seen his master again at last, and when he had seen
him, he died.

As soon as the swineherd came in, Telemachus caught sight of him, and
beckoned him to a stool at his side, and gave him his share of the feast.
After a little while Ulysses came up too, and sat down on the threshold
like a poor old beggar-man. Then his son sent him meat and bread by the
swineherd, and said that a beggar should be bold, and he ought to go among
the princes and ask each man for a dole. So he went round from one to the
other, stretching out his hand for a morsel in the true beggar's way. And
every one else felt some pity and gave him an alms, but Antinous mocked at
them all and told them they were ready enough to be generous with
another's wealth. And at last he grew angry and cursed Ulysses for a
whining rascal, and hurled a footstool at his head, bidding him begone and
trouble them no more. The stool struck Ulysses on the shoulder, but he
stood like a rock, motionless and silent, with black thoughts in his
heart. Then he went back straight to the threshold and sat down and spoke
to all the company:--

"Listen to me, my lords! No man bears any rancor for a blow in open war,
but Antinous has struck me because I am a beggar and know the curse of
hunger. If there be any gods who avenge the poor man's cause, I pray that
he may die before his marriage day!"

At that the others felt shame, and told Antinous he did wrong to strike
the homeless wanderer.

"Who knows?" they said. "He might be one of the heavenly Gods, and woe to
you if he were! For sometimes the Immortals take upon themselves the
likeness of strangers, and enter our cities, and go about among men,
watching the good and evil that they do."

Thus they warned him, but he cared little for all they said. And
Telemachus sat there full of rage and grief to see his father struck, but
he kept back the tears and held his peace.

Now Penelope was sitting in her room behind the hall, and she saw what had
happened, and was angry with Antinous, and called the swineherd to her
side.

"Go, good Eumaeus, and tell the stranger to come here. And I will ask him
if he has ever heard of Ulysses, for he looks like a man who has wandered
far."

And the swineherd said, "Yes, he is a Cretan, and has had all kinds of
adventures before he was driven here, and he could tell you stories that
would charm you like a minstrel's sweetest song, and you would never tire
of listening. And he says that he has