News of Laertes

39And then in turn the master swineherd spoke:
“Rightly and truly will I answer you,
stranger! still Laertes lives, but prays
Continually to Zeus that he may die
In his own house; for sorely he laments
His son long absent, and his excellent wife,
Bride of his youth, whose death has brought on him
Sharp sorrow, and old age before its time.
By a sad death she died —through wasting grief
For her lost, glorious son. May no one here,
No friend of mine, nor one who has bestowed
A kindness on me, die by such a death!
While yet she lived, great as her sorrow was,
I loved to speak with her and hear her words;
For she had reared me with her youngest-born —
Her daughter, long-robed Ctimena. With her
Was I brought up, and scarcely less than her
Was held in honor. When at length we came
Into the pleasant years of youth, they sent
The princess hence to Samos, and received at
Large presents; but to me her mother gave
Garments of price, a tunic and a cloak,
And sandals for my feet, and sent me forth
Into the fields, and loved me more and more.
All this is over now, yet must I say
My calling has been prospered by the gods.
From this I have the means to eat and drink,
And wherewithal to feast a worthy guest;
But from the queen I never have a word
Or deed of kindness, since that evil came
Upon her house —that crew of lawless men.
Greatly the servants would rejoice to speak
Before their mistress, and inquire her will,
And eat and drink, and carry to their homes
Some gift, for gifts delight a servant’s heart.”

40Again Odysseus, the sagacious, spoke:
“Swineherd Eumaeus, you, while yet a child,
Were doubtless strangely tossed about the world,
Far from your kindred and your native land.
Now tell me, was the spacious town wherein
Your father and your mother dwelt laid waste?
Or were you left among the flocks and herds
Untended, and borne off by hostile men,
Who came in ships and sold you to the lord
Of these possessions for a worthy price?”