So far as we can see, the nurse of Tragedy is occupied almost exclusively with the mistress. The nurse of Medea, however, affects a superior tone in speaking to the παιδαγωγός,[[185]] and gives him directions concerning the children.[[186]] In a similar way the nurse of Comedy seems to have authority over some of the servants.[[187]]
General Characteristics of the Nurse
Instances of the love and devotedness of nurses are not wanting in the literature. From Homer down, we see the nurse as a kind mother lavishing love and affection on the child that she nursed. In the Odyssey, Eurycleia is represented as loving Telemachus more than did the other women:
καὶ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα.[[188]]
and Penelope bears witness that Eurycleia had diligently nursed and tended Odysseus:
εὐ τρέφεν ἤδ’ ἀτίταλλε.[[189]]
Right willingly did the old nurse give her services to one who reminded her of her master. She is the first to recognize him by the scar he had received in his youth. Then
τὴν δ’ ἅμα χάρμα καὶ ἄλγος ἕλε φρένα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὲ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.[[190]]
A picture of true devotedness is given by Herodotus,[[191]] where a nurse takes an ugly child every day to the temple of Helen to implore the gift of beauty for her charge.