So he spake, and straightway his knees were loosened, and his heart melted within him, as he knew the sure tokens that Odysseus showed him.  About his dear son he cast his arms, and the steadfast goodly Odysseus caught him fainting to his breast.  Now when he had got breath and his spirit came to him again, once more he answered and spake, saying: 

’Father Zeus, verily ye gods yet bear sway on high Olympus, if indeed the wooers have paid for their infatuate pride!  But now my heart is terribly afraid, lest straightway all the men of Ithaca come up against us here, and haste to send messengers everywhere to the cities of the Cephallenians.’

Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying:  ’Take courage, and let not thy heart be careful about these matters.  But come, let us go to the house that lies near the garden, for thither I sent forward Telemachus and the neatherd and the swineherd to get ready the meal as speedily as may be.’

After these words the twain set out to the goodly halls.  Now when they had come to the fair-lying house, they found Telemachus and the neatherd and the swineherd carving much flesh, and mixing the dark wine.  Meanwhile the Sicilian handmaid bathed high-hearted Laertes in his house, and anointed him with olive-oil, and cast a fair mantle about him.  Then Athene drew nigh, and made greater the limbs of the shepherd of the people, taller she made him than before and mightier to behold.  Then he went forth from the bath, and his dear son marvelled at him, beholding him like to the deathless gods in presence.  And uttering his voice he spake to him winged words: 

’Father, surely one of the gods that are from everlasting hath made thee goodlier and greater to behold.’

Then wise Laertes answered him, saying:  ’Ah, would to father Zeus and Athene and Apollo, that such as I was when I took Nericus, the stablished castle on the foreland of the continent, being then the prince of the Cephallenians, would that in such might, and with mail about my shoulders, I had stood to aid thee yesterday in our house, and to beat back the wooers; so should I have loosened the knees of many an one of them in the halls, and thou shouldest have been gladdened in thine inmost heart!’

So they spake each with the other.  But when the others had ceased from their task and made ready the feast, they sat down all orderly on chairs and on high seats.  Then they began to put forth their hands on the meat, and the old man Dolius drew nigh, and the old man’s sons withal came tired from their labour in the fields, for their mother, the aged Sicilian woman, had gone forth and called them, she that saw to their living and diligently cared for the old man, now that old age had laid hold on him.  So soon as they looked on Odysseus and took knowledge of him, they stood still in the halls in great amazement.  But Odysseus addressed them in gentle words, saying: 

’Old man, sit down to meat and do ye forget your marvelling, for long have we been eager to put forth our hands on the food, as we abode in the hall alway expecting your coming.’