But Phemius, son of Terpius, the bard, avoided black Fate, who indeed had sung amongst the suitors through compulsion; and he stood holding the clear-toned harp in his hands, near the high gate: and he meditated two ways in his mind, whether, going out of the palace, he should sit at the well-built altar of mighty Hercæan Jove, where Laertes and Ulysses burnt many thighs of oxen; or rushing to Ulysses, should supplicate him at his knees. And thus to him considering it seemed to be better to take hold of the knees of Ulysses, son of Laertes. He indeed placed the hollow harp upon the ground, between the cup and the silver-studded throne: but he himself then rushing to Ulysses, laid hold of his knees, and supplicating him, spoke winged words:
"I entreat thee, O Ulysses; and do thou revere me and pity me: there will be sorrow to thee thyself hereafter, if thou slayest me, a bard, who sing to gods and men. But I am self-taught; and God has breathed into my mind all kinds of songs; and I am able to sing to thee as to a god; therefore do not be desirous to cut off my head. Even Telemachus, thy beloved son, would say thus, how neither willingly, nor desiring [to do so], I have resorted to thy house, to sing at feasts to the suitors, but many more and superior men brought me by compulsion."
Thus he spoke; and the sacred might of Telemachus heard him, and he immediately addressed his father, who was near:
"Restrain thyself, nor by any means wound this blameless man with the brass. And we will save the herald Medon, who always took care of me in our house, while I was a child; if indeed Philætius, or the swineherd, have not already slain him, or he has met with thee when aroused in the house."
Thus he spoke; but Medon, who kenned prudent things, heard him; for he lay crouching under a throne, and a newly-flayed skin of an ox was put around him, avoiding black Fate. And he immediately arose from the throne, and quickly put off the ox hide: then rushing to Telemachus, he laid hold of his knees, and supplicating him, spoke winged words:
"O friend, I indeed am here; but do thou restrain thyself; and speak to thy father, lest, being excessively powerful, he destroy me with the sharp brass, enraged against the suitors, who have wasted his wealth in the palace, but, fools! did not honour thee."
