_Tel._ My safe return Can be no secret, but my hiding-place 640 Must not be known: therefore I would not have Thee for my herald. Thou mayst bid my mother Send one to comfort him; but go not thou Wandering among the hills. My bidding done, Make swift return. I shall be here. _Eum._ I pray Let not that old man here come round thee, son, With idle stories of thy sire: he is full Of tales of Troy: and if he win thine ear He hath a purpose. _Tel._ He! Nay, trust me, father. _Eum._ Well, he will try. 650 _Tel._ Fear not. _Eum._ He hath a tongue: He saith he fought at Ilion. Then, he saith He knew Ulysses. _Tel._ Saith he so? _Eum._ And then He hath been in Lacedæmon too. _Tel._ His talk While thou’rt away may well beguile the time. _Eum._ Ay, and thee too. Thou hast not heard, I fear, Aught of thy father now, where thou hast been? _Tel._ Somewhat, but nothing recent. What I know I’ll tell thee later. Thou couldst gather nought From this old man? _Eum._ He is cunning: didst thou see How he could counterfeit? I tell thee, son, 660 He hath not been here an hour, and never knew Aught of thy father; but he plucks from me The story word by word, and then at once Bursts out,—he knew Ulysses: ay, he stayed Eating to speak of him. _Tel._ What said he of him? _Eum._ I would not hear him, son: I would not hear him. _Tel._ Think you he lied? _Eum._ Ay, ay. Why, how believe Thy father now is in Thesprotia, Where the king Pheidon hath a ship all stored To bring him home? _Tel._ Eumæus, good Eumæus! 670 What if ’tis true? _Eum._ True! There, ’tis as I thought: I would not leave thee with him, son; he is quick: He will delude thee. _Tel._ I must hear his tale, Though it be false. Go thou: my ship will else Be round before thee. Go, and never fear That this old man will turn my head. _Eum._ Be warned. Trust him not, son. There is something strange about him I like not. _Tel._ Come: as far as to the gate I will go with thee. [_Exeunt._ _Re-enter Ulysses as himself._