Teiresias, and how he saw his old comrades in arms, and his mother who bore him and brought him up when he was a child; how he then heard the wondrous singing of the Sirens, and went on to the wandering rocks and terrible Charybdis and to Scylla, whom no man had ever yet passed in safety; how his men then ate the cattle of the sun-god, and how Jove therefore struck the ship with his thunderbolts, so that all his men perished together, himself alone being left alive; how at last he reached the Ogygian island and the nymph Calypso, who kept him there in a cave, and fed him, and wanted him to marry her, in which case she intended making him immortal so that he should never grow old, but she could not persuade him to let her do so; and how after much suffering he had found his way to the Phaeacians, who had treated him as though he had been a god, and sent him back in a ship to his own country after having given him gold, bronze, and raiment in great abundance.  This was the last thing about which he told her, for here a deep sleep took hold upon him and eased the burden of his sorrows.

Then Minerva bethought her of another matter.  When she deemed that Ulysses had had both of his wife and of repose, she bade gold-enthroned Dawn rise out of Oceanus that she might shed light upon mankind.  On this, Ulysses rose from his comfortable bed and said to Penelope, “Wife, we have both of us had our full share of troubles, you, here, in lamenting my absence, and I in being prevented from getting home though I was longing all the time to do so.  Now, however, that we have at last come together, take care of the property that is in the house.  As for the sheep and goats which the wicked suitors have eaten, I will take many myself by force from other people, and will compel the Achaeans to make good the rest till they shall have filled all my yards.  I am now going to the wooded lands out in the country to see my father who has so long been grieved on my account, and to yourself I will give these instructions, though you have little need of them.  At sunrise it will at once get abroad that I have been killing the suitors; go upstairs, therefore, {184} and stay there with your women.  See nobody and ask no questions.” {185}

As he spoke he girded on his armour.  Then he roused Telemachus, Philoetius, and Eumaeus, and told them all to put on their armour also.  This they did, and armed themselves.  When they had done so, they opened the gates and sallied forth, Ulysses leading the way.  It was now daylight, but Minerva nevertheless concealed them in darkness and led them quickly out of the town.

Book XXIV

The ghosts of the suitors in Hades—­Ulysses and his men go to the house of laertes—­the people of Ithaca come out to attack Ulysses, but Minerva concludes A peace.