As she spoke she touched him with
her golden wand. First she threw a fair clean shirt and cloak about
his shoulders; then she made him younger and of more imposing
presence; she gave him back his color, filled out his cheeks, and let
his beard become dark again. Then she went away and Odysseus came
back inside the hut. His son was astounded when he saw him, and
turned his eyes away for fear he might be looking upon a
god.
"Stranger," said he, "how
suddenly you have changed from what you were a moment or two ago. You
are dressed differently and your color is not the same. Are you some
one or other of the gods that live in heaven? If so, be propitious to
me till I can make you due sacrifice and offerings of wrought gold.
Have mercy upon me."
And Odysseus said, "I am no god,
why should you take me for one? I am your father, on whose account
you grieve and suffer so much at the hands of violent
[biê] men."
As he spoke he kissed his son,
and a tear fell from his cheek on to the ground, for he had
restrained all tears till now. but Telemakhos could not yet believe
that it was his father, and said:
Homer. The Odyssey. Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Samuel Butler. Based on public domain edition, revised by Timothy Power and Gregory Nagy. A. C. Fifield, London. 1900 (?).
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