Explore "Stories from the Odyssey" by H.L. Havell on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
It was past noon before Odysseus and Eumaeus set out for the town; for Eumaeus had conceived a great liking for his guest, and listened with delight to his wonderful tales of adventure. "Come," he said at last, when Odysseus had finished one of his long stories. "It is time to be going, though I would willingly have kept thee here. But my young lord has spoken and we must obey. " "Lead on," said Odysseus, "I know what thou wouldst say; but first give me a staff to lean on, for I heard thee say that the path was rough."
So saying he threw his tattered wallet over his shoulder, and taking a stout staff, which Eumaeus offered him, started with his friend across the hills. After a toilsome walk they reached the top of the hill which overlooked the town, and descending the slope they came to a copious spring of water, well fenced with stones, and shaded by a grove of alders. The water descended into a basin from the face of a rock in a cool and copious stream; and on either side stood an altar to the nymphs. "It is the common fountain of the townspeople," explained Eumaeus. "The altars and the basin which receives the water are the work of our ancient kings."