Melanthius was physically present at the citizens’ fountain near the city.
See evidence text
“As he spoke he threw his shabby old tattered wallet over his shoulders, by the cord from which it hung, and Eumaeus gave him a stick to his liking. The two then started, leaving the station in charge of the dogs and herdsmen who remained behind; the swineherd led the way and his master followed after, looking like some broken down old tramp as he leaned upon his staff, and his clothes were all in rags. When they had got over the rough steep ground and were nearing the city, they reached the fountain from which the citizens drew their water. This had been made by Ithacus, Neritus, and Polyctor. There was a grove of wa ter-loving poplars planted in a circle all round it, and the clear cold water came down to it from a rock high up, {143} while above the fountain there was an altar to the nymphs, at which all wayfarers used to sacrifice. Here Melanthius son of Dolius overtook them as he was driving down some goats, the best in his flock, for the suitors’ dinner, and there were two shepherds with him. When he saw Eumaeus and Ulysses he reviled them with outrageous and unseemly language, which made Ulysses very angry.
”
Melanthius was physically present inside Ulysses’ house.
See evidence text
“With this he left them to come on at their leisure, while he went quickly forward and soon reached the house of his master. When he got there he went in and took his seat among the suitors opposite Eurymachus, who liked him better than any of the others. The servants brought him a portion of meat, and an upper woman servant set bread before him that he might eat. Presently Ulysses and the swineherd came up to the house and stood by it, amid a sound of music, for Phemius was just beginning to sing to the suitors. Then Ulysses took hold of the swineherd’s hand, and said:
”
“Thus did they converse; meanwhile Melanthius the goatherd came up, for he too was bringing in his best goats for the suitors’ dinner; and he had two shepherds with him. They tied the goats up under the gatehouse, and then Melanthius began gibing at Ulysses. ‘Are you still here, stranger,’ said he, ‘to pester people by begging about the house? Why can you not go elsewhere? You and I shall not come to an understanding before we have given each other a taste of our fists. You beg without any sense of decency: are there not feasts elsewhere among the Achaeans, as well as here?’
”
Melanthius went by back passages into Ulysses’s store-room.
See evidence text
“On this the goatherd Melanthius went by back passages to the store-room of Ulysses’ house. There he chose twelve shields, with as many helmets and spears, and brought them back as fast as he could to give them to the suitors. Ulysses’ heart began to fail him when he saw the suitors {171} putting on their armour and brandishing their spears. He saw the greatness of the danger, and said to Telemachus, ‘Some one of the women inside is helping the suitors against us, or it may be Melanthius.’
”
·Hypothetical
Ulysses ordered that Melanthius be thrown and bound in the store-room.
See evidence text
“Ulysses answered, ‘Telemachus and I will hold these suitors in check, no matter what they do; go back both of you and bind Melanthius’ hands and feet behind him. Throw him into the store room and make the door fast behind you; then fasten a noose about his body, and string him close up to the rafters from a high bearing-post, {172} that he may linger on in an agony.’
”
·Direct
Melanthius searched for arms and was seized and suspended in the store-room.
See evidence text
“Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said; they went to the store room, which they entered before Melanthius saw them, for he was busy searching for arms in the innermost part of the room, so the two took their stand on either side of the door and waited. By and by Melanthius came out with a helmet in one hand, and an old dry-rotted shield in the other, which had been borne by Laertes when he was young, but which had been long since thrown aside, and the straps had become unsewn; on this the two seized him, dragged him back by the hair, and threw him struggling to the ground. They bent his hands and feet well behind his back, and bound them tight with a painful bond as Ulysses had told them; then they fastened a noose about his body and strung him up from a high pillar till he was close up to the rafters, and over him did you then vaunt, O swineherd Eumaeus saying, ‘Melanthius, you will pass the night on a soft bed as you deserve. You will know very well when morning comes from the streams of Oceanus, and it is time for you to be driving in your goats for the suitors to feast on.’
”
“As for Melanthius, they took him through the cloister into the inner court. There they cut off his nose and his ears; they drew out his vitals and gave them to the dogs raw, and then in their fury they cut off his hands and his feet.
”
Melanthius was taken into the inner court and mutilated there.
See evidence text
“As for Melanthius, they took him through the cloister into the inner court. There they cut off his nose and his ears; they drew out his vitals and gave them to the dogs raw, and then in their fury they cut off his hands and his feet.
”
Melanthius, son of Dolius, overtakes the travelers while driving his best goats to the suitors’ dinner.
See evidence text
“Melanthius son of Dolius overtook them as he was driving down some goats, the best in his flock, for the suitors’ dinner”
·Hypothetical
Melanthius imagines making the beggar clean folds or feed kids and predicts stools will break his head at Ulysses’s house.
See evidence text
“he might do to clean out the folds, or bring a bit of sweet feed to the kids, and he could fatten his thighs as much as he pleased on whey; but he has taken to bad ways and will not go about any kind of work; he will do nothing but beg victuals all the town over, to feed his insatiable belly. I say, therefore—and it shall surely be—if he goes near Ulysses’ house he will get his head broken by the stools they will fling at him”
·Direct
Melanthius wantonly kicks Ulysses on the hip.
See evidence text
“he gave Ulysses a kick on the hip out of pure wantonness”
·Hypothetical
Melanthius threatens to ship Eumaeus abroad and sell him, and wishes Apollo or the suitors would kill Telemachus.
See evidence text
“Some day or other I will put you on board ship and take you to a foreign country, where I can sell you and pocket the money you will fetch. I wish I were as sure that Apollo would strike Telemachus dead this very day, or that the suitors would kill him”
·Direct
Melanthius sits among the suitors opposite Eurymachus, who favors him above the others.
See evidence text
“he went in and took his seat among the suitors opposite Eurymachus, who liked him better than any of the others”
·Direct
Melanthius brings his best goats for the suitors, ties them under the gatehouse, and taunts and threatens the begging stranger.
See evidence text
“Melanthius the goatherd came up, for he too was bringing in his best goats for the suitors’ dinner; and he had two shepherds with him. They tied the goats up under the gatehouse, and then Melanthius began gibing at Ulysses. ‘Are you still here, stranger,’ said he, ‘to pester people by begging about the house? Why can you not go elsewhere? You and I shall not come to an understanding before we have given each other a taste of our fists. You beg without any sense of decency: are there not feasts elsewhere among the Achaeans”
·Direct
Melanthius pours wine for the diners.
See evidence text
“Melanthius poured them out their wine”
·Reported
Melanthius is ordered to light a fire, prepare a sheepskin-covered seat, and bring a large ball of lard.
See evidence text
“Melanthius the goatherd, ‘Look sharp, light a fire in the court, and set a seat hard by with a sheep skin on it; bring us also a large ball of lard”
·Direct
Melanthius lights the fire, sets a seat covered with sheepskins, and brings a great ball of lard.
See evidence text
“Melanthius lit the fire, and set a seat covered with sheep skins beside it. He also brought a great ball of lard from what they had in the house”
·Reported
Antinous plans to order Melanthius to bring his best goats for Apollo’s sacrifice the next day.
See evidence text
“tell Melanthius to bring us in some goats tomorrow—the best he has”
·Reported
Melanthius judges the narrow approach defensible by one brave man and proposes fetching arms from the store-room.
See evidence text
“This may not be, Agelaus,’ answered Melanthius, ‘the mouth of the narrow passage is dangerously near the entrance to the outer court. One brave man could prevent any number from getting in. But I know what I will do, I will bring you arms from the store-room, for I am sure it is there that Ulysses and his son have put them”
·Direct
Melanthius uses back passages to reach the store-room, selects twelve shields with matching helmets and spears, and carries them to the suitors.
See evidence text
“On this the goatherd Melanthius went by back passages to the store-room of Ulysses’ house. There he chose twelve shields, with as many helmets and spears, and brought them back as fast as he could to give them to the suitors”
·Direct
Melanthius returns toward the store-room to fetch more armour for the suitors.
See evidence text
“Meanwhile Melanthius was again going to the store room to fetch more armour”
·Reported
Ulysses orders Melanthius bound hand and foot, shut in the store-room, and suspended by a noose from a high bearing-post to linger in agony.
See evidence text
“bind Melanthius’ hands and feet behind him. Throw him into the store room and make the door fast behind you; then fasten a noose about his body, and string him close up to the rafters from a high bearing-post, {172} that he may linger on in an agony”
·Direct
Melanthius emerges carrying a helmet and decayed shield, is seized by the hair, tightly bound hand and foot, and suspended by a noose close to the rafters.
See evidence text
“Melanthius came out with a helmet in one hand, and an old dry-rotted shield in the other, which had been borne by Laertes when he was young, but which had been long since thrown aside, and the straps had become unsewn; on this the two seized him, dragged him back by the hair, and threw him struggling to the ground. They bent his hands and feet well behind his back, and bound them tight with a painful bond as Ulysses had told them; then they fastened a noose about his body and strung him up from a high pillar till he was close up to the rafters”
·Direct
Melanthius is taken into the inner court, mutilated by loss of nose, ears, vitals, hands, and feet, and his raw vitals are given to dogs.
See evidence text
“As for Melanthius, they took him through the cloister into the inner court. There they cut off his nose and his ears; they drew out his vitals and gave them to the dogs raw, and then in their fury they cut off his hands and his feet”