And I know how I am come welcome to you only of the servants: but I have not heard any one of the others praying that I should again come returning home. But to you I will tell the truth, how it shall be. If God subdues the noble suitors under me, I will bring wives for both of you, and will bestow possessions, and houses built near mine; and afterwards ye shall be the two companions and brothers of Telemachus. Come, I will now show you some other plain sign, (that ye may know me well, and be confirmed by a testimony in your mind,) the scar which once a boar inflicted on me with its white tusk, when I went to Parnassus, with the sons of Autolychus."
Thus having spoken, he drew back the rags from the great scar. But they, when they had beheld it, and had well ascertained every thing, wept, throwing their hands around wise Ulysses, and embracing him, they kissed both his head and shoulders. In like manner Ulysses kissed their heads and hands. And the sun would have set whilst they were weeping, had not Ulysses himself restrained them and spoke:
"Cease from weeping and mourning; lest any one coming out of the palace should see us, and should tell it also within. But enter one after another, not all together; first I, and afterwards you: but let this sign be made; all the others indeed, as many as are noble suitors, will not suffer you to give me the bow and quiver; but do thou, O divine Eumæus, bringing the bow through the palace, place it for me in my hands: and tell the women to lock the closely-fitted doors of the palace. But if any one should hear either a groaning or a noise within, of the men in our courts, let them not advance out of doors, but remain there in silence at their work. But to thee, O divine Philætius, I give in charge to lock with a key the gates of the court, and quickly put the chain over it."[1]
Thus having spoken, he entered the well-built house: then he went and sat down upon the seat, from whence he had arisen: and the servants of divine Ulysses also went in. But Eurymachus was now moving the bow about in his hands, warming it on both sides with the flame of fire; but even so he
