Odysseus scowled at her and
answered, "My good woman, why should you be so angry with me? Is it
because I am not clean, and my clothes are all in rags, and because I
am obliged to go begging about the dêmos after the
manner of tramps and beggars general? I too was a rich
[olbios] man once, and had a fine house of my own; in
those days I gave to many a tramp such as I now am, no matter who he
might be nor what he wanted. I had any number of servants, and all
the other things which people have who live well and are accounted
wealthy, but it pleased Zeus to take all away from me; therefore,
woman, beware lest you too come to lose that pride and place in which
you now wanton above your fellows; have a care lest you get out of
favor with your mistress, and lest Odysseus should come home, for
there is still a chance that he may do so. Moreover, though he be
dead as you think he is, yet by Apollo's will he has left a son
behind him, Telemakhos, who will note anything done amiss by the
maids in the house, for he is now no longer in his
boyhood."
Penelope heard what he was saying
and scolded the maid, "Impudent baggage," said she, "I see how
abominably you are behaving, and you shall smart for it. You knew
perfectly well, for I told you myself, that I was going to see the
stranger and ask him about my husband, for whose sake I am in such
continual sorrow."
Then she said to her head waiting
woman Eurynome, "Bring a seat with a fleece upon it, for the stranger
to sit upon while he tells his story, and listens to what I have to
say. I wish to ask him some questions."
Eurynome brought the seat at once
and set a fleece upon it, and as soon as Odysseus had sat down
Penelope began by saying, "Stranger, I shall first ask you who and
whence are you? Tell me of your town and parents."
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