he old nurse, Minerva sheds upon
him such grace that, when he reappears, looking like a god, he dares
reproach Penelope for not recognizing him. Then, hearing her order
that his bed be removed to the portico, he hotly demands who cut down
the tree which formed one of its posts? Because this fact is known
only to Penelope and to the builder of the bed, she now falls upon
Ulysses' neck, begging his pardon. Their joy at being united is marred
only by Ulysses' determination soon to resume his travels, and pursue
them until Tiresias' prediction has been fulfilled. That night is
spent in mutual confidences in regard to all that has occurred during
their twenty years' separation, and when morning dawns Ulysses and his
son go to visit Laertes.

_Book XXIV._ Mindful of his office as conductor of souls to Hades,
Mercury has meanwhile entered the palace of Ulysses, and, waving his
wand, has summoned the spirits of the suitors, who, uttering plaintive
cries, follow him down to the infernal regions.

Cyllenius now to Pluto's dreary reign
Conveys the dead, a lamentable train!
The golden wand, that causes sleep to fly,
Or in soft slumber seals the wakeful eye,
That drives the ghosts to realms of night or day,
Points out the long uncomfortable way.
Trembling the spectres glide, and plaintive vent
Thin hollow screams, along the deep descent.
As in the cavern of some rifty den,
Where flock nocturnal bats and birds obscene,
Cluster'd they hang, till at some sudden shock,
They move, and murmurs run through all the rock:
So cowering fled the sable heaps of ghosts;
And such a scream fill'd all the dismal coasts.

There they overhear Ajax giving Achilles a minute account of his
funeral,--the grandest ever seen,--and when questioned describe
Penelope's stratagem in regard to the Web and to Ulysses' bow.

Meanwhile Ulysses has arrived at his father's farm, where the old man
is busy among his trees. To prepare Laertes for his return, Ulysses
relates one of his fairy tales ere he makes himself known. Like
Penelope, Laertes proves incredulous, until Ulysses points out the
trees given him when a child and exhibits his scar.

Smit with the signs which all his doubts explain,
His heart within him melts; his knees sustain
Their feeble weight no more; his arms alone
Support him, round the loved Ulysses thrown:
He faints, he sinks, with mighty joys oppress'd:
Ulysses clasps him to his eager breast.

T