Medon Spared

49“Refrain; smite not the guiltless with the sword;
And be the herald, Medon, also spared,
Who in our palace had the care of me
Through all my childhood; if he be not slain
Already by Philoetius, or by him
Who tends the swine, or if he have not met
Yourself, when you were ranging through the hail.”

50He spoke, and the sagacious Medon heard,
As crouching underneath a throne he lay,
Wrapped in the skin just taken from a steer,
To hide from the black doom of death. He came
From where he lay, and quickly flung aside
The skin, and, springing forward, clasped the knees
Of the young prince, and said in winged words: —

51“Dear youth, behold me here; be merciful;
Speak to your father, that he put not forth
His sword to slay me, eager as he is
For vengeance, and incensed against the men
Who haunt these halls to make his wealth a spoil,
And in their folly hold yourself in scorn.”

52He spoke; the sage Odysseus smiled and said:
“Be of good cheer, since this my son protects
And rescues you. Now may you well perceive,
And say to other men, how much more safe
Is doing good than evil. Go you forth
Out of this slaughter to the open court,
You and the illustrious bard, and sit you there,
While here within I do what yet I must.”

53He spoke; they moved away and left the hall,
And by the altar of almighty Zeus
Sat looking round them, still in fear of death.