在將近一章多的內(nèi)容中，奧德修斯與豬倌Eumaeus互相傾吐心中的不快，而奧德修斯也趁機收集了足夠的情報對自己家的情況有了足夠的了解。接下來，奧德修斯終于找準(zhǔn)機會開口，詢問豬倌Eumaeus的身世。一個人如果愿意將自己的隱私告訴你，這也算是信任的一種表現(xiàn)吧。

endless night長夜無眠

而早在前一章，奧德修斯就將自己的身世和冒險經(jīng)歷算是事無巨細(xì)地告訴了Eumaeus。盡管故事是奧德修斯編造的，但這也能看作是一種基于人與人之間相互信任的交換。

此外，奧德修斯不同于以往上門索要物質(zhì)獎勵的流浪漢。不論是他想讓Eumaeus相信自己的主人即將歸來而立下的誓言，還是為了試探Eumaeus是否對他完全敞開心扉所說的不愿再叨擾的話，這些再加上奧德修斯現(xiàn)在偽裝出來的年邁的乞討者形象，都一點一點地讓謹(jǐn)慎的Eumaeus褪去防備，愿意向他傾吐。

“Imagine that,” his canny master said,“you must have been just a little fellow, Eumaeus, when you were swept so far from home and parents. Come, tell me the whole story, truly too…”奧德修斯說道：“試想下，你遠(yuǎn)離家鄉(xiāng)雙親時，還是個小家伙吧……給我講下你的故事吧，也按原原本本的那樣講?！?br>

“My friend,” the swineherd answered, foreman of men,“you really want my story? So many questions—well, listen in quiet, then, and take your ease, sit back and drink your wine. The nights are endless now. We’ve plenty of time to sleep or savor a long tale. No need, you know, to turn in before the hour. Even too much sleep can be a bore. But anyone else who feels the urge can go to bed and then, at the crack of dawn, break bread, turn out and tend our master’s pigs. We two will keep to the shelter here, eat and drink and take some joy in each other’s heartbreaking sorrows,sharing each other’s memories. Over the years, you know, a man finds solace even in old sorrows, true, a man who’s weathered many blows and wandered many miles. My own story? This will answer all your questions …”

Eumaeus答道，朋友你真的想聽我的故事嗎？那就請你坐好且聽我慢慢講來。長夜無限，不必太早入眠。我倆就在這一方屋檐下，飲酒暢談，苦中作樂，分享點滴。一個人，經(jīng)歷風(fēng)雨，百轉(zhuǎn)千折，唯有回憶苦痛，聊以慰藉。誠然如此。

這樣看來，Eumaeus雖然身為牧豬人，但他內(nèi)心的想法與情感卻不為凡事（睡覺、進食、照料豬群）所束縛。一個說的出此話的人，絕不平凡。這也非常符合他有著貴族血統(tǒng)的身份。除了find solace in old sorrows之外，最打動我的是weathered many blows and wandered many miles. 不僅押頭韻，名詞動詞化的weather很貼合語境，表現(xiàn)行于海上，顛沛流離之苦。對于Eumaeus眼前這位朋友來說是十分貼切的了。