Classic Adventure Books - Daily
15 - The Odyssey - Homer
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Find your purpose at Grand Canyon University, private, Christian, affordable, visit GCU.edu. Book 15. But Minerva went to the fair city of Lassa Demon to tell Ulysses' son that he was to return at once. She found him in Persistertis sleeping in the forecourt of Menelius' house. Persistertis was fast asleep, but telemicas could get no rest all night for thinking of his unhappy father. So Minerva went close up to him and said, "Telemicus, you should not remain so far away from home any longer, nor leave your property with such dangerous people in your house. They will eat up everything you have among them, and you will have been on a fool's errand." Ask Menelius to send you home at once if you wish to find your excellent mother still there when you get back. Her father and brothers are already urging her to marry Uremicus, who is given more than any of the others, and has been greatly increasing his wedding presence. I hope nothing valuable may have been taken from the house in spite of you, but you know what women are. They always want to do the best they can for the man who marries them, and never give another thought to the children of their first husband, nor to their father either when he is dead and done with. Go home, therefore, and put everything in charge of the most respectable woman's servant that you have, until it shall please heaven to send you a wife of your own. Let me tell you also of another matter, which you had better attend to. The chief men among the suitors are lying in wait for you in the strait between Ithaca and Samus, and they mean to kill you before you can reach home. I do not much think they will succeed; it is more likely that some of those who are now eating up your property will find a grave themselves. Sail night and day, and keep your ship well away from the islands. The god who watches over you and protects you will send you a fair wind. As soon as you get to Ithaca, send your ship and men onto the town, but yourself goes straight to the swine herd who has charged your pigs. He is well disposed towards you, stay with him, therefore, for the night, and then send him to Penelope to tell her that you have got back safe from Pilus. Then she went back to Olympus, but Tillamica stirred Persistatus with his heel to rouse him and said, "Wake up Persistatus and yoke the horses to the chariot, for we must set off home." But Persistatus said, "No matter what hurry we are in, we cannot drive in the dark. It will be morning soon." Wait till Menelaus has brought his presence and put them in the chariot for us, and let him say goodbye to us in the usual way. So long as he lives, I guess should never forget a host who has shown him kindness. As he spoke, day began to break, and Menelaus who had already risen, leaving Helen in bed, came towards them. When Tillamica saw him, he put on his shirt as fast he could, through a great cloak over his shoulders and went out to meet him. "Menelaus," said he, "let me go back now to my own country, for I want to get home." And Menelaus answered, " Tillamicus, if you insist on going, I will not detain you. I do not like to see a host either too fond of his guest or too rude to him. Moderation is best in all things, and not letting a man go when he wants to do so is as bad as telling him to go, if he would like to stay." One should treat a guest well as long as he is in the house, and speed him when he wants to leave it. "Wait, then, till I can get your beautiful presence into your chariot, until you have yourself seen them. I will tell the woman to prepare a sufficient dinner for you, of what there may be in the house. It will be at once more proper and cheaper for you to get your dinner before setting out in such a long journey. If, moreover, you have a fancy for making a tour of Helles, or in the Peloponnese, I will yoke my horses, and will conduct you myself through all our principal cities. No one will send us away empty-handed. Everyone will give us something, a bronze tripod, a couple of mules, or a gold cup." "Menelaus," replied Tillamicus, "I want to go home at once. For when I came away, I left my property without protection, and fear that while looking for my father, I shall come to ruin myself. Or find that something valuable has been stolen during my absence." When Menelaus heard this, he immediately told his wife and servants to prepare a sufficient dinner from what there might be in the house. At this moment, Itionius joined him, for he lived close by, and had just got up. So Menelaus told him to light the fire, and cook some meat, which he at once did. Then Menelaus went down into his fragrant store-room, not alone, but Helen went to, with Megapenthys. When he reached a place where the treasures of his house were kept, he selected a double cup, and told his son Megapenthys to bring also a silver mixing bowl. Meanwhile, Helen went to the chest where she kept the lovely dresses which she had made with her own hands, and took out one that was largest and most beautifully enriched with embroidery. It glittered like a star, and lay at the very bottom of the chest. Then they all came back to the house again until they got to Talamikis, and Menelaus said, "Talamikis, may Jove the mighty husband of Juno bring you safely home according to your desire. I will now present you with the finest and most precious piece of plate in all my house. It is a mixing bowl of pure silver, except the rim which is inlaid with gold, and it is the work of Vulcan. Fadimis, king of the Sedonians, made me a present of it in the course of a visit that I paid him while I was on my return home. I should like to give it to you." With these words, he placed the double cup in the hands of Talamikis, while Megapenthys brought the beautiful mixing bowl and set it before him. Hardby stood lovely Helen with a robe ready in her hand. "I too, my son," said she, "have something for you as a keepsake from the hand of Helen. It is for your bride to wear upon her wedding day. Till then, get your dear mother to keep it for you. Thus may you go back rejoicing to your own country and to your home." So, saying, she gave the robe over to him, and he received it gladly. Then Pisistatus put the presents into the chariot and admired them all as he did so. Presently Menelaus took Talamikis and Pisistatus into the house, and they both of them sat down to table. A maid servant brought them water in a beautiful golden ewer, and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands, and she drew a clean table beside them. An upper servant brought them bread, and offered them many good things of what there was in the house. Itionius carved the meat and gave them each their portions, while Megapenthys poured out the wine. Then they laid their hands upon the good things that were before them. But as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Talamikis and Pisistatus yoked the horses, and took their places in the chariot. They drove out through the inner gateway, and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court, a Menelaus came after them with a golden goblet of wine in his right hand that they might make a drink offering before they set out. He stood in front of the horses and pledged to them, saying, "Farewell to both of you, see that you tell Nestor how I have treated you, for he was kind to me as any father could be, while we Achaeans were fighting before Troy. "We will be sure, sir," answered Talamikis, "to tell him everything as soon as we see him. I wish I were as certain of finding Ulysses returned when I get back to Ithaca, that I might tell him of the very great kindness you have shown me, and of the many beautiful presents I am taking with me." As he was thus speaking, a bird flew on his right hand, an eagle with a great white goose in its talons which it had carried off from the farmyard, and all the men and women were running after it and shouting. It came quite close up to them and flew away on their right hand in front of the horses. When they saw it, they were glad, and their hearts took comfort within them, whereon persistent said, "Tell me Menelaus, has Heaven sent this omen for us or for you?" Menelaus was thinking what would be the most proper answer for him to make, but Hellen was too quick for him and said, "I will read this matter as Heaven has put it in my heart, and as I doubt not that it will come to pass." The eagle came from the mountain where it was bred and has its nest, and in like manner, Ulysses, having travelled far and suffered much, will return to take his revenge, if indeed he is not back already and hatching mischief for the suitors. "May Jove so granted," replied Tillamicus, "if it should prove to be so, I will make vows to you as though you are a god, even when I am at home." As he spoke, he lasted his horses, and they started off at full speed through the town towards the open country. They swayed the yoke upon their necks, and travelled the whole day long till the sun set, and darkness was over all the land. Then they reached Firi, where Diocles lived, who was son of Artilicus, the son of Alfius. There they passed the night and retreated hospitably. When the child of mourning, Rosie fingered dawn, appeared. They again yoked their horses and their places in their chariot. They drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court. Then Persistatus lashed his horses on, and they flew towards nothing loath, air along they came to Pilos. And then Tillamicus said, "Pisistatus, I hope you will promise to do what I am going to ask you. You know our fathers were old, friends before us. Moreover, we are both of an age, and this journey has brought us together still more closely. Do not therefore take me past my ship, but leave me there, for if I go to your father's house he will try to keep me in the warmth of his good will towards me, and I must go home at once." Persistatus thought how he should do what he was asked, and in the end he deemed it best to turn his horses towards the ship, and put Menelaus, his beautiful presence of gold and raiment in the stern of the vessel. Then he said, "Go on board at once, and tell your men to do so also before I can reach home to tell my father. I know how obstinate he is, and am sure he will not let you go. He will come down here to fetch you, and he will not go back without you, but he will be very angry." With this he drove his goodly steeds back to the city of the Philians, and soon reached his home, but Ptolemic has called the men together and gave his orders. "Now my men," said he, "get everything in order on board the ship, and let us set out home." Thus did he speak, and they went on board even as he had said, but as Ptolemic has was thus busied, praying also and sacrificing to Minerva in the ship's stern, there came to him a man from a distant country, a seer, who was flying from Argus, but because he had killed a man. He was descended from Malampus, who used to live in Pilos, the land of sheep. He was rich and owned a great house, but he was driven into exile by the great and powerful King Nelius. Nelius seized his goods and held them for a whole year, during which he was a close prisoner in the house of King Philicus, and in much distress of mind both on account of the daughter of Nelius, and because he was haunted by a great sorrow that Dred Irenees had laid upon him. In the end, however, he escaped with his life, drove the cattle from Phyllis to Pilus, avenge the wrong that had been done to him, and gave the daughter of Nelius to his brother. Then he left the country and went to Argus, where it was ordained that he should reign over much people. There he married, established himself, and had two famous sons, Antiphides and Mantias. Antiphides became father of Oeclius, an Oeclius of Enferaeus, who was dearly loved by both Jove and by Apollo, but he did not live to an old age, for he was killed in thebes by reasons of a woman's gifts. His sons were Aukmion and Enfilicus. Mantias, the other son of Malampus, was fathered to Piliphides and Cletus. Aurora, thrown in gold, carried off Cletus for his beauty's sake, that he might dwell among the immortals. But Apollo made Pilipides the greatest seer in the whole world, now that Enferaeus was dead. He quarreled with his father and went to live in Hypernesia, where he remained in prophesied for all men. His son, the Ecliminus, it was, who now came up to Ptolemicus as he was making drink offerings and praying in his ship. "Friend," said he, "now that I find you sacrificing in this place, I beseech you by your sacrifices themselves and by the God to whom you make them. I pray you also by your own head and by those of your followers. Tell me the truth and nothing but the truth. Who and whence are you? Tell me also of your town and parents." Ptolemicus said, "I will answer you quite truly. I am from Ithaca and my father is Ulysses, as surely as that he ever lived. But he has come to some miserable end. Therefore I have taken this ship and got my crew together to see if I can hear any news of him, for he has been away a long time." "I, too," answered the Ecliminus, "am an exile, for I have killed a man of my own race. He has many brothers and kinsmen in Argus, and they have great power among the Argives. I am flying to escape death at their hands, and am thus doomed to be a wanderer on the face of the earth. I am your suppliant. Take me, therefore, on board your ship that they may not kill me, for I know that they are in pursuit. I will not refuse you," replied Ptolemicus. "If you wish to join us, come, therefore, and in Ithaca we will treat you hospitably according to what we have." On this he received the Ecliminus' spear, and laid it down on the deck of this ship. He went on board and sat in the stern, bidding the Ecliminus sit beside him. Then the men let go the hossers. Ptolemicus 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 for the forest days, and they hoisted their white sails with sheets of twisted oxide. Minerva 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 cruny and callousous. Presently the sunset and darkness was over all the land. The vessel made a quick passage to fee, and thence on to Elis, where the Epeons rule. Ptolemicus then headed her for the flying islands, wondering within himself whether he should escape death or should be taken prisoner. Meanwhile, Ulysses and the swine herd were eating their supper in the hut, and the men supped with them. As soon as they had had to eat and drink, Ulysses began trying to prove the swine herd, and to see whether he would continue to treat him kindly, and to ask him to stay on at the station or pack him off to the city. So he said, "You may as, in 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 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 anyone will give me a drink and a piece of bread. I should like also to go to the house of Ulysses 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 would give me a dinner. I should soon make them an excellent servant in all sort of ways. Listen and believe when I tell you that by the blessing of Mercury who gives grace 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 their fire, chop fuel, carve, cook, pour out wine, and do all those services that poor men have to do for their bettors." The swine herd was very much disturbed when he heard this. "Heaven help me," he exclaimed, "whatever can have put such a notion as that into your head. If you go near the suitors you will be undone to a certainty, for their pride and insolence reach the very heavens. They would never think of taking a man like you for a servant. Their servants are all young men, well-dressed, wearing good cloaks and shirts, with well-looking faces and their hair always tidy. The tables are kept quite clean and are loaded with bread, meat, and wine. Stay where you are then. You are not in anybody's way. I do not mind your being here, no more do any of the others, and when telemicas comes home he will give you a shirt and cloak and will send you wherever you want to go." Ulysses answered, "I hope you may be as dear to the gods as you are to me, for having saved me from going about and getting into trouble. There is nothing worse than being always on the tramp. Still, when men have once got low down in the world, they will go through a great deal on behalf of their miserable bellies. Since whoever you press me to stay here and wait the return of telemicas, tell about Ulysses' mother and his father whom he left on the threshold of old age when he set out for Troy. Are they still living, or are they already dead and in the house of Hades?" "I will tell you all about them," replied Ulysses. "Leartes is still living and prays heaven to let him depart peacefully his own house, for he is terribly distressed about the absence of his son, and also about the death of his wife, which grieved him greatly and aged in more than anything else did. She came to an unhappy end through sorrow for her son, made no friend or neighbor who has dealt kindly by me come to as such an end as she did. As long as she was living, though she was always grieving, I used to like seeing her and asking her how she did, for she brought me up along with her daughter St. Timmy, the youngest of her children. We were boy and girl together, and she made little difference between us. When, however, we both grew up, they sent centimeter to Sammy and received a splendid dowry for her. As for me, my mistress gave me a good shirt and cloak with a pair of sandals for my feet, and sent me off to the country, but she was just as fond as me as ever. "This is all over now. Still, it has pleased heaven to prosper my work in the situation which I now hold. I have enough to eat and drink, and can find something for any respectable stranger who comes here. But there is no getting a kind word or deed out of my mistress, for the house has fallen into the hands of wicked people. Servants want sometimes to see their mistress and have a talk with her. They like to have something to eat and drink at the house, and something too to take back with them into the country. This is what will keep servants in a good humour." Ulysses answered, "Then you must have been a very little fellow, you may as, when you were taken so far away from your home and parents. Tell me, and tell me true, was the city in which your father and mother lived sacked and pillaged, or did some enemies carry you off when you were alone, tending sheep or cattle, ship you off here, and sell you for whatever your master gave them?" "Stranger," replied Ulysses. "As regards your question, sit still, make yourself comfortable, drink your wine and listen to me. The nights are now at their longest. There is plenty of time for both sleeping and sitting up talking together. You ought not to go to bed till bedtime. Too much sleep is as bad as too little. If any one of the others wishes to go to bed, let him leave us and do so. He can then take my master's pigs out when he has done breakfast in the morning. We too will sit here eating and drinking in the hut, and telling one another stories about Armus' fortunes. For when a man has suffered much and been buffeted about in the world, he takes pleasure in recalling the memory of sorrows that have long gone by. As regards your question then, my tale is as follows. "You may have heard of an island called Syria that lies over above Ortegaia where the land begins to turn round and look in another direction. It is not very thickly peepled, but the soil is good, with much pasture fit for cattle and sheep, and it abounds with wine and wheat. Dirth never comes there, nor are the people plagued by any sickness, but when they grow old Apollo comes with Diana and kills them with his painless shafts. It contains two communities, and the whole country is divided between these two. My father, Cetecius, son of Armenius, a man comparable to the gods reigned over both. Now to this place there came some cunning traders from Phoenicia, for the Phoenicians are great mariners, in a ship which they had freighted with gigaas of all kinds. There happened to be a Phoenician woman in my father's house, very tall and cumbly, and an excellent servant. These scoundrels got hold of her one day when she was washing near their ship, seduced her, and cajoled her in a way that no woman can resist, no matter how good she may be in nature. The man who seduced her asked her who she was and where she came from, and on this she told him her father's name. "I come from Sidon," she said, "and am daughter to Erebus, a man rolling in wealth. One day as I was coming into the town from the country, some Tafian pirates seized me, and took me here over the sea, where they sold me to the man who owns this house, and he gave them their price for me." The man who had seduced her then said, "Would you like to come along with us to see the house of your parents and your parents themselves? They are both alive and are said to be well off." "I will do so gladly," answered she, "if you men will first swear me a solemn oath that you will do me no harm by the way." They all swore as she told them, and when they had completed their oath the woman said, "Hush, and if any of the your men meets me in the streets are at the well, do not let him speak to me, for fear someone should go and tell my master, in which case he would suspect something. He would put me in prison and would have all of you murdered, keep your counsel therefore, buy your merchandise as fast you can, and send me word when you have done loading. I will bring as much gold as I can lay my hands on, and there is something else also that I can do towards paying my fare. I am nursed to the son of the good man of the house, a funny little fellow just able to run about. I will carry him off in your ship, and you will get a great deal of money for him if you take him in settlement foreign parts." On this she went back to the house. The Phoenicians stayed a whole year till they had loaded their ship with much precious merchandise, and then when they had got freight enough they sent to tell the woman. Their messenger, a very cunning fellow, came to my father's house bringing a necklace of gold with amber beads strung among it, and while my mother and the servants had it in their hands admiring it and bargaining about it, he made a sign quietly to the woman and then went back to the ship, where on she took me by the hand and led me out of the house. In the four part of the house she saw the tables set with the cups of guests who had been feasting with my father, as being in attendance on him. These were now all gone to a meeting of the public assembly, so she snatched out three cups and carried them off in the bosom of her dress, while I followed her, for I knew no better. The sun was now set, and darkness was over all the land, so we hurried on as fast as we could till we reached the harbor where the Phoenician's ship was lying. When they had got on board they sailed their ways over the sea, taking us with them, and Jove sent them a fair wind. Six days did we sail, both night and day, but on the seventh day Diana struck the woman and she fell heavily down onto the ship's hold, as though she were a seagull alighting on the water, so they threw her overboard to the seals and fishes, and I was left all sorrowful and alone. Presently the winds and waves took the ship to Ithaca, where leoties gave sundry of his chattels for me, and thus it was that I ever came to set eyes upon this country. Ulysses answered, "Yumeus, I have heard the story of your misfortunes with the most lively interest and pity, but Jove has given you good as well as evil, for in spite of everything you have a good master, who sees that you always have enough to eat and drink, and you lead a good life, whereas I am still going about begging my way from city to city. Thus did they converse, and they had only a very little time left for sleep, for soon it was daybreak. In the meantime Talamikas and his crew were nearing land, so they loosed to the sails, took down the mast, and rode the ship into the harbor. They cast out their mooring stones and made fast for the hossers. They then got out upon the seashore, mixed their wine, and got dinner ready. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Talamikas said, "Take the ship onto to the town, but leave me here, for I want to look after the herdsmen in one of my farms. In the evening, when I have seen all I want, I will come down to the city, and tomorrow morning in return for your trouble I will give you all a good dinner with meat and wine." Then the ecluminous said, "And what my dear young friend is to become of me, to whose house among all your chief men am I to repair, or shall I go straight to your house and to your mother?" "At any other time," replied Talamikas, "I should have bitten you to go to my own house, for you would find no want of hospitality. At the present moment, however, you would not be comfortable there. For I shall be away, and my mother will not see you. She does not often show herself even to the sutures, but sits at her loom weaving in an upper chamber out of their way. But I can tell you a man whose house you can go to. I mean Urimakus, the son of Polybus, who is held in the highest estimation by everyone in Ithaca. He is much the best man and the most persistent wooer of all those who are paying court to my mother and trying to take Ulysses' place. Jove, however, in heaven alone knows whether or no they will come to a bad end before the marriage takes place. As he was speaking, a bird flew by upon his right hand, a hawk, a polo's messenger. It held a dove in its talons, and the feathers, it tore them off, fell to the ground midway between Talamikas and the ship. On this, the eclaminist called him apart and caught him by the hand. "Talamikas," said he, "that bird did not fly in your right hand without having been sent here by some god. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was an omen. It means that you will remain powerful, and there will be no house in Ithaca, more royal than your own." "I wish it may prove so," answered Talamikas. "If it does, I will show you so much good will, and give you so many presents, that all who meet you will congratulate you." Then he said to his friend, "Parius, Parius, son of Clideus. You have throughout shown yourself the most willing to serve me, of all those who have accompanied me to Pilos. I wish you would take this stranger to your own house, and entertain him hospitably, till I can come for him." And Parius answered, "Talamikas, you may stay away as long as you please, but I will look after him for you, and he shall find no lack of hospitality." As he spoke, he went on board, and made the others to do also and loose the hossers, so they took their places in the ship. But Talamikas bound on his sandals, and took a long and doubty spear with the head of sharpened bronze from the deck of the ship. Then they loose the hossers, thrust the ship off from land, and made on towards the city, as they had been told to do, while Talamikas strolled on as fast as he could, till he reached the homestead where his countless herds of swine were feeding, and whirled while the excellent swine heard, who was so devoted a servant to his master. End of Book 15 Every day when you log in to Chumbakasino.com, the ultimate online social casino, you get a free daily bonus. Imagine if you got daily bonuses in other parts of your life. I chose french fries over loaded french fries. I asked Stuart from accounting about his weekend, even though I don't care. I updated my operating system without having to call tech support. Collect your free daily bonus at Chumbakasino.com now. And live the Chumba life! VDW Group, no purchase necessary. Avoid where prohibited by locks in terms of conditions in 18 plus. Hey there, listeners. 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