d, "and yet I knew thee not till I had touched thee
with my hands."

[Illustration: Odysseus and Eurycleia]

During all this scene Penelope had been sitting like one in a dream,
lost in the memories awakened by the supposed beggar's story. The
nurse now turned to rouse her from her reverie, and tell her the
joyful news; but Odysseus, seeing her intention, pressed a heavy hand
on her mouth, and, drawing her down to him with the other, said in a
fierce whisper: "Peace, woman, or I will slay thee! Wouldst thou
destroy him whom thou hast nursed at thine own breast?"

Eurycleia had now recovered from the shock of that sudden recognition.
"Fear me not," she said, "I will be as secret as the grave. But see,
the water is all spilt; I go to fetch more." And so with a grave face,
but a heart bounding with delight, the faithful old creature brought a
fresh supply of water, and proceeded with the task of washing her
master's feet.

When he resumed his place by the fire, he found Penelope in a soft and
pensive mood, and dwelling, as was her wont, on the sorrows of her
widowed state. "Friend," she said, with a gentle sigh, "I will not
keep thee much longer from thy rest, for the hour approaches which
brings sweet oblivion to careworn hearts--all save mine. For the night
brings me no respite from my woes, but rather increases them. When the
day's duties are over, and all the house is still, I lie tossing
ceaselessly, torn by conflicting doubts and fears. E'en as the wakeful
bird sits darkling all night long, and pours her endless plaint, now
low and mellow, now piercing high and shrill, so wavers my spirit in
its purpose, and threads the unending maze of thought. Sweet home of
my wedded joy, must I leave thee, and all the faces which I love so
well, and the great possessions which he gave into my keeping? Shall I
become a byword among the people, as false to the memory of my true
lord? Yet how can I face the reproaches of my son, who since he is
come to manhood grows more impatient day by day, seeing the waste of
his wealth, of which I am the cause?

"But I wished to ask thee concerning a dream which I had last night.
There are twenty geese which I keep about the house, and I take
pleasure in seeing them crop the grain from the water trough. In my
dream I saw a great eagle swoop down from the mountains and slay them
all, breaking their necks, There they lay dead in one heap;
and I made loud lament for the slaying of my geese, so