The Story of the Odyssey Part 16

So Eupeithes spake, weeping the while. And all the people had pity to hear him. But Medon, the herald, stood up in the a.s.sembly and spake, saying: "Hear me, men of Ithaca! Verily, Ulysses did not all these things without the helping of the G.o.ds that live forever. I, indeed, saw with mine own eyes one of the G.o.ds standing by Ulysses, being like to Prince Mentor in shape. By Ulysses there stood a G.o.d, and strengthened him; and another was there among the suitors, troubling them so that they fell."

Thus spake Medon, the herald, and after him stood up Alitherses [Footnote: A-li-ther'-ses.], the seer, that knew all things that had been and should be hereafter, and spake, saying: "It is of your folly, ye men of Ithaca, that all these things have come to pa.s.s. Ye would not hearken to me, no, nor to Mentor, nor would ye restrain your sons from their folly. Great wickedness did they work, wasting the goods of a brave man, and making suit to his wife, for they thought not that he would return. Come now, hearken unto me, lest some worse evil befall you."

Then some indeed rose up and made haste to depart; and these were the greater part; but the others remained in their places, for they liked not the counsel of Medon and the seer, but regarded the words of Eupeithes. Then they clad themselves in their armour and marched to the city, Eupeithes leading them.

Then spake Athene to Zeus: "Tell me, my father, what dost thou purpose in thy heart? Wilt thou that there be strife or friends.h.i.+p between these two?"

To her Zeus made answer: "Why dost thou inquire this thing of me?

Was it not of thy contriving that Ulysses slew the suitors in his palace? Order it as thou wilt. But let there be peace and friends.h.i.+p in the end, that Ulysses may prosper in the land, and the people dwell in happiness about him."

Then Athene departed, and came to the land of Ithaca.

And when Ulysses and they that sat with him had made an end of eating and drinking, the King said, "Let some one go forth and see whether these men are near at hand."

So the son of Dolius went forth. And as he stood on the threshold he saw them approaching, and cried: "They are even now close at hand; let us arm ourselves in all haste."

So they armed themselves. With Ulysses were Telemachus, and Eumaeus, and the keeper of the herds. Also there stood with him six sons of Dolius; and the two old men also, Laertes and Dolius, though their heads were white with age. And as they went forth from the house Athene came near, having the form and the voice of Prince Mentor. And when Ulysses saw her, he was glad at heart, and spake to Telemachus, saying, "I know thee well, my son, that thou wilt bear thyself bravely, and do no dishonour to the house of thy fathers, that have ever been famous in the land for courage and manhood."

Telemachus answered, "This, my father, thou shalt see for thyself, if thou wilt."

And Laertes was glad at heart, and said, "How happy is this day, in the which my son and my grandson contend one with the other in valour."

Then Athene came near to the old man, and said, "Laertes, pray thou first to Athene and Father Zeus, and then cast thy spear."

So she spake, and breathed great strength into his heart. And having prayed, he cast his spear, and smote Eupeithes through the helmet, so that he fell dead upon the ground. Then Ulysses and his son fell upon the men of Ithaca with swords and two-handed spears.

Verily, they had slain them all, but that Athene cried aloud, saying: "Cease, men of Ithaca, from the battle, for it is too hard for you."

And the men were sore afraid when they heard her voice, and threw their arms upon the ground and fled, if haply they might escape to the city. And when Ulysses would have pursued after them, Zeus cast a thunderbolt from heaven, so that it fell before the feet of Athene. And Athene cried, "Cease from the battle, son of Laertes, lest Zeus be wroth with thee."

So Ulysses was stayed from the battle; and Zeus and Athene made peace between the King and the men of Ithaca.

p.r.o.nUNCIATION OF PROPER NAMES

p.r.o.nounce _ae_, as in _Caesar_; _ei_ as _i_ in _island_; _oe_ as ae; _y_, when accented, as _i_ in _island_; when unaccented, as _i_ in _till_.

p.r.o.nounce _ch_ as _k_. _C_ and _g_ are soft (as _s_ and _j_) before _ei_, _i_, _ae_, _oe_, _eu_; otherwise, hard, as _k_; and _g_ (in _gas_).

A-chil'-les. AE-gis'-thus. AE-gyp'-tus. AE'-o-lus. AE-to'-li-an.

Ag-a-mem'-non. A-ge-la'-us. A'-jax. Al-cin'-o-us. A-li-ther'-ses.

Am-phim'-e-don. Am-phin'-o-mus. An-tin'-o-us. A-pol'-lo. A-re'-te.

A-re-thu'-sa. Ar'-te-mis. A-the'-ne. A'-treus.

Bo-o'-tes.

Ca-lyp'-so. Cau-co'-ni-ans. Cha-ryb'-dis. Ci'-co-nes. Cir'-ce.

Cte-sip'-pus. Cy-clo'-pes. Cy'-clops.

De-mod'-e-cus. Do-do'-na. Do'-li-s. Du-lich'-i-um.

E-che-ne'-us. E'-lis. El-pe'-nor. E-per'-i-tus. Eu-mae'-us Eu-pei'-thes. Eu-ryb'-a-tes. Eu-ry-clei'-a. Eu-ryl'-o-dus.

Eu-rym'-a-chus. Eu-ryn'-o-me.

Ha'-des. He'-ra. Her'-mes. He-phaes-tus.

I'-no. I'-ris. I-rus. Ith'-a-ca.

Ja'-son.

La-ce-dae'-mon. La-er'-tes. La'-mos. Laes'-try-gons. La-o'-da-mas.

Lei-o'-des. Le-oc'-ri-tus.

Me'-don. Me-lan'-thi-us. Me-ne-la'-us. Men'-tes. Men'-tor.

Nau-sic'-a-a.

O-gyg'-i-a. O-lym'-pus. O-ri'-on.

Par-nas'-sus. Pa-tro'-clus. Pei-sis'-tra-tus. Pe-nel'-o-pe.

Phae-a'-ci-aus. Pha'-ros. Phe'-mi-us. Phe'-rae. Phi-loe'-ti-us.

Phoe-ni'-ci-aus. Phor'-cys. Plei'-a-des. Po-li'-des.

Pol-y-phe'-mus. Po-sei'-don. Pro'-teus. Py'-los.

Sa'-mos. Si-do'-ni-ans. Scyl'-la.

Ta'-phi-ans. Tei-re'-si-as. Te-lem'-a-chus. Thes-pro'-ti-a.

U-lys'-ses.

Za-cyn'-thus.

As many of the Greek G.o.ds are better known under the names given to them by the Romans, the following list is given:--

_Greek_ _Latin_

Zeus. Jupiter.

Hera. Juno.

(Pallas) Athene. Minerva.

Aphrodite. Venus.

Poseidon. Neptune.

Ares. Mars.

Hephaestus. Vulcan.