ong stories. "It is time to be
going, though I would willingly have kept thee here. But my young lord
has spoken and we must obey." "Lead on," said Odysseus, "I know what
thou wouldst say; but first give me a staff to lean on, for I heard
thee say that the path was rough."

So saying he threw his tattered wallet over his shoulder, and taking a
stout staff, which Eumaeus offered him, started with his friend across
the hills. After a toilsome walk they reached the top of the hill
which overlooked the town, and descending the slope they came to a
copious spring of water, well fenced with stones, and shaded by a
grove of alders. The water descended into a basin from the face of a
rock in a cool and copious stream; and on either side stood an altar
to the nymphs. "It is the common fountain of the townspeople,"
explained Eumaeus. "The altars and the basin which receives the water
are the work of our ancient kings."

Odysseus paused a moment, lost in the memories which were awakened by
that familiar scene. But his reverie was rudely interrupted. While he
stood gazing at the fountain, he heard a rude voice hailing them from
the road, and looking round he saw a man leading a pair of fine goats
towards the town. It was Melanthius, his own goatherd, who was
bringing the best of his flock to make savoury meat for the wooers.

"Here are two birds of a feather!" shouted the fellow, in jeering
tones--"that wretched swineherd, and a ravenous beggar. A fine guest
thou art bringing to our young masters, and a fair welcome, without
doubt, they will give him. Were it not better that I took him with me
to my farm? He could sweep out the pens, and gather green shoots for
the kids; and we would give him whey to drink, and put some flesh on
these shrunk shanks[1] of his. But the lazy knave will do no work; he
would rather rub his shoulders against every door-post, begging for
broken meat. Broken bones will be his portion, if the wooers see him
near the house of Odysseus."

[Footnote 1: "A world too wide for his shrunk shanks,"--Shakespeare:
"As You Like It."]

While he uttered these taunts Melanthius had gradually come close to
Odysseus, and with the last word he lifted up his foot and kicked him
with all his force on the hip. Odysseus stood like a rock, and stirred
not an inch from his ground; his first impulse was to seize the
ruffian by the ankles, and dash out his brains on the road; but he
checked himself with a great effort, and sa