“What land have I come to now?  And what can I do with all this treasure?  If the Sea-kings did not really mean to send me back to Ithaca they should have conveyed me to some other people who would have sent me home.”  And then he counted the gifts over, the golden vessels, and the beautiful garments, and found nothing missing, but they gave him no pleasure; and he turned sadly to walk along the shore and dream of home, when a young herdsman met him, of noble figure, with a javelin in his hand and a fine mantle in double folds upon his shoulders.  Ulysses was glad to greet him, and asked what country he had reached.  It was Athene in disguise, and she answered, “Truly, stranger, you must have come from far indeed.  For this is a famous island that all men know, whether they live in the east or in the west.  It is a rugged land, and no place for horses and chariots, but though it is narrow, it is not so poor; for there are stores of corn and wine, plenty of water for the cattle and plenty of wood.  Its name is Ithaca, and some men have heard of it even at Troy, which they say is a long way off.”

Then brave Ulysses rejoiced in his heart to hear that it was his native land; but he would not tell the herdsman who he was, and made up a cunning story that he had escaped as an outlaw from Crete and had been left upon the island by a Phoenician crew.  And the goddess smiled to hear him, and stood forth in her own true form, a wise and noble woman, tall and fair, and put her hand upon his shoulder, and said,—­

“Come, let us practice no more craft on one another, Ulysses, for we are both famous for our wit and wiles, you among mortals and I among the Gods.  I am Pallas Athene, daughter of Zeus, and I have stood beside you and protected you in all your wanderings and toil.  And now I have come here to tell you of the troubles that await you in your house, and to help you with my counsel.  But you must still endure in silence, and tell no one that Ulysses has returned.”

And Ulysses made answer, “It is hard, goddess, for a mortal to know you, wise though he may be, for you come in many shapes.  Truly I have known your kindness from of old in Troy, but when we went on board the ships, I never saw you at my side again.  Tell me, I pray you, if this is Ithaca indeed, my native land.”

Then the goddess answered, “I see, Ulysses, that you keep your ready wit and steadfast mind.  I could not show myself your friend before for fear of angering Neptune, my own father’s brother.  But come now, and I will show you Ithaca; there is the haven and the olive with its slender leaves, and the cave where you once made many an offering to the water nymphs.”

And then she rolled away the mist, and the long-suffering hero rejoiced to see his native land again.  He kissed the kindly earth, and vowed to the nymphs that he would bring them offerings as of old if he lived to see his dear son a man.

Then the goddess bade him be of good cheer, and showed him a hiding-place in the cavern for the gifts.  And then they sat down by the trunk of the olive-tree, and Athene told him all the misdeeds of the suitors, and how his wife had beguiled them and kept them waiting till his return, and how he must avenge himself and her.