Eumaios:“...any vagrant who makes his way to the land of Ithaka goes to my mistress and babbles his lies to her, and she then receives him well and entertains him and asks him everything, and as she mourns him the tears run down from her eyes, since this is the right way for a wife when her husband has perished.”(126-130) …show more content…
When Odysseus arrives at the swineherd's home in the forest, he is nearly attacked by the dogs.
Luckily, Eumaios shows up just in time and welcomes him into his hut and offers him what little food and comfort he has.
While serving his guest, Eumaios talks all about the history of the land King Odysseus' leaving to fight in Troy, the suitors' uncouth takeover of Odysseus' home, Penelope's staunch loyalty despite her suffering, and Telemachos' helplessness against the suitors.
Still disguised as a beggar, Odysseus tries to tell Eumaios that Odysseus is not dead and will come back.
The Eumaios kind of rolls his eyes, and changes the subject.
Odysseus makes up an elaborate story about being a commoner from Crete, who coincidentally has suffered many of the same trials that Odysseus did.
In his made-up story, he that he's heard Odysseus had just left an island when the beggar arrived. Odysseus is going to head home just as soon as he consults an oracle.
Eumaios isn't convinced but it's pretty clear that the beggar's story has got him