she had known how warrior
sons of the Achaians would bring her home again, back to her native land.
And yet it was a god prompted her deed of shame. Before, she did not
cherish in her heart such sin, such grievous sin, from which began the woe
which stretched to us. But now, when you have clearly told the tokens of
our bed, which no one else has seen, but only you and I and the single
servant, Actoris, whom my father gave me on my coming here to keep the
door of our closed chamber,--you make even my ungentle heart believe."

So she spoke, and stirred still more his yearning after tears; and he
began to weep, holding his loved and faithful wife. As when the welcome
land appears to swimmers, whose sturdy ship Neptune wrecked at sea,
confounded by the winds and solid waters; a few escape the foaming sea and
swim ashore; thick salt foam crusts their flesh; they climb the welcome
land, and are escaped from danger; so welcome to her gazing eyes appeared
her husband. From round his neck she never let her white arms go. And
rosy-fingered dawn had found them weeping, but a different plan the
goddess formed, clear-eyed Athene. She checked the long night in its
passage, and at the ocean-stream she stayed the gold-throned dawn, and did
not suffer it to yoke the swift-paced horses which carry light to men,
Lampus and Phaethon, which bear the dawn. And now to his wife said wise
Ulysses,--

"O wife, we have not reached the end of all our trials yet. Hereafter
comes a task immeasurable, long and severe, which I must needs fulfill;
for so the spirit of Tiresias told me, that day when I descended to the
house of Hades to learn about the journey of my comrades and myself. But
come, my wife, let us to bed, that there at last we may refresh ourselves
with pleasant sleep."

Then said to him heedful Penelope, "The bed shall be prepared whenever
your heart wills, now that the Gods have let you reach your stately house
and native land. But since you speak of this, and God inspires your heart,
come, tell that trial. In time to come, I know, I shall experience it. To
learn about it now, makes it no worse."

Then wise Ulysses answered her and said, "Lady, why urge me so insistently
to tell? Well, I will speak it out; I will not hide it. Yet your heart
will feel no joy; I have no joy myself; for Tiresias bade me go to many a
peopled town, bearing in hand a shapely oar, till I should reach the men
that know no sea and do not eat food mixed with