WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.850 [Sounds of the sea] 00:00:16.850 --> 00:00:23.250 Episode 9: A Stranger in his Own Land 00:00:23.250 --> 00:00:31.090 [Sounds of the sea] 00:00:31.090 --> 00:00:38.910 Odysseus stood in the bronze-floored feasting hall of King Alcinous, 00:00:38.910 --> 00:00:43.870 looking at the king and the old blind storyteller, 00:00:43.870 --> 00:00:46.840 and there was a long silence. 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:49.300 And then King Alcinous said, 00:00:49.300 --> 00:00:50.750 “Odysseus, 00:00:50.750 --> 00:00:56.020 you have suffered much in your wanderings across the broad face of the world, 00:00:56.020 --> 00:01:09.280 but now that you have reached my bronze-floored feasting hall I swear by the mighty gods that I will send a high-prowed ship to carry you home to rocky Ithaca. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:18.080 And I swear by the mighty gods and goddesses you will not return home empty-handed.” 00:01:18.080 --> 00:01:22.980 And great chests of treasure were brought into the feasting hall. 00:01:22.980 --> 00:01:26.330 And they were carried down to the quayside, 00:01:26.330 --> 00:01:28.880 where a ship was waiting. 00:01:28.880 --> 00:01:32.710 They were loaded onto the deck of the ship. 00:01:32.710 --> 00:01:39.910 And Odysseus himself was led down to the ship and he walked across the gangplank onto the deck of it. 00:01:39.910 --> 00:01:44.300 And the sails were unfurled and the anchors were lifted, 00:01:44.300 --> 00:01:54.130 and the wind filled the sails like a great belly and the prow of the ship cut a path through the churning blue waves of the sea. 00:01:54.130 --> 00:02:08.960 And Odysseus lay down on the deck of that ship and he wrapped himself in his cloak and he closed his eyes and he fell into the sweet oblivious balm of sleep. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:14.000 And all that day he slept and he slept and he slept. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:22.590 And then the night came and the sky brightened with stars and still Odysseus was fast asleep. 00:02:22.590 --> 00:02:25.660 And the moon rose, and the moon fell, 00:02:25.660 --> 00:02:29.270 and still Odysseus was sleeping. 00:02:29.270 --> 00:02:34.130 And they reached the island of Ithaca and Odysseus was still fast asleep. 00:02:34.130 --> 00:02:39.360 And so the sailors lifted him tenderly in their arms and they waded ashore, 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:42.130 and they set him down on the shingle beach. 00:02:42.130 --> 00:02:50.100 And they set the great chests of treasure beside him and they returned to the ship and they sailed away. 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:56.300 But nothing is hidden from the eyes of the mighty gods and goddesses. 00:02:56.300 --> 00:03:02.080 And from the high slopes of Mount Olympus owl-eyed Athene, 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:10.340 the goddess of war and wisdom, looked down and she saw Odysseus lying, sleeping. 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:17.470 And Athene was fond of Odysseus and she was worried that he might come into some danger. 00:03:17.470 --> 00:03:23.500 And so she covered the island with a white, swirling mist. 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:27.160 And she strapped on her sandals of untarnishing gold, 00:03:27.160 --> 00:03:28.770 she seized her spear, 00:03:28.770 --> 00:03:37.750 she flashed down out of the sky until she was standing just a short distance from where Odysseus was lying fast asleep. 00:03:37.750 --> 00:03:43.820 And then the sun rose and the light of the sun shone through the white mist. 00:03:43.820 --> 00:03:51.650 And the opaque light woke Odysseus and he rubbed his eyes and he looked about himself and all he could see was mist. 00:03:51.650 --> 00:03:52.940 And he said, “Where am I? 00:03:52.940 --> 00:03:54.480 What is this place? 00:03:54.480 --> 00:03:58.080 Where has my bitter destiny driven me to now?” 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:01.380 And then he saw standing, not far away, there was a figure 00:04:01.380 --> 00:04:03.780 and taking it for a shepherd or a fisherman, he said, 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:05.130 “Stranger, tell me, where am I? 00:04:05.130 --> 00:04:06.700 What is this place?” 00:04:06.700 --> 00:04:10.860 And Athene answered him in the voice of a man. 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:11.710 She said, 00:04:11.710 --> 00:04:15.000 “You must be a fool or a dolt if you don’t know this place! 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:18.300 This place is famous from Troy to the ocean streams, 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:20.680 from the rising to the setting of the sun – 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:23.810 this is the island of Ithaca!” 00:04:23.810 --> 00:04:30.050 And Odysseus peered through the mist and Athene walked towards him, 00:04:30.050 --> 00:04:32.890 her grey eyes shining with light, 00:04:32.890 --> 00:04:35.290 her long limbs unblemished, 00:04:35.290 --> 00:04:37.760 and she said, “Noble Odysseus, 00:04:37.760 --> 00:04:40.890 you are home at last!” 00:04:40.890 --> 00:04:44.070 And she reached down and she lifted the mist, 00:04:44.070 --> 00:04:47.010 as though she was lifting a curtain. 00:04:47.010 --> 00:04:55.990 And Odysseus saw Mount Neriton and he saw the beetling rocks and the terraced fields and the cliffs of his native land – 00:04:55.990 --> 00:04:57.980 his own homeland – 00:04:57.980 --> 00:05:03.390 and he threw himself down onto the ground and he kissed the earth. 00:05:03.390 --> 00:05:05.040 And Athene shook his shoulders. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:05.920 She said, “Odysseus, 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:08.060 quick there is no time to be wasted. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:11.060 First of all we must hide these chests of treasure”, 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:15.720 and she helped him lift the great chests and they carried them to a cave. 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:20.390 And she caused a great stone to roll in front of the cave entrance. 00:05:20.390 --> 00:05:21.620 And then she said, “Odysseus, 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:24.400 listen, the situation is this. 00:05:24.400 --> 00:05:28.900 You are home alone, unknown, 00:05:28.900 --> 00:05:36.590 under a strange sail and there is danger waiting where there should be a welcome. 00:05:36.590 --> 00:05:42.110 Sit down and listen to me and I will tell you everything. 00:05:42.110 --> 00:05:44.530 While you have been away, 00:05:44.530 --> 00:05:48.160 your wife Penelope has been waiting for you. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:51.790 But your feasting hall has been invaded by suitors, 00:05:51.790 --> 00:05:54.460 men who want to marry her. 00:05:54.460 --> 00:05:58.220 And she cannot bring herself to marry another man. 00:05:58.220 --> 00:06:07.750 And so she said she will only choose a new husband when she has finished weaving a shroud for your father, old Laertes. 00:06:07.750 --> 00:06:10.660 And every day she sits at her loom, 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:11.960 but every night, 00:06:11.960 --> 00:06:21.300 by the light of the moon she unravels all that she has woven during the day and that way she keeps the suitors at bay. 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:24.070 But while those suitors are waiting, 00:06:24.070 --> 00:06:27.260 they are slaughtering your cattle, Odysseus, 00:06:27.260 --> 00:06:29.570 they are drinking your wine. 00:06:29.570 --> 00:06:32.870 Every day they sit and they feast, 00:06:32.870 --> 00:06:35.150 dishonouring your name. 00:06:35.150 --> 00:06:38.080 And your son, Telemachus, 00:06:38.080 --> 00:06:39.910 he has set off from Ithaca, 00:06:39.910 --> 00:06:42.820 disgusted by the behaviour of those suitors, 00:06:42.820 --> 00:06:47.480 he has made a journey to Sparta searching for news of you, Odysseus. 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:50.960 And there he has met red-haired Menelaus, the king of Sparta, 00:06:50.960 --> 00:06:52.230 and beautiful Helen, 00:06:52.230 --> 00:06:56.600 restored now to her rightful husband after the fall of Troy. 00:06:56.600 --> 00:07:05.900 For thirty days Telemachus has stayed in their palace and red-haired Menelaus has told him all that he knows about your journey home. 00:07:05.900 --> 00:07:08.120 But now Odysseus, 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:12.490 those suitors, who have invaded your feasting hall, 00:07:12.490 --> 00:07:18.030 they are planning to murder Telemachus when he comes home.” 00:07:18.030 --> 00:07:21.160 And Odysseus drew his dagger from his belt. 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:22.260 He said, “Goddess. 00:07:22.260 --> 00:07:29.190 If you would fight alongside me now as you fought alongside us Greeks when we brought down Troy’s shining diadem of towers, 00:07:29.190 --> 00:07:34.400 I swear the floors of my hall would soon run red with blood!” 00:07:34.400 --> 00:07:37.730 But Athene touched his lips with her fingers and she said, 00:07:37.730 --> 00:07:39.220 “Shh, Odysseus, 00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:42.150 I had thought you were becoming wise. 00:07:42.150 --> 00:07:47.520 This is no time for acts of daring folly.” 00:07:47.520 --> 00:07:52.930 And she reached and she touched Odysseus’ shoulder with her hand. 00:07:52.930 --> 00:07:56.830 And as she touched him his shoulders stooped, 00:07:56.830 --> 00:07:59.910 the hawklike light went out of his eyes, 00:07:59.910 --> 00:08:04.130 his hair whitened, his arms grew thin, his hands trembling, 00:08:04.130 --> 00:08:06.690 he was dressed in nothing but rags. 00:08:06.690 --> 00:08:08.520 She said, “Odysseus, listen. 00:08:08.520 --> 00:08:12.240 You must go as an old beggar now. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:15.420 Do not go to your feasting hall. 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:20.700 Go rather to the hut of your faithful swineherd Eumaeus. 00:08:20.700 --> 00:08:23.310 Do not reveal yourself to him. 00:08:23.310 --> 00:08:27.960 But listen and you will learn much.” 00:08:27.960 --> 00:08:30.360 And Odysseus, in the shape of an old beggar, 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:35.620 nodded his head up and down and he turned and he hobbled up from the beach, 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:37.770 up the slope of the hill. 00:08:37.770 --> 00:08:44.260 And Athene stood and she watched him for a while and then she turned on her heel and she flashed across the sea to Sparta, 00:08:44.260 --> 00:08:47.060 to the palace of red-haired Menelaus and beautiful Helen. 00:08:47.060 --> 00:08:49.290 And there was Telemachus in his bed, 00:08:49.290 --> 00:08:52.640 covered with a crimson blanket, fast asleep. 00:08:52.640 --> 00:08:54.930 Athene stood beside the bed. 00:08:54.930 --> 00:08:56.430 She said, “Telemachus! 00:08:56.430 --> 00:08:57.230 Telemachus!” 00:08:57.230 --> 00:09:01.140 And Telemachus woke up with the little hairs on the back of his neck rising. 00:09:01.140 --> 00:09:04.310 He knew he was in the presence of one of the mighty gods or goddesses. 00:09:04.310 --> 00:09:07.700 He opened his eyes and there was Athene standing over the bed. 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:09.340 She said, “Telemachus, listen. 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:11.930 The time has come for you to go home. 00:09:11.930 --> 00:09:16.480 Your mother Penelope has been discovered by the suitors, 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:20.620 unravelling Laertes’ shroud by moonlight. 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:22.920 And she has been forced to finish it. 00:09:22.920 --> 00:09:25.990 And now she must choose a new husband. 00:09:25.990 --> 00:09:28.560 You must go home, but be careful! 00:09:28.560 --> 00:09:32.370 The suitors are planning to murder you on your return. 00:09:32.370 --> 00:09:35.680 Do not go to your father’s feasting hall. 00:09:35.680 --> 00:09:41.070 Go rather to the hut of your faithful swineherd Eumaeus.” 00:09:41.070 --> 00:09:44.710 And the goddess had vanished and Telemachus was left, 00:09:44.710 --> 00:09:51.470 filled with spirit and awe in the knowledge that he’d been in the presence of one of the mighty goddesses. 00:09:51.470 --> 00:09:56.500 And straightaway he made preparations for his journey homewards. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:10:01.270 Meanwhile, Odysseus, in the shape of an old beggar, 00:10:01.270 --> 00:10:05.010 was climbing the hill towards the hut of Eumaeus. 00:10:05.010 --> 00:10:10.620 And when Eumaeus saw the old beggar climbing the hill he threw open the doors of his hut and he said, 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:17.860 “It has been decreed by mighty Zeus that anyone approaching one’s threshold in peace should be welcomed. 00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:18.830 Old man, 00:10:18.830 --> 00:10:21.550 come inside, sit down.” 00:10:21.550 --> 00:10:28.360 And the swineherd showed the old beggar where he could sit and then he slaughtered a fatted hog. 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:38.210 And when he had made sacrifices to the mighty gods and goddesses he roasted the meat over the flames of the fire and he gave the best cut, 00:10:38.210 --> 00:10:40.040 the sweet chine, 00:10:40.040 --> 00:10:41.680 to the old beggar. 00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:44.680 And gratefully the old beggar ate. 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:48.510 And Eumaeus, the swineherd, sat down beside him and told him story, 00:10:48.510 --> 00:10:50.900 after story, after story, 00:10:50.900 --> 00:10:57.210 of the outrages that had been committed by the suitors in Odysseus’ feasting hall. 00:10:57.210 --> 00:11:02.400 And as Odysseus listened he felt the bile rising in his throat, 00:11:02.400 --> 00:11:05.400 he felt his heart pounding against his ribs. 00:11:05.400 --> 00:11:10.040 But he bit his lip and he swallowed and he said nothing. 00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:13.390 And when at last the swineherd fell silent, 00:11:13.390 --> 00:11:15.770 the old beggar turned and said, 00:11:15.770 --> 00:11:17.310 “In my travels, 00:11:17.310 --> 00:11:21.460 in my journeying from pillar to post and port to port, 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:30.610 in many places I have heard rumours that Odysseus is on his way home with chests filled with treasure.” 00:11:30.610 --> 00:11:32.210 And Eumaeus shook his head. 00:11:32.210 --> 00:11:33.560 He said, “Old man, 00:11:33.560 --> 00:11:40.950 I can see you are trying to win your way into my heart with tittle-tattle and half-remembered gossip. 00:11:40.950 --> 00:11:44.160 No, Odysseus is dead! 00:11:44.160 --> 00:11:46.180 I feel it in my bones. 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:52.330 His body is rolling somewhere deep beneath the blue waves of the sea.” 00:11:52.330 --> 00:11:57.230 And so it was the beggar stayed with the swineherd. 00:11:57.230 --> 00:12:03.330 And every day when the swineherd took his pigs to graze and rootle for truffles, 00:12:03.330 --> 00:12:06.740 Odysseus wandered the island. 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:10.820 In the shape of an old beggar he climbed Mount Neriton, 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:13.950 he wandered the vineyards and the hills, 00:12:13.950 --> 00:12:16.550 and the cliffs, and the beaches, 00:12:16.550 --> 00:12:22.600 his heart singing for joy to feel his homeland, his native land, 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:25.850 against the soles of his feet. 00:12:25.850 --> 00:12:29.980 And then on the morning of the fourth day, 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:33.460 the swineherd was preparing breakfast for the two of them, 00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:37.010 and the old beggar was sitting on a stool by the fire, 00:12:37.010 --> 00:12:38.840 when the door opened, 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:45.090 and standing framed in the doorway there was a young man with his first beard on his chin. 00:12:45.090 --> 00:12:49.710 And when Eumaeus, the swineherd, saw the young man he dropped the bowl he was holding. 00:12:49.710 --> 00:12:51.320 He said, “Telemachus! 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:54.920 By the mighty gods you are safely home!” 00:12:54.920 --> 00:12:59.520 And he ran across and he threw his arms around the young man’s neck. 00:12:59.520 --> 00:13:03.120 He kissed the forehead, the left eye, the right eye, the lips, 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.210 the left hand, the right hand – 00:13:05.210 --> 00:13:07.920 like a father honouring his son, 00:13:07.920 --> 00:13:12.620 the swineherd honoured his prince. 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:16.990 And Odysseus, sitting on the stool by the fire, 00:13:16.990 --> 00:13:23.220 saw his son for the first time for nineteen years. 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:27.290 And he said nothing. 00:13:27.290 --> 00:14:11.010 [Closing music]