section 30 of myths and legends this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lucy LaFaro myths and legends of ancient Greece and Rome by E. M. Behrens section 30 return of the Greeks from Troy during the sacking of the city of Troy the Greeks in the hour of victory committed many acts of desecration and cruelty which called down upon them the wrath of the gods for which reason their homeward journey was beset with manifold dangers and disasters and many perished before they reached their native land Nestor, Diomedes, Phyloctetes and Neoptolomus were among those who arrived safely in Greece after a prosperous voyage the vessel which carried Menelaus and Helen was driven by violent tempests to the coasts of Egypt and only after many years of weary wanderings and vicissitudes did they succeed in reaching their home at Sparta. Ajax the Lesser having offended Palisthen by desecrating her temple on the night of the destruction of Troy was shipwrecked off Cape Caperus he succeeded however in clinging to a rock and his life might have been spared but for his impious boast that he needed not to the help of the gods. No sooner had he uttered the sacrilegious words than Poseidon enraged at his audacity split with his strident the rock to which the hero was clinging and the unfortunate Ajax was overwhelmed by the waves. Fate of Agamemnon the homeward voyage of Agamemnon was tolerably uneventful and prosperous but on his arrival at Mycenae misfortune and ruin awaited him. His wife Cleetam Nestor in revenge for the sacrifice of her beloved daughter Iphigenia had formed a secret alliance during his absence with Aegisthus the son of Thaestis and on the return of Agamemnon they both conspired to compass his destruction. Cleetam Nestor feigned the greatest joy on beholding her husband and in spite of the urgent warnings of Cassandra who was now a captive in his train he received her protestations of affection with the most trusting confidence. In her well-assumed anxiety for the comfort of the weary traveller she prepared a warm bath for his refreshment and at a given signal from the treacherous Queen, Agisthus who was concealed in an adjoining chamber rushed upon the defenseless hero and slew him. During the massacre of the retainers of Agamemnon which followed his daughter Electra with great presence of mind contrived to save her young brother Orestes he fled for refuge to his uncle Strophius king of Phosis who educated him with his own son Palaides and an ardent friendship sprung up between the youths which from its constancy and disinterestedness has become proverbial. As Orestes grew up to manhood his one great all-absorbing desire was to avenge the death of his father accompanied by his faithful friend Palaides he repaired in disguise to Mycenae where Agisthus and Cleetam Nestor reigned conjointly over the kingdom of Argos. In order to disarm suspicion he had taken the precaution to dispatch a messenger to Cleetam Nestor purporting to be sent by King Strophius to announce to her the untimely death of her son Orestes through an accident during a chariot race at Delphi. Arrived at Mycenae he found his sister Electra so overwhelmed with grief at the news of her brother's death that to her he revealed his identity. When he heard from her lips how cruelly she had been treated by her mother and how joyfully the news of his demise had been received his long pent-up passion completely overpowered him and rushing into the presence of the king and queen he first pierced Cleetam Nestor to the heart and afterwards her guilty partner. But the crime of murdering his own mother was not long unevented by the gods. Hardly was the fatal act committed when the furies appeared and unceasingly pursued the unfortunate Orestes wherever he went. In this wretched plight he sought refuge in the temple of Delphi where he earnestly besought Apollo to release him from his cruel tormentors. The god commanded him in expiation of his crime to repair to Torica Casonisus and convey the statue of Artemis from thence to the kingdom of Attica, an expedition fraught with extreme peril. We have already seen in a former chapter how Orestes escaped the fate which befell all strangers who landed on the Torian coast and how with the aid of his sister Iphigenia, the priestess of the temple, he succeeded in conveying the statue of the goddess to his native country. But the furies did not so easily relinquish their prey and only by means of the interposition of the just and powerful goddess Palisthen was Orestes finally liberated from their persecution. His peace of mind being at length restored, Orestes assumed the government of the kingdom of Argos and became united to the beautiful Hermione, daughter of Helen and Menelaus. On his faithful friend, Pelades, he bestowed the hand of his beloved sister, the good and faithful Electra. Homeward voyage of Odysseus. With his twelve ships laden with enormous treasures captured during the sacking of Troy, Odysseus set sail with a light heart for his rocky island home of Ithaca. At length the happy hour had arrived which for ten long years the hero had so anxiously awaited, and he little dreamt that ten more must elapse before he would be permitted by the fates to clasp to his heart his beloved wife and child. During his homeward voyage his little fleet was driven by stress of weather to a land whose inhabitants subsisted entirely on a curious plant called the Lotus which was sweet as honey to the taste, but had the effect of causing utter oblivion of home and country and of creating an irresistible longing to remain forever in the land of the Lotus eaters. Odysseus and his companions were hospitably received by the inhabitants who regaled them freely with their peculiar and very delicious food. After partaking of which however the comrades of the hero refused to leave the country and it was only by sheer force that he at length succeeded in bringing them back to their ships. Polyphemus. Continuing their journey they next arrived at the country of the Cyclops, a race of giants remarkable for having only one eye which was placed in the centre of their foreheads. Here Odysseus, whose love of adventure overcame more prudent considerations, left his fleet safely anchored in the bay of a neighbouring island and with twelve chosen companions set out to explore the country. Neither sure they found a vast cave into which they boldly entered. In the interior they saw to their surprise huge piles of cheese and great pales of milk ranged round the walls. After partaking freely of these provisions his companions endeavoured to persuade Odysseus to return to the ship. But the hero, being curious to make the acquaintance of the owner of this extraordinary abode, ordered them to remain and await his pleasure.  This was Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon, the owner of the cave. After all his sheep had entered the giant rolled before the entrance to the cave an enormous rock which the combined strength of a hundred men would have been powerless to move. Having kindled a fire of great logs of pine wood he was about to prepare his supper when the flames revealed to him in a corner of the cavern its new occupants who now came forward and informed him that they were shipwrecked mariners and claimed his hospitality in the name of Zeus. But the fierce monster rallied at the great ruler of Olympus for the lawless Cyclops knew no fear of the gods and hardly vouchsafe to reply to the demand of the hero. To the consternation of Odysseus the giant sees two of his companions and after dashing them to the ground consumed their remains washing down the ghastly mill with huge drifts of milk. He then stretched his gigantic limbs on the ground and soon fell fast asleep beside the fire. Thinking the opportunity a favourable one to rid himself and his companions of their terrible enemy Odysseus drew his sword and creeping stealthily forward was about to slay the giant when he suddenly remembered that the aperture of the cave was effectively closed by the immense rock which rendered egress impossible. He therefore wisely determined to wait until the following day and set his wits to work in the meantime to devise a scheme by which he and his companions might make their escape. When early next morning the giant awoke two more unfortunate companions of the hero were seized by him and devoured after which Polyphemus leisurely drove out his flock taking care to secure the entrance of the cave as before.  Delighted with the delicious beverage the giant inquired the name of the donor. Odysseus replied that his name was no man, whereupon Polyphemus graciously announced that he would evince his gratitude by eating him the last. The monster thoroughly overcome with the powerful old liquor soon fell into a heavy sleep and Odysseus lost no time in putting his plans into execution. He had cut during the day a large piece of the giant's own olive staff which he now heated in the fire and aided by his companions thrust it into the eyeball of Polyphemus and in this manner effectively blinded him. The giant made the cave resound with his howls of pain and rage, his cries being heard by his brother Cyclops who lived in caves not far distant from his own. They soon came trooping over the hills from all sides and assailed the door of the cave with inquiries concerning the cause of his cries and groans. But as his only reply was no man has injured me they concluded that he had been playing them a trick and therefore abandoned him to his fate. The blinded giant now groped vainly round his cave in hopes of laying hands on some of his tormentors but wear it at length of these fruitless exertions. He rolled away the rock which closed the aperture thinking that his victims would rush out with the sheep when it would be an easy matter to capture them. But in the meantime Odysseus had not been idle and the subtlety of the hero was now brought into play and proved more than a match for the giant's strength. The sheep were very large and Odysseus with bands of willow taken from the bed of Polyphemus had cleverly linked them together three abreast and under each centre one had secured one of his comrades. After providing for the safety of his companions Odysseus himself selected the finest ram of the flock and by clinging to the wool of the animal made his escape. As the sheep passed out of the cave the giant felt carefully among them for his victims but not finding them on the backs of the animals he let them pass and thus they all escaped. They now hastened on board their vessel and Odysseus thinking himself at a safe distance shouted out his real name and mockingly defied the giant whereupon Polyphemus seized a huge rock and following the direction of the voice hurled it towards the ship which narrowly escaped destruction. He then called upon his father Poseidon to avenge him in treating him to curse Odysseus with a long and tedious voyage to destroy all his ships and all his companions and to make his return as late as unhappy and as desolate as possible. Further Adventures After sailing about over unknown seas for some time the hero and his followers cast anchor at the island of Ulos King of the Winds who welcomed them cordially and sumptuously entertained them for a whole month. When they took their leave he gave Odysseus the skin of an ox into which he had placed all the contrary winds in order to ensure to them a safe and speedy voyage and then having cautioned him on no account to open it caused the gentle Zephyrus to blow so that he might waft them to the shores of Greece. On the evening of the tenth day after their departure they arrived in sight of the watchfires of Ithaca.  This time however Eolus did not welcome them as before but dismissed them with bitter reproaches and upbradings for their disregard of his injunctions. After a six days voyage they at length sighted land observing what appeared to be the smoke from a large town Odysseus dispatched a herald accompanied by two of his comrades in order to procure provisions. When they arrived in the city they discovered to their consternation that they had set foot in the land of the Lestragonis a race of fierce and gigantic cannibals governed by their king Antiphaetes. The unfortunate herald was seized and killed by the king but his two companions who took flight succeeded in reaching their ship in safety and urgently entreated their chief to put to sea without delay. But Antiphaetes and his fellow giants pursued the fugitives to the seashore where they now appeared in large numbers. They seized huge rocks which they hurled upon the fleet sinking eleven of the ships with all hands on board the vessel under the immediate commander for Odysseus being the only one which escaped destruction. In this ship with his few remaining followers Odysseus now set sail but was driven by adverse winds to an island called Aia, Cersei. The hero and his companions were in sore need of provisions but warned by previous disasters Odysseus resolved that only a certain number of the ship's crew should be dispatched to reconnoitre the country and on knots being drawn by Odysseus and Eurylicus it fell to the share of the latter to fill the office of conductor to the little band selected for this purpose. They soon came to a magnificent marble palace which was situated in a charming and fertile valley. Here dwelt a beautiful enchantress called Cersei daughter of the sun god and the sea nymph Percy. The entrance of her abode was guarded by wolves and lions who however to the great surprise of the strangers were tame and harmless as lambs. These were in fact human beings who by the wicked arts of the sorceress had been thus transformed. From within they heard the enchanting voice of the goddess who were singing a sweet melody as she sat at her work weaving a web such as immortals alone could produce. She graciously invited them to enter and all saved the prudent and cautious Eurylicus accepted the invitation. As they trod the wide and spacious halls of tessellated marble objects of wealth and beauty met their view on all sides. The soft and luxuriant couches on which she bade them be seated were studded with silver and the banquet which she provided for their refreshment were served in vessels of pure gold. But while her unsuspecting guests were abandoning themselves to the pleasure of the table the wicked enchantress was secretly working their ruin. For the wine cup which was presented to them was drugged with a potent draught. After partaking of which the sorceress touched them with her magic wand and they were immediately transformed into swine still however retaining their human senses. When Odysseus heard from Eurylicus of the terrible fate which had befallen his companions he set out regardless of personal danger resolved to make an effort to rescue them. On his way to the palace of the sorceress he met a fair youth bearing a wand of gold who revealed himself to him as Hermes the divine messenger of the gods. He gently reproached the hero for his temerity in venturing to enter the bode of Cersei unprovided with an antidote against her spells and presented him with a peculiar herb called molly assuring him that it would inevitably counteract the baneful arts of the fell enchantress. Hermes warned Odysseus that Cersei's would offer him a draught of drugged wine with the intention of transforming him as she had done his companions. He bade him drink the wine the effect of which would be completely nullified by the herb which he had given him and then rushed boldly at the sorceress as though he would take her life whereupon her power over him would cease. She would recognize her master and grant him whatever he might desire. Cersei received the hero with all the grace and fascination at her command and presented him with a draught of wine in a golden goblet. This he readily accepted trusting to the efficacy of the antidote. Then in obedience to the injunction of Hermes he drew his sword from its scabbard and rushed upon the sorceress as though he would slay her. When Cersei found that her fell purpose was for the first time frustrated and that immortal had dared to attack her she knew that it must be the great Odysseus who stood before her whose visit to her abode had been foretold to her by Hermes. At his solicitation she restored to his companions their human form promising at the same time that henceforth the hero and his comrades should be free from her enchantments. But all warnings and past experience were forgotten by Odysseus when Cersei commenced to exercise upon him her fascinations and blandishments. At her request his companions took up their abode in the island and he himself became the guest and slave of the enchantress for a whole year and it was only at the earnest admonition of his friends that he was at length induced to free himself from her toils. Cersei had become so attracted to the gallant hero that it cost her a great effort to part with him but having vowed not to exercise her magic spells against him she was powerless to detain him further. The goddess now warned him that his future would be beset with many dangers and commanded him to consult the blind old Sia to resist in the realms of Hades concerning his future destiny. She then loaded his ship with provisions for the voyage and reluctantly bade him farewell. The realm of shades though somewhat appalled at the prospect of seeking the weird and gloomy realms inhabited by the spirits of the dead Odysseus nevertheless obeyed the command of the goddess who gave him full directions with regard to his course and also certain injunctions which it was important that he should carry out with strict attention to detail. He accordingly set sail with his companions for the dark and gloomy land of the Cimmerians which lay at the further most end of the world beyond the great stream Oceanus. Favoured by gentle breezes they soon reached their destination in the far west. On arriving at the spot indicated by Cersei where the turbid waters of the river's Acheron and Cositus mingled at the entrance to the lower world Odysseus landed unattended by his companions. Having dug a trench to receive the blood of the sacrifices he now offered a black ram and you to the powers of darkness whereupon crowds of shades rose up from the yawning gulf clustering round him eager to quaff the blood of the sacrifice which would restore to them for a time their mental vigor. But mindful of the injunction of Cersei Odysseus brandished his sword and suffered none to approach until Thereseus had appeared. The great prophet now came slowly forward leaning on his golden staff and after drinking of the sacrifice proceeded to impart to Odysseus the hidden secrets of his future fate. Thereseus also warned him of the numerous perils which would assail him not only during his homeward voyage but also on his return to Ithaca and then instructed him how to avoid them. Meanwhile numbers of other shades had quaffed the sense awakening draft of the sacrifice among whom Odysseus recognised to his dismay his tenderly loved mother Anticlia. From her he learned that she had died of grief at her son's protracted absence and that his aged father Lyertes was wearing his life away in vain and anxious longings for his return. He also conversed with the ill-fated Agamemnon Petroclus and Achilles. The latter bemoaned his shadowy and unreal existence and plaintively assured his former companion in arms that rather would he be the poorest daylabourer on earth than reign supreme as king over the realm of shades. Ajax alone who still brooded over his wrongs held aloof refusing to converse with Odysseus and suddenly retired when the hero addressed him. But at last so many shades came swarming round him that the courage of Odysseus failed him and he fled in terror back to his ship. Having rejoined his companions they once more put to sea and proceeded on their homeward voyage. The Sirens. After some day's sail their course led them past the island of the Sirens. Now Cersei had warned Odysseus on no account to listen to the seductive melodies of these treacherous nips for that all who gave ear to their enticing strains felt an unconquerable desire to leap overboard and join them when they either perished at their hands or were engulfed by the waves. In order that his crew should not hear the song of the Sirens Odysseus had filled their ears with melted wax but the hero himself so dearly loved adventure that he could not resist the temptation of braving this new danger. By his own desire therefore he was lashed to the mast and his comrades had strict orders on no account to release him until they were out of sight of the island no matter how he might implore them to set him free. As they neared the fatal shore they beheld the Sirens seated side by side on the verdant slopes of their island and as their sweet and alluring strains fell upon his ear the hero became so powerfully affected by them that forgetful of all danger he entreated his comrades to release him but the sailors obedient to their orders refused to unbind him until the enchanted island has disappeared from view. The danger passed the hero gratefully acknowledged the firmness of his followers which had been the means of saving his life. The island of Helios. They now approached the terrible dangers of Scylla and Charabdis between which Cersei had desired them to pass. As Odysseus steered the vessel beneath the great rock Scylla swooped down and see six of his crew from the deck and the cries of her wretched victims long rang in his ears. At length they reached the island of Trinacria, Sicily, whereon the sun god pastured his flocks and herds and Odysseus calling to mind the warning of Thereseus to avoid this sacred island would feign have steered the vessel past and left the country unexplored but his crew became mutinous and insisted on landing. Odysseus was therefore obliged to yield but before allowing them to set foot on shore he made them take an oath not to touch the sacred herds of Helios and to be ready to sail again on the following morning. It happened unfortunately however that stress of weather compelled them to remain a whole month at Trinacria and the store of wine and food given to them by Cersei at parting being completely exhausted they were obliged to subsist on what fish and birds the island offered. Frequently there was not sufficient to satisfy their hunger and one evening when Odysseus worn out with anxiety and fatigue had fallen asleep Urelicus persuaded the hungry men to break their vows and kill some of the sacred oxen. Dreadful was the anger of Helios who caused the hides of the slaughtered animals to creep and the joints on the spits to bellow like living cattle and threatened that unless Ulysses punished the impious crew he would withdraw his light from the heavens and shine only in Hades. Anxious to appease the enraged deity Zeus assured him that his cause should be avenged. When therefore after feasting for seven days Odysseus and his companions again set sail the ruler of Olympus caused a terrible storm to overtake them during which the ship was struck with lightning and went to pieces. All the crew were drowned except Odysseus who clinging to a mast floated about in the open sea for nine days. When after once more escaping being sucked in by the whirlpool of Charobdis he was cast ashore on the island of Ogigia, Calypso. Ogigia was an island covered with dense forests where in the midst of a grove of cypress and poplar stood the charming grotto palace of the Ninth Calypso daughter of the Titan Atlas. The entrance to the grotto was entwined with the leafy trellis work of vine branches from which depended clusters of purple and golden grapes. The splashing of fountains gave a delicious sense of coolness to the air which was filled with the songs of birds and the ground was carpeted with violets and mosses. Calypso cordially welcomed the forlorn and shipwrecked hero and hospitably ministered to his wants. In the course of time she became so greatly attached to him that she offered him immortality and eternal youth if he would consent to remain with her forever. But the heart of Odysseus turned yearningly towards his beloved wife Penelope and his young son. He therefore refused the boon and earnestly entreated the gods to permit him to revisit his home. But the curse of Poseidon still followed the unfortunate hero and for seven long years he was detained on the island of Bicalypso, sorely against his will. At length Pallas Athene interceded with her mighty father on his behalf, and Zeus yielding to her request forthwith dispatched the fleet-footed Hermes to Calypso, commanding her to permit Odysseus to depart and to provide him with the means of transport. The goddess, though loath to part with her guest, did not disobey the commands of the mighty Zeus. She therefore instructed the hero how to construct a raft for which she herself wove the sails. Odysseus now bade her farewell and alone and unaided embarked on the frail little craft for his native land. Norsica. For seventeen days Odysseus contrived to pilot the raft skillfully through all the perils of the deep, directing his course according to the directions of Calypso, and guided by the stars of heaven. On the eighteenth day he joyfully hailed the distant outline of the Fetian coast, and began to look forward, hopefully, to temporary rest and shelter. But Poseidon, still enraged with the hero who had blinded and insulted his son, caused an awful tempest to arise during which the raft was swamped by the waves, and Odysseus only saved himself by clinging for bare life to a portion of the wreck. For two days and nights he floated about, drifting hither and dither by the angry billows, till at last after many a narrow escape of his life the sea goddess Eucothia came to his aid and he was cast ashore on the coast of Scaria, the island of the luxurious Phaeacys. Worn out with the hardships and dangers, he had passed through, he crept into a thicket for security, and lying down on a bed of dried leaves soon fell fast asleep. It chanced that Norsica, the beautiful daughter of King Alsinus and his Queen Arity, had come down to the shore, accompanied by her maidens, to wash the linen which was destined to form part of her marriage portion. When they had finished their task, they bathed and sat down to a repast, after which they amused themselves with singing and playing at ball. Their joyous shouts at last awoke Odysseus, who, rising from his hiding-place, suddenly found himself in the midst of the happy group. Alarmed at his wild aspect the attendants of Norsica fled in terror, but the princess, pitying the forlorn condition of the stranger, addressed him with kind and sympathetic words. After hearing from him the account of his shipwreck and the terrible hardships he had undergone, Norsica called back her attendants, reproached them for their want of courtesy, and bathed them supply the wanderer with food, drink and suitable raiment. Odysseus then left the maidens to resume their games, whilst he bathed and clothed himself with the garments with which they had furnished him. Athene now appeared to the hero, and endowed him with a commanding and magnificent stature, and with more than mortal beauty. When he reappeared, the young princess was struck with admiration, and requested the hero to visit the palace of her father. She then desired her attendants to yoke the mules to the wagons, and prepare to return home. Odysseus was cordially received by the king and queen, who entertained him with magnificent hospitality, and in return for their kindness the hero related to them the history of his long and eventful voyage, and the many extraordinary adventures and miraculous escapes which had befallen him since his departure from the coast of Ileon. When he at last took leave of his royal entertainers, Alsinus loaded him with rich gifts, and ordered him to be conveyed in one of his own ships to Ithaca, a rival at Ithaca. The voyage was the short and prosperous one. By the direction of King Alsinus, rich furs had been laid on deck for the comfort of his guest, on which the hero, leaving the guidance of the ship to the fish and sailors, soon fell into a deep sleep. When next morning the vessel arrived in the harbour of Ithaca, the sailors, concluding that so unusually profound a slumber must be sent by the gods, conveyed him on shore without disturbing him, where they gently placed him beneath the cool shade of an olive tree. When Odysseus awoke, he knew not where he was, for his ever-watchful protectress, Pallas Athene, had enveloped him in a thick cloud in order to conceal him from view. She now appeared to him in the disguise of a shepherd, and informed him that he was in his native land, that his father, Laertes, bent with sorrow and old age, had withdrawn from the court, that his son, Tillamachus, had grown to manhood, and was gone to seek for tidings of his father, and that his wife was harassed by importunities of numerous suitors, who had taken possession of his home and devoured his substance. In order to gain time, Penelope had promised to marry one of her lovers as soon as she had finished weaving a robe for the aged Laertes, but by secretly undoing at night what she had done in the day, she effectually retarded the completion of the work, and thus deferred her final reply. Just as Odysseus had set foot in Ithaca, the angry suitors had discovered her stratagem, and had become, in consequence, more clamorous than ever. When the hero heard that this was indeed his native land, which, after an absence of twenty years, the gods had at length permitted him to behold once more, he threw himself on the ground, and kissed it in an ecstasy of joy. The goddess, who had meanwhile revealed her identity to Odysseus, now assisted him to conceal in a neighbouring cave the valuable gifts of the fashion king. Then, seating herself beside him, she consulted with him as to the best means of ridding his palace of its shameless occupants. In order to prevent his being recognised, she caused him to assume the form of an aged mendicant. His limbs became decrepit, his brown locks vanished, his eyes grew dim and bleared, and the regal robes given to him by King Alsinus were replaced by a tattered garb of dingy hue, which hung loosely round his strunken form. Alsin then decided him to seek shelter in the hut of Eumaeus, his own swine-herd. Eumaeus received the old beggar hospitably, kindly ministered to his wants, and even confided to him his distress at the long-continued absence of his beloved old master, and his regrets at being compelled by the unruly invaders of his house to slaughter for their use all the finest and fattest of the herd. It chanced that the following morning Telemachus returned from his long and fruitless search for his father, and, going first to the hut of Eumaeus, heard from him the story of the seeming beggar whom he promised to be friend. Athene now urged Odysseus to make himself known to his son, and at her touch his beggars' rags disappeared, and he stood before Telemachus, arrayed in royal robes, and in the full strength and vigor of manhood. So imposing was the appearance of the hero, that at first the young prince thought he must be a god. But when he was convinced that it was indeed his beloved father, whose prolonged absence had caused him so much grief, he fell upon his neck and embraced him with every expression of dutiful affection. Odysseus charged Telemachus to keep his return a secret, and concerted with him a plan whereby they might rid themselves of the detested suitors. In order to carry it into effect, Telemachus was to induce his mother to promise her hand to the one who could conquer in shooting with the famous bow of Odysseus, which the hero had left behind when he went to Troy, deeming it too precious a treasure to be taken with him. Odysseus now resumed his beggar's dress and appearance, and accompanied his son to the palace, before the door of which lay his faithful dog, Argo, who, though worn and feeble with age, and neglect, instantly recognised his master. In his delight the poor animal made a last effort to welcome him, but his strength was exhausted, and he expired at his feet. When Odysseus entered his ancestral halls, he was mocked and reviled by the riotous suitors, and Antinous, the most shameless of them all, ridiculed his abject appearance, and incidentally bade him depart. But Penelope, hearing of their cruel conduct, was touched with compassion and desired her maidens to bring the poor mendicant into her presence. She spoke kindly to him, inquiring who he was, and whence he came. He told her that he was the brother of the king of Crete, in whose palace he had seen Odysseus, who was about starting for Ithaca, and had declared his intention of arriving there before the year was out. The queen overjoyed at the habitidings, ordered her maidens to prepare a bed for the stranger, and to treat him as an honoured guest. She then desired the old nurse Euryclia to provide him with suitable raiment, and to attend to all his wants. As the old servant was bathing his feet, her eyes fell upon a scar which Odysseus had received in his youth from the tusks of a wild boar, and instantly recognising the beloved master, whom she had nursed as a babe, she would have cried aloud in her joy, but the hero, placing his hand upon her mouth, implored her not to betray him. The next day was a festival of Apollo, and the suitors in honour of the occasion feasted with more than their accustomed revelry. After the banquet was over, Penelope, taking down the great bow of Odysseus from its place, entered the hall, and declared that whosoever of her lovers could bend it and send an arrow through twelve rings, a feat which she had often seen Odysseus perform, should be chosen by her as her husband. All the suitors tried their skill, but in vain, not one possessed the strength required to draw the bow. Odysseus now stepped forward and asked permission to be allowed to try, but the haughty nobles mocked at his audacity, and would not have permitted it, had not Tellamachus interfered. The pretended beggar took up the bow, and with the greatest ease sent an arrow whizzing through the rings, then, turning to Antinois, who was just raising a goblet of wine to his lips, he pierced him to the heart. At this the suitors sprang to their feet and looked round for their arms, but in obedience to the instructions of Odysseus Tellamachus had previously removed them. He and his father now attacked the riotous revelers, and after a desperate encounter not one of the whole crew remained alive. The joyful intelligence of the return of Odysseus being conveyed to Penelope, she descended to the hall, but refused to recognise in the age-beggar her gallant husband, whereupon he retired to the bath from which he emerged in all the vigor and beauty with which Athena had endowed him at the court of Alsinus. But Penelope, still incredulous, determined to put him to a short test, she therefore commanded in his hearing that his own bed should be brought from his chamber. Now at the foot of this bed had been fashioned by Odysseus himself out of the stem of an olive tree which was still rooted in the ground, and round it he had built the walls of the chamber. Knowing therefore that the bed could not be moved, he exclaimed that the errand was useless, for that no mortal could stir it from its place. Then Penelope knew that it must be Odysseus himself who stood before her, and a most touching and affectionate meeting took place between the long-separated husband and wife. The following day the hero set out to seek his old father Laertes, whom he found on one of his estates in the country, engaged in digging up a young olive tree. The poor old man who was dressed in a humble garb of a labourer bore the traces of deep grief on his furrowed countenance, and so shocked was his son at the change in his appearance, that for a moment he turned aside to conceal his tears. When Odysseus revealed himself to his father, as the son whom he had so long mourned as lost, the joy of the poor old man was almost greater than he could bear. With loving care Odysseus led him into the house, where at length for the first time since the departure of his son, Laertes once more resumed his regal robes, and piously thanked the gods for this great and unlooked-for happiness. But not yet was the hero permitted to enjoy his well-owned repose, for the friends and relatives of the suitors now rose in rebellion against him, and pursued him to the abode of his father. The struggle, however, was but a short one. After a brief contest, negotiations of a peaceful nature were entered into between Odysseus and his subjects. Recognising the justice of his cause, they became reconciled to their chief, who for many years continued to reign over them. End of section 30 End of Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E. M. Barons


France raises terrorism threat level. Threat of the Islamic state is rising again. France has raised the terrorism alert level across the country following an attack on a packed music venue in Russia, which left 137 people dead. Last Friday, four Tajik nationals opened fire inside the Kroger City Hall outside Moscow and set the building on fire. All terrorists were later detained while attempting to flee by car to Ukraine, according to President Vladimir Putin. The jihadist group Islamic State Khorasan province claimed responsibility for the attack. Moscow has so far not confirmed the group's involvement. Following the attack in Moscow, the French president has convened a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council this evening. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal wrote on X. In light of the Islamic State's claim that it was responsible for the attack and the threats looming over our country, we have decided to raise the Vidi Pirate plan to the highest level, the Prime Minister added. France has been living under reinforced security measures since the series of terrorist attacks in January 2015, when a group of Islamists killed 17 people in Paris and its suburbs. The government responded by enacting Operation Sentinel, which saw the deployment of armed soldiers to patrol the French capital. One of the deadliest Islamist attacks in recent memory came in November 2015, when suicide bombers and gunmen killed 130 people in Paris. For many, the horrors of Islamic State ended when US-led military campaign collapsed, the group's self-styled caliphate in 2019. But five years later, tens of thousands of civilians are still being kept in camps, including the al-Hol, which are filled with the families of Islamic State militants and others inadvertently swept up in the chaos of northeast Syria. In front of the Krokas City Hall Shopping Center, where the terrorist incident took place in the Moscow region of Russia, the memory of those who died in the incident was commemorated.  Crane's action was held in memory of the dead in different cities of Russia. Images of the actions were shown on the screen installed in front of Krokas City Hall, but it should be noted that on March 22, more than 130 people were killed and more than 150 were injured during the terrorist attack that took place in the Krokas City Hall Shopping Center. As a result of the fire, the concert hall where the incident took place collapsed.


there he is remember Thomas flying drones with strangers he's back welcome to the Casa it's been a while good to see you doing well you bring the kiddos no okay okay and so oh that is sweet one day this guy John uh-huh designs this up more in a couple actually couple days he has a working model of it okay and and it's not essentially this one it's a it's this one right here is what he made oh okay and then they did a so now so it's electric yeah it's a bicycle so it's a bicycle and then that's the battery that's the motor okay and you gotta ride it oh yeah I want to ride it once you once you fire it up okay so it's a battery operated what's but whoa holy smokes whoa okay couldn't believe how fast you just went right if you peddle right now yeah how it helped out right there okay so as you pedal that's kind of kicking yeah that's a pedal assist and has three modes okay I think I'm now I'm definitely dead now I got to be careful though so it you could just pedal it like a bicycle yeah no no power yeah yeah and then if you want it if you want help what do you do you use your you just use that throttle yeah whoa I know you want to lie you want to take the camera I want to try peddling first so well let's see what we on here yeah so right now so I'll just get you in focus there we go so this guy that's the throttle this is your mode and right now it's on eco okay so if even the throttle is eco essentially okay mid and high oh I see and no no pedal assist got it okay back to eco back to eco all right but I do I do want to see how it feels to pedal oh interesting what do you think I think I topped out around like 14 15 miles per hour okay and once that was amazing I didn't and that was a so that was eco so that was the lowest yeah so push the M twice okay just jump in the high kids wear a helmet this is amazing all right I'm blown away so I topped out at 26 miles per hour on that and I wasn't even full I mean I wasn't all are you trying I wasn't even trying right this thing is fast man I'm not saying he's like what's going on welcome to the club having three kids oh my god he's got three kids I'm not saying we need to get one we may need to get one we may need to get to honey this thing this look at this no right here whoa look at that thing super fast careful there I think you need to see him right you need a demo you need a demo do you remember a vehicle in a car boosted board it's pretty it's electric so you can either pedal or that's pedal assist you don't have to pedal okay I like that right that's amazing and it's got a throttle watch watch my legs yeah yeah they're super fun you can put a kid carrier on the back this thing is fast man there yeah boom and I so the tires are interesting because they're so fat right what's the thought behind that cuz I would expect I mean I like it efficient yeah but I think thin I would but I feel like it's easier to ride yeah folks that might be the vlog what a day thank you Thomas once again for the bicycle motor extravaganza


Camp 3, Lotsie Face, right on the edge of the ice cliff. Everyone's feeling good, resting, just like Sir Allen. Climb on!


What they gonna do with me now? I'm still a twerk of the town Y'all it's your girl Brianna Imani and you're here for another talk of the town interview and today Let them know who we got in the building.  Give me a second. Oh, all I gotta say It's about to be the most legendary interview talk of the time ever had Okay That is a very bold statement because we've had quite a few interviews on here So, I mean, I like the energy Out there, this is gonna be the best interview talk of the town. Let's see facts manifesting that we manifest in it All right, so tell us about yourself Eugene. Where you from? Okay, so I'm from the Bronx, New York, the South Bronx Okay, I'm Puerto Rican and black. Okay. I heard you thought a little Espana and a couple of your songs Okay, that's cool. So what is it? What was the light growing up in the Bronx like who were your influences while you were growing up? I would say because my parents like the music they listen to is very diverse Okay, so like my mom will listen to church music like Kerr Franklin Fred him Exactly, you're right. No, but then she also listened to R&B like our Kelly Tyree She know the Jota sees the new additions right right and now my dad side I'll listen to like Mark Anthony hate the love boy, you know Spanish music But then he also listened to which I feel like this would raise me with my hip-hop like the hip-hop that I love is like The Nas, the Jay-Z, the Tupac and Bad Boys like P. Diddy went to the same high school as me So, you know, like I feel like that generation of music is what I want to bring back into hip-hop Okay So would you say that those are like your influences like the people that you named or is there somebody else that influenced you? I would say those are my influences growing up, and of course now like of course like also the 50 cents to DMX and stuff like that But I also feel like now Like Turry Lanes, okay, the Drake's XXX Long live pop smoke, you know, like people who didn't just stick to just one thing, right? So in that like I could rap I could sing Okay, I could do some pop music. You know, that's how I make my music And we're gonna get into your versatility because that is something that I noticed as I was like going through your tracks and stuff like that I'm like, okay, you have a whole bunch of different sounds going on. So we will get into that But I'm just so curious like when did you start making your music? So I started making music six years ago. Okay, my freshman year at Delaware State University Shout out to DSU shout out to HBCU. You already know the vibes But um, I was just going through a lot at the time Okay, I was trying to find an outlet to like get the things off my chest my pain off my chest So music just found me. Okay, and now I just love it. I'm hungry.  Like what was it that propelled you into making music? Okay? So what I used to do I used to because I always was singing Okay, I was young like in the church and stuff But what I used to do was go and go up to girls and I used to sing usher nice and slow Oh, you know, it's a it's seven o'clock on the day in my drop top cruising the streets.  I'm suai you Which is our organization at my school, right? So they did like poetry rap Singing stuff like that. It was like, oh like we love your voice You should try to come to one of the meetings and stuff. Of course. It didn't catch me right away I wasn't into making music. I just sang like that was just my thing in the beginning so then afterwards like I went to one of the meetings and then people started liking my music they started One of the kids that I know shout out to Jean Grey. He brought me to the studio and then That's it six years later. I love So what was the reaction from like your family when you were making Music when you started making your music like I felt like my mom in the beginning was like Like not confused but more like More like just trying to understand what I was trying to do with it You know, she always support me of course always support me But then after a while of course in the beginning, I'm not gonna lie. I wasn't good I wasn't good in the beginning, but then I made like a song called love the one I had the little Spanish in it Yeah, and then she was like one day I was in a kitchen or something and she was like, oh She was like truthfully in the beginning your music was You can't only have yes men in your corner Who's gonna keep it real with you because you won't get better without it. Exactly.  Yeah, so my mom was supporting me and then I did love and then I did oh and then I just kept on going Okay, then last year I started rapping And then since then I always wanted to rap But I didn't I felt like I didn't have that confidence. Okay at the time. Okay, but now it's like I have that confidence I know I know how I can spit bars. I know what I could do And then it's just an extra thing that I could sing now, right Go on top of that. I I noticed that because I was thinking like I heard oh And when I heard oh, I thought of a song that I used to a long time ago Call excuse me mama about me Sean and I don't know if you know But like the sound sounds very similar And it was like a love song like very like nice and I'm listening like to your early songs It was like very nice and then I noticed a shift There was a shift as time went on and I'm like, okay, we not talk about just Love and chasing after your That was like we getting money and popping So like I'm I'm interested in knowing because you said like you got that confidence Is that what like Led you to start making a different type of music or was it more so like what it's trending right now I don't feel like it was the trend. Okay. I feel like it was my experiences. Okay. I feel like Truthfully like in the last five years. I just been through a lot. Okay, you know family situations. Um Last year I got in a car accident a real bad car accident that Had me out for like eight months. Well, I'm happy to see you. I'm sorry I'm grateful. God is good at the end of the day. So it's like last year that happened And I didn't really get to promote peru. I didn't get to promote get down low Didn't really get to get my name out there. So it was like this year. I'm like, I'm taking over I don't care anybody got to say. I'm hungry. I'm starving. Yes And you bought up peru and I know it's out. It's hot. It's doing Doing numbers on youtube and you even went as far as saying that it was going to be the song of the summer It's going to be the song of the summer. So what do you think about it? It's really like, what do you think in comparison to the other songs that you have out? What do you think it is about peru that is Like that is why it's such a hit. Yeah I feel like because even even when I was writing the song and stuff I started thinking about even when you hear it from the beginning it says I was on the train riding on the six not flexing no whip Got nothing in my pocket got not a dollar yet nothing to spend It's talking about my struggle talking about where I want to be I feel like there's rules that I did a post where it's time. I like rules to being in peru Where it's like, okay All right, I lived in the hood For a certain part of my life that I moved that means I'm elevating in life. I'm doing bigger things I'm in peru right, okay, so If I come across this a little slow, I'm sorry. Are you talking about peru like the the country? I'm yeah peru in the country peru is the country But I don't I'm not taking it as saying I'm in peru But I'm saying is like it's a lifestyle a way of wanting more in life a way of Being better in life not settling for less being more hungry. Go towards your goals.  Be hungry because at the end of the day We only got one life You know, so we got to live it strong. You got to do what we love So and I stand by what you're saying 100% like why peru? Why not like kinkoom or bad? No, it's funny. It's a little my mom says she was like you put a weekend. Why you didn't say I'm in Puerto Rico, baby I mean I was wondering it too. I'm like maybe you thought it was gonna be a little cliche. No, it don't it don't go together That's why okay. It just didn't fit like it didn't fit the melody. Okay.  Okay Okay, I feel like so it was all about the way that the flow Yeah, the melody the flow and stuff is so how do you feel about because you are from the Bronx? So I know you already know like drugs was going up right now A lot of attention has been focused on these drill artists Yeah, facts, you know, especially when when we think of the Bronx, that's what comes to mind Do you feel like r&b upcoming r&b artists are kind of like Taking the back front or do you feel like? No, no because they're cappella gray. Mm-hmm. He's doing this thing I feel like for me, of course I do r&b, but I'm mainly a hip hop artist But you know, I do r&b, dance, reggaeton, stuff like that to the side But I feel like r&b can be up in in New York I feel I feel like it depends on what what the people want Also, what the blogs and and the radio stations play to It all depends on you guys all depends on the artists too. So what would you say if you had to like Comment on the state of upcoming artists. Well, who do you think is getting the most focus right now? Drill artists in New York. Definitely drill artists But I feel like I feel like we could do better though What I mean by that is like, okay You got the cave flocks. You got the beat loves.  They actually good They sound good, but it's like some dudes just doing anything on the beat At that point, I feel like you just you just jump it on the train For me when I did Peru, I didn't jump on the train I just felt like it was something I wanted to do And I felt like I could I could put my little sauce on there Speaking of trains, I heard something real interesting one of your songs I I wish I could remember which song it was, but you was like big bird I said, oh, yeah, yeah. Get down low.  Yeah, big Okay, well, I feel like even with that there are some trends that could even with your sounds I feel like like I said before looking at different stages of music of your song specifically It seemed like it kind of followed like what was happening now So not necessarily saying that your music has like a drill type of feel But I feel like it has that melodic feel that's still kind of like You on timing like I don't know.  I guess I would say I don't know but But you say that it's all up to your versatile you make whatever you want. So what can we expect like Coming up because I know Peru is going up. But what else is in the words like I'm working on a project right now and in this project it's Oh man, so many different sounds Of course, there's drill in there a couple drill a couple real hip hop Because I care about real hip hop What's real hip hop to you real hip hop is just Little cool rap And it does it could still be it could still be swaggy You could still have some flow to it But it's still being lyrical like talking about real stuff Now, you know, no cap rap nothing like that You know, so I feel like I have little cool rap I have the reggaeton songs You know dance all r&b, but then I got the real hip hop stuff at the same time. Okay So, who do you think like your audience is? Who would you say everybody because I can reach everybody I can reach everybody and like I feel like my music is what new york really is Because if you really think about what new york is the diversity of what new york is Really think about you got the west indian people.  I bet I feel like I could hit everybody or even with pop music too. I could do pop music too So, who would you like if you had to name five people that you would like to collaborate? Who would they be? Okay, so I have I have two lists for me if I can if I can add What's the tool so I want to say artists that are Like at my level or maybe a little bit higher up and coming I've been coming artists and then artists that are already there like mainstream mainstream artists So for mainstream, I would say drake um I would say little baby little dirk Unwell, he's a reggaeton artist. Okay, and then one of my favorite artists right now is a sentry sea Sentry sees it from the uk. Okay. Nice. So that's what I like So I listen to a lot of like different different diverse music and stuff I'll say up and coming. I like lola brook a lot. She nasty out the city She nasty. I like lola brook young devrin. Um, I want to work with the girlco too. So you in tune with the female rap? I'm in tune. I'm in tune. I feel like they nasty like I saw they on the radar thing crazy The freestyle I'm not even gonna lie. They rapping better than dudes I mean, I've heard I'm being truthful. I've heard that quite a bit like this is the time for female rap No, thanks. What do you think it is though? Like what is it about their like female rap that you think that they're doing right now better than I was talking to my girl about this, right? Can we watch like on the radar? By the way, you guys should have me on there. I got this crazy freestyle. I just had to put that in there but um But seriously though, like me and my girl was talking about it and she was like as a woman She feels like women take things like take things more serious or very particular about the way they do things So maybe that might be a reason but I just feel like the girls are the girls are doing that thing Girls are doing things definitely out the city Definitely doing that thing. So have you always been in tune or is it just now that they're going up that? I feel like I feel like since I got in that car accident I started being more in tune like just with music Just understanding what what I'm doing What other people are doing You know, why are they big and why I'm not there yet, you know, and then I started learning So what would you what were some things that you took from that? Because you just say you were looking at like why were people certain people big and you weren't so what were a couple of Things that you would say you took from that as to what you could improve. So for me, right? So for me, I feel like you can have the talent You could be you could be nice. That's how I feel about myself. I feel like I can rap I can sing I could do a little Spanish. I could do you know, I could hit different areas But it's about your marketing At the end of the day, if you don't got your marketing, you're just a dude on the street Just a dude that didn't get recognized I feel like it's about your marketing. Oh, how can I for example, perfect. This is perfect, right? I'm gonna talk to the town. Let's do this interview. Let me get my face out there. All right. That's marketing Let me do this tiktok video. Let me pay some people do this tiktok stuff. That's marketing instagram marketing It's just another way of getting your face out there, right and come because the media Media and also like, um, the internet is so big You can hit so many different fan bases and everything. Yeah, cuz So it's like for example, like The reason why peruse so big I had this kid do a tiktok video He had a million views Right To the point where now my song is not just in new york, but it's in los angeles. I had people hitting me up from Los angeles. I don't even know you but it's fire. It's fire Seeing the support you from texas people from chicago alana you from overseas They play my part. They play my song at a at a party overseas So it's like that's also the reason why I said it's gonna be stronger the summer Why not me and you you like right before you said that I was gonna ask you how Important you think tiktok has been To like assisting in your level up Because I think that a lot of music that's trending Especially like in new york, like you get some traction on tiktok You were just talking about like getting sturdy and all of that stuff like that's really was getting people's eyes So you would say that it's been a good marketing He's like wait The best I'm not even gonna lie like if you really up and coming and trying to do your thing Yo go and do that tiktok. Okay. It might be because in the beginning I didn't want to do it But let's point back to mom again. She told me. Yes. She was like mom always knows She was like go do the tiktok try the tiktok baby try the tiktok I did it and look what happened now. We're here. Nice. See mama always knows So who's on your team?  Okay. He worked with like timberland NBA young boy. He's nasty with his Um and use the same the same engineer. I use the same engineer and if it's not him I I record myself. Okay. I know how to record myself and stuff. Okay, so and then shout out to um One of the first producers that ever produced me. Um, snooper fiasco. He's from queens So, you know, I shout out them. So I say like that's my team Okay, like people who I worked with in the past and also gene gray shout out to my mentor somebody I wouldn't be doing music if it wasn't for him. Okay, so that's dope. You have a lot of people that I seems like support you Yeah, support now. I wouldn't I'm curious. Is ug like your government name? No, it's not. No Okay, so I can talk about my real name.  I want to explain something. Let me let me do my thing. Go ahead. Go ahead.  So my real name. I'm just gonna say my last name. So my last name is Castillo, right? Okay. And Castillo In English means castle, right? So it's funny one time was like Why? You know something like my name is Castillo, right?  So then where do Eugene Black come from? Okay, so Eugene Black came from so my dad Was trying to start like like he always wanted to be like an R&B singer But he can't sing But he was like he always wanted to be an R&B singer, but he couldn't sing So he was like if I was an R&B singer, I'll call myself Eugene Black So then later on I started doing music and stuff. He told me this when I was young So later on when I started doing music and stuff. I was like Oh, I should call myself Eugene Black. You know, like a legacy exactly Okay, exactly because I was wondering like I don't know. It's not like a real name, right? Yeah, because I'm like I was gonna ask like how important do you think an artist's name is to their brand? It is because I Not to say that the name is bad. It's not a bad name at all, but like when I think Eugene And then I hear like the music It's two different things. Like I'm not so what what do you think of when I hear Eugene? I'm thinking like First of all, I'm thinking SpongeBob But no, I'm thinking like Some kind of like so full blues Like blues like yeah, like deep in your feelings Like Eugene No But exactly what you just did like oh you like that Eugene song. That's the feeling I want to give people Okay.  Oh Eugene It's eccentric. Exactly. So We know what you got coming up You got a project in the works. Is there anything else for 2022 that you see Working for yourself outside of your project outside of Peru anything else you got on your list I want to do a lot of modeling God did modeling to pass, you know to support my brand and stuff like modeling and acting Because like me and my girl does like a lot of tiktok videos a lot of skits I like and even if you ever watched my music videos a lot of skits a lot of A lot of movies. I feel like people don't make music videos how they used to I feel like everybody's just on the corner. Da da da da. It's cool. Like that's raw It's raw, but I feel like you could put a little spice to that Yeah, because even in my video see me like yeah, I was on the corner But I made a I made a whole idea to it. So it makes sense, you know Okay, that's dope. That's dope. So we definitely looking forward to seeing what you got in works No, definitely. So is there anything else that you want to talk about before we wrap up Okay, so all I'm gonna say is that number one Peru song of the summer, right? We already know this number two I'm hungry. I'm hungry. I'm starving. I've been waiting for this morning. I've been waiting for this I manifest the talk of the town. I manifest the honorator Manifesting from the block. I'm gonna get it. I'm gonna get it by the end and we'll be rooting for you Nothing is unattainable. So thank you once again for coming here. So happy to have you shout out your social media handles So, you know, my instagram is Eugene black 22.  Yo ego get it All right, and we out of here


It is so important that we keep this strong economy going, that we talk about the importance of jobs, that we understand we know where jobs come from. That is not from a bigger government. It is from a bigger private sector. Every single penny that we have to spend on making sure a child finds a permanent home comes from a business somewhere. Somebody paying taxes, creating jobs, and those spinoffs that come from all the other taxes that those people pay. That's where it comes from. So if Stephanie wants to be able to make sure that a vulnerable child knows where they will spend their next birthday, I need to make sure that your businesses have an opportunity to grow. And that means I have to make sure that government to the extent we possibly can gets out of your way. So that's the first thing. The second thing is I have to make sure that we reduce the burden of government regulation and taxes on you so it's as easy as possible for you to continue to grow. That's the second thing. The third thing is we have to produce that educated workforce that you're going to need because the biggest constraint on growth, as I said, is not just the burden of government. It's the ability to be able to find people to fill those jobs. And that's a big task that we have ahead of us. But the reason we are growing is because the team that I'm working with here understands those principles. We have more to do. We have to make sure the infrastructure is in place building schools and hospitals and highways and ports and airports. But we will not forget the core of who we are.


Don't tag my wife in this, but here's a hack. She has her own stash of chocolate, but even though I can, I don't touch it. I bought my own chocolate, and I put it in the fridge. She kept eating it because, you know, it's not... So I hid it behind there and said I ate it all. Sometimes lying's okay.