Eurycleia Wakes Penelope

1Up to the royal bower the matron went
With an exulting heart, to tell the queen
That her beloved husband was within.
With knees that faltered not, and quick light step
She went, and, standing by her mistress, said: —

2“Awake, Penelope, dear child, and see
With your own eyes what you have pined for long.
Odysseus has returned; your lord is here,
Though late, and he has slain the arrogant crew
Of suitors, who disgraced his house, and made
His wealth a spoil, and dared insult his son.”

3And thus discreet Penelope replied:
“The gods, dear nurse, have made you mad; for they
Have power to change the wisest men to fools,
And make the foolish wise, and they have warped
Your mind once sound. How can you mock me thus,
Amidst my sorrows, with such idle tales?
Why wake me from the pleasant sleep that closed
My lids so softly? Never have I slept
So sweetly since Odysseus went from me
To that bad city, which no tongue should name.
Go, then; return into the lower rooms.
Had any of my women save yourself
Brought such a message to disturb my sleep,
I would have sent her back into the hall
With angry words; your years are your excuse.”

4But Eurycleia, the dear nurse, rejoined:
“Nay, my dear child, I mock you not. Most true
It is that your Odysseus has returned,
And here he is at home, as I have said.
The stranger whom they scoffed at in the hall
Is he; and long Telemachus has known
That he was here, but wisely kept from all
His father’s secret, till he should avenge
Upon those violent men their guilty deeds.”