Some god, we saw, was with them, as they rushed
Upon us mightily, and chased us through

The palace, slaying us on every side ; 225
And fearful were the groans of dying men,

As skulls were cloven, and the pavement swam


Book XXIV. 241


With blood. Such, Agamemnon, was the fate

By which we perished. Now our bodies lie
Neglected at the palace ; for not yet ™
Our kindred, dwelling in our homes, have heard
The tidings, nor have come to cleanse our wounds
From the dark blood, and lay us on the bier

With tears, — such honors as are due the dead.”

In turn the soul of Agamemnon spake : =

“Son of Laertes, fortunate and wise,

Ulysses! thou by feats of eminent might

And valor dost possess thy wife again.
And nobly minded is thy blameless queen,

The daughter of Icarius, faithfully .--

Remembering him to whom she gave her troth

While yet a virgin. Never shall the fame

Of his great valor perish, and the gods

Themselves shall frame, for those who dwell on
earth,

Sweet strains in praise of sage Penelope. us

Not such was she who treacherously slew

The husband of her youth, — she of the house

Of Tyndarus. Her name among mankind

Shall be the hateful burden of a song ;

And great is the dishonor it has brought -

On women, even the faithful and the good.”

So talked they with each other, standing there
In Pluto's realm beneath the vaulted earth.
Meantime Ulysses, hastening from the town,

Came to the fair fields of Laertes, tilled =
» VoL. τς τ »


242 The Odyssey.
