Those only now remain’d; but those confess’d

Of all the train the mightiest and the best.


Then from the hall, and from the noisy crew,

The masters of the herd and flock withdrew.

The king observes them, he the hall forsakes,

And, past the limits of the court, o’ertakes.

Then thus with accent mild Ulysses spoke:

“Ye faithful guardians of the herd and flock!

Shall I the secret of my breast conceal,

Or (as my soul now dictates) shall I tell?

Say, should some favouring god restore again

The lost Ulysses to his native reign,

How beat your hearts? what aid would you afford

To the proud suitors, or your ancient lord?”


Philaetius thus: “O were thy word not vain!

Would mighty Jove restore that man again!

These aged sinews, with new vigour strung,

In his blest cause should emulate the young.”

With equal vows Eumaeus too implored

Each power above, with wishes for his lord.


He saw their secret souls, and thus began:

“Those vows the gods accord; behold the man!

Your own Ulysses! twice ten years detain’d

By woes and wanderings from this hapless land:

At length he comes; but comes despised, unknown,

And finding faithful you, and you alone.

All else have cast him from their very thought,

E’en in their wishes and their prayers forgot!

Hear then, my friends: If Jove this arm succeed,

And give yon impious revellers to bleed,

My care shall be to bless your future lives

With large possessions and with faithful wives;

Fast by my palace shall your domes ascend,

And each on young Telemachus attend,

And each be call’d his brother and my friend.

To give you firmer faith, now trust your eye;

Lo! the broad scar indented on my thigh,

When with Autolycus’ sons, of yore,

On Parnass’ top I chased the tusky boar.”

His ragged vest then drawn aside disclosed

The sign conspicuous, and the scar exposed:

Eager they view’d, with joy they stood amazed

With tearful eyes o’er all their master gazed: