Homer continued his career of difficulty and distress, until some Chian

merchants, struck by the similarity of the verses they heard him recite,

acquainted him with the fact that Thestorides was pursuing a profitable

livelihood by the recital of the very same poems. This at once determined him

to set out for Chios. No vessel happened then to be setting sail thither, but

he found one ready to start for Erythrae, a town of Ionia, which faces that

island, and he prevailed upon the seamen to allow him to accompany them. Having

embarked, he invoked a favourable wind, and prayed that he might be able to

expose the imposture of Thestorides, who, by his breach of hospitality, had

drawn down the wrath of Jove the Hospitable.


At Erythrae, Homer fortunately met with a person who had known him in Phocaea,

by whose assistance he at length, after some difficulty, reached the little

hamlet of Pithys. Here he met with an adventure, which we will continue in the

words of our author. “Having set out from Pithys, Homer went on,

attracted by the cries of some goats that were pasturing. The dogs barked on

his approach, and he cried out. Glaucus (for that was the name of the

goat-herd) heard his voice, ran up quickly, called off his dogs, and drove them

away from Homer. For some time he stood wondering how a blind man should have

reached such a place alone, and what could be his design in coming. He then

went up to him and inquired who he was, and how he had come to desolate places

and untrodden spots, and of what he stood in need. Homer, by recounting to him

the whole history of his misfortunes, moved him with compassion; and he took

him and led him to his cot, and, having lit a fire, bade him sup.


“The dogs, instead of eating, kept barking at the stranger, according to

their usual habit. Whereupon Homer addressed Glaucus thus: O Glaucus, my

friend, prythee attend to my behest. First give the dogs their supper at the