When Telemakhos arrived, without even a growl from the watchdogs, I and the swineherd were just talking, but when he came in, the swineherd hugged and kissed him, for he was so glad that Telemakhos had escaped death at the hands of the suitors. The swinherd asked if I could have protection from Telemakhos and stay at the palace, and Telemakhos replied that it would be unsafe for me to stay up there and that he would clothe me and sail me wherever I wanted, but that I'd have to stay here for safety. I told Telemakhos that, with no disrespect intended, instead of just running away from the suitors he should stand up and fight because even if he went alone and died, at least he died honorably and in his own home rather than in far off lands. Telemakhos explained his situation a bit more, then sent the swineherd to his mother to tell only her that he had arrived home safely, but not to tell any other Akhaians because they wanted to kill him. The swineherd left, and soon Athena appeared as a wise old women to everyone but me (I knew it was Athena) and she beckoned me outside and when I went to her, she told me to tell Telemakhos who I am and what I'm planning to do. And with that she tipped her golden wand on me and I became young again, with a pure white cloak and fresh knit tunic, no beard, and a sun-kissed sailor's air about me. I walked back into the cabin and Telemakhos thought I was a god because I had changed so drastically, and I said I wasn't but I was his father, Odysseus, and I cried and embraced him. But he didn't think it was me and said that only spirits or those helped by gods could change so drastically. I replied that it was I, the one and only, and that Athena was helping me with the changes and Telemakhos sat down, bewildered. He then threw his arms around me and we both weeped. When we finally stopped crying, Telemakhos asked how I arrived here, and I told him that the Phaiakians brought me here while I slept and with a huge amount of treasures hidden in a cave at the shore. I also told him that we were going to kill the suitors. And he wondered how, and we had a little discussion about the gods and how we were going to do this. Back at the palace, both the crew and the swineherd told Penelope that Telemakhos was home. The crew sailed down the beach, where the suitors met them, wondering how Telemakhos escaped their grasp, and telling the crew how they meant to kill Telemakhos so that he could be gone for good. Then one suitor spoke up, saying how they shouldn't kill one of royal blood and they should consult the gods; if they say yes, they'll kill Telemakhos, if no, then don't kill him, and every suitor agreed. And Penelope knew they wanted to kill Telemakhos and when the suitors poured into the palace, Penelope came and told them that she knew and asked why they plotted so. And one suitor was bold enough to stand up and tell Penelope straight lies about how they would nevertouch Telemakhos, and when he was done she silently went to her chambers and wept until Athena sent her to sleep.
The swineherd approached, and Athena quickly turned me old once more. Telemakhos greeted him first, asking about news from town, but the swineherd had rushed there and home and had had no time for town talk. We ate pig for dinner and drank lots of wine and sat down and talked. When we finally couldn't talk anymore, we took the gift of sleep and left talking until the morning.
Picture by: http://www.minervaclassics.com/
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