“Someone has destroyed my sleeping chamber, if the bed may be carried out,” cried Ulysses. “And I had joined it so well to the trunk of the olive tree.” [Illustration: _ULYSSES REVEALS HIMSELF TO PENELOPE_] Penelope burst into tears at these words and she trembled. “Ulysses, my dear Ulysses!” she cried as she threw her arms about his neck and covered his face with a thousand tender kisses. “Now I know it is thee, for no one in this house knoweth the secret but thyself and me. And now welcome, my precious husband, for whom I have wept a thousand sleepless nights, praying to the gods for thy safe return. Welcome! Welcome! But do not be angry with me because I did not know thee at once, nor trust the first assurance like a giddy young girl. There are so many crafty deceivers. Ah, hadst thou been able to see the struggle in my heart while I was burning to embrace thee. My seeming coldness was only caused by the innumerable sufferings due to my mighty love.” Their tears mingled, and Penelope lay upon the heart of her newly found lord in silent rapture, her emotion expressing itself only in deep sighs. Midnight was long past when Eurynome brought her torch to guide them to their rest. Chapter XVII Ulysses goes to Laertes—His Father’s Conflict with the Friends of the slain Suitors—Great Sacrifice and Festival in Ithaca Before dawn, after a few hours of sleep, Ulysses arose and awakened his wife, Telemachus, and the herdsmen. “Come quickly, friends,” said he, “that we may reach my father’s plantation before daylight. Very soon the news of the death of the suitors will spread throughout the island, and the princes whose sons have not returned at night will set out to seek them. If they all unite and lead their people against us, we shall not be able to withstand them. Therefore we will conceal ourselves in Laertes’ distant garden in the country. Some god will then tell us what further course to pursue. But thou, Penelope, do thou remain here until I summon thee. Ascend to the upper chambers with thy maidens and stay quietly there, for their vengeance will not touch thee.” When he had finished speaking, the men took up their weapons and hastened away. With the first rays of the sun they entered the enclosure that surrounded old Laertes’ country-seat. His house stood in front, surrounded by the farm buildings. The men were away at work, but Laertes was in the orchard, which he loved and where he himself labored every day. Telemachus explained to the servants that he had brought a stranger who wished to speak with the old king. To Telemachus and the two herdsmen Ulysses spoke aside. “Remain ye here and prepare a select fattened pig for a sacrifice. Meanwhile I will go alone to my father and see if he know me. Then I will bring him here and we will eat together.”