ODYSSEY  XXIV,  276-308.  397


fold,  and  as  many  coverlets,  and  as  many  goodly  mantles
and  doublets  to  boot,  and  besides  all  these,  four  women
skilled  in  all  fair  works  and  most  comely,  the  women  of  his
choice.'

Then  his  father  answered  him,  weeping :  *  Stranger,  thou
art  verily  come  to  that  country  whereof  thou  askest,  but
outrageous  men  and  froward  hold  it.  And  these  thy  gifts,  thy
coundess  gifts,  thou  didst  bestow  in  vain.  For  if  thou  hadst
found  that  man  yet  living  in  the  land  of  Ithaca  he  would  have
sent  thee  oji  thy  way  with  good  return  of  thy  presents,  and
with  all  hospitality,  as  is  due  to  the  man  that  begins  the
kindness.  But  come,  declare  me  this  and  plainly  tell  me  all ;
how  many  years  are  passed  since  thou  didst  entertain  him,
thy  guest  ill-fated  and  my  child, — if  ever  such  an  one  there
was, — hapless  man,  whom  far  from  his  friends  and  his  country's
soil,  the  fishes,  it  may  be,  have  devoured  in  the  deep  sea,  or
on  the  shore  he  has  fallen  the  prey  of  birds  and  beasts.  His
mother  wept  not  over  him  nor  clad  him  for  burial,  nor  his
father,  we  that  begat  him.  Nor  did  his  bride,  whom  men
sought  with  rich  gifts,  the  constant  Penelope,  bewail  her
lord  upon  the  bier,  as  was  meet,  nor  closed  his  eyes,  as  is
the  due  of  the  departed.  Moreover,  tell  me  this  truly,  that
I  may  surely  know,  who  art  thou  and  whence  of  the  sons
of  men  ?  Where  is  thy  city  and  where  are  they  that  begat  thee?
Where  now  is  thy  swift  ship  moored,  that  brought  thee  thither
with  thy  godlike  company  ?  Hast  thou  come  as  a  passenger
on  another's  ship,  while  they  set  thee  ashore  and  went  away?

Then  Odysseus  of  many  counsels  answered  him,  saying:
*Yea  now,  I  will  tell  thee  all  most  plainly.  From  out  of
Alybas  I  come,  where  I  dwell  in  a  house  renowned,  and  am  the
son  of  Apheidas  the  son  of  Polypemon,  the  prince,  and  my
own  name  is  Eperitus.  But  some  god  drave  me  wandering
hither  from  Sicania  against  my  will,  and  yonder  my  ship  is


39^  onvssEV  XXIV,  308-338.
