soothing word, or [experience][1] any deed [of kindness]; since evil has fallen upon the house, overbearing men; and the servants greatly desire to speak before their mistress, and to inquire every thing: and to eat and drink: and then to carry something into the country, such things as ever delight the mind of servants."
But him much-counselling Ulysses answering addressed: "Alas! how when thou wast little, O swineherd Eumæus, didst thou wander far from thy country and parents. But come, tell me this, and relate it truly, whether was the wide-wayed city of men plundered, in which thy father and venerable mother dwelt; or did hostile men take thee in ships, when left alone with sheep or oxen, and transport thee to the house of this man, and did he give a fit price [for thee]?"
But him the swineherd, chief of men, addressed in turn: "O stranger, since thou askest of me and inquirest these things, now attend in silence, and delight thyself, and sitting down, quaff wine; but these nights are exceedingly long; it is in our power to sleep, and it is in our power to listen delighted: nor is it fit that thou shouldst go to rest before the time; even much sleep is a pain. But whomsoever of the others his heart and mind commands, let him sleep, having gone away: but together with the shining morn having made his meal, let him attend upon my master's swine. But let us drinking and feasting in the tent, be delighted, recalling to mind the grievous cares of one another: for after a time a man is delighted even with griefs, whosoever has suffered very many things and has wandered much. But I will tell thee this which thou askest and inquirest of me. There is a certain island called Syria (if thou by chance hast heard of it) beyond Ortygia, where are the dials[2] of the sun. It is not so very large; but it is excellent, fit for pasture, rich in sheep, full of wine, abounding in wheat; and hunger never comes upon the people, nor is there any other hateful disease upon wretched mortals; but when the tribes of men grow old in the city, silver-bowed Apollo, coming with Diana, attacking them with his mild weapons, slays them. There
- ↑ Observe the zeugma in ἀκοῦσαι.
- ↑ This is the meaning, according to Menage on Diog. Laert. i. followed by Loewe, and Palmer on Hesych. v. Ὀρτυγίη ἡελίοιο. t. ii. p. 790. But Mr. Burges suggests that it rather denotes "the point where the sun begins to set," from Hesych. l. c.
