salt. These, therefore,
have no knowledge of the red-cheeked ships, nor of the shapely oars which
are the wings of ships. And this was the sign, he said, easy to be
observed. I will not hide it from you. When another traveler, meeting me,
should say I had a winnowing-fan on my white shoulder, there in the ground
he bade me fix my oar and make fit offerings to lord Neptune,--a ram, a
bull, and the sow's mate, a boar,--and, turning homeward, to offer sacred
hecatombs to the immortal gods who hold the open sky, all in the order
due. And on myself death from the sea shall very gently come and cut me
off, bowed down with hale old age. Round me shall be a prosperous people.
All this, he said, should be fulfilled."

Then said to him heedful Penelope, "If gods can make old age the better
time, then there is hope there will be rest from trouble."

So they conversed together. Meanwhile, Eurynome and the nurse prepared
their bed with clothing soft, under the light of blazing torches. And
after they had spread the comfortable bed, with busy speed, the old woman
departed to her room to rest; while the chamber-servant, Eurynome, with
torch in hand, walked on before, as they two came to bed. She brought them
to their chamber, and then she went her way. So they came gladly to their
old bed's rites. And now Telemachus, the neatherd, and the swineherd
stayed their feet from dancing, and bade the women stay, and all betook
themselves to rest throughout the dusky halls.

So when the pair had joyed in happy love, they joyed in talking too, each
one relating; she, the royal lady, what she endured at home, watching the
wasteful throng of suitors, who, making excuse of her, slew many cattle,
beeves, and sturdy sheep, and stores of wine were drained from out the
casks; he, high-born Ulysses, what miseries he brought on other men and
what he bore himself in anguish,--all he told, and she was glad to listen.
No sleep fell on her eyelids till he had told her all.

He began with how at first he conquered the Ciconians, and came thereafter
to the fruitful land of Lotus-Eaters; then what the Cyclops did, and how
he took revenge for the brave comrades whom the Cyclops ate, and never
pitied; then how he came to AEolus, who gave him hearty welcome and sent
him on his way; but it was fated that he should not reach his dear land
yet, for a sweeping storm bore him once more along the swarming sea,
loudly lamenting; how he came to Telepylus in Laestrygoni