The Odyssey Summary:Book 14

Odysseus arrives at the hut of his loyal swineherd Eumaios. The old man welcomes Odysseus, in the guise of a poor beggar, and offers him food, wine, and his own bed coverings. To this generous hospitality, Odysseus praises Eumaios and hopes Zeus will repay him his kindness. Eumaios in return says that he would much rather give to a poor beggar than the greedy suitors that give no thought to their standing with the Gods but only the plunder of his old master’s home. Innocently, Odysseus inquires as to who exactly the old man’s master was. Eumaios tells him of all the travelers that have come with false tales of Odysseus, his master, and of Penelope’s tears upon hearing them. He goes on to say that he believes Odysseus to be dead and of his fears for Telemakhos at the hands of the suitors. Odysseus swears that he would never tell false tales in hopes of personal gain, and for Eumaios to have faith that his master will return and avenge his wife and son. The old man changes the subject, asking the poor beggar to tell his tale.

Odysseus then tells him a long story of how he hailed from Crete, fought in the Trojan War, and of all the hardships that had befallen him since he left Egypt; from land to land, and finally ending up at Eumaios’ door. He also mentioned that in the island of Threspotia, he heard tell of Odysseus stopping there on his way to an Oracle of Zeus in Dodona. Eumaios sympathizes with all the man’s hardships, but admonishes him for telling lies about his great master. Odysseus offers to make a pact with the man, swearing that his master will return home soon, he has truthfully spoken, or the old man can make an example of him to others that think to tell lies. The old man laughs at the thought of offering hospitality one day and bringing death the next. He proceeds to prepare a feast for Odysseus and the other herders. They make their offerings to the gods, eat and drink their fill, and Odysseus tells them another tale of the war. Eumaios, moved by the tale sets up the bed for Odysseus and lends his spare cloak to him. The book closes with Odysseus noting with pleasure, that instead of going to sleep inside, the old man spends the night guarding the herd, even though his master is gone.

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The Odyssey Summary > Book 14