Book XIV · Episode 3 of 5
The Beggar’s Tale
Odysseus spins false Cretan tale
Scenes
- The Cretan’s Long Tale — Odysseus invents war, plunder, betrayal
- He poses as a well-born Cretan
- Seven years favored by an Egyptian king
- Zeus blasts the ship with a thunderbolt
- A Thesprotian king had seen Odysseus
- He claims he swam ashore, escaping slavers
- Eumaeus Stays Doubtful — Eumaeus rejects oath, spares him from rock
- Eumaeus admits the tale has moved him
- An Aetolian deceived him the same way
- He shelters strangers for Zeus’ sake alone
- Odysseus wagers a cloak against his life
- Eumaeus turns the talk to supper