should soon
make them an excellent servant in all sorts of ways. Listen and
believe when I tell you that by the blessing of Hermes who gives
grace [kharis] and good name to the works of all men,
there is no one living who would make a more handy servant than I
should - to put fresh wood on the fire, chop fuel, carve, cook, pour
out wine, and do all those services that poor men have to do for
their betters."
Homer. The Odyssey. Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Samuel Butler. Based on public domain edition, revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. A. C. Fifield, London. 1900 (?).
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