whose insolence and many reproaches, thou dost not suffer them to wash thee: but the daughter of Icarius, prudent Penelope, desires me who am not unwilling. Therefore I will wash thy feet, both for Penelope's sake and thine: since my mind is troubled within with cares: but now understand the word which I say, many wretched strangers have already come here, but I do not think that I have ever seen any one thus like, as thou art like unto Ulysses, both in body and voice and feet."
But her much-counselling Ulysses addressed in answer: "O old woman, so they say, as many as have beheld both of us with their eyes, that we are very like one another; as thou thyself wisely sayest."
Thus he spoke; but the old woman took a shining cauldron, in which she washed his feet, and into it she poured much cold water; and then she mixed warm with it: but Ulysses sat on the hearth, but he quickly turned towards a dark place: for he immediately reflected in his mind, that she, finding the scar, would discover him, and that his deeds would become manifest. And she, going near her master, washed him; and she immediately recognised the scar; which once a boar had inflicted upon him with its white tusk, as he was going to Parnassus with Autolycus and his sons, the excellent sire of his mother, who surpassed men in deceitfulness and in oaths: but to him the god Mercury himself gave [this gift]: for to him he burnt the acceptable thighs of lambs and kids; but he willingly accompanied him. But Autolycus coming to the rich people of Ithaca, found the son of his daughter lately born; him Euryclea placed on his dear knees when he ceased from supper; and she spoke and said:
"Autolycus, do thou now thyself find out a name, which thou mayest give to the dear son of thy daughter; for by many prayers has he been obtained."
But her Autolycus answered and addressed in turn: "Do ye, my son-in-law and my daughter, give him the name which I mention: since I have come hither, hated by many men and women, through the many-feeding earth, therefore let the name given to him be Ulysses:[1] but I, when he, being grown up, comes to Parnassus, to his great maternal house,
- ↑ Ὀδυσεὺς, from the verb ὀδύσσω, to be wroth. See Eustathius.
