ntinous. So they arose, and returned to the house.

Penelope had heard of their plotting from the herald, Medon, and
obeying a sudden impulse she came down from her chamber, and standing
in the doorway began to upbraid Antinous for his wicked purpose. "Thou
hast the name of a wise and eloquent man," she said, "but thy fame is
better than thy deeds. Wretch, why dost thou lay snares against the
life of my son? Hast thou never heard how thy father came to this
house, flying from the wrath of the Ithacans, who would have slain
him, because he had joined the Taphian pirates in a raid on the
Thesprotians, who were our allies? But Odysseus stood between him and
their fury, and saved his life. A fair return thou art making for that
good service, devouring his substance, paying court to his wife, and
compassing the death of his son."

Antinous sat biting his lips, and made no answer; but Eurymachus, a
subtler villain, smooth and specious, but all the more dangerous,
spoke for him, and said: "Sage daughter of Icarius, fear nothing for
thy son Telemachus, for while I live no man shall offer him violence.
By this sword I swear it, and I care not who hears me, the man who
seeks to harm him shall die by my hand. I at least have not forgotten
the loving-kindness of thy lord, Odysseus, on whose knees I have often
sat, and taken food and drink from his hand. Therefore I love
Telemachus as a brother, and I swear to thee that none of the wooers
shall do him any harm."

The Home-coming of Odysseus

I

When Eumaeus came back from his errand, Odysseus, who in the meantime
had resumed his disguise, was helping Telemachus to prepare the
evening meal. Telemachus questioned him about the ship which the
wooers had sent out to waylay him on his return from Pylos, but Eumaeus
had been in such haste to get back to his farm that he had not stopped
to inquire about the matter. "But thus much I can tell thee," he said:
"as I was crossing the hill which overlooks the town I saw a galley,
bristling with spear and helm, entering the harbour; and I believe
that this was the ship of which thou speakest"

"No doubt of it," answered Telemachus, with a significant glance at
his father. Then they all fell to their suppers with hearty appetite,
and soon afterwards retired to rest.

The first chill of dawn was still in the air when Telemachus roused
the swineherd, and announced his intention of proceeding at once to
the town. "I know," he said, "