Book Fourteen
Odysseus is back in Ithica disguised as a weary, old man. He goes and stays with the swineherder, Eumaeus. Odysseus is disguised because he doesn't want the suitors to attack him, and also because he wants to know how loyal his people have been while he's been away. Eumaeus begins fill Odysseus in on how faithful Penelope has been and how the suitors are constantly diminishing his goods, eating all the meat. Odysseus listens intently to Eumaeus and knows that he is a loyal and trustworthy man, always praising him (Odysseus) and watching over his goods. Eumaeus feeds Odysseus and gives him clothes to keep him warm. Eumaeus says that Odysseus is most likely dead, and Odysseus disagrees saying that he is probably alive and coming home soon. Eumaeus says that he no longer believes this because so many suitors have come to Penelope and asked for gifts in exchange for news of her Odysseus. But all news is a scam, and Penelope is beginning to lose faith that the real Odysseus will ever return home. Odysseus, when asked about how he came to arrive in Ithica, makes up a story about how he fought at Troy with Odysseus and later went to Egypt, but only to end up poor. However, it was during his trip to Egypt that he claims he heard news that Odysseus was still alive.
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