Reunion with Penelope

4He ended; from the lodge Telemachus
Passed quickly, meditating to destroy
The suitors. Coming to his stately home,
He leaned his spear against a column’s shaft,
And, crossing the stone threshold, entered in.
First Eurycleia, who had been his nurse,
Beheld him, as she spread the beautiful thrones
With skins, and ran to him with weeping eyes;
And round him other handmaids of the house
Of resolute Odysseus thronged. They gave
Fond welcome, kissing him upon the brow
And shoulders. Issuing from her chamber next
The chaste Penelope, like Artemis’ self
In beauty, or like golden Aphrodite, came,
And, weeping, threw her arms about her son,
And kissed him on his forehead and on both
His glorious eyes, and said, amidst her tears: —

5“Light of my eyes! O my Telemachus!
Are you, then, come? I never thought again
To see you, when I heard you had embarked
For Pylos —secretly, and knowing me
Unwilling —in the hope to gather there
Some tidings of your father. Tell me now
All that has happened, all that you have seen.”

6And thus discreet Telemachus replied:
“Nay, mother, waken not my griefs again,
Nor move my heart to rage. I have just now
Escaped a cruel death. But go and bathe,
And put fresh garments on, and when you come
Into your chamber with your maidens, make
A vow to all the gods that you will burn
A sacrifice of chosen hecatombs
When Zeus shall have avenged our wrongs.
Now must I hasten to the marketplace
In quest of one who came with me a guest
From Pylos. Him, with all my faithful crew,
I sent before me to this port, and bade
Piraeus lead him to his own abode,
There to be lodged and honored till I came.”