A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Mother of Odysseus 93
more? And tell me of my wedded wife, of her counsel
and her purpose, doth she abide with her son and keep all
secure, or hath she already wedded the best of the Acha;-
ans?"
Even so I spake, and anon my lady mother answered
me: "Yea verily, she abideth with steadfast spirit in
thy
halls; and wearily for her the nights wane always and the
daj's in shedding of tears. But the fair honor that is thine
no man hath yet taken; but Telemachus sits at peace on
his domain, and feasts at equal banquets, whereof it is
meet that a judge partake, for all men bid him to their
house.
And thy father abides there in the field, and goes
not down to the town, nor lies he on bedding or rugs or
shining blankets, but all
the winter he sleeps, where sleep
His family
the thralls in the house, in the ashes by the fire, and is
clad in sorry raiment.
But when the summer comes and
the rich harvest-tide, his beds of fallen leaves are strewn
lowly all about the knoll of his vineyard plot. There he
lies sorrowing and nurses his mighty grief, for long desire
of thy return, and old age withal comes heavy upon him.
Yea and even so did I too perish and meet my doom. It
was not the archer goddess of the keen sight, who slew
me in my halls with the visitation of her gentle shafts,
nor did any sickness come upon me, such as chiefly with
a sad wasting draws the spirit from the limbs; nay, it
was my sore longing for thee, and for thy counsels, great
Odysseus, and for thy loving-kindness, that reft me of
sweet life."
So spake she, and I mused in my heart and would fain
have embraced the spirit of my mother dead. Thrice I
sprang toward her, and was minded to embrace her;
thrice she flitted from my hands as a shadow or even
as a dream, and grief waxed ever the sharper at my
Parting with