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The old woman swore most solemnly
that she would not, and when she had completed her oath, she began
drawing off the wine into jars, and getting the barley meal into the
bags, while Telemakhos went back to the suitors.
Then Athena bethought her of
another matter. She took his shape, and went round the town to each
one of the crew, telling them to meet at the ship by sundown. She
went also to Noemon son of Phronios, and asked him to let her have a
ship - which he was very ready to do. When the sun had set and
darkness was over all the land, she got the ship into the water, put
all the tackle on board her that ships generally carry, and stationed
her at the end of the harbor. Presently the crew came up, and the
goddess spoke encouragingly to each of them.
Furthermore she went to the house
of Odysseus, and threw the suitors into a deep slumber. She caused
their drink to fuddle them, and made them drop their cups from their
hands, so that instead of sitting over their wine, they went back
into the town to sleep, with their eyes heavy and full of drowsiness.
Then she took the form and voice of Mentor, and called Telemakhos to
come outside.
"Telemakhos," said she, "the men
are on board and at their oars, waiting for you to give your orders,
so make haste and let us be off."
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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