Then wise Penelope answered him:  ’Ah! stranger, would that this word may be accomplished.  Soon shouldst thou be aware of kindness and many a gift at my hands, so that whoso met with thee would call thee blessed.  But on this wise my heart has a boding, and so it shall be.  Neither shall Odysseus come home any more, nor shalt thou gain an escort hence, since there are not now such masters in the house as Odysseus was among men,—­if ever such an one there was,—­ to welcome guests revered and speed them on their way.  But do ye, my handmaids, wash this man’s feet and strew a couch for him, bedding and mantles and shining blankets, that well and warmly he may come to the time of golden-throned Dawn.  And very early in the morning bathe him and anoint him, that within the house beside Telemachus he may eat meat, sitting quietly in the hall.  And it shall be the worse for any hurtful man of the wooers, that vexes the stranger, yea he shall not henceforth profit himself here, for all his sore anger.  For how shalt thou learn concerning me, stranger, whether indeed I excel all women in wit and thrifty device, if all unkempt and evil clad thou sittest at supper in my halls?  Man’s life is brief enough!  And if any be a hard man and hard at heart, all men cry evil on him for the time to come, while yet he lives, and all men mock him when he is dead.  But if any be a blameless man and blameless of heart, his guests spread abroad his fame over the whole earth and many people call him noble.’

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered her and said:  ’O wife revered of Odysseus, son of Laertes, mantles verily and shining blankets are hateful to me, since first I left behind me the snowy hills of Crete, voyaging in the long-oared galley; nay, I will lie as in time past I was used to rest through the sleepless nights.  For full many a night I have lain on an unsightly bed, and awaited the bright throned Dawn.  And baths for the feet are no longer my delight, nor shall any women of those who are serving maidens in thy house touch my foot, unless there chance to be some old wife, true of heart, one that has borne as much trouble as myself; I would not grudge such an one to touch my feet.’

Then wise Penelope answered him:  ’Dear stranger, for never yet has there come to my house, of strangers from afar, a dearer man or so discreet as thou, uttering so heedfully the words of wisdom.  I have an ancient woman of an understanding heart, that diligently nursed and tended that hapless man my lord, she took him in her arms in the hour when his mother bare him.  She will wash thy feet, albeit her strength is frail.  Up now, wise Eurycleia, and wash this man, whose years are the same as thy master’s.  Yea and perchance such even now are the feet of Odysseus, and such too his hands, for quickly men age in misery.’

So she spake, and the old woman covered her face with her hands and shed hot tears, and spake a word of lamentation, saying: