Thus conversing the two made their way towards the house.  When they got there they found Telemachus with the stockman and the swineherd cutting up meat and mixing wine with water.  Then the old Sicel woman took Laertes inside and washed him and anointed him with oil.  She put him on a good cloak, and Minerva came up to him and gave him a more imposing presence, making him taller and stouter than before.  When he came back his son was surprised to see him looking so like an immortal, and said to him, “My dear father, some one of the gods has been making you much taller and better-looking.”

Laertes answered, “Would, by Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I were the man I was when I ruled among the Cephallenians, and took Nericum, that strong fortress on the foreland.  If I were still what I then was and had been in our house yesterday with my armour on, I should have been able to stand by you and help you against the suitors.  I should have killed a great many of them, and you would have rejoiced to see it.”

Thus did they converse; but the others, when they had finished their work and the feast was ready, left off working, and took each his proper place on the benches and seats.  Then they began eating; by and by old Dolius and his sons left their work and came up, for their mother, the Sicel woman who looked after Laertes now that he was growing old, had been to fetch them.  When they saw Ulysses and were certain it was he, they stood there lost in astonishment; but Ulysses scolded them good naturedly and said, “Sit down to your dinner, old man, and never mind about your surprise; we have been wanting to begin for some time and have been waiting for you.”

Then Dolius put out both his hands and went up to Ulysses.  “Sir,” said he, seizing his master’s hand and kissing it at the wrist, “we have long been wishing you home:  and now heaven has restored you to us after we had given up hoping.  All hail, therefore, and may the gods prosper you. {187} But tell me, does Penelope already know of your return, or shall we send some one to tell her?”

“Old man,” answered Ulysses, “she knows already, so you need not trouble about that.”  On this he took his seat, and the sons of Dolius gathered round Ulysses to give him greeting and embrace him one after the other; then they took their seats in due order near Dolius their father.

While they were thus busy getting their dinner ready, Rumour went round the town, and noised abroad the terrible fate that had befallen the suitors; as soon, therefore, as the people heard of it they gathered from every quarter, groaning and hooting before the house of Ulysses.  They took the dead away, buried every man his own, and put the bodies of those who came from elsewhere on board the fishing vessels, for the fishermen to take each of them to his own place.  They then met angrily in the place of assembly, and when they were got together Eupeithes rose to speak.  He was overwhelmed with grief for