The Odyssey
Ὀδύσσεια
Headnote
The Odyssey is Homer’s, in the sense that the word still carries: the second of the two great poems that stand at the head of European literature, composed in the Ionian hexameter tradition somewhere in the Greek settlements of Asia Minor, and fixed in something close to its present form in the late eighth or early seventh century BC — a generation or so after the Iliad, whose world it everywhere presupposes and never repeats. Antiquity debated the poet’s birthplace and doubted almost nothing else; the modern Homeric Question, which asks whether a single mind made either poem, has produced two centuries of argument and one durable answer, Milman Parry’s demonstration that the diction is a traditional system — an inherited economy of ready-made phrases, each metrically shaped for its slot in the line, refined by generations of singers before any one of them worked this material into a poem of twelve thousand verses. That the system is inherited does not make the design collective. The Odyssey is built with an architectural patience nothing in oral practice requires, and the hand that built it is what we mean by Homer.
Read it for the structure first. The poem opens four books away from its own hero: a young man’s education in his father’s absence, at home and then on the road at Pylos and Sparta, so that when Odysseus finally appears in Book 5 he appears as a man already thoroughly described by other people. The great adventures — the Cyclops, Circe, the descent to the dead, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis — are not narrated by the poet at all, but told by Odysseus himself, at night, to a Phaeacian court that has fed him and not yet asked his name; the most famous monsters in Western literature reach us through the mouth of the one character in the poem whom nobody, including the reader, has any good reason to believe. Watch what happens to the pace when he lands on Ithaca and the poem still has twelve books to run. The second half is a slow, deliberate machine of disguise, testing and recognition, in which the tension is generated almost entirely by information: who knows, who suspects, who is about to find out. The poem’s cardinal scenes are not battles but recognitions, and the greatest of them turns on a detail of carpentry.
Its moral spine is guest-friendship. Xenia — the sacred, binding relation between host and guest, kept here as “guest-friend” rather than softened to hospitality — is the standard against which every household in the poem is measured: the Cyclops who eats his guests, the suitors who consume their absent host’s substance, the Phaeacians who convey a stranger home with treasure, the swineherd in his hut who shares what little he has with a beggar. Beside it runs nostos, homecoming, the poem’s governing word, which means not merely arrival but the recovery of a place, a wife, a son, a name. The register bends constantly to accommodate all this and the voice never fragments: the same formulaic diction that carries the council of the gods carries a swineherd’s supper, a laundry expedition, a scar, a dog on a dung-heap, a bed built around a living olive tree. Nothing in Greek literature after it manages that range again.
The text here is the transmitted Greek in the Alexandrian division into twenty-four books, which is editorial rather than the poet’s, and the verse numbering is the vulgate’s. The translation is made from the Greek alone, line for line: one hexameter, one English line, with no meter imposed and no rhyme, which is foreign to the source. The standing epithets are held fixed — rosy-fingered Dawn, grey-eyed Athena, Zeus the cloud-gatherer, long-suffering noble Odysseus — and the repeated speech-frames and type-scenes are repeated in English exactly as they are repeated in Greek. The redundancy is the machinery of the verse and not a defect to be tidied away: where a reader notices the repetition, the poem is working as it was made to work.
Contents
The twenty-four books fall into three movements: Telemachus in search of his father (1–4), the wanderings of Odysseus (5–12, with the great sea-tales told at the Phaeacian court), and the return and revenge on Ithaca (13–24). Each argument gives a reader the book's matter at a glance.
- Book 1 — The gods agree that Odysseus may come home; Athena, disguised, visits Ithaca, where the suitors devour the house. She rouses the young Telemachus to seek news of his father and to act like the son of the man he cannot remember.
- Book 2 — Telemachus calls the first Ithacan assembly in twenty years and denounces the suitors; the omen of the eagles is mocked. He borrows a ship in secret and sails for Pylos with Athena at his side.
- Book 3 — At Pylos the old horseman Nestor receives them with sacrifice and stories: the returns of the heroes, the murder of Agamemnon, and no word of Odysseus. Telemachus drives overland to Sparta with Nestor's son.
- Book 4 — In Sparta, Menelaus and Helen tell their tales of Troy and of the shape-shifting Old Man of the Sea, who reported Odysseus alive — a prisoner on Calypso's island. On Ithaca the suitors set an ambush for the boy's return.
- Book 5 — The poem finds Odysseus at last, weeping on Calypso's shore. Ordered by the gods, she helps him build a raft; Poseidon wrecks it; and after two days in the sea he crawls ashore, naked and salt-caked, in the land of the Phaeacians.
- Book 6 — Nausicaa. The princess comes to the river to wash the linen, her maids' ball-game wakes the castaway, and Odysseus — all tact and desperation — wins clothing, food, and directions to her father's palace.
- Book 7 — Odysseus walks unseen through the marvellous city, enters the bronze-walled palace of Alcinous with its golden watchdogs and orchard that never fails, and is received as a suppliant at the queen's knees.
- Book 8 — At the Phaeacian games a taunt makes Odysseus throw the discus past every mark. The blind singer Demodocus performs the loves of Ares and Aphrodite — and then a song of Troy that makes the stranger weep into his cloak until the king asks who he is.
- Book 9 — He names himself, and the great tales begin: the Cicones, the Lotus-eaters, and the Cyclops — the cave, the sharpened stake, the name Nobody, and the boast on the water that buys Poseidon's curse.
- Book 10 — Aeolus gives the winds in a bag and the crew opens it in sight of home. The Laestrygonians smash the fleet to a single ship; on Circe's island men become swine, and Odysseus, armed with Hermes' herb, becomes the witch's guest for a year — until the crew begs him to remember Ithaca.
- Book 11 — The Book of the Dead. At the world's edge Odysseus pours the blood and the ghosts come up: Elpenor begging burial, Tiresias prophesying the journeys to come, his mother Anticleia, the famous women, Agamemnon, Achilles — who would rather be a poor man's field hand than king of all the dead.
- Book 12 — The Sirens, endured tied to the mast; Scylla and Charybdis, the six men taken; and the cattle of the Sun, slaughtered by the starving crew against every oath. Zeus's thunderbolt leaves one man clinging to a keel — delivered at last to Calypso, where the tale began.
- Book 13 — The Phaeacians land him, asleep, on a misted Ithaca he does not recognise. Athena meets him disguised, delights in his instant lying, reveals the island, and turns the king into a ragged old beggar for his own safety.
- Book 14 — The swineherd. Eumaeus, faithful to a master he thinks dead, feeds the beggar and tells his own story of kidnap and slavery. Odysseus spins false tales and is warmed against the night with a borrowed cloak.
- Book 15 — Telemachus slips the ambush and comes home by Athena's warning, taking aboard a hunted seer, Theoclymenus. Father and son converge, unknowing, on the same swineherd's hut.
- Book 16 — The recognition of father and son. Athena restores Odysseus's true shape for a moment; Telemachus weeps in his arms; together they count the suitors and lay the plan — the arms removed from the hall, the identities kept dark.
- Book 17 — The beggar comes to his own palace. On the way the goatherd Melanthius kicks him; at the gate the old dog Argos knows him, and dies; inside, Antinous throws a footstool. Penelope asks to speak with the stranger.
- Book 18 — The beggar Irus tries to drive him off and is broken by one carefully pulled punch. Penelope, made radiant by Athena, extracts gifts from the suitors; the maid Melantho jeers; the hall fills with omens of no return.
- Book 19 — The long night interview: Penelope and the beggar, who tells her Odysseus is near. The old nurse Eurycleia, washing his feet, finds the boar-scar and is silenced with a hand at her throat. Penelope resolves on the contest of the bow.
- Book 20 — The last dawn. Odysseus lies awake hearing the disloyal maids; Zeus thunders from a clear sky; Theoclymenus sees the walls dripping blood and the suitors laughing with jaws not their own, and walks out of the doomed hall.
- Book 21 — The contest of the bow. Suitor after suitor fails even to string it. The beggar asks for a try, is refused, and — when Telemachus clears the hall — strings it like a singer stringing a lyre and sends the arrow through the twelve axes.
- Book 22 — The slaughter. The next arrow takes Antinous through the throat; Odysseus names himself and the doors are barred. With Telemachus, Eumaeus and the cowherd, he kills them all; only the singer and the herald are spared; the guilty maids and Melanthius meet grimmer ends.
- Book 23 — Penelope, wary past all persuasion, tests him with their bed — the one secret no living stranger could know, the bed built round the living olive tree. The lie detects the truth; the reunion Homer built the whole poem toward is given a lengthened night.
- Book 24 — The dead suitors reach Hades to Agamemnon's applause of Penelope's faithfulness. Odysseus finds old Laertes in the orchard and proves himself by the trees; the suitors' kin rise in arms, and Athena — with a last thunderbolt from Zeus — stops the feud and seals the peace of Ithaca.
Book 1
The gods agree that Odysseus may come home; Athena, disguised, visits Ithaca, where the suitors devour the house. She rouses the young Telemachus to seek news of his father and to act like the son of the man he cannot remember.
Tell me, Muse, of the man of many turns, who was driven very far
off his course, once he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy.
Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose mind he came to know,
and many the griefs he suffered on the sea in his own spirit,
striving to win his own life and the homecoming of his companions.
Yet not even so did he save his companions, strain for it as he might;
for by their own reckless folly they perished,
fools, who devoured the cattle of Helios Hyperion:
these they ate, and he took from them the day of their homecoming.
Of these things, goddess, daughter of Zeus, begin where you will, and tell us too.
Now all the others, as many as had escaped sheer destruction,
were at home, safe from the war and from the sea;
him alone, longing for his homecoming and for his wife,
the lady nymph Calypso kept back, noble among goddesses,
in her hollow caves, desiring that he be her husband.
But when, as the years wheeled round, the year came
in which the gods had spun for him his return home
to Ithaca, not even there was he free of trials,
even among his own. And all the gods pitied him
except Poseidon; he raged unrelentingly
against godlike Odysseus until he reached his own land.
But now he had gone off to the Ethiopians, who dwell far away —
the Ethiopians, who are split in two, the farthest of men,
some where Hyperion sets, some where he rises —
to receive a hecatomb of bulls and rams.
There he sat and took his pleasure in the feast. But the others
were gathered together in the halls of Olympian Zeus.
And among them the father of men and gods began to speak;
for in his spirit he remembered blameless Aegisthus,
whom far-famed Orestes, son of Agamemnon, had killed.
Remembering him, he spoke his words among the immortals:
off his course, once he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy.
Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose mind he came to know,
and many the griefs he suffered on the sea in his own spirit,
striving to win his own life and the homecoming of his companions.
Yet not even so did he save his companions, strain for it as he might;
for by their own reckless folly they perished,
fools, who devoured the cattle of Helios Hyperion:
these they ate, and he took from them the day of their homecoming.
Of these things, goddess, daughter of Zeus, begin where you will, and tell us too.
Now all the others, as many as had escaped sheer destruction,
were at home, safe from the war and from the sea;
him alone, longing for his homecoming and for his wife,
the lady nymph Calypso kept back, noble among goddesses,
in her hollow caves, desiring that he be her husband.
But when, as the years wheeled round, the year came
in which the gods had spun for him his return home
to Ithaca, not even there was he free of trials,
even among his own. And all the gods pitied him
except Poseidon; he raged unrelentingly
against godlike Odysseus until he reached his own land.
But now he had gone off to the Ethiopians, who dwell far away —
the Ethiopians, who are split in two, the farthest of men,
some where Hyperion sets, some where he rises —
to receive a hecatomb of bulls and rams.
There he sat and took his pleasure in the feast. But the others
were gathered together in the halls of Olympian Zeus.
And among them the father of men and gods began to speak;
for in his spirit he remembered blameless Aegisthus,
whom far-famed Orestes, son of Agamemnon, had killed.
Remembering him, he spoke his words among the immortals:
ἄνδρα μοι ἔννεπε, μοῦσα, πολύτροπον, ὃς μάλα πολλὰ
πλάγχθη, ἐπεὶ Τροίης ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἔπερσεν·
πολλῶν δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἴδεν ἄστεα καὶ νόον ἔγνω,
πολλὰ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν πόντῳ πάθεν ἄλγεα ὃν κατὰ θυμόν,
ἀρνύμενος ἥν τε ψυχὴν καὶ νόστον ἑταίρων.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς ἑτάρους ἐρρύσατο, ἱέμενός περ·
αὐτῶν γὰρ σφετέρῃσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο,
νήπιοι, οἳ κατὰ βοῦς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο
ἤσθιον· αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
τῶν ἁμόθεν γε, θεά, θύγατερ Διός, εἰπὲ καὶ ἡμῖν.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες, ὅσοι φύγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον,
οἴκοι ἔσαν, πόλεμόν τε πεφευγότες ἠδὲ θάλασσαν·
τὸν δʼ οἶον νόστου κεχρημένον ἠδὲ γυναικὸς
νύμφη πότνιʼ ἔρυκε Καλυψὼ δῖα θεάων
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἔτος ἦλθε περιπλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν,
τῷ οἱ ἐπεκλώσαντο θεοὶ οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι
εἰς Ἰθάκην, οὐδʼ ἔνθα πεφυγμένος ἦεν ἀέθλων
καὶ μετὰ οἷσι φίλοισι. θεοὶ δʼ ἐλέαιρον ἅπαντες
νόσφι Ποσειδάωνος· ὁ δʼ ἀσπερχὲς μενέαινεν
ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι πάρος ἣν γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν Αἰθίοπας μετεκίαθε τηλόθʼ ἐόντας,
Αἰθίοπας τοὶ διχθὰ δεδαίαται, ἔσχατοι ἀνδρῶν,
οἱ μὲν δυσομένου Ὑπερίονος οἱ δʼ ἀνιόντος,
ἀντιόων ταύρων τε καὶ ἀρνειῶν ἑκατόμβης.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γʼ ἐτέρπετο δαιτὶ παρήμενος· οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
Ζηνὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν Ὀλυμπίου ἁθρόοι ἦσαν.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·
μνήσατο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονος Αἰγίσθοιο,
τόν ῥʼ Ἀγαμεμνονίδης τηλεκλυτὸς ἔκτανʼ Ὀρέστης·
τοῦ ὅ γʼ ἐπιμνησθεὶς ἔπεʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετηύδα·
πλάγχθη, ἐπεὶ Τροίης ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἔπερσεν·
πολλῶν δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἴδεν ἄστεα καὶ νόον ἔγνω,
πολλὰ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν πόντῳ πάθεν ἄλγεα ὃν κατὰ θυμόν,
ἀρνύμενος ἥν τε ψυχὴν καὶ νόστον ἑταίρων.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς ἑτάρους ἐρρύσατο, ἱέμενός περ·
αὐτῶν γὰρ σφετέρῃσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο,
νήπιοι, οἳ κατὰ βοῦς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο
ἤσθιον· αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
τῶν ἁμόθεν γε, θεά, θύγατερ Διός, εἰπὲ καὶ ἡμῖν.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες, ὅσοι φύγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον,
οἴκοι ἔσαν, πόλεμόν τε πεφευγότες ἠδὲ θάλασσαν·
τὸν δʼ οἶον νόστου κεχρημένον ἠδὲ γυναικὸς
νύμφη πότνιʼ ἔρυκε Καλυψὼ δῖα θεάων
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἔτος ἦλθε περιπλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν,
τῷ οἱ ἐπεκλώσαντο θεοὶ οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι
εἰς Ἰθάκην, οὐδʼ ἔνθα πεφυγμένος ἦεν ἀέθλων
καὶ μετὰ οἷσι φίλοισι. θεοὶ δʼ ἐλέαιρον ἅπαντες
νόσφι Ποσειδάωνος· ὁ δʼ ἀσπερχὲς μενέαινεν
ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι πάρος ἣν γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν Αἰθίοπας μετεκίαθε τηλόθʼ ἐόντας,
Αἰθίοπας τοὶ διχθὰ δεδαίαται, ἔσχατοι ἀνδρῶν,
οἱ μὲν δυσομένου Ὑπερίονος οἱ δʼ ἀνιόντος,
ἀντιόων ταύρων τε καὶ ἀρνειῶν ἑκατόμβης.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γʼ ἐτέρπετο δαιτὶ παρήμενος· οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
Ζηνὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν Ὀλυμπίου ἁθρόοι ἦσαν.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·
μνήσατο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονος Αἰγίσθοιο,
τόν ῥʼ Ἀγαμεμνονίδης τηλεκλυτὸς ἔκτανʼ Ὀρέστης·
τοῦ ὅ γʼ ἐπιμνησθεὶς ἔπεʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετηύδα·
"Ah me, how mortals do lay the blame upon the gods!
They say their evils come from us, when they themselves
by their own reckless folly have griefs beyond their portion,
as now Aegisthus, beyond his portion, took to wife
the wedded wife of the son of Atreus, and killed him on his homecoming,
knowing the sheer destruction, since we had warned him beforehand,
sending Hermes, the keen-sighted slayer of Argus,
neither to kill the man nor to woo his wife;
for from Orestes there would come requital for the son of Atreus,
as soon as he came of age and longed for his own land.
They say their evils come from us, when they themselves
by their own reckless folly have griefs beyond their portion,
as now Aegisthus, beyond his portion, took to wife
the wedded wife of the son of Atreus, and killed him on his homecoming,
knowing the sheer destruction, since we had warned him beforehand,
sending Hermes, the keen-sighted slayer of Argus,
neither to kill the man nor to woo his wife;
for from Orestes there would come requital for the son of Atreus,
as soon as he came of age and longed for his own land.
ὢ πόποι, οἷον δή νυ θεοὺς βροτοὶ αἰτιόωνται·
ἐξ ἡμέων γάρ φασι κάκʼ ἔμμεναι, οἱ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
σφῇσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὑπὲρ μόρον ἄλγεʼ ἔχουσιν,
ὡς καὶ νῦν Αἴγισθος ὑπὲρ μόρον Ἀτρεΐδαο
γῆμʼ ἄλοχον μνηστήν, τὸν δʼ ἔκτανε νοστήσαντα,
εἰδὼς αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον, ἐπεὶ πρό οἱ εἴπομεν ἡμεῖς,
Ἑρμείαν πέμψαντες, ἐύσκοπον ἀργεϊφόντην,
μήτʼ αὐτὸν κτείνειν μήτε μνάασθαι ἄκοιτιν·
ἐκ γὰρ Ὀρέσταο τίσις ἔσσεται Ἀτρεΐδαο,
ὁππότʼ ἂν ἡβήσῃ τε καὶ ἧς ἱμείρεται αἴης.
ἐξ ἡμέων γάρ φασι κάκʼ ἔμμεναι, οἱ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
σφῇσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὑπὲρ μόρον ἄλγεʼ ἔχουσιν,
ὡς καὶ νῦν Αἴγισθος ὑπὲρ μόρον Ἀτρεΐδαο
γῆμʼ ἄλοχον μνηστήν, τὸν δʼ ἔκτανε νοστήσαντα,
εἰδὼς αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον, ἐπεὶ πρό οἱ εἴπομεν ἡμεῖς,
Ἑρμείαν πέμψαντες, ἐύσκοπον ἀργεϊφόντην,
μήτʼ αὐτὸν κτείνειν μήτε μνάασθαι ἄκοιτιν·
ἐκ γὰρ Ὀρέσταο τίσις ἔσσεται Ἀτρεΐδαο,
ὁππότʼ ἂν ἡβήσῃ τε καὶ ἧς ἱμείρεται αἴης.
"So spoke Hermes, but for all his good intent he did not persuade
the mind of Aegisthus; and now he has paid for it all at once."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
the mind of Aegisthus; and now he has paid for it all at once."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ Ἑρμείας, ἀλλʼ οὐ φρένας Αἰγίσθοιο
πεῖθʼ ἀγαθὰ φρονέων· νῦν δʼ ἁθρόα πάντʼ ἀπέτισεν.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
πεῖθʼ ἀγαθὰ φρονέων· νῦν δʼ ἁθρόα πάντʼ ἀπέτισεν.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Our father, son of Cronos, highest of rulers,
that man indeed lies in a destruction he well deserved;
so may any other perish who does such things.
But my heart burns for warlike-minded Odysseus,
ill-fated man, who long has suffered misery far from his own,
on a sea-girt island, where the navel of the sea is.
A wooded island, and a goddess has her dwelling there,
daughter of Atlas of the deadly mind, who knows the depths
of all the sea, and himself holds up the pillars,
the tall ones, that keep earth and heaven apart.
His daughter holds back that wretched, grieving man,
and always with soft and coaxing words
she enchants him, so that he will forget Ithaca. But Odysseus,
straining only to see the smoke leaping up
from his own land, longs to die. And your own heart,
Olympian, is not moved at all. Did Odysseus never
win your favour, offering sacrifice beside the ships of the Argives
in wide Troy? Why then have you conceived such hatred for him, Zeus?"
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
that man indeed lies in a destruction he well deserved;
so may any other perish who does such things.
But my heart burns for warlike-minded Odysseus,
ill-fated man, who long has suffered misery far from his own,
on a sea-girt island, where the navel of the sea is.
A wooded island, and a goddess has her dwelling there,
daughter of Atlas of the deadly mind, who knows the depths
of all the sea, and himself holds up the pillars,
the tall ones, that keep earth and heaven apart.
His daughter holds back that wretched, grieving man,
and always with soft and coaxing words
she enchants him, so that he will forget Ithaca. But Odysseus,
straining only to see the smoke leaping up
from his own land, longs to die. And your own heart,
Olympian, is not moved at all. Did Odysseus never
win your favour, offering sacrifice beside the ships of the Argives
in wide Troy? Why then have you conceived such hatred for him, Zeus?"
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε Κρονίδη, ὕπατε κρειόντων,
καὶ λίην κεῖνός γε ἐοικότι κεῖται ὀλέθρῳ·
ὡς ἀπόλοιτο καὶ ἄλλος, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι·
ἀλλά μοι ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι δαΐφρονι δαίεται ἦτορ,
δυσμόρῳ, ὃς δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχει
νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ, ὅθι τʼ ὀμφαλός ἐστι θαλάσσης.
νῆσος δενδρήεσσα, θεὰ δʼ ἐν δώματα ναίει,
Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ ὀλοόφρονος, ὅς τε θαλάσσης
πάσης βένθεα οἶδεν, ἔχει δέ τε κίονας αὐτὸς
μακράς, αἳ γαῖάν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχουσιν.
τοῦ θυγάτηρ δύστηνον ὀδυρόμενον κατερύκει,
αἰεὶ δὲ μαλακοῖσι καὶ αἱμυλίοισι λόγοισιν
θέλγει, ὅπως Ἰθάκης ἐπιλήσεται· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἱέμενος καὶ καπνὸν ἀποθρῴσκοντα νοῆσαι
ἧς γαίης, θανέειν ἱμείρεται. οὐδέ νυ σοί περ
ἐντρέπεται φίλον ἦτορ, Ὀλύμπιε. οὔ νύ τʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ χαρίζετο ἱερὰ ῥέζων
Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ; τί νύ οἱ τόσον ὠδύσαο, Ζεῦ;
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
καὶ λίην κεῖνός γε ἐοικότι κεῖται ὀλέθρῳ·
ὡς ἀπόλοιτο καὶ ἄλλος, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι·
ἀλλά μοι ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι δαΐφρονι δαίεται ἦτορ,
δυσμόρῳ, ὃς δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχει
νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ, ὅθι τʼ ὀμφαλός ἐστι θαλάσσης.
νῆσος δενδρήεσσα, θεὰ δʼ ἐν δώματα ναίει,
Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ ὀλοόφρονος, ὅς τε θαλάσσης
πάσης βένθεα οἶδεν, ἔχει δέ τε κίονας αὐτὸς
μακράς, αἳ γαῖάν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχουσιν.
τοῦ θυγάτηρ δύστηνον ὀδυρόμενον κατερύκει,
αἰεὶ δὲ μαλακοῖσι καὶ αἱμυλίοισι λόγοισιν
θέλγει, ὅπως Ἰθάκης ἐπιλήσεται· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἱέμενος καὶ καπνὸν ἀποθρῴσκοντα νοῆσαι
ἧς γαίης, θανέειν ἱμείρεται. οὐδέ νυ σοί περ
ἐντρέπεται φίλον ἦτορ, Ὀλύμπιε. οὔ νύ τʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ χαρίζετο ἱερὰ ῥέζων
Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ; τί νύ οἱ τόσον ὠδύσαο, Ζεῦ;
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
"My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth!
How could I ever forget divine Odysseus,
who surpasses mortals in mind, and beyond all others gave sacrifice
to the immortal gods, who hold the wide heaven?
But Poseidon the earth-holder is stubbornly and always
angry over the Cyclops, whose eye he blinded —
godlike Polyphemus, whose power is greatest
among all the Cyclopes. The nymph Thoosa bore him,
daughter of Phorcys, who rules the barren sea,
when she lay with Poseidon in the hollow caves.
Ever since then Poseidon the earth-shaker
does not kill Odysseus, but drives him wandering from his native land.
But come, let all of us here take thought together
for his homecoming, how he may come; and Poseidon will let go
his anger, for he will have no power to strive alone
against all the immortals, in despite of the gods."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
How could I ever forget divine Odysseus,
who surpasses mortals in mind, and beyond all others gave sacrifice
to the immortal gods, who hold the wide heaven?
But Poseidon the earth-holder is stubbornly and always
angry over the Cyclops, whose eye he blinded —
godlike Polyphemus, whose power is greatest
among all the Cyclopes. The nymph Thoosa bore him,
daughter of Phorcys, who rules the barren sea,
when she lay with Poseidon in the hollow caves.
Ever since then Poseidon the earth-shaker
does not kill Odysseus, but drives him wandering from his native land.
But come, let all of us here take thought together
for his homecoming, how he may come; and Poseidon will let go
his anger, for he will have no power to strive alone
against all the immortals, in despite of the gods."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
πῶς ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ θείοιο λαθοίμην,
ὃς περὶ μὲν νόον ἐστὶ βροτῶν, περὶ δʼ ἱρὰ θεοῖσιν
ἀθανάτοισιν ἔδωκε, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν;
ἀλλὰ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἀσκελὲς αἰεὶ
Κύκλωπος κεχόλωται, ὃν ὀφθαλμοῦ ἀλάωσεν,
ἀντίθεον Πολύφημον, ὅου κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον
πᾶσιν Κυκλώπεσσι· Θόωσα δέ μιν τέκε νύμφη,
Φόρκυνος θυγάτηρ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο μέδοντος,
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι Ποσειδάωνι μιγεῖσα.
ἐκ τοῦ δὴ Ὀδυσῆα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
οὔ τι κατακτείνει, πλάζει δʼ ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ἡμεῖς οἵδε περιφραζώμεθα πάντες
νόστον, ὅπως ἔλθῃσι· Ποσειδάων δὲ μεθήσει
ὃν χόλον· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι δυνήσεται ἀντία πάντων
ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν ἐριδαινέμεν οἶος.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
πῶς ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ θείοιο λαθοίμην,
ὃς περὶ μὲν νόον ἐστὶ βροτῶν, περὶ δʼ ἱρὰ θεοῖσιν
ἀθανάτοισιν ἔδωκε, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν;
ἀλλὰ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἀσκελὲς αἰεὶ
Κύκλωπος κεχόλωται, ὃν ὀφθαλμοῦ ἀλάωσεν,
ἀντίθεον Πολύφημον, ὅου κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον
πᾶσιν Κυκλώπεσσι· Θόωσα δέ μιν τέκε νύμφη,
Φόρκυνος θυγάτηρ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο μέδοντος,
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι Ποσειδάωνι μιγεῖσα.
ἐκ τοῦ δὴ Ὀδυσῆα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
οὔ τι κατακτείνει, πλάζει δʼ ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ἡμεῖς οἵδε περιφραζώμεθα πάντες
νόστον, ὅπως ἔλθῃσι· Ποσειδάων δὲ μεθήσει
ὃν χόλον· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι δυνήσεται ἀντία πάντων
ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν ἐριδαινέμεν οἶος.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Our father, son of Cronos, highest of rulers,
if indeed this is now the pleasure of the blessed gods,
that Odysseus of many wits should come home to his own house,
then let us send Hermes the guide, the slayer of Argus,
to the island of Ogygia, so that with all speed
he may tell the fair-haired nymph our unerring decision,
the homecoming of enduring-hearted Odysseus, that he may return.
And I will go to Ithaca, to rouse his son
the more and put fury into his mind,
to call the long-haired Achaeans to assembly
and speak out against all the suitors, who are forever
slaughtering his thronging sheep and his shambling, crook-horned cattle.
And I will send him to Sparta and to sandy Pylos
to ask after his dear father’s homecoming, if he may hear of it,
and so that he may win noble glory among men."
if indeed this is now the pleasure of the blessed gods,
that Odysseus of many wits should come home to his own house,
then let us send Hermes the guide, the slayer of Argus,
to the island of Ogygia, so that with all speed
he may tell the fair-haired nymph our unerring decision,
the homecoming of enduring-hearted Odysseus, that he may return.
And I will go to Ithaca, to rouse his son
the more and put fury into his mind,
to call the long-haired Achaeans to assembly
and speak out against all the suitors, who are forever
slaughtering his thronging sheep and his shambling, crook-horned cattle.
And I will send him to Sparta and to sandy Pylos
to ask after his dear father’s homecoming, if he may hear of it,
and so that he may win noble glory among men."
ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε Κρονίδη, ὕπατε κρειόντων,
εἰ μὲν δὴ νῦν τοῦτο φίλον μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν,
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε,
Ἑρμείαν μὲν ἔπειτα διάκτορον ἀργεϊφόντην
νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην ὀτρύνομεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα
νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ εἴπῃ νημερτέα βουλήν,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὥς κε νέηται·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν Ἰθάκηνδʼ ἐσελεύσομαι, ὄφρα οἱ υἱὸν
μᾶλλον ἐποτρύνω καί οἱ μένος ἐν φρεσὶ θείω,
εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσαντα κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
πᾶσι μνηστήρεσσιν ἀπειπέμεν, οἵ τέ οἱ αἰεὶ
μῆλʼ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς.
πέμψω δʼ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα
νόστον πευσόμενον πατρὸς φίλου, ἤν που ἀκούσῃ,
ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχῃσιν.
εἰ μὲν δὴ νῦν τοῦτο φίλον μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν,
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε,
Ἑρμείαν μὲν ἔπειτα διάκτορον ἀργεϊφόντην
νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην ὀτρύνομεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα
νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ εἴπῃ νημερτέα βουλήν,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὥς κε νέηται·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν Ἰθάκηνδʼ ἐσελεύσομαι, ὄφρα οἱ υἱὸν
μᾶλλον ἐποτρύνω καί οἱ μένος ἐν φρεσὶ θείω,
εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσαντα κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
πᾶσι μνηστήρεσσιν ἀπειπέμεν, οἵ τέ οἱ αἰεὶ
μῆλʼ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς.
πέμψω δʼ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα
νόστον πευσόμενον πατρὸς φίλου, ἤν που ἀκούσῃ,
ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχῃσιν.
So saying, she bound beneath her feet the beautiful sandals,
immortal and golden, that carried her over the water
and over the boundless earth with the breath of the wind;
and she took her strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze,
heavy, huge and massive, with which she beats down the ranks of men,
of heroes, against whom she bears a grudge, the daughter of a mighty father.
She went darting down from the peaks of Olympus,
and stood in the land of Ithaca at the forecourt of Odysseus,
on the threshold of the court, holding the bronze spear in her hand,
in the likeness of a stranger, Mentes, the leader of the Taphians.
And she found the lordly suitors. They just then
were delighting their spirit with draughts before the doors,
sitting on the hides of oxen they had killed themselves;
and heralds and busy attendants were about them,
some mixing wine and water in the bowls,
others wiping the tables with porous sponges
and setting them out, while others carved meat in plenty.
Telemachus, godlike in form, was far the first to see her;
for he sat among the suitors with grief in his heart,
seeing his noble father in his mind, if he might come from somewhere
and scatter the suitors throughout the house,
and hold his honour himself, and be lord over his own possessions.
Thinking of this, sitting among the suitors, he caught sight of Athena,
and went straight to the forecourt, indignant in his spirit
that a stranger should stand long at the doors. Standing close,
he took her right hand and received the bronze spear,
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
immortal and golden, that carried her over the water
and over the boundless earth with the breath of the wind;
and she took her strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze,
heavy, huge and massive, with which she beats down the ranks of men,
of heroes, against whom she bears a grudge, the daughter of a mighty father.
She went darting down from the peaks of Olympus,
and stood in the land of Ithaca at the forecourt of Odysseus,
on the threshold of the court, holding the bronze spear in her hand,
in the likeness of a stranger, Mentes, the leader of the Taphians.
And she found the lordly suitors. They just then
were delighting their spirit with draughts before the doors,
sitting on the hides of oxen they had killed themselves;
and heralds and busy attendants were about them,
some mixing wine and water in the bowls,
others wiping the tables with porous sponges
and setting them out, while others carved meat in plenty.
Telemachus, godlike in form, was far the first to see her;
for he sat among the suitors with grief in his heart,
seeing his noble father in his mind, if he might come from somewhere
and scatter the suitors throughout the house,
and hold his honour himself, and be lord over his own possessions.
Thinking of this, sitting among the suitors, he caught sight of Athena,
and went straight to the forecourt, indignant in his spirit
that a stranger should stand long at the doors. Standing close,
he took her right hand and received the bronze spear,
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν
ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο·
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέι χαλκῷ,
βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶν
ἡρώων, τοῖσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη.
βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀίξασα,
στῆ δʼ Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ ἐπὶ προθύροις Ὀδυσῆος,
οὐδοῦ ἐπʼ αὐλείου· παλάμῃ δʼ ἔχε χάλκεον ἔγχος,
εἰδομένη ξείνῳ, Ταφίων ἡγήτορι Μέντῃ.
εὗρε δʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
πεσσοῖσι προπάροιθε θυράων θυμὸν ἔτερπον
ἥμενοι ἐν ῥινοῖσι βοῶν, οὓς ἔκτανον αὐτοί·
κήρυκες δʼ αὐτοῖσι καὶ ὀτρηροὶ θεράποντες
οἱ μὲν οἶνον ἔμισγον ἐνὶ κρητῆρσι καὶ ὕδωρ,
οἱ δʼ αὖτε σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι τραπέζας
νίζον καὶ πρότιθεν, τοὶ δὲ κρέα πολλὰ δατεῦντο.
τὴν δὲ πολὺ πρῶτος ἴδε Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής,
ἧστο γὰρ ἐν μνηστῆρσι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,
ὀσσόμενος πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, εἴ ποθεν ἐλθὼν
μνηστήρων τῶν μὲν σκέδασιν κατὰ δώματα θείη,
τιμὴν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχοι καὶ δώμασιν οἷσιν ἀνάσσοι.
τὰ φρονέων, μνηστῆρσι μεθήμενος, εἴσιδʼ Ἀθήνην.
βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς προθύροιο, νεμεσσήθη δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ξεῖνον δηθὰ θύρῃσιν ἐφεστάμεν· ἐγγύθι δὲ στὰς
χεῖρʼ ἕλε δεξιτερὴν καὶ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν
ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο·
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέι χαλκῷ,
βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶν
ἡρώων, τοῖσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη.
βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀίξασα,
στῆ δʼ Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ ἐπὶ προθύροις Ὀδυσῆος,
οὐδοῦ ἐπʼ αὐλείου· παλάμῃ δʼ ἔχε χάλκεον ἔγχος,
εἰδομένη ξείνῳ, Ταφίων ἡγήτορι Μέντῃ.
εὗρε δʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
πεσσοῖσι προπάροιθε θυράων θυμὸν ἔτερπον
ἥμενοι ἐν ῥινοῖσι βοῶν, οὓς ἔκτανον αὐτοί·
κήρυκες δʼ αὐτοῖσι καὶ ὀτρηροὶ θεράποντες
οἱ μὲν οἶνον ἔμισγον ἐνὶ κρητῆρσι καὶ ὕδωρ,
οἱ δʼ αὖτε σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι τραπέζας
νίζον καὶ πρότιθεν, τοὶ δὲ κρέα πολλὰ δατεῦντο.
τὴν δὲ πολὺ πρῶτος ἴδε Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής,
ἧστο γὰρ ἐν μνηστῆρσι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,
ὀσσόμενος πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, εἴ ποθεν ἐλθὼν
μνηστήρων τῶν μὲν σκέδασιν κατὰ δώματα θείη,
τιμὴν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχοι καὶ δώμασιν οἷσιν ἀνάσσοι.
τὰ φρονέων, μνηστῆρσι μεθήμενος, εἴσιδʼ Ἀθήνην.
βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς προθύροιο, νεμεσσήθη δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ξεῖνον δηθὰ θύρῃσιν ἐφεστάμεν· ἐγγύθι δὲ στὰς
χεῖρʼ ἕλε δεξιτερὴν καὶ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Welcome, stranger; you will be treated kindly among us. Afterwards,
when you have tasted food, you shall tell us what you need."
when you have tasted food, you shall tell us what you need."
χαῖρε, ξεῖνε, παρʼ ἄμμι φιλήσεαι· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
δείπνου πασσάμενος μυθήσεαι ὅττεό σε χρή.
δείπνου πασσάμενος μυθήσεαι ὅττεό σε χρή.
So saying he led the way, and Pallas Athena followed.
And when they were within the lofty house,
he carried the spear and set it against a tall pillar
inside the polished spear-rack, where many other spears
of enduring-hearted Odysseus were standing;
and he led her to a chair and seated her, spreading a cloth beneath,
a beautiful chair, richly worked; and there was a footstool under her feet.
Beside her he set for himself an inlaid seat, apart from the rest
of the suitors, so that the stranger, vexed by the uproar,
should not lose his taste for the meal, falling among overweening men,
and so that he might ask him about his absent father.
A handmaid brought water in a pitcher and poured it
from a fine golden vessel over a silver basin,
for the washing of hands; and she drew up a polished table beside them.
The grave housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,
laying on many dishes, giving freely of her store;
and a carver lifted platters of meat and set them by,
meats of every kind, and placed golden cups beside them;
and a herald came often to them, pouring the wine.
Then in came the lordly suitors. And they
sat down in order on the seats and the chairs,
and heralds poured water over their hands,
and serving-women heaped bread in the baskets for them,
and the young men filled the mixing-bowls to the brim with drink.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
the suitors turned their minds to other things,
to song and to dancing, for these are the crown of a feast.
And a herald put a beautiful lyre into the hands
of Phemius, who sang among the suitors under compulsion.
And when they were within the lofty house,
he carried the spear and set it against a tall pillar
inside the polished spear-rack, where many other spears
of enduring-hearted Odysseus were standing;
and he led her to a chair and seated her, spreading a cloth beneath,
a beautiful chair, richly worked; and there was a footstool under her feet.
Beside her he set for himself an inlaid seat, apart from the rest
of the suitors, so that the stranger, vexed by the uproar,
should not lose his taste for the meal, falling among overweening men,
and so that he might ask him about his absent father.
A handmaid brought water in a pitcher and poured it
from a fine golden vessel over a silver basin,
for the washing of hands; and she drew up a polished table beside them.
The grave housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,
laying on many dishes, giving freely of her store;
and a carver lifted platters of meat and set them by,
meats of every kind, and placed golden cups beside them;
and a herald came often to them, pouring the wine.
Then in came the lordly suitors. And they
sat down in order on the seats and the chairs,
and heralds poured water over their hands,
and serving-women heaped bread in the baskets for them,
and the young men filled the mixing-bowls to the brim with drink.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
the suitors turned their minds to other things,
to song and to dancing, for these are the crown of a feast.
And a herald put a beautiful lyre into the hands
of Phemius, who sang among the suitors under compulsion.
ὣς εἰπὼν ἡγεῖθʼ, ἡ δʼ ἕσπετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
οἱ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἔντοσθεν ἔσαν δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,
ἔγχος μέν ῥʼ ἔστησε φέρων πρὸς κίονα μακρὴν
δουροδόκης ἔντοσθεν ἐυξόου, ἔνθα περ ἄλλα
ἔγχεʼ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἵστατο πολλά,
αὐτὴν δʼ ἐς θρόνον εἷσεν ἄγων, ὑπὸ λῖτα πετάσσας,
καλὸν δαιδάλεον· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν.
πὰρ δʼ αὐτὸς κλισμὸν θέτο ποικίλον, ἔκτοθεν ἄλλων
μνηστήρων, μὴ ξεῖνος ἀνιηθεὶς ὀρυμαγδῷ
δείπνῳ ἁδήσειεν, ὑπερφιάλοισι μετελθών,
ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν περὶ πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο ἔροιτο.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·
δαιτρὸς δὲ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκεν ἀείρας
παντοίων, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κύπελλα·
κῆρυξ δʼ αὐτοῖσιν θάμʼ ἐπῴχετο οἰνοχοεύων.
ἐς δʼ ἦλθον μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,
σῖτον δὲ δμῳαὶ παρενήνεον ἐν κανέοισιν,
κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο
μνηστῆρες, τοῖσιν μὲν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἄλλα μεμήλει,
μολπή τʼ ὀρχηστύς τε· τὰ γάρ τʼ ἀναθήματα δαιτός·
κῆρυξ δʼ ἐν χερσὶν κίθαριν περικαλλέα θῆκεν
Φημίῳ, ὅς ῥʼ ἤειδε παρὰ μνηστῆρσιν ἀνάγκῃ.
οἱ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἔντοσθεν ἔσαν δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,
ἔγχος μέν ῥʼ ἔστησε φέρων πρὸς κίονα μακρὴν
δουροδόκης ἔντοσθεν ἐυξόου, ἔνθα περ ἄλλα
ἔγχεʼ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἵστατο πολλά,
αὐτὴν δʼ ἐς θρόνον εἷσεν ἄγων, ὑπὸ λῖτα πετάσσας,
καλὸν δαιδάλεον· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν.
πὰρ δʼ αὐτὸς κλισμὸν θέτο ποικίλον, ἔκτοθεν ἄλλων
μνηστήρων, μὴ ξεῖνος ἀνιηθεὶς ὀρυμαγδῷ
δείπνῳ ἁδήσειεν, ὑπερφιάλοισι μετελθών,
ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν περὶ πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο ἔροιτο.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·
δαιτρὸς δὲ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκεν ἀείρας
παντοίων, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κύπελλα·
κῆρυξ δʼ αὐτοῖσιν θάμʼ ἐπῴχετο οἰνοχοεύων.
ἐς δʼ ἦλθον μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,
σῖτον δὲ δμῳαὶ παρενήνεον ἐν κανέοισιν,
κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο
μνηστῆρες, τοῖσιν μὲν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἄλλα μεμήλει,
μολπή τʼ ὀρχηστύς τε· τὰ γάρ τʼ ἀναθήματα δαιτός·
κῆρυξ δʼ ἐν χερσὶν κίθαριν περικαλλέα θῆκεν
Φημίῳ, ὅς ῥʼ ἤειδε παρὰ μνηστῆρσιν ἀνάγκῃ.
He struck the strings and lifted his voice in beautiful song.
But Telemachus spoke to grey-eyed Athena,
holding his head close, so that the others might not hear:
"Dear stranger, will you take it ill of me if I speak?
These are the things that concern them — the lyre and the song —
easily, since they eat another man’s living without payment,
a man whose white bones, I suppose, lie rotting in the rain
somewhere on the mainland, or the waves roll them in the sea.
If they were to see him come home to Ithaca,
they would all pray to be lighter on their feet
rather than richer in gold and in clothing.
But as it is, he has perished by an evil fate, and there is no
comfort for us, even if some man on the face of the earth
says he will come; the day of his homecoming is gone.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
Who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city, and your parents?
On what kind of ship did you come? How did the sailors
bring you to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
For I do not suppose you came here on foot.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
is this your first coming, or are you a guest-friend
from my father’s time? For many other men used to come to our house,
since he too went much among men."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
But Telemachus spoke to grey-eyed Athena,
holding his head close, so that the others might not hear:
"Dear stranger, will you take it ill of me if I speak?
These are the things that concern them — the lyre and the song —
easily, since they eat another man’s living without payment,
a man whose white bones, I suppose, lie rotting in the rain
somewhere on the mainland, or the waves roll them in the sea.
If they were to see him come home to Ithaca,
they would all pray to be lighter on their feet
rather than richer in gold and in clothing.
But as it is, he has perished by an evil fate, and there is no
comfort for us, even if some man on the face of the earth
says he will come; the day of his homecoming is gone.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
Who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city, and your parents?
On what kind of ship did you come? How did the sailors
bring you to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
For I do not suppose you came here on foot.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
is this your first coming, or are you a guest-friend
from my father’s time? For many other men used to come to our house,
since he too went much among men."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
ἦ τοι ὁ φορμίζων ἀνεβάλλετο καλὸν ἀείδειν.
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος προσέφη γλαυκῶπιν Ἀθήνην,
ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·
ξεῖνε φίλʼ, ἦ καί μοι νεμεσήσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω;
τούτοισιν μὲν ταῦτα μέλει, κίθαρις καὶ ἀοιδή,
ῥεῖʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀλλότριον βίοτον νήποινον ἔδουσιν,
ἀνέρος, οὗ δή που λεύκʼ ὀστέα πύθεται ὄμβρῳ
κείμενʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου, ἢ εἰν ἁλὶ κῦμα κυλίνδει.
εἰ κεῖνόν γʼ Ἰθάκηνδε ἰδοίατο νοστήσαντα,
πάντες κʼ ἀρησαίατʼ ἐλαφρότεροι πόδας εἶναι
ἢ ἀφνειότεροι χρυσοῖό τε ἐσθῆτός τε.
νῦν δʼ ὁ μὲν ὣς ἀπόλωλε κακὸν μόρον, οὐδέ τις ἡμῖν
θαλπωρή, εἴ πέρ τις ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων
φῇσιν ἐλεύσεσθαι· τοῦ δʼ ὤλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
ὁπποίης τʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἀφίκεο· πῶς δέ σε ναῦται
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀίομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῶ,
ἠὲ νέον μεθέπεις ἦ καὶ πατρώιός ἐσσι
ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολλοὶ ἴσαν ἀνέρες ἡμέτερον δῶ
ἄλλοι, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνος ἐπίστροφος ἦν ἀνθρώπων.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος προσέφη γλαυκῶπιν Ἀθήνην,
ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·
ξεῖνε φίλʼ, ἦ καί μοι νεμεσήσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω;
τούτοισιν μὲν ταῦτα μέλει, κίθαρις καὶ ἀοιδή,
ῥεῖʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀλλότριον βίοτον νήποινον ἔδουσιν,
ἀνέρος, οὗ δή που λεύκʼ ὀστέα πύθεται ὄμβρῳ
κείμενʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου, ἢ εἰν ἁλὶ κῦμα κυλίνδει.
εἰ κεῖνόν γʼ Ἰθάκηνδε ἰδοίατο νοστήσαντα,
πάντες κʼ ἀρησαίατʼ ἐλαφρότεροι πόδας εἶναι
ἢ ἀφνειότεροι χρυσοῖό τε ἐσθῆτός τε.
νῦν δʼ ὁ μὲν ὣς ἀπόλωλε κακὸν μόρον, οὐδέ τις ἡμῖν
θαλπωρή, εἴ πέρ τις ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων
φῇσιν ἐλεύσεσθαι· τοῦ δʼ ὤλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
ὁπποίης τʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἀφίκεο· πῶς δέ σε ναῦται
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀίομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῶ,
ἠὲ νέον μεθέπεις ἦ καὶ πατρώιός ἐσσι
ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολλοὶ ἴσαν ἀνέρες ἡμέτερον δῶ
ἄλλοι, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνος ἐπίστροφος ἦν ἀνθρώπων.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Then I will tell you all this quite exactly.
I claim to be Mentes, son of warlike-minded Anchialus,
and I am lord over the oar-loving Taphians.
Now I have put in here with my ship and my companions,
sailing over the wine-dark sea to men of foreign speech,
to Temese, after copper; and I carry gleaming iron.
My ship lies out in the country, away from the city,
in the harbour of Rheithron, under wooded Neion.
We claim to be guest-friends of each other from our fathers’ time,
from the beginning, as you will find if you go and ask the old man,
the hero Laertes, who they say comes no longer to the city,
but suffers misery far off in the country,
with an old serving-woman, who sets food and drink
before him, when weariness takes hold of his limbs
as he crawls along the slope of his vineyard plot.
Now I have come; for they said he was at home,
your father; but the gods are hindering him on his road.
For noble Odysseus is not yet dead upon the earth,
but is still alive somewhere, held back on the wide sea,
on a sea-girt island, and hard men hold him,
savages, who keep him there against his will.
But now I will prophesy to you, as the immortals
cast it into my spirit, and as I think it will be fulfilled,
though I am no seer and have no clear knowledge of birds.
Not much longer will he be away from his own dear land,
not even if bonds of iron hold him;
he will contrive a way to return, since he is of many resources.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
are you truly, grown so tall, the son of Odysseus himself?
You are wonderfully like him about the head and the fine eyes,
for we used often to meet each other in this way,
before he went up to Troy, where the others also,
the best of the Argives, went in their hollow ships.
Since then I have not seen Odysseus, nor he me."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
I claim to be Mentes, son of warlike-minded Anchialus,
and I am lord over the oar-loving Taphians.
Now I have put in here with my ship and my companions,
sailing over the wine-dark sea to men of foreign speech,
to Temese, after copper; and I carry gleaming iron.
My ship lies out in the country, away from the city,
in the harbour of Rheithron, under wooded Neion.
We claim to be guest-friends of each other from our fathers’ time,
from the beginning, as you will find if you go and ask the old man,
the hero Laertes, who they say comes no longer to the city,
but suffers misery far off in the country,
with an old serving-woman, who sets food and drink
before him, when weariness takes hold of his limbs
as he crawls along the slope of his vineyard plot.
Now I have come; for they said he was at home,
your father; but the gods are hindering him on his road.
For noble Odysseus is not yet dead upon the earth,
but is still alive somewhere, held back on the wide sea,
on a sea-girt island, and hard men hold him,
savages, who keep him there against his will.
But now I will prophesy to you, as the immortals
cast it into my spirit, and as I think it will be fulfilled,
though I am no seer and have no clear knowledge of birds.
Not much longer will he be away from his own dear land,
not even if bonds of iron hold him;
he will contrive a way to return, since he is of many resources.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
are you truly, grown so tall, the son of Odysseus himself?
You are wonderfully like him about the head and the fine eyes,
for we used often to meet each other in this way,
before he went up to Troy, where the others also,
the best of the Argives, went in their hollow ships.
Since then I have not seen Odysseus, nor he me."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
Μέντης Ἀγχιάλοιο δαΐφρονος εὔχομαι εἶναι
υἱός, ἀτὰρ Ταφίοισι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω.
νῦν δʼ ὧδε ξὺν νηὶ κατήλυθον ἠδʼ ἑτάροισιν
πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον ἐπʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους,
ἐς Τεμέσην μετὰ χαλκόν, ἄγω δʼ αἴθωνα σίδηρον.
νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδʼ ἕστηκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος,
ἐν λιμένι Ῥείθρῳ ὑπὸ Νηίῳ ὑλήεντι.
ξεῖνοι δʼ ἀλλήλων πατρώιοι εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι
ἐξ ἀρχῆς, εἴ πέρ τε γέροντʼ εἴρηαι ἐπελθὼν
Λαέρτην ἥρωα, τὸν οὐκέτι φασὶ πόλινδε
ἔρχεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀπάνευθεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ πήματα πάσχειν
γρηὶ σὺν ἀμφιπόλῳ, ἥ οἱ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε
παρτιθεῖ, εὖτʼ ἄν μιν κάματος κατὰ γυῖα λάβῃσιν
ἑρπύζοντʼ ἀνὰ γουνὸν ἀλωῆς οἰνοπέδοιο.
νῦν δʼ ἦλθον· δὴ γάρ μιν ἔφαντʼ ἐπιδήμιον εἶναι,
σὸν πατέρʼ· ἀλλά νυ τόν γε θεοὶ βλάπτουσι κελεύθου.
οὐ γάρ πω τέθνηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλʼ ἔτι που ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ
νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ, χαλεποὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἔχουσιν
ἄγριοι, οἵ που κεῖνον ἐρυκανόωσʼ ἀέκοντα.
αὐτὰρ νῦν τοι ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀίω,
οὔτε τι μάντις ἐὼν οὔτʼ οἰωνῶν σάφα εἰδώς.
οὔ τοι ἔτι δηρόν γε φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης
ἔσσεται, οὐδʼ εἴ πέρ τε σιδήρεα δέσματʼ ἔχῃσιν·
φράσσεται ὥς κε νέηται, ἐπεὶ πολυμήχανός ἐστιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἰ δὴ ἐξ αὐτοῖο τόσος πάϊς εἰς Ὀδυσῆος.
αἰνῶς μὲν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὄμματα καλὰ ἔοικας
κείνῳ, ἐπεὶ θαμὰ τοῖον ἐμισγόμεθʼ ἀλλήλοισιν,
πρίν γε τὸν ἐς Τροίην ἀναβήμεναι, ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι
Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι ἔβαν κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν·
ἐκ τοῦ δʼ οὔτʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐγὼν ἴδον οὔτʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
Μέντης Ἀγχιάλοιο δαΐφρονος εὔχομαι εἶναι
υἱός, ἀτὰρ Ταφίοισι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω.
νῦν δʼ ὧδε ξὺν νηὶ κατήλυθον ἠδʼ ἑτάροισιν
πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον ἐπʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους,
ἐς Τεμέσην μετὰ χαλκόν, ἄγω δʼ αἴθωνα σίδηρον.
νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδʼ ἕστηκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος,
ἐν λιμένι Ῥείθρῳ ὑπὸ Νηίῳ ὑλήεντι.
ξεῖνοι δʼ ἀλλήλων πατρώιοι εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι
ἐξ ἀρχῆς, εἴ πέρ τε γέροντʼ εἴρηαι ἐπελθὼν
Λαέρτην ἥρωα, τὸν οὐκέτι φασὶ πόλινδε
ἔρχεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀπάνευθεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ πήματα πάσχειν
γρηὶ σὺν ἀμφιπόλῳ, ἥ οἱ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε
παρτιθεῖ, εὖτʼ ἄν μιν κάματος κατὰ γυῖα λάβῃσιν
ἑρπύζοντʼ ἀνὰ γουνὸν ἀλωῆς οἰνοπέδοιο.
νῦν δʼ ἦλθον· δὴ γάρ μιν ἔφαντʼ ἐπιδήμιον εἶναι,
σὸν πατέρʼ· ἀλλά νυ τόν γε θεοὶ βλάπτουσι κελεύθου.
οὐ γάρ πω τέθνηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλʼ ἔτι που ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ
νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ, χαλεποὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἔχουσιν
ἄγριοι, οἵ που κεῖνον ἐρυκανόωσʼ ἀέκοντα.
αὐτὰρ νῦν τοι ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀίω,
οὔτε τι μάντις ἐὼν οὔτʼ οἰωνῶν σάφα εἰδώς.
οὔ τοι ἔτι δηρόν γε φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης
ἔσσεται, οὐδʼ εἴ πέρ τε σιδήρεα δέσματʼ ἔχῃσιν·
φράσσεται ὥς κε νέηται, ἐπεὶ πολυμήχανός ἐστιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἰ δὴ ἐξ αὐτοῖο τόσος πάϊς εἰς Ὀδυσῆος.
αἰνῶς μὲν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὄμματα καλὰ ἔοικας
κείνῳ, ἐπεὶ θαμὰ τοῖον ἐμισγόμεθʼ ἀλλήλοισιν,
πρίν γε τὸν ἐς Τροίην ἀναβήμεναι, ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι
Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι ἔβαν κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν·
ἐκ τοῦ δʼ οὔτʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐγὼν ἴδον οὔτʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Then I will tell you, stranger, quite exactly.
My mother says I am his; but I myself
do not know; no man ever knew his own begetting for himself.
How I wish I were the son of some fortunate man
whom old age overtook among his own possessions.
But as it is, the most luckless of mortal men —
his they say I am, since you ask me this."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
My mother says I am his; but I myself
do not know; no man ever knew his own begetting for himself.
How I wish I were the son of some fortunate man
whom old age overtook among his own possessions.
But as it is, the most luckless of mortal men —
his they say I am, since you ask me this."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
μήτηρ μέν τέ μέ φησι τοῦ ἔμμεναι, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
οὐκ οἶδʼ· οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἑὸν γόνον αὐτὸς ἀνέγνω.
ὡς δὴ ἐγώ γʼ ὄφελον μάκαρός νύ τευ ἔμμεναι υἱὸς
ἀνέρος, ὃν κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖς ἔπι γῆρας ἔτετμε.
νῦν δʼ ὃς ἀποτμότατος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων,
τοῦ μʼ ἔκ φασι γενέσθαι, ἐπεὶ σύ με τοῦτʼ ἐρεείνεις.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
μήτηρ μέν τέ μέ φησι τοῦ ἔμμεναι, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
οὐκ οἶδʼ· οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἑὸν γόνον αὐτὸς ἀνέγνω.
ὡς δὴ ἐγώ γʼ ὄφελον μάκαρός νύ τευ ἔμμεναι υἱὸς
ἀνέρος, ὃν κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖς ἔπι γῆρας ἔτετμε.
νῦν δʼ ὃς ἀποτμότατος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων,
τοῦ μʼ ἔκ φασι γενέσθαι, ἐπεὶ σύ με τοῦτʼ ἐρεείνεις.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Surely the gods have not made your line nameless
in the time to come, since Penelope bore such a son as you.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
What feast is this, what gathering? What need have you of it?
A banquet, or a wedding? For this is no meal to which each brings his share.
They seem to me to be feasting through the house
in insolence and overweening pride. A man would be indignant
seeing so much shame, if he came among them with any sense."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
in the time to come, since Penelope bore such a son as you.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
What feast is this, what gathering? What need have you of it?
A banquet, or a wedding? For this is no meal to which each brings his share.
They seem to me to be feasting through the house
in insolence and overweening pride. A man would be indignant
seeing so much shame, if he came among them with any sense."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
οὐ μέν τοι γενεήν γε θεοὶ νώνυμνον ὀπίσσω
θῆκαν, ἐπεὶ σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο Πηνελόπεια.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
τίς δαίς, τίς δὲ ὅμιλος ὅδʼ ἔπλετο; τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ;
εἰλαπίνη ἠὲ γάμος; ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἔρανος τάδε γʼ ἐστίν·
ὥς τέ μοι ὑβρίζοντες ὑπερφιάλως δοκέουσι
δαίνυσθαι κατὰ δῶμα. νεμεσσήσαιτό κεν ἀνὴρ
αἴσχεα πόλλʼ ὁρόων, ὅς τις πινυτός γε μετέλθοι.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
θῆκαν, ἐπεὶ σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο Πηνελόπεια.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
τίς δαίς, τίς δὲ ὅμιλος ὅδʼ ἔπλετο; τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ;
εἰλαπίνη ἠὲ γάμος; ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἔρανος τάδε γʼ ἐστίν·
ὥς τέ μοι ὑβρίζοντες ὑπερφιάλως δοκέουσι
δαίνυσθαι κατὰ δῶμα. νεμεσσήσαιτό κεν ἀνὴρ
αἴσχεα πόλλʼ ὁρόων, ὅς τις πινυτός γε μετέλθοι.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Stranger, since you ask me this and question me,
this house was once likely to be rich and blameless,
while that man was still at home among his people.
But now the gods have willed it otherwise, devising evil,
who have made him vanish beyond all
men; for I should not grieve so for him dead,
if he had gone down among his companions in the land of the Trojans,
or in the arms of his own, when he had wound up the war.
Then all the Achaeans together would have made him a tomb,
and he would have won great glory for his son in the time to come.
But as it is, the Harpies have snatched him away without glory.
He is gone, unseen and unheard of, and to me has left
pain and lamentation. Nor is it for him alone
that I grieve and groan, since the gods have fashioned other troubles for me.
For all the nobles who hold power over the islands,
over Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus,
and all who are lords through rugged Ithaca —
all these court my mother and waste the house.
And she neither refuses the hateful marriage nor is able
to make an end of it; and they are eating away
my house; soon they will tear me to pieces as well."
Then Pallas Athena, stirred to anger, spoke to him:
this house was once likely to be rich and blameless,
while that man was still at home among his people.
But now the gods have willed it otherwise, devising evil,
who have made him vanish beyond all
men; for I should not grieve so for him dead,
if he had gone down among his companions in the land of the Trojans,
or in the arms of his own, when he had wound up the war.
Then all the Achaeans together would have made him a tomb,
and he would have won great glory for his son in the time to come.
But as it is, the Harpies have snatched him away without glory.
He is gone, unseen and unheard of, and to me has left
pain and lamentation. Nor is it for him alone
that I grieve and groan, since the gods have fashioned other troubles for me.
For all the nobles who hold power over the islands,
over Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus,
and all who are lords through rugged Ithaca —
all these court my mother and waste the house.
And she neither refuses the hateful marriage nor is able
to make an end of it; and they are eating away
my house; soon they will tear me to pieces as well."
Then Pallas Athena, stirred to anger, spoke to him:
ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ταῦτά μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς,
μέλλεν μέν ποτε οἶκος ὅδʼ ἀφνειὸς καὶ ἀμύμων
ἔμμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἔτι κεῖνος ἀνὴρ ἐπιδήμιος ἦεν·
νῦν δʼ ἑτέρως ἐβόλοντο θεοὶ κακὰ μητιόωντες,
οἳ κεῖνον μὲν ἄιστον ἐποίησαν περὶ πάντων
ἀνθρώπων, ἐπεὶ οὔ κε θανόντι περ ὧδʼ ἀκαχοίμην,
εἰ μετὰ οἷς ἑτάροισι δάμη Τρώων ἐνὶ δήμῳ,
ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσεν.
τῷ κέν οἱ τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,
ἠδέ κε καὶ ᾧ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρατʼ ὀπίσσω.
νῦν δέ μιν ἀκλειῶς ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο·
οἴχετʼ ἄιστος ἄπυστος, ἐμοὶ δʼ ὀδύνας τε γόους τε
κάλλιπεν. οὐδέ τι κεῖνον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω
οἶον, ἐπεί νύ μοι ἄλλα θεοὶ κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔτευξαν.
ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,
Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,
ἠδʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,
τόσσοι μητέρʼ ἐμὴν μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀρνεῖται στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελευτὴν
ποιῆσαι δύναται· τοὶ δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἔδοντες
οἶκον ἐμόν· τάχα δή με διαρραίσουσι καὶ αὐτόν.
τὸν δʼ ἐπαλαστήσασα προσηύδα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·
μέλλεν μέν ποτε οἶκος ὅδʼ ἀφνειὸς καὶ ἀμύμων
ἔμμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἔτι κεῖνος ἀνὴρ ἐπιδήμιος ἦεν·
νῦν δʼ ἑτέρως ἐβόλοντο θεοὶ κακὰ μητιόωντες,
οἳ κεῖνον μὲν ἄιστον ἐποίησαν περὶ πάντων
ἀνθρώπων, ἐπεὶ οὔ κε θανόντι περ ὧδʼ ἀκαχοίμην,
εἰ μετὰ οἷς ἑτάροισι δάμη Τρώων ἐνὶ δήμῳ,
ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσεν.
τῷ κέν οἱ τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,
ἠδέ κε καὶ ᾧ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρατʼ ὀπίσσω.
νῦν δέ μιν ἀκλειῶς ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο·
οἴχετʼ ἄιστος ἄπυστος, ἐμοὶ δʼ ὀδύνας τε γόους τε
κάλλιπεν. οὐδέ τι κεῖνον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω
οἶον, ἐπεί νύ μοι ἄλλα θεοὶ κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔτευξαν.
ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,
Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,
ἠδʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,
τόσσοι μητέρʼ ἐμὴν μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀρνεῖται στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελευτὴν
ποιῆσαι δύναται· τοὶ δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἔδοντες
οἶκον ἐμόν· τάχα δή με διαρραίσουσι καὶ αὐτόν.
τὸν δʼ ἐπαλαστήσασα προσηύδα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·
"Ah me, truly you have great need of Odysseus, who is gone,
to lay his hands upon these shameless suitors.
If only he might come now and stand at the outer doors of the house,
with his helmet and his shield and two spears,
such as he was when I first laid eyes on him
in our house, drinking and taking his pleasure,
on his way back from Ephyra, from Ilus son of Mermerus —
for Odysseus went there too in his swift ship,
seeking a man-killing drug, so that he might have it
to smear on his bronze-tipped arrows; but Ilus would not
give it to him, since he stood in awe of the gods who are forever;
but my father gave it, for he loved him greatly —
such as he was then, let Odysseus come among the suitors:
they would all be swift to die and find their marriage bitter.
But these things lie on the knees of the gods,
whether he will come home and take his revenge, or not,
here in his own halls. But I bid you consider
how you may drive the suitors out of the hall.
Come now, listen and take my words to heart.
Tomorrow call the Achaean heroes to assembly
and declare your word to them all, and let the gods be witnesses.
Order the suitors to scatter, each to his own;
and as for your mother, if her spirit urges her to marry,
let her go back to the hall of her father, a man of great power;
they will arrange the marriage and make ready the bridal gifts,
very many, as should go with a beloved daughter.
And for yourself I will give you shrewd counsel, if you will listen.
Fit out a ship with twenty oarsmen, the best there is,
and go to ask after your father, so long gone,
in case some mortal tells you, or you hear a rumour
from Zeus, which above all carries glory to men.
First go to Pylos and question noble Nestor,
and from there to Sparta, to fair-haired Menelaus;
for he came home last of the bronze-clad Achaeans.
If you hear that your father is alive and coming home,
then, worn as you are, you could endure one year more.
But if you hear that he is dead and no longer alive,
then come home to your own dear land,
heap up a mound for him and pay him the funeral rites,
very many, as is fitting, and give your mother to a husband.
But when you have finished and done all this,
then consider in your mind and in your spirit
how you may kill the suitors in your own halls,
whether by guile or in the open; and you must not
go on with childish ways, since you are no longer of that age.
Or have you not heard what glory noble Orestes won
among all men, when he killed his father’s murderer,
guileful Aegisthus, who had killed his famous father?
You too, my friend — for I see you are handsome and tall —
be brave, so that men yet unborn may speak well of you.
But now I will go down to my swift ship
and my companions, who are surely chafing at the wait.
See to it yourself, and take my words to heart."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
to lay his hands upon these shameless suitors.
If only he might come now and stand at the outer doors of the house,
with his helmet and his shield and two spears,
such as he was when I first laid eyes on him
in our house, drinking and taking his pleasure,
on his way back from Ephyra, from Ilus son of Mermerus —
for Odysseus went there too in his swift ship,
seeking a man-killing drug, so that he might have it
to smear on his bronze-tipped arrows; but Ilus would not
give it to him, since he stood in awe of the gods who are forever;
but my father gave it, for he loved him greatly —
such as he was then, let Odysseus come among the suitors:
they would all be swift to die and find their marriage bitter.
But these things lie on the knees of the gods,
whether he will come home and take his revenge, or not,
here in his own halls. But I bid you consider
how you may drive the suitors out of the hall.
Come now, listen and take my words to heart.
Tomorrow call the Achaean heroes to assembly
and declare your word to them all, and let the gods be witnesses.
Order the suitors to scatter, each to his own;
and as for your mother, if her spirit urges her to marry,
let her go back to the hall of her father, a man of great power;
they will arrange the marriage and make ready the bridal gifts,
very many, as should go with a beloved daughter.
And for yourself I will give you shrewd counsel, if you will listen.
Fit out a ship with twenty oarsmen, the best there is,
and go to ask after your father, so long gone,
in case some mortal tells you, or you hear a rumour
from Zeus, which above all carries glory to men.
First go to Pylos and question noble Nestor,
and from there to Sparta, to fair-haired Menelaus;
for he came home last of the bronze-clad Achaeans.
If you hear that your father is alive and coming home,
then, worn as you are, you could endure one year more.
But if you hear that he is dead and no longer alive,
then come home to your own dear land,
heap up a mound for him and pay him the funeral rites,
very many, as is fitting, and give your mother to a husband.
But when you have finished and done all this,
then consider in your mind and in your spirit
how you may kill the suitors in your own halls,
whether by guile or in the open; and you must not
go on with childish ways, since you are no longer of that age.
Or have you not heard what glory noble Orestes won
among all men, when he killed his father’s murderer,
guileful Aegisthus, who had killed his famous father?
You too, my friend — for I see you are handsome and tall —
be brave, so that men yet unborn may speak well of you.
But now I will go down to my swift ship
and my companions, who are surely chafing at the wait.
See to it yourself, and take my words to heart."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ δὴ πολλὸν ἀποιχομένου Ὀδυσῆος
δεύῃ, ὅ κε μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφείη.
εἰ γὰρ νῦν ἐλθὼν δόμου ἐν πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι
σταίη, ἔχων πήληκα καὶ ἀσπίδα καὶ δύο δοῦρε,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷόν μιν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτʼ ἐνόησα
οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ πίνοντά τε τερπόμενόν τε,
ἐξ Ἐφύρης ἀνιόντα παρʼ Ἴλου Μερμερίδαο—
ᾤχετο γὰρ καὶ κεῖσε θοῆς ἐπὶ νηὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
φάρμακον ἀνδροφόνον διζήμενος, ὄφρα οἱ εἴη
ἰοὺς χρίεσθαι χαλκήρεας· ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν οὔ οἱ
δῶκεν, ἐπεί ῥα θεοὺς νεμεσίζετο αἰὲν ἐόντας,
ἀλλὰ πατήρ οἱ δῶκεν ἐμός· φιλέεσκε γὰρ αἰνῶς—
τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,
ἤ κεν νοστήσας ἀποτίσεται, ἦε καὶ οὐκί,
οἷσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα,
ὅππως κε μνηστῆρας ἀπώσεαι ἐκ μεγάροιο.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε νῦν ξυνίει καὶ ἐμῶν ἐμπάζεο μύθων·
αὔριον εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσας ἥρωας Ἀχαιοὺς
μῦθον πέφραδε πᾶσι, θεοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ μάρτυροι ἔστων.
μνηστῆρας μὲν ἐπὶ σφέτερα σκίδνασθαι ἄνωχθι,
μητέρα δʼ, εἴ οἱ θυμὸς ἐφορμᾶται γαμέεσθαι,
ἂψ ἴτω ἐς μέγαρον πατρὸς μέγα δυναμένοιο·
οἱ δὲ γάμον τεύξουσι καὶ ἀρτυνέουσιν ἔεδνα
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε φίλης ἐπὶ παιδὸς ἕπεσθαι.
σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ πυκινῶς ὑποθήσομαι, αἴ κε πίθηαι·
νῆʼ ἄρσας ἐρέτῃσιν ἐείκοσιν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ἔρχεο πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο,
ἤν τίς τοι εἴπῃσι βροτῶν, ἢ ὄσσαν ἀκούσῃς
ἐκ Διός, ἥ τε μάλιστα φέρει κλέος ἀνθρώποισι.
πρῶτα μὲν ἐς Πύλον ἐλθὲ καὶ εἴρεο Νέστορα δῖον,
κεῖθεν δὲ Σπάρτηνδε παρὰ ξανθὸν Μενέλαον·
ὃς γὰρ δεύτατος ἦλθεν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.
εἰ μέν κεν πατρὸς βίοτον καὶ νόστον ἀκούσῃς,
ἦ τʼ ἂν τρυχόμενός περ ἔτι τλαίης ἐνιαυτόν·
εἰ δέ κε τεθνηῶτος ἀκούσῃς μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐόντος,
νοστήσας δὴ ἔπειτα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
σῆμά τέ οἱ χεῦαι καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερεΐξαι
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε, καὶ ἀνέρι μητέρα δοῦναι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ ταῦτα τελευτήσῃς τε καὶ ἔρξῃς,
φράζεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
ὅππως κε μνηστῆρας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεοῖσι
κτείνῃς ἠὲ δόλῳ ἢ ἀμφαδόν· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
νηπιάας ὀχέειν, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τηλίκος ἐσσι.
ἢ οὐκ ἀίεις οἷον κλέος ἔλλαβε δῖος Ὀρέστης
πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, ἐπεὶ ἔκτανε πατροφονῆα,
Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα;
καὶ σύ, φίλος, μάλα γάρ σʼ ὁρόω καλόν τε μέγαν τε,
ἄλκιμος ἔσσʼ, ἵνα τίς σε καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἐὺ εἴπῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν κατελεύσομαι ἤδη
ἠδʼ ἑτάρους, οἵ πού με μάλʼ ἀσχαλόωσι μένοντες·
σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ μελέτω, καὶ ἐμῶν ἐμπάζεο μύθων.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
δεύῃ, ὅ κε μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφείη.
εἰ γὰρ νῦν ἐλθὼν δόμου ἐν πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι
σταίη, ἔχων πήληκα καὶ ἀσπίδα καὶ δύο δοῦρε,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷόν μιν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτʼ ἐνόησα
οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ πίνοντά τε τερπόμενόν τε,
ἐξ Ἐφύρης ἀνιόντα παρʼ Ἴλου Μερμερίδαο—
ᾤχετο γὰρ καὶ κεῖσε θοῆς ἐπὶ νηὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
φάρμακον ἀνδροφόνον διζήμενος, ὄφρα οἱ εἴη
ἰοὺς χρίεσθαι χαλκήρεας· ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν οὔ οἱ
δῶκεν, ἐπεί ῥα θεοὺς νεμεσίζετο αἰὲν ἐόντας,
ἀλλὰ πατήρ οἱ δῶκεν ἐμός· φιλέεσκε γὰρ αἰνῶς—
τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,
ἤ κεν νοστήσας ἀποτίσεται, ἦε καὶ οὐκί,
οἷσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα,
ὅππως κε μνηστῆρας ἀπώσεαι ἐκ μεγάροιο.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε νῦν ξυνίει καὶ ἐμῶν ἐμπάζεο μύθων·
αὔριον εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσας ἥρωας Ἀχαιοὺς
μῦθον πέφραδε πᾶσι, θεοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ μάρτυροι ἔστων.
μνηστῆρας μὲν ἐπὶ σφέτερα σκίδνασθαι ἄνωχθι,
μητέρα δʼ, εἴ οἱ θυμὸς ἐφορμᾶται γαμέεσθαι,
ἂψ ἴτω ἐς μέγαρον πατρὸς μέγα δυναμένοιο·
οἱ δὲ γάμον τεύξουσι καὶ ἀρτυνέουσιν ἔεδνα
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε φίλης ἐπὶ παιδὸς ἕπεσθαι.
σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ πυκινῶς ὑποθήσομαι, αἴ κε πίθηαι·
νῆʼ ἄρσας ἐρέτῃσιν ἐείκοσιν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ἔρχεο πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο,
ἤν τίς τοι εἴπῃσι βροτῶν, ἢ ὄσσαν ἀκούσῃς
ἐκ Διός, ἥ τε μάλιστα φέρει κλέος ἀνθρώποισι.
πρῶτα μὲν ἐς Πύλον ἐλθὲ καὶ εἴρεο Νέστορα δῖον,
κεῖθεν δὲ Σπάρτηνδε παρὰ ξανθὸν Μενέλαον·
ὃς γὰρ δεύτατος ἦλθεν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.
εἰ μέν κεν πατρὸς βίοτον καὶ νόστον ἀκούσῃς,
ἦ τʼ ἂν τρυχόμενός περ ἔτι τλαίης ἐνιαυτόν·
εἰ δέ κε τεθνηῶτος ἀκούσῃς μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐόντος,
νοστήσας δὴ ἔπειτα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
σῆμά τέ οἱ χεῦαι καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερεΐξαι
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε, καὶ ἀνέρι μητέρα δοῦναι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ ταῦτα τελευτήσῃς τε καὶ ἔρξῃς,
φράζεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
ὅππως κε μνηστῆρας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεοῖσι
κτείνῃς ἠὲ δόλῳ ἢ ἀμφαδόν· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
νηπιάας ὀχέειν, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τηλίκος ἐσσι.
ἢ οὐκ ἀίεις οἷον κλέος ἔλλαβε δῖος Ὀρέστης
πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, ἐπεὶ ἔκτανε πατροφονῆα,
Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα;
καὶ σύ, φίλος, μάλα γάρ σʼ ὁρόω καλόν τε μέγαν τε,
ἄλκιμος ἔσσʼ, ἵνα τίς σε καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἐὺ εἴπῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν κατελεύσομαι ἤδη
ἠδʼ ἑτάρους, οἵ πού με μάλʼ ἀσχαλόωσι μένοντες·
σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ μελέτω, καὶ ἐμῶν ἐμπάζεο μύθων.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Stranger, you speak these things with a kind heart,
as a father to his son, and I shall never forget them.
But come, wait a while now, though you are eager for the road,
so that when you have bathed and delighted your heart
you may go to your ship with a gift, rejoicing in your spirit,
a costly gift, a very fine one, that will be a treasure to you
from me, such as friends who are guest-friends give to one another."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
as a father to his son, and I shall never forget them.
But come, wait a while now, though you are eager for the road,
so that when you have bathed and delighted your heart
you may go to your ship with a gift, rejoicing in your spirit,
a costly gift, a very fine one, that will be a treasure to you
from me, such as friends who are guest-friends give to one another."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα φίλα φρονέων ἀγορεύεις,
ὥς τε πατὴρ ᾧ παιδί, καὶ οὔ ποτε λήσομαι αὐτῶν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον, ἐπειγόμενός περ ὁδοῖο,
ὄφρα λοεσσάμενός τε τεταρπόμενός τε φίλον κῆρ,
δῶρον ἔχων ἐπὶ νῆα κίῃς, χαίρων ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
τιμῆεν, μάλα καλόν, ὅ τοι κειμήλιον ἔσται
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, οἷα φίλοι ξεῖνοι ξείνοισι διδοῦσι.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
ὥς τε πατὴρ ᾧ παιδί, καὶ οὔ ποτε λήσομαι αὐτῶν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον, ἐπειγόμενός περ ὁδοῖο,
ὄφρα λοεσσάμενός τε τεταρπόμενός τε φίλον κῆρ,
δῶρον ἔχων ἐπὶ νῆα κίῃς, χαίρων ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
τιμῆεν, μάλα καλόν, ὅ τοι κειμήλιον ἔσται
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, οἷα φίλοι ξεῖνοι ξείνοισι διδοῦσι.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Do not hold me back any longer now, when I am eager for the road.
As for the gift your heart bids you give me,
give it when I come again, to carry home,
and choose a very fine one; it will earn you its worth in return."
So saying, grey-eyed Athena went away,
and flew up and off like a bird. And into his spirit
she had put fury and courage, and had made him remember his father
still more than before. And he understood it in his mind
and was astonished in his spirit, for he thought she was a god.
At once he went among the suitors, a man like the gods.
The far-famed singer was singing to them, and they sat
in silence listening; and he sang of the homecoming of the Achaeans,
the bitter homecoming that Pallas Athena laid on them from Troy.
And from the upper chamber she caught the god-inspired song in her mind,
the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope;
and she came down the tall staircase of her house,
not alone: two handmaids went with her.
And when she reached the suitors, noble among women,
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built hall,
holding her shining veil before her cheeks;
and a trusted handmaid stood on either side of her.
Then, weeping, she spoke to the divine singer:
As for the gift your heart bids you give me,
give it when I come again, to carry home,
and choose a very fine one; it will earn you its worth in return."
So saying, grey-eyed Athena went away,
and flew up and off like a bird. And into his spirit
she had put fury and courage, and had made him remember his father
still more than before. And he understood it in his mind
and was astonished in his spirit, for he thought she was a god.
At once he went among the suitors, a man like the gods.
The far-famed singer was singing to them, and they sat
in silence listening; and he sang of the homecoming of the Achaeans,
the bitter homecoming that Pallas Athena laid on them from Troy.
And from the upper chamber she caught the god-inspired song in her mind,
the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope;
and she came down the tall staircase of her house,
not alone: two handmaids went with her.
And when she reached the suitors, noble among women,
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built hall,
holding her shining veil before her cheeks;
and a trusted handmaid stood on either side of her.
Then, weeping, she spoke to the divine singer:
μή μʼ ἔτι νῦν κατέρυκε, λιλαιόμενόν περ ὁδοῖο.
δῶρον δʼ ὅττι κέ μοι δοῦναι φίλον ἦτορ ἀνώγῃ,
αὖτις ἀνερχομένῳ δόμεναι οἶκόνδε φέρεσθαι,
καὶ μάλα καλὸν ἑλών· σοὶ δʼ ἄξιον ἔσται ἀμοιβῆς.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ὄρνις δʼ ὣς ἀνόπαια διέπτατο· τῷ δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
θῆκε μένος καὶ θάρσος, ὑπέμνησέν τέ ἑ πατρὸς
μᾶλλον ἔτʼ ἢ τὸ πάροιθεν. ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσι νοήσας
θάμβησεν κατὰ θυμόν· ὀίσατο γὰρ θεὸν εἶναι.
αὐτίκα δὲ μνηστῆρας ἐπῴχετο ἰσόθεος φώς.
τοῖσι δʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός, οἱ δὲ σιωπῇ
ἥατʼ ἀκούοντες· ὁ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν νόστον ἄειδε
λυγρόν, ὃν ἐκ Τροίης ἐπετείλατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
τοῦ δʼ ὑπερωιόθεν φρεσὶ σύνθετο θέσπιν ἀοιδὴν
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
κλίμακα δʼ ὑψηλὴν κατεβήσετο οἷο δόμοιο,
οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα·
ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.
δακρύσασα δʼ ἔπειτα προσηύδα θεῖον ἀοιδόν·
δῶρον δʼ ὅττι κέ μοι δοῦναι φίλον ἦτορ ἀνώγῃ,
αὖτις ἀνερχομένῳ δόμεναι οἶκόνδε φέρεσθαι,
καὶ μάλα καλὸν ἑλών· σοὶ δʼ ἄξιον ἔσται ἀμοιβῆς.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ὄρνις δʼ ὣς ἀνόπαια διέπτατο· τῷ δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
θῆκε μένος καὶ θάρσος, ὑπέμνησέν τέ ἑ πατρὸς
μᾶλλον ἔτʼ ἢ τὸ πάροιθεν. ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσι νοήσας
θάμβησεν κατὰ θυμόν· ὀίσατο γὰρ θεὸν εἶναι.
αὐτίκα δὲ μνηστῆρας ἐπῴχετο ἰσόθεος φώς.
τοῖσι δʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός, οἱ δὲ σιωπῇ
ἥατʼ ἀκούοντες· ὁ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν νόστον ἄειδε
λυγρόν, ὃν ἐκ Τροίης ἐπετείλατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
τοῦ δʼ ὑπερωιόθεν φρεσὶ σύνθετο θέσπιν ἀοιδὴν
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
κλίμακα δʼ ὑψηλὴν κατεβήσετο οἷο δόμοιο,
οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα·
ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.
δακρύσασα δʼ ἔπειτα προσηύδα θεῖον ἀοιδόν·
"Phemius, you know many other charms for mortals,
the deeds of men and gods, which singers make famous.
Sit and sing them one of those, and let them drink
their wine in silence. But leave off this song,
this bitter one, which always wears away the heart
in my breast, since a grief past forgetting has come upon me above all.
For such is the head I long for, remembering always,
the head of a man whose glory is wide through Hellas and mid-Argos."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
the deeds of men and gods, which singers make famous.
Sit and sing them one of those, and let them drink
their wine in silence. But leave off this song,
this bitter one, which always wears away the heart
in my breast, since a grief past forgetting has come upon me above all.
For such is the head I long for, remembering always,
the head of a man whose glory is wide through Hellas and mid-Argos."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
Φήμιε, πολλὰ γὰρ ἄλλα βροτῶν θελκτήρια οἶδας,
ἔργʼ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε, τά τε κλείουσιν ἀοιδοί·
τῶν ἕν γέ σφιν ἄειδε παρήμενος, οἱ δὲ σιωπῇ
οἶνον πινόντων· ταύτης δʼ ἀποπαύεʼ ἀοιδῆς
λυγρῆς, ἥ τέ μοι αἰεὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον κῆρ
τείρει, ἐπεί με μάλιστα καθίκετο πένθος ἄλαστον.
τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ποθέω μεμνημένη αἰεί,
ἀνδρός, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἔργʼ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε, τά τε κλείουσιν ἀοιδοί·
τῶν ἕν γέ σφιν ἄειδε παρήμενος, οἱ δὲ σιωπῇ
οἶνον πινόντων· ταύτης δʼ ἀποπαύεʼ ἀοιδῆς
λυγρῆς, ἥ τέ μοι αἰεὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον κῆρ
τείρει, ἐπεί με μάλιστα καθίκετο πένθος ἄλαστον.
τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ποθέω μεμνημένη αἰεί,
ἀνδρός, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"My mother, why do you begrudge the trusty singer
his giving pleasure as his mind stirs him? Singers are not
to blame — Zeus is to blame somehow, who gives
to men who live by bread as he wills, to each his portion.
There is no blame in this man’s singing the ill fate of the Danaans;
for men give more praise to that song
which comes newest to the ears of those who hear.
Let your heart and your spirit endure to listen.
For Odysseus is not the only one who lost the day of his homecoming
at Troy; many other men perished too.
Go to your rooms and see to your own work,
the loom and the distaff, and order your handmaids
to go about their work. Speech shall be the concern of men,
of all of them, and of me most, for the power in this house is mine."
She went back into the house astonished,
for she laid up her son’s prudent word in her spirit.
And going up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women
she wept for Odysseus, her dear husband, until grey-eyed Athena
cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.
The suitors broke into uproar through the shadowy halls,
and every one of them prayed to lie beside her in her bed.
But prudent Telemachus began to speak among them:
"Suitors of my mother, men of overbearing insolence,
let us take our pleasure in the feast now, and let there be no
shouting, since it is a fine thing to listen to a singer
such as this man is, like the gods in his voice.
But at dawn let us go and take our seats in the assembly,
all of us, so that I may tell you my word without flinching:
get out of these halls. Busy yourselves with other feasts,
eating your own possessions, going by turns from house to house.
But if it seems to you a better thing and a finer
that one man’s living should be destroyed without payment,
then eat it bare. I will cry out to the gods who are forever,
in case Zeus should grant that deeds be repaid in kind:
then you would perish inside this house, and no payment made."
his giving pleasure as his mind stirs him? Singers are not
to blame — Zeus is to blame somehow, who gives
to men who live by bread as he wills, to each his portion.
There is no blame in this man’s singing the ill fate of the Danaans;
for men give more praise to that song
which comes newest to the ears of those who hear.
Let your heart and your spirit endure to listen.
For Odysseus is not the only one who lost the day of his homecoming
at Troy; many other men perished too.
Go to your rooms and see to your own work,
the loom and the distaff, and order your handmaids
to go about their work. Speech shall be the concern of men,
of all of them, and of me most, for the power in this house is mine."
She went back into the house astonished,
for she laid up her son’s prudent word in her spirit.
And going up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women
she wept for Odysseus, her dear husband, until grey-eyed Athena
cast sweet sleep upon her eyelids.
The suitors broke into uproar through the shadowy halls,
and every one of them prayed to lie beside her in her bed.
But prudent Telemachus began to speak among them:
"Suitors of my mother, men of overbearing insolence,
let us take our pleasure in the feast now, and let there be no
shouting, since it is a fine thing to listen to a singer
such as this man is, like the gods in his voice.
But at dawn let us go and take our seats in the assembly,
all of us, so that I may tell you my word without flinching:
get out of these halls. Busy yourselves with other feasts,
eating your own possessions, going by turns from house to house.
But if it seems to you a better thing and a finer
that one man’s living should be destroyed without payment,
then eat it bare. I will cry out to the gods who are forever,
in case Zeus should grant that deeds be repaid in kind:
then you would perish inside this house, and no payment made."
μῆτερ ἐμή, τί τʼ ἄρα φθονέεις ἐρίηρον ἀοιδὸν
τέρπειν ὅππῃ οἱ νόος ὄρνυται; οὔ νύ τʼ ἀοιδοὶ
αἴτιοι, ἀλλά ποθι Ζεὺς αἴτιος, ὅς τε δίδωσιν
ἀνδράσιν ἀλφηστῇσιν, ὅπως ἐθέλῃσιν, ἑκάστῳ.
τούτῳ δʼ οὐ νέμεσις Δαναῶν κακὸν οἶτον ἀείδειν·
τὴν γὰρ ἀοιδὴν μᾶλλον ἐπικλείουσʼ ἄνθρωποι,
ἥ τις ἀκουόντεσσι νεωτάτη ἀμφιπέληται.
σοὶ δʼ ἐπιτολμάτω κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀκούειν·
οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς οἶος ἀπώλεσε νόστιμον ἦμαρ
ἐν Τροίῃ, πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι φῶτες ὄλοντο.
ἀλλʼ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σʼ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,
ἱστόν τʼ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· μῦθος δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·
παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.
ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα,
πάντες δʼ ἠρήσαντο παραὶ λεχέεσσι κλιθῆναι.
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·
μητρὸς ἐμῆς μνηστῆρες ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχοντες,
νῦν μὲν δαινύμενοι τερπώμεθα, μηδὲ βοητὺς
ἔστω, ἐπεὶ τόδε καλὸν ἀκουέμεν ἐστὶν ἀοιδοῦ
τοιοῦδʼ οἷος ὅδʼ ἐστί, θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν.
ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀγορήνδε καθεζώμεσθα κιόντες
πάντες, ἵνʼ ὕμιν μῦθον ἀπηλεγέως ἀποείπω,
ἐξιέναι μεγάρων· ἄλλας δʼ ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτας,
ὑμὰ κτήματʼ ἔδοντες, ἀμειβόμενοι κατὰ οἴκους.
εἰ δʼ ὕμιν δοκέει τόδε λωίτερον καὶ ἄμεινον
ἔμμεναι, ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς βίοτον νήποινον ὀλέσθαι,
κείρετʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ θεοὺς ἐπιβώσομαι αἰὲν ἐόντας,
αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δῷσι παλίντιτα ἔργα γενέσθαι·
νήποινοί κεν ἔπειτα δόμων ἔντοσθεν ὄλοισθε.
τέρπειν ὅππῃ οἱ νόος ὄρνυται; οὔ νύ τʼ ἀοιδοὶ
αἴτιοι, ἀλλά ποθι Ζεὺς αἴτιος, ὅς τε δίδωσιν
ἀνδράσιν ἀλφηστῇσιν, ὅπως ἐθέλῃσιν, ἑκάστῳ.
τούτῳ δʼ οὐ νέμεσις Δαναῶν κακὸν οἶτον ἀείδειν·
τὴν γὰρ ἀοιδὴν μᾶλλον ἐπικλείουσʼ ἄνθρωποι,
ἥ τις ἀκουόντεσσι νεωτάτη ἀμφιπέληται.
σοὶ δʼ ἐπιτολμάτω κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀκούειν·
οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς οἶος ἀπώλεσε νόστιμον ἦμαρ
ἐν Τροίῃ, πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι φῶτες ὄλοντο.
ἀλλʼ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σʼ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,
ἱστόν τʼ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· μῦθος δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·
παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.
ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα,
πάντες δʼ ἠρήσαντο παραὶ λεχέεσσι κλιθῆναι.
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·
μητρὸς ἐμῆς μνηστῆρες ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχοντες,
νῦν μὲν δαινύμενοι τερπώμεθα, μηδὲ βοητὺς
ἔστω, ἐπεὶ τόδε καλὸν ἀκουέμεν ἐστὶν ἀοιδοῦ
τοιοῦδʼ οἷος ὅδʼ ἐστί, θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν.
ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀγορήνδε καθεζώμεσθα κιόντες
πάντες, ἵνʼ ὕμιν μῦθον ἀπηλεγέως ἀποείπω,
ἐξιέναι μεγάρων· ἄλλας δʼ ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτας,
ὑμὰ κτήματʼ ἔδοντες, ἀμειβόμενοι κατὰ οἴκους.
εἰ δʼ ὕμιν δοκέει τόδε λωίτερον καὶ ἄμεινον
ἔμμεναι, ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς βίοτον νήποινον ὀλέσθαι,
κείρετʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ θεοὺς ἐπιβώσομαι αἰὲν ἐόντας,
αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δῷσι παλίντιτα ἔργα γενέσθαι·
νήποινοί κεν ἔπειτα δόμων ἔντοσθεν ὄλοισθε.
So he spoke, and they all bit their lips
and marvelled at Telemachus, that he spoke so boldly.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to him in turn:
and marvelled at Telemachus, that he spoke so boldly.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to him in turn:
"Telemachus, surely the gods themselves are teaching you
to be a high talker and to speak boldly.
May the son of Cronos never make you king
in sea-girt Ithaca, though it is yours by birth from your father."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
to be a high talker and to speak boldly.
May the son of Cronos never make you king
in sea-girt Ithaca, though it is yours by birth from your father."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή σε διδάσκουσιν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ
ὑψαγόρην τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέως ἀγορεύειν·
μὴ σέ γʼ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ βασιλῆα Κρονίων
ποιήσειεν, ὅ τοι γενεῇ πατρώιόν ἐστιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ὑψαγόρην τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέως ἀγορεύειν·
μὴ σέ γʼ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ βασιλῆα Κρονίων
ποιήσειεν, ὅ τοι γενεῇ πατρώιόν ἐστιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Antinous, will you take it ill of me if I speak?
I would be glad to win even this, if Zeus should grant it.
Do you say this is the worst thing that can befall a man?
It is no bad thing to be king. His house grows
rich at once, and he himself is held in more honour.
But there are other kings of the Achaeans besides,
many in sea-girt Ithaca, young men and old,
and one of them may have it, since noble Odysseus is dead.
But I will be lord of our own house
and of the slaves that noble Odysseus won for me as plunder."
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered him in turn:
I would be glad to win even this, if Zeus should grant it.
Do you say this is the worst thing that can befall a man?
It is no bad thing to be king. His house grows
rich at once, and he himself is held in more honour.
But there are other kings of the Achaeans besides,
many in sea-girt Ithaca, young men and old,
and one of them may have it, since noble Odysseus is dead.
But I will be lord of our own house
and of the slaves that noble Odysseus won for me as plunder."
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered him in turn:
Ἀντίνοʼ, ἦ καί μοι νεμεσήσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω;
καί κεν τοῦτʼ ἐθέλοιμι Διός γε διδόντος ἀρέσθαι.
ἦ φῂς τοῦτο κάκιστον ἐν ἀνθρώποισι τετύχθαι;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν· αἶψά τέ οἱ δῶ
ἀφνειὸν πέλεται καὶ τιμηέστερος αὐτός.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι
πολλοὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί,
τῶν κέν τις τόδʼ ἔχῃσιν, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἴκοιο ἄναξ ἔσομʼ ἡμετέροιο
καὶ δμώων, οὕς μοι ληίσσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος Πολύβου πάϊς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
καί κεν τοῦτʼ ἐθέλοιμι Διός γε διδόντος ἀρέσθαι.
ἦ φῂς τοῦτο κάκιστον ἐν ἀνθρώποισι τετύχθαι;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν· αἶψά τέ οἱ δῶ
ἀφνειὸν πέλεται καὶ τιμηέστερος αὐτός.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι
πολλοὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί,
τῶν κέν τις τόδʼ ἔχῃσιν, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἴκοιο ἄναξ ἔσομʼ ἡμετέροιο
καὶ δμώων, οὕς μοι ληίσσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος Πολύβου πάϊς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Telemachus, these things lie on the knees of the gods,
which of the Achaeans shall be king in sea-girt Ithaca.
May you keep your possessions and be lord in your own house.
May no man come who would tear your possessions from you
by force against your will, while Ithaca is still inhabited.
But I want to ask you, my good man, about the stranger:
where does this man come from? What land does he claim
as his own? Where is his family and his native soil?
Does he bring some news of your father’s coming,
or has he come here in the hope of some business of his own?
How he sprang up and was gone at once, and did not wait
to be known! Yet he did not look like a base man in the face."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
which of the Achaeans shall be king in sea-girt Ithaca.
May you keep your possessions and be lord in your own house.
May no man come who would tear your possessions from you
by force against your will, while Ithaca is still inhabited.
But I want to ask you, my good man, about the stranger:
where does this man come from? What land does he claim
as his own? Where is his family and his native soil?
Does he bring some news of your father’s coming,
or has he come here in the hope of some business of his own?
How he sprang up and was gone at once, and did not wait
to be known! Yet he did not look like a base man in the face."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,
ὅς τις ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ βασιλεύσει Ἀχαιῶν·
κτήματα δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχοις καὶ δώμασιν οἷσιν ἀνάσσοις.
μὴ γὰρ ὅ γʼ ἔλθοι ἀνὴρ ὅς τίς σʼ ἀέκοντα βίηφιν
κτήματʼ ἀπορραίσει, Ἰθάκης ἔτι ναιετοώσης.
ἀλλʼ ἐθέλω σε, φέριστε, περὶ ξείνοιο ἐρέσθαι,
ὁππόθεν οὗτος ἀνήρ, ποίης δʼ ἐξ εὔχεται εἶναι
γαίης, ποῦ δέ νύ οἱ γενεὴ καὶ πατρὶς ἄρουρα.
ἠέ τινʼ ἀγγελίην πατρὸς φέρει ἐρχομένοιο,
ἦ ἑὸν αὐτοῦ χρεῖος ἐελδόμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνει;
οἷον ἀναΐξας ἄφαρ οἴχεται, οὐδʼ ὑπέμεινε
γνώμεναι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακῷ εἰς ὦπα ἐῴκει.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ὅς τις ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ βασιλεύσει Ἀχαιῶν·
κτήματα δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχοις καὶ δώμασιν οἷσιν ἀνάσσοις.
μὴ γὰρ ὅ γʼ ἔλθοι ἀνὴρ ὅς τίς σʼ ἀέκοντα βίηφιν
κτήματʼ ἀπορραίσει, Ἰθάκης ἔτι ναιετοώσης.
ἀλλʼ ἐθέλω σε, φέριστε, περὶ ξείνοιο ἐρέσθαι,
ὁππόθεν οὗτος ἀνήρ, ποίης δʼ ἐξ εὔχεται εἶναι
γαίης, ποῦ δέ νύ οἱ γενεὴ καὶ πατρὶς ἄρουρα.
ἠέ τινʼ ἀγγελίην πατρὸς φέρει ἐρχομένοιο,
ἦ ἑὸν αὐτοῦ χρεῖος ἐελδόμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνει;
οἷον ἀναΐξας ἄφαρ οἴχεται, οὐδʼ ὑπέμεινε
γνώμεναι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακῷ εἰς ὦπα ἐῴκει.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Eurymachus, my father’s homecoming is lost.
I no longer trust any news, wherever it may come from,
nor do I care for any oracle that my mother
may seek, calling a diviner into the hall.
This stranger is a guest-friend of my father’s, from Taphos;
he claims to be Mentes, son of warlike-minded Anchialus,
and he is lord over the oar-loving Taphians."
I no longer trust any news, wherever it may come from,
nor do I care for any oracle that my mother
may seek, calling a diviner into the hall.
This stranger is a guest-friend of my father’s, from Taphos;
he claims to be Mentes, son of warlike-minded Anchialus,
and he is lord over the oar-loving Taphians."
Εὐρύμαχʼ, ἦ τοι νόστος ἀπώλετο πατρὸς ἐμοῖο·
οὔτʼ οὖν ἀγγελίῃ ἔτι πείθομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι,
οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπάζομαι, ἥν τινα μήτηρ
ἐς μέγαρον καλέσασα θεοπρόπον ἐξερέηται.
ξεῖνος δʼ οὗτος ἐμὸς πατρώιος ἐκ Τάφου ἐστίν,
Μέντης δʼ Ἀγχιάλοιο δαΐφρονος εὔχεται εἶναι
υἱός, ἀτὰρ Ταφίοισι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσει.
οὔτʼ οὖν ἀγγελίῃ ἔτι πείθομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι,
οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπάζομαι, ἥν τινα μήτηρ
ἐς μέγαρον καλέσασα θεοπρόπον ἐξερέηται.
ξεῖνος δʼ οὗτος ἐμὸς πατρώιος ἐκ Τάφου ἐστίν,
Μέντης δʼ Ἀγχιάλοιο δαΐφρονος εὔχεται εἶναι
υἱός, ἀτὰρ Ταφίοισι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσει.
So spoke Telemachus, but in his mind he knew the immortal goddess.
They turned to the dance and to the lovely song
and took their pleasure, and waited for evening to come.
And as they took their pleasure, dark evening came upon them;
and then each went to his own house to lie down.
But Telemachus, where his chamber had been built
high in the beautiful court, in a place of wide outlook,
went there to his bed, turning many things over in his mind.
And with him went, carrying blazing torches, the trusty and wise
Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, the son of Peisenor,
whom Laertes had once bought with his own wealth
when she was still in her first youth; he gave the worth of twenty oxen,
and he honoured her in the halls as much as his trusted wife,
but never lay with her, avoiding his wife’s anger.
She it was who carried the blazing torches for him, and she loved him
most of the serving-women, and had nursed him when he was little.
He opened the doors of the strongly built chamber,
sat down on the bed, and drew off his soft tunic,
and put it into the hands of the shrewd old woman.
She folded and smoothed the tunic,
hung it on a peg beside the corded bed,
and went out of the chamber, pulling the door to by its handle
of silver, and drawing the bolt home with the thong.
There all night long, wrapped in a fleece of wool,
he pondered in his mind the journey Athena had shown him.
They turned to the dance and to the lovely song
and took their pleasure, and waited for evening to come.
And as they took their pleasure, dark evening came upon them;
and then each went to his own house to lie down.
But Telemachus, where his chamber had been built
high in the beautiful court, in a place of wide outlook,
went there to his bed, turning many things over in his mind.
And with him went, carrying blazing torches, the trusty and wise
Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, the son of Peisenor,
whom Laertes had once bought with his own wealth
when she was still in her first youth; he gave the worth of twenty oxen,
and he honoured her in the halls as much as his trusted wife,
but never lay with her, avoiding his wife’s anger.
She it was who carried the blazing torches for him, and she loved him
most of the serving-women, and had nursed him when he was little.
He opened the doors of the strongly built chamber,
sat down on the bed, and drew off his soft tunic,
and put it into the hands of the shrewd old woman.
She folded and smoothed the tunic,
hung it on a peg beside the corded bed,
and went out of the chamber, pulling the door to by its handle
of silver, and drawing the bolt home with the thong.
There all night long, wrapped in a fleece of wool,
he pondered in his mind the journey Athena had shown him.
ὣς φάτο Τηλέμαχος, φρεσὶ δʼ ἀθανάτην θεὸν ἔγνω.
οἱ δʼ εἰς ὀρχηστύν τε καὶ ἱμερόεσσαν ἀοιδὴν
τρεψάμενοι τέρποντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.
τοῖσι δὲ τερπομένοισι μέλας ἐπὶ ἕσπερος ἦλθε·
δὴ τότε κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ, ὅθι οἱ θάλαμος περικαλλέος αὐλῆς
ὑψηλὸς δέδμητο περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,
ἔνθʼ ἔβη εἰς εὐνὴν πολλὰ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζων.
τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ αἰθομένας δαΐδας φέρε κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα
Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο,
τήν ποτε Λαέρτης πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν
πρωθήβην ἔτʼ ἐοῦσαν, ἐεικοσάβοια δʼ ἔδωκεν,
ἶσα δέ μιν κεδνῇ ἀλόχῳ τίεν ἐν μεγάροισιν,
εὐνῇ δʼ οὔ ποτʼ ἔμικτο, χόλον δʼ ἀλέεινε γυναικός·
ἥ οἱ ἅμʼ αἰθομένας δαΐδας φέρε, καί ἑ μάλιστα
δμῳάων φιλέεσκε, καὶ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα.
ὤιξεν δὲ θύρας θαλάμου πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἕζετο δʼ ἐν λέκτρῳ, μαλακὸν δʼ ἔκδυνε χιτῶνα·
καὶ τὸν μὲν γραίης πυκιμηδέος ἔμβαλε χερσίν.
ἡ μὲν τὸν πτύξασα καὶ ἀσκήσασα χιτῶνα,
πασσάλῳ ἀγκρεμάσασα παρὰ τρητοῖσι λέχεσσι
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο, θύρην δʼ ἐπέρυσσε κορώνῃ
ἀργυρέῃ, ἐπὶ δὲ κληῖδʼ ἐτάνυσσεν ἱμάντι.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γε παννύχιος, κεκαλυμμένος οἰὸς ἀώτῳ,
βούλευε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ὁδὸν τὴν πέφραδʼ Ἀθήνη.
οἱ δʼ εἰς ὀρχηστύν τε καὶ ἱμερόεσσαν ἀοιδὴν
τρεψάμενοι τέρποντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.
τοῖσι δὲ τερπομένοισι μέλας ἐπὶ ἕσπερος ἦλθε·
δὴ τότε κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ, ὅθι οἱ θάλαμος περικαλλέος αὐλῆς
ὑψηλὸς δέδμητο περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,
ἔνθʼ ἔβη εἰς εὐνὴν πολλὰ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζων.
τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ αἰθομένας δαΐδας φέρε κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα
Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο,
τήν ποτε Λαέρτης πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν
πρωθήβην ἔτʼ ἐοῦσαν, ἐεικοσάβοια δʼ ἔδωκεν,
ἶσα δέ μιν κεδνῇ ἀλόχῳ τίεν ἐν μεγάροισιν,
εὐνῇ δʼ οὔ ποτʼ ἔμικτο, χόλον δʼ ἀλέεινε γυναικός·
ἥ οἱ ἅμʼ αἰθομένας δαΐδας φέρε, καί ἑ μάλιστα
δμῳάων φιλέεσκε, καὶ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα.
ὤιξεν δὲ θύρας θαλάμου πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἕζετο δʼ ἐν λέκτρῳ, μαλακὸν δʼ ἔκδυνε χιτῶνα·
καὶ τὸν μὲν γραίης πυκιμηδέος ἔμβαλε χερσίν.
ἡ μὲν τὸν πτύξασα καὶ ἀσκήσασα χιτῶνα,
πασσάλῳ ἀγκρεμάσασα παρὰ τρητοῖσι λέχεσσι
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο, θύρην δʼ ἐπέρυσσε κορώνῃ
ἀργυρέῃ, ἐπὶ δὲ κληῖδʼ ἐτάνυσσεν ἱμάντι.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γε παννύχιος, κεκαλυμμένος οἰὸς ἀώτῳ,
βούλευε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ὁδὸν τὴν πέφραδʼ Ἀθήνη.
Book 2
Telemachus calls the first Ithacan assembly in twenty years and denounces the suitors; the omen of the eagles is mocked. He borrows a ship in secret and sails for Pylos with Athena at his side.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
the dear son of Odysseus rose from his bed,
put on his clothes and slung the sharp sword about his shoulder,
bound the beautiful sandals beneath his shining feet,
and went out of the chamber, like a god to look upon.
At once he ordered the clear-voiced heralds
to summon the long-haired Achaeans to assembly.
They made the summons, and the men gathered very quickly.
And when they had gathered and were assembled together,
he went to the assembly, holding a bronze spear in his hand,
not alone: two swift dogs went with him.
And Athena poured a marvellous grace about him.
All the people gazed at him as he came on,
and he sat in his father’s seat, and the elders gave way.
Then the hero Aegyptius was the first to speak among them,
a man bent with age, who knew things past counting.
For his own son had gone with godlike Odysseus
to Ilium of the fine horses in the hollow ships,
Antiphus the spearman; and the savage Cyclops killed him
in his hollow cave, and made of him his last supper.
He had three others: one kept company with the suitors,
Eurynomus, and two worked their father’s land as always.
But not even so did he forget that son, grieving and in pain.
Weeping for him, he rose and spoke among them:
the dear son of Odysseus rose from his bed,
put on his clothes and slung the sharp sword about his shoulder,
bound the beautiful sandals beneath his shining feet,
and went out of the chamber, like a god to look upon.
At once he ordered the clear-voiced heralds
to summon the long-haired Achaeans to assembly.
They made the summons, and the men gathered very quickly.
And when they had gathered and were assembled together,
he went to the assembly, holding a bronze spear in his hand,
not alone: two swift dogs went with him.
And Athena poured a marvellous grace about him.
All the people gazed at him as he came on,
and he sat in his father’s seat, and the elders gave way.
Then the hero Aegyptius was the first to speak among them,
a man bent with age, who knew things past counting.
For his own son had gone with godlike Odysseus
to Ilium of the fine horses in the hollow ships,
Antiphus the spearman; and the savage Cyclops killed him
in his hollow cave, and made of him his last supper.
He had three others: one kept company with the suitors,
Eurynomus, and two worked their father’s land as always.
But not even so did he forget that son, grieving and in pain.
Weeping for him, he rose and spoke among them:
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱὸς
εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ,
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος ἄντην.
αἶψα δὲ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε
κηρύσσειν ἀγορήνδε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς.
οἱ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, παλάμῃ δʼ ἔχε χάλκεον ἔγχος,
οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
θεσπεσίην δʼ ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη.
τὸν δʼ ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο·
ἕζετο δʼ ἐν πατρὸς θώκῳ, εἶξαν δὲ γέροντες.
τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἥρως Αἰγύπτιος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν,
ὃς δὴ γήραϊ κυφὸς ἔην καὶ μυρία ᾔδη.
καὶ γὰρ τοῦ φίλος υἱὸς ἅμʼ ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι
Ἴλιον εἰς ἐύπωλον ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν,
Ἄντιφος αἰχμητής· τὸν δʼ ἄγριος ἔκτανε Κύκλωψ
ἐν σπῆι γλαφυρῷ, πύματον δʼ ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον.
τρεῖς δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔσαν, καὶ ὁ μὲν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει,
Εὐρύνομος, δύο δʼ αἰὲν ἔχον πατρώια ἔργα.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς τοῦ λήθετʼ ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων.
τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱὸς
εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ,
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος ἄντην.
αἶψα δὲ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε
κηρύσσειν ἀγορήνδε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς.
οἱ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, παλάμῃ δʼ ἔχε χάλκεον ἔγχος,
οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
θεσπεσίην δʼ ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη.
τὸν δʼ ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο·
ἕζετο δʼ ἐν πατρὸς θώκῳ, εἶξαν δὲ γέροντες.
τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἥρως Αἰγύπτιος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν,
ὃς δὴ γήραϊ κυφὸς ἔην καὶ μυρία ᾔδη.
καὶ γὰρ τοῦ φίλος υἱὸς ἅμʼ ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι
Ἴλιον εἰς ἐύπωλον ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν,
Ἄντιφος αἰχμητής· τὸν δʼ ἄγριος ἔκτανε Κύκλωψ
ἐν σπῆι γλαφυρῷ, πύματον δʼ ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον.
τρεῖς δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔσαν, καὶ ὁ μὲν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει,
Εὐρύνομος, δύο δʼ αἰὲν ἔχον πατρώια ἔργα.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς τοῦ λήθετʼ ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων.
τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
"Hear me now, men of Ithaca, in what I have to say.
We have had neither assembly nor session
since noble Odysseus went away in the hollow ships.
Who has called us together now? What need has come so hard
upon one of the young men, or upon those who are older?
Has he heard some news of the army’s coming,
which he could tell us clearly, having learned it first?
Or is it some other public matter he declares and sets before us?
He seems to me a good man, and may he prosper. May Zeus
bring to good fulfilment whatever his mind is set upon."
We have had neither assembly nor session
since noble Odysseus went away in the hollow ships.
Who has called us together now? What need has come so hard
upon one of the young men, or upon those who are older?
Has he heard some news of the army’s coming,
which he could tell us clearly, having learned it first?
Or is it some other public matter he declares and sets before us?
He seems to me a good man, and may he prosper. May Zeus
bring to good fulfilment whatever his mind is set upon."
κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
οὔτε ποθʼ ἡμετέρη ἀγορὴ γένετʼ οὔτε θόωκος
ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς δῖος ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσί.
νῦν δὲ τίς ὧδʼ ἤγειρε; τίνα χρειὼ τόσον ἵκει
ἠὲ νέων ἀνδρῶν ἢ οἳ προγενέστεροί εἰσιν;
ἠέ τινʼ ἀγγελίην στρατοῦ ἔκλυεν ἐρχομένοιο,
ἥν χʼ ἡμῖν σάφα εἴποι, ὅτε πρότερός γε πύθοιτο;
ἦέ τι δήμιον ἄλλο πιφαύσκεται ἠδʼ ἀγορεύει;
ἐσθλός μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι, ὀνήμενος. εἴθε οἱ αὐτῷ
Ζεὺς ἀγαθὸν τελέσειεν, ὅτι φρεσὶν ᾗσι μενοινᾷ.
οὔτε ποθʼ ἡμετέρη ἀγορὴ γένετʼ οὔτε θόωκος
ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς δῖος ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσί.
νῦν δὲ τίς ὧδʼ ἤγειρε; τίνα χρειὼ τόσον ἵκει
ἠὲ νέων ἀνδρῶν ἢ οἳ προγενέστεροί εἰσιν;
ἠέ τινʼ ἀγγελίην στρατοῦ ἔκλυεν ἐρχομένοιο,
ἥν χʼ ἡμῖν σάφα εἴποι, ὅτε πρότερός γε πύθοιτο;
ἦέ τι δήμιον ἄλλο πιφαύσκεται ἠδʼ ἀγορεύει;
ἐσθλός μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι, ὀνήμενος. εἴθε οἱ αὐτῷ
Ζεὺς ἀγαθὸν τελέσειεν, ὅτι φρεσὶν ᾗσι μενοινᾷ.
So he spoke, and the dear son of Odysseus rejoiced at the omen;
and he sat no longer, but was eager to speak,
and stood in the middle of the assembly. The herald Peisenor,
who knew prudent counsels, put the staff in his hand.
Then, turning first to the old man, he addressed him:
and he sat no longer, but was eager to speak,
and stood in the middle of the assembly. The herald Peisenor,
who knew prudent counsels, put the staff in his hand.
Then, turning first to the old man, he addressed him:
ὣς φάτο, χαῖρε δὲ φήμῃ Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν ἧστο, μενοίνησεν δʼ ἀγορεύειν,
στῆ δὲ μέσῃ ἀγορῇ· σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε χειρὶ
κῆρυξ Πεισήνωρ πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς.
πρῶτον ἔπειτα γέροντα καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν·
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν ἧστο, μενοίνησεν δʼ ἀγορεύειν,
στῆ δὲ μέσῃ ἀγορῇ· σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε χειρὶ
κῆρυξ Πεισήνωρ πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς.
πρῶτον ἔπειτα γέροντα καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν·
"Old man, that man is not far off — you will soon know him yourself —
who called the people together; for grief has come on me above all others.
I have heard no news of the army’s coming,
which I could tell you clearly, having learned it first,
nor is it any other public matter I declare and set before you,
but my own need — the evil that has fallen upon my house,
and it is double. First I have lost my noble father, who once was king
over you here, and was gentle as a father;
and now there is a far greater evil, which will soon
shatter my whole house utterly and destroy my living altogether.
Suitors press upon my mother against her will,
the sons of the men who are the best men here,
who shrink from going to the house of her father
Icarius, so that he himself might set the bride-price for his daughter
and give her to whom he wished, whoever came acceptable to him.
But they haunt our house all our days,
slaughtering our oxen and sheep and fat goats,
feasting and drinking the gleaming wine
recklessly; and much is being consumed. There is no man here
such as Odysseus was, to ward off ruin from the house.
And we are in no way such men as to ward it off; hereafter
we shall be pitiful indeed, with no training in defence.
Truly I would ward them off, if the strength were mine.
For deeds past bearing have been done, and no longer in any decency
has my house been ruined. Be indignant yourselves;
have shame before the other men who live around us,
our neighbours; and fear the wrath of the gods,
that they do not turn upon you in outrage at evil deeds.
I beg you by Olympian Zeus and by Themis,
who dissolves the assemblies of men and seats them:
hold off, my friends, and leave me alone to be worn away
by bitter grief — unless my noble father Odysseus
in enmity ever did evil to the well-greaved Achaeans,
for which you take payment from me, doing evil in enmity,
urging these men on. It would be better for me
if you yourselves ate up my treasures and my herds.
If you ate them, there might one day be requital;
for then we would go through the town pressing our claim with words,
demanding our goods back, until all of it were given up.
But as it is you cast into my spirit pains I can do nothing about."
who called the people together; for grief has come on me above all others.
I have heard no news of the army’s coming,
which I could tell you clearly, having learned it first,
nor is it any other public matter I declare and set before you,
but my own need — the evil that has fallen upon my house,
and it is double. First I have lost my noble father, who once was king
over you here, and was gentle as a father;
and now there is a far greater evil, which will soon
shatter my whole house utterly and destroy my living altogether.
Suitors press upon my mother against her will,
the sons of the men who are the best men here,
who shrink from going to the house of her father
Icarius, so that he himself might set the bride-price for his daughter
and give her to whom he wished, whoever came acceptable to him.
But they haunt our house all our days,
slaughtering our oxen and sheep and fat goats,
feasting and drinking the gleaming wine
recklessly; and much is being consumed. There is no man here
such as Odysseus was, to ward off ruin from the house.
And we are in no way such men as to ward it off; hereafter
we shall be pitiful indeed, with no training in defence.
Truly I would ward them off, if the strength were mine.
For deeds past bearing have been done, and no longer in any decency
has my house been ruined. Be indignant yourselves;
have shame before the other men who live around us,
our neighbours; and fear the wrath of the gods,
that they do not turn upon you in outrage at evil deeds.
I beg you by Olympian Zeus and by Themis,
who dissolves the assemblies of men and seats them:
hold off, my friends, and leave me alone to be worn away
by bitter grief — unless my noble father Odysseus
in enmity ever did evil to the well-greaved Achaeans,
for which you take payment from me, doing evil in enmity,
urging these men on. It would be better for me
if you yourselves ate up my treasures and my herds.
If you ate them, there might one day be requital;
for then we would go through the town pressing our claim with words,
demanding our goods back, until all of it were given up.
But as it is you cast into my spirit pains I can do nothing about."
ὦ γέρον, οὐχ ἑκὰς οὗτος ἀνήρ, τάχα δʼ εἴσεαι αὐτός,
ὃς λαὸν ἤγειρα· μάλιστα δέ μʼ ἄλγος ἱκάνει.
οὔτε τινʼ ἀγγελίην στρατοῦ ἔκλυον ἐρχομένοιο,
ἥν χʼ ὑμῖν σάφα εἴπω, ὅτε πρότερός γε πυθοίμην,
οὔτε τι δήμιον ἄλλο πιφαύσκομαι οὐδʼ ἀγορεύω,
ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν αὐτοῦ χρεῖος, ὅ μοι κακὰ ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ
δοιά· τὸ μὲν πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα, ὅς ποτʼ ἐν ὑμῖν
τοίσδεσσιν βασίλευε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν·
νῦν δʼ αὖ καὶ πολὺ μεῖζον, ὃ δὴ τάχα οἶκον ἅπαντα
πάγχυ διαρραίσει, βίοτον δʼ ἀπὸ πάμπαν ὀλέσσει.
μητέρι μοι μνηστῆρες ἐπέχραον οὐκ ἐθελούσῃ,
τῶν ἀνδρῶν φίλοι υἷες, οἳ ἐνθάδε γʼ εἰσὶν ἄριστοι,
οἳ πατρὸς μὲν ἐς οἶκον ἀπερρίγασι νέεσθαι
Ἰκαρίου, ὥς κʼ αὐτὸς ἐεδνώσαιτο θύγατρα,
δοίη δʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλοι καί οἱ κεχαρισμένος ἔλθοι·
οἱ δʼ εἰς ἡμέτερον πωλεύμενοι ἤματα πάντα,
βοῦς ἱερεύοντες καὶ ὄις καὶ πίονας αἶγας
εἰλαπινάζουσιν πίνουσί τε αἴθοπα οἶνον
μαψιδίως· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ κατάνεται. οὐ γὰρ ἔπʼ ἀνήρ,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν, ἀρὴν ἀπὸ οἴκου ἀμῦναι.
ἡμεῖς δʼ οὔ νύ τι τοῖοι ἀμυνέμεν· ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα
λευγαλέοι τʼ ἐσόμεσθα καὶ οὐ δεδαηκότες ἀλκήν.
ἦ τʼ ἂν ἀμυναίμην, εἴ μοι δύναμίς γε παρείη.
οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀνσχετὰ ἔργα τετεύχαται, οὐδʼ ἔτι καλῶς
οἶκος ἐμὸς διόλωλε. νεμεσσήθητε καὶ αὐτοί,
ἄλλους τʼ αἰδέσθητε περικτίονας ἀνθρώπους,
οἳ περιναιετάουσι· θεῶν δʼ ὑποδείσατε μῆνιν,
μή τι μεταστρέψωσιν ἀγασσάμενοι κακὰ ἔργα.
λίσσομαι ἠμὲν Ζηνὸς Ὀλυμπίου ἠδὲ Θέμιστος,
ἥ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ἀγορὰς ἠμὲν λύει ἠδὲ καθίζει·
σχέσθε, φίλοι, καί μʼ οἶον ἐάσατε πένθεϊ λυγρῷ
τείρεσθʼ, εἰ μή πού τι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
δυσμενέων κάκʼ ἔρεξεν ἐυκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,
τῶν μʼ ἀποτινύμενοι κακὰ ῥέζετε δυσμενέοντες,
τούτους ὀτρύνοντες. ἐμοὶ δέ κε κέρδιον εἴη
ὑμέας ἐσθέμεναι κειμήλιά τε πρόβασίν τε.
εἴ χʼ ὑμεῖς γε φάγοιτε, τάχʼ ἄν ποτε καὶ τίσις εἴη·
τόφρα γὰρ ἂν κατὰ ἄστυ ποτιπτυσσοίμεθα μύθῳ
χρήματʼ ἀπαιτίζοντες, ἕως κʼ ἀπὸ πάντα δοθείη·
νῦν δέ μοι ἀπρήκτους ὀδύνας ἐμβάλλετε θυμῷ.
ὃς λαὸν ἤγειρα· μάλιστα δέ μʼ ἄλγος ἱκάνει.
οὔτε τινʼ ἀγγελίην στρατοῦ ἔκλυον ἐρχομένοιο,
ἥν χʼ ὑμῖν σάφα εἴπω, ὅτε πρότερός γε πυθοίμην,
οὔτε τι δήμιον ἄλλο πιφαύσκομαι οὐδʼ ἀγορεύω,
ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν αὐτοῦ χρεῖος, ὅ μοι κακὰ ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ
δοιά· τὸ μὲν πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα, ὅς ποτʼ ἐν ὑμῖν
τοίσδεσσιν βασίλευε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν·
νῦν δʼ αὖ καὶ πολὺ μεῖζον, ὃ δὴ τάχα οἶκον ἅπαντα
πάγχυ διαρραίσει, βίοτον δʼ ἀπὸ πάμπαν ὀλέσσει.
μητέρι μοι μνηστῆρες ἐπέχραον οὐκ ἐθελούσῃ,
τῶν ἀνδρῶν φίλοι υἷες, οἳ ἐνθάδε γʼ εἰσὶν ἄριστοι,
οἳ πατρὸς μὲν ἐς οἶκον ἀπερρίγασι νέεσθαι
Ἰκαρίου, ὥς κʼ αὐτὸς ἐεδνώσαιτο θύγατρα,
δοίη δʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλοι καί οἱ κεχαρισμένος ἔλθοι·
οἱ δʼ εἰς ἡμέτερον πωλεύμενοι ἤματα πάντα,
βοῦς ἱερεύοντες καὶ ὄις καὶ πίονας αἶγας
εἰλαπινάζουσιν πίνουσί τε αἴθοπα οἶνον
μαψιδίως· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ κατάνεται. οὐ γὰρ ἔπʼ ἀνήρ,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν, ἀρὴν ἀπὸ οἴκου ἀμῦναι.
ἡμεῖς δʼ οὔ νύ τι τοῖοι ἀμυνέμεν· ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα
λευγαλέοι τʼ ἐσόμεσθα καὶ οὐ δεδαηκότες ἀλκήν.
ἦ τʼ ἂν ἀμυναίμην, εἴ μοι δύναμίς γε παρείη.
οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀνσχετὰ ἔργα τετεύχαται, οὐδʼ ἔτι καλῶς
οἶκος ἐμὸς διόλωλε. νεμεσσήθητε καὶ αὐτοί,
ἄλλους τʼ αἰδέσθητε περικτίονας ἀνθρώπους,
οἳ περιναιετάουσι· θεῶν δʼ ὑποδείσατε μῆνιν,
μή τι μεταστρέψωσιν ἀγασσάμενοι κακὰ ἔργα.
λίσσομαι ἠμὲν Ζηνὸς Ὀλυμπίου ἠδὲ Θέμιστος,
ἥ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ἀγορὰς ἠμὲν λύει ἠδὲ καθίζει·
σχέσθε, φίλοι, καί μʼ οἶον ἐάσατε πένθεϊ λυγρῷ
τείρεσθʼ, εἰ μή πού τι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
δυσμενέων κάκʼ ἔρεξεν ἐυκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,
τῶν μʼ ἀποτινύμενοι κακὰ ῥέζετε δυσμενέοντες,
τούτους ὀτρύνοντες. ἐμοὶ δέ κε κέρδιον εἴη
ὑμέας ἐσθέμεναι κειμήλιά τε πρόβασίν τε.
εἴ χʼ ὑμεῖς γε φάγοιτε, τάχʼ ἄν ποτε καὶ τίσις εἴη·
τόφρα γὰρ ἂν κατὰ ἄστυ ποτιπτυσσοίμεθα μύθῳ
χρήματʼ ἀπαιτίζοντες, ἕως κʼ ἀπὸ πάντα δοθείη·
νῦν δέ μοι ἀπρήκτους ὀδύνας ἐμβάλλετε θυμῷ.
So he spoke in anger, and dashed the staff to the ground,
bursting into tears; and pity took hold of all the host.
Then all the rest were silent, and no one dared
to answer Telemachus with hard words —
Antinous alone answered him and said:
bursting into tears; and pity took hold of all the host.
Then all the rest were silent, and no one dared
to answer Telemachus with hard words —
Antinous alone answered him and said:
ὣς φάτο χωόμενος, ποτὶ δὲ σκῆπτρον βάλε γαίῃ
δάκρυʼ ἀναπρήσας· οἶκτος δʼ ἕλε λαὸν ἅπαντα.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀκὴν ἔσαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
Τηλέμαχον μύθοισιν ἀμείψασθαι χαλεποῖσιν·
Ἀντίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
δάκρυʼ ἀναπρήσας· οἶκτος δʼ ἕλε λαὸν ἅπαντα.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀκὴν ἔσαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
Τηλέμαχον μύθοισιν ἀμείψασθαι χαλεποῖσιν·
Ἀντίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
"Telemachus, you high talker, you of the ungovernable fury, what a thing
you have said, shaming us! You would fasten a reproach upon us.
But the Achaean suitors are in no way to blame in your case;
it is your own mother, who knows cunning beyond all others.
This is already the third year, and the fourth will soon come,
since she has been cheating the spirit in the breasts of the Achaeans.
She gives hope to all and makes promises to every man,
sending out messages, and her mind is set on other things.
And she devised this further trick in her mind:
she set up a great loom in the halls and began weaving,
a fine web and a wide one; and at once she said to us:
you have said, shaming us! You would fasten a reproach upon us.
But the Achaean suitors are in no way to blame in your case;
it is your own mother, who knows cunning beyond all others.
This is already the third year, and the fourth will soon come,
since she has been cheating the spirit in the breasts of the Achaeans.
She gives hope to all and makes promises to every man,
sending out messages, and her mind is set on other things.
And she devised this further trick in her mind:
she set up a great loom in the halls and began weaving,
a fine web and a wide one; and at once she said to us:
Τηλέμαχʼ ὑψαγόρη, μένος ἄσχετε, ποῖον ἔειπες
ἡμέας αἰσχύνων· ἐθέλοις δέ κε μῶμον ἀνάψαι.
σοὶ δʼ οὔ τι μνηστῆρες Ἀχαιῶν αἴτιοί εἰσιν,
ἀλλὰ φίλη μήτηρ, ἥ τοι πέρι κέρδεα οἶδεν.
ἤδη γὰρ τρίτον ἐστὶν ἔτος, τάχα δʼ εἶσι τέταρτον,
ἐξ οὗ ἀτέμβει θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
πάντας μέν ῥʼ ἔλπει καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ
ἀγγελίας προϊεῖσα, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοινᾷ.
ἡ δὲ δόλον τόνδʼ ἄλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμήριξε·
στησαμένη μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὕφαινε,
λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δʼ ἡμῖν μετέειπε·
ἡμέας αἰσχύνων· ἐθέλοις δέ κε μῶμον ἀνάψαι.
σοὶ δʼ οὔ τι μνηστῆρες Ἀχαιῶν αἴτιοί εἰσιν,
ἀλλὰ φίλη μήτηρ, ἥ τοι πέρι κέρδεα οἶδεν.
ἤδη γὰρ τρίτον ἐστὶν ἔτος, τάχα δʼ εἶσι τέταρτον,
ἐξ οὗ ἀτέμβει θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
πάντας μέν ῥʼ ἔλπει καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ
ἀγγελίας προϊεῖσα, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοινᾷ.
ἡ δὲ δόλον τόνδʼ ἄλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμήριξε·
στησαμένη μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὕφαινε,
λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δʼ ἡμῖν μετέειπε·
’Young men, my suitors, since noble Odysseus is dead,
be patient in your urging of my marriage, until I finish
this robe, so that my spinning may not be wasted and lost —
a shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when
the destroying fate of death that lays men low takes him down,
so that no Achaean woman in the land may be indignant with me
if he should lie without a shroud, who won so much.’
be patient in your urging of my marriage, until I finish
this robe, so that my spinning may not be wasted and lost —
a shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when
the destroying fate of death that lays men low takes him down,
so that no Achaean woman in the land may be indignant with me
if he should lie without a shroud, who won so much.’
κοῦροι ἐμοὶ μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
μίμνετʼ ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος
ἐκτελέσω, μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματʼ ὄληται,
Λαέρτῃ ἥρωι ταφήιον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ.
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.
μίμνετʼ ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος
ἐκτελέσω, μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματʼ ὄληται,
Λαέρτῃ ἥρωι ταφήιον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ.
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.
"So she spoke, and our lordly spirit was persuaded.
And so by day she would weave at the great loom,
and by night unravel it, when she had set the torches by.
So for three years she went undetected and won the Achaeans over;
but when the fourth year came and the seasons came round,
then one of the women told us, who knew it well,
and we caught her unravelling the shining web.
So she finished it against her will, under compulsion.
And this is the suitors’ answer to you, so that you may know it
yourself in your spirit, and all the Achaeans may know it:
send your mother away, and order her to marry
the man her father bids and who pleases her.
But if she goes on much longer vexing the sons of the Achaeans,
thinking in her spirit of what Athena gave her beyond others —
skill in beautiful work, and a fine mind,
and cunning such as we have not heard of even in the women of old,
the fair-braided Achaean women who lived before,
Tyro and Alcmene and Mycene of the fine crown;
not one of them knew designs like Penelope’s —
yet in this at least her design was not seemly.
For just so long will they eat your living and your possessions,
as long as she holds to that purpose which the gods
are now putting in her breast. Great glory she
is making for herself, but for you the loss of much living.
We will not go to our own work, nor anywhere else,
until she marries whichever of the Achaeans she will."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
And so by day she would weave at the great loom,
and by night unravel it, when she had set the torches by.
So for three years she went undetected and won the Achaeans over;
but when the fourth year came and the seasons came round,
then one of the women told us, who knew it well,
and we caught her unravelling the shining web.
So she finished it against her will, under compulsion.
And this is the suitors’ answer to you, so that you may know it
yourself in your spirit, and all the Achaeans may know it:
send your mother away, and order her to marry
the man her father bids and who pleases her.
But if she goes on much longer vexing the sons of the Achaeans,
thinking in her spirit of what Athena gave her beyond others —
skill in beautiful work, and a fine mind,
and cunning such as we have not heard of even in the women of old,
the fair-braided Achaean women who lived before,
Tyro and Alcmene and Mycene of the fine crown;
not one of them knew designs like Penelope’s —
yet in this at least her design was not seemly.
For just so long will they eat your living and your possessions,
as long as she holds to that purpose which the gods
are now putting in her breast. Great glory she
is making for herself, but for you the loss of much living.
We will not go to our own work, nor anywhere else,
until she marries whichever of the Achaeans she will."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκεν μέγαν ἱστόν,
νύκτας δʼ ἀλλύεσκεν, ἐπεὶ δαΐδας παραθεῖτο.
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθε δόλῳ καὶ ἔπειθεν Ἀχαιούς·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
καὶ τότε δή τις ἔειπε γυναικῶν, ἣ σάφα ᾔδη,
καὶ τήν γʼ ἀλλύουσαν ἐφεύρομεν ἀγλαὸν ἱστόν.
ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσʼ ὑπʼ ἀνάγκης·
σοὶ δʼ ὧδε μνηστῆρες ὑποκρίνονται, ἵνʼ εἰδῇς
αὐτὸς σῷ θυμῷ, εἰδῶσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί·
μητέρα σὴν ἀπόπεμψον, ἄνωχθι δέ μιν γαμέεσθαι
τῷ ὅτεῴ τε πατὴρ κέλεται καὶ ἁνδάνει αὐτῇ.
εἰ δʼ ἔτʼ ἀνιήσει γε πολὺν χρόνον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,
τὰ φρονέουσʼ ἀνὰ θυμόν, ὅ οἱ πέρι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη
ἔργα τʼ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλὰς
κέρδεά θʼ, οἷʼ οὔ πώ τινʼ ἀκούομεν οὐδὲ παλαιῶν,
τάων αἳ πάρος ἦσαν ἐυπλοκαμῖδες Ἀχαιαί,
Τυρώ τʼ Ἀλκμήνη τε ἐυστέφανός τε Μυκήνη·
τάων οὔ τις ὁμοῖα νοήματα Πηνελοπείῃ
ᾔδη· ἀτὰρ μὲν τοῦτό γʼ ἐναίσιμον οὐκ ἐνόησε.
τόφρα γὰρ οὖν βίοτόν τε τεὸν καὶ κτήματʼ ἔδονται,
ὄφρα κε κείνη τοῦτον ἔχῃ νόον, ὅν τινά οἱ νῦν
ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖσι θεοί. μέγα μὲν κλέος αὐτῇ
ποιεῖτʼ, αὐτὰρ σοί γε ποθὴν πολέος βιότοιο.
ἡμεῖς δʼ οὔτʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα πάρος γʼ ἴμεν οὔτε πῃ ἄλλῃ,
πρίν γʼ αὐτὴν γήμασθαι Ἀχαιῶν ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκεν μέγαν ἱστόν,
νύκτας δʼ ἀλλύεσκεν, ἐπεὶ δαΐδας παραθεῖτο.
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθε δόλῳ καὶ ἔπειθεν Ἀχαιούς·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
καὶ τότε δή τις ἔειπε γυναικῶν, ἣ σάφα ᾔδη,
καὶ τήν γʼ ἀλλύουσαν ἐφεύρομεν ἀγλαὸν ἱστόν.
ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσʼ ὑπʼ ἀνάγκης·
σοὶ δʼ ὧδε μνηστῆρες ὑποκρίνονται, ἵνʼ εἰδῇς
αὐτὸς σῷ θυμῷ, εἰδῶσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί·
μητέρα σὴν ἀπόπεμψον, ἄνωχθι δέ μιν γαμέεσθαι
τῷ ὅτεῴ τε πατὴρ κέλεται καὶ ἁνδάνει αὐτῇ.
εἰ δʼ ἔτʼ ἀνιήσει γε πολὺν χρόνον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,
τὰ φρονέουσʼ ἀνὰ θυμόν, ὅ οἱ πέρι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη
ἔργα τʼ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλὰς
κέρδεά θʼ, οἷʼ οὔ πώ τινʼ ἀκούομεν οὐδὲ παλαιῶν,
τάων αἳ πάρος ἦσαν ἐυπλοκαμῖδες Ἀχαιαί,
Τυρώ τʼ Ἀλκμήνη τε ἐυστέφανός τε Μυκήνη·
τάων οὔ τις ὁμοῖα νοήματα Πηνελοπείῃ
ᾔδη· ἀτὰρ μὲν τοῦτό γʼ ἐναίσιμον οὐκ ἐνόησε.
τόφρα γὰρ οὖν βίοτόν τε τεὸν καὶ κτήματʼ ἔδονται,
ὄφρα κε κείνη τοῦτον ἔχῃ νόον, ὅν τινά οἱ νῦν
ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖσι θεοί. μέγα μὲν κλέος αὐτῇ
ποιεῖτʼ, αὐτὰρ σοί γε ποθὴν πολέος βιότοιο.
ἡμεῖς δʼ οὔτʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα πάρος γʼ ἴμεν οὔτε πῃ ἄλλῃ,
πρίν γʼ αὐτὴν γήμασθαι Ἀχαιῶν ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Antinous, there is no way I can thrust from the house against her will
the woman who bore me and reared me. My father is elsewhere in the world,
alive or dead; and it would be a hard thing to pay back so much
to Icarius, if of my own will I send my mother away.
For I shall suffer evil from her father, and a divine power
will give me more, since my mother will call the hateful Furies
upon me as she leaves the house; and men’s indignation
will fall on me. So I shall never speak that word.
If your own spirit feels any indignation at this,
get out of my halls. Busy yourselves with other feasts,
eating your own possessions, going by turns from house to house.
But if it seems to you a better thing and a finer
that one man’s living should be destroyed without payment,
then eat it bare. I will cry out to the gods who are forever,
in case Zeus should grant that deeds be repaid in kind:
then you would perish inside this house, and no payment made."
the woman who bore me and reared me. My father is elsewhere in the world,
alive or dead; and it would be a hard thing to pay back so much
to Icarius, if of my own will I send my mother away.
For I shall suffer evil from her father, and a divine power
will give me more, since my mother will call the hateful Furies
upon me as she leaves the house; and men’s indignation
will fall on me. So I shall never speak that word.
If your own spirit feels any indignation at this,
get out of my halls. Busy yourselves with other feasts,
eating your own possessions, going by turns from house to house.
But if it seems to you a better thing and a finer
that one man’s living should be destroyed without payment,
then eat it bare. I will cry out to the gods who are forever,
in case Zeus should grant that deeds be repaid in kind:
then you would perish inside this house, and no payment made."
Ἀντίνοʼ, οὔ πως ἔστι δόμων ἀέκουσαν ἀπῶσαι
ἥ μʼ ἔτεχʼ, ἥ μʼ ἔθρεψε· πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς ἄλλοθι γαίης,
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δέ με πόλλʼ ἀποτίνειν
Ἰκαρίῳ, αἴ κʼ αὐτὸς ἑκὼν ἀπὸ μητέρα πέμψω.
ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ πατρὸς κακὰ πείσομαι, ἄλλα δὲ δαίμων
δώσει, ἐπεὶ μήτηρ στυγερὰς ἀρήσετʼ ἐρινῦς
οἴκου ἀπερχομένη· νέμεσις δέ μοι ἐξ ἀνθρώπων
ἔσσεται· ὣς οὐ τοῦτον ἐγώ ποτε μῦθον ἐνίψω.
ὑμέτερος δʼ εἰ μὲν θυμὸς νεμεσίζεται αὐτῶν,
ἔξιτέ μοι μεγάρων, ἄλλας δʼ ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτας
ὑμὰ κτήματʼ ἔδοντες ἀμειβόμενοι κατὰ οἴκους.
εἰ δʼ ὑμῖν δοκέει τόδε λωίτερον καὶ ἄμεινον
ἔμμεναι, ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς βίοτον νήποινον ὀλέσθαι,
κείρετʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ θεοὺς ἐπιβώσομαι αἰὲν ἐόντας,
αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δῷσι παλίντιτα ἔργα γενέσθαι.
νήποινοί κεν ἔπειτα δόμων ἔντοσθεν ὄλοισθε.
ἥ μʼ ἔτεχʼ, ἥ μʼ ἔθρεψε· πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς ἄλλοθι γαίης,
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δέ με πόλλʼ ἀποτίνειν
Ἰκαρίῳ, αἴ κʼ αὐτὸς ἑκὼν ἀπὸ μητέρα πέμψω.
ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ πατρὸς κακὰ πείσομαι, ἄλλα δὲ δαίμων
δώσει, ἐπεὶ μήτηρ στυγερὰς ἀρήσετʼ ἐρινῦς
οἴκου ἀπερχομένη· νέμεσις δέ μοι ἐξ ἀνθρώπων
ἔσσεται· ὣς οὐ τοῦτον ἐγώ ποτε μῦθον ἐνίψω.
ὑμέτερος δʼ εἰ μὲν θυμὸς νεμεσίζεται αὐτῶν,
ἔξιτέ μοι μεγάρων, ἄλλας δʼ ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτας
ὑμὰ κτήματʼ ἔδοντες ἀμειβόμενοι κατὰ οἴκους.
εἰ δʼ ὑμῖν δοκέει τόδε λωίτερον καὶ ἄμεινον
ἔμμεναι, ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς βίοτον νήποινον ὀλέσθαι,
κείρετʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ θεοὺς ἐπιβώσομαι αἰὲν ἐόντας,
αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δῷσι παλίντιτα ἔργα γενέσθαι.
νήποινοί κεν ἔπειτα δόμων ἔντοσθεν ὄλοισθε.
So spoke Telemachus, and far-seeing Zeus sent down two eagles
for him, in flight from a high mountain peak.
For a time they flew on with the breath of the wind,
close beside each other, wings spread wide;
but when they reached the middle of the loud assembly,
there they wheeled about and shook their thick wings,
and looked down on the heads of them all, and death was in their eyes;
and they tore with their talons at each other’s cheeks and necks
and darted away to the right, over their houses and their city.
The men were astonished at the birds when they saw them with their eyes,
and turned over in their spirit what was to be fulfilled.
And among them spoke the old hero Halitherses,
son of Mastor; for he surpassed all men of his generation
in knowing birds and declaring what was fated.
With good will towards them he rose and spoke among them:
for him, in flight from a high mountain peak.
For a time they flew on with the breath of the wind,
close beside each other, wings spread wide;
but when they reached the middle of the loud assembly,
there they wheeled about and shook their thick wings,
and looked down on the heads of them all, and death was in their eyes;
and they tore with their talons at each other’s cheeks and necks
and darted away to the right, over their houses and their city.
The men were astonished at the birds when they saw them with their eyes,
and turned over in their spirit what was to be fulfilled.
And among them spoke the old hero Halitherses,
son of Mastor; for he surpassed all men of his generation
in knowing birds and declaring what was fated.
With good will towards them he rose and spoke among them:
ὣς φάτο Τηλέμαχος, τῷ δʼ αἰετὼ εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ὑψόθεν ἐκ κορυφῆς ὄρεος προέηκε πέτεσθαι.
τὼ δʼ ἕως μέν ῥʼ ἐπέτοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο
πλησίω ἀλλήλοισι τιταινομένω πτερύγεσσιν·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μέσσην ἀγορὴν πολύφημον ἱκέσθην,
ἔνθʼ ἐπιδινηθέντε τιναξάσθην πτερὰ πυκνά,
ἐς δʼ ἰδέτην πάντων κεφαλάς, ὄσσοντο δʼ ὄλεθρον·
δρυψαμένω δʼ ὀνύχεσσι παρειὰς ἀμφί τε δειρὰς
δεξιὼ ἤιξαν διά τʼ οἰκία καὶ πόλιν αὐτῶν.
θάμβησαν δʼ ὄρνιθας, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν·
ὥρμηναν δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἅ περ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλον.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἁλιθέρσης
Μαστορίδης· ὁ γὰρ οἶος ὁμηλικίην ἐκέκαστο
ὄρνιθας γνῶναι καὶ ἐναίσιμα μυθήσασθαι·
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
ὑψόθεν ἐκ κορυφῆς ὄρεος προέηκε πέτεσθαι.
τὼ δʼ ἕως μέν ῥʼ ἐπέτοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο
πλησίω ἀλλήλοισι τιταινομένω πτερύγεσσιν·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μέσσην ἀγορὴν πολύφημον ἱκέσθην,
ἔνθʼ ἐπιδινηθέντε τιναξάσθην πτερὰ πυκνά,
ἐς δʼ ἰδέτην πάντων κεφαλάς, ὄσσοντο δʼ ὄλεθρον·
δρυψαμένω δʼ ὀνύχεσσι παρειὰς ἀμφί τε δειρὰς
δεξιὼ ἤιξαν διά τʼ οἰκία καὶ πόλιν αὐτῶν.
θάμβησαν δʼ ὄρνιθας, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν·
ὥρμηναν δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἅ περ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλον.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἁλιθέρσης
Μαστορίδης· ὁ γὰρ οἶος ὁμηλικίην ἐκέκαστο
ὄρνιθας γνῶναι καὶ ἐναίσιμα μυθήσασθαι·
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
"Hear me now, men of Ithaca, in what I have to say.
It is to the suitors above all that I declare and say this:
a great disaster is rolling upon them. For Odysseus
will not be long away from his own; even now, somewhere
close at hand, he is planting slaughter and death
for all of them; and it will be evil for many others too
of us who live in clear-seen Ithaca. Long before that
let us take thought how we may stop it; and let them
stop of themselves, for that is at once the better course for them.
I do not prophesy untried, but with sure knowledge.
For I say that everything has been fulfilled for that man
as I told him, when the Argives went up
against Ilium, and Odysseus of many devices went with them.
I said that he would suffer much evil, lose all his companions,
and come home in the twentieth year, unknown to all;
and now all of it is being fulfilled."
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered him in turn:
It is to the suitors above all that I declare and say this:
a great disaster is rolling upon them. For Odysseus
will not be long away from his own; even now, somewhere
close at hand, he is planting slaughter and death
for all of them; and it will be evil for many others too
of us who live in clear-seen Ithaca. Long before that
let us take thought how we may stop it; and let them
stop of themselves, for that is at once the better course for them.
I do not prophesy untried, but with sure knowledge.
For I say that everything has been fulfilled for that man
as I told him, when the Argives went up
against Ilium, and Odysseus of many devices went with them.
I said that he would suffer much evil, lose all his companions,
and come home in the twentieth year, unknown to all;
and now all of it is being fulfilled."
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered him in turn:
κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
μνηστῆρσιν δὲ μάλιστα πιφαυσκόμενος τάδε εἴρω·
τοῖσιν γὰρ μέγα πῆμα κυλίνδεται· οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
δὴν ἀπάνευθε φίλων ὧν ἔσσεται, ἀλλά που ἤδη
ἐγγὺς ἐὼν τοῖσδεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φυτεύει
πάντεσσιν· πολέσιν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοισιν κακὸν ἔσται,
οἳ νεμόμεσθʼ Ἰθάκην ἐυδείελον. ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν
φραζώμεσθʼ, ὥς κεν καταπαύσομεν· οἱ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
παυέσθων· καὶ γάρ σφιν ἄφαρ τόδε λώιόν ἐστιν.
οὐ γὰρ ἀπείρητος μαντεύομαι, ἀλλʼ ἐὺ εἰδώς·
καὶ γὰρ κείνῳ φημὶ τελευτηθῆναι ἅπαντα,
ὥς οἱ ἐμυθεόμην, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον
Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ δέ σφιν ἔβη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.
φῆν κακὰ πολλὰ παθόντʼ, ὀλέσαντʼ ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,
ἄγνωστον πάντεσσιν ἐεικοστῷ ἐνιαυτῷ
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος Πολύβου πάϊς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
μνηστῆρσιν δὲ μάλιστα πιφαυσκόμενος τάδε εἴρω·
τοῖσιν γὰρ μέγα πῆμα κυλίνδεται· οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
δὴν ἀπάνευθε φίλων ὧν ἔσσεται, ἀλλά που ἤδη
ἐγγὺς ἐὼν τοῖσδεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φυτεύει
πάντεσσιν· πολέσιν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοισιν κακὸν ἔσται,
οἳ νεμόμεσθʼ Ἰθάκην ἐυδείελον. ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν
φραζώμεσθʼ, ὥς κεν καταπαύσομεν· οἱ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
παυέσθων· καὶ γάρ σφιν ἄφαρ τόδε λώιόν ἐστιν.
οὐ γὰρ ἀπείρητος μαντεύομαι, ἀλλʼ ἐὺ εἰδώς·
καὶ γὰρ κείνῳ φημὶ τελευτηθῆναι ἅπαντα,
ὥς οἱ ἐμυθεόμην, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον
Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ δέ σφιν ἔβη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.
φῆν κακὰ πολλὰ παθόντʼ, ὀλέσαντʼ ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,
ἄγνωστον πάντεσσιν ἐεικοστῷ ἐνιαυτῷ
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος Πολύβου πάϊς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Old man, go home now and prophesy to your own children,
in case they suffer some evil hereafter.
In these matters I am a far better prophet than you.
Many birds go to and fro under the rays of the sun,
and not all of them are fateful. And Odysseus
has perished far away — as you should have perished with him!
Then you would not be making so many oracular speeches,
nor egging on Telemachus in his anger like this,
in the hope of a gift for your house, if he should give one.
But I will speak out, and this shall be brought to pass:
if you, knowing much and knowing it from old time,
beguile a younger man with words and urge him to be harsh,
first of all it will be the more grievous for him,
and he will be able to accomplish nothing because of these men;
and on you, old man, we will lay a fine, which you will pay
and grieve at in your spirit; a hard pain it will be for you.
And I myself will give Telemachus counsel before them all:
let him order his mother to go back to her father’s house;
they will arrange the marriage and make ready the bridal gifts,
very many, as should go with a beloved daughter.
For I do not think the sons of the Achaeans will leave off
their painful wooing before that; we fear no one at all,
not Telemachus, for all his long speaking,
nor do we care for any oracle which you, old man,
utter to no purpose, making yourself still more hated.
His goods will go on being eaten away, and there will never be
any recompense, so long as she puts off the Achaeans
over her marriage; and we, waiting all our days,
go on contending for her excellence, and do not go after
the other women whom each of us might fittingly marry."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
in case they suffer some evil hereafter.
In these matters I am a far better prophet than you.
Many birds go to and fro under the rays of the sun,
and not all of them are fateful. And Odysseus
has perished far away — as you should have perished with him!
Then you would not be making so many oracular speeches,
nor egging on Telemachus in his anger like this,
in the hope of a gift for your house, if he should give one.
But I will speak out, and this shall be brought to pass:
if you, knowing much and knowing it from old time,
beguile a younger man with words and urge him to be harsh,
first of all it will be the more grievous for him,
and he will be able to accomplish nothing because of these men;
and on you, old man, we will lay a fine, which you will pay
and grieve at in your spirit; a hard pain it will be for you.
And I myself will give Telemachus counsel before them all:
let him order his mother to go back to her father’s house;
they will arrange the marriage and make ready the bridal gifts,
very many, as should go with a beloved daughter.
For I do not think the sons of the Achaeans will leave off
their painful wooing before that; we fear no one at all,
not Telemachus, for all his long speaking,
nor do we care for any oracle which you, old man,
utter to no purpose, making yourself still more hated.
His goods will go on being eaten away, and there will never be
any recompense, so long as she puts off the Achaeans
over her marriage; and we, waiting all our days,
go on contending for her excellence, and do not go after
the other women whom each of us might fittingly marry."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ὦ γέρον, εἰ δʼ ἄγε νῦν μαντεύεο σοῖσι τέκεσσιν
οἴκαδʼ ἰών, μή πού τι κακὸν πάσχωσιν ὀπίσσω·
ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων μαντεύεσθαι.
ὄρνιθες δέ τε πολλοὶ ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο
φοιτῶσʼ, οὐδέ τε πάντες ἐναίσιμοι· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὤλετο τῆλʼ, ὡς καὶ σὺ καταφθίσθαι σὺν ἐκείνῳ
ὤφελες. οὐκ ἂν τόσσα θεοπροπέων ἀγόρευες,
οὐδέ κε Τηλέμαχον κεχολωμένον ὧδʼ ἀνιείης,
σῷ οἴκῳ δῶρον ποτιδέγμενος, αἴ κε πόρῃσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἴ κε νεώτερον ἄνδρα παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδὼς
παρφάμενος ἐπέεσσιν ἐποτρύνῃς χαλεπαίνειν,
αὐτῷ μέν οἱ πρῶτον ἀνιηρέστερον ἔσται,
πρῆξαι δʼ ἔμπης οὔ τι δυνήσεται εἵνεκα τῶνδε·
σοὶ δέ, γέρον, θωὴν ἐπιθήσομεν, ἥν κʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
τίνων ἀσχάλλῃς· χαλεπὸν δέ τοι ἔσσεται ἄλγος.
Τηλεμάχῳ δʼ ἐν πᾶσιν ἐγὼν ὑποθήσομαι αὐτός·
μητέρα ἣν ἐς πατρὸς ἀνωγέτω ἀπονέεσθαι·
οἱ δὲ γάμον τεύξουσι καὶ ἀρτυνέουσιν ἔεδνα
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε φίλης ἐπὶ παιδὸς ἕπεσθαι.
οὐ γὰρ πρὶν παύσεσθαι ὀίομαι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
μνηστύος ἀργαλέης, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινα δείδιμεν ἔμπης,
οὔτʼ οὖν Τηλέμαχον μάλα περ πολύμυθον ἐόντα,
οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπαζόμεθʼ, ἣν σύ, γεραιέ,
μυθέαι ἀκράαντον, ἀπεχθάνεαι δʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον.
χρήματα δʼ αὖτε κακῶς βεβρώσεται, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἶσα
ἔσσεται, ὄφρα κεν ἥ γε διατρίβῃσιν Ἀχαιοὺς
ὃν γάμον· ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖ ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα
εἵνεκα τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδὲ μετʼ ἄλλας
ἐρχόμεθʼ, ἃς ἐπιεικὲς ὀπυιέμεν ἐστὶν ἑκάστῳ.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
οἴκαδʼ ἰών, μή πού τι κακὸν πάσχωσιν ὀπίσσω·
ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων μαντεύεσθαι.
ὄρνιθες δέ τε πολλοὶ ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο
φοιτῶσʼ, οὐδέ τε πάντες ἐναίσιμοι· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὤλετο τῆλʼ, ὡς καὶ σὺ καταφθίσθαι σὺν ἐκείνῳ
ὤφελες. οὐκ ἂν τόσσα θεοπροπέων ἀγόρευες,
οὐδέ κε Τηλέμαχον κεχολωμένον ὧδʼ ἀνιείης,
σῷ οἴκῳ δῶρον ποτιδέγμενος, αἴ κε πόρῃσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἴ κε νεώτερον ἄνδρα παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδὼς
παρφάμενος ἐπέεσσιν ἐποτρύνῃς χαλεπαίνειν,
αὐτῷ μέν οἱ πρῶτον ἀνιηρέστερον ἔσται,
πρῆξαι δʼ ἔμπης οὔ τι δυνήσεται εἵνεκα τῶνδε·
σοὶ δέ, γέρον, θωὴν ἐπιθήσομεν, ἥν κʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
τίνων ἀσχάλλῃς· χαλεπὸν δέ τοι ἔσσεται ἄλγος.
Τηλεμάχῳ δʼ ἐν πᾶσιν ἐγὼν ὑποθήσομαι αὐτός·
μητέρα ἣν ἐς πατρὸς ἀνωγέτω ἀπονέεσθαι·
οἱ δὲ γάμον τεύξουσι καὶ ἀρτυνέουσιν ἔεδνα
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε φίλης ἐπὶ παιδὸς ἕπεσθαι.
οὐ γὰρ πρὶν παύσεσθαι ὀίομαι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
μνηστύος ἀργαλέης, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινα δείδιμεν ἔμπης,
οὔτʼ οὖν Τηλέμαχον μάλα περ πολύμυθον ἐόντα,
οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπαζόμεθʼ, ἣν σύ, γεραιέ,
μυθέαι ἀκράαντον, ἀπεχθάνεαι δʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον.
χρήματα δʼ αὖτε κακῶς βεβρώσεται, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἶσα
ἔσσεται, ὄφρα κεν ἥ γε διατρίβῃσιν Ἀχαιοὺς
ὃν γάμον· ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖ ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα
εἵνεκα τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδὲ μετʼ ἄλλας
ἐρχόμεθʼ, ἃς ἐπιεικὲς ὀπυιέμεν ἐστὶν ἑκάστῳ.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Eurymachus, and all you other proud suitors,
I will not beg you about this any more, nor speak of it;
the gods know it already, and all the Achaeans.
But come, give me a swift ship and twenty companions,
to make the passage for me this way and that.
For I will go to Sparta and to sandy Pylos
to ask after the homecoming of my father, so long gone,
in case some mortal tells me, or I hear a rumour
from Zeus, which above all carries glory to men.
If I hear that my father is alive and coming home,
then, worn as I am, I could endure one year more.
But if I hear that he is dead and no longer alive,
then I will come home to my own dear land,
heap up a mound for him and pay him the funeral rites,
very many, as is fitting, and give my mother to a husband."
I will not beg you about this any more, nor speak of it;
the gods know it already, and all the Achaeans.
But come, give me a swift ship and twenty companions,
to make the passage for me this way and that.
For I will go to Sparta and to sandy Pylos
to ask after the homecoming of my father, so long gone,
in case some mortal tells me, or I hear a rumour
from Zeus, which above all carries glory to men.
If I hear that my father is alive and coming home,
then, worn as I am, I could endure one year more.
But if I hear that he is dead and no longer alive,
then I will come home to my own dear land,
heap up a mound for him and pay him the funeral rites,
very many, as is fitting, and give my mother to a husband."
Εὐρύμαχʼ ἠδὲ καὶ ἄλλοι, ὅσοι μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί,
ταῦτα μὲν οὐχ ὑμέας ἔτι λίσσομαι οὐδʼ ἀγορεύω·
ἤδη γὰρ τὰ ἴσασι θεοὶ καὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι δότε νῆα θοὴν καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἑταίρους,
οἵ κέ μοι ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διαπρήσσωσι κέλευθον.
εἶμι γὰρ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα
νόστον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο,
ἤν τίς μοι εἴπῃσι βροτῶν ἢ ὄσσαν ἀκούσω
ἐκ Διός, ἥ τε μάλιστα φέρει κλέος ἀνθρώποισιν·
εἰ μέν κεν πατρὸς βίοτον καὶ νόστον ἀκούσω,
ἦ τʼ ἄν, τρυχόμενός περ, ἔτι τλαίην ἐνιαυτόν·
εἰ δέ κε τεθνηῶτος ἀκούσω μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐόντος,
νοστήσας δὴ ἔπειτα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
σῆμά τέ οἱ χεύω καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερεΐξω
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε, καὶ ἀνέρι μητέρα δώσω.
ταῦτα μὲν οὐχ ὑμέας ἔτι λίσσομαι οὐδʼ ἀγορεύω·
ἤδη γὰρ τὰ ἴσασι θεοὶ καὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι δότε νῆα θοὴν καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἑταίρους,
οἵ κέ μοι ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διαπρήσσωσι κέλευθον.
εἶμι γὰρ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα
νόστον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο,
ἤν τίς μοι εἴπῃσι βροτῶν ἢ ὄσσαν ἀκούσω
ἐκ Διός, ἥ τε μάλιστα φέρει κλέος ἀνθρώποισιν·
εἰ μέν κεν πατρὸς βίοτον καὶ νόστον ἀκούσω,
ἦ τʼ ἄν, τρυχόμενός περ, ἔτι τλαίην ἐνιαυτόν·
εἰ δέ κε τεθνηῶτος ἀκούσω μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐόντος,
νοστήσας δὴ ἔπειτα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
σῆμά τέ οἱ χεύω καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερεΐξω
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα ἔοικε, καὶ ἀνέρι μητέρα δώσω.
So saying he sat down, and among them rose
Mentor, who was the companion of blameless Odysseus,
and to whom, going off in the ships, he had entrusted his whole house,
that they should obey the old man and keep everything secure.
With good will towards them he rose and spoke among them:
Mentor, who was the companion of blameless Odysseus,
and to whom, going off in the ships, he had entrusted his whole house,
that they should obey the old man and keep everything secure.
With good will towards them he rose and spoke among them:
ἦ τοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη
Μέντωρ, ὅς ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἦεν ἑταῖρος,
καί οἱ ἰὼν ἐν νηυσὶν ἐπέτρεπεν οἶκον ἅπαντα,
πείθεσθαί τε γέροντι καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσειν·
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
Μέντωρ, ὅς ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἦεν ἑταῖρος,
καί οἱ ἰὼν ἐν νηυσὶν ἐπέτρεπεν οἶκον ἅπαντα,
πείθεσθαί τε γέροντι καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσειν·
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
"Hear me now, men of Ithaca, in what I have to say.
Let no sceptred king be eager any longer
to be kindly and gentle, or to know what is right in his mind,
but let him always be harsh and do lawless things,
since no one remembers divine Odysseus
among the people he ruled, and he was gentle as a father.
It is not the lordly suitors I grudge
their doing violent deeds out of the mischief of their minds;
for they stake their own heads when they devour by force
the house of Odysseus, whom they say will not return.
It is the rest of the people I am indignant with, that you all
sit here in silence, and never round on them with words
to stop the suitors, who are few, when you are many."
Then Leocritus, son of Euenor, answered him in turn:
Let no sceptred king be eager any longer
to be kindly and gentle, or to know what is right in his mind,
but let him always be harsh and do lawless things,
since no one remembers divine Odysseus
among the people he ruled, and he was gentle as a father.
It is not the lordly suitors I grudge
their doing violent deeds out of the mischief of their minds;
for they stake their own heads when they devour by force
the house of Odysseus, whom they say will not return.
It is the rest of the people I am indignant with, that you all
sit here in silence, and never round on them with words
to stop the suitors, who are few, when you are many."
Then Leocritus, son of Euenor, answered him in turn:
κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων ἀγανὸς καὶ ἤπιος ἔστω
σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, μηδὲ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα εἰδώς,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπός τʼ εἴη καὶ αἴσυλα ῥέζοι·
ὡς οὔ τις μέμνηται Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας οὔ τι μεγαίρω
ἔρδειν ἔργα βίαια κακορραφίῃσι νόοιο·
σφὰς γὰρ παρθέμενοι κεφαλὰς κατέδουσι βιαίως
οἶκον Ὀδυσσῆος, τὸν δʼ οὐκέτι φασὶ νέεσθαι.
νῦν δʼ ἄλλῳ δήμῳ νεμεσίζομαι, οἷον ἅπαντες
ἧσθʼ ἄνεῳ, ἀτὰρ οὔ τι καθαπτόμενοι ἐπέεσσι
παύρους μνηστῆρας καταπαύετε πολλοὶ ἐόντες.
τὸν δʼ Εὐηνορίδης Λειώκριτος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων ἀγανὸς καὶ ἤπιος ἔστω
σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, μηδὲ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα εἰδώς,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπός τʼ εἴη καὶ αἴσυλα ῥέζοι·
ὡς οὔ τις μέμνηται Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας οὔ τι μεγαίρω
ἔρδειν ἔργα βίαια κακορραφίῃσι νόοιο·
σφὰς γὰρ παρθέμενοι κεφαλὰς κατέδουσι βιαίως
οἶκον Ὀδυσσῆος, τὸν δʼ οὐκέτι φασὶ νέεσθαι.
νῦν δʼ ἄλλῳ δήμῳ νεμεσίζομαι, οἷον ἅπαντες
ἧσθʼ ἄνεῳ, ἀτὰρ οὔ τι καθαπτόμενοι ἐπέεσσι
παύρους μνηστῆρας καταπαύετε πολλοὶ ἐόντες.
τὸν δʼ Εὐηνορίδης Λειώκριτος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Mischievous Mentor, out of your wits, what a thing you have said,
urging them to stop us! It is a hard thing
even for greater numbers to fight men over a feast.
For even if Odysseus of Ithaca came himself
and were minded in his spirit to drive out of the hall
the proud suitors feasting through his house,
his wife would take no joy in his coming, for all her longing;
he would meet an ugly death on the spot,
if he fought against greater numbers. You have not spoken as is right.
But come, people, scatter, each to his own work;
and Mentor and Halitherses will speed this man on his journey,
since they are his father’s companions from the beginning.
But I think he will sit a long while yet and gather his news
here in Ithaca, and never accomplish this journey."
urging them to stop us! It is a hard thing
even for greater numbers to fight men over a feast.
For even if Odysseus of Ithaca came himself
and were minded in his spirit to drive out of the hall
the proud suitors feasting through his house,
his wife would take no joy in his coming, for all her longing;
he would meet an ugly death on the spot,
if he fought against greater numbers. You have not spoken as is right.
But come, people, scatter, each to his own work;
and Mentor and Halitherses will speed this man on his journey,
since they are his father’s companions from the beginning.
But I think he will sit a long while yet and gather his news
here in Ithaca, and never accomplish this journey."
Μέντορ ἀταρτηρέ, φρένας ἠλεέ, ποῖον ἔειπες
ἡμέας ὀτρύνων καταπαυέμεν. ἀργαλέον δὲ
ἀνδράσι καὶ πλεόνεσσι μαχήσασθαι περὶ δαιτί.
εἴ περ γάρ κʼ Ὀδυσεὺς Ἰθακήσιος αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
δαινυμένους κατὰ δῶμα ἑὸν μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς
ἐξελάσαι μεγάροιο μενοινήσειʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
οὔ κέν οἱ κεχάροιτο γυνή, μάλα περ χατέουσα,
ἐλθόντʼ, ἀλλά κεν αὐτοῦ ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπίσποι,
εἰ πλεόνεσσι μάχοιτο· σὺ δʼ οὐ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, λαοὶ μὲν σκίδνασθʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα ἕκαστος,
τούτῳ δʼ ὀτρυνέει Μέντωρ ὁδὸν ἠδʼ Ἁλιθέρσης,
οἵ τέ οἱ ἐξ ἀρχῆς πατρώιοί εἰσιν ἑταῖροι.
ἀλλʼ ὀίω, καὶ δηθὰ καθήμενος ἀγγελιάων
πεύσεται εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, τελέει δʼ ὁδὸν οὔ ποτε ταύτην.
ἡμέας ὀτρύνων καταπαυέμεν. ἀργαλέον δὲ
ἀνδράσι καὶ πλεόνεσσι μαχήσασθαι περὶ δαιτί.
εἴ περ γάρ κʼ Ὀδυσεὺς Ἰθακήσιος αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
δαινυμένους κατὰ δῶμα ἑὸν μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς
ἐξελάσαι μεγάροιο μενοινήσειʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
οὔ κέν οἱ κεχάροιτο γυνή, μάλα περ χατέουσα,
ἐλθόντʼ, ἀλλά κεν αὐτοῦ ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπίσποι,
εἰ πλεόνεσσι μάχοιτο· σὺ δʼ οὐ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, λαοὶ μὲν σκίδνασθʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα ἕκαστος,
τούτῳ δʼ ὀτρυνέει Μέντωρ ὁδὸν ἠδʼ Ἁλιθέρσης,
οἵ τέ οἱ ἐξ ἀρχῆς πατρώιοί εἰσιν ἑταῖροι.
ἀλλʼ ὀίω, καὶ δηθὰ καθήμενος ἀγγελιάων
πεύσεται εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, τελέει δʼ ὁδὸν οὔ ποτε ταύτην.
So he spoke, and quickly broke up the assembly.
They scattered, each to his own house,
and the suitors went to the house of divine Odysseus.
But Telemachus went off apart to the shore of the sea,
washed his hands in the grey salt water, and prayed to Athena:
"Hear me, you god who came yesterday to our house
and bade me go in a ship over the misty sea
to ask after the homecoming of my father, so long gone.
The Achaeans are putting all of it off,
and the suitors most of all, in their evil arrogance."
They scattered, each to his own house,
and the suitors went to the house of divine Odysseus.
But Telemachus went off apart to the shore of the sea,
washed his hands in the grey salt water, and prayed to Athena:
"Hear me, you god who came yesterday to our house
and bade me go in a ship over the misty sea
to ask after the homecoming of my father, so long gone.
The Achaeans are putting all of it off,
and the suitors most of all, in their evil arrogance."
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, λῦσεν δʼ ἀγορὴν αἰψηρήν.
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὰ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἕκαστος,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἴσαν θείου Ὀδυσῆος.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
χεῖρας νιψάμενος πολιῆς ἁλὸς εὔχετʼ Ἀθήνῃ·
κλῦθί μευ, ὃ χθιζὸς θεὸς ἤλυθες ἡμέτερον δῶ
καί μʼ ἐν νηὶ κέλευσας ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον
νόστον πευσόμενον πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο
ἔρχεσθαι· τὰ δὲ πάντα διατρίβουσιν Ἀχαιοί,
μνηστῆρες δὲ μάλιστα κακῶς ὑπερηνορέοντες.
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὰ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἕκαστος,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἴσαν θείου Ὀδυσῆος.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
χεῖρας νιψάμενος πολιῆς ἁλὸς εὔχετʼ Ἀθήνῃ·
κλῦθί μευ, ὃ χθιζὸς θεὸς ἤλυθες ἡμέτερον δῶ
καί μʼ ἐν νηὶ κέλευσας ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον
νόστον πευσόμενον πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο
ἔρχεσθαι· τὰ δὲ πάντα διατρίβουσιν Ἀχαιοί,
μνηστῆρες δὲ μάλιστα κακῶς ὑπερηνορέοντες.
So he spoke in prayer, and Athena came near him,
in the likeness of Mentor, in body and in voice,
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
in the likeness of Mentor, in body and in voice,
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν,
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν,
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Telemachus, you will not be a coward hereafter, nor a fool,
if your father’s good fury has been instilled in you,
such a man as he was to accomplish word and deed.
Then this journey of yours will not be vain or unfulfilled.
But if you are not his offspring and Penelope’s,
then I have no hope you will accomplish what you intend.
Few sons turn out like their fathers;
most are worse, and few are better than the father.
But since you will not be a coward hereafter, nor a fool,
and the cunning of Odysseus has not altogether failed you,
there is hope that you will accomplish these things.
So now let the suitors go, with their plans and their purposes;
they are senseless, in no way thoughtful or just.
They know nothing of the death and the black doom
that is close upon them, to destroy them all in a single day.
The journey you intend will not be long delayed for you;
for such a companion am I of your father’s,
that I will fit out a swift ship for you and sail with you myself.
But go to the house and keep company with the suitors,
and make ready provisions and stow them all in vessels —
wine in two-handled jars, and barley meal, the marrow of men,
in close-sewn skins. And I will go through the land and gather
companions who volunteer, at once. There are many ships
in sea-girt Ithaca, new ones and old;
of these I will pick out for you the best there is,
and we will make her ready quickly and launch her on the wide sea."
if your father’s good fury has been instilled in you,
such a man as he was to accomplish word and deed.
Then this journey of yours will not be vain or unfulfilled.
But if you are not his offspring and Penelope’s,
then I have no hope you will accomplish what you intend.
Few sons turn out like their fathers;
most are worse, and few are better than the father.
But since you will not be a coward hereafter, nor a fool,
and the cunning of Odysseus has not altogether failed you,
there is hope that you will accomplish these things.
So now let the suitors go, with their plans and their purposes;
they are senseless, in no way thoughtful or just.
They know nothing of the death and the black doom
that is close upon them, to destroy them all in a single day.
The journey you intend will not be long delayed for you;
for such a companion am I of your father’s,
that I will fit out a swift ship for you and sail with you myself.
But go to the house and keep company with the suitors,
and make ready provisions and stow them all in vessels —
wine in two-handled jars, and barley meal, the marrow of men,
in close-sewn skins. And I will go through the land and gather
companions who volunteer, at once. There are many ships
in sea-girt Ithaca, new ones and old;
of these I will pick out for you the best there is,
and we will make her ready quickly and launch her on the wide sea."
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐδʼ ὄπιθεν κακὸς ἔσσεαι οὐδʼ ἀνοήμων,
εἰ δή τοι σοῦ πατρὸς ἐνέστακται μένος ἠύ,
οἷος κεῖνος ἔην τελέσαι ἔργον τε ἔπος τε·
οὔ τοι ἔπειθʼ ἁλίη ὁδὸς ἔσσεται οὐδʼ ἀτέλεστος.
εἰ δʼ οὐ κείνου γʼ ἐσσὶ γόνος καὶ Πηνελοπείης,
οὐ σέ γʼ ἔπειτα ἔολπα τελευτήσειν, ἃ μενοινᾷς.
παῦροι γάρ τοι παῖδες ὁμοῖοι πατρὶ πέλονται,
οἱ πλέονες κακίους, παῦροι δέ τε πατρὸς ἀρείους.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ὄπιθεν κακὸς ἔσσεαι οὐδʼ ἀνοήμων,
οὐδέ σε πάγχυ γε μῆτις Ὀδυσσῆος προλέλοιπεν,
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα τελευτῆσαι τάδε ἔργα.
τῶ νῦν μνηστήρων μὲν ἔα βουλήν τε νόον τε
ἀφραδέων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι·
οὐδέ τι ἴσασιν θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν,
ὃς δή σφι σχεδόν ἐστιν, ἐπʼ ἤματι πάντας ὀλέσθαι.
σοὶ δʼ ὁδὸς οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀπέσσεται ἣν σὺ μενοινᾷς·
τοῖος γάρ τοι ἑταῖρος ἐγὼ πατρώιός εἰμι,
ὅς τοι νῆα θοὴν στελέω καὶ ἅμʼ ἕψομαι αὐτός.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν πρὸς δώματʼ ἰὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει,
ὅπλισσόν τʼ ἤια καὶ ἄγγεσιν ἄρσον ἅπαντα,
οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσι, καὶ ἄλφιτα, μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν,
δέρμασιν ἐν πυκινοῖσιν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον ἑταίρους
αἶψʼ ἐθελοντῆρας συλλέξομαι. εἰσὶ δὲ νῆες
πολλαὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέαι ἠδὲ παλαιαί·
τάων μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐπιόψομαι ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ὦκα δʼ ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἐνήσομεν εὐρέι πόντῳ.
εἰ δή τοι σοῦ πατρὸς ἐνέστακται μένος ἠύ,
οἷος κεῖνος ἔην τελέσαι ἔργον τε ἔπος τε·
οὔ τοι ἔπειθʼ ἁλίη ὁδὸς ἔσσεται οὐδʼ ἀτέλεστος.
εἰ δʼ οὐ κείνου γʼ ἐσσὶ γόνος καὶ Πηνελοπείης,
οὐ σέ γʼ ἔπειτα ἔολπα τελευτήσειν, ἃ μενοινᾷς.
παῦροι γάρ τοι παῖδες ὁμοῖοι πατρὶ πέλονται,
οἱ πλέονες κακίους, παῦροι δέ τε πατρὸς ἀρείους.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ὄπιθεν κακὸς ἔσσεαι οὐδʼ ἀνοήμων,
οὐδέ σε πάγχυ γε μῆτις Ὀδυσσῆος προλέλοιπεν,
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα τελευτῆσαι τάδε ἔργα.
τῶ νῦν μνηστήρων μὲν ἔα βουλήν τε νόον τε
ἀφραδέων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι·
οὐδέ τι ἴσασιν θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν,
ὃς δή σφι σχεδόν ἐστιν, ἐπʼ ἤματι πάντας ὀλέσθαι.
σοὶ δʼ ὁδὸς οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀπέσσεται ἣν σὺ μενοινᾷς·
τοῖος γάρ τοι ἑταῖρος ἐγὼ πατρώιός εἰμι,
ὅς τοι νῆα θοὴν στελέω καὶ ἅμʼ ἕψομαι αὐτός.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν πρὸς δώματʼ ἰὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει,
ὅπλισσόν τʼ ἤια καὶ ἄγγεσιν ἄρσον ἅπαντα,
οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσι, καὶ ἄλφιτα, μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν,
δέρμασιν ἐν πυκινοῖσιν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον ἑταίρους
αἶψʼ ἐθελοντῆρας συλλέξομαι. εἰσὶ δὲ νῆες
πολλαὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέαι ἠδὲ παλαιαί·
τάων μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐπιόψομαι ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ὦκα δʼ ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἐνήσομεν εὐρέι πόντῳ.
So spoke Athena, daughter of Zeus; and Telemachus
did not linger long, once he had heard the voice of a god.
He went off to the house with grief in his heart,
and found the lordly suitors in the halls,
flaying goats and singeing fat hogs in the court.
Antinous came straight up to Telemachus, laughing,
and clasped his hand, and spoke, and called him by name:
did not linger long, once he had heard the voice of a god.
He went off to the house with grief in his heart,
and found the lordly suitors in the halls,
flaying goats and singeing fat hogs in the court.
Antinous came straight up to Telemachus, laughing,
and clasped his hand, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διός· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν
Τηλέμαχος παρέμιμνεν, ἐπεὶ θεοῦ ἔκλυεν αὐδήν.
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα, φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,
εὗρε δʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας ἐν μεγάροισιν,
αἶγας ἀνιεμένους σιάλους θʼ εὕοντας ἐν αὐλῇ.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἰθὺς γελάσας κίε Τηλεμάχοιο,
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
Τηλέμαχος παρέμιμνεν, ἐπεὶ θεοῦ ἔκλυεν αὐδήν.
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα, φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,
εὗρε δʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας ἐν μεγάροισιν,
αἶγας ἀνιεμένους σιάλους θʼ εὕοντας ἐν αὐλῇ.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἰθὺς γελάσας κίε Τηλεμάχοιο,
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"Telemachus, you high talker, you of the ungovernable fury, let no further
evil word or deed be a care in your breast,
but eat and drink with me, as you did before.
The Achaeans will see to all these things for you,
a ship and picked oarsmen, so that you may come the sooner
to sacred Pylos, after news of your proud father."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
evil word or deed be a care in your breast,
but eat and drink with me, as you did before.
The Achaeans will see to all these things for you,
a ship and picked oarsmen, so that you may come the sooner
to sacred Pylos, after news of your proud father."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ ὑψαγόρη, μένος ἄσχετε, μή τί τοι ἄλλο
ἐν στήθεσσι κακὸν μελέτω ἔργον τε ἔπος τε,
ἀλλά μοι ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.
ταῦτα δέ τοι μάλα πάντα τελευτήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί,
νῆα καὶ ἐξαίτους ἐρέτας, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἵκηαι
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην μετʼ ἀγαυοῦ πατρὸς ἀκουήν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἐν στήθεσσι κακὸν μελέτω ἔργον τε ἔπος τε,
ἀλλά μοι ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.
ταῦτα δέ τοι μάλα πάντα τελευτήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί,
νῆα καὶ ἐξαίτους ἐρέτας, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἵκηαι
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην μετʼ ἀγαυοῦ πατρὸς ἀκουήν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Antinous, there is no way I can feast in silence among you,
you overweening men, and take my ease and be glad.
Is it not enough that before this you cut away much fine
property of mine, suitors, while I was still a child?
But now that I am grown, and learn by listening
to the talk of others, and the spirit swells within me,
I will try to launch evil dooms upon you,
either going to Pylos, or here in this very land.
I will go — and the journey I speak of will not be in vain —
as a passenger; for I am master of no ship and no oarsmen.
So, I suppose, it seemed the better thing to you."
you overweening men, and take my ease and be glad.
Is it not enough that before this you cut away much fine
property of mine, suitors, while I was still a child?
But now that I am grown, and learn by listening
to the talk of others, and the spirit swells within me,
I will try to launch evil dooms upon you,
either going to Pylos, or here in this very land.
I will go — and the journey I speak of will not be in vain —
as a passenger; for I am master of no ship and no oarsmen.
So, I suppose, it seemed the better thing to you."
Ἀντίνοʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθʼ ὑμῖν
δαίνυσθαί τʼ ἀκέοντα καὶ εὐφραίνεσθαι ἕκηλον.
ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς τὸ πάροιθεν ἐκείρετε πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ
κτήματʼ ἐμά, μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα;
νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ μέγας εἰμὶ καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἀκούων
πυνθάνομαι, καὶ δή μοι ἀέξεται ἔνδοθι θυμός,
πειρήσω, ὥς κʼ ὔμμι κακὰς ἐπὶ κῆρας ἰήλω,
ἠὲ Πύλονδʼ ἐλθών, ἢ αὐτοῦ τῷδʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
εἶμι μέν, οὐδʼ ἁλίη ὁδὸς ἔσσεται ἣν ἀγορεύω,
ἔμπορος· οὐ γὰρ νηὸς ἐπήβολος οὐδʼ ἐρετάων
γίγνομαι· ὥς νύ που ὔμμιν ἐείσατο κέρδιον εἶναι.
δαίνυσθαί τʼ ἀκέοντα καὶ εὐφραίνεσθαι ἕκηλον.
ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς τὸ πάροιθεν ἐκείρετε πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ
κτήματʼ ἐμά, μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα;
νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ μέγας εἰμὶ καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἀκούων
πυνθάνομαι, καὶ δή μοι ἀέξεται ἔνδοθι θυμός,
πειρήσω, ὥς κʼ ὔμμι κακὰς ἐπὶ κῆρας ἰήλω,
ἠὲ Πύλονδʼ ἐλθών, ἢ αὐτοῦ τῷδʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
εἶμι μέν, οὐδʼ ἁλίη ὁδὸς ἔσσεται ἣν ἀγορεύω,
ἔμπορος· οὐ γὰρ νηὸς ἐπήβολος οὐδʼ ἐρετάων
γίγνομαι· ὥς νύ που ὔμμιν ἐείσατο κέρδιον εἶναι.
He spoke, and drew his hand out of the hand of Antinous
easily; and the suitors busied themselves with the feast through the house.
They mocked him and taunted him with words,
and one of the arrogant young men would say:
"Telemachus is certainly plotting murder for us.
Either he will bring back defenders from sandy Pylos,
or from Sparta, since he is set on it so terribly;
or he means to go to Ephyra, that rich soil,
to fetch life-destroying drugs from there,
and throw them in the mixing-bowl and kill us all."
And another of the arrogant young men would say:
"Who knows? He may go off in his hollow ship
and die far from his own, wandering as Odysseus did.
That would only add to our labour;
for we would have to divide all his goods, and give the house
to his mother to keep, and to whoever married her."
easily; and the suitors busied themselves with the feast through the house.
They mocked him and taunted him with words,
and one of the arrogant young men would say:
"Telemachus is certainly plotting murder for us.
Either he will bring back defenders from sandy Pylos,
or from Sparta, since he is set on it so terribly;
or he means to go to Ephyra, that rich soil,
to fetch life-destroying drugs from there,
and throw them in the mixing-bowl and kill us all."
And another of the arrogant young men would say:
"Who knows? He may go off in his hollow ship
and die far from his own, wandering as Odysseus did.
That would only add to our labour;
for we would have to divide all his goods, and give the house
to his mother to keep, and to whoever married her."
ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς χεῖρα σπάσατʼ Ἀντινόοιο
ῥεῖα· μνηστῆρες δὲ δόμον κάτα δαῖτα πένοντο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπελώβευον καὶ ἐκερτόμεον ἐπέεσσιν.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
ἦ μάλα Τηλέμαχος φόνον ἡμῖν μερμηρίζει.
ἤ τινας ἐκ Πύλου ἄξει ἀμύντορας ἠμαθόεντος
ἢ ὅ γε καὶ Σπάρτηθεν, ἐπεί νύ περ ἵεται αἰνῶς·
ἠὲ καὶ εἰς Ἐφύρην ἐθέλει, πίειραν ἄρουραν,
ἐλθεῖν, ὄφρʼ ἔνθεν θυμοφθόρα φάρμακʼ ἐνείκῃ,
ἐν δὲ βάλῃ κρητῆρι καὶ ἡμέας πάντας ὀλέσσῃ.
ἄλλος δʼ αὖτʼ εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
τίς δʼ οἶδʼ, εἴ κε καὶ αὐτὸς ἰὼν κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς
τῆλε φίλων ἀπόληται ἀλώμενος ὥς περ Ὀδυσσεύς;
οὕτω κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ὀφέλλειεν πόνον ἄμμιν·
κτήματα γάρ κεν πάντα δασαίμεθα, οἰκία δʼ αὖτε
τούτου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδʼ ὅς τις ὀπυίοι.
ῥεῖα· μνηστῆρες δὲ δόμον κάτα δαῖτα πένοντο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπελώβευον καὶ ἐκερτόμεον ἐπέεσσιν.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
ἦ μάλα Τηλέμαχος φόνον ἡμῖν μερμηρίζει.
ἤ τινας ἐκ Πύλου ἄξει ἀμύντορας ἠμαθόεντος
ἢ ὅ γε καὶ Σπάρτηθεν, ἐπεί νύ περ ἵεται αἰνῶς·
ἠὲ καὶ εἰς Ἐφύρην ἐθέλει, πίειραν ἄρουραν,
ἐλθεῖν, ὄφρʼ ἔνθεν θυμοφθόρα φάρμακʼ ἐνείκῃ,
ἐν δὲ βάλῃ κρητῆρι καὶ ἡμέας πάντας ὀλέσσῃ.
ἄλλος δʼ αὖτʼ εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
τίς δʼ οἶδʼ, εἴ κε καὶ αὐτὸς ἰὼν κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς
τῆλε φίλων ἀπόληται ἀλώμενος ὥς περ Ὀδυσσεύς;
οὕτω κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ὀφέλλειεν πόνον ἄμμιν·
κτήματα γάρ κεν πάντα δασαίμεθα, οἰκία δʼ αὖτε
τούτου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδʼ ὅς τις ὀπυίοι.
So they spoke; but he went down to his father’s high-roofed store-room,
a wide one, where gold and bronze lay heaped,
and clothing in chests, and sweet-smelling oil in plenty;
and there jars of old sweet wine were standing,
holding the unmixed, divine drink inside them,
set in a row against the wall, in case Odysseus should ever
come home, for all the many griefs he had endured.
The doors were close-fitted and fastened with a bolt,
double doors; and a woman, the housekeeper, was there night and day,
who guarded it all with the great knowledge of her mind,
Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, the son of Peisenor.
Telemachus called her into the store-room and spoke to her:
a wide one, where gold and bronze lay heaped,
and clothing in chests, and sweet-smelling oil in plenty;
and there jars of old sweet wine were standing,
holding the unmixed, divine drink inside them,
set in a row against the wall, in case Odysseus should ever
come home, for all the many griefs he had endured.
The doors were close-fitted and fastened with a bolt,
double doors; and a woman, the housekeeper, was there night and day,
who guarded it all with the great knowledge of her mind,
Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, the son of Peisenor.
Telemachus called her into the store-room and spoke to her:
ὣς φάν, ὁ δʼ ὑψόροφον θάλαμον κατεβήσετο πατρὸς
εὐρύν, ὅθι νητὸς χρυσὸς καὶ χαλκὸς ἔκειτο
ἐσθής τʼ ἐν χηλοῖσιν ἅλις τʼ ἐυῶδες ἔλαιον·
ἐν δὲ πίθοι οἴνοιο παλαιοῦ ἡδυπότοιο
ἕστασαν, ἄκρητον θεῖον ποτὸν ἐντὸς ἔχοντες,
ἑξείης ποτὶ τοῖχον ἀρηρότες, εἴ ποτʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
οἴκαδε νοστήσειε καὶ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας.
κληισταὶ δʼ ἔπεσαν σανίδες πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαι,
δικλίδες· ἐν δὲ γυνὴ ταμίη νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ
ἔσχʼ, ἣ πάντʼ ἐφύλασσε νόου πολυϊδρείῃσιν,
Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο.
τὴν τότε Τηλέμαχος προσέφη θαλαμόνδε καλέσσας·
εὐρύν, ὅθι νητὸς χρυσὸς καὶ χαλκὸς ἔκειτο
ἐσθής τʼ ἐν χηλοῖσιν ἅλις τʼ ἐυῶδες ἔλαιον·
ἐν δὲ πίθοι οἴνοιο παλαιοῦ ἡδυπότοιο
ἕστασαν, ἄκρητον θεῖον ποτὸν ἐντὸς ἔχοντες,
ἑξείης ποτὶ τοῖχον ἀρηρότες, εἴ ποτʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
οἴκαδε νοστήσειε καὶ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας.
κληισταὶ δʼ ἔπεσαν σανίδες πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαι,
δικλίδες· ἐν δὲ γυνὴ ταμίη νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ
ἔσχʼ, ἣ πάντʼ ἐφύλασσε νόου πολυϊδρείῃσιν,
Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο.
τὴν τότε Τηλέμαχος προσέφη θαλαμόνδε καλέσσας·
"Nurse, come, draw me off wine into two-handled jars,
the sweet kind, the choicest after that which you keep in store
thinking of that ill-fated man, in case he should come from somewhere,
Odysseus, born of Zeus, having escaped death and the dooms.
Fill twelve of them, and fit them all with lids.
And pour barley meal for me into well-sewn skins;
let there be twenty measures of ground barley meal.
Keep it to yourself alone; let it all be got ready together.
In the evening I will come and take it, when my mother
has gone up to her chamber and turns her thought to bed.
For I am going to Sparta and to sandy Pylos
to ask after my dear father’s homecoming, if I may hear of it."
the sweet kind, the choicest after that which you keep in store
thinking of that ill-fated man, in case he should come from somewhere,
Odysseus, born of Zeus, having escaped death and the dooms.
Fill twelve of them, and fit them all with lids.
And pour barley meal for me into well-sewn skins;
let there be twenty measures of ground barley meal.
Keep it to yourself alone; let it all be got ready together.
In the evening I will come and take it, when my mother
has gone up to her chamber and turns her thought to bed.
For I am going to Sparta and to sandy Pylos
to ask after my dear father’s homecoming, if I may hear of it."
μαῖʼ, ἄγε δή μοι οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἄφυσσον
ἡδύν, ὅτις μετὰ τὸν λαρώτατος ὃν σὺ φυλάσσεις
κεῖνον ὀιομένη τὸν κάμμορον, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξας.
δώδεκα δʼ ἔμπλησον καὶ πώμασιν ἄρσον ἅπαντας.
ἐν δέ μοι ἄλφιτα χεῦον ἐϋρραφέεσσι δοροῖσιν·
εἴκοσι δʼ ἔστω μέτρα μυληφάτου ἀλφίτου ἀκτῆς.
αὐτὴ δʼ οἴη ἴσθι· τὰ δʼ ἁθρόα πάντα τετύχθω·
ἑσπέριος γὰρ ἐγὼν αἱρήσομαι, ὁππότε κεν δὴ
μήτηρ εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβῇ κοίτου τε μέδηται.
εἶμι γὰρ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα
νόστον πευσόμενος πατρὸς φίλου, ἤν που ἀκούσω.
ἡδύν, ὅτις μετὰ τὸν λαρώτατος ὃν σὺ φυλάσσεις
κεῖνον ὀιομένη τὸν κάμμορον, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξας.
δώδεκα δʼ ἔμπλησον καὶ πώμασιν ἄρσον ἅπαντας.
ἐν δέ μοι ἄλφιτα χεῦον ἐϋρραφέεσσι δοροῖσιν·
εἴκοσι δʼ ἔστω μέτρα μυληφάτου ἀλφίτου ἀκτῆς.
αὐτὴ δʼ οἴη ἴσθι· τὰ δʼ ἁθρόα πάντα τετύχθω·
ἑσπέριος γὰρ ἐγὼν αἱρήσομαι, ὁππότε κεν δὴ
μήτηρ εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβῇ κοίτου τε μέδηται.
εἶμι γὰρ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα
νόστον πευσόμενος πατρὸς φίλου, ἤν που ἀκούσω.
So he spoke, and his dear nurse Eurycleia cried aloud,
and in her lamenting addressed him with winged words:
and in her lamenting addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, κώκυσεν δὲ φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Why, dear child, has this thought come into
your mind? Where do you mean to go, over so much of the earth,
an only son and beloved? He has perished far from home,
Odysseus, born of Zeus, in a land of strangers.
And these men will at once plot evil for you behind your back,
so that you die by treachery, and they divide all this among them.
Stay here, sitting over your own possessions. There is no need
for you to suffer evil on the barren sea, or to wander."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
your mind? Where do you mean to go, over so much of the earth,
an only son and beloved? He has perished far from home,
Odysseus, born of Zeus, in a land of strangers.
And these men will at once plot evil for you behind your back,
so that you die by treachery, and they divide all this among them.
Stay here, sitting over your own possessions. There is no need
for you to suffer evil on the barren sea, or to wander."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
τίπτε δέ τοι, φίλε τέκνον, ἐνὶ φρεσὶ τοῦτο νόημα
ἔπλετο; πῇ δʼ ἐθέλεις ἰέναι πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν
μοῦνος ἐὼν ἀγαπητός; ὁ δʼ ὤλετο τηλόθι πάτρης
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἀλλογνώτῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
οἱ δέ τοι αὐτίκʼ ἰόντι κακὰ φράσσονται ὀπίσσω,
ὥς κε δόλῳ φθίῃς, τάδε δʼ αὐτοὶ πάντα δάσονται.
ἀλλὰ μένʼ αὖθʼ ἐπὶ σοῖσι καθήμενος· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον κακὰ πάσχειν οὐδʼ ἀλάλησθαι.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἔπλετο; πῇ δʼ ἐθέλεις ἰέναι πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν
μοῦνος ἐὼν ἀγαπητός; ὁ δʼ ὤλετο τηλόθι πάτρης
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἀλλογνώτῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
οἱ δέ τοι αὐτίκʼ ἰόντι κακὰ φράσσονται ὀπίσσω,
ὥς κε δόλῳ φθίῃς, τάδε δʼ αὐτοὶ πάντα δάσονται.
ἀλλὰ μένʼ αὖθʼ ἐπὶ σοῖσι καθήμενος· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον κακὰ πάσχειν οὐδʼ ἀλάλησθαι.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Take heart, nurse; this plan is not without a god behind it.
But swear to say nothing of this to my dear mother,
until the eleventh or the twelfth day has come,
or she misses me herself and hears that I have gone,
so that she may not spoil her beautiful skin with weeping."
But swear to say nothing of this to my dear mother,
until the eleventh or the twelfth day has come,
or she misses me herself and hears that I have gone,
so that she may not spoil her beautiful skin with weeping."
θάρσει, μαῖʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἄνευ θεοῦ ἥδε γε βουλή.
ἀλλʼ ὄμοσον μὴ μητρὶ φίλῃ τάδε μυθήσασθαι,
πρίν γʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται,
ἢ αὐτὴν ποθέσαι καὶ ἀφορμηθέντος ἀκοῦσαι,
ὡς ἂν μὴ κλαίουσα κατὰ χρόα καλὸν ἰάπτῃ.
ἀλλʼ ὄμοσον μὴ μητρὶ φίλῃ τάδε μυθήσασθαι,
πρίν γʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται,
ἢ αὐτὴν ποθέσαι καὶ ἀφορμηθέντος ἀκοῦσαι,
ὡς ἂν μὴ κλαίουσα κατὰ χρόα καλὸν ἰάπτῃ.
So he spoke, and the old woman swore a great oath by the gods.
And when she had sworn and completed the oath,
at once she drew off the wine for him into two-handled jars,
and poured barley meal for him into well-sewn skins.
And Telemachus went into the house and kept company with the suitors.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else.
In the likeness of Telemachus she went everywhere through the city,
and standing beside each man she spoke her word,
and bade them gather at the swift ship in the evening.
And she asked Noemon, the glorious son of Phronius,
for a swift ship; and he readily promised it to her.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark,
and then she drew the swift ship down to the sea and put in her
all the gear that well-benched ships carry.
She moored her at the harbour’s mouth, and the good companions
gathered together about her; and the goddess urged on each man.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else.
She went to the house of divine Odysseus,
and there poured sweet sleep upon the suitors,
and dazed them as they drank, and struck the cups from their hands.
They rose to go and sleep through the city, and sat
no longer, since sleep was falling upon their eyelids.
But grey-eyed Athena spoke to Telemachus,
calling him out of the well-built halls,
in the likeness of Mentor, in body and in voice:
"Telemachus, your well-greaved companions are already
sitting at their oars, waiting for you to set out.
Let us go, and not delay the journey long."
And when she had sworn and completed the oath,
at once she drew off the wine for him into two-handled jars,
and poured barley meal for him into well-sewn skins.
And Telemachus went into the house and kept company with the suitors.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else.
In the likeness of Telemachus she went everywhere through the city,
and standing beside each man she spoke her word,
and bade them gather at the swift ship in the evening.
And she asked Noemon, the glorious son of Phronius,
for a swift ship; and he readily promised it to her.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark,
and then she drew the swift ship down to the sea and put in her
all the gear that well-benched ships carry.
She moored her at the harbour’s mouth, and the good companions
gathered together about her; and the goddess urged on each man.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else.
She went to the house of divine Odysseus,
and there poured sweet sleep upon the suitors,
and dazed them as they drank, and struck the cups from their hands.
They rose to go and sleep through the city, and sat
no longer, since sleep was falling upon their eyelids.
But grey-eyed Athena spoke to Telemachus,
calling him out of the well-built halls,
in the likeness of Mentor, in body and in voice:
"Telemachus, your well-greaved companions are already
sitting at their oars, waiting for you to set out.
Let us go, and not delay the journey long."
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρῆυς δὲ θεῶν μέγαν ὅρκον ἀπώμνυ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτά οἱ οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἄφυσσεν,
ἐν δέ οἱ ἄλφιτα χεῦεν ἐϋρραφέεσσι δοροῖσι.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἰὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
Τηλεμάχῳ ἐικυῖα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντῃ,
καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον,
ἑσπερίους δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἀγέρεσθαι ἀνώγει.
ἡ δʼ αὖτε Φρονίοιο Νοήμονα φαίδιμον υἱὸν
ᾔτεε νῆα θοήν· ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί,
καὶ τότε νῆα θοὴν ἅλαδʼ εἴρυσε, πάντα δʼ ἐν αὐτῇ
ὅπλʼ ἐτίθει, τά τε νῆες ἐύσσελμοι φορέουσι.
στῆσε δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ λιμένος, περὶ δʼ ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι
ἁθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο· θεὰ δʼ ὤτρυνεν ἕκαστον.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
βῆ ῤʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
ἔνθα μνηστήρεσσιν ἐπὶ γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἔχευε,
πλάζε δὲ πίνοντας, χειρῶν δʼ ἔκβαλλε κύπελλα.
οἱ δʼ εὕδειν ὤρνυντο κατὰ πτόλιν, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν
ἥατʼ, ἐπεί σφισιν ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτεν.
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχον προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
ἐκπροκαλεσσαμένη μεγάρων ἐὺ ναιεταόντων,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν·
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἤδη μέν τοι ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι
ἥατʼ ἐπήρετμοι τὴν σὴν ποτιδέγμενοι ὁρμήν·
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, μὴ δηθὰ διατρίβωμεν ὁδοῖο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτά οἱ οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἄφυσσεν,
ἐν δέ οἱ ἄλφιτα χεῦεν ἐϋρραφέεσσι δοροῖσι.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἰὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
Τηλεμάχῳ ἐικυῖα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντῃ,
καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον,
ἑσπερίους δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἀγέρεσθαι ἀνώγει.
ἡ δʼ αὖτε Φρονίοιο Νοήμονα φαίδιμον υἱὸν
ᾔτεε νῆα θοήν· ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί,
καὶ τότε νῆα θοὴν ἅλαδʼ εἴρυσε, πάντα δʼ ἐν αὐτῇ
ὅπλʼ ἐτίθει, τά τε νῆες ἐύσσελμοι φορέουσι.
στῆσε δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ λιμένος, περὶ δʼ ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι
ἁθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο· θεὰ δʼ ὤτρυνεν ἕκαστον.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
βῆ ῤʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
ἔνθα μνηστήρεσσιν ἐπὶ γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἔχευε,
πλάζε δὲ πίνοντας, χειρῶν δʼ ἔκβαλλε κύπελλα.
οἱ δʼ εὕδειν ὤρνυντο κατὰ πτόλιν, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν
ἥατʼ, ἐπεί σφισιν ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτεν.
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχον προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
ἐκπροκαλεσσαμένη μεγάρων ἐὺ ναιεταόντων,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν·
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἤδη μέν τοι ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι
ἥατʼ ἐπήρετμοι τὴν σὴν ποτιδέγμενοι ὁρμήν·
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, μὴ δηθὰ διατρίβωμεν ὁδοῖο.
So saying, Pallas Athena led the way
swiftly; and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.
And when they had come down to the ship and the sea,
they found the long-haired companions on the shore.
And the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them:
"Come, friends, let us fetch the provisions; everything is already
gathered in the hall. My mother has heard nothing of it,
nor the other serving-women; only one has heard the word."
swiftly; and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.
And when they had come down to the ship and the sea,
they found the long-haired companions on the shore.
And the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them:
"Come, friends, let us fetch the provisions; everything is already
gathered in the hall. My mother has heard nothing of it,
nor the other serving-women; only one has heard the word."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
εὗρον ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ κάρη κομόωντας ἑταίρους.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
δεῦτε, φίλοι, ἤια φερώμεθα· πάντα γὰρ ἤδη
ἁθρόʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. μήτηρ δʼ ἐμὴ οὔ τι πέπυσται,
οὐδʼ ἄλλαι δμωαί, μία δʼ οἴη μῦθον ἄκουσεν.
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
εὗρον ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ κάρη κομόωντας ἑταίρους.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
δεῦτε, φίλοι, ἤια φερώμεθα· πάντα γὰρ ἤδη
ἁθρόʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. μήτηρ δʼ ἐμὴ οὔ τι πέπυσται,
οὐδʼ ἄλλαι δμωαί, μία δʼ οἴη μῦθον ἄκουσεν.
So saying he led the way, and they followed with him.
They brought it all and stowed it in the well-benched ship,
as the dear son of Odysseus commanded.
Then Telemachus went aboard, and Athena led,
and sat down at the stern of the ship; and close beside her
Telemachus sat. They loosed the stern cables,
and went aboard themselves and sat down at the oarlocks.
And grey-eyed Athena sent them a following wind,
a fresh West Wind, singing over the wine-dark sea.
Telemachus called to his companions and urged them
to lay hold of the tackle; and they heard him as he urged.
They raised the mast of fir and set it upright
inside the hollow mast-box, and made it fast with forestays,
and hauled up the white sails with twisted oxhide ropes.
The wind filled the belly of the sail, and about the stem
the dark wave sang loud as the ship went on;
and she ran on over the waves, making her passage.
Then they made the tackle fast throughout the swift black ship
and set up mixing-bowls brimming with wine,
and poured libations to the immortal gods who are forever,
and above all others to the grey-eyed daughter of Zeus.
So all night long and into the dawn the ship cut her passage.
They brought it all and stowed it in the well-benched ship,
as the dear son of Odysseus commanded.
Then Telemachus went aboard, and Athena led,
and sat down at the stern of the ship; and close beside her
Telemachus sat. They loosed the stern cables,
and went aboard themselves and sat down at the oarlocks.
And grey-eyed Athena sent them a following wind,
a fresh West Wind, singing over the wine-dark sea.
Telemachus called to his companions and urged them
to lay hold of the tackle; and they heard him as he urged.
They raised the mast of fir and set it upright
inside the hollow mast-box, and made it fast with forestays,
and hauled up the white sails with twisted oxhide ropes.
The wind filled the belly of the sail, and about the stem
the dark wave sang loud as the ship went on;
and she ran on over the waves, making her passage.
Then they made the tackle fast throughout the swift black ship
and set up mixing-bowls brimming with wine,
and poured libations to the immortal gods who are forever,
and above all others to the grey-eyed daughter of Zeus.
So all night long and into the dawn the ship cut her passage.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο.
οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντα φέροντες ἐυσσέλμῳ ἐπὶ νηὶ
κάτθεσαν, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.
ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος νηὸς βαῖνʼ, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀθήνη,
νηὶ δʼ ἐνὶ πρυμνῇ κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῆς
ἕζετο Τηλέμαχος. τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν,
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ἀκραῆ Ζέφυρον, κελάδοντʼ ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν
ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν.
ἱστὸν δʼ εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης
στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,
ἕλκον δʼ ἱστία λευκὰ ἐυστρέπτοισι βοεῦσιν.
ἔπρησεν δʼ ἄνεμος μέσον ἱστίον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα
στείρῃ πορφύρεον μεγάλʼ ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης·
ἡ δʼ ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλευθον.
δησάμενοι δʼ ἄρα ὅπλα θοὴν ἀνὰ νῆα μέλαιναν
στήσαντο κρητῆρας ἐπιστεφέας οἴνοιο,
λεῖβον δʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν,
ἐκ πάντων δὲ μάλιστα Διὸς γλαυκώπιδι κούρῃ.
παννυχίη μέν ῥʼ ἥ γε καὶ ἠῶ πεῖρε κέλευθον.
οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντα φέροντες ἐυσσέλμῳ ἐπὶ νηὶ
κάτθεσαν, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.
ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος νηὸς βαῖνʼ, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀθήνη,
νηὶ δʼ ἐνὶ πρυμνῇ κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῆς
ἕζετο Τηλέμαχος. τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν,
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ἀκραῆ Ζέφυρον, κελάδοντʼ ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν
ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν.
ἱστὸν δʼ εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης
στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,
ἕλκον δʼ ἱστία λευκὰ ἐυστρέπτοισι βοεῦσιν.
ἔπρησεν δʼ ἄνεμος μέσον ἱστίον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα
στείρῃ πορφύρεον μεγάλʼ ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης·
ἡ δʼ ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλευθον.
δησάμενοι δʼ ἄρα ὅπλα θοὴν ἀνὰ νῆα μέλαιναν
στήσαντο κρητῆρας ἐπιστεφέας οἴνοιο,
λεῖβον δʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν,
ἐκ πάντων δὲ μάλιστα Διὸς γλαυκώπιδι κούρῃ.
παννυχίη μέν ῥʼ ἥ γε καὶ ἠῶ πεῖρε κέλευθον.
Book 3
At Pylos the old horseman Nestor receives them with sacrifice and stories: the returns of the heroes, the murder of Agamemnon, and no word of Odysseus. Telemachus drives overland to Sparta with Nestor's son.
Now the Sun sprang up, leaving the lovely water,
into the brazen heaven, to give light to the immortals
and to mortal men upon the grain-giving earth;
and they came to Pylos, the well-built citadel
of Neleus. The men were sacrificing on the shore of the sea,
bulls all black, to the dark-haired earth-shaker.
There were nine companies, and five hundred men in each
sat, and each company brought forward nine bulls.
Just as they had tasted the inner parts and were burning the thigh-pieces to the god,
the others put straight in to land, and hauled down and furled
the sails of the balanced ship, moored her, and went ashore themselves.
Telemachus stepped from the ship, and Athena led.
The goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him first:
into the brazen heaven, to give light to the immortals
and to mortal men upon the grain-giving earth;
and they came to Pylos, the well-built citadel
of Neleus. The men were sacrificing on the shore of the sea,
bulls all black, to the dark-haired earth-shaker.
There were nine companies, and five hundred men in each
sat, and each company brought forward nine bulls.
Just as they had tasted the inner parts and were burning the thigh-pieces to the god,
the others put straight in to land, and hauled down and furled
the sails of the balanced ship, moored her, and went ashore themselves.
Telemachus stepped from the ship, and Athena led.
The goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him first:
Ἠέλιος δʼ ἀνόρουσε, λιπὼν περικαλλέα λίμνην,
οὐρανὸν ἐς πολύχαλκον, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φαείνοι
καὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν·
οἱ δὲ Πύλον, Νηλῆος ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
ἷξον· τοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης ἱερὰ ῥέζον,
ταύρους παμμέλανας, ἐνοσίχθονι κυανοχαίτῃ.
ἐννέα δʼ ἕδραι ἔσαν, πεντακόσιοι δʼ ἐν ἑκάστῃ
ἥατο καὶ προύχοντο ἑκάστοθι ἐννέα ταύρους.
εὖθʼ οἱ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο, θεῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκαιον,
οἱ δʼ ἰθὺς κατάγοντο ἰδʼ ἱστία νηὸς ἐίσης
στεῖλαν ἀείραντες, τὴν δʼ ὥρμισαν, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί·
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος νηὸς βαῖνʼ, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀθήνη.
τὸν προτέρη προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
οὐρανὸν ἐς πολύχαλκον, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φαείνοι
καὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν·
οἱ δὲ Πύλον, Νηλῆος ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
ἷξον· τοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης ἱερὰ ῥέζον,
ταύρους παμμέλανας, ἐνοσίχθονι κυανοχαίτῃ.
ἐννέα δʼ ἕδραι ἔσαν, πεντακόσιοι δʼ ἐν ἑκάστῃ
ἥατο καὶ προύχοντο ἑκάστοθι ἐννέα ταύρους.
εὖθʼ οἱ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο, θεῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκαιον,
οἱ δʼ ἰθὺς κατάγοντο ἰδʼ ἱστία νηὸς ἐίσης
στεῖλαν ἀείραντες, τὴν δʼ ὥρμισαν, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί·
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος νηὸς βαῖνʼ, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀθήνη.
τὸν προτέρη προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Telemachus, you must have no more shyness now, not the least.
For this is why you sailed the sea: to learn
of your father, where the earth covers him, and what fate he met.
But come now, go straight to Nestor, tamer of horses;
let us learn what counsel he hides in his breast.
Beg him yourself to speak the unerring truth.
He will tell no lie, for he is very prudent."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
For this is why you sailed the sea: to learn
of your father, where the earth covers him, and what fate he met.
But come now, go straight to Nestor, tamer of horses;
let us learn what counsel he hides in his breast.
Beg him yourself to speak the unerring truth.
He will tell no lie, for he is very prudent."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐ μέν σε χρὴ ἔτʼ αἰδοῦς, οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν·
τοὔνεκα γὰρ καὶ πόντον ἐπέπλως, ὄφρα πύθηαι
πατρός, ὅπου κύθε γαῖα καὶ ὅν τινα πότμον ἐπέσπεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἰθὺς κίε Νέστορος ἱπποδάμοιο·
εἴδομεν ἥν τινα μῆτιν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κέκευθε.
λίσσεσθαι δέ μιν αὐτός, ὅπως νημερτέα εἴπῃ·
ψεῦδος δʼ οὐκ ἐρέει· μάλα γὰρ πεπνυμένος ἐστί.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
τοὔνεκα γὰρ καὶ πόντον ἐπέπλως, ὄφρα πύθηαι
πατρός, ὅπου κύθε γαῖα καὶ ὅν τινα πότμον ἐπέσπεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἰθὺς κίε Νέστορος ἱπποδάμοιο·
εἴδομεν ἥν τινα μῆτιν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κέκευθε.
λίσσεσθαι δέ μιν αὐτός, ὅπως νημερτέα εἴπῃ·
ψεῦδος δʼ οὐκ ἐρέει· μάλα γὰρ πεπνυμένος ἐστί.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Mentor, how shall I go? How shall I greet him?
I have no practice yet in shrewd speaking,
and it is shame for a young man to question an elder."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
I have no practice yet in shrewd speaking,
and it is shame for a young man to question an elder."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
Μέντορ, πῶς τʼ ἄρʼ ἴω; πῶς τʼ ἂρ προσπτύξομαι αὐτόν;
οὐδέ τί πω μύθοισι πεπείρημαι πυκινοῖσιν·
αἰδὼς δʼ αὖ νέον ἄνδρα γεραίτερον ἐξερέεσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
οὐδέ τί πω μύθοισι πεπείρημαι πυκινοῖσιν·
αἰδὼς δʼ αὖ νέον ἄνδρα γεραίτερον ἐξερέεσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Telemachus, some things you will think of yourself in your own mind,
and a divine power will prompt the rest. For I do not think
you were born and reared against the will of the gods."
and a divine power will prompt the rest. For I do not think
you were born and reared against the will of the gods."
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἄλλα μὲν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ σῇσι νοήσεις,
ἄλλα δὲ καὶ δαίμων ὑποθήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
οὔ σε θεῶν ἀέκητι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.
ἄλλα δὲ καὶ δαίμων ὑποθήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
οὔ σε θεῶν ἀέκητι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.
So saying, Pallas Athena led the way
swiftly; and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.
They came to the gathering and the seats of the men of Pylos,
where Nestor sat with his sons, and about them the companions
were making the feast ready, roasting meat and spitting more.
When they saw the strangers, they all came in a crowd,
and clasped their hands in welcome and bade them sit.
First Peisistratus, son of Nestor, came near
and took the hand of both, and seated them at the feast
on soft fleeces upon the sand of the sea,
beside his brother Thrasymedes and his own father.
He gave them portions of the inner parts, and poured wine
into a golden cup; and pledging her, he spoke
to Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus:
"Pray now, stranger, to the lord Poseidon;
for it is his feast you have come upon in coming here.
And when you have poured the libation and prayed, as is right,
then give this man too the cup of honey-sweet wine
to pour, since I suppose he too prays
to the immortals; all men have need of the gods.
But he is younger, of an age with me;
so I will give you the golden cup first."
swiftly; and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.
They came to the gathering and the seats of the men of Pylos,
where Nestor sat with his sons, and about them the companions
were making the feast ready, roasting meat and spitting more.
When they saw the strangers, they all came in a crowd,
and clasped their hands in welcome and bade them sit.
First Peisistratus, son of Nestor, came near
and took the hand of both, and seated them at the feast
on soft fleeces upon the sand of the sea,
beside his brother Thrasymedes and his own father.
He gave them portions of the inner parts, and poured wine
into a golden cup; and pledging her, he spoke
to Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus:
"Pray now, stranger, to the lord Poseidon;
for it is his feast you have come upon in coming here.
And when you have poured the libation and prayed, as is right,
then give this man too the cup of honey-sweet wine
to pour, since I suppose he too prays
to the immortals; all men have need of the gods.
But he is younger, of an age with me;
so I will give you the golden cup first."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
ἷξον δʼ ἐς Πυλίων ἀνδρῶν ἄγυρίν τε καὶ ἕδρας,
ἔνθʼ ἄρα Νέστωρ ἧστο σὺν υἱάσιν, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι κρέα τʼ ὤπτων ἄλλα τʼ ἔπειρον.
οἱ δʼ ὡς οὖν ξείνους ἴδον, ἁθρόοι ἦλθον ἅπαντες,
χερσίν τʼ ἠσπάζοντο καὶ ἑδριάασθαι ἄνωγον.
πρῶτος Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
ἀμφοτέρων ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἵδρυσεν παρὰ δαιτὶ
κώεσιν ἐν μαλακοῖσιν ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις ἁλίῃσιν
πάρ τε κασιγνήτῳ Θρασυμήδεϊ καὶ πατέρι ᾧ·
δῶκε δʼ ἄρα σπλάγχνων μοίρας, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευεν
χρυσείῳ δέπαϊ· δειδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα
Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην κούρην Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·
εὔχεο νῦν, ὦ ξεῖνε, Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·
τοῦ γὰρ καὶ δαίτης ἠντήσατε δεῦρο μολόντες.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν σπείσῃς τε καὶ εὔξεαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,
δὸς καὶ τούτῳ ἔπειτα δέπας μελιηδέος οἴνου
σπεῖσαι, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτον ὀίομαι ἀθανάτοισιν
εὔχεσθαι· πάντες δὲ θεῶν χατέουσʼ ἄνθρωποι.
ἀλλὰ νεώτερός ἐστιν, ὁμηλικίη δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ·
τοὔνεκα σοὶ προτέρῳ δώσω χρύσειον ἄλεισον.
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
ἷξον δʼ ἐς Πυλίων ἀνδρῶν ἄγυρίν τε καὶ ἕδρας,
ἔνθʼ ἄρα Νέστωρ ἧστο σὺν υἱάσιν, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι κρέα τʼ ὤπτων ἄλλα τʼ ἔπειρον.
οἱ δʼ ὡς οὖν ξείνους ἴδον, ἁθρόοι ἦλθον ἅπαντες,
χερσίν τʼ ἠσπάζοντο καὶ ἑδριάασθαι ἄνωγον.
πρῶτος Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
ἀμφοτέρων ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἵδρυσεν παρὰ δαιτὶ
κώεσιν ἐν μαλακοῖσιν ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις ἁλίῃσιν
πάρ τε κασιγνήτῳ Θρασυμήδεϊ καὶ πατέρι ᾧ·
δῶκε δʼ ἄρα σπλάγχνων μοίρας, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευεν
χρυσείῳ δέπαϊ· δειδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα
Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην κούρην Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·
εὔχεο νῦν, ὦ ξεῖνε, Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·
τοῦ γὰρ καὶ δαίτης ἠντήσατε δεῦρο μολόντες.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν σπείσῃς τε καὶ εὔξεαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,
δὸς καὶ τούτῳ ἔπειτα δέπας μελιηδέος οἴνου
σπεῖσαι, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτον ὀίομαι ἀθανάτοισιν
εὔχεσθαι· πάντες δὲ θεῶν χατέουσʼ ἄνθρωποι.
ἀλλὰ νεώτερός ἐστιν, ὁμηλικίη δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ·
τοὔνεκα σοὶ προτέρῳ δώσω χρύσειον ἄλεισον.
So saying he put into her hand the cup of sweet wine;
and Athena rejoiced at the prudent and just man,
because he gave her the golden cup first.
And at once she prayed long to the lord Poseidon:
and Athena rejoiced at the prudent and just man,
because he gave her the golden cup first.
And at once she prayed long to the lord Poseidon:
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἡδέος οἴνου·
χαῖρε δʼ Ἀθηναίη πεπνυμένῳ ἀνδρὶ δικαίῳ,
οὕνεκα οἷ προτέρῃ δῶκε χρύσειον ἄλεισον·
αὐτίκα δʼ εὔχετο πολλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·
χαῖρε δʼ Ἀθηναίη πεπνυμένῳ ἀνδρὶ δικαίῳ,
οὕνεκα οἷ προτέρῃ δῶκε χρύσειον ἄλεισον·
αὐτίκα δʼ εὔχετο πολλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·
"Hear me, Poseidon the earth-holder, and do not begrudge
us, who pray to you, the fulfilment of these works.
First of all grant renown to Nestor and to his sons,
and then give a gracious return to the others,
to all the men of Pylos, for their glorious hecatomb.
And grant that Telemachus and I may return with our business done,
for which we came here in our swift black ship."
us, who pray to you, the fulfilment of these works.
First of all grant renown to Nestor and to his sons,
and then give a gracious return to the others,
to all the men of Pylos, for their glorious hecatomb.
And grant that Telemachus and I may return with our business done,
for which we came here in our swift black ship."
κλῦθι, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, μηδὲ μεγήρῃς
ἡμῖν εὐχομένοισι τελευτῆσαι τάδε ἔργα.
Νέστορι μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ υἱάσι κῦδος ὄπαζε,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἄλλοισι δίδου χαρίεσσαν ἀμοιβὴν
σύμπασιν Πυλίοισιν ἀγακλειτῆς ἑκατόμβης.
δὸς δʼ ἔτι Τηλέμαχον καὶ ἐμὲ πρήξαντα νέεσθαι,
οὕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεσθα θοῇ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
ἡμῖν εὐχομένοισι τελευτῆσαι τάδε ἔργα.
Νέστορι μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ υἱάσι κῦδος ὄπαζε,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἄλλοισι δίδου χαρίεσσαν ἀμοιβὴν
σύμπασιν Πυλίοισιν ἀγακλειτῆς ἑκατόμβης.
δὸς δʼ ἔτι Τηλέμαχον καὶ ἐμὲ πρήξαντα νέεσθαι,
οὕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεσθα θοῇ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
So then she prayed, and she herself was fulfilling it all.
She gave Telemachus the fine two-handled cup,
and in the same way the dear son of Odysseus prayed.
And when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,
they divided the portions and feasted a glorious feast.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among them:
"Now it is more seemly to enquire and to ask
the strangers who they are, since they have had their fill of food.
Strangers, who are you? From where do you sail the watery ways?
Is it on some business, or do you wander at random
like pirates over the sea, who rove
staking their lives and bringing evil to men of other lands?"
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn,
taking courage; for Athena herself had put courage in his mind,
so that he might ask him about his absent father,
and so that he might win noble glory among men:
"Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,
you ask where we are from; and I will recount it to you.
We have come from Ithaca that lies under Neion;
and the business I speak of is private, not public.
I am after the wide glory of my father, in case I hear of it,
of noble, enduring-hearted Odysseus, who once, they say,
fought at your side and sacked the city of the Trojans.
Of all the others who made war on the Trojans
we have heard where each one perished in bitter destruction;
but his death the son of Cronos has left past finding out.
For no one can say clearly where he perished,
whether he went down on the mainland before enemy men,
or on the open sea among the waves of Amphitrite.
So now I come to your knees, in case you are willing
to tell of his bitter death, if you saw it anywhere
with your own eyes, or heard the tale from another
who wandered. His mother bore him to misery beyond all men.
Do not soften it out of respect for me, or out of pity,
but recount to me exactly what came before your sight.
I beg you: if ever my father, noble Odysseus,
undertook and carried through for you any word or any deed
in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered misery,
remember it for me now, and tell me the unerring truth."
Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
She gave Telemachus the fine two-handled cup,
and in the same way the dear son of Odysseus prayed.
And when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,
they divided the portions and feasted a glorious feast.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among them:
"Now it is more seemly to enquire and to ask
the strangers who they are, since they have had their fill of food.
Strangers, who are you? From where do you sail the watery ways?
Is it on some business, or do you wander at random
like pirates over the sea, who rove
staking their lives and bringing evil to men of other lands?"
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn,
taking courage; for Athena herself had put courage in his mind,
so that he might ask him about his absent father,
and so that he might win noble glory among men:
"Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,
you ask where we are from; and I will recount it to you.
We have come from Ithaca that lies under Neion;
and the business I speak of is private, not public.
I am after the wide glory of my father, in case I hear of it,
of noble, enduring-hearted Odysseus, who once, they say,
fought at your side and sacked the city of the Trojans.
Of all the others who made war on the Trojans
we have heard where each one perished in bitter destruction;
but his death the son of Cronos has left past finding out.
For no one can say clearly where he perished,
whether he went down on the mainland before enemy men,
or on the open sea among the waves of Amphitrite.
So now I come to your knees, in case you are willing
to tell of his bitter death, if you saw it anywhere
with your own eyes, or heard the tale from another
who wandered. His mother bore him to misery beyond all men.
Do not soften it out of respect for me, or out of pity,
but recount to me exactly what came before your sight.
I beg you: if ever my father, noble Odysseus,
undertook and carried through for you any word or any deed
in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered misery,
remember it for me now, and tell me the unerring truth."
Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ ἠρᾶτο καὶ αὐτὴ πάντα τελεύτα.
δῶκε δὲ Τηλεμάχῳ καλὸν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον·
ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἠρᾶτο Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,
μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
νῦν δὴ κάλλιόν ἐστι μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι
ξείνους, οἱ τινές εἰσιν, ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδωδῆς.
ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;
ἤ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε
οἷά τε ληιστῆρες ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνται
ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα
θαρσήσας· αὐτὴ γὰρ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θάρσος Ἀθήνη
θῆχʼ, ἵνα μιν περὶ πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο ἔροιτο
ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχῃσιν·
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν,
εἴρεαι ὁππόθεν εἰμέν· ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω.
ἡμεῖς ἐξ Ἰθάκης ὑπονηίου εἰλήλουθμεν·
πρῆξις δʼ ἥδʼ ἰδίη, οὐ δήμιος, ἣν ἀγορεύω.
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ μετέρχομαι, ἤν που ἀκούσω,
δίου Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ποτέ φασι
σὺν σοὶ μαρνάμενον Τρώων πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξαι.
ἄλλους μὲν γὰρ πάντας, ὅσοι Τρωσὶν πολέμιζον,
πευθόμεθʼ, ἧχι ἕκαστος ἀπώλετο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ,
κείνου δʼ αὖ καὶ ὄλεθρον ἀπευθέα θῆκε Κρονίων.
οὐ γάρ τις δύναται σάφα εἰπέμεν ὁππόθʼ ὄλωλεν,
εἴθʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου δάμη ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν,
εἴτε καὶ ἐν πελάγει μετὰ κύμασιν Ἀμφιτρίτης.
τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα
κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον ἐνισπεῖν, εἴ που ὄπωπας
ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσιν ἢ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσας
πλαζομένου· πέρι γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.
μηδέ τί μʼ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδʼ ἐλεαίρων,
ἀλλʼ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.
λίσσομαι, εἴ ποτέ τοί τι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἢ ἔπος ἠέ τι ἔργον ὑποστὰς ἐξετέλεσσε
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί,
τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
δῶκε δὲ Τηλεμάχῳ καλὸν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον·
ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἠρᾶτο Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,
μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
νῦν δὴ κάλλιόν ἐστι μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι
ξείνους, οἱ τινές εἰσιν, ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδωδῆς.
ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;
ἤ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε
οἷά τε ληιστῆρες ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνται
ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα
θαρσήσας· αὐτὴ γὰρ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θάρσος Ἀθήνη
θῆχʼ, ἵνα μιν περὶ πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο ἔροιτο
ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχῃσιν·
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν,
εἴρεαι ὁππόθεν εἰμέν· ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω.
ἡμεῖς ἐξ Ἰθάκης ὑπονηίου εἰλήλουθμεν·
πρῆξις δʼ ἥδʼ ἰδίη, οὐ δήμιος, ἣν ἀγορεύω.
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ μετέρχομαι, ἤν που ἀκούσω,
δίου Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ποτέ φασι
σὺν σοὶ μαρνάμενον Τρώων πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξαι.
ἄλλους μὲν γὰρ πάντας, ὅσοι Τρωσὶν πολέμιζον,
πευθόμεθʼ, ἧχι ἕκαστος ἀπώλετο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ,
κείνου δʼ αὖ καὶ ὄλεθρον ἀπευθέα θῆκε Κρονίων.
οὐ γάρ τις δύναται σάφα εἰπέμεν ὁππόθʼ ὄλωλεν,
εἴθʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου δάμη ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν,
εἴτε καὶ ἐν πελάγει μετὰ κύμασιν Ἀμφιτρίτης.
τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα
κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον ἐνισπεῖν, εἴ που ὄπωπας
ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσιν ἢ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσας
πλαζομένου· πέρι γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.
μηδέ τί μʼ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδʼ ἐλεαίρων,
ἀλλʼ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.
λίσσομαι, εἴ ποτέ τοί τι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἢ ἔπος ἠέ τι ἔργον ὑποστὰς ἐξετέλεσσε
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί,
τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
"My friend, since you have reminded me of the misery we endured
in that land, we sons of the Achaeans of ungovernable fury —
all that we bore in the ships over the misty sea,
roaming after plunder wherever Achilles led,
and all that we fought around the great city
of lord Priam. There all the best of us were killed.
There warlike Ajax lies, and there Achilles,
and there Patroclus, a counsellor equal to the gods,
and there my own dear son, both strong and blameless,
Antilochus, swift to run beyond others, and a fighter.
And many other evils we suffered besides. Who among
mortal men could tell all of it?
Not if you stayed here five years or six
and questioned me on all the evils the noble Achaeans suffered there;
you would grow weary first and go home to your own land.
For nine years we plotted evil against them, pressing them
with tricks of every kind, and hardly did the son of Cronos bring it to an end.
There no man ever wished to match his cunning
openly against him, for noble Odysseus far outdid us all
in tricks of every kind — your father, if truly
you are his son. Awe holds me as I look at you.
in that land, we sons of the Achaeans of ungovernable fury —
all that we bore in the ships over the misty sea,
roaming after plunder wherever Achilles led,
and all that we fought around the great city
of lord Priam. There all the best of us were killed.
There warlike Ajax lies, and there Achilles,
and there Patroclus, a counsellor equal to the gods,
and there my own dear son, both strong and blameless,
Antilochus, swift to run beyond others, and a fighter.
And many other evils we suffered besides. Who among
mortal men could tell all of it?
Not if you stayed here five years or six
and questioned me on all the evils the noble Achaeans suffered there;
you would grow weary first and go home to your own land.
For nine years we plotted evil against them, pressing them
with tricks of every kind, and hardly did the son of Cronos bring it to an end.
There no man ever wished to match his cunning
openly against him, for noble Odysseus far outdid us all
in tricks of every kind — your father, if truly
you are his son. Awe holds me as I look at you.
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί μʼ ἔμνησας ὀιζύος, ἣν ἐν ἐκείνῳ
δήμῳ ἀνέτλημεν μένος ἄσχετοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
ἠμὲν ὅσα ξὺν νηυσὶν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον
πλαζόμενοι κατὰ ληίδʼ, ὅπῃ ἄρξειεν Ἀχιλλεύς,
ἠδʼ ὅσα καὶ περὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
μαρνάμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα κατέκταθεν ὅσσοι ἄριστοι.
ἔνθα μὲν Αἴας κεῖται ἀρήιος, ἔνθα δʼ Ἀχιλλεύς,
ἔνθα δὲ Πάτροκλος, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος,
ἔνθα δʼ ἐμὸς φίλος υἱός, ἅμα κρατερὸς καὶ ἀμύμων,
Ἀντίλοχος, πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺς ἠδὲ μαχητής·
ἄλλα τε πόλλʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς πάθομεν κακά· τίς κεν ἐκεῖνα
πάντα γε μυθήσαιτο καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων;
οὐδʼ εἰ πεντάετές γε καὶ ἑξάετες παραμίμνων
ἐξερέοις ὅσα κεῖθι πάθον κακὰ δῖοι Ἀχαιοί·
πρίν κεν ἀνιηθεὶς σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκοιο.
εἰνάετες γάρ σφιν κακὰ ῥάπτομεν ἀμφιέποντες
παντοίοισι δόλοισι, μόγις δʼ ἐτέλεσσε Κρονίων.
ἔνθʼ οὔ τίς ποτε μῆτιν ὁμοιωθήμεναι ἄντην
ἤθελʼ, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἐνίκα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
παντοίοισι δόλοισι, πατὴρ τεός, εἰ ἐτεόν γε
κείνου ἔκγονός ἐσσι· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
δήμῳ ἀνέτλημεν μένος ἄσχετοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
ἠμὲν ὅσα ξὺν νηυσὶν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον
πλαζόμενοι κατὰ ληίδʼ, ὅπῃ ἄρξειεν Ἀχιλλεύς,
ἠδʼ ὅσα καὶ περὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
μαρνάμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα κατέκταθεν ὅσσοι ἄριστοι.
ἔνθα μὲν Αἴας κεῖται ἀρήιος, ἔνθα δʼ Ἀχιλλεύς,
ἔνθα δὲ Πάτροκλος, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος,
ἔνθα δʼ ἐμὸς φίλος υἱός, ἅμα κρατερὸς καὶ ἀμύμων,
Ἀντίλοχος, πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺς ἠδὲ μαχητής·
ἄλλα τε πόλλʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς πάθομεν κακά· τίς κεν ἐκεῖνα
πάντα γε μυθήσαιτο καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων;
οὐδʼ εἰ πεντάετές γε καὶ ἑξάετες παραμίμνων
ἐξερέοις ὅσα κεῖθι πάθον κακὰ δῖοι Ἀχαιοί·
πρίν κεν ἀνιηθεὶς σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκοιο.
εἰνάετες γάρ σφιν κακὰ ῥάπτομεν ἀμφιέποντες
παντοίοισι δόλοισι, μόγις δʼ ἐτέλεσσε Κρονίων.
ἔνθʼ οὔ τίς ποτε μῆτιν ὁμοιωθήμεναι ἄντην
ἤθελʼ, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἐνίκα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
παντοίοισι δόλοισι, πατὴρ τεός, εἰ ἐτεόν γε
κείνου ἔκγονός ἐσσι· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
"Your speech is truly like his, and you would not say
that a younger man could speak so like him.
There, all that while, I and noble Odysseus
never spoke apart in the assembly nor in the council,
but with one spirit, in mind and in shrewd counsel,
we planned how things might go far the best for the Argives.
But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam
and gone aboard the ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans,
then Zeus devised in his mind a bitter homecoming
for the Argives, since they were not all thoughtful
or just; so many of them met an evil fate
through the destroying wrath of the grey-eyed daughter of a mighty father,
who set strife between the two sons of Atreus.
The two called all the Achaeans to assembly,
rashly and out of all order, at the setting of the sun;
and the sons of the Achaeans came heavy with wine.
The two spoke their word, and said why they had called the host together.
There Menelaus bade all the Achaeans
give their minds to a homecoming over the sea’s broad back;
but that did not please Agamemnon at all. He wanted
to hold the host back and offer sacred hecatombs,
to heal the terrible anger of Athena —
the fool, and he did not know that she would not be won over.
For the mind of the gods who are forever does not turn quickly.
that a younger man could speak so like him.
There, all that while, I and noble Odysseus
never spoke apart in the assembly nor in the council,
but with one spirit, in mind and in shrewd counsel,
we planned how things might go far the best for the Argives.
But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam
and gone aboard the ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans,
then Zeus devised in his mind a bitter homecoming
for the Argives, since they were not all thoughtful
or just; so many of them met an evil fate
through the destroying wrath of the grey-eyed daughter of a mighty father,
who set strife between the two sons of Atreus.
The two called all the Achaeans to assembly,
rashly and out of all order, at the setting of the sun;
and the sons of the Achaeans came heavy with wine.
The two spoke their word, and said why they had called the host together.
There Menelaus bade all the Achaeans
give their minds to a homecoming over the sea’s broad back;
but that did not please Agamemnon at all. He wanted
to hold the host back and offer sacred hecatombs,
to heal the terrible anger of Athena —
the fool, and he did not know that she would not be won over.
For the mind of the gods who are forever does not turn quickly.
ἦ τοι γὰρ μῦθοί γε ἐοικότες, οὐδέ κε φαίης
ἄνδρα νεώτερον ὧδε ἐοικότα μυθήσασθαι.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι ἧος μὲν ἐγὼ καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
οὔτε ποτʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ δίχʼ ἐβάζομεν οὔτʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ,
ἀλλʼ ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντε νόῳ καὶ ἐπίφρονι βουλῇ
φραζόμεθʼ Ἀργείοισιν ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένοιτο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,
βῆμεν δʼ ἐν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς,
καὶ τότε δὴ Ζεὺς λυγρὸν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μήδετο νόστον
Ἀργείοις, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι
πάντες ἔσαν· τῶ σφεων πολέες κακὸν οἶτον ἐπέσπον
μήνιος ἐξ ὀλοῆς γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.
ἥ τʼ ἔριν Ἀτρεΐδῃσι μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκε.
τὼ δὲ καλεσσαμένω ἀγορὴν ἐς πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
μάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα,
οἱ ἦλθον οἴνῳ βεβαρηότες υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
μῦθον μυθείσθην, τοῦ εἵνεκα λαὸν ἄγειραν.
ἔνθʼ ἤ τοι Μενέλαος ἀνώγει πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς
νόστου μιμνήσκεσθαι ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,
οὐδʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι πάμπαν ἑήνδανε· βούλετο γάρ ῥα
λαὸν ἐρυκακέειν ῥέξαι θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας,
ὡς τὸν Ἀθηναίης δεινὸν χόλον ἐξακέσαιτο,
νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ ᾔδη, ὃ οὐ πείσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·
οὐ γάρ τʼ αἶψα θεῶν τρέπεται νόος αἰὲν ἐόντων.
ἄνδρα νεώτερον ὧδε ἐοικότα μυθήσασθαι.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι ἧος μὲν ἐγὼ καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
οὔτε ποτʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ δίχʼ ἐβάζομεν οὔτʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ,
ἀλλʼ ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντε νόῳ καὶ ἐπίφρονι βουλῇ
φραζόμεθʼ Ἀργείοισιν ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένοιτο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,
βῆμεν δʼ ἐν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς,
καὶ τότε δὴ Ζεὺς λυγρὸν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μήδετο νόστον
Ἀργείοις, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι
πάντες ἔσαν· τῶ σφεων πολέες κακὸν οἶτον ἐπέσπον
μήνιος ἐξ ὀλοῆς γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.
ἥ τʼ ἔριν Ἀτρεΐδῃσι μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκε.
τὼ δὲ καλεσσαμένω ἀγορὴν ἐς πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
μάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα,
οἱ ἦλθον οἴνῳ βεβαρηότες υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
μῦθον μυθείσθην, τοῦ εἵνεκα λαὸν ἄγειραν.
ἔνθʼ ἤ τοι Μενέλαος ἀνώγει πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς
νόστου μιμνήσκεσθαι ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,
οὐδʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι πάμπαν ἑήνδανε· βούλετο γάρ ῥα
λαὸν ἐρυκακέειν ῥέξαι θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας,
ὡς τὸν Ἀθηναίης δεινὸν χόλον ἐξακέσαιτο,
νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ ᾔδη, ὃ οὐ πείσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·
οὐ γάρ τʼ αἶψα θεῶν τρέπεται νόος αἰὲν ἐόντων.
"So the two of them stood exchanging hard words
with each other; and the well-greaved Achaeans sprang up
with a marvellous din, and the counsel pleased them two ways.
That night we lay turning hard thoughts in our minds
against one another; for Zeus was fitting disaster upon us.
At dawn some of us hauled our ships down to the bright sea
and put in our goods and the deep-girdled women.
But half the host held back and stayed
there with Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the people;
and half of us went aboard and rowed out. The ships ran
very swiftly, and a god smoothed the sea where the great beasts are.
We came to Tenedos and made sacrifice to the gods,
straining for home. But Zeus was not yet minded to grant a homecoming —
the hard one, who raised evil strife among us a second time.
Some turned their curved ships about and went back,
those about the lord Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels,
once more to do a favour to Agamemnon, son of Atreus.
But I, with the ships gathered that followed me,
fled, since I knew that a divine power was devising evil.
The warlike son of Tydeus fled too, and roused his companions.
And late fair-haired Menelaus came after us,
and caught us in Lesbos, weighing the long voyage:
whether to sail above rugged Chios,
by the island of Psyria, keeping it on our left,
or below Chios, past windy Mimas.
We asked the god to show us a sign; and he
showed it, and bade us cut across the middle of the sea
to Euboea, so that we might escape misfortune the sooner.
A shrill wind rose and blew behind us; and the ships
ran very swiftly over the fish-filled ways, and put in
at Geraestus in the night. To Poseidon we laid
many thigh-pieces of bulls, having measured the great sea.
It was the fourth day when the companions of Diomedes,
the son of Tydeus, tamer of horses, brought their balanced ships
to rest in Argos. But I held on for Pylos, and the wind
never died down, once the god had first sent it to blow.
So I came home, dear child, without news, and I know nothing
of those Achaeans who were saved and those who perished.
But all that I have learned sitting in my own halls
you shall know, as is right, and I will hide nothing from you.
They say the Myrmidons, furious with the spear, came home safely,
whom the glorious son of great-hearted Achilles led;
and safely Philoctetes, the shining son of Poeas.
Idomeneus brought all his companions home to Crete,
those who escaped the war, and the sea took none of them from him.
And of the son of Atreus you have heard yourselves, far off as you are,
how he came, and how Aegisthus devised his bitter death.
But that man paid for it wretchedly.
How good a thing it is that a son should be left behind
when a man dies! For he took vengeance on his father’s murderer,
guileful Aegisthus, who had killed his famous father.
You too, my friend — for I see you are handsome and tall —
be brave, so that men yet unborn may speak well of you."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
with each other; and the well-greaved Achaeans sprang up
with a marvellous din, and the counsel pleased them two ways.
That night we lay turning hard thoughts in our minds
against one another; for Zeus was fitting disaster upon us.
At dawn some of us hauled our ships down to the bright sea
and put in our goods and the deep-girdled women.
But half the host held back and stayed
there with Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the people;
and half of us went aboard and rowed out. The ships ran
very swiftly, and a god smoothed the sea where the great beasts are.
We came to Tenedos and made sacrifice to the gods,
straining for home. But Zeus was not yet minded to grant a homecoming —
the hard one, who raised evil strife among us a second time.
Some turned their curved ships about and went back,
those about the lord Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels,
once more to do a favour to Agamemnon, son of Atreus.
But I, with the ships gathered that followed me,
fled, since I knew that a divine power was devising evil.
The warlike son of Tydeus fled too, and roused his companions.
And late fair-haired Menelaus came after us,
and caught us in Lesbos, weighing the long voyage:
whether to sail above rugged Chios,
by the island of Psyria, keeping it on our left,
or below Chios, past windy Mimas.
We asked the god to show us a sign; and he
showed it, and bade us cut across the middle of the sea
to Euboea, so that we might escape misfortune the sooner.
A shrill wind rose and blew behind us; and the ships
ran very swiftly over the fish-filled ways, and put in
at Geraestus in the night. To Poseidon we laid
many thigh-pieces of bulls, having measured the great sea.
It was the fourth day when the companions of Diomedes,
the son of Tydeus, tamer of horses, brought their balanced ships
to rest in Argos. But I held on for Pylos, and the wind
never died down, once the god had first sent it to blow.
So I came home, dear child, without news, and I know nothing
of those Achaeans who were saved and those who perished.
But all that I have learned sitting in my own halls
you shall know, as is right, and I will hide nothing from you.
They say the Myrmidons, furious with the spear, came home safely,
whom the glorious son of great-hearted Achilles led;
and safely Philoctetes, the shining son of Poeas.
Idomeneus brought all his companions home to Crete,
those who escaped the war, and the sea took none of them from him.
And of the son of Atreus you have heard yourselves, far off as you are,
how he came, and how Aegisthus devised his bitter death.
But that man paid for it wretchedly.
How good a thing it is that a son should be left behind
when a man dies! For he took vengeance on his father’s murderer,
guileful Aegisthus, who had killed his famous father.
You too, my friend — for I see you are handsome and tall —
be brave, so that men yet unborn may speak well of you."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ὣς τὼ μὲν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμειβομένω ἐπέεσσιν
ἕστασαν· οἱ δʼ ἀνόρουσαν ἐυκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, δίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή.
νύκτα μὲν ἀέσαμεν χαλεπὰ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντες
ἀλλήλοις· ἐπὶ γὰρ Ζεὺς ἤρτυε πῆμα κακοῖο·
ἠῶθεν δʼ οἱ μὲν νέας ἕλκομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν
κτήματά τʼ ἐντιθέμεσθα βαθυζώνους τε γυναῖκας.
ἡμίσεες δʼ ἄρα λαοὶ ἐρητύοντο μένοντες
αὖθι παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι, ποιμένι λαῶν·
ἡμίσεες δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐλαύνομεν· αἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα
ἔπλεον, ἐστόρεσεν δὲ θεὸς μεγακήτεα πόντον.
ἐς Τένεδον δʼ ἐλθόντες ἐρέξαμεν ἱρὰ θεοῖσιν,
οἴκαδε ἱέμενοι· Ζεὺς δʼ οὔ πω μήδετο νόστον,
σχέτλιος, ὅς ῥʼ ἔριν ὦρσε κακὴν ἔπι δεύτερον αὖτις.
οἱ μὲν ἀποστρέψαντες ἔβαν νέας ἀμφιελίσσας
ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἄνακτα δαΐφρονα, ποικιλομήτην,
αὖτις ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἦρα φέροντες·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν νηυσὶν ἀολλέσιν, αἵ μοι ἕποντο,
φεῦγον, ἐπεὶ γίγνωσκον, ὃ δὴ κακὰ μήδετο δαίμων.
φεῦγε δὲ Τυδέος υἱὸς ἀρήιος, ὦρσε δʼ ἑταίρους.
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετὰ νῶι κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
ἐν Λέσβῳ δʼ ἔκιχεν δολιχὸν πλόον ὁρμαίνοντας,
ἢ καθύπερθε Χίοιο νεοίμεθα παιπαλοέσσης,
νήσου ἔπι Ψυρίης, αὐτὴν ἐπʼ ἀριστέρʼ ἔχοντες,
ἦ ὑπένερθε Χίοιο, παρʼ ἠνεμόεντα Μίμαντα.
ᾐτέομεν δὲ θεὸν φῆναι τέρας· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἡμῖν
δεῖξε, καὶ ἠνώγει πέλαγος μέσον εἰς Εὔβοιαν
τέμνειν, ὄφρα τάχιστα ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν.
ὦρτο δʼ ἐπὶ λιγὺς οὖρος ἀήμεναι· αἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα
ἰχθυόεντα κέλευθα διέδραμον, ἐς δὲ Γεραιστὸν
ἐννύχιαι κατάγοντο· Ποσειδάωνι δὲ ταύρων
πόλλʼ ἐπὶ μῆρʼ ἔθεμεν, πέλαγος μέγα μετρήσαντες.
τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἔην, ὅτʼ ἐν Ἄργεϊ νῆας ἐίσας
Τυδεΐδεω ἕταροι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο
ἵστασαν· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε Πύλονδʼ ἔχον, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἔσβη
οὖρος, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα θεὸς προέηκεν ἀῆναι.
ὣς ἦλθον, φίλε τέκνον, ἀπευθής, οὐδέ τι οἶδα
κείνων, οἵ τʼ ἐσάωθεν Ἀχαιῶν οἵ τʼ ἀπόλοντο.
ὅσσα δʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι καθήμενος ἡμετέροισι
πεύθομαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί, δαήσεαι, οὐδέ σε κεύσω.
εὖ μὲν Μυρμιδόνας φάσʼ ἐλθέμεν ἐγχεσιμώρους,
οὓς ἄγʼ Ἀχιλλῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμος υἱός,
εὖ δὲ Φιλοκτήτην, Ποιάντιον ἀγλαὸν υἱόν.
πάντας δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρήτην εἰσήγαγʼ ἑταίρους,
οἳ φύγον ἐκ πολέμου, πόντος δέ οἱ οὔ τινʼ ἀπηύρα.
Ἀτρεΐδην δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀκούετε, νόσφιν ἐόντες,
ὥς τʼ ἦλθʼ, ὥς τʼ Αἴγισθος ἐμήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κεῖνος μὲν ἐπισμυγερῶς ἀπέτισεν·
ὡς ἀγαθὸν καὶ παῖδα καταφθιμένοιο λιπέσθαι
ἀνδρός, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνος ἐτίσατο πατροφονῆα,
Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα.
καὶ σὺ φίλος, μάλα γάρ σʼ ὁρόω καλόν τε μέγαν τε,
ἄλκιμος ἔσσʼ, ἵνα τίς σε καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἐὺ εἴπῃ.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἕστασαν· οἱ δʼ ἀνόρουσαν ἐυκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, δίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή.
νύκτα μὲν ἀέσαμεν χαλεπὰ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντες
ἀλλήλοις· ἐπὶ γὰρ Ζεὺς ἤρτυε πῆμα κακοῖο·
ἠῶθεν δʼ οἱ μὲν νέας ἕλκομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν
κτήματά τʼ ἐντιθέμεσθα βαθυζώνους τε γυναῖκας.
ἡμίσεες δʼ ἄρα λαοὶ ἐρητύοντο μένοντες
αὖθι παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι, ποιμένι λαῶν·
ἡμίσεες δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐλαύνομεν· αἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα
ἔπλεον, ἐστόρεσεν δὲ θεὸς μεγακήτεα πόντον.
ἐς Τένεδον δʼ ἐλθόντες ἐρέξαμεν ἱρὰ θεοῖσιν,
οἴκαδε ἱέμενοι· Ζεὺς δʼ οὔ πω μήδετο νόστον,
σχέτλιος, ὅς ῥʼ ἔριν ὦρσε κακὴν ἔπι δεύτερον αὖτις.
οἱ μὲν ἀποστρέψαντες ἔβαν νέας ἀμφιελίσσας
ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἄνακτα δαΐφρονα, ποικιλομήτην,
αὖτις ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἦρα φέροντες·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν νηυσὶν ἀολλέσιν, αἵ μοι ἕποντο,
φεῦγον, ἐπεὶ γίγνωσκον, ὃ δὴ κακὰ μήδετο δαίμων.
φεῦγε δὲ Τυδέος υἱὸς ἀρήιος, ὦρσε δʼ ἑταίρους.
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετὰ νῶι κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
ἐν Λέσβῳ δʼ ἔκιχεν δολιχὸν πλόον ὁρμαίνοντας,
ἢ καθύπερθε Χίοιο νεοίμεθα παιπαλοέσσης,
νήσου ἔπι Ψυρίης, αὐτὴν ἐπʼ ἀριστέρʼ ἔχοντες,
ἦ ὑπένερθε Χίοιο, παρʼ ἠνεμόεντα Μίμαντα.
ᾐτέομεν δὲ θεὸν φῆναι τέρας· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἡμῖν
δεῖξε, καὶ ἠνώγει πέλαγος μέσον εἰς Εὔβοιαν
τέμνειν, ὄφρα τάχιστα ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν.
ὦρτο δʼ ἐπὶ λιγὺς οὖρος ἀήμεναι· αἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα
ἰχθυόεντα κέλευθα διέδραμον, ἐς δὲ Γεραιστὸν
ἐννύχιαι κατάγοντο· Ποσειδάωνι δὲ ταύρων
πόλλʼ ἐπὶ μῆρʼ ἔθεμεν, πέλαγος μέγα μετρήσαντες.
τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἔην, ὅτʼ ἐν Ἄργεϊ νῆας ἐίσας
Τυδεΐδεω ἕταροι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο
ἵστασαν· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε Πύλονδʼ ἔχον, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἔσβη
οὖρος, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα θεὸς προέηκεν ἀῆναι.
ὣς ἦλθον, φίλε τέκνον, ἀπευθής, οὐδέ τι οἶδα
κείνων, οἵ τʼ ἐσάωθεν Ἀχαιῶν οἵ τʼ ἀπόλοντο.
ὅσσα δʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι καθήμενος ἡμετέροισι
πεύθομαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί, δαήσεαι, οὐδέ σε κεύσω.
εὖ μὲν Μυρμιδόνας φάσʼ ἐλθέμεν ἐγχεσιμώρους,
οὓς ἄγʼ Ἀχιλλῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμος υἱός,
εὖ δὲ Φιλοκτήτην, Ποιάντιον ἀγλαὸν υἱόν.
πάντας δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρήτην εἰσήγαγʼ ἑταίρους,
οἳ φύγον ἐκ πολέμου, πόντος δέ οἱ οὔ τινʼ ἀπηύρα.
Ἀτρεΐδην δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀκούετε, νόσφιν ἐόντες,
ὥς τʼ ἦλθʼ, ὥς τʼ Αἴγισθος ἐμήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κεῖνος μὲν ἐπισμυγερῶς ἀπέτισεν·
ὡς ἀγαθὸν καὶ παῖδα καταφθιμένοιο λιπέσθαι
ἀνδρός, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνος ἐτίσατο πατροφονῆα,
Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα.
καὶ σὺ φίλος, μάλα γάρ σʼ ὁρόω καλόν τε μέγαν τε,
ἄλκιμος ἔσσʼ, ἵνα τίς σε καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἐὺ εἴπῃ.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,
he took his vengeance indeed, and the Achaeans
will carry his wide glory for men to come to hear of.
If only the gods would clothe me in such power,
to take vengeance on the suitors for their painful trespass,
who insult me and contrive reckless things.
But the gods have spun no such happiness for me,
nor for my father; and now I must endure it as it is."
Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
he took his vengeance indeed, and the Achaeans
will carry his wide glory for men to come to hear of.
If only the gods would clothe me in such power,
to take vengeance on the suitors for their painful trespass,
who insult me and contrive reckless things.
But the gods have spun no such happiness for me,
nor for my father; and now I must endure it as it is."
Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν,
καὶ λίην κεῖνος μὲν ἐτίσατο, καί οἱ Ἀχαιοὶ
οἴσουσι κλέος εὐρὺ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι·
αἲ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοσσήνδε θεοὶ δύναμιν περιθεῖεν,
τίσασθαι μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίης ἀλεγεινῆς,
οἵ τέ μοι ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται.
ἀλλʼ οὔ μοι τοιοῦτον ἐπέκλωσαν θεοὶ ὄλβον,
πατρί τʼ ἐμῷ καὶ ἐμοί· νῦν δὲ χρὴ τετλάμεν ἔμπης.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
καὶ λίην κεῖνος μὲν ἐτίσατο, καί οἱ Ἀχαιοὶ
οἴσουσι κλέος εὐρὺ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι·
αἲ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοσσήνδε θεοὶ δύναμιν περιθεῖεν,
τίσασθαι μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίης ἀλεγεινῆς,
οἵ τέ μοι ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται.
ἀλλʼ οὔ μοι τοιοῦτον ἐπέκλωσαν θεοὶ ὄλβον,
πατρί τʼ ἐμῷ καὶ ἐμοί· νῦν δὲ χρὴ τετλάμεν ἔμπης.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
"My friend, since you have reminded me of this and spoken of it —
they say that many suitors, for your mother’s sake,
contrive evil in your halls against your will.
Tell me, do you submit of your own will, or do the people
hate you through the land, following the voice of a god?
Who knows if he may come one day and pay them back for their violence,
either alone, or with all the Achaeans together?
If only grey-eyed Athena were willing to love you
as she cared then for glorious Odysseus
in the land of the Trojans, where we Achaeans suffered griefs —
for I never saw the gods love a man so openly
as Pallas Athena openly stood beside him —
if she were willing to love you so and to care for you in her spirit,
then some of those men would forget marriage altogether."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
they say that many suitors, for your mother’s sake,
contrive evil in your halls against your will.
Tell me, do you submit of your own will, or do the people
hate you through the land, following the voice of a god?
Who knows if he may come one day and pay them back for their violence,
either alone, or with all the Achaeans together?
If only grey-eyed Athena were willing to love you
as she cared then for glorious Odysseus
in the land of the Trojans, where we Achaeans suffered griefs —
for I never saw the gods love a man so openly
as Pallas Athena openly stood beside him —
if she were willing to love you so and to care for you in her spirit,
then some of those men would forget marriage altogether."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεὶ δὴ ταῦτά μʼ ἀνέμνησας καὶ ἔειπες,
φασὶ μνηστῆρας σῆς μητέρος εἵνεκα πολλοὺς
ἐν μεγάροις ἀέκητι σέθεν κακὰ μηχανάασθαι·
εἰπέ μοι, ἠὲ ἑκὼν ὑποδάμνασαι, ἦ σέ γε λαοὶ
ἐχθαίρουσʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον, ἐπισπόμενοι θεοῦ ὀμφῇ.
τίς δʼ οἶδʼ εἴ κέ ποτέ σφι βίας ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών,
ἢ ὅ γε μοῦνος ἐὼν ἢ καὶ σύμπαντες Ἀχαιοί;
εἰ γάρ σʼ ὣς ἐθέλοι φιλέειν γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ὡς τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος περικήδετο κυδαλίμοιο
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχομεν ἄλγεʼ Ἀχαιοί—
οὐ γάρ πω ἴδον ὧδε θεοὺς ἀναφανδὰ φιλεῦντας,
ὡς κείνῳ ἀναφανδὰ παρίστατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη—
εἴ σʼ οὕτως ἐθέλοι φιλέειν κήδοιτό τε θυμῷ,
τῶ κέν τις κείνων γε καὶ ἐκλελάθοιτο γάμοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
φασὶ μνηστῆρας σῆς μητέρος εἵνεκα πολλοὺς
ἐν μεγάροις ἀέκητι σέθεν κακὰ μηχανάασθαι·
εἰπέ μοι, ἠὲ ἑκὼν ὑποδάμνασαι, ἦ σέ γε λαοὶ
ἐχθαίρουσʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον, ἐπισπόμενοι θεοῦ ὀμφῇ.
τίς δʼ οἶδʼ εἴ κέ ποτέ σφι βίας ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών,
ἢ ὅ γε μοῦνος ἐὼν ἢ καὶ σύμπαντες Ἀχαιοί;
εἰ γάρ σʼ ὣς ἐθέλοι φιλέειν γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ὡς τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος περικήδετο κυδαλίμοιο
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχομεν ἄλγεʼ Ἀχαιοί—
οὐ γάρ πω ἴδον ὧδε θεοὺς ἀναφανδὰ φιλεῦντας,
ὡς κείνῳ ἀναφανδὰ παρίστατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη—
εἴ σʼ οὕτως ἐθέλοι φιλέειν κήδοιτό τε θυμῷ,
τῶ κέν τις κείνων γε καὶ ἐκλελάθοιτο γάμοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Old man, I do not think that word will ever be fulfilled.
You have said too great a thing; astonishment holds me. Not even
if I hoped for it could that come about, not if the gods themselves willed it."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
You have said too great a thing; astonishment holds me. Not even
if I hoped for it could that come about, not if the gods themselves willed it."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
ὦ γέρον, οὔ πω τοῦτο ἔπος τελέεσθαι ὀίω·
λίην γὰρ μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει. οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γε
ἐλπομένῳ τὰ γένοιτʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ θεοὶ ὣς ἐθέλοιεν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
λίην γὰρ μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει. οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γε
ἐλπομένῳ τὰ γένοιτʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ θεοὶ ὣς ἐθέλοιεν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Telemachus, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth!
A god, if he wills it, can easily bring a man safe home from far off.
For my part I would rather suffer many griefs
and come home and see the day of my homecoming,
than come home and die at my own hearth, as Agamemnon
died by the guile of Aegisthus and of his own wife.
But death, which comes to all alike, not even the gods
can ward off from a man they love, when once
the destroying fate of death that lays men low takes him down."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
A god, if he wills it, can easily bring a man safe home from far off.
For my part I would rather suffer many griefs
and come home and see the day of my homecoming,
than come home and die at my own hearth, as Agamemnon
died by the guile of Aegisthus and of his own wife.
But death, which comes to all alike, not even the gods
can ward off from a man they love, when once
the destroying fate of death that lays men low takes him down."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
Τηλέμαχε, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
ῥεῖα θεός γʼ ἐθέλων καὶ τηλόθεν ἄνδρα σαώσαι.
βουλοίμην δʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας
οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι,
ἢ ἐλθὼν ἀπολέσθαι ἐφέστιος, ὡς Ἀγαμέμνων
ὤλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἰγίσθοιο δόλῳ καὶ ἧς ἀλόχοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι θάνατον μὲν ὁμοίιον οὐδὲ θεοί περ
καὶ φίλῳ ἀνδρὶ δύνανται ἀλαλκέμεν, ὁππότε κεν δὴ
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ῥεῖα θεός γʼ ἐθέλων καὶ τηλόθεν ἄνδρα σαώσαι.
βουλοίμην δʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας
οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι,
ἢ ἐλθὼν ἀπολέσθαι ἐφέστιος, ὡς Ἀγαμέμνων
ὤλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἰγίσθοιο δόλῳ καὶ ἧς ἀλόχοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι θάνατον μὲν ὁμοίιον οὐδὲ θεοί περ
καὶ φίλῳ ἀνδρὶ δύνανται ἀλαλκέμεν, ὁππότε κεν δὴ
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Mentor, let us speak no more of this, for all our grief.
There is no true homecoming for him any longer; already
the immortals have appointed him death and the black doom.
But now I want to enquire after another matter and ask
Nestor, since he knows justice and wisdom beyond other men.
Three generations of men, they say, he has been king over;
so that to my eyes he seems an immortal to look upon.
Nestor, son of Neleus, tell me the truth:
how did he die, wide-ruling Agamemnon, son of Atreus?
Where was Menelaus? What death did guileful Aegisthus
devise for him, when he killed a man so much better than himself?
Was he not in Achaean Argos, but wandering somewhere else
among men, so that the other took heart and killed him?"
Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
There is no true homecoming for him any longer; already
the immortals have appointed him death and the black doom.
But now I want to enquire after another matter and ask
Nestor, since he knows justice and wisdom beyond other men.
Three generations of men, they say, he has been king over;
so that to my eyes he seems an immortal to look upon.
Nestor, son of Neleus, tell me the truth:
how did he die, wide-ruling Agamemnon, son of Atreus?
Where was Menelaus? What death did guileful Aegisthus
devise for him, when he killed a man so much better than himself?
Was he not in Achaean Argos, but wandering somewhere else
among men, so that the other took heart and killed him?"
Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
Μέντορ, μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα κηδόμενοί περ·
κείνῳ δʼ οὐκέτι νόστος ἐτήτυμος, ἀλλά οἱ ἤδη
φράσσαντʼ ἀθάνατοι θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν.
νῦν δʼ ἐθέλω ἔπος ἄλλο μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι
Νέστορʼ, ἐπεὶ περὶ οἶδε δίκας ἠδὲ φρόνιν ἄλλων·
τρὶς γὰρ δή μίν φασιν ἀνάξασθαι γένεʼ ἀνδρῶν·
ὥς τέ μοι ἀθάνατος ἰνδάλλεται εἰσοράασθαι.
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, σὺ δʼ ἀληθὲς ἐνίσπες·
πῶς ἔθανʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων;
ποῦ Μενέλαος ἔην; τίνα δʼ αὐτῷ μήσατʼ ὄλεθρον
Αἴγισθος δολόμητις, ἐπεὶ κτάνε πολλὸν ἀρείω;
ἦ οὐκ Ἄργεος ἦεν Ἀχαιικοῦ, ἀλλά πῃ ἄλλῃ
πλάζετʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, ὁ δὲ θαρσήσας κατέπεφνε;
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
κείνῳ δʼ οὐκέτι νόστος ἐτήτυμος, ἀλλά οἱ ἤδη
φράσσαντʼ ἀθάνατοι θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν.
νῦν δʼ ἐθέλω ἔπος ἄλλο μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι
Νέστορʼ, ἐπεὶ περὶ οἶδε δίκας ἠδὲ φρόνιν ἄλλων·
τρὶς γὰρ δή μίν φασιν ἀνάξασθαι γένεʼ ἀνδρῶν·
ὥς τέ μοι ἀθάνατος ἰνδάλλεται εἰσοράασθαι.
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, σὺ δʼ ἀληθὲς ἐνίσπες·
πῶς ἔθανʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων;
ποῦ Μενέλαος ἔην; τίνα δʼ αὐτῷ μήσατʼ ὄλεθρον
Αἴγισθος δολόμητις, ἐπεὶ κτάνε πολλὸν ἀρείω;
ἦ οὐκ Ἄργεος ἦεν Ἀχαιικοῦ, ἀλλά πῃ ἄλλῃ
πλάζετʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, ὁ δὲ θαρσήσας κατέπεφνε;
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
"Then I will tell you all the truth, my child.
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθέα πάντʼ ἀγορεύσω.
"You yourself can guess how it would have gone,
if the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaus, coming from Troy,
had found Aegisthus alive in the halls;
then not even in death would they have heaped earth over him,
but dogs and birds would have torn him apart
as he lay in the plain far from the city, and not one
of the Achaean women would have wept for him; for he did a monstrous thing.
For we were there, accomplishing our many trials,
and he sat at his ease in a corner of horse-pasturing Argos
and worked long upon Agamemnon’s wife with words.
At first she refused the shameful deed,
noble Clytemnestra; for her mind was good.
And there was a singer with her, whom the son of Atreus
charged strictly, going to Troy, to keep his wife safe.
But when the fate of the gods bound her to be overcome,
then he took the singer to a deserted island
and left him to be spoil and prey for the birds,
and led her, willing as he was willing, to his own house.
He burned many thigh-pieces on the sacred altars of the gods,
and hung up many offerings, woven stuffs and gold,
having accomplished a great deed he never hoped for in his spirit.
Now we sailed together, coming from Troy,
the son of Atreus and I, knowing friendship with each other.
But when we came to holy Sunium, the headland of Athens,
there Phoebus Apollo came upon the helmsman of Menelaus
with his gentle arrows and killed him,
as he held the steering-oar of the running ship in his hands —
Phrontis, son of Onetor, who surpassed the tribes of men
in steering a ship when the storm-winds drove hard.
So Menelaus was held up there, eager as he was for the road,
so that he might bury his companion and pay him the funeral rites.
But when he too, going over the wine-dark sea
in his hollow ships, came running to the steep headland
of Malea, then far-seeing Zeus planned a hateful voyage
for him, and poured out the breath of shrill winds,
and the waves swelled monstrous, as high as mountains.
There he split the fleet, and drove some to Crete,
where the Cydonians lived about the streams of Iardanus.
There is a smooth cliff, sheer to the sea,
at the border of Gortyn on the misty deep;
there the South Wind drives a great wave against the western point,
toward Phaestus, and a little rock holds back the great wave.
There they came, and hardly did the men escape destruction;
but the waves broke the ships against the reefs.
And the other five, the dark-prowed ships,
the wind and the water carried and drove to Egypt.
So he was there, gathering much substance and gold,
wandering with his ships among men of foreign speech;
and meanwhile Aegisthus devised these bitter things at home.
For seven years he was king over Mycenae rich in gold,
having killed the son of Atreus, and the people were subdued under him.
But in the eighth year noble Orestes came back as his ruin
from Athens, and killed his father’s murderer,
guileful Aegisthus, who had killed his famous father.
if the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaus, coming from Troy,
had found Aegisthus alive in the halls;
then not even in death would they have heaped earth over him,
but dogs and birds would have torn him apart
as he lay in the plain far from the city, and not one
of the Achaean women would have wept for him; for he did a monstrous thing.
For we were there, accomplishing our many trials,
and he sat at his ease in a corner of horse-pasturing Argos
and worked long upon Agamemnon’s wife with words.
At first she refused the shameful deed,
noble Clytemnestra; for her mind was good.
And there was a singer with her, whom the son of Atreus
charged strictly, going to Troy, to keep his wife safe.
But when the fate of the gods bound her to be overcome,
then he took the singer to a deserted island
and left him to be spoil and prey for the birds,
and led her, willing as he was willing, to his own house.
He burned many thigh-pieces on the sacred altars of the gods,
and hung up many offerings, woven stuffs and gold,
having accomplished a great deed he never hoped for in his spirit.
Now we sailed together, coming from Troy,
the son of Atreus and I, knowing friendship with each other.
But when we came to holy Sunium, the headland of Athens,
there Phoebus Apollo came upon the helmsman of Menelaus
with his gentle arrows and killed him,
as he held the steering-oar of the running ship in his hands —
Phrontis, son of Onetor, who surpassed the tribes of men
in steering a ship when the storm-winds drove hard.
So Menelaus was held up there, eager as he was for the road,
so that he might bury his companion and pay him the funeral rites.
But when he too, going over the wine-dark sea
in his hollow ships, came running to the steep headland
of Malea, then far-seeing Zeus planned a hateful voyage
for him, and poured out the breath of shrill winds,
and the waves swelled monstrous, as high as mountains.
There he split the fleet, and drove some to Crete,
where the Cydonians lived about the streams of Iardanus.
There is a smooth cliff, sheer to the sea,
at the border of Gortyn on the misty deep;
there the South Wind drives a great wave against the western point,
toward Phaestus, and a little rock holds back the great wave.
There they came, and hardly did the men escape destruction;
but the waves broke the ships against the reefs.
And the other five, the dark-prowed ships,
the wind and the water carried and drove to Egypt.
So he was there, gathering much substance and gold,
wandering with his ships among men of foreign speech;
and meanwhile Aegisthus devised these bitter things at home.
For seven years he was king over Mycenae rich in gold,
having killed the son of Atreus, and the people were subdued under him.
But in the eighth year noble Orestes came back as his ruin
from Athens, and killed his father’s murderer,
guileful Aegisthus, who had killed his famous father.
ἦ τοι μὲν τάδε καὐτὸς ὀίεαι, ὥς κεν ἐτύχθη,
εἰ ζωόν γʼ Αἴγισθον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔτετμεν
Ἀτρεΐδης Τροίηθεν ἰών, ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
τῶ κέ οἱ οὐδὲ θανόντι χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,
ἀλλʼ ἄρα τόν γε κύνες τε καὶ οἰωνοὶ κατέδαψαν
κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ ἑκὰς ἄστεος, οὐδέ κέ τίς μιν
κλαῦσεν Ἀχαιιάδων· μάλα γὰρ μέγα μήσατο ἔργον.
ἡμεῖς μὲν γὰρ κεῖθι πολέας τελέοντες ἀέθλους
ἥμεθʼ· ὁ δʼ εὔκηλος μυχῷ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο
πόλλʼ Ἀγαμεμνονέην ἄλοχον θέλγεσκʼ ἐπέεσσιν.
ἡ δʼ ἦ τοι τὸ πρὶν μὲν ἀναίνετο ἔργον ἀεικὲς
δῖα Κλυταιμνήστρη· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητʼ ἀγαθῇσι·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔην καὶ ἀοιδὸς ἀνήρ, ᾧ πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλεν
Ἀτρεΐδης Τροίηνδε κιὼν εἴρυσθαι ἄκοιτιν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν μοῖρα θεῶν ἐπέδησε δαμῆναι,
δὴ τότε τὸν μὲν ἀοιδὸν ἄγων ἐς νῆσον ἐρήμην
κάλλιπεν οἰωνοῖσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι,
τὴν δʼ ἐθέλων ἐθέλουσαν ἀνήγαγεν ὅνδε δόμονδε.
πολλὰ δὲ μηρίʼ ἔκηε θεῶν ἱεροῖς ἐπὶ βωμοῖς,
πολλὰ δʼ ἀγάλματʼ ἀνῆψεν, ὑφάσματά τε χρυσόν τε,
ἐκτελέσας μέγα ἔργον, ὃ οὔ ποτε ἔλπετο θυμῷ.
ἡμεῖς μὲν γὰρ ἅμα πλέομεν Τροίηθεν ἰόντες,
Ἀτρεΐδης καὶ ἐγώ, φίλα εἰδότες ἀλλήλοισιν·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε Σούνιον ἱρὸν ἀφικόμεθʼ, ἄκρον Ἀθηνέων,
ἔνθα κυβερνήτην Μενελάου Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνε,
πηδάλιον μετὰ χερσὶ θεούσης νηὸς ἔχοντα,
Φρόντιν Ὀνητορίδην, ὃς ἐκαίνυτο φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων
νῆα κυβερνῆσαι, ὁπότε σπέρχοιεν ἄελλαι.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα κατέσχετʼ, ἐπειγόμενός περ ὁδοῖο,
ὄφρʼ ἕταρον θάπτοι καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερίσειεν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖνος ἰὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον
ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι Μαλειάων ὄρος αἰπὺ
ἷξε θέων, τότε δὴ στυγερὴν ὁδὸν εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἐφράσατο, λιγέων δʼ ἀνέμων ἐπʼ ἀυτμένα χεῦε,
κύματά τε τροφέοντο πελώρια, ἶσα ὄρεσσιν.
ἔνθα διατμήξας τὰς μὲν Κρήτῃ ἐπέλασσεν,
ἧχι Κύδωνες ἔναιον Ἰαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα.
ἔστι δέ τις λισσὴ αἰπεῖά τε εἰς ἅλα πέτρη
ἐσχατιῇ Γόρτυνος ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ·
ἔνθα Νότος μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ σκαιὸν ῥίον ὠθεῖ,
ἐς Φαιστόν, μικρὸς δὲ λίθος μέγα κῦμʼ ἀποέργει.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἔνθʼ ἦλθον, σπουδῇ δʼ ἤλυξαν ὄλεθρον
ἄνδρες, ἀτὰρ νῆάς γε ποτὶ σπιλάδεσσιν ἔαξαν
κύματʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰς πέντε νέας κυανοπρῳρείους
Αἰγύπτῳ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα πολὺν βίοτον καὶ χρυσὸν ἀγείρων
ἠλᾶτο ξὺν νηυσὶ κατʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους·
τόφρα δὲ ταῦτʼ Αἴγισθος ἐμήσατο οἴκοθι λυγρά.
ἑπτάετες δʼ ἤνασσε πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης,
κτείνας Ἀτρεΐδην, δέδμητο δὲ λαὸς ὑπʼ αὐτῷ.
τῷ δέ οἱ ὀγδοάτῳ κακὸν ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀρέστης
ἂψ ἀπʼ Ἀθηνάων, κατὰ δʼ ἔκτανε πατροφονῆα,
Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα.
εἰ ζωόν γʼ Αἴγισθον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔτετμεν
Ἀτρεΐδης Τροίηθεν ἰών, ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
τῶ κέ οἱ οὐδὲ θανόντι χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,
ἀλλʼ ἄρα τόν γε κύνες τε καὶ οἰωνοὶ κατέδαψαν
κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ ἑκὰς ἄστεος, οὐδέ κέ τίς μιν
κλαῦσεν Ἀχαιιάδων· μάλα γὰρ μέγα μήσατο ἔργον.
ἡμεῖς μὲν γὰρ κεῖθι πολέας τελέοντες ἀέθλους
ἥμεθʼ· ὁ δʼ εὔκηλος μυχῷ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο
πόλλʼ Ἀγαμεμνονέην ἄλοχον θέλγεσκʼ ἐπέεσσιν.
ἡ δʼ ἦ τοι τὸ πρὶν μὲν ἀναίνετο ἔργον ἀεικὲς
δῖα Κλυταιμνήστρη· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητʼ ἀγαθῇσι·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔην καὶ ἀοιδὸς ἀνήρ, ᾧ πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλεν
Ἀτρεΐδης Τροίηνδε κιὼν εἴρυσθαι ἄκοιτιν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν μοῖρα θεῶν ἐπέδησε δαμῆναι,
δὴ τότε τὸν μὲν ἀοιδὸν ἄγων ἐς νῆσον ἐρήμην
κάλλιπεν οἰωνοῖσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι,
τὴν δʼ ἐθέλων ἐθέλουσαν ἀνήγαγεν ὅνδε δόμονδε.
πολλὰ δὲ μηρίʼ ἔκηε θεῶν ἱεροῖς ἐπὶ βωμοῖς,
πολλὰ δʼ ἀγάλματʼ ἀνῆψεν, ὑφάσματά τε χρυσόν τε,
ἐκτελέσας μέγα ἔργον, ὃ οὔ ποτε ἔλπετο θυμῷ.
ἡμεῖς μὲν γὰρ ἅμα πλέομεν Τροίηθεν ἰόντες,
Ἀτρεΐδης καὶ ἐγώ, φίλα εἰδότες ἀλλήλοισιν·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε Σούνιον ἱρὸν ἀφικόμεθʼ, ἄκρον Ἀθηνέων,
ἔνθα κυβερνήτην Μενελάου Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνε,
πηδάλιον μετὰ χερσὶ θεούσης νηὸς ἔχοντα,
Φρόντιν Ὀνητορίδην, ὃς ἐκαίνυτο φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων
νῆα κυβερνῆσαι, ὁπότε σπέρχοιεν ἄελλαι.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα κατέσχετʼ, ἐπειγόμενός περ ὁδοῖο,
ὄφρʼ ἕταρον θάπτοι καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερίσειεν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖνος ἰὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον
ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι Μαλειάων ὄρος αἰπὺ
ἷξε θέων, τότε δὴ στυγερὴν ὁδὸν εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἐφράσατο, λιγέων δʼ ἀνέμων ἐπʼ ἀυτμένα χεῦε,
κύματά τε τροφέοντο πελώρια, ἶσα ὄρεσσιν.
ἔνθα διατμήξας τὰς μὲν Κρήτῃ ἐπέλασσεν,
ἧχι Κύδωνες ἔναιον Ἰαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα.
ἔστι δέ τις λισσὴ αἰπεῖά τε εἰς ἅλα πέτρη
ἐσχατιῇ Γόρτυνος ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ·
ἔνθα Νότος μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ σκαιὸν ῥίον ὠθεῖ,
ἐς Φαιστόν, μικρὸς δὲ λίθος μέγα κῦμʼ ἀποέργει.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἔνθʼ ἦλθον, σπουδῇ δʼ ἤλυξαν ὄλεθρον
ἄνδρες, ἀτὰρ νῆάς γε ποτὶ σπιλάδεσσιν ἔαξαν
κύματʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰς πέντε νέας κυανοπρῳρείους
Αἰγύπτῳ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα πολὺν βίοτον καὶ χρυσὸν ἀγείρων
ἠλᾶτο ξὺν νηυσὶ κατʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους·
τόφρα δὲ ταῦτʼ Αἴγισθος ἐμήσατο οἴκοθι λυγρά.
ἑπτάετες δʼ ἤνασσε πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης,
κτείνας Ἀτρεΐδην, δέδμητο δὲ λαὸς ὑπʼ αὐτῷ.
τῷ δέ οἱ ὀγδοάτῳ κακὸν ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀρέστης
ἂψ ἀπʼ Ἀθηνάων, κατὰ δʼ ἔκτανε πατροφονῆα,
Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα.
"When he had killed him he gave the Argives a funeral feast
for his hateful mother and for the cowardly Aegisthus;
and on that same day Menelaus good at the war-cry came to him,
bringing much wealth, all that his ships could carry.
And you, my friend, do not wander long far from home,
leaving your possessions behind and men in your house
so overweening, in case they eat up all of it
and divide your goods, and you have made your journey for nothing.
But to Menelaus I urge and bid you
to go; for he has lately come from abroad,
from men out of whose country no man could hope in his spirit
to return, once the storm-winds had swept him off
into so great a sea, from which not even the birds
come back within the year, so great and terrible it is.
But go now with your ship and your companions;
or if you would go by land, here are a chariot and horses,
and here are my sons, who will be your escorts
to noble Lacedaemon, where fair-haired Menelaus is.
Beg him yourself to speak the unerring truth.
He will tell no lie, for he is very prudent."
for his hateful mother and for the cowardly Aegisthus;
and on that same day Menelaus good at the war-cry came to him,
bringing much wealth, all that his ships could carry.
And you, my friend, do not wander long far from home,
leaving your possessions behind and men in your house
so overweening, in case they eat up all of it
and divide your goods, and you have made your journey for nothing.
But to Menelaus I urge and bid you
to go; for he has lately come from abroad,
from men out of whose country no man could hope in his spirit
to return, once the storm-winds had swept him off
into so great a sea, from which not even the birds
come back within the year, so great and terrible it is.
But go now with your ship and your companions;
or if you would go by land, here are a chariot and horses,
and here are my sons, who will be your escorts
to noble Lacedaemon, where fair-haired Menelaus is.
Beg him yourself to speak the unerring truth.
He will tell no lie, for he is very prudent."
ἦ τοι ὁ τὸν κτείνας δαίνυ τάφον Ἀργείοισιν
μητρός τε στυγερῆς καὶ ἀνάλκιδος Αἰγίσθοιο·
αὐτῆμαρ δέ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
πολλὰ κτήματʼ ἄγων, ὅσα οἱ νέες ἄχθος ἄειραν.
καὶ σύ, φίλος, μὴ δηθὰ δόμων ἄπο τῆλʼ ἀλάλησο,
κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τʼ ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισιν
οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους, μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσιν
κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.
ἀλλʼ ἐς μὲν Μενέλαον ἐγὼ κέλομαι καὶ ἄνωγα
ἐλθεῖν· κεῖνος γὰρ νέον ἄλλοθεν εἰλήλουθεν,
ἐκ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅθεν οὐκ ἔλποιτό γε θυμῷ
ἐλθέμεν, ὅν τινα πρῶτον ἀποσφήλωσιν ἄελλαι
ἐς πέλαγος μέγα τοῖον, ὅθεν τέ περ οὐδʼ οἰωνοὶ
αὐτόετες οἰχνεῦσιν, ἐπεὶ μέγα τε δεινόν τε.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν σὺν νηί τε σῇ καὶ σοῖς ἑτάροισιν·
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις πεζός, πάρα τοι δίφρος τε καὶ ἵπποι,
πὰρ δέ τοι υἷες ἐμοί, οἵ τοι πομπῆες ἔσονται
ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν, ὅθι ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
λίσσεσθαι δέ μιν αὐτός, ἵνα νημερτὲς ἐνίσπῃ·
ψεῦδος δʼ οὐκ ἐρέει· μάλα γὰρ πεπνυμένος ἐστίν.
μητρός τε στυγερῆς καὶ ἀνάλκιδος Αἰγίσθοιο·
αὐτῆμαρ δέ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
πολλὰ κτήματʼ ἄγων, ὅσα οἱ νέες ἄχθος ἄειραν.
καὶ σύ, φίλος, μὴ δηθὰ δόμων ἄπο τῆλʼ ἀλάλησο,
κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τʼ ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισιν
οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους, μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσιν
κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.
ἀλλʼ ἐς μὲν Μενέλαον ἐγὼ κέλομαι καὶ ἄνωγα
ἐλθεῖν· κεῖνος γὰρ νέον ἄλλοθεν εἰλήλουθεν,
ἐκ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅθεν οὐκ ἔλποιτό γε θυμῷ
ἐλθέμεν, ὅν τινα πρῶτον ἀποσφήλωσιν ἄελλαι
ἐς πέλαγος μέγα τοῖον, ὅθεν τέ περ οὐδʼ οἰωνοὶ
αὐτόετες οἰχνεῦσιν, ἐπεὶ μέγα τε δεινόν τε.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν σὺν νηί τε σῇ καὶ σοῖς ἑτάροισιν·
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις πεζός, πάρα τοι δίφρος τε καὶ ἵπποι,
πὰρ δέ τοι υἷες ἐμοί, οἵ τοι πομπῆες ἔσονται
ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν, ὅθι ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
λίσσεσθαι δέ μιν αὐτός, ἵνα νημερτὲς ἐνίσπῃ·
ψεῦδος δʼ οὐκ ἐρέει· μάλα γὰρ πεπνυμένος ἐστίν.
So he spoke, and the sun went down and darkness came on.
And among them spoke the goddess, grey-eyed Athena:
And among them spoke the goddess, grey-eyed Athena:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἠέλιος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Old man, you have recounted this as it should be.
But come, cut out the tongues and mix the wine,
so that we may pour libations to Poseidon and the other
immortals, and then turn our thought to bed; for it is the hour.
The light has gone under the darkness, and it is not fitting
to sit long at the feast of the gods, but to go home."
But come, cut out the tongues and mix the wine,
so that we may pour libations to Poseidon and the other
immortals, and then turn our thought to bed; for it is the hour.
The light has gone under the darkness, and it is not fitting
to sit long at the feast of the gods, but to go home."
ὦ γέρον, ἦ τοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξας·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τάμνετε μὲν γλώσσας, κεράασθε δὲ οἶνον,
ὄφρα Ποσειδάωνι καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιν
σπείσαντες κοίτοιο μεδώμεθα· τοῖο γὰρ ὥρη.
ἤδη γὰρ φάος οἴχεθʼ ὑπὸ ζόφον, οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·
δηθὰ θεῶν ἐν δαιτὶ θαασσέμεν, ἀλλὰ νέεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τάμνετε μὲν γλώσσας, κεράασθε δὲ οἶνον,
ὄφρα Ποσειδάωνι καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιν
σπείσαντες κοίτοιο μεδώμεθα· τοῖο γὰρ ὥρη.
ἤδη γὰρ φάος οἴχεθʼ ὑπὸ ζόφον, οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·
δηθὰ θεῶν ἐν δαιτὶ θαασσέμεν, ἀλλὰ νέεσθαι.
So spoke the daughter of Zeus, and they heard her voice.
The heralds poured water over their hands,
and the young men filled the mixing-bowls to the brim with drink,
and served them all, first pouring drops into the cups;
and they threw the tongues in the fire, and stood and poured libations.
And when they had poured and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
then Athena and Telemachus, godlike in form,
were both eager to go back to the hollow ship.
But Nestor held them back, rounding on them with words:
"Zeus forbid it, and the other immortal gods,
that you should go from me to your swift ship,
as if from a man altogether without clothing and poor,
who has no store of cloaks and blankets in his house
for himself or his guests to sleep soft in.
But I have cloaks and fine blankets by me.
The dear son of that man Odysseus shall surely not
lie down on a ship’s deck, so long as I
am alive, and after me my children are left in the halls
to entertain guests, whoever comes to my house."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
The heralds poured water over their hands,
and the young men filled the mixing-bowls to the brim with drink,
and served them all, first pouring drops into the cups;
and they threw the tongues in the fire, and stood and poured libations.
And when they had poured and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
then Athena and Telemachus, godlike in form,
were both eager to go back to the hollow ship.
But Nestor held them back, rounding on them with words:
"Zeus forbid it, and the other immortal gods,
that you should go from me to your swift ship,
as if from a man altogether without clothing and poor,
who has no store of cloaks and blankets in his house
for himself or his guests to sleep soft in.
But I have cloaks and fine blankets by me.
The dear son of that man Odysseus shall surely not
lie down on a ship’s deck, so long as I
am alive, and after me my children are left in the halls
to entertain guests, whoever comes to my house."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
ἦ ῥα Διὸς θυγάτηρ, οἱ δʼ ἔκλυον αὐδησάσης.
τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,
κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,
νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσι·
γλώσσας δʼ ἐν πυρὶ βάλλον, ἀνιστάμενοι δʼ ἐπέλειβον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
δὴ τότʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδὴς
ἄμφω ἱέσθην κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα νέεσθαι.
Νέστωρ δʼ αὖ κατέρυκε καθαπτόμενος ἐπέεσσιν·
Ζεὺς τό γʼ ἀλεξήσειε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
ὡς ὑμεῖς παρʼ ἐμεῖο θοὴν ἐπὶ νῆα κίοιτε
ὥς τέ τευ ἦ παρὰ πάμπαν ἀνείμονος ἠδὲ πενιχροῦ,
ᾧ οὔ τι χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα πόλλʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
οὔτʼ αὐτῷ μαλακῶς οὔτε ξείνοισιν ἐνεύδειν.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πάρα μὲν χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλά.
οὔ θην δὴ τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱὸς
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν καταλέξεται, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε
ζώω, ἔπειτα δὲ παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισι λίπωνται,
ξείνους ξεινίζειν, ὅς τίς κʼ ἐμὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,
κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,
νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσι·
γλώσσας δʼ ἐν πυρὶ βάλλον, ἀνιστάμενοι δʼ ἐπέλειβον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
δὴ τότʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδὴς
ἄμφω ἱέσθην κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα νέεσθαι.
Νέστωρ δʼ αὖ κατέρυκε καθαπτόμενος ἐπέεσσιν·
Ζεὺς τό γʼ ἀλεξήσειε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
ὡς ὑμεῖς παρʼ ἐμεῖο θοὴν ἐπὶ νῆα κίοιτε
ὥς τέ τευ ἦ παρὰ πάμπαν ἀνείμονος ἠδὲ πενιχροῦ,
ᾧ οὔ τι χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα πόλλʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
οὔτʼ αὐτῷ μαλακῶς οὔτε ξείνοισιν ἐνεύδειν.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πάρα μὲν χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλά.
οὔ θην δὴ τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱὸς
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν καταλέξεται, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε
ζώω, ἔπειτα δὲ παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισι λίπωνται,
ξείνους ξεινίζειν, ὅς τίς κʼ ἐμὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Well have you said this, dear old man; and it is fitting
that Telemachus should obey you, since it is far better so.
He will go with you now, so that he may sleep
in your halls. But I will go to the black ship,
to give heart to the companions and tell them everything.
For I claim to be the only older man among them;
the rest who follow out of friendship are younger men,
all of an age with great-hearted Telemachus.
There I would lie down beside the hollow black ship
tonight; and at dawn I will go among the great-hearted Cauconians,
where a debt is owed me, and not a new one
nor a small one. But send this man on, since he has come to your house,
with a chariot and a son of yours; and give him horses,
the lightest of foot in running and the best in strength."
that Telemachus should obey you, since it is far better so.
He will go with you now, so that he may sleep
in your halls. But I will go to the black ship,
to give heart to the companions and tell them everything.
For I claim to be the only older man among them;
the rest who follow out of friendship are younger men,
all of an age with great-hearted Telemachus.
There I would lie down beside the hollow black ship
tonight; and at dawn I will go among the great-hearted Cauconians,
where a debt is owed me, and not a new one
nor a small one. But send this man on, since he has come to your house,
with a chariot and a son of yours; and give him horses,
the lightest of foot in running and the best in strength."
εὖ δὴ ταῦτά γʼ ἔφησθα, γέρον φίλε· σοὶ δὲ ἔοικεν
Τηλέμαχον πείθεσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺ κάλλιον οὕτως.
ἀλλʼ οὗτος μὲν νῦν σοὶ ἅμʼ ἕψεται, ὄφρα κεν εὕδῃ
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
εἶμʼ, ἵνα θαρσύνω θʼ ἑτάρους εἴπω τε ἕκαστα.
οἶος γὰρ μετὰ τοῖσι γεραίτερος εὔχομαι εἶναι·
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητι νεώτεροι ἄνδρες ἕπονται,
πάντες ὁμηλικίη μεγαθύμου Τηλεμάχοιο.
ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ
νῦν· ἀτὰρ ἠῶθεν μετὰ Καύκωνας μεγαθύμους
εἶμʼ ἔνθα χρεῖός μοι ὀφέλλεται, οὔ τι νέον γε
οὐδʼ ὀλίγον. σὺ δὲ τοῦτον, ἐπεὶ τεὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,
πέμψον σὺν δίφρῳ τε καὶ υἱέι· δὸς δέ οἱ ἵππους,
οἵ τοι ἐλαφρότατοι θείειν καὶ κάρτος ἄριστοι.
Τηλέμαχον πείθεσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺ κάλλιον οὕτως.
ἀλλʼ οὗτος μὲν νῦν σοὶ ἅμʼ ἕψεται, ὄφρα κεν εὕδῃ
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
εἶμʼ, ἵνα θαρσύνω θʼ ἑτάρους εἴπω τε ἕκαστα.
οἶος γὰρ μετὰ τοῖσι γεραίτερος εὔχομαι εἶναι·
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητι νεώτεροι ἄνδρες ἕπονται,
πάντες ὁμηλικίη μεγαθύμου Τηλεμάχοιο.
ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ
νῦν· ἀτὰρ ἠῶθεν μετὰ Καύκωνας μεγαθύμους
εἶμʼ ἔνθα χρεῖός μοι ὀφέλλεται, οὔ τι νέον γε
οὐδʼ ὀλίγον. σὺ δὲ τοῦτον, ἐπεὶ τεὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,
πέμψον σὺν δίφρῳ τε καὶ υἱέι· δὸς δέ οἱ ἵππους,
οἵ τοι ἐλαφρότατοι θείειν καὶ κάρτος ἄριστοι.
So saying, grey-eyed Athena went away
in the likeness of a sea-eagle; and astonishment took all who saw.
The old man marvelled when he saw it with his eyes,
and took Telemachus by the hand, and spoke, and called him by name:
in the likeness of a sea-eagle; and astonishment took all who saw.
The old man marvelled when he saw it with his eyes,
and took Telemachus by the hand, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
φήνῃ εἰδομένη· θάμβος δʼ ἕλε πάντας ἰδόντας.
θαύμαζεν δʼ ὁ γεραιός, ὅπως ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖς·
Τηλεμάχου δʼ ἕλε χεῖρα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
φήνῃ εἰδομένη· θάμβος δʼ ἕλε πάντας ἰδόντας.
θαύμαζεν δʼ ὁ γεραιός, ὅπως ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖς·
Τηλεμάχου δʼ ἕλε χεῖρα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"My friend, I have no fear you will turn out base and weak,
if the gods go with you as escorts, young as you are.
For this was no other of those who hold the halls of Olympus,
but the daughter of Zeus, most glorious Tritogeneia,
who honoured your noble father too among the Argives.
Lady, be gracious, and grant me noble glory,
to me and to my children and to my honoured wife;
and I will sacrifice to you a yearling heifer, broad of brow,
unbroken, which no man has yet led under the yoke;
I will sacrifice her to you, with gold poured about her horns."
if the gods go with you as escorts, young as you are.
For this was no other of those who hold the halls of Olympus,
but the daughter of Zeus, most glorious Tritogeneia,
who honoured your noble father too among the Argives.
Lady, be gracious, and grant me noble glory,
to me and to my children and to my honoured wife;
and I will sacrifice to you a yearling heifer, broad of brow,
unbroken, which no man has yet led under the yoke;
I will sacrifice her to you, with gold poured about her horns."
ὦ φίλος, οὔ σε ἔολπα κακὸν καὶ ἄναλκιν ἔσεσθαι,
εἰ δή τοι νέῳ ὧδε θεοὶ πομπῆες ἕπονται.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τις ὅδʼ ἄλλος Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἐχόντων,
ἀλλὰ Διὸς θυγάτηρ, κυδίστη Τριτογένεια,
ἥ τοι καὶ πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἐτίμα.
ἀλλὰ ἄνασσʼ ἵληθι, δίδωθι δέ μοι κλέος ἐσθλόν,
αὐτῷ καὶ παίδεσσι καὶ αἰδοίῃ παρακοίτι·
σοὶ δʼ αὖ ἐγὼ ῥέξω βοῦν ἦνιν εὐρυμέτωπον
ἀδμήτην, ἣν οὔ πω ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ἀνήρ·
τήν τοι ἐγὼ ῥέξω χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύας.
εἰ δή τοι νέῳ ὧδε θεοὶ πομπῆες ἕπονται.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τις ὅδʼ ἄλλος Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἐχόντων,
ἀλλὰ Διὸς θυγάτηρ, κυδίστη Τριτογένεια,
ἥ τοι καὶ πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἐτίμα.
ἀλλὰ ἄνασσʼ ἵληθι, δίδωθι δέ μοι κλέος ἐσθλόν,
αὐτῷ καὶ παίδεσσι καὶ αἰδοίῃ παρακοίτι·
σοὶ δʼ αὖ ἐγὼ ῥέξω βοῦν ἦνιν εὐρυμέτωπον
ἀδμήτην, ἣν οὔ πω ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ἀνήρ·
τήν τοι ἐγὼ ῥέξω χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύας.
So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athena heard him.
The Gerenian horseman Nestor led the way for them,
for his sons and his sons-in-law, to his own fine house.
And when they reached the glorious house of that lord,
they sat down in order on the seats and the chairs.
For them, as they came, the old man mixed a bowl
of sweet wine, which the housekeeper opened
in its eleventh year and loosed the covering from it.
Of this the old man mixed the bowl, and prayed long to Athena,
pouring out the libation, to the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus.
And when they had poured and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
they went, each to his own house, to lie down.
But the Gerenian horseman Nestor bedded him there,
Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus,
on a corded bed under the echoing portico,
and beside him Peisistratus of the good ash spear, leader of men,
who alone of his children was still unmarried in the halls.
He himself slept in the inner room of the high house,
and his wife the mistress made ready his bed and his couch.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
the Gerenian horseman Nestor rose from his bed,
and went out and sat down on the polished stones
that stood before his high doors,
white and gleaming as if with oil; on them in former days
Neleus used to sit, a counsellor equal to the gods.
But he had gone already to the house of Hades, overcome by doom,
and now Gerenian Nestor sat there, the warder of the Achaeans,
holding the staff. About him his sons gathered together,
coming from their chambers: Echephron and Stratius
and Perseus and Aretus and godlike Thrasymedes.
And after them the hero Peisistratus came as the sixth;
and they brought Telemachus, godlike in semblance, and seated him beside them.
And the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among them:
"Quickly now, dear children, accomplish my desire,
so that first of all the gods I may propitiate Athena,
who came to me in plain sight at the god’s rich feast.
Come, let one go to the plain for a heifer, so that it may come
with all speed, and the herdsman drive it in from the cattle;
and let one go to the black ship of great-hearted Telemachus
and bring all his companions, leaving only two;
and let one bid the goldsmith Laerces come here,
to pour the gold about the heifer’s horns.
The rest of you stay here together, and tell the serving-women
inside the glorious house to busy themselves with a feast,
and to bring seats and firewood and shining water."
The Gerenian horseman Nestor led the way for them,
for his sons and his sons-in-law, to his own fine house.
And when they reached the glorious house of that lord,
they sat down in order on the seats and the chairs.
For them, as they came, the old man mixed a bowl
of sweet wine, which the housekeeper opened
in its eleventh year and loosed the covering from it.
Of this the old man mixed the bowl, and prayed long to Athena,
pouring out the libation, to the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus.
And when they had poured and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
they went, each to his own house, to lie down.
But the Gerenian horseman Nestor bedded him there,
Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus,
on a corded bed under the echoing portico,
and beside him Peisistratus of the good ash spear, leader of men,
who alone of his children was still unmarried in the halls.
He himself slept in the inner room of the high house,
and his wife the mistress made ready his bed and his couch.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
the Gerenian horseman Nestor rose from his bed,
and went out and sat down on the polished stones
that stood before his high doors,
white and gleaming as if with oil; on them in former days
Neleus used to sit, a counsellor equal to the gods.
But he had gone already to the house of Hades, overcome by doom,
and now Gerenian Nestor sat there, the warder of the Achaeans,
holding the staff. About him his sons gathered together,
coming from their chambers: Echephron and Stratius
and Perseus and Aretus and godlike Thrasymedes.
And after them the hero Peisistratus came as the sixth;
and they brought Telemachus, godlike in semblance, and seated him beside them.
And the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among them:
"Quickly now, dear children, accomplish my desire,
so that first of all the gods I may propitiate Athena,
who came to me in plain sight at the god’s rich feast.
Come, let one go to the plain for a heifer, so that it may come
with all speed, and the herdsman drive it in from the cattle;
and let one go to the black ship of great-hearted Telemachus
and bring all his companions, leaving only two;
and let one bid the goldsmith Laerces come here,
to pour the gold about the heifer’s horns.
The rest of you stay here together, and tell the serving-women
inside the glorious house to busy themselves with a feast,
and to bring seats and firewood and shining water."
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,
υἱάσι καὶ γαμβροῖσιν, ἑὰ πρὸς δώματα καλά.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο ἀγακλυτὰ τοῖο ἄνακτος,
ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε·
τοῖς δʼ ὁ γέρων ἐλθοῦσιν ἀνὰ κρητῆρα κέρασσεν
οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο, τὸν ἑνδεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ
ὤιξεν ταμίη καὶ ἀπὸ κρήδεμνον ἔλυσε·
τοῦ ὁ γέρων κρητῆρα κεράσσατο, πολλὰ δʼ Ἀθήνῃ
εὔχετʼ ἀποσπένδων, κούρῃ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,
τὸν δʼ αὐτοῦ κοίμησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,
Τηλέμαχον, φίλον υἱὸν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
τρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσιν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,
πὰρʼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐυμμελίην Πεισίστρατον, ὄρχαμον ἀνδρῶν,
ὅς οἱ ἔτʼ ἠίθεος παίδων ἦν ἐν μεγάροισιν·
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτε καθεῦδε μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,
τῷ δʼ ἄλοχος δέσποινα λέχος πόρσυνε καὶ εὐνήν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,
ἐκ δʼ ἐλθὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοισιν,
οἵ οἱ ἔσαν προπάροιθε θυράων ὑψηλάων,
λευκοί, ἀποστίλβοντες ἀλείφατος· οἷς ἔπι μὲν πρὶν
Νηλεὺς ἵζεσκεν, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος·
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κηρὶ δαμεὶς Ἄϊδόσδε βεβήκει,
Νέστωρ αὖ τότʼ ἐφῖζε Γερήνιος, οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν,
σκῆπτρον ἔχων. περὶ δʼ υἷες ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο
ἐκ θαλάμων ἐλθόντες, Ἐχέφρων τε Στρατίος τε
Περσεύς τʼ Ἄρητός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Θρασυμήδης.
τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἕκτος Πεισίστρατος ἤλυθεν ἥρως,
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχον θεοείκελον εἷσαν ἄγοντες.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
καρπαλίμως μοι, τέκνα φίλα, κρηήνατʼ ἐέλδωρ,
ὄφρʼ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα θεῶν ἱλάσσομʼ Ἀθήνην,
ἥ μοι ἐναργὴς ἦλθε θεοῦ ἐς δαῖτα θάλειαν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ὁ μὲν πεδίονδʼ ἐπὶ βοῦν, ἴτω, ὄφρα τάχιστα
ἔλθῃσιν, ἐλάσῃ δὲ βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·
εἷς δʼ ἐπὶ Τηλεμάχου μεγαθύμου νῆα μέλαιναν
πάντας ἰὼν ἑτάρους ἀγέτω, λιπέτω δὲ δύʼ οἴους·
εἷς δʼ αὖ χρυσοχόον Λαέρκεα δεῦρο κελέσθω
ἐλθεῖν, ὄφρα βοὸς χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύῃ.
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι μένετʼ αὐτοῦ ἀολλέες, εἴπατε δʼ εἴσω
δμῳῇσιν κατὰ δώματʼ ἀγακλυτὰ δαῖτα πένεσθαι,
ἕδρας τε ξύλα τʼ ἀμφὶ καὶ ἀγλαὸν οἰσέμεν ὕδωρ.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,
υἱάσι καὶ γαμβροῖσιν, ἑὰ πρὸς δώματα καλά.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο ἀγακλυτὰ τοῖο ἄνακτος,
ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε·
τοῖς δʼ ὁ γέρων ἐλθοῦσιν ἀνὰ κρητῆρα κέρασσεν
οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο, τὸν ἑνδεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ
ὤιξεν ταμίη καὶ ἀπὸ κρήδεμνον ἔλυσε·
τοῦ ὁ γέρων κρητῆρα κεράσσατο, πολλὰ δʼ Ἀθήνῃ
εὔχετʼ ἀποσπένδων, κούρῃ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,
τὸν δʼ αὐτοῦ κοίμησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,
Τηλέμαχον, φίλον υἱὸν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
τρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσιν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,
πὰρʼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐυμμελίην Πεισίστρατον, ὄρχαμον ἀνδρῶν,
ὅς οἱ ἔτʼ ἠίθεος παίδων ἦν ἐν μεγάροισιν·
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτε καθεῦδε μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,
τῷ δʼ ἄλοχος δέσποινα λέχος πόρσυνε καὶ εὐνήν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,
ἐκ δʼ ἐλθὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοισιν,
οἵ οἱ ἔσαν προπάροιθε θυράων ὑψηλάων,
λευκοί, ἀποστίλβοντες ἀλείφατος· οἷς ἔπι μὲν πρὶν
Νηλεὺς ἵζεσκεν, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος·
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κηρὶ δαμεὶς Ἄϊδόσδε βεβήκει,
Νέστωρ αὖ τότʼ ἐφῖζε Γερήνιος, οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν,
σκῆπτρον ἔχων. περὶ δʼ υἷες ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο
ἐκ θαλάμων ἐλθόντες, Ἐχέφρων τε Στρατίος τε
Περσεύς τʼ Ἄρητός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Θρασυμήδης.
τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἕκτος Πεισίστρατος ἤλυθεν ἥρως,
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχον θεοείκελον εἷσαν ἄγοντες.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
καρπαλίμως μοι, τέκνα φίλα, κρηήνατʼ ἐέλδωρ,
ὄφρʼ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα θεῶν ἱλάσσομʼ Ἀθήνην,
ἥ μοι ἐναργὴς ἦλθε θεοῦ ἐς δαῖτα θάλειαν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ὁ μὲν πεδίονδʼ ἐπὶ βοῦν, ἴτω, ὄφρα τάχιστα
ἔλθῃσιν, ἐλάσῃ δὲ βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·
εἷς δʼ ἐπὶ Τηλεμάχου μεγαθύμου νῆα μέλαιναν
πάντας ἰὼν ἑτάρους ἀγέτω, λιπέτω δὲ δύʼ οἴους·
εἷς δʼ αὖ χρυσοχόον Λαέρκεα δεῦρο κελέσθω
ἐλθεῖν, ὄφρα βοὸς χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύῃ.
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι μένετʼ αὐτοῦ ἀολλέες, εἴπατε δʼ εἴσω
δμῳῇσιν κατὰ δώματʼ ἀγακλυτὰ δαῖτα πένεσθαι,
ἕδρας τε ξύλα τʼ ἀμφὶ καὶ ἀγλαὸν οἰσέμεν ὕδωρ.
So he spoke, and they all set to work. The heifer came
from the plain, and from the swift, balanced ship came
the companions of high-hearted Telemachus, and the smith came
with the bronze-working tools in his hands, the instruments of his craft,
anvil and hammer and well-made tongs,
with which he worked the gold. And Athena came
to receive the offering. The old chariot-driver Nestor
gave the gold; and the smith poured it about the heifer’s horns,
working it well, so that the goddess might rejoice to see the offering.
Stratius and noble Echephron led the heifer by the horns.
Aretus came from the chamber bringing them washing-water
in a flowered basin, and in the other hand held barley grains
in a basket; and Thrasymedes, steadfast in battle,
stood by with a sharp axe in his hand, to fell the heifer.
Perseus held the blood-bowl. And the old chariot-driver Nestor
began with the washing-water and the barley, and prayed long to Athena
as he made the first offering, throwing hairs from the head into the fire.
And when they had prayed and scattered the barley grains,
at once the high-spirited son of Nestor, Thrasymedes,
stood close and struck; and the axe cut through the sinews
of the neck, and loosed the strength of the heifer. The women cried out,
the daughters and the sons’ wives and the honoured wife
of Nestor, Eurydice, eldest of the daughters of Clymenus.
Then they lifted the heifer’s head from the wide-wayed earth
and held it; and Peisistratus, leader of men, cut its throat.
And when the dark blood had flowed out and the spirit left the bones,
at once they cut her up, and straightway cut out the thigh-pieces,
all in due order, and covered them with fat,
making a double fold, and laid raw flesh upon them.
The old man burned them on the split wood, and poured over them
the gleaming wine; and the young men held five-pronged forks beside him.
And when the thigh-pieces were burnt and they had tasted the inner parts,
they cut up the rest and pierced it on spits,
and roasted it, holding the pointed spits in their hands.
Meanwhile beautiful Polycaste bathed Telemachus,
the youngest daughter of Nestor, son of Neleus.
And when she had bathed him and anointed him richly with oil,
and thrown a fine cloak and a tunic about him,
he stepped from the bath, like the immortals in his body,
and went and sat down beside Nestor, shepherd of the people.
And when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,
they sat and feasted; and good men rose to attend them,
pouring the wine into golden cups.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among them:
"My children, come, bring the fine-maned horses for Telemachus
and yoke them to the chariot, so that he may make his journey."
from the plain, and from the swift, balanced ship came
the companions of high-hearted Telemachus, and the smith came
with the bronze-working tools in his hands, the instruments of his craft,
anvil and hammer and well-made tongs,
with which he worked the gold. And Athena came
to receive the offering. The old chariot-driver Nestor
gave the gold; and the smith poured it about the heifer’s horns,
working it well, so that the goddess might rejoice to see the offering.
Stratius and noble Echephron led the heifer by the horns.
Aretus came from the chamber bringing them washing-water
in a flowered basin, and in the other hand held barley grains
in a basket; and Thrasymedes, steadfast in battle,
stood by with a sharp axe in his hand, to fell the heifer.
Perseus held the blood-bowl. And the old chariot-driver Nestor
began with the washing-water and the barley, and prayed long to Athena
as he made the first offering, throwing hairs from the head into the fire.
And when they had prayed and scattered the barley grains,
at once the high-spirited son of Nestor, Thrasymedes,
stood close and struck; and the axe cut through the sinews
of the neck, and loosed the strength of the heifer. The women cried out,
the daughters and the sons’ wives and the honoured wife
of Nestor, Eurydice, eldest of the daughters of Clymenus.
Then they lifted the heifer’s head from the wide-wayed earth
and held it; and Peisistratus, leader of men, cut its throat.
And when the dark blood had flowed out and the spirit left the bones,
at once they cut her up, and straightway cut out the thigh-pieces,
all in due order, and covered them with fat,
making a double fold, and laid raw flesh upon them.
The old man burned them on the split wood, and poured over them
the gleaming wine; and the young men held five-pronged forks beside him.
And when the thigh-pieces were burnt and they had tasted the inner parts,
they cut up the rest and pierced it on spits,
and roasted it, holding the pointed spits in their hands.
Meanwhile beautiful Polycaste bathed Telemachus,
the youngest daughter of Nestor, son of Neleus.
And when she had bathed him and anointed him richly with oil,
and thrown a fine cloak and a tunic about him,
he stepped from the bath, like the immortals in his body,
and went and sat down beside Nestor, shepherd of the people.
And when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,
they sat and feasted; and good men rose to attend them,
pouring the wine into golden cups.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among them:
"My children, come, bring the fine-maned horses for Telemachus
and yoke them to the chariot, so that he may make his journey."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐποίπνυον. ἦλθε μὲν ἂρ βοῦς
ἐκ πεδίου, ἦλθον δὲ θοῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἐίσης
Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι μεγαλήτορος, ἦλθε δὲ χαλκεὺς
ὅπλʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἔχων χαλκήια, πείρατα τέχνης,
ἄκμονά τε σφῦραν τʼ ἐυποίητόν τε πυράγρην,
οἷσίν τε χρυσὸν εἰργάζετο· ἦλθε δʼ Ἀθήνη
ἱρῶν ἀντιόωσα. γέρων δʼ ἱππηλάτα Νέστωρ
χρυσὸν ἔδωχʼ· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα βοὸς κέρασιν περίχευεν
ἀσκήσας, ἵνʼ ἄγαλμα θεὰ κεχάροιτο ἰδοῦσα.
βοῦν δʼ ἀγέτην κεράων Στρατίος καὶ δῖος Ἐχέφρων.
χέρνιβα δέ σφʼ Ἄρητος ἐν ἀνθεμόεντι λέβητι
ἤλυθεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο φέρων, ἑτέρῃ δʼ ἔχεν οὐλὰς
ἐν κανέῳ πέλεκυν δὲ μενεπτόλεμος Θρασυμήδης
ὀξὺν ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παρίστατο βοῦν ἐπικόψων.
Περσεὺς δʼ ἀμνίον εἶχε· γέρων δʼ ἱππηλάτα Νέστωρ
χέρνιβά τʼ οὐλοχύτας τε κατήρχετο, πολλὰ δʼ Ἀθήνῃ
εὔχετʼ ἀπαρχόμενος, κεφαλῆς τρίχας ἐν πυρὶ βάλλων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,
αὐτίκα Νέστορος υἱὸς ὑπέρθυμος Θρασυμήδης
ἤλασεν ἄγχι στάς· πέλεκυς δʼ ἀπέκοψε τένοντας
αὐχενίους, λῦσεν δὲ βοὸς μένος. αἱ δʼ ὀλόλυξαν
θυγατέρες τε νυοί τε καὶ αἰδοίη παράκοιτις
Νέστορος, Εὐρυδίκη, πρέσβα Κλυμένοιο θυγατρῶν.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀνελόντες ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης
ἔσχον· ἀτὰρ σφάξεν Πεισίστρατος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν.
τῆς δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ μέλαν αἷμα ῥύη, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμός,
αἶψʼ ἄρα μιν διέχευαν, ἄφαρ δʼ ἐκ μηρία τάμνον
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν.
καῖε δʼ ἐπὶ σχίζῃς ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον
λεῖβε· νέοι δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν ἔχον πεμπώβολα χερσίν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρʼ ἐκάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
ὤπτων δʼ ἀκροπόρους ὀβελοὺς ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες.
τόφρα δὲ Τηλέμαχον λοῦσεν καλὴ Πολυκάστη,
Νέστορος ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ Νηληϊάδαο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φᾶρος καλὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθου βῆ δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος·
πὰρ δʼ ὅ γε Νέστορʼ ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, ποιμένα λαῶν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,
δαίνυνθʼ ἑζόμενοι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνέρες ἐσθλοὶ ὄροντο
οἶνον οἰνοχοεῦντες ἐνὶ χρυσέοις δεπάεσσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
παῖδες ἐμοί, ἄγε Τηλεμάχῳ καλλίτριχας ἵππους
ζεύξαθʼ ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἄγοντες, ἵνα πρήσσῃσιν ὁδοῖο.
ἐκ πεδίου, ἦλθον δὲ θοῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἐίσης
Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι μεγαλήτορος, ἦλθε δὲ χαλκεὺς
ὅπλʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἔχων χαλκήια, πείρατα τέχνης,
ἄκμονά τε σφῦραν τʼ ἐυποίητόν τε πυράγρην,
οἷσίν τε χρυσὸν εἰργάζετο· ἦλθε δʼ Ἀθήνη
ἱρῶν ἀντιόωσα. γέρων δʼ ἱππηλάτα Νέστωρ
χρυσὸν ἔδωχʼ· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα βοὸς κέρασιν περίχευεν
ἀσκήσας, ἵνʼ ἄγαλμα θεὰ κεχάροιτο ἰδοῦσα.
βοῦν δʼ ἀγέτην κεράων Στρατίος καὶ δῖος Ἐχέφρων.
χέρνιβα δέ σφʼ Ἄρητος ἐν ἀνθεμόεντι λέβητι
ἤλυθεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο φέρων, ἑτέρῃ δʼ ἔχεν οὐλὰς
ἐν κανέῳ πέλεκυν δὲ μενεπτόλεμος Θρασυμήδης
ὀξὺν ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παρίστατο βοῦν ἐπικόψων.
Περσεὺς δʼ ἀμνίον εἶχε· γέρων δʼ ἱππηλάτα Νέστωρ
χέρνιβά τʼ οὐλοχύτας τε κατήρχετο, πολλὰ δʼ Ἀθήνῃ
εὔχετʼ ἀπαρχόμενος, κεφαλῆς τρίχας ἐν πυρὶ βάλλων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,
αὐτίκα Νέστορος υἱὸς ὑπέρθυμος Θρασυμήδης
ἤλασεν ἄγχι στάς· πέλεκυς δʼ ἀπέκοψε τένοντας
αὐχενίους, λῦσεν δὲ βοὸς μένος. αἱ δʼ ὀλόλυξαν
θυγατέρες τε νυοί τε καὶ αἰδοίη παράκοιτις
Νέστορος, Εὐρυδίκη, πρέσβα Κλυμένοιο θυγατρῶν.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀνελόντες ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης
ἔσχον· ἀτὰρ σφάξεν Πεισίστρατος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν.
τῆς δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ μέλαν αἷμα ῥύη, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμός,
αἶψʼ ἄρα μιν διέχευαν, ἄφαρ δʼ ἐκ μηρία τάμνον
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν.
καῖε δʼ ἐπὶ σχίζῃς ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον
λεῖβε· νέοι δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν ἔχον πεμπώβολα χερσίν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρʼ ἐκάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
ὤπτων δʼ ἀκροπόρους ὀβελοὺς ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες.
τόφρα δὲ Τηλέμαχον λοῦσεν καλὴ Πολυκάστη,
Νέστορος ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ Νηληϊάδαο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φᾶρος καλὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθου βῆ δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος·
πὰρ δʼ ὅ γε Νέστορʼ ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, ποιμένα λαῶν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,
δαίνυνθʼ ἑζόμενοι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνέρες ἐσθλοὶ ὄροντο
οἶνον οἰνοχοεῦντες ἐνὶ χρυσέοις δεπάεσσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
παῖδες ἐμοί, ἄγε Τηλεμάχῳ καλλίτριχας ἵππους
ζεύξαθʼ ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἄγοντες, ἵνα πρήσσῃσιν ὁδοῖο.
So he spoke, and they heard him well and obeyed,
and quickly yoked the swift horses to the chariot.
The housekeeper put in bread and wine
and meats, such as kings nurtured by Zeus eat.
Telemachus mounted the beautiful chariot,
and beside him Peisistratus, son of Nestor, leader of men,
climbed into the chariot and took the reins in his hands,
and whipped them to a start; and the two horses flew on, not unwilling,
into the plain, and left the steep citadel of Pylos behind.
All day long they shook the yoke they held between them.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark,
and they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles,
son of Ortilochus, whom Alpheius fathered.
There they spent the night, and he set guest-gifts before them.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
they yoked the horses and climbed into the inlaid chariot,
and drove out from the forecourt and the echoing portico.
He whipped them to a start, and the two flew on, not unwilling.
They came to the wheat-bearing plain, and there
they finished their journey, so well did the swift horses carry them.
And the sun went down and all the ways grew dark.
and quickly yoked the swift horses to the chariot.
The housekeeper put in bread and wine
and meats, such as kings nurtured by Zeus eat.
Telemachus mounted the beautiful chariot,
and beside him Peisistratus, son of Nestor, leader of men,
climbed into the chariot and took the reins in his hands,
and whipped them to a start; and the two horses flew on, not unwilling,
into the plain, and left the steep citadel of Pylos behind.
All day long they shook the yoke they held between them.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark,
and they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles,
son of Ortilochus, whom Alpheius fathered.
There they spent the night, and he set guest-gifts before them.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
they yoked the horses and climbed into the inlaid chariot,
and drove out from the forecourt and the echoing portico.
He whipped them to a start, and the two flew on, not unwilling.
They came to the wheat-bearing plain, and there
they finished their journey, so well did the swift horses carry them.
And the sun went down and all the ways grew dark.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο,
καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔζευξαν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους.
ἐν δὲ γυνὴ ταμίη σῖτον καὶ οἶνον ἔθηκεν
ὄψα τε, οἷα ἔδουσι διοτρεφέες βασιλῆες.
ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
ἐς δίφρον τʼ ἀνέβαινε καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσί,
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην
ἐς πεδίον, λιπέτην δὲ Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον.
οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί,
ἐς Φηρὰς δʼ ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,
υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.
ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἄεσαν, ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον·
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην.
ἷξον δʼ ἐς πεδίον πυρηφόρον, ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα
ἦνον ὁδόν· τοῖον γὰρ ὑπέκφερον ὠκέες ἵπποι.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί.
καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔζευξαν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους.
ἐν δὲ γυνὴ ταμίη σῖτον καὶ οἶνον ἔθηκεν
ὄψα τε, οἷα ἔδουσι διοτρεφέες βασιλῆες.
ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
ἐς δίφρον τʼ ἀνέβαινε καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσί,
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην
ἐς πεδίον, λιπέτην δὲ Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον.
οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί,
ἐς Φηρὰς δʼ ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,
υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.
ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἄεσαν, ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον·
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην.
ἷξον δʼ ἐς πεδίον πυρηφόρον, ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα
ἦνον ὁδόν· τοῖον γὰρ ὑπέκφερον ὠκέες ἵπποι.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί.
Book 4
In Sparta, Menelaus and Helen tell their tales of Troy and of the shape-shifting Old Man of the Sea, who reported Odysseus alive — a prisoner on Calypso's island. On Ithaca the suitors set an ambush for the boy's return.
They came to Lacedaemon, lying low among its hollow hills,
and drove to the house of glorious Menelaus.
They found him giving a wedding feast for many kinsmen,
for his son and for his blameless daughter, in his own house.
The girl he was sending to the son of Achilles, breaker of men;
for in Troy he had first promised her and bowed his head
to the giving, and the gods were now bringing the marriage about.
So he was sending her off with horses and chariots to go
to the famous city of the Myrmidons, whom that man ruled.
And for his son he was bringing the daughter of Alector from Sparta,
for the strong Megapenthes, the son of his old age,
born of a slave woman; for the gods showed Helen no more offspring
after she had once borne her lovely child,
Hermione, who had the beauty of golden Aphrodite.
and drove to the house of glorious Menelaus.
They found him giving a wedding feast for many kinsmen,
for his son and for his blameless daughter, in his own house.
The girl he was sending to the son of Achilles, breaker of men;
for in Troy he had first promised her and bowed his head
to the giving, and the gods were now bringing the marriage about.
So he was sending her off with horses and chariots to go
to the famous city of the Myrmidons, whom that man ruled.
And for his son he was bringing the daughter of Alector from Sparta,
for the strong Megapenthes, the son of his old age,
born of a slave woman; for the gods showed Helen no more offspring
after she had once borne her lovely child,
Hermione, who had the beauty of golden Aphrodite.
οἱ δʼ ἷξον κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν,
πρὸς δʼ ἄρα δώματʼ ἔλων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
τὸν δʼ εὗρον δαινύντα γάμον πολλοῖσιν ἔτῃσιν
υἱέος ἠδὲ θυγατρὸς ἀμύμονος ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
τὴν μὲν Ἀχιλλῆος ῥηξήνορος υἱέι πέμπεν·
ἐν Τροίῃ γὰρ πρῶτον ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσε
δωσέμεναι, τοῖσιν δὲ θεοὶ γάμον ἐξετέλειον.
τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἔνθʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι πέμπε νέεσθαι
Μυρμιδόνων προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, οἷσιν ἄνασσεν.
υἱέι δὲ Σπάρτηθεν Ἀλέκτορος ἤγετο κούρην,
ὅς οἱ τηλύγετος γένετο κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης
ἐκ δούλης· Ἑλένῃ δὲ θεοὶ γόνον οὐκέτʼ ἔφαινον,
ἐπεὶ δὴ τὸ πρῶτον ἐγείνατο παῖδʼ ἐρατεινήν,
Ἑρμιόνην, ἣ εἶδος ἔχε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης.
πρὸς δʼ ἄρα δώματʼ ἔλων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
τὸν δʼ εὗρον δαινύντα γάμον πολλοῖσιν ἔτῃσιν
υἱέος ἠδὲ θυγατρὸς ἀμύμονος ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
τὴν μὲν Ἀχιλλῆος ῥηξήνορος υἱέι πέμπεν·
ἐν Τροίῃ γὰρ πρῶτον ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσε
δωσέμεναι, τοῖσιν δὲ θεοὶ γάμον ἐξετέλειον.
τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἔνθʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι πέμπε νέεσθαι
Μυρμιδόνων προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, οἷσιν ἄνασσεν.
υἱέι δὲ Σπάρτηθεν Ἀλέκτορος ἤγετο κούρην,
ὅς οἱ τηλύγετος γένετο κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης
ἐκ δούλης· Ἑλένῃ δὲ θεοὶ γόνον οὐκέτʼ ἔφαινον,
ἐπεὶ δὴ τὸ πρῶτον ἐγείνατο παῖδʼ ἐρατεινήν,
Ἑρμιόνην, ἣ εἶδος ἔχε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης.
So they were feasting through the great high-roofed house,
the neighbours and kinsmen of glorious Menelaus,
taking their pleasure; and among them a divine singer
made music on the lyre, and two tumblers, when he struck up
the song, whirled through the midst of them.
And the two of them halted in the forecourt of the house,
themselves and their horses — the hero Telemachus
and the shining son of Nestor. Eteoneus came out and saw them,
the lord’s busy attendant of glorious Menelaus,
and went off through the house to bring word to the shepherd of the people,
and standing close addressed him with winged words:
the neighbours and kinsmen of glorious Menelaus,
taking their pleasure; and among them a divine singer
made music on the lyre, and two tumblers, when he struck up
the song, whirled through the midst of them.
And the two of them halted in the forecourt of the house,
themselves and their horses — the hero Telemachus
and the shining son of Nestor. Eteoneus came out and saw them,
the lord’s busy attendant of glorious Menelaus,
and went off through the house to bring word to the shepherd of the people,
and standing close addressed him with winged words:
ὣς οἱ μὲν δαίνυντο καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα
γείτονες ἠδὲ ἔται Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
φορμίζων, δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατʼ αὐτούς,
μολπῆς ἐξάρχοντος, ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.
τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν προθύροισι δόμων αὐτώ τε καὶ ἵππω,
Τηλέμαχός θʼ ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,
στῆσαν· ὁ δὲ προμολὼν ἴδετο κρείων Ἐτεωνεύς,
ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν,
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
γείτονες ἠδὲ ἔται Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
φορμίζων, δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατʼ αὐτούς,
μολπῆς ἐξάρχοντος, ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.
τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν προθύροισι δόμων αὐτώ τε καὶ ἵππω,
Τηλέμαχός θʼ ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,
στῆσαν· ὁ δὲ προμολὼν ἴδετο κρείων Ἐτεωνεύς,
ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν,
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"There are two strangers here, Menelaus nurtured by Zeus,
two men, and in build they are like the offspring of great Zeus.
Say now, shall we unyoke their swift horses for them,
or send them on to another who may treat them kindly?"
Then, deeply vexed, fair-haired Menelaus said to him:
two men, and in build they are like the offspring of great Zeus.
Say now, shall we unyoke their swift horses for them,
or send them on to another who may treat them kindly?"
Then, deeply vexed, fair-haired Menelaus said to him:
ξείνω δή τινε τώδε, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε,
ἄνδρε δύω, γενεῇ δὲ Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἔικτον.
ἀλλʼ εἴπʼ, ἤ σφωιν καταλύσομεν ὠκέας ἵππους,
ἦ ἄλλον πέμπωμεν ἱκανέμεν, ὅς κε φιλήσῃ.
τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
ἄνδρε δύω, γενεῇ δὲ Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἔικτον.
ἀλλʼ εἴπʼ, ἤ σφωιν καταλύσομεν ὠκέας ἵππους,
ἦ ἄλλον πέμπωμεν ἱκανέμεν, ὅς κε φιλήσῃ.
τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
"You were no fool before this, Eteoneus, son of Boethous;
but now you talk childish nonsense like a boy.
but now you talk childish nonsense like a boy.
οὐ μὲν νήπιος ἦσθα, Βοηθοΐδη Ἐτεωνεῦ,
τὸ πρίν· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε πάϊς ὣς νήπια βάζεις.
τὸ πρίν· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε πάϊς ὣς νήπια βάζεις.
"Truly the two of us ate the guest-food of others,
often enough, before we came home here — if only Zeus
will spare us misery hereafter. Unyoke the strangers’
horses, and bring the men in to be feasted."
often enough, before we came home here — if only Zeus
will spare us misery hereafter. Unyoke the strangers’
horses, and bring the men in to be feasted."
ἦ μὲν δὴ νῶι ξεινήια πολλὰ φαγόντε
ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεθʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
ἐξοπίσω περ παύσῃ ὀιζύος. ἀλλὰ λύʼ ἵππους
ξείνων, ἐς δʼ αὐτοὺς προτέρω ἄγε θοινηθῆναι.
ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεθʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
ἐξοπίσω περ παύσῃ ὀιζύος. ἀλλὰ λύʼ ἵππους
ξείνων, ἐς δʼ αὐτοὺς προτέρω ἄγε θοινηθῆναι.
So he spoke, and the other rushed out through the hall and called
the other busy attendants to follow along with him.
They loosed the sweating horses from under the yoke,
and tied them at the mangers where the horses feed,
and threw down spelt for them and mixed white barley in,
and tilted the chariot against the bright wall of the forecourt,
and led the men into the god-built house. They looked
and marvelled through the house of the king nurtured by Zeus;
for there was a gleam as of the sun or the moon
through the high-roofed house of glorious Menelaus.
And when they had taken their fill of gazing with their eyes,
they stepped into the polished baths and washed.
And when the serving-women had bathed them and rubbed them with oil,
and thrown thick woollen cloaks and tunics about them,
they sat down on chairs beside Menelaus, son of Atreus.
A handmaid brought water in a pitcher and poured it
from a fine golden vessel over a silver basin,
for the washing of hands; and she drew up a polished table beside them.
The grave housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,
laying on many dishes, giving freely of her store;
and a carver lifted platters of meat and set them by,
meats of every kind, and placed golden cups beside them.
Fair-haired Menelaus greeted them with his hand and said:
the other busy attendants to follow along with him.
They loosed the sweating horses from under the yoke,
and tied them at the mangers where the horses feed,
and threw down spelt for them and mixed white barley in,
and tilted the chariot against the bright wall of the forecourt,
and led the men into the god-built house. They looked
and marvelled through the house of the king nurtured by Zeus;
for there was a gleam as of the sun or the moon
through the high-roofed house of glorious Menelaus.
And when they had taken their fill of gazing with their eyes,
they stepped into the polished baths and washed.
And when the serving-women had bathed them and rubbed them with oil,
and thrown thick woollen cloaks and tunics about them,
they sat down on chairs beside Menelaus, son of Atreus.
A handmaid brought water in a pitcher and poured it
from a fine golden vessel over a silver basin,
for the washing of hands; and she drew up a polished table beside them.
The grave housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,
laying on many dishes, giving freely of her store;
and a carver lifted platters of meat and set them by,
meats of every kind, and placed golden cups beside them.
Fair-haired Menelaus greeted them with his hand and said:
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δὲ μεγάροιο διέσσυτο, κέκλετο δʼ ἄλλους
ὀτρηροὺς θεράποντας ἅμα σπέσθαι ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.
οἱ δʼ ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας,
καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐφʼ ἱππείῃσι κάπῃσι,
πὰρ δʼ ἔβαλον ζειάς, ἀνὰ δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἔμιξαν,
ἅρματα δʼ ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,
αὐτοὺς δʼ εἰσῆγον θεῖον δόμον. οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες
θαύμαζον κατὰ δῶμα διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος·
ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης
δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
ἔς ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐυξέστας λούσαντο.
τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
ἔς ῥα θρόνους ἕζοντο παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Μενέλαον.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
δαιτρὸς δὲ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκεν ἀείρας
παντοίων, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κύπελλα.
τὼ καὶ δεικνύμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
ὀτρηροὺς θεράποντας ἅμα σπέσθαι ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.
οἱ δʼ ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας,
καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐφʼ ἱππείῃσι κάπῃσι,
πὰρ δʼ ἔβαλον ζειάς, ἀνὰ δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἔμιξαν,
ἅρματα δʼ ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,
αὐτοὺς δʼ εἰσῆγον θεῖον δόμον. οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες
θαύμαζον κατὰ δῶμα διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος·
ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης
δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
ἔς ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐυξέστας λούσαντο.
τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
ἔς ῥα θρόνους ἕζοντο παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Μενέλαον.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
δαιτρὸς δὲ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκεν ἀείρας
παντοίων, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κύπελλα.
τὼ καὶ δεικνύμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
"Take food and be welcome. Afterwards,
when you have tasted supper, we will ask you who you are
among men; for the stock of your parents has not been lost in you.
You are of the line of men who are kings nurtured by Zeus
and bearers of the staff, since no base men could father such sons."
when you have tasted supper, we will ask you who you are
among men; for the stock of your parents has not been lost in you.
You are of the line of men who are kings nurtured by Zeus
and bearers of the staff, since no base men could father such sons."
σίτου θʼ ἅπτεσθον καὶ χαίρετον. αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
δείπνου πασσαμένω εἰρησόμεθʼ, οἵ τινές ἐστον
ἀνδρῶν· οὐ γὰρ σφῷν γε γένος ἀπόλωλε τοκήων,
ἀλλʼ ἀνδρῶν γένος ἐστὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων
σκηπτούχων, ἐπεὶ οὔ κε κακοὶ τοιούσδε τέκοιεν.
δείπνου πασσαμένω εἰρησόμεθʼ, οἵ τινές ἐστον
ἀνδρῶν· οὐ γὰρ σφῷν γε γένος ἀπόλωλε τοκήων,
ἀλλʼ ἀνδρῶν γένος ἐστὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων
σκηπτούχων, ἐπεὶ οὔ κε κακοὶ τοιούσδε τέκοιεν.
So he spoke, and set beside them the rich chine of an ox,
lifting the roast portion in his hands, which had been laid before him as his honour.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then Telemachus spoke to the son of Nestor,
holding his head close, so that the others might not hear:
"Look, son of Nestor, delight of my heart,
at the flashing of bronze through the echoing house,
and of gold and amber and silver and ivory.
Such, I suppose, is the court of Olympian Zeus within —
so much beyond telling is here. Awe holds me as I look."
Fair-haired Menelaus caught what he was saying,
and he spoke to them and addressed them with winged words:
lifting the roast portion in his hands, which had been laid before him as his honour.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then Telemachus spoke to the son of Nestor,
holding his head close, so that the others might not hear:
"Look, son of Nestor, delight of my heart,
at the flashing of bronze through the echoing house,
and of gold and amber and silver and ivory.
Such, I suppose, is the court of Olympian Zeus within —
so much beyond telling is here. Awe holds me as I look."
Fair-haired Menelaus caught what he was saying,
and he spoke to them and addressed them with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, καί σφιν νῶτα βοὸς παρὰ πίονα θῆκεν
ὄπτʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἑλών, τά ῥά οἱ γέρα πάρθεσαν αὐτῷ.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν,
ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·
φράζεο, Νεστορίδη, τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ,
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπὴν κὰδ δώματα ἠχήεντα
χρυσοῦ τʼ ἠλέκτρου τε καὶ ἀργύρου ἠδʼ ἐλέφαντος.
Ζηνός που τοιήδε γʼ Ὀλυμπίου ἔνδοθεν αὐλή,
ὅσσα τάδʼ ἄσπετα πολλά· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
τοῦ δʼ ἀγορεύοντος ξύνετο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ὄπτʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἑλών, τά ῥά οἱ γέρα πάρθεσαν αὐτῷ.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν,
ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·
φράζεο, Νεστορίδη, τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ,
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπὴν κὰδ δώματα ἠχήεντα
χρυσοῦ τʼ ἠλέκτρου τε καὶ ἀργύρου ἠδʼ ἐλέφαντος.
Ζηνός που τοιήδε γʼ Ὀλυμπίου ἔνδοθεν αὐλή,
ὅσσα τάδʼ ἄσπετα πολλά· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
τοῦ δʼ ἀγορεύοντος ξύνετο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Dear children, no mortal could rival Zeus;
his house and his possessions are immortal.
But among men there may be one to rival me in wealth,
or there may not. Truly I suffered much and wandered much
before I brought it home in my ships, and came in the eighth year.
I wandered to Cyprus and Phoenicia and the Egyptians,
and reached the Ethiopians and the Sidonians and the Erembi,
and Libya, where the lambs grow their horns at once.
For there the ewes bear three times in the round of the year.
There neither lord nor shepherd goes short
of cheese or of meat or of sweet milk,
but they yield milk to the pail the whole year round.
While I was roaming about those lands, gathering much substance,
in that time another man killed my brother
in secret, unlooked for, by the guile of his accursed wife.
So it is with no joy that I am lord over these possessions.
You must have heard this from your fathers, whoever they are,
for I suffered very much, and I lost a house
that was well settled and held much and fine wealth.
I would rather live in my halls with a third of it,
and have those men alive who died in that time
at wide Troy, far from horse-pasturing Argos.
Yet even so, though I grieve and mourn for all of them,
often as I sit here in our halls,
sometimes I take my pleasure in lamentation, and sometimes
I leave off; for chilling grief soon has its fill.
Yet for none of them do I grieve so much, sorry as I am,
as for one, who makes me hate sleep and food
when I remember; for no Achaean laboured so much
as Odysseus laboured and endured. And for him it was fated
to have sorrows, and for me a pain past forgetting always
on his account, since he is so long gone, and we do not know
whether he is alive or dead. They are grieving for him surely,
Laertes the old man and steadfast Penelope
and Telemachus, whom he left newborn in his house."
his house and his possessions are immortal.
But among men there may be one to rival me in wealth,
or there may not. Truly I suffered much and wandered much
before I brought it home in my ships, and came in the eighth year.
I wandered to Cyprus and Phoenicia and the Egyptians,
and reached the Ethiopians and the Sidonians and the Erembi,
and Libya, where the lambs grow their horns at once.
For there the ewes bear three times in the round of the year.
There neither lord nor shepherd goes short
of cheese or of meat or of sweet milk,
but they yield milk to the pail the whole year round.
While I was roaming about those lands, gathering much substance,
in that time another man killed my brother
in secret, unlooked for, by the guile of his accursed wife.
So it is with no joy that I am lord over these possessions.
You must have heard this from your fathers, whoever they are,
for I suffered very much, and I lost a house
that was well settled and held much and fine wealth.
I would rather live in my halls with a third of it,
and have those men alive who died in that time
at wide Troy, far from horse-pasturing Argos.
Yet even so, though I grieve and mourn for all of them,
often as I sit here in our halls,
sometimes I take my pleasure in lamentation, and sometimes
I leave off; for chilling grief soon has its fill.
Yet for none of them do I grieve so much, sorry as I am,
as for one, who makes me hate sleep and food
when I remember; for no Achaean laboured so much
as Odysseus laboured and endured. And for him it was fated
to have sorrows, and for me a pain past forgetting always
on his account, since he is so long gone, and we do not know
whether he is alive or dead. They are grieving for him surely,
Laertes the old man and steadfast Penelope
and Telemachus, whom he left newborn in his house."
τέκνα φίλʼ, ἦ τοι Ζηνὶ βροτῶν οὐκ ἄν τις ἐρίζοι·
ἀθάνατοι γὰρ τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματʼ ἔασιν·
ἀνδρῶν δʼ ἤ κέν τίς μοι ἐρίσσεται, ἠὲ καὶ οὐκί,
κτήμασιν. ἦ γὰρ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθεὶς
ἠγαγόμην ἐν νηυσὶ καὶ ὀγδοάτῳ ἔτει ἦλθον,
Κύπρον Φοινίκην τε καὶ Αἰγυπτίους ἐπαληθείς,
Αἰθίοπάς θʼ ἱκόμην καὶ Σιδονίους καὶ Ἐρεμβοὺς
καὶ Λιβύην, ἵνα τʼ ἄρνες ἄφαρ κεραοὶ τελέθουσι.
τρὶς γὰρ τίκτει μῆλα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν.
ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε ἄναξ ἐπιδευὴς οὔτε τι ποιμὴν
τυροῦ καὶ κρειῶν οὐδὲ γλυκεροῖο γάλακτος,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ παρέχουσιν ἐπηετανὸν γάλα θῆσθαι.
ἧος ἐγὼ περὶ κεῖνα πολὺν βίοτον συναγείρων
ἠλώμην, τῆός μοι ἀδελφεὸν ἄλλος ἔπεφνεν
λάθρῃ, ἀνωιστί, δόλῳ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο·
ὣς οὔ τοι χαίρων τοῖσδε κτεάτεσσιν ἀνάσσω.
καὶ πατέρων τάδε μέλλετʼ ἀκουέμεν, οἵ τινες ὑμῖν
εἰσίν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον, καὶ ἀπώλεσα οἶκον
εὖ μάλα ναιετάοντα, κεχανδότα πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.
ὧν ὄφελον τριτάτην περ ἔχων ἐν δώμασι μοῖραν
ναίειν, οἱ δʼ ἄνδρες σόοι ἔμμεναι, οἳ τότʼ ὄλοντο
Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης πάντας μὲν ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων
πολλάκις ἐν μεγάροισι καθήμενος ἡμετέροισιν
ἄλλοτε μέν τε γόῳ φρένα τέρπομαι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε
παύομαι· αἰψηρὸς δὲ κόρος κρυεροῖο γόοιο.
τῶν πάντων οὐ τόσσον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ,
ὡς ἑνός, ὅς τέ μοι ὕπνον ἀπεχθαίρει καὶ ἐδωδὴν
μνωομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τις Ἀχαιῶν τόσσʼ ἐμόγησεν,
ὅσσʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἐμόγησε καὶ ἤρατο. τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν
αὐτῷ κήδεʼ ἔσεσθαι, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος αἰὲν ἄλαστον
κείνου, ὅπως δὴ δηρὸν ἀποίχεται, οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν,
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκεν. ὀδύρονταί νύ που αὐτὸν
Λαέρτης θʼ ὁ γέρων καὶ ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια
Τηλέμαχός θʼ, ὃν ἔλειπε νέον γεγαῶτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
ἀθάνατοι γὰρ τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματʼ ἔασιν·
ἀνδρῶν δʼ ἤ κέν τίς μοι ἐρίσσεται, ἠὲ καὶ οὐκί,
κτήμασιν. ἦ γὰρ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθεὶς
ἠγαγόμην ἐν νηυσὶ καὶ ὀγδοάτῳ ἔτει ἦλθον,
Κύπρον Φοινίκην τε καὶ Αἰγυπτίους ἐπαληθείς,
Αἰθίοπάς θʼ ἱκόμην καὶ Σιδονίους καὶ Ἐρεμβοὺς
καὶ Λιβύην, ἵνα τʼ ἄρνες ἄφαρ κεραοὶ τελέθουσι.
τρὶς γὰρ τίκτει μῆλα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν.
ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε ἄναξ ἐπιδευὴς οὔτε τι ποιμὴν
τυροῦ καὶ κρειῶν οὐδὲ γλυκεροῖο γάλακτος,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ παρέχουσιν ἐπηετανὸν γάλα θῆσθαι.
ἧος ἐγὼ περὶ κεῖνα πολὺν βίοτον συναγείρων
ἠλώμην, τῆός μοι ἀδελφεὸν ἄλλος ἔπεφνεν
λάθρῃ, ἀνωιστί, δόλῳ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο·
ὣς οὔ τοι χαίρων τοῖσδε κτεάτεσσιν ἀνάσσω.
καὶ πατέρων τάδε μέλλετʼ ἀκουέμεν, οἵ τινες ὑμῖν
εἰσίν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον, καὶ ἀπώλεσα οἶκον
εὖ μάλα ναιετάοντα, κεχανδότα πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.
ὧν ὄφελον τριτάτην περ ἔχων ἐν δώμασι μοῖραν
ναίειν, οἱ δʼ ἄνδρες σόοι ἔμμεναι, οἳ τότʼ ὄλοντο
Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης πάντας μὲν ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων
πολλάκις ἐν μεγάροισι καθήμενος ἡμετέροισιν
ἄλλοτε μέν τε γόῳ φρένα τέρπομαι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε
παύομαι· αἰψηρὸς δὲ κόρος κρυεροῖο γόοιο.
τῶν πάντων οὐ τόσσον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ,
ὡς ἑνός, ὅς τέ μοι ὕπνον ἀπεχθαίρει καὶ ἐδωδὴν
μνωομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τις Ἀχαιῶν τόσσʼ ἐμόγησεν,
ὅσσʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἐμόγησε καὶ ἤρατο. τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν
αὐτῷ κήδεʼ ἔσεσθαι, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος αἰὲν ἄλαστον
κείνου, ὅπως δὴ δηρὸν ἀποίχεται, οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν,
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκεν. ὀδύρονταί νύ που αὐτὸν
Λαέρτης θʼ ὁ γέρων καὶ ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια
Τηλέμαχός θʼ, ὃν ἔλειπε νέον γεγαῶτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
So he spoke, and stirred in him the longing to weep for his father.
He let the tears fall from his eyelids to the ground when he heard of his father,
and held his purple cloak up before his eyes
with both hands. Menelaus saw him,
and then debated in his mind and in his spirit
whether to let him speak of his father himself,
or to question him first and try him on every point.
While he was turning this over in his mind and in his spirit,
Helen came out from her high-roofed, fragrant chamber,
like Artemis of the golden distaff.
With her came Adraste, who set a well-made chair for her,
and Alcippe brought a rug of soft wool,
and Phylo brought a silver work-basket, which Alcandre had given her,
the wife of Polybus, who lived in Thebes
in Egypt, where the greatest wealth lies stored in the houses;
he gave Menelaus two silver bath-tubs,
and two tripods, and ten talents of gold.
And apart from that his wife gave Helen beautiful gifts:
a golden distaff, and a basket that ran on wheels,
made of silver, with the rims finished in gold.
This the handmaid Phylo brought and set beside her,
filled with finely spun yarn; and across it
lay the distaff, holding wool of a dark violet colour.
She sat down on the chair, and there was a footstool under her feet.
And at once she questioned her husband on every point:
"Do we know, Menelaus nurtured by Zeus, who these men
claim to be who have come to our house?
Shall I speak falsely, or say the truth? My spirit bids me speak.
For I say I have never seen anyone so like another,
neither man nor woman — awe holds me as I look —
as this man is like the son of great-hearted Odysseus,
like Telemachus, whom that man left newborn in his house
when for the sake of me, shameless as I was, you Achaeans
came under Troy, stirring up bold war."
Then fair-haired Menelaus answered her and said:
He let the tears fall from his eyelids to the ground when he heard of his father,
and held his purple cloak up before his eyes
with both hands. Menelaus saw him,
and then debated in his mind and in his spirit
whether to let him speak of his father himself,
or to question him first and try him on every point.
While he was turning this over in his mind and in his spirit,
Helen came out from her high-roofed, fragrant chamber,
like Artemis of the golden distaff.
With her came Adraste, who set a well-made chair for her,
and Alcippe brought a rug of soft wool,
and Phylo brought a silver work-basket, which Alcandre had given her,
the wife of Polybus, who lived in Thebes
in Egypt, where the greatest wealth lies stored in the houses;
he gave Menelaus two silver bath-tubs,
and two tripods, and ten talents of gold.
And apart from that his wife gave Helen beautiful gifts:
a golden distaff, and a basket that ran on wheels,
made of silver, with the rims finished in gold.
This the handmaid Phylo brought and set beside her,
filled with finely spun yarn; and across it
lay the distaff, holding wool of a dark violet colour.
She sat down on the chair, and there was a footstool under her feet.
And at once she questioned her husband on every point:
"Do we know, Menelaus nurtured by Zeus, who these men
claim to be who have come to our house?
Shall I speak falsely, or say the truth? My spirit bids me speak.
For I say I have never seen anyone so like another,
neither man nor woman — awe holds me as I look —
as this man is like the son of great-hearted Odysseus,
like Telemachus, whom that man left newborn in his house
when for the sake of me, shameless as I was, you Achaeans
came under Troy, stirring up bold war."
Then fair-haired Menelaus answered her and said:
ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα πατρὸς ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.
δάκρυ δʼ ἀπὸ βλεφάρων χαμάδις βάλε πατρὸς ἀκούσας,
χλαῖναν πορφυρέην ἄντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖιν ἀνασχὼν
ἀμφοτέρῃσιν χερσί. νόησε δέ μιν Μενέλαος,
μερμήριξε δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἠέ μιν αὐτὸν πατρὸς ἐάσειε μνησθῆναι
ἦ πρῶτʼ ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.
ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἐκ δʼ Ἑλένη θαλάμοιο θυώδεος ὑψορόφοιο
ἤλυθεν Ἀρτέμιδι χρυσηλακάτῳ ἐικυῖα.
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ Ἀδρήστη κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν,
Ἀλκίππη δὲ τάπητα φέρεν μαλακοῦ ἐρίοιο,
Φυλὼ δʼ ἀργύρεον τάλαρον φέρε, τόν οἱ ἔθηκεν
Ἀλκάνδρη, Πολύβοιο δάμαρ, ὃς ἔναιʼ ἐνὶ Θήβῃς
Αἰγυπτίῃς, ὅθι πλεῖστα δόμοις ἐν κτήματα κεῖται·
ὃς Μενελάῳ δῶκε δύʼ ἀργυρέας ἀσαμίνθους,
δοιοὺς δὲ τρίποδας, δέκα δὲ χρυσοῖο τάλαντα.
χωρὶς δʼ αὖθʼ Ἑλένῃ ἄλοχος πόρε κάλλιμα δῶρα·
χρυσέην τʼ ἠλακάτην τάλαρόν θʼ ὑπόκυκλον ὄπασσεν
ἀργύρεον, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράαντο.
τόν ῥά οἱ ἀμφίπολος Φυλὼ παρέθηκε φέρουσα
νήματος ἀσκητοῖο βεβυσμένον· αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ
ἠλακάτη τετάνυστο ἰοδνεφὲς εἶρος ἔχουσα.
ἕζετο δʼ ἐν κλισμῷ, ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἥ γʼ ἐπέεσσι πόσιν ἐρέεινεν ἕκαστα·
ἴδμεν δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οἵ τινες οἵδε
ἀνδρῶν εὐχετόωνται ἱκανέμεν ἡμέτερον δῶ;
ψεύσομαι ἦ ἔτυμον ἐρέω; κέλεται δέ με θυμός.
οὐ γάρ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαι
οὔτʼ ἄνδρʼ οὔτε γυναῖκα, σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωσαν,
ὡς ὅδʼ Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαλήτορος υἷι ἔοικε,
Τηλεμάχῳ, τὸν ἔλειπε νέον γεγαῶτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ὅτʼ ἐμεῖο κυνώπιδος εἵνεκʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
ἤλθεθʼ ὑπὸ Τροίην πόλεμον θρασὺν ὁρμαίνοντες.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
δάκρυ δʼ ἀπὸ βλεφάρων χαμάδις βάλε πατρὸς ἀκούσας,
χλαῖναν πορφυρέην ἄντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖιν ἀνασχὼν
ἀμφοτέρῃσιν χερσί. νόησε δέ μιν Μενέλαος,
μερμήριξε δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἠέ μιν αὐτὸν πατρὸς ἐάσειε μνησθῆναι
ἦ πρῶτʼ ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.
ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἐκ δʼ Ἑλένη θαλάμοιο θυώδεος ὑψορόφοιο
ἤλυθεν Ἀρτέμιδι χρυσηλακάτῳ ἐικυῖα.
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ Ἀδρήστη κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν,
Ἀλκίππη δὲ τάπητα φέρεν μαλακοῦ ἐρίοιο,
Φυλὼ δʼ ἀργύρεον τάλαρον φέρε, τόν οἱ ἔθηκεν
Ἀλκάνδρη, Πολύβοιο δάμαρ, ὃς ἔναιʼ ἐνὶ Θήβῃς
Αἰγυπτίῃς, ὅθι πλεῖστα δόμοις ἐν κτήματα κεῖται·
ὃς Μενελάῳ δῶκε δύʼ ἀργυρέας ἀσαμίνθους,
δοιοὺς δὲ τρίποδας, δέκα δὲ χρυσοῖο τάλαντα.
χωρὶς δʼ αὖθʼ Ἑλένῃ ἄλοχος πόρε κάλλιμα δῶρα·
χρυσέην τʼ ἠλακάτην τάλαρόν θʼ ὑπόκυκλον ὄπασσεν
ἀργύρεον, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράαντο.
τόν ῥά οἱ ἀμφίπολος Φυλὼ παρέθηκε φέρουσα
νήματος ἀσκητοῖο βεβυσμένον· αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ
ἠλακάτη τετάνυστο ἰοδνεφὲς εἶρος ἔχουσα.
ἕζετο δʼ ἐν κλισμῷ, ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἥ γʼ ἐπέεσσι πόσιν ἐρέεινεν ἕκαστα·
ἴδμεν δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οἵ τινες οἵδε
ἀνδρῶν εὐχετόωνται ἱκανέμεν ἡμέτερον δῶ;
ψεύσομαι ἦ ἔτυμον ἐρέω; κέλεται δέ με θυμός.
οὐ γάρ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαι
οὔτʼ ἄνδρʼ οὔτε γυναῖκα, σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωσαν,
ὡς ὅδʼ Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαλήτορος υἷι ἔοικε,
Τηλεμάχῳ, τὸν ἔλειπε νέον γεγαῶτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ὅτʼ ἐμεῖο κυνώπιδος εἵνεκʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
ἤλθεθʼ ὑπὸ Τροίην πόλεμον θρασὺν ὁρμαίνοντες.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
"So I too see it now, my wife, as you make out the likeness.
Such were his feet, such his hands,
and the glances of his eyes, and his head and the hair above it.
And just now, as I was remembering Odysseus
and telling how much he suffered and laboured
for my sake, that man let a bitter tear fall from under his brows
and held his purple cloak up before his eyes."
Then Peisistratus, son of Nestor, answered him in turn:
Such were his feet, such his hands,
and the glances of his eyes, and his head and the hair above it.
And just now, as I was remembering Odysseus
and telling how much he suffered and laboured
for my sake, that man let a bitter tear fall from under his brows
and held his purple cloak up before his eyes."
Then Peisistratus, son of Nestor, answered him in turn:
οὕτω νῦν καὶ ἐγὼ νοέω, γύναι, ὡς σὺ ἐίσκεις·
κείνου γὰρ τοιοίδε πόδες τοιαίδε τε χεῖρες
ὀφθαλμῶν τε βολαὶ κεφαλή τʼ ἐφύπερθέ τε χαῖται.
καὶ νῦν ἦ τοι ἐγὼ μεμνημένος ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι
μυθεόμην, ὅσα κεῖνος ὀιζύσας ἐμόγησεν
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, αὐτὰρ ὁ πικρὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβε,
χλαῖναν πορφυρέην ἄντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖιν ἀνασχών.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
κείνου γὰρ τοιοίδε πόδες τοιαίδε τε χεῖρες
ὀφθαλμῶν τε βολαὶ κεφαλή τʼ ἐφύπερθέ τε χαῖται.
καὶ νῦν ἦ τοι ἐγὼ μεμνημένος ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι
μυθεόμην, ὅσα κεῖνος ὀιζύσας ἐμόγησεν
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, αὐτὰρ ὁ πικρὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβε,
χλαῖναν πορφυρέην ἄντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖιν ἀνασχών.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the host,
this is truly that man’s son, as you say.
But he is modest, and shrinks in his spirit
from making a display of loose words on his first coming here,
before you, whose voice we delight in as in a god’s.
The Gerenian horseman Nestor sent me out
to come with him as his escort; for he longed to see you,
so that you might suggest to him some word or some deed.
For a son has many troubles at home when his father is gone
and there are no others to help him,
as it is now with Telemachus: his father is gone, and he has no others
in the land who might keep off ruin from him."
Then fair-haired Menelaus answered him and said:
this is truly that man’s son, as you say.
But he is modest, and shrinks in his spirit
from making a display of loose words on his first coming here,
before you, whose voice we delight in as in a god’s.
The Gerenian horseman Nestor sent me out
to come with him as his escort; for he longed to see you,
so that you might suggest to him some word or some deed.
For a son has many troubles at home when his father is gone
and there are no others to help him,
as it is now with Telemachus: his father is gone, and he has no others
in the land who might keep off ruin from him."
Then fair-haired Menelaus answered him and said:
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
κείνου μέν τοι ὅδʼ υἱὸς ἐτήτυμον, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·
ἀλλὰ σαόφρων ἐστί, νεμεσσᾶται δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ὧδʼ ἐλθὼν τὸ πρῶτον ἐπεσβολίας ἀναφαίνειν
ἄντα σέθεν, τοῦ νῶι θεοῦ ὣς τερπόμεθʼ αὐδῇ.
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προέηκε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ
τῷ ἅμα πομπὸν ἕπεσθαι· ἐέλδετο γάρ σε ἰδέσθαι,
ὄφρα οἱ ἤ τι ἔπος ὑποθήσεαι ἠέ τι ἔργον.
πολλὰ γὰρ ἄλγεʼ ἔχει πατρὸς πάϊς οἰχομένοιο
ἐν μεγάροις, ᾧ μὴ ἄλλοι ἀοσσητῆρες ἔωσιν,
ὡς νῦν Τηλεμάχῳ ὁ μὲν οἴχεται, οὐδέ οἱ ἄλλοι
εἴσʼ οἵ κεν κατὰ δῆμον ἀλάλκοιεν κακότητα.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
κείνου μέν τοι ὅδʼ υἱὸς ἐτήτυμον, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·
ἀλλὰ σαόφρων ἐστί, νεμεσσᾶται δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ὧδʼ ἐλθὼν τὸ πρῶτον ἐπεσβολίας ἀναφαίνειν
ἄντα σέθεν, τοῦ νῶι θεοῦ ὣς τερπόμεθʼ αὐδῇ.
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προέηκε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ
τῷ ἅμα πομπὸν ἕπεσθαι· ἐέλδετο γάρ σε ἰδέσθαι,
ὄφρα οἱ ἤ τι ἔπος ὑποθήσεαι ἠέ τι ἔργον.
πολλὰ γὰρ ἄλγεʼ ἔχει πατρὸς πάϊς οἰχομένοιο
ἐν μεγάροις, ᾧ μὴ ἄλλοι ἀοσσητῆρες ἔωσιν,
ὡς νῦν Τηλεμάχῳ ὁ μὲν οἴχεται, οὐδέ οἱ ἄλλοι
εἴσʼ οἵ κεν κατὰ δῆμον ἀλάλκοιεν κακότητα.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
"Ah me, so it is the son of a man I love who has come
to my house, one who endured many trials for my sake!
And I said that when he came I would treat him beyond all
the other Argives, if Olympian Zeus of the wide brows
had granted the two of us a homecoming over the sea in our swift ships.
I would have given him a city in Argos and built him a house,
and brought him from Ithaca with his goods and his son
and all his people, emptying one of the cities
that lie round about and are ruled by me myself.
Then we would have been often together here, and nothing else
would have parted us in our love and our delight,
until the black cloud of death had covered us over.
But the god himself must have grudged us that,
who made that man alone of them all without a homecoming."
to my house, one who endured many trials for my sake!
And I said that when he came I would treat him beyond all
the other Argives, if Olympian Zeus of the wide brows
had granted the two of us a homecoming over the sea in our swift ships.
I would have given him a city in Argos and built him a house,
and brought him from Ithaca with his goods and his son
and all his people, emptying one of the cities
that lie round about and are ruled by me myself.
Then we would have been often together here, and nothing else
would have parted us in our love and our delight,
until the black cloud of death had covered us over.
But the god himself must have grudged us that,
who made that man alone of them all without a homecoming."
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ φίλου ἀνέρος υἱὸς ἐμὸν δῶ
ἵκεθʼ, ὃς εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο πολέας ἐμόγησεν ἀέθλους·
καί μιν ἔφην ἐλθόντα φιλησέμεν ἔξοχον ἄλλων
Ἀργείων, εἰ νῶιν ὑπεὶρ ἅλα νόστον ἔδωκε
νηυσὶ θοῇσι γενέσθαι Ὀλύμπιος εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.
καί κέ οἱ Ἄργεϊ νάσσα πόλιν καὶ δώματʼ ἔτευξα,
ἐξ Ἰθάκης ἀγαγὼν σὺν κτήμασι καὶ τέκεϊ ᾧ
καὶ πᾶσιν λαοῖσι, μίαν πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξας,
αἳ περιναιετάουσιν, ἀνάσσονται δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ.
καί κε θάμʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντες ἐμισγόμεθʼ· οὐδέ κεν ἡμέας
ἄλλο διέκρινεν φιλέοντέ τε τερπομένω τε,
πρίν γʼ ὅτε δὴ θανάτοιο μέλαν νέφος ἀμφεκάλυψεν.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν που μέλλεν ἀγάσσεσθαι θεὸς αὐτός,
ὃς κεῖνον δύστηνον ἀνόστιμον οἶον ἔθηκεν.
ἵκεθʼ, ὃς εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο πολέας ἐμόγησεν ἀέθλους·
καί μιν ἔφην ἐλθόντα φιλησέμεν ἔξοχον ἄλλων
Ἀργείων, εἰ νῶιν ὑπεὶρ ἅλα νόστον ἔδωκε
νηυσὶ θοῇσι γενέσθαι Ὀλύμπιος εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.
καί κέ οἱ Ἄργεϊ νάσσα πόλιν καὶ δώματʼ ἔτευξα,
ἐξ Ἰθάκης ἀγαγὼν σὺν κτήμασι καὶ τέκεϊ ᾧ
καὶ πᾶσιν λαοῖσι, μίαν πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξας,
αἳ περιναιετάουσιν, ἀνάσσονται δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ.
καί κε θάμʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντες ἐμισγόμεθʼ· οὐδέ κεν ἡμέας
ἄλλο διέκρινεν φιλέοντέ τε τερπομένω τε,
πρίν γʼ ὅτε δὴ θανάτοιο μέλαν νέφος ἀμφεκάλυψεν.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν που μέλλεν ἀγάσσεσθαι θεὸς αὐτός,
ὃς κεῖνον δύστηνον ἀνόστιμον οἶον ἔθηκεν.
So he spoke, and stirred in them all the longing to weep.
Argive Helen wept, the daughter of Zeus,
and Telemachus wept, and Menelaus, son of Atreus,
nor did the son of Nestor keep his eyes free of tears;
for in his spirit he remembered blameless Antilochus,
whom the shining son of bright Dawn had killed.
Remembering him, he spoke winged words:
Argive Helen wept, the daughter of Zeus,
and Telemachus wept, and Menelaus, son of Atreus,
nor did the son of Nestor keep his eyes free of tears;
for in his spirit he remembered blameless Antilochus,
whom the shining son of bright Dawn had killed.
Remembering him, he spoke winged words:
ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.
κλαῖε μὲν Ἀργείη Ἑλένη, Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,
κλαῖε δὲ Τηλέμαχός τε καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος,
οὐδʼ ἄρα Νέστορος υἱὸς ἀδακρύτω ἔχεν ὄσσε·
μνήσατο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο,
τόν ῥʼ Ἠοῦς ἔκτεινε φαεινῆς ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
τοῦ ὅ γʼ ἐπιμνησθεὶς ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευεν·
κλαῖε μὲν Ἀργείη Ἑλένη, Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,
κλαῖε δὲ Τηλέμαχός τε καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος,
οὐδʼ ἄρα Νέστορος υἱὸς ἀδακρύτω ἔχεν ὄσσε·
μνήσατο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο,
τόν ῥʼ Ἠοῦς ἔκτεινε φαεινῆς ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
τοῦ ὅ γʼ ἐπιμνησθεὶς ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευεν·
"Son of Atreus, old Nestor used to say you were prudent
beyond all mortals, whenever we spoke of you
in his halls and questioned one another.
And now, if it may be, listen to me. I take no pleasure
in weeping after supper — and there will be a dawn
soon enough, early-born. I do not grudge it at all
that a man should weep for one of mortals who dies and meets his fate.
This is the only honour left to wretched mortals,
to cut the hair and let the tear fall from the cheeks.
For my own brother is dead, and not the worst
of the Argives; you must have known him. I myself
never met him nor saw him; but they say Antilochus was beyond
other men, swift to run beyond others, and a fighter."
Then fair-haired Menelaus answered him and said:
beyond all mortals, whenever we spoke of you
in his halls and questioned one another.
And now, if it may be, listen to me. I take no pleasure
in weeping after supper — and there will be a dawn
soon enough, early-born. I do not grudge it at all
that a man should weep for one of mortals who dies and meets his fate.
This is the only honour left to wretched mortals,
to cut the hair and let the tear fall from the cheeks.
For my own brother is dead, and not the worst
of the Argives; you must have known him. I myself
never met him nor saw him; but they say Antilochus was beyond
other men, swift to run beyond others, and a fighter."
Then fair-haired Menelaus answered him and said:
Ἀτρεΐδη, περὶ μέν σε βροτῶν πεπνυμένον εἶναι
Νέστωρ φάσχʼ ὁ γέρων, ὅτʼ ἐπιμνησαίμεθα σεῖο
οἷσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐρέοιμεν.
καὶ νῦν, εἴ τί που ἔστι, πίθοιό μοι· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε
τέρπομʼ ὀδυρόμενος μεταδόρπιος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἠὼς
ἔσσεται ἠριγένεια· νεμεσσῶμαί γε μὲν οὐδὲν
κλαίειν ὅς κε θάνῃσι βροτῶν καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.
τοῦτό νυ καὶ γέρας οἶον ὀιζυροῖσι βροτοῖσιν,
κείρασθαί τε κόμην βαλέειν τʼ ἀπὸ δάκρυ παρειῶν.
καὶ γὰρ ἐμὸς τέθνηκεν ἀδελφεός, οὔ τι κάκιστος
Ἀργείων· μέλλεις δὲ σὺ ἴδμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε
ἤντησʼ οὐδὲ ἴδον· περὶ δʼ ἄλλων φασὶ γενέσθαι
Ἀντίλοχον, πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺν ἠδὲ μαχητήν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
Νέστωρ φάσχʼ ὁ γέρων, ὅτʼ ἐπιμνησαίμεθα σεῖο
οἷσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐρέοιμεν.
καὶ νῦν, εἴ τί που ἔστι, πίθοιό μοι· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε
τέρπομʼ ὀδυρόμενος μεταδόρπιος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἠὼς
ἔσσεται ἠριγένεια· νεμεσσῶμαί γε μὲν οὐδὲν
κλαίειν ὅς κε θάνῃσι βροτῶν καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.
τοῦτό νυ καὶ γέρας οἶον ὀιζυροῖσι βροτοῖσιν,
κείρασθαί τε κόμην βαλέειν τʼ ἀπὸ δάκρυ παρειῶν.
καὶ γὰρ ἐμὸς τέθνηκεν ἀδελφεός, οὔ τι κάκιστος
Ἀργείων· μέλλεις δὲ σὺ ἴδμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε
ἤντησʼ οὐδὲ ἴδον· περὶ δʼ ἄλλων φασὶ γενέσθαι
Ἀντίλοχον, πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺν ἠδὲ μαχητήν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
"My friend, since you have said all that a prudent man
would say and do, even one older than yourself —
for you are the son of such a father, and speak with prudence.
Easily known is the offspring of a man to whom the son of Cronos
has spun out happiness in his marrying and in his begetting,
as he has now granted Nestor, continually, all his days,
that he should grow old in comfort in his halls
and have sons who are shrewd and the best with the spear.
Let us leave off the weeping that came upon us before,
and turn our thought to supper again, and let them pour
water over our hands. There will be words in the morning too
for Telemachus and me to speak through with each other."
would say and do, even one older than yourself —
for you are the son of such a father, and speak with prudence.
Easily known is the offspring of a man to whom the son of Cronos
has spun out happiness in his marrying and in his begetting,
as he has now granted Nestor, continually, all his days,
that he should grow old in comfort in his halls
and have sons who are shrewd and the best with the spear.
Let us leave off the weeping that came upon us before,
and turn our thought to supper again, and let them pour
water over our hands. There will be words in the morning too
for Telemachus and me to speak through with each other."
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεὶ τόσα εἶπες, ὅσʼ ἂν πεπνυμένος ἀνὴρ
εἴποι καὶ ῥέξειε, καὶ ὃς προγενέστερος εἴη·
τοίου γὰρ καὶ πατρός, ὃ καὶ πεπνυμένα βάζεις,
ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτος γόνος ἀνέρος ᾧ τε Κρονίων
ὄλβον ἐπικλώσῃ γαμέοντί τε γεινομένῳ τε,
ὡς νῦν Νέστορι δῶκε διαμπερὲς ἤματα πάντα
αὐτὸν μὲν λιπαρῶς γηρασκέμεν ἐν μεγάροισιν,
υἱέας αὖ πινυτούς τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν εἶναι ἀρίστους.
ἡμεῖς δὲ κλαυθμὸν μὲν ἐάσομεν, ὃς πρὶν ἐτύχθη,
δόρπου δʼ ἐξαῦτις μνησώμεθα, χερσὶ δʼ ἐφʼ ὕδωρ
χευάντων. μῦθοι δὲ καὶ ἠῶθέν περ ἔσονται
Τηλεμάχῳ καὶ ἐμοὶ διαειπέμεν ἀλλήλοισιν.
εἴποι καὶ ῥέξειε, καὶ ὃς προγενέστερος εἴη·
τοίου γὰρ καὶ πατρός, ὃ καὶ πεπνυμένα βάζεις,
ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτος γόνος ἀνέρος ᾧ τε Κρονίων
ὄλβον ἐπικλώσῃ γαμέοντί τε γεινομένῳ τε,
ὡς νῦν Νέστορι δῶκε διαμπερὲς ἤματα πάντα
αὐτὸν μὲν λιπαρῶς γηρασκέμεν ἐν μεγάροισιν,
υἱέας αὖ πινυτούς τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν εἶναι ἀρίστους.
ἡμεῖς δὲ κλαυθμὸν μὲν ἐάσομεν, ὃς πρὶν ἐτύχθη,
δόρπου δʼ ἐξαῦτις μνησώμεθα, χερσὶ δʼ ἐφʼ ὕδωρ
χευάντων. μῦθοι δὲ καὶ ἠῶθέν περ ἔσονται
Τηλεμάχῳ καὶ ἐμοὶ διαειπέμεν ἀλλήλοισιν.
So he spoke, and Asphalion poured water over their hands,
the busy attendant of glorious Menelaus.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
Then Helen, the daughter of Zeus, thought of something else.
At once she cast a drug into the wine they were drinking,
one that quiets pain and anger and makes a man forget all evils.
Whoever swallowed it, once it was mixed in the bowl,
would let no tear fall down his cheeks that day,
not even if his mother and his father had died,
not even if before his face they cut down his brother
or his own son with the bronze, and he saw it with his eyes.
Such cunning drugs the daughter of Zeus had,
good ones, which Polydamna gave her, the wife of Thon,
an Egyptian; for there the grain-giving earth bears the most
drugs, many good ones mixed together and many deadly.
And every man there is a physician, skilled beyond all
men; for they are of the race of Paeeon.
And when she had thrown it in and ordered the wine poured,
she spoke again and answered them with words:
the busy attendant of glorious Menelaus.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
Then Helen, the daughter of Zeus, thought of something else.
At once she cast a drug into the wine they were drinking,
one that quiets pain and anger and makes a man forget all evils.
Whoever swallowed it, once it was mixed in the bowl,
would let no tear fall down his cheeks that day,
not even if his mother and his father had died,
not even if before his face they cut down his brother
or his own son with the bronze, and he saw it with his eyes.
Such cunning drugs the daughter of Zeus had,
good ones, which Polydamna gave her, the wife of Thon,
an Egyptian; for there the grain-giving earth bears the most
drugs, many good ones mixed together and many deadly.
And every man there is a physician, skilled beyond all
men; for they are of the race of Paeeon.
And when she had thrown it in and ordered the wine poured,
she spoke again and answered them with words:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀσφαλίων δʼ ἄρʼ ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευεν,
ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα·
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ εἰς οἶνον βάλε φάρμακον, ἔνθεν ἔπινον,
νηπενθές τʼ ἄχολόν τε, κακῶν ἐπίληθον ἁπάντων.
ὃς τὸ καταβρόξειεν, ἐπὴν κρητῆρι μιγείη,
οὔ κεν ἐφημέριός γε βάλοι κατὰ δάκρυ παρειῶν,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ κατατεθναίη μήτηρ τε πατήρ τε,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ προπάροιθεν ἀδελφεὸν ἢ φίλον υἱὸν
χαλκῷ δηιόῳεν, ὁ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῷτο.
τοῖα Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἔχε φάρμακα μητιόεντα,
ἐσθλά, τά οἱ Πολύδαμνα πόρεν, Θῶνος παράκοιτις
Αἰγυπτίη, τῇ πλεῖστα φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουρα
φάρμακα, πολλὰ μὲν ἐσθλὰ μεμιγμένα πολλὰ δὲ λυγρά·
ἰητρὸς δὲ ἕκαστος ἐπιστάμενος περὶ πάντων
ἀνθρώπων· ἦ γὰρ Παιήονός εἰσι γενέθλης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐνέηκε κέλευσέ τε οἰνοχοῆσαι,
ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπεν·
ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα·
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ εἰς οἶνον βάλε φάρμακον, ἔνθεν ἔπινον,
νηπενθές τʼ ἄχολόν τε, κακῶν ἐπίληθον ἁπάντων.
ὃς τὸ καταβρόξειεν, ἐπὴν κρητῆρι μιγείη,
οὔ κεν ἐφημέριός γε βάλοι κατὰ δάκρυ παρειῶν,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ κατατεθναίη μήτηρ τε πατήρ τε,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ προπάροιθεν ἀδελφεὸν ἢ φίλον υἱὸν
χαλκῷ δηιόῳεν, ὁ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῷτο.
τοῖα Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἔχε φάρμακα μητιόεντα,
ἐσθλά, τά οἱ Πολύδαμνα πόρεν, Θῶνος παράκοιτις
Αἰγυπτίη, τῇ πλεῖστα φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουρα
φάρμακα, πολλὰ μὲν ἐσθλὰ μεμιγμένα πολλὰ δὲ λυγρά·
ἰητρὸς δὲ ἕκαστος ἐπιστάμενος περὶ πάντων
ἀνθρώπων· ἦ γὰρ Παιήονός εἰσι γενέθλης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐνέηκε κέλευσέ τε οἰνοχοῆσαι,
ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπεν·
"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, and you also,
sons of noble men — the god Zeus gives good
and evil now to one man, now to another; he can do all things.
sons of noble men — the god Zeus gives good
and evil now to one man, now to another; he can do all things.
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἠδὲ καὶ οἵδε
ἀνδρῶν ἐσθλῶν παῖδες· ἀτὰρ θεὸς ἄλλοτε ἄλλῳ
Ζεὺς ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε διδοῖ· δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα·
ἀνδρῶν ἐσθλῶν παῖδες· ἀτὰρ θεὸς ἄλλοτε ἄλλῳ
Ζεὺς ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε διδοῖ· δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα·
"Sit now in the halls and feast
and take pleasure in words; for I will tell you a fitting one.
I could not tell or name all of them,
all the trials of enduring-hearted Odysseus;
but here is one thing the strong man did and endured
in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered misery.
He mastered himself with shameful blows,
threw wretched rags about his shoulders like a household slave,
and slipped into the wide-wayed city of enemy men;
and hiding himself, he made himself look like another man,
a beggar, who was nothing of the sort beside the ships of the Achaeans.
In that likeness he slipped into the city of the Trojans, and they all
noticed nothing. I alone knew him for what he was,
and questioned him; but he in his cunning kept eluding me.
But when at last I had bathed him and rubbed him with oil,
and put clothing about him, and sworn a strong oath
not to reveal Odysseus among the Trojans
until he had got back to the swift ships and the huts,
then he recounted to me all the purpose of the Achaeans.
And after killing many Trojans with the long-edged bronze
he came back to the Argives, and brought away much knowledge.
Then the other Trojan women wailed aloud; but my own heart
was glad, since already my heart had turned to going back
home again, and I mourned the ruin that Aphrodite
had given me, when she led me there from my own dear land,
away from my child and my bridal chamber and my husband,
a man who lacked nothing, either in mind or in looks."
Then fair-haired Menelaus answered her and said:
and take pleasure in words; for I will tell you a fitting one.
I could not tell or name all of them,
all the trials of enduring-hearted Odysseus;
but here is one thing the strong man did and endured
in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered misery.
He mastered himself with shameful blows,
threw wretched rags about his shoulders like a household slave,
and slipped into the wide-wayed city of enemy men;
and hiding himself, he made himself look like another man,
a beggar, who was nothing of the sort beside the ships of the Achaeans.
In that likeness he slipped into the city of the Trojans, and they all
noticed nothing. I alone knew him for what he was,
and questioned him; but he in his cunning kept eluding me.
But when at last I had bathed him and rubbed him with oil,
and put clothing about him, and sworn a strong oath
not to reveal Odysseus among the Trojans
until he had got back to the swift ships and the huts,
then he recounted to me all the purpose of the Achaeans.
And after killing many Trojans with the long-edged bronze
he came back to the Argives, and brought away much knowledge.
Then the other Trojan women wailed aloud; but my own heart
was glad, since already my heart had turned to going back
home again, and I mourned the ruin that Aphrodite
had given me, when she led me there from my own dear land,
away from my child and my bridal chamber and my husband,
a man who lacked nothing, either in mind or in looks."
Then fair-haired Menelaus answered her and said:
ἦ τοι νῦν δαίνυσθε καθήμενοι ἐν μεγάροισι
καὶ μύθοις τέρπεσθε· ἐοικότα γὰρ καταλέξω.
πάντα μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,
ὅσσοι Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονός εἰσιν ἄεθλοι·
ἀλλʼ οἷον τόδʼ ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί.
αὐτόν μιν πληγῇσιν ἀεικελίῃσι δαμάσσας,
σπεῖρα κάκʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι βαλών, οἰκῆι ἐοικώς,
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων κατέδυ πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν·
ἄλλῳ δʼ αὐτὸν φωτὶ κατακρύπτων ἤισκε,
δέκτῃ, ὃς οὐδὲν τοῖος ἔην ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
τῷ ἴκελος κατέδυ Τρώων πόλιν, οἱ δʼ ἀβάκησαν
πάντες· ἐγὼ δέ μιν οἴη ἀνέγνων τοῖον ἐόντα,
καί μιν ἀνηρώτων· ὁ δὲ κερδοσύνῃ ἀλέεινεν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν ἐγὼ λόεον καὶ χρῖον ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσα καὶ ὤμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον
μὴ μὲν πρὶν Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ Τρώεσσʼ ἀναφῆναι,
πρίν γε τὸν ἐς νῆάς τε θοὰς κλισίας τʼ ἀφικέσθαι,
καὶ τότε δή μοι πάντα νόον κατέλεξεν Ἀχαιῶν.
πολλοὺς δὲ Τρώων κτείνας ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ
ἦλθε μετʼ Ἀργείους, κατὰ δὲ φρόνιν ἤγαγε πολλήν.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλαι Τρῳαὶ λίγʼ ἐκώκυον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ
χαῖρʼ, ἐπεὶ ἤδη μοι κραδίη τέτραπτο νέεσθαι
ἂψ οἶκόνδʼ, ἄτην δὲ μετέστενον, ἣν Ἀφροδίτη
δῶχʼ, ὅτε μʼ ἤγαγε κεῖσε φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης,
παῖδά τʼ ἐμὴν νοσφισσαμένην θάλαμόν τε πόσιν τε
οὔ τευ δευόμενον, οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτε τι εἶδος.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
καὶ μύθοις τέρπεσθε· ἐοικότα γὰρ καταλέξω.
πάντα μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,
ὅσσοι Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονός εἰσιν ἄεθλοι·
ἀλλʼ οἷον τόδʼ ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί.
αὐτόν μιν πληγῇσιν ἀεικελίῃσι δαμάσσας,
σπεῖρα κάκʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι βαλών, οἰκῆι ἐοικώς,
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων κατέδυ πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν·
ἄλλῳ δʼ αὐτὸν φωτὶ κατακρύπτων ἤισκε,
δέκτῃ, ὃς οὐδὲν τοῖος ἔην ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
τῷ ἴκελος κατέδυ Τρώων πόλιν, οἱ δʼ ἀβάκησαν
πάντες· ἐγὼ δέ μιν οἴη ἀνέγνων τοῖον ἐόντα,
καί μιν ἀνηρώτων· ὁ δὲ κερδοσύνῃ ἀλέεινεν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν ἐγὼ λόεον καὶ χρῖον ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσα καὶ ὤμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον
μὴ μὲν πρὶν Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ Τρώεσσʼ ἀναφῆναι,
πρίν γε τὸν ἐς νῆάς τε θοὰς κλισίας τʼ ἀφικέσθαι,
καὶ τότε δή μοι πάντα νόον κατέλεξεν Ἀχαιῶν.
πολλοὺς δὲ Τρώων κτείνας ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ
ἦλθε μετʼ Ἀργείους, κατὰ δὲ φρόνιν ἤγαγε πολλήν.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλαι Τρῳαὶ λίγʼ ἐκώκυον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ
χαῖρʼ, ἐπεὶ ἤδη μοι κραδίη τέτραπτο νέεσθαι
ἂψ οἶκόνδʼ, ἄτην δὲ μετέστενον, ἣν Ἀφροδίτη
δῶχʼ, ὅτε μʼ ἤγαγε κεῖσε φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης,
παῖδά τʼ ἐμὴν νοσφισσαμένην θάλαμόν τε πόσιν τε
οὔ τευ δευόμενον, οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτε τι εἶδος.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
"Yes, my wife, all this you have said as it should be.
By now I have learned the counsel and the mind of many
heroic men, and I have gone over much of the earth;
but never yet have I seen with my eyes such a man
as the heart of enduring-hearted Odysseus was.
Here is another thing the strong man did and endured
in the carved horse, where all we the best of the Argives
were sitting, bringing slaughter and death to the Trojans.
Then you came there. Some divine power must have bidden you,
one who wished to give glory to the Trojans;
and Deiphobus, godlike in semblance, came with you as you went.
Three times you walked round the hollow ambush, feeling it over,
and called out the best of the Danaans by name,
making your voice like the voices of all the Argives’ wives.
But I and the son of Tydeus and noble Odysseus,
sitting in the middle, heard how you cried out.
The two of us were seized with a fierce urge to rise
and either come out, or answer you at once from within;
but Odysseus held us back and checked us for all our eagerness.
Then all the other sons of the Achaeans kept silence,
and Anticlus alone was minded to answer you
with words. But Odysseus pressed his hands over his mouth
without relenting, with all his strength, and saved all the Achaeans;
and he held him so until Pallas Athena led you away."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
By now I have learned the counsel and the mind of many
heroic men, and I have gone over much of the earth;
but never yet have I seen with my eyes such a man
as the heart of enduring-hearted Odysseus was.
Here is another thing the strong man did and endured
in the carved horse, where all we the best of the Argives
were sitting, bringing slaughter and death to the Trojans.
Then you came there. Some divine power must have bidden you,
one who wished to give glory to the Trojans;
and Deiphobus, godlike in semblance, came with you as you went.
Three times you walked round the hollow ambush, feeling it over,
and called out the best of the Danaans by name,
making your voice like the voices of all the Argives’ wives.
But I and the son of Tydeus and noble Odysseus,
sitting in the middle, heard how you cried out.
The two of us were seized with a fierce urge to rise
and either come out, or answer you at once from within;
but Odysseus held us back and checked us for all our eagerness.
Then all the other sons of the Achaeans kept silence,
and Anticlus alone was minded to answer you
with words. But Odysseus pressed his hands over his mouth
without relenting, with all his strength, and saved all the Achaeans;
and he held him so until Pallas Athena led you away."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, γύναι, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων ἐδάην βουλήν τε νόον τε
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, πολλὴν δʼ ἐπελήλυθα γαῖαν·
ἀλλʼ οὔ πω τοιοῦτον ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
οἷον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἔσκε φίλον κῆρ.
οἷον καὶ τόδʼ ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ
ἵππῳ ἔνι ξεστῷ, ἵνʼ ἐνήμεθα πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες.
ἦλθες ἔπειτα σὺ κεῖσε· κελευσέμεναι δέ σʼ ἔμελλε
δαίμων, ὃς Τρώεσσιν ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι·
καί τοι Δηΐφοβος θεοείκελος ἕσπετʼ ἰούσῃ.
τρὶς δὲ περίστειξας κοῖλον λόχον ἀμφαφόωσα,
ἐκ δʼ ὀνομακλήδην Δαναῶν ὀνόμαζες ἀρίστους,
πάντων Ἀργείων φωνὴν ἴσκουσʼ ἀλόχοισιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ Τυδεΐδης καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἥμενοι ἐν μέσσοισιν ἀκούσαμεν ὡς ἐβόησας.
νῶι μὲν ἀμφοτέρω μενεήναμεν ὁρμηθέντε
ἢ ἐξελθέμεναι, ἢ ἔνδοθεν αἶψʼ ὑπακοῦσαι·
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένω περ.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀκὴν ἔσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
Ἄντικλος δὲ σέ γʼ οἶος ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσιν
ἤθελεν. ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἐπὶ μάστακα χερσὶ πίεζεν
νωλεμέως κρατερῇσι, σάωσε δὲ πάντας Ἀχαιούς·
τόφρα δʼ ἔχʼ, ὄφρα σε νόσφιν ἀπήγαγε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἤδη μὲν πολέων ἐδάην βουλήν τε νόον τε
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, πολλὴν δʼ ἐπελήλυθα γαῖαν·
ἀλλʼ οὔ πω τοιοῦτον ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
οἷον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἔσκε φίλον κῆρ.
οἷον καὶ τόδʼ ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ
ἵππῳ ἔνι ξεστῷ, ἵνʼ ἐνήμεθα πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες.
ἦλθες ἔπειτα σὺ κεῖσε· κελευσέμεναι δέ σʼ ἔμελλε
δαίμων, ὃς Τρώεσσιν ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι·
καί τοι Δηΐφοβος θεοείκελος ἕσπετʼ ἰούσῃ.
τρὶς δὲ περίστειξας κοῖλον λόχον ἀμφαφόωσα,
ἐκ δʼ ὀνομακλήδην Δαναῶν ὀνόμαζες ἀρίστους,
πάντων Ἀργείων φωνὴν ἴσκουσʼ ἀλόχοισιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ Τυδεΐδης καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἥμενοι ἐν μέσσοισιν ἀκούσαμεν ὡς ἐβόησας.
νῶι μὲν ἀμφοτέρω μενεήναμεν ὁρμηθέντε
ἢ ἐξελθέμεναι, ἢ ἔνδοθεν αἶψʼ ὑπακοῦσαι·
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένω περ.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀκὴν ἔσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
Ἄντικλος δὲ σέ γʼ οἶος ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσιν
ἤθελεν. ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἐπὶ μάστακα χερσὶ πίεζεν
νωλεμέως κρατερῇσι, σάωσε δὲ πάντας Ἀχαιούς·
τόφρα δʼ ἔχʼ, ὄφρα σε νόσφιν ἀπήγαγε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the host,
it is the harder for that: none of this kept bitter death from him,
not though the heart within him had been of iron.
But come, send us to bed, so that even now
we may lie down and take our pleasure in sweet sleep."
it is the harder for that: none of this kept bitter death from him,
not though the heart within him had been of iron.
But come, send us to bed, so that even now
we may lie down and take our pleasure in sweet sleep."
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἄλγιον· οὐ γάρ οἵ τι τάδʼ ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ κραδίη γε σιδηρέη ἔνδοθεν ἦεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ εἰς εὐνὴν τράπεθʼ ἡμέας, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδη
ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντες.
ἄλγιον· οὐ γάρ οἵ τι τάδʼ ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ κραδίη γε σιδηρέη ἔνδοθεν ἦεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ εἰς εὐνὴν τράπεθʼ ἡμέας, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδη
ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντες.
So he spoke, and Argive Helen ordered her serving-women
to set bedsteads under the portico and throw fine blankets
of purple on them, and spread rugs over these,
and lay woollen cloaks on top for covering.
They went out of the hall holding torches in their hands,
and spread the beds; and a herald led the strangers out.
So they lay down to sleep there in the forecourt of the house,
the hero Telemachus and the shining son of Nestor;
and the son of Atreus slept in the inner room of the high house,
and beside him Helen of the long robe lay down, noble among women.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
Menelaus good at the war-cry rose from his bed,
put on his clothes and slung the sharp sword about his shoulder,
bound the beautiful sandals beneath his shining feet,
and went out of the chamber, like a god to look upon,
and sat down beside Telemachus, and spoke, and called him by name:
to set bedsteads under the portico and throw fine blankets
of purple on them, and spread rugs over these,
and lay woollen cloaks on top for covering.
They went out of the hall holding torches in their hands,
and spread the beds; and a herald led the strangers out.
So they lay down to sleep there in the forecourt of the house,
the hero Telemachus and the shining son of Nestor;
and the son of Atreus slept in the inner room of the high house,
and beside him Helen of the long robe lay down, noble among women.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
Menelaus good at the war-cry rose from his bed,
put on his clothes and slung the sharp sword about his shoulder,
bound the beautiful sandals beneath his shining feet,
and went out of the chamber, like a god to look upon,
and sat down beside Telemachus, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργείη δʼ Ἑλένη δμῳῇσι κέλευσεν
δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ
πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας,
χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.
αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι,
δέμνια δὲ στόρεσαν· ἐκ δὲ ξείνους ἄγε κῆρυξ.
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν προδόμῳ δόμου αὐτόθι κοιμήσαντο,
Τηλέμαχός θʼ ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ καθεῦδε μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,
πὰρ δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἐλέξατο, δῖα γυναικῶν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ,
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος ἄντην,
Τηλεμάχῳ δὲ παρῖζεν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ
πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας,
χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.
αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι,
δέμνια δὲ στόρεσαν· ἐκ δὲ ξείνους ἄγε κῆρυξ.
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν προδόμῳ δόμου αὐτόθι κοιμήσαντο,
Τηλέμαχός θʼ ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ καθεῦδε μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,
πὰρ δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἐλέξατο, δῖα γυναικῶν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ,
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος ἄντην,
Τηλεμάχῳ δὲ παρῖζεν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"What need has brought you here, Telemachus my hero,
to noble Lacedaemon, over the broad back of the sea?
A public matter or a private one? Tell me the unerring truth."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
to noble Lacedaemon, over the broad back of the sea?
A public matter or a private one? Tell me the unerring truth."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
τίπτε δέ σε χρειὼ δεῦρʼ ἤγαγε, Τηλέμαχʼ ἥρως,
ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν, ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης;
δήμιον ἦ ἴδιον; τόδε μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν, ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης;
δήμιον ἦ ἴδιον; τόδε μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the host,
I came in case you might tell me some word of my father.
My house is being eaten up, my rich fields are ruined,
my home is full of enemy men, who are forever
slaughtering my thronging sheep and my shambling, crook-horned cattle —
suitors of my mother, men of overbearing insolence.
So now I come to your knees, in case you are willing
to tell of his bitter death, if you saw it anywhere
with your own eyes, or heard the tale from another
who wandered. His mother bore him to misery beyond all men.
Do not soften it out of respect for me, or out of pity,
but recount to me exactly what came before your sight.
I beg you: if ever my father, noble Odysseus,
undertook and carried through for you any word or any deed
in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered misery,
remember it for me now, and tell me the unerring truth."
Then, deeply vexed, fair-haired Menelaus said to him:
"Ah me, so they were minded to lie in the bed
of a man of mighty spirit, and they cowards themselves!
As when in the thicket of a strong lion a doe
has laid her newborn suckling fawns to sleep
and goes ranging over the mountain spurs and the grassy glens
to graze, and then the lion comes back into his lair
and lets loose an ugly death upon them both —
so will Odysseus let loose an ugly death on those men.
Would that, father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
in such a form as once in well-built Lesbos
he stood up and wrestled with Philomeleides out of a quarrel,
and threw him down hard, and all the Achaeans rejoiced —
such as he was then, let Odysseus come among the suitors:
they would all be swift to die and find their marriage bitter.
But as for what you ask me and beg of me, I will not
speak wide of it and put you off, nor will I deceive you;
but of what the unerring old man of the sea told me,
I will hide not one word from you, nor keep any of it back.
The gods still held me in Egypt, eager as I was to come here,
because I had not offered them full hecatombs;
and the gods always wanted men to remember their commands.
Now there is an island in the much-buffeted sea,
in front of Egypt, and they call it Pharos,
as far off as a hollow ship makes in a whole day
when a shrill wind blows behind her;
and in it is a good harbour, from which men launch
their balanced ships to sea, when they have drawn the dark water.
There the gods held me twenty days, and never did the winds
appear blowing over the sea, which are the escorts
of ships over the broad back of the sea.
And now all the provisions and the strength of my men would have gone,
had not one of the gods pitied me and saved me,
the daughter of mighty Proteus, the old man of the sea,
Eidothea; for it was her spirit above all that I stirred.
She met me as I wandered alone away from my companions;
for they were always roaming about the island and fishing
with bent hooks, and hunger wore at their bellies.
She stood close to me and spoke and said:
I came in case you might tell me some word of my father.
My house is being eaten up, my rich fields are ruined,
my home is full of enemy men, who are forever
slaughtering my thronging sheep and my shambling, crook-horned cattle —
suitors of my mother, men of overbearing insolence.
So now I come to your knees, in case you are willing
to tell of his bitter death, if you saw it anywhere
with your own eyes, or heard the tale from another
who wandered. His mother bore him to misery beyond all men.
Do not soften it out of respect for me, or out of pity,
but recount to me exactly what came before your sight.
I beg you: if ever my father, noble Odysseus,
undertook and carried through for you any word or any deed
in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered misery,
remember it for me now, and tell me the unerring truth."
Then, deeply vexed, fair-haired Menelaus said to him:
"Ah me, so they were minded to lie in the bed
of a man of mighty spirit, and they cowards themselves!
As when in the thicket of a strong lion a doe
has laid her newborn suckling fawns to sleep
and goes ranging over the mountain spurs and the grassy glens
to graze, and then the lion comes back into his lair
and lets loose an ugly death upon them both —
so will Odysseus let loose an ugly death on those men.
Would that, father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
in such a form as once in well-built Lesbos
he stood up and wrestled with Philomeleides out of a quarrel,
and threw him down hard, and all the Achaeans rejoiced —
such as he was then, let Odysseus come among the suitors:
they would all be swift to die and find their marriage bitter.
But as for what you ask me and beg of me, I will not
speak wide of it and put you off, nor will I deceive you;
but of what the unerring old man of the sea told me,
I will hide not one word from you, nor keep any of it back.
The gods still held me in Egypt, eager as I was to come here,
because I had not offered them full hecatombs;
and the gods always wanted men to remember their commands.
Now there is an island in the much-buffeted sea,
in front of Egypt, and they call it Pharos,
as far off as a hollow ship makes in a whole day
when a shrill wind blows behind her;
and in it is a good harbour, from which men launch
their balanced ships to sea, when they have drawn the dark water.
There the gods held me twenty days, and never did the winds
appear blowing over the sea, which are the escorts
of ships over the broad back of the sea.
And now all the provisions and the strength of my men would have gone,
had not one of the gods pitied me and saved me,
the daughter of mighty Proteus, the old man of the sea,
Eidothea; for it was her spirit above all that I stirred.
She met me as I wandered alone away from my companions;
for they were always roaming about the island and fishing
with bent hooks, and hunger wore at their bellies.
She stood close to me and spoke and said:
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἤλυθον, εἴ τινά μοι κληηδόνα πατρὸς ἐνίσποις.
ἐσθίεταί μοι οἶκος, ὄλωλε δὲ πίονα ἔργα,
δυσμενέων δʼ ἀνδρῶν πλεῖος δόμος, οἵ τέ μοι αἰεὶ
μῆλʼ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς,
μητρὸς ἐμῆς μνηστῆρες ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα
κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον ἐνισπεῖν, εἴ που ὄπωπας
ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσιν ἢ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσας
πλαζομένου· περὶ γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.
μηδέ τί μʼ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδʼ ἐλεαίρων,
ἀλλʼ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.
λίσσομαι, εἴ ποτέ τοί τι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἢ ἔπος ἠέ τι ἔργον ὑποστὰς ἐξετέλεσσε
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί,
τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.
τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέθη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ κρατερόφρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν εὐνῇ
ἤθελον εὐνηθῆναι ἀνάλκιδες αὐτοὶ ἐόντες.
ὡς δʼ ὁπότʼ ἐν ξυλόχῳ ἔλαφος κρατεροῖο λέοντος
νεβροὺς κοιμήσασα νεηγενέας γαλαθηνοὺς
κνημοὺς ἐξερέῃσι καὶ ἄγκεα ποιήεντα
βοσκομένη, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα ἑὴν εἰσήλυθεν εὐνήν,
ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκεν,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κείνοισιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσει.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
τοῖος ἐών, οἷός ποτʼ ἐυκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Λέσβῳ
ἐξ ἔριδος Φιλομηλεΐδῃ ἐπάλαισεν ἀναστάς,
κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε κρατερῶς, κεχάροντο δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,
τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.
ταῦτα δʼ ἅ μʼ εἰρωτᾷς καὶ λίσσεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε
ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδόν, οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,
τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.
Αἰγύπτῳ μʼ ἔτι δεῦρο θεοὶ μεμαῶτα νέεσθαι
ἔσχον, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφιν ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.
οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ βούλοντο θεοὶ μεμνῆσθαι ἐφετμέων.
νῆσος ἔπειτά τις ἔστι πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
Αἰγύπτου προπάροιθε, Φάρον δέ ἑ κικλήσκουσι,
τόσσον ἄνευθʼ ὅσσον τε πανημερίη γλαφυρὴ νηῦς
ἤνυσεν, ᾗ λιγὺς οὖρος ἐπιπνείῃσιν ὄπισθεν·
ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ὅθεν τʼ ἀπὸ νῆας ἐίσας
ἐς πόντον βάλλουσιν, ἀφυσσάμενοι μέλαν ὕδωρ.
ἔνθα μʼ ἐείκοσιν ἤματʼ ἔχον θεοί, οὐδέ ποτʼ οὖροι
πνείοντες φαίνονθʼ ἁλιαέες, οἵ ῥά τε νηῶν
πομπῆες γίγνονται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.
καί νύ κεν ἤια πάντα κατέφθιτο καὶ μένεʼ ἀνδρῶν,
εἰ μή τίς με θεῶν ὀλοφύρατο καί μʼ ἐσάωσε,
Πρωτέος ἰφθίμου θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος,
Εἰδοθέη· τῇ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά γε θυμὸν ὄρινα.
ἥ μʼ οἴῳ ἔρροντι συνήντετο νόσφιν ἑταίρων·
αἰεὶ γὰρ περὶ νῆσον ἀλώμενοι ἰχθυάασκον
γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν, ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμός.
ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα ἔπος φάτο φώνησέν τε·
ἤλυθον, εἴ τινά μοι κληηδόνα πατρὸς ἐνίσποις.
ἐσθίεταί μοι οἶκος, ὄλωλε δὲ πίονα ἔργα,
δυσμενέων δʼ ἀνδρῶν πλεῖος δόμος, οἵ τέ μοι αἰεὶ
μῆλʼ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς,
μητρὸς ἐμῆς μνηστῆρες ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα
κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον ἐνισπεῖν, εἴ που ὄπωπας
ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσιν ἢ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσας
πλαζομένου· περὶ γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.
μηδέ τί μʼ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδʼ ἐλεαίρων,
ἀλλʼ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.
λίσσομαι, εἴ ποτέ τοί τι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἢ ἔπος ἠέ τι ἔργον ὑποστὰς ἐξετέλεσσε
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί,
τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.
τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέθη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ κρατερόφρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν εὐνῇ
ἤθελον εὐνηθῆναι ἀνάλκιδες αὐτοὶ ἐόντες.
ὡς δʼ ὁπότʼ ἐν ξυλόχῳ ἔλαφος κρατεροῖο λέοντος
νεβροὺς κοιμήσασα νεηγενέας γαλαθηνοὺς
κνημοὺς ἐξερέῃσι καὶ ἄγκεα ποιήεντα
βοσκομένη, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα ἑὴν εἰσήλυθεν εὐνήν,
ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκεν,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κείνοισιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσει.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
τοῖος ἐών, οἷός ποτʼ ἐυκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Λέσβῳ
ἐξ ἔριδος Φιλομηλεΐδῃ ἐπάλαισεν ἀναστάς,
κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε κρατερῶς, κεχάροντο δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,
τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.
ταῦτα δʼ ἅ μʼ εἰρωτᾷς καὶ λίσσεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε
ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδόν, οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,
τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.
Αἰγύπτῳ μʼ ἔτι δεῦρο θεοὶ μεμαῶτα νέεσθαι
ἔσχον, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφιν ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.
οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ βούλοντο θεοὶ μεμνῆσθαι ἐφετμέων.
νῆσος ἔπειτά τις ἔστι πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
Αἰγύπτου προπάροιθε, Φάρον δέ ἑ κικλήσκουσι,
τόσσον ἄνευθʼ ὅσσον τε πανημερίη γλαφυρὴ νηῦς
ἤνυσεν, ᾗ λιγὺς οὖρος ἐπιπνείῃσιν ὄπισθεν·
ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ὅθεν τʼ ἀπὸ νῆας ἐίσας
ἐς πόντον βάλλουσιν, ἀφυσσάμενοι μέλαν ὕδωρ.
ἔνθα μʼ ἐείκοσιν ἤματʼ ἔχον θεοί, οὐδέ ποτʼ οὖροι
πνείοντες φαίνονθʼ ἁλιαέες, οἵ ῥά τε νηῶν
πομπῆες γίγνονται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.
καί νύ κεν ἤια πάντα κατέφθιτο καὶ μένεʼ ἀνδρῶν,
εἰ μή τίς με θεῶν ὀλοφύρατο καί μʼ ἐσάωσε,
Πρωτέος ἰφθίμου θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος,
Εἰδοθέη· τῇ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά γε θυμὸν ὄρινα.
ἥ μʼ οἴῳ ἔρροντι συνήντετο νόσφιν ἑταίρων·
αἰεὶ γὰρ περὶ νῆσον ἀλώμενοι ἰχθυάασκον
γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν, ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμός.
ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα ἔπος φάτο φώνησέν τε·
"’Are you so utterly foolish, stranger, and so slack of mind?
Or do you let go willingly and take pleasure in suffering?
See how long you are held on the island, and can find
no way out, and the heart of your companions is wasting away.’
Or do you let go willingly and take pleasure in suffering?
See how long you are held on the island, and can find
no way out, and the heart of your companions is wasting away.’
νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνε, λίην τόσον ἠδὲ χαλίφρων,
ἦε ἑκὼν μεθίεις καὶ τέρπεαι ἄλγεα πάσχων;
ὡς δὴ δήθʼ ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκεαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρ
εὑρέμεναι δύνασαι, μινύθει δέ τοι ἦτορ ἑταίρων.
ἦε ἑκὼν μεθίεις καὶ τέρπεαι ἄλγεα πάσχων;
ὡς δὴ δήθʼ ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκεαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρ
εὑρέμεναι δύνασαι, μινύθει δέ τοι ἦτορ ἑταίρων.
"So she spoke, and I answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"’I will tell you plainly, whoever of the goddesses you are,
that I am in no way held here of my own will, but I must
have sinned against the immortals who hold the wide heaven.
But tell me yourself — the gods know all things —
which of the immortals shackles me and binds me from my road,
and my homecoming, how I shall go over the fish-filled sea.’
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
that I am in no way held here of my own will, but I must
have sinned against the immortals who hold the wide heaven.
But tell me yourself — the gods know all things —
which of the immortals shackles me and binds me from my road,
and my homecoming, how I shall go over the fish-filled sea.’
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
ἐκ μέν τοι ἐρέω, ἥ τις σύ πέρ ἐσσι θεάων,
ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν κατερύκομαι, ἀλλά νυ μέλλω
ἀθανάτους ἀλιτέσθαι, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.
ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν,
ὅς τίς μʼ ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου,
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν κατερύκομαι, ἀλλά νυ μέλλω
ἀθανάτους ἀλιτέσθαι, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.
ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν,
ὅς τίς μʼ ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου,
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
"’Then I will tell you, stranger, quite exactly.
There comes here an unerring old man of the sea,
immortal Proteus of Egypt, who knows the depths
of all the sea, and is the servant of Poseidon.
They say that he is my father, and that he begot me.
If you could somehow lie in wait and lay hold of him,
he would tell you your road and the measure of your journey,
and your homecoming, how you shall go over the fish-filled sea.
And he would tell you too, nurtured by Zeus, if you wished,
what evil and what good has been done in your halls
while you were gone on your long and painful road.’
There comes here an unerring old man of the sea,
immortal Proteus of Egypt, who knows the depths
of all the sea, and is the servant of Poseidon.
They say that he is my father, and that he begot me.
If you could somehow lie in wait and lay hold of him,
he would tell you your road and the measure of your journey,
and your homecoming, how you shall go over the fish-filled sea.
And he would tell you too, nurtured by Zeus, if you wished,
what evil and what good has been done in your halls
while you were gone on your long and painful road.’
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
πωλεῖταί τις δεῦρο γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴς
ἀθάνατος Πρωτεὺς Αἰγύπτιος, ὅς τε θαλάσσης
πάσης βένθεα οἶδε, Ποσειδάωνος ὑποδμώς·
τὸν δέ τʼ ἐμόν φασιν πατέρʼ ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ τεκέσθαι.
τόν γʼ εἴ πως σὺ δύναιο λοχησάμενος λελαβέσθαι,
ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθου
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.
καὶ δέ κέ τοι εἴπῃσι, διοτρεφές, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,
ὅττι τοι ἐν μεγάροισι κακόν τʼ ἀγαθόν τε τέτυκται
οἰχομένοιο σέθεν δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε.
πωλεῖταί τις δεῦρο γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴς
ἀθάνατος Πρωτεὺς Αἰγύπτιος, ὅς τε θαλάσσης
πάσης βένθεα οἶδε, Ποσειδάωνος ὑποδμώς·
τὸν δέ τʼ ἐμόν φασιν πατέρʼ ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ τεκέσθαι.
τόν γʼ εἴ πως σὺ δύναιο λοχησάμενος λελαβέσθαι,
ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθου
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.
καὶ δέ κέ τοι εἴπῃσι, διοτρεφές, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,
ὅττι τοι ἐν μεγάροισι κακόν τʼ ἀγαθόν τε τέτυκται
οἰχομένοιο σέθεν δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε.
"So she spoke, and I answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"’Devise the ambush for the divine old man yourself,
so that he does not see me first, or learn of me, and escape;
a god is a hard thing for a mortal man to master.’
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
so that he does not see me first, or learn of me, and escape;
a god is a hard thing for a mortal man to master.’
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
αὐτὴ νῦν φράζευ σὺ λόχον θείοιο γέροντος,
μή πώς με προϊδὼν ἠὲ προδαεὶς ἀλέηται·
ἀργαλέος γάρ τʼ ἐστὶ θεὸς βροτῷ ἀνδρὶ δαμῆναι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
μή πώς με προϊδὼν ἠὲ προδαεὶς ἀλέηται·
ἀργαλέος γάρ τʼ ἐστὶ θεὸς βροτῷ ἀνδρὶ δαμῆναι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
"’Then I will tell you, stranger, quite exactly.
When the sun has bestridden the middle of the sky,
then the unerring old man of the sea comes out of the water
under the breath of the West Wind, hidden in a dark ruffle of the sea;
and when he has come out he lies down under the hollow caves.
About him the seals, the brood of the fair daughter of the sea,
sleep in a crowd, having come up out of the grey water,
breathing out the bitter smell of the deep sea.
There I will bring you at the showing of dawn
and lay you all in a row; and you must choose well three
companions, the best you have beside your well-benched ships.
And I will tell you all the old man’s tricks.
First he will go over the seals and count them;
and when he has told them off by fives and looked them over,
he will lie down among them like a shepherd among his flocks.
As soon as you see him settled to sleep,
then let your strength and your force be your whole care,
and hold him there, strain as he will to get away.
He will try every shape there is, becoming all the creatures
that move upon the earth, and water, and blazing fire;
but hold him unshaken and press him the harder.
And when at last he questions you himself with words,
being in the shape he was in when you saw him settle to sleep,
then leave off your force and set the old man free,
hero, and ask which of the gods is hard on you,
and about your homecoming, how you shall go over the fish-filled sea.’
When the sun has bestridden the middle of the sky,
then the unerring old man of the sea comes out of the water
under the breath of the West Wind, hidden in a dark ruffle of the sea;
and when he has come out he lies down under the hollow caves.
About him the seals, the brood of the fair daughter of the sea,
sleep in a crowd, having come up out of the grey water,
breathing out the bitter smell of the deep sea.
There I will bring you at the showing of dawn
and lay you all in a row; and you must choose well three
companions, the best you have beside your well-benched ships.
And I will tell you all the old man’s tricks.
First he will go over the seals and count them;
and when he has told them off by fives and looked them over,
he will lie down among them like a shepherd among his flocks.
As soon as you see him settled to sleep,
then let your strength and your force be your whole care,
and hold him there, strain as he will to get away.
He will try every shape there is, becoming all the creatures
that move upon the earth, and water, and blazing fire;
but hold him unshaken and press him the harder.
And when at last he questions you himself with words,
being in the shape he was in when you saw him settle to sleep,
then leave off your force and set the old man free,
hero, and ask which of the gods is hard on you,
and about your homecoming, how you shall go over the fish-filled sea.’
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκῃ,
τῆμος ἄρʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς εἶσι γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴς
πνοιῇ ὕπο Ζεφύροιο μελαίνῃ φρικὶ καλυφθείς,
ἐκ δʼ ἐλθὼν κοιμᾶται ὑπὸ σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσιν·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φῶκαι νέποδες καλῆς ἁλοσύδνης
ἁθρόαι εὕδουσιν, πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐξαναδῦσαι,
πικρὸν ἀποπνείουσαι ἁλὸς πολυβενθέος ὀδμήν.
ἔνθα σʼ ἐγὼν ἀγαγοῦσα ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν
εὐνάσω ἑξείης· σὺ δʼ ἐὺ κρίνασθαι ἑταίρους
τρεῖς, οἵ τοι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐυσσέλμοισιν ἄριστοι.
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια τοῖο γέροντος.
φώκας μέν τοι πρῶτον ἀριθμήσει καὶ ἔπεισιν·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πάσας πεμπάσσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,
λέξεται ἐν μέσσῃσι νομεὺς ὣς πώεσι μήλων.
τὸν μὲν ἐπὴν δὴ πρῶτα κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑμῖν μελέτω κάρτος τε βίη τε,
αὖθι δʼ ἔχειν μεμαῶτα καὶ ἐσσύμενόν περ ἀλύξαι.
πάντα δὲ γιγνόμενος πειρήσεται, ὅσσʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν
ἑρπετὰ γίγνονται, καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ·
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἀστεμφέως ἐχέμεν μᾶλλόν τε πιέζειν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δή σʼ αὐτὸς ἀνείρηται ἐπέεσσι,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷόν κε κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε,
καὶ τότε δὴ σχέσθαι τε βίης λῦσαί τε γέροντα,
ἥρως, εἴρεσθαι δέ, θεῶν ὅς τίς σε χαλέπτει,
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκῃ,
τῆμος ἄρʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς εἶσι γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴς
πνοιῇ ὕπο Ζεφύροιο μελαίνῃ φρικὶ καλυφθείς,
ἐκ δʼ ἐλθὼν κοιμᾶται ὑπὸ σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσιν·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φῶκαι νέποδες καλῆς ἁλοσύδνης
ἁθρόαι εὕδουσιν, πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐξαναδῦσαι,
πικρὸν ἀποπνείουσαι ἁλὸς πολυβενθέος ὀδμήν.
ἔνθα σʼ ἐγὼν ἀγαγοῦσα ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν
εὐνάσω ἑξείης· σὺ δʼ ἐὺ κρίνασθαι ἑταίρους
τρεῖς, οἵ τοι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐυσσέλμοισιν ἄριστοι.
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια τοῖο γέροντος.
φώκας μέν τοι πρῶτον ἀριθμήσει καὶ ἔπεισιν·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πάσας πεμπάσσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,
λέξεται ἐν μέσσῃσι νομεὺς ὣς πώεσι μήλων.
τὸν μὲν ἐπὴν δὴ πρῶτα κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑμῖν μελέτω κάρτος τε βίη τε,
αὖθι δʼ ἔχειν μεμαῶτα καὶ ἐσσύμενόν περ ἀλύξαι.
πάντα δὲ γιγνόμενος πειρήσεται, ὅσσʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν
ἑρπετὰ γίγνονται, καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ·
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἀστεμφέως ἐχέμεν μᾶλλόν τε πιέζειν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δή σʼ αὐτὸς ἀνείρηται ἐπέεσσι,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷόν κε κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε,
καὶ τότε δὴ σχέσθαι τε βίης λῦσαί τε γέροντα,
ἥρως, εἴρεσθαι δέ, θεῶν ὅς τίς σε χαλέπτει,
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.
"So saying, she plunged under the surging sea.
And I went off to the ships where they stood on the sand,
and my heart was darkly troubled as I went.
And when I had come down to the ship and the sea,
we made our supper ready, and immortal night came on;
and then we lay down to sleep on the breaking edge of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then along the shore of the wide-wayed sea
I went, praying hard to the gods; and I took three
companions, the ones I trusted most for every venture.
Meanwhile she had plunged into the sea’s wide fold
and brought out four sealskins from the deep,
all newly flayed; and she was plotting a trick against her father.
She had scooped out beds in the sand of the sea,
and sat waiting; and we came up very close to her.
She laid us down in a row and threw a skin over each of us.
That was the most dreadful ambush of all; for terribly
the deadly smell of the sea-bred seals wore us down.
Who would lie down beside a monster of the sea?
But she saved us and thought of a great help.
She brought ambrosia and set it under each man’s nose,
very sweet-smelling, and it killed the smell of the monsters.
All the morning we waited with enduring spirit;
and the seals came out of the sea in a crowd. Then they
lay down in a row along the breaking edge of the sea.
At midday the old man came out of the sea and found the seals
well fed, and went over them all, and told their number;
and he counted us first among the sea-beasts, and never in his spirit
suspected a trick; and then he lay down himself.
We rushed upon him with a shout and threw our arms
about him; and the old man did not forget his crafty art,
but first of all he became a lion with a fine mane,
and then a serpent, and a leopard, and a great boar;
and he became running water, and a tree with high leaves.
But we held him unshaken with enduring spirit.
And when at last the old man, who knew his tricks, was wearied,
then he questioned me with words and said:
And I went off to the ships where they stood on the sand,
and my heart was darkly troubled as I went.
And when I had come down to the ship and the sea,
we made our supper ready, and immortal night came on;
and then we lay down to sleep on the breaking edge of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then along the shore of the wide-wayed sea
I went, praying hard to the gods; and I took three
companions, the ones I trusted most for every venture.
Meanwhile she had plunged into the sea’s wide fold
and brought out four sealskins from the deep,
all newly flayed; and she was plotting a trick against her father.
She had scooped out beds in the sand of the sea,
and sat waiting; and we came up very close to her.
She laid us down in a row and threw a skin over each of us.
That was the most dreadful ambush of all; for terribly
the deadly smell of the sea-bred seals wore us down.
Who would lie down beside a monster of the sea?
But she saved us and thought of a great help.
She brought ambrosia and set it under each man’s nose,
very sweet-smelling, and it killed the smell of the monsters.
All the morning we waited with enduring spirit;
and the seals came out of the sea in a crowd. Then they
lay down in a row along the breaking edge of the sea.
At midday the old man came out of the sea and found the seals
well fed, and went over them all, and told their number;
and he counted us first among the sea-beasts, and never in his spirit
suspected a trick; and then he lay down himself.
We rushed upon him with a shout and threw our arms
about him; and the old man did not forget his crafty art,
but first of all he became a lion with a fine mane,
and then a serpent, and a leopard, and a great boar;
and he became running water, and a tree with high leaves.
But we held him unshaken with enduring spirit.
And when at last the old man, who knew his tricks, was wearied,
then he questioned me with words and said:
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας, ὅθʼ ἕστασαν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,
ἤια· πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ·
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότε δὴ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο
ἤια πολλὰ θεοὺς γουνούμενος· αὐτὰρ ἑταίρους
τρεῖς ἄγον, οἷσι μάλιστα πεποίθεα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ ἰθύν.
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ ἥ γʼ ὑποδῦσα θαλάσσης εὐρέα κόλπον
τέσσαρα φωκάων ἐκ πόντου δέρματʼ ἔνεικε·
πάντα δʼ ἔσαν νεόδαρτα· δόλον δʼ ἐπεμήδετο πατρί.
εὐνὰς δʼ ἐν ψαμάθοισι διαγλάψασʼ ἁλίῃσιν
ἧστο μένουσʼ· ἡμεῖς δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλθομεν αὐτῆς·
ἑξείης δʼ εὔνησε, βάλεν δʼ ἐπὶ δέρμα ἑκάστῳ.
ἔνθα κεν αἰνότατος λόχος ἔπλετο· τεῖρε γὰρ αἰνῶς
φωκάων ἁλιοτρεφέων ὀλοώτατος ὀδμή·
τίς γάρ κʼ εἰναλίῳ παρὰ κήτεϊ κοιμηθείη;
ἀλλʼ αὐτὴ ἐσάωσε καὶ ἐφράσατο μέγʼ ὄνειαρ·
ἀμβροσίην ὑπὸ ῥῖνα ἑκάστῳ θῆκε φέρουσα
ἡδὺ μάλα πνείουσαν, ὄλεσσε δὲ κήτεος ὀδμήν.
πᾶσαν δʼ ἠοίην μένομεν τετληότι θυμῷ·
φῶκαι δʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθον ἀολλέες. αἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἑξῆς εὐνάζοντο παρὰ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·
ἔνδιος δʼ ὁ γέρων ἦλθʼ ἐξ ἁλός, εὗρε δὲ φώκας
ζατρεφέας, πάσας δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῴχετο, λέκτο δʼ ἀριθμόν·
ἐν δʼ ἡμέας πρώτους λέγε κήτεσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
ὠΐσθη δόλον εἶναι· ἔπειτα δὲ λέκτο καὶ αὐτός.
ἡμεῖς δὲ ἰάχοντες ἐπεσσύμεθʼ, ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρας
βάλλομεν· οὐδʼ ὁ γέρων δολίης ἐπελήθετο τέχνης,
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα λέων γένετʼ ἠυγένειος,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα δράκων καὶ πάρδαλις ἠδὲ μέγας σῦς·
γίγνετο δʼ ὑγρὸν ὕδωρ καὶ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον·
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀστεμφέως ἔχομεν τετληότι θυμῷ.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀνίαζʼ ὁ γέρων ὀλοφώια εἰδώς,
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπε·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας, ὅθʼ ἕστασαν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,
ἤια· πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ·
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότε δὴ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο
ἤια πολλὰ θεοὺς γουνούμενος· αὐτὰρ ἑταίρους
τρεῖς ἄγον, οἷσι μάλιστα πεποίθεα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ ἰθύν.
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ ἥ γʼ ὑποδῦσα θαλάσσης εὐρέα κόλπον
τέσσαρα φωκάων ἐκ πόντου δέρματʼ ἔνεικε·
πάντα δʼ ἔσαν νεόδαρτα· δόλον δʼ ἐπεμήδετο πατρί.
εὐνὰς δʼ ἐν ψαμάθοισι διαγλάψασʼ ἁλίῃσιν
ἧστο μένουσʼ· ἡμεῖς δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλθομεν αὐτῆς·
ἑξείης δʼ εὔνησε, βάλεν δʼ ἐπὶ δέρμα ἑκάστῳ.
ἔνθα κεν αἰνότατος λόχος ἔπλετο· τεῖρε γὰρ αἰνῶς
φωκάων ἁλιοτρεφέων ὀλοώτατος ὀδμή·
τίς γάρ κʼ εἰναλίῳ παρὰ κήτεϊ κοιμηθείη;
ἀλλʼ αὐτὴ ἐσάωσε καὶ ἐφράσατο μέγʼ ὄνειαρ·
ἀμβροσίην ὑπὸ ῥῖνα ἑκάστῳ θῆκε φέρουσα
ἡδὺ μάλα πνείουσαν, ὄλεσσε δὲ κήτεος ὀδμήν.
πᾶσαν δʼ ἠοίην μένομεν τετληότι θυμῷ·
φῶκαι δʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθον ἀολλέες. αἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἑξῆς εὐνάζοντο παρὰ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·
ἔνδιος δʼ ὁ γέρων ἦλθʼ ἐξ ἁλός, εὗρε δὲ φώκας
ζατρεφέας, πάσας δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῴχετο, λέκτο δʼ ἀριθμόν·
ἐν δʼ ἡμέας πρώτους λέγε κήτεσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
ὠΐσθη δόλον εἶναι· ἔπειτα δὲ λέκτο καὶ αὐτός.
ἡμεῖς δὲ ἰάχοντες ἐπεσσύμεθʼ, ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρας
βάλλομεν· οὐδʼ ὁ γέρων δολίης ἐπελήθετο τέχνης,
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα λέων γένετʼ ἠυγένειος,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα δράκων καὶ πάρδαλις ἠδὲ μέγας σῦς·
γίγνετο δʼ ὑγρὸν ὕδωρ καὶ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον·
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀστεμφέως ἔχομεν τετληότι θυμῷ.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀνίαζʼ ὁ γέρων ὀλοφώια εἰδώς,
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπε·
"’Which of the gods, son of Atreus, took counsel with you,
so that you should ambush me and take me against my will? What do you need?’
so that you should ambush me and take me against my will? What do you need?’
τίς νύ τοι, Ἀτρέος υἱέ, θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλάς,
ὄφρα μʼ ἕλοις ἀέκοντα λοχησάμενος; τέο σε χρή;
ὄφρα μʼ ἕλοις ἀέκοντα λοχησάμενος; τέο σε χρή;
"So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"’You know, old man — why do you turn me aside and ask this?
See how long I am held on the island, and can find
no way out, and the heart within me is wasting away.
But tell me yourself — the gods know all things —
which of the immortals shackles me and binds me from my road,
and my homecoming, how I shall go over the fish-filled sea.’
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
See how long I am held on the island, and can find
no way out, and the heart within me is wasting away.
But tell me yourself — the gods know all things —
which of the immortals shackles me and binds me from my road,
and my homecoming, how I shall go over the fish-filled sea.’
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
οἶσθα, γέρον, τί με ταῦτα παρατροπέων ἐρεείνεις;
ὡς δὴ δήθʼ ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκομαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρ
εὑρέμεναι δύναμαι, μινύθει δέ μοι ἔνδοθεν ἦτορ.
ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν,
ὅς τίς μʼ ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου,
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
ὡς δὴ δήθʼ ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκομαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρ
εὑρέμεναι δύναμαι, μινύθει δέ μοι ἔνδοθεν ἦτορ.
ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν,
ὅς τίς μʼ ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου,
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"’You should have made fine sacrifice to Zeus and the other gods
before embarking, so that with all speed
you might reach your own land, sailing over the wine-dark sea.
For it is not your fate to see your own and to come
to your well-built house and your native land,
until you have gone once more to the water of Egypt,
the river fallen from Zeus, and offered sacred hecatombs
to the immortal gods, who hold the wide heaven.
And then the gods will give you the road you long for.’
before embarking, so that with all speed
you might reach your own land, sailing over the wine-dark sea.
For it is not your fate to see your own and to come
to your well-built house and your native land,
until you have gone once more to the water of Egypt,
the river fallen from Zeus, and offered sacred hecatombs
to the immortal gods, who hold the wide heaven.
And then the gods will give you the road you long for.’
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὤφελλες Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσι
ῥέξας ἱερὰ κάλʼ ἀναβαινέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα
σὴν ἐς πατρίδʼ ἵκοιο πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον.
οὐ γάρ τοι πρὶν μοῖρα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
πρίν γʼ ὅτʼ ἂν Αἰγύπτοιο, διιπετέος ποταμοῖο,
αὖτις ὕδωρ ἔλθῃς ῥέξῃς θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι·
καὶ τότε τοι δώσουσιν ὁδὸν θεοί, ἣν σὺ μενοινᾷς.
ῥέξας ἱερὰ κάλʼ ἀναβαινέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα
σὴν ἐς πατρίδʼ ἵκοιο πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον.
οὐ γάρ τοι πρὶν μοῖρα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
πρίν γʼ ὅτʼ ἂν Αἰγύπτοιο, διιπετέος ποταμοῖο,
αὖτις ὕδωρ ἔλθῃς ῥέξῃς θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι·
καὶ τότε τοι δώσουσιν ὁδὸν θεοί, ἣν σὺ μενοινᾷς.
"So he spoke, and the heart in me was broken,
because he bade me go once more over the misty sea
to Egypt, a long road and a hard one.
But even so I answered him with words and said:
because he bade me go once more over the misty sea
to Egypt, a long road and a hard one.
But even so I answered him with words and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,
οὕνεκά μʼ αὖτις ἄνωγεν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον
Αἴγυπτόνδʼ ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
οὕνεκά μʼ αὖτις ἄνωγεν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον
Αἴγυπτόνδʼ ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"’All this I will do, old man, as you command.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
did all the Achaeans come home unharmed in their ships,
those whom Nestor and I left when we came from Troy,
or did any perish by a bitter death aboard his ship
or in the arms of his own, when he had wound up the war?’
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
did all the Achaeans come home unharmed in their ships,
those whom Nestor and I left when we came from Troy,
or did any perish by a bitter death aboard his ship
or in the arms of his own, when he had wound up the war?’
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω δὴ τελέω, γέρον, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
ἢ πάντες σὺν νηυσὶν ἀπήμονες ἦλθον Ἀχαιοί,
οὓς Νέστωρ καὶ ἐγὼ λίπομεν Τροίηθεν ἰόντες,
ἦέ τις ὤλετʼ ὀλέθρῳ ἀδευκέι ἧς ἐπὶ νηὸς
ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσεν.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
ἢ πάντες σὺν νηυσὶν ἀπήμονες ἦλθον Ἀχαιοί,
οὓς Νέστωρ καὶ ἐγὼ λίπομεν Τροίηθεν ἰόντες,
ἦέ τις ὤλετʼ ὀλέθρῳ ἀδευκέι ἧς ἐπὶ νηὸς
ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσεν.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"’Son of Atreus, why do you question me on this? You have no need
to know it, or to learn my mind. I do not think
you will be long without tears, once you have heard it all.
Many of them went down, and many were left;
but only two leaders of the bronze-clad Achaeans
died on the homeward way; and you were there at the fighting.
And one is still alive somewhere, held back on the wide sea.
Ajax went down among his long-oared ships.
First Poseidon drove him on the Gyraean rocks,
the great rocks, and saved him out of the sea.
And he would have escaped his doom, hated as he was by Athena,
had he not let fall an overweening word and been greatly blinded.
He said that in despite of the gods he had escaped the great gulf of the sea.
And Poseidon heard him plainly as he spoke;
at once he took his trident in his massive hands
and struck the Gyraean rock and split it apart.
One part stayed where it was, and the broken piece fell into the sea,
the piece on which Ajax had first sat when he was greatly blinded;
and it carried him down over the boundless surging sea.
So he perished there, when he had drunk the salt water.
But your brother escaped the dooms and got away
in his hollow ships; the lady Hera saved him.
But when he was about to reach the steep headland
of Malea, then a storm-blast snatched him up
and carried him groaning heavily over the fish-filled sea
to the edge of the country, where Thyestes had his house
in former days, but where Aegisthus, son of Thyestes, now lived.
But when from there too a safe homecoming showed itself,
and the gods turned the wind about, and they came home,
to know it, or to learn my mind. I do not think
you will be long without tears, once you have heard it all.
Many of them went down, and many were left;
but only two leaders of the bronze-clad Achaeans
died on the homeward way; and you were there at the fighting.
And one is still alive somewhere, held back on the wide sea.
Ajax went down among his long-oared ships.
First Poseidon drove him on the Gyraean rocks,
the great rocks, and saved him out of the sea.
And he would have escaped his doom, hated as he was by Athena,
had he not let fall an overweening word and been greatly blinded.
He said that in despite of the gods he had escaped the great gulf of the sea.
And Poseidon heard him plainly as he spoke;
at once he took his trident in his massive hands
and struck the Gyraean rock and split it apart.
One part stayed where it was, and the broken piece fell into the sea,
the piece on which Ajax had first sat when he was greatly blinded;
and it carried him down over the boundless surging sea.
So he perished there, when he had drunk the salt water.
But your brother escaped the dooms and got away
in his hollow ships; the lady Hera saved him.
But when he was about to reach the steep headland
of Malea, then a storm-blast snatched him up
and carried him groaning heavily over the fish-filled sea
to the edge of the country, where Thyestes had his house
in former days, but where Aegisthus, son of Thyestes, now lived.
But when from there too a safe homecoming showed itself,
and the gods turned the wind about, and they came home,
Ἀτρεΐδη, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
ἴδμεναι, οὐδὲ δαῆναι ἐμὸν νόον· οὐδέ σέ φημι
δὴν ἄκλαυτον ἔσεσθαι, ἐπὴν ἐὺ πάντα πύθηαι.
πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ τῶν γε δάμεν, πολλοὶ δὲ λίποντο·
ἀρχοὶ δʼ αὖ δύο μοῦνοι Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
ἐν νόστῳ ἀπόλοντο· μάχῃ δέ τε καὶ σὺ παρῆσθα.
εἷς δʼ ἔτι που ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ.
Αἴας μὲν μετὰ νηυσὶ δάμη δολιχηρέτμοισι.
Γυρῇσίν μιν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐπέλασσεν
πέτρῃσιν μεγάλῃσι καὶ ἐξεσάωσε θαλάσσης·
καί νύ κεν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἐχθόμενός περ Ἀθήνῃ,
εἰ μὴ ὑπερφίαλον ἔπος ἔκβαλε καὶ μέγʼ ἀάσθη·
φῆ ῥʼ ἀέκητι θεῶν φυγέειν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης.
τοῦ δὲ Ποσειδάων μεγάλʼ ἔκλυεν αὐδήσαντος·
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα τρίαιναν ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν
ἤλασε Γυραίην πέτρην, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔσχισεν αὐτήν·
καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτόθι μεῖνε, τὸ δὲ τρύφος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ,
τῷ ῥʼ Αἴας τὸ πρῶτον ἐφεζόμενος μέγʼ ἀάσθη·
τὸν δʼ ἐφόρει κατὰ πόντον ἀπείρονα κυμαίνοντα.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλωλεν, ἐπεὶ πίεν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
σὸς δέ που ἔκφυγε κῆρας ἀδελφεὸς ἠδʼ ὑπάλυξεν
ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι· σάωσε δὲ πότνια Ἥρη.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε Μαλειάων ὄρος αἰπὺ
ἵξεσθαι, τότε δή μιν ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρεν βαρέα στενάχοντα,
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε Θυέστης
τὸ πρίν, ἀτὰρ τότʼ ἔναιε Θυεστιάδης Αἴγισθος.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖθεν ἐφαίνετο νόστος ἀπήμων,
ἂψ δὲ θεοὶ οὖρον στρέψαν, καὶ οἴκαδʼ ἵκοντο,
ἴδμεναι, οὐδὲ δαῆναι ἐμὸν νόον· οὐδέ σέ φημι
δὴν ἄκλαυτον ἔσεσθαι, ἐπὴν ἐὺ πάντα πύθηαι.
πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ τῶν γε δάμεν, πολλοὶ δὲ λίποντο·
ἀρχοὶ δʼ αὖ δύο μοῦνοι Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
ἐν νόστῳ ἀπόλοντο· μάχῃ δέ τε καὶ σὺ παρῆσθα.
εἷς δʼ ἔτι που ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ.
Αἴας μὲν μετὰ νηυσὶ δάμη δολιχηρέτμοισι.
Γυρῇσίν μιν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐπέλασσεν
πέτρῃσιν μεγάλῃσι καὶ ἐξεσάωσε θαλάσσης·
καί νύ κεν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἐχθόμενός περ Ἀθήνῃ,
εἰ μὴ ὑπερφίαλον ἔπος ἔκβαλε καὶ μέγʼ ἀάσθη·
φῆ ῥʼ ἀέκητι θεῶν φυγέειν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης.
τοῦ δὲ Ποσειδάων μεγάλʼ ἔκλυεν αὐδήσαντος·
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα τρίαιναν ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν
ἤλασε Γυραίην πέτρην, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔσχισεν αὐτήν·
καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτόθι μεῖνε, τὸ δὲ τρύφος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ,
τῷ ῥʼ Αἴας τὸ πρῶτον ἐφεζόμενος μέγʼ ἀάσθη·
τὸν δʼ ἐφόρει κατὰ πόντον ἀπείρονα κυμαίνοντα.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλωλεν, ἐπεὶ πίεν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
σὸς δέ που ἔκφυγε κῆρας ἀδελφεὸς ἠδʼ ὑπάλυξεν
ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι· σάωσε δὲ πότνια Ἥρη.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε Μαλειάων ὄρος αἰπὺ
ἵξεσθαι, τότε δή μιν ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρεν βαρέα στενάχοντα,
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε Θυέστης
τὸ πρίν, ἀτὰρ τότʼ ἔναιε Θυεστιάδης Αἴγισθος.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖθεν ἐφαίνετο νόστος ἀπήμων,
ἂψ δὲ θεοὶ οὖρον στρέψαν, καὶ οἴκαδʼ ἵκοντο,
"’then in joy he set foot on his native land,
and touched his own country and kissed it; and many
warm tears ran from him, for he saw his land with gladness.
But a watchman saw him from his lookout, whom guileful Aegisthus
had led there and posted, and promised him as his pay
two talents of gold. He kept watch for a year,
so that the man should not pass unseen and remember his rushing valour.
He went off to the house to bring word to the shepherd of the people.
At once Aegisthus contrived his crafty art.
He picked out twenty of the best men through the land
and set them in ambush, and ordered a feast to be prepared elsewhere.
Then he went with horses and chariots to summon
Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, plotting a shameful thing.
He brought him up, unsuspecting of his death, and killed him
when he had feasted him, as a man kills an ox at the manger.
And none of the son of Atreus’s companions who followed him was left,
nor any of Aegisthus’s, but they were all killed in the halls.’
and touched his own country and kissed it; and many
warm tears ran from him, for he saw his land with gladness.
But a watchman saw him from his lookout, whom guileful Aegisthus
had led there and posted, and promised him as his pay
two talents of gold. He kept watch for a year,
so that the man should not pass unseen and remember his rushing valour.
He went off to the house to bring word to the shepherd of the people.
At once Aegisthus contrived his crafty art.
He picked out twenty of the best men through the land
and set them in ambush, and ordered a feast to be prepared elsewhere.
Then he went with horses and chariots to summon
Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, plotting a shameful thing.
He brought him up, unsuspecting of his death, and killed him
when he had feasted him, as a man kills an ox at the manger.
And none of the son of Atreus’s companions who followed him was left,
nor any of Aegisthus’s, but they were all killed in the halls.’
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν χαίρων ἐπεβήσετο πατρίδος αἴης
καὶ κύνει ἁπτόμενος ἣν πατρίδα· πολλὰ δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσπασίως ἴδε γαῖαν.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπὸ σκοπιῆς εἶδε σκοπός, ὅν ῥα καθεῖσεν
Αἴγισθος δολόμητις ἄγων, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔσχετο μισθὸν
χρυσοῦ δοιὰ τάλαντα· φύλασσε δʼ ὅ γʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτόν,
μή ἑ λάθοι παριών, μνήσαιτο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων πρὸς δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν.
αὐτίκα δʼ Αἴγισθος δολίην ἐφράσσατο τέχνην·
κρινάμενος κατὰ δῆμον ἐείκοσι φῶτας ἀρίστους
εἷσε λόχον, ἑτέρωθι δʼ ἀνώγει δαῖτα πένεσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ καλέων Ἀγαμέμνονα, ποιμένα λαῶν
ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν, ἀεικέα μερμηρίζων.
τὸν δʼ οὐκ εἰδότʼ ὄλεθρον ἀνήγαγε καὶ κατέπεφνεν
δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.
οὐδέ τις Ἀτρεΐδεω ἑτάρων λίπεθʼ οἵ οἱ ἕποντο,
οὐδέ τις Αἰγίσθου, ἀλλʼ ἔκταθεν ἐν μεγάροισιν.
καὶ κύνει ἁπτόμενος ἣν πατρίδα· πολλὰ δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσπασίως ἴδε γαῖαν.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπὸ σκοπιῆς εἶδε σκοπός, ὅν ῥα καθεῖσεν
Αἴγισθος δολόμητις ἄγων, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔσχετο μισθὸν
χρυσοῦ δοιὰ τάλαντα· φύλασσε δʼ ὅ γʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτόν,
μή ἑ λάθοι παριών, μνήσαιτο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων πρὸς δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν.
αὐτίκα δʼ Αἴγισθος δολίην ἐφράσσατο τέχνην·
κρινάμενος κατὰ δῆμον ἐείκοσι φῶτας ἀρίστους
εἷσε λόχον, ἑτέρωθι δʼ ἀνώγει δαῖτα πένεσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ καλέων Ἀγαμέμνονα, ποιμένα λαῶν
ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν, ἀεικέα μερμηρίζων.
τὸν δʼ οὐκ εἰδότʼ ὄλεθρον ἀνήγαγε καὶ κατέπεφνεν
δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.
οὐδέ τις Ἀτρεΐδεω ἑτάρων λίπεθʼ οἵ οἱ ἕποντο,
οὐδέ τις Αἰγίσθου, ἀλλʼ ἔκταθεν ἐν μεγάροισιν.
"So he spoke, and the heart in me was broken,
and I sat on the sand and wept, and my heart
no longer wished to live and to see the light of the sun.
But when I had had my fill of weeping and of rolling on the ground,
then the unerring old man of the sea said to me:
and I sat on the sand and wept, and my heart
no longer wished to live and to see the light of the sun.
But when I had had my fill of weeping and of rolling on the ground,
then the unerring old man of the sea said to me:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,
κλαῖον δʼ ἐν ψαμάθοισι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ
ἤθελʼ ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενός τε κορέσθην,
δὴ τότε με προσέειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής·
κλαῖον δʼ ἐν ψαμάθοισι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ
ἤθελʼ ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενός τε κορέσθην,
δὴ τότε με προσέειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής·
"’No longer, son of Atreus, weep so stubbornly
and so long, since we shall find no end in it. Rather, with all speed
try how you may come to your own native land.
For either you will find him still alive, or Orestes
will have killed him first, and you may come upon the funeral.’
and so long, since we shall find no end in it. Rather, with all speed
try how you may come to your own native land.
For either you will find him still alive, or Orestes
will have killed him first, and you may come upon the funeral.’
μηκέτι, Ἀτρέος υἱέ, πολὺν χρόνον ἀσκελὲς οὕτω
κλαῖʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄνυσίν τινα δήομεν· ἀλλὰ τάχιστα
πείρα ὅπως κεν δὴ σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι.
ἢ γάρ μιν ζωόν γε κιχήσεαι, ἤ κεν Ὀρέστης
κτεῖνεν ὑποφθάμενος, σὺ δέ κεν τάφου ἀντιβολήσαις.
κλαῖʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄνυσίν τινα δήομεν· ἀλλὰ τάχιστα
πείρα ὅπως κεν δὴ σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι.
ἢ γάρ μιν ζωόν γε κιχήσεαι, ἤ κεν Ὀρέστης
κτεῖνεν ὑποφθάμενος, σὺ δέ κεν τάφου ἀντιβολήσαις.
"So he spoke, and my heart and my lordly spirit
were warmed again in my breast, grieving as I was,
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
’These two I know now. But name me the third man,
whoever is still alive and held back on the wide sea,
or dead. I want to hear it, grieving as I am.’
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
were warmed again in my breast, grieving as I was,
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
’These two I know now. But name me the third man,
whoever is still alive and held back on the wide sea,
or dead. I want to hear it, grieving as I am.’
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
αὖτις ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀχνυμένῳ περ ἰάνθη,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
τούτους μὲν δὴ οἶδα· σὺ δὲ τρίτον ἄνδρʼ ὀνόμαζε,
ὅς τις ἔτι ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ
ἠὲ θανών· ἐθέλω δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἀκοῦσαι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
αὖτις ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀχνυμένῳ περ ἰάνθη,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
τούτους μὲν δὴ οἶδα· σὺ δὲ τρίτον ἄνδρʼ ὀνόμαζε,
ὅς τις ἔτι ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ
ἠὲ θανών· ἐθέλω δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἀκοῦσαι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"’It is the son of Laertes, who has his home in Ithaca.
I saw him on an island, shedding a swelling tear,
in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who holds him there
by force; and he cannot reach his own native land.
For he has no oared ships beside him and no companions
who might send him over the broad back of the sea.
But for you it is not ordained, Menelaus nurtured by Zeus,
to die in horse-pasturing Argos and meet your fate;
the immortals will send you to the Elysian plain
and the ends of the earth, where fair-haired Rhadamanthys is,
and where living is easiest for men:
no snow there, no great storm, and never any rain,
but always Ocean sends up the gusts
of the shrill-blowing West Wind to cool men;
because you have Helen, and in their eyes you are the son-in-law of Zeus.’
I saw him on an island, shedding a swelling tear,
in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who holds him there
by force; and he cannot reach his own native land.
For he has no oared ships beside him and no companions
who might send him over the broad back of the sea.
But for you it is not ordained, Menelaus nurtured by Zeus,
to die in horse-pasturing Argos and meet your fate;
the immortals will send you to the Elysian plain
and the ends of the earth, where fair-haired Rhadamanthys is,
and where living is easiest for men:
no snow there, no great storm, and never any rain,
but always Ocean sends up the gusts
of the shrill-blowing West Wind to cool men;
because you have Helen, and in their eyes you are the son-in-law of Zeus.’
υἱὸς Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων·
τὸν δʼ ἴδον ἐν νήσῳ θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντα,
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ
ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.
σοὶ δʼ οὐ θέσφατόν ἐστι, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε,
Ἄργει ἐν ἱπποβότῳ θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν,
ἀλλά σʼ ἐς Ἠλύσιον πεδίον καὶ πείρατα γαίης
ἀθάνατοι πέμψουσιν, ὅθι ξανθὸς Ῥαδάμανθυς,
τῇ περ ῥηίστη βιοτὴ πέλει ἀνθρώποισιν·
οὐ νιφετός, οὔτʼ ἂρ χειμὼν πολὺς οὔτε ποτʼ ὄμβρος,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ Ζεφύροιο λιγὺ πνείοντος ἀήτας
Ὠκεανὸς ἀνίησιν ἀναψύχειν ἀνθρώπους·
οὕνεκʼ ἔχεις Ἑλένην καί σφιν γαμβρὸς Διός ἐσσι.
τὸν δʼ ἴδον ἐν νήσῳ θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντα,
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ
ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.
σοὶ δʼ οὐ θέσφατόν ἐστι, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε,
Ἄργει ἐν ἱπποβότῳ θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν,
ἀλλά σʼ ἐς Ἠλύσιον πεδίον καὶ πείρατα γαίης
ἀθάνατοι πέμψουσιν, ὅθι ξανθὸς Ῥαδάμανθυς,
τῇ περ ῥηίστη βιοτὴ πέλει ἀνθρώποισιν·
οὐ νιφετός, οὔτʼ ἂρ χειμὼν πολὺς οὔτε ποτʼ ὄμβρος,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ Ζεφύροιο λιγὺ πνείοντος ἀήτας
Ὠκεανὸς ἀνίησιν ἀναψύχειν ἀνθρώπους·
οὕνεκʼ ἔχεις Ἑλένην καί σφιν γαμβρὸς Διός ἐσσι.
"So saying, he plunged under the surging sea.
And I went off to the ships with my godlike companions,
and my heart was darkly troubled as I went.
And when we had come down to the ship and the sea,
we made our supper ready, and immortal night came on,
and then we lay down to sleep on the breaking edge of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
first of all we hauled the ships down to the bright sea,
and set the masts and the sails in the balanced ships,
and went aboard ourselves and sat down at the oarlocks;
and sitting in order we struck the grey sea with our oars.
Back at the water of Egypt, the river fallen from Zeus,
I moored my ships and offered full hecatombs.
And when I had ended the anger of the gods who are forever,
I heaped a mound for Agamemnon, that his glory might not be quenched.
When I had finished this I set out, and the immortals gave me
a following wind, and sent me quickly to my own dear land.
But come now, stay here in my halls,
until the eleventh and the twelfth day have come;
and then I will send you off well, and give you shining gifts,
three horses and a polished chariot; and after that
I will give you a fine cup, so that you may pour libations to the immortal
gods and remember me all your days."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
And I went off to the ships with my godlike companions,
and my heart was darkly troubled as I went.
And when we had come down to the ship and the sea,
we made our supper ready, and immortal night came on,
and then we lay down to sleep on the breaking edge of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
first of all we hauled the ships down to the bright sea,
and set the masts and the sails in the balanced ships,
and went aboard ourselves and sat down at the oarlocks;
and sitting in order we struck the grey sea with our oars.
Back at the water of Egypt, the river fallen from Zeus,
I moored my ships and offered full hecatombs.
And when I had ended the anger of the gods who are forever,
I heaped a mound for Agamemnon, that his glory might not be quenched.
When I had finished this I set out, and the immortals gave me
a following wind, and sent me quickly to my own dear land.
But come now, stay here in my halls,
until the eleventh and the twelfth day have come;
and then I will send you off well, and give you shining gifts,
three horses and a polished chariot; and after that
I will give you a fine cup, so that you may pour libations to the immortal
gods and remember me all your days."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἅμʼ ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν
ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
νῆας μὲν πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
ἐν δʼ ἱστοὺς τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηυσὶν ἐίσῃς,
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον·
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἂψ δʼ εἰς Αἰγύπτοιο διιπετέος ποταμοῖο
στῆσα νέας, καὶ ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέπαυσα θεῶν χόλον αἰὲν ἐόντων,
χεῦʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι τύμβον, ἵνʼ ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη.
ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην, ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον
ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν,
ὄφρα κεν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται·
καὶ τότε σʼ εὖ πέμψω, δώσω δέ τοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,
τρεῖς ἵππους καὶ δίφρον ἐύξοον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
δώσω καλὸν ἄλεισον, ἵνα σπένδῃσθα θεοῖσιν
ἀθανάτοις ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἅμʼ ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν
ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
νῆας μὲν πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
ἐν δʼ ἱστοὺς τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηυσὶν ἐίσῃς,
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον·
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἂψ δʼ εἰς Αἰγύπτοιο διιπετέος ποταμοῖο
στῆσα νέας, καὶ ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέπαυσα θεῶν χόλον αἰὲν ἐόντων,
χεῦʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι τύμβον, ἵνʼ ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη.
ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην, ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον
ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν,
ὄφρα κεν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται·
καὶ τότε σʼ εὖ πέμψω, δώσω δέ τοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,
τρεῖς ἵππους καὶ δίφρον ἐύξοον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
δώσω καλὸν ἄλεισον, ἵνα σπένδῃσθα θεοῖσιν
ἀθανάτοις ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Son of Atreus, do not keep me here a long time.
For indeed I could bear to sit beside you for a year
and no longing would take me for my home or my parents;
for I take a terrible pleasure in listening
to your tales and your words. But by now my companions are chafing
in sacred Pylos, and you are keeping me here so long.
Let whatever gift you give me be a treasure to keep.
I will not take horses to Ithaca, but leave them here
as an ornament for you yourself; for you are lord of a wide
plain, in which there is much clover, and galingale,
and wheat and spelt and broad-growing white barley.
But in Ithaca there are no wide runs and no meadow;
it is a pasture for goats, and lovelier for that than a pasture for horses.
None of the islands is fit for driving horses or rich in meadow,
of those that slope to the sea; and Ithaca least of all."
For indeed I could bear to sit beside you for a year
and no longing would take me for my home or my parents;
for I take a terrible pleasure in listening
to your tales and your words. But by now my companions are chafing
in sacred Pylos, and you are keeping me here so long.
Let whatever gift you give me be a treasure to keep.
I will not take horses to Ithaca, but leave them here
as an ornament for you yourself; for you are lord of a wide
plain, in which there is much clover, and galingale,
and wheat and spelt and broad-growing white barley.
But in Ithaca there are no wide runs and no meadow;
it is a pasture for goats, and lovelier for that than a pasture for horses.
None of the islands is fit for driving horses or rich in meadow,
of those that slope to the sea; and Ithaca least of all."
Ἀτρεΐδη, μὴ δή με πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἔρυκε.
καὶ γάρ κʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἐγὼ παρὰ σοί γʼ ἀνεχοίμην
ἥμενος, οὐδέ κέ μʼ οἴκου ἕλοι πόθος οὐδὲ τοκήων·
αἰνῶς γὰρ μύθοισιν ἔπεσσί τε σοῖσιν ἀκούων
τέρπομαι. ἀλλʼ ἤδη μοι ἀνιάζουσιν ἑταῖροι
ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ· σὺ δέ με χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐρύκεις.
δῶρον δʼ ὅττι κέ μοι δοίης, κειμήλιον ἔστω·
ἵππους δʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην οὐκ ἄξομαι, ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ
ἐνθάδε λείψω ἄγαλμα· σὺ γὰρ πεδίοιο ἀνάσσεις
εὐρέος, ᾧ ἔνι μὲν λωτὸς πολύς, ἐν δὲ κύπειρον
πυροί τε ζειαί τε ἰδʼ εὐρυφυὲς κρῖ λευκόν.
ἐν δʼ Ἰθάκῃ οὔτʼ ἂρ δρόμοι εὐρέες οὔτε τι λειμών·
αἰγίβοτος, καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπήρατος ἱπποβότοιο.
οὐ γάρ τις νήσων ἱππήλατος οὐδʼ ἐυλείμων,
αἵ θʼ ἁλὶ κεκλίαται· Ἰθάκη δέ τε καὶ περὶ πασέων.
καὶ γάρ κʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἐγὼ παρὰ σοί γʼ ἀνεχοίμην
ἥμενος, οὐδέ κέ μʼ οἴκου ἕλοι πόθος οὐδὲ τοκήων·
αἰνῶς γὰρ μύθοισιν ἔπεσσί τε σοῖσιν ἀκούων
τέρπομαι. ἀλλʼ ἤδη μοι ἀνιάζουσιν ἑταῖροι
ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ· σὺ δέ με χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐρύκεις.
δῶρον δʼ ὅττι κέ μοι δοίης, κειμήλιον ἔστω·
ἵππους δʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην οὐκ ἄξομαι, ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ
ἐνθάδε λείψω ἄγαλμα· σὺ γὰρ πεδίοιο ἀνάσσεις
εὐρέος, ᾧ ἔνι μὲν λωτὸς πολύς, ἐν δὲ κύπειρον
πυροί τε ζειαί τε ἰδʼ εὐρυφυὲς κρῖ λευκόν.
ἐν δʼ Ἰθάκῃ οὔτʼ ἂρ δρόμοι εὐρέες οὔτε τι λειμών·
αἰγίβοτος, καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπήρατος ἱπποβότοιο.
οὐ γάρ τις νήσων ἱππήλατος οὐδʼ ἐυλείμων,
αἵ θʼ ἁλὶ κεκλίαται· Ἰθάκη δέ τε καὶ περὶ πασέων.
So he spoke, and Menelaus good at the war-cry smiled,
and stroked him with his hand, and spoke, and called him by name:
and stroked him with his hand, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"You are of good blood, dear child, by the way you speak.
So I will change these gifts for you; I have the means.
Of all the treasures that lie stored in my house,
I will give you the finest and the most costly.
I will give you a well-wrought mixing-bowl; it is all
of silver, and the rims are finished in gold,
the work of Hephaestus. The hero Phaedimus gave it to me,
king of the Sidonians, when his house sheltered me
on my journey home. This I want to give to you."
So I will change these gifts for you; I have the means.
Of all the treasures that lie stored in my house,
I will give you the finest and the most costly.
I will give you a well-wrought mixing-bowl; it is all
of silver, and the rims are finished in gold,
the work of Hephaestus. The hero Phaedimus gave it to me,
king of the Sidonians, when his house sheltered me
on my journey home. This I want to give to you."
αἵματός εἰς ἀγαθοῖο, φίλον τέκος, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις·
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μεταστήσω· δύναμαι γάρ.
δώρων δʼ ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,
δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστιν·
δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ
ἔστιν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,
ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο. πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,
Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε
κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι.
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μεταστήσω· δύναμαι γάρ.
δώρων δʼ ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,
δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστιν·
δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ
ἔστιν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,
ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο. πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,
Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε
κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι.
So they spoke such things to each other,
and the banqueters came to the house of the divine king.
They drove sheep along, and brought wine that makes men strong;
and their wives with the fine veils sent them bread.
and the banqueters came to the house of the divine king.
They drove sheep along, and brought wine that makes men strong;
and their wives with the fine veils sent them bread.
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
δαιτυμόνες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἴσαν θείου βασιλῆος.
οἱ δʼ ἦγον μὲν μῆλα, φέρον δʼ ἐυήνορα οἶνον·
σῖτον δέ σφʼ ἄλοχοι καλλικρήδεμνοι ἔπεμπον.
δαιτυμόνες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἴσαν θείου βασιλῆος.
οἱ δʼ ἦγον μὲν μῆλα, φέρον δʼ ἐυήνορα οἶνον·
σῖτον δέ σφʼ ἄλοχοι καλλικρήδεμνοι ἔπεμπον.
So they busied themselves with the meal in the halls.
But the suitors, in front of the hall of Odysseus,
were taking their pleasure with the discus and the throwing-spear
on the levelled ground, as before, in their insolence.
Antinous sat there, and Eurymachus, godlike in form,
the leaders of the suitors, far the best of them in excellence.
Noemon, son of Phronius, came near to them
and questioned Antinous with words and said:
But the suitors, in front of the hall of Odysseus,
were taking their pleasure with the discus and the throwing-spear
on the levelled ground, as before, in their insolence.
Antinous sat there, and Eurymachus, godlike in form,
the leaders of the suitors, far the best of them in excellence.
Noemon, son of Phronius, came near to them
and questioned Antinous with words and said:
ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο.
μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο
δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες
ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος, ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
Ἀντίνοος δὲ καθῆστο καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,
ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων, ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.
τοῖς δʼ υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
Ἀντίνοον μύθοισιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπεν·
μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο
δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες
ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος, ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
Ἀντίνοος δὲ καθῆστο καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,
ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων, ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.
τοῖς δʼ υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
Ἀντίνοον μύθοισιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπεν·
"Antinous, do we know in our minds, or do we not,
when Telemachus is coming back from sandy Pylos?
He has gone off with my ship, and I have need of her
to cross to wide-spaced Elis, where I have twelve
brood mares, and under them hardy mules,
still unbroken; I would drive one off and break it in."
when Telemachus is coming back from sandy Pylos?
He has gone off with my ship, and I have need of her
to cross to wide-spaced Elis, where I have twelve
brood mares, and under them hardy mules,
still unbroken; I would drive one off and break it in."
Ἀντίνοʼ, ἦ ῥά τι ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἦε καὶ οὐκί,
ὁππότε Τηλέμαχος νεῖτʼ ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος;
νῆά μοι οἴχετʼ ἄγων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ γίγνεται αὐτῆς
Ἤλιδʼ ἐς εὐρύχορον διαβήμεναι, ἔνθα μοι ἵπποι
δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δʼ ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοὶ
ἀδμῆτες· τῶν κέν τινʼ ἐλασσάμενος δαμασαίμην.
ὁππότε Τηλέμαχος νεῖτʼ ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος;
νῆά μοι οἴχετʼ ἄγων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ γίγνεται αὐτῆς
Ἤλιδʼ ἐς εὐρύχορον διαβήμεναι, ἔνθα μοι ἵπποι
δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δʼ ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοὶ
ἀδμῆτες· τῶν κέν τινʼ ἐλασσάμενος δαμασαίμην.
So he spoke, and they were astonished in their spirit; for they did not think
he had gone to Neleian Pylos, but was somewhere near,
out in the fields with the flocks or with the swineherd.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to him in turn:
he had gone to Neleian Pylos, but was somewhere near,
out in the fields with the flocks or with the swineherd.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to him in turn:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἐθάμβεον· οὐ γὰρ ἔφαντο
ἐς Πύλον οἴχεσθαι Νηλήιον, ἀλλά που αὐτοῦ
ἀγρῶν ἢ μήλοισι παρέμμεναι ἠὲ συβώτῃ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
ἐς Πύλον οἴχεσθαι Νηλήιον, ἀλλά που αὐτοῦ
ἀγρῶν ἢ μήλοισι παρέμμεναι ἠὲ συβώτῃ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
"Tell me the unerring truth: when did he go, and what young men
went with him? Picked men of Ithaca, or his own
hired men and slaves? He could have managed even that.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
did he take the black ship from you by force, against your will,
or did you give it willingly, when he pressed you with words?"
Then Noemon, son of Phronius, answered him in turn:
went with him? Picked men of Ithaca, or his own
hired men and slaves? He could have managed even that.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
did he take the black ship from you by force, against your will,
or did you give it willingly, when he pressed you with words?"
Then Noemon, son of Phronius, answered him in turn:
νημερτές μοι ἔνισπε, πότʼ ᾤχετο καὶ τίνες αὐτῷ
κοῦροι ἕποντʼ; Ἰθάκης ἐξαίρετοι, ἦ ἑοὶ αὐτοῦ
θῆτές τε δμῶές τε; δύναιτό κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσαι.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῶ,
ἤ σε βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρα νῆα μέλαιναν,
ἦε ἑκών οἱ δῶκας, ἐπεὶ προσπτύξατο μύθῳ.
τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἀντίον ηὔδα·
κοῦροι ἕποντʼ; Ἰθάκης ἐξαίρετοι, ἦ ἑοὶ αὐτοῦ
θῆτές τε δμῶές τε; δύναιτό κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσαι.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῶ,
ἤ σε βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρα νῆα μέλαιναν,
ἦε ἑκών οἱ δῶκας, ἐπεὶ προσπτύξατο μύθῳ.
τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"I gave it willingly myself. What else could any man do,
when such a man, with cares in his spirit,
asks it? It would be hard to refuse the gift.
The young men who are the best in the land after ourselves,
they went with him; and as their leader going aboard I saw
Mentor — or a god, for he was like him in everything.
But this astonishes me: I saw noble Mentor here
yesterday at dawn, and then he had gone aboard the ship for Pylos."
when such a man, with cares in his spirit,
asks it? It would be hard to refuse the gift.
The young men who are the best in the land after ourselves,
they went with him; and as their leader going aboard I saw
Mentor — or a god, for he was like him in everything.
But this astonishes me: I saw noble Mentor here
yesterday at dawn, and then he had gone aboard the ship for Pylos."
αὐτὸς ἑκών οἱ δῶκα· τί κεν ῥέξειε καὶ ἄλλος,
ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ τοιοῦτος ἔχων μελεδήματα θυμῷ
αἰτίζῃ; χαλεπόν κεν ἀνήνασθαι δόσιν εἴη.
κοῦροι δʼ, οἳ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριστεύουσι μεθʼ ἡμέας,
οἵ οἱ ἕποντʼ· ἐν δʼ ἀρχὸν ἐγὼ βαίνοντʼ ἐνόησα
Μέντορα, ἠὲ θεόν, τῷ δʼ αὐτῷ πάντα ἐῴκει.
ἀλλὰ τὸ θαυμάζω· ἴδον ἐνθάδε Μέντορα δῖον
χθιζὸν ὑπηοῖον, τότε δʼ ἔμβη νηὶ Πύλονδε.
ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ τοιοῦτος ἔχων μελεδήματα θυμῷ
αἰτίζῃ; χαλεπόν κεν ἀνήνασθαι δόσιν εἴη.
κοῦροι δʼ, οἳ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριστεύουσι μεθʼ ἡμέας,
οἵ οἱ ἕποντʼ· ἐν δʼ ἀρχὸν ἐγὼ βαίνοντʼ ἐνόησα
Μέντορα, ἠὲ θεόν, τῷ δʼ αὐτῷ πάντα ἐῴκει.
ἀλλὰ τὸ θαυμάζω· ἴδον ἐνθάδε Μέντορα δῖον
χθιζὸν ὑπηοῖον, τότε δʼ ἔμβη νηὶ Πύλονδε.
So saying he went off to his father’s house,
and the lordly spirit in both of them was astounded.
They made the suitors sit down together and leave off their games.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes,
in his grief; and his dark heart was filled
with great fury, and his eyes were like blazing fire:
"Ah me, a great work has been carried through in overweening pride,
this journey of Telemachus, and we said it would never be done.
In despite of so many of us, a mere boy has simply gone off,
hauling down a ship and picking the best men through the land.
He will make more trouble hereafter; but may Zeus
destroy his strength before he comes to the measure of manhood.
But come, give me a swift ship and twenty companions,
so that I may lie in wait for him on his way and watch for him
in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
so that this sailing after his father may end wretchedly for him."
and the lordly spirit in both of them was astounded.
They made the suitors sit down together and leave off their games.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes,
in his grief; and his dark heart was filled
with great fury, and his eyes were like blazing fire:
"Ah me, a great work has been carried through in overweening pride,
this journey of Telemachus, and we said it would never be done.
In despite of so many of us, a mere boy has simply gone off,
hauling down a ship and picking the best men through the land.
He will make more trouble hereafter; but may Zeus
destroy his strength before he comes to the measure of manhood.
But come, give me a swift ship and twenty companions,
so that I may lie in wait for him on his way and watch for him
in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
so that this sailing after his father may end wretchedly for him."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη πρὸς δώματα πατρός,
τοῖσιν δʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἀγάσσατο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
μνηστῆρας δʼ ἄμυδις κάθισαν καὶ παῦσαν ἀέθλων.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη Εὐπείθεος υἱός,
ἀχνύμενος· μένεος δὲ μέγα φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναι
πίμπλαντʼ, ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἐίκτην·
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως ἐτελέσθη
Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε· φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.
ἐκ τοσσῶνδʼ ἀέκητι νέος πάϊς οἴχεται αὔτως
νῆα ἐρυσσάμενος, κρίνας τʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον ἀρίστους.
ἄρξει καὶ προτέρω κακὸν ἔμμεναι· ἀλλά οἱ αὐτῷ
Ζεὺς ὀλέσειε βίην, πρὶν ἥβης μέτρον ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι δότε νῆα θοὴν καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἑταίρους,
ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸν ἰόντα λοχήσομαι ἠδὲ φυλάξω
ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης,
ὡς ἂν ἐπισμυγερῶς ναυτίλλεται εἵνεκα πατρός.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἀγάσσατο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
μνηστῆρας δʼ ἄμυδις κάθισαν καὶ παῦσαν ἀέθλων.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη Εὐπείθεος υἱός,
ἀχνύμενος· μένεος δὲ μέγα φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναι
πίμπλαντʼ, ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἐίκτην·
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως ἐτελέσθη
Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε· φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.
ἐκ τοσσῶνδʼ ἀέκητι νέος πάϊς οἴχεται αὔτως
νῆα ἐρυσσάμενος, κρίνας τʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον ἀρίστους.
ἄρξει καὶ προτέρω κακὸν ἔμμεναι· ἀλλά οἱ αὐτῷ
Ζεὺς ὀλέσειε βίην, πρὶν ἥβης μέτρον ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι δότε νῆα θοὴν καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἑταίρους,
ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸν ἰόντα λοχήσομαι ἠδὲ φυλάξω
ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης,
ὡς ἂν ἐπισμυγερῶς ναυτίλλεται εἵνεκα πατρός.
So he spoke, and they all approved and urged him on.
At once they rose and went into the house of Odysseus.
But Penelope was not long without word
of the plans the suitors were brooding deep in their minds;
for the herald Medon told her, who had learned their counsels
while he was outside the court, and they were weaving their scheme within.
He went through the house to bring word to Penelope;
and as he came over the threshold Penelope said to him:
At once they rose and went into the house of Odysseus.
But Penelope was not long without word
of the plans the suitors were brooding deep in their minds;
for the herald Medon told her, who had learned their counsels
while he was outside the court, and they were weaving their scheme within.
He went through the house to bring word to Penelope;
and as he came over the threshold Penelope said to him:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος.
οὐδʼ ἄρα Πηνελόπεια πολὺν χρόνον ἦεν ἄπυστος
μύθων, οὓς μνηστῆρες ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον·
κῆρυξ γάρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλὰς
αὐλῆς ἐκτὸς ἐών· οἱ δʼ ἔνδοθι μῆτιν ὕφαινον.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα Πηνελοπείῃ·
τὸν δὲ κατʼ οὐδοῦ βάντα προσηύδα Πηνελόπεια·
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος.
οὐδʼ ἄρα Πηνελόπεια πολὺν χρόνον ἦεν ἄπυστος
μύθων, οὓς μνηστῆρες ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον·
κῆρυξ γάρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλὰς
αὐλῆς ἐκτὸς ἐών· οἱ δʼ ἔνδοθι μῆτιν ὕφαινον.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα Πηνελοπείῃ·
τὸν δὲ κατʼ οὐδοῦ βάντα προσηύδα Πηνελόπεια·
"Herald, why have the proud suitors sent you here?
To tell the serving-women of divine Odysseus
to leave off their work and get a feast ready for them?
May they never woo again, nor gather anywhere else,
but dine here now for the last time and the very last!
You who gather so often and cut away so much substance,
the property of warlike-minded Telemachus. Did you never
hear from your own fathers in the old days, when you were children,
what Odysseus was among your parents,
never doing anything beyond right, nor saying it,
among the people — though that is the way of divine kings:
one mortal a king may hate, and another he may love.
But that man never did a reckless thing to any man at all.
But your spirit and your shameful deeds
are plain to see, and there is no gratitude afterwards for kindness done."
Then Medon, who knew prudent counsels, spoke to her in turn:
To tell the serving-women of divine Odysseus
to leave off their work and get a feast ready for them?
May they never woo again, nor gather anywhere else,
but dine here now for the last time and the very last!
You who gather so often and cut away so much substance,
the property of warlike-minded Telemachus. Did you never
hear from your own fathers in the old days, when you were children,
what Odysseus was among your parents,
never doing anything beyond right, nor saying it,
among the people — though that is the way of divine kings:
one mortal a king may hate, and another he may love.
But that man never did a reckless thing to any man at all.
But your spirit and your shameful deeds
are plain to see, and there is no gratitude afterwards for kindness done."
Then Medon, who knew prudent counsels, spoke to her in turn:
κῆρυξ, τίπτε δέ σε πρόεσαν μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί;
ἦ εἰπέμεναι δμῳῇσιν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
ἔργων παύσασθαι, σφίσι δʼ αὐτοῖς δαῖτα πένεσθαι;
μὴ μνηστεύσαντες μηδʼ ἄλλοθʼ ὁμιλήσαντες
ὕστατα καὶ πύματα νῦν ἐνθάδε δειπνήσειαν·
οἳ θάμʼ ἀγειρόμενοι βίοτον κατακείρετε πολλόν,
κτῆσιν Τηλεμάχοιο δαΐφρονος· οὐδέ τι πατρῶν
ὑμετέρων τὸ πρόσθεν ἀκούετε, παῖδες ἐόντες,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μεθʼ ὑμετέροισι τοκεῦσιν,
οὔτε τινὰ ῥέξας ἐξαίσιον οὔτε τι εἰπὼν
ἐν δήμῳ, ἥ τʼ ἐστὶ δίκη θείων βασιλήων·
ἄλλον κʼ ἐχθαίρῃσι βροτῶν, ἄλλον κε φιλοίη.
κεῖνος δʼ οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἀτάσθαλον ἄνδρα ἐώργει.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὑμέτερος θυμὸς καὶ ἀεικέα ἔργα
φαίνεται, οὐδέ τίς ἐστι χάρις μετόπισθʼ ἐυεργέων.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·
ἦ εἰπέμεναι δμῳῇσιν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
ἔργων παύσασθαι, σφίσι δʼ αὐτοῖς δαῖτα πένεσθαι;
μὴ μνηστεύσαντες μηδʼ ἄλλοθʼ ὁμιλήσαντες
ὕστατα καὶ πύματα νῦν ἐνθάδε δειπνήσειαν·
οἳ θάμʼ ἀγειρόμενοι βίοτον κατακείρετε πολλόν,
κτῆσιν Τηλεμάχοιο δαΐφρονος· οὐδέ τι πατρῶν
ὑμετέρων τὸ πρόσθεν ἀκούετε, παῖδες ἐόντες,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μεθʼ ὑμετέροισι τοκεῦσιν,
οὔτε τινὰ ῥέξας ἐξαίσιον οὔτε τι εἰπὼν
ἐν δήμῳ, ἥ τʼ ἐστὶ δίκη θείων βασιλήων·
ἄλλον κʼ ἐχθαίρῃσι βροτῶν, ἄλλον κε φιλοίη.
κεῖνος δʼ οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἀτάσθαλον ἄνδρα ἐώργει.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὑμέτερος θυμὸς καὶ ἀεικέα ἔργα
φαίνεται, οὐδέ τίς ἐστι χάρις μετόπισθʼ ἐυεργέων.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·
"If only, my queen, this were the worst of the evil.
But the suitors are planning something far greater
and more painful — may the son of Cronos never fulfil it.
They mean to kill Telemachus with the sharp bronze
as he comes home; he has gone after news of his father
to sacred Pylos and to noble Lacedaemon."
But the suitors are planning something far greater
and more painful — may the son of Cronos never fulfil it.
They mean to kill Telemachus with the sharp bronze
as he comes home; he has gone after news of his father
to sacred Pylos and to noble Lacedaemon."
αἲ γὰρ δή, βασίλεια, τόδε πλεῖστον κακὸν εἴη.
ἀλλὰ πολὺ μεῖζόν τε καὶ ἀργαλεώτερον ἄλλο
μνηστῆρες φράζονται, ὃ μὴ τελέσειε Κρονίων·
Τηλέμαχον μεμάασι κατακτάμεν ὀξέι χαλκῷ
οἴκαδε νισόμενον· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδʼ ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν.
ἀλλὰ πολὺ μεῖζόν τε καὶ ἀργαλεώτερον ἄλλο
μνηστῆρες φράζονται, ὃ μὴ τελέσειε Κρονίων·
Τηλέμαχον μεμάασι κατακτάμεν ὀξέι χαλκῷ
οἴκαδε νισόμενον· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδʼ ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν.
So he spoke, and her knees and her heart gave way where she stood,
and speechlessness held her long; her two eyes
filled with tears, and her full voice was stopped.
At last she answered him with words and said:
and speechlessness held her long; her two eyes
filled with tears, and her full voice was stopped.
At last she answered him with words and said:
ὣς φάτο, τῆς δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
δὴν δέ μιν ἀμφασίη ἐπέων λάβε· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.
ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·
δὴν δέ μιν ἀμφασίη ἐπέων λάβε· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.
ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·
"Herald, why has my child gone? He had no need
to go aboard the swift ships, which are the horses of the sea
for men, and cross the great water.
Is it so that not even his name may be left among men?"
Then Medon, who knew prudent counsels, answered her:
to go aboard the swift ships, which are the horses of the sea
for men, and cross the great water.
Is it so that not even his name may be left among men?"
Then Medon, who knew prudent counsels, answered her:
κῆρυξ, τίπτε δέ μοι πάϊς οἴχεται; οὐδέ τί μιν χρεὼ
νηῶν ὠκυπόρων ἐπιβαινέμεν, αἵ θʼ ἁλὸς ἵπποι
ἀνδράσι γίγνονται, περόωσι δὲ πουλὺν ἐφʼ ὑγρήν.
ἦ ἵνα μηδʼ ὄνομʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀνθρώποισι λίπηται;
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·
νηῶν ὠκυπόρων ἐπιβαινέμεν, αἵ θʼ ἁλὸς ἵπποι
ἀνδράσι γίγνονται, περόωσι δὲ πουλὺν ἐφʼ ὑγρήν.
ἦ ἵνα μηδʼ ὄνομʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀνθρώποισι λίπηται;
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·
"I do not know whether some god stirred him, or whether his own
spirit drove him to go to Pylos, to learn
of his father’s homecoming, or what fate he met."
spirit drove him to go to Pylos, to learn
of his father’s homecoming, or what fate he met."
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἤ τίς μιν θεὸς ὤρορεν, ἦε καὶ αὐτοῦ
θυμὸς ἐφωρμήθη ἴμεν ἐς Πύλον, ὄφρα πύθηται
πατρὸς ἑοῦ ἢ νόστον ἢ ὅν τινα πότμον ἐπέσπεν.
θυμὸς ἐφωρμήθη ἴμεν ἐς Πύλον, ὄφρα πύθηται
πατρὸς ἑοῦ ἢ νόστον ἢ ὅν τινα πότμον ἐπέσπεν.
So saying he went off through the house of Odysseus.
And spirit-destroying grief poured over her, and she could no longer bear
to sit on a chair, though there were many in the house,
but sat down on the threshold of her well-wrought chamber,
wailing pitifully; and about her the serving-women whimpered,
all of them who were in the house, young and old.
And Penelope, sobbing thickly, spoke among them:
And spirit-destroying grief poured over her, and she could no longer bear
to sit on a chair, though there were many in the house,
but sat down on the threshold of her well-wrought chamber,
wailing pitifully; and about her the serving-women whimpered,
all of them who were in the house, young and old.
And Penelope, sobbing thickly, spoke among them:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κατὰ δῶμʼ Ὀδυσῆος.
τὴν δʼ ἄχος ἀμφεχύθη θυμοφθόρον, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἔτλη
δίφρῳ ἐφέζεσθαι πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,
ἀλλʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ ἷζε πολυκμήτου θαλάμοιο
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένη· περὶ δὲ δμῳαὶ μινύριζον
πᾶσαι, ὅσαι κατὰ δώματʼ ἔσαν νέαι ἠδὲ παλαιαί.
τῇς δʼ ἁδινὸν γοόωσα μετηύδα Πηνελόπεια·
τὴν δʼ ἄχος ἀμφεχύθη θυμοφθόρον, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἔτλη
δίφρῳ ἐφέζεσθαι πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,
ἀλλʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ ἷζε πολυκμήτου θαλάμοιο
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένη· περὶ δὲ δμῳαὶ μινύριζον
πᾶσαι, ὅσαι κατὰ δώματʼ ἔσαν νέαι ἠδὲ παλαιαί.
τῇς δʼ ἁδινὸν γοόωσα μετηύδα Πηνελόπεια·
"Hear me, dear friends; the Olympian has given me griefs
beyond all the women who were born and reared with me.
First I lost my noble husband, the lion-hearted man,
who excelled among the Danaans in every kind of excellence,
a noble man, whose glory is wide through Hellas and mid-Argos.
And now the storm-winds have snatched my beloved son
from the halls without glory, and I never heard him go.
Hard women! Not one of you thought in her mind
to rouse me from my bed, though you knew it well in your spirit,
when he went aboard the hollow black ship.
For if I had learned that he was set on this journey,
then either he would have stayed, eager as he was for the road,
or he would have left me dead in the halls.
But let someone quickly call the old man Dolius,
my slave, whom my father gave me when I first came here,
and who keeps my orchard of many trees, so that with all speed
he may sit beside Laertes and recount all this to him,
in case that man might weave some plan in his mind
and come out and make his plea to the people, who are bent
on destroying his line and the line of godlike Odysseus."
Then her dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to her in turn:
beyond all the women who were born and reared with me.
First I lost my noble husband, the lion-hearted man,
who excelled among the Danaans in every kind of excellence,
a noble man, whose glory is wide through Hellas and mid-Argos.
And now the storm-winds have snatched my beloved son
from the halls without glory, and I never heard him go.
Hard women! Not one of you thought in her mind
to rouse me from my bed, though you knew it well in your spirit,
when he went aboard the hollow black ship.
For if I had learned that he was set on this journey,
then either he would have stayed, eager as he was for the road,
or he would have left me dead in the halls.
But let someone quickly call the old man Dolius,
my slave, whom my father gave me when I first came here,
and who keeps my orchard of many trees, so that with all speed
he may sit beside Laertes and recount all this to him,
in case that man might weave some plan in his mind
and come out and make his plea to the people, who are bent
on destroying his line and the line of godlike Odysseus."
Then her dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to her in turn:
κλῦτε, φίλαι· πέρι γάρ μοι Ὀλύμπιος ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκεν
ἐκ πασέων, ὅσσαι μοι ὁμοῦ τράφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο·
ἣ πρὶν μὲν πόσιν ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα θυμολέοντα,
παντοίῃς ἀρετῇσι κεκασμένον ἐν Δαναοῖσιν,
ἐσθλόν, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος.
νῦν αὖ παῖδʼ ἀγαπητὸν ἀνηρείψαντο θύελλαι
ἀκλέα ἐκ μεγάρων, οὐδʼ ὁρμηθέντος ἄκουσα.
σχέτλιαι, οὐδʼ ὑμεῖς περ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θέσθε ἑκάστη
ἐκ λεχέων μʼ ἀνεγεῖραι, ἐπιστάμεναι σάφα θυμῷ,
ὁππότʼ ἐκεῖνος ἔβη κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν.
εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ πυθόμην ταύτην ὁδὸν ὁρμαίνοντα,
τῷ κε μάλʼ ἤ κεν ἔμεινε καὶ ἐσσύμενός περ ὁδοῖο,
ἤ κέ με τεθνηκυῖαν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπεν.
ἀλλά τις ὀτρηρῶς Δολίον καλέσειε γέροντα,
δμῶʼ ἐμόν, ὅν μοι δῶκε πατὴρ ἔτι δεῦρο κιούσῃ,
καί μοι κῆπον ἔχει πολυδένδρεον, ὄφρα τάχιστα
Λαέρτῃ τάδε πάντα παρεζόμενος καταλέξῃ,
εἰ δή πού τινα κεῖνος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μῆτιν ὑφήνας
ἐξελθὼν λαοῖσιν ὀδύρεται, οἳ μεμάασιν
ὃν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος φθῖσαι γόνον ἀντιθέοιο.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
ἐκ πασέων, ὅσσαι μοι ὁμοῦ τράφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο·
ἣ πρὶν μὲν πόσιν ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα θυμολέοντα,
παντοίῃς ἀρετῇσι κεκασμένον ἐν Δαναοῖσιν,
ἐσθλόν, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος.
νῦν αὖ παῖδʼ ἀγαπητὸν ἀνηρείψαντο θύελλαι
ἀκλέα ἐκ μεγάρων, οὐδʼ ὁρμηθέντος ἄκουσα.
σχέτλιαι, οὐδʼ ὑμεῖς περ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θέσθε ἑκάστη
ἐκ λεχέων μʼ ἀνεγεῖραι, ἐπιστάμεναι σάφα θυμῷ,
ὁππότʼ ἐκεῖνος ἔβη κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν.
εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ πυθόμην ταύτην ὁδὸν ὁρμαίνοντα,
τῷ κε μάλʼ ἤ κεν ἔμεινε καὶ ἐσσύμενός περ ὁδοῖο,
ἤ κέ με τεθνηκυῖαν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπεν.
ἀλλά τις ὀτρηρῶς Δολίον καλέσειε γέροντα,
δμῶʼ ἐμόν, ὅν μοι δῶκε πατὴρ ἔτι δεῦρο κιούσῃ,
καί μοι κῆπον ἔχει πολυδένδρεον, ὄφρα τάχιστα
Λαέρτῃ τάδε πάντα παρεζόμενος καταλέξῃ,
εἰ δή πού τινα κεῖνος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μῆτιν ὑφήνας
ἐξελθὼν λαοῖσιν ὀδύρεται, οἳ μεμάασιν
ὃν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος φθῖσαι γόνον ἀντιθέοιο.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
"Dear lady, kill me with the pitiless bronze,
or let me be in the hall; but I will not hide the word from you.
I knew all this, and I gave him everything he asked for,
bread and sweet wine; and he took a great oath from me
not to tell you before the twelfth day had come,
or you missed him yourself and heard that he had gone,
so that you might not spoil your beautiful skin with weeping.
But wash, and take clean clothing on your body,
and go up to the upper chamber with your handmaid women
and pray to Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus;
for she could save him even out of death.
And do not trouble the old man, who has trouble enough. I do not think
the line of the son of Arceisius is altogether hated
by the blessed gods; there will be one left yet to hold
the high-roofed house and the rich fields far off."
or let me be in the hall; but I will not hide the word from you.
I knew all this, and I gave him everything he asked for,
bread and sweet wine; and he took a great oath from me
not to tell you before the twelfth day had come,
or you missed him yourself and heard that he had gone,
so that you might not spoil your beautiful skin with weeping.
But wash, and take clean clothing on your body,
and go up to the upper chamber with your handmaid women
and pray to Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus;
for she could save him even out of death.
And do not trouble the old man, who has trouble enough. I do not think
the line of the son of Arceisius is altogether hated
by the blessed gods; there will be one left yet to hold
the high-roofed house and the rich fields far off."
νύμφα φίλη, σὺ μὲν ἄρ με κατάκτανε νηλέι χαλκῷ
ἢ ἔα ἐν μεγάρῳ· μῦθον δέ τοι οὐκ ἐπικεύσω.
ᾔδεʼ ἐγὼ τάδε πάντα, πόρον δέ οἱ ὅσσʼ ἐκέλευε,
σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ· ἐμεῦ δʼ ἕλετο μέγαν ὅρκον
μὴ πρὶν σοὶ ἐρέειν, πρὶν δωδεκάτην γε γενέσθαι
ἢ σʼ αὐτὴν ποθέσαι καὶ ἀφορμηθέντος ἀκοῦσαι,
ὡς ἂν μὴ κλαίουσα κατὰ χρόα καλὸν ἰάπτῃς.
ἀλλʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
εὔχεʼ Ἀθηναίῃ κούρῃ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·
ἡ γάρ κέν μιν ἔπειτα καὶ ἐκ θανάτοιο σαώσαι.
μηδὲ γέροντα κάκου κεκακωμένον· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
πάγχυ θεοῖς μακάρεσσι γονὴν Ἀρκεισιάδαο
ἔχθεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔτι πού τις ἐπέσσεται ὅς κεν ἔχῃσι
δώματά θʼ ὑψερεφέα καὶ ἀπόπροθι πίονας ἀγρούς.
ἢ ἔα ἐν μεγάρῳ· μῦθον δέ τοι οὐκ ἐπικεύσω.
ᾔδεʼ ἐγὼ τάδε πάντα, πόρον δέ οἱ ὅσσʼ ἐκέλευε,
σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ· ἐμεῦ δʼ ἕλετο μέγαν ὅρκον
μὴ πρὶν σοὶ ἐρέειν, πρὶν δωδεκάτην γε γενέσθαι
ἢ σʼ αὐτὴν ποθέσαι καὶ ἀφορμηθέντος ἀκοῦσαι,
ὡς ἂν μὴ κλαίουσα κατὰ χρόα καλὸν ἰάπτῃς.
ἀλλʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
εὔχεʼ Ἀθηναίῃ κούρῃ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·
ἡ γάρ κέν μιν ἔπειτα καὶ ἐκ θανάτοιο σαώσαι.
μηδὲ γέροντα κάκου κεκακωμένον· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
πάγχυ θεοῖς μακάρεσσι γονὴν Ἀρκεισιάδαο
ἔχθεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔτι πού τις ἐπέσσεται ὅς κεν ἔχῃσι
δώματά θʼ ὑψερεφέα καὶ ἀπόπροθι πίονας ἀγρούς.
So she spoke, and lulled her grief, and stopped her eyes from weeping.
She washed, and took clean clothing on her body,
and went up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women,
and put barley grains in a basket, and prayed to Athena:
She washed, and took clean clothing on her body,
and went up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women,
and put barley grains in a basket, and prayed to Athena:
ὣς φάτο, τῆς δʼ εὔνησε γόον, σχέθε δʼ ὄσσε γόοιο.
ἡ δʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀνέβαινε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν,
ἐν δʼ ἔθετʼ οὐλοχύτας κανέῳ, ἠρᾶτο δʼ Ἀθήνῃ·
ἡ δʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀνέβαινε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν,
ἐν δʼ ἔθετʼ οὐλοχύτας κανέῳ, ἠρᾶτο δʼ Ἀθήνῃ·
"Hear me, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, Unwearied One:
if ever Odysseus of many devices burned in his halls
the rich thigh-pieces of an ox or a sheep for you,
remember it for me now, and save my dear son,
and ward off the suitors in their evil arrogance."
if ever Odysseus of many devices burned in his halls
the rich thigh-pieces of an ox or a sheep for you,
remember it for me now, and save my dear son,
and ward off the suitors in their evil arrogance."
κλῦθί μευ, αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, Ἀτρυτώνη,
εἴ ποτέ τοι πολύμητις ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἢ βοὸς ἢ ὄϊος κατὰ πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηε,
τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι φίλον υἷα σάωσον,
μνηστῆρας δʼ ἀπάλαλκε κακῶς ὑπερηνορέοντας.
εἴ ποτέ τοι πολύμητις ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἢ βοὸς ἢ ὄϊος κατὰ πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηε,
τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι φίλον υἷα σάωσον,
μνηστῆρας δʼ ἀπάλαλκε κακῶς ὑπερηνορέοντας.
So saying she raised the ritual cry, and the goddess heard her prayer.
The suitors broke into uproar through the shadowy halls,
and one of the arrogant young men would say:
"Surely the much-wooed queen is making ready
a marriage for one of us, and knows nothing of the murder set for her son."
The suitors broke into uproar through the shadowy halls,
and one of the arrogant young men would say:
"Surely the much-wooed queen is making ready
a marriage for one of us, and knows nothing of the murder set for her son."
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὀλόλυξε, θεὰ δέ οἱ ἔκλυεν ἀρῆς.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
ἦ μάλα δὴ γάμον ἄμμι πολυμνήστη βασίλεια
ἀρτύει, οὐδέ τι οἶδεν ὅ οἱ φόνος υἷι τέτυκται.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
ἦ μάλα δὴ γάμον ἄμμι πολυμνήστη βασίλεια
ἀρτύει, οὐδέ τι οἶδεν ὅ οἱ φόνος υἷι τέτυκται.
So one of them would speak; but they did not know how it stood.
And Antinous rose and spoke among them:
And Antinous rose and spoke among them:
ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
"You strange men, avoid all overweening speech
alike, in case someone carries it in to the house.
But come, let us rise in silence and carry out
the plan that has settled well in all our minds."
alike, in case someone carries it in to the house.
But come, let us rise in silence and carry out
the plan that has settled well in all our minds."
δαιμόνιοι, μύθους μὲν ὑπερφιάλους ἀλέασθε
πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πού τις ἀπαγγείλῃσι καὶ εἴσω.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε σιγῇ τοῖον ἀναστάντες τελέωμεν
μῦθον, ὃ δὴ καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἤραρεν ἡμῖν.
πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πού τις ἀπαγγείλῃσι καὶ εἴσω.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε σιγῇ τοῖον ἀναστάντες τελέωμεν
μῦθον, ὃ δὴ καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἤραρεν ἡμῖν.
So saying he picked out twenty of the best men,
and they went off to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
First of all they hauled the ship down into the deep water,
and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,
and fitted the oars in the leather thongs,
all in due order, and spread the white sails.
High-spirited attendants brought them their armour.
They moored her high up in the water, and went ashore themselves;
and there they took their supper, and waited for evening to come.
But there in the upper chamber circumspect Penelope
lay without food, tasting neither meat nor drink,
turning it over whether her blameless son would escape death,
or go down under the overweening suitors.
As many thoughts as a lion turns over in a crowd of men,
afraid, when they draw their treacherous ring about him,
so many she was turning over when sweet sleep came upon her.
She sank back and slept, and all her limbs were loosed.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else.
She made a phantom, and its body was like a woman,
Iphthime, daughter of high-hearted Icarius,
whom Eumelus had married, who had his home in Pherae.
She sent her to the house of divine Odysseus,
so that she might stop Penelope from her grieving and sobbing,
from her weeping and her tearful lamentation.
She came into the chamber past the thong of the bolt,
and stood above her head, and spoke a word to her:
and they went off to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
First of all they hauled the ship down into the deep water,
and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,
and fitted the oars in the leather thongs,
all in due order, and spread the white sails.
High-spirited attendants brought them their armour.
They moored her high up in the water, and went ashore themselves;
and there they took their supper, and waited for evening to come.
But there in the upper chamber circumspect Penelope
lay without food, tasting neither meat nor drink,
turning it over whether her blameless son would escape death,
or go down under the overweening suitors.
As many thoughts as a lion turns over in a crowd of men,
afraid, when they draw their treacherous ring about him,
so many she was turning over when sweet sleep came upon her.
She sank back and slept, and all her limbs were loosed.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else.
She made a phantom, and its body was like a woman,
Iphthime, daughter of high-hearted Icarius,
whom Eumelus had married, who had his home in Pherae.
She sent her to the house of divine Odysseus,
so that she might stop Penelope from her grieving and sobbing,
from her weeping and her tearful lamentation.
She came into the chamber past the thong of the bolt,
and stood above her head, and spoke a word to her:
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐκρίνατʼ ἐείκοσι φῶτας ἀρίστους,
βὰν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
νῆα μὲν οὖν πάμπρωτον ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν,
ἐν δʼ ἱστόν τʼ ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
ἠρτύναντο δʼ ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισιν,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν·
τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἤνεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.
ὑψοῦ δʼ ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γʼ ὥρμισαν, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί·
ἔνθα δὲ δόρπον ἕλοντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.
ἡ δʼ ὑπερωίῳ αὖθι περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
κεῖτʼ ἄρʼ ἄσιτος, ἄπαστος ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
ὁρμαίνουσʼ ἤ οἱ θάνατον φύγοι υἱὸς ἀμύμων,
ἦ ὅ γʼ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι δαμείη.
ὅσσα δὲ μερμήριξε λέων ἀνδρῶν ἐν ὁμίλῳ
δείσας, ὁππότε μιν δόλιον περὶ κύκλον ἄγωσι,
τόσσα μιν ὁρμαίνουσαν ἐπήλυθε νήδυμος ὕπνος·
εὗδε δʼ ἀνακλινθεῖσα, λύθεν δέ οἱ ἅψεα πάντα.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
εἴδωλον ποίησε, δέμας δʼ ἤικτο γυναικί,
Ἰφθίμῃ, κούρῃ μεγαλήτορος Ἰκαρίοιο,
τὴν Εὔμηλος ὄπυιε Φερῇς ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.
πέμπε δέ μιν πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
ἧος Πηνελόπειαν ὀδυρομένην γοόωσαν
παύσειε κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.
ἐς θάλαμον δʼ εἰσῆλθε παρὰ κληῖδος ἱμάντα,
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
βὰν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
νῆα μὲν οὖν πάμπρωτον ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν,
ἐν δʼ ἱστόν τʼ ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
ἠρτύναντο δʼ ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισιν,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν·
τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἤνεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.
ὑψοῦ δʼ ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γʼ ὥρμισαν, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί·
ἔνθα δὲ δόρπον ἕλοντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.
ἡ δʼ ὑπερωίῳ αὖθι περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
κεῖτʼ ἄρʼ ἄσιτος, ἄπαστος ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
ὁρμαίνουσʼ ἤ οἱ θάνατον φύγοι υἱὸς ἀμύμων,
ἦ ὅ γʼ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι δαμείη.
ὅσσα δὲ μερμήριξε λέων ἀνδρῶν ἐν ὁμίλῳ
δείσας, ὁππότε μιν δόλιον περὶ κύκλον ἄγωσι,
τόσσα μιν ὁρμαίνουσαν ἐπήλυθε νήδυμος ὕπνος·
εὗδε δʼ ἀνακλινθεῖσα, λύθεν δέ οἱ ἅψεα πάντα.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
εἴδωλον ποίησε, δέμας δʼ ἤικτο γυναικί,
Ἰφθίμῃ, κούρῃ μεγαλήτορος Ἰκαρίοιο,
τὴν Εὔμηλος ὄπυιε Φερῇς ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.
πέμπε δέ μιν πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
ἧος Πηνελόπειαν ὀδυρομένην γοόωσαν
παύσειε κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.
ἐς θάλαμον δʼ εἰσῆλθε παρὰ κληῖδος ἱμάντα,
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"Are you asleep, Penelope, with grief in your heart?
The gods who live at ease do not allow you
to weep or to grieve, since your son is still to come home;
for he has done no sin at all against the gods."
Then circumspect Penelope answered her,
slumbering very sweetly at the gates of dreams:
"Why, sister, have you come here? You never used
to come before, since you live very far away.
And you bid me leave off my misery and the many pains
that torment me in my mind and in my spirit —
I who lost first my noble husband, the lion-hearted man,
who excelled among the Danaans in every kind of excellence,
a noble man, whose glory is wide through Hellas and mid-Argos;
and now my beloved son has gone aboard a hollow ship,
a child, knowing nothing of hard work or of assemblies.
For him I grieve even more than for the other;
I tremble for him and fear that something may happen to him,
either in the land where he has gone, or on the sea;
for many enemies are contriving against him,
eager to kill him before he reaches his native land."
Then the dim phantom answered her and said:
The gods who live at ease do not allow you
to weep or to grieve, since your son is still to come home;
for he has done no sin at all against the gods."
Then circumspect Penelope answered her,
slumbering very sweetly at the gates of dreams:
"Why, sister, have you come here? You never used
to come before, since you live very far away.
And you bid me leave off my misery and the many pains
that torment me in my mind and in my spirit —
I who lost first my noble husband, the lion-hearted man,
who excelled among the Danaans in every kind of excellence,
a noble man, whose glory is wide through Hellas and mid-Argos;
and now my beloved son has gone aboard a hollow ship,
a child, knowing nothing of hard work or of assemblies.
For him I grieve even more than for the other;
I tremble for him and fear that something may happen to him,
either in the land where he has gone, or on the sea;
for many enemies are contriving against him,
eager to kill him before he reaches his native land."
Then the dim phantom answered her and said:
εὕδεις, Πηνελόπεια, φίλον τετιημένη ἦτορ;
οὐ μέν σʼ οὐδὲ ἐῶσι θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες
κλαίειν οὐδʼ ἀκάχησθαι, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἔτι νόστιμός ἐστι
σὸς παῖς· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θεοῖς ἀλιτήμενός ἐστι.
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
ἡδὺ μάλα κνώσσουσʼ ἐν ὀνειρείῃσι πύλῃσιν·
τίπτε, κασιγνήτη, δεῦρʼ ἤλυθες; οὔ τι πάρος γε
πωλέʼ, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίεις·
καί με κέλεαι παύσασθαι ὀιζύος ἠδʼ ὀδυνάων
πολλέων, αἵ μʼ ἐρέθουσι κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἣ πρὶν μὲν πόσιν ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα θυμολέοντα,
παντοίῃς ἀρετῇσι κεκασμένον ἐν Δαναοῖσιν,
ἐσθλόν, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος·
νῦν αὖ παῖς ἀγαπητὸς ἔβη κοίλης ἐπὶ νηός,
νήπιος, οὔτε πόνων ἐὺ εἰδὼς οὔτʼ ἀγοράων.
τοῦ δὴ ἐγὼ καὶ μᾶλλον ὀδύρομαι ἤ περ ἐκείνου·
τοῦ δʼ ἀμφιτρομέω καὶ δείδια, μή τι πάθῃσιν,
ἢ ὅ γε τῶν ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἵνʼ οἴχεται, ἢ ἐνὶ πόντῳ·
δυσμενέες γὰρ πολλοὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ μηχανόωνται,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενον προσέφη εἴδωλον ἀμαυρόν·
οὐ μέν σʼ οὐδὲ ἐῶσι θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες
κλαίειν οὐδʼ ἀκάχησθαι, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἔτι νόστιμός ἐστι
σὸς παῖς· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θεοῖς ἀλιτήμενός ἐστι.
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
ἡδὺ μάλα κνώσσουσʼ ἐν ὀνειρείῃσι πύλῃσιν·
τίπτε, κασιγνήτη, δεῦρʼ ἤλυθες; οὔ τι πάρος γε
πωλέʼ, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίεις·
καί με κέλεαι παύσασθαι ὀιζύος ἠδʼ ὀδυνάων
πολλέων, αἵ μʼ ἐρέθουσι κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἣ πρὶν μὲν πόσιν ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα θυμολέοντα,
παντοίῃς ἀρετῇσι κεκασμένον ἐν Δαναοῖσιν,
ἐσθλόν, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος·
νῦν αὖ παῖς ἀγαπητὸς ἔβη κοίλης ἐπὶ νηός,
νήπιος, οὔτε πόνων ἐὺ εἰδὼς οὔτʼ ἀγοράων.
τοῦ δὴ ἐγὼ καὶ μᾶλλον ὀδύρομαι ἤ περ ἐκείνου·
τοῦ δʼ ἀμφιτρομέω καὶ δείδια, μή τι πάθῃσιν,
ἢ ὅ γε τῶν ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἵνʼ οἴχεται, ἢ ἐνὶ πόντῳ·
δυσμενέες γὰρ πολλοὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ μηχανόωνται,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενον προσέφη εἴδωλον ἀμαυρόν·
"Take heart, and do not fear too much in your mind.
Such an escort goes with him as other men
have prayed to have beside them, for she has the power —
Pallas Athena. She pities you in your grieving,
and it is she who has sent me now to tell you this."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
Such an escort goes with him as other men
have prayed to have beside them, for she has the power —
Pallas Athena. She pities you in your grieving,
and it is she who has sent me now to tell you this."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
θάρσει, μηδέ τι πάγχυ μετὰ φρεσὶ δείδιθι λίην·
τοίη γάρ οἱ πομπὸς ἅμʼ ἔρχεται, ἥν τε καὶ ἄλλοι
ἀνέρες ἠρήσαντο παρεστάμεναι, δύναται γάρ,
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη· σὲ δʼ ὀδυρομένην ἐλεαίρει·
ἣ νῦν με προέηκε τεῒν τάδε μυθήσασθαι.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
τοίη γάρ οἱ πομπὸς ἅμʼ ἔρχεται, ἥν τε καὶ ἄλλοι
ἀνέρες ἠρήσαντο παρεστάμεναι, δύναται γάρ,
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη· σὲ δʼ ὀδυρομένην ἐλεαίρει·
ἣ νῦν με προέηκε τεῒν τάδε μυθήσασθαι.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"If you are indeed a god and have heard the voice of a god,
come, tell me also of that wretched man:
is he still alive somewhere and seeing the light of the sun,
or is he dead already and in the house of Hades?"
Then the dim phantom answered her and said:
come, tell me also of that wretched man:
is he still alive somewhere and seeing the light of the sun,
or is he dead already and in the house of Hades?"
Then the dim phantom answered her and said:
εἰ μὲν δὴ θεός ἐσσι θεοῖό τε ἔκλυες αὐδῆς,
εἰ δʼ ἄγε μοι καὶ κεῖνον ὀιζυρὸν κατάλεξον,
ἤ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο,
ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο δόμοισι.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενον προσέφη εἴδωλον ἀμαυρόν·
εἰ δʼ ἄγε μοι καὶ κεῖνον ὀιζυρὸν κατάλεξον,
ἤ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο,
ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο δόμοισι.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενον προσέφη εἴδωλον ἀμαυρόν·
"Of that man I will not speak to you straight through,
whether he is alive or dead; it is bad to talk to the wind."
So saying it slipped away by the doorpost past the bolt
into the breath of the winds. And she started up out of sleep,
the daughter of Icarius; and her heart was warmed,
so clear a dream had come rushing on her in the dead of night.
But the suitors went aboard and sailed the watery ways,
turning sheer murder for Telemachus over in their minds.
There is a rocky island in the middle of the sea,
midway between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
Asteris, not a large one; but in it are sheltering harbours
with two mouths; and there the Achaeans waited in ambush for him.
whether he is alive or dead; it is bad to talk to the wind."
So saying it slipped away by the doorpost past the bolt
into the breath of the winds. And she started up out of sleep,
the daughter of Icarius; and her heart was warmed,
so clear a dream had come rushing on her in the dead of night.
But the suitors went aboard and sailed the watery ways,
turning sheer murder for Telemachus over in their minds.
There is a rocky island in the middle of the sea,
midway between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
Asteris, not a large one; but in it are sheltering harbours
with two mouths; and there the Achaeans waited in ambush for him.
οὐ μέν τοι κεῖνόν γε διηνεκέως ἀγορεύσω,
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζειν.
ὣς εἰπὸν σταθμοῖο παρὰ κληῖδα λιάσθη
ἐς πνοιὰς ἀνέμων. ἡ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνόρουσε
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο· φίλον δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἰάνθη,
ὥς οἱ ἐναργὲς ὄνειρον ἐπέσσυτο νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα
Τηλεμάχῳ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντες.
ἔστι δέ τις νῆσος μέσσῃ ἁλὶ πετρήεσσα,
μεσσηγὺς Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης,
Ἀστερίς, οὐ μεγάλη· λιμένες δʼ ἔνι ναύλοχοι αὐτῇ
ἀμφίδυμοι· τῇ τόν γε μένον λοχόωντες Ἀχαιοί.
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζειν.
ὣς εἰπὸν σταθμοῖο παρὰ κληῖδα λιάσθη
ἐς πνοιὰς ἀνέμων. ἡ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνόρουσε
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο· φίλον δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἰάνθη,
ὥς οἱ ἐναργὲς ὄνειρον ἐπέσσυτο νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα
Τηλεμάχῳ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντες.
ἔστι δέ τις νῆσος μέσσῃ ἁλὶ πετρήεσσα,
μεσσηγὺς Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης,
Ἀστερίς, οὐ μεγάλη· λιμένες δʼ ἔνι ναύλοχοι αὐτῇ
ἀμφίδυμοι· τῇ τόν γε μένον λοχόωντες Ἀχαιοί.
Book 5
The poem finds Odysseus at last, weeping on Calypso's shore. Ordered by the gods, she helps him build a raft; Poseidon wrecks it; and after two days in the sea he crawls ashore, naked and salt-caked, in the land of the Phaeacians.
Now Dawn rose from her bed beside lordly Tithonus,
to bring light to the immortals and to mortals;
and the gods were taking their seats in session, and among them
Zeus who thunders on high, whose power is greatest.
And Athena recounted to them the many troubles of Odysseus,
remembering him; for she cared that he was in the nymph’s house:
"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who are forever,
let no sceptred king be eager any longer
to be kindly and gentle, or to know what is right in his mind,
but let him always be harsh and do lawless things,
since no one remembers divine Odysseus
among the people he ruled, and he was gentle as a father.
But he lies on an island suffering strong griefs,
in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who holds him there
by force; and he cannot reach his own native land.
For he has no oared ships beside him and no companions
who might send him over the broad back of the sea.
And now they are bent on killing his beloved son
as he comes home; he has gone after news of his father
to sacred Pylos and to noble Lacedaemon."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
to bring light to the immortals and to mortals;
and the gods were taking their seats in session, and among them
Zeus who thunders on high, whose power is greatest.
And Athena recounted to them the many troubles of Odysseus,
remembering him; for she cared that he was in the nymph’s house:
"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who are forever,
let no sceptred king be eager any longer
to be kindly and gentle, or to know what is right in his mind,
but let him always be harsh and do lawless things,
since no one remembers divine Odysseus
among the people he ruled, and he was gentle as a father.
But he lies on an island suffering strong griefs,
in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who holds him there
by force; and he cannot reach his own native land.
For he has no oared ships beside him and no companions
who might send him over the broad back of the sea.
And now they are bent on killing his beloved son
as he comes home; he has gone after news of his father
to sacred Pylos and to noble Lacedaemon."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
Ἠὼς δʼ ἐκ λεχέων παρʼ ἀγαυοῦ Τιθωνοῖο
ὤρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·
οἱ δὲ θεοὶ θῶκόνδε καθίζανον, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσι
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, οὗ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.
τοῖσι δʼ Ἀθηναίη λέγε κήδεα πόλλʼ Ὀδυσῆος
μνησαμένη· μέλε γάρ οἱ ἐὼν ἐν δώμασι νύμφης·
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,
μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων ἀγανὸς καὶ ἤπιος ἔστω
σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, μηδὲ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα εἰδώς,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπός τʼ εἴη καὶ αἴσυλα ῥέζοι·
ὡς οὔ τις μέμνηται Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν νήσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ
ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.
νῦν αὖ παῖδʼ ἀγαπητὸν ἀποκτεῖναι μεμάασιν
οἴκαδε νισόμενον· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδʼ ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
ὤρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·
οἱ δὲ θεοὶ θῶκόνδε καθίζανον, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσι
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, οὗ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.
τοῖσι δʼ Ἀθηναίη λέγε κήδεα πόλλʼ Ὀδυσῆος
μνησαμένη· μέλε γάρ οἱ ἐὼν ἐν δώμασι νύμφης·
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,
μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων ἀγανὸς καὶ ἤπιος ἔστω
σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, μηδὲ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα εἰδώς,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπός τʼ εἴη καὶ αἴσυλα ῥέζοι·
ὡς οὔ τις μέμνηται Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε, πατὴρ δʼ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν νήσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ
ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.
νῦν αὖ παῖδʼ ἀγαπητὸν ἀποκτεῖναι μεμάασιν
οἴκαδε νισόμενον· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδʼ ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
"My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth!
Did you not plan this purpose yourself,
that Odysseus should come and take his revenge on those men?
As for Telemachus, send him on skilfully, for you have the power,
so that he may come quite unharmed to his native land,
and the suitors sail back again in their ship with nothing done."
Did you not plan this purpose yourself,
that Odysseus should come and take his revenge on those men?
As for Telemachus, send him on skilfully, for you have the power,
so that he may come quite unharmed to his native land,
and the suitors sail back again in their ship with nothing done."
τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,
ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;
Τηλέμαχον δὲ σὺ πέμψον ἐπισταμένως, δύνασαι γάρ,
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἐν νηὶ· παλιμπετὲς ἀπονέωνται.
οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,
ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;
Τηλέμαχον δὲ σὺ πέμψον ἐπισταμένως, δύνασαι γάρ,
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἐν νηὶ· παλιμπετὲς ἀπονέωνται.
He spoke, and said to Hermes, his dear son:
ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἑρμείαν, υἱὸν φίλον, ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Hermes, since in all else you are our messenger,
tell the fair-haired nymph our unerring decision,
the homecoming of enduring-hearted Odysseus, that he may return
with no escort of gods and none of mortal men,
but suffering misery on a raft of many bindings
he shall come on the twentieth day to Scheria of the rich soil,
to the land of the Phaeacians, who are near to the gods.
They will honour him in their hearts like a god,
and send him in a ship to his own dear land,
giving him bronze and gold in plenty, and clothing,
more than Odysseus would ever have won from Troy,
had he come home unharmed with his share of the plunder.
For it is his fate to see his own again and to come
to his high-roofed house and his native land."
tell the fair-haired nymph our unerring decision,
the homecoming of enduring-hearted Odysseus, that he may return
with no escort of gods and none of mortal men,
but suffering misery on a raft of many bindings
he shall come on the twentieth day to Scheria of the rich soil,
to the land of the Phaeacians, who are near to the gods.
They will honour him in their hearts like a god,
and send him in a ship to his own dear land,
giving him bronze and gold in plenty, and clothing,
more than Odysseus would ever have won from Troy,
had he come home unharmed with his share of the plunder.
For it is his fate to see his own again and to come
to his high-roofed house and his native land."
Ἑρμεία, σὺ γὰρ αὖτε τά τʼ ἄλλα περ ἄγγελός ἐσσι,
νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ εἰπεῖν νημερτέα βουλήν,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὥς κε νέηται
οὔτε θεῶν πομπῇ οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου πήματα πάσχων
ἤματί κʼ εἰκοστῷ Σχερίην ἐρίβωλον ἵκοιτο,
Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,
οἵ κέν μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσουσιν,
πέμψουσιν δʼ ἐν νηὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά τε δόντες,
πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληίδος αἶσαν.
ὣς γάρ οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
νύμφῃ ἐυπλοκάμῳ εἰπεῖν νημερτέα βουλήν,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὥς κε νέηται
οὔτε θεῶν πομπῇ οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου πήματα πάσχων
ἤματί κʼ εἰκοστῷ Σχερίην ἐρίβωλον ἵκοιτο,
Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,
οἵ κέν μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσουσιν,
πέμψουσιν δʼ ἐν νηὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά τε δόντες,
πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληίδος αἶσαν.
ὣς γάρ οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
So he spoke, and the guide, the slayer of Argus, did not disobey.
At once he bound beneath his feet the beautiful sandals,
immortal and golden, that carried him over the water
and over the boundless earth with the breath of the wind.
And he took the wand with which he enchants the eyes of men,
of whom he wills, and wakes others again out of sleep.
Holding this in his hands the strong slayer of Argus flew.
He set foot on Pieria and dropped from the upper air to the sea,
then sped over the wave like a gull,
which down the terrible gulfs of the barren sea
hunts fish and wets its thick wings in the brine;
like that bird Hermes rode over the many waves.
But when he reached the island that lies far off,
there he stepped from the violet sea onto the land
and went on until he came to a great cave, in which the nymph
of the fair hair lived; and he found her within.
A great fire was burning on the hearth, and far off the smell
of split cedar and juniper burning went through the island
as they blazed. And within she was singing with a beautiful voice,
going up and down at the loom, weaving with a golden shuttle.
About the cave a wood had grown, flourishing,
alder and poplar and sweet-smelling cypress.
There long-winged birds roosted,
owls and hawks and long-tongued sea-crows,
whose business is upon the sea.
And there about the hollow cave was trained
a garden vine in its prime, thick with clusters.
Four springs in a row ran with bright water,
close to one another, each turned a different way.
And round about soft meadows of violet and parsley
were in bloom. Even an immortal coming there
would gaze in wonder and be glad at heart.
There the guide, the slayer of Argus, stood and gazed.
But when he had wondered at it all in his spirit,
he went at once into the wide cave. And Calypso,
noble among goddesses, saw him face to face and knew him;
for the immortal gods are not unknown to one another,
not even if one of them lives far away.
But he did not find high-hearted Odysseus within;
he was sitting on the shore weeping, as before,
tearing his spirit with tears and groans and griefs.
He would look out over the barren sea, shedding tears.
Calypso, noble among goddesses, questioned Hermes,
when she had seated him on a bright and shining chair:
"Why have you come to me, Hermes of the golden wand,
honoured and dear? You have not come often before.
Say what is in your mind; my spirit bids me do it,
if I can do it, and if it is a thing that can be done.
But come further in, so that I may set guest-gifts before you."
At once he bound beneath his feet the beautiful sandals,
immortal and golden, that carried him over the water
and over the boundless earth with the breath of the wind.
And he took the wand with which he enchants the eyes of men,
of whom he wills, and wakes others again out of sleep.
Holding this in his hands the strong slayer of Argus flew.
He set foot on Pieria and dropped from the upper air to the sea,
then sped over the wave like a gull,
which down the terrible gulfs of the barren sea
hunts fish and wets its thick wings in the brine;
like that bird Hermes rode over the many waves.
But when he reached the island that lies far off,
there he stepped from the violet sea onto the land
and went on until he came to a great cave, in which the nymph
of the fair hair lived; and he found her within.
A great fire was burning on the hearth, and far off the smell
of split cedar and juniper burning went through the island
as they blazed. And within she was singing with a beautiful voice,
going up and down at the loom, weaving with a golden shuttle.
About the cave a wood had grown, flourishing,
alder and poplar and sweet-smelling cypress.
There long-winged birds roosted,
owls and hawks and long-tongued sea-crows,
whose business is upon the sea.
And there about the hollow cave was trained
a garden vine in its prime, thick with clusters.
Four springs in a row ran with bright water,
close to one another, each turned a different way.
And round about soft meadows of violet and parsley
were in bloom. Even an immortal coming there
would gaze in wonder and be glad at heart.
There the guide, the slayer of Argus, stood and gazed.
But when he had wondered at it all in his spirit,
he went at once into the wide cave. And Calypso,
noble among goddesses, saw him face to face and knew him;
for the immortal gods are not unknown to one another,
not even if one of them lives far away.
But he did not find high-hearted Odysseus within;
he was sitting on the shore weeping, as before,
tearing his spirit with tears and groans and griefs.
He would look out over the barren sea, shedding tears.
Calypso, noble among goddesses, questioned Hermes,
when she had seated him on a bright and shining chair:
"Why have you come to me, Hermes of the golden wand,
honoured and dear? You have not come often before.
Say what is in your mind; my spirit bids me do it,
if I can do it, and if it is a thing that can be done.
But come further in, so that I may set guest-gifts before you."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν
ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.
εἵλετο δὲ ῥάβδον, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει,
ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει.
τὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων πέτετο κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης.
Πιερίην δʼ ἐπιβὰς ἐξ αἰθέρος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ·
σεύατʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ κῦμα λάρῳ ὄρνιθι ἐοικώς,
ὅς τε κατὰ δεινοὺς κόλπους ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο
ἰχθῦς ἀγρώσσων πυκινὰ πτερὰ δεύεται ἅλμῃ·
τῷ ἴκελος πολέεσσιν ὀχήσατο κύμασιν Ἑρμῆς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφίκετο τηλόθʼ ἐοῦσαν,
ἔνθʼ ἐκ πόντου βὰς ἰοειδέος ἤπειρόνδε
ἤιεν, ὄφρα μέγα σπέος ἵκετο, τῷ ἔνι νύμφη
ναῖεν ἐυπλόκαμος· τὴν δʼ ἔνδοθι τέτμεν ἐοῦσαν.
πῦρ μὲν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν μέγα καίετο, τηλόσε δʼ ὀδμὴ
κέδρου τʼ εὐκεάτοιο θύου τʼ ἀνὰ νῆσον ὀδώδει
δαιομένων· ἡ δʼ ἔνδον ἀοιδιάουσʼ ὀπὶ καλῇ
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη χρυσείῃ κερκίδʼ ὕφαινεν.
ὕλη δὲ σπέος ἀμφὶ πεφύκει τηλεθόωσα,
κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τε καὶ εὐώδης κυπάρισσος.
ἔνθα δέ τʼ ὄρνιθες τανυσίπτεροι εὐνάζοντο,
σκῶπές τʼ ἴρηκές τε τανύγλωσσοί τε κορῶναι
εἰνάλιαι, τῇσίν τε θαλάσσια ἔργα μέμηλεν.
ἡ δʼ αὐτοῦ τετάνυστο περὶ σπείους γλαφυροῖο
ἡμερὶς ἡβώωσα, τεθήλει δὲ σταφυλῇσι.
κρῆναι δʼ ἑξείης πίσυρες ῥέον ὕδατι λευκῷ,
πλησίαι ἀλλήλων τετραμμέναι ἄλλυδις ἄλλη.
ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμῶνες μαλακοὶ ἴου ἠδὲ σελίνου
θήλεον. ἔνθα κʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ἀθάνατός περ ἐπελθὼν
θηήσαιτο ἰδὼν καὶ τερφθείη φρεσὶν ᾗσιν.
ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλυθεν. οὐδέ μιν ἄντην
ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦσα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·
οὐ γάρ τʼ ἀγνῶτες θεοὶ ἀλλήλοισι πέλονται
ἀθάνατοι, οὐδʼ εἴ τις ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίει.
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα ἔνδον ἔτετμεν,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς κλαῖε καθήμενος, ἔνθα πάρος περ,
δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθων.
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.
Ἑρμείαν δʼ ἐρέεινε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ἐν θρόνῳ ἱδρύσασα φαεινῷ σιγαλόεντι·
τίπτε μοι, Ἑρμεία χρυσόρραπι, εἰλήλουθας
αἰδοῖός τε φίλος τε; πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι θαμίζεις.
αὔδα ὅ τι φρονέεις· τελέσαι δέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν,
εἰ δύναμαι τελέσαι γε καὶ εἰ τετελεσμένον ἐστίν.
ἀλλʼ ἕπεο προτέρω, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
ἀμβρόσια χρύσεια, τά μιν φέρον ἠμὲν ἐφʼ ὑγρὴν
ἠδʼ ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν ἅμα πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.
εἵλετο δὲ ῥάβδον, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει,
ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει.
τὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων πέτετο κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης.
Πιερίην δʼ ἐπιβὰς ἐξ αἰθέρος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ·
σεύατʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ κῦμα λάρῳ ὄρνιθι ἐοικώς,
ὅς τε κατὰ δεινοὺς κόλπους ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο
ἰχθῦς ἀγρώσσων πυκινὰ πτερὰ δεύεται ἅλμῃ·
τῷ ἴκελος πολέεσσιν ὀχήσατο κύμασιν Ἑρμῆς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφίκετο τηλόθʼ ἐοῦσαν,
ἔνθʼ ἐκ πόντου βὰς ἰοειδέος ἤπειρόνδε
ἤιεν, ὄφρα μέγα σπέος ἵκετο, τῷ ἔνι νύμφη
ναῖεν ἐυπλόκαμος· τὴν δʼ ἔνδοθι τέτμεν ἐοῦσαν.
πῦρ μὲν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν μέγα καίετο, τηλόσε δʼ ὀδμὴ
κέδρου τʼ εὐκεάτοιο θύου τʼ ἀνὰ νῆσον ὀδώδει
δαιομένων· ἡ δʼ ἔνδον ἀοιδιάουσʼ ὀπὶ καλῇ
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη χρυσείῃ κερκίδʼ ὕφαινεν.
ὕλη δὲ σπέος ἀμφὶ πεφύκει τηλεθόωσα,
κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τε καὶ εὐώδης κυπάρισσος.
ἔνθα δέ τʼ ὄρνιθες τανυσίπτεροι εὐνάζοντο,
σκῶπές τʼ ἴρηκές τε τανύγλωσσοί τε κορῶναι
εἰνάλιαι, τῇσίν τε θαλάσσια ἔργα μέμηλεν.
ἡ δʼ αὐτοῦ τετάνυστο περὶ σπείους γλαφυροῖο
ἡμερὶς ἡβώωσα, τεθήλει δὲ σταφυλῇσι.
κρῆναι δʼ ἑξείης πίσυρες ῥέον ὕδατι λευκῷ,
πλησίαι ἀλλήλων τετραμμέναι ἄλλυδις ἄλλη.
ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμῶνες μαλακοὶ ἴου ἠδὲ σελίνου
θήλεον. ἔνθα κʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ἀθάνατός περ ἐπελθὼν
θηήσαιτο ἰδὼν καὶ τερφθείη φρεσὶν ᾗσιν.
ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλυθεν. οὐδέ μιν ἄντην
ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦσα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·
οὐ γάρ τʼ ἀγνῶτες θεοὶ ἀλλήλοισι πέλονται
ἀθάνατοι, οὐδʼ εἴ τις ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίει.
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα ἔνδον ἔτετμεν,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς κλαῖε καθήμενος, ἔνθα πάρος περ,
δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθων.
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.
Ἑρμείαν δʼ ἐρέεινε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ἐν θρόνῳ ἱδρύσασα φαεινῷ σιγαλόεντι·
τίπτε μοι, Ἑρμεία χρυσόρραπι, εἰλήλουθας
αἰδοῖός τε φίλος τε; πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι θαμίζεις.
αὔδα ὅ τι φρονέεις· τελέσαι δέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν,
εἰ δύναμαι τελέσαι γε καὶ εἰ τετελεσμένον ἐστίν.
ἀλλʼ ἕπεο προτέρω, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω.
So saying, the goddess set a table beside him,
filled with ambrosia, and mixed the red nectar.
So the guide, the slayer of Argus, drank and ate.
And when he had dined and satisfied his spirit with food,
then he answered her with words and said:
filled with ambrosia, and mixed the red nectar.
So the guide, the slayer of Argus, drank and ate.
And when he had dined and satisfied his spirit with food,
then he answered her with words and said:
ὥς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ παρέθηκε τράπεζαν
ἀμβροσίης πλήσασα, κέρασσε δὲ νέκταρ ἐρυθρόν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε καὶ ἤραρε θυμὸν ἐδωδῇ,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
ἀμβροσίης πλήσασα, κέρασσε δὲ νέκταρ ἐρυθρόν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε καὶ ἤραρε θυμὸν ἐδωδῇ,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"You ask me, a goddess asking a god, why I have come. I will tell you
the word unerringly, since you bid me.
Zeus ordered me to come here, and I did not wish it.
Who would willingly run across so much salt water,
beyond telling? And there is no city of mortals near, who offer
sacrifice to the gods and choice hecatombs.
But there is no way at all for another god
to get past the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus, or to thwart it.
He says there is a man here with you, most wretched of all
the men who fought around the city of Priam
for nine years, and in the tenth sacked the city and went
home; but on the way they sinned against Athena,
who raised an evil wind against them and long waves.
There all his good companions perished,
and the wind and the wave carried him and brought him here.
Zeus now orders you to send him away with all speed;
for it is not his portion to die here away from his own,
but it is still his fate to see his own again and to come
to his high-roofed house and his native land."
the word unerringly, since you bid me.
Zeus ordered me to come here, and I did not wish it.
Who would willingly run across so much salt water,
beyond telling? And there is no city of mortals near, who offer
sacrifice to the gods and choice hecatombs.
But there is no way at all for another god
to get past the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus, or to thwart it.
He says there is a man here with you, most wretched of all
the men who fought around the city of Priam
for nine years, and in the tenth sacked the city and went
home; but on the way they sinned against Athena,
who raised an evil wind against them and long waves.
There all his good companions perished,
and the wind and the wave carried him and brought him here.
Zeus now orders you to send him away with all speed;
for it is not his portion to die here away from his own,
but it is still his fate to see his own again and to come
to his high-roofed house and his native land."
εἰρωτᾷς μʼ ἐλθόντα θεὰ θεόν· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι
νημερτέως τὸν μῦθον ἐνισπήσω· κέλεαι γάρ.
Ζεὺς ἐμέ γʼ ἠνώγει δεῦρʼ ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα·
τίς δʼ ἂν ἑκὼν τοσσόνδε διαδράμοι ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ
ἄσπετον; οὐδέ τις ἄγχι βροτῶν πόλις, οἵ τε θεοῖσιν
ἱερά τε ῥέζουσι καὶ ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιο
οὔτε παρεξελθεῖν ἄλλον θεὸν οὔθʼ ἁλιῶσαι.
φησί τοι ἄνδρα παρεῖναι ὀιζυρώτατον ἄλλων,
τῶν ἀνδρῶν, οἳ ἄστυ πέρι Πριάμοιο μάχοντο
εἰνάετες, δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν πέρσαντες ἔβησαν
οἴκαδʼ· ἀτὰρ ἐν νόστῳ Ἀθηναίην ἀλίτοντο,
ἥ σφιν ἐπῶρσʼ ἄνεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ κύματα μακρά.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,
τὸν δʼ ἄρα δεῦρʼ ἄνεμός τε φέρων καὶ κῦμα πέλασσε.
τὸν νῦν σʼ ἠνώγειν ἀποπεμπέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα·
οὐ γάρ οἱ τῇδʼ αἶσα φίλων ἀπονόσφιν ὀλέσθαι,
ἀλλʼ ἔτι οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
νημερτέως τὸν μῦθον ἐνισπήσω· κέλεαι γάρ.
Ζεὺς ἐμέ γʼ ἠνώγει δεῦρʼ ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα·
τίς δʼ ἂν ἑκὼν τοσσόνδε διαδράμοι ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ
ἄσπετον; οὐδέ τις ἄγχι βροτῶν πόλις, οἵ τε θεοῖσιν
ἱερά τε ῥέζουσι καὶ ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιο
οὔτε παρεξελθεῖν ἄλλον θεὸν οὔθʼ ἁλιῶσαι.
φησί τοι ἄνδρα παρεῖναι ὀιζυρώτατον ἄλλων,
τῶν ἀνδρῶν, οἳ ἄστυ πέρι Πριάμοιο μάχοντο
εἰνάετες, δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν πέρσαντες ἔβησαν
οἴκαδʼ· ἀτὰρ ἐν νόστῳ Ἀθηναίην ἀλίτοντο,
ἥ σφιν ἐπῶρσʼ ἄνεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ κύματα μακρά.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,
τὸν δʼ ἄρα δεῦρʼ ἄνεμός τε φέρων καὶ κῦμα πέλασσε.
τὸν νῦν σʼ ἠνώγειν ἀποπεμπέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα·
οὐ γάρ οἱ τῇδʼ αἶσα φίλων ἀπονόσφιν ὀλέσθαι,
ἀλλʼ ἔτι οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
So he spoke, and Calypso, noble among goddesses, shuddered,
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Hard are you, gods, and jealous beyond all others,
who begrudge it that goddesses should lie with men
openly, if one of them makes a man her dear husband.
who begrudge it that goddesses should lie with men
openly, if one of them makes a man her dear husband.
σχέτλιοί ἐστε, θεοί, ζηλήμονες ἔξοχον ἄλλων,
οἵ τε θεαῖς ἀγάασθε παρʼ ἀνδράσιν εὐνάζεσθαι
ἀμφαδίην, ἤν τίς τε φίλον ποιήσετʼ ἀκοίτην.
οἵ τε θεαῖς ἀγάασθε παρʼ ἀνδράσιν εὐνάζεσθαι
ἀμφαδίην, ἤν τίς τε φίλον ποιήσετʼ ἀκοίτην.
"So it was when rosy-fingered Dawn took Orion:
you gods who live at ease begrudged her that,
until in Ortygia holy Artemis of the golden throne
came upon him with her gentle arrows and killed him.
So it was when fair-haired Demeter, yielding to her spirit,
lay with Iasion in love and in the bed
of the thrice-ploughed fallow; and Zeus was not long
in hearing of it, and killed him with a cast of the white thunderbolt.
So now again, gods, you begrudge me that a mortal man is with me.
I saved him when he was astride the keel, alone,
after Zeus had struck his swift ship with the white thunderbolt
and shattered it in the middle of the wine-dark sea.
There all his good companions perished,
and the wind and the wave carried him and brought him here.
I loved him and cared for him, and I said I would make him
immortal and ageless all his days.
But since there is no way at all for another god
to get past the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus, or to thwart it,
let him go, if that is what Zeus urges and commands,
over the barren sea. But I will not send him anywhere;
for I have no oared ships beside me and no companions
who might send him over the broad back of the sea.
But I will give him counsel readily and hide nothing,
so that he may come quite unharmed to his native land."
Then the guide, the slayer of Argus, spoke to her in turn:
you gods who live at ease begrudged her that,
until in Ortygia holy Artemis of the golden throne
came upon him with her gentle arrows and killed him.
So it was when fair-haired Demeter, yielding to her spirit,
lay with Iasion in love and in the bed
of the thrice-ploughed fallow; and Zeus was not long
in hearing of it, and killed him with a cast of the white thunderbolt.
So now again, gods, you begrudge me that a mortal man is with me.
I saved him when he was astride the keel, alone,
after Zeus had struck his swift ship with the white thunderbolt
and shattered it in the middle of the wine-dark sea.
There all his good companions perished,
and the wind and the wave carried him and brought him here.
I loved him and cared for him, and I said I would make him
immortal and ageless all his days.
But since there is no way at all for another god
to get past the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus, or to thwart it,
let him go, if that is what Zeus urges and commands,
over the barren sea. But I will not send him anywhere;
for I have no oared ships beside me and no companions
who might send him over the broad back of the sea.
But I will give him counsel readily and hide nothing,
so that he may come quite unharmed to his native land."
Then the guide, the slayer of Argus, spoke to her in turn:
ὣς μὲν ὅτʼ Ὠρίωνʼ ἕλετο ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
τόφρα οἱ ἠγάασθε θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες,
ἧος ἐν Ὀρτυγίῃ χρυσόθρονος Ἄρτεμις ἁγνὴ
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν.
ὣς δʼ ὁπότʼ Ἰασίωνι ἐυπλόκαμος Δημήτηρ,
ᾧ θυμῷ εἴξασα, μίγη φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ
νειῷ ἔνι τριπόλῳ· οὐδὲ δὴν ἦεν ἄπυστος
Ζεύς, ὅς μιν κατέπεφνε βαλὼν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ.
ὥς δʼ αὖ νῦν μοι ἄγασθε, θεοί, βροτὸν ἄνδρα παρεῖναι.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐσάωσα περὶ τρόπιος βεβαῶτα
οἶον, ἐπεί οἱ νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ
Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,
τὸν δʼ ἄρα δεῦρʼ ἄνεμός τε φέρων καὶ κῦμα πέλασσε.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ φίλεόν τε καὶ ἔτρεφον, ἠδὲ ἔφασκον
θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιο
οὔτε παρεξελθεῖν ἄλλον θεὸν οὔθʼ ἁλιῶσαι,
ἐρρέτω, εἴ μιν κεῖνος ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει,
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· πέμψω δέ μιν οὔ πῃ ἐγώ γε·
οὐ γάρ μοι πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.
αὐτάρ οἱ πρόφρων ὑποθήσομαι, οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω,
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·
τόφρα οἱ ἠγάασθε θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες,
ἧος ἐν Ὀρτυγίῃ χρυσόθρονος Ἄρτεμις ἁγνὴ
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν.
ὣς δʼ ὁπότʼ Ἰασίωνι ἐυπλόκαμος Δημήτηρ,
ᾧ θυμῷ εἴξασα, μίγη φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ
νειῷ ἔνι τριπόλῳ· οὐδὲ δὴν ἦεν ἄπυστος
Ζεύς, ὅς μιν κατέπεφνε βαλὼν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ.
ὥς δʼ αὖ νῦν μοι ἄγασθε, θεοί, βροτὸν ἄνδρα παρεῖναι.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐσάωσα περὶ τρόπιος βεβαῶτα
οἶον, ἐπεί οἱ νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ
Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,
τὸν δʼ ἄρα δεῦρʼ ἄνεμός τε φέρων καὶ κῦμα πέλασσε.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ φίλεόν τε καὶ ἔτρεφον, ἠδὲ ἔφασκον
θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιο
οὔτε παρεξελθεῖν ἄλλον θεὸν οὔθʼ ἁλιῶσαι,
ἐρρέτω, εἴ μιν κεῖνος ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει,
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· πέμψω δέ μιν οὔ πῃ ἐγώ γε·
οὐ γάρ μοι πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.
αὐτάρ οἱ πρόφρων ὑποθήσομαι, οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω,
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·
"Send him off now in that way, and beware the wrath of Zeus,
in case he bear you a grudge hereafter and turn hard on you."
in case he bear you a grudge hereafter and turn hard on you."
οὕτω νῦν ἀπόπεμπε, Διὸς δʼ ἐποπίζεο μῆνιν,
μή πώς τοι μετόπισθε κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ.
μή πώς τοι μετόπισθε κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ.
So saying, the strong slayer of Argus went away.
And the lady nymph went to high-hearted Odysseus,
since she had heard the message of Zeus.
She found him sitting on the shore; and his eyes were never
dry of tears, and his sweet life was draining away
as he grieved for his homecoming, for the nymph pleased him no longer.
By night he would sleep beside her, under compulsion,
in the hollow caves, unwilling beside her willing;
but by day he would sit on the rocks and the beaches,
tearing his spirit with tears and groans and griefs,
and look out over the barren sea, shedding tears.
Standing close, the noble goddess spoke to him:
And the lady nymph went to high-hearted Odysseus,
since she had heard the message of Zeus.
She found him sitting on the shore; and his eyes were never
dry of tears, and his sweet life was draining away
as he grieved for his homecoming, for the nymph pleased him no longer.
By night he would sleep beside her, under compulsion,
in the hollow caves, unwilling beside her willing;
but by day he would sit on the rocks and the beaches,
tearing his spirit with tears and groans and griefs,
and look out over the barren sea, shedding tears.
Standing close, the noble goddess spoke to him:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης·
ἡ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα πότνια νύμφη
ἤιʼ, ἐπεὶ δὴ Ζηνὸς ἐπέκλυεν ἀγγελιάων.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς εὗρε καθήμενον· οὐδέ ποτʼ ὄσσε
δακρυόφιν τέρσοντο, κατείβετο δὲ γλυκὺς αἰὼν
νόστον ὀδυρομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἥνδανε νύμφη.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νύκτας μὲν ἰαύεσκεν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι παρʼ οὐκ ἐθέλων ἐθελούσῃ·
ἤματα δʼ ἂμ πέτρῃσι καὶ ἠιόνεσσι καθίζων
δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθων
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσεφώνεε δῖα θεάων·
ἡ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα πότνια νύμφη
ἤιʼ, ἐπεὶ δὴ Ζηνὸς ἐπέκλυεν ἀγγελιάων.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς εὗρε καθήμενον· οὐδέ ποτʼ ὄσσε
δακρυόφιν τέρσοντο, κατείβετο δὲ γλυκὺς αἰὼν
νόστον ὀδυρομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἥνδανε νύμφη.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νύκτας μὲν ἰαύεσκεν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι παρʼ οὐκ ἐθέλων ἐθελούσῃ·
ἤματα δʼ ἂμ πέτρῃσι καὶ ἠιόνεσσι καθίζων
δάκρυσι καὶ στοναχῇσι καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἐρέχθων
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον δερκέσκετο δάκρυα λείβων.
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσεφώνεε δῖα θεάων·
"Ill-fated man, do not grieve here any longer, and do not let
your life waste away; for now I will send you off very readily.
Come, cut long timbers and fit together with the bronze
a wide raft; and fix half-decks upon it,
high up, so that it may carry you over the misty sea.
And I will put in bread and water and red wine
to your heart’s content, to keep hunger from you,
and put clothing about you; and I will send you a wind behind,
so that you may come quite unharmed to your native land,
if the gods are willing, who hold the wide heaven,
who are stronger than I am to plan and to accomplish."
your life waste away; for now I will send you off very readily.
Come, cut long timbers and fit together with the bronze
a wide raft; and fix half-decks upon it,
high up, so that it may carry you over the misty sea.
And I will put in bread and water and red wine
to your heart’s content, to keep hunger from you,
and put clothing about you; and I will send you a wind behind,
so that you may come quite unharmed to your native land,
if the gods are willing, who hold the wide heaven,
who are stronger than I am to plan and to accomplish."
κάμμορε, μή μοι ἔτʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὀδύρεο, μηδέ τοι αἰὼν
φθινέτω· ἤδη γάρ σε μάλα πρόφρασσʼ ἀποπέμψω.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δούρατα μακρὰ ταμὼν ἁρμόζεο χαλκῷ
εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην· ἀτὰρ ἴκρια πῆξαι ἐπʼ αὐτῆς
ὑψοῦ, ὥς σε φέρῃσιν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῖτον καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρὸν
ἐνθήσω μενοεικέʼ, ἅ κέν τοι λιμὸν ἐρύκοι,
εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσω· πέμψω δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν,
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι,
αἴ κε θεοί γʼ ἐθέλωσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
οἵ μευ φέρτεροί εἰσι νοῆσαί τε κρῆναί τε.
φθινέτω· ἤδη γάρ σε μάλα πρόφρασσʼ ἀποπέμψω.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δούρατα μακρὰ ταμὼν ἁρμόζεο χαλκῷ
εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην· ἀτὰρ ἴκρια πῆξαι ἐπʼ αὐτῆς
ὑψοῦ, ὥς σε φέρῃσιν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῖτον καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρὸν
ἐνθήσω μενοεικέʼ, ἅ κέν τοι λιμὸν ἐρύκοι,
εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσω· πέμψω δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν,
ὥς κε μάλʼ ἀσκηθὴς σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι,
αἴ κε θεοί γʼ ἐθέλωσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
οἵ μευ φέρτεροί εἰσι νοῆσαί τε κρῆναί τε.
So she spoke, and long-suffering noble Odysseus shuddered,
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Something else is in your mind, goddess, and not my sending home,
when you bid me cross the great gulf of the sea on a raft,
a terrible and painful thing, which not even balanced ships
cross swiftly, glorying in a wind from Zeus.
I will not go aboard a raft against your will,
unless you bring yourself, goddess, to swear a great oath
that you will plan no other evil harm against me."
when you bid me cross the great gulf of the sea on a raft,
a terrible and painful thing, which not even balanced ships
cross swiftly, glorying in a wind from Zeus.
I will not go aboard a raft against your will,
unless you bring yourself, goddess, to swear a great oath
that you will plan no other evil harm against me."
ἄλλο τι δὴ σύ, θεά, τόδε μήδεαι, οὐδέ τι πομπήν,
ἥ με κέλεαι σχεδίῃ περάαν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε· τὸ δʼ οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νῆες ἐῖσαι
ὠκύποροι περόωσιν, ἀγαλλόμεναι Διὸς οὔρῳ.
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀέκητι σέθεν σχεδίης ἐπιβαίην,
εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι
μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.
ἥ με κέλεαι σχεδίῃ περάαν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε· τὸ δʼ οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νῆες ἐῖσαι
ὠκύποροι περόωσιν, ἀγαλλόμεναι Διὸς οὔρῳ.
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀέκητι σέθεν σχεδίης ἐπιβαίην,
εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι
μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.
So he spoke, and Calypso, noble among goddesses, smiled,
and stroked him with her hand, and spoke, and called him by name:
and stroked him with her hand, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ Καλυψὼ δῖα θεάων,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"You are a rogue indeed, and no fool in your knowledge,
to think of speaking such a word as that.
Now let earth be my witness, and the wide heaven above,
and the down-flowing water of Styx, which is the greatest
and most terrible oath for the blessed gods,
that I will plan no other evil harm against you.
I have in mind and will plan for you what I would plan
for myself, if such need came upon me.
For my mind too is a just one, and the spirit in my breast
is not of iron, but knows pity."
to think of speaking such a word as that.
Now let earth be my witness, and the wide heaven above,
and the down-flowing water of Styx, which is the greatest
and most terrible oath for the blessed gods,
that I will plan no other evil harm against you.
I have in mind and will plan for you what I would plan
for myself, if such need came upon me.
For my mind too is a just one, and the spirit in my breast
is not of iron, but knows pity."
ἦ δὴ ἀλιτρός γʼ ἐσσὶ καὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλια εἰδώς,
οἷον δὴ τὸν μῦθον ἐπεφράσθης ἀγορεῦσαι.
ἴστω νῦν τόδε γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθε
καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστος
ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν νοέω καὶ φράσσομαι, ἅσσʼ ἂν ἐμοί περ
αὐτῇ μηδοίμην, ὅτε με χρειὼ τόσον ἵκοι·
καὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ νόος ἐστὶν ἐναίσιμος, οὐδέ μοι αὐτῇ
θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι σιδήρεος, ἀλλʼ ἐλεήμων.
οἷον δὴ τὸν μῦθον ἐπεφράσθης ἀγορεῦσαι.
ἴστω νῦν τόδε γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθε
καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστος
ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν νοέω καὶ φράσσομαι, ἅσσʼ ἂν ἐμοί περ
αὐτῇ μηδοίμην, ὅτε με χρειὼ τόσον ἵκοι·
καὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ νόος ἐστὶν ἐναίσιμος, οὐδέ μοι αὐτῇ
θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι σιδήρεος, ἀλλʼ ἐλεήμων.
So saying, the noble goddess led the way
swiftly; and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.
They came to the hollow cave, the goddess and the man,
and he sat down on the chair from which Hermes had risen,
and the nymph set before him food of every kind,
to eat and to drink, such as mortal men eat;
and she herself sat opposite divine Odysseus,
and the serving-women set ambrosia and nectar beside her.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had taken their fill of food and drink,
Calypso, noble among goddesses, began to speak among them:
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
so you want to go home now, at once,
to your own dear native land? Then fare well, even so.
But if you knew in your mind how many troubles it is your portion
to fill up before you reach your native land,
you would stay here with me and keep this house
and be immortal, for all your longing to see
your wife, whom you long for every day.
And surely I claim to be no worse than she is,
in body or in stature; it is not seemly at all
for mortal women to rival immortals in body and in looks."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
swiftly; and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.
They came to the hollow cave, the goddess and the man,
and he sat down on the chair from which Hermes had risen,
and the nymph set before him food of every kind,
to eat and to drink, such as mortal men eat;
and she herself sat opposite divine Odysseus,
and the serving-women set ambrosia and nectar beside her.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had taken their fill of food and drink,
Calypso, noble among goddesses, began to speak among them:
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
so you want to go home now, at once,
to your own dear native land? Then fare well, even so.
But if you knew in your mind how many troubles it is your portion
to fill up before you reach your native land,
you would stay here with me and keep this house
and be immortal, for all your longing to see
your wife, whom you long for every day.
And surely I claim to be no worse than she is,
in body or in stature; it is not seemly at all
for mortal women to rival immortals in body and in looks."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο δῖα θεάων
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
ἷξον δὲ σπεῖος γλαφυρὸν θεὸς ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνήρ,
καί ῥʼ ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη
Ἑρμείας, νύμφη δʼ ἐτίθει πάρα πᾶσαν ἐδωδήν,
ἔσθειν καὶ πίνειν, οἷα βροτοὶ ἄνδρες ἔδουσιν·
αὐτὴ δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
τῇ δὲ παρʼ ἀμβροσίην δμῳαὶ καὶ νέκταρ ἔθηκαν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
οὕτω δὴ οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
αὐτίκα νῦν ἐθέλεις ἰέναι; σὺ δὲ χαῖρε καὶ ἔμπης.
εἴ γε μὲν εἰδείης σῇσι φρεσὶν ὅσσα τοι αἶσα
κήδεʼ ἀναπλῆσαι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,
ἐνθάδε κʼ αὖθι μένων σὺν ἐμοὶ τόδε δῶμα φυλάσσοις
ἀθάνατός τʼ εἴης, ἱμειρόμενός περ ἰδέσθαι
σὴν ἄλοχον, τῆς τʼ αἰὲν ἐέλδεαι ἤματα πάντα.
οὐ μέν θην κείνης γε χερείων εὔχομαι εἶναι,
οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως οὐδὲ ἔοικεν
θνητὰς ἀθανάτῃσι δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἐρίζειν.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
ἷξον δὲ σπεῖος γλαφυρὸν θεὸς ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνήρ,
καί ῥʼ ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη
Ἑρμείας, νύμφη δʼ ἐτίθει πάρα πᾶσαν ἐδωδήν,
ἔσθειν καὶ πίνειν, οἷα βροτοὶ ἄνδρες ἔδουσιν·
αὐτὴ δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
τῇ δὲ παρʼ ἀμβροσίην δμῳαὶ καὶ νέκταρ ἔθηκαν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
οὕτω δὴ οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
αὐτίκα νῦν ἐθέλεις ἰέναι; σὺ δὲ χαῖρε καὶ ἔμπης.
εἴ γε μὲν εἰδείης σῇσι φρεσὶν ὅσσα τοι αἶσα
κήδεʼ ἀναπλῆσαι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,
ἐνθάδε κʼ αὖθι μένων σὺν ἐμοὶ τόδε δῶμα φυλάσσοις
ἀθάνατός τʼ εἴης, ἱμειρόμενός περ ἰδέσθαι
σὴν ἄλοχον, τῆς τʼ αἰὲν ἐέλδεαι ἤματα πάντα.
οὐ μέν θην κείνης γε χερείων εὔχομαι εἶναι,
οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως οὐδὲ ἔοικεν
θνητὰς ἀθανάτῃσι δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἐρίζειν.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Lady goddess, do not be angry with me for this. I know it
all quite well, that circumspect Penelope is less than you
in looks and in height, to see her face to face.
For she is mortal, and you are immortal and ageless.
But even so I wish and long every day
to come home and to see the day of my homecoming.
And if some god shatters me on the wine-dark sea,
I will endure it, holding a grief-bearing spirit in my breast.
For I have already suffered very much and laboured much
on the waves and in war; let this come after those."
all quite well, that circumspect Penelope is less than you
in looks and in height, to see her face to face.
For she is mortal, and you are immortal and ageless.
But even so I wish and long every day
to come home and to see the day of my homecoming.
And if some god shatters me on the wine-dark sea,
I will endure it, holding a grief-bearing spirit in my breast.
For I have already suffered very much and laboured much
on the waves and in war; let this come after those."
πότνα θεά, μή μοι τόδε χώεο· οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς
πάντα μάλʼ, οὕνεκα σεῖο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
εἶδος ἀκιδνοτέρη μέγεθός τʼ εἰσάντα ἰδέσθαι·
ἡ μὲν γὰρ βροτός ἐστι, σὺ δʼ ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς ἐθέλω καὶ ἐέλδομαι ἤματα πάντα
οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι.
εἰ δʼ αὖ τις ῥαίῃσι θεῶν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,
τλήσομαι ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔχων ταλαπενθέα θυμόν·
ἤδη γὰρ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον καὶ πολλὰ μόγησα
κύμασι καὶ πολέμῳ· μετὰ καὶ τόδε τοῖσι γενέσθω.
πάντα μάλʼ, οὕνεκα σεῖο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
εἶδος ἀκιδνοτέρη μέγεθός τʼ εἰσάντα ἰδέσθαι·
ἡ μὲν γὰρ βροτός ἐστι, σὺ δʼ ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς ἐθέλω καὶ ἐέλδομαι ἤματα πάντα
οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι.
εἰ δʼ αὖ τις ῥαίῃσι θεῶν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,
τλήσομαι ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔχων ταλαπενθέα θυμόν·
ἤδη γὰρ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον καὶ πολλὰ μόγησα
κύμασι καὶ πολέμῳ· μετὰ καὶ τόδε τοῖσι γενέσθω.
So he spoke, and the sun went down and darkness came on;
and the two of them went to the inner room of the hollow cave
and took their pleasure in love, staying beside each other.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
at once Odysseus put on his cloak and his tunic,
and the nymph put on a great silvery robe,
fine and graceful, and cast a girdle about her waist,
a beautiful golden one, and a veil upon her head.
And then she planned the sending of high-hearted Odysseus.
She gave him a great axe, well fitted to his hands,
of bronze, sharpened on both sides; and in it
was a beautiful olive-wood haft, well fitted.
Then she gave him a polished adze, and led the way
to the far end of the island, where tall trees had grown,
alder and poplar, and fir that reached to heaven,
long dry and seasoned, that would float light for him.
And when she had shown him where the tall trees had grown,
Calypso, noble among goddesses, went back to her house,
and he cut the timbers; and the work went quickly for him.
He felled twenty in all, and trimmed them with the bronze,
and planed them skilfully and made them true to the line.
Meanwhile Calypso, noble among goddesses, brought augers;
and he bored all the pieces and fitted them to one another,
and hammered the raft together with pegs and joints.
As wide as a man marks out the floor of a ship,
a broad merchantman, one well skilled in carpentry,
so wide did Odysseus make his broad raft.
He set up half-decks, fitting them to close-set ribs,
and worked on; and he finished it off with long gunwales.
In it he made a mast and a yard fitted to it,
and made a steering-oar besides, to guide her with.
He fenced her all round with wattled willow
to be a guard against the wave, and heaped in much brushwood.
Meanwhile Calypso, noble among goddesses, brought cloth
for making sails; and he wrought these well too.
He bound braces and halyards and sheets into her,
and with levers he hauled her down to the bright sea.
It was the fourth day, and all his work was done;
and on the fifth noble Calypso sent him from the island,
when she had bathed him and put fragrant clothing about him.
The goddess put a skin of dark wine aboard for him,
one skin, and another great one of water, and provisions too
in a leather bag; and she put in many good meats to his heart’s content,
and sent him a fair wind, gentle and warm.
Gladly noble Odysseus spread his sails to the wind.
He sat and steered skilfully with the steering-oar,
and no sleep fell upon his eyelids
as he watched the Pleiades and Bootes setting late
and the Bear, which men also call by the name of the Wain,
which turns in its own place and keeps watch on Orion,
and alone has no share in the baths of Ocean.
For Calypso, noble among goddesses, had told him
to keep it on his left hand as he sailed the sea.
For seventeen days he sailed on across the sea,
and on the eighteenth the shadowy mountains appeared
of the land of the Phaeacians, where it lay nearest to him;
and it looked like a shield on the misty deep.
But the lord who shakes the earth, coming back from the Ethiopians,
saw him far off from the mountains of the Solymi; for he showed clear
to him as he sailed the sea. And Poseidon grew the angrier in his heart,
and he shook his head and spoke to his own spirit:
and the two of them went to the inner room of the hollow cave
and took their pleasure in love, staying beside each other.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
at once Odysseus put on his cloak and his tunic,
and the nymph put on a great silvery robe,
fine and graceful, and cast a girdle about her waist,
a beautiful golden one, and a veil upon her head.
And then she planned the sending of high-hearted Odysseus.
She gave him a great axe, well fitted to his hands,
of bronze, sharpened on both sides; and in it
was a beautiful olive-wood haft, well fitted.
Then she gave him a polished adze, and led the way
to the far end of the island, where tall trees had grown,
alder and poplar, and fir that reached to heaven,
long dry and seasoned, that would float light for him.
And when she had shown him where the tall trees had grown,
Calypso, noble among goddesses, went back to her house,
and he cut the timbers; and the work went quickly for him.
He felled twenty in all, and trimmed them with the bronze,
and planed them skilfully and made them true to the line.
Meanwhile Calypso, noble among goddesses, brought augers;
and he bored all the pieces and fitted them to one another,
and hammered the raft together with pegs and joints.
As wide as a man marks out the floor of a ship,
a broad merchantman, one well skilled in carpentry,
so wide did Odysseus make his broad raft.
He set up half-decks, fitting them to close-set ribs,
and worked on; and he finished it off with long gunwales.
In it he made a mast and a yard fitted to it,
and made a steering-oar besides, to guide her with.
He fenced her all round with wattled willow
to be a guard against the wave, and heaped in much brushwood.
Meanwhile Calypso, noble among goddesses, brought cloth
for making sails; and he wrought these well too.
He bound braces and halyards and sheets into her,
and with levers he hauled her down to the bright sea.
It was the fourth day, and all his work was done;
and on the fifth noble Calypso sent him from the island,
when she had bathed him and put fragrant clothing about him.
The goddess put a skin of dark wine aboard for him,
one skin, and another great one of water, and provisions too
in a leather bag; and she put in many good meats to his heart’s content,
and sent him a fair wind, gentle and warm.
Gladly noble Odysseus spread his sails to the wind.
He sat and steered skilfully with the steering-oar,
and no sleep fell upon his eyelids
as he watched the Pleiades and Bootes setting late
and the Bear, which men also call by the name of the Wain,
which turns in its own place and keeps watch on Orion,
and alone has no share in the baths of Ocean.
For Calypso, noble among goddesses, had told him
to keep it on his left hand as he sailed the sea.
For seventeen days he sailed on across the sea,
and on the eighteenth the shadowy mountains appeared
of the land of the Phaeacians, where it lay nearest to him;
and it looked like a shield on the misty deep.
But the lord who shakes the earth, coming back from the Ethiopians,
saw him far off from the mountains of the Solymi; for he showed clear
to him as he sailed the sea. And Poseidon grew the angrier in his heart,
and he shook his head and spoke to his own spirit:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἠέλιος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν·
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἄρα τώ γε μυχῷ σπείους γλαφυροῖο
τερπέσθην φιλότητι, παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
αὐτίχʼ ὁ μὲν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε ἕννυτʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
αὐτὴ δʼ ἀργύφεον φᾶρος μέγα ἕννυτο νύμφη,
λεπτὸν καὶ χαρίεν, περὶ δὲ ζώνην βάλετʼ ἰξυῖ
καλὴν χρυσείην, κεφαλῇ δʼ ἐφύπερθε καλύπτρην.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μήδετο πομπήν·
δῶκέν οἱ πέλεκυν μέγαν, ἄρμενον ἐν παλάμῃσι,
χάλκεον, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένον· αὐτὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ
στειλειὸν περικαλλὲς ἐλάινον, εὖ ἐναρηρός·
δῶκε δʼ ἔπειτα σκέπαρνον ἐύξοον· ἦρχε δʼ ὁδοῖο
νήσου ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ὅθι δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκει,
κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τʼ, ἐλάτη τʼ ἦν οὐρανομήκης,
αὖα πάλαι, περίκηλα, τά οἱ πλώοιεν ἐλαφρῶς.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δεῖξʼ, ὅθι δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκει,
ἡ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
αὐτὰρ ὁ τάμνετο δοῦρα· θοῶς δέ οἱ ἤνυτο ἔργον.
εἴκοσι δʼ ἔκβαλε πάντα, πελέκκησεν δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷ,
ξέσσε δʼ ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν.
τόφρα δʼ ἔνεικε τέρετρα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·
τέτρηνεν δʼ ἄρα πάντα καὶ ἥρμοσεν ἀλλήλοισιν,
γόμφοισιν δʼ ἄρα τήν γε καὶ ἁρμονίῃσιν ἄρασσεν.
ὅσσον τίς τʼ ἔδαφος νηὸς τορνώσεται ἀνὴρ
φορτίδος εὐρείης, ἐὺ εἰδὼς τεκτοσυνάων,
τόσσον ἔπʼ εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην ποιήσατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἴκρια δὲ στήσας, ἀραρὼν θαμέσι σταμίνεσσι,
ποίει· ἀτὰρ μακρῇσιν ἐπηγκενίδεσσι τελεύτα.
ἐν δʼ ἱστὸν ποίει καὶ ἐπίκριον ἄρμενον αὐτῷ·
πρὸς δʼ ἄρα πηδάλιον ποιήσατο, ὄφρʼ ἰθύνοι.
φράξε δέ μιν ῥίπεσσι διαμπερὲς οἰσυΐνῃσι
κύματος εἶλαρ ἔμεν· πολλὴν δʼ ἐπεχεύατο ὕλην.
τόφρα δὲ φάρεʼ ἔνεικε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ἱστία ποιήσασθαι· ὁ δʼ εὖ τεχνήσατο καὶ τά.
ἐν δʼ ὑπέρας τε κάλους τε πόδας τʼ ἐνέδησεν ἐν αὐτῇ,
μοχλοῖσιν δʼ ἄρα τήν γε κατείρυσεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.
τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἔην, καὶ τῷ τετέλεστο ἅπαντα·
τῷ δʼ ἄρα πέμπτῳ πέμπʼ ἀπὸ νήσου δῖα Καλυψώ,
εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσασα θυώδεα καὶ λούσασα.
ἐν δέ οἱ ἀσκὸν ἔθηκε θεὰ μέλανος οἴνοιο
τὸν ἕτερον, ἕτερον δʼ ὕδατος μέγαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ᾖα
κωρύκῳ· ἐν δέ οἱ ὄψα τίθει μενοεικέα πολλά·
οὖρον δὲ προέηκεν ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε.
γηθόσυνος δʼ οὔρῳ πέτασʼ ἱστία δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πηδαλίῳ ἰθύνετο τεχνηέντως
ἥμενος, οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτεν
Πληιάδας τʼ ἐσορῶντι καὶ ὀψὲ δύοντα Βοώτην
Ἄρκτον θʼ, ἣν καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,
ἥ τʼ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τʼ Ὠρίωνα δοκεύει,
οἴη δʼ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν Ὠκεανοῖο·
τὴν γὰρ δή μιν ἄνωγε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ποντοπορευέμεναι ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντα.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέεν ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόεντα
γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τʼ ἄγχιστον πέλεν αὐτῷ·
εἴσατο δʼ ὡς ὅτε ῥινὸν ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἐξ Αἰθιόπων ἀνιὼν κρείων ἐνοσίχθων
τηλόθεν ἐκ Σολύμων ὀρέων ἴδεν· εἴσατο γάρ οἱ
πόντον ἐπιπλώων. ὁ δʼ ἐχώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἄρα τώ γε μυχῷ σπείους γλαφυροῖο
τερπέσθην φιλότητι, παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
αὐτίχʼ ὁ μὲν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε ἕννυτʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
αὐτὴ δʼ ἀργύφεον φᾶρος μέγα ἕννυτο νύμφη,
λεπτὸν καὶ χαρίεν, περὶ δὲ ζώνην βάλετʼ ἰξυῖ
καλὴν χρυσείην, κεφαλῇ δʼ ἐφύπερθε καλύπτρην.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μήδετο πομπήν·
δῶκέν οἱ πέλεκυν μέγαν, ἄρμενον ἐν παλάμῃσι,
χάλκεον, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένον· αὐτὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ
στειλειὸν περικαλλὲς ἐλάινον, εὖ ἐναρηρός·
δῶκε δʼ ἔπειτα σκέπαρνον ἐύξοον· ἦρχε δʼ ὁδοῖο
νήσου ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ὅθι δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκει,
κλήθρη τʼ αἴγειρός τʼ, ἐλάτη τʼ ἦν οὐρανομήκης,
αὖα πάλαι, περίκηλα, τά οἱ πλώοιεν ἐλαφρῶς.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δεῖξʼ, ὅθι δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκει,
ἡ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
αὐτὰρ ὁ τάμνετο δοῦρα· θοῶς δέ οἱ ἤνυτο ἔργον.
εἴκοσι δʼ ἔκβαλε πάντα, πελέκκησεν δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷ,
ξέσσε δʼ ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν.
τόφρα δʼ ἔνεικε τέρετρα Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων·
τέτρηνεν δʼ ἄρα πάντα καὶ ἥρμοσεν ἀλλήλοισιν,
γόμφοισιν δʼ ἄρα τήν γε καὶ ἁρμονίῃσιν ἄρασσεν.
ὅσσον τίς τʼ ἔδαφος νηὸς τορνώσεται ἀνὴρ
φορτίδος εὐρείης, ἐὺ εἰδὼς τεκτοσυνάων,
τόσσον ἔπʼ εὐρεῖαν σχεδίην ποιήσατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἴκρια δὲ στήσας, ἀραρὼν θαμέσι σταμίνεσσι,
ποίει· ἀτὰρ μακρῇσιν ἐπηγκενίδεσσι τελεύτα.
ἐν δʼ ἱστὸν ποίει καὶ ἐπίκριον ἄρμενον αὐτῷ·
πρὸς δʼ ἄρα πηδάλιον ποιήσατο, ὄφρʼ ἰθύνοι.
φράξε δέ μιν ῥίπεσσι διαμπερὲς οἰσυΐνῃσι
κύματος εἶλαρ ἔμεν· πολλὴν δʼ ἐπεχεύατο ὕλην.
τόφρα δὲ φάρεʼ ἔνεικε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ἱστία ποιήσασθαι· ὁ δʼ εὖ τεχνήσατο καὶ τά.
ἐν δʼ ὑπέρας τε κάλους τε πόδας τʼ ἐνέδησεν ἐν αὐτῇ,
μοχλοῖσιν δʼ ἄρα τήν γε κατείρυσεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.
τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἔην, καὶ τῷ τετέλεστο ἅπαντα·
τῷ δʼ ἄρα πέμπτῳ πέμπʼ ἀπὸ νήσου δῖα Καλυψώ,
εἵματά τʼ ἀμφιέσασα θυώδεα καὶ λούσασα.
ἐν δέ οἱ ἀσκὸν ἔθηκε θεὰ μέλανος οἴνοιο
τὸν ἕτερον, ἕτερον δʼ ὕδατος μέγαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ᾖα
κωρύκῳ· ἐν δέ οἱ ὄψα τίθει μενοεικέα πολλά·
οὖρον δὲ προέηκεν ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε.
γηθόσυνος δʼ οὔρῳ πέτασʼ ἱστία δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πηδαλίῳ ἰθύνετο τεχνηέντως
ἥμενος, οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτεν
Πληιάδας τʼ ἐσορῶντι καὶ ὀψὲ δύοντα Βοώτην
Ἄρκτον θʼ, ἣν καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,
ἥ τʼ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τʼ Ὠρίωνα δοκεύει,
οἴη δʼ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν Ὠκεανοῖο·
τὴν γὰρ δή μιν ἄνωγε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ποντοπορευέμεναι ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντα.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέεν ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόεντα
γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τʼ ἄγχιστον πέλεν αὐτῷ·
εἴσατο δʼ ὡς ὅτε ῥινὸν ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἐξ Αἰθιόπων ἀνιὼν κρείων ἐνοσίχθων
τηλόθεν ἐκ Σολύμων ὀρέων ἴδεν· εἴσατο γάρ οἱ
πόντον ἐπιπλώων. ὁ δʼ ἐχώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·
"Ah me, the gods have surely changed their plans about Odysseus
while I was away among the Ethiopians,
and he is close to the land of the Phaeacians, where it is his portion
to escape the great bond of misery that has come upon him.
But I think I can still drive him to his fill of trouble."
while I was away among the Ethiopians,
and he is close to the land of the Phaeacians, where it is his portion
to escape the great bond of misery that has come upon him.
But I think I can still drive him to his fill of trouble."
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ μετεβούλευσαν θεοὶ ἄλλως
ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι ἐμεῖο μετʼ Αἰθιόπεσσιν ἐόντος,
καὶ δὴ Φαιήκων γαίης σχεδόν, ἔνθα οἱ αἶσα
ἐκφυγέειν μέγα πεῖραρ ὀιζύος, ἥ μιν ἱκάνει.
ἀλλʼ ἔτι μέν μίν φημι ἅδην ἐλάαν κακότητος.
ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆι ἐμεῖο μετʼ Αἰθιόπεσσιν ἐόντος,
καὶ δὴ Φαιήκων γαίης σχεδόν, ἔνθα οἱ αἶσα
ἐκφυγέειν μέγα πεῖραρ ὀιζύος, ἥ μιν ἱκάνει.
ἀλλʼ ἔτι μέν μίν φημι ἅδην ἐλάαν κακότητος.
So saying he gathered the clouds and stirred up the sea,
taking his trident in his hands; and he roused all the blasts
of every wind, and covered earth and sea alike
with clouds; and night rushed down out of heaven.
East Wind and South Wind fell together, and the ill-blowing West,
and the North born in the clear sky, rolling a great wave before it.
And then the knees and the heart of Odysseus gave way,
and deeply vexed he spoke to his own high-hearted spirit:
taking his trident in his hands; and he roused all the blasts
of every wind, and covered earth and sea alike
with clouds; and night rushed down out of heaven.
East Wind and South Wind fell together, and the ill-blowing West,
and the North born in the clear sky, rolling a great wave before it.
And then the knees and the heart of Odysseus gave way,
and deeply vexed he spoke to his own high-hearted spirit:
ὣς εἰπὼν σύναγεν νεφέλας, ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντον
χερσὶ τρίαιναν ἑλών· πάσας δʼ ὀρόθυνεν ἀέλλας
παντοίων ἀνέμων, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε
γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.
σὺν δʼ Εὖρός τε Νότος τʼ ἔπεσον Ζέφυρός τε δυσαὴς
καὶ Βορέης αἰθρηγενέτης, μέγα κῦμα κυλίνδων.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
χερσὶ τρίαιναν ἑλών· πάσας δʼ ὀρόθυνεν ἀέλλας
παντοίων ἀνέμων, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε
γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.
σὺν δʼ Εὖρός τε Νότος τʼ ἔπεσον Ζέφυρός τε δυσαὴς
καὶ Βορέης αἰθρηγενέτης, μέγα κῦμα κυλίνδων.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
"Ah, wretched man that I am, what will become of me at the last?
I fear that the goddess told me nothing but the truth,
when she said that on the sea, before I reached my native land,
I should fill up my griefs; and now all of it is being fulfilled.
With what clouds Zeus is crowning the wide heaven,
and he has stirred up the sea, and the blasts of every wind
come driving on. Now my sheer destruction is certain.
Three times and four times blessed were the Danaans who died then
in wide Troy, bringing a favour to the sons of Atreus.
How I wish I had died and met my fate
on the day when the greatest number of Trojans threw
their bronze-tipped spears at me over the dead son of Peleus.
Then I would have had my funeral rites, and the Achaeans would have carried my glory;
but now it is my lot to be taken by a wretched death."
I fear that the goddess told me nothing but the truth,
when she said that on the sea, before I reached my native land,
I should fill up my griefs; and now all of it is being fulfilled.
With what clouds Zeus is crowning the wide heaven,
and he has stirred up the sea, and the blasts of every wind
come driving on. Now my sheer destruction is certain.
Three times and four times blessed were the Danaans who died then
in wide Troy, bringing a favour to the sons of Atreus.
How I wish I had died and met my fate
on the day when the greatest number of Trojans threw
their bronze-tipped spears at me over the dead son of Peleus.
Then I would have had my funeral rites, and the Achaeans would have carried my glory;
but now it is my lot to be taken by a wretched death."
ὤ μοι ἐγὼ δειλός, τί νύ μοι μήκιστα γένηται;
δείδω μὴ δὴ πάντα θεὰ νημερτέα εἶπεν,
ἥ μʼ ἔφατʼ ἐν πόντῳ, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,
ἄλγεʼ ἀναπλήσειν· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
οἵοισιν νεφέεσσι περιστέφει οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν
Ζεύς, ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντον, ἐπισπέρχουσι δʼ ἄελλαι
παντοίων ἀνέμων. νῦν μοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
τρὶς μάκαρες Δαναοὶ καὶ τετράκις, οἳ τότʼ ὄλοντο
Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ χάριν Ἀτρεΐδῃσι φέροντες.
ὡς δὴ ἐγώ γʼ ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι πλεῖστοι χαλκήρεα δοῦρα
Τρῶες ἐπέρριψαν περὶ Πηλεΐωνι θανόντι.
τῷ κʼ ἔλαχον κτερέων, καί μευ κλέος ἦγον Ἀχαιοί·
νῦν δέ λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.
δείδω μὴ δὴ πάντα θεὰ νημερτέα εἶπεν,
ἥ μʼ ἔφατʼ ἐν πόντῳ, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι,
ἄλγεʼ ἀναπλήσειν· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
οἵοισιν νεφέεσσι περιστέφει οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν
Ζεύς, ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντον, ἐπισπέρχουσι δʼ ἄελλαι
παντοίων ἀνέμων. νῦν μοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
τρὶς μάκαρες Δαναοὶ καὶ τετράκις, οἳ τότʼ ὄλοντο
Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ χάριν Ἀτρεΐδῃσι φέροντες.
ὡς δὴ ἐγώ γʼ ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι πλεῖστοι χαλκήρεα δοῦρα
Τρῶες ἐπέρριψαν περὶ Πηλεΐωνι θανόντι.
τῷ κʼ ἔλαχον κτερέων, καί μευ κλέος ἦγον Ἀχαιοί·
νῦν δέ λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.
Even as he spoke, a great wave drove down upon him from above,
rushing terribly, and spun the raft round.
He himself fell far from the raft, and let the steering-oar
go from his hands; and the mast was broken in the middle
by the terrible storm-blast of the mingling winds that came upon him,
and the sail and the yard fell far off into the sea.
The water held him under a long time, and he could not
come up quickly under the rush of the great wave,
for the clothing weighed him down that noble Calypso had given him.
At last he came up, and spat the bitter brine out of his mouth,
which ran streaming in quantity from his head.
But even so he did not forget the raft, worn out as he was,
but struggled after it among the waves and laid hold of it,
and sat down in the middle of it, escaping the end of death.
And a great wave carried the raft this way and that on the current.
As when in autumn the North Wind carries thistles
over the plain, and they cling thickly to one another,
so the winds carried the raft this way and that over the sea;
now the South Wind would toss it to the North to carry,
and now the East Wind would give way to the West to chase it on.
And the daughter of Cadmus saw him, Ino of the lovely ankles,
Leucothea, who was once a mortal of human speech,
but now has her share of honour from the gods in the gulfs of the sea.
She pitied Odysseus as he wandered and suffered griefs,
and rose up out of the water like a gull on the wing,
and sat on the raft of many bindings and spoke a word:
"Ill-fated man, why has Poseidon the earth-shaker
conceived such a monstrous hatred for you, planting so many evils?
But he shall not destroy you, for all his eagerness.
Do just as I say — and you seem to me not to lack sense.
Take off these clothes and leave the raft for the winds
to carry, and swim with your hands and strive for a landing
on the land of the Phaeacians, where it is your portion to escape.
Here, take this veil and stretch it under your breast;
it is immortal, and you need have no fear of suffering or of perishing.
But when you have laid your hands on the mainland,
loose it and throw it back into the wine-dark sea,
far from the land, and turn yourself away."
rushing terribly, and spun the raft round.
He himself fell far from the raft, and let the steering-oar
go from his hands; and the mast was broken in the middle
by the terrible storm-blast of the mingling winds that came upon him,
and the sail and the yard fell far off into the sea.
The water held him under a long time, and he could not
come up quickly under the rush of the great wave,
for the clothing weighed him down that noble Calypso had given him.
At last he came up, and spat the bitter brine out of his mouth,
which ran streaming in quantity from his head.
But even so he did not forget the raft, worn out as he was,
but struggled after it among the waves and laid hold of it,
and sat down in the middle of it, escaping the end of death.
And a great wave carried the raft this way and that on the current.
As when in autumn the North Wind carries thistles
over the plain, and they cling thickly to one another,
so the winds carried the raft this way and that over the sea;
now the South Wind would toss it to the North to carry,
and now the East Wind would give way to the West to chase it on.
And the daughter of Cadmus saw him, Ino of the lovely ankles,
Leucothea, who was once a mortal of human speech,
but now has her share of honour from the gods in the gulfs of the sea.
She pitied Odysseus as he wandered and suffered griefs,
and rose up out of the water like a gull on the wing,
and sat on the raft of many bindings and spoke a word:
"Ill-fated man, why has Poseidon the earth-shaker
conceived such a monstrous hatred for you, planting so many evils?
But he shall not destroy you, for all his eagerness.
Do just as I say — and you seem to me not to lack sense.
Take off these clothes and leave the raft for the winds
to carry, and swim with your hands and strive for a landing
on the land of the Phaeacians, where it is your portion to escape.
Here, take this veil and stretch it under your breast;
it is immortal, and you need have no fear of suffering or of perishing.
But when you have laid your hands on the mainland,
loose it and throw it back into the wine-dark sea,
far from the land, and turn yourself away."
ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντʼ ἔλασεν μέγα κῦμα κατʼ ἄκρης
δεινὸν ἐπεσσύμενον, περὶ δὲ σχεδίην ἐλέλιξε.
τῆλε δʼ ἀπὸ σχεδίης αὐτὸς πέσε, πηδάλιον δὲ
ἐκ χειρῶν προέηκε· μέσον δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἔαξεν
δεινὴ μισγομένων ἀνέμων ἐλθοῦσα θύελλα,
τηλοῦ δὲ σπεῖρον καὶ ἐπίκριον ἔμπεσε πόντῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόβρυχα θῆκε πολὺν χρόνον, οὐδʼ ἐδυνάσθη
αἶψα μάλʼ ἀνσχεθέειν μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ὁρμῆς·
εἵματα γάρ ῥʼ ἐβάρυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.
ὀψὲ δὲ δή ῥʼ ἀνέδυ, στόματος δʼ ἐξέπτυσεν ἅλμην
πικρήν, ἥ οἱ πολλὴ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κελάρυζεν.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς σχεδίης ἐπελήθετο, τειρόμενός περ,
ἀλλὰ μεθορμηθεὶς ἐνὶ κύμασιν ἐλλάβετʼ αὐτῆς,
ἐν μέσσῃ δὲ καθῖζε τέλος θανάτου ἀλεείνων.
τὴν δʼ ἐφόρει μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὀπωρινὸς Βορέης φορέῃσιν ἀκάνθας
ἂμ πεδίον, πυκιναὶ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,
ὣς τὴν ἂμ πέλαγος ἄνεμοι φέρον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα·
ἄλλοτε μέν τε Νότος Βορέῃ προβάλεσκε φέρεσθαι,
ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτʼ Εὖρος Ζεφύρῳ εἴξασκε διώκειν.
τὸν δὲ ἴδεν Κάδμου θυγάτηρ, καλλίσφυρος Ἰνώ,
Λευκοθέη, ἣ πρὶν μὲν ἔην βροτὸς αὐδήεσσα,
νῦν δʼ ἁλὸς ἐν πελάγεσσι θεῶν ἒξ ἔμμορε τιμῆς.
ἥ ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐλέησεν ἀλώμενον, ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα,
αἰθυίῃ δʼ ἐικυῖα ποτῇ ἀνεδύσετο λίμνης,
ἷζε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου εἶπέ τε μῦθον·
κάμμορε, τίπτε τοι ὧδε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
ὠδύσατʼ ἐκπάγλως, ὅτι τοι κακὰ πολλὰ φυτεύει;
οὐ μὲν δή σε καταφθίσει μάλα περ μενεαίνων.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρξαι, δοκέεις δέ μοι οὐκ ἀπινύσσειν·
εἵματα ταῦτʼ ἀποδὺς σχεδίην ἀνέμοισι φέρεσθαι
κάλλιπʼ, ἀτὰρ χείρεσσι νέων ἐπιμαίεο νόστου
γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι μοῖρʼ ἐστὶν ἀλύξαι.
τῆ δέ, τόδε κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τανύσσαι
ἄμβροτον· οὐδέ τί τοι παθέειν δέος οὐδʼ ἀπολέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν χείρεσσιν ἐφάψεαι ἠπείροιο,
ἂψ ἀπολυσάμενος βαλέειν εἰς οἴνοπα πόντον
πολλὸν ἀπʼ ἠπείρου, αὐτὸς δʼ ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι.
δεινὸν ἐπεσσύμενον, περὶ δὲ σχεδίην ἐλέλιξε.
τῆλε δʼ ἀπὸ σχεδίης αὐτὸς πέσε, πηδάλιον δὲ
ἐκ χειρῶν προέηκε· μέσον δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἔαξεν
δεινὴ μισγομένων ἀνέμων ἐλθοῦσα θύελλα,
τηλοῦ δὲ σπεῖρον καὶ ἐπίκριον ἔμπεσε πόντῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόβρυχα θῆκε πολὺν χρόνον, οὐδʼ ἐδυνάσθη
αἶψα μάλʼ ἀνσχεθέειν μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ὁρμῆς·
εἵματα γάρ ῥʼ ἐβάρυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.
ὀψὲ δὲ δή ῥʼ ἀνέδυ, στόματος δʼ ἐξέπτυσεν ἅλμην
πικρήν, ἥ οἱ πολλὴ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κελάρυζεν.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς σχεδίης ἐπελήθετο, τειρόμενός περ,
ἀλλὰ μεθορμηθεὶς ἐνὶ κύμασιν ἐλλάβετʼ αὐτῆς,
ἐν μέσσῃ δὲ καθῖζε τέλος θανάτου ἀλεείνων.
τὴν δʼ ἐφόρει μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὀπωρινὸς Βορέης φορέῃσιν ἀκάνθας
ἂμ πεδίον, πυκιναὶ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,
ὣς τὴν ἂμ πέλαγος ἄνεμοι φέρον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα·
ἄλλοτε μέν τε Νότος Βορέῃ προβάλεσκε φέρεσθαι,
ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτʼ Εὖρος Ζεφύρῳ εἴξασκε διώκειν.
τὸν δὲ ἴδεν Κάδμου θυγάτηρ, καλλίσφυρος Ἰνώ,
Λευκοθέη, ἣ πρὶν μὲν ἔην βροτὸς αὐδήεσσα,
νῦν δʼ ἁλὸς ἐν πελάγεσσι θεῶν ἒξ ἔμμορε τιμῆς.
ἥ ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐλέησεν ἀλώμενον, ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα,
αἰθυίῃ δʼ ἐικυῖα ποτῇ ἀνεδύσετο λίμνης,
ἷζε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου εἶπέ τε μῦθον·
κάμμορε, τίπτε τοι ὧδε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
ὠδύσατʼ ἐκπάγλως, ὅτι τοι κακὰ πολλὰ φυτεύει;
οὐ μὲν δή σε καταφθίσει μάλα περ μενεαίνων.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρξαι, δοκέεις δέ μοι οὐκ ἀπινύσσειν·
εἵματα ταῦτʼ ἀποδὺς σχεδίην ἀνέμοισι φέρεσθαι
κάλλιπʼ, ἀτὰρ χείρεσσι νέων ἐπιμαίεο νόστου
γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι μοῖρʼ ἐστὶν ἀλύξαι.
τῆ δέ, τόδε κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τανύσσαι
ἄμβροτον· οὐδέ τί τοι παθέειν δέος οὐδʼ ἀπολέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν χείρεσσιν ἐφάψεαι ἠπείροιο,
ἂψ ἀπολυσάμενος βαλέειν εἰς οἴνοπα πόντον
πολλὸν ἀπʼ ἠπείρου, αὐτὸς δʼ ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι.
So saying the goddess gave him the veil,
and she herself plunged back into the surging sea
like a gull; and the dark wave covered her.
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus turned it over,
and deeply vexed he spoke to his own high-hearted spirit:
and she herself plunged back into the surging sea
like a gull; and the dark wave covered her.
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus turned it over,
and deeply vexed he spoke to his own high-hearted spirit:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ κρήδεμνον ἔδωκεν,
αὐτὴ δʼ ἂψ ἐς πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα
αἰθυίῃ ἐικυῖα· μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
αὐτὴ δʼ ἂψ ἐς πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα
αἰθυίῃ ἐικυῖα· μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
"Ah, I am afraid one of the immortals is weaving a trick for me again,
telling me to get off my raft.
But I will not obey yet, since I saw with my own eyes
that the land is far off, where she said my escape lay.
I will do this instead, and it seems to me the best:
so long as the timbers hold together in their joints,
so long I will stay here and endure what I suffer;
but once the wave has shaken the raft to pieces under me,
then I will swim, since there is nothing better to plan for."
While he was turning this over in his mind and in his spirit,
Poseidon the earth-shaker raised a great wave against him,
terrible and painful and arching over, and drove it upon him.
As a strong wind shakes a heap of dry chaff
and scatters it this way and that,
so it scattered the long timbers. But Odysseus
bestrode one timber, riding it like a racing horse,
and stripped off the clothing that noble Calypso had given him.
At once he stretched the veil under his breast,
and threw himself headlong into the sea with his arms spread,
straining to swim. The lord who shakes the earth saw him,
and shook his head and spoke to his own spirit:
telling me to get off my raft.
But I will not obey yet, since I saw with my own eyes
that the land is far off, where she said my escape lay.
I will do this instead, and it seems to me the best:
so long as the timbers hold together in their joints,
so long I will stay here and endure what I suffer;
but once the wave has shaken the raft to pieces under me,
then I will swim, since there is nothing better to plan for."
While he was turning this over in his mind and in his spirit,
Poseidon the earth-shaker raised a great wave against him,
terrible and painful and arching over, and drove it upon him.
As a strong wind shakes a heap of dry chaff
and scatters it this way and that,
so it scattered the long timbers. But Odysseus
bestrode one timber, riding it like a racing horse,
and stripped off the clothing that noble Calypso had given him.
At once he stretched the veil under his breast,
and threw himself headlong into the sea with his arms spread,
straining to swim. The lord who shakes the earth saw him,
and shook his head and spoke to his own spirit:
ὤ μοι ἐγώ, μή τίς μοι ὑφαίνῃσιν δόλον αὖτε
ἀθανάτων, ὅ τέ με σχεδίης ἀποβῆναι ἀνώγει.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὔ πω πείσομʼ, ἐπεὶ ἑκὰς ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἰδόμην, ὅθι μοι φάτο φύξιμον εἶναι.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρξω, δοκέει δέ μοι εἶναι ἄριστον·
ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κεν δούρατʼ ἐν ἁρμονίῃσιν ἀρήρῃ,
τόφρʼ αὐτοῦ μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἄλγεα πάσχων·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δή μοι σχεδίην διὰ κῦμα τινάξῃ,
νήξομʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μέν τι πάρα προνοῆσαι ἄμεινον.
ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ὦρσε δʼ ἐπὶ μέγα κῦμα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, κατηρεφές, ἤλασε δʼ αὐτόν.
ὡς δʼ ἄνεμος ζαὴς ἠΐων θημῶνα τινάξῃ
καρφαλέων· τὰ μὲν ἄρ τε διεσκέδασʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ·
ὣς τῆς δούρατα μακρὰ διεσκέδασʼ. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀμφʼ ἑνὶ δούρατι βαῖνε, κέληθʼ ὡς ἵππον ἐλαύνων,
εἵματα δʼ ἐξαπέδυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.
αὐτίκα δὲ κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τάνυσσεν,
αὐτὸς δὲ πρηνὴς ἁλὶ κάππεσε, χεῖρε πετάσσας,
νηχέμεναι μεμαώς. ἴδε δὲ κρείων ἐνοσίχθων,
κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·
ἀθανάτων, ὅ τέ με σχεδίης ἀποβῆναι ἀνώγει.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὔ πω πείσομʼ, ἐπεὶ ἑκὰς ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἰδόμην, ὅθι μοι φάτο φύξιμον εἶναι.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρξω, δοκέει δέ μοι εἶναι ἄριστον·
ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κεν δούρατʼ ἐν ἁρμονίῃσιν ἀρήρῃ,
τόφρʼ αὐτοῦ μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἄλγεα πάσχων·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δή μοι σχεδίην διὰ κῦμα τινάξῃ,
νήξομʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μέν τι πάρα προνοῆσαι ἄμεινον.
ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ὦρσε δʼ ἐπὶ μέγα κῦμα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, κατηρεφές, ἤλασε δʼ αὐτόν.
ὡς δʼ ἄνεμος ζαὴς ἠΐων θημῶνα τινάξῃ
καρφαλέων· τὰ μὲν ἄρ τε διεσκέδασʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ·
ὣς τῆς δούρατα μακρὰ διεσκέδασʼ. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀμφʼ ἑνὶ δούρατι βαῖνε, κέληθʼ ὡς ἵππον ἐλαύνων,
εἵματα δʼ ἐξαπέδυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.
αὐτίκα δὲ κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τάνυσσεν,
αὐτὸς δὲ πρηνὴς ἁλὶ κάππεσε, χεῖρε πετάσσας,
νηχέμεναι μεμαώς. ἴδε δὲ κρείων ἐνοσίχθων,
κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν·
"So now, after all these evils you have suffered, wander over the sea
until you come among men who are nurtured by Zeus.
Yet even so I do not think you will make light of your troubles."
until you come among men who are nurtured by Zeus.
Yet even so I do not think you will make light of your troubles."
οὕτω νῦν κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν ἀλόω κατὰ πόντον,
εἰς ὅ κεν ἀνθρώποισι διοτρεφέεσσι μιγήῃς.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὥς σε ἔολπα ὀνόσσεσθαι κακότητος.
εἰς ὅ κεν ἀνθρώποισι διοτρεφέεσσι μιγήῃς.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὥς σε ἔολπα ὀνόσσεσθαι κακότητος.
So saying he lashed his fine-maned horses,
and came to Aegae, where his famous house stands.
But Athena, daughter of Zeus, thought of something else.
and came to Aegae, where his famous house stands.
But Athena, daughter of Zeus, thought of something else.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους,
ἵκετο δʼ εἰς Αἰγάς, ὅθι οἱ κλυτὰ δώματʼ ἔασιν.
αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς ἄλλʼ ἐνόησεν.
ἵκετο δʼ εἰς Αἰγάς, ὅθι οἱ κλυτὰ δώματʼ ἔασιν.
αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς ἄλλʼ ἐνόησεν.
She bound fast the paths of the other winds
and ordered them all to leave off and to lie down;
but she roused a swift North Wind and broke the waves before him,
so that Odysseus, born of Zeus, might come among
the oar-loving Phaeacians, having escaped death and the dooms.
There for two nights and two days he was driven about
on the solid swell, and again and again his heart looked on destruction.
But when fair-haired Dawn had brought the third day to its close,
then the wind stopped and there was a windless calm,
and he caught sight of land close by,
looking sharply ahead as he was lifted on a great wave.
As when the life of a father shows welcome to his children,
who has been lying in sickness and suffering strong griefs,
wasting a long while, and a hateful god has fallen upon him,
and then to their joy the gods have loosed him from his trouble,
so welcome to Odysseus were the sight of land and trees;
and he swam, straining to set his feet on the mainland.
But when he was as far off as a man’s shout carries,
he heard the thud of the sea against the reefs;
for the great wave roared against the dry land,
belching terribly, and everything was wrapped in the sea’s spray.
There were no harbours to hold ships, and no roadsteads,
but jutting headlands and reefs and crags.
And then the knees and the heart of Odysseus gave way,
and deeply vexed he spoke to his own high-hearted spirit:
and ordered them all to leave off and to lie down;
but she roused a swift North Wind and broke the waves before him,
so that Odysseus, born of Zeus, might come among
the oar-loving Phaeacians, having escaped death and the dooms.
There for two nights and two days he was driven about
on the solid swell, and again and again his heart looked on destruction.
But when fair-haired Dawn had brought the third day to its close,
then the wind stopped and there was a windless calm,
and he caught sight of land close by,
looking sharply ahead as he was lifted on a great wave.
As when the life of a father shows welcome to his children,
who has been lying in sickness and suffering strong griefs,
wasting a long while, and a hateful god has fallen upon him,
and then to their joy the gods have loosed him from his trouble,
so welcome to Odysseus were the sight of land and trees;
and he swam, straining to set his feet on the mainland.
But when he was as far off as a man’s shout carries,
he heard the thud of the sea against the reefs;
for the great wave roared against the dry land,
belching terribly, and everything was wrapped in the sea’s spray.
There were no harbours to hold ships, and no roadsteads,
but jutting headlands and reefs and crags.
And then the knees and the heart of Odysseus gave way,
and deeply vexed he spoke to his own high-hearted spirit:
ἦ τοι τῶν ἄλλων ἀνέμων κατέδησε κελεύθους,
παύσασθαι δʼ ἐκέλευσε καὶ εὐνηθῆναι ἅπαντας·
ὦρσε δʼ ἐπὶ κραιπνὸν Βορέην, πρὸ δὲ κύματʼ ἔαξεν,
ἧος ὃ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μιγείη
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξας.
ἔνθα δύω νύκτας δύο τʼ ἤματα κύματι πηγῷ
πλάζετο, πολλὰ δέ οἱ κραδίη προτιόσσετʼ ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο ἠδὲ γαλήνη
ἔπλετο νηνεμίη· ὁ δʼ ἄρα σχεδὸν εἴσιδε γαῖαν
ὀξὺ μάλα προϊδών, μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ἀρθείς.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀσπάσιος βίοτος παίδεσσι φανήῃ
πατρός, ὃς ἐν νούσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων,
δηρὸν τηκόμενος, στυγερὸς δέ οἱ ἔχραε δαίμων,
ἀσπάσιον δʼ ἄρα τόν γε θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν,
ὣς Ὀδυσεῖ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο γαῖα καὶ ὕλη,
νῆχε δʼ ἐπειγόμενος ποσὶν ἠπείρου ἐπιβῆναι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆν ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,
καὶ δὴ δοῦπον ἄκουσε ποτὶ σπιλάδεσσι θαλάσσης·
ῥόχθει γὰρ μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ξερὸν ἠπείροιο
δεινὸν ἐρευγόμενον, εἴλυτο δὲ πάνθʼ ἁλὸς ἄχνῃ·
οὐ γὰρ ἔσαν λιμένες νηῶν ὄχοι, οὐδʼ ἐπιωγαί.
ἀλλʼ ἀκταὶ προβλῆτες ἔσαν σπιλάδες τε πάγοι τε·
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
παύσασθαι δʼ ἐκέλευσε καὶ εὐνηθῆναι ἅπαντας·
ὦρσε δʼ ἐπὶ κραιπνὸν Βορέην, πρὸ δὲ κύματʼ ἔαξεν,
ἧος ὃ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μιγείη
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξας.
ἔνθα δύω νύκτας δύο τʼ ἤματα κύματι πηγῷ
πλάζετο, πολλὰ δέ οἱ κραδίη προτιόσσετʼ ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο ἠδὲ γαλήνη
ἔπλετο νηνεμίη· ὁ δʼ ἄρα σχεδὸν εἴσιδε γαῖαν
ὀξὺ μάλα προϊδών, μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ἀρθείς.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀσπάσιος βίοτος παίδεσσι φανήῃ
πατρός, ὃς ἐν νούσῳ κεῖται κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων,
δηρὸν τηκόμενος, στυγερὸς δέ οἱ ἔχραε δαίμων,
ἀσπάσιον δʼ ἄρα τόν γε θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν,
ὣς Ὀδυσεῖ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο γαῖα καὶ ὕλη,
νῆχε δʼ ἐπειγόμενος ποσὶν ἠπείρου ἐπιβῆναι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆν ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,
καὶ δὴ δοῦπον ἄκουσε ποτὶ σπιλάδεσσι θαλάσσης·
ῥόχθει γὰρ μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ξερὸν ἠπείροιο
δεινὸν ἐρευγόμενον, εἴλυτο δὲ πάνθʼ ἁλὸς ἄχνῃ·
οὐ γὰρ ἔσαν λιμένες νηῶν ὄχοι, οὐδʼ ἐπιωγαί.
ἀλλʼ ἀκταὶ προβλῆτες ἔσαν σπιλάδες τε πάγοι τε·
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
"Ah, now that Zeus has given me sight of land beyond hope,
and I have cut my way across this gulf and come through,
nowhere does a way out of the grey sea appear.
For outside there are sharp crags, and around them the wave
roars in surf, and the rock runs up sheer,
and the sea is deep close in, and there is no way to stand
on both feet and get clear of the trouble.
As I try to come out a great wave may snatch me up
and dash me on the rocky cliff; and my effort will have been wasted.
But if I swim further along and try to find
beaches that take the sea sideways, and harbours of the sea,
I am afraid a storm-blast may snatch me up again
and carry me groaning heavily over the fish-filled sea,
or some divine power may send a great monster upon me
out of the water, such as glorious Amphitrite breeds in numbers;
for I know how the glorious earth-shaker hates me."
While he was turning this over in his mind and in his spirit,
a great wave carried him against the rugged shore.
There he would have been stripped of his skin and his bones crushed together,
had not the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, put it into his mind:
he rushed in and caught the rock with both hands,
and clung to it groaning, until the great wave went past.
So he escaped that one; but the backwash struck him
as it rushed on, and flung him far out to sea.
As when an octopus is dragged out of its hole
and the thick pebbles cling to its suckers,
so the skin was stripped from his bold hands
against the rocks; and the great wave covered him.
There the wretched Odysseus would have died beyond his portion,
had not grey-eyed Athena given him presence of mind.
Coming up out of the wave that belches against the land,
he swam along outside it, looking to the shore, to find if he could
beaches that take the sea sideways, and harbours of the sea.
But when he came swimming to the mouth of a fair-flowing river,
there the ground seemed best to him,
smooth of rocks, and there was shelter from the wind.
He knew the river’s outflow, and prayed to it in his spirit:
"Hear me, lord, whoever you are. I come to you much prayed to,
fleeing out of the sea from the rebukes of Poseidon.
Even to the immortal gods that man is worthy of respect
who comes as a wanderer, as I now come
to your stream and to your knees, after much labour.
Have pity, lord; I claim to be your suppliant."
and I have cut my way across this gulf and come through,
nowhere does a way out of the grey sea appear.
For outside there are sharp crags, and around them the wave
roars in surf, and the rock runs up sheer,
and the sea is deep close in, and there is no way to stand
on both feet and get clear of the trouble.
As I try to come out a great wave may snatch me up
and dash me on the rocky cliff; and my effort will have been wasted.
But if I swim further along and try to find
beaches that take the sea sideways, and harbours of the sea,
I am afraid a storm-blast may snatch me up again
and carry me groaning heavily over the fish-filled sea,
or some divine power may send a great monster upon me
out of the water, such as glorious Amphitrite breeds in numbers;
for I know how the glorious earth-shaker hates me."
While he was turning this over in his mind and in his spirit,
a great wave carried him against the rugged shore.
There he would have been stripped of his skin and his bones crushed together,
had not the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, put it into his mind:
he rushed in and caught the rock with both hands,
and clung to it groaning, until the great wave went past.
So he escaped that one; but the backwash struck him
as it rushed on, and flung him far out to sea.
As when an octopus is dragged out of its hole
and the thick pebbles cling to its suckers,
so the skin was stripped from his bold hands
against the rocks; and the great wave covered him.
There the wretched Odysseus would have died beyond his portion,
had not grey-eyed Athena given him presence of mind.
Coming up out of the wave that belches against the land,
he swam along outside it, looking to the shore, to find if he could
beaches that take the sea sideways, and harbours of the sea.
But when he came swimming to the mouth of a fair-flowing river,
there the ground seemed best to him,
smooth of rocks, and there was shelter from the wind.
He knew the river’s outflow, and prayed to it in his spirit:
"Hear me, lord, whoever you are. I come to you much prayed to,
fleeing out of the sea from the rebukes of Poseidon.
Even to the immortal gods that man is worthy of respect
who comes as a wanderer, as I now come
to your stream and to your knees, after much labour.
Have pity, lord; I claim to be your suppliant."
ὤ μοι, ἐπεὶ δὴ γαῖαν ἀελπέα δῶκεν ἰδέσθαι
Ζεύς, καὶ δὴ τόδε λαῖτμα διατμήξας ἐπέρησα,
ἔκβασις οὔ πῃ φαίνεθʼ ἁλὸς πολιοῖο θύραζε·
ἔκτοσθεν μὲν γὰρ πάγοι ὀξέες, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα
βέβρυχεν ῥόθιον, λισσὴ δʼ ἀναδέδρομε πέτρη,
ἀγχιβαθὴς δὲ θάλασσα, καὶ οὔ πως ἔστι πόδεσσι
στήμεναι ἀμφοτέροισι καὶ ἐκφυγέειν κακότητα·
μή πώς μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βάλῃ λίθακι ποτὶ πέτρῃ
κῦμα μέγʼ ἁρπάξαν· μελέη δέ μοι ἔσσεται ὁρμή.
εἰ δέ κʼ ἔτι προτέρω παρανήξομαι, ἤν που ἐφεύρω
ἠιόνας τε παραπλῆγας λιμένας τε θαλάσσης,
δείδω μή μʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρῃ βαρέα στενάχοντα,
ἠέ τί μοι καὶ κῆτος ἐπισσεύῃ μέγα δαίμων
ἐξ ἁλός, οἷά τε πολλὰ τρέφει κλυτὸς Ἀμφιτρίτη·
οἶδα γάρ, ὥς μοι ὀδώδυσται κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος.
ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
τόφρα δέ μιν μέγα κῦμα φέρε τρηχεῖαν ἐπʼ ἀκτήν.
ἔνθα κʼ ἀπὸ ῥινοὺς δρύφθη, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἀράχθη,
εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἐπεσσύμενος λάβε πέτρης,
τῆς ἔχετο στενάχων, ἧος μέγα κῦμα παρῆλθε.
καὶ τὸ μὲν ὣς ὑπάλυξε, παλιρρόθιον δέ μιν αὖτις
πλῆξεν ἐπεσσύμενον, τηλοῦ δέ μιν ἔμβαλε πόντῳ.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε πουλύποδος θαλάμης ἐξελκομένοιο
πρὸς κοτυληδονόφιν πυκιναὶ λάιγγες ἔχονται,
ὣς τοῦ πρὸς πέτρῃσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν
ῥινοὶ ἀπέδρυφθεν· τὸν δὲ μέγα κῦμα κάλυψεν.
ἔνθα κε δὴ δύστηνος ὑπὲρ μόρον ὤλετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἰ μὴ ἐπιφροσύνην δῶκε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
κύματος ἐξαναδύς, τά τʼ ἐρεύγεται ἤπειρόνδε,
νῆχε παρέξ, ἐς γαῖαν ὁρώμενος, εἴ που ἐφεύροι
ἠιόνας τε παραπλῆγας λιμένας τε θαλάσσης.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ποταμοῖο κατὰ στόμα καλλιρόοιο
ἷξε νέων, τῇ δή οἱ ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,
λεῖος πετράων, καὶ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο,
ἔγνω δὲ προρέοντα καὶ εὔξατο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·
κλῦθι, ἄναξ, ὅτις ἐσσί· πολύλλιστον δέ σʼ ἱκάνω,
φεύγων ἐκ πόντοιο Ποσειδάωνος ἐνιπάς.
αἰδοῖος μέν τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν
ἀνδρῶν ὅς τις ἵκηται ἀλώμενος, ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ νῦν
σόν τε ῥόον σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας.
ἀλλʼ ἐλέαιρε, ἄναξ· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.
Ζεύς, καὶ δὴ τόδε λαῖτμα διατμήξας ἐπέρησα,
ἔκβασις οὔ πῃ φαίνεθʼ ἁλὸς πολιοῖο θύραζε·
ἔκτοσθεν μὲν γὰρ πάγοι ὀξέες, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα
βέβρυχεν ῥόθιον, λισσὴ δʼ ἀναδέδρομε πέτρη,
ἀγχιβαθὴς δὲ θάλασσα, καὶ οὔ πως ἔστι πόδεσσι
στήμεναι ἀμφοτέροισι καὶ ἐκφυγέειν κακότητα·
μή πώς μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βάλῃ λίθακι ποτὶ πέτρῃ
κῦμα μέγʼ ἁρπάξαν· μελέη δέ μοι ἔσσεται ὁρμή.
εἰ δέ κʼ ἔτι προτέρω παρανήξομαι, ἤν που ἐφεύρω
ἠιόνας τε παραπλῆγας λιμένας τε θαλάσσης,
δείδω μή μʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρῃ βαρέα στενάχοντα,
ἠέ τί μοι καὶ κῆτος ἐπισσεύῃ μέγα δαίμων
ἐξ ἁλός, οἷά τε πολλὰ τρέφει κλυτὸς Ἀμφιτρίτη·
οἶδα γάρ, ὥς μοι ὀδώδυσται κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος.
ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
τόφρα δέ μιν μέγα κῦμα φέρε τρηχεῖαν ἐπʼ ἀκτήν.
ἔνθα κʼ ἀπὸ ῥινοὺς δρύφθη, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἀράχθη,
εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἐπεσσύμενος λάβε πέτρης,
τῆς ἔχετο στενάχων, ἧος μέγα κῦμα παρῆλθε.
καὶ τὸ μὲν ὣς ὑπάλυξε, παλιρρόθιον δέ μιν αὖτις
πλῆξεν ἐπεσσύμενον, τηλοῦ δέ μιν ἔμβαλε πόντῳ.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε πουλύποδος θαλάμης ἐξελκομένοιο
πρὸς κοτυληδονόφιν πυκιναὶ λάιγγες ἔχονται,
ὣς τοῦ πρὸς πέτρῃσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν
ῥινοὶ ἀπέδρυφθεν· τὸν δὲ μέγα κῦμα κάλυψεν.
ἔνθα κε δὴ δύστηνος ὑπὲρ μόρον ὤλετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἰ μὴ ἐπιφροσύνην δῶκε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
κύματος ἐξαναδύς, τά τʼ ἐρεύγεται ἤπειρόνδε,
νῆχε παρέξ, ἐς γαῖαν ὁρώμενος, εἴ που ἐφεύροι
ἠιόνας τε παραπλῆγας λιμένας τε θαλάσσης.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ποταμοῖο κατὰ στόμα καλλιρόοιο
ἷξε νέων, τῇ δή οἱ ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,
λεῖος πετράων, καὶ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο,
ἔγνω δὲ προρέοντα καὶ εὔξατο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·
κλῦθι, ἄναξ, ὅτις ἐσσί· πολύλλιστον δέ σʼ ἱκάνω,
φεύγων ἐκ πόντοιο Ποσειδάωνος ἐνιπάς.
αἰδοῖος μέν τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν
ἀνδρῶν ὅς τις ἵκηται ἀλώμενος, ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ νῦν
σόν τε ῥόον σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας.
ἀλλʼ ἐλέαιρε, ἄναξ· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.
So he spoke, and the river at once stopped his current and held the wave,
and made a calm before him, and brought him safely
to the river’s mouth. He let his knees give way,
and his strong arms; for his heart was broken by the sea.
All his flesh was swollen, and the sea ran streaming
from his mouth and his nostrils; and he lay without breath or voice,
with hardly any strength, and a terrible weariness came over him.
But when he got his breath back and the spirit gathered in his mind,
then he loosed the goddess’s veil from himself
and let it go into the river that runs to the sea,
and a great wave carried it back down the current, and at once Ino
took it in her own hands. And he turned aside from the river
and lay down under the rushes, and kissed the grain-giving earth.
And deeply vexed he spoke to his own high-hearted spirit:
and made a calm before him, and brought him safely
to the river’s mouth. He let his knees give way,
and his strong arms; for his heart was broken by the sea.
All his flesh was swollen, and the sea ran streaming
from his mouth and his nostrils; and he lay without breath or voice,
with hardly any strength, and a terrible weariness came over him.
But when he got his breath back and the spirit gathered in his mind,
then he loosed the goddess’s veil from himself
and let it go into the river that runs to the sea,
and a great wave carried it back down the current, and at once Ino
took it in her own hands. And he turned aside from the river
and lay down under the rushes, and kissed the grain-giving earth.
And deeply vexed he spoke to his own high-hearted spirit:
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὐτίκα παῦσεν ἑὸν ῥόον, ἔσχε δὲ κῦμα,
πρόσθε δέ οἱ ποίησε γαλήνην, τὸν δʼ ἐσάωσεν
ἐς ποταμοῦ προχοάς. ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄμφω γούνατʼ ἔκαμψε
χεῖράς τε στιβαράς. ἁλὶ γὰρ δέδμητο φίλον κῆρ.
ᾤδεε δὲ χρόα πάντα, θάλασσα δὲ κήκιε πολλὴ
ἂν στόμα τε ῥῖνάς θʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄπνευστος καὶ ἄναυδος
κεῖτʼ ὀλιγηπελέων, κάματος δέ μιν αἰνὸς ἵκανεν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,
καὶ τότε δὴ κρήδεμνον ἀπὸ ἕο λῦσε θεοῖο.
καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐς ποταμὸν ἁλιμυρήεντα μεθῆκεν,
ἂψ δʼ ἔφερεν μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον, αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἰνὼ
δέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν· ὁ δʼ ἐκ ποταμοῖο λιασθεὶς
σχοίνῳ ὑπεκλίνθη, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
πρόσθε δέ οἱ ποίησε γαλήνην, τὸν δʼ ἐσάωσεν
ἐς ποταμοῦ προχοάς. ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄμφω γούνατʼ ἔκαμψε
χεῖράς τε στιβαράς. ἁλὶ γὰρ δέδμητο φίλον κῆρ.
ᾤδεε δὲ χρόα πάντα, θάλασσα δὲ κήκιε πολλὴ
ἂν στόμα τε ῥῖνάς θʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄπνευστος καὶ ἄναυδος
κεῖτʼ ὀλιγηπελέων, κάματος δέ μιν αἰνὸς ἵκανεν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,
καὶ τότε δὴ κρήδεμνον ἀπὸ ἕο λῦσε θεοῖο.
καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐς ποταμὸν ἁλιμυρήεντα μεθῆκεν,
ἂψ δʼ ἔφερεν μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον, αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἰνὼ
δέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν· ὁ δʼ ἐκ ποταμοῖο λιασθεὶς
σχοίνῳ ὑπεκλίνθη, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
"Ah, what am I to suffer? What will become of me at the last?
If I keep watch through the wretched night by the river,
I fear the bitter frost together with the soft dew
may overcome me altogether in my weakness, my spirit gasping;
and a cold breeze blows from the river before the dawn.
But if I climb the slope into the shadowy wood
and lie down in the thick brush, in the hope that the chill
and my weariness may let go of me and sweet sleep come on,
I fear I may become spoil and prey for wild beasts."
If I keep watch through the wretched night by the river,
I fear the bitter frost together with the soft dew
may overcome me altogether in my weakness, my spirit gasping;
and a cold breeze blows from the river before the dawn.
But if I climb the slope into the shadowy wood
and lie down in the thick brush, in the hope that the chill
and my weariness may let go of me and sweet sleep come on,
I fear I may become spoil and prey for wild beasts."
ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τί πάθω; τί νύ μοι μήκιστα γένηται;
εἰ μέν κʼ ἐν ποταμῷ δυσκηδέα νύκτα φυλάσσω,
μή μʼ ἄμυδις στίβη τε κακὴ καὶ θῆλυς ἐέρση
ἐξ ὀλιγηπελίης δαμάσῃ κεκαφηότα θυμόν·
αὔρη δʼ ἐκ ποταμοῦ ψυχρὴ πνέει ἠῶθι πρό.
εἰ δέ κεν ἐς κλιτὺν ἀναβὰς καὶ δάσκιον ὕλην
θάμνοις ἐν πυκινοῖσι καταδράθω, εἴ με μεθείη
ῥῖγος καὶ κάματος, γλυκερὸς δέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπέλθῃ,
δείδω, μὴ θήρεσσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γένωμαι.
εἰ μέν κʼ ἐν ποταμῷ δυσκηδέα νύκτα φυλάσσω,
μή μʼ ἄμυδις στίβη τε κακὴ καὶ θῆλυς ἐέρση
ἐξ ὀλιγηπελίης δαμάσῃ κεκαφηότα θυμόν·
αὔρη δʼ ἐκ ποταμοῦ ψυχρὴ πνέει ἠῶθι πρό.
εἰ δέ κεν ἐς κλιτὺν ἀναβὰς καὶ δάσκιον ὕλην
θάμνοις ἐν πυκινοῖσι καταδράθω, εἴ με μεθείη
ῥῖγος καὶ κάματος, γλυκερὸς δέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπέλθῃ,
δείδω, μὴ θήρεσσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γένωμαι.
As he thought about it, this seemed to him the better course.
He went off into the wood, and found it near the water
in a clearing; and he crept under a double bush,
grown from one stem, one of thorn and one of olive.
Neither the force of the wet winds could blow through them,
nor did the shining sun ever strike them with its rays,
nor did the rain come through them; so thickly
they grew into one another, interlaced. Under these Odysseus
crept. And at once he heaped himself a bed with his own hands,
a wide one; for there was a drift of leaves in great plenty,
enough to shelter two men or three
in the winter season, however hard the weather.
Long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad when he saw it,
and lay down in the middle, and heaped the drift of leaves over him.
As when a man hides a brand under the black embers
at the edge of the country, where he has no neighbours near,
saving the seed of fire, so as not to have to kindle it from elsewhere,
so Odysseus covered himself with leaves. And Athena
poured sleep upon his eyes, to end as quickly as she could
his painful weariness, and closed his eyelids over.
He went off into the wood, and found it near the water
in a clearing; and he crept under a double bush,
grown from one stem, one of thorn and one of olive.
Neither the force of the wet winds could blow through them,
nor did the shining sun ever strike them with its rays,
nor did the rain come through them; so thickly
they grew into one another, interlaced. Under these Odysseus
crept. And at once he heaped himself a bed with his own hands,
a wide one; for there was a drift of leaves in great plenty,
enough to shelter two men or three
in the winter season, however hard the weather.
Long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad when he saw it,
and lay down in the middle, and heaped the drift of leaves over him.
As when a man hides a brand under the black embers
at the edge of the country, where he has no neighbours near,
saving the seed of fire, so as not to have to kindle it from elsewhere,
so Odysseus covered himself with leaves. And Athena
poured sleep upon his eyes, to end as quickly as she could
his painful weariness, and closed his eyelids over.
ὣς ἄρα οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν εἰς ὕλην· τὴν δὲ σχεδὸν ὕδατος εὗρεν
ἐν περιφαινομένῳ· δοιοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπήλυθε θάμνους,
ἐξ ὁμόθεν πεφυῶτας· ὁ μὲν φυλίης, ὁ δʼ ἐλαίης.
τοὺς μὲν ἄρʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμων διάη μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,
οὔτε ποτʼ ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,
οὔτʼ ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές· ὣς ἄρα πυκνοὶ
ἀλλήλοισιν ἔφυν ἐπαμοιβαδίς· οὓς ὑπʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
δύσετʼ. ἄφαρ δʼ εὐνὴν ἐπαμήσατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν
εὐρεῖαν· φύλλων γὰρ ἔην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή,
ὅσσον τʼ ἠὲ δύω ἠὲ τρεῖς ἄνδρας ἔρυσθαι
ὥρῃ χειμερίῃ, εἰ καὶ μάλα περ χαλεπαίνοι.
τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἐν δʼ ἄρα μέσσῃ λέκτο, χύσιν δʼ ἐπεχεύατο φύλλων.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις δαλὸν σποδιῇ ἐνέκρυψε μελαίνῃ
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ᾧ μὴ πάρα γείτονες ἄλλοι,
σπέρμα πυρὸς σώζων, ἵνα μή ποθεν ἄλλοθεν αὔοι,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς φύλλοισι καλύψατο· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη
ὕπνον ἐπʼ ὄμμασι χεῦʼ, ἵνα μιν παύσειε τάχιστα
δυσπονέος καμάτοιο φίλα βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψας.
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν εἰς ὕλην· τὴν δὲ σχεδὸν ὕδατος εὗρεν
ἐν περιφαινομένῳ· δοιοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπήλυθε θάμνους,
ἐξ ὁμόθεν πεφυῶτας· ὁ μὲν φυλίης, ὁ δʼ ἐλαίης.
τοὺς μὲν ἄρʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμων διάη μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,
οὔτε ποτʼ ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,
οὔτʼ ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές· ὣς ἄρα πυκνοὶ
ἀλλήλοισιν ἔφυν ἐπαμοιβαδίς· οὓς ὑπʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
δύσετʼ. ἄφαρ δʼ εὐνὴν ἐπαμήσατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν
εὐρεῖαν· φύλλων γὰρ ἔην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή,
ὅσσον τʼ ἠὲ δύω ἠὲ τρεῖς ἄνδρας ἔρυσθαι
ὥρῃ χειμερίῃ, εἰ καὶ μάλα περ χαλεπαίνοι.
τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἐν δʼ ἄρα μέσσῃ λέκτο, χύσιν δʼ ἐπεχεύατο φύλλων.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις δαλὸν σποδιῇ ἐνέκρυψε μελαίνῃ
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ᾧ μὴ πάρα γείτονες ἄλλοι,
σπέρμα πυρὸς σώζων, ἵνα μή ποθεν ἄλλοθεν αὔοι,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς φύλλοισι καλύψατο· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη
ὕπνον ἐπʼ ὄμμασι χεῦʼ, ἵνα μιν παύσειε τάχιστα
δυσπονέος καμάτοιο φίλα βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψας.
Book 6
Nausicaa. The princess comes to the river to wash the linen, her maids' ball-game wakes the castaway, and Odysseus — all tact and desperation — wins clothing, food, and directions to her father's palace.
So there he slept, long-suffering noble Odysseus,
worn out with sleep and weariness; but Athena
went to the land and the city of the Phaeacian men,
who once long ago used to live in spacious Hypereia,
near the Cyclopes, arrogant men,
who used to plunder them, and were stronger in force.
From there Nausithous, godlike in form, raised them up and led them away,
and settled them in Scheria, far from men who live by bread,
and ran a wall about the city, and built houses,
and made temples of the gods, and divided out the ploughland.
But he had already been broken by fate and gone down to Hades,
and Alcinous ruled then, knowing counsels from the gods.
To his house went the goddess, grey-eyed Athena,
devising the homecoming of high-hearted Odysseus.
She went into the richly-wrought chamber, in which a girl
was sleeping, like the immortals in stature and in form,
Nausicaa, daughter of high-hearted Alcinous,
and beside her two handmaids, with beauty from the Graces,
one at either doorpost; and the shining doors were shut.
But she rushed like a breath of wind to the girl’s bed,
and stood above her head, and spoke a word to her,
in the likeness of the daughter of Dymas, famed for ships,
who was of an age with her, and dear to her spirit.
Likened to her, grey-eyed Athena spoke to her:
worn out with sleep and weariness; but Athena
went to the land and the city of the Phaeacian men,
who once long ago used to live in spacious Hypereia,
near the Cyclopes, arrogant men,
who used to plunder them, and were stronger in force.
From there Nausithous, godlike in form, raised them up and led them away,
and settled them in Scheria, far from men who live by bread,
and ran a wall about the city, and built houses,
and made temples of the gods, and divided out the ploughland.
But he had already been broken by fate and gone down to Hades,
and Alcinous ruled then, knowing counsels from the gods.
To his house went the goddess, grey-eyed Athena,
devising the homecoming of high-hearted Odysseus.
She went into the richly-wrought chamber, in which a girl
was sleeping, like the immortals in stature and in form,
Nausicaa, daughter of high-hearted Alcinous,
and beside her two handmaids, with beauty from the Graces,
one at either doorpost; and the shining doors were shut.
But she rushed like a breath of wind to the girl’s bed,
and stood above her head, and spoke a word to her,
in the likeness of the daughter of Dymas, famed for ships,
who was of an age with her, and dear to her spirit.
Likened to her, grey-eyed Athena spoke to her:
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθεῦδε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὕπνῳ καὶ καμάτῳ ἀρημένος· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
βῆ ῥʼ ἐς Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,
οἳ πρὶν μέν ποτʼ ἔναιον ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ὑπερείῃ,
ἀγχοῦ Κυκλώπων ἀνδρῶν ὑπερηνορεόντων,
οἵ σφεας σινέσκοντο, βίηφι δὲ φέρτεροι ἦσαν.
ἔνθεν ἀναστήσας ἄγε Ναυσίθοος θεοειδής,
εἷσεν δὲ Σχερίῃ, ἑκὰς ἀνδρῶν ἀλφηστάων,
ἀμφὶ δὲ τεῖχος ἔλασσε πόλει, καὶ ἐδείματο οἴκους,
καὶ νηοὺς ποίησε θεῶν, καὶ ἐδάσσατʼ ἀρούρας.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κηρὶ δαμεὶς Ἄϊδόσδε βεβήκει,
Ἀλκίνοος δὲ τότʼ ἦρχε, θεῶν ἄπο μήδεα εἰδώς.
τοῦ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον πολυδαίδαλον, ᾧ ἔνι κούρη
κοιμᾶτʼ ἀθανάτῃσι φυὴν καὶ εἶδος ὁμοίη,
Ναυσικάα, θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
πὰρ δὲ δύʼ ἀμφίπολοι, Χαρίτων ἄπο κάλλος ἔχουσαι,
σταθμοῖιν ἑκάτερθε· θύραι δʼ ἐπέκειντο φαειναί.
ἡ δʼ ἀνέμου ὡς πνοιὴ ἐπέσσυτο δέμνια κούρης,
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν,
εἰδομένη κούρῃ ναυσικλειτοῖο Δύμαντος,
ἥ οἱ ὁμηλικίη μὲν ἔην, κεχάριστο δὲ θυμῷ.
τῇ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
ὕπνῳ καὶ καμάτῳ ἀρημένος· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
βῆ ῥʼ ἐς Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,
οἳ πρὶν μέν ποτʼ ἔναιον ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ὑπερείῃ,
ἀγχοῦ Κυκλώπων ἀνδρῶν ὑπερηνορεόντων,
οἵ σφεας σινέσκοντο, βίηφι δὲ φέρτεροι ἦσαν.
ἔνθεν ἀναστήσας ἄγε Ναυσίθοος θεοειδής,
εἷσεν δὲ Σχερίῃ, ἑκὰς ἀνδρῶν ἀλφηστάων,
ἀμφὶ δὲ τεῖχος ἔλασσε πόλει, καὶ ἐδείματο οἴκους,
καὶ νηοὺς ποίησε θεῶν, καὶ ἐδάσσατʼ ἀρούρας.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κηρὶ δαμεὶς Ἄϊδόσδε βεβήκει,
Ἀλκίνοος δὲ τότʼ ἦρχε, θεῶν ἄπο μήδεα εἰδώς.
τοῦ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον πολυδαίδαλον, ᾧ ἔνι κούρη
κοιμᾶτʼ ἀθανάτῃσι φυὴν καὶ εἶδος ὁμοίη,
Ναυσικάα, θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
πὰρ δὲ δύʼ ἀμφίπολοι, Χαρίτων ἄπο κάλλος ἔχουσαι,
σταθμοῖιν ἑκάτερθε· θύραι δʼ ἐπέκειντο φαειναί.
ἡ δʼ ἀνέμου ὡς πνοιὴ ἐπέσσυτο δέμνια κούρης,
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν,
εἰδομένη κούρῃ ναυσικλειτοῖο Δύμαντος,
ἥ οἱ ὁμηλικίη μὲν ἔην, κεχάριστο δὲ θυμῷ.
τῇ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Nausicaa, how did your mother bear you so heedless?
Your shining clothes lie there uncared for,
and your marriage is near, when you must yourself wear
fine things and give others to those who lead you away.
For out of such things a good report goes up
among men, and father and lady mother rejoice.
But let us go washing as soon as the dawn shows;
and I will go along as your fellow worker, so that you may make ready
as quickly as may be, since you will not long be unwed;
for already the best men through the whole land
of all the Phaeacians are wooing you, where your own descent is.
But come, urge your famous father before dawn
to make ready the mules and the cart, to carry
the girdles and the robes and the shining coverlets.
And it is far better for you to go so than on foot;
for the washing-pools are a long way from the city."
So saying, grey-eyed Athena went away
to Olympus, where they say the seat of the gods stands
unshaken for ever. It is not shaken by winds, nor ever
wet with rain, and no snow comes near it, but a clear sky
spreads cloudless, and a white radiance runs over it;
in it the blessed gods take their pleasure all their days.
There the grey-eyed one went, when she had made all clear to the girl.
At once Dawn came on her fair throne, and woke
Nausicaa of the fair robes; and she marvelled at once at the dream,
and went through the house to tell it to her parents,
her dear father and her mother; and she found them inside:
her mother sat at the hearth with her handmaid women,
turning the sea-purple yarn on the distaff; and she met her father
as he went out of the door to join the famous kings
in council, where the proud Phaeacians were calling him.
She stood very close to her dear father and spoke to him:
Your shining clothes lie there uncared for,
and your marriage is near, when you must yourself wear
fine things and give others to those who lead you away.
For out of such things a good report goes up
among men, and father and lady mother rejoice.
But let us go washing as soon as the dawn shows;
and I will go along as your fellow worker, so that you may make ready
as quickly as may be, since you will not long be unwed;
for already the best men through the whole land
of all the Phaeacians are wooing you, where your own descent is.
But come, urge your famous father before dawn
to make ready the mules and the cart, to carry
the girdles and the robes and the shining coverlets.
And it is far better for you to go so than on foot;
for the washing-pools are a long way from the city."
So saying, grey-eyed Athena went away
to Olympus, where they say the seat of the gods stands
unshaken for ever. It is not shaken by winds, nor ever
wet with rain, and no snow comes near it, but a clear sky
spreads cloudless, and a white radiance runs over it;
in it the blessed gods take their pleasure all their days.
There the grey-eyed one went, when she had made all clear to the girl.
At once Dawn came on her fair throne, and woke
Nausicaa of the fair robes; and she marvelled at once at the dream,
and went through the house to tell it to her parents,
her dear father and her mother; and she found them inside:
her mother sat at the hearth with her handmaid women,
turning the sea-purple yarn on the distaff; and she met her father
as he went out of the door to join the famous kings
in council, where the proud Phaeacians were calling him.
She stood very close to her dear father and spoke to him:
Ναυσικάα, τί νύ σʼ ὧδε μεθήμονα γείνατο μήτηρ;
εἵματα μέν τοι κεῖται ἀκηδέα σιγαλόεντα,
σοὶ δὲ γάμος σχεδόν ἐστιν, ἵνα χρὴ καλὰ μὲν αὐτὴν
ἕννυσθαι, τὰ δὲ τοῖσι παρασχεῖν, οἵ κέ σʼ ἄγωνται.
ἐκ γάρ τοι τούτων φάτις ἀνθρώπους ἀναβαίνει
ἐσθλή, χαίρουσιν δὲ πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν πλυνέουσαι ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι·
καί τοι ἐγὼ συνέριθος ἅμʼ ἕψομαι, ὄφρα τάχιστα
ἐντύνεαι, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔτι δὴν παρθένος ἔσσεαι·
ἤδη γάρ σε μνῶνται ἀριστῆες κατὰ δῆμον
πάντων Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι γένος ἐστὶ καὶ αὐτῇ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐπότρυνον πατέρα κλυτὸν ἠῶθι πρὸ
ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐφοπλίσαι, ἥ κεν ἄγῃσι
ζῶστρά τε καὶ πέπλους καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα.
καὶ δὲ σοὶ ὧδʼ αὐτῇ πολὺ κάλλιον ἠὲ πόδεσσιν
ἔρχεσθαι· πολλὸν γὰρ ἀπὸ πλυνοί εἰσι πόληος.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
Οὔλυμπόνδʼ, ὅθι φασὶ θεῶν ἕδος ἀσφαλὲς αἰεὶ
ἔμμεναι. οὔτʼ ἀνέμοισι τινάσσεται οὔτε ποτʼ ὄμβρῳ
δεύεται οὔτε χιὼν ἐπιπίλναται, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἴθρη
πέπταται ἀνέφελος, λευκὴ δʼ ἐπιδέδρομεν αἴγλη·
τῷ ἔνι τέρπονται μάκαρες θεοὶ ἤματα πάντα.
ἔνθʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε κούρῃ.
αὐτίκα δʼ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐύθρονος, ἥ μιν ἔγειρε
Ναυσικάαν ἐύπεπλον· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀπεθαύμασʼ ὄνειρον,
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι διὰ δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀγγείλειε τοκεῦσιν,
πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητρί· κιχήσατο δʼ ἔνδον ἐόντας·
ἡ μὲν ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἧστο σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσʼ ἁλιπόρφυρα· τῷ δὲ θύραζε
ἐρχομένῳ ξύμβλητο μετὰ κλειτοὺς βασιλῆας
ἐς βουλήν, ἵνα μιν κάλεον Φαίηκες ἀγαυοί.
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἄγχι στᾶσα φίλον πατέρα προσέειπε·
εἵματα μέν τοι κεῖται ἀκηδέα σιγαλόεντα,
σοὶ δὲ γάμος σχεδόν ἐστιν, ἵνα χρὴ καλὰ μὲν αὐτὴν
ἕννυσθαι, τὰ δὲ τοῖσι παρασχεῖν, οἵ κέ σʼ ἄγωνται.
ἐκ γάρ τοι τούτων φάτις ἀνθρώπους ἀναβαίνει
ἐσθλή, χαίρουσιν δὲ πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν πλυνέουσαι ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι·
καί τοι ἐγὼ συνέριθος ἅμʼ ἕψομαι, ὄφρα τάχιστα
ἐντύνεαι, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔτι δὴν παρθένος ἔσσεαι·
ἤδη γάρ σε μνῶνται ἀριστῆες κατὰ δῆμον
πάντων Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι γένος ἐστὶ καὶ αὐτῇ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐπότρυνον πατέρα κλυτὸν ἠῶθι πρὸ
ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν ἐφοπλίσαι, ἥ κεν ἄγῃσι
ζῶστρά τε καὶ πέπλους καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα.
καὶ δὲ σοὶ ὧδʼ αὐτῇ πολὺ κάλλιον ἠὲ πόδεσσιν
ἔρχεσθαι· πολλὸν γὰρ ἀπὸ πλυνοί εἰσι πόληος.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
Οὔλυμπόνδʼ, ὅθι φασὶ θεῶν ἕδος ἀσφαλὲς αἰεὶ
ἔμμεναι. οὔτʼ ἀνέμοισι τινάσσεται οὔτε ποτʼ ὄμβρῳ
δεύεται οὔτε χιὼν ἐπιπίλναται, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἴθρη
πέπταται ἀνέφελος, λευκὴ δʼ ἐπιδέδρομεν αἴγλη·
τῷ ἔνι τέρπονται μάκαρες θεοὶ ἤματα πάντα.
ἔνθʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε κούρῃ.
αὐτίκα δʼ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐύθρονος, ἥ μιν ἔγειρε
Ναυσικάαν ἐύπεπλον· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀπεθαύμασʼ ὄνειρον,
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι διὰ δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀγγείλειε τοκεῦσιν,
πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητρί· κιχήσατο δʼ ἔνδον ἐόντας·
ἡ μὲν ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἧστο σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσʼ ἁλιπόρφυρα· τῷ δὲ θύραζε
ἐρχομένῳ ξύμβλητο μετὰ κλειτοὺς βασιλῆας
ἐς βουλήν, ἵνα μιν κάλεον Φαίηκες ἀγαυοί.
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἄγχι στᾶσα φίλον πατέρα προσέειπε·
"Dear papa, will you not get ready for me the wagon,
the high one with the good wheels, so that I may carry the fine clothes
to the river to wash, which lie soiled for me?
And it is fitting for you yourself, when you are among the foremost
debating counsels, to have clean clothes on your body.
And you have five sons born to you in the halls,
two of them married, and three unwed and in their flower;
and they always want to have freshly washed clothes on them
when they go to the dance; and all this is my care."
the high one with the good wheels, so that I may carry the fine clothes
to the river to wash, which lie soiled for me?
And it is fitting for you yourself, when you are among the foremost
debating counsels, to have clean clothes on your body.
And you have five sons born to you in the halls,
two of them married, and three unwed and in their flower;
and they always want to have freshly washed clothes on them
when they go to the dance; and all this is my care."
πάππα φίλʼ, οὐκ ἂν δή μοι ἐφοπλίσσειας ἀπήνην
ὑψηλὴν ἐύκυκλον, ἵνα κλυτὰ εἵματʼ ἄγωμαι
ἐς ποταμὸν πλυνέουσα, τά μοι ῥερυπωμένα κεῖται;
καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ ἔοικε μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἐόντα
βουλὰς βουλεύειν καθαρὰ χροΐ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.
πέντε δέ τοι φίλοι υἷες ἐνὶ μεγάροις γεγάασιν,
οἱ δύʼ ὀπυίοντες, τρεῖς δʼ ἠίθεοι θαλέθοντες·
οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ ἐθέλουσι νεόπλυτα εἵματʼ ἔχοντες
ἐς χορὸν ἔρχεσθαι· τὰ δʼ ἐμῇ φρενὶ πάντα μέμηλεν.
ὑψηλὴν ἐύκυκλον, ἵνα κλυτὰ εἵματʼ ἄγωμαι
ἐς ποταμὸν πλυνέουσα, τά μοι ῥερυπωμένα κεῖται;
καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ ἔοικε μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἐόντα
βουλὰς βουλεύειν καθαρὰ χροΐ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.
πέντε δέ τοι φίλοι υἷες ἐνὶ μεγάροις γεγάασιν,
οἱ δύʼ ὀπυίοντες, τρεῖς δʼ ἠίθεοι θαλέθοντες·
οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ ἐθέλουσι νεόπλυτα εἵματʼ ἔχοντες
ἐς χορὸν ἔρχεσθαι· τὰ δʼ ἐμῇ φρενὶ πάντα μέμηλεν.
So she spoke; for she was ashamed to name her own ripe marriage
to her dear father. But he understood it all, and answered her:
to her dear father. But he understood it all, and answered her:
ὣς ἔφατʼ· αἴδετο γὰρ θαλερὸν γάμον ἐξονομῆναι
πατρὶ φίλῳ. ὁ δὲ πάντα νόει καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
πατρὶ φίλῳ. ὁ δὲ πάντα νόει καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
"I do not grudge you the mules, child, nor anything else.
Go; and the servants will make the wagon ready for you,
the high one with the good wheels, fitted with a body above."
Go; and the servants will make the wagon ready for you,
the high one with the good wheels, fitted with a body above."
οὔτε τοι ἡμιόνων φθονέω, τέκος, οὔτε τευ ἄλλου.
ἔρχευ· ἀτάρ τοι δμῶες ἐφοπλίσσουσιν ἀπήνην
ὑψηλὴν ἐύκυκλον, ὑπερτερίῃ ἀραρυῖαν.
ἔρχευ· ἀτάρ τοι δμῶες ἐφοπλίσσουσιν ἀπήνην
ὑψηλὴν ἐύκυκλον, ὑπερτερίῃ ἀραρυῖαν.
So saying he called to the servants, and they obeyed.
Outside they made ready the smooth-running mule cart,
and led the mules up and yoked them under the wagon;
and the girl brought the shining clothing out of the chamber.
She laid it down on the polished wagon,
and her mother put food in a basket, to her heart’s content,
of every kind, and put in meats, and poured wine
into a goatskin bag; and the girl mounted the wagon.
Her mother gave her soft olive oil in a golden flask,
so that she might anoint herself with her handmaid women.
She took the whip and the shining reins,
and lashed them to go; and there was a clatter of the mules.
They strained without stopping, and carried the clothing and herself,
not alone: the other handmaids went along with her.
And when they came to the very beautiful stream of the river,
where the washing-pools stood, never failing, and plenty of fine water
welled up from beneath, enough to clean even the foulest things,
there they loosed the mules out from under the wagon.
And they drove them along the eddying river
to graze on the honey-sweet grass; and they took the clothes
from the wagon in their hands and carried them into the dark water,
and trod them quickly in the trenches, making a contest of it.
But when they had washed and cleaned away all the dirt,
they spread them out in order along the sea’s shore, where most
the sea washed the pebbles clean against the dry land.
Then they bathed and anointed themselves richly with oil,
and afterwards took their meal on the banks of the river,
and waited for the clothes to dry in the sun’s brightness.
But when she and the serving-women had had their fill of food,
they threw off their veils and played with a ball;
and white-armed Nausicaa led them in the song.
As Artemis the shooter of arrows goes down the mountains,
either down the long ridge of Taygetus or Erymanthus,
taking her pleasure in boars and swift deer;
and with her the nymphs, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus,
who haunt the fields, play, and Leto is glad at heart;
and she holds her head and her brows above them all,
and is easily known, though they are all beautiful;
so the unwedded girl stood out among her handmaids.
But when she was about to go back home again,
having yoked the mules and folded the fine clothes,
then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else,
so that Odysseus might wake and see the fair-faced girl,
who would lead him to the city of the Phaeacian men.
Then the princess threw the ball to one of her handmaids;
she missed the handmaid, and cast it into a deep eddy;
and they gave a long cry. And noble Odysseus woke,
and sitting up he pondered in his mind and in his spirit:
"Ah me, to the land of what mortals have I come now?
Outside they made ready the smooth-running mule cart,
and led the mules up and yoked them under the wagon;
and the girl brought the shining clothing out of the chamber.
She laid it down on the polished wagon,
and her mother put food in a basket, to her heart’s content,
of every kind, and put in meats, and poured wine
into a goatskin bag; and the girl mounted the wagon.
Her mother gave her soft olive oil in a golden flask,
so that she might anoint herself with her handmaid women.
She took the whip and the shining reins,
and lashed them to go; and there was a clatter of the mules.
They strained without stopping, and carried the clothing and herself,
not alone: the other handmaids went along with her.
And when they came to the very beautiful stream of the river,
where the washing-pools stood, never failing, and plenty of fine water
welled up from beneath, enough to clean even the foulest things,
there they loosed the mules out from under the wagon.
And they drove them along the eddying river
to graze on the honey-sweet grass; and they took the clothes
from the wagon in their hands and carried them into the dark water,
and trod them quickly in the trenches, making a contest of it.
But when they had washed and cleaned away all the dirt,
they spread them out in order along the sea’s shore, where most
the sea washed the pebbles clean against the dry land.
Then they bathed and anointed themselves richly with oil,
and afterwards took their meal on the banks of the river,
and waited for the clothes to dry in the sun’s brightness.
But when she and the serving-women had had their fill of food,
they threw off their veils and played with a ball;
and white-armed Nausicaa led them in the song.
As Artemis the shooter of arrows goes down the mountains,
either down the long ridge of Taygetus or Erymanthus,
taking her pleasure in boars and swift deer;
and with her the nymphs, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus,
who haunt the fields, play, and Leto is glad at heart;
and she holds her head and her brows above them all,
and is easily known, though they are all beautiful;
so the unwedded girl stood out among her handmaids.
But when she was about to go back home again,
having yoked the mules and folded the fine clothes,
then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else,
so that Odysseus might wake and see the fair-faced girl,
who would lead him to the city of the Phaeacian men.
Then the princess threw the ball to one of her handmaids;
she missed the handmaid, and cast it into a deep eddy;
and they gave a long cry. And noble Odysseus woke,
and sitting up he pondered in his mind and in his spirit:
"Ah me, to the land of what mortals have I come now?
ὣς εἰπὼν δμώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο, τοὶ δʼ ἐπίθοντο.
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐκτὸς ἄμαξαν ἐύτροχον ἡμιονείην
ὥπλεον, ἡμιόνους θʼ ὕπαγον ζεῦξάν θʼ ὑπʼ ἀπήνῃ·
κούρη δʼ ἐκ θαλάμοιο φέρεν ἐσθῆτα φαεινήν.
καὶ τὴν μὲν κατέθηκεν ἐυξέστῳ ἐπʼ ἀπήνῃ,
μήτηρ δʼ ἐν κίστῃ ἐτίθει μενοεικέʼ ἐδωδὴν
παντοίην, ἐν δʼ ὄψα τίθει, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευεν
ἀσκῷ ἐν αἰγείῳ· κούρη δʼ ἐπεβήσετʼ ἀπήνης.
δῶκεν δὲ χρυσέῃ ἐν ληκύθῳ ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον,
ἧος χυτλώσαιτο σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.
ἡ δʼ ἔλαβεν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν· καναχὴ δʼ ἦν ἡμιόνοιιν.
αἱ δʼ ἄμοτον τανύοντο, φέρον δʼ ἐσθῆτα καὶ αὐτήν,
οὐκ οἴην, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι κίον ἄλλαι.
αἱ δʼ ὅτε δὴ ποταμοῖο ῥόον περικαλλέʼ ἵκοντο,
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι πλυνοὶ ἦσαν ἐπηετανοί, πολὺ δʼ ὕδωρ
καλὸν ὑπεκπρόρεεν μάλα περ ῥυπόωντα καθῆραι,
ἔνθʼ αἵ γʼ ἡμιόνους μὲν ὑπεκπροέλυσαν ἀπήνης.
καὶ τὰς μὲν σεῦαν ποταμὸν πάρα δινήεντα
τρώγειν ἄγρωστιν μελιηδέα· ταὶ δʼ ἀπʼ ἀπήνης
εἵματα χερσὶν ἕλοντο καὶ ἐσφόρεον μέλαν ὕδωρ,
στεῖβον δʼ ἐν βόθροισι θοῶς ἔριδα προφέρουσαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πλῦνάν τε κάθηράν τε ῥύπα πάντα,
ἑξείης πέτασαν παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλός, ἧχι μάλιστα
λάιγγας ποτὶ χέρσον ἀποπλύνεσκε θάλασσα.
αἱ δὲ λοεσσάμεναι καὶ χρισάμεναι λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ
δεῖπνον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο παρʼ ὄχθῃσιν ποταμοῖο,
εἵματα δʼ ἠελίοιο μένον τερσήμεναι αὐγῇ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτου τάρφθεν δμῳαί τε καὶ αὐτή,
σφαίρῃ ταὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπαιζον, ἀπὸ κρήδεμνα βαλοῦσαι·
τῇσι δὲ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μολπῆς.
οἵη δʼ Ἄρτεμις εἶσι κατʼ οὔρεα ἰοχέαιρα,
ἢ κατὰ Τηΰγετον περιμήκετον ἢ Ἐρύμανθον,
τερπομένη κάπροισι καὶ ὠκείῃς ἐλάφοισι·
τῇ δέ θʼ ἅμα νύμφαι, κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
ἀγρονόμοι παίζουσι, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα Λητώ·
πασάων δʼ ὑπὲρ ἥ γε κάρη ἔχει ἠδὲ μέτωπα,
ῥεῖά τʼ ἀριγνώτη πέλεται, καλαὶ δέ τε πᾶσαι·
ὣς ἥ γʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι μετέπρεπε παρθένος ἀδμής.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πάλιν οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι
ζεύξασʼ ἡμιόνους πτύξασά τε εἵματα καλά,
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ὡς Ὀδυσεὺς ἔγροιτο, ἴδοι τʼ ἐυώπιδα κούρην,
ἥ οἱ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν ἡγήσαιτο.
σφαῖραν ἔπειτʼ ἔρριψε μετʼ ἀμφίπολον βασίλεια·
ἀμφιπόλου μὲν ἅμαρτε, βαθείῃ δʼ ἔμβαλε δίνῃ·
αἱ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄυσαν· ὁ δʼ ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·
ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τέων αὖτε βροτῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἱκάνω;
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐκτὸς ἄμαξαν ἐύτροχον ἡμιονείην
ὥπλεον, ἡμιόνους θʼ ὕπαγον ζεῦξάν θʼ ὑπʼ ἀπήνῃ·
κούρη δʼ ἐκ θαλάμοιο φέρεν ἐσθῆτα φαεινήν.
καὶ τὴν μὲν κατέθηκεν ἐυξέστῳ ἐπʼ ἀπήνῃ,
μήτηρ δʼ ἐν κίστῃ ἐτίθει μενοεικέʼ ἐδωδὴν
παντοίην, ἐν δʼ ὄψα τίθει, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευεν
ἀσκῷ ἐν αἰγείῳ· κούρη δʼ ἐπεβήσετʼ ἀπήνης.
δῶκεν δὲ χρυσέῃ ἐν ληκύθῳ ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον,
ἧος χυτλώσαιτο σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.
ἡ δʼ ἔλαβεν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν· καναχὴ δʼ ἦν ἡμιόνοιιν.
αἱ δʼ ἄμοτον τανύοντο, φέρον δʼ ἐσθῆτα καὶ αὐτήν,
οὐκ οἴην, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι κίον ἄλλαι.
αἱ δʼ ὅτε δὴ ποταμοῖο ῥόον περικαλλέʼ ἵκοντο,
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι πλυνοὶ ἦσαν ἐπηετανοί, πολὺ δʼ ὕδωρ
καλὸν ὑπεκπρόρεεν μάλα περ ῥυπόωντα καθῆραι,
ἔνθʼ αἵ γʼ ἡμιόνους μὲν ὑπεκπροέλυσαν ἀπήνης.
καὶ τὰς μὲν σεῦαν ποταμὸν πάρα δινήεντα
τρώγειν ἄγρωστιν μελιηδέα· ταὶ δʼ ἀπʼ ἀπήνης
εἵματα χερσὶν ἕλοντο καὶ ἐσφόρεον μέλαν ὕδωρ,
στεῖβον δʼ ἐν βόθροισι θοῶς ἔριδα προφέρουσαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πλῦνάν τε κάθηράν τε ῥύπα πάντα,
ἑξείης πέτασαν παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλός, ἧχι μάλιστα
λάιγγας ποτὶ χέρσον ἀποπλύνεσκε θάλασσα.
αἱ δὲ λοεσσάμεναι καὶ χρισάμεναι λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ
δεῖπνον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο παρʼ ὄχθῃσιν ποταμοῖο,
εἵματα δʼ ἠελίοιο μένον τερσήμεναι αὐγῇ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτου τάρφθεν δμῳαί τε καὶ αὐτή,
σφαίρῃ ταὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπαιζον, ἀπὸ κρήδεμνα βαλοῦσαι·
τῇσι δὲ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μολπῆς.
οἵη δʼ Ἄρτεμις εἶσι κατʼ οὔρεα ἰοχέαιρα,
ἢ κατὰ Τηΰγετον περιμήκετον ἢ Ἐρύμανθον,
τερπομένη κάπροισι καὶ ὠκείῃς ἐλάφοισι·
τῇ δέ θʼ ἅμα νύμφαι, κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
ἀγρονόμοι παίζουσι, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα Λητώ·
πασάων δʼ ὑπὲρ ἥ γε κάρη ἔχει ἠδὲ μέτωπα,
ῥεῖά τʼ ἀριγνώτη πέλεται, καλαὶ δέ τε πᾶσαι·
ὣς ἥ γʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι μετέπρεπε παρθένος ἀδμής.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πάλιν οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι
ζεύξασʼ ἡμιόνους πτύξασά τε εἵματα καλά,
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
ὡς Ὀδυσεὺς ἔγροιτο, ἴδοι τʼ ἐυώπιδα κούρην,
ἥ οἱ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν ἡγήσαιτο.
σφαῖραν ἔπειτʼ ἔρριψε μετʼ ἀμφίπολον βασίλεια·
ἀμφιπόλου μὲν ἅμαρτε, βαθείῃ δʼ ἔμβαλε δίνῃ·
αἱ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄυσαν· ὁ δʼ ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·
ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τέων αὖτε βροτῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἱκάνω;
"Are they violent men, and savage, and without justice,
or do they love guests, and is their mind godfearing?
A woman’s cry came round me, of girls —
of nymphs, who hold the steep peaks of the mountains
and the springs of rivers and the grassy meadows.
Or am I now somewhere near men of human speech?
But come, I will make trial myself and see."
or do they love guests, and is their mind godfearing?
A woman’s cry came round me, of girls —
of nymphs, who hold the steep peaks of the mountains
and the springs of rivers and the grassy meadows.
Or am I now somewhere near men of human speech?
But come, I will make trial myself and see."
ἦ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,
ἦε φιλόξεινοι καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής;
ὥς τέ με κουράων ἀμφήλυθε θῆλυς ἀυτή·
νυμφάων, αἳ ἔχουσʼ ὀρέων αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα
καὶ πηγὰς ποταμῶν καὶ πίσεα ποιήεντα.
ἦ νύ που ἀνθρώπων εἰμὶ σχεδὸν αὐδηέντων;
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς πειρήσομαι ἠδὲ ἴδωμαι.
ἦε φιλόξεινοι καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής;
ὥς τέ με κουράων ἀμφήλυθε θῆλυς ἀυτή·
νυμφάων, αἳ ἔχουσʼ ὀρέων αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα
καὶ πηγὰς ποταμῶν καὶ πίσεα ποιήεντα.
ἦ νύ που ἀνθρώπων εἰμὶ σχεδὸν αὐδηέντων;
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς πειρήσομαι ἠδὲ ἴδωμαι.
So saying, noble Odysseus crept out from under the bushes,
and with his stout hand broke from the close wood a branch
of leaves, to screen the man’s parts about his body.
He went like a mountain-bred lion trusting in his strength,
who goes out rained upon and blown upon, and his eyes
blaze; and he goes after the cattle or the sheep
or after the wild deer; and his belly drives him
to go even into a close-built fold to make trial of the flocks;
so Odysseus was about to go among the fair-haired girls,
naked though he was; for need had come upon him.
He appeared terrible to them, fouled with brine,
and they fled in fear, one this way, one that, over the jutting spits of shore.
Only the daughter of Alcinous stayed; for Athena
put courage in her mind and took the fear out of her limbs.
She stood and faced him; and Odysseus debated
whether to take the fair-faced girl by the knees and beg her,
or to beg her just so, standing off, with soft words,
to show him the city and give him clothes.
and with his stout hand broke from the close wood a branch
of leaves, to screen the man’s parts about his body.
He went like a mountain-bred lion trusting in his strength,
who goes out rained upon and blown upon, and his eyes
blaze; and he goes after the cattle or the sheep
or after the wild deer; and his belly drives him
to go even into a close-built fold to make trial of the flocks;
so Odysseus was about to go among the fair-haired girls,
naked though he was; for need had come upon him.
He appeared terrible to them, fouled with brine,
and they fled in fear, one this way, one that, over the jutting spits of shore.
Only the daughter of Alcinous stayed; for Athena
put courage in her mind and took the fear out of her limbs.
She stood and faced him; and Odysseus debated
whether to take the fair-faced girl by the knees and beg her,
or to beg her just so, standing off, with soft words,
to show him the city and give him clothes.
ὣς εἰπὼν θάμνων ὑπεδύσετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἐκ πυκινῆς δʼ ὕλης πτόρθον κλάσε χειρὶ παχείῃ
φύλλων, ὡς ῥύσαιτο περὶ χροῒ μήδεα φωτός.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,
ὅς τʼ εἶσʼ ὑόμενος καὶ ἀήμενος, ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δαίεται· αὐτὰρ ὁ βουσὶ μετέρχεται ἢ ὀίεσσιν
ἠὲ μετʼ ἀγροτέρας ἐλάφους· κέλεται δέ ἑ γαστὴρ
μήλων πειρήσοντα καὶ ἐς πυκινὸν δόμον ἐλθεῖν·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κούρῃσιν ἐυπλοκάμοισιν ἔμελλε
μίξεσθαι, γυμνός περ ἐών· χρειὼ γὰρ ἵκανε.
σμερδαλέος δʼ αὐτῇσι φάνη κεκακωμένος ἅλμῃ,
τρέσσαν δʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλη ἐπʼ ἠιόνας προὐχούσας·
οἴη δʼ Ἀλκινόου θυγάτηρ μένε· τῇ γὰρ Ἀθήνη
θάρσος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε καὶ ἐκ δέος εἵλετο γυίων.
στῆ δʼ ἄντα σχομένη· ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἢ γούνων λίσσοιτο λαβὼν ἐυώπιδα κούρην,
ἦ αὔτως ἐπέεσσιν ἀποσταδὰ μειλιχίοισι
λίσσοιτʼ, εἰ δείξειε πόλιν καὶ εἵματα δοίη.
ἐκ πυκινῆς δʼ ὕλης πτόρθον κλάσε χειρὶ παχείῃ
φύλλων, ὡς ῥύσαιτο περὶ χροῒ μήδεα φωτός.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,
ὅς τʼ εἶσʼ ὑόμενος καὶ ἀήμενος, ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δαίεται· αὐτὰρ ὁ βουσὶ μετέρχεται ἢ ὀίεσσιν
ἠὲ μετʼ ἀγροτέρας ἐλάφους· κέλεται δέ ἑ γαστὴρ
μήλων πειρήσοντα καὶ ἐς πυκινὸν δόμον ἐλθεῖν·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κούρῃσιν ἐυπλοκάμοισιν ἔμελλε
μίξεσθαι, γυμνός περ ἐών· χρειὼ γὰρ ἵκανε.
σμερδαλέος δʼ αὐτῇσι φάνη κεκακωμένος ἅλμῃ,
τρέσσαν δʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλη ἐπʼ ἠιόνας προὐχούσας·
οἴη δʼ Ἀλκινόου θυγάτηρ μένε· τῇ γὰρ Ἀθήνη
θάρσος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε καὶ ἐκ δέος εἵλετο γυίων.
στῆ δʼ ἄντα σχομένη· ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἢ γούνων λίσσοιτο λαβὼν ἐυώπιδα κούρην,
ἦ αὔτως ἐπέεσσιν ἀποσταδὰ μειλιχίοισι
λίσσοιτʼ, εἰ δείξειε πόλιν καὶ εἵματα δοίη.
And as he thought about it, this seemed to him the better course,
to beg her standing off, with soft words,
so that the girl might not be angered in her heart if he took her knees.
At once he spoke a soft and crafty word:
"I clasp your knees, my lady: are you some god, or a mortal?
If you are one of the gods who hold the wide heaven,
then I liken you most nearly to Artemis, daughter of great Zeus,
in form and in stature and in build;
but if you are one of the mortals who live upon the earth,
then three times blessed are your father and your lady mother,
and three times blessed your brothers; surely their spirit
is always warmed with gladness on your account,
when they see such a young shoot going into the dance.
But that man is blessed in his heart beyond all others
who wins you with his bride-gifts and leads you home.
For never yet have I seen such a mortal with my eyes,
neither man nor woman; awe holds me as I look at you.
Once in Delos, beside the altar of Apollo, I saw
such a thing: a young sapling of a palm coming up;
for I went there too, and a great host followed me,
on that journey which was to bring me evil cares.
In the same way, when I saw that, I was struck with wonder in my spirit
a long while, since no such tree had ever come up out of the earth;
so at you, lady, I wonder and am amazed, and I dread terribly
to touch your knees; but hard grief is upon me.
Yesterday, on the twentieth day, I escaped the wine-dark sea;
all that while the wave and the rushing storm-winds carried me
from the island of Ogygia. Now a divine power has cast me down here,
so that here too I may suffer some evil; for I do not think
it will stop, but the gods will accomplish much more first.
But pity me, my lady; for after suffering many evils
it is to you first that I have come, and I know none of the others,
of the men who hold this city and this land.
Show me the town, and give me a rag to throw around me,
if you had some wrapping for the clothes when you came here.
And may the gods give you all that you desire in your heart:
a husband and a house, and may they grant you oneness of mind
as a good thing; for there is nothing stronger or better than this,
when a man and a woman keep house together
of one mind in their thoughts: many pains for their enemies,
and joys for their friends; and they themselves know it best."
Then white-armed Nausicaa answered him in turn:
to beg her standing off, with soft words,
so that the girl might not be angered in her heart if he took her knees.
At once he spoke a soft and crafty word:
"I clasp your knees, my lady: are you some god, or a mortal?
If you are one of the gods who hold the wide heaven,
then I liken you most nearly to Artemis, daughter of great Zeus,
in form and in stature and in build;
but if you are one of the mortals who live upon the earth,
then three times blessed are your father and your lady mother,
and three times blessed your brothers; surely their spirit
is always warmed with gladness on your account,
when they see such a young shoot going into the dance.
But that man is blessed in his heart beyond all others
who wins you with his bride-gifts and leads you home.
For never yet have I seen such a mortal with my eyes,
neither man nor woman; awe holds me as I look at you.
Once in Delos, beside the altar of Apollo, I saw
such a thing: a young sapling of a palm coming up;
for I went there too, and a great host followed me,
on that journey which was to bring me evil cares.
In the same way, when I saw that, I was struck with wonder in my spirit
a long while, since no such tree had ever come up out of the earth;
so at you, lady, I wonder and am amazed, and I dread terribly
to touch your knees; but hard grief is upon me.
Yesterday, on the twentieth day, I escaped the wine-dark sea;
all that while the wave and the rushing storm-winds carried me
from the island of Ogygia. Now a divine power has cast me down here,
so that here too I may suffer some evil; for I do not think
it will stop, but the gods will accomplish much more first.
But pity me, my lady; for after suffering many evils
it is to you first that I have come, and I know none of the others,
of the men who hold this city and this land.
Show me the town, and give me a rag to throw around me,
if you had some wrapping for the clothes when you came here.
And may the gods give you all that you desire in your heart:
a husband and a house, and may they grant you oneness of mind
as a good thing; for there is nothing stronger or better than this,
when a man and a woman keep house together
of one mind in their thoughts: many pains for their enemies,
and joys for their friends; and they themselves know it best."
Then white-armed Nausicaa answered him in turn:
ὣς ἄρα οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
λίσσεσθαι ἐπέεσσιν ἀποσταδὰ μειλιχίοισι,
μή οἱ γοῦνα λαβόντι χολώσαιτο φρένα κούρη.
αὐτίκα μειλίχιον καὶ κερδαλέον φάτο μῦθον.
γουνοῦμαί σε, ἄνασσα· θεός νύ τις, ἦ βροτός ἐσσι;
εἰ μέν τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
Ἀρτέμιδί σε ἐγώ γε, Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τʼ ἄγχιστα ἐίσκω·
εἰ δέ τίς ἐσσι βροτῶν, τοὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ ναιετάουσιν,
τρὶς μάκαρες μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ,
τρὶς μάκαρες δὲ κασίγνητοι· μάλα πού σφισι θυμὸς
αἰὲν ἐυφροσύνῃσιν ἰαίνεται εἵνεκα σεῖο,
λευσσόντων τοιόνδε θάλος χορὸν εἰσοιχνεῦσαν.
κεῖνος δʼ αὖ περὶ κῆρι μακάρτατος ἔξοχον ἄλλων,
ὅς κέ σʼ ἐέδνοισι βρίσας οἶκόνδʼ ἀγάγηται.
οὐ γάρ πω τοιοῦτον ἴδον βροτὸν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
οὔτʼ ἄνδρʼ οὔτε γυναῖκα· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
Δήλῳ δή ποτε τοῖον Ἀπόλλωνος παρὰ βωμῷ
φοίνικος νέον ἔρνος ἀνερχόμενον ἐνόησα·
ἦλθον γὰρ καὶ κεῖσε, πολὺς δέ μοι ἕσπετο λαός,
τὴν ὁδὸν ᾗ δὴ μέλλεν ἐμοὶ κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔσεσθαι.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως καὶ κεῖνο ἰδὼν ἐτεθήπεα θυμῷ
δήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω τοῖον ἀνήλυθεν ἐκ δόρυ γαίης,
ὡς σέ, γύναι, ἄγαμαί τε τέθηπά τε, δείδια δʼ αἰνῶς
γούνων ἅψασθαι· χαλεπὸν δέ με πένθος ἱκάνει.
χθιζὸς ἐεικοστῷ φύγον ἤματι οἴνοπα πόντον·
τόφρα δέ μʼ αἰεὶ κῦμʼ ἐφόρει κραιπναί τε θύελλαι
νήσου ἀπʼ Ὠγυγίης. νῦν δʼ ἐνθάδε κάββαλε δαίμων,
ὄφρʼ ἔτι που καὶ τῇδε πάθω κακόν· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
παύσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔτι πολλὰ θεοὶ τελέουσι πάροιθεν.
ἀλλά, ἄνασσʼ, ἐλέαιρε· σὲ γὰρ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
ἐς πρώτην ἱκόμην, τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τινα οἶδα
ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν.
ἄστυ δέ μοι δεῖξον, δὸς δὲ ῥάκος ἀμφιβαλέσθαι,
εἴ τί που εἴλυμα σπείρων ἔχες ἐνθάδʼ ἰοῦσα.
σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τόσα δοῖεν ὅσα φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς,
ἄνδρα τε καὶ οἶκον, καὶ ὁμοφροσύνην ὀπάσειαν
ἐσθλήν· οὐ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ γε κρεῖσσον καὶ ἄρειον,
ἢ ὅθʼ ὁμοφρονέοντε νοήμασιν οἶκον ἔχητον
ἀνὴρ ἠδὲ γυνή· πόλλʼ ἄλγεα δυσμενέεσσι,
χάρματα δʼ εὐμενέτῃσι, μάλιστα δέ τʼ ἔκλυον αὐτοί.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
λίσσεσθαι ἐπέεσσιν ἀποσταδὰ μειλιχίοισι,
μή οἱ γοῦνα λαβόντι χολώσαιτο φρένα κούρη.
αὐτίκα μειλίχιον καὶ κερδαλέον φάτο μῦθον.
γουνοῦμαί σε, ἄνασσα· θεός νύ τις, ἦ βροτός ἐσσι;
εἰ μέν τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
Ἀρτέμιδί σε ἐγώ γε, Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τʼ ἄγχιστα ἐίσκω·
εἰ δέ τίς ἐσσι βροτῶν, τοὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ ναιετάουσιν,
τρὶς μάκαρες μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ,
τρὶς μάκαρες δὲ κασίγνητοι· μάλα πού σφισι θυμὸς
αἰὲν ἐυφροσύνῃσιν ἰαίνεται εἵνεκα σεῖο,
λευσσόντων τοιόνδε θάλος χορὸν εἰσοιχνεῦσαν.
κεῖνος δʼ αὖ περὶ κῆρι μακάρτατος ἔξοχον ἄλλων,
ὅς κέ σʼ ἐέδνοισι βρίσας οἶκόνδʼ ἀγάγηται.
οὐ γάρ πω τοιοῦτον ἴδον βροτὸν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
οὔτʼ ἄνδρʼ οὔτε γυναῖκα· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
Δήλῳ δή ποτε τοῖον Ἀπόλλωνος παρὰ βωμῷ
φοίνικος νέον ἔρνος ἀνερχόμενον ἐνόησα·
ἦλθον γὰρ καὶ κεῖσε, πολὺς δέ μοι ἕσπετο λαός,
τὴν ὁδὸν ᾗ δὴ μέλλεν ἐμοὶ κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔσεσθαι.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως καὶ κεῖνο ἰδὼν ἐτεθήπεα θυμῷ
δήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω τοῖον ἀνήλυθεν ἐκ δόρυ γαίης,
ὡς σέ, γύναι, ἄγαμαί τε τέθηπά τε, δείδια δʼ αἰνῶς
γούνων ἅψασθαι· χαλεπὸν δέ με πένθος ἱκάνει.
χθιζὸς ἐεικοστῷ φύγον ἤματι οἴνοπα πόντον·
τόφρα δέ μʼ αἰεὶ κῦμʼ ἐφόρει κραιπναί τε θύελλαι
νήσου ἀπʼ Ὠγυγίης. νῦν δʼ ἐνθάδε κάββαλε δαίμων,
ὄφρʼ ἔτι που καὶ τῇδε πάθω κακόν· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
παύσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔτι πολλὰ θεοὶ τελέουσι πάροιθεν.
ἀλλά, ἄνασσʼ, ἐλέαιρε· σὲ γὰρ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
ἐς πρώτην ἱκόμην, τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τινα οἶδα
ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν.
ἄστυ δέ μοι δεῖξον, δὸς δὲ ῥάκος ἀμφιβαλέσθαι,
εἴ τί που εἴλυμα σπείρων ἔχες ἐνθάδʼ ἰοῦσα.
σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τόσα δοῖεν ὅσα φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς,
ἄνδρα τε καὶ οἶκον, καὶ ὁμοφροσύνην ὀπάσειαν
ἐσθλήν· οὐ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ γε κρεῖσσον καὶ ἄρειον,
ἢ ὅθʼ ὁμοφρονέοντε νοήμασιν οἶκον ἔχητον
ἀνὴρ ἠδὲ γυνή· πόλλʼ ἄλγεα δυσμενέεσσι,
χάρματα δʼ εὐμενέτῃσι, μάλιστα δέ τʼ ἔκλυον αὐτοί.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Stranger, since you seem neither a base man nor a foolish one —
Olympian Zeus himself deals out prosperity to men,
to the good and to the bad, to each as he wills;
and it must be he who gave you this, and you must endure it all the same.
But now, since you have come to our city and our land,
you shall not want for clothing, nor for anything else
that a hard-tried suppliant should have when he meets us.
I will show you the town, and I will tell you the name of the people.
The Phaeacians hold this city and this land,
and I am the daughter of high-hearted Alcinous,
on whom the strength and the force of the Phaeacians depend."
Olympian Zeus himself deals out prosperity to men,
to the good and to the bad, to each as he wills;
and it must be he who gave you this, and you must endure it all the same.
But now, since you have come to our city and our land,
you shall not want for clothing, nor for anything else
that a hard-tried suppliant should have when he meets us.
I will show you the town, and I will tell you the name of the people.
The Phaeacians hold this city and this land,
and I am the daughter of high-hearted Alcinous,
on whom the strength and the force of the Phaeacians depend."
ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔτε κακῷ οὔτʼ ἄφρονι φωτὶ ἔοικας·
Ζεὺς δʼ αὐτὸς νέμει ὄλβον Ὀλύμπιος ἀνθρώποισιν,
ἐσθλοῖς ἠδὲ κακοῖσιν, ὅπως ἐθέλῃσιν, ἑκάστῳ·
καί που σοὶ τάδʼ ἔδωκε, σὲ δὲ χρὴ τετλάμεν ἔμπης.
νῦν δʼ, ἐπεὶ ἡμετέρην τε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἱκάνεις,
οὔτʼ οὖν ἐσθῆτος δευήσεαι οὔτε τευ ἄλλου,
ὧν ἐπέοιχʼ ἱκέτην ταλαπείριον ἀντιάσαντα.
ἄστυ δέ τοι δείξω, ἐρέω δέ τοι οὔνομα λαῶν.
Φαίηκες μὲν τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν,
εἰμὶ δʼ ἐγὼ θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
τοῦ δʼ ἐκ Φαιήκων ἔχεται κάρτος τε βίη τε.
Ζεὺς δʼ αὐτὸς νέμει ὄλβον Ὀλύμπιος ἀνθρώποισιν,
ἐσθλοῖς ἠδὲ κακοῖσιν, ὅπως ἐθέλῃσιν, ἑκάστῳ·
καί που σοὶ τάδʼ ἔδωκε, σὲ δὲ χρὴ τετλάμεν ἔμπης.
νῦν δʼ, ἐπεὶ ἡμετέρην τε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἱκάνεις,
οὔτʼ οὖν ἐσθῆτος δευήσεαι οὔτε τευ ἄλλου,
ὧν ἐπέοιχʼ ἱκέτην ταλαπείριον ἀντιάσαντα.
ἄστυ δέ τοι δείξω, ἐρέω δέ τοι οὔνομα λαῶν.
Φαίηκες μὲν τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν,
εἰμὶ δʼ ἐγὼ θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
τοῦ δʼ ἐκ Φαιήκων ἔχεται κάρτος τε βίη τε.
She spoke, and gave orders to her fair-haired handmaids:
"Stand still for me, handmaids. Where are you running, at the sight of a man?
Surely you do not think that he is one of our enemies?
There is no living man, nor shall there be,
who could come to the land of the Phaeacian men
bringing war; for we are very dear to the immortals.
We live far off in the much-surging sea,
at the world’s end, and no other mortals have dealings with us.
But this is some unlucky man come here in his wandering,
and we must care for him now; for from Zeus come all
strangers and beggars, and a gift is small but welcome.
Come, handmaids, give the stranger food and drink,
and bathe him in the river, where there is shelter from the wind."
"Stand still for me, handmaids. Where are you running, at the sight of a man?
Surely you do not think that he is one of our enemies?
There is no living man, nor shall there be,
who could come to the land of the Phaeacian men
bringing war; for we are very dear to the immortals.
We live far off in the much-surging sea,
at the world’s end, and no other mortals have dealings with us.
But this is some unlucky man come here in his wandering,
and we must care for him now; for from Zeus come all
strangers and beggars, and a gift is small but welcome.
Come, handmaids, give the stranger food and drink,
and bathe him in the river, where there is shelter from the wind."
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἐυπλοκάμοισι κέλευσε·
στῆτέ μοι, ἀμφίπολοι· πόσε φεύγετε φῶτα ἰδοῦσαι;
ἦ μή πού τινα δυσμενέων φάσθʼ ἔμμεναι ἀνδρῶν;
οὐκ ἔσθʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ διερὸς βροτὸς οὐδὲ γένηται,
ὅς κεν Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἵκηται
δηιοτῆτα φέρων· μάλα γὰρ φίλοι ἀθανάτοισιν.
οἰκέομεν δʼ ἀπάνευθε πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ,
ἔσχατοι, οὐδέ τις ἄμμι βροτῶν ἐπιμίσγεται ἄλλος.
ἀλλʼ ὅδε τις δύστηνος ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνει,
τὸν νῦν χρὴ κομέειν· πρὸς γὰρ Διός εἰσιν ἅπαντες
ξεῖνοί τε πτωχοί τε, δόσις δʼ ὀλίγη τε φίλη τε.
ἀλλὰ δότʼ, ἀμφίπολοι, ξείνῳ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε,
λούσατέ τʼ ἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθʼ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἔστʼ ἀνέμοιο.
στῆτέ μοι, ἀμφίπολοι· πόσε φεύγετε φῶτα ἰδοῦσαι;
ἦ μή πού τινα δυσμενέων φάσθʼ ἔμμεναι ἀνδρῶν;
οὐκ ἔσθʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ διερὸς βροτὸς οὐδὲ γένηται,
ὅς κεν Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἵκηται
δηιοτῆτα φέρων· μάλα γὰρ φίλοι ἀθανάτοισιν.
οἰκέομεν δʼ ἀπάνευθε πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ,
ἔσχατοι, οὐδέ τις ἄμμι βροτῶν ἐπιμίσγεται ἄλλος.
ἀλλʼ ὅδε τις δύστηνος ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνει,
τὸν νῦν χρὴ κομέειν· πρὸς γὰρ Διός εἰσιν ἅπαντες
ξεῖνοί τε πτωχοί τε, δόσις δʼ ὀλίγη τε φίλη τε.
ἀλλὰ δότʼ, ἀμφίπολοι, ξείνῳ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε,
λούσατέ τʼ ἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθʼ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἔστʼ ἀνέμοιο.
So she spoke, and they halted and called to one another,
and set Odysseus down in the shelter, as she had ordered,
Nausicaa, daughter of high-hearted Alcinous;
and they laid clothes beside him, a cloak and a tunic,
and gave him soft olive oil in the golden flask,
and told him to bathe in the streams of the river.
Then noble Odysseus spoke among the handmaids:
and set Odysseus down in the shelter, as she had ordered,
Nausicaa, daughter of high-hearted Alcinous;
and they laid clothes beside him, a cloak and a tunic,
and gave him soft olive oil in the golden flask,
and told him to bathe in the streams of the river.
Then noble Odysseus spoke among the handmaids:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δʼ ἔσταν τε καὶ ἀλλήλῃσι κέλευσαν,
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆʼ εἷσαν ἐπὶ σκέπας, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν
Ναυσικάα θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα οἱ φᾶρός τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἔθηκαν,
δῶκαν δὲ χρυσέῃ ἐν ληκύθῳ ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον,
ἤνωγον δʼ ἄρα μιν λοῦσθαι ποταμοῖο ῥοῇσιν.
δή ῥα τότʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι μετηύδα δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆʼ εἷσαν ἐπὶ σκέπας, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν
Ναυσικάα θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα οἱ φᾶρός τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἔθηκαν,
δῶκαν δὲ χρυσέῃ ἐν ληκύθῳ ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον,
ἤνωγον δʼ ἄρα μιν λοῦσθαι ποταμοῖο ῥοῇσιν.
δή ῥα τότʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι μετηύδα δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Handmaids, stand off there, at a distance, so that I myself
may wash the brine from my shoulders and anoint myself
with oil; for it is long since oil was on my skin.
But I will not bathe in front of you; for I am ashamed
to be naked among fair-haired girls."
may wash the brine from my shoulders and anoint myself
with oil; for it is long since oil was on my skin.
But I will not bathe in front of you; for I am ashamed
to be naked among fair-haired girls."
ἀμφίπολοι, στῆθʼ οὕτω ἀπόπροθεν, ὄφρʼ ἐγὼ αὐτὸς
ἅλμην ὤμοιιν ἀπολούσομαι, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἐλαίῳ
χρίσομαι· ἦ γὰρ δηρὸν ἀπὸ χροός ἐστιν ἀλοιφή.
ἄντην δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε λοέσσομαι· αἰδέομαι γὰρ
γυμνοῦσθαι κούρῃσιν ἐυπλοκάμοισι μετελθών.
ἅλμην ὤμοιιν ἀπολούσομαι, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἐλαίῳ
χρίσομαι· ἦ γὰρ δηρὸν ἀπὸ χροός ἐστιν ἀλοιφή.
ἄντην δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε λοέσσομαι· αἰδέομαι γὰρ
γυμνοῦσθαι κούρῃσιν ἐυπλοκάμοισι μετελθών.
So he spoke, and they went off apart, and told the girl.
But noble Odysseus washed his skin in the river,
clean of the brine that clothed his back and his broad shoulders,
and wiped from his head the scurf of the barren sea.
But when he had washed all of himself and anointed richly,
and put on the clothes the unwedded girl had given him,
then Athena, sprung from Zeus, made him
taller to look at and broader, and down from his head
she sent curling hair, like the hyacinth flower.
As when a skilled man pours gold over silver,
one whom Hephaestus and Pallas Athena have taught
every kind of craft, and he brings graceful works to completion,
But noble Odysseus washed his skin in the river,
clean of the brine that clothed his back and his broad shoulders,
and wiped from his head the scurf of the barren sea.
But when he had washed all of himself and anointed richly,
and put on the clothes the unwedded girl had given him,
then Athena, sprung from Zeus, made him
taller to look at and broader, and down from his head
she sent curling hair, like the hyacinth flower.
As when a skilled man pours gold over silver,
one whom Hephaestus and Pallas Athena have taught
every kind of craft, and he brings graceful works to completion,
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ἴσαν, εἶπον δʼ ἄρα κούρῃ.
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκ ποταμοῦ χρόα νίζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἅλμην, ἥ οἱ νῶτα καὶ εὐρέας ἄμπεχεν ὤμους,
ἐκ κεφαλῆς δʼ ἔσμηχεν ἁλὸς χνόον ἀτρυγέτοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα λοέσσατο καὶ λίπʼ ἄλειψεν,
ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσαθʼ ἅ οἱ πόρε παρθένος ἀδμής,
τὸν μὲν Ἀθηναίη θῆκεν Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα
μείζονά τʼ εἰσιδέειν καὶ πάσσονα, κὰδ δὲ κάρητος
οὔλας ἧκε κόμας, ὑακινθίνῳ ἄνθει ὁμοίας.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις χρυσὸν περιχεύεται ἀργύρῳ ἀνὴρ
ἴδρις, ὃν Ἥφαιστος δέδαεν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
τέχνην παντοίην, χαρίεντα δὲ ἔργα τελείει,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκ ποταμοῦ χρόα νίζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἅλμην, ἥ οἱ νῶτα καὶ εὐρέας ἄμπεχεν ὤμους,
ἐκ κεφαλῆς δʼ ἔσμηχεν ἁλὸς χνόον ἀτρυγέτοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα λοέσσατο καὶ λίπʼ ἄλειψεν,
ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσαθʼ ἅ οἱ πόρε παρθένος ἀδμής,
τὸν μὲν Ἀθηναίη θῆκεν Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα
μείζονά τʼ εἰσιδέειν καὶ πάσσονα, κὰδ δὲ κάρητος
οὔλας ἧκε κόμας, ὑακινθίνῳ ἄνθει ὁμοίας.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις χρυσὸν περιχεύεται ἀργύρῳ ἀνὴρ
ἴδρις, ὃν Ἥφαιστος δέδαεν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
τέχνην παντοίην, χαρίεντα δὲ ἔργα τελείει,
so she poured grace over his head and his shoulders.
Then he went apart and sat down on the shore of the sea,
shining with beauty and grace; and the girl gazed at him.
Then she spoke among her fair-haired handmaids:
Then he went apart and sat down on the shore of the sea,
shining with beauty and grace; and the girl gazed at him.
Then she spoke among her fair-haired handmaids:
ὣς ἄρα τῷ κατέχευε χάριν κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ὤμοις.
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
κάλλεϊ καὶ χάρισι στίλβων· θηεῖτο δὲ κούρη.
δή ῥα τότʼ ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἐυπλοκάμοισι μετηύδα·
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
κάλλεϊ καὶ χάρισι στίλβων· θηεῖτο δὲ κούρη.
δή ῥα τότʼ ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἐυπλοκάμοισι μετηύδα·
"Hear me, white-armed handmaids, so that I may say something.
It is not against the will of all the gods who hold Olympus
that this man has come among the godlike Phaeacians.
Before, he seemed to me an unseemly thing to look at,
but now he is like the gods who hold the wide heaven.
Would that such a man might be called my husband,
living here, and that it might please him to stay here.
But come, handmaids, give the stranger food and drink."
It is not against the will of all the gods who hold Olympus
that this man has come among the godlike Phaeacians.
Before, he seemed to me an unseemly thing to look at,
but now he is like the gods who hold the wide heaven.
Would that such a man might be called my husband,
living here, and that it might please him to stay here.
But come, handmaids, give the stranger food and drink."
κλῦτέ μευ, ἀμφίπολοι λευκώλενοι, ὄφρα τι εἴπω.
οὐ πάντων ἀέκητι θεῶν, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,
Φαιήκεσσʼ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ ἐπιμίσγεται ἀντιθέοισι·
πρόσθεν μὲν γὰρ δή μοι ἀεικέλιος δέατʼ εἶναι,
νῦν δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔοικε, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.
αἲ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοιόσδε πόσις κεκλημένος εἴη
ἐνθάδε ναιετάων, καί οἱ ἅδοι αὐτόθι μίμνειν.
ἀλλὰ δότʼ, ἀμφίπολοι, ξείνῳ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε.
οὐ πάντων ἀέκητι θεῶν, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,
Φαιήκεσσʼ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ ἐπιμίσγεται ἀντιθέοισι·
πρόσθεν μὲν γὰρ δή μοι ἀεικέλιος δέατʼ εἶναι,
νῦν δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔοικε, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.
αἲ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοιόσδε πόσις κεκλημένος εἴη
ἐνθάδε ναιετάων, καί οἱ ἅδοι αὐτόθι μίμνειν.
ἀλλὰ δότʼ, ἀμφίπολοι, ξείνῳ βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε.
So she spoke, and they heard her well and obeyed,
and set food and drink beside Odysseus.
and set food and drink beside Odysseus.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δʼ ἄρα τῆς μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο,
πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆι ἔθεσαν βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε.
πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆι ἔθεσαν βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε.
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus drank and ate
greedily; for he had long been without taste of food.
But white-armed Nausicaa thought of something else:
she folded the clothes and laid them on the fine wagon,
and yoked the strong-hoofed mules, and mounted herself,
and urged Odysseus on, and spoke a word and called him by name:
greedily; for he had long been without taste of food.
But white-armed Nausicaa thought of something else:
she folded the clothes and laid them on the fine wagon,
and yoked the strong-hoofed mules, and mounted herself,
and urged Odysseus on, and spoke a word and called him by name:
ἦ τοι ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἁρπαλέως· δηρὸν γὰρ ἐδητύος ἦεν ἄπαστος.
αὐτὰρ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἄλλʼ ἐνόησεν·
εἵματʼ ἄρα πτύξασα τίθει καλῆς ἐπʼ ἀπήνης,
ζεῦξεν δʼ ἡμιόνους κρατερώνυχας, ἂν δʼ ἔβη αὐτή,
ὤτρυνεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
ἁρπαλέως· δηρὸν γὰρ ἐδητύος ἦεν ἄπαστος.
αὐτὰρ Ναυσικάα λευκώλενος ἄλλʼ ἐνόησεν·
εἵματʼ ἄρα πτύξασα τίθει καλῆς ἐπʼ ἀπήνης,
ζεῦξεν δʼ ἡμιόνους κρατερώνυχας, ἂν δʼ ἔβη αὐτή,
ὤτρυνεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Rouse yourself now, stranger, to go to the city, so that I may send you
to the house of my warlike-minded father, where I say
you will come to know all the best of the Phaeacians.
But do just as I say; you do not seem to me to be without sense.
While we are going through the fields and the works of men,
come with the handmaids behind the mules and the cart,
quickly; and I will lead the way.
But when we are about to set foot in the city, around which runs
a high wall, and there is a fine harbour on either side of the town,
and the entrance is narrow, and the curved ships line the road,
drawn up; for every man has his own berth.
There is their meeting-place, around the fine precinct of Poseidon,
fitted with quarried stones set deep in the ground.
There they see to the tackle of the black ships,
the cables and the sails, and there they shave down the oars.
For the Phaeacians care nothing for bow or quiver,
but for masts and oars of ships and the balanced ships,
in which they exult as they cross the grey sea.
It is their bitter talk that I would avoid, in case someone afterwards
should find fault; and there are very overweening men among the people.
Some baser man might meet us and say:
’Who is this fine tall stranger following Nausicaa?
Where did she find him? He will be a husband for her, I suppose.
Perhaps she has taken in some wanderer from his ship,
one of the men from far away, since there are none near us;
or some god she prayed much to has come down to her
out of heaven, and will keep her all her days.
Better so, if she has gone out herself and found a husband
elsewhere; for she does dishonour the Phaeacians here
among her own people, who woo her, many and noble.’
So they will speak, and these would be reproaches to me.
And I myself would blame another girl who did such things,
who, against the will of her dear father and mother, while they live,
went among men before coming to an open marriage.
Stranger, take in my word quickly, so that as soon as may be
you may get escort and homecoming from my father.
You will find a shining grove of Athena near the road,
a grove of poplars; a spring flows in it, and a meadow lies round it.
There is my father’s precinct and his flourishing orchard,
as far from the city as a man’s shout carries.
Sit down there and wait a while, until we
have gone to the town and reached my father’s house.
But when you think that we have got home,
then go into the city of the Phaeacians and ask
for the house of my father, high-hearted Alcinous.
It is easily known, and even a witless child
could lead you; for the houses of the Phaeacians are not built
at all like it, such as the house of the hero
Alcinous is. But when the house and the court have hidden you,
go very quickly through the hall until you come
to my mother; she sits at the hearth in the firelight,
turning the sea-purple yarn on the distaff, a wonder to see,
leaning against a pillar; and her serving-women sit behind her.
There my father’s chair is set close beside her,
and he sits on it drinking his wine like an immortal.
Pass him by, and throw your arms about my mother’s knees,
so that you may see the day of your homecoming
soon and with gladness, however far away your home may be.
If she is kindly disposed towards you in her spirit,
then there is hope for you to see your own people and to reach
your well-built house and your own native land."
to the house of my warlike-minded father, where I say
you will come to know all the best of the Phaeacians.
But do just as I say; you do not seem to me to be without sense.
While we are going through the fields and the works of men,
come with the handmaids behind the mules and the cart,
quickly; and I will lead the way.
But when we are about to set foot in the city, around which runs
a high wall, and there is a fine harbour on either side of the town,
and the entrance is narrow, and the curved ships line the road,
drawn up; for every man has his own berth.
There is their meeting-place, around the fine precinct of Poseidon,
fitted with quarried stones set deep in the ground.
There they see to the tackle of the black ships,
the cables and the sails, and there they shave down the oars.
For the Phaeacians care nothing for bow or quiver,
but for masts and oars of ships and the balanced ships,
in which they exult as they cross the grey sea.
It is their bitter talk that I would avoid, in case someone afterwards
should find fault; and there are very overweening men among the people.
Some baser man might meet us and say:
’Who is this fine tall stranger following Nausicaa?
Where did she find him? He will be a husband for her, I suppose.
Perhaps she has taken in some wanderer from his ship,
one of the men from far away, since there are none near us;
or some god she prayed much to has come down to her
out of heaven, and will keep her all her days.
Better so, if she has gone out herself and found a husband
elsewhere; for she does dishonour the Phaeacians here
among her own people, who woo her, many and noble.’
So they will speak, and these would be reproaches to me.
And I myself would blame another girl who did such things,
who, against the will of her dear father and mother, while they live,
went among men before coming to an open marriage.
Stranger, take in my word quickly, so that as soon as may be
you may get escort and homecoming from my father.
You will find a shining grove of Athena near the road,
a grove of poplars; a spring flows in it, and a meadow lies round it.
There is my father’s precinct and his flourishing orchard,
as far from the city as a man’s shout carries.
Sit down there and wait a while, until we
have gone to the town and reached my father’s house.
But when you think that we have got home,
then go into the city of the Phaeacians and ask
for the house of my father, high-hearted Alcinous.
It is easily known, and even a witless child
could lead you; for the houses of the Phaeacians are not built
at all like it, such as the house of the hero
Alcinous is. But when the house and the court have hidden you,
go very quickly through the hall until you come
to my mother; she sits at the hearth in the firelight,
turning the sea-purple yarn on the distaff, a wonder to see,
leaning against a pillar; and her serving-women sit behind her.
There my father’s chair is set close beside her,
and he sits on it drinking his wine like an immortal.
Pass him by, and throw your arms about my mother’s knees,
so that you may see the day of your homecoming
soon and with gladness, however far away your home may be.
If she is kindly disposed towards you in her spirit,
then there is hope for you to see your own people and to reach
your well-built house and your own native land."
ὄρσεο δὴ νῦν, ξεῖνε, πόλινδʼ ἴμεν ὄφρα σε πέμψω
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ πρὸς δῶμα δαΐφρονος, ἔνθα σέ φημι
πάντων Φαιήκων εἰδησέμεν ὅσσοι ἄριστοι.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρδειν, δοκέεις δέ μοι οὐκ ἀπινύσσειν·
ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κʼ ἀγροὺς ἴομεν καὶ ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων,
τόφρα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι μεθʼ ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν
καρπαλίμως ἔρχεσθαι· ἐγὼ δʼ ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πόλιος ἐπιβήομεν, ἣν πέρι πύργος
ὑψηλός, καλὸς δὲ λιμὴν ἑκάτερθε πόληος,
λεπτὴ δʼ εἰσίθμη· νῆες δʼ ὁδὸν ἀμφιέλισσαι
εἰρύαται· πᾶσιν γὰρ ἐπίστιόν ἐστιν ἑκάστῳ.
ἔνθα δέ τέ σφʼ ἀγορὴ καλὸν Ποσιδήιον ἀμφίς,
ῥυτοῖσιν λάεσσι κατωρυχέεσσʼ ἀραρυῖα.
ἔνθα δὲ νηῶν ὅπλα μελαινάων ἀλέγουσι,
πείσματα καὶ σπεῖρα, καὶ ἀποξύνουσιν ἐρετμά.
οὐ γὰρ Φαιήκεσσι μέλει βιὸς οὐδὲ φαρέτρη,
ἀλλʼ ἱστοὶ καὶ ἐρετμὰ νεῶν καὶ νῆες ἐῖσαι,
ᾗσιν ἀγαλλόμενοι πολιὴν περόωσι θάλασσαν.
τῶν ἀλεείνω φῆμιν ἀδευκέα, μή τις ὀπίσσω
μωμεύῃ· μάλα δʼ εἰσὶν ὑπερφίαλοι κατὰ δῆμον·
καί νύ τις ὧδʼ εἴπῃσι κακώτερος ἀντιβολήσας·
τίς δʼ ὅδε Ναυσικάᾳ ἕπεται καλός τε μέγας τε
ξεῖνος; ποῦ δέ μιν εὗρε; πόσις νύ οἱ ἔσσεται αὐτῇ.
ἦ τινά που πλαγχθέντα κομίσσατο ἧς ἀπὸ νηὸς
ἀνδρῶν τηλεδαπῶν, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινες ἐγγύθεν εἰσίν·
ἤ τίς οἱ εὐξαμένῃ πολυάρητος θεὸς ἦλθεν
οὐρανόθεν καταβάς, ἕξει δέ μιν ἤματα πάντα.
βέλτερον, εἰ καὐτή περ ἐποιχομένη πόσιν εὗρεν
ἄλλοθεν· ἦ γὰρ τούσδε γʼ ἀτιμάζει κατὰ δῆμον
Φαίηκας, τοί μιν μνῶνται πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.
ὣς ἐρέουσιν, ἐμοὶ δέ κʼ ὀνείδεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.
καὶ δʼ ἄλλῃ νεμεσῶ, ἥ τις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι,
ἥ τʼ ἀέκητι φίλων πατρὸς καὶ μητρὸς ἐόντων,
ἀνδράσι μίσγηται, πρίν γʼ ἀμφάδιον γάμον ἐλθεῖν.
ξεῖνε, σὺ δʼ ὦκʼ ἐμέθεν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὄφρα τάχιστα
πομπῆς καὶ νόστοιο τύχῃς παρὰ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο.
δήεις ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος Ἀθήνης ἄγχι κελεύθου
αἰγείρων· ἐν δὲ κρήνη νάει, ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμών·
ἔνθα δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῦ τέμενος τεθαλυῖά τʼ ἀλωή,
τόσσον ἀπὸ πτόλιος, ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας.
ἔνθα καθεζόμενος μεῖναι χρόνον, εἰς ὅ κεν ἡμεῖς
ἄστυδε ἔλθωμεν καὶ ἱκώμεθα δώματα πατρός.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἡμέας ἔλπῃ ποτὶ δώματʼ ἀφῖχθαι,
καὶ τότε Φαιήκων ἴμεν ἐς πόλιν ἠδʼ ἐρέεσθαι
δώματα πατρὸς ἐμοῦ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.
ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτʼ ἐστί, καὶ ἂν πάϊς ἡγήσαιτο
νήπιος· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι ἐοικότα τοῖσι τέτυκται
δώματα Φαιήκων, οἷος δόμος Ἀλκινόοιο
ἥρωος. ἀλλʼ ὁπότʼ ἄν σε δόμοι κεκύθωσι καὶ αὐλή,
ὦκα μάλα μεγάροιο διελθέμεν, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηαι
μητέρʼ ἐμήν· ἡ δʼ ἧσται ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν πυρὸς αὐγῇ,
ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσʼ ἁλιπόρφυρα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι,
κίονι κεκλιμένη· δμωαὶ δέ οἱ εἵατʼ ὄπισθεν.
ἔνθα δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο θρόνος ποτικέκλιται αὐτῇ,
τῷ ὅ γε οἰνοποτάζει ἐφήμενος ἀθάνατος ὥς.
τὸν παραμειψάμενος μητρὸς περὶ γούνασι χεῖρας
βάλλειν ἡμετέρης, ἵνα νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἴδηαι
χαίρων καρπαλίμως, εἰ καὶ μάλα τηλόθεν ἐσσί.
εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ πρὸς δῶμα δαΐφρονος, ἔνθα σέ φημι
πάντων Φαιήκων εἰδησέμεν ὅσσοι ἄριστοι.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὧδʼ ἔρδειν, δοκέεις δέ μοι οὐκ ἀπινύσσειν·
ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κʼ ἀγροὺς ἴομεν καὶ ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων,
τόφρα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι μεθʼ ἡμιόνους καὶ ἄμαξαν
καρπαλίμως ἔρχεσθαι· ἐγὼ δʼ ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πόλιος ἐπιβήομεν, ἣν πέρι πύργος
ὑψηλός, καλὸς δὲ λιμὴν ἑκάτερθε πόληος,
λεπτὴ δʼ εἰσίθμη· νῆες δʼ ὁδὸν ἀμφιέλισσαι
εἰρύαται· πᾶσιν γὰρ ἐπίστιόν ἐστιν ἑκάστῳ.
ἔνθα δέ τέ σφʼ ἀγορὴ καλὸν Ποσιδήιον ἀμφίς,
ῥυτοῖσιν λάεσσι κατωρυχέεσσʼ ἀραρυῖα.
ἔνθα δὲ νηῶν ὅπλα μελαινάων ἀλέγουσι,
πείσματα καὶ σπεῖρα, καὶ ἀποξύνουσιν ἐρετμά.
οὐ γὰρ Φαιήκεσσι μέλει βιὸς οὐδὲ φαρέτρη,
ἀλλʼ ἱστοὶ καὶ ἐρετμὰ νεῶν καὶ νῆες ἐῖσαι,
ᾗσιν ἀγαλλόμενοι πολιὴν περόωσι θάλασσαν.
τῶν ἀλεείνω φῆμιν ἀδευκέα, μή τις ὀπίσσω
μωμεύῃ· μάλα δʼ εἰσὶν ὑπερφίαλοι κατὰ δῆμον·
καί νύ τις ὧδʼ εἴπῃσι κακώτερος ἀντιβολήσας·
τίς δʼ ὅδε Ναυσικάᾳ ἕπεται καλός τε μέγας τε
ξεῖνος; ποῦ δέ μιν εὗρε; πόσις νύ οἱ ἔσσεται αὐτῇ.
ἦ τινά που πλαγχθέντα κομίσσατο ἧς ἀπὸ νηὸς
ἀνδρῶν τηλεδαπῶν, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινες ἐγγύθεν εἰσίν·
ἤ τίς οἱ εὐξαμένῃ πολυάρητος θεὸς ἦλθεν
οὐρανόθεν καταβάς, ἕξει δέ μιν ἤματα πάντα.
βέλτερον, εἰ καὐτή περ ἐποιχομένη πόσιν εὗρεν
ἄλλοθεν· ἦ γὰρ τούσδε γʼ ἀτιμάζει κατὰ δῆμον
Φαίηκας, τοί μιν μνῶνται πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.
ὣς ἐρέουσιν, ἐμοὶ δέ κʼ ὀνείδεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.
καὶ δʼ ἄλλῃ νεμεσῶ, ἥ τις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι,
ἥ τʼ ἀέκητι φίλων πατρὸς καὶ μητρὸς ἐόντων,
ἀνδράσι μίσγηται, πρίν γʼ ἀμφάδιον γάμον ἐλθεῖν.
ξεῖνε, σὺ δʼ ὦκʼ ἐμέθεν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὄφρα τάχιστα
πομπῆς καὶ νόστοιο τύχῃς παρὰ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο.
δήεις ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος Ἀθήνης ἄγχι κελεύθου
αἰγείρων· ἐν δὲ κρήνη νάει, ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμών·
ἔνθα δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῦ τέμενος τεθαλυῖά τʼ ἀλωή,
τόσσον ἀπὸ πτόλιος, ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας.
ἔνθα καθεζόμενος μεῖναι χρόνον, εἰς ὅ κεν ἡμεῖς
ἄστυδε ἔλθωμεν καὶ ἱκώμεθα δώματα πατρός.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἡμέας ἔλπῃ ποτὶ δώματʼ ἀφῖχθαι,
καὶ τότε Φαιήκων ἴμεν ἐς πόλιν ἠδʼ ἐρέεσθαι
δώματα πατρὸς ἐμοῦ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.
ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτʼ ἐστί, καὶ ἂν πάϊς ἡγήσαιτο
νήπιος· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι ἐοικότα τοῖσι τέτυκται
δώματα Φαιήκων, οἷος δόμος Ἀλκινόοιο
ἥρωος. ἀλλʼ ὁπότʼ ἄν σε δόμοι κεκύθωσι καὶ αὐλή,
ὦκα μάλα μεγάροιο διελθέμεν, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηαι
μητέρʼ ἐμήν· ἡ δʼ ἧσται ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν πυρὸς αὐγῇ,
ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσʼ ἁλιπόρφυρα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι,
κίονι κεκλιμένη· δμωαὶ δέ οἱ εἵατʼ ὄπισθεν.
ἔνθα δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο θρόνος ποτικέκλιται αὐτῇ,
τῷ ὅ γε οἰνοποτάζει ἐφήμενος ἀθάνατος ὥς.
τὸν παραμειψάμενος μητρὸς περὶ γούνασι χεῖρας
βάλλειν ἡμετέρης, ἵνα νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἴδηαι
χαίρων καρπαλίμως, εἰ καὶ μάλα τηλόθεν ἐσσί.
εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
So saying, she lashed the mules with the shining whip,
and they quickly left the streams of the river.
They trotted well and worked their feet well;
but she drove carefully, so that those on foot might keep up,
the handmaids and Odysseus, and she laid on the lash with judgment.
The sun went down, and they came to the famous grove,
the holy grove of Athena; and there noble Odysseus sat down.
At once he prayed to the daughter of great Zeus:
and they quickly left the streams of the river.
They trotted well and worked their feet well;
but she drove carefully, so that those on foot might keep up,
the handmaids and Odysseus, and she laid on the lash with judgment.
The sun went down, and they came to the famous grove,
the holy grove of Athena; and there noble Odysseus sat down.
At once he prayed to the daughter of great Zeus:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἵμασεν μάστιγι φαεινῇ
ἡμιόνους· αἱ δʼ ὦκα λίπον ποταμοῖο ῥέεθρα.
αἱ δʼ ἐὺ μὲν τρώχων, ἐὺ δὲ πλίσσοντο πόδεσσιν·
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἡνιόχευεν, ὅπως ἅμʼ ἑποίατο πεζοὶ
ἀμφίπολοί τʼ Ὀδυσεύς τε, νόῳ δʼ ἐπέβαλλεν ἱμάσθλην.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ τοὶ κλυτὸν ἄλσος ἵκοντο
ἱρὸν Ἀθηναίης, ἵνʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἠρᾶτο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο·
ἡμιόνους· αἱ δʼ ὦκα λίπον ποταμοῖο ῥέεθρα.
αἱ δʼ ἐὺ μὲν τρώχων, ἐὺ δὲ πλίσσοντο πόδεσσιν·
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἡνιόχευεν, ὅπως ἅμʼ ἑποίατο πεζοὶ
ἀμφίπολοί τʼ Ὀδυσεύς τε, νόῳ δʼ ἐπέβαλλεν ἱμάσθλην.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ τοὶ κλυτὸν ἄλσος ἵκοντο
ἱρὸν Ἀθηναίης, ἵνʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἠρᾶτο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο·
"Hear me, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, Unwearied One:
hear me now at last, since you never heard me before
when I was being broken, when the glorious earth-shaker broke me.
Grant that I come among the Phaeacians loved and pitied."
hear me now at last, since you never heard me before
when I was being broken, when the glorious earth-shaker broke me.
Grant that I come among the Phaeacians loved and pitied."
κλῦθί μευ, αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, Ἀτρυτώνη·
νῦν δή πέρ μευ ἄκουσον, ἐπεὶ πάρος οὔ ποτʼ ἄκουσας
ῥαιομένου, ὅτε μʼ ἔρραιε κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος.
δός μʼ ἐς Φαίηκας φίλον ἐλθεῖν ἠδʼ ἐλεεινόν.
νῦν δή πέρ μευ ἄκουσον, ἐπεὶ πάρος οὔ ποτʼ ἄκουσας
ῥαιομένου, ὅτε μʼ ἔρραιε κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος.
δός μʼ ἐς Φαίηκας φίλον ἐλθεῖν ἠδʼ ἐλεεινόν.
So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athena heard him.
But she did not yet appear to him face to face; for she stood in awe
of her father’s brother; and he raged furiously
against godlike Odysseus until he should reach his own land.
But she did not yet appear to him face to face; for she stood in awe
of her father’s brother; and he raged furiously
against godlike Odysseus until he should reach his own land.
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
αὐτῷ δʼ οὔ πω φαίνετʼ ἐναντίη· αἴδετο γάρ ῥα
πατροκασίγνητον· ὁ δʼ ἐπιζαφελῶς μενέαινεν
ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι πάρος ἣν γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
αὐτῷ δʼ οὔ πω φαίνετʼ ἐναντίη· αἴδετο γάρ ῥα
πατροκασίγνητον· ὁ δʼ ἐπιζαφελῶς μενέαινεν
ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι πάρος ἣν γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
Book 7
Odysseus walks unseen through the marvellous city, enters the bronze-walled palace of Alcinous with its golden watchdogs and orchard that never fails, and is received as a suppliant at the queen's knees.
So there he prayed, long-suffering noble Odysseus,
but the strength of the mules carried the girl to the city.
And when she reached the glorious house of her father,
she halted at the gateway, and her brothers stood about her,
men like the immortals, and they loosed the mules
from under the wagon and carried the clothing inside.
She herself went to her own chamber; and a fire was kindled for her
by an old woman of Apeira, her chamber-servant Eurymedusa,
whom the curved ships had once brought from Apeira;
they picked her out as a prize of honour for Alcinous, because he was lord
over all the Phaeacians, and the people listened to him as to a god.
She had reared white-armed Nausicaa in the halls.
She kindled the fire for her and set out her supper inside.
Then Odysseus rose to go to the city; and Athena,
with kindness towards Odysseus, poured a thick mist about him,
so that none of the great-hearted Phaeacians might meet him
and taunt him with words and ask him who he was.
But when he was about to enter the lovely city,
there the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, met him,
in the likeness of a young girl carrying a pitcher.
She stood before him, and noble Odysseus asked her:
"Child, would you not guide me to the house of the man
Alcinous, who is lord among the people here?
For I come here a hard-tried stranger,
from far off, out of a distant land; and so I know none
of the men who hold this city and this land."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
but the strength of the mules carried the girl to the city.
And when she reached the glorious house of her father,
she halted at the gateway, and her brothers stood about her,
men like the immortals, and they loosed the mules
from under the wagon and carried the clothing inside.
She herself went to her own chamber; and a fire was kindled for her
by an old woman of Apeira, her chamber-servant Eurymedusa,
whom the curved ships had once brought from Apeira;
they picked her out as a prize of honour for Alcinous, because he was lord
over all the Phaeacians, and the people listened to him as to a god.
She had reared white-armed Nausicaa in the halls.
She kindled the fire for her and set out her supper inside.
Then Odysseus rose to go to the city; and Athena,
with kindness towards Odysseus, poured a thick mist about him,
so that none of the great-hearted Phaeacians might meet him
and taunt him with words and ask him who he was.
But when he was about to enter the lovely city,
there the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, met him,
in the likeness of a young girl carrying a pitcher.
She stood before him, and noble Odysseus asked her:
"Child, would you not guide me to the house of the man
Alcinous, who is lord among the people here?
For I come here a hard-tried stranger,
from far off, out of a distant land; and so I know none
of the men who hold this city and this land."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
ὧς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἠρᾶτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
κούρην δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεν μένος ἡμιόνοιιν.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ οὗ πατρὸς ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκανε,
στῆσεν ἄρʼ ἐν προθύροισι, κασίγνητοι δέ μιν ἀμφὶς
ἵσταντʼ ἀθανάτοις ἐναλίγκιοι, οἵ ῥʼ ὑπʼ ἀπήνης
ἡμιόνους ἔλυον ἐσθῆτά τε ἔσφερον εἴσω.
αὐτὴ δʼ ἐς θάλαμον ἑὸν ἤιε· δαῖε δέ οἱ πῦρ
γρῆυς Ἀπειραίη, θαλαμηπόλος Εὐρυμέδουσα,
τήν ποτʼ Ἀπείρηθεν νέες ἤγαγον ἀμφιέλισσαι·
Ἀλκινόῳ δʼ αὐτὴν γέρας ἔξελον, οὕνεκα πᾶσιν
Φαιήκεσσιν ἄνασσε, θεοῦ δʼ ὣς δῆμος ἄκουεν·
ἣ τρέφε Ναυσικάαν λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν.
ἥ οἱ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσω δόρπον ἐκόσμει.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ὦρτο πόλινδʼ ἴμεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθήνη
πολλὴν ἠέρα χεῦε φίλα φρονέουσʼ Ὀδυσῆι,
μή τις Φαιήκων μεγαθύμων ἀντιβολήσας
κερτομέοι τʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐξερέοιθʼ ὅτις εἴη.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πόλιν δύσεσθαι ἐραννήν,
ἔνθα οἱ ἀντεβόλησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
παρθενικῇ ἐικυῖα νεήνιδι, κάλπιν ἐχούσῃ.
στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ αὐτοῦ, ὁ δʼ ἀνείρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὦ τέκος, οὐκ ἄν μοι δόμον ἀνέρος ἡγήσαιο
Ἀλκινόου, ὃς τοῖσδε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι ἀνάσσει;
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ξεῖνος ταλαπείριος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω
τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· τῷ οὔ τινα οἶδα
ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
κούρην δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεν μένος ἡμιόνοιιν.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ οὗ πατρὸς ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκανε,
στῆσεν ἄρʼ ἐν προθύροισι, κασίγνητοι δέ μιν ἀμφὶς
ἵσταντʼ ἀθανάτοις ἐναλίγκιοι, οἵ ῥʼ ὑπʼ ἀπήνης
ἡμιόνους ἔλυον ἐσθῆτά τε ἔσφερον εἴσω.
αὐτὴ δʼ ἐς θάλαμον ἑὸν ἤιε· δαῖε δέ οἱ πῦρ
γρῆυς Ἀπειραίη, θαλαμηπόλος Εὐρυμέδουσα,
τήν ποτʼ Ἀπείρηθεν νέες ἤγαγον ἀμφιέλισσαι·
Ἀλκινόῳ δʼ αὐτὴν γέρας ἔξελον, οὕνεκα πᾶσιν
Φαιήκεσσιν ἄνασσε, θεοῦ δʼ ὣς δῆμος ἄκουεν·
ἣ τρέφε Ναυσικάαν λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν.
ἥ οἱ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσω δόρπον ἐκόσμει.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ὦρτο πόλινδʼ ἴμεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθήνη
πολλὴν ἠέρα χεῦε φίλα φρονέουσʼ Ὀδυσῆι,
μή τις Φαιήκων μεγαθύμων ἀντιβολήσας
κερτομέοι τʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐξερέοιθʼ ὅτις εἴη.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε πόλιν δύσεσθαι ἐραννήν,
ἔνθα οἱ ἀντεβόλησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
παρθενικῇ ἐικυῖα νεήνιδι, κάλπιν ἐχούσῃ.
στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ αὐτοῦ, ὁ δʼ ἀνείρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὦ τέκος, οὐκ ἄν μοι δόμον ἀνέρος ἡγήσαιο
Ἀλκινόου, ὃς τοῖσδε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι ἀνάσσει;
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ξεῖνος ταλαπείριος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω
τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· τῷ οὔ τινα οἶδα
ἀνθρώπων, οἳ τήνδε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἔχουσιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Well then, father stranger, I will show you the house
you bid me show; for he lives near my own blameless father.
But go like this, in silence, and I will lead the way,
and do not look at any man, and do not question him.
For these people do not much endure strangers,
nor do they welcome and love the man who comes from elsewhere.
Trusting in their swift and speedy ships
they cross the great gulf, since the earth-shaker gave them that;
and their ships are quick as a wing or a thought."
you bid me show; for he lives near my own blameless father.
But go like this, in silence, and I will lead the way,
and do not look at any man, and do not question him.
For these people do not much endure strangers,
nor do they welcome and love the man who comes from elsewhere.
Trusting in their swift and speedy ships
they cross the great gulf, since the earth-shaker gave them that;
and their ships are quick as a wing or a thought."
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμον, ὅν με κελεύεις,
δείξω, ἐπεί μοι πατρὸς ἀμύμονος ἐγγύθι ναίει.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι σιγῇ τοῖον, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω,
μηδέ τινʼ ἀνθρώπων προτιόσσεο μηδʼ ἐρέεινε.
οὐ γὰρ ξείνους οἵδε μάλʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχονται,
οὐδʼ ἀγαπαζόμενοι φιλέουσʼ ὅς κʼ ἄλλοθεν ἔλθῃ.
νηυσὶ θοῇσιν τοί γε πεποιθότες ὠκείῃσι
λαῖτμα μέγʼ ἐκπερόωσιν, ἐπεί σφισι δῶκʼ ἐνοσίχθων·
τῶν νέες ὠκεῖαι ὡς εἰ πτερὸν ἠὲ νόημα.
δείξω, ἐπεί μοι πατρὸς ἀμύμονος ἐγγύθι ναίει.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι σιγῇ τοῖον, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσω,
μηδέ τινʼ ἀνθρώπων προτιόσσεο μηδʼ ἐρέεινε.
οὐ γὰρ ξείνους οἵδε μάλʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχονται,
οὐδʼ ἀγαπαζόμενοι φιλέουσʼ ὅς κʼ ἄλλοθεν ἔλθῃ.
νηυσὶ θοῇσιν τοί γε πεποιθότες ὠκείῃσι
λαῖτμα μέγʼ ἐκπερόωσιν, ἐπεί σφισι δῶκʼ ἐνοσίχθων·
τῶν νέες ὠκεῖαι ὡς εἰ πτερὸν ἠὲ νόημα.
So saying, Pallas Athena led the way
quickly; and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.
And the Phaeacians, famed for ships, did not notice him
going through the town among them; for Athena
the fair-haired, a dread goddess, did not allow it, but poured
a wondrous darkness about him, with kindness in her spirit.
And Odysseus marvelled at the harbours and the balanced ships,
and at the meeting-places of the heroes themselves, and the long walls,
high, fitted with palisades, a wonder to see.
But when they came to the glorious house of the king,
the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, was the first to speak among them:
"This, father stranger, is the house you bid me
point out; and you will find kings nurtured by Zeus
feasting at their meal. Go inside, and do not be afraid
at all in your spirit; for the bold man comes off better
in every kind of work, even if he comes from somewhere else.
First of all you will come upon the mistress in the halls;
Arete is her name, and it is a fitting one, and she is sprung
from the same parents who bore Alcinous the king.
First Poseidon the earth-shaker begot Nausithous
on Periboea, most beautiful of women in form,
youngest daughter of high-hearted Eurymedon,
who was once king over the high-spirited Giants.
But he destroyed his reckless host, and was destroyed himself.
Poseidon lay with her and begot a son,
great-hearted Nausithous, who was lord among the Phaeacians;
and Nausithous fathered Rhexenor and Alcinous.
Apollo of the silver bow struck the one down, still without a son,
a bridegroom in his hall, leaving one daughter only,
Arete; and Alcinous made her his wife,
and honoured her as no other woman on earth is honoured
of all the women who now keep house under their husbands.
So she has been honoured in the heart, and is honoured still,
by her own children and by Alcinous himself
and by the people, who look on her as on a god
and greet her with words when she walks through the town.
For she herself does not lack good sense;
and where she is kindly disposed she resolves quarrels, even among men.
If she is kindly disposed towards you in her spirit,
then there is hope for you to see your own people and to reach
your high-roofed house and your own native land."
quickly; and he walked after in the footsteps of the goddess.
And the Phaeacians, famed for ships, did not notice him
going through the town among them; for Athena
the fair-haired, a dread goddess, did not allow it, but poured
a wondrous darkness about him, with kindness in her spirit.
And Odysseus marvelled at the harbours and the balanced ships,
and at the meeting-places of the heroes themselves, and the long walls,
high, fitted with palisades, a wonder to see.
But when they came to the glorious house of the king,
the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, was the first to speak among them:
"This, father stranger, is the house you bid me
point out; and you will find kings nurtured by Zeus
feasting at their meal. Go inside, and do not be afraid
at all in your spirit; for the bold man comes off better
in every kind of work, even if he comes from somewhere else.
First of all you will come upon the mistress in the halls;
Arete is her name, and it is a fitting one, and she is sprung
from the same parents who bore Alcinous the king.
First Poseidon the earth-shaker begot Nausithous
on Periboea, most beautiful of women in form,
youngest daughter of high-hearted Eurymedon,
who was once king over the high-spirited Giants.
But he destroyed his reckless host, and was destroyed himself.
Poseidon lay with her and begot a son,
great-hearted Nausithous, who was lord among the Phaeacians;
and Nausithous fathered Rhexenor and Alcinous.
Apollo of the silver bow struck the one down, still without a son,
a bridegroom in his hall, leaving one daughter only,
Arete; and Alcinous made her his wife,
and honoured her as no other woman on earth is honoured
of all the women who now keep house under their husbands.
So she has been honoured in the heart, and is honoured still,
by her own children and by Alcinous himself
and by the people, who look on her as on a god
and greet her with words when she walks through the town.
For she herself does not lack good sense;
and where she is kindly disposed she resolves quarrels, even among men.
If she is kindly disposed towards you in her spirit,
then there is hope for you to see your own people and to reach
your high-roofed house and your own native land."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
τὸν δʼ ἄρα Φαίηκες ναυσικλυτοὶ οὐκ ἐνόησαν
ἐρχόμενον κατὰ ἄστυ διὰ σφέας· οὐ γὰρ Ἀθήνη
εἴα ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀχλὺν
θεσπεσίην κατέχευε φίλα φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς λιμένας καὶ νῆας ἐίσας
αὐτῶν θʼ ἡρώων ἀγορὰς καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ
ὑψηλά, σκολόπεσσιν ἀρηρότα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ βασιλῆος ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο,
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
οὗτος δή τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμος, ὅν με κελεύεις
πεφραδέμεν· δήεις δὲ διοτρεφέας βασιλῆας
δαίτην δαινυμένους· σὺ δʼ ἔσω κίε, μηδέ τι θυμῷ
τάρβει· θαρσαλέος γὰρ ἀνὴρ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀμείνων
ἔργοισιν τελέθει, εἰ καί ποθεν ἄλλοθεν ἔλθοι.
δέσποιναν μὲν πρῶτα κιχήσεαι ἐν μεγάροισιν·
Ἀρήτη δʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν ἐπώνυμον, ἐκ δὲ τοκήων
τῶν αὐτῶν οἵ περ τέκον Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.
Ναυσίθοον μὲν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
γείνατο καὶ Περίβοια, γυναικῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη,
ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυμέδοντος,
ὅς ποθʼ ὑπερθύμοισι Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὤλεσε λαὸν ἀτάσθαλον, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός·
τῇ δὲ Ποσειδάων ἐμίγη καὶ ἐγείνατο παῖδα
Ναυσίθοον μεγάθυμον, ὃς ἐν Φαίηξιν ἄνασσε·
Ναυσίθοος δʼ ἔτεκεν Ῥηξήνορά τʼ Ἀλκίνοόν τε.
τὸν μὲν ἄκουρον ἐόντα βάλʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
νυμφίον ἐν μεγάρῳ, μίαν οἴην παῖδα λιπόντα
Ἀρήτην· τὴν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ποιήσατʼ ἄκοιτιν,
καί μιν ἔτισʼ, ὡς οὔ τις ἐπὶ χθονὶ τίεται ἄλλη,
ὅσσαι νῦν γε γυναῖκες ὑπʼ ἀνδράσιν οἶκον ἔχουσιν.
ὣς κείνη περὶ κῆρι τετίμηταί τε καὶ ἔστιν
ἔκ τε φίλων παίδων ἔκ τʼ αὐτοῦ Ἀλκινόοιο
καὶ λαῶν, οἵ μίν ῥα θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωντες
δειδέχαται μύθοισιν, ὅτε στείχῃσʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νόου γε καὶ αὐτὴ δεύεται ἐσθλοῦ·
ᾗσι τʼ ἐὺ φρονέῃσι καὶ ἀνδράσι νείκεα λύει.
εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
τὸν δʼ ἄρα Φαίηκες ναυσικλυτοὶ οὐκ ἐνόησαν
ἐρχόμενον κατὰ ἄστυ διὰ σφέας· οὐ γὰρ Ἀθήνη
εἴα ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀχλὺν
θεσπεσίην κατέχευε φίλα φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς λιμένας καὶ νῆας ἐίσας
αὐτῶν θʼ ἡρώων ἀγορὰς καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ
ὑψηλά, σκολόπεσσιν ἀρηρότα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ βασιλῆος ἀγακλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο,
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
οὗτος δή τοι, ξεῖνε πάτερ, δόμος, ὅν με κελεύεις
πεφραδέμεν· δήεις δὲ διοτρεφέας βασιλῆας
δαίτην δαινυμένους· σὺ δʼ ἔσω κίε, μηδέ τι θυμῷ
τάρβει· θαρσαλέος γὰρ ἀνὴρ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀμείνων
ἔργοισιν τελέθει, εἰ καί ποθεν ἄλλοθεν ἔλθοι.
δέσποιναν μὲν πρῶτα κιχήσεαι ἐν μεγάροισιν·
Ἀρήτη δʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν ἐπώνυμον, ἐκ δὲ τοκήων
τῶν αὐτῶν οἵ περ τέκον Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.
Ναυσίθοον μὲν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
γείνατο καὶ Περίβοια, γυναικῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη,
ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυμέδοντος,
ὅς ποθʼ ὑπερθύμοισι Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὤλεσε λαὸν ἀτάσθαλον, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός·
τῇ δὲ Ποσειδάων ἐμίγη καὶ ἐγείνατο παῖδα
Ναυσίθοον μεγάθυμον, ὃς ἐν Φαίηξιν ἄνασσε·
Ναυσίθοος δʼ ἔτεκεν Ῥηξήνορά τʼ Ἀλκίνοόν τε.
τὸν μὲν ἄκουρον ἐόντα βάλʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
νυμφίον ἐν μεγάρῳ, μίαν οἴην παῖδα λιπόντα
Ἀρήτην· τὴν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ποιήσατʼ ἄκοιτιν,
καί μιν ἔτισʼ, ὡς οὔ τις ἐπὶ χθονὶ τίεται ἄλλη,
ὅσσαι νῦν γε γυναῖκες ὑπʼ ἀνδράσιν οἶκον ἔχουσιν.
ὣς κείνη περὶ κῆρι τετίμηταί τε καὶ ἔστιν
ἔκ τε φίλων παίδων ἔκ τʼ αὐτοῦ Ἀλκινόοιο
καὶ λαῶν, οἵ μίν ῥα θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωντες
δειδέχαται μύθοισιν, ὅτε στείχῃσʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νόου γε καὶ αὐτὴ δεύεται ἐσθλοῦ·
ᾗσι τʼ ἐὺ φρονέῃσι καὶ ἀνδράσι νείκεα λύει.
εἴ κέν τοι κείνη γε φίλα φρονέῃσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
So saying, grey-eyed Athena went away
over the barren sea, and left lovely Scheria,
and came to Marathon and to Athens of the wide streets,
and entered the close-built house of Erechtheus. But Odysseus
went to the famous house of Alcinous; and his heart
pondered much as he stood, before he reached the bronze threshold.
For there was a radiance as of the sun or the moon
through the high-roofed house of high-hearted Alcinous.
Walls of bronze ran this way and that,
from the threshold to the inner room, and round them a cornice of dark blue;
and golden doors shut in the close-built house within;
silver doorposts stood on the bronze threshold,
and the lintel above was silver, and the door-handle gold.
On either side were dogs of gold and of silver,
which Hephaestus had made with his knowing wits
to guard the house of high-hearted Alcinous,
immortal and ageless for ever.
Inside, chairs were set against the wall this way and that,
from the threshold right through to the inner room, and on them robes
of fine spinning had been thrown, the work of women.
There the leaders of the Phaeacians used to sit
drinking and eating; for their store never failed.
And golden youths stood on well-built pedestals
holding blazing torches in their hands,
lighting the nights through the house for the banqueters.
He has fifty serving-women through the house:
some grind the yellow grain at the mill,
others weave at the looms and turn the yarn on the distaff,
sitting close as the leaves of a tall poplar;
and from the close-woven linens the soft oil drips.
As far as the Phaeacians are skilled beyond all men
at driving a swift ship over the sea, so are their women
skilled at the loom; for Athena has given them beyond others
knowledge of very beautiful work, and good wits.
Outside the court, near the doors, is a great orchard
of four acres; and a fence runs round it on both sides.
There tall trees grow in their flourishing,
pears and pomegranates and apple trees with their shining fruit,
and sweet figs and flourishing olives.
Their fruit never perishes and never fails,
winter or summer, all the year round; but always
the West Wind blowing brings some to birth and ripens others.
Pear grows old on pear, apple on apple,
cluster on cluster of grapes, and fig on fig.
There his vineyard of many fruits is rooted,
one part of it a drying-floor on level ground
that dries in the sun, and other grapes they are gathering,
and others they are treading; and in front are the unripe clusters
shedding their blossom, and others just turning dark.
There, by the lowest row, well-ordered garden beds
of every kind grow, bright the whole year round;
and in it are two springs: one spreads through all the garden,
and the other runs on the far side under the threshold of the court
towards the high house, where the townspeople drew their water.
Such were the shining gifts of the gods in the house of Alcinous.
There long-suffering noble Odysseus stood and gazed.
But when he had gazed at everything in his spirit,
he stepped quickly over the threshold into the house.
And he found the leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians
pouring from their cups to the keen-sighted slayer of Argus,
to whom they poured last, when they thought of bed.
But long-suffering noble Odysseus went through the house
wrapped in the thick mist that Athena had poured about him,
until he came to Arete and to Alcinous the king.
And Odysseus threw his arms about the knees of Arete,
and then the wondrous mist melted back from him.
They fell silent, seeing the man in the house;
they marvelled as they looked. And Odysseus made his prayer:
"Arete, daughter of godlike Rhexenor,
to your husband and to your knees I come, after much suffering,
and to these banqueters. May the gods grant them prosperity
in their living, and may each of them hand on to his children
the goods in his halls and the prize of honour the people gave him.
But for me, hasten an escort, that I may reach my own land
the sooner, since I have long suffered pains far from my own."
over the barren sea, and left lovely Scheria,
and came to Marathon and to Athens of the wide streets,
and entered the close-built house of Erechtheus. But Odysseus
went to the famous house of Alcinous; and his heart
pondered much as he stood, before he reached the bronze threshold.
For there was a radiance as of the sun or the moon
through the high-roofed house of high-hearted Alcinous.
Walls of bronze ran this way and that,
from the threshold to the inner room, and round them a cornice of dark blue;
and golden doors shut in the close-built house within;
silver doorposts stood on the bronze threshold,
and the lintel above was silver, and the door-handle gold.
On either side were dogs of gold and of silver,
which Hephaestus had made with his knowing wits
to guard the house of high-hearted Alcinous,
immortal and ageless for ever.
Inside, chairs were set against the wall this way and that,
from the threshold right through to the inner room, and on them robes
of fine spinning had been thrown, the work of women.
There the leaders of the Phaeacians used to sit
drinking and eating; for their store never failed.
And golden youths stood on well-built pedestals
holding blazing torches in their hands,
lighting the nights through the house for the banqueters.
He has fifty serving-women through the house:
some grind the yellow grain at the mill,
others weave at the looms and turn the yarn on the distaff,
sitting close as the leaves of a tall poplar;
and from the close-woven linens the soft oil drips.
As far as the Phaeacians are skilled beyond all men
at driving a swift ship over the sea, so are their women
skilled at the loom; for Athena has given them beyond others
knowledge of very beautiful work, and good wits.
Outside the court, near the doors, is a great orchard
of four acres; and a fence runs round it on both sides.
There tall trees grow in their flourishing,
pears and pomegranates and apple trees with their shining fruit,
and sweet figs and flourishing olives.
Their fruit never perishes and never fails,
winter or summer, all the year round; but always
the West Wind blowing brings some to birth and ripens others.
Pear grows old on pear, apple on apple,
cluster on cluster of grapes, and fig on fig.
There his vineyard of many fruits is rooted,
one part of it a drying-floor on level ground
that dries in the sun, and other grapes they are gathering,
and others they are treading; and in front are the unripe clusters
shedding their blossom, and others just turning dark.
There, by the lowest row, well-ordered garden beds
of every kind grow, bright the whole year round;
and in it are two springs: one spreads through all the garden,
and the other runs on the far side under the threshold of the court
towards the high house, where the townspeople drew their water.
Such were the shining gifts of the gods in the house of Alcinous.
There long-suffering noble Odysseus stood and gazed.
But when he had gazed at everything in his spirit,
he stepped quickly over the threshold into the house.
And he found the leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians
pouring from their cups to the keen-sighted slayer of Argus,
to whom they poured last, when they thought of bed.
But long-suffering noble Odysseus went through the house
wrapped in the thick mist that Athena had poured about him,
until he came to Arete and to Alcinous the king.
And Odysseus threw his arms about the knees of Arete,
and then the wondrous mist melted back from him.
They fell silent, seeing the man in the house;
they marvelled as they looked. And Odysseus made his prayer:
"Arete, daughter of godlike Rhexenor,
to your husband and to your knees I come, after much suffering,
and to these banqueters. May the gods grant them prosperity
in their living, and may each of them hand on to his children
the goods in his halls and the prize of honour the people gave him.
But for me, hasten an escort, that I may reach my own land
the sooner, since I have long suffered pains far from my own."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, λίπε δὲ Σχερίην ἐρατεινήν,
ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Μαραθῶνα καὶ εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην,
δῦνε δʼ Ἐρεχθῆος πυκινὸν δόμον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
Ἀλκινόου πρὸς δώματʼ ἴε κλυτά· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ
ὥρμαινʼ ἱσταμένῳ, πρὶν χάλκεον οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.
ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης
δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.
χάλκεοι μὲν γὰρ τοῖχοι ἐληλέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῦ, περὶ δὲ θριγκὸς κυάνοιο·
χρύσειαι δὲ θύραι πυκινὸν δόμον ἐντὸς ἔεργον·
σταθμοὶ δʼ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ,
ἀργύρεον δʼ ἐφʼ ὑπερθύριον, χρυσέη δὲ κορώνη.
χρύσειοι δʼ ἑκάτερθε καὶ ἀργύρεοι κύνες ἦσαν,
οὓς Ἥφαιστος ἔτευξεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι
δῶμα φυλασσέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
ἀθανάτους ὄντας καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα.
ἐν δὲ θρόνοι περὶ τοῖχον ἐρηρέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῖο διαμπερές, ἔνθʼ ἐνὶ πέπλοι
λεπτοὶ ἐύννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν.
ἔνθα δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἑδριόωντο
πίνοντες καὶ ἔδοντες· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον.
χρύσειοι δʼ ἄρα κοῦροι ἐυδμήτων ἐπὶ βωμῶν
ἕστασαν αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχοντες,
φαίνοντες νύκτας κατὰ δώματα δαιτυμόνεσσι.
πεντήκοντα δέ οἱ δμωαὶ κατὰ δῶμα γυναῖκες
αἱ μὲν ἀλετρεύουσι μύλῃς ἔπι μήλοπα καρπόν,
αἱ δʼ ἱστοὺς ὑφόωσι καὶ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσιν
ἥμεναι, οἷά τε φύλλα μακεδνῆς αἰγείροιο·
καιρουσσέων δʼ ὀθονέων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον.
ὅσσον Φαίηκες περὶ πάντων ἴδριες ἀνδρῶν
νῆα θοὴν ἐνὶ πόντῳ ἐλαυνέμεν, ὣς δὲ γυναῖκες
ἱστῶν τεχνῆσσαι· πέρι γάρ σφισι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη
ἔργα τʼ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλάς.
ἔκτοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς μέγας ὄρχατος ἄγχι θυράων
τετράγυος· περὶ δʼ ἕρκος ἐλήλαται ἀμφοτέρωθεν.
ἔνθα δὲ δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκασι τηλεθόωντα,
ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι
συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι.
τάων οὔ ποτε καρπὸς ἀπόλλυται οὐδʼ ἀπολείπει
χείματος οὐδὲ θέρευς, ἐπετήσιος· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ
Ζεφυρίη πνείουσα τὰ μὲν φύει, ἄλλα δὲ πέσσει.
ὄγχνη ἐπʼ ὄγχνῃ γηράσκει, μῆλον δʼ ἐπὶ μήλῳ,
αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ σταφυλῇ σταφυλή, σῦκον δʼ ἐπὶ σύκῳ.
ἔνθα δέ οἱ πολύκαρπος ἀλωὴ ἐρρίζωται,
τῆς ἕτερον μὲν θειλόπεδον λευρῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ
τέρσεται ἠελίῳ, ἑτέρας δʼ ἄρα τε τρυγόωσιν,
ἄλλας δὲ τραπέουσι· πάροιθε δέ τʼ ὄμφακές εἰσιν
ἄνθος ἀφιεῖσαι, ἕτεραι δʼ ὑποπερκάζουσιν.
ἔνθα δὲ κοσμηταὶ πρασιαὶ παρὰ νείατον ὄρχον
παντοῖαι πεφύασιν, ἐπηετανὸν γανόωσαι·
ἐν δὲ δύω κρῆναι ἡ μέν τʼ ἀνὰ κῆπον ἅπαντα
σκίδναται, ἡ δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὑπʼ αὐλῆς οὐδὸν ἵησι
πρὸς δόμον ὑψηλόν, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται.
τοῖʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο θεῶν ἔσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.
ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,
καρπαλίμως ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δώματος εἴσω.
εὗρε δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορας ἠδὲ μέδοντας
σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐυσκόπῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ,
ᾧ πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
πολλὴν ἠέρʼ ἔχων, ἥν οἱ περίχευεν Ἀθήνη,
ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ Ἀρήτην τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτης βάλε γούνασι χεῖρας Ὀδυσσεύς,
καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ αὐτοῖο πάλιν χύτο θέσφατος ἀήρ.
οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο, δόμον κάτα φῶτα ἰδόντες·
θαύμαζον δʼ ὁρόωντες. ὁ δὲ λιτάνευεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
Ἀρήτη, θύγατερ Ῥηξήνορος ἀντιθέοιο,
σόν τε πόσιν σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας
τούσδε τε δαιτυμόνας· τοῖσιν θεοὶ ὄλβια δοῖεν
ζωέμεναι, καὶ παισὶν ἐπιτρέψειεν ἕκαστος
κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γέρας θʼ ὅ τι δῆμος ἔδωκεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πομπὴν ὀτρύνετε πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι
θᾶσσον, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχω.
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, λίπε δὲ Σχερίην ἐρατεινήν,
ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Μαραθῶνα καὶ εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην,
δῦνε δʼ Ἐρεχθῆος πυκινὸν δόμον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
Ἀλκινόου πρὸς δώματʼ ἴε κλυτά· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ
ὥρμαινʼ ἱσταμένῳ, πρὶν χάλκεον οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.
ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνης
δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο.
χάλκεοι μὲν γὰρ τοῖχοι ἐληλέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῦ, περὶ δὲ θριγκὸς κυάνοιο·
χρύσειαι δὲ θύραι πυκινὸν δόμον ἐντὸς ἔεργον·
σταθμοὶ δʼ ἀργύρεοι ἐν χαλκέῳ ἕστασαν οὐδῷ,
ἀργύρεον δʼ ἐφʼ ὑπερθύριον, χρυσέη δὲ κορώνη.
χρύσειοι δʼ ἑκάτερθε καὶ ἀργύρεοι κύνες ἦσαν,
οὓς Ἥφαιστος ἔτευξεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι
δῶμα φυλασσέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
ἀθανάτους ὄντας καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα.
ἐν δὲ θρόνοι περὶ τοῖχον ἐρηρέδατʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἐς μυχὸν ἐξ οὐδοῖο διαμπερές, ἔνθʼ ἐνὶ πέπλοι
λεπτοὶ ἐύννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν.
ἔνθα δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἑδριόωντο
πίνοντες καὶ ἔδοντες· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχεσκον.
χρύσειοι δʼ ἄρα κοῦροι ἐυδμήτων ἐπὶ βωμῶν
ἕστασαν αἰθομένας δαΐδας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχοντες,
φαίνοντες νύκτας κατὰ δώματα δαιτυμόνεσσι.
πεντήκοντα δέ οἱ δμωαὶ κατὰ δῶμα γυναῖκες
αἱ μὲν ἀλετρεύουσι μύλῃς ἔπι μήλοπα καρπόν,
αἱ δʼ ἱστοὺς ὑφόωσι καὶ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσιν
ἥμεναι, οἷά τε φύλλα μακεδνῆς αἰγείροιο·
καιρουσσέων δʼ ὀθονέων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον.
ὅσσον Φαίηκες περὶ πάντων ἴδριες ἀνδρῶν
νῆα θοὴν ἐνὶ πόντῳ ἐλαυνέμεν, ὣς δὲ γυναῖκες
ἱστῶν τεχνῆσσαι· πέρι γάρ σφισι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη
ἔργα τʼ ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλάς.
ἔκτοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς μέγας ὄρχατος ἄγχι θυράων
τετράγυος· περὶ δʼ ἕρκος ἐλήλαται ἀμφοτέρωθεν.
ἔνθα δὲ δένδρεα μακρὰ πεφύκασι τηλεθόωντα,
ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι
συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι.
τάων οὔ ποτε καρπὸς ἀπόλλυται οὐδʼ ἀπολείπει
χείματος οὐδὲ θέρευς, ἐπετήσιος· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ
Ζεφυρίη πνείουσα τὰ μὲν φύει, ἄλλα δὲ πέσσει.
ὄγχνη ἐπʼ ὄγχνῃ γηράσκει, μῆλον δʼ ἐπὶ μήλῳ,
αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ σταφυλῇ σταφυλή, σῦκον δʼ ἐπὶ σύκῳ.
ἔνθα δέ οἱ πολύκαρπος ἀλωὴ ἐρρίζωται,
τῆς ἕτερον μὲν θειλόπεδον λευρῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ
τέρσεται ἠελίῳ, ἑτέρας δʼ ἄρα τε τρυγόωσιν,
ἄλλας δὲ τραπέουσι· πάροιθε δέ τʼ ὄμφακές εἰσιν
ἄνθος ἀφιεῖσαι, ἕτεραι δʼ ὑποπερκάζουσιν.
ἔνθα δὲ κοσμηταὶ πρασιαὶ παρὰ νείατον ὄρχον
παντοῖαι πεφύασιν, ἐπηετανὸν γανόωσαι·
ἐν δὲ δύω κρῆναι ἡ μέν τʼ ἀνὰ κῆπον ἅπαντα
σκίδναται, ἡ δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὑπʼ αὐλῆς οὐδὸν ἵησι
πρὸς δόμον ὑψηλόν, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται.
τοῖʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο θεῶν ἔσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.
ἔνθα στὰς θηεῖτο πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ,
καρπαλίμως ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δώματος εἴσω.
εὗρε δὲ Φαιήκων ἡγήτορας ἠδὲ μέδοντας
σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐυσκόπῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ,
ᾧ πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
πολλὴν ἠέρʼ ἔχων, ἥν οἱ περίχευεν Ἀθήνη,
ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ Ἀρήτην τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα.
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτης βάλε γούνασι χεῖρας Ὀδυσσεύς,
καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ αὐτοῖο πάλιν χύτο θέσφατος ἀήρ.
οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο, δόμον κάτα φῶτα ἰδόντες·
θαύμαζον δʼ ὁρόωντες. ὁ δὲ λιτάνευεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
Ἀρήτη, θύγατερ Ῥηξήνορος ἀντιθέοιο,
σόν τε πόσιν σά τε γούναθʼ ἱκάνω πολλὰ μογήσας
τούσδε τε δαιτυμόνας· τοῖσιν θεοὶ ὄλβια δοῖεν
ζωέμεναι, καὶ παισὶν ἐπιτρέψειεν ἕκαστος
κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γέρας θʼ ὅ τι δῆμος ἔδωκεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πομπὴν ὀτρύνετε πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι
θᾶσσον, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχω.
So saying he sat down at the hearth, in the ashes
by the fire; and they were all hushed in silence.
At last the old hero Echeneus spoke among them,
who was the eldest born of the Phaeacian men
and excelled in speech, knowing many old things;
With good will towards them he rose and spoke among them:
by the fire; and they were all hushed in silence.
At last the old hero Echeneus spoke among them,
who was the eldest born of the Phaeacian men
and excelled in speech, knowing many old things;
With good will towards them he rose and spoke among them:
ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν
πὰρ πυρί· οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,
ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν
καὶ μύθοισι κέκαστο, παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς·
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
πὰρ πυρί· οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,
ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν
καὶ μύθοισι κέκαστο, παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς·
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
"Alcinous, this is not the better way, nor is it fitting,
that a stranger should sit on the ground at the hearth, in the ashes,
while these men hold back, waiting on your word.
Come, raise the stranger up and seat him on a chair
studded with silver, and order the heralds
to mix wine, so that to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
we may pour too, who goes beside suppliants worthy of respect;
and let the housekeeper give the stranger supper from what is in the house."
But when the sacred might of Alcinous heard this,
he took by the hand Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels,
and raised him from the hearth and set him on a shining chair,
making his son Laodamas, kind to men, get up,
who sat beside him, and whom he loved best of all.
A handmaid brought water in a pitcher and poured it
from a fine golden vessel over a silver basin,
for the washing of hands; and she drew up a polished table beside him.
The grave housekeeper brought bread and set it before him,
laying on many dishes, giving freely of her store;
and long-suffering noble Odysseus drank and ate.
And then the might of Alcinous spoke to the herald:
that a stranger should sit on the ground at the hearth, in the ashes,
while these men hold back, waiting on your word.
Come, raise the stranger up and seat him on a chair
studded with silver, and order the heralds
to mix wine, so that to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
we may pour too, who goes beside suppliants worthy of respect;
and let the housekeeper give the stranger supper from what is in the house."
But when the sacred might of Alcinous heard this,
he took by the hand Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels,
and raised him from the hearth and set him on a shining chair,
making his son Laodamas, kind to men, get up,
who sat beside him, and whom he loved best of all.
A handmaid brought water in a pitcher and poured it
from a fine golden vessel over a silver basin,
for the washing of hands; and she drew up a polished table beside him.
The grave housekeeper brought bread and set it before him,
laying on many dishes, giving freely of her store;
and long-suffering noble Odysseus drank and ate.
And then the might of Alcinous spoke to the herald:
Ἀλκίνοʼ, οὐ μέν τοι τόδε κάλλιον, οὐδὲ ἔοικε,
ξεῖνον μὲν χαμαὶ ἧσθαι ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν,
οἵδε δὲ σὸν μῦθον ποτιδέγμενοι ἰσχανόωνται.
ἄλλʼ ἄγε δὴ ξεῖνον μὲν ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου
εἷσον ἀναστήσας, σὺ δὲ κηρύκεσσι κέλευσον
οἶνον ἐπικρῆσαι, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ·
δόρπον δὲ ξείνῳ ταμίη δότω ἔνδον ἐόντων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
χειρὸς ἑλὼν Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην
ὦρσεν ἀπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν καὶ ἐπὶ θρόνου εἷσε φαεινοῦ,
υἱὸν ἀναστήσας ἀγαπήνορα Λαοδάμαντα,
ὅς οἱ πλησίον ἷζε, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκεν.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·
ξεῖνον μὲν χαμαὶ ἧσθαι ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἐν κονίῃσιν,
οἵδε δὲ σὸν μῦθον ποτιδέγμενοι ἰσχανόωνται.
ἄλλʼ ἄγε δὴ ξεῖνον μὲν ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου
εἷσον ἀναστήσας, σὺ δὲ κηρύκεσσι κέλευσον
οἶνον ἐπικρῆσαι, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ·
δόρπον δὲ ξείνῳ ταμίη δότω ἔνδον ἐόντων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
χειρὸς ἑλὼν Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην
ὦρσεν ἀπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν καὶ ἐπὶ θρόνου εἷσε φαεινοῦ,
υἱὸν ἀναστήσας ἀγαπήνορα Λαοδάμαντα,
ὅς οἱ πλησίον ἷζε, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκεν.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πῖνε καὶ ἦσθε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·
"Pontonous, mix the bowl and serve the wine
to all through the hall, so that to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
we may pour too, who goes beside suppliants worthy of respect."
to all through the hall, so that to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
we may pour too, who goes beside suppliants worthy of respect."
Ποντόνοε, κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος μέθυ νεῖμον
πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.
πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ἵνα καὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
σπείσομεν, ὅς θʼ ἱκέτῃσιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.
So he spoke, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine,
and served it to all, beginning the round with the cups.
And when they had poured and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
Alcinous rose and spoke among them:
and served it to all, beginning the round with the cups.
And when they had poured and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
Alcinous rose and spoke among them:
ὣς φάτο, Ποντόνοος δὲ μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα,
νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενος δεπάεσσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενος δεπάεσσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
"Hear me, leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
so that I may say what the spirit in my breast bids me.
Now that you have feasted, go home and lie down to rest;
and at dawn we will call more of the elders together
and entertain the stranger in the halls, and make fine
offerings to the gods; and after that we will think of his escort,
so that the stranger, without toil and without vexation,
may reach his own native land under our escort,
soon and with gladness, however far away it may be,
and may suffer no evil or hurt on the way,
before he sets foot on his own land. And there afterwards
he will suffer whatever his portion and the heavy Spinners
spun with their thread at his birth, when his mother bore him.
But if he is one of the immortals come down from heaven,
then the gods are contriving something new in this.
For always until now the gods have shown themselves plain
to us, when we make our glorious hecatombs,
and they feast beside us, sitting where we ourselves sit.
And if some traveller going alone meets one of them,
they do not hide themselves at all, since we are near to them,
as the Cyclopes are, and the wild tribes of the Giants."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
so that I may say what the spirit in my breast bids me.
Now that you have feasted, go home and lie down to rest;
and at dawn we will call more of the elders together
and entertain the stranger in the halls, and make fine
offerings to the gods; and after that we will think of his escort,
so that the stranger, without toil and without vexation,
may reach his own native land under our escort,
soon and with gladness, however far away it may be,
and may suffer no evil or hurt on the way,
before he sets foot on his own land. And there afterwards
he will suffer whatever his portion and the heavy Spinners
spun with their thread at his birth, when his mother bore him.
But if he is one of the immortals come down from heaven,
then the gods are contriving something new in this.
For always until now the gods have shown themselves plain
to us, when we make our glorious hecatombs,
and they feast beside us, sitting where we ourselves sit.
And if some traveller going alone meets one of them,
they do not hide themselves at all, since we are near to them,
as the Cyclopes are, and the wild tribes of the Giants."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
νῦν μὲν δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·
ἠῶθεν δὲ γέροντας ἐπὶ πλέονας καλέσαντες
ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις ξεινίσσομεν ἠδὲ θεοῖσιν
ῥέξομεν ἱερὰ καλά, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ περὶ πομπῆς
μνησόμεθʼ, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἄνευθε πόνου καὶ ἀνίης
πομπῇ ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃ ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται
χαίρων καρπαλίμως, εἰ καὶ μάλα τηλόθεν ἐστί,
μηδέ τι μεσσηγύς γε κακὸν καὶ πῆμα πάθῃσι,
πρίν γε τὸν ἧς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα
πείσεται, ἅσσα οἱ αἶσα κατὰ κλῶθές τε βαρεῖαι
γιγνομένῳ νήσαντο λίνῳ, ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.
εἰ δέ τις ἀθανάτων γε κατʼ οὐρανοῦ εἰλήλουθεν,
ἄλλο τι δὴ τόδʼ ἔπειτα θεοὶ περιμηχανόωνται.
αἰεὶ γὰρ τὸ πάρος γε θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς
ἡμῖν, εὖτʼ ἔρδωμεν ἀγακλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας,
δαίνυνταί τε παρʼ ἄμμι καθήμενοι ἔνθα περ ἡμεῖς.
εἰ δʼ ἄρα τις καὶ μοῦνος ἰὼν ξύμβληται ὁδίτης,
οὔ τι κατακρύπτουσιν, ἐπεί σφισιν ἐγγύθεν εἰμέν,
ὥς περ Κύκλωπές τε καὶ ἄγρια φῦλα Γιγάντων.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
νῦν μὲν δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·
ἠῶθεν δὲ γέροντας ἐπὶ πλέονας καλέσαντες
ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις ξεινίσσομεν ἠδὲ θεοῖσιν
ῥέξομεν ἱερὰ καλά, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ περὶ πομπῆς
μνησόμεθʼ, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἄνευθε πόνου καὶ ἀνίης
πομπῇ ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃ ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηται
χαίρων καρπαλίμως, εἰ καὶ μάλα τηλόθεν ἐστί,
μηδέ τι μεσσηγύς γε κακὸν καὶ πῆμα πάθῃσι,
πρίν γε τὸν ἧς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα
πείσεται, ἅσσα οἱ αἶσα κατὰ κλῶθές τε βαρεῖαι
γιγνομένῳ νήσαντο λίνῳ, ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.
εἰ δέ τις ἀθανάτων γε κατʼ οὐρανοῦ εἰλήλουθεν,
ἄλλο τι δὴ τόδʼ ἔπειτα θεοὶ περιμηχανόωνται.
αἰεὶ γὰρ τὸ πάρος γε θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς
ἡμῖν, εὖτʼ ἔρδωμεν ἀγακλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας,
δαίνυνταί τε παρʼ ἄμμι καθήμενοι ἔνθα περ ἡμεῖς.
εἰ δʼ ἄρα τις καὶ μοῦνος ἰὼν ξύμβληται ὁδίτης,
οὔ τι κατακρύπτουσιν, ἐπεί σφισιν ἐγγύθεν εἰμέν,
ὥς περ Κύκλωπές τε καὶ ἄγρια φῦλα Γιγάντων.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Alcinous, let something else be your care; for I am not
like the immortals who hold the wide heaven,
neither in body nor in build, but like mortal men.
Whomever you know as bearing the heaviest misery
of men, to those I could match myself in my pains.
And I could tell of evils still greater than theirs,
all that I have suffered by the will of the gods.
But let me eat my supper, grieved as I am;
for there is nothing more shameless than the hateful belly,
which forces a man to remember it, of necessity,
however worn down he may be and holding grief in his mind —
just as I hold grief in my mind, and it is always
bidding me eat and drink, and it makes me forget
all that I have suffered, and orders me to fill myself.
But do you bestir yourselves as soon as the dawn shows,
so that you may set me, unlucky as I am, on my own native soil,
after all my suffering; and let life leave me when I have seen
my property, my servants, and my great high-roofed house."
like the immortals who hold the wide heaven,
neither in body nor in build, but like mortal men.
Whomever you know as bearing the heaviest misery
of men, to those I could match myself in my pains.
And I could tell of evils still greater than theirs,
all that I have suffered by the will of the gods.
But let me eat my supper, grieved as I am;
for there is nothing more shameless than the hateful belly,
which forces a man to remember it, of necessity,
however worn down he may be and holding grief in his mind —
just as I hold grief in my mind, and it is always
bidding me eat and drink, and it makes me forget
all that I have suffered, and orders me to fill myself.
But do you bestir yourselves as soon as the dawn shows,
so that you may set me, unlucky as I am, on my own native soil,
after all my suffering; and let life leave me when I have seen
my property, my servants, and my great high-roofed house."
Ἀλκίνοʼ, ἄλλο τί τοι μελέτω φρεσίν· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γε
ἀθανάτοισιν ἔοικα, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἀλλὰ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν.
οὕς τινας ὑμεῖς ἴστε μάλιστʼ ὀχέοντας ὀιζὺν
ἀνθρώπων, τοῖσίν κεν ἐν ἄλγεσιν ἰσωσαίμην.
καὶ δʼ ἔτι κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐγὼ κακὰ μυθησαίμην,
ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν δορπῆσαι ἐάσατε κηδόμενόν περ·
οὐ γάρ τι στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον ἄλλο
ἔπλετο, ἥ τʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἕο μνήσασθαι ἀνάγκῃ
καὶ μάλα τειρόμενον καὶ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,
ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ πένθος μὲν ἔχω φρεσίν, ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αἰεὶ
ἐσθέμεναι κέλεται καὶ πινέμεν, ἐκ δέ με πάντων
ληθάνει ὅσσʼ ἔπαθον, καὶ ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἀνώγει.
ὑμεῖς δʼ ὀτρύνεσθαι ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν,
ὥς κʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐμῆς ἐπιβήσετε πάτρης
καί περ πολλὰ παθόντα· ἰδόντα με καὶ λίποι αἰὼν
κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.
ἀθανάτοισιν ἔοικα, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἀλλὰ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν.
οὕς τινας ὑμεῖς ἴστε μάλιστʼ ὀχέοντας ὀιζὺν
ἀνθρώπων, τοῖσίν κεν ἐν ἄλγεσιν ἰσωσαίμην.
καὶ δʼ ἔτι κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐγὼ κακὰ μυθησαίμην,
ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν δορπῆσαι ἐάσατε κηδόμενόν περ·
οὐ γάρ τι στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον ἄλλο
ἔπλετο, ἥ τʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἕο μνήσασθαι ἀνάγκῃ
καὶ μάλα τειρόμενον καὶ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,
ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ πένθος μὲν ἔχω φρεσίν, ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αἰεὶ
ἐσθέμεναι κέλεται καὶ πινέμεν, ἐκ δέ με πάντων
ληθάνει ὅσσʼ ἔπαθον, καὶ ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἀνώγει.
ὑμεῖς δʼ ὀτρύνεσθαι ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν,
ὥς κʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐμῆς ἐπιβήσετε πάτρης
καί περ πολλὰ παθόντα· ἰδόντα με καὶ λίποι αἰὼν
κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.
So he spoke, and they all approved and urged
that the stranger be sent on his way, since he had spoken rightly.
And when they had poured and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
they went off, each to his own house, to lie down;
but noble Odysseus was left behind in the hall,
and beside him sat Arete and Alcinous, godlike in form;
and the handmaids cleared away the vessels of the feast.
And white-armed Arete was the first to speak among them;
for she knew the cloak and the tunic when she saw the fine
clothes, which she herself had made with her handmaid women;
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
that the stranger be sent on his way, since he had spoken rightly.
And when they had poured and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
they went off, each to his own house, to lie down;
but noble Odysseus was left behind in the hall,
and beside him sat Arete and Alcinous, godlike in form;
and the handmaids cleared away the vessels of the feast.
And white-armed Arete was the first to speak among them;
for she knew the cloak and the tunic when she saw the fine
clothes, which she herself had made with her handmaid women;
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον
πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀρήτη τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοος θεοειδὴς
ἥσθην· ἀμφίπολοι δʼ ἀπεκόσμεον ἔντεα δαιτός.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων·
ἔγνω γὰρ φᾶρός τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἰδοῦσα
καλά, τά ῥʼ αὐτὴ τεῦξε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀρήτη τε καὶ Ἀλκίνοος θεοειδὴς
ἥσθην· ἀμφίπολοι δʼ ἀπεκόσμεον ἔντεα δαιτός.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων·
ἔγνω γὰρ φᾶρός τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἰδοῦσα
καλά, τά ῥʼ αὐτὴ τεῦξε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Stranger, this I will ask you myself, first of all:
Who are you among men, and from where? Who gave you these clothes?
Did you not say that you came here wandering over the sea?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
Who are you among men, and from where? Who gave you these clothes?
Did you not say that you came here wandering over the sea?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σε πρῶτον ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·
τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; τίς τοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκεν;
οὐ δὴ φῆς ἐπὶ πόντον ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι;
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; τίς τοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκεν;
οὐ δὴ φῆς ἐπὶ πόντον ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι;
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"It is hard, queen, to tell right through
my cares, since the gods of heaven have given me many;
but this I will tell you, which you ask and inquire of me.
There is an island, Ogygia, lying far off in the sea;
there the daughter of Atlas, guileful Calypso,
the fair-haired, lives, a dread goddess; and no one
has dealings with her, neither of the gods nor of mortal men.
But a divine power brought me, unlucky as I am, to her hearth,
alone, when Zeus struck my swift ship with a blazing thunderbolt
and shattered it in the middle of the wine-dark sea.
There all the rest of my noble companions perished,
but I took the keel of the curved ship in my arms
and was carried nine days; and on the tenth, in the black night,
the gods brought me near the island of Ogygia, where Calypso
the fair-haired lives, a dread goddess; and she took me in
and loved me carefully and fed me and kept saying
that she would make me immortal and ageless for ever;
but she never persuaded the spirit in my breast.
There I stayed seven years without a break, and always
I wet with tears the immortal clothes Calypso had given me.
But when the eighth year came round upon me,
then she urged me on and told me to go,
because of a message from Zeus, or else her own mind had turned.
She sent me off on a raft of many bindings, and gave me much,
bread and sweet wine, and clothed me in immortal clothing,
and sent a following wind, harmless and warm.
For seventeen days I sailed, making my way over the sea,
and on the eighteenth the shadowy mountains appeared
of your land, and my own heart was glad —
ill-fated: for I was still to keep company with much
misery, which Poseidon the earth-shaker roused against me.
He set the winds upon me and shut off my way,
and stirred up a sea past telling, and the wave
would not let me be carried on the raft, groaning heavily.
Then the storm-blast scattered it; but I
swam and cut my way across this gulf, until the wind
and the water carried me and brought me near your land.
There the wave would have overpowered me as I came out on the dry land,
dashing me on the great rocks and on a joyless place;
but I drew back and swam again, until I came
to a river, where the ground seemed best to me,
smooth of rocks, and there was shelter from the wind.
I fell out of it, gathering my spirit, and immortal night
came on. And I went apart from the rain-fed river
and lay down to sleep in the bushes, and heaped the leaves
about me; and a god poured boundless sleep upon me.
There among the leaves, with my heart afflicted,
I slept all night, and on through the dawn and the middle of the day.
The sun went down, and sweet sleep let me go.
And I saw your daughter’s handmaids playing on the shore,
and she was among them, like the goddesses.
I begged her; and she did not fail in good sense at all,
in a way you would not expect of a younger person met by chance;
for the young are always thoughtless.
She gave me bread in plenty and the gleaming wine,
and bathed me in the river and gave me these clothes.
This is the truth I have told you, grieved though I am."
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
my cares, since the gods of heaven have given me many;
but this I will tell you, which you ask and inquire of me.
There is an island, Ogygia, lying far off in the sea;
there the daughter of Atlas, guileful Calypso,
the fair-haired, lives, a dread goddess; and no one
has dealings with her, neither of the gods nor of mortal men.
But a divine power brought me, unlucky as I am, to her hearth,
alone, when Zeus struck my swift ship with a blazing thunderbolt
and shattered it in the middle of the wine-dark sea.
There all the rest of my noble companions perished,
but I took the keel of the curved ship in my arms
and was carried nine days; and on the tenth, in the black night,
the gods brought me near the island of Ogygia, where Calypso
the fair-haired lives, a dread goddess; and she took me in
and loved me carefully and fed me and kept saying
that she would make me immortal and ageless for ever;
but she never persuaded the spirit in my breast.
There I stayed seven years without a break, and always
I wet with tears the immortal clothes Calypso had given me.
But when the eighth year came round upon me,
then she urged me on and told me to go,
because of a message from Zeus, or else her own mind had turned.
She sent me off on a raft of many bindings, and gave me much,
bread and sweet wine, and clothed me in immortal clothing,
and sent a following wind, harmless and warm.
For seventeen days I sailed, making my way over the sea,
and on the eighteenth the shadowy mountains appeared
of your land, and my own heart was glad —
ill-fated: for I was still to keep company with much
misery, which Poseidon the earth-shaker roused against me.
He set the winds upon me and shut off my way,
and stirred up a sea past telling, and the wave
would not let me be carried on the raft, groaning heavily.
Then the storm-blast scattered it; but I
swam and cut my way across this gulf, until the wind
and the water carried me and brought me near your land.
There the wave would have overpowered me as I came out on the dry land,
dashing me on the great rocks and on a joyless place;
but I drew back and swam again, until I came
to a river, where the ground seemed best to me,
smooth of rocks, and there was shelter from the wind.
I fell out of it, gathering my spirit, and immortal night
came on. And I went apart from the rain-fed river
and lay down to sleep in the bushes, and heaped the leaves
about me; and a god poured boundless sleep upon me.
There among the leaves, with my heart afflicted,
I slept all night, and on through the dawn and the middle of the day.
The sun went down, and sweet sleep let me go.
And I saw your daughter’s handmaids playing on the shore,
and she was among them, like the goddesses.
I begged her; and she did not fail in good sense at all,
in a way you would not expect of a younger person met by chance;
for the young are always thoughtless.
She gave me bread in plenty and the gleaming wine,
and bathed me in the river and gave me these clothes.
This is the truth I have told you, grieved though I am."
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
ἀργαλέον, βασίλεια, διηνεκέως ἀγορεῦσαι
κήδεʼ, ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·
τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.
Ὠγυγίη τις νῆσος ἀπόπροθεν εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται·
ἔνθα μὲν Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ, δολόεσσα Καλυψὼ
ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός· οὐδέ τις αὐτῇ
μίσγεται οὔτε θεῶν οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐφέστιον ἤγαγε δαίμων
οἶον, ἐπεί μοι νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ
Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τρόπιν ἀγκὰς ἑλὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης
ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην· δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ
νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην πέλασαν θεοί, ἔνθα Καλυψὼ
ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ με λαβοῦσα
ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει τε καὶ ἔτρεφεν ἠδὲ ἔφασκε
θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα·
ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθεν.
ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον ἔμπεδον, εἵματα δʼ αἰεὶ
δάκρυσι δεύεσκον, τά μοι ἄμβροτα δῶκε Καλυψώ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὀγδόατόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἐποτρύνουσα νέεσθαι
Ζηνὸς ὑπʼ ἀγγελίης, ἢ καὶ νόος ἐτράπετʼ αὐτῆς.
πέμπε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε,
σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ, καὶ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσεν,
οὖρον δὲ προέηκεν ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέον ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόεντα
γαίης ὑμετέρης, γήθησε δέ μοι φίλον ἦτορ
δυσμόρῳ· ἦ γὰρ ἔμελλον ἔτι ξυνέσεσθαι ὀιζυῖ
πολλῇ, τήν μοι ἐπῶρσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
ὅς μοι ἐφορμήσας ἀνέμους κατέδησε κέλευθον,
ὤρινεν δὲ θάλασσαν ἀθέσφατον, οὐδέ τι κῦμα
εἴα ἐπὶ σχεδίης ἁδινὰ στενάχοντα φέρεσθαι.
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα θύελλα διεσκέδασʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
νηχόμενος τόδε λαῖτμα διέτμαγον, ὄφρα με γαίῃ
ὑμετέρῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ.
ἔνθα κέ μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βιήσατο κῦμʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,
πέτρῃς πρὸς μεγάλῃσι βαλὸν καὶ ἀτερπέι χώρῳ·
ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος νῆχον πάλιν, ἧος ἐπῆλθον
ἐς ποταμόν, τῇ δή μοι ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,
λεῖος πετράων, καὶ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο.
ἐκ δʼ ἔπεσον θυμηγερέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀμβροσίη νὺξ
ἤλυθʼ. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπάνευθε διιπετέος ποταμοῖο
ἐκβὰς ἐν θάμνοισι κατέδραθον, ἀμφὶ δὲ φύλλα
ἠφυσάμην· ὕπνον δὲ θεὸς κατʼ ἀπείρονα χεῦεν.
ἔνθα μὲν ἐν φύλλοισι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ
εὗδον παννύχιος καὶ ἐπʼ ἠῶ καὶ μέσον ἦμαρ.
δείλετό τʼ ἠέλιος καί με γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.
ἀμφιπόλους δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ τεῆς ἐνόησα θυγατρὸς
παιζούσας, ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ ἔην ἐικυῖα θεῇσι·
τὴν ἱκέτευσʼ· ἡ δʼ οὔ τι νοήματος ἤμβροτεν ἐσθλοῦ,
ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἔλποιο νεώτερον ἀντιάσαντα
ἐρξέμεν· αἰεὶ γάρ τε νεώτεροι ἀφραδέουσιν.
ἥ μοι σῖτον ἔδωκεν ἅλις ἠδʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον
καὶ λοῦσʼ ἐν ποταμῷ καί μοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκε.
ταῦτά τοι ἀχνύμενός περ ἀληθείην κατέλεξα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
κήδεʼ, ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·
τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.
Ὠγυγίη τις νῆσος ἀπόπροθεν εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται·
ἔνθα μὲν Ἄτλαντος θυγάτηρ, δολόεσσα Καλυψὼ
ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός· οὐδέ τις αὐτῇ
μίσγεται οὔτε θεῶν οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἐφέστιον ἤγαγε δαίμων
οἶον, ἐπεί μοι νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ
Ζεὺς ἔλσας ἐκέασσε μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀπέφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τρόπιν ἀγκὰς ἑλὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης
ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην· δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ
νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην πέλασαν θεοί, ἔνθα Καλυψὼ
ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεός, ἥ με λαβοῦσα
ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει τε καὶ ἔτρεφεν ἠδὲ ἔφασκε
θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα·
ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθεν.
ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον ἔμπεδον, εἵματα δʼ αἰεὶ
δάκρυσι δεύεσκον, τά μοι ἄμβροτα δῶκε Καλυψώ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὀγδόατόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἐποτρύνουσα νέεσθαι
Ζηνὸς ὑπʼ ἀγγελίης, ἢ καὶ νόος ἐτράπετʼ αὐτῆς.
πέμπε δʼ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε,
σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ, καὶ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσεν,
οὖρον δὲ προέηκεν ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μὲν πλέον ἤματα ποντοπορεύων,
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἐφάνη ὄρεα σκιόεντα
γαίης ὑμετέρης, γήθησε δέ μοι φίλον ἦτορ
δυσμόρῳ· ἦ γὰρ ἔμελλον ἔτι ξυνέσεσθαι ὀιζυῖ
πολλῇ, τήν μοι ἐπῶρσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
ὅς μοι ἐφορμήσας ἀνέμους κατέδησε κέλευθον,
ὤρινεν δὲ θάλασσαν ἀθέσφατον, οὐδέ τι κῦμα
εἴα ἐπὶ σχεδίης ἁδινὰ στενάχοντα φέρεσθαι.
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα θύελλα διεσκέδασʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
νηχόμενος τόδε λαῖτμα διέτμαγον, ὄφρα με γαίῃ
ὑμετέρῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ.
ἔνθα κέ μʼ ἐκβαίνοντα βιήσατο κῦμʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,
πέτρῃς πρὸς μεγάλῃσι βαλὸν καὶ ἀτερπέι χώρῳ·
ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος νῆχον πάλιν, ἧος ἐπῆλθον
ἐς ποταμόν, τῇ δή μοι ἐείσατο χῶρος ἄριστος,
λεῖος πετράων, καὶ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο.
ἐκ δʼ ἔπεσον θυμηγερέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀμβροσίη νὺξ
ἤλυθʼ. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπάνευθε διιπετέος ποταμοῖο
ἐκβὰς ἐν θάμνοισι κατέδραθον, ἀμφὶ δὲ φύλλα
ἠφυσάμην· ὕπνον δὲ θεὸς κατʼ ἀπείρονα χεῦεν.
ἔνθα μὲν ἐν φύλλοισι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ
εὗδον παννύχιος καὶ ἐπʼ ἠῶ καὶ μέσον ἦμαρ.
δείλετό τʼ ἠέλιος καί με γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.
ἀμφιπόλους δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ τεῆς ἐνόησα θυγατρὸς
παιζούσας, ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ ἔην ἐικυῖα θεῇσι·
τὴν ἱκέτευσʼ· ἡ δʼ οὔ τι νοήματος ἤμβροτεν ἐσθλοῦ,
ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἔλποιο νεώτερον ἀντιάσαντα
ἐρξέμεν· αἰεὶ γάρ τε νεώτεροι ἀφραδέουσιν.
ἥ μοι σῖτον ἔδωκεν ἅλις ἠδʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον
καὶ λοῦσʼ ἐν ποταμῷ καί μοι τάδε εἵματʼ ἔδωκε.
ταῦτά τοι ἀχνύμενός περ ἀληθείην κατέλεξα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"Stranger, in this one thing my child did not judge rightly,
in that she did not bring you to our house with her
handmaid women; and it was she you first begged."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
in that she did not bring you to our house with her
handmaid women; and it was she you first begged."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν τοῦτο γʼ ἐναίσιμον οὐκ ἐνόησε
παῖς ἐμή, οὕνεκά σʼ οὔ τι μετʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἦγεν ἐς ἡμέτερον, σὺ δʼ ἄρα πρώτην ἱκέτευσας.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
παῖς ἐμή, οὕνεκά σʼ οὔ τι μετʼ ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἦγεν ἐς ἡμέτερον, σὺ δʼ ἄρα πρώτην ἱκέτευσας.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Hero, do not blame the blameless girl for that.
For she did bid me follow with her handmaids,
but I would not, from fear and from shame,
in case your spirit should be angered at the sight;
for we tribes of men upon the earth are quick to suspect."
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
For she did bid me follow with her handmaids,
but I would not, from fear and from shame,
in case your spirit should be angered at the sight;
for we tribes of men upon the earth are quick to suspect."
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
ἥρως, μή τοι τοὔνεκʼ ἀμύμονα νείκεε κούρην·
ἡ μὲν γάρ μʼ ἐκέλευε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἕπεσθαι,
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἔθελον δείσας αἰσχυνόμενός τε,
μή πως καὶ σοὶ θυμὸς ἐπισκύσσαιτο ἰδόντι·
δύσζηλοι γάρ τʼ εἰμὲν ἐπὶ χθονὶ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
ἡ μὲν γάρ μʼ ἐκέλευε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἕπεσθαι,
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἔθελον δείσας αἰσχυνόμενός τε,
μή πως καὶ σοὶ θυμὸς ἐπισκύσσαιτο ἰδόντι·
δύσζηλοι γάρ τʼ εἰμὲν ἐπὶ χθονὶ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"Stranger, the heart in my breast is not such
as to be angered without cause; all things in due measure are better.
Would that — O father Zeus and Athena and Apollo —
being such a man as you are, and thinking as I think,
you might have my daughter and be called my son-in-law,
staying here; and I would give you a house and possessions,
if you would stay willingly. But against your will none
of the Phaeacians shall hold you; may that never please father Zeus.
And I fix your escort for this time, so that you may know it well:
tomorrow. Then you shall lie down, overcome by sleep,
while they row over the calm, until you come
to your own land and house, or wherever you please,
even if it is much further off than Euboea,
which they say lies furthest away, those of our people
who saw it, when they carried fair-haired Rhadamanthys
to look upon Tityus, the son of Gaia.
They went there, and without weariness accomplished
the voyage on that same day, and came home again.
You will know for yourself in your mind how far the best
my ships are, and my young men at tossing up the sea with the oar-blade."
as to be angered without cause; all things in due measure are better.
Would that — O father Zeus and Athena and Apollo —
being such a man as you are, and thinking as I think,
you might have my daughter and be called my son-in-law,
staying here; and I would give you a house and possessions,
if you would stay willingly. But against your will none
of the Phaeacians shall hold you; may that never please father Zeus.
And I fix your escort for this time, so that you may know it well:
tomorrow. Then you shall lie down, overcome by sleep,
while they row over the calm, until you come
to your own land and house, or wherever you please,
even if it is much further off than Euboea,
which they say lies furthest away, those of our people
who saw it, when they carried fair-haired Rhadamanthys
to look upon Tityus, the son of Gaia.
They went there, and without weariness accomplished
the voyage on that same day, and came home again.
You will know for yourself in your mind how far the best
my ships are, and my young men at tossing up the sea with the oar-blade."
ξεῖνʼ, οὔ μοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον κῆρ
μαψιδίως κεχολῶσθαι· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ἐσσι, τά τε φρονέων ἅ τʼ ἐγώ περ,
παῖδά τʼ ἐμὴν ἐχέμεν καὶ ἐμὸς γαμβρὸς καλέεσθαι
αὖθι μένων· οἶκον δέ κʼ ἐγὼ καὶ κτήματα δοίην,
εἴ κʼ ἐθέλων γε μένοις· ἀέκοντα δέ σʼ οὔ τις ἐρύξει
Φαιήκων· μὴ τοῦτο φίλον Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιτο.
πομπὴν δʼ ἐς τόδʼ ἐγὼ τεκμαίρομαι, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,
αὔριον ἔς· τῆμος δὲ σὺ μὲν δεδμημένος ὕπνῳ
λέξεαι, οἱ δʼ ἐλόωσι γαλήνην, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηαι
πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα, καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν,
εἴ περ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἑκαστέρω ἔστʼ Εὐβοίης,
τήν περ τηλοτάτω φάσʼ ἔμμεναι, οἵ μιν ἴδοντο
λαῶν ἡμετέρων, ὅτε τε ξανθὸν Ῥαδάμανθυν
ἦγον ἐποψόμενον Τιτυὸν Γαιήιον υἱόν.
καὶ μὲν οἱ ἔνθʼ ἦλθον καὶ ἄτερ καμάτοιο τέλεσσαν
ἤματι τῷ αὐτῷ καὶ ἀπήνυσαν οἴκαδʼ ὀπίσσω.
εἰδήσεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὅσσον ἄρισται
νῆες ἐμαὶ καὶ κοῦροι ἀναρρίπτειν ἅλα πηδῷ.
μαψιδίως κεχολῶσθαι· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ἐσσι, τά τε φρονέων ἅ τʼ ἐγώ περ,
παῖδά τʼ ἐμὴν ἐχέμεν καὶ ἐμὸς γαμβρὸς καλέεσθαι
αὖθι μένων· οἶκον δέ κʼ ἐγὼ καὶ κτήματα δοίην,
εἴ κʼ ἐθέλων γε μένοις· ἀέκοντα δέ σʼ οὔ τις ἐρύξει
Φαιήκων· μὴ τοῦτο φίλον Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιτο.
πομπὴν δʼ ἐς τόδʼ ἐγὼ τεκμαίρομαι, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,
αὔριον ἔς· τῆμος δὲ σὺ μὲν δεδμημένος ὕπνῳ
λέξεαι, οἱ δʼ ἐλόωσι γαλήνην, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηαι
πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα, καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν,
εἴ περ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἑκαστέρω ἔστʼ Εὐβοίης,
τήν περ τηλοτάτω φάσʼ ἔμμεναι, οἵ μιν ἴδοντο
λαῶν ἡμετέρων, ὅτε τε ξανθὸν Ῥαδάμανθυν
ἦγον ἐποψόμενον Τιτυὸν Γαιήιον υἱόν.
καὶ μὲν οἱ ἔνθʼ ἦλθον καὶ ἄτερ καμάτοιο τέλεσσαν
ἤματι τῷ αὐτῷ καὶ ἀπήνυσαν οἴκαδʼ ὀπίσσω.
εἰδήσεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὅσσον ἄρισται
νῆες ἐμαὶ καὶ κοῦροι ἀναρρίπτειν ἅλα πηδῷ.
So he spoke, and long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad,
and he spoke in prayer, and said a word and called upon him by name:
and he spoke in prayer, and said a word and called upon him by name:
ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
εὐχόμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
εὐχόμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Father Zeus, may Alcinous accomplish everything he has said;
then over the grain-giving earth his glory would be
unquenchable, and I would come to my own land."
then over the grain-giving earth his glory would be
unquenchable, and I would come to my own land."
Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἴθʼ ὅσα εἶπε τελευτήσειεν ἅπαντα
Ἀλκίνοος· τοῦ μέν κεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν
ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη, ἐγὼ δέ κε πατρίδʼ ἱκοίμην.
Ἀλκίνοος· τοῦ μέν κεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν
ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη, ἐγὼ δέ κε πατρίδʼ ἱκοίμην.
So they spoke such things to one another;
and white-armed Arete called to her handmaids
to set a bed under the portico, and to throw on it fine
purple coverlets, and to spread rugs above them,
and to lay on thick cloaks for a covering over all.
They went out of the hall with torches in their hands;
and when they had busily spread the thick bed,
they came and stirred Odysseus with their words:
"Rouse yourself to lie down, stranger; your bed is made."
and white-armed Arete called to her handmaids
to set a bed under the portico, and to throw on it fine
purple coverlets, and to spread rugs above them,
and to lay on thick cloaks for a covering over all.
They went out of the hall with torches in their hands;
and when they had busily spread the thick bed,
they came and stirred Odysseus with their words:
"Rouse yourself to lie down, stranger; your bed is made."
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
κέκλετο δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἀμφιπόλοισιν
δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ
πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας
χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.
αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι·
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ στόρεσαν πυκινὸν λέχος ἐγκονέουσαι,
ὤτρυνον δʼ Ὀδυσῆα παριστάμεναι ἐπέεσσιν·
ὄρσο κέων, ὦ ξεῖνε· πεποίηται δέ τοι εὐνή.
κέκλετο δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἀμφιπόλοισιν
δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰ
πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας
χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.
αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι·
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ στόρεσαν πυκινὸν λέχος ἐγκονέουσαι,
ὤτρυνον δʼ Ὀδυσῆα παριστάμεναι ἐπέεσσιν·
ὄρσο κέων, ὦ ξεῖνε· πεποίηται δέ τοι εὐνή.
So they spoke, and it seemed welcome to him to lie down.
So there he slept, long-suffering noble Odysseus,
in the corded bed under the echoing portico;
and Alcinous lay down in the inner room of the high house,
and beside him his lady wife prepared the bed and the couch.
So there he slept, long-suffering noble Odysseus,
in the corded bed under the echoing portico;
and Alcinous lay down in the inner room of the high house,
and beside him his lady wife prepared the bed and the couch.
ὣς φάν, τῷ δʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο κοιμηθῆναι.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθεῦδε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
τρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσιν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ·
Ἀλκίνοος δʼ ἄρα λέκτο μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,
πὰρ δὲ γυνὴ δέσποινα λέχος πόρσυνε καὶ εὐνήν.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθεῦδε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
τρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσιν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ·
Ἀλκίνοος δʼ ἄρα λέκτο μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,
πὰρ δὲ γυνὴ δέσποινα λέχος πόρσυνε καὶ εὐνήν.
Book 8
At the Phaeacian games a taunt makes Odysseus throw the discus past every mark. The blind singer Demodocus performs the loves of Ares and Aphrodite — and then a song of Troy that makes the stranger weep into his cloak until the king asks who he is.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
the sacred might of Alcinous rose from his bed,
and Odysseus, born of Zeus, sacker of cities, rose as well.
And the sacred might of Alcinous led them
to the Phaeacian meeting-place, which was built for them beside the ships.
They came and sat down on the polished stones,
close together. And Pallas Athena went through the town,
in the likeness of the herald of warlike-minded Alcinous,
devising the homecoming of high-hearted Odysseus.
And standing beside each man she spoke a word:
"Come now, leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
go to the meeting-place, so that you may learn about the stranger
who has newly come to the house of warlike-minded Alcinous
after wandering over the sea, like the immortals in body."
the sacred might of Alcinous rose from his bed,
and Odysseus, born of Zeus, sacker of cities, rose as well.
And the sacred might of Alcinous led them
to the Phaeacian meeting-place, which was built for them beside the ships.
They came and sat down on the polished stones,
close together. And Pallas Athena went through the town,
in the likeness of the herald of warlike-minded Alcinous,
devising the homecoming of high-hearted Odysseus.
And standing beside each man she spoke a word:
"Come now, leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
go to the meeting-place, so that you may learn about the stranger
who has newly come to the house of warlike-minded Alcinous
after wandering over the sea, like the immortals in body."
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆς ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
ἂν δʼ ἄρα διογενὴς ὦρτο πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο
Φαιήκων ἀγορήνδʼ, ἥ σφιν παρὰ νηυσὶ τέτυκτο.
ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοισι
πλησίον. ἡ δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ μετῴχετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
εἰδομένη κήρυκι δαΐφρονος Ἀλκινόοιο,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα,
καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον·
δεῦτʼ ἄγε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
εἰς ἀγορὴν ἰέναι, ὄφρα ξείνοιο πύθησθε,
ὃς νέον Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἵκετο δῶμα
πόντον ἐπιπλαγχθείς, δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος.
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆς ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
ἂν δʼ ἄρα διογενὴς ὦρτο πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο
Φαιήκων ἀγορήνδʼ, ἥ σφιν παρὰ νηυσὶ τέτυκτο.
ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοισι
πλησίον. ἡ δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ μετῴχετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
εἰδομένη κήρυκι δαΐφρονος Ἀλκινόοιο,
νόστον Ὀδυσσῆι μεγαλήτορι μητιόωσα,
καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον·
δεῦτʼ ἄγε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
εἰς ἀγορὴν ἰέναι, ὄφρα ξείνοιο πύθησθε,
ὃς νέον Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἵκετο δῶμα
πόντον ἐπιπλαγχθείς, δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος.
So saying she stirred the force and spirit of each man.
Quickly the meeting-places and the seats were filled with men
as they gathered; and many looked and gazed
at the warlike-minded son of Laertes. And Athena
poured a wondrous grace over his head and his shoulders
and made him taller and broader to look at,
so that he might be dear to all the Phaeacians,
awe-inspiring and worthy of respect, and might carry through the many
contests in which the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus.
But when they had gathered and were come together,
Alcinous rose and spoke among them:
Quickly the meeting-places and the seats were filled with men
as they gathered; and many looked and gazed
at the warlike-minded son of Laertes. And Athena
poured a wondrous grace over his head and his shoulders
and made him taller and broader to look at,
so that he might be dear to all the Phaeacians,
awe-inspiring and worthy of respect, and might carry through the many
contests in which the Phaeacians made trial of Odysseus.
But when they had gathered and were come together,
Alcinous rose and spoke among them:
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὤτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔμπληντο βροτῶν ἀγοραί τε καὶ ἕδραι
ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐθηήσαντο ἰδόντες
υἱὸν Λαέρταο δαΐφρονα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη
θεσπεσίην κατέχευε χάριν κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ὤμοις
καί μιν μακρότερον καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι,
ὥς κεν Φαιήκεσσι φίλος πάντεσσι γένοιτο
δεινός τʼ αἰδοῖός τε καὶ ἐκτελέσειεν ἀέθλους
πολλούς, τοὺς Φαίηκες ἐπειρήσαντʼ Ὀδυσῆος.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔμπληντο βροτῶν ἀγοραί τε καὶ ἕδραι
ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐθηήσαντο ἰδόντες
υἱὸν Λαέρταο δαΐφρονα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη
θεσπεσίην κατέχευε χάριν κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ὤμοις
καί μιν μακρότερον καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι,
ὥς κεν Φαιήκεσσι φίλος πάντεσσι γένοιτο
δεινός τʼ αἰδοῖός τε καὶ ἐκτελέσειεν ἀέθλους
πολλούς, τοὺς Φαίηκες ἐπειρήσαντʼ Ὀδυσῆος.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
"Hear me, leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
so that I may say what the spirit in my breast bids me.
This stranger — I do not know who he is — has come wandering to my house,
either from the men of the east or from those of the west;
and he presses for an escort, and begs that it be made sure.
Let us, as we have done before, hasten his escort.
For no other man who comes to my house
waits here long, lamenting for want of an escort.
Come, let us drag a black ship down to the shining sea,
one sailing for the first time, and let fifty-two young men
be chosen through the land, all who have been best before.
When you have all lashed the oars well to the thole-pins,
come ashore; and after that make ready a swift feast
when you have come to my house; and I will provide well for all.
These are my orders to the young men. But you others,
sceptred kings, come to my fine house,
so that we may entertain the stranger in the halls,
and let no one refuse. And call the divine singer
Demodocus; for a god has granted him song beyond all others,
to give delight, whichever way his spirit stirs him to sing."
so that I may say what the spirit in my breast bids me.
This stranger — I do not know who he is — has come wandering to my house,
either from the men of the east or from those of the west;
and he presses for an escort, and begs that it be made sure.
Let us, as we have done before, hasten his escort.
For no other man who comes to my house
waits here long, lamenting for want of an escort.
Come, let us drag a black ship down to the shining sea,
one sailing for the first time, and let fifty-two young men
be chosen through the land, all who have been best before.
When you have all lashed the oars well to the thole-pins,
come ashore; and after that make ready a swift feast
when you have come to my house; and I will provide well for all.
These are my orders to the young men. But you others,
sceptred kings, come to my fine house,
so that we may entertain the stranger in the halls,
and let no one refuse. And call the divine singer
Demodocus; for a god has granted him song beyond all others,
to give delight, whichever way his spirit stirs him to sing."
κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
ξεῖνος ὅδʼ, οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅς τις, ἀλώμενος ἵκετʼ ἐμὸν δῶ,
ἠὲ πρὸς ἠοίων ἦ ἑσπερίων ἀνθρώπων·
πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνει, καὶ λίσσεται ἔμπεδον εἶναι.
ἡμεῖς δʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ, ἐποτρυνώμεθα πομπήν.
οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος, ὅτις κʼ ἐμὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται,
ἐνθάδʼ ὀδυρόμενος δηρὸν μένει εἵνεκα πομπῆς.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν
πρωτόπλοον, κούρω δὲ δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα
κρινάσθων κατὰ δῆμον, ὅσοι πάρος εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.
δησάμενοι δʼ ἐὺ πάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσιν ἐρετμὰ
ἔκβητʼ· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θοὴν ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτα
ἡμέτερόνδʼ ἐλθόντες· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐὺ πᾶσι παρέξω.
κούροισιν μὲν ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι
σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματα καλὰ
ἔρχεσθʼ, ὄφρα ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι φιλέωμεν,
μηδέ τις ἀρνείσθω. καλέσασθε δὲ θεῖον ἀοιδὸν
Δημόδοκον· τῷ γάρ ῥα θεὸς πέρι δῶκεν ἀοιδὴν
τέρπειν, ὅππῃ θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃσιν ἀείδειν.
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
ξεῖνος ὅδʼ, οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅς τις, ἀλώμενος ἵκετʼ ἐμὸν δῶ,
ἠὲ πρὸς ἠοίων ἦ ἑσπερίων ἀνθρώπων·
πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνει, καὶ λίσσεται ἔμπεδον εἶναι.
ἡμεῖς δʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ, ἐποτρυνώμεθα πομπήν.
οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος, ὅτις κʼ ἐμὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται,
ἐνθάδʼ ὀδυρόμενος δηρὸν μένει εἵνεκα πομπῆς.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν
πρωτόπλοον, κούρω δὲ δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα
κρινάσθων κατὰ δῆμον, ὅσοι πάρος εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.
δησάμενοι δʼ ἐὺ πάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσιν ἐρετμὰ
ἔκβητʼ· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θοὴν ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτα
ἡμέτερόνδʼ ἐλθόντες· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐὺ πᾶσι παρέξω.
κούροισιν μὲν ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι
σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματα καλὰ
ἔρχεσθʼ, ὄφρα ξεῖνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι φιλέωμεν,
μηδέ τις ἀρνείσθω. καλέσασθε δὲ θεῖον ἀοιδὸν
Δημόδοκον· τῷ γάρ ῥα θεὸς πέρι δῶκεν ἀοιδὴν
τέρπειν, ὅππῃ θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃσιν ἀείδειν.
So saying he led the way, and the sceptred kings
followed with him; and a herald went for the divine singer.
And fifty-two chosen young men
went, as he had ordered, to the shore of the barren sea.
But when they had come down to the ship and the sea,
they dragged the black ship down into the deep of the sea,
and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,
and fitted the oars in their leather loops,
everything in due order, and spread the white sails.
They moored her high up in the water; and afterwards
they went to the great house of warlike-minded Alcinous.
The porticoes and the enclosures and the rooms were filled with men
as they gathered; and there were many of them, young and old.
For them Alcinous sacrificed twelve sheep,
eight white-tusked boars, and two shambling oxen;
these they flayed and dressed, and made ready a lovely feast.
And the herald came near, bringing the trusty singer,
whom the Muse loved beyond others, and gave him good and evil:
she took away his eyes, but gave him sweet song.
For him Pontonous set a chair studded with silver
in the middle of the banqueters, leaning it against a tall pillar;
and he hung the clear-toned lyre from a peg
above his head, and showed him how to take it in his hands,
the herald; and he set a basket beside him and a fine table,
and a cup of wine, to drink when his spirit bade him.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
the Muse stirred the singer to sing the glorious deeds of men,
from that lay whose glory then reached the wide heaven:
the quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles, son of Peleus,
how once they contended at the rich feast of the gods
with terrible words, and Agamemnon, lord of men,
was glad in his mind that the best of the Achaeans were quarrelling.
For so Phoebus Apollo had told him in prophecy
in most holy Pytho, when he crossed the stone threshold
to consult him; for then the beginning of suffering was rolling on
for Trojans and for Danaans, through the counsels of great Zeus.
This the famous singer sang; but Odysseus
took his great purple cloak in his strong hands
and drew it down over his head, and hid his handsome face;
for he was ashamed before the Phaeacians to let tears fall from under his brows.
followed with him; and a herald went for the divine singer.
And fifty-two chosen young men
went, as he had ordered, to the shore of the barren sea.
But when they had come down to the ship and the sea,
they dragged the black ship down into the deep of the sea,
and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,
and fitted the oars in their leather loops,
everything in due order, and spread the white sails.
They moored her high up in the water; and afterwards
they went to the great house of warlike-minded Alcinous.
The porticoes and the enclosures and the rooms were filled with men
as they gathered; and there were many of them, young and old.
For them Alcinous sacrificed twelve sheep,
eight white-tusked boars, and two shambling oxen;
these they flayed and dressed, and made ready a lovely feast.
And the herald came near, bringing the trusty singer,
whom the Muse loved beyond others, and gave him good and evil:
she took away his eyes, but gave him sweet song.
For him Pontonous set a chair studded with silver
in the middle of the banqueters, leaning it against a tall pillar;
and he hung the clear-toned lyre from a peg
above his head, and showed him how to take it in his hands,
the herald; and he set a basket beside him and a fine table,
and a cup of wine, to drink when his spirit bade him.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
the Muse stirred the singer to sing the glorious deeds of men,
from that lay whose glory then reached the wide heaven:
the quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles, son of Peleus,
how once they contended at the rich feast of the gods
with terrible words, and Agamemnon, lord of men,
was glad in his mind that the best of the Achaeans were quarrelling.
For so Phoebus Apollo had told him in prophecy
in most holy Pytho, when he crossed the stone threshold
to consult him; for then the beginning of suffering was rolling on
for Trojans and for Danaans, through the counsels of great Zeus.
This the famous singer sang; but Odysseus
took his great purple cloak in his strong hands
and drew it down over his head, and hid his handsome face;
for he was ashamed before the Phaeacians to let tears fall from under his brows.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο
σκηπτοῦχοι· κῆρυξ δὲ μετῴχετο θεῖον ἀοιδόν.
κούρω δὲ κρινθέντε δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα
βήτην, ὡς ἐκέλευσʼ, ἐπὶ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν,
ἐν δʼ ἱστόν τʼ ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
ἠρτύναντο δʼ ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισι,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν.
ὑψοῦ δʼ ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γʼ ὥρμισαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἐς μέγα δῶμα.
πλῆντο δʼ ἄρʼ αἴθουσαί τε καὶ ἕρκεα καὶ δόμοι ἀνδρῶν
ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος δυοκαίδεκα μῆλʼ ἱέρευσεν,
ὀκτὼ δʼ ἀργιόδοντας ὕας, δύο δʼ εἰλίποδας βοῦς·
τοὺς δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, τετύκοντό τε δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν.
κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν,
τὸν πέρι μοῦσʼ ἐφίλησε, δίδου δʼ ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε·
ὀφθαλμῶν μὲν ἄμερσε, δίδου δʼ ἡδεῖαν ἀοιδήν.
τῷ δʼ ἄρα Ποντόνοος θῆκε θρόνον ἀργυρόηλον
μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας·
κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἐπέφραδε χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι
κῆρυξ· πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει κάνεον καλήν τε τράπεζαν,
πὰρ δὲ δέπας οἴνοιο, πιεῖν ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
μοῦσʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸν ἀνῆκεν ἀειδέμεναι κλέα ἀνδρῶν,
οἴμης τῆς τότʼ ἄρα κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἵκανε,
νεῖκος Ὀδυσσῆος καὶ Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος,
ὥς ποτε δηρίσαντο θεῶν ἐν δαιτὶ θαλείῃ
ἐκπάγλοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἄναξ δʼ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
χαῖρε νόῳ, ὅ τʼ ἄριστοι Ἀχαιῶν δηριόωντο.
ὣς γάρ οἱ χρείων μυθήσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
Πυθοῖ ἐν ἠγαθέῃ, ὅθʼ ὑπέρβη λάινον οὐδὸν
χρησόμενος· τότε γάρ ῥα κυλίνδετο πήματος ἀρχὴ
Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι Διὸς μεγάλου διὰ βουλάς.
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
πορφύρεον μέγα φᾶρος ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι
κὰκ κεφαλῆς εἴρυσσε, κάλυψε δὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα·
αἴδετο γὰρ Φαίηκας ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυα λείβων.
σκηπτοῦχοι· κῆρυξ δὲ μετῴχετο θεῖον ἀοιδόν.
κούρω δὲ κρινθέντε δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα
βήτην, ὡς ἐκέλευσʼ, ἐπὶ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν,
ἐν δʼ ἱστόν τʼ ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
ἠρτύναντο δʼ ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισι,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν.
ὑψοῦ δʼ ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γʼ ὥρμισαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν Ἀλκινόοιο δαΐφρονος ἐς μέγα δῶμα.
πλῆντο δʼ ἄρʼ αἴθουσαί τε καὶ ἕρκεα καὶ δόμοι ἀνδρῶν
ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν, νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος δυοκαίδεκα μῆλʼ ἱέρευσεν,
ὀκτὼ δʼ ἀργιόδοντας ὕας, δύο δʼ εἰλίποδας βοῦς·
τοὺς δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, τετύκοντό τε δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν.
κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν,
τὸν πέρι μοῦσʼ ἐφίλησε, δίδου δʼ ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε·
ὀφθαλμῶν μὲν ἄμερσε, δίδου δʼ ἡδεῖαν ἀοιδήν.
τῷ δʼ ἄρα Ποντόνοος θῆκε θρόνον ἀργυρόηλον
μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας·
κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἐπέφραδε χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι
κῆρυξ· πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει κάνεον καλήν τε τράπεζαν,
πὰρ δὲ δέπας οἴνοιο, πιεῖν ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
μοῦσʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸν ἀνῆκεν ἀειδέμεναι κλέα ἀνδρῶν,
οἴμης τῆς τότʼ ἄρα κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἵκανε,
νεῖκος Ὀδυσσῆος καὶ Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος,
ὥς ποτε δηρίσαντο θεῶν ἐν δαιτὶ θαλείῃ
ἐκπάγλοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἄναξ δʼ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
χαῖρε νόῳ, ὅ τʼ ἄριστοι Ἀχαιῶν δηριόωντο.
ὣς γάρ οἱ χρείων μυθήσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
Πυθοῖ ἐν ἠγαθέῃ, ὅθʼ ὑπέρβη λάινον οὐδὸν
χρησόμενος· τότε γάρ ῥα κυλίνδετο πήματος ἀρχὴ
Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι Διὸς μεγάλου διὰ βουλάς.
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
πορφύρεον μέγα φᾶρος ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι
κὰκ κεφαλῆς εἴρυσσε, κάλυψε δὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα·
αἴδετο γὰρ Φαίηκας ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυα λείβων.
Whenever the divine singer left off singing,
he would wipe away his tears and take the cloak from his head
and take the two-handled cup and pour to the gods;
but when the singer began again, and the best of the Phaeacians
urged him to sing, since they took delight in his words,
again Odysseus covered his head and wept.
There he escaped the notice of all the rest as he shed tears,
but Alcinous alone marked him and took note,
sitting close beside him, and heard him groaning heavily.
At once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians:
he would wipe away his tears and take the cloak from his head
and take the two-handled cup and pour to the gods;
but when the singer began again, and the best of the Phaeacians
urged him to sing, since they took delight in his words,
again Odysseus covered his head and wept.
There he escaped the notice of all the rest as he shed tears,
but Alcinous alone marked him and took note,
sitting close beside him, and heard him groaning heavily.
At once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians:
ἦ τοι ὅτε λήξειεν ἀείδων θεῖος ἀοιδός,
δάκρυ ὀμορξάμενος κεφαλῆς ἄπο φᾶρος ἕλεσκε
καὶ δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον ἑλὼν σπείσασκε θεοῖσιν·
αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἂψ ἄρχοιτο καὶ ὀτρύνειαν ἀείδειν
Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐπεὶ τέρποντʼ ἐπέεσσιν,
ἂψ Ὀδυσεὺς κατὰ κρᾶτα καλυψάμενος γοάασκεν.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων,
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν
ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ, βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν.
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·
δάκρυ ὀμορξάμενος κεφαλῆς ἄπο φᾶρος ἕλεσκε
καὶ δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον ἑλὼν σπείσασκε θεοῖσιν·
αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἂψ ἄρχοιτο καὶ ὀτρύνειαν ἀείδειν
Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐπεὶ τέρποντʼ ἐπέεσσιν,
ἂψ Ὀδυσεὺς κατὰ κρᾶτα καλυψάμενος γοάασκεν.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων,
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν
ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ, βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν.
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·
"Hear me, leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians.
Now we have satisfied our spirit with the equal feast
and with the lyre, which is the companion of the rich feast.
Now let us go out and make trial of the contests,
all of them, so that the stranger may tell his own people,
when he has come home, how far we surpass others
in boxing and wrestling and jumping and running."
Now we have satisfied our spirit with the equal feast
and with the lyre, which is the companion of the rich feast.
Now let us go out and make trial of the contests,
all of them, so that the stranger may tell his own people,
when he has come home, how far we surpass others
in boxing and wrestling and jumping and running."
κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες.
ἤδη μὲν δαιτὸς κεκορήμεθα θυμὸν ἐίσης
φόρμιγγός θʼ, ἣ δαιτὶ συνήορός ἐστι θαλείῃ·
νῦν δʼ ἐξέλθωμεν καὶ ἀέθλων πειρηθῶμεν
πάντων, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνίσπῃ οἷσι φίλοισιν
οἴκαδε νοστήσας, ὅσσον περιγιγνόμεθʼ ἄλλων
πύξ τε παλαιμοσύνῃ τε καὶ ἅλμασιν ἠδὲ πόδεσσιν.
ἤδη μὲν δαιτὸς κεκορήμεθα θυμὸν ἐίσης
φόρμιγγός θʼ, ἣ δαιτὶ συνήορός ἐστι θαλείῃ·
νῦν δʼ ἐξέλθωμεν καὶ ἀέθλων πειρηθῶμεν
πάντων, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνίσπῃ οἷσι φίλοισιν
οἴκαδε νοστήσας, ὅσσον περιγιγνόμεθʼ ἄλλων
πύξ τε παλαιμοσύνῃ τε καὶ ἅλμασιν ἠδὲ πόδεσσιν.
So saying he led the way, and they followed with him.
And the herald hung the clear-toned lyre on its peg,
and took Demodocus by the hand and led him out of the hall,
and went before him by the same road as the others,
the best of the Phaeacians, who were to watch the contests.
They went to the meeting-place, and a great crowd followed with them,
past counting; and many noble young men stood up.
Up rose Acroneus and Ocyalus and Elatreus,
Nauteus and Prymneus and Anchialus and Eretmeus,
Ponteus and Proreus, Thoon and Anabesineus,
and Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tecton;
and up rose Euryalus too, like Ares the bane of mortals,
son of Naubolus, who was best in looks and in body
of all the Phaeacians after blameless Laodamas.
And up stood the three sons of blameless Alcinous,
Laodamas and Halius and godlike Clytoneus.
First of all they made trial of running.
The course was stretched out for them from the mark; and all together
they flew swiftly, raising the dust of the plain.
Of these blameless Clytoneus was far the best at running:
as far as the range of a pair of mules in the fallow field,
so far he ran ahead and reached the crowd, and the others were left behind.
Then they made trial of painful wrestling;
and in that Euryalus surpassed all the best.
In the jump Amphialus was the finest of all;
with the discus Elatreus was far the best of all,
and at boxing Laodamas, the good son of Alcinous.
But when they had all delighted their minds with the contests,
Laodamas, son of Alcinous, spoke among them:
And the herald hung the clear-toned lyre on its peg,
and took Demodocus by the hand and led him out of the hall,
and went before him by the same road as the others,
the best of the Phaeacians, who were to watch the contests.
They went to the meeting-place, and a great crowd followed with them,
past counting; and many noble young men stood up.
Up rose Acroneus and Ocyalus and Elatreus,
Nauteus and Prymneus and Anchialus and Eretmeus,
Ponteus and Proreus, Thoon and Anabesineus,
and Amphialus, son of Polyneus, son of Tecton;
and up rose Euryalus too, like Ares the bane of mortals,
son of Naubolus, who was best in looks and in body
of all the Phaeacians after blameless Laodamas.
And up stood the three sons of blameless Alcinous,
Laodamas and Halius and godlike Clytoneus.
First of all they made trial of running.
The course was stretched out for them from the mark; and all together
they flew swiftly, raising the dust of the plain.
Of these blameless Clytoneus was far the best at running:
as far as the range of a pair of mules in the fallow field,
so far he ran ahead and reached the crowd, and the others were left behind.
Then they made trial of painful wrestling;
and in that Euryalus surpassed all the best.
In the jump Amphialus was the finest of all;
with the discus Elatreus was far the best of all,
and at boxing Laodamas, the good son of Alcinous.
But when they had all delighted their minds with the contests,
Laodamas, son of Alcinous, spoke among them:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο.
κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν,
Δημοδόκου δʼ ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἔξαγεν ἐκ μεγάροιο
κῆρυξ· ἦρχε δὲ τῷ αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἥν περ οἱ ἄλλοι
Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἀέθλια θαυμανέοντες.
βὰν δʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, ἅμα δʼ ἕσπετο πουλὺς ὅμιλος,
μυρίοι· ἂν δʼ ἵσταντο νέοι πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.
ὦρτο μὲν Ἀκρόνεώς τε καὶ Ὠκύαλος καὶ Ἐλατρεύς,
Ναυτεύς τε Πρυμνεύς τε καὶ Ἀγχίαλος καὶ Ἐρετμεύς,
Ποντεύς τε Πρωρεύς τε, Θόων Ἀναβησίνεώς τε
Ἀμφίαλός θʼ, υἱὸς Πολυνήου Τεκτονίδαο·
ἂν δὲ καὶ Εὐρύαλος, βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ,
Ναυβολίδης, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε
πάντων Φαιήκων μετʼ ἀμύμονα Λαοδάμαντα.
ἂν δʼ ἔσταν τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονος Ἀλκινόοιο,
Λαοδάμας θʼ Ἅλιός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Κλυτόνηος.
οἱ δʼ ἦ τοι πρῶτον μὲν ἐπειρήσαντο πόδεσσι.
τοῖσι δʼ ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες
καρπαλίμως ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο·
τῶν δὲ θέειν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἔην Κλυτόνηος ἀμύμων·
ὅσσον τʼ ἐν νειῷ οὖρον πέλει ἡμιόνοιιν,
τόσσον ὑπεκπροθέων λαοὺς ἵκεθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἐλίποντο.
οἱ δὲ παλαιμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς πειρήσαντο·
τῇ δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπεκαίνυτο πάντας ἀρίστους.
ἅλματι δʼ Ἀμφίαλος πάντων προφερέστατος ἦεν·
δίσκῳ δʼ αὖ πάντων πολὺ φέρτατος ἦεν Ἐλατρεύς,
πὺξ δʼ αὖ Λαοδάμας, ἀγαθὸς πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθησαν φρένʼ ἀέθλοις,
τοῖς ἄρα Λαοδάμας μετέφη πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο·
κὰδ δʼ ἐκ πασσαλόφι κρέμασεν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν,
Δημοδόκου δʼ ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἔξαγεν ἐκ μεγάροιο
κῆρυξ· ἦρχε δὲ τῷ αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἥν περ οἱ ἄλλοι
Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἀέθλια θαυμανέοντες.
βὰν δʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, ἅμα δʼ ἕσπετο πουλὺς ὅμιλος,
μυρίοι· ἂν δʼ ἵσταντο νέοι πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.
ὦρτο μὲν Ἀκρόνεώς τε καὶ Ὠκύαλος καὶ Ἐλατρεύς,
Ναυτεύς τε Πρυμνεύς τε καὶ Ἀγχίαλος καὶ Ἐρετμεύς,
Ποντεύς τε Πρωρεύς τε, Θόων Ἀναβησίνεώς τε
Ἀμφίαλός θʼ, υἱὸς Πολυνήου Τεκτονίδαο·
ἂν δὲ καὶ Εὐρύαλος, βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ,
Ναυβολίδης, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε
πάντων Φαιήκων μετʼ ἀμύμονα Λαοδάμαντα.
ἂν δʼ ἔσταν τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονος Ἀλκινόοιο,
Λαοδάμας θʼ Ἅλιός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Κλυτόνηος.
οἱ δʼ ἦ τοι πρῶτον μὲν ἐπειρήσαντο πόδεσσι.
τοῖσι δʼ ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες
καρπαλίμως ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο·
τῶν δὲ θέειν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἔην Κλυτόνηος ἀμύμων·
ὅσσον τʼ ἐν νειῷ οὖρον πέλει ἡμιόνοιιν,
τόσσον ὑπεκπροθέων λαοὺς ἵκεθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἐλίποντο.
οἱ δὲ παλαιμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς πειρήσαντο·
τῇ δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπεκαίνυτο πάντας ἀρίστους.
ἅλματι δʼ Ἀμφίαλος πάντων προφερέστατος ἦεν·
δίσκῳ δʼ αὖ πάντων πολὺ φέρτατος ἦεν Ἐλατρεύς,
πὺξ δʼ αὖ Λαοδάμας, ἀγαθὸς πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθησαν φρένʼ ἀέθλοις,
τοῖς ἄρα Λαοδάμας μετέφη πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο·
"Come, friends, let us ask the stranger whether he knows
and has learned any contest. In build he is not bad at all:
look at his thighs and his calves and both his arms above,
his strong neck and his great force. He does not lack
youth, but he has been broken by many evils;
for I say there is nothing worse than the sea
to break a man down, however strong he may be."
Then Euryalus answered him in turn and said:
and has learned any contest. In build he is not bad at all:
look at his thighs and his calves and both his arms above,
his strong neck and his great force. He does not lack
youth, but he has been broken by many evils;
for I say there is nothing worse than the sea
to break a man down, however strong he may be."
Then Euryalus answered him in turn and said:
δεῦτε, φίλοι, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐρώμεθα εἴ τινʼ ἄεθλον
οἶδέ τε καὶ δεδάηκε. φυήν γε μὲν οὐ κακός ἐστι,
μηρούς τε κνήμας τε καὶ ἄμφω χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
αὐχένα τε στιβαρὸν μέγα τε σθένος· οὐδέ τι ἥβης
δεύεται, ἀλλὰ κακοῖσι συνέρρηκται πολέεσσιν·
οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γέ τί φημι κακώτερον ἄλλο θαλάσσης
ἄνδρα γε συγχεῦαι, εἰ καὶ μάλα καρτερὸς εἴη.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
οἶδέ τε καὶ δεδάηκε. φυήν γε μὲν οὐ κακός ἐστι,
μηρούς τε κνήμας τε καὶ ἄμφω χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
αὐχένα τε στιβαρὸν μέγα τε σθένος· οὐδέ τι ἥβης
δεύεται, ἀλλὰ κακοῖσι συνέρρηκται πολέεσσιν·
οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γέ τί φημι κακώτερον ἄλλο θαλάσσης
ἄνδρα γε συγχεῦαι, εἰ καὶ μάλα καρτερὸς εἴη.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"Laodamas, you have spoken this word quite as is right.
Go now yourself and challenge him, and speak your word."
But when the good son of Alcinous heard this,
he went and stood in the middle and spoke to Odysseus:
Go now yourself and challenge him, and speak your word."
But when the good son of Alcinous heard this,
he went and stood in the middle and spoke to Odysseus:
Λαοδάμα, μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
αὐτὸς νῦν προκάλεσσαι ἰὼν καὶ πέφραδε μῦθον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἀγαθὸς πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο,
στῆ ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπε·
αὐτὸς νῦν προκάλεσσαι ἰὼν καὶ πέφραδε μῦθον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσʼ ἀγαθὸς πάϊς Ἀλκινόοιο,
στῆ ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπε·
"Come here, father stranger, and you too make trial of the contests,
if you have learned any; and it is likely that you know contests.
For there is no greater glory for a man, while he lives,
than what he can do with his feet and with his hands.
Come, make trial, and scatter the cares from your spirit.
Your journey will not be far off much longer; already
the ship is drawn down and the companions are ready."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
if you have learned any; and it is likely that you know contests.
For there is no greater glory for a man, while he lives,
than what he can do with his feet and with his hands.
Come, make trial, and scatter the cares from your spirit.
Your journey will not be far off much longer; already
the ship is drawn down and the companions are ready."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
δεῦρʼ ἄγε καὶ σύ, ξεῖνε πάτερ, πείρησαι ἀέθλων,
εἴ τινά που δεδάηκας· ἔοικε δέ σʼ ἴδμεν ἀέθλους·
οὐ μὲν γὰρ μεῖζον κλέος ἀνέρος ὄφρα κʼ ἔῃσιν,
ἤ ὅ τι ποσσίν τε ῥέξῃ καὶ χερσὶν ἑῇσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε πείρησαι, σκέδασον δʼ ἀπὸ κήδεα θυμοῦ.
σοὶ δʼ ὁδὸς οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀπέσσεται, ἀλλά τοι ἤδη
νηῦς τε κατείρυσται καὶ ἐπαρτέες εἰσὶν ἑταῖροι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
εἴ τινά που δεδάηκας· ἔοικε δέ σʼ ἴδμεν ἀέθλους·
οὐ μὲν γὰρ μεῖζον κλέος ἀνέρος ὄφρα κʼ ἔῃσιν,
ἤ ὅ τι ποσσίν τε ῥέξῃ καὶ χερσὶν ἑῇσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε πείρησαι, σκέδασον δʼ ἀπὸ κήδεα θυμοῦ.
σοὶ δʼ ὁδὸς οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀπέσσεται, ἀλλά τοι ἤδη
νηῦς τε κατείρυσται καὶ ἐπαρτέες εἰσὶν ἑταῖροι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Laodamas, why do you order me these things in mockery?
Cares are more in my mind than contests,
I who before suffered very much and toiled much,
and now sit in your meeting-place in need of my homecoming,
begging the king and all the people."
Then Euryalus answered him in turn and taunted him to his face:
"No, stranger, I do not liken you to a man skilled
in the contests, of which there are many among men,
but rather to a man who plies to and fro with a many-benched ship,
a master of sailors who are traders,
mindful of his cargo and watching over his freight
and his greedy profits. You do not look like an athlete."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to him:
Cares are more in my mind than contests,
I who before suffered very much and toiled much,
and now sit in your meeting-place in need of my homecoming,
begging the king and all the people."
Then Euryalus answered him in turn and taunted him to his face:
"No, stranger, I do not liken you to a man skilled
in the contests, of which there are many among men,
but rather to a man who plies to and fro with a many-benched ship,
a master of sailors who are traders,
mindful of his cargo and watching over his freight
and his greedy profits. You do not look like an athlete."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to him:
Λαοδάμα, τί με ταῦτα κελεύετε κερτομέοντες;
κήδεά μοι καὶ μᾶλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἤ περ ἄεθλοι,
ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθον καὶ πολλὰ μόγησα,
νῦν δὲ μεθʼ ὑμετέρῃ ἀγορῇ νόστοιο χατίζων
ἧμαι, λισσόμενος βασιλῆά τε πάντα τε δῆμον.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο νείκεσέ τʼ ἄντην·
οὐ γάρ σʼ οὐδέ, ξεῖνε, δαήμονι φωτὶ ἐίσκω
ἄθλων, οἷά τε πολλὰ μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται,
ἀλλὰ τῷ, ὅς θʼ ἅμα νηὶ πολυκλήιδι θαμίζων,
ἀρχὸς ναυτάων οἵ τε πρηκτῆρες ἔασιν,
φόρτου τε μνήμων καὶ ἐπίσκοπος ᾖσιν ὁδαίων
κερδέων θʼ ἁρπαλέων· οὐδʼ ἀθλητῆρι ἔοικας.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
κήδεά μοι καὶ μᾶλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἤ περ ἄεθλοι,
ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθον καὶ πολλὰ μόγησα,
νῦν δὲ μεθʼ ὑμετέρῃ ἀγορῇ νόστοιο χατίζων
ἧμαι, λισσόμενος βασιλῆά τε πάντα τε δῆμον.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο νείκεσέ τʼ ἄντην·
οὐ γάρ σʼ οὐδέ, ξεῖνε, δαήμονι φωτὶ ἐίσκω
ἄθλων, οἷά τε πολλὰ μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται,
ἀλλὰ τῷ, ὅς θʼ ἅμα νηὶ πολυκλήιδι θαμίζων,
ἀρχὸς ναυτάων οἵ τε πρηκτῆρες ἔασιν,
φόρτου τε μνήμων καὶ ἐπίσκοπος ᾖσιν ὁδαίων
κερδέων θʼ ἁρπαλέων· οὐδʼ ἀθλητῆρι ἔοικας.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Stranger, you have not spoken well; you look like a reckless man.
So it is: the gods do not give their graces to all men,
not build, nor wits, nor eloquence.
For one man is meaner in his looks,
but a god crowns his words with beauty, and men look at him
with delight; and he speaks on without stumbling,
with gentle modesty, and stands out among the gathered men,
and when he walks through the town they look on him as on a god.
Another again is like the immortals in looks,
but no grace is set as a crown about his words;
so with you: your looks are conspicuous, and not even a god
could fashion them otherwise; but in mind you are worthless.
You have stirred the spirit in my breast
by speaking out of order. I am no novice in contests,
as you say; I think I was among the first,
while I still trusted in my youth and in my hands.
But now I am held by hardship and by pains; for I have endured much,
passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves.
But even so, after all my sufferings, I will make trial of the contests;
for your word bit my spirit, and by speaking you have stirred me."
So it is: the gods do not give their graces to all men,
not build, nor wits, nor eloquence.
For one man is meaner in his looks,
but a god crowns his words with beauty, and men look at him
with delight; and he speaks on without stumbling,
with gentle modesty, and stands out among the gathered men,
and when he walks through the town they look on him as on a god.
Another again is like the immortals in looks,
but no grace is set as a crown about his words;
so with you: your looks are conspicuous, and not even a god
could fashion them otherwise; but in mind you are worthless.
You have stirred the spirit in my breast
by speaking out of order. I am no novice in contests,
as you say; I think I was among the first,
while I still trusted in my youth and in my hands.
But now I am held by hardship and by pains; for I have endured much,
passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves.
But even so, after all my sufferings, I will make trial of the contests;
for your word bit my spirit, and by speaking you have stirred me."
ξεῖνʼ, οὐ καλὸν ἔειπες· ἀτασθάλῳ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.
οὕτως οὐ πάντεσσι θεοὶ χαρίεντα διδοῦσιν
ἀνδράσιν, οὔτε φυὴν οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτʼ ἀγορητύν.
ἄλλος μὲν γάρ τʼ εἶδος ἀκιδνότερος πέλει ἀνήρ,
ἀλλὰ θεὸς μορφὴν ἔπεσι στέφει, οἱ δέ τʼ ἐς αὐτὸν
τερπόμενοι λεύσσουσιν· ὁ δʼ ἀσφαλέως ἀγορεύει
αἰδοῖ μειλιχίῃ, μετὰ δὲ πρέπει ἀγρομένοισιν,
ἐρχόμενον δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωσιν.
ἄλλος δʼ αὖ εἶδος μὲν ἀλίγκιος ἀθανάτοισιν,
ἀλλʼ οὔ οἱ χάρις ἀμφιπεριστέφεται ἐπέεσσιν,
ὡς καὶ σοὶ εἶδος μὲν ἀριπρεπές, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως
οὐδὲ θεὸς τεύξειε, νόον δʼ ἀποφώλιός ἐσσι.
ὤρινάς μοι θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν
εἰπὼν οὐ κατὰ κόσμον. ἐγὼ δʼ οὐ νῆις ἀέθλων,
ὡς σύ γε μυθεῖαι, ἀλλʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ὀίω
ἔμμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἥβῃ τε πεποίθεα χερσί τʼ ἐμῇσι.
νῦν δʼ ἔχομαι κακότητι καὶ ἄλγεσι· πολλὰ γὰρ ἔτλην
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς, κακὰ πολλὰ παθών, πειρήσομʼ ἀέθλων·
θυμοδακὴς γὰρ μῦθος, ἐπώτρυνας δέ με εἰπών.
οὕτως οὐ πάντεσσι θεοὶ χαρίεντα διδοῦσιν
ἀνδράσιν, οὔτε φυὴν οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτʼ ἀγορητύν.
ἄλλος μὲν γάρ τʼ εἶδος ἀκιδνότερος πέλει ἀνήρ,
ἀλλὰ θεὸς μορφὴν ἔπεσι στέφει, οἱ δέ τʼ ἐς αὐτὸν
τερπόμενοι λεύσσουσιν· ὁ δʼ ἀσφαλέως ἀγορεύει
αἰδοῖ μειλιχίῃ, μετὰ δὲ πρέπει ἀγρομένοισιν,
ἐρχόμενον δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεὸν ὣς εἰσορόωσιν.
ἄλλος δʼ αὖ εἶδος μὲν ἀλίγκιος ἀθανάτοισιν,
ἀλλʼ οὔ οἱ χάρις ἀμφιπεριστέφεται ἐπέεσσιν,
ὡς καὶ σοὶ εἶδος μὲν ἀριπρεπές, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως
οὐδὲ θεὸς τεύξειε, νόον δʼ ἀποφώλιός ἐσσι.
ὤρινάς μοι θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν
εἰπὼν οὐ κατὰ κόσμον. ἐγὼ δʼ οὐ νῆις ἀέθλων,
ὡς σύ γε μυθεῖαι, ἀλλʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ὀίω
ἔμμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἥβῃ τε πεποίθεα χερσί τʼ ἐμῇσι.
νῦν δʼ ἔχομαι κακότητι καὶ ἄλγεσι· πολλὰ γὰρ ἔτλην
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς, κακὰ πολλὰ παθών, πειρήσομʼ ἀέθλων·
θυμοδακὴς γὰρ μῦθος, ἐπώτρυνας δέ με εἰπών.
He spoke, and sprang up, cloak and all, and seized a discus,
a bigger and thicker one, heavier by not a little
than the one the Phaeacians used in throwing against one another.
He whirled it and let it fly from his strong hand,
and the stone hummed; and down to the ground crouched
the long-oared Phaeacians, men famed for ships,
under the rush of the stone; and it flew past all the marks,
running lightly from his hand. And Athena set the mark,
in the likeness of a man in body, and said a word and called to him:
a bigger and thicker one, heavier by not a little
than the one the Phaeacians used in throwing against one another.
He whirled it and let it fly from his strong hand,
and the stone hummed; and down to the ground crouched
the long-oared Phaeacians, men famed for ships,
under the rush of the stone; and it flew past all the marks,
running lightly from his hand. And Athena set the mark,
in the likeness of a man in body, and said a word and called to him:
ἦ ῥα καὶ αὐτῷ φάρει ἀναΐξας λάβε δίσκον
μείζονα καὶ πάχετον, στιβαρώτερον οὐκ ὀλίγον περ
ἢ οἵῳ Φαίηκες ἐδίσκεον ἀλλήλοισι.
τόν ῥα περιστρέψας ἧκε στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρός,
βόμβησεν δὲ λίθος· κατὰ δʼ ἔπτηξαν ποτὶ γαίῃ
Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες,
λᾶος ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς· ὁ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο σήματα πάντων
ῥίμφα θέων ἀπὸ χειρός. ἔθηκε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀθήνη
ἀνδρὶ δέμας ἐικυῖα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
μείζονα καὶ πάχετον, στιβαρώτερον οὐκ ὀλίγον περ
ἢ οἵῳ Φαίηκες ἐδίσκεον ἀλλήλοισι.
τόν ῥα περιστρέψας ἧκε στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρός,
βόμβησεν δὲ λίθος· κατὰ δʼ ἔπτηξαν ποτὶ γαίῃ
Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες,
λᾶος ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς· ὁ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο σήματα πάντων
ῥίμφα θέων ἀπὸ χειρός. ἔθηκε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀθήνη
ἀνδρὶ δέμας ἐικυῖα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Even a blind man, stranger, could pick out your mark
by feeling for it, since it is not mixed in with the crowd of them
but far the first. Take heart, at least in this contest;
no Phaeacian will reach this, or throw beyond it."
by feeling for it, since it is not mixed in with the crowd of them
but far the first. Take heart, at least in this contest;
no Phaeacian will reach this, or throw beyond it."
καί κʼ ἀλαός τοι, ξεῖνε, διακρίνειε τὸ σῆμα
ἀμφαφόων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι μεμιγμένον ἐστὶν ὁμίλῳ,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτον. σὺ δὲ θάρσει τόνδε γʼ ἄεθλον·
οὔ τις Φαιήκων τόδε γʼ ἵξεται, οὐδʼ ὑπερήσει.
ἀμφαφόων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι μεμιγμένον ἐστὶν ὁμίλῳ,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτον. σὺ δὲ θάρσει τόνδε γʼ ἄεθλον·
οὔ τις Φαιήκων τόδε γʼ ἵξεται, οὐδʼ ὑπερήσει.
So she spoke, and long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad,
rejoicing that he saw a kindly friend in the contest.
And then he spoke more lightly among the Phaeacians:
rejoicing that he saw a kindly friend in the contest.
And then he spoke more lightly among the Phaeacians:
ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
χαὶρων, οὕνεχʼ ἑταῖρον ἐνηέα λεῦσσʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.
καὶ τότε κουφότερον μετεφώνεε Φαιήκεσσιν·
χαὶρων, οὕνεχʼ ἑταῖρον ἐνηέα λεῦσσʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.
καὶ τότε κουφότερον μετεφώνεε Φαιήκεσσιν·
"Reach this now, young men. Soon, I think, I shall throw
another as far as this, or even further.
Of the rest, whoever’s heart and spirit bid him,
let him come here and make trial, since you have angered me too much,
at boxing or at wrestling or at running — I do not refuse —
any of the Phaeacians, except Laodamas himself.
For he is my host; who would fight against a man who befriends him?
That man is a fool and worth nothing
who offers his host a contest as a quarrel
in a foreign land; he cuts short all his own advantage.
Of the rest I refuse none and make light of none,
but I am willing to know them and to be tried face to face.
For I am not bad at any of the contests men have.
I know well how to handle the polished bow:
I would be first to shoot and strike a man in a crowd
of enemies, even if very many companions
stood close by me and were shooting at the men.
Philoctetes alone surpassed me with the bow
in the land of the Trojans, when we Achaeans were shooting.
Of all the rest I say that I am far the finest,
of all mortals who now eat bread upon the earth.
But I will not choose to contend with the men of former times,
neither with Heracles nor with Eurytus of Oechalia,
who used to contend even with the immortals about the bow.
And so great Eurytus died quickly, and did not come to old age
in his halls; for Apollo was angered
and killed him, because he had challenged him to shoot.
With the spear I cast as far as no other man with an arrow.
Only in running do I fear that one of the Phaeacians
may pass me; for I was broken too shamefully
among the many waves, since there was no steady care for me
on the ship; and so my limbs are loosened."
another as far as this, or even further.
Of the rest, whoever’s heart and spirit bid him,
let him come here and make trial, since you have angered me too much,
at boxing or at wrestling or at running — I do not refuse —
any of the Phaeacians, except Laodamas himself.
For he is my host; who would fight against a man who befriends him?
That man is a fool and worth nothing
who offers his host a contest as a quarrel
in a foreign land; he cuts short all his own advantage.
Of the rest I refuse none and make light of none,
but I am willing to know them and to be tried face to face.
For I am not bad at any of the contests men have.
I know well how to handle the polished bow:
I would be first to shoot and strike a man in a crowd
of enemies, even if very many companions
stood close by me and were shooting at the men.
Philoctetes alone surpassed me with the bow
in the land of the Trojans, when we Achaeans were shooting.
Of all the rest I say that I am far the finest,
of all mortals who now eat bread upon the earth.
But I will not choose to contend with the men of former times,
neither with Heracles nor with Eurytus of Oechalia,
who used to contend even with the immortals about the bow.
And so great Eurytus died quickly, and did not come to old age
in his halls; for Apollo was angered
and killed him, because he had challenged him to shoot.
With the spear I cast as far as no other man with an arrow.
Only in running do I fear that one of the Phaeacians
may pass me; for I was broken too shamefully
among the many waves, since there was no steady care for me
on the ship; and so my limbs are loosened."
τοῦτον νῦν ἀφίκεσθε, νέοι. τάχα δʼ ὕστερον ἄλλον
ἥσειν ἢ τοσσοῦτον ὀίομαι ἢ ἔτι μᾶσσον.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει,
δεῦρʼ ἄγε πειρηθήτω, ἐπεί μʼ ἐχολώσατε λίην,
ἢ πὺξ ἠὲ πάλῃ ἢ καὶ ποσίν, οὔ τι μεγαίρω,
πάντων Φαιήκων, πλήν γʼ αὐτοῦ Λαοδάμαντος.
ξεῖνος γάρ μοι ὅδʼ ἐστί· τίς ἂν φιλέοντι μάχοιτο;
ἄφρων δὴ κεῖνός γε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς πέλει ἀνήρ,
ὅς τις ξεινοδόκῳ ἔριδα προφέρηται ἀέθλων
δήμῳ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῷ· ἕο δʼ αὐτοῦ πάντα κολούει.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ πέρ τινʼ ἀναίνομαι οὐδʼ ἀθερίζω,
ἀλλʼ ἐθέλω ἴδμεν καὶ πειρηθήμεναι ἄντην.
πάντα γὰρ οὐ κακός εἰμι, μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ὅσσοι ἄεθλοι·
εὖ μὲν τόξον οἶδα ἐύξοον ἀμφαφάασθαι·
πρῶτός κʼ ἄνδρα βάλοιμι ὀιστεύσας ἐν ὁμίλῳ
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλοὶ ἑταῖροι
ἄγχι παρασταῖεν καὶ τοξαζοίατο φωτῶν.
οἶος δή με Φιλοκτήτης ἀπεκαίνυτο τόξῳ
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅτε τοξαζοίμεθʼ Ἀχαιοί.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἐμέ φημι πολὺ προφερέστερον εἶναι,
ὅσσοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσιν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες.
ἀνδράσι δὲ προτέροισιν ἐριζέμεν οὐκ ἐθελήσω,
οὔθʼ Ἡρακλῆι οὔτʼ Εὐρύτῳ Οιχαλιῆι,
οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐρίζεσκον περὶ τόξων.
τῷ ῥα καὶ αἶψʼ ἔθανεν μέγας Εὔρυτος, οὐδʼ ἐπὶ γῆρας
ἵκετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· χολωσάμενος γὰρ Ἀπόλλων
ἔκτανεν, οὕνεκά μιν προκαλίζετο τοξάζεσθαι.
δουρὶ δʼ ἀκοντίζω ὅσον οὐκ ἄλλος τις ὀιστῷ.
οἴοισιν δείδοικα ποσὶν μή τίς με παρέλθῃ
Φαιήκων· λίην γὰρ ἀεικελίως ἐδαμάσθην
κύμασιν ἐν πολλοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐ κομιδὴ κατὰ νῆα
ἦεν ἐπηετανός· τῷ μοι φίλα γυῖα λέλυνται.
ἥσειν ἢ τοσσοῦτον ὀίομαι ἢ ἔτι μᾶσσον.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει,
δεῦρʼ ἄγε πειρηθήτω, ἐπεί μʼ ἐχολώσατε λίην,
ἢ πὺξ ἠὲ πάλῃ ἢ καὶ ποσίν, οὔ τι μεγαίρω,
πάντων Φαιήκων, πλήν γʼ αὐτοῦ Λαοδάμαντος.
ξεῖνος γάρ μοι ὅδʼ ἐστί· τίς ἂν φιλέοντι μάχοιτο;
ἄφρων δὴ κεῖνός γε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς πέλει ἀνήρ,
ὅς τις ξεινοδόκῳ ἔριδα προφέρηται ἀέθλων
δήμῳ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῷ· ἕο δʼ αὐτοῦ πάντα κολούει.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ πέρ τινʼ ἀναίνομαι οὐδʼ ἀθερίζω,
ἀλλʼ ἐθέλω ἴδμεν καὶ πειρηθήμεναι ἄντην.
πάντα γὰρ οὐ κακός εἰμι, μετʼ ἀνδράσιν ὅσσοι ἄεθλοι·
εὖ μὲν τόξον οἶδα ἐύξοον ἀμφαφάασθαι·
πρῶτός κʼ ἄνδρα βάλοιμι ὀιστεύσας ἐν ὁμίλῳ
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλοὶ ἑταῖροι
ἄγχι παρασταῖεν καὶ τοξαζοίατο φωτῶν.
οἶος δή με Φιλοκτήτης ἀπεκαίνυτο τόξῳ
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅτε τοξαζοίμεθʼ Ἀχαιοί.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἐμέ φημι πολὺ προφερέστερον εἶναι,
ὅσσοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσιν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες.
ἀνδράσι δὲ προτέροισιν ἐριζέμεν οὐκ ἐθελήσω,
οὔθʼ Ἡρακλῆι οὔτʼ Εὐρύτῳ Οιχαλιῆι,
οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐρίζεσκον περὶ τόξων.
τῷ ῥα καὶ αἶψʼ ἔθανεν μέγας Εὔρυτος, οὐδʼ ἐπὶ γῆρας
ἵκετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· χολωσάμενος γὰρ Ἀπόλλων
ἔκτανεν, οὕνεκά μιν προκαλίζετο τοξάζεσθαι.
δουρὶ δʼ ἀκοντίζω ὅσον οὐκ ἄλλος τις ὀιστῷ.
οἴοισιν δείδοικα ποσὶν μή τίς με παρέλθῃ
Φαιήκων· λίην γὰρ ἀεικελίως ἐδαμάσθην
κύμασιν ἐν πολλοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐ κομιδὴ κατὰ νῆα
ἦεν ἐπηετανός· τῷ μοι φίλα γυῖα λέλυνται.
So he spoke, and they were all hushed in silence.
Alcinous alone answered him and said:
Alcinous alone answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"Stranger, since what you say among us is not ungracious,
but you wish to show the excellence that goes with you,
angry because this man stood beside you in the contest
and taunted you, in a way no mortal would find fault with your excellence
who knew in his own mind how to speak fitting things —
come now, take in my word, so that you may tell it to another
of the heroes, when in your own halls
you feast beside your wife and your children,
remembering our excellence, and what works Zeus
has laid upon us without a break from our fathers’ time.
For we are not blameless boxers, nor wrestlers,
but we run swiftly on our feet and are the best with ships,
and always the feast is dear to us, and the lyre and the dances
and changes of clothing and warm baths and beds.
Come now, all you who are the best dancers of the Phaeacians,
play, so that the stranger may tell his own people,
when he has come home, how far we surpass others
in seamanship and in running and in dancing and in song.
And let someone go quickly and bring the clear-toned lyre
for Demodocus, which lies somewhere in our house."
but you wish to show the excellence that goes with you,
angry because this man stood beside you in the contest
and taunted you, in a way no mortal would find fault with your excellence
who knew in his own mind how to speak fitting things —
come now, take in my word, so that you may tell it to another
of the heroes, when in your own halls
you feast beside your wife and your children,
remembering our excellence, and what works Zeus
has laid upon us without a break from our fathers’ time.
For we are not blameless boxers, nor wrestlers,
but we run swiftly on our feet and are the best with ships,
and always the feast is dear to us, and the lyre and the dances
and changes of clothing and warm baths and beds.
Come now, all you who are the best dancers of the Phaeacians,
play, so that the stranger may tell his own people,
when he has come home, how far we surpass others
in seamanship and in running and in dancing and in song.
And let someone go quickly and bring the clear-toned lyre
for Demodocus, which lies somewhere in our house."
ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀχάριστα μεθʼ ἡμῖν ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις,
ἀλλʼ ἐθέλεις ἀρετὴν σὴν φαινέμεν, ἥ τοι ὀπηδεῖ,
χωόμενος ὅτι σʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀγῶνι παραστὰς
νείκεσεν, ὡς ἂν σὴν ἀρετὴν βροτὸς οὔ τις ὄνοιτο,
ὅς τις ἐπίσταιτο ᾗσι φρεσὶν ἄρτια βάζειν·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐμέθεν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλῳ
εἴπῃς ἡρώων, ὅτε κεν σοῖς ἐν μεγάροισι
δαινύῃ παρὰ σῇ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ σοῖσι τέκεσσιν,
ἡμετέρης ἀρετῆς μεμνημένος, οἷα καὶ ἡμῖν
Ζεὺς ἐπὶ ἔργα τίθησι διαμπερὲς ἐξ ἔτι πατρῶν.
οὐ γὰρ πυγμάχοι εἰμὲν ἀμύμονες οὐδὲ παλαισταί,
ἀλλὰ ποσὶ κραιπνῶς θέομεν καὶ νηυσὶν ἄριστοι,
αἰεὶ δʼ ἡμῖν δαίς τε φίλη κίθαρις τε χοροί τε
εἵματά τʼ ἐξημοιβὰ λοετρά τε θερμὰ καὶ εὐναί.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, Φαιήκων βητάρμονες ὅσσοι ἄριστοι,
παίσατε, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνίσπῃ οἷσι φίλοισιν
οἴκαδε νοστήσας, ὅσσον περιγιγνόμεθʼ ἄλλων
ναυτιλίῃ καὶ ποσσὶ καὶ ὀρχηστυῖ καὶ ἀοιδῇ.
Δημοδόκῳ δέ τις αἶψα κιὼν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
οἰσέτω, ἥ που κεῖται ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν.
ἀλλʼ ἐθέλεις ἀρετὴν σὴν φαινέμεν, ἥ τοι ὀπηδεῖ,
χωόμενος ὅτι σʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀγῶνι παραστὰς
νείκεσεν, ὡς ἂν σὴν ἀρετὴν βροτὸς οὔ τις ὄνοιτο,
ὅς τις ἐπίσταιτο ᾗσι φρεσὶν ἄρτια βάζειν·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐμέθεν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλῳ
εἴπῃς ἡρώων, ὅτε κεν σοῖς ἐν μεγάροισι
δαινύῃ παρὰ σῇ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ σοῖσι τέκεσσιν,
ἡμετέρης ἀρετῆς μεμνημένος, οἷα καὶ ἡμῖν
Ζεὺς ἐπὶ ἔργα τίθησι διαμπερὲς ἐξ ἔτι πατρῶν.
οὐ γὰρ πυγμάχοι εἰμὲν ἀμύμονες οὐδὲ παλαισταί,
ἀλλὰ ποσὶ κραιπνῶς θέομεν καὶ νηυσὶν ἄριστοι,
αἰεὶ δʼ ἡμῖν δαίς τε φίλη κίθαρις τε χοροί τε
εἵματά τʼ ἐξημοιβὰ λοετρά τε θερμὰ καὶ εὐναί.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, Φαιήκων βητάρμονες ὅσσοι ἄριστοι,
παίσατε, ὥς χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνίσπῃ οἷσι φίλοισιν
οἴκαδε νοστήσας, ὅσσον περιγιγνόμεθʼ ἄλλων
ναυτιλίῃ καὶ ποσσὶ καὶ ὀρχηστυῖ καὶ ἀοιδῇ.
Δημοδόκῳ δέ τις αἶψα κιὼν φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
οἰσέτω, ἥ που κεῖται ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν.
So spoke Alcinous, like a god; and the herald rose
to bring the hollow lyre from the king’s house.
And nine chosen stewards, all of them, stood up,
public men who used to manage everything well at the contests;
they smoothed the dancing floor and widened the fine ring.
And the herald came near, bringing the clear-toned lyre
to Demodocus; and he went into the middle, and about him young men
in their first youth stood, skilled in the dance,
and they beat the divine dancing floor with their feet. And Odysseus
gazed at the twinkling of their feet, and marvelled in his spirit.
Then the singer struck up on the lyre and began to sing beautifully
of the love of Ares and well-garlanded Aphrodite,
how they first lay together in the house of Hephaestus
in secret; and he gave her much, and shamed the bed and the couch
of the lord Hephaestus. And at once a messenger came to him,
Helios, who had seen them joined in love.
And when Hephaestus heard the heart-grieving tale,
he went to his forge, brooding evil deep in his mind,
and set the great anvil on its block, and hammered out bonds
unbreakable, not to be loosed, so that they might stay fast where they were.
But when he had made the snare in his anger against Ares,
he went to the chamber where his own bed stood,
and poured the bonds round the bedposts in a circle everywhere;
and many were shed down too from the roof-beam,
like fine spiders’ webs, which no one could even see,
not even of the blessed gods; for they were made with all guile.
But when he had poured all his snare about the bed,
he made as if to go to Lemnos, the well-built city,
which is far the dearest of all lands to him.
And Ares of the golden reins kept no blind watch,
when he saw Hephaestus, famed for his craft, going away;
and he went to the house of far-famed Hephaestus,
longing for the love of the well-garlanded Cytherean.
She had newly come from her father, the mighty son of Cronos,
and had sat down; and he came into the house,
and clung to her hand and said a word and called her by name:
to bring the hollow lyre from the king’s house.
And nine chosen stewards, all of them, stood up,
public men who used to manage everything well at the contests;
they smoothed the dancing floor and widened the fine ring.
And the herald came near, bringing the clear-toned lyre
to Demodocus; and he went into the middle, and about him young men
in their first youth stood, skilled in the dance,
and they beat the divine dancing floor with their feet. And Odysseus
gazed at the twinkling of their feet, and marvelled in his spirit.
Then the singer struck up on the lyre and began to sing beautifully
of the love of Ares and well-garlanded Aphrodite,
how they first lay together in the house of Hephaestus
in secret; and he gave her much, and shamed the bed and the couch
of the lord Hephaestus. And at once a messenger came to him,
Helios, who had seen them joined in love.
And when Hephaestus heard the heart-grieving tale,
he went to his forge, brooding evil deep in his mind,
and set the great anvil on its block, and hammered out bonds
unbreakable, not to be loosed, so that they might stay fast where they were.
But when he had made the snare in his anger against Ares,
he went to the chamber where his own bed stood,
and poured the bonds round the bedposts in a circle everywhere;
and many were shed down too from the roof-beam,
like fine spiders’ webs, which no one could even see,
not even of the blessed gods; for they were made with all guile.
But when he had poured all his snare about the bed,
he made as if to go to Lemnos, the well-built city,
which is far the dearest of all lands to him.
And Ares of the golden reins kept no blind watch,
when he saw Hephaestus, famed for his craft, going away;
and he went to the house of far-famed Hephaestus,
longing for the love of the well-garlanded Cytherean.
She had newly come from her father, the mighty son of Cronos,
and had sat down; and he came into the house,
and clung to her hand and said a word and called her by name:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀλκίνοος θεοείκελος, ὦρτο δὲ κῆρυξ
οἴσων φόρμιγγα γλαφυρὴν δόμου ἐκ βασιλῆος.
αἰσυμνῆται δὲ κριτοὶ ἐννέα πάντες ἀνέσταν
δήμιοι, οἳ κατʼ ἀγῶνας ἐὺ πρήσσεσκον ἕκαστα,
λείηναν δὲ χορόν, καλὸν δʼ εὔρυναν ἀγῶνα.
κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
Δημοδόκῳ· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα κίʼ ἐς μέσον· ἀμφὶ δὲ κοῦροι
πρωθῆβαι ἵσταντο, δαήμονες ὀρχηθμοῖο,
πέπληγον δὲ χορὸν θεῖον ποσίν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μαρμαρυγὰς θηεῖτο ποδῶν, θαύμαζε δὲ θυμῷ.
αὐτὰρ ὁ φορμίζων ἀνεβάλλετο καλὸν ἀείδειν
ἀμφʼ Ἄρεος φιλότητος εὐστεφάνου τʼ Ἀφροδίτης,
ὡς τὰ πρῶτα μίγησαν ἐν Ἡφαίστοιο δόμοισι
λάθρῃ, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε, λέχος δʼ ᾔσχυνε καὶ εὐνὴν
Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτος. ἄφαρ δέ οἱ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν
Ἥλιος, ὅ σφʼ ἐνόησε μιγαζομένους φιλότητι.
Ἥφαιστος δʼ ὡς οὖν θυμαλγέα μῦθον ἄκουσε,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς χαλκεῶνα κακὰ φρεσὶ βυσσοδομεύων,
ἐν δʼ ἔθετʼ ἀκμοθέτῳ μέγαν ἄκμονα, κόπτε δὲ δεσμοὺς
ἀρρήκτους ἀλύτους, ὄφρʼ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῦξε δόλον κεχολωμένος Ἄρει,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, ὅθι οἱ φίλα δέμνιʼ ἔκειτο,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἑρμῖσιν χέε δέσματα κύκλῳ ἁπάντῃ·
πολλὰ δὲ καὶ καθύπερθε μελαθρόφιν ἐξεκέχυντο,
ἠύτʼ ἀράχνια λεπτά, τά γʼ οὔ κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο,
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων· πέρι γὰρ δολόεντα τέτυκτο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα δόλον περὶ δέμνια χεῦεν,
εἴσατʼ ἴμεν ἐς Λῆμνον, ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
ἥ οἱ γαιάων πολὺ φιλτάτη ἐστὶν ἁπασέων.
οὐδʼ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε χρυσήνιος Ἄρης,
ὡς ἴδεν Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην νόσφι κιόντα·
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο
ἰσχανόων φιλότητος ἐυστεφάνου Κυθερείης.
ἡ δὲ νέον παρὰ πατρὸς ἐρισθενέος Κρονίωνος
ἐρχομένη κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζεθʼ· ὁ δʼ εἴσω δώματος ᾔει,
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
οἴσων φόρμιγγα γλαφυρὴν δόμου ἐκ βασιλῆος.
αἰσυμνῆται δὲ κριτοὶ ἐννέα πάντες ἀνέσταν
δήμιοι, οἳ κατʼ ἀγῶνας ἐὺ πρήσσεσκον ἕκαστα,
λείηναν δὲ χορόν, καλὸν δʼ εὔρυναν ἀγῶνα.
κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
Δημοδόκῳ· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα κίʼ ἐς μέσον· ἀμφὶ δὲ κοῦροι
πρωθῆβαι ἵσταντο, δαήμονες ὀρχηθμοῖο,
πέπληγον δὲ χορὸν θεῖον ποσίν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μαρμαρυγὰς θηεῖτο ποδῶν, θαύμαζε δὲ θυμῷ.
αὐτὰρ ὁ φορμίζων ἀνεβάλλετο καλὸν ἀείδειν
ἀμφʼ Ἄρεος φιλότητος εὐστεφάνου τʼ Ἀφροδίτης,
ὡς τὰ πρῶτα μίγησαν ἐν Ἡφαίστοιο δόμοισι
λάθρῃ, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε, λέχος δʼ ᾔσχυνε καὶ εὐνὴν
Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτος. ἄφαρ δέ οἱ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν
Ἥλιος, ὅ σφʼ ἐνόησε μιγαζομένους φιλότητι.
Ἥφαιστος δʼ ὡς οὖν θυμαλγέα μῦθον ἄκουσε,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς χαλκεῶνα κακὰ φρεσὶ βυσσοδομεύων,
ἐν δʼ ἔθετʼ ἀκμοθέτῳ μέγαν ἄκμονα, κόπτε δὲ δεσμοὺς
ἀρρήκτους ἀλύτους, ὄφρʼ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῦξε δόλον κεχολωμένος Ἄρει,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, ὅθι οἱ φίλα δέμνιʼ ἔκειτο,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἑρμῖσιν χέε δέσματα κύκλῳ ἁπάντῃ·
πολλὰ δὲ καὶ καθύπερθε μελαθρόφιν ἐξεκέχυντο,
ἠύτʼ ἀράχνια λεπτά, τά γʼ οὔ κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο,
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων· πέρι γὰρ δολόεντα τέτυκτο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα δόλον περὶ δέμνια χεῦεν,
εἴσατʼ ἴμεν ἐς Λῆμνον, ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
ἥ οἱ γαιάων πολὺ φιλτάτη ἐστὶν ἁπασέων.
οὐδʼ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε χρυσήνιος Ἄρης,
ὡς ἴδεν Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην νόσφι κιόντα·
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο
ἰσχανόων φιλότητος ἐυστεφάνου Κυθερείης.
ἡ δὲ νέον παρὰ πατρὸς ἐρισθενέος Κρονίωνος
ἐρχομένη κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζεθʼ· ὁ δʼ εἴσω δώματος ᾔει,
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"Come here, my love, to bed, and let us take our pleasure lying down;
for Hephaestus is no longer among his people, but has gone by now,
I suppose, to Lemnos, among the wild-spoken Sintians."
for Hephaestus is no longer among his people, but has gone by now,
I suppose, to Lemnos, among the wild-spoken Sintians."
δεῦρο, φίλη, λέκτρονδε τραπείομεν εὐνηθέντες·
οὐ γὰρ ἔθʼ Ἥφαιστος μεταδήμιος, ἀλλά που ἤδη
οἴχεται ἐς Λῆμνον μετὰ Σίντιας ἀγριοφώνους.
οὐ γὰρ ἔθʼ Ἥφαιστος μεταδήμιος, ἀλλά που ἤδη
οἴχεται ἐς Λῆμνον μετὰ Σίντιας ἀγριοφώνους.
So he spoke, and it seemed welcome to her to lie down.
The two went to the bed and lay down; and about them the cunning
bonds of Hephaestus of many wits were poured,
and they could not stir a limb or lift one.
And then they knew that there was no more escaping.
And the far-famed crook-footed god came close to them,
having turned back before he reached the land of Lemnos;
for Helios had kept watch for him and told him the tale.
He went to his own house with his heart afflicted;
and he stood in the gateway, and a savage anger took him;
and he shouted terribly, and called out to all the gods:
"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who are for ever,
come here, and see a laughable thing, and one not to be borne:
how Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, always dishonours me
because I am lame, and loves destroying Ares,
because he is handsome and sound of foot, while I
was born feeble. Yet no one else is to blame for me
but my two parents, who should never have begotten me.
But look where these two are sleeping in love,
having gone into my own bed; and I am grieved to see it.
Yet I do not think they will want to lie like this much longer,
however much in love they are; soon they will both
have no wish to sleep. But the snare and the bond will hold them
until her father gives me back every one of the bride-gifts
that I handed over to him for the sake of his bitch-faced girl,
because his daughter is beautiful, but does not hold her passion."
The two went to the bed and lay down; and about them the cunning
bonds of Hephaestus of many wits were poured,
and they could not stir a limb or lift one.
And then they knew that there was no more escaping.
And the far-famed crook-footed god came close to them,
having turned back before he reached the land of Lemnos;
for Helios had kept watch for him and told him the tale.
He went to his own house with his heart afflicted;
and he stood in the gateway, and a savage anger took him;
and he shouted terribly, and called out to all the gods:
"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who are for ever,
come here, and see a laughable thing, and one not to be borne:
how Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, always dishonours me
because I am lame, and loves destroying Ares,
because he is handsome and sound of foot, while I
was born feeble. Yet no one else is to blame for me
but my two parents, who should never have begotten me.
But look where these two are sleeping in love,
having gone into my own bed; and I am grieved to see it.
Yet I do not think they will want to lie like this much longer,
however much in love they are; soon they will both
have no wish to sleep. But the snare and the bond will hold them
until her father gives me back every one of the bride-gifts
that I handed over to him for the sake of his bitch-faced girl,
because his daughter is beautiful, but does not hold her passion."
ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐείσατο κοιμηθῆναι.
τὼ δʼ ἐς δέμνια βάντε κατέδραθον· ἀμφὶ δὲ δεσμοὶ
τεχνήεντες ἔχυντο πολύφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο,
οὐδέ τι κινῆσαι μελέων ἦν οὐδʼ ἀναεῖραι.
καὶ τότε δὴ γίγνωσκον, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλοντο.
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις,
αὖτις ὑποστρέψας πρὶν Λήμνου γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
Ἠέλιος γάρ οἱ σκοπιὴν ἔχεν εἶπέ τε μῦθον.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι πρὸς δῶμα φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ·
ἔστη δʼ ἐν προθύροισι, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·
σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησε, γέγωνέ τε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν·
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,
δεῦθʼ, ἵνα ἔργα γελαστὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐπιεικτὰ ἴδησθε,
ὡς ἐμὲ χωλὸν ἐόντα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη
αἰὲν ἀτιμάζει, φιλέει δʼ ἀίδηλον Ἄρηα,
οὕνεχʼ ὁ μὲν καλός τε καὶ ἀρτίπος, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
ἠπεδανὸς γενόμην. ἀτὰρ οὔ τί μοι αἴτιος ἄλλος,
ἀλλὰ τοκῆε δύω, τὼ μὴ γείνασθαι ὄφελλον.
ἀλλʼ ὄψεσθʼ, ἵνα τώ γε καθεύδετον ἐν φιλότητι
εἰς ἐμὰ δέμνια βάντες, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρόων ἀκάχημαι.
οὐ μέν σφεας ἔτʼ ἔολπα μίνυνθά γε κειέμεν οὕτως
καὶ μάλα περ φιλέοντε· τάχʼ οὐκ ἐθελήσετον ἄμφω
εὕδειν· ἀλλά σφωε δόλος καὶ δεσμὸς ἐρύξει,
εἰς ὅ κέ μοι μάλα πάντα πατὴρ ἀποδῷσιν ἔεδνα,
ὅσσα οἱ ἐγγυάλιξα κυνώπιδος εἵνεκα κούρης,
οὕνεκά οἱ καλὴ θυγάτηρ, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἐχέθυμος.
τὼ δʼ ἐς δέμνια βάντε κατέδραθον· ἀμφὶ δὲ δεσμοὶ
τεχνήεντες ἔχυντο πολύφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο,
οὐδέ τι κινῆσαι μελέων ἦν οὐδʼ ἀναεῖραι.
καὶ τότε δὴ γίγνωσκον, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλοντο.
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις,
αὖτις ὑποστρέψας πρὶν Λήμνου γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
Ἠέλιος γάρ οἱ σκοπιὴν ἔχεν εἶπέ τε μῦθον.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι πρὸς δῶμα φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ·
ἔστη δʼ ἐν προθύροισι, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·
σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησε, γέγωνέ τε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν·
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,
δεῦθʼ, ἵνα ἔργα γελαστὰ καὶ οὐκ ἐπιεικτὰ ἴδησθε,
ὡς ἐμὲ χωλὸν ἐόντα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη
αἰὲν ἀτιμάζει, φιλέει δʼ ἀίδηλον Ἄρηα,
οὕνεχʼ ὁ μὲν καλός τε καὶ ἀρτίπος, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
ἠπεδανὸς γενόμην. ἀτὰρ οὔ τί μοι αἴτιος ἄλλος,
ἀλλὰ τοκῆε δύω, τὼ μὴ γείνασθαι ὄφελλον.
ἀλλʼ ὄψεσθʼ, ἵνα τώ γε καθεύδετον ἐν φιλότητι
εἰς ἐμὰ δέμνια βάντες, ἐγὼ δʼ ὁρόων ἀκάχημαι.
οὐ μέν σφεας ἔτʼ ἔολπα μίνυνθά γε κειέμεν οὕτως
καὶ μάλα περ φιλέοντε· τάχʼ οὐκ ἐθελήσετον ἄμφω
εὕδειν· ἀλλά σφωε δόλος καὶ δεσμὸς ἐρύξει,
εἰς ὅ κέ μοι μάλα πάντα πατὴρ ἀποδῷσιν ἔεδνα,
ὅσσα οἱ ἐγγυάλιξα κυνώπιδος εἵνεκα κούρης,
οὕνεκά οἱ καλὴ θυγάτηρ, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἐχέθυμος.
So he spoke, and the gods gathered at the house with its bronze floor.
Poseidon the earth-holder came, and the helper came,
Hermes, and the lord Apollo, the far-worker, came.
But the goddesses stayed at home, each of them, out of modesty.
The gods, the givers of good things, stood in the gateway;
and unquenchable laughter rose among the blessed gods
as they looked on the arts of Hephaestus of many wits.
And one would look at his neighbour and say:
"Evil deeds do not prosper. The slow catches the swift,
as now Hephaestus, slow as he is, has caught Ares,
though he is the swiftest of the gods who hold Olympus,
lame as he is, by his arts. And so Ares owes the adulterer’s fine."
Poseidon the earth-holder came, and the helper came,
Hermes, and the lord Apollo, the far-worker, came.
But the goddesses stayed at home, each of them, out of modesty.
The gods, the givers of good things, stood in the gateway;
and unquenchable laughter rose among the blessed gods
as they looked on the arts of Hephaestus of many wits.
And one would look at his neighbour and say:
"Evil deeds do not prosper. The slow catches the swift,
as now Hephaestus, slow as he is, has caught Ares,
though he is the swiftest of the gods who hold Olympus,
lame as he is, by his arts. And so Ares owes the adulterer’s fine."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀγέροντο θεοὶ ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ·
ἦλθε Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος, ἦλθʼ ἐριούνης
Ἑρμείας, ἦλθεν δὲ ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων.
θηλύτεραι δὲ θεαὶ μένον αἰδοῖ οἴκοι ἑκάστη.
ἔσταν δʼ ἐν προθύροισι θεοί, δωτῆρες ἑάων·
ἄσβεστος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι
τέχνας εἰσορόωσι πολύφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
οὐκ ἀρετᾷ κακὰ ἔργα· κιχάνει τοι βραδὺς ὠκύν,
ὡς καὶ νῦν Ἥφαιστος ἐὼν βραδὺς εἷλεν Ἄρηα
ὠκύτατόν περ ἐόντα θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,
χωλὸς ἐὼν τέχνῃσι· τὸ καὶ μοιχάγριʼ ὀφέλλει.
ἦλθε Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος, ἦλθʼ ἐριούνης
Ἑρμείας, ἦλθεν δὲ ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων.
θηλύτεραι δὲ θεαὶ μένον αἰδοῖ οἴκοι ἑκάστη.
ἔσταν δʼ ἐν προθύροισι θεοί, δωτῆρες ἑάων·
ἄσβεστος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι
τέχνας εἰσορόωσι πολύφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
οὐκ ἀρετᾷ κακὰ ἔργα· κιχάνει τοι βραδὺς ὠκύν,
ὡς καὶ νῦν Ἥφαιστος ἐὼν βραδὺς εἷλεν Ἄρηα
ὠκύτατόν περ ἐόντα θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,
χωλὸς ἐὼν τέχνῃσι· τὸ καὶ μοιχάγριʼ ὀφέλλει.
So they spoke such things to one another;
and the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, spoke to Hermes:
and the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, spoke to Hermes:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
Ἑρμῆν δὲ προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
Ἑρμῆν δὲ προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
"Hermes, son of Zeus, guide, giver of good things,
would you be willing, pressed down in strong bonds,
to sleep in bed beside golden Aphrodite?"
Then the guide, the slayer of Argus, answered him:
would you be willing, pressed down in strong bonds,
to sleep in bed beside golden Aphrodite?"
Then the guide, the slayer of Argus, answered him:
Ἑρμεία, Διὸς υἱέ, διάκτορε, δῶτορ ἑάων,
ἦ ῥά κεν ἐν δεσμοῖς ἐθέλοις κρατεροῖσι πιεσθεὶς
εὕδειν ἐν λέκτροισι παρὰ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ;
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·
ἦ ῥά κεν ἐν δεσμοῖς ἐθέλοις κρατεροῖσι πιεσθεὶς
εὕδειν ἐν λέκτροισι παρὰ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ;
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·
"Would that this might happen, lord Apollo, far-shooter:
let three times as many endless bonds hold me round,
and you gods and all the goddesses look on,
if only I might sleep beside golden Aphrodite."
let three times as many endless bonds hold me round,
and you gods and all the goddesses look on,
if only I might sleep beside golden Aphrodite."
αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο γένοιτο, ἄναξ ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον·
δεσμοὶ μὲν τρὶς τόσσοι ἀπείρονες ἀμφὶς ἔχοιεν,
ὑμεῖς δʼ εἰσορόῳτε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὕδοιμι παρὰ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ.
δεσμοὶ μὲν τρὶς τόσσοι ἀπείρονες ἀμφὶς ἔχοιεν,
ὑμεῖς δʼ εἰσορόῳτε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὕδοιμι παρὰ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ.
So he spoke, and laughter rose among the immortal gods.
But laughter did not hold Poseidon; he kept begging
Hephaestus, famed for his work, to set Ares free.
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
But laughter did not hold Poseidon; he kept begging
Hephaestus, famed for his work, to set Ares free.
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἐν δὲ γέλως ὦρτʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.
οὐδὲ Ποσειδάωνα γέλως ἔχε, λίσσετο δʼ αἰεὶ
Ἥφαιστον κλυτοεργὸν ὅπως λύσειεν Ἄρηα.
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
οὐδὲ Ποσειδάωνα γέλως ἔχε, λίσσετο δʼ αἰεὶ
Ἥφαιστον κλυτοεργὸν ὅπως λύσειεν Ἄρηα.
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Set him free; and I promise you for him, as you bid,
that he will pay all that is due among the immortal gods."
Then the far-famed crook-footed god spoke to him in turn:
that he will pay all that is due among the immortal gods."
Then the far-famed crook-footed god spoke to him in turn:
λῦσον· ἐγὼ δέ τοι αὐτὸν ὑπίσχομαι, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις,
τίσειν αἴσιμα πάντα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·
τίσειν αἴσιμα πάντα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·
"Do not order me this, Poseidon the earth-holder.
Sorry pledges are they to take for a sorry man.
How could I bind you among the immortal gods,
if Ares should go off, escaping his debt and his bond?"
Then Poseidon the earth-shaker spoke to him in turn:
Sorry pledges are they to take for a sorry man.
How could I bind you among the immortal gods,
if Ares should go off, escaping his debt and his bond?"
Then Poseidon the earth-shaker spoke to him in turn:
μή με, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, ταῦτα κέλευε·
δειλαί τοι δειλῶν γε καὶ ἐγγύαι ἐγγυάασθαι.
πῶς ἂν ἐγώ σε δέοιμι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,
εἴ κεν Ἄρης οἴχοιτο χρέος καὶ δεσμὸν ἀλύξας;
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
δειλαί τοι δειλῶν γε καὶ ἐγγύαι ἐγγυάασθαι.
πῶς ἂν ἐγώ σε δέοιμι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,
εἴ κεν Ἄρης οἴχοιτο χρέος καὶ δεσμὸν ἀλύξας;
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
"Hephaestus, if Ares should escape his debt
and go off in flight, I myself will pay you this."
Then the far-famed crook-footed god answered him:
and go off in flight, I myself will pay you this."
Then the far-famed crook-footed god answered him:
Ἥφαιστʼ, εἴ περ γάρ κεν Ἄρης χρεῖος ὑπαλύξας
οἴχηται φεύγων, αὐτός τοι ἐγὼ τάδε τίσω.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·
οἴχηται φεύγων, αὐτός τοι ἐγὼ τάδε τίσω.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·
"It is not possible, nor is it fitting, to refuse your word."
οὐκ ἔστʼ οὐδὲ ἔοικε τεὸν ἔπος ἀρνήσασθαι.
So saying, the might of Hephaestus loosed the bond.
And when the two were freed from the bond, strong as it was,
they sprang up at once, and he went off to Thrace,
and laughter-loving Aphrodite came to Cyprus,
to Paphos, where she has her precinct and her fragrant altar.
There the Graces bathed her and anointed her with oil,
immortal oil, such as glistens on the gods who are for ever,
and clothed her in lovely clothes, a wonder to see.
This the famous singer sang; but Odysseus
took delight in his mind as he listened, and so did the others,
the long-oared Phaeacians, men famed for ships.
And Alcinous told Halius and Laodamas
to dance alone, since no one could match them.
So when they had taken the fine ball in their hands,
a purple one, which warlike-minded Polybus had made for them,
one of them would throw it up towards the shadowy clouds,
bending backwards, and the other, lifted high off the ground,
would catch it easily before his feet touched the earth again.
But when they had made trial of the ball thrown straight up,
then the two danced upon the earth that nourishes many,
changing places thick and fast; and the other young men beat time,
standing about the ring, and a great din rose up beneath.
Then noble Odysseus spoke to Alcinous:
And when the two were freed from the bond, strong as it was,
they sprang up at once, and he went off to Thrace,
and laughter-loving Aphrodite came to Cyprus,
to Paphos, where she has her precinct and her fragrant altar.
There the Graces bathed her and anointed her with oil,
immortal oil, such as glistens on the gods who are for ever,
and clothed her in lovely clothes, a wonder to see.
This the famous singer sang; but Odysseus
took delight in his mind as he listened, and so did the others,
the long-oared Phaeacians, men famed for ships.
And Alcinous told Halius and Laodamas
to dance alone, since no one could match them.
So when they had taken the fine ball in their hands,
a purple one, which warlike-minded Polybus had made for them,
one of them would throw it up towards the shadowy clouds,
bending backwards, and the other, lifted high off the ground,
would catch it easily before his feet touched the earth again.
But when they had made trial of the ball thrown straight up,
then the two danced upon the earth that nourishes many,
changing places thick and fast; and the other young men beat time,
standing about the ring, and a great din rose up beneath.
Then noble Odysseus spoke to Alcinous:
ὣς εἰπὼν δεσμὸν ἀνίει μένος Ἡφαίστοιο.
τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ δεσμοῖο λύθεν, κρατεροῦ περ ἐόντος,
αὐτίκʼ ἀναΐξαντε ὁ μὲν Θρῄκηνδε βεβήκει,
ἡ δʼ ἄρα Κύπρον ἵκανε φιλομμειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη,
ἐς Πάφον· ἔνθα δέ οἱ τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.
ἔνθα δέ μιν Χάριτες λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ
ἀμβρότῳ, οἷα θεοὺς ἐπενήνοθεν αἰὲν ἐόντας,
ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσαν ἐπήρατα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τέρπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀκούων ἠδὲ καὶ ἄλλοι
Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες.
Ἀλκίνοος δʼ Ἅλιον καὶ Λαοδάμαντα κέλευσεν
μουνὰξ ὀρχήσασθαι, ἐπεί σφισιν οὔ τις ἔριζεν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σφαῖραν καλὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἕλοντο,
πορφυρέην, τήν σφιν Πόλυβος ποίησε δαΐφρων,
τὴν ἕτερος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα
ἰδνωθεὶς ὀπίσω, ὁ δʼ ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσʼ ἀερθεὶς
ῥηιδίως μεθέλεσκε, πάρος ποσὶν οὖδας ἱκέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σφαίρῃ ἀνʼ ἰθὺν πειρήσαντο,
ὠρχείσθην δὴ ἔπειτα ποτὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ
ταρφέʼ ἀμειβομένω· κοῦροι δʼ ἐπελήκεον ἄλλοι
ἑστεῶτες κατʼ ἀγῶνα, πολὺς δʼ ὑπὸ κόμπος ὀρώρει.
δὴ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἀλκίνοον προσεφώνεε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ δεσμοῖο λύθεν, κρατεροῦ περ ἐόντος,
αὐτίκʼ ἀναΐξαντε ὁ μὲν Θρῄκηνδε βεβήκει,
ἡ δʼ ἄρα Κύπρον ἵκανε φιλομμειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη,
ἐς Πάφον· ἔνθα δέ οἱ τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.
ἔνθα δέ μιν Χάριτες λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ
ἀμβρότῳ, οἷα θεοὺς ἐπενήνοθεν αἰὲν ἐόντας,
ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσαν ἐπήρατα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τέρπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀκούων ἠδὲ καὶ ἄλλοι
Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες.
Ἀλκίνοος δʼ Ἅλιον καὶ Λαοδάμαντα κέλευσεν
μουνὰξ ὀρχήσασθαι, ἐπεί σφισιν οὔ τις ἔριζεν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σφαῖραν καλὴν μετὰ χερσὶν ἕλοντο,
πορφυρέην, τήν σφιν Πόλυβος ποίησε δαΐφρων,
τὴν ἕτερος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα
ἰδνωθεὶς ὀπίσω, ὁ δʼ ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσʼ ἀερθεὶς
ῥηιδίως μεθέλεσκε, πάρος ποσὶν οὖδας ἱκέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σφαίρῃ ἀνʼ ἰθὺν πειρήσαντο,
ὠρχείσθην δὴ ἔπειτα ποτὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ
ταρφέʼ ἀμειβομένω· κοῦροι δʼ ἐπελήκεον ἄλλοι
ἑστεῶτες κατʼ ἀγῶνα, πολὺς δʼ ὑπὸ κόμπος ὀρώρει.
δὴ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἀλκίνοον προσεφώνεε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Lord Alcinous, showing forth among all the people,
you boasted that your dancers were the best,
and it has been made good: awe holds me as I look at them."
you boasted that your dancers were the best,
and it has been made good: awe holds me as I look at them."
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
ἠμὲν ἀπείλησας βητάρμονας εἶναι ἀρίστους,
ἠδʼ ἄρʼ ἑτοῖμα τέτυκτο· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
ἠμὲν ἀπείλησας βητάρμονας εἶναι ἀρίστους,
ἠδʼ ἄρʼ ἑτοῖμα τέτυκτο· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.
So he spoke, and the sacred might of Alcinous was glad,
and at once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians:
and at once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians:
ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·
"Hear me, leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians.
This stranger seems to me a very prudent man.
Come, let us give him a guest-gift, as is fitting.
For twelve conspicuous kings rule as leaders
through the land, and I myself am the thirteenth.
Let each of you bring him a well-washed cloak and a tunic
and a talent of precious gold.
Let us bring it all together quickly, so that the stranger
may hold it in his hands and go to supper glad in his spirit.
And let Euryalus himself make amends to him with words
and with a gift, since what he said was not as is right."
This stranger seems to me a very prudent man.
Come, let us give him a guest-gift, as is fitting.
For twelve conspicuous kings rule as leaders
through the land, and I myself am the thirteenth.
Let each of you bring him a well-washed cloak and a tunic
and a talent of precious gold.
Let us bring it all together quickly, so that the stranger
may hold it in his hands and go to supper glad in his spirit.
And let Euryalus himself make amends to him with words
and with a gift, since what he said was not as is right."
κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες.
ὁ ξεῖνος μάλα μοι δοκέει πεπνυμένος εἶναι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν ξεινήιον, ὡς ἐπιεικές.
δώδεκα γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριπρεπέες βασιλῆες
ἀρχοὶ κραίνουσι, τρισκαιδέκατος δʼ ἐγὼ αὐτός·
τῶν οἱ ἕκαστος φᾶρος ἐυπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα
καὶ χρυσοῖο τάλαντον ἐνείκατε τιμήεντος.
αἶψα δὲ πάντα φέρωμεν ἀολλέα, ὄφρʼ ἐνὶ χερσὶν
ξεῖνος ἔχων ἐπὶ δόρπον ἴῃ χαίρων ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
Εὐρύαλος δέ ἑ αὐτὸν ἀρεσσάσθω ἐπέεσσι
καὶ δώρῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.
ὁ ξεῖνος μάλα μοι δοκέει πεπνυμένος εἶναι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν ξεινήιον, ὡς ἐπιεικές.
δώδεκα γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριπρεπέες βασιλῆες
ἀρχοὶ κραίνουσι, τρισκαιδέκατος δʼ ἐγὼ αὐτός·
τῶν οἱ ἕκαστος φᾶρος ἐυπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα
καὶ χρυσοῖο τάλαντον ἐνείκατε τιμήεντος.
αἶψα δὲ πάντα φέρωμεν ἀολλέα, ὄφρʼ ἐνὶ χερσὶν
ξεῖνος ἔχων ἐπὶ δόρπον ἴῃ χαίρων ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
Εὐρύαλος δέ ἑ αὐτὸν ἀρεσσάσθω ἐπέεσσι
καὶ δώρῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.
So he spoke, and they all approved and urged it,
and each of them sent a herald to bring the gifts.
Then Euryalus answered him in turn and said:
and each of them sent a herald to bring the gifts.
Then Euryalus answered him in turn and said:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον,
δῶρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰσέμεναι πρόεσαν κήρυκα ἕκαστος.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
δῶρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰσέμεναι πρόεσαν κήρυκα ἕκαστος.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύαλος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"Lord Alcinous, showing forth among all the people,
well then, I will make amends to the stranger, as you bid.
I will give him this sword, all of bronze, with a hilt
of silver, and a scabbard of newly-sawn ivory
turned about it; it will be worth much to him."
well then, I will make amends to the stranger, as you bid.
I will give him this sword, all of bronze, with a hilt
of silver, and a scabbard of newly-sawn ivory
turned about it; it will be worth much to him."
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
τοιγὰρ ἐγὼ τὸν ξεῖνον ἀρέσσομαι, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.
δώσω οἱ τόδʼ ἄορ παγχάλκεον, ᾧ ἔπι κώπη
ἀργυρέη, κολεὸν δὲ νεοπρίστου ἐλέφαντος
ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιον ἔσται.
τοιγὰρ ἐγὼ τὸν ξεῖνον ἀρέσσομαι, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.
δώσω οἱ τόδʼ ἄορ παγχάλκεον, ᾧ ἔπι κώπη
ἀργυρέη, κολεὸν δὲ νεοπρίστου ἐλέφαντος
ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιον ἔσται.
So saying he put in his hands the silver-studded sword,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Hail, father stranger. If any word has been spoken
that was harsh, may the storm-winds snatch it up and carry it off at once.
May the gods grant you to see your wife and to reach your own land,
since you have long suffered pains far from your own."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
that was harsh, may the storm-winds snatch it up and carry it off at once.
May the gods grant you to see your wife and to reach your own land,
since you have long suffered pains far from your own."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
χαῖρε, πάτερ ὦ ξεῖνε· ἔπος δʼ εἴ πέρ τι βέβακται
δεινόν, ἄφαρ τὸ φέροιεν ἀναρπάξασαι ἄελλαι.
σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ ἄλοχόν τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι
δοῖεν, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχεις.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
δεινόν, ἄφαρ τὸ φέροιεν ἀναρπάξασαι ἄελλαι.
σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ ἄλοχόν τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι
δοῖεν, ἐπεὶ δὴ δηθὰ φίλων ἄπο πήματα πάσχεις.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"And to you also, friend, all hail; may the gods grant you prosperity.
And may you never afterwards feel the want of this sword
which you have given me, making amends with your words."
And may you never afterwards feel the want of this sword
which you have given me, making amends with your words."
καὶ σὺ φίλος μάλα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.
μηδέ τι τοι ξίφεός γε ποθὴ μετόπισθε γένοιτο
τούτου, ὃ δή μοι δῶκας ἀρεσσάμενος ἐπέεσσιν.
μηδέ τι τοι ξίφεός γε ποθὴ μετόπισθε γένοιτο
τούτου, ὃ δή μοι δῶκας ἀρεσσάμενος ἐπέεσσιν.
He spoke, and slung the silver-studded sword about his shoulders.
The sun went down, and the splendid gifts were there beside him.
Proud heralds carried them to the house of Alcinous;
and the sons of blameless Alcinous took them
and set the very beautiful gifts beside their honoured mother.
And the sacred might of Alcinous led them,
and they came and sat down on the high chairs.
Then the might of Alcinous spoke to Arete:
The sun went down, and the splendid gifts were there beside him.
Proud heralds carried them to the house of Alcinous;
and the sons of blameless Alcinous took them
and set the very beautiful gifts beside their honoured mother.
And the sacred might of Alcinous led them,
and they came and sat down on the high chairs.
Then the might of Alcinous spoke to Arete:
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι θέτο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος, καὶ τῷ κλυτὰ δῶρα παρῆεν.
καὶ τά γʼ ἐς Ἀλκινόοιο φέρον κήρυκες ἀγαυοί·
δεξάμενοι δʼ ἄρα παῖδες ἀμύμονος Ἀλκινόοιο
μητρὶ παρʼ αἰδοίῃ ἔθεσαν περικαλλέα δῶρα.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι θρόνοισι.
δή ῥα τότʼ Ἀρήτην προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος, καὶ τῷ κλυτὰ δῶρα παρῆεν.
καὶ τά γʼ ἐς Ἀλκινόοιο φέρον κήρυκες ἀγαυοί·
δεξάμενοι δʼ ἄρα παῖδες ἀμύμονος Ἀλκινόοιο
μητρὶ παρʼ αἰδοίῃ ἔθεσαν περικαλλέα δῶρα.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι θρόνοισι.
δή ῥα τότʼ Ἀρήτην προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·
"Come, wife, bring a conspicuous chest, whichever is the best;
and put in it yourself a well-washed cloak and a tunic.
And heat a cauldron of bronze for him on the fire, and warm the water,
so that when he has bathed and seen all the gifts well laid,
which the blameless Phaeacians brought here for him,
he may take pleasure in the feast and in hearing the strain of song.
And I will give him this very beautiful cup of my own,
of gold, so that all his days he may remember me
and pour in his hall to Zeus and to the other gods."
and put in it yourself a well-washed cloak and a tunic.
And heat a cauldron of bronze for him on the fire, and warm the water,
so that when he has bathed and seen all the gifts well laid,
which the blameless Phaeacians brought here for him,
he may take pleasure in the feast and in hearing the strain of song.
And I will give him this very beautiful cup of my own,
of gold, so that all his days he may remember me
and pour in his hall to Zeus and to the other gods."
δεῦρο, γύναι, φέρε χηλὸν ἀριπρεπέʼ, ἥ τις ἀρίστη·
ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ θὲς φᾶρος ἐυπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα.
ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ πυρὶ χαλκὸν ἰήνατε, θέρμετε δʼ ὕδωρ,
ὄφρα λοεσσάμενός τε ἰδών τʼ ἐὺ κείμενα πάντα
δῶρα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἀμύμονες ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν,
δαιτί τε τέρπηται καὶ ἀοιδῆς ὕμνον ἀκούων.
καί οἱ ἐγὼ τόδʼ ἄλεισον ἐμὸν περικαλλὲς ὀπάσσω,
χρύσεον, ὄφρʼ ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα
σπένδῃ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσιν.
ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ θὲς φᾶρος ἐυπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα.
ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ πυρὶ χαλκὸν ἰήνατε, θέρμετε δʼ ὕδωρ,
ὄφρα λοεσσάμενός τε ἰδών τʼ ἐὺ κείμενα πάντα
δῶρα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἀμύμονες ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν,
δαιτί τε τέρπηται καὶ ἀοιδῆς ὕμνον ἀκούων.
καί οἱ ἐγὼ τόδʼ ἄλεισον ἐμὸν περικαλλὲς ὀπάσσω,
χρύσεον, ὄφρʼ ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα
σπένδῃ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσιν.
So he spoke, and Arete told her serving-women
to set a great tripod on the fire with all speed.
And they set the bath-water tripod on the blazing fire,
and poured in water, and took wood and kindled it beneath.
The fire licked the belly of the tripod, and the water grew warm.
Meanwhile Arete brought out from the chamber for the stranger
a very beautiful chest, and put the fine gifts in it,
the clothing and the gold, which the Phaeacians had given him;
and she herself put in a cloak and a fine tunic,
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
to set a great tripod on the fire with all speed.
And they set the bath-water tripod on the blazing fire,
and poured in water, and took wood and kindled it beneath.
The fire licked the belly of the tripod, and the water grew warm.
Meanwhile Arete brought out from the chamber for the stranger
a very beautiful chest, and put the fine gifts in it,
the clothing and the gold, which the Phaeacians had given him;
and she herself put in a cloak and a fine tunic,
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀρήτη δὲ μετὰ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν
ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν ὅττι τάχιστα.
αἱ δὲ λοετροχόον τρίποδʼ ἵστασαν ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ,
ἔν δʼ ἄρʼ ὕδωρ ἔχεαν, ὑπὸ δὲ ξύλα δαῖον ἑλοῦσαι.
γάστρην μὲν τρίποδος πῦρ ἄμφεπε, θέρμετο δʼ ὕδωρ·
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτη ξείνῳ περικαλλέα χηλὸν
ἐξέφερεν θαλάμοιο, τίθει δʼ ἐνὶ κάλλιμα δῶρα,
ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν·
ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ φᾶρος θῆκεν καλόν τε χιτῶνα,
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν ὅττι τάχιστα.
αἱ δὲ λοετροχόον τρίποδʼ ἵστασαν ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ,
ἔν δʼ ἄρʼ ὕδωρ ἔχεαν, ὑπὸ δὲ ξύλα δαῖον ἑλοῦσαι.
γάστρην μὲν τρίποδος πῦρ ἄμφεπε, θέρμετο δʼ ὕδωρ·
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀρήτη ξείνῳ περικαλλέα χηλὸν
ἐξέφερεν θαλάμοιο, τίθει δʼ ἐνὶ κάλλιμα δῶρα,
ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν·
ἐν δʼ αὐτὴ φᾶρος θῆκεν καλόν τε χιτῶνα,
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"See to the lid yourself now, and quickly throw a knot upon it,
in case someone should rob you on the way, when you are again
sleeping sweet sleep as you go in the black ship."
But when long-suffering noble Odysseus heard this,
he at once fitted the lid on and quickly threw upon it an intricate
knot, which the lady Circe had once taught him in his mind.
Then at once the housekeeper bade him go and bathe;
and he went into the bath. He was glad in his spirit to see
the warm baths, since he had not often been cared for
since he left the house of lovely-haired Calypso.
All that time his care had been steady, as for a god.
And when the serving-women had bathed him and rubbed him with oil,
and thrown about him a fine cloak and a tunic,
he came out of the bath and went among the men drinking their wine.
And Nausicaa, with beauty from the gods,
stood by the doorpost of the strongly-built hall,
and marvelled at Odysseus, looking at him with her eyes,
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
in case someone should rob you on the way, when you are again
sleeping sweet sleep as you go in the black ship."
But when long-suffering noble Odysseus heard this,
he at once fitted the lid on and quickly threw upon it an intricate
knot, which the lady Circe had once taught him in his mind.
Then at once the housekeeper bade him go and bathe;
and he went into the bath. He was glad in his spirit to see
the warm baths, since he had not often been cared for
since he left the house of lovely-haired Calypso.
All that time his care had been steady, as for a god.
And when the serving-women had bathed him and rubbed him with oil,
and thrown about him a fine cloak and a tunic,
he came out of the bath and went among the men drinking their wine.
And Nausicaa, with beauty from the gods,
stood by the doorpost of the strongly-built hall,
and marvelled at Odysseus, looking at him with her eyes,
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
αὐτὸς νῦν ἴδε πῶμα, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἴηλον,
μή τίς τοι καθʼ ὁδὸν δηλήσεται, ὁππότʼ ἂν αὖτε
εὕδῃσθα γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἰὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
αὐτίκʼ ἐπήρτυε πῶμα, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἴηλεν
ποικίλον, ὅν ποτέ μιν δέδαε φρεσὶ πότνια Κίρκη·
αὐτόδιον δʼ ἄρα μιν ταμίη λούσασθαι ἀνώγει
ἔς ῥʼ ἀσάμινθον βάνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄρ ἀσπασίως ἴδε θυμῷ
θερμὰ λοέτρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι κομιζόμενός γε θάμιζεν,
ἐπεὶ δὴ λίπε δῶμα Καλυψοῦς ἠυκόμοιο.
τόφρα δέ οἱ κομιδή γε θεῷ ὣς ἔμπεδος ἦεν.
τὸν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθου βὰς ἄνδρας μέτα οἰνοποτῆρας
ἤιε· Ναυσικάα δὲ θεῶν ἄπο κάλλος ἔχουσα
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶσα,
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
μή τίς τοι καθʼ ὁδὸν δηλήσεται, ὁππότʼ ἂν αὖτε
εὕδῃσθα γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἰὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
αὐτίκʼ ἐπήρτυε πῶμα, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἴηλεν
ποικίλον, ὅν ποτέ μιν δέδαε φρεσὶ πότνια Κίρκη·
αὐτόδιον δʼ ἄρα μιν ταμίη λούσασθαι ἀνώγει
ἔς ῥʼ ἀσάμινθον βάνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄρ ἀσπασίως ἴδε θυμῷ
θερμὰ λοέτρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι κομιζόμενός γε θάμιζεν,
ἐπεὶ δὴ λίπε δῶμα Καλυψοῦς ἠυκόμοιο.
τόφρα δέ οἱ κομιδή γε θεῷ ὣς ἔμπεδος ἦεν.
τὸν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθου βὰς ἄνδρας μέτα οἰνοποτῆρας
ἤιε· Ναυσικάα δὲ θεῶν ἄπο κάλλος ἔχουσα
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
θαύμαζεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶσα,
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Farewell, stranger; so that one day, in your own native land,
you may remember me, since it is to me first that you owe your life."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
"Nausicaa, daughter of high-hearted Alcinous,
so may Zeus now grant it, the loud-thundering husband of Hera,
that I come home and see the day of my homecoming;
then even there I would pray to you as to a god
always, all my days; for you gave me back my life, girl."
you may remember me, since it is to me first that you owe your life."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
"Nausicaa, daughter of high-hearted Alcinous,
so may Zeus now grant it, the loud-thundering husband of Hera,
that I come home and see the day of my homecoming;
then even there I would pray to you as to a god
always, all my days; for you gave me back my life, girl."
χαῖρε, ξεῖνʼ, ἵνα καί ποτʼ ἐὼν ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ
μνήσῃ ἐμεῦ, ὅτι μοι πρώτῃ ζωάγριʼ ὀφέλλεις.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.
Ναυσικάα θύγατερ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης,
οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι·
τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην
αἰεὶ ἤματα πάντα· σὺ γάρ μʼ ἐβιώσαο, κούρη.
μνήσῃ ἐμεῦ, ὅτι μοι πρώτῃ ζωάγριʼ ὀφέλλεις.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.
Ναυσικάα θύγατερ μεγαλήτορος Ἀλκινόοιο,
οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης,
οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι·
τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην
αἰεὶ ἤματα πάντα· σὺ γάρ μʼ ἐβιώσαο, κούρη.
He spoke, and sat down on a chair beside Alcinous the king.
And they were already serving out the portions and mixing the wine.
And the herald came near, bringing the trusty singer,
Demodocus, honoured by the people; and he seated him
in the middle of the banqueters, leaning him against a tall pillar.
Then Odysseus of many devices spoke to the herald,
cutting off a piece from the chine — most of it was left —
of a white-tusked boar, and there was rich fat on both sides of it:
"Herald, here, give this meat to Demodocus, so that he may eat,
and I will greet him warmly, grieved though I am.
For among all men upon the earth singers have
their share of honour and of respect, because the Muse
has taught them the paths of song, and loves the tribe of singers."
And they were already serving out the portions and mixing the wine.
And the herald came near, bringing the trusty singer,
Demodocus, honoured by the people; and he seated him
in the middle of the banqueters, leaning him against a tall pillar.
Then Odysseus of many devices spoke to the herald,
cutting off a piece from the chine — most of it was left —
of a white-tusked boar, and there was rich fat on both sides of it:
"Herald, here, give this meat to Demodocus, so that he may eat,
and I will greet him warmly, grieved though I am.
For among all men upon the earth singers have
their share of honour and of respect, because the Muse
has taught them the paths of song, and loves the tribe of singers."
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐς θρόνον ἷζε παρʼ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα·
οἱ δʼ ἤδη μοίρας τʼ ἔνεμον κερόωντό τε οἶνον.
κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν,
Δημόδοκον λαοῖσι τετιμένον· εἷσε δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸν
μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας.
δὴ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
νώτου ἀποπροταμών, ἐπὶ δὲ πλεῖον ἐλέλειπτο,
ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, θαλερὴ δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶς ἀλοιφή·
κῆρυξ, τῆ δή, τοῦτο πόρε κρέας, ὄφρα φάγῃσιν,
Δημοδόκῳ· καί μιν προσπτύξομαι ἀχνύμενός περ·
πᾶσι γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδοὶ
τιμῆς ἔμμοροί εἰσι καὶ αἰδοῦς, οὕνεκʼ ἄρα σφέας
οἴμας μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε, φίλησε δὲ φῦλον ἀοιδῶν.
οἱ δʼ ἤδη μοίρας τʼ ἔνεμον κερόωντό τε οἶνον.
κῆρυξ δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἄγων ἐρίηρον ἀοιδόν,
Δημόδοκον λαοῖσι τετιμένον· εἷσε δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸν
μέσσῳ δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρὸν ἐρείσας.
δὴ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
νώτου ἀποπροταμών, ἐπὶ δὲ πλεῖον ἐλέλειπτο,
ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, θαλερὴ δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶς ἀλοιφή·
κῆρυξ, τῆ δή, τοῦτο πόρε κρέας, ὄφρα φάγῃσιν,
Δημοδόκῳ· καί μιν προσπτύξομαι ἀχνύμενός περ·
πᾶσι γὰρ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδοὶ
τιμῆς ἔμμοροί εἰσι καὶ αἰδοῦς, οὕνεκʼ ἄρα σφέας
οἴμας μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε, φίλησε δὲ φῦλον ἀοιδῶν.
So he spoke, and the herald carried it and put it in the hands
of the hero Demodocus; and he took it and was glad in his spirit.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then Odysseus of many devices spoke to Demodocus:
of the hero Demodocus; and he took it and was glad in his spirit.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then Odysseus of many devices spoke to Demodocus:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκεν
ἥρῳ Δημοδόκῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Δημόδοκον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἥρῳ Δημοδόκῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Δημόδοκον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Demodocus, I praise you above all mortal men.
Either the Muse, child of Zeus, has taught you, or Apollo;
for you sing the fate of the Achaeans all too much in order,
all that the Achaeans did and suffered and toiled through,
as though you had been there yourself, or heard it from another.
But come, change your theme and sing of the building of the horse
of wood, which Epeius made with Athena,
which noble Odysseus once brought up to the citadel as a trap,
having filled it with the men who sacked Ilium.
If you recount this to me as it should be,
then at once I will tell all men
that a god has been ready to grant you divine song."
Either the Muse, child of Zeus, has taught you, or Apollo;
for you sing the fate of the Achaeans all too much in order,
all that the Achaeans did and suffered and toiled through,
as though you had been there yourself, or heard it from another.
But come, change your theme and sing of the building of the horse
of wood, which Epeius made with Athena,
which noble Odysseus once brought up to the citadel as a trap,
having filled it with the men who sacked Ilium.
If you recount this to me as it should be,
then at once I will tell all men
that a god has been ready to grant you divine song."
Δημόδοκʼ, ἔξοχα δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομʼ ἁπάντων.
ἢ σέ γε μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε, Διὸς πάϊς, ἢ σέ γʼ Ἀπόλλων·
λίην γὰρ κατὰ κόσμον Ἀχαιῶν οἶτον ἀείδεις,
ὅσσʼ ἔρξαν τʼ ἔπαθόν τε καὶ ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησαν Ἀχαιοί,
ὥς τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν ἢ ἄλλου ἀκούσας.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ μετάβηθι καὶ ἵππου κόσμον ἄεισον
δουρατέου, τὸν Ἐπειὸς ἐποίησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ,
ὅν ποτʼ ἐς ἀκρόπολιν δόλον ἤγαγε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀνδρῶν ἐμπλήσας οἵ ῥʼ Ἴλιον ἐξαλάπαξαν.
αἴ κεν δή μοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν καταλέξῃς,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πᾶσιν μυθήσομαι ἀνθρώποισιν,
ὡς ἄρα τοι πρόφρων θεὸς ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν.
ἢ σέ γε μοῦσʼ ἐδίδαξε, Διὸς πάϊς, ἢ σέ γʼ Ἀπόλλων·
λίην γὰρ κατὰ κόσμον Ἀχαιῶν οἶτον ἀείδεις,
ὅσσʼ ἔρξαν τʼ ἔπαθόν τε καὶ ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησαν Ἀχαιοί,
ὥς τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν ἢ ἄλλου ἀκούσας.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ μετάβηθι καὶ ἵππου κόσμον ἄεισον
δουρατέου, τὸν Ἐπειὸς ἐποίησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ,
ὅν ποτʼ ἐς ἀκρόπολιν δόλον ἤγαγε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀνδρῶν ἐμπλήσας οἵ ῥʼ Ἴλιον ἐξαλάπαξαν.
αἴ κεν δή μοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν καταλέξῃς,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πᾶσιν μυθήσομαι ἀνθρώποισιν,
ὡς ἄρα τοι πρόφρων θεὸς ὤπασε θέσπιν ἀοιδήν.
So he spoke, and the singer, moved by the god, began and let his song shine out,
taking it up from where the Argives went aboard
their well-benched ships and sailed away, after throwing fire in their huts,
while the others already, about glorious Odysseus,
sat in the meeting-place of the Trojans, hidden in the horse;
for the Trojans themselves had dragged it up to the citadel.
So it stood there, and they debated much without settling it,
sitting about it; and three counsels found favour with them:
either to split the hollow timber with pitiless bronze,
or to drag it to the height and throw it down from the rocks,
or to let it stand as a great offering to appease the gods —
which was the way it was to end after all;
for it was their portion to perish when the city enclosed
the great horse of wood, where all the best of the Argives
sat, bringing slaughter and death to the Trojans.
And he sang how the sons of the Achaeans sacked the town,
pouring out of the horse, leaving their hollow ambush;
and how one went one way, one another, ravaging the steep city,
but Odysseus went to the house of Deiphobus,
like Ares, with godlike Menelaus.
There, he said, he dared the most terrible fighting
and won, after that, through great-hearted Athena.
This the famous singer sang; but Odysseus
melted, and the tears wet his cheeks under his eyelids.
As a woman weeps, flung upon her dear husband,
who has fallen before his own city and his own people,
warding off the pitiless day from the town and from his children;
and she, seeing him dying and gasping,
pours herself over him and wails shrilly; and behind her
they strike her back and her shoulders with their spears
and lead her up into slavery, to have toil and misery;
and her cheeks waste away with the most piteous grief:
so Odysseus let a piteous tear fall from under his brows.
There he escaped the notice of all the rest as he shed tears,
but Alcinous alone marked him and took note,
sitting close beside him, and heard him groaning heavily.
At once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians:
taking it up from where the Argives went aboard
their well-benched ships and sailed away, after throwing fire in their huts,
while the others already, about glorious Odysseus,
sat in the meeting-place of the Trojans, hidden in the horse;
for the Trojans themselves had dragged it up to the citadel.
So it stood there, and they debated much without settling it,
sitting about it; and three counsels found favour with them:
either to split the hollow timber with pitiless bronze,
or to drag it to the height and throw it down from the rocks,
or to let it stand as a great offering to appease the gods —
which was the way it was to end after all;
for it was their portion to perish when the city enclosed
the great horse of wood, where all the best of the Argives
sat, bringing slaughter and death to the Trojans.
And he sang how the sons of the Achaeans sacked the town,
pouring out of the horse, leaving their hollow ambush;
and how one went one way, one another, ravaging the steep city,
but Odysseus went to the house of Deiphobus,
like Ares, with godlike Menelaus.
There, he said, he dared the most terrible fighting
and won, after that, through great-hearted Athena.
This the famous singer sang; but Odysseus
melted, and the tears wet his cheeks under his eyelids.
As a woman weeps, flung upon her dear husband,
who has fallen before his own city and his own people,
warding off the pitiless day from the town and from his children;
and she, seeing him dying and gasping,
pours herself over him and wails shrilly; and behind her
they strike her back and her shoulders with their spears
and lead her up into slavery, to have toil and misery;
and her cheeks waste away with the most piteous grief:
so Odysseus let a piteous tear fall from under his brows.
There he escaped the notice of all the rest as he shed tears,
but Alcinous alone marked him and took note,
sitting close beside him, and heard him groaning heavily.
At once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians:
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ ὁρμηθεὶς θεοῦ ἤρχετο, φαῖνε δʼ ἀοιδήν,
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν
βάντες ἀπέπλειον, πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες,
Ἀργεῖοι, τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ·
αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει, τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον
ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν· τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή,
ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ,
ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης,
ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι,
τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·
αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι, ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ
δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον, ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες.
ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς ἄστυ διέπραθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἱππόθεν ἐκχύμενοι, κοῖλον λόχον ἐκπρολιπόντες.
ἄλλον δʼ ἄλλῃ ἄειδε πόλιν κεραϊζέμεν αἰπήν,
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα προτὶ δώματα Δηιφόβοιο
βήμεναι, ἠύτʼ Ἄρηα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ.
κεῖθι δὴ αἰνότατον πόλεμον φάτο τολμήσαντα
νικῆσαι καὶ ἔπειτα διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην.
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τήκετο, δάκρυ δʼ ἔδευεν ὑπὸ βλεφάροισι παρειάς.
ὡς δὲ γυνὴ κλαίῃσι φίλον πόσιν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα,
ὅς τε ἑῆς πρόσθεν πόλιος λαῶν τε πέσῃσιν,
ἄστεϊ καὶ τεκέεσσιν ἀμύνων νηλεὲς ἦμαρ·
ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντα ἰδοῦσα
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει· οἱ δέ τʼ ὄπισθε
κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους
εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι, πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀιζύν·
τῆς δʼ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεϊ φθινύθουσι παρειαί·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβεν.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων,
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν,
ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ, βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν.
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐυσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν
βάντες ἀπέπλειον, πῦρ ἐν κλισίῃσι βαλόντες,
Ἀργεῖοι, τοὶ δʼ ἤδη ἀγακλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ἥατʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ κεκαλυμμένοι ἵππῳ·
αὐτοὶ γάρ μιν Τρῶες ἐς ἀκρόπολιν ἐρύσαντο.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἑστήκει, τοὶ δʼ ἄκριτα πόλλʼ ἀγόρευον
ἥμενοι ἀμφʼ αὐτόν· τρίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή,
ἠὲ διαπλῆξαι κοῖλον δόρυ νηλέι χαλκῷ,
ἢ κατὰ πετράων βαλέειν ἐρύσαντας ἐπʼ ἄκρης,
ἢ ἐάαν μέγʼ ἄγαλμα θεῶν θελκτήριον εἶναι,
τῇ περ δὴ καὶ ἔπειτα τελευτήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·
αἶσα γὰρ ἦν ἀπολέσθαι, ἐπὴν πόλις ἀμφικαλύψῃ
δουράτεον μέγαν ἵππον, ὅθʼ ἥατο πάντες ἄριστοι
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες.
ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς ἄστυ διέπραθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἱππόθεν ἐκχύμενοι, κοῖλον λόχον ἐκπρολιπόντες.
ἄλλον δʼ ἄλλῃ ἄειδε πόλιν κεραϊζέμεν αἰπήν,
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα προτὶ δώματα Δηιφόβοιο
βήμεναι, ἠύτʼ Ἄρηα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ.
κεῖθι δὴ αἰνότατον πόλεμον φάτο τολμήσαντα
νικῆσαι καὶ ἔπειτα διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην.
ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀοιδὸς ἄειδε περικλυτός· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
τήκετο, δάκρυ δʼ ἔδευεν ὑπὸ βλεφάροισι παρειάς.
ὡς δὲ γυνὴ κλαίῃσι φίλον πόσιν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα,
ὅς τε ἑῆς πρόσθεν πόλιος λαῶν τε πέσῃσιν,
ἄστεϊ καὶ τεκέεσσιν ἀμύνων νηλεὲς ἦμαρ·
ἡ μὲν τὸν θνήσκοντα καὶ ἀσπαίροντα ἰδοῦσα
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγα κωκύει· οἱ δέ τʼ ὄπισθε
κόπτοντες δούρεσσι μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμους
εἴρερον εἰσανάγουσι, πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀιζύν·
τῆς δʼ ἐλεεινοτάτῳ ἄχεϊ φθινύθουσι παρειαί·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβεν.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ἐλάνθανε δάκρυα λείβων,
Ἀλκίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἐπεφράσατʼ ἠδʼ ἐνόησεν,
ἥμενος ἄγχʼ αὐτοῦ, βαρὺ δὲ στενάχοντος ἄκουσεν.
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα·
"Hear me, leaders and counsellors of the Phaeacians,
and let Demodocus now hold back his clear-toned lyre;
for he does not sing this to the pleasure of all.
From the time we began our supper and the divine singer began,
from that time the stranger has never ceased
from his wretched weeping; grief must have come all about his mind.
Come, let him hold back, so that we may all take pleasure alike,
hosts and guest, since it is much better so;
for it is for the sake of our honoured guest that all this has been done,
the escort and the friendly gifts we give him in our love.
A guest and a suppliant stand in a brother’s place
to a man who touches even a little upon good sense.
So now do not you hide with crafty thoughts
what I shall ask you; it is better for you to speak.
Tell me the name by which your mother and father called you there,
and the others in the town and those who live round about.
For no man among men is altogether nameless,
neither the base nor the noble, once he has been born,
but parents give a name to all when they bring them into the world.
Tell me your land too, and your people and your city,
so that our ships may aim at it in their minds and carry you there.
For the Phaeacians have no steersmen,
nor any steering-oars such as other ships have;
but the ships themselves know the thoughts and minds of men,
and they know the cities and the rich fields of all
men, and they cross the gulf of the sea most swiftly,
wrapped in mist and cloud; and there is never
any fear for them of being harmed or of being lost.
But this I once heard my father Nausithous say:
he used to say that Poseidon was angry
with us, because we give safe escort to all men.
He said that one day a well-made ship of Phaeacian men,
coming back from an escort on the misty sea,
would be shattered, and a great mountain would close about our city.
So the old man spoke. The god may bring it to pass,
or leave it unfulfilled, as it pleases his own spirit.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
where you were driven off course, and to what countries you came
of men, and to what men, and to what well-settled cities;
both those who are harsh and savage and without justice,
and those who love guests, and whose mind is godfearing.
And tell me why you weep and lament within your spirit
when you hear the fate of the Argive Danaans and of Ilium.
The gods made that, and spun destruction
for men, so that there might be a song for those yet to come.
Did some kinsman of yours die before Ilium,
a noble man, a son-in-law or a father-in-law, who are the nearest
and dearest to us after our own blood and kin?
Or was it some companion who knew what was pleasing to you,
a noble man? For he is no worse than a brother,
the companion who has a prudent mind."
and let Demodocus now hold back his clear-toned lyre;
for he does not sing this to the pleasure of all.
From the time we began our supper and the divine singer began,
from that time the stranger has never ceased
from his wretched weeping; grief must have come all about his mind.
Come, let him hold back, so that we may all take pleasure alike,
hosts and guest, since it is much better so;
for it is for the sake of our honoured guest that all this has been done,
the escort and the friendly gifts we give him in our love.
A guest and a suppliant stand in a brother’s place
to a man who touches even a little upon good sense.
So now do not you hide with crafty thoughts
what I shall ask you; it is better for you to speak.
Tell me the name by which your mother and father called you there,
and the others in the town and those who live round about.
For no man among men is altogether nameless,
neither the base nor the noble, once he has been born,
but parents give a name to all when they bring them into the world.
Tell me your land too, and your people and your city,
so that our ships may aim at it in their minds and carry you there.
For the Phaeacians have no steersmen,
nor any steering-oars such as other ships have;
but the ships themselves know the thoughts and minds of men,
and they know the cities and the rich fields of all
men, and they cross the gulf of the sea most swiftly,
wrapped in mist and cloud; and there is never
any fear for them of being harmed or of being lost.
But this I once heard my father Nausithous say:
he used to say that Poseidon was angry
with us, because we give safe escort to all men.
He said that one day a well-made ship of Phaeacian men,
coming back from an escort on the misty sea,
would be shattered, and a great mountain would close about our city.
So the old man spoke. The god may bring it to pass,
or leave it unfulfilled, as it pleases his own spirit.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
where you were driven off course, and to what countries you came
of men, and to what men, and to what well-settled cities;
both those who are harsh and savage and without justice,
and those who love guests, and whose mind is godfearing.
And tell me why you weep and lament within your spirit
when you hear the fate of the Argive Danaans and of Ilium.
The gods made that, and spun destruction
for men, so that there might be a song for those yet to come.
Did some kinsman of yours die before Ilium,
a noble man, a son-in-law or a father-in-law, who are the nearest
and dearest to us after our own blood and kin?
Or was it some companion who knew what was pleasing to you,
a noble man? For he is no worse than a brother,
the companion who has a prudent mind."
κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
Δημόδοκος δʼ ἤδη σχεθέτω φόρμιγγα λίγειαν·
οὐ γάρ πως πάντεσσι χαριζόμενος τάδʼ ἀείδει.
ἐξ οὗ δορπέομέν τε καὶ ὤρορε θεῖος ἀοιδός,
ἐκ τοῦ δʼ οὔ πω παύσατʼ ὀιζυροῖο γόοιο
ὁ ξεῖνος· μάλα πού μιν ἄχος φρένας ἀμφιβέβηκεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ὁ μὲν σχεθέτω, ἵνʼ ὁμῶς τερπώμεθα πάντες,
ξεινοδόκοι καὶ ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολὺ κάλλιον οὕτως·
εἵνεκα γὰρ ξείνοιο τάδʼ αἰδοίοιο τέτυκται,
πομπὴ καὶ φίλα δῶρα, τά οἱ δίδομεν φιλέοντες.
ἀντὶ κασιγνήτου ξεῖνός θʼ ἱκέτης τε τέτυκται
ἀνέρι, ὅς τʼ ὀλίγον περ ἐπιψαύῃ πραπίδεσσι.
τῷ νῦν μηδὲ σὺ κεῦθε νοήμασι κερδαλέοισιν
ὅττι κέ σʼ εἴρωμαι· φάσθαι δέ σε κάλλιόν ἐστιν.
εἴπʼ ὄνομʼ ὅττι σε κεῖθι κάλεον μήτηρ τε πατήρ τε
ἄλλοι θʼ οἳ κατὰ ἄστυ καὶ οἳ περιναιετάουσιν.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τις πάμπαν ἀνώνυμός ἐστʼ ἀνθρώπων,
οὐ κακὸς οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλός, ἐπὴν τὰ πρῶτα γένηται,
ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τίθενται, ἐπεί κε τέκωσι, τοκῆες.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι γαῖάν τε· τεὴν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,
ὄφρα σε τῇ πέμπωσι τιτυσκόμεναι φρεσὶ νῆες·
οὐ γὰρ Φαιήκεσσι κυβερνητῆρες ἔασιν,
οὐδέ τι πηδάλιʼ ἔστι, τά τʼ ἄλλαι νῆες ἔχουσιν·
ἀλλʼ αὐταὶ ἴσασι νοήματα καὶ φρένας ἀνδρῶν,
καὶ πάντων ἴσασι πόλιας καὶ πίονας ἀγροὺς
ἀνθρώπων, καὶ λαῖτμα τάχισθʼ ἁλὸς ἐκπερόωσιν
ἠέρι καὶ νεφέλῃ κεκαλυμμέναι· οὐδέ ποτέ σφιν
οὔτε τι πημανθῆναι ἔπι δέος οὔτʼ ἀπολέσθαι.
ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ὥς ποτε πατρὸς ἐγὼν εἰπόντος ἄκουσα
Ναυσιθόου, ὃς ἔφασκε Ποσειδάωνʼ ἀγάσασθαι
ἡμῖν, οὕνεκα πομποὶ ἀπήμονές εἰμεν ἁπάντων.
φῆ ποτὲ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐυεργέα νῆα
ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ
ῥαισέμεναι, μέγα δʼ ἧμιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψειν.
ὣς ἀγόρευʼ ὁ γέρων· τὰ δέ κεν θεὸς ἢ τελέσειεν
ἤ κʼ ἀτέλεστʼ εἴη, ὥς οἱ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
ὅππῃ ἀπεπλάγχθης τε καὶ ἅς τινας ἵκεο χώρας
ἀνθρώπων, αὐτούς τε πόλιάς τʼ ἐὺ ναιετοώσας,
ἠμὲν ὅσοι χαλεποί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,
οἵ τε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής.
εἰπὲ δʼ ὅ τι κλαίεις καὶ ὀδύρεαι ἔνδοθι θυμῷ
Ἀργείων Δαναῶν ἠδʼ Ἰλίου οἶτον ἀκούων.
τὸν δὲ θεοὶ μὲν τεῦξαν, ἐπεκλώσαντο δʼ ὄλεθρον
ἀνθρώποις, ἵνα ᾖσι καὶ ἐσσομένοισιν ἀοιδή.
ἦ τίς τοι καὶ πηὸς ἀπέφθιτο Ἰλιόθι πρὸ
ἐσθλὸς ἐών, γαμβρὸς ἢ πενθερός, οἵ τε μάλιστα
κήδιστοι τελέθουσι μεθʼ αἷμά τε καὶ γένος αὐτῶν;
ἦ τίς που καὶ ἑταῖρος ἀνὴρ κεχαρισμένα εἰδώς,
ἐσθλός; ἐπεὶ οὐ μέν τι κασιγνήτοιο χερείων
γίγνεται, ὅς κεν ἑταῖρος ἐὼν πεπνυμένα εἰδῇ.
Δημόδοκος δʼ ἤδη σχεθέτω φόρμιγγα λίγειαν·
οὐ γάρ πως πάντεσσι χαριζόμενος τάδʼ ἀείδει.
ἐξ οὗ δορπέομέν τε καὶ ὤρορε θεῖος ἀοιδός,
ἐκ τοῦ δʼ οὔ πω παύσατʼ ὀιζυροῖο γόοιο
ὁ ξεῖνος· μάλα πού μιν ἄχος φρένας ἀμφιβέβηκεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ὁ μὲν σχεθέτω, ἵνʼ ὁμῶς τερπώμεθα πάντες,
ξεινοδόκοι καὶ ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολὺ κάλλιον οὕτως·
εἵνεκα γὰρ ξείνοιο τάδʼ αἰδοίοιο τέτυκται,
πομπὴ καὶ φίλα δῶρα, τά οἱ δίδομεν φιλέοντες.
ἀντὶ κασιγνήτου ξεῖνός θʼ ἱκέτης τε τέτυκται
ἀνέρι, ὅς τʼ ὀλίγον περ ἐπιψαύῃ πραπίδεσσι.
τῷ νῦν μηδὲ σὺ κεῦθε νοήμασι κερδαλέοισιν
ὅττι κέ σʼ εἴρωμαι· φάσθαι δέ σε κάλλιόν ἐστιν.
εἴπʼ ὄνομʼ ὅττι σε κεῖθι κάλεον μήτηρ τε πατήρ τε
ἄλλοι θʼ οἳ κατὰ ἄστυ καὶ οἳ περιναιετάουσιν.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τις πάμπαν ἀνώνυμός ἐστʼ ἀνθρώπων,
οὐ κακὸς οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλός, ἐπὴν τὰ πρῶτα γένηται,
ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τίθενται, ἐπεί κε τέκωσι, τοκῆες.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι γαῖάν τε· τεὴν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,
ὄφρα σε τῇ πέμπωσι τιτυσκόμεναι φρεσὶ νῆες·
οὐ γὰρ Φαιήκεσσι κυβερνητῆρες ἔασιν,
οὐδέ τι πηδάλιʼ ἔστι, τά τʼ ἄλλαι νῆες ἔχουσιν·
ἀλλʼ αὐταὶ ἴσασι νοήματα καὶ φρένας ἀνδρῶν,
καὶ πάντων ἴσασι πόλιας καὶ πίονας ἀγροὺς
ἀνθρώπων, καὶ λαῖτμα τάχισθʼ ἁλὸς ἐκπερόωσιν
ἠέρι καὶ νεφέλῃ κεκαλυμμέναι· οὐδέ ποτέ σφιν
οὔτε τι πημανθῆναι ἔπι δέος οὔτʼ ἀπολέσθαι.
ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ὥς ποτε πατρὸς ἐγὼν εἰπόντος ἄκουσα
Ναυσιθόου, ὃς ἔφασκε Ποσειδάωνʼ ἀγάσασθαι
ἡμῖν, οὕνεκα πομποὶ ἀπήμονές εἰμεν ἁπάντων.
φῆ ποτὲ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐυεργέα νῆα
ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ
ῥαισέμεναι, μέγα δʼ ἧμιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψειν.
ὣς ἀγόρευʼ ὁ γέρων· τὰ δέ κεν θεὸς ἢ τελέσειεν
ἤ κʼ ἀτέλεστʼ εἴη, ὥς οἱ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
ὅππῃ ἀπεπλάγχθης τε καὶ ἅς τινας ἵκεο χώρας
ἀνθρώπων, αὐτούς τε πόλιάς τʼ ἐὺ ναιετοώσας,
ἠμὲν ὅσοι χαλεποί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,
οἵ τε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής.
εἰπὲ δʼ ὅ τι κλαίεις καὶ ὀδύρεαι ἔνδοθι θυμῷ
Ἀργείων Δαναῶν ἠδʼ Ἰλίου οἶτον ἀκούων.
τὸν δὲ θεοὶ μὲν τεῦξαν, ἐπεκλώσαντο δʼ ὄλεθρον
ἀνθρώποις, ἵνα ᾖσι καὶ ἐσσομένοισιν ἀοιδή.
ἦ τίς τοι καὶ πηὸς ἀπέφθιτο Ἰλιόθι πρὸ
ἐσθλὸς ἐών, γαμβρὸς ἢ πενθερός, οἵ τε μάλιστα
κήδιστοι τελέθουσι μεθʼ αἷμά τε καὶ γένος αὐτῶν;
ἦ τίς που καὶ ἑταῖρος ἀνὴρ κεχαρισμένα εἰδώς,
ἐσθλός; ἐπεὶ οὐ μέν τι κασιγνήτοιο χερείων
γίγνεται, ὅς κεν ἑταῖρος ἐὼν πεπνυμένα εἰδῇ.
Book 9
He names himself, and the great tales begin: the Cicones, the Lotus-eaters, and the Cyclops — the cave, the sharpened stake, the name Nobody, and the boast on the water that buys Poseidon's curse.
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
Lord Alcinous, showing forth among all the people,
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
it is a fine thing indeed to listen to a singer
such as this man is, like the gods in his voice.
For I say there is no fulfilment more graceful
than when gladness holds a whole people,
and the banqueters through the house listen to a singer,
sitting in order, and the tables beside them are full
of bread and meat, and the wine-pourer draws the wine
from the mixing-bowl and carries it round and pours it into the cups.
This seems to me in my mind the finest thing of all.
But your spirit has turned to asking about my griefs,
my cares full of groaning, so that I may lament and groan still more.
What, then, shall I tell you first, and what last?
For the gods of heaven have given me many cares.
Now I will tell you my name first, so that you too
may know it, and I, when I have escaped the pitiless day,
may be your guest-friend, though my house is far away.
I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, known among all men
for my devices, and my glory reaches the heaven.
I live in Ithaca, clear to see. There is a mountain on it,
Neriton with its shaking leaves, conspicuous; and round about
many islands lie inhabited, very close to one another,
Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus.
Ithaca itself lies low, highest up in the sea
towards the gloom, and the others apart, towards the dawn and the sun;
it is rough, but a good nurse of young men. For myself
I can see nothing sweeter than a man’s own land.
Calypso kept me there, noble among goddesses,
in her hollow caves, desiring that I be her husband;
and so too Circe held me back in her halls,
the guileful one of Aeaea, desiring that I be her husband;
but they never persuaded the spirit in my breast.
So nothing is sweeter than a man’s own land and his parents,
even if he lives in a rich house far away
in a foreign land, apart from his parents.
Come then, let me tell you of my homecoming full of cares,
which Zeus laid upon me as I came from Troy.
From Ilium the wind carried me and brought me to the Cicones,
to Ismarus. There I sacked the city and destroyed the men;
and taking their wives and much property out of the city
we divided it, so that no one should go cheated of his fair share.
Then indeed I ordered that we should get away with a quick foot,
but they were great fools and would not obey.
There much wine was drunk, and many sheep
they slaughtered by the shore, and shambling oxen with curving horns.
Meanwhile the Cicones went and called to the other Cicones,
who were their neighbours, more numerous and better men,
living inland, skilled at fighting men from horses
and, where there was need, on foot.
They came then, as many as the leaves and flowers that come in season,
in the morning; and then an evil portion from Zeus stood beside us,
doomed as we were, so that we might suffer many pains.
They drew up and fought a battle beside the swift ships,
and they threw at one another with bronze-shod spears.
As long as it was morning and the sacred day was growing,
so long we held them off and stood, though they were more.
But when the sun crossed over towards the time of unyoking oxen,
then the Cicones broke the Achaeans and overpowered them.
Six well-greaved companions from each ship
perished; the rest of us escaped death and doom.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart,
glad to be out of death, having lost our dear companions.
But my curved ships did not go on
before we had called three times upon each of our wretched companions
who died on the plain, cut down by the Cicones.
Zeus the cloud-gatherer roused the North Wind against our ships
with a wondrous tempest, and covered with clouds
the land and the sea alike; and night rose out of heaven.
The ships were carried headlong, and the force of the wind
tore their sails into three and four pieces.
We let them down into the ships, fearing destruction,
and rowed the ships hurriedly towards the land.
There for two nights and two days without a break
we lay, eating our hearts with weariness and pain together.
But when fair-haired Dawn had brought the third day to its close,
we set up our masts and hauled up the white sails
and sat still, and the wind and the steersmen kept the ships straight.
And now I would have come unharmed to my own native land;
but as I was rounding Malea the wave and the current
and the North Wind thrust me off, and drove me past Cythera.
From there for nine days I was carried by deadly winds
over the fish-filled sea; but on the tenth we set foot
on the land of the Lotus-eaters, who eat a flowering food.
There we went ashore and drew water,
and at once my companions took their meal beside the swift ships.
But when we had tasted food and drink,
then I sent companions ahead to go and learn
what men were there who ate bread upon the earth,
choosing two men, and sending a herald with them as a third.
They went at once and mingled with the Lotus-eater men;
and the Lotus-eaters did not plot destruction for our
companions, but gave them the lotus to taste.
And whoever of them ate the honey-sweet fruit of the lotus
no longer wished to bring back word or to return,
but wanted to stay there among the Lotus-eater men,
feeding on the lotus, and to forget his homecoming.
These I brought back to the ships by force, weeping,
and dragged them under the benches in the hollow ships and bound them.
Then I ordered the rest of my trusty companions
to hurry and go aboard the swift ships,
so that none of them should eat the lotus and forget his homecoming.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart;
and we came to the land of the Cyclopes, overweening and lawless,
who trust in the immortal gods and neither
plant a plant with their hands nor plough,
but everything grows for them unsown and unploughed,
wheat and barley and vines, which bear
wine of great clusters, and the rain of Zeus makes them grow.
They have no counselling assemblies and no ordinances,
but they live on the peaks of high mountains
in hollow caves, and each one lays down the law
for his own children and wives, and they care nothing for one another.
Now a fertile island stretches out beyond the harbour,
neither close to the land of the Cyclopes nor far from it,
wooded; and countless wild goats
have bred there; for no path of men keeps them off,
and no hunters come into it, such as suffer hardship
in the woods as they range the peaks of the mountains.
It is not held by flocks nor by ploughlands,
but unsown and unploughed for ever
it is widowed of men, and feeds the bleating goats.
For the Cyclopes have no ships with red-painted cheeks,
nor shipwrights among them, who might labour
at well-benched ships, which would accomplish everything,
coming to the cities of men, as men often
cross the sea in ships to one another;
such men would have made a well-built settlement of the island for them.
For it is not bad at all; it would bear everything in season.
In it are meadows by the shores of the grey sea,
well watered and soft; the vines there would never fail.
There is smooth ploughland; they could always reap
a very deep crop in season, since the soil beneath is rich.
And there is a harbour with good moorings, where there is no need of a cable,
no need to throw out anchor stones or to make stern-lines fast,
but you can beach and wait until the sailors’
spirit stirs them and the breezes blow.
And at the head of the harbour shining water flows,
a spring under a cave; and poplars grow round it.
There we sailed in, and some god was our guide
through the murky night, and there was nothing to be seen;
for the mist about the ships was deep, and the moon
gave no light from heaven, but was held down by clouds.
There no one caught sight of the island with his eyes,
nor did we see the long waves rolling towards the dry land,
until we had run the well-benched ships aground.
When the ships were beached we took down all the sails,
and we ourselves went out onto the surf-line of the sea;
and there we fell asleep and waited for the noble Dawn.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
we wandered over the island, marvelling at it.
And the nymphs, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, roused
the mountain-ranging goats, so that my companions might eat.
At once we took from the ships our curved bows
and long-socketed hunting spears, and drawn up in three parties
we shot; and at once a god gave us game to our heart’s content.
Twelve ships followed me, and to each of them
nine goats fell by lot; for me alone they picked out ten.
So then all day long until the sun went down
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
for the red wine had not yet been used up from the ships,
but was still in them; for each crew had drawn off plenty
in jars when we took the sacred city of the Cicones.
And we looked across to the land of the Cyclopes, close by,
and saw their smoke, and heard their voices and their sheep and goats.
But when the sun went down and darkness came on,
then we lay down to sleep on the surf-line of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then I called an assembly and spoke among them all:
"The rest of you wait here now, my trusty companions;
but I, with my own ship and my own companions,
will go and make trial of these men, to learn what they are,
whether they are violent men, and savage, and without justice,
or love guests, and their mind is godfearing."
such as this man is, like the gods in his voice.
For I say there is no fulfilment more graceful
than when gladness holds a whole people,
and the banqueters through the house listen to a singer,
sitting in order, and the tables beside them are full
of bread and meat, and the wine-pourer draws the wine
from the mixing-bowl and carries it round and pours it into the cups.
This seems to me in my mind the finest thing of all.
But your spirit has turned to asking about my griefs,
my cares full of groaning, so that I may lament and groan still more.
What, then, shall I tell you first, and what last?
For the gods of heaven have given me many cares.
Now I will tell you my name first, so that you too
may know it, and I, when I have escaped the pitiless day,
may be your guest-friend, though my house is far away.
I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, known among all men
for my devices, and my glory reaches the heaven.
I live in Ithaca, clear to see. There is a mountain on it,
Neriton with its shaking leaves, conspicuous; and round about
many islands lie inhabited, very close to one another,
Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus.
Ithaca itself lies low, highest up in the sea
towards the gloom, and the others apart, towards the dawn and the sun;
it is rough, but a good nurse of young men. For myself
I can see nothing sweeter than a man’s own land.
Calypso kept me there, noble among goddesses,
in her hollow caves, desiring that I be her husband;
and so too Circe held me back in her halls,
the guileful one of Aeaea, desiring that I be her husband;
but they never persuaded the spirit in my breast.
So nothing is sweeter than a man’s own land and his parents,
even if he lives in a rich house far away
in a foreign land, apart from his parents.
Come then, let me tell you of my homecoming full of cares,
which Zeus laid upon me as I came from Troy.
From Ilium the wind carried me and brought me to the Cicones,
to Ismarus. There I sacked the city and destroyed the men;
and taking their wives and much property out of the city
we divided it, so that no one should go cheated of his fair share.
Then indeed I ordered that we should get away with a quick foot,
but they were great fools and would not obey.
There much wine was drunk, and many sheep
they slaughtered by the shore, and shambling oxen with curving horns.
Meanwhile the Cicones went and called to the other Cicones,
who were their neighbours, more numerous and better men,
living inland, skilled at fighting men from horses
and, where there was need, on foot.
They came then, as many as the leaves and flowers that come in season,
in the morning; and then an evil portion from Zeus stood beside us,
doomed as we were, so that we might suffer many pains.
They drew up and fought a battle beside the swift ships,
and they threw at one another with bronze-shod spears.
As long as it was morning and the sacred day was growing,
so long we held them off and stood, though they were more.
But when the sun crossed over towards the time of unyoking oxen,
then the Cicones broke the Achaeans and overpowered them.
Six well-greaved companions from each ship
perished; the rest of us escaped death and doom.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart,
glad to be out of death, having lost our dear companions.
But my curved ships did not go on
before we had called three times upon each of our wretched companions
who died on the plain, cut down by the Cicones.
Zeus the cloud-gatherer roused the North Wind against our ships
with a wondrous tempest, and covered with clouds
the land and the sea alike; and night rose out of heaven.
The ships were carried headlong, and the force of the wind
tore their sails into three and four pieces.
We let them down into the ships, fearing destruction,
and rowed the ships hurriedly towards the land.
There for two nights and two days without a break
we lay, eating our hearts with weariness and pain together.
But when fair-haired Dawn had brought the third day to its close,
we set up our masts and hauled up the white sails
and sat still, and the wind and the steersmen kept the ships straight.
And now I would have come unharmed to my own native land;
but as I was rounding Malea the wave and the current
and the North Wind thrust me off, and drove me past Cythera.
From there for nine days I was carried by deadly winds
over the fish-filled sea; but on the tenth we set foot
on the land of the Lotus-eaters, who eat a flowering food.
There we went ashore and drew water,
and at once my companions took their meal beside the swift ships.
But when we had tasted food and drink,
then I sent companions ahead to go and learn
what men were there who ate bread upon the earth,
choosing two men, and sending a herald with them as a third.
They went at once and mingled with the Lotus-eater men;
and the Lotus-eaters did not plot destruction for our
companions, but gave them the lotus to taste.
And whoever of them ate the honey-sweet fruit of the lotus
no longer wished to bring back word or to return,
but wanted to stay there among the Lotus-eater men,
feeding on the lotus, and to forget his homecoming.
These I brought back to the ships by force, weeping,
and dragged them under the benches in the hollow ships and bound them.
Then I ordered the rest of my trusty companions
to hurry and go aboard the swift ships,
so that none of them should eat the lotus and forget his homecoming.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart;
and we came to the land of the Cyclopes, overweening and lawless,
who trust in the immortal gods and neither
plant a plant with their hands nor plough,
but everything grows for them unsown and unploughed,
wheat and barley and vines, which bear
wine of great clusters, and the rain of Zeus makes them grow.
They have no counselling assemblies and no ordinances,
but they live on the peaks of high mountains
in hollow caves, and each one lays down the law
for his own children and wives, and they care nothing for one another.
Now a fertile island stretches out beyond the harbour,
neither close to the land of the Cyclopes nor far from it,
wooded; and countless wild goats
have bred there; for no path of men keeps them off,
and no hunters come into it, such as suffer hardship
in the woods as they range the peaks of the mountains.
It is not held by flocks nor by ploughlands,
but unsown and unploughed for ever
it is widowed of men, and feeds the bleating goats.
For the Cyclopes have no ships with red-painted cheeks,
nor shipwrights among them, who might labour
at well-benched ships, which would accomplish everything,
coming to the cities of men, as men often
cross the sea in ships to one another;
such men would have made a well-built settlement of the island for them.
For it is not bad at all; it would bear everything in season.
In it are meadows by the shores of the grey sea,
well watered and soft; the vines there would never fail.
There is smooth ploughland; they could always reap
a very deep crop in season, since the soil beneath is rich.
And there is a harbour with good moorings, where there is no need of a cable,
no need to throw out anchor stones or to make stern-lines fast,
but you can beach and wait until the sailors’
spirit stirs them and the breezes blow.
And at the head of the harbour shining water flows,
a spring under a cave; and poplars grow round it.
There we sailed in, and some god was our guide
through the murky night, and there was nothing to be seen;
for the mist about the ships was deep, and the moon
gave no light from heaven, but was held down by clouds.
There no one caught sight of the island with his eyes,
nor did we see the long waves rolling towards the dry land,
until we had run the well-benched ships aground.
When the ships were beached we took down all the sails,
and we ourselves went out onto the surf-line of the sea;
and there we fell asleep and waited for the noble Dawn.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
we wandered over the island, marvelling at it.
And the nymphs, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, roused
the mountain-ranging goats, so that my companions might eat.
At once we took from the ships our curved bows
and long-socketed hunting spears, and drawn up in three parties
we shot; and at once a god gave us game to our heart’s content.
Twelve ships followed me, and to each of them
nine goats fell by lot; for me alone they picked out ten.
So then all day long until the sun went down
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
for the red wine had not yet been used up from the ships,
but was still in them; for each crew had drawn off plenty
in jars when we took the sacred city of the Cicones.
And we looked across to the land of the Cyclopes, close by,
and saw their smoke, and heard their voices and their sheep and goats.
But when the sun went down and darkness came on,
then we lay down to sleep on the surf-line of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then I called an assembly and spoke among them all:
"The rest of you wait here now, my trusty companions;
but I, with my own ship and my own companions,
will go and make trial of these men, to learn what they are,
whether they are violent men, and savage, and without justice,
or love guests, and their mind is godfearing."
ἦ τοι μὲν τόδε καλὸν ἀκουέμεν ἐστὶν ἀοιδοῦ
τοιοῦδʼ οἷος ὅδʼ ἐστί, θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν.
οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γέ τί φημι τέλος χαριέστερον εἶναι
ἢ ὅτʼ ἐυφροσύνη μὲν ἔχῃ κάτα δῆμον ἅπαντα,
δαιτυμόνες δʼ ἀνὰ δώματʼ ἀκουάζωνται ἀοιδοῦ
ἥμενοι ἑξείης, παρὰ δὲ πλήθωσι τράπεζαι
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν, μέθυ δʼ ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφύσσων
οἰνοχόος φορέῃσι καὶ ἐγχείῃ δεπάεσσι·
τοῦτό τί μοι κάλλιστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν εἴδεται εἶναι.
σοὶ δʼ ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμὸς ἐπετράπετο στονόεντα
εἴρεσθʼ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω·
τί πρῶτόν τοι ἔπειτα, τί δʼ ὑστάτιον καταλέξω;
κήδεʼ ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες.
νῦν δʼ ὄνομα πρῶτον μυθήσομαι, ὄφρα καὶ ὑμεῖς
εἴδετʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἂν ἔπειτα φυγὼν ὕπο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ
ὑμῖν ξεῖνος ἔω καὶ ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίων.
εἴμʼ Ὀδυσεὺς Λαερτιάδης, ὃς πᾶσι δόλοισιν
ἀνθρώποισι μέλω, καί μευ κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει.
ναιετάω δʼ Ἰθάκην ἐυδείελον· ἐν δʼ ὄρος αὐτῇ
Νήριτον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἀριπρεπές· ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆσοι
πολλαὶ ναιετάουσι μάλα σχεδὸν ἀλλήλῃσι,
Δουλίχιόν τε Σάμη τε καὶ ὑλήεσσα Ζάκυνθος.
αὐτὴ δὲ χθαμαλὴ πανυπερτάτη εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται
πρὸς ζόφον, αἱ δέ τʼ ἄνευθε πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,
τρηχεῖʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὴ κουροτρόφος· οὔ τοι ἐγώ γε
ἧς γαίης δύναμαι γλυκερώτερον ἄλλο ἰδέσθαι.
ἦ μέν μʼ αὐτόθʼ ἔρυκε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι·
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Κίρκη κατερήτυεν ἐν μεγάροισιν
Αἰαίη δολόεσσα, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι·
ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθον.
ὣς οὐδὲν γλύκιον ἧς πατρίδος οὐδὲ τοκήων
γίγνεται, εἴ περ καί τις ἀπόπροθι πίονα οἶκον
γαίῃ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῇ ναίει ἀπάνευθε τοκήων.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ νόστον ἐμὸν πολυκηδέʼ ἐνίσπω,
ὅν μοι Ζεὺς ἐφέηκεν ἀπὸ Τροίηθεν ἰόντι.
Ἰλιόθεν με φέρων ἄνεμος Κικόνεσσι πέλασσεν,
Ἰσμάρῳ. ἔνθα δʼ ἐγὼ πόλιν ἔπραθον, ὤλεσα δʼ αὐτούς·
ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματα πολλὰ λαβόντες
δασσάμεθʼ, ὡς μή τίς μοι ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ διερῷ ποδὶ φευγέμεν ἡμέας
ἠνώγεα, τοὶ δὲ μέγα νήπιοι οὐκ ἐπίθοντο.
ἔνθα δὲ πολλὸν μὲν μέθυ πίνετο, πολλὰ δὲ μῆλα
ἔσφαζον παρὰ θῖνα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς·
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰχόμενοι Κίκονες Κικόνεσσι γεγώνευν,
οἵ σφιν γείτονες ἦσαν, ἅμα πλέονες καὶ ἀρείους,
ἤπειρον ναίοντες, ἐπιστάμενοι μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων
ἀνδράσι μάρνασθαι καὶ ὅθι χρὴ πεζὸν ἐόντα.
ἦλθον ἔπειθʼ ὅσα φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα γίγνεται ὥρῃ,
ἠέριοι· τότε δή ῥα κακὴ Διὸς αἶσα παρέστη
ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν, ἵνʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ πάθοιμεν.
στησάμενοι δʼ ἐμάχοντο μάχην παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσι,
βάλλον δʼ ἀλλήλους χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.
ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ,
τόφρα δʼ ἀλεξόμενοι μένομεν πλέονάς περ ἐόντας.
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος μετενίσσετο βουλυτόνδε,
καὶ τότε δὴ Κίκονες κλῖναν δαμάσαντες Ἀχαιούς.
ἓξ δʼ ἀφʼ ἑκάστης νηὸς ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι
ὤλονθʼ· οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι φύγομεν θάνατόν τε μόρον τε.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.
οὐδʼ ἄρα μοι προτέρω νῆες κίον ἀμφιέλισσαι,
πρίν τινα τῶν δειλῶν ἑτάρων τρὶς ἕκαστον ἀῦσαι,
οἳ θάνον ἐν πεδίῳ Κικόνων ὕπο δῃωθέντες.
νηυσὶ δʼ ἐπῶρσʼ ἄνεμον Βορέην νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς
λαίλαπι θεσπεσίῃ, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε
γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.
αἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐφέροντʼ ἐπικάρσιαι, ἱστία δέ σφιν
τριχθά τε καὶ τετραχθὰ διέσχισεν ἲς ἀνέμοιο.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς νῆας κάθεμεν, δείσαντες ὄλεθρον,
αὐτὰς δʼ ἐσσυμένως προερέσσαμεν ἤπειρόνδε.
ἔνθα δύω νύκτας δύο τʼ ἤματα συνεχὲς αἰεὶ
κείμεθʼ, ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἔδοντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,
ἱστοὺς στησάμενοι ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λεύκʼ ἐρύσαντες
ἥμεθα, τὰς δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνῆταί τʼ ἴθυνον.
καί νύ κεν ἀσκηθὴς ἱκόμην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἀλλά με κῦμα ῥόος τε περιγνάμπτοντα Μάλειαν
καὶ Βορέης ἀπέωσε, παρέπλαγξεν δὲ Κυθήρων.
ἔνθεν δʼ ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα· ἀτὰρ δεκάτῃ ἐπέβημεν
γαίης Λωτοφάγων, οἵ τʼ ἄνθινον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν.
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου βῆμεν καὶ ἀφυσσάμεθʼ ὕδωρ,
αἶψα δὲ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο θοῇς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἑταῖροι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτοιό τʼ ἐπασσάμεθʼ ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
δὴ τοτʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν πεύθεσθαι ἰόντας,
οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἶεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες
ἄνδρε δύω κρίνας, τρίτατον κήρυχʼ ἅμʼ ὀπάσσας.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ οἰχόμενοι μίγεν ἀνδράσι Λωτοφάγοισιν·
οὐδʼ ἄρα Λωτοφάγοι μήδονθʼ ἑτάροισιν ὄλεθρον
ἡμετέροις, ἀλλά σφι δόσαν λωτοῖο πάσασθαι.
τῶν δʼ ὅς τις λωτοῖο φάγοι μελιηδέα καρπόν,
οὐκέτʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι πάλιν ἤθελεν οὐδὲ νέεσθαι,
ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ βούλοντο μετʼ ἀνδράσι Λωτοφάγοισι
λωτὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι μενέμεν νόστου τε λαθέσθαι.
τοὺς μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἄγον κλαίοντας ἀνάγκῃ,
νηυσὶ δʼ ἐνὶ γλαφυρῇσιν ὑπὸ ζυγὰ δῆσα ἐρύσσας.
αὐτὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
σπερχομένους νηῶν ἐπιβαινέμεν ὠκειάων,
μή πώς τις λωτοῖο φαγὼν νόστοιο λάθηται.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ·
Κυκλώπων δʼ ἐς γαῖαν ὑπερφιάλων ἀθεμίστων
ἱκόμεθʼ, οἵ ῥα θεοῖσι πεποιθότες ἀθανάτοισιν
οὔτε φυτεύουσιν χερσὶν φυτὸν οὔτʼ ἀρόωσιν,
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ ἄσπαρτα καὶ ἀνήροτα πάντα φύονται,
πυροὶ καὶ κριθαὶ ἠδʼ ἄμπελοι, αἵ τε φέρουσιν
οἶνον ἐριστάφυλον, καί σφιν Διὸς ὄμβρος ἀέξει.
τοῖσιν δʼ οὔτʼ ἀγοραὶ βουληφόροι οὔτε θέμιστες,
ἀλλʼ οἵ γʼ ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων ναίουσι κάρηνα
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, θεμιστεύει δὲ ἕκαστος
παίδων ἠδʼ ἀλόχων, οὐδʼ ἀλλήλων ἀλέγουσιν.
νῆσος ἔπειτα λάχεια παρὲκ λιμένος τετάνυσται,
γαίης Κυκλώπων οὔτε σχεδὸν οὔτʼ ἀποτηλοῦ,
ὑλήεσσʼ· ἐν δʼ αἶγες ἀπειρέσιαι γεγάασιν
ἄγριαι· οὐ μὲν γὰρ πάτος ἀνθρώπων ἀπερύκει,
οὐδέ μιν εἰσοιχνεῦσι κυνηγέται, οἵ τε καθʼ ὕλην
ἄλγεα πάσχουσιν κορυφὰς ὀρέων ἐφέποντες.
οὔτʼ ἄρα ποίμνῃσιν καταΐσχεται οὔτʼ ἀρότοισιν,
ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἄσπαρτος καὶ ἀνήροτος ἤματα πάντα
ἀνδρῶν χηρεύει, βόσκει δέ τε μηκάδας αἶγας.
οὐ γὰρ Κυκλώπεσσι νέες πάρα μιλτοπάρῃοι,
οὐδʼ ἄνδρες νηῶν ἔνι τέκτονες, οἵ κε κάμοιεν
νῆας ἐυσσέλμους, αἵ κεν τελέοιεν ἕκαστα
ἄστεʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπων ἱκνεύμεναι, οἷά τε πολλὰ
ἄνδρες ἐπʼ ἀλλήλους νηυσὶν περόωσι θάλασσαν·
οἵ κέ σφιν καὶ νῆσον ἐυκτιμένην ἐκάμοντο.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακή γε, φέροι δέ κεν ὥρια πάντα·
ἐν μὲν γὰρ λειμῶνες ἁλὸς πολιοῖο παρʼ ὄχθας
ὑδρηλοὶ μαλακοί· μάλα κʼ ἄφθιτοι ἄμπελοι εἶεν.
ἐν δʼ ἄροσις λείη· μάλα κεν βαθὺ λήιον αἰεὶ
εἰς ὥρας ἀμῷεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πῖαρ ὑπʼ οὖδας.
ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ἵνʼ οὐ χρεὼ πείσματός ἐστιν,
οὔτʼ εὐνὰς βαλέειν οὔτε πρυμνήσιʼ ἀνάψαι,
ἀλλʼ ἐπικέλσαντας μεῖναι χρόνον εἰς ὅ κε ναυτέων
θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἐπιπνεύσωσιν ἀῆται.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος ῥέει ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ,
κρήνη ὑπὸ σπείους· περὶ δʼ αἴγειροι πεφύασιν.
ἔνθα κατεπλέομεν, καί τις θεὸς ἡγεμόνευεν
νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, οὐδὲ προυφαίνετʼ ἰδέσθαι·
ἀὴρ γὰρ περὶ νηυσὶ βαθεῖʼ ἦν, οὐδὲ σελήνη
οὐρανόθεν προύφαινε, κατείχετο δὲ νεφέεσσιν.
ἔνθʼ οὔ τις τὴν νῆσον ἐσέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
οὔτʼ οὖν κύματα μακρὰ κυλινδόμενα προτὶ χέρσον
εἰσίδομεν, πρὶν νῆας ἐυσσέλμους ἐπικέλσαι.
κελσάσῃσι δὲ νηυσὶ καθείλομεν ἱστία πάντα,
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·
ἔνθα δʼ ἀποβρίξαντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
νῆσον θαυμάζοντες ἐδινεόμεσθα κατʼ αὐτήν.
ὦρσαν δὲ νύμφαι, κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
αἶγας ὀρεσκῴους, ἵνα δειπνήσειαν ἑταῖροι.
αὐτίκα καμπύλα τόξα καὶ αἰγανέας δολιχαύλους
εἱλόμεθʼ ἐκ νηῶν, διὰ δὲ τρίχα κοσμηθέντες
βάλλομεν· αἶψα δʼ ἔδωκε θεὸς μενοεικέα θήρην.
νῆες μέν μοι ἕποντο δυώδεκα, ἐς δὲ ἑκάστην
ἐννέα λάγχανον αἶγες· ἐμοὶ δὲ δέκʼ ἔξελον οἴῳ.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
οὐ γάρ πω νηῶν ἐξέφθιτο οἶνος ἐρυθρός,
ἀλλʼ ἐνέην· πολλὸν γὰρ ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἕκαστοι
ἠφύσαμεν Κικόνων. ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἑλόντες.
Κυκλώπων δʼ ἐς γαῖαν ἐλεύσσομεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντων,
καπνόν τʼ αὐτῶν τε φθογγὴν ὀίων τε καὶ αἰγῶν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπον·
ἄλλοι μὲν νῦν μίμνετʼ, ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν νηί τʼ ἐμῇ καὶ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν
ἐλθὼν τῶνδʼ ἀνδρῶν πειρήσομαι, οἵ τινές εἰσιν,
ἤ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,
ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής.
τοιοῦδʼ οἷος ὅδʼ ἐστί, θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν.
οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γέ τί φημι τέλος χαριέστερον εἶναι
ἢ ὅτʼ ἐυφροσύνη μὲν ἔχῃ κάτα δῆμον ἅπαντα,
δαιτυμόνες δʼ ἀνὰ δώματʼ ἀκουάζωνται ἀοιδοῦ
ἥμενοι ἑξείης, παρὰ δὲ πλήθωσι τράπεζαι
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν, μέθυ δʼ ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφύσσων
οἰνοχόος φορέῃσι καὶ ἐγχείῃ δεπάεσσι·
τοῦτό τί μοι κάλλιστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν εἴδεται εἶναι.
σοὶ δʼ ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμὸς ἐπετράπετο στονόεντα
εἴρεσθʼ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω·
τί πρῶτόν τοι ἔπειτα, τί δʼ ὑστάτιον καταλέξω;
κήδεʼ ἐπεί μοι πολλὰ δόσαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες.
νῦν δʼ ὄνομα πρῶτον μυθήσομαι, ὄφρα καὶ ὑμεῖς
εἴδετʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἂν ἔπειτα φυγὼν ὕπο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ
ὑμῖν ξεῖνος ἔω καὶ ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίων.
εἴμʼ Ὀδυσεὺς Λαερτιάδης, ὃς πᾶσι δόλοισιν
ἀνθρώποισι μέλω, καί μευ κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει.
ναιετάω δʼ Ἰθάκην ἐυδείελον· ἐν δʼ ὄρος αὐτῇ
Νήριτον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἀριπρεπές· ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆσοι
πολλαὶ ναιετάουσι μάλα σχεδὸν ἀλλήλῃσι,
Δουλίχιόν τε Σάμη τε καὶ ὑλήεσσα Ζάκυνθος.
αὐτὴ δὲ χθαμαλὴ πανυπερτάτη εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται
πρὸς ζόφον, αἱ δέ τʼ ἄνευθε πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,
τρηχεῖʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὴ κουροτρόφος· οὔ τοι ἐγώ γε
ἧς γαίης δύναμαι γλυκερώτερον ἄλλο ἰδέσθαι.
ἦ μέν μʼ αὐτόθʼ ἔρυκε Καλυψώ, δῖα θεάων,
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι·
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Κίρκη κατερήτυεν ἐν μεγάροισιν
Αἰαίη δολόεσσα, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι·
ἀλλʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθον.
ὣς οὐδὲν γλύκιον ἧς πατρίδος οὐδὲ τοκήων
γίγνεται, εἴ περ καί τις ἀπόπροθι πίονα οἶκον
γαίῃ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῇ ναίει ἀπάνευθε τοκήων.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ νόστον ἐμὸν πολυκηδέʼ ἐνίσπω,
ὅν μοι Ζεὺς ἐφέηκεν ἀπὸ Τροίηθεν ἰόντι.
Ἰλιόθεν με φέρων ἄνεμος Κικόνεσσι πέλασσεν,
Ἰσμάρῳ. ἔνθα δʼ ἐγὼ πόλιν ἔπραθον, ὤλεσα δʼ αὐτούς·
ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματα πολλὰ λαβόντες
δασσάμεθʼ, ὡς μή τίς μοι ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ διερῷ ποδὶ φευγέμεν ἡμέας
ἠνώγεα, τοὶ δὲ μέγα νήπιοι οὐκ ἐπίθοντο.
ἔνθα δὲ πολλὸν μὲν μέθυ πίνετο, πολλὰ δὲ μῆλα
ἔσφαζον παρὰ θῖνα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς·
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰχόμενοι Κίκονες Κικόνεσσι γεγώνευν,
οἵ σφιν γείτονες ἦσαν, ἅμα πλέονες καὶ ἀρείους,
ἤπειρον ναίοντες, ἐπιστάμενοι μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων
ἀνδράσι μάρνασθαι καὶ ὅθι χρὴ πεζὸν ἐόντα.
ἦλθον ἔπειθʼ ὅσα φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα γίγνεται ὥρῃ,
ἠέριοι· τότε δή ῥα κακὴ Διὸς αἶσα παρέστη
ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν, ἵνʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ πάθοιμεν.
στησάμενοι δʼ ἐμάχοντο μάχην παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσι,
βάλλον δʼ ἀλλήλους χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.
ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ,
τόφρα δʼ ἀλεξόμενοι μένομεν πλέονάς περ ἐόντας.
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος μετενίσσετο βουλυτόνδε,
καὶ τότε δὴ Κίκονες κλῖναν δαμάσαντες Ἀχαιούς.
ἓξ δʼ ἀφʼ ἑκάστης νηὸς ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι
ὤλονθʼ· οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι φύγομεν θάνατόν τε μόρον τε.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.
οὐδʼ ἄρα μοι προτέρω νῆες κίον ἀμφιέλισσαι,
πρίν τινα τῶν δειλῶν ἑτάρων τρὶς ἕκαστον ἀῦσαι,
οἳ θάνον ἐν πεδίῳ Κικόνων ὕπο δῃωθέντες.
νηυσὶ δʼ ἐπῶρσʼ ἄνεμον Βορέην νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς
λαίλαπι θεσπεσίῃ, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε
γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.
αἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐφέροντʼ ἐπικάρσιαι, ἱστία δέ σφιν
τριχθά τε καὶ τετραχθὰ διέσχισεν ἲς ἀνέμοιο.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς νῆας κάθεμεν, δείσαντες ὄλεθρον,
αὐτὰς δʼ ἐσσυμένως προερέσσαμεν ἤπειρόνδε.
ἔνθα δύω νύκτας δύο τʼ ἤματα συνεχὲς αἰεὶ
κείμεθʼ, ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἔδοντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,
ἱστοὺς στησάμενοι ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λεύκʼ ἐρύσαντες
ἥμεθα, τὰς δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνῆταί τʼ ἴθυνον.
καί νύ κεν ἀσκηθὴς ἱκόμην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἀλλά με κῦμα ῥόος τε περιγνάμπτοντα Μάλειαν
καὶ Βορέης ἀπέωσε, παρέπλαγξεν δὲ Κυθήρων.
ἔνθεν δʼ ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα· ἀτὰρ δεκάτῃ ἐπέβημεν
γαίης Λωτοφάγων, οἵ τʼ ἄνθινον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν.
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου βῆμεν καὶ ἀφυσσάμεθʼ ὕδωρ,
αἶψα δὲ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο θοῇς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἑταῖροι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτοιό τʼ ἐπασσάμεθʼ ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
δὴ τοτʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν πεύθεσθαι ἰόντας,
οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἶεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες
ἄνδρε δύω κρίνας, τρίτατον κήρυχʼ ἅμʼ ὀπάσσας.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ οἰχόμενοι μίγεν ἀνδράσι Λωτοφάγοισιν·
οὐδʼ ἄρα Λωτοφάγοι μήδονθʼ ἑτάροισιν ὄλεθρον
ἡμετέροις, ἀλλά σφι δόσαν λωτοῖο πάσασθαι.
τῶν δʼ ὅς τις λωτοῖο φάγοι μελιηδέα καρπόν,
οὐκέτʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι πάλιν ἤθελεν οὐδὲ νέεσθαι,
ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ βούλοντο μετʼ ἀνδράσι Λωτοφάγοισι
λωτὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι μενέμεν νόστου τε λαθέσθαι.
τοὺς μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἄγον κλαίοντας ἀνάγκῃ,
νηυσὶ δʼ ἐνὶ γλαφυρῇσιν ὑπὸ ζυγὰ δῆσα ἐρύσσας.
αὐτὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
σπερχομένους νηῶν ἐπιβαινέμεν ὠκειάων,
μή πώς τις λωτοῖο φαγὼν νόστοιο λάθηται.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ·
Κυκλώπων δʼ ἐς γαῖαν ὑπερφιάλων ἀθεμίστων
ἱκόμεθʼ, οἵ ῥα θεοῖσι πεποιθότες ἀθανάτοισιν
οὔτε φυτεύουσιν χερσὶν φυτὸν οὔτʼ ἀρόωσιν,
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ ἄσπαρτα καὶ ἀνήροτα πάντα φύονται,
πυροὶ καὶ κριθαὶ ἠδʼ ἄμπελοι, αἵ τε φέρουσιν
οἶνον ἐριστάφυλον, καί σφιν Διὸς ὄμβρος ἀέξει.
τοῖσιν δʼ οὔτʼ ἀγοραὶ βουληφόροι οὔτε θέμιστες,
ἀλλʼ οἵ γʼ ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων ναίουσι κάρηνα
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, θεμιστεύει δὲ ἕκαστος
παίδων ἠδʼ ἀλόχων, οὐδʼ ἀλλήλων ἀλέγουσιν.
νῆσος ἔπειτα λάχεια παρὲκ λιμένος τετάνυσται,
γαίης Κυκλώπων οὔτε σχεδὸν οὔτʼ ἀποτηλοῦ,
ὑλήεσσʼ· ἐν δʼ αἶγες ἀπειρέσιαι γεγάασιν
ἄγριαι· οὐ μὲν γὰρ πάτος ἀνθρώπων ἀπερύκει,
οὐδέ μιν εἰσοιχνεῦσι κυνηγέται, οἵ τε καθʼ ὕλην
ἄλγεα πάσχουσιν κορυφὰς ὀρέων ἐφέποντες.
οὔτʼ ἄρα ποίμνῃσιν καταΐσχεται οὔτʼ ἀρότοισιν,
ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἄσπαρτος καὶ ἀνήροτος ἤματα πάντα
ἀνδρῶν χηρεύει, βόσκει δέ τε μηκάδας αἶγας.
οὐ γὰρ Κυκλώπεσσι νέες πάρα μιλτοπάρῃοι,
οὐδʼ ἄνδρες νηῶν ἔνι τέκτονες, οἵ κε κάμοιεν
νῆας ἐυσσέλμους, αἵ κεν τελέοιεν ἕκαστα
ἄστεʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπων ἱκνεύμεναι, οἷά τε πολλὰ
ἄνδρες ἐπʼ ἀλλήλους νηυσὶν περόωσι θάλασσαν·
οἵ κέ σφιν καὶ νῆσον ἐυκτιμένην ἐκάμοντο.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακή γε, φέροι δέ κεν ὥρια πάντα·
ἐν μὲν γὰρ λειμῶνες ἁλὸς πολιοῖο παρʼ ὄχθας
ὑδρηλοὶ μαλακοί· μάλα κʼ ἄφθιτοι ἄμπελοι εἶεν.
ἐν δʼ ἄροσις λείη· μάλα κεν βαθὺ λήιον αἰεὶ
εἰς ὥρας ἀμῷεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πῖαρ ὑπʼ οὖδας.
ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ἵνʼ οὐ χρεὼ πείσματός ἐστιν,
οὔτʼ εὐνὰς βαλέειν οὔτε πρυμνήσιʼ ἀνάψαι,
ἀλλʼ ἐπικέλσαντας μεῖναι χρόνον εἰς ὅ κε ναυτέων
θυμὸς ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἐπιπνεύσωσιν ἀῆται.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος ῥέει ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ,
κρήνη ὑπὸ σπείους· περὶ δʼ αἴγειροι πεφύασιν.
ἔνθα κατεπλέομεν, καί τις θεὸς ἡγεμόνευεν
νύκτα διʼ ὀρφναίην, οὐδὲ προυφαίνετʼ ἰδέσθαι·
ἀὴρ γὰρ περὶ νηυσὶ βαθεῖʼ ἦν, οὐδὲ σελήνη
οὐρανόθεν προύφαινε, κατείχετο δὲ νεφέεσσιν.
ἔνθʼ οὔ τις τὴν νῆσον ἐσέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
οὔτʼ οὖν κύματα μακρὰ κυλινδόμενα προτὶ χέρσον
εἰσίδομεν, πρὶν νῆας ἐυσσέλμους ἐπικέλσαι.
κελσάσῃσι δὲ νηυσὶ καθείλομεν ἱστία πάντα,
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·
ἔνθα δʼ ἀποβρίξαντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
νῆσον θαυμάζοντες ἐδινεόμεσθα κατʼ αὐτήν.
ὦρσαν δὲ νύμφαι, κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
αἶγας ὀρεσκῴους, ἵνα δειπνήσειαν ἑταῖροι.
αὐτίκα καμπύλα τόξα καὶ αἰγανέας δολιχαύλους
εἱλόμεθʼ ἐκ νηῶν, διὰ δὲ τρίχα κοσμηθέντες
βάλλομεν· αἶψα δʼ ἔδωκε θεὸς μενοεικέα θήρην.
νῆες μέν μοι ἕποντο δυώδεκα, ἐς δὲ ἑκάστην
ἐννέα λάγχανον αἶγες· ἐμοὶ δὲ δέκʼ ἔξελον οἴῳ.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
οὐ γάρ πω νηῶν ἐξέφθιτο οἶνος ἐρυθρός,
ἀλλʼ ἐνέην· πολλὸν γὰρ ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἕκαστοι
ἠφύσαμεν Κικόνων. ἱερὸν πτολίεθρον ἑλόντες.
Κυκλώπων δʼ ἐς γαῖαν ἐλεύσσομεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντων,
καπνόν τʼ αὐτῶν τε φθογγὴν ὀίων τε καὶ αἰγῶν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπον·
ἄλλοι μὲν νῦν μίμνετʼ, ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν νηί τʼ ἐμῇ καὶ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν
ἐλθὼν τῶνδʼ ἀνδρῶν πειρήσομαι, οἵ τινές εἰσιν,
ἤ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,
ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής.
So saying I went aboard the ship, and ordered my companions
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
But when we reached that place, which was close by,
there at the edge, near the sea, we saw a cave,
high and roofed over with laurels. And there many
flocks, sheep and goats, used to rest; and round it a high
courtyard had been built of stones set deep in the ground
and of tall pines and high-crowned oaks.
There a monstrous man slept, who shepherded his flocks
alone, far off; and he did not go among the others,
but stayed apart and knew nothing of law.
For he was made a monstrous wonder, and was not like
a man who eats bread, but like a wooded peak
of high mountains, which shows up alone, apart from the rest.
Then I ordered the rest of my trusty companions
to stay there by the ship and to guard the ship,
while I chose the twelve best of my companions
and went. I had with me a goatskin of dark, sweet
wine, which Maron, son of Euanthes, had given me,
the priest of Apollo, who watched over Ismarus,
because we protected him with his child and his wife,
out of awe; for he lived in the wooded grove
of Phoebus Apollo. And he gave me shining gifts:
seven talents of well-worked gold he gave me,
and he gave me a mixing-bowl all of silver, and after that
he drew off wine into twelve jars in all,
sweet and unmixed, a divine drink; and no one
knew of it among the servants or the handmaids in the house,
but only he himself and his dear wife and one housekeeper.
Whenever they drank that honey-sweet red wine,
he would fill one cup and pour it into twenty measures
of water, and a sweet smell rose from the mixing-bowl,
a wondrous smell; then it would not have been pleasant to hold back.
I filled a great skin with that and carried it, and provisions too
in a leather bag; for my lordly spirit told me at once
that a man would come against me clothed in great strength,
a savage, knowing neither judgments nor ordinances.
Quickly we came to the cave, and did not find him
inside, but he was pasturing his fat flocks in the meadow.
We went into the cave and gazed at everything.
The racks were heavy with cheeses, and the pens were crowded
with lambs and kids; and each kind was penned apart,
the firstlings by themselves, the middle ones by themselves,
and the newborn by themselves. All the vessels swam with whey,
the pails and the bowls, well made, into which he milked.
There my companions first begged me with their words
to take some cheeses and go back, and after that
to drive the kids and lambs quickly out of the pens
to the swift ship and sail over the salt water.
But I would not listen — it would have been far better —
so that I might see the man himself, and whether he would give me guest-gifts.
But he was not to prove a lovely sight to my companions.
There we kindled a fire and made offering, and ourselves
took some cheeses and ate, and waited for him inside,
sitting there, until he came in from his pasturing. He carried a huge load
of dry wood, to serve him at his supper,
and threw it down inside the cave with a crash;
and in fear we rushed away into the innermost part of the cave.
Then he drove his fat flocks into the wide cave,
all those he milked, and left the males outside the door,
the rams and the he-goats, outside the deep courtyard.
Then he lifted a great door-stone high up and set it in place,
a huge one: not twenty-two good four-wheeled wagons
could have prised it up from the ground;
so huge was the sheer rock he set against the doorway.
He sat down and milked the ewes and the bleating goats,
everything in due order, and put a young one under each.
At once he curdled half of the white milk
and gathered it into woven baskets and set it aside,
and the other half he stood in vessels, so that he might have it
to take and drink, and to serve him at his supper.
But when he had hurried through his work and finished it,
then he kindled a fire and saw us, and asked:
"Strangers, who are you? From where do you sail the watery ways?
Is it on some business, or do you wander at random
like pirates over the sea, who wander
staking their own lives and bringing evil to men of other lands?"
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
But when we reached that place, which was close by,
there at the edge, near the sea, we saw a cave,
high and roofed over with laurels. And there many
flocks, sheep and goats, used to rest; and round it a high
courtyard had been built of stones set deep in the ground
and of tall pines and high-crowned oaks.
There a monstrous man slept, who shepherded his flocks
alone, far off; and he did not go among the others,
but stayed apart and knew nothing of law.
For he was made a monstrous wonder, and was not like
a man who eats bread, but like a wooded peak
of high mountains, which shows up alone, apart from the rest.
Then I ordered the rest of my trusty companions
to stay there by the ship and to guard the ship,
while I chose the twelve best of my companions
and went. I had with me a goatskin of dark, sweet
wine, which Maron, son of Euanthes, had given me,
the priest of Apollo, who watched over Ismarus,
because we protected him with his child and his wife,
out of awe; for he lived in the wooded grove
of Phoebus Apollo. And he gave me shining gifts:
seven talents of well-worked gold he gave me,
and he gave me a mixing-bowl all of silver, and after that
he drew off wine into twelve jars in all,
sweet and unmixed, a divine drink; and no one
knew of it among the servants or the handmaids in the house,
but only he himself and his dear wife and one housekeeper.
Whenever they drank that honey-sweet red wine,
he would fill one cup and pour it into twenty measures
of water, and a sweet smell rose from the mixing-bowl,
a wondrous smell; then it would not have been pleasant to hold back.
I filled a great skin with that and carried it, and provisions too
in a leather bag; for my lordly spirit told me at once
that a man would come against me clothed in great strength,
a savage, knowing neither judgments nor ordinances.
Quickly we came to the cave, and did not find him
inside, but he was pasturing his fat flocks in the meadow.
We went into the cave and gazed at everything.
The racks were heavy with cheeses, and the pens were crowded
with lambs and kids; and each kind was penned apart,
the firstlings by themselves, the middle ones by themselves,
and the newborn by themselves. All the vessels swam with whey,
the pails and the bowls, well made, into which he milked.
There my companions first begged me with their words
to take some cheeses and go back, and after that
to drive the kids and lambs quickly out of the pens
to the swift ship and sail over the salt water.
But I would not listen — it would have been far better —
so that I might see the man himself, and whether he would give me guest-gifts.
But he was not to prove a lovely sight to my companions.
There we kindled a fire and made offering, and ourselves
took some cheeses and ate, and waited for him inside,
sitting there, until he came in from his pasturing. He carried a huge load
of dry wood, to serve him at his supper,
and threw it down inside the cave with a crash;
and in fear we rushed away into the innermost part of the cave.
Then he drove his fat flocks into the wide cave,
all those he milked, and left the males outside the door,
the rams and the he-goats, outside the deep courtyard.
Then he lifted a great door-stone high up and set it in place,
a huge one: not twenty-two good four-wheeled wagons
could have prised it up from the ground;
so huge was the sheer rock he set against the doorway.
He sat down and milked the ewes and the bleating goats,
everything in due order, and put a young one under each.
At once he curdled half of the white milk
and gathered it into woven baskets and set it aside,
and the other half he stood in vessels, so that he might have it
to take and drink, and to serve him at his supper.
But when he had hurried through his work and finished it,
then he kindled a fire and saw us, and asked:
"Strangers, who are you? From where do you sail the watery ways?
Is it on some business, or do you wander at random
like pirates over the sea, who wander
staking their own lives and bringing evil to men of other lands?"
ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνὰ νηὸς ἔβην, ἐκέλευσα δʼ ἑταίρους
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸν χῶρον ἀφικόμεθʼ ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ σπέος εἴδομεν ἄγχι θαλάσσης,
ὑψηλόν, δάφνῃσι κατηρεφές. ἔνθα δὲ πολλὰ
μῆλʼ, ὄιές τε καὶ αἶγες, ἰαύεσκον· περὶ δʼ αὐλὴ
ὑψηλὴ δέδμητο κατωρυχέεσσι λίθοισι
μακρῇσίν τε πίτυσσιν ἰδὲ δρυσὶν ὑψικόμοισιν.
ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὴρ ἐνίαυε πελώριος, ὅς ῥα τὰ μῆλα
οἶος ποιμαίνεσκεν ἀπόπροθεν· οὐδὲ μετʼ ἄλλους
πωλεῖτʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀπάνευθεν ἐὼν ἀθεμίστια ᾔδη.
καὶ γὰρ θαῦμʼ ἐτέτυκτο πελώριον, οὐδὲ ἐῴκει
ἀνδρί γε σιτοφάγῳ, ἀλλὰ ῥίῳ ὑλήεντι
ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων, ὅ τε φαίνεται οἶον ἀπʼ ἄλλων.
δὴ τότε τοὺς ἄλλους κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κρίνας ἑτάρων δυοκαίδεκʼ ἀρίστους
βῆν· ἀτὰρ αἴγεον ἀσκὸν ἔχον μέλανος οἴνοιο
ἡδέος, ὅν μοι ἔδωκε Μάρων, Εὐάνθεος υἱός,
ἱρεὺς Ἀπόλλωνος, ὃς Ἴσμαρον ἀμφιβεβήκει,
οὕνεκά μιν σὺν παιδὶ περισχόμεθʼ ἠδὲ γυναικὶ
ἁζόμενοι· ᾤκει γὰρ ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντι
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος. ὁ δέ μοι πόρεν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα·
χρυσοῦ μέν μοι ἔδωκʼ ἐυεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,
δῶκε δέ μοι κρητῆρα πανάργυρον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσι δυώδεκα πᾶσιν ἀφύσσας
ἡδὺν ἀκηράσιον, θεῖον ποτόν· οὐδέ τις αὐτὸν
ἠείδη δμώων οὐδʼ ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς ἄλοχός τε φίλη ταμίη τε μίʼ οἴη.
τὸν δʼ ὅτε πίνοιεν μελιηδέα οἶνον ἐρυθρόν,
ἓν δέπας ἐμπλήσας ὕδατος ἀνὰ εἴκοσι μέτρα
χεῦʼ, ὀδμὴ δʼ ἡδεῖα ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ὀδώδει
θεσπεσίη· τότʼ ἂν οὔ τοι ἀποσχέσθαι φίλον ἦεν.
τοῦ φέρον ἐμπλήσας ἀσκὸν μέγαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ᾖα
κωρύκῳ· αὐτίκα γάρ μοι ὀίσατο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
ἄνδρʼ ἐπελεύσεσθαι μεγάλην ἐπιειμένον ἀλκήν,
ἄγριον, οὔτε δίκας ἐὺ εἰδότα οὔτε θέμιστας.
καρπαλίμως δʼ εἰς ἄντρον ἀφικόμεθʼ, οὐδέ μιν ἔνδον
εὕρομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνόμευε νομὸν κάτα πίονα μῆλα.
ἐλθόντες δʼ εἰς ἄντρον ἐθηεύμεσθα ἕκαστα.
ταρσοὶ μὲν τυρῶν βρῖθον, στείνοντο δὲ σηκοὶ
ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων· διακεκριμέναι δὲ ἕκασται
ἔρχατο, χωρὶς μὲν πρόγονοι, χωρὶς δὲ μέτασσαι,
χωρὶς δʼ αὖθʼ ἕρσαι. ναῖον δʼ ὀρῷ ἄγγεα πάντα,
γαυλοί τε σκαφίδες τε, τετυγμένα, τοῖς ἐνάμελγεν.
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν πρώτισθʼ ἕταροι λίσσοντʼ ἐπέεσσιν
τυρῶν αἰνυμένους ἰέναι πάλιν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
καρπαλίμως ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐρίφους τε καὶ ἄρνας
σηκῶν ἐξελάσαντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ·
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐ πιθόμην, ἦ τʼ ἂν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν,
ὄφρʼ αὐτόν τε ἴδοιμι, καὶ εἴ μοι ξείνια δοίη.
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλʼ ἑτάροισι φανεὶς ἐρατεινὸς ἔσεσθαι.
ἔνθα δὲ πῦρ κήαντες ἐθύσαμεν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
τυρῶν αἰνύμενοι φάγομεν, μένομέν τέ μιν ἔνδον
ἥμενοι, ἧος ἐπῆλθε νέμων. φέρε δʼ ὄβριμον ἄχθος
ὕλης ἀζαλέης, ἵνα οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη,
ἔντοσθεν δʼ ἄντροιο βαλὼν ὀρυμαγδὸν ἔθηκεν·
ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθʼ ἐς μυχὸν ἄντρου.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλα
πάντα μάλʼ ὅσσʼ ἤμελγε, τὰ δʼ ἄρσενα λεῖπε θύρηφιν,
ἀρνειούς τε τράγους τε, βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,
ὄβριμον· οὐκ ἂν τόν γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἄμαξαι
ἐσθλαὶ τετράκυκλοι ἀπʼ οὔδεος ὀχλίσσειαν·
τόσσην ἠλίβατον πέτρην ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσιν.
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἥμισυ μὲν θρέψας λευκοῖο γάλακτος
πλεκτοῖς ἐν ταλάροισιν ἀμησάμενος κατέθηκεν,
ἥμισυ δʼ αὖτʼ ἔστησεν ἐν ἄγγεσιν, ὄφρα οἱ εἴη
πίνειν αἰνυμένῳ καί οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,
καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσιδεν, εἴρετο δʼ ἡμέας·
ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;
ἦ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε,
οἷά τε ληιστῆρες, ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνται
ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸν χῶρον ἀφικόμεθʼ ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ σπέος εἴδομεν ἄγχι θαλάσσης,
ὑψηλόν, δάφνῃσι κατηρεφές. ἔνθα δὲ πολλὰ
μῆλʼ, ὄιές τε καὶ αἶγες, ἰαύεσκον· περὶ δʼ αὐλὴ
ὑψηλὴ δέδμητο κατωρυχέεσσι λίθοισι
μακρῇσίν τε πίτυσσιν ἰδὲ δρυσὶν ὑψικόμοισιν.
ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὴρ ἐνίαυε πελώριος, ὅς ῥα τὰ μῆλα
οἶος ποιμαίνεσκεν ἀπόπροθεν· οὐδὲ μετʼ ἄλλους
πωλεῖτʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀπάνευθεν ἐὼν ἀθεμίστια ᾔδη.
καὶ γὰρ θαῦμʼ ἐτέτυκτο πελώριον, οὐδὲ ἐῴκει
ἀνδρί γε σιτοφάγῳ, ἀλλὰ ῥίῳ ὑλήεντι
ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων, ὅ τε φαίνεται οἶον ἀπʼ ἄλλων.
δὴ τότε τοὺς ἄλλους κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κρίνας ἑτάρων δυοκαίδεκʼ ἀρίστους
βῆν· ἀτὰρ αἴγεον ἀσκὸν ἔχον μέλανος οἴνοιο
ἡδέος, ὅν μοι ἔδωκε Μάρων, Εὐάνθεος υἱός,
ἱρεὺς Ἀπόλλωνος, ὃς Ἴσμαρον ἀμφιβεβήκει,
οὕνεκά μιν σὺν παιδὶ περισχόμεθʼ ἠδὲ γυναικὶ
ἁζόμενοι· ᾤκει γὰρ ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντι
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος. ὁ δέ μοι πόρεν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα·
χρυσοῦ μέν μοι ἔδωκʼ ἐυεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,
δῶκε δέ μοι κρητῆρα πανάργυρον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσι δυώδεκα πᾶσιν ἀφύσσας
ἡδὺν ἀκηράσιον, θεῖον ποτόν· οὐδέ τις αὐτὸν
ἠείδη δμώων οὐδʼ ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς ἄλοχός τε φίλη ταμίη τε μίʼ οἴη.
τὸν δʼ ὅτε πίνοιεν μελιηδέα οἶνον ἐρυθρόν,
ἓν δέπας ἐμπλήσας ὕδατος ἀνὰ εἴκοσι μέτρα
χεῦʼ, ὀδμὴ δʼ ἡδεῖα ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ὀδώδει
θεσπεσίη· τότʼ ἂν οὔ τοι ἀποσχέσθαι φίλον ἦεν.
τοῦ φέρον ἐμπλήσας ἀσκὸν μέγαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ᾖα
κωρύκῳ· αὐτίκα γάρ μοι ὀίσατο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
ἄνδρʼ ἐπελεύσεσθαι μεγάλην ἐπιειμένον ἀλκήν,
ἄγριον, οὔτε δίκας ἐὺ εἰδότα οὔτε θέμιστας.
καρπαλίμως δʼ εἰς ἄντρον ἀφικόμεθʼ, οὐδέ μιν ἔνδον
εὕρομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνόμευε νομὸν κάτα πίονα μῆλα.
ἐλθόντες δʼ εἰς ἄντρον ἐθηεύμεσθα ἕκαστα.
ταρσοὶ μὲν τυρῶν βρῖθον, στείνοντο δὲ σηκοὶ
ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων· διακεκριμέναι δὲ ἕκασται
ἔρχατο, χωρὶς μὲν πρόγονοι, χωρὶς δὲ μέτασσαι,
χωρὶς δʼ αὖθʼ ἕρσαι. ναῖον δʼ ὀρῷ ἄγγεα πάντα,
γαυλοί τε σκαφίδες τε, τετυγμένα, τοῖς ἐνάμελγεν.
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν πρώτισθʼ ἕταροι λίσσοντʼ ἐπέεσσιν
τυρῶν αἰνυμένους ἰέναι πάλιν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
καρπαλίμως ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐρίφους τε καὶ ἄρνας
σηκῶν ἐξελάσαντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ·
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐ πιθόμην, ἦ τʼ ἂν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν,
ὄφρʼ αὐτόν τε ἴδοιμι, καὶ εἴ μοι ξείνια δοίη.
οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλʼ ἑτάροισι φανεὶς ἐρατεινὸς ἔσεσθαι.
ἔνθα δὲ πῦρ κήαντες ἐθύσαμεν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
τυρῶν αἰνύμενοι φάγομεν, μένομέν τέ μιν ἔνδον
ἥμενοι, ἧος ἐπῆλθε νέμων. φέρε δʼ ὄβριμον ἄχθος
ὕλης ἀζαλέης, ἵνα οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη,
ἔντοσθεν δʼ ἄντροιο βαλὼν ὀρυμαγδὸν ἔθηκεν·
ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθʼ ἐς μυχὸν ἄντρου.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλα
πάντα μάλʼ ὅσσʼ ἤμελγε, τὰ δʼ ἄρσενα λεῖπε θύρηφιν,
ἀρνειούς τε τράγους τε, βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,
ὄβριμον· οὐκ ἂν τόν γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἄμαξαι
ἐσθλαὶ τετράκυκλοι ἀπʼ οὔδεος ὀχλίσσειαν·
τόσσην ἠλίβατον πέτρην ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσιν.
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἥμισυ μὲν θρέψας λευκοῖο γάλακτος
πλεκτοῖς ἐν ταλάροισιν ἀμησάμενος κατέθηκεν,
ἥμισυ δʼ αὖτʼ ἔστησεν ἐν ἄγγεσιν, ὄφρα οἱ εἴη
πίνειν αἰνυμένῳ καί οἱ ποτιδόρπιον εἴη.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,
καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ εἴσιδεν, εἴρετο δʼ ἡμέας·
ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;
ἦ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθε,
οἷά τε ληιστῆρες, ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνται
ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;
So he spoke, and our hearts were broken within us,
in fear at his heavy voice and at the monster himself.
But even so I answered him and spoke:
in fear at his heavy voice and at the monster himself.
But even so I answered him and spoke:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,
δεισάντων φθόγγον τε βαρὺν αὐτόν τε πέλωρον.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
δεισάντων φθόγγον τε βαρὺν αὐτόν τε πέλωρον.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"We are Achaeans, driven off course from Troy
by winds of every kind over the great gulf of the sea,
making for home; by another road, by other ways
we have come. So, it seems, Zeus willed to contrive it.
We claim to be the men of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
whose glory now is the greatest under heaven;
so great a city did he sack, and destroyed
many people. And we in our turn have come to your knees
to ask if you would give a guest-gift, or in some other way
make us a present, as is the right of guest-friends.
Respect the gods, mightiest one; we are your suppliants,
and Zeus is the avenger of suppliants and of guests,
Zeus of guests, who goes beside guests worthy of respect."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once out of a pitiless spirit:
by winds of every kind over the great gulf of the sea,
making for home; by another road, by other ways
we have come. So, it seems, Zeus willed to contrive it.
We claim to be the men of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
whose glory now is the greatest under heaven;
so great a city did he sack, and destroyed
many people. And we in our turn have come to your knees
to ask if you would give a guest-gift, or in some other way
make us a present, as is the right of guest-friends.
Respect the gods, mightiest one; we are your suppliants,
and Zeus is the avenger of suppliants and of guests,
Zeus of guests, who goes beside guests worthy of respect."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once out of a pitiless spirit:
ἡμεῖς τοι Τροίηθεν ἀποπλαγχθέντες Ἀχαιοὶ
παντοίοις ἀνέμοισιν ὑπὲρ μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,
οἴκαδε ἱέμενοι, ἄλλην ὁδὸν ἄλλα κέλευθα
ἤλθομεν· οὕτω που Ζεὺς ἤθελε μητίσασθαι.
λαοὶ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι,
τοῦ δὴ νῦν γε μέγιστον ὑπουράνιον κλέος ἐστί·
τόσσην γὰρ διέπερσε πόλιν καὶ ἀπώλεσε λαοὺς
πολλούς. ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε κιχανόμενοι τὰ σὰ γοῦνα
ἱκόμεθʼ, εἴ τι πόροις ξεινήιον ἠὲ καὶ ἄλλως
δοίης δωτίνην, ἥ τε ξείνων θέμις ἐστίν.
ἀλλʼ αἰδεῖο, φέριστε, θεούς· ἱκέται δέ τοί εἰμεν,
Ζεὺς δʼ ἐπιτιμήτωρ ἱκετάων τε ξείνων τε,
ξείνιος, ὃς ξείνοισιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ·
παντοίοις ἀνέμοισιν ὑπὲρ μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,
οἴκαδε ἱέμενοι, ἄλλην ὁδὸν ἄλλα κέλευθα
ἤλθομεν· οὕτω που Ζεὺς ἤθελε μητίσασθαι.
λαοὶ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι,
τοῦ δὴ νῦν γε μέγιστον ὑπουράνιον κλέος ἐστί·
τόσσην γὰρ διέπερσε πόλιν καὶ ἀπώλεσε λαοὺς
πολλούς. ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε κιχανόμενοι τὰ σὰ γοῦνα
ἱκόμεθʼ, εἴ τι πόροις ξεινήιον ἠὲ καὶ ἄλλως
δοίης δωτίνην, ἥ τε ξείνων θέμις ἐστίν.
ἀλλʼ αἰδεῖο, φέριστε, θεούς· ἱκέται δέ τοί εἰμεν,
Ζεὺς δʼ ἐπιτιμήτωρ ἱκετάων τε ξείνων τε,
ξείνιος, ὃς ξείνοισιν ἅμʼ αἰδοίοισιν ὀπηδεῖ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ·
"You are a fool, stranger, or you have come from far away,
if you tell me to fear the gods or to keep clear of them.
For the Cyclopes care nothing for aegis-bearing Zeus
nor for the blessed gods, since we are much stronger;
and I would not spare you or your companions
to avoid the hatred of Zeus, unless my own spirit bade me.
But tell me where you put in with your well-made ship as you came,
somewhere at the far end, or close by, so that I may know."
if you tell me to fear the gods or to keep clear of them.
For the Cyclopes care nothing for aegis-bearing Zeus
nor for the blessed gods, since we are much stronger;
and I would not spare you or your companions
to avoid the hatred of Zeus, unless my own spirit bade me.
But tell me where you put in with your well-made ship as you came,
somewhere at the far end, or close by, so that I may know."
νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἢ τηλόθεν εἰλήλουθας,
ὅς με θεοὺς κέλεαι ἢ δειδίμεν ἢ ἀλέασθαι·
οὐ γὰρ Κύκλωπες Διὸς αἰγιόχου ἀλέγουσιν
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν·
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼ Διὸς ἔχθος ἀλευάμενος πεφιδοίμην
οὔτε σεῦ οὔθʼ ἑτάρων, εἰ μὴ θυμός με κελεύοι.
ἀλλά μοι εἴφʼ ὅπῃ ἔσχες ἰὼν ἐυεργέα νῆα,
ἤ που ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ἦ καὶ σχεδόν, ὄφρα δαείω.
ὅς με θεοὺς κέλεαι ἢ δειδίμεν ἢ ἀλέασθαι·
οὐ γὰρ Κύκλωπες Διὸς αἰγιόχου ἀλέγουσιν
οὐδὲ θεῶν μακάρων, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν·
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼ Διὸς ἔχθος ἀλευάμενος πεφιδοίμην
οὔτε σεῦ οὔθʼ ἑτάρων, εἰ μὴ θυμός με κελεύοι.
ἀλλά μοι εἴφʼ ὅπῃ ἔσχες ἰὼν ἐυεργέα νῆα,
ἤ που ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς, ἦ καὶ σχεδόν, ὄφρα δαείω.
So he spoke, making trial of me; but he did not escape me, who know much,
and I answered him back with crafty words:
and I answered him back with crafty words:
ὣς φάτο πειράζων, ἐμὲ δʼ οὐ λάθεν εἰδότα πολλά,
ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην δολίοις ἐπέεσσι·
ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην δολίοις ἐπέεσσι·
"Poseidon the earth-shaker broke my ship to pieces,
throwing it against the rocks at the ends of your land,
driving it against a headland; the wind carried it in from the sea.
But I with these men escaped from sheer destruction."
So I spoke, and he answered me nothing out of his pitiless spirit,
but sprang up and laid his hands on my companions,
and snatching up two at once he dashed them to the ground
like puppies; and the brains ran out on the floor and wet the earth.
He cut them up limb by limb and made his supper of them,
and ate like a mountain-bred lion, and left nothing,
neither the entrails nor the flesh nor the marrowy bones.
And we wept and held up our hands to Zeus,
seeing his cruel deeds; and helplessness held our spirit.
But when the Cyclops had filled his great belly,
eating human flesh and drinking unmixed milk on top of it,
he lay down inside the cave, stretched out among his flocks.
Then I planned in my high-hearted spirit
to go closer, to draw the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and stab him in the breast, where the midriff holds the liver,
feeling for the place with my hand; but a second thought held me back.
For we too would have perished there in sheer destruction:
we could never have pushed away with our hands
the huge stone he had set against the high doorway.
So then we waited, groaning, for the noble Dawn.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then he kindled a fire and milked his splendid flocks,
everything in due order, and put a young one under each.
But when he had hurried through his work and finished it,
again he snatched up two men and made his meal of them.
When he had eaten he drove his fat flocks out of the cave,
easily lifting away the great door-stone; and afterwards
he put it back, as one might set the lid on a quiver.
With much whistling the Cyclops turned his fat flocks
towards the mountain; and I was left brooding evil deep in my mind,
in the hope of revenge, if Athena would grant me the triumph.
And this seemed to my spirit the best plan.
Beside the pen lay the Cyclops’ great club,
green olive-wood; he had cut it to carry
when it dried out. Looking at it, we judged it to be
as big as the mast of a black ship of twenty oars,
a broad merchantman that crosses the great gulf:
so long it was, and so thick to look at.
I stood by and cut off about a fathom of it
and set it before my companions, and told them to shave it down;
and they made it smooth. I stood by and sharpened
the point, and took it at once and hardened it in the blazing fire.
Then I laid it well away, hiding it under the dung
that lay spread through the cave in great heaps.
Then I told the rest to cast lots
for who should dare, with me, to lift the stake
and grind it into his eye when sweet sleep came upon him.
And the lot fell on those I would have chosen myself,
four of them; and I counted myself the fifth among them.
At evening he came, herding his fine-fleeced flocks.
At once he drove his fat flocks into the wide cave,
all of them, and left nothing outside the deep courtyard,
whether he suspected something, or a god so ordered it.
Then he lifted the great door-stone high up and set it in place,
and he sat down and milked the ewes and the bleating goats,
everything in due order, and put a young one under each.
But when he had hurried through his work and finished it,
again he snatched up two men and made his supper of them.
And then I stood close beside the Cyclops and spoke to him,
holding an ivy-wood bowl of dark wine in my hands:
"Cyclops, here, drink wine, now that you have eaten human flesh,
so that you may know what sort of drink our ship
was keeping. I brought it as a drink-offering for you, in the hope that you
would pity me and send me home; but your madness is past bearing.
Cruel man, how should any other of the many men on earth
ever come to you again, when you have not acted as is right?"
So I spoke, and he took it and drank it off, and he was terribly pleased
drinking the sweet drink, and asked me for it a second time:
"Give me more, and freely, and tell me your name
now, at once, so that I may give you a guest-gift to be glad of.
For the grain-giving earth bears for the Cyclopes too
wine of great clusters, and the rain of Zeus makes them grow;
but this is a stream broken off from ambrosia and nectar."
throwing it against the rocks at the ends of your land,
driving it against a headland; the wind carried it in from the sea.
But I with these men escaped from sheer destruction."
So I spoke, and he answered me nothing out of his pitiless spirit,
but sprang up and laid his hands on my companions,
and snatching up two at once he dashed them to the ground
like puppies; and the brains ran out on the floor and wet the earth.
He cut them up limb by limb and made his supper of them,
and ate like a mountain-bred lion, and left nothing,
neither the entrails nor the flesh nor the marrowy bones.
And we wept and held up our hands to Zeus,
seeing his cruel deeds; and helplessness held our spirit.
But when the Cyclops had filled his great belly,
eating human flesh and drinking unmixed milk on top of it,
he lay down inside the cave, stretched out among his flocks.
Then I planned in my high-hearted spirit
to go closer, to draw the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and stab him in the breast, where the midriff holds the liver,
feeling for the place with my hand; but a second thought held me back.
For we too would have perished there in sheer destruction:
we could never have pushed away with our hands
the huge stone he had set against the high doorway.
So then we waited, groaning, for the noble Dawn.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then he kindled a fire and milked his splendid flocks,
everything in due order, and put a young one under each.
But when he had hurried through his work and finished it,
again he snatched up two men and made his meal of them.
When he had eaten he drove his fat flocks out of the cave,
easily lifting away the great door-stone; and afterwards
he put it back, as one might set the lid on a quiver.
With much whistling the Cyclops turned his fat flocks
towards the mountain; and I was left brooding evil deep in my mind,
in the hope of revenge, if Athena would grant me the triumph.
And this seemed to my spirit the best plan.
Beside the pen lay the Cyclops’ great club,
green olive-wood; he had cut it to carry
when it dried out. Looking at it, we judged it to be
as big as the mast of a black ship of twenty oars,
a broad merchantman that crosses the great gulf:
so long it was, and so thick to look at.
I stood by and cut off about a fathom of it
and set it before my companions, and told them to shave it down;
and they made it smooth. I stood by and sharpened
the point, and took it at once and hardened it in the blazing fire.
Then I laid it well away, hiding it under the dung
that lay spread through the cave in great heaps.
Then I told the rest to cast lots
for who should dare, with me, to lift the stake
and grind it into his eye when sweet sleep came upon him.
And the lot fell on those I would have chosen myself,
four of them; and I counted myself the fifth among them.
At evening he came, herding his fine-fleeced flocks.
At once he drove his fat flocks into the wide cave,
all of them, and left nothing outside the deep courtyard,
whether he suspected something, or a god so ordered it.
Then he lifted the great door-stone high up and set it in place,
and he sat down and milked the ewes and the bleating goats,
everything in due order, and put a young one under each.
But when he had hurried through his work and finished it,
again he snatched up two men and made his supper of them.
And then I stood close beside the Cyclops and spoke to him,
holding an ivy-wood bowl of dark wine in my hands:
"Cyclops, here, drink wine, now that you have eaten human flesh,
so that you may know what sort of drink our ship
was keeping. I brought it as a drink-offering for you, in the hope that you
would pity me and send me home; but your madness is past bearing.
Cruel man, how should any other of the many men on earth
ever come to you again, when you have not acted as is right?"
So I spoke, and he took it and drank it off, and he was terribly pleased
drinking the sweet drink, and asked me for it a second time:
"Give me more, and freely, and tell me your name
now, at once, so that I may give you a guest-gift to be glad of.
For the grain-giving earth bears for the Cyclopes too
wine of great clusters, and the rain of Zeus makes them grow;
but this is a stream broken off from ambrosia and nectar."
νέα μέν μοι κατέαξε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
πρὸς πέτρῃσι βαλὼν ὑμῆς ἐπὶ πείρασι γαίης,
ἄκρῃ προσπελάσας· ἄνεμος δʼ ἐκ πόντου ἔνεικεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν τοῖσδε ὑπέκφυγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἀναΐξας ἑτάροις ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἴαλλε,
σὺν δὲ δύω μάρψας ὥς τε σκύλακας ποτὶ γαίῃ
κόπτʼ· ἐκ δʼ ἐγκέφαλος χαμάδις ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.
τοὺς δὲ διὰ μελεϊστὶ ταμὼν ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον·
ἤσθιε δʼ ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος, οὐδʼ ἀπέλειπεν,
ἔγκατά τε σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα μυελόεντα.
ἡμεῖς δὲ κλαίοντες ἀνεσχέθομεν Διὶ χεῖρας,
σχέτλια ἔργʼ ὁρόωντες, ἀμηχανίη δʼ ἔχε θυμόν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Κύκλωψ μεγάλην ἐμπλήσατο νηδὺν
ἀνδρόμεα κρέʼ ἔδων καὶ ἐπʼ ἄκρητον γάλα πίνων,
κεῖτʼ ἔντοσθʼ ἄντροιο τανυσσάμενος διὰ μήλων.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ βούλευσα κατὰ μεγαλήτορα θυμὸν
ἆσσον ἰών, ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ,
οὐτάμεναι πρὸς στῆθος, ὅθι φρένες ἧπαρ ἔχουσι,
χείρʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος· ἕτερος δέ με θυμὸς ἔρυκεν.
αὐτοῦ γάρ κε καὶ ἄμμες ἀπωλόμεθʼ αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον·
οὐ γάρ κεν δυνάμεσθα θυράων ὑψηλάων
χερσὶν ἀπώσασθαι λίθον ὄβριμον, ὃν προσέθηκεν.
ὣς τότε μὲν στενάχοντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ ἤμελγε κλυτὰ μῆλα,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,
σὺν δʼ ὅ γε δὴ αὖτε δύω μάρψας ὡπλίσσατο δεῖπνον.
δειπνήσας δʼ ἄντρου ἐξήλασε πίονα μῆλα,
ῥηιδίως ἀφελὼν θυρεὸν μέγαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
ἂψ ἐπέθηχʼ, ὡς εἴ τε φαρέτρῃ πῶμʼ ἐπιθείη.
πολλῇ δὲ ῥοίζῳ πρὸς ὄρος τρέπε πίονα μῆλα
Κύκλωψ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων,
εἴ πως τισαίμην, δοίη δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή.
Κύκλωπος γὰρ ἔκειτο μέγα ῥόπαλον παρὰ σηκῷ,
χλωρὸν ἐλαΐνεον· τὸ μὲν ἔκταμεν, ὄφρα φοροίη
αὐανθέν. τὸ μὲν ἄμμες ἐίσκομεν εἰσορόωντες
ὅσσον θʼ ἱστὸν νηὸς ἐεικοσόροιο μελαίνης,
φορτίδος εὐρείης, ἥ τʼ ἐκπεράᾳ μέγα λαῖτμα·
τόσσον ἔην μῆκος, τόσσον πάχος εἰσοράασθαι.
τοῦ μὲν ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιαν ἐγὼν ἀπέκοψα παραστὰς
καὶ παρέθηχʼ ἑτάροισιν, ἀποξῦναι δʼ ἐκέλευσα·
οἱ δʼ ὁμαλὸν ποίησαν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐθόωσα παραστὰς
ἄκρον, ἄφαρ δὲ λαβὼν ἐπυράκτεον ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ.
καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκα κατακρύψας ὑπὸ κόπρῳ,
ἥ ῥα κατὰ σπείους κέχυτο μεγάλʼ ἤλιθα πολλή·
αὐτὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κλήρῳ πεπαλάσθαι ἄνωγον,
ὅς τις τολμήσειεν ἐμοὶ σὺν μοχλὸν ἀείρας
τρῖψαι ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ, ὅτε τὸν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι.
οἱ δʼ ἔλαχον τοὺς ἄν κε καὶ ἤθελον αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι,
τέσσαρες, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πέμπτος μετὰ τοῖσιν ἐλέγμην.
ἑσπέριος δʼ ἦλθεν καλλίτριχα μῆλα νομεύων.
αὐτίκα δʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλα
πάντα μάλʼ, οὐδέ τι λεῖπε βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς,
ἤ τι ὀισάμενος, ἢ καὶ θεὸς ὣς ἐκέλευσεν.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,
σὺν δʼ ὅ γε δὴ αὖτε δύω μάρψας ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον.
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων ἄγχι παραστάς,
κισσύβιον μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων μέλανος οἴνοιο·
Κύκλωψ, τῆ, πίε οἶνον, ἐπεὶ φάγες ἀνδρόμεα κρέα,
ὄφρʼ εἰδῇς οἷόν τι ποτὸν τόδε νηῦς ἐκεκεύθει
ἡμετέρη. σοὶ δʼ αὖ λοιβὴν φέρον, εἴ μʼ ἐλεήσας
οἴκαδε πέμψειας· σὺ δὲ μαίνεαι οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτῶς.
σχέτλιε, πῶς κέν τίς σε καὶ ὕστερον ἄλλος ἵκοιτο
ἀνθρώπων πολέων, ἐπεὶ οὐ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔρεξας;
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔδεκτο καὶ ἔκπιεν· ἥσατο δʼ αἰνῶς
ἡδὺ ποτὸν πίνων καὶ μʼ ᾔτεε δεύτερον αὖτις·
δός μοι ἔτι πρόφρων, καί μοι τεὸν οὔνομα εἰπὲ
αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα τοι δῶ ξείνιον, ᾧ κε σὺ χαίρῃς·
καὶ γὰρ Κυκλώπεσσι φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουρα
οἶνον ἐριστάφυλον, καί σφιν Διὸς ὄμβρος ἀέξει·
ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ἀμβροσίης καὶ νέκταρός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ.
πρὸς πέτρῃσι βαλὼν ὑμῆς ἐπὶ πείρασι γαίης,
ἄκρῃ προσπελάσας· ἄνεμος δʼ ἐκ πόντου ἔνεικεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν τοῖσδε ὑπέκφυγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἀναΐξας ἑτάροις ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἴαλλε,
σὺν δὲ δύω μάρψας ὥς τε σκύλακας ποτὶ γαίῃ
κόπτʼ· ἐκ δʼ ἐγκέφαλος χαμάδις ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.
τοὺς δὲ διὰ μελεϊστὶ ταμὼν ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον·
ἤσθιε δʼ ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος, οὐδʼ ἀπέλειπεν,
ἔγκατά τε σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα μυελόεντα.
ἡμεῖς δὲ κλαίοντες ἀνεσχέθομεν Διὶ χεῖρας,
σχέτλια ἔργʼ ὁρόωντες, ἀμηχανίη δʼ ἔχε θυμόν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Κύκλωψ μεγάλην ἐμπλήσατο νηδὺν
ἀνδρόμεα κρέʼ ἔδων καὶ ἐπʼ ἄκρητον γάλα πίνων,
κεῖτʼ ἔντοσθʼ ἄντροιο τανυσσάμενος διὰ μήλων.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ βούλευσα κατὰ μεγαλήτορα θυμὸν
ἆσσον ἰών, ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ,
οὐτάμεναι πρὸς στῆθος, ὅθι φρένες ἧπαρ ἔχουσι,
χείρʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος· ἕτερος δέ με θυμὸς ἔρυκεν.
αὐτοῦ γάρ κε καὶ ἄμμες ἀπωλόμεθʼ αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον·
οὐ γάρ κεν δυνάμεσθα θυράων ὑψηλάων
χερσὶν ἀπώσασθαι λίθον ὄβριμον, ὃν προσέθηκεν.
ὣς τότε μὲν στενάχοντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότε πῦρ ἀνέκαιε καὶ ἤμελγε κλυτὰ μῆλα,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,
σὺν δʼ ὅ γε δὴ αὖτε δύω μάρψας ὡπλίσσατο δεῖπνον.
δειπνήσας δʼ ἄντρου ἐξήλασε πίονα μῆλα,
ῥηιδίως ἀφελὼν θυρεὸν μέγαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
ἂψ ἐπέθηχʼ, ὡς εἴ τε φαρέτρῃ πῶμʼ ἐπιθείη.
πολλῇ δὲ ῥοίζῳ πρὸς ὄρος τρέπε πίονα μῆλα
Κύκλωψ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων,
εἴ πως τισαίμην, δοίη δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή.
Κύκλωπος γὰρ ἔκειτο μέγα ῥόπαλον παρὰ σηκῷ,
χλωρὸν ἐλαΐνεον· τὸ μὲν ἔκταμεν, ὄφρα φοροίη
αὐανθέν. τὸ μὲν ἄμμες ἐίσκομεν εἰσορόωντες
ὅσσον θʼ ἱστὸν νηὸς ἐεικοσόροιο μελαίνης,
φορτίδος εὐρείης, ἥ τʼ ἐκπεράᾳ μέγα λαῖτμα·
τόσσον ἔην μῆκος, τόσσον πάχος εἰσοράασθαι.
τοῦ μὲν ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιαν ἐγὼν ἀπέκοψα παραστὰς
καὶ παρέθηχʼ ἑτάροισιν, ἀποξῦναι δʼ ἐκέλευσα·
οἱ δʼ ὁμαλὸν ποίησαν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐθόωσα παραστὰς
ἄκρον, ἄφαρ δὲ λαβὼν ἐπυράκτεον ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ.
καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκα κατακρύψας ὑπὸ κόπρῳ,
ἥ ῥα κατὰ σπείους κέχυτο μεγάλʼ ἤλιθα πολλή·
αὐτὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους κλήρῳ πεπαλάσθαι ἄνωγον,
ὅς τις τολμήσειεν ἐμοὶ σὺν μοχλὸν ἀείρας
τρῖψαι ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ, ὅτε τὸν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι.
οἱ δʼ ἔλαχον τοὺς ἄν κε καὶ ἤθελον αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι,
τέσσαρες, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πέμπτος μετὰ τοῖσιν ἐλέγμην.
ἑσπέριος δʼ ἦλθεν καλλίτριχα μῆλα νομεύων.
αὐτίκα δʼ εἰς εὐρὺ σπέος ἤλασε πίονα μῆλα
πάντα μάλʼ, οὐδέ τι λεῖπε βαθείης ἔκτοθεν αὐλῆς,
ἤ τι ὀισάμενος, ἢ καὶ θεὸς ὣς ἐκέλευσεν.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἐπέθηκε θυρεὸν μέγαν ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἤμελγεν ὄις καὶ μηκάδας αἶγας,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, καὶ ὑπʼ ἔμβρυον ἧκεν ἑκάστῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σπεῦσε πονησάμενος τὰ ἃ ἔργα,
σὺν δʼ ὅ γε δὴ αὖτε δύω μάρψας ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον.
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων ἄγχι παραστάς,
κισσύβιον μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων μέλανος οἴνοιο·
Κύκλωψ, τῆ, πίε οἶνον, ἐπεὶ φάγες ἀνδρόμεα κρέα,
ὄφρʼ εἰδῇς οἷόν τι ποτὸν τόδε νηῦς ἐκεκεύθει
ἡμετέρη. σοὶ δʼ αὖ λοιβὴν φέρον, εἴ μʼ ἐλεήσας
οἴκαδε πέμψειας· σὺ δὲ μαίνεαι οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτῶς.
σχέτλιε, πῶς κέν τίς σε καὶ ὕστερον ἄλλος ἵκοιτο
ἀνθρώπων πολέων, ἐπεὶ οὐ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔρεξας;
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔδεκτο καὶ ἔκπιεν· ἥσατο δʼ αἰνῶς
ἡδὺ ποτὸν πίνων καὶ μʼ ᾔτεε δεύτερον αὖτις·
δός μοι ἔτι πρόφρων, καί μοι τεὸν οὔνομα εἰπὲ
αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα τοι δῶ ξείνιον, ᾧ κε σὺ χαίρῃς·
καὶ γὰρ Κυκλώπεσσι φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουρα
οἶνον ἐριστάφυλον, καί σφιν Διὸς ὄμβρος ἀέξει·
ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ἀμβροσίης καὶ νέκταρός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ.
So he spoke, and I gave him the gleaming wine again.
Three times I carried it and gave it, three times he drank it off in his folly.
But when the wine had gone round the Cyclops’ wits,
then I spoke to him with soft words:
"Cyclops, you ask me my famous name; I will tell you,
and you give me the guest-gift you promised.
Nobody is my name. Nobody is what they call me,
my mother and my father and all my other companions."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once out of a pitiless spirit:
Three times I carried it and gave it, three times he drank it off in his folly.
But when the wine had gone round the Cyclops’ wits,
then I spoke to him with soft words:
"Cyclops, you ask me my famous name; I will tell you,
and you give me the guest-gift you promised.
Nobody is my name. Nobody is what they call me,
my mother and my father and all my other companions."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once out of a pitiless spirit:
ὣς φάτʼ, ἀτάρ οἱ αὖτις ἐγὼ πόρον αἴθοπα οἶνον.
τρὶς μὲν ἔδωκα φέρων, τρὶς δʼ ἔκπιεν ἀφραδίῃσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Κύκλωπα περὶ φρένας ἤλυθεν οἶνος,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισι·
Κύκλωψ, εἰρωτᾷς μʼ ὄνομα κλυτόν, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι
ἐξερέω· σὺ δέ μοι δὸς ξείνιον, ὥς περ ὑπέστης.
Οὖτις ἐμοί γʼ ὄνομα· Οὖτιν δέ με κικλήσκουσι
μήτηρ ἠδὲ πατὴρ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ·
τρὶς μὲν ἔδωκα φέρων, τρὶς δʼ ἔκπιεν ἀφραδίῃσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Κύκλωπα περὶ φρένας ἤλυθεν οἶνος,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισι·
Κύκλωψ, εἰρωτᾷς μʼ ὄνομα κλυτόν, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι
ἐξερέω· σὺ δέ μοι δὸς ξείνιον, ὥς περ ὑπέστης.
Οὖτις ἐμοί γʼ ὄνομα· Οὖτιν δέ με κικλήσκουσι
μήτηρ ἠδὲ πατὴρ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο νηλέι θυμῷ·
"Nobody I will eat last, after his companions,
and the others before him. That will be your guest-gift."
and the others before him. That will be your guest-gift."
Οὖτιν ἐγὼ πύματον ἔδομαι μετὰ οἷς ἑτάροισιν,
τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους πρόσθεν· τὸ δέ τοι ξεινήιον ἔσται.
τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους πρόσθεν· τὸ δέ τοι ξεινήιον ἔσται.
He spoke, and lurched over and fell on his back; and then
he lay with his thick neck bent aside, and sleep,
the conqueror of all, took him; and out of his gullet came wine
and gobbets of human flesh; he belched, heavy with the wine.
And then I drove the stake in under the deep ashes,
until it should grow hot; and with words I put courage
into all my companions, so that none should shrink back in fear.
But when the olive stake was soon to catch fire,
green though it was, and was glowing terribly,
then I brought it close out of the fire, and my companions
stood round; and a divine power breathed great courage into us.
They took the olive stake, sharp at the point,
and drove it into his eye; and I, leaning on it from above,
spun it round, as when a man bores a ship’s timber
with a drill, and the others below keep it moving with a strap,
holding it on either side, and it runs on without stopping:
so we took the fire-pointed stake in his eye
and spun it, and the blood ran round it as it burned.
The blast singed all his eyelids round about and his brows
as the eyeball burned, and its roots crackled in the fire.
As when a smith dips a great axe or an adze
in cold water, and it shrieks aloud
as he tempers it — for that is what gives iron its strength —
so his eye hissed about the olive stake.
He gave a terrible great cry, and the rock rang round it,
and in fear we rushed away; and he tore the stake
out of his eye, all fouled with blood.
Then in his frenzy he flung it from him with his hands,
and he called loudly to the Cyclopes who lived about him
in caves along the windy heights.
They heard his shout and came from every side,
and standing about the cave they asked what troubled him:
"Why, Polyphemus, are you so afflicted that you shout like this
through the immortal night, and make us sleepless?
Surely no mortal is driving off your flocks against your will?
Surely nobody is killing you by guile or by force?"
And strong Polyphemus spoke to them from inside the cave:
he lay with his thick neck bent aside, and sleep,
the conqueror of all, took him; and out of his gullet came wine
and gobbets of human flesh; he belched, heavy with the wine.
And then I drove the stake in under the deep ashes,
until it should grow hot; and with words I put courage
into all my companions, so that none should shrink back in fear.
But when the olive stake was soon to catch fire,
green though it was, and was glowing terribly,
then I brought it close out of the fire, and my companions
stood round; and a divine power breathed great courage into us.
They took the olive stake, sharp at the point,
and drove it into his eye; and I, leaning on it from above,
spun it round, as when a man bores a ship’s timber
with a drill, and the others below keep it moving with a strap,
holding it on either side, and it runs on without stopping:
so we took the fire-pointed stake in his eye
and spun it, and the blood ran round it as it burned.
The blast singed all his eyelids round about and his brows
as the eyeball burned, and its roots crackled in the fire.
As when a smith dips a great axe or an adze
in cold water, and it shrieks aloud
as he tempers it — for that is what gives iron its strength —
so his eye hissed about the olive stake.
He gave a terrible great cry, and the rock rang round it,
and in fear we rushed away; and he tore the stake
out of his eye, all fouled with blood.
Then in his frenzy he flung it from him with his hands,
and he called loudly to the Cyclopes who lived about him
in caves along the windy heights.
They heard his shout and came from every side,
and standing about the cave they asked what troubled him:
"Why, Polyphemus, are you so afflicted that you shout like this
through the immortal night, and make us sleepless?
Surely no mortal is driving off your flocks against your will?
Surely nobody is killing you by guile or by force?"
And strong Polyphemus spoke to them from inside the cave:
ἦ καὶ ἀνακλινθεὶς πέσεν ὕπτιος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
κεῖτʼ ἀποδοχμώσας παχὺν αὐχένα, κὰδ δέ μιν ὕπνος
ᾕρει πανδαμάτωρ· φάρυγος δʼ ἐξέσσυτο οἶνος
ψωμοί τʼ ἀνδρόμεοι· ὁ δʼ ἐρεύγετο οἰνοβαρείων.
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ τὸν μοχλὸν ὑπὸ σποδοῦ ἤλασα πολλῆς,
ἧος θερμαίνοιτο· ἔπεσσι δὲ πάντας ἑταίρους
θάρσυνον, μή τίς μοι ὑποδείσας ἀναδύη.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ὁ μοχλὸς ἐλάινος ἐν πυρὶ μέλλεν
ἅψεσθαι, χλωρός περ ἐών, διεφαίνετο δʼ αἰνῶς,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἆσσον φέρον ἐκ πυρός, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
ἵσταντʼ· αὐτὰρ θάρσος ἐνέπνευσεν μέγα δαίμων.
οἱ μὲν μοχλὸν ἑλόντες ἐλάινον, ὀξὺν ἐπʼ ἄκρῳ,
ὀφθαλμῷ ἐνέρεισαν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐφύπερθεν ἐρεισθεὶς
δίνεον, ὡς ὅτε τις τρυπῷ δόρυ νήιον ἀνὴρ
τρυπάνῳ, οἱ δέ τʼ ἔνερθεν ὑποσσείουσιν ἱμάντι
ἁψάμενοι ἑκάτερθε, τὸ δὲ τρέχει ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.
ὣς τοῦ ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ πυριήκεα μοχλὸν ἑλόντες
δινέομεν, τὸν δʼ αἷμα περίρρεε θερμὸν ἐόντα.
πάντα δέ οἱ βλέφαρʼ ἀμφὶ καὶ ὀφρύας εὗσεν ἀυτμὴ
γλήνης καιομένης, σφαραγεῦντο δέ οἱ πυρὶ ῥίζαι.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ χαλκεὺς πέλεκυν μέγαν ἠὲ σκέπαρνον
εἰν ὕδατι ψυχρῷ βάπτῃ μεγάλα ἰάχοντα
φαρμάσσων· τὸ γὰρ αὖτε σιδήρου γε κράτος ἐστίν
ὣς τοῦ σίζʼ ὀφθαλμὸς ἐλαϊνέῳ περὶ μοχλῷ.
σμερδαλέον δὲ μέγʼ ᾤμωξεν, περὶ δʼ ἴαχε πέτρη,
ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθʼ· αὐτὰρ ὁ μοχλὸν
ἐξέρυσʼ ὀφθαλμοῖο πεφυρμένον αἵματι πολλῷ.
τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔρριψεν ἀπὸ ἕο χερσὶν ἀλύων,
αὐτὰρ ὁ Κύκλωπας μεγάλʼ ἤπυεν, οἵ ῥά μιν ἀμφὶς
ᾤκεον ἐν σπήεσσι διʼ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀίοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,
ἱστάμενοι δʼ εἴροντο περὶ σπέος ὅττι ἑ κήδοι·
τίπτε τόσον, Πολύφημʼ, ἀρημένος ὧδʼ ἐβόησας
νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην καὶ ἀύπνους ἄμμε τίθησθα;
ἦ μή τίς σευ μῆλα βροτῶν ἀέκοντος ἐλαύνει;
ἦ μή τίς σʼ αὐτὸν κτείνει δόλῳ ἠὲ βίηφιν;
τοὺς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξ ἄντρου προσέφη κρατερὸς Πολύφημος·
κεῖτʼ ἀποδοχμώσας παχὺν αὐχένα, κὰδ δέ μιν ὕπνος
ᾕρει πανδαμάτωρ· φάρυγος δʼ ἐξέσσυτο οἶνος
ψωμοί τʼ ἀνδρόμεοι· ὁ δʼ ἐρεύγετο οἰνοβαρείων.
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ τὸν μοχλὸν ὑπὸ σποδοῦ ἤλασα πολλῆς,
ἧος θερμαίνοιτο· ἔπεσσι δὲ πάντας ἑταίρους
θάρσυνον, μή τίς μοι ὑποδείσας ἀναδύη.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ὁ μοχλὸς ἐλάινος ἐν πυρὶ μέλλεν
ἅψεσθαι, χλωρός περ ἐών, διεφαίνετο δʼ αἰνῶς,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἆσσον φέρον ἐκ πυρός, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
ἵσταντʼ· αὐτὰρ θάρσος ἐνέπνευσεν μέγα δαίμων.
οἱ μὲν μοχλὸν ἑλόντες ἐλάινον, ὀξὺν ἐπʼ ἄκρῳ,
ὀφθαλμῷ ἐνέρεισαν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐφύπερθεν ἐρεισθεὶς
δίνεον, ὡς ὅτε τις τρυπῷ δόρυ νήιον ἀνὴρ
τρυπάνῳ, οἱ δέ τʼ ἔνερθεν ὑποσσείουσιν ἱμάντι
ἁψάμενοι ἑκάτερθε, τὸ δὲ τρέχει ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.
ὣς τοῦ ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ πυριήκεα μοχλὸν ἑλόντες
δινέομεν, τὸν δʼ αἷμα περίρρεε θερμὸν ἐόντα.
πάντα δέ οἱ βλέφαρʼ ἀμφὶ καὶ ὀφρύας εὗσεν ἀυτμὴ
γλήνης καιομένης, σφαραγεῦντο δέ οἱ πυρὶ ῥίζαι.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ χαλκεὺς πέλεκυν μέγαν ἠὲ σκέπαρνον
εἰν ὕδατι ψυχρῷ βάπτῃ μεγάλα ἰάχοντα
φαρμάσσων· τὸ γὰρ αὖτε σιδήρου γε κράτος ἐστίν
ὣς τοῦ σίζʼ ὀφθαλμὸς ἐλαϊνέῳ περὶ μοχλῷ.
σμερδαλέον δὲ μέγʼ ᾤμωξεν, περὶ δʼ ἴαχε πέτρη,
ἡμεῖς δὲ δείσαντες ἀπεσσύμεθʼ· αὐτὰρ ὁ μοχλὸν
ἐξέρυσʼ ὀφθαλμοῖο πεφυρμένον αἵματι πολλῷ.
τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔρριψεν ἀπὸ ἕο χερσὶν ἀλύων,
αὐτὰρ ὁ Κύκλωπας μεγάλʼ ἤπυεν, οἵ ῥά μιν ἀμφὶς
ᾤκεον ἐν σπήεσσι διʼ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀίοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,
ἱστάμενοι δʼ εἴροντο περὶ σπέος ὅττι ἑ κήδοι·
τίπτε τόσον, Πολύφημʼ, ἀρημένος ὧδʼ ἐβόησας
νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην καὶ ἀύπνους ἄμμε τίθησθα;
ἦ μή τίς σευ μῆλα βροτῶν ἀέκοντος ἐλαύνει;
ἦ μή τίς σʼ αὐτὸν κτείνει δόλῳ ἠὲ βίηφιν;
τοὺς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξ ἄντρου προσέφη κρατερὸς Πολύφημος·
"Friends, Nobody is killing me by guile and not by force."
And they answered him and spoke winged words:
"If indeed nobody is doing you violence, alone as you are,
there is no way to escape a sickness sent by great Zeus.
Pray, then, to your father, the lord Poseidon."
And they answered him and spoke winged words:
"If indeed nobody is doing you violence, alone as you are,
there is no way to escape a sickness sent by great Zeus.
Pray, then, to your father, the lord Poseidon."
ὦ φίλοι, Οὖτίς με κτείνει δόλῳ οὐδὲ βίηφιν.
οἱ δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενοι ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον·
εἰ μὲν δὴ μή τίς σε βιάζεται οἶον ἐόντα,
νοῦσον γʼ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς μεγάλου ἀλέασθαι,
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ εὔχεο πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι.
οἱ δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενοι ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον·
εἰ μὲν δὴ μή τίς σε βιάζεται οἶον ἐόντα,
νοῦσον γʼ οὔ πως ἔστι Διὸς μεγάλου ἀλέασθαι,
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ εὔχεο πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι.
So they spoke and went away; and my own heart laughed
at how my name had tricked them, and my blameless cunning.
But the Cyclops, groaning and in the throes of his pain,
groped with his hands and took the stone away from the doorway,
and himself sat in the doorway with his arms spread wide,
to catch anyone who might go out with the sheep;
for so, it seems, he expected in his mind that I would be a fool.
But I planned how it might turn out best,
whether I could find some release from death for my companions
and for myself; and I wove all kinds of guile and cunning,
as a man does for his life; for a great evil was close at hand.
And this seemed to my spirit the best plan.
There were rams, well fed and thick-fleeced,
fine and large, with wool dark as violets.
These I bound together silently with well-twisted withies
from the bed on which the monstrous, lawless Cyclops slept,
taking them three by three: the middle one carried a man,
and the two on either side went along, keeping my companions safe.
Three sheep carried each man; but as for me —
there was a ram, far the best of all the flock;
I took him by the back and curled myself under his shaggy belly
and lay there; and with my hands twisted into that wondrous
fleece I held on without slackening, with an enduring spirit.
So then we waited, groaning, for the noble Dawn.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then the males rushed out to pasture,
but the ewes bleated unmilked about the pens,
for their udders were bursting. And their master, worn down
by his cruel pains, felt along the backs of all the sheep
as they stood upright; but the fool did not notice
that they were bound under the breasts of his woolly sheep.
Last of the flock the ram went out through the door,
weighed down with his wool and with me, thinking my close thoughts.
And strong Polyphemus felt him over and spoke to him:
at how my name had tricked them, and my blameless cunning.
But the Cyclops, groaning and in the throes of his pain,
groped with his hands and took the stone away from the doorway,
and himself sat in the doorway with his arms spread wide,
to catch anyone who might go out with the sheep;
for so, it seems, he expected in his mind that I would be a fool.
But I planned how it might turn out best,
whether I could find some release from death for my companions
and for myself; and I wove all kinds of guile and cunning,
as a man does for his life; for a great evil was close at hand.
And this seemed to my spirit the best plan.
There were rams, well fed and thick-fleeced,
fine and large, with wool dark as violets.
These I bound together silently with well-twisted withies
from the bed on which the monstrous, lawless Cyclops slept,
taking them three by three: the middle one carried a man,
and the two on either side went along, keeping my companions safe.
Three sheep carried each man; but as for me —
there was a ram, far the best of all the flock;
I took him by the back and curled myself under his shaggy belly
and lay there; and with my hands twisted into that wondrous
fleece I held on without slackening, with an enduring spirit.
So then we waited, groaning, for the noble Dawn.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then the males rushed out to pasture,
but the ewes bleated unmilked about the pens,
for their udders were bursting. And their master, worn down
by his cruel pains, felt along the backs of all the sheep
as they stood upright; but the fool did not notice
that they were bound under the breasts of his woolly sheep.
Last of the flock the ram went out through the door,
weighed down with his wool and with me, thinking my close thoughts.
And strong Polyphemus felt him over and spoke to him:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν ἀπιόντες, ἐμὸν δʼ ἐγέλασσε φίλον κῆρ,
ὡς ὄνομʼ ἐξαπάτησεν ἐμὸν καὶ μῆτις ἀμύμων.
Κύκλωψ δὲ στενάχων τε καὶ ὠδίνων ὀδύνῃσι
χερσὶ ψηλαφόων ἀπὸ μὲν λίθον εἷλε θυράων,
αὐτὸς δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι καθέζετο χεῖρε πετάσσας,
εἴ τινά που μετʼ ὄεσσι λάβοι στείχοντα θύραζε·
οὕτω γάρ πού μʼ ἤλπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ νήπιον εἶναι.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον, ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένοιτο,
εἴ τινʼ ἑταίροισιν θανάτου λύσιν ἠδʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ
εὑροίμην· πάντας δὲ δόλους καὶ μῆτιν ὕφαινον
ὥς τε περὶ ψυχῆς· μέγα γὰρ κακὸν ἐγγύθεν ἦεν.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή.
ἄρσενες ὄιες ἦσαν ἐυτρεφέες, δασύμαλλοι,
καλοί τε μεγάλοι τε, ἰοδνεφὲς εἶρος ἔχοντες·
τοὺς ἀκέων συνέεργον ἐυστρεφέεσσι λύγοισιν,
τῇς ἔπι Κύκλωψ εὗδε πέλωρ, ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς,
σύντρεις αἰνύμενος· ὁ μὲν ἐν μέσῳ ἄνδρα φέρεσκε,
τὼ δʼ ἑτέρω ἑκάτερθεν ἴτην σώοντες ἑταίρους.
τρεῖς δὲ ἕκαστον φῶτʼ ὄιες φέρον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε—
ἀρνειὸς γὰρ ἔην μήλων ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἁπάντων,
τοῦ κατὰ νῶτα λαβών, λασίην ὑπὸ γαστέρʼ ἐλυσθεὶς
κείμην· αὐτὰρ χερσὶν ἀώτου θεσπεσίοιο
νωλεμέως στρεφθεὶς ἐχόμην τετληότι θυμῷ.
ὣς τότε μὲν στενάχοντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτα νομόνδʼ ἐξέσσυτο ἄρσενα μῆλα,
θήλειαι δὲ μέμηκον ἀνήμελκτοι περὶ σηκούς·
οὔθατα γὰρ σφαραγεῦντο. ἄναξ δʼ ὀδύνῃσι κακῇσι
τειρόμενος πάντων ὀίων ἐπεμαίετο νῶτα
ὀρθῶν ἑσταότων· τὸ δὲ νήπιος οὐκ ἐνόησεν,
ὥς οἱ ὑπʼ εἰροπόκων ὀίων στέρνοισι δέδεντο.
ὕστατος ἀρνειὸς μήλων ἔστειχε θύραζε
λάχνῳ στεινόμενος καὶ ἐμοὶ πυκινὰ φρονέοντι.
τὸν δʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Πολύφημος·
ὡς ὄνομʼ ἐξαπάτησεν ἐμὸν καὶ μῆτις ἀμύμων.
Κύκλωψ δὲ στενάχων τε καὶ ὠδίνων ὀδύνῃσι
χερσὶ ψηλαφόων ἀπὸ μὲν λίθον εἷλε θυράων,
αὐτὸς δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι καθέζετο χεῖρε πετάσσας,
εἴ τινά που μετʼ ὄεσσι λάβοι στείχοντα θύραζε·
οὕτω γάρ πού μʼ ἤλπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ νήπιον εἶναι.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον, ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένοιτο,
εἴ τινʼ ἑταίροισιν θανάτου λύσιν ἠδʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ
εὑροίμην· πάντας δὲ δόλους καὶ μῆτιν ὕφαινον
ὥς τε περὶ ψυχῆς· μέγα γὰρ κακὸν ἐγγύθεν ἦεν.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή.
ἄρσενες ὄιες ἦσαν ἐυτρεφέες, δασύμαλλοι,
καλοί τε μεγάλοι τε, ἰοδνεφὲς εἶρος ἔχοντες·
τοὺς ἀκέων συνέεργον ἐυστρεφέεσσι λύγοισιν,
τῇς ἔπι Κύκλωψ εὗδε πέλωρ, ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς,
σύντρεις αἰνύμενος· ὁ μὲν ἐν μέσῳ ἄνδρα φέρεσκε,
τὼ δʼ ἑτέρω ἑκάτερθεν ἴτην σώοντες ἑταίρους.
τρεῖς δὲ ἕκαστον φῶτʼ ὄιες φέρον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε—
ἀρνειὸς γὰρ ἔην μήλων ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἁπάντων,
τοῦ κατὰ νῶτα λαβών, λασίην ὑπὸ γαστέρʼ ἐλυσθεὶς
κείμην· αὐτὰρ χερσὶν ἀώτου θεσπεσίοιο
νωλεμέως στρεφθεὶς ἐχόμην τετληότι θυμῷ.
ὣς τότε μὲν στενάχοντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτα νομόνδʼ ἐξέσσυτο ἄρσενα μῆλα,
θήλειαι δὲ μέμηκον ἀνήμελκτοι περὶ σηκούς·
οὔθατα γὰρ σφαραγεῦντο. ἄναξ δʼ ὀδύνῃσι κακῇσι
τειρόμενος πάντων ὀίων ἐπεμαίετο νῶτα
ὀρθῶν ἑσταότων· τὸ δὲ νήπιος οὐκ ἐνόησεν,
ὥς οἱ ὑπʼ εἰροπόκων ὀίων στέρνοισι δέδεντο.
ὕστατος ἀρνειὸς μήλων ἔστειχε θύραζε
λάχνῳ στεινόμενος καὶ ἐμοὶ πυκινὰ φρονέοντι.
τὸν δʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Πολύφημος·
"Dear ram, why do you come out through the cave like this,
last of the flock? You never used to lag behind the sheep,
but were far the first to graze the tender flowers of the grass,
striding wide, and first to reach the streams of the rivers,
and first to long to go back to the fold
at evening; and now you are last of all. Surely you grieve
for your master’s eye, which an evil man blinded
with his wretched companions, when he had beaten down my wits with wine,
Nobody — who I say has not yet escaped destruction.
If only you thought as I do and could find a voice
to tell me where that man is skulking from my fury:
then his brains would be dashed out on the floor
this way and that through the cave as I struck him, and my heart
would find relief from the evils that worthless Nobody brought me."
last of the flock? You never used to lag behind the sheep,
but were far the first to graze the tender flowers of the grass,
striding wide, and first to reach the streams of the rivers,
and first to long to go back to the fold
at evening; and now you are last of all. Surely you grieve
for your master’s eye, which an evil man blinded
with his wretched companions, when he had beaten down my wits with wine,
Nobody — who I say has not yet escaped destruction.
If only you thought as I do and could find a voice
to tell me where that man is skulking from my fury:
then his brains would be dashed out on the floor
this way and that through the cave as I struck him, and my heart
would find relief from the evils that worthless Nobody brought me."
κριὲ πέπον, τί μοι ὧδε διὰ σπέος ἔσσυο μήλων
ὕστατος; οὔ τι πάρος γε λελειμμένος ἔρχεαι οἰῶν,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτος νέμεαι τέρενʼ ἄνθεα ποίης
μακρὰ βιβάς, πρῶτος δὲ ῥοὰς ποταμῶν ἀφικάνεις,
πρῶτος δὲ σταθμόνδε λιλαίεαι ἀπονέεσθαι
ἑσπέριος· νῦν αὖτε πανύστατος. ἦ σύ γʼ ἄνακτος
ὀφθαλμὸν ποθέεις, τὸν ἀνὴρ κακὸς ἐξαλάωσε
σὺν λυγροῖς ἑτάροισι δαμασσάμενος φρένας οἴνῳ,
Οὖτις, ὃν οὔ πώ φημι πεφυγμένον εἶναι ὄλεθρον.
εἰ δὴ ὁμοφρονέοις ποτιφωνήεις τε γένοιο
εἰπεῖν ὅππῃ κεῖνος ἐμὸν μένος ἠλασκάζει·
τῷ κέ οἱ ἐγκέφαλός γε διὰ σπέος ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ
θεινομένου ῥαίοιτο πρὸς οὔδεϊ, κὰδ δέ κʼ ἐμὸν κῆρ
λωφήσειε κακῶν, τά μοι οὐτιδανὸς πόρεν Οὖτις.
ὕστατος; οὔ τι πάρος γε λελειμμένος ἔρχεαι οἰῶν,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτος νέμεαι τέρενʼ ἄνθεα ποίης
μακρὰ βιβάς, πρῶτος δὲ ῥοὰς ποταμῶν ἀφικάνεις,
πρῶτος δὲ σταθμόνδε λιλαίεαι ἀπονέεσθαι
ἑσπέριος· νῦν αὖτε πανύστατος. ἦ σύ γʼ ἄνακτος
ὀφθαλμὸν ποθέεις, τὸν ἀνὴρ κακὸς ἐξαλάωσε
σὺν λυγροῖς ἑτάροισι δαμασσάμενος φρένας οἴνῳ,
Οὖτις, ὃν οὔ πώ φημι πεφυγμένον εἶναι ὄλεθρον.
εἰ δὴ ὁμοφρονέοις ποτιφωνήεις τε γένοιο
εἰπεῖν ὅππῃ κεῖνος ἐμὸν μένος ἠλασκάζει·
τῷ κέ οἱ ἐγκέφαλός γε διὰ σπέος ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ
θεινομένου ῥαίοιτο πρὸς οὔδεϊ, κὰδ δέ κʼ ἐμὸν κῆρ
λωφήσειε κακῶν, τά μοι οὐτιδανὸς πόρεν Οὖτις.
So saying he sent the ram away from him, out of the door.
When we had gone a little way from the cave and the courtyard,
I loosed myself first from under the ram, and freed my companions.
Quickly we drove the long-shanked flocks, rich with fat,
turning them often, many of them, until we came
to the ship. And we were a welcome sight to our dear companions,
we who had escaped death; but for the others they groaned and wept.
But I would not let them weep, and nodded to each with my brows
to stop, and ordered them quickly to throw the fine-fleeced flocks,
many of them, into the ship, and to sail over the salt water.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
But when we were as far off as a man’s shout carries,
then I spoke to the Cyclops with taunting words:
"Cyclops, so you were not to eat the companions of a feeble man
in your hollow cave, with your mighty force.
Your evil deeds were sure to catch up with you,
cruel man, since you did not shrink from eating guests
in your own house; and so Zeus and the other gods have paid you back."
So I spoke, and he was angered still more at heart,
and he broke off the peak of a great mountain and threw it,
and it fell in front of the dark-prowed ship
by a little, and just failed to reach the tip of the steering-oar.
The sea surged up under the falling of the rock,
and the backwash carried the ship at once towards the land,
a flood-tide out of the sea, and forced it to reach the shore.
But I took a very long pole in my hands
and shoved us off, and urged my companions and ordered them
to fall to their oars, so that we might escape out of the trouble,
nodding with my head; and they fell forward and rowed.
But when we had cut through twice as much sea and were that far off,
then I spoke to the Cyclops again; and my companions round me
tried to hold me back with soft words, one from one side, one from another:
"Reckless man, why do you want to provoke a savage man?
Just now he threw his missile into the sea and brought the ship
back to the land, and we thought we were dying there.
If he had heard one of us call out or speak,
he would have crushed our heads and the ship’s timbers together
with a jagged boulder thrown; for he can throw that far."
When we had gone a little way from the cave and the courtyard,
I loosed myself first from under the ram, and freed my companions.
Quickly we drove the long-shanked flocks, rich with fat,
turning them often, many of them, until we came
to the ship. And we were a welcome sight to our dear companions,
we who had escaped death; but for the others they groaned and wept.
But I would not let them weep, and nodded to each with my brows
to stop, and ordered them quickly to throw the fine-fleeced flocks,
many of them, into the ship, and to sail over the salt water.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
But when we were as far off as a man’s shout carries,
then I spoke to the Cyclops with taunting words:
"Cyclops, so you were not to eat the companions of a feeble man
in your hollow cave, with your mighty force.
Your evil deeds were sure to catch up with you,
cruel man, since you did not shrink from eating guests
in your own house; and so Zeus and the other gods have paid you back."
So I spoke, and he was angered still more at heart,
and he broke off the peak of a great mountain and threw it,
and it fell in front of the dark-prowed ship
by a little, and just failed to reach the tip of the steering-oar.
The sea surged up under the falling of the rock,
and the backwash carried the ship at once towards the land,
a flood-tide out of the sea, and forced it to reach the shore.
But I took a very long pole in my hands
and shoved us off, and urged my companions and ordered them
to fall to their oars, so that we might escape out of the trouble,
nodding with my head; and they fell forward and rowed.
But when we had cut through twice as much sea and were that far off,
then I spoke to the Cyclops again; and my companions round me
tried to hold me back with soft words, one from one side, one from another:
"Reckless man, why do you want to provoke a savage man?
Just now he threw his missile into the sea and brought the ship
back to the land, and we thought we were dying there.
If he had heard one of us call out or speak,
he would have crushed our heads and the ship’s timbers together
with a jagged boulder thrown; for he can throw that far."
ὣς εἰπὼν τὸν κριὸν ἀπὸ ἕο πέμπε θύραζε.
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἠβαιὸν ἀπὸ σπείους τε καὶ αὐλῆς
πρῶτος ὑπʼ ἀρνειοῦ λυόμην, ὑπέλυσα δʼ ἑταίρους.
καρπαλίμως δὲ τὰ μῆλα ταναύποδα, πίονα δημῷ,
πολλὰ περιτροπέοντες ἐλαύνομεν, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ νῆα
ἱκόμεθʼ. ἀσπάσιοι δὲ φίλοις ἑτάροισι φάνημεν,
οἳ φύγομεν θάνατον, τοὺς δὲ στενάχοντο γοῶντες.
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ εἴων, ἀνὰ δʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦον ἑκάστῳ,
κλαίειν, ἀλλʼ ἐκέλευσα θοῶς καλλίτριχα μῆλα
πόλλʼ ἐν νηὶ βαλόντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆν, ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων κερτομίοισι·
Κύκλωψ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες ἀνάλκιδος ἀνδρὸς ἑταίρους
ἔδμεναι ἐν σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῆφι βίηφι.
καὶ λίην σέ γʼ ἔμελλε κιχήσεσθαι κακὰ ἔργα,
σχέτλιʼ, ἐπεὶ ξείνους οὐχ ἅζεο σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἐσθέμεναι· τῷ σε Ζεὺς τίσατο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
ἧκε δʼ ἀπορρήξας κορυφὴν ὄρεος μεγάλοιο,
κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε προπάροιθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
τυτθόν, ἐδεύησεν δʼ οἰήιον ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι,
ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα κατερχομένης ὑπὸ πέτρης·
τὴν δʼ αἶψʼ ἤπειρόνδε παλιρρόθιον φέρε κῦμα,
πλημυρὶς ἐκ πόντοιο, θέμωσε δὲ χέρσον ἱκέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χείρεσσι λαβὼν περιμήκεα κοντὸν
ὦσα παρέξ, ἑτάροισι δʼ ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃς, ἵνʼ ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν,
κρατὶ κατανεύων· οἱ δὲ προπεσόντες ἔρεσσον.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δὶς τόσσον ἅλα πρήσσοντες ἀπῆμεν,
καὶ τότε δὴ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος·
σχέτλιε, τίπτʼ ἐθέλεις ἐρεθιζέμεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα;
ὃς καὶ νῦν πόντονδε βαλὼν βέλος ἤγαγε νῆα
αὖτις ἐς ἤπειρον, καὶ δὴ φάμεν αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι.
εἰ δὲ φθεγξαμένου τευ ἢ αὐδήσαντος ἄκουσε,
σύν κεν ἄραξʼ ἡμέων κεφαλὰς καὶ νήια δοῦρα
μαρμάρῳ ὀκριόεντι βαλών· τόσσον γὰρ ἵησιν.
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἠβαιὸν ἀπὸ σπείους τε καὶ αὐλῆς
πρῶτος ὑπʼ ἀρνειοῦ λυόμην, ὑπέλυσα δʼ ἑταίρους.
καρπαλίμως δὲ τὰ μῆλα ταναύποδα, πίονα δημῷ,
πολλὰ περιτροπέοντες ἐλαύνομεν, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ νῆα
ἱκόμεθʼ. ἀσπάσιοι δὲ φίλοις ἑτάροισι φάνημεν,
οἳ φύγομεν θάνατον, τοὺς δὲ στενάχοντο γοῶντες.
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ εἴων, ἀνὰ δʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦον ἑκάστῳ,
κλαίειν, ἀλλʼ ἐκέλευσα θοῶς καλλίτριχα μῆλα
πόλλʼ ἐν νηὶ βαλόντας ἐπιπλεῖν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆν, ὅσσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων κερτομίοισι·
Κύκλωψ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες ἀνάλκιδος ἀνδρὸς ἑταίρους
ἔδμεναι ἐν σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῆφι βίηφι.
καὶ λίην σέ γʼ ἔμελλε κιχήσεσθαι κακὰ ἔργα,
σχέτλιʼ, ἐπεὶ ξείνους οὐχ ἅζεο σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἐσθέμεναι· τῷ σε Ζεὺς τίσατο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
ἧκε δʼ ἀπορρήξας κορυφὴν ὄρεος μεγάλοιο,
κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε προπάροιθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
τυτθόν, ἐδεύησεν δʼ οἰήιον ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι,
ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα κατερχομένης ὑπὸ πέτρης·
τὴν δʼ αἶψʼ ἤπειρόνδε παλιρρόθιον φέρε κῦμα,
πλημυρὶς ἐκ πόντοιο, θέμωσε δὲ χέρσον ἱκέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χείρεσσι λαβὼν περιμήκεα κοντὸν
ὦσα παρέξ, ἑτάροισι δʼ ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃς, ἵνʼ ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν,
κρατὶ κατανεύων· οἱ δὲ προπεσόντες ἔρεσσον.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δὶς τόσσον ἅλα πρήσσοντες ἀπῆμεν,
καὶ τότε δὴ Κύκλωπα προσηύδων· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος·
σχέτλιε, τίπτʼ ἐθέλεις ἐρεθιζέμεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα;
ὃς καὶ νῦν πόντονδε βαλὼν βέλος ἤγαγε νῆα
αὖτις ἐς ἤπειρον, καὶ δὴ φάμεν αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι.
εἰ δὲ φθεγξαμένου τευ ἢ αὐδήσαντος ἄκουσε,
σύν κεν ἄραξʼ ἡμέων κεφαλὰς καὶ νήια δοῦρα
μαρμάρῳ ὀκριόεντι βαλών· τόσσον γὰρ ἵησιν.
So they spoke, but they did not persuade my high-hearted spirit,
and I spoke to him back again out of a resentful spirit:
and I spoke to him back again out of a resentful spirit:
ὣς φάσαν, ἀλλʼ οὐ πεῖθον ἐμὸν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν,
ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην κεκοτηότι θυμῷ·
ἀλλά μιν ἄψορρον προσέφην κεκοτηότι θυμῷ·
"Cyclops, if any mortal man asks you
about the shameful blinding of your eye,
say that Odysseus, sacker of cities, blinded you,
the son of Laertes, whose home is in Ithaca."
So I spoke, and he groaned and answered me:
about the shameful blinding of your eye,
say that Odysseus, sacker of cities, blinded you,
the son of Laertes, whose home is in Ithaca."
So I spoke, and he groaned and answered me:
Κύκλωψ, αἴ κέν τίς σε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
ὀφθαλμοῦ εἴρηται ἀεικελίην ἀλαωτύν,
φάσθαι Ὀδυσσῆα πτολιπόρθιον ἐξαλαῶσαι,
υἱὸν Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκίʼ ἔχοντα.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
ὀφθαλμοῦ εἴρηται ἀεικελίην ἀλαωτύν,
φάσθαι Ὀδυσσῆα πτολιπόρθιον ἐξαλαῶσαι,
υἱὸν Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκίʼ ἔχοντα.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
"Ah me, the old prophecies have come upon me indeed.
There was a seer here, a good man and a great one,
Telemus, son of Eurymus, who excelled in prophecy
and grew old among the Cyclopes as their prophet.
He told me all this would come to pass hereafter,
that I would lose my sight at the hands of Odysseus.
But I always looked for some great and handsome man
to come here, clothed in great strength;
and now a little man, worth nothing and without force,
has blinded my eye, after beating me down with wine.
But come here, Odysseus, so that I may set guest-gifts beside you
and urge the glorious earth-shaker to grant you an escort;
for I am his son, and he claims to be my father.
He himself, if he wishes, will heal me, and no one else,
neither of the blessed gods nor of mortal men."
There was a seer here, a good man and a great one,
Telemus, son of Eurymus, who excelled in prophecy
and grew old among the Cyclopes as their prophet.
He told me all this would come to pass hereafter,
that I would lose my sight at the hands of Odysseus.
But I always looked for some great and handsome man
to come here, clothed in great strength;
and now a little man, worth nothing and without force,
has blinded my eye, after beating me down with wine.
But come here, Odysseus, so that I may set guest-gifts beside you
and urge the glorious earth-shaker to grant you an escort;
for I am his son, and he claims to be my father.
He himself, if he wishes, will heal me, and no one else,
neither of the blessed gods nor of mortal men."
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δή με παλαίφατα θέσφαθʼ ἱκάνει.
ἔσκε τις ἐνθάδε μάντις ἀνὴρ ἠύς τε μέγας τε,
Τήλεμος Εὐρυμίδης, ὃς μαντοσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο
καὶ μαντευόμενος κατεγήρα Κυκλώπεσσιν·
ὅς μοι ἔφη τάδε πάντα τελευτήσεσθαι ὀπίσσω,
χειρῶν ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἁμαρτήσεσθαι ὀπωπῆς.
ἀλλʼ αἰεί τινα φῶτα μέγαν καὶ καλὸν ἐδέγμην
ἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι, μεγάλην ἐπιειμένον ἀλκήν·
νῦν δέ μʼ ἐὼν ὀλίγος τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καὶ ἄκικυς
ὀφθαλμοῦ ἀλάωσεν, ἐπεί μʼ ἐδαμάσσατο οἴνῳ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω
πομπήν τʼ ὀτρύνω δόμεναι κλυτὸν ἐννοσίγαιον·
τοῦ γὰρ ἐγὼ πάϊς εἰμί, πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς εὔχεται εἶναι.
αὐτὸς δʼ, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσʼ, ἰήσεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
οὔτε θεῶν μακάρων οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
ἔσκε τις ἐνθάδε μάντις ἀνὴρ ἠύς τε μέγας τε,
Τήλεμος Εὐρυμίδης, ὃς μαντοσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο
καὶ μαντευόμενος κατεγήρα Κυκλώπεσσιν·
ὅς μοι ἔφη τάδε πάντα τελευτήσεσθαι ὀπίσσω,
χειρῶν ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἁμαρτήσεσθαι ὀπωπῆς.
ἀλλʼ αἰεί τινα φῶτα μέγαν καὶ καλὸν ἐδέγμην
ἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι, μεγάλην ἐπιειμένον ἀλκήν·
νῦν δέ μʼ ἐὼν ὀλίγος τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καὶ ἄκικυς
ὀφθαλμοῦ ἀλάωσεν, ἐπεί μʼ ἐδαμάσσατο οἴνῳ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω
πομπήν τʼ ὀτρύνω δόμεναι κλυτὸν ἐννοσίγαιον·
τοῦ γὰρ ἐγὼ πάϊς εἰμί, πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς εὔχεται εἶναι.
αὐτὸς δʼ, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσʼ, ἰήσεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
οὔτε θεῶν μακάρων οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Would that I could strip you of your spirit and your life
and send you into the house of Hades,
as surely as not even the earth-shaker will heal your eye."
So I spoke, and then he prayed to the lord Poseidon,
stretching out his hands to the starry heaven:
and send you into the house of Hades,
as surely as not even the earth-shaker will heal your eye."
So I spoke, and then he prayed to the lord Poseidon,
stretching out his hands to the starry heaven:
αἲ γὰρ δὴ ψυχῆς τε καὶ αἰῶνός σε δυναίμην
εὖνιν ποιήσας πέμψαι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,
ὡς οὐκ ὀφθαλμόν γʼ ἰήσεται οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι
εὔχετο χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα·
εὖνιν ποιήσας πέμψαι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,
ὡς οὐκ ὀφθαλμόν γʼ ἰήσεται οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι
εὔχετο χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα·
"Hear me, Poseidon the earth-holder, dark-haired one:
if I am truly yours, and you claim to be my father,
grant that Odysseus, sacker of cities, may not reach his home,
the son of Laertes, whose home is in Ithaca.
But if it is his portion to see his own people and to reach
his well-built house and his own native land,
let him come late and in a bad way, having lost all his companions,
on another man’s ship, and let him find troubles in his house."
if I am truly yours, and you claim to be my father,
grant that Odysseus, sacker of cities, may not reach his home,
the son of Laertes, whose home is in Ithaca.
But if it is his portion to see his own people and to reach
his well-built house and his own native land,
let him come late and in a bad way, having lost all his companions,
on another man’s ship, and let him find troubles in his house."
κλῦθι, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖτα,
εἰ ἐτεόν γε σός εἰμι, πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς εὔχεαι εἶναι,
δὸς μὴ Ὀδυσσῆα πτολιπόρθιον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι
υἱὸν Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκίʼ ἔχοντα.
ἀλλʼ εἴ οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
ὀψὲ κακῶς ἔλθοι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης, εὕροι δʼ ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ.
εἰ ἐτεόν γε σός εἰμι, πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς εὔχεαι εἶναι,
δὸς μὴ Ὀδυσσῆα πτολιπόρθιον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι
υἱὸν Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκίʼ ἔχοντα.
ἀλλʼ εἴ οἱ μοῖρʼ ἐστὶ φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
ὀψὲ κακῶς ἔλθοι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης, εὕροι δʼ ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ.
So he spoke in prayer, and the dark-haired god heard him.
Then once more he lifted a far bigger stone
and whirled it and let it fly, putting immeasurable strength behind it,
and it fell behind the dark-prowed ship
by a little, and just failed to reach the tip of the steering-oar.
The sea surged up under the falling of the rock,
and the wave carried the ship forward and forced it to reach the shore.
But when we came to the island where the other
well-benched ships were waiting all together, and our companions
sat about them lamenting, always waiting for us,
we came there and ran the ship aground in the sand,
and we ourselves went out onto the surf-line of the sea.
We took the Cyclops’ flocks out of the hollow ship
and divided them, so that no one should go cheated of his fair share.
To me alone my well-greaved companions gave the ram
as a special gift when the flocks were divided; and on the shore
I sacrificed him to Zeus of the dark clouds, son of Cronos, who rules over all,
and burned the thigh-pieces; but he took no heed of my offerings,
but was pondering how all the well-benched ships
might be destroyed, and my trusty companions with them.
So then all day long until the sun went down
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
but when the sun went down and darkness came on,
then we lay down to sleep on the surf-line of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then I urged my companions and ordered them
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart,
glad to be out of death, having lost our dear companions.
Then once more he lifted a far bigger stone
and whirled it and let it fly, putting immeasurable strength behind it,
and it fell behind the dark-prowed ship
by a little, and just failed to reach the tip of the steering-oar.
The sea surged up under the falling of the rock,
and the wave carried the ship forward and forced it to reach the shore.
But when we came to the island where the other
well-benched ships were waiting all together, and our companions
sat about them lamenting, always waiting for us,
we came there and ran the ship aground in the sand,
and we ourselves went out onto the surf-line of the sea.
We took the Cyclops’ flocks out of the hollow ship
and divided them, so that no one should go cheated of his fair share.
To me alone my well-greaved companions gave the ram
as a special gift when the flocks were divided; and on the shore
I sacrificed him to Zeus of the dark clouds, son of Cronos, who rules over all,
and burned the thigh-pieces; but he took no heed of my offerings,
but was pondering how all the well-benched ships
might be destroyed, and my trusty companions with them.
So then all day long until the sun went down
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
but when the sun went down and darkness came on,
then we lay down to sleep on the surf-line of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then I urged my companions and ordered them
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart,
glad to be out of death, having lost our dear companions.
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε κυανοχαίτης.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξαῦτις πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείρας
ἧκʼ ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον,
κὰδʼ δʼ ἔβαλεν μετόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
τυτθόν, ἐδεύησεν δʼ οἰήιον ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι.
ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα κατερχομένης ὑπὸ πέτρης·
τὴν δὲ πρόσω φέρε κῦμα, θέμωσε δὲ χέρσον ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφικόμεθʼ, ἔνθα περ ἄλλαι
νῆες ἐύσσελμοι μένον ἁθρόαι, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
ἥατʼ ὀδυρόμενοι, ἡμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί,
νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
μῆλα δὲ Κύκλωπος γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντες
δασσάμεθʼ, ὡς μή τίς μοι ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.
ἀρνειὸν δʼ ἐμοὶ οἴῳ ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι
μήλων δαιομένων δόσαν ἔξοχα· τὸν δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ
Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέι Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει,
ῥέξας μηρίʼ ἔκαιον· ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο ἱρῶν,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε μερμήριξεν ὅπως ἀπολοίατο πᾶσαι
νῆες ἐύσσελμοι καὶ ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι·
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξαῦτις πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείρας
ἧκʼ ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον,
κὰδʼ δʼ ἔβαλεν μετόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
τυτθόν, ἐδεύησεν δʼ οἰήιον ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι.
ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα κατερχομένης ὑπὸ πέτρης·
τὴν δὲ πρόσω φέρε κῦμα, θέμωσε δὲ χέρσον ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἀφικόμεθʼ, ἔνθα περ ἄλλαι
νῆες ἐύσσελμοι μένον ἁθρόαι, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι
ἥατʼ ὀδυρόμενοι, ἡμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί,
νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
μῆλα δὲ Κύκλωπος γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντες
δασσάμεθʼ, ὡς μή τίς μοι ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.
ἀρνειὸν δʼ ἐμοὶ οἴῳ ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι
μήλων δαιομένων δόσαν ἔξοχα· τὸν δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ
Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέι Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει,
ῥέξας μηρίʼ ἔκαιον· ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο ἱρῶν,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε μερμήριξεν ὅπως ἀπολοίατο πᾶσαι
νῆες ἐύσσελμοι καὶ ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι·
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον,
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.
Book 10
Aeolus gives the winds in a bag and the crew opens it in sight of home. The Laestrygonians smash the fleet to a single ship; on Circe's island men become swine, and Odysseus, armed with Hermes' herb, becomes the witch's guest for a year — until the crew begs him to remember Ithaca.
We came to the Aeolian island; and there lived
Aeolus, son of Hippotas, dear to the immortal gods,
on a floating island; and all round it runs a wall
of bronze, unbreakable, and the rock runs up sheer.
Twelve children have been born to him in his halls,
six daughters and six sons in their prime;
and he gave his daughters to his sons to be their wives.
They feast always beside their dear father and their careful mother,
and countless good things lie beside them,
and the house, full of savour, echoes about the court
by day; and at night they sleep beside their honoured wives
under coverlets and in corded beds.
To their city and their fine house we came.
For a whole month he entertained me and asked me about everything,
about Ilium and the ships of the Argives and the homecoming of the Achaeans;
and I recounted it all to him as it should be.
But when I in my turn asked for my journey and bade him
send me on, he did not refuse at all, but made ready my escort.
He flayed a nine-year-old ox and gave me the hide as a bag,
and in it he bound fast the paths of the howling winds;
for the son of Cronos had made him steward of the winds,
both to still them and to rouse whichever he wishes.
In the hollow ship he made it fast with a shining cord
of silver, so that not the least breath should escape;
and he sent out a breath of the West Wind to blow for me,
to carry the ships and the men. But it was not to be
accomplished; for we were lost by our own folly.
For nine days we sailed alike by night and by day,
and on the tenth my native fields were already showing,
and we were close enough to see men tending their fires.
Then sweet sleep came upon me, worn out as I was,
for I had always worked the ship’s sheet myself, and gave it to no
other of my companions, so that we might reach our native land the sooner;
and my companions were talking to one another,
and said that I was carrying home gold and silver,
gifts from high-hearted Aeolus, son of Hippotas.
And one would look at his neighbour and say:
"Ah me, how dear and honoured this man is to all
men, to whatever city and land he comes.
He carries much fine treasure out of Troy
from the plunder, while we, who have made the same journey,
are going home with empty hands.
And now Aeolus has given him these things too, out of friendship
and favour. Come, let us see quickly what is here,
how much gold and silver is in the bag."
Aeolus, son of Hippotas, dear to the immortal gods,
on a floating island; and all round it runs a wall
of bronze, unbreakable, and the rock runs up sheer.
Twelve children have been born to him in his halls,
six daughters and six sons in their prime;
and he gave his daughters to his sons to be their wives.
They feast always beside their dear father and their careful mother,
and countless good things lie beside them,
and the house, full of savour, echoes about the court
by day; and at night they sleep beside their honoured wives
under coverlets and in corded beds.
To their city and their fine house we came.
For a whole month he entertained me and asked me about everything,
about Ilium and the ships of the Argives and the homecoming of the Achaeans;
and I recounted it all to him as it should be.
But when I in my turn asked for my journey and bade him
send me on, he did not refuse at all, but made ready my escort.
He flayed a nine-year-old ox and gave me the hide as a bag,
and in it he bound fast the paths of the howling winds;
for the son of Cronos had made him steward of the winds,
both to still them and to rouse whichever he wishes.
In the hollow ship he made it fast with a shining cord
of silver, so that not the least breath should escape;
and he sent out a breath of the West Wind to blow for me,
to carry the ships and the men. But it was not to be
accomplished; for we were lost by our own folly.
For nine days we sailed alike by night and by day,
and on the tenth my native fields were already showing,
and we were close enough to see men tending their fires.
Then sweet sleep came upon me, worn out as I was,
for I had always worked the ship’s sheet myself, and gave it to no
other of my companions, so that we might reach our native land the sooner;
and my companions were talking to one another,
and said that I was carrying home gold and silver,
gifts from high-hearted Aeolus, son of Hippotas.
And one would look at his neighbour and say:
"Ah me, how dear and honoured this man is to all
men, to whatever city and land he comes.
He carries much fine treasure out of Troy
from the plunder, while we, who have made the same journey,
are going home with empty hands.
And now Aeolus has given him these things too, out of friendship
and favour. Come, let us see quickly what is here,
how much gold and silver is in the bag."
Αἰολίην δʼ ἐς νῆσον ἀφικόμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔναιεν
Αἴολος Ἱπποτάδης, φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,
πλωτῇ ἐνὶ νήσῳ· πᾶσαν δέ τέ μιν πέρι τεῖχος
χάλκεον ἄρρηκτον, λισσὴ δʼ ἀναδέδρομε πέτρη.
τοῦ καὶ δώδεκα παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροις γεγάασιν,
ἓξ μὲν θυγατέρες, ἓξ δʼ υἱέες ἡβώοντες·
ἔνθʼ ὅ γε θυγατέρας πόρεν υἱάσιν εἶναι ἀκοίτις.
οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ παρὰ πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητέρι κεδνῇ
δαίνυνται, παρὰ δέ σφιν ὀνείατα μυρία κεῖται,
κνισῆεν δέ τε δῶμα περιστεναχίζεται αὐλῇ
ἤματα· νύκτας δʼ αὖτε παρʼ αἰδοίῃς ἀλόχοισιν
εὕδουσʼ ἔν τε τάπησι καὶ ἐν τρητοῖσι λέχεσσι.
καὶ μὲν τῶν ἱκόμεσθα πόλιν καὶ δώματα καλά.
μῆνα δὲ πάντα φίλει με καὶ ἐξερέεινεν ἕκαστα,
Ἴλιον Ἀργείων τε νέας καὶ νόστον Ἀχαιῶν·
καὶ μὲν ἐγὼ τῷ πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξα.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ ἐγὼν ὁδὸν ᾔτεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον
πεμπέμεν, οὐδέ τι κεῖνος ἀνήνατο, τεῦχε δὲ πομπήν.
δῶκε δέ μʼ ἐκδείρας ἀσκὸν βοὸς ἐννεώροιο,
ἔνθα δὲ βυκτάων ἀνέμων κατέδησε κέλευθα·
κεῖνον γὰρ ταμίην ἀνέμων ποίησε Κρονίων,
ἠμὲν παυέμεναι ἠδʼ ὀρνύμεν, ὅν κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.
νηὶ δʼ ἐνὶ γλαφυρῇ κατέδει μέρμιθι φαεινῇ
ἀργυρέῃ, ἵνα μή τι παραπνεύσῃ ὀλίγον περ·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πνοιὴν Ζεφύρου προέηκεν ἀῆναι,
ὄφρα φέροι νῆάς τε καὶ αὐτούς· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν
ἐκτελέειν· αὐτῶν γὰρ ἀπωλόμεθʼ ἀφραδίῃσιν.
ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ,
τῇ δεκάτῃ δʼ ἤδη ἀνεφαίνετο πατρὶς ἄρουρα,
καὶ δὴ πυρπολέοντας ἐλεύσσομεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντες·
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα,
αἰεὶ γὰρ πόδα νηὸς ἐνώμων, οὐδέ τῳ ἄλλῳ
δῶχʼ ἑτάρων, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἱκοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν·
οἱ δʼ ἕταροι ἐπέεσσι πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
καί μʼ ἔφασαν χρυσόν τε καὶ ἄργυρον οἴκαδʼ ἄγεσθαι
δῶρα παρʼ Αἰόλου μεγαλήτορος Ἱπποτάδαο.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
ὦ πόποι, ὡς ὅδε πᾶσι φίλος καὶ τίμιός ἐστιν
ἀνθρώποις, ὅτεών τε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἵκηται.
πολλὰ μὲν ἐκ Τροίης ἄγεται κειμήλια καλὰ
ληίδος, ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ὁμὴν ὁδὸν ἐκτελέσαντες
οἴκαδε νισσόμεθα κενεὰς σὺν χεῖρας ἔχοντες·
καὶ νῦν οἱ τάδʼ ἔδωκε χαριζόμενος φιλότητι
Αἴολος. ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον ἰδώμεθα ὅττι τάδʼ ἐστίν,
ὅσσος τις χρυσός τε καὶ ἄργυρος ἀσκῷ ἔνεστιν.
Αἴολος Ἱπποτάδης, φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,
πλωτῇ ἐνὶ νήσῳ· πᾶσαν δέ τέ μιν πέρι τεῖχος
χάλκεον ἄρρηκτον, λισσὴ δʼ ἀναδέδρομε πέτρη.
τοῦ καὶ δώδεκα παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροις γεγάασιν,
ἓξ μὲν θυγατέρες, ἓξ δʼ υἱέες ἡβώοντες·
ἔνθʼ ὅ γε θυγατέρας πόρεν υἱάσιν εἶναι ἀκοίτις.
οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ παρὰ πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητέρι κεδνῇ
δαίνυνται, παρὰ δέ σφιν ὀνείατα μυρία κεῖται,
κνισῆεν δέ τε δῶμα περιστεναχίζεται αὐλῇ
ἤματα· νύκτας δʼ αὖτε παρʼ αἰδοίῃς ἀλόχοισιν
εὕδουσʼ ἔν τε τάπησι καὶ ἐν τρητοῖσι λέχεσσι.
καὶ μὲν τῶν ἱκόμεσθα πόλιν καὶ δώματα καλά.
μῆνα δὲ πάντα φίλει με καὶ ἐξερέεινεν ἕκαστα,
Ἴλιον Ἀργείων τε νέας καὶ νόστον Ἀχαιῶν·
καὶ μὲν ἐγὼ τῷ πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξα.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ ἐγὼν ὁδὸν ᾔτεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον
πεμπέμεν, οὐδέ τι κεῖνος ἀνήνατο, τεῦχε δὲ πομπήν.
δῶκε δέ μʼ ἐκδείρας ἀσκὸν βοὸς ἐννεώροιο,
ἔνθα δὲ βυκτάων ἀνέμων κατέδησε κέλευθα·
κεῖνον γὰρ ταμίην ἀνέμων ποίησε Κρονίων,
ἠμὲν παυέμεναι ἠδʼ ὀρνύμεν, ὅν κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.
νηὶ δʼ ἐνὶ γλαφυρῇ κατέδει μέρμιθι φαεινῇ
ἀργυρέῃ, ἵνα μή τι παραπνεύσῃ ὀλίγον περ·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πνοιὴν Ζεφύρου προέηκεν ἀῆναι,
ὄφρα φέροι νῆάς τε καὶ αὐτούς· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν
ἐκτελέειν· αὐτῶν γὰρ ἀπωλόμεθʼ ἀφραδίῃσιν.
ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ,
τῇ δεκάτῃ δʼ ἤδη ἀνεφαίνετο πατρὶς ἄρουρα,
καὶ δὴ πυρπολέοντας ἐλεύσσομεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντες·
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα,
αἰεὶ γὰρ πόδα νηὸς ἐνώμων, οὐδέ τῳ ἄλλῳ
δῶχʼ ἑτάρων, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἱκοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν·
οἱ δʼ ἕταροι ἐπέεσσι πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
καί μʼ ἔφασαν χρυσόν τε καὶ ἄργυρον οἴκαδʼ ἄγεσθαι
δῶρα παρʼ Αἰόλου μεγαλήτορος Ἱπποτάδαο.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
ὦ πόποι, ὡς ὅδε πᾶσι φίλος καὶ τίμιός ἐστιν
ἀνθρώποις, ὅτεών τε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἵκηται.
πολλὰ μὲν ἐκ Τροίης ἄγεται κειμήλια καλὰ
ληίδος, ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ὁμὴν ὁδὸν ἐκτελέσαντες
οἴκαδε νισσόμεθα κενεὰς σὺν χεῖρας ἔχοντες·
καὶ νῦν οἱ τάδʼ ἔδωκε χαριζόμενος φιλότητι
Αἴολος. ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον ἰδώμεθα ὅττι τάδʼ ἐστίν,
ὅσσος τις χρυσός τε καὶ ἄργυρος ἀσκῷ ἔνεστιν.
So they spoke, and the evil counsel of my companions won;
they loosed the bag, and all the winds rushed out.
At once the storm-blast snatched them up and carried them out to sea,
weeping, away from their native land. But I
woke and debated in my blameless spirit
whether to throw myself from the ship and perish in the sea,
or to endure in silence and stay among the living.
But I endured and stayed, and covered myself
and lay in the ship. And the ships were carried by the evil storm-blast
back to the Aeolian island, and my companions groaned.
There we went ashore and drew water,
and at once my companions took their meal beside the swift ships.
But when we had tasted food and drink,
then I took a herald and a companion with me
and went to the famous house of Aeolus; and I found him
feasting beside his wife and his children.
We came to the house and sat down on the threshold
by the doorposts; and they were amazed in their spirit and asked:
"How have you come, Odysseus? What evil divine power has attacked you?
Surely we sent you off with care, so that you might reach
your own land and house, or wherever you please."
they loosed the bag, and all the winds rushed out.
At once the storm-blast snatched them up and carried them out to sea,
weeping, away from their native land. But I
woke and debated in my blameless spirit
whether to throw myself from the ship and perish in the sea,
or to endure in silence and stay among the living.
But I endured and stayed, and covered myself
and lay in the ship. And the ships were carried by the evil storm-blast
back to the Aeolian island, and my companions groaned.
There we went ashore and drew water,
and at once my companions took their meal beside the swift ships.
But when we had tasted food and drink,
then I took a herald and a companion with me
and went to the famous house of Aeolus; and I found him
feasting beside his wife and his children.
We came to the house and sat down on the threshold
by the doorposts; and they were amazed in their spirit and asked:
"How have you come, Odysseus? What evil divine power has attacked you?
Surely we sent you off with care, so that you might reach
your own land and house, or wherever you please."
ὣς ἔφασαν, βουλὴ δὲ κακὴ νίκησεν ἑταίρων·
ἀσκὸν μὲν λῦσαν, ἄνεμοι δʼ ἐκ πάντες ὄρουσαν.
τοὺς δʼ αἶψʼ ἁρπάξασα φέρεν πόντονδε θύελλα
κλαίοντας, γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος. αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
ἐγρόμενος κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμήριξα,
ἠὲ πεσὼν ἐκ νηὸς ἀποφθίμην ἐνὶ πόντῳ,
ἦ ἀκέων τλαίην καὶ ἔτι ζωοῖσι μετείην.
ἀλλʼ ἔτλην καὶ ἔμεινα, καλυψάμενος δʼ ἐνὶ νηὶ
κείμην. αἱ δʼ ἐφέροντο κακῇ ἀνέμοιο θυέλλῃ
αὖτις ἐπʼ Αἰολίην νῆσον, στενάχοντο δʼ ἑταῖροι.
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου βῆμεν καὶ ἀφυσσάμεθʼ ὕδωρ,
αἶψα δὲ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο θοῇς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἑταῖροι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτοιό τʼ ἐπασσάμεθʼ ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼ κήρυκά τʼ ὀπασσάμενος καὶ ἑταῖρον
βῆν εἰς Αἰόλου κλυτὰ δώματα· τὸν δʼ ἐκίχανον
δαινύμενον παρὰ ᾗ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν.
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δῶμα παρὰ σταθμοῖσιν ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ
ἑζόμεθʼ· οἱ δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἐθάμβεον ἔκ τʼ ἐρέοντο·
πῶς ἦλθες, Ὀδυσεῦ; τίς τοι κακὸς ἔχραε δαίμων;
ἦ μέν σʼ ἐνδυκέως ἀπεπέμπομεν, ὄφρʼ ἀφίκοιο
πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν.
ἀσκὸν μὲν λῦσαν, ἄνεμοι δʼ ἐκ πάντες ὄρουσαν.
τοὺς δʼ αἶψʼ ἁρπάξασα φέρεν πόντονδε θύελλα
κλαίοντας, γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος. αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
ἐγρόμενος κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμήριξα,
ἠὲ πεσὼν ἐκ νηὸς ἀποφθίμην ἐνὶ πόντῳ,
ἦ ἀκέων τλαίην καὶ ἔτι ζωοῖσι μετείην.
ἀλλʼ ἔτλην καὶ ἔμεινα, καλυψάμενος δʼ ἐνὶ νηὶ
κείμην. αἱ δʼ ἐφέροντο κακῇ ἀνέμοιο θυέλλῃ
αὖτις ἐπʼ Αἰολίην νῆσον, στενάχοντο δʼ ἑταῖροι.
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου βῆμεν καὶ ἀφυσσάμεθʼ ὕδωρ,
αἶψα δὲ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο θοῇς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἑταῖροι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σίτοιό τʼ ἐπασσάμεθʼ ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼ κήρυκά τʼ ὀπασσάμενος καὶ ἑταῖρον
βῆν εἰς Αἰόλου κλυτὰ δώματα· τὸν δʼ ἐκίχανον
δαινύμενον παρὰ ᾗ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν.
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δῶμα παρὰ σταθμοῖσιν ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ
ἑζόμεθʼ· οἱ δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἐθάμβεον ἔκ τʼ ἐρέοντο·
πῶς ἦλθες, Ὀδυσεῦ; τίς τοι κακὸς ἔχραε δαίμων;
ἦ μέν σʼ ἐνδυκέως ἀπεπέμπομεν, ὄφρʼ ἀφίκοιο
πατρίδα σὴν καὶ δῶμα καὶ εἴ πού τοι φίλον ἐστίν.
So they spoke, and I answered them, grieved at heart:
ὣς φάσαν, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μετεφώνεον ἀχνύμενος κῆρ·
"My evil companions ruined me, and sleep besides,
a cruel sleep. But heal it, friends; the power is in you."
So I spoke, appealing to them with soft words;
but they fell silent, and the father answered:
a cruel sleep. But heal it, friends; the power is in you."
So I spoke, appealing to them with soft words;
but they fell silent, and the father answered:
ἄασάν μʼ ἕταροί τε κακοὶ πρὸς τοῖσί τε ὕπνος
σχέτλιος. ἀλλʼ ἀκέσασθε, φίλοι· δύναμις γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν.
ὣς ἐφάμην μαλακοῖσι καθαπτόμενος ἐπέεσσιν,
οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο· πατὴρ δʼ ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
σχέτλιος. ἀλλʼ ἀκέσασθε, φίλοι· δύναμις γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν.
ὣς ἐφάμην μαλακοῖσι καθαπτόμενος ἐπέεσσιν,
οἱ δʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένοντο· πατὴρ δʼ ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
"Get off this island at once, most shameful thing alive!
For it is not right for me to take in or to send on his way
a man who is hated by the blessed gods.
Be off, since you come here hated by the gods."
For it is not right for me to take in or to send on his way
a man who is hated by the blessed gods.
Be off, since you come here hated by the gods."
ἔρρʼ ἐκ νήσου θᾶσσον, ἐλέγχιστε ζωόντων·
οὐ γάρ μοι θέμις ἐστὶ κομιζέμεν οὐδʼ ἀποπέμπειν
ἄνδρα τόν, ὅς κε θεοῖσιν ἀπέχθηται μακάρεσσιν·
ἔρρε, ἐπεὶ ἄρα θεοῖσιν ἀπεχθόμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνεις.
οὐ γάρ μοι θέμις ἐστὶ κομιζέμεν οὐδʼ ἀποπέμπειν
ἄνδρα τόν, ὅς κε θεοῖσιν ἀπέχθηται μακάρεσσιν·
ἔρρε, ἐπεὶ ἄρα θεοῖσιν ἀπεχθόμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνεις.
So saying he sent me from his house, groaning heavily.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart.
And the men’s spirit was worn down by the painful rowing,
through our own folly, since no escort showed itself any more.
For six days we sailed alike by night and by day,
and on the seventh we came to the steep city of Lamus,
Laestrygonian Telepylus, where shepherd calls to shepherd
as he drives in, and the other answers as he drives out.
There a man who never slept could earn double wages,
one herding cattle, the other pasturing white flocks;
for the paths of night and of day are close together there.
When we came into the famous harbour, about which a sheer
rock runs unbroken on both sides,
and jutting headlands facing one another
stand out at the mouth, and the entrance is narrow,
there they all took their curved ships inside.
These were moored close together inside the hollow harbour;
for no wave ever rose in it,
great or small, but a white calm lay all about.
But I alone kept my black ship outside,
there at the very edge, and made the cables fast to a rock;
and I climbed a rugged look-out place and stood there.
There no works of oxen or of men appeared,
but we saw only smoke shooting up from the ground.
Then I sent companions ahead to go and learn
what men were there who ate bread upon the earth,
choosing two men, and sending a herald with them as a third.
They went ashore and followed a smooth road, by which wagons
used to bring wood down to the town from the high mountains,
and in front of the town they met a girl drawing water,
the strong daughter of Antiphates the Laestrygonian.
She had come down to the fair-flowing spring
Artacia; for it was from there that they carried water to the town.
They stood beside her and spoke to her and asked
who was king of these people and whom he ruled;
and she at once pointed out her father’s high-roofed house.
But when they entered the famous house, they found his wife,
as big as a mountain peak, and they loathed the sight of her.
At once she called famous Antiphates from the meeting-place,
her husband, and he contrived a wretched destruction for them.
At once he snatched up one of my companions and made his meal of him;
but the other two sprang up and got back to the ships in flight.
Then he raised a shout through the town; and hearing it
the strong Laestrygonians came from every side,
past counting, not like men but like Giants.
From the rocks they threw stones, a man’s load each,
and at once an evil din rose among the ships,
of men perishing and ships being shattered together;
and they speared them like fish and carried them off, a joyless feast.
While they were killing them inside the deep harbour,
I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and with it cut the cables of my dark-prowed ship.
At once I urged my companions and ordered them
to fall to their oars, so that we might escape out of the trouble;
and they all tossed up the sea, in fear of destruction.
Gladly my ship escaped the overhanging rocks
out to sea; but the others were all lost together there.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart,
glad to be out of death, having lost our dear companions.
We came to the island of Aeaea; and there lived
fair-haired Circe, a dread goddess with a human voice,
own sister of Aeetes of the deadly mind;
both were born of Helios, who gives light to mortals,
and of their mother Perse, whom Ocean bore as his child.
There we brought our ship in to the shore in silence,
into a sheltering harbour, and some god was our guide.
There we went ashore, and for two days and two nights
we lay, eating our hearts with weariness and pain together.
But when fair-haired Dawn had brought the third day to its close,
then I took my spear and my sharp sword
and went up quickly from the ship to a place of wide view,
in the hope of seeing the works of mortals and hearing their voices.
I climbed a rugged look-out place and stood there,
and smoke appeared to me from the wide-wayed earth,
in the halls of Circe, through the thick copses and the wood.
Then I debated in my mind and in my spirit
whether to go and find out, since I had seen the gleaming smoke.
And as I thought about it, this seemed to me the better course,
to go first to the swift ship and to the shore of the sea,
to give my companions a meal and send them out to find out.
But when I was near the curved ship as I went,
then one of the gods pitied me, alone as I was,
and sent a great high-antlered stag into my very path.
It was going down to the river out of its woodland pasture
to drink, for the sun’s force was heavy on it.
As it came out I struck it in the spine, in the middle of the back,
and the bronze spear went clean through,
and it fell in the dust with a bellow, and its spirit flew away.
I set my foot on it and drew the bronze spear
out of the wound; and I laid it down there on the ground
and left it; and I pulled up brushwood and withies
and plaited a rope, about a fathom long, well twisted at both ends,
and bound together the feet of that terrible monster,
and went to the black ship, carrying it slung across my neck
and leaning on my spear, since there was no way to carry it
on my shoulder with one hand; for it was a very big beast.
I threw it down in front of the ship, and roused my companions
with soft words, standing beside each man:
"Friends, grieved though we are, we shall not go down
into the house of Hades before the fated day comes.
Come then, while there is food and drink in the swift ship,
let us think of eating, and not waste away with hunger."
So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words,
and uncovered their heads on the shore of the barren sea
and gazed at the stag; for it was a very big beast.
But when they had taken their fill of looking at it with their eyes,
they washed their hands and made ready a glorious feast.
So then all day long until the sun went down
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
but when the sun went down and darkness came on,
then we lay down to sleep on the surf-line of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then I called an assembly and spoke among them all:
"Hear my words, companions, for all the evil you are suffering.
Friends, we do not know where the gloom is, nor where the dawn,
nor where the sun who gives light to mortals goes down under the earth,
nor where he comes up. But let us think quickly
whether any cunning is left. I do not think there is.
For I climbed a rugged look-out place and saw
an island, crowned all about by the boundless sea;
it lies low, and in the middle of it I saw
smoke with my own eyes, through the thick copses and the wood."
So I spoke, and their hearts were broken within them
as they remembered the deeds of Antiphates the Laestrygonian
and the violence of the high-hearted, man-eating Cyclops.
They wept shrilly, shedding swelling tears;
but nothing came of their lamenting.
Then I counted all my well-greaved companions
into two parties, and gave each of them a leader:
I led one, and Eurylochus, godlike in form, the other.
We shook the lots quickly in a bronze-bound helmet,
and out leapt the lot of high-hearted Eurylochus.
He set out, and with him twenty-two companions,
weeping; and they left us behind, lamenting.
In the glens they found the house of Circe, built
of polished stone, in a place with a view all round;
and about it were mountain wolves and lions,
which she herself had bewitched, giving them evil drugs.
These did not rush at the men, but rose up
and fawned about them with their long tails.
As when dogs fawn about their master as he comes from a feast,
for he always brings them tidbits to gladden their hearts,
so the strong-clawed wolves and lions fawned
about them; and they were afraid when they saw the terrible monsters.
They stood in the gateway of the fair-tressed goddess,
and inside they heard Circe singing in a beautiful voice
as she went to and fro at a great immortal web, such as
the fine, graceful, shining work of goddesses is.
Polites, leader of men, was the first to speak among them,
who of my companions was dearest to me and most careful:
"Friends, someone inside is going to and fro at a great web
and singing beautifully, so that all the floor rings with it,
a goddess or a woman. Let us call out quickly."
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart.
And the men’s spirit was worn down by the painful rowing,
through our own folly, since no escort showed itself any more.
For six days we sailed alike by night and by day,
and on the seventh we came to the steep city of Lamus,
Laestrygonian Telepylus, where shepherd calls to shepherd
as he drives in, and the other answers as he drives out.
There a man who never slept could earn double wages,
one herding cattle, the other pasturing white flocks;
for the paths of night and of day are close together there.
When we came into the famous harbour, about which a sheer
rock runs unbroken on both sides,
and jutting headlands facing one another
stand out at the mouth, and the entrance is narrow,
there they all took their curved ships inside.
These were moored close together inside the hollow harbour;
for no wave ever rose in it,
great or small, but a white calm lay all about.
But I alone kept my black ship outside,
there at the very edge, and made the cables fast to a rock;
and I climbed a rugged look-out place and stood there.
There no works of oxen or of men appeared,
but we saw only smoke shooting up from the ground.
Then I sent companions ahead to go and learn
what men were there who ate bread upon the earth,
choosing two men, and sending a herald with them as a third.
They went ashore and followed a smooth road, by which wagons
used to bring wood down to the town from the high mountains,
and in front of the town they met a girl drawing water,
the strong daughter of Antiphates the Laestrygonian.
She had come down to the fair-flowing spring
Artacia; for it was from there that they carried water to the town.
They stood beside her and spoke to her and asked
who was king of these people and whom he ruled;
and she at once pointed out her father’s high-roofed house.
But when they entered the famous house, they found his wife,
as big as a mountain peak, and they loathed the sight of her.
At once she called famous Antiphates from the meeting-place,
her husband, and he contrived a wretched destruction for them.
At once he snatched up one of my companions and made his meal of him;
but the other two sprang up and got back to the ships in flight.
Then he raised a shout through the town; and hearing it
the strong Laestrygonians came from every side,
past counting, not like men but like Giants.
From the rocks they threw stones, a man’s load each,
and at once an evil din rose among the ships,
of men perishing and ships being shattered together;
and they speared them like fish and carried them off, a joyless feast.
While they were killing them inside the deep harbour,
I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and with it cut the cables of my dark-prowed ship.
At once I urged my companions and ordered them
to fall to their oars, so that we might escape out of the trouble;
and they all tossed up the sea, in fear of destruction.
Gladly my ship escaped the overhanging rocks
out to sea; but the others were all lost together there.
From there we sailed onward, grieved at heart,
glad to be out of death, having lost our dear companions.
We came to the island of Aeaea; and there lived
fair-haired Circe, a dread goddess with a human voice,
own sister of Aeetes of the deadly mind;
both were born of Helios, who gives light to mortals,
and of their mother Perse, whom Ocean bore as his child.
There we brought our ship in to the shore in silence,
into a sheltering harbour, and some god was our guide.
There we went ashore, and for two days and two nights
we lay, eating our hearts with weariness and pain together.
But when fair-haired Dawn had brought the third day to its close,
then I took my spear and my sharp sword
and went up quickly from the ship to a place of wide view,
in the hope of seeing the works of mortals and hearing their voices.
I climbed a rugged look-out place and stood there,
and smoke appeared to me from the wide-wayed earth,
in the halls of Circe, through the thick copses and the wood.
Then I debated in my mind and in my spirit
whether to go and find out, since I had seen the gleaming smoke.
And as I thought about it, this seemed to me the better course,
to go first to the swift ship and to the shore of the sea,
to give my companions a meal and send them out to find out.
But when I was near the curved ship as I went,
then one of the gods pitied me, alone as I was,
and sent a great high-antlered stag into my very path.
It was going down to the river out of its woodland pasture
to drink, for the sun’s force was heavy on it.
As it came out I struck it in the spine, in the middle of the back,
and the bronze spear went clean through,
and it fell in the dust with a bellow, and its spirit flew away.
I set my foot on it and drew the bronze spear
out of the wound; and I laid it down there on the ground
and left it; and I pulled up brushwood and withies
and plaited a rope, about a fathom long, well twisted at both ends,
and bound together the feet of that terrible monster,
and went to the black ship, carrying it slung across my neck
and leaning on my spear, since there was no way to carry it
on my shoulder with one hand; for it was a very big beast.
I threw it down in front of the ship, and roused my companions
with soft words, standing beside each man:
"Friends, grieved though we are, we shall not go down
into the house of Hades before the fated day comes.
Come then, while there is food and drink in the swift ship,
let us think of eating, and not waste away with hunger."
So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words,
and uncovered their heads on the shore of the barren sea
and gazed at the stag; for it was a very big beast.
But when they had taken their fill of looking at it with their eyes,
they washed their hands and made ready a glorious feast.
So then all day long until the sun went down
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
but when the sun went down and darkness came on,
then we lay down to sleep on the surf-line of the sea.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then I called an assembly and spoke among them all:
"Hear my words, companions, for all the evil you are suffering.
Friends, we do not know where the gloom is, nor where the dawn,
nor where the sun who gives light to mortals goes down under the earth,
nor where he comes up. But let us think quickly
whether any cunning is left. I do not think there is.
For I climbed a rugged look-out place and saw
an island, crowned all about by the boundless sea;
it lies low, and in the middle of it I saw
smoke with my own eyes, through the thick copses and the wood."
So I spoke, and their hearts were broken within them
as they remembered the deeds of Antiphates the Laestrygonian
and the violence of the high-hearted, man-eating Cyclops.
They wept shrilly, shedding swelling tears;
but nothing came of their lamenting.
Then I counted all my well-greaved companions
into two parties, and gave each of them a leader:
I led one, and Eurylochus, godlike in form, the other.
We shook the lots quickly in a bronze-bound helmet,
and out leapt the lot of high-hearted Eurylochus.
He set out, and with him twenty-two companions,
weeping; and they left us behind, lamenting.
In the glens they found the house of Circe, built
of polished stone, in a place with a view all round;
and about it were mountain wolves and lions,
which she herself had bewitched, giving them evil drugs.
These did not rush at the men, but rose up
and fawned about them with their long tails.
As when dogs fawn about their master as he comes from a feast,
for he always brings them tidbits to gladden their hearts,
so the strong-clawed wolves and lions fawned
about them; and they were afraid when they saw the terrible monsters.
They stood in the gateway of the fair-tressed goddess,
and inside they heard Circe singing in a beautiful voice
as she went to and fro at a great immortal web, such as
the fine, graceful, shining work of goddesses is.
Polites, leader of men, was the first to speak among them,
who of my companions was dearest to me and most careful:
"Friends, someone inside is going to and fro at a great web
and singing beautifully, so that all the floor rings with it,
a goddess or a woman. Let us call out quickly."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἀπέπεμπε δόμων βαρέα στενάχοντα.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ.
τείρετο δʼ ἀνδρῶν θυμὸς ὑπʼ εἰρεσίης ἀλεγεινῆς
ἡμετέρῃ ματίῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι φαίνετο πομπή.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ,
ἑβδομάτῃ δʼ ἱκόμεσθα Λάμου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον,
Τηλέπυλον Λαιστρυγονίην, ὅθι ποιμένα ποιμὴν
ἠπύει εἰσελάων, ὁ δέ τʼ ἐξελάων ὑπακούει.
ἔνθα κʼ ἄυπνος ἀνὴρ δοιοὺς ἐξήρατο μισθούς,
τὸν μὲν βουκολέων, τὸν δʼ ἄργυφα μῆλα νομεύων·
ἐγγὺς γὰρ νυκτός τε καὶ ἤματός εἰσι κέλευθοι.
ἔνθʼ ἐπεὶ ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν, ὃν πέρι πέτρη
ἠλίβατος τετύχηκε διαμπερὲς ἀμφοτέρωθεν,
ἀκταὶ δὲ προβλῆτες ἐναντίαι ἀλλήλῃσιν
ἐν στόματι προύχουσιν, ἀραιὴ δʼ εἴσοδός ἐστιν,
ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ εἴσω πάντες ἔχον νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἔντοσθεν λιμένος κοίλοιο δέδεντο
πλησίαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτʼ ἀέξετο κῦμά γʼ ἐν αὐτῷ,
οὔτε μέγʼ οὔτʼ ὀλίγον, λευκὴ δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶ γαλήνη·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἶος σχέθον ἔξω νῆα μέλαιναν,
αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ, πέτρης ἐκ πείσματα δήσας·
ἔστην δὲ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθών.
ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε βοῶν οὔτʼ ἀνδρῶν φαίνετο ἔργα,
καπνὸν δʼ οἶον ὁρῶμεν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἀίσσοντα.
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν πεύθεσθαι ἰόντας,
οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἶεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες,
ἄνδρε δύω κρίνας, τρίτατον κήρυχʼ ἅμʼ ὀπάσσας.
οἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκβάντες λείην ὁδόν, ᾗ περ ἄμαξαι
ἄστυδʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων καταγίνεον ὕλην,
κούρῃ δὲ ξύμβληντο πρὸ ἄστεος ὑδρευούσῃ,
θυγατέρʼ ἰφθίμῃ Λαιστρυγόνος Ἀντιφάταο.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς κρήνην κατεβήσετο καλλιρέεθρον
Ἀρτακίην· ἔνθεν γὰρ ὕδωρ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεσκον·
οἱ δὲ παριστάμενοι προσεφώνεον ἔκ τʼ ἐρέοντο
ὅς τις τῶνδʼ εἴη βασιλεὺς καὶ οἷσιν ἀνάσσοι·
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσῆλθον κλυτὰ δώματα, τὴν δὲ γυναῖκα
εὗρον, ὅσην τʼ ὄρεος κορυφήν, κατὰ δʼ ἔστυγον αὐτήν.
ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξ ἀγορῆς ἐκάλει κλυτὸν Ἀντιφατῆα,
ὃν πόσιν, ὃς δὴ τοῖσιν ἐμήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.
αὐτίχʼ ἕνα μάρψας ἑτάρων ὡπλίσσατο δεῖπνον·
τὼ δὲ δύʼ ἀίξαντε φυγῇ ἐπὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τεῦχε βοὴν διὰ ἄστεος· οἱ δʼ ἀίοντες
φοίτων ἴφθιμοι Λαιστρυγόνες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,
μυρίοι, οὐκ ἄνδρεσσιν ἐοικότες, ἀλλὰ Γίγασιν.
οἵ ῥʼ ἀπὸ πετράων ἀνδραχθέσι χερμαδίοισιν
βάλλον· ἄφαρ δὲ κακὸς κόναβος κατὰ νῆας ὀρώρει
ἀνδρῶν τʼ ὀλλυμένων νηῶν θʼ ἅμα ἀγνυμενάων·
ἰχθῦς δʼ ὣς πείροντες ἀτερπέα δαῖτα φέροντο.
ὄφρʼ οἱ τοὺς ὄλεκον λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,
τόφρα δʼ ἐγὼ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
τῷ ἀπὸ πείσματʼ ἔκοψα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο.
αἶψα δʼ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃς, ἵνʼ ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν·
οἱ δʼ ἅλα πάντες ἀνέρριψαν, δείσαντες ὄλεθρον.
ἀσπασίως δʼ ἐς πόντον ἐπηρεφέας φύγε πέτρας
νηῦς ἐμή· αὐτὰρ αἱ ἄλλαι ἀολλέες αὐτόθʼ ὄλοντο.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.
Αἰαίην δʼ ἐς νῆσον ἀφικόμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔναιε
Κίρκη ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα,
αὐτοκασιγνήτη ὀλοόφρονος Αἰήταο·
ἄμφω δʼ ἐκγεγάτην φαεσιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο
μητρός τʼ ἐκ Πέρσης, τὴν Ὠκεανὸς τέκε παῖδα.
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς νηὶ κατηγαγόμεσθα σιωπῇ
ναύλοχον ἐς λιμένα, καί τις θεὸς ἡγεμόνευεν.
ἔνθα τότʼ ἐκβάντες δύο τʼ ἤματα καὶ δύο νύκτας
κείμεθʼ ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἔδοντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἐμὸν ἔγχος ἑλὼν καὶ φάσγανον ὀξὺ
καρπαλίμως παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἐς περιωπήν,
εἴ πως ἔργα ἴδοιμι βροτῶν ἐνοπήν τε πυθοίμην.
ἔστην δὲ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθών,
καί μοι ἐείσατο καπνὸς ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης,
Κίρκης ἐν μεγάροισι, διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην.
μερμήριξα δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
ἐλθεῖν ἠδὲ πυθέσθαι, ἐπεὶ ἴδον αἴθοπα καπνόν.
ὧδε δέ μοι φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
πρῶτʼ ἐλθόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης
δεῖπνον ἑταίροισιν δόμεναι προέμεν τε πυθέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦα κιὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης,
καὶ τότε τίς με θεῶν ὀλοφύρατο μοῦνον ἐόντα,
ὅς ῥά μοι ὑψίκερων ἔλαφον μέγαν εἰς ὁδὸν αὐτὴν
ἧκεν. ὁ μὲν ποταμόνδε κατήιεν ἐκ νομοῦ ὕλης
πιόμενος· δὴ γάρ μιν ἔχεν μένος ἠελίοιο.
τὸν δʼ ἐγὼ ἐκβαίνοντα κατʼ ἄκνηστιν μέσα νῶτα
πλῆξα· τὸ δʼ ἀντικρὺ δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξεπέρησε,
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο θυμός.
τῷ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐμβαίνων δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς
εἰρυσάμην· τὸ μὲν αὖθι κατακλίνας ἐπὶ γαίῃ
εἴασʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σπασάμην ῥῶπάς τε λύγους τε,
πεῖσμα δʼ, ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιαν, ἐυστρεφὲς ἀμφοτέρωθεν
πλεξάμενος συνέδησα πόδας δεινοῖο πελώρου,
βῆν δὲ καταλοφάδεια φέρων ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
ἔγχει ἐρειδόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως ἦεν ἐπʼ ὤμου
χειρὶ φέρειν ἑτέρῃ· μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν.
κὰδʼ δʼ ἔβαλον προπάροιθε νεός, ἀνέγειρα δʼ ἑταίρους
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ πω καταδυσόμεθʼ ἀχνύμενοί περ
εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους, πρὶν μόρσιμον ἦμαρ ἐπέλθῃ·
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, ὄφρʼ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε,
μνησόμεθα βρώμης, μηδὲ τρυχώμεθα λιμῷ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο,
ἐκ δὲ καλυψάμενοι παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο
θηήσαντʼ ἔλαφον· μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
χεῖρας νιψάμενοι τεύχοντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπον·
κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων, κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ τʼ ἴδμεν, ὅπῃ ζόφος οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἠώς,
οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἠέλιος φαεσίμβροτος εἶσʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν,
οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἀννεῖται· ἀλλὰ φραζώμεθα θᾶσσον
εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἔσται μῆτις. ἐγὼ δʼ οὔκ οἴομαι εἶναι.
εἶδον γὰρ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθὼν
νῆσον, τὴν πέρι πόντος ἀπείριτος ἐστεφάνωται·
αὐτὴ δὲ χθαμαλὴ κεῖται· καπνὸν δʼ ἐνὶ μέσσῃ
ἔδρακον ὀφθαλμοῖσι διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ
μνησαμένοις ἔργων Λαιστρυγόνος Ἀντιφάταο
Κύκλωπός τε βίης μεγαλήτορος, ἀνδροφάγοιο.
κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις ἐγίγνετο μυρομένοισιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δίχα πάντας ἐυκνήμιδας ἑταίρους
ἠρίθμεον, ἀρχὸν δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ὄπασσα·
τῶν μὲν ἐγὼν ἦρχον, τῶν δʼ Εὐρύλοχος θεοειδής.
κλήρους δʼ ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλομεν ὦκα·
ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε κλῆρος μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυλόχοιο.
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἑταῖροι
κλαίοντες· κατὰ δʼ ἄμμε λίπον γοόωντας ὄπισθεν.
εὗρον δʼ ἐν βήσσῃσι τετυγμένα δώματα Κίρκης
ξεστοῖσιν λάεσσι, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν λύκοι ἦσαν ὀρέστεροι ἠδὲ λέοντες,
τοὺς αὐτὴ κατέθελξεν, ἐπεὶ κακὰ φάρμακʼ ἔδωκεν.
οὐδʼ οἵ γʼ ὡρμήθησαν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσιν, ἀλλʼ ἄρα τοί γε
οὐρῇσιν μακρῇσι περισσαίνοντες ἀνέσταν.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα κύνες δαίτηθεν ἰόντα
σαίνωσʼ, αἰεὶ γάρ τε φέρει μειλίγματα θυμοῦ,
ὣς τοὺς ἀμφὶ λύκοι κρατερώνυχες ἠδὲ λέοντες
σαῖνον· τοὶ δʼ ἔδεισαν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον αἰνὰ πέλωρα.
ἔσταν δʼ ἐν προθύροισι θεᾶς καλλιπλοκάμοιο,
Κίρκης δʼ ἔνδον ἄκουον ἀειδούσης ὀπὶ καλῇ,
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένης μέγαν ἄμβροτον, οἷα θεάων
λεπτά τε καὶ χαρίεντα καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα πέλονται.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Πολίτης ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
ὅς μοι κήδιστος ἑτάρων ἦν κεδνότατός τε·
ὦ φίλοι, ἔνδον γάρ τις ἐποιχομένη μέγαν ἱστὸν
καλὸν ἀοιδιάει, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν ἀμφιμέμυκεν,
ἢ θεὸς ἠὲ γυνή· ἀλλὰ φθεγγώμεθα θᾶσσον.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ.
τείρετο δʼ ἀνδρῶν θυμὸς ὑπʼ εἰρεσίης ἀλεγεινῆς
ἡμετέρῃ ματίῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι φαίνετο πομπή.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ,
ἑβδομάτῃ δʼ ἱκόμεσθα Λάμου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον,
Τηλέπυλον Λαιστρυγονίην, ὅθι ποιμένα ποιμὴν
ἠπύει εἰσελάων, ὁ δέ τʼ ἐξελάων ὑπακούει.
ἔνθα κʼ ἄυπνος ἀνὴρ δοιοὺς ἐξήρατο μισθούς,
τὸν μὲν βουκολέων, τὸν δʼ ἄργυφα μῆλα νομεύων·
ἐγγὺς γὰρ νυκτός τε καὶ ἤματός εἰσι κέλευθοι.
ἔνθʼ ἐπεὶ ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν, ὃν πέρι πέτρη
ἠλίβατος τετύχηκε διαμπερὲς ἀμφοτέρωθεν,
ἀκταὶ δὲ προβλῆτες ἐναντίαι ἀλλήλῃσιν
ἐν στόματι προύχουσιν, ἀραιὴ δʼ εἴσοδός ἐστιν,
ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ εἴσω πάντες ἔχον νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἔντοσθεν λιμένος κοίλοιο δέδεντο
πλησίαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτʼ ἀέξετο κῦμά γʼ ἐν αὐτῷ,
οὔτε μέγʼ οὔτʼ ὀλίγον, λευκὴ δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶ γαλήνη·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οἶος σχέθον ἔξω νῆα μέλαιναν,
αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῇ, πέτρης ἐκ πείσματα δήσας·
ἔστην δὲ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθών.
ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε βοῶν οὔτʼ ἀνδρῶν φαίνετο ἔργα,
καπνὸν δʼ οἶον ὁρῶμεν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἀίσσοντα.
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν πεύθεσθαι ἰόντας,
οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἶεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ σῖτον ἔδοντες,
ἄνδρε δύω κρίνας, τρίτατον κήρυχʼ ἅμʼ ὀπάσσας.
οἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκβάντες λείην ὁδόν, ᾗ περ ἄμαξαι
ἄστυδʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων καταγίνεον ὕλην,
κούρῃ δὲ ξύμβληντο πρὸ ἄστεος ὑδρευούσῃ,
θυγατέρʼ ἰφθίμῃ Λαιστρυγόνος Ἀντιφάταο.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς κρήνην κατεβήσετο καλλιρέεθρον
Ἀρτακίην· ἔνθεν γὰρ ὕδωρ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρεσκον·
οἱ δὲ παριστάμενοι προσεφώνεον ἔκ τʼ ἐρέοντο
ὅς τις τῶνδʼ εἴη βασιλεὺς καὶ οἷσιν ἀνάσσοι·
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσῆλθον κλυτὰ δώματα, τὴν δὲ γυναῖκα
εὗρον, ὅσην τʼ ὄρεος κορυφήν, κατὰ δʼ ἔστυγον αὐτήν.
ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξ ἀγορῆς ἐκάλει κλυτὸν Ἀντιφατῆα,
ὃν πόσιν, ὃς δὴ τοῖσιν ἐμήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.
αὐτίχʼ ἕνα μάρψας ἑτάρων ὡπλίσσατο δεῖπνον·
τὼ δὲ δύʼ ἀίξαντε φυγῇ ἐπὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τεῦχε βοὴν διὰ ἄστεος· οἱ δʼ ἀίοντες
φοίτων ἴφθιμοι Λαιστρυγόνες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,
μυρίοι, οὐκ ἄνδρεσσιν ἐοικότες, ἀλλὰ Γίγασιν.
οἵ ῥʼ ἀπὸ πετράων ἀνδραχθέσι χερμαδίοισιν
βάλλον· ἄφαρ δὲ κακὸς κόναβος κατὰ νῆας ὀρώρει
ἀνδρῶν τʼ ὀλλυμένων νηῶν θʼ ἅμα ἀγνυμενάων·
ἰχθῦς δʼ ὣς πείροντες ἀτερπέα δαῖτα φέροντο.
ὄφρʼ οἱ τοὺς ὄλεκον λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,
τόφρα δʼ ἐγὼ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
τῷ ἀπὸ πείσματʼ ἔκοψα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο.
αἶψα δʼ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃς, ἵνʼ ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν·
οἱ δʼ ἅλα πάντες ἀνέρριψαν, δείσαντες ὄλεθρον.
ἀσπασίως δʼ ἐς πόντον ἐπηρεφέας φύγε πέτρας
νηῦς ἐμή· αὐτὰρ αἱ ἄλλαι ἀολλέες αὐτόθʼ ὄλοντο.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω πλέομεν ἀκαχήμενοι ἦτορ,
ἄσμενοι ἐκ θανάτοιο, φίλους ὀλέσαντες ἑταίρους.
Αἰαίην δʼ ἐς νῆσον ἀφικόμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔναιε
Κίρκη ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα,
αὐτοκασιγνήτη ὀλοόφρονος Αἰήταο·
ἄμφω δʼ ἐκγεγάτην φαεσιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο
μητρός τʼ ἐκ Πέρσης, τὴν Ὠκεανὸς τέκε παῖδα.
ἔνθα δʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς νηὶ κατηγαγόμεσθα σιωπῇ
ναύλοχον ἐς λιμένα, καί τις θεὸς ἡγεμόνευεν.
ἔνθα τότʼ ἐκβάντες δύο τʼ ἤματα καὶ δύο νύκτας
κείμεθʼ ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ἔδοντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐυπλόκαμος τέλεσʼ Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἐμὸν ἔγχος ἑλὼν καὶ φάσγανον ὀξὺ
καρπαλίμως παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἐς περιωπήν,
εἴ πως ἔργα ἴδοιμι βροτῶν ἐνοπήν τε πυθοίμην.
ἔστην δὲ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθών,
καί μοι ἐείσατο καπνὸς ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης,
Κίρκης ἐν μεγάροισι, διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην.
μερμήριξα δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
ἐλθεῖν ἠδὲ πυθέσθαι, ἐπεὶ ἴδον αἴθοπα καπνόν.
ὧδε δέ μοι φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
πρῶτʼ ἐλθόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης
δεῖπνον ἑταίροισιν δόμεναι προέμεν τε πυθέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦα κιὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης,
καὶ τότε τίς με θεῶν ὀλοφύρατο μοῦνον ἐόντα,
ὅς ῥά μοι ὑψίκερων ἔλαφον μέγαν εἰς ὁδὸν αὐτὴν
ἧκεν. ὁ μὲν ποταμόνδε κατήιεν ἐκ νομοῦ ὕλης
πιόμενος· δὴ γάρ μιν ἔχεν μένος ἠελίοιο.
τὸν δʼ ἐγὼ ἐκβαίνοντα κατʼ ἄκνηστιν μέσα νῶτα
πλῆξα· τὸ δʼ ἀντικρὺ δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξεπέρησε,
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο θυμός.
τῷ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐμβαίνων δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς
εἰρυσάμην· τὸ μὲν αὖθι κατακλίνας ἐπὶ γαίῃ
εἴασʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σπασάμην ῥῶπάς τε λύγους τε,
πεῖσμα δʼ, ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιαν, ἐυστρεφὲς ἀμφοτέρωθεν
πλεξάμενος συνέδησα πόδας δεινοῖο πελώρου,
βῆν δὲ καταλοφάδεια φέρων ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
ἔγχει ἐρειδόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ πως ἦεν ἐπʼ ὤμου
χειρὶ φέρειν ἑτέρῃ· μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν.
κὰδʼ δʼ ἔβαλον προπάροιθε νεός, ἀνέγειρα δʼ ἑταίρους
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ πω καταδυσόμεθʼ ἀχνύμενοί περ
εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους, πρὶν μόρσιμον ἦμαρ ἐπέλθῃ·
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, ὄφρʼ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε,
μνησόμεθα βρώμης, μηδὲ τρυχώμεθα λιμῷ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο,
ἐκ δὲ καλυψάμενοι παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο
θηήσαντʼ ἔλαφον· μάλα γὰρ μέγα θηρίον ἦεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
χεῖρας νιψάμενοι τεύχοντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,
δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπον·
κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων, κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ τʼ ἴδμεν, ὅπῃ ζόφος οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἠώς,
οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἠέλιος φαεσίμβροτος εἶσʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν,
οὐδʼ ὅπῃ ἀννεῖται· ἀλλὰ φραζώμεθα θᾶσσον
εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἔσται μῆτις. ἐγὼ δʼ οὔκ οἴομαι εἶναι.
εἶδον γὰρ σκοπιὴν ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἀνελθὼν
νῆσον, τὴν πέρι πόντος ἀπείριτος ἐστεφάνωται·
αὐτὴ δὲ χθαμαλὴ κεῖται· καπνὸν δʼ ἐνὶ μέσσῃ
ἔδρακον ὀφθαλμοῖσι διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ
μνησαμένοις ἔργων Λαιστρυγόνος Ἀντιφάταο
Κύκλωπός τε βίης μεγαλήτορος, ἀνδροφάγοιο.
κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις ἐγίγνετο μυρομένοισιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δίχα πάντας ἐυκνήμιδας ἑταίρους
ἠρίθμεον, ἀρχὸν δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ὄπασσα·
τῶν μὲν ἐγὼν ἦρχον, τῶν δʼ Εὐρύλοχος θεοειδής.
κλήρους δʼ ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλομεν ὦκα·
ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε κλῆρος μεγαλήτορος Εὐρυλόχοιο.
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἑταῖροι
κλαίοντες· κατὰ δʼ ἄμμε λίπον γοόωντας ὄπισθεν.
εὗρον δʼ ἐν βήσσῃσι τετυγμένα δώματα Κίρκης
ξεστοῖσιν λάεσσι, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν λύκοι ἦσαν ὀρέστεροι ἠδὲ λέοντες,
τοὺς αὐτὴ κατέθελξεν, ἐπεὶ κακὰ φάρμακʼ ἔδωκεν.
οὐδʼ οἵ γʼ ὡρμήθησαν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσιν, ἀλλʼ ἄρα τοί γε
οὐρῇσιν μακρῇσι περισσαίνοντες ἀνέσταν.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα κύνες δαίτηθεν ἰόντα
σαίνωσʼ, αἰεὶ γάρ τε φέρει μειλίγματα θυμοῦ,
ὣς τοὺς ἀμφὶ λύκοι κρατερώνυχες ἠδὲ λέοντες
σαῖνον· τοὶ δʼ ἔδεισαν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον αἰνὰ πέλωρα.
ἔσταν δʼ ἐν προθύροισι θεᾶς καλλιπλοκάμοιο,
Κίρκης δʼ ἔνδον ἄκουον ἀειδούσης ὀπὶ καλῇ,
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένης μέγαν ἄμβροτον, οἷα θεάων
λεπτά τε καὶ χαρίεντα καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα πέλονται.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Πολίτης ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
ὅς μοι κήδιστος ἑτάρων ἦν κεδνότατός τε·
ὦ φίλοι, ἔνδον γάρ τις ἐποιχομένη μέγαν ἱστὸν
καλὸν ἀοιδιάει, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν ἀμφιμέμυκεν,
ἢ θεὸς ἠὲ γυνή· ἀλλὰ φθεγγώμεθα θᾶσσον.
So he spoke, and they called out and shouted.
At once she came out and opened the shining doors
and invited them in; and they all followed her in their ignorance,
but Eurylochus held back, suspecting it was a trap.
She brought them in and seated them on couches and chairs,
and mixed cheese and barley-meal and yellow honey for them
in Pramnian wine; and into the food she stirred
wretched drugs, so that they might utterly forget their native land.
But when she had given it and they had drunk it off, at once
she struck them with her wand and penned them in the pigsties.
They had the heads and the voice and the bristles of pigs,
and the body too; but their mind stayed firm, as it was before.
At once she came out and opened the shining doors
and invited them in; and they all followed her in their ignorance,
but Eurylochus held back, suspecting it was a trap.
She brought them in and seated them on couches and chairs,
and mixed cheese and barley-meal and yellow honey for them
in Pramnian wine; and into the food she stirred
wretched drugs, so that they might utterly forget their native land.
But when she had given it and they had drunk it off, at once
she struck them with her wand and penned them in the pigsties.
They had the heads and the voice and the bristles of pigs,
and the body too; but their mind stayed firm, as it was before.
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τοὶ δὲ φθέγγοντο καλεῦντες.
ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἀιδρείῃσιν ἕποντο·
Εὐρύλοχος δʼ ὑπέμεινεν, ὀισάμενος δόλον εἶναι.
εἷσεν δʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
ἐν δέ σφιν τυρόν τε καὶ ἄλφιτα καὶ μέλι χλωρὸν
οἴνῳ Πραμνείῳ ἐκύκα· ἀνέμισγε δὲ σίτῳ
φάρμακα λύγρʼ, ἵνα πάγχυ λαθοίατο πατρίδος αἴης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δῶκέν τε καὶ ἔκπιον, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα κατὰ συφεοῖσιν ἐέργνυ.
οἱ δὲ συῶν μὲν ἔχον κεφαλὰς φωνήν τε τρίχας τε
καὶ δέμας, αὐτὰρ νοῦς ἦν ἔμπεδος, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.
ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἀιδρείῃσιν ἕποντο·
Εὐρύλοχος δʼ ὑπέμεινεν, ὀισάμενος δόλον εἶναι.
εἷσεν δʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
ἐν δέ σφιν τυρόν τε καὶ ἄλφιτα καὶ μέλι χλωρὸν
οἴνῳ Πραμνείῳ ἐκύκα· ἀνέμισγε δὲ σίτῳ
φάρμακα λύγρʼ, ἵνα πάγχυ λαθοίατο πατρίδος αἴης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δῶκέν τε καὶ ἔκπιον, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα κατὰ συφεοῖσιν ἐέργνυ.
οἱ δὲ συῶν μὲν ἔχον κεφαλὰς φωνήν τε τρίχας τε
καὶ δέμας, αὐτὰρ νοῦς ἦν ἔμπεδος, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.
So they were penned in, weeping; and Circe threw down
beside them acorns and mast and the fruit of the cornel tree
to eat, such as pigs that sleep on the ground always eat.
Eurylochus came back at once to the swift black ship
to tell the news of his companions and their bitter fate.
But he could not get out a word, eager as he was,
stricken at heart with a great grief; and his eyes
were filled with tears, and his spirit was set on lamenting.
But when we all pressed him in wonder with our questions,
then he recounted the destruction of the other companions:
"We went through the copses as you ordered, glorious Odysseus.
In the glens we found a fine house, built
of polished stone, in a place with a view all round.
There someone was going to and fro at a great web and singing clearly,
a goddess or a woman; and they called out and shouted.
At once she came out and opened the shining doors
and invited them in; and they all followed her in their ignorance,
but I held back, suspecting it was a trap.
They vanished all together, and not one of them
appeared again; and I sat a long while and watched."
beside them acorns and mast and the fruit of the cornel tree
to eat, such as pigs that sleep on the ground always eat.
Eurylochus came back at once to the swift black ship
to tell the news of his companions and their bitter fate.
But he could not get out a word, eager as he was,
stricken at heart with a great grief; and his eyes
were filled with tears, and his spirit was set on lamenting.
But when we all pressed him in wonder with our questions,
then he recounted the destruction of the other companions:
"We went through the copses as you ordered, glorious Odysseus.
In the glens we found a fine house, built
of polished stone, in a place with a view all round.
There someone was going to and fro at a great web and singing clearly,
a goddess or a woman; and they called out and shouted.
At once she came out and opened the shining doors
and invited them in; and they all followed her in their ignorance,
but I held back, suspecting it was a trap.
They vanished all together, and not one of them
appeared again; and I sat a long while and watched."
ὣς οἱ μὲν κλαίοντες ἐέρχατο, τοῖσι δὲ Κίρκη
πάρ ῥʼ ἄκυλον βάλανόν τε βάλεν καρπόν τε κρανείης
ἔδμεναι, οἷα σύες χαμαιευνάδες αἰὲν ἔδουσιν.
Εὐρύλοχος δʼ αἶψʼ ἦλθε θοὴν ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
ἀγγελίην ἑτάρων ἐρέων καὶ ἀδευκέα πότμον.
οὐδέ τι ἐκφάσθαι δύνατο ἔπος ἱέμενός περ,
κῆρ ἄχεϊ μεγάλῳ βεβολημένος· ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφιν πίμπλαντο, γόον δʼ ὠίετο θυμός.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν πάντες ἀγασσάμεθʼ ἐξερέοντες,
καὶ τότε τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων κατέλεξεν ὄλεθρον·
ἤιομεν, ὡς ἐκέλευες, ἀνὰ δρυμά, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ·
εὕρομεν ἐν βήσσῃσι τετυγμένα δώματα καλὰ
ξεστοῖσιν λάεσσι, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ.
ἔνθα δέ τις μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη λίγʼ ἄειδεν,
ἢ θεὸς ἠὲ γυνή· τοὶ δὲ φθέγγοντο καλεῦντες.
ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἀιδρείῃσιν ἕποντο·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ὑπέμεινα, ὀισάμενος δόλον εἶναι.
οἱ δʼ ἅμʼ ἀιστώθησαν ἀολλέες, οὐδέ τις αὐτῶν
ἐξεφάνη· δηρὸν δὲ καθήμενος ἐσκοπίαζον.
πάρ ῥʼ ἄκυλον βάλανόν τε βάλεν καρπόν τε κρανείης
ἔδμεναι, οἷα σύες χαμαιευνάδες αἰὲν ἔδουσιν.
Εὐρύλοχος δʼ αἶψʼ ἦλθε θοὴν ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
ἀγγελίην ἑτάρων ἐρέων καὶ ἀδευκέα πότμον.
οὐδέ τι ἐκφάσθαι δύνατο ἔπος ἱέμενός περ,
κῆρ ἄχεϊ μεγάλῳ βεβολημένος· ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφιν πίμπλαντο, γόον δʼ ὠίετο θυμός.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν πάντες ἀγασσάμεθʼ ἐξερέοντες,
καὶ τότε τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων κατέλεξεν ὄλεθρον·
ἤιομεν, ὡς ἐκέλευες, ἀνὰ δρυμά, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ·
εὕρομεν ἐν βήσσῃσι τετυγμένα δώματα καλὰ
ξεστοῖσιν λάεσσι, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ.
ἔνθα δέ τις μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένη λίγʼ ἄειδεν,
ἢ θεὸς ἠὲ γυνή· τοὶ δὲ φθέγγοντο καλεῦντες.
ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· οἱ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἀιδρείῃσιν ἕποντο·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ὑπέμεινα, ὀισάμενος δόλον εἶναι.
οἱ δʼ ἅμʼ ἀιστώθησαν ἀολλέες, οὐδέ τις αὐτῶν
ἐξεφάνη· δηρὸν δὲ καθήμενος ἐσκοπίαζον.
So he spoke, and I slung about my shoulders the silver-studded sword,
a great bronze one, and my bow about me,
and told him to lead me back by the same road.
But he took me by the knees with both hands and begged me,
and lamenting he addressed me with winged words:
a great bronze one, and my bow about me,
and told him to lead me back by the same road.
But he took me by the knees with both hands and begged me,
and lamenting he addressed me with winged words:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ περὶ μὲν ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
ὤμοιιν βαλόμην, μέγα χάλκεον, ἀμφὶ δὲ τόξα·
τὸν δʼ ἂψ ἠνώγεα αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἡγήσασθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι λαβὼν ἐλλίσσετο γούνων
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ὤμοιιν βαλόμην, μέγα χάλκεον, ἀμφὶ δὲ τόξα·
τὸν δʼ ἂψ ἠνώγεα αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἡγήσασθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι λαβὼν ἐλλίσσετο γούνων
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Do not take me there against my will, you nurtured by Zeus; leave me here.
For I know that you will not come back yourself, nor bring back
any other of your companions. Let us flee quickly
with these men here; we might still escape the evil day."
For I know that you will not come back yourself, nor bring back
any other of your companions. Let us flee quickly
with these men here; we might still escape the evil day."
μή μʼ ἄγε κεῖσʼ ἀέκοντα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ.
οἶδα γάρ, ὡς οὔτʼ αὐτὸς ἐλεύσεαι οὔτε τινʼ ἄλλον
ἄξεις σῶν ἑτάρων. ἀλλὰ ξὺν τοίσδεσι θᾶσσον
φεύγωμεν· ἔτι γάρ κεν ἀλύξαιμεν κακὸν ἦμαρ.
οἶδα γάρ, ὡς οὔτʼ αὐτὸς ἐλεύσεαι οὔτε τινʼ ἄλλον
ἄξεις σῶν ἑτάρων. ἀλλὰ ξὺν τοίσδεσι θᾶσσον
φεύγωμεν· ἔτι γάρ κεν ἀλύξαιμεν κακὸν ἦμαρ.
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Eurylochus, stay here yourself in this place,
eating and drinking beside the hollow black ship;
but I will go, for a strong necessity is upon me."
eating and drinking beside the hollow black ship;
but I will go, for a strong necessity is upon me."
Εὐρύλοχʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν σὺ μένʼ αὐτοῦ τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ
ἔσθων καὶ πίνων κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εἶμι, κρατερὴ δέ μοι ἔπλετʼ ἀνάγκη.
ἔσθων καὶ πίνων κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εἶμι, κρατερὴ δέ μοι ἔπλετʼ ἀνάγκη.
So saying I went up from the ship and the sea.
But when, going up through the holy glens, I was about
to reach the great house of Circe of the many drugs,
there Hermes of the golden wand met me
as I went towards the house, in the likeness of a young man
with his first beard, whose youth is at its most graceful;
and he clung to my hand and said a word and called me by name:
But when, going up through the holy glens, I was about
to reach the great house of Circe of the many drugs,
there Hermes of the golden wand met me
as I went towards the house, in the likeness of a young man
with his first beard, whose youth is at its most graceful;
and he clung to my hand and said a word and called me by name:
ὣς εἰπὼν παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα, νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ, τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη·
ἔν τʼ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἰὼν ἱερὰς ἀνὰ βήσσας
Κίρκης ἵξεσθαι πολυφαρμάκου ἐς μέγα δῶμα,
ἔνθα μοι Ἑρμείας χρυσόρραπις ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐρχομένῳ πρὸς δῶμα, νεηνίῃ ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς,
πρῶτον ὑπηνήτῃ, τοῦ περ χαριεστάτη ἥβη·
ἔν τʼ ἄρα μοι φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"Where now, unlucky man, are you going alone over the heights,
ignorant of the country? Your companions there in Circe’s house
are penned like pigs, kept in close hiding-places.
Do you come here to set them free? I do not think
you will get back yourself; you will stay where the others are.
But come, I will release you from these evils and save you.
Here, take this good drug and go to the house of Circe
with it; it will keep the evil day from your head.
And I will tell you all the deadly designs of Circe.
She will make you a mixed drink, and put drugs in the food;
but even so she will not be able to bewitch you, for the good drug
that I will give you will not allow it. And I will tell you everything.
When Circe strikes you with her very long wand,
then draw the sharp sword from beside your thigh
and rush at Circe as though eager to kill her.
She will be afraid of you and will invite you to her bed;
and then do not refuse the goddess’s bed,
so that she may free your companions and take care of you;
but tell her to swear a great oath by the blessed gods
that she will plan no other evil hurt against you,
so that when you are stripped she may not make you a coward and unmanned."
ignorant of the country? Your companions there in Circe’s house
are penned like pigs, kept in close hiding-places.
Do you come here to set them free? I do not think
you will get back yourself; you will stay where the others are.
But come, I will release you from these evils and save you.
Here, take this good drug and go to the house of Circe
with it; it will keep the evil day from your head.
And I will tell you all the deadly designs of Circe.
She will make you a mixed drink, and put drugs in the food;
but even so she will not be able to bewitch you, for the good drug
that I will give you will not allow it. And I will tell you everything.
When Circe strikes you with her very long wand,
then draw the sharp sword from beside your thigh
and rush at Circe as though eager to kill her.
She will be afraid of you and will invite you to her bed;
and then do not refuse the goddess’s bed,
so that she may free your companions and take care of you;
but tell her to swear a great oath by the blessed gods
that she will plan no other evil hurt against you,
so that when you are stripped she may not make you a coward and unmanned."
πῇ δὴ αὖτʼ, ὦ δύστηνε, διʼ ἄκριας ἔρχεαι οἶος,
χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδʼ ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες.
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρʼ ἔρχεαι; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν, μενέεις δὲ σύ γʼ, ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω.
τῆ, τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἔρχευ, ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ.
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης.
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ, βαλέει δʼ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι δώσω, ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα.
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σʼ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι, ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων.
ἡ δέ σʼ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι·
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θʼ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ·
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο,
μή σʼ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ.
χώρου ἄιδρις ἐών; ἕταροι δέ τοι οἵδʼ ἐνὶ Κίρκης
ἔρχαται ὥς τε σύες πυκινοὺς κευθμῶνας ἔχοντες.
ἦ τοὺς λυσόμενος δεῦρʼ ἔρχεαι; οὐδέ σέ φημι
αὐτὸν νοστήσειν, μενέεις δὲ σύ γʼ, ἔνθα περ ἄλλοι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή σε κακῶν ἐκλύσομαι ἠδὲ σαώσω.
τῆ, τόδε φάρμακον ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἔρχευ, ὅ κέν τοι κρατὸς ἀλάλκῃσιν κακὸν ἦμαρ.
πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια δήνεα Κίρκης.
τεύξει τοι κυκεῶ, βαλέει δʼ ἐν φάρμακα σίτῳ.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς θέλξαι σε δυνήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσει
φάρμακον ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι δώσω, ἐρέω δὲ ἕκαστα.
ὁππότε κεν Κίρκη σʼ ἐλάσῃ περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ,
δὴ τότε σὺ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπαῖξαι, ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων.
ἡ δέ σʼ ὑποδείσασα κελήσεται εὐνηθῆναι·
ἔνθα σὺ μηκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπανήνασθαι θεοῦ εὐνήν,
ὄφρα κέ τοι λύσῃ θʼ ἑτάρους αὐτόν τε κομίσσῃ·
ἀλλὰ κέλεσθαί μιν μακάρων μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι,
μή τί τοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο,
μή σʼ ἀπογυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃ.
So saying the slayer of Argus gave me the drug,
pulling it out of the earth, and showed me its nature.
At the root it was black, and its flower was like milk.
The gods call it moly; and it is hard to dig up
for mortal men, but the gods can do all things.
Then Hermes went away to high Olympus,
up through the wooded island; and I went to the house of Circe,
and my heart was much troubled as I went.
I stood in the doorway of the fair-tressed goddess,
and standing there I called, and the goddess heard my voice.
At once she came out and opened the shining doors
and invited me in; and I followed her, grieved at heart.
She brought me in and seated me on a chair studded with silver,
a fine one, richly worked; and there was a footstool for my feet.
She made me a mixed drink in a golden cup, for me to drink,
and put a drug in it, with evil in her heart.
But when she had given it and I had drunk it off, and it did not bewitch me,
she struck me with her wand and said a word and called me by name:
pulling it out of the earth, and showed me its nature.
At the root it was black, and its flower was like milk.
The gods call it moly; and it is hard to dig up
for mortal men, but the gods can do all things.
Then Hermes went away to high Olympus,
up through the wooded island; and I went to the house of Circe,
and my heart was much troubled as I went.
I stood in the doorway of the fair-tressed goddess,
and standing there I called, and the goddess heard my voice.
At once she came out and opened the shining doors
and invited me in; and I followed her, grieved at heart.
She brought me in and seated me on a chair studded with silver,
a fine one, richly worked; and there was a footstool for my feet.
She made me a mixed drink in a golden cup, for me to drink,
and put a drug in it, with evil in her heart.
But when she had given it and I had drunk it off, and it did not bewitch me,
she struck me with her wand and said a word and called me by name:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πόρε φάρμακον ἀργεϊφόντης
ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας, καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε.
ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε, γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος·
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί· χαλεπὸν δέ τʼ ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται.
Ἑρμείας μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον
νῆσον ἀνʼ ὑλήεσσαν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.
ἔστην δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι θεᾶς καλλιπλοκάμοιο·
ἔνθα στὰς ἐβόησα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς.
ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.
εἷσε δέ μʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου
καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·
τεῦχε δέ μοι κυκεῶ χρυσέῳ δέπαι, ὄφρα πίοιμι,
ἐν δέ τε φάρμακον ἧκε, κακὰ φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δῶκέν τε καὶ ἔκπιον, οὐδέ μʼ ἔθελξε,
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
ἐκ γαίης ἐρύσας, καί μοι φύσιν αὐτοῦ ἔδειξε.
ῥίζῃ μὲν μέλαν ἔσκε, γάλακτι δὲ εἴκελον ἄνθος·
μῶλυ δέ μιν καλέουσι θεοί· χαλεπὸν δέ τʼ ὀρύσσειν
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα δύνανται.
Ἑρμείας μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον
νῆσον ἀνʼ ὑλήεσσαν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.
ἔστην δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι θεᾶς καλλιπλοκάμοιο·
ἔνθα στὰς ἐβόησα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς.
ἡ δʼ αἶψʼ ἐξελθοῦσα θύρας ὤιξε φαεινὰς
καὶ κάλει· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.
εἷσε δέ μʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου
καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·
τεῦχε δέ μοι κυκεῶ χρυσέῳ δέπαι, ὄφρα πίοιμι,
ἐν δέ τε φάρμακον ἧκε, κακὰ φρονέουσʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δῶκέν τε καὶ ἔκπιον, οὐδέ μʼ ἔθελξε,
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Go now to the pigsty, and lie down with the rest of your companions."
ἔρχεο νῦν συφεόνδε, μετʼ ἄλλων λέξο ἑταίρων.
So she spoke; and I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and rushed at Circe as though eager to kill her.
She gave a great cry and ran under my guard and caught my knees,
and lamenting she addressed me with winged words:
and rushed at Circe as though eager to kill her.
She gave a great cry and ran under my guard and caught my knees,
and lamenting she addressed me with winged words:
ὣς φάτʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
Κίρκῃ ἐπήιξα ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων.
ἡ δὲ μέγα ἰάχουσα ὑπέδραμε καὶ λάβε γούνων,
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Κίρκῃ ἐπήιξα ὥς τε κτάμεναι μενεαίνων.
ἡ δὲ μέγα ἰάχουσα ὑπέδραμε καὶ λάβε γούνων,
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city, and your parents?
Wonder holds me that you drank these drugs and were not bewitched.
No other man has ever withstood these drugs,
once he has drunk and they have passed the barrier of his teeth.
But there is a mind in your breast that cannot be enchanted.
Surely you are Odysseus of many turns, whom the slayer of Argus
of the golden wand always told me would come,
on his way back from Troy in a swift black ship.
Come, put your sword back in its sheath, and let the two of us
go up into my bed, so that, joined
in bed and in love, we may come to trust one another."
Wonder holds me that you drank these drugs and were not bewitched.
No other man has ever withstood these drugs,
once he has drunk and they have passed the barrier of his teeth.
But there is a mind in your breast that cannot be enchanted.
Surely you are Odysseus of many turns, whom the slayer of Argus
of the golden wand always told me would come,
on his way back from Troy in a swift black ship.
Come, put your sword back in its sheath, and let the two of us
go up into my bed, so that, joined
in bed and in love, we may come to trust one another."
τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
θαῦμά μʼ ἔχει ὡς οὔ τι πιὼν τάδε φάρμακʼ ἐθέλχθης·
οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος ἀνὴρ τάδε φάρμακʼ ἀνέτλη,
ὅς κε πίῃ καὶ πρῶτον ἀμείψεται ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
σοὶ δέ τις ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀκήλητος νόος ἐστίν.
ἦ σύ γʼ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι πολύτροπος, ὅν τέ μοι αἰεὶ
φάσκεν ἐλεύσεσθαι χρυσόρραπις ἀργεϊφόντης,
ἐκ Τροίης ἀνιόντα θοῇ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ κολεῷ μὲν ἄορ θέο, νῶι δʼ ἔπειτα
εὐνῆς ἡμετέρης ἐπιβείομεν, ὄφρα μιγέντε
εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι πεποίθομεν ἀλλήλοισιν.
θαῦμά μʼ ἔχει ὡς οὔ τι πιὼν τάδε φάρμακʼ ἐθέλχθης·
οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ τις ἄλλος ἀνὴρ τάδε φάρμακʼ ἀνέτλη,
ὅς κε πίῃ καὶ πρῶτον ἀμείψεται ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
σοὶ δέ τις ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀκήλητος νόος ἐστίν.
ἦ σύ γʼ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι πολύτροπος, ὅν τέ μοι αἰεὶ
φάσκεν ἐλεύσεσθαι χρυσόρραπις ἀργεϊφόντης,
ἐκ Τροίης ἀνιόντα θοῇ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ κολεῷ μὲν ἄορ θέο, νῶι δʼ ἔπειτα
εὐνῆς ἡμετέρης ἐπιβείομεν, ὄφρα μιγέντε
εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι πεποίθομεν ἀλλήλοισιν.
So she spoke, and I answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Circe, how can you tell me to be gentle with you,
you who have made my companions swine in your halls,
and keep me here and tell me, with guile in your mind,
to go into your chamber and to go up into your bed,
so that when I am stripped you may make me a coward and unmanned?
I would not be willing to go up into your bed
unless you would bring yourself, goddess, to swear a great oath
that you will plan no other evil hurt against me."
So I spoke, and she swore at once, as I told her.
But when she had sworn and completed the oath,
then I went up into the very beautiful bed of Circe.
Meanwhile four handmaids were busy in the halls,
who are her working women through the house.
They are born of the springs and of the groves
and of the holy rivers that flow out to the sea.
One of them threw fine purple coverlets over the chairs
above, and spread linen cloths underneath;
another drew silver tables up in front of the chairs
and set golden baskets on them;
the third mixed the honey-hearted, sweet wine
in a silver bowl, and set out golden cups;
the fourth brought water and kindled a great fire
under a great tripod; and the water grew warm.
But when the water boiled in the shining bronze,
she set me in the bath and washed me from the great tripod,
mixing it to a pleasant warmth, over my head and my shoulders,
until she took the spirit-destroying weariness out of my limbs.
And when she had bathed me and rubbed me richly with oil,
and thrown about me a fine cloak and a tunic,
she brought me in and seated me on a chair studded with silver,
a fine one, richly worked; and there was a footstool for my feet.
A handmaid brought water in a pitcher and poured it
from a fine golden vessel over a silver basin,
for the washing of hands; and she drew up a polished table beside me.
The grave housekeeper brought bread and set it before me,
laying on many dishes, giving freely of her store;
and she told me to eat; but it did not please my spirit,
and I sat with my mind elsewhere, and my spirit foreboded evil.
When Circe saw me sitting there and not putting out my hands
to the food, but held by a strong grief,
she stood close by me and addressed me with winged words:
you who have made my companions swine in your halls,
and keep me here and tell me, with guile in your mind,
to go into your chamber and to go up into your bed,
so that when I am stripped you may make me a coward and unmanned?
I would not be willing to go up into your bed
unless you would bring yourself, goddess, to swear a great oath
that you will plan no other evil hurt against me."
So I spoke, and she swore at once, as I told her.
But when she had sworn and completed the oath,
then I went up into the very beautiful bed of Circe.
Meanwhile four handmaids were busy in the halls,
who are her working women through the house.
They are born of the springs and of the groves
and of the holy rivers that flow out to the sea.
One of them threw fine purple coverlets over the chairs
above, and spread linen cloths underneath;
another drew silver tables up in front of the chairs
and set golden baskets on them;
the third mixed the honey-hearted, sweet wine
in a silver bowl, and set out golden cups;
the fourth brought water and kindled a great fire
under a great tripod; and the water grew warm.
But when the water boiled in the shining bronze,
she set me in the bath and washed me from the great tripod,
mixing it to a pleasant warmth, over my head and my shoulders,
until she took the spirit-destroying weariness out of my limbs.
And when she had bathed me and rubbed me richly with oil,
and thrown about me a fine cloak and a tunic,
she brought me in and seated me on a chair studded with silver,
a fine one, richly worked; and there was a footstool for my feet.
A handmaid brought water in a pitcher and poured it
from a fine golden vessel over a silver basin,
for the washing of hands; and she drew up a polished table beside me.
The grave housekeeper brought bread and set it before me,
laying on many dishes, giving freely of her store;
and she told me to eat; but it did not please my spirit,
and I sat with my mind elsewhere, and my spirit foreboded evil.
When Circe saw me sitting there and not putting out my hands
to the food, but held by a strong grief,
she stood close by me and addressed me with winged words:
ὦ Κίρκη, πῶς γάρ με κέλεαι σοὶ ἤπιον εἶναι,
ἥ μοι σῦς μὲν ἔθηκας ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑταίρους,
αὐτὸν δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἔχουσα δολοφρονέουσα κελεύεις
ἐς θάλαμόν τʼ ἰέναι καὶ σῆς ἐπιβήμεναι εὐνῆς,
ὄφρα με γυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃς.
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγώ γʼ ἐθέλοιμι τεῆς ἐπιβήμεναι εὐνῆς,
εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι
μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀπώμνυεν, ὡς ἐκέλευον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπέβην περικαλλέος εὐνῆς.
ἀμφίπολοι δʼ ἄρα τέως μὲν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο
τέσσαρες, αἵ οἱ δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασι·
γίγνονται δʼ ἄρα ταί γʼ ἔκ τε κρηνέων ἀπό τʼ ἀλσέων
ἔκ θʼ ἱερῶν ποταμῶν, οἵ τʼ εἰς ἅλαδε προρέουσι.
τάων ἡ μὲν ἔβαλλε θρόνοις ἔνι ῥήγεα καλὰ
πορφύρεα καθύπερθʼ, ὑπένερθε δὲ λῖθʼ ὑπέβαλλεν·
ἡ δʼ ἑτέρη προπάροιθε θρόνων ἐτίταινε τραπέζας
ἀργυρέας, ἐπὶ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κάνεια·
ἡ δὲ τρίτη κρητῆρι μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα
ἡδὺν ἐν ἀργυρέῳ, νέμε δὲ χρύσεια κύπελλα·
ἡ δὲ τετάρτη ὕδωρ ἐφόρει καὶ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε
πολλὸν ὑπὸ τρίποδι μεγάλῳ· ἰαίνετο δʼ ὕδωρ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ ζέσσεν ὕδωρ ἐνὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ,
ἔς ῥʼ ἀσάμινθον ἕσασα λόʼ ἐκ τρίποδος μεγάλοιο,
θυμῆρες κεράσασα, κατὰ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων,
ὄφρα μοι ἐκ κάματον θυμοφθόρον εἵλετο γυίων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
εἷσε δέ μʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου
καλοῦ δαιδαλέου, ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
ἐσθέμεναι δʼ ἐκέλευεν· ἐμῷ δʼ οὐχ ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
ἀλλʼ ἥμην ἀλλοφρονέων, κακὰ δʼ ὄσσετο θυμός.
Κίρκη δʼ ὡς ἐνόησεν ἔμʼ ἥμενον οὐδʼ ἐπὶ σίτῳ
χεῖρας ἰάλλοντα, κρατερὸν δέ με πένθος ἔχοντα,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἥ μοι σῦς μὲν ἔθηκας ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑταίρους,
αὐτὸν δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἔχουσα δολοφρονέουσα κελεύεις
ἐς θάλαμόν τʼ ἰέναι καὶ σῆς ἐπιβήμεναι εὐνῆς,
ὄφρα με γυμνωθέντα κακὸν καὶ ἀνήνορα θήῃς.
οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγώ γʼ ἐθέλοιμι τεῆς ἐπιβήμεναι εὐνῆς,
εἰ μή μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι
μή τί μοι αὐτῷ πῆμα κακὸν βουλευσέμεν ἄλλο.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀπώμνυεν, ὡς ἐκέλευον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπέβην περικαλλέος εὐνῆς.
ἀμφίπολοι δʼ ἄρα τέως μὲν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο
τέσσαρες, αἵ οἱ δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασι·
γίγνονται δʼ ἄρα ταί γʼ ἔκ τε κρηνέων ἀπό τʼ ἀλσέων
ἔκ θʼ ἱερῶν ποταμῶν, οἵ τʼ εἰς ἅλαδε προρέουσι.
τάων ἡ μὲν ἔβαλλε θρόνοις ἔνι ῥήγεα καλὰ
πορφύρεα καθύπερθʼ, ὑπένερθε δὲ λῖθʼ ὑπέβαλλεν·
ἡ δʼ ἑτέρη προπάροιθε θρόνων ἐτίταινε τραπέζας
ἀργυρέας, ἐπὶ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κάνεια·
ἡ δὲ τρίτη κρητῆρι μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα
ἡδὺν ἐν ἀργυρέῳ, νέμε δὲ χρύσεια κύπελλα·
ἡ δὲ τετάρτη ὕδωρ ἐφόρει καὶ πῦρ ἀνέκαιε
πολλὸν ὑπὸ τρίποδι μεγάλῳ· ἰαίνετο δʼ ὕδωρ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ ζέσσεν ὕδωρ ἐνὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ,
ἔς ῥʼ ἀσάμινθον ἕσασα λόʼ ἐκ τρίποδος μεγάλοιο,
θυμῆρες κεράσασα, κατὰ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων,
ὄφρα μοι ἐκ κάματον θυμοφθόρον εἵλετο γυίων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
εἷσε δέ μʼ εἰσαγαγοῦσα ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου
καλοῦ δαιδαλέου, ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
ἐσθέμεναι δʼ ἐκέλευεν· ἐμῷ δʼ οὐχ ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
ἀλλʼ ἥμην ἀλλοφρονέων, κακὰ δʼ ὄσσετο θυμός.
Κίρκη δʼ ὡς ἐνόησεν ἔμʼ ἥμενον οὐδʼ ἐπὶ σίτῳ
χεῖρας ἰάλλοντα, κρατερὸν δέ με πένθος ἔχοντα,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Why, Odysseus, do you sit like this, like a man without a voice,
eating your heart, and touch neither food nor drink?
Do you suspect some other trap? You have no need
to be afraid; I have already sworn you a strong oath."
eating your heart, and touch neither food nor drink?
Do you suspect some other trap? You have no need
to be afraid; I have already sworn you a strong oath."
τίφθʼ οὕτως, Ὀδυσεῦ, κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζεαι ἶσος ἀναύδῳ,
θυμὸν ἔδων, βρώμης δʼ οὐχ ἅπτεαι οὐδὲ ποτῆτος;
ἦ τινά που δόλον ἄλλον ὀίεαι· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
δειδίμεν· ἤδη γάρ τοι ἀπώμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον.
θυμὸν ἔδων, βρώμης δʼ οὐχ ἅπτεαι οὐδὲ ποτῆτος;
ἦ τινά που δόλον ἄλλον ὀίεαι· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
δειδίμεν· ἤδη γάρ τοι ἀπώμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκον.
So she spoke, and I answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Circe, what man who is right-minded
could bring himself to taste food or drink
before he had freed his companions and seen them with his eyes?
But if you are ready and willing to tell me to drink and eat,
set them free, so that I may see my trusty companions with my eyes."
So I spoke, and Circe went out through the hall
with her wand in her hand, and opened the doors of the pigsty,
and drove them out, like nine-year-old fatted hogs.
They stood facing her, and she went among them
and rubbed another drug on each of them.
The bristles fell from their limbs, which the deadly drug
had grown on them before, the drug the lady Circe gave them;
and they became men again, younger than they were before,
and far handsomer and taller to look at.
They knew me, and each of them clung to my hands.
A longing to weep came over them all, and the house
rang terribly about them; and the goddess herself pitied them.
And she, noble among goddesses, stood close by me and said:
could bring himself to taste food or drink
before he had freed his companions and seen them with his eyes?
But if you are ready and willing to tell me to drink and eat,
set them free, so that I may see my trusty companions with my eyes."
So I spoke, and Circe went out through the hall
with her wand in her hand, and opened the doors of the pigsty,
and drove them out, like nine-year-old fatted hogs.
They stood facing her, and she went among them
and rubbed another drug on each of them.
The bristles fell from their limbs, which the deadly drug
had grown on them before, the drug the lady Circe gave them;
and they became men again, younger than they were before,
and far handsomer and taller to look at.
They knew me, and each of them clung to my hands.
A longing to weep came over them all, and the house
rang terribly about them; and the goddess herself pitied them.
And she, noble among goddesses, stood close by me and said:
ὦ Κίρκη, τίς γάρ κεν ἀνήρ, ὃς ἐναίσιμος εἴη,
πρὶν τλαίη πάσσασθαι ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
πρὶν λύσασθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι;
ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ πρόφρασσα πιεῖν φαγέμεν τε κελεύεις,
λῦσον, ἵνʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.
ὣς ἐφάμην, Κίρκη δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ῥάβδον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρί, θύρας δʼ ἀνέῳξε συφειοῦ,
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασεν σιάλοισιν ἐοικότας ἐννεώροισιν.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔστησαν ἐναντίοι, ἡ δὲ διʼ αὐτῶν
ἐρχομένη προσάλειφεν ἑκάστῳ φάρμακον ἄλλο.
τῶν δʼ ἐκ μὲν μελέων τρίχες ἔρρεον, ἃς πρὶν ἔφυσε
φάρμακον οὐλόμενον, τό σφιν πόρε πότνια Κίρκη·
ἄνδρες δʼ ἂψ ἐγένοντο νεώτεροι ἢ πάρος ἦσαν,
καὶ πολὺ καλλίονες καὶ μείζονες εἰσοράασθαι.
ἔγνωσαν δέ μʼ ἐκεῖνοι ἔφυν τʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἕκαστος.
πᾶσιν δʼ ἱμερόεις ὑπέδυ γόος, ἀμφὶ δὲ δῶμα
σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε· θεὰ δʼ ἐλέαιρε καὶ αὐτή.
ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·
πρὶν τλαίη πάσσασθαι ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,
πρὶν λύσασθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι;
ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ πρόφρασσα πιεῖν φαγέμεν τε κελεύεις,
λῦσον, ἵνʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.
ὣς ἐφάμην, Κίρκη δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ῥάβδον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρί, θύρας δʼ ἀνέῳξε συφειοῦ,
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασεν σιάλοισιν ἐοικότας ἐννεώροισιν.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔστησαν ἐναντίοι, ἡ δὲ διʼ αὐτῶν
ἐρχομένη προσάλειφεν ἑκάστῳ φάρμακον ἄλλο.
τῶν δʼ ἐκ μὲν μελέων τρίχες ἔρρεον, ἃς πρὶν ἔφυσε
φάρμακον οὐλόμενον, τό σφιν πόρε πότνια Κίρκη·
ἄνδρες δʼ ἂψ ἐγένοντο νεώτεροι ἢ πάρος ἦσαν,
καὶ πολὺ καλλίονες καὶ μείζονες εἰσοράασθαι.
ἔγνωσαν δέ μʼ ἐκεῖνοι ἔφυν τʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἕκαστος.
πᾶσιν δʼ ἱμερόεις ὑπέδυ γόος, ἀμφὶ δὲ δῶμα
σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε· θεὰ δʼ ἐλέαιρε καὶ αὐτή.
ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
go now to the swift ship and to the shore of the sea.
First of all drag the ship up onto the land,
and stow your goods and all your gear in the caves;
then come back yourself and bring your trusty companions."
go now to the swift ship and to the shore of the sea.
First of all drag the ship up onto the land,
and stow your goods and all your gear in the caves;
then come back yourself and bring your trusty companions."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἔρχεο νῦν ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσατε ἤπειρόνδε,
κτήματα δʼ ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσατε ὅπλα τε πάντα·
αὐτὸς δʼ ἂψ ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.
ἔρχεο νῦν ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσατε ἤπειρόνδε,
κτήματα δʼ ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσατε ὅπλα τε πάντα·
αὐτὸς δʼ ἂψ ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.
So she spoke, and my lordly spirit was persuaded,
and I went to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
There at the swift ship I found my trusty companions
lamenting pitifully, shedding swelling tears.
As when calves in the fields, about the cows of the herd
coming back to the yard when they have had their fill of grazing,
all skip together to meet them, and the pens
no longer hold them, but they run round and round, lowing steadily,
about their mothers: so, when those men saw me with their eyes,
they poured round me in tears; and their spirit felt
as though they had come to their native land and to the very city
of rugged Ithaca, where they were bred and born.
And lamenting they addressed me with winged words:
"At your homecoming, you nurtured by Zeus, we were as glad
as if we had reached Ithaca, our native land.
But come, tell us of the destruction of the other companions."
and I went to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
There at the swift ship I found my trusty companions
lamenting pitifully, shedding swelling tears.
As when calves in the fields, about the cows of the herd
coming back to the yard when they have had their fill of grazing,
all skip together to meet them, and the pens
no longer hold them, but they run round and round, lowing steadily,
about their mothers: so, when those men saw me with their eyes,
they poured round me in tears; and their spirit felt
as though they had come to their native land and to the very city
of rugged Ithaca, where they were bred and born.
And lamenting they addressed me with winged words:
"At your homecoming, you nurtured by Zeus, we were as glad
as if we had reached Ithaca, our native land.
But come, tell us of the destruction of the other companions."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ,
βῆν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
εὗρον ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ νηὶ θοῇ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένους, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντας.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἄγραυλοι πόριες περὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
ἐλθούσας ἐς κόπρον, ἐπὴν βοτάνης κορέσωνται,
πᾶσαι ἅμα σκαίρουσιν ἐναντίαι· οὐδʼ ἔτι σηκοὶ
ἴσχουσʼ, ἀλλʼ ἁδινὸν μυκώμεναι ἀμφιθέουσι·
μητέρας· ὣς ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνοι ἐπεὶ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
δακρυόεντες ἔχυντο· δόκησε δʼ ἄρα σφίσι θυμὸς
ὣς ἔμεν, ὡς εἰ πατρίδʼ ἱκοίατο καὶ πόλιν αὐτὴν
τρηχείης Ἰθάκης, ἵνα τʼ ἔτραφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο.
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενοι ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
σοὶ μὲν νοστήσαντι, διοτρεφές, ὣς ἐχάρημεν,
ὡς εἴ τʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην ἀφικοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων κατάλεξον ὄλεθρον.
βῆν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
εὗρον ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ νηὶ θοῇ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένους, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντας.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἄγραυλοι πόριες περὶ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
ἐλθούσας ἐς κόπρον, ἐπὴν βοτάνης κορέσωνται,
πᾶσαι ἅμα σκαίρουσιν ἐναντίαι· οὐδʼ ἔτι σηκοὶ
ἴσχουσʼ, ἀλλʼ ἁδινὸν μυκώμεναι ἀμφιθέουσι·
μητέρας· ὣς ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνοι ἐπεὶ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
δακρυόεντες ἔχυντο· δόκησε δʼ ἄρα σφίσι θυμὸς
ὣς ἔμεν, ὡς εἰ πατρίδʼ ἱκοίατο καὶ πόλιν αὐτὴν
τρηχείης Ἰθάκης, ἵνα τʼ ἔτραφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο.
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενοι ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
σοὶ μὲν νοστήσαντι, διοτρεφές, ὣς ἐχάρημεν,
ὡς εἴ τʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην ἀφικοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων κατάλεξον ὄλεθρον.
So they spoke, and I answered them with soft words:
ὣς ἔφαν, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ προσέφην μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι·
"First of all let us drag the ship up onto the land,
and stow our goods and all our gear in the caves;
then bestir yourselves and all come with me,
so that you may see our companions in the holy house of Circe
drinking and eating; for their store never fails."
So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.
Eurylochus alone tried to hold back all my companions,
and he spoke to them and addressed them with winged words:
and stow our goods and all our gear in the caves;
then bestir yourselves and all come with me,
so that you may see our companions in the holy house of Circe
drinking and eating; for their store never fails."
So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.
Eurylochus alone tried to hold back all my companions,
and he spoke to them and addressed them with winged words:
νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσομεν ἤπειρόνδε,
κτήματα δʼ ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσομεν ὅπλα τε πάντα·
αὐτοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνεσθε ἐμοὶ ἅμα πάντες ἕπεσθαι,
ὄφρα ἴδηθʼ ἑτάρους ἱεροῖς ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης
πίνοντας καὶ ἔδοντας· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχουσιν.
ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο.
Εὐρύλοχος δέ μοι οἶος ἐρύκανε πάντας ἑταίρους·
καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
κτήματα δʼ ἐν σπήεσσι πελάσσομεν ὅπλα τε πάντα·
αὐτοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνεσθε ἐμοὶ ἅμα πάντες ἕπεσθαι,
ὄφρα ἴδηθʼ ἑτάρους ἱεροῖς ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης
πίνοντας καὶ ἔδοντας· ἐπηετανὸν γὰρ ἔχουσιν.
ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο.
Εὐρύλοχος δέ μοι οἶος ἐρύκανε πάντας ἑταίρους·
καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Ah, wretched men, where are we going? Why do you long for these evils,
to go down into Circe’s hall, where she will make us all
swine or wolves or lions,
to guard her great house for her, and by force,
just as the Cyclops did, when our companions came
into his yard, and reckless Odysseus went with them?
For those men too perished by his reckless folly."
to go down into Circe’s hall, where she will make us all
swine or wolves or lions,
to guard her great house for her, and by force,
just as the Cyclops did, when our companions came
into his yard, and reckless Odysseus went with them?
For those men too perished by his reckless folly."
ἆ δειλοί, πόσʼ ἴμεν; τί κακῶν ἱμείρετε τούτων;
Κίρκης ἐς μέγαρον καταβήμεναι, ἥ κεν ἅπαντας
ἢ σῦς ἠὲ λύκους ποιήσεται ἠὲ λέοντας,
οἵ κέν οἱ μέγα δῶμα φυλάσσοιμεν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ,
ὥς περ Κύκλωψ ἔρξʼ, ὅτε οἱ μέσσαυλον ἵκοντο
ἡμέτεροι ἕταροι, σὺν δʼ ὁ θρασὺς εἵπετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
τούτου γὰρ καὶ κεῖνοι ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο.
Κίρκης ἐς μέγαρον καταβήμεναι, ἥ κεν ἅπαντας
ἢ σῦς ἠὲ λύκους ποιήσεται ἠὲ λέοντας,
οἵ κέν οἱ μέγα δῶμα φυλάσσοιμεν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ,
ὥς περ Κύκλωψ ἔρξʼ, ὅτε οἱ μέσσαυλον ἵκοντο
ἡμέτεροι ἕταροι, σὺν δʼ ὁ θρασὺς εἵπετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
τούτου γὰρ καὶ κεῖνοι ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο.
So he spoke, and I debated in my mind
whether to draw the long-edged sword from beside my stout thigh
and strike off his head and bring it to the ground,
close kinsman of mine though he was; but my companions
tried to hold me back with soft words, one from one side, one from another:
"Born of Zeus, we will leave this man, if you order it,
to stay there by the ship and to guard the ship;
but lead us to the holy house of Circe."
So saying they went up from the ship and the sea.
Nor was Eurylochus left behind by the hollow ship,
but followed; for he feared my terrible rebuke.
Meanwhile Circe had carefully bathed the other companions
in her house, and rubbed them richly with oil,
and thrown thick cloaks and tunics about them;
and we found them all feasting well in the halls.
And when they saw one another and knew each other face to face,
they wept and lamented, and the house groaned about them.
And she, noble among goddesses, stood close by me and said:
whether to draw the long-edged sword from beside my stout thigh
and strike off his head and bring it to the ground,
close kinsman of mine though he was; but my companions
tried to hold me back with soft words, one from one side, one from another:
"Born of Zeus, we will leave this man, if you order it,
to stay there by the ship and to guard the ship;
but lead us to the holy house of Circe."
So saying they went up from the ship and the sea.
Nor was Eurylochus left behind by the hollow ship,
but followed; for he feared my terrible rebuke.
Meanwhile Circe had carefully bathed the other companions
in her house, and rubbed them richly with oil,
and thrown thick cloaks and tunics about them;
and we found them all feasting well in the halls.
And when they saw one another and knew each other face to face,
they wept and lamented, and the house groaned about them.
And she, noble among goddesses, stood close by me and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε μετὰ φρεσὶ μερμήριξα,
σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ,
τῷ οἱ ἀποπλήξας κεφαλὴν οὖδάσδε πελάσσαι,
καὶ πηῷ περ ἐόντι μάλα σχεδόν· ἀλλά μʼ ἑταῖροι
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος·
διογενές, τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις,
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι·
ἡμῖν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὰ πρὸς δώματα Κίρκης.
ὣς φάμενοι παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης.
οὐδὲ μὲν Εὐρύλοχος κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ λέλειπτο,
ἀλλʼ ἕπετʼ· ἔδεισεν γὰρ ἐμὴν ἔκπαγλον ἐνιπήν.
τόφρα δὲ τοὺς ἄλλους ἑτάρους ἐν δώμασι Κίρκη
ἐνδυκέως λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνας·
δαινυμένους δʼ ἐὺ πάντας ἐφεύρομεν ἐν μεγάροισιν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλους εἶδον φράσσαντό τʼ ἐσάντα,
κλαῖον ὀδυρόμενοι, περὶ δὲ στεναχίζετο δῶμα.
ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·
σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ,
τῷ οἱ ἀποπλήξας κεφαλὴν οὖδάσδε πελάσσαι,
καὶ πηῷ περ ἐόντι μάλα σχεδόν· ἀλλά μʼ ἑταῖροι
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος·
διογενές, τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις,
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νηί τε μένειν καὶ νῆα ἔρυσθαι·
ἡμῖν δʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ ἱερὰ πρὸς δώματα Κίρκης.
ὣς φάμενοι παρὰ νηὸς ἀνήιον ἠδὲ θαλάσσης.
οὐδὲ μὲν Εὐρύλοχος κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ λέλειπτο,
ἀλλʼ ἕπετʼ· ἔδεισεν γὰρ ἐμὴν ἔκπαγλον ἐνιπήν.
τόφρα δὲ τοὺς ἄλλους ἑτάρους ἐν δώμασι Κίρκη
ἐνδυκέως λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνας·
δαινυμένους δʼ ἐὺ πάντας ἐφεύρομεν ἐν μεγάροισιν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλους εἶδον φράσσαντό τʼ ἐσάντα,
κλαῖον ὀδυρόμενοι, περὶ δὲ στεναχίζετο δῶμα.
ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα προσηύδα δῖα θεάων·
"Raise no more of this swelling lamentation now. I know myself
both how many pains you suffered on the fish-filled sea
and what hostile men did to you on the dry land.
But come, eat food and drink wine,
until you take back into your breasts the spirit
you had when you first left your native land,
rugged Ithaca. Now you are worn out and without heart,
always remembering your hard wandering, and never is your spirit
in gladness, since you have suffered very much indeed."
both how many pains you suffered on the fish-filled sea
and what hostile men did to you on the dry land.
But come, eat food and drink wine,
until you take back into your breasts the spirit
you had when you first left your native land,
rugged Ithaca. Now you are worn out and without heart,
always remembering your hard wandering, and never is your spirit
in gladness, since you have suffered very much indeed."
μηκέτι νῦν θαλερὸν γόον ὄρνυτε· οἶδα καὶ αὐτὴ
ἠμὲν ὅσʼ ἐν πόντῳ πάθετʼ ἄλγεα ἰχθυόεντι,
ἠδʼ ὅσʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον,
εἰς ὅ κεν αὖτις θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι λάβητε,
οἷον ὅτε πρώτιστον ἐλείπετε πατρίδα γαῖαν
τρηχείης Ἰθάκης. νῦν δʼ ἀσκελέες καὶ ἄθυμοι,
αἰὲν ἄλης χαλεπῆς μεμνημένοι, οὐδέ ποθʼ ὕμιν
θυμὸς ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ πέποσθε.
ἠμὲν ὅσʼ ἐν πόντῳ πάθετʼ ἄλγεα ἰχθυόεντι,
ἠδʼ ὅσʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον,
εἰς ὅ κεν αὖτις θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι λάβητε,
οἷον ὅτε πρώτιστον ἐλείπετε πατρίδα γαῖαν
τρηχείης Ἰθάκης. νῦν δʼ ἀσκελέες καὶ ἄθυμοι,
αἰὲν ἄλης χαλεπῆς μεμνημένοι, οὐδέ ποθʼ ὕμιν
θυμὸς ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ πέποσθε.
So she spoke, and our lordly spirit was persuaded.
There we sat, all our days for a full year,
feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
but when a year had gone and the seasons had come round
as the months waned, and the long days were fulfilled,
then my trusty companions called me out and said:
"Strange man, remember your native land at last,
if it is fated for you to be saved and to reach
your high-roofed house and your own native land."
There we sat, all our days for a full year,
feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
but when a year had gone and the seasons had come round
as the months waned, and the long days were fulfilled,
then my trusty companions called me out and said:
"Strange man, remember your native land at last,
if it is fated for you to be saved and to reach
your high-roofed house and your own native land."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ἔνθα μὲν ἤματα πάντα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐνιαυτὸς ἔην, περὶ δʼ ἔτραπον ὧραι
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα μακρὰ τελέσθη,
καὶ τότε μʼ ἐκκαλέσαντες ἔφαν ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·
δαιμόνιʼ, ἤδη νῦν μιμνήσκεο πατρίδος αἴης,
εἴ τοι θέσφατόν ἐστι σαωθῆναι καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἔνθα μὲν ἤματα πάντα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐνιαυτὸς ἔην, περὶ δʼ ἔτραπον ὧραι
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα μακρὰ τελέσθη,
καὶ τότε μʼ ἐκκαλέσαντες ἔφαν ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·
δαιμόνιʼ, ἤδη νῦν μιμνήσκεο πατρίδος αἴης,
εἴ τοι θέσφατόν ἐστι σαωθῆναι καὶ ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐς ὑψόροφον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
So they spoke, and my lordly spirit was persuaded.
So then all day long until the sun went down
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
but when the sun went down and darkness came on,
they lay down to sleep through the shadowy halls.
But I went up into the very beautiful bed of Circe
and begged her by her knees, and the goddess heard my voice;
and I spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
"Circe, fulfil for me the promise you made,
to send me home; my spirit is set on it now,
and my companions’, who wear away my heart
lamenting about me, whenever you are away."
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
So then all day long until the sun went down
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
but when the sun went down and darkness came on,
they lay down to sleep through the shadowy halls.
But I went up into the very beautiful bed of Circe
and begged her by her knees, and the goddess heard my voice;
and I spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
"Circe, fulfil for me the promise you made,
to send me home; my spirit is set on it now,
and my companions’, who wear away my heart
lamenting about me, whenever you are away."
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
ὣς ἔφαν, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα, δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπιβὰς περικαλλέος εὐνῆς
γούνων ἐλλιτάνευσα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
ὢ Κίρκη, τέλεσόν μοι ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέστης,
οἴκαδε πεμψέμεναι· θυμὸς δέ μοι ἔσσυται ἤδη,
ἠδʼ ἄλλων ἑτάρων, οἵ μευ φθινύθουσι φίλον κῆρ
ἀμφʼ ἔμʼ ὀδυρόμενοι, ὅτε που σύ γε νόσφι γένηαι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα, δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Κίρκης ἐπιβὰς περικαλλέος εὐνῆς
γούνων ἐλλιτάνευσα, θεὰ δέ μευ ἔκλυεν αὐδῆς·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
ὢ Κίρκη, τέλεσόν μοι ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέστης,
οἴκαδε πεμψέμεναι· θυμὸς δέ μοι ἔσσυται ἤδη,
ἠδʼ ἄλλων ἑτάρων, οἵ μευ φθινύθουσι φίλον κῆρ
ἀμφʼ ἔμʼ ὀδυρόμενοι, ὅτε που σύ γε νόσφι γένηαι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
stay no longer in my house against your will.
But you must first accomplish another journey and come
to the house of Hades and of dread Persephone,
to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias,
the blind seer, whose wits are still firm;
to him alone, though he is dead, Persephone gave a mind
to keep his prudence, while the rest flit about as shadows."
stay no longer in my house against your will.
But you must first accomplish another journey and come
to the house of Hades and of dread Persephone,
to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias,
the blind seer, whose wits are still firm;
to him alone, though he is dead, Persephone gave a mind
to keep his prudence, while the rest flit about as shadows."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
μηκέτι νῦν ἀέκοντες ἐμῷ ἐνὶ μίμνετε οἴκῳ.
ἀλλʼ ἄλλην χρὴ πρῶτον ὁδὸν τελέσαι καὶ ἱκέσθαι
εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης,
ψυχῇ χρησομένους Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,
μάντηος ἀλαοῦ, τοῦ τε φρένες ἔμπεδοί εἰσι·
τῷ καὶ τεθνηῶτι νόον πόρε Περσεφόνεια,
οἴῳ πεπνῦσθαι, τοὶ δὲ σκιαὶ ἀίσσουσιν.
μηκέτι νῦν ἀέκοντες ἐμῷ ἐνὶ μίμνετε οἴκῳ.
ἀλλʼ ἄλλην χρὴ πρῶτον ὁδὸν τελέσαι καὶ ἱκέσθαι
εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης,
ψυχῇ χρησομένους Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,
μάντηος ἀλαοῦ, τοῦ τε φρένες ἔμπεδοί εἰσι·
τῷ καὶ τεθνηῶτι νόον πόρε Περσεφόνεια,
οἴῳ πεπνῦσθαι, τοὶ δὲ σκιαὶ ἀίσσουσιν.
So she spoke, and my heart was broken within me;
and I sat on the bed and wept, and my heart
no longer wished to live and to see the light of the sun.
But when I had had my fill of weeping and of writhing,
then I answered her and said:
and I sat on the bed and wept, and my heart
no longer wished to live and to see the light of the sun.
But when I had had my fill of weeping and of writhing,
then I answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ·
κλαῖον δʼ ἐν λεχέεσσι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ
ἤθελʼ ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενος τʼ ἐκορέσθην,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
κλαῖον δʼ ἐν λεχέεσσι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρ
ἤθελʼ ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενος τʼ ἐκορέσθην,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Circe, who will guide us on this journey?
No one has ever come to Hades in a black ship."
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
No one has ever come to Hades in a black ship."
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
ὢ Κίρκη, τίς γὰρ ταύτην ὁδὸν ἡγεμονεύσει;
εἰς Ἄϊδος δʼ οὔ πώ τις ἀφίκετο νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
εἰς Ἄϊδος δʼ οὔ πώ τις ἀφίκετο νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
let no want of a guide at the ship trouble you.
Set up the mast and spread the white sails
and sit still; the breath of the North Wind will carry her for you.
But when you have crossed Ocean in your ship,
where there is a fertile shore and the groves of Persephone,
tall poplars and willows that lose their fruit,
beach the ship there by deep-eddying Ocean,
and go yourself to the mouldering house of Hades.
There Pyriphlegethon flows into Acheron,
and Cocytus, which is a stream broken off from the water of Styx,
and there is a rock and the meeting of the two loud-roaring rivers.
There, hero, draw close, as I bid you,
and dig a pit, a cubit’s length this way and that,
and about it pour a drink-offering to all the dead,
first of honey mixed with milk, then of sweet wine,
and the third time of water; and sprinkle white barley-meal over it.
And beseech earnestly the strengthless heads of the dead,
promising that when you come to Ithaca a barren cow, the best you have,
you will sacrifice in your halls, and will fill a pyre with treasures,
and that to Teiresias apart you will offer a ram,
all black, one that stands out among your flocks.
But when you have entreated the famous tribes of the dead with prayers,
then sacrifice a ram and a black ewe,
turning them towards Erebus; and turn yourself away,
making for the streams of the river. And there many
spirits of the dead who have perished will come.
Then urge your companions and order them
to flay and burn the sheep that lie there, slaughtered
with the pitiless bronze, and to pray to the gods,
to strong Hades and to dread Persephone.
And you yourself draw the sharp sword from beside your thigh
and sit there, and do not let the strengthless heads of the dead
come near the blood before you have questioned Teiresias.
There the seer will come to you at once, leader of the people,
and he will tell you your road and the measures of your journey
and your homecoming, how you will go over the fish-filled sea."
let no want of a guide at the ship trouble you.
Set up the mast and spread the white sails
and sit still; the breath of the North Wind will carry her for you.
But when you have crossed Ocean in your ship,
where there is a fertile shore and the groves of Persephone,
tall poplars and willows that lose their fruit,
beach the ship there by deep-eddying Ocean,
and go yourself to the mouldering house of Hades.
There Pyriphlegethon flows into Acheron,
and Cocytus, which is a stream broken off from the water of Styx,
and there is a rock and the meeting of the two loud-roaring rivers.
There, hero, draw close, as I bid you,
and dig a pit, a cubit’s length this way and that,
and about it pour a drink-offering to all the dead,
first of honey mixed with milk, then of sweet wine,
and the third time of water; and sprinkle white barley-meal over it.
And beseech earnestly the strengthless heads of the dead,
promising that when you come to Ithaca a barren cow, the best you have,
you will sacrifice in your halls, and will fill a pyre with treasures,
and that to Teiresias apart you will offer a ram,
all black, one that stands out among your flocks.
But when you have entreated the famous tribes of the dead with prayers,
then sacrifice a ram and a black ewe,
turning them towards Erebus; and turn yourself away,
making for the streams of the river. And there many
spirits of the dead who have perished will come.
Then urge your companions and order them
to flay and burn the sheep that lie there, slaughtered
with the pitiless bronze, and to pray to the gods,
to strong Hades and to dread Persephone.
And you yourself draw the sharp sword from beside your thigh
and sit there, and do not let the strengthless heads of the dead
come near the blood before you have questioned Teiresias.
There the seer will come to you at once, leader of the people,
and he will tell you your road and the measures of your journey
and your homecoming, how you will go over the fish-filled sea."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
μή τί τοι ἡγεμόνος γε ποθὴ παρὰ νηὶ μελέσθω,
ἱστὸν δὲ στήσας, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πετάσσας
ἧσθαι· τὴν δέ κέ τοι πνοιὴ Βορέαο φέρῃσιν.
ἀλλʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν δὴ νηὶ διʼ Ὠκεανοῖο περήσῃς,
ἔνθʼ ἀκτή τε λάχεια καὶ ἄλσεα Περσεφονείης,
μακραί τʼ αἴγειροι καὶ ἰτέαι ὠλεσίκαρποι,
νῆα μὲν αὐτοῦ κέλσαι ἐπʼ Ὠκεανῷ βαθυδίνῃ,
αὐτὸς δʼ εἰς Ἀίδεω ἰέναι δόμον εὐρώεντα.
ἔνθα μὲν εἰς Ἀχέροντα Πυριφλεγέθων τε ῥέουσιν
Κώκυτός θʼ, ὃς δὴ Στυγὸς ὕδατός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ,
πέτρη τε ξύνεσίς τε δύω ποταμῶν ἐριδούπων·
ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειθʼ, ἥρως, χριμφθεὶς πέλας, ὥς σε κελεύω,
βόθρον ὀρύξαι, ὅσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεῖσθαι πᾶσιν νεκύεσσιν,
πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέι οἴνῳ,
τὸ τρίτον αὖθʼ ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ παλύνειν.
πολλὰ δὲ γουνοῦσθαι νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,
ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τʼ ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,
Τειρεσίῃ δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὄιν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳ
παμμέλανʼ, ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ὑμετέροισιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν εὐχῇσι λίσῃ κλυτὰ ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,
ἔνθʼ ὄιν ἀρνειὸν ῥέζειν θῆλύν τε μέλαιναν
εἰς Ἔρεβος στρέψας, αὐτὸς δʼ ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι
ἱέμενος ποταμοῖο ῥοάων· ἔνθα δὲ πολλαὶ
ψυχαὶ ἐλεύσονται νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρῦναι καὶ ἀνῶξαι
μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατάκειτʼ ἐσφαγμένα νηλέι χαλκῷ,
δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,
ἰφθίμῳ τʼ Ἀίδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·
αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
ἧσθαι, μηδὲ ἐᾶν νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.
ἔνθα τοι αὐτίκα μάντις ἐλεύσεται, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθου
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.
μή τί τοι ἡγεμόνος γε ποθὴ παρὰ νηὶ μελέσθω,
ἱστὸν δὲ στήσας, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πετάσσας
ἧσθαι· τὴν δέ κέ τοι πνοιὴ Βορέαο φέρῃσιν.
ἀλλʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν δὴ νηὶ διʼ Ὠκεανοῖο περήσῃς,
ἔνθʼ ἀκτή τε λάχεια καὶ ἄλσεα Περσεφονείης,
μακραί τʼ αἴγειροι καὶ ἰτέαι ὠλεσίκαρποι,
νῆα μὲν αὐτοῦ κέλσαι ἐπʼ Ὠκεανῷ βαθυδίνῃ,
αὐτὸς δʼ εἰς Ἀίδεω ἰέναι δόμον εὐρώεντα.
ἔνθα μὲν εἰς Ἀχέροντα Πυριφλεγέθων τε ῥέουσιν
Κώκυτός θʼ, ὃς δὴ Στυγὸς ὕδατός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ,
πέτρη τε ξύνεσίς τε δύω ποταμῶν ἐριδούπων·
ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειθʼ, ἥρως, χριμφθεὶς πέλας, ὥς σε κελεύω,
βόθρον ὀρύξαι, ὅσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεῖσθαι πᾶσιν νεκύεσσιν,
πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέι οἴνῳ,
τὸ τρίτον αὖθʼ ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ παλύνειν.
πολλὰ δὲ γουνοῦσθαι νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,
ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τʼ ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,
Τειρεσίῃ δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὄιν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳ
παμμέλανʼ, ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ὑμετέροισιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν εὐχῇσι λίσῃ κλυτὰ ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,
ἔνθʼ ὄιν ἀρνειὸν ῥέζειν θῆλύν τε μέλαιναν
εἰς Ἔρεβος στρέψας, αὐτὸς δʼ ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι
ἱέμενος ποταμοῖο ῥοάων· ἔνθα δὲ πολλαὶ
ψυχαὶ ἐλεύσονται νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρῦναι καὶ ἀνῶξαι
μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατάκειτʼ ἐσφαγμένα νηλέι χαλκῷ,
δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,
ἰφθίμῳ τʼ Ἀίδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·
αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
ἧσθαι, μηδὲ ἐᾶν νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.
ἔνθα τοι αὐτίκα μάντις ἐλεύσεται, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθου
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.
So she spoke, and at once Dawn of the golden throne came.
She clothed me in a cloak and a tunic,
and the nymph herself put on a great shining white robe,
fine and graceful, and about her waist she threw a belt,
a fine one of gold, and put a veil upon her head.
And I went through the house and roused my companions
with soft words, standing beside each man:
"Sleep no longer now, breathing out sweet sleep,
but let us go; the lady Circe has told me what to do."
So I spoke, and their lordly spirit was persuaded.
Yet not even from there did I lead my companions away unharmed.
There was one Elpenor, the youngest, not very
brave in war nor sound in his wits;
he had lain down apart from his companions in the holy house of Circe,
longing for the cool air, heavy with wine.
Hearing the noise and the din of his companions stirring,
he sprang up suddenly and forgot in his mind
to go back down by the long ladder,
but fell straight down from the roof; and his neck
was broken from the vertebrae, and his spirit went down to Hades.
To the others, as they came, I spoke this word:
"You suppose, no doubt, that you are going home
to your dear native land; but Circe has marked out another road for us,
to the house of Hades and of dread Persephone,
to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias."
So I spoke, and their hearts were broken within them,
and they sat down there and wailed and tore their hair;
but nothing came of their lamenting.
But when we were going to the swift ship and the shore of the sea,
grieving and shedding swelling tears,
meanwhile Circe had gone and tethered beside the black ship
a ram and a black ewe,
passing us easily. Who could see a god going this way
or that with his eyes, if the god did not wish it?
She clothed me in a cloak and a tunic,
and the nymph herself put on a great shining white robe,
fine and graceful, and about her waist she threw a belt,
a fine one of gold, and put a veil upon her head.
And I went through the house and roused my companions
with soft words, standing beside each man:
"Sleep no longer now, breathing out sweet sleep,
but let us go; the lady Circe has told me what to do."
So I spoke, and their lordly spirit was persuaded.
Yet not even from there did I lead my companions away unharmed.
There was one Elpenor, the youngest, not very
brave in war nor sound in his wits;
he had lain down apart from his companions in the holy house of Circe,
longing for the cool air, heavy with wine.
Hearing the noise and the din of his companions stirring,
he sprang up suddenly and forgot in his mind
to go back down by the long ladder,
but fell straight down from the roof; and his neck
was broken from the vertebrae, and his spirit went down to Hades.
To the others, as they came, I spoke this word:
"You suppose, no doubt, that you are going home
to your dear native land; but Circe has marked out another road for us,
to the house of Hades and of dread Persephone,
to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias."
So I spoke, and their hearts were broken within them,
and they sat down there and wailed and tore their hair;
but nothing came of their lamenting.
But when we were going to the swift ship and the shore of the sea,
grieving and shedding swelling tears,
meanwhile Circe had gone and tethered beside the black ship
a ram and a black ewe,
passing us easily. Who could see a god going this way
or that with his eyes, if the god did not wish it?
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.
ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσεν·
αὐτὴ δʼ ἀργύφεον φᾶρος μέγα ἕννυτο νύμφη,
λεπτὸν καὶ χαρίεν, περὶ δὲ ζώνην βάλετʼ ἰξυῖ
καλὴν χρυσείην, κεφαλῇ δʼ ἐπέθηκε καλύπτρην.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ δώματʼ ἰὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
μηκέτι νῦν εὕδοντες ἀωτεῖτε γλυκὺν ὕπνον,
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· δὴ γάρ μοι ἐπέφραδε πότνια Κίρκη.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδʼ ἔνθεν περ ἀπήμονας ἦγον ἑταίρους.
Ἐλπήνωρ δέ τις ἔσκε νεώτατος, οὔτε τι λίην
ἄλκιμος ἐν πολέμῳ οὔτε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀρηρώς·
ὅς μοι ἄνευθʼ ἑτάρων ἱεροῖς ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης,
ψύχεος ἱμείρων, κατελέξατο οἰνοβαρείων.
κινυμένων δʼ ἑτάρων ὅμαδον καὶ δοῦπον ἀκούσας
ἐξαπίνης ἀνόρουσε καὶ ἐκλάθετο φρεσὶν ᾗσιν
ἄψορρον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,
ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσεν· ἐκ δέ οἱ αὐχὴν
ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δʼ Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθεν.
ἐρχομένοισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἐγὼ μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπον·
φάσθε νύ που οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
ἔρχεσθʼ· ἄλλην δʼ ἧμιν ὁδὸν τεκμήρατο Κίρκη,
εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης
ψυχῇ χρησομένους Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,
ἑζόμενοι δὲ κατʼ αὖθι γόων τίλλοντό τε χαίτας·
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις ἐγίγνετο μυρομένοισιν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης
ᾔομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες,
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰχομένη Κίρκη παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ
ἀρνειὸν κατέδησεν ὄιν θῆλύν τε μέλαιναν,
ῥεῖα παρεξελθοῦσα· τίς ἂν θεὸν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδοιτʼ ἢ ἔνθʼ ἢ ἔνθα κιόντα;
ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσεν·
αὐτὴ δʼ ἀργύφεον φᾶρος μέγα ἕννυτο νύμφη,
λεπτὸν καὶ χαρίεν, περὶ δὲ ζώνην βάλετʼ ἰξυῖ
καλὴν χρυσείην, κεφαλῇ δʼ ἐπέθηκε καλύπτρην.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ δώματʼ ἰὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
μηκέτι νῦν εὕδοντες ἀωτεῖτε γλυκὺν ὕπνον,
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν· δὴ γάρ μοι ἐπέφραδε πότνια Κίρκη.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδʼ ἔνθεν περ ἀπήμονας ἦγον ἑταίρους.
Ἐλπήνωρ δέ τις ἔσκε νεώτατος, οὔτε τι λίην
ἄλκιμος ἐν πολέμῳ οὔτε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀρηρώς·
ὅς μοι ἄνευθʼ ἑτάρων ἱεροῖς ἐν δώμασι Κίρκης,
ψύχεος ἱμείρων, κατελέξατο οἰνοβαρείων.
κινυμένων δʼ ἑτάρων ὅμαδον καὶ δοῦπον ἀκούσας
ἐξαπίνης ἀνόρουσε καὶ ἐκλάθετο φρεσὶν ᾗσιν
ἄψορρον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,
ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσεν· ἐκ δέ οἱ αὐχὴν
ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δʼ Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθεν.
ἐρχομένοισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἐγὼ μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπον·
φάσθε νύ που οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
ἔρχεσθʼ· ἄλλην δʼ ἧμιν ὁδὸν τεκμήρατο Κίρκη,
εἰς Ἀίδαο δόμους καὶ ἐπαινῆς Περσεφονείης
ψυχῇ χρησομένους Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,
ἑζόμενοι δὲ κατʼ αὖθι γόων τίλλοντό τε χαίτας·
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις ἐγίγνετο μυρομένοισιν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης
ᾔομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες,
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰχομένη Κίρκη παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ
ἀρνειὸν κατέδησεν ὄιν θῆλύν τε μέλαιναν,
ῥεῖα παρεξελθοῦσα· τίς ἂν θεὸν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδοιτʼ ἢ ἔνθʼ ἢ ἔνθα κιόντα;
Book 11
The Book of the Dead. At the world's edge Odysseus pours the blood and the ghosts come up: Elpenor begging burial, Tiresias prophesying the journeys to come, his mother Anticleia, the famous women, Agamemnon, Achilles — who would rather be a poor man's field hand than king of all the dead.
But when we had come down to the ship and the sea,
first of all we dragged the ship down to the noble sea,
and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,
and took the sheep and put them aboard, and we ourselves
went aboard, grieving and shedding swelling tears.
And behind our dark-prowed ship
she sent a favouring wind that filled the sail, a good companion,
fair-haired Circe, a dread goddess with a human voice.
And we, when we had set each of the tackle in order throughout the ship,
sat still; and the wind and the helmsman held her straight.
All day long her sails were stretched as she made her way over the sea;
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark.
And she came to the bounds of deep-flowing Ocean.
There is the land and the city of the Cimmerian men,
wrapped in mist and cloud; and never does
the shining sun look down upon them with his rays,
neither when he goes up towards the starry heaven,
nor when he turns back again to earth from heaven,
but deadly night is stretched over those wretched mortals.
There we came and beached the ship, and took out the sheep;
and we ourselves went along the stream of Ocean,
until we came to the place which Circe had told us of.
There Perimedes and Eurylochus held the victims
for the sacrifice; and I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and dug a pit, a cubit’s length this way and that,
and about it poured a drink-offering to all the dead,
first of honey mixed with milk, then of sweet wine,
and the third time of water; and I sprinkled white barley-meal over it.
And I besought earnestly the strengthless heads of the dead,
promising that when I came to Ithaca a barren cow, the best I had,
I would sacrifice in my halls, and would fill a pyre with treasures,
and that to Teiresias apart I would offer a ram,
all black, one that stands out among our flocks.
And when I had entreated the tribes of the dead with vows and prayers,
I took the sheep and cut their throats
over the pit, and the dark blood ran; and there gathered
out of Erebus the spirits of the dead who have perished:
brides and unmarried youths and old men who had suffered much,
and tender girls with grief still new in their hearts,
and many men wounded with bronze-tipped spears,
men slain in battle, wearing their blood-stained armour.
Many of them came thronging about the pit from every side
with an unearthly cry; and pale fear took hold of me.
Then I urged my companions and ordered them
to flay and burn the sheep that lay there, slaughtered
with the pitiless bronze, and to pray to the gods,
to strong Hades and to dread Persephone.
And I myself drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and sat there, and did not let the strengthless heads of the dead
come near the blood before I had questioned Teiresias.
First came the spirit of my companion Elpenor;
for he had not yet been buried under the wide-wayed earth.
For we had left his body behind in the house of Circe,
unwept and unburied, since another task pressed us.
When I saw him I wept, and pity came into my heart,
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
"Elpenor, how did you come under the misty darkness?
You have come on foot, faster than I in my black ship."
So I spoke, and he groaned aloud and answered me:
first of all we dragged the ship down to the noble sea,
and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,
and took the sheep and put them aboard, and we ourselves
went aboard, grieving and shedding swelling tears.
And behind our dark-prowed ship
she sent a favouring wind that filled the sail, a good companion,
fair-haired Circe, a dread goddess with a human voice.
And we, when we had set each of the tackle in order throughout the ship,
sat still; and the wind and the helmsman held her straight.
All day long her sails were stretched as she made her way over the sea;
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark.
And she came to the bounds of deep-flowing Ocean.
There is the land and the city of the Cimmerian men,
wrapped in mist and cloud; and never does
the shining sun look down upon them with his rays,
neither when he goes up towards the starry heaven,
nor when he turns back again to earth from heaven,
but deadly night is stretched over those wretched mortals.
There we came and beached the ship, and took out the sheep;
and we ourselves went along the stream of Ocean,
until we came to the place which Circe had told us of.
There Perimedes and Eurylochus held the victims
for the sacrifice; and I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and dug a pit, a cubit’s length this way and that,
and about it poured a drink-offering to all the dead,
first of honey mixed with milk, then of sweet wine,
and the third time of water; and I sprinkled white barley-meal over it.
And I besought earnestly the strengthless heads of the dead,
promising that when I came to Ithaca a barren cow, the best I had,
I would sacrifice in my halls, and would fill a pyre with treasures,
and that to Teiresias apart I would offer a ram,
all black, one that stands out among our flocks.
And when I had entreated the tribes of the dead with vows and prayers,
I took the sheep and cut their throats
over the pit, and the dark blood ran; and there gathered
out of Erebus the spirits of the dead who have perished:
brides and unmarried youths and old men who had suffered much,
and tender girls with grief still new in their hearts,
and many men wounded with bronze-tipped spears,
men slain in battle, wearing their blood-stained armour.
Many of them came thronging about the pit from every side
with an unearthly cry; and pale fear took hold of me.
Then I urged my companions and ordered them
to flay and burn the sheep that lay there, slaughtered
with the pitiless bronze, and to pray to the gods,
to strong Hades and to dread Persephone.
And I myself drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
and sat there, and did not let the strengthless heads of the dead
come near the blood before I had questioned Teiresias.
First came the spirit of my companion Elpenor;
for he had not yet been buried under the wide-wayed earth.
For we had left his body behind in the house of Circe,
unwept and unburied, since another task pressed us.
When I saw him I wept, and pity came into my heart,
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
"Elpenor, how did you come under the misty darkness?
You have come on foot, faster than I in my black ship."
So I spoke, and he groaned aloud and answered me:
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
ἐν δʼ ἱστὸν τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
ἐν δὲ τὰ μῆλα λαβόντες ἐβήσαμεν, ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
βαίνομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες.
ἡμῖν δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει πλησίστιον, ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον,
Κίρκη εὐπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα.
ἡμεῖς δʼ ὅπλα ἕκαστα πονησάμενοι κατὰ νῆα
ἥμεθα· τὴν δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνήτης τʼ ἴθυνε.
τῆς δὲ πανημερίης τέταθʼ ἱστία ποντοπορούσης·
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί.
ἡ δʼ ἐς πείραθʼ ἵκανε βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.
ἔνθα δὲ Κιμμερίων ἀνδρῶν δῆμός τε πόλις τε,
ἠέρι καὶ νεφέλῃ κεκαλυμμένοι· οὐδέ ποτʼ αὐτοὺς
ἠέλιος φαέθων καταδέρκεται ἀκτίνεσσιν,
οὔθʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν στείχῃσι πρὸς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα,
οὔθʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προτράπηται,
ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ νὺξ ὀλοὴ τέταται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι.
νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν, ἐκ δὲ τὰ μῆλα
εἱλόμεθʼ· αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτε παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο
ᾔομεν, ὄφρʼ ἐς χῶρον ἀφικόμεθʼ, ὃν φράσε Κίρκη.
ἔνθʼ ἱερήια μὲν Περιμήδης Εὐρύλοχός τε
ἔσχον· ἐγὼ δʼ ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
βόθρον ὄρυξʼ ὅσσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεόμην πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι,
πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέι οἴνῳ,
τὸ τρίτον αὖθʼ ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνον.
πολλὰ δὲ γουνούμην νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,
ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τʼ ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,
Τειρεσίῃ δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὄιν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳ
παμμέλανʼ, ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ἡμετέροισι.
τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ εὐχωλῇσι λιτῇσί τε, ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,
ἐλλισάμην, τὰ δὲ μῆλα λαβὼν ἀπεδειροτόμησα
ἐς βόθρον, ῥέε δʼ αἷμα κελαινεφές· αἱ δʼ ἀγέροντο
ψυχαὶ ὑπὲξ Ἐρέβευς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
νύμφαι τʼ ἠίθεοί τε πολύτλητοί τε γέροντες
παρθενικαί τʼ ἀταλαὶ νεοπενθέα θυμὸν ἔχουσαι,
πολλοὶ δʼ οὐτάμενοι χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν,
ἄνδρες ἀρηίφατοι βεβροτωμένα τεύχεʼ ἔχοντες·
οἳ πολλοὶ περὶ βόθρον ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
θεσπεσίῃ ἰαχῇ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.
δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατέκειτʼ ἐσφαγμένα νηλέι χαλκῷ,
δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,
ἰφθίμῳ τʼ Ἀΐδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·
αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
ἥμην, οὐδʼ εἴων νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.
πρώτη δὲ ψυχὴ Ἐλπήνορος ἦλθεν ἑταίρου·
οὐ γάρ πω ἐτέθαπτο ὑπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης·
σῶμα γὰρ ἐν Κίρκης μεγάρῳ κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖς
ἄκλαυτον καὶ ἄθαπτον, ἐπεὶ πόνος ἄλλος ἔπειγε.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
Ἐλπῆνορ, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα;
ἔφθης πεζὸς ἰὼν ἢ ἐγὼ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
ἐν δʼ ἱστὸν τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
ἐν δὲ τὰ μῆλα λαβόντες ἐβήσαμεν, ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
βαίνομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες.
ἡμῖν δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει πλησίστιον, ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον,
Κίρκη εὐπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα.
ἡμεῖς δʼ ὅπλα ἕκαστα πονησάμενοι κατὰ νῆα
ἥμεθα· τὴν δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνήτης τʼ ἴθυνε.
τῆς δὲ πανημερίης τέταθʼ ἱστία ποντοπορούσης·
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί.
ἡ δʼ ἐς πείραθʼ ἵκανε βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.
ἔνθα δὲ Κιμμερίων ἀνδρῶν δῆμός τε πόλις τε,
ἠέρι καὶ νεφέλῃ κεκαλυμμένοι· οὐδέ ποτʼ αὐτοὺς
ἠέλιος φαέθων καταδέρκεται ἀκτίνεσσιν,
οὔθʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν στείχῃσι πρὸς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα,
οὔθʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προτράπηται,
ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ νὺξ ὀλοὴ τέταται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι.
νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν, ἐκ δὲ τὰ μῆλα
εἱλόμεθʼ· αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτε παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο
ᾔομεν, ὄφρʼ ἐς χῶρον ἀφικόμεθʼ, ὃν φράσε Κίρκη.
ἔνθʼ ἱερήια μὲν Περιμήδης Εὐρύλοχός τε
ἔσχον· ἐγὼ δʼ ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
βόθρον ὄρυξʼ ὅσσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεόμην πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι,
πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέι οἴνῳ,
τὸ τρίτον αὖθʼ ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνον.
πολλὰ δὲ γουνούμην νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,
ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τʼ ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,
Τειρεσίῃ δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὄιν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳ
παμμέλανʼ, ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ἡμετέροισι.
τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ εὐχωλῇσι λιτῇσί τε, ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,
ἐλλισάμην, τὰ δὲ μῆλα λαβὼν ἀπεδειροτόμησα
ἐς βόθρον, ῥέε δʼ αἷμα κελαινεφές· αἱ δʼ ἀγέροντο
ψυχαὶ ὑπὲξ Ἐρέβευς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
νύμφαι τʼ ἠίθεοί τε πολύτλητοί τε γέροντες
παρθενικαί τʼ ἀταλαὶ νεοπενθέα θυμὸν ἔχουσαι,
πολλοὶ δʼ οὐτάμενοι χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν,
ἄνδρες ἀρηίφατοι βεβροτωμένα τεύχεʼ ἔχοντες·
οἳ πολλοὶ περὶ βόθρον ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
θεσπεσίῃ ἰαχῇ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.
δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσα
μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατέκειτʼ ἐσφαγμένα νηλέι χαλκῷ,
δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,
ἰφθίμῳ τʼ Ἀΐδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·
αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
ἥμην, οὐδʼ εἴων νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.
πρώτη δὲ ψυχὴ Ἐλπήνορος ἦλθεν ἑταίρου·
οὐ γάρ πω ἐτέθαπτο ὑπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης·
σῶμα γὰρ ἐν Κίρκης μεγάρῳ κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖς
ἄκλαυτον καὶ ἄθαπτον, ἐπεὶ πόνος ἄλλος ἔπειγε.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
Ἐλπῆνορ, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα;
ἔφθης πεζὸς ἰὼν ἢ ἐγὼ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
an evil portion from some god undid me, and measureless wine.
I had lain down in the house of Circe, and did not think
to go back down by the long ladder,
but fell straight down from the roof; and my neck
was broken from the vertebrae, and my spirit went down to Hades.
Now I beseech you by those left behind, who are not here,
by your wife and by your father, who reared you when you were little,
and by Telemachus, whom you left alone in your halls;
for I know that when you go from here, from the house of Hades,
you will put in with your well-built ship at the island of Aeaea.
There then, my lord, I beg you to remember me.
Do not go away and leave me behind unwept and unburied,
turning from me, lest I become a cause of the gods’ wrath against you;
but burn me with my armour, all that I have,
and heap up a mound for me on the shore of the grey sea,
for an unhappy man, that men to come may learn of me.
Do this for me, and fix upon the tomb the oar
with which I rowed in life among my companions."
an evil portion from some god undid me, and measureless wine.
I had lain down in the house of Circe, and did not think
to go back down by the long ladder,
but fell straight down from the roof; and my neck
was broken from the vertebrae, and my spirit went down to Hades.
Now I beseech you by those left behind, who are not here,
by your wife and by your father, who reared you when you were little,
and by Telemachus, whom you left alone in your halls;
for I know that when you go from here, from the house of Hades,
you will put in with your well-built ship at the island of Aeaea.
There then, my lord, I beg you to remember me.
Do not go away and leave me behind unwept and unburied,
turning from me, lest I become a cause of the gods’ wrath against you;
but burn me with my armour, all that I have,
and heap up a mound for me on the shore of the grey sea,
for an unhappy man, that men to come may learn of me.
Do this for me, and fix upon the tomb the oar
with which I rowed in life among my companions."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἆσέ με δαίμονος αἶσα κακὴ καὶ ἀθέσφατος οἶνος.
Κίρκης δʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ καταλέγμενος οὐκ ἐνόησα
ἄψορρον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,
ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσον· ἐκ δέ μοι αὐχὴν
ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δʼ Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθε.
νῦν δέ σε τῶν ὄπιθεν γουνάζομαι, οὐ παρεόντων,
πρός τʼ ἀλόχου καὶ πατρός, ὅ σʼ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα,
Τηλεμάχου θʼ, ὃν μοῦνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες·
οἶδα γὰρ ὡς ἐνθένδε κιὼν δόμου ἐξ Ἀίδαο
νῆσον ἐς Αἰαίην σχήσεις ἐυεργέα νῆα·
ἔνθα σʼ ἔπειτα, ἄναξ, κέλομαι μνήσασθαι ἐμεῖο.
μή μʼ ἄκλαυτον ἄθαπτον ἰὼν ὄπιθεν καταλείπειν
νοσφισθείς, μή τοί τι θεῶν μήνιμα γένωμαι,
ἀλλά με κακκῆαι σὺν τεύχεσιν, ἅσσα μοι ἔστιν,
σῆμά τέ μοι χεῦαι πολιῆς ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης,
ἀνδρὸς δυστήνοιο καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.
ταῦτά τέ μοι τελέσαι πῆξαί τʼ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ ἐρετμόν,
τῷ καὶ ζωὸς ἔρεσσον ἐὼν μετʼ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν.
ἆσέ με δαίμονος αἶσα κακὴ καὶ ἀθέσφατος οἶνος.
Κίρκης δʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ καταλέγμενος οὐκ ἐνόησα
ἄψορρον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,
ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσον· ἐκ δέ μοι αὐχὴν
ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δʼ Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθε.
νῦν δέ σε τῶν ὄπιθεν γουνάζομαι, οὐ παρεόντων,
πρός τʼ ἀλόχου καὶ πατρός, ὅ σʼ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα,
Τηλεμάχου θʼ, ὃν μοῦνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες·
οἶδα γὰρ ὡς ἐνθένδε κιὼν δόμου ἐξ Ἀίδαο
νῆσον ἐς Αἰαίην σχήσεις ἐυεργέα νῆα·
ἔνθα σʼ ἔπειτα, ἄναξ, κέλομαι μνήσασθαι ἐμεῖο.
μή μʼ ἄκλαυτον ἄθαπτον ἰὼν ὄπιθεν καταλείπειν
νοσφισθείς, μή τοί τι θεῶν μήνιμα γένωμαι,
ἀλλά με κακκῆαι σὺν τεύχεσιν, ἅσσα μοι ἔστιν,
σῆμά τέ μοι χεῦαι πολιῆς ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης,
ἀνδρὸς δυστήνοιο καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.
ταῦτά τέ μοι τελέσαι πῆξαί τʼ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ ἐρετμόν,
τῷ καὶ ζωὸς ἔρεσσον ἐὼν μετʼ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν.
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"All this, unhappy man, I will accomplish and do for you."
So we two sat there exchanging bitter words,
I on the one side holding my sword over the blood,
and on the other the phantom of my companion speaking much.
So we two sat there exchanging bitter words,
I on the one side holding my sword over the blood,
and on the other the phantom of my companion speaking much.
ταῦτά τοι, ὦ δύστηνε, τελευτήσω τε καὶ ἔρξω.
νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσιν
ἥμεθʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ἄνευθεν ἐφʼ αἵματι φάσγανον ἴσχων,
εἴδωλον δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἑταίρου πόλλʼ ἀγόρευεν·
νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσιν
ἥμεθʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ἄνευθεν ἐφʼ αἵματι φάσγανον ἴσχων,
εἴδωλον δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἑταίρου πόλλʼ ἀγόρευεν·
Then came the spirit of my dead mother,
Anticleia, the daughter of great-hearted Autolycus,
whom I had left alive when I went to holy Ilium.
When I saw her I wept, and pity came into my heart;
but even so, deep as my grief was, I did not let her come first
near the blood, before I had questioned Teiresias.
Then came the spirit of Theban Teiresias,
holding a golden staff; and he knew me and spoke to me:
Anticleia, the daughter of great-hearted Autolycus,
whom I had left alive when I went to holy Ilium.
When I saw her I wept, and pity came into my heart;
but even so, deep as my grief was, I did not let her come first
near the blood, before I had questioned Teiresias.
Then came the spirit of Theban Teiresias,
holding a golden staff; and he knew me and spoke to me:
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ μητρὸς κατατεθνηυίης,
Αὐτολύκου θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀντίκλεια,
τὴν ζωὴν κατέλειπον ἰὼν εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ·
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς εἴων προτέρην, πυκινόν περ ἀχεύων,
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχων, ἐμὲ δʼ ἔγνω καὶ προσέειπεν·
Αὐτολύκου θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀντίκλεια,
τὴν ζωὴν κατέλειπον ἰὼν εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ·
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς εἴων προτέρην, πυκινόν περ ἀχεύων,
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχων, ἐμὲ δʼ ἔγνω καὶ προσέειπεν·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
why now, unhappy man, have you left the light of the sun
and come here to see the dead and this joyless place?
But draw back from the pit and hold away your sharp sword,
that I may drink the blood and tell you what is unerring."
why now, unhappy man, have you left the light of the sun
and come here to see the dead and this joyless place?
But draw back from the pit and hold away your sharp sword,
that I may drink the blood and tell you what is unerring."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
τίπτʼ αὖτʼ, ὦ δύστηνε, λιπὼν φάος ἠελίοιο
ἤλυθες, ὄφρα ἴδῃ νέκυας καὶ ἀτερπέα χῶρον;
ἀλλʼ ἀποχάζεο βόθρου, ἄπισχε δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,
αἵματος ὄφρα πίω καί τοι νημερτέα εἴπω.
τίπτʼ αὖτʼ, ὦ δύστηνε, λιπὼν φάος ἠελίοιο
ἤλυθες, ὄφρα ἴδῃ νέκυας καὶ ἀτερπέα χῶρον;
ἀλλʼ ἀποχάζεο βόθρου, ἄπισχε δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,
αἵματος ὄφρα πίω καί τοι νημερτέα εἴπω.
So he spoke, and I drew back and thrust my silver-studded sword
into its sheath. And when he had drunk the dark blood,
then at last the blameless seer spoke to me:
into its sheath. And when he had drunk the dark blood,
then at last the blameless seer spoke to me:
ὣς φάτʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἀναχασσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
κουλεῷ ἐγκατέπηξʼ. ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν,
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα μάντις ἀμύμων·
κουλεῷ ἐγκατέπηξʼ. ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν,
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα μάντις ἀμύμων·
"You are seeking a honey-sweet homecoming, glorious Odysseus;
but a god will make it hard for you. For I do not think
you will escape the earth-shaker, who has laid up a grudge in his heart
in anger because you blinded his own son.
Yet even so you may come home, though you suffer evils,
if you are willing to hold back your own spirit and your companions’,
when first you bring your well-built ship near
to the island of Thrinacia, escaping the violet sea,
and find grazing there the cattle and the fat flocks
of Helios, who sees all things and hears all things.
If you leave these unharmed and think of your homecoming,
then you may still come to Ithaca, though you suffer evils;
but if you harm them, then I foretell destruction for you,
for your ship and your companions. And even if you yourself escape,
you will come home late and in evil case, having lost all your companions,
in a ship that is not your own; and you will find troubles in your house,
overweening men, who are devouring your livelihood
and wooing your godlike wife and offering bride-gifts.
But you will avenge their violence when you come.
And when you have killed the suitors in your halls,
either by guile or openly with the sharp bronze,
then go forth, taking a shapely oar,
until you come to men who know nothing of the sea
and eat no food mixed with salt;
nor do they know of ships with crimson cheeks,
nor of shapely oars, which are the wings of ships.
And I will tell you a sign, very clear; it will not escape you.
When another traveller, meeting you,
says that you carry a winnowing-fan on your shining shoulder,
then fix the shapely oar in the earth,
and offer fine sacrifices to the lord Poseidon,
a ram and a bull and a boar that mounts the sows,
and go home and offer holy hecatombs
to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven,
to all of them in order. And death will come to you from the sea,
a death so gentle that it will take you
worn out with sleek old age; and about you the people
will be prosperous. This I tell you unerringly."
but a god will make it hard for you. For I do not think
you will escape the earth-shaker, who has laid up a grudge in his heart
in anger because you blinded his own son.
Yet even so you may come home, though you suffer evils,
if you are willing to hold back your own spirit and your companions’,
when first you bring your well-built ship near
to the island of Thrinacia, escaping the violet sea,
and find grazing there the cattle and the fat flocks
of Helios, who sees all things and hears all things.
If you leave these unharmed and think of your homecoming,
then you may still come to Ithaca, though you suffer evils;
but if you harm them, then I foretell destruction for you,
for your ship and your companions. And even if you yourself escape,
you will come home late and in evil case, having lost all your companions,
in a ship that is not your own; and you will find troubles in your house,
overweening men, who are devouring your livelihood
and wooing your godlike wife and offering bride-gifts.
But you will avenge their violence when you come.
And when you have killed the suitors in your halls,
either by guile or openly with the sharp bronze,
then go forth, taking a shapely oar,
until you come to men who know nothing of the sea
and eat no food mixed with salt;
nor do they know of ships with crimson cheeks,
nor of shapely oars, which are the wings of ships.
And I will tell you a sign, very clear; it will not escape you.
When another traveller, meeting you,
says that you carry a winnowing-fan on your shining shoulder,
then fix the shapely oar in the earth,
and offer fine sacrifices to the lord Poseidon,
a ram and a bull and a boar that mounts the sows,
and go home and offer holy hecatombs
to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven,
to all of them in order. And death will come to you from the sea,
a death so gentle that it will take you
worn out with sleek old age; and about you the people
will be prosperous. This I tell you unerringly."
νόστον δίζηαι μελιηδέα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ·
τὸν δέ τοι ἀργαλέον θήσει θεός· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
λήσειν ἐννοσίγαιον, ὅ τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ
χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.
ἀλλʼ ἔτι μέν κε καὶ ὣς κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε,
αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃς σὸν θυμὸν ἐρυκακέειν καὶ ἑταίρων,
ὁππότε κε πρῶτον πελάσῃς ἐυεργέα νῆα
Θρινακίῃ νήσῳ, προφυγὼν ἰοειδέα πόντον,
βοσκομένας δʼ εὕρητε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα
Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούει.
τὰς εἰ μέν κʼ ἀσινέας ἐάᾳς νόστου τε μέδηαι,
καί κεν ἔτʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε·
εἰ δέ κε σίνηαι, τότε τοι τεκμαίρομʼ ὄλεθρον,
νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροις. αὐτὸς δʼ εἴ πέρ κεν ἀλύξῃς,
ὀψὲ κακῶς νεῖαι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης· δήεις δʼ ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ,
ἄνδρας ὑπερφιάλους, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσι
μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κείνων γε βίας ἀποτίσεαι ἐλθών·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν μνηστῆρας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεοῖσι
κτείνῃς ἠὲ δόλῳ ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ὀξέι χαλκῷ,
ἔρχεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν,
εἰς ὅ κε τοὺς ἀφίκηαι οἳ οὐκ ἴσασι θάλασσαν
ἀνέρες, οὐδέ θʼ ἅλεσσι μεμιγμένον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν·
οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἴσασι νέας φοινικοπαρῄους
οὐδʼ ἐυήρεʼ ἐρετμά, τά τε πτερὰ νηυσὶ πέλονται.
σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει·
ὁππότε κεν δή τοι συμβλήμενος ἄλλος ὁδίτης
φήῃ ἀθηρηλοιγὸν ἔχειν ἀνὰ φαιδίμῳ ὤμῳ,
καὶ τότε δὴ γαίῃ πήξας ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν,
ῥέξας ἱερὰ καλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι,
ἀρνειὸν ταῦρόν τε συῶν τʼ ἐπιβήτορα κάπρον,
οἴκαδʼ ἀποστείχειν ἔρδειν θʼ ἱερᾶς ἑκατόμβας
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,
πᾶσι μάλʼ ἑξείης. θάνατος δέ τοι ἐξ ἁλὸς αὐτῷ
ἀβληχρὸς μάλα τοῖος ἐλεύσεται, ὅς κέ σε πέφνῃ
γήραι ὕπο λιπαρῷ ἀρημένον· ἀμφὶ δὲ λαοὶ
ὄλβιοι ἔσσονται. τὰ δέ τοι νημερτέα εἴρω.
τὸν δέ τοι ἀργαλέον θήσει θεός· οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
λήσειν ἐννοσίγαιον, ὅ τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ
χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.
ἀλλʼ ἔτι μέν κε καὶ ὣς κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε,
αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃς σὸν θυμὸν ἐρυκακέειν καὶ ἑταίρων,
ὁππότε κε πρῶτον πελάσῃς ἐυεργέα νῆα
Θρινακίῃ νήσῳ, προφυγὼν ἰοειδέα πόντον,
βοσκομένας δʼ εὕρητε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα
Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούει.
τὰς εἰ μέν κʼ ἀσινέας ἐάᾳς νόστου τε μέδηαι,
καί κεν ἔτʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε·
εἰ δέ κε σίνηαι, τότε τοι τεκμαίρομʼ ὄλεθρον,
νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροις. αὐτὸς δʼ εἴ πέρ κεν ἀλύξῃς,
ὀψὲ κακῶς νεῖαι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης· δήεις δʼ ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ,
ἄνδρας ὑπερφιάλους, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσι
μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κείνων γε βίας ἀποτίσεαι ἐλθών·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν μνηστῆρας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεοῖσι
κτείνῃς ἠὲ δόλῳ ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ὀξέι χαλκῷ,
ἔρχεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν,
εἰς ὅ κε τοὺς ἀφίκηαι οἳ οὐκ ἴσασι θάλασσαν
ἀνέρες, οὐδέ θʼ ἅλεσσι μεμιγμένον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν·
οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἴσασι νέας φοινικοπαρῄους
οὐδʼ ἐυήρεʼ ἐρετμά, τά τε πτερὰ νηυσὶ πέλονται.
σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει·
ὁππότε κεν δή τοι συμβλήμενος ἄλλος ὁδίτης
φήῃ ἀθηρηλοιγὸν ἔχειν ἀνὰ φαιδίμῳ ὤμῳ,
καὶ τότε δὴ γαίῃ πήξας ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν,
ῥέξας ἱερὰ καλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι,
ἀρνειὸν ταῦρόν τε συῶν τʼ ἐπιβήτορα κάπρον,
οἴκαδʼ ἀποστείχειν ἔρδειν θʼ ἱερᾶς ἑκατόμβας
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,
πᾶσι μάλʼ ἑξείης. θάνατος δέ τοι ἐξ ἁλὸς αὐτῷ
ἀβληχρὸς μάλα τοῖος ἐλεύσεται, ὅς κέ σε πέφνῃ
γήραι ὕπο λιπαρῷ ἀρημένον· ἀμφὶ δὲ λαοὶ
ὄλβιοι ἔσσονται. τὰ δέ τοι νημερτέα εἴρω.
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Teiresias, these things, I suppose, the gods themselves have spun.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
I see here the spirit of my dead mother;
she sits in silence near the blood, and has not dared
to look her own son in the face, nor to speak to him.
Tell me, my lord, how she may know me for what I am."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
I see here the spirit of my dead mother;
she sits in silence near the blood, and has not dared
to look her own son in the face, nor to speak to him.
Tell me, my lord, how she may know me for what I am."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
Τειρεσίη, τὰ μὲν ἄρ που ἐπέκλωσαν θεοὶ αὐτοί.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
μητρὸς τήνδʼ ὁρόω ψυχὴν κατατεθνηυίης·
ἡ δʼ ἀκέουσʼ ἧσται σχεδὸν αἵματος, οὐδʼ ἑὸν υἱὸν
ἔτλη ἐσάντα ἰδεῖν οὐδὲ προτιμυθήσασθαι.
εἰπέ, ἄναξ, πῶς κέν με ἀναγνοίη τὸν ἐόντα;
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
μητρὸς τήνδʼ ὁρόω ψυχὴν κατατεθνηυίης·
ἡ δʼ ἀκέουσʼ ἧσται σχεδὸν αἵματος, οὐδʼ ἑὸν υἱὸν
ἔτλη ἐσάντα ἰδεῖν οὐδὲ προτιμυθήσασθαι.
εἰπέ, ἄναξ, πῶς κέν με ἀναγνοίη τὸν ἐόντα;
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"An easy word I will tell you, and lay it in your mind.
Whomever of the dead who have perished you let
come near the blood, he will speak to you unerringly;
but whomever you grudge it, he will go back again."
Whomever of the dead who have perished you let
come near the blood, he will speak to you unerringly;
but whomever you grudge it, he will go back again."
ῥηΐδιόν τοι ἔπος ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θήσω.
ὅν τινα μέν κεν ἐᾷς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, ὁ δέ τοι νημερτὲς ἐνίψει·
ᾧ δέ κʼ ἐπιφθονέῃς, ὁ δέ τοι πάλιν εἶσιν ὀπίσσω.
ὅν τινα μέν κεν ἐᾷς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, ὁ δέ τοι νημερτὲς ἐνίψει·
ᾧ δέ κʼ ἐπιφθονέῃς, ὁ δέ τοι πάλιν εἶσιν ὀπίσσω.
So speaking, the spirit went into the house of Hades,
the spirit of the lord Teiresias, when he had spoken his prophecies;
but I stayed there steadfastly, until my mother
came and drank the dark blood; and at once she knew me,
and lamenting she addressed me with winged words:
the spirit of the lord Teiresias, when he had spoken his prophecies;
but I stayed there steadfastly, until my mother
came and drank the dark blood; and at once she knew me,
and lamenting she addressed me with winged words:
ὣς φαμένη ψυχὴ μὲν ἔβη δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω
Τειρεσίαο ἄνακτος, ἐπεὶ κατὰ θέσφατʼ ἔλεξεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μήτηρ
ἤλυθε καὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινεφές· αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω,
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Τειρεσίαο ἄνακτος, ἐπεὶ κατὰ θέσφατʼ ἔλεξεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μήτηρ
ἤλυθε καὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινεφές· αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω,
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"My child, how did you come under the misty darkness
while you are alive? These things are hard for the living to see.
For between lie great rivers and dreadful streams,
Ocean first of all, which there is no way to cross
on foot, unless a man has a well-built ship.
Do you come here now, wandering from Troy,
with your ship and your companions, after so long a time? Have you not yet come
to Ithaca, nor seen your wife in your halls?"
while you are alive? These things are hard for the living to see.
For between lie great rivers and dreadful streams,
Ocean first of all, which there is no way to cross
on foot, unless a man has a well-built ship.
Do you come here now, wandering from Troy,
with your ship and your companions, after so long a time? Have you not yet come
to Ithaca, nor seen your wife in your halls?"
τέκνον ἐμόν, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα
ζωὸς ἐών; χαλεπὸν δὲ τάδε ζωοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι.
μέσσῳ γὰρ μεγάλοι ποταμοὶ καὶ δεινὰ ῥέεθρα,
Ὠκεανὸς μὲν πρῶτα, τὸν οὔ πως ἔστι περῆσαι
πεζὸν ἐόντʼ, ἢν μή τις ἔχῃ ἐυεργέα νῆα.
ἦ νῦν δὴ Τροίηθεν ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνεις
νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροισι πολὺν χρόνον; οὐδέ πω ἦλθες
εἰς Ἰθάκην, οὐδʼ εἶδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκα;
ζωὸς ἐών; χαλεπὸν δὲ τάδε ζωοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι.
μέσσῳ γὰρ μεγάλοι ποταμοὶ καὶ δεινὰ ῥέεθρα,
Ὠκεανὸς μὲν πρῶτα, τὸν οὔ πως ἔστι περῆσαι
πεζὸν ἐόντʼ, ἢν μή τις ἔχῃ ἐυεργέα νῆα.
ἦ νῦν δὴ Τροίηθεν ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνεις
νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροισι πολὺν χρόνον; οὐδέ πω ἦλθες
εἰς Ἰθάκην, οὐδʼ εἶδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκα;
So she spoke, and I answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"My mother, necessity brought me down to Hades
to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias.
For I have not yet come near Achaea, nor yet
set foot on my own land, but wander always with misery,
ever since I first followed noble Agamemnon
to Ilium of the fine horses, to fight against the Trojans.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
what doom of long-mourning death overcame you?
Was it a long sickness, or did Artemis the shooter of arrows
come upon you with her gentle shafts and kill you?
And tell me of my father and of the son I left behind:
is my prize of honour still with them, or does some other
man hold it already, and do they say that I will never return?
And tell me of my wedded wife, her purpose and her mind:
does she stay with her son and keep all things secure,
or has the best of the Achaeans already married her?"
So I spoke, and my lady mother answered me at once:
to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias.
For I have not yet come near Achaea, nor yet
set foot on my own land, but wander always with misery,
ever since I first followed noble Agamemnon
to Ilium of the fine horses, to fight against the Trojans.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
what doom of long-mourning death overcame you?
Was it a long sickness, or did Artemis the shooter of arrows
come upon you with her gentle shafts and kill you?
And tell me of my father and of the son I left behind:
is my prize of honour still with them, or does some other
man hold it already, and do they say that I will never return?
And tell me of my wedded wife, her purpose and her mind:
does she stay with her son and keep all things secure,
or has the best of the Achaeans already married her?"
So I spoke, and my lady mother answered me at once:
μῆτερ ἐμή, χρειώ με κατήγαγεν εἰς Ἀίδαο
ψυχῇ χρησόμενον Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο·
οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος, οὐδέ πω ἁμῆς
γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἔχων ἀλάλημαι ὀιζύν,
ἐξ οὗ τὰ πρώτισθʼ ἑπόμην Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἐύπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μαχοίμην.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;
ἦ δολιχὴ νοῦσος, ἦ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν;
εἰπὲ δέ μοι πατρός τε καὶ υἱέος, ὃν κατέλειπον,
ἢ ἔτι πὰρ κείνοισιν ἐμὸν γέρας, ἦέ τις ἤδη
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔχει, ἐμὲ δʼ οὐκέτι φασὶ νέεσθαι.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι μνηστῆς ἀλόχου βουλήν τε νόον τε,
ἠὲ μένει παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσει
ἦ ἤδη μιν ἔγημεν Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο πότνια μήτηρ·
ψυχῇ χρησόμενον Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο·
οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος, οὐδέ πω ἁμῆς
γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἔχων ἀλάλημαι ὀιζύν,
ἐξ οὗ τὰ πρώτισθʼ ἑπόμην Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἐύπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μαχοίμην.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·
τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;
ἦ δολιχὴ νοῦσος, ἦ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν;
εἰπὲ δέ μοι πατρός τε καὶ υἱέος, ὃν κατέλειπον,
ἢ ἔτι πὰρ κείνοισιν ἐμὸν γέρας, ἦέ τις ἤδη
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔχει, ἐμὲ δʼ οὐκέτι φασὶ νέεσθαι.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι μνηστῆς ἀλόχου βουλήν τε νόον τε,
ἠὲ μένει παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσει
ἦ ἤδη μιν ἔγημεν Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο πότνια μήτηρ·
"Indeed she does stay, with an enduring heart,
in your halls; and always for her in misery
the nights and the days waste away as she sheds tears.
No one yet holds your fine prize of honour, but at his ease
Telemachus manages your estates and feasts at the equal banquets
which it is fitting for a man who deals out judgements to care for;
for all invite him. But your father stays out there
in the country, and does not come down to the city. He has no bed
with bedding and cloaks and shining coverlets,
but in winter he sleeps in the house where the servants sleep,
in the ashes near the fire, and wears poor clothes on his body;
but when the summer comes and the rich autumn,
everywhere along the slope of his vineyard plot
low beds of fallen leaves are strewn for him.
There he lies grieving, and the great sorrow grows in his mind
as he longs for your homecoming; and harsh old age comes upon him.
For so I too perished and met my doom.
It was not the keen-sighted shooter of arrows who in my halls
came upon me with her gentle shafts and killed me,
nor did any sickness come upon me, such as most often
takes the spirit from the limbs with hateful wasting;
but it was longing for you, and your counsels, glorious Odysseus,
and your gentleness, that took away my honey-sweet spirit."
in your halls; and always for her in misery
the nights and the days waste away as she sheds tears.
No one yet holds your fine prize of honour, but at his ease
Telemachus manages your estates and feasts at the equal banquets
which it is fitting for a man who deals out judgements to care for;
for all invite him. But your father stays out there
in the country, and does not come down to the city. He has no bed
with bedding and cloaks and shining coverlets,
but in winter he sleeps in the house where the servants sleep,
in the ashes near the fire, and wears poor clothes on his body;
but when the summer comes and the rich autumn,
everywhere along the slope of his vineyard plot
low beds of fallen leaves are strewn for him.
There he lies grieving, and the great sorrow grows in his mind
as he longs for your homecoming; and harsh old age comes upon him.
For so I too perished and met my doom.
It was not the keen-sighted shooter of arrows who in my halls
came upon me with her gentle shafts and killed me,
nor did any sickness come upon me, such as most often
takes the spirit from the limbs with hateful wasting;
but it was longing for you, and your counsels, glorious Odysseus,
and your gentleness, that took away my honey-sweet spirit."
καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷ
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀιζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.
σὸν δʼ οὔ πώ τις ἔχει καλὸν γέρας, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
Τηλέμαχος τεμένεα νέμεται καὶ δαῖτας ἐίσας
δαίνυται, ἃς ἐπέοικε δικασπόλον ἄνδρʼ ἀλεγύνειν·
πάντες γὰρ καλέουσι. πατὴρ δὲ σὸς αὐτόθι μίμνει
ἀγρῷ, οὐδὲ πόλινδε κατέρχεται. οὐδέ οἱ εὐναὶ
δέμνια καὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε χεῖμα μὲν εὕδει ὅθι δμῶες ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
ἐν κόνι ἄγχι πυρός, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷται·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσι θέρος τεθαλυῖά τʼ ὀπώρη,
πάντῃ οἱ κατὰ γουνὸν ἀλωῆς οἰνοπέδοιο
φύλλων κεκλιμένων χθαμαλαὶ βεβλήαται εὐναί.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γε κεῖτʼ ἀχέων, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἀέξει
σὸν νόστον ποθέων, χαλεπὸν δʼ ἐπὶ γῆρας ἱκάνει.
οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἐγὼν ὀλόμην καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον·
οὔτʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐύσκοπος ἰοχέαιρα
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν,
οὔτε τις οὖν μοι νοῦσος ἐπήλυθεν, ἥ τε μάλιστα
τηκεδόνι στυγερῇ μελέων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·
ἀλλά με σός τε πόθος σά τε μήδεα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
σή τʼ ἀγανοφροσύνη μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀιζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.
σὸν δʼ οὔ πώ τις ἔχει καλὸν γέρας, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
Τηλέμαχος τεμένεα νέμεται καὶ δαῖτας ἐίσας
δαίνυται, ἃς ἐπέοικε δικασπόλον ἄνδρʼ ἀλεγύνειν·
πάντες γὰρ καλέουσι. πατὴρ δὲ σὸς αὐτόθι μίμνει
ἀγρῷ, οὐδὲ πόλινδε κατέρχεται. οὐδέ οἱ εὐναὶ
δέμνια καὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε χεῖμα μὲν εὕδει ὅθι δμῶες ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
ἐν κόνι ἄγχι πυρός, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷται·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσι θέρος τεθαλυῖά τʼ ὀπώρη,
πάντῃ οἱ κατὰ γουνὸν ἀλωῆς οἰνοπέδοιο
φύλλων κεκλιμένων χθαμαλαὶ βεβλήαται εὐναί.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γε κεῖτʼ ἀχέων, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἀέξει
σὸν νόστον ποθέων, χαλεπὸν δʼ ἐπὶ γῆρας ἱκάνει.
οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἐγὼν ὀλόμην καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον·
οὔτʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐύσκοπος ἰοχέαιρα
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν,
οὔτε τις οὖν μοι νοῦσος ἐπήλυθεν, ἥ τε μάλιστα
τηκεδόνι στυγερῇ μελέων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·
ἀλλά με σός τε πόθος σά τε μήδεα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
σή τʼ ἀγανοφροσύνη μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.
So she spoke, and I pondered in my mind and wished
to take hold of the spirit of my dead mother.
Three times I started forward, and my spirit urged me to take her,
and three times she flew out of my hands like a shadow
or a dream. And a sharp pain came about my heart the more,
and I spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
"My mother, why do you not stay for me, when I long to hold you,
so that even in Hades we may throw our arms about each other
and both have our fill of chilling lamentation?
Or is this some phantom that noble Persephone
has sent me, that I may grieve and groan the more?"
So I spoke, and my lady mother answered me at once:
to take hold of the spirit of my dead mother.
Three times I started forward, and my spirit urged me to take her,
and three times she flew out of my hands like a shadow
or a dream. And a sharp pain came about my heart the more,
and I spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
"My mother, why do you not stay for me, when I long to hold you,
so that even in Hades we may throw our arms about each other
and both have our fill of chilling lamentation?
Or is this some phantom that noble Persephone
has sent me, that I may grieve and groan the more?"
So I spoke, and my lady mother answered me at once:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γʼ ἔθελον φρεσὶ μερμηρίξας
μητρὸς ἐμῆς ψυχὴν ἑλέειν κατατεθνηυίης.
τρὶς μὲν ἐφωρμήθην, ἑλέειν τέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει,
τρὶς δέ μοι ἐκ χειρῶν σκιῇ εἴκελον ἢ καὶ ὀνείρῳ
ἔπτατʼ. ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ὀξὺ γενέσκετο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
μῆτερ ἐμή, τί νύ μʼ οὐ μίμνεις ἑλέειν μεμαῶτα,
ὄφρα καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο φίλας περὶ χεῖρε βαλόντε
ἀμφοτέρω κρυεροῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο;
ἦ τί μοι εἴδωλον τόδʼ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια
ὤτρυνʼ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω;
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο πότνια μήτηρ·
μητρὸς ἐμῆς ψυχὴν ἑλέειν κατατεθνηυίης.
τρὶς μὲν ἐφωρμήθην, ἑλέειν τέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει,
τρὶς δέ μοι ἐκ χειρῶν σκιῇ εἴκελον ἢ καὶ ὀνείρῳ
ἔπτατʼ. ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ὀξὺ γενέσκετο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
μῆτερ ἐμή, τί νύ μʼ οὐ μίμνεις ἑλέειν μεμαῶτα,
ὄφρα καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο φίλας περὶ χεῖρε βαλόντε
ἀμφοτέρω κρυεροῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο;
ἦ τί μοι εἴδωλον τόδʼ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια
ὤτρυνʼ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω;
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο πότνια μήτηρ·
"Ah me, my child, most ill-fated of all men,
Persephone, daughter of Zeus, is not deceiving you,
but this is the way of mortals when one of them dies.
For the sinews no longer hold the flesh and the bones,
but the strong fury of the blazing fire
overcomes them, once the spirit has left the white bones,
and the spirit flutters away like a dream and is gone.
But long for the light with all speed; and know all this,
so that afterwards you may tell it to your wife."
So we two spoke with one another; and the women came,
for noble Persephone sent them on,
all who had been the wives and the daughters of chieftains.
They gathered in a crowd about the dark blood,
and I considered how I might question each of them.
And this seemed to my mind the best plan:
I drew the long-edged sword from beside my stout thigh
and would not let them all drink the dark blood together.
So they came forward one after another, and each
declared her lineage; and I questioned them all.
There first I saw Tyro, born of a noble father,
who said that she was the child of blameless Salmoneus,
and said that she was the wife of Cretheus, son of Aeolus.
She fell in love with the divine river Enipeus,
who is by far the fairest of the rivers that flow upon the earth,
and she would go often to the fair streams of Enipeus.
And in his likeness the earth-holder, the earth-shaker,
lay with her at the outfall of the eddying river.
And a dark wave stood about them, high as a mountain,
arched over, and hid the god and the mortal woman.
He loosed her maiden girdle and poured sleep upon her.
But when the god had finished the works of love,
he clasped her hand and spoke and called her by name:
Persephone, daughter of Zeus, is not deceiving you,
but this is the way of mortals when one of them dies.
For the sinews no longer hold the flesh and the bones,
but the strong fury of the blazing fire
overcomes them, once the spirit has left the white bones,
and the spirit flutters away like a dream and is gone.
But long for the light with all speed; and know all this,
so that afterwards you may tell it to your wife."
So we two spoke with one another; and the women came,
for noble Persephone sent them on,
all who had been the wives and the daughters of chieftains.
They gathered in a crowd about the dark blood,
and I considered how I might question each of them.
And this seemed to my mind the best plan:
I drew the long-edged sword from beside my stout thigh
and would not let them all drink the dark blood together.
So they came forward one after another, and each
declared her lineage; and I questioned them all.
There first I saw Tyro, born of a noble father,
who said that she was the child of blameless Salmoneus,
and said that she was the wife of Cretheus, son of Aeolus.
She fell in love with the divine river Enipeus,
who is by far the fairest of the rivers that flow upon the earth,
and she would go often to the fair streams of Enipeus.
And in his likeness the earth-holder, the earth-shaker,
lay with her at the outfall of the eddying river.
And a dark wave stood about them, high as a mountain,
arched over, and hid the god and the mortal woman.
He loosed her maiden girdle and poured sleep upon her.
But when the god had finished the works of love,
he clasped her hand and spoke and called her by name:
ὤ μοι, τέκνον ἐμόν, περὶ πάντων κάμμορε φωτῶν,
οὔ τί σε Περσεφόνεια Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀπαφίσκει,
ἀλλʼ αὕτη δίκη ἐστὶ βροτῶν, ὅτε τίς κε θάνῃσιν·
οὐ γὰρ ἔτι σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα ἶνες ἔχουσιν,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν τε πυρὸς κρατερὸν μένος αἰθομένοιο
δαμνᾷ, ἐπεί κε πρῶτα λίπῃ λεύκʼ ὀστέα θυμός,
ψυχὴ δʼ ἠύτʼ ὄνειρος ἀποπταμένη πεπότηται.
ἀλλὰ φόωσδε τάχιστα λιλαίεο· ταῦτα δὲ πάντα
ἴσθʼ, ἵνα καὶ μετόπισθε τεῇ εἴπῃσθα γυναικί.
νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβόμεθʼ, αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες
ἤλυθον, ὤτρυνεν γὰρ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια,
ὅσσαι ἀριστήων ἄλοχοι ἔσαν ἠδὲ θύγατρες.
αἱ δʼ ἀμφʼ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον ὅπως ἐρέοιμι ἑκάστην.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ
οὐκ εἴων πίνειν ἅμα πάσας αἷμα κελαινόν.
αἱ δὲ προμνηστῖναι ἐπήισαν, ἠδὲ ἑκάστη
ὃν γόνον ἐξαγόρευεν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐρέεινον ἁπάσας.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι πρώτην Τυρὼ ἴδον εὐπατέρειαν,
ἣ φάτο Σαλμωνῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονος εἶναι,
φῆ δὲ Κρηθῆος γυνὴ ἔμμεναι Αἰολίδαο·
ἣ ποταμοῦ ἠράσσατʼ Ἐνιπῆος θείοιο,
ὃς πολὺ κάλλιστος ποταμῶν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἵησι,
καί ῥʼ ἐπʼ Ἐνιπῆος πωλέσκετο καλὰ ῥέεθρα.
τῷ δʼ ἄρα εἰσάμενος γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος
ἐν προχοῇς ποταμοῦ παρελέξατο δινήεντος·
πορφύρεον δʼ ἄρα κῦμα περιστάθη, οὔρεϊ ἶσον,
κυρτωθέν, κρύψεν δὲ θεὸν θνητήν τε γυναῖκα.
λῦσε δὲ παρθενίην ζώνην, κατὰ δʼ ὕπνον ἔχευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐτέλεσσε θεὸς φιλοτήσια ἔργα,
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
οὔ τί σε Περσεφόνεια Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀπαφίσκει,
ἀλλʼ αὕτη δίκη ἐστὶ βροτῶν, ὅτε τίς κε θάνῃσιν·
οὐ γὰρ ἔτι σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα ἶνες ἔχουσιν,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν τε πυρὸς κρατερὸν μένος αἰθομένοιο
δαμνᾷ, ἐπεί κε πρῶτα λίπῃ λεύκʼ ὀστέα θυμός,
ψυχὴ δʼ ἠύτʼ ὄνειρος ἀποπταμένη πεπότηται.
ἀλλὰ φόωσδε τάχιστα λιλαίεο· ταῦτα δὲ πάντα
ἴσθʼ, ἵνα καὶ μετόπισθε τεῇ εἴπῃσθα γυναικί.
νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβόμεθʼ, αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες
ἤλυθον, ὤτρυνεν γὰρ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια,
ὅσσαι ἀριστήων ἄλοχοι ἔσαν ἠδὲ θύγατρες.
αἱ δʼ ἀμφʼ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον ὅπως ἐρέοιμι ἑκάστην.
ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ
οὐκ εἴων πίνειν ἅμα πάσας αἷμα κελαινόν.
αἱ δὲ προμνηστῖναι ἐπήισαν, ἠδὲ ἑκάστη
ὃν γόνον ἐξαγόρευεν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐρέεινον ἁπάσας.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι πρώτην Τυρὼ ἴδον εὐπατέρειαν,
ἣ φάτο Σαλμωνῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονος εἶναι,
φῆ δὲ Κρηθῆος γυνὴ ἔμμεναι Αἰολίδαο·
ἣ ποταμοῦ ἠράσσατʼ Ἐνιπῆος θείοιο,
ὃς πολὺ κάλλιστος ποταμῶν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἵησι,
καί ῥʼ ἐπʼ Ἐνιπῆος πωλέσκετο καλὰ ῥέεθρα.
τῷ δʼ ἄρα εἰσάμενος γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος
ἐν προχοῇς ποταμοῦ παρελέξατο δινήεντος·
πορφύρεον δʼ ἄρα κῦμα περιστάθη, οὔρεϊ ἶσον,
κυρτωθέν, κρύψεν δὲ θεὸν θνητήν τε γυναῖκα.
λῦσε δὲ παρθενίην ζώνην, κατὰ δʼ ὕπνον ἔχευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐτέλεσσε θεὸς φιλοτήσια ἔργα,
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"Rejoice, woman, in this love; and when the year comes round
you will bear glorious children, for the beds of the immortals
are not barren; and you must tend them and rear them.
Now go to your house, and hold your peace and name me not;
but know that I am Poseidon the earth-shaker."
you will bear glorious children, for the beds of the immortals
are not barren; and you must tend them and rear them.
Now go to your house, and hold your peace and name me not;
but know that I am Poseidon the earth-shaker."
χαῖρε, γύναι, φιλότητι· περιπλομένου δʼ ἐνιαυτοῦ
τέξεις ἀγλαὰ τέκνα, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιοι εὐναὶ
ἀθανάτων· σὺ δὲ τοὺς κομέειν ἀτιταλλέμεναί τε.
νῦν δʼ ἔρχευ πρὸς δῶμα, καὶ ἴσχεο μηδʼ ὀνομήνῃς·
αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοί εἰμι Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων.
τέξεις ἀγλαὰ τέκνα, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιοι εὐναὶ
ἀθανάτων· σὺ δὲ τοὺς κομέειν ἀτιταλλέμεναί τε.
νῦν δʼ ἔρχευ πρὸς δῶμα, καὶ ἴσχεο μηδʼ ὀνομήνῃς·
αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοί εἰμι Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων.
So saying, he sank beneath the surging sea.
And she conceived and bore Pelias and Neleus,
and both of them became strong servants of great Zeus,
the two of them. Pelias lived in spacious Iolcus,
rich in flocks, and the other in sandy Pylos.
And the others this queen among women bore to Cretheus:
Aeson and Pheres and Amythaon who fights from a chariot.
After her I saw Antiope, daughter of Asopus,
who boasted that she had slept in the arms of Zeus,
and she bore two sons, Amphion and Zethus,
who first founded the seat of seven-gated Thebes
and walled it with towers, since they could not
live in spacious Thebes untowered, strong as they were.
After her I saw Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon,
who bore Heracles, bold in spirit and lion-hearted,
after lying in the arms of great Zeus;
and Megara, daughter of high-spirited Creon,
whom the son of Amphitryon held, unwearied in his fury for ever.
And I saw the mother of Oedipus, fair Epicaste,
who did a great deed in the ignorance of her mind
and married her own son; and he, when he had killed his father,
married her; and at once the gods made it known among men.
But he, suffering pains in lovely Thebes,
ruled over the Cadmeians through the deadly counsels of the gods;
and she went down to the house of Hades, the strong keeper of the gate,
having fastened a sheer noose from the high roof-beam,
held fast by her grief; and she left him pains behind,
very many, all that a mother’s Furies bring to pass.
And I saw very beautiful Chloris, whom once Neleus
married for her beauty, when he gave countless bride-gifts;
she was the youngest daughter of Amphion, son of Iasus,
who once ruled with might in Minyan Orchomenus.
She was queen of Pylos, and bore him glorious children,
Nestor and Chronius and lordly Periclymenus.
And besides them she bore strong Pero, a wonder to mortals,
whom all the neighbours wooed; but Neleus would give her
to no man who would not drive off from Phylace
the shambling broad-browed cattle of the mighty Iphicles,
hard beasts; and the blameless seer alone undertook
to drive them off; but a god’s hard fate bound him,
harsh bonds and the herdsmen of the fields.
But when the months and the days were fulfilled
as the year came round again and the seasons returned,
then the mighty Iphicles released him,
when he had spoken all the prophecies; and the will of Zeus was being fulfilled.
And I saw Leda, the wife of Tyndareus,
who bore to Tyndareus two sons strong in spirit,
Castor the tamer of horses and Polydeuces good with his fists.
Both of them the life-giving earth holds, still alive;
and even under the earth they have honour from Zeus,
and live on alternate days, and then again
are dead; and they have been allotted honour equal to the gods’.
After her I saw Iphimedeia, the wife of Aloeus,
who said that she had lain with Poseidon,
and she bore two sons, but they were short-lived,
godlike Otus and far-famed Ephialtes,
whom the grain-giving earth reared the tallest of men
and by far the fairest, after famous Orion.
For at nine years old they were nine cubits
in breadth, and in height they had grown nine fathoms.
They threatened even the immortals on Olympus
to set up the din of furious war.
They were eager to pile Ossa on Olympus, and on Ossa
Pelion with its shaking leaves, so that heaven might be climbed.
And they would have accomplished it, had they reached the measure of manhood;
but the son of Zeus, whom lovely-haired Leto bore, destroyed
them both, before the down had flowered under their temples
and thickened their chins with fine-blossoming beard.
And I saw Phaedra and Procris and fair Ariadne,
daughter of Minos of the deadly mind, whom once Theseus
tried to bring from Crete to the hill of holy Athens,
but he had no joy of her; before that Artemis killed her
in sea-girt Dia, on the testimony of Dionysus.
And I saw Maera and Clymene and hateful Eriphyle,
who took precious gold as the price of her own husband.
But I could not tell of them all nor name them,
all the wives and daughters of heroes that I saw;
the immortal night would waste away first. And it is time now
to sleep, either going to the swift ship and my companions
or here; and my sending shall be the care of the gods and of you.
And she conceived and bore Pelias and Neleus,
and both of them became strong servants of great Zeus,
the two of them. Pelias lived in spacious Iolcus,
rich in flocks, and the other in sandy Pylos.
And the others this queen among women bore to Cretheus:
Aeson and Pheres and Amythaon who fights from a chariot.
After her I saw Antiope, daughter of Asopus,
who boasted that she had slept in the arms of Zeus,
and she bore two sons, Amphion and Zethus,
who first founded the seat of seven-gated Thebes
and walled it with towers, since they could not
live in spacious Thebes untowered, strong as they were.
After her I saw Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon,
who bore Heracles, bold in spirit and lion-hearted,
after lying in the arms of great Zeus;
and Megara, daughter of high-spirited Creon,
whom the son of Amphitryon held, unwearied in his fury for ever.
And I saw the mother of Oedipus, fair Epicaste,
who did a great deed in the ignorance of her mind
and married her own son; and he, when he had killed his father,
married her; and at once the gods made it known among men.
But he, suffering pains in lovely Thebes,
ruled over the Cadmeians through the deadly counsels of the gods;
and she went down to the house of Hades, the strong keeper of the gate,
having fastened a sheer noose from the high roof-beam,
held fast by her grief; and she left him pains behind,
very many, all that a mother’s Furies bring to pass.
And I saw very beautiful Chloris, whom once Neleus
married for her beauty, when he gave countless bride-gifts;
she was the youngest daughter of Amphion, son of Iasus,
who once ruled with might in Minyan Orchomenus.
She was queen of Pylos, and bore him glorious children,
Nestor and Chronius and lordly Periclymenus.
And besides them she bore strong Pero, a wonder to mortals,
whom all the neighbours wooed; but Neleus would give her
to no man who would not drive off from Phylace
the shambling broad-browed cattle of the mighty Iphicles,
hard beasts; and the blameless seer alone undertook
to drive them off; but a god’s hard fate bound him,
harsh bonds and the herdsmen of the fields.
But when the months and the days were fulfilled
as the year came round again and the seasons returned,
then the mighty Iphicles released him,
when he had spoken all the prophecies; and the will of Zeus was being fulfilled.
And I saw Leda, the wife of Tyndareus,
who bore to Tyndareus two sons strong in spirit,
Castor the tamer of horses and Polydeuces good with his fists.
Both of them the life-giving earth holds, still alive;
and even under the earth they have honour from Zeus,
and live on alternate days, and then again
are dead; and they have been allotted honour equal to the gods’.
After her I saw Iphimedeia, the wife of Aloeus,
who said that she had lain with Poseidon,
and she bore two sons, but they were short-lived,
godlike Otus and far-famed Ephialtes,
whom the grain-giving earth reared the tallest of men
and by far the fairest, after famous Orion.
For at nine years old they were nine cubits
in breadth, and in height they had grown nine fathoms.
They threatened even the immortals on Olympus
to set up the din of furious war.
They were eager to pile Ossa on Olympus, and on Ossa
Pelion with its shaking leaves, so that heaven might be climbed.
And they would have accomplished it, had they reached the measure of manhood;
but the son of Zeus, whom lovely-haired Leto bore, destroyed
them both, before the down had flowered under their temples
and thickened their chins with fine-blossoming beard.
And I saw Phaedra and Procris and fair Ariadne,
daughter of Minos of the deadly mind, whom once Theseus
tried to bring from Crete to the hill of holy Athens,
but he had no joy of her; before that Artemis killed her
in sea-girt Dia, on the testimony of Dionysus.
And I saw Maera and Clymene and hateful Eriphyle,
who took precious gold as the price of her own husband.
But I could not tell of them all nor name them,
all the wives and daughters of heroes that I saw;
the immortal night would waste away first. And it is time now
to sleep, either going to the swift ship and my companions
or here; and my sending shall be the care of the gods and of you.
ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.
ἡ δʼ ὑποκυσαμένη Πελίην τέκε καὶ Νηλῆα,
τὼ κρατερὼ θεράποντε Διὸς μεγάλοιο γενέσθην
ἀμφοτέρω· Πελίης μὲν ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ἰαωλκῷ
ναῖε πολύρρηνος, ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι.
τοὺς δʼ ἑτέρους Κρηθῆι τέκεν βασίλεια γυναικῶν,
Αἴσονά τʼ ἠδὲ Φέρητʼ Ἀμυθάονά θʼ ἱππιοχάρμην.
τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἀντιόπην ἴδον, Ἀσωποῖο θύγατρα,
ἣ δὴ καὶ Διὸς εὔχετʼ ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσιν ἰαῦσαι,
καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδʼ, Ἀμφίονά τε Ζῆθόν τε,
οἳ πρῶτοι Θήβης ἕδος ἔκτισαν ἑπταπύλοιο,
πύργωσάν τʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἀπύργωτόν γʼ ἐδύναντο
ναιέμεν εὐρύχορον Θήβην, κρατερώ περ ἐόντε.
τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἀλκμήνην ἴδον, Ἀμφιτρύωνος ἄκοιτιν,
ἥ ῥʼ Ἡρακλῆα θρασυμέμνονα θυμολέοντα
γείνατʼ ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο μιγεῖσα·
καὶ Μεγάρην, Κρείοντος ὑπερθύμοιο θύγατρα,
τὴν ἔχεν Ἀμφιτρύωνος υἱὸς μένος αἰὲν ἀτειρής.
μητέρα τʼ Οἰδιπόδαο ἴδον, καλὴν Ἐπικάστην,
ἣ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξεν ἀιδρείῃσι νόοιο
γημαμένη ᾧ υἷι· ὁ δʼ ὃν πατέρʼ ἐξεναρίξας
γῆμεν· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀνάπυστα θεοὶ θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν Θήβῃ πολυηράτῳ ἄλγεα πάσχων
Καδμείων ἤνασσε θεῶν ὀλοὰς διὰ βουλάς·
ἡ δʼ ἔβη εἰς Ἀίδαο πυλάρταο κρατεροῖο,
ἁψαμένη βρόχον αἰπὺν ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῖο μελάθρου,
ᾧ ἄχεϊ σχομένη· τῷ δʼ ἄλγεα κάλλιπʼ ὀπίσσω
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα τε μητρὸς Ἐρινύες ἐκτελέουσιν.
καὶ Χλῶριν εἶδον περικαλλέα, τήν ποτε Νηλεὺς
γῆμεν ἑὸν διὰ κάλλος, ἐπεὶ πόρε μυρία ἕδνα,
ὁπλοτάτην κούρην Ἀμφίονος Ἰασίδαο,
ὅς ποτʼ ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ Μινυείῳ ἶφι ἄνασσεν·
ἡ δὲ Πύλου βασίλευε, τέκεν δέ οἱ ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,
Νέστορά τε Χρόνιον τε Περικλύμενόν τʼ ἀγέρωχον.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμην Πηρὼ τέκε, θαῦμα βροτοῖσι,
τὴν πάντες μνώοντο περικτίται· οὐδʼ ἄρα Νηλεὺς
τῷ ἐδίδου ὃς μὴ ἕλικας βόας εὐρυμετώπους
ἐκ Φυλάκης ἐλάσειε βίης Ἰφικληείης
ἀργαλέας· τὰς δʼ οἶος ὑπέσχετο μάντις ἀμύμων
ἐξελάαν· χαλεπὴ δὲ θεοῦ κατὰ μοῖρα πέδησε,
δεσμοί τʼ ἀργαλέοι καὶ βουκόλοι ἀγροιῶται.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντο
ἂψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔλυσε βίη Ἰφικληείη,
θέσφατα πάντʼ εἰπόντα· Διὸς δʼ ἐτελείετο βουλή.
καὶ Λήδην εἶδον, τὴν Τυνδαρέου παράκοιτιν,
ἥ ῥʼ ὑπὸ Τυνδαρέῳ κρατερόφρονε γείνατο παῖδε,
Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα,
τοὺς ἄμφω ζωοὺς κατέχει φυσίζοος αἶα·
οἳ καὶ νέρθεν γῆς τιμὴν πρὸς Ζηνὸς ἔχοντες
ἄλλοτε μὲν ζώουσʼ ἑτερήμεροι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε
τεθνᾶσιν· τιμὴν δὲ λελόγχασιν ἶσα θεοῖσι.
τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἰφιμέδειαν, Ἀλωῆος παράκοιτιν
εἴσιδον, ἣ δὴ φάσκε Ποσειδάωνι μιγῆναι,
καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδε, μινυνθαδίω δʼ ἐγενέσθην,
Ὦτόν τʼ ἀντίθεον τηλεκλειτόν τʼ Ἐφιάλτην,
οὓς δὴ μηκίστους θρέψε ζείδωρος ἄρουρα
καὶ πολὺ καλλίστους μετά γε κλυτὸν Ὠρίωνα·
ἐννέωροι γὰρ τοί γε καὶ ἐννεαπήχεες ἦσαν
εὖρος, ἀτὰρ μῆκός γε γενέσθην ἐννεόργυιοι.
οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπειλήτην ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ
φυλόπιδα στήσειν πολυάικος πολέμοιο.
Ὄσσαν ἐπʼ Οὐλύμπῳ μέμασαν θέμεν, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ Ὄσσῃ
Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἵνʼ οὐρανὸς ἀμβατὸς εἴη.
καί νύ κεν ἐξετέλεσσαν, εἰ ἥβης μέτρον ἵκοντο·
ἀλλʼ ὄλεσεν Διὸς υἱός, ὃν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ,
ἀμφοτέρω, πρίν σφωιν ὑπὸ κροτάφοισιν ἰούλους
ἀνθῆσαι πυκάσαι τε γένυς ἐυανθέι λάχνῃ.
Φαίδρην τε Πρόκριν τε ἴδον καλήν τʼ Ἀριάδνην,
κούρην Μίνωος ὀλοόφρονος, ἥν ποτε Θησεὺς
ἐκ Κρήτης ἐς γουνὸν Ἀθηνάων ἱεράων
ἦγε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο· πάρος δέ μιν Ἄρτεμις ἔκτα
Δίῃ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ Διονύσου μαρτυρίῃσιν.
Μαῖράν τε Κλυμένην τε ἴδον στυγερήν τʼ Ἐριφύλην,
ἣ χρυσὸν φίλου ἀνδρὸς ἐδέξατο τιμήεντα.
πάσας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,
ὅσσας ἡρώων ἀλόχους ἴδον ἠδὲ θύγατρας·
πρὶν γάρ κεν καὶ νὺξ φθῖτʼ ἄμβροτος. ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥρη
εὕδειν, ἢ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐλθόντʼ ἐς ἑταίρους
ἢ αὐτοῦ· πομπὴ δὲ θεοῖς ὑμῖν τε μελήσει.
ἡ δʼ ὑποκυσαμένη Πελίην τέκε καὶ Νηλῆα,
τὼ κρατερὼ θεράποντε Διὸς μεγάλοιο γενέσθην
ἀμφοτέρω· Πελίης μὲν ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ἰαωλκῷ
ναῖε πολύρρηνος, ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι.
τοὺς δʼ ἑτέρους Κρηθῆι τέκεν βασίλεια γυναικῶν,
Αἴσονά τʼ ἠδὲ Φέρητʼ Ἀμυθάονά θʼ ἱππιοχάρμην.
τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἀντιόπην ἴδον, Ἀσωποῖο θύγατρα,
ἣ δὴ καὶ Διὸς εὔχετʼ ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσιν ἰαῦσαι,
καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδʼ, Ἀμφίονά τε Ζῆθόν τε,
οἳ πρῶτοι Θήβης ἕδος ἔκτισαν ἑπταπύλοιο,
πύργωσάν τʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἀπύργωτόν γʼ ἐδύναντο
ναιέμεν εὐρύχορον Θήβην, κρατερώ περ ἐόντε.
τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἀλκμήνην ἴδον, Ἀμφιτρύωνος ἄκοιτιν,
ἥ ῥʼ Ἡρακλῆα θρασυμέμνονα θυμολέοντα
γείνατʼ ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο μιγεῖσα·
καὶ Μεγάρην, Κρείοντος ὑπερθύμοιο θύγατρα,
τὴν ἔχεν Ἀμφιτρύωνος υἱὸς μένος αἰὲν ἀτειρής.
μητέρα τʼ Οἰδιπόδαο ἴδον, καλὴν Ἐπικάστην,
ἣ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξεν ἀιδρείῃσι νόοιο
γημαμένη ᾧ υἷι· ὁ δʼ ὃν πατέρʼ ἐξεναρίξας
γῆμεν· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀνάπυστα θεοὶ θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν Θήβῃ πολυηράτῳ ἄλγεα πάσχων
Καδμείων ἤνασσε θεῶν ὀλοὰς διὰ βουλάς·
ἡ δʼ ἔβη εἰς Ἀίδαο πυλάρταο κρατεροῖο,
ἁψαμένη βρόχον αἰπὺν ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῖο μελάθρου,
ᾧ ἄχεϊ σχομένη· τῷ δʼ ἄλγεα κάλλιπʼ ὀπίσσω
πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα τε μητρὸς Ἐρινύες ἐκτελέουσιν.
καὶ Χλῶριν εἶδον περικαλλέα, τήν ποτε Νηλεὺς
γῆμεν ἑὸν διὰ κάλλος, ἐπεὶ πόρε μυρία ἕδνα,
ὁπλοτάτην κούρην Ἀμφίονος Ἰασίδαο,
ὅς ποτʼ ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ Μινυείῳ ἶφι ἄνασσεν·
ἡ δὲ Πύλου βασίλευε, τέκεν δέ οἱ ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,
Νέστορά τε Χρόνιον τε Περικλύμενόν τʼ ἀγέρωχον.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμην Πηρὼ τέκε, θαῦμα βροτοῖσι,
τὴν πάντες μνώοντο περικτίται· οὐδʼ ἄρα Νηλεὺς
τῷ ἐδίδου ὃς μὴ ἕλικας βόας εὐρυμετώπους
ἐκ Φυλάκης ἐλάσειε βίης Ἰφικληείης
ἀργαλέας· τὰς δʼ οἶος ὑπέσχετο μάντις ἀμύμων
ἐξελάαν· χαλεπὴ δὲ θεοῦ κατὰ μοῖρα πέδησε,
δεσμοί τʼ ἀργαλέοι καὶ βουκόλοι ἀγροιῶται.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντο
ἂψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔλυσε βίη Ἰφικληείη,
θέσφατα πάντʼ εἰπόντα· Διὸς δʼ ἐτελείετο βουλή.
καὶ Λήδην εἶδον, τὴν Τυνδαρέου παράκοιτιν,
ἥ ῥʼ ὑπὸ Τυνδαρέῳ κρατερόφρονε γείνατο παῖδε,
Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα,
τοὺς ἄμφω ζωοὺς κατέχει φυσίζοος αἶα·
οἳ καὶ νέρθεν γῆς τιμὴν πρὸς Ζηνὸς ἔχοντες
ἄλλοτε μὲν ζώουσʼ ἑτερήμεροι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε
τεθνᾶσιν· τιμὴν δὲ λελόγχασιν ἶσα θεοῖσι.
τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἰφιμέδειαν, Ἀλωῆος παράκοιτιν
εἴσιδον, ἣ δὴ φάσκε Ποσειδάωνι μιγῆναι,
καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδε, μινυνθαδίω δʼ ἐγενέσθην,
Ὦτόν τʼ ἀντίθεον τηλεκλειτόν τʼ Ἐφιάλτην,
οὓς δὴ μηκίστους θρέψε ζείδωρος ἄρουρα
καὶ πολὺ καλλίστους μετά γε κλυτὸν Ὠρίωνα·
ἐννέωροι γὰρ τοί γε καὶ ἐννεαπήχεες ἦσαν
εὖρος, ἀτὰρ μῆκός γε γενέσθην ἐννεόργυιοι.
οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπειλήτην ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ
φυλόπιδα στήσειν πολυάικος πολέμοιο.
Ὄσσαν ἐπʼ Οὐλύμπῳ μέμασαν θέμεν, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ Ὄσσῃ
Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἵνʼ οὐρανὸς ἀμβατὸς εἴη.
καί νύ κεν ἐξετέλεσσαν, εἰ ἥβης μέτρον ἵκοντο·
ἀλλʼ ὄλεσεν Διὸς υἱός, ὃν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ,
ἀμφοτέρω, πρίν σφωιν ὑπὸ κροτάφοισιν ἰούλους
ἀνθῆσαι πυκάσαι τε γένυς ἐυανθέι λάχνῃ.
Φαίδρην τε Πρόκριν τε ἴδον καλήν τʼ Ἀριάδνην,
κούρην Μίνωος ὀλοόφρονος, ἥν ποτε Θησεὺς
ἐκ Κρήτης ἐς γουνὸν Ἀθηνάων ἱεράων
ἦγε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο· πάρος δέ μιν Ἄρτεμις ἔκτα
Δίῃ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ Διονύσου μαρτυρίῃσιν.
Μαῖράν τε Κλυμένην τε ἴδον στυγερήν τʼ Ἐριφύλην,
ἣ χρυσὸν φίλου ἀνδρὸς ἐδέξατο τιμήεντα.
πάσας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,
ὅσσας ἡρώων ἀλόχους ἴδον ἠδὲ θύγατρας·
πρὶν γάρ κεν καὶ νὺξ φθῖτʼ ἄμβροτος. ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥρη
εὕδειν, ἢ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐλθόντʼ ἐς ἑταίρους
ἢ αὐτοῦ· πομπὴ δὲ θεοῖς ὑμῖν τε μελήσει.
So he spoke, and they were all hushed in silence,
held in a spell throughout the shadowy halls.
And white-armed Arete was the first to speak among them:
"Phaeacians, how does this man seem to you
in looks and stature and in the balanced mind within him?
He is my guest-friend, and each of you has his share in the honour.
So do not send him away in haste, nor cut short the gifts
for one so much in need; for many possessions
lie stored in your halls by the will of the gods."
And the old hero Echeneus spoke among them too,
who was the eldest of the Phaeacian men:
"Friends, not wide of the mark, and not beyond our thought,
does our circumspect queen speak; so be persuaded.
Yet on Alcinous here depend both deed and word."
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
held in a spell throughout the shadowy halls.
And white-armed Arete was the first to speak among them:
"Phaeacians, how does this man seem to you
in looks and stature and in the balanced mind within him?
He is my guest-friend, and each of you has his share in the honour.
So do not send him away in haste, nor cut short the gifts
for one so much in need; for many possessions
lie stored in your halls by the will of the gods."
And the old hero Echeneus spoke among them too,
who was the eldest of the Phaeacian men:
"Friends, not wide of the mark, and not beyond our thought,
does our circumspect queen speak; so be persuaded.
Yet on Alcinous here depend both deed and word."
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,
κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων.
Φαίηκες, πῶς ὔμμιν ἀνὴρ ὅδε φαίνεται εἶναι
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐίσας;
ξεῖνος δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμός ἐστιν, ἕκαστος δʼ ἔμμορε τιμῆς·
τῷ μὴ ἐπειγόμενοι ἀποπέμπετε, μηδὲ τὰ δῶρα
οὕτω χρηίζοντι κολούετε· πολλὰ γὰρ ὑμῖν
κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,
ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἀπὸ σκοποῦ οὐδʼ ἀπὸ δόξης
μυθεῖται βασίλεια περίφρων· ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε.
Ἀλκινόου δʼ ἐκ τοῦδʼ ἔχεται ἔργον τε ἔπος τε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων.
Φαίηκες, πῶς ὔμμιν ἀνὴρ ὅδε φαίνεται εἶναι
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐίσας;
ξεῖνος δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμός ἐστιν, ἕκαστος δʼ ἔμμορε τιμῆς·
τῷ μὴ ἐπειγόμενοι ἀποπέμπετε, μηδὲ τὰ δῶρα
οὕτω χρηίζοντι κολούετε· πολλὰ γὰρ ὑμῖν
κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,
ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἀπὸ σκοποῦ οὐδʼ ἀπὸ δόξης
μυθεῖται βασίλεια περίφρων· ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε.
Ἀλκινόου δʼ ἐκ τοῦδʼ ἔχεται ἔργον τε ἔπος τε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"This word shall stand so, as surely as I
live and rule over the oar-loving Phaeacians.
But let the stranger endure, however much he longs for his homecoming,
to stay nonetheless until tomorrow, until I complete
the whole gift; and his sending shall be the care of all the men,
and most of all mine; for the power in this land is mine."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
live and rule over the oar-loving Phaeacians.
But let the stranger endure, however much he longs for his homecoming,
to stay nonetheless until tomorrow, until I complete
the whole gift; and his sending shall be the care of all the men,
and most of all mine; for the power in this land is mine."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
τοῦτο μὲν οὕτω δὴ ἔσται ἔπος, αἴ κεν ἐγώ γε
ζωὸς Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω·
ξεῖνος δὲ τλήτω μάλα περ νόστοιο χατίζων
ἔμπης οὖν ἐπιμεῖναι ἐς αὔριον, εἰς ὅ κε πᾶσαν
δωτίνην τελέσω· πομπὴ δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ζωὸς Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω·
ξεῖνος δὲ τλήτω μάλα περ νόστοιο χατίζων
ἔμπης οὖν ἐπιμεῖναι ἐς αὔριον, εἰς ὅ κε πᾶσαν
δωτίνην τελέσω· πομπὴ δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Lord Alcinous, showing forth among all the people,
if you bade me stay here even for a year,
and were urging on my sending and giving me glorious gifts,
even that I should wish, and it would be far more profitable
to come to my dear native land with a fuller hand;
and I should be more respected and more dear to all men
who saw me come home again to Ithaca."
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
if you bade me stay here even for a year,
and were urging on my sending and giving me glorious gifts,
even that I should wish, and it would be far more profitable
to come to my dear native land with a fuller hand;
and I should be more respected and more dear to all men
who saw me come home again to Ithaca."
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
εἴ με καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἀνώγοιτʼ αὐτόθι μίμνειν,
πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνοιτε καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῖτε,
καὶ κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη,
πλειοτέρῃ σὺν χειρὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι·
καί κʼ αἰδοιότερος καὶ φίλτερος ἀνδράσιν εἴην
πᾶσιν, ὅσοι μʼ Ἰθάκηνδε ἰδοίατο νοστήσαντα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
εἴ με καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἀνώγοιτʼ αὐτόθι μίμνειν,
πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνοιτε καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῖτε,
καὶ κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη,
πλειοτέρῃ σὺν χειρὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι·
καί κʼ αἰδοιότερος καὶ φίλτερος ἀνδράσιν εἴην
πᾶσιν, ὅσοι μʼ Ἰθάκηνδε ἰδοίατο νοστήσαντα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"Odysseus, as we look at you we do not take you
for a deceiver and a cheat, such as the black earth
breeds in great numbers, men scattered far and wide,
who put together lies out of what no one could ever see.
But there is a shapeliness upon your words, and a good mind within,
and you have told your tale with the skill of a singer,
the bitter sorrows of all the Argives and of yourself.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
did you see any of your godlike companions, who went with you
to Ilium and met their doom there?
This night is very long, beyond measure; it is not yet time
to sleep in the hall; tell me of those marvellous deeds.
I could hold out until the noble Dawn, if only you
would bear to tell your sorrows in the hall."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
for a deceiver and a cheat, such as the black earth
breeds in great numbers, men scattered far and wide,
who put together lies out of what no one could ever see.
But there is a shapeliness upon your words, and a good mind within,
and you have told your tale with the skill of a singer,
the bitter sorrows of all the Argives and of yourself.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
did you see any of your godlike companions, who went with you
to Ilium and met their doom there?
This night is very long, beyond measure; it is not yet time
to sleep in the hall; tell me of those marvellous deeds.
I could hold out until the noble Dawn, if only you
would bear to tell your sorrows in the hall."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, τὸ μὲν οὔ τί σʼ ἐίσκομεν εἰσορόωντες,
ἠπεροπῆά τʼ ἔμεν καὶ ἐπίκλοπον, οἷά τε πολλοὺς
βόσκει γαῖα μέλαινα πολυσπερέας ἀνθρώπους,
ψεύδεά τʼ ἀρτύνοντας ὅθεν κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο·
σοὶ δʼ ἔπι μὲν μορφὴ ἐπέων, ἔνι δὲ φρένες ἐσθλαί.
μῦθον δʼ ὡς ὅτʼ ἀοιδὸς ἐπισταμένως κατέλεξας,
πάντων τʼ Ἀργείων σέο τʼ αὐτοῦ κήδεα λυγρά.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἴ τινας ἀντιθέων ἑτάρων ἴδες, οἵ τοι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο καὶ αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
νὺξ δʼ ἥδε μάλα μακρή, ἀθέσφατος· οὐδέ πω ὥρη
εὕδειν ἐν μεγάρῳ, σὺ δέ μοι λέγε θέσκελα ἔργα.
καί κεν ἐς ἠῶ δῖαν ἀνασχοίμην, ὅτε μοι σὺ
τλαίης ἐν μεγάρῳ τὰ σὰ κήδεα μυθήσασθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἠπεροπῆά τʼ ἔμεν καὶ ἐπίκλοπον, οἷά τε πολλοὺς
βόσκει γαῖα μέλαινα πολυσπερέας ἀνθρώπους,
ψεύδεά τʼ ἀρτύνοντας ὅθεν κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο·
σοὶ δʼ ἔπι μὲν μορφὴ ἐπέων, ἔνι δὲ φρένες ἐσθλαί.
μῦθον δʼ ὡς ὅτʼ ἀοιδὸς ἐπισταμένως κατέλεξας,
πάντων τʼ Ἀργείων σέο τʼ αὐτοῦ κήδεα λυγρά.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἴ τινας ἀντιθέων ἑτάρων ἴδες, οἵ τοι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο καὶ αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
νὺξ δʼ ἥδε μάλα μακρή, ἀθέσφατος· οὐδέ πω ὥρη
εὕδειν ἐν μεγάρῳ, σὺ δέ μοι λέγε θέσκελα ἔργα.
καί κεν ἐς ἠῶ δῖαν ἀνασχοίμην, ὅτε μοι σὺ
τλαίης ἐν μεγάρῳ τὰ σὰ κήδεα μυθήσασθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
Lord Alcinous, showing forth among all the people,
there is a time for many words, and a time for sleep as well.
But if you still long to hear, I would not
grudge you these things, or the telling of others more pitiable still,
the sorrows of my companions, who perished afterwards,
who escaped the groaning war-cry of the Trojans
but perished on the homecoming, by the will of an evil woman.
But when holy Persephone had scattered this way and that
the spirits of the women,
then came the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
grieving; and about him others were gathered, all who with him
died in the house of Aegisthus and met their doom.
He knew me at once, when he had drunk the dark blood;
and he wept shrilly, shedding swelling tears,
stretching his hands towards me, straining to reach me;
but there was no firm strength in him any more, nor any vigour,
such as there had been before in his supple limbs.
When I saw him I wept, and pity came into my heart,
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
"Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men,
what doom of long-mourning death overcame you?
Did Poseidon overcome you in your ships,
rousing the cruel blast of harsh winds?
Or did hostile men destroy you on dry land
as you were cutting out their cattle and their fine flocks of sheep,
or fighting for a city and for women?"
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
there is a time for many words, and a time for sleep as well.
But if you still long to hear, I would not
grudge you these things, or the telling of others more pitiable still,
the sorrows of my companions, who perished afterwards,
who escaped the groaning war-cry of the Trojans
but perished on the homecoming, by the will of an evil woman.
But when holy Persephone had scattered this way and that
the spirits of the women,
then came the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
grieving; and about him others were gathered, all who with him
died in the house of Aegisthus and met their doom.
He knew me at once, when he had drunk the dark blood;
and he wept shrilly, shedding swelling tears,
stretching his hands towards me, straining to reach me;
but there was no firm strength in him any more, nor any vigour,
such as there had been before in his supple limbs.
When I saw him I wept, and pity came into my heart,
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
"Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men,
what doom of long-mourning death overcame you?
Did Poseidon overcome you in your ships,
rousing the cruel blast of harsh winds?
Or did hostile men destroy you on dry land
as you were cutting out their cattle and their fine flocks of sheep,
or fighting for a city and for women?"
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
ὥρη μὲν πολέων μύθων, ὥρη δὲ καὶ ὕπνου·
εἰ δʼ ἔτʼ ἀκουέμεναί γε λιλαίεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε
τούτων σοι φθονέοιμι καὶ οἰκτρότερʼ ἄλλʼ ἀγορεύειν,
κήδεʼ ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἳ δὴ μετόπισθεν ὄλοντο,
οἳ Τρώων μὲν ὑπεξέφυγον στονόεσσαν ἀυτήν,
ἐν νόστῳ δʼ ἀπόλοντο κακῆς ἰότητι γυναικός.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ψυχὰς μὲν ἀπεσκέδασʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ
ἁγνὴ Περσεφόνεια γυναικῶν θηλυτεράων,
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δʼ ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθʼ, ὅσσοι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ
οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
ἔγνω δʼ αἶψʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν·
κλαῖε δʼ ὅ γε λιγέως, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων,
πιτνὰς εἰς ἐμὲ χεῖρας, ὀρέξασθαι μενεαίνων·
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ οἱ ἔτʼ ἦν ἲς ἔμπεδος οὐδέ τι κῖκυς,
οἵη περ πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;
ἦε σέ γʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν
ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀυτμήν;
ἦέ σʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου
βοῦς περιταμνόμενον ἠδʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,
ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενον ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
ὥρη μὲν πολέων μύθων, ὥρη δὲ καὶ ὕπνου·
εἰ δʼ ἔτʼ ἀκουέμεναί γε λιλαίεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε
τούτων σοι φθονέοιμι καὶ οἰκτρότερʼ ἄλλʼ ἀγορεύειν,
κήδεʼ ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἳ δὴ μετόπισθεν ὄλοντο,
οἳ Τρώων μὲν ὑπεξέφυγον στονόεσσαν ἀυτήν,
ἐν νόστῳ δʼ ἀπόλοντο κακῆς ἰότητι γυναικός.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ψυχὰς μὲν ἀπεσκέδασʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ
ἁγνὴ Περσεφόνεια γυναικῶν θηλυτεράων,
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δʼ ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθʼ, ὅσσοι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ
οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
ἔγνω δʼ αἶψʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν·
κλαῖε δʼ ὅ γε λιγέως, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων,
πιτνὰς εἰς ἐμὲ χεῖρας, ὀρέξασθαι μενεαίνων·
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ οἱ ἔτʼ ἦν ἲς ἔμπεδος οὐδέ τι κῖκυς,
οἵη περ πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;
ἦε σέ γʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν
ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀυτμήν;
ἦέ σʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου
βοῦς περιταμνόμενον ἠδʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,
ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενον ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
Poseidon did not overcome me in my ships,
rousing the cruel blast of harsh winds,
nor did hostile men destroy me on dry land;
but Aegisthus contrived my death and my doom
and killed me, with my accursed wife, after inviting me to his house
and feasting me, as a man kills an ox at the manger.
So I died a most pitiable death; and about me my other companions
were killed without pause, like white-tusked swine
in the house of a rich man of great power,
for a wedding, or a shared feast, or a rich banquet.
You have already met with the slaughter of many men,
killed singly and in the strong press of battle;
but that above all you would have grieved to see,
how about the mixing-bowl and the loaded tables
we lay in the hall, and the whole floor steamed with blood.
And the most pitiable cry I heard was that of Priam’s daughter,
Cassandra, whom Clytemnestra of the crafty mind killed
beside me; and I, lifting my hands towards the ground,
let them fall as I died about the sword; and the dog-faced woman
turned away, and did not bear, though I was going to Hades,
to close my eyes with her hands and press my mouth shut.
So there is nothing more terrible and more shameless than a woman
who lays such deeds as these in her mind,
as that woman devised her unseemly deed,
contriving murder for her wedded husband. Indeed I thought
I would come home welcome to my children
and to my servants; but she, knowing surpassing wickedness,
poured shame upon herself and upon the women
who come after, even upon one who does well."
Poseidon did not overcome me in my ships,
rousing the cruel blast of harsh winds,
nor did hostile men destroy me on dry land;
but Aegisthus contrived my death and my doom
and killed me, with my accursed wife, after inviting me to his house
and feasting me, as a man kills an ox at the manger.
So I died a most pitiable death; and about me my other companions
were killed without pause, like white-tusked swine
in the house of a rich man of great power,
for a wedding, or a shared feast, or a rich banquet.
You have already met with the slaughter of many men,
killed singly and in the strong press of battle;
but that above all you would have grieved to see,
how about the mixing-bowl and the loaded tables
we lay in the hall, and the whole floor steamed with blood.
And the most pitiable cry I heard was that of Priam’s daughter,
Cassandra, whom Clytemnestra of the crafty mind killed
beside me; and I, lifting my hands towards the ground,
let them fall as I died about the sword; and the dog-faced woman
turned away, and did not bear, though I was going to Hades,
to close my eyes with her hands and press my mouth shut.
So there is nothing more terrible and more shameless than a woman
who lays such deeds as these in her mind,
as that woman devised her unseemly deed,
contriving murder for her wedded husband. Indeed I thought
I would come home welcome to my children
and to my servants; but she, knowing surpassing wickedness,
poured shame upon herself and upon the women
who come after, even upon one who does well."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
οὔτʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν
ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀυτμήν,
οὔτε μʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,
ἀλλά μοι Αἴγισθος τεύξας θάνατόν τε μόρον τε
ἔκτα σὺν οὐλομένῃ ἀλόχῳ, οἶκόνδε καλέσσας,
δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.
ὣς θάνον οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ· περὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἑταῖροι
νωλεμέως κτείνοντο σύες ὣς ἀργιόδοντες,
οἵ ῥά τʼ ἐν ἀφνειοῦ ἀνδρὸς μέγα δυναμένοιο
ἢ γάμῳ ἢ ἐράνῳ ἢ εἰλαπίνῃ τεθαλυίῃ.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων φόνῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας,
μουνὰξ κτεινομένων καὶ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ·
ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν ὀλοφύραο θυμῷ,
ὡς ἀμφὶ κρητῆρα τραπέζας τε πληθούσας
κείμεθʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.
οἰκτροτάτην δʼ ἤκουσα ὄπα Πριάμοιο θυγατρός,
Κασσάνδρης, τὴν κτεῖνε Κλυταιμνήστρη δολόμητις
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ ποτὶ γαίῃ χεῖρας ἀείρων
βάλλον ἀποθνήσκων περὶ φασγάνῳ· ἡ δὲ κυνῶπις
νοσφίσατʼ, οὐδέ μοι ἔτλη ἰόντι περ εἰς Ἀίδαο
χερσὶ κατʼ ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑλέειν σύν τε στόμʼ ἐρεῖσαι.
ὣς οὐκ αἰνότερον καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο γυναικός,
ἥ τις δὴ τοιαῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶν ἔργα βάληται·
οἷον δὴ καὶ κείνη ἐμήσατο ἔργον ἀεικές,
κουριδίῳ τεύξασα πόσει φόνον. ἦ τοι ἔφην γε
ἀσπάσιος παίδεσσιν ἰδὲ δμώεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· ἡ δʼ ἔξοχα λυγρὰ ἰδυῖα
οἷ τε κατʼ αἶσχος ἔχευε καὶ ἐσσομένῃσιν ὀπίσσω
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ ἐυεργὸς ἔῃσιν.
οὔτʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν
ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀυτμήν,
οὔτε μʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,
ἀλλά μοι Αἴγισθος τεύξας θάνατόν τε μόρον τε
ἔκτα σὺν οὐλομένῃ ἀλόχῳ, οἶκόνδε καλέσσας,
δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.
ὣς θάνον οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ· περὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἑταῖροι
νωλεμέως κτείνοντο σύες ὣς ἀργιόδοντες,
οἵ ῥά τʼ ἐν ἀφνειοῦ ἀνδρὸς μέγα δυναμένοιο
ἢ γάμῳ ἢ ἐράνῳ ἢ εἰλαπίνῃ τεθαλυίῃ.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων φόνῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας,
μουνὰξ κτεινομένων καὶ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ·
ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν ὀλοφύραο θυμῷ,
ὡς ἀμφὶ κρητῆρα τραπέζας τε πληθούσας
κείμεθʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.
οἰκτροτάτην δʼ ἤκουσα ὄπα Πριάμοιο θυγατρός,
Κασσάνδρης, τὴν κτεῖνε Κλυταιμνήστρη δολόμητις
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ ποτὶ γαίῃ χεῖρας ἀείρων
βάλλον ἀποθνήσκων περὶ φασγάνῳ· ἡ δὲ κυνῶπις
νοσφίσατʼ, οὐδέ μοι ἔτλη ἰόντι περ εἰς Ἀίδαο
χερσὶ κατʼ ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑλέειν σύν τε στόμʼ ἐρεῖσαι.
ὣς οὐκ αἰνότερον καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο γυναικός,
ἥ τις δὴ τοιαῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶν ἔργα βάληται·
οἷον δὴ καὶ κείνη ἐμήσατο ἔργον ἀεικές,
κουριδίῳ τεύξασα πόσει φόνον. ἦ τοι ἔφην γε
ἀσπάσιος παίδεσσιν ἰδὲ δμώεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· ἡ δʼ ἔξοχα λυγρὰ ἰδυῖα
οἷ τε κατʼ αἶσχος ἔχευε καὶ ἐσσομένῃσιν ὀπίσσω
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ ἐυεργὸς ἔῃσιν.
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Ah me, how terribly has far-seeing Zeus hated
the seed of Atreus, through the counsels of women,
from the beginning. For Helen’s sake many of us perished,
and Clytemnestra was preparing a snare for you while you were far away."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
the seed of Atreus, through the counsels of women,
from the beginning. For Helen’s sake many of us perished,
and Clytemnestra was preparing a snare for you while you were far away."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ γόνον Ἀτρέος εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε γυναικείας διὰ βουλὰς
ἐξ ἀρχῆς· Ἑλένης μὲν ἀπωλόμεθʼ εἵνεκα πολλοί,
σοὶ δὲ Κλυταιμνήστρη δόλον ἤρτυε τηλόθʼ ἐόντι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε γυναικείας διὰ βουλὰς
ἐξ ἀρχῆς· Ἑλένης μὲν ἀπωλόμεθʼ εἵνεκα πολλοί,
σοὶ δὲ Κλυταιμνήστρη δόλον ἤρτυε τηλόθʼ ἐόντι.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
"So now do not you either ever be gentle to your wife;
do not tell her the whole story that you know well,
but tell one part, and let the other stay hidden.
Yet for you, Odysseus, there will be no murder from your wife;
for she is far too wise, and knows good counsels in her mind,
the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope.
We left her a young bride
when we went off to the war; and she had a child at the breast,
an infant, who now, I suppose, sits in the number of men,
a happy man; for his dear father will come and see him,
and he will embrace his father, as is right.
But my wife did not even let me fill my eyes
with the sight of my son; before that she killed me too.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
secretly, and not openly, bring your ship in
to your dear native land; for there is no more trusting women.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
do you hear anywhere of my son, that he is still alive,
either in Orchomenus or in sandy Pylos,
or perhaps with Menelaus in wide Sparta?
For noble Orestes is not yet dead upon the earth."
do not tell her the whole story that you know well,
but tell one part, and let the other stay hidden.
Yet for you, Odysseus, there will be no murder from your wife;
for she is far too wise, and knows good counsels in her mind,
the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope.
We left her a young bride
when we went off to the war; and she had a child at the breast,
an infant, who now, I suppose, sits in the number of men,
a happy man; for his dear father will come and see him,
and he will embrace his father, as is right.
But my wife did not even let me fill my eyes
with the sight of my son; before that she killed me too.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
secretly, and not openly, bring your ship in
to your dear native land; for there is no more trusting women.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
do you hear anywhere of my son, that he is still alive,
either in Orchomenus or in sandy Pylos,
or perhaps with Menelaus in wide Sparta?
For noble Orestes is not yet dead upon the earth."
τῷ νῦν μή ποτε καὶ σὺ γυναικί περ ἤπιος εἶναι·
μή οἱ μῦθον ἅπαντα πιφαυσκέμεν, ὅν κʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν φάσθαι, τὸ δὲ καὶ κεκρυμμένον εἶναι.
ἀλλʼ οὐ σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, φόνος ἔσσεται ἔκ γε γυναικός·
λίην γὰρ πινυτή τε καὶ εὖ φρεσὶ μήδεα οἶδε
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.
ἦ μέν μιν νύμφην γε νέην κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖς
ἐρχόμενοι πόλεμόνδε· πάϊς δέ οἱ ἦν ἐπὶ μαζῷ
νήπιος, ὅς που νῦν γε μετʼ ἀνδρῶν ἵζει ἀριθμῷ,
ὄλβιος· ἦ γὰρ τόν γε πατὴρ φίλος ὄψεται ἐλθών,
καὶ κεῖνος πατέρα προσπτύξεται, ἣ θέμις ἐστίν.
ἡ δʼ ἐμὴ οὐδέ περ υἷος ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἄκοιτις
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἔασε· πάρος δέ με πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
κρύβδην, μηδʼ ἀναφανδά, φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
νῆα κατισχέμεναι· ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι πιστὰ γυναιξίν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώοντος ἀκούετε παιδὸς ἐμοῖο,
ἤ που ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ ἢ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι,
ἤ που πὰρ Μενελάῳ ἐνὶ Σπάρτῃ εὐρείῃ·
οὐ γάρ πω τέθνηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ δῖος Ὀρέστης.
μή οἱ μῦθον ἅπαντα πιφαυσκέμεν, ὅν κʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν φάσθαι, τὸ δὲ καὶ κεκρυμμένον εἶναι.
ἀλλʼ οὐ σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, φόνος ἔσσεται ἔκ γε γυναικός·
λίην γὰρ πινυτή τε καὶ εὖ φρεσὶ μήδεα οἶδε
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.
ἦ μέν μιν νύμφην γε νέην κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖς
ἐρχόμενοι πόλεμόνδε· πάϊς δέ οἱ ἦν ἐπὶ μαζῷ
νήπιος, ὅς που νῦν γε μετʼ ἀνδρῶν ἵζει ἀριθμῷ,
ὄλβιος· ἦ γὰρ τόν γε πατὴρ φίλος ὄψεται ἐλθών,
καὶ κεῖνος πατέρα προσπτύξεται, ἣ θέμις ἐστίν.
ἡ δʼ ἐμὴ οὐδέ περ υἷος ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἄκοιτις
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἔασε· πάρος δέ με πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
κρύβδην, μηδʼ ἀναφανδά, φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
νῆα κατισχέμεναι· ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι πιστὰ γυναιξίν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώοντος ἀκούετε παιδὸς ἐμοῖο,
ἤ που ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ ἢ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι,
ἤ που πὰρ Μενελάῳ ἐνὶ Σπάρτῃ εὐρείῃ·
οὐ γάρ πω τέθνηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ δῖος Ὀρέστης.
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Son of Atreus, why do you ask me this? I do not know
whether he lives or is dead; and it is bad to speak empty words."
So we two stood exchanging bitter words,
grieving and shedding swelling tears;
and there came the spirit of Achilles, son of Peleus,
and of Patroclus and of blameless Antilochus
and of Ajax, who was the best in looks and in build
of all the other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus.
And the spirit of the swift-footed son of Aeacus knew me,
and lamenting it addressed me with winged words:
whether he lives or is dead; and it is bad to speak empty words."
So we two stood exchanging bitter words,
grieving and shedding swelling tears;
and there came the spirit of Achilles, son of Peleus,
and of Patroclus and of blameless Antilochus
and of Ajax, who was the best in looks and in build
of all the other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus.
And the spirit of the swift-footed son of Aeacus knew me,
and lamenting it addressed me with winged words:
Ἀτρεΐδη, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι; οὐδέ τι οἶδα,
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζειν.
νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσιν
ἕσταμεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο
Αἴαντός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
ἔγνω δὲ ψυχή με ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζειν.
νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσιν
ἕσταμεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο
Αἴαντός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
ἔγνω δὲ ψυχή με ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
reckless man, what still greater deed will you devise in your mind?
How did you dare to come down to Hades, where the dead
live without wits, the phantoms of men whose toil is done?"
reckless man, what still greater deed will you devise in your mind?
How did you dare to come down to Hades, where the dead
live without wits, the phantoms of men whose toil is done?"
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
σχέτλιε, τίπτʼ ἔτι μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μήσεαι ἔργον;
πῶς ἔτλης Ἄϊδόσδε κατελθέμεν, ἔνθα τε νεκροὶ
ἀφραδέες ναίουσι, βροτῶν εἴδωλα καμόντων;
σχέτλιε, τίπτʼ ἔτι μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μήσεαι ἔργον;
πῶς ἔτλης Ἄϊδόσδε κατελθέμεν, ἔνθα τε νεκροὶ
ἀφραδέες ναίουσι, βροτῶν εἴδωλα καμόντων;
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Achilles, son of Peleus, far the mightiest of the Achaeans,
I came on an errand to Teiresias, to see whether he would tell me
any counsel for reaching rugged Ithaca.
For I have not yet come near Achaea, nor yet
set foot on my own land, but always have troubles. But of you, Achilles,
no man before was more blessed, nor shall any be after.
For before, while you lived, we Argives honoured you
like the gods; and now you rule with great power among the dead,
here where you are; so do not grieve at your death, Achilles."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
I came on an errand to Teiresias, to see whether he would tell me
any counsel for reaching rugged Ithaca.
For I have not yet come near Achaea, nor yet
set foot on my own land, but always have troubles. But of you, Achilles,
no man before was more blessed, nor shall any be after.
For before, while you lived, we Argives honoured you
like the gods; and now you rule with great power among the dead,
here where you are; so do not grieve at your death, Achilles."
So I spoke, and he answered me at once and said:
ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ Πηλῆος υἱέ, μέγα φέρτατʼ Ἀχαιῶν,
ἦλθον Τειρεσίαο κατὰ χρέος, εἴ τινα βουλὴν
εἴποι, ὅπως Ἰθάκην ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἱκοίμην·
οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος, οὐδέ πω ἁμῆς
γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἔχω κακά. σεῖο δʼ, Ἀχιλλεῦ,
οὔ τις ἀνὴρ προπάροιθε μακάρτατος οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ὀπίσσω.
πρὶν μὲν γάρ σε ζωὸν ἐτίομεν ἶσα θεοῖσιν
Ἀργεῖοι, νῦν αὖτε μέγα κρατέεις νεκύεσσιν
ἐνθάδʼ ἐών· τῷ μή τι θανὼν ἀκαχίζευ, Ἀχιλλεῦ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
ἦλθον Τειρεσίαο κατὰ χρέος, εἴ τινα βουλὴν
εἴποι, ὅπως Ἰθάκην ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἱκοίμην·
οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος, οὐδέ πω ἁμῆς
γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἔχω κακά. σεῖο δʼ, Ἀχιλλεῦ,
οὔ τις ἀνὴρ προπάροιθε μακάρτατος οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ὀπίσσω.
πρὶν μὲν γάρ σε ζωὸν ἐτίομεν ἶσα θεοῖσιν
Ἀργεῖοι, νῦν αὖτε μέγα κρατέεις νεκύεσσιν
ἐνθάδʼ ἐών· τῷ μή τι θανὼν ἀκαχίζευ, Ἀχιλλεῦ.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
"Do not try to comfort me about death, glorious Odysseus.
I would rather be bound to the soil and serve another as a hired hand,
a man with no land of his own and little to live on,
than be lord over all the perished dead.
But come, tell me word of my noble son,
whether he followed to the war to be a champion, or not.
And tell me of blameless Peleus, if you have heard anything:
does he still hold his honour among the many Myrmidons,
or do they dishonour him throughout Hellas and Phthia,
because old age holds down his hands and his feet?
For I am no helper to him under the rays of the sun,
such as I was once in wide Troy,
when I killed the best of the host, defending the Argives.
If I could come, even for a little, to my father’s house as I was then,
I would make my fury and my unapproachable hands hateful
to any who do him violence and shut him out from his honour."
I would rather be bound to the soil and serve another as a hired hand,
a man with no land of his own and little to live on,
than be lord over all the perished dead.
But come, tell me word of my noble son,
whether he followed to the war to be a champion, or not.
And tell me of blameless Peleus, if you have heard anything:
does he still hold his honour among the many Myrmidons,
or do they dishonour him throughout Hellas and Phthia,
because old age holds down his hands and his feet?
For I am no helper to him under the rays of the sun,
such as I was once in wide Troy,
when I killed the best of the host, defending the Argives.
If I could come, even for a little, to my father’s house as I was then,
I would make my fury and my unapproachable hands hateful
to any who do him violence and shut him out from his honour."
μὴ δή μοι θάνατόν γε παραύδα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ.
βουλοίμην κʼ ἐπάρουρος ἐὼν θητευέμεν ἄλλῳ,
ἀνδρὶ παρʼ ἀκλήρῳ, ᾧ μὴ βίοτος πολὺς εἴη,
ἢ πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι καταφθιμένοισιν ἀνάσσειν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τοῦ παιδὸς ἀγαυοῦ μῦθον ἐνίσπες,
ἢ ἕπετʼ ἐς πόλεμον πρόμος ἔμμεναι, ἦε καὶ οὐκί.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος, εἴ τι πέπυσσαι,
ἢ ἔτʼ ἔχει τιμὴν πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν,
ἦ μιν ἀτιμάζουσιν ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα τε Φθίην τε,
οὕνεκά μιν κατὰ γῆρας ἔχει χεῖράς τε πόδας τε.
οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπαρωγὸς ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,
τοῖος ἐών, οἷός ποτʼ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ
πέφνον λαὸν ἄριστον, ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν·
εἰ τοιόσδʼ ἔλθοιμι μίνυνθά περ ἐς πατέρος δῶ·
τῷ κέ τεῳ στύξαιμι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους,
οἳ κεῖνον βιόωνται ἐέργουσίν τʼ ἀπὸ τιμῆς.
βουλοίμην κʼ ἐπάρουρος ἐὼν θητευέμεν ἄλλῳ,
ἀνδρὶ παρʼ ἀκλήρῳ, ᾧ μὴ βίοτος πολὺς εἴη,
ἢ πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι καταφθιμένοισιν ἀνάσσειν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τοῦ παιδὸς ἀγαυοῦ μῦθον ἐνίσπες,
ἢ ἕπετʼ ἐς πόλεμον πρόμος ἔμμεναι, ἦε καὶ οὐκί.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος, εἴ τι πέπυσσαι,
ἢ ἔτʼ ἔχει τιμὴν πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν,
ἦ μιν ἀτιμάζουσιν ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα τε Φθίην τε,
οὕνεκά μιν κατὰ γῆρας ἔχει χεῖράς τε πόδας τε.
οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπαρωγὸς ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,
τοῖος ἐών, οἷός ποτʼ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ
πέφνον λαὸν ἄριστον, ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν·
εἰ τοιόσδʼ ἔλθοιμι μίνυνθά περ ἐς πατέρος δῶ·
τῷ κέ τεῳ στύξαιμι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους,
οἳ κεῖνον βιόωνται ἐέργουσίν τʼ ἀπὸ τιμῆς.
So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Of blameless Peleus I have heard nothing at all;
but of your dear son Neoptolemus
I will tell you the whole truth, as you bid me.
For I myself brought him in my hollow balanced ship
from Scyros to join the well-greaved Achaeans.
but of your dear son Neoptolemus
I will tell you the whole truth, as you bid me.
For I myself brought him in my hollow balanced ship
from Scyros to join the well-greaved Achaeans.
ἦ τοι μὲν Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος οὔ τι πέπυσμαι,
αὐτάρ τοι παιδός γε Νεοπτολέμοιο φίλοιο
πᾶσαν ἀληθείην μυθήσομαι, ὥς με κελεύεις·
αὐτὸς γάρ μιν ἐγὼ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐίσης
ἤγαγον ἐκ Σκύρου μετʼ ἐυκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
αὐτάρ τοι παιδός γε Νεοπτολέμοιο φίλοιο
πᾶσαν ἀληθείην μυθήσομαι, ὥς με κελεύεις·
αὐτὸς γάρ μιν ἐγὼ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐίσης
ἤγαγον ἐκ Σκύρου μετʼ ἐυκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
Whenever we were taking counsel about the city of Troy,
he always spoke first and never missed the mark in his words;
only godlike Nestor and I would outdo him.
But whenever we fought with the bronze on the plain of the Trojans,
he never stayed back in the mass of men or in the throng,
but ran far out in front, yielding to no one in his fury,
and he killed many men in the dread struggle.
But I could not tell of them all nor name them,
all the host he killed defending the Argives;
but only how he cut down the son of Telephus with the bronze,
the hero Eurypylus, and about him many companions,
the Ceteians, were killed for the sake of a woman’s gifts.
He was the fairest man I saw, after noble Memnon.
And when we went down into the horse that Epeius made,
we the best of the Argives, and everything was laid upon me,
both to open the close-set ambush and to shut it,
then the other leaders and rulers of the Danaans
wiped away tears, and the limbs of each man trembled;
but him I never once saw with my eyes
turn pale in his fair skin, nor wipe a tear
from his cheeks; he kept begging me again and again
to let him out of the horse, and gripped the hilt of his sword
and his bronze-heavy spear, eager to work evil on the Trojans.
But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam,
he went aboard his ship with his share and a fine prize of honour,
unhurt, neither struck by the sharp bronze
nor wounded in close fighting, such as happens often
in war; for Ares rages at random."
So I spoke, and the spirit of the swift-footed son of Aeacus
went off with long strides across the meadow of asphodel,
rejoicing because I had said that his son was showing forth among men.
But the other spirits of the dead who have perished
stood there grieving, and each asked after her own sorrows.
Only the spirit of Ajax, son of Telamon,
stood apart, angry because of the victory
that I won over him in the judgement beside the ships
over the arms of Achilles; his lady mother had set them as the prize.
And the sons of the Trojans judged it, and Pallas Athena.
How I wish I had never won in such a contest!
For because of those arms the earth closed over such a head,
Ajax, who in looks and in deeds was made surpassing
all the other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus.
I spoke to him with soothing words:
"Ajax, son of blameless Telamon, were you never
even in death to forget your anger against me over those
accursed arms? The gods set them as a bane to the Argives,
for such a tower of strength was lost to them in you; and we Achaeans
grieve for you, dead, without ceasing, as much as for the head of Achilles,
the son of Peleus. And no one else is
to blame, but Zeus: he hated the host of the Danaan spearmen
terribly, and laid this doom upon you.
But come here, my lord, so that you may hear our word
and our speech; and master your fury and your lordly spirit."
So I spoke, but he answered me nothing, and went off after the other
spirits of the dead who have perished, into Erebus.
There, angry as he was, he might still have spoken to me, or I to him;
he always spoke first and never missed the mark in his words;
only godlike Nestor and I would outdo him.
But whenever we fought with the bronze on the plain of the Trojans,
he never stayed back in the mass of men or in the throng,
but ran far out in front, yielding to no one in his fury,
and he killed many men in the dread struggle.
But I could not tell of them all nor name them,
all the host he killed defending the Argives;
but only how he cut down the son of Telephus with the bronze,
the hero Eurypylus, and about him many companions,
the Ceteians, were killed for the sake of a woman’s gifts.
He was the fairest man I saw, after noble Memnon.
And when we went down into the horse that Epeius made,
we the best of the Argives, and everything was laid upon me,
both to open the close-set ambush and to shut it,
then the other leaders and rulers of the Danaans
wiped away tears, and the limbs of each man trembled;
but him I never once saw with my eyes
turn pale in his fair skin, nor wipe a tear
from his cheeks; he kept begging me again and again
to let him out of the horse, and gripped the hilt of his sword
and his bronze-heavy spear, eager to work evil on the Trojans.
But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam,
he went aboard his ship with his share and a fine prize of honour,
unhurt, neither struck by the sharp bronze
nor wounded in close fighting, such as happens often
in war; for Ares rages at random."
So I spoke, and the spirit of the swift-footed son of Aeacus
went off with long strides across the meadow of asphodel,
rejoicing because I had said that his son was showing forth among men.
But the other spirits of the dead who have perished
stood there grieving, and each asked after her own sorrows.
Only the spirit of Ajax, son of Telamon,
stood apart, angry because of the victory
that I won over him in the judgement beside the ships
over the arms of Achilles; his lady mother had set them as the prize.
And the sons of the Trojans judged it, and Pallas Athena.
How I wish I had never won in such a contest!
For because of those arms the earth closed over such a head,
Ajax, who in looks and in deeds was made surpassing
all the other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus.
I spoke to him with soothing words:
"Ajax, son of blameless Telamon, were you never
even in death to forget your anger against me over those
accursed arms? The gods set them as a bane to the Argives,
for such a tower of strength was lost to them in you; and we Achaeans
grieve for you, dead, without ceasing, as much as for the head of Achilles,
the son of Peleus. And no one else is
to blame, but Zeus: he hated the host of the Danaan spearmen
terribly, and laid this doom upon you.
But come here, my lord, so that you may hear our word
and our speech; and master your fury and your lordly spirit."
So I spoke, but he answered me nothing, and went off after the other
spirits of the dead who have perished, into Erebus.
There, angry as he was, he might still have spoken to me, or I to him;
ἦ τοι ὅτʼ ἀμφὶ πόλιν Τροίην φραζοίμεθα βουλάς,
αἰεὶ πρῶτος ἔβαζε καὶ οὐχ ἡμάρτανε μύθων·
Νέστωρ ἀντίθεος καὶ ἐγὼ νικάσκομεν οἴω.
αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἐν πεδίῳ Τρώων μαρναίμεθα χαλκῷ,
οὔ ποτʼ ἐνὶ πληθυῖ μένεν ἀνδρῶν οὐδʼ ἐν ὁμίλῳ,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ προθέεσκε τὸ ὃν μένος οὐδενὶ εἴκων,
πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνεν ἐν αἰνῇ δηιοτῆτι.
πάντας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,
ὅσσον λαὸν ἔπεφνεν ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν,
ἀλλʼ οἷον τὸν Τηλεφίδην κατενήρατο χαλκῷ,
ἥρωʼ Εὐρύπυλον, πολλοὶ δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι
Κήτειοι κτείνοντο γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.
κεῖνον δὴ κάλλιστον ἴδον μετὰ Μέμνονα δῖον.
αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ εἰς ἵππον κατεβαίνομεν, ὃν κάμʼ Ἐπειός,
Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ πάντα τέταλτο,
ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν λόχον ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι,
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι Δαναῶν ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
δάκρυά τʼ ὠμόργνυντο τρέμον θʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστου·
κεῖνον δʼ οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
οὔτʼ ὠχρήσαντα χρόα κάλλιμον οὔτε παρειῶν
δάκρυ ὀμορξάμενον· ὁ δέ γε μάλα πόλλʼ ἱκέτευεν
ἱππόθεν ἐξέμεναι, ξίφεος δʼ ἐπεμαίετο κώπην
καὶ δόρυ χαλκοβαρές, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μενοίνα.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,
μοῖραν καὶ γέρας ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβαινεν
ἀσκηθής, οὔτʼ ἂρ βεβλημένος ὀξέι χαλκῷ
οὔτʼ αὐτοσχεδίην οὐτασμένος, οἷά τε πολλὰ
γίγνεται ἐν πολέμῳ· ἐπιμὶξ δέ τε μαίνεται Ἄρης.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ψυχὴ δὲ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
φοίτα μακρὰ βιβᾶσα κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
γηθοσύνη ὅ οἱ υἱὸν ἔφην ἀριδείκετον εἶναι.
αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι ψυχαὶ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων
ἕστασαν ἀχνύμεναι, εἴροντο δὲ κήδεʼ ἑκάστη.
οἴη δʼ Αἴαντος ψυχὴ Τελαμωνιάδαο
νόσφιν ἀφεστήκει, κεχολωμένη εἵνεκα νίκης,
τήν μιν ἐγὼ νίκησα δικαζόμενος παρὰ νηυσὶ
τεύχεσιν ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆος· ἔθηκε δὲ πότνια μήτηρ.
παῖδες δὲ Τρώων δίκασαν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
ὡς δὴ μὴ ὄφελον νικᾶν τοιῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀέθλῳ·
τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ἕνεκʼ αὐτῶν γαῖα κατέσχεν,
Αἴανθʼ, ὃς πέρι μὲν εἶδος, πέρι δʼ ἔργα τέτυκτο
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπέεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισιν·
Αἶαν, παῖ Τελαμῶνος ἀμύμονος, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες
οὐδὲ θανὼν λήσεσθαι ἐμοὶ χόλου εἵνεκα τευχέων
οὐλομένων; τὰ δὲ πῆμα θεοὶ θέσαν Ἀργείοισι,
τοῖος γάρ σφιν πύργος ἀπώλεο· σεῖο δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
ἶσον Ἀχιλλῆος κεφαλῇ Πηληϊάδαο
ἀχνύμεθα φθιμένοιο διαμπερές· οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
αἴτιος, ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς Δαναῶν στρατὸν αἰχμητάων
ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε, τεῒν δʼ ἐπὶ μοῖραν ἔθηκεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, ἄναξ, ἵνʼ ἔπος καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσῃς
ἡμέτερον· δάμασον δὲ μένος καὶ ἀγήνορα θυμόν.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο, βῆ δὲ μετʼ ἄλλας
ψυχὰς εἰς Ἔρεβος νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
ἔνθα χʼ ὅμως προσέφη κεχολωμένος, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τόν·
αἰεὶ πρῶτος ἔβαζε καὶ οὐχ ἡμάρτανε μύθων·
Νέστωρ ἀντίθεος καὶ ἐγὼ νικάσκομεν οἴω.
αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἐν πεδίῳ Τρώων μαρναίμεθα χαλκῷ,
οὔ ποτʼ ἐνὶ πληθυῖ μένεν ἀνδρῶν οὐδʼ ἐν ὁμίλῳ,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ προθέεσκε τὸ ὃν μένος οὐδενὶ εἴκων,
πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνεν ἐν αἰνῇ δηιοτῆτι.
πάντας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,
ὅσσον λαὸν ἔπεφνεν ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν,
ἀλλʼ οἷον τὸν Τηλεφίδην κατενήρατο χαλκῷ,
ἥρωʼ Εὐρύπυλον, πολλοὶ δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι
Κήτειοι κτείνοντο γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.
κεῖνον δὴ κάλλιστον ἴδον μετὰ Μέμνονα δῖον.
αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ εἰς ἵππον κατεβαίνομεν, ὃν κάμʼ Ἐπειός,
Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ πάντα τέταλτο,
ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν λόχον ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι,
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι Δαναῶν ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
δάκρυά τʼ ὠμόργνυντο τρέμον θʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστου·
κεῖνον δʼ οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
οὔτʼ ὠχρήσαντα χρόα κάλλιμον οὔτε παρειῶν
δάκρυ ὀμορξάμενον· ὁ δέ γε μάλα πόλλʼ ἱκέτευεν
ἱππόθεν ἐξέμεναι, ξίφεος δʼ ἐπεμαίετο κώπην
καὶ δόρυ χαλκοβαρές, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μενοίνα.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,
μοῖραν καὶ γέρας ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβαινεν
ἀσκηθής, οὔτʼ ἂρ βεβλημένος ὀξέι χαλκῷ
οὔτʼ αὐτοσχεδίην οὐτασμένος, οἷά τε πολλὰ
γίγνεται ἐν πολέμῳ· ἐπιμὶξ δέ τε μαίνεται Ἄρης.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ψυχὴ δὲ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
φοίτα μακρὰ βιβᾶσα κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
γηθοσύνη ὅ οἱ υἱὸν ἔφην ἀριδείκετον εἶναι.
αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι ψυχαὶ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων
ἕστασαν ἀχνύμεναι, εἴροντο δὲ κήδεʼ ἑκάστη.
οἴη δʼ Αἴαντος ψυχὴ Τελαμωνιάδαο
νόσφιν ἀφεστήκει, κεχολωμένη εἵνεκα νίκης,
τήν μιν ἐγὼ νίκησα δικαζόμενος παρὰ νηυσὶ
τεύχεσιν ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆος· ἔθηκε δὲ πότνια μήτηρ.
παῖδες δὲ Τρώων δίκασαν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
ὡς δὴ μὴ ὄφελον νικᾶν τοιῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀέθλῳ·
τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ἕνεκʼ αὐτῶν γαῖα κατέσχεν,
Αἴανθʼ, ὃς πέρι μὲν εἶδος, πέρι δʼ ἔργα τέτυκτο
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπέεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισιν·
Αἶαν, παῖ Τελαμῶνος ἀμύμονος, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες
οὐδὲ θανὼν λήσεσθαι ἐμοὶ χόλου εἵνεκα τευχέων
οὐλομένων; τὰ δὲ πῆμα θεοὶ θέσαν Ἀργείοισι,
τοῖος γάρ σφιν πύργος ἀπώλεο· σεῖο δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
ἶσον Ἀχιλλῆος κεφαλῇ Πηληϊάδαο
ἀχνύμεθα φθιμένοιο διαμπερές· οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
αἴτιος, ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς Δαναῶν στρατὸν αἰχμητάων
ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε, τεῒν δʼ ἐπὶ μοῖραν ἔθηκεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, ἄναξ, ἵνʼ ἔπος καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσῃς
ἡμέτερον· δάμασον δὲ μένος καὶ ἀγήνορα θυμόν.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο, βῆ δὲ μετʼ ἄλλας
ψυχὰς εἰς Ἔρεβος νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.
ἔνθα χʼ ὅμως προσέφη κεχολωμένος, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τόν·
but the spirit in my breast was eager
to see the spirits of the other dead who have perished.
There I saw Minos, the glorious son of Zeus,
holding a golden staff, giving judgements to the dead,
seated; and they asked their cases of him, their lord,
sitting and standing throughout the wide-gated house of Hades.
After him I saw huge Orion,
driving together the wild beasts across the meadow of asphodel,
the beasts he himself had killed in the lonely mountains,
holding in his hands a club all of bronze, unbroken for ever.
And I saw Tityus, the son of glorious Gaia,
lying on the ground; and he lay over nine acres,
and two vultures sat on either side of him tearing his liver,
plunging inside the caul; and he could not beat them off with his hands.
For he had dragged at Leto, the honoured consort of Zeus,
as she went to Pytho through Panopeus of the fair dancing-places.
And I saw Tantalus too, held in hard pains,
standing in a pool; and the water came up to his chin.
He strained with thirst, and could take nothing to drink;
for as often as the old man stooped, eager to drink,
so often the water was swallowed up and gone, and about his feet
the black earth appeared, and a god dried it away.
And trees with high leaves poured their fruit down over his head,
pears and pomegranates and apple trees with glorious fruit,
and sweet figs and flourishing olives;
but whenever the old man reached out his hands to grasp them,
the wind would toss them away towards the shadowy clouds.
And I saw Sisyphus too, held in hard pains,
heaving a huge stone with both his hands.
to see the spirits of the other dead who have perished.
There I saw Minos, the glorious son of Zeus,
holding a golden staff, giving judgements to the dead,
seated; and they asked their cases of him, their lord,
sitting and standing throughout the wide-gated house of Hades.
After him I saw huge Orion,
driving together the wild beasts across the meadow of asphodel,
the beasts he himself had killed in the lonely mountains,
holding in his hands a club all of bronze, unbroken for ever.
And I saw Tityus, the son of glorious Gaia,
lying on the ground; and he lay over nine acres,
and two vultures sat on either side of him tearing his liver,
plunging inside the caul; and he could not beat them off with his hands.
For he had dragged at Leto, the honoured consort of Zeus,
as she went to Pytho through Panopeus of the fair dancing-places.
And I saw Tantalus too, held in hard pains,
standing in a pool; and the water came up to his chin.
He strained with thirst, and could take nothing to drink;
for as often as the old man stooped, eager to drink,
so often the water was swallowed up and gone, and about his feet
the black earth appeared, and a god dried it away.
And trees with high leaves poured their fruit down over his head,
pears and pomegranates and apple trees with glorious fruit,
and sweet figs and flourishing olives;
but whenever the old man reached out his hands to grasp them,
the wind would toss them away towards the shadowy clouds.
And I saw Sisyphus too, held in hard pains,
heaving a huge stone with both his hands.
ἀλλά μοι ἤθελε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι
τῶν ἄλλων ψυχὰς ἰδέειν κατατεθνηώτων.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι Μίνωα ἴδον, Διὸς ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχοντα, θεμιστεύοντα νέκυσσιν,
ἥμενον, οἱ δέ μιν ἀμφὶ δίκας εἴροντο ἄνακτα,
ἥμενοι ἑσταότες τε κατʼ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.
τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ὠρίωνα πελώριον εἰσενόησα
θῆρας ὁμοῦ εἰλεῦντα κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
τοὺς αὐτὸς κατέπεφνεν ἐν οἰοπόλοισιν ὄρεσσι
χερσὶν ἔχων ῥόπαλον παγχάλκεον, αἰὲν ἀαγές.
καὶ Τιτυὸν εἶδον, Γαίης ἐρικυδέος υἱόν,
κείμενον ἐν δαπέδῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐννέα κεῖτο πέλεθρα,
γῦπε δέ μιν ἑκάτερθε παρημένω ἧπαρ ἔκειρον,
δέρτρον ἔσω δύνοντες, ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἀπαμύνετο χερσί·
Λητὼ γὰρ ἕλκησε, Διὸς κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν,
Πυθώδʼ ἐρχομένην διὰ καλλιχόρου Πανοπῆος.
καὶ μὴν Τάνταλον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα
ἑστεῶτʼ ἐν λίμνῃ· ἡ δὲ προσέπλαζε γενείῳ·
στεῦτο δὲ διψάων, πιέειν δʼ οὐκ εἶχεν ἑλέσθαι·
ὁσσάκι γὰρ κύψειʼ ὁ γέρων πιέειν μενεαίνων,
τοσσάχʼ ὕδωρ ἀπολέσκετʼ ἀναβροχέν, ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶ
γαῖα μέλαινα φάνεσκε, καταζήνασκε δὲ δαίμων.
δένδρεα δʼ ὑψιπέτηλα κατὰ κρῆθεν χέε καρπόν,
ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι
συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι·
τῶν ὁπότʼ ἰθύσειʼ ὁ γέρων ἐπὶ χερσὶ μάσασθαι,
τὰς δʼ ἄνεμος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα.
καὶ μὴν Σίσυφον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα
λᾶαν βαστάζοντα πελώριον ἀμφοτέρῃσιν.
τῶν ἄλλων ψυχὰς ἰδέειν κατατεθνηώτων.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι Μίνωα ἴδον, Διὸς ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχοντα, θεμιστεύοντα νέκυσσιν,
ἥμενον, οἱ δέ μιν ἀμφὶ δίκας εἴροντο ἄνακτα,
ἥμενοι ἑσταότες τε κατʼ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.
τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ὠρίωνα πελώριον εἰσενόησα
θῆρας ὁμοῦ εἰλεῦντα κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
τοὺς αὐτὸς κατέπεφνεν ἐν οἰοπόλοισιν ὄρεσσι
χερσὶν ἔχων ῥόπαλον παγχάλκεον, αἰὲν ἀαγές.
καὶ Τιτυὸν εἶδον, Γαίης ἐρικυδέος υἱόν,
κείμενον ἐν δαπέδῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐννέα κεῖτο πέλεθρα,
γῦπε δέ μιν ἑκάτερθε παρημένω ἧπαρ ἔκειρον,
δέρτρον ἔσω δύνοντες, ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἀπαμύνετο χερσί·
Λητὼ γὰρ ἕλκησε, Διὸς κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν,
Πυθώδʼ ἐρχομένην διὰ καλλιχόρου Πανοπῆος.
καὶ μὴν Τάνταλον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα
ἑστεῶτʼ ἐν λίμνῃ· ἡ δὲ προσέπλαζε γενείῳ·
στεῦτο δὲ διψάων, πιέειν δʼ οὐκ εἶχεν ἑλέσθαι·
ὁσσάκι γὰρ κύψειʼ ὁ γέρων πιέειν μενεαίνων,
τοσσάχʼ ὕδωρ ἀπολέσκετʼ ἀναβροχέν, ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶ
γαῖα μέλαινα φάνεσκε, καταζήνασκε δὲ δαίμων.
δένδρεα δʼ ὑψιπέτηλα κατὰ κρῆθεν χέε καρπόν,
ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι
συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι·
τῶν ὁπότʼ ἰθύσειʼ ὁ γέρων ἐπὶ χερσὶ μάσασθαι,
τὰς δʼ ἄνεμος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα.
καὶ μὴν Σίσυφον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα
λᾶαν βαστάζοντα πελώριον ἀμφοτέρῃσιν.
Bracing himself with hands and feet
he kept thrusting the stone up towards the crest; but when he was about
to heave it over the top, then its own weight would turn it back,
and the shameless stone would roll down again to the plain.
But he would strain and push it back again, and the sweat
ran from his limbs, and the dust rose from his head.
After him I saw the mighty Heracles,
his phantom; for he himself is among the immortal gods,
taking his joy in the feasts, and has fair-ankled Hebe,
daughter of great Zeus and of Hera of the golden sandals.
About him was the clamour of the dead, like the clamour of birds,
as they scattered in terror on every side; and he, like black night,
held his bow bare with an arrow on the string,
glaring terribly, always like one about to shoot.
And a fearful baldric was about his breast,
a strap of gold, on which marvellous works were wrought,
bears and wild boars and fierce-eyed lions,
and combats and battles and slaughters and killings of men.
Having made it once, may he make nothing else like it,
the man who laid that baldric into his craft.
He knew me at once, when he saw me with his eyes,
and lamenting he addressed me with winged words:
he kept thrusting the stone up towards the crest; but when he was about
to heave it over the top, then its own weight would turn it back,
and the shameless stone would roll down again to the plain.
But he would strain and push it back again, and the sweat
ran from his limbs, and the dust rose from his head.
After him I saw the mighty Heracles,
his phantom; for he himself is among the immortal gods,
taking his joy in the feasts, and has fair-ankled Hebe,
daughter of great Zeus and of Hera of the golden sandals.
About him was the clamour of the dead, like the clamour of birds,
as they scattered in terror on every side; and he, like black night,
held his bow bare with an arrow on the string,
glaring terribly, always like one about to shoot.
And a fearful baldric was about his breast,
a strap of gold, on which marvellous works were wrought,
bears and wild boars and fierce-eyed lions,
and combats and battles and slaughters and killings of men.
Having made it once, may he make nothing else like it,
the man who laid that baldric into his craft.
He knew me at once, when he saw me with his eyes,
and lamenting he addressed me with winged words:
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν σκηριπτόμενος χερσίν τε ποσίν τε
λᾶαν ἄνω ὤθεσκε ποτὶ λόφον· ἀλλʼ ὅτε μέλλοι
ἄκρον ὑπερβαλέειν, τότʼ ἀποστρέψασκε κραταιίς·
αὖτις ἔπειτα πέδονδε κυλίνδετο λᾶας ἀναιδής.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἂψ ὤσασκε τιταινόμενος, κατὰ δʼ ἱδρὼς
ἔρρεεν ἐκ μελέων, κονίη δʼ ἐκ κρατὸς ὀρώρει.
τὸν δὲ μετʼ εἰσενόησα βίην Ἡρακληείην,
εἴδωλον· αὐτὸς δὲ μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
τέρπεται ἐν θαλίῃς καὶ ἔχει καλλίσφυρον Ἥβην,
παῖδα Διὸς μεγάλοιο καὶ Ἥρης χρυσοπεδίλου.
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κλαγγὴ νεκύων ἦν οἰωνῶν ὥς,
πάντοσʼ ἀτυζομένων· ὁ δʼ ἐρεμνῇ νυκτὶ ἐοικώς,
γυμνὸν τόξον ἔχων καὶ ἐπὶ νευρῆφιν ὀιστόν,
δεινὸν παπταίνων, αἰεὶ βαλέοντι ἐοικώς.
σμερδαλέος δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ περὶ στήθεσσιν ἀορτὴρ
χρύσεος ἦν τελαμών, ἵνα θέσκελα ἔργα τέτυκτο,
ἄρκτοι τʼ ἀγρότεροί τε σύες χαροποί τε λέοντες,
ὑσμῖναί τε μάχαι τε φόνοι τʼ ἀνδροκτασίαι τε.
μὴ τεχνησάμενος μηδʼ ἄλλο τι τεχνήσαιτο,
ὃς κεῖνον τελαμῶνα ἑῇ ἐγκάτθετο τέχνῃ.
ἔγνω δʼ αὖτʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
λᾶαν ἄνω ὤθεσκε ποτὶ λόφον· ἀλλʼ ὅτε μέλλοι
ἄκρον ὑπερβαλέειν, τότʼ ἀποστρέψασκε κραταιίς·
αὖτις ἔπειτα πέδονδε κυλίνδετο λᾶας ἀναιδής.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἂψ ὤσασκε τιταινόμενος, κατὰ δʼ ἱδρὼς
ἔρρεεν ἐκ μελέων, κονίη δʼ ἐκ κρατὸς ὀρώρει.
τὸν δὲ μετʼ εἰσενόησα βίην Ἡρακληείην,
εἴδωλον· αὐτὸς δὲ μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
τέρπεται ἐν θαλίῃς καὶ ἔχει καλλίσφυρον Ἥβην,
παῖδα Διὸς μεγάλοιο καὶ Ἥρης χρυσοπεδίλου.
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κλαγγὴ νεκύων ἦν οἰωνῶν ὥς,
πάντοσʼ ἀτυζομένων· ὁ δʼ ἐρεμνῇ νυκτὶ ἐοικώς,
γυμνὸν τόξον ἔχων καὶ ἐπὶ νευρῆφιν ὀιστόν,
δεινὸν παπταίνων, αἰεὶ βαλέοντι ἐοικώς.
σμερδαλέος δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ περὶ στήθεσσιν ἀορτὴρ
χρύσεος ἦν τελαμών, ἵνα θέσκελα ἔργα τέτυκτο,
ἄρκτοι τʼ ἀγρότεροί τε σύες χαροποί τε λέοντες,
ὑσμῖναί τε μάχαι τε φόνοι τʼ ἀνδροκτασίαι τε.
μὴ τεχνησάμενος μηδʼ ἄλλο τι τεχνήσαιτο,
ὃς κεῖνον τελαμῶνα ἑῇ ἐγκάτθετο τέχνῃ.
ἔγνω δʼ αὖτʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
unhappy man, do you too drag out an evil doom,
such as I bore under the rays of the sun?
I was the son of Zeus, the son of Cronos, and yet I had
misery beyond measure; for I was made subject
to a far worse man, and he laid hard labours upon me.
Once he sent me here to bring back the hound; for he could think
of no labour harder than that for me.
But I carried him up and brought him out of Hades;
and Hermes sent me on my way, and grey-eyed Athena."
unhappy man, do you too drag out an evil doom,
such as I bore under the rays of the sun?
I was the son of Zeus, the son of Cronos, and yet I had
misery beyond measure; for I was made subject
to a far worse man, and he laid hard labours upon me.
Once he sent me here to bring back the hound; for he could think
of no labour harder than that for me.
But I carried him up and brought him out of Hades;
and Hermes sent me on my way, and grey-eyed Athena."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ τινὰ καὶ σὺ κακὸν μόρον ἡγηλάζεις,
ὅν περ ἐγὼν ὀχέεσκον ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο.
Ζηνὸς μὲν πάϊς ἦα Κρονίονος, αὐτὰρ ὀιζὺν
εἶχον ἀπειρεσίην· μάλα γὰρ πολὺ χείρονι φωτὶ
δεδμήμην, ὁ δέ μοι χαλεποὺς ἐπετέλλετʼ ἀέθλους.
καί ποτέ μʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἔπεμψε κύνʼ ἄξοντʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλον
φράζετο τοῦδέ γέ μοι κρατερώτερον εἶναι ἄεθλον·
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἀνένεικα καὶ ἤγαγον ἐξ Ἀίδαο·
Ἑρμείας δέ μʼ ἔπεμψεν ἰδὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ τινὰ καὶ σὺ κακὸν μόρον ἡγηλάζεις,
ὅν περ ἐγὼν ὀχέεσκον ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο.
Ζηνὸς μὲν πάϊς ἦα Κρονίονος, αὐτὰρ ὀιζὺν
εἶχον ἀπειρεσίην· μάλα γὰρ πολὺ χείρονι φωτὶ
δεδμήμην, ὁ δέ μοι χαλεποὺς ἐπετέλλετʼ ἀέθλους.
καί ποτέ μʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἔπεμψε κύνʼ ἄξοντʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλον
φράζετο τοῦδέ γέ μοι κρατερώτερον εἶναι ἄεθλον·
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἀνένεικα καὶ ἤγαγον ἐξ Ἀίδαο·
Ἑρμείας δέ μʼ ἔπεμψεν ἰδὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
So saying, he went back into the house of Hades,
but I stayed there steadfastly, in case any should still come
of the heroes who perished in the days before.
And I would have seen still earlier men, as I wished to,
Theseus and Peirithous, glorious children of the gods;
but before that the countless tribes of the dead gathered
with an unearthly noise; and pale fear took hold of me,
lest the Gorgon head of that dread monster
be sent me out of Hades by noble Persephone.
At once then I went to the ship and ordered my companions
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks.
And the wave of the current carried her down the river of Ocean,
first with the rowing, and afterwards a fair wind.
but I stayed there steadfastly, in case any should still come
of the heroes who perished in the days before.
And I would have seen still earlier men, as I wished to,
Theseus and Peirithous, glorious children of the gods;
but before that the countless tribes of the dead gathered
with an unearthly noise; and pale fear took hold of me,
lest the Gorgon head of that dread monster
be sent me out of Hades by noble Persephone.
At once then I went to the ship and ordered my companions
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks.
And the wave of the current carried her down the river of Ocean,
first with the rowing, and afterwards a fair wind.
ὣς εἰπὼν ὁ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἔλθοι
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οἳ δὴ τὸ πρόσθεν ὄλοντο.
καί νύ κʼ ἔτι προτέρους ἴδον ἀνέρας, οὓς ἔθελόν περ,
Θησέα Πειρίθοόν τε, θεῶν ἐρικυδέα τέκνα·
ἀλλὰ πρὶν ἐπὶ ἔθνεʼ ἀγείρετο μυρία νεκρῶν
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει,
μή μοι Γοργείην κεφαλὴν δεινοῖο πελώρου
ἐξ Ἀίδεω πέμψειεν ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ἐκέλευον ἑταίρους
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.
τὴν δὲ κατʼ Ὠκεανὸν ποταμὸν φέρε κῦμα ῥόοιο,
πρῶτα μὲν εἰρεσίῃ, μετέπειτα δὲ κάλλιμος οὖρος.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἔλθοι
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οἳ δὴ τὸ πρόσθεν ὄλοντο.
καί νύ κʼ ἔτι προτέρους ἴδον ἀνέρας, οὓς ἔθελόν περ,
Θησέα Πειρίθοόν τε, θεῶν ἐρικυδέα τέκνα·
ἀλλὰ πρὶν ἐπὶ ἔθνεʼ ἀγείρετο μυρία νεκρῶν
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει,
μή μοι Γοργείην κεφαλὴν δεινοῖο πελώρου
ἐξ Ἀίδεω πέμψειεν ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ἐκέλευον ἑταίρους
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.
τὴν δὲ κατʼ Ὠκεανὸν ποταμὸν φέρε κῦμα ῥόοιο,
πρῶτα μὲν εἰρεσίῃ, μετέπειτα δὲ κάλλιμος οὖρος.
Book 12
The Sirens, endured tied to the mast; Scylla and Charybdis, the six men taken; and the cattle of the Sun, slaughtered by the starving crew against every oath. Zeus's thunderbolt leaves one man clinging to a keel — delivered at last to Calypso, where the tale began.
But when the ship had left the stream of the river of Ocean
and had come to the wave of the wide-wayed sea
and to the island of Aeaea, where early-born Dawn
has her house and her dancing-floors, and the sun his risings,
there we came and beached the ship on the sands,
and we ourselves went out onto the breaking surf of the sea;
and there we fell asleep and waited for the noble Dawn.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then I sent my companions to the house of Circe
to bring back the body of Elpenor, who had died.
And quickly we cut logs, and where the headland ran out furthest
we buried him, grieving and shedding swelling tears.
But when the body was burnt, and the dead man’s armour,
we heaped up a tomb and dragged a pillar onto it,
and on the very top of the tomb we fixed his shapely oar.
So we saw to each of these things; nor did Circe fail to notice
that we had come back from Hades, but very quickly
she came, having dressed herself; and her handmaids brought with her
bread and much meat and sparkling red wine.
And she stood in the midst and spoke, noble among goddesses:
and had come to the wave of the wide-wayed sea
and to the island of Aeaea, where early-born Dawn
has her house and her dancing-floors, and the sun his risings,
there we came and beached the ship on the sands,
and we ourselves went out onto the breaking surf of the sea;
and there we fell asleep and waited for the noble Dawn.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then I sent my companions to the house of Circe
to bring back the body of Elpenor, who had died.
And quickly we cut logs, and where the headland ran out furthest
we buried him, grieving and shedding swelling tears.
But when the body was burnt, and the dead man’s armour,
we heaped up a tomb and dragged a pillar onto it,
and on the very top of the tomb we fixed his shapely oar.
So we saw to each of these things; nor did Circe fail to notice
that we had come back from Hades, but very quickly
she came, having dressed herself; and her handmaids brought with her
bread and much meat and sparkling red wine.
And she stood in the midst and spoke, noble among goddesses:
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ποταμοῖο λίπεν ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο
νηῦς, ἀπὸ δʼ ἵκετο κῦμα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο
νῆσόν τʼ Αἰαίην, ὅθι τʼ Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης
οἰκία καὶ χοροί εἰσι καὶ ἀντολαὶ Ἠελίοιο,
νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·
ἔνθα δʼ ἀποβρίξαντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
οἰσέμεναι νεκρόν, Ἐλπήνορα τεθνηῶτα.
φιτροὺς δʼ αἶψα ταμόντες, ὅθʼ ἀκροτάτη πρόεχʼ ἀκτή,
θάπτομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νεκρός τʼ ἐκάη καὶ τεύχεα νεκροῦ,
τύμβον χεύαντες καὶ ἐπὶ στήλην ἐρύσαντες
πήξαμεν ἀκροτάτῳ τύμβῳ ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν.
ἡμεῖς μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα διείπομεν· οὐδʼ ἄρα Κίρκην
ἐξ Ἀίδεω ἐλθόντες ἐλήθομεν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὦκα
ἦλθʼ ἐντυναμένη· ἅμα δʼ ἀμφίπολοι φέρον αὐτῇ
σῖτον καὶ κρέα πολλὰ καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.
ἡ δʼ ἐν μέσσῳ στᾶσα μετηύδα δῖα θεάων·
νηῦς, ἀπὸ δʼ ἵκετο κῦμα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο
νῆσόν τʼ Αἰαίην, ὅθι τʼ Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης
οἰκία καὶ χοροί εἰσι καὶ ἀντολαὶ Ἠελίοιο,
νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βῆμεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·
ἔνθα δʼ ἀποβρίξαντες ἐμείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖαν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάρους προΐειν ἐς δώματα Κίρκης
οἰσέμεναι νεκρόν, Ἐλπήνορα τεθνηῶτα.
φιτροὺς δʼ αἶψα ταμόντες, ὅθʼ ἀκροτάτη πρόεχʼ ἀκτή,
θάπτομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νεκρός τʼ ἐκάη καὶ τεύχεα νεκροῦ,
τύμβον χεύαντες καὶ ἐπὶ στήλην ἐρύσαντες
πήξαμεν ἀκροτάτῳ τύμβῳ ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν.
ἡμεῖς μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα διείπομεν· οὐδʼ ἄρα Κίρκην
ἐξ Ἀίδεω ἐλθόντες ἐλήθομεν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὦκα
ἦλθʼ ἐντυναμένη· ἅμα δʼ ἀμφίπολοι φέρον αὐτῇ
σῖτον καὶ κρέα πολλὰ καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.
ἡ δʼ ἐν μέσσῳ στᾶσα μετηύδα δῖα θεάων·
"Reckless men, who went down alive to the house of Hades,
twice dying, while other men die only once.
But come, eat food and drink wine
here all day long; and at the first showing of dawn
you will sail; and I will show you the way and make each thing
plain to you, so that you may not suffer through some grievous
contriving, on the sea or on the land, and come to grief."
twice dying, while other men die only once.
But come, eat food and drink wine
here all day long; and at the first showing of dawn
you will sail; and I will show you the way and make each thing
plain to you, so that you may not suffer through some grievous
contriving, on the sea or on the land, and come to grief."
σχέτλιοι, οἳ ζώοντες ὑπήλθετε δῶμʼ Ἀίδαο,
δισθανέες, ὅτε τʼ ἄλλοι ἅπαξ θνῄσκουσʼ ἄνθρωποι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον
αὖθι πανημέριοι· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι
πλεύσεσθʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δείξω ὁδὸν ἠδὲ ἕκαστα
σημανέω, ἵνα μή τι κακορραφίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ
ἢ ἁλὸς ἢ ἐπὶ γῆς ἀλγήσετε πῆμα παθόντες.
δισθανέες, ὅτε τʼ ἄλλοι ἅπαξ θνῄσκουσʼ ἄνθρωποι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ἐσθίετε βρώμην καὶ πίνετε οἶνον
αὖθι πανημέριοι· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι
πλεύσεσθʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ δείξω ὁδὸν ἠδὲ ἕκαστα
σημανέω, ἵνα μή τι κακορραφίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ
ἢ ἁλὸς ἢ ἐπὶ γῆς ἀλγήσετε πῆμα παθόντες.
So she spoke, and our lordly spirit was persuaded.
So then all day long until the setting of the sun
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
and when the sun set and darkness came on,
they lay down to sleep beside the stern-lines of the ship;
but she took me by the hand, away from my dear companions,
and made me sit down, and lay beside me, and asked me about everything;
and I recounted it all to her in due order.
And then the lady Circe spoke to me:
So then all day long until the setting of the sun
we sat feasting on unspeakable quantities of meat and sweet wine;
and when the sun set and darkness came on,
they lay down to sleep beside the stern-lines of the ship;
but she took me by the hand, away from my dear companions,
and made me sit down, and lay beside me, and asked me about everything;
and I recounted it all to her in due order.
And then the lady Circe spoke to me:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός,
ἡ δʼ ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα φίλων ἀπονόσφιν ἑταίρων
εἷσέ τε καὶ προσέλεκτο καὶ ἐξερέεινεν ἕκαστα·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τῇ πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξα.
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα πότνια Κίρκη·
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἥμεθα δαινύμενοι κρέα τʼ ἄσπετα καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
οἱ μὲν κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός,
ἡ δʼ ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα φίλων ἀπονόσφιν ἑταίρων
εἷσέ τε καὶ προσέλεκτο καὶ ἐξερέεινεν ἕκαστα·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τῇ πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξα.
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα πότνια Κίρκη·
"All this has now been carried through; but listen
to what I tell you, and a god himself will remind you of it.
First you will come to the Sirens, who bewitch
all men, whoever comes to them.
Whoever draws near in ignorance and hears the voice
of the Sirens, for him no wife and little children
ever stand beside him or take joy in his homecoming,
but the Sirens bewitch him with their clear song
as they sit in a meadow, and about them is a great heap
of the bones of rotting men, and the skins shrivel on them.
But drive on past, and smear over the ears of your companions
with honey-sweet wax, kneaded soft, so that none of the rest
may hear. But if you yourself wish to listen,
let them bind you hand and foot in the swift ship,
upright in the mast-step, with the ropes made fast to the mast itself,
so that you may take pleasure in hearing the voice of the two Sirens.
And if you beg your companions and order them to set you free,
then let them bind you with still more bonds.
But when your companions have driven the ship past them,
from there on I will not tell you straight through
which of the two ways will be yours, but you yourself
must take counsel in your spirit; and I will tell you of both.
On the one side there are overhanging rocks, and against them
the great wave of dark-eyed Amphitrite roars;
the blessed gods call these the Wandering Rocks.
That way not even winged things pass, not even the timid
doves that carry ambrosia to father Zeus,
but even of these the smooth rock always takes one away;
and the father sends in another to make up the number.
And no ship of men that comes there has ever escaped it,
but the planks of ships and the bodies of men together
are carried off by the waves of the sea and the storms of deadly fire.
One seagoing ship alone has sailed past there,
the Argo, who is in all men’s minds, sailing from Aeetes.
And even her the wave would quickly have flung against the great rocks,
but Hera sent her past, since Jason was dear to her.
As for the two cliffs, the one reaches the wide heaven
with its sharp peak, and a dark cloud stands about it
and never draws off, and clear sky never
holds that summit, neither in summer nor in autumn.
No mortal man could climb it or set foot on it,
not if he had twenty hands and feet;
for the rock is smooth, as though it had been polished all round.
And in the middle of the cliff there is a misty cave,
turned towards the west, to Erebus, and past it you
will steer your hollow ship, glorious Odysseus.
Not even a strong man shooting from a hollow ship
with his bow could reach that hollow cave.
There Scylla lives, yelping terribly.
Her voice is no louder than that of a new-born puppy,
but she herself is an evil monster; and no one
would be glad to see her, not if a god met her.
She has twelve feet, all of them dangling,
and six necks, very long, and on each of them
a fearful head, and in it three rows of teeth,
set close and thick, full of black death.
She is sunk to her waist down in the hollow cave,
but holds her heads out of the dreadful gulf,
and there she fishes, groping round the cliff
for dolphins and dogfish, and whatever bigger creature she may catch
of the sea-beasts that loud-groaning Amphitrite feeds in thousands.
No sailors have ever yet boasted of getting past her
with their ship unharmed; for with each head she carries off
a man, snatched from the dark-prowed ship.
The other cliff you will see is lower,
Odysseus. They are near each other; you could shoot an arrow across.
On it there is a great fig tree, thick with leaves;
and beneath it noble Charybdis sucks down the black water.
Three times a day she spouts it up, and three times she sucks it down,
terribly. May you not be there when she sucks it down;
for not even the earth-shaker could save you from that evil.
Rather, keeping close to Scylla’s cliff, drive the ship
swiftly past, since it is far better
to miss six companions from your ship than all of them together."
to what I tell you, and a god himself will remind you of it.
First you will come to the Sirens, who bewitch
all men, whoever comes to them.
Whoever draws near in ignorance and hears the voice
of the Sirens, for him no wife and little children
ever stand beside him or take joy in his homecoming,
but the Sirens bewitch him with their clear song
as they sit in a meadow, and about them is a great heap
of the bones of rotting men, and the skins shrivel on them.
But drive on past, and smear over the ears of your companions
with honey-sweet wax, kneaded soft, so that none of the rest
may hear. But if you yourself wish to listen,
let them bind you hand and foot in the swift ship,
upright in the mast-step, with the ropes made fast to the mast itself,
so that you may take pleasure in hearing the voice of the two Sirens.
And if you beg your companions and order them to set you free,
then let them bind you with still more bonds.
But when your companions have driven the ship past them,
from there on I will not tell you straight through
which of the two ways will be yours, but you yourself
must take counsel in your spirit; and I will tell you of both.
On the one side there are overhanging rocks, and against them
the great wave of dark-eyed Amphitrite roars;
the blessed gods call these the Wandering Rocks.
That way not even winged things pass, not even the timid
doves that carry ambrosia to father Zeus,
but even of these the smooth rock always takes one away;
and the father sends in another to make up the number.
And no ship of men that comes there has ever escaped it,
but the planks of ships and the bodies of men together
are carried off by the waves of the sea and the storms of deadly fire.
One seagoing ship alone has sailed past there,
the Argo, who is in all men’s minds, sailing from Aeetes.
And even her the wave would quickly have flung against the great rocks,
but Hera sent her past, since Jason was dear to her.
As for the two cliffs, the one reaches the wide heaven
with its sharp peak, and a dark cloud stands about it
and never draws off, and clear sky never
holds that summit, neither in summer nor in autumn.
No mortal man could climb it or set foot on it,
not if he had twenty hands and feet;
for the rock is smooth, as though it had been polished all round.
And in the middle of the cliff there is a misty cave,
turned towards the west, to Erebus, and past it you
will steer your hollow ship, glorious Odysseus.
Not even a strong man shooting from a hollow ship
with his bow could reach that hollow cave.
There Scylla lives, yelping terribly.
Her voice is no louder than that of a new-born puppy,
but she herself is an evil monster; and no one
would be glad to see her, not if a god met her.
She has twelve feet, all of them dangling,
and six necks, very long, and on each of them
a fearful head, and in it three rows of teeth,
set close and thick, full of black death.
She is sunk to her waist down in the hollow cave,
but holds her heads out of the dreadful gulf,
and there she fishes, groping round the cliff
for dolphins and dogfish, and whatever bigger creature she may catch
of the sea-beasts that loud-groaning Amphitrite feeds in thousands.
No sailors have ever yet boasted of getting past her
with their ship unharmed; for with each head she carries off
a man, snatched from the dark-prowed ship.
The other cliff you will see is lower,
Odysseus. They are near each other; you could shoot an arrow across.
On it there is a great fig tree, thick with leaves;
and beneath it noble Charybdis sucks down the black water.
Three times a day she spouts it up, and three times she sucks it down,
terribly. May you not be there when she sucks it down;
for not even the earth-shaker could save you from that evil.
Rather, keeping close to Scylla’s cliff, drive the ship
swiftly past, since it is far better
to miss six companions from your ship than all of them together."
ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω πάντα πεπείρανται, σὺ δʼ ἄκουσον,
ὥς τοι ἐγὼν ἐρέω, μνήσει δέ σε καὶ θεὸς αὐτός.
Σειρῆνας μὲν πρῶτον ἀφίξεαι, αἵ ῥά τε πάντας
ἀνθρώπους θέλγουσιν, ὅτις σφεας εἰσαφίκηται.
ὅς τις ἀιδρείῃ πελάσῃ καὶ φθόγγον ἀκούσῃ
Σειρήνων, τῷ δʼ οὔ τι γυνὴ καὶ νήπια τέκνα
οἴκαδε νοστήσαντι παρίσταται οὐδὲ γάνυνται,
ἀλλά τε Σειρῆνες λιγυρῇ θέλγουσιν ἀοιδῇ
ἥμεναι ἐν λειμῶνι, πολὺς δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀστεόφιν θὶς
ἀνδρῶν πυθομένων, περὶ δὲ ῥινοὶ μινύθουσι.
ἀλλὰ παρεξελάαν, ἐπὶ δʼ οὔατʼ ἀλεῖψαι ἑταίρων
κηρὸν δεψήσας μελιηδέα, μή τις ἀκούσῃ
τῶν ἄλλων· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἀκουέμεν αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,
δησάντων σʼ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ χεῖράς τε πόδας τε
ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνήφθω,
ὄφρα κε τερπόμενος ὄπʼ ἀκούσῃς Σειρήνοιιν.
εἰ δέ κε λίσσηαι ἑτάρους λῦσαί τε κελεύῃς,
οἱ δέ σʼ ἔτι πλεόνεσσι τότʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι διδέντων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ τάς γε παρὲξ ἐλάσωσιν ἑταῖροι,
ἔνθα τοι οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα διηνεκέως ἀγορεύσω,
ὁπποτέρη δή τοι ὁδὸς ἔσσεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς
θυμῷ βουλεύειν· ἐρέω δέ τοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν.
ἔνθεν μὲν γὰρ πέτραι ἐπηρεφέες, προτὶ δʼ αὐτὰς
κῦμα μέγα ῥοχθεῖ κυανώπιδος Ἀμφιτρίτης·
Πλαγκτὰς δή τοι τάς γε θεοὶ μάκαρες καλέουσι.
τῇ μέν τʼ οὐδὲ ποτητὰ παρέρχεται οὐδὲ πέλειαι
τρήρωνες, ταί τʼ ἀμβροσίην Διὶ πατρὶ φέρουσιν,
ἀλλά τε καὶ τῶν αἰὲν ἀφαιρεῖται λὶς πέτρη·
ἀλλʼ ἄλλην ἐνίησι πατὴρ ἐναρίθμιον εἶναι.
τῇ δʼ οὔ πώ τις νηῦς φύγεν ἀνδρῶν, ἥ τις ἵκηται,
ἀλλά θʼ ὁμοῦ πίνακάς τε νεῶν καὶ σώματα φωτῶν
κύμαθʼ ἁλὸς φορέουσι πυρός τʼ ὀλοοῖο θύελλαι.
οἴη δὴ κείνη γε παρέπλω ποντοπόρος νηῦς,
Ἀργὼ πᾶσι μέλουσα, παρʼ Αἰήταο πλέουσα.
καὶ νύ κε τὴν ἔνθʼ ὦκα βάλεν μεγάλας ποτὶ πέτρας,
ἀλλʼ Ἥρη παρέπεμψεν, ἐπεὶ φίλος ἦεν Ἰήσων.
οἱ δὲ δύω σκόπελοι ὁ μὲν οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἱκάνει
ὀξείῃ κορυφῇ, νεφέλη δέ μιν ἀμφιβέβηκε
κυανέη· τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἐρωεῖ, οὐδέ ποτʼ αἴθρη
κείνου ἔχει κορυφὴν οὔτʼ ἐν θέρει οὔτʼ ἐν ὀπώρῃ.
οὐδέ κεν ἀμβαίη βροτὸς ἀνὴρ οὐδʼ ἐπιβαίη,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ χεῖρές τε ἐείκοσι καὶ πόδες εἶεν·
πέτρη γὰρ λίς ἐστι, περιξεστῇ ἐικυῖα.
μέσσῳ δʼ ἐν σκοπέλῳ ἔστι σπέος ἠεροειδές,
πρὸς ζόφον εἰς Ἔρεβος τετραμμένον, ᾗ περ ἂν ὑμεῖς
νῆα παρὰ γλαφυρὴν ἰθύνετε, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ.
οὐδέ κεν ἐκ νηὸς γλαφυρῆς αἰζήιος ἀνὴρ
τόξῳ ὀιστεύσας κοῖλον σπέος εἰσαφίκοιτο.
ἔνθα δʼ ἐνὶ Σκύλλη ναίει δεινὸν λελακυῖα.
τῆς ἦ τοι φωνὴ μὲν ὅση σκύλακος νεογιλῆς
γίγνεται, αὐτὴ δʼ αὖτε πέλωρ κακόν· οὐδέ κέ τίς μιν
γηθήσειεν ἰδών, οὐδʼ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιάσειεν.
τῆς ἦ τοι πόδες εἰσὶ δυώδεκα πάντες ἄωροι,
ἓξ δέ τέ οἱ δειραὶ περιμήκεες, ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ
σμερδαλέη κεφαλή, ἐν δὲ τρίστοιχοι ὀδόντες
πυκνοὶ καὶ θαμέες, πλεῖοι μέλανος θανάτοιο.
μέσση μέν τε κατὰ σπείους κοίλοιο δέδυκεν,
ἔξω δʼ ἐξίσχει κεφαλὰς δεινοῖο βερέθρου,
αὐτοῦ δʼ ἰχθυάᾳ, σκόπελον περιμαιμώωσα,
δελφῖνάς τε κύνας τε, καὶ εἴ ποθι μεῖζον ἕλῃσι
κῆτος, ἃ μυρία βόσκει ἀγάστονος Ἀμφιτρίτη.
τῇ δʼ οὔ πώ ποτε ναῦται ἀκήριοι εὐχετόωνται
παρφυγέειν σὺν νηί· φέρει δέ τε κρατὶ ἑκάστῳ
φῶτʼ ἐξαρπάξασα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο.
τὸν δʼ ἕτερον σκόπελον χθαμαλώτερον ὄψει,
Ὀδυσσεῦ. πλησίον ἀλλήλων· καί κεν διοϊστεύσειας.
τῷ δʼ ἐν ἐρινεὸς ἔστι μέγας, φύλλοισι τεθηλώς·
τῷ δʼ ὑπὸ δῖα Χάρυβδις ἀναρροιβδεῖ μέλαν ὕδωρ.
τρὶς μὲν γάρ τʼ ἀνίησιν ἐπʼ ἤματι, τρὶς δʼ ἀναροιβδεῖ
δεινόν· μὴ σύ γε κεῖθι τύχοις, ὅτε ῥοιβδήσειεν·
οὐ γάρ κεν ῥύσαιτό σʼ ὑπὲκ κακοῦ οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων.
ἀλλὰ μάλα Σκύλλης σκοπέλῳ πεπλημένος ὦκα
νῆα παρὲξ ἐλάαν, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστιν
ἓξ ἑτάρους ἐν νηὶ ποθήμεναι ἢ ἅμα πάντας.
ὥς τοι ἐγὼν ἐρέω, μνήσει δέ σε καὶ θεὸς αὐτός.
Σειρῆνας μὲν πρῶτον ἀφίξεαι, αἵ ῥά τε πάντας
ἀνθρώπους θέλγουσιν, ὅτις σφεας εἰσαφίκηται.
ὅς τις ἀιδρείῃ πελάσῃ καὶ φθόγγον ἀκούσῃ
Σειρήνων, τῷ δʼ οὔ τι γυνὴ καὶ νήπια τέκνα
οἴκαδε νοστήσαντι παρίσταται οὐδὲ γάνυνται,
ἀλλά τε Σειρῆνες λιγυρῇ θέλγουσιν ἀοιδῇ
ἥμεναι ἐν λειμῶνι, πολὺς δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀστεόφιν θὶς
ἀνδρῶν πυθομένων, περὶ δὲ ῥινοὶ μινύθουσι.
ἀλλὰ παρεξελάαν, ἐπὶ δʼ οὔατʼ ἀλεῖψαι ἑταίρων
κηρὸν δεψήσας μελιηδέα, μή τις ἀκούσῃ
τῶν ἄλλων· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἀκουέμεν αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,
δησάντων σʼ ἐν νηὶ θοῇ χεῖράς τε πόδας τε
ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνήφθω,
ὄφρα κε τερπόμενος ὄπʼ ἀκούσῃς Σειρήνοιιν.
εἰ δέ κε λίσσηαι ἑτάρους λῦσαί τε κελεύῃς,
οἱ δέ σʼ ἔτι πλεόνεσσι τότʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι διδέντων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ τάς γε παρὲξ ἐλάσωσιν ἑταῖροι,
ἔνθα τοι οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα διηνεκέως ἀγορεύσω,
ὁπποτέρη δή τοι ὁδὸς ἔσσεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς
θυμῷ βουλεύειν· ἐρέω δέ τοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν.
ἔνθεν μὲν γὰρ πέτραι ἐπηρεφέες, προτὶ δʼ αὐτὰς
κῦμα μέγα ῥοχθεῖ κυανώπιδος Ἀμφιτρίτης·
Πλαγκτὰς δή τοι τάς γε θεοὶ μάκαρες καλέουσι.
τῇ μέν τʼ οὐδὲ ποτητὰ παρέρχεται οὐδὲ πέλειαι
τρήρωνες, ταί τʼ ἀμβροσίην Διὶ πατρὶ φέρουσιν,
ἀλλά τε καὶ τῶν αἰὲν ἀφαιρεῖται λὶς πέτρη·
ἀλλʼ ἄλλην ἐνίησι πατὴρ ἐναρίθμιον εἶναι.
τῇ δʼ οὔ πώ τις νηῦς φύγεν ἀνδρῶν, ἥ τις ἵκηται,
ἀλλά θʼ ὁμοῦ πίνακάς τε νεῶν καὶ σώματα φωτῶν
κύμαθʼ ἁλὸς φορέουσι πυρός τʼ ὀλοοῖο θύελλαι.
οἴη δὴ κείνη γε παρέπλω ποντοπόρος νηῦς,
Ἀργὼ πᾶσι μέλουσα, παρʼ Αἰήταο πλέουσα.
καὶ νύ κε τὴν ἔνθʼ ὦκα βάλεν μεγάλας ποτὶ πέτρας,
ἀλλʼ Ἥρη παρέπεμψεν, ἐπεὶ φίλος ἦεν Ἰήσων.
οἱ δὲ δύω σκόπελοι ὁ μὲν οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἱκάνει
ὀξείῃ κορυφῇ, νεφέλη δέ μιν ἀμφιβέβηκε
κυανέη· τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἐρωεῖ, οὐδέ ποτʼ αἴθρη
κείνου ἔχει κορυφὴν οὔτʼ ἐν θέρει οὔτʼ ἐν ὀπώρῃ.
οὐδέ κεν ἀμβαίη βροτὸς ἀνὴρ οὐδʼ ἐπιβαίη,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ χεῖρές τε ἐείκοσι καὶ πόδες εἶεν·
πέτρη γὰρ λίς ἐστι, περιξεστῇ ἐικυῖα.
μέσσῳ δʼ ἐν σκοπέλῳ ἔστι σπέος ἠεροειδές,
πρὸς ζόφον εἰς Ἔρεβος τετραμμένον, ᾗ περ ἂν ὑμεῖς
νῆα παρὰ γλαφυρὴν ἰθύνετε, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ.
οὐδέ κεν ἐκ νηὸς γλαφυρῆς αἰζήιος ἀνὴρ
τόξῳ ὀιστεύσας κοῖλον σπέος εἰσαφίκοιτο.
ἔνθα δʼ ἐνὶ Σκύλλη ναίει δεινὸν λελακυῖα.
τῆς ἦ τοι φωνὴ μὲν ὅση σκύλακος νεογιλῆς
γίγνεται, αὐτὴ δʼ αὖτε πέλωρ κακόν· οὐδέ κέ τίς μιν
γηθήσειεν ἰδών, οὐδʼ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιάσειεν.
τῆς ἦ τοι πόδες εἰσὶ δυώδεκα πάντες ἄωροι,
ἓξ δέ τέ οἱ δειραὶ περιμήκεες, ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ
σμερδαλέη κεφαλή, ἐν δὲ τρίστοιχοι ὀδόντες
πυκνοὶ καὶ θαμέες, πλεῖοι μέλανος θανάτοιο.
μέσση μέν τε κατὰ σπείους κοίλοιο δέδυκεν,
ἔξω δʼ ἐξίσχει κεφαλὰς δεινοῖο βερέθρου,
αὐτοῦ δʼ ἰχθυάᾳ, σκόπελον περιμαιμώωσα,
δελφῖνάς τε κύνας τε, καὶ εἴ ποθι μεῖζον ἕλῃσι
κῆτος, ἃ μυρία βόσκει ἀγάστονος Ἀμφιτρίτη.
τῇ δʼ οὔ πώ ποτε ναῦται ἀκήριοι εὐχετόωνται
παρφυγέειν σὺν νηί· φέρει δέ τε κρατὶ ἑκάστῳ
φῶτʼ ἐξαρπάξασα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο.
τὸν δʼ ἕτερον σκόπελον χθαμαλώτερον ὄψει,
Ὀδυσσεῦ. πλησίον ἀλλήλων· καί κεν διοϊστεύσειας.
τῷ δʼ ἐν ἐρινεὸς ἔστι μέγας, φύλλοισι τεθηλώς·
τῷ δʼ ὑπὸ δῖα Χάρυβδις ἀναρροιβδεῖ μέλαν ὕδωρ.
τρὶς μὲν γάρ τʼ ἀνίησιν ἐπʼ ἤματι, τρὶς δʼ ἀναροιβδεῖ
δεινόν· μὴ σύ γε κεῖθι τύχοις, ὅτε ῥοιβδήσειεν·
οὐ γάρ κεν ῥύσαιτό σʼ ὑπὲκ κακοῦ οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων.
ἀλλὰ μάλα Σκύλλης σκοπέλῳ πεπλημένος ὦκα
νῆα παρὲξ ἐλάαν, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστιν
ἓξ ἑτάρους ἐν νηὶ ποθήμεναι ἢ ἅμα πάντας.
So she spoke, and I answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·
"Come then, goddess, tell me this unerringly:
is there any way I could escape deadly Charybdis
and yet fight off the other when she preys upon my companions?"
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
is there any way I could escape deadly Charybdis
and yet fight off the other when she preys upon my companions?"
So I spoke, and she, noble among goddesses, answered at once:
εἰ δʼ ἄγε δή μοι τοῦτο, θεά, νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες,
εἴ πως τὴν ὀλοὴν μὲν ὑπεκπροφύγοιμι Χάρυβδιν,
τὴν δέ κʼ ἀμυναίμην, ὅτε μοι σίνοιτό γʼ ἑταίρους.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
εἴ πως τὴν ὀλοὴν μὲν ὑπεκπροφύγοιμι Χάρυβδιν,
τὴν δέ κʼ ἀμυναίμην, ὅτε μοι σίνοιτό γʼ ἑταίρους.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·
"Reckless man, so the works of war are on your mind again,
and toil. Will you not give way even to the immortal gods?
She is no mortal thing, but an immortal evil,
dreadful and harsh and savage, and not to be fought.
There is no defence; to flee from her is best.
For if you delay to arm yourself beside the rock,
I fear that she may dart out and reach you again
with all those heads, and take as many men again.
Drive on hard, and call out to Crataiis,
the mother of Scylla, who bore her as a bane to mortals;
she will stop her from darting out a second time.
Then you will come to the island of Thrinacia; and there in numbers
graze the cattle of Helios and his fat flocks,
seven herds of cattle, and as many fine flocks of sheep,
fifty in each. No young are born to them,
and they never die. Goddesses are their shepherds,
fair-haired nymphs, Phaethousa and Lampetie,
whom noble Neaera bore to Helios Hyperion.
When their lady mother had borne them and reared them,
she sent them away to the island of Thrinacia to live far off,
to guard their father’s flocks and his shambling cattle.
If you leave these unharmed and think of your homecoming,
then you may still come to Ithaca, though you suffer evils;
but if you harm them, then I foretell destruction for you,
for your ship and your companions. And even if you yourself escape,
you will come home late and in evil case, having lost all your companions."
and toil. Will you not give way even to the immortal gods?
She is no mortal thing, but an immortal evil,
dreadful and harsh and savage, and not to be fought.
There is no defence; to flee from her is best.
For if you delay to arm yourself beside the rock,
I fear that she may dart out and reach you again
with all those heads, and take as many men again.
Drive on hard, and call out to Crataiis,
the mother of Scylla, who bore her as a bane to mortals;
she will stop her from darting out a second time.
Then you will come to the island of Thrinacia; and there in numbers
graze the cattle of Helios and his fat flocks,
seven herds of cattle, and as many fine flocks of sheep,
fifty in each. No young are born to them,
and they never die. Goddesses are their shepherds,
fair-haired nymphs, Phaethousa and Lampetie,
whom noble Neaera bore to Helios Hyperion.
When their lady mother had borne them and reared them,
she sent them away to the island of Thrinacia to live far off,
to guard their father’s flocks and his shambling cattle.
If you leave these unharmed and think of your homecoming,
then you may still come to Ithaca, though you suffer evils;
but if you harm them, then I foretell destruction for you,
for your ship and your companions. And even if you yourself escape,
you will come home late and in evil case, having lost all your companions."
σχέτλιε, καὶ δὴ αὖ τοι πολεμήια ἔργα μέμηλε
καὶ πόνος· οὐδὲ θεοῖσιν ὑπείξεαι ἀθανάτοισιν;
ἡ δέ τοι οὐ θνητή, ἀλλʼ ἀθάνατον κακόν ἐστι,
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε καὶ ἄγριον οὐδὲ μαχητόν·
οὐδέ τις ἔστʼ ἀλκή· φυγέειν κάρτιστον ἀπʼ αὐτῆς.
ἢν γὰρ δηθύνῃσθα κορυσσόμενος παρὰ πέτρῃ,
δείδω, μή σʼ ἐξαῦτις ἐφορμηθεῖσα κίχῃσι
τόσσῃσιν κεφαλῇσι, τόσους δʼ ἐκ φῶτας ἕληται.
ἀλλὰ μάλα σφοδρῶς ἐλάαν, βωστρεῖν δὲ Κράταιιν,
μητέρα τῆς Σκύλλης, ἥ μιν τέκε πῆμα βροτοῖσιν·
ἥ μιν ἔπειτʼ ἀποπαύσει ἐς ὕστερον ὁρμηθῆναι.
Θρινακίην δʼ ἐς νῆσον ἀφίξεαι· ἔνθα δὲ πολλαὶ
βόσκοντʼ Ἠελίοιο βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
ἑπτὰ βοῶν ἀγέλαι, τόσα δʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,
πεντήκοντα δʼ ἕκαστα. γόνος δʼ οὐ γίγνεται αὐτῶν,
οὐδέ ποτε φθινύθουσι. θεαὶ δʼ ἐπιποιμένες εἰσίν,
νύμφαι ἐυπλόκαμοι, Φαέθουσά τε Λαμπετίη τε,
ἃς τέκεν Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι δῖα Νέαιρα.
τὰς μὲν ἄρα θρέψασα τεκοῦσά τε πότνια μήτηρ
Θρινακίην ἐς νῆσον ἀπῴκισε τηλόθι ναίειν,
μῆλα φυλασσέμεναι πατρώια καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.
τὰς εἰ μέν κʼ ἀσινέας ἐάᾳς νόστου τε μέδηαι,
ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔτʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε·
εἰ δέ κε σίνηαι, τότε τοι τεκμαίρομʼ ὄλεθρον,
νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροις· αὐτὸς δʼ εἴ πέρ κεν ἀλύξῃς,
ὀψὲ κακῶς νεῖαι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους.
καὶ πόνος· οὐδὲ θεοῖσιν ὑπείξεαι ἀθανάτοισιν;
ἡ δέ τοι οὐ θνητή, ἀλλʼ ἀθάνατον κακόν ἐστι,
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε καὶ ἄγριον οὐδὲ μαχητόν·
οὐδέ τις ἔστʼ ἀλκή· φυγέειν κάρτιστον ἀπʼ αὐτῆς.
ἢν γὰρ δηθύνῃσθα κορυσσόμενος παρὰ πέτρῃ,
δείδω, μή σʼ ἐξαῦτις ἐφορμηθεῖσα κίχῃσι
τόσσῃσιν κεφαλῇσι, τόσους δʼ ἐκ φῶτας ἕληται.
ἀλλὰ μάλα σφοδρῶς ἐλάαν, βωστρεῖν δὲ Κράταιιν,
μητέρα τῆς Σκύλλης, ἥ μιν τέκε πῆμα βροτοῖσιν·
ἥ μιν ἔπειτʼ ἀποπαύσει ἐς ὕστερον ὁρμηθῆναι.
Θρινακίην δʼ ἐς νῆσον ἀφίξεαι· ἔνθα δὲ πολλαὶ
βόσκοντʼ Ἠελίοιο βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
ἑπτὰ βοῶν ἀγέλαι, τόσα δʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,
πεντήκοντα δʼ ἕκαστα. γόνος δʼ οὐ γίγνεται αὐτῶν,
οὐδέ ποτε φθινύθουσι. θεαὶ δʼ ἐπιποιμένες εἰσίν,
νύμφαι ἐυπλόκαμοι, Φαέθουσά τε Λαμπετίη τε,
ἃς τέκεν Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι δῖα Νέαιρα.
τὰς μὲν ἄρα θρέψασα τεκοῦσά τε πότνια μήτηρ
Θρινακίην ἐς νῆσον ἀπῴκισε τηλόθι ναίειν,
μῆλα φυλασσέμεναι πατρώια καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.
τὰς εἰ μέν κʼ ἀσινέας ἐάᾳς νόστου τε μέδηαι,
ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔτʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε·
εἰ δέ κε σίνηαι, τότε τοι τεκμαίρομʼ ὄλεθρον,
νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροις· αὐτὸς δʼ εἴ πέρ κεν ἀλύξῃς,
ὀψὲ κακῶς νεῖαι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους.
So she spoke, and at once Dawn of the golden throne came.
Then she went away up the island, noble among goddesses;
but I went to the ship and urged my companions
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
And behind our dark-prowed ship
she sent a favouring wind that filled the sail, a good companion,
fair-haired Circe, a dread goddess with a human voice.
At once we set each of the tackle in order throughout the ship
and sat still; and the wind and the helmsman held her straight.
Then I spoke among my companions, grieved at heart:
"Friends, it is not right that one man only, or two, should know
the prophecies that Circe told me, noble among goddesses;
Then she went away up the island, noble among goddesses;
but I went to the ship and urged my companions
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks,
and sitting in order they struck the grey sea with their oars.
And behind our dark-prowed ship
she sent a favouring wind that filled the sail, a good companion,
fair-haired Circe, a dread goddess with a human voice.
At once we set each of the tackle in order throughout the ship
and sat still; and the wind and the helmsman held her straight.
Then I spoke among my companions, grieved at heart:
"Friends, it is not right that one man only, or two, should know
the prophecies that Circe told me, noble among goddesses;
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.
ἡ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀνὰ νῆσον ἀπέστιχε δῖα θεάων·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι·
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἡμῖν δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει πλησίστιον, ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον,
Κίρκη ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα.
αὐτίκα δʼ ὅπλα ἕκαστα πονησάμενοι κατὰ νῆα
ἥμεθα· τὴν δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνήτης τʼ ἴθυνε.
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάροισι μετηύδων ἀχνύμενος κῆρ·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γὰρ χρὴ ἕνα ἴδμεναι οὐδὲ δύʼ οἴους
θέσφαθʼ ἅ μοι Κίρκη μυθήσατο, δῖα θεάων·
ἡ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀνὰ νῆσον ἀπέστιχε δῖα θεάων·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι·
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.
ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἡμῖν δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει πλησίστιον, ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον,
Κίρκη ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα.
αὐτίκα δʼ ὅπλα ἕκαστα πονησάμενοι κατὰ νῆα
ἥμεθα· τὴν δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνήτης τʼ ἴθυνε.
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάροισι μετηύδων ἀχνύμενος κῆρ·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γὰρ χρὴ ἕνα ἴδμεναι οὐδὲ δύʼ οἴους
θέσφαθʼ ἅ μοι Κίρκη μυθήσατο, δῖα θεάων·
so I will tell them, that knowing them we may either die
or turn aside and escape death and doom.
First she bade us keep clear of the voice of the marvellous
Sirens, and of their flowering meadow.
She bade me alone hear their voice; but bind me
with a harsh bond, so that I may stay fast where I am,
upright in the mast-step, with the ropes made fast to the mast itself.
And if I beg you and order you to set me free,
then bind me tighter still with more bonds."
or turn aside and escape death and doom.
First she bade us keep clear of the voice of the marvellous
Sirens, and of their flowering meadow.
She bade me alone hear their voice; but bind me
with a harsh bond, so that I may stay fast where I am,
upright in the mast-step, with the ropes made fast to the mast itself.
And if I beg you and order you to set me free,
then bind me tighter still with more bonds."
ἀλλʼ ἐρέω μὲν ἐγών, ἵνα εἰδότες ἤ κε θάνωμεν
ἤ κεν ἀλευάμενοι θάνατον καὶ κῆρα φύγοιμεν.
Σειρήνων μὲν πρῶτον ἀνώγει θεσπεσιάων
φθόγγον ἀλεύασθαι καὶ λειμῶνʼ ἀνθεμόεντα.
οἶον ἔμʼ ἠνώγει ὄπʼ ἀκουέμεν· ἀλλά με δεσμῷ
δήσατʼ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ, ὄφρʼ ἔμπεδον αὐτόθι μίμνω,
ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνήφθω.
εἰ δέ κε λίσσωμαι ὑμέας λῦσαί τε κελεύω,
ὑμεῖς δὲ πλεόνεσσι τότʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι πιέζειν.
ἤ κεν ἀλευάμενοι θάνατον καὶ κῆρα φύγοιμεν.
Σειρήνων μὲν πρῶτον ἀνώγει θεσπεσιάων
φθόγγον ἀλεύασθαι καὶ λειμῶνʼ ἀνθεμόεντα.
οἶον ἔμʼ ἠνώγει ὄπʼ ἀκουέμεν· ἀλλά με δεσμῷ
δήσατʼ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ, ὄφρʼ ἔμπεδον αὐτόθι μίμνω,
ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνήφθω.
εἰ δέ κε λίσσωμαι ὑμέας λῦσαί τε κελεύω,
ὑμεῖς δὲ πλεόνεσσι τότʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι πιέζειν.
So I told my companions each thing and made it plain;
and meanwhile the well-built ship came quickly
to the island of the two Sirens, for a fair wind sped her on.
Then at once the wind dropped, and there was a calm
without a breath, and some god lulled the waves to sleep.
My companions stood up and furled the ship’s sails
and stowed them in the hollow ship; then they sat to the oars
and whitened the water with the polished blades of fir.
And I took a great round of wax and cut it small
with the sharp bronze, and kneaded it with my strong hands;
and the wax soon grew warm, for great force compelled it,
and the beam of Helios, the lord son of Hyperion;
and I smeared it over the ears of all my companions in turn.
And in the ship they bound me hand and foot together,
upright in the mast-step, and made the ropes fast to the mast itself;
and they sat down and struck the grey sea with their oars.
But when we were as far off as a man’s shout carries,
driving on swiftly, the swift ship did not escape them
as it came near, and they raised their clear song:
"Come here as you go, Odysseus of many praises, great glory of the Achaeans,
and bring your ship to rest, so that you may hear the voice of us two.
For no one has ever yet driven past this place in his black ship
before hearing the honey-voiced sound from our lips;
he goes on delighted, and knowing more than before.
For we know all that in wide Troy
the Argives and the Trojans endured by the will of the gods,
and we know all that happens upon the nourishing earth."
and meanwhile the well-built ship came quickly
to the island of the two Sirens, for a fair wind sped her on.
Then at once the wind dropped, and there was a calm
without a breath, and some god lulled the waves to sleep.
My companions stood up and furled the ship’s sails
and stowed them in the hollow ship; then they sat to the oars
and whitened the water with the polished blades of fir.
And I took a great round of wax and cut it small
with the sharp bronze, and kneaded it with my strong hands;
and the wax soon grew warm, for great force compelled it,
and the beam of Helios, the lord son of Hyperion;
and I smeared it over the ears of all my companions in turn.
And in the ship they bound me hand and foot together,
upright in the mast-step, and made the ropes fast to the mast itself;
and they sat down and struck the grey sea with their oars.
But when we were as far off as a man’s shout carries,
driving on swiftly, the swift ship did not escape them
as it came near, and they raised their clear song:
"Come here as you go, Odysseus of many praises, great glory of the Achaeans,
and bring your ship to rest, so that you may hear the voice of us two.
For no one has ever yet driven past this place in his black ship
before hearing the honey-voiced sound from our lips;
he goes on delighted, and knowing more than before.
For we know all that in wide Troy
the Argives and the Trojans endured by the will of the gods,
and we know all that happens upon the nourishing earth."
ἦ τοι ἐγὼ τὰ ἕκαστα λέγων ἑτάροισι πίφαυσκον·
τόφρα δὲ καρπαλίμως ἐξίκετο νηῦς ἐυεργὴς
νῆσον Σειρήνοιιν· ἔπειγε γὰρ οὖρος ἀπήμων.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο ἠδὲ γαλήνη
ἔπλετο νηνεμίη, κοίμησε δὲ κύματα δαίμων.
ἀνστάντες δʼ ἕταροι νεὸς ἱστία μηρύσαντο
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν νηὶ γλαφυρῇ θέσαν, οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐρετμὰ
ἑζόμενοι λεύκαινον ὕδωρ ξεστῇς ἐλάτῃσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κηροῖο μέγαν τροχὸν ὀξέι χαλκῷ
τυτθὰ διατμήξας χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι πίεζον·
αἶψα δʼ ἰαίνετο κηρός, ἐπεὶ κέλετο μεγάλη ἲς
Ἠελίου τʼ αὐγὴ Ὑπεριονίδαο ἄνακτος·
ἑξείης δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐπʼ οὔατα πᾶσιν ἄλειψα.
οἱ δʼ ἐν νηί μʼ ἔδησαν ὁμοῦ χεῖράς τε πόδας τε
ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνῆπτον·
αὐτοὶ δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆμεν ὅσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,
ῥίμφα διώκοντες, τὰς δʼ οὐ λάθεν ὠκύαλος νηῦς
ἐγγύθεν ὀρνυμένη, λιγυρὴν δʼ ἔντυνον ἀοιδήν·
δεῦρʼ ἄγʼ ἰών, πολύαινʼ Ὀδυσεῦ, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν,
νῆα κατάστησον, ἵνα νωιτέρην ὄπ ἀκούσῃς.
οὐ γάρ πώ τις τῇδε παρήλασε νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
πρίν γʼ ἡμέων μελίγηρυν ἀπὸ στομάτων ὄπʼ ἀκοῦσαι,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε τερψάμενος νεῖται καὶ πλείονα εἰδώς.
ἴδμεν γάρ τοι πάνθʼ ὅσʼ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ
Ἀργεῖοι Τρῶές τε θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησαν,
ἴδμεν δʼ, ὅσσα γένηται ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.
τόφρα δὲ καρπαλίμως ἐξίκετο νηῦς ἐυεργὴς
νῆσον Σειρήνοιιν· ἔπειγε γὰρ οὖρος ἀπήμων.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο ἠδὲ γαλήνη
ἔπλετο νηνεμίη, κοίμησε δὲ κύματα δαίμων.
ἀνστάντες δʼ ἕταροι νεὸς ἱστία μηρύσαντο
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν νηὶ γλαφυρῇ θέσαν, οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐρετμὰ
ἑζόμενοι λεύκαινον ὕδωρ ξεστῇς ἐλάτῃσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κηροῖο μέγαν τροχὸν ὀξέι χαλκῷ
τυτθὰ διατμήξας χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι πίεζον·
αἶψα δʼ ἰαίνετο κηρός, ἐπεὶ κέλετο μεγάλη ἲς
Ἠελίου τʼ αὐγὴ Ὑπεριονίδαο ἄνακτος·
ἑξείης δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐπʼ οὔατα πᾶσιν ἄλειψα.
οἱ δʼ ἐν νηί μʼ ἔδησαν ὁμοῦ χεῖράς τε πόδας τε
ὀρθὸν ἐν ἱστοπέδῃ, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ πείρατʼ ἀνῆπτον·
αὐτοὶ δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τόσσον ἀπῆμεν ὅσον τε γέγωνε βοήσας,
ῥίμφα διώκοντες, τὰς δʼ οὐ λάθεν ὠκύαλος νηῦς
ἐγγύθεν ὀρνυμένη, λιγυρὴν δʼ ἔντυνον ἀοιδήν·
δεῦρʼ ἄγʼ ἰών, πολύαινʼ Ὀδυσεῦ, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν,
νῆα κατάστησον, ἵνα νωιτέρην ὄπ ἀκούσῃς.
οὐ γάρ πώ τις τῇδε παρήλασε νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
πρίν γʼ ἡμέων μελίγηρυν ἀπὸ στομάτων ὄπʼ ἀκοῦσαι,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε τερψάμενος νεῖται καὶ πλείονα εἰδώς.
ἴδμεν γάρ τοι πάνθʼ ὅσʼ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ
Ἀργεῖοι Τρῶές τε θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησαν,
ἴδμεν δʼ, ὅσσα γένηται ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.
So they spoke, sending out their beautiful voice; and my heart
longed to listen, and I ordered my companions to set me free,
signalling with my brows; but they leaned forward and rowed.
And at once Perimedes and Eurylochus stood up
and bound me with more bonds and drew them tighter.
But when they had driven past them, and we could no longer
hear the voice of the Sirens or their song,
my trusty companions quickly took away the wax
that I had smeared on their ears, and loosed me from my bonds.
But when we had left the island behind, at once after that
I saw smoke and a great wave, and heard a crashing.
They were afraid, and the oars flew from their hands,
and all of them splashed down in the current; and the ship stopped
where she was, since their hands no longer drove the tapered oars.
But I went through the ship and urged my companions
with soothing words, standing beside each man:
"Friends, we are not untried in evils.
This evil that has come is no greater than when the Cyclops
penned us in his hollow cave by his mighty strength.
Yet even from there, by my excellence and my counsel and my mind,
we escaped; and I think we shall remember these things too.
Now come, let us all be persuaded as I tell you.
You, sitting at the oar-locks, strike the deep surf
of the sea with your oar-blades, in the hope that Zeus
may grant us to escape and avoid this destruction.
And to you, helmsman, I give this order: lay it in your
spirit, since you handle the steering-oar of the hollow ship.
Hold the ship clear of this smoke and this wave,
and make for the cliff, in case she slip away from you
and rush over there, and you throw us into ruin."
So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.
But I said nothing of Scylla, a trouble past all remedy,
lest my companions in their fear should leave off
rowing and huddle themselves together inside.
And then I forgot Circe’s grievous command,
for she had told me not to arm myself at all;
but I put on my famous armour, and taking two long spears
in my hands I went onto the fore-deck of the ship,
the prow; for from there I expected her first to appear,
Scylla of the rock, who was bringing ruin on my companions.
But I could not make her out anywhere, and my eyes grew tired
as I peered everywhere towards the misty rock.
So we sailed up the narrow strait, groaning;
on the one side was Scylla, and on the other noble Charybdis
sucked down the salt water of the sea, terribly.
longed to listen, and I ordered my companions to set me free,
signalling with my brows; but they leaned forward and rowed.
And at once Perimedes and Eurylochus stood up
and bound me with more bonds and drew them tighter.
But when they had driven past them, and we could no longer
hear the voice of the Sirens or their song,
my trusty companions quickly took away the wax
that I had smeared on their ears, and loosed me from my bonds.
But when we had left the island behind, at once after that
I saw smoke and a great wave, and heard a crashing.
They were afraid, and the oars flew from their hands,
and all of them splashed down in the current; and the ship stopped
where she was, since their hands no longer drove the tapered oars.
But I went through the ship and urged my companions
with soothing words, standing beside each man:
"Friends, we are not untried in evils.
This evil that has come is no greater than when the Cyclops
penned us in his hollow cave by his mighty strength.
Yet even from there, by my excellence and my counsel and my mind,
we escaped; and I think we shall remember these things too.
Now come, let us all be persuaded as I tell you.
You, sitting at the oar-locks, strike the deep surf
of the sea with your oar-blades, in the hope that Zeus
may grant us to escape and avoid this destruction.
And to you, helmsman, I give this order: lay it in your
spirit, since you handle the steering-oar of the hollow ship.
Hold the ship clear of this smoke and this wave,
and make for the cliff, in case she slip away from you
and rush over there, and you throw us into ruin."
So I spoke, and they quickly obeyed my words.
But I said nothing of Scylla, a trouble past all remedy,
lest my companions in their fear should leave off
rowing and huddle themselves together inside.
And then I forgot Circe’s grievous command,
for she had told me not to arm myself at all;
but I put on my famous armour, and taking two long spears
in my hands I went onto the fore-deck of the ship,
the prow; for from there I expected her first to appear,
Scylla of the rock, who was bringing ruin on my companions.
But I could not make her out anywhere, and my eyes grew tired
as I peered everywhere towards the misty rock.
So we sailed up the narrow strait, groaning;
on the one side was Scylla, and on the other noble Charybdis
sucked down the salt water of the sea, terribly.
ὣς φάσαν ἱεῖσαι ὄπα κάλλιμον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ
ἤθελʼ ἀκουέμεναι, λῦσαί τʼ ἐκέλευον ἑταίρους
ὀφρύσι νευστάζων· οἱ δὲ προπεσόντες ἔρεσσον.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἀνστάντες Περιμήδης Εὐρύλοχός τε
πλείοσί μʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι δέον μᾶλλόν τε πίεζον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τάς γε παρήλασαν, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔπειτα
φθογγῆς Σειρήνων ἠκούομεν οὐδέ τʼ ἀοιδῆς,
αἶψʼ ἀπὸ κηρὸν ἕλοντο ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι,
ὅν σφιν ἐπʼ ὠσὶν ἄλειψʼ, ἐμέ τʼ ἐκ δεσμῶν ἀνέλυσαν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἐλείπομεν, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα
καπνὸν καὶ μέγα κῦμα ἴδον καὶ δοῦπον ἄκουσα.
τῶν δʼ ἄρα δεισάντων ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατʼ ἐρετμά,
βόμβησαν δʼ ἄρα πάντα κατὰ ῥόον· ἔσχετο δʼ αὐτοῦ
νηῦς, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτʼ ἐρετμὰ προήκεα χερσὶν ἔπειγον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ νηὸς ἰὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ πώ τι κακῶν ἀδαήμονές εἰμεν·
οὐ μὲν δὴ τόδε μεῖζον ἕπει κακόν, ἢ ὅτε Κύκλωψ
εἴλει ἐνὶ σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῆφι βίηφιν·
ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔνθεν ἐμῇ ἀρετῇ, βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,
ἐκφύγομεν, καί που τῶνδε μνήσεσθαι ὀίω.
νῦν δʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες.
ὑμεῖς μὲν κώπῃσιν ἁλὸς ῥηγμῖνα βαθεῖαν
τύπτετε κληίδεσσιν ἐφήμενοι, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
δώῃ τόνδε γʼ ὄλεθρον ὑπεκφυγέειν καὶ ἀλύξαι·
σοὶ δέ, κυβερνῆθʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
βάλλευ, ἐπεὶ νηὸς γλαφυρῆς οἰήια νωμᾷς.
τούτου μὲν καπνοῦ καὶ κύματος ἐκτὸς ἔεργε
νῆα, σὺ δὲ σκοπέλου ἐπιμαίεο, μή σε λάθῃσι
κεῖσʼ ἐξορμήσασα καὶ ἐς κακὸν ἄμμε βάλῃσθα.
ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο.
Σκύλλην δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἐμυθεόμην, ἄπρηκτον ἀνίην,
μή πώς μοι δείσαντες ἀπολλήξειαν ἑταῖροι
εἰρεσίης, ἐντὸς δὲ πυκάζοιεν σφέας αὐτούς.
καὶ τότε δὴ Κίρκης μὲν ἐφημοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς
λανθανόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ τί μʼ ἀνώγει θωρήσσεσθαι·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καταδὺς κλυτὰ τεύχεα καὶ δύο δοῦρε
μάκρʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἑλὼν εἰς ἴκρια νηὸς ἔβαινον
πρῴρης· ἔνθεν γάρ μιν ἐδέγμην πρῶτα φανεῖσθαι
Σκύλλην πετραίην, ἥ μοι φέρε πῆμʼ ἑτάροισιν.
οὐδέ πῃ ἀθρῆσαι δυνάμην, ἔκαμον δέ μοι ὄσσε
πάντῃ παπταίνοντι πρὸς ἠεροειδέα πέτρην.
ἡμεῖς μὲν στεινωπὸν ἀνεπλέομεν γοόωντες·
ἔνθεν μὲν Σκύλλη, ἑτέρωθι δὲ δῖα Χάρυβδις
δεινὸν ἀνερροίβδησε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
ἤθελʼ ἀκουέμεναι, λῦσαί τʼ ἐκέλευον ἑταίρους
ὀφρύσι νευστάζων· οἱ δὲ προπεσόντες ἔρεσσον.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἀνστάντες Περιμήδης Εὐρύλοχός τε
πλείοσί μʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσι δέον μᾶλλόν τε πίεζον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τάς γε παρήλασαν, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔπειτα
φθογγῆς Σειρήνων ἠκούομεν οὐδέ τʼ ἀοιδῆς,
αἶψʼ ἀπὸ κηρὸν ἕλοντο ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι,
ὅν σφιν ἐπʼ ὠσὶν ἄλειψʼ, ἐμέ τʼ ἐκ δεσμῶν ἀνέλυσαν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἐλείπομεν, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα
καπνὸν καὶ μέγα κῦμα ἴδον καὶ δοῦπον ἄκουσα.
τῶν δʼ ἄρα δεισάντων ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατʼ ἐρετμά,
βόμβησαν δʼ ἄρα πάντα κατὰ ῥόον· ἔσχετο δʼ αὐτοῦ
νηῦς, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτʼ ἐρετμὰ προήκεα χερσὶν ἔπειγον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ νηὸς ἰὼν ὤτρυνον ἑταίρους
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρασταδὸν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γάρ πώ τι κακῶν ἀδαήμονές εἰμεν·
οὐ μὲν δὴ τόδε μεῖζον ἕπει κακόν, ἢ ὅτε Κύκλωψ
εἴλει ἐνὶ σπῆι γλαφυρῷ κρατερῆφι βίηφιν·
ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔνθεν ἐμῇ ἀρετῇ, βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,
ἐκφύγομεν, καί που τῶνδε μνήσεσθαι ὀίω.
νῦν δʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες.
ὑμεῖς μὲν κώπῃσιν ἁλὸς ῥηγμῖνα βαθεῖαν
τύπτετε κληίδεσσιν ἐφήμενοι, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
δώῃ τόνδε γʼ ὄλεθρον ὑπεκφυγέειν καὶ ἀλύξαι·
σοὶ δέ, κυβερνῆθʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
βάλλευ, ἐπεὶ νηὸς γλαφυρῆς οἰήια νωμᾷς.
τούτου μὲν καπνοῦ καὶ κύματος ἐκτὸς ἔεργε
νῆα, σὺ δὲ σκοπέλου ἐπιμαίεο, μή σε λάθῃσι
κεῖσʼ ἐξορμήσασα καὶ ἐς κακὸν ἄμμε βάλῃσθα.
ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ ὦκα ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πίθοντο.
Σκύλλην δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἐμυθεόμην, ἄπρηκτον ἀνίην,
μή πώς μοι δείσαντες ἀπολλήξειαν ἑταῖροι
εἰρεσίης, ἐντὸς δὲ πυκάζοιεν σφέας αὐτούς.
καὶ τότε δὴ Κίρκης μὲν ἐφημοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς
λανθανόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ τί μʼ ἀνώγει θωρήσσεσθαι·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καταδὺς κλυτὰ τεύχεα καὶ δύο δοῦρε
μάκρʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἑλὼν εἰς ἴκρια νηὸς ἔβαινον
πρῴρης· ἔνθεν γάρ μιν ἐδέγμην πρῶτα φανεῖσθαι
Σκύλλην πετραίην, ἥ μοι φέρε πῆμʼ ἑτάροισιν.
οὐδέ πῃ ἀθρῆσαι δυνάμην, ἔκαμον δέ μοι ὄσσε
πάντῃ παπταίνοντι πρὸς ἠεροειδέα πέτρην.
ἡμεῖς μὲν στεινωπὸν ἀνεπλέομεν γοόωντες·
ἔνθεν μὲν Σκύλλη, ἑτέρωθι δὲ δῖα Χάρυβδις
δεινὸν ἀνερροίβδησε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
Whenever she vomited it up, like a cauldron over a great fire
she seethed all over, churning; and the spray flew high
and fell on the tops of both the cliffs.
But whenever she swallowed down the salt water of the sea,
she showed all churning within, and about her the rock
roared terribly, and the ground appeared beneath,
dark with sand; and pale fear took hold of them.
We looked towards her, in fear of destruction;
and meanwhile Scylla took six of my companions
out of the hollow ship, the best in hands and in strength.
When I looked to the swift ship and to my companions,
I already saw their feet and hands above me
as they were lifted high; and they cried out, calling to me
by name, that last time, grieved at heart.
As when a fisherman on a jutting rock with a very long rod
casts his bait as a trap for the little fishes
and throws into the sea the horn of an ox of the fields,
and then catches one gasping and flings it out on the land,
so they were lifted gasping towards the rocks;
and there in her doorway she devoured them, screaming
and stretching out their hands to me in the dread struggle.
That was the most pitiable thing I saw with my eyes
of all that I suffered in searching out the paths of the sea.
But when we had escaped the rocks and dreadful Charybdis
and Scylla, at once after that we came to the god’s
blameless island; and there were the fine broad-browed cattle
and the many fat flocks of Helios Hyperion.
Then, while I was still at sea in the black ship,
I heard the lowing of the cattle in their pens
and the bleating of the sheep; and the word fell into my spirit
of the blind seer, Theban Teiresias,
and of Circe of Aeaea, who charged me again and again
to avoid the island of Helios who gladdens mortals.
Then I spoke among my companions, grieved at heart:
"Hear my words, companions, though you suffer evils,
so that I may tell you the prophecies of Teiresias
and of Circe of Aeaea, who charged me again and again
to avoid the island of Helios who gladdens mortals;
for there, she said, was the most terrible evil for us.
So drive the black ship on past the island."
So I spoke, and their hearts were broken within them.
And at once Eurylochus answered me with a hateful word:
she seethed all over, churning; and the spray flew high
and fell on the tops of both the cliffs.
But whenever she swallowed down the salt water of the sea,
she showed all churning within, and about her the rock
roared terribly, and the ground appeared beneath,
dark with sand; and pale fear took hold of them.
We looked towards her, in fear of destruction;
and meanwhile Scylla took six of my companions
out of the hollow ship, the best in hands and in strength.
When I looked to the swift ship and to my companions,
I already saw their feet and hands above me
as they were lifted high; and they cried out, calling to me
by name, that last time, grieved at heart.
As when a fisherman on a jutting rock with a very long rod
casts his bait as a trap for the little fishes
and throws into the sea the horn of an ox of the fields,
and then catches one gasping and flings it out on the land,
so they were lifted gasping towards the rocks;
and there in her doorway she devoured them, screaming
and stretching out their hands to me in the dread struggle.
That was the most pitiable thing I saw with my eyes
of all that I suffered in searching out the paths of the sea.
But when we had escaped the rocks and dreadful Charybdis
and Scylla, at once after that we came to the god’s
blameless island; and there were the fine broad-browed cattle
and the many fat flocks of Helios Hyperion.
Then, while I was still at sea in the black ship,
I heard the lowing of the cattle in their pens
and the bleating of the sheep; and the word fell into my spirit
of the blind seer, Theban Teiresias,
and of Circe of Aeaea, who charged me again and again
to avoid the island of Helios who gladdens mortals.
Then I spoke among my companions, grieved at heart:
"Hear my words, companions, though you suffer evils,
so that I may tell you the prophecies of Teiresias
and of Circe of Aeaea, who charged me again and again
to avoid the island of Helios who gladdens mortals;
for there, she said, was the most terrible evil for us.
So drive the black ship on past the island."
So I spoke, and their hearts were broken within them.
And at once Eurylochus answered me with a hateful word:
ἦ τοι ὅτʼ ἐξεμέσειε, λέβης ὣς ἐν πυρὶ πολλῷ
πᾶσʼ ἀναμορμύρεσκε κυκωμένη, ὑψόσε δʼ ἄχνη
ἄκροισι σκοπέλοισιν ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔπιπτεν·
ἀλλʼ ὅτʼ ἀναβρόξειε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ,
πᾶσʼ ἔντοσθε φάνεσκε κυκωμένη, ἀμφὶ δὲ πέτρη
δεινὸν ἐβεβρύχει, ὑπένερθε δὲ γαῖα φάνεσκε
ψάμμῳ κυανέη· τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.
ἡμεῖς μὲν πρὸς τὴν ἴδομεν δείσαντες ὄλεθρον·
τόφρα δέ μοι Σκύλλη γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑταίρους
ἓξ ἕλεθʼ, οἳ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε φέρτατοι ἦσαν.
σκεψάμενος δʼ ἐς νῆα θοὴν ἅμα καὶ μεθʼ ἑταίρους
ἤδη τῶν ἐνόησα πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
ὑψόσʼ ἀειρομένων· ἐμὲ δὲ φθέγγοντο καλεῦντες
ἐξονομακλήδην, τότε γʼ ὕστατον, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐπὶ προβόλῳ ἁλιεὺς περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ
ἰχθύσι τοῖς ὀλίγοισι δόλον κατὰ εἴδατα βάλλων
ἐς πόντον προΐησι βοὸς κέρας ἀγραύλοιο,
ἀσπαίροντα δʼ ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἔρριψε θύραζε,
ὣς οἵ γʼ ἀσπαίροντες ἀείροντο προτὶ πέτρας·
αὐτοῦ δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι κατήσθιε κεκληγῶτας
χεῖρας ἐμοὶ ὀρέγοντας ἐν αἰνῇ δηιοτῆτι·
οἴκτιστον δὴ κεῖνο ἐμοῖς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι
πάντων, ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησα πόρους ἁλὸς ἐξερεείνων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πέτρας φύγομεν δεινήν τε Χάρυβδιν
Σκύλλην τʼ, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοῦ ἐς ἀμύμονα νῆσον
ἱκόμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν καλαὶ βόες εὐρυμέτωποι,
πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλʼ Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο.
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἔτι πόντῳ ἐὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ
μυκηθμοῦ τʼ ἤκουσα βοῶν αὐλιζομενάων
οἰῶν τε βληχήν· καί μοι ἔπος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ
μάντηος ἀλαοῦ, Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,
Κίρκης τʼ Αἰαίης, ἥ μοι μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε
νῆσον ἀλεύασθαι τερψιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο.
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάροισι μετηύδων ἀχνύμενος κῆρ·
κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι,
ὄφρʼ ὑμῖν εἴπω μαντήια Τειρεσίαο
Κίρκης τʼ Αἰαίης, ἥ μοι μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε
νῆσον ἀλεύασθαι τερψιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο·
ἔνθα γὰρ αἰνότατον κακὸν ἔμμεναι ἄμμιν ἔφασκεν.
ἀλλὰ παρὲξ τὴν νῆσον ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ.
αὐτίκα δʼ Εὐρύλοχος στυγερῷ μʼ ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
πᾶσʼ ἀναμορμύρεσκε κυκωμένη, ὑψόσε δʼ ἄχνη
ἄκροισι σκοπέλοισιν ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔπιπτεν·
ἀλλʼ ὅτʼ ἀναβρόξειε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ,
πᾶσʼ ἔντοσθε φάνεσκε κυκωμένη, ἀμφὶ δὲ πέτρη
δεινὸν ἐβεβρύχει, ὑπένερθε δὲ γαῖα φάνεσκε
ψάμμῳ κυανέη· τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.
ἡμεῖς μὲν πρὸς τὴν ἴδομεν δείσαντες ὄλεθρον·
τόφρα δέ μοι Σκύλλη γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑταίρους
ἓξ ἕλεθʼ, οἳ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε φέρτατοι ἦσαν.
σκεψάμενος δʼ ἐς νῆα θοὴν ἅμα καὶ μεθʼ ἑταίρους
ἤδη τῶν ἐνόησα πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
ὑψόσʼ ἀειρομένων· ἐμὲ δὲ φθέγγοντο καλεῦντες
ἐξονομακλήδην, τότε γʼ ὕστατον, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐπὶ προβόλῳ ἁλιεὺς περιμήκεϊ ῥάβδῳ
ἰχθύσι τοῖς ὀλίγοισι δόλον κατὰ εἴδατα βάλλων
ἐς πόντον προΐησι βοὸς κέρας ἀγραύλοιο,
ἀσπαίροντα δʼ ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἔρριψε θύραζε,
ὣς οἵ γʼ ἀσπαίροντες ἀείροντο προτὶ πέτρας·
αὐτοῦ δʼ εἰνὶ θύρῃσι κατήσθιε κεκληγῶτας
χεῖρας ἐμοὶ ὀρέγοντας ἐν αἰνῇ δηιοτῆτι·
οἴκτιστον δὴ κεῖνο ἐμοῖς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι
πάντων, ὅσσʼ ἐμόγησα πόρους ἁλὸς ἐξερεείνων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πέτρας φύγομεν δεινήν τε Χάρυβδιν
Σκύλλην τʼ, αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοῦ ἐς ἀμύμονα νῆσον
ἱκόμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν καλαὶ βόες εὐρυμέτωποι,
πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλʼ Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο.
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἔτι πόντῳ ἐὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ
μυκηθμοῦ τʼ ἤκουσα βοῶν αὐλιζομενάων
οἰῶν τε βληχήν· καί μοι ἔπος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ
μάντηος ἀλαοῦ, Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,
Κίρκης τʼ Αἰαίης, ἥ μοι μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε
νῆσον ἀλεύασθαι τερψιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο.
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἑτάροισι μετηύδων ἀχνύμενος κῆρ·
κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι,
ὄφρʼ ὑμῖν εἴπω μαντήια Τειρεσίαο
Κίρκης τʼ Αἰαίης, ἥ μοι μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε
νῆσον ἀλεύασθαι τερψιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο·
ἔνθα γὰρ αἰνότατον κακὸν ἔμμεναι ἄμμιν ἔφασκεν.
ἀλλὰ παρὲξ τὴν νῆσον ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δὲ κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ.
αὐτίκα δʼ Εὐρύλοχος στυγερῷ μʼ ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
"You are a reckless man, Odysseus; your fury is beyond measure, and your limbs
never tire. You must be made all of iron,
you who will not let your companions, worn out with toil and want of sleep,
set foot on land, where once again
on this sea-girt island we might make ourselves a savoury supper,
but bid us wander just as we are through the swift night,
driven away from the island over the misty sea.
Out of the night come harsh winds, the ruin of ships.
How could a man escape sheer destruction,
if a squall of wind should come on suddenly,
either of the South Wind or of the hard-blowing West, which most of all
shatter a ship, against the will of the lord gods?
No, let us now give way to the black night
and make ready our supper, staying beside the swift ship;
and at dawn we will go aboard and put out on the wide sea."
never tire. You must be made all of iron,
you who will not let your companions, worn out with toil and want of sleep,
set foot on land, where once again
on this sea-girt island we might make ourselves a savoury supper,
but bid us wander just as we are through the swift night,
driven away from the island over the misty sea.
Out of the night come harsh winds, the ruin of ships.
How could a man escape sheer destruction,
if a squall of wind should come on suddenly,
either of the South Wind or of the hard-blowing West, which most of all
shatter a ship, against the will of the lord gods?
No, let us now give way to the black night
and make ready our supper, staying beside the swift ship;
and at dawn we will go aboard and put out on the wide sea."
σχέτλιός εἰς, Ὀδυσεῦ· περί τοι μένος, οὐδέ τι γυῖα
κάμνεις· ἦ ῥά νυ σοί γε σιδήρεα πάντα τέτυκται,
ὅς ῥʼ ἑτάρους καμάτῳ ἁδηκότας ἠδὲ καὶ ὕπνῳ
οὐκ ἐάᾳς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι, ἔνθα κεν αὖτε
νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ λαρὸν τετυκοίμεθα δόρπον,
ἀλλʼ αὔτως διὰ νύκτα θοὴν ἀλάλησθαι ἄνωγας
νήσου ἀποπλαγχθέντας ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ.
ἐκ νυκτῶν δʼ ἄνεμοι χαλεποί, δηλήματα νηῶν,
γίγνονται· πῇ κέν τις ὑπεκφύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον,
ἤν πως ἐξαπίνης ἔλθῃ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα,
ἢ Νότου ἢ Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος, οἵ τε μάλιστα
νῆα διαρραίουσι θεῶν ἀέκητι ἀνάκτων.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ
δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισόμεσθα θοῇ παρὰ νηὶ μένοντες,
ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐνήσομεν εὐρέι πόντῳ.
κάμνεις· ἦ ῥά νυ σοί γε σιδήρεα πάντα τέτυκται,
ὅς ῥʼ ἑτάρους καμάτῳ ἁδηκότας ἠδὲ καὶ ὕπνῳ
οὐκ ἐάᾳς γαίης ἐπιβήμεναι, ἔνθα κεν αὖτε
νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ λαρὸν τετυκοίμεθα δόρπον,
ἀλλʼ αὔτως διὰ νύκτα θοὴν ἀλάλησθαι ἄνωγας
νήσου ἀποπλαγχθέντας ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ.
ἐκ νυκτῶν δʼ ἄνεμοι χαλεποί, δηλήματα νηῶν,
γίγνονται· πῇ κέν τις ὑπεκφύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον,
ἤν πως ἐξαπίνης ἔλθῃ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα,
ἢ Νότου ἢ Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος, οἵ τε μάλιστα
νῆα διαρραίουσι θεῶν ἀέκητι ἀνάκτων.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ
δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισόμεσθα θοῇ παρὰ νηὶ μένοντες,
ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐνήσομεν εὐρέι πόντῳ.
So spoke Eurylochus, and the other companions agreed.
And then I knew that a god was devising evils,
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
"Eurylochus, you force me indeed, one man against many.
But come now, all of you, swear me a mighty oath:
if we find any herd of cattle or great flock of sheep,
let no one in his wicked reckless folly
kill a cow or a sheep; but at your ease
eat the food that immortal Circe gave us."
So I spoke, and they swore at once, as I bade them.
But when they had sworn and finished the oath,
we moored the well-built ship in the hollow harbour
near sweet water, and my companions went out
of the ship, and then made ready their supper with skill.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then they remembered and wept for their dear companions
whom Scylla had snatched from the hollow ship and eaten;
and as they wept, sweet sleep came upon them.
But when it was the third watch of the night, and the stars had crossed over,
Zeus the cloud-gatherer roused a strong wind against us
with a marvellous squall, and he covered with clouds
the land and the sea together; and night rose out of heaven.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
we moored the ship, dragging her into a hollow cave.
There were the fine dancing-floors and the seats of the nymphs;
and then I called an assembly and spoke among them:
"Friends, there is food and drink in the swift ship;
so let us keep away from these cattle, or we shall suffer.
For these are the cattle and the fat flocks of a dread god,
of Helios, who sees all things and hears all things."
So I spoke, and their lordly spirit was persuaded.
For a whole month the South Wind blew without ceasing, and no other
wind came after it, except the East Wind and the South.
So long as they had bread and red wine,
they kept away from the cattle, longing to stay alive.
But when all the ship’s provisions were spent,
and they had to roam and hunt of necessity,
for fish and birds, whatever came to their hands,
with bent hooks, and hunger wore at their bellies,
then I went off up the island, so that I might pray
to the gods, in case one of them should show me a way to return.
But when, going through the island, I had got clear of my companions,
I washed my hands where there was shelter from the wind
and prayed to all the gods who hold Olympus;
and they poured sweet sleep upon my eyelids.
And Eurylochus began an evil counsel among my companions:
"Hear my words, companions, though you suffer evils.
All deaths are hateful to wretched mortals,
but the most pitiable is to die of hunger and meet one’s doom.
So come, let us drive off the best of Helios’s cattle
and sacrifice to the immortals who hold the wide heaven.
And if we come to Ithaca, our native land,
we will quickly build a rich temple to Helios Hyperion
and set in it many fine offerings.
But if he is angry about his straight-horned cattle
and wishes to destroy our ship, and the other gods go with him,
I would rather gulp at the wave once and lose my life
than be worn away slowly on a desert island."
And then I knew that a god was devising evils,
and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
"Eurylochus, you force me indeed, one man against many.
But come now, all of you, swear me a mighty oath:
if we find any herd of cattle or great flock of sheep,
let no one in his wicked reckless folly
kill a cow or a sheep; but at your ease
eat the food that immortal Circe gave us."
So I spoke, and they swore at once, as I bade them.
But when they had sworn and finished the oath,
we moored the well-built ship in the hollow harbour
near sweet water, and my companions went out
of the ship, and then made ready their supper with skill.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then they remembered and wept for their dear companions
whom Scylla had snatched from the hollow ship and eaten;
and as they wept, sweet sleep came upon them.
But when it was the third watch of the night, and the stars had crossed over,
Zeus the cloud-gatherer roused a strong wind against us
with a marvellous squall, and he covered with clouds
the land and the sea together; and night rose out of heaven.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
we moored the ship, dragging her into a hollow cave.
There were the fine dancing-floors and the seats of the nymphs;
and then I called an assembly and spoke among them:
"Friends, there is food and drink in the swift ship;
so let us keep away from these cattle, or we shall suffer.
For these are the cattle and the fat flocks of a dread god,
of Helios, who sees all things and hears all things."
So I spoke, and their lordly spirit was persuaded.
For a whole month the South Wind blew without ceasing, and no other
wind came after it, except the East Wind and the South.
So long as they had bread and red wine,
they kept away from the cattle, longing to stay alive.
But when all the ship’s provisions were spent,
and they had to roam and hunt of necessity,
for fish and birds, whatever came to their hands,
with bent hooks, and hunger wore at their bellies,
then I went off up the island, so that I might pray
to the gods, in case one of them should show me a way to return.
But when, going through the island, I had got clear of my companions,
I washed my hands where there was shelter from the wind
and prayed to all the gods who hold Olympus;
and they poured sweet sleep upon my eyelids.
And Eurylochus began an evil counsel among my companions:
"Hear my words, companions, though you suffer evils.
All deaths are hateful to wretched mortals,
but the most pitiable is to die of hunger and meet one’s doom.
So come, let us drive off the best of Helios’s cattle
and sacrifice to the immortals who hold the wide heaven.
And if we come to Ithaca, our native land,
we will quickly build a rich temple to Helios Hyperion
and set in it many fine offerings.
But if he is angry about his straight-horned cattle
and wishes to destroy our ship, and the other gods go with him,
I would rather gulp at the wave once and lose my life
than be worn away slowly on a desert island."
ὣς ἔφατʼ Εὐρύλοχος, ἐπὶ δʼ ᾔνεον ἄλλοι ἑταῖροι.
καὶ τότε δὴ γίγνωσκον ὃ δὴ κακὰ μήδετο δαίμων,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
Εὐρύλοχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή με βιάζετε μοῦνον ἐόντα.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι πάντες ὀμόσσατε καρτερὸν ὅρκον·
εἴ κέ τινʼ ἠὲ βοῶν ἀγέλην ἢ πῶυ μέγʼ οἰῶν
εὕρωμεν, μή πού τις ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσιν
ἢ βοῦν ἠέ τι μῆλον ἀποκτάνῃ· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι
ἐσθίετε βρώμην, τὴν ἀθανάτη πόρε Κίρκη.
ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀπώμνυον, ὡς ἐκέλευον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
στήσαμεν ἐν λιμένι γλαφυρῷ ἐυεργέα νῆα
ἄγχʼ ὕδατος γλυκεροῖο, καὶ ἐξαπέβησαν ἑταῖροι
νηός, ἔπειτα δὲ δόρπον ἐπισταμένως τετύκοντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
μνησάμενοι δὴ ἔπειτα φίλους ἔκλαιον ἑταίρους,
οὓς ἔφαγε Σκύλλη γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλοῦσα·
κλαιόντεσσι δὲ τοῖσιν ἐπήλυθε νήδυμος ὕπνος.
ἦμος δὲ τρίχα νυκτὸς ἔην, μετὰ δʼ ἄστρα βεβήκει,
ὦρσεν ἔπι ζαῆν ἄνεμον νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς
λαίλαπι θεσπεσίῃ, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε
γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
νῆα μὲν ὡρμίσαμεν κοῖλον σπέος εἰσερύσαντες.
ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν νυμφέων καλοὶ χοροὶ ἠδὲ θόωκοι·
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπον·
ὦ φίλοι, ἐν γὰρ νηὶ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε
ἔστιν, τῶν δὲ βοῶν ἀπεχώμεθα, μή τι πάθωμεν·
δεινοῦ γὰρ θεοῦ αἵδε βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούει.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
μῆνα δὲ πάντʼ ἄλληκτος ἄη Νότος, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
γίγνετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνέμων εἰ μὴ Εὖρός τε Νότος τε.
οἱ δʼ ἧος μὲν σῖτον ἔχον καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρόν,
τόφρα βοῶν ἀπέχοντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ νηὸς ἐξέφθιτο ἤια πάντα,
καὶ δὴ ἄγρην ἐφέπεσκον ἀλητεύοντες ἀνάγκῃ,
ἰχθῦς ὄρνιθάς τε, φίλας ὅ τι χεῖρας ἵκοιτο,
γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν, ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμός·
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀνὰ νῆσον ἀπέστιχον, ὄφρα θεοῖσιν
εὐξαίμην, εἴ τίς μοι ὁδὸν φήνειε νέεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ διὰ νήσου ἰὼν ἤλυξα ἑταίρους,
χεῖρας νιψάμενος, ὅθʼ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο,
ἠρώμην πάντεσσι θεοῖς οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν·
οἱ δʼ ἄρα μοι γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔχευαν.
Εὐρύλοχος δʼ ἑτάροισι κακῆς ἐξήρχετο βουλῆς·
κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι.
πάντες μὲν στυγεροὶ θάνατοι δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι,
λιμῷ δʼ οἴκτιστον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας
ῥέξομεν ἀθανάτοισι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.
εἰ δέ κεν εἰς Ἰθάκην ἀφικοίμεθα, πατρίδα γαῖαν,
αἶψά κεν Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι πίονα νηὸν
τεύξομεν, ἐν δέ κε θεῖμεν ἀγάλματα πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.
εἰ δὲ χολωσάμενός τι βοῶν ὀρθοκραιράων
νῆʼ ἐθέλῃ ὀλέσαι, ἐπὶ δʼ ἕσπωνται θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
βούλομʼ ἅπαξ πρὸς κῦμα χανὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσαι,
ἢ δηθὰ στρεύγεσθαι ἐὼν ἐν νήσῳ ἐρήμῃ.
καὶ τότε δὴ γίγνωσκον ὃ δὴ κακὰ μήδετο δαίμων,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
Εὐρύλοχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή με βιάζετε μοῦνον ἐόντα.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι πάντες ὀμόσσατε καρτερὸν ὅρκον·
εἴ κέ τινʼ ἠὲ βοῶν ἀγέλην ἢ πῶυ μέγʼ οἰῶν
εὕρωμεν, μή πού τις ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσιν
ἢ βοῦν ἠέ τι μῆλον ἀποκτάνῃ· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι
ἐσθίετε βρώμην, τὴν ἀθανάτη πόρε Κίρκη.
ὣς ἐφάμην, οἱ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀπώμνυον, ὡς ἐκέλευον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
στήσαμεν ἐν λιμένι γλαφυρῷ ἐυεργέα νῆα
ἄγχʼ ὕδατος γλυκεροῖο, καὶ ἐξαπέβησαν ἑταῖροι
νηός, ἔπειτα δὲ δόρπον ἐπισταμένως τετύκοντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
μνησάμενοι δὴ ἔπειτα φίλους ἔκλαιον ἑταίρους,
οὓς ἔφαγε Σκύλλη γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλοῦσα·
κλαιόντεσσι δὲ τοῖσιν ἐπήλυθε νήδυμος ὕπνος.
ἦμος δὲ τρίχα νυκτὸς ἔην, μετὰ δʼ ἄστρα βεβήκει,
ὦρσεν ἔπι ζαῆν ἄνεμον νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς
λαίλαπι θεσπεσίῃ, σὺν δὲ νεφέεσσι κάλυψε
γαῖαν ὁμοῦ καὶ πόντον· ὀρώρει δʼ οὐρανόθεν νύξ.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
νῆα μὲν ὡρμίσαμεν κοῖλον σπέος εἰσερύσαντες.
ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν νυμφέων καλοὶ χοροὶ ἠδὲ θόωκοι·
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν θέμενος μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπον·
ὦ φίλοι, ἐν γὰρ νηὶ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε
ἔστιν, τῶν δὲ βοῶν ἀπεχώμεθα, μή τι πάθωμεν·
δεινοῦ γὰρ θεοῦ αἵδε βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούει.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
μῆνα δὲ πάντʼ ἄλληκτος ἄη Νότος, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
γίγνετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνέμων εἰ μὴ Εὖρός τε Νότος τε.
οἱ δʼ ἧος μὲν σῖτον ἔχον καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρόν,
τόφρα βοῶν ἀπέχοντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ νηὸς ἐξέφθιτο ἤια πάντα,
καὶ δὴ ἄγρην ἐφέπεσκον ἀλητεύοντες ἀνάγκῃ,
ἰχθῦς ὄρνιθάς τε, φίλας ὅ τι χεῖρας ἵκοιτο,
γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν, ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμός·
δὴ τότʼ ἐγὼν ἀνὰ νῆσον ἀπέστιχον, ὄφρα θεοῖσιν
εὐξαίμην, εἴ τίς μοι ὁδὸν φήνειε νέεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ διὰ νήσου ἰὼν ἤλυξα ἑταίρους,
χεῖρας νιψάμενος, ὅθʼ ἐπὶ σκέπας ἦν ἀνέμοιο,
ἠρώμην πάντεσσι θεοῖς οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν·
οἱ δʼ ἄρα μοι γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔχευαν.
Εὐρύλοχος δʼ ἑτάροισι κακῆς ἐξήρχετο βουλῆς·
κέκλυτέ μευ μύθων κακά περ πάσχοντες ἑταῖροι.
πάντες μὲν στυγεροὶ θάνατοι δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι,
λιμῷ δʼ οἴκτιστον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας
ῥέξομεν ἀθανάτοισι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.
εἰ δέ κεν εἰς Ἰθάκην ἀφικοίμεθα, πατρίδα γαῖαν,
αἶψά κεν Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι πίονα νηὸν
τεύξομεν, ἐν δέ κε θεῖμεν ἀγάλματα πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.
εἰ δὲ χολωσάμενός τι βοῶν ὀρθοκραιράων
νῆʼ ἐθέλῃ ὀλέσαι, ἐπὶ δʼ ἕσπωνται θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
βούλομʼ ἅπαξ πρὸς κῦμα χανὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσαι,
ἢ δηθὰ στρεύγεσθαι ἐὼν ἐν νήσῳ ἐρήμῃ.
So spoke Eurylochus, and the other companions agreed.
At once they drove off the best of Helios’s cattle
from near by; for not far from the dark-prowed ship
the fine shambling broad-browed cattle were grazing.
They stood round them and prayed to the gods,
plucking the tender leaves of a high-leafed oak;
for they had no white barley in the well-benched ship.
But when they had prayed and cut the throats and flayed them,
they cut out the thighs and covered them with fat,
making a double fold, and laid raw flesh upon them.
They had no wine to pour on the burning offerings,
but poured water instead, and roasted all the entrails.
But when the thighs were burnt and they had tasted the inner parts,
they cut up the rest and pierced it on spits.
And then sweet sleep rushed from my eyelids,
and I set out to go to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
But when, as I went, I was near the curved ship,
then the sweet savour of the fat came about me.
And I groaned and cried aloud to the immortal gods:
"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who are for ever,
you have lulled me into ruin with a pitiless sleep.
My companions, left behind, have devised a great deed."
And swiftly a messenger came to Helios Hyperion,
Lampetie of the trailing robe, to say that we had killed his cattle.
At once he spoke among the immortals, angry at heart:
At once they drove off the best of Helios’s cattle
from near by; for not far from the dark-prowed ship
the fine shambling broad-browed cattle were grazing.
They stood round them and prayed to the gods,
plucking the tender leaves of a high-leafed oak;
for they had no white barley in the well-benched ship.
But when they had prayed and cut the throats and flayed them,
they cut out the thighs and covered them with fat,
making a double fold, and laid raw flesh upon them.
They had no wine to pour on the burning offerings,
but poured water instead, and roasted all the entrails.
But when the thighs were burnt and they had tasted the inner parts,
they cut up the rest and pierced it on spits.
And then sweet sleep rushed from my eyelids,
and I set out to go to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
But when, as I went, I was near the curved ship,
then the sweet savour of the fat came about me.
And I groaned and cried aloud to the immortal gods:
"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who are for ever,
you have lulled me into ruin with a pitiless sleep.
My companions, left behind, have devised a great deed."
And swiftly a messenger came to Helios Hyperion,
Lampetie of the trailing robe, to say that we had killed his cattle.
At once he spoke among the immortals, angry at heart:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Εὐρύλοχος, ἐπὶ δʼ ᾔνεον ἄλλοι ἑταῖροι.
αὐτίκα δʼ Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας
ἐγγύθεν, οὐ γὰρ τῆλε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
βοσκέσκονθʼ ἕλικες καλαὶ βόες εὐρυμέτωποι·
τὰς δὲ περίστησάν τε καὶ εὐχετόωντο θεοῖσιν,
φύλλα δρεψάμενοι τέρενα δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο·
οὐ γὰρ ἔχον κρῖ λευκὸν ἐυσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηός.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,
μηρούς τʼ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν.
οὐδʼ εἶχον μέθυ λεῖψαι ἐπʼ αἰθομένοις ἱεροῖσιν,
ἀλλʼ ὕδατι σπένδοντες ἐπώπτων ἔγκατα πάντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρʼ ἐκάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν.
καὶ τότε μοι βλεφάρων ἐξέσσυτο νήδυμος ὕπνος,
βῆν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦα κιὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης,
καὶ τότε με κνίσης ἀμφήλυθεν ἡδὺς ἀυτμή.
οἰμώξας δὲ θεοῖσι μέγʼ ἀθανάτοισι γεγώνευν·
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,
ἦ με μάλʼ εἰς ἄτην κοιμήσατε νηλέι ὕπνῳ.
οἱ δʼ ἕταροι μέγα ἔργον ἐμητίσαντο μένοντες.
ὠκέα δʼ Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι ἄγγελος ἦλθε
Λαμπετίη τανύπεπλος, ὅ οἱ βόας ἔκταμεν ἡμεῖς.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετηύδα χωόμενος κῆρ·
αὐτίκα δʼ Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας
ἐγγύθεν, οὐ γὰρ τῆλε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
βοσκέσκονθʼ ἕλικες καλαὶ βόες εὐρυμέτωποι·
τὰς δὲ περίστησάν τε καὶ εὐχετόωντο θεοῖσιν,
φύλλα δρεψάμενοι τέρενα δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο·
οὐ γὰρ ἔχον κρῖ λευκὸν ἐυσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηός.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,
μηρούς τʼ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν.
οὐδʼ εἶχον μέθυ λεῖψαι ἐπʼ αἰθομένοις ἱεροῖσιν,
ἀλλʼ ὕδατι σπένδοντες ἐπώπτων ἔγκατα πάντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρʼ ἐκάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν.
καὶ τότε μοι βλεφάρων ἐξέσσυτο νήδυμος ὕπνος,
βῆν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦα κιὼν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης,
καὶ τότε με κνίσης ἀμφήλυθεν ἡδὺς ἀυτμή.
οἰμώξας δὲ θεοῖσι μέγʼ ἀθανάτοισι γεγώνευν·
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,
ἦ με μάλʼ εἰς ἄτην κοιμήσατε νηλέι ὕπνῳ.
οἱ δʼ ἕταροι μέγα ἔργον ἐμητίσαντο μένοντες.
ὠκέα δʼ Ἠελίῳ Ὑπερίονι ἄγγελος ἦλθε
Λαμπετίη τανύπεπλος, ὅ οἱ βόας ἔκταμεν ἡμεῖς.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετηύδα χωόμενος κῆρ·
"Father Zeus, and you other blessed gods who are for ever,
take vengeance on the companions of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
who have killed my cattle in their insolence, the cattle in which I took
joy as I went up towards the starry heaven,
and when I turned back again to earth from heaven.
If they do not pay me a fitting recompense for the cattle,
I will go down to Hades and shine among the dead."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
take vengeance on the companions of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
who have killed my cattle in their insolence, the cattle in which I took
joy as I went up towards the starry heaven,
and when I turned back again to earth from heaven.
If they do not pay me a fitting recompense for the cattle,
I will go down to Hades and shine among the dead."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι μάκαρες θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,
τῖσαι δὴ ἑτάρους Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
οἵ μευ βοῦς ἔκτειναν ὑπέρβιον, ᾗσιν ἐγώ γε
χαίρεσκον μὲν ἰὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα,
ἠδʼ ὁπότʼ ἂψ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προτραποίμην.
εἰ δέ μοι οὐ τίσουσι βοῶν ἐπιεικέʼ ἀμοιβήν,
δύσομαι εἰς Ἀίδαο καὶ ἐν νεκύεσσι φαείνω.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
τῖσαι δὴ ἑτάρους Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
οἵ μευ βοῦς ἔκτειναν ὑπέρβιον, ᾗσιν ἐγώ γε
χαίρεσκον μὲν ἰὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα,
ἠδʼ ὁπότʼ ἂψ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προτραποίμην.
εἰ δέ μοι οὐ τίσουσι βοῶν ἐπιεικέʼ ἀμοιβήν,
δύσομαι εἰς Ἀίδαο καὶ ἐν νεκύεσσι φαείνω.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
"Helios, shine on among the immortals
and among mortal men on the grain-giving earth;
and as for them, I will soon strike their swift ship with a white thunderbolt
and shatter it to pieces in the middle of the wine-dark sea."
This I heard from lovely-haired Calypso,
and she said that she herself had heard it from Hermes the guide.
But when I had come down to the ship and the sea,
I rebuked them one after another, standing beside each; but no remedy
could we find, for the cattle were already dead.
And at once after that the gods showed them portents:
the hides crawled, and the flesh on the spits lowed,
roasted and raw, and there was a sound as of cattle.
For six days then my trusty companions
feasted, having driven off the best of Helios’s cattle;
but when Zeus son of Cronos brought on the seventh day,
then the wind stopped raging in its squall,
and we quickly went aboard and put out on the wide sea,
setting up the mast and hoisting the white sails.
But when we had left the island, and no other
land appeared, but only sky and sea,
then the son of Cronos set a dark cloud
over the hollow ship, and the sea grew dark beneath it.
She ran on for no long time; for at once came
the shrieking West Wind, raging in a great squall,
and the blast of the wind snapped both the forestays
of the mast; and the mast fell backwards, and all the tackle
poured down into the bilge. And in the stern of the ship
it struck the helmsman’s head and crushed the bones
of his skull all together; and like a diver
he fell from the deck, and his lordly spirit left his bones.
And Zeus thundered at the same moment and struck the ship with a bolt;
and she reeled all over, struck by the bolt of Zeus,
and was filled with sulphur; and my companions fell from the ship.
Like sea-crows they were carried on the waves
about the black ship, and the god took away their homecoming.
But I went to and fro through the ship, until the surge
loosened the sides from the keel, and the wave carried it bare,
and snapped the mast off against the keel. But upon it
the backstay had been flung, made of ox-hide;
with it I lashed the two together, the keel and the mast,
and sitting on them I was carried by the deadly winds.
Then the West Wind stopped raging in its squall,
and the South Wind came on quickly, bringing pains to my spirit,
so that I should measure out the way to deadly Charybdis again.
All night long I was carried, and with the rising of the sun
I came to Scylla’s cliff and to dreadful Charybdis.
She sucked down the salt water of the sea;
but I sprang up high towards the tall fig tree
and clung to it, holding on like a bat. And I could nowhere
plant my feet firmly nor climb up;
for the roots were far below, and the branches hung high above,
long and great, and they overshadowed Charybdis.
I held on without pause until she should vomit up again
the mast and the keel; and to my longing they came
late. At the hour when a man rises from the assembly for his supper,
after judging the many quarrels of contending young men,
at that hour the timbers came out of Charybdis.
And I let go from above, feet and hands, to drop,
and splashed down in the middle, beside the long timbers,
and sitting on them I rowed onward with my hands.
And the father of men and gods did not let Scylla
catch sight of me; or I would not have escaped sheer destruction.
From there I was carried for nine days, and on the tenth night
the gods brought me near to the island of Ogygia, where Calypso
lives, fair-haired, a dread goddess with a human voice,
who loved me and cared for me. But why should I tell you this again?
For yesterday I told it in this house
to you and to your strong wife; and it is hateful to me
to tell again a tale that has been told plainly once.
and among mortal men on the grain-giving earth;
and as for them, I will soon strike their swift ship with a white thunderbolt
and shatter it to pieces in the middle of the wine-dark sea."
This I heard from lovely-haired Calypso,
and she said that she herself had heard it from Hermes the guide.
But when I had come down to the ship and the sea,
I rebuked them one after another, standing beside each; but no remedy
could we find, for the cattle were already dead.
And at once after that the gods showed them portents:
the hides crawled, and the flesh on the spits lowed,
roasted and raw, and there was a sound as of cattle.
For six days then my trusty companions
feasted, having driven off the best of Helios’s cattle;
but when Zeus son of Cronos brought on the seventh day,
then the wind stopped raging in its squall,
and we quickly went aboard and put out on the wide sea,
setting up the mast and hoisting the white sails.
But when we had left the island, and no other
land appeared, but only sky and sea,
then the son of Cronos set a dark cloud
over the hollow ship, and the sea grew dark beneath it.
She ran on for no long time; for at once came
the shrieking West Wind, raging in a great squall,
and the blast of the wind snapped both the forestays
of the mast; and the mast fell backwards, and all the tackle
poured down into the bilge. And in the stern of the ship
it struck the helmsman’s head and crushed the bones
of his skull all together; and like a diver
he fell from the deck, and his lordly spirit left his bones.
And Zeus thundered at the same moment and struck the ship with a bolt;
and she reeled all over, struck by the bolt of Zeus,
and was filled with sulphur; and my companions fell from the ship.
Like sea-crows they were carried on the waves
about the black ship, and the god took away their homecoming.
But I went to and fro through the ship, until the surge
loosened the sides from the keel, and the wave carried it bare,
and snapped the mast off against the keel. But upon it
the backstay had been flung, made of ox-hide;
with it I lashed the two together, the keel and the mast,
and sitting on them I was carried by the deadly winds.
Then the West Wind stopped raging in its squall,
and the South Wind came on quickly, bringing pains to my spirit,
so that I should measure out the way to deadly Charybdis again.
All night long I was carried, and with the rising of the sun
I came to Scylla’s cliff and to dreadful Charybdis.
She sucked down the salt water of the sea;
but I sprang up high towards the tall fig tree
and clung to it, holding on like a bat. And I could nowhere
plant my feet firmly nor climb up;
for the roots were far below, and the branches hung high above,
long and great, and they overshadowed Charybdis.
I held on without pause until she should vomit up again
the mast and the keel; and to my longing they came
late. At the hour when a man rises from the assembly for his supper,
after judging the many quarrels of contending young men,
at that hour the timbers came out of Charybdis.
And I let go from above, feet and hands, to drop,
and splashed down in the middle, beside the long timbers,
and sitting on them I rowed onward with my hands.
And the father of men and gods did not let Scylla
catch sight of me; or I would not have escaped sheer destruction.
From there I was carried for nine days, and on the tenth night
the gods brought me near to the island of Ogygia, where Calypso
lives, fair-haired, a dread goddess with a human voice,
who loved me and cared for me. But why should I tell you this again?
For yesterday I told it in this house
to you and to your strong wife; and it is hateful to me
to tell again a tale that has been told plainly once.
Ἠέλιʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν σὺ μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι φάεινε
καὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν·
τῶν δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τάχα νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ
τυτθὰ βαλὼν κεάσαιμι μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.
ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἤκουσα Καλυψοῦς ἠυκόμοιο·
ἡ δʼ ἔφη Ἑρμείαο διακτόρου αὐτὴ ἀκοῦσαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
νείκεον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλον ἐπισταδόν, οὐδέ τι μῆχος
εὑρέμεναι δυνάμεσθα, βόες δʼ ἀποτέθνασαν ἤδη.
τοῖσιν δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοὶ τέραα προύφαινον·
εἷρπον μὲν ῥινοί, κρέα δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσι μεμύκει,
ὀπταλέα τε καὶ ὠμά, βοῶν δʼ ὣς γίγνετο φωνή.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ἔπειτα ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι
δαίνυντʼ Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἕβδομον ἦμαρ ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε Κρονίων,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο λαίλαπι θύων,
ἡμεῖς δʼ αἶψʼ ἀναβάντες ἐνήκαμεν εὐρέι πόντῳ,
ἱστὸν στησάμενοι ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λεύκʼ ἐρύσαντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἐλείπομεν, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
φαίνετο γαιάων, ἀλλʼ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα,
δὴ τότε κυανέην νεφέλην ἔστησε Κρονίων
νηὸς ὕπερ γλαφυρῆς, ἤχλυσε δὲ πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.
ἡ δʼ ἔθει οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον· αἶψα γὰρ ἦλθε
κεκληγὼς Ζέφυρος μεγάλῃ σὺν λαίλαπι θύων,
ἱστοῦ δὲ προτόνους ἔρρηξʼ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα
ἀμφοτέρους· ἱστὸς δʼ ὀπίσω πέσεν, ὅπλα τε πάντα
εἰς ἄντλον κατέχυνθʼ. ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρυμνῇ ἐνὶ νηὶ
πλῆξε κυβερνήτεω κεφαλήν, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἄραξε
πάντʼ ἄμυδις κεφαλῆς· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς
κάππεσʼ ἀπʼ ἰκριόφιν, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμυδις βρόντησε καὶ ἔμβαλε νηὶ κεραυνόν·
ἡ δʼ ἐλελίχθη πᾶσα Διὸς πληγεῖσα κεραυνῷ,
ἐν δὲ θεείου πλῆτο, πέσον δʼ ἐκ νηὸς ἑταῖροι.
οἱ δὲ κορώνῃσιν ἴκελοι περὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
κύμασιν ἐμφορέοντο, θεὸς δʼ ἀποαίνυτο νόστον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ νηὸς ἐφοίτων, ὄφρʼ ἀπὸ τοίχους
λῦσε κλύδων τρόπιος, τὴν δὲ ψιλὴν φέρε κῦμα,
ἐκ δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἄραξε ποτὶ τρόπιν. αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ
ἐπίτονος βέβλητο, βοὸς ῥινοῖο τετευχώς·
τῷ ῥʼ ἄμφω συνέεργον, ὁμοῦ τρόπιν ἠδὲ καὶ ἱστόν,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι Ζέφυρος μὲν ἐπαύσατο λαίλαπι θύων,
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ Νότος ὦκα, φέρων ἐμῷ ἄλγεα θυμῷ,
ὄφρʼ ἔτι τὴν ὀλοὴν ἀναμετρήσαιμι Χάρυβδιν.
παννύχιος φερόμην, ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ ἀνιόντι
ἦλθον ἐπὶ Σκύλλης σκόπελον δεινήν τε Χάρυβδιν.
ἡ μὲν ἀνερροίβδησε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ ποτὶ μακρὸν ἐρινεὸν ὑψόσʼ ἀερθείς,
τῷ προσφὺς ἐχόμην ὡς νυκτερίς. οὐδέ πῃ εἶχον
οὔτε στηρίξαι ποσὶν ἔμπεδον οὔτʼ ἐπιβῆναι·
ῥίζαι γὰρ ἑκὰς εἶχον, ἀπήωροι δʼ ἔσαν ὄζοι,
μακροί τε μεγάλοι τε, κατεσκίαον δὲ Χάρυβδιν.
νωλεμέως δʼ ἐχόμην, ὄφρʼ ἐξεμέσειεν ὀπίσσω
ἱστὸν καὶ τρόπιν αὖτις· ἐελδομένῳ δέ μοι ἦλθον
ὄψʼ· ἦμος δʼ ἐπὶ δόρπον ἀνὴρ ἀγορῆθεν ἀνέστη
κρίνων νείκεα πολλὰ δικαζομένων αἰζηῶν,
τῆμος δὴ τά γε δοῦρα Χαρύβδιος ἐξεφαάνθη.
ἧκα δʼ ἐγὼ καθύπερθε πόδας καὶ χεῖρε φέρεσθαι,
μέσσῳ δʼ ἐνδούπησα παρὲξ περιμήκεα δοῦρα,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι διήρεσα χερσὶν ἐμῇσι.
Σκύλλην δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔασε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε
εἰσιδέειν· οὐ γάρ κεν ὑπέκφυγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
ἔνθεν δʼ ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην, δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ
νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην πέλασαν θεοί, ἔνθα Καλυψὼ
ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα,
ἥ μʼ ἐφίλει τʼ ἐκόμει τε. τί τοι τάδε μυθολογεύω;
ἤδη γάρ τοι χθιζὸς ἐμυθεόμην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
σοί τε καὶ ἰφθίμῃ ἀλόχῳ· ἐχθρὸν δέ μοί ἐστιν
αὖτις ἀριζήλως εἰρημένα μυθολογεύειν.
καὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν·
τῶν δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τάχα νῆα θοὴν ἀργῆτι κεραυνῷ
τυτθὰ βαλὼν κεάσαιμι μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ.
ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἤκουσα Καλυψοῦς ἠυκόμοιο·
ἡ δʼ ἔφη Ἑρμείαο διακτόρου αὐτὴ ἀκοῦσαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
νείκεον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλον ἐπισταδόν, οὐδέ τι μῆχος
εὑρέμεναι δυνάμεσθα, βόες δʼ ἀποτέθνασαν ἤδη.
τοῖσιν δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοὶ τέραα προύφαινον·
εἷρπον μὲν ῥινοί, κρέα δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσι μεμύκει,
ὀπταλέα τε καὶ ὠμά, βοῶν δʼ ὣς γίγνετο φωνή.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ἔπειτα ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι
δαίνυντʼ Ἠελίοιο βοῶν ἐλάσαντες ἀρίστας·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἕβδομον ἦμαρ ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε Κρονίων,
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἄνεμος μὲν ἐπαύσατο λαίλαπι θύων,
ἡμεῖς δʼ αἶψʼ ἀναβάντες ἐνήκαμεν εὐρέι πόντῳ,
ἱστὸν στησάμενοι ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λεύκʼ ἐρύσαντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὴν νῆσον ἐλείπομεν, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
φαίνετο γαιάων, ἀλλʼ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα,
δὴ τότε κυανέην νεφέλην ἔστησε Κρονίων
νηὸς ὕπερ γλαφυρῆς, ἤχλυσε δὲ πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.
ἡ δʼ ἔθει οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον· αἶψα γὰρ ἦλθε
κεκληγὼς Ζέφυρος μεγάλῃ σὺν λαίλαπι θύων,
ἱστοῦ δὲ προτόνους ἔρρηξʼ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα
ἀμφοτέρους· ἱστὸς δʼ ὀπίσω πέσεν, ὅπλα τε πάντα
εἰς ἄντλον κατέχυνθʼ. ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρυμνῇ ἐνὶ νηὶ
πλῆξε κυβερνήτεω κεφαλήν, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἄραξε
πάντʼ ἄμυδις κεφαλῆς· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς
κάππεσʼ ἀπʼ ἰκριόφιν, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμυδις βρόντησε καὶ ἔμβαλε νηὶ κεραυνόν·
ἡ δʼ ἐλελίχθη πᾶσα Διὸς πληγεῖσα κεραυνῷ,
ἐν δὲ θεείου πλῆτο, πέσον δʼ ἐκ νηὸς ἑταῖροι.
οἱ δὲ κορώνῃσιν ἴκελοι περὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
κύμασιν ἐμφορέοντο, θεὸς δʼ ἀποαίνυτο νόστον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ νηὸς ἐφοίτων, ὄφρʼ ἀπὸ τοίχους
λῦσε κλύδων τρόπιος, τὴν δὲ ψιλὴν φέρε κῦμα,
ἐκ δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἄραξε ποτὶ τρόπιν. αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ
ἐπίτονος βέβλητο, βοὸς ῥινοῖο τετευχώς·
τῷ ῥʼ ἄμφω συνέεργον, ὁμοῦ τρόπιν ἠδὲ καὶ ἱστόν,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι Ζέφυρος μὲν ἐπαύσατο λαίλαπι θύων,
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ Νότος ὦκα, φέρων ἐμῷ ἄλγεα θυμῷ,
ὄφρʼ ἔτι τὴν ὀλοὴν ἀναμετρήσαιμι Χάρυβδιν.
παννύχιος φερόμην, ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ ἀνιόντι
ἦλθον ἐπὶ Σκύλλης σκόπελον δεινήν τε Χάρυβδιν.
ἡ μὲν ἀνερροίβδησε θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ ποτὶ μακρὸν ἐρινεὸν ὑψόσʼ ἀερθείς,
τῷ προσφὺς ἐχόμην ὡς νυκτερίς. οὐδέ πῃ εἶχον
οὔτε στηρίξαι ποσὶν ἔμπεδον οὔτʼ ἐπιβῆναι·
ῥίζαι γὰρ ἑκὰς εἶχον, ἀπήωροι δʼ ἔσαν ὄζοι,
μακροί τε μεγάλοι τε, κατεσκίαον δὲ Χάρυβδιν.
νωλεμέως δʼ ἐχόμην, ὄφρʼ ἐξεμέσειεν ὀπίσσω
ἱστὸν καὶ τρόπιν αὖτις· ἐελδομένῳ δέ μοι ἦλθον
ὄψʼ· ἦμος δʼ ἐπὶ δόρπον ἀνὴρ ἀγορῆθεν ἀνέστη
κρίνων νείκεα πολλὰ δικαζομένων αἰζηῶν,
τῆμος δὴ τά γε δοῦρα Χαρύβδιος ἐξεφαάνθη.
ἧκα δʼ ἐγὼ καθύπερθε πόδας καὶ χεῖρε φέρεσθαι,
μέσσῳ δʼ ἐνδούπησα παρὲξ περιμήκεα δοῦρα,
ἑζόμενος δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι διήρεσα χερσὶν ἐμῇσι.
Σκύλλην δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔασε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε
εἰσιδέειν· οὐ γάρ κεν ὑπέκφυγον αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
ἔνθεν δʼ ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην, δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ
νῆσον ἐς Ὠγυγίην πέλασαν θεοί, ἔνθα Καλυψὼ
ναίει ἐυπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα,
ἥ μʼ ἐφίλει τʼ ἐκόμει τε. τί τοι τάδε μυθολογεύω;
ἤδη γάρ τοι χθιζὸς ἐμυθεόμην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
σοί τε καὶ ἰφθίμῃ ἀλόχῳ· ἐχθρὸν δέ μοί ἐστιν
αὖτις ἀριζήλως εἰρημένα μυθολογεύειν.
Book 13
The Phaeacians land him, asleep, on a misted Ithaca he does not recognise. Athena meets him disguised, delights in his instant lying, reveals the island, and turns the king into a ragged old beggar for his own safety.
So he spoke, and they were all hushed in silence,
held in a spell throughout the shadowy halls.
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
held in a spell throughout the shadowy halls.
Then Alcinous answered him in turn and said:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,
κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"Odysseus, since you have come to my house with its bronze threshold
and its high roof, I do not think you will be driven off course again
on your way home, however much you have suffered.
And to each man of you I give this charge,
all you who in my halls drink the elders’ sparkling wine
continually, and listen to the singer.
Clothing for the stranger lies already in the polished chest,
and richly wrought gold, and all the other
gifts that the counsellors of the Phaeacians have brought here.
But come, let us give him a great tripod and a cauldron
each man; and we ourselves will gather from the people
and be repaid; for it is hard for one man to give freely."
and its high roof, I do not think you will be driven off course again
on your way home, however much you have suffered.
And to each man of you I give this charge,
all you who in my halls drink the elders’ sparkling wine
continually, and listen to the singer.
Clothing for the stranger lies already in the polished chest,
and richly wrought gold, and all the other
gifts that the counsellors of the Phaeacians have brought here.
But come, let us give him a great tripod and a cauldron
each man; and we ourselves will gather from the people
and be repaid; for it is hard for one man to give freely."
ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, ἐπεὶ ἵκευ ἐμὸν ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,
ὑψερεφές, τῷ σʼ οὔ τι παλιμπλαγχθέντα γʼ ὀΐω
ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλὰ πέπονθας.
ὑμέων δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ ἐφιέμενος τάδε εἴρω,
ὅσσοι ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γερούσιον αἴθοπα οἶνον
αἰεὶ πίνετʼ ἐμοῖσιν, ἀκουάζεσθε δʼ ἀοιδοῦ.
εἵματα μὲν δὴ ξείνῳ ἐϋξέστῃ ἐνὶ χηλῷ
κεῖται καὶ χρυσὸς πολυδαίδαλος ἄλλα τε πάντα
δῶρʼ, ὅσα Φαιήκων βουληφόροι ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν τρίποδα μέγαν ἠδὲ λέβητα
ἀνδρακάς· ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ἀγειρόμενοι κατὰ δῆμον
τισόμεθʼ· ἀργαλέον γὰρ ἕνα προικὸς χαρίσασθαι.
ὑψερεφές, τῷ σʼ οὔ τι παλιμπλαγχθέντα γʼ ὀΐω
ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλὰ πέπονθας.
ὑμέων δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ ἐφιέμενος τάδε εἴρω,
ὅσσοι ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γερούσιον αἴθοπα οἶνον
αἰεὶ πίνετʼ ἐμοῖσιν, ἀκουάζεσθε δʼ ἀοιδοῦ.
εἵματα μὲν δὴ ξείνῳ ἐϋξέστῃ ἐνὶ χηλῷ
κεῖται καὶ χρυσὸς πολυδαίδαλος ἄλλα τε πάντα
δῶρʼ, ὅσα Φαιήκων βουληφόροι ἐνθάδʼ ἔνεικαν·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δῶμεν τρίποδα μέγαν ἠδὲ λέβητα
ἀνδρακάς· ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ἀγειρόμενοι κατὰ δῆμον
τισόμεθʼ· ἀργαλέον γὰρ ἕνα προικὸς χαρίσασθαι.
So spoke Alcinous, and the word pleased them.
Then they went home, each man to his rest;
and as soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
they hurried to the ship and brought the bronze that makes men strong.
And the sacred might of Alcinous stowed it all well,
going himself through the ship, under the benches, so that none of the crew
should be hindered as they rowed, when they drove hard at the oars.
Then they went to the house of Alcinous and set about the feast.
And the sacred might of Alcinous sacrificed an ox for them
to Zeus of the dark cloud, son of Cronos, who is lord of all.
They burnt the thigh-pieces and feasted a glorious feast
and took delight; and among them sang the divine singer,
Demodocus, honoured by the people. But Odysseus
kept turning his head towards the blazing sun,
urging it to set; for he was eager to be gone.
As a man longs for his supper, for whom all day long
two wine-dark oxen have dragged the jointed plough through the fallow,
and gladly for him the light of the sun goes down
so that he may go to his supper, and his knees fail as he goes:
so gladly for Odysseus the light of the sun went down.
At once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians,
and making his word plain to Alcinous above all, he said:
"Lord Alcinous, showing forth among all the people,
pour your libations and send me on unharmed; and farewell to you.
For all that my own heart wished has now been accomplished,
a sending home and gifts of friendship; may the gods of heaven
make them prosper for me. And may I find my blameless wife at home
when I return, and my friends unharmed.
And may you who stay here be a joy to your wedded
wives and your children; and may the gods grant you excellence
of every kind, and may no evil come upon the people."
Then they went home, each man to his rest;
and as soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
they hurried to the ship and brought the bronze that makes men strong.
And the sacred might of Alcinous stowed it all well,
going himself through the ship, under the benches, so that none of the crew
should be hindered as they rowed, when they drove hard at the oars.
Then they went to the house of Alcinous and set about the feast.
And the sacred might of Alcinous sacrificed an ox for them
to Zeus of the dark cloud, son of Cronos, who is lord of all.
They burnt the thigh-pieces and feasted a glorious feast
and took delight; and among them sang the divine singer,
Demodocus, honoured by the people. But Odysseus
kept turning his head towards the blazing sun,
urging it to set; for he was eager to be gone.
As a man longs for his supper, for whom all day long
two wine-dark oxen have dragged the jointed plough through the fallow,
and gladly for him the light of the sun goes down
so that he may go to his supper, and his knees fail as he goes:
so gladly for Odysseus the light of the sun went down.
At once he spoke among the oar-loving Phaeacians,
and making his word plain to Alcinous above all, he said:
"Lord Alcinous, showing forth among all the people,
pour your libations and send me on unharmed; and farewell to you.
For all that my own heart wished has now been accomplished,
a sending home and gifts of friendship; may the gods of heaven
make them prosper for me. And may I find my blameless wife at home
when I return, and my friends unharmed.
And may you who stay here be a joy to your wedded
wives and your children; and may the gods grant you excellence
of every kind, and may no evil come upon the people."
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀλκίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιὴνδανε μῦθος.
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
νῆάδʼ ἐπεσσεύοντο, φέρον δʼ εὐήνορα χαλκόν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
αὐτὸς ἰὼν διὰ νηὸς ὑπὸ ζυγά, μή τινʼ ἑταίρων
βλάπτοι ἐλαυνόντων, ὁπότε σπερχοίατʼ ἐρετμοῖς.
οἱ δʼ εἰς Ἀλκινόοιο κίον καὶ δαῖτʼ ἀλέγυνον.
τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο
Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει.
μῆρα δὲ κήαντες δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα
τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδός,
Δημόδοκος, λαοῖσι τετιμένος. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
πολλὰ πρὸς ἠέλιον κεφαλὴν τρέπε παμφανόωντα,
δῦναι ἐπειγόμενος· δὴ γὰρ μενέαινε νέεσθαι.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ δόρποιο λιλαίεται, ᾧ τε πανῆμαρ
νειὸν ἀνʼ ἕλκητον βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον·
ἀσπασίως δʼ ἄρα τῷ κατέδυ φάος ἠελίοιο
δόρπον ἐποίχεσθαι, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατʼ ἰόντι·
ὣς Ὀδυσῆʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο.
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα,
Ἀλκινόῳ δὲ μάλιστα πιφαυσκόμενος φάτο μῦθον·
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
πέμπετέ με σπείσαντες ἀπήμονα, χαίρετε δʼ αὐτοί·
ἤδη γὰρ τετέλεσται ἅ μοι φίλος ἤθελε θυμός,
πομπὴ καὶ φίλα δῶρα, τά μοι θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες
ὄλβια ποιήσειαν· ἀμύμονα δʼ οἴκοι ἄκοιτιν
νοστήσας εὕροιμι σὺν ἀρτεμέεσσι φίλοισιν.
ὑμεῖς δʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἐϋφραίνοιτε γυναῖκας
κουριδίας καὶ τέκνα· θεοὶ δʼ ἀρετὴν ὀπάσειαν
παντοίην, καὶ μή τι κακὸν μεταδήμιον εἴη.
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
νῆάδʼ ἐπεσσεύοντο, φέρον δʼ εὐήνορα χαλκόν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
αὐτὸς ἰὼν διὰ νηὸς ὑπὸ ζυγά, μή τινʼ ἑταίρων
βλάπτοι ἐλαυνόντων, ὁπότε σπερχοίατʼ ἐρετμοῖς.
οἱ δʼ εἰς Ἀλκινόοιο κίον καὶ δαῖτʼ ἀλέγυνον.
τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀλκινόοιο
Ζηνὶ κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίδῃ, ὃς πᾶσιν ἀνάσσει.
μῆρα δὲ κήαντες δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα
τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδός,
Δημόδοκος, λαοῖσι τετιμένος. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
πολλὰ πρὸς ἠέλιον κεφαλὴν τρέπε παμφανόωντα,
δῦναι ἐπειγόμενος· δὴ γὰρ μενέαινε νέεσθαι.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ δόρποιο λιλαίεται, ᾧ τε πανῆμαρ
νειὸν ἀνʼ ἕλκητον βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον·
ἀσπασίως δʼ ἄρα τῷ κατέδυ φάος ἠελίοιο
δόρπον ἐποίχεσθαι, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατʼ ἰόντι·
ὣς Ὀδυσῆʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο.
αἶψα δὲ Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισι μετηύδα,
Ἀλκινόῳ δὲ μάλιστα πιφαυσκόμενος φάτο μῦθον·
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,
πέμπετέ με σπείσαντες ἀπήμονα, χαίρετε δʼ αὐτοί·
ἤδη γὰρ τετέλεσται ἅ μοι φίλος ἤθελε θυμός,
πομπὴ καὶ φίλα δῶρα, τά μοι θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες
ὄλβια ποιήσειαν· ἀμύμονα δʼ οἴκοι ἄκοιτιν
νοστήσας εὕροιμι σὺν ἀρτεμέεσσι φίλοισιν.
ὑμεῖς δʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἐϋφραίνοιτε γυναῖκας
κουριδίας καὶ τέκνα· θεοὶ δʼ ἀρετὴν ὀπάσειαν
παντοίην, καὶ μή τι κακὸν μεταδήμιον εἴη.
So he spoke, and they all praised him and urged
that the stranger be sent on his way, since he had spoken rightly.
And then the might of Alcinous spoke to the herald:
that the stranger be sent on his way, since he had spoken rightly.
And then the might of Alcinous spoke to the herald:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ ἐκέλευον
πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.
καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·
πεμπέμεναι τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπεν.
καὶ τότε κήρυκα προσέφη μένος Ἀλκινόοιο·
"Pontonous, mix the bowl and serve out the wine
to all through the hall, so that when we have prayed to father Zeus
we may send the stranger to his own native land."
to all through the hall, so that when we have prayed to father Zeus
we may send the stranger to his own native land."
Ποντόνοε, κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος μέθυ νεῖμον
πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ὄφρʼ εὐξάμενοι Διὶ πατρὶ
τὸν ξεῖνον πέμπωμεν ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
πᾶσιν ἀνὰ μέγαρον, ὄφρʼ εὐξάμενοι Διὶ πατρὶ
τὸν ξεῖνον πέμπωμεν ἑὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
So he spoke, and Pontonous mixed the honey-hearted wine
and served it to them all, standing beside each; and they poured libations
to the blessed gods who hold the wide heaven,
from where they sat. And noble Odysseus rose,
and put the two-handled cup into Arete’s hand,
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
and served it to them all, standing beside each; and they poured libations
to the blessed gods who hold the wide heaven,
from where they sat. And noble Odysseus rose,
and put the two-handled cup into Arete’s hand,
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, Ποντόνοος δὲ μελίφρονα οἶνον ἐκίρνα,
νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσιν
ἔσπεισαν μακάρεσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἑδρέων. ἀνὰ δʼ ἵστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
Ἀρήτῃ δʼ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσιν
ἔσπεισαν μακάρεσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἑδρέων. ἀνὰ δʼ ἵστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
Ἀρήτῃ δʼ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Farewell to you, queen, and may it last until old age
comes, and death, which fall to the lot of men.
As for me, I am going; but you take joy in this house,
in your children and your people and in Alcinous the king."
comes, and death, which fall to the lot of men.
As for me, I am going; but you take joy in this house,
in your children and your people and in Alcinous the king."
χαῖρέ μοι, ὦ βασίλεια, διαμπερές, εἰς ὅ κε γῆρας
ἔλθῃ καὶ θάνατος, τά τʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ νέομαι· σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ Ἀλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.
ἔλθῃ καὶ θάνατος, τά τʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ νέομαι· σὺ δὲ τέρπεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
παισί τε καὶ λαοῖσι καὶ Ἀλκινόῳ βασιλῆϊ.
So saying, noble Odysseus stepped over the threshold,
and the might of Alcinous sent a herald with him
to lead him to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
And Arete sent serving-women with him,
one holding a well-washed cloak and a tunic,
and another she sent along to carry the strong chest,
and a third carried bread and red wine.
But when they had come down to the ship and the sea,
at once the noble escorts took these things
and stowed them in the hollow ship, all the drink and the food;
and for Odysseus they spread a rug and a linen sheet
on the deck of the hollow ship, so that he might sleep unbroken,
in the stern; and he himself went aboard and lay down
in silence; and they sat down each at his oar-lock
in order, and loosed the cable from the pierced stone.
As soon as they leaned back and tossed up the sea with their blades,
sweet sleep fell upon his eyelids,
unbroken and most pleasant, most like to death.
And as on a plain four stallions yoked together,
all starting forward at once under the strokes of the lash,
rise high and swiftly finish their course,
and the might of Alcinous sent a herald with him
to lead him to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
And Arete sent serving-women with him,
one holding a well-washed cloak and a tunic,
and another she sent along to carry the strong chest,
and a third carried bread and red wine.
But when they had come down to the ship and the sea,
at once the noble escorts took these things
and stowed them in the hollow ship, all the drink and the food;
and for Odysseus they spread a rug and a linen sheet
on the deck of the hollow ship, so that he might sleep unbroken,
in the stern; and he himself went aboard and lay down
in silence; and they sat down each at his oar-lock
in order, and loosed the cable from the pierced stone.
As soon as they leaned back and tossed up the sea with their blades,
sweet sleep fell upon his eyelids,
unbroken and most pleasant, most like to death.
And as on a plain four stallions yoked together,
all starting forward at once under the strokes of the lash,
rise high and swiftly finish their course,
ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἐβήσετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
τῷ δʼ ἅμα κήρυκα προΐει μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
ἡγεῖσθαι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης·
Ἀρήτη δʼ ἄρα οἱ δμῳὰς ἅμʼ ἔπεμπε γυναῖκας,
τὴν μὲν φᾶρος ἔχουσαν ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
τὴν δʼ ἑτέρην χηλὸν πυκινὴν ἅμʼ ὄπασσε κομίζειν·
ἡ δʼ ἄλλη σῖτόν τʼ ἔφερεν καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
αἶψα τά γʼ ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ πομπῆες ἀγαυοὶ
δεξάμενοι κατέθεντο, πόσιν καὶ βρῶσιν ἅπασαν·
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ στόρεσαν ῥῆγός τε λίνον τε
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν γλαφυρῆς, ἵνα νήγρετον εὕδοι,
πρυμνῆς· ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐβήσετο καὶ κατέλεκτο
σιγῇ· τοὶ δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ κληῗσιν ἕκαστοι
κόσμῳ, πεῖσμα δʼ ἔλυσαν ἀπὸ τρητοῖο λίθοιο.
εὖθʼ οἱ ἀνακλινθέντες ἀνερρίπτουν ἅλα πηδῷ,
καὶ τῷ νήδυμος ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτε,
νήγρετος, ἥδιστος, θανάτῳ ἄγχιστα ἐοικώς.
ἡ δʼ, ὥς τʼ ἐν πεδίῳ τετράοροι ἄρσενες ἵπποι,
πάντες ἅμʼ ὁρμηθέντες ὑπὸ πληγῇσιν ἱμάσθλης,
ὑψόσʼ ἀειρόμενοι ῥίμφα πρήσσουσι κέλευθον,
τῷ δʼ ἅμα κήρυκα προΐει μένος Ἀλκινόοιο,
ἡγεῖσθαι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης·
Ἀρήτη δʼ ἄρα οἱ δμῳὰς ἅμʼ ἔπεμπε γυναῖκας,
τὴν μὲν φᾶρος ἔχουσαν ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
τὴν δʼ ἑτέρην χηλὸν πυκινὴν ἅμʼ ὄπασσε κομίζειν·
ἡ δʼ ἄλλη σῖτόν τʼ ἔφερεν καὶ οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
αἶψα τά γʼ ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ πομπῆες ἀγαυοὶ
δεξάμενοι κατέθεντο, πόσιν καὶ βρῶσιν ἅπασαν·
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ στόρεσαν ῥῆγός τε λίνον τε
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν γλαφυρῆς, ἵνα νήγρετον εὕδοι,
πρυμνῆς· ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐβήσετο καὶ κατέλεκτο
σιγῇ· τοὶ δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ κληῗσιν ἕκαστοι
κόσμῳ, πεῖσμα δʼ ἔλυσαν ἀπὸ τρητοῖο λίθοιο.
εὖθʼ οἱ ἀνακλινθέντες ἀνερρίπτουν ἅλα πηδῷ,
καὶ τῷ νήδυμος ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτε,
νήγρετος, ἥδιστος, θανάτῳ ἄγχιστα ἐοικώς.
ἡ δʼ, ὥς τʼ ἐν πεδίῳ τετράοροι ἄρσενες ἵπποι,
πάντες ἅμʼ ὁρμηθέντες ὑπὸ πληγῇσιν ἱμάσθλης,
ὑψόσʼ ἀειρόμενοι ῥίμφα πρήσσουσι κέλευθον,
so the stern of that ship rose up, and behind her the great
dark wave of the loud-roaring sea seethed.
She ran on steadily and sure; not even a hawk,
the falcon, the swiftest of winged things, could have kept pace with her.
So she ran swiftly and cut through the waves of the sea,
carrying a man whose counsels were like the gods’,
who before had suffered very many pains in his heart,
passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves,
but now slept without stirring, forgetful of all he had endured.
When that brightest star rose, which most of all
comes to announce the light of early-born Dawn,
then the seagoing ship drew near to the island.
There is a harbour of Phorcys, the old man of the sea,
in the land of Ithaca; and in it two jutting
headlands, sheer, crouching towards the harbour,
which keep off the great wave of the hard-blowing winds
outside; and within, the well-benched ships lie
without a mooring, once they have reached the anchorage.
And at the head of the harbour is a long-leafed olive,
and near it a lovely misty cave,
sacred to the nymphs who are called Naiads.
In it are mixing-bowls and jars
of stone; and there the bees store their honey.
And in it are long looms of stone, where the nymphs
weave sea-purple robes, a wonder to see;
and there are ever-flowing waters. It has two doors:
the one towards the North Wind is the way down for men,
but the one towards the South is for the gods; and by that way
men do not enter, for it is the road of the immortals.
There they rowed in, knowing the place beforehand; and the ship
ran up onto the shore for half her length,
driving hard; such was the force of the rowers’ hands.
And they stepped out of the well-benched ship onto the land
and first lifted Odysseus out of the hollow ship,
with the linen sheet and the shining rug and all,
and laid him down on the sand, overcome with sleep,
and carried out the goods that the noble Phaeacians
had given him as he went home, through great-hearted Athena.
These they set all together beside the trunk of the olive,
off the road, in case some passing traveller
should come upon them and rob him before Odysseus woke;
and then they went back home again. But the earth-shaker
did not forget the threats with which he had first
threatened godlike Odysseus, and he asked the will of Zeus:
"Father Zeus, I shall no longer be held in honour
among the immortal gods, when mortals do not honour me at all,
the Phaeacians, who are of my own stock.
For I said just now that Odysseus, after suffering many evils,
would come home; I never took his homecoming from him
altogether, since you first promised it and bowed your head.
But these men carried him asleep in their swift ship over the sea
and set him down in Ithaca, and gave him gifts past telling,
bronze and gold in plenty and woven clothing,
more than Odysseus would ever have won out of Troy,
if he had come home unharmed with his share of the spoil."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
dark wave of the loud-roaring sea seethed.
She ran on steadily and sure; not even a hawk,
the falcon, the swiftest of winged things, could have kept pace with her.
So she ran swiftly and cut through the waves of the sea,
carrying a man whose counsels were like the gods’,
who before had suffered very many pains in his heart,
passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves,
but now slept without stirring, forgetful of all he had endured.
When that brightest star rose, which most of all
comes to announce the light of early-born Dawn,
then the seagoing ship drew near to the island.
There is a harbour of Phorcys, the old man of the sea,
in the land of Ithaca; and in it two jutting
headlands, sheer, crouching towards the harbour,
which keep off the great wave of the hard-blowing winds
outside; and within, the well-benched ships lie
without a mooring, once they have reached the anchorage.
And at the head of the harbour is a long-leafed olive,
and near it a lovely misty cave,
sacred to the nymphs who are called Naiads.
In it are mixing-bowls and jars
of stone; and there the bees store their honey.
And in it are long looms of stone, where the nymphs
weave sea-purple robes, a wonder to see;
and there are ever-flowing waters. It has two doors:
the one towards the North Wind is the way down for men,
but the one towards the South is for the gods; and by that way
men do not enter, for it is the road of the immortals.
There they rowed in, knowing the place beforehand; and the ship
ran up onto the shore for half her length,
driving hard; such was the force of the rowers’ hands.
And they stepped out of the well-benched ship onto the land
and first lifted Odysseus out of the hollow ship,
with the linen sheet and the shining rug and all,
and laid him down on the sand, overcome with sleep,
and carried out the goods that the noble Phaeacians
had given him as he went home, through great-hearted Athena.
These they set all together beside the trunk of the olive,
off the road, in case some passing traveller
should come upon them and rob him before Odysseus woke;
and then they went back home again. But the earth-shaker
did not forget the threats with which he had first
threatened godlike Odysseus, and he asked the will of Zeus:
"Father Zeus, I shall no longer be held in honour
among the immortal gods, when mortals do not honour me at all,
the Phaeacians, who are of my own stock.
For I said just now that Odysseus, after suffering many evils,
would come home; I never took his homecoming from him
altogether, since you first promised it and bowed your head.
But these men carried him asleep in their swift ship over the sea
and set him down in Ithaca, and gave him gifts past telling,
bronze and gold in plenty and woven clothing,
more than Odysseus would ever have won out of Troy,
if he had come home unharmed with his share of the spoil."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
ὣς ἄρα τῆς πρύμνη μὲν ἀείρετο, κῦμα δʼ ὄπισθε
πορφύρεον μέγα θῦε πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης.
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἀσφαλέως θέεν ἔμπεδον· οὐδέ κεν ἴρηξ
κίρκος ὁμαρτήσειεν, ἐλαφρότατος πετεηνῶν.
ὣς ἡ ῥίμφα θέουσα θαλάσσης κύματʼ ἔταμνεν,
ἄνδρα φέρουσα θεοῖς ἐναλίγκια μήδεʼ ἔχοντα·
ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθʼ ἄλγεα ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων,
δὴ τότε γʼ ἀτρέμας εὗδε, λελασμένος ὅσσʼ ἐπεπόνθει.
εὖτʼ ἀστὴρ ὑπερέσχε φαάντατος, ὅς τε μάλιστα
ἔρχεται ἀγγέλλων φάος Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης,
τῆμος δὴ νήσῳ προσεπίλνατο ποντοπόρος νηῦς.
Φόρκυνος δέ τίς ἐστι λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος,
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης· δύο δὲ προβλῆτες ἐν αὐτῷ
ἀκταὶ ἀπορρῶγες, λιμένος ποτιπεπτηυῖαι,
αἵ τʼ ἀνέμων σκεπόωσι δυσαήων μέγα κῦμα
ἔκτοθεν· ἔντοσθεν δέ τʼ ἄνευ δεσμοῖο μένουσι
νῆες ἐΰσσελμοι, ὅτʼ ἂν ὅρμου μέτρον ἵκωνται.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη,
ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές,
ἱρὸν νυμφάων αἱ νηϊάδες καλέονται.
ἐν δὲ κρητῆρές τε καὶ ἀμφιφορῆες ἔασιν
λάϊνοι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα τιθαιβώσσουσι μέλισσαι.
ἐν δʼ ἱστοὶ λίθεοι περιμήκεες, ἔνθα τε νύμφαι
φάρεʼ ὑφαίνουσιν ἁλιπόρφυρα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι·
ἐν δʼ ὕδατʼ ἀενάοντα. δύω δέ τέ οἱ θύραι εἰσίν,
αἱ μὲν πρὸς Βορέαο καταιβαταὶ ἀνθρώποισιν,
αἱ δʼ αὖ πρὸς Νότου εἰσὶ θεώτεραι· οὐδέ τι κείνῃ
ἄνδρες ἐσέρχονται, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτων ὁδός ἐστιν.
ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ εἰσέλασαν, πρὶν εἰδότες· ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἠπείρῳ ἐπέκελσεν, ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ ἥμισυ πάσης,
σπερχομένη· τοῖον γὰρ ἐπείγετο χέρσʼ ἐρετάων·
οἱ δʼ ἐκ νηὸς βάντες ἐϋζύγου ἤπειρόνδε
πρῶτον Ὀδυσσῆα γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἄειραν
αὐτῷ σύν τε λίνῳ καὶ ῥήγεϊ σιγαλόεντι,
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ ψαμάθῳ ἔθεσαν δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ,
ἐκ δὲ κτήματʼ ἄειραν, ἅ οἱ Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶ
ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην.
καὶ τὰ μὲν οὖν παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης ἀθρόα θῆκαν
ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, μή πώς τις ὁδιτάων ἀνθρώπων,
πρίν γʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἔγρεσθαι, ἐπελθὼν δηλήσαιτο·
αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ οἶκόνδε πάλιν κίον. οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων
λήθετʼ ἀπειλάων, τὰς ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ
πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησε, Διὸς δʼ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·
Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὐκέτʼ ἐγώ γε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
τιμήεις ἔσομαι, ὅτε με βροτοὶ οὔ τι τίουσιν,
Φαίηκες, τοί πέρ τοι ἐμῆς ἔξ εἰσι γενέθλης.
καὶ γὰρ νῦν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐφάμην κακὰ πολλὰ παθόντα
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· νόστον δέ οἱ οὔ ποτʼ ἀπηύρων
πάγχυ, ἐπεὶ σὺ πρῶτον ὑπέσχεο καὶ κατένευσας.
οἱ δʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες
κάτθεσαν εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, ἔδοσαν δέ οἱ ἄσπετα δῶρα,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν,
πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληΐδος αἶσαν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς·
πορφύρεον μέγα θῦε πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης.
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ἀσφαλέως θέεν ἔμπεδον· οὐδέ κεν ἴρηξ
κίρκος ὁμαρτήσειεν, ἐλαφρότατος πετεηνῶν.
ὣς ἡ ῥίμφα θέουσα θαλάσσης κύματʼ ἔταμνεν,
ἄνδρα φέρουσα θεοῖς ἐναλίγκια μήδεʼ ἔχοντα·
ὃς πρὶν μὲν μάλα πολλὰ πάθʼ ἄλγεα ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων,
δὴ τότε γʼ ἀτρέμας εὗδε, λελασμένος ὅσσʼ ἐπεπόνθει.
εὖτʼ ἀστὴρ ὑπερέσχε φαάντατος, ὅς τε μάλιστα
ἔρχεται ἀγγέλλων φάος Ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης,
τῆμος δὴ νήσῳ προσεπίλνατο ποντοπόρος νηῦς.
Φόρκυνος δέ τίς ἐστι λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος,
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης· δύο δὲ προβλῆτες ἐν αὐτῷ
ἀκταὶ ἀπορρῶγες, λιμένος ποτιπεπτηυῖαι,
αἵ τʼ ἀνέμων σκεπόωσι δυσαήων μέγα κῦμα
ἔκτοθεν· ἔντοσθεν δέ τʼ ἄνευ δεσμοῖο μένουσι
νῆες ἐΰσσελμοι, ὅτʼ ἂν ὅρμου μέτρον ἵκωνται.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη,
ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές,
ἱρὸν νυμφάων αἱ νηϊάδες καλέονται.
ἐν δὲ κρητῆρές τε καὶ ἀμφιφορῆες ἔασιν
λάϊνοι· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα τιθαιβώσσουσι μέλισσαι.
ἐν δʼ ἱστοὶ λίθεοι περιμήκεες, ἔνθα τε νύμφαι
φάρεʼ ὑφαίνουσιν ἁλιπόρφυρα, θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι·
ἐν δʼ ὕδατʼ ἀενάοντα. δύω δέ τέ οἱ θύραι εἰσίν,
αἱ μὲν πρὸς Βορέαο καταιβαταὶ ἀνθρώποισιν,
αἱ δʼ αὖ πρὸς Νότου εἰσὶ θεώτεραι· οὐδέ τι κείνῃ
ἄνδρες ἐσέρχονται, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτων ὁδός ἐστιν.
ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ εἰσέλασαν, πρὶν εἰδότες· ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἠπείρῳ ἐπέκελσεν, ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ ἥμισυ πάσης,
σπερχομένη· τοῖον γὰρ ἐπείγετο χέρσʼ ἐρετάων·
οἱ δʼ ἐκ νηὸς βάντες ἐϋζύγου ἤπειρόνδε
πρῶτον Ὀδυσσῆα γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἄειραν
αὐτῷ σύν τε λίνῳ καὶ ῥήγεϊ σιγαλόεντι,
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ ψαμάθῳ ἔθεσαν δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ,
ἐκ δὲ κτήματʼ ἄειραν, ἅ οἱ Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶ
ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι διὰ μεγάθυμον Ἀθήνην.
καὶ τὰ μὲν οὖν παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης ἀθρόα θῆκαν
ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, μή πώς τις ὁδιτάων ἀνθρώπων,
πρίν γʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἔγρεσθαι, ἐπελθὼν δηλήσαιτο·
αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ οἶκόνδε πάλιν κίον. οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων
λήθετʼ ἀπειλάων, τὰς ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ
πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησε, Διὸς δʼ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·
Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὐκέτʼ ἐγώ γε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι
τιμήεις ἔσομαι, ὅτε με βροτοὶ οὔ τι τίουσιν,
Φαίηκες, τοί πέρ τοι ἐμῆς ἔξ εἰσι γενέθλης.
καὶ γὰρ νῦν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐφάμην κακὰ πολλὰ παθόντα
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· νόστον δέ οἱ οὔ ποτʼ ἀπηύρων
πάγχυ, ἐπεὶ σὺ πρῶτον ὑπέσχεο καὶ κατένευσας.
οἱ δʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες
κάτθεσαν εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, ἔδοσαν δέ οἱ ἄσπετα δῶρα,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν,
πόλλʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν οὐδέ ποτε Τροίης ἐξήρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἴ περ ἀπήμων ἦλθε, λαχὼν ἀπὸ ληΐδος αἶσαν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς·
"Ah me, earth-shaker of wide strength, what a thing to say!
The gods do not dishonour you; it would be a hard thing
to assail with dishonour the eldest and the best.
But if any man, yielding to his own violence and strength,
does not honour you, vengeance is always yours afterwards.
Do as you wish, and as is dear to your heart."
Then Poseidon the earth-shaker answered him:
The gods do not dishonour you; it would be a hard thing
to assail with dishonour the eldest and the best.
But if any man, yielding to his own violence and strength,
does not honour you, vengeance is always yours afterwards.
Do as you wish, and as is dear to your heart."
Then Poseidon the earth-shaker answered him:
ὢ πόποι, ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες.
οὔ τί σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι θεοί· χαλεπὸν δέ κεν εἴη
πρεσβύτατον καὶ ἄριστον ἀτιμίῃσιν ἰάλλειν.
ἀνδρῶν δʼ εἴ πέρ τίς σε βίῃ καὶ κάρτεϊ εἴκων
οὔ τι τίει. σοὶ δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐξοπίσω τίσις αἰεί.
ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
οὔ τί σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι θεοί· χαλεπὸν δέ κεν εἴη
πρεσβύτατον καὶ ἄριστον ἀτιμίῃσιν ἰάλλειν.
ἀνδρῶν δʼ εἴ πέρ τίς σε βίῃ καὶ κάρτεϊ εἴκων
οὔ τι τίει. σοὶ δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐξοπίσω τίσις αἰεί.
ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
"I would act at once, god of the dark cloud, as you say;
but I always shrink from your anger and avoid it.
Now I wish to shatter the beautiful ship of the Phaeacians
as she comes back from her escort, on the misty sea,
so that they may hold back at last and cease from escorting
men; and to hide their city with a great mountain."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
but I always shrink from your anger and avoid it.
Now I wish to shatter the beautiful ship of the Phaeacians
as she comes back from her escort, on the misty sea,
so that they may hold back at last and cease from escorting
men; and to hide their city with a great mountain."
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered him and said:
αἶψά κʼ ἐγὼν ἔρξαιμι, κελαινεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·
ἀλλὰ σὸν αἰεὶ θυμὸν ὀπίζομαι ἠδʼ ἀλεείνω.
νῦν αὖ Φαιήκων ἐθέλω περικαλλέα νῆα,
ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳ
ῥαῖσαι, ἵνʼ ἤδη σχῶνται, ἀπολλήξωσι δὲ πομπῆς
ἀνθρώπων, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
ἀλλὰ σὸν αἰεὶ θυμὸν ὀπίζομαι ἠδʼ ἀλεείνω.
νῦν αὖ Φαιήκων ἐθέλω περικαλλέα νῆα,
ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳ
ῥαῖσαι, ἵνʼ ἤδη σχῶνται, ἀπολλήξωσι δὲ πομπῆς
ἀνθρώπων, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
"My friend, this is what seems best to my own heart:
when all the people from the city catch sight of her
being driven in, then make her a stone near the land,
like a swift ship, so that all men may wonder;
and hide their city with a great mountain."
But when Poseidon the earth-shaker heard this,
he went to Scheria, where the Phaeacians live.
There he waited; and the seagoing ship came very near,
driving swiftly; and the earth-shaker came close to her
and turned her to stone and rooted her below,
striking her with the flat of his hand; and he went away.
And they spoke winged words to one another,
the long-oared Phaeacians, men famed for ships.
And thus one would say, looking at his neighbour:
"Ah me, who has bound our swift ship fast in the sea
as she drove home? Just now she was all in sight."
when all the people from the city catch sight of her
being driven in, then make her a stone near the land,
like a swift ship, so that all men may wonder;
and hide their city with a great mountain."
But when Poseidon the earth-shaker heard this,
he went to Scheria, where the Phaeacians live.
There he waited; and the seagoing ship came very near,
driving swiftly; and the earth-shaker came close to her
and turned her to stone and rooted her below,
striking her with the flat of his hand; and he went away.
And they spoke winged words to one another,
the long-oared Phaeacians, men famed for ships.
And thus one would say, looking at his neighbour:
"Ah me, who has bound our swift ship fast in the sea
as she drove home? Just now she was all in sight."
ὢ πέπον, ὡς μὲν ἐμῷ θυμῷ δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα,
ὁππότε κεν δὴ πάντες ἐλαυνομένην προΐδωνται
λαοὶ ἀπὸ πτόλιος, θεῖναι λίθον ἐγγύθι γαίης
νηῒ θοῇ ἴκελον, ἵνα θαυμάζωσιν ἅπαντες
ἄνθρωποι, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς Σχερίην, ὅθι Φαίηκες γεγάασιν.
ἔνθʼ ἔμενʼ· ἡ δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθε ποντοπόρος νηῦς
ῥίμφα διωκομένη· τῆς δὲ σχεδὸν ἦλθʼ ἐνοσίχθων,
ὅς μιν λᾶαν ἔθηκε καὶ ἐρρίζωσεν ἔνερθε
χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ ἐλάσας· ὁ δὲ νόσφι βεβήκει.
οἱ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον
Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
ὤ μοι, τίς δὴ νῆα θοὴν ἐπέδησʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
οἴκαδʼ ἐλαυνομένην; καὶ δὴ προὐφαίνετο πᾶσα.
ὁππότε κεν δὴ πάντες ἐλαυνομένην προΐδωνται
λαοὶ ἀπὸ πτόλιος, θεῖναι λίθον ἐγγύθι γαίης
νηῒ θοῇ ἴκελον, ἵνα θαυμάζωσιν ἅπαντες
ἄνθρωποι, μέγα δέ σφιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς Σχερίην, ὅθι Φαίηκες γεγάασιν.
ἔνθʼ ἔμενʼ· ἡ δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθε ποντοπόρος νηῦς
ῥίμφα διωκομένη· τῆς δὲ σχεδὸν ἦλθʼ ἐνοσίχθων,
ὅς μιν λᾶαν ἔθηκε καὶ ἐρρίζωσεν ἔνερθε
χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ ἐλάσας· ὁ δὲ νόσφι βεβήκει.
οἱ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον
Φαίηκες δολιχήρετμοι, ναυσίκλυτοι ἄνδρες.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
ὤ μοι, τίς δὴ νῆα θοὴν ἐπέδησʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
οἴκαδʼ ἐλαυνομένην; καὶ δὴ προὐφαίνετο πᾶσα.
So one would say; but they did not know how it had been done.
And Alcinous spoke and said among them:
And Alcinous spoke and said among them:
ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε· τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
"Ah me, the old prophecies have come upon me indeed,
my father’s, who said that Poseidon was angry
with us, because we give safe escort to all men.
He said that one day a beautiful ship of Phaeacian men,
coming back from an escort, on the misty sea,
would be shattered, and a great mountain would hide our city.
So the old man spoke; and now all this is being fulfilled.
But come, let us all be persuaded as I tell you:
cease from escorting mortals, when anyone comes
to our city; and to Poseidon let us sacrifice
twelve chosen bulls, in the hope that he may take pity
and not hide our city with a towering mountain."
my father’s, who said that Poseidon was angry
with us, because we give safe escort to all men.
He said that one day a beautiful ship of Phaeacian men,
coming back from an escort, on the misty sea,
would be shattered, and a great mountain would hide our city.
So the old man spoke; and now all this is being fulfilled.
But come, let us all be persuaded as I tell you:
cease from escorting mortals, when anyone comes
to our city; and to Poseidon let us sacrifice
twelve chosen bulls, in the hope that he may take pity
and not hide our city with a towering mountain."
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δή με παλαίφατα θέσφαθʼ ἱκάνει
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ, ὃς ἔφασκε Ποσειδάωνʼ ἀγάσασθαι
ἡμῖν, οὕνεκα πομποὶ ἀπήμονές εἰμεν ἁπάντων.
φῆ ποτὲ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέα, νῆα,
ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳ
ῥαισέμεναι, μέγα δʼ ἧμιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψειν.
ὣς ἀγόρευʼ ὁ γέρων· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες·
πομπῆς μὲν παύσασθε βροτῶν, ὅτε κέν τις ἵκηται
ἡμέτερον προτὶ ἄστυ· Ποσειδάωνι δὲ ταύρους
δώδεκα κεκριμένους ἱερεύσομεν, αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ,
μηδʼ ἡμῖν περίμηκες ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψῃ.
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ, ὃς ἔφασκε Ποσειδάωνʼ ἀγάσασθαι
ἡμῖν, οὕνεκα πομποὶ ἀπήμονές εἰμεν ἁπάντων.
φῆ ποτὲ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέα, νῆα,
ἐκ πομπῆς ἀνιοῦσαν, ἐν ἠεροειδέϊ πόντῳ
ῥαισέμεναι, μέγα δʼ ἧμιν ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψειν.
ὣς ἀγόρευʼ ὁ γέρων· τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες·
πομπῆς μὲν παύσασθε βροτῶν, ὅτε κέν τις ἵκηται
ἡμέτερον προτὶ ἄστυ· Ποσειδάωνι δὲ ταύρους
δώδεκα κεκριμένους ἱερεύσομεν, αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ,
μηδʼ ἡμῖν περίμηκες ὄρος πόλει ἀμφικαλύψῃ.
So he spoke, and they were afraid, and made the bulls ready.
So they prayed to the lord Poseidon,
the leaders and rulers of the people of the Phaeacians,
standing about the altar. And noble Odysseus woke
from sleep in his native land, and did not know it,
for he had long been away; for the goddess had poured a mist about him,
Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, so that she might make him
unrecognisable and tell him each thing,
and that his wife and his townsmen and his friends should not know him
before the suitors had paid for all their transgression.
For that reason everything looked strange to their lord,
the long unbroken paths and the harbours where a ship may lie
and the sheer rocks and the flourishing trees.
He sprang up and stood and looked at his native land;
and then he groaned and struck both his thighs
with the flat of his hands, and spoke in lamentation:
So they prayed to the lord Poseidon,
the leaders and rulers of the people of the Phaeacians,
standing about the altar. And noble Odysseus woke
from sleep in his native land, and did not know it,
for he had long been away; for the goddess had poured a mist about him,
Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, so that she might make him
unrecognisable and tell him each thing,
and that his wife and his townsmen and his friends should not know him
before the suitors had paid for all their transgression.
For that reason everything looked strange to their lord,
the long unbroken paths and the harbours where a ship may lie
and the sheer rocks and the flourishing trees.
He sprang up and stood and looked at his native land;
and then he groaned and struck both his thighs
with the flat of his hands, and spoke in lamentation:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἔδεισαν, ἑτοιμάσσαντο δὲ ταύρους.
ὣς οἱ μέν ῥʼ εὔχοντο Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι
δήμου Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
ἑσταότες περὶ βωμόν. ὁ δʼ ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὕδων ἐν γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, οὐδέ μιν ἔγνω,
ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών· περὶ γὰρ θεὸς ἠέρα χεῦε
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διός, ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸν
ἄγνωστον τεύξειεν ἕκαστά τε μυθήσαιτο,
μή μιν πρὶν ἄλοχος γνοίη ἀστοί τε φίλοι τε,
πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτῖσαι.
τοὔνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἀλλοειδέα φαινέσκετο πάντα ἄνακτι,
ἀτραπιτοί τε διηνεκέες λιμένες τε πάνορμοι
πέτραι τʼ ἠλίβατοι καὶ δένδρεα τηλεθόωντα.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξας καί ῥʼ εἴσιδε πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρ ἔπειτα καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ
χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·
ὣς οἱ μέν ῥʼ εὔχοντο Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι
δήμου Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
ἑσταότες περὶ βωμόν. ὁ δʼ ἔγρετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὕδων ἐν γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, οὐδέ μιν ἔγνω,
ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών· περὶ γὰρ θεὸς ἠέρα χεῦε
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διός, ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸν
ἄγνωστον τεύξειεν ἕκαστά τε μυθήσαιτο,
μή μιν πρὶν ἄλοχος γνοίη ἀστοί τε φίλοι τε,
πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτῖσαι.
τοὔνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἀλλοειδέα φαινέσκετο πάντα ἄνακτι,
ἀτραπιτοί τε διηνεκέες λιμένες τε πάνορμοι
πέτραι τʼ ἠλίβατοι καὶ δένδρεα τηλεθόωντα.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξας καί ῥʼ εἴσιδε πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρ ἔπειτα καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ
χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·
"Ah, wretched that I am, to whose land of mortals have I come now?
ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τέων αὖτε βροτῶν ἐς γαῖαν ἱκάνω;
Are they violent and savage and without justice,
or friendly to strangers, with a god-fearing mind?
Where am I to take all these goods? Where am I myself
to wander? I wish I had stayed there among the Phaeacians;
then I might have come to some other king
of great might, who would have befriended me and sent me home.
As it is, I do not know where to put these things, and I will not leave them
here, in case they become spoil for others.
Ah me, so they were not altogether wise or just,
the leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians,
who have brought me to a strange land. They said indeed
that they would bring me to clear-seen Ithaca, and they have not done it.
May Zeus of suppliants take vengeance on them, who watches over
all other men too, and punishes whoever does wrong.
But come, let me count my goods and see them,
in case they have gone off with some of them in their hollow ship."
or friendly to strangers, with a god-fearing mind?
Where am I to take all these goods? Where am I myself
to wander? I wish I had stayed there among the Phaeacians;
then I might have come to some other king
of great might, who would have befriended me and sent me home.
As it is, I do not know where to put these things, and I will not leave them
here, in case they become spoil for others.
Ah me, so they were not altogether wise or just,
the leaders and rulers of the Phaeacians,
who have brought me to a strange land. They said indeed
that they would bring me to clear-seen Ithaca, and they have not done it.
May Zeus of suppliants take vengeance on them, who watches over
all other men too, and punishes whoever does wrong.
But come, let me count my goods and see them,
in case they have gone off with some of them in their hollow ship."
ἦ ῥʼ οἵ γʼ ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι οὐδὲ δίκαιοι,
ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής;
πῇ δὴ χρήματα πολλὰ φέρω τάδε; πῇ τε καὶ αὐτὸς
πλάζομαι; αἴθʼ ὄφελον μεῖναι παρὰ Φαιήκεσσιν
αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ δέ κεν ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων
ἐξικόμην, ὅς κέν μʼ ἐφίλει καὶ ἔπεμπε νέεσθαι.
νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πῃ θέσθαι ἐπίσταμαι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοῦ
καλλείψω, μή πώς μοι ἕλωρ ἄλλοισι γένηται.
ὢ πόποι, οὐκ ἄρα πάντα νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι
ἦσαν Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
οἵ μʼ εἰς ἄλλην γαῖαν ἀπήγαγον, ἦ τέ μʼ ἔφαντο
ἄξειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, οὐδʼ ἐτέλεσσαν.
Ζεὺς σφέας τίσαιτο ἱκετήσιος, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους
ἀνθρώπους ἐφορᾷ καὶ τίνυται ὅς τις ἁμάρτῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ τὰ χρήματʼ ἀριθμήσω καὶ ἴδωμαι,
μή τί μοι οἴχωνται κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγοντες.
ἦε φιλόξεινοι, καί σφιν νόος ἐστὶ θεουδής;
πῇ δὴ χρήματα πολλὰ φέρω τάδε; πῇ τε καὶ αὐτὸς
πλάζομαι; αἴθʼ ὄφελον μεῖναι παρὰ Φαιήκεσσιν
αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ δέ κεν ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων
ἐξικόμην, ὅς κέν μʼ ἐφίλει καὶ ἔπεμπε νέεσθαι.
νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πῃ θέσθαι ἐπίσταμαι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοῦ
καλλείψω, μή πώς μοι ἕλωρ ἄλλοισι γένηται.
ὢ πόποι, οὐκ ἄρα πάντα νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι
ἦσαν Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
οἵ μʼ εἰς ἄλλην γαῖαν ἀπήγαγον, ἦ τέ μʼ ἔφαντο
ἄξειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, οὐδʼ ἐτέλεσσαν.
Ζεὺς σφέας τίσαιτο ἱκετήσιος, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους
ἀνθρώπους ἐφορᾷ καὶ τίνυται ὅς τις ἁμάρτῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ τὰ χρήματʼ ἀριθμήσω καὶ ἴδωμαι,
μή τί μοι οἴχωνται κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγοντες.
So saying, he counted the beautiful tripods and the cauldrons
and the gold and the fine woven clothing.
None of it was missing; but he wept for his native land,
dragging himself along the shore of the loud-roaring sea,
and lamenting much. And Athena came near to him,
in the likeness of a young man, a herder of sheep,
wholly delicate, such as the sons of lords are,
with a well-made cloak folded double about his shoulders;
he had sandals on his shining feet, and a javelin in his hands.
Odysseus was glad when he saw him, and came to meet him,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
and the gold and the fine woven clothing.
None of it was missing; but he wept for his native land,
dragging himself along the shore of the loud-roaring sea,
and lamenting much. And Athena came near to him,
in the likeness of a young man, a herder of sheep,
wholly delicate, such as the sons of lords are,
with a well-made cloak folded double about his shoulders;
he had sandals on his shining feet, and a javelin in his hands.
Odysseus was glad when he saw him, and came to meet him,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς εἰπὼν τρίποδας περικαλλέας ἠδὲ λέβητας
ἠρίθμει καὶ χρυσὸν ὑφαντά τε εἵματα καλά.
τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ ὀύ τι πόθει· ὁ δʼ ὀδύρετο πατρίδα γαῖαν
ἑρπύζων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης,
πόλλʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,
ἀνδρὶ δέμας εἰκυῖα νέῳ, ἐπιβώτορι μήλων,
παναπάλῳ, οἷοί τε ἀνάκτων παῖδες ἔασι,
δίπτυχον ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχουσʼ εὐεργέα λώπην·
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσι πέδιλʼ ἔχε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄκοντα.
τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ ἐναντίος ἦλθε,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἠρίθμει καὶ χρυσὸν ὑφαντά τε εἵματα καλά.
τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ ὀύ τι πόθει· ὁ δʼ ὀδύρετο πατρίδα γαῖαν
ἑρπύζων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης,
πόλλʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,
ἀνδρὶ δέμας εἰκυῖα νέῳ, ἐπιβώτορι μήλων,
παναπάλῳ, οἷοί τε ἀνάκτων παῖδες ἔασι,
δίπτυχον ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχουσʼ εὐεργέα λώπην·
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσι πέδιλʼ ἔχε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄκοντα.
τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ ἐναντίος ἦλθε,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Friend, since you are the first I have met in this place,
greetings; and do not meet me with any evil intent,
but keep these things safe, and keep me safe. For I make my prayer
to you as to a god, and I come to your dear knees.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know well:
what land is this, what people, what men are born here?
Is it some clear-seen island, or is it a shore
of the deep-soiled mainland, lying down to the sea?"
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
greetings; and do not meet me with any evil intent,
but keep these things safe, and keep me safe. For I make my prayer
to you as to a god, and I come to your dear knees.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know well:
what land is this, what people, what men are born here?
Is it some clear-seen island, or is it a shore
of the deep-soiled mainland, lying down to the sea?"
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί σε πρῶτα κιχάνω τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,
χαῖρέ τε καὶ μή μοί τι κακῷ νόῳ ἀντιβολήσαις,
ἀλλὰ σάω μὲν ταῦτα, σάω δʼ ἐμέ· σοὶ γὰρ ἐγώ γε
εὔχομαι ὥς τε θεῷ καί σευ φίλα γούναθʼ ἱκάνω.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·
τίς γῆ, τίς δῆμος, τίνες ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασιν;
ἦ πού τις νήσων εὐδείελος, ἦέ τις ἀκτὴ
κεῖθʼ ἁλὶ κεκλιμένη ἐριβώλακος ἠπείροιο;
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
χαῖρέ τε καὶ μή μοί τι κακῷ νόῳ ἀντιβολήσαις,
ἀλλὰ σάω μὲν ταῦτα, σάω δʼ ἐμέ· σοὶ γὰρ ἐγώ γε
εὔχομαι ὥς τε θεῷ καί σευ φίλα γούναθʼ ἱκάνω.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·
τίς γῆ, τίς δῆμος, τίνες ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασιν;
ἦ πού τις νήσων εὐδείελος, ἦέ τις ἀκτὴ
κεῖθʼ ἁλὶ κεκλιμένη ἐριβώλακος ἠπείροιο;
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"You are a simple man, stranger, or you have come from far away,
if you ask about this land. It is not so wholly
without a name; very many men know it,
both those who live towards the dawn and the sun
and those behind, towards the misty darkness.
if you ask about this land. It is not so wholly
without a name; very many men know it,
both those who live towards the dawn and the sun
and those behind, towards the misty darkness.
νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἢ τηλόθεν εἰλήλουθας,
εἰ δὴ τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἀνείρεαι. οὐδέ τι λίην
οὕτω νώνυμός ἐστιν· ἴσασι δέ μιν μάλα πολλοί,
ἠμὲν ὅσοι ναίουσι πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,
ἠδʼ ὅσσοι μετόπισθε ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα.
εἰ δὴ τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἀνείρεαι. οὐδέ τι λίην
οὕτω νώνυμός ἐστιν· ἴσασι δέ μιν μάλα πολλοί,
ἠμὲν ὅσοι ναίουσι πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,
ἠδʼ ὅσσοι μετόπισθε ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα.
It is rugged, and not fit for driving horses,
and not too poor, though it is not broad either.
There is grain past telling in it, and wine
grows there; the rain is always on it and the thick dew.
It is good pasture for goats and for cattle; there is timber
of every kind, and watering-places that never fail.
And so, stranger, the name of Ithaca has come even to Troy,
which they say is far from the land of Achaea."
and not too poor, though it is not broad either.
There is grain past telling in it, and wine
grows there; the rain is always on it and the thick dew.
It is good pasture for goats and for cattle; there is timber
of every kind, and watering-places that never fail.
And so, stranger, the name of Ithaca has come even to Troy,
which they say is far from the land of Achaea."
ἦ τοι μὲν τρηχεῖα καὶ οὐχ ἱππήλατός ἐστιν,
οὐδὲ λίην λυπρή, ἀτὰρ οὐδʼ εὐρεῖα τέτυκται.
ἐν μὲν γάρ οἱ σῖτος ἀθέσφατος, ἐν δέ τε οἶνος
γίγνεται· αἰεὶ δʼ ὄμβρος ἔχει τεθαλυῖά τʼ ἐέρση·
αἰγίβοτος δʼ ἀγαθὴ καὶ βούβοτος· ἔστι μὲν ὕλη
παντοίη, ἐν δʼ ἀρδμοὶ ἐπηετανοὶ παρέασι.
τῷ τοι, ξεῖνʼ, Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐς Τροίην ὄνομʼ ἵκει,
τήν περ τηλοῦ φασὶν Ἀχαιΐδος ἔμμεναι αἴης.
οὐδὲ λίην λυπρή, ἀτὰρ οὐδʼ εὐρεῖα τέτυκται.
ἐν μὲν γάρ οἱ σῖτος ἀθέσφατος, ἐν δέ τε οἶνος
γίγνεται· αἰεὶ δʼ ὄμβρος ἔχει τεθαλυῖά τʼ ἐέρση·
αἰγίβοτος δʼ ἀγαθὴ καὶ βούβοτος· ἔστι μὲν ὕλη
παντοίη, ἐν δʼ ἀρδμοὶ ἐπηετανοὶ παρέασι.
τῷ τοι, ξεῖνʼ, Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐς Τροίην ὄνομʼ ἵκει,
τήν περ τηλοῦ φασὶν Ἀχαιΐδος ἔμμεναι αἴης.
So she spoke, and long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad,
rejoicing in his native land, as she told him,
Pallas Athena, the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus;
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
rejoicing in his native land, as she told him,
Pallas Athena, the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus;
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, ὥς οἱ ἔειπε
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς, αἰγιόχοιο·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ πατρωΐῃ, ὥς οἱ ἔειπε
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς, αἰγιόχοιο·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
but he did not tell the truth, and held his word back again,
always turning a mind of many gains in his breast:
"I heard of Ithaca even in broad Crete,
far over the sea; and now I have come here myself
with these goods; and I left as much again for my children
when I fled, since I killed the dear son of Idomeneus,
Orsilochus of the swift feet, who in broad Crete
outran with his quick feet all the men who eat bread,
because he wished to rob me of all my spoil
from Troy, for which I had suffered pains in my heart,
passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves,
and all because I would not do his father a favour and serve him
in the land of the Trojans, but led companions of my own.
I struck him with my bronze-tipped spear as he came in
from the country, lying in wait near the road with one companion.
Very dark night held the sky, and none of men
noticed us; I took his life unseen.
But when I had killed him with the sharp bronze,
at once I went to a ship and entreated the noble Phoenicians
and gave them enough of the spoil to content them;
and I ordered them to take me aboard and set me down at Pylos
or in noble Elis, where the Epeians hold power.
But the force of the wind drove them away from there,
much against their will; they did not mean to deceive me.
Driven off from there, we came here in the night.
We rowed in haste into the harbour, and none of us
had any thought of supper, though we needed it badly,
but we came ashore just as we were and all lay down.
There sweet sleep came upon me, worn out as I was,
and they took my goods out of the hollow ship
and set them down where I lay on the sands,
and they went aboard for Sidon, which is well settled,
and went off; but I was left behind with a grieving heart."
always turning a mind of many gains in his breast:
"I heard of Ithaca even in broad Crete,
far over the sea; and now I have come here myself
with these goods; and I left as much again for my children
when I fled, since I killed the dear son of Idomeneus,
Orsilochus of the swift feet, who in broad Crete
outran with his quick feet all the men who eat bread,
because he wished to rob me of all my spoil
from Troy, for which I had suffered pains in my heart,
passing through the wars of men and the grievous waves,
and all because I would not do his father a favour and serve him
in the land of the Trojans, but led companions of my own.
I struck him with my bronze-tipped spear as he came in
from the country, lying in wait near the road with one companion.
Very dark night held the sky, and none of men
noticed us; I took his life unseen.
But when I had killed him with the sharp bronze,
at once I went to a ship and entreated the noble Phoenicians
and gave them enough of the spoil to content them;
and I ordered them to take me aboard and set me down at Pylos
or in noble Elis, where the Epeians hold power.
But the force of the wind drove them away from there,
much against their will; they did not mean to deceive me.
Driven off from there, we came here in the night.
We rowed in haste into the harbour, and none of us
had any thought of supper, though we needed it badly,
but we came ashore just as we were and all lay down.
There sweet sleep came upon me, worn out as I was,
and they took my goods out of the hollow ship
and set them down where I lay on the sands,
and they went aboard for Sidon, which is well settled,
and went off; but I was left behind with a grieving heart."
οὐδʼ ὅ γʼ ἀληθέα εἶπε, πάλιν δʼ ὅ γε λάζετο μῦθον,
αἰεὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόον πολυκερδέα νωμῶν·
πυνθανόμην Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ,
τηλοῦ ὑπὲρ πόντου· νῦν δʼ εἰλήλουθα καὶ αὐτὸς
χρήμασι σὺν τοίσδεσσι· λιπὼν δʼ ἔτι παισὶ τοσαῦτα
φεύγω, ἐπεὶ φίλον υἷα κατέκτανον Ἰδομενῆος,
Ὀρσίλοχον πόδας ὠκύν, ὃς ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ
ἀνέρας ἀλφηστὰς νίκα ταχέεσσι πόδεσσιν,
οὕνεκά με στερέσαι τῆς ληΐδος ἤθελε πάσης
Τρωϊάδος, τῆς εἵνεκʼ ἐγὼ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ,
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων,
οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐχ ᾧ πατρὶ χαριζόμενος θεράπευον
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ἀλλʼ ἄλλων ἦρχον ἑταίρων.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ κατιόντα βάλον χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶ
ἀγρόθεν, ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο λοχησάμενος σὺν ἑταίρῳ·
νὺξ δὲ μάλα δνοφερὴ κάτεχʼ οὐρανόν, οὐδέ τις ἡμέας
ἀνθρώπων ἐνόησε, λάθον δέ ἑ θυμὸν ἀπούρας.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε κατέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν Φοίνικας ἀγαυοὺς
ἐλλισάμην, καί σφιν μενοεικέα ληΐδα δῶκα·
τούς μʼ ἐκέλευσα Πύλονδε καταστῆσαι καὶ ἐφέσσαι
ἢ εἰς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σφέας κεῖθεν ἀπώσατο ἲς ἀνέμοιο
πόλλʼ ἀεκαζομένους, οὐδʼ ἤθελον ἐξαπατῆσαι.
κεῖθεν δὲ πλαγχθέντες ἱκάνομεν ἐνθάδε νυκτός.
σπουδῇ δʼ ἐς λιμένα προερέσσαμεν, οὐδέ τις ἡμῖν
δόρπου μνῆστις ἔην, μάλα περ χατέουσιν ἑλέσθαι,
ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀποβάντες ἐκείμεθα νηὸς ἅπαντες.
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα,
οἱ δὲ χρήματʼ ἐμὰ γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντες
κάτθεσαν, ἔνθα περ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισιν ἐκείμην.
οἱ δʼ ἐς Σιδονίην εὖ ναιομένην ἀναβάντες
ᾤχοντʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.
αἰεὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόον πολυκερδέα νωμῶν·
πυνθανόμην Ἰθάκης γε καὶ ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ,
τηλοῦ ὑπὲρ πόντου· νῦν δʼ εἰλήλουθα καὶ αὐτὸς
χρήμασι σὺν τοίσδεσσι· λιπὼν δʼ ἔτι παισὶ τοσαῦτα
φεύγω, ἐπεὶ φίλον υἷα κατέκτανον Ἰδομενῆος,
Ὀρσίλοχον πόδας ὠκύν, ὃς ἐν Κρήτῃ εὐρείῃ
ἀνέρας ἀλφηστὰς νίκα ταχέεσσι πόδεσσιν,
οὕνεκά με στερέσαι τῆς ληΐδος ἤθελε πάσης
Τρωϊάδος, τῆς εἵνεκʼ ἐγὼ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ,
ἀνδρῶν τε πτολέμους ἀλεγεινά τε κύματα πείρων,
οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐχ ᾧ πατρὶ χαριζόμενος θεράπευον
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ἀλλʼ ἄλλων ἦρχον ἑταίρων.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ κατιόντα βάλον χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶ
ἀγρόθεν, ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο λοχησάμενος σὺν ἑταίρῳ·
νὺξ δὲ μάλα δνοφερὴ κάτεχʼ οὐρανόν, οὐδέ τις ἡμέας
ἀνθρώπων ἐνόησε, λάθον δέ ἑ θυμὸν ἀπούρας.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε κατέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν Φοίνικας ἀγαυοὺς
ἐλλισάμην, καί σφιν μενοεικέα ληΐδα δῶκα·
τούς μʼ ἐκέλευσα Πύλονδε καταστῆσαι καὶ ἐφέσσαι
ἢ εἰς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σφέας κεῖθεν ἀπώσατο ἲς ἀνέμοιο
πόλλʼ ἀεκαζομένους, οὐδʼ ἤθελον ἐξαπατῆσαι.
κεῖθεν δὲ πλαγχθέντες ἱκάνομεν ἐνθάδε νυκτός.
σπουδῇ δʼ ἐς λιμένα προερέσσαμεν, οὐδέ τις ἡμῖν
δόρπου μνῆστις ἔην, μάλα περ χατέουσιν ἑλέσθαι,
ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀποβάντες ἐκείμεθα νηὸς ἅπαντες.
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα,
οἱ δὲ χρήματʼ ἐμὰ γλαφυρῆς ἐκ νηὸς ἑλόντες
κάτθεσαν, ἔνθα περ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισιν ἐκείμην.
οἱ δʼ ἐς Σιδονίην εὖ ναιομένην ἀναβάντες
ᾤχοντʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ.
So he spoke, and the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, smiled,
and stroked him with her hand; and her body was like a woman’s,
fair and tall and skilled in glorious work;
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
and stroked him with her hand; and her body was like a woman’s,
fair and tall and skilled in glorious work;
and she spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξε· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶ
καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ·
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξε· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶ
καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ·
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"He would be a cunning man and a cheat who could pass you
in all manner of guile, even if a god met you.
Reckless man, of the intricate mind, never sated with tricks,
you were not going to leave off your deceptions, even in your own land,
nor your thieving words, which are dear to you from the root up.
But come, let us talk of this no longer; we both know
our advantage, since you are far the best of all mortals
in counsel and in words, and I among all the gods
am famed for wisdom and for gain. And you did not recognise
Pallas Athena, the daughter of Zeus, who always
stands beside you in all your labours and guards you,
and I made you dear to all the Phaeacians.
Now I have come here again, to weave a plan with you
and to hide the goods that the noble Phaeacians
gave you as you went home, by my counsel and my mind,
and to tell you how many troubles it is your fate to endure
in your well-built house. You must bear them, of necessity,
and tell no one at all, neither man nor woman,
that you have come home from your wandering, but in silence
suffer your many pains, submitting to the violence of men."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
in all manner of guile, even if a god met you.
Reckless man, of the intricate mind, never sated with tricks,
you were not going to leave off your deceptions, even in your own land,
nor your thieving words, which are dear to you from the root up.
But come, let us talk of this no longer; we both know
our advantage, since you are far the best of all mortals
in counsel and in words, and I among all the gods
am famed for wisdom and for gain. And you did not recognise
Pallas Athena, the daughter of Zeus, who always
stands beside you in all your labours and guards you,
and I made you dear to all the Phaeacians.
Now I have come here again, to weave a plan with you
and to hide the goods that the noble Phaeacians
gave you as you went home, by my counsel and my mind,
and to tell you how many troubles it is your fate to endure
in your well-built house. You must bear them, of necessity,
and tell no one at all, neither man nor woman,
that you have come home from your wandering, but in silence
suffer your many pains, submitting to the violence of men."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
κερδαλέος κʼ εἴη καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ὅς σε παρέλθοι
ἐν πάντεσσι δόλοισι, καὶ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιάσειε.
σχέτλιε, ποικιλομῆτα, δόλων ἆτʼ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες,
οὐδʼ ἐν σῇ περ ἐὼν γαίῃ, λήξειν ἀπατάων
μύθων τε κλοπίων, οἵ τοι πεδόθεν φίλοι εἰσίν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα, εἰδότες ἄμφω
κέρδεʼ, ἐπεὶ σὺ μέν ἐσσι βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἁπάντων
βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισιν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐν πᾶσι θεοῖσι
μήτι τε κλέομαι καὶ κέρδεσιν· οὐδὲ σύ γʼ ἔγνως
Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην, κούρην Διός, ἥ τέ τοι αἰεὶ
ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίσταμαι ἠδὲ φυλάσσω,
καὶ δέ σε Φαιήκεσσι φίλον πάντεσσιν ἔθηκα,
νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην, ἵνα τοι σὺν μῆτιν ὑφήνω
χρήματά τε κρύψω, ὅσα τοι Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶ
ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι ἐμῇ βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,
εἴπω θʼ ὅσσα τοι αἶσα δόμοις ἔνι ποιητοῖσι
κήδεʼ ἀνασχέσθαι· σὺ δὲ τετλάμεναι καὶ ἀνάγκῃ,
μηδέ τῳ ἐκφάσθαι μήτʼ ἀνδρῶν μήτε γυναικῶν,
πάντων, οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθες ἀλώμενος, ἀλλὰ σιωπῇ
πάσχειν ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἐν πάντεσσι δόλοισι, καὶ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιάσειε.
σχέτλιε, ποικιλομῆτα, δόλων ἆτʼ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες,
οὐδʼ ἐν σῇ περ ἐὼν γαίῃ, λήξειν ἀπατάων
μύθων τε κλοπίων, οἵ τοι πεδόθεν φίλοι εἰσίν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα, εἰδότες ἄμφω
κέρδεʼ, ἐπεὶ σὺ μέν ἐσσι βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἁπάντων
βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισιν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἐν πᾶσι θεοῖσι
μήτι τε κλέομαι καὶ κέρδεσιν· οὐδὲ σύ γʼ ἔγνως
Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην, κούρην Διός, ἥ τέ τοι αἰεὶ
ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοισι παρίσταμαι ἠδὲ φυλάσσω,
καὶ δέ σε Φαιήκεσσι φίλον πάντεσσιν ἔθηκα,
νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην, ἵνα τοι σὺν μῆτιν ὑφήνω
χρήματά τε κρύψω, ὅσα τοι Φαίηκες ἀγαυοὶ
ὤπασαν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντι ἐμῇ βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,
εἴπω θʼ ὅσσα τοι αἶσα δόμοις ἔνι ποιητοῖσι
κήδεʼ ἀνασχέσθαι· σὺ δὲ τετλάμεναι καὶ ἀνάγκῃ,
μηδέ τῳ ἐκφάσθαι μήτʼ ἀνδρῶν μήτε γυναικῶν,
πάντων, οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθες ἀλώμενος, ἀλλὰ σιωπῇ
πάσχειν ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"It is hard, goddess, for a mortal who meets you to know you,
however skilled he is; for you make yourself like anything.
But this I know well, that you were kind to me before,
while we sons of the Achaeans were fighting at Troy.
But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam
and gone aboard our ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans,
I did not see you after that, daughter of Zeus, nor notice you
coming aboard my ship to ward off any pain from me.
But always with a torn heart in my breast
I wandered, until the gods freed me from misery;
not before that time, when in the rich land of the Phaeacians
you gave me courage with your words and led me to the city yourself.
Now I beseech you by your father—for I do not think
that I have come to clear-seen Ithaca, but that I am wandering
in some other land, and I think you are mocking me
in saying this, to deceive my mind—
tell me whether I have truly come to my dear native land."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
however skilled he is; for you make yourself like anything.
But this I know well, that you were kind to me before,
while we sons of the Achaeans were fighting at Troy.
But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam
and gone aboard our ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans,
I did not see you after that, daughter of Zeus, nor notice you
coming aboard my ship to ward off any pain from me.
But always with a torn heart in my breast
I wandered, until the gods freed me from misery;
not before that time, when in the rich land of the Phaeacians
you gave me courage with your words and led me to the city yourself.
Now I beseech you by your father—for I do not think
that I have come to clear-seen Ithaca, but that I am wandering
in some other land, and I think you are mocking me
in saying this, to deceive my mind—
tell me whether I have truly come to my dear native land."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
ἀργαλέον σε, θεά, γνῶναι βροτῷ ἀντιάσαντι,
καὶ μάλʼ ἐπισταμένῳ· σὲ γὰρ αὐτὴν παντὶ ἐΐσκεις.
τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδʼ, ὅτι μοι πάρος ἠπίη ἦσθα,
ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,
βῆμεν δʼ ἐν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς,
οὔ σέ γʼ ἔπειτα ἴδον, κούρη Διός, οὐδʼ ἐνόησα
νηὸς ἐμῆς ἐπιβᾶσαν, ὅπως τί μοι ἄλγος ἀλάλκοις.
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἔχων δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορ
ἠλώμην, ἧός με θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν·
πρίν γʼ ὅτε Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ
θάρσυνάς τε ἔπεσσι καὶ ἐς πόλιν ἤγαγες αὐτή.
νῦν δέ σε πρὸς πατρὸς γουνάζομαι—οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
ἥκειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, ἀλλά τινʼ ἄλλην
γαῖαν ἀναστρέφομαι· σὲ δὲ κερτομέουσαν ὀΐω
ταῦτʼ ἀγορευέμεναι, ἵνʼ ἐμὰς φρένας ἠπεροπεύσῃς—
εἰπέ μοι εἰ ἐτεόν γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκάνω.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
καὶ μάλʼ ἐπισταμένῳ· σὲ γὰρ αὐτὴν παντὶ ἐΐσκεις.
τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδʼ, ὅτι μοι πάρος ἠπίη ἦσθα,
ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,
βῆμεν δʼ ἐν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς,
οὔ σέ γʼ ἔπειτα ἴδον, κούρη Διός, οὐδʼ ἐνόησα
νηὸς ἐμῆς ἐπιβᾶσαν, ὅπως τί μοι ἄλγος ἀλάλκοις.
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἔχων δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορ
ἠλώμην, ἧός με θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν·
πρίν γʼ ὅτε Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ
θάρσυνάς τε ἔπεσσι καὶ ἐς πόλιν ἤγαγες αὐτή.
νῦν δέ σε πρὸς πατρὸς γουνάζομαι—οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
ἥκειν εἰς Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον, ἀλλά τινʼ ἄλλην
γαῖαν ἀναστρέφομαι· σὲ δὲ κερτομέουσαν ὀΐω
ταῦτʼ ἀγορευέμεναι, ἵνʼ ἐμὰς φρένας ἠπεροπεύσῃς—
εἰπέ μοι εἰ ἐτεόν γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκάνω.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Always you have that kind of thought in your breast.
That is why I cannot leave you in your misfortune,
since you are courteous and quick-witted and steady of mind.
Gladly would any other man, coming home from his wandering,
have hurried to see his children and his wife in his halls;
but it is not your pleasure yet to learn or to ask,
before you have tested your wife, who sits there in your halls
just as she was, and always for her in misery
the nights and the days waste away as she sheds tears.
As for me, I never doubted this, but in my spirit
I knew that you would come home, having lost all your companions;
but I did not wish to fight against Poseidon,
my father’s brother, who has laid up a grudge in his heart
in anger because you blinded his own son.
But come, I will show you the ground of Ithaca, so that you may believe.
This is the harbour of Phorcys, the old man of the sea,
and this at the head of the harbour is the long-leafed olive;
and near it is the lovely misty cave,
sacred to the nymphs who are called Naiads;
and this is the vaulted cavern where you often
offered perfect hecatombs to the nymphs;
and that is Mount Neriton, clothed in forest."
That is why I cannot leave you in your misfortune,
since you are courteous and quick-witted and steady of mind.
Gladly would any other man, coming home from his wandering,
have hurried to see his children and his wife in his halls;
but it is not your pleasure yet to learn or to ask,
before you have tested your wife, who sits there in your halls
just as she was, and always for her in misery
the nights and the days waste away as she sheds tears.
As for me, I never doubted this, but in my spirit
I knew that you would come home, having lost all your companions;
but I did not wish to fight against Poseidon,
my father’s brother, who has laid up a grudge in his heart
in anger because you blinded his own son.
But come, I will show you the ground of Ithaca, so that you may believe.
This is the harbour of Phorcys, the old man of the sea,
and this at the head of the harbour is the long-leafed olive;
and near it is the lovely misty cave,
sacred to the nymphs who are called Naiads;
and this is the vaulted cavern where you often
offered perfect hecatombs to the nymphs;
and that is Mount Neriton, clothed in forest."
αἰεί τοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόημα·
τῷ σε καὶ οὐ δύναμαι προλιπεῖν δύστηνον ἐόντα,
οὕνεκʼ ἐπητής ἐσσι καὶ ἀγχίνοος καὶ ἐχέφρων.
ἀσπασίως γάρ κʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν
ἵετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἰδέειν παῖδάς τʼ ἄλοχόν τε·
σοὶ δʼ οὔ πω φίλον ἐστὶ δαήμεναι οὐδὲ πυθέσθαι,
πρίν γʼ ἔτι σῆς ἀλόχου πειρήσεαι, ἥ τέ τοι αὔτως
ἧσται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν, ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀπίστεον, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ᾔδεʼ, ὃ νοστήσεις ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους·
ἀλλά τοι οὐκ ἐθέλησα Ποσειδάωνι μάχεσθαι
πατροκασιγνήτῳ, ὅς τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ,
χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι δείξω Ἰθάκης ἕδος, ὄφρα πεποίθῃς.
Φόρκυνος μὲν ὅδʼ ἐστὶ λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος,
ἥδε δʼ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη·
ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές,
ἱρὸν νυμφάων, αἳ νηϊάδες καλέονται·
τοῦτο δέ τοι σπέος ἐστὶ κατηρεφές, ἔνθα σὺ πολλὰς
ἔρδεσκες νύμφῃσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας·
τοῦτο δὲ Νήριτόν ἐστιν ὄρος καταειμένον ὕλῃ.
τῷ σε καὶ οὐ δύναμαι προλιπεῖν δύστηνον ἐόντα,
οὕνεκʼ ἐπητής ἐσσι καὶ ἀγχίνοος καὶ ἐχέφρων.
ἀσπασίως γάρ κʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν
ἵετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἰδέειν παῖδάς τʼ ἄλοχόν τε·
σοὶ δʼ οὔ πω φίλον ἐστὶ δαήμεναι οὐδὲ πυθέσθαι,
πρίν γʼ ἔτι σῆς ἀλόχου πειρήσεαι, ἥ τέ τοι αὔτως
ἧσται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν, ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτʼ ἀπίστεον, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ᾔδεʼ, ὃ νοστήσεις ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους·
ἀλλά τοι οὐκ ἐθέλησα Ποσειδάωνι μάχεσθαι
πατροκασιγνήτῳ, ὅς τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷ,
χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι δείξω Ἰθάκης ἕδος, ὄφρα πεποίθῃς.
Φόρκυνος μὲν ὅδʼ ἐστὶ λιμήν, ἁλίοιο γέροντος,
ἥδε δʼ ἐπὶ κρατὸς λιμένος τανύφυλλος ἐλαίη·
ἀγχόθι δʼ αὐτῆς ἄντρον ἐπήρατον ἠεροειδές,
ἱρὸν νυμφάων, αἳ νηϊάδες καλέονται·
τοῦτο δέ τοι σπέος ἐστὶ κατηρεφές, ἔνθα σὺ πολλὰς
ἔρδεσκες νύμφῃσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας·
τοῦτο δὲ Νήριτόν ἐστιν ὄρος καταειμένον ὕλῃ.
So saying, the goddess scattered the mist, and the land showed clear;
and then long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad,
rejoicing in his land, and he kissed the grain-giving earth.
At once he prayed to the nymphs, holding up his hands:
"Naiad nymphs, daughters of Zeus, I never thought
to see you again; but now rejoice in my gentle
prayers; and we will give gifts too, as before,
if the daughter of Zeus who drives the spoil is willing
to let me live and to bring my dear son to manhood."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
and then long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad,
rejoicing in his land, and he kissed the grain-giving earth.
At once he prayed to the nymphs, holding up his hands:
"Naiad nymphs, daughters of Zeus, I never thought
to see you again; but now rejoice in my gentle
prayers; and we will give gifts too, as before,
if the daughter of Zeus who drives the spoil is willing
to let me live and to bring my dear son to manhood."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ σκέδασʼ ἠέρα, εἴσατο δὲ χθών·
γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.
αὐτίκα δὲ νύμφῃς ἠρήσατο, χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
νύμφαι νηϊάδες, κοῦραι Διός, οὔ ποτʼ ἐγώ γε
ὄψεσθʼ ὔμμʼ ἐφάμην· νῦν δʼ εὐχωλῇς ἀγανῇσι
χαίρετʼ· ἀτὰρ καὶ δῶρα διδώσομεν, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,
αἴ κεν ἐᾷ πρόφρων με Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀγελείη
αὐτόν τε ζώειν καί μοι φίλον υἱὸν ἀέξῃ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
χαίρων ᾗ γαίῃ, κύσε δὲ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.
αὐτίκα δὲ νύμφῃς ἠρήσατο, χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
νύμφαι νηϊάδες, κοῦραι Διός, οὔ ποτʼ ἐγώ γε
ὄψεσθʼ ὔμμʼ ἐφάμην· νῦν δʼ εὐχωλῇς ἀγανῇσι
χαίρετʼ· ἀτὰρ καὶ δῶρα διδώσομεν, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,
αἴ κεν ἐᾷ πρόφρων με Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀγελείη
αὐτόν τε ζώειν καί μοι φίλον υἱὸν ἀέξῃ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Take heart, and do not let these things trouble your mind.
But let us put the goods away at once, now,
in a corner of the marvellous cave, so that they may stay safe for you;
and let us consider how it may all turn out best."
But let us put the goods away at once, now,
in a corner of the marvellous cave, so that they may stay safe for you;
and let us consider how it may all turn out best."
θάρσει, μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
ἀλλὰ χρήματα μὲν μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο
θείμεν αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα περ τάδε τοι σόα μίμνῃ·
αὐτοὶ δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένηται.
ἀλλὰ χρήματα μὲν μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο
θείμεν αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα περ τάδε τοι σόα μίμνῃ·
αὐτοὶ δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένηται.
So saying, the goddess went down into the misty cave,
searching out its hiding-places; and Odysseus
carried everything closer, the gold and the unwearing bronze
and the well-made clothing that the Phaeacians had given him.
These he stowed well, and Pallas Athena set a stone
at the doorway, the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus.
And the two of them sat down beside the trunk of the sacred olive
and planned destruction for the overweening suitors.
The goddess, grey-eyed Athena, was the first to speak among them:
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
consider how you will lay hands on the shameless suitors,
who for three years now have lorded it in your hall,
wooing your godlike wife and offering bride-gifts;
and she is always mourning your homecoming in her heart
and gives them all hope and makes each man a promise,
sending out messages; but her mind is set on other things."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
searching out its hiding-places; and Odysseus
carried everything closer, the gold and the unwearing bronze
and the well-made clothing that the Phaeacians had given him.
These he stowed well, and Pallas Athena set a stone
at the doorway, the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus.
And the two of them sat down beside the trunk of the sacred olive
and planned destruction for the overweening suitors.
The goddess, grey-eyed Athena, was the first to speak among them:
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
consider how you will lay hands on the shameless suitors,
who for three years now have lorded it in your hall,
wooing your godlike wife and offering bride-gifts;
and she is always mourning your homecoming in her heart
and gives them all hope and makes each man a promise,
sending out messages; but her mind is set on other things."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ δῦνε σπέος ἠεροειδές,
μαιομένη κευθμῶνας ἀνὰ σπέος· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἆσσον πάντʼ ἐφόρει, χρυσὸν καὶ ἀτειρέα χαλκὸν
εἵματά τʼ εὐποίητα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκε, λίθον δʼ ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσι
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.
τὼ δὲ καθεζομένω ἱερῆς παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης
φραζέσθην μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὄλεθρον.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
φράζευ ὅπως μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσεις,
οἳ δή τοι τρίετες μέγαρον κάτα κοιρανέουσι,
μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες·
ἡ δὲ σὸν αἰεὶ νόστον ὀδυρομένη κατὰ θυμὸν
πάντας μέν ῥʼ ἔλπει καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ,
ἀγγελίας προϊεῖσα, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοινᾷ.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
μαιομένη κευθμῶνας ἀνὰ σπέος· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἆσσον πάντʼ ἐφόρει, χρυσὸν καὶ ἀτειρέα χαλκὸν
εἵματά τʼ εὐποίητα, τά οἱ Φαίηκες ἔδωκαν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκε, λίθον δʼ ἐπέθηκε θύρῃσι
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.
τὼ δὲ καθεζομένω ἱερῆς παρὰ πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης
φραζέσθην μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὄλεθρον.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
φράζευ ὅπως μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσεις,
οἳ δή τοι τρίετες μέγαρον κάτα κοιρανέουσι,
μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες·
ἡ δὲ σὸν αἰεὶ νόστον ὀδυρομένη κατὰ θυμὸν
πάντας μέν ῥʼ ἔλπει καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ,
ἀγγελίας προϊεῖσα, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοινᾷ.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Ah me, I was surely going to die in my halls
by the evil fate of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
if you had not told me each thing rightly, goddess.
But come, weave a plan, so that I may take vengeance on them;
and stand beside me yourself, putting daring fury in me,
such as when we loosed the shining veil of Troy.
If you would stand beside me with that same eagerness, grey-eyed one,
I would fight against three hundred men
with you, lady goddess, if you would help me with a ready heart."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
by the evil fate of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
if you had not told me each thing rightly, goddess.
But come, weave a plan, so that I may take vengeance on them;
and stand beside me yourself, putting daring fury in me,
such as when we loosed the shining veil of Troy.
If you would stand beside me with that same eagerness, grey-eyed one,
I would fight against three hundred men
with you, lady goddess, if you would help me with a ready heart."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
φθίσεσθαι κακὸν οἶτον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔμελλον,
εἰ μή μοι σὺ ἕκαστα, θεά, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μῆτιν ὕφηνον, ὅπως ἀποτίσομαι αὐτούς·
πὰρ δέ μοι αὐτὴ στῆθι, μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνεῖσα,
οἷον ὅτε Τροίης λύομεν λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα.
αἴ κέ μοι ὣς μεμαυῖα παρασταίης, γλαυκῶπι,
καί κε τριηκοσίοισιν ἐγὼν ἄνδρεσσι μαχοίμην
σὺν σοί, πότνα θεά, ὅτε μοι πρόφρασσʼ ἐπαρήγοις.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
φθίσεσθαι κακὸν οἶτον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔμελλον,
εἰ μή μοι σὺ ἕκαστα, θεά, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μῆτιν ὕφηνον, ὅπως ἀποτίσομαι αὐτούς·
πὰρ δέ μοι αὐτὴ στῆθι, μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνεῖσα,
οἷον ὅτε Τροίης λύομεν λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα.
αἴ κέ μοι ὣς μεμαυῖα παρασταίης, γλαυκῶπι,
καί κε τριηκοσίοισιν ἐγὼν ἄνδρεσσι μαχοίμην
σὺν σοί, πότνα θεά, ὅτε μοι πρόφρασσʼ ἐπαρήγοις.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"I shall indeed be beside you, and you will not lose sight of me,
when we set about this work; and I think that some
of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood
will spatter the wide floor with blood and brains.
But come, I will make you unrecognisable to all mortals.
I will shrivel the fine skin on your supple limbs
and destroy the fair hair on your head, and I will put about you
a rag that a man would loathe to see another wearing;
and I will dim your eyes, that were so beautiful before,
so that you may appear unseemly to all the suitors
and to your wife and to the son you left in your halls.
And go first of all to the swineherd,
who keeps your pigs; he is loyal to you all the same,
and loves your son and steadfast Penelope.
You will find him sitting by his swine; and they are feeding
by the Rock of the Raven and the spring Arethusa,
eating the acorns that content them and drinking the black water,
which make the fat thrive on the swine.
Stay there and sit beside him and ask him about everything,
until I go to Sparta of the fair women
to call Telemachus, your dear son, Odysseus;
he has gone to spacious Lacedaemon, to Menelaus,
to ask after news of you, whether you were still anywhere alive."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
when we set about this work; and I think that some
of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood
will spatter the wide floor with blood and brains.
But come, I will make you unrecognisable to all mortals.
I will shrivel the fine skin on your supple limbs
and destroy the fair hair on your head, and I will put about you
a rag that a man would loathe to see another wearing;
and I will dim your eyes, that were so beautiful before,
so that you may appear unseemly to all the suitors
and to your wife and to the son you left in your halls.
And go first of all to the swineherd,
who keeps your pigs; he is loyal to you all the same,
and loves your son and steadfast Penelope.
You will find him sitting by his swine; and they are feeding
by the Rock of the Raven and the spring Arethusa,
eating the acorns that content them and drinking the black water,
which make the fat thrive on the swine.
Stay there and sit beside him and ask him about everything,
until I go to Sparta of the fair women
to call Telemachus, your dear son, Odysseus;
he has gone to spacious Lacedaemon, to Menelaus,
to ask after news of you, whether you were still anywhere alive."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
καὶ λίην τοι ἐγώ γε παρέσσομαι, οὐδέ με λήσεις,
ὁππότε κεν δὴ ταῦτα πενώμεθα· καί τινʼ ὀΐω
αἵματί τʼ ἐγκεφάλῳ τε παλαξέμεν ἄσπετον οὖδας
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε σʼ ἄγνωστον τεύξω πάντεσσι βροτοῖσι·
κάρψω μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,
ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὀλέσω τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ λαῖφος
ἕσσω ὅ κε στυγέῃσιν ἰδὼν ἄνθρωπον ἔχοντα,
κνυζώσω δέ τοι ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε,
ὡς ἂν ἀεικέλιος πᾶσι μνηστῆρσι φανήῃς
σῇ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ παιδί, τὸν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες.
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,
ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδε,
παῖδά τε σὸν φιλέει καὶ ἐχέφρονα Πηνελόπειαν.
δήεις τόν γε σύεσσι παρήμενον· αἱ δὲ νέμονται
πὰρ Κόρακος πέτρῃ ἐπί τε κρήνῃ Ἀρεθούσῃ,
ἔσθουσαι βάλανον μενοεικέα καὶ μέλαν ὕδωρ
πίνουσαι, τά θʼ ὕεσσι τρέφει τεθαλυῖαν ἀλοιφήν.
ἔνθα μένειν καὶ πάντα παρήμενος ἐξερέεσθαι,
ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἔλθω Σπάρτην ἐς καλλιγύναικα
Τηλέμαχον καλέουσα, τεὸν φίλον υἱόν, Ὀδυσσεῦ·
ὅς τοι ἐς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα πὰρ Μενέλαον
ᾤχετο πευσόμενος μετὰ σὸν κλέος, εἴ που ἔτʼ εἴης.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὁππότε κεν δὴ ταῦτα πενώμεθα· καί τινʼ ὀΐω
αἵματί τʼ ἐγκεφάλῳ τε παλαξέμεν ἄσπετον οὖδας
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε σʼ ἄγνωστον τεύξω πάντεσσι βροτοῖσι·
κάρψω μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,
ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὀλέσω τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ λαῖφος
ἕσσω ὅ κε στυγέῃσιν ἰδὼν ἄνθρωπον ἔχοντα,
κνυζώσω δέ τοι ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε,
ὡς ἂν ἀεικέλιος πᾶσι μνηστῆρσι φανήῃς
σῇ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ παιδί, τὸν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες.
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,
ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδε,
παῖδά τε σὸν φιλέει καὶ ἐχέφρονα Πηνελόπειαν.
δήεις τόν γε σύεσσι παρήμενον· αἱ δὲ νέμονται
πὰρ Κόρακος πέτρῃ ἐπί τε κρήνῃ Ἀρεθούσῃ,
ἔσθουσαι βάλανον μενοεικέα καὶ μέλαν ὕδωρ
πίνουσαι, τά θʼ ὕεσσι τρέφει τεθαλυῖαν ἀλοιφήν.
ἔνθα μένειν καὶ πάντα παρήμενος ἐξερέεσθαι,
ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἔλθω Σπάρτην ἐς καλλιγύναικα
Τηλέμαχον καλέουσα, τεὸν φίλον υἱόν, Ὀδυσσεῦ·
ὅς τοι ἐς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα πὰρ Μενέλαον
ᾤχετο πευσόμενος μετὰ σὸν κλέος, εἴ που ἔτʼ εἴης.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Why then did you not tell him, when you knew everything in your mind?
τίπτε τʼ ἄρʼ οὔ οἱ ἔειπες, ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πάντα ἰδυῖα;
Was it so that he too might wander and suffer pains
on the barren sea, while others devour his livelihood?"
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
on the barren sea, while others devour his livelihood?"
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, answered him:
ἦ ἵνα που καὶ κεῖνος ἀλώμενος ἄλγεα πάσχῃ
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· βίοτον δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔδουσι;
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον· βίοτον δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔδουσι;
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Do not let him weigh too much upon your mind.
I myself sent him on his way, so that he might win good glory
by going there; he has no trouble, but sits at his ease
in the house of the son of Atreus, and things past telling lie beside him.
Young men are lying in wait for him with a black ship,
eager to kill him before he reaches his native land;
but I do not think it will happen, before the earth holds down
some of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood."
I myself sent him on his way, so that he might win good glory
by going there; he has no trouble, but sits at his ease
in the house of the son of Atreus, and things past telling lie beside him.
Young men are lying in wait for him with a black ship,
eager to kill him before he reaches his native land;
but I do not think it will happen, before the earth holds down
some of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood."
μὴ δή τοι κεῖνός γε λίην ἐνθύμιος ἔστω.
αὐτή μιν πόμπευον, ἵνα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄροιτο
κεῖσʼ ἐλθών· ἀτὰρ οὔ τινʼ ἔχει πόνον, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
ἧσται ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο δόμοις, παρὰ δʼ ἄσπετα κεῖται.
ἦ μέν μιν λοχόωσι νέοι σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω, πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.
αὐτή μιν πόμπευον, ἵνα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄροιτο
κεῖσʼ ἐλθών· ἀτὰρ οὔ τινʼ ἔχει πόνον, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
ἧσται ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο δόμοις, παρὰ δʼ ἄσπετα κεῖται.
ἦ μέν μιν λοχόωσι νέοι σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω, πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.
So speaking, Athena touched him with her wand.
She shrivelled the fine skin on his supple limbs
and destroyed the fair hair on his head, and about all
his limbs she put the skin of an aged old man,
and dimmed his eyes, that were so beautiful before;
and she threw about him another garment, a poor rag and a tunic,
torn and filthy, blackened with foul smoke;
and about him she cast the great hide of a swift deer,
worn bare; and she gave him a staff and an ugly pouch,
full of holes, with a twisted cord for a strap.
So the two of them made their plan and parted. And she then
went to noble Lacedaemon after the son of Odysseus.
She shrivelled the fine skin on his supple limbs
and destroyed the fair hair on his head, and about all
his limbs she put the skin of an aged old man,
and dimmed his eyes, that were so beautiful before;
and she threw about him another garment, a poor rag and a tunic,
torn and filthy, blackened with foul smoke;
and about him she cast the great hide of a swift deer,
worn bare; and she gave him a staff and an ugly pouch,
full of holes, with a twisted cord for a strap.
So the two of them made their plan and parted. And she then
went to noble Lacedaemon after the son of Odysseus.
ὣς ἄρα μιν φαμένη ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατʼ Ἀθήνη.
κάρψεν μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,
ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὄλεσε τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα
πάντεσσιν μελέεσσι παλαιοῦ θῆκε γέροντος,
κνύζωσεν δέ οἱ ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
ῥωγαλέα ῥυπόωντα, κακῷ μεμορυγμένα καπνῷ·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μέγα δέρμα ταχείης ἕσσʼ ἐλάφοιο,
ψιλόν· δῶκε δέ οἱ σκῆπτρον καὶ ἀεικέα πήρην,
πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ.
τώ γʼ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν. ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν ἔβη μετὰ παῖδʼ Ὀδυσῆος.
κάρψεν μὲν χρόα καλὸν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι,
ξανθὰς δʼ ἐκ κεφαλῆς ὄλεσε τρίχας, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα
πάντεσσιν μελέεσσι παλαιοῦ θῆκε γέροντος,
κνύζωσεν δέ οἱ ὄσσε πάρος περικαλλέʼ ἐόντε·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
ῥωγαλέα ῥυπόωντα, κακῷ μεμορυγμένα καπνῷ·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μέγα δέρμα ταχείης ἕσσʼ ἐλάφοιο,
ψιλόν· δῶκε δέ οἱ σκῆπτρον καὶ ἀεικέα πήρην,
πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ.
τώ γʼ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν. ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν ἔβη μετὰ παῖδʼ Ὀδυσῆος.
Book 14
The swineherd. Eumaeus, faithful to a master he thinks dead, feeds the beggar and tells his own story of kidnap and slavery. Odysseus spins false tales and is warmed against the night with a borrowed cloak.
But he went up from the harbour by a rough path
through wooded country, over the heights, where Athena
had shown him the noble swineherd, who of all the servants
cared most for the livelihood of noble Odysseus, who had won them.
He found him sitting in the forecourt, where his yard
was built high, in a place with a view all round,
fine and large, with a clear run about it; the swineherd
had built it himself for the swine, while his lord was away,
apart from his mistress and from Laertes the old man,
with quarried stones, and had topped it with a thorn hedge;
and outside he had driven stakes the whole way round, this side and that,
close and thick, splitting away the black of the oak;
and inside the yard he had made twelve sties
near one another, as beds for the swine; and in each
fifty ground-bedded swine were penned,
breeding sows; and the boars slept outside,
far fewer, for the godlike suitors kept dwindling them
as they ate, since the swineherd was always sending in
the best of all the well-fattened hogs;
and they numbered three hundred and sixty.
And beside them, always sleeping, were dogs like wild beasts,
four of them, which the swineherd, leader of men, had reared.
He was fitting sandals about his own feet,
cutting a fine-coloured oxhide; and the others
had gone off, one this way and one that, with the gathered swine,
three of them; and the fourth he had sent to the city
to take a hog to the overweening suitors, as he must,
so that they might sacrifice it and glut their spirit with meat.
Suddenly the loud-barking dogs saw Odysseus.
They ran at him, yelping; but Odysseus
sat down cunningly, and the staff fell from his hand.
There, at his own farmstead, he would have suffered a shameful hurt;
but the swineherd came quickly after them on rapid feet
and rushed out through the gateway, and the hide fell from his hand.
He shouted at the dogs and drove them off, one this way and one that,
with a shower of stones; and he spoke to his lord:
through wooded country, over the heights, where Athena
had shown him the noble swineherd, who of all the servants
cared most for the livelihood of noble Odysseus, who had won them.
He found him sitting in the forecourt, where his yard
was built high, in a place with a view all round,
fine and large, with a clear run about it; the swineherd
had built it himself for the swine, while his lord was away,
apart from his mistress and from Laertes the old man,
with quarried stones, and had topped it with a thorn hedge;
and outside he had driven stakes the whole way round, this side and that,
close and thick, splitting away the black of the oak;
and inside the yard he had made twelve sties
near one another, as beds for the swine; and in each
fifty ground-bedded swine were penned,
breeding sows; and the boars slept outside,
far fewer, for the godlike suitors kept dwindling them
as they ate, since the swineherd was always sending in
the best of all the well-fattened hogs;
and they numbered three hundred and sixty.
And beside them, always sleeping, were dogs like wild beasts,
four of them, which the swineherd, leader of men, had reared.
He was fitting sandals about his own feet,
cutting a fine-coloured oxhide; and the others
had gone off, one this way and one that, with the gathered swine,
three of them; and the fourth he had sent to the city
to take a hog to the overweening suitors, as he must,
so that they might sacrifice it and glut their spirit with meat.
Suddenly the loud-barking dogs saw Odysseus.
They ran at him, yelping; but Odysseus
sat down cunningly, and the staff fell from his hand.
There, at his own farmstead, he would have suffered a shameful hurt;
but the swineherd came quickly after them on rapid feet
and rushed out through the gateway, and the hide fell from his hand.
He shouted at the dogs and drove them off, one this way and one that,
with a shower of stones; and he spoke to his lord:
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκ λιμένος προσέβη τρηχεῖαν ἀταρπὸν
χῶρον ἀνʼ ὑλήεντα διʼ ἄκριας, ᾗ οἱ Ἀθήνη
πέφραδε δῖον ὑφορβόν, ὅ οἱ βιότοιο μάλιστα
κήδετο οἰκήων, οὓς κτήσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ εὗρʼ ἥμενον, ἔνθα οἱ αὐλὴ
ὑψηλὴ δέδμητο, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,
καλή τε μεγάλη τε, περίδρομος· ἥν ῥα συβώτης
αὐτὸς δείμαθʼ ὕεσσιν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
νόσφιν δεσποίνης καὶ Λαέρταο γέροντος,
ῥυτοῖσιν λάεσσι καὶ ἐθρίγκωσεν ἀχέρδῳ·
σταυροὺς δʼ ἐκτὸς ἔλασσε διαμπερὲς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
πυκνοὺς καὶ θαμέας, τὸ μέλαν δρυὸς ἀμφικεάσσας·
ἔντοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς συφεοὺς δυοκαίδεκα ποίει
πλησίον ἀλλήλων, εὐνὰς συσίν· ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῳ
πεντήκοντα σύες χαμαιευνάδες ἐρχατόωντο,
θήλειαι τοκάδες· τοὶ δʼ ἄρσενες ἐκτὸς ἴαυον,
πολλὸν παυρότεροι· τοὺς γὰρ μινύθεσκον ἔδοντες
ἀντίθεοι μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ προΐαλλε συβώτης
αἰεὶ ζατρεφέων σιάλων τὸν ἄριστον ἁπάντων·
οἱ δὲ τριηκόσιοί τε καὶ ἑξήκοντα πέλοντο.
πὰρ δὲ κύνες, θήρεσσιν ἐοικότες αἰὲν ἴαυον
τέσσαρες, οὓς ἔθρεψε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀμφὶ πόδεσσιν ἑοῖς ἀράρισκε πέδιλα,
τάμνων δέρμα βόειον ἐϋχροές· οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
ᾤχοντʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλος ἅμʼ ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσιν,
οἱ τρεῖς· τὸν δὲ τέταρτον ἀποπροέηκε πόλινδε
σῦν ἀγέμεν μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ἀνάγκῃ,
ὄφρʼ ἱερεύσαντες κρειῶν κορεσαίατο θυμόν.
ἐξαπίνης δʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι.
οἱ μὲν κεκλήγοντες ἐπέδραμον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἕζετο κερδοσύνη, σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.
ἔνθα κεν ᾧ πὰρ σταθμῷ ἀεικέλιον πάθεν ἄλγος·
ἀλλὰ συβώτης ὦκα ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπὼν
ἔσσυτʼ ἀνὰ πρόθυρον, σκῦτος δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.
τοὺς μὲν ὁμοκλήσας σεῦεν κύνας ἄλλυδις ἄλλον
πυκνῇσιν λιθάδεσσιν· ὁ δὲ προσέειπεν ἄνακτα·
χῶρον ἀνʼ ὑλήεντα διʼ ἄκριας, ᾗ οἱ Ἀθήνη
πέφραδε δῖον ὑφορβόν, ὅ οἱ βιότοιο μάλιστα
κήδετο οἰκήων, οὓς κτήσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ εὗρʼ ἥμενον, ἔνθα οἱ αὐλὴ
ὑψηλὴ δέδμητο, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,
καλή τε μεγάλη τε, περίδρομος· ἥν ῥα συβώτης
αὐτὸς δείμαθʼ ὕεσσιν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
νόσφιν δεσποίνης καὶ Λαέρταο γέροντος,
ῥυτοῖσιν λάεσσι καὶ ἐθρίγκωσεν ἀχέρδῳ·
σταυροὺς δʼ ἐκτὸς ἔλασσε διαμπερὲς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
πυκνοὺς καὶ θαμέας, τὸ μέλαν δρυὸς ἀμφικεάσσας·
ἔντοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς συφεοὺς δυοκαίδεκα ποίει
πλησίον ἀλλήλων, εὐνὰς συσίν· ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῳ
πεντήκοντα σύες χαμαιευνάδες ἐρχατόωντο,
θήλειαι τοκάδες· τοὶ δʼ ἄρσενες ἐκτὸς ἴαυον,
πολλὸν παυρότεροι· τοὺς γὰρ μινύθεσκον ἔδοντες
ἀντίθεοι μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ προΐαλλε συβώτης
αἰεὶ ζατρεφέων σιάλων τὸν ἄριστον ἁπάντων·
οἱ δὲ τριηκόσιοί τε καὶ ἑξήκοντα πέλοντο.
πὰρ δὲ κύνες, θήρεσσιν ἐοικότες αἰὲν ἴαυον
τέσσαρες, οὓς ἔθρεψε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀμφὶ πόδεσσιν ἑοῖς ἀράρισκε πέδιλα,
τάμνων δέρμα βόειον ἐϋχροές· οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
ᾤχοντʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλος ἅμʼ ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσιν,
οἱ τρεῖς· τὸν δὲ τέταρτον ἀποπροέηκε πόλινδε
σῦν ἀγέμεν μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ἀνάγκῃ,
ὄφρʼ ἱερεύσαντες κρειῶν κορεσαίατο θυμόν.
ἐξαπίνης δʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι.
οἱ μὲν κεκλήγοντες ἐπέδραμον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἕζετο κερδοσύνη, σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.
ἔνθα κεν ᾧ πὰρ σταθμῷ ἀεικέλιον πάθεν ἄλγος·
ἀλλὰ συβώτης ὦκα ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπὼν
ἔσσυτʼ ἀνὰ πρόθυρον, σκῦτος δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.
τοὺς μὲν ὁμοκλήσας σεῦεν κύνας ἄλλυδις ἄλλον
πυκνῇσιν λιθάδεσσιν· ὁ δὲ προσέειπεν ἄνακτα·
"Old man, the dogs nearly tore you to pieces
in a moment, and you would have poured reproach on me.
The gods have given me other pains and groanings too;
for I sit mourning and grieving for my godlike lord,
and I rear fat hogs for others
to eat; while he, longing perhaps for food,
wanders through the land and the city of men of a strange tongue,
if indeed he still lives and sees the light of the sun.
But follow me; let us go into the hut, old man, so that you too,
when you have had your fill of bread and wine,
may tell where you are from and what troubles you have borne."
in a moment, and you would have poured reproach on me.
The gods have given me other pains and groanings too;
for I sit mourning and grieving for my godlike lord,
and I rear fat hogs for others
to eat; while he, longing perhaps for food,
wanders through the land and the city of men of a strange tongue,
if indeed he still lives and sees the light of the sun.
But follow me; let us go into the hut, old man, so that you too,
when you have had your fill of bread and wine,
may tell where you are from and what troubles you have borne."
ὦ γέρον, ἦ ὀλίγου σε κύνες διεδηλήσαντο
ἐξαπίνης, καί κέν μοι ἐλεγχείην κατέχευας.
καὶ δέ μοι ἄλλα θεοὶ δόσαν ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τε·
ἀντιθέου γὰρ ἄνακτος ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων
ἧμαι, ἄλλοισιν δὲ σύας σιάλους ἀτιτάλλω
ἔδμεναι· αὐτὰρ κεῖνος ἐελδόμενός που ἐδωδῆς
πλάζετʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλοθρόων ἀνδρῶν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἕπεο, κλισίηνδʼ ἴομεν, γέρον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτός,
σίτου καὶ οἴνοιο κορεσσάμενος κατὰ θυμόν,
εἴπῃς ὁππόθεν ἐσσὶ καὶ ὁππόσα κήδεʼ ἀνέτλης.
ἐξαπίνης, καί κέν μοι ἐλεγχείην κατέχευας.
καὶ δέ μοι ἄλλα θεοὶ δόσαν ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τε·
ἀντιθέου γὰρ ἄνακτος ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων
ἧμαι, ἄλλοισιν δὲ σύας σιάλους ἀτιτάλλω
ἔδμεναι· αὐτὰρ κεῖνος ἐελδόμενός που ἐδωδῆς
πλάζετʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλοθρόων ἀνδρῶν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἕπεο, κλισίηνδʼ ἴομεν, γέρον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτός,
σίτου καὶ οἴνοιο κορεσσάμενος κατὰ θυμόν,
εἴπῃς ὁππόθεν ἐσσὶ καὶ ὁππόσα κήδεʼ ἀνέτλης.
So saying, the noble swineherd led the way to the hut
and brought him in and seated him, strewing thick brushwood
and spreading over it the shaggy hide of a wild goat,
his own bedding, large and thick. Odysseus was glad
that he received him so, and he spoke and called him by name:
and brought him in and seated him, strewing thick brushwood
and spreading over it the shaggy hide of a wild goat,
his own bedding, large and thick. Odysseus was glad
that he received him so, and he spoke and called him by name:
ὣς εἰπὼν κλισίηνδʼ ἡγήσατο δῖος ὑφορβός,
εἷσεν δʼ εἰσαγαγών, ῥῶπας δʼ ὑπέχευε δασείας,
ἐστόρεσεν δʼ ἐπὶ δέρμα ἰονθάδος ἀγρίου αἰγός,
αὐτοῦ ἐνεύναιον, μέγα καὶ δασύ. χαῖρε δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὅττι μιν ὣς ὑπέδεκτο, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
εἷσεν δʼ εἰσαγαγών, ῥῶπας δʼ ὑπέχευε δασείας,
ἐστόρεσεν δʼ ἐπὶ δέρμα ἰονθάδος ἀγρίου αἰγός,
αὐτοῦ ἐνεύναιον, μέγα καὶ δασύ. χαῖρε δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὅττι μιν ὣς ὑπέδεκτο, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"May Zeus grant you, stranger, and the other immortal gods,
what you most wish, since you received me with a ready heart."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
what you most wish, since you received me with a ready heart."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
Ζεύς τοι δοίη, ξεῖνε, καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι
ὅττι μάλιστʼ ἐθέλεις, ὅτι με πρόφρων ὑπέδεξο.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
ὅττι μάλιστʼ ἐθέλεις, ὅτι με πρόφρων ὑπέδεξο.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Stranger, it is not right for me, even if one worse than you should come,
to dishonour a stranger; for from Zeus come all
strangers and beggars; and our gift is small
and dear. For this is the way of servants,
always afraid, when it is the young lords
who hold power. For the gods have bound down the homecoming
of the man who would have cared for me kindly and given me possessions,
a house and a plot of land and a much-wooed wife,
such things as a kind lord gives to his servant
who has worked hard for him, and whose work a god makes prosper,
as this work of mine prospers, which I stay with.
So my lord would have rewarded me greatly, had he grown old here;
but he died—as I wish the whole breed of Helen had died,
brought to its knees, since she loosed the knees of many men;
for he too went for the honour of Agamemnon
to Ilium of the fine horses, to fight against the Trojans."
to dishonour a stranger; for from Zeus come all
strangers and beggars; and our gift is small
and dear. For this is the way of servants,
always afraid, when it is the young lords
who hold power. For the gods have bound down the homecoming
of the man who would have cared for me kindly and given me possessions,
a house and a plot of land and a much-wooed wife,
such things as a kind lord gives to his servant
who has worked hard for him, and whose work a god makes prosper,
as this work of mine prospers, which I stay with.
So my lord would have rewarded me greatly, had he grown old here;
but he died—as I wish the whole breed of Helen had died,
brought to its knees, since she loosed the knees of many men;
for he too went for the honour of Agamemnon
to Ilium of the fine horses, to fight against the Trojans."
ξεῖνʼ, οὔ μοι θέμις ἔστʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ κακίων σέθεν ἔλθοι,
ξεῖνον ἀτιμῆσαι· πρὸς γὰρ Διός εἰσιν ἅπαντες
ξεῖνοί τε πτωχοί τε· δόσις δʼ ὀλίγη τε φίλη τε
γίγνεται ἡμετέρη· ἡ γὰρ δμώων δίκη ἐστὶν
αἰεὶ δειδιότων, ὅτʼ ἐπικρατέωσιν ἄνακτες
οἱ νέοι. ἦ γὰρ τοῦ γε θεοὶ κατὰ νόστον ἔδησαν,
ὅς κεν ἔμʼ ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει καὶ κτῆσιν ὄπασσεν,
οἶκόν τε κλῆρόν τε πολυμνήστην τε γυναῖκα,
οἷά τε ᾧ οἰκῆϊ ἄναξ εὔθυμος ἔδωκεν,
ὅς οἱ πολλὰ κάμῃσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργον ἀέξῃ,
ὡς καὶ ἐμοὶ τόδε ἔργον ἀέξεται, ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω.
τῷ κέ με πόλλʼ ὤνησεν ἄναξ, εἰ αὐτόθʼ ἐγήρα·
ἀλλʼ ὄλεθʼ—ὡς ὤφελλʼ Ἑλένης ἀπὸ φῦλον ὀλέσθαι
πρόχνυ, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσε·
καὶ γὰρ κεῖνος ἔβη Ἀγαμέμνονος εἵνεκα τιμῆς
Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.
ξεῖνον ἀτιμῆσαι· πρὸς γὰρ Διός εἰσιν ἅπαντες
ξεῖνοί τε πτωχοί τε· δόσις δʼ ὀλίγη τε φίλη τε
γίγνεται ἡμετέρη· ἡ γὰρ δμώων δίκη ἐστὶν
αἰεὶ δειδιότων, ὅτʼ ἐπικρατέωσιν ἄνακτες
οἱ νέοι. ἦ γὰρ τοῦ γε θεοὶ κατὰ νόστον ἔδησαν,
ὅς κεν ἔμʼ ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει καὶ κτῆσιν ὄπασσεν,
οἶκόν τε κλῆρόν τε πολυμνήστην τε γυναῖκα,
οἷά τε ᾧ οἰκῆϊ ἄναξ εὔθυμος ἔδωκεν,
ὅς οἱ πολλὰ κάμῃσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργον ἀέξῃ,
ὡς καὶ ἐμοὶ τόδε ἔργον ἀέξεται, ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω.
τῷ κέ με πόλλʼ ὤνησεν ἄναξ, εἰ αὐτόθʼ ἐγήρα·
ἀλλʼ ὄλεθʼ—ὡς ὤφελλʼ Ἑλένης ἀπὸ φῦλον ὀλέσθαι
πρόχνυ, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσε·
καὶ γὰρ κεῖνος ἔβη Ἀγαμέμνονος εἵνεκα τιμῆς
Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.
So saying, he quickly gathered his tunic with his belt
and went to the sties, where the tribes of piglets were penned.
He took two from there and brought them and sacrificed them both,
and singed them and cut them up and pierced them on spits.
When he had roasted it all, he brought it and set it before Odysseus,
hot, on the spits themselves; and he sprinkled white barley-meal over it;
and in a wooden bowl he mixed honey-sweet wine,
and himself sat opposite, and urging him on he said:
and went to the sties, where the tribes of piglets were penned.
He took two from there and brought them and sacrificed them both,
and singed them and cut them up and pierced them on spits.
When he had roasted it all, he brought it and set it before Odysseus,
hot, on the spits themselves; and he sprinkled white barley-meal over it;
and in a wooden bowl he mixed honey-sweet wine,
and himself sat opposite, and urging him on he said:
ὣς εἰπὼν ζωστῆρι θοῶς συνέεργε χιτῶνα,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐς συφεούς, ὅθι ἔθνεα ἔρχατο χοίρων.
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν δύʼ ἔνεικε καὶ ἀμφοτέρους ἱέρευσεν,
εὗσέ τε μίστυλλέν τε καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειρεν.
ὀπτήσας δʼ ἄρα πάντα φέρων παρέθηκʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ
θέρμʼ αὐτοῖς ὀβελοῖσιν· ὁ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνεν·
ἐν δʼ ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον,
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν, ἐποτρύνων δὲ προσηύδα·
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐς συφεούς, ὅθι ἔθνεα ἔρχατο χοίρων.
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν δύʼ ἔνεικε καὶ ἀμφοτέρους ἱέρευσεν,
εὗσέ τε μίστυλλέν τε καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειρεν.
ὀπτήσας δʼ ἄρα πάντα φέρων παρέθηκʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ
θέρμʼ αὐτοῖς ὀβελοῖσιν· ὁ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνεν·
ἐν δʼ ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον,
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν, ἐποτρύνων δὲ προσηύδα·
"Eat now, stranger, such fare as servants have,
young pig; the fatted hogs the suitors eat,
with no thought in their minds of the gods’ anger, and no pity.
The blessed gods do not love reckless deeds,
but they honour justice and the fitting works of men.
Even men who are hostile and murderous, who go against a land
that is not theirs, and to whom Zeus grants plunder,
and who fill their ships and set off for home—
even upon them a strong fear of the gods’ anger falls.
But these men know something; they have heard some voice of a god,
telling of his bitter death, since they will not woo justly
nor go back to their own homes, but at their ease
devour his goods insolently, and there is no sparing.
For every night and every day that comes from Zeus
they sacrifice a victim, and not one only, nor two;
and they waste the wine, drawing it off without restraint.
For his living was past telling; no man had so much,
of the heroes, either on the dark mainland
or in Ithaca itself; not even twenty men together
have such wealth. I will count it out for you.
Twelve herds on the mainland; as many flocks of sheep,
as many droves of swine, as many wide-ranging herds of goats
are pastured there by strangers and by his own herdsmen.
And here wide-ranging herds of goats, eleven in all,
graze at the far end of the island, and good men watch over them.
And every day each of these men brings in a beast,
whichever of the well-fed goats seems the best.
And I guard and keep these swine,
and pick out the best of them carefully and send it in."
young pig; the fatted hogs the suitors eat,
with no thought in their minds of the gods’ anger, and no pity.
The blessed gods do not love reckless deeds,
but they honour justice and the fitting works of men.
Even men who are hostile and murderous, who go against a land
that is not theirs, and to whom Zeus grants plunder,
and who fill their ships and set off for home—
even upon them a strong fear of the gods’ anger falls.
But these men know something; they have heard some voice of a god,
telling of his bitter death, since they will not woo justly
nor go back to their own homes, but at their ease
devour his goods insolently, and there is no sparing.
For every night and every day that comes from Zeus
they sacrifice a victim, and not one only, nor two;
and they waste the wine, drawing it off without restraint.
For his living was past telling; no man had so much,
of the heroes, either on the dark mainland
or in Ithaca itself; not even twenty men together
have such wealth. I will count it out for you.
Twelve herds on the mainland; as many flocks of sheep,
as many droves of swine, as many wide-ranging herds of goats
are pastured there by strangers and by his own herdsmen.
And here wide-ranging herds of goats, eleven in all,
graze at the far end of the island, and good men watch over them.
And every day each of these men brings in a beast,
whichever of the well-fed goats seems the best.
And I guard and keep these swine,
and pick out the best of them carefully and send it in."
ἔσθιε νῦν, ὦ ξεῖνε, τά τε δμώεσσι πάρεστι,
χοίρεʼ· ἀτὰρ σιάλους γε σύας μνηστῆρες ἔδουσιν,
οὐκ ὄπιδα φρονέοντες ἐνὶ φρεσὶν οὐδʼ ἐλεητύν.
οὐ μὲν σχέτλια ἔργα θεοὶ μάκαρες φιλέουσιν,
ἀλλὰ δίκην τίουσι καὶ αἴσιμα ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων.
καὶ μὲν δυσμενέες καὶ ἀνάρσιοι, οἵ τʼ ἐπὶ γαίης
ἀλλοτρίης βῶσιν καί σφι Ζεὺς ληΐδα δώῃ,
πλησάμενοι δέ τε νῆας ἔβαν οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι,
καὶ μὲν τοῖς ὄπιδος κρατερὸν δέος ἐν φρεσὶ πίπτει.
οἵδε δὲ καί τι ἴσασι, θεοῦ δέ τινʼ ἔκλυον αὐδήν,
κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον, ὅτʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι δικαίως
μνᾶσθαι οὐδὲ νέεσθαι ἐπὶ σφέτερʼ, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι
κτήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον, οὐδʼ ἔπι φειδώ.
ὅσσαι γὰρ νύκτες τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐκ Διός εἰσιν,
οὔ ποθʼ ἓν ἱρεύουσʼ ἱερήϊον, οὐδὲ δύʼ οἴω·
οἶνον δὲ φθινύθουσιν ὑπέρβιον ἐξαφύοντες.
ἦ γάρ οἱ ζωή γʼ ἦν ἄσπετος· οὔ τινι τόσση
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οὔτʼ ἠπείροιο μελαίνης
οὔτʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης· οὐδὲ ξυνεείκοσι φωτῶν
ἔστʼ ἄφενος τοσσοῦτον· ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω.
δώδεκʼ ἐν ἠπείρῳ ἀγέλαι· τόσα πώεα οἰῶν,
τόσσα συῶν συβόσια, τόσʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν
βόσκουσι ξεῖνοί τε καὶ αὐτοῦ βώτορες ἄνδρες.
ἐνθάδε δʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν ἕνδεκα πάντα
ἐσχατιῇ βόσκοντʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνέρες ἐσθλοὶ ὄρονται.
τῶν αἰεί σφιν ἕκαστος ἐπʼ ἤματι μῆλον ἀγινεῖ,
ζατρεφέων αἰγῶν ὅς τις φαίνηται ἄριστος.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῦς τάσδε φυλάσσω τε ῥύομαί τε,
καί σφι συῶν τὸν ἄριστον ἐῢ κρίνας ἀποπέμπω.
χοίρεʼ· ἀτὰρ σιάλους γε σύας μνηστῆρες ἔδουσιν,
οὐκ ὄπιδα φρονέοντες ἐνὶ φρεσὶν οὐδʼ ἐλεητύν.
οὐ μὲν σχέτλια ἔργα θεοὶ μάκαρες φιλέουσιν,
ἀλλὰ δίκην τίουσι καὶ αἴσιμα ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων.
καὶ μὲν δυσμενέες καὶ ἀνάρσιοι, οἵ τʼ ἐπὶ γαίης
ἀλλοτρίης βῶσιν καί σφι Ζεὺς ληΐδα δώῃ,
πλησάμενοι δέ τε νῆας ἔβαν οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι,
καὶ μὲν τοῖς ὄπιδος κρατερὸν δέος ἐν φρεσὶ πίπτει.
οἵδε δὲ καί τι ἴσασι, θεοῦ δέ τινʼ ἔκλυον αὐδήν,
κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον, ὅτʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι δικαίως
μνᾶσθαι οὐδὲ νέεσθαι ἐπὶ σφέτερʼ, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι
κτήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον, οὐδʼ ἔπι φειδώ.
ὅσσαι γὰρ νύκτες τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐκ Διός εἰσιν,
οὔ ποθʼ ἓν ἱρεύουσʼ ἱερήϊον, οὐδὲ δύʼ οἴω·
οἶνον δὲ φθινύθουσιν ὑπέρβιον ἐξαφύοντες.
ἦ γάρ οἱ ζωή γʼ ἦν ἄσπετος· οὔ τινι τόσση
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οὔτʼ ἠπείροιο μελαίνης
οὔτʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης· οὐδὲ ξυνεείκοσι φωτῶν
ἔστʼ ἄφενος τοσσοῦτον· ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω.
δώδεκʼ ἐν ἠπείρῳ ἀγέλαι· τόσα πώεα οἰῶν,
τόσσα συῶν συβόσια, τόσʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν
βόσκουσι ξεῖνοί τε καὶ αὐτοῦ βώτορες ἄνδρες.
ἐνθάδε δʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν ἕνδεκα πάντα
ἐσχατιῇ βόσκοντʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνέρες ἐσθλοὶ ὄρονται.
τῶν αἰεί σφιν ἕκαστος ἐπʼ ἤματι μῆλον ἀγινεῖ,
ζατρεφέων αἰγῶν ὅς τις φαίνηται ἄριστος.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῦς τάσδε φυλάσσω τε ῥύομαί τε,
καί σφι συῶν τὸν ἄριστον ἐῢ κρίνας ἀποπέμπω.
So he spoke; and the other ate the meat and drank the wine
greedily and in silence, sowing evils for the suitors.
But when he had dined and satisfied his spirit with food,
the swineherd filled the cup he drank from and gave it to him
brimming with wine; and he took it, and was glad at heart,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
greedily and in silence, sowing evils for the suitors.
But when he had dined and satisfied his spirit with food,
the swineherd filled the cup he drank from and gave it to him
brimming with wine; and he took it, and was glad at heart,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ ἐνδυκέως κρέα τʼ ἤσθιε πῖνέ τε οἶνον
ἁρπαλέως ἀκέων, κακὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι φύτευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε καὶ ἤραρε θυμὸν ἐδωδῇ,
καί οἱ πλησάμενος δῶκε σκύφον, ᾧ περ ἔπινεν,
οἴνου ἐνίπλειον· ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἁρπαλέως ἀκέων, κακὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι φύτευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε καὶ ἤραρε θυμὸν ἐδωδῇ,
καί οἱ πλησάμενος δῶκε σκύφον, ᾧ περ ἔπινεν,
οἴνου ἐνίπλειον· ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"My friend, who was it that bought you with his own possessions,
a man so rich and so powerful as you describe?
You say he perished for the honour of Agamemnon.
Tell me, in case I might know a man such as that.
Zeus knows, I suppose, and the other immortal gods,
whether I have seen him and could bring you news; I have wandered far."
Then the swineherd, leader of men, answered him:
a man so rich and so powerful as you describe?
You say he perished for the honour of Agamemnon.
Tell me, in case I might know a man such as that.
Zeus knows, I suppose, and the other immortal gods,
whether I have seen him and could bring you news; I have wandered far."
Then the swineherd, leader of men, answered him:
ὦ φίλε, τίς γάρ σε πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν,
ὧδε μάλʼ ἀφνειὸς καὶ καρτερὸς ὡς ἀγορεύεις;
φῆς δʼ αὐτὸν φθίσθαι Ἀγαμέμνονος εἵνεκα τιμῆς.
εἰπέ μοι, αἴ κέ ποθι γνώω τοιοῦτον ἐόντα.
Ζεὺς γάρ που τό γε οἶδε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
εἴ κέ μιν ἀγγείλαιμι ἰδών· ἐπὶ πολλὰ δʼ ἀλήθην.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
ὧδε μάλʼ ἀφνειὸς καὶ καρτερὸς ὡς ἀγορεύεις;
φῆς δʼ αὐτὸν φθίσθαι Ἀγαμέμνονος εἵνεκα τιμῆς.
εἰπέ μοι, αἴ κέ ποθι γνώω τοιοῦτον ἐόντα.
Ζεὺς γάρ που τό γε οἶδε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
εἴ κέ μιν ἀγγείλαιμι ἰδών· ἐπὶ πολλὰ δʼ ἀλήθην.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
"Old man, no man who comes here wandering
with news of him could persuade his wife and his dear son,
but wandering men in need of keep
lie idly and will not tell the truth.
Whoever comes to the land of Ithaca on his wanderings
goes to my mistress and talks deceits;
and she receives him kindly and questions him about everything,
and as she mourns the tears fall from her eyelids,
as is right for a woman whose husband has died far away.
You too, old man, would soon put a story together
if someone would give you a cloak and a tunic for clothing.
But by now the swift dogs and the birds
must have torn the skin from his bones, and his spirit has left him;
or the fishes have eaten him in the sea, and his bones
lie on the mainland, wrapped in deep sand.
So he has perished there, and for his friends there are troubles
in time to come, for all of them, and for me most of all; for never again
shall I find so kind a lord, wherever I go,
not even if I came again to the house of my father
and my mother, where I was first born and they reared me.
And I do not grieve so much for them now, though I long
to see them with my eyes, being in my native land;
but longing for Odysseus, who is gone, takes hold of me.
Even though he is not here, stranger, I shrink from naming him;
for he loved me greatly and cared for me in his heart.
But I call him my honoured one, even though he is far away."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
with news of him could persuade his wife and his dear son,
but wandering men in need of keep
lie idly and will not tell the truth.
Whoever comes to the land of Ithaca on his wanderings
goes to my mistress and talks deceits;
and she receives him kindly and questions him about everything,
and as she mourns the tears fall from her eyelids,
as is right for a woman whose husband has died far away.
You too, old man, would soon put a story together
if someone would give you a cloak and a tunic for clothing.
But by now the swift dogs and the birds
must have torn the skin from his bones, and his spirit has left him;
or the fishes have eaten him in the sea, and his bones
lie on the mainland, wrapped in deep sand.
So he has perished there, and for his friends there are troubles
in time to come, for all of them, and for me most of all; for never again
shall I find so kind a lord, wherever I go,
not even if I came again to the house of my father
and my mother, where I was first born and they reared me.
And I do not grieve so much for them now, though I long
to see them with my eyes, being in my native land;
but longing for Odysseus, who is gone, takes hold of me.
Even though he is not here, stranger, I shrink from naming him;
for he loved me greatly and cared for me in his heart.
But I call him my honoured one, even though he is far away."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
ὦ γέρον, οὔ τις κεῖνον ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν
ἀγγέλλων πείσειε γυναῖκά τε καὶ φίλον υἱόν,
ἀλλʼ ἄλλως κομιδῆς κεχρημένοι ἄνδρες ἀλῆται
ψεύδοντʼ, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.
ὃς δέ κʼ ἀλητεύων Ἰθάκης ἐς δῆμον ἵκηται,
ἐλθὼν ἐς δέσποιναν ἐμὴν ἀπατήλια βάζει·
ἡ δʼ εὖ δεξαμένη φιλέει καὶ ἕκαστα μεταλλᾷ,
καί οἱ ὀδυρομένῃ βλεφάρων ἄπο δάκρυα πίπτει,
ἣ θέμις ἐστὶ γυναικός, ἐπὴν πόσις ἄλλοθʼ ὄληται.
αἶψά κε καὶ σύ, γεραιέ, ἔπος παρατεκτήναιο.
εἴ τίς τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα δοίη.
τοῦ δʼ ἤδη μέλλουσι κύνες ταχέες τʼ οἰωνοὶ
ῥινὸν ἀπʼ ὀστεόφιν ἐρύσαι, ψυχὴ δὲ λέλοιπεν·
ἢ τόν γʼ ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ὀστέα δʼ αὐτοῦ
κεῖται ἐπʼ ἠπείρου ψαμάθῳ εἰλυμένα πολλῇ.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλωλε, φίλοισι δὲ κήδεʼ ὀπίσσω
πᾶσιν, ἐμοὶ δὲ μάλιστα, τετεύχαται· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλον
ἤπιον ὧδε ἄνακτα κιχήσομαι, ὁππόσʼ ἐπέλθω,
οὐδʼ εἴ κεν πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος αὖτις ἵκωμαι
οἶκον, ὅθι πρῶτον γενόμην καί μʼ ἔτρεφον αὐτοί.
οὐδέ νυ τῶν ἔτι τόσσον ὀδύρομαι, ἱέμενός περ
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι ἐὼν ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ·
ἀλλά μʼ Ὀδυσσῆος πόθος αἴνυται οἰχομένοιο.
τὸν μὲν ἐγών, ὦ ξεῖνε, καὶ οὐ παρεόντʼ ὀνομάζειν
αἰδέομαι· πέρι γάρ μʼ ἐφίλει καὶ κήδετο θυμῷ·
ἀλλά μιν ἠθεῖον καλέω καὶ νόσφιν ἐόντα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἀγγέλλων πείσειε γυναῖκά τε καὶ φίλον υἱόν,
ἀλλʼ ἄλλως κομιδῆς κεχρημένοι ἄνδρες ἀλῆται
ψεύδοντʼ, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.
ὃς δέ κʼ ἀλητεύων Ἰθάκης ἐς δῆμον ἵκηται,
ἐλθὼν ἐς δέσποιναν ἐμὴν ἀπατήλια βάζει·
ἡ δʼ εὖ δεξαμένη φιλέει καὶ ἕκαστα μεταλλᾷ,
καί οἱ ὀδυρομένῃ βλεφάρων ἄπο δάκρυα πίπτει,
ἣ θέμις ἐστὶ γυναικός, ἐπὴν πόσις ἄλλοθʼ ὄληται.
αἶψά κε καὶ σύ, γεραιέ, ἔπος παρατεκτήναιο.
εἴ τίς τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα δοίη.
τοῦ δʼ ἤδη μέλλουσι κύνες ταχέες τʼ οἰωνοὶ
ῥινὸν ἀπʼ ὀστεόφιν ἐρύσαι, ψυχὴ δὲ λέλοιπεν·
ἢ τόν γʼ ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ὀστέα δʼ αὐτοῦ
κεῖται ἐπʼ ἠπείρου ψαμάθῳ εἰλυμένα πολλῇ.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλωλε, φίλοισι δὲ κήδεʼ ὀπίσσω
πᾶσιν, ἐμοὶ δὲ μάλιστα, τετεύχαται· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλον
ἤπιον ὧδε ἄνακτα κιχήσομαι, ὁππόσʼ ἐπέλθω,
οὐδʼ εἴ κεν πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος αὖτις ἵκωμαι
οἶκον, ὅθι πρῶτον γενόμην καί μʼ ἔτρεφον αὐτοί.
οὐδέ νυ τῶν ἔτι τόσσον ὀδύρομαι, ἱέμενός περ
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι ἐὼν ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ·
ἀλλά μʼ Ὀδυσσῆος πόθος αἴνυται οἰχομένοιο.
τὸν μὲν ἐγών, ὦ ξεῖνε, καὶ οὐ παρεόντʼ ὀνομάζειν
αἰδέομαι· πέρι γάρ μʼ ἐφίλει καὶ κήδετο θυμῷ·
ἀλλά μιν ἠθεῖον καλέω καὶ νόσφιν ἐόντα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"My friend, since you deny it altogether and say
that he will never come, and your spirit is always unbelieving—
still I will not speak idly; I will speak with an oath
that Odysseus is coming home. And let me have my reward for good news
at once, as soon as he comes and reaches his own house:
clothe me in a cloak and a tunic, fine clothing.
Before that, however much I need it, I would take nothing.
For that man is as hateful to me as the gates of Hades
who yields to poverty and talks deceits.
Let Zeus be my witness first among the gods, and the table of guest-friendship,
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come:
all this will be fulfilled as I say.
In the course of this very year Odysseus will come here.
As one month wanes and the next begins,
he will come home, and he will take vengeance on whoever
dishonours his wife and his glorious son here."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
that he will never come, and your spirit is always unbelieving—
still I will not speak idly; I will speak with an oath
that Odysseus is coming home. And let me have my reward for good news
at once, as soon as he comes and reaches his own house:
clothe me in a cloak and a tunic, fine clothing.
Before that, however much I need it, I would take nothing.
For that man is as hateful to me as the gates of Hades
who yields to poverty and talks deceits.
Let Zeus be my witness first among the gods, and the table of guest-friendship,
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come:
all this will be fulfilled as I say.
In the course of this very year Odysseus will come here.
As one month wanes and the next begins,
he will come home, and he will take vengeance on whoever
dishonours his wife and his glorious son here."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπειδὴ πάμπαν ἀναίνεαι, οὐδʼ ἔτι φῇσθα
κεῖνον ἐλεύσεσθαι, θυμὸς δέ τοι αἰὲν ἄπιστος·
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ αὔτως μυθήσομαι, ἀλλὰ σὺν ὅρκῳ,
ὡς νεῖται Ὀδυσεύς· εὐαγγέλιον δέ μοι ἔστω
αὐτίκʼ, ἐπεί κεν κεῖνος ἰὼν τὰ ἃ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται·
ἕσσαι με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά·
πρὶν δέ κε, καὶ μάλα περ κεχρημένος, οὔ τι δεχοίμην.
ἐχθρὸς γάρ μοι κεῖνος ὁμῶς Ἀΐδαο πύλῃσι
γίγνεται, ὃς πενίῃ εἴκων ἀπατήλια βάζει.
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζα,
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω·
ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται ὡς ἀγορεύω.
τοῦδʼ αὐτοῦ λυκάβαντος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
τοῦ μὲν φθίνοντος μηνός, τοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένοιο,
οἴκαδε νοστήσει, καὶ τίσεται ὅς τις ἐκείνου
ἐνθάδʼ ἀτιμάζει ἄλοχον καὶ φαίδιμον υἱόν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
κεῖνον ἐλεύσεσθαι, θυμὸς δέ τοι αἰὲν ἄπιστος·
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ αὔτως μυθήσομαι, ἀλλὰ σὺν ὅρκῳ,
ὡς νεῖται Ὀδυσεύς· εὐαγγέλιον δέ μοι ἔστω
αὐτίκʼ, ἐπεί κεν κεῖνος ἰὼν τὰ ἃ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται·
ἕσσαι με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά·
πρὶν δέ κε, καὶ μάλα περ κεχρημένος, οὔ τι δεχοίμην.
ἐχθρὸς γάρ μοι κεῖνος ὁμῶς Ἀΐδαο πύλῃσι
γίγνεται, ὃς πενίῃ εἴκων ἀπατήλια βάζει.
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζα,
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω·
ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται ὡς ἀγορεύω.
τοῦδʼ αὐτοῦ λυκάβαντος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
τοῦ μὲν φθίνοντος μηνός, τοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένοιο,
οἴκαδε νοστήσει, καὶ τίσεται ὅς τις ἐκείνου
ἐνθάδʼ ἀτιμάζει ἄλοχον καὶ φαίδιμον υἱόν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Old man, I will never pay you that reward for good news,
nor will Odysseus ever come home. But drink
at your ease, and let us turn our minds to other things, and do not
remind me of this; for the spirit in my breast
grieves whenever anyone speaks of my faithful lord.
Let your oath be; but may Odysseus
come as I wish him to, and Penelope
and Laertes the old man and godlike Telemachus.
Now again I mourn without end for the boy that Odysseus fathered,
for Telemachus; when the gods had reared him like a young shoot,
and I said that among men he would be in no way worse
than his dear father, wonderful in build and in looks,
then one of the immortals harmed his balanced wits within him,
or one of men; and he went after news of his father
to holy Pylos; and the noble suitors
are lying in wait for him as he comes home, so that the race
of godlike Arceisius may perish nameless out of Ithaca.
But let him be, whether he is taken
or escapes and the son of Cronos holds his hand over him.
But come, old man, tell me your own troubles,
and tell me this truly, so that I may know well:
who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city and your parents?
On what kind of ship did you come? How did the sailors
bring you to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
For I do not think you came here on foot."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
"Then I will tell you all this quite exactly.
If only we two had food for a long while,
and sweet wine, here inside the hut,
to feast on quietly, while others went about the work;
then easily, even for a whole year,
I could not finish telling the sorrows of my heart,
all that I have suffered by the will of the gods.
I claim my descent from broad Crete,
the son of a rich man; and many other
sons were born and reared in his hall,
lawful, from his wife; but a bought woman was my mother,
a concubine; yet he honoured me equally with his true-born sons,
Castor son of Hylax, from whom I claim my descent.
He was honoured then like a god among the people in Crete
for his good fortune and his wealth and his glorious sons.
But the fates of death came and carried him away
to the house of Hades; and they divided his living,
his high-spirited sons, and cast lots for it,
but to me they gave very little, and assigned me a house.
Still I married a wife from a family of many holdings
because of my own excellence, since I was no fool
nor a runaway from battle. Now all that has left me;
but even so I think you can see the stubble and know
what the crop was; for misery in plenty holds me down.
nor will Odysseus ever come home. But drink
at your ease, and let us turn our minds to other things, and do not
remind me of this; for the spirit in my breast
grieves whenever anyone speaks of my faithful lord.
Let your oath be; but may Odysseus
come as I wish him to, and Penelope
and Laertes the old man and godlike Telemachus.
Now again I mourn without end for the boy that Odysseus fathered,
for Telemachus; when the gods had reared him like a young shoot,
and I said that among men he would be in no way worse
than his dear father, wonderful in build and in looks,
then one of the immortals harmed his balanced wits within him,
or one of men; and he went after news of his father
to holy Pylos; and the noble suitors
are lying in wait for him as he comes home, so that the race
of godlike Arceisius may perish nameless out of Ithaca.
But let him be, whether he is taken
or escapes and the son of Cronos holds his hand over him.
But come, old man, tell me your own troubles,
and tell me this truly, so that I may know well:
who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city and your parents?
On what kind of ship did you come? How did the sailors
bring you to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
For I do not think you came here on foot."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
"Then I will tell you all this quite exactly.
If only we two had food for a long while,
and sweet wine, here inside the hut,
to feast on quietly, while others went about the work;
then easily, even for a whole year,
I could not finish telling the sorrows of my heart,
all that I have suffered by the will of the gods.
I claim my descent from broad Crete,
the son of a rich man; and many other
sons were born and reared in his hall,
lawful, from his wife; but a bought woman was my mother,
a concubine; yet he honoured me equally with his true-born sons,
Castor son of Hylax, from whom I claim my descent.
He was honoured then like a god among the people in Crete
for his good fortune and his wealth and his glorious sons.
But the fates of death came and carried him away
to the house of Hades; and they divided his living,
his high-spirited sons, and cast lots for it,
but to me they gave very little, and assigned me a house.
Still I married a wife from a family of many holdings
because of my own excellence, since I was no fool
nor a runaway from battle. Now all that has left me;
but even so I think you can see the stubble and know
what the crop was; for misery in plenty holds me down.
ὦ γέρον, οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼν εὐαγγέλιον τόδε τίσω,
οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
πῖνε, καὶ ἄλλα παρὲξ μεμνώμεθα, μηδέ με τούτων
μίμνησκʼ· ἦ γὰρ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν
ἄχνυται, ὁππότε τις μνήσῃ κεδνοῖο ἄνακτος.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι ὅρκον μὲν ἐάσομεν, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἔλθοι ὅπως μιν ἐγώ γʼ ἐθέλω καὶ Πηνελόπεια
Λαέρτης θʼ ὁ γέρων καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής.
νῦν αὖ παιδὸς ἄλαστον ὀδύρομαι, ὃν τέκʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
Τηλεμάχου· τὸν ἐπεὶ θρέψαν θεοὶ ἔρνεϊ ἶσον,
καί μιν ἔφην ἔσσεσθαι ἐν ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι χέρηα
πατρὸς ἑοῖο φίλοιο, δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἀγητόν,
τὸν δέ τις ἀθανάτων βλάψε φρένας ἔνδον ἐΐσας
ἠέ τις ἀνθρώπων· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην· τὸν δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοὶ
οἴκαδʼ ἰόντα λοχῶσιν, ὅπως ἀπὸ φῦλον ὄληται
νώνυμον ἐξ Ἰθάκης Ἀρκεισίου ἀντιθέοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κεῖνον μὲν ἐάσομεν, ἤ κεν ἁλώῃ
ἦ κε φύγῃ καί κέν οἱ ὑπέρσχῃ χεῖρα Κρονίων.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι σύ, γεραιέ, τὰ σʼ αὐτοῦ κήδεʼ ἐνίσπες
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
ὁπποίης τʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἀφίκεο· πῶς δέ σε ναῦται
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
εἴη μὲν νῦν νῶϊν ἐπὶ χρόνον ἠμὲν ἐδωδὴ
ἠδὲ μέθυ γλυκερὸν κλισίης ἔντοσθεν ἐοῦσι,
δαίνυσθαι ἀκέοντʼ, ἄλλοι δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργον ἕποιεν·
ῥηϊδίως κεν ἔπειτα καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπαντα
οὔ τι διαπρήξαιμι λέγων ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμοῦ,
ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.
ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχομαι εὐρειάων,
ἀνέρος ἀφνειοῖο πάϊς· πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι
υἱέες ἐν μεγάρῳ ἠμὲν τράφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο
γνήσιοι ἐξ ἀλόχου· ἐμὲ δʼ ὠνητὴ τέκε μήτηρ
παλλακίς, ἀλλά με ἶσον ἰθαιγενέεσσιν ἐτίμα
Κάστωρ Ὑλακίδης, τοῦ ἐγὼ γένος εὔχομαι εἶναι
ὃς τότʼ ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς τίετο δήμῳ
ὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε καὶ υἱάσι κυδαλίμοισιν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι τὸν κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαι
εἰς Ἀΐδαο δόμους· τοὶ δὲ ζωὴν ἐδάσαντο
παῖδες ὑπέρθυμοι καὶ ἐπὶ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο,
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ μάλα παῦρα δόσαν καὶ οἰκίʼ ἔνειμαν.
ἠγαγόμην δὲ γυναῖκα πολυκλήρων ἀνθρώπων
εἵνεκʼ ἐμῆς ἀρετῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιος ἦα
οὐδὲ φυγοπτόλεμος· νῦν δʼ ἤδη πάντα λέλοιπεν
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης καλάμην γέ σʼ ὀΐομαι εἰσορόωντα
γιγνώσκειν· ἦ γάρ με δύη ἔχει ἤλιθα πολλή.
οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
πῖνε, καὶ ἄλλα παρὲξ μεμνώμεθα, μηδέ με τούτων
μίμνησκʼ· ἦ γὰρ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν
ἄχνυται, ὁππότε τις μνήσῃ κεδνοῖο ἄνακτος.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι ὅρκον μὲν ἐάσομεν, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἔλθοι ὅπως μιν ἐγώ γʼ ἐθέλω καὶ Πηνελόπεια
Λαέρτης θʼ ὁ γέρων καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής.
νῦν αὖ παιδὸς ἄλαστον ὀδύρομαι, ὃν τέκʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
Τηλεμάχου· τὸν ἐπεὶ θρέψαν θεοὶ ἔρνεϊ ἶσον,
καί μιν ἔφην ἔσσεσθαι ἐν ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι χέρηα
πατρὸς ἑοῖο φίλοιο, δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἀγητόν,
τὸν δέ τις ἀθανάτων βλάψε φρένας ἔνδον ἐΐσας
ἠέ τις ἀνθρώπων· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην· τὸν δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοὶ
οἴκαδʼ ἰόντα λοχῶσιν, ὅπως ἀπὸ φῦλον ὄληται
νώνυμον ἐξ Ἰθάκης Ἀρκεισίου ἀντιθέοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κεῖνον μὲν ἐάσομεν, ἤ κεν ἁλώῃ
ἦ κε φύγῃ καί κέν οἱ ὑπέρσχῃ χεῖρα Κρονίων.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι σύ, γεραιέ, τὰ σʼ αὐτοῦ κήδεʼ ἐνίσπες
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
ὁπποίης τʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἀφίκεο· πῶς δέ σε ναῦται
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
εἴη μὲν νῦν νῶϊν ἐπὶ χρόνον ἠμὲν ἐδωδὴ
ἠδὲ μέθυ γλυκερὸν κλισίης ἔντοσθεν ἐοῦσι,
δαίνυσθαι ἀκέοντʼ, ἄλλοι δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργον ἕποιεν·
ῥηϊδίως κεν ἔπειτα καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπαντα
οὔ τι διαπρήξαιμι λέγων ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμοῦ,
ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.
ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχομαι εὐρειάων,
ἀνέρος ἀφνειοῖο πάϊς· πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι
υἱέες ἐν μεγάρῳ ἠμὲν τράφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο
γνήσιοι ἐξ ἀλόχου· ἐμὲ δʼ ὠνητὴ τέκε μήτηρ
παλλακίς, ἀλλά με ἶσον ἰθαιγενέεσσιν ἐτίμα
Κάστωρ Ὑλακίδης, τοῦ ἐγὼ γένος εὔχομαι εἶναι
ὃς τότʼ ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς τίετο δήμῳ
ὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε καὶ υἱάσι κυδαλίμοισιν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι τὸν κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαι
εἰς Ἀΐδαο δόμους· τοὶ δὲ ζωὴν ἐδάσαντο
παῖδες ὑπέρθυμοι καὶ ἐπὶ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο,
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ μάλα παῦρα δόσαν καὶ οἰκίʼ ἔνειμαν.
ἠγαγόμην δὲ γυναῖκα πολυκλήρων ἀνθρώπων
εἵνεκʼ ἐμῆς ἀρετῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιος ἦα
οὐδὲ φυγοπτόλεμος· νῦν δʼ ἤδη πάντα λέλοιπεν
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης καλάμην γέ σʼ ὀΐομαι εἰσορόωντα
γιγνώσκειν· ἦ γάρ με δύη ἔχει ἤλιθα πολλή.
Ares and Athena gave me daring
and the power to break the ranks of men. Whenever I picked men
for an ambush, the best of them, sowing evils for my enemies,
my lordly spirit never looked ahead to death,
but I would leap out far ahead of all and take with my spear
whichever of the enemy gave way before me on his feet.
Such was I in war. But work was never dear to me,
nor the keeping of a house, which rears glorious children;
but always ships with oars were dear to me
and wars and polished javelins and arrows,
grim things, which make other men shudder.
But those were dear to me, which a god put in my mind;
for one man delights in one kind of work and another in another.
Before the sons of the Achaeans set foot on Troy,
nine times I led men and swift-sailing ships
against foreign peoples, and much came my way.
Out of it I took what pleased me, and much afterwards
I received by lot; and my house grew rich at once, and then
I was feared and respected among the Cretans.
But when far-seeing Zeus devised that hateful voyage
which loosed the knees of many men,
then they ordered me and glorious Idomeneus
to lead the ships to Ilium; and there was no way
to refuse, for the people’s talk pressed hard.
There we sons of the Achaeans fought for nine years,
and in the tenth we sacked the city of Priam and went
home with our ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans.
But for me, wretched man, Zeus the counsellor devised evils.
For one month only I stayed, taking my joy in my children
and my wedded wife and my possessions; but after that
my spirit urged me to make a voyage to Egypt,
having fitted out ships well with godlike companions.
I fitted out nine ships, and the crews gathered quickly.
For six days then my trusty companions
feasted; and I provided many victims
to sacrifice to the gods and to make a meal for themselves.
And on the seventh we went aboard and sailed from broad Crete
with a fine fresh North Wind,
easily, as though downstream; and none of my ships
took any harm, but unhurt and free of sickness
we sat, and the wind and the helmsmen kept them straight.
On the fifth day we came to the fair-flowing Egypt,
and I moored my curved ships in the river of Egypt.
There I told my trusty companions
to stay by the ships and to guard them,
and I sent out scouts to go up to the lookouts.
But they gave way to insolence, following their own violence,
and at once they set about plundering the beautiful fields
of the men of Egypt, and carried off the women and little children
and killed the men; and the cry came quickly to the city.
Hearing the shouting, they came at the showing of dawn,
and the whole plain was filled with foot-soldiers and horses
and the flash of bronze; and Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
cast an evil panic on my companions, and none of them dared
to stand and face them; for evils stood about us on every side.
There they killed many of us with the sharp bronze,
and led others away alive, to work for them under compulsion.
But Zeus himself put this thought in my mind—
how I wish I had died and met my doom
there in Egypt; for more suffering was waiting to take me—
at once I took the well-made helmet from my head
and the shield from my shoulders, and let the spear fall from my hand;
and I went straight to meet the king’s horses
and took hold of his knees and kissed them; and he protected me and pitied me,
and set me in his chariot and took me weeping home.
Very many indeed rushed at me with their ash spears,
eager to kill me—for they were exceedingly angry—
but he kept them off, and feared the wrath of Zeus,
the god of guest-friendship, who most of all resents evil deeds.
There I stayed seven years, and gathered much
wealth among the men of Egypt; for they all gave to me.
But when the eighth year came round to me,
then a Phoenician came, a man who knew deceits,
a gnawer, who had done much evil to men;
and he took me along, persuading me with his wits, until we came
to Phoenicia, where his house and his possessions lay.
There I stayed with him for a whole year, until it was fulfilled.
But when the months and the days were fulfilled
as the year came round again and the seasons returned,
he set me on a seagoing ship for Libya,
having planned lies, so that I might carry the cargo with him;
but there he meant to sell me and get an enormous price.
I went aboard with him, suspecting it, but of necessity.
And she ran with a fine fresh North Wind,
out over the middle of Crete; but Zeus devised destruction for them.
But when we had left Crete, and no other
land appeared, but only sky and sea,
then the son of Cronos set a dark cloud
over the hollow ship, and the sea grew dark beneath it.
And Zeus thundered at the same moment and struck the ship with a bolt;
and she reeled all over, struck by the bolt of Zeus,
and was filled with sulphur; and they all fell from the ship.
Like sea-crows they were carried on the waves
about the black ship; and the god took away their homecoming.
But for me, though I had pains in my heart, Zeus himself
put into my hands the huge mast of the dark-prowed ship,
so that I might still escape ruin.
Wrapped about it I was carried by the deadly winds.
For nine days I was carried, and on the tenth black night
a great rolling wave brought me to the land of the Thesprotians.
There Pheidon, king of the Thesprotians, took care of me,
the hero, without ransom; for his own son came upon me
overcome with cold and exhaustion, and led me to his house,
raising me by the hand, until he reached his father’s halls;
and he clothed me in a cloak and a tunic for clothing.
There I learned of Odysseus; for the king said
that he had received him as a guest-friend on his way to his native land,
and he showed me the goods that Odysseus had gathered,
bronze and gold and iron wrought with much labour.
It would keep another man to the tenth generation;
so many treasures of that lord lay in his halls.
He said that Odysseus had gone to Dodona, to hear
the will of Zeus from the god’s high-leafed oak,
how he might come home to the rich land of Ithaca,
after being away so long, whether openly or in secret.
And he swore to me myself, pouring a libation in his house,
that a ship had been drawn down and companions were ready
to send him to his dear native land.
But he sent me off first; for a ship of Thesprotian men
happened to be going to Dulichium, rich in wheat.
He ordered them to take me to king Acastus
with care; but an evil plan pleased their minds
concerning me, so that I should come to the very depth of misery.
But when the seagoing ship had sailed far from land,
at once they contrived the day of slavery for me.
They stripped me of my cloak and my tunic, my clothing,
and threw about me another garment, a poor rag and a tunic,
torn—the very things you see with your own eyes;
and in the evening they came to the fields of clear-seen Ithaca.
There they bound me fast in the well-benched ship
with a well-twisted rope, and they themselves went ashore
and took their supper in haste beside the shore of the sea.
But the gods themselves loosed my bonds
easily; and wrapping the rag about my head
I went down the polished steering-oar and brought my breast
to the sea, and then rowed with both my hands,
swimming, and very quickly I was out and away from them.
I came ashore where there was a thicket of flowering wood,
and lay there crouching. And they went about
groaning loudly; but it did not seem to them worth while
to search any further, and they went back again
aboard the hollow ship; and the gods themselves hid me
easily, and brought me and led me to the farmstead
of a man who knows his work; for it is still my portion to live."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
and the power to break the ranks of men. Whenever I picked men
for an ambush, the best of them, sowing evils for my enemies,
my lordly spirit never looked ahead to death,
but I would leap out far ahead of all and take with my spear
whichever of the enemy gave way before me on his feet.
Such was I in war. But work was never dear to me,
nor the keeping of a house, which rears glorious children;
but always ships with oars were dear to me
and wars and polished javelins and arrows,
grim things, which make other men shudder.
But those were dear to me, which a god put in my mind;
for one man delights in one kind of work and another in another.
Before the sons of the Achaeans set foot on Troy,
nine times I led men and swift-sailing ships
against foreign peoples, and much came my way.
Out of it I took what pleased me, and much afterwards
I received by lot; and my house grew rich at once, and then
I was feared and respected among the Cretans.
But when far-seeing Zeus devised that hateful voyage
which loosed the knees of many men,
then they ordered me and glorious Idomeneus
to lead the ships to Ilium; and there was no way
to refuse, for the people’s talk pressed hard.
There we sons of the Achaeans fought for nine years,
and in the tenth we sacked the city of Priam and went
home with our ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans.
But for me, wretched man, Zeus the counsellor devised evils.
For one month only I stayed, taking my joy in my children
and my wedded wife and my possessions; but after that
my spirit urged me to make a voyage to Egypt,
having fitted out ships well with godlike companions.
I fitted out nine ships, and the crews gathered quickly.
For six days then my trusty companions
feasted; and I provided many victims
to sacrifice to the gods and to make a meal for themselves.
And on the seventh we went aboard and sailed from broad Crete
with a fine fresh North Wind,
easily, as though downstream; and none of my ships
took any harm, but unhurt and free of sickness
we sat, and the wind and the helmsmen kept them straight.
On the fifth day we came to the fair-flowing Egypt,
and I moored my curved ships in the river of Egypt.
There I told my trusty companions
to stay by the ships and to guard them,
and I sent out scouts to go up to the lookouts.
But they gave way to insolence, following their own violence,
and at once they set about plundering the beautiful fields
of the men of Egypt, and carried off the women and little children
and killed the men; and the cry came quickly to the city.
Hearing the shouting, they came at the showing of dawn,
and the whole plain was filled with foot-soldiers and horses
and the flash of bronze; and Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
cast an evil panic on my companions, and none of them dared
to stand and face them; for evils stood about us on every side.
There they killed many of us with the sharp bronze,
and led others away alive, to work for them under compulsion.
But Zeus himself put this thought in my mind—
how I wish I had died and met my doom
there in Egypt; for more suffering was waiting to take me—
at once I took the well-made helmet from my head
and the shield from my shoulders, and let the spear fall from my hand;
and I went straight to meet the king’s horses
and took hold of his knees and kissed them; and he protected me and pitied me,
and set me in his chariot and took me weeping home.
Very many indeed rushed at me with their ash spears,
eager to kill me—for they were exceedingly angry—
but he kept them off, and feared the wrath of Zeus,
the god of guest-friendship, who most of all resents evil deeds.
There I stayed seven years, and gathered much
wealth among the men of Egypt; for they all gave to me.
But when the eighth year came round to me,
then a Phoenician came, a man who knew deceits,
a gnawer, who had done much evil to men;
and he took me along, persuading me with his wits, until we came
to Phoenicia, where his house and his possessions lay.
There I stayed with him for a whole year, until it was fulfilled.
But when the months and the days were fulfilled
as the year came round again and the seasons returned,
he set me on a seagoing ship for Libya,
having planned lies, so that I might carry the cargo with him;
but there he meant to sell me and get an enormous price.
I went aboard with him, suspecting it, but of necessity.
And she ran with a fine fresh North Wind,
out over the middle of Crete; but Zeus devised destruction for them.
But when we had left Crete, and no other
land appeared, but only sky and sea,
then the son of Cronos set a dark cloud
over the hollow ship, and the sea grew dark beneath it.
And Zeus thundered at the same moment and struck the ship with a bolt;
and she reeled all over, struck by the bolt of Zeus,
and was filled with sulphur; and they all fell from the ship.
Like sea-crows they were carried on the waves
about the black ship; and the god took away their homecoming.
But for me, though I had pains in my heart, Zeus himself
put into my hands the huge mast of the dark-prowed ship,
so that I might still escape ruin.
Wrapped about it I was carried by the deadly winds.
For nine days I was carried, and on the tenth black night
a great rolling wave brought me to the land of the Thesprotians.
There Pheidon, king of the Thesprotians, took care of me,
the hero, without ransom; for his own son came upon me
overcome with cold and exhaustion, and led me to his house,
raising me by the hand, until he reached his father’s halls;
and he clothed me in a cloak and a tunic for clothing.
There I learned of Odysseus; for the king said
that he had received him as a guest-friend on his way to his native land,
and he showed me the goods that Odysseus had gathered,
bronze and gold and iron wrought with much labour.
It would keep another man to the tenth generation;
so many treasures of that lord lay in his halls.
He said that Odysseus had gone to Dodona, to hear
the will of Zeus from the god’s high-leafed oak,
how he might come home to the rich land of Ithaca,
after being away so long, whether openly or in secret.
And he swore to me myself, pouring a libation in his house,
that a ship had been drawn down and companions were ready
to send him to his dear native land.
But he sent me off first; for a ship of Thesprotian men
happened to be going to Dulichium, rich in wheat.
He ordered them to take me to king Acastus
with care; but an evil plan pleased their minds
concerning me, so that I should come to the very depth of misery.
But when the seagoing ship had sailed far from land,
at once they contrived the day of slavery for me.
They stripped me of my cloak and my tunic, my clothing,
and threw about me another garment, a poor rag and a tunic,
torn—the very things you see with your own eyes;
and in the evening they came to the fields of clear-seen Ithaca.
There they bound me fast in the well-benched ship
with a well-twisted rope, and they themselves went ashore
and took their supper in haste beside the shore of the sea.
But the gods themselves loosed my bonds
easily; and wrapping the rag about my head
I went down the polished steering-oar and brought my breast
to the sea, and then rowed with both my hands,
swimming, and very quickly I was out and away from them.
I came ashore where there was a thicket of flowering wood,
and lay there crouching. And they went about
groaning loudly; but it did not seem to them worth while
to search any further, and they went back again
aboard the hollow ship; and the gods themselves hid me
easily, and brought me and led me to the farmstead
of a man who knows his work; for it is still my portion to live."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ἦ μὲν δὴ θάρσος μοι Ἄρης τʼ ἔδοσαν καὶ Ἀθήνη
καὶ ῥηξηνορίην· ὁπότε κρίνοιμι λόχονδε
ἄνδρας ἀριστῆας, κακὰ δυσμενέεσσι φυτεύων,
οὔ ποτέ μοι θάνατον προτιόσσετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρώτιστος ἐπάλμενος ἔγχει ἕλεσκον
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων ὅ τέ μοι εἴξειε πόδεσσιν.
τοῖος ἔα ἐν πολέμῳ· ἔργον δέ μοι οὐ φίλον ἔσκεν
οὐδʼ οἰκωφελίη, ἥ τε τρέφει ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,
ἀλλά μοι αἰεὶ νῆες ἐπήρετμοι φίλαι ἦσαν
καὶ πόλεμοι καὶ ἄκοντες ἐΰξεστοι καὶ ὀϊστοί,
λυγρά, τά τʼ ἄλλοισίν γε καταριγηλὰ πέλονται.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τὰ φίλʼ ἔσκε τά που θεὸς ἐν φρεσὶ θῆκεν·
ἄλλος γάρ τʼ ἄλλοισιν ἀνὴρ ἐπιτέρπεται ἔργοις.
πρὶν μὲν γὰρ Τροίης ἐπιβήμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
εἰνάκις ἀνδράσιν ἦρξα καὶ ὠκυπόροισι νέεσσιν
ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαπούς, καί μοι μάλα τύγχανε πολλά.
τῶν ἐξαιρεύμην μενοεικέα, πολλὰ δʼ ὀπίσσω
λάγχανον· αἶψα δὲ οἶκος ὀφέλλετο, καί ῥα ἔπειτα
δεινός τʼ αἰδοῖός τε μετὰ Κρήτεσσι τετύγμην.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τήν γε στυγερὴν ὁδὸν εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἐφράσαθʼ, ἣ πολλῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσε,
δὴ τότʼ ἔμʼ ἤνωγον καὶ ἀγακλυτὸν Ἰδομενῆα
νήεσσʼ ἡγήσασθαι ἐς Ἴλιον· οὐδέ τι μῆχος
ἦεν ἀνήνασθαι, χαλεπὴ δʼ ἔχε δήμου φῆμις.
ἔνθα μὲν εἰνάετες πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν Πριάμου πέρσαντες ἔβημεν
οἴκαδε σὺν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δειλῷ κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεύς·
μῆνα γὰρ οἶον ἔμεινα τεταρπόμενος τεκέεσσιν
κουριδίῃ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ κτήμασιν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
Αἴγυπτόνδε με θυμὸς ἀνώγει ναυτίλλεσθαι,
νῆας ἐῢ στείλαντα σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν.
ἐννέα νῆας στεῖλα, θοῶς δʼ ἐσαγείρατο λαός.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ἔπειτα ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι
δαίνυντʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἱερήϊα πολλὰ παρεῖχον
θεοῖσίν τε ῥέζειν αὐτοῖσί τε δαῖτα πένεσθαι.
ἑβδομάτῃ δʼ ἀναβάντες ἀπὸ Κρήτης εὐρείης
ἐπλέομεν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ ἀκραέϊ καλῷ
ῥηϊδίως, ὡς εἴ τε κατὰ ῥόον· οὐδέ τις οὖν μοι
νηῶν πημάνθη, ἀλλʼ ἀσκηθέες καὶ ἄνουσοι
ἥμεθα, τὰς δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνῆταί τʼ ἴθυνον.
πεμπταῖοι δʼ Αἴγυπτον ἐϋρρείτην ἱκόμεσθα,
στῆσα δʼ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ποταμῷ νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νήεσσι μένειν καὶ νῆας ἔρυσθαι,
ὀπτῆρας δὲ κατὰ σκοπιὰς ὤτρυνα νέεσθαι·
οἱ δʼ ὕβρει εἴξαντες, ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ,
αἶψα μάλʼ Αἰγυπτίων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέας ἀγροὺς
πόρθεον, ἐκ δὲ γυναῖκας ἄγον καὶ νήπια τέκνα,
αὐτούς τʼ ἔκτεινον· τάχα δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἵκετʼ ἀϋτή.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀΐοντες ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν
ἦλθον· πλῆτο δὲ πᾶν πεδίον πεζῶν τε καὶ ἵππων
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπῆς· ἐν δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος
φύζαν ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι κακὴν βάλεν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
μεῖναι ἐναντίβιον· περὶ γὰρ κακὰ πάντοθεν ἔστη.
ἔνθʼ ἡμέων πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
τοὺς δʼ ἄναγον ζωούς, σφίσιν ἐργάζεσθαι ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὧδε νόημα
ποίησʼ—ὡς ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν
αὐτοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ· ἔτι γάρ νύ με πῆμʼ ὑπέδεκτο—
αὐτίκʼ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκα
καὶ σάκος ὤμοιϊν, δόρυ δʼ ἔκβαλον ἔκτοσε χειρός·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βασιλῆος ἐναντίον ἤλυθον ἵππων
καὶ κύσα γούναθʼ ἑλών· ὁδʼ ἐρύσατο καί μʼ ἐλέησεν,
ἐς δίφρον δέ μʼ ἕσας ἄγεν οἴκαδε δάκρυ χέοντα.
ἦ μέν μοι μάλα πολλοὶ ἐπήϊσσον μελίῃσιν,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι—δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην—
ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ κεῖνος ἔρυκε, Διὸς δʼ ὠπίζετο μῆνιν
ξεινίου, ὅς τε μάλιστα νεμεσσᾶται κακὰ ἔργα.
ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον αὐτόθι, πολλὰ δʼ ἄγειρα
χρήματʼ ἀνʼ Αἰγυπτίους ἄνδρας· δίδοσαν γὰρ ἅπαντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὄγδοόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,
δὴ τότε Φοῖνιξ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ ἀπατήλια εἰδώς,
τρώκτης, ὃς δὴ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐώργει·
ὅς μʼ ἄγε παρπεπιθὼν ᾗσι φρεσίν, ὄφρʼ ἱκόμεσθα
Φοινίκην, ὅθι τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματʼ ἔκειτο.
ἔνθα παρʼ αὐτῷ μεῖνα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντο
ἄψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
ἐς Λιβύην μʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐέσσατο ποντοπόροιο
ψεύδεα βουλεύσας, ἵνα οἱ σὺν φόρτον ἄγοιμι,
κεῖθι δέ μʼ ὡς περάσειε καὶ ἄσπετον ὦνον ἕλοιτο.
τῷ ἑπόμην ἐπὶ νηός, ὀϊόμενός περ, ἀνάγκῃ.
ἡ δʼ ἔθεεν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ ἀκραέϊ καλῷ,
μέσσον ὑπὲρ Κρήτης· Ζεὺς δέ σφισι μήδετʼ ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Κρήτην μὲν ἐλείπομεν, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
φαίνετο γαιάων, ἀλλʼ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα,
δὴ τότε κυανέην νεφέλην ἔστησε Κρονίων
νηὸς ὕπερ γλαφυρῆς, ἤχλυσε δὲ πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.
Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμυδις βρόντησε καὶ ἔμβαλε νηῒ κεραυνόν·
ἡ δʼ ἐλελίχθη πᾶσα Διὸς πληγεῖσα κεραυνῷ,
ἐν δὲ θεείου πλῆτο· πέσον δʼ ἐκ νηὸς ἅπαντες.
οἱ δὲ κορώνῃσιν ἴκελοι περὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
κύμασιν ἐμφορέοντο· θεὸς δʼ ἀποαίνυτο νόστον.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς αὐτός, ἔχοντί περ ἄλγεα θυμῷ,
ἱστὸν ἀμαιμάκετον νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ὅπως ἔτι πῆμα φύγοιμι.
τῷ ῥα περιπλεχθεὶς φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν.
ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην, δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ
γαίῃ Θεσπρωτῶν πέλασεν μέγα κῦμα κυλίνδον.
ἔνθα με Θεσπρωτῶν βασιλεὺς ἐκομίσσατο Φείδων
ἥρως ἀπριάτην· τοῦ γὰρ φίλος υἱὸς ἐπελθὼν
αἴθρῳ καὶ καμάτῳ δεδμημένον ἦγεν ἐς οἶκον,
χειρὸς ἀναστήσας, ὄφρʼ ἵκετο δώματα πατρός·
ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσεν.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ πυθόμην· κεῖνος γὰρ ἔφασκε
ξεινίσαι ἠδὲ φιλῆσαι ἰόντʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
καί μοι κτήματʼ ἔδειξεν ὅσα ξυναγείρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε πολύκμητόν τε σίδηρον.
καί νύ ἐς δεκάτην γενεὴν ἕτερόν γʼ ἔτι βόσκοι·
τόσσα οἱ ἐν μεγάροις κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος.
τὸν δʼ ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖο
ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,
ὅππως νοστήσειʼ Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμον
ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.
ὤμοσε δὲ πρὸς ἔμʼ αὐτόν, ἀποσπένδων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,
οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ πρὶν ἀπέπεμψε· τύχησε γὰρ ἐρχομένη νηῦς
ἀνδρῶν Θεσπρωτῶν ἐς Δουλίχιον πολύπυρον.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γέ μʼ ἠνώγει πέμψαι βασιλῆϊ Ἀκάστῳ
ἐνδυκέως· τοῖσιν δὲ κακὴ φρεσὶν ἥνδανε βουλὴ
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, ὄφρʼ ἔτι πάγχυ δύης ἐπὶ πῆμα γενοίμην.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε γαίης πολλὸν ἀπέπλω ποντοπόρος νηῦς,
αὐτίκα δούλιον ἦμαρ ἐμοὶ περιμηχανόωντο.
ἐκ μέν με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἔδυσαν,
ἀμφὶ δέ μοι ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
ῥωγαλέα, τὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὅρηαι·
ἑσπέριοι δʼ Ἰθάκης εὐδειέλου ἔργʼ ἀφίκοντο.
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν κατέδησαν ἐϋσσέλμῳ ἐνὶ νηῒ
ὅπλῳ ἐϋστρεφέϊ στερεῶς, αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀποβάντες
ἐσσυμένως παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης δόρπον ἕλοντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν μὲν ἀνέγναμψαν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ
ῥηϊδίως· κεφαλῇ δὲ κατὰ ῥάκος ἀμφικαλύψας,
ξεστὸν ἐφόλκαιον καταβὰς ἐπέλασσα θαλάσσῃ
στῆθος, ἔπειτα δὲ χερσὶ διήρεσσʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι
νηχόμενος, μάλα δʼ ὦκα θύρηθʼ ἔα ἀμφὶς ἐκείνων.
ἔνθʼ ἀναβάς, ὅθι τε δρίος ἦν πολυανθέος ὕλης,
κείμην πεπτηώς. οἱ δὲ μεγάλα στενάχοντες
φοίτων· ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ σφιν ἐφαίνετο κέρδιον εἶναι
μαίεσθαι προτέρω, τοὶ μὲν πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαινον
νηὸς ἔπι γλαφυρῆς· ἐμὲ δʼ ἔκρυψαν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ
ῥηϊδίως, καί με σταθμῷ ἐπέλασσαν ἄγοντες
ἀνδρὸς ἐπισταμένου· ἔτι γάρ νύ μοι αἶσα βιῶναι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
καὶ ῥηξηνορίην· ὁπότε κρίνοιμι λόχονδε
ἄνδρας ἀριστῆας, κακὰ δυσμενέεσσι φυτεύων,
οὔ ποτέ μοι θάνατον προτιόσσετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρώτιστος ἐπάλμενος ἔγχει ἕλεσκον
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων ὅ τέ μοι εἴξειε πόδεσσιν.
τοῖος ἔα ἐν πολέμῳ· ἔργον δέ μοι οὐ φίλον ἔσκεν
οὐδʼ οἰκωφελίη, ἥ τε τρέφει ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,
ἀλλά μοι αἰεὶ νῆες ἐπήρετμοι φίλαι ἦσαν
καὶ πόλεμοι καὶ ἄκοντες ἐΰξεστοι καὶ ὀϊστοί,
λυγρά, τά τʼ ἄλλοισίν γε καταριγηλὰ πέλονται.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τὰ φίλʼ ἔσκε τά που θεὸς ἐν φρεσὶ θῆκεν·
ἄλλος γάρ τʼ ἄλλοισιν ἀνὴρ ἐπιτέρπεται ἔργοις.
πρὶν μὲν γὰρ Τροίης ἐπιβήμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
εἰνάκις ἀνδράσιν ἦρξα καὶ ὠκυπόροισι νέεσσιν
ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαπούς, καί μοι μάλα τύγχανε πολλά.
τῶν ἐξαιρεύμην μενοεικέα, πολλὰ δʼ ὀπίσσω
λάγχανον· αἶψα δὲ οἶκος ὀφέλλετο, καί ῥα ἔπειτα
δεινός τʼ αἰδοῖός τε μετὰ Κρήτεσσι τετύγμην.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τήν γε στυγερὴν ὁδὸν εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἐφράσαθʼ, ἣ πολλῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσε,
δὴ τότʼ ἔμʼ ἤνωγον καὶ ἀγακλυτὸν Ἰδομενῆα
νήεσσʼ ἡγήσασθαι ἐς Ἴλιον· οὐδέ τι μῆχος
ἦεν ἀνήνασθαι, χαλεπὴ δʼ ἔχε δήμου φῆμις.
ἔνθα μὲν εἰνάετες πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,
τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν Πριάμου πέρσαντες ἔβημεν
οἴκαδε σὺν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δειλῷ κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεύς·
μῆνα γὰρ οἶον ἔμεινα τεταρπόμενος τεκέεσσιν
κουριδίῃ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ κτήμασιν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
Αἴγυπτόνδε με θυμὸς ἀνώγει ναυτίλλεσθαι,
νῆας ἐῢ στείλαντα σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν.
ἐννέα νῆας στεῖλα, θοῶς δʼ ἐσαγείρατο λαός.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ἔπειτα ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι
δαίνυντʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἱερήϊα πολλὰ παρεῖχον
θεοῖσίν τε ῥέζειν αὐτοῖσί τε δαῖτα πένεσθαι.
ἑβδομάτῃ δʼ ἀναβάντες ἀπὸ Κρήτης εὐρείης
ἐπλέομεν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ ἀκραέϊ καλῷ
ῥηϊδίως, ὡς εἴ τε κατὰ ῥόον· οὐδέ τις οὖν μοι
νηῶν πημάνθη, ἀλλʼ ἀσκηθέες καὶ ἄνουσοι
ἥμεθα, τὰς δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνῆταί τʼ ἴθυνον.
πεμπταῖοι δʼ Αἴγυπτον ἐϋρρείτην ἱκόμεσθα,
στῆσα δʼ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ποταμῷ νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νήεσσι μένειν καὶ νῆας ἔρυσθαι,
ὀπτῆρας δὲ κατὰ σκοπιὰς ὤτρυνα νέεσθαι·
οἱ δʼ ὕβρει εἴξαντες, ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ,
αἶψα μάλʼ Αἰγυπτίων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέας ἀγροὺς
πόρθεον, ἐκ δὲ γυναῖκας ἄγον καὶ νήπια τέκνα,
αὐτούς τʼ ἔκτεινον· τάχα δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἵκετʼ ἀϋτή.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀΐοντες ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν
ἦλθον· πλῆτο δὲ πᾶν πεδίον πεζῶν τε καὶ ἵππων
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπῆς· ἐν δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος
φύζαν ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι κακὴν βάλεν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
μεῖναι ἐναντίβιον· περὶ γὰρ κακὰ πάντοθεν ἔστη.
ἔνθʼ ἡμέων πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
τοὺς δʼ ἄναγον ζωούς, σφίσιν ἐργάζεσθαι ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὧδε νόημα
ποίησʼ—ὡς ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν
αὐτοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ· ἔτι γάρ νύ με πῆμʼ ὑπέδεκτο—
αὐτίκʼ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκα
καὶ σάκος ὤμοιϊν, δόρυ δʼ ἔκβαλον ἔκτοσε χειρός·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βασιλῆος ἐναντίον ἤλυθον ἵππων
καὶ κύσα γούναθʼ ἑλών· ὁδʼ ἐρύσατο καί μʼ ἐλέησεν,
ἐς δίφρον δέ μʼ ἕσας ἄγεν οἴκαδε δάκρυ χέοντα.
ἦ μέν μοι μάλα πολλοὶ ἐπήϊσσον μελίῃσιν,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι—δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην—
ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ κεῖνος ἔρυκε, Διὸς δʼ ὠπίζετο μῆνιν
ξεινίου, ὅς τε μάλιστα νεμεσσᾶται κακὰ ἔργα.
ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον αὐτόθι, πολλὰ δʼ ἄγειρα
χρήματʼ ἀνʼ Αἰγυπτίους ἄνδρας· δίδοσαν γὰρ ἅπαντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὄγδοόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,
δὴ τότε Φοῖνιξ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ ἀπατήλια εἰδώς,
τρώκτης, ὃς δὴ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐώργει·
ὅς μʼ ἄγε παρπεπιθὼν ᾗσι φρεσίν, ὄφρʼ ἱκόμεσθα
Φοινίκην, ὅθι τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματʼ ἔκειτο.
ἔνθα παρʼ αὐτῷ μεῖνα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντο
ἄψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
ἐς Λιβύην μʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐέσσατο ποντοπόροιο
ψεύδεα βουλεύσας, ἵνα οἱ σὺν φόρτον ἄγοιμι,
κεῖθι δέ μʼ ὡς περάσειε καὶ ἄσπετον ὦνον ἕλοιτο.
τῷ ἑπόμην ἐπὶ νηός, ὀϊόμενός περ, ἀνάγκῃ.
ἡ δʼ ἔθεεν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ ἀκραέϊ καλῷ,
μέσσον ὑπὲρ Κρήτης· Ζεὺς δέ σφισι μήδετʼ ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Κρήτην μὲν ἐλείπομεν, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
φαίνετο γαιάων, ἀλλʼ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα,
δὴ τότε κυανέην νεφέλην ἔστησε Κρονίων
νηὸς ὕπερ γλαφυρῆς, ἤχλυσε δὲ πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.
Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμυδις βρόντησε καὶ ἔμβαλε νηῒ κεραυνόν·
ἡ δʼ ἐλελίχθη πᾶσα Διὸς πληγεῖσα κεραυνῷ,
ἐν δὲ θεείου πλῆτο· πέσον δʼ ἐκ νηὸς ἅπαντες.
οἱ δὲ κορώνῃσιν ἴκελοι περὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
κύμασιν ἐμφορέοντο· θεὸς δʼ ἀποαίνυτο νόστον.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς αὐτός, ἔχοντί περ ἄλγεα θυμῷ,
ἱστὸν ἀμαιμάκετον νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ὅπως ἔτι πῆμα φύγοιμι.
τῷ ῥα περιπλεχθεὶς φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν.
ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην, δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ
γαίῃ Θεσπρωτῶν πέλασεν μέγα κῦμα κυλίνδον.
ἔνθα με Θεσπρωτῶν βασιλεὺς ἐκομίσσατο Φείδων
ἥρως ἀπριάτην· τοῦ γὰρ φίλος υἱὸς ἐπελθὼν
αἴθρῳ καὶ καμάτῳ δεδμημένον ἦγεν ἐς οἶκον,
χειρὸς ἀναστήσας, ὄφρʼ ἵκετο δώματα πατρός·
ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσεν.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ πυθόμην· κεῖνος γὰρ ἔφασκε
ξεινίσαι ἠδὲ φιλῆσαι ἰόντʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
καί μοι κτήματʼ ἔδειξεν ὅσα ξυναγείρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε πολύκμητόν τε σίδηρον.
καί νύ ἐς δεκάτην γενεὴν ἕτερόν γʼ ἔτι βόσκοι·
τόσσα οἱ ἐν μεγάροις κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος.
τὸν δʼ ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖο
ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,
ὅππως νοστήσειʼ Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμον
ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.
ὤμοσε δὲ πρὸς ἔμʼ αὐτόν, ἀποσπένδων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,
οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ πρὶν ἀπέπεμψε· τύχησε γὰρ ἐρχομένη νηῦς
ἀνδρῶν Θεσπρωτῶν ἐς Δουλίχιον πολύπυρον.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γέ μʼ ἠνώγει πέμψαι βασιλῆϊ Ἀκάστῳ
ἐνδυκέως· τοῖσιν δὲ κακὴ φρεσὶν ἥνδανε βουλὴ
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, ὄφρʼ ἔτι πάγχυ δύης ἐπὶ πῆμα γενοίμην.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε γαίης πολλὸν ἀπέπλω ποντοπόρος νηῦς,
αὐτίκα δούλιον ἦμαρ ἐμοὶ περιμηχανόωντο.
ἐκ μέν με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἔδυσαν,
ἀμφὶ δέ μοι ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,
ῥωγαλέα, τὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὅρηαι·
ἑσπέριοι δʼ Ἰθάκης εὐδειέλου ἔργʼ ἀφίκοντο.
ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν κατέδησαν ἐϋσσέλμῳ ἐνὶ νηῒ
ὅπλῳ ἐϋστρεφέϊ στερεῶς, αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀποβάντες
ἐσσυμένως παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης δόρπον ἕλοντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν μὲν ἀνέγναμψαν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ
ῥηϊδίως· κεφαλῇ δὲ κατὰ ῥάκος ἀμφικαλύψας,
ξεστὸν ἐφόλκαιον καταβὰς ἐπέλασσα θαλάσσῃ
στῆθος, ἔπειτα δὲ χερσὶ διήρεσσʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι
νηχόμενος, μάλα δʼ ὦκα θύρηθʼ ἔα ἀμφὶς ἐκείνων.
ἔνθʼ ἀναβάς, ὅθι τε δρίος ἦν πολυανθέος ὕλης,
κείμην πεπτηώς. οἱ δὲ μεγάλα στενάχοντες
φοίτων· ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ σφιν ἐφαίνετο κέρδιον εἶναι
μαίεσθαι προτέρω, τοὶ μὲν πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαινον
νηὸς ἔπι γλαφυρῆς· ἐμὲ δʼ ἔκρυψαν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ
ῥηϊδίως, καί με σταθμῷ ἐπέλασσαν ἄγοντες
ἀνδρὸς ἐπισταμένου· ἔτι γάρ νύ μοι αἶσα βιῶναι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Ah, most wretched of strangers, you have stirred my spirit indeed
in telling all these things, what you have suffered and how far you have wandered.
But this is not in order, I think, and you will not persuade me
with what you say about Odysseus. Why must a man like you
lie for nothing? I know well enough myself
about my lord’s homecoming, that he was hated by all the gods
utterly, since they did not bring him down among the Trojans,
or in the arms of his friends, when he had wound up the war.
Then all the Achaeans would have made a tomb for him,
and he would have won great glory for his son as well in time to come.
But as it is, the storm-winds have snatched him away without glory.
And I keep apart with the swine; I do not go
to the city, unless circumspect Penelope
urges me to come, when some message arrives from somewhere.
Then they sit beside the man and question him about each thing,
both those who grieve that their lord is long gone
and those who rejoice as they devour his living without payment.
But it is no pleasure to me to ask and to inquire,
since an Aetolian man deceived me with a story,
who had killed a man and wandered over much land
and came to my house; and I welcomed him gladly.
He said he had seen Odysseus among the Cretans, with Idomeneus,
mending the ships that the storms had broken for him;
and he said he would come either in the summer or in the autumn,
bringing much wealth, with his godlike companions.
And you, old man of many sorrows, since some god has brought you to me,
do not try to please me with lies or to bewitch me;
for it is not for that that I will respect you or be your friend,
but out of fear of Zeus of guest-friendship, and out of pity for you."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
"How unbelieving the spirit in your breast must be,
when I could not bring you round or persuade you even with an oath.
But come now, let us make a compact; and afterwards
let the gods who hold Olympus be witnesses for us both.
If your lord comes home to this house,
clothe me in a cloak and a tunic and send me on
to go to Dulichium, where my heart wishes to be;
but if your lord does not come as I say,
set your servants on me and throw me from a great rock,
so that another beggar may take care not to deceive."
Then the noble swineherd answered him and said:
in telling all these things, what you have suffered and how far you have wandered.
But this is not in order, I think, and you will not persuade me
with what you say about Odysseus. Why must a man like you
lie for nothing? I know well enough myself
about my lord’s homecoming, that he was hated by all the gods
utterly, since they did not bring him down among the Trojans,
or in the arms of his friends, when he had wound up the war.
Then all the Achaeans would have made a tomb for him,
and he would have won great glory for his son as well in time to come.
But as it is, the storm-winds have snatched him away without glory.
And I keep apart with the swine; I do not go
to the city, unless circumspect Penelope
urges me to come, when some message arrives from somewhere.
Then they sit beside the man and question him about each thing,
both those who grieve that their lord is long gone
and those who rejoice as they devour his living without payment.
But it is no pleasure to me to ask and to inquire,
since an Aetolian man deceived me with a story,
who had killed a man and wandered over much land
and came to my house; and I welcomed him gladly.
He said he had seen Odysseus among the Cretans, with Idomeneus,
mending the ships that the storms had broken for him;
and he said he would come either in the summer or in the autumn,
bringing much wealth, with his godlike companions.
And you, old man of many sorrows, since some god has brought you to me,
do not try to please me with lies or to bewitch me;
for it is not for that that I will respect you or be your friend,
but out of fear of Zeus of guest-friendship, and out of pity for you."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
"How unbelieving the spirit in your breast must be,
when I could not bring you round or persuade you even with an oath.
But come now, let us make a compact; and afterwards
let the gods who hold Olympus be witnesses for us both.
If your lord comes home to this house,
clothe me in a cloak and a tunic and send me on
to go to Dulichium, where my heart wishes to be;
but if your lord does not come as I say,
set your servants on me and throw me from a great rock,
so that another beggar may take care not to deceive."
Then the noble swineherd answered him and said:
ἆ δειλὲ ξείνων, ἦ μοι μάλα θυμὸν ὄρινας
ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἠδʼ ὅσʼ ἀλήθης.
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ὀΐομαι, οὐδέ με πείσεις
εἰπὼν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ· τί σε χρὴ τοῖον ἐόντα
μαψιδίως ψεύδεσθαι; ἐγὼ δʼ εὖ οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς
νόστον ἐμοῖο ἄνακτος, ὅ τʼ ἤχθετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι
πάγχυ μάλʼ, ὅττι μιν οὔ τι μετὰ Τρώεσσι δάμασσαν
ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσε.
τῷ κέν οἱ τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,
ἠδέ κε καὶ ᾧ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρατʼ ὀπίσσω
νῦν δέ μιν ἀκλειῶς ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ παρʼ ὕεσσιν ἀπότροπος· οὐδὲ πόλινδε
ἔρχομαι, εἰ μή πού τι περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
ἐλθέμεν ὀτρύνῃσιν, ὅτʼ ἀγγελίη ποθὲν ἔλθῃ.
ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα παρήμενοι ἐξερέουσιν,
ἠμὲν οἳ ἄχνυνται δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
ἠδʼ οἳ χαίρουσιν βίοτον νήποινον ἔδοντες·
ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ οὐ φίλον ἐστὶ μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,
ἐξ οὗ δή μʼ Αἰτωλὸς ἀνὴρ ἐξήπαφε μύθῳ,
ὅς ῥʼ ἄνδρα κτείνας, πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀληθείς,
ἦλθεν ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματʼ· ἐγὼ δέ μιν ἀμφαγάπαζον.
φῆ δέ μιν ἐν Κρήτεσσι παρʼ Ἰδομενῆϊ ἰδέσθαι
νῆας ἀκειόμενον, τάς οἱ ξυνέαξαν ἄελλαι·
καὶ φάτʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι ἢ ἐς θέρος ἢ ἐς ὀπώρην,
πολλὰ χρήματʼ ἄγοντα, σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι.
καὶ σύ, γέρον πολυπενθές, ἐπεί σέ μοι ἤγαγε δαίμων,
μήτε τί μοι ψεύδεσσι χαρίζεο μήτε τι θέλγε·
οὐ γὰρ τοὔνεκʼ ἐγώ σʼ αἰδέσσομαι οὐδὲ φιλήσω,
ἀλλὰ Δία ξένιον δείσας αὐτόν τʼ ἐλεαίρων.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
ἦ μάλα τίς τοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἄπιστος,
οἷόν σʼ οὐδʼ ὀμόσας περ ἐπήγαγον οὐδέ σε πείθω.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ῥήτρην ποιησόμεθʼ· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθε
μάρτυροι ἀμφοτέροισι θεοί, τοὶ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.
εἰ μέν κεν νοστήσῃ ἄναξ τεὸς ἐς τόδε δῶμα,
ἕσσας με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα πέμψαι
Δουλίχιόνδʼ ἰέναι, ὅθι μοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·
εἰ δέ κε μὴ ἔλθῃσιν ἄναξ τεὸς ὡς ἀγορεύω,
δμῶας ἐπισσεύας βαλέειν μεγάλης κατὰ πέτρης,
ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλος πτωχὸς ἀλεύεται ἠπεροπεύειν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε δῖος ὑφορβός·
ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἠδʼ ὅσʼ ἀλήθης.
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ὀΐομαι, οὐδέ με πείσεις
εἰπὼν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ· τί σε χρὴ τοῖον ἐόντα
μαψιδίως ψεύδεσθαι; ἐγὼ δʼ εὖ οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς
νόστον ἐμοῖο ἄνακτος, ὅ τʼ ἤχθετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι
πάγχυ μάλʼ, ὅττι μιν οὔ τι μετὰ Τρώεσσι δάμασσαν
ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσε.
τῷ κέν οἱ τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,
ἠδέ κε καὶ ᾧ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρατʼ ὀπίσσω
νῦν δέ μιν ἀκλειῶς ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ παρʼ ὕεσσιν ἀπότροπος· οὐδὲ πόλινδε
ἔρχομαι, εἰ μή πού τι περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
ἐλθέμεν ὀτρύνῃσιν, ὅτʼ ἀγγελίη ποθὲν ἔλθῃ.
ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα παρήμενοι ἐξερέουσιν,
ἠμὲν οἳ ἄχνυνται δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
ἠδʼ οἳ χαίρουσιν βίοτον νήποινον ἔδοντες·
ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ οὐ φίλον ἐστὶ μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,
ἐξ οὗ δή μʼ Αἰτωλὸς ἀνὴρ ἐξήπαφε μύθῳ,
ὅς ῥʼ ἄνδρα κτείνας, πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀληθείς,
ἦλθεν ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματʼ· ἐγὼ δέ μιν ἀμφαγάπαζον.
φῆ δέ μιν ἐν Κρήτεσσι παρʼ Ἰδομενῆϊ ἰδέσθαι
νῆας ἀκειόμενον, τάς οἱ ξυνέαξαν ἄελλαι·
καὶ φάτʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι ἢ ἐς θέρος ἢ ἐς ὀπώρην,
πολλὰ χρήματʼ ἄγοντα, σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι.
καὶ σύ, γέρον πολυπενθές, ἐπεί σέ μοι ἤγαγε δαίμων,
μήτε τί μοι ψεύδεσσι χαρίζεο μήτε τι θέλγε·
οὐ γὰρ τοὔνεκʼ ἐγώ σʼ αἰδέσσομαι οὐδὲ φιλήσω,
ἀλλὰ Δία ξένιον δείσας αὐτόν τʼ ἐλεαίρων.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
ἦ μάλα τίς τοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἄπιστος,
οἷόν σʼ οὐδʼ ὀμόσας περ ἐπήγαγον οὐδέ σε πείθω.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ῥήτρην ποιησόμεθʼ· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθε
μάρτυροι ἀμφοτέροισι θεοί, τοὶ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.
εἰ μέν κεν νοστήσῃ ἄναξ τεὸς ἐς τόδε δῶμα,
ἕσσας με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα πέμψαι
Δουλίχιόνδʼ ἰέναι, ὅθι μοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·
εἰ δέ κε μὴ ἔλθῃσιν ἄναξ τεὸς ὡς ἀγορεύω,
δμῶας ἐπισσεύας βαλέειν μεγάλης κατὰ πέτρης,
ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλος πτωχὸς ἀλεύεται ἠπεροπεύειν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε δῖος ὑφορβός·
"Stranger, that would indeed give me a fine name and excellence
among men, both now and afterwards,
if, after bringing you to my hut and giving you the gifts of guest-friendship,
I then killed you and took your dear life away.
I should pray to Zeus son of Cronos with a ready heart after that!
But now it is time for supper. May my companions be here
very soon, so that we may make a savoury supper in the hut."
among men, both now and afterwards,
if, after bringing you to my hut and giving you the gifts of guest-friendship,
I then killed you and took your dear life away.
I should pray to Zeus son of Cronos with a ready heart after that!
But now it is time for supper. May my companions be here
very soon, so that we may make a savoury supper in the hut."
ξεῖνʼ, οὕτω γάρ κέν μοι ἐϋκλείη τʼ ἀρετή τε
εἴη ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους ἅμα τʼ αὐτίκα καὶ μετέπειτα,
ὅς σʼ ἐπεὶ ἐς κλισίην ἄγαγον καὶ ξείνια δῶκα,
αὖτις δὲ κτείναιμι φίλον τʼ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλοίμην·
πρόφρων κεν δὴ ἔπειτα Δία Κρονίωνα λιτοίμην.
νῦν δʼ ὥρη δόρποιο· τάχιστά μοι ἔνδον ἑταῖροι
εἶεν, ἵνʼ ἐν κλισίῃ λαρὸν τετυκοίμεθα δόρπον.
εἴη ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους ἅμα τʼ αὐτίκα καὶ μετέπειτα,
ὅς σʼ ἐπεὶ ἐς κλισίην ἄγαγον καὶ ξείνια δῶκα,
αὖτις δὲ κτείναιμι φίλον τʼ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλοίμην·
πρόφρων κεν δὴ ἔπειτα Δία Κρονίωνα λιτοίμην.
νῦν δʼ ὥρη δόρποιο· τάχιστά μοι ἔνδον ἑταῖροι
εἶεν, ἵνʼ ἐν κλισίῃ λαρὸν τετυκοίμεθα δόρπον.
So they spoke such things to one another;
and the swine came near, and the men who herded them.
They penned them to sleep in their usual places,
and a huge squealing rose from the swine as they were shut in;
and the noble swineherd called to his companions:
and the swine came near, and the men who herded them.
They penned them to sleep in their usual places,
and a huge squealing rose from the swine as they were shut in;
and the noble swineherd called to his companions:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
ἀγχίμολον δὲ σύες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἦλθον ὑφορβοί.
τὰς μὲν ἄρα ἔρξαν κατὰ ἤθεα κοιμηθῆναι,
κλαγγὴ δʼ ἄσπετος ὦρτο συῶν αὐλιζομενάων
αὐτὰρ ὁ οἷς ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο δῖος ὑφορβός·
ἀγχίμολον δὲ σύες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἦλθον ὑφορβοί.
τὰς μὲν ἄρα ἔρξαν κατὰ ἤθεα κοιμηθῆναι,
κλαγγὴ δʼ ἄσπετος ὦρτο συῶν αὐλιζομενάων
αὐτὰρ ὁ οἷς ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο δῖος ὑφορβός·
"Bring the best of the swine, so that I may sacrifice it for the stranger
from a far country; and we ourselves will have some good of it, we who long
have suffered hardship for the sake of the white-tusked swine,
while others eat the fruit of our labour without payment."
from a far country; and we ourselves will have some good of it, we who long
have suffered hardship for the sake of the white-tusked swine,
while others eat the fruit of our labour without payment."
ἄξεθʼ ὑῶν τὸν ἄριστον, ἵνα ξείνῳ ἱερεύσω
τηλεδαπῷ· πρὸς δʼ αὐτοὶ ὀνησόμεθʼ, οἵ περ ὀϊζὺν
δὴν ἔχομεν πάσχοντες ὑῶν ἕνεκʼ ἀργιοδόντων·
ἄλλοι δʼ ἡμέτερον κάματον νήποινον ἔδουσιν.
τηλεδαπῷ· πρὸς δʼ αὐτοὶ ὀνησόμεθʼ, οἵ περ ὀϊζὺν
δὴν ἔχομεν πάσχοντες ὑῶν ἕνεκʼ ἀργιοδόντων·
ἄλλοι δʼ ἡμέτερον κάματον νήποινον ἔδουσιν.
So saying, he split wood with the pitiless bronze,
and they brought in a hog, very fat, five years old.
They set it then at the hearth; and the swineherd
did not forget the immortals, for his mind was good;
but he cut the first hairs from the head of the white-tusked
hog and threw them in the fire, and prayed to all the gods
that Odysseus of many wits might come home to his own house.
Then he lifted a billet of oak that he had left when splitting, and struck;
and the life left the beast. They cut its throat and singed it
and quickly cut it up; and the swineherd laid raw pieces,
beginning with all the limbs, on the rich fat,
and threw them in the fire, sprinkling them with barley-meal,
and they cut up the rest and pierced it on spits
and roasted it carefully and drew it all off,
and threw it in heaps on the platters. And the swineherd
stood up to divide it; for his mind knew what was fitting.
He cut it all up and shared it into seven portions.
One he set aside for the nymphs and for Hermes, son of Maia,
with a prayer, and he gave out the others to each man;
and he honoured Odysseus with the long chine
of the white-tusked hog, and gladdened his lord’s spirit.
And Odysseus of many devices spoke to him and said:
and they brought in a hog, very fat, five years old.
They set it then at the hearth; and the swineherd
did not forget the immortals, for his mind was good;
but he cut the first hairs from the head of the white-tusked
hog and threw them in the fire, and prayed to all the gods
that Odysseus of many wits might come home to his own house.
Then he lifted a billet of oak that he had left when splitting, and struck;
and the life left the beast. They cut its throat and singed it
and quickly cut it up; and the swineherd laid raw pieces,
beginning with all the limbs, on the rich fat,
and threw them in the fire, sprinkling them with barley-meal,
and they cut up the rest and pierced it on spits
and roasted it carefully and drew it all off,
and threw it in heaps on the platters. And the swineherd
stood up to divide it; for his mind knew what was fitting.
He cut it all up and shared it into seven portions.
One he set aside for the nymphs and for Hermes, son of Maia,
with a prayer, and he gave out the others to each man;
and he honoured Odysseus with the long chine
of the white-tusked hog, and gladdened his lord’s spirit.
And Odysseus of many devices spoke to him and said:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κέασε ξύλα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,
οἱ δʼ ὗν εἰσῆγον μάλα πίονα πενταέτηρον.
τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔστησαν ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ· οὐδὲ συβώτης
λήθετʼ ἄρʼ ἀθανάτων· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητʼ ἀγαθῇσιν·
ἀλλʼ ὅγʼ ἀπαρχόμενος κεφαλῆς τρίχας ἐν πυρὶ βάλλεν
ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, καὶ ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσιν
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.
κόψε δʼ ἀνασχόμενος σχίζῃ δρυός, ἣν λίπε κείων·
τὸν δʼ ἔλιπε ψυχή. τοὶ δʼ ἔσφαξάν τε καὶ εὗσαν·
αἶψα δέ μιν διέχευαν· ὁ δʼ ὠμοθετεῖτο συβώτης,
πάντων ἀρχόμενος μελέων, ἐς πίονα δημόν,
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν πυρὶ βάλλε, παλύνας ἀλφίτου ἀκτῇ,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα,
βάλλον δʼ εἰν ἐλεοῖσιν ἀολλέα· ἂν δὲ συβώτης
ἵστατο δαιτρεύσων· περὶ γὰρ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα ᾔδη.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἕπταχα πάντα διεμοιρᾶτο δαΐζων·
τὴν μὲν ἴαν νύμφῃσι καὶ Ἑρμῇ, Μαιάδος υἱεῖ,
θῆκεν ἐπευξάμενος, τὰς δʼ ἄλλας νεῖμεν ἑκάστῳ·
νώτοισιν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρεν
ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, κύδαινε δὲ θυμὸν ἄνακτος·
καί μιν φωνήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
οἱ δʼ ὗν εἰσῆγον μάλα πίονα πενταέτηρον.
τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔστησαν ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ· οὐδὲ συβώτης
λήθετʼ ἄρʼ ἀθανάτων· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητʼ ἀγαθῇσιν·
ἀλλʼ ὅγʼ ἀπαρχόμενος κεφαλῆς τρίχας ἐν πυρὶ βάλλεν
ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, καὶ ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσιν
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.
κόψε δʼ ἀνασχόμενος σχίζῃ δρυός, ἣν λίπε κείων·
τὸν δʼ ἔλιπε ψυχή. τοὶ δʼ ἔσφαξάν τε καὶ εὗσαν·
αἶψα δέ μιν διέχευαν· ὁ δʼ ὠμοθετεῖτο συβώτης,
πάντων ἀρχόμενος μελέων, ἐς πίονα δημόν,
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν πυρὶ βάλλε, παλύνας ἀλφίτου ἀκτῇ,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα,
βάλλον δʼ εἰν ἐλεοῖσιν ἀολλέα· ἂν δὲ συβώτης
ἵστατο δαιτρεύσων· περὶ γὰρ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα ᾔδη.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἕπταχα πάντα διεμοιρᾶτο δαΐζων·
τὴν μὲν ἴαν νύμφῃσι καὶ Ἑρμῇ, Μαιάδος υἱεῖ,
θῆκεν ἐπευξάμενος, τὰς δʼ ἄλλας νεῖμεν ἑκάστῳ·
νώτοισιν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρεν
ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, κύδαινε δὲ θυμὸν ἄνακτος·
καί μιν φωνήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Eumaeus, may you be as dear to father Zeus
as you are to me, since you honour me with good things, such as I am."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
as you are to me, since you honour me with good things, such as I am."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
αἴθʼ οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιο
ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι τε τοῖον ἐόντʼ ἀγαθοῖσι γεραίρεις.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι τε τοῖον ἐόντʼ ἀγαθοῖσι γεραίρεις.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Eat, strange guest, and take pleasure in these things,
such as we have. A god will give one thing and withhold another,
whatever he wishes in his heart; for he can do all things."
such as we have. A god will give one thing and withhold another,
whatever he wishes in his heart; for he can do all things."
ἔσθιε, δαιμόνιε ξείνων, καὶ τέρπεο τοῖσδε,
οἷα πάρεστι· θεὸς δὲ τὸ μὲν δώσει, τὸ δʼ ἐάσει,
ὅττι κεν ᾧ θυμῷ ἐθέλῃ· δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα.
οἷα πάρεστι· θεὸς δὲ τὸ μὲν δώσει, τὸ δʼ ἐάσει,
ὅττι κεν ᾧ θυμῷ ἐθέλῃ· δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα.
So he spoke, and burnt the first offerings to the gods who are for ever,
and when he had poured the sparkling wine he put it into the hands
of Odysseus the sacker of cities; and he sat down by his own portion.
Mesaulius served them bread; the swineherd
had got him for himself while his lord was away,
apart from his mistress and from Laertes the old man;
he had bought him from the Taphians with his own possessions.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
Mesaulius took away the bread; and they hurried to bed,
filled with bread and meat.
And an evil moonless night came on, and Zeus rained
all night long, and the great West Wind blew, always full of wet.
Then Odysseus spoke among them, making trial of the swineherd,
to see whether he would take off his cloak and give it to him, or urge
one of the others, since he cared for him so much:
"Hear me now, Eumaeus and all you other companions,
I will speak a word with a prayer; for the wine drives me,
the deluding wine, which sets even a man of many wits singing
and laughing softly, and drives him to dance,
and lets slip a word that had better have been unsaid.
But since I have cried out once, I will not hide it.
If only I were young, and my strength were firm in me,
as when we made ready an ambush and led it under Troy.
Odysseus and Menelaus, son of Atreus, were the leaders,
and I was the third in command with them; for they themselves ordered it.
But when we had come to the city and the steep wall,
we lay down about the town in the thick brushwood,
among the reeds and the marsh, crouching under our armour.
And an evil night came on when the North Wind fell,
freezing; and snow came down from above like hoar-frost,
cold, and the ice formed about our shields.
There all the others had cloaks and tunics
and slept at ease, with their shoulders wrapped in their shields;
but I had left my cloak behind with my companions when I came,
in my foolishness, since I did not think I would be cold at all,
but had followed with only my shield and a shining loin-guard.
But when it was the third watch of the night, and the stars had crossed over,
then I spoke to Odysseus, who was near me,
nudging him with my elbow; and he listened at once:
’Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
I shall not be among the living much longer; the winter
is overcoming me, for I have no cloak. Some god deceived me
into wearing only my tunic; and now there is no escape.’
So I spoke, and he then held this thought in his heart,
such a man was he for planning and for fighting;
and speaking in a low voice he said to me:
and when he had poured the sparkling wine he put it into the hands
of Odysseus the sacker of cities; and he sat down by his own portion.
Mesaulius served them bread; the swineherd
had got him for himself while his lord was away,
apart from his mistress and from Laertes the old man;
he had bought him from the Taphians with his own possessions.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
Mesaulius took away the bread; and they hurried to bed,
filled with bread and meat.
And an evil moonless night came on, and Zeus rained
all night long, and the great West Wind blew, always full of wet.
Then Odysseus spoke among them, making trial of the swineherd,
to see whether he would take off his cloak and give it to him, or urge
one of the others, since he cared for him so much:
"Hear me now, Eumaeus and all you other companions,
I will speak a word with a prayer; for the wine drives me,
the deluding wine, which sets even a man of many wits singing
and laughing softly, and drives him to dance,
and lets slip a word that had better have been unsaid.
But since I have cried out once, I will not hide it.
If only I were young, and my strength were firm in me,
as when we made ready an ambush and led it under Troy.
Odysseus and Menelaus, son of Atreus, were the leaders,
and I was the third in command with them; for they themselves ordered it.
But when we had come to the city and the steep wall,
we lay down about the town in the thick brushwood,
among the reeds and the marsh, crouching under our armour.
And an evil night came on when the North Wind fell,
freezing; and snow came down from above like hoar-frost,
cold, and the ice formed about our shields.
There all the others had cloaks and tunics
and slept at ease, with their shoulders wrapped in their shields;
but I had left my cloak behind with my companions when I came,
in my foolishness, since I did not think I would be cold at all,
but had followed with only my shield and a shining loin-guard.
But when it was the third watch of the night, and the stars had crossed over,
then I spoke to Odysseus, who was near me,
nudging him with my elbow; and he listened at once:
’Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
I shall not be among the living much longer; the winter
is overcoming me, for I have no cloak. Some god deceived me
into wearing only my tunic; and now there is no escape.’
So I spoke, and he then held this thought in his heart,
such a man was he for planning and for fighting;
and speaking in a low voice he said to me:
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄργματα θῦσε θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσι,
σπείσας δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον Ὀδυσσῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν· ὁ δʼ ἕζετο ᾗ παρὰ μοίρῃ.
σῖτον δέ σφιν ἔνειμε Μεσαύλιος, ὅν ῥα συβώτης
αὐτὸς κτήσατο οἶος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
νόσφιν δεσποίνης καὶ Λαέρταο γέροντος·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα μιν Ταφίων πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
σῖτον μέν σφιν ἀφεῖλε Μεσαύλιος, οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ κοῖτον
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν κεκορημένοι ἐσσεύοντο.
νὺξ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῆλθε κακὴ σκοτομήνιος, ὗε δʼ ἄρα Ζεὺς
πάννυχος, αὐτὰρ ἄη Ζέφυρος μέγας αἰὲν ἔφυδρος.
τοῖς δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,
εἴ πώς οἱ ἐκδὺς χλαῖναν πόροι, ἤ τινʼ ἑταίρων
ἄλλον ἐποτρύνειεν, ἐπεί ἑο κήδετο λίην·
κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι,
εὐξάμενός τι ἔπος ἐρέω· οἶνος γὰρ ἀνώγει
ἠλεός, ὅς τʼ ἐφέηκε πολύφρονά περ μάλʼ ἀεῖσαι
καί θʼ ἁπαλὸν γελάσαι, καί τʼ ὀρχήσασθαι ἀνῆκε,
καί τι ἔπος προέηκεν ὅ περ τʼ ἄρρητον ἄμεινον.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τὸ πρῶτον ἀνέκραγον, οὐκ ἐπικεύσω.
εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη,
ὡς ὅθʼ ὑπὸ Τροίην λόχον ἤγομεν ἀρτύναντες.
ἡγείσθην δʼ Ὀδυσεύς τε καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος,
τοῖσι δʼ ἅμα τρίτος ἄρχον ἐγών· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἄνωγον.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἱκόμεσθα ποτὶ πτόλιν αἰπύ τε τεῖχος,
ἡμεῖς μὲν περὶ ἄστυ κατὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά,
ἂν δόνακας καὶ ἕλος, ὑπὸ τεύχεσι πεπτηῶτες
κείμεθα. νὺξ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῆλθε κακὴ Βορέαο πεσόντος,
πηγυλίς· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε χιὼν γένετʼ ἠΰτε πάχνη,
ψυχρή, καὶ σακέεσσι περιτρέφετο κρύσταλλος.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι πάντες χλαίνας ἔχον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
εὗδον δʼ εὔκηλοι, σάκεσιν εἰλυμένοι ὤμους·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χλαῖναν μὲν ἰὼν ἑτάροισιν ἔλειπον
ἀφραδίῃς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐφάμην ῥιγωσέμεν ἔμπης,
ἀλλʼ ἑπόμην σάκος οἶον ἔχων καὶ ζῶμα φαεινόν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίχα νυκτὸς ἔην, μετὰ δʼ ἄστρα βεβήκει,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδων ἐγγὺς ἐόντα
ἀγκῶνι νύξας· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐμμαπέως ὑπάκουσε·
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
οὔ τοι ἔτι ζωοῖσι μετέσσομαι, ἀλλά με χεῖμα
δάμναται· οὐ γὰρ ἔχω χλαῖναν· παρά μʼ ἤπαφε δαίμων
οἰοχίτωνʼ ἔμεναι· νῦν δʼ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλονται.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα νόον σχέθε τόνδʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
οἷος κεῖνος ἔην βουλευέμεν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι·
φθεγξάμενος δʼ ὀλίγῃ ὀπί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
σπείσας δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον Ὀδυσσῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν· ὁ δʼ ἕζετο ᾗ παρὰ μοίρῃ.
σῖτον δέ σφιν ἔνειμε Μεσαύλιος, ὅν ῥα συβώτης
αὐτὸς κτήσατο οἶος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
νόσφιν δεσποίνης καὶ Λαέρταο γέροντος·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα μιν Ταφίων πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
σῖτον μέν σφιν ἀφεῖλε Μεσαύλιος, οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ κοῖτον
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν κεκορημένοι ἐσσεύοντο.
νὺξ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῆλθε κακὴ σκοτομήνιος, ὗε δʼ ἄρα Ζεὺς
πάννυχος, αὐτὰρ ἄη Ζέφυρος μέγας αἰὲν ἔφυδρος.
τοῖς δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,
εἴ πώς οἱ ἐκδὺς χλαῖναν πόροι, ἤ τινʼ ἑταίρων
ἄλλον ἐποτρύνειεν, ἐπεί ἑο κήδετο λίην·
κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι,
εὐξάμενός τι ἔπος ἐρέω· οἶνος γὰρ ἀνώγει
ἠλεός, ὅς τʼ ἐφέηκε πολύφρονά περ μάλʼ ἀεῖσαι
καί θʼ ἁπαλὸν γελάσαι, καί τʼ ὀρχήσασθαι ἀνῆκε,
καί τι ἔπος προέηκεν ὅ περ τʼ ἄρρητον ἄμεινον.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τὸ πρῶτον ἀνέκραγον, οὐκ ἐπικεύσω.
εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη,
ὡς ὅθʼ ὑπὸ Τροίην λόχον ἤγομεν ἀρτύναντες.
ἡγείσθην δʼ Ὀδυσεύς τε καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος,
τοῖσι δʼ ἅμα τρίτος ἄρχον ἐγών· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἄνωγον.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἱκόμεσθα ποτὶ πτόλιν αἰπύ τε τεῖχος,
ἡμεῖς μὲν περὶ ἄστυ κατὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά,
ἂν δόνακας καὶ ἕλος, ὑπὸ τεύχεσι πεπτηῶτες
κείμεθα. νὺξ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῆλθε κακὴ Βορέαο πεσόντος,
πηγυλίς· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε χιὼν γένετʼ ἠΰτε πάχνη,
ψυχρή, καὶ σακέεσσι περιτρέφετο κρύσταλλος.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι πάντες χλαίνας ἔχον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
εὗδον δʼ εὔκηλοι, σάκεσιν εἰλυμένοι ὤμους·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χλαῖναν μὲν ἰὼν ἑτάροισιν ἔλειπον
ἀφραδίῃς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐφάμην ῥιγωσέμεν ἔμπης,
ἀλλʼ ἑπόμην σάκος οἶον ἔχων καὶ ζῶμα φαεινόν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίχα νυκτὸς ἔην, μετὰ δʼ ἄστρα βεβήκει,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδων ἐγγὺς ἐόντα
ἀγκῶνι νύξας· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐμμαπέως ὑπάκουσε·
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
οὔ τοι ἔτι ζωοῖσι μετέσσομαι, ἀλλά με χεῖμα
δάμναται· οὐ γὰρ ἔχω χλαῖναν· παρά μʼ ἤπαφε δαίμων
οἰοχίτωνʼ ἔμεναι· νῦν δʼ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλονται.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα νόον σχέθε τόνδʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
οἷος κεῖνος ἔην βουλευέμεν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι·
φθεγξάμενος δʼ ὀλίγῃ ὀπί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
"’Be quiet now, in case some other of the Achaeans hears you.’
σίγα νῦν, μή τίς σευ Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἀκούσῃ.
So he spoke, and propped his head on his elbow and said:
’Hear me, friends; a divine dream came to me in my sleep.
We have come very far from the ships. Let someone go
and tell Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the people,
to see if he will send more men out from the ships.’
’Hear me, friends; a divine dream came to me in my sleep.
We have come very far from the ships. Let someone go
and tell Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the people,
to see if he will send more men out from the ships.’
ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνος κεφαλὴν σχέθεν εἶπέ τε μῦθον·
κλῦτε, φίλοι· θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειρος.
λίην γὰρ νηῶν ἑκὰς ἤλθομεν· ἀλλά τις εἴη
εἰπεῖν Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι, ποιμένι λαῶν,
εἰ πλέονας παρὰ ναῦφιν ἐποτρύνειε νέεσθαι.
κλῦτε, φίλοι· θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειρος.
λίην γὰρ νηῶν ἑκὰς ἤλθομεν· ἀλλά τις εἴη
εἰπεῖν Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι, ποιμένι λαῶν,
εἰ πλέονας παρὰ ναῦφιν ἐποτρύνειε νέεσθαι.
So he spoke, and Thoas, son of Andraemon, sprang up
quickly and threw off his crimson cloak
and set off running to the ships; and I lay in his garment,
gladly, and Dawn of the golden throne shone out.
So now, if only I were young and my strength were firm in me,
someone in the swineherds’ huts would give me a cloak,
for both reasons, out of friendship and out of respect for a good man;
but now they scorn me because I have poor clothes on my body."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
quickly and threw off his crimson cloak
and set off running to the ships; and I lay in his garment,
gladly, and Dawn of the golden throne shone out.
So now, if only I were young and my strength were firm in me,
someone in the swineherds’ huts would give me a cloak,
for both reasons, out of friendship and out of respect for a good man;
but now they scorn me because I have poor clothes on my body."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα Θόας, Ἀνδραίμονος υἱός,
καρπαλίμως, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν θέτο φοινικόεσσαν,
βῆ δὲ θέειν ἐπὶ νῆας· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐνὶ εἵματι κείνου
κείμην ἀσπασίως, φάε δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἠώς.
ὣς νῦν ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·
δοίη κέν τις χλαῖναν ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσι συφορβῶν,
ἀμφότερον, φιλότητι καὶ αἰδοῖ φωτὸς ἑῆος·
νῦν δέ μʼ ἀτιμάζουσι κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
καρπαλίμως, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν θέτο φοινικόεσσαν,
βῆ δὲ θέειν ἐπὶ νῆας· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐνὶ εἵματι κείνου
κείμην ἀσπασίως, φάε δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἠώς.
ὣς νῦν ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·
δοίη κέν τις χλαῖναν ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσι συφορβῶν,
ἀμφότερον, φιλότητι καὶ αἰδοῖ φωτὸς ἑῆος·
νῦν δέ μʼ ἀτιμάζουσι κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Old man, the tale you have told is a blameless one,
and you have not spoken a word out of place or without profit.
and you have not spoken a word out of place or without profit.
ὦ γέρον, αἶνος μέν τοι ἀμύμων, ὃν κατέλεξας,
οὐδέ τί πω παρὰ μοῖραν ἔπος νηκερδὲς ἔειπες·
οὐδέ τί πω παρὰ μοῖραν ἔπος νηκερδὲς ἔειπες·
So you shall lack neither clothing nor anything else
that is fitting for a hard-tried suppliant who comes to meet us,
for now; but at dawn you will shake out your own rags again.
For there are not many cloaks and changes of tunics
to wear here, but only one for each man.
But when the dear son of Odysseus comes,
he himself will give you a cloak and a tunic for clothing,
and send you wherever your heart and spirit bid you."
that is fitting for a hard-tried suppliant who comes to meet us,
for now; but at dawn you will shake out your own rags again.
For there are not many cloaks and changes of tunics
to wear here, but only one for each man.
But when the dear son of Odysseus comes,
he himself will give you a cloak and a tunic for clothing,
and send you wherever your heart and spirit bid you."
τῷ οὔτʼ ἐσθῆτος δευήσεαι οὔτε τευ ἄλλου,
ὧν ἐπέοιχʼ ἱκέτην ταλαπείριον ἀντιάσαντα,
νῦν· ἀτὰρ ἠῶθέν γε τὰ σὰ ῥάκεα δνοπαλίξεις.
οὐ γὰρ πολλαὶ χλαῖναι ἐπημοιβοί τε χιτῶνες
ἐνθάδε ἕννυσθαι, μία δʼ οἴη φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
αὐτός τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα δώσει,
πέμψει δʼ ὅππῃ σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
ὧν ἐπέοιχʼ ἱκέτην ταλαπείριον ἀντιάσαντα,
νῦν· ἀτὰρ ἠῶθέν γε τὰ σὰ ῥάκεα δνοπαλίξεις.
οὐ γὰρ πολλαὶ χλαῖναι ἐπημοιβοί τε χιτῶνες
ἐνθάδε ἕννυσθαι, μία δʼ οἴη φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
αὐτός τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα δώσει,
πέμψει δʼ ὅππῃ σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
So saying he sprang up, and set a bed for him near the fire,
and threw on it the skins of sheep and goats.
There Odysseus lay down; and he threw a cloak over him,
thick and large, which he kept beside him for a change,
to wear whenever a terrible storm should rise.
So there Odysseus slept, and beside him
the young men slept; but it did not please the swineherd
to lie there and sleep away from the swine,
but he armed himself and went outside; and Odysseus was glad
that he cared so for his livelihood while he was away.
First he slung a sharp sword about his strong shoulders,
and put on a very thick cloak to keep out the wind,
and took up the fleece of a great well-fed goat,
and took a sharp javelin, a defence against dogs and men.
And he went to lie down where the white-tusked swine
slept under a hollow rock, in shelter from the North Wind.
and threw on it the skins of sheep and goats.
There Odysseus lay down; and he threw a cloak over him,
thick and large, which he kept beside him for a change,
to wear whenever a terrible storm should rise.
So there Odysseus slept, and beside him
the young men slept; but it did not please the swineherd
to lie there and sleep away from the swine,
but he armed himself and went outside; and Odysseus was glad
that he cared so for his livelihood while he was away.
First he slung a sharp sword about his strong shoulders,
and put on a very thick cloak to keep out the wind,
and took up the fleece of a great well-fed goat,
and took a sharp javelin, a defence against dogs and men.
And he went to lie down where the white-tusked swine
slept under a hollow rock, in shelter from the North Wind.
ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνόρουσε, τίθει δʼ ἄρα οἱ πυρὸς ἐγγὺς
εὐνήν, ἐν δʼ ὀΐων τε καὶ αἰγῶν δέρματʼ ἔβαλλεν.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέλεκτʼ· ἐπὶ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλεν αὐτῷ
πυκνὴν καὶ μεγάλην, ἥ οἱ παρεκέσκετʼ ἀμοιβάς,
ἕννυσθαι ὅτε τις χειμὼν ἔκπαγλος ὄροιτο.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κοιμήσατο, τοὶ δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν
ἄνδρες κοιμήσαντο νεηνίαι· οὐδὲ συβώτῃ
ἥνδανεν αὐτόθι κοῖτος, ὑῶν ἄπο κοιμηθῆναι,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἔξω ἰὼν ὡπλίζετο· χαῖρε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὅττι ῥά οἱ βιότου περικήδετο νόσφιν ἐόντος.
πρῶτον μὲν ξίφος ὀξὺ περὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετʼ ὤμοις,
ἀμφὶ δὲ χλαῖναν ἑέσσατʼ ἀλεξάνεμον, μάλα πυκνήν,
ἂν δὲ νάκην ἕλετʼ αἰγὸς ἐϋτρεφέος μεγάλοιο,
εἵλετο δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι κείων ὅθι περ σύες ἀργιόδοντες
πέτρῃ ὕπο γλαφυρῇ εὗδον, Βορέω ὑπʼ ἰωγῇ.
εὐνήν, ἐν δʼ ὀΐων τε καὶ αἰγῶν δέρματʼ ἔβαλλεν.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέλεκτʼ· ἐπὶ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλεν αὐτῷ
πυκνὴν καὶ μεγάλην, ἥ οἱ παρεκέσκετʼ ἀμοιβάς,
ἕννυσθαι ὅτε τις χειμὼν ἔκπαγλος ὄροιτο.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κοιμήσατο, τοὶ δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν
ἄνδρες κοιμήσαντο νεηνίαι· οὐδὲ συβώτῃ
ἥνδανεν αὐτόθι κοῖτος, ὑῶν ἄπο κοιμηθῆναι,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἔξω ἰὼν ὡπλίζετο· χαῖρε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὅττι ῥά οἱ βιότου περικήδετο νόσφιν ἐόντος.
πρῶτον μὲν ξίφος ὀξὺ περὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετʼ ὤμοις,
ἀμφὶ δὲ χλαῖναν ἑέσσατʼ ἀλεξάνεμον, μάλα πυκνήν,
ἂν δὲ νάκην ἕλετʼ αἰγὸς ἐϋτρεφέος μεγάλοιο,
εἵλετο δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι κείων ὅθι περ σύες ἀργιόδοντες
πέτρῃ ὕπο γλαφυρῇ εὗδον, Βορέω ὑπʼ ἰωγῇ.
Book 15
Telemachus slips the ambush and comes home by Athena's warning, taking aboard a hunted seer, Theoclymenus. Father and son converge, unknowing, on the same swineherd's hut.
But Pallas Athena went to spacious Lacedaemon
to remind the glorious son of great-hearted Odysseus
of his homecoming and to urge him to return.
She found Telemachus and the glorious son of Nestor
sleeping in the forecourt of glorious Menelaus,
to remind the glorious son of great-hearted Odysseus
of his homecoming and to urge him to return.
She found Telemachus and the glorious son of Nestor
sleeping in the forecourt of glorious Menelaus,
ἡ δʼ εἰς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
ᾤχετʼ, Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμον υἱὸν
νόστου ὑπομνήσουσα καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
εὗρε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν
εὕδοντʼ ἐν προδόμῳ Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
ᾤχετʼ, Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμον υἱὸν
νόστου ὑπομνήσουσα καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
εὗρε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν
εὕδοντʼ ἐν προδόμῳ Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
the son of Nestor overcome with soft sleep;
but sweet sleep did not hold Telemachus: in his spirit
through the immortal night, cares for his father kept him awake.
And grey-eyed Athena stood near him and said:
but sweet sleep did not hold Telemachus: in his spirit
through the immortal night, cares for his father kept him awake.
And grey-eyed Athena stood near him and said:
ἦ τοι Νεστορίδην μαλακῷ δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ·
Τηλέμαχον δʼ οὐχ ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκύς, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην μελεδήματα πατρὸς ἔγειρεν.
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
Τηλέμαχον δʼ οὐχ ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκύς, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
νύκτα διʼ ἀμβροσίην μελεδήματα πατρὸς ἔγειρεν.
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Telemachus, it is no longer good to wander far from your house,
leaving your possessions behind and men in your house
so overweening; they may divide your possessions
and devour them all, and your journey will have been for nothing.
But urge Menelaus good at the war-cry with all speed
to send you off, so that you may still find your blameless mother at home.
For already her father and her brothers are urging her
to marry Eurymachus; for he outdoes all the suitors
in his gifts and has increased the bride-price.
Take care that she does not carry off some possession from the house against your will.
For you know what kind of spirit is in a woman’s breast:
she wishes to increase the house of the man who marries her,
and of her former children and of her own wedded husband
she no longer thinks, once he is dead, nor asks after them.
But go yourself and put each thing in the charge
of whichever of the serving-women seems to you the best,
until the gods show you an honoured wife.
And I will tell you another thing, and you lay it in your spirit.
The best of the suitors are lying in wait for you on purpose
in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
eager to kill you before you reach your native land;
but I do not think it will happen, before the earth holds down
some of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood.
But keep your well-built ship far from the islands
and sail by night as well; and one of the immortals
who guards and protects you will send a wind behind you.
And when you come to the first shore of Ithaca,
send the ship on to the city with all your companions,
but go first of all to the swineherd,
who keeps your pigs; he is loyal to you all the same.
Spend the night there, and send him into the city
to carry the message to circumspect Penelope
that you are safe and have come back from Pylos."
So she spoke, and went away to high Olympus;
and he woke the son of Nestor out of sweet sleep,
stirring him with his heel, and said to him:
leaving your possessions behind and men in your house
so overweening; they may divide your possessions
and devour them all, and your journey will have been for nothing.
But urge Menelaus good at the war-cry with all speed
to send you off, so that you may still find your blameless mother at home.
For already her father and her brothers are urging her
to marry Eurymachus; for he outdoes all the suitors
in his gifts and has increased the bride-price.
Take care that she does not carry off some possession from the house against your will.
For you know what kind of spirit is in a woman’s breast:
she wishes to increase the house of the man who marries her,
and of her former children and of her own wedded husband
she no longer thinks, once he is dead, nor asks after them.
But go yourself and put each thing in the charge
of whichever of the serving-women seems to you the best,
until the gods show you an honoured wife.
And I will tell you another thing, and you lay it in your spirit.
The best of the suitors are lying in wait for you on purpose
in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
eager to kill you before you reach your native land;
but I do not think it will happen, before the earth holds down
some of the suitors who are devouring your livelihood.
But keep your well-built ship far from the islands
and sail by night as well; and one of the immortals
who guards and protects you will send a wind behind you.
And when you come to the first shore of Ithaca,
send the ship on to the city with all your companions,
but go first of all to the swineherd,
who keeps your pigs; he is loyal to you all the same.
Spend the night there, and send him into the city
to carry the message to circumspect Penelope
that you are safe and have come back from Pylos."
So she spoke, and went away to high Olympus;
and he woke the son of Nestor out of sweet sleep,
stirring him with his heel, and said to him:
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐκέτι καλὰ δόμων ἄπο τῆλʼ ἀλάλησαι,
κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τʼ ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισιν
οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους· μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσι
κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.
ἀλλʼ ὄτρυνε τάχιστα βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον
πεμπέμεν, ὄφρʼ ἔτι οἴκοι ἀμύμονα μητέρα τέτμῃς.
ἤδη γάρ ῥα πατήρ τε κασίγνητοί τε κέλονται
Εὐρυμάχῳ γήμασθαι· ὁ γὰρ περιβάλλει ἅπαντας
μνηστῆρας δώροισι καὶ ἐξώφελλεν ἔεδνα·
μή νύ τι σεῦ ἀέκητι δόμων ἐκ κτῆμα φέρηται.
οἶσθα γὰρ οἷος θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γυναικός·
κείνου βούλεται οἶκον ὀφέλλειν ὅς κεν ὀπυίῃ,
παίδων δὲ προτέρων καὶ κουριδίοιο φίλοιο
οὐκέτι μέμνηται τεθνηκότος οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷ.
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἐλθὼν αὐτὸς ἐπιτρέψειας ἕκαστα
δμῳάων ἥ τίς τοι ἀρίστη φαίνεται εἶναι,
εἰς ὅ κέ τοι φήνωσι θεοὶ κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν.
ἄλλο δέ τοί τι ἔπος ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο θυμῷ.
μνηστήρων σʼ ἐπιτηδὲς ἀριστῆες λοχόωσιν
ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης.
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω· πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.
ἀλλὰ ἑκὰς νήσων ἀπέχειν εὐεργέα νῆα,
νυκτὶ δʼ ὁμῶς πλείειν· πέμψει δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν
ἀθανάτων ὅς τίς σε φυλάσσει τε ῥύεταί τε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πρώτην ἀκτὴν Ἰθάκης ἀφίκηαι,
νῆα μὲν ἐς πόλιν ὀτρῦναι καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους,
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,
ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδεν.
ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἀέσαι· τὸν δʼ ὀτρῦναι πόλιν εἴσω
ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὕνεκά οἱ σῶς ἐσσὶ καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθας.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
αὐτὰρ ὁ Νεστορίδην ἐξ ἡδέος ὕπνου ἔγειρεν
λὰξ ποδὶ κινήσας, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τʼ ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισιν
οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους· μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσι
κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.
ἀλλʼ ὄτρυνε τάχιστα βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον
πεμπέμεν, ὄφρʼ ἔτι οἴκοι ἀμύμονα μητέρα τέτμῃς.
ἤδη γάρ ῥα πατήρ τε κασίγνητοί τε κέλονται
Εὐρυμάχῳ γήμασθαι· ὁ γὰρ περιβάλλει ἅπαντας
μνηστῆρας δώροισι καὶ ἐξώφελλεν ἔεδνα·
μή νύ τι σεῦ ἀέκητι δόμων ἐκ κτῆμα φέρηται.
οἶσθα γὰρ οἷος θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γυναικός·
κείνου βούλεται οἶκον ὀφέλλειν ὅς κεν ὀπυίῃ,
παίδων δὲ προτέρων καὶ κουριδίοιο φίλοιο
οὐκέτι μέμνηται τεθνηκότος οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷ.
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἐλθὼν αὐτὸς ἐπιτρέψειας ἕκαστα
δμῳάων ἥ τίς τοι ἀρίστη φαίνεται εἶναι,
εἰς ὅ κέ τοι φήνωσι θεοὶ κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν.
ἄλλο δέ τοί τι ἔπος ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο θυμῷ.
μνηστήρων σʼ ἐπιτηδὲς ἀριστῆες λοχόωσιν
ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης.
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι, πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ὀΐω· πρὶν καί τινα γαῖα καθέξει
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν.
ἀλλὰ ἑκὰς νήσων ἀπέχειν εὐεργέα νῆα,
νυκτὶ δʼ ὁμῶς πλείειν· πέμψει δέ τοι οὖρον ὄπισθεν
ἀθανάτων ὅς τίς σε φυλάσσει τε ῥύεταί τε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πρώτην ἀκτὴν Ἰθάκης ἀφίκηαι,
νῆα μὲν ἐς πόλιν ὀτρῦναι καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους,
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα συβώτην εἰσαφικέσθαι,
ὅς τοι ὑῶν ἐπίουρος, ὁμῶς δέ τοι ἤπια οἶδεν.
ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἀέσαι· τὸν δʼ ὀτρῦναι πόλιν εἴσω
ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὕνεκά οἱ σῶς ἐσσὶ καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθας.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
αὐτὰρ ὁ Νεστορίδην ἐξ ἡδέος ὕπνου ἔγειρεν
λὰξ ποδὶ κινήσας, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"Wake up, Peisistratus, son of Nestor; bring the single-hoofed horses
and yoke them to the chariot, so that we may get on with our journey."
Then Peisistratus, son of Nestor, answered him in turn:
and yoke them to the chariot, so that we may get on with our journey."
Then Peisistratus, son of Nestor, answered him in turn:
ἔγρεο, Νεστορίδη Πεισίστρατε, μώνυχας ἵππους
ζεῦξον ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἄγων, ὄφρα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ζεῦξον ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἄγων, ὄφρα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Telemachus, however eager we are for the road, there is no way
to drive through the dark night; and dawn will soon be here.
But wait until he brings gifts and sets them in the chariot,
the hero, son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for the spear,
and speaks kindly to us and sends us on our way.
For a guest remembers all his days
the man who received him, when he has shown him friendship."
to drive through the dark night; and dawn will soon be here.
But wait until he brings gifts and sets them in the chariot,
the hero, son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for the spear,
and speaks kindly to us and sends us on our way.
For a guest remembers all his days
the man who received him, when he has shown him friendship."
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐπειγομένους περ ὁδοῖο
νύκτα διὰ δνοφερὴν ἐλάαν· τάχα δʼ ἔσσεται ἠώς.
ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θήῃ
ἥρως Ἀτρείδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,
καὶ μύθοις ἀγανοῖσι παραυδήσας ἀποπέμψῃ.
τοῦ γάρ τε ξεῖνος μιμνήσκεται ἤματα πάντα
ἀνδρὸς ξεινοδόκου, ὅς κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.
νύκτα διὰ δνοφερὴν ἐλάαν· τάχα δʼ ἔσσεται ἠώς.
ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θήῃ
ἥρως Ἀτρείδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος,
καὶ μύθοις ἀγανοῖσι παραυδήσας ἀποπέμψῃ.
τοῦ γάρ τε ξεῖνος μιμνήσκεται ἤματα πάντα
ἀνδρὸς ξεινοδόκου, ὅς κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.
So he spoke, and at once Dawn of the golden throne came.
And Menelaus good at the war-cry came near to them,
rising from his bed, from beside Helen of the lovely hair.
And when the dear son of Odysseus saw him,
he hurried and put on the shining tunic about his body
and threw a great cloak about his strong shoulders,
the hero, and went out; and standing beside him he spoke,
Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus:
"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the host,
send me now to my dear native land;
for my spirit now longs to reach home."
Then Menelaus good at the war-cry answered him:
And Menelaus good at the war-cry came near to them,
rising from his bed, from beside Helen of the lovely hair.
And when the dear son of Odysseus saw him,
he hurried and put on the shining tunic about his body
and threw a great cloak about his strong shoulders,
the hero, and went out; and standing beside him he spoke,
Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus:
"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the host,
send me now to my dear native land;
for my spirit now longs to reach home."
Then Menelaus good at the war-cry answered him:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, Ἑλένης πάρα καλλικόμοιο.
τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
σπερχόμενός ῥα χιτῶνα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα
δῦνεν, καὶ μέγα φᾶρος ἐπὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετʼ ὤμοις
ἥρως, βῆ δὲ θύραζε, παριστάμενος δὲ προσηύδα
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἤδη νῦν μʼ ἀπόπεμπε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἤδη γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐέλδεται οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, Ἑλένης πάρα καλλικόμοιο.
τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
σπερχόμενός ῥα χιτῶνα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα
δῦνεν, καὶ μέγα φᾶρος ἐπὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετʼ ὤμοις
ἥρως, βῆ δὲ θύραζε, παριστάμενος δὲ προσηύδα
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἤδη νῦν μʼ ἀπόπεμπε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἤδη γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐέλδεται οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·
"Telemachus, I will not keep you here a long time
when you are eager for your homecoming. I blame any other
host who shows excessive friendship,
or excessive hatred; all things are better in measure.
It is equally bad to hurry off a guest
who does not wish to go, and to hold back one who is eager.
One should be kind to a guest while he is here, and send him off when he wishes.
But wait until I bring fine gifts and set them in the chariot
and you see them with your eyes, and I tell the women
to make a meal in the halls out of the plenty within.
It is both an honour and a glory and a benefit
to dine before going over the wide boundless earth.
And if you wish to turn aside through Hellas and mid-Argos,
so that I myself may go with you, I will yoke horses for you
and guide you to the cities of men; and no one
will send us away empty-handed, but each will give us something to carry off,
either some tripod of fine bronze or a cauldron,
or two mules or a golden cup."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
when you are eager for your homecoming. I blame any other
host who shows excessive friendship,
or excessive hatred; all things are better in measure.
It is equally bad to hurry off a guest
who does not wish to go, and to hold back one who is eager.
One should be kind to a guest while he is here, and send him off when he wishes.
But wait until I bring fine gifts and set them in the chariot
and you see them with your eyes, and I tell the women
to make a meal in the halls out of the plenty within.
It is both an honour and a glory and a benefit
to dine before going over the wide boundless earth.
And if you wish to turn aside through Hellas and mid-Argos,
so that I myself may go with you, I will yoke horses for you
and guide you to the cities of men; and no one
will send us away empty-handed, but each will give us something to carry off,
either some tripod of fine bronze or a cauldron,
or two mules or a golden cup."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τί σʼ ἐγώ γε πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐρύξω
ἱέμενον νόστοιο· νεμεσσῶμαι δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ
ἀνδρὶ ξεινοδόκῳ, ὅς κʼ ἔξοχα μὲν φιλέῃσιν,
ἔξοχα δʼ ἐχθαίρῃσιν· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.
ἶσόν τοι κακόν ἐσθʼ, ὅς τʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι
ξεῖνον ἐποτρύνει καὶ ὃς ἐσσύμενον κατερύκει.
χρὴ ξεῖνον παρεόντα φιλεῖν, ἐθέλοντα δὲ πέμπειν.
ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θείω
καλά, σὺ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδῃς, εἴπω δὲ γυναιξὶ
δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.
ἀμφότερον, κῦδός τε καὶ ἀγλαΐη καὶ ὄνειαρ,
δειπνήσαντας ἴμεν πολλὴν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις τραφθῆναι ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος,
ὄφρα τοι αὐτὸς ἕπωμαι, ὑποζεύξω δέ τοι ἵππους,
ἄστεα δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἡγήσομαι· οὐδέ τις ἡμέας
αὔτως ἀππέμψει, δώσει δέ τι ἕν γε φέρεσθαι,
ἠέ τινα τριπόδων εὐχάλκων ἠὲ λεβήτων,
ἠὲ δύʼ ἡμιόνους ἠὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισον.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἱέμενον νόστοιο· νεμεσσῶμαι δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ
ἀνδρὶ ξεινοδόκῳ, ὅς κʼ ἔξοχα μὲν φιλέῃσιν,
ἔξοχα δʼ ἐχθαίρῃσιν· ἀμείνω δʼ αἴσιμα πάντα.
ἶσόν τοι κακόν ἐσθʼ, ὅς τʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι
ξεῖνον ἐποτρύνει καὶ ὃς ἐσσύμενον κατερύκει.
χρὴ ξεῖνον παρεόντα φιλεῖν, ἐθέλοντα δὲ πέμπειν.
ἀλλὰ μένʼ εἰς ὅ κε δῶρα φέρων ἐπιδίφρια θείω
καλά, σὺ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδῃς, εἴπω δὲ γυναιξὶ
δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.
ἀμφότερον, κῦδός τε καὶ ἀγλαΐη καὶ ὄνειαρ,
δειπνήσαντας ἴμεν πολλὴν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις τραφθῆναι ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος,
ὄφρα τοι αὐτὸς ἕπωμαι, ὑποζεύξω δέ τοι ἵππους,
ἄστεα δʼ ἀνθρώπων ἡγήσομαι· οὐδέ τις ἡμέας
αὔτως ἀππέμψει, δώσει δέ τι ἕν γε φέρεσθαι,
ἠέ τινα τριπόδων εὐχάλκων ἠὲ λεβήτων,
ἠὲ δύʼ ἡμιόνους ἠὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισον.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the host,
I wish to go home now; for when I came away I left
no one behind to guard my possessions.
I do not want to perish myself while searching for my godlike father,
or to lose some fine treasure out of my halls."
But when Menelaus good at the war-cry heard this,
at once he told his wife and the serving-women
to make a meal in the halls out of the plenty within.
And Eteoneus, son of Boethous, came near to him,
rising from his bed, for he did not live far from him;
and Menelaus good at the war-cry told him to light a fire
and roast some meat; and he heard and did not disobey.
And he himself went down into the fragrant store-chamber,
not alone: Helen went with him, and Megapenthes.
But when they came to where the treasures lay,
then the son of Atreus took a two-handled cup,
and he told his son Megapenthes to carry a mixing-bowl
of silver; and Helen stood beside the chests
where her robes of many colours were, which she had made herself.
Helen, noble among women, lifted one of them and carried it,
the one that was the finest in its embroidery and the largest,
and it shone like a star; and it lay lowest of them all.
They went on through the house until they came
to Telemachus; and fair-haired Menelaus said to him:
I wish to go home now; for when I came away I left
no one behind to guard my possessions.
I do not want to perish myself while searching for my godlike father,
or to lose some fine treasure out of my halls."
But when Menelaus good at the war-cry heard this,
at once he told his wife and the serving-women
to make a meal in the halls out of the plenty within.
And Eteoneus, son of Boethous, came near to him,
rising from his bed, for he did not live far from him;
and Menelaus good at the war-cry told him to light a fire
and roast some meat; and he heard and did not disobey.
And he himself went down into the fragrant store-chamber,
not alone: Helen went with him, and Megapenthes.
But when they came to where the treasures lay,
then the son of Atreus took a two-handled cup,
and he told his son Megapenthes to carry a mixing-bowl
of silver; and Helen stood beside the chests
where her robes of many colours were, which she had made herself.
Helen, noble among women, lifted one of them and carried it,
the one that was the finest in its embroidery and the largest,
and it shone like a star; and it lay lowest of them all.
They went on through the house until they came
to Telemachus; and fair-haired Menelaus said to him:
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
βούλομαι ἤδη νεῖσθαι ἐφʼ ἡμέτερʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὄπισθεν
οὖρον ἰὼν κατέλειπον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν·
μὴ πατέρʼ ἀντίθεον διζήμενος αὐτὸς ὄλωμαι,
ἤ τί μοι ἐκ μεγάρων κειμήλιον ἐσθλὸν ὄληται.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ᾗ ἀλόχῳ ἠδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε
δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.
ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Βοηθοΐδης Ἐτεωνεύς,
ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολὺ ναῖεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ·
τὸν πῦρ κῆαι ἄνωγε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
ὀπτῆσαί τε κρεῶν· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα,
οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γʼ Ἑλένη κίε καὶ Μεγαπένθης.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι κειμήλια κεῖτο,
Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἔπειτα δέπας λάβεν ἀμφικύπελλον,
υἱὸν δὲ κρητῆρα φέρειν Μεγαπένθεʼ ἄνωγεν
ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο φωριαμοῖσιν,
ἔνθʼ ἔσαν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλοι, οὓς κάμεν αὐτή.
τῶν ἕνʼ ἀειραμένη Ἑλένη φέρε, δῖα γυναικῶν,
ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος,
ἀστὴρ δʼ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν· ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.
βὰν δʼ ἰέναι προτέρω διὰ δώματος, ἧος ἵκοντο
Τηλέμαχον· τὸν δὲ προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
βούλομαι ἤδη νεῖσθαι ἐφʼ ἡμέτερʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὄπισθεν
οὖρον ἰὼν κατέλειπον ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν·
μὴ πατέρʼ ἀντίθεον διζήμενος αὐτὸς ὄλωμαι,
ἤ τί μοι ἐκ μεγάρων κειμήλιον ἐσθλὸν ὄληται.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ᾗ ἀλόχῳ ἠδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσε
δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροις τετυκεῖν ἅλις ἔνδον ἐόντων.
ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Βοηθοΐδης Ἐτεωνεύς,
ἀνστὰς ἐξ εὐνῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολὺ ναῖεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ·
τὸν πῦρ κῆαι ἄνωγε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
ὀπτῆσαί τε κρεῶν· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα,
οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γʼ Ἑλένη κίε καὶ Μεγαπένθης.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι κειμήλια κεῖτο,
Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἔπειτα δέπας λάβεν ἀμφικύπελλον,
υἱὸν δὲ κρητῆρα φέρειν Μεγαπένθεʼ ἄνωγεν
ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο φωριαμοῖσιν,
ἔνθʼ ἔσαν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλοι, οὓς κάμεν αὐτή.
τῶν ἕνʼ ἀειραμένη Ἑλένη φέρε, δῖα γυναικῶν,
ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος,
ἀστὴρ δʼ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν· ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.
βὰν δʼ ἰέναι προτέρω διὰ δώματος, ἧος ἵκοντο
Τηλέμαχον· τὸν δὲ προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
"Telemachus, may Zeus, the loud-thundering husband of Hera,
grant you your homecoming as you desire it in your heart.
And of the gifts that lie as treasures in my house
I will give you the one that is finest and most precious.
I will give you a well-wrought mixing-bowl; it is all
of silver, and the lips are finished with gold,
the work of Hephaestus; the hero Phaedimus gave it to me,
the king of the Sidonians, when his house sheltered me
on my way home; and I wish to give it to you."
grant you your homecoming as you desire it in your heart.
And of the gifts that lie as treasures in my house
I will give you the one that is finest and most precious.
I will give you a well-wrought mixing-bowl; it is all
of silver, and the lips are finished with gold,
the work of Hephaestus; the hero Phaedimus gave it to me,
the king of the Sidonians, when his house sheltered me
on my way home; and I wish to give it to you."
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι νόστον, ὅπως φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς,
ὥς τοι Ζεὺς τελέσειεν, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.
δώρων δʼ, ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,
δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστι.
δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ
ἐστὶν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,
ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο· πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,
Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε
κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι.
ὥς τοι Ζεὺς τελέσειεν, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.
δώρων δʼ, ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,
δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστι.
δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲ
ἐστὶν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,
ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο· πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,
Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε
κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι.
So saying, the hero son of Atreus put the two-handled cup
into his hand; and the strong Megapenthes brought
the shining mixing-bowl and set it before him,
of silver; and Helen of the fair cheeks stood beside him
with the robe in her hands, and she spoke and called him by name:
into his hand; and the strong Megapenthes brought
the shining mixing-bowl and set it before him,
of silver; and Helen of the fair cheeks stood beside him
with the robe in her hands, and she spoke and called him by name:
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον
ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης· ὁ δʼ ἄρα κρητῆρα φαεινὸν
θῆκʼ αὐτοῦ προπάροιθε φέρων κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης,
ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο καλλιπάρῃος
πέπλον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χερσίν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης· ὁ δʼ ἄρα κρητῆρα φαεινὸν
θῆκʼ αὐτοῦ προπάροιθε φέρων κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθης,
ἀργύρεον· Ἑλένη δὲ παρίστατο καλλιπάρῃος
πέπλον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χερσίν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"I too give you this gift, dear child,
a remembrance of Helen’s hands, against the time of your longed-for marriage,
for your wife to wear; until then let it lie
in your halls beside your dear mother. And may you come with joy
to your well-built house and your native land."
a remembrance of Helen’s hands, against the time of your longed-for marriage,
for your wife to wear; until then let it lie
in your halls beside your dear mother. And may you come with joy
to your well-built house and your native land."
δῶρόν τοι καὶ ἐγώ, τέκνον φίλε, τοῦτο δίδωμι,
μνῆμʼ Ἑλένης χειρῶν, πολυηράτου ἐς γάμου ὥρην,
σῇ ἀλόχῳ φορέειν· τῆος δὲ φίλῃ παρὰ μητρὶ
κείσθω ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. σὺ δέ μοι χαίρων ἀφίκοιο
οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
μνῆμʼ Ἑλένης χειρῶν, πολυηράτου ἐς γάμου ὥρην,
σῇ ἀλόχῳ φορέειν· τῆος δὲ φίλῃ παρὰ μητρὶ
κείσθω ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. σὺ δέ μοι χαίρων ἀφίκοιο
οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
So saying she put it into his hands, and he took it gladly.
And the hero Peisistratus took the gifts and set them
in the chariot box, and marvelled at them all in his heart;
and fair-haired Menelaus led them to the house.
Then the two of them sat down on chairs and on high seats.
And a serving-woman brought water and poured it from a jug,
a fine golden one, over a silver basin,
for washing; and she drew up a polished table beside them.
And the honoured housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,
adding many dishes, being generous from her store;
and the son of Boethous carved the meat and served out the portions;
and the son of glorious Menelaus poured the wine.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then Telemachus and the glorious son of Nestor
yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid chariot,
and drove out through the gateway and the echoing colonnade.
And fair-haired Menelaus, son of Atreus, went after them,
holding honey-hearted wine in his right hand,
in a golden cup, so that they might pour a libation before they went.
He stood before the horses and pledged them and said:
And the hero Peisistratus took the gifts and set them
in the chariot box, and marvelled at them all in his heart;
and fair-haired Menelaus led them to the house.
Then the two of them sat down on chairs and on high seats.
And a serving-woman brought water and poured it from a jug,
a fine golden one, over a silver basin,
for washing; and she drew up a polished table beside them.
And the honoured housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,
adding many dishes, being generous from her store;
and the son of Boethous carved the meat and served out the portions;
and the son of glorious Menelaus poured the wine.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then Telemachus and the glorious son of Nestor
yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid chariot,
and drove out through the gateway and the echoing colonnade.
And fair-haired Menelaus, son of Atreus, went after them,
holding honey-hearted wine in his right hand,
in a golden cup, so that they might pour a libation before they went.
He stood before the horses and pledged them and said:
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς πείρινθα τίθει Πεισίστρατος ἥρως
δεξάμενος, καὶ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ·
τοὺς δʼ ἦγε πρὸς δῶμα κάρη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα·
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·
πὰρ δὲ Βοηθοΐδης κρέα δαίετο καὶ νέμε μοίρας·
οἰνοχόει δʼ υἱὸς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς
ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου.
τοὺς δὲ μετʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ἔκιε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
οἶνον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι,
ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην.
στῆ δʼ ἵππων προπάροιθε, δεδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς πείρινθα τίθει Πεισίστρατος ἥρως
δεξάμενος, καὶ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ·
τοὺς δʼ ἦγε πρὸς δῶμα κάρη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα·
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων·
πὰρ δὲ Βοηθοΐδης κρέα δαίετο καὶ νέμε μοίρας·
οἰνοχόει δʼ υἱὸς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς
ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου.
τοὺς δὲ μετʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ἔκιε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
οἶνον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι,
ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην.
στῆ δʼ ἵππων προπάροιθε, δεδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·
"Farewell, young men; and give my greeting to Nestor, shepherd of the people;
for he was as kind to me as a father,
while we sons of the Achaeans were fighting at Troy."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
for he was as kind to me as a father,
while we sons of the Achaeans were fighting at Troy."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
χαίρετον, ὦ κούρω, καὶ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν
εἰπεῖν· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοί γε πατὴρ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν,
ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
εἰπεῖν· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοί γε πατὴρ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν,
ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"We shall certainly tell him all this when we come, nurtured by Zeus,
just as you say. And I wish that when I have come home
to Ithaca and found Odysseus in the house,
I might tell him that I come from you having met with all friendship,
and that I bring many fine treasures."
just as you say. And I wish that when I have come home
to Ithaca and found Odysseus in the house,
I might tell him that I come from you having met with all friendship,
and that I bring many fine treasures."
καὶ λίην κείνῳ γε, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,
πάντα τάδʼ ἐλθόντες καταλέξομεν· αἲ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς
νοστήσας Ἰθάκηνδε, κιχὼν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
εἴποιμʼ ὡς παρὰ σεῖο τυχὼν φιλότητος ἁπάσης
ἔρχομαι, αὐτὰρ ἄγω κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.
πάντα τάδʼ ἐλθόντες καταλέξομεν· αἲ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς
νοστήσας Ἰθάκηνδε, κιχὼν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
εἴποιμʼ ὡς παρὰ σεῖο τυχὼν φιλότητος ἁπάσης
ἔρχομαι, αὐτὰρ ἄγω κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.
As he spoke, a bird flew by on the right,
an eagle carrying in its talons a huge white goose,
a tame one from the yard; and men and women
followed shouting; and the eagle came near them
and darted on the right in front of the horses. And when they saw it
they rejoiced, and the spirit in every breast grew warm.
And Peisistratus, son of Nestor, was the first to speak among them:
"Consider, Menelaus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the host,
whether the god has shown this sign for us two, or for you yourself."
an eagle carrying in its talons a huge white goose,
a tame one from the yard; and men and women
followed shouting; and the eagle came near them
and darted on the right in front of the horses. And when they saw it
they rejoiced, and the spirit in every breast grew warm.
And Peisistratus, son of Nestor, was the first to speak among them:
"Consider, Menelaus, nurtured by Zeus, leader of the host,
whether the god has shown this sign for us two, or for you yourself."
ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,
αἰετὸς ἀργὴν χῆνα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον,
ἥμερον ἐξ αὐλῆς· οἱ δʼ ἰΰζοντες ἕποντο
ἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δέ σφισιν ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
δεξιὸς ἤϊξε πρόσθʼ ἵππων· οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες
γήθησαν, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.
τοῖσι δὲ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἤρχετο μύθων·
φράζεο δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἢ νῶϊν τόδʼ ἔφηνε θεὸς τέρας ἦε σοὶ αὐτῷ.
αἰετὸς ἀργὴν χῆνα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον,
ἥμερον ἐξ αὐλῆς· οἱ δʼ ἰΰζοντες ἕποντο
ἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δέ σφισιν ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
δεξιὸς ἤϊξε πρόσθʼ ἵππων· οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες
γήθησαν, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.
τοῖσι δὲ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἤρχετο μύθων·
φράζεο δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἢ νῶϊν τόδʼ ἔφηνε θεὸς τέρας ἦε σοὶ αὐτῷ.
So he spoke, and Menelaus, dear to Ares, pondered
how he should think and answer him rightly.
But Helen of the long robe got in before him and said:
"Hear me; I will prophesy as the immortals put it
into my heart, and as I think it will be fulfilled.
As this bird snatched the goose that was reared in the house,
coming from the mountain, where its breed and its birth are,
so Odysseus, after suffering many evils and wandering far,
will come home and take vengeance; or he is already
at home, and is sowing evil for all the suitors."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
how he should think and answer him rightly.
But Helen of the long robe got in before him and said:
"Hear me; I will prophesy as the immortals put it
into my heart, and as I think it will be fulfilled.
As this bird snatched the goose that was reared in the house,
coming from the mountain, where its breed and its birth are,
so Odysseus, after suffering many evils and wandering far,
will come home and take vengeance; or he is already
at home, and is sowing evil for all the suitors."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
ὣς φάτο, μερμήριξε δʼ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος,
ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποκρίναιτο νοήσας.
τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ὑποφθαμένη φάτο μῦθον·
κλῦτέ μευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀΐω.
ὡς ὅδε χῆνʼ ἥρπαξʼ ἀτιταλλομένην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἐλθὼν ἐξ ὄρεος, ὅθι οἱ γενεή τε τόκος τε,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθεὶς
οἴκαδε νοστήσει καὶ τίσεται· ἠὲ καὶ ἤδη
οἴκοι, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποκρίναιτο νοήσας.
τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ὑποφθαμένη φάτο μῦθον·
κλῦτέ μευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀΐω.
ὡς ὅδε χῆνʼ ἥρπαξʼ ἀτιταλλομένην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἐλθὼν ἐξ ὄρεος, ὅθι οἱ γενεή τε τόκος τε,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθεὶς
οἴκαδε νοστήσει καὶ τίσεται· ἠὲ καὶ ἤδη
οἴκοι, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"So may Zeus now grant it, the loud-thundering husband of Hera;
then I would pray to you there as to a god."
then I would pray to you there as to a god."
οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης·
τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην.
τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην.
He spoke, and laid the whip on the horses; and they very swiftly
darted out to the plain, eager, through the city.
All day long they shook the yoke that they bore between them.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark;
and they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles,
the son of Ortilochus, whom Alpheus fathered.
There they spent the night, and he set gifts of guest-friendship before them.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
they yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid chariot,
and drove out through the gateway and the echoing colonnade;
and he whipped them to go, and the two flew on, not unwilling.
And soon after that they came to the steep citadel of Pylos;
and then Telemachus spoke to the son of Nestor:
darted out to the plain, eager, through the city.
All day long they shook the yoke that they bore between them.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark;
and they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles,
the son of Ortilochus, whom Alpheus fathered.
There they spent the night, and he set gifts of guest-friendship before them.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
they yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid chariot,
and drove out through the gateway and the echoing colonnade;
and he whipped them to go, and the two flew on, not unwilling.
And soon after that they came to the steep citadel of Pylos;
and then Telemachus spoke to the son of Nestor:
ἦ καὶ ἐφʼ ἵπποιϊν μάστιν βάλεν· οἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα
ἤϊξαν πεδίονδε διὰ πτόλιος μεμαῶτες.
οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἐς Φηρὰς δʼ ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,
υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.
ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἄεσαν ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἄκοντε πετέσθην.
αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκοντο Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον·
καὶ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν·
ἤϊξαν πεδίονδε διὰ πτόλιος μεμαῶτες.
οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἐς Φηρὰς δʼ ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,
υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.
ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἄεσαν ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἄκοντε πετέσθην.
αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκοντο Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον·
καὶ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν·
"Son of Nestor, how could you promise and carry out
my word? We claim to be guest-friends without end
through our fathers’ friendship, and we are of the same age too;
and this journey will bring us still more to one mind.
Do not take me past my ship, nurtured by Zeus, but leave me there,
in case the old man keeps me in his house against my will,
wanting to show me kindness; and I must get home more quickly."
my word? We claim to be guest-friends without end
through our fathers’ friendship, and we are of the same age too;
and this journey will bring us still more to one mind.
Do not take me past my ship, nurtured by Zeus, but leave me there,
in case the old man keeps me in his house against my will,
wanting to show me kindness; and I must get home more quickly."
Νεστορίδη, πῶς κέν μοι ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειας
μῦθον ἐμόν; ξεῖνοι δὲ διαμπερὲς εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι
ἐκ πατέρων φιλότητος, ἀτὰρ καὶ ὁμήλικές εἰμεν·
ἥδε δʼ ὁδὸς καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμοφροσύνῃσιν ἐνήσει.
μή με παρὲξ ἄγε νῆα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ,
μή μʼ ὁ γέρων ἀέκοντα κατάσχῃ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἱέμενος φιλέειν· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ θᾶσσον ἱκέσθαι.
μῦθον ἐμόν; ξεῖνοι δὲ διαμπερὲς εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι
ἐκ πατέρων φιλότητος, ἀτὰρ καὶ ὁμήλικές εἰμεν·
ἥδε δʼ ὁδὸς καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμοφροσύνῃσιν ἐνήσει.
μή με παρὲξ ἄγε νῆα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ,
μή μʼ ὁ γέρων ἀέκοντα κατάσχῃ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἱέμενος φιλέειν· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ θᾶσσον ἱκέσθαι.
So he spoke, and the son of Nestor took counsel in his own spirit
how he might promise and carry it out rightly.
And as he thought, this seemed to him the better way:
he turned the horses towards the swift ship and the shore of the sea,
and took out the fine gifts at the stern of the ship,
the clothing and the gold that Menelaus had given him;
and urging him on he addressed him with winged words:
how he might promise and carry it out rightly.
And as he thought, this seemed to him the better way:
he turned the horses towards the swift ship and the shore of the sea,
and took out the fine gifts at the stern of the ship,
the clothing and the gold that Menelaus had given him;
and urging him on he addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, Νεστορίδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἑῷ συμφράσσατο θυμῷ,
ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειεν.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·
στρέψʼ ἵππους ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
νηῒ δʼ ἐνὶ πρύμνῃ ἐξαίνυτο κάλλιμα δῶρα,
ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Μενέλαος ἔδωκε·
καί μιν ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειεν.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·
στρέψʼ ἵππους ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
νηῒ δʼ ἐνὶ πρύμνῃ ἐξαίνυτο κάλλιμα δῶρα,
ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Μενέλαος ἔδωκε·
καί μιν ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Now go aboard in haste and tell all your companions to do so,
before I get home and give the news to the old man.
For I know this well in my mind and in my heart:
such is his overbearing spirit that he will not let you go,
but will come here himself to call you; and I do not think
he will go back empty-handed; for he will be very angry indeed."
before I get home and give the news to the old man.
For I know this well in my mind and in my heart:
such is his overbearing spirit that he will not let you go,
but will come here himself to call you; and I do not think
he will go back empty-handed; for he will be very angry indeed."
σπουδῇ νῦν ἀνάβαινε κέλευέ τε πάντας ἑταίρους,
πρὶν ἐμὲ οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι ἀπαγγεῖλαί τε γέροντι.
εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·
οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὔ σε μεθήσει,
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς καλέων δεῦρʼ εἴσεται, οὐδέ ἕ φημι
ἂψ ἰέναι κενεόν· μάλα γὰρ κεχολώσεται ἔμπης.
πρὶν ἐμὲ οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι ἀπαγγεῖλαί τε γέροντι.
εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·
οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὔ σε μεθήσει,
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς καλέων δεῦρʼ εἴσεται, οὐδέ ἕ φημι
ἂψ ἰέναι κενεόν· μάλα γὰρ κεχολώσεται ἔμπης.
So saying, he drove the fair-maned horses
back to the city of the Pylians, and quickly reached the house.
And Telemachus urged his companions and ordered them:
"Set the tackle in order, companions, in the black ship,
and let us go aboard, so that we may get on with our journey."
back to the city of the Pylians, and quickly reached the house.
And Telemachus urged his companions and ordered them:
"Set the tackle in order, companions, in the black ship,
and let us go aboard, so that we may get on with our journey."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἔλασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους
ἂψ Πυλίων εἰς ἄστυ, θοῶς δʼ ἄρα δώμαθʼ ἵκανε.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν·
ἐγκοσμεῖτε τὰ τεύχεʼ, ἑταῖροι, νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
αὐτοί τʼ ἀμβαίνωμεν, ἵνα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.
ἂψ Πυλίων εἰς ἄστυ, θοῶς δʼ ἄρα δώμαθʼ ἵκανε.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν·
ἐγκοσμεῖτε τὰ τεύχεʼ, ἑταῖροι, νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
αὐτοί τʼ ἀμβαίνωμεν, ἵνα πρήσσωμεν ὁδοῖο.
So he spoke, and they listened well to him and obeyed,
and quickly went aboard and sat down at the oar-locks.
and quickly went aboard and sat down at the oar-locks.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο,
αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.
αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.
So he was busy with this, and prayed and sacrificed to Athena
beside the stern of the ship. And a man came near him
from a far country, fleeing out of Argos, having killed a man,
a seer; and by descent he was of the line of Melampus,
who once lived in Pylos, the mother of flocks,
rich among the Pylians, living in a very great house;
but then he came to the land of others, fleeing from his native place
and from great-hearted Neleus, the noblest of living men,
who for a whole year kept much of his wealth
by force. And all that while he was bound in the halls of Phylacus
in a harsh bond, suffering hard pains
for the sake of the daughter of Neleus and the heavy ruin
that the goddess, the frightful Fury, laid upon his mind.
But he escaped death and drove the loud-lowing cattle
from Phylace to Pylos, and took vengeance for the unseemly deed
on godlike Neleus, and brought the woman home
as a wife for his brother. And he came to the land of others,
to horse-pasturing Argos; for it was his portion
to live there, ruling over many Argives.
There he married a wife and made himself a high-roofed house,
and fathered Antiphates and Mantius, two strong sons.
Antiphates fathered great-hearted Oicles,
and Oicles fathered Amphiaraus, who roused the people,
whom aegis-bearing Zeus and Apollo loved in their hearts
with every kind of love; yet he did not reach the threshold of old age,
but perished at Thebes for the sake of a woman’s gifts.
His sons were Alcmaeon and Amphilochus.
And Mantius fathered Polypheides and Cleitus.
But Dawn of the golden throne carried off Cleitus
for his beauty, so that he might be among the immortals;
and Apollo made high-spirited Polypheides a seer,
by far the best of mortals, after Amphiaraus died;
and he moved away to Hyperesia, angry with his father,
and living there he prophesied to all mortals.
It was his son who came up, and his name was Theoclymenus;
and he stood then beside Telemachus, and found him
pouring a libation and praying by the swift black ship,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
beside the stern of the ship. And a man came near him
from a far country, fleeing out of Argos, having killed a man,
a seer; and by descent he was of the line of Melampus,
who once lived in Pylos, the mother of flocks,
rich among the Pylians, living in a very great house;
but then he came to the land of others, fleeing from his native place
and from great-hearted Neleus, the noblest of living men,
who for a whole year kept much of his wealth
by force. And all that while he was bound in the halls of Phylacus
in a harsh bond, suffering hard pains
for the sake of the daughter of Neleus and the heavy ruin
that the goddess, the frightful Fury, laid upon his mind.
But he escaped death and drove the loud-lowing cattle
from Phylace to Pylos, and took vengeance for the unseemly deed
on godlike Neleus, and brought the woman home
as a wife for his brother. And he came to the land of others,
to horse-pasturing Argos; for it was his portion
to live there, ruling over many Argives.
There he married a wife and made himself a high-roofed house,
and fathered Antiphates and Mantius, two strong sons.
Antiphates fathered great-hearted Oicles,
and Oicles fathered Amphiaraus, who roused the people,
whom aegis-bearing Zeus and Apollo loved in their hearts
with every kind of love; yet he did not reach the threshold of old age,
but perished at Thebes for the sake of a woman’s gifts.
His sons were Alcmaeon and Amphilochus.
And Mantius fathered Polypheides and Cleitus.
But Dawn of the golden throne carried off Cleitus
for his beauty, so that he might be among the immortals;
and Apollo made high-spirited Polypheides a seer,
by far the best of mortals, after Amphiaraus died;
and he moved away to Hyperesia, angry with his father,
and living there he prophesied to all mortals.
It was his son who came up, and his name was Theoclymenus;
and he stood then beside Telemachus, and found him
pouring a libation and praying by the swift black ship,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν τὰ πονεῖτο καὶ εὔχετο, θῦε δʼ Ἀθήνῃ
νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ· σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἤλυθεν ἀνὴρ
τηλεδαπός, φεύγων ἐξ Ἄργεος ἄνδρα κατακτάς,
μάντις· ἀτὰρ γενεήν γε Μελάμποδος ἔκγονος ἦεν,
ὃς πρὶν μέν ποτʼ ἔναιε Πύλῳ ἔνι, μητέρι μήλων,
ἀφνειὸς Πυλίοισι μέγʼ ἔξοχα δώματα ναίων·
δὴ τότε γʼ ἄλλων δῆμον ἀφίκετο, πατρίδα φεύγων
Νηλέα τε μεγάθυμον, ἀγαυότατον ζωόντων,
ὅς οἱ χρήματα πολλὰ τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
εἶχε βίῃ. ὁ δὲ τῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις Φυλάκοιο
δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ δέδετο, κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων
εἵνεκα Νηλῆος κούρης ἄτης τε βαρείης,
τήν οἱ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ δασπλῆτις Ἐρινύς.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἤλασε βοῦς ἐριμύκους
ἐς Πύλον ἐκ Φυλάκης καὶ ἐτίσατο ἔργον ἀεικὲς
ἀντίθεον Νηλῆα, κασιγνήτῳ δὲ γυναῖκα
ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώμαθʼ. ὁ δʼ ἄλλων ἵκετο δῆμον,
Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον· τόθι γάρ νύ οἱ αἴσιμον ἦεν
ναιέμεναι πολλοῖσιν ἀνάσσοντʼ Ἀργείοισιν
ἔνθα δʼ ἔγημε γυναῖκα καὶ ὑψερεφὲς θέτο δῶμα,
γείνατο δʼ Ἀντιφάτην καὶ Μάντιον, υἷε κραταιώ.
Ἀντιφάτης μὲν ἔτικτεν Ὀϊκλῆα μεγάθυμον,
αὐτὰρ Ὀϊκλείης λαοσσόον Ἀμφιάραον,
ὃν περὶ κῆρι φίλει Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀπόλλων
παντοίην φιλότητʼ· οὐδʼ ἵκετο γήραος οὐδόν,
ἀλλʼ ὄλετʼ ἐν Θήβῃσι γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.
τοῦ δʼ υἱεῖς ἐγένοντʼ Ἀλκμαίων Ἀμφίλοχός τε.
Μάντιος αὖ τέκετο Πολυφείδεά τε Κλεῖτόν τε·
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι Κλεῖτον χρυσόθρονος ἥρπασεν Ἠὼς
κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη·
αὐτὰρ ὑπέρθυμον Πολυφείδεα μάντιν Ἀπόλλων
θῆκε βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ θάνεν Ἀμφιάραος·
ὅς ῥʼ Ὑπερησίηνδʼ ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς,
ἔνθʼ ὅ γε ναιετάων μαντεύετο πᾶσι βροτοῖσιν.
τοῦ μὲν ἄρʼ υἱὸς ἐπῆλθε, Θεοκλύμενος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἦεν,
ὃς τότε Τηλεμάχου πέλας ἵστατο· τὸν δʼ ἐκίχανεν
σπένδοντʼ εὐχόμενόν τε θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
νηῒ πάρα πρυμνῇ· σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἤλυθεν ἀνὴρ
τηλεδαπός, φεύγων ἐξ Ἄργεος ἄνδρα κατακτάς,
μάντις· ἀτὰρ γενεήν γε Μελάμποδος ἔκγονος ἦεν,
ὃς πρὶν μέν ποτʼ ἔναιε Πύλῳ ἔνι, μητέρι μήλων,
ἀφνειὸς Πυλίοισι μέγʼ ἔξοχα δώματα ναίων·
δὴ τότε γʼ ἄλλων δῆμον ἀφίκετο, πατρίδα φεύγων
Νηλέα τε μεγάθυμον, ἀγαυότατον ζωόντων,
ὅς οἱ χρήματα πολλὰ τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
εἶχε βίῃ. ὁ δὲ τῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις Φυλάκοιο
δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ δέδετο, κρατέρʼ ἄλγεα πάσχων
εἵνεκα Νηλῆος κούρης ἄτης τε βαρείης,
τήν οἱ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ δασπλῆτις Ἐρινύς.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἤλασε βοῦς ἐριμύκους
ἐς Πύλον ἐκ Φυλάκης καὶ ἐτίσατο ἔργον ἀεικὲς
ἀντίθεον Νηλῆα, κασιγνήτῳ δὲ γυναῖκα
ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώμαθʼ. ὁ δʼ ἄλλων ἵκετο δῆμον,
Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον· τόθι γάρ νύ οἱ αἴσιμον ἦεν
ναιέμεναι πολλοῖσιν ἀνάσσοντʼ Ἀργείοισιν
ἔνθα δʼ ἔγημε γυναῖκα καὶ ὑψερεφὲς θέτο δῶμα,
γείνατο δʼ Ἀντιφάτην καὶ Μάντιον, υἷε κραταιώ.
Ἀντιφάτης μὲν ἔτικτεν Ὀϊκλῆα μεγάθυμον,
αὐτὰρ Ὀϊκλείης λαοσσόον Ἀμφιάραον,
ὃν περὶ κῆρι φίλει Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀπόλλων
παντοίην φιλότητʼ· οὐδʼ ἵκετο γήραος οὐδόν,
ἀλλʼ ὄλετʼ ἐν Θήβῃσι γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.
τοῦ δʼ υἱεῖς ἐγένοντʼ Ἀλκμαίων Ἀμφίλοχός τε.
Μάντιος αὖ τέκετο Πολυφείδεά τε Κλεῖτόν τε·
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι Κλεῖτον χρυσόθρονος ἥρπασεν Ἠὼς
κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη·
αὐτὰρ ὑπέρθυμον Πολυφείδεα μάντιν Ἀπόλλων
θῆκε βροτῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ θάνεν Ἀμφιάραος·
ὅς ῥʼ Ὑπερησίηνδʼ ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς,
ἔνθʼ ὅ γε ναιετάων μαντεύετο πᾶσι βροτοῖσιν.
τοῦ μὲν ἄρʼ υἱὸς ἐπῆλθε, Θεοκλύμενος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἦεν,
ὃς τότε Τηλεμάχου πέλας ἵστατο· τὸν δʼ ἐκίχανεν
σπένδοντʼ εὐχόμενόν τε θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Friend, since I find you sacrificing in this place,
I beg you by these offerings and by the god, and then
by your own life and by your companions who follow you,
tell me truly what I ask and do not hide it:
who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city and your parents?"
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
I beg you by these offerings and by the god, and then
by your own life and by your companions who follow you,
tell me truly what I ask and do not hide it:
who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city and your parents?"
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί σε θύοντα κιχάνω τῷδʼ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,
λίσσομʼ ὑπὲρ θυέων καὶ δαίμονος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
σῆς τʼ αὐτοῦ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἑταίρων, οἵ τοι ἕπονται,
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ νημερτέα μηδʼ ἐπικεύσῃς·
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
λίσσομʼ ὑπὲρ θυέων καὶ δαίμονος, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
σῆς τʼ αὐτοῦ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἑταίρων, οἵ τοι ἕπονται,
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ νημερτέα μηδʼ ἐπικεύσῃς·
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Then I will tell you, stranger, quite exactly.
I am from Ithaca by birth, and my father is Odysseus,
if he ever was; but by now he has died a bitter death.
That is why I have taken companions and a black ship
and come to ask after my father, who has been gone so long."
Then godlike Theoclymenus spoke to him in turn:
I am from Ithaca by birth, and my father is Odysseus,
if he ever was; but by now he has died a bitter death.
That is why I have taken companions and a black ship
and come to ask after my father, who has been gone so long."
Then godlike Theoclymenus spoke to him in turn:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος εἰμί, πατὴρ δέ μοί ἐστιν Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἴ ποτʼ ἔην· νῦν δʼ ἤδη ἀπέφθιτο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ.
τοὔνεκα νῦν ἑτάρους τε λαβὼν καὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
ἦλθον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος εἰμί, πατὴρ δέ μοί ἐστιν Ὀδυσσεύς,
εἴ ποτʼ ἔην· νῦν δʼ ἤδη ἀπέφθιτο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ.
τοὔνεκα νῦν ἑτάρους τε λαβὼν καὶ νῆα μέλαιναν
ἦλθον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
"So it is with me too: I am away from my native land, having killed a man
of my own people. He has many brothers and kinsmen
through horse-pasturing Argos, and they have great power among the Achaeans.
Avoiding death and black doom from them
I am in flight, since it is now my portion to wander among men.
But take me aboard your ship, since I have come to you as a suppliant in flight,
so that they may not kill me; for I think they are on my track."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
of my own people. He has many brothers and kinsmen
through horse-pasturing Argos, and they have great power among the Achaeans.
Avoiding death and black doom from them
I am in flight, since it is now my portion to wander among men.
But take me aboard your ship, since I have come to you as a suppliant in flight,
so that they may not kill me; for I think they are on my track."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
οὕτω τοι καὶ ἐγὼν ἐκ πατρίδος, ἄνδρα κατακτὰς
ἔμφυλον· πολλοὶ δὲ κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε
Ἄργος ἀνʼ ἱππόβοτον, μέγα δὲ κρατέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
τῶν ὑπαλευάμενος θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν
φεύγω, ἐπεί νύ μοι αἶσα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι.
ἀλλά με νηὸς ἔφεσσαι, ἐπεί σε φυγὼν ἱκέτευσα,
μή με κατακτείνωσι· διωκέμεναι γὰρ ὀΐω.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἔμφυλον· πολλοὶ δὲ κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε
Ἄργος ἀνʼ ἱππόβοτον, μέγα δὲ κρατέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
τῶν ὑπαλευάμενος θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν
φεύγω, ἐπεί νύ μοι αἶσα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι.
ἀλλά με νηὸς ἔφεσσαι, ἐπεί σε φυγὼν ἱκέτευσα,
μή με κατακτείνωσι· διωκέμεναι γὰρ ὀΐω.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"I will certainly not thrust you away from my balanced ship if you wish to come.
So follow; and there you will be entertained with what we have."
So follow; and there you will be entertained with what we have."
οὐ μὲν δή σʼ ἐθέλοντά γʼ ἀπώσω νηὸς ἐΐσης,
ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ κεῖθι φιλήσεαι, οἷά κʼ ἔχωμεν.
ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ κεῖθι φιλήσεαι, οἷά κʼ ἔχωμεν.
So saying, he took his bronze spear from him
and laid it on the deck of the curved ship;
and he himself went aboard the seagoing ship.
Then he sat down in the stern, and beside him
he seated Theoclymenus; and they loosed the stern-lines.
And Telemachus urged his companions and ordered them
to lay hold of the tackle; and they obeyed in haste.
They lifted the mast of fir and set it up
in the hollow mast-box and made it fast with the forestays,
and hauled up the white sails with twisted ox-hide ropes.
And grey-eyed Athena sent them a favouring wind,
rushing violently through the air, so that the ship
might run her course quickly over the salt water of the sea.
They passed Crouni and Chalcis of the fair streams.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark;
and she made for Pheae, driven on by the wind of Zeus,
and past noble Elis, where the Epeians hold power.
From there he steered for the Sharp Islands,
wondering whether he would escape death or be taken.
Meanwhile in the hut Odysseus and the noble swineherd
were at supper, and the other men supped beside them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
Odysseus spoke among them, making trial of the swineherd,
to see whether he would still be kind to him and tell him to stay
there at the farmstead, or would urge him to go to the city:
"Hear me now, Eumaeus, and all you other companions;
at dawn I wish to go off to the city
to beg, so that I may not wear you and your companions down.
But advise me well and send a good guide with me
to take me there; and through the city I shall have to wander
by myself, in case someone gives me a cup and a loaf.
And if I came to the house of divine Odysseus
I might carry a message to circumspect Penelope,
and I might mingle with the overweening suitors
to see if they would give me a meal, since they have good things past counting.
I would soon serve them well in whatever they wished.
For I will tell you plainly; mark it and hear me.
By the favour of Hermes the guide, who gives
grace and glory to the works of all men,
no other mortal could rival me in service,
in building a fire well and splitting dry wood,
in carving and roasting and pouring the wine,
the things that lesser men do in service to the great."
Then, greatly troubled, you answered him, Eumaeus the swineherd:
and laid it on the deck of the curved ship;
and he himself went aboard the seagoing ship.
Then he sat down in the stern, and beside him
he seated Theoclymenus; and they loosed the stern-lines.
And Telemachus urged his companions and ordered them
to lay hold of the tackle; and they obeyed in haste.
They lifted the mast of fir and set it up
in the hollow mast-box and made it fast with the forestays,
and hauled up the white sails with twisted ox-hide ropes.
And grey-eyed Athena sent them a favouring wind,
rushing violently through the air, so that the ship
might run her course quickly over the salt water of the sea.
They passed Crouni and Chalcis of the fair streams.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark;
and she made for Pheae, driven on by the wind of Zeus,
and past noble Elis, where the Epeians hold power.
From there he steered for the Sharp Islands,
wondering whether he would escape death or be taken.
Meanwhile in the hut Odysseus and the noble swineherd
were at supper, and the other men supped beside them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
Odysseus spoke among them, making trial of the swineherd,
to see whether he would still be kind to him and tell him to stay
there at the farmstead, or would urge him to go to the city:
"Hear me now, Eumaeus, and all you other companions;
at dawn I wish to go off to the city
to beg, so that I may not wear you and your companions down.
But advise me well and send a good guide with me
to take me there; and through the city I shall have to wander
by myself, in case someone gives me a cup and a loaf.
And if I came to the house of divine Odysseus
I might carry a message to circumspect Penelope,
and I might mingle with the overweening suitors
to see if they would give me a meal, since they have good things past counting.
I would soon serve them well in whatever they wished.
For I will tell you plainly; mark it and hear me.
By the favour of Hermes the guide, who gives
grace and glory to the works of all men,
no other mortal could rival me in service,
in building a fire well and splitting dry wood,
in carving and roasting and pouring the wine,
the things that lesser men do in service to the great."
Then, greatly troubled, you answered him, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,
καὶ τό γʼ ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν τάνυσεν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης·
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς νηὸς ἐβήσετο ποντοπόροιο.
ἐν πρύμνῃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καθέζετο, πὰρ δὲ οἷ αὐτῷ
εἷσε Θεοκλύμενον· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν
ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δʼ ἐσσυμένως ἐπίθοντο.
ἱστὸν δʼ εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης
στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,
ἕλκον δʼ ἱστία λευκὰ ἐϋστρέπτοισι βοεῦσι.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
λάβρον ἐπαιγίζοντα διʼ αἰθέρος, ὄφρα τάχιστα
νηῦς ἀνύσειε θέουσα θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
βὰν δὲ παρὰ Κρουνοὺς καὶ Χαλκίδα καλλιρέεθρον.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἡ δὲ Φεὰς ἐπέβαλλεν ἐπειγομένη Διὸς οὔρῳ
ἠδὲ παρʼ Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.
ἔνθεν δʼ αὖ νήσοισιν ἐπιπροέηκε θοῇσιν,
ὁρμαίνων ἤ κεν θάνατον φύγοι ἦ κεν ἁλώῃ.
τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
δορπείτην· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἐδόρπεον ἀνέρες ἄλλοι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,
ἤ μιν ἔτʼ ἐνδυκέως φιλέοι μεῖναί τε κελεύοι
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ σταθμῷ, ἦ ὀτρύνειε πόλινδε·
κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε, καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι·
ἠῶθεν προτὶ ἄστυ λιλαίομαι ἀπονέεσθαι
πτωχεύσων, ἵνα μή σε κατατρύχω καὶ ἑταίρους.
ἀλλά μοι εὖ θʼ ὑπόθευ καὶ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνʼ ἐσθλὸν ὄπασσον
ὅς κέ με κεῖσʼ ἀγάγῃ· κατὰ δὲ πτόλιν αὐτὸς ἀνάγκῃ
πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.
καί κʼ ἐλθὼν πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
ἀγγελίην εἴποιμι περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
καί κε μνηστήρεσσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγείην,
εἴ μοι δεῖπνον δοῖεν ὀνείατα μυρίʼ ἔχοντες.
αἶψά κεν εὖ δρώοιμι μετὰ σφίσιν ἅσσʼ ἐθέλοιεν.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
Ἑρμείαο ἕκητι διακτόρου, ὅς ῥά τε πάντων
ἀνθρώπων ἔργοισι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει,
δρηστοσύνῃ οὐκ ἄν μοι ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος,
πῦρ τʼ εὖ νηῆσαι διά τε ξύλα δανὰ κεάσσαι,
δαιτρεῦσαί τε καὶ ὀπτῆσαι καὶ οἰνοχοῆσαι,
οἷά τε τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι παραδρώωσι χέρηες.
τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
καὶ τό γʼ ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν τάνυσεν νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης·
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς νηὸς ἐβήσετο ποντοπόροιο.
ἐν πρύμνῃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καθέζετο, πὰρ δὲ οἷ αὐτῷ
εἷσε Θεοκλύμενον· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν
ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι· τοὶ δʼ ἐσσυμένως ἐπίθοντο.
ἱστὸν δʼ εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης
στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,
ἕλκον δʼ ἱστία λευκὰ ἐϋστρέπτοισι βοεῦσι.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
λάβρον ἐπαιγίζοντα διʼ αἰθέρος, ὄφρα τάχιστα
νηῦς ἀνύσειε θέουσα θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.
βὰν δὲ παρὰ Κρουνοὺς καὶ Χαλκίδα καλλιρέεθρον.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἡ δὲ Φεὰς ἐπέβαλλεν ἐπειγομένη Διὸς οὔρῳ
ἠδὲ παρʼ Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.
ἔνθεν δʼ αὖ νήσοισιν ἐπιπροέηκε θοῇσιν,
ὁρμαίνων ἤ κεν θάνατον φύγοι ἦ κεν ἁλώῃ.
τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
δορπείτην· παρὰ δέ σφιν ἐδόρπεον ἀνέρες ἄλλοι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,
ἤ μιν ἔτʼ ἐνδυκέως φιλέοι μεῖναί τε κελεύοι
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ σταθμῷ, ἦ ὀτρύνειε πόλινδε·
κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε, καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι·
ἠῶθεν προτὶ ἄστυ λιλαίομαι ἀπονέεσθαι
πτωχεύσων, ἵνα μή σε κατατρύχω καὶ ἑταίρους.
ἀλλά μοι εὖ θʼ ὑπόθευ καὶ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνʼ ἐσθλὸν ὄπασσον
ὅς κέ με κεῖσʼ ἀγάγῃ· κατὰ δὲ πτόλιν αὐτὸς ἀνάγκῃ
πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.
καί κʼ ἐλθὼν πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
ἀγγελίην εἴποιμι περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
καί κε μνηστήρεσσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγείην,
εἴ μοι δεῖπνον δοῖεν ὀνείατα μυρίʼ ἔχοντες.
αἶψά κεν εὖ δρώοιμι μετὰ σφίσιν ἅσσʼ ἐθέλοιεν.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
Ἑρμείαο ἕκητι διακτόρου, ὅς ῥά τε πάντων
ἀνθρώπων ἔργοισι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει,
δρηστοσύνῃ οὐκ ἄν μοι ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος,
πῦρ τʼ εὖ νηῆσαι διά τε ξύλα δανὰ κεάσσαι,
δαιτρεῦσαί τε καὶ ὀπτῆσαι καὶ οἰνοχοῆσαι,
οἷά τε τοῖς ἀγαθοῖσι παραδρώωσι χέρηες.
τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Ah, stranger, why has this thought come into your
mind? You must be altogether eager to perish there,
if you wish to go down into the crowd of the suitors,
whose insolence and violence reach the iron heaven.
Their servants are not men like you,
but young men, well dressed in cloaks and tunics,
always sleek in their heads and their fair faces,
who serve them; and the polished tables
are loaded with bread and meat and wine.
But stay; no one is troubled by your being here,
neither I nor any other of the companions who are with me.
And when the dear son of Odysseus comes,
he will clothe you in a cloak and a tunic for clothing
and send you wherever your heart and spirit bid you."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus answered him:
mind? You must be altogether eager to perish there,
if you wish to go down into the crowd of the suitors,
whose insolence and violence reach the iron heaven.
Their servants are not men like you,
but young men, well dressed in cloaks and tunics,
always sleek in their heads and their fair faces,
who serve them; and the polished tables
are loaded with bread and meat and wine.
But stay; no one is troubled by your being here,
neither I nor any other of the companions who are with me.
And when the dear son of Odysseus comes,
he will clothe you in a cloak and a tunic for clothing
and send you wherever your heart and spirit bid you."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus answered him:
ὤ μοι, ξεῖνε, τίη τοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ τοῦτο νόημα
ἔπλετο; ἦ σύ γε πάγχυ λιλαίεαι αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι.
εἰ δὴ μνηστήρων ἐθέλεις καταδῦναι ὅμιλον,
τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.
οὔ τοι τοιοίδʼ εἰσὶν ὑποδρηστῆρες ἐκείνων,
ἀλλὰ νέοι, χλαίνας εὖ εἱμένοι ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
αἰεὶ δὲ λιπαροὶ κεφαλὰς καὶ καλὰ πρόσωπα,
οἵ σφιν ὑποδρώωσιν· ἐΰξεστοι δὲ τράπεζαι
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν ἠδʼ οἴνου βεβρίθασιν.
ἀλλὰ μένʼ· οὐ γάρ τίς τοι ἀνιᾶται παρεόντι,
οὔτʼ ἐγὼ οὔτε τις ἄλλος ἑταίρων, οἵ μοι ἔασιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
κεῖνός σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσει,
πέμψει δʼ ὅππη σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἔπλετο; ἦ σύ γε πάγχυ λιλαίεαι αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι.
εἰ δὴ μνηστήρων ἐθέλεις καταδῦναι ὅμιλον,
τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.
οὔ τοι τοιοίδʼ εἰσὶν ὑποδρηστῆρες ἐκείνων,
ἀλλὰ νέοι, χλαίνας εὖ εἱμένοι ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
αἰεὶ δὲ λιπαροὶ κεφαλὰς καὶ καλὰ πρόσωπα,
οἵ σφιν ὑποδρώωσιν· ἐΰξεστοι δὲ τράπεζαι
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν ἠδʼ οἴνου βεβρίθασιν.
ἀλλὰ μένʼ· οὐ γάρ τίς τοι ἀνιᾶται παρεόντι,
οὔτʼ ἐγὼ οὔτε τις ἄλλος ἑταίρων, οἵ μοι ἔασιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
κεῖνός σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσει,
πέμψει δʼ ὅππη σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Eumaeus, may you be as dear to father Zeus
as you are to me, since you have stopped my wandering and my dreadful misery.
There is nothing worse for mortals than a life of wandering;
but for the sake of the accursed belly men have bitter troubles,
whoever is overtaken by wandering and hardship and pain.
But now, since you keep me and tell me to wait for him,
come, tell me about the mother of divine Odysseus
and about his father, whom he left on the threshold of old age when he went:
are they still alive under the rays of the sun,
or are they dead already and in the house of Hades?"
Then the swineherd, leader of men, spoke to him in turn:
as you are to me, since you have stopped my wandering and my dreadful misery.
There is nothing worse for mortals than a life of wandering;
but for the sake of the accursed belly men have bitter troubles,
whoever is overtaken by wandering and hardship and pain.
But now, since you keep me and tell me to wait for him,
come, tell me about the mother of divine Odysseus
and about his father, whom he left on the threshold of old age when he went:
are they still alive under the rays of the sun,
or are they dead already and in the house of Hades?"
Then the swineherd, leader of men, spoke to him in turn:
αἴθʼ οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιο
ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι μʼ ἔπαυσας ἄλης καὶ ὀϊζύος αἰνῆς.
πλαγκτοσύνης δʼ οὐκ ἔστι κακώτερον ἄλλο βροτοῖσιν·
ἀλλʼ ἕνεκʼ οὐλομένης γαστρὸς κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔχουσιν
ἀνέρες, ὅν τινʼ ἵκηται ἄλη καὶ πῆμα καὶ ἄλγος.
νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ ἰσχανάᾳς μεῖναι τέ με κεῖνον ἄνωγας,
εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι περὶ μητρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
πατρός θʼ, ὃν κατέλειπεν ἰὼν ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ,
ἤ που ἔτι ζώουσιν ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,
ἦ ἤδη τεθνᾶσι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι μʼ ἔπαυσας ἄλης καὶ ὀϊζύος αἰνῆς.
πλαγκτοσύνης δʼ οὐκ ἔστι κακώτερον ἄλλο βροτοῖσιν·
ἀλλʼ ἕνεκʼ οὐλομένης γαστρὸς κακὰ κήδεʼ ἔχουσιν
ἀνέρες, ὅν τινʼ ἵκηται ἄλη καὶ πῆμα καὶ ἄλγος.
νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ ἰσχανάᾳς μεῖναι τέ με κεῖνον ἄνωγας,
εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι περὶ μητρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
πατρός θʼ, ὃν κατέλειπεν ἰὼν ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ,
ἤ που ἔτι ζώουσιν ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,
ἦ ἤδη τεθνᾶσι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
"Then I will tell you, stranger, quite exactly.
Laertes is still alive, but he prays always to Zeus
that the spirit may waste from his limbs in his own halls;
for he mourns terribly for his son, who is gone,
and for his wise wedded wife, whose death
grieved him most of all and brought him to raw old age.
And she died of grief for her glorious son,
a wretched death; may no one die so who lives here
and is a friend to me and does me kindness.
So long as she was alive, grieving though she was,
it was some pleasure to me to ask and to inquire,
because she herself had reared me along with Ctimene of the long robe,
her strong daughter, the youngest child she bore.
I was reared with her, and she honoured me little less.
But when we had both come to our longed-for youth,
they gave her then to Same and took countless gifts;
and as for me, she clothed me in a cloak and a tunic,
very fine clothing, and gave me sandals for my feet
and sent me to the country; and she loved me still more in her heart.
Now I lack all that; but for myself
the blessed gods make the work prosper which I stay with;
from it I have eaten and drunk and given to honoured guests.
But from my mistress there is nothing kind to hear,
no word and no deed, since evil fell upon the house,
these overweening men; and servants greatly long
to speak face to face with their mistress and to learn each thing
and to eat and drink, and then to carry something away
to the country, such things as always warm the spirit of servants."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
Laertes is still alive, but he prays always to Zeus
that the spirit may waste from his limbs in his own halls;
for he mourns terribly for his son, who is gone,
and for his wise wedded wife, whose death
grieved him most of all and brought him to raw old age.
And she died of grief for her glorious son,
a wretched death; may no one die so who lives here
and is a friend to me and does me kindness.
So long as she was alive, grieving though she was,
it was some pleasure to me to ask and to inquire,
because she herself had reared me along with Ctimene of the long robe,
her strong daughter, the youngest child she bore.
I was reared with her, and she honoured me little less.
But when we had both come to our longed-for youth,
they gave her then to Same and took countless gifts;
and as for me, she clothed me in a cloak and a tunic,
very fine clothing, and gave me sandals for my feet
and sent me to the country; and she loved me still more in her heart.
Now I lack all that; but for myself
the blessed gods make the work prosper which I stay with;
from it I have eaten and drunk and given to honoured guests.
But from my mistress there is nothing kind to hear,
no word and no deed, since evil fell upon the house,
these overweening men; and servants greatly long
to speak face to face with their mistress and to learn each thing
and to eat and drink, and then to carry something away
to the country, such things as always warm the spirit of servants."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
Λαέρτης μὲν ἔτι ζώει, Διὶ δʼ εὔχεται αἰεὶ
θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων φθίσθαι οἷς ἐν μεγάροισιν·
ἐκπάγλως γὰρ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται οἰχομένοιο
κουριδίης τʼ ἀλόχοιο δαΐφρονος, ἥ ἑ μάλιστα
ἤκαχʼ ἀποφθιμένη καὶ ἐν ὠμῷ γήραϊ θῆκεν.
ἡ δʼ ἄχεϊ οὗ παιδὸς ἀπέφθιτο κυδαλίμοιο,
λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ, ὡς μὴ θάνοι ὅς τις ἐμοί γε
ἐνθάδε ναιετάων φίλος εἴη καὶ φίλα ἔρδοι.
ὄφρα μὲν οὖν δὴ κείνη ἔην, ἀχέουσά περ ἔμπης,
τόφρα τί μοι φίλον ἔσκε μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,
οὕνεκά μʼ αὐτὴ θρέψεν ἅμα Κτιμένῃ τανυπέπλῳ,
θυγατέρʼ ἰφθίμῃ, τὴν ὁπλοτάτην τέκε παίδων·
τῇ ὁμοῦ ἐτρεφόμην, ὀλίγον δέ τί μʼ ἧσσον ἐτίμα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἥβην πολυήρατον ἱκόμεθʼ ἄμφω,
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα Σάμηνδʼ ἔδοσαν καὶ μυρίʼ ἕλοντο,
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἐκείνη
καλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφιέσασα, ποσὶν δʼ ὑποδήματα δοῦσα
ἀγρόνδε προΐαλλε· φίλει δέ με κηρόθι μᾶλλον.
νῦν δʼ ἤδη τούτων ἐπιδεύομαι· ἀλλά μοι αὐτῷ
ἔργον ἀέξουσιν μάκαρες θεοὶ ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω·
τῶν ἔφαγόν τʼ ἔπιόν τε καὶ αἰδοίοισιν ἔδωκα.
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα δεσποίνης οὐ μείλιχον ἔστιν ἀκοῦσαι
οὔτʼ ἔπος οὔτε τι ἔργον, ἐπεὶ κακὸν ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ,
ἄνδρες ὑπερφίαλοι· μέγα δὲ δμῶες χατέουσιν
ἀντία δεσποίνης φάσθαι καὶ ἕκαστα πυθέσθαι
καὶ φαγέμεν πιέμεν τε, ἔπειτα δὲ καί τι φέρεσθαι
ἀγρόνδʼ, οἷά τε θυμὸν ἀεὶ δμώεσσιν ἰαίνει.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
Λαέρτης μὲν ἔτι ζώει, Διὶ δʼ εὔχεται αἰεὶ
θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων φθίσθαι οἷς ἐν μεγάροισιν·
ἐκπάγλως γὰρ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται οἰχομένοιο
κουριδίης τʼ ἀλόχοιο δαΐφρονος, ἥ ἑ μάλιστα
ἤκαχʼ ἀποφθιμένη καὶ ἐν ὠμῷ γήραϊ θῆκεν.
ἡ δʼ ἄχεϊ οὗ παιδὸς ἀπέφθιτο κυδαλίμοιο,
λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ, ὡς μὴ θάνοι ὅς τις ἐμοί γε
ἐνθάδε ναιετάων φίλος εἴη καὶ φίλα ἔρδοι.
ὄφρα μὲν οὖν δὴ κείνη ἔην, ἀχέουσά περ ἔμπης,
τόφρα τί μοι φίλον ἔσκε μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,
οὕνεκά μʼ αὐτὴ θρέψεν ἅμα Κτιμένῃ τανυπέπλῳ,
θυγατέρʼ ἰφθίμῃ, τὴν ὁπλοτάτην τέκε παίδων·
τῇ ὁμοῦ ἐτρεφόμην, ὀλίγον δέ τί μʼ ἧσσον ἐτίμα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἥβην πολυήρατον ἱκόμεθʼ ἄμφω,
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα Σάμηνδʼ ἔδοσαν καὶ μυρίʼ ἕλοντο,
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἐκείνη
καλὰ μάλʼ ἀμφιέσασα, ποσὶν δʼ ὑποδήματα δοῦσα
ἀγρόνδε προΐαλλε· φίλει δέ με κηρόθι μᾶλλον.
νῦν δʼ ἤδη τούτων ἐπιδεύομαι· ἀλλά μοι αὐτῷ
ἔργον ἀέξουσιν μάκαρες θεοὶ ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω·
τῶν ἔφαγόν τʼ ἔπιόν τε καὶ αἰδοίοισιν ἔδωκα.
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα δεσποίνης οὐ μείλιχον ἔστιν ἀκοῦσαι
οὔτʼ ἔπος οὔτε τι ἔργον, ἐπεὶ κακὸν ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ,
ἄνδρες ὑπερφίαλοι· μέγα δὲ δμῶες χατέουσιν
ἀντία δεσποίνης φάσθαι καὶ ἕκαστα πυθέσθαι
καὶ φαγέμεν πιέμεν τε, ἔπειτα δὲ καί τι φέρεσθαι
ἀγρόνδʼ, οἷά τε θυμὸν ἀεὶ δμώεσσιν ἰαίνει.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Ah me, so while you were still a small child, Eumaeus the swineherd,
you were driven far from your native land and your parents.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
was the wide-wayed city of men sacked
in which your father and your lady mother lived,
or did hostile men take you alone, beside the sheep or the cattle,
and carry you off in their ships and sell you
to this man’s house, and he gave a worthy price?"
Then the swineherd, leader of men, spoke to him in turn:
you were driven far from your native land and your parents.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
was the wide-wayed city of men sacked
in which your father and your lady mother lived,
or did hostile men take you alone, beside the sheep or the cattle,
and carry you off in their ships and sell you
to this man’s house, and he gave a worthy price?"
Then the swineherd, leader of men, spoke to him in turn:
ὢ πόποι, ὡς ἄρα τυτθὸς ἐών, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα,
πολλὸν ἀπεπλάγχθης σῆς πατρίδος ἠδὲ τοκήων.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
ἠὲ διεπράθετο πτόλις ἀνδρῶν εὐρυάγυια,
ᾗ ἔνι ναιετάασκε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ,
ἦ σέ γε μουνωθέντα παρʼ οἴεσιν ἢ παρὰ βουσὶν
ἄνδρες δυσμενέες νηυσὶν λάβον ἠδʼ ἐπέρασσαν
τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ὁ δʼ ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
πολλὸν ἀπεπλάγχθης σῆς πατρίδος ἠδὲ τοκήων.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
ἠὲ διεπράθετο πτόλις ἀνδρῶν εὐρυάγυια,
ᾗ ἔνι ναιετάασκε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ,
ἦ σέ γε μουνωθέντα παρʼ οἴεσιν ἢ παρὰ βουσὶν
ἄνδρες δυσμενέες νηυσὶν λάβον ἠδʼ ἐπέρασσαν
τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ὁ δʼ ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
"Stranger, since you ask me this and inquire,
listen now in silence and take your pleasure, and sit and drink
your wine. These nights are past measure; there is time to sleep,
and time to listen and be glad. And there is no need for you
to lie down before the hour; too much sleep is a weariness.
And whichever of the others his heart and spirit bid,
let him go out and sleep; and at the showing of dawn,
when he has breakfasted, let him go out with our master’s swine.
But we two, in the hut, drinking and feasting,
shall take our pleasure in each other’s bitter troubles,
remembering them; for a man takes pleasure even in pains afterwards,
when he has suffered very much and wandered far.
And this I will tell you, which you ask me and inquire about.
There is an island called Syria, if you have heard of it,
above Ortygia, where the turnings of the sun are;
not very crowded, but a good land,
rich in cattle, rich in sheep, full of wine, full of wheat.
Hunger never comes to that people, nor any other
hateful sickness upon wretched mortals;
but when the tribes of men grow old in the city,
Apollo of the silver bow comes with Artemis
and kills them, coming upon them with his gentle shafts.
There are two cities there, and everything is divided between them;
and my father was king over both of them,
Ctesius son of Ormenus, like the immortals.
There Phoenician men came, famed for ships,
gnawers, bringing countless trinkets in their black ship.
And there was a Phoenician woman in my father’s house,
fair and tall and skilled in glorious work;
and the crafty Phoenicians beguiled her.
First, as she was washing, one of them lay with her beside the hollow ship
in love and the bed, which beguile the minds
of women, even one who does well.
Then he asked her who she was and where she came from;
and at once she pointed out the high-roofed house of my father:
’I claim to be from Sidon rich in bronze,
and I am the daughter of Arybas, a man of flowing wealth;
but Taphian raiders carried me off
as I came in from the country, and brought me here and sold me
to this man’s house, and he gave a worthy price.’
Then the man who lay with her in secret said to her:
listen now in silence and take your pleasure, and sit and drink
your wine. These nights are past measure; there is time to sleep,
and time to listen and be glad. And there is no need for you
to lie down before the hour; too much sleep is a weariness.
And whichever of the others his heart and spirit bid,
let him go out and sleep; and at the showing of dawn,
when he has breakfasted, let him go out with our master’s swine.
But we two, in the hut, drinking and feasting,
shall take our pleasure in each other’s bitter troubles,
remembering them; for a man takes pleasure even in pains afterwards,
when he has suffered very much and wandered far.
And this I will tell you, which you ask me and inquire about.
There is an island called Syria, if you have heard of it,
above Ortygia, where the turnings of the sun are;
not very crowded, but a good land,
rich in cattle, rich in sheep, full of wine, full of wheat.
Hunger never comes to that people, nor any other
hateful sickness upon wretched mortals;
but when the tribes of men grow old in the city,
Apollo of the silver bow comes with Artemis
and kills them, coming upon them with his gentle shafts.
There are two cities there, and everything is divided between them;
and my father was king over both of them,
Ctesius son of Ormenus, like the immortals.
There Phoenician men came, famed for ships,
gnawers, bringing countless trinkets in their black ship.
And there was a Phoenician woman in my father’s house,
fair and tall and skilled in glorious work;
and the crafty Phoenicians beguiled her.
First, as she was washing, one of them lay with her beside the hollow ship
in love and the bed, which beguile the minds
of women, even one who does well.
Then he asked her who she was and where she came from;
and at once she pointed out the high-roofed house of my father:
’I claim to be from Sidon rich in bronze,
and I am the daughter of Arybas, a man of flowing wealth;
but Taphian raiders carried me off
as I came in from the country, and brought me here and sold me
to this man’s house, and he gave a worthy price.’
Then the man who lay with her in secret said to her:
ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ταῦτά μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς,
σιγῇ νῦν ξυνίει καὶ τέρπεο, πῖνέ τε οἶνον
ἥμενος. αἵδε δὲ νύκτες ἀθέσφατοι· ἔστι μὲν εὕδειν,
ἔστι δὲ τερπομένοισιν ἀκούειν· οὐδέ τί σε χρή,
πρὶν ὥρη, καταλέχθαι· ἀνίη καὶ πολὺς ὕπνος.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀνώγει,
εὑδέτω ἐξελθών· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι
δειπνήσας ἅμʼ ὕεσσιν ἀνακτορίῃσιν ἑπέσθω.
νῶϊ δʼ ἐνὶ κλισίῃ πίνοντέ τε δαινυμένω τε
κήδεσιν ἀλλήλων τερπώμεθα λευγαλέοισι,
μνωομένω· μετὰ γάρ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι τέρπεται ἀνήρ,
ὅς τις δὴ μάλα πολλὰ πάθῃ καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθῇ.
τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.
νῆσός τις Συρίη κικλήσκεται, εἴ που ἀκούεις,
Ὀρτυγίης καθύπερθεν, ὅθι τροπαὶ ἠελίοιο,
οὔ τι περιπληθὴς λίην τόσον, ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὴ μέν,
εὔβοτος, εὔμηλος, οἰνοπληθής, πολύπυρος.
πείνη δʼ οὔ ποτε δῆμον ἐσέρχεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
νοῦσος ἐπὶ στυγερὴ πέλεται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσιν·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε γηράσκωσι πόλιν κάτα φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων,
ἐλθὼν ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων Ἀρτέμιδι ξὺν
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνεν.
ἔνθα δύω πόλιες, δίχα δέ σφισι πάντα δέδασται·
τῇσιν δʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐμβασίλευε,
Κτήσιος Ὀρμενίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισιν.
ἔνθα δὲ Φοίνικες ναυσίκλυτοι ἤλυθον ἄνδρες,
τρῶκται, μυρίʼ ἄγοντες ἀθύρματα νηῒ μελαίνῃ.
ἔσκε δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο γυνὴ Φοίνισσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
καλή τε μεγάλη τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυῖα·
τὴν δʼ ἄρα Φοίνικες πολυπαίπαλοι ἠπερόπευον.
πλυνούσῃ τις πρῶτα μίγη κοίλῃ παρὰ νηῒ
εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι, τά τε φρένας ἠπεροπεύει
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.
εἰρώτα δὴ ἔπειτα τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι·
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ·
ἐκ μὲν Σιδῶνος πολυχάλκου εὔχομαι εἶναι,
κούρη δʼ εἴμʼ Ἀρύβαντος ἐγὼ ῥυδὸν ἀφνειοῖο·
ἀλλά μʼ ἀνήρπαξαν Τάφιοι ληΐστορες ἄνδρες
ἀγρόθεν ἐρχομένην, πέρασαν δέ τε δεῦρʼ ἀγαγόντες
τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἀνήρ, ὃς ἐμίσγετο λάθρη·
σιγῇ νῦν ξυνίει καὶ τέρπεο, πῖνέ τε οἶνον
ἥμενος. αἵδε δὲ νύκτες ἀθέσφατοι· ἔστι μὲν εὕδειν,
ἔστι δὲ τερπομένοισιν ἀκούειν· οὐδέ τί σε χρή,
πρὶν ὥρη, καταλέχθαι· ἀνίη καὶ πολὺς ὕπνος.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ὅτινα κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀνώγει,
εὑδέτω ἐξελθών· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφι
δειπνήσας ἅμʼ ὕεσσιν ἀνακτορίῃσιν ἑπέσθω.
νῶϊ δʼ ἐνὶ κλισίῃ πίνοντέ τε δαινυμένω τε
κήδεσιν ἀλλήλων τερπώμεθα λευγαλέοισι,
μνωομένω· μετὰ γάρ τε καὶ ἄλγεσι τέρπεται ἀνήρ,
ὅς τις δὴ μάλα πολλὰ πάθῃ καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθῇ.
τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.
νῆσός τις Συρίη κικλήσκεται, εἴ που ἀκούεις,
Ὀρτυγίης καθύπερθεν, ὅθι τροπαὶ ἠελίοιο,
οὔ τι περιπληθὴς λίην τόσον, ἀλλʼ ἀγαθὴ μέν,
εὔβοτος, εὔμηλος, οἰνοπληθής, πολύπυρος.
πείνη δʼ οὔ ποτε δῆμον ἐσέρχεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
νοῦσος ἐπὶ στυγερὴ πέλεται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσιν·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε γηράσκωσι πόλιν κάτα φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων,
ἐλθὼν ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων Ἀρτέμιδι ξὺν
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνεν.
ἔνθα δύω πόλιες, δίχα δέ σφισι πάντα δέδασται·
τῇσιν δʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐμβασίλευε,
Κτήσιος Ὀρμενίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισιν.
ἔνθα δὲ Φοίνικες ναυσίκλυτοι ἤλυθον ἄνδρες,
τρῶκται, μυρίʼ ἄγοντες ἀθύρματα νηῒ μελαίνῃ.
ἔσκε δὲ πατρὸς ἐμοῖο γυνὴ Φοίνισσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
καλή τε μεγάλη τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυῖα·
τὴν δʼ ἄρα Φοίνικες πολυπαίπαλοι ἠπερόπευον.
πλυνούσῃ τις πρῶτα μίγη κοίλῃ παρὰ νηῒ
εὐνῇ καὶ φιλότητι, τά τε φρένας ἠπεροπεύει
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.
εἰρώτα δὴ ἔπειτα τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι·
ἡ δὲ μάλʼ αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἐπέφραδεν ὑψερεφὲς δῶ·
ἐκ μὲν Σιδῶνος πολυχάλκου εὔχομαι εἶναι,
κούρη δʼ εἴμʼ Ἀρύβαντος ἐγὼ ῥυδὸν ἀφνειοῖο·
ἀλλά μʼ ἀνήρπαξαν Τάφιοι ληΐστορες ἄνδρες
ἀγρόθεν ἐρχομένην, πέρασαν δέ τε δεῦρʼ ἀγαγόντες
τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς πρὸς δώμαθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἄξιον ὦνον ἔδωκε.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἀνήρ, ὃς ἐμίσγετο λάθρη·
"’Would you come back home with us now,
so that you may see the high-roofed house of your father and mother
and them as well? For they are still alive and are called rich.’
Then the woman answered him and said:
so that you may see the high-roofed house of your father and mother
and them as well? For they are still alive and are called rich.’
Then the woman answered him and said:
ἦ ῥά κε νῦν πάλιν αὖτις ἅμʼ ἡμῖν οἴκαδʼ ἕποιο,
ὄφρα ἴδῃ πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ὑψερεφὲς δῶ
αὐτούς τʼ; ἦ γὰρ ἔτʼ εἰσὶ καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
ὄφρα ἴδῃ πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ὑψερεφὲς δῶ
αὐτούς τʼ; ἦ γὰρ ἔτʼ εἰσὶ καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
"’That might be, if you sailors would be willing
to give me your oath to bring me home unharmed.’
to give me your oath to bring me home unharmed.’
εἴη κεν καὶ τοῦτʼ, εἴ μοι ἐθέλοιτέ γε, ναῦται,
ὅρκῳ πιστωθῆναι ἀπήμονά μʼ οἴκαδʼ ἀπάξειν.
ὅρκῳ πιστωθῆναι ἀπήμονά μʼ οἴκαδʼ ἀπάξειν.
So she spoke, and they all swore as she bade them.
But when they had sworn and finished the oath,
the woman spoke among them again and answered:
But when they had sworn and finished the oath,
the woman spoke among them again and answered:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπώμνυον ὡς ἐκέλευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε γυνὴ καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
"’Now keep silence; let none of your companions
speak to me if he meets me in the street,
or perhaps at the spring; in case someone goes to the house
and tells the old man, and he suspects and binds me
in a harsh bond, and plans destruction for you.
But keep the matter in your minds, and press on with buying your cargo.
But when your ship is full of provisions,
then let a message come to me quickly at the house;
for I will bring gold too, whatever comes to my hand;
and I would willingly give something else as my passage.
For I am rearing a child in the halls, the son of a good man,
so quick a child, who runs out of doors beside me;
I could bring him aboard, and he would fetch you an enormous price
wherever you sell him among men of a strange tongue.’
So saying she went off to the fine house;
and they stayed with us there for a whole year
and bought much livelihood into their hollow ship.
But when the hollow ship was loaded for them to go,
then they sent a messenger to give the word to the woman.
A man of many wiles came to my father’s house
with a golden necklace, strung with amber beads.
The serving-women and my lady mother in the hall
were handling it and looking at it with their eyes,
offering a price; and he nodded to her in silence.
speak to me if he meets me in the street,
or perhaps at the spring; in case someone goes to the house
and tells the old man, and he suspects and binds me
in a harsh bond, and plans destruction for you.
But keep the matter in your minds, and press on with buying your cargo.
But when your ship is full of provisions,
then let a message come to me quickly at the house;
for I will bring gold too, whatever comes to my hand;
and I would willingly give something else as my passage.
For I am rearing a child in the halls, the son of a good man,
so quick a child, who runs out of doors beside me;
I could bring him aboard, and he would fetch you an enormous price
wherever you sell him among men of a strange tongue.’
So saying she went off to the fine house;
and they stayed with us there for a whole year
and bought much livelihood into their hollow ship.
But when the hollow ship was loaded for them to go,
then they sent a messenger to give the word to the woman.
A man of many wiles came to my father’s house
with a golden necklace, strung with amber beads.
The serving-women and my lady mother in the hall
were handling it and looking at it with their eyes,
offering a price; and he nodded to her in silence.
σιγῇ νῦν, μή τίς με προσαυδάτω ἐπέεσσιν
ὑμετέρων ἑτάρων, ξυμβλήμενος ἢ ἐν ἀγυιῇ,
ἤ που ἐπὶ κρήνῃ· μή τις ποτὶ δῶμα γέροντι
ἐλθὼν ἐξείπῃ, ὁ δʼ ὀϊσάμενος καταδήσῃ
δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ, ὑμῖν δʼ ἐπιφράσσετʼ ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλʼ ἔχετʼ ἐν φρεσὶ μῦθον, ἐπείγετε δʼ ὦνον ὁδαίων.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δὴ νηῦς πλείη βιότοιο γένηται,
ἀγγελίη μοι ἔπειτα θοῶς ἐς δώμαθʼ ἱκέσθω·
οἴσω γὰρ καὶ χρυσόν, ὅτις χʼ ὑποχείριος ἔλθῃ·
καὶ δέ κεν ἄλλʼ ἐπίβαθρον ἐγὼν ἐθέλουσά γε δοίην.
παῖδα γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἑῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀτιτάλλω,
κερδαλέον δὴ τοῖον, ἅμα τροχόωντα θύραζε·
τόν κεν ἄγοιμʼ ἐπὶ νηός, ὁ δʼ ὑμῖν μυρίον ὦνον
ἄλφοι, ὅπῃ περάσητε κατʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς δώματα καλά,
οἱ δʼ ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπαντα παρʼ ἡμῖν αὖθι μένοντες
ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ βίοτον πολὺν ἐμπολόωντο.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κοίλη νηῦς ἤχθετο τοῖσι νέεσθαι,
καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἄγγελον ἧκαν, ὃς ἀγγείλειε γυναικί.
ἤλυθʼ ἀνὴρ πολύϊδρις ἐμοῦ πρὸς δώματα πατρὸς
χρύσεον ὅρμον ἔχων, μετὰ δʼ ἠλέκτροισιν ἔερτο.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ δμῳαὶ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
χερσίν τʼ ἀμφαφόωντο καὶ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶντο,
ὦνον ὑπισχόμεναι· ὁ δὲ τῇ κατένευσε σιωπῇ.
ὑμετέρων ἑτάρων, ξυμβλήμενος ἢ ἐν ἀγυιῇ,
ἤ που ἐπὶ κρήνῃ· μή τις ποτὶ δῶμα γέροντι
ἐλθὼν ἐξείπῃ, ὁ δʼ ὀϊσάμενος καταδήσῃ
δεσμῷ ἐν ἀργαλέῳ, ὑμῖν δʼ ἐπιφράσσετʼ ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλʼ ἔχετʼ ἐν φρεσὶ μῦθον, ἐπείγετε δʼ ὦνον ὁδαίων.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δὴ νηῦς πλείη βιότοιο γένηται,
ἀγγελίη μοι ἔπειτα θοῶς ἐς δώμαθʼ ἱκέσθω·
οἴσω γὰρ καὶ χρυσόν, ὅτις χʼ ὑποχείριος ἔλθῃ·
καὶ δέ κεν ἄλλʼ ἐπίβαθρον ἐγὼν ἐθέλουσά γε δοίην.
παῖδα γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ἑῆος ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀτιτάλλω,
κερδαλέον δὴ τοῖον, ἅμα τροχόωντα θύραζε·
τόν κεν ἄγοιμʼ ἐπὶ νηός, ὁ δʼ ὑμῖν μυρίον ὦνον
ἄλφοι, ὅπῃ περάσητε κατʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς δώματα καλά,
οἱ δʼ ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπαντα παρʼ ἡμῖν αὖθι μένοντες
ἐν νηῒ γλαφυρῇ βίοτον πολὺν ἐμπολόωντο.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κοίλη νηῦς ἤχθετο τοῖσι νέεσθαι,
καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἄγγελον ἧκαν, ὃς ἀγγείλειε γυναικί.
ἤλυθʼ ἀνὴρ πολύϊδρις ἐμοῦ πρὸς δώματα πατρὸς
χρύσεον ὅρμον ἔχων, μετὰ δʼ ἠλέκτροισιν ἔερτο.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ δμῳαὶ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
χερσίν τʼ ἀμφαφόωντο καὶ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶντο,
ὦνον ὑπισχόμεναι· ὁ δὲ τῇ κατένευσε σιωπῇ.
When he had nodded he went off to the hollow ship,
and she took me by the hand and led me out of the house.
In the forecourt she found the cups and the tables
of the men who dined there, who were attending on my father.
They had gone out to the assembly place and the talk of the people;
and she quickly hid three goblets in the fold of her dress
and carried them out; and I followed in my foolishness.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark;
and we came quickly to the famous harbour,
where the swift ship of the Phoenician men lay.
They went aboard and sailed the watery ways,
taking us both up; and Zeus sent a wind.
For six days we sailed alike by night and day;
but when Zeus son of Cronos brought on the seventh day,
then Artemis the shooter of arrows struck the woman,
and she fell with a crash into the bilge, like a sea-tern.
And they threw her out to be prey for the seals and the fishes;
but I was left behind with a grieving heart.
And the wind and the water carried them and brought them to Ithaca,
where Laertes bought me with his own possessions.
So it was that I saw this land with my eyes."
Then Odysseus, born of Zeus, answered him:
and she took me by the hand and led me out of the house.
In the forecourt she found the cups and the tables
of the men who dined there, who were attending on my father.
They had gone out to the assembly place and the talk of the people;
and she quickly hid three goblets in the fold of her dress
and carried them out; and I followed in my foolishness.
The sun went down and all the ways grew dark;
and we came quickly to the famous harbour,
where the swift ship of the Phoenician men lay.
They went aboard and sailed the watery ways,
taking us both up; and Zeus sent a wind.
For six days we sailed alike by night and day;
but when Zeus son of Cronos brought on the seventh day,
then Artemis the shooter of arrows struck the woman,
and she fell with a crash into the bilge, like a sea-tern.
And they threw her out to be prey for the seals and the fishes;
but I was left behind with a grieving heart.
And the wind and the water carried them and brought them to Ithaca,
where Laertes bought me with his own possessions.
So it was that I saw this land with my eyes."
Then Odysseus, born of Zeus, answered him:
ἦ τοι ὁ καννεύσας κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα βεβήκει,
ἡ δʼ ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα δόμων ἐξῆγε θύραζε.
εὗρε δʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ ἠμὲν δέπα ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ἀνδρῶν δαιτυμόνων, οἵ μευ πατέρʼ ἀμφεπένοντο.
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς θῶκον πρόμολον, δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,
ἡ δʼ αἶψα τρίʼ ἄλεισα κατακρύψασʼ ὑπὸ κόλπῳ
ἔκφερεν· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀεσιφροσύνῃσι.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος, σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν ὦκα κιόντες,
ἔνθʼ ἄρα Φοινίκων ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὠκύαλος νηῦς.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,
νὼ ἀναβησάμενοι· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς οὖρον ἴαλλεν.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἕβδομον ἦμαρ ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε Κρονίων,
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα γυναῖκα βάλʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,
ἄντλῳ δʼ ἐνδούπησε πεσοῦσʼ ὡς εἰναλίη κήξ.
καὶ τὴν μὲν φώκῃσι καὶ ἰχθύσι κύρμα γενέσθαι
ἔκβαλον· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ·
τοὺς δʼ Ἰθάκῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ,
ἔνθα με Λαέρτης πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.
οὕτω τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
ἡ δʼ ἐμὲ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα δόμων ἐξῆγε θύραζε.
εὗρε δʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ ἠμὲν δέπα ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ἀνδρῶν δαιτυμόνων, οἵ μευ πατέρʼ ἀμφεπένοντο.
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς θῶκον πρόμολον, δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,
ἡ δʼ αἶψα τρίʼ ἄλεισα κατακρύψασʼ ὑπὸ κόλπῳ
ἔκφερεν· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἑπόμην ἀεσιφροσύνῃσι.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος, σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐς λιμένα κλυτὸν ἤλθομεν ὦκα κιόντες,
ἔνθʼ ἄρα Φοινίκων ἀνδρῶν ἦν ὠκύαλος νηῦς.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,
νὼ ἀναβησάμενοι· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς οὖρον ἴαλλεν.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ὁμῶς πλέομεν νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ἕβδομον ἦμαρ ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε Κρονίων,
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα γυναῖκα βάλʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,
ἄντλῳ δʼ ἐνδούπησε πεσοῦσʼ ὡς εἰναλίη κήξ.
καὶ τὴν μὲν φώκῃσι καὶ ἰχθύσι κύρμα γενέσθαι
ἔκβαλον· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ λιπόμην ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ·
τοὺς δʼ Ἰθάκῃ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ,
ἔνθα με Λαέρτης πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.
οὕτω τήνδε τε γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
"Eumaeus, you have deeply stirred the spirit in my breast
by telling all these things, what pains you have suffered in your heart.
But at least Zeus has set good beside the evil for you,
since after much labour you came to the house of a kind man,
who gives you food and drink
with care, and you live a good life; but as for me,
I come here after wandering through many cities of men."
by telling all these things, what pains you have suffered in your heart.
But at least Zeus has set good beside the evil for you,
since after much labour you came to the house of a kind man,
who gives you food and drink
with care, and you live a good life; but as for me,
I come here after wandering through many cities of men."
Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα δή μοι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸν ὄρινας
ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἄλγεα θυμῷ.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σοὶ μὲν παρὰ καὶ κακῷ ἐσθλὸν ἔθηκε
Ζεύς, ἐπεὶ ἀνδρὸς δώματʼ ἀφίκεο πολλὰ μογήσας
ἠπίου, ὃς δή τοι παρέχει βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε
ἐνδυκέως, ζώεις δʼ ἀγαθὸν βίον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω.
ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἄλγεα θυμῷ.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι σοὶ μὲν παρὰ καὶ κακῷ ἐσθλὸν ἔθηκε
Ζεύς, ἐπεὶ ἀνδρὸς δώματʼ ἀφίκεο πολλὰ μογήσας
ἠπίου, ὃς δή τοι παρέχει βρῶσίν τε πόσιν τε
ἐνδυκέως, ζώεις δʼ ἀγαθὸν βίον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω.
So they spoke such things to one another,
and slept for no long time, but only a little;
for Dawn of the fair throne came at once. And on the shore
the companions of Telemachus loosed the sails and took down the mast
quickly, and rowed her in to the anchorage;
they threw out the mooring-stones and made fast the stern-lines,
and they themselves went out onto the breaking surf of the sea
and made ready their meal and mixed the sparkling wine.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
prudent Telemachus was the first to speak among them:
"Now you drive the black ship to the city,
and I will go to the fields and to the herdsmen;
and in the evening I will come down to the city, when I have seen my lands.
And at dawn I will set travelling-fare before you,
a good feast of meat and of sweet wine."
Then godlike Theoclymenus spoke to him in turn:
and slept for no long time, but only a little;
for Dawn of the fair throne came at once. And on the shore
the companions of Telemachus loosed the sails and took down the mast
quickly, and rowed her in to the anchorage;
they threw out the mooring-stones and made fast the stern-lines,
and they themselves went out onto the breaking surf of the sea
and made ready their meal and mixed the sparkling wine.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
prudent Telemachus was the first to speak among them:
"Now you drive the black ship to the city,
and I will go to the fields and to the herdsmen;
and in the evening I will come down to the city, when I have seen my lands.
And at dawn I will set travelling-fare before you,
a good feast of meat and of sweet wine."
Then godlike Theoclymenus spoke to him in turn:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
καδδραθέτην δʼ οὐ πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον, ἀλλὰ μίνυνθα·
αἶψα γὰρ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐΰθρονος. οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου
Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι λύον ἱστία, κὰδ δʼ ἕλον ἱστὸν
καρπαλίμως, τὴν δʼ εἰς ὅρμον προέρυσσαν ἐρετμοῖς·
ἐκ δʼ εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔδησαν·
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,
δεῖπνόν τʼ ἐντύνοντο κερῶντό τε αἴθοπα οἶνον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·
ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἄστυδʼ ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγροὺς ἐπιείσομαι ἠδὲ βοτῆρας·
ἑσπέριος δʼ εἰς ἄστυ ἰδὼν ἐμὰ ἔργα κάτειμι.
ἠῶθεν δέ κεν ὔμμιν ὁδοιπόριον παραθείμην,
δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν κρειῶν τε καὶ οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
καδδραθέτην δʼ οὐ πολλὸν ἐπὶ χρόνον, ἀλλὰ μίνυνθα·
αἶψα γὰρ Ἠὼς ἦλθεν ἐΰθρονος. οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου
Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι λύον ἱστία, κὰδ δʼ ἕλον ἱστὸν
καρπαλίμως, τὴν δʼ εἰς ὅρμον προέρυσσαν ἐρετμοῖς·
ἐκ δʼ εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔδησαν·
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,
δεῖπνόν τʼ ἐντύνοντο κερῶντό τε αἴθοπα οἶνον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἤρχετο μύθων·
ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἄστυδʼ ἐλαύνετε νῆα μέλαιναν,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγροὺς ἐπιείσομαι ἠδὲ βοτῆρας·
ἑσπέριος δʼ εἰς ἄστυ ἰδὼν ἐμὰ ἔργα κάτειμι.
ἠῶθεν δέ κεν ὔμμιν ὁδοιπόριον παραθείμην,
δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν κρειῶν τε καὶ οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
"And where shall I go, dear child? To whose house shall I come
of the men who are lords over rugged Ithaca?
Or shall I go straight to your mother and to your house?"
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
of the men who are lords over rugged Ithaca?
Or shall I go straight to your mother and to your house?"
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
πῆ γὰρ ἐγώ, φίλε τέκνον, ἴω; τεῦ δώμαθʼ ἵκωμαι
ἀνδρῶν οἳ κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν;
ἦ ἰθὺς σῆς μητρὸς ἴω καὶ σοῖο δόμοιο;
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἀνδρῶν οἳ κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν;
ἦ ἰθὺς σῆς μητρὸς ἴω καὶ σοῖο δόμοιο;
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"In other circumstances I would tell you to go
to our house; there is no lack of hospitality there. But for you
it would be worse, since I shall be away and my mother
will not see you; for she does not often show herself
to the suitors in the house, but weaves at her loom upstairs, away from them.
But I will name you another man whom you might go to,
Eurymachus, the glorious son of warlike-minded Polybus,
whom the Ithacans now look on as a god;
for he is by far the best man, and is the most eager
to marry my mother and to hold the prize of honour of Odysseus.
But Olympian Zeus knows about that, who lives in the bright air,
whether he will bring on their day of evil before the marriage."
to our house; there is no lack of hospitality there. But for you
it would be worse, since I shall be away and my mother
will not see you; for she does not often show herself
to the suitors in the house, but weaves at her loom upstairs, away from them.
But I will name you another man whom you might go to,
Eurymachus, the glorious son of warlike-minded Polybus,
whom the Ithacans now look on as a god;
for he is by far the best man, and is the most eager
to marry my mother and to hold the prize of honour of Odysseus.
But Olympian Zeus knows about that, who lives in the bright air,
whether he will bring on their day of evil before the marriage."
ἄλλως μέν σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἡμέτερόνδε κελοίμην
ἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γάρ τι ξενίων ποθή· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ
χεῖρον, ἐπεί τοι ἐγὼ μὲν ἀπέσσομαι, οὐδέ σε μήτηρ
ὄψεται· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θαμὰ μνηστῆρσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
φαίνεται, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ τῶν ὑπερωΐῳ ἱστὸν ὑφαίνει.
ἀλλά τοι ἄλλον φῶτα πιφαύσκομαι ὅν κεν ἵκοιο,
Εὐρύμαχον, Πολύβοιο δαΐφρονος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,
τὸν νῦν ἶσα θεῷ Ἰθακήσιοι εἰσορόωσι·
καὶ γὰρ πολλὸν ἄριστος ἀνὴρ μέμονέν τε μάλιστα
μητέρʼ ἐμὴν γαμέειν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος γέρας ἕξειν.
ἀλλὰ τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδεν Ὀλύμπιος, αἰθέρι ναίων,
εἴ κέ σφι πρὸ γάμοιο τελευτήσει κακὸν ἦμαρ.
ἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γάρ τι ξενίων ποθή· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ
χεῖρον, ἐπεί τοι ἐγὼ μὲν ἀπέσσομαι, οὐδέ σε μήτηρ
ὄψεται· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θαμὰ μνηστῆρσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
φαίνεται, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ τῶν ὑπερωΐῳ ἱστὸν ὑφαίνει.
ἀλλά τοι ἄλλον φῶτα πιφαύσκομαι ὅν κεν ἵκοιο,
Εὐρύμαχον, Πολύβοιο δαΐφρονος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,
τὸν νῦν ἶσα θεῷ Ἰθακήσιοι εἰσορόωσι·
καὶ γὰρ πολλὸν ἄριστος ἀνὴρ μέμονέν τε μάλιστα
μητέρʼ ἐμὴν γαμέειν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος γέρας ἕξειν.
ἀλλὰ τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδεν Ὀλύμπιος, αἰθέρι ναίων,
εἴ κέ σφι πρὸ γάμοιο τελευτήσει κακὸν ἦμαρ.
As he spoke, a bird flew by on the right,
a hawk, the swift messenger of Apollo; and in its talons
it held a dove and was plucking it, and shed the feathers on the ground
between the ship and Telemachus himself.
And Theoclymenus called him apart from his companions
and clasped his hand and spoke and called him by name:
a hawk, the swift messenger of Apollo; and in its talons
it held a dove and was plucking it, and shed the feathers on the ground
between the ship and Telemachus himself.
And Theoclymenus called him apart from his companions
and clasped his hand and spoke and called him by name:
ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,
κίρκος, Ἀπόλλωνος ταχὺς ἄγγελος· ἐν δὲ πόδεσσι
τίλλε πέλειαν ἔχων, κατὰ δὲ πτερὰ χεῦεν ἔραζε
μεσσηγὺς νηός τε καὶ αὐτοῦ Τηλεμάχοιο.
τὸν δὲ Θεοκλύμενος ἑτάρων ἀπονόσφι καλέσσας
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
κίρκος, Ἀπόλλωνος ταχὺς ἄγγελος· ἐν δὲ πόδεσσι
τίλλε πέλειαν ἔχων, κατὰ δὲ πτερὰ χεῦεν ἔραζε
μεσσηγὺς νηός τε καὶ αὐτοῦ Τηλεμάχοιο.
τὸν δὲ Θεοκλύμενος ἑτάρων ἀπονόσφι καλέσσας
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"Telemachus, that bird did not fly on the right without a god.
I knew it for an omen when I looked it in the face.
There is no other family more kingly than yours
in the land of Ithaca; you will always be the strong ones."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
I knew it for an omen when I looked it in the face.
There is no other family more kingly than yours
in the land of Ithaca; you will always be the strong ones."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τοι ἄνευ θεοῦ ἔπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις
ἔγνων γάρ μιν ἐσάντα ἰδὼν οἰωνὸν ἐόντα.
ὑμετέρου δʼ οὐκ ἔστι γένος βασιλεύτερον ἄλλο
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς καρτεροὶ αἰεί.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἔγνων γάρ μιν ἐσάντα ἰδὼν οἰωνὸν ἐόντα.
ὑμετέρου δʼ οὐκ ἔστι γένος βασιλεύτερον ἄλλο
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς καρτεροὶ αἰεί.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"I wish, stranger, that this word might be fulfilled;
then you would soon know my friendship and many gifts
from me, so that anyone who met you would call you blessed."
then you would soon know my friendship and many gifts
from me, so that anyone who met you would call you blessed."
αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·
τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.
τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.
He spoke, and called to Peiraeus, his trusty companion:
ἦ καὶ Πείραιον προσεφώνεε, πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·
"Peiraeus, son of Clytius, of all my companions
who went with me to Pylos you obey me best.
So now take this stranger to your house
and treat him kindly and honour him, until I come."
Then Peiraeus, famed for the spear, answered him in turn:
who went with me to Pylos you obey me best.
So now take this stranger to your house
and treat him kindly and honour him, until I come."
Then Peiraeus, famed for the spear, answered him in turn:
"Telemachus, even if you were to stay here a long time,
I will care for him, and he will lack no hospitality."
I will care for him, and he will lack no hospitality."
Τηλέμαχʼ, εἰ γάρ κεν σὺ πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδε μίμνοι,
τόνδε τʼ ἐγὼ κομιῶ, ξενίων δέ οἱ οὐ ποθὴ ἔσται.
τόνδε τʼ ἐγὼ κομιῶ, ξενίων δέ οἱ οὐ ποθὴ ἔσται.
So saying he went aboard the ship, and ordered his companions
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks.
And Telemachus bound the fine sandals beneath his feet
and took his strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze,
from the deck of the ship; and they loosed the stern-lines.
They pushed off and sailed to the city, as Telemachus
the dear son of divine Odysseus had ordered;
but his feet carried him swiftly forward, until he came to the yard
where his countless swine were, among which the swineherd
slept, a good man, knowing what was kind to his masters.
to embark themselves and to loose the stern-lines.
They went aboard at once and sat down at the oar-locks.
And Telemachus bound the fine sandals beneath his feet
and took his strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze,
from the deck of the ship; and they loosed the stern-lines.
They pushed off and sailed to the city, as Telemachus
the dear son of divine Odysseus had ordered;
but his feet carried him swiftly forward, until he came to the yard
where his countless swine were, among which the swineherd
slept, a good man, knowing what was kind to his masters.
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβη, ἐκέλευσε δʼ ἑταίρους
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
νηὸς ἀπʼ ἰκριόφιν· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.
οἱ μὲν ἀνώσαντες πλέον ἐς πόλιν, ὡς ἐκέλευσε
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
τὸν δʼ ὦκα προβιβάντα πόδες φέρον, ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ αὐλήν,
ἔνθα οἱ ἦσαν ὕες μάλα μυρίαι, ᾗσι συβώτης
ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἐνίαυεν, ἀνάκτεσιν ἤπια εἰδώς,
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῗσι καθῖζον.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
νηὸς ἀπʼ ἰκριόφιν· τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔλυσαν.
οἱ μὲν ἀνώσαντες πλέον ἐς πόλιν, ὡς ἐκέλευσε
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
τὸν δʼ ὦκα προβιβάντα πόδες φέρον, ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ αὐλήν,
ἔνθα οἱ ἦσαν ὕες μάλα μυρίαι, ᾗσι συβώτης
ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἐνίαυεν, ἀνάκτεσιν ἤπια εἰδώς,
Book 16
The recognition of father and son. Athena restores Odysseus's true shape for a moment; Telemachus weeps in his arms; together they count the suitors and lay the plan — the arms removed from the hall, the identities kept dark.
But the two in the hut, Odysseus and the noble swineherd,
were making ready their morning meal at dawn, having kindled a fire,
and had sent out the herdsmen with the gathered droves of swine;
and the loud-barking dogs fawned about Telemachus
and did not bark as he came near. And noble Odysseus noticed
the dogs fawning, and the sound of feet came about him.
At once he addressed Eumaeus with winged words:
were making ready their morning meal at dawn, having kindled a fire,
and had sent out the herdsmen with the gathered droves of swine;
and the loud-barking dogs fawned about Telemachus
and did not bark as he came near. And noble Odysseus noticed
the dogs fawning, and the sound of feet came about him.
At once he addressed Eumaeus with winged words:
τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν κλισίῃ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
ἐντύνοντο ἄριστον ἅμʼ ἠοῖ, κηαμένω πῦρ,
ἔκπεμψάν τε νομῆας ἅμʼ ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσι·
Τηλέμαχον δὲ περίσσαινον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι,
οὐδʼ ὕλαον προσιόντα. νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
σαίνοντάς τε κύνας, περί τε κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν.
αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἐντύνοντο ἄριστον ἅμʼ ἠοῖ, κηαμένω πῦρ,
ἔκπεμψάν τε νομῆας ἅμʼ ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσι·
Τηλέμαχον δὲ περίσσαινον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι,
οὐδʼ ὕλαον προσιόντα. νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
σαίνοντάς τε κύνας, περί τε κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν.
αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Eumaeus, surely some companion of yours is coming here,
or some other man you know, since the dogs are not barking
but fawning about him; and I hear the thud of feet."
Not yet was the whole word spoken when his own dear son
stood in the doorway. The swineherd sprang up astounded,
and the vessels fell from his hands with which he was busy
mixing the gleaming wine. He came to meet his master
and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes
and both his hands; and a swelling tear fell from him.
As a father, loving in his heart, welcomes his own son
come from a distant land in the tenth year,
his only son, the child of his old age, for whom he has toiled through many griefs,
so then the noble swineherd, clinging to Telemachus godlike in form,
kissed him all over, as one escaped from death;
and lamenting he addressed him with winged words:
or some other man you know, since the dogs are not barking
but fawning about him; and I hear the thud of feet."
Not yet was the whole word spoken when his own dear son
stood in the doorway. The swineherd sprang up astounded,
and the vessels fell from his hands with which he was busy
mixing the gleaming wine. He came to meet his master
and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes
and both his hands; and a swelling tear fell from him.
As a father, loving in his heart, welcomes his own son
come from a distant land in the tenth year,
his only son, the child of his old age, for whom he has toiled through many griefs,
so then the noble swineherd, clinging to Telemachus godlike in form,
kissed him all over, as one escaped from death;
and lamenting he addressed him with winged words:
Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα τίς τοι ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ ἑταῖρος
ἢ καὶ γνώριμος ἄλλος, ἐπεὶ κύνες οὐχ ὑλάουσιν,
ἀλλὰ περισσαίνουσι· ποδῶν δʼ ὑπὸ δοῦπον ἀκούω.
οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρητο ἔπος, ὅτε οἱ φίλος υἱὸς
ἔστη ἐνὶ προθύροισι. ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσε συβώτης,
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα οἱ χειρῶν πέσον ἄγγεα, τοῖς ἐπονεῖτο,
κιρνὰς αἴθοπα οἶνον. ὁ δʼ ἀντίος ἦλθεν ἄνακτος,
κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλὰ
χεῖράς τʼ ἀμφοτέρας· θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ.
ὡς δὲ πατὴρ ὃν παῖδα φίλα φρονέων ἀγαπάζῃ
ἐλθόντʼ ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης δεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ,
μοῦνον τηλύγετον, τῷ ἔπʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσῃ,
ὣς τότε Τηλέμαχον θεοειδέα δῖος ὑφορβὸς
πάντα κύσεν περιφύς, ὡς ἐκ θανάτοιο φυγόντα·
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἢ καὶ γνώριμος ἄλλος, ἐπεὶ κύνες οὐχ ὑλάουσιν,
ἀλλὰ περισσαίνουσι· ποδῶν δʼ ὑπὸ δοῦπον ἀκούω.
οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρητο ἔπος, ὅτε οἱ φίλος υἱὸς
ἔστη ἐνὶ προθύροισι. ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσε συβώτης,
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα οἱ χειρῶν πέσον ἄγγεα, τοῖς ἐπονεῖτο,
κιρνὰς αἴθοπα οἶνον. ὁ δʼ ἀντίος ἦλθεν ἄνακτος,
κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλὰ
χεῖράς τʼ ἀμφοτέρας· θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ.
ὡς δὲ πατὴρ ὃν παῖδα φίλα φρονέων ἀγαπάζῃ
ἐλθόντʼ ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης δεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ,
μοῦνον τηλύγετον, τῷ ἔπʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσῃ,
ὣς τότε Τηλέμαχον θεοειδέα δῖος ὑφορβὸς
πάντα κύσεν περιφύς, ὡς ἐκ θανάτοιο φυγόντα·
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"You have come, Telemachus, sweet light. I said to myself
I would never see you again, once you had gone in the ship to Pylos.
But come in now, dear child, so that in my spirit
I may take joy in looking at you, newly come from abroad and here within.
For you do not often come out to the farm or to the herdsmen,
but keep to the town; so it has pleased your spirit,
to look upon the ruinous crowd of the suitors."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
I would never see you again, once you had gone in the ship to Pylos.
But come in now, dear child, so that in my spirit
I may take joy in looking at you, newly come from abroad and here within.
For you do not often come out to the farm or to the herdsmen,
but keep to the town; so it has pleased your spirit,
to look upon the ruinous crowd of the suitors."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ἦλθες, Τηλέμαχε, γλυκερὸν φάος. οὔ σʼ ἔτʼ ἐγώ γε
ὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν εἴσελθε, φίλον τέκος, ὄφρα σε θυμῷ
τέρψομαι εἰσορόων νέον ἄλλοθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θάμʼ ἀγρὸν ἐπέρχεαι οὐδὲ νομῆας,
ἀλλʼ ἐπιδημεύεις· ὣς γάρ νύ τοι εὔαδε θυμῷ,
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων ἐσορᾶν ἀΐδηλον ὅμιλον.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν εἴσελθε, φίλον τέκος, ὄφρα σε θυμῷ
τέρψομαι εἰσορόων νέον ἄλλοθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θάμʼ ἀγρὸν ἐπέρχεαι οὐδὲ νομῆας,
ἀλλʼ ἐπιδημεύεις· ὣς γάρ νύ τοι εὔαδε θυμῷ,
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων ἐσορᾶν ἀΐδηλον ὅμιλον.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"So it shall be, old friend; it is for your sake that I have come here,
to see you with my eyes and to hear your word,
whether my mother still stays in the halls, or whether some other
man has married her by now, and the bed of Odysseus
lies somewhere empty of bedding, holding foul cobwebs."
Then the swineherd, leader of men, spoke to him in turn:
to see you with my eyes and to hear your word,
whether my mother still stays in the halls, or whether some other
man has married her by now, and the bed of Odysseus
lies somewhere empty of bedding, holding foul cobwebs."
Then the swineherd, leader of men, spoke to him in turn:
ἔσσεται οὕτως, ἄττα· σέθεν δʼ ἕνεκʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω,
ὄφρα σέ τʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσω,
ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἐν μεγάροις μήτηρ μένει, ἦέ τις ἤδη
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔγημεν, Ὀδυσσῆος δέ που εὐνὴ
χήτει ἐνευναίων κάκʼ ἀράχνια κεῖται ἔχουσα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
ὄφρα σέ τʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσω,
ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἐν μεγάροις μήτηρ μένει, ἦέ τις ἤδη
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔγημεν, Ὀδυσσῆος δέ που εὐνὴ
χήτει ἐνευναίων κάκʼ ἀράχνια κεῖται ἔχουσα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
"Indeed she still waits with an enduring spirit
there in your halls; and always in misery for her
the nights and the days waste away as she sheds tears."
there in your halls; and always in misery for her
the nights and the days waste away as she sheds tears."
καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷ
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀϊζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶ
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.
So saying he took from him the bronze spear;
and he went inside and crossed the threshold of stone.
As he came his father Odysseus gave up his seat to him;
but Telemachus on his side checked him and spoke:
and he went inside and crossed the threshold of stone.
As he came his father Odysseus gave up his seat to him;
but Telemachus on his side checked him and spoke:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας οἱ ἐδέξατο χάλκεον ἔγχος·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.
τῷ δʼ ἕδρης ἐπιόντι πατὴρ ὑπόειξεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐρήτυε φώνησέν τε·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.
τῷ δʼ ἕδρης ἐπιόντι πατὴρ ὑπόειξεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐρήτυε φώνησέν τε·
"Sit still, stranger; we shall find a seat elsewhere
in our farmstead; here is a man who will set one out."
in our farmstead; here is a man who will set one out."
ἧσʼ, ὦ ξεῖνʼ· ἡμεῖς δὲ καὶ ἄλλοθι δήομεν ἕδρην
σταθμῷ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ· πάρα δʼ ἀνὴρ ὃς καταθήσει.
σταθμῷ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ· πάρα δʼ ἀνὴρ ὃς καταθήσει.
So he spoke, and the other went back and sat down; and the swineherd
strewed green brushwood beneath him and a fleece above;
and there then the dear son of Odysseus sat down.
And the swineherd set beside them platters of meat,
roasted, which they had left from their eating the day before,
and quickly he heaped bread up in the baskets,
and in a wooden bowl he mixed honey-sweet wine;
and himself sat opposite divine Odysseus.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then Telemachus spoke to the noble swineherd:
strewed green brushwood beneath him and a fleece above;
and there then the dear son of Odysseus sat down.
And the swineherd set beside them platters of meat,
roasted, which they had left from their eating the day before,
and quickly he heaped bread up in the baskets,
and in a wooden bowl he mixed honey-sweet wine;
and himself sat opposite divine Odysseus.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
then Telemachus spoke to the noble swineherd:
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὖτις ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τῷ δὲ συβώτης.
χεῦεν ὕπο χλωρὰς ῥῶπας καὶ κῶας ὕπερθεν·
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.
τοῖσιν δʼ αὖ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκε συβώτης
ὀπταλέων, ἅ ῥα τῇ προτέρῃ ὑπέλειπον ἔδοντες,
σῖτον δʼ ἐσσυμένως παρενήνεεν ἐν κανέοισιν,
ἐν δʼ ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον·
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε δῖον ὑφορβόν·
χεῦεν ὕπο χλωρὰς ῥῶπας καὶ κῶας ὕπερθεν·
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.
τοῖσιν δʼ αὖ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκε συβώτης
ὀπταλέων, ἅ ῥα τῇ προτέρῃ ὑπέλειπον ἔδοντες,
σῖτον δʼ ἐσσυμένως παρενήνεεν ἐν κανέοισιν,
ἐν δʼ ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον·
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε δῖον ὑφορβόν·
"Old friend, where did this stranger come to you from? How did sailors
bring him to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
For I do not think he came here on foot."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
bring him to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
For I do not think he came here on foot."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ἄττα, πόθεν τοι ξεῖνος ὅδʼ ἵκετο; πῶς δέ ἑ ναῦται
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί ἑ πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί ἑ πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Then I will tell you all the truth, child.
He claims his birth is from broad Crete,
and says that he has been whirled about many cities of mortals
in his wandering; for a god has spun this out for him.
Now, having run away from a ship of Thesprotian men,
he has come to my farmstead, and I hand him over to you;
do as you will: he claims to be your suppliant."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
He claims his birth is from broad Crete,
and says that he has been whirled about many cities of mortals
in his wandering; for a god has spun this out for him.
Now, having run away from a ship of Thesprotian men,
he has come to my farmstead, and I hand him over to you;
do as you will: he claims to be your suppliant."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθέα πάντʼ ἀγορεύσω.
ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχεται εὐρειάων,
φησὶ δὲ πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεα δινηθῆναι
πλαζόμενος· ὣς γάρ οἱ ἐπέκλωσεν τά γε δαίμων.
νῦν αὖ Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκ νηὸς ἀποδρὰς
ἤλυθʼ ἐμὸν πρὸς σταθμόν, ἐγὼ δέ τοι ἐγγυαλίξω·
ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχεται εἶναι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχεται εὐρειάων,
φησὶ δὲ πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεα δινηθῆναι
πλαζόμενος· ὣς γάρ οἱ ἐπέκλωσεν τά γε δαίμων.
νῦν αὖ Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκ νηὸς ἀποδρὰς
ἤλυθʼ ἐμὸν πρὸς σταθμόν, ἐγὼ δέ τοι ἐγγυαλίξω·
ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἱκέτης δέ τοι εὔχεται εἶναι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Eumaeus, this word you have spoken grieves my spirit.
Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος θυμαλγὲς ἔειπες·
For how am I to welcome this stranger into my house?
I myself am young, and do not yet trust my hands
to defend myself against a man, when another begins the quarrel;
and my mother’s spirit is divided in her breast and ponders
whether to stay here beside me and keep the house,
respecting her husband’s bed and the voice of the people,
or go now with whichever of the Achaeans is best,
the man who woos her in the halls and offers the most gifts.
But as for this stranger, since he has come to your house,
I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, fine garments,
and give him a two-edged sword and sandals for his feet,
and send him wherever his heart and spirit bid him go.
Or, if you wish, keep him here and care for him at the farmstead;
and I will send clothing here and all the food
for him to eat, so that he does not wear you and your companions down.
But over there among the suitors I would not let him
go; for the insolence they have is too reckless.
They might mock him, and that would be bitter grief to me.
It is hard for a man, however strong, to accomplish anything
among a greater number, since they are far the stronger."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
I myself am young, and do not yet trust my hands
to defend myself against a man, when another begins the quarrel;
and my mother’s spirit is divided in her breast and ponders
whether to stay here beside me and keep the house,
respecting her husband’s bed and the voice of the people,
or go now with whichever of the Achaeans is best,
the man who woos her in the halls and offers the most gifts.
But as for this stranger, since he has come to your house,
I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, fine garments,
and give him a two-edged sword and sandals for his feet,
and send him wherever his heart and spirit bid him go.
Or, if you wish, keep him here and care for him at the farmstead;
and I will send clothing here and all the food
for him to eat, so that he does not wear you and your companions down.
But over there among the suitors I would not let him
go; for the insolence they have is too reckless.
They might mock him, and that would be bitter grief to me.
It is hard for a man, however strong, to accomplish anything
among a greater number, since they are far the stronger."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
πῶς γὰρ δὴ τὸν ξεῖνον ἐγὼν ὑποδέξομαι οἴκῳ;
αὐτὸς μὲν νέος εἰμὶ καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα
ἄνδρʼ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ·
μητρὶ δʼ ἐμῇ δίχα θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζει,
ἢ αὐτοῦ παρʼ ἐμοί τε μένῃ καὶ δῶμα κομίζῃ,
εὐνήν τʼ αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,
ἦ ἤδη ἅμʼ ἕπηται Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος
μνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοὶ τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ τεὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,
δώσω δὲ ξίφος ἄμφηκες καὶ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,
πέμψω δʼ ὅππη μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, σὺ κόμισσον ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσιν ἐρύξας·
εἵματα δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐγὼ πέμψω καὶ σῖτον ἅπαντα
ἔδμεναι, ὡς ἂν μή σε κατατρύχῃ καὶ ἑταίρους.
κεῖσε δʼ ἂν οὔ μιν ἐγώ γε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἐῷμι
ἔρχεσθαι· λίην γὰρ ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔχουσι·
μή μιν κερτομέωσιν, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ἔσσεται αἰνόν.
πρῆξαι δʼ ἀργαλέον τι μετὰ πλεόνεσσιν ἐόντα
ἄνδρα καὶ ἴφθιμον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
αὐτὸς μὲν νέος εἰμὶ καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα
ἄνδρʼ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ·
μητρὶ δʼ ἐμῇ δίχα θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζει,
ἢ αὐτοῦ παρʼ ἐμοί τε μένῃ καὶ δῶμα κομίζῃ,
εὐνήν τʼ αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,
ἦ ἤδη ἅμʼ ἕπηται Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος
μνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοὶ τὸν ξεῖνον, ἐπεὶ τεὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,
δώσω δὲ ξίφος ἄμφηκες καὶ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,
πέμψω δʼ ὅππη μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, σὺ κόμισσον ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσιν ἐρύξας·
εἵματα δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐγὼ πέμψω καὶ σῖτον ἅπαντα
ἔδμεναι, ὡς ἂν μή σε κατατρύχῃ καὶ ἑταίρους.
κεῖσε δʼ ἂν οὔ μιν ἐγώ γε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἐῷμι
ἔρχεσθαι· λίην γὰρ ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔχουσι·
μή μιν κερτομέωσιν, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ἔσσεται αἰνόν.
πρῆξαι δʼ ἀργαλέον τι μετὰ πλεόνεσσιν ἐόντα
ἄνδρα καὶ ἴφθιμον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Friend, since it is surely right that I too should answer,
truly my heart is torn within me as I listen
to the reckless things you say the suitors contrive
in the halls, against the will of a man like you.
Tell me, do you submit willingly, or do the people
through the land hate you, following the voice of a god,
or do you find fault with your brothers, in whom a man
trusts when they fight, even if a great quarrel arises?
I wish I were as young as I am in spirit,
or the son of blameless Odysseus, or he himself;
then at once let a stranger cut my head from me,
if I did not become an evil to every one of them,
coming into the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes.
And if their number overpowered me, alone as I am,
I would rather be cut down and die in my own halls
than look on for ever at these shameful deeds,
strangers being knocked about, and the serving-women
dragged in shame through the beautiful house,
and wine being drawn off, and men eating the food
wantonly and without end, on a business that has no end."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
truly my heart is torn within me as I listen
to the reckless things you say the suitors contrive
in the halls, against the will of a man like you.
Tell me, do you submit willingly, or do the people
through the land hate you, following the voice of a god,
or do you find fault with your brothers, in whom a man
trusts when they fight, even if a great quarrel arises?
I wish I were as young as I am in spirit,
or the son of blameless Odysseus, or he himself;
then at once let a stranger cut my head from me,
if I did not become an evil to every one of them,
coming into the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes.
And if their number overpowered me, alone as I am,
I would rather be cut down and die in my own halls
than look on for ever at these shameful deeds,
strangers being knocked about, and the serving-women
dragged in shame through the beautiful house,
and wine being drawn off, and men eating the food
wantonly and without end, on a business that has no end."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί θήν μοι καὶ ἀμείψασθαι θέμις ἐστίν,
ἦ μάλα μευ καταδάπτετʼ ἀκούοντος φίλον ἦτορ,
οἷά φατε μνηστῆρας ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθαι
ἐν μεγάροις, ἀέκητι σέθεν τοιούτου ἐόντος.
εἰπέ μοι ἠὲ ἑκὼν ὑποδάμνασαι, ἦ σέ γε λαοὶ
ἐχθαίρουσʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον, ἐπισπόμενοι θεοῦ ὀμφῇ,
ἦ τι κασιγνήτοις ἐπιμέμφεαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ
μαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.
αἲ γάρ ἐγὼν οὕτω νέος εἴην τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ,
ἢ παῖς ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἠὲ καὶ αὐτός·
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπʼ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φώς,
εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ κείνοισι κακὸν πάντεσσι γενοίμην,
ἐλθὼν ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
εἰ δʼ αὖ με πληθυῖ δαμασαίατο μοῦνον ἐόντα,
βουλοίμην κʼ ἐν ἐμοῖσι κατακτάμενος μεγάροισι
τεθνάμεν ἢ τάδε γʼ αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργʼ ὁράασθαι,
ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκας
ῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά,
καὶ οἶνον διαφυσσόμενον, καὶ σῖτον ἔδοντας
μὰψ αὔτως, ἀτέλεστον, ἀνηνύστῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἦ μάλα μευ καταδάπτετʼ ἀκούοντος φίλον ἦτορ,
οἷά φατε μνηστῆρας ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθαι
ἐν μεγάροις, ἀέκητι σέθεν τοιούτου ἐόντος.
εἰπέ μοι ἠὲ ἑκὼν ὑποδάμνασαι, ἦ σέ γε λαοὶ
ἐχθαίρουσʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον, ἐπισπόμενοι θεοῦ ὀμφῇ,
ἦ τι κασιγνήτοις ἐπιμέμφεαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ
μαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.
αἲ γάρ ἐγὼν οὕτω νέος εἴην τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ,
ἢ παῖς ἐξ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἠὲ καὶ αὐτός·
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπʼ ἐμεῖο κάρη τάμοι ἀλλότριος φώς,
εἰ μὴ ἐγὼ κείνοισι κακὸν πάντεσσι γενοίμην,
ἐλθὼν ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
εἰ δʼ αὖ με πληθυῖ δαμασαίατο μοῦνον ἐόντα,
βουλοίμην κʼ ἐν ἐμοῖσι κατακτάμενος μεγάροισι
τεθνάμεν ἢ τάδε γʼ αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργʼ ὁράασθαι,
ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκας
ῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά,
καὶ οἶνον διαφυσσόμενον, καὶ σῖτον ἔδοντας
μὰψ αὔτως, ἀτέλεστον, ἀνηνύστῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Then I will tell you quite exactly, stranger.
The whole people are not hostile to me and angry,
nor do I find fault with my brothers, in whom a man
trusts when they fight, even if a great quarrel arises.
For the son of Cronos made our line run single:
Arceisius fathered Laertes as his only son,
and his father fathered Odysseus alone; and Odysseus
fathered me alone in his halls and left me, and had no joy of me.
So now there are enemies past counting in the house.
For all the nobles who hold power over the islands,
over Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus,
and all who are lords over rocky Ithaca,
all of these woo my mother and waste the house.
And she neither refuses the hateful marriage nor is able
to make an end; and they eat away and destroy
my house; and soon they will tear me to pieces too.
But these things lie on the knees of the gods.
Old friend, go quickly, and tell wise Penelope
that I am safe and have come back from Pylos.
But I will stay here, and do you come back here again,
having told her alone; and let no other of the Achaeans
learn of it; for many are contriving evils against me."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
The whole people are not hostile to me and angry,
nor do I find fault with my brothers, in whom a man
trusts when they fight, even if a great quarrel arises.
For the son of Cronos made our line run single:
Arceisius fathered Laertes as his only son,
and his father fathered Odysseus alone; and Odysseus
fathered me alone in his halls and left me, and had no joy of me.
So now there are enemies past counting in the house.
For all the nobles who hold power over the islands,
over Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus,
and all who are lords over rocky Ithaca,
all of these woo my mother and waste the house.
And she neither refuses the hateful marriage nor is able
to make an end; and they eat away and destroy
my house; and soon they will tear me to pieces too.
But these things lie on the knees of the gods.
Old friend, go quickly, and tell wise Penelope
that I am safe and have come back from Pylos.
But I will stay here, and do you come back here again,
having told her alone; and let no other of the Achaeans
learn of it; for many are contriving evils against me."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.
οὔτε τί μοι πᾶς δῆμος ἀπεχθόμενος χαλεπαίνει,
οὔτε κασιγνήτοις ἐπιμέμφομαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ
μαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.
ὧδε γὰρ ἡμετέρην γενεὴν μούνωσε Κρονίων·
μοῦνον Λαέρτην Ἀρκείσιος υἱὸν ἔτικτε,
μοῦνον δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα πατὴρ τέκεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μοῦνον ἔμʼ ἐν μεγάροισι τεκὼν λίπεν οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο.
τῷ νῦν δυσμενέες μάλα μυρίοι εἴσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,
Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,
ἠδʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσι,
τόσσοι μητέρʼ ἐμὴν μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀρνεῖται στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελευτὴν
ποιῆσαι δύναται· τοὶ δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἔδοντες
οἶκον ἐμόν· τάχα δή με διαρραίσουσι καὶ αὐτόν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται·
ἄττα, σὺ δʼ ἔρχεο θᾶσσον, ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ
εἴφʼ ὅτι οἱ σῶς εἰμὶ καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθα.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μενέω, σὺ δὲ δεῦρο νέεσθαι,
οἴῃ ἀπαγγείλας· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
πευθέσθω· πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
οὔτε τί μοι πᾶς δῆμος ἀπεχθόμενος χαλεπαίνει,
οὔτε κασιγνήτοις ἐπιμέμφομαι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ
μαρναμένοισι πέποιθε, καὶ εἰ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρηται.
ὧδε γὰρ ἡμετέρην γενεὴν μούνωσε Κρονίων·
μοῦνον Λαέρτην Ἀρκείσιος υἱὸν ἔτικτε,
μοῦνον δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα πατὴρ τέκεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μοῦνον ἔμʼ ἐν μεγάροισι τεκὼν λίπεν οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο.
τῷ νῦν δυσμενέες μάλα μυρίοι εἴσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,
Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,
ἠδʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσι,
τόσσοι μητέρʼ ἐμὴν μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀρνεῖται στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτε τελευτὴν
ποιῆσαι δύναται· τοὶ δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἔδοντες
οἶκον ἐμόν· τάχα δή με διαρραίσουσι καὶ αὐτόν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται·
ἄττα, σὺ δʼ ἔρχεο θᾶσσον, ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ
εἴφʼ ὅτι οἱ σῶς εἰμὶ καὶ ἐκ Πύλου εἰλήλουθα.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μενέω, σὺ δὲ δεῦρο νέεσθαι,
οἴῃ ἀπαγγείλας· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
πευθέσθω· πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"I understand, I take your meaning; you order a man who sees it already.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
shall I go on the same journey as a messenger to Laertes,
the ill-fated man, who until now, grieving greatly for Odysseus,
would still oversee the work, and would drink and eat in the house
with the servants, whenever the spirit in his breast bade him?
But now, from the day you went off in the ship to Pylos,
they say he has not eaten and drunk as he did,
nor looked to the work, but with sighing and lamentation
he sits grieving, and the flesh wastes away about his bones."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
the ill-fated man, who until now, grieving greatly for Odysseus,
would still oversee the work, and would drink and eat in the house
with the servants, whenever the spirit in his breast bade him?
But now, from the day you went off in the ship to Pylos,
they say he has not eaten and drunk as he did,
nor looked to the work, but with sighing and lamentation
he sits grieving, and the flesh wastes away about his bones."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ἦ καὶ Λαέρτῃ αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἄγγελος ἔλθω
δυσμόρῳ, ὃς τῆος μὲν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγʼ ἀχεύων
ἔργα τʼ ἐποπτεύεσκε μετὰ δμώων τʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
πῖνε καὶ ἦσθʼ, ὅτε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγοι·
αὐτὰρ νῦν, ἐξ οὗ σύ γε ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε,
οὔ πω μίν φασιν φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν αὔτως,
οὐδʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα ἰδεῖν, ἀλλὰ στοναχῇ τε γόῳ τε
ἧσται ὀδυρόμενος, φθινύθει δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀστεόφι χρώς.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
δυσμόρῳ, ὃς τῆος μὲν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγʼ ἀχεύων
ἔργα τʼ ἐποπτεύεσκε μετὰ δμώων τʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
πῖνε καὶ ἦσθʼ, ὅτε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγοι·
αὐτὰρ νῦν, ἐξ οὗ σύ γε ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε,
οὔ πω μίν φασιν φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν αὔτως,
οὐδʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα ἰδεῖν, ἀλλὰ στοναχῇ τε γόῳ τε
ἧσται ὀδυρόμενος, φθινύθει δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀστεόφι χρώς.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"It is the harder, but even so we will let him be, though we grieve;
for if all things were there for mortals to choose,
we would choose first the day of my father’s homecoming.
But do you deliver your message and come back, and do not wander
over the fields after him; and tell my mother
to send the housekeeper, one of her handmaids, as quickly as she can
and in secret; for she could take the news to the old man."
for if all things were there for mortals to choose,
we would choose first the day of my father’s homecoming.
But do you deliver your message and come back, and do not wander
over the fields after him; and tell my mother
to send the housekeeper, one of her handmaids, as quickly as she can
and in secret; for she could take the news to the old man."
ἄλγιον, ἀλλʼ ἔμπης μιν ἐάσομεν, ἀχνύμενοί περ·
εἰ γὰρ πως εἴη αὐτάγρετα πάντα βροτοῖσι,
πρῶτόν κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἑλοίμεθα νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἀγγείλας ὀπίσω κίε, μηδὲ κατʼ ἀγροὺς
πλάζεσθαι μετʼ ἐκεῖνον· ἀτὰρ πρὸς μητέρα εἰπεῖν
ἀμφίπολον ταμίην ὀτρυνέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα
κρύβδην· κείνη γὰρ κεν ἀπαγγείλειε γέροντι.
εἰ γὰρ πως εἴη αὐτάγρετα πάντα βροτοῖσι,
πρῶτόν κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἑλοίμεθα νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἀγγείλας ὀπίσω κίε, μηδὲ κατʼ ἀγροὺς
πλάζεσθαι μετʼ ἐκεῖνον· ἀτὰρ πρὸς μητέρα εἰπεῖν
ἀμφίπολον ταμίην ὀτρυνέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα
κρύβδην· κείνη γὰρ κεν ἀπαγγείλειε γέροντι.
He spoke, and roused the swineherd; and he took his sandals in his hands,
bound them beneath his feet and went to the city. Nor did Athena
fail to see Eumaeus the swineherd going from the farmstead,
but she came close by; and in body she was like a woman,
beautiful and tall and skilled in glorious work.
She stood over against the door of the hut, showing herself to Odysseus;
but Telemachus did not see her facing him, nor notice her,
for the gods do not appear in clear sight to all men,
but Odysseus saw her, and the dogs, and they did not bark
but slunk away whimpering to the other side of the farmstead.
She nodded with her brows; and noble Odysseus noticed,
and came out of the hall past the great wall of the courtyard,
and stood before her; and Athena spoke to him:
bound them beneath his feet and went to the city. Nor did Athena
fail to see Eumaeus the swineherd going from the farmstead,
but she came close by; and in body she was like a woman,
beautiful and tall and skilled in glorious work.
She stood over against the door of the hut, showing herself to Odysseus;
but Telemachus did not see her facing him, nor notice her,
for the gods do not appear in clear sight to all men,
but Odysseus saw her, and the dogs, and they did not bark
but slunk away whimpering to the other side of the farmstead.
She nodded with her brows; and noble Odysseus noticed,
and came out of the hall past the great wall of the courtyard,
and stood before her; and Athena spoke to him:
ἦ ῥα καὶ ὦρσε συφορβόν· ὁ δʼ εἵλετο χερσὶ πέδιλα,
δησάμενος δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πόλινδʼ ἴεν. οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνην
λῆθεν ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο κιὼν Εὔμαιος ὑφορβός,
ἀλλʼ ἥ γε σχεδὸν ἦλθε· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶ
καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ.
στῆ δὲ κατʼ ἀντίθυρον κλισίης Ὀδυσῆϊ φανεῖσα·
οὐδʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἴδεν ἀντίον οὐδʼ ἐνόησεν,
οὐ γὰρ πω πάντεσσι θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς,
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεύς τε κύνες τε ἴδον, καί ῥʼ οὐχ ὑλάοντο
κνυζηθμῷ δʼ ἑτέρωσε διὰ σταθμοῖο φόβηθεν.
ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἐκ δʼ ἦλθεν μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,
στῆ δὲ πάροιθʼ αὐτῆς· τὸν δὲ προσέειπεν Ἀθήνη·
δησάμενος δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πόλινδʼ ἴεν. οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνην
λῆθεν ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο κιὼν Εὔμαιος ὑφορβός,
ἀλλʼ ἥ γε σχεδὸν ἦλθε· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικὶ
καλῇ τε μεγάλῃ τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ ἔργα ἰδυίῃ.
στῆ δὲ κατʼ ἀντίθυρον κλισίης Ὀδυσῆϊ φανεῖσα·
οὐδʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἴδεν ἀντίον οὐδʼ ἐνόησεν,
οὐ γὰρ πω πάντεσσι θεοὶ φαίνονται ἐναργεῖς,
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεύς τε κύνες τε ἴδον, καί ῥʼ οὐχ ὑλάοντο
κνυζηθμῷ δʼ ἑτέρωσε διὰ σταθμοῖο φόβηθεν.
ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἐκ δʼ ἦλθεν μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,
στῆ δὲ πάροιθʼ αὐτῆς· τὸν δὲ προσέειπεν Ἀθήνη·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
speak the word now to your son and do not hide it,
so that the two of you may fit death and doom upon the suitors
and go to the famous city; and I myself will not
be long away from you, for I am eager to fight."
speak the word now to your son and do not hide it,
so that the two of you may fit death and doom upon the suitors
and go to the famous city; and I myself will not
be long away from you, for I am eager to fight."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ.
ἤδη νῦν σῷ παιδὶ ἔπος φάο μηδʼ ἐπίκευθε,
ὡς ἄν μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον καὶ κῆρʼ ἀραρόντε
ἔρχησθον προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν· οὐδʼ ἐγὼ αὐτὴ
δηρὸν ἀπὸ σφῶϊν ἔσομαι μεμαυῖα μάχεσθαι.
ἤδη νῦν σῷ παιδὶ ἔπος φάο μηδʼ ἐπίκευθε,
ὡς ἄν μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον καὶ κῆρʼ ἀραρόντε
ἔρχησθον προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν· οὐδʼ ἐγὼ αὐτὴ
δηρὸν ἀπὸ σφῶϊν ἔσομαι μεμαυῖα μάχεσθαι.
She spoke, and Athena touched him with her golden wand.
First she put a well-washed mantle and a tunic
about his breast, and increased his stature and his youth.
His skin grew dark again, and his cheeks filled out,
and the beard about his chin turned black.
So having done she went away again; but Odysseus
went into the hut; and his dear son marvelled at him,
and in awe turned his eyes aside, fearing he was a god,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
First she put a well-washed mantle and a tunic
about his breast, and increased his stature and his youth.
His skin grew dark again, and his cheeks filled out,
and the beard about his chin turned black.
So having done she went away again; but Odysseus
went into the hut; and his dear son marvelled at him,
and in awe turned his eyes aside, fearing he was a god,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ἦ καὶ χρυσείῃ ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατʼ Ἀθήνη.
φᾶρος μέν οἱ πρῶτον ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα
θῆκʼ ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι, δέμας δʼ ὤφελλε καὶ ἥβην.
ἂψ δὲ μελαγχροιὴς γένετο, γναθμοὶ δὲ τάνυσθεν,
κυάνεαι δʼ ἐγένοντο γενειάδες ἀμφὶ γένειον.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἔρξασα πάλιν κίεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤϊεν ἐς κλισίην· θάμβησε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,
ταρβήσας δʼ ἑτέρωσε βάλʼ ὄμματα, μὴ θεὸς εἴη,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
φᾶρος μέν οἱ πρῶτον ἐϋπλυνὲς ἠδὲ χιτῶνα
θῆκʼ ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι, δέμας δʼ ὤφελλε καὶ ἥβην.
ἂψ δὲ μελαγχροιὴς γένετο, γναθμοὶ δὲ τάνυσθεν,
κυάνεαι δʼ ἐγένοντο γενειάδες ἀμφὶ γένειον.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἔρξασα πάλιν κίεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤϊεν ἐς κλισίην· θάμβησε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,
ταρβήσας δʼ ἑτέρωσε βάλʼ ὄμματα, μὴ θεὸς εἴη,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"You seem to me another man, stranger, than you were before,
and you have other clothing, and your skin is no longer the same.
Surely you are some god of those who hold the wide heaven;
but be gracious, so that we may give you welcome offerings
and gifts of gold, well wrought; and spare us."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus answered him:
and you have other clothing, and your skin is no longer the same.
Surely you are some god of those who hold the wide heaven;
but be gracious, so that we may give you welcome offerings
and gifts of gold, well wrought; and spare us."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus answered him:
ἀλλοῖός μοι, ξεῖνε, φάνης νέον ἠὲ πάροιθεν,
ἄλλα δὲ εἵματʼ ἔχεις, καί τοι χρὼς οὐκέθʼ ὁμοῖος.
ἦ μάλα τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν·
ἀλλʼ ἵληθʼ, ἵνα τοι κεχαρισμένα δώομεν ἱρὰ
ἠδὲ χρύσεα δῶρα, τετυγμένα· φείδεο δʼ ἡμέων
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἄλλα δὲ εἵματʼ ἔχεις, καί τοι χρὼς οὐκέθʼ ὁμοῖος.
ἦ μάλα τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν·
ἀλλʼ ἵληθʼ, ἵνα τοι κεχαρισμένα δώομεν ἱρὰ
ἠδὲ χρύσεα δῶρα, τετυγμένα· φείδεο δʼ ἡμέων
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"I am no god. Why do you liken me to the immortals?
But I am your father, for whom in your sighing
you suffer many pains, submitting to the violence of men."
But I am your father, for whom in your sighing
you suffer many pains, submitting to the violence of men."
οὔ τίς τοι θεός εἰμι· τί μʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐΐσκεις;
ἀλλὰ πατὴρ τεός εἰμι, τοῦ εἵνεκα σὺ στεναχίζων
πάσχεις ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.
ἀλλὰ πατὴρ τεός εἰμι, τοῦ εἵνεκα σὺ στεναχίζων
πάσχεις ἄλγεα πολλά, βίας ὑποδέγμενος ἀνδρῶν.
So saying he kissed his son, and down his cheeks
he let a tear fall to the ground; before this he had held it back always.
But Telemachus, since he did not yet believe he was his father,
answered him again and spoke to him:
he let a tear fall to the ground; before this he had held it back always.
But Telemachus, since he did not yet believe he was his father,
answered him again and spoke to him:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας υἱὸν κύσε, κὰδ δὲ παρειῶν
δάκρυον ἧκε χαμᾶζε· πάρος δʼ ἔχε νωλεμὲς αἰεί.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ, οὐ γάρ πω ἐπείθετο ὃν πατέρʼ εἶναι,
ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
δάκρυον ἧκε χαμᾶζε· πάρος δʼ ἔχε νωλεμὲς αἰεί.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ, οὐ γάρ πω ἐπείθετο ὃν πατέρʼ εἶναι,
ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"You are not Odysseus, my father, but a god enchants me,
so that I may grieve and sigh the more.
For no mortal man could contrive these things
by his own wits, unless a god himself came
and easily, at his will, made him young or old.
For just now you were an old man and meanly clothed;
but now you are like the gods who hold the wide heaven."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
so that I may grieve and sigh the more.
For no mortal man could contrive these things
by his own wits, unless a god himself came
and easily, at his will, made him young or old.
For just now you were an old man and meanly clothed;
but now you are like the gods who hold the wide heaven."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
οὐ σύ γʼ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι, πατὴρ ἐμός, ἀλλά με δαίμων
θέλγει, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω.
οὐ γάρ πως ἂν θνητὸς ἀνὴρ τάδε μηχανόῳτο
ᾧ αὐτοῦ γε νόῳ, ὅτε μὴ θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
ῥηϊδίως ἐθέλων θείη νέον ἠὲ γέροντα.
ἦ γάρ τοι νέον ἦσθα γέρων καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσο·
νῦν δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔοικας, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
θέλγει, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω.
οὐ γάρ πως ἂν θνητὸς ἀνὴρ τάδε μηχανόῳτο
ᾧ αὐτοῦ γε νόῳ, ὅτε μὴ θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
ῥηϊδίως ἐθέλων θείη νέον ἠὲ γέροντα.
ἦ γάρ τοι νέον ἦσθα γέρων καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσο·
νῦν δὲ θεοῖσιν ἔοικας, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Telemachus, it is not fitting that with your dear father here within
you should marvel beyond measure or be amazed;
for no other Odysseus will ever come to you here,
but I am he, such as you see, who after suffering evils and much wandering
have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
This is the work of Athena who drives the spoil,
who has made me such as she wishes, for she has the power,
at one time like a beggar, and at another
like a young man with fine clothing about his body.
It is easy for the gods who hold the wide heaven
both to glorify a mortal man and to bring him low."
you should marvel beyond measure or be amazed;
for no other Odysseus will ever come to you here,
but I am he, such as you see, who after suffering evils and much wandering
have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
This is the work of Athena who drives the spoil,
who has made me such as she wishes, for she has the power,
at one time like a beggar, and at another
like a young man with fine clothing about his body.
It is easy for the gods who hold the wide heaven
both to glorify a mortal man and to bring him low."
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ σε ἔοικε φίλον πατέρ ἔνδον ἐόντα
οὔτε τι θαυμάζειν περιώσιον οὔτʼ ἀγάασθαι·
οὐ μὲν γάρ τοι ἔτʼ ἄλλος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλʼ ὅδʼ ἐγὼ τοιόσδε, παθὼν κακά, πολλὰ δʼ ἀληθείς,
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
αὐτάρ τοι τόδε ἔργον Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης,
ἥ τέ με τοῖον ἔθηκεν, ὅπως ἐθέλει, δύναται γὰρ,
ἄλλοτε μὲν πτωχῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε
ἀνδρὶ νέῳ καὶ καλὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντι.
ῥηΐδιον δὲ θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
ἠμὲν κυδῆναι θνητὸν βροτὸν ἠδὲ κακῶσαι.
οὔτε τι θαυμάζειν περιώσιον οὔτʼ ἀγάασθαι·
οὐ μὲν γάρ τοι ἔτʼ ἄλλος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλʼ ὅδʼ ἐγὼ τοιόσδε, παθὼν κακά, πολλὰ δʼ ἀληθείς,
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
αὐτάρ τοι τόδε ἔργον Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης,
ἥ τέ με τοῖον ἔθηκεν, ὅπως ἐθέλει, δύναται γὰρ,
ἄλλοτε μὲν πτωχῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε
ἀνδρὶ νέῳ καὶ καλὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντι.
ῥηΐδιον δὲ θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
ἠμὲν κυδῆναι θνητὸν βροτὸν ἠδὲ κακῶσαι.
So saying he sat down, and Telemachus,
throwing his arms about his noble father, wept and shed tears,
and in both of them the longing for lamentation arose;
and they cried shrilly, more thickly than birds,
sea-eagles or crook-taloned vultures, whose young
the country people have taken before they were fledged;
throwing his arms about his noble father, wept and shed tears,
and in both of them the longing for lamentation arose;
and they cried shrilly, more thickly than birds,
sea-eagles or crook-taloned vultures, whose young
the country people have taken before they were fledged;
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ
ἀμφιχυθεὶς πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ὀδύρετο, δάκρυα λείβων,
ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερος ὦρτο γόοιο·
κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως, ἀδινώτερον ἤ τʼ οἰωνοί,
φῆναι ἢ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες, οἷσί τε τέκνα
ἀγρόται ἐξείλοντο πάρος πετεηνὰ γενέσθαι·
ἀμφιχυθεὶς πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ὀδύρετο, δάκρυα λείβων,
ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερος ὦρτο γόοιο·
κλαῖον δὲ λιγέως, ἀδινώτερον ἤ τʼ οἰωνοί,
φῆναι ἢ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες, οἷσί τε τέκνα
ἀγρόται ἐξείλοντο πάρος πετεηνὰ γενέσθαι·
so did they let the piteous tears fall from beneath their brows.
And now the light of the sun would have gone down on their weeping,
had not Telemachus suddenly spoken to his father:
And now the light of the sun would have gone down on their weeping,
had not Telemachus suddenly spoken to his father:
ὣς ἄρα τοί γʼ ἐλεεινὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβον.
καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,
εἰ μὴ Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρʼ αἶψα·
καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,
εἰ μὴ Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρʼ αἶψα·
"In what ship, dear father, did sailors bring you
here to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
For I do not think you came here on foot."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
here to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
For I do not think you came here on foot."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
ποίῃ γὰρ νῦν δεῦρο, πάτερ φίλε, νηΐ σε ναῦται
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;
οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Then I will recount the truth to you, child.
The Phaeacians brought me, famed for their ships, who send other men
on their way too, whoever comes to them;
and they carried me sleeping in a swift ship over the sea
and set me down in Ithaca, and gave me glorious gifts,
bronze and gold in plenty and woven clothing.
These lie in the caves by the will of the gods;
and now I have come here by the promptings of Athena,
so that we may plan the slaughter of our enemies.
But come, count out the suitors for me and tell me,
so that I may know how many and what men they are;
and then, having pondered it in my blameless spirit,
I will consider whether the two of us can face them
alone, without others, or whether we should look for others as well."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
The Phaeacians brought me, famed for their ships, who send other men
on their way too, whoever comes to them;
and they carried me sleeping in a swift ship over the sea
and set me down in Ithaca, and gave me glorious gifts,
bronze and gold in plenty and woven clothing.
These lie in the caves by the will of the gods;
and now I have come here by the promptings of Athena,
so that we may plan the slaughter of our enemies.
But come, count out the suitors for me and tell me,
so that I may know how many and what men they are;
and then, having pondered it in my blameless spirit,
I will consider whether the two of us can face them
alone, without others, or whether we should look for others as well."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
Φαίηκές μʼ ἄγαγον ναυσίκλυτοι, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλους
ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται·
καί μʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες
κάτθεσαν εἰς Ἰθάκην, ἔπορον δέ μοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν σπήεσσι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται·
νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,
ὄφρα κε δυσμενέεσσι φόνου πέρι βουλεύσωμεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι μνηστῆρας ἀριθμήσας κατάλεξον,
ὄφρʼ εἰδέω ὅσσοι τε καὶ οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἰσί·
καί κεν ἐμὸν κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμηρίξας
φράσσομαι, ἤ κεν νῶϊ δυνησόμεθʼ ἀντιφέρεσθαι
μούνω ἄνευθʼ ἄλλων, ἦ καὶ διζησόμεθʼ ἄλλους.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
Φαίηκές μʼ ἄγαγον ναυσίκλυτοι, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλους
ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται·
καί μʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἐπὶ πόντον ἄγοντες
κάτθεσαν εἰς Ἰθάκην, ἔπορον δέ μοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά θʼ ὑφαντήν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν σπήεσσι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται·
νῦν αὖ δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,
ὄφρα κε δυσμενέεσσι φόνου πέρι βουλεύσωμεν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι μνηστῆρας ἀριθμήσας κατάλεξον,
ὄφρʼ εἰδέω ὅσσοι τε καὶ οἵ τινες ἀνέρες εἰσί·
καί κεν ἐμὸν κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα μερμηρίξας
φράσσομαι, ἤ κεν νῶϊ δυνησόμεθʼ ἀντιφέρεσθαι
μούνω ἄνευθʼ ἄλλων, ἦ καὶ διζησόμεθʼ ἄλλους.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Father, I have always heard of your great glory,
that you are a spearman with your hands and prudent in counsel;
but you have spoken far too greatly; wonder holds me. It could not be
that two men should fight against many and strong.
The suitors are not exactly ten, nor twice ten only,
but far more; you shall learn their number here at once.
From Dulichium there are fifty-two
chosen young men, and six serving-men follow them;
from Same there are twenty-four men,
from Zacynthus there are twenty young men of the Achaeans,
and from Ithaca itself twelve, all of them the best,
and with them are Medon the herald and the divine singer
and two attendants skilled in the carving of meat.
If we were to meet all these within,
beware that your coming exact no too bitter and terrible payment for their violence.
But you, if you can think of any defender,
consider who would defend the two of us with a willing spirit."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
that you are a spearman with your hands and prudent in counsel;
but you have spoken far too greatly; wonder holds me. It could not be
that two men should fight against many and strong.
The suitors are not exactly ten, nor twice ten only,
but far more; you shall learn their number here at once.
From Dulichium there are fifty-two
chosen young men, and six serving-men follow them;
from Same there are twenty-four men,
from Zacynthus there are twenty young men of the Achaeans,
and from Ithaca itself twelve, all of them the best,
and with them are Medon the herald and the divine singer
and two attendants skilled in the carving of meat.
If we were to meet all these within,
beware that your coming exact no too bitter and terrible payment for their violence.
But you, if you can think of any defender,
consider who would defend the two of us with a willing spirit."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι σεῖο μέγα κλέος αἰὲν ἄκουον,
χεῖράς τʼ αἰχμητὴν ἔμεναι καὶ ἐπίφρονα βουλήν·
ἀλλὰ λίην μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει· οὐδέ κεν εἴη
ἄνδρε δύω πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισι μάχεσθαι.
μνηστήρων δʼ οὔτʼ ἂρ δεκὰς ἀτρεκὲς οὔτε δύʼ οἶαι,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες· τάχα δʼ εἴσεαι ἐνθάδʼ ἀριθμόν.
ἐκ μὲν Δουλιχίοιο δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα
κοῦροι κεκριμένοι, ἓξ δὲ δρηστῆρες ἕπονται·
ἐκ δὲ Σάμης πίσυρές τε καὶ εἴκοσι φῶτες ἔασιν,
ἐκ δὲ Ζακύνθου ἔασιν ἐείκοσι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,
ἐκ δʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης δυοκαίδεκα πάντες ἄριστοι,
καί σφιν ἅμʼ ἐστὶ Μέδων κῆρυξ καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
καὶ δοιὼ θεράποντε, δαήμονε δαιτροσυνάων.
τῶν εἴ κεν πάντων ἀντήσομεν ἔνδον ἐόντων,
μὴ πολύπικρα καὶ αἰνὰ βίας ἀποτίσεαι ἐλθών.
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ, εἰ δύνασαί τινʼ ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξαι,
φράζευ, ὅ κέν τις νῶϊν ἀμύνοι πρόφρονι θυμῷ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
χεῖράς τʼ αἰχμητὴν ἔμεναι καὶ ἐπίφρονα βουλήν·
ἀλλὰ λίην μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει· οὐδέ κεν εἴη
ἄνδρε δύω πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισι μάχεσθαι.
μνηστήρων δʼ οὔτʼ ἂρ δεκὰς ἀτρεκὲς οὔτε δύʼ οἶαι,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες· τάχα δʼ εἴσεαι ἐνθάδʼ ἀριθμόν.
ἐκ μὲν Δουλιχίοιο δύω καὶ πεντήκοντα
κοῦροι κεκριμένοι, ἓξ δὲ δρηστῆρες ἕπονται·
ἐκ δὲ Σάμης πίσυρές τε καὶ εἴκοσι φῶτες ἔασιν,
ἐκ δὲ Ζακύνθου ἔασιν ἐείκοσι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,
ἐκ δʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης δυοκαίδεκα πάντες ἄριστοι,
καί σφιν ἅμʼ ἐστὶ Μέδων κῆρυξ καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
καὶ δοιὼ θεράποντε, δαήμονε δαιτροσυνάων.
τῶν εἴ κεν πάντων ἀντήσομεν ἔνδον ἐόντων,
μὴ πολύπικρα καὶ αἰνὰ βίας ἀποτίσεαι ἐλθών.
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ, εἰ δύνασαί τινʼ ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξαι,
φράζευ, ὅ κέν τις νῶϊν ἀμύνοι πρόφρονι θυμῷ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Then I will tell you; mark it well and hear me.
Consider whether Athena with father Zeus
will be enough for us, or whether I should think of some other defender."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Consider whether Athena with father Zeus
will be enough for us, or whether I should think of some other defender."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
καὶ φράσαι ἤ κεν νῶϊν Ἀθήνη σὺν Διὶ πατρὶ
ἀρκέσει, ἦέ τινʼ ἄλλον ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξω.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
καὶ φράσαι ἤ κεν νῶϊν Ἀθήνη σὺν Διὶ πατρὶ
ἀρκέσει, ἦέ τινʼ ἄλλον ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξω.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Those two are good defenders indeed whom you name,
though they sit high in the clouds; they hold power over
other men as well, and over the immortal gods."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
though they sit high in the clouds; they hold power over
other men as well, and over the immortal gods."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
ἐσθλώ τοι τούτω γʼ ἐπαμύντορε, τοὺς ἀγορεύεις,
ὕψι περ ἐν νεφέεσσι καθημένω· ὥ τε καὶ ἄλλοις
ἀνδράσι τε κρατέουσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὕψι περ ἐν νεφέεσσι καθημένω· ὥ τε καὶ ἄλλοις
ἀνδράσι τε κρατέουσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Those two will not stay long apart
from the strong fighting, when between the suitors and us
the fury of Ares is decided in my halls.
But do you now go home at the showing of dawn,
and mix with the overweening suitors;
and me the swineherd will bring to the city later,
in the likeness of a wretched beggar and an old man.
And if they dishonour me in the house, let your own heart
endure it in your breast while I suffer badly,
even if they drag me by the feet through the house to the door
or strike me with missiles; look on and bear it.
But do bid them stop their follies,
coaxing them with soft words; yet they will not
obey you; for their fated day already stands beside them.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
when Athena of many counsels puts it in my mind,
I shall nod to you with my head, and when you have seen it,
all the weapons of Ares that lie in the halls
you are to lift and lay away in a corner of the high chamber,
every one of them; and the suitors, when they miss them
and question you, you are to put off with gentle words:
’I laid them away out of the smoke, since they no longer looked
like those Odysseus left behind when he went to Troy,
but are spoiled, so far as the breath of the fire has reached them.
And besides this the son of Cronos put a greater fear in my mind,
that you might quarrel among yourselves in your wine
and wound one another and shame the feast
and the wooing; for iron of itself draws a man on.’
But for the two of us alone leave two swords and two spears
and two shields of oxhide to take up in our hands,
so that we may rush upon them and seize them; and then
Pallas Athena and Zeus the counsellor will enchant them.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
if you are truly mine and of our blood,
then let no one hear that Odysseus is within,
neither let Laertes know it nor the swineherd
nor any of the household nor Penelope herself,
but you and I alone will learn the women’s leaning;
and we might make trial of some of the men servants too,
to see where a man honours us and fears us in his spirit,
and who has no care, and dishonours you, such as you are."
Then his glorious son answered him and said:
"Father, in time, I think, you will come to know
my spirit; for no slackness of mind holds me.
But I do not think this plan will be gain
for the two of us; and I bid you consider it.
For you will go a long while for nothing, making trial of each man,
going about the farms, while they in the halls at their ease
devour your goods in violence and spare nothing.
But I do bid you learn about the women,
which of them dishonour you and which are guiltless;
as for the men, I should not wish us to make trial of them
through the farmsteads, but to do that work later,
if you truly know some sign from aegis-bearing Zeus."
from the strong fighting, when between the suitors and us
the fury of Ares is decided in my halls.
But do you now go home at the showing of dawn,
and mix with the overweening suitors;
and me the swineherd will bring to the city later,
in the likeness of a wretched beggar and an old man.
And if they dishonour me in the house, let your own heart
endure it in your breast while I suffer badly,
even if they drag me by the feet through the house to the door
or strike me with missiles; look on and bear it.
But do bid them stop their follies,
coaxing them with soft words; yet they will not
obey you; for their fated day already stands beside them.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
when Athena of many counsels puts it in my mind,
I shall nod to you with my head, and when you have seen it,
all the weapons of Ares that lie in the halls
you are to lift and lay away in a corner of the high chamber,
every one of them; and the suitors, when they miss them
and question you, you are to put off with gentle words:
’I laid them away out of the smoke, since they no longer looked
like those Odysseus left behind when he went to Troy,
but are spoiled, so far as the breath of the fire has reached them.
And besides this the son of Cronos put a greater fear in my mind,
that you might quarrel among yourselves in your wine
and wound one another and shame the feast
and the wooing; for iron of itself draws a man on.’
But for the two of us alone leave two swords and two spears
and two shields of oxhide to take up in our hands,
so that we may rush upon them and seize them; and then
Pallas Athena and Zeus the counsellor will enchant them.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
if you are truly mine and of our blood,
then let no one hear that Odysseus is within,
neither let Laertes know it nor the swineherd
nor any of the household nor Penelope herself,
but you and I alone will learn the women’s leaning;
and we might make trial of some of the men servants too,
to see where a man honours us and fears us in his spirit,
and who has no care, and dishonours you, such as you are."
Then his glorious son answered him and said:
"Father, in time, I think, you will come to know
my spirit; for no slackness of mind holds me.
But I do not think this plan will be gain
for the two of us; and I bid you consider it.
For you will go a long while for nothing, making trial of each man,
going about the farms, while they in the halls at their ease
devour your goods in violence and spare nothing.
But I do bid you learn about the women,
which of them dishonour you and which are guiltless;
as for the men, I should not wish us to make trial of them
through the farmsteads, but to do that work later,
if you truly know some sign from aegis-bearing Zeus."
οὐ μέν τοι κείνω γε πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἔσεσθον
φυλόπιδος κρατερῆς, ὁπότε μνηστῆρσι καὶ ἡμῖν
ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι μένος κρίνηται Ἄρηος.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἔρχευ ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν
οἴκαδε, καὶ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμίλει·
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προτὶ ἄστυ συβώτης ὕστερον ἄξει,
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι.
εἰ δέ μʼ ἀτιμήσουσι δόμον κάτα, σὸν δὲ φίλον κῆρ
τετλάτω ἐν στήθεσσι κακῶς πάσχοντος ἐμεῖο,
ἤν περ καὶ διὰ δῶμα ποδῶν ἕλκωσι θύραζε
ἢ βέλεσι βάλλωσι· σὺ δʼ εἰσορόων ἀνέχεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι παύεσθαι ἀνωγέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παραυδῶν· οἱ δέ τοι οὔ τι
πείσονται· δὴ γάρ σφι παρίσταται αἴσιμον ἦμαρ.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
ὁππότε κεν πολύβουλος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῇσιν Ἀθήνη,
νεύσω μέν τοι ἐγὼ κεφαλῇ, σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα νοήσας
ὅσσα τοι ἐν μεγάροισιν Ἀρήϊα τεύχεα κεῖται
ἐς μυχὸν ὑψηλοῦ θαλάμου καταθεῖναι ἀείρας
πάντα μάλʼ· αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι
παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·
ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκει
οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετʼ ἀϋτμή.
πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε Κρονίων,
μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,
ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτα
καὶ μνηστύν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.
νῶϊν δʼ οἴοισιν δύο φάσγανα καὶ δύο δοῦρε
καλλιπέειν καὶ δοιὰ βοάγρια χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι,
ὡς ἂν ἐπιθύσαντες ἑλοίμεθα· τοὺς δέ κʼ ἔπειτα
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη θέλξει καὶ μητίετα Ζεύς.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
εἰ ἐτεόν γʼ ἐμός ἐσσι καὶ αἵματος ἡμετέροιο,
μή τις ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀκουσάτω ἔνδον ἐόντος,
μήτʼ οὖν Λαέρτης ἴστω τό γε μήτε συβώτης
μήτε τις οἰκήων μήτʼ αὐτὴ Πηνελόπεια,
ἀλλʼ οἶοι σύ τʼ ἐγώ τε γυναικῶν γνώομεν ἰθύν·
καί κέ τεο δμώων ἀνδρῶν ἔτι πειρηθεῖμεν,
ἠμὲν ὅπου τις νῶϊ τίει καὶ δείδιε θυμῷ,
ἠδʼ ὅτις οὐκ ἀλέγει, σὲ δʼ ἀτιμᾷ τοῖον ἐόντα.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός
ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι ἐμὸν θυμὸν καὶ ἔπειτά γʼ, ὀΐω,
γνώσεαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χαλιφροσύναι γέ μʼ ἔχουσιν·
ἀλλʼ οὔ τοι τόδε κέρδος ἐγὼν ἔσσεσθαι ὀΐω
ἡμῖν ἀμφοτέροισι· σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
δηθὰ γὰρ αὔτως εἴσῃ ἑκάστου πειρητίζων,
ἔργα μετερχόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἕκηλοι
χρήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον οὐδʼ ἔπι φειδώ.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοί σε γυναῖκας ἐγὼ δεδάασθαι ἄνωγα,
αἵ τέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσιν·
ἀνδρῶν δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατὰ σταθμοὺς ἐθέλοιμι
ἡμέας πειράζειν, ἀλλʼ ὕστερα ταῦτα πένεσθαι,
εἰ ἐτεόν γέ τι οἶσθα Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο.
φυλόπιδος κρατερῆς, ὁπότε μνηστῆρσι καὶ ἡμῖν
ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι μένος κρίνηται Ἄρηος.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἔρχευ ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν
οἴκαδε, καὶ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμίλει·
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προτὶ ἄστυ συβώτης ὕστερον ἄξει,
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι.
εἰ δέ μʼ ἀτιμήσουσι δόμον κάτα, σὸν δὲ φίλον κῆρ
τετλάτω ἐν στήθεσσι κακῶς πάσχοντος ἐμεῖο,
ἤν περ καὶ διὰ δῶμα ποδῶν ἕλκωσι θύραζε
ἢ βέλεσι βάλλωσι· σὺ δʼ εἰσορόων ἀνέχεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι παύεσθαι ἀνωγέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παραυδῶν· οἱ δέ τοι οὔ τι
πείσονται· δὴ γάρ σφι παρίσταται αἴσιμον ἦμαρ.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
ὁππότε κεν πολύβουλος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῇσιν Ἀθήνη,
νεύσω μέν τοι ἐγὼ κεφαλῇ, σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα νοήσας
ὅσσα τοι ἐν μεγάροισιν Ἀρήϊα τεύχεα κεῖται
ἐς μυχὸν ὑψηλοῦ θαλάμου καταθεῖναι ἀείρας
πάντα μάλʼ· αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι
παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·
ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκει
οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετʼ ἀϋτμή.
πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε Κρονίων,
μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,
ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτα
καὶ μνηστύν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.
νῶϊν δʼ οἴοισιν δύο φάσγανα καὶ δύο δοῦρε
καλλιπέειν καὶ δοιὰ βοάγρια χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι,
ὡς ἂν ἐπιθύσαντες ἑλοίμεθα· τοὺς δέ κʼ ἔπειτα
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη θέλξει καὶ μητίετα Ζεύς.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
εἰ ἐτεόν γʼ ἐμός ἐσσι καὶ αἵματος ἡμετέροιο,
μή τις ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀκουσάτω ἔνδον ἐόντος,
μήτʼ οὖν Λαέρτης ἴστω τό γε μήτε συβώτης
μήτε τις οἰκήων μήτʼ αὐτὴ Πηνελόπεια,
ἀλλʼ οἶοι σύ τʼ ἐγώ τε γυναικῶν γνώομεν ἰθύν·
καί κέ τεο δμώων ἀνδρῶν ἔτι πειρηθεῖμεν,
ἠμὲν ὅπου τις νῶϊ τίει καὶ δείδιε θυμῷ,
ἠδʼ ὅτις οὐκ ἀλέγει, σὲ δʼ ἀτιμᾷ τοῖον ἐόντα.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός
ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι ἐμὸν θυμὸν καὶ ἔπειτά γʼ, ὀΐω,
γνώσεαι· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χαλιφροσύναι γέ μʼ ἔχουσιν·
ἀλλʼ οὔ τοι τόδε κέρδος ἐγὼν ἔσσεσθαι ὀΐω
ἡμῖν ἀμφοτέροισι· σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
δηθὰ γὰρ αὔτως εἴσῃ ἑκάστου πειρητίζων,
ἔργα μετερχόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἕκηλοι
χρήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον οὐδʼ ἔπι φειδώ.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοί σε γυναῖκας ἐγὼ δεδάασθαι ἄνωγα,
αἵ τέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσιν·
ἀνδρῶν δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατὰ σταθμοὺς ἐθέλοιμι
ἡμέας πειράζειν, ἀλλʼ ὕστερα ταῦτα πένεσθαι,
εἰ ἐτεόν γέ τι οἶσθα Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο.
So they spoke such things to one another,
and meanwhile the well-built ship put in to Ithaca,
which had carried Telemachus from Pylos with all his companions.
And when they had come inside the deep harbour,
they dragged the black ship up on the land,
and the high-spirited attendants carried off their gear,
and at once bore the beautiful gifts to the house of Clytius.
Then they sent a herald forward to the house of Odysseus
to tell the news to circumspect Penelope,
that Telemachus was in the country and had ordered the ship
to sail to the city, so that the noble queen
might not be afraid in her spirit and let a soft tear fall.
And the herald and the noble swineherd met
on the same errand, to tell the news to the woman.
But when they had come to the house of the divine king,
the herald spoke out in the midst of the serving-women:
and meanwhile the well-built ship put in to Ithaca,
which had carried Telemachus from Pylos with all his companions.
And when they had come inside the deep harbour,
they dragged the black ship up on the land,
and the high-spirited attendants carried off their gear,
and at once bore the beautiful gifts to the house of Clytius.
Then they sent a herald forward to the house of Odysseus
to tell the news to circumspect Penelope,
that Telemachus was in the country and had ordered the ship
to sail to the city, so that the noble queen
might not be afraid in her spirit and let a soft tear fall.
And the herald and the noble swineherd met
on the same errand, to tell the news to the woman.
But when they had come to the house of the divine king,
the herald spoke out in the midst of the serving-women:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ Ἰθάκηνδε κατήγετο νηῦς εὐεργής,
ἣ φέρε Τηλέμαχον Πυλόθεν καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους.
οἱ δʼ ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο,
νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,
τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες,
αὐτίκα δʼ ἐς Κλυτίοιο φέρον περικαλλέα δῶρα.
αὐτὰρ κήρυκα πρόεσαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,
ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὕνεκα Τηλέμαχος μὲν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ, νῆα δʼ ἀνώγει
ἄστυδʼ ἀποπλείειν, ἵνα μὴ δείσασʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἰφθίμη βασίλεια τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβοι
τὼ δὲ συναντήτην κῆρυξ καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
τῆς αὐτῆς ἕνεκʼ ἀγγελίης, ἐρέοντε γυναικί.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμον θείου βασιλῆος,
κῆρυξ μέν ῥα μέσῃσι μετὰ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·
ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ Ἰθάκηνδε κατήγετο νηῦς εὐεργής,
ἣ φέρε Τηλέμαχον Πυλόθεν καὶ πάντας ἑταίρους.
οἱ δʼ ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο,
νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,
τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες,
αὐτίκα δʼ ἐς Κλυτίοιο φέρον περικαλλέα δῶρα.
αὐτὰρ κήρυκα πρόεσαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,
ἀγγελίην ἐρέοντα περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὕνεκα Τηλέμαχος μὲν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ, νῆα δʼ ἀνώγει
ἄστυδʼ ἀποπλείειν, ἵνα μὴ δείσασʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἰφθίμη βασίλεια τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβοι
τὼ δὲ συναντήτην κῆρυξ καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
τῆς αὐτῆς ἕνεκʼ ἀγγελίης, ἐρέοντε γυναικί.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμον θείου βασιλῆος,
κῆρυξ μέν ῥα μέσῃσι μετὰ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·
"Your dear son, my queen, has already come."
But the swineherd stood close to Penelope and told her
all that her dear son had bidden him say.
And when he had delivered all his charge,
he set off to go back to his swine, and left the courts and the hall.
But the suitors were grieved and downcast in spirit,
and they came out of the hall past the great wall of the courtyard,
and there before the gates they sat down.
And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak among them:
"Friends, this is a great work insolently brought to pass,
this journey of Telemachus; and we said it would not be done.
But come, let us drag down a black ship, the best there is,
and gather sea-going rowers, who as quickly as may be
shall tell those men to come home at once."
Not yet was all spoken when Amphinomus, turning
in his place, saw the ship inside the deep harbour,
with the men furling the sails and holding the oars in their hands.
And he laughed out sweetly and spoke among his companions:
But the swineherd stood close to Penelope and told her
all that her dear son had bidden him say.
And when he had delivered all his charge,
he set off to go back to his swine, and left the courts and the hall.
But the suitors were grieved and downcast in spirit,
and they came out of the hall past the great wall of the courtyard,
and there before the gates they sat down.
And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak among them:
"Friends, this is a great work insolently brought to pass,
this journey of Telemachus; and we said it would not be done.
But come, let us drag down a black ship, the best there is,
and gather sea-going rowers, who as quickly as may be
shall tell those men to come home at once."
Not yet was all spoken when Amphinomus, turning
in his place, saw the ship inside the deep harbour,
with the men furling the sails and holding the oars in their hands.
And he laughed out sweetly and spoke among his companions:
ἤδη τοι, βασίλεια, φίλος πάϊς εἰλήλουθε.
Πηνελοπείῃ δʼ εἶπε συβώτης ἄγχι παραστὰς
πάνθʼ ὅσα οἱ φίλος υἱὸς ἀνώγει μυθήσασθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πᾶσαν ἐφημοσύνην ἀπέειπε,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μεθʼ ὕας, λίπε δʼ ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀκάχοντο κατήφησάν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
ἐκ δʼ ἦλθον μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,
αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε θυράων ἑδριόωντο.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·
ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως τετέλεσται
Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε· φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ἐς δʼ ἐρέτας ἁλιῆας ἀγείρομεν, οἵ κε τάχιστα
κείνοις ἀγγείλωσι θοῶς οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι.
οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρηθʼ, ὅτʼ ἄρʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἴδε νῆα,
στρεφθεὶς ἐκ χώρης, λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,
ἱστία τε στέλλοντας ἐρετμά τε χερσὶν ἔχοντας.
ἡδὺ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνεεν οἷς ἑτάροισι·
Πηνελοπείῃ δʼ εἶπε συβώτης ἄγχι παραστὰς
πάνθʼ ὅσα οἱ φίλος υἱὸς ἀνώγει μυθήσασθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πᾶσαν ἐφημοσύνην ἀπέειπε,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μεθʼ ὕας, λίπε δʼ ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀκάχοντο κατήφησάν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
ἐκ δʼ ἦλθον μεγάροιο παρὲκ μέγα τειχίον αὐλῆς,
αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε θυράων ἑδριόωντο.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·
ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως τετέλεσται
Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε· φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
ἐς δʼ ἐρέτας ἁλιῆας ἀγείρομεν, οἵ κε τάχιστα
κείνοις ἀγγείλωσι θοῶς οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι.
οὔ πω πᾶν εἴρηθʼ, ὅτʼ ἄρʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἴδε νῆα,
στρεφθεὶς ἐκ χώρης, λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντός,
ἱστία τε στέλλοντας ἐρετμά τε χερσὶν ἔχοντας.
ἡδὺ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνεεν οἷς ἑτάροισι·
"Let us send no message now; these men are inside.
Either some god told them this, or they themselves saw
the ship going by, and could not overtake it."
Either some god told them this, or they themselves saw
the ship going by, and could not overtake it."
μή τινʼ ἔτʼ ἀγγελίην ὀτρύνομεν· οἵδε γὰρ ἔνδον.
ἤ τίς σφιν τόδʼ ἔειπε θεῶν, ἢ εἴσιδον αὐτοὶ
νῆα παρερχομένην, τὴν δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο κιχῆναι.
ἤ τίς σφιν τόδʼ ἔειπε θεῶν, ἢ εἴσιδον αὐτοὶ
νῆα παρερχομένην, τὴν δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο κιχῆναι.
So he spoke, and they rose and went to the shore of the sea,
and quickly dragged the black ship up on the land,
and the high-spirited attendants carried off their gear.
And they themselves went in a body to the assembly, and would let no one else,
young or old, sit among them.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:
and quickly dragged the black ship up on the land,
and the high-spirited attendants carried off their gear.
And they themselves went in a body to the assembly, and would let no one else,
young or old, sit among them.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
αἶψα δὲ νῆα μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,
τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.
αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλον
εἴων οὔτε νέων μεταΐζειν οὔτε γερόντων.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
αἶψα δὲ νῆα μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν,
τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἀπένεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.
αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλον
εἴων οὔτε νέων μεταΐζειν οὔτε γερόντων.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
"Ah me, how the gods have set this man free from harm.
All day long our watchmen sat on the windy heights,
always one after another; and when the sun went down
we never spent a night on shore, but on the sea
sailing in the swift ship we waited for the noble Dawn,
lying in wait for Telemachus, to take him and destroy
him; but meanwhile a god has brought him home.
So let us here plan a wretched destruction
for Telemachus, and let him not escape us; for I do not think
this business of ours will be accomplished while he lives.
For he himself is skilled in counsel and in mind,
and the people no longer show us favour at all.
But come, before he gathers the Achaeans
to assembly, for I do not think he will let it go,
but will be full of anger and will rise and say among them all
that we stitched up sheer murder for him and did not catch him;
and they will not approve when they hear of evil deeds;
they may do us some harm and drive us out
of our land, and we should come to the country of others.
So let us be first and take him in the fields, far from the city,
or on the road; and let us keep his living and his possessions
for ourselves, dividing them fairly among us, and the house
we would give to his mother to hold, and to whoever marries her.
But if this word does not please you, and you would rather
he should live and hold all his father’s property,
then let us gather here no longer and eat up
his goods that are sweet to the heart, but let each man from his own hall
woo her with bride-gifts and seek her out; and she then
would marry the man who offers the most and comes as her fated one."
All day long our watchmen sat on the windy heights,
always one after another; and when the sun went down
we never spent a night on shore, but on the sea
sailing in the swift ship we waited for the noble Dawn,
lying in wait for Telemachus, to take him and destroy
him; but meanwhile a god has brought him home.
So let us here plan a wretched destruction
for Telemachus, and let him not escape us; for I do not think
this business of ours will be accomplished while he lives.
For he himself is skilled in counsel and in mind,
and the people no longer show us favour at all.
But come, before he gathers the Achaeans
to assembly, for I do not think he will let it go,
but will be full of anger and will rise and say among them all
that we stitched up sheer murder for him and did not catch him;
and they will not approve when they hear of evil deeds;
they may do us some harm and drive us out
of our land, and we should come to the country of others.
So let us be first and take him in the fields, far from the city,
or on the road; and let us keep his living and his possessions
for ourselves, dividing them fairly among us, and the house
we would give to his mother to hold, and to whoever marries her.
But if this word does not please you, and you would rather
he should live and hold all his father’s property,
then let us gather here no longer and eat up
his goods that are sweet to the heart, but let each man from his own hall
woo her with bride-gifts and seek her out; and she then
would marry the man who offers the most and comes as her fated one."
ὢ πόποι, ὡς τόνδʼ ἄνδρα θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν.
ἤματα μὲν σκοποὶ ἷζον ἐπʼ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας
αἰὲν ἐπασσύτεροι· ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι
οὔ ποτʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου νύκτʼ ἄσαμεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
νηῒ θοῇ πλείοντες ἐμίμνομεν Ἠῶ δῖαν,
Τηλέμαχον λοχόωντες, ἵνα φθίσωμεν ἑλόντες
αὐτόν· τὸν δʼ ἄρα τῆος ἀπήγαγεν οἴκαδε δαίμων,
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐνθάδε οἱ φραζώμεθα λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον
Τηλεμάχῳ, μηδʼ ἧμας ὑπεκφύγοι· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
τούτου γε ζώοντος ἀνύσσεσθαι τάδε ἔργα.
αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιστήμων βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,
λαοὶ δʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἐφʼ ἡμῖν ἦρα φέρουσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, πρὶν κεῖνον ὁμηγυρίσασθαι Ἀχαιοὺς
εἰς ἀγορήν—οὐ γάρ τι μεθησέμεναί μιν ὀΐω,
ἀλλʼ ἀπομηνίσει, ἐρέει δʼ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναστὰς
οὕνεκά οἱ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐράπτομεν οὐδʼ ἐκίχημεν·
οἱ δʼ οὐκ αἰνήσουσιν ἀκούοντες κακὰ ἔργα·
μή τι κακὸν ῥέξωσι καὶ ἡμέας ἐξελάσωσι
γαίης ἡμετέρης, ἄλλων δʼ ἀφικώμεθα δῆμον·
ἀλλὰ φθέωμεν ἑλόντες ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος
ἢ ἐν ὁδῷ· βίοτον δʼ αὐτοὶ καὶ κτήματʼ ἔχωμεν,
δασσάμενοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἐφʼ ἡμέας, οἰκία δʼ αὖτε
κείνου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδʼ ὅστις ὀπυίοι.
εἰ δʼ ὑμῖν ὅδε μῦθος ἀφανδάνει, ἀλλὰ βόλεσθε
αὐτόν τε ζώειν καὶ ἔχειν πατρώϊα πάντα,
μή οἱ χρήματʼ ἔπειτα ἅλις θυμηδέʼ ἔδωμεν
ἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρόμενοι, ἀλλʼ ἐκ μεγάροιο ἕκαστος
μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κʼ ἔπειτα
γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.
ἤματα μὲν σκοποὶ ἷζον ἐπʼ ἄκριας ἠνεμοέσσας
αἰὲν ἐπασσύτεροι· ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι
οὔ ποτʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου νύκτʼ ἄσαμεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
νηῒ θοῇ πλείοντες ἐμίμνομεν Ἠῶ δῖαν,
Τηλέμαχον λοχόωντες, ἵνα φθίσωμεν ἑλόντες
αὐτόν· τὸν δʼ ἄρα τῆος ἀπήγαγεν οἴκαδε δαίμων,
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐνθάδε οἱ φραζώμεθα λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον
Τηλεμάχῳ, μηδʼ ἧμας ὑπεκφύγοι· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
τούτου γε ζώοντος ἀνύσσεσθαι τάδε ἔργα.
αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιστήμων βουλῇ τε νόῳ τε,
λαοὶ δʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἐφʼ ἡμῖν ἦρα φέρουσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, πρὶν κεῖνον ὁμηγυρίσασθαι Ἀχαιοὺς
εἰς ἀγορήν—οὐ γάρ τι μεθησέμεναί μιν ὀΐω,
ἀλλʼ ἀπομηνίσει, ἐρέει δʼ ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναστὰς
οὕνεκά οἱ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐράπτομεν οὐδʼ ἐκίχημεν·
οἱ δʼ οὐκ αἰνήσουσιν ἀκούοντες κακὰ ἔργα·
μή τι κακὸν ῥέξωσι καὶ ἡμέας ἐξελάσωσι
γαίης ἡμετέρης, ἄλλων δʼ ἀφικώμεθα δῆμον·
ἀλλὰ φθέωμεν ἑλόντες ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος
ἢ ἐν ὁδῷ· βίοτον δʼ αὐτοὶ καὶ κτήματʼ ἔχωμεν,
δασσάμενοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἐφʼ ἡμέας, οἰκία δʼ αὖτε
κείνου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδʼ ὅστις ὀπυίοι.
εἰ δʼ ὑμῖν ὅδε μῦθος ἀφανδάνει, ἀλλὰ βόλεσθε
αὐτόν τε ζώειν καὶ ἔχειν πατρώϊα πάντα,
μή οἱ χρήματʼ ἔπειτα ἅλις θυμηδέʼ ἔδωμεν
ἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρόμενοι, ἀλλʼ ἐκ μεγάροιο ἕκαστος
μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κʼ ἔπειτα
γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.
So he spoke, and they were all hushed in silence.
And among them Amphinomus rose and spoke,
the glorious son of Nisus, the lord who was son of Aretias,
who led the suitors from Dulichium, rich in wheat and grass,
and pleased Penelope most of all with his words;
for he had good sense in his mind.
With good will towards them he rose and spoke among them:
And among them Amphinomus rose and spoke,
the glorious son of Nisus, the lord who was son of Aretias,
who led the suitors from Dulichium, rich in wheat and grass,
and pleased Penelope most of all with his words;
for he had good sense in his mind.
With good will towards them he rose and spoke among them:
"Friends, I for my part would not wish to kill
Telemachus; it is a terrible thing to kill one of a royal
line; but let us first ask the counsels of the gods.
If the ordinances of great Zeus approve it,
I will kill him myself and bid all the rest do so;
but if the gods turn us from it, I bid you stop."
Telemachus; it is a terrible thing to kill one of a royal
line; but let us first ask the counsels of the gods.
If the ordinances of great Zeus approve it,
I will kill him myself and bid all the rest do so;
but if the gods turn us from it, I bid you stop."
ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε κατακτείνειν ἐθέλοιμι
Τηλέμαχον· δεινὸν δὲ γένος βασιλήϊόν ἐστιν
κτείνειν· ἀλλὰ πρῶτα θεῶν εἰρώμεθα βουλάς.
εἰ μέν κʼ αἰνήσωσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο θέμιστες,
αὐτός τε κτενέω τούς τʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἀνώξω·
εἰ δέ κʼ ἀποτρωπῶσι θεοί, παύσασθαι ἄνωγα.
Τηλέμαχον· δεινὸν δὲ γένος βασιλήϊόν ἐστιν
κτείνειν· ἀλλὰ πρῶτα θεῶν εἰρώμεθα βουλάς.
εἰ μέν κʼ αἰνήσωσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο θέμιστες,
αὐτός τε κτενέω τούς τʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἀνώξω·
εἰ δέ κʼ ἀποτρωπῶσι θεοί, παύσασθαι ἄνωγα.
So spoke Amphinomus, and his word pleased them.
At once then they rose and went to the house of Odysseus,
and when they had come they sat down on the polished chairs.
But circumspect Penelope thought of something else,
to show herself to the suitors who had overbearing insolence.
For she had learned in the halls of the plot against her son;
the herald Medon had told her, who had learned of their counsels.
And she went to the hall with her handmaid women.
But when she had come to the suitors, noble among women,
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built hall,
holding her shining veil before her cheeks,
and she rebuked Antinous, and spoke, and called him by name:
At once then they rose and went to the house of Odysseus,
and when they had come they sat down on the polished chairs.
But circumspect Penelope thought of something else,
to show herself to the suitors who had overbearing insolence.
For she had learned in the halls of the plot against her son;
the herald Medon had told her, who had learned of their counsels.
And she went to the hall with her handmaid women.
But when she had come to the suitors, noble among women,
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built hall,
holding her shining veil before her cheeks,
and she rebuked Antinous, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀμφίνομος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,
ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι θρόνοισιν.
ἡ δʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχουσι.
πεύθετο γὰρ οὗ παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλεθρον·
κῆρυξ γὰρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλάς.
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι μέγαρόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα,
Ἀντίνοον δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος,
ἐλθόντες δὲ καθῖζον ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι θρόνοισιν.
ἡ δʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχουσι.
πεύθετο γὰρ οὗ παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλεθρον·
κῆρυξ γὰρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλάς.
βῆ δʼ ἰέναι μέγαρόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα,
Ἀντίνοον δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Antinous, full of insolence, contriver of evil, they say that you
among your fellows in the land of Ithaca are the best
in counsel and in speech; but you were never such a man.
Madman, why do you stitch death and doom for Telemachus,
and take no heed of suppliants, whose witness is
Zeus? It is not holy to stitch up evils for one another.
Do you not know when your father came here as a fugitive,
in fear of the people? For they were exceedingly angry with him,
because he had gone with Taphian raiders
and harmed the Thesprotians, who were our friends;
and they wanted to destroy him and tear the heart out of him
and eat up his great and pleasing living;
but Odysseus held them back and checked them for all their eagerness.
And now you eat up his house without payment, and woo his wife
and would kill his son, and grieve me greatly;
but I bid you stop, and bid the others too."
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her in turn:
among your fellows in the land of Ithaca are the best
in counsel and in speech; but you were never such a man.
Madman, why do you stitch death and doom for Telemachus,
and take no heed of suppliants, whose witness is
Zeus? It is not holy to stitch up evils for one another.
Do you not know when your father came here as a fugitive,
in fear of the people? For they were exceedingly angry with him,
because he had gone with Taphian raiders
and harmed the Thesprotians, who were our friends;
and they wanted to destroy him and tear the heart out of him
and eat up his great and pleasing living;
but Odysseus held them back and checked them for all their eagerness.
And now you eat up his house without payment, and woo his wife
and would kill his son, and grieve me greatly;
but I bid you stop, and bid the others too."
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her in turn:
Ἀντίνοʼ, ὕβριν ἔχων, κακομήχανε, καὶ δέ σέ φασιν
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης μεθʼ ὁμήλικας ἔμμεν ἄριστον
βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι· σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἄρα τοῖος ἔησθα.
μάργε, τίη δὲ σὺ Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τε
ῥάπτεις, οὐδʼ ἱκέτας ἐμπάζεαι, οἷσιν ἄρα Ζεὺς
μάρτυρος; οὐδʼ ὁσίη κακὰ ῥάπτειν ἀλλήλοισιν.
ἦ οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅτε δεῦρο πατὴρ τεὸς ἵκετο φεύγων,
δῆμον ὑποδείσας; δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην,
οὕνεκα ληϊστῆρσιν ἐπισπόμενος Ταφίοισιν
ἤκαχε Θεσπρωτούς· οἱ δʼ ἡμῖν ἄρθμιοι ἦσαν·
τόν ῥʼ ἔθελον φθῖσαι καὶ ἀπορραῖσαι φίλον ἦτορ
ἠδὲ κατὰ ζωὴν φαγέειν μενοεικέα πολλήν·
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένους περ.
τοῦ νῦν οἶκον ἄτιμον ἔδεις, μνάᾳ δὲ γυναῖκα
παῖδά τʼ ἀποκτείνεις, ἐμὲ δὲ μεγάλως ἀκαχίζεις·
ἀλλά σε παύσασθαι κέλομαι καὶ ἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης μεθʼ ὁμήλικας ἔμμεν ἄριστον
βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι· σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἄρα τοῖος ἔησθα.
μάργε, τίη δὲ σὺ Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τε
ῥάπτεις, οὐδʼ ἱκέτας ἐμπάζεαι, οἷσιν ἄρα Ζεὺς
μάρτυρος; οὐδʼ ὁσίη κακὰ ῥάπτειν ἀλλήλοισιν.
ἦ οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅτε δεῦρο πατὴρ τεὸς ἵκετο φεύγων,
δῆμον ὑποδείσας; δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην,
οὕνεκα ληϊστῆρσιν ἐπισπόμενος Ταφίοισιν
ἤκαχε Θεσπρωτούς· οἱ δʼ ἡμῖν ἄρθμιοι ἦσαν·
τόν ῥʼ ἔθελον φθῖσαι καὶ ἀπορραῖσαι φίλον ἦτορ
ἠδὲ κατὰ ζωὴν φαγέειν μενοεικέα πολλήν·
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένους περ.
τοῦ νῦν οἶκον ἄτιμον ἔδεις, μνάᾳ δὲ γυναῖκα
παῖδά τʼ ἀποκτείνεις, ἐμὲ δὲ μεγάλως ἀκαχίζεις·
ἀλλά σε παύσασθαι κέλομαι καὶ ἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
take heart; do not let these things trouble your mind.
That man does not exist, nor will he be, nor be born,
who shall lay his hands on Telemachus your son
while I live and see the light upon the earth.
For I will speak out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
soon his dark blood would spurt about my spear,
since Odysseus the sacker of cities also often
set me on his knees and put roast meat
into my hands and held out the red wine to me.
Therefore Telemachus is by far the dearest of all men
to me, and I bid him have no fear of death,
not from the suitors; but from the gods there is no escaping it."
take heart; do not let these things trouble your mind.
That man does not exist, nor will he be, nor be born,
who shall lay his hands on Telemachus your son
while I live and see the light upon the earth.
For I will speak out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
soon his dark blood would spurt about my spear,
since Odysseus the sacker of cities also often
set me on his knees and put roast meat
into my hands and held out the red wine to me.
Therefore Telemachus is by far the dearest of all men
to me, and I bid him have no fear of death,
not from the suitors; but from the gods there is no escaping it."
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,
θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
οὐκ ἔσθʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ οὐδʼ ἔσσεται οὐδὲ γένηται,
ὅς κεν Τηλεμάχῳ σῷ υἱέϊ χεῖρας ἐποίσει
ζώοντός γʼ ἐμέθεν καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἶψά οἱ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρὶ
ἡμετέρῳ, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὲ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς
πολλάκι γούνασιν οἷσιν ἐφεσσάμενος κρέας ὀπτὸν
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ἐπέσχε τε οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.
τῷ μοι Τηλέμαχος πάντων πολὺ φίλτατός ἐστιν
ἀνδρῶν, οὐδέ τί μιν θάνατον τρομέεσθαι ἄνωγα
ἔκ γε μνηστήρων· θεόθεν δʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἀλέασθαι.
θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
οὐκ ἔσθʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ οὐδʼ ἔσσεται οὐδὲ γένηται,
ὅς κεν Τηλεμάχῳ σῷ υἱέϊ χεῖρας ἐποίσει
ζώοντός γʼ ἐμέθεν καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἶψά οἱ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρὶ
ἡμετέρῳ, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὲ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς
πολλάκι γούνασιν οἷσιν ἐφεσσάμενος κρέας ὀπτὸν
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ἐπέσχε τε οἶνον ἐρυθρόν.
τῷ μοι Τηλέμαχος πάντων πολὺ φίλτατός ἐστιν
ἀνδρῶν, οὐδέ τί μιν θάνατον τρομέεσθαι ἄνωγα
ἔκ γε μνηστήρων· θεόθεν δʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἀλέασθαι.
So he spoke to give her heart, but he himself was preparing his death.
And she went up to her shining upper chamber
and wept then for Odysseus, her dear husband, until sweet sleep
was cast upon her eyelids by grey-eyed Athena.
At evening the noble swineherd came back to Odysseus
and his son; and they were busy preparing the supper,
having slaughtered a yearling hog. And Athena,
standing near, struck Odysseus, son of Laertes,
with her wand and made him an old man again,
and put wretched clothing about his body, so that the swineherd
might not know him at sight and go to wise Penelope
to report it, and not hold the secret in his mind.
And Telemachus was first to speak to him:
And she went up to her shining upper chamber
and wept then for Odysseus, her dear husband, until sweet sleep
was cast upon her eyelids by grey-eyed Athena.
At evening the noble swineherd came back to Odysseus
and his son; and they were busy preparing the supper,
having slaughtered a yearling hog. And Athena,
standing near, struck Odysseus, son of Laertes,
with her wand and made him an old man again,
and put wretched clothing about his body, so that the swineherd
might not know him at sight and go to wise Penelope
to report it, and not hold the secret in his mind.
And Telemachus was first to speak to him:
ὣς φάτο θαρσύνων, τῷ δʼ ἤρτυεν αὐτὸς ὄλεθρον.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ εἰσαναβᾶσʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
ἑσπέριος δʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ καὶ υἱέϊ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
ἤλυθεν· οἱ δʼ ἄρα δόρπον ἐπισταδὸν ὡπλίζοντο,
σῦν ἱερεύσαντες ἐνιαύσιον. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη, Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα πάλιν ποίησε γέροντα,
λυγρὰ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσε περὶ χροΐ, μή ἑ συβώτης
γνοίη ἐσάντα ἰδὼν καὶ ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ
ἔλθοι ἀπαγγέλλων μηδὲ φρεσὶν εἰρύσσαιτο.
τὸν καὶ Τηλέμαχος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ εἰσαναβᾶσʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
ἑσπέριος δʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ καὶ υἱέϊ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
ἤλυθεν· οἱ δʼ ἄρα δόρπον ἐπισταδὸν ὡπλίζοντο,
σῦν ἱερεύσαντες ἐνιαύσιον. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη, Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα
ῥάβδῳ πεπληγυῖα πάλιν ποίησε γέροντα,
λυγρὰ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσε περὶ χροΐ, μή ἑ συβώτης
γνοίη ἐσάντα ἰδὼν καὶ ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ
ἔλθοι ἀπαγγέλλων μηδὲ φρεσὶν εἰρύσσαιτο.
τὸν καὶ Τηλέμαχος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"You have come, noble Eumaeus. What talk is there in the city?
ἦλθες, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε. τί δὴ κλέος ἔστʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ;
Are the lordly suitors already back within,
home from their ambush, or do they still watch for me as I come?"
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
home from their ambush, or do they still watch for me as I come?"
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ἦ ῥʼ ἤδη μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἔνδον ἔασιν
ἐκ λόχου, ἦ ἔτι μʼ αὖτʼ εἰρύαται οἴκαδʼ ἰόντα;
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
ἐκ λόχου, ἦ ἔτι μʼ αὖτʼ εἰρύαται οἴκαδʼ ἰόντα;
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"I had no thought to go down through the city and ask
and enquire of these things; my spirit bade me
deliver my message as quickly as I could and come back here again.
But a swift messenger from your companions met me,
the herald, who was the first to tell the word to your mother.
And this other thing I do know, for I saw it with my eyes.
Already, above the city, where the hill of Hermes stands,
I was going on my way, when I saw a swift ship coming down
into our harbour; and there were many men in her,
and she was weighed down with shields and two-edged spears;
and I thought they were those men, but I do not know."
and enquire of these things; my spirit bade me
deliver my message as quickly as I could and come back here again.
But a swift messenger from your companions met me,
the herald, who was the first to tell the word to your mother.
And this other thing I do know, for I saw it with my eyes.
Already, above the city, where the hill of Hermes stands,
I was going on my way, when I saw a swift ship coming down
into our harbour; and there were many men in her,
and she was weighed down with shields and two-edged spears;
and I thought they were those men, but I do not know."
οὐκ ἔμελέν μοι ταῦτα μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι
ἄστυ καταβλώσκοντα· τάχιστά με θυμὸς ἀνώγει
ἀγγελίην εἰπόντα πάλιν δεῦρʼ ἀπονέεσθαι.
ὡμήρησε δέ μοι παρʼ ἑταίρων ἄγγελος ὠκύς,
κῆρυξ, ὃς δὴ πρῶτος ἔπος σῇ μητρὶ ἔειπεν.
ἄλλο δέ τοι τό γε οἶδα· τὸ γὰρ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν.
ἤδη ὑπὲρ πόλιος, ὅθι θʼ Ἕρμαιος λόφος ἐστίν,
ἦα κιών, ὅτε νῆα θοὴν ἰδόμην κατιοῦσαν
ἐς λιμένʼ ἡμέτερον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἔσαν ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ,
βεβρίθει δὲ σάκεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι·
καὶ σφέας ὠΐσθην τοὺς ἔμμεναι, οὐδέ τι οἶδα.
ἄστυ καταβλώσκοντα· τάχιστά με θυμὸς ἀνώγει
ἀγγελίην εἰπόντα πάλιν δεῦρʼ ἀπονέεσθαι.
ὡμήρησε δέ μοι παρʼ ἑταίρων ἄγγελος ὠκύς,
κῆρυξ, ὃς δὴ πρῶτος ἔπος σῇ μητρὶ ἔειπεν.
ἄλλο δέ τοι τό γε οἶδα· τὸ γὰρ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν.
ἤδη ὑπὲρ πόλιος, ὅθι θʼ Ἕρμαιος λόφος ἐστίν,
ἦα κιών, ὅτε νῆα θοὴν ἰδόμην κατιοῦσαν
ἐς λιμένʼ ἡμέτερον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἔσαν ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ,
βεβρίθει δὲ σάκεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι·
καὶ σφέας ὠΐσθην τοὺς ἔμμεναι, οὐδέ τι οἶδα.
So he spoke, and the sacred strength of Telemachus smiled
as he looked at his father with his eyes, avoiding the swineherd.
And when they had ceased from their work and made the meal ready,
they feasted, nor did any spirit lack an equal share of the feast.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
they bethought them of rest and took the gift of sleep.
as he looked at his father with his eyes, avoiding the swineherd.
And when they had ceased from their work and made the meal ready,
they feasted, nor did any spirit lack an equal share of the feast.
But when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
they bethought them of rest and took the gift of sleep.
ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο
ἐς πατέρʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών, ἀλέεινε δʼ ὑφορβόν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,
δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
κοίτου τε μνήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.
ἐς πατέρʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών, ἀλέεινε δʼ ὑφορβόν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,
δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
κοίτου τε μνήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.
Book 17
The beggar comes to his own palace. On the way the goatherd Melanthius kicks him; at the gate the old dog Argos knows him, and dies; inside, Antinous throws a footstool. Penelope asks to speak with the stranger.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
then he bound the fine sandals beneath his feet,
Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus,
and took his strong spear, that fitted his grasp,
eager for the city, and he spoke to his swineherd:
then he bound the fine sandals beneath his feet,
Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus,
and took his strong spear, that fitted his grasp,
eager for the city, and he spoke to his swineherd:
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ὅ οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει,
ἄστυδε ἱέμενος, καὶ ἑὸν προσέειπε συβώτην·
δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ὅ οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει,
ἄστυδε ἱέμενος, καὶ ἑὸν προσέειπε συβώτην·
"Old friend, I am going to the city, so that my mother
may see me; for I do not think she will cease before that
from her hateful weeping and her tearful lamentation,
until she sees me myself. But this is my charge to you.
Take the unhappy stranger to the city, so that there
he may beg his meal; and whoever wishes will give him
a loaf and a cup. There is no way for me to bear
with all men, holding as I do such griefs in my spirit;
and if the stranger takes it much amiss, that will be
the worse for him; I love to speak the truth."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
may see me; for I do not think she will cease before that
from her hateful weeping and her tearful lamentation,
until she sees me myself. But this is my charge to you.
Take the unhappy stranger to the city, so that there
he may beg his meal; and whoever wishes will give him
a loaf and a cup. There is no way for me to bear
with all men, holding as I do such griefs in my spirit;
and if the stranger takes it much amiss, that will be
the worse for him; I love to speak the truth."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ἄττʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼν εἶμʼ ἐς πόλιν, ὄφρα με μήτηρ
ὄψεται· οὐ γάρ μιν πρόσθεν παύσεσθαι ὀΐω
κλαυθμοῦ τε στυγεροῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος,
πρίν γʼ αὐτόν με ἴδηται· ἀτὰρ σοί γʼ ὧδʼ ἐπιτέλλω.
τὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον ἄγʼ ἐς πόλιν, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐκεῖθι
δαῖτα πτωχεύῃ· δώσει δέ οἱ ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσι
πύρνον καὶ κοτύλην· ἐμὲ δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἅπαντας
ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχεσθαι, ἔχοντά περ ἄλγεα θυμῷ·
ὁ ξεῖνος δʼ εἴ περ μάλα μηνίει, ἄλγιον αὐτῷ
ἔσσεται· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοὶ φίλʼ ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὄψεται· οὐ γάρ μιν πρόσθεν παύσεσθαι ὀΐω
κλαυθμοῦ τε στυγεροῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος,
πρίν γʼ αὐτόν με ἴδηται· ἀτὰρ σοί γʼ ὧδʼ ἐπιτέλλω.
τὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον ἄγʼ ἐς πόλιν, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐκεῖθι
δαῖτα πτωχεύῃ· δώσει δέ οἱ ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσι
πύρνον καὶ κοτύλην· ἐμὲ δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἅπαντας
ἀνθρώπους ἀνέχεσθαι, ἔχοντά περ ἄλγεα θυμῷ·
ὁ ξεῖνος δʼ εἴ περ μάλα μηνίει, ἄλγιον αὐτῷ
ἔσσεται· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοὶ φίλʼ ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Friend, I have no wish myself to be kept back.
It is better for a beggar to beg his meal about the city
than about the fields; and whoever wishes will give to me.
For I am no longer of an age to stay at the farmstead
and obey a master in everything he orders.
But go; this man will bring me, whom you have bidden,
as soon as I have warmed myself at the fire and the day grows warm.
For the clothes I have are terribly poor, and I fear the morning
frost may overcome me; and you say the city is far off."
It is better for a beggar to beg his meal about the city
than about the fields; and whoever wishes will give to me.
For I am no longer of an age to stay at the farmstead
and obey a master in everything he orders.
But go; this man will bring me, whom you have bidden,
as soon as I have warmed myself at the fire and the day grows warm.
For the clothes I have are terribly poor, and I fear the morning
frost may overcome me; and you say the city is far off."
ὦ φίλος, οὐδέ τοι αὐτὸς ἐρύκεσθαι μενεαίνω·
πτωχῷ βέλτερόν ἐστι κατὰ πτόλιν ἠὲ κατʼ ἀγροὺς
δαῖτα πτωχεύειν· δώσει δέ μοι ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν.
οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ σταθμοῖσι μένειν ἔτι τηλίκος εἰμί,
ὥστʼ ἐπιτειλαμένῳ σημάντορι πάντα πιθέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἔρχευ· ἐμὲ δʼ ἄξει ἀνὴρ ὅδε, τὸν σὺ κελεύεις,
αὐτίκʼ ἐπεί κε πυρὸς θερέω ἀλέη τε γένηται.
αἰνῶς γὰρ τάδε εἵματʼ ἔχω κακά· μή με δαμάσσῃ
στίβη ὑπηοίη· ἕκαθεν δέ τε ἄστυ φάτʼ εἶναι.
πτωχῷ βέλτερόν ἐστι κατὰ πτόλιν ἠὲ κατʼ ἀγροὺς
δαῖτα πτωχεύειν· δώσει δέ μοι ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν.
οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ σταθμοῖσι μένειν ἔτι τηλίκος εἰμί,
ὥστʼ ἐπιτειλαμένῳ σημάντορι πάντα πιθέσθαι.
ἀλλʼ ἔρχευ· ἐμὲ δʼ ἄξει ἀνὴρ ὅδε, τὸν σὺ κελεύεις,
αὐτίκʼ ἐπεί κε πυρὸς θερέω ἀλέη τε γένηται.
αἰνῶς γὰρ τάδε εἵματʼ ἔχω κακά· μή με δαμάσσῃ
στίβη ὑπηοίη· ἕκαθεν δέ τε ἄστυ φάτʼ εἶναι.
So he spoke, and Telemachus was going out through the farmstead,
striding swiftly with his feet, and sowing evils for the suitors.
But when he came to the well-built house,
he carried his spear and set it against a tall pillar,
and went in himself and crossed the threshold of stone.
The nurse Eurycleia saw him far the first,
as she was spreading fleeces on the ornate chairs,
and she went straight to him, weeping; and about him the other
serving-women of enduring-hearted Odysseus gathered,
and welcomed him and kissed his head and shoulders.
And circumspect Penelope came out of her chamber,
like Artemis or golden Aphrodite,
and threw her arms about her dear son and wept,
and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes,
and in her lamenting addressed him with winged words:
striding swiftly with his feet, and sowing evils for the suitors.
But when he came to the well-built house,
he carried his spear and set it against a tall pillar,
and went in himself and crossed the threshold of stone.
The nurse Eurycleia saw him far the first,
as she was spreading fleeces on the ornate chairs,
and she went straight to him, weeping; and about him the other
serving-women of enduring-hearted Odysseus gathered,
and welcomed him and kissed his head and shoulders.
And circumspect Penelope came out of her chamber,
like Artemis or golden Aphrodite,
and threw her arms about her dear son and wept,
and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes,
and in her lamenting addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὰ σταθμοῖο βεβήκει,
κραιπνὰ ποσὶ προβιβάς, κακὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι φύτευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
ἔγχος μέν ῥʼ ἔστησε φέρων πρὸς κίονα μακρήν,
αὐτὸς δʼ εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.
τὸν δὲ πολὺ πρώτη εἶδε τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,
κώεα καστορνῦσα θρόνοις ἔνι δαιδαλέοισι,
δακρύσασα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰθὺς κίεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄλλαι
δμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἠγερέθοντο,
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους.
ἡ δʼ ἴεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
Ἀρτέμιδι ἰκέλη ἠὲ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ,
ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε δακρύσασα,
κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά,
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
κραιπνὰ ποσὶ προβιβάς, κακὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι φύτευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
ἔγχος μέν ῥʼ ἔστησε φέρων πρὸς κίονα μακρήν,
αὐτὸς δʼ εἴσω ἴεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν.
τὸν δὲ πολὺ πρώτη εἶδε τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,
κώεα καστορνῦσα θρόνοις ἔνι δαιδαλέοισι,
δακρύσασα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰθὺς κίεν· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄλλαι
δμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἠγερέθοντο,
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους.
ἡ δʼ ἴεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
Ἀρτέμιδι ἰκέλη ἠὲ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ,
ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε δακρύσασα,
κύσσε δέ μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά,
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"You have come, Telemachus, sweet light. I said to myself
I would never see you again, once you had gone in the ship to Pylos
in secret, against my will, after news of your dear father.
But come, recount to me how you met with sight of him."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
I would never see you again, once you had gone in the ship to Pylos
in secret, against my will, after news of your dear father.
But come, recount to me how you met with sight of him."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
ἦλθες, Τηλέμαχε, γλυκερὸν φάος. οὔ σʼ ἔτʼ ἐγώ γε
ὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε
λάθρη, ἐμεῦ ἀέκητι, φίλου μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουήν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ὄψεσθαι ἐφάμην, ἐπεὶ ᾤχεο νηῒ Πύλονδε
λάθρη, ἐμεῦ ἀέκητι, φίλου μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουήν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"My mother, do not stir up lamentation in me, nor rouse the heart
in my breast, when I have escaped sheer destruction;
but wash yourself, and take clean clothing upon your body,
and going up to the upper chamber with your handmaid women
vow to all the gods that you will offer perfect hecatombs,
if ever Zeus should bring deeds of requital to pass.
But I will go to the assembly, so that I may call
a stranger who came with me from there as I journeyed here.
I sent him ahead with my godlike companions,
and I ordered Peiraeus to take him to his house
and entertain him kindly and honour him until I came."
in my breast, when I have escaped sheer destruction;
but wash yourself, and take clean clothing upon your body,
and going up to the upper chamber with your handmaid women
vow to all the gods that you will offer perfect hecatombs,
if ever Zeus should bring deeds of requital to pass.
But I will go to the assembly, so that I may call
a stranger who came with me from there as I journeyed here.
I sent him ahead with my godlike companions,
and I ordered Peiraeus to take him to his house
and entertain him kindly and honour him until I came."
μῆτερ ἐμή, μή μοι γόον ὄρνυθι μηδέ μοι ἦτορ
ἐν στήθεσσιν ὄρινε φυγόντι περ αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον·
ἀλλʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
εὔχεο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
ῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν ἐσελεύσομαι, ὄφρα καλέσσω
ξεῖνον, ὅτις μοι κεῖθεν ἅμʼ ἕσπετο δεῦρο κιόντι.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προὔπεμψα σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι,
Πείραιον δέ μιν ἠνώγεα προτὶ οἶκον ἄγοντα
ἐνδυκέως φιλέειν καὶ τιέμεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθω.
ἐν στήθεσσιν ὄρινε φυγόντι περ αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον·
ἀλλʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
εὔχεο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
ῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἀγορὴν ἐσελεύσομαι, ὄφρα καλέσσω
ξεῖνον, ὅτις μοι κεῖθεν ἅμʼ ἕσπετο δεῦρο κιόντι.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προὔπεμψα σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι,
Πείραιον δέ μιν ἠνώγεα προτὶ οἶκον ἄγοντα
ἐνδυκέως φιλέειν καὶ τιέμεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθω.
So he spoke, and her word stayed unwinged.
And she washed herself, and took clean clothing upon her body,
and vowed to all the gods that she would offer perfect hecatombs,
if ever Zeus should bring deeds of requital to pass.
And then Telemachus went out through the hall
holding his spear; and two swift dogs followed with him.
And Athena poured a wondrous grace about him;
and all the people gazed at him as he came.
The lordly suitors gathered about him,
speaking fair words, but brooding evils in their hearts.
But he then avoided their great crowd,
and went where Mentor sat, and Antiphus and Halitherses,
who were his father’s companions from the beginning,
and there he went and sat; and they questioned him about everything.
And Peiraeus, famed for the spear, came near to them,
bringing the stranger through the city to the assembly; nor did Telemachus
turn long away from the stranger, but stood beside him.
And Peiraeus was first to speak to him:
And she washed herself, and took clean clothing upon her body,
and vowed to all the gods that she would offer perfect hecatombs,
if ever Zeus should bring deeds of requital to pass.
And then Telemachus went out through the hall
holding his spear; and two swift dogs followed with him.
And Athena poured a wondrous grace about him;
and all the people gazed at him as he came.
The lordly suitors gathered about him,
speaking fair words, but brooding evils in their hearts.
But he then avoided their great crowd,
and went where Mentor sat, and Antiphus and Halitherses,
who were his father’s companions from the beginning,
and there he went and sat; and they questioned him about everything.
And Peiraeus, famed for the spear, came near to them,
bringing the stranger through the city to the assembly; nor did Telemachus
turn long away from the stranger, but stood beside him.
And Peiraeus was first to speak to him:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος.
ἡ δʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,
εὔχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
ῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ἔγχος ἔχων· ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
θεσπεσίην δʼ ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη·
τὸν δʼ ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο.
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἠγερέθοντο
ἔσθλʼ ἀγορεύοντες, κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τῶν μὲν ἔπειτα ἀλεύατο πουλὺν ὅμιλον,
ἀλλʼ ἵνα Μέντωρ ἧστο καὶ Ἄντιφος ἠδʼ Ἁλιθέρσης,
οἵ τε οἱ ἐξ ἀρχῆς πατρώϊοι ἦσαν ἑταῖροι,
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἰών· τοὶ δʼ ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα.
τοῖσι δὲ Πείραιος δουρικλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν
ξεῖνον ἄγων ἀγορήνδε διὰ πτόλιν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν
Τηλέμαχος ξείνοιο ἑκὰς τράπετʼ, ἀλλὰ παρέστη.
τὸν καὶ Πείραιος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
ἡ δʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,
εὔχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
ῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ἔγχος ἔχων· ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
θεσπεσίην δʼ ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη·
τὸν δʼ ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο.
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἠγερέθοντο
ἔσθλʼ ἀγορεύοντες, κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τῶν μὲν ἔπειτα ἀλεύατο πουλὺν ὅμιλον,
ἀλλʼ ἵνα Μέντωρ ἧστο καὶ Ἄντιφος ἠδʼ Ἁλιθέρσης,
οἵ τε οἱ ἐξ ἀρχῆς πατρώϊοι ἦσαν ἑταῖροι,
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἰών· τοὶ δʼ ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα.
τοῖσι δὲ Πείραιος δουρικλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν
ξεῖνον ἄγων ἀγορήνδε διὰ πτόλιν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν
Τηλέμαχος ξείνοιο ἑκὰς τράπετʼ, ἀλλὰ παρέστη.
τὸν καὶ Πείραιος πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
"Telemachus, send women quickly to my house,
so that I may send you the gifts Menelaus gave you."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
so that I may send you the gifts Menelaus gave you."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, αἶψʼ ὄτρυνον ἐμὸν ποτὶ δῶμα γυναῖκας,
ὥς τοι δῶρʼ ἀποπέμψω, ἅ τοι Μενέλαος ἔδωκε.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ὥς τοι δῶρʼ ἀποπέμψω, ἅ τοι Μενέλαος ἔδωκε.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Peiraeus, we do not know how these things will turn out.
If the lordly suitors kill me in the halls
by stealth and divide all my father’s goods among them,
I would rather you kept them and had the good of them than any of these;
but if I sow death and doom for them,
then bring them gladly to my house, and I shall be glad."
If the lordly suitors kill me in the halls
by stealth and divide all my father’s goods among them,
I would rather you kept them and had the good of them than any of these;
but if I sow death and doom for them,
then bring them gladly to my house, and I shall be glad."
Πείραιʼ, οὐ γάρ τʼ ἴδμεν ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.
εἴ κεν ἐμὲ μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἐν μεγάροισι
λάθρη κτείναντες πατρώϊα πάντα δάσωνται,
αὐτὸν ἔχοντά σε βούλομʼ ἐπαυρέμεν, ἤ τινα τῶνδε·
εἰ δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τούτοισι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φυτεύσω,
δὴ τότε μοι χαίροντι φέρειν πρὸς δώματα χαίρων.
εἴ κεν ἐμὲ μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἐν μεγάροισι
λάθρη κτείναντες πατρώϊα πάντα δάσωνται,
αὐτὸν ἔχοντά σε βούλομʼ ἐπαυρέμεν, ἤ τινα τῶνδε·
εἰ δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τούτοισι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φυτεύσω,
δὴ τότε μοι χαίροντι φέρειν πρὸς δώματα χαίρων.
So saying he led the much-tried stranger to his house.
But when they had come to the well-built house,
they laid their cloaks down on the couches and chairs,
and went into the polished baths and washed.
And when the serving-women had washed them and anointed them with oil
and thrown thick cloaks and tunics about them,
they came out of the baths and sat down on the couches.
A handmaid brought water for the hands and poured it from a pitcher,
a beautiful golden one, over a silver basin,
for them to wash; and she drew a polished table beside them.
And the honoured housekeeper brought bread and set it beside them,
and put many dishes on it, giving freely of what she had.
And his mother sat opposite, by the doorpost of the hall,
leaning on a couch, spinning fine yarn on the distaff.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them,
and when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
circumspect Penelope was the first to speak among them:
"Telemachus, I shall go up to the upper chamber
and lie down on my bed, which has become a bed of groaning for me,
always stained with my tears, since Odysseus
went with the sons of Atreus to Ilium. You could not bring yourself,
before the lordly suitors came into this house,
to tell me clearly of your father’s homecoming, if you have heard anything."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
But when they had come to the well-built house,
they laid their cloaks down on the couches and chairs,
and went into the polished baths and washed.
And when the serving-women had washed them and anointed them with oil
and thrown thick cloaks and tunics about them,
they came out of the baths and sat down on the couches.
A handmaid brought water for the hands and poured it from a pitcher,
a beautiful golden one, over a silver basin,
for them to wash; and she drew a polished table beside them.
And the honoured housekeeper brought bread and set it beside them,
and put many dishes on it, giving freely of what she had.
And his mother sat opposite, by the doorpost of the hall,
leaning on a couch, spinning fine yarn on the distaff.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them,
and when they had put from them the desire for drink and food,
circumspect Penelope was the first to speak among them:
"Telemachus, I shall go up to the upper chamber
and lie down on my bed, which has become a bed of groaning for me,
always stained with my tears, since Odysseus
went with the sons of Atreus to Ilium. You could not bring yourself,
before the lordly suitors came into this house,
to tell me clearly of your father’s homecoming, if you have heard anything."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
ὣς εἰπὼν ξεῖνον ταλαπείριον ἦγεν ἐς οἶκον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
ἐς δʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐϋξέστας λούσαντο.
τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθων βάντες ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι καθῖζον.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
μήτηρ δʼ ἀντίον ἷζε παρὰ σταθμὸν μεγάροιο
κλισμῷ κεκλιμένη, λέπτʼ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσα.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον,
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα
λέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,
αἰεὶ δάκρυσʼ ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχεθʼ ἅμʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἐς Ἴλιον· οὐδέ μοι ἔτλης,
πρὶν ἐλθεῖν μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας ἐς τόδε δῶμα,
νόστον σοῦ πατρὸς σάφα εἰπέμεν, εἴ που ἄκουσας.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
ἐς δʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐϋξέστας λούσαντο.
τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθων βάντες ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι καθῖζον.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσα
καλῇ χρυσείῃ, ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.
μήτηρ δʼ ἀντίον ἷζε παρὰ σταθμὸν μεγάροιο
κλισμῷ κεκλιμένη, λέπτʼ ἠλάκατα στρωφῶσα.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον,
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα
λέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,
αἰεὶ δάκρυσʼ ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχεθʼ ἅμʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἐς Ἴλιον· οὐδέ μοι ἔτλης,
πρὶν ἐλθεῖν μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας ἐς τόδε δῶμα,
νόστον σοῦ πατρὸς σάφα εἰπέμεν, εἴ που ἄκουσας.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Then I will recount the truth to you, mother.
We went to Pylos and to Nestor, the shepherd of the people;
and he received me in his high house
and entertained me kindly, as a father does his own son
come after a long time from abroad; so did that man
care for me kindly, with his glorious sons.
But of enduring-hearted Odysseus he said he had never
heard from any man on earth, whether alive or dead;
but he sent me on to the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for the spear,
with horses and a jointed chariot.
There I saw Argive Helen, for whose sake
Argives and Trojans suffered much by the will of the gods.
And at once Menelaus, good at the war-cry, asked me
what need had brought me to noble Lacedaemon;
and I recounted to him all the truth;
and then he answered me and said:
We went to Pylos and to Nestor, the shepherd of the people;
and he received me in his high house
and entertained me kindly, as a father does his own son
come after a long time from abroad; so did that man
care for me kindly, with his glorious sons.
But of enduring-hearted Odysseus he said he had never
heard from any man on earth, whether alive or dead;
but he sent me on to the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for the spear,
with horses and a jointed chariot.
There I saw Argive Helen, for whose sake
Argives and Trojans suffered much by the will of the gods.
And at once Menelaus, good at the war-cry, asked me
what need had brought me to noble Lacedaemon;
and I recounted to him all the truth;
and then he answered me and said:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, μῆτερ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
ᾠχόμεθʼ ἔς τε Πύλον καὶ Νέστορα, ποιμένα λαῶν·
δεξάμενος δέ με κεῖνος ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι δόμοισιν
ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει, ὡς εἴ τε πατὴρ ἑὸν υἱὸν
ἐλθόντα χρόνιον νέον ἄλλοθεν· ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνος
ἐνδυκέως ἐκόμιζε σὺν υἱάσι κυδαλίμοισιν.
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος οὔ ποτʼ ἔφασκεν,
ζωοῦ οὐδὲ θανόντος, ἐπιχθονίων τευ ἀκοῦσαι·
ἀλλά μʼ ἐς Ἀτρεΐδην, δουρικλειτὸν Μενέλαον,
ἵπποισι προὔπεμψε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.
ἔνθʼ ἴδον Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλὰ
Ἀργεῖοι Τρῶές τε θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησαν.
εἴρετο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
ὅττευ χρηΐζων ἱκόμην Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τῷ πᾶσαν ἀληθείην κατέλεξα·
καὶ τότε δή με ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
ᾠχόμεθʼ ἔς τε Πύλον καὶ Νέστορα, ποιμένα λαῶν·
δεξάμενος δέ με κεῖνος ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι δόμοισιν
ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει, ὡς εἴ τε πατὴρ ἑὸν υἱὸν
ἐλθόντα χρόνιον νέον ἄλλοθεν· ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνος
ἐνδυκέως ἐκόμιζε σὺν υἱάσι κυδαλίμοισιν.
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος οὔ ποτʼ ἔφασκεν,
ζωοῦ οὐδὲ θανόντος, ἐπιχθονίων τευ ἀκοῦσαι·
ἀλλά μʼ ἐς Ἀτρεΐδην, δουρικλειτὸν Μενέλαον,
ἵπποισι προὔπεμψε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.
ἔνθʼ ἴδον Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλὰ
Ἀργεῖοι Τρῶές τε θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησαν.
εἴρετο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
ὅττευ χρηΐζων ἱκόμην Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τῷ πᾶσαν ἀληθείην κατέλεξα·
καὶ τότε δή με ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
’Ah me, truly they wished to lie in the bed of a strong-hearted
man, cowards as they themselves are.
As when a deer, in the thicket of a mighty lion,
has laid to rest her newborn suckling fawns
and goes to search the mountain spurs and the grassy glens
in her grazing, and then he comes into his lair
and lets loose a shameful doom upon them both,
so will Odysseus let loose a shameful doom upon those men.
Would, father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
that he were such as once in well-founded Lesbos
he rose in a quarrel and wrestled with Philomeleides
and threw him down with strength, and all the Achaeans rejoiced:
being such, would that Odysseus might come among the suitors;
they would all be swift-fated then, and bitter would their marriage be.
But as for what you ask me and beg of me, I would not
speak of other things and turn aside, nor will I deceive you,
but of all that the unerring old man of the sea told me
I will hide no word from you nor keep any back.
He said he had seen him on an island in strong distress,
in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who keeps him
by force; and he cannot come to his native land.
For he has no ships with oars and no companions
who might send him over the wide back of the sea.’
man, cowards as they themselves are.
As when a deer, in the thicket of a mighty lion,
has laid to rest her newborn suckling fawns
and goes to search the mountain spurs and the grassy glens
in her grazing, and then he comes into his lair
and lets loose a shameful doom upon them both,
so will Odysseus let loose a shameful doom upon those men.
Would, father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
that he were such as once in well-founded Lesbos
he rose in a quarrel and wrestled with Philomeleides
and threw him down with strength, and all the Achaeans rejoiced:
being such, would that Odysseus might come among the suitors;
they would all be swift-fated then, and bitter would their marriage be.
But as for what you ask me and beg of me, I would not
speak of other things and turn aside, nor will I deceive you,
but of all that the unerring old man of the sea told me
I will hide no word from you nor keep any back.
He said he had seen him on an island in strong distress,
in the halls of the nymph Calypso, who keeps him
by force; and he cannot come to his native land.
For he has no ships with oars and no companions
who might send him over the wide back of the sea.’
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ κρατερόφρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν εὐνῇ
ἤθελον εὐνηθῆναι, ἀνάλκιδες αὐτοὶ ἐόντες.
ὡς δʼ ὁπότʼ ἐν ξυλόχῳ ἔλαφος κρατεροῖο λέοντος
νεβροὺς κοιμήσασα νεηγενέας γαλαθηνοὺς
κνημοὺς ἐξερέῃσι καὶ ἄγκεα ποιήεντα
βοσκομένη, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα ἑὴν εἰσήλυθεν εὐνήν,
ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκεν,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κείνοισιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσει.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ποτʼ ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Λέσβῳ
ἐξ ἔριδος Φιλομηλεΐδῃ ἐπάλαισεν ἀναστάς,
κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε κρατερῶς, κεχάροντο δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,
τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.
ταῦτα δʼ ἅ μʼ εἰρωτᾷς καὶ λίσσεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε
ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδὸν οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,
τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.
φῆ μιν ὅ γʼ ἐν νήσῳ ἰδέειν κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα,
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ
ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης
ἤθελον εὐνηθῆναι, ἀνάλκιδες αὐτοὶ ἐόντες.
ὡς δʼ ὁπότʼ ἐν ξυλόχῳ ἔλαφος κρατεροῖο λέοντος
νεβροὺς κοιμήσασα νεηγενέας γαλαθηνοὺς
κνημοὺς ἐξερέῃσι καὶ ἄγκεα ποιήεντα
βοσκομένη, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα ἑὴν εἰσήλυθεν εὐνήν,
ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκεν,
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κείνοισιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσει.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷός ποτʼ ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Λέσβῳ
ἐξ ἔριδος Φιλομηλεΐδῃ ἐπάλαισεν ἀναστάς,
κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε κρατερῶς, κεχάροντο δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,
τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.
ταῦτα δʼ ἅ μʼ εἰρωτᾷς καὶ λίσσεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γε
ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδὸν οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,
τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.
φῆ μιν ὅ γʼ ἐν νήσῳ ἰδέειν κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔχοντα,
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃ
ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,
οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης
So spoke the son of Atreus, Menelaus famed for the spear.
When I had finished this I set out; and the immortals gave me
a fair wind, and quickly sent me to my dear native land."
When I had finished this I set out; and the immortals gave me
a fair wind, and quickly sent me to my dear native land."
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀτρεΐδης, δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος.
ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην· ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον
ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν.
ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην· ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρον
ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν.
So he spoke, and stirred the spirit in her breast.
And among them spoke Theoclymenus, godlike in form:
And among them spoke Theoclymenus, godlike in form:
ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
"Honoured wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
truly that man does not know clearly; but mark my word,
for I will prophesy to you exactly and hide nothing.
Let Zeus be my witness now, first of the gods, and the table of guest-friendship
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come,
that Odysseus is already in his native land,
sitting or moving about, learning of these evil deeds,
and is sowing evil for all the suitors.
Such was the bird-sign I marked as I sat
on the well-benched ship, and I cried it out to Telemachus."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
for I will prophesy to you exactly and hide nothing.
Let Zeus be my witness now, first of the gods, and the table of guest-friendship
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come,
that Odysseus is already in his native land,
sitting or moving about, learning of these evil deeds,
and is sowing evil for all the suitors.
Such was the bird-sign I marked as I sat
on the well-benched ship, and I cried it out to Telemachus."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ἦ τοι ὅ γʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδεν, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον·
ἀτρεκέως γάρ σοι μαντεύσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω·
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζα
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω,
ὡς ἦ τοι Ὀδυσεὺς ἤδη ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ,
ἥμενος ἢ ἕρπων, τάδε πευθόμενος κακὰ ἔργα,
ἔστιν, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει·
τοῖον ἐγὼν οἰωνὸν ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηὸς
ἥμενος ἐφρασάμην καὶ Τηλεμάχῳ ἐγεγώνευν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ἀτρεκέως γάρ σοι μαντεύσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω·
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζα
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω,
ὡς ἦ τοι Ὀδυσεὺς ἤδη ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ,
ἥμενος ἢ ἕρπων, τάδε πευθόμενος κακὰ ἔργα,
ἔστιν, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει·
τοῖον ἐγὼν οἰωνὸν ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηὸς
ἥμενος ἐφρασάμην καὶ Τηλεμάχῳ ἐγεγώνευν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Would, stranger, that this word might be brought to pass;
then you would soon know friendship and many gifts
from me, so that anyone who met you would call you blessed."
then you would soon know friendship and many gifts
from me, so that anyone who met you would call you blessed."
αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·
τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.
τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.
So they spoke such things to one another,
while the suitors before the hall of Odysseus
took their pleasure with discuses and with throwing spears,
on the levelled ground, as before, in their insolence.
But when it was dinner-time and the flocks came in
from the fields on every side, and the men brought them who always did,
then Medon spoke to them; for he pleased them
most of the heralds, and used to be present at their feast:
"Young men, since you have all pleased your hearts with the games,
go to the house, so that we may make the feast ready;
for it is no bad thing to take one’s dinner in season."
while the suitors before the hall of Odysseus
took their pleasure with discuses and with throwing spears,
on the levelled ground, as before, in their insolence.
But when it was dinner-time and the flocks came in
from the fields on every side, and the men brought them who always did,
then Medon spoke to them; for he pleased them
most of the heralds, and used to be present at their feast:
"Young men, since you have all pleased your hearts with the games,
go to the house, so that we may make the feast ready;
for it is no bad thing to take one’s dinner in season."
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο
δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες,
ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δείπνηστος ἔην καὶ ἐπήλυθε μῆλα
πάντοθεν ἐξ ἀγρῶν, οἱ δʼ ἤγαγον οἳ τὸ πάρος περ,
καὶ τότε δή σφιν ἔειπε Μέδων· ὃς γάρ ῥα μάλιστα
ἥνδανε κηρύκων, καὶ σφιν παρεγίγνετο δαιτί·
κοῦροι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθητε φρένʼ ἀέθλοις,
ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ ἐντυνώμεθα δαῖτα·
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χέρειον ἐν ὥρῃ δεῖπνον ἑλέσθαι.
μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιο
δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες,
ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος ὕβριν ἔχοντες.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δείπνηστος ἔην καὶ ἐπήλυθε μῆλα
πάντοθεν ἐξ ἀγρῶν, οἱ δʼ ἤγαγον οἳ τὸ πάρος περ,
καὶ τότε δή σφιν ἔειπε Μέδων· ὃς γάρ ῥα μάλιστα
ἥνδανε κηρύκων, καὶ σφιν παρεγίγνετο δαιτί·
κοῦροι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἐτέρφθητε φρένʼ ἀέθλοις,
ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ ἐντυνώμεθα δαῖτα·
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χέρειον ἐν ὥρῃ δεῖπνον ἑλέσθαι.
So he spoke, and they rose and went and obeyed his word.
But when they had come to the well-built house,
they laid their cloaks down on the couches and chairs,
and slaughtered great sheep and fat goats,
and slaughtered fatted hogs and a heifer of the herd,
making the feast ready. And those two from the country to the city
were bestirring themselves to go, Odysseus and the noble swineherd.
And the swineherd, leader of men, was the first to speak among them:
"Stranger, since you are eager to go to the city
today, as my master ordered, though I for my part
would wish you to be left here as a keeper of the farmstead,
but I respect him and I fear that he may afterwards
rebuke me, and the reproofs of masters are hard,
come then, let us go; for the day is already far
gone, and towards evening it will soon be colder for you."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
But when they had come to the well-built house,
they laid their cloaks down on the couches and chairs,
and slaughtered great sheep and fat goats,
and slaughtered fatted hogs and a heifer of the herd,
making the feast ready. And those two from the country to the city
were bestirring themselves to go, Odysseus and the noble swineherd.
And the swineherd, leader of men, was the first to speak among them:
"Stranger, since you are eager to go to the city
today, as my master ordered, though I for my part
would wish you to be left here as a keeper of the farmstead,
but I respect him and I fear that he may afterwards
rebuke me, and the reproofs of masters are hard,
come then, let us go; for the day is already far
gone, and towards evening it will soon be colder for you."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,
ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην,
δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι. τοὶ δʼ ἐξ ἀγροῖο πόλινδε
ὠτρύνοντʼ Ὀδυσεύς τʼ ἰέναι καὶ δῖος ὑφορβός.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ἔπειτα πόλινδʼ ἰέναι μενεαίνεις
σήμερον, ὡς ἐπέτελλεν ἄναξ ἐμός—ἦ σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε
αὐτοῦ βουλοίμην σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα λιπέσθαι·
ἀλλὰ τὸν αἰδέομαι καὶ δείδια, μή μοι ὀπίσσω
νεικείῃ· χαλεπαὶ δέ τʼ ἀνάκτων εἰσὶν ὁμοκλαί—
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἴομεν· δὴ γὰρ μέμβλωκε μάλιστα
ἦμαρ, ἀτὰρ τάχα τοι ποτὶ ἕσπερα ῥίγιον ἔσται.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,
ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην,
δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι. τοὶ δʼ ἐξ ἀγροῖο πόλινδε
ὠτρύνοντʼ Ὀδυσεύς τʼ ἰέναι καὶ δῖος ὑφορβός.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·
ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ ἂρ δὴ ἔπειτα πόλινδʼ ἰέναι μενεαίνεις
σήμερον, ὡς ἐπέτελλεν ἄναξ ἐμός—ἦ σʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε
αὐτοῦ βουλοίμην σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα λιπέσθαι·
ἀλλὰ τὸν αἰδέομαι καὶ δείδια, μή μοι ὀπίσσω
νεικείῃ· χαλεπαὶ δέ τʼ ἀνάκτων εἰσὶν ὁμοκλαί—
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἴομεν· δὴ γὰρ μέμβλωκε μάλιστα
ἦμαρ, ἀτὰρ τάχα τοι ποτὶ ἕσπερα ῥίγιον ἔσται.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"I understand, I take your meaning; you order a man who sees it already.
But let us go, and do you lead the whole way.
And give me, if you have a cut staff anywhere,
to lean on; for you said the path was slippery."
But let us go, and do you lead the whole way.
And give me, if you have a cut staff anywhere,
to lean on; for you said the path was slippery."
γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα διαμπερὲς ἡγεμόνευε.
δὸς δέ μοι, εἴ ποθί τοι ῥόπαλον τετμημένον ἐστίν,
σκηρίπτεσθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φατʼ ἀρισφαλέʼ ἔμμεναι οὐδόν.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα διαμπερὲς ἡγεμόνευε.
δὸς δέ μοι, εἴ ποθί τοι ῥόπαλον τετμημένον ἐστίν,
σκηρίπτεσθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φατʼ ἀρισφαλέʼ ἔμμεναι οὐδόν.
He spoke, and slung about his shoulders an unseemly wallet,
full of holes; and there was a twisted cord for a strap;
and Eumaeus gave him a staff to his liking.
The two went off, and the dogs and the herdsmen
stayed behind to guard the farmstead; and he led his master to the city
in the likeness of a wretched beggar and an old man,
leaning on his staff; and about his body he wore sorry clothing.
But when in their going down the rugged road
they were near the city and had come to the fountain,
the fair-flowing built fountain, where the townspeople drew water,
which Ithacus and Neritus and Polyctor had made;
and about it was a grove of water-nourished poplars,
circling it on every side, and cold water flowed down
from the rock above; and above it an altar had been built
to the nymphs, where all wayfarers made offerings;
there Melantheus, son of Dolius, met them,
leading goats that were the finest of all the herds,
a dinner for the suitors; and two herdsmen followed with him.
And when he saw them he abused them, and spoke, and called them by name,
terribly and shamefully; and he stirred the heart of Odysseus:
"Now indeed one worthless man is leading another worthless man,
as a god always brings like to like.
Where are you taking this glutton, you wretched swineherd,
this troublesome beggar, this spoiler of feasts?
He will stand at many doorposts and rub his shoulders on them,
begging for scraps, not for swords or cauldrons.
If you would give him to me to be a keeper of the farmstead
and a cleaner of the pens and a carrier of green shoots for the kids,
then he might drink whey and grow a great thigh.
But since he has learned only evil ways, he will not be willing
to set his hand to work, but would rather cringe through the land
and beg to feed his insatiable belly.
But I will tell you out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
if he comes to the house of divine Odysseus,
many footstools from the hands of men, flung about his head,
will be shattered on his ribs as he is pelted through the house."
full of holes; and there was a twisted cord for a strap;
and Eumaeus gave him a staff to his liking.
The two went off, and the dogs and the herdsmen
stayed behind to guard the farmstead; and he led his master to the city
in the likeness of a wretched beggar and an old man,
leaning on his staff; and about his body he wore sorry clothing.
But when in their going down the rugged road
they were near the city and had come to the fountain,
the fair-flowing built fountain, where the townspeople drew water,
which Ithacus and Neritus and Polyctor had made;
and about it was a grove of water-nourished poplars,
circling it on every side, and cold water flowed down
from the rock above; and above it an altar had been built
to the nymphs, where all wayfarers made offerings;
there Melantheus, son of Dolius, met them,
leading goats that were the finest of all the herds,
a dinner for the suitors; and two herdsmen followed with him.
And when he saw them he abused them, and spoke, and called them by name,
terribly and shamefully; and he stirred the heart of Odysseus:
"Now indeed one worthless man is leading another worthless man,
as a god always brings like to like.
Where are you taking this glutton, you wretched swineherd,
this troublesome beggar, this spoiler of feasts?
He will stand at many doorposts and rub his shoulders on them,
begging for scraps, not for swords or cauldrons.
If you would give him to me to be a keeper of the farmstead
and a cleaner of the pens and a carrier of green shoots for the kids,
then he might drink whey and grow a great thigh.
But since he has learned only evil ways, he will not be willing
to set his hand to work, but would rather cringe through the land
and beg to feed his insatiable belly.
But I will tell you out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
if he comes to the house of divine Odysseus,
many footstools from the hands of men, flung about his head,
will be shattered on his ribs as he is pelted through the house."
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἀεικέα βάλλετο πήρην,
πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ·
Εὔμαιος δʼ ἄρα οἱ σκῆπτρον θυμαρὲς ἔδωκε.
τὼ βήτην, σταθμὸν δὲ κύνες καὶ βώτορες ἄνδρες
ῥύατʼ ὄπισθε μένοντες· ὁ δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἦγεν ἄνακτα
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι,
σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ στείχοντες ὁδὸν κάτα παιπαλόεσσαν
ἄστεος ἐγγὺς ἔσαν καὶ ἐπὶ κρήνην ἀφίκοντο
τυκτὴν καλλίροον, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται,
τὴν ποίησʼ Ἴθακος καὶ Νήριτος ἠδὲ Πολύκτωρ·
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αἰγείρων ὑδατοτρεφέων ἦν ἄλσος,
πάντοσε κυκλοτερές, κατὰ δὲ ψυχρὸν ῥέεν ὕδωρ
ὑψόθεν ἐκ πέτρης· βωμὸς δʼ ἐφύπερθε τέτυκτο
νυμφάων, ὅθι πάντες ἐπιρρέζεσκον ὁδῖται·
ἔνθα σφέας ἐκίχανʼ υἱὸς Δολίοιο Μελανθεὺς
αἶγας ἄγων, αἳ πᾶσι μετέπρεπον αἰπολίοισι,
δεῖπνον μνηστήρεσσι· δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆες.
τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν νείκεσσεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν,
ἔκπαγλον καὶ ἀεικές· ὄρινε δὲ κῆρ Ὀδυσῆος·
νῦν μὲν δὴ μάλα πάγχυ κακὸς κακὸν ἡγηλάζει,
ὡς αἰεὶ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἄγει θεὸς ὡς τὸν ὁμοῖον.
πῇ δὴ τόνδε μολοβρὸν ἄγεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,
πτωχὸν ἀνιηρόν δαιτῶν ἀπολυμαντῆρα;
ὃς πολλῇς φλιῇσι παραστὰς θλίψεται ὤμους,
αἰτίζων ἀκόλους, οὐκ ἄορας οὐδὲ λέβητας·
τόν κʼ εἴ μοι δοίης σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα γενέσθαι
σηκοκόρον τʼ ἔμεναι θαλλόν τʼ ἐρίφοισι φορῆναι,
καί κεν ὀρὸν πίνων μεγάλην ἐπιγουνίδα θεῖτο.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκʼ ἔμμαθεν, οὐκ ἐθελήσει
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσων κατὰ δῆμον
βούλεται αἰτίζων βόσκειν ἣν γαστέρʼ ἄναλτον.
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἴ κʼ ἔλθῃ πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
πολλά οἱ ἀμφὶ κάρη σφέλα ἀνδρῶν ἐκ παλαμάων
πλευραὶ ἀποτρίψουσι δόμον κάτα βαλλομένοιο.
πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ·
Εὔμαιος δʼ ἄρα οἱ σκῆπτρον θυμαρὲς ἔδωκε.
τὼ βήτην, σταθμὸν δὲ κύνες καὶ βώτορες ἄνδρες
ῥύατʼ ὄπισθε μένοντες· ὁ δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἦγεν ἄνακτα
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι,
σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ στείχοντες ὁδὸν κάτα παιπαλόεσσαν
ἄστεος ἐγγὺς ἔσαν καὶ ἐπὶ κρήνην ἀφίκοντο
τυκτὴν καλλίροον, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται,
τὴν ποίησʼ Ἴθακος καὶ Νήριτος ἠδὲ Πολύκτωρ·
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αἰγείρων ὑδατοτρεφέων ἦν ἄλσος,
πάντοσε κυκλοτερές, κατὰ δὲ ψυχρὸν ῥέεν ὕδωρ
ὑψόθεν ἐκ πέτρης· βωμὸς δʼ ἐφύπερθε τέτυκτο
νυμφάων, ὅθι πάντες ἐπιρρέζεσκον ὁδῖται·
ἔνθα σφέας ἐκίχανʼ υἱὸς Δολίοιο Μελανθεὺς
αἶγας ἄγων, αἳ πᾶσι μετέπρεπον αἰπολίοισι,
δεῖπνον μνηστήρεσσι· δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆες.
τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν νείκεσσεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν,
ἔκπαγλον καὶ ἀεικές· ὄρινε δὲ κῆρ Ὀδυσῆος·
νῦν μὲν δὴ μάλα πάγχυ κακὸς κακὸν ἡγηλάζει,
ὡς αἰεὶ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἄγει θεὸς ὡς τὸν ὁμοῖον.
πῇ δὴ τόνδε μολοβρὸν ἄγεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,
πτωχὸν ἀνιηρόν δαιτῶν ἀπολυμαντῆρα;
ὃς πολλῇς φλιῇσι παραστὰς θλίψεται ὤμους,
αἰτίζων ἀκόλους, οὐκ ἄορας οὐδὲ λέβητας·
τόν κʼ εἴ μοι δοίης σταθμῶν ῥυτῆρα γενέσθαι
σηκοκόρον τʼ ἔμεναι θαλλόν τʼ ἐρίφοισι φορῆναι,
καί κεν ὀρὸν πίνων μεγάλην ἐπιγουνίδα θεῖτο.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκʼ ἔμμαθεν, οὐκ ἐθελήσει
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσων κατὰ δῆμον
βούλεται αἰτίζων βόσκειν ἣν γαστέρʼ ἄναλτον.
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἴ κʼ ἔλθῃ πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
πολλά οἱ ἀμφὶ κάρη σφέλα ἀνδρῶν ἐκ παλαμάων
πλευραὶ ἀποτρίψουσι δόμον κάτα βαλλομένοιο.
So he spoke, and as he passed he kicked him in his folly
on the hip; but he did not knock him off the path,
and he stood firm; and Odysseus pondered
whether to rush at him and take his life with the staff,
or to lift him bodily and dash his head to the ground.
But he endured it and held himself back; and the swineherd
looked him in the face and reproached him, and lifting up his hands prayed aloud:
"Nymphs of the spring, daughters of Zeus, if ever Odysseus
burned thigh-pieces for you, covering them in rich fat,
of lambs and of kids, fulfil this desire of mine,
that that man may come, and that a god may bring him;
then he would scatter all the fine airs
that you now flaunt in your insolence, always wandering
through the town; while worthless herdsmen ruin the flocks."
Then Melanthius, the goatherd, spoke to him in turn:
on the hip; but he did not knock him off the path,
and he stood firm; and Odysseus pondered
whether to rush at him and take his life with the staff,
or to lift him bodily and dash his head to the ground.
But he endured it and held himself back; and the swineherd
looked him in the face and reproached him, and lifting up his hands prayed aloud:
"Nymphs of the spring, daughters of Zeus, if ever Odysseus
burned thigh-pieces for you, covering them in rich fat,
of lambs and of kids, fulfil this desire of mine,
that that man may come, and that a god may bring him;
then he would scatter all the fine airs
that you now flaunt in your insolence, always wandering
through the town; while worthless herdsmen ruin the flocks."
Then Melanthius, the goatherd, spoke to him in turn:
ὣς φάτο, καὶ παριὼν λὰξ ἔνθορεν ἀφραδίῃσιν
ἰσχίῳ· οὐδέ μιν ἐκτὸς ἀταρπιτοῦ ἐστυφέλιξεν,
ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ἀσφαλέως· ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἠὲ μεταΐξας ῥοπάλῳ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο,
ἦ πρὸς γῆν ἐλάσειε κάρη ἀμφουδὶς ἀείρας.
ἀλλʼ ἐπετόλμησε, φρεσὶ δʼ ἔσχετο· τὸν δὲ συβώτης
νείκεσʼ ἐσάντα ἰδών, μέγα δʼ εὔξατο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
νύμφαι κρηναῖαι, κοῦραι Διός, εἴ ποτʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὔμμʼ ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηε, καλύψας πίονι δημῷ,
ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων, τόδε μοι κρηήνατʼ ἐέλδωρ,
ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·
τῷ κέ τοι ἀγλαΐας γε διασκεδάσειεν ἁπάσας,
τὰς νῦν ὑβρίζων φορέεις, ἀλαλήμενος αἰεὶ
ἄστυ κάτʼ· αὐτὰρ μῆλα κακοὶ φθείρουσι νομῆες.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
ἰσχίῳ· οὐδέ μιν ἐκτὸς ἀταρπιτοῦ ἐστυφέλιξεν,
ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ἀσφαλέως· ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἠὲ μεταΐξας ῥοπάλῳ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο,
ἦ πρὸς γῆν ἐλάσειε κάρη ἀμφουδὶς ἀείρας.
ἀλλʼ ἐπετόλμησε, φρεσὶ δʼ ἔσχετο· τὸν δὲ συβώτης
νείκεσʼ ἐσάντα ἰδών, μέγα δʼ εὔξατο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
νύμφαι κρηναῖαι, κοῦραι Διός, εἴ ποτʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὔμμʼ ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηε, καλύψας πίονι δημῷ,
ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων, τόδε μοι κρηήνατʼ ἐέλδωρ,
ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·
τῷ κέ τοι ἀγλαΐας γε διασκεδάσειεν ἁπάσας,
τὰς νῦν ὑβρίζων φορέεις, ἀλαλήμενος αἰεὶ
ἄστυ κάτʼ· αὐτὰρ μῆλα κακοὶ φθείρουσι νομῆες.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
"Ah me, what a thing this dog has said, who knows destruction.
One day I will take him far from Ithaca in a black
well-benched ship, so that he may win me a good living.
Would that Apollo of the silver bow might strike Telemachus
today in the halls, or that he might go down before the suitors,
as surely as the day of homecoming is lost for Odysseus far away."
One day I will take him far from Ithaca in a black
well-benched ship, so that he may win me a good living.
Would that Apollo of the silver bow might strike Telemachus
today in the halls, or that he might go down before the suitors,
as surely as the day of homecoming is lost for Odysseus far away."
ὢ πόποι, οἶον ἔειπε κύων ὀλοφώϊα εἰδώς,
τόν ποτʼ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης
ἄξω τῆλʼ Ἰθάκης, ἵνα μοι βίοτον πολὺν ἄλφοι.
αἲ γὰρ Τηλέμαχον βάλοι ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
σήμερον ἐν μεγάροις, ἢ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσι δαμείη,
ὡς Ὀδυσῆΐ γε τηλοῦ ἀπώλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
τόν ποτʼ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης
ἄξω τῆλʼ Ἰθάκης, ἵνα μοι βίοτον πολὺν ἄλφοι.
αἲ γὰρ Τηλέμαχον βάλοι ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
σήμερον ἐν μεγάροις, ἢ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσι δαμείη,
ὡς Ὀδυσῆΐ γε τηλοῦ ἀπώλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
So saying he left them there, going slowly,
and went on himself, and very quickly reached the house of his master.
At once he went inside and sat down among the suitors,
opposite Eurymachus; for he liked him most of all.
Those who served set a portion of meat beside him,
and the honoured housekeeper brought bread and set it beside him
to eat. And Odysseus and the noble swineherd
came near and stopped as they walked, and about them came the sound
of the hollow lyre; for Phemius was striking up to sing
among them; and Odysseus took the swineherd by the hand and spoke to him:
and went on himself, and very quickly reached the house of his master.
At once he went inside and sat down among the suitors,
opposite Eurymachus; for he liked him most of all.
Those who served set a portion of meat beside him,
and the honoured housekeeper brought bread and set it beside him
to eat. And Odysseus and the noble swineherd
came near and stopped as they walked, and about them came the sound
of the hollow lyre; for Phemius was striking up to sing
among them; and Odysseus took the swineherd by the hand and spoke to him:
ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ ἦκα κιόντας,
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ, μάλα δʼ ὦκα δόμους ἵκανεν ἄνακτος.
αὐτίκα δʼ εἴσω ἴεν, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι καθῖζεν,
ἀντίον Εὐρυμάχου· τὸν γὰρ φιλέεσκε μάλιστα.
τῷ πάρα μὲν κρειῶν μοῖραν θέσαν οἳ πονέοντο,
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα
ἔδμεναι. ἀγχίμολον δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
στήτην ἐρχομένω, περὶ δέ σφεας ἤλυθʼ ἰωὴ
φόρμιγγος γλαφυρῆς· ἀνὰ γάρ σφισι βάλλετʼ ἀείδειν
Φήμιος· αὐτὰρ ὁ χειρὸς ἑλὼν προσέειπε συβώτην·
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ, μάλα δʼ ὦκα δόμους ἵκανεν ἄνακτος.
αὐτίκα δʼ εἴσω ἴεν, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι καθῖζεν,
ἀντίον Εὐρυμάχου· τὸν γὰρ φιλέεσκε μάλιστα.
τῷ πάρα μὲν κρειῶν μοῖραν θέσαν οἳ πονέοντο,
σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα
ἔδμεναι. ἀγχίμολον δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ δῖος ὑφορβὸς
στήτην ἐρχομένω, περὶ δέ σφεας ἤλυθʼ ἰωὴ
φόρμιγγος γλαφυρῆς· ἀνὰ γάρ σφισι βάλλετʼ ἀείδειν
Φήμιος· αὐτὰρ ὁ χειρὸς ἑλὼν προσέειπε συβώτην·
"Eumaeus, surely this is the beautiful house of Odysseus,
and easy to recognise even among many.
One part follows on another; the courtyard is finished
with a wall and a coping, and the doors are well-fenced
and double; no man could force it.
And I see that many men are holding a feast in it,
since the savour of fat rises, and the lyre
sounds there, which the gods have made companion of the feast."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
and easy to recognise even among many.
One part follows on another; the courtyard is finished
with a wall and a coping, and the doors are well-fenced
and double; no man could force it.
And I see that many men are holding a feast in it,
since the savour of fat rises, and the lyre
sounds there, which the gods have made companion of the feast."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα δὴ τάδε δώματα κάλʼ Ὀδυσῆος,
ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι.
ἐξ ἑτέρων ἕτερʼ ἐστίν, ἐπήσκηται δέ οἱ αὐλὴ
τοίχῳ καὶ θριγκοῖσι, θύραι δʼ εὐερκέες εἰσὶ
δικλίδες· οὐκ ἄν τίς μιν ἀνὴρ ὑπεροπλίσσαιτο.
γιγνώσκω δʼ ὅτι πολλοὶ ἐν αὐτῷ δαῖτα τίθενται
ἄνδρες, ἐπεὶ κνίση μὲν ἀνήνοθεν, ἐν δέ τε φόρμιγξ
ἠπύει, ἣν ἄρα δαιτὶ θεοὶ ποίησαν ἑταίρην.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι.
ἐξ ἑτέρων ἕτερʼ ἐστίν, ἐπήσκηται δέ οἱ αὐλὴ
τοίχῳ καὶ θριγκοῖσι, θύραι δʼ εὐερκέες εἰσὶ
δικλίδες· οὐκ ἄν τίς μιν ἀνὴρ ὑπεροπλίσσαιτο.
γιγνώσκω δʼ ὅτι πολλοὶ ἐν αὐτῷ δαῖτα τίθενται
ἄνδρες, ἐπεὶ κνίση μὲν ἀνήνοθεν, ἐν δέ τε φόρμιγξ
ἠπύει, ἣν ἄρα δαιτὶ θεοὶ ποίησαν ἑταίρην.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"You knew it easily, since you are not without sense in other things either.
But come, let us consider how these matters shall be.
Either you go in first to the well-built house
and enter among the suitors, and I will stay behind here;
or, if you wish, wait, and I will go ahead;
but do not you linger, in case someone outside sees you
and throws at you or drives you off; I bid you consider this."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus answered him:
But come, let us consider how these matters shall be.
Either you go in first to the well-built house
and enter among the suitors, and I will stay behind here;
or, if you wish, wait, and I will go ahead;
but do not you linger, in case someone outside sees you
and throws at you or drives you off; I bid you consider this."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus answered him:
ῥεῖʼ ἔγνως, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ τά τʼ ἄλλα πέρ ἐσσʼ ἀνοήμων.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.
ἠὲ σὺ πρῶτος ἔσελθε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
δύσεο δὲ μνηστῆρας, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ·
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, ἐπίμεινον, ἐγὼ δʼ εἶμι προπάροιθε·
μηδὲ σὺ δηθύνειν, μή τίς σʼ ἔκτοσθε νοήσας
ἢ βάλῃ ἢ ἐλάσῃ· τὰ δέ σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.
ἠὲ σὺ πρῶτος ἔσελθε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
δύσεο δὲ μνηστῆρας, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ·
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, ἐπίμεινον, ἐγὼ δʼ εἶμι προπάροιθε·
μηδὲ σὺ δηθύνειν, μή τίς σʼ ἔκτοσθε νοήσας
ἢ βάλῃ ἢ ἐλάσῃ· τὰ δέ σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"I understand, I take your meaning; you order a man who sees it already.
But go on ahead, and I will stay behind here.
For I am no stranger to blows and to things thrown;
my spirit is enduring, since I have suffered many evils
in the waves and in war; let this come after those.
But there is no hiding a ravening belly,
that accursed thing, which gives men many evils,
and for whose sake even well-benched ships are fitted out
over the barren sea, bringing evil to enemies."
But go on ahead, and I will stay behind here.
For I am no stranger to blows and to things thrown;
my spirit is enduring, since I have suffered many evils
in the waves and in war; let this come after those.
But there is no hiding a ravening belly,
that accursed thing, which gives men many evils,
and for whose sake even well-benched ships are fitted out
over the barren sea, bringing evil to enemies."
γιγνώσκω, φρονέω· τά γε δὴ νοέοντι κελεύεις.
ἀλλʼ ἔρχευ προπάροιθεν, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ.
οὐ γάρ τι πληγέων ἀδαήμων οὐδὲ βολάων·
τολμήεις μοι θυμός, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέπονθα
κύμασι καὶ πολέμῳ· μετὰ καὶ τόδε τοῖσι γενέσθω·
γαστέρα δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἀποκρύψαι μεμαυῖαν,
οὐλομένην, ἣ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισι δίδωσι,
τῆς ἕνεκεν καὶ νῆες ἐΰζυγοι ὁπλίζονται
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, κακὰ δυσμενέεσσι φέρουσαι.
ἀλλʼ ἔρχευ προπάροιθεν, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ.
οὐ γάρ τι πληγέων ἀδαήμων οὐδὲ βολάων·
τολμήεις μοι θυμός, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέπονθα
κύμασι καὶ πολέμῳ· μετὰ καὶ τόδε τοῖσι γενέσθω·
γαστέρα δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἀποκρύψαι μεμαυῖαν,
οὐλομένην, ἣ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισι δίδωσι,
τῆς ἕνεκεν καὶ νῆες ἐΰζυγοι ὁπλίζονται
πόντον ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον, κακὰ δυσμενέεσσι φέρουσαι.
So they spoke such things to one another;
and a dog that lay there lifted his head and his ears,
Argos, the dog of enduring-hearted Odysseus, whom he himself
had reared, but had no joy of him, for before that to sacred Ilium
he went. In earlier days the young men used to take him out
after wild goats and deer and hares;
but now he lay neglected, his master gone away,
in the deep dung which before the doors
of mules and of cattle lay heaped, until the servants
of Odysseus should carry it off to manure his great estate;
there the dog Argos lay, full of ticks.
But then, when he saw that Odysseus was near,
he wagged his tail and dropped both his ears,
but he had no strength left to come nearer
to his master; and Odysseus looked aside and wiped away a tear,
easily hiding it from Eumaeus, and at once asked him:
"Eumaeus, this is a great wonder, this dog lying in the dung.
He is fine in body, but I do not clearly know this,
whether he was also swift to run, along with this look of his,
or was only such as the table-dogs of men
become; their masters keep them for show."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
and a dog that lay there lifted his head and his ears,
Argos, the dog of enduring-hearted Odysseus, whom he himself
had reared, but had no joy of him, for before that to sacred Ilium
he went. In earlier days the young men used to take him out
after wild goats and deer and hares;
but now he lay neglected, his master gone away,
in the deep dung which before the doors
of mules and of cattle lay heaped, until the servants
of Odysseus should carry it off to manure his great estate;
there the dog Argos lay, full of ticks.
But then, when he saw that Odysseus was near,
he wagged his tail and dropped both his ears,
but he had no strength left to come nearer
to his master; and Odysseus looked aside and wiped away a tear,
easily hiding it from Eumaeus, and at once asked him:
"Eumaeus, this is a great wonder, this dog lying in the dung.
He is fine in body, but I do not clearly know this,
whether he was also swift to run, along with this look of his,
or was only such as the table-dogs of men
become; their masters keep them for show."
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
ἂν δὲ κύων κεφαλήν τε καὶ οὔατα κείμενος ἔσχεν,
Ἄργος, Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸς
θρέψε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο, πάρος δʼ εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
ᾤχετο. τὸν δὲ πάροιθεν ἀγίνεσκον νέοι ἄνδρες
αἶγας ἐπʼ ἀγροτέρας ἠδὲ πρόκας ἠδὲ λαγωούς·
δὴ τότε κεῖτʼ ἀπόθεστος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
ἐν πολλῇ κόπρῳ, ἥ οἱ προπάροιθε θυράων
ἡμιόνων τε βοῶν τε ἅλις κέχυτʼ, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἄγοιεν
δμῶες Ὀδυσσῆος τέμενος μέγα κοπρήσοντες·
ἔνθα κύων κεῖτʼ Ἄργος, ἐνίπλειος κυνοραιστέων.
δὴ τότε γʼ, ὡς ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσέα ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,
οὐρῇ μέν ῥʼ ὅ γʼ ἔσηνε καὶ οὔατα κάββαλεν ἄμφω,
ἆσσον δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα δυνήσατο οἷο ἄνακτος
ἐλθέμεν· αὐτὰρ ὁ νόσφιν ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ,
ῥεῖα λαθὼν Εὔμαιον, ἄφαρ δʼ ἐρεείνετο μύθῳ·
Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα θαῦμα, κύων ὅδε κεῖτʼ ἐνὶ κόπρῳ.
καλὸς μὲν δέμας ἐστίν, ἀτὰρ τόδε γʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδα,
εἰ δὴ καὶ ταχὺς ἔσκε θέειν ἐπὶ εἴδεϊ τῷδε,
ἦ αὔτως οἷοί τε τραπεζῆες κύνες ἀνδρῶν
γίγνοντʼ· ἀγλαΐης δʼ ἕνεκεν κομέουσιν ἄνακτες.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
ἂν δὲ κύων κεφαλήν τε καὶ οὔατα κείμενος ἔσχεν,
Ἄργος, Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸς
θρέψε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο, πάρος δʼ εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
ᾤχετο. τὸν δὲ πάροιθεν ἀγίνεσκον νέοι ἄνδρες
αἶγας ἐπʼ ἀγροτέρας ἠδὲ πρόκας ἠδὲ λαγωούς·
δὴ τότε κεῖτʼ ἀπόθεστος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
ἐν πολλῇ κόπρῳ, ἥ οἱ προπάροιθε θυράων
ἡμιόνων τε βοῶν τε ἅλις κέχυτʼ, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἄγοιεν
δμῶες Ὀδυσσῆος τέμενος μέγα κοπρήσοντες·
ἔνθα κύων κεῖτʼ Ἄργος, ἐνίπλειος κυνοραιστέων.
δὴ τότε γʼ, ὡς ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσέα ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,
οὐρῇ μέν ῥʼ ὅ γʼ ἔσηνε καὶ οὔατα κάββαλεν ἄμφω,
ἆσσον δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα δυνήσατο οἷο ἄνακτος
ἐλθέμεν· αὐτὰρ ὁ νόσφιν ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ,
ῥεῖα λαθὼν Εὔμαιον, ἄφαρ δʼ ἐρεείνετο μύθῳ·
Εὔμαιʼ, ἦ μάλα θαῦμα, κύων ὅδε κεῖτʼ ἐνὶ κόπρῳ.
καλὸς μὲν δέμας ἐστίν, ἀτὰρ τόδε γʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδα,
εἰ δὴ καὶ ταχὺς ἔσκε θέειν ἐπὶ εἴδεϊ τῷδε,
ἦ αὔτως οἷοί τε τραπεζῆες κύνες ἀνδρῶν
γίγνοντʼ· ἀγλαΐης δʼ ἕνεκεν κομέουσιν ἄνακτες.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Yes indeed, this is the dog of a man who has died far away.
If he were such in body and in deeds
as when Odysseus left him behind and went to Troy,
you would soon marvel to see his speed and his strength.
For no beast ever escaped him in the depths
of the deep wood, whatever he chased; for he was skilled at the track.
But now he is held by misery, and his master has died
away from his own land, and the careless women do not tend him.
Servants, when their masters no longer rule over them,
are no longer willing to do their work as they should;
for far-seeing Zeus takes away half a man’s excellence
when the day of slavery takes hold of him."
If he were such in body and in deeds
as when Odysseus left him behind and went to Troy,
you would soon marvel to see his speed and his strength.
For no beast ever escaped him in the depths
of the deep wood, whatever he chased; for he was skilled at the track.
But now he is held by misery, and his master has died
away from his own land, and the careless women do not tend him.
Servants, when their masters no longer rule over them,
are no longer willing to do their work as they should;
for far-seeing Zeus takes away half a man’s excellence
when the day of slavery takes hold of him."
καὶ λίην ἀνδρός γε κύων ὅδε τῆλε θανόντος.
εἰ τοιόσδʼ εἴη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ ἔργα,
οἷόν μιν Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
αἶψά κε θηήσαιο ἰδὼν ταχυτῆτα καὶ ἀλκήν.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι φύγεσκε βαθείης βένθεσιν ὕλης
κνώδαλον, ὅττι δίοιτο· καὶ ἴχνεσι γὰρ περιῄδη·
νῦν δʼ ἔχεται κακότητι, ἄναξ δέ οἱ ἄλλοθι πάτρης
ὤλετο, τὸν δὲ γυναῖκες ἀκηδέες οὐ κομέουσι.
δμῶες δʼ, εὖτʼ ἂν μηκέτʼ ἐπικρατέωσιν ἄνακτες,
οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐθέλουσιν ἐναίσιμα ἐργάζεσθαι·
ἥμισυ γάρ τʼ ἀρετῆς ἀποαίνυται εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἀνέρος, εὖτʼ ἄν μιν κατὰ δούλιον ἦμαρ ἕλῃσιν.
εἰ τοιόσδʼ εἴη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ ἔργα,
οἷόν μιν Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
αἶψά κε θηήσαιο ἰδὼν ταχυτῆτα καὶ ἀλκήν.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τι φύγεσκε βαθείης βένθεσιν ὕλης
κνώδαλον, ὅττι δίοιτο· καὶ ἴχνεσι γὰρ περιῄδη·
νῦν δʼ ἔχεται κακότητι, ἄναξ δέ οἱ ἄλλοθι πάτρης
ὤλετο, τὸν δὲ γυναῖκες ἀκηδέες οὐ κομέουσι.
δμῶες δʼ, εὖτʼ ἂν μηκέτʼ ἐπικρατέωσιν ἄνακτες,
οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐθέλουσιν ἐναίσιμα ἐργάζεσθαι·
ἥμισυ γάρ τʼ ἀρετῆς ἀποαίνυται εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἀνέρος, εὖτʼ ἄν μιν κατὰ δούλιον ἦμαρ ἕλῃσιν.
So saying he went into the well-built house,
and went straight through the hall among the proud suitors.
But the fate of black death took hold of Argos
at once, when he had seen Odysseus in the twentieth year.
And Telemachus, godlike in form, saw him far the first
as he came through the house, the swineherd, and quickly then
he nodded and called him to him; and he looked about and took a stool
that lay there, where the carver used to sit and cut much meat
for the suitors as they feasted through the house;
this he carried and set by Telemachus’ table,
facing him, and there he sat down himself; and a herald
took a portion and set it before him, and lifted bread out of the basket.
And close after him Odysseus entered the house,
in the likeness of a wretched beggar and an old man,
leaning on his staff; and about his body he wore sorry clothing.
He sat down on the ashwood threshold inside the doors,
leaning against the cypress doorpost, which once a carpenter
had planed with skill and made straight to the line.
And Telemachus called the swineherd to him and spoke to him,
taking a whole loaf from the beautiful basket
and meat, as much as his hands could hold when he closed them round it:
"Take these to the stranger, and tell him
to go about and beg from all the suitors;
shame is no good companion for a man in need."
and went straight through the hall among the proud suitors.
But the fate of black death took hold of Argos
at once, when he had seen Odysseus in the twentieth year.
And Telemachus, godlike in form, saw him far the first
as he came through the house, the swineherd, and quickly then
he nodded and called him to him; and he looked about and took a stool
that lay there, where the carver used to sit and cut much meat
for the suitors as they feasted through the house;
this he carried and set by Telemachus’ table,
facing him, and there he sat down himself; and a herald
took a portion and set it before him, and lifted bread out of the basket.
And close after him Odysseus entered the house,
in the likeness of a wretched beggar and an old man,
leaning on his staff; and about his body he wore sorry clothing.
He sat down on the ashwood threshold inside the doors,
leaning against the cypress doorpost, which once a carpenter
had planed with skill and made straight to the line.
And Telemachus called the swineherd to him and spoke to him,
taking a whole loaf from the beautiful basket
and meat, as much as his hands could hold when he closed them round it:
"Take these to the stranger, and tell him
to go about and beg from all the suitors;
shame is no good companion for a man in need."
ὣς εἰπὼν εἰσῆλθε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς μεγάροιο μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς.
Ἄργον δʼ αὖ κατὰ μοῖρʼ ἔλαβεν μέλανος θανάτοιο,
αὐτίκʼ ἰδόντʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐεικοστῷ ἐνιαυτῷ.
τὸν δὲ πολὺ πρῶτος ἴδε Τηλέμαχος θεοειδὴς
ἐρχόμενον κατὰ δῶμα συβώτην, ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα
νεῦσʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσας· ὁ δὲ παπτήνας ἕλε δίφρον
κείμενον, ἔνθα τε δαιτρὸς ἐφίζεσκε κρέα πολλὰ
δαιόμενος μνηστῆρσι δόμον κάτα δαινυμένοισι·
τὸν κατέθηκε φέρων πρὸς Τηλεμάχοιο τράπεζαν
ἀντίον, ἔνθα δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸς ἐφέζετο· τῷ δʼ ἄρα κῆρυξ
μοῖραν ἑλὼν ἐτίθει κανέου τʼ ἐκ σῖτον ἀείρας.
ἀγχίμολον δὲ μετʼ αὐτὸν ἐδύσετο δώματʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιος ἠδὲ γέροντι,
σκηπτόμενος· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροΐ εἵματα ἕστο.
ἷζε δʼ ἐπὶ μελίνου οὐδοῦ ἔντοσθε θυράων,
κλινάμενος σταθμῷ κυπαρισσίνῳ, ὅν ποτε τέκτων
ξέσσεν ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσας προσέειπε συβώτην,
ἄρτον τʼ οὖλον ἑλὼν περικαλλέος ἐκ κανέοιο
καὶ κρέας, ὥς οἱ χεῖρες ἐχάνδανον ἀμφιβαλόντι·
δὸς τῷ ξείνῳ ταῦτα φέρων αὐτόν τε κέλευε
αἰτίζειν μάλα πάντας ἐποιχόμενον μνηστῆρας·
αἰδὼς δʼ οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κεχρημένῳ ἀνδρὶ παρεῖναι.
βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς μεγάροιο μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς.
Ἄργον δʼ αὖ κατὰ μοῖρʼ ἔλαβεν μέλανος θανάτοιο,
αὐτίκʼ ἰδόντʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐεικοστῷ ἐνιαυτῷ.
τὸν δὲ πολὺ πρῶτος ἴδε Τηλέμαχος θεοειδὴς
ἐρχόμενον κατὰ δῶμα συβώτην, ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα
νεῦσʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσας· ὁ δὲ παπτήνας ἕλε δίφρον
κείμενον, ἔνθα τε δαιτρὸς ἐφίζεσκε κρέα πολλὰ
δαιόμενος μνηστῆρσι δόμον κάτα δαινυμένοισι·
τὸν κατέθηκε φέρων πρὸς Τηλεμάχοιο τράπεζαν
ἀντίον, ἔνθα δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸς ἐφέζετο· τῷ δʼ ἄρα κῆρυξ
μοῖραν ἑλὼν ἐτίθει κανέου τʼ ἐκ σῖτον ἀείρας.
ἀγχίμολον δὲ μετʼ αὐτὸν ἐδύσετο δώματʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιος ἠδὲ γέροντι,
σκηπτόμενος· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροΐ εἵματα ἕστο.
ἷζε δʼ ἐπὶ μελίνου οὐδοῦ ἔντοσθε θυράων,
κλινάμενος σταθμῷ κυπαρισσίνῳ, ὅν ποτε τέκτων
ξέσσεν ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσας προσέειπε συβώτην,
ἄρτον τʼ οὖλον ἑλὼν περικαλλέος ἐκ κανέοιο
καὶ κρέας, ὥς οἱ χεῖρες ἐχάνδανον ἀμφιβαλόντι·
δὸς τῷ ξείνῳ ταῦτα φέρων αὐτόν τε κέλευε
αἰτίζειν μάλα πάντας ἐποιχόμενον μνηστῆρας·
αἰδὼς δʼ οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κεχρημένῳ ἀνδρὶ παρεῖναι.
So he spoke, and the swineherd went when he heard the word,
and standing close he spoke winged words:
and standing close he spoke winged words:
ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσεν,
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευε·
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευε·
"Telemachus gives you these, stranger, and bids you
go about and beg from all the suitors;
he says shame is no good thing for a beggar man."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
go about and beg from all the suitors;
he says shame is no good thing for a beggar man."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
Τηλέμαχός τοι, ξεῖνε, διδοῖ τάδε, καί σε κελεύει
αἰτίζειν μάλα πάντας ἐποιχόμενον μνηστῆρας·
αἰδῶ δʼ οὐκ ἀγαθήν φησʼ ἔμμεναι ἀνδρὶ προΐκτῃ.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
αἰτίζειν μάλα πάντας ἐποιχόμενον μνηστῆρας·
αἰδῶ δʼ οὐκ ἀγαθήν φησʼ ἔμμεναι ἀνδρὶ προΐκτῃ.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Lord Zeus, grant that Telemachus be blessed among men,
and that all he desires in his mind may come to him."
and that all he desires in his mind may come to him."
Ζεῦ ἄνα, Τηλέμαχόν μοι ἐν ἀνδράσιν ὄλβιον εἶναι,
καί οἱ πάντα γένοιθʼ ὅσσα φρεσὶν ᾗσι μενοινᾷ.
καί οἱ πάντα γένοιθʼ ὅσσα φρεσὶν ᾗσι μενοινᾷ.
He spoke, and took it in both hands and set it down
there before his feet, on his unseemly wallet,
and he ate while the singer sang in the hall;
and when he had finished his meal, the divine singer ceased.
And the suitors made an uproar through the hall. But Athena,
standing near to Odysseus, son of Laertes,
urged him to gather bits of bread among the suitors,
and learn which of them were righteous and which were lawless;
but not even so was she to keep any one of them from ruin.
He went to beg from each man in turn from the left,
stretching out his hand on every side, as if he had long been a beggar.
And they gave to him in pity, and marvelled at him,
and asked one another who he was and where he came from.
And among them spoke Melanthius, the goatherd:
there before his feet, on his unseemly wallet,
and he ate while the singer sang in the hall;
and when he had finished his meal, the divine singer ceased.
And the suitors made an uproar through the hall. But Athena,
standing near to Odysseus, son of Laertes,
urged him to gather bits of bread among the suitors,
and learn which of them were righteous and which were lawless;
but not even so was she to keep any one of them from ruin.
He went to beg from each man in turn from the left,
stretching out his hand on every side, as if he had long been a beggar.
And they gave to him in pity, and marvelled at him,
and asked one another who he was and where he came from.
And among them spoke Melanthius, the goatherd:
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφοτέρῃσιν ἐδέξατο καὶ κατέθηκεν
αὖθι ποδῶν προπάροιθεν, ἀεικελίης ἐπὶ πήρης,
ἤσθιε δʼ ἧος ἀοιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄειδεν·
εὖθʼ ὁ δεδειπνήκειν, ὁ δʼ ἐπαύετο θεῖος ἀοιδός.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρʼ. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα
ὤτρυνʼ, ὡς ἂν πύρνα κατὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγείροι,
γνοίη θʼ οἵ τινές εἰσιν ἐναίσιμοι οἵ τʼ ἀθέμιστοι·
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὥς τινʼ ἔμελλʼ ἀπαλεξήσειν κακότητος.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν αἰτήσων ἐνδέξια φῶτα ἕκαστον,
πάντοσε χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων, ὡς εἰ πτωχὸς πάλαι εἴη.
οἱ δʼ ἐλεαίροντες δίδοσαν, καὶ ἐθάμβεον αὐτόν,
ἀλλήλους τʼ εἴροντο τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
αὖθι ποδῶν προπάροιθεν, ἀεικελίης ἐπὶ πήρης,
ἤσθιε δʼ ἧος ἀοιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄειδεν·
εὖθʼ ὁ δεδειπνήκειν, ὁ δʼ ἐπαύετο θεῖος ἀοιδός.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρʼ. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη,
ἄγχι παρισταμένη Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα
ὤτρυνʼ, ὡς ἂν πύρνα κατὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγείροι,
γνοίη θʼ οἵ τινές εἰσιν ἐναίσιμοι οἵ τʼ ἀθέμιστοι·
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὥς τινʼ ἔμελλʼ ἀπαλεξήσειν κακότητος.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν αἰτήσων ἐνδέξια φῶτα ἕκαστον,
πάντοσε χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων, ὡς εἰ πτωχὸς πάλαι εἴη.
οἱ δʼ ἐλεαίροντες δίδοσαν, καὶ ἐθάμβεον αὐτόν,
ἀλλήλους τʼ εἴροντο τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
"Hear me, you suitors of the glorious queen,
about this stranger; for I have seen him before.
about this stranger; for I have seen him before.
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,
τοῦδε περὶ ξείνου· ἦ γάρ μιν πρόσθεν ὄπωπα.
τοῦδε περὶ ξείνου· ἦ γάρ μιν πρόσθεν ὄπωπα.
The swineherd was leading him here,
but of the man himself I know nothing clearly, from what stock he claims to be."
but of the man himself I know nothing clearly, from what stock he claims to be."
ἦ τοι μέν οἱ δεῦρο συβώτης ἡγεμόνευεν,
αὐτὸν δʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδα, πόθεν γένος εὔχεται εἶναι.
αὐτὸν δʼ οὐ σάφα οἶδα, πόθεν γένος εὔχεται εἶναι.
So he spoke, and Antinous reproached the swineherd with words:
"You notorious swineherd, why did you bring this man
to the city? Have we not vagrants enough already,
troublesome beggars, spoilers of feasts?
Do you count it nothing that they gather here and eat up
your master’s living, that you have called this one in as well?"
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
"You notorious swineherd, why did you bring this man
to the city? Have we not vagrants enough already,
troublesome beggars, spoilers of feasts?
Do you count it nothing that they gather here and eat up
your master’s living, that you have called this one in as well?"
Then you answered him and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἔπεσιν νείκεσσε συβώτην·
ὦ ἀρίγνωτε συβῶτα, τίη δὲ σὺ τόνδε πόλινδε
ἤγαγες; ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ἧμιν ἀλήμονές εἰσι καὶ ἄλλοι,
πτωχοὶ ἀνιηροί, δαιτῶν ἀπολυμαντῆρες;
ἦ ὄνοσαι ὅτι τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν ἄνακτος
ἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρόμενοι, σὺ δὲ καὶ προτὶ τόνδʼ ἐκάλεσσας;
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
ὦ ἀρίγνωτε συβῶτα, τίη δὲ σὺ τόνδε πόλινδε
ἤγαγες; ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ἧμιν ἀλήμονές εἰσι καὶ ἄλλοι,
πτωχοὶ ἀνιηροί, δαιτῶν ἀπολυμαντῆρες;
ἦ ὄνοσαι ὅτι τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιν ἄνακτος
ἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρόμενοι, σὺ δὲ καὶ προτὶ τόνδʼ ἐκάλεσσας;
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Antinous, you do not speak well, noble though you are.
For who goes himself and calls in a stranger from abroad,
any other, unless he is one of those who work for the people,
a seer or a healer of ills or a builder in wood,
or an inspired singer, who gives pleasure with his song?
These are the men who are called over the boundless earth;
but no one would call in a beggar to eat him out of house.
But you are always the hardest of all the suitors
on the servants of Odysseus, and hardest of all on me; yet I
do not care, so long as wise Penelope
lives in the halls, and Telemachus godlike in form."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
For who goes himself and calls in a stranger from abroad,
any other, unless he is one of those who work for the people,
a seer or a healer of ills or a builder in wood,
or an inspired singer, who gives pleasure with his song?
These are the men who are called over the boundless earth;
but no one would call in a beggar to eat him out of house.
But you are always the hardest of all the suitors
on the servants of Odysseus, and hardest of all on me; yet I
do not care, so long as wise Penelope
lives in the halls, and Telemachus godlike in form."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν καλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἀγορεύεις·
τίς γὰρ δὴ ξεῖνον καλεῖ ἄλλοθεν αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
ἄλλον γʼ, εἰ μὴ τῶν οἳ δημιοεργοὶ ἔασι,
μάντιν ἢ ἰητῆρα κακῶν ἢ τέκτονα δούρων,
ἢ καὶ θέσπιν ἀοιδόν, ὅ κεν τέρπῃσιν ἀείδων;
οὗτοι γὰρ κλητοί γε βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν·
πτωχὸν δʼ οὐκ ἄν τις καλέοι τρύξοντα ἓ αὐτόν.
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπὸς περὶ πάντων εἶς μνηστήρων
δμωσὶν Ὀδυσσῆος, πέρι δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμοί· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
οὐκ ἀλέγω, ἧός μοι ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια
ζώει ἐνὶ μεγάροις καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
τίς γὰρ δὴ ξεῖνον καλεῖ ἄλλοθεν αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
ἄλλον γʼ, εἰ μὴ τῶν οἳ δημιοεργοὶ ἔασι,
μάντιν ἢ ἰητῆρα κακῶν ἢ τέκτονα δούρων,
ἢ καὶ θέσπιν ἀοιδόν, ὅ κεν τέρπῃσιν ἀείδων;
οὗτοι γὰρ κλητοί γε βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν·
πτωχὸν δʼ οὐκ ἄν τις καλέοι τρύξοντα ἓ αὐτόν.
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ χαλεπὸς περὶ πάντων εἶς μνηστήρων
δμωσὶν Ὀδυσσῆος, πέρι δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμοί· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
οὐκ ἀλέγω, ἧός μοι ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια
ζώει ἐνὶ μεγάροις καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Be quiet, and do not answer this man with many words;
Antinous is always used to provoking with evil
and hard speeches, and he urges the others on as well."
Antinous is always used to provoking with evil
and hard speeches, and he urges the others on as well."
σίγα, μή μοι τοῦτον ἀμείβεο πολλὰ ἔπεσσιν·
Ἀντίνοος δʼ εἴωθε κακῶς ἐρεθιζέμεν αἰεὶ
μύθοισιν χαλεποῖσιν, ἐποτρύνει δὲ καὶ ἄλλους.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ εἴωθε κακῶς ἐρεθιζέμεν αἰεὶ
μύθοισιν χαλεποῖσιν, ἐποτρύνει δὲ καὶ ἄλλους.
He spoke, and addressed Antinous with winged words:
ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἀντίνοον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Antinous, you care for me finely, like a father for his son,
you who bid me drive the stranger from the hall
with a compelling word; may a god not bring that to pass.
Take something and give it to him; I do not grudge it, I bid you do it;
and in this do not respect my mother, nor any other
of the servants who are in the house of divine Odysseus.
But no such thought is in your breast;
for you would far rather eat yourself than give to another."
Then Antinous answered him and said:
you who bid me drive the stranger from the hall
with a compelling word; may a god not bring that to pass.
Take something and give it to him; I do not grudge it, I bid you do it;
and in this do not respect my mother, nor any other
of the servants who are in the house of divine Odysseus.
But no such thought is in your breast;
for you would far rather eat yourself than give to another."
Then Antinous answered him and said:
Ἀντίνοʼ, ἦ μευ καλὰ πατὴρ ὣς κήδεαι υἷος,
ὃς τὸν ξεῖνον ἄνωγας ἀπὸ μεγάροιο διέσθαι
μύθῳ ἀναγκαίῳ· μὴ τοῦτο θεὸς τελέσειε.
δός οἱ ἑλών· οὔ τοι φθονέω· κέλομαι γὰρ ἐγώ γε·
μήτʼ οὖν μητέρʼ ἐμὴν ἅζευ τό γε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
ἀλλʼ οὔ τοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόημα·
αὐτὸς γὰρ φαγέμεν πολὺ βούλεαι ἢ δόμεν ἄλλῳ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
ὃς τὸν ξεῖνον ἄνωγας ἀπὸ μεγάροιο διέσθαι
μύθῳ ἀναγκαίῳ· μὴ τοῦτο θεὸς τελέσειε.
δός οἱ ἑλών· οὔ τοι φθονέω· κέλομαι γὰρ ἐγώ γε·
μήτʼ οὖν μητέρʼ ἐμὴν ἅζευ τό γε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
ἀλλʼ οὔ τοι τοιοῦτον ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόημα·
αὐτὸς γὰρ φαγέμεν πολὺ βούλεαι ἢ δόμεν ἄλλῳ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
"Telemachus, loud speaker, ungoverned in your fury, what a thing you have said.
If all the suitors would give him as much as that,
this house would keep him off for three months."
If all the suitors would give him as much as that,
this house would keep him off for three months."
Τηλέμαχʼ ὑψαγόρη, μένος ἄσχετε, ποῖον ἔειπες.
εἴ οἱ τόσσον ἅπαντες ὀρέξειαν μνηστῆρες,
καί κέν μιν τρεῖς μῆνας ἀπόπροθεν οἶκος ἐρύκοι.
εἴ οἱ τόσσον ἅπαντες ὀρέξειαν μνηστῆρες,
καί κέν μιν τρεῖς μῆνας ἀπόπροθεν οἶκος ἐρύκοι.
So he spoke, and took up the footstool and showed it from under the table,
where it lay, on which he rested his shining feet as he feasted.
But all the others gave, and filled his wallet
with bread and meat; and now Odysseus was about
to go back to the threshold and taste the bounty of the Achaeans;
but he stopped beside Antinous and spoke to him:
where it lay, on which he rested his shining feet as he feasted.
But all the others gave, and filled his wallet
with bread and meat; and now Odysseus was about
to go back to the threshold and taste the bounty of the Achaeans;
but he stopped beside Antinous and spoke to him:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, καὶ θρῆνυν ἑλὼν ὑπέφηνε τραπέζης
κείμενον, ᾧ ῥʼ ἔπεχεν λιπαροὺς πόδας εἰλαπινάζων·
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες δίδοσαν, πλῆσαν δʼ ἄρα πήρην
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν· τάχα δὴ καὶ ἔμελλεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
αὖτις ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν προικὸς γεύσεσθαι Ἀχαιῶν·
στῆ δὲ παρʼ Ἀντίνοον, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
κείμενον, ᾧ ῥʼ ἔπεχεν λιπαροὺς πόδας εἰλαπινάζων·
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες δίδοσαν, πλῆσαν δʼ ἄρα πήρην
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν· τάχα δὴ καὶ ἔμελλεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
αὖτις ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν προικὸς γεύσεσθαι Ἀχαιῶν·
στῆ δὲ παρʼ Ἀντίνοον, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
"Give, friend; you do not seem to me the worst of the Achaeans
but the best, since you look like a king.
Therefore you ought to give me even better bread
than the others; and I would spread your fame over the boundless earth.
For I too once lived in a house among men,
a rich man in a rich house, and often gave to a wanderer,
whatever sort he was and with whatever need he came;
and I had servants past counting and much else besides
by which men live well and are called rich.
But Zeus the son of Cronos destroyed it, for so he wished,
who sent me off with roving pirates
to go to Egypt, a long voyage, so that I might perish.
I moored my curved ships in the river of Egypt.
There I ordered my trusty companions
to stay by the ships and to guard the ships,
and I sent out scouts to go to the lookout points.
But they gave way to insolence, following their own strength,
and at once they began to ravage the beautiful fields
of the Egyptians, and carried off the women and the little children
and killed the men; and the cry soon reached the city.
And hearing the shouting they came at the showing of dawn;
and the whole plain was filled with foot-soldiers and horses
and the flashing of bronze; and Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
cast an evil rout upon my companions, and no one dared
to stand and face them; for evils stood about us on every side.
There they killed many of us with the sharp bronze,
and led others away alive, to work for them under compulsion.
But they gave me to a stranger who met them, to take to Cyprus,
to Dmetor son of Iasus, who ruled Cyprus by his might;
and from there I have now come here, suffering pains."
Then Antinous answered him and spoke:
but the best, since you look like a king.
Therefore you ought to give me even better bread
than the others; and I would spread your fame over the boundless earth.
For I too once lived in a house among men,
a rich man in a rich house, and often gave to a wanderer,
whatever sort he was and with whatever need he came;
and I had servants past counting and much else besides
by which men live well and are called rich.
But Zeus the son of Cronos destroyed it, for so he wished,
who sent me off with roving pirates
to go to Egypt, a long voyage, so that I might perish.
I moored my curved ships in the river of Egypt.
There I ordered my trusty companions
to stay by the ships and to guard the ships,
and I sent out scouts to go to the lookout points.
But they gave way to insolence, following their own strength,
and at once they began to ravage the beautiful fields
of the Egyptians, and carried off the women and the little children
and killed the men; and the cry soon reached the city.
And hearing the shouting they came at the showing of dawn;
and the whole plain was filled with foot-soldiers and horses
and the flashing of bronze; and Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
cast an evil rout upon my companions, and no one dared
to stand and face them; for evils stood about us on every side.
There they killed many of us with the sharp bronze,
and led others away alive, to work for them under compulsion.
But they gave me to a stranger who met them, to take to Cyprus,
to Dmetor son of Iasus, who ruled Cyprus by his might;
and from there I have now come here, suffering pains."
Then Antinous answered him and spoke:
δός, φίλος· οὐ μέν μοι δοκέεις ὁ κάκιστος Ἀχαιῶν
ἔμμεναι, ἀλλʼ ὤριστος, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆϊ ἔοικας.
τῷ σε χρὴ δόμεναι καὶ λώϊον ἠέ περ ἄλλοι
σίτου· ἐγὼ δέ κέ σε κλείω κατʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.
καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε οἶκον ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔναιον
ὄλβιος ἀφνειὸν καὶ πολλάκι δόσκον ἀλήτῃ,
τοίῳ ὁποῖος ἔοι καὶ ὅτευ κεχρημένος ἔλθοι·
ἦσαν δὲ δμῶες μάλα μυρίοι ἄλλα τε πολλὰ
οἷσίν τʼ εὖ ζώουσι καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.
ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἀλάπαξε Κρονίων—ἤθελε γάρ που—
ὅς μʼ ἅμα ληϊστῆρσι πολυπλάγκτοισιν ἀνῆκεν
Αἴγυπτόνδʼ ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδόν, ὄφρʼ ἀπολοίμην.
στῆσα δʼ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ποταμῷ νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νήεσσι μένειν καὶ νῆας ἔρυσθαι,
ὀπτῆρας δὲ κατὰ σκοπιὰς ὤτρυνα νέεσθαι.
οἱ δʼ ὕβρει εἴξαντες, ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ,
αἶψα μάλʼ Αἰγυπτίων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέας ἀγροὺς
πόρθεον, ἐκ δὲ γυναῖκας ἄγον καὶ νήπια τέκνα,
αὐτούς τʼ ἔκτεινον· τάχα δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἵκετʼ ἀϋτή.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀΐοντες ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν
ἦλθον· πλῆτο δὲ πᾶν πεδίον πεζῶν τε καὶ ἵππων
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπῆς· ἐν δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος
φύζαν ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι κακὴν βάλεν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
στῆναι ἐναντίβιον· περὶ γὰρ κακὰ πάντοθεν ἔστη.
ἔνθʼ ἡμέων πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
τοὺς δʼ ἄναγον ζωούς, σφίσιν ἐργάζεσθαι ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ ἐς Κύπρον ξείνῳ δόσαν ἀντιάσαντι,
Δμήτορι Ἰασίδῃ, ὃς Κύπρου ἶφι ἄνασσεν·
ἔνθεν δὴ νῦν δεῦρο τόδʼ ἵκω πήματα πάσχων.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
ἔμμεναι, ἀλλʼ ὤριστος, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆϊ ἔοικας.
τῷ σε χρὴ δόμεναι καὶ λώϊον ἠέ περ ἄλλοι
σίτου· ἐγὼ δέ κέ σε κλείω κατʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν.
καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε οἶκον ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔναιον
ὄλβιος ἀφνειὸν καὶ πολλάκι δόσκον ἀλήτῃ,
τοίῳ ὁποῖος ἔοι καὶ ὅτευ κεχρημένος ἔλθοι·
ἦσαν δὲ δμῶες μάλα μυρίοι ἄλλα τε πολλὰ
οἷσίν τʼ εὖ ζώουσι καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.
ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἀλάπαξε Κρονίων—ἤθελε γάρ που—
ὅς μʼ ἅμα ληϊστῆρσι πολυπλάγκτοισιν ἀνῆκεν
Αἴγυπτόνδʼ ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδόν, ὄφρʼ ἀπολοίμην.
στῆσα δʼ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ποταμῷ νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
αὐτοῦ πὰρ νήεσσι μένειν καὶ νῆας ἔρυσθαι,
ὀπτῆρας δὲ κατὰ σκοπιὰς ὤτρυνα νέεσθαι.
οἱ δʼ ὕβρει εἴξαντες, ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ,
αἶψα μάλʼ Αἰγυπτίων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέας ἀγροὺς
πόρθεον, ἐκ δὲ γυναῖκας ἄγον καὶ νήπια τέκνα,
αὐτούς τʼ ἔκτεινον· τάχα δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἵκετʼ ἀϋτή.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀΐοντες ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν
ἦλθον· πλῆτο δὲ πᾶν πεδίον πεζῶν τε καὶ ἵππων
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπῆς· ἐν δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος
φύζαν ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι κακὴν βάλεν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
στῆναι ἐναντίβιον· περὶ γὰρ κακὰ πάντοθεν ἔστη.
ἔνθʼ ἡμέων πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
τοὺς δʼ ἄναγον ζωούς, σφίσιν ἐργάζεσθαι ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ ἐς Κύπρον ξείνῳ δόσαν ἀντιάσαντι,
Δμήτορι Ἰασίδῃ, ὃς Κύπρου ἶφι ἄνασσεν·
ἔνθεν δὴ νῦν δεῦρο τόδʼ ἵκω πήματα πάσχων.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"What god has brought this plague here, this trouble at the feast?
Stand out there in the middle, away from my table,
or you may soon come to a bitter Egypt and Cyprus;
such a bold and shameless beggar you are.
You stand beside each man in turn, and they give
recklessly, since there is no holding back and no pity
in being generous with another’s goods, when each has plenty at hand."
Then Odysseus of many devices drew back and said to him:
Stand out there in the middle, away from my table,
or you may soon come to a bitter Egypt and Cyprus;
such a bold and shameless beggar you are.
You stand beside each man in turn, and they give
recklessly, since there is no holding back and no pity
in being generous with another’s goods, when each has plenty at hand."
Then Odysseus of many devices drew back and said to him:
τίς δαίμων τόδε πῆμα προσήγαγε, δαιτὸς ἀνίην;
στῆθʼ οὕτως ἐς μέσσον, ἐμῆς ἀπάνευθε τραπέζης,
μὴ τάχα πικρὴν Αἴγυπτον καὶ Κύπρον ἵκηαι·
ὥς τις θαρσαλέος καὶ ἀναιδής ἐσσι προΐκτης.
ἑξείης πάντεσσι παρίστασαι· οἱ δὲ διδοῦσι
μαψιδίως, ἐπεὶ οὔ τις ἐπίσχεσις οὐδʼ ἐλεητὺς
ἀλλοτρίων χαρίσασθαι, ἐπεὶ πάρα πολλὰ ἑκάστῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἀναχωρήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
στῆθʼ οὕτως ἐς μέσσον, ἐμῆς ἀπάνευθε τραπέζης,
μὴ τάχα πικρὴν Αἴγυπτον καὶ Κύπρον ἵκηαι·
ὥς τις θαρσαλέος καὶ ἀναιδής ἐσσι προΐκτης.
ἑξείης πάντεσσι παρίστασαι· οἱ δὲ διδοῦσι
μαψιδίως, ἐπεὶ οὔ τις ἐπίσχεσις οὐδʼ ἐλεητὺς
ἀλλοτρίων χαρίσασθαι, ἐπεὶ πάρα πολλὰ ἑκάστῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἀναχωρήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Ah me, so your wits did not match your looks;
you would not give even salt to a suppliant from your own house,
you who now, sitting at another man’s board, could not bring yourself
to take a piece of bread and give it to me; and there is plenty here."
you would not give even salt to a suppliant from your own house,
you who now, sitting at another man’s board, could not bring yourself
to take a piece of bread and give it to me; and there is plenty here."
ὢ πόποι, οὐκ ἄρα σοί γʼ ἐπὶ εἴδεϊ καὶ φρένες ἦσαν·
οὐ σύ γʼ ἂν ἐξ οἴκου σῷ ἐπιστάτῃ οὐδʼ ἅλα δοίης,
ὃς νῦν ἀλλοτρίοισι παρήμενος οὔ τί μοι ἔτλης
σίτου ἀποπροελὼν δόμεναι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ πάρεστιν.
οὐ σύ γʼ ἂν ἐξ οἴκου σῷ ἐπιστάτῃ οὐδʼ ἅλα δοίης,
ὃς νῦν ἀλλοτρίοισι παρήμενος οὔ τί μοι ἔτλης
σίτου ἀποπροελὼν δόμεναι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ πάρεστιν.
So he spoke, and Antinous grew still angrier at heart,
and with a dark look he addressed him with winged words:
and with a dark look he addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐχολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Now I do not think you will get out of the hall
handsomely and go back, when you speak insults besides."
handsomely and go back, when you speak insults besides."
νῦν δή σʼ οὐκέτι καλὰ διὲκ μεγάροιό γʼ ὀΐω
ἂψ ἀναχωρήσειν, ὅτε δὴ καὶ ὀνείδεα βάζεις.
ἂψ ἀναχωρήσειν, ὅτε δὴ καὶ ὀνείδεα βάζεις.
So he spoke, and took the footstool and threw it and struck his right shoulder
at the base of the back; but he stood firm like a rock,
unshaken, and the missile of Antinous did not throw him,
but he shook his head in silence, brooding evils.
And he went back to the threshold and sat down, and set down his wallet
well filled, and spoke among the suitors:
at the base of the back; but he stood firm like a rock,
unshaken, and the missile of Antinous did not throw him,
but he shook his head in silence, brooding evils.
And he went back to the threshold and sat down, and set down his wallet
well filled, and spoke among the suitors:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, καὶ θρῆνυν ἑλὼν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον,
πρυμνότατον κατὰ νῶτον· ὁ δʼ ἐστάθη ἠΰτε πέτρη
ἔμπεδον, οὐδʼ ἄρα μιν σφῆλεν βέλος Ἀντινόοιο,
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.
ἂψ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, κὰδ δʼ ἄρα πήρην
θῆκεν ἐϋπλείην, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπε·
πρυμνότατον κατὰ νῶτον· ὁ δʼ ἐστάθη ἠΰτε πέτρη
ἔμπεδον, οὐδʼ ἄρα μιν σφῆλεν βέλος Ἀντινόοιο,
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.
ἂψ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, κὰδ δʼ ἄρα πήρην
θῆκεν ἐϋπλείην, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπε·
"Hear me, you suitors of the glorious queen,
while I say what the spirit in my breast bids me.
There is neither pain in a man’s mind nor any grief
when he is struck while fighting for his own possessions,
for his cattle or for his white sheep;
but Antinous struck me for the sake of my wretched belly,
that accursed thing, which gives men many evils.
But if there are gods and Furies anywhere for beggars,
may the end of death come to Antinous before his marriage."
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to him:
while I say what the spirit in my breast bids me.
There is neither pain in a man’s mind nor any grief
when he is struck while fighting for his own possessions,
for his cattle or for his white sheep;
but Antinous struck me for the sake of my wretched belly,
that accursed thing, which gives men many evils.
But if there are gods and Furies anywhere for beggars,
may the end of death come to Antinous before his marriage."
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to him:
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
οὐ μὰν οὔτʼ ἄχος ἐστὶ μετὰ φρεσὶν οὔτε τι πένθος,
ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ περὶ οἷσι μαχειόμενος κτεάτεσσι
βλήεται, ἢ περὶ βουσὶν ἢ ἀργεννῇς ὀΐεσσιν·
αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ Ἀντίνοος βάλε γαστέρος εἵνεκα λυγρῆς,
οὐλομένης, ἣ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισι δίδωσιν.
ἀλλʼ εἴ που πτωχῶν γε θεοὶ καὶ Ἐρινύες εἰσίν,
Ἀντίνοον πρὸ γάμοιο τέλος θανάτοιο κιχείη.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
οὐ μὰν οὔτʼ ἄχος ἐστὶ μετὰ φρεσὶν οὔτε τι πένθος,
ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ περὶ οἷσι μαχειόμενος κτεάτεσσι
βλήεται, ἢ περὶ βουσὶν ἢ ἀργεννῇς ὀΐεσσιν·
αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ Ἀντίνοος βάλε γαστέρος εἵνεκα λυγρῆς,
οὐλομένης, ἣ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισι δίδωσιν.
ἀλλʼ εἴ που πτωχῶν γε θεοὶ καὶ Ἐρινύες εἰσίν,
Ἀντίνοον πρὸ γάμοιο τέλος θανάτοιο κιχείη.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
"Eat in quiet, stranger, sitting still, or go elsewhere,
or the young men will drag you through the house for the things you say,
by a foot or by a hand, and strip all the skin from you."
or the young men will drag you through the house for the things you say,
by a foot or by a hand, and strip all the skin from you."
ἔσθιʼ ἕκηλος, ξεῖνε, καθήμενος, ἢ ἄπιθʼ ἄλλῃ,
μή σε νέοι διὰ δώματʼ ἐρύσσωσʼ, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,
ἢ ποδὸς ἢ καὶ χειρός, ἀποδρύψωσι δὲ πάντα.
μή σε νέοι διὰ δώματʼ ἐρύσσωσʼ, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,
ἢ ποδὸς ἢ καὶ χειρός, ἀποδρύψωσι δὲ πάντα.
So he spoke, and they were all exceedingly indignant;
and one of the overbearing young men would say:
"Antinous, you did not do well to strike the unhappy wanderer,
you doomed man, if he should be some god from heaven.
And the gods do take on the likeness of strangers from abroad
and, becoming all manner of shapes, go about the cities,
watching the insolence and the good order of men."
and one of the overbearing young men would say:
"Antinous, you did not do well to strike the unhappy wanderer,
you doomed man, if he should be some god from heaven.
And the gods do take on the likeness of strangers from abroad
and, becoming all manner of shapes, go about the cities,
watching the insolence and the good order of men."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως νεμέσησαν·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν κάλʼ ἔβαλες δύστηνον ἀλήτην,
οὐλόμενʼ, εἰ δή πού τις ἐπουράνιος θεός ἐστιν.
καί τε θεοὶ ξείνοισιν ἐοικότες ἀλλοδαποῖσι,
παντοῖοι τελέθοντες, ἐπιστρωφῶσι πόληας,
ἀνθρώπων ὕβριν τε καὶ εὐνομίην ἐφορῶντες.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν κάλʼ ἔβαλες δύστηνον ἀλήτην,
οὐλόμενʼ, εἰ δή πού τις ἐπουράνιος θεός ἐστιν.
καί τε θεοὶ ξείνοισιν ἐοικότες ἀλλοδαποῖσι,
παντοῖοι τελέθοντες, ἐπιστρωφῶσι πόληας,
ἀνθρώπων ὕβριν τε καὶ εὐνομίην ἐφορῶντες.
So spoke the suitors, but he took no heed of their words.
And Telemachus nursed a great grief in his heart
for the blow, yet he let no tear fall to the ground from his eyelids,
but he shook his head in silence, brooding evils.
And when circumspect Penelope heard of him
being struck in the hall, she said among her serving-women:
And Telemachus nursed a great grief in his heart
for the blow, yet he let no tear fall to the ground from his eyelids,
but he shook his head in silence, brooding evils.
And when circumspect Penelope heard of him
being struck in the hall, she said among her serving-women:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν μνηστῆρες, ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐν μὲν κραδίῃ μέγα πένθος ἄεξε
βλημένου, οὐδʼ ἄρα δάκρυ χαμαὶ βάλεν ἐκ βλεφάροιϊν,
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.
τοῦ δʼ ὡς οὖν ἤκουσε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
βλημένου ἐν μεγάρῳ, μετʼ ἄρα δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐν μὲν κραδίῃ μέγα πένθος ἄεξε
βλημένου, οὐδʼ ἄρα δάκρυ χαμαὶ βάλεν ἐκ βλεφάροιϊν,
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.
τοῦ δʼ ὡς οὖν ἤκουσε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
βλημένου ἐν μεγάρῳ, μετʼ ἄρα δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·
"May Apollo, famed for the bow, so strike you yourself."
Then Eurynome the housekeeper spoke to her:
Then Eurynome the housekeeper spoke to her:
αἴθʼ οὕτως αὐτόν σε βάλοι κλυτότοξος Ἀπόλλων.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"If only there were an end to match our prayers;
not one of these men would come to the fair-throned Dawn."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
not one of these men would come to the fair-throned Dawn."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
εἰ γὰρ ἐπʼ ἀρῇσιν τέλος ἡμετέρῃσι γένοιτο·
οὐκ ἄν τις τούτων γε ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκοιτο.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
οὐκ ἄν τις τούτων γε ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκοιτο.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Nurse, they are all hateful, since they contrive evils;
but Antinous is most like black doom.
Some unhappy stranger goes wandering through the house
begging from the men; for want compels him;
and all the rest filled his wallet and gave to him,
but this man struck the base of his right shoulder with a footstool."
So she spoke among her serving-women,
sitting in her chamber; and noble Odysseus was taking his meal.
And she called the noble swineherd to her and spoke to him:
but Antinous is most like black doom.
Some unhappy stranger goes wandering through the house
begging from the men; for want compels him;
and all the rest filled his wallet and gave to him,
but this man struck the base of his right shoulder with a footstool."
So she spoke among her serving-women,
sitting in her chamber; and noble Odysseus was taking his meal.
And she called the noble swineherd to her and spoke to him:
μαῖʼ, ἐχθροὶ μὲν πάντες, ἐπεὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται·
Ἀντίνοος δὲ μάλιστα μελαίνῃ κηρὶ ἔοικε.
ξεῖνός τις δύστηνος ἀλητεύει κατὰ δῶμα
ἀνέρας αἰτίζων· ἀχρημοσύνη γὰρ ἀνώγει·
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐνέπλησάν τʼ ἔδοσάν τε,
οὗτος δὲ θρήνυι πρυμνὸν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἀγόρευε μετὰ δμῳῇσι γυναιξίν,
ἡμένη ἐν θαλάμῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐδείπνεε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἡ δʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσασα προσηύδα δῖον ὑφορβόν·
Ἀντίνοος δὲ μάλιστα μελαίνῃ κηρὶ ἔοικε.
ξεῖνός τις δύστηνος ἀλητεύει κατὰ δῶμα
ἀνέρας αἰτίζων· ἀχρημοσύνη γὰρ ἀνώγει·
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐνέπλησάν τʼ ἔδοσάν τε,
οὗτος δὲ θρήνυι πρυμνὸν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἀγόρευε μετὰ δμῳῇσι γυναιξίν,
ἡμένη ἐν θαλάμῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐδείπνεε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἡ δʼ ἐπὶ οἷ καλέσασα προσηύδα δῖον ὑφορβόν·
"Go, noble Eumaeus, and bid the stranger
come here, so that I may greet him and ask him
whether he has heard anything of enduring-hearted Odysseus
or has seen him with his eyes; for he seems a man of much wandering."
Then you answered her and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
"If only, my queen, the Achaeans would be silent;
the things he tells would enchant your heart.
For I kept him three nights and held him three days
in my hut; for he came to me first when he ran from a ship;
but he had not finished the tale of the misery he tells.
As when a man gazes at a singer who from the gods
has learned to sing words of longing to mortals,
and they long without ceasing to hear him whenever he sings,
so did that man enchant me as he sat beside me in the hut.
He says he is a guest-friend of Odysseus from his father’s time,
living in Crete, where the race of Minos is.
From there he has now come here, suffering pains,
rolling on from place to place; and he declares he has heard of Odysseus
near by, in the rich land of the Thesprotian men,
alive; and he is bringing many treasures home."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
come here, so that I may greet him and ask him
whether he has heard anything of enduring-hearted Odysseus
or has seen him with his eyes; for he seems a man of much wandering."
Then you answered her and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
"If only, my queen, the Achaeans would be silent;
the things he tells would enchant your heart.
For I kept him three nights and held him three days
in my hut; for he came to me first when he ran from a ship;
but he had not finished the tale of the misery he tells.
As when a man gazes at a singer who from the gods
has learned to sing words of longing to mortals,
and they long without ceasing to hear him whenever he sings,
so did that man enchant me as he sat beside me in the hut.
He says he is a guest-friend of Odysseus from his father’s time,
living in Crete, where the race of Minos is.
From there he has now come here, suffering pains,
rolling on from place to place; and he declares he has heard of Odysseus
near by, in the rich land of the Thesprotian men,
alive; and he is bringing many treasures home."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ἔρχεο, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, κιὼν τὸν ξεῖνον ἄνωχθι
ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τί μιν προσπτύξομαι ἠδʼ ἐρέωμαι
εἴ που Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἠὲ πέπυσται
ἢ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι· πολυπλάγκτῳ γὰρ ἔοικε.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα
εἰ γάρ τοι, βασίλεια, σιωπήσειαν Ἀχαιοί·
οἷʼ ὅ γε μυθεῖται, θέλγοιτό κέ τοι φίλον ἦτορ.
τρεῖς γὰρ δή μιν νύκτας ἔχον, τρία δʼ ἤματʼ ἔρυξα
ἐν κλισίῃ· πρῶτον γὰρ ἔμʼ ἵκετο νηὸς ἀποδράς·
ἀλλʼ οὔ πω κακότητα διήνυσεν ἣν ἀγορεύων.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀοιδὸν ἀνὴρ ποτιδέρκεται, ὅς τε θεῶν ἒξ
ἀείδει δεδαὼς ἔπεʼ ἱμερόεντα βροτοῖσι,
τοῦ δʼ ἄμοτον μεμάασιν ἀκουέμεν, ὁππότʼ ἀείδῃ·
ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἔθελγε παρήμενος ἐν μεγάροισι.
φησὶ δʼ Ὀδυσσῆος ξεῖνος πατρώϊος εἶναι,
Κρήτῃ ναιετάων, ὅθι Μίνωος γένος ἐστίν.
ἔνθεν δὴ νῦν δεῦρο τόδʼ ἵκετο πήματα πάσχων,
προπροκυλινδόμενος· στεῦται δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀκοῦσαι,
ἀγχοῦ, Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,
ζωοῦ· πολλὰ δʼ ἄγει κειμήλια ὅνδε δόμονδε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τί μιν προσπτύξομαι ἠδʼ ἐρέωμαι
εἴ που Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἠὲ πέπυσται
ἢ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι· πολυπλάγκτῳ γὰρ ἔοικε.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα
εἰ γάρ τοι, βασίλεια, σιωπήσειαν Ἀχαιοί·
οἷʼ ὅ γε μυθεῖται, θέλγοιτό κέ τοι φίλον ἦτορ.
τρεῖς γὰρ δή μιν νύκτας ἔχον, τρία δʼ ἤματʼ ἔρυξα
ἐν κλισίῃ· πρῶτον γὰρ ἔμʼ ἵκετο νηὸς ἀποδράς·
ἀλλʼ οὔ πω κακότητα διήνυσεν ἣν ἀγορεύων.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀοιδὸν ἀνὴρ ποτιδέρκεται, ὅς τε θεῶν ἒξ
ἀείδει δεδαὼς ἔπεʼ ἱμερόεντα βροτοῖσι,
τοῦ δʼ ἄμοτον μεμάασιν ἀκουέμεν, ὁππότʼ ἀείδῃ·
ὣς ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἔθελγε παρήμενος ἐν μεγάροισι.
φησὶ δʼ Ὀδυσσῆος ξεῖνος πατρώϊος εἶναι,
Κρήτῃ ναιετάων, ὅθι Μίνωος γένος ἐστίν.
ἔνθεν δὴ νῦν δεῦρο τόδʼ ἵκετο πήματα πάσχων,
προπροκυλινδόμενος· στεῦται δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀκοῦσαι,
ἀγχοῦ, Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,
ζωοῦ· πολλὰ δʼ ἄγει κειμήλια ὅνδε δόμονδε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Go, call him here, so that he may tell me face to face.
And let these men amuse themselves sitting at the doors
or here in the house, since their spirit is merry.
For their own possessions lie untouched in their houses,
the bread and the sweet wine; and their servants eat them,
while they come to our house all our days,
slaughtering cattle and sheep and fat goats,
feasting and drinking the gleaming wine
recklessly; and much is being consumed. For there is no man
such as Odysseus was, to ward off the curse from the house.
But if Odysseus should come and reach his native land,
he would soon take vengeance with his son for the men’s violence."
And let these men amuse themselves sitting at the doors
or here in the house, since their spirit is merry.
For their own possessions lie untouched in their houses,
the bread and the sweet wine; and their servants eat them,
while they come to our house all our days,
slaughtering cattle and sheep and fat goats,
feasting and drinking the gleaming wine
recklessly; and much is being consumed. For there is no man
such as Odysseus was, to ward off the curse from the house.
But if Odysseus should come and reach his native land,
he would soon take vengeance with his son for the men’s violence."
ἔρχεο, δεῦρο κάλεσσον, ἵνʼ ἀντίον αὐτὸς ἐνίσπῃ.
οὗτοι δʼ ἠὲ θύρῃσι καθήμενοι ἑψιαάσθων.
ἢ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δώματʼ, ἐπεί σφισι θυμὸς ἐΰφρων.
αὐτῶν μὲν γὰρ κτήματʼ ἀκήρατα κεῖτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
σῖτος καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ· τὰ μὲν οἰκῆες ἔδουσιν,
οἱ δʼ εἰς ἡμέτερον πωλεύμενοι ἤματα πάντα,
βοῦς ἱερεύοντες καὶ ὄϊς καὶ πίονας αἶγας,
εἰλαπινάζουσιν πίνουσί τε αἴθοπα οἶνον,
μαψιδίως· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ κατάνεται. οὐ γὰρ ἔπʼ ἀνήρ,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν, ἀρὴν ἀπὸ οἴκου ἀμῦναι.
εἰ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
αἶψά κε σὺν ᾧ παιδὶ βίας ἀποτίσεται ἀνδρῶν.
οὗτοι δʼ ἠὲ θύρῃσι καθήμενοι ἑψιαάσθων.
ἢ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δώματʼ, ἐπεί σφισι θυμὸς ἐΰφρων.
αὐτῶν μὲν γὰρ κτήματʼ ἀκήρατα κεῖτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
σῖτος καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ· τὰ μὲν οἰκῆες ἔδουσιν,
οἱ δʼ εἰς ἡμέτερον πωλεύμενοι ἤματα πάντα,
βοῦς ἱερεύοντες καὶ ὄϊς καὶ πίονας αἶγας,
εἰλαπινάζουσιν πίνουσί τε αἴθοπα οἶνον,
μαψιδίως· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ κατάνεται. οὐ γὰρ ἔπʼ ἀνήρ,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν, ἀρὴν ἀπὸ οἴκου ἀμῦναι.
εἰ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
αἶψά κε σὺν ᾧ παιδὶ βίας ἀποτίσεται ἀνδρῶν.
So she spoke, and Telemachus sneezed loudly, and about the house
the sound rang terribly; and Penelope laughed,
and at once addressed Eumaeus with winged words:
the sound rang terribly; and Penelope laughed,
and at once addressed Eumaeus with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ μέγʼ ἔπταρεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ δῶμα
σμερδαλέον κονάβησε· γέλασσε δὲ Πηνελόπεια,
αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
σμερδαλέον κονάβησε· γέλασσε δὲ Πηνελόπεια,
αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Εὔμαιον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Go for me, and call the stranger here before me.
Do you not see that my son sneezed at all my words?
So death would come not unfulfilled upon the suitors,
upon all of them, and none would escape death and the fates.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
if I find that he tells all things unerringly,
I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, fine garments."
Do you not see that my son sneezed at all my words?
So death would come not unfulfilled upon the suitors,
upon all of them, and none would escape death and the fates.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
if I find that he tells all things unerringly,
I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, fine garments."
ἔρχεό μοι, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐναντίον ὧδε κάλεσσον.
οὐχ ὁράᾳς ὅ μοι υἱὸς ἐπέπταρε πᾶσιν ἔπεσσι;
τῷ κε καὶ οὐκ ἀτελὴς θάνατος μνηστῆρσι γένοιτο
πᾶσι μάλʼ, οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
αἴ κʼ αὐτὸν γνώω νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποντα,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά.
οὐχ ὁράᾳς ὅ μοι υἱὸς ἐπέπταρε πᾶσιν ἔπεσσι;
τῷ κε καὶ οὐκ ἀτελὴς θάνατος μνηστῆρσι γένοιτο
πᾶσι μάλʼ, οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
αἴ κʼ αὐτὸν γνώω νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποντα,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά.
So she spoke, and the swineherd went when he heard the word,
and standing close he addressed him with winged words:
and standing close he addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσεν·
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Father stranger, circumspect Penelope calls you,
the mother of Telemachus; her spirit bids her ask you
something about her husband, for all the sorrows she has suffered.
And if she finds that you tell all things unerringly,
she will clothe you in a cloak and a tunic, which you need
most of all; and as for bread, you can beg it through the land
and feed your belly; and whoever wishes will give to you."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
the mother of Telemachus; her spirit bids her ask you
something about her husband, for all the sorrows she has suffered.
And if she finds that you tell all things unerringly,
she will clothe you in a cloak and a tunic, which you need
most of all; and as for bread, you can beg it through the land
and feed your belly; and whoever wishes will give to you."
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus spoke to him in turn:
ξεῖνε πάτερ, καλέει σε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
μήτηρ Τηλεμάχοιο· μεταλλῆσαί τί ἑ θυμὸς
ἀμφὶ πόσει κέλεται, καὶ κήδεά περ πεπαθυίῃ.
εἰ δέ κέ σε γνώῃ νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποντα,
ἕσσει σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, τῶν σὺ μάλιστα
χρηΐζεις· σῖτον δὲ καὶ αἰτίζων κατὰ δῆμον
γαστέρα βοσκήσεις· δώσει δέ τοι ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
μήτηρ Τηλεμάχοιο· μεταλλῆσαί τί ἑ θυμὸς
ἀμφὶ πόσει κέλεται, καὶ κήδεά περ πεπαθυίῃ.
εἰ δέ κέ σε γνώῃ νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποντα,
ἕσσει σε χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, τῶν σὺ μάλιστα
χρηΐζεις· σῖτον δὲ καὶ αἰτίζων κατὰ δῆμον
γαστέρα βοσκήσεις· δώσει δέ τοι ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Eumaeus, I would soon tell all things unerringly
to the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope;
for I know well about that man, and we have borne the same misery.
But I fear the crowd of the harsh suitors,
whose insolence and violence reach the iron heaven.
For even now, when this man struck me as I went through the house
and gave me over to pain, though I had done no wrong,
neither Telemachus nor any other kept it off.
So now bid Penelope wait in the halls,
urgent though she is, until the sun goes down;
and then let her ask me about her husband’s day of homecoming,
seating me nearer the fire; for the clothes I have
are sorry ones; you know it yourself, since I came to you first as a suppliant."
to the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope;
for I know well about that man, and we have borne the same misery.
But I fear the crowd of the harsh suitors,
whose insolence and violence reach the iron heaven.
For even now, when this man struck me as I went through the house
and gave me over to pain, though I had done no wrong,
neither Telemachus nor any other kept it off.
So now bid Penelope wait in the halls,
urgent though she is, until the sun goes down;
and then let her ask me about her husband’s day of homecoming,
seating me nearer the fire; for the clothes I have
are sorry ones; you know it yourself, since I came to you first as a suppliant."
Εὔμαιʼ, αἶψά κʼ ἐγὼ νημερτέα πάντʼ ἐνέποιμι
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ·
οἶδα γὰρ εὖ περὶ κείνου, ὁμὴν δʼ ἀνεδέγμεθʼ ὀϊζύν.
ἀλλὰ μνηστήρων χαλεπῶν ὑποδείδιʼ ὅμιλον,
τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.
καὶ γὰρ νῦν, ὅτε μʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ κατὰ δῶμα κιόντα
οὔ τι κακὸν ῥέξαντα βαλὼν ὀδύνῃσιν ἔδωκεν,
οὔτε τι Τηλέμαχος τό γʼ ἐπήρκεσεν οὔτε τις ἄλλος.
τῷ νῦν Πηνελόπειαν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄνωχθι
μεῖναι, ἐπειγομένην περ, ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα·
καὶ τότε μʼ εἰρέσθω πόσιος πέρι νόστιμον ἦμαρ,
ἀσσοτέρω καθίσασα παραὶ πυρί· εἵματα γάρ τοι
λύγρʼ ἔχω· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτός, ἐπεί σε πρῶθʼ ἱκέτευσα.
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ·
οἶδα γὰρ εὖ περὶ κείνου, ὁμὴν δʼ ἀνεδέγμεθʼ ὀϊζύν.
ἀλλὰ μνηστήρων χαλεπῶν ὑποδείδιʼ ὅμιλον,
τῶν ὕβρις τε βίη τε σιδήρεον οὐρανὸν ἵκει.
καὶ γὰρ νῦν, ὅτε μʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ κατὰ δῶμα κιόντα
οὔ τι κακὸν ῥέξαντα βαλὼν ὀδύνῃσιν ἔδωκεν,
οὔτε τι Τηλέμαχος τό γʼ ἐπήρκεσεν οὔτε τις ἄλλος.
τῷ νῦν Πηνελόπειαν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄνωχθι
μεῖναι, ἐπειγομένην περ, ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα·
καὶ τότε μʼ εἰρέσθω πόσιος πέρι νόστιμον ἦμαρ,
ἀσσοτέρω καθίσασα παραὶ πυρί· εἵματα γάρ τοι
λύγρʼ ἔχω· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτός, ἐπεί σε πρῶθʼ ἱκέτευσα.
So he spoke, and the swineherd went when he heard the word.
And as he crossed the threshold Penelope said to him:
And as he crossed the threshold Penelope said to him:
ὣς φάτο, βῆ δὲ συφορβός, ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσε.
τὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ οὐδοῦ βάντα προσηύδα Πηνελόπεια·
τὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ οὐδοῦ βάντα προσηύδα Πηνελόπεια·
"You do not bring him, Eumaeus. What did the wanderer mean by this?
Is he afraid of someone beyond measure, or is he ashamed
for some other reason in the house? A bashful beggar is a bad thing."
Then you answered her and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
Is he afraid of someone beyond measure, or is he ashamed
for some other reason in the house? A bashful beggar is a bad thing."
Then you answered her and said, Eumaeus the swineherd:
οὐ σύ γʼ ἄγεις, Εὔμαιε· τί τοῦτʼ ἐνόησεν ἀλήτης;
ἦ τινά που δείσας ἐξαίσιον ἦε καὶ ἄλλως
αἰδεῖται κατὰ δῶμα; κακὸς δʼ αἰδοῖος ἀλήτης.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
ἦ τινά που δείσας ἐξαίσιον ἦε καὶ ἄλλως
αἰδεῖται κατὰ δῶμα; κακὸς δʼ αἰδοῖος ἀλήτης.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"He speaks rightly, as another man would think too,
avoiding the insolence of overbearing men.
He bids you wait until the sun goes down.
And it is far better for you yourself, my queen,
to speak your word to the stranger alone and to hear him."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
avoiding the insolence of overbearing men.
He bids you wait until the sun goes down.
And it is far better for you yourself, my queen,
to speak your word to the stranger alone and to hear him."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
μυθεῖται κατὰ μοῖραν, ἅ πέρ κʼ οἴοιτο καὶ ἄλλος,
ὕβριν ἀλυσκάζων ἀνδρῶν ὑπερηνορεόντων.
ἀλλά σε μεῖναι ἄνωγεν ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα.
καὶ δὲ σοὶ ὧδʼ αὐτῇ πολὺ κάλλιον, ὦ βασίλεια,
οἴην πρὸς ξεῖνον φάσθαι ἔπος ἠδʼ ἐπακοῦσαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ὕβριν ἀλυσκάζων ἀνδρῶν ὑπερηνορεόντων.
ἀλλά σε μεῖναι ἄνωγεν ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα.
καὶ δὲ σοὶ ὧδʼ αὐτῇ πολὺ κάλλιον, ὦ βασίλεια,
οἴην πρὸς ξεῖνον φάσθαι ἔπος ἠδʼ ἐπακοῦσαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"The stranger is not senseless; he sees how it might be;
for surely there are no men among mortals
who insult like these and contrive reckless things."
So she spoke, and the noble swineherd went off
into the crowd of the suitors, since he had told her everything.
And at once he addressed Telemachus with winged words,
holding his head close, so that the others might not hear:
"Friend, I am going, to guard the swine and the things there,
your living and mine; and let all things here be your care.
Above all keep yourself safe, and take thought in your spirit
that you come to no harm; for many of the Achaeans plan evil,
and may Zeus destroy them before harm comes to us."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
for surely there are no men among mortals
who insult like these and contrive reckless things."
So she spoke, and the noble swineherd went off
into the crowd of the suitors, since he had told her everything.
And at once he addressed Telemachus with winged words,
holding his head close, so that the others might not hear:
"Friend, I am going, to guard the swine and the things there,
your living and mine; and let all things here be your care.
Above all keep yourself safe, and take thought in your spirit
that you come to no harm; for many of the Achaeans plan evil,
and may Zeus destroy them before harm comes to us."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
οὐκ ἄφρων ὁ ξεῖνος· ὀΐεται, ὥς περ ἂν εἴη·
οὐ γάρ πού τινες ὧδε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
ἀνέρες ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἀγόρευεν, ὁ δʼ ᾤχετο δῖος ὑφορβὸς
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε πάντα.
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα,
ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ἄπειμι, σύας καὶ κεῖνα φυλάξων,
σὸν καὶ ἐμὸν βίοτον· σοὶ δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντα μελόντων.
αὐτὸν μέν σε πρῶτα σάω, καὶ φράζεο θυμῷ
μή τι πάθῃς· πολλοὶ δὲ κακὰ φρονέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν,
τοὺς Ζεὺς ἐξολέσειε πρὶν ἡμῖν πῆμα γενέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
οὐ γάρ πού τινες ὧδε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
ἀνέρες ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἀγόρευεν, ὁ δʼ ᾤχετο δῖος ὑφορβὸς
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε πάντα.
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα,
ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ἄπειμι, σύας καὶ κεῖνα φυλάξων,
σὸν καὶ ἐμὸν βίοτον· σοὶ δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντα μελόντων.
αὐτὸν μέν σε πρῶτα σάω, καὶ φράζεο θυμῷ
μή τι πάθῃς· πολλοὶ δὲ κακὰ φρονέουσιν Ἀχαιῶν,
τοὺς Ζεὺς ἐξολέσειε πρὶν ἡμῖν πῆμα γενέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"So it shall be, old friend; go when you have had your afternoon meal;
and in the morning come and bring fine victims;
and all these things shall be my care and the immortals’."
and in the morning come and bring fine victims;
and all these things shall be my care and the immortals’."
ἔσσεται οὕτως, ἄττα· σὺ δʼ ἔρχεο δειελιήσας·
ἠῶθεν δʼ ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἱερήϊα καλά·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τάδε πάντα καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μελήσει.
ἠῶθεν δʼ ἰέναι καὶ ἄγειν ἱερήϊα καλά·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τάδε πάντα καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μελήσει.
So he spoke, and the other sat down again on the polished stool,
and when he had filled his heart with food and drink
he set off to go back to his swine, and left the courts and the hall,
full of feasters; and they took their pleasure in dancing and in song;
for the day was already drawing towards evening.
and when he had filled his heart with food and drink
he set off to go back to his swine, and left the courts and the hall,
full of feasters; and they took their pleasure in dancing and in song;
for the day was already drawing towards evening.
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὖτις ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐϋξέστου ἐπὶ δίφρου,
πλησάμενος δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μεθʼ ὕας, λίπε δʼ ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε,
πλεῖον δαιτυμόνων· οἱ δʼ ὀρχηστυῖ καὶ ἀοιδῇ
τέρποντʼ· ἤδη γὰρ καὶ ἐπήλυθε δείελον ἦμαρ.
πλησάμενος δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μεθʼ ὕας, λίπε δʼ ἕρκεά τε μέγαρόν τε,
πλεῖον δαιτυμόνων· οἱ δʼ ὀρχηστυῖ καὶ ἀοιδῇ
τέρποντʼ· ἤδη γὰρ καὶ ἐπήλυθε δείελον ἦμαρ.
Book 18
The beggar Irus tries to drive him off and is broken by one carefully pulled punch. Penelope, made radiant by Athena, extracts gifts from the suitors; the maid Melantho jeers; the hall fills with omens of no return.
And there came up a beggar known to all, who used to beg through the town
of Ithaca, and was marked out among them for his ravening belly,
eating and drinking without end; and he had no strength
nor force, but in appearance he was very big to look at.
Arnaeus was his name; for his honoured mother had given him that
at his birth; but all the young men called him Irus,
because he would go and carry a message whenever anyone bade him;
and he came and tried to drive Odysseus from his own house,
and reviling him addressed him with winged words:
of Ithaca, and was marked out among them for his ravening belly,
eating and drinking without end; and he had no strength
nor force, but in appearance he was very big to look at.
Arnaeus was his name; for his honoured mother had given him that
at his birth; but all the young men called him Irus,
because he would go and carry a message whenever anyone bade him;
and he came and tried to drive Odysseus from his own house,
and reviling him addressed him with winged words:
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ πτωχὸς πανδήμιος, ὃς κατὰ ἄστυ
πτωχεύεσκʼ Ἰθάκης, μετὰ δʼ ἔπρεπε γαστέρι μάργῃ
ἀζηχὲς φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν· οὐδέ οἱ ἦν ἲς
οὐδὲ βίη, εἶδος δὲ μάλα μέγας ἦν ὁράασθαι.
Ἀρναῖος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε· τὸ γὰρ θέτο πότνια μήτηρ
ἐκ γενετῆς· Ἶρον δὲ νέοι κίκλησκον ἅπαντες,
οὕνεκʼ ἀπαγγέλλεσκε κιών, ὅτε πού τις ἀνώγοι·
ὅς ῥʼ ἐλθὼν Ὀδυσῆα διώκετο οἷο δόμοιο,
καί μιν νεικείων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
πτωχεύεσκʼ Ἰθάκης, μετὰ δʼ ἔπρεπε γαστέρι μάργῃ
ἀζηχὲς φαγέμεν καὶ πιέμεν· οὐδέ οἱ ἦν ἲς
οὐδὲ βίη, εἶδος δὲ μάλα μέγας ἦν ὁράασθαι.
Ἀρναῖος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε· τὸ γὰρ θέτο πότνια μήτηρ
ἐκ γενετῆς· Ἶρον δὲ νέοι κίκλησκον ἅπαντες,
οὕνεκʼ ἀπαγγέλλεσκε κιών, ὅτε πού τις ἀνώγοι·
ὅς ῥʼ ἐλθὼν Ὀδυσῆα διώκετο οἷο δόμοιο,
καί μιν νεικείων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Get out of the doorway, old man, or you will soon be dragged out by the foot.
Do you not see that they are all winking at me
and telling me to drag you out? Yet I am ashamed to do it.
But up with you, before our quarrel comes to hands."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to him:
Do you not see that they are all winking at me
and telling me to drag you out? Yet I am ashamed to do it.
But up with you, before our quarrel comes to hands."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to him:
εἶκε, γέρον, προθύρου, μὴ δὴ τάχα καὶ ποδὸς ἕλκῃ.
οὐκ ἀΐεις ὅτι δή μοι ἐπιλλίζουσιν ἅπαντες,
ἑλκέμεναι δὲ κέλονται; ἐγὼ δʼ αἰσχύνομαι ἔμπης.
ἀλλʼ ἄνα, μὴ τάχα νῶϊν ἔρις καὶ χερσὶ γένηται.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
οὐκ ἀΐεις ὅτι δή μοι ἐπιλλίζουσιν ἅπαντες,
ἑλκέμεναι δὲ κέλονται; ἐγὼ δʼ αἰσχύνομαι ἔμπης.
ἀλλʼ ἄνα, μὴ τάχα νῶϊν ἔρις καὶ χερσὶ γένηται.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Strange man, I do you no harm and say nothing against you,
and I do not grudge it if a man gives to you, however much he takes up.
This threshold will hold us both, and there is no need for you
to grudge another’s goods. You seem to me to be a wanderer
as I am, and it is the gods who are likely to grant prosperity.
But do not challenge me too far with your hands, or you will anger me,
and old as I am I may foul your chest and your lips
with blood; and then I should have still more quiet
tomorrow; for I do not think you would come back
a second time to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes."
Then Irus the wanderer grew angry and spoke to him:
and I do not grudge it if a man gives to you, however much he takes up.
This threshold will hold us both, and there is no need for you
to grudge another’s goods. You seem to me to be a wanderer
as I am, and it is the gods who are likely to grant prosperity.
But do not challenge me too far with your hands, or you will anger me,
and old as I am I may foul your chest and your lips
with blood; and then I should have still more quiet
tomorrow; for I do not think you would come back
a second time to the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes."
Then Irus the wanderer grew angry and spoke to him:
δαιμόνιʼ, οὔτε τί σε ῥέζω κακὸν οὔτʼ ἀγορεύω,
οὔτε τινὰ φθονέω δόμεναι καὶ πόλλʼ ἀνελόντα.
οὐδὸς δʼ ἀμφοτέρους ὅδε χείσεται, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
ἀλλοτρίων φθονέειν· δοκέεις δέ μοι εἶναι ἀλήτης
ὥς περ ἐγών, ὄλβον δὲ θεοὶ μέλλουσιν ὀπάζειν.
χερσὶ δὲ μή τι λίην προκαλίζεο, μή με χολώσῃς,
μή σε γέρων περ ἐὼν στῆθος καὶ χείλεα φύρσω
αἵματος· ἡσυχίη δʼ ἂν ἐμοὶ καὶ μᾶλλον ἔτʼ εἴη
αὔριον· οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σʼ ὑποστρέψεσθαι ὀΐω
δεύτερον ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος προσεφώνεεν Ἶρος ἀλήτης·
οὔτε τινὰ φθονέω δόμεναι καὶ πόλλʼ ἀνελόντα.
οὐδὸς δʼ ἀμφοτέρους ὅδε χείσεται, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
ἀλλοτρίων φθονέειν· δοκέεις δέ μοι εἶναι ἀλήτης
ὥς περ ἐγών, ὄλβον δὲ θεοὶ μέλλουσιν ὀπάζειν.
χερσὶ δὲ μή τι λίην προκαλίζεο, μή με χολώσῃς,
μή σε γέρων περ ἐὼν στῆθος καὶ χείλεα φύρσω
αἵματος· ἡσυχίη δʼ ἂν ἐμοὶ καὶ μᾶλλον ἔτʼ εἴη
αὔριον· οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σʼ ὑποστρέψεσθαι ὀΐω
δεύτερον ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος προσεφώνεεν Ἶρος ἀλήτης·
"Ah me, how glibly this glutton speaks,
like an old woman at the oven; I could work him evil,
striking him with both hands, and knock all his teeth
out of his jaws to the ground, as I would a pig’s that ravages the corn.
Gird yourself now, so that all these men too may know us
as we fight; but how would you fight a younger man?"
like an old woman at the oven; I could work him evil,
striking him with both hands, and knock all his teeth
out of his jaws to the ground, as I would a pig’s that ravages the corn.
Gird yourself now, so that all these men too may know us
as we fight; but how would you fight a younger man?"
ὢ πόποι, ὡς ὁ μολοβρὸς ἐπιτροχάδην ἀγορεύει,
γρηῒ καμινοῖ ἶσος· ὃν ἂν κακὰ μητισαίμην
κόπτων ἀμφοτέρῃσι, χαμαὶ δέ κε πάντας ὀδόντας
γναθμῶν ἐξελάσαιμι συὸς ὣς ληϊβοτείρης.
ζῶσαι νῦν, ἵνα πάντες ἐπιγνώωσι καὶ οἵδε
μαρναμένους· πῶς δʼ ἂν σὺ νεωτέρῳ ἀνδρὶ μάχοιο;
γρηῒ καμινοῖ ἶσος· ὃν ἂν κακὰ μητισαίμην
κόπτων ἀμφοτέρῃσι, χαμαὶ δέ κε πάντας ὀδόντας
γναθμῶν ἐξελάσαιμι συὸς ὣς ληϊβοτείρης.
ζῶσαι νῦν, ἵνα πάντες ἐπιγνώωσι καὶ οἵδε
μαρναμένους· πῶς δʼ ἂν σὺ νεωτέρῳ ἀνδρὶ μάχοιο;
So these two before the high doors,
on the polished threshold, worked themselves up in full fury.
And the sacred strength of Antinous heard the two of them,
and he laughed out sweetly and spoke among the suitors:
on the polished threshold, worked themselves up in full fury.
And the sacred strength of Antinous heard the two of them,
and he laughed out sweetly and spoke among the suitors:
ὣς οἱ μὲν προπάροιθε θυράων ὑψηλάων
οὐδοῦ ἔπι ξεστοῦ πανθυμαδὸν ὀκριόωντο.
τοῖϊν δὲ ξυνέηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀντινόοιο,
ἡδὺ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνει μνηστήρεσσιν·
οὐδοῦ ἔπι ξεστοῦ πανθυμαδὸν ὀκριόωντο.
τοῖϊν δὲ ξυνέηχʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἀντινόοιο,
ἡδὺ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκγελάσας μετεφώνει μνηστήρεσσιν·
"Friends, never before has such a thing happened,
such sport as a god has brought into this house.
The stranger and Irus are quarrelling with one another
to fight with their hands; let us quickly set them on."
such sport as a god has brought into this house.
The stranger and Irus are quarrelling with one another
to fight with their hands; let us quickly set them on."
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μέν πώ τι πάρος τοιοῦτον ἐτύχθη,
οἵην τερπωλὴν θεὸς ἤγαγεν ἐς τόδε δῶμα.
ὁ ξεῖνός τε καὶ Ἶρος ἐρίζετον ἀλλήλοιϊν
χερσὶ μαχέσσασθαι· ἀλλὰ ξυνελάσσομεν ὦκα.
οἵην τερπωλὴν θεὸς ἤγαγεν ἐς τόδε δῶμα.
ὁ ξεῖνός τε καὶ Ἶρος ἐρίζετον ἀλλήλοιϊν
χερσὶ μαχέσσασθαι· ἀλλὰ ξυνελάσσομεν ὦκα.
So he spoke, and they all sprang up laughing,
and gathered about the two ragged beggars.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:
and gathered about the two ragged beggars.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀνήϊξαν γελόωντες,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα πτωχοὺς κακοείμονας ἠγερέθοντο.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα πτωχοὺς κακοείμονας ἠγερέθοντο.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
"Hear me, lordly suitors, while I say something.
There are goats’ paunches lying at the fire, which for our supper
we set aside after filling them with fat and blood;
and whichever of the two wins and proves the stronger,
let him rise and take for himself whichever of them he wishes;
and he shall always feast with us afterwards, and we will let no other
beggar come in among us to beg."
There are goats’ paunches lying at the fire, which for our supper
we set aside after filling them with fat and blood;
and whichever of the two wins and proves the stronger,
let him rise and take for himself whichever of them he wishes;
and he shall always feast with us afterwards, and we will let no other
beggar come in among us to beg."
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, ὄφρα τι εἴπω.
γαστέρες αἵδʼ αἰγῶν κέατʼ ἐν πυρί, τὰς ἐπὶ δόρπῳ
κατθέμεθα κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος ἐμπλήσαντες·
ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,
τάων ἥν κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀναστὰς αὐτὸς ἑλέσθω·
αἰεὶ αὖθʼ ἡμῖν μεταδαίσεται, οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλον
πτωχὸν ἔσω μίσγεσθαι ἐάσομεν αἰτήσοντα.
γαστέρες αἵδʼ αἰγῶν κέατʼ ἐν πυρί, τὰς ἐπὶ δόρπῳ
κατθέμεθα κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος ἐμπλήσαντες·
ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,
τάων ἥν κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀναστὰς αὐτὸς ἑλέσθω·
αἰεὶ αὖθʼ ἡμῖν μεταδαίσεται, οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλον
πτωχὸν ἔσω μίσγεσθαι ἐάσομεν αἰτήσοντα.
So spoke Antinous, and his word pleased them.
But Odysseus of many devices spoke among them with guile in his mind:
But Odysseus of many devices spoke among them with guile in his mind:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.
τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Friends, there is no way for an old man, worn down by his misery,
to fight with a younger one; but my belly,
that maker of evil, urges me on, to be beaten with blows.
But come now, all of you, swear me a strong oath
that no one, to do Irus a favour, will strike me
with a heavy hand in his recklessness, and beat me down by force for that man."
to fight with a younger one; but my belly,
that maker of evil, urges me on, to be beaten with blows.
But come now, all of you, swear me a strong oath
that no one, to do Irus a favour, will strike me
with a heavy hand in his recklessness, and beat me down by force for that man."
ὦ φίλοι, οὔ πως ἔστι νεωτέρῳ ἀνδρὶ μάχεσθαι
ἄνδρα γέροντα, δύῃ ἀρημένον· ἀλλά με γαστὴρ
ὀτρύνει κακοεργός, ἵνα πληγῇσι δαμείω.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι πάντες ὀμόσσατε καρτερὸν ὅρκον,
μή τις ἐπʼ Ἴρῳ ἦρα φέρων ἐμὲ χειρὶ βαρείῃ
πλήξῃ ἀτασθάλλων, τούτῳ δέ με ἶφι δαμάσσῃ.
ἄνδρα γέροντα, δύῃ ἀρημένον· ἀλλά με γαστὴρ
ὀτρύνει κακοεργός, ἵνα πληγῇσι δαμείω.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι πάντες ὀμόσσατε καρτερὸν ὅρκον,
μή τις ἐπʼ Ἴρῳ ἦρα φέρων ἐμὲ χειρὶ βαρείῃ
πλήξῃ ἀτασθάλλων, τούτῳ δέ με ἶφι δαμάσσῃ.
So he spoke, and they all swore as he bade them.
But when they had sworn and completed the oath,
the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them again:
"Stranger, if your heart and your lordly spirit urge you
to fend this man off, then fear no other of the Achaeans;
for whoever strikes you will have to fight with more than one.
I am the host here, and the two kings agree with me,
Antinous and Eurymachus, both prudent men."
But when they had sworn and completed the oath,
the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them again:
"Stranger, if your heart and your lordly spirit urge you
to fend this man off, then fear no other of the Achaeans;
for whoever strikes you will have to fight with more than one.
I am the host here, and the two kings agree with me,
Antinous and Eurymachus, both prudent men."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀπώμνυον ὡς ἐκέλευεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
ξεῖνʼ, εἴ σʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
τοῦτον ἀλέξασθαι, τῶν δʼ ἄλλων μή τινʼ Ἀχαιῶν
δείδιθʼ, ἐπεὶ πλεόνεσσι μαχήσεται ὅς κέ σε θείνῃ·
ξεινοδόκος μὲν ἐγών, ἐπὶ δʼ αἰνεῖτον βασιλῆες,
Ἀντίνοός τε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος, πεπνυμένω ἄμφω.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσάν τε τελεύτησάν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
ξεῖνʼ, εἴ σʼ ὀτρύνει κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
τοῦτον ἀλέξασθαι, τῶν δʼ ἄλλων μή τινʼ Ἀχαιῶν
δείδιθʼ, ἐπεὶ πλεόνεσσι μαχήσεται ὅς κέ σε θείνῃ·
ξεινοδόκος μὲν ἐγών, ἐπὶ δʼ αἰνεῖτον βασιλῆες,
Ἀντίνοός τε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος, πεπνυμένω ἄμφω.
So he spoke, and they all approved. And Odysseus
girded his rags about his loins, and showed his thighs,
fine and great, and his broad shoulders came into view
and his chest and his sturdy arms; and Athena
stood near and made the limbs of the shepherd of the people greater.
And all the suitors were exceedingly amazed;
and one would say, looking at his neighbour:
"Irus will soon be Un-Irus, and have the evil he has drawn upon himself,
such a thigh as the old man shows out of his rags."
girded his rags about his loins, and showed his thighs,
fine and great, and his broad shoulders came into view
and his chest and his sturdy arms; and Athena
stood near and made the limbs of the shepherd of the people greater.
And all the suitors were exceedingly amazed;
and one would say, looking at his neighbour:
"Irus will soon be Un-Irus, and have the evil he has drawn upon himself,
such a thigh as the old man shows out of his rags."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ζώσατο μὲν ῥάκεσιν περὶ μήδεα, φαῖνε δὲ μηροὺς
καλούς τε μεγάλους τε, φάνεν δέ οἱ εὐρέες ὦμοι
στήθεά τε στιβαροί τε βραχίονες· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλεʼ ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως ἀγάσαντο·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
ἦ τάχα Ἶρος Ἄϊρος ἐπίσπαστον κακὸν ἕξει,
οἵην ἐκ ῥακέων ὁ γέρων ἐπιγουνίδα φαίνει.
ζώσατο μὲν ῥάκεσιν περὶ μήδεα, φαῖνε δὲ μηροὺς
καλούς τε μεγάλους τε, φάνεν δέ οἱ εὐρέες ὦμοι
στήθεά τε στιβαροί τε βραχίονες· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλεʼ ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως ἀγάσαντο·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
ἦ τάχα Ἶρος Ἄϊρος ἐπίσπαστον κακὸν ἕξει,
οἵην ἐκ ῥακέων ὁ γέρων ἐπιγουνίδα φαίνει.
So they spoke, and the spirit of Irus was badly shaken.
But even so the servants girded him and led him out by force,
frightened; and the flesh trembled on his limbs.
And Antinous rebuked him, and spoke, and called him by name:
But even so the servants girded him and led him out by force,
frightened; and the flesh trembled on his limbs.
And Antinous rebuked him, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Ἴρῳ δὲ κακῶς ὠρίνετο θυμός.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς δρηστῆρες ἄγον ζώσαντες ἀνάγκῃ
δειδιότα· σάρκες δὲ περιτρομέοντο μέλεσσιν.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς δρηστῆρες ἄγον ζώσαντες ἀνάγκῃ
δειδιότα· σάρκες δὲ περιτρομέοντο μέλεσσιν.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Now, you swaggerer, you had better not be at all, nor ever have been born,
if you tremble at this man and fear him terribly,
an old man, worn down by the misery that has come upon him.
But I will tell you out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
if this man wins and proves the stronger,
I will throw you into a black ship and send you to the mainland,
to king Echetus, the maimer of all mortals,
who will cut off your nose and your ears with the pitiless bronze
and tear away your privates and give them raw to the dogs to eat."
if you tremble at this man and fear him terribly,
an old man, worn down by the misery that has come upon him.
But I will tell you out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
if this man wins and proves the stronger,
I will throw you into a black ship and send you to the mainland,
to king Echetus, the maimer of all mortals,
who will cut off your nose and your ears with the pitiless bronze
and tear away your privates and give them raw to the dogs to eat."
νῦν μὲν μήτʼ εἴης, βουγάϊε, μήτε γένοιο,
εἰ δὴ τοῦτόν γε τρομέεις καὶ δείδιας αἰνῶς,
ἄνδρα γέροντα, δύῃ ἀρημένον, ἥ μιν ἱκάνει.
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἴ κέν σʼ οὗτος νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,
πέμψω σʼ ἤπειρόνδε, βαλὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,
ὅς κʼ ἀπὸ ῥῖνα τάμῃσι καὶ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,
μήδεά τʼ ἐξερύσας δώῃ κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι.
εἰ δὴ τοῦτόν γε τρομέεις καὶ δείδιας αἰνῶς,
ἄνδρα γέροντα, δύῃ ἀρημένον, ἥ μιν ἱκάνει.
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
αἴ κέν σʼ οὗτος νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,
πέμψω σʼ ἤπειρόνδε, βαλὼν ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,
ὅς κʼ ἀπὸ ῥῖνα τάμῃσι καὶ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,
μήδεά τʼ ἐξερύσας δώῃ κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι.
So he spoke, and trembling took hold of his limbs still more.
They led him into the middle; and the two of them put up their hands.
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus pondered
whether to strike him so that his spirit would leave him where he fell,
or to hit him lightly and stretch him on the ground.
And as he pondered it seemed to him better
to hit him lightly, so that the Achaeans should not mark him.
Then the two put up their hands, and Irus struck the right shoulder,
but the other struck his neck under the ear, and crushed the bones
within; and at once red blood came up through his mouth,
and he fell in the dust with a cry, and ground his teeth,
kicking the ground with his feet; and the proud suitors
threw up their hands and died with laughter. But Odysseus
took him by the foot and dragged him out through the doorway, till he came to the court
and the doors of the portico; and he set him against the wall of the courtyard
and propped him up, and put a staff into his hand,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
They led him into the middle; and the two of them put up their hands.
Then long-suffering noble Odysseus pondered
whether to strike him so that his spirit would leave him where he fell,
or to hit him lightly and stretch him on the ground.
And as he pondered it seemed to him better
to hit him lightly, so that the Achaeans should not mark him.
Then the two put up their hands, and Irus struck the right shoulder,
but the other struck his neck under the ear, and crushed the bones
within; and at once red blood came up through his mouth,
and he fell in the dust with a cry, and ground his teeth,
kicking the ground with his feet; and the proud suitors
threw up their hands and died with laughter. But Odysseus
took him by the foot and dragged him out through the doorway, till he came to the court
and the doors of the portico; and he set him against the wall of the courtyard
and propped him up, and put a staff into his hand,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὑπὸ τρόμος ἔλλαβε γυῖα.
ἐς μέσσον δʼ ἄναγον· τὼ δʼ ἄμφω χεῖρας ἀνέσχον.
δὴ τότε μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἢ ἐλάσειʼ ὥς μιν ψυχὴ λίποι αὖθι πεσόντα,
ἦέ μιν ἦκʼ ἐλάσειε τανύσσειέν τʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
ἦκʼ ἐλάσαι, ἵνα μή μιν ἐπιφρασσαίατʼ Ἀχαιοί.
δὴ τότʼ ἀνασχομένω ὁ μὲν ἤλασε δεξιὸν ὦμον
Ἶρος, ὁ δʼ αὐχένʼ ἔλασσεν ὑπʼ οὔατος, ὀστέα δʼ εἴσω
ἔθλασεν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἦλθε κατὰ στόμα φοίνιον αἷμα,
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, σὺν δʼ ἤλασʼ ὀδόντας
λακτίζων ποσὶ γαῖαν· ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοὶ
χεῖρας ἀνασχόμενοι γέλῳ ἔκθανον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἕλκε διὲκ προθύροιο λαβὼν ποδός, ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ αὐλήν,
αἰθούσης τε θύρας· καί μιν ποτὶ ἑρκίον αὐλῆς
εἷσεν ἀνακλίνας· σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε χειρί,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἐς μέσσον δʼ ἄναγον· τὼ δʼ ἄμφω χεῖρας ἀνέσχον.
δὴ τότε μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἢ ἐλάσειʼ ὥς μιν ψυχὴ λίποι αὖθι πεσόντα,
ἦέ μιν ἦκʼ ἐλάσειε τανύσσειέν τʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
ἦκʼ ἐλάσαι, ἵνα μή μιν ἐπιφρασσαίατʼ Ἀχαιοί.
δὴ τότʼ ἀνασχομένω ὁ μὲν ἤλασε δεξιὸν ὦμον
Ἶρος, ὁ δʼ αὐχένʼ ἔλασσεν ὑπʼ οὔατος, ὀστέα δʼ εἴσω
ἔθλασεν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἦλθε κατὰ στόμα φοίνιον αἷμα,
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, σὺν δʼ ἤλασʼ ὀδόντας
λακτίζων ποσὶ γαῖαν· ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοὶ
χεῖρας ἀνασχόμενοι γέλῳ ἔκθανον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἕλκε διὲκ προθύροιο λαβὼν ποδός, ὄφρʼ ἵκετʼ αὐλήν,
αἰθούσης τε θύρας· καί μιν ποτὶ ἑρκίον αὐλῆς
εἷσεν ἀνακλίνας· σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε χειρί,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Sit there now, and keep off the pigs and the dogs,
and do not set yourself up as lord over strangers and beggars,
wretch that you are, or you may earn some still greater evil."
and do not set yourself up as lord over strangers and beggars,
wretch that you are, or you may earn some still greater evil."
ἐνταυθοῖ νῦν ἧσο σύας τε κύνας τʼ ἀπερύκων,
μηδὲ σύ γε ξείνων καὶ πτωχῶν κοίρανος εἶναι
λυγρὸς ἐών, μή πού τι κακὸν καὶ μεῖζον ἐπαύρῃ.
μηδὲ σύ γε ξείνων καὶ πτωχῶν κοίρανος εἶναι
λυγρὸς ἐών, μή πού τι κακὸν καὶ μεῖζον ἐπαύρῃ.
He spoke, and slung about his shoulders an unseemly wallet,
full of holes; and there was a twisted cord for a strap.
And he went back to the threshold and sat down; and the others went in
laughing sweetly, and greeted him with words:
"May Zeus grant you, stranger, and the other immortal gods,
whatever you most desire and is dear to your spirit,
since you have stopped that insatiable man from wandering
through the land; for we shall soon take him over to the mainland,
to king Echetus, the maimer of all mortals."
full of holes; and there was a twisted cord for a strap.
And he went back to the threshold and sat down; and the others went in
laughing sweetly, and greeted him with words:
"May Zeus grant you, stranger, and the other immortal gods,
whatever you most desire and is dear to your spirit,
since you have stopped that insatiable man from wandering
through the land; for we shall soon take him over to the mainland,
to king Echetus, the maimer of all mortals."
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἀεικέα βάλλετο πήρην,
πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ.
ἂψ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοὶ δʼ ἴσαν εἴσω
ἡδὺ γελώοντες καὶ δεικανόωντʼ ἐπέεσσι·
Ζεύς τοι δοίη, ξεῖνε, καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
ὅττι μάλιστʼ ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ,
ὃς τοῦτον τὸν ἄναλτον ἀλητεύειν ἀπέπαυσας
ἐν δήμῳ· τάχα γάρ μιν ἀνάξομεν ἤπειρόνδε
εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων.
πυκνὰ ῥωγαλέην· ἐν δὲ στρόφος ἦεν ἀορτήρ.
ἂψ δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοὶ δʼ ἴσαν εἴσω
ἡδὺ γελώοντες καὶ δεικανόωντʼ ἐπέεσσι·
Ζεύς τοι δοίη, ξεῖνε, καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
ὅττι μάλιστʼ ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ,
ὃς τοῦτον τὸν ἄναλτον ἀλητεύειν ἀπέπαυσας
ἐν δήμῳ· τάχα γάρ μιν ἀνάξομεν ἤπειρόνδε
εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων.
So they spoke, and noble Odysseus rejoiced in the omen of their words.
And Antinous set the great paunch beside him,
filled with fat and blood; and Amphinomus
took two loaves from the basket and set them by him
and pledged him with a golden cup, and spoke:
And Antinous set the great paunch beside him,
filled with fat and blood; and Amphinomus
took two loaves from the basket and set them by him
and pledged him with a golden cup, and spoke:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, χαῖρεν δὲ κλεηδόνι δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἄρα οἱ μεγάλην παρὰ γαστέρα θῆκεν,
ἐμπλείην κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος· Ἀμφίνομος δὲ
ἄρτους ἐκ κανέοιο δύω παρέθηκεν ἀείρας
καὶ δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ δειδίσκετο, φώνησέν τε·
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἄρα οἱ μεγάλην παρὰ γαστέρα θῆκεν,
ἐμπλείην κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος· Ἀμφίνομος δὲ
ἄρτους ἐκ κανέοιο δύω παρέθηκεν ἀείρας
καὶ δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ δειδίσκετο, φώνησέν τε·
"Hail, father stranger; may prosperity be yours
in time to come; but now you are held by many evils."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
in time to come; but now you are held by many evils."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
χαῖρε, πάτερ ὦ ξεῖνε, γένοιτό τοι ἔς περ ὀπίσσω
ὄλβος· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε κακοῖς ἔχεαι πολέεσσι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὄλβος· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε κακοῖς ἔχεαι πολέεσσι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Amphinomus, you seem to me a prudent man indeed;
for such was your father too, since I have heard his good name,
Nisus of Dulichium, that he was brave and rich;
they say you are his son, and you seem a courteous man.
Therefore I will tell you; mark it well and hear me.
Earth nourishes nothing feebler than a man,
of all the things that breathe and move upon the earth.
For he says he will never suffer evil hereafter,
so long as the gods grant him excellence and his knees are quick;
but when the blessed gods bring sorrows to pass as well,
these too he bears against his will with an enduring spirit.
For such is the mind of men upon the earth
as the day the father of men and gods brings on them.
For I too was once likely to be blessed among men,
and I did many reckless things, giving way to violence and strength,
trusting in my father and in my brothers.
Therefore let no man ever be lawless at all,
but let him keep in silence the gifts the gods may give.
Such reckless things I see the suitors contriving,
shearing away the possessions and dishonouring the wife
of a man who, I say, will not be far from his friends and his native
land much longer; he is very near. But may a god
lead you home out of the way, so that you do not meet him
when he comes back to his dear native land;
for I do not think the suitors and that man will be parted
without blood, once he has come under his own roof."
for such was your father too, since I have heard his good name,
Nisus of Dulichium, that he was brave and rich;
they say you are his son, and you seem a courteous man.
Therefore I will tell you; mark it well and hear me.
Earth nourishes nothing feebler than a man,
of all the things that breathe and move upon the earth.
For he says he will never suffer evil hereafter,
so long as the gods grant him excellence and his knees are quick;
but when the blessed gods bring sorrows to pass as well,
these too he bears against his will with an enduring spirit.
For such is the mind of men upon the earth
as the day the father of men and gods brings on them.
For I too was once likely to be blessed among men,
and I did many reckless things, giving way to violence and strength,
trusting in my father and in my brothers.
Therefore let no man ever be lawless at all,
but let him keep in silence the gifts the gods may give.
Such reckless things I see the suitors contriving,
shearing away the possessions and dishonouring the wife
of a man who, I say, will not be far from his friends and his native
land much longer; he is very near. But may a god
lead you home out of the way, so that you do not meet him
when he comes back to his dear native land;
for I do not think the suitors and that man will be parted
without blood, once he has come under his own roof."
Ἀμφίνομʼ, ἦ μάλα μοι δοκέεις πεπνυμένος εἶναι·
τοίου γὰρ καὶ πατρός, ἐπεὶ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄκουον,
Νῖσον Δουλιχιῆα ἐΰν τʼ ἔμεν ἀφνειόν τε·
τοῦ σʼ ἔκ φασι γενέσθαι, ἐπητῇ δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.
τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
οὐδὲν ἀκιδνότερον γαῖα τρέφει ἀνθρώποιο,
πάντων ὅσσα τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.
οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτέ φησι κακὸν πείσεσθαι ὀπίσσω,
ὄφρʼ ἀρετὴν παρέχωσι θεοὶ καὶ γούνατʼ ὀρώρῃ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ λυγρὰ θεοὶ μάκαρες τελέσωσι,
καὶ τὰ φέρει ἀεκαζόμενος τετληότι θυμῷ·
τοῖος γὰρ νόος ἐστὶν ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων
οἷον ἐπʼ ἦμαρ ἄγησι πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε.
καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτʼ ἔμελλον ἐν ἀνδράσιν ὄλβιος εἶναι,
πολλὰ δʼ ἀτάσθαλʼ ἔρεξα βίῃ καὶ κάρτεϊ εἴκων,
πατρί τʼ ἐμῷ πίσυνος καὶ ἐμοῖσι κασιγνήτοισι.
τῷ μή τίς ποτε πάμπαν ἀνὴρ ἀθεμίστιος εἴη,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε σιγῇ δῶρα θεῶν ἔχοι, ὅττι διδοῖεν.
οἷʼ ὁρόω μνηστῆρας ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωντας,
κτήματα κείροντας καὶ ἀτιμάζοντας ἄκοιτιν
ἀνδρός, ὃν οὐκέτι φημὶ φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
δηρὸν ἀπέσσεσθαι· μάλα δὲ σχεδόν. ἀλλά σε δαίμων
οἴκαδʼ ὑπεξαγάγοι, μηδʼ ἀντιάσειας ἐκείνῳ,
ὁππότε νοστήσειε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
οὐ γὰρ ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινέεσθαι ὀΐω
μνηστῆρας καὶ κεῖνον, ἐπεί κε μέλαθρον ὑπέλθῃ.
τοίου γὰρ καὶ πατρός, ἐπεὶ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄκουον,
Νῖσον Δουλιχιῆα ἐΰν τʼ ἔμεν ἀφνειόν τε·
τοῦ σʼ ἔκ φασι γενέσθαι, ἐπητῇ δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.
τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
οὐδὲν ἀκιδνότερον γαῖα τρέφει ἀνθρώποιο,
πάντων ὅσσα τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.
οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτέ φησι κακὸν πείσεσθαι ὀπίσσω,
ὄφρʼ ἀρετὴν παρέχωσι θεοὶ καὶ γούνατʼ ὀρώρῃ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ λυγρὰ θεοὶ μάκαρες τελέσωσι,
καὶ τὰ φέρει ἀεκαζόμενος τετληότι θυμῷ·
τοῖος γὰρ νόος ἐστὶν ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων
οἷον ἐπʼ ἦμαρ ἄγησι πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε.
καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτʼ ἔμελλον ἐν ἀνδράσιν ὄλβιος εἶναι,
πολλὰ δʼ ἀτάσθαλʼ ἔρεξα βίῃ καὶ κάρτεϊ εἴκων,
πατρί τʼ ἐμῷ πίσυνος καὶ ἐμοῖσι κασιγνήτοισι.
τῷ μή τίς ποτε πάμπαν ἀνὴρ ἀθεμίστιος εἴη,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γε σιγῇ δῶρα θεῶν ἔχοι, ὅττι διδοῖεν.
οἷʼ ὁρόω μνηστῆρας ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωντας,
κτήματα κείροντας καὶ ἀτιμάζοντας ἄκοιτιν
ἀνδρός, ὃν οὐκέτι φημὶ φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
δηρὸν ἀπέσσεσθαι· μάλα δὲ σχεδόν. ἀλλά σε δαίμων
οἴκαδʼ ὑπεξαγάγοι, μηδʼ ἀντιάσειας ἐκείνῳ,
ὁππότε νοστήσειε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
οὐ γὰρ ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινέεσθαι ὀΐω
μνηστῆρας καὶ κεῖνον, ἐπεί κε μέλαθρον ὑπέλθῃ.
So he spoke, and poured a libation and drank the honey-sweet wine,
and put the cup back into the hands of the marshal of the people.
And he went off through the house, troubled at heart,
shaking his head; for his spirit foresaw evil.
But not even so did he escape his doom; Athena bound him too
to be beaten down by force under the hands and the spear of Telemachus.
And he sat down again on the chair from which he had risen.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, put it in the mind
of the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
to show herself to the suitors, so that she might most open
the hearts of the suitors and be more honoured
by her husband and her son than she was before.
She laughed without meaning, and spoke, and called her by name:
and put the cup back into the hands of the marshal of the people.
And he went off through the house, troubled at heart,
shaking his head; for his spirit foresaw evil.
But not even so did he escape his doom; Athena bound him too
to be beaten down by force under the hands and the spear of Telemachus.
And he sat down again on the chair from which he had risen.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, put it in the mind
of the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
to show herself to the suitors, so that she might most open
the hearts of the suitors and be more honoured
by her husband and her son than she was before.
She laughed without meaning, and spoke, and called her by name:
ὣς φάτο, καὶ σπείσας ἔπιεν μελιηδέα οἶνον,
ἂψ δʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκε δέπας κοσμήτορι λαῶν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,
νευστάζων κεφαλῇ· δὴ γὰρ κακὸν ὄσσετο θυμός.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς φύγε κῆρα· πέδησε δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀθήνη
Τηλεμάχου ὑπὸ χερσὶ καὶ ἔγχεϊ ἶφι δαμῆναι.
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι, ὅπως πετάσειε μάλιστα
θυμὸν μνηστήρων ἰδὲ τιμήεσσα γένοιτο
μᾶλλον πρὸς πόσιός τε καὶ υἱέος ἢ πάρος ἦεν.
ἀχρεῖον δʼ ἐγέλασσεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
ἂψ δʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκε δέπας κοσμήτορι λαῶν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ διὰ δῶμα φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,
νευστάζων κεφαλῇ· δὴ γὰρ κακὸν ὄσσετο θυμός.
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς φύγε κῆρα· πέδησε δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀθήνη
Τηλεμάχου ὑπὸ χερσὶ καὶ ἔγχεϊ ἶφι δαμῆναι.
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι, ὅπως πετάσειε μάλιστα
θυμὸν μνηστήρων ἰδὲ τιμήεσσα γένοιτο
μᾶλλον πρὸς πόσιός τε καὶ υἱέος ἢ πάρος ἦεν.
ἀχρεῖον δʼ ἐγέλασσεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Eurynome, my spirit desires, as it never did before,
to show myself to the suitors, hateful though they are;
and I would say a word to my son that would be better for him,
not to spend all his time among the overweening suitors,
who speak fair, but plan evil behind it."
Then Eurynome the housekeeper spoke to her:
to show myself to the suitors, hateful though they are;
and I would say a word to my son that would be better for him,
not to spend all his time among the overweening suitors,
who speak fair, but plan evil behind it."
Then Eurynome the housekeeper spoke to her:
Εὐρυνόμη, θυμός μοι ἐέλδεται, οὔ τι πάρος γε,
μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι, ἀπεχθομένοισί περ ἔμπης·
παιδὶ δέ κεν εἴποιμι ἔπος, τό κε κέρδιον εἴη,
μὴ πάντα μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμιλεῖν,
οἵ τʼ εὖ μὲν βάζουσι, κακῶς δʼ ὄπιθεν φρονέουσι.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι, ἀπεχθομένοισί περ ἔμπης·
παιδὶ δέ κεν εἴποιμι ἔπος, τό κε κέρδιον εἴη,
μὴ πάντα μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμιλεῖν,
οἵ τʼ εὖ μὲν βάζουσι, κακῶς δʼ ὄπιθεν φρονέουσι.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"Yes, my child, all this you have said rightly.
But go and speak the word to your son and do not hide it,
when you have washed your skin and anointed your cheeks;
and do not go with your face so stained
with tears, since it is worse to grieve unceasingly and without measure.
For your son is already of the age which you most
prayed to the immortals to see, with the beard upon him."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
But go and speak the word to your son and do not hide it,
when you have washed your skin and anointed your cheeks;
and do not go with your face so stained
with tears, since it is worse to grieve unceasingly and without measure.
For your son is already of the age which you most
prayed to the immortals to see, with the beard upon him."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, τέκος, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι καὶ σῷ παιδὶ ἔπος φάο μηδʼ ἐπίκευθε,
χρῶτʼ ἀπονιψαμένη καὶ ἐπιχρίσασα παρειάς·
μηδʼ οὕτω δακρύοισι πεφυρμένη ἀμφὶ πρόσωπα
ἔρχευ, ἐπεὶ κάκιον πενθήμεναι ἄκριτον αἰεί.
ἤδη μὲν γάρ τοι παῖς τηλίκος, ὃν σὺ μάλιστα
ἠρῶ ἀθανάτοισι γενειήσαντα ἰδέσθαι.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ἀλλʼ ἴθι καὶ σῷ παιδὶ ἔπος φάο μηδʼ ἐπίκευθε,
χρῶτʼ ἀπονιψαμένη καὶ ἐπιχρίσασα παρειάς·
μηδʼ οὕτω δακρύοισι πεφυρμένη ἀμφὶ πρόσωπα
ἔρχευ, ἐπεὶ κάκιον πενθήμεναι ἄκριτον αἰεί.
ἤδη μὲν γάρ τοι παῖς τηλίκος, ὃν σὺ μάλιστα
ἠρῶ ἀθανάτοισι γενειήσαντα ἰδέσθαι.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Eurynome, do not urge these things upon me, for all your care,
to wash my skin and anoint myself with oil;
for the gods who hold Olympus destroyed my beauty
on the day that man went away in the hollow ships.
But bid Autonoe and Hippodameia
come, so that they may stand beside me in the halls;
for I will not go alone among the men; I am ashamed."
to wash my skin and anoint myself with oil;
for the gods who hold Olympus destroyed my beauty
on the day that man went away in the hollow ships.
But bid Autonoe and Hippodameia
come, so that they may stand beside me in the halls;
for I will not go alone among the men; I am ashamed."
Εὐρυνόμη, μὴ ταῦτα παραύδα, κηδομένη περ,
χρῶτʼ ἀπονίπτεσθαι καὶ ἐπιχρίεσθαι ἀλοιφῇ·
ἀγλαΐην γὰρ ἐμοί γε θεοί, τοὶ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,
ὤλεσαν, ἐξ οὗ κεῖνος ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν.
ἀλλά μοι Αὐτονόην τε καὶ Ἱπποδάμειαν ἄνωχθι
ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα κέ μοι παρστήετον ἐν μεγάροισιν·
οἴη δʼ οὐκ εἴσειμι μετʼ ἀνέρας· αἰδέομαι γάρ.
χρῶτʼ ἀπονίπτεσθαι καὶ ἐπιχρίεσθαι ἀλοιφῇ·
ἀγλαΐην γὰρ ἐμοί γε θεοί, τοὶ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,
ὤλεσαν, ἐξ οὗ κεῖνος ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν.
ἀλλά μοι Αὐτονόην τε καὶ Ἱπποδάμειαν ἄνωχθι
ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα κέ μοι παρστήετον ἐν μεγάροισιν·
οἴη δʼ οὐκ εἴσειμι μετʼ ἀνέρας· αἰδέομαι γάρ.
So she spoke, and the old woman went out through the hall
to tell the women and urge them to come.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else:
she poured sweet sleep over the daughter of Icarius,
and she leaned back and slept, and all her joints were loosed
there on the couch; and meanwhile the noble goddess
gave her immortal gifts, so that the Achaeans might marvel at her.
First she cleansed her beautiful face with beauty,
the immortal kind with which fair-crowned Cythereia
anoints herself when she goes to the lovely dance of the Graces;
and she made her taller and fuller to look upon,
and made her whiter than sawn ivory.
So having done this the noble goddess went away,
and the white-armed handmaids came from the hall
with the sound of their voices; and sweet sleep released her,
and she wiped her cheeks with her hands and spoke:
to tell the women and urge them to come.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of something else:
she poured sweet sleep over the daughter of Icarius,
and she leaned back and slept, and all her joints were loosed
there on the couch; and meanwhile the noble goddess
gave her immortal gifts, so that the Achaeans might marvel at her.
First she cleansed her beautiful face with beauty,
the immortal kind with which fair-crowned Cythereia
anoints herself when she goes to the lovely dance of the Graces;
and she made her taller and fuller to look upon,
and made her whiter than sawn ivory.
So having done this the noble goddess went away,
and the white-armed handmaids came from the hall
with the sound of their voices; and sweet sleep released her,
and she wiped her cheeks with her hands and spoke:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο κατὰ γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἔχευεν,
εὗδε δʼ ἀνακλινθεῖσα, λύθεν δέ οἱ ἅψεα πάντα
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ κλιντῆρι· τέως δʼ ἄρα δῖα θεάων
ἄμβροτα δῶρα δίδου, ἵνα μιν θησαίατʼ Ἀχαιοί.
κάλλεϊ μέν οἱ πρῶτα προσώπατα καλὰ κάθηρεν
ἀμβροσίῳ, οἵῳ περ ἐϋστέφανος Κυθέρεια
χρίεται, εὖτʼ ἂν ἴῃ Χαρίτων χορὸν ἱμερόεντα·
καί μιν μακροτέρην καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι,
λευκοτέρην δʼ ἄρα μιν θῆκε πριστοῦ ἐλέφαντος.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἔρξασʼ ἀπεβήσετο δῖα θεάων,
ἦλθον δʼ ἀμφίπολοι λευκώλενοι ἐκ μεγάροιο
φθόγγῳ ἐπερχόμεναι· τὴν δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκε,
καί ῥʼ ἀπομόρξατο χερσὶ παρειὰς φώνησέν τε·
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο κατὰ γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἔχευεν,
εὗδε δʼ ἀνακλινθεῖσα, λύθεν δέ οἱ ἅψεα πάντα
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ κλιντῆρι· τέως δʼ ἄρα δῖα θεάων
ἄμβροτα δῶρα δίδου, ἵνα μιν θησαίατʼ Ἀχαιοί.
κάλλεϊ μέν οἱ πρῶτα προσώπατα καλὰ κάθηρεν
ἀμβροσίῳ, οἵῳ περ ἐϋστέφανος Κυθέρεια
χρίεται, εὖτʼ ἂν ἴῃ Χαρίτων χορὸν ἱμερόεντα·
καί μιν μακροτέρην καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι,
λευκοτέρην δʼ ἄρα μιν θῆκε πριστοῦ ἐλέφαντος.
ἡ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς ἔρξασʼ ἀπεβήσετο δῖα θεάων,
ἦλθον δʼ ἀμφίπολοι λευκώλενοι ἐκ μεγάροιο
φθόγγῳ ἐπερχόμεναι· τὴν δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκε,
καί ῥʼ ἀπομόρξατο χερσὶ παρειὰς φώνησέν τε·
"Truly a soft drowsiness has wrapped me round in all my misery.
Would that pure Artemis might give me so soft a death
at once, now, so that I might no longer waste my life away
grieving in my spirit, and longing for my dear husband’s
excellence of every kind, since he was the best of the Achaeans."
Would that pure Artemis might give me so soft a death
at once, now, so that I might no longer waste my life away
grieving in my spirit, and longing for my dear husband’s
excellence of every kind, since he was the best of the Achaeans."
ἦ με μάλʼ αἰνοπαθῆ μαλακὸν περὶ κῶμʼ ἐκάλυψεν.
αἴθε μοι ὣς μαλακὸν θάνατον πόροι Ἄρτεμις ἁγνὴ
αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα μηκέτʼ ὀδυρομένη κατὰ θυμὸν
αἰῶνα φθινύθω, πόσιος ποθέουσα φίλοιο
παντοίην ἀρετήν, ἐπεὶ ἔξοχος ἦεν Ἀχαιῶν.
αἴθε μοι ὣς μαλακὸν θάνατον πόροι Ἄρτεμις ἁγνὴ
αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα μηκέτʼ ὀδυρομένη κατὰ θυμὸν
αἰῶνα φθινύθω, πόσιος ποθέουσα φίλοιο
παντοίην ἀρετήν, ἐπεὶ ἔξοχος ἦεν Ἀχαιῶν.
So saying she went down from the shining upper chamber,
not alone; two handmaids went with her.
And when she came to the suitors, noble among women,
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built hall,
holding her shining veil before her cheeks;
and a trusted handmaid stood on either side of her.
And their knees were loosed where they stood, and their hearts were enchanted with desire,
and they all prayed to lie beside her in her bed.
But she spoke to Telemachus, her dear son:
not alone; two handmaids went with her.
And when she came to the suitors, noble among women,
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built hall,
holding her shining veil before her cheeks;
and a trusted handmaid stood on either side of her.
And their knees were loosed where they stood, and their hearts were enchanted with desire,
and they all prayed to lie beside her in her bed.
But she spoke to Telemachus, her dear son:
ὣς φαμένη κατέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα,
οὐκ οἴη· ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα·
ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.
τῶν δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατʼ, ἔρῳ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἔθελχθεν,
πάντες δʼ ἠρήσαντο παραὶ λεχέεσσι κλιθῆναι.
ἡ δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν, ὃν φίλον υἱόν·
οὐκ οἴη· ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα·
ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.
τῶν δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατʼ, ἔρῳ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἔθελχθεν,
πάντες δʼ ἠρήσαντο παραὶ λεχέεσσι κλιθῆναι.
ἡ δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν, ὃν φίλον υἱόν·
"Telemachus, your wits and your judgement are no longer steady.
While you were still a child you handled your affairs with more sense;
but now, when you are grown and have come to the measure of your youth,
and a man from outside, looking at your stature and your beauty,
would say you were the son of a prosperous man,
your wits and your judgement are no longer right.
What a thing this is that has been done in the halls,
that you let the stranger be so shamefully used.
How would it be now, if a stranger sitting in our house
were to suffer so from cruel manhandling?
Shame and disgrace would be yours among men."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
While you were still a child you handled your affairs with more sense;
but now, when you are grown and have come to the measure of your youth,
and a man from outside, looking at your stature and your beauty,
would say you were the son of a prosperous man,
your wits and your judgement are no longer right.
What a thing this is that has been done in the halls,
that you let the stranger be so shamefully used.
How would it be now, if a stranger sitting in our house
were to suffer so from cruel manhandling?
Shame and disgrace would be yours among men."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐκέτι τοι φρένες ἔμπεδοι οὐδὲ νόημα·
παῖς ἔτʼ ἐὼν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ κέρδεʼ ἐνώμας·
νῦν δʼ, ὅτε δὴ μέγας ἐσσὶ καὶ ἥβης μέτρον ἱκάνεις,
καί κέν τις φαίη γόνον ἔμμεναι ὀλβίου ἀνδρός,
ἐς μέγεθος καὶ κάλλος ὁρώμενος, ἀλλότριος φώς,
οὐκέτι τοι φρένες εἰσὶν ἐναίσιμοι οὐδὲ νόημα.
οἷον δὴ τόδε ἔργον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐτύχθη,
ὃς τὸν ξεῖνον ἔασας ἀεικισθήμεναι οὕτως.
πῶς νῦν, εἴ τι ξεῖνος ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν
ἥμενος ὧδε πάθοι ῥυστακτύος ἐξ ἀλεγεινῆς;
σοί κʼ αἶσχος λώβη τε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλοιτο.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
παῖς ἔτʼ ἐὼν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ κέρδεʼ ἐνώμας·
νῦν δʼ, ὅτε δὴ μέγας ἐσσὶ καὶ ἥβης μέτρον ἱκάνεις,
καί κέν τις φαίη γόνον ἔμμεναι ὀλβίου ἀνδρός,
ἐς μέγεθος καὶ κάλλος ὁρώμενος, ἀλλότριος φώς,
οὐκέτι τοι φρένες εἰσὶν ἐναίσιμοι οὐδὲ νόημα.
οἷον δὴ τόδε ἔργον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐτύχθη,
ὃς τὸν ξεῖνον ἔασας ἀεικισθήμεναι οὕτως.
πῶς νῦν, εἴ τι ξεῖνος ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν
ἥμενος ὧδε πάθοι ῥυστακτύος ἐξ ἀλεγεινῆς;
σοί κʼ αἶσχος λώβη τε μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλοιτο.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"My mother, I do not blame you for being angry at this;
but I do notice in my spirit and I know each thing,
the good and the worse; before this I was still a child.
Yet I cannot think out everything prudently;
for these men strike me out of my wits, sitting about me on every side,
planning evil, and I have no helpers.
But the fight between the stranger and Irus did not come about
by the will of the suitors, and he was the stronger in force.
Would, father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
that the suitors in our house now
were nodding their heads, beaten down, some in the courtyard
and some inside the house, and that the limbs of each were loosed,
as Irus there sits now at the courtyard gates
nodding his head like a drunken man,
and cannot stand up straight on his feet or go
home, wherever his home is, since his limbs are loosed."
but I do notice in my spirit and I know each thing,
the good and the worse; before this I was still a child.
Yet I cannot think out everything prudently;
for these men strike me out of my wits, sitting about me on every side,
planning evil, and I have no helpers.
But the fight between the stranger and Irus did not come about
by the will of the suitors, and he was the stronger in force.
Would, father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
that the suitors in our house now
were nodding their heads, beaten down, some in the courtyard
and some inside the house, and that the limbs of each were loosed,
as Irus there sits now at the courtyard gates
nodding his head like a drunken man,
and cannot stand up straight on his feet or go
home, wherever his home is, since his limbs are loosed."
μῆτερ ἐμή, τὸ μὲν οὔ σε νεμεσσῶμαι κεχολῶσθαι·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ θυμῷ νοέω καὶ οἶδα ἕκαστα,
ἐσθλά τε καὶ τὰ χέρεια· πάρος δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
ἀλλά τοι οὐ δύναμαι πεπνυμένα πάντα νοῆσαι·
ἐκ γάρ με πλήσσουσι παρήμενοι ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
οἵδε κακὰ φρονέοντες, ἐμοὶ δʼ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀρωγοί.
οὐ μέν τοι ξείνου γε καὶ Ἴρου μῶλος ἐτύχθη
μνηστήρων ἰότητι, βίῃ δʼ ὅ γε φέρτερος ἦεν.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
οὕτω νῦν μνηστῆρες ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι
νεύοιεν κεφαλὰς δεδμημένοι, οἱ μὲν ἐν αὐλῇ,
οἱ δʼ ἔντοσθε δόμοιο, λελῦτο δὲ γυῖα ἑκάστου,
ὡς νῦν Ἶρος κεῖνος ἐπʼ αὐλείῃσι θύρῃσιν
ἧσται νευστάζων κεφαλῇ, μεθύοντι ἐοικώς,
οὐδʼ ὀρθὸς στῆναι δύναται ποσὶν οὐδὲ νέεσθαι
οἴκαδʼ, ὅπη οἱ νόστος, ἐπεὶ φίλα γυῖα λέλυνται.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ θυμῷ νοέω καὶ οἶδα ἕκαστα,
ἐσθλά τε καὶ τὰ χέρεια· πάρος δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
ἀλλά τοι οὐ δύναμαι πεπνυμένα πάντα νοῆσαι·
ἐκ γάρ με πλήσσουσι παρήμενοι ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
οἵδε κακὰ φρονέοντες, ἐμοὶ δʼ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀρωγοί.
οὐ μέν τοι ξείνου γε καὶ Ἴρου μῶλος ἐτύχθη
μνηστήρων ἰότητι, βίῃ δʼ ὅ γε φέρτερος ἦεν.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
οὕτω νῦν μνηστῆρες ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι
νεύοιεν κεφαλὰς δεδμημένοι, οἱ μὲν ἐν αὐλῇ,
οἱ δʼ ἔντοσθε δόμοιο, λελῦτο δὲ γυῖα ἑκάστου,
ὡς νῦν Ἶρος κεῖνος ἐπʼ αὐλείῃσι θύρῃσιν
ἧσται νευστάζων κεφαλῇ, μεθύοντι ἐοικώς,
οὐδʼ ὀρθὸς στῆναι δύναται ποσὶν οὐδὲ νέεσθαι
οἴκαδʼ, ὅπη οἱ νόστος, ἐπεὶ φίλα γυῖα λέλυνται.
So they spoke such things to one another;
and Eurymachus addressed Penelope with words:
and Eurymachus addressed Penelope with words:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα Πηνελόπειαν·
Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα Πηνελόπειαν·
"Daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
if all the Achaeans in Iasian Argos could see you,
still more suitors would be feasting in your halls
from dawn onward, since you surpass all women
in beauty and in stature and in the balanced mind within."
Then circumspect Penelope answered him:
if all the Achaeans in Iasian Argos could see you,
still more suitors would be feasting in your halls
from dawn onward, since you surpass all women
in beauty and in stature and in the balanced mind within."
Then circumspect Penelope answered him:
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,
εἰ πάντες σε ἴδοιεν ἀνʼ Ἴασον Ἄργος Ἀχαιοί,
πλέονές κε μνηστῆρες ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν
ἠῶθεν δαινύατʼ, ἐπεὶ περίεσσι γυναικῶν
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐΐσας.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
εἰ πάντες σε ἴδοιεν ἀνʼ Ἴασον Ἄργος Ἀχαιοί,
πλέονές κε μνηστῆρες ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν
ἠῶθεν δαινύατʼ, ἐπεὶ περίεσσι γυναικῶν
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐΐσας.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Eurymachus, my excellence, my beauty and my form
the immortals destroyed when the Argives went up
to Ilium, and my husband Odysseus went with them.
If he were to come and take up the care of my life,
my glory would be greater then, and finer so.
But now I grieve; so many evils has a god let loose upon me.
the immortals destroyed when the Argives went up
to Ilium, and my husband Odysseus went with them.
If he were to come and take up the care of my life,
my glory would be greater then, and finer so.
But now I grieve; so many evils has a god let loose upon me.
Εὐρύμαχʼ, ἦ τοι ἐμὴν ἀρετὴν εἶδός τε δέμας τε
ὤλεσαν ἀθάνατοι, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον
Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ τοῖσι δʼ ἐμὸς πόσις ᾖεν Ὀδυσσεύς.
εἰ κεῖνός γʼ ἐλθὼν τὸν ἐμὸν βίον ἀμφιπολεύοι,
μεῖζόν κε κλέος εἴη ἐμὸν καὶ κάλλιον οὕτως.
νῦν δʼ ἄχομαι· τόσα γάρ μοι ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.
ὤλεσαν ἀθάνατοι, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον
Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ τοῖσι δʼ ἐμὸς πόσις ᾖεν Ὀδυσσεύς.
εἰ κεῖνός γʼ ἐλθὼν τὸν ἐμὸν βίον ἀμφιπολεύοι,
μεῖζόν κε κλέος εἴη ἐμὸν καὶ κάλλιον οὕτως.
νῦν δʼ ἄχομαι· τόσα γάρ μοι ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.
Truly, when he was going and leaving his native land,
he took me by the right hand at the wrist and said:
he took me by the right hand at the wrist and said:
ἦ μὲν δὴ ὅτε τʼ ᾖε λιπὼν κάτα πατρίδα γαῖαν,
δεξιτερὴν ἐπὶ καρπῷ ἑλὼν ἐμὲ χεῖρα προσηύδα·
δεξιτερὴν ἐπὶ καρπῷ ἑλὼν ἐμὲ χεῖρα προσηύδα·
’Wife, I do not think the well-greaved Achaeans
will all come back from Troy safe and unharmed;
for they say the Trojans are fighting men,
both spearmen and drawers of the bow
and riders of swift-footed horses, who very quickly
decide the great struggle of the war that comes on both alike.
So I do not know whether a god will let me return, or whether I shall be taken
there in Troy; and let all things here be your care.
Remember my father and my mother in the halls
as you do now, or still more, when I am far away;
but when you see our son with the beard upon him,
marry whom you will, and leave your house.’
So he spoke; and now all this is being brought to pass.
There will come a night when the hateful marriage will meet me,
accursed as I am, whose prosperity Zeus has taken away.
But this terrible grief has come upon my heart and my spirit:
this was not the way of suitors in time past.
Those who wish to woo a good woman and the daughter
of a rich man, and to strive with one another,
themselves bring cattle and fat sheep,
a feast for the bride’s friends, and give glorious gifts;
they do not eat another man’s living without payment."
will all come back from Troy safe and unharmed;
for they say the Trojans are fighting men,
both spearmen and drawers of the bow
and riders of swift-footed horses, who very quickly
decide the great struggle of the war that comes on both alike.
So I do not know whether a god will let me return, or whether I shall be taken
there in Troy; and let all things here be your care.
Remember my father and my mother in the halls
as you do now, or still more, when I am far away;
but when you see our son with the beard upon him,
marry whom you will, and leave your house.’
So he spoke; and now all this is being brought to pass.
There will come a night when the hateful marriage will meet me,
accursed as I am, whose prosperity Zeus has taken away.
But this terrible grief has come upon my heart and my spirit:
this was not the way of suitors in time past.
Those who wish to woo a good woman and the daughter
of a rich man, and to strive with one another,
themselves bring cattle and fat sheep,
a feast for the bride’s friends, and give glorious gifts;
they do not eat another man’s living without payment."
ὦ γύναι, οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς
ἐκ Τροίης εὖ πάντας ἀπήμονας ἀπονέεσθαι·
καὶ γὰρ Τρῶάς φασι μαχητὰς ἔμμεναι ἄνδρας,
ἠμὲν ἀκοντιστὰς ἠδὲ ῥυτῆρας ὀϊστῶν
ἵππων τʼ ὠκυπόδων ἐπιβήτορας, οἵ κε τάχιστα
ἔκριναν μέγα νεῖκος ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.
τῷ οὐκ οἶδʼ ἤ κέν μʼ ἀνέσει θεός, ἦ κεν ἁλώω
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ· σοὶ δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντα μελόντων.
μεμνῆσθαι πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ἐν μεγάροισιν
ὡς νῦν, ἢ ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐμεῦ ἀπονόσφιν ἐόντος·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ παῖδα γενειήσαντα ἴδηαι,
γήμασθʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, τεὸν κατὰ δῶμα λιποῦσα.
κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε· τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
νὺξ δʼ ἔσται ὅτε δὴ στυγερὸς γάμος ἀντιβολήσει
οὐλομένης ἐμέθεν, τῆς τε Ζεὺς ὄλβον ἀπηύρα.
ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει·
μνηστήρων οὐχ ἥδε δίκη τὸ πάροιθε τέτυκτο·
οἵ τʼ ἀγαθήν τε γυναῖκα καὶ ἀφνειοῖο θύγατρα
μνηστεύειν ἐθέλωσι καὶ ἀλλήλοις ἐρίσωσιν,
αὐτοὶ τοί γʼ ἀπάγουσι βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
κούρης δαῖτα φίλοισι, καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῦσιν·
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀλλότριον βίοτον νήποινον ἔδουσιν.
ἐκ Τροίης εὖ πάντας ἀπήμονας ἀπονέεσθαι·
καὶ γὰρ Τρῶάς φασι μαχητὰς ἔμμεναι ἄνδρας,
ἠμὲν ἀκοντιστὰς ἠδὲ ῥυτῆρας ὀϊστῶν
ἵππων τʼ ὠκυπόδων ἐπιβήτορας, οἵ κε τάχιστα
ἔκριναν μέγα νεῖκος ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.
τῷ οὐκ οἶδʼ ἤ κέν μʼ ἀνέσει θεός, ἦ κεν ἁλώω
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ· σοὶ δʼ ἐνθάδε πάντα μελόντων.
μεμνῆσθαι πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ἐν μεγάροισιν
ὡς νῦν, ἢ ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐμεῦ ἀπονόσφιν ἐόντος·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ παῖδα γενειήσαντα ἴδηαι,
γήμασθʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, τεὸν κατὰ δῶμα λιποῦσα.
κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε· τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
νὺξ δʼ ἔσται ὅτε δὴ στυγερὸς γάμος ἀντιβολήσει
οὐλομένης ἐμέθεν, τῆς τε Ζεὺς ὄλβον ἀπηύρα.
ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει·
μνηστήρων οὐχ ἥδε δίκη τὸ πάροιθε τέτυκτο·
οἵ τʼ ἀγαθήν τε γυναῖκα καὶ ἀφνειοῖο θύγατρα
μνηστεύειν ἐθέλωσι καὶ ἀλλήλοις ἐρίσωσιν,
αὐτοὶ τοί γʼ ἀπάγουσι βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
κούρης δαῖτα φίλοισι, καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῦσιν·
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀλλότριον βίοτον νήποινον ἔδουσιν.
So she spoke, and long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad,
because she was drawing gifts from them and enchanting their spirit
with soft words, while her mind had other things in view.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to her:
"Daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
as for gifts, whoever of the Achaeans wishes to bring them here,
accept them; for it is not right to refuse a gift;
but we will not go to our work, nor anywhere else,
until you marry whichever of the Achaeans is the best."
because she was drawing gifts from them and enchanting their spirit
with soft words, while her mind had other things in view.
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to her:
"Daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
as for gifts, whoever of the Achaeans wishes to bring them here,
accept them; for it is not right to refuse a gift;
but we will not go to our work, nor anywhere else,
until you marry whichever of the Achaeans is the best."
ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
οὕνεκα τῶν μὲν δῶρα παρέλκετο, θέλγε δὲ θυμὸν
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοίνα.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός,
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,
δῶρα μὲν ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν ἐνθάδʼ ἐνεῖκαι,
δέξασθʼ. οὐ γὰρ καλὸν ἀνήνασθαι δόσιν ἐστίν·
ἡμεῖς δʼ οὔτʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα πάρος γʼ ἴμεν οὔτε πῃ ἄλλῃ,
πρίν γέ σε τῷ γήμασθαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος.
οὕνεκα τῶν μὲν δῶρα παρέλκετο, θέλγε δὲ θυμὸν
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοίνα.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός,
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,
δῶρα μὲν ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν ἐνθάδʼ ἐνεῖκαι,
δέξασθʼ. οὐ γὰρ καλὸν ἀνήνασθαι δόσιν ἐστίν·
ἡμεῖς δʼ οὔτʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα πάρος γʼ ἴμεν οὔτε πῃ ἄλλῃ,
πρίν γέ σε τῷ γήμασθαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος.
So spoke Antinous, and his word pleased them;
and each man sent a herald to fetch his gifts.
For Antinous he brought a great and beautiful robe,
richly worked; and in it were twelve brooches, all
of gold, fitted with well-curved clasps.
And for Eurymachus he brought at once a richly wrought chain,
of gold, strung with amber beads, like the sun.
And for Eurydamas two attendants brought earrings,
with three drops like mulberries; and much grace shone from them.
And from the house of Peisander, the lord, son of Polyctor,
an attendant brought a necklace, a most beautiful ornament.
And each of the Achaeans brought another fine gift.
Then she went up to the upper chamber, noble among women,
and her handmaids carried the beautiful gifts with her.
But they turned themselves to the dance and to lovely song
and took their pleasure, and waited for evening to come.
And as they took their pleasure black evening came upon them.
At once they set up three braziers in the halls
to give light; and about them they put dry wood,
long seasoned and very dry, newly split with the bronze,
and mixed torches among it; and by turns they gave light,
the serving-women of enduring-hearted Odysseus. And among them
Odysseus himself, born of Zeus, of many devices, spoke:
and each man sent a herald to fetch his gifts.
For Antinous he brought a great and beautiful robe,
richly worked; and in it were twelve brooches, all
of gold, fitted with well-curved clasps.
And for Eurymachus he brought at once a richly wrought chain,
of gold, strung with amber beads, like the sun.
And for Eurydamas two attendants brought earrings,
with three drops like mulberries; and much grace shone from them.
And from the house of Peisander, the lord, son of Polyctor,
an attendant brought a necklace, a most beautiful ornament.
And each of the Achaeans brought another fine gift.
Then she went up to the upper chamber, noble among women,
and her handmaids carried the beautiful gifts with her.
But they turned themselves to the dance and to lovely song
and took their pleasure, and waited for evening to come.
And as they took their pleasure black evening came upon them.
At once they set up three braziers in the halls
to give light; and about them they put dry wood,
long seasoned and very dry, newly split with the bronze,
and mixed torches among it; and by turns they gave light,
the serving-women of enduring-hearted Odysseus. And among them
Odysseus himself, born of Zeus, of many devices, spoke:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος·
δῶρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰσέμεναι πρόεσαν κήρυκα ἕκαστος.
Ἀντινόῳ μὲν ἔνεικε μέγαν περικαλλέα πέπλον,
ποικίλον· ἐν δʼ ἀρʼ ἔσαν περόναι δυοκαίδεκα πᾶσαι
χρύσειαι, κληῗσιν ἐϋγνάμπτοις ἀραρυῖαι.
ὅρμον δʼ Εὐρυμάχῳ πολυδαίδαλον αὐτίκʼ ἔνεικε.
χρύσεον, ἠλέκτροισιν ἐερμένον ἠέλιον ὥς.
ἕρματα δʼ Εὐρυδάμαντι δύω θεράποντες ἔνεικαν,
τρίγληνα μορόεντα· χάρις δʼ ἀπελάμπετο πολλή.
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα Πεισάνδροιο Πολυκτορίδαο ἄνακτος
ἴσθμιον ἤνεικεν θεράπων, περικαλλὲς ἄγαλμα.
ἄλλο δʼ ἄρʼ ἄλλος δῶρον Ἀχαιῶν καλὸν ἔνεικεν.
ἡ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀνέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα δῖα γυναικῶν,
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ ἀμφίπολοι ἔφερον περικαλλέα δῶρα
οἱ δʼ εἰς ὀρχηστύν τε καὶ ἱμερόεσσαν ἀοιδὴν
τρεψάμενοι τέρποντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.
τοῖσι δὲ τερπομένοισι μέλας ἐπὶ ἕσπερος ἦλθεν.
αὐτίκα λαμπτῆρας τρεῖς ἵστασαν ἐν μεγάροισιν,
ὄφρα φαείνοιεν· περὶ δὲ ξύλα κάγκανα θῆκαν,
αὖα πάλαι, περίκηλα, νέον κεκεασμένα χαλκῷ,
καὶ δαΐδας μετέμισγον· ἀμοιβηδὶς δʼ ἀνέφαινον
δμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος. αὐτὰρ ὁ τῇσιν
αὐτὸς διογενῆς μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
δῶρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰσέμεναι πρόεσαν κήρυκα ἕκαστος.
Ἀντινόῳ μὲν ἔνεικε μέγαν περικαλλέα πέπλον,
ποικίλον· ἐν δʼ ἀρʼ ἔσαν περόναι δυοκαίδεκα πᾶσαι
χρύσειαι, κληῗσιν ἐϋγνάμπτοις ἀραρυῖαι.
ὅρμον δʼ Εὐρυμάχῳ πολυδαίδαλον αὐτίκʼ ἔνεικε.
χρύσεον, ἠλέκτροισιν ἐερμένον ἠέλιον ὥς.
ἕρματα δʼ Εὐρυδάμαντι δύω θεράποντες ἔνεικαν,
τρίγληνα μορόεντα· χάρις δʼ ἀπελάμπετο πολλή.
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα Πεισάνδροιο Πολυκτορίδαο ἄνακτος
ἴσθμιον ἤνεικεν θεράπων, περικαλλὲς ἄγαλμα.
ἄλλο δʼ ἄρʼ ἄλλος δῶρον Ἀχαιῶν καλὸν ἔνεικεν.
ἡ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀνέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα δῖα γυναικῶν,
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ ἀμφίπολοι ἔφερον περικαλλέα δῶρα
οἱ δʼ εἰς ὀρχηστύν τε καὶ ἱμερόεσσαν ἀοιδὴν
τρεψάμενοι τέρποντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.
τοῖσι δὲ τερπομένοισι μέλας ἐπὶ ἕσπερος ἦλθεν.
αὐτίκα λαμπτῆρας τρεῖς ἵστασαν ἐν μεγάροισιν,
ὄφρα φαείνοιεν· περὶ δὲ ξύλα κάγκανα θῆκαν,
αὖα πάλαι, περίκηλα, νέον κεκεασμένα χαλκῷ,
καὶ δαΐδας μετέμισγον· ἀμοιβηδὶς δʼ ἀνέφαινον
δμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος. αὐτὰρ ὁ τῇσιν
αὐτὸς διογενῆς μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Serving-women of Odysseus, of the master long gone away,
go to the house where the honoured queen is;
twirl the distaff beside her, and give her pleasure
as you sit in her chamber, or card the wool with your hands;
and I will provide light for all these men.
Even if they wish to wait for the fair-throned Dawn,
they will not outlast me; I am a much-enduring man."
go to the house where the honoured queen is;
twirl the distaff beside her, and give her pleasure
as you sit in her chamber, or card the wool with your hands;
and I will provide light for all these men.
Even if they wish to wait for the fair-throned Dawn,
they will not outlast me; I am a much-enduring man."
δμῳαὶ Ὀδυσσῆος, δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ αἰδοίη βασίλεια·
τῇ δὲ παρʼ ἠλάκατα στροφαλίζετε, τέρπετε δʼ αὐτὴν
ἥμεναι ἐν μεγάρῳ, ἢ εἴρια πείκετε χερσίν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τούτοισι φάος πάντεσσι παρέξω.
ἤν περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλωσιν ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ μίμνειν,
οὔ τί με νικήσουσι· πολυτλήμων δὲ μάλʼ εἰμί.
ἔρχεσθε πρὸς δώμαθʼ, ἵνʼ αἰδοίη βασίλεια·
τῇ δὲ παρʼ ἠλάκατα στροφαλίζετε, τέρπετε δʼ αὐτὴν
ἥμεναι ἐν μεγάρῳ, ἢ εἴρια πείκετε χερσίν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τούτοισι φάος πάντεσσι παρέξω.
ἤν περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλωσιν ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ μίμνειν,
οὔ τί με νικήσουσι· πολυτλήμων δὲ μάλʼ εἰμί.
So he spoke, and they laughed and looked at one another.
But Melantho of the fair cheeks abused him shamefully,
whom Dolius had fathered, but Penelope had brought up
and cared for as her own child and gave her toys to please her;
yet even so she had no grief in her heart for Penelope,
but she used to lie with Eurymachus and loved him.
She then abused Odysseus with words of reproach:
"Wretched stranger, you must be out of your wits altogether,
since you will not go and sleep in a smithy
or in some public lodge, but talk on and on here,
boldly among many men, and are not afraid at all
in your spirit. Surely wine has hold of your wits, or else your mind
is always like this; and so you babble empty things.
Are you beside yourself because you beat Irus the wanderer?
Beware lest some better man than Irus soon rise up against you,
who will beat you about the head with his heavy hands
and send you out of the house, all fouled with blood."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to her:
But Melantho of the fair cheeks abused him shamefully,
whom Dolius had fathered, but Penelope had brought up
and cared for as her own child and gave her toys to please her;
yet even so she had no grief in her heart for Penelope,
but she used to lie with Eurymachus and loved him.
She then abused Odysseus with words of reproach:
"Wretched stranger, you must be out of your wits altogether,
since you will not go and sleep in a smithy
or in some public lodge, but talk on and on here,
boldly among many men, and are not afraid at all
in your spirit. Surely wine has hold of your wits, or else your mind
is always like this; and so you babble empty things.
Are you beside yourself because you beat Irus the wanderer?
Beware lest some better man than Irus soon rise up against you,
who will beat you about the head with his heavy hands
and send you out of the house, all fouled with blood."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to her:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δʼ ἐγέλασσαν, ἐς ἀλλήλας δὲ ἴδοντο.
τὸν δʼ αἰσχρῶς ἐνένιπε Μελανθὼ καλλιπάρῃος,
τὴν Δολίος μὲν ἔτικτε, κόμισσε δὲ Πηνελόπεια,
παῖδα δὲ ὣς ἀτίταλλε, δίδου δʼ ἄρʼ ἀθύρματα θυμῷ·
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς ἔχε πένθος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ Πηνελοπείης,
ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ Εὐρυμάχῳ μισγέσκετο καὶ φιλέεσκεν.
ἥ ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνένιπεν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν·
ξεῖνε τάλαν, σύ γέ τις φρένας ἐκπεπαταγμένος ἐσσί,
οὐδʼ ἐθέλεις εὕδειν χαλκήϊον ἐς δόμον ἐλθών,
ἠέ που ἐς λέσχην, ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδε πόλλʼ ἀγορεύεις,
θαρσαλέως πολλοῖσι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
ταρβεῖς· ἦ ῥά σε οἶνος ἔχει φρένας, ἤ νύ τοι αἰεὶ
τοιοῦτος νόος ἐστίν· ὃ καὶ μεταμώνια βάζεις.
ἦ ἀλύεις, ὅτι Ἶρον ἐνίκησας τὸν ἀλήτην;
μή τίς τοι τάχα Ἴρου ἀμείνων ἄλλος ἀναστῇ,
ὅς τίς σʼ ἀμφὶ κάρη κεκοπὼς χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι
δώματος ἐκπέμψῃσι, φορύξας αἵματι πολλῷ.
τὴν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
τὸν δʼ αἰσχρῶς ἐνένιπε Μελανθὼ καλλιπάρῃος,
τὴν Δολίος μὲν ἔτικτε, κόμισσε δὲ Πηνελόπεια,
παῖδα δὲ ὣς ἀτίταλλε, δίδου δʼ ἄρʼ ἀθύρματα θυμῷ·
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς ἔχε πένθος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ Πηνελοπείης,
ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ Εὐρυμάχῳ μισγέσκετο καὶ φιλέεσκεν.
ἥ ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνένιπεν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν·
ξεῖνε τάλαν, σύ γέ τις φρένας ἐκπεπαταγμένος ἐσσί,
οὐδʼ ἐθέλεις εὕδειν χαλκήϊον ἐς δόμον ἐλθών,
ἠέ που ἐς λέσχην, ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδε πόλλʼ ἀγορεύεις,
θαρσαλέως πολλοῖσι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
ταρβεῖς· ἦ ῥά σε οἶνος ἔχει φρένας, ἤ νύ τοι αἰεὶ
τοιοῦτος νόος ἐστίν· ὃ καὶ μεταμώνια βάζεις.
ἦ ἀλύεις, ὅτι Ἶρον ἐνίκησας τὸν ἀλήτην;
μή τίς τοι τάχα Ἴρου ἀμείνων ἄλλος ἀναστῇ,
ὅς τίς σʼ ἀμφὶ κάρη κεκοπὼς χερσὶ στιβαρῇσι
δώματος ἐκπέμψῃσι, φορύξας αἵματι πολλῷ.
τὴν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"I shall soon go and tell Telemachus, you bitch, what you say,
so that he may cut you limb from limb where you stand."
so that he may cut you limb from limb where you stand."
ἦ τάχα Τηλεμάχῳ ἐρέω, κύον, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,
κεῖσʼ ἐλθών, ἵνα σʼ αὖθι διὰ μελεϊστὶ τάμῃσιν.
κεῖσʼ ἐλθών, ἵνα σʼ αὖθι διὰ μελεϊστὶ τάμῃσιν.
So saying he scared the women off with his words.
They went off through the house, and the limbs of each were loosed
with terror; for they thought he spoke the truth.
But he took his stand by the burning braziers,
giving light, and looking at them all; and his heart
was busy with other things in his mind, which did not go unfulfilled.
And Athena would not let the lordly suitors
hold back at all from heart-galling outrage, so that grief
might sink still deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes.
And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak among them,
mocking Odysseus; and he raised a laugh among his companions:
"Hear me, you suitors of the glorious queen,
while I say what the spirit in my breast bids me.
Not without a god has this man come to the house of Odysseus;
at any rate the gleam of the torches seems to me to come from him,
from his head, since there are no hairs on it, not even a few."
They went off through the house, and the limbs of each were loosed
with terror; for they thought he spoke the truth.
But he took his stand by the burning braziers,
giving light, and looking at them all; and his heart
was busy with other things in his mind, which did not go unfulfilled.
And Athena would not let the lordly suitors
hold back at all from heart-galling outrage, so that grief
might sink still deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes.
And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak among them,
mocking Odysseus; and he raised a laugh among his companions:
"Hear me, you suitors of the glorious queen,
while I say what the spirit in my breast bids me.
Not without a god has this man come to the house of Odysseus;
at any rate the gleam of the torches seems to me to come from him,
from his head, since there are no hairs on it, not even a few."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπέεσσι διεπτοίησε γυναῖκας.
βὰν δʼ ἴμεναι διὰ δῶμα, λύθεν δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστης
ταρβοσύνῃ· φὰν γάρ μιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πὰρ λαμπτῆρσι φαείνων αἰθομένοισιν
ἑστήκειν ἐς πάντας ὁρώμενος· ἄλλα δέ οἱ κῆρ
ὥρμαινε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν, ἅ ῥʼ οὐκ ἀτέλεστα γένοντο.
μνηστῆρας δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἀγήνορας εἴα Ἀθήνη
λώβης ἴσχεσθαι θυμαλγέος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον
δύη ἄχος κραδίην Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν,
κερτομέων Ὀδυσῆα· γέλω δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἔτευχε.
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
οὐκ ἀθεεὶ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ Ὀδυσήϊον ἐς δόμον ἵκει·
ἔμπης μοι δοκέει δαίδων σέλας ἔμμεναι αὐτοῦ
κὰκ κεφαλῆς, ἐπεὶ οὔ οἱ ἔνι τρίχες οὐδʼ ἠβαιαί.
βὰν δʼ ἴμεναι διὰ δῶμα, λύθεν δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστης
ταρβοσύνῃ· φὰν γάρ μιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὁ πὰρ λαμπτῆρσι φαείνων αἰθομένοισιν
ἑστήκειν ἐς πάντας ὁρώμενος· ἄλλα δέ οἱ κῆρ
ὥρμαινε φρεσὶν ᾗσιν, ἅ ῥʼ οὐκ ἀτέλεστα γένοντο.
μνηστῆρας δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἀγήνορας εἴα Ἀθήνη
λώβης ἴσχεσθαι θυμαλγέος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον
δύη ἄχος κραδίην Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν,
κερτομέων Ὀδυσῆα· γέλω δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἔτευχε.
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης,
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
οὐκ ἀθεεὶ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ Ὀδυσήϊον ἐς δόμον ἵκει·
ἔμπης μοι δοκέει δαίδων σέλας ἔμμεναι αὐτοῦ
κὰκ κεφαλῆς, ἐπεὶ οὔ οἱ ἔνι τρίχες οὐδʼ ἠβαιαί.
He spoke, and at the same time addressed Odysseus the sacker of cities:
ἦ ῥʼ, ἅμα τε προσέειπεν Ὀδυσσῆα πτολίπορθον·
"Stranger, would you be willing to work for hire, if I took you on,
on an outlying farm, and your wage would be sufficient,
gathering stones for walls and planting tall trees?
There I would provide you with bread the year round
and clothe you with garments and give you sandals for your feet.
But since you have learned only evil ways, you will not be willing
to set your hand to work, but would rather cringe through the land
and beg, so that you may have wherewith to feed your insatiable belly."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
on an outlying farm, and your wage would be sufficient,
gathering stones for walls and planting tall trees?
There I would provide you with bread the year round
and clothe you with garments and give you sandals for your feet.
But since you have learned only evil ways, you will not be willing
to set your hand to work, but would rather cringe through the land
and beg, so that you may have wherewith to feed your insatiable belly."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ ἄρ κʼ ἐθέλοις θητευέμεν, εἴ σʼ ἀνελοίμην,
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς—μισθὸς δέ τοι ἄρκιος ἔσται—
αἱμασιάς τε λέγων καὶ δένδρεα μακρὰ φυτεύων;
ἔνθα κʼ ἐγὼ σῖτον μὲν ἐπηετανὸν παρέχοιμι,
εἵματα δʼ ἀμφιέσαιμι ποσίν θʼ ὑποδήματα δοίην.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκʼ ἔμμαθες, οὐκ ἐθελήσεις
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσειν κατὰ δῆμον
βούλεαι, ὄφρʼ ἄν ἔχῃς βόσκειν σὴν γαστέρʼ ἄναλτον.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιῆς—μισθὸς δέ τοι ἄρκιος ἔσται—
αἱμασιάς τε λέγων καὶ δένδρεα μακρὰ φυτεύων;
ἔνθα κʼ ἐγὼ σῖτον μὲν ἐπηετανὸν παρέχοιμι,
εἵματα δʼ ἀμφιέσαιμι ποσίν θʼ ὑποδήματα δοίην.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δὴ ἔργα κάκʼ ἔμμαθες, οὐκ ἐθελήσεις
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ πτώσσειν κατὰ δῆμον
βούλεαι, ὄφρʼ ἄν ἔχῃς βόσκειν σὴν γαστέρʼ ἄναλτον.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Eurymachus, if only there could be a contest of work between us
in the spring season, when the days are long,
in the meadow grass, and I had a well-curved sickle
and you had such another, so that we might make trial of the work
fasting until late dusk, and there was grass at hand;
or again if there were oxen to drive, the best there are,
tawny and great, both of them well fed on grass,
of the same age and pulling alike, whose strength is not to be worn out,
and there were four acres, and the clod gave way under the plough:
then you would see me, whether I could cut a straight furrow the whole way.
Or again if the son of Cronos should stir up war somewhere
today, and I had a shield and two spears
and a helmet all of bronze, fitted to my temples:
then you would see me mingling among the foremost fighters,
and you would not speak and reproach me with my belly.
But you are exceedingly insolent, and your mind is harsh;
and you fancy yourself, I suppose, a great and mighty man,
because you keep company with few men, and those not good.
But if Odysseus should come and reach his native land,
these doorways here, wide as they are,
would soon be too narrow for you as you fled out through the doorway."
in the spring season, when the days are long,
in the meadow grass, and I had a well-curved sickle
and you had such another, so that we might make trial of the work
fasting until late dusk, and there was grass at hand;
or again if there were oxen to drive, the best there are,
tawny and great, both of them well fed on grass,
of the same age and pulling alike, whose strength is not to be worn out,
and there were four acres, and the clod gave way under the plough:
then you would see me, whether I could cut a straight furrow the whole way.
Or again if the son of Cronos should stir up war somewhere
today, and I had a shield and two spears
and a helmet all of bronze, fitted to my temples:
then you would see me mingling among the foremost fighters,
and you would not speak and reproach me with my belly.
But you are exceedingly insolent, and your mind is harsh;
and you fancy yourself, I suppose, a great and mighty man,
because you keep company with few men, and those not good.
But if Odysseus should come and reach his native land,
these doorways here, wide as they are,
would soon be too narrow for you as you fled out through the doorway."
Εὐρύμαχʼ, εἰ γὰρ νῶϊν ἔρις ἔργοιο γένοιτο
ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τʼ ἤματα μακρὰ πέλονται,
ἐν ποίῃ, δρέπανον μὲν ἐγὼν εὐκαμπὲς ἔχοιμι,
καὶ δὲ σὺ τοῖον ἔχοις, ἵνα πειρησαίμεθα ἔργου
νήστιες ἄχρι μάλα κνέφαος, ποίη δὲ παρείη.
εἰ δʼ αὖ καὶ βόες εἶεν ἐλαυνέμεν, οἵ περ ἄριστοι,
αἴθωνες, μεγάλοι, ἄμφω κεκορηότε ποίης,
ἥλικες, ἰσοφόροι, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν,
τετράγυον δʼ εἴη, εἴκοι δʼ ὑπὸ βῶλος ἀρότρῳ·
τῷ κέ μʼ ἴδοις, εἰ ὦλκα διηνεκέα προταμοίμην.
εἰ δʼ αὖ καὶ πόλεμόν ποθεν ὁρμήσειε Κρονίων
σήμερον, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ σάκος εἴη καὶ δύο δοῦρε
καὶ κυνέη πάγχαλκος, ἐπὶ κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖα,
τῷ κέ μʼ ἴδοις πρώτοισιν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι μιγέντα,
οὐδʼ ἄν μοι τὴν γαστέρʼ ὀνειδίζων ἀγορεύοις.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὑβρίξεις, καί τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής·
καί πού τις δοκέεις μέγας ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ κραταιός,
οὕνεκα πὰρ παύροισι καὶ οὐκ ἀγαθοῖσιν ὁμιλεῖς.
εἰ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
αἶψά κέ τοι τὰ θύρετρα, καὶ εὐρέα περ μάλʼ ἐόντα,
φεύγοντι στείνοιτο διὲκ προθύροιο θύραζε.
ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τʼ ἤματα μακρὰ πέλονται,
ἐν ποίῃ, δρέπανον μὲν ἐγὼν εὐκαμπὲς ἔχοιμι,
καὶ δὲ σὺ τοῖον ἔχοις, ἵνα πειρησαίμεθα ἔργου
νήστιες ἄχρι μάλα κνέφαος, ποίη δὲ παρείη.
εἰ δʼ αὖ καὶ βόες εἶεν ἐλαυνέμεν, οἵ περ ἄριστοι,
αἴθωνες, μεγάλοι, ἄμφω κεκορηότε ποίης,
ἥλικες, ἰσοφόροι, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν,
τετράγυον δʼ εἴη, εἴκοι δʼ ὑπὸ βῶλος ἀρότρῳ·
τῷ κέ μʼ ἴδοις, εἰ ὦλκα διηνεκέα προταμοίμην.
εἰ δʼ αὖ καὶ πόλεμόν ποθεν ὁρμήσειε Κρονίων
σήμερον, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ σάκος εἴη καὶ δύο δοῦρε
καὶ κυνέη πάγχαλκος, ἐπὶ κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖα,
τῷ κέ μʼ ἴδοις πρώτοισιν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι μιγέντα,
οὐδʼ ἄν μοι τὴν γαστέρʼ ὀνειδίζων ἀγορεύοις.
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὑβρίξεις, καί τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής·
καί πού τις δοκέεις μέγας ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ κραταιός,
οὕνεκα πὰρ παύροισι καὶ οὐκ ἀγαθοῖσιν ὁμιλεῖς.
εἰ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
αἶψά κέ τοι τὰ θύρετρα, καὶ εὐρέα περ μάλʼ ἐόντα,
φεύγοντι στείνοιτο διὲκ προθύροιο θύραζε.
So he spoke, and Eurymachus grew still angrier at heart,
and with a dark look he addressed him with winged words:
and with a dark look he addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἐχολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Ah wretch, I shall soon work you evil, for the things you say
boldly among many men, and you are not afraid at all
in your spirit. Surely wine has hold of your wits, or else your mind
is always like this; and so you babble empty things.
Are you beside yourself because you beat Irus the wanderer?"
boldly among many men, and you are not afraid at all
in your spirit. Surely wine has hold of your wits, or else your mind
is always like this; and so you babble empty things.
Are you beside yourself because you beat Irus the wanderer?"
ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ τάχα τοι τελέω κακόν, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις
θαρσαλέως πολλοῖσι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
ταρβεῖς· ἦ ῥά σε οἶνος ἔχει φρένας, ἤ νύ τοι αἰεὶ
τοιοῦτος νόος ἐστίν· ὃ καὶ μεταμώνια βάζεις.
ἦ ἀλύεις, ὅτι Ἶρον ἐνίκησας τὸν ἀλήτην;
θαρσαλέως πολλοῖσι μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
ταρβεῖς· ἦ ῥά σε οἶνος ἔχει φρένας, ἤ νύ τοι αἰεὶ
τοιοῦτος νόος ἐστίν· ὃ καὶ μεταμώνια βάζεις.
ἦ ἀλύεις, ὅτι Ἶρον ἐνίκησας τὸν ἀλήτην;
So saying he seized a footstool; but Odysseus
sat down at the knees of Amphinomus of Dulichium,
in fear of Eurymachus; and he struck the wine-pourer on the right
hand; and the jug fell ringing to the ground,
and the man cried out and fell backward in the dust.
And the suitors made an uproar through the shadowy halls,
and one would say, looking at his neighbour:
"I wish this stranger had perished somewhere else in his wandering
before he came; then he would not have raised so great an uproar.
Now we are quarrelling about beggars, and there will be no pleasure
in the good feast, since the worse things are winning."
And the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them:
"Strange men, you are mad, and no longer hide in your spirit
your eating and your drinking; some god is stirring you.
But when you have feasted well, go home and lie down,
whenever your spirit bids you; I drive no man out."
sat down at the knees of Amphinomus of Dulichium,
in fear of Eurymachus; and he struck the wine-pourer on the right
hand; and the jug fell ringing to the ground,
and the man cried out and fell backward in the dust.
And the suitors made an uproar through the shadowy halls,
and one would say, looking at his neighbour:
"I wish this stranger had perished somewhere else in his wandering
before he came; then he would not have raised so great an uproar.
Now we are quarrelling about beggars, and there will be no pleasure
in the good feast, since the worse things are winning."
And the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them:
"Strange men, you are mad, and no longer hide in your spirit
your eating and your drinking; some god is stirring you.
But when you have feasted well, go home and lie down,
whenever your spirit bids you; I drive no man out."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας σφέλας ἔλλαβεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
Ἀμφινόμου πρὸς γοῦνα καθέζετο Δουλιχιῆος,
Εὐρύμαχον δείσας· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οἰνοχόον βάλε χεῖρα
δεξιτερήν· πρόχοος δὲ χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα,
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ οἰμώξας πέσεν ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα,
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
αἴθʼ ὤφελλʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἀλώμενος ἄλλοθʼ ὀλέσθαι
πρὶν ἐλθεῖν· τῷ οὔ τι τόσον κέλαδον μετέθηκε.
νῦν δὲ περὶ πτωχῶν ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς
ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο
δαιμόνιοι, μαίνεσθε καὶ οὐκέτι κεύθετε θυμῷ
βρωτὺν οὐδὲ ποτῆτα· θεῶν νύ τις ὔμμʼ ὀροθύνει.
ἀλλʼ εὖ δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες,
ὁππότε θυμὸς ἄνωγε· διώκω δʼ οὔ τινʼ ἐγώ γε.
Ἀμφινόμου πρὸς γοῦνα καθέζετο Δουλιχιῆος,
Εὐρύμαχον δείσας· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οἰνοχόον βάλε χεῖρα
δεξιτερήν· πρόχοος δὲ χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα,
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ οἰμώξας πέσεν ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα,
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
αἴθʼ ὤφελλʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἀλώμενος ἄλλοθʼ ὀλέσθαι
πρὶν ἐλθεῖν· τῷ οὔ τι τόσον κέλαδον μετέθηκε.
νῦν δὲ περὶ πτωχῶν ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς
ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο
δαιμόνιοι, μαίνεσθε καὶ οὐκέτι κεύθετε θυμῷ
βρωτὺν οὐδὲ ποτῆτα· θεῶν νύ τις ὔμμʼ ὀροθύνει.
ἀλλʼ εὖ δαισάμενοι κατακείετε οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες,
ὁππότε θυμὸς ἄνωγε· διώκω δʼ οὔ τινʼ ἐγώ γε.
So he spoke, and they all bit their lips
and marvelled at Telemachus, because he spoke boldly.
And Amphinomus rose and spoke among them,
the glorious son of Nisus, the lord who was son of Aretias:
"Friends, no one should be angry at what has been justly said
and attack it with hostile words;
do not knock the stranger about, nor any other
of the servants who are in the house of divine Odysseus.
But come, let the wine-pourer pour the first drops into the cups,
so that when we have made libation we may go home and lie down;
and let us leave the stranger in the halls of Odysseus
for Telemachus to care for; it is to his house that he has come."
and marvelled at Telemachus, because he spoke boldly.
And Amphinomus rose and spoke among them,
the glorious son of Nisus, the lord who was son of Aretias:
"Friends, no one should be angry at what has been justly said
and attack it with hostile words;
do not knock the stranger about, nor any other
of the servants who are in the house of divine Odysseus.
But come, let the wine-pourer pour the first drops into the cups,
so that when we have made libation we may go home and lie down;
and let us leave the stranger in the halls of Odysseus
for Telemachus to care for; it is to his house that he has come."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι φύντες
Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευε.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε
Νίσου φαίδιμος υἱός, Ἀρητιάδαο ἄνακτος·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἐπὶ ῥηθέντι δικαίῳ
ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος χαλεπαίνοι·
μήτε τι τὸν ξεῖνον στυφελίζετε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,
ὄφρα σπείσαντες κατακείομεν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·
τὸν ξεῖνον δὲ ἐῶμεν ἐνὶ μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος
Τηλεμάχῳ μελέμεν· τοῦ γὰρ φίλον ἵκετο δῶμα.
Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευε.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε
Νίσου φαίδιμος υἱός, Ἀρητιάδαο ἄνακτος·
ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἐπὶ ῥηθέντι δικαίῳ
ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος χαλεπαίνοι·
μήτε τι τὸν ξεῖνον στυφελίζετε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,
ὄφρα σπείσαντες κατακείομεν οἴκαδʼ ἰόντες·
τὸν ξεῖνον δὲ ἐῶμεν ἐνὶ μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος
Τηλεμάχῳ μελέμεν· τοῦ γὰρ φίλον ἵκετο δῶμα.
So he spoke, and the word he said pleased them all.
And the hero Mulius mixed the bowl for them,
a herald of Dulichium; he was an attendant of Amphinomus;
and he served them all, standing beside each; and they made libation
to the blessed gods and drank the honey-sweet wine.
But when they had made libation and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
they went off, each to his own house, to lie down.
And the hero Mulius mixed the bowl for them,
a herald of Dulichium; he was an attendant of Amphinomus;
and he served them all, standing beside each; and they made libation
to the blessed gods and drank the honey-sweet wine.
But when they had made libation and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
they went off, each to his own house, to lie down.
ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ἑαδότα μῦθον ἔειπε.
τοῖσιν δὲ κρητῆρα κεράσσατο Μούλιος ἥρως,
κῆρυξ Δουλιχιεύς· θεράπων δʼ ἦν Ἀμφινόμοιο·
νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσι
σπείσαντες μακάρεσσι πίον μελιηδέα οἶνον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
βάν ῥʼ ἴμεναι κείοντες ἑὰ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἕκαστος.
τοῖσιν δὲ κρητῆρα κεράσσατο Μούλιος ἥρως,
κῆρυξ Δουλιχιεύς· θεράπων δʼ ἦν Ἀμφινόμοιο·
νώμησεν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπισταδόν· οἱ δὲ θεοῖσι
σπείσαντες μακάρεσσι πίον μελιηδέα οἶνον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
βάν ῥʼ ἴμεναι κείοντες ἑὰ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἕκαστος.
Book 19
The long night interview: Penelope and the beggar, who tells her Odysseus is near. The old nurse Eurycleia, washing his feet, finds the boar-scar and is silenced with a hand at her throat. Penelope resolves on the contest of the bow.
But noble Odysseus was left behind in the hall,
pondering with Athena the slaying of the suitors;
and at once he addressed Telemachus with winged words:
pondering with Athena the slaying of the suitors;
and at once he addressed Telemachus with winged words:
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
μνηστήρεσσι φόνον σὺν Ἀθήνῃ μερμηρίζων·
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
μνηστήρεσσι φόνον σὺν Ἀθήνῃ μερμηρίζων·
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Telemachus, the weapons of Ares must be laid away inside,
every one of them; and the suitors, with gentle words,
you are to put off, when they miss them and question you:
’I laid them away out of the smoke, since they no longer looked
like those Odysseus left behind when he went to Troy,
but are spoiled, so far as the breath of the fire has reached them.
And besides this a god put a greater fear in my mind,
that you might quarrel among yourselves in your wine
and wound one another and shame the feast
and the wooing; for iron of itself draws a man on.’"
every one of them; and the suitors, with gentle words,
you are to put off, when they miss them and question you:
’I laid them away out of the smoke, since they no longer looked
like those Odysseus left behind when he went to Troy,
but are spoiled, so far as the breath of the fire has reached them.
And besides this a god put a greater fear in my mind,
that you might quarrel among yourselves in your wine
and wound one another and shame the feast
and the wooing; for iron of itself draws a man on.’"
Τηλέμαχε, χρὴ τεύχεʼ ἀρήϊα κατθέμεν εἴσω
πάντα μάλʼ· αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι
παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·
ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκει
οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετʼ ἀϋτμή.
πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἔβαλε δαίμων
μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,
ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτα
καὶ μνηστύν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.
πάντα μάλʼ· αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι
παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·
ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκει
οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετʼ ἀϋτμή.
πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἔβαλε δαίμων
μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,
ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτα
καὶ μνηστύν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.
So he spoke, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father,
and called out the nurse Eurycleia and said to her:
and called out the nurse Eurycleia and said to her:
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,
ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·
ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·
"Nurse, come, keep the women shut in the halls for me,
until I lay away in the chamber my father’s fine
gear, which lies about the house uncared for and the smoke tarnishes it,
since my father went away; and I was still a child.
But now I wish to lay it away where the breath of the fire will not reach it."
Then the dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
until I lay away in the chamber my father’s fine
gear, which lies about the house uncared for and the smoke tarnishes it,
since my father went away; and I was still a child.
But now I wish to lay it away where the breath of the fire will not reach it."
Then the dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
μαῖʼ, ἄγε δή μοι ἔρυξον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκας,
ὄφρα κεν ἐς θάλαμον καταθείομαι ἔντεα πατρὸς
καλά, τά μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἀκηδέα καπνὸς ἀμέρδει
πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο· ἐγὼ δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
νῦν δʼ ἐθέλω καταθέσθαι, ἵνʼ οὐ πυρὸς ἵξετʼ ἀϋτμή.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
ὄφρα κεν ἐς θάλαμον καταθείομαι ἔντεα πατρὸς
καλά, τά μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἀκηδέα καπνὸς ἀμέρδει
πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο· ἐγὼ δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
νῦν δʼ ἐθέλω καταθέσθαι, ἵνʼ οὐ πυρὸς ἵξετʼ ἀϋτμή.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
"If only, child, you would take up good sense at last,
to care for the house and guard all its possessions.
But come, who will then go with you and carry the light?
You would not let the serving-women come out, who would have lit the way."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
to care for the house and guard all its possessions.
But come, who will then go with you and carry the light?
You would not let the serving-women come out, who would have lit the way."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
αἲ γὰρ δή ποτε, τέκνον, ἐπιφροσύνας ἀνέλοιο
οἴκου κήδεσθαι καὶ κτήματα πάντα φυλάσσειν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, τίς τοι ἔπειτα μετοιχομένη φάος οἴσει;
δμῳὰς δʼ οὐκ εἴας προβλωσκέμεν, αἵ κεν ἔφαινον.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
οἴκου κήδεσθαι καὶ κτήματα πάντα φυλάσσειν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, τίς τοι ἔπειτα μετοιχομένη φάος οἴσει;
δμῳὰς δʼ οὐκ εἴας προβλωσκέμεν, αἵ κεν ἔφαινον.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"This stranger; for I will not put up with an idle man who touches
my measure of meal, even if he has come from far away."
my measure of meal, even if he has come from far away."
ξεῖνος ὅδʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἀεργὸν ἀνέξομαι ὅς κεν ἐμῆς γε
χοίνικος ἅπτηται, καὶ τηλόθεν εἰληλουθώς.
χοίνικος ἅπτηται, καὶ τηλόθεν εἰληλουθώς.
So he spoke, and her word stayed unwinged.
And she shut the doors of the well-built halls.
Then the two sprang up, Odysseus and his glorious son,
and carried in the helmets and the bossed shields
and the sharp spears; and before them Pallas Athena,
holding a golden lamp, made a most beautiful light.
Then Telemachus suddenly spoke to his father:
And she shut the doors of the well-built halls.
Then the two sprang up, Odysseus and his glorious son,
and carried in the helmets and the bossed shields
and the sharp spears; and before them Pallas Athena,
holding a golden lamp, made a most beautiful light.
Then Telemachus suddenly spoke to his father:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος.
κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.
τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξαντʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱὸς
ἐσφόρεον κόρυθάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας ὀμφαλοέσσας
ἔγχεά τʼ ὀξυόεντα· πάροιθε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,
χρύσεον λύχνον ἔχουσα, φάος περικαλλὲς ἐποίει.
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρʼ αἶψα·
κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.
τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξαντʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱὸς
ἐσφόρεον κόρυθάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας ὀμφαλοέσσας
ἔγχεά τʼ ὀξυόεντα· πάροιθε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,
χρύσεον λύχνον ἔχουσα, φάος περικαλλὲς ἐποίει.
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρʼ αἶψα·
"Father, this is a great wonder that I see with my eyes.
Truly the walls of the hall and the fine panels
and the beams of fir and the pillars that stand high
look to my eyes as if a fire were burning.
Surely some god is within, one of those who hold the wide heaven."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
Truly the walls of the hall and the fine panels
and the beams of fir and the pillars that stand high
look to my eyes as if a fire were burning.
Surely some god is within, one of those who hold the wide heaven."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ὦ πάτερ, ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι.
ἔμπης μοι τοῖχοι μεγάρων καλαί τε μεσόδμαι,
εἰλάτιναί τε δοκοί, καὶ κίονες ὑψόσʼ ἔχοντες
φαίνοντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς ὡς εἰ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο.
ἦ μάλα τις θεὸς ἔνδον, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἔμπης μοι τοῖχοι μεγάρων καλαί τε μεσόδμαι,
εἰλάτιναί τε δοκοί, καὶ κίονες ὑψόσʼ ἔχοντες
φαίνοντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς ὡς εἰ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο.
ἦ μάλα τις θεὸς ἔνδον, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Be quiet, and hold it in your own mind, and do not ask;
this is the way of the gods who hold Olympus.
But do you lie down; and I will stay behind here,
so that I may still stir up the serving-women and your mother;
and she in her grieving will ask me about each thing."
this is the way of the gods who hold Olympus.
But do you lie down; and I will stay behind here,
so that I may still stir up the serving-women and your mother;
and she in her grieving will ask me about each thing."
σίγα καὶ κατὰ σὸν νόον ἴσχανε μηδʼ ἐρέεινε·
αὕτη τοι δίκη ἐστὶ θεῶν, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν κατάλεξαι, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ,
ὄφρα κʼ ἔτι δμῳὰς καὶ μητέρα σὴν ἐρεθίζω·
ἡ δέ μʼ ὀδυρομένη εἰρήσεται ἀμφὶς ἕκαστα.
αὕτη τοι δίκη ἐστὶ θεῶν, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν κατάλεξαι, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ,
ὄφρα κʼ ἔτι δμῳὰς καὶ μητέρα σὴν ἐρεθίζω·
ἡ δέ μʼ ὀδυρομένη εἰρήσεται ἀμφὶς ἕκαστα.
So he spoke, and Telemachus went out through the hall
to lie down in his chamber, by the light of blazing torches,
where he used to sleep whenever sweet sleep came upon him;
there then he lay down and waited for the noble Dawn.
But noble Odysseus was left behind in the hall,
pondering with Athena the slaying of the suitors.
And circumspect Penelope came out of her chamber,
like Artemis or golden Aphrodite.
They set a chair for her at the fire, where she used to sit,
inlaid with ivory and silver; and once the craftsman
Icmalius had made it, and had set a footstool for the feet
joined to it, on which a great fleece was thrown.
There then circumspect Penelope sat down.
And the white-armed serving-women came from the hall.
They took away the abundant bread and the tables
and the cups from which the overbearing men had been drinking;
and they threw the fire from the braziers down on the ground, and heaped
much more wood on them, to give light and warmth.
And Melantho abused Odysseus a second time:
"Stranger, will you still be a nuisance here through the night,
wandering about the house, and eyeing the women?
Get out of doors, wretch, and be content with your dinner;
or you will soon be going out with a firebrand thrown at you."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to her:
to lie down in his chamber, by the light of blazing torches,
where he used to sleep whenever sweet sleep came upon him;
there then he lay down and waited for the noble Dawn.
But noble Odysseus was left behind in the hall,
pondering with Athena the slaying of the suitors.
And circumspect Penelope came out of her chamber,
like Artemis or golden Aphrodite.
They set a chair for her at the fire, where she used to sit,
inlaid with ivory and silver; and once the craftsman
Icmalius had made it, and had set a footstool for the feet
joined to it, on which a great fleece was thrown.
There then circumspect Penelope sat down.
And the white-armed serving-women came from the hall.
They took away the abundant bread and the tables
and the cups from which the overbearing men had been drinking;
and they threw the fire from the braziers down on the ground, and heaped
much more wood on them, to give light and warmth.
And Melantho abused Odysseus a second time:
"Stranger, will you still be a nuisance here through the night,
wandering about the house, and eyeing the women?
Get out of doors, wretch, and be content with your dinner;
or you will soon be going out with a firebrand thrown at you."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to her:
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
κείων ἐς θάλαμον, δαΐδων ὕπο λαμπομενάων,
ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθʼ, ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι·
ἔνθʼ ἄρα καὶ τότʼ ἔλεκτο καὶ Ἠῶ δῖαν ἔμιμνεν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
μνηστήρεσσι φόνον σὺν Ἀθήνῃ μερμηρίζων.
ἡ δʼ ἴεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
Ἀρτέμιδι ἰκέλη ἠὲ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ.
τῇ παρὰ μὲν κλισίην πυρὶ κάτθεσαν, ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ἐφῖζε,
δινωτὴν ἐλέφαντι καὶ ἀργύρῳ· ἥν ποτε τέκτων
ποίησʼ Ἰκμάλιος, καὶ ὑπὸ θρῆνυν ποσὶν ἧκε
προσφυέʼ ἐξ αὐτῆς, ὅθʼ ἐπὶ μέγα βάλλετο κῶας.
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.
ἦλθον δὲ δμῳαὶ λευκώλενοι ἐκ μεγάροιο.
αἱ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν σῖτον πολὺν ᾕρεον ἠδὲ τραπέζας
καὶ δέπα, ἔνθεν ἄρʼ ἄνδρες ὑπερμενέοντες ἔπινον·
πῦρ δʼ ἀπὸ λαμπτήρων χαμάδις βάλον, ἄλλα δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῶν
νήησαν ξύλα πολλά, φόως ἔμεν ἠδὲ θέρεσθαι.
ἡ δʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνένιπε Μελανθὼ δεύτερον αὖτις·
ξεῖνʼ, ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐνθάδʼ ἀνιήσεις διὰ νύκτα
δινεύων κατὰ οἶκον, ὀπιπεύσεις δὲ γυναῖκας;
ἀλλʼ ἔξελθε θύραζε, τάλαν, καὶ δαιτὸς ὄνησο·
ἢ τάχα καὶ δαλῷ βεβλημένος εἶσθα θύραζε.
τὴν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
κείων ἐς θάλαμον, δαΐδων ὕπο λαμπομενάων,
ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθʼ, ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι·
ἔνθʼ ἄρα καὶ τότʼ ἔλεκτο καὶ Ἠῶ δῖαν ἔμιμνεν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
μνηστήρεσσι φόνον σὺν Ἀθήνῃ μερμηρίζων.
ἡ δʼ ἴεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
Ἀρτέμιδι ἰκέλη ἠὲ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ.
τῇ παρὰ μὲν κλισίην πυρὶ κάτθεσαν, ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ἐφῖζε,
δινωτὴν ἐλέφαντι καὶ ἀργύρῳ· ἥν ποτε τέκτων
ποίησʼ Ἰκμάλιος, καὶ ὑπὸ θρῆνυν ποσὶν ἧκε
προσφυέʼ ἐξ αὐτῆς, ὅθʼ ἐπὶ μέγα βάλλετο κῶας.
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.
ἦλθον δὲ δμῳαὶ λευκώλενοι ἐκ μεγάροιο.
αἱ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν σῖτον πολὺν ᾕρεον ἠδὲ τραπέζας
καὶ δέπα, ἔνθεν ἄρʼ ἄνδρες ὑπερμενέοντες ἔπινον·
πῦρ δʼ ἀπὸ λαμπτήρων χαμάδις βάλον, ἄλλα δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῶν
νήησαν ξύλα πολλά, φόως ἔμεν ἠδὲ θέρεσθαι.
ἡ δʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνένιπε Μελανθὼ δεύτερον αὖτις·
ξεῖνʼ, ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐνθάδʼ ἀνιήσεις διὰ νύκτα
δινεύων κατὰ οἶκον, ὀπιπεύσεις δὲ γυναῖκας;
ἀλλʼ ἔξελθε θύραζε, τάλαν, καὶ δαιτὸς ὄνησο·
ἢ τάχα καὶ δαλῷ βεβλημένος εἶσθα θύραζε.
τὴν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Strange woman, why do you attack me so with an angry spirit?
Is it because I am filthy, and wear poor clothing on my body,
and beg through the land? Necessity presses me.
Such are beggars and wandering men.
For I too once lived in a house among men,
a rich man in a rich house, and often gave to a wanderer,
whatever sort he was and with whatever need he came;
and I had servants past counting and much else besides
by which men live well and are called rich.
But Zeus the son of Cronos destroyed it; for so he wished.
So now, woman, take care that you too do not lose all
the fine looks in which you now outshine the serving-women,
in case your mistress grows angry and is harsh with you,
or Odysseus comes; there is still a portion of hope.
But if he has perished so and is coming home no more,
there is already a son of his kind, thanks to Apollo,
Telemachus; and no woman in the halls escapes
his notice in her recklessness, since he is no longer a child."
Is it because I am filthy, and wear poor clothing on my body,
and beg through the land? Necessity presses me.
Such are beggars and wandering men.
For I too once lived in a house among men,
a rich man in a rich house, and often gave to a wanderer,
whatever sort he was and with whatever need he came;
and I had servants past counting and much else besides
by which men live well and are called rich.
But Zeus the son of Cronos destroyed it; for so he wished.
So now, woman, take care that you too do not lose all
the fine looks in which you now outshine the serving-women,
in case your mistress grows angry and is harsh with you,
or Odysseus comes; there is still a portion of hope.
But if he has perished so and is coming home no more,
there is already a son of his kind, thanks to Apollo,
Telemachus; and no woman in the halls escapes
his notice in her recklessness, since he is no longer a child."
δαιμονίη, τί μοι ὧδʼ ἐπέχεις κεκοτηότι θυμῷ;
ἦ ὅτι δὴ ῥυπόω, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷμαι,
πτωχεύω δʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον; ἀναγκαίη γὰρ ἐπείγει.
τοιοῦτοι πτωχοὶ καὶ ἀλήμονες ἄνδρες ἔασι
καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε οἶκον ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔναιον
ὄλβιος ἀφνειὸν καὶ πολλάκι δόσκον ἀλήτῃ,
τοίῳ ὁποῖος ἔοι καὶ ὅτευ κεχρημένος ἔλθοι·
ἦσαν δὲ δμῶες μάλα μυρίοι, ἄλλα τε πολλὰ
οἷσίν τʼ εὖ ζώουσι καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.
ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἀλάπαξε Κρονίων· ἤθελε γάρ που·
τῷ νῦν μήποτε καὶ σύ, γύναι, ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ὀλέσσῃς
ἀγλαΐην, τῇ νῦν γε μετὰ δμῳῇσι κέκασσαι·
μή πώς τοι δέσποινα κοτεσσαμένη χαλεπήνῃ,
ἢ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθῃ· ἔτι γὰρ καὶ ἐλπίδος αἶσα.
εἰ δʼ ὁ μὲν ὣς ἀπόλωλε καὶ οὐκέτι νόστιμός ἐστιν,
ἀλλʼ ἤδη παῖς τοῖος Ἀπόλλωνός γε ἕκητι,
Τηλέμαχος· τὸν δʼ οὔ τις ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναικῶν
λήθει ἀτασθάλλουσʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τηλίκος ἐστίν.
ἦ ὅτι δὴ ῥυπόω, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷμαι,
πτωχεύω δʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον; ἀναγκαίη γὰρ ἐπείγει.
τοιοῦτοι πτωχοὶ καὶ ἀλήμονες ἄνδρες ἔασι
καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε οἶκον ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔναιον
ὄλβιος ἀφνειὸν καὶ πολλάκι δόσκον ἀλήτῃ,
τοίῳ ὁποῖος ἔοι καὶ ὅτευ κεχρημένος ἔλθοι·
ἦσαν δὲ δμῶες μάλα μυρίοι, ἄλλα τε πολλὰ
οἷσίν τʼ εὖ ζώουσι καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.
ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἀλάπαξε Κρονίων· ἤθελε γάρ που·
τῷ νῦν μήποτε καὶ σύ, γύναι, ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ὀλέσσῃς
ἀγλαΐην, τῇ νῦν γε μετὰ δμῳῇσι κέκασσαι·
μή πώς τοι δέσποινα κοτεσσαμένη χαλεπήνῃ,
ἢ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθῃ· ἔτι γὰρ καὶ ἐλπίδος αἶσα.
εἰ δʼ ὁ μὲν ὣς ἀπόλωλε καὶ οὐκέτι νόστιμός ἐστιν,
ἀλλʼ ἤδη παῖς τοῖος Ἀπόλλωνός γε ἕκητι,
Τηλέμαχος· τὸν δʼ οὔ τις ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναικῶν
λήθει ἀτασθάλλουσʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τηλίκος ἐστίν.
So he spoke, and circumspect Penelope heard him,
and rebuked the handmaid, and spoke, and called her by name:
and rebuked the handmaid, and spoke, and called her by name:
ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ ἤκουσε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
ἀμφίπολον δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
ἀμφίπολον δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"Bold creature, shameless bitch, you do not escape me at all
in the great thing you do, which you will wipe off on your own head;
for you knew it all well, since you heard it from me myself,
that I meant to ask the stranger in my halls
about my husband, since I am grievously distressed."
in the great thing you do, which you will wipe off on your own head;
for you knew it all well, since you heard it from me myself,
that I meant to ask the stranger in my halls
about my husband, since I am grievously distressed."
πάντως, θαρσαλέη, κύον ἀδεές, οὔ τί με λήθεις
ἔρδουσα μέγα ἔργον, ὃ σῇ κεφαλῇ ἀναμάξεις·
πάντα γὰρ εὖ ᾔδησθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἐξ ἐμεῦ ἔκλυες αὐτῆς
ὡς τὸν ξεῖνον ἔμελλον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν
ἀμφὶ πόσει εἴρεσθαι, ἐπεὶ πυκινῶς ἀκάχημαι.
ἔρδουσα μέγα ἔργον, ὃ σῇ κεφαλῇ ἀναμάξεις·
πάντα γὰρ εὖ ᾔδησθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἐξ ἐμεῦ ἔκλυες αὐτῆς
ὡς τὸν ξεῖνον ἔμελλον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν
ἀμφὶ πόσει εἴρεσθαι, ἐπεὶ πυκινῶς ἀκάχημαι.
She spoke, and said to Eurynome the housekeeper:
ἦ ῥα καὶ Εὐρυνόμην ταμίην πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"Eurynome, bring a stool and a fleece upon it,
so that the stranger may sit and say his word and hear
mine; for I wish to question him."
so that the stranger may sit and say his word and hear
mine; for I wish to question him."
Εὐρυνόμη, φέρε δὴ δίφρον καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,
ὄφρα καθεζόμενος εἴπῃ ἔπος ἠδʼ ἐπακούσῃ
ὁ ξεῖνος ἐμέθεν· ἐθέλω δέ μιν ἐξερέεσθαι.
ὄφρα καθεζόμενος εἴπῃ ἔπος ἠδʼ ἐπακούσῃ
ὁ ξεῖνος ἐμέθεν· ἐθέλω δέ μιν ἐξερέεσθαι.
So she spoke, and the woman very quickly brought and set down
a polished stool and threw a fleece upon it;
and there then long-suffering noble Odysseus sat down.
And circumspect Penelope was the first to speak among them:
"Stranger, this I will ask you first myself:
who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city, and your parents?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
a polished stool and threw a fleece upon it;
and there then long-suffering noble Odysseus sat down.
And circumspect Penelope was the first to speak among them:
"Stranger, this I will ask you first myself:
who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city, and your parents?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ὀτραλέως κατέθηκε φέρουσα
δίφρον ἐΰξεστον καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῶας ἔβαλλεν·
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σε πρῶτον ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
δίφρον ἐΰξεστον καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῶας ἔβαλλεν·
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σε πρῶτον ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Lady, no mortal upon the boundless earth
could find fault with you; for your glory reaches the wide heaven,
as that of some blameless king, who in the fear of the gods
rules over many strong men
and upholds justice, and the black earth bears
wheat and barley, and the trees are heavy with fruit,
and the flocks bring forth without fail, and the sea gives fish,
out of his good leadership, and the people prosper under him.
So now ask me all other things in your house,
but do not question me about my birth and my native land,
or you will fill my spirit still fuller with pains
as I remember; I am a man of many groans, and I ought not
to sit weeping and lamenting in another man’s house,
since it is worse to grieve unceasingly and without measure;
and one of your serving-women may resent it, or you yourself,
and say I am swimming in tears because my wits are heavy with wine."
Then circumspect Penelope answered him:
could find fault with you; for your glory reaches the wide heaven,
as that of some blameless king, who in the fear of the gods
rules over many strong men
and upholds justice, and the black earth bears
wheat and barley, and the trees are heavy with fruit,
and the flocks bring forth without fail, and the sea gives fish,
out of his good leadership, and the people prosper under him.
So now ask me all other things in your house,
but do not question me about my birth and my native land,
or you will fill my spirit still fuller with pains
as I remember; I am a man of many groans, and I ought not
to sit weeping and lamenting in another man’s house,
since it is worse to grieve unceasingly and without measure;
and one of your serving-women may resent it, or you yourself,
and say I am swimming in tears because my wits are heavy with wine."
Then circumspect Penelope answered him:
ὦ γύναι, οὐκ ἄν τίς σε βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν
νεικέοι· ἦ γάρ σευ κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἱκάνει,
ὥς τέ τευ ἢ βασιλῆος ἀμύμονος, ὅς τε θεουδὴς
ἀνδράσιν ἐν πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἀνάσσων
εὐδικίας ἀνέχῃσι, φέρῃσι δὲ γαῖα μέλαινα
πυροὺς καὶ κριθάς, βρίθῃσι δὲ δένδρεα καρπῷ,
τίκτῃ δʼ ἔμπεδα μῆλα, θάλασσα δὲ παρέχῃ ἰχθῦς
ἐξ εὐηγεσίης, ἀρετῶσι δὲ λαοὶ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ.
τῷ ἐμὲ νῦν τὰ μὲν ἄλλα μετάλλα σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
μηδʼ ἐμὸν ἐξερέεινε γένος καὶ πατρίδα γαῖαν,
μή μοι μᾶλλον θυμὸν ἐνιπλήσῃς ὀδυνάων
μνησαμένῳ μάλα δʼ εἰμὶ πολύστονος· οὐδέ τί με χρὴ
οἴκῳ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ γοόωντά τε μυρόμενόν τε
ἧσθαι, ἐπεὶ κάκιον πενθήμεναι ἄκριτον αἰεί·
μή τίς μοι δμῳῶν νεμεσήσεται, ἠὲ σύ γʼ αὐτή,
φῇ δὲ δακρυπλώειν βεβαρηότα με φρένας οἴνῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
νεικέοι· ἦ γάρ σευ κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἱκάνει,
ὥς τέ τευ ἢ βασιλῆος ἀμύμονος, ὅς τε θεουδὴς
ἀνδράσιν ἐν πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἀνάσσων
εὐδικίας ἀνέχῃσι, φέρῃσι δὲ γαῖα μέλαινα
πυροὺς καὶ κριθάς, βρίθῃσι δὲ δένδρεα καρπῷ,
τίκτῃ δʼ ἔμπεδα μῆλα, θάλασσα δὲ παρέχῃ ἰχθῦς
ἐξ εὐηγεσίης, ἀρετῶσι δὲ λαοὶ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ.
τῷ ἐμὲ νῦν τὰ μὲν ἄλλα μετάλλα σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
μηδʼ ἐμὸν ἐξερέεινε γένος καὶ πατρίδα γαῖαν,
μή μοι μᾶλλον θυμὸν ἐνιπλήσῃς ὀδυνάων
μνησαμένῳ μάλα δʼ εἰμὶ πολύστονος· οὐδέ τί με χρὴ
οἴκῳ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ γοόωντά τε μυρόμενόν τε
ἧσθαι, ἐπεὶ κάκιον πενθήμεναι ἄκριτον αἰεί·
μή τίς μοι δμῳῶν νεμεσήσεται, ἠὲ σύ γʼ αὐτή,
φῇ δὲ δακρυπλώειν βεβαρηότα με φρένας οἴνῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Stranger, my excellence, my beauty and my form
the immortals destroyed when the Argives went up
to Ilium, and my husband Odysseus went with them.
If he were to come and take up the care of my life,
my glory would be greater then, and finer so.
But now I grieve; so many evils has a god let loose upon me.
For all the nobles who hold power over the islands,
over Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus,
and those who dwell about clear-seen Ithaca itself,
these woo me against my will, and waste the house.
So I take no heed of strangers or of suppliants
or of heralds, who work for the people;
but I waste my dear heart away with longing for Odysseus.
And they press on the marriage; and I wind my wiles.
First a god breathed it into my mind to set up a great loom
in the halls and to weave a robe,
fine and very wide; and at once I said to them:
the immortals destroyed when the Argives went up
to Ilium, and my husband Odysseus went with them.
If he were to come and take up the care of my life,
my glory would be greater then, and finer so.
But now I grieve; so many evils has a god let loose upon me.
For all the nobles who hold power over the islands,
over Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus,
and those who dwell about clear-seen Ithaca itself,
these woo me against my will, and waste the house.
So I take no heed of strangers or of suppliants
or of heralds, who work for the people;
but I waste my dear heart away with longing for Odysseus.
And they press on the marriage; and I wind my wiles.
First a god breathed it into my mind to set up a great loom
in the halls and to weave a robe,
fine and very wide; and at once I said to them:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετὴν εἶδός τε δέμας τε
ὤλεσαν ἀθάνατοι, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον
Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ τοῖσι δʼ ἐμὸς πόσις ᾖεν Ὀδυσσεύς
εἰ κεῖνός γʼ ἐλθὼν τὸν ἐμὸν βίον ἀμφιπολεύοι,
μεῖζον κε κλέος εἴη ἐμὸν καὶ κάλλιον οὕτως.
νῦν δʼ ἄχομαι· τόσα γάρ μοι ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.
ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,
Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,
οἵ τʼ αὐτὴν Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον ἀμφινέμονται,
οἵ μʼ ἀεκαζομένην μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.
τῷ οὔτε ξείνων ἐμπάξομαι οὔθʼ ἱκετάων
οὔτε τι κηρύκων, οἳ δημιοεργοὶ ἔασιν·
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσῆ ποθέουσα φίλον κατατήκομαι ἦτορ.
οἱ δὲ γάμον σπεύδουσιν· ἐγὼ δὲ δόλους τολυπεύω.
φᾶρος μέν μοι πρῶτον ἐνέπνευσε φρεσὶ δαίμων,
στησαμένῃ μέγαν ἱστόν, ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὑφαίνειν,
λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δʼ αὐτοῖς μετέειπον·
ὤλεσαν ἀθάνατοι, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον
Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ τοῖσι δʼ ἐμὸς πόσις ᾖεν Ὀδυσσεύς
εἰ κεῖνός γʼ ἐλθὼν τὸν ἐμὸν βίον ἀμφιπολεύοι,
μεῖζον κε κλέος εἴη ἐμὸν καὶ κάλλιον οὕτως.
νῦν δʼ ἄχομαι· τόσα γάρ μοι ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.
ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,
Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,
οἵ τʼ αὐτὴν Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον ἀμφινέμονται,
οἵ μʼ ἀεκαζομένην μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.
τῷ οὔτε ξείνων ἐμπάξομαι οὔθʼ ἱκετάων
οὔτε τι κηρύκων, οἳ δημιοεργοὶ ἔασιν·
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσῆ ποθέουσα φίλον κατατήκομαι ἦτορ.
οἱ δὲ γάμον σπεύδουσιν· ἐγὼ δὲ δόλους τολυπεύω.
φᾶρος μέν μοι πρῶτον ἐνέπνευσε φρεσὶ δαίμων,
στησαμένῃ μέγαν ἱστόν, ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὑφαίνειν,
λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δʼ αὐτοῖς μετέειπον·
’Young men, my suitors, since noble Odysseus is dead,
be patient in your eagerness for my marriage, until I finish
this robe, so that my spinning may not be wasted,
a shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when
the ruinous fate of death that lays men low takes him down;
so that none of the Achaean women in the land may blame me
if a man who won much should lie without a winding-sheet.’
So I spoke, and their lordly spirit was persuaded.
Then by day I would weave at the great loom,
and at night I would unravel it, when I had set the torches beside me.
So for three years I escaped notice and persuaded the Achaeans;
but when the fourth year came and the seasons came round,
as the months waned and many days were fulfilled,
then through my serving-women, those uncaring bitches,
they came upon me and caught me and shouted me down.
So I finished it, against my will, under compulsion;
and now I can neither escape the marriage nor find any other
device; and my parents urge me hard
to marry, and my son chafes as they eat up his living,
and he sees it; for he is by now a man well able
to care for a house, and Zeus grants him honour.
But even so, tell me your birth, and where you are from.
For you are not from the oak of the old stories, nor from a rock."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
be patient in your eagerness for my marriage, until I finish
this robe, so that my spinning may not be wasted,
a shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when
the ruinous fate of death that lays men low takes him down;
so that none of the Achaean women in the land may blame me
if a man who won much should lie without a winding-sheet.’
So I spoke, and their lordly spirit was persuaded.
Then by day I would weave at the great loom,
and at night I would unravel it, when I had set the torches beside me.
So for three years I escaped notice and persuaded the Achaeans;
but when the fourth year came and the seasons came round,
as the months waned and many days were fulfilled,
then through my serving-women, those uncaring bitches,
they came upon me and caught me and shouted me down.
So I finished it, against my will, under compulsion;
and now I can neither escape the marriage nor find any other
device; and my parents urge me hard
to marry, and my son chafes as they eat up his living,
and he sees it; for he is by now a man well able
to care for a house, and Zeus grants him honour.
But even so, tell me your birth, and where you are from.
For you are not from the oak of the old stories, nor from a rock."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
κοῦροι, ἐμοὶ μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
μίμνετʼ ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος
ἐκτελέσω—μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματʼ ὄληται—
Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο·
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκον μέγαν ἱστόν,
νύκτας δʼ ἀλλύεσκον, ἐπεὶ δαΐδας παραθείμην.
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθον ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειθον Ἀχαιούς·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα πόλλʼ ἐτελέσθη,
καὶ τότε δή με διὰ δμῳάς, κύνας οὐκ ἀλεγούσας,
εἷλον ἐπελθόντες καὶ ὁμόκλησαν ἐπέεσσιν.
ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσα, καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσʼ, ὑπʼ ἀνάγκης·
νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἐκφυγέειν δύναμαι γάμον οὔτε τινʼ ἄλλην
μῆτιν ἔθʼ εὑρίσκω· μάλα δʼ ὀτρύνουσι τοκῆες
γήμασθʼ, ἀσχαλάᾳ δὲ πάϊς βίοτον κατεδόντων,
γιγνώσκων· ἤδη γὰρ ἀνὴρ οἶός τε μάλιστα
οἴκου κήδεσθαι, τῷ τε Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μοι εἰπὲ τεὸν γένος, ὁππόθεν ἐσσί.
οὐ γὰρ ἀπὸ δρυός ἐσσι παλαιφάτου οὐδʼ ἀπὸ πέτρης.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
μίμνετʼ ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος
ἐκτελέσω—μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματʼ ὄληται—
Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο·
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκον μέγαν ἱστόν,
νύκτας δʼ ἀλλύεσκον, ἐπεὶ δαΐδας παραθείμην.
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθον ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειθον Ἀχαιούς·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα πόλλʼ ἐτελέσθη,
καὶ τότε δή με διὰ δμῳάς, κύνας οὐκ ἀλεγούσας,
εἷλον ἐπελθόντες καὶ ὁμόκλησαν ἐπέεσσιν.
ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσα, καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσʼ, ὑπʼ ἀνάγκης·
νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἐκφυγέειν δύναμαι γάμον οὔτε τινʼ ἄλλην
μῆτιν ἔθʼ εὑρίσκω· μάλα δʼ ὀτρύνουσι τοκῆες
γήμασθʼ, ἀσχαλάᾳ δὲ πάϊς βίοτον κατεδόντων,
γιγνώσκων· ἤδη γὰρ ἀνὴρ οἶός τε μάλιστα
οἴκου κήδεσθαι, τῷ τε Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μοι εἰπὲ τεὸν γένος, ὁππόθεν ἐσσί.
οὐ γὰρ ἀπὸ δρυός ἐσσι παλαιφάτου οὐδʼ ἀπὸ πέτρης.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Honoured wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
will you never stop asking about my birth?
Well, I will tell you; but you will give me over to griefs
more than I am held by; for that is the way, when a man is away
from his native land so long a time as I am now,
wandering among many cities of mortals and suffering pains.
But even so I will tell you what you ask and enquire of me.
There is a land called Crete, in the middle of the wine-dark sea,
beautiful and rich, sea-girt; and in it are men
many, past counting, and ninety cities.
One tongue is mixed with another: there are Achaeans,
and great-hearted true Cretans, and Cydonians,
and the Dorians in three tribes, and the noble Pelasgians.
Among these is Cnossos, a great city, where Minos
was king in nine-year terms, the companion of great Zeus,
the father of my father, great-hearted Deucalion.
And Deucalion fathered me and the lord Idomeneus;
but he went in the curved ships to Ilium
with the sons of Atreus, and my famous name is Aethon,
and I am the younger by birth; he was the elder and the better.
There I saw Odysseus and gave him guest-gifts.
For the force of the wind had brought him down to Crete
as he made for Troy, and drove him past Malea;
and it brought him to shore at Amnisus, where the cave of Eileithyia is,
in a difficult harbour, and he barely escaped the storms.
At once he went up to the city and asked for Idomeneus;
for he said he was his guest-friend, dear and honoured.
But it was already the tenth or the eleventh dawn
since Idomeneus had gone with his curved ships to Ilium.
So I took him to my house and gave him good entertainment,
welcoming him kindly, since there was plenty in the house;
and for the rest of his companions, who went with him,
I gathered barley-meal and gleaming wine from the people and gave them,
and cattle to sacrifice, so that they might fill their hearts.
There the noble Achaeans stayed twelve days;
for the great North Wind penned them in, and would not let them
stand upright even on the land; some harsh god had roused it.
On the thirteenth the wind fell, and they put out to sea."
So he spoke, and made his many lies seem like the truth;
and as she listened her tears flowed and her flesh melted.
As the snow melts away on the high mountains,
which the East Wind melts when the West Wind has poured it down,
and as it melts the rivers run full with the flow:
so her beautiful cheeks melted as she shed tears,
weeping for her husband, who sat beside her. And Odysseus
pitied his wife in his spirit as she lamented,
but his eyes stood as if they were horn or iron,
without a tremor in the lids; and by guile he kept his tears hidden.
But when she had had her fill of tearful lamentation,
she answered him again and spoke to him:
will you never stop asking about my birth?
Well, I will tell you; but you will give me over to griefs
more than I am held by; for that is the way, when a man is away
from his native land so long a time as I am now,
wandering among many cities of mortals and suffering pains.
But even so I will tell you what you ask and enquire of me.
There is a land called Crete, in the middle of the wine-dark sea,
beautiful and rich, sea-girt; and in it are men
many, past counting, and ninety cities.
One tongue is mixed with another: there are Achaeans,
and great-hearted true Cretans, and Cydonians,
and the Dorians in three tribes, and the noble Pelasgians.
Among these is Cnossos, a great city, where Minos
was king in nine-year terms, the companion of great Zeus,
the father of my father, great-hearted Deucalion.
And Deucalion fathered me and the lord Idomeneus;
but he went in the curved ships to Ilium
with the sons of Atreus, and my famous name is Aethon,
and I am the younger by birth; he was the elder and the better.
There I saw Odysseus and gave him guest-gifts.
For the force of the wind had brought him down to Crete
as he made for Troy, and drove him past Malea;
and it brought him to shore at Amnisus, where the cave of Eileithyia is,
in a difficult harbour, and he barely escaped the storms.
At once he went up to the city and asked for Idomeneus;
for he said he was his guest-friend, dear and honoured.
But it was already the tenth or the eleventh dawn
since Idomeneus had gone with his curved ships to Ilium.
So I took him to my house and gave him good entertainment,
welcoming him kindly, since there was plenty in the house;
and for the rest of his companions, who went with him,
I gathered barley-meal and gleaming wine from the people and gave them,
and cattle to sacrifice, so that they might fill their hearts.
There the noble Achaeans stayed twelve days;
for the great North Wind penned them in, and would not let them
stand upright even on the land; some harsh god had roused it.
On the thirteenth the wind fell, and they put out to sea."
So he spoke, and made his many lies seem like the truth;
and as she listened her tears flowed and her flesh melted.
As the snow melts away on the high mountains,
which the East Wind melts when the West Wind has poured it down,
and as it melts the rivers run full with the flow:
so her beautiful cheeks melted as she shed tears,
weeping for her husband, who sat beside her. And Odysseus
pitied his wife in his spirit as she lamented,
but his eyes stood as if they were horn or iron,
without a tremor in the lids; and by guile he kept his tears hidden.
But when she had had her fill of tearful lamentation,
she answered him again and spoke to him:
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
οὐκέτʼ ἀπολλήξεις τὸν ἐμὸν γόνον ἐξερέουσα;
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω· ἦ μέν μʼ ἀχέεσσί γε δώσεις
πλείοσιν ἢ ἔχομαι· ἡ γὰρ δίκη, ὁππότε πάτρης
ἧς ἀπέῃσιν ἀνὴρ τόσσον χρόνον ὅσσον ἐγὼ νῦν,
πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἀλώμενος, ἄλγεα πάσχων·
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.
Κρήτη τις γαῖʼ ἔστι, μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,
καλὴ καὶ πίειρα, περίρρυτος· ἐν δʼ ἄνθρωποι
πολλοί, ἀπειρέσιοι, καὶ ἐννήκοντα πόληες.
ἄλλη δʼ ἄλλων γλῶσσα μεμιγμένη· ἐν μὲν Ἀχαιοί,
ἐν δʼ Ἐτεόκρητες μεγαλήτορες, ἐν δὲ Κύδωνες,
Δωριέες τε τριχάϊκες δῖοί τε Πελασγοί.
τῇσι δʼ ἐνὶ Κνωσός, μεγάλη πόλις, ἔνθα τε Μίνως
ἐννέωρος βασίλευε Διὸς μεγάλου ὀαριστής,
πατρὸς ἐμοῖο πατήρ, μεγαθύμου Δευκαλίωνος
Δευκαλίων δʼ ἐμὲ τίκτε καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα·
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον ἴσω
ᾤχεθʼ ἅμʼ Ἀτρείδῃσιν, ἐμοὶ δʼ ὄνομα κλυτὸν Αἴθων,
ὁπλότερος γενεῇ· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐγὼν ἰδόμην καὶ ξείνια δῶκα.
καὶ γὰρ τὸν Κρήτηνδε κατήγαγεν ἲς ἀνέμοιο,
ἱέμενον Τροίηνδε παραπλάγξασα Μαλειῶν·
στῆσε δʼ ἐν Ἀμνισῷ, ὅθι τε σπέος Εἰλειθυίης,
ἐν λιμέσιν χαλεποῖσι, μόγις δʼ ὑπάλυξεν ἀέλλας.
αὐτίκα δʼ Ἰδομενῆα μετάλλα ἄστυδʼ ἀνελθών·
ξεῖνον γάρ οἱ ἔφασκε φίλον τʼ ἔμεν αἰδοῖόν τε.
τῷ δʼ ἤδη δεκάτη ἢ ἑνδεκάτη πέλεν ἠὼς
οἰχομένῳ σὺν νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον εἴσω.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματʼ ἄγων ἐῢ ἐξείνισσα,
ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων·
καί οἱ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἑτάροις, οἳ ἅμʼ αὐτῷ ἕποντο,
δημόθεν ἄλφιτα δῶκα καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον ἀγείρας
καὶ βοῦς ἱρεύσασθαι, ἵνα πλησαίατο θυμόν.
ἔνθα δυώδεκα μὲν μένον ἤματα δῖοι Ἀχαιοί·
εἴλει γὰρ Βορέης ἄνεμος μέγας οὐδʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ
εἴα ἵστασθαι, χαλεπὸς δέ τις ὤρορε δαίμων.
τῇ τρισκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἄνεμος πέσε, τοὶ δʼ ἀνάγοντο.
ἴσκε ψεύδεα πολλὰ λέγων ἐτύμοισιν ὁμοῖα·
τῆς δʼ ἄρʼ ἀκουούσης ῥέε δάκρυα, τήκετο δὲ χρώς·
ὡς δὲ χιὼν κατατήκετʼ ἐν ἀκροπόλοισιν ὄρεσσιν,
ἥν τʼ Εὖρος κατέτηξεν, ἐπὴν Ζέφυρος καταχεύῃ·
τηκομένης δʼ ἄρα τῆς ποταμοὶ πλήθουσι ῥέοντες·
ὣς τῆς τήκετο καλὰ παρήϊα δάκρυ χεούσης,
κλαιούσης ἑὸν ἄνδρα παρήμενον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
θυμῷ μὲν γοόωσαν ἑὴν ἐλέαιρε γυναῖκα,
ὀφθαλμοὶ δʼ ὡς εἰ κέρα ἕστασαν ἠὲ σίδηρος
ἀτρέμας ἐν βλεφάροισι· δόλῳ δʼ ὅ γε δάκρυα κεῦθεν.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,
ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·
οὐκέτʼ ἀπολλήξεις τὸν ἐμὸν γόνον ἐξερέουσα;
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω· ἦ μέν μʼ ἀχέεσσί γε δώσεις
πλείοσιν ἢ ἔχομαι· ἡ γὰρ δίκη, ὁππότε πάτρης
ἧς ἀπέῃσιν ἀνὴρ τόσσον χρόνον ὅσσον ἐγὼ νῦν,
πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἀλώμενος, ἄλγεα πάσχων·
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.
Κρήτη τις γαῖʼ ἔστι, μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,
καλὴ καὶ πίειρα, περίρρυτος· ἐν δʼ ἄνθρωποι
πολλοί, ἀπειρέσιοι, καὶ ἐννήκοντα πόληες.
ἄλλη δʼ ἄλλων γλῶσσα μεμιγμένη· ἐν μὲν Ἀχαιοί,
ἐν δʼ Ἐτεόκρητες μεγαλήτορες, ἐν δὲ Κύδωνες,
Δωριέες τε τριχάϊκες δῖοί τε Πελασγοί.
τῇσι δʼ ἐνὶ Κνωσός, μεγάλη πόλις, ἔνθα τε Μίνως
ἐννέωρος βασίλευε Διὸς μεγάλου ὀαριστής,
πατρὸς ἐμοῖο πατήρ, μεγαθύμου Δευκαλίωνος
Δευκαλίων δʼ ἐμὲ τίκτε καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα·
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον ἴσω
ᾤχεθʼ ἅμʼ Ἀτρείδῃσιν, ἐμοὶ δʼ ὄνομα κλυτὸν Αἴθων,
ὁπλότερος γενεῇ· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐγὼν ἰδόμην καὶ ξείνια δῶκα.
καὶ γὰρ τὸν Κρήτηνδε κατήγαγεν ἲς ἀνέμοιο,
ἱέμενον Τροίηνδε παραπλάγξασα Μαλειῶν·
στῆσε δʼ ἐν Ἀμνισῷ, ὅθι τε σπέος Εἰλειθυίης,
ἐν λιμέσιν χαλεποῖσι, μόγις δʼ ὑπάλυξεν ἀέλλας.
αὐτίκα δʼ Ἰδομενῆα μετάλλα ἄστυδʼ ἀνελθών·
ξεῖνον γάρ οἱ ἔφασκε φίλον τʼ ἔμεν αἰδοῖόν τε.
τῷ δʼ ἤδη δεκάτη ἢ ἑνδεκάτη πέλεν ἠὼς
οἰχομένῳ σὺν νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον εἴσω.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματʼ ἄγων ἐῢ ἐξείνισσα,
ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων·
καί οἱ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἑτάροις, οἳ ἅμʼ αὐτῷ ἕποντο,
δημόθεν ἄλφιτα δῶκα καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον ἀγείρας
καὶ βοῦς ἱρεύσασθαι, ἵνα πλησαίατο θυμόν.
ἔνθα δυώδεκα μὲν μένον ἤματα δῖοι Ἀχαιοί·
εἴλει γὰρ Βορέης ἄνεμος μέγας οὐδʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ
εἴα ἵστασθαι, χαλεπὸς δέ τις ὤρορε δαίμων.
τῇ τρισκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἄνεμος πέσε, τοὶ δʼ ἀνάγοντο.
ἴσκε ψεύδεα πολλὰ λέγων ἐτύμοισιν ὁμοῖα·
τῆς δʼ ἄρʼ ἀκουούσης ῥέε δάκρυα, τήκετο δὲ χρώς·
ὡς δὲ χιὼν κατατήκετʼ ἐν ἀκροπόλοισιν ὄρεσσιν,
ἥν τʼ Εὖρος κατέτηξεν, ἐπὴν Ζέφυρος καταχεύῃ·
τηκομένης δʼ ἄρα τῆς ποταμοὶ πλήθουσι ῥέοντες·
ὣς τῆς τήκετο καλὰ παρήϊα δάκρυ χεούσης,
κλαιούσης ἑὸν ἄνδρα παρήμενον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
θυμῷ μὲν γοόωσαν ἑὴν ἐλέαιρε γυναῖκα,
ὀφθαλμοὶ δʼ ὡς εἰ κέρα ἕστασαν ἠὲ σίδηρος
ἀτρέμας ἐν βλεφάροισι· δόλῳ δʼ ὅ γε δάκρυα κεῦθεν.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,
ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·
"Now, stranger, I think I shall make trial of you,
whether you really did entertain my husband there
in your halls with his godlike companions, as you say.
Tell me what sort of clothing he wore about his body,
and what he was himself, and the companions who went with him."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
whether you really did entertain my husband there
in your halls with his godlike companions, as you say.
Tell me what sort of clothing he wore about his body,
and what he was himself, and the companions who went with him."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
νῦν μὲν δή σευ, ξεῖνέ γʼ, ὀΐω πειρήσεσθαι,
εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ κεῖθι σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι
ξείνισας ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.
εἰπέ μοι ὁπποῖʼ ἄσσα περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο,
αὐτός θʼ οἷος ἔην, καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ κεῖθι σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι
ξείνισας ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.
εἰπέ μοι ὁπποῖʼ ἄσσα περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο,
αὐτός θʼ οἷος ἔην, καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Lady, it is hard for a man so long apart
to tell it; for it is now the twentieth year
since he went from there and left my native land;
but I will tell you as my heart pictures it.
Noble Odysseus wore a purple woollen cloak,
double; and there was a brooch on it, made of gold
with double sheaths; and in front it was a work of art:
a hound held a dappled fawn in its forepaws,
gripping it as it struggled; and everyone marvelled at it,
how, though they were of gold, the one gripped and throttled the fawn,
while the other struggled with its feet, straining to escape.
And I noticed the shining tunic about his body,
like the skin over a dried onion;
so soft it was, and it was bright as the sun.
to tell it; for it is now the twentieth year
since he went from there and left my native land;
but I will tell you as my heart pictures it.
Noble Odysseus wore a purple woollen cloak,
double; and there was a brooch on it, made of gold
with double sheaths; and in front it was a work of art:
a hound held a dappled fawn in its forepaws,
gripping it as it struggled; and everyone marvelled at it,
how, though they were of gold, the one gripped and throttled the fawn,
while the other struggled with its feet, straining to escape.
And I noticed the shining tunic about his body,
like the skin over a dried onion;
so soft it was, and it was bright as the sun.
ὦ γύναι, ἀργαλέον τόσσον χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντα
εἰπέμεν· ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐεικοστὸν ἔτος ἐστὶν
ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης·
αὐτάρ τοι ἐρέω ὥς μοι ἰνδάλλεται ἦτορ.
χλαῖναν πορφυρέην οὔλην ἔχε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
διπλῆν· αὐτάρ οἱ περόνη χρυσοῖο τέτυκτο
αὐλοῖσιν διδύμοισι· πάροιθε δὲ δαίδαλον ἦεν·
ἐν προτέροισι πόδεσσι κύων ἔχε ποικίλον ἐλλόν,
ἀσπαίροντα λάων· τὸ δὲ θαυμάζεσκον ἅπαντες,
ὡς οἱ χρύσεοι ἐόντες ὁ μὲν λάε νεβρὸν ἀπάγχων,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκφυγέειν μεμαὼς ἤσπαιρε πόδεσσι.
τὸν δὲ χιτῶνʼ ἐνόησα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα,
οἷόν τε κρομύοιο λοπὸν κάτα ἰσχαλέοιο·
τὼς μὲν ἔην μαλακός, λαμπρὸς δʼ ἦν ἠέλιος ὥς·
εἰπέμεν· ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐεικοστὸν ἔτος ἐστὶν
ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης·
αὐτάρ τοι ἐρέω ὥς μοι ἰνδάλλεται ἦτορ.
χλαῖναν πορφυρέην οὔλην ἔχε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
διπλῆν· αὐτάρ οἱ περόνη χρυσοῖο τέτυκτο
αὐλοῖσιν διδύμοισι· πάροιθε δὲ δαίδαλον ἦεν·
ἐν προτέροισι πόδεσσι κύων ἔχε ποικίλον ἐλλόν,
ἀσπαίροντα λάων· τὸ δὲ θαυμάζεσκον ἅπαντες,
ὡς οἱ χρύσεοι ἐόντες ὁ μὲν λάε νεβρὸν ἀπάγχων,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκφυγέειν μεμαὼς ἤσπαιρε πόδεσσι.
τὸν δὲ χιτῶνʼ ἐνόησα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα,
οἷόν τε κρομύοιο λοπὸν κάτα ἰσχαλέοιο·
τὼς μὲν ἔην μαλακός, λαμπρὸς δʼ ἦν ἠέλιος ὥς·
Truly many women gazed at him.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
I do not know whether Odysseus wore these things on his body at home,
or whether one of his companions gave them to him as he went aboard the swift ship,
or perhaps some guest-friend, since Odysseus was dear
to many; for few of the Achaeans were like him.
And I gave him a bronze sword and a double cloak,
a fine purple one, and a tunic with a fringe,
and I sent him off with honour on his well-benched ship.
And a herald a little older than himself
went with him; and I will tell you about him too, what he was like.
He was round in the shoulders, dark-skinned, curly-headed,
and Eurybates was his name; and Odysseus honoured him above
the rest of his companions, because his mind agreed with his own."
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
I do not know whether Odysseus wore these things on his body at home,
or whether one of his companions gave them to him as he went aboard the swift ship,
or perhaps some guest-friend, since Odysseus was dear
to many; for few of the Achaeans were like him.
And I gave him a bronze sword and a double cloak,
a fine purple one, and a tunic with a fringe,
and I sent him off with honour on his well-benched ship.
And a herald a little older than himself
went with him; and I will tell you about him too, what he was like.
He was round in the shoulders, dark-skinned, curly-headed,
and Eurybates was his name; and Odysseus honoured him above
the rest of his companions, because his mind agreed with his own."
ἦ μὲν πολλαί γʼ αὐτὸν ἐθηήσαντο γυναῖκες.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἢ τάδε ἕστο περὶ χροῒ οἴκοθʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἦ τις ἑταίρων δῶκε θοῆς ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰόντι,
ἤ τίς που καὶ ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολλοῖσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἔσκε φίλος· παῦροι γὰρ Ἀχαιῶν ἦσαν ὁμοῖοι.
καί οἱ ἐγὼ χάλκειον ἄορ καὶ δίπλακα δῶκα
καλὴν πορφυρέην καὶ τερμιόεντα χιτῶνα,
αἰδοίως δʼ ἀπέπεμπον ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηός.
καὶ μέν οἱ κῆρυξ ὀλίγον προγενέστερος αὐτοῦ
εἵπετο· καὶ τόν τοι μυθήσομαι, οἷος ἔην περ.
γυρὸς ἐν ὤμοισιν, μελανόχροος, οὐλοκάρηνος,
Εὐρυβάτης δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε· τίεν δέ μιν ἔξοχον ἄλλων
ὧν ἑτάρων Ὀδυσεύς, ὅτι οἱ φρεσὶν ἄρτια ᾔδη.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἢ τάδε ἕστο περὶ χροῒ οἴκοθʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἦ τις ἑταίρων δῶκε θοῆς ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰόντι,
ἤ τίς που καὶ ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολλοῖσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἔσκε φίλος· παῦροι γὰρ Ἀχαιῶν ἦσαν ὁμοῖοι.
καί οἱ ἐγὼ χάλκειον ἄορ καὶ δίπλακα δῶκα
καλὴν πορφυρέην καὶ τερμιόεντα χιτῶνα,
αἰδοίως δʼ ἀπέπεμπον ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηός.
καὶ μέν οἱ κῆρυξ ὀλίγον προγενέστερος αὐτοῦ
εἵπετο· καὶ τόν τοι μυθήσομαι, οἷος ἔην περ.
γυρὸς ἐν ὤμοισιν, μελανόχροος, οὐλοκάρηνος,
Εὐρυβάτης δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε· τίεν δέ μιν ἔξοχον ἄλλων
ὧν ἑτάρων Ὀδυσεύς, ὅτι οἱ φρεσὶν ἄρτια ᾔδη.
So he spoke, and stirred in her a still greater longing for lamentation,
when she recognised the signs that Odysseus told her surely.
But when she had had her fill of tearful lamentation,
then she answered him and spoke to him:
when she recognised the signs that Odysseus told her surely.
But when she had had her fill of tearful lamentation,
then she answered him and spoke to him:
ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο,
σήματʼ ἀναγνούσῃ τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο.
καὶ τότε μιν μύθοισιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·
σήματʼ ἀναγνούσῃ τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο.
καὶ τότε μιν μύθοισιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·
"Now indeed, stranger, though before this you were pitiable,
you shall be dear and honoured in my halls;
for I myself gave him these clothes that you describe,
folding them out of the chamber, and I put the shining brooch on them
to be an ornament for him; but I shall not welcome him again
coming home to his dear native land.
So it was by an evil fate that Odysseus went in the hollow ship
to look upon Evil-Ilium, that is not to be named."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
you shall be dear and honoured in my halls;
for I myself gave him these clothes that you describe,
folding them out of the chamber, and I put the shining brooch on them
to be an ornament for him; but I shall not welcome him again
coming home to his dear native land.
So it was by an evil fate that Odysseus went in the hollow ship
to look upon Evil-Ilium, that is not to be named."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
νῦν μὲν δή μοι, ξεῖνε, πάρος περ ἐὼν ἐλεεινός,
ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι φίλος τʼ ἔσῃ αἰδοῖός τε·
αὐτὴ γὰρ τάδε εἵματʼ ἐγὼ πόρον, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,
πτύξασʼ ἐκ θαλάμου, περόνην τʼ ἐπέθηκα φαεινὴν
κείνῳ ἄγαλμʼ ἔμεναι· τὸν δʼ οὐχ ὑποδέξομαι αὖτις
οἴκαδε νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
τῷ ῥα κακῇ αἴσῃ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι φίλος τʼ ἔσῃ αἰδοῖός τε·
αὐτὴ γὰρ τάδε εἵματʼ ἐγὼ πόρον, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,
πτύξασʼ ἐκ θαλάμου, περόνην τʼ ἐπέθηκα φαεινὴν
κείνῳ ἄγαλμʼ ἔμεναι· τὸν δʼ οὐχ ὑποδέξομαι αὖτις
οἴκαδε νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
τῷ ῥα κακῇ αἴσῃ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Honoured wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
do not spoil your beautiful skin any longer, nor waste your spirit
away weeping for your husband. Yet I do not blame you at all;
for any woman laments when she has lost a wedded
husband, one to whom she bore children in love,
even one other than Odysseus, whom they say was like the gods.
But stop your lamenting and mark my word;
for I will speak to you unerringly and hide nothing,
how I have already heard of the homecoming of Odysseus
near by, in the rich land of the Thesprotian men,
alive; and he is bringing many fine treasures,
begging through the land. But his trusty companions
and his hollow ship he lost in the wine-dark sea,
as he went from the island of Thrinacia; for they were angry at him,
Zeus and Helios; for his companions had killed the cattle of Helios.
They all perished in the surging sea;
but the wave cast him out on the keel of his ship to the dry land,
to the country of the Phaeacians, who are near of kin to the gods,
and they honoured him from their hearts like a god
and gave him much and were willing to send him themselves
home unharmed. And Odysseus would have been here long ago;
but this seemed better to his spirit,
to gather goods, going over much of the earth;
so does Odysseus know more of gainful ways
than mortal men, and no other man on earth could match him.
So Pheidon, king of the Thesprotians, told me;
do not spoil your beautiful skin any longer, nor waste your spirit
away weeping for your husband. Yet I do not blame you at all;
for any woman laments when she has lost a wedded
husband, one to whom she bore children in love,
even one other than Odysseus, whom they say was like the gods.
But stop your lamenting and mark my word;
for I will speak to you unerringly and hide nothing,
how I have already heard of the homecoming of Odysseus
near by, in the rich land of the Thesprotian men,
alive; and he is bringing many fine treasures,
begging through the land. But his trusty companions
and his hollow ship he lost in the wine-dark sea,
as he went from the island of Thrinacia; for they were angry at him,
Zeus and Helios; for his companions had killed the cattle of Helios.
They all perished in the surging sea;
but the wave cast him out on the keel of his ship to the dry land,
to the country of the Phaeacians, who are near of kin to the gods,
and they honoured him from their hearts like a god
and gave him much and were willing to send him themselves
home unharmed. And Odysseus would have been here long ago;
but this seemed better to his spirit,
to gather goods, going over much of the earth;
so does Odysseus know more of gainful ways
than mortal men, and no other man on earth could match him.
So Pheidon, king of the Thesprotians, told me;
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
μηκέτι νῦν χρόα καλὸν ἐναίρεο, μηδέ τι θυμὸν
τῆκε, πόσιν γοόωσα. νεμεσσῶμαί γε μὲν οὐδέν·
καὶ γάρ τίς τʼ ἀλλοῖον ὀδύρεται ἄνδρʼ ὀλέσασα
κουρίδιον, τῷ τέκνα τέκῃ φιλότητι μιγεῖσα,
ἢ Ὀδυσῆʼ, ὅν φασι θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον εἶναι.
ἀλλὰ γόου μὲν παῦσαι, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον·
νημερτέως γάρ τοι μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω
ὡς ἤδη Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ περὶ νόστου ἄκουσα
ἀγχοῦ, Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,
ζωοῦ· αὐτὰρ ἄγει κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ
αἰτίζων ἀνὰ δῆμον. ἀτὰρ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
ὤλεσε καὶ νῆα γλαφυρὴν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,
Θρινακίης ἄπο νήσου ἰών· ὀδύσαντο γὰρ αὐτῷ
Ζεύς τε καὶ Ἠέλιος· τοῦ γὰρ βόας ἔκταν ἑταῖροι.
οἱ μὲν πάντες ὄλοντο πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ·
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ τρόπιος νεὸς ἔκβαλε κῦμʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,
Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,
οἳ δή μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσαντο
καί οἱ πολλὰ δόσαν πέμπειν τέ μιν ἤθελον αὐτοὶ
οἴκαδʼ ἀπήμαντον. καί κεν πάλαι ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤην· ἀλλʼ ἄρα οἱ τό γε κέρδιον εἴσατο θυμῷ,
χρήματʼ ἀγυρτάζειν πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἰόντι·
ὣς περὶ κέρδεα πολλὰ καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
οἶδʼ Ὀδυσεύς, οὐδʼ ἄν τις ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος.
ὥς μοι Θεσπρωτῶν βασιλεὺς μυθήσατο Φείδων·
μηκέτι νῦν χρόα καλὸν ἐναίρεο, μηδέ τι θυμὸν
τῆκε, πόσιν γοόωσα. νεμεσσῶμαί γε μὲν οὐδέν·
καὶ γάρ τίς τʼ ἀλλοῖον ὀδύρεται ἄνδρʼ ὀλέσασα
κουρίδιον, τῷ τέκνα τέκῃ φιλότητι μιγεῖσα,
ἢ Ὀδυσῆʼ, ὅν φασι θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον εἶναι.
ἀλλὰ γόου μὲν παῦσαι, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον·
νημερτέως γάρ τοι μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω
ὡς ἤδη Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ περὶ νόστου ἄκουσα
ἀγχοῦ, Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,
ζωοῦ· αὐτὰρ ἄγει κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ
αἰτίζων ἀνὰ δῆμον. ἀτὰρ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους
ὤλεσε καὶ νῆα γλαφυρὴν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,
Θρινακίης ἄπο νήσου ἰών· ὀδύσαντο γὰρ αὐτῷ
Ζεύς τε καὶ Ἠέλιος· τοῦ γὰρ βόας ἔκταν ἑταῖροι.
οἱ μὲν πάντες ὄλοντο πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ·
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ τρόπιος νεὸς ἔκβαλε κῦμʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,
Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,
οἳ δή μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσαντο
καί οἱ πολλὰ δόσαν πέμπειν τέ μιν ἤθελον αὐτοὶ
οἴκαδʼ ἀπήμαντον. καί κεν πάλαι ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤην· ἀλλʼ ἄρα οἱ τό γε κέρδιον εἴσατο θυμῷ,
χρήματʼ ἀγυρτάζειν πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἰόντι·
ὣς περὶ κέρδεα πολλὰ καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
οἶδʼ Ὀδυσεύς, οὐδʼ ἄν τις ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος.
ὥς μοι Θεσπρωτῶν βασιλεὺς μυθήσατο Φείδων·
and he swore to me myself, pouring a libation in his house,
that a ship had been drawn down and companions were ready
to send him to his dear native land.
But he sent me off first; for a ship of Thesprotian men
happened to be going to Dulichium, rich in wheat.
And he showed me the goods that Odysseus had gathered;
and it would keep another man to the tenth generation,
so many treasures of that lord lay in his halls.
But he said Odysseus had gone to Dodona, to hear
the will of Zeus from the god’s high-leafed oak,
how he might come home to his dear native land,
after being away so long, whether openly or in secret.
So he is safe, and he will come now,
very near, and no longer far from his friends and his native
land will he be for long; and I will give you my oath upon it.
Let Zeus be my witness now, the highest and best of the gods,
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come:
truly all these things will be brought to pass as I say.
In this very turning of the year Odysseus will come here,
as this month wanes and the next begins."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
that a ship had been drawn down and companions were ready
to send him to his dear native land.
But he sent me off first; for a ship of Thesprotian men
happened to be going to Dulichium, rich in wheat.
And he showed me the goods that Odysseus had gathered;
and it would keep another man to the tenth generation,
so many treasures of that lord lay in his halls.
But he said Odysseus had gone to Dodona, to hear
the will of Zeus from the god’s high-leafed oak,
how he might come home to his dear native land,
after being away so long, whether openly or in secret.
So he is safe, and he will come now,
very near, and no longer far from his friends and his native
land will he be for long; and I will give you my oath upon it.
Let Zeus be my witness now, the highest and best of the gods,
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come:
truly all these things will be brought to pass as I say.
In this very turning of the year Odysseus will come here,
as this month wanes and the next begins."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ὤμνυε δὲ πρὸς ἔμʼ αὐτόν, ἀποσπένδων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,
οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ πρὶν ἀπέπεμψε· τύχησε γὰρ ἐρχομένη νηῦς
ἀνδρῶν Θεσπρωτῶν ἐς Δουλίχιον πολύπυρον.
καί μοι κτήματʼ ἔδειξεν, ὅσα ξυναγείρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
καί νύ κεν ἐς δεκάτην γενεὴν ἕτερόν γʼ ἔτι βόσκοι,
ὅσσα οἱ ἐν μεγάροις κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος.
τὸν δʼ ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖο
ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,
ὅππως νοστήσειε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἤ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.
ὣς ὁ μὲν οὕτως ἐστὶ σόος καὶ ἐλεύσεται ἤδη
ἄγχι μάλʼ, οὐδʼ ἔτι τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
δηρὸν ἀπεσσεῖται· ἔμπης δέ τοι ὅρκια δώσω.
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα, θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω·
ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται ὡς ἀγορεύω.
τοῦδʼ αὐτοῦ λυκάβαντος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
τοῦ μὲν φθίνοντος μηνός, τοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,
οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ πρὶν ἀπέπεμψε· τύχησε γὰρ ἐρχομένη νηῦς
ἀνδρῶν Θεσπρωτῶν ἐς Δουλίχιον πολύπυρον.
καί μοι κτήματʼ ἔδειξεν, ὅσα ξυναγείρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
καί νύ κεν ἐς δεκάτην γενεὴν ἕτερόν γʼ ἔτι βόσκοι,
ὅσσα οἱ ἐν μεγάροις κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος.
τὸν δʼ ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖο
ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,
ὅππως νοστήσειε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἤ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.
ὣς ὁ μὲν οὕτως ἐστὶ σόος καὶ ἐλεύσεται ἤδη
ἄγχι μάλʼ, οὐδʼ ἔτι τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
δηρὸν ἀπεσσεῖται· ἔμπης δέ τοι ὅρκια δώσω.
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα, θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω·
ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται ὡς ἀγορεύω.
τοῦδʼ αὐτοῦ λυκάβαντος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
τοῦ μὲν φθίνοντος μηνός, τοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Would, stranger, that this word might be brought to pass;
then you would soon know friendship and many gifts
from me, so that anyone who met you would call you blessed.
But my spirit tells me it will be this way instead:
Odysseus will not come home again, nor will you get
your escort, since there are no such masters in the house
as Odysseus was among men, if ever he was,
to send honoured strangers on their way and to receive them.
But wash him, my handmaids, and lay out a bed for him,
bedding and cloaks and shining coverlets,
so that he may come well warmed to golden-throned Dawn.
And at earliest morning bathe him and anoint him,
so that inside, beside Telemachus, he may take thought of his meal
as he sits in the hall; and it will be the worse for any of those men
who vexes him to the heart; nor will he do any
business here any more, however terribly angry he may be.
For how, stranger, will you learn of me whether I at all
surpass other women in mind and in prudent counsel,
if you sit at meat in the halls unkempt
and poorly clothed? Men are short-lived.
Whoever is himself hard and knows hard ways,
on him all mortals call down pains for the time to come
while he lives, and when he is dead they all mock him;
but whoever is himself blameless and knows blameless ways,
his wide glory strangers carry far
to all mankind, and many call him noble."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
then you would soon know friendship and many gifts
from me, so that anyone who met you would call you blessed.
But my spirit tells me it will be this way instead:
Odysseus will not come home again, nor will you get
your escort, since there are no such masters in the house
as Odysseus was among men, if ever he was,
to send honoured strangers on their way and to receive them.
But wash him, my handmaids, and lay out a bed for him,
bedding and cloaks and shining coverlets,
so that he may come well warmed to golden-throned Dawn.
And at earliest morning bathe him and anoint him,
so that inside, beside Telemachus, he may take thought of his meal
as he sits in the hall; and it will be the worse for any of those men
who vexes him to the heart; nor will he do any
business here any more, however terribly angry he may be.
For how, stranger, will you learn of me whether I at all
surpass other women in mind and in prudent counsel,
if you sit at meat in the halls unkempt
and poorly clothed? Men are short-lived.
Whoever is himself hard and knows hard ways,
on him all mortals call down pains for the time to come
while he lives, and when he is dead they all mock him;
but whoever is himself blameless and knows blameless ways,
his wide glory strangers carry far
to all mankind, and many call him noble."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·
τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.
ἀλλά μοι ὧδʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὀΐεται, ὡς ἔσεταί περ·
οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται, οὔτε σὺ πομπῆς
τεύξῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐ τοῖοι σημάντορές εἰσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,
ξείνους αἰδοίους ἀποπεμπέμεν ἠδὲ δέχεσθαι.
ἀλλά μιν, ἀμφίπολοι, ἀπονίψατε, κάτθετε δʼ εὐνήν,
δέμνια καὶ χλαίνας καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,
ὥς κʼ εὖ θαλπιόων χρυσόθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκηται.
ἠῶθεν δὲ μάλʼ ἦρι λοέσσαι τε χρῖσαί τε,
ὥς κʼ ἔνδον παρὰ Τηλεμάχῳ δείπνοιο μέδηται
ἥμενος ἐν μεγάρῳ· τῷ δʼ ἄλγιον ὅς κεν ἐκείνων
τοῦτον ἀνιάζῃ θυμοφθόρος· οὐδέ τι ἔργον
ἐνθάδʼ ἔτι πρήξει, μάλα περ κεχολωμένος αἰνῶς.
πῶς γὰρ ἐμεῦ σύ, ξεῖνε, δαήσεαι εἴ τι γυναικῶν
ἀλλάων περίειμι νόον καὶ ἐπίφρονα μῆτιν,
εἴ κεν ἀϋσταλέος, κακὰ εἱμένος ἐν μεγάροισιν
δαινύῃ; ἄνθρωποι δὲ μινυνθάδιοι τελέθουσιν.
ὃς μὲν ἀπηνὴς αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀπηνέα εἰδῇ,
τῷ δὲ καταρῶνται πάντες βροτοὶ ἄλγεʼ ὀπίσσω
ζωῷ, ἀτὰρ τεθνεῶτί γʼ ἐφεψιόωνται ἅπαντες·
ὃς δʼ ἂν ἀμύμων αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀμύμονα εἰδῇ,
τοῦ μέν τε κλέος εὐρὺ δὶα ξεῖνοι φορέουσι
πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, πολλοί τέ μιν ἐσθλὸν ἔειπον.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.
ἀλλά μοι ὧδʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὀΐεται, ὡς ἔσεταί περ·
οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται, οὔτε σὺ πομπῆς
τεύξῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐ τοῖοι σημάντορές εἰσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,
ξείνους αἰδοίους ἀποπεμπέμεν ἠδὲ δέχεσθαι.
ἀλλά μιν, ἀμφίπολοι, ἀπονίψατε, κάτθετε δʼ εὐνήν,
δέμνια καὶ χλαίνας καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,
ὥς κʼ εὖ θαλπιόων χρυσόθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκηται.
ἠῶθεν δὲ μάλʼ ἦρι λοέσσαι τε χρῖσαί τε,
ὥς κʼ ἔνδον παρὰ Τηλεμάχῳ δείπνοιο μέδηται
ἥμενος ἐν μεγάρῳ· τῷ δʼ ἄλγιον ὅς κεν ἐκείνων
τοῦτον ἀνιάζῃ θυμοφθόρος· οὐδέ τι ἔργον
ἐνθάδʼ ἔτι πρήξει, μάλα περ κεχολωμένος αἰνῶς.
πῶς γὰρ ἐμεῦ σύ, ξεῖνε, δαήσεαι εἴ τι γυναικῶν
ἀλλάων περίειμι νόον καὶ ἐπίφρονα μῆτιν,
εἴ κεν ἀϋσταλέος, κακὰ εἱμένος ἐν μεγάροισιν
δαινύῃ; ἄνθρωποι δὲ μινυνθάδιοι τελέθουσιν.
ὃς μὲν ἀπηνὴς αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀπηνέα εἰδῇ,
τῷ δὲ καταρῶνται πάντες βροτοὶ ἄλγεʼ ὀπίσσω
ζωῷ, ἀτὰρ τεθνεῶτί γʼ ἐφεψιόωνται ἅπαντες·
ὃς δʼ ἂν ἀμύμων αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀμύμονα εἰδῇ,
τοῦ μέν τε κλέος εὐρὺ δὶα ξεῖνοι φορέουσι
πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, πολλοί τέ μιν ἐσθλὸν ἔειπον.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Honoured wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
cloaks and shining coverlets have been hateful to me
ever since I left behind the snowy mountains of Crete
and went aboard a ship of long oars,
and I will lie as I have lain before through sleepless nights;
for many nights on a wretched bed
I have spent, and waited for the fair-throned noble Dawn.
Nor are footbaths for my feet pleasing to my spirit;
and no woman shall touch my foot
of those who are servants in your house,
unless there is some old woman, faithful and knowing,
who has endured in her heart as much as I have;
her I would not grudge the touching of my feet."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ever since I left behind the snowy mountains of Crete
and went aboard a ship of long oars,
and I will lie as I have lain before through sleepless nights;
for many nights on a wretched bed
I have spent, and waited for the fair-throned noble Dawn.
Nor are footbaths for my feet pleasing to my spirit;
and no woman shall touch my foot
of those who are servants in your house,
unless there is some old woman, faithful and knowing,
who has endured in her heart as much as I have;
her I would not grudge the touching of my feet."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ἦ τοι ἐμοὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα
ἤχθεθʼ, ὅτε πρῶτον Κρήτης ὄρεα νιφόεντα
νοσφισάμην ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰὼν δολιχηρέτμοιο,
κείω δʼ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ ἀΰπνους νύκτας ἴαυον·
πολλὰς γὰρ δὴ νύκτας ἀεικελίῳ ἐνὶ κοίτῃ
ἄεσα καί τʼ ἀνέμεινα ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ δῖαν.
οὐδέ τί μοι ποδάνιπτρα ποδῶν ἐπιήρανα θυμῷ
γίγνεται· οὐδὲ γυνὴ ποδὸς ἅψεται ἡμετέροιο
τάων αἵ τοι δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασιν,
εἰ μή τις γρηῦς ἔστι παλαιή, κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα,
ἥ τις δὴ τέτληκε τόσα φρεσὶν ὅσσα τʼ ἐγώ περ·
τῇ δʼ οὐκ ἂν φθονέοιμι ποδῶν ἅψασθαι ἐμεῖο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ἤχθεθʼ, ὅτε πρῶτον Κρήτης ὄρεα νιφόεντα
νοσφισάμην ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰὼν δολιχηρέτμοιο,
κείω δʼ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ ἀΰπνους νύκτας ἴαυον·
πολλὰς γὰρ δὴ νύκτας ἀεικελίῳ ἐνὶ κοίτῃ
ἄεσα καί τʼ ἀνέμεινα ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ δῖαν.
οὐδέ τί μοι ποδάνιπτρα ποδῶν ἐπιήρανα θυμῷ
γίγνεται· οὐδὲ γυνὴ ποδὸς ἅψεται ἡμετέροιο
τάων αἵ τοι δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασιν,
εἰ μή τις γρηῦς ἔστι παλαιή, κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα,
ἥ τις δὴ τέτληκε τόσα φρεσὶν ὅσσα τʼ ἐγώ περ·
τῇ δʼ οὐκ ἂν φθονέοιμι ποδῶν ἅψασθαι ἐμεῖο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Dear stranger; for no man so prudent
of the strangers from far countries has ever come in friendship to my house,
as you speak all things prudently and with such good sense.
I have an old woman who holds close counsel in her mind,
who nursed and reared that unhappy man well,
and took him in her arms when his mother first bore him;
she shall wash your feet, feeble though she is.
Come now, rise up, circumspect Eurycleia,
and wash a man of your master’s years; and Odysseus by now
must be such in his feet and such in his hands;
for mortals grow old quickly in misery."
of the strangers from far countries has ever come in friendship to my house,
as you speak all things prudently and with such good sense.
I have an old woman who holds close counsel in her mind,
who nursed and reared that unhappy man well,
and took him in her arms when his mother first bore him;
she shall wash your feet, feeble though she is.
Come now, rise up, circumspect Eurycleia,
and wash a man of your master’s years; and Odysseus by now
must be such in his feet and such in his hands;
for mortals grow old quickly in misery."
ξεῖνε φίλʼ· οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἀνὴρ πεπνυμένος ὧδε
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,
ὡς σὺ μάλʼ εὐφραδέως πεπνυμένα πάντʼ ἀγορεύεις·
ἔστι δέ μοι γρηῢς πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδεʼ ἔχουσα
ἣ κεῖνον δύστηνον ἐῢ τρέφεν ἠδʼ ἀτίταλλε,
δεξαμένη χείρεσσʼ, ὅτε μιν πρῶτον τέκε μήτηρ,
ἥ σε πόδας νίψει, ὀλιγηπελέουσά περ ἔμπης.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἀνστᾶσα, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,
νίψον σοῖο ἄνακτος ὁμήλικα· καί που Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤδη τοιόσδʼ ἐστὶ πόδας τοιόσδε τε χεῖρας·
αἶψα γὰρ ἐν κακότητι βροτοὶ καταγηράσκουσιν.
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,
ὡς σὺ μάλʼ εὐφραδέως πεπνυμένα πάντʼ ἀγορεύεις·
ἔστι δέ μοι γρηῢς πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδεʼ ἔχουσα
ἣ κεῖνον δύστηνον ἐῢ τρέφεν ἠδʼ ἀτίταλλε,
δεξαμένη χείρεσσʼ, ὅτε μιν πρῶτον τέκε μήτηρ,
ἥ σε πόδας νίψει, ὀλιγηπελέουσά περ ἔμπης.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἀνστᾶσα, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,
νίψον σοῖο ἄνακτος ὁμήλικα· καί που Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤδη τοιόσδʼ ἐστὶ πόδας τοιόσδε τε χεῖρας·
αἶψα γὰρ ἐν κακότητι βροτοὶ καταγηράσκουσιν.
So she spoke, and the old woman covered her face with her hands
and let fall hot tears, and spoke a word of lamentation:
and let fall hot tears, and spoke a word of lamentation:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ κατέσχετο χερσὶ πρόσωπα,
δάκρυα δʼ ἔκβαλε θερμά, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·
δάκρυα δʼ ἔκβαλε θερμά, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·
"Ah me for you, my child; I am helpless. Surely Zeus hated you
beyond all men, though you had a god-fearing spirit.
For no mortal ever burned so many rich thigh-pieces
for Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt, nor such choice hecatombs,
as you used to give him, praying that you might come
to a sleek old age and rear your glorious son;
but now from you alone he has taken the day of homecoming.
So, I suppose, the women mocked him too
in far countries, whenever he came to any man’s famous house,
as all these bitches here mock you,
and it is to avoid their outrage and their many insults
that you will not let them wash you; but she has bidden me, and I am not unwilling,
the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope.
So I will wash your feet, both for Penelope’s own sake
and for yours, since the spirit within me is stirred
with sorrows. But come now, mark the word I shall say:
many much-tried strangers have come here,
but I say I have never seen one so like
as you are like Odysseus in body and in voice and in feet."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
beyond all men, though you had a god-fearing spirit.
For no mortal ever burned so many rich thigh-pieces
for Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt, nor such choice hecatombs,
as you used to give him, praying that you might come
to a sleek old age and rear your glorious son;
but now from you alone he has taken the day of homecoming.
So, I suppose, the women mocked him too
in far countries, whenever he came to any man’s famous house,
as all these bitches here mock you,
and it is to avoid their outrage and their many insults
that you will not let them wash you; but she has bidden me, and I am not unwilling,
the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope.
So I will wash your feet, both for Penelope’s own sake
and for yours, since the spirit within me is stirred
with sorrows. But come now, mark the word I shall say:
many much-tried strangers have come here,
but I say I have never seen one so like
as you are like Odysseus in body and in voice and in feet."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
ὤ μοι ἐγὼ σέο, τέκνον, ἀμήχανος· ἦ σε περὶ Ζεὺς
ἀνθρώπων ἤχθηρε θεουδέα θυμὸν ἔχοντα.
οὐ γάρ πώ τις τόσσα βροτῶν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηʼ οὐδʼ ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας,
ὅσσα σὺ τῷ ἐδίδους, ἀρώμενος ἧος ἵκοιο
γῆράς τε λιπαρὸν θρέψαιό τε φαίδιμον υἱόν·
νῦν δέ τοι οἴῳ πάμπαν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
οὕτω που καὶ κείνῳ ἐφεψιόωντο γυναῖκες
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν, ὅτε τευ κλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοιτο,
ὡς σέθεν αἱ κύνες αἵδε καθεψιόωνται ἅπασαι,
τάων νῦν λώβην τε καὶ αἴσχεα πόλλʼ ἀλεείνων
οὐκ ἐάας νίζειν· ἐμὲ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκουσαν ἄνωγε
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.
τῷ σε πόδας νίψω ἅμα τʼ αὐτῆς Πηνελοπείης
καὶ σέθεν εἵνεκʼ, ἐπεί μοι ὀρώρεται ἔνδοθι θυμὸς
κήδεσιν. ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
πολλοὶ δὴ ξεῖνοι ταλαπείριοι ἐνθάδʼ ἵκοντο,
ἀλλʼ οὔ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαι
ὡς σὺ δέμας φωνήν τε πόδας τʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἔοικας.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἀνθρώπων ἤχθηρε θεουδέα θυμὸν ἔχοντα.
οὐ γάρ πώ τις τόσσα βροτῶν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηʼ οὐδʼ ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας,
ὅσσα σὺ τῷ ἐδίδους, ἀρώμενος ἧος ἵκοιο
γῆράς τε λιπαρὸν θρέψαιό τε φαίδιμον υἱόν·
νῦν δέ τοι οἴῳ πάμπαν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.
οὕτω που καὶ κείνῳ ἐφεψιόωντο γυναῖκες
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν, ὅτε τευ κλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοιτο,
ὡς σέθεν αἱ κύνες αἵδε καθεψιόωνται ἅπασαι,
τάων νῦν λώβην τε καὶ αἴσχεα πόλλʼ ἀλεείνων
οὐκ ἐάας νίζειν· ἐμὲ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκουσαν ἄνωγε
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.
τῷ σε πόδας νίψω ἅμα τʼ αὐτῆς Πηνελοπείης
καὶ σέθεν εἵνεκʼ, ἐπεί μοι ὀρώρεται ἔνδοθι θυμὸς
κήδεσιν. ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
πολλοὶ δὴ ξεῖνοι ταλαπείριοι ἐνθάδʼ ἵκοντο,
ἀλλʼ οὔ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαι
ὡς σὺ δέμας φωνήν τε πόδας τʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἔοικας.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Old woman, so they say who have seen with their eyes
the two of us, that we are very like one another,
as you yourself say, and speak with understanding."
the two of us, that we are very like one another,
as you yourself say, and speak with understanding."
ὦ γρηῦ, οὕτω φασὶν ὅσοι ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
ἡμέας ἀμφοτέρους, μάλα εἰκέλω ἀλλήλοιϊν
ἔμμεναι, ὡς σύ περ αὐτὴ ἐπιφρονέουσʼ ἀγορεύεις.
ἡμέας ἀμφοτέρους, μάλα εἰκέλω ἀλλήλοιϊν
ἔμμεναι, ὡς σύ περ αὐτὴ ἐπιφρονέουσʼ ἀγορεύεις.
So he spoke, and the old woman took the gleaming cauldron
in which she washed feet, and poured in much water,
cold, and then added hot. And Odysseus
sat down at the hearth, and quickly turned towards the darkness;
for at once he thought in his spirit that as she took hold of him
she might notice the scar, and the thing would come out.
She came near and washed her master; and at once she knew
the scar, which a boar had dealt him once with his white tusk
when he went to Parnassus to Autolycus and his sons,
his mother’s noble father, who surpassed all men
in thievery and in the oath; the god himself had given him this,
Hermes; for he used to burn thigh-pieces that pleased him
of lambs and of kids; and the god went with him gladly.
Autolycus once came to the rich land of Ithaca
and found his daughter’s son newly born;
and Eurycleia set him upon his dear knees
as he was finishing his supper, and spoke, and called him by name:
in which she washed feet, and poured in much water,
cold, and then added hot. And Odysseus
sat down at the hearth, and quickly turned towards the darkness;
for at once he thought in his spirit that as she took hold of him
she might notice the scar, and the thing would come out.
She came near and washed her master; and at once she knew
the scar, which a boar had dealt him once with his white tusk
when he went to Parnassus to Autolycus and his sons,
his mother’s noble father, who surpassed all men
in thievery and in the oath; the god himself had given him this,
Hermes; for he used to burn thigh-pieces that pleased him
of lambs and of kids; and the god went with him gladly.
Autolycus once came to the rich land of Ithaca
and found his daughter’s son newly born;
and Eurycleia set him upon his dear knees
as he was finishing his supper, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ λέβηθʼ ἕλε παμφανόωντα
τοῦ πόδας ἐξαπένιζεν, ὕδωρ δʼ ἐνεχεύατο πουλὺ
ψυχρόν, ἔπειτα δὲ θερμὸν ἐπήφυσεν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἷζεν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν, ποτὶ δὲ σκότον ἐτράπετʼ αἶψα·
αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ὀΐσατο, μή ἑ λαβοῦσα
οὐλὴν ἀμφράσσαιτο καὶ ἀμφαδὰ ἔργα γένοιτο.
νίζε δʼ ἄρʼ ἆσσον ἰοῦσα ἄναχθʼ ἑόν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω
οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ μιν σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι
Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα μετʼ Αὐτόλυκόν τε καὶ υἷας,
μητρὸς ἑῆς πάτερʼ ἐσθλόν, ὃς ἀνθρώπους ἐκέκαστο
κλεπτοσύνῃ θʼ ὅρκῳ τε· θεὸς δέ οἱ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν
Ἑρμείας· τῷ γὰρ κεχαρισμένα μηρία καῖεν
ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων· ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ἅμʼ ὀπήδει.
Αὐτόλυκος δʼ ἐλθὼν Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμον
παῖδα νέον γεγαῶτα κιχήσατο θυγατέρος ἧς·
τόν ῥά οἱ Εὐρύκλεια φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θῆκε
παυομένῳ δόρποιο, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
τοῦ πόδας ἐξαπένιζεν, ὕδωρ δʼ ἐνεχεύατο πουλὺ
ψυχρόν, ἔπειτα δὲ θερμὸν ἐπήφυσεν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἷζεν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν, ποτὶ δὲ σκότον ἐτράπετʼ αἶψα·
αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ὀΐσατο, μή ἑ λαβοῦσα
οὐλὴν ἀμφράσσαιτο καὶ ἀμφαδὰ ἔργα γένοιτο.
νίζε δʼ ἄρʼ ἆσσον ἰοῦσα ἄναχθʼ ἑόν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω
οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ μιν σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι
Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα μετʼ Αὐτόλυκόν τε καὶ υἷας,
μητρὸς ἑῆς πάτερʼ ἐσθλόν, ὃς ἀνθρώπους ἐκέκαστο
κλεπτοσύνῃ θʼ ὅρκῳ τε· θεὸς δέ οἱ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν
Ἑρμείας· τῷ γὰρ κεχαρισμένα μηρία καῖεν
ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων· ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ἅμʼ ὀπήδει.
Αὐτόλυκος δʼ ἐλθὼν Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμον
παῖδα νέον γεγαῶτα κιχήσατο θυγατέρος ἧς·
τόν ῥά οἱ Εὐρύκλεια φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θῆκε
παυομένῳ δόρποιο, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Autolycus, find a name yourself now to give
to your child’s dear child; he is a child much prayed for."
Then Autolycus answered her and spoke:
to your child’s dear child; he is a child much prayed for."
Then Autolycus answered her and spoke:
Αὐτόλυκʼ, αὐτὸς νῦν ὄνομʼ εὕρεο ὅττι κε θῆαι
παιδὸς παιδὶ φίλῳ· πολυάρητος δέ τοί ἐστιν.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Αὐτόλυκος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
παιδὸς παιδὶ φίλῳ· πολυάρητος δέ τοί ἐστιν.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Αὐτόλυκος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"My daughter and my daughter’s husband, give him the name I shall say.
I have come here as one who has been angered with many,
with men and with women over the nourishing earth;
so let his name be Odysseus, a name to match. And I,
when he has come to manhood and comes to the great house
of his mother’s family, to Parnassus, where my possessions are,
will give him some of them and send him away rejoicing."
It was for these that Odysseus went, so that he might give him glorious gifts.
And Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus
greeted him with their hands and with soft words;
and Amphithea, his mother’s mother, threw her arms about Odysseus
and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes.
And Autolycus called to his glorious sons
to make the meal ready; and they heard his urging,
and at once they brought in a five-year-old bull;
they flayed it and dressed it and cut it all up,
and skilfully chopped it and pierced it on spits,
and roasted it carefully and divided the portions.
So then all day long until the setting of the sun
they feasted, nor did any spirit lack an equal share of the feast;
and when the sun went down and darkness came on,
then they lay down and took the gift of sleep.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
they went out to the hunt, the dogs and they themselves,
the sons of Autolycus; and with them noble Odysseus
went; and they climbed the steep mountain clothed in forest,
Parnassus, and soon reached its windy folds.
The Sun was just then striking the fields
out of the gently flowing, deep-flowing Ocean,
and the hunters came down into a glen; before them
the dogs went on, searching out the tracks; and behind them
the sons of Autolycus; and with them noble Odysseus
went, close to the dogs, brandishing his long-shadowed spear.
There in a thick lair a great boar lay;
through it the force of the winds that blow wet did not pierce,
nor did the shining Sun strike it with his rays,
nor did rain go right through it; so thick
it was, and there was a great heap of fallen leaves within.
The sound of the feet of men and of dogs came about him
as they came driving on; and he came out of the thicket against them,
his bristles well up and fire glaring in his eyes,
and stood close to them. And first of all Odysseus
rushed on, holding up his long spear in his thick hand,
eager to strike; but the boar was first and struck him
above the knee, and tore away much flesh with his tusk
as he came sideways at him, but he did not reach the man’s bone.
And Odysseus struck him and hit him on the right shoulder,
and the point of the bright spear went right through;
and he fell in the dust with a cry, and his spirit flew away.
The dear sons of Autolycus busied themselves about him,
and the wound of blameless, godlike Odysseus
they bound up skilfully, and with an incantation they stopped
the dark blood, and quickly they came to the house of their dear father.
And Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus
healed him well, and gave him glorious gifts,
and swiftly and gladly sent him to his dear native land,
to Ithaca. And his father and his honoured mother
were glad at his homecoming, and asked about each thing,
how he came by the scar; and he recounted it to them well,
how the boar struck him with his white tusk as he hunted,
when he went to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus.
The old woman took this scar in the flat of her hands
and knew it when she had felt it, and let the foot drop;
and the leg fell into the cauldron, and the bronze rang,
and it tipped over to the other side, and the water spilled on the ground.
And joy and grief together took hold of her mind, and both her eyes
filled with tears, and her full voice was checked.
And she touched Odysseus by the chin and said to him:
I have come here as one who has been angered with many,
with men and with women over the nourishing earth;
so let his name be Odysseus, a name to match. And I,
when he has come to manhood and comes to the great house
of his mother’s family, to Parnassus, where my possessions are,
will give him some of them and send him away rejoicing."
It was for these that Odysseus went, so that he might give him glorious gifts.
And Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus
greeted him with their hands and with soft words;
and Amphithea, his mother’s mother, threw her arms about Odysseus
and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes.
And Autolycus called to his glorious sons
to make the meal ready; and they heard his urging,
and at once they brought in a five-year-old bull;
they flayed it and dressed it and cut it all up,
and skilfully chopped it and pierced it on spits,
and roasted it carefully and divided the portions.
So then all day long until the setting of the sun
they feasted, nor did any spirit lack an equal share of the feast;
and when the sun went down and darkness came on,
then they lay down and took the gift of sleep.
As soon as early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
they went out to the hunt, the dogs and they themselves,
the sons of Autolycus; and with them noble Odysseus
went; and they climbed the steep mountain clothed in forest,
Parnassus, and soon reached its windy folds.
The Sun was just then striking the fields
out of the gently flowing, deep-flowing Ocean,
and the hunters came down into a glen; before them
the dogs went on, searching out the tracks; and behind them
the sons of Autolycus; and with them noble Odysseus
went, close to the dogs, brandishing his long-shadowed spear.
There in a thick lair a great boar lay;
through it the force of the winds that blow wet did not pierce,
nor did the shining Sun strike it with his rays,
nor did rain go right through it; so thick
it was, and there was a great heap of fallen leaves within.
The sound of the feet of men and of dogs came about him
as they came driving on; and he came out of the thicket against them,
his bristles well up and fire glaring in his eyes,
and stood close to them. And first of all Odysseus
rushed on, holding up his long spear in his thick hand,
eager to strike; but the boar was first and struck him
above the knee, and tore away much flesh with his tusk
as he came sideways at him, but he did not reach the man’s bone.
And Odysseus struck him and hit him on the right shoulder,
and the point of the bright spear went right through;
and he fell in the dust with a cry, and his spirit flew away.
The dear sons of Autolycus busied themselves about him,
and the wound of blameless, godlike Odysseus
they bound up skilfully, and with an incantation they stopped
the dark blood, and quickly they came to the house of their dear father.
And Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus
healed him well, and gave him glorious gifts,
and swiftly and gladly sent him to his dear native land,
to Ithaca. And his father and his honoured mother
were glad at his homecoming, and asked about each thing,
how he came by the scar; and he recounted it to them well,
how the boar struck him with his white tusk as he hunted,
when he went to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus.
The old woman took this scar in the flat of her hands
and knew it when she had felt it, and let the foot drop;
and the leg fell into the cauldron, and the bronze rang,
and it tipped over to the other side, and the water spilled on the ground.
And joy and grief together took hold of her mind, and both her eyes
filled with tears, and her full voice was checked.
And she touched Odysseus by the chin and said to him:
γαμβρὸς ἐμὸς θυγάτηρ τε, τίθεσθʼ ὄνομʼ ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
πολλοῖσιν γὰρ ἐγώ γε ὀδυσσάμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνω,
ἀνδράσιν ἠδὲ γυναιξὶν ἀνὰ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν·
τῷ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ὄνομʼ ἔστω ἐπώνυμον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε,
ὁππότʼ ἂν ἡβήσας μητρώϊον ἐς μέγα δῶμα
ἔλθῃ Παρνησόνδʼ, ὅθι πού μοι κτήματʼ ἔασι,
τῶν οἱ ἐγὼ δώσω καί μιν χαίροντʼ ἀποπέμψω.
τῶν ἕνεκʼ ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ἵνα οἱ πόροι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες Αὐτολύκοιο
χερσίν τʼ ἠσπάζοντο ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι·
μήτηρ δʼ Ἀμφιθέη μητρὸς περιφῦσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ
κύσσʼ ἄρα μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά.
Αὐτόλυκος δʼ υἱοῖσιν ἐκέκλετο κυδαλίμοισι
δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσαι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν,
αὐτίκα δʼ εἰσάγαγον βοῦν ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον·
τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, δάσσαντό τε μοίρας.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς θήρην, ἠμὲν κύνες ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
υἱέες Αὐτολύκου· μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤϊεν· αἰπὺ δʼ ὄρος προσέβαν καταειμένον ὕλῃ
Παρνησοῦ, τάχα δʼ ἵκανον πτύχας ἠνεμοέσσας.
Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούρας
ἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο,
οἱ δʼ ἐς βῆσσαν ἵκανον ἐπακτῆρες· πρὸ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῶν
ἴχνιʼ ἐρευνῶντες κύνες ἤϊσαν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν
υἱέες Αὐτολύκου· μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤϊεν ἄγχι κυνῶν, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.
ἔνθα δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν λόχμῃ πυκινῇ κατέκειτο μέγας σῦς·
τὴν μὲν ἄρʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμων διάει μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,
οὔτε μιν Ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,
οὔτʼ ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές· ὣς ἄρα πυκνὴ
ἦεν, ἀτὰρ φύλλων ἐνέην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή.
τὸν δʼ ἀνδρῶν τε κυνῶν τε περὶ κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν,
ὡς ἐπάγοντες ἐπῇσαν· ὁ δʼ ἀντίος ἐκ ξυλόχοιο
φρίξας εὖ λοφιήν, πῦρ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσι δεδορκώς,
στῆ ῥʼ αὐτῶν σχεδόθεν· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρώτιστος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἔσσυτʼ ἀνασχόμενος δολιχὸν δόρυ χειρὶ παχείῃ,
οὐτάμεναι μεμαώς· ὁ δέ μιν φθάμενος ἔλασεν σῦς
γουνὸς ὕπερ, πολλὸν δὲ διήφυσε σαρκὸς ὀδόντι
λικριφὶς ἀΐξας, οὐδʼ ὀστέον ἵκετο φωτός.
τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς οὔτησε τυχὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον,
ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκή·
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο θυμός.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτολύκου παῖδες φίλοι ἀμφεπένοντο,
ὠτειλὴν δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἀντιθέοιο
δῆσαν ἐπισταμένως, ἐπαοιδῇ δʼ αἷμα κελαινὸν
ἔσχεθον, αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο φίλου πρὸς δώματα πατρός.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες Αὐτολύκοιο
εὖ ἰησάμενοι ἠδʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πορόντες
καρπαλίμως χαίροντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμπον
εἰς Ἰθάκην. τῷ μέν ῥα πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
χαῖρον νοστήσαντι καὶ ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα,
οὐλὴν ὅττι πάθοι· ὁ δʼ ἄρα σφίσιν εὖ κατέλεξεν
ὥς μιν θηρεύοντʼ ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι,
Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.
τὴν γρηῢς χείρεσσι καταπρηνέσσι λαβοῦσα
γνῶ ῥʼ ἐπιμασσαμένη, πόδα δὲ προέηκε φέρεσθαι·
ἐν δὲ λέβητι πέσε κνήμη, κανάχησε δὲ χαλκός,
ἂψ δʼ ἑτέρωσʼ ἐκλίθη· τὸ δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὸς ἐξέχυθʼ ὕδωρ.
τὴν δʼ ἅμα χάρμα καὶ ἄλγος ἕλε φρένα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.
ἁψαμένη δὲ γενείου Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπεν·
πολλοῖσιν γὰρ ἐγώ γε ὀδυσσάμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνω,
ἀνδράσιν ἠδὲ γυναιξὶν ἀνὰ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν·
τῷ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ὄνομʼ ἔστω ἐπώνυμον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε,
ὁππότʼ ἂν ἡβήσας μητρώϊον ἐς μέγα δῶμα
ἔλθῃ Παρνησόνδʼ, ὅθι πού μοι κτήματʼ ἔασι,
τῶν οἱ ἐγὼ δώσω καί μιν χαίροντʼ ἀποπέμψω.
τῶν ἕνεκʼ ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ἵνα οἱ πόροι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες Αὐτολύκοιο
χερσίν τʼ ἠσπάζοντο ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι·
μήτηρ δʼ Ἀμφιθέη μητρὸς περιφῦσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ
κύσσʼ ἄρα μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά.
Αὐτόλυκος δʼ υἱοῖσιν ἐκέκλετο κυδαλίμοισι
δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσαι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν,
αὐτίκα δʼ εἰσάγαγον βοῦν ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον·
τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, δάσσαντό τε μοίρας.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς θήρην, ἠμὲν κύνες ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
υἱέες Αὐτολύκου· μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤϊεν· αἰπὺ δʼ ὄρος προσέβαν καταειμένον ὕλῃ
Παρνησοῦ, τάχα δʼ ἵκανον πτύχας ἠνεμοέσσας.
Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούρας
ἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο,
οἱ δʼ ἐς βῆσσαν ἵκανον ἐπακτῆρες· πρὸ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῶν
ἴχνιʼ ἐρευνῶντες κύνες ἤϊσαν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν
υἱέες Αὐτολύκου· μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἤϊεν ἄγχι κυνῶν, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.
ἔνθα δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν λόχμῃ πυκινῇ κατέκειτο μέγας σῦς·
τὴν μὲν ἄρʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμων διάει μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,
οὔτε μιν Ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,
οὔτʼ ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές· ὣς ἄρα πυκνὴ
ἦεν, ἀτὰρ φύλλων ἐνέην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή.
τὸν δʼ ἀνδρῶν τε κυνῶν τε περὶ κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν,
ὡς ἐπάγοντες ἐπῇσαν· ὁ δʼ ἀντίος ἐκ ξυλόχοιο
φρίξας εὖ λοφιήν, πῦρ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσι δεδορκώς,
στῆ ῥʼ αὐτῶν σχεδόθεν· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρώτιστος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἔσσυτʼ ἀνασχόμενος δολιχὸν δόρυ χειρὶ παχείῃ,
οὐτάμεναι μεμαώς· ὁ δέ μιν φθάμενος ἔλασεν σῦς
γουνὸς ὕπερ, πολλὸν δὲ διήφυσε σαρκὸς ὀδόντι
λικριφὶς ἀΐξας, οὐδʼ ὀστέον ἵκετο φωτός.
τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς οὔτησε τυχὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον,
ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκή·
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο θυμός.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτολύκου παῖδες φίλοι ἀμφεπένοντο,
ὠτειλὴν δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἀντιθέοιο
δῆσαν ἐπισταμένως, ἐπαοιδῇ δʼ αἷμα κελαινὸν
ἔσχεθον, αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο φίλου πρὸς δώματα πατρός.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες Αὐτολύκοιο
εὖ ἰησάμενοι ἠδʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πορόντες
καρπαλίμως χαίροντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμπον
εἰς Ἰθάκην. τῷ μέν ῥα πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
χαῖρον νοστήσαντι καὶ ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα,
οὐλὴν ὅττι πάθοι· ὁ δʼ ἄρα σφίσιν εὖ κατέλεξεν
ὥς μιν θηρεύοντʼ ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι,
Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.
τὴν γρηῢς χείρεσσι καταπρηνέσσι λαβοῦσα
γνῶ ῥʼ ἐπιμασσαμένη, πόδα δὲ προέηκε φέρεσθαι·
ἐν δὲ λέβητι πέσε κνήμη, κανάχησε δὲ χαλκός,
ἂψ δʼ ἑτέρωσʼ ἐκλίθη· τὸ δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὸς ἐξέχυθʼ ὕδωρ.
τὴν δʼ ἅμα χάρμα καὶ ἄλγος ἕλε φρένα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.
ἁψαμένη δὲ γενείου Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπεν·
"Truly you are Odysseus, dear child; and I did not
know you before, until I had handled all of my master."
know you before, until I had handled all of my master."
ἦ μάλʼ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι, φίλον τέκος· οὐδέ σʼ ἐγώ γε
πρὶν ἔγνων, πρὶν πάντα ἄνακτʼ ἐμὸν ἀμφαφάασθαι.
πρὶν ἔγνων, πρὶν πάντα ἄνακτʼ ἐμὸν ἀμφαφάασθαι.
She spoke, and looked with her eyes towards Penelope,
wishing to tell her that her dear husband was within.
But Penelope could neither look across at her nor understand;
for Athena had turned her mind aside. But Odysseus
felt for her throat and caught it with his right hand,
and with the other he drew her nearer to himself and spoke:
"Nurse, why do you want to destroy me? You yourself reared me
at your own breast; and now, after suffering many pains,
I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
But since you have noticed it and a god has put it in your mind,
be silent, so that no one else in the halls may learn of it.
For I will speak out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
if a god beats down the proud suitors under my hand,
not even you, my nurse, will I spare, when I kill
the other serving-women in my halls."
Then circumspect Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
wishing to tell her that her dear husband was within.
But Penelope could neither look across at her nor understand;
for Athena had turned her mind aside. But Odysseus
felt for her throat and caught it with his right hand,
and with the other he drew her nearer to himself and spoke:
"Nurse, why do you want to destroy me? You yourself reared me
at your own breast; and now, after suffering many pains,
I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
But since you have noticed it and a god has put it in your mind,
be silent, so that no one else in the halls may learn of it.
For I will speak out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
if a god beats down the proud suitors under my hand,
not even you, my nurse, will I spare, when I kill
the other serving-women in my halls."
Then circumspect Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
ἦ καὶ Πηνελόπειαν ἐσέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
πεφραδέειν ἐθέλουσα φίλον πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀθρῆσαι δύνατʼ ἀντίη οὔτε νοῆσαι·
τῇ γὰρ Ἀθηναίη νόον ἔτραπεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
χεῖρʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος φάρυγος λάβε δεξιτερῆφι,
τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ ἕθεν ἆσσον ἐρύσσατο φώνησέν τε.
μαῖα, τίη μʼ ἐθέλεις ὀλέσαι; σὺ δέ μʼ ἔτρεφες αὐτὴ
τῷ σῷ ἐπὶ μαζῷ· νῦν δʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἐφράσθης καί τοι θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ,
σίγα, μή τίς τʼ ἄλλος ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πύθηται.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
οὐδὲ τροφοῦ οὔσης σεῦ ἀφέξομαι, ὁππότʼ ἂν ἄλλας
δμῳὰς ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖς κτείνωμι γυναῖκας.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια·
πεφραδέειν ἐθέλουσα φίλον πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀθρῆσαι δύνατʼ ἀντίη οὔτε νοῆσαι·
τῇ γὰρ Ἀθηναίη νόον ἔτραπεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
χεῖρʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος φάρυγος λάβε δεξιτερῆφι,
τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ ἕθεν ἆσσον ἐρύσσατο φώνησέν τε.
μαῖα, τίη μʼ ἐθέλεις ὀλέσαι; σὺ δέ μʼ ἔτρεφες αὐτὴ
τῷ σῷ ἐπὶ μαζῷ· νῦν δʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἐφράσθης καί τοι θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ,
σίγα, μή τίς τʼ ἄλλος ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πύθηται.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
οὐδὲ τροφοῦ οὔσης σεῦ ἀφέξομαι, ὁππότʼ ἂν ἄλλας
δμῳὰς ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖς κτείνωμι γυναῖκας.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια·
"My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth.
You know what my strength is, steadfast and unyielding;
I will hold like hard stone or iron.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
if a god beats down the proud suitors under your hand,
then I will recount to you the women in the halls,
which of them dishonour you and which are guiltless."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
"Nurse, why should you tell of them? There is no need.
I shall notice well and know each of them myself;
but keep the word in silence, and leave it to the gods."
You know what my strength is, steadfast and unyielding;
I will hold like hard stone or iron.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
if a god beats down the proud suitors under your hand,
then I will recount to you the women in the halls,
which of them dishonour you and which are guiltless."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
"Nurse, why should you tell of them? There is no need.
I shall notice well and know each of them myself;
but keep the word in silence, and leave it to the gods."
τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
οἶσθα μὲν οἷον ἐμὸν μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδʼ ἐπιεικτόν,
ἕξω δʼ ὡς ὅτε τις στερεὴ λίθος ἠὲ σίδηρος.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
εἴ χʼ ὑπό σοι γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
δὴ τότε τοι καταλέξω ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκας,
αἵ τέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσι.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
μαῖα, τίη δὲ σὺ τὰς μυθήσεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.
εὖ νυ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ φράσομαι καὶ εἴσομʼ ἑκάστην·
ἀλλʼ ἔχε σιγῇ μῦθον, ἐπίτρεψον δὲ θεοῖσιν.
οἶσθα μὲν οἷον ἐμὸν μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδʼ ἐπιεικτόν,
ἕξω δʼ ὡς ὅτε τις στερεὴ λίθος ἠὲ σίδηρος.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
εἴ χʼ ὑπό σοι γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
δὴ τότε τοι καταλέξω ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκας,
αἵ τέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσι.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
μαῖα, τίη δὲ σὺ τὰς μυθήσεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.
εὖ νυ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ φράσομαι καὶ εἴσομʼ ἑκάστην·
ἀλλʼ ἔχε σιγῇ μῦθον, ἐπίτρεψον δὲ θεοῖσιν.
So he spoke, and the old woman went out through the hall
to bring water for the feet; for all the first had been spilled.
But when she had washed him and anointed him richly with oil,
Odysseus drew his stool nearer to the fire again
to warm himself, and hid the scar under his rags.
And circumspect Penelope was the first to speak among them:
"Stranger, this little more I will ask you myself;
for it will soon be the hour for sweet rest,
for whomever sweet sleep takes, care-worn though he be.
But to me a god has given grief past measure;
for by day I take my pleasure in lamenting and weeping,
as I look to my work and to the handmaids in the house;
but when night comes and rest takes hold of all,
I lie in my bed, and about my throbbing heart
sharp cares crowd close and torment me as I weep.
As when the daughter of Pandareus, the green nightingale,
sings beautifully when the spring is newly come,
sitting among the thick leaves of the trees,
and often changing pours out her many-toned voice,
lamenting her dear child Itylus, whom once with the bronze
she killed in her folly, the son of the lord Zethus,
so my spirit too is stirred two ways, this way and that,
whether to stay beside my son and keep everything safe,
my possessions, the servants and the great high-roofed house,
respecting my husband’s bed and the voice of the people,
or go now with whichever of the Achaeans is best,
who woos me in the halls and offers countless bride-gifts.
While my son was still a child and light of mind,
he would not let me marry and leave my husband’s house;
but now, when he is grown and has come to the measure of his youth,
he even prays that I will go back out of the hall,
chafing for the property that the Achaeans devour.
But come, hear this dream of mine and interpret it.
Twenty geese in my house eat wheat
out of the water, and I take pleasure in looking at them;
and a great eagle with a crooked beak came from the mountain
and broke all their necks and killed them; and they lay in a heap
together in the halls, and he rose up into the bright air.
And I wept and wailed, there in the dream,
and the fair-haired Achaean women gathered about me
as I lamented piteously that the eagle had killed my geese.
But he came back and sat on a projecting beam of the roof
and checked me with a mortal voice, and spoke:
to bring water for the feet; for all the first had been spilled.
But when she had washed him and anointed him richly with oil,
Odysseus drew his stool nearer to the fire again
to warm himself, and hid the scar under his rags.
And circumspect Penelope was the first to speak among them:
"Stranger, this little more I will ask you myself;
for it will soon be the hour for sweet rest,
for whomever sweet sleep takes, care-worn though he be.
But to me a god has given grief past measure;
for by day I take my pleasure in lamenting and weeping,
as I look to my work and to the handmaids in the house;
but when night comes and rest takes hold of all,
I lie in my bed, and about my throbbing heart
sharp cares crowd close and torment me as I weep.
As when the daughter of Pandareus, the green nightingale,
sings beautifully when the spring is newly come,
sitting among the thick leaves of the trees,
and often changing pours out her many-toned voice,
lamenting her dear child Itylus, whom once with the bronze
she killed in her folly, the son of the lord Zethus,
so my spirit too is stirred two ways, this way and that,
whether to stay beside my son and keep everything safe,
my possessions, the servants and the great high-roofed house,
respecting my husband’s bed and the voice of the people,
or go now with whichever of the Achaeans is best,
who woos me in the halls and offers countless bride-gifts.
While my son was still a child and light of mind,
he would not let me marry and leave my husband’s house;
but now, when he is grown and has come to the measure of his youth,
he even prays that I will go back out of the hall,
chafing for the property that the Achaeans devour.
But come, hear this dream of mine and interpret it.
Twenty geese in my house eat wheat
out of the water, and I take pleasure in looking at them;
and a great eagle with a crooked beak came from the mountain
and broke all their necks and killed them; and they lay in a heap
together in the halls, and he rose up into the bright air.
And I wept and wailed, there in the dream,
and the fair-haired Achaean women gathered about me
as I lamented piteously that the eagle had killed my geese.
But he came back and sat on a projecting beam of the roof
and checked me with a mortal voice, and spoke:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
οἰσομένη ποδάνιπτρα· τὰ γὰρ πρότερʼ ἔκχυτο πάντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νίψεν τε καὶ ἤλειψεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
αὖτις ἄρʼ ἀσσοτέρω πυρὸς ἕλκετο δίφρον Ὀδυσσεὺς
θερσόμενος, οὐλὴν δὲ κατὰ ῥακέεσσι κάλυψε.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σʼ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·
καὶ γὰρ δὴ κοίτοιο τάχʼ ἔσσεται ἡδέος ὥρη,
ὅν τινά γʼ ὕπνος ἕλοι γλυκερός, καὶ κηδόμενόν περ.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ πένθος ἀμέτρητον πόρε δαίμων·
ἤματα μὲν γὰρ τέρπομʼ ὀδυρομένη, γοόωσα,
ἔς τʼ ἐμὰ ἔργʼ ὁρόωσα καὶ ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν νὺξ ἔλθῃ, ἕλῃσί τε κοῖτος ἅπαντας,
κεῖμαι ἐνὶ λέκτρῳ, πυκιναὶ δέ μοι ἀμφʼ ἀδινὸν κῆρ
ὀξεῖαι μελεδῶνες ὀδυρομένην ἐρέθουσιν.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρη, χλωρηῒς ἀηδών,
καλὸν ἀείδῃσιν ἔαρος νέον ἱσταμένοιο,
δενδρέων ἐν πετάλοισι καθεζομένη πυκινοῖσιν,
ἥ τε θαμὰ τρωπῶσα χέει πολυηχέα φωνήν,
παῖδʼ ὀλοφυρομένη Ἴτυλον φίλον, ὅν ποτε χαλκῷ
κτεῖνε διʼ ἀφραδίας, κοῦρον Ζήθοιο ἄνακτος,
ὣς καὶ ἐμοὶ δίχα θυμὸς ὀρώρεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἠὲ μένω παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσω,
κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα,
εὐνήν τʼ αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,
ἦ ἤδη ἅμʼ ἕπωμαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος
μνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, πορὼν ἀπερείσια ἕδνα.
παῖς δʼ ἐμὸς ἧος ἔην ἔτι νήπιος ἠδὲ χαλίφρων,
γήμασθʼ οὔ μʼ εἴα πόσιος κατὰ δῶμα λιποῦσαν·
νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ μέγας ἐστὶ καὶ ἥβης μέτρον ἱκάνει,
καὶ δή μʼ ἀρᾶται πάλιν ἐλθέμεν ἐκ μεγάροιο,
κτήσιος ἀσχαλόων, τήν οἱ κατέδουσιν Ἀχαιοί.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τὸν ὄνειρον ὑπόκριναι καὶ ἄκουσον.
χῆνές μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἐείκοσι πυρὸν ἔδουσιν
ἐξ ὕδατος, καί τέ σφιν ἰαίνομαι εἰσορόωσα·
ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐξ ὄρεος μέγας αἰετὸς ἀγκυλοχείλης
πᾶσι κατʼ αὐχένας ἦξε καὶ ἔκτανεν· οἱ δʼ ἐκέχυντο
ἀθρόοι ἐν μεγάροις, ὁ δʼ ἐς αἰθέρα δῖαν ἀέρθη.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κλαῖον καὶ ἐκώκυον ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἔμʼ ἠγερέθοντο ἐϋπλοκαμῖδες Ἀχαιαί,
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένην ὅ μοι αἰετὸς ἔκτανε χῆνας.
ἂψ δʼ ἐλθὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ προὔχοντι μελάθρῳ,
φωνῇ δὲ βροτέῃ κατερήτυε φώνησέν τε·
οἰσομένη ποδάνιπτρα· τὰ γὰρ πρότερʼ ἔκχυτο πάντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νίψεν τε καὶ ἤλειψεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,
αὖτις ἄρʼ ἀσσοτέρω πυρὸς ἕλκετο δίφρον Ὀδυσσεὺς
θερσόμενος, οὐλὴν δὲ κατὰ ῥακέεσσι κάλυψε.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σʼ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·
καὶ γὰρ δὴ κοίτοιο τάχʼ ἔσσεται ἡδέος ὥρη,
ὅν τινά γʼ ὕπνος ἕλοι γλυκερός, καὶ κηδόμενόν περ.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ πένθος ἀμέτρητον πόρε δαίμων·
ἤματα μὲν γὰρ τέρπομʼ ὀδυρομένη, γοόωσα,
ἔς τʼ ἐμὰ ἔργʼ ὁρόωσα καὶ ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν νὺξ ἔλθῃ, ἕλῃσί τε κοῖτος ἅπαντας,
κεῖμαι ἐνὶ λέκτρῳ, πυκιναὶ δέ μοι ἀμφʼ ἀδινὸν κῆρ
ὀξεῖαι μελεδῶνες ὀδυρομένην ἐρέθουσιν.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρη, χλωρηῒς ἀηδών,
καλὸν ἀείδῃσιν ἔαρος νέον ἱσταμένοιο,
δενδρέων ἐν πετάλοισι καθεζομένη πυκινοῖσιν,
ἥ τε θαμὰ τρωπῶσα χέει πολυηχέα φωνήν,
παῖδʼ ὀλοφυρομένη Ἴτυλον φίλον, ὅν ποτε χαλκῷ
κτεῖνε διʼ ἀφραδίας, κοῦρον Ζήθοιο ἄνακτος,
ὣς καὶ ἐμοὶ δίχα θυμὸς ὀρώρεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἠὲ μένω παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσω,
κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα,
εὐνήν τʼ αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,
ἦ ἤδη ἅμʼ ἕπωμαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος
μνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, πορὼν ἀπερείσια ἕδνα.
παῖς δʼ ἐμὸς ἧος ἔην ἔτι νήπιος ἠδὲ χαλίφρων,
γήμασθʼ οὔ μʼ εἴα πόσιος κατὰ δῶμα λιποῦσαν·
νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ μέγας ἐστὶ καὶ ἥβης μέτρον ἱκάνει,
καὶ δή μʼ ἀρᾶται πάλιν ἐλθέμεν ἐκ μεγάροιο,
κτήσιος ἀσχαλόων, τήν οἱ κατέδουσιν Ἀχαιοί.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τὸν ὄνειρον ὑπόκριναι καὶ ἄκουσον.
χῆνές μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἐείκοσι πυρὸν ἔδουσιν
ἐξ ὕδατος, καί τέ σφιν ἰαίνομαι εἰσορόωσα·
ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐξ ὄρεος μέγας αἰετὸς ἀγκυλοχείλης
πᾶσι κατʼ αὐχένας ἦξε καὶ ἔκτανεν· οἱ δʼ ἐκέχυντο
ἀθρόοι ἐν μεγάροις, ὁ δʼ ἐς αἰθέρα δῖαν ἀέρθη.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κλαῖον καὶ ἐκώκυον ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἔμʼ ἠγερέθοντο ἐϋπλοκαμῖδες Ἀχαιαί,
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένην ὅ μοι αἰετὸς ἔκτανε χῆνας.
ἂψ δʼ ἐλθὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ προὔχοντι μελάθρῳ,
φωνῇ δὲ βροτέῃ κατερήτυε φώνησέν τε·
’Take heart, daughter of far-famed Icarius;
this is no dream but a good waking vision, which will be brought to pass.
The geese are the suitors, and I who was before
the eagle, the bird, have now come back as your husband,
who will let loose a shameful doom upon all the suitors.’
this is no dream but a good waking vision, which will be brought to pass.
The geese are the suitors, and I who was before
the eagle, the bird, have now come back as your husband,
who will let loose a shameful doom upon all the suitors.’
θάρσει, Ἰκαρίου κούρη τηλεκλειτοῖο·
οὐκ ὄναρ, ἀλλʼ ὕπαρ ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι τετελεσμένον ἔσται.
χῆνες μὲν μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δέ τοι αἰετὸς ὄρνις
ἦα πάρος, νῦν αὖτε τεὸς πόσις εἰλήλουθα,
ὃς πᾶσι μνηστῆρσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσω.
οὐκ ὄναρ, ἀλλʼ ὕπαρ ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι τετελεσμένον ἔσται.
χῆνες μὲν μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δέ τοι αἰετὸς ὄρνις
ἦα πάρος, νῦν αὖτε τεὸς πόσις εἰλήλουθα,
ὃς πᾶσι μνηστῆρσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσω.
So he spoke, and honey-sweet sleep released me;
and I looked about and saw the geese in the halls
cropping the wheat by the trough, where they were before."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
and I looked about and saw the geese in the halls
cropping the wheat by the trough, where they were before."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ μελιηδὴς ὕπνος ἀνῆκε·
παπτήνασα δὲ χῆνας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι νόησα
πυρὸν ἐρεπτομένους παρὰ πύελον, ἧχι πάρος περ.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
παπτήνασα δὲ χῆνας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι νόησα
πυρὸν ἐρεπτομένους παρὰ πύελον, ἧχι πάρος περ.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Lady, there is no way to read this dream
by turning it aside, since surely Odysseus himself
has told you how he will accomplish it; destruction appears for the suitors,
for all of them, and none will escape death and the fates."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
by turning it aside, since surely Odysseus himself
has told you how he will accomplish it; destruction appears for the suitors,
for all of them, and none will escape death and the fates."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ὦ γύναι, οὔ πως ἔστιν ὑποκρίνασθαι ὄνειρον
ἄλλῃ ἀποκλίναντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ ῥά τοι αὐτὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
πέφραδʼ ὅπως τελέει· μνηστῆρσι δὲ φαίνετʼ ὄλεθρος
πᾶσι μάλʼ, οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ἄλλῃ ἀποκλίναντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ ῥά τοι αὐτὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
πέφραδʼ ὅπως τελέει· μνηστῆρσι δὲ φαίνετʼ ὄλεθρος
πᾶσι μάλʼ, οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Stranger, dreams are baffling and hard to read,
and not everything in them comes true for men.
For there are two gates for shadowy dreams:
the one is made of horn, and the other of ivory;
and those that come through the sawn ivory
deceive, bringing words that are not fulfilled;
but those that come out through the polished horn
bring true things to pass, when any mortal sees them.
But I do not think my strange dream came
from there; it would have been welcome to me and to my son.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
this dawn that is coming is of ill name, the one that will part me
from the house of Odysseus; for now I shall set up a contest,
the axes, which he used to set up in his halls
in a row, like the props of a ship, twelve of them in all;
and he would stand far off and shoot an arrow through them.
Now I will lay this contest upon the suitors;
and whoever most easily strings the bow in his hands
and shoots an arrow through all twelve axes,
with him I will go, leaving this house,
my wedded house, very beautiful, full of livelihood,
which I think I shall remember even in my dreams."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
"Honoured wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
do not put off this contest in the house any longer;
for Odysseus of many devices will come here
before these men, handling this polished bow,
can string the cord and shoot through the iron."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
and not everything in them comes true for men.
For there are two gates for shadowy dreams:
the one is made of horn, and the other of ivory;
and those that come through the sawn ivory
deceive, bringing words that are not fulfilled;
but those that come out through the polished horn
bring true things to pass, when any mortal sees them.
But I do not think my strange dream came
from there; it would have been welcome to me and to my son.
And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it in your mind:
this dawn that is coming is of ill name, the one that will part me
from the house of Odysseus; for now I shall set up a contest,
the axes, which he used to set up in his halls
in a row, like the props of a ship, twelve of them in all;
and he would stand far off and shoot an arrow through them.
Now I will lay this contest upon the suitors;
and whoever most easily strings the bow in his hands
and shoots an arrow through all twelve axes,
with him I will go, leaving this house,
my wedded house, very beautiful, full of livelihood,
which I think I shall remember even in my dreams."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
"Honoured wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
do not put off this contest in the house any longer;
for Odysseus of many devices will come here
before these men, handling this polished bow,
can string the cord and shoot through the iron."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ὄνειροι ἀμήχανοι ἀκριτόμυθοι
γίγνοντʼ, οὐδέ τι πάντα τελείεται ἀνθρώποισι.
δοιαὶ γάρ τε πύλαι ἀμενηνῶν εἰσὶν ὀνείρων·
αἱ μὲν γὰρ κεράεσσι τετεύχαται, αἱ δʼ ἐλέφαντι·
τῶν οἳ μέν κʼ ἔλθωσι διὰ πριστοῦ ἐλέφαντος,
οἵ ῥʼ ἐλεφαίρονται, ἔπεʼ ἀκράαντα φέροντες·
οἱ δὲ διὰ ξεστῶν κεράων ἔλθωσι θύραζε,
οἵ ῥʼ ἔτυμα κραίνουσι, βροτῶν ὅτε κέν τις ἴδηται.
ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν ὀΐομαι αἰνὸν ὄνειρον
ἐλθέμεν· ἦ κʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ παιδὶ γένοιτο.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
ἥδε δὴ ἠὼς εἶσι δυσώνυμος, ἥ μʼ Ὀδυσῆος
οἴκου ἀποσχήσει· νῦν γὰρ καταθήσω ἄεθλον,
τοὺς πελέκεας, τοὺς κεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσιν
ἵστασχʼ ἑξείης, δρυόχους ὥς, δώδεκα πάντας·
στὰς δʼ ὅ γε πολλὸν ἄνευθε διαρρίπτασκεν ὀϊστόν.
νῦν δὲ μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον τοῦτον ἐφήσω·
ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατʼ ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσι
καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,
τῷ κεν ἅμʼ ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα
κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο·
τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
μηκέτι νῦν ἀνάβαλλε δόμοις ἔνι τοῦτον ἄεθλον·
πρὶν γάρ τοι πολύμητις ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
πρὶν τούτους τόδε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἀμφαφόωντας
νευρήν τʼ ἐντανύσαι διοϊστεῦσαί τε σιδήρου.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
γίγνοντʼ, οὐδέ τι πάντα τελείεται ἀνθρώποισι.
δοιαὶ γάρ τε πύλαι ἀμενηνῶν εἰσὶν ὀνείρων·
αἱ μὲν γὰρ κεράεσσι τετεύχαται, αἱ δʼ ἐλέφαντι·
τῶν οἳ μέν κʼ ἔλθωσι διὰ πριστοῦ ἐλέφαντος,
οἵ ῥʼ ἐλεφαίρονται, ἔπεʼ ἀκράαντα φέροντες·
οἱ δὲ διὰ ξεστῶν κεράων ἔλθωσι θύραζε,
οἵ ῥʼ ἔτυμα κραίνουσι, βροτῶν ὅτε κέν τις ἴδηται.
ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν ὀΐομαι αἰνὸν ὄνειρον
ἐλθέμεν· ἦ κʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ παιδὶ γένοιτο.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
ἥδε δὴ ἠὼς εἶσι δυσώνυμος, ἥ μʼ Ὀδυσῆος
οἴκου ἀποσχήσει· νῦν γὰρ καταθήσω ἄεθλον,
τοὺς πελέκεας, τοὺς κεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσιν
ἵστασχʼ ἑξείης, δρυόχους ὥς, δώδεκα πάντας·
στὰς δʼ ὅ γε πολλὸν ἄνευθε διαρρίπτασκεν ὀϊστόν.
νῦν δὲ μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον τοῦτον ἐφήσω·
ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατʼ ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσι
καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,
τῷ κεν ἅμʼ ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα
κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο·
τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,
μηκέτι νῦν ἀνάβαλλε δόμοις ἔνι τοῦτον ἄεθλον·
πρὶν γάρ τοι πολύμητις ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,
πρὶν τούτους τόδε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἀμφαφόωντας
νευρήν τʼ ἐντανύσαι διοϊστεῦσαί τε σιδήρου.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"If you were willing, stranger, to sit beside me in the halls
and give me pleasure, sleep would not be poured over my eyelids.
But it is not possible for men to be always
without sleep; for the immortals have set a measure
on each thing for mortals upon the grain-giving earth.
But I will go up to the upper chamber
and lie down on my bed, which has become a bed of groaning for me,
always stained with my tears, since Odysseus
went to look upon Evil-Ilium, that is not to be named.
There I will lie down; but you lie down in this house,
either strewing something on the ground, or let them lay bedding for you."
and give me pleasure, sleep would not be poured over my eyelids.
But it is not possible for men to be always
without sleep; for the immortals have set a measure
on each thing for mortals upon the grain-giving earth.
But I will go up to the upper chamber
and lie down on my bed, which has become a bed of groaning for me,
always stained with my tears, since Odysseus
went to look upon Evil-Ilium, that is not to be named.
There I will lie down; but you lie down in this house,
either strewing something on the ground, or let them lay bedding for you."
εἴ κʼ ἐθέλοις μοι, ξεῖνε, παρήμενος ἐν μεγάροισι
τέρπειν, οὔ κέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι χυθείη.
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ πως ἔστιν ἀΰπνους ἔμμεναι αἰεὶ
ἀνθρώπους· ἐπὶ γάρ τοι ἑκάστῳ μοῖραν ἔθηκαν
ἀθάνατοι θνητοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα
λέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,
αἰεὶ δάκρυσʼ ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.
ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην· σὺ δὲ λέξεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
ἢ χαμάδις στορέσας ἤ τοι κατὰ δέμνια θέντων.
τέρπειν, οὔ κέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι χυθείη.
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ πως ἔστιν ἀΰπνους ἔμμεναι αἰεὶ
ἀνθρώπους· ἐπὶ γάρ τοι ἑκάστῳ μοῖραν ἔθηκαν
ἀθάνατοι θνητοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα
λέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,
αἰεὶ δάκρυσʼ ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.
ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην· σὺ δὲ λέξεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
ἢ χαμάδις στορέσας ἤ τοι κατὰ δέμνια θέντων.
So saying she went up to the shining upper chamber,
not alone; other handmaids went with her.
And going up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women
she wept then for Odysseus, her dear husband, until sweet sleep
was cast upon her eyelids by grey-eyed Athena.
not alone; other handmaids went with her.
And going up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women
she wept then for Odysseus, her dear husband, until sweet sleep
was cast upon her eyelids by grey-eyed Athena.
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀνέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα,
οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι κίον ἄλλαι.
ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι κίον ἄλλαι.
ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
Book 20
The last dawn. Odysseus lies awake hearing the disloyal maids; Zeus thunders from a clear sky; Theoclymenus sees the walls dripping blood and the suitors laughing with jaws not their own, and walks out of the doomed hall.
But noble Odysseus lay down to sleep in the forecourt;
he spread an untanned oxhide beneath him, and above it
many fleeces of sheep that the Achaeans had slaughtered;
and Eurynome threw a cloak over him when he had lain down.
There Odysseus lay awake, planning evils in his spirit
for the suitors; and the women came out of the hall,
those who used to lie with the suitors as before,
raising laughter and merriment among one another.
And the spirit was stirred in his own breast;
and he pondered much in his mind and in his spirit,
whether to rush at them and deal death to each,
or to let them lie with the overweening suitors
this last and final time; and his heart barked within him.
As a bitch stands over her tender puppies
and barks at a man she does not know, eager to fight,
so his heart barked within him in outrage at their evil deeds;
and he struck his breast and rebuked his heart with a word:
"Endure, my heart; you endured a fouler thing than this once,
on the day when the Cyclops in his unchecked fury ate
my strong companions; and you held out, until my cunning
led you out of the cave when you thought you were dying."
he spread an untanned oxhide beneath him, and above it
many fleeces of sheep that the Achaeans had slaughtered;
and Eurynome threw a cloak over him when he had lain down.
There Odysseus lay awake, planning evils in his spirit
for the suitors; and the women came out of the hall,
those who used to lie with the suitors as before,
raising laughter and merriment among one another.
And the spirit was stirred in his own breast;
and he pondered much in his mind and in his spirit,
whether to rush at them and deal death to each,
or to let them lie with the overweening suitors
this last and final time; and his heart barked within him.
As a bitch stands over her tender puppies
and barks at a man she does not know, eager to fight,
so his heart barked within him in outrage at their evil deeds;
and he struck his breast and rebuked his heart with a word:
"Endure, my heart; you endured a fouler thing than this once,
on the day when the Cyclops in his unchecked fury ate
my strong companions; and you held out, until my cunning
led you out of the cave when you thought you were dying."
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν προδόμῳ εὐνάζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
κὰμ μὲν ἀδέψητον βοέην στόρεσʼ, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
κώεα πόλλʼ ὀΐων, τοὺς ἱρεύεσκον Ἀχαιοί·
Εὐρυνόμη δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ χλαῖναν βάλε κοιμηθέντι.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μνηστῆρσι κακὰ φρονέων ἐνὶ θυμῷ
κεῖτʼ ἐγρηγορόων· ταὶ δʼ ἐκ μεγάροιο γυναῖκες
ἤϊσαν, αἳ μνηστῆρσιν ἐμισγέσκοντο πάρος περ,
ἀλλήλῃσι γέλω τε καὶ εὐφροσύνην παρέχουσαι.
τοῦ δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι·
πολλὰ δὲ μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἠὲ μεταΐξας θάνατον τεύξειεν ἑκάστῃ,
ἦ ἔτʼ ἐῷ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγῆναι
ὕστατα καὶ πύματα, κραδίη δέ οἱ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει.
ὡς δὲ κύων ἀμαλῇσι περὶ σκυλάκεσσι βεβῶσα
ἄνδρʼ ἀγνοιήσασʼ ὑλάει μέμονέν τε μάχεσθαι,
ὥς ῥα τοῦ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει ἀγαιομένου κακὰ ἔργα·
στῆθος δὲ πλήξας κραδίην ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
τέτλαθι δή, κραδίη· καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο ποτʼ ἔτλης.
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι μένος ἄσχετος ἤσθιε Κύκλωψ
ἰφθίμους ἑτάρους· σὺ δʼ ἐτόλμας, ὄφρα σε μῆτις
ἐξάγαγʼ ἐξ ἄντροιο ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.
κὰμ μὲν ἀδέψητον βοέην στόρεσʼ, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
κώεα πόλλʼ ὀΐων, τοὺς ἱρεύεσκον Ἀχαιοί·
Εὐρυνόμη δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ χλαῖναν βάλε κοιμηθέντι.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μνηστῆρσι κακὰ φρονέων ἐνὶ θυμῷ
κεῖτʼ ἐγρηγορόων· ταὶ δʼ ἐκ μεγάροιο γυναῖκες
ἤϊσαν, αἳ μνηστῆρσιν ἐμισγέσκοντο πάρος περ,
ἀλλήλῃσι γέλω τε καὶ εὐφροσύνην παρέχουσαι.
τοῦ δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι·
πολλὰ δὲ μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἠὲ μεταΐξας θάνατον τεύξειεν ἑκάστῃ,
ἦ ἔτʼ ἐῷ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγῆναι
ὕστατα καὶ πύματα, κραδίη δέ οἱ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει.
ὡς δὲ κύων ἀμαλῇσι περὶ σκυλάκεσσι βεβῶσα
ἄνδρʼ ἀγνοιήσασʼ ὑλάει μέμονέν τε μάχεσθαι,
ὥς ῥα τοῦ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει ἀγαιομένου κακὰ ἔργα·
στῆθος δὲ πλήξας κραδίην ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
τέτλαθι δή, κραδίη· καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο ποτʼ ἔτλης.
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι μένος ἄσχετος ἤσθιε Κύκλωψ
ἰφθίμους ἑτάρους· σὺ δʼ ἐτόλμας, ὄφρα σε μῆτις
ἐξάγαγʼ ἐξ ἄντροιο ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.
So he spoke, chiding his own heart within his breast;
and his heart stayed obedient and enduring,
without wavering; but he himself turned this way and that.
As when a man over a great blazing fire turns a paunch
full of fat and blood, this way and that,
and is very eager to have it quickly roasted,
and his heart stayed obedient and enduring,
without wavering; but he himself turned this way and that.
As when a man over a great blazing fire turns a paunch
full of fat and blood, this way and that,
and is very eager to have it quickly roasted,
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἐν στήθεσσι καθαπτόμενος φίλον ἦτορ·
τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ἐν πείσῃ κραδίη μένε τετληυῖα
νωλεμέως· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἑλίσσετο ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε γαστέρʼ ἀνὴρ πολέος πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο,
ἐμπλείην κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος, ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
αἰόλλῃ, μάλα δʼ ὦκα λιλαίεται ὀπτηθῆναι,
τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ἐν πείσῃ κραδίη μένε τετληυῖα
νωλεμέως· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἑλίσσετο ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε γαστέρʼ ἀνὴρ πολέος πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο,
ἐμπλείην κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος, ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
αἰόλλῃ, μάλα δʼ ὦκα λιλαίεται ὀπτηθῆναι,
so he turned this way and that, pondering
how he should lay his hands on the shameless suitors,
being one man against many. And Athena came near to him,
coming down from heaven; and in body she was like a woman.
She stood above his head and spoke to him:
how he should lay his hands on the shameless suitors,
being one man against many. And Athena came near to him,
coming down from heaven; and in body she was like a woman.
She stood above his head and spoke to him:
ὣς ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ἑλίσσετο, μερμηρίζων
ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσει
μοῦνος ἐὼν πολέσι. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη
οὐρανόθεν καταβᾶσα· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικί·
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσει
μοῦνος ἐὼν πολέσι. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη
οὐρανόθεν καταβᾶσα· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικί·
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
"Why are you awake again, most ill-fated of all men?
This is your house, and here is your wife in the house,
and your son, such a son as any man could wish for."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
This is your house, and here is your wife in the house,
and your son, such a son as any man could wish for."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
τίπτʼ αὖτʼ ἐγρήσσεις, πάντων περὶ κάμμορε φωτῶν;
οἶκος μέν τοι ὅδʼ ἐστί, γυνὴ δέ τοι ἥδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
καὶ, πάϊς, οἷόν πού τις ἐέλδεται ἔμμεναι υἷα.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
οἶκος μέν τοι ὅδʼ ἐστί, γυνὴ δέ τοι ἥδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
καὶ, πάϊς, οἷόν πού τις ἐέλδεται ἔμμεναι υἷα.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Yes, goddess, all this you have said rightly;
ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, θεά, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·
but my spirit ponders this in my mind,
how I shall lay my hands on the shameless suitors,
being one man; and they are always gathered inside.
And besides this I ponder a greater thing in my mind:
if I should kill them, by the will of Zeus and of yourself,
where should I escape to? I bid you consider this."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
how I shall lay my hands on the shameless suitors,
being one man; and they are always gathered inside.
And besides this I ponder a greater thing in my mind:
if I should kill them, by the will of Zeus and of yourself,
where should I escape to? I bid you consider this."
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him in turn:
ἀλλά τί μοι τόδε θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζει,
ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσω,
μοῦνος ἐών· οἱ δʼ αἰὲν ἀολλέες ἔνδον ἔασι.
πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζω·
εἴ περ γὰρ κτείναιμι Διός τε σέθεν τε ἕκητι,
πῆ κεν ὑπεκπροφύγοιμι; τά σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσω,
μοῦνος ἐών· οἱ δʼ αἰὲν ἀολλέες ἔνδον ἔασι.
πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζω·
εἴ περ γὰρ κτείναιμι Διός τε σέθεν τε ἕκητι,
πῆ κεν ὑπεκπροφύγοιμι; τά σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Hard man, a man trusts even a weaker companion,
one who is mortal and does not know so many counsels;
but I am a goddess, who guard you continually
in all your labours. And I will tell you openly:
even if fifty companies of mortal men
were to stand about the two of us, eager to kill us in war,
you would still drive off their cattle and their fat flocks.
But let sleep take you; it is a weariness to keep watch
awake all night, and you will come up out of your evils now."
one who is mortal and does not know so many counsels;
but I am a goddess, who guard you continually
in all your labours. And I will tell you openly:
even if fifty companies of mortal men
were to stand about the two of us, eager to kill us in war,
you would still drive off their cattle and their fat flocks.
But let sleep take you; it is a weariness to keep watch
awake all night, and you will come up out of your evils now."
σχέτλιε, καὶ μέν τίς τε χερείονι πείθεθʼ ἑταίρῳ,
ὅς περ θνητός τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ οὐ τόσα μήδεα οἶδεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι, διαμπερὲς ἥ σε φυλάσσω
ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοις. ἐρέω δέ τοι ἐξαναφανδόν·
εἴ περ πεντήκοντα λόχοι μερόπων ἀνθρώπων
νῶϊ περισταῖεν, κτεῖναι μεμαῶτες Ἄρηϊ,
καί κεν τῶν ἐλάσαιο βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα.
ἀλλʼ ἑλέτω σε καὶ ὕπνος· ἀνίη καὶ τὸ φυλάσσειν
πάννυχον ἐγρήσσοντα, κακῶν δʼ ὑποδύσεαι ἤδη.
ὅς περ θνητός τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ οὐ τόσα μήδεα οἶδεν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι, διαμπερὲς ἥ σε φυλάσσω
ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοις. ἐρέω δέ τοι ἐξαναφανδόν·
εἴ περ πεντήκοντα λόχοι μερόπων ἀνθρώπων
νῶϊ περισταῖεν, κτεῖναι μεμαῶτες Ἄρηϊ,
καί κεν τῶν ἐλάσαιο βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα.
ἀλλʼ ἑλέτω σε καὶ ὕπνος· ἀνίη καὶ τὸ φυλάσσειν
πάννυχον ἐγρήσσοντα, κακῶν δʼ ὑποδύσεαι ἤδη.
So she spoke, and poured sleep upon his eyelids,
and the noble goddess went back to Olympus.
While sleep took hold of him, loosing the cares of his spirit,
loosing his limbs, his good wife awoke;
and she wept as she sat on her soft bed.
But when she had had her fill of weeping in her spirit,
first of all the noble among women prayed to Artemis:
and the noble goddess went back to Olympus.
While sleep took hold of him, loosing the cares of his spirit,
loosing his limbs, his good wife awoke;
and she wept as she sat on her soft bed.
But when she had had her fill of weeping in her spirit,
first of all the noble among women prayed to Artemis:
ὣς φάτο, καί ῥά οἱ ὕπνον ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔχευεν,
αὐτὴ δʼ ἂψ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἀφίκετο δῖα θεάων.
εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε, λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ,
λυσιμελής, ἄλοχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπέγρετο κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα·
κλαῖε δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν λέκτροισι καθεζομένη μαλακοῖσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίουσα κορέσσατο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν,
Ἀρτέμιδι πρώτιστον ἐπεύξατο δῖα γυναικῶν·
αὐτὴ δʼ ἂψ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἀφίκετο δῖα θεάων.
εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε, λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ,
λυσιμελής, ἄλοχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπέγρετο κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα·
κλαῖε δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν λέκτροισι καθεζομένη μαλακοῖσιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίουσα κορέσσατο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν,
Ἀρτέμιδι πρώτιστον ἐπεύξατο δῖα γυναικῶν·
"Artemis, honoured goddess, daughter of Zeus, if only now
you would put an arrow in my breast and take my spirit away
at once; or else may a storm-wind snatch me up
and carry me off down the misty ways
and cast me in the mouths of the backward-flowing Ocean.
As when the storm-winds carried off the daughters of Pandareus:
the gods had killed their parents, and they were left
orphans in the halls, and noble Aphrodite tended them
with cheese and sweet honey and pleasant wine;
and Hera gave them beauty and good sense
beyond all women, and pure Artemis gave them stature,
and Athena taught them to work at glorious crafts.
But when noble Aphrodite went up to high Olympus
to ask that the girls should come to the fulfilment of a flowering marriage,
going to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt, for he knows all things well,
the fortune and the misfortune of mortal men,
in that time the storm-spirits snatched the girls away
and gave them to the hateful Furies to wait upon:
so may those who hold the halls of Olympus blot me out,
or may fair-haired Artemis strike me, so that with the sight
of Odysseus before me I might go beneath the hateful earth,
and never gladden the mind of a lesser man.
Yet the evil is bearable when a man
weeps by day, grieving close at heart,
and sleep holds him by night, for sleep makes him forget everything,
good and evil, once it has covered his eyelids;
but for me a god has let loose evil dreams as well.
For this very night one lay beside me like him,
as he was when he went with the army; and my heart
was glad, since I did not think it a dream but waking truth already."
you would put an arrow in my breast and take my spirit away
at once; or else may a storm-wind snatch me up
and carry me off down the misty ways
and cast me in the mouths of the backward-flowing Ocean.
As when the storm-winds carried off the daughters of Pandareus:
the gods had killed their parents, and they were left
orphans in the halls, and noble Aphrodite tended them
with cheese and sweet honey and pleasant wine;
and Hera gave them beauty and good sense
beyond all women, and pure Artemis gave them stature,
and Athena taught them to work at glorious crafts.
But when noble Aphrodite went up to high Olympus
to ask that the girls should come to the fulfilment of a flowering marriage,
going to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt, for he knows all things well,
the fortune and the misfortune of mortal men,
in that time the storm-spirits snatched the girls away
and gave them to the hateful Furies to wait upon:
so may those who hold the halls of Olympus blot me out,
or may fair-haired Artemis strike me, so that with the sight
of Odysseus before me I might go beneath the hateful earth,
and never gladden the mind of a lesser man.
Yet the evil is bearable when a man
weeps by day, grieving close at heart,
and sleep holds him by night, for sleep makes him forget everything,
good and evil, once it has covered his eyelids;
but for me a god has let loose evil dreams as well.
For this very night one lay beside me like him,
as he was when he went with the army; and my heart
was glad, since I did not think it a dream but waking truth already."
Ἄρτεμι, πότνα θεά, θύγατερ Διός, αἴθε μοι ἤδη
ἰὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι βαλοῦσʼ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιο
αὐτίκα νῦν, ἢ ἔπειτα μʼ ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα
οἴχοιτο προφέρουσα κατʼ ἠερόεντα κέλευθα,
ἐν προχοῇς δὲ βάλοι ἀψορρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρας ἀνέλοντο θύελλαι·
τῇσι τοκῆας μὲν φθῖσαν θεοί, αἱ δʼ ἐλίποντο
ὀρφαναὶ ἐν μεγάροισι, κόμισσε δὲ δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη
τυρῷ καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ καὶ ἡδέϊ οἴνῳ·
Ἥρη δʼ αὐτῇσιν περὶ πασέων δῶκε γυναικῶν
εἶδος καὶ πινυτήν, μῆκος δʼ ἔπορʼ Ἄρτεμις ἁγνή,
ἔργα δʼ Ἀθηναίη δέδαε κλυτὰ ἐργάζεσθαι.
εὖτʼ Ἀφροδίτη δῖα προσέστιχε μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
κούρῃς αἰτήσουσα τέλος θαλεροῖο γάμοιο—
ἐς Δία τερπικέραυνον, ὁ γάρ τʼ εὖ οἶδεν ἅπαντα,
μοῖράν τʼ ἀμμορίην τε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων—
τόφρα δὲ τὰς κούρας ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο
καί ῥʼ ἔδοσαν στυγερῇσιν ἐρινύσιν ἀμφιπολεύειν·
ὣς ἔμʼ ἀϊστώσειαν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες,
ἠέ μʼ ἐϋπλόκαμος βάλοι Ἄρτεμις, ὄφρʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ὀσσομένη καὶ γαῖαν ὕπο στυγερὴν ἀφικοίμην,
μηδέ τι χείρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐϋφραίνοιμι νόημα.
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν καὶ ἀνεκτὸν ἔχει κακόν, ὁππότε κέν τις
ἤματα μὲν κλαίῃ, πυκινῶς ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ,
νύκτας δʼ ὕπνος ἔχῃσιν—ὁ γάρ τʼ ἐπέλησεν ἁπάντων,
ἐσθλῶν ἠδὲ κακῶν, ἐπεὶ ἄρ βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψῃ—
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ ὀνείρατʼ ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.
τῇδε γὰρ αὖ μοι νυκτὶ παρέδραθεν εἴκελος αὐτῷ,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος ᾖεν ἅμα στρατῷ· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ
χαῖρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐφάμην ὄναρ ἔμμεναι, ἀλλʼ ὕπαρ ἤδη.
ἰὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι βαλοῦσʼ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιο
αὐτίκα νῦν, ἢ ἔπειτα μʼ ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα
οἴχοιτο προφέρουσα κατʼ ἠερόεντα κέλευθα,
ἐν προχοῇς δὲ βάλοι ἀψορρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρας ἀνέλοντο θύελλαι·
τῇσι τοκῆας μὲν φθῖσαν θεοί, αἱ δʼ ἐλίποντο
ὀρφαναὶ ἐν μεγάροισι, κόμισσε δὲ δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη
τυρῷ καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ καὶ ἡδέϊ οἴνῳ·
Ἥρη δʼ αὐτῇσιν περὶ πασέων δῶκε γυναικῶν
εἶδος καὶ πινυτήν, μῆκος δʼ ἔπορʼ Ἄρτεμις ἁγνή,
ἔργα δʼ Ἀθηναίη δέδαε κλυτὰ ἐργάζεσθαι.
εὖτʼ Ἀφροδίτη δῖα προσέστιχε μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
κούρῃς αἰτήσουσα τέλος θαλεροῖο γάμοιο—
ἐς Δία τερπικέραυνον, ὁ γάρ τʼ εὖ οἶδεν ἅπαντα,
μοῖράν τʼ ἀμμορίην τε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων—
τόφρα δὲ τὰς κούρας ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο
καί ῥʼ ἔδοσαν στυγερῇσιν ἐρινύσιν ἀμφιπολεύειν·
ὣς ἔμʼ ἀϊστώσειαν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες,
ἠέ μʼ ἐϋπλόκαμος βάλοι Ἄρτεμις, ὄφρʼ Ὀδυσῆα
ὀσσομένη καὶ γαῖαν ὕπο στυγερὴν ἀφικοίμην,
μηδέ τι χείρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐϋφραίνοιμι νόημα.
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν καὶ ἀνεκτὸν ἔχει κακόν, ὁππότε κέν τις
ἤματα μὲν κλαίῃ, πυκινῶς ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ,
νύκτας δʼ ὕπνος ἔχῃσιν—ὁ γάρ τʼ ἐπέλησεν ἁπάντων,
ἐσθλῶν ἠδὲ κακῶν, ἐπεὶ ἄρ βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψῃ—
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ ὀνείρατʼ ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.
τῇδε γὰρ αὖ μοι νυκτὶ παρέδραθεν εἴκελος αὐτῷ,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος ᾖεν ἅμα στρατῷ· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ
χαῖρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐφάμην ὄναρ ἔμμεναι, ἀλλʼ ὕπαρ ἤδη.
So she spoke, and at once golden-throned Dawn came.
And noble Odysseus caught the sound of her weeping;
and then he pondered, and it seemed to him in his spirit
that she already knew him and was standing by his head.
He gathered up the cloak and the fleeces he had slept on
and laid them in the hall on a chair, and he carried the oxhide
out of doors, and lifted his hands and prayed to Zeus:
"Father Zeus, if you gods willingly brought me over the dry land
and the water to my own country, after you had afflicted me so sorely,
let one of the men waking within the house speak me a word of omen,
and outside let another sign of Zeus appear."
And noble Odysseus caught the sound of her weeping;
and then he pondered, and it seemed to him in his spirit
that she already knew him and was standing by his head.
He gathered up the cloak and the fleeces he had slept on
and laid them in the hall on a chair, and he carried the oxhide
out of doors, and lifted his hands and prayed to Zeus:
"Father Zeus, if you gods willingly brought me over the dry land
and the water to my own country, after you had afflicted me so sorely,
let one of the men waking within the house speak me a word of omen,
and outside let another sign of Zeus appear."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.
τῆς δʼ ἄρα κλαιούσης ὄπα σύνθετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
μερμήριζε δʼ ἔπειτα, δόκησε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν
ἤδη γιγνώσκουσα παρεστάμεναι κεφαλῆφι.
χλαῖναν μὲν συνελὼν καὶ κώεα, τοῖσιν ἐνεῦδεν,
ἐς μέγαρον κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ θρόνου, ἐκ δὲ βοείην
θῆκε θύραζε φέρων, Διὶ δʼ εὔξατο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
Ζεῦ πάτερ, εἴ μʼ ἐθέλοντες ἐπὶ τραφερήν τε καὶ ὑγρὴν
ἤγετʼ ἐμὴν ἐς γαῖαν, ἐπεί μʼ ἐκακώσατε λίην,
φήμην τίς μοι φάσθω ἐγειρομένων ἀνθρώπων
ἔνδοθεν, ἔκτοσθεν δὲ Διὸς τέρας ἄλλο φανήτω.
τῆς δʼ ἄρα κλαιούσης ὄπα σύνθετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
μερμήριζε δʼ ἔπειτα, δόκησε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν
ἤδη γιγνώσκουσα παρεστάμεναι κεφαλῆφι.
χλαῖναν μὲν συνελὼν καὶ κώεα, τοῖσιν ἐνεῦδεν,
ἐς μέγαρον κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ θρόνου, ἐκ δὲ βοείην
θῆκε θύραζε φέρων, Διὶ δʼ εὔξατο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
Ζεῦ πάτερ, εἴ μʼ ἐθέλοντες ἐπὶ τραφερήν τε καὶ ὑγρὴν
ἤγετʼ ἐμὴν ἐς γαῖαν, ἐπεί μʼ ἐκακώσατε λίην,
φήμην τίς μοι φάσθω ἐγειρομένων ἀνθρώπων
ἔνδοθεν, ἔκτοσθεν δὲ Διὸς τέρας ἄλλο φανήτω.
So he spoke in prayer; and Zeus the counsellor heard him,
and at once he thundered from shining Olympus,
high up out of the clouds; and noble Odysseus was glad.
And a woman at the mill sent out a word of omen from the house
near by, where the mills of the shepherd of the people stood,
at which twelve women in all worked busily,
making barley-meal and wheat-flour, the marrow of men.
The rest were asleep, since they had ground their wheat,
but one alone had not yet stopped, being the weakest of them;
she brought her mill to a stand and spoke a word, a sign for her master:
"Father Zeus, who rule over gods and men,
truly you have thundered loudly from the starry heaven,
and there is no cloud anywhere; you are showing this as a sign to someone.
Fulfil now for me too, wretched as I am, the word that I shall say:
may the suitors on this day for the last and final time
take their delightful feast in the halls of Odysseus,
they who have loosed my knees with heart-galling labour
as I make the meal; may this be their last dinner."
and at once he thundered from shining Olympus,
high up out of the clouds; and noble Odysseus was glad.
And a woman at the mill sent out a word of omen from the house
near by, where the mills of the shepherd of the people stood,
at which twelve women in all worked busily,
making barley-meal and wheat-flour, the marrow of men.
The rest were asleep, since they had ground their wheat,
but one alone had not yet stopped, being the weakest of them;
she brought her mill to a stand and spoke a word, a sign for her master:
"Father Zeus, who rule over gods and men,
truly you have thundered loudly from the starry heaven,
and there is no cloud anywhere; you are showing this as a sign to someone.
Fulfil now for me too, wretched as I am, the word that I shall say:
may the suitors on this day for the last and final time
take their delightful feast in the halls of Odysseus,
they who have loosed my knees with heart-galling labour
as I make the meal; may this be their last dinner."
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεύς,
αὐτίκα δʼ ἐβρόντησεν ἀπʼ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,
ὑψόθεν ἐκ νεφέων· γήθησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
φήμην δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο γυνὴ προέηκεν ἀλετρὶς
πλησίον, ἔνθʼ ἄρα οἱ μύλαι ἥατο ποιμένι λαῶν,
τῇσιν δώδεκα πᾶσαι ἐπερρώοντο γυναῖκες
ἄλφιτα τεύχουσαι καὶ ἀλείατα, μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄλλαι εὗδον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ πυρὸν ἄλεσσαν,
ἡ δὲ μίʼ οὔπω παύετʼ, ἀφαυροτάτη δʼ ἐτέτυκτο·
ἥ ῥα μύλην στήσασα ἔπος φάτο, σῆμα ἄνακτι·
Ζεῦ πάτερ, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀνάσσεις,
ἦ μεγάλʼ ἐβρόντησας ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος,
οὐδέ ποθι νέφος ἐστί· τέρας νύ τεῳ τόδε φαίνεις.
κρῆνον νῦν καὶ ἐμοὶ δειλῇ ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
μνηστῆρες πύματόν τε καὶ ὕστατον ἤματι τῷδε
ἐν μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος ἑλοίατο δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν,
οἳ δή μοι καμάτῳ θυμαλγέι· γούνατʼ ἔλυσαν
ἄλφιτα τευχούσῃ· νῦν ὕστατα δειπνήσειαν.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἐβρόντησεν ἀπʼ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,
ὑψόθεν ἐκ νεφέων· γήθησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
φήμην δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο γυνὴ προέηκεν ἀλετρὶς
πλησίον, ἔνθʼ ἄρα οἱ μύλαι ἥατο ποιμένι λαῶν,
τῇσιν δώδεκα πᾶσαι ἐπερρώοντο γυναῖκες
ἄλφιτα τεύχουσαι καὶ ἀλείατα, μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄλλαι εὗδον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ πυρὸν ἄλεσσαν,
ἡ δὲ μίʼ οὔπω παύετʼ, ἀφαυροτάτη δʼ ἐτέτυκτο·
ἥ ῥα μύλην στήσασα ἔπος φάτο, σῆμα ἄνακτι·
Ζεῦ πάτερ, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀνάσσεις,
ἦ μεγάλʼ ἐβρόντησας ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος,
οὐδέ ποθι νέφος ἐστί· τέρας νύ τεῳ τόδε φαίνεις.
κρῆνον νῦν καὶ ἐμοὶ δειλῇ ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
μνηστῆρες πύματόν τε καὶ ὕστατον ἤματι τῷδε
ἐν μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος ἑλοίατο δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν,
οἳ δή μοι καμάτῳ θυμαλγέι· γούνατʼ ἔλυσαν
ἄλφιτα τευχούσῃ· νῦν ὕστατα δειπνήσειαν.
So she spoke, and noble Odysseus was glad at the omen of her words
and at the thunder of Zeus; for he said to himself that he would punish the guilty.
And the other serving-women through the beautiful house of Odysseus
gathered and kindled the unwearying fire on the hearth.
And Telemachus rose from his bed, a man like the gods,
and put on his clothing, and slung a sharp sword about his shoulder;
and beneath his shining feet he bound the fine sandals,
and took his strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze,
and went and stood on the threshold, and said to Eurycleia:
and at the thunder of Zeus; for he said to himself that he would punish the guilty.
And the other serving-women through the beautiful house of Odysseus
gathered and kindled the unwearying fire on the hearth.
And Telemachus rose from his bed, a man like the gods,
and put on his clothing, and slung a sharp sword about his shoulder;
and beneath his shining feet he bound the fine sandals,
and took his strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze,
and went and stood on the threshold, and said to Eurycleia:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, χαῖρεν δὲ κλεηδόνι δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
Ζηνός τε βροντῇ· φάτο γὰρ τίσασθαι ἀλείτας.
αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι δμῳαὶ κατὰ δώματα κάλʼ Ὀδυσῆος
ἀγρόμεναι ἀνέκαιον ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ εὐνῆθεν ἀνίστατο, ἰσόθεος φώς,
εἵματα ἑσσάμενος· περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ·
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέι· χαλκῷ·
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, πρὸς δʼ Εὐρύκλειαν ἔειπε·
Ζηνός τε βροντῇ· φάτο γὰρ τίσασθαι ἀλείτας.
αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι δμῳαὶ κατὰ δώματα κάλʼ Ὀδυσῆος
ἀγρόμεναι ἀνέκαιον ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ εὐνῆθεν ἀνίστατο, ἰσόθεος φώς,
εἵματα ἑσσάμενος· περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ·
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέι· χαλκῷ·
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, πρὸς δʼ Εὐρύκλειαν ἔειπε·
"Dear nurse, did you honour the stranger in the house
with a bed and with food, or does he lie there uncared for?
For such is my mother, prudent though she is:
in her impulse she honours the worse of mortal men
and sends the better away without honour."
Then circumspect Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
with a bed and with food, or does he lie there uncared for?
For such is my mother, prudent though she is:
in her impulse she honours the worse of mortal men
and sends the better away without honour."
Then circumspect Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
μαῖα φίλη, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐτιμήσασθʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
εὐνῇ καὶ σίτῳ, ἦ αὔτως κεῖται ἀκηδής;
τοιαύτη γὰρ ἐμὴ μήτηρ, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα·
ἐμπλήγδην ἕτερόν γε τίει μερόπων ἀνθρώπων
χείρονα, τὸν δέ τʼ ἀρείονʼ ἀτιμήσασʼ ἀποπέμπει.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια·
εὐνῇ καὶ σίτῳ, ἦ αὔτως κεῖται ἀκηδής;
τοιαύτη γὰρ ἐμὴ μήτηρ, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα·
ἐμπλήγδην ἕτερόν γε τίει μερόπων ἀνθρώπων
χείρονα, τὸν δέ τʼ ἀρείονʼ ἀτιμήσασʼ ἀποπέμπει.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια·
"You should not blame her now, my child, when she is not to blame.
For he sat and drank wine as long as he wished himself,
and he said he was no longer hungry for bread; for she asked him.
But when he was minded of rest and of sleep,
she bade the serving-women spread bedding beneath him;
but he, like a man altogether wretched and ill-fated,
would not sleep in a bed or in coverlets,
but on an untanned oxhide and on fleeces of sheep
he slept in the forecourt; and we threw a cloak over him."
For he sat and drank wine as long as he wished himself,
and he said he was no longer hungry for bread; for she asked him.
But when he was minded of rest and of sleep,
she bade the serving-women spread bedding beneath him;
but he, like a man altogether wretched and ill-fated,
would not sleep in a bed or in coverlets,
but on an untanned oxhide and on fleeces of sheep
he slept in the forecourt; and we threw a cloak over him."
οὐκ ἄν μιν νῦν, τέκνον, ἀναίτιον αἰτιόῳο.
οἶνον μὲν γὰρ πῖνε καθήμενος, ὄφρʼ ἔθελʼ αὐτός,
σίτου δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔφη πεινήμεναι· εἴρετο γάρ μιν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κοίτοιο καὶ ὕπνου μιμνήσκοιτο,
ἡ μὲν δέμνιʼ ἄνωγεν ὑποστορέσαι δμῳῇσιν,
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ, ὥς τις πάμπαν ὀϊζυρὸς καὶ ἄποτμος,
οὐκ ἔθελʼ ἐν λέκτροισι καὶ ἐν ῥήγεσσι καθεύδειν,
ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀδεψήτῳ βοέῃ καὶ κώεσιν οἰῶν
ἔδραθʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ· χλαῖναν δʼ ἐπιέσσαμεν ἡμεῖς.
οἶνον μὲν γὰρ πῖνε καθήμενος, ὄφρʼ ἔθελʼ αὐτός,
σίτου δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔφη πεινήμεναι· εἴρετο γάρ μιν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κοίτοιο καὶ ὕπνου μιμνήσκοιτο,
ἡ μὲν δέμνιʼ ἄνωγεν ὑποστορέσαι δμῳῇσιν,
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ, ὥς τις πάμπαν ὀϊζυρὸς καὶ ἄποτμος,
οὐκ ἔθελʼ ἐν λέκτροισι καὶ ἐν ῥήγεσσι καθεύδειν,
ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀδεψήτῳ βοέῃ καὶ κώεσιν οἰῶν
ἔδραθʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ· χλαῖναν δʼ ἐπιέσσαμεν ἡμεῖς.
So she spoke, and Telemachus went out through the hall
holding his spear; and two swift dogs followed with him.
And he went to the assembly among the well-greaved Achaeans.
And the noble among women called to the serving-women,
Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, the son of Peisenor:
"Come, some of you bestir yourselves and sweep the house,
and sprinkle it, and on the well-made chairs throw
purple covers; and others, wipe all the tables
with sponges, and clean the mixing-bowls
and the well-made double cups; and others go for water
to the spring, and bring it quickly back.
For the suitors will not be long away from the hall,
but will come very early, since it is a feast day for all."
holding his spear; and two swift dogs followed with him.
And he went to the assembly among the well-greaved Achaeans.
And the noble among women called to the serving-women,
Eurycleia, daughter of Ops, the son of Peisenor:
"Come, some of you bestir yourselves and sweep the house,
and sprinkle it, and on the well-made chairs throw
purple covers; and others, wipe all the tables
with sponges, and clean the mixing-bowls
and the well-made double cups; and others go for water
to the spring, and bring it quickly back.
For the suitors will not be long away from the hall,
but will come very early, since it is a feast day for all."
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ἔγχος ἔχων, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορὴν μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
ἡ δʼ αὖτε δμῳῇσιν ἐκέκλετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο·
ἀγρεῖθʼ, αἱ μὲν δῶμα κορήσατε ποιπνύσασαι,
ῥάσσατέ τʼ, ἔν τε θρόνοις εὐποιήτοισι τάπητας
βάλλετε πορφυρέους· αἱ δὲ σπόγγοισι τραπέζας
πάσας ἀμφιμάσασθε, καθήρατε δὲ κρητῆρας
καὶ δέπα ἀμφικύπελλα τετυγμένα· ταὶ δὲ μεθʼ ὕδωρ
ἔρχεσθε κρήνηνδε, καὶ οἴσετε θᾶσσον ἰοῦσαι.
οὐ γὰρ δὴν μνηστῆρες ἀπέσσονται μεγάροιο,
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἦρι νέονται, ἐπεὶ καὶ πᾶσιν ἑορτή.
ἔγχος ἔχων, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορὴν μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
ἡ δʼ αὖτε δμῳῇσιν ἐκέκλετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο·
ἀγρεῖθʼ, αἱ μὲν δῶμα κορήσατε ποιπνύσασαι,
ῥάσσατέ τʼ, ἔν τε θρόνοις εὐποιήτοισι τάπητας
βάλλετε πορφυρέους· αἱ δὲ σπόγγοισι τραπέζας
πάσας ἀμφιμάσασθε, καθήρατε δὲ κρητῆρας
καὶ δέπα ἀμφικύπελλα τετυγμένα· ταὶ δὲ μεθʼ ὕδωρ
ἔρχεσθε κρήνηνδε, καὶ οἴσετε θᾶσσον ἰοῦσαι.
οὐ γὰρ δὴν μνηστῆρες ἀπέσσονται μεγάροιο,
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἦρι νέονται, ἐπεὶ καὶ πᾶσιν ἑορτή.
So she spoke, and they listened well to her and obeyed.
Twenty of them went to the spring of dark water,
and the others worked skilfully there in the house.
And the serving-men of the Achaeans came in. Then they
split wood well and skilfully; and the women
came back from the spring; and after them came the swineherd
driving down three fatted hogs, the best there were among them all.
And he left them to feed about the fine enclosures,
and he himself spoke to Odysseus with soft words:
Twenty of them went to the spring of dark water,
and the others worked skilfully there in the house.
And the serving-men of the Achaeans came in. Then they
split wood well and skilfully; and the women
came back from the spring; and after them came the swineherd
driving down three fatted hogs, the best there were among them all.
And he left them to feed about the fine enclosures,
and he himself spoke to Odysseus with soft words:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δʼ ἄρα τῆς μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο.
αἱ μὲν ἐείκοσι βῆσαν ἐπὶ κρήνην μελάνυδρον,
αἱ δʼ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δώματʼ ἐπισταμένως πονέοντο.
ἐς δʼ ἦλθον δρηστῆρες Ἀχαιῶν. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως κέασαν ξύλα, ταὶ δὲ γυναῖκες
ἦλθον ἀπὸ κρήνης· ἐπὶ δέ σφισιν ἦλθε συβώτης
τρεῖς σιάλους κατάγων, οἳ ἔσαν μετὰ πᾶσιν ἄριστοι.
καὶ τοὺς μέν ῥʼ εἴασε καθʼ ἕρκεα καλὰ νέμεσθαι,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·
αἱ μὲν ἐείκοσι βῆσαν ἐπὶ κρήνην μελάνυδρον,
αἱ δʼ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δώματʼ ἐπισταμένως πονέοντο.
ἐς δʼ ἦλθον δρηστῆρες Ἀχαιῶν. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως κέασαν ξύλα, ταὶ δὲ γυναῖκες
ἦλθον ἀπὸ κρήνης· ἐπὶ δέ σφισιν ἦλθε συβώτης
τρεῖς σιάλους κατάγων, οἳ ἔσαν μετὰ πᾶσιν ἄριστοι.
καὶ τοὺς μέν ῥʼ εἴασε καθʼ ἕρκεα καλὰ νέμεσθαι,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·
"Stranger, do the Achaeans look on you any better now,
or do they dishonour you through the halls, as they did before?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
or do they dishonour you through the halls, as they did before?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ ἄρ τί σε μᾶλλον Ἀχαιοὶ εἰσορόωσιν,
ἦέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι κατὰ μέγαρʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ;
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολυμήτις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἦέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι κατὰ μέγαρʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ;
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολυμήτις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Would, Eumaeus, that the gods might punish the outrage
which these men in their insolence contrive so recklessly
in another man’s house, and they have no portion of shame."
which these men in their insolence contrive so recklessly
in another man’s house, and they have no portion of shame."
αἲ γὰρ δή, Εὔμαιε, θεοὶ τισαίατο λώβην,
ἣν οἵδʼ ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται
οἴκῳ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ, οὐδʼ αἰδοῦς μοῖραν ἔχουσιν.
ἣν οἵδʼ ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται
οἴκῳ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ, οὐδʼ αἰδοῦς μοῖραν ἔχουσιν.
So they spoke such things to one another,
and Melanthius the goatherd came near to them,
leading goats that were the finest of all the herds,
a dinner for the suitors; and two herdsmen followed with him.
And he tied them up under the echoing portico,
and he himself spoke to Odysseus with mocking words:
and Melanthius the goatherd came near to them,
leading goats that were the finest of all the herds,
a dinner for the suitors; and two herdsmen followed with him.
And he tied them up under the echoing portico,
and he himself spoke to Odysseus with mocking words:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν.
αἶγας ἄγων αἳ πᾶσι μετέρεπον αἰπολίοισι,
δεῖπνον μνηστήρεσσι. δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆες.
καὶ τὰς μὲν κατέδησεν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδα κερτομίοισι·
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν.
αἶγας ἄγων αἳ πᾶσι μετέρεπον αἰπολίοισι,
δεῖπνον μνηστήρεσσι. δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆες.
καὶ τὰς μὲν κατέδησεν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδα κερτομίοισι·
"Stranger, will you still be a nuisance here through the house,
begging from the men, and will you not get out of doors?
I think there is no way for the two of us to part
until we have tasted each other’s hands, since you beg
without decency; and there are other feasts of the Achaeans."
begging from the men, and will you not get out of doors?
I think there is no way for the two of us to part
until we have tasted each other’s hands, since you beg
without decency; and there are other feasts of the Achaeans."
ξεῖνʼ, ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐνθάδʼ ἀνιήσεις κατὰ δῶμα
ἀνέρας αἰτίζων, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἔξεισθα θύραζε;
πάντως οὐκέτι νῶϊ διακρινέεσθαι ὀΐω
πρὶν χειρῶν γεύσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σύ περ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον
αἰτίζεις· εἰσὶν δὲ καὶ ἄλλαι δαῖτες Ἀχαιῶν.
ἀνέρας αἰτίζων, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἔξεισθα θύραζε;
πάντως οὐκέτι νῶϊ διακρινέεσθαι ὀΐω
πρὶν χειρῶν γεύσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σύ περ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον
αἰτίζεις· εἰσὶν δὲ καὶ ἄλλαι δαῖτες Ἀχαιῶν.
So he spoke, and Odysseus of many devices said nothing to him,
but he shook his head in silence, brooding evils.
And a third came to them, Philoetius, leader of men,
bringing the suitors a barren cow and fat goats.
Ferrymen had brought them over, the men who send others
on their way too, whoever comes to them.
And he tied them up well under the echoing portico,
and he himself came and stood near the swineherd and questioned him:
"Who is this stranger, swineherd, who has newly come
to our house? From what men does he claim to be?
Where is his family and his native land?
Poor man; and yet in build he is like a king and a lord.
But the gods bring low men who wander far,
whenever they spin misery even for kings."
but he shook his head in silence, brooding evils.
And a third came to them, Philoetius, leader of men,
bringing the suitors a barren cow and fat goats.
Ferrymen had brought them over, the men who send others
on their way too, whoever comes to them.
And he tied them up well under the echoing portico,
and he himself came and stood near the swineherd and questioned him:
"Who is this stranger, swineherd, who has newly come
to our house? From what men does he claim to be?
Where is his family and his native land?
Poor man; and yet in build he is like a king and a lord.
But the gods bring low men who wander far,
whenever they spin misery even for kings."
ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπὶ τρίτος ἦλθε Φιλοίτιος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
βοῦν στεῖραν μνηστῆρσιν ἄγων καὶ πίονας αἶγας.
πορθμῆες δʼ ἄρα τούς γε διήγαγον, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλους
ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται.
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέδησεν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐρέεινε συβώτην ἄγχι παραστάς·
τίς δὴ ὅδε ξεῖνος νέον εἰλήλουθε, συβῶτα,
ἡμέτερον πρὸς δῶμα; τέων δʼ ἐξ εὔχεται εἶναι
ἀνδρῶν; ποῦ δέ νύ οἱ γενεὴ καὶ πατρὶς ἄρουρα;
δύσμορος, ἦ τε ἔοικε δέμας βασιλῆϊ ἄνακτι·
ἀλλὰ θεοὶ δυόωσι πολυπλάγκτους ἀνθρώπους,
ὁππότε καὶ βασιλεῦσιν ἐπικλώσωνται ὀϊζύν.
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπὶ τρίτος ἦλθε Φιλοίτιος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
βοῦν στεῖραν μνηστῆρσιν ἄγων καὶ πίονας αἶγας.
πορθμῆες δʼ ἄρα τούς γε διήγαγον, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλους
ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται.
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέδησεν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐρέεινε συβώτην ἄγχι παραστάς·
τίς δὴ ὅδε ξεῖνος νέον εἰλήλουθε, συβῶτα,
ἡμέτερον πρὸς δῶμα; τέων δʼ ἐξ εὔχεται εἶναι
ἀνδρῶν; ποῦ δέ νύ οἱ γενεὴ καὶ πατρὶς ἄρουρα;
δύσμορος, ἦ τε ἔοικε δέμας βασιλῆϊ ἄνακτι·
ἀλλὰ θεοὶ δυόωσι πολυπλάγκτους ἀνθρώπους,
ὁππότε καὶ βασιλεῦσιν ἐπικλώσωνται ὀϊζύν.
He spoke, and came near and greeted him with his right hand,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ἦ καὶ δεξιτερῇ δειδίσκετο χειρὶ παραστάς,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Hail, father stranger; may prosperity be yours
in time to come; but now you are held by many evils.
Father Zeus, no other of the gods is more deadly than you;
you have no pity on men, once you have begotten them yourself,
that they should be mixed up with misery and wretched pains.
I sweated when I saw you, and my eyes are wet with tears
as I remember Odysseus, since I think that he too
wanders among men in such rags as these,
if indeed he still lives and sees the light of the sun.
But if he is already dead and in the house of Hades,
then woe is me for blameless Odysseus, who set me over his cattle
while I was still a little boy in the land of the Cephallenians.
And now they are past counting, and in no other way
could a man’s breed of broad-browed cattle grow up better;
but others bid me drive them in for themselves
to eat; and they take no heed of the son in the halls,
and do not tremble at the anger of the gods; for they are eager already
to divide up the possessions of a master who has long been gone.
And my own spirit within my breast
turns this over and over: it would be a very evil thing, while the son lives,
to go off to the country of others with the cattle themselves,
among men of a foreign land; and yet it is worse to stay here
sitting by another man’s cattle and suffering pains.
And long ago I would have gone off in flight to some other
of the overbearing kings, since these things are no longer bearable;
but still I think of that unhappy man, in the hope that he may come from somewhere
and make a scattering of the suitors through the house."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
in time to come; but now you are held by many evils.
Father Zeus, no other of the gods is more deadly than you;
you have no pity on men, once you have begotten them yourself,
that they should be mixed up with misery and wretched pains.
I sweated when I saw you, and my eyes are wet with tears
as I remember Odysseus, since I think that he too
wanders among men in such rags as these,
if indeed he still lives and sees the light of the sun.
But if he is already dead and in the house of Hades,
then woe is me for blameless Odysseus, who set me over his cattle
while I was still a little boy in the land of the Cephallenians.
And now they are past counting, and in no other way
could a man’s breed of broad-browed cattle grow up better;
but others bid me drive them in for themselves
to eat; and they take no heed of the son in the halls,
and do not tremble at the anger of the gods; for they are eager already
to divide up the possessions of a master who has long been gone.
And my own spirit within my breast
turns this over and over: it would be a very evil thing, while the son lives,
to go off to the country of others with the cattle themselves,
among men of a foreign land; and yet it is worse to stay here
sitting by another man’s cattle and suffering pains.
And long ago I would have gone off in flight to some other
of the overbearing kings, since these things are no longer bearable;
but still I think of that unhappy man, in the hope that he may come from somewhere
and make a scattering of the suitors through the house."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
χαῖρε, πάτερ ὦ ξεῖνε· γένοιτό τοι ἔς περ ὀπίσσω
ὄλβος· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε κακοῖς ἔχεαι πολέεσσι.
Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὔ τις σεῖο θεῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·
οὐκ ἐλεαίρεις ἄνδρας, ἐπὴν δὴ γείνεαι αὐτός,
μισγέμεναι κακότητι καὶ ἄλγεσι λευγαλέοισιν.
ἴδιον, ὡς ἐνόησα, δεδάκρυνται δέ μοι ὄσσε
μνησαμένῳ Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνον ὀΐω
τοιάδε λαίφεʼ ἔχοντα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο.
εἰ δʼ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιν,
ὤ μοι ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὅς μʼ ἐπὶ βουσὶν
εἷσʼ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐόντα Κεφαλλήνων ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
νῦν δʼ αἱ μὲν γίγνονται ἀθέσφατοι, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως
ἀνδρί γʼ ὑποσταχύοιτο βοῶν γένος εὐρυμετώπων·
τὰς δʼ ἄλλοι με κέλονται ἀγινέμεναί σφισιν αὐτοῖς
ἔδμεναι· οὐδέ τι παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀλέγουσιν,
οὐδʼ ὄπιδα τρομέουσι θεῶν· μεμάασι γὰρ ἤδη
κτήματα δάσσασθαι δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τόδε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι
πόλλʼ ἐπιδινεῖται· μάλα μὲν κακὸν υἷος ἐόντος
ἄλλων δῆμον ἱκέσθαι ἰόντʼ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,
ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαπούς· τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον, αὖθι μένοντα
βουσὶν ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίῃσι καθήμενον ἄλγεα πάσχειν.
καί κεν δὴ πάλαι ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων
ἐξικόμην φεύγων, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτὰ πέλονται·
ἀλλʼ ἔτι τὸν δύστηνον ὀΐομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἐλθὼν
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων σκέδασιν κατὰ δώματα θείῃ.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὄλβος· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε κακοῖς ἔχεαι πολέεσσι.
Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὔ τις σεῖο θεῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·
οὐκ ἐλεαίρεις ἄνδρας, ἐπὴν δὴ γείνεαι αὐτός,
μισγέμεναι κακότητι καὶ ἄλγεσι λευγαλέοισιν.
ἴδιον, ὡς ἐνόησα, δεδάκρυνται δέ μοι ὄσσε
μνησαμένῳ Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνον ὀΐω
τοιάδε λαίφεʼ ἔχοντα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο.
εἰ δʼ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιν,
ὤ μοι ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὅς μʼ ἐπὶ βουσὶν
εἷσʼ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐόντα Κεφαλλήνων ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
νῦν δʼ αἱ μὲν γίγνονται ἀθέσφατοι, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως
ἀνδρί γʼ ὑποσταχύοιτο βοῶν γένος εὐρυμετώπων·
τὰς δʼ ἄλλοι με κέλονται ἀγινέμεναί σφισιν αὐτοῖς
ἔδμεναι· οὐδέ τι παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀλέγουσιν,
οὐδʼ ὄπιδα τρομέουσι θεῶν· μεμάασι γὰρ ἤδη
κτήματα δάσσασθαι δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τόδε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι
πόλλʼ ἐπιδινεῖται· μάλα μὲν κακὸν υἷος ἐόντος
ἄλλων δῆμον ἱκέσθαι ἰόντʼ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,
ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαπούς· τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον, αὖθι μένοντα
βουσὶν ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίῃσι καθήμενον ἄλγεα πάσχειν.
καί κεν δὴ πάλαι ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων
ἐξικόμην φεύγων, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτὰ πέλονται·
ἀλλʼ ἔτι τὸν δύστηνον ὀΐομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἐλθὼν
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων σκέδασιν κατὰ δώματα θείῃ.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Herdsman, since you seem neither a bad man nor a foolish one,
and I know myself that good sense has come into your mind,
therefore I will tell you, and I will swear a great oath upon it:
let Zeus be my witness now, first of the gods, and the table of guest-friendship
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come,
that while you are here Odysseus will come home;
and with your own eyes you shall see, if you wish,
the suitors killed, who lord it here."
Then the man who was herdsman over the cattle spoke to him in turn:
and I know myself that good sense has come into your mind,
therefore I will tell you, and I will swear a great oath upon it:
let Zeus be my witness now, first of the gods, and the table of guest-friendship
and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come,
that while you are here Odysseus will come home;
and with your own eyes you shall see, if you wish,
the suitors killed, who lord it here."
Then the man who was herdsman over the cattle spoke to him in turn:
βουκόλʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔτε κακῷ οὔτʼ ἄφρονι φωτὶ ἔοικας,
γιγνώσκω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ τοι πινυτὴ φρένας ἵκει,
τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι·
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν ξενίη τε τράπεζα
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω,
ἦ σέθεν ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντος ἐλεύσεται οἴκαδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
σοῖσιν δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἐπόψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,
κτεινομένους μνηστῆρας, οἳ ἐνθάδε κοιρανέουσιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·
γιγνώσκω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ τοι πινυτὴ φρένας ἵκει,
τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι·
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν ξενίη τε τράπεζα
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω,
ἦ σέθεν ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντος ἐλεύσεται οἴκαδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
σοῖσιν δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἐπόψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,
κτεινομένους μνηστῆρας, οἳ ἐνθάδε κοιρανέουσιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·
"Would, stranger, that the son of Cronos might bring this word to pass;
then you would know what my strength is, and what my hands can do."
And in the same way Eumaeus prayed to all the gods
that Odysseus of many wits might come home to his own house.
then you would know what my strength is, and what my hands can do."
And in the same way Eumaeus prayed to all the gods
that Odysseus of many wits might come home to his own house.
αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τελέσειε Κρονίων·
γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύξατο πᾶσι θεοῖσι
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.
γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύξατο πᾶσι θεοῖσι
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.
So they spoke such things to one another,
while the suitors were preparing death and doom
for Telemachus. But a bird came to them on the left,
a high-flying eagle, and it held a trembling dove.
And Amphinomus rose and spoke among them:
while the suitors were preparing death and doom
for Telemachus. But a bird came to them on the left,
a high-flying eagle, and it held a trembling dove.
And Amphinomus rose and spoke among them:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τε
ἤρτυον· αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀριστερὸς ἤλυθεν ὄρνις,
αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης, ἔχε δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τε
ἤρτυον· αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀριστερὸς ἤλυθεν ὄρνις,
αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης, ἔχε δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
"Friends, this plan of ours will not run to a good end,
the killing of Telemachus; let us think of the feast."
the killing of Telemachus; let us think of the feast."
ὦ φίλοι, οὐχ ἡμῖν συνθεύσεται ἥδε γε βουλή,
Τηλεμάχοιο φόνος· ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα δαιτός.
Τηλεμάχοιο φόνος· ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα δαιτός.
So spoke Amphinomus, and his word pleased them.
And they went to the house of divine Odysseus
and laid their cloaks down on the couches and chairs,
and slaughtered great sheep and fat goats,
and slaughtered fatted hogs and a heifer of the herd;
and they roasted the inner parts and served them round, and mixed wine
in the bowls; and the swineherd handed out the cups.
And Philoetius, leader of men, handed round the bread
in beautiful baskets, and Melantheus poured the wine.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
And Telemachus, thinking out his advantage, seated Odysseus
inside the well-built hall, by the threshold of stone,
setting a mean stool for him and a small table;
and he set beside him a portion of the inner parts, and poured wine for him
in a golden cup, and spoke to him:
And they went to the house of divine Odysseus
and laid their cloaks down on the couches and chairs,
and slaughtered great sheep and fat goats,
and slaughtered fatted hogs and a heifer of the herd;
and they roasted the inner parts and served them round, and mixed wine
in the bowls; and the swineherd handed out the cups.
And Philoetius, leader of men, handed round the bread
in beautiful baskets, and Melantheus poured the wine.
So they put out their hands to the good things lying ready before them.
And Telemachus, thinking out his advantage, seated Odysseus
inside the well-built hall, by the threshold of stone,
setting a mean stool for him and a small table;
and he set beside him a portion of the inner parts, and poured wine for him
in a golden cup, and spoke to him:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀμφίνομος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,
ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην·
σπλάγχνα δʼ ἄρʼ ὀπτήσαντες ἐνώμων, ἐν δέ τε οἶνον
κρητῆρσιν κερόωντο· κύπελλα δὲ νεῖμε συβώτης.
σῖτον δέ σφʼ ἐπένειμε Φιλοίτιος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
καλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν, ἐῳνοχόει δὲ Μελανθεύς.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ Ὀδυσῆα καθίδρυε, κέρδεα νωμῶν,
ἐντὸς ἐϋσταθέος μεγάρου, παρὰ λάϊνον οὐδόν,
δίφρον ἀεικέλιον καταθεὶς ὀλίγην τε τράπεζαν·
πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει σπλάγχνων μοίρας, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευεν
ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,
ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην·
σπλάγχνα δʼ ἄρʼ ὀπτήσαντες ἐνώμων, ἐν δέ τε οἶνον
κρητῆρσιν κερόωντο· κύπελλα δὲ νεῖμε συβώτης.
σῖτον δέ σφʼ ἐπένειμε Φιλοίτιος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
καλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν, ἐῳνοχόει δὲ Μελανθεύς.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ Ὀδυσῆα καθίδρυε, κέρδεα νωμῶν,
ἐντὸς ἐϋσταθέος μεγάρου, παρὰ λάϊνον οὐδόν,
δίφρον ἀεικέλιον καταθεὶς ὀλίγην τε τράπεζαν·
πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει σπλάγχνων μοίρας, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευεν
ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"Sit there now among the men and drink your wine;
and I myself will keep the mockery and the hands
of all the suitors off you, since this house is not a public
place but the house of Odysseus, and he won it for me.
And you, suitors, hold back your spirit from rebuke
and from blows, so that no strife or quarrel may arise."
and I myself will keep the mockery and the hands
of all the suitors off you, since this house is not a public
place but the house of Odysseus, and he won it for me.
And you, suitors, hold back your spirit from rebuke
and from blows, so that no strife or quarrel may arise."
ἐνταυθοῖ νῦν ἧσο μετʼ ἀνδράσιν οἰνοποτάζων·
κερτομίας δέ τοι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ καὶ χεῖρας ἀφέξω
πάντων μνηστήρων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι δήμιός ἐστιν
οἶκος ὅδʼ, ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσῆος, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐκτήσατο κεῖνος.
ὑμεῖς δέ, μνηστῆρες, ἐπίσχετε θυμὸν ἐνιπῆς
καὶ χειρῶν, ἵνα μή τις ἔρις καὶ νεῖκος ὄρηται.
κερτομίας δέ τοι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ καὶ χεῖρας ἀφέξω
πάντων μνηστήρων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι δήμιός ἐστιν
οἶκος ὅδʼ, ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσῆος, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐκτήσατο κεῖνος.
ὑμεῖς δέ, μνηστῆρες, ἐπίσχετε θυμὸν ἐνιπῆς
καὶ χειρῶν, ἵνα μή τις ἔρις καὶ νεῖκος ὄρηται.
So he spoke, and they all bit their lips
and marvelled at Telemachus, because he spoke boldly.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:
and marvelled at Telemachus, because he spoke boldly.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι φύντες
Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευε.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευε.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
"Hard though it is, let us accept the word of Telemachus,
Achaeans; he speaks and threatens us greatly.
For Zeus the son of Cronos did not allow it; otherwise we should have
stopped him in the halls by now, clear speaker though he is."
Achaeans; he speaks and threatens us greatly.
For Zeus the son of Cronos did not allow it; otherwise we should have
stopped him in the halls by now, clear speaker though he is."
καὶ χαλεπόν περ ἐόντα δεχώμεθα μῦθον,
Ἀχαιοί, Τηλεμάχου· μάλα δʼ ἧμιν ἀπειλήσας ἀγορεύει.
οὐ γὰρ Ζεὺς εἴασε Κρονίων· τῷ κέ μιν ἤδη
παύσαμεν ἐν μεγάροισι, λιγύν περ ἐόντʼ ἀγορητήν.
Ἀχαιοί, Τηλεμάχου· μάλα δʼ ἧμιν ἀπειλήσας ἀγορεύει.
οὐ γὰρ Ζεὺς εἴασε Κρονίων· τῷ κέ μιν ἤδη
παύσαμεν ἐν μεγάροισι, λιγύν περ ἐόντʼ ἀγορητήν.
So spoke Antinous; but Telemachus took no heed of his words.
And the heralds were leading the sacred hecatomb of the gods
through the city; and the long-haired Achaeans gathered
under the shady grove of Apollo who shoots from afar.
And when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,
they divided the portions and feasted on the glorious feast;
and those who served set a portion beside Odysseus
equal to what they had themselves; for so Telemachus had ordered,
the dear son of divine Odysseus.
And Athena would not let the lordly suitors
hold back at all from heart-galling outrage, so that grief
might sink still deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes.
There was among the suitors a man who knew no law,
and his name was Ctesippus, and he had his house in Same;
and trusting in his prodigious possessions
he was wooing the wife of Odysseus, who had long been gone.
He then spoke among the overweening suitors:
And the heralds were leading the sacred hecatomb of the gods
through the city; and the long-haired Achaeans gathered
under the shady grove of Apollo who shoots from afar.
And when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,
they divided the portions and feasted on the glorious feast;
and those who served set a portion beside Odysseus
equal to what they had themselves; for so Telemachus had ordered,
the dear son of divine Odysseus.
And Athena would not let the lordly suitors
hold back at all from heart-galling outrage, so that grief
might sink still deeper into the heart of Odysseus, son of Laertes.
There was among the suitors a man who knew no law,
and his name was Ctesippus, and he had his house in Same;
and trusting in his prodigious possessions
he was wooing the wife of Odysseus, who had long been gone.
He then spoke among the overweening suitors:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων.
κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
ἦγον· τοὶ δʼ ἀγέροντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἄλσος ὕπο σκιερὸν ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,
μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ μοῖραν θέσαν οἳ πονέοντο
ἴσην, ὡς αὐτοί περ ἐλάγχανον· ὣς γὰρ ἀνώγει
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
μνηστῆρας δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἀγήνορας εἴα Ἀθήνη
λώβης ἴσχεσθαι θυμαλγέος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον
δύη ἄχος κραδίην Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα.
ἦν δέ τις ἐν μνηστῆρσιν ἀνὴρ ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς,
Κτήσιππος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε, Σάμῃ δʼ ἐνὶ οἰκία ναῖεν·
ὃς δή τοι κτεάτεσσι πεποιθὼς θεσπεσίοισι
μνάσκετʼ Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα.
ὅς ῥα τότε μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μετηύδα·
κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
ἦγον· τοὶ δʼ ἀγέροντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἄλσος ὕπο σκιερὸν ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,
μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα·
πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ μοῖραν θέσαν οἳ πονέοντο
ἴσην, ὡς αὐτοί περ ἐλάγχανον· ὣς γὰρ ἀνώγει
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
μνηστῆρας δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἀγήνορας εἴα Ἀθήνη
λώβης ἴσχεσθαι θυμαλγέος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον
δύη ἄχος κραδίην Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα.
ἦν δέ τις ἐν μνηστῆρσιν ἀνὴρ ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς,
Κτήσιππος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε, Σάμῃ δʼ ἐνὶ οἰκία ναῖεν·
ὃς δή τοι κτεάτεσσι πεποιθὼς θεσπεσίοισι
μνάσκετʼ Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα.
ὅς ῥα τότε μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μετηύδα·
"Hear me, lordly suitors, while I say something.
The stranger has had his portion this long while, as is fitting,
an equal one; for it is not right or just to cheat
the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house.
But come, let me too give him a guest-gift, so that he himself
may give a present to the bath-woman or to some other
of the servants who are in the house of divine Odysseus."
The stranger has had his portion this long while, as is fitting,
an equal one; for it is not right or just to cheat
the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house.
But come, let me too give him a guest-gift, so that he himself
may give a present to the bath-woman or to some other
of the servants who are in the house of divine Odysseus."
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, ὄφρα τι εἴπω·
μοῖραν μὲν δὴ ξεῖνος ἔχει πάλαι, ὡς ἐπέοικεν,
ἴσην· οὐ γὰρ καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιον
ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ καὶ ἐγὼ δῶ ξείνιον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὸς
ἠὲ λοετροχόῳ δώῃ γέρας ἠέ τῳ ἄλλῳ
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
μοῖραν μὲν δὴ ξεῖνος ἔχει πάλαι, ὡς ἐπέοικεν,
ἴσην· οὐ γὰρ καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιον
ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ καὶ ἐγὼ δῶ ξείνιον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὸς
ἠὲ λοετροχόῳ δώῃ γέρας ἠέ τῳ ἄλλῳ
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
So saying he took an ox’s hoof from a basket where it lay
and threw it with his thick hand; but Odysseus avoided it
by leaning his head aside a little, and he smiled in his spirit
a very bitter smile; and it struck the well-built wall.
And Telemachus rebuked Ctesippus with a word:
"Ctesippus, this has turned out much better for your spirit;
you did not hit the stranger, for he avoided the missile himself.
Otherwise I would have struck you through the middle with my sharp spear,
and instead of a wedding your father would have been busy with a funeral for you
here. So let no one show me unseemly behaviour in the house;
for by now I notice and I know each thing,
the good and the worse; before this I was still a child.
But even so we still endure to look on these things,
the sheep slaughtered and the wine drunk
and the bread; for it is hard for one man to hold back many.
But come, do me no more harm out of your enmity;
and if you are now eager to kill me with the bronze,
I would even choose that, and it would be far better
to die than to look on for ever at these shameful deeds,
strangers being knocked about, and the serving-women
dragged in shame through the beautiful house."
and threw it with his thick hand; but Odysseus avoided it
by leaning his head aside a little, and he smiled in his spirit
a very bitter smile; and it struck the well-built wall.
And Telemachus rebuked Ctesippus with a word:
"Ctesippus, this has turned out much better for your spirit;
you did not hit the stranger, for he avoided the missile himself.
Otherwise I would have struck you through the middle with my sharp spear,
and instead of a wedding your father would have been busy with a funeral for you
here. So let no one show me unseemly behaviour in the house;
for by now I notice and I know each thing,
the good and the worse; before this I was still a child.
But even so we still endure to look on these things,
the sheep slaughtered and the wine drunk
and the bread; for it is hard for one man to hold back many.
But come, do me no more harm out of your enmity;
and if you are now eager to kill me with the bronze,
I would even choose that, and it would be far better
to die than to look on for ever at these shameful deeds,
strangers being knocked about, and the serving-women
dragged in shame through the beautiful house."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἔρριψε βοὸς πόδα χειρὶ παχείῃ.
κείμενον ἐκ κανέοιο λαβών· ὁ δʼ ἀλεύατʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἦκα παρακλίνας κεφαλήν, μείδησε δὲ θυμῷ
σαρδάνιον μάλα τοῖον· ὁ δʼ εὔδμητον βάλε τοῖχον.
Κτήσιππον δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
Κτήσιππʼ, ἦ μάλα τοι τόδε κέρδιον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·
οὐκ ἔβαλες τὸν ξεῖνον· ἀλεύατο γὰρ βέλος αὐτός.
ἦ γάρ κέν σε μέσον βάλον ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι,
καί κέ τοι ἀντὶ γάμοιο πατὴρ τάφον ἀμφεπονεῖτο
ἐνθάδε. τῷ μή τίς μοι ἀεικείας ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
φαινέτω· ἤδη γὰρ νοέω καὶ οἶδα ἕκαστα,
ἐσθλά τε καὶ τὰ χέρηα· πάρος δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης τάδε μὲν καὶ τέτλαμεν εἰσορόωντες,
μήλων σφαζομένων οἴνοιό τε πινομένοιο
καὶ σίτου· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐρυκακέειν ἕνα πολλούς.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι μοι κακὰ ῥέζετε δυσμενέοντες·
εἰ δʼ ἤδη μʼ αὐτὸν κτεῖναι μενεαίνετε χαλκῷ,
καί κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη
τεθνάμεν ἢ τάδε γʼ αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργʼ ὁράασθαι,
ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκας
ῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά.
κείμενον ἐκ κανέοιο λαβών· ὁ δʼ ἀλεύατʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἦκα παρακλίνας κεφαλήν, μείδησε δὲ θυμῷ
σαρδάνιον μάλα τοῖον· ὁ δʼ εὔδμητον βάλε τοῖχον.
Κτήσιππον δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
Κτήσιππʼ, ἦ μάλα τοι τόδε κέρδιον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·
οὐκ ἔβαλες τὸν ξεῖνον· ἀλεύατο γὰρ βέλος αὐτός.
ἦ γάρ κέν σε μέσον βάλον ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι,
καί κέ τοι ἀντὶ γάμοιο πατὴρ τάφον ἀμφεπονεῖτο
ἐνθάδε. τῷ μή τίς μοι ἀεικείας ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
φαινέτω· ἤδη γὰρ νοέω καὶ οἶδα ἕκαστα,
ἐσθλά τε καὶ τὰ χέρηα· πάρος δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης τάδε μὲν καὶ τέτλαμεν εἰσορόωντες,
μήλων σφαζομένων οἴνοιό τε πινομένοιο
καὶ σίτου· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐρυκακέειν ἕνα πολλούς.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι μοι κακὰ ῥέζετε δυσμενέοντες·
εἰ δʼ ἤδη μʼ αὐτὸν κτεῖναι μενεαίνετε χαλκῷ,
καί κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη
τεθνάμεν ἢ τάδε γʼ αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργʼ ὁράασθαι,
ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκας
ῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά.
So he spoke, and they were all hushed in silence;
and at last Agelaus, son of Damastor, spoke among them:
and at last Agelaus, son of Damastor, spoke among them:
"Friends, no one should be angry at what has been justly said
and attack it with hostile words;
do not knock the stranger about, nor any other
of the servants who are in the house of divine Odysseus.
But to Telemachus and to his mother I would say
a gentle word, if it might please the hearts of them both.
As long as your spirit in your breasts still hoped
that Odysseus of many wits would come home to his own house,
there was no cause for blame in waiting and holding back
the suitors through the house, since this was the better way,
if Odysseus had come home and returned to his house;
but now it is already clear that he is coming home no more.
So come, sit beside your mother and tell her this:
to marry whichever man is best and offers the most,
so that you may enjoy all your father’s goods, rejoicing,
eating and drinking, while she keeps another man’s house."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
and attack it with hostile words;
do not knock the stranger about, nor any other
of the servants who are in the house of divine Odysseus.
But to Telemachus and to his mother I would say
a gentle word, if it might please the hearts of them both.
As long as your spirit in your breasts still hoped
that Odysseus of many wits would come home to his own house,
there was no cause for blame in waiting and holding back
the suitors through the house, since this was the better way,
if Odysseus had come home and returned to his house;
but now it is already clear that he is coming home no more.
So come, sit beside your mother and tell her this:
to marry whichever man is best and offers the most,
so that you may enjoy all your father’s goods, rejoicing,
eating and drinking, while she keeps another man’s house."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἐπὶ ῥηθέντι δικαίῳ
ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος χαλεπαίνοι·
μήτε τι τὸν ξεῖνον στυφελίζετε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
Τηλεμάχῳ δέ κε μῦθον ἐγὼ καὶ μητέρι φαίην
ἤπιον, εἴ σφωϊν κραδίῃ ἅδοι ἀμφοτέροιϊν.
ὄφρα μὲν ὑμῖν θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει
νοστήσειν Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε,
τόφρʼ οὔ τις νέμεσις μενέμεν τʼ ἦν ἰσχέμεναί τε
μνηστῆρας κατὰ δώματʼ, ἐπεὶ τόδε κέρδιον ἦεν,
εἰ νόστησʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ ὑπότροπος ἵκετο δῶμα·
νῦν δʼ ἤδη τόδε δῆλον, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι νόστιμός ἐστιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, σῇ τάδε μητρὶ παρεζόμενος κατάλεξον,
γήμασθʼ ὅς τις ἄριστος ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν,
ὄφρα σὺ μὲν χαίρων πατρώϊα πάντα νέμηαι,
ἔσθων καὶ πίνων, ἡ δʼ ἄλλου δῶμα κομίζῃ.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος χαλεπαίνοι·
μήτε τι τὸν ξεῖνον στυφελίζετε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.
Τηλεμάχῳ δέ κε μῦθον ἐγὼ καὶ μητέρι φαίην
ἤπιον, εἴ σφωϊν κραδίῃ ἅδοι ἀμφοτέροιϊν.
ὄφρα μὲν ὑμῖν θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει
νοστήσειν Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε,
τόφρʼ οὔ τις νέμεσις μενέμεν τʼ ἦν ἰσχέμεναί τε
μνηστῆρας κατὰ δώματʼ, ἐπεὶ τόδε κέρδιον ἦεν,
εἰ νόστησʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ ὑπότροπος ἵκετο δῶμα·
νῦν δʼ ἤδη τόδε δῆλον, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι νόστιμός ἐστιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, σῇ τάδε μητρὶ παρεζόμενος κατάλεξον,
γήμασθʼ ὅς τις ἄριστος ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν,
ὄφρα σὺ μὲν χαίρων πατρώϊα πάντα νέμηαι,
ἔσθων καὶ πίνων, ἡ δʼ ἄλλου δῶμα κομίζῃ.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"No, by Zeus, Agelaus, and by my father’s pains,
who somewhere far from Ithaca has died or is wandering,
I do not put off my mother’s marriage at all, but I urge her
to marry whom she will, and I offer countless gifts besides.
But I am ashamed to drive her from the hall against her will
with a compelling word; may a god not bring that to pass."
who somewhere far from Ithaca has died or is wandering,
I do not put off my mother’s marriage at all, but I urge her
to marry whom she will, and I offer countless gifts besides.
But I am ashamed to drive her from the hall against her will
with a compelling word; may a god not bring that to pass."
οὐ μὰ Ζῆνʼ, Ἀγέλαε, καὶ ἄλγεα πατρὸς ἐμοῖο,
ὅς που τῆλʼ Ἰθάκης ἢ ἔφθιται ἢ ἀλάληται,
οὔ τι διατρίβω μητρὸς γάμον, ἀλλὰ κελεύω
γήμασθʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃ, ποτὶ δʼ ἄσπετα δῶρα δίδωμι.
αἰδέομαι δʼ ἀέκουσαν ἀπὸ μεγάροιο δίεσθαι
μύθῳ ἀναγκαίῳ· μὴ τοῦτο θεὸς τελέσειεν.
ὅς που τῆλʼ Ἰθάκης ἢ ἔφθιται ἢ ἀλάληται,
οὔ τι διατρίβω μητρὸς γάμον, ἀλλὰ κελεύω
γήμασθʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃ, ποτὶ δʼ ἄσπετα δῶρα δίδωμι.
αἰδέομαι δʼ ἀέκουσαν ἀπὸ μεγάροιο δίεσθαι
μύθῳ ἀναγκαίῳ· μὴ τοῦτο θεὸς τελέσειεν.
So spoke Telemachus; and Pallas Athena stirred up
unquenchable laughter in the suitors, and turned their wits astray.
And now they were laughing with jaws that were not their own,
and the meat they ate was spattered with blood; and their eyes
filled with tears, and their spirit foreboded lamentation.
And among them spoke Theoclymenus, godlike in form:
unquenchable laughter in the suitors, and turned their wits astray.
And now they were laughing with jaws that were not their own,
and the meat they ate was spattered with blood; and their eyes
filled with tears, and their spirit foreboded lamentation.
And among them spoke Theoclymenus, godlike in form:
ὣς φάτο Τηλέμαχος· μνηστῆρσι δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
ἄσβεστον γέλω ὦρσε, παρέπλαγξεν δὲ νόημα.
οἱ δʼ ἤδη γναθμοῖσι γελοίων ἀλλοτρίοισιν,
αἱμοφόρυκτα δὲ δὴ κρέα ἤσθιον· ὄσσε δʼ ἄρα σφέων
δακρυόφιν πίμπλαντο, γόον δʼ ὠΐετο θυμός.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
ἄσβεστον γέλω ὦρσε, παρέπλαγξεν δὲ νόημα.
οἱ δʼ ἤδη γναθμοῖσι γελοίων ἀλλοτρίοισιν,
αἱμοφόρυκτα δὲ δὴ κρέα ἤσθιον· ὄσσε δʼ ἄρα σφέων
δακρυόφιν πίμπλαντο, γόον δʼ ὠΐετο θυμός.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
"Ah wretched men, what evil is this you suffer? Your heads
are wrapped in night, and your faces and your knees below;
and wailing has broken out, and your cheeks are wet with tears,
and the walls are spattered with blood, and the fine panels;
and the porch is full of ghosts, and the courtyard is full,
hurrying down to Erebus under the darkness; and the sun
has perished out of heaven, and an evil mist has run over all."
are wrapped in night, and your faces and your knees below;
and wailing has broken out, and your cheeks are wet with tears,
and the walls are spattered with blood, and the fine panels;
and the porch is full of ghosts, and the courtyard is full,
hurrying down to Erebus under the darkness; and the sun
has perished out of heaven, and an evil mist has run over all."
ἆ δειλοί, τί κακὸν τόδε πάσχετε; νυκτὶ μὲν ὑμέων
εἰλύαται κεφαλαί τε πρόσωπά τε νέρθε τε γοῦνα.
οἰμωγὴ δὲ δέδηε, δεδάκρυνται δὲ παρειαί,
αἵματι δʼ ἐρράδαται τοῖχοι καλαί τε μεσόδμαι·
εἰδώλων δὲ πλέον πρόθυρον, πλείη δὲ καὶ αὐλή,
ἱεμένων Ἔρεβόσδε ὑπὸ ζόφον· ἠέλιος δὲ
οὐρανοῦ ἐξαπόλωλε, κακὴ δʼ ἐπιδέδρομεν ἀχλύς.
εἰλύαται κεφαλαί τε πρόσωπά τε νέρθε τε γοῦνα.
οἰμωγὴ δὲ δέδηε, δεδάκρυνται δὲ παρειαί,
αἵματι δʼ ἐρράδαται τοῖχοι καλαί τε μεσόδμαι·
εἰδώλων δὲ πλέον πρόθυρον, πλείη δὲ καὶ αὐλή,
ἱεμένων Ἔρεβόσδε ὑπὸ ζόφον· ἠέλιος δὲ
οὐρανοῦ ἐξαπόλωλε, κακὴ δʼ ἐπιδέδρομεν ἀχλύς.
So he spoke, and they all laughed sweetly at him.
And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak among them:
"The stranger is out of his wits, newly come from abroad.
But quickly, young men, send him out of the house to the door,
to go to the assembly, since he thinks it is night here."
Then Theoclymenus, godlike in form, spoke to him in turn:
And Eurymachus, son of Polybus, was the first to speak among them:
"The stranger is out of his wits, newly come from abroad.
But quickly, young men, send him out of the house to the door,
to go to the assembly, since he thinks it is night here."
Then Theoclymenus, godlike in form, spoke to him in turn:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·
ἀφραίνει ξεῖνος νέον ἄλλοθεν εἰληλουθώς.
ἀλλά μιν αἶψα, νέοι, δόμου ἐκπέμψασθε θύραζε
εἰς ἀγορὴν ἔρχεσθαι, ἐπεὶ τάδε νυκτὶ ἐΐσκει.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·
ἀφραίνει ξεῖνος νέον ἄλλοθεν εἰληλουθώς.
ἀλλά μιν αἶψα, νέοι, δόμου ἐκπέμψασθε θύραζε
εἰς ἀγορὴν ἔρχεσθαι, ἐπεὶ τάδε νυκτὶ ἐΐσκει.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·
"Eurymachus, I do not ask you to give me escorts;
I have eyes and ears and both my feet
and a mind in my breast that is fashioned not at all unfitly.
With these I will go out of doors, since I see the evil
coming upon you, which not one of the suitors will escape
or avoid, you who in the house of godlike Odysseus
insult men and contrive reckless things."
I have eyes and ears and both my feet
and a mind in my breast that is fashioned not at all unfitly.
With these I will go out of doors, since I see the evil
coming upon you, which not one of the suitors will escape
or avoid, you who in the house of godlike Odysseus
insult men and contrive reckless things."
Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὔ τί σʼ ἄνωγα ἐμοὶ πομπῆας ὀπάζειν·
εἰσί μοι ὀφθαλμοί τε καὶ οὔατα καὶ πόδες ἄμφω
καὶ νόος ἐν στήθεσσι τετυγμένος οὐδὲν ἀεικής.
τοῖς ἔξειμι θύραζε, ἐπεὶ νοέω κακὸν ὔμμιν
ἐρχόμενον, τό κεν οὔ τις ὑπεκφύγοι οὐδʼ ἀλέαιτο
μνηστήρων, οἳ δῶμα κάτʼ ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος
ἀνέρας ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθε.
εἰσί μοι ὀφθαλμοί τε καὶ οὔατα καὶ πόδες ἄμφω
καὶ νόος ἐν στήθεσσι τετυγμένος οὐδὲν ἀεικής.
τοῖς ἔξειμι θύραζε, ἐπεὶ νοέω κακὸν ὔμμιν
ἐρχόμενον, τό κεν οὔ τις ὑπεκφύγοι οὐδʼ ἀλέαιτο
μνηστήρων, οἳ δῶμα κάτʼ ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος
ἀνέρας ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθε.
So saying he went out of the well-built house
and came to Peiraeus, who received him gladly.
And all the suitors, looking at one another,
provoked Telemachus by laughing at his guests;
and one of the overbearing young men would say:
"Telemachus, no man has worse luck with guests than you;
such a filthy wanderer as this you keep,
in need of bread and wine, with no skill at all in work
or in fighting, but a mere burden on the earth.
And this other one has stood up here to prophesy.
But if you would take my advice, it would be much better:
let us throw the strangers into a many-benched ship
and send them to the Sicels, where they would fetch you a good price."
and came to Peiraeus, who received him gladly.
And all the suitors, looking at one another,
provoked Telemachus by laughing at his guests;
and one of the overbearing young men would say:
"Telemachus, no man has worse luck with guests than you;
such a filthy wanderer as this you keep,
in need of bread and wine, with no skill at all in work
or in fighting, but a mere burden on the earth.
And this other one has stood up here to prophesy.
But if you would take my advice, it would be much better:
let us throw the strangers into a many-benched ship
and send them to the Sicels, where they would fetch you a good price."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐξῆλθε δόμων εὖ ναιεταόντων,
ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Πείραιον, ὅ μιν πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐς ἀλλήλους ὁρόωντες
Τηλέμαχον ἐρέθιζον, ἐπὶ ξείνοις γελόωντες·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τις σεῖο κακοξεινώτερος ἄλλος·
οἷον μέν τινα τοῦτον ἔχεις ἐπίμαστον ἀλήτην,
σίτου καὶ οἴνου κεχρημένον, οὐδέ τι ἔργων
ἔμπαιον οὐδὲ βίης, ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἄχθος ἀρούρης.
ἄλλος δʼ αὖτέ τις οὗτος ἀνέστη μαντεύεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο, τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·
τοὺς ξείνους ἐν νηῒ πολυκληῗδι βαλόντες
ἐς Σικελοὺς πέμψωμεν, ὅθεν κέ τοι ἄξιον ἄλφοι.
ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Πείραιον, ὅ μιν πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐς ἀλλήλους ὁρόωντες
Τηλέμαχον ἐρέθιζον, ἐπὶ ξείνοις γελόωντες·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τις σεῖο κακοξεινώτερος ἄλλος·
οἷον μέν τινα τοῦτον ἔχεις ἐπίμαστον ἀλήτην,
σίτου καὶ οἴνου κεχρημένον, οὐδέ τι ἔργων
ἔμπαιον οὐδὲ βίης, ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἄχθος ἀρούρης.
ἄλλος δʼ αὖτέ τις οὗτος ἀνέστη μαντεύεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο, τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·
τοὺς ξείνους ἐν νηῒ πολυκληῗδι βαλόντες
ἐς Σικελοὺς πέμψωμεν, ὅθεν κέ τοι ἄξιον ἄλφοι.
So spoke the suitors; but he took no heed of their words,
and in silence he looked towards his father, always waiting
for the moment when he would lay his hands on the shameless suitors.
And she had set her beautiful chair over against them,
the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
and she was listening to the word of each of the men in the halls.
For with laughter they had made ready their dinner,
sweet and satisfying, since they had slaughtered so much;
but there could be no other supper less pleasing
than that which a goddess and a strong man were soon
to set before them; for they had been the first to contrive shameful things.
and in silence he looked towards his father, always waiting
for the moment when he would lay his hands on the shameless suitors.
And she had set her beautiful chair over against them,
the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
and she was listening to the word of each of the men in the halls.
For with laughter they had made ready their dinner,
sweet and satisfying, since they had slaughtered so much;
but there could be no other supper less pleasing
than that which a goddess and a strong man were soon
to set before them; for they had been the first to contrive shameful things.
ὣς ἔφασαν μνηστῆρες· ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων,
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων πατέρα προσεδέρκετο, δέγμενος αἰεί,
ὁππότε δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσει.
ἡ δὲ κατʼ ἄντηστιν θεμένη περικαλλέα δίφρον
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
ἀνδρῶν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἑκάστου μῦθον ἄκουεν.
δεῖπνον μὲν γάρ τοί γε γελοίωντες τετύκοντο
ἡδὺ τε καὶ μενοεικές, ἐπεὶ μάλα πόλλʼ ἱέρευσαν·
δόρπου δʼ οὐκ ἄν πως ἀχαρίστερον ἄλλο γένοιτο,
οἷον δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε θεὰ καὶ καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ
θησέμεναι· πρότεροι γὰρ ἀεικέα μηχανόωντο.
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων πατέρα προσεδέρκετο, δέγμενος αἰεί,
ὁππότε δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσει.
ἡ δὲ κατʼ ἄντηστιν θεμένη περικαλλέα δίφρον
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
ἀνδρῶν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἑκάστου μῦθον ἄκουεν.
δεῖπνον μὲν γάρ τοί γε γελοίωντες τετύκοντο
ἡδὺ τε καὶ μενοεικές, ἐπεὶ μάλα πόλλʼ ἱέρευσαν·
δόρπου δʼ οὐκ ἄν πως ἀχαρίστερον ἄλλο γένοιτο,
οἷον δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε θεὰ καὶ καρτερὸς ἀνὴρ
θησέμεναι· πρότεροι γὰρ ἀεικέα μηχανόωντο.
Book 21
The contest of the bow. Suitor after suitor fails even to string it. The beggar asks for a try, is refused, and — when Telemachus clears the hall — strings it like a singer stringing a lyre and sends the arrow through the twelve axes.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, put it in the mind
of the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
to set the bow and the grey iron before the suitors
in the halls of Odysseus, as a contest and the beginning of the slaughter.
She went up the high stairway of her house
and took the well-curved key in her thick hand,
a fine one, of bronze; and the handle on it was of ivory.
And she went with her handmaid women to the chamber
that lay farthest in; and there the treasures of her lord were stored,
bronze and gold and iron wrought with much labour.
And there lay the back-bent bow and the quiver
that holds the arrows, and many arrows of groaning were in it,
gifts which a guest-friend had given him when he met him in Lacedaemon,
Iphitus son of Eurytus, a man like the immortals.
The two had met one another in Messene
in the house of warlike-minded Ortilochus. Odysseus
had come to collect a debt which the whole people owed him;
for men of Messene had lifted sheep out of Ithaca,
three hundred of them, with their shepherds, in their many-benched ships.
For their sake Odysseus came on a long journey as an envoy,
while he was still a boy; for his father and the other elders sent him.
And Iphitus had come in search of horses that were lost to him,
twelve mares, with hardy mules at suck beneath them;
and these afterwards became his death and his doom,
when he came to the strong-hearted son of Zeus,
the man Heracles, who knew great deeds,
and killed him in his own house, though he was his guest,
hard man, and had no respect for the anger of the gods, nor for the table
he had set before him; and then he killed the man himself,
and kept the strong-hoofed mares in his halls.
It was in asking after these that he met Odysseus and gave him the bow,
which great Eurytus had carried before, and had left it to his son
when he died in his high house.
And to him Odysseus gave a sharp sword and a strong spear,
the beginning of a loving guest-friendship; but they never came to know
one another at table; for before that the son of Zeus killed
Iphitus, son of Eurytus, a man like the immortals,
who had given him the bow. That bow noble Odysseus
never took with him when he went to war in the black ships,
but it lay in his halls as a memorial of a dear guest-friend,
and he carried it only in his own land.
And when the noble among women came to that chamber
and stepped on the threshold of oak, which once a carpenter
had planed with skill and made straight to the line,
and had fitted the doorposts in it and set the shining doors upon it,
at once she quickly loosed the thong from the door-handle
and put in the key, and drove back the bolts of the doors,
aiming straight; and they bellowed like a bull
grazing in a meadow: so loudly did the fine doors bellow
when the key struck them, and they flew quickly open for her.
And she stepped up onto the high plank; and there the chests
stood, and in them lay the fragrant clothing.
From there she reached up and took the bow from its peg,
with the shining case that lay about it.
And she sat down there and put it on her knees
and wept aloud, and drew out her lord’s bow.
But when she had had her fill of tearful lamentation,
she went off to the hall to the proud suitors
holding in her hand the back-bent bow and the quiver
that holds the arrows; and many arrows of groaning were in it.
And her handmaids carried a chest beside her, in which the iron
lay in quantity, and the bronze, the contest-gear of her lord.
And when the noble among women came to the suitors,
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built hall,
holding her shining veil before her cheeks;
and a trusted handmaid stood on either side of her.
And at once she spoke among the suitors and said her word:
of the daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
to set the bow and the grey iron before the suitors
in the halls of Odysseus, as a contest and the beginning of the slaughter.
She went up the high stairway of her house
and took the well-curved key in her thick hand,
a fine one, of bronze; and the handle on it was of ivory.
And she went with her handmaid women to the chamber
that lay farthest in; and there the treasures of her lord were stored,
bronze and gold and iron wrought with much labour.
And there lay the back-bent bow and the quiver
that holds the arrows, and many arrows of groaning were in it,
gifts which a guest-friend had given him when he met him in Lacedaemon,
Iphitus son of Eurytus, a man like the immortals.
The two had met one another in Messene
in the house of warlike-minded Ortilochus. Odysseus
had come to collect a debt which the whole people owed him;
for men of Messene had lifted sheep out of Ithaca,
three hundred of them, with their shepherds, in their many-benched ships.
For their sake Odysseus came on a long journey as an envoy,
while he was still a boy; for his father and the other elders sent him.
And Iphitus had come in search of horses that were lost to him,
twelve mares, with hardy mules at suck beneath them;
and these afterwards became his death and his doom,
when he came to the strong-hearted son of Zeus,
the man Heracles, who knew great deeds,
and killed him in his own house, though he was his guest,
hard man, and had no respect for the anger of the gods, nor for the table
he had set before him; and then he killed the man himself,
and kept the strong-hoofed mares in his halls.
It was in asking after these that he met Odysseus and gave him the bow,
which great Eurytus had carried before, and had left it to his son
when he died in his high house.
And to him Odysseus gave a sharp sword and a strong spear,
the beginning of a loving guest-friendship; but they never came to know
one another at table; for before that the son of Zeus killed
Iphitus, son of Eurytus, a man like the immortals,
who had given him the bow. That bow noble Odysseus
never took with him when he went to war in the black ships,
but it lay in his halls as a memorial of a dear guest-friend,
and he carried it only in his own land.
And when the noble among women came to that chamber
and stepped on the threshold of oak, which once a carpenter
had planed with skill and made straight to the line,
and had fitted the doorposts in it and set the shining doors upon it,
at once she quickly loosed the thong from the door-handle
and put in the key, and drove back the bolts of the doors,
aiming straight; and they bellowed like a bull
grazing in a meadow: so loudly did the fine doors bellow
when the key struck them, and they flew quickly open for her.
And she stepped up onto the high plank; and there the chests
stood, and in them lay the fragrant clothing.
From there she reached up and took the bow from its peg,
with the shining case that lay about it.
And she sat down there and put it on her knees
and wept aloud, and drew out her lord’s bow.
But when she had had her fill of tearful lamentation,
she went off to the hall to the proud suitors
holding in her hand the back-bent bow and the quiver
that holds the arrows; and many arrows of groaning were in it.
And her handmaids carried a chest beside her, in which the iron
lay in quantity, and the bronze, the contest-gear of her lord.
And when the noble among women came to the suitors,
she stood by the doorpost of the strongly built hall,
holding her shining veil before her cheeks;
and a trusted handmaid stood on either side of her.
And at once she spoke among the suitors and said her word:
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον
ἐν μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος, ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.
κλίμακα δʼ ὑψηλὴν προσεβήσετο οἷο δόμοιο,
εἵλετο δὲ κληῗδʼ εὐκαμπέα χειρὶ παχείῃ
καλὴν χαλκείην· κώπη δʼ ἐλέφαντος ἐπῆεν.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι θάλαμόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἔσχατον· ἔνθα δέ οἱ κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος,
χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος.
ἔνθα δὲ τόξον κεῖτο παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρη
ἰοδόκος, πολλοὶ δʼ ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί,
δῶρα τά οἱ ξεῖνος Λακεδαίμονι δῶκε τυχήσας
Ἴφιτος Εὐρυτίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισι.
τὼ δʼ ἐν Μεσσήνῃ ξυμβλήτην ἀλλήλοιϊν
οἴκῳ ἐν Ὀρτιλόχοιο δαΐφρονος. ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἦλθε μετὰ χρεῖος, τό ῥά οἱ πᾶς δῆμος ὄφελλε·
μῆλα γὰρ ἐξ Ἰθάκης Μεσσήνιοι ἄνδρες ἄειραν
νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι τριηκόσιʼ ἠδὲ νομῆας.
τῶν ἕνεκʼ ἐξεσίην πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἦλθεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
παιδνὸς ἐών· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε πατὴρ ἄλλοι τε γέροντες.
Ἴφιτος αὖθʼ ἵππους διζήμενος, αἵ οἱ ὄλοντο
δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δʼ ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοί·
αἳ δή οἱ καὶ ἔπειτα φόνος καὶ μοῖρα γένοντο,
ἐπεὶ δὴ Διὸς υἱὸν ἀφίκετο καρτερόθυμον,
φῶθʼ Ἡρακλῆα, μεγάλων ἐπιίστορα ἔργων,
ὅς μιν ξεῖνον ἐόντα κατέκτανεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
σχέτλιος, οὐδὲ θεῶν ὄπιν ᾐδέσατʼ οὐδὲ τράπεζαν,
τὴν ἥν οἱ παρέθηκεν· ἔπειτα δὲ πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν,
ἵππους δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχε κρατερώνυχας ἐν μεγάροισι.
τὰς ἐρέων Ὀδυσῆϊ συνήντετο, δῶκε δὲ τόξον,
τὸ πρὶν μέν ῥʼ ἐφόρει μέγας Εὔρυτος, αὐτὰρ ὁ παιδὶ
κάλλιπʼ ἀποθνῄσκων ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσι.
τῷ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ξίφος ὀξὺ καὶ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἔδωκεν,
ἀρχὴν ξεινοσύνης προσκηδέος· οὐδὲ τραπέζῃ
γνώτην ἀλλήλων· πρὶν γὰρ Διὸς υἱὸς ἔπεφνεν
Ἴφιτον Εὐρυτίδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν,
ὅς οἱ τόξον ἔδωκε. τὸ δʼ οὔ ποτε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἐρχόμενος πόλεμόνδε μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν
ᾑρεῖτʼ, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ μνῆμα ξείνοιο φίλοιο
κέσκετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, φόρει δέ μιν ἧς ἐπὶ γαίης.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ θάλαμον τὸν ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν
οὐδόν τε δρύϊνον προσεβήσετο, τόν ποτε τέκτων
ξέσσεν ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,
ἐν δὲ σταθμοὺς ἄρσε, θύρας δʼ ἐπέθηκε φαεινάς,
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ἥ γʼ ἱμάντα θοῶς ἀπέλυσε κορώνης,
ἐν δὲ κληῗδʼ ἧκε, θυρέων δʼ ἀνέκοπτεν ὀχῆας
ἄντα τιτυσκομένη· τὰ δʼ ἀνέβραχεν ἠΰτε ταῦρος
βοσκόμενος λειμῶνι· τόσʼ ἔβραχε καλὰ θύρετρα
πληγέντα κληΐδι, πετάσθησαν δέ οἱ ὦκα.
ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῆς σανίδος βῆ· ἔνθα δὲ χηλοὶ
ἕστασαν, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τῇσι θυώδεα εἵματʼ ἔκειτο.
ἔνθεν ὀρεξαμένη ἀπὸ πασσάλου αἴνυτο τόξον
αὐτῷ γωρυτῷ, ὅς οἱ περίκειτο φαεινός.
ἑζομένη δὲ κατʼ αὖθι, φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θεῖσα,
κλαῖε μάλα λιγέως, ἐκ δʼ ᾕρεε τόξον ἄνακτος.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μέγαρόνδε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς
τόξον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρὶ παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
ἰοδόκον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί.
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ ἀμφίπολοι φέρον ὄγκιον, ἔνθα σίδηρος
κεῖτο πολὺς καὶ χαλκός, ἀέθλια τοῖο ἄνακτος.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα.
ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.
αὐτίκα δὲ μνηστῆρσι μετηύδα καὶ φάτο μῦθον·
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον
ἐν μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος, ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.
κλίμακα δʼ ὑψηλὴν προσεβήσετο οἷο δόμοιο,
εἵλετο δὲ κληῗδʼ εὐκαμπέα χειρὶ παχείῃ
καλὴν χαλκείην· κώπη δʼ ἐλέφαντος ἐπῆεν.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι θάλαμόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἔσχατον· ἔνθα δέ οἱ κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος,
χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος.
ἔνθα δὲ τόξον κεῖτο παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρη
ἰοδόκος, πολλοὶ δʼ ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί,
δῶρα τά οἱ ξεῖνος Λακεδαίμονι δῶκε τυχήσας
Ἴφιτος Εὐρυτίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισι.
τὼ δʼ ἐν Μεσσήνῃ ξυμβλήτην ἀλλήλοιϊν
οἴκῳ ἐν Ὀρτιλόχοιο δαΐφρονος. ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἦλθε μετὰ χρεῖος, τό ῥά οἱ πᾶς δῆμος ὄφελλε·
μῆλα γὰρ ἐξ Ἰθάκης Μεσσήνιοι ἄνδρες ἄειραν
νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι τριηκόσιʼ ἠδὲ νομῆας.
τῶν ἕνεκʼ ἐξεσίην πολλὴν ὁδὸν ἦλθεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
παιδνὸς ἐών· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε πατὴρ ἄλλοι τε γέροντες.
Ἴφιτος αὖθʼ ἵππους διζήμενος, αἵ οἱ ὄλοντο
δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δʼ ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοί·
αἳ δή οἱ καὶ ἔπειτα φόνος καὶ μοῖρα γένοντο,
ἐπεὶ δὴ Διὸς υἱὸν ἀφίκετο καρτερόθυμον,
φῶθʼ Ἡρακλῆα, μεγάλων ἐπιίστορα ἔργων,
ὅς μιν ξεῖνον ἐόντα κατέκτανεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
σχέτλιος, οὐδὲ θεῶν ὄπιν ᾐδέσατʼ οὐδὲ τράπεζαν,
τὴν ἥν οἱ παρέθηκεν· ἔπειτα δὲ πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν,
ἵππους δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχε κρατερώνυχας ἐν μεγάροισι.
τὰς ἐρέων Ὀδυσῆϊ συνήντετο, δῶκε δὲ τόξον,
τὸ πρὶν μέν ῥʼ ἐφόρει μέγας Εὔρυτος, αὐτὰρ ὁ παιδὶ
κάλλιπʼ ἀποθνῄσκων ἐν δώμασιν ὑψηλοῖσι.
τῷ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ξίφος ὀξὺ καὶ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἔδωκεν,
ἀρχὴν ξεινοσύνης προσκηδέος· οὐδὲ τραπέζῃ
γνώτην ἀλλήλων· πρὶν γὰρ Διὸς υἱὸς ἔπεφνεν
Ἴφιτον Εὐρυτίδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν,
ὅς οἱ τόξον ἔδωκε. τὸ δʼ οὔ ποτε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἐρχόμενος πόλεμόνδε μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν
ᾑρεῖτʼ, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ μνῆμα ξείνοιο φίλοιο
κέσκετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, φόρει δέ μιν ἧς ἐπὶ γαίης.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ θάλαμον τὸν ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν
οὐδόν τε δρύϊνον προσεβήσετο, τόν ποτε τέκτων
ξέσσεν ἐπισταμένως καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,
ἐν δὲ σταθμοὺς ἄρσε, θύρας δʼ ἐπέθηκε φαεινάς,
αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ ἥ γʼ ἱμάντα θοῶς ἀπέλυσε κορώνης,
ἐν δὲ κληῗδʼ ἧκε, θυρέων δʼ ἀνέκοπτεν ὀχῆας
ἄντα τιτυσκομένη· τὰ δʼ ἀνέβραχεν ἠΰτε ταῦρος
βοσκόμενος λειμῶνι· τόσʼ ἔβραχε καλὰ θύρετρα
πληγέντα κληΐδι, πετάσθησαν δέ οἱ ὦκα.
ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῆς σανίδος βῆ· ἔνθα δὲ χηλοὶ
ἕστασαν, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τῇσι θυώδεα εἵματʼ ἔκειτο.
ἔνθεν ὀρεξαμένη ἀπὸ πασσάλου αἴνυτο τόξον
αὐτῷ γωρυτῷ, ὅς οἱ περίκειτο φαεινός.
ἑζομένη δὲ κατʼ αὖθι, φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θεῖσα,
κλαῖε μάλα λιγέως, ἐκ δʼ ᾕρεε τόξον ἄνακτος.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,
βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεναι μέγαρόνδε μετὰ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς
τόξον ἔχουσʼ ἐν χειρὶ παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
ἰοδόκον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἔνεσαν στονόεντες ὀϊστοί.
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ ἀμφίπολοι φέρον ὄγκιον, ἔνθα σίδηρος
κεῖτο πολὺς καὶ χαλκός, ἀέθλια τοῖο ἄνακτος.
ἡ δʼ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα.
ἀμφίπολος δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεδνὴ ἑκάτερθε παρέστη.
αὐτίκα δὲ μνηστῆρσι μετηύδα καὶ φάτο μῦθον·
"Hear me, lordly suitors, you who have set upon this house
to eat and drink without ceasing
while its master has been long away; and you could put forward
no other pretext for your talk
than that you were eager to marry me and take me for a wife.
But come, suitors, since this is the contest that is set before you.
I will set up the great bow of divine Odysseus;
and whoever most easily strings the bow in his hands
and shoots an arrow through all twelve axes,
with him I will go, leaving this house,
my wedded house, very beautiful, full of livelihood,
which I think I shall remember even in my dreams."
to eat and drink without ceasing
while its master has been long away; and you could put forward
no other pretext for your talk
than that you were eager to marry me and take me for a wife.
But come, suitors, since this is the contest that is set before you.
I will set up the great bow of divine Odysseus;
and whoever most easily strings the bow in his hands
and shoots an arrow through all twelve axes,
with him I will go, leaving this house,
my wedded house, very beautiful, full of livelihood,
which I think I shall remember even in my dreams."
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, οἳ τόδε δῶμα
ἐχράετʼ ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν ἐμμενὲς αἰεὶ
ἀνδρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο πολὺν χρόνον· οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλην
μύθου ποιήσασθαι ἐπισχεσίην ἐδύνασθε,
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ ἱέμενοι γῆμαι θέσθαι τε γυναῖκα.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετʼ ἄεθλον.
θήσω γὰρ μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατʼ ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσι
καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,
τῷ κεν ἅμʼ ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα
κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο,
τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.
ἐχράετʼ ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν ἐμμενὲς αἰεὶ
ἀνδρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο πολὺν χρόνον· οὐδέ τινʼ ἄλλην
μύθου ποιήσασθαι ἐπισχεσίην ἐδύνασθε,
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ ἱέμενοι γῆμαι θέσθαι τε γυναῖκα.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετʼ ἄεθλον.
θήσω γὰρ μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατʼ ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσι
καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,
τῷ κεν ἅμʼ ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα
κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο,
τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.
So she spoke, and bade Eumaeus, the noble swineherd,
set the bow and the grey iron before the suitors.
And Eumaeus took them weeping and set them down;
and the herdsman wept apart, when he saw his master’s bow.
And Antinous rebuked them, and spoke, and called them by name:
set the bow and the grey iron before the suitors.
And Eumaeus took them weeping and set them down;
and the herdsman wept apart, when he saw his master’s bow.
And Antinous rebuked them, and spoke, and called them by name:
ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ Εὔμαιον ἀνώγει, δῖον ὑφορβόν,
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον.
δακρύσας δʼ Εὔμαιος ἐδέξατο καὶ κατέθηκε·
κλαῖε δὲ βουκόλος ἄλλοθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἴδε τόξον ἄνακτος.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον.
δακρύσας δʼ Εὔμαιος ἐδέξατο καὶ κατέθηκε·
κλαῖε δὲ βουκόλος ἄλλοθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἴδε τόξον ἄνακτος.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"Foolish country fellows, whose thoughts go no further than the day,
ah wretches, why do you let your tears fall and stir up the spirit
in the woman’s breast? Her heart lies
in griefs enough already, since she lost her dear husband.
But sit and eat in silence, or else go out of doors
and weep, and leave the bow here where it lies,
a contest for the suitors that will not be lightly won; for I do not think
this polished bow will be strung easily.
For there is no such man among all these here
as Odysseus was; and I myself saw him,
and I remember him, though I was still a child."
ah wretches, why do you let your tears fall and stir up the spirit
in the woman’s breast? Her heart lies
in griefs enough already, since she lost her dear husband.
But sit and eat in silence, or else go out of doors
and weep, and leave the bow here where it lies,
a contest for the suitors that will not be lightly won; for I do not think
this polished bow will be strung easily.
For there is no such man among all these here
as Odysseus was; and I myself saw him,
and I remember him, though I was still a child."
νήπιοι ἀγροιῶται, ἐφημέρια φρονέοντες,
ἆ δειλώ, τί νυ δάκρυ κατείβετον ἠδὲ γυναικὶ
θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὀρίνετον; ᾗ τε καὶ ἄλλως
κεῖται ἐν ἄλγεσι θυμός, ἐπεὶ φίλον ὤλεσʼ ἀκοίτην.
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων δαίνυσθε καθήμενοι, ἠὲ θύραζε
κλαίετον ἐξελθόντε, κατʼ αὐτόθι τόξα λιπόντε,
μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον ἀάατον· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
ῥηϊδίως τόδε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύεσθαι.
οὐ γάρ τις μέτα τοῖος ἀνὴρ ἐν τοίσδεσι πᾶσιν
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν· ἐγὼ δέ μιν αὐτὸς ὄπωπα,
καὶ γὰρ μνήμων εἰμί, πάϊς δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
ἆ δειλώ, τί νυ δάκρυ κατείβετον ἠδὲ γυναικὶ
θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὀρίνετον; ᾗ τε καὶ ἄλλως
κεῖται ἐν ἄλγεσι θυμός, ἐπεὶ φίλον ὤλεσʼ ἀκοίτην.
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων δαίνυσθε καθήμενοι, ἠὲ θύραζε
κλαίετον ἐξελθόντε, κατʼ αὐτόθι τόξα λιπόντε,
μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον ἀάατον· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
ῥηϊδίως τόδε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύεσθαι.
οὐ γάρ τις μέτα τοῖος ἀνὴρ ἐν τοίσδεσι πᾶσιν
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν· ἐγὼ δέ μιν αὐτὸς ὄπωπα,
καὶ γὰρ μνήμων εἰμί, πάϊς δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.
So he spoke, but the spirit in his breast was hoping
that he would string the cord and shoot through the iron.
that he would string the cord and shoot through the iron.
ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει
νευρὴν ἐντανύσειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.
νευρὴν ἐντανύσειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.
Yet he was to be the first to taste an arrow
from the hands of blameless Odysseus, whom he was then dishonouring
as he sat in the halls, and was urging on all his companions.
And the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them:
"Ah me, truly Zeus the son of Cronos has made me witless.
My dear mother, prudent though she is, tells me
that she will go with another and leave this house;
and I laugh and take pleasure in it with a witless spirit.
But come, suitors, since this is the contest that is set before you,
a woman such as there is not now in the land of Achaea,
neither in sacred Pylos nor in Argos nor in Mycenae,
nor in Ithaca itself nor on the dark mainland;
and you know this yourselves; why should I praise my mother?
But come, do not put it off with excuses, nor turn away
any longer from the stringing of the bow, so that we may see.
And I too would make trial of this bow myself;
and if I string it and shoot through the iron,
then my honoured mother would not leave this house
and go off with another, to my grief, when I should be left behind
already able to take up my father’s fine contest-gear."
from the hands of blameless Odysseus, whom he was then dishonouring
as he sat in the halls, and was urging on all his companions.
And the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them:
"Ah me, truly Zeus the son of Cronos has made me witless.
My dear mother, prudent though she is, tells me
that she will go with another and leave this house;
and I laugh and take pleasure in it with a witless spirit.
But come, suitors, since this is the contest that is set before you,
a woman such as there is not now in the land of Achaea,
neither in sacred Pylos nor in Argos nor in Mycenae,
nor in Ithaca itself nor on the dark mainland;
and you know this yourselves; why should I praise my mother?
But come, do not put it off with excuses, nor turn away
any longer from the stringing of the bow, so that we may see.
And I too would make trial of this bow myself;
and if I string it and shoot through the iron,
then my honoured mother would not leave this house
and go off with another, to my grief, when I should be left behind
already able to take up my father’s fine contest-gear."
ἦ τοι ὀϊστοῦ γε πρῶτος γεύσεσθαι ἔμελλεν
ἐκ χειρῶν Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὃν τότʼ ἀτίμα
ἥμενος ἐν μεγάροις, ἐπὶ δʼ ὤρνυε πάντας ἑταίρους.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα με Ζεὺς ἄφρονα θῆκε Κρονίων·
μήτηρ μέν μοί φησι φίλη, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα,
ἄλλῳ ἅμʼ ἕψεσθαι νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ γελόω καὶ τέρπομαι ἄφρονι θυμῷ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετʼ ἄεθλον,
οἵη νῦν οὐκ ἔστι γυνὴ κατʼ Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν,
οὔτε Πύλου ἱερῆς οὔτʼ Ἄργεος οὔτε Μυκήνης·
οὔτʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης οὔτʼ ἠπείροιο μελαίνης·
καὶ δʼ αὐτοὶ τόδε γʼ ἴστε· τί με χρὴ μητέρος αἴνου;
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μὴ μύνῃσι παρέλκετε μηδʼ ἔτι τόξου
δηρὸν ἀποτρωπᾶσθε τανυστύος, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.
καὶ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τοῦ τόξου πειρησαίμην·
εἰ δέ κεν ἐντανύσω διοϊστεύσω τε σιδήρου,
οὔ κέ μοι ἀχνυμένῳ τάδε δώματα πότνια μήτηρ
λείποι ἅμʼ ἄλλῳ ἰοῦσʼ, ὅτʼ ἐγὼ κατόπισθε λιποίμην
οἷός τʼ ἤδη πατρὸς ἀέθλια κάλʼ ἀνελέσθαι.
ἐκ χειρῶν Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὃν τότʼ ἀτίμα
ἥμενος ἐν μεγάροις, ἐπὶ δʼ ὤρνυε πάντας ἑταίρους.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα με Ζεὺς ἄφρονα θῆκε Κρονίων·
μήτηρ μέν μοί φησι φίλη, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα,
ἄλλῳ ἅμʼ ἕψεσθαι νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ γελόω καὶ τέρπομαι ἄφρονι θυμῷ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ τόδε φαίνετʼ ἄεθλον,
οἵη νῦν οὐκ ἔστι γυνὴ κατʼ Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν,
οὔτε Πύλου ἱερῆς οὔτʼ Ἄργεος οὔτε Μυκήνης·
οὔτʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης οὔτʼ ἠπείροιο μελαίνης·
καὶ δʼ αὐτοὶ τόδε γʼ ἴστε· τί με χρὴ μητέρος αἴνου;
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μὴ μύνῃσι παρέλκετε μηδʼ ἔτι τόξου
δηρὸν ἀποτρωπᾶσθε τανυστύος, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.
καὶ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τοῦ τόξου πειρησαίμην·
εἰ δέ κεν ἐντανύσω διοϊστεύσω τε σιδήρου,
οὔ κέ μοι ἀχνυμένῳ τάδε δώματα πότνια μήτηρ
λείποι ἅμʼ ἄλλῳ ἰοῦσʼ, ὅτʼ ἐγὼ κατόπισθε λιποίμην
οἷός τʼ ἤδη πατρὸς ἀέθλια κάλʼ ἀνελέσθαι.
He spoke, and threw the crimson cloak from his shoulders
and sprang up straight, and put off the sharp sword from his shoulders.
First he set up the axes, digging one long trench
for them all, and made them straight to the line,
and stamped the earth about them; and amazement took all who saw it,
so orderly did he set them up; and he had never seen it done before.
And he went and stood on the threshold and made trial of the bow.
Three times he made it quiver as he strained to draw it,
and three times he let his effort go, though his spirit still hoped
to string the cord and shoot through the iron.
And now at the fourth pull he would have strung it by main force,
but Odysseus shook his head and checked him for all his eagerness.
And the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them again:
"Ah me, then I shall be a weak man and a feeble one for ever,
or else I am too young, and do not yet trust my hands
to defend myself against a man, when another begins the quarrel.
But come, you who are stronger than I am in force,
make trial of the bow, and let us finish the contest."
and sprang up straight, and put off the sharp sword from his shoulders.
First he set up the axes, digging one long trench
for them all, and made them straight to the line,
and stamped the earth about them; and amazement took all who saw it,
so orderly did he set them up; and he had never seen it done before.
And he went and stood on the threshold and made trial of the bow.
Three times he made it quiver as he strained to draw it,
and three times he let his effort go, though his spirit still hoped
to string the cord and shoot through the iron.
And now at the fourth pull he would have strung it by main force,
but Odysseus shook his head and checked him for all his eagerness.
And the sacred strength of Telemachus spoke among them again:
"Ah me, then I shall be a weak man and a feeble one for ever,
or else I am too young, and do not yet trust my hands
to defend myself against a man, when another begins the quarrel.
But come, you who are stronger than I am in force,
make trial of the bow, and let us finish the contest."
ἦ καὶ ἀπʼ ὤμοιϊν χλαῖναν θέτο φοινικόεσσαν
ὀρθὸς ἀναΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμων.
πρῶτον μὲν πελέκεας στῆσεν, διὰ τάφρον ὀρύξας
πᾶσι μίαν μακρήν, καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,
ἀμφὶ δὲ γαῖαν ἔναξε· τάφος δʼ ἕλε πάντας ἰδόντας,
ὡς εὐκόσμως στῆσε· πάρος δʼ οὐ πώ ποτʼ ὀπώπει.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζε.
τρὶς μέν μιν πελέμιξεν ἐρύσσεσθαι μενεαίνων,
τρὶς δὲ μεθῆκε βίης, ἐπιελπόμενος τό γε θυμῷ,
νευρὴν ἐντανύειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.
καί νύ κε δή ῥʼ ἐτάνυσσε βίῃ τὸ τέταρτον ἀνέλκων,
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἀνένευε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱέμενόν περ.
τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
ὢ πόποι, ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κακός τʼ ἔσομαι καὶ ἄκικυς,
ἠὲ νεώτερός εἰμι καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα
ἄνδρʼ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, οἵ περ ἐμεῖο βίῃ προφερέστεροί ἐστε,
τόξου πειρήσασθε, καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.
ὀρθὸς ἀναΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμων.
πρῶτον μὲν πελέκεας στῆσεν, διὰ τάφρον ὀρύξας
πᾶσι μίαν μακρήν, καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνεν,
ἀμφὶ δὲ γαῖαν ἔναξε· τάφος δʼ ἕλε πάντας ἰδόντας,
ὡς εὐκόσμως στῆσε· πάρος δʼ οὐ πώ ποτʼ ὀπώπει.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζε.
τρὶς μέν μιν πελέμιξεν ἐρύσσεσθαι μενεαίνων,
τρὶς δὲ μεθῆκε βίης, ἐπιελπόμενος τό γε θυμῷ,
νευρὴν ἐντανύειν διοϊστεύσειν τε σιδήρου.
καί νύ κε δή ῥʼ ἐτάνυσσε βίῃ τὸ τέταρτον ἀνέλκων,
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἀνένευε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱέμενόν περ.
τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειφʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο·
ὢ πόποι, ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κακός τʼ ἔσομαι καὶ ἄκικυς,
ἠὲ νεώτερός εἰμι καὶ οὔ πω χερσὶ πέποιθα
ἄνδρʼ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, οἵ περ ἐμεῖο βίῃ προφερέστεροί ἐστε,
τόξου πειρήσασθε, καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.
So saying he set the bow away from him on the ground,
leaning it against the jointed, well-polished doors,
and leaned the swift arrow there against the fine handle,
and went back and sat down on the chair from which he had risen.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:
leaning it against the jointed, well-polished doors,
and leaned the swift arrow there against the fine handle,
and went back and sat down on the chair from which he had risen.
And among them spoke Antinous, son of Eupeithes:
ὣς εἰπὼν τόξον μὲν ἀπὸ ἕο θῆκε χαμᾶζε,
κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,
αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,
αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
"Rise up in order, all my companions, from the left,
beginning from the place where the wine is poured."
beginning from the place where the wine is poured."
ὄρνυσθʼ ἑξείης ἐπιδέξια πάντες ἑταῖροι,
ἀρξάμενοι τοῦ χώρου ὅθεν τέ περ οἰνοχοεύει.
ἀρξάμενοι τοῦ χώρου ὅθεν τέ περ οἰνοχοεύει.
So spoke Antinous, and his word pleased them.
And Leodes rose first, the son of Oenops,
who was their diviner, and always sat at the innermost place
beside the fine mixing-bowl; and to him alone the reckless deeds
were hateful, and he was indignant at all the suitors.
He then was the first to take the bow and the swift arrow.
And he went and stood on the threshold and made trial of the bow,
but he did not string it; for he wearied his hands with the drawing,
soft hands, unworn; and he spoke among the suitors:
And Leodes rose first, the son of Oenops,
who was their diviner, and always sat at the innermost place
beside the fine mixing-bowl; and to him alone the reckless deeds
were hateful, and he was indignant at all the suitors.
He then was the first to take the bow and the swift arrow.
And he went and stood on the threshold and made trial of the bow,
but he did not string it; for he wearied his hands with the drawing,
soft hands, unworn; and he spoke among the suitors:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.
Λειώδης δὲ πρῶτος ἀνίστατο, Οἴνοπος υἱός,
ὅ σφι θυοσκόος ἔσκε, παρὰ κρητῆρα δὲ καλὸν
ἷζε μυχοίτατος αἰέν· ἀτασθαλίαι δέ οἱ οἴῳ
ἐχθραὶ ἔσαν, πᾶσιν δὲ νεμέσσα μνηστήρεσσιν·
ὅς ῥα τότε πρῶτος τόξον λάβε καὶ βέλος ὠκύ.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζεν,
οὐδέ μιν ἐντάνυσε· πρὶν γὰρ κάμε χεῖρας ἀνέλκων
ἀτρίπτους ἁπαλάς· μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·
Λειώδης δὲ πρῶτος ἀνίστατο, Οἴνοπος υἱός,
ὅ σφι θυοσκόος ἔσκε, παρὰ κρητῆρα δὲ καλὸν
ἷζε μυχοίτατος αἰέν· ἀτασθαλίαι δέ οἱ οἴῳ
ἐχθραὶ ἔσαν, πᾶσιν δὲ νεμέσσα μνηστήρεσσιν·
ὅς ῥα τότε πρῶτος τόξον λάβε καὶ βέλος ὠκύ.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰὼν καὶ τόξου πειρήτιζεν,
οὐδέ μιν ἐντάνυσε· πρὶν γὰρ κάμε χεῖρας ἀνέλκων
ἀτρίπτους ἁπαλάς· μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·
"Friends, I cannot string it; let another take it.
For this bow will rob many of our nobles
of their spirit and their life; since it is far better
to die than to live on and fail of that for which
we always gather here, waiting through all our days.
Now there is many a man who hopes in his mind and desires
to marry Penelope, the wife of Odysseus.
But when he has made trial of the bow and seen it,
then let him woo some other of the fair-robed Achaean women
with bride-gifts and seek her out; and she then
would marry the man who offers the most and comes as her fated one."
For this bow will rob many of our nobles
of their spirit and their life; since it is far better
to die than to live on and fail of that for which
we always gather here, waiting through all our days.
Now there is many a man who hopes in his mind and desires
to marry Penelope, the wife of Odysseus.
But when he has made trial of the bow and seen it,
then let him woo some other of the fair-robed Achaean women
with bride-gifts and seek her out; and she then
would marry the man who offers the most and comes as her fated one."
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὲν ἐγὼ τανύω, λαβέτω δὲ καὶ ἄλλος.
πολλοὺς γὰρ τόδε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει
θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστι
τεθνάμεν ἢ ζώοντας ἁμαρτεῖν, οὗθʼ ἕνεκʼ αἰεὶ
ἐνθάδʼ ὁμιλέομεν, ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα.
νῦν μέν τις καὶ ἔλπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἠδὲ μενοινᾷ
γῆμαι Πηνελόπειαν, Ὀδυσσῆος παράκοιτιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τόξου πειρήσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,
ἄλλην δή τινʼ ἔπειτα Ἀχαιϊάδων εὐπέπλων
μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κʼ ἔπειτα
γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.
πολλοὺς γὰρ τόδε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει
θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστι
τεθνάμεν ἢ ζώοντας ἁμαρτεῖν, οὗθʼ ἕνεκʼ αἰεὶ
ἐνθάδʼ ὁμιλέομεν, ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα.
νῦν μέν τις καὶ ἔλπετʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἠδὲ μενοινᾷ
γῆμαι Πηνελόπειαν, Ὀδυσσῆος παράκοιτιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τόξου πειρήσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,
ἄλλην δή τινʼ ἔπειτα Ἀχαιϊάδων εὐπέπλων
μνάσθω ἐέδνοισιν διζήμενος· ἡ δέ κʼ ἔπειτα
γήμαιθʼ ὅς κε πλεῖστα πόροι καὶ μόρσιμος ἔλθοι.
So he spoke, and set the bow away from him,
leaning it against the jointed, well-polished doors,
and leaned the swift arrow there against the fine handle,
and went back and sat down on the chair from which he had risen.
And Antinous rebuked him, and spoke, and called him by name:
leaning it against the jointed, well-polished doors,
and leaned the swift arrow there against the fine handle,
and went back and sat down on the chair from which he had risen.
And Antinous rebuked him, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν καὶ ἀπὸ ἕο τόξον ἔθηκε,
κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,
αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
κλίνας κολλητῇσιν ἐϋξέστῃς σανίδεσσιν,
αὐτοῦ δʼ ὠκὺ βέλος καλῇ προσέκλινε κορώνῃ,
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"Leodes, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth,
a terrible and grievous one; I am indignant to hear it,
if indeed this bow is to rob our nobles
of their spirit and their life, only because you cannot string it.
For your honoured mother did not bear you of a kind
to be a drawer of the bow and of arrows;
but the other proud suitors will string it soon enough."
a terrible and grievous one; I am indignant to hear it,
if indeed this bow is to rob our nobles
of their spirit and their life, only because you cannot string it.
For your honoured mother did not bear you of a kind
to be a drawer of the bow and of arrows;
but the other proud suitors will string it soon enough."
Λειῶδες, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων,
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, —νεμεσσῶμαι δέ τʼ ἀκούων—
εἰ δὴ τοῦτό γε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει
θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ δύνασαι σὺ τανύσσαι.
οὐ γάρ τοί σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο πότνια μήτηρ
οἷόν τε ῥυτῆρα βιοῦ τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ ὀϊστῶν·
ἀλλʼ ἄλλοι τανύουσι τάχα μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί.
δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε, —νεμεσσῶμαι δέ τʼ ἀκούων—
εἰ δὴ τοῦτό γε τόξον ἀριστῆας κεκαδήσει
θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐ δύνασαι σὺ τανύσσαι.
οὐ γάρ τοί σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο πότνια μήτηρ
οἷόν τε ῥυτῆρα βιοῦ τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ ὀϊστῶν·
ἀλλʼ ἄλλοι τανύουσι τάχα μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί.
So he spoke, and gave an order to Melanthius, the goatherd:
"Come, light a fire in the halls, Melantheus,
and set a great stool beside it and a fleece upon it,
and bring out a great cake of the fat that is stored inside,
so that we young men may warm the bow and rub it with grease,
and make trial of it and finish the contest."
"Come, light a fire in the halls, Melantheus,
and set a great stool beside it and a fleece upon it,
and bring out a great cake of the fat that is stored inside,
so that we young men may warm the bow and rub it with grease,
and make trial of it and finish the contest."
ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἐκέλευσε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν·
ἄγρει δή, πῦρ κῆον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, Μελανθεῦ,
πὰρ δὲ τίθει δίφρον τε μέγαν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,
ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος,
ὄφρα νέοι θάλποντες, ἐπιχρίοντες ἀλοιφῇ,
τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.
ἄγρει δή, πῦρ κῆον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, Μελανθεῦ,
πὰρ δὲ τίθει δίφρον τε μέγαν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,
ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος,
ὄφρα νέοι θάλποντες, ἐπιχρίοντες ἀλοιφῇ,
τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.
So he spoke, and Melanthius quickly kindled the unwearying fire,
and brought a stool and set it there and a fleece upon it,
and brought out a great cake of the fat that was stored inside;
and with it the young men warmed the bow and made trial; but they could not
string it, and they fell far short of the strength for it.
But Antinous still held back, and godlike Eurymachus,
the leaders of the suitors; and they were by far the best in prowess.
And the two went out of the house together side by side,
the herdsman and the swineherd of divine Odysseus;
and noble Odysseus himself came out of the house after them.
But when they were outside the doors and the courtyard,
he spoke to them and addressed them with soft words:
and brought a stool and set it there and a fleece upon it,
and brought out a great cake of the fat that was stored inside;
and with it the young men warmed the bow and made trial; but they could not
string it, and they fell far short of the strength for it.
But Antinous still held back, and godlike Eurymachus,
the leaders of the suitors; and they were by far the best in prowess.
And the two went out of the house together side by side,
the herdsman and the swineherd of divine Odysseus;
and noble Odysseus himself came out of the house after them.
But when they were outside the doors and the courtyard,
he spoke to them and addressed them with soft words:
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αἶψʼ ἀνέκαιε Μελάνθιος ἀκάματον πῦρ,
πὰρ δὲ φέρων δίφρον θῆκεν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,
ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος·
τῷ ῥα νέοι θάλποντες ἐπειρῶντʼ· οὐδʼ ἐδύναντο
ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δὲ βίης ἐπιδευέες ἦσαν.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἔτʼ ἐπεῖχε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,
ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων· ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.
τὼ δʼ ἐξ οἴκου βῆσαν ὁμαρτήσαντες ἅμʼ ἄμφω
βουκόλος ἠδὲ συφορβὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
ἐκ δʼ αὐτὸς μετὰ τοὺς δόμου ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκτὸς θυρέων ἔσαν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐλῆς,
φθεγξάμενός σφε ἔπεσσι προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·
πὰρ δὲ φέρων δίφρον θῆκεν καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,
ἐκ δὲ στέατος ἔνεικε μέγαν τροχὸν ἔνδον ἐόντος·
τῷ ῥα νέοι θάλποντες ἐπειρῶντʼ· οὐδʼ ἐδύναντο
ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δὲ βίης ἐπιδευέες ἦσαν.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἔτʼ ἐπεῖχε καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,
ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων· ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.
τὼ δʼ ἐξ οἴκου βῆσαν ὁμαρτήσαντες ἅμʼ ἄμφω
βουκόλος ἠδὲ συφορβὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
ἐκ δʼ αὐτὸς μετὰ τοὺς δόμου ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκτὸς θυρέων ἔσαν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐλῆς,
φθεγξάμενός σφε ἔπεσσι προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·
"Herdsman, and you, swineherd, shall I say a word,
or keep it to myself? My spirit bids me speak.
What sort of men would you be, to defend Odysseus, if he should come
from somewhere as suddenly as this, and some god should bring him?
Would you defend the suitors, or Odysseus?
Say how your heart and your spirit bid you."
Then the man who was herdsman over the cattle spoke to him in turn:
or keep it to myself? My spirit bids me speak.
What sort of men would you be, to defend Odysseus, if he should come
from somewhere as suddenly as this, and some god should bring him?
Would you defend the suitors, or Odysseus?
Say how your heart and your spirit bid you."
Then the man who was herdsman over the cattle spoke to him in turn:
βουκόλε καὶ σύ, συφορβέ, ἔπος τί κε μυθησαίμην,
ἦ αὐτὸς κεύθω; φάσθαι δέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει.
ποῖοί κʼ εἶτʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἀμυνέμεν, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι
ὧδε μάλʼ ἐξαπίνης καί τις θεὸς αὐτὸν ἐνείκαι;
ἤ κε μνηστήρεσσιν ἀμύνοιτʼ ἦ Ὀδυσῆϊ;
εἴπαθʼ ὅπως ὑμέας κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·
ἦ αὐτὸς κεύθω; φάσθαι δέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει.
ποῖοί κʼ εἶτʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἀμυνέμεν, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι
ὧδε μάλʼ ἐξαπίνης καί τις θεὸς αὐτὸν ἐνείκαι;
ἤ κε μνηστήρεσσιν ἀμύνοιτʼ ἦ Ὀδυσῆϊ;
εἴπαθʼ ὅπως ὑμέας κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·
"Father Zeus, if only you would fulfil this desire,
that that man should come, and that a god should bring him;
then you would know what my strength is, and what my hands can do."
And in the same way Eumaeus prayed to all the gods
that Odysseus of many wits might come home to his own house.
But when he had truly learned the mind of these two,
he answered them again and spoke to them:
that that man should come, and that a god should bring him;
then you would know what my strength is, and what my hands can do."
And in the same way Eumaeus prayed to all the gods
that Odysseus of many wits might come home to his own house.
But when he had truly learned the mind of these two,
he answered them again and spoke to them:
Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο τελευτήσειας ἐέλδωρ,
ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·
γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τῶν γε νόον νημερτέʼ ἀνέγνω,
ἐξαῦτίς σφε ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
ὡς ἔλθοι μὲν κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ἀγάγοι δέ ἑ δαίμων·
γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τῶν γε νόον νημερτέʼ ἀνέγνω,
ἐξαῦτίς σφε ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"Here I myself am, within; after suffering many evils
I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
And I know that of my servants I come to you two alone
who have longed for me; of the rest I have heard no one
praying that I should come back home again.
And to you two I will recount the truth, as it shall be.
If a god beats down the proud suitors under my hand,
I will bring you both wives and grant you possessions
and houses built near my own; and thereafter you shall be
companions of Telemachus and brothers to him.
But come, I will show you another plain sign as well,
so that you may know me well and be sure of me in your spirit,
the scar which a boar dealt me once with his white tusk
when I went to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus."
I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
And I know that of my servants I come to you two alone
who have longed for me; of the rest I have heard no one
praying that I should come back home again.
And to you two I will recount the truth, as it shall be.
If a god beats down the proud suitors under my hand,
I will bring you both wives and grant you possessions
and houses built near my own; and thereafter you shall be
companions of Telemachus and brothers to him.
But come, I will show you another plain sign as well,
so that you may know me well and be sure of me in your spirit,
the scar which a boar dealt me once with his white tusk
when I went to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus."
ἔνδον μὲν δὴ ὅδʼ αὐτὸς ἐγώ, κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
γιγνώσκω δʼ ὡς σφῶϊν ἐελδομένοισιν ἱκάνω
οἴοισι δμώων· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τευ ἄκουσα
εὐξαμένου ἐμὲ αὖτις ὑπότροπον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
σφῶϊν δʼ, ὡς ἔσεταί περ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
ἄξομαι ἀμφοτέροις ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματʼ ὀπάσσω
οἰκία τʼ ἐγγὺς ἐμεῖο τετυγμένα· καί μοι ἔπειτα
Τηλεμάχου ἑτάρω τε κασιγνήτω τε ἔσεσθον.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε δή, καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι δείξω,
ὄφρα μʼ ἐῢ γνῶτον πιστωθῆτόν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ με σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι
Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
γιγνώσκω δʼ ὡς σφῶϊν ἐελδομένοισιν ἱκάνω
οἴοισι δμώων· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τευ ἄκουσα
εὐξαμένου ἐμὲ αὖτις ὑπότροπον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι.
σφῶϊν δʼ, ὡς ἔσεταί περ, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
ἄξομαι ἀμφοτέροις ἀλόχους καὶ κτήματʼ ὀπάσσω
οἰκία τʼ ἐγγὺς ἐμεῖο τετυγμένα· καί μοι ἔπειτα
Τηλεμάχου ἑτάρω τε κασιγνήτω τε ἔσεσθον.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε δή, καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι δείξω,
ὄφρα μʼ ἐῢ γνῶτον πιστωθῆτόν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ με σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι
Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.
So saying he drew the rags aside from the great scar.
And when the two had seen it and marked each thing well,
they wept and threw their arms about warlike-minded Odysseus,
and welcomed him and kissed his head and shoulders;
and in the same way Odysseus kissed their heads and their hands.
And now the light of the sun would have gone down on their weeping,
if Odysseus himself had not checked them and spoken:
And when the two had seen it and marked each thing well,
they wept and threw their arms about warlike-minded Odysseus,
and welcomed him and kissed his head and shoulders;
and in the same way Odysseus kissed their heads and their hands.
And now the light of the sun would have gone down on their weeping,
if Odysseus himself had not checked them and spoken:
ὣς εἰπὼν ῥάκεα μεγάλης ἀποέργαθεν οὐλῆς.
τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσιδέτην εὖ τʼ ἐφράσσαντο ἕκαστα,
κλαῖον ἄρʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι χεῖρε βαλόντε,
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμενοι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Ὀδυσεὺς κεφαλὰς καὶ χεῖρας ἔκυσσε.
καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,
εἰ μὴ Ὀδυσσεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρύκακε φώνησέν τε·
τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσιδέτην εὖ τʼ ἐφράσσαντο ἕκαστα,
κλαῖον ἄρʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι χεῖρε βαλόντε,
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαζόμενοι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Ὀδυσεὺς κεφαλὰς καὶ χεῖρας ἔκυσσε.
καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,
εἰ μὴ Ὀδυσσεὺς αὐτὸς ἐρύκακε φώνησέν τε·
"Stop your weeping and lamenting, in case someone
comes out of the hall and sees, and tells it inside as well.
But go in one at a time, not all together,
I first and you after me; and let this be the sign:
all the others, as many as are proud suitors,
will not allow the bow and the quiver to be given to me;
but do you, noble Eumaeus, carry the bow through the house
and put it into my hands, and tell the women
to shut the close-fitted doors of the hall;
and if any of them hears groaning or the noise of men
inside our walls, let none of them come out
of doors, but let each stay in silence at her work.
And to you, noble Philoetius, I give this charge, to lock the doors
of the courtyard with the key, and quickly cast the fastening upon it."
comes out of the hall and sees, and tells it inside as well.
But go in one at a time, not all together,
I first and you after me; and let this be the sign:
all the others, as many as are proud suitors,
will not allow the bow and the quiver to be given to me;
but do you, noble Eumaeus, carry the bow through the house
and put it into my hands, and tell the women
to shut the close-fitted doors of the hall;
and if any of them hears groaning or the noise of men
inside our walls, let none of them come out
of doors, but let each stay in silence at her work.
And to you, noble Philoetius, I give this charge, to lock the doors
of the courtyard with the key, and quickly cast the fastening upon it."
παύεσθον κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε, μή τις ἴδηται
ἐξελθὼν μεγάροιο, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσι καὶ εἴσω.
ἀλλὰ προμνηστῖνοι ἐσέλθετε, μηδʼ ἅμα πάντες,
πρῶτος ἐγώ, μετὰ δʼ ὔμμες· ἀτὰρ τόδε σῆμα τετύχθω·
ἄλλοι μὲν γὰρ πάντες, ὅσοι μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί,
οὐκ ἐάσουσιν ἐμοὶ δόμεναι βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην·
ἀλλὰ σύ, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, φέρων ἀνὰ δώματα τόξον
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἐμοὶ θέμεναι, εἰπεῖν τε γυναιξὶ
κληῗσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας,
ἢν δέ τις ἢ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ
ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε
προβλώσκειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.
σοὶ δέ, Φιλοίτιε δῖε, θύρας ἐπιτέλλομαι αὐλῆς
κληῗσαι κληῗδι, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἰῆλαι.
ἐξελθὼν μεγάροιο, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσι καὶ εἴσω.
ἀλλὰ προμνηστῖνοι ἐσέλθετε, μηδʼ ἅμα πάντες,
πρῶτος ἐγώ, μετὰ δʼ ὔμμες· ἀτὰρ τόδε σῆμα τετύχθω·
ἄλλοι μὲν γὰρ πάντες, ὅσοι μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί,
οὐκ ἐάσουσιν ἐμοὶ δόμεναι βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην·
ἀλλὰ σύ, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, φέρων ἀνὰ δώματα τόξον
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἐμοὶ θέμεναι, εἰπεῖν τε γυναιξὶ
κληῗσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας,
ἢν δέ τις ἢ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ
ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε
προβλώσκειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.
σοὶ δέ, Φιλοίτιε δῖε, θύρας ἐπιτέλλομαι αὐλῆς
κληῗσαι κληῗδι, θοῶς δʼ ἐπὶ δεσμὸν ἰῆλαι.
So saying he went into the well-built house,
and went and sat down on the stool from which he had risen;
and the two servants of divine Odysseus came in as well.
Eurymachus already had the bow in his hands
and was turning it this way and that in the gleam of the fire; but even so
he could not string it, and his glorious heart groaned aloud;
and in vexation he spoke out, and said, and called him by name:
and went and sat down on the stool from which he had risen;
and the two servants of divine Odysseus came in as well.
Eurymachus already had the bow in his hands
and was turning it this way and that in the gleam of the fire; but even so
he could not string it, and his glorious heart groaned aloud;
and in vexation he spoke out, and said, and called him by name:
ὣς εἰπὼν εἰσῆλθε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας·
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη·
ἐς δʼ ἄρα καὶ τὼ δμῶε ἴτην θείου Ὀδυσῆος.
Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἤδη τόξον μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,
θάλπων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα σέλᾳ πυρός· ἀλλά μιν οὐδʼ ὣς
ἐντανύσαι δύνατο, μέγα δʼ ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ·
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη·
ἐς δʼ ἄρα καὶ τὼ δμῶε ἴτην θείου Ὀδυσῆος.
Εὐρύμαχος δʼ ἤδη τόξον μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,
θάλπων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα σέλᾳ πυρός· ἀλλά μιν οὐδʼ ὣς
ἐντανύσαι δύνατο, μέγα δʼ ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ·
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Ah me, I grieve for myself and for us all.
It is not so much for the marriage that I mourn, grieved though I am;
there are many other Achaean women, some in
sea-girt Ithaca itself, and others in the other cities;
but if we fall so far short in strength
of godlike Odysseus, that we cannot string
his bow, it will be a disgrace for men to come to hear of."
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to him in turn:
It is not so much for the marriage that I mourn, grieved though I am;
there are many other Achaean women, some in
sea-girt Ithaca itself, and others in the other cities;
but if we fall so far short in strength
of godlike Odysseus, that we cannot string
his bow, it will be a disgrace for men to come to hear of."
Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke to him in turn:
ὢ πόποι, ἧ μοι ἄχος περί τʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ πάντων·
οὔ τι γάμου τοσσοῦτον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ·
εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαὶ Ἀχαιΐδες, αἱ μὲν ἐν αὐτῇ
ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, αἱ δʼ ἄλλῃσιν πολίεσσιν·
ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ τοσσόνδε βίης ἐπιδευέες εἰμὲν
ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος, ὅ τʼ οὐ δυνάμεσθα τανύσσαι
τόξον· ἐλεγχείη δὲ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
οὔ τι γάμου τοσσοῦτον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ·
εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαὶ Ἀχαιΐδες, αἱ μὲν ἐν αὐτῇ
ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, αἱ δʼ ἄλλῃσιν πολίεσσιν·
ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ τοσσόνδε βίης ἐπιδευέες εἰμὲν
ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆος, ὅ τʼ οὐ δυνάμεσθα τανύσσαι
τόξον· ἐλεγχείη δὲ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·
"Eurymachus, it shall not be so; and you know it yourself.
For today there is a holy feast of the god
in the land; who would be bending bows? Rather set it down
quietly; and as for the axes, suppose we let them all
stand where they are; for I do not think anyone will come
into the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes, and carry them off.
But come, let the wine-pourer pour the first drops into the cups,
so that when we have made libation we may lay down the curved bow;
and in the morning bid Melanthius, the goatherd,
bring goats that are far the finest of all the herds,
so that we may lay thigh-pieces before Apollo, famed for his bow,
and make trial of the bow and finish the contest."
For today there is a holy feast of the god
in the land; who would be bending bows? Rather set it down
quietly; and as for the axes, suppose we let them all
stand where they are; for I do not think anyone will come
into the hall of Odysseus, son of Laertes, and carry them off.
But come, let the wine-pourer pour the first drops into the cups,
so that when we have made libation we may lay down the curved bow;
and in the morning bid Melanthius, the goatherd,
bring goats that are far the finest of all the herds,
so that we may lay thigh-pieces before Apollo, famed for his bow,
and make trial of the bow and finish the contest."
Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὐχ οὕτως ἔσται· νοέεις δὲ καὶ αὐτός.
νῦν μὲν γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἑορτὴ τοῖο θεοῖο
ἁγνή· τίς δέ κε τόξα τιταίνοιτʼ; ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι
κάτθετʼ· ἀτὰρ πελέκεάς γε καὶ εἴ κʼ εἰῶμεν ἅπαντας
ἑστάμεν· οὐ μὲν γάρ τινʼ ἀναιρήσεσθαι ὀΐω,
ἐλθόντʼ ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,
ὄφρα σπείσαντες καταθείομεν ἀγκύλα τόξα·
ἠῶθεν δὲ κέλεσθε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν,
αἶγας ἄγειν, αἳ πᾶσι μέγʼ ἔξοχοι αἰπολίοισιν,
ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μηρία θέντες Ἀπόλλωνι κλυτοτόξῳ
τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.
νῦν μὲν γὰρ κατὰ δῆμον ἑορτὴ τοῖο θεοῖο
ἁγνή· τίς δέ κε τόξα τιταίνοιτʼ; ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι
κάτθετʼ· ἀτὰρ πελέκεάς γε καὶ εἴ κʼ εἰῶμεν ἅπαντας
ἑστάμεν· οὐ μὲν γάρ τινʼ ἀναιρήσεσθαι ὀΐω,
ἐλθόντʼ ἐς μέγαρον Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ, οἰνοχόος μὲν ἐπαρξάσθω δεπάεσσιν,
ὄφρα σπείσαντες καταθείομεν ἀγκύλα τόξα·
ἠῶθεν δὲ κέλεσθε Μελάνθιον, αἰπόλον αἰγῶν,
αἶγας ἄγειν, αἳ πᾶσι μέγʼ ἔξοχοι αἰπολίοισιν,
ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μηρία θέντες Ἀπόλλωνι κλυτοτόξῳ
τόξου πειρώμεσθα καὶ ἐκτελέωμεν ἄεθλον.
So spoke Antinous, and his word pleased them.
And the heralds poured water over their hands,
and the young men filled the mixing-bowls to the brim with drink,
and served them all, pouring the first drops into the cups.
And when they had made libation and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
Odysseus of many devices spoke among them with guile in his mind:
And the heralds poured water over their hands,
and the young men filled the mixing-bowls to the brim with drink,
and served them all, pouring the first drops into the cups.
And when they had made libation and drunk as much as their spirit wished,
Odysseus of many devices spoke among them with guile in his mind:
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.
τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,
κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,
νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,
κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,
νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,
τοῖς δὲ δολοφρονέων μετέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Hear me, you suitors of the glorious queen,
while I say what the spirit in my breast bids me;
and I make my plea above all to Eurymachus and to godlike
Antinous, since he has said this word rightly too,
to leave the bow now and to turn it over to the gods;
and in the morning a god will give the mastery to whom he wishes.
But come, give me the polished bow, so that among you
I may make trial of my hands and my strength, whether I still have
the force that once was in my supple limbs,
or whether my wandering and my neglect have already destroyed it."
while I say what the spirit in my breast bids me;
and I make my plea above all to Eurymachus and to godlike
Antinous, since he has said this word rightly too,
to leave the bow now and to turn it over to the gods;
and in the morning a god will give the mastery to whom he wishes.
But come, give me the polished bow, so that among you
I may make trial of my hands and my strength, whether I still have
the force that once was in my supple limbs,
or whether my wandering and my neglect have already destroyed it."
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγακλειτῆς βασιλείης·
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει·
Εὐρύμαχον δὲ μάλιστα καὶ Ἀντίνοον θεοειδέα
λίσσομʼ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπε,
νῦν μὲν παῦσαι τόξον, ἐπιτρέψαι δὲ θεοῖσιν·
ἠῶθεν δὲ θεὸς δώσει κράτος ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμοὶ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα μεθʼ ὑμῖν
χειρῶν καὶ σθένεος πειρήσομαι, ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἐστὶν
ἴς, οἵη πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσιν,
ἦ ἤδη μοι ὄλεσσεν ἄλη τʼ ἀκομιστίη τε.
ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει·
Εὐρύμαχον δὲ μάλιστα καὶ Ἀντίνοον θεοειδέα
λίσσομʼ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπε,
νῦν μὲν παῦσαι τόξον, ἐπιτρέψαι δὲ θεοῖσιν·
ἠῶθεν δὲ θεὸς δώσει κράτος ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμοὶ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα μεθʼ ὑμῖν
χειρῶν καὶ σθένεος πειρήσομαι, ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἐστὶν
ἴς, οἵη πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσιν,
ἦ ἤδη μοι ὄλεσσεν ἄλη τʼ ἀκομιστίη τε.
So he spoke, and they all were exceedingly indignant,
fearing that he might string the polished bow.
And Antinous rebuked him, and spoke, and called him by name:
fearing that he might string the polished bow.
And Antinous rebuked him, and spoke, and called him by name:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὑπερφιάλως νεμέσησαν,
δείσαντες μὴ τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύσειεν.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
δείσαντες μὴ τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύσειεν.
Ἀντίνοος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
"Ah, most wretched of strangers, there are no wits in you at all.
Are you not content to feast in quiet among us
who are overweening, and lose no share of the meal, but hear
our talk and our speeches? No other stranger
or beggar hears our talk.
The honey-sweet wine is wounding you, which harms others too,
whoever takes it with open mouth and does not drink in measure.
Wine deluded the Centaur too, glorious Eurytion,
in the hall of great-hearted Peirithous,
when he came among the Lapiths; and when he had deluded his wits with wine,
in his madness he did evil things through the house of Peirithous;
and grief took the heroes, and they sprang up and dragged him
out of doors through the porch, and shore off his ears
and his nose with the pitiless bronze; and he, deluded in his wits,
went off carrying his ruin with a mind that was crazed.
From that came the quarrel between the Centaurs and men,
but he found the evil first for himself, being heavy with wine.
So I foretell great harm for you too, if you should string
the bow; for you will meet with no courtesy
in our land, and at once in a black ship
we will send you to king Echetus, the maimer of all mortals;
and from there you will not be saved. So drink in quiet
and do not quarrel with men younger than yourself."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
Are you not content to feast in quiet among us
who are overweening, and lose no share of the meal, but hear
our talk and our speeches? No other stranger
or beggar hears our talk.
The honey-sweet wine is wounding you, which harms others too,
whoever takes it with open mouth and does not drink in measure.
Wine deluded the Centaur too, glorious Eurytion,
in the hall of great-hearted Peirithous,
when he came among the Lapiths; and when he had deluded his wits with wine,
in his madness he did evil things through the house of Peirithous;
and grief took the heroes, and they sprang up and dragged him
out of doors through the porch, and shore off his ears
and his nose with the pitiless bronze; and he, deluded in his wits,
went off carrying his ruin with a mind that was crazed.
From that came the quarrel between the Centaurs and men,
but he found the evil first for himself, being heavy with wine.
So I foretell great harm for you too, if you should string
the bow; for you will meet with no courtesy
in our land, and at once in a black ship
we will send you to king Echetus, the maimer of all mortals;
and from there you will not be saved. So drink in quiet
and do not quarrel with men younger than yourself."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ἆ δειλὲ ξείνων, ἔνι τοι φρένες οὐδʼ ἠβαιαί·
οὐκ ἀγαπᾷς ὃ ἕκηλος ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθʼ ἡμῖν
δαίνυσαι, οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς ἀμέρδεαι, αὐτὰρ ἀκούεις
μύθων ἡμετέρων καὶ ῥήσιος; οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
ἡμετέρων μύθων ξεῖνος καὶ πτωχὸς ἀκούει.
οἶνός σε τρώει μελιηδής, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους
βλάπτει, ὃς ἄν μιν χανδὸν ἕλῃ μηδʼ αἴσιμα πίνῃ.
οἶνος καὶ Κένταυρον, ἀγακλυτὸν Εὐρυτίωνα,
ἄασʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ μεγαθύμου Πειριθόοιο,
ἐς Λαπίθας ἐλθόνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ φρένας ἄασεν οἴνῳ,
μαινόμενος κάκʼ ἔρεξε δόμον κάτα Πειριθόοιο·
ἥρωας δʼ ἄχος εἷλε, διὲκ προθύρου δὲ θύραζε
ἕλκον ἀναΐξαντες, ἀπʼ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
ῥῖνάς τʼ ἀμήσαντες· ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀασθεὶς
ἤϊεν ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων ἀεσίφρονι θυμῷ.
ἐξ οὗ Κενταύροισι καὶ ἀνδράσι νεῖκος ἐτύχθη,
οἷ δʼ αὐτῷ πρώτῳ κακὸν εὕρετο οἰνοβαρείων.
ὣς καὶ σοὶ μέγα πῆμα πιφαύσκομαι, αἴ κε τὸ τόξον
ἐντανύσῃς· οὐ γάρ τευ ἐπητύος ἀντιβολήσεις
ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἄφαρ δέ σε νηῒ μελαίνῃ
εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,
πέμψομεν· ἔνθεν δʼ οὔ τι σαώσεαι· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
πῖνέ τε, μηδʼ ἐρίδαινε μετʼ ἀνδράσι κουροτέροισιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
οὐκ ἀγαπᾷς ὃ ἕκηλος ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθʼ ἡμῖν
δαίνυσαι, οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς ἀμέρδεαι, αὐτὰρ ἀκούεις
μύθων ἡμετέρων καὶ ῥήσιος; οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
ἡμετέρων μύθων ξεῖνος καὶ πτωχὸς ἀκούει.
οἶνός σε τρώει μελιηδής, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλους
βλάπτει, ὃς ἄν μιν χανδὸν ἕλῃ μηδʼ αἴσιμα πίνῃ.
οἶνος καὶ Κένταυρον, ἀγακλυτὸν Εὐρυτίωνα,
ἄασʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ μεγαθύμου Πειριθόοιο,
ἐς Λαπίθας ἐλθόνθʼ· ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ φρένας ἄασεν οἴνῳ,
μαινόμενος κάκʼ ἔρεξε δόμον κάτα Πειριθόοιο·
ἥρωας δʼ ἄχος εἷλε, διὲκ προθύρου δὲ θύραζε
ἕλκον ἀναΐξαντες, ἀπʼ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
ῥῖνάς τʼ ἀμήσαντες· ὁ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀασθεὶς
ἤϊεν ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων ἀεσίφρονι θυμῷ.
ἐξ οὗ Κενταύροισι καὶ ἀνδράσι νεῖκος ἐτύχθη,
οἷ δʼ αὐτῷ πρώτῳ κακὸν εὕρετο οἰνοβαρείων.
ὣς καὶ σοὶ μέγα πῆμα πιφαύσκομαι, αἴ κε τὸ τόξον
ἐντανύσῃς· οὐ γάρ τευ ἐπητύος ἀντιβολήσεις
ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἄφαρ δέ σε νηῒ μελαίνῃ
εἰς Ἔχετον βασιλῆα, βροτῶν δηλήμονα πάντων,
πέμψομεν· ἔνθεν δʼ οὔ τι σαώσεαι· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος
πῖνέ τε, μηδʼ ἐρίδαινε μετʼ ἀνδράσι κουροτέροισιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Antinous, it is not right or just to cheat
the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house.
Do you expect, if the stranger should string the great bow of Odysseus,
trusting in his hands and in his own strength,
that he would take me home and make me his wife?
Not even he himself has any such hope in his breast;
so let none of you feast here with a grieving
spirit on that account, since that is not seemly at all."
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her in turn:
the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house.
Do you expect, if the stranger should string the great bow of Odysseus,
trusting in his hands and in his own strength,
that he would take me home and make me his wife?
Not even he himself has any such hope in his breast;
so let none of you feast here with a grieving
spirit on that account, since that is not seemly at all."
Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, answered her in turn:
Ἀντίνοʼ, οὐ μὲν καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιον
ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται·
ἔλπεαι, αἴ χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον
ἐντανύσῃ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε ἧφι πιθήσας,
οἴκαδέ μʼ ἄξεσθαι καὶ ἑὴν θήσεσθαι ἄκοιτιν;
οὐδʼ αὐτός που τοῦτό γʼ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔολπε·
μηδέ τις ὑμείων τοῦ γʼ εἵνεκα θυμὸν ἀχεύων
ἐνθάδε δαινύσθω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ ἔοικεν.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται·
ἔλπεαι, αἴ χʼ ὁ ξεῖνος Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον
ἐντανύσῃ χερσίν τε βίηφί τε ἧφι πιθήσας,
οἴκαδέ μʼ ἄξεσθαι καὶ ἑὴν θήσεσθαι ἄκοιτιν;
οὐδʼ αὐτός που τοῦτό γʼ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔολπε·
μηδέ τις ὑμείων τοῦ γʼ εἵνεκα θυμὸν ἀχεύων
ἐνθάδε δαινύσθω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ ἔοικεν.
τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Daughter of Icarius, circumspect Penelope,
we do not think this man will take you home; that is not seemly;
but we are ashamed of the talk of men and of women,
in case some baser man among the Achaeans should say:
’Men far worse than he are wooing the wife
of a blameless man, and cannot string the polished bow;
but another, a beggar man who came wandering by,
strung the bow easily and shot through the iron.’
So they will say, and these would become reproaches to us."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
we do not think this man will take you home; that is not seemly;
but we are ashamed of the talk of men and of women,
in case some baser man among the Achaeans should say:
’Men far worse than he are wooing the wife
of a blameless man, and cannot string the polished bow;
but another, a beggar man who came wandering by,
strung the bow easily and shot through the iron.’
So they will say, and these would become reproaches to us."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρον Πηνελόπεια,
οὔ τί σε τόνδʼ ἄξεσθαι ὀϊόμεθʼ· οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·
ἀλλʼ αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶν,
μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι κακώτερος ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν
ἦ πολὺ χείρονες ἄνδρες ἀμύμονος ἀνδρὸς ἄκοιτιν
μνῶνται, οὐδέ τι τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύουσιν·
ἀλλʼ ἄλλος τις πτωχὸς ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν
ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δʼ ἧκε σιδήρου.
ὣς ἐρέουσʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ ἂν ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
οὔ τί σε τόνδʼ ἄξεσθαι ὀϊόμεθʼ· οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·
ἀλλʼ αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶν,
μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι κακώτερος ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν
ἦ πολὺ χείρονες ἄνδρες ἀμύμονος ἀνδρὸς ἄκοιτιν
μνῶνται, οὐδέ τι τόξον ἐΰξοον ἐντανύουσιν·
ἀλλʼ ἄλλος τις πτωχὸς ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν
ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δʼ ἧκε σιδήρου.
ὣς ἐρέουσʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ ἂν ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα γένοιτο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Eurymachus, there is no way for men to be well spoken of
in the land who dishonour the house of a nobleman
and eat it up; why do you count these things as reproaches?
This stranger is a very big man and well built,
and claims to be the son of a good father.
But come, give him the polished bow, so that we may see.
For I will speak out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
if he strings it, and Apollo grants him the glory,
I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, fine garments,
and I will give him a sharp javelin, to keep off dogs and men,
and a two-edged sword; and I will give him sandals for his feet,
and send him wherever his heart and spirit bid him go."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
in the land who dishonour the house of a nobleman
and eat it up; why do you count these things as reproaches?
This stranger is a very big man and well built,
and claims to be the son of a good father.
But come, give him the polished bow, so that we may see.
For I will speak out, and it shall surely be accomplished:
if he strings it, and Apollo grants him the glory,
I will clothe him in a cloak and a tunic, fine garments,
and I will give him a sharp javelin, to keep off dogs and men,
and a two-edged sword; and I will give him sandals for his feet,
and send him wherever his heart and spirit bid him go."
Then prudent Telemachus answered her in turn:
Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐϋκλεῖας κατὰ δῆμον
ἔμμεναι οἳ δὴ οἶκον ἀτιμάζοντες ἔδουσιν
ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τί δʼ ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα τίθεσθε;
οὗτος δὲ ξεῖνος μάλα μὲν μέγας ἠδʼ εὐπηγής,
πατρὸς δʼ ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ γένος εὔχεται ἔμμεναι υἱός.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
εἴ κέ μιν ἐντανύσῃ, δώῃ δέ οἱ εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,
δώσω δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν,
καὶ ξίφος ἄμφηκες· δώσω δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,
πέμψω δʼ ὅππη μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἔμμεναι οἳ δὴ οἶκον ἀτιμάζοντες ἔδουσιν
ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τί δʼ ἐλέγχεα ταῦτα τίθεσθε;
οὗτος δὲ ξεῖνος μάλα μὲν μέγας ἠδʼ εὐπηγής,
πατρὸς δʼ ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ γένος εὔχεται ἔμμεναι υἱός.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ δότε τόξον ἐΰξοον, ὄφρα ἴδωμεν.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
εἴ κέ μιν ἐντανύσῃ, δώῃ δέ οἱ εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,
ἕσσω μιν χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά,
δώσω δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν,
καὶ ξίφος ἄμφηκες· δώσω δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ πέδιλα,
πέμψω δʼ ὅππη μιν κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"My mother, as for the bow, no one of the Achaeans
has a better right than I to give it or to refuse it to whom I will,
neither those who are lords over rocky Ithaca,
nor those in the islands towards horse-pasturing Elis;
not one of them shall force me against my will, if I choose
to give this bow outright to the stranger to carry away.
But go into the house and see to your own work,
the loom and the distaff, and order your handmaids
to go about their work. The bow shall be the concern of men,
of all of them, and of me most, for the power in this house is mine."
And she went back to her rooms in amazement;
for she had laid up her son’s prudent word in her spirit.
And going up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women
she wept then for Odysseus, her dear husband, until sweet sleep
was cast upon her eyelids by grey-eyed Athena.
Then the noble swineherd took up the curved bow and carried it;
and all the suitors shouted him down in the halls,
and one of the overbearing young men would say:
"Where are you carrying the curved bow, you wretched swineherd,
you madman? Soon the swift dogs you reared yourself
will eat you out among your pigs, alone and far from men, if Apollo
is gracious to us, and the other immortal gods."
has a better right than I to give it or to refuse it to whom I will,
neither those who are lords over rocky Ithaca,
nor those in the islands towards horse-pasturing Elis;
not one of them shall force me against my will, if I choose
to give this bow outright to the stranger to carry away.
But go into the house and see to your own work,
the loom and the distaff, and order your handmaids
to go about their work. The bow shall be the concern of men,
of all of them, and of me most, for the power in this house is mine."
And she went back to her rooms in amazement;
for she had laid up her son’s prudent word in her spirit.
And going up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women
she wept then for Odysseus, her dear husband, until sweet sleep
was cast upon her eyelids by grey-eyed Athena.
Then the noble swineherd took up the curved bow and carried it;
and all the suitors shouted him down in the halls,
and one of the overbearing young men would say:
"Where are you carrying the curved bow, you wretched swineherd,
you madman? Soon the swift dogs you reared yourself
will eat you out among your pigs, alone and far from men, if Apollo
is gracious to us, and the other immortal gods."
μῆτερ ἐμή, τόξον μὲν Ἀχαιῶν οὔ τις ἐμεῖο
κρείσσων, ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλω, δόμεναί τε καὶ ἀρνήσασθαι,
οὔθʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,
οὔθʼ ὅσσοι νήσοισι πρὸς Ἤλιδος ἱπποβότοιο·
τῶν οὔ τίς μʼ ἀέκοντα βιήσεται, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωμι
καὶ καθάπαξ ξείνῳ δόμεναι τάδε τόξα φέρεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σʼ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,
ἱστόν τʼ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· τόξον δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·
παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.
ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τόξα λαβὼν φέρε καμπύλα δῖος ὑφορβός·
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
πῆ δὴ καμπύλα τόξα φέρεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,
πλαγκτέ; τάχʼ αὖ σʼ ἐφʼ ὕεσσι κύνες ταχέες κατέδονται
οἶον ἀπʼ ἀνθρώπων, οὓς ἔτρεφες, εἴ κεν Ἀπόλλων
ἡμῖν ἱλήκῃσι καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι.
κρείσσων, ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλω, δόμεναί τε καὶ ἀρνήσασθαι,
οὔθʼ ὅσσοι κραναὴν Ἰθάκην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν,
οὔθʼ ὅσσοι νήσοισι πρὸς Ἤλιδος ἱπποβότοιο·
τῶν οὔ τίς μʼ ἀέκοντα βιήσεται, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωμι
καὶ καθάπαξ ξείνῳ δόμεναι τάδε τόξα φέρεσθαι.
ἀλλʼ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σʼ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,
ἱστόν τʼ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· τόξον δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
ἡ μὲν θαμβήσασα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει·
παιδὸς γὰρ μῦθον πεπνυμένον ἔνθετο θυμῷ.
ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τόξα λαβὼν φέρε καμπύλα δῖος ὑφορβός·
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
πῆ δὴ καμπύλα τόξα φέρεις, ἀμέγαρτε συβῶτα,
πλαγκτέ; τάχʼ αὖ σʼ ἐφʼ ὕεσσι κύνες ταχέες κατέδονται
οἶον ἀπʼ ἀνθρώπων, οὓς ἔτρεφες, εἴ κεν Ἀπόλλων
ἡμῖν ἱλήκῃσι καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι.
So they spoke, and he set it down where it was,
in fear, because many were shouting him down in the halls.
But Telemachus on his side called out threateningly:
"Old friend, carry the bow on; you will soon do badly if you obey them all.
Take care that I do not chase you off to the fields with stones,
younger though I am; for I am the stronger in force.
Would that I were as much stronger in my hands and in force
than all the suitors who are in the house;
then I would soon send one of them off on a bitter journey
out of our house, since they contrive evils."
in fear, because many were shouting him down in the halls.
But Telemachus on his side called out threateningly:
"Old friend, carry the bow on; you will soon do badly if you obey them all.
Take care that I do not chase you off to the fields with stones,
younger though I am; for I am the stronger in force.
Would that I were as much stronger in my hands and in force
than all the suitors who are in the house;
then I would soon send one of them off on a bitter journey
out of our house, since they contrive evils."
ὣς φάσαν, αὐτὰρ, ὁ θῆκε φέρων αὐτῇ ἐνὶ χώρῃ,
δείσας, οὕνεκα πολλοὶ ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀπειλήσας ἐγεγώνει·
ἄττα, πρόσω φέρε τόξα· τάχʼ οὐκ εὖ πᾶσι πιθήσεις
μή σε καὶ ὁπλότερός περ ἐὼν ἀγρόνδε δίωμαι,
βάλλων χερμαδίοισι· βίηφι δὲ φέρτερός εἰμι.
αἲ γὰρ πάντων τόσσον, ὅσοι κατὰ δώματʼ ἔασι,
μνηστήρων χερσίν τε βίηφί τε φέρτερος εἴην·
τῷ κε τάχα στυγερῶς τινʼ ἐγὼ πέμψαιμι νέεσθαι
ἡμετέρου ἐξ οἴκου, ἐπεὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.
δείσας, οὕνεκα πολλοὶ ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισιν.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀπειλήσας ἐγεγώνει·
ἄττα, πρόσω φέρε τόξα· τάχʼ οὐκ εὖ πᾶσι πιθήσεις
μή σε καὶ ὁπλότερός περ ἐὼν ἀγρόνδε δίωμαι,
βάλλων χερμαδίοισι· βίηφι δὲ φέρτερός εἰμι.
αἲ γὰρ πάντων τόσσον, ὅσοι κατὰ δώματʼ ἔασι,
μνηστήρων χερσίν τε βίηφί τε φέρτερος εἴην·
τῷ κε τάχα στυγερῶς τινʼ ἐγὼ πέμψαιμι νέεσθαι
ἡμετέρου ἐξ οἴκου, ἐπεὶ κακὰ μηχανόωνται.
So he spoke, and they all laughed sweetly at him,
the suitors, and let go their harsh anger
against Telemachus; and the swineherd carried the bow through the house
and put it in the hands of warlike-minded Odysseus, standing beside him.
And he called the nurse Eurycleia out and said to her:
the suitors, and let go their harsh anger
against Telemachus; and the swineherd carried the bow through the house
and put it in the hands of warlike-minded Odysseus, standing beside him.
And he called the nurse Eurycleia out and said to her:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν
μνηστῆρες, καὶ δὴ μέθιεν χαλεποῖο χόλοιο
Τηλεμάχῳ· τὰ δὲ τόξα φέρων ἀνὰ δῶμα συβώτης
ἐν χείρεσσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι θῆκε παραστάς.
ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·
μνηστῆρες, καὶ δὴ μέθιεν χαλεποῖο χόλοιο
Τηλεμάχῳ· τὰ δὲ τόξα φέρων ἀνὰ δῶμα συβώτης
ἐν χείρεσσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ δαΐφρονι θῆκε παραστάς.
ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·
"Telemachus bids you, circumspect Eurycleia,
to shut the close-fitted doors of the hall;
and if any of them hears groaning or the noise of men
inside our walls, let none of them come out
of doors, but let each stay in silence at her work."
to shut the close-fitted doors of the hall;
and if any of them hears groaning or the noise of men
inside our walls, let none of them come out
of doors, but let each stay in silence at her work."
Τηλέμαχος κέλεταί σε, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,
κληῗσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας.
ἢν δέ τις ἤ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ
ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε
προβλώσκειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.
κληῗσαι μεγάροιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας.
ἢν δέ τις ἤ στοναχῆς ἠὲ κτύπου ἔνδον ἀκούσῃ
ἀνδρῶν ἡμετέροισιν ἐν ἕρκεσι, μή τι θύραζε
προβλώσκειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ ἀκὴν ἔμεναι παρὰ ἔργῳ.
So he spoke, and her word stayed unwinged,
and she shut the doors of the well-built halls.
And Philoetius sprang out of the house in silence to the door,
and then locked the doors of the well-fenced courtyard.
There lay under the portico the cable of a curved ship,
made of papyrus; with this he bound the doors, and went in himself,
and went and sat down on the stool from which he had risen,
looking at Odysseus. But he was already handling the bow,
turning it every way, and trying it here and there,
in case worms had eaten the horn while its master was away.
And one would say, looking at his neighbour:
"Surely he is a connoisseur and a thief of bows;
perhaps he has such things lying at home himself,
or he is set on making one, the way he turns it
this way and that in his hands, this vagabond schooled in evils."
And another of the overbearing young men would say:
"May he get as much good of it
as he shall ever be able to string this bow."
and she shut the doors of the well-built halls.
And Philoetius sprang out of the house in silence to the door,
and then locked the doors of the well-fenced courtyard.
There lay under the portico the cable of a curved ship,
made of papyrus; with this he bound the doors, and went in himself,
and went and sat down on the stool from which he had risen,
looking at Odysseus. But he was already handling the bow,
turning it every way, and trying it here and there,
in case worms had eaten the horn while its master was away.
And one would say, looking at his neighbour:
"Surely he is a connoisseur and a thief of bows;
perhaps he has such things lying at home himself,
or he is set on making one, the way he turns it
this way and that in his hands, this vagabond schooled in evils."
And another of the overbearing young men would say:
"May he get as much good of it
as he shall ever be able to string this bow."
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος,
κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.
σιγῇ δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο Φιλοίτιος ἆλτο θύραζε,
κλήϊσεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα θύρας εὐερκέος αὐλῆς.
κεῖτο δʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ὅπλον νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης
βύβλινον, ᾧ ῥʼ ἐπέδησε θύρας, ἐς δʼ ἤϊεν αὐτός·
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη,
εἰσορόων Ὀδυσῆα. ὁ δʼ ἤδη τόξον ἐνώμα
πάντη ἀναστρωφῶν, πειρώμενος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
μὴ κέρα ἶπες ἔδοιεν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος.
ὧδε τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
ἦ τις θηητὴρ καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ἔπλετο τόξων·
ἤ ῥά νύ που τοιαῦτα καὶ αὐτῷ οἴκοθι κεῖται
ἢ ὅ γʼ ἐφορμᾶται ποιησέμεν, ὡς ἐνὶ χερσὶ
νωμᾷ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κακῶν ἔμπαιος ἀλήτης.
ἄλλος δʼ αὖ εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
αἲ γὰρ δὴ τοσσοῦτον ὀνήσιος ἀντιάσειεν
ὡς οὗτός ποτε τοῦτο δυνήσεται ἐντανύσασθαι.
κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.
σιγῇ δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο Φιλοίτιος ἆλτο θύραζε,
κλήϊσεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα θύρας εὐερκέος αὐλῆς.
κεῖτο δʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ὅπλον νεὸς ἀμφιελίσσης
βύβλινον, ᾧ ῥʼ ἐπέδησε θύρας, ἐς δʼ ἤϊεν αὐτός·
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ δίφρον ἰών, ἔνθεν περ ἀνέστη,
εἰσορόων Ὀδυσῆα. ὁ δʼ ἤδη τόξον ἐνώμα
πάντη ἀναστρωφῶν, πειρώμενος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
μὴ κέρα ἶπες ἔδοιεν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος.
ὧδε τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
ἦ τις θηητὴρ καὶ ἐπίκλοπος ἔπλετο τόξων·
ἤ ῥά νύ που τοιαῦτα καὶ αὐτῷ οἴκοθι κεῖται
ἢ ὅ γʼ ἐφορμᾶται ποιησέμεν, ὡς ἐνὶ χερσὶ
νωμᾷ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κακῶν ἔμπαιος ἀλήτης.
ἄλλος δʼ αὖ εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·
αἲ γὰρ δὴ τοσσοῦτον ὀνήσιος ἀντιάσειεν
ὡς οὗτός ποτε τοῦτο δυνήσεται ἐντανύσασθαι.
So spoke the suitors; but Odysseus of many devices,
as soon as he had lifted the great bow and looked it over on every side,
just as when a man skilled in the lyre and in song
easily strings a cord about a new peg,
fastening the well-twisted sheep-gut at both ends,
as soon as he had lifted the great bow and looked it over on every side,
just as when a man skilled in the lyre and in song
easily strings a cord about a new peg,
fastening the well-twisted sheep-gut at both ends,
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν μνηστῆρες· ἀτὰρ πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
αὐτίκʼ ἐπεὶ μέγα τόξον ἐβάστασε καὶ ἴδε πάντη,
ὡς ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ φόρμιγγος ἐπιστάμενος καὶ ἀοιδῆς
ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε νέῳ περὶ κόλλοπι χορδήν,
ἅψας ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐϋστρεφὲς ἔντερον οἰός,
αὐτίκʼ ἐπεὶ μέγα τόξον ἐβάστασε καὶ ἴδε πάντη,
ὡς ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ φόρμιγγος ἐπιστάμενος καὶ ἀοιδῆς
ῥηϊδίως ἐτάνυσσε νέῳ περὶ κόλλοπι χορδήν,
ἅψας ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐϋστρεφὲς ἔντερον οἰός,
so without effort did Odysseus string the great bow.
And he took it in his right hand and tried the string,
and it sang beautifully beneath him, like a swallow in its voice.
And great grief came upon the suitors, and the colour of them all
changed; and Zeus thundered loudly, showing his signs;
and then long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad,
because the son of crooked-counselling Cronos had sent him a portent;
and he took the swift arrow that lay beside him on the table,
bare; and the rest lay inside the hollow quiver,
those which the Achaeans were soon to make trial of.
He laid it on the bridge of the bow and drew the string and the notches,
sitting there on his stool as he was, and let the arrow fly,
aiming straight, and did not miss any of the axes,
from the first handle-hole onward; and the bronze-weighted shaft
went right through and out at the far end; and he spoke to Telemachus:
And he took it in his right hand and tried the string,
and it sang beautifully beneath him, like a swallow in its voice.
And great grief came upon the suitors, and the colour of them all
changed; and Zeus thundered loudly, showing his signs;
and then long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad,
because the son of crooked-counselling Cronos had sent him a portent;
and he took the swift arrow that lay beside him on the table,
bare; and the rest lay inside the hollow quiver,
those which the Achaeans were soon to make trial of.
He laid it on the bridge of the bow and drew the string and the notches,
sitting there on his stool as he was, and let the arrow fly,
aiming straight, and did not miss any of the axes,
from the first handle-hole onward; and the bronze-weighted shaft
went right through and out at the far end; and he spoke to Telemachus:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἄτερ σπουδῆς τάνυσεν μέγα τόξον Ὀδυσσεύς.
δεξιτερῇ ἄρα χειρὶ λαβὼν πειρήσατο νευρῆς·
ἡ δʼ ὑπὸ καλὸν ἄεισε, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη αὐδήν.
μνηστῆρσιν δʼ ἄρʼ ἄχος γένετο μέγα, πᾶσι δʼ ἄρα χρὼς
ἐτράπετο· Ζεὺς δὲ μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε σήματα φαίνων·
γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
ὅττι ῥά οἱ τέρας ἧκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·
εἵλετο δʼ ὠκὺν ὀϊστόν, ὅ οἱ παρέκειτο τραπέζῃ
γυμνός· τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι κοίλης ἔντοσθε φαρέτρης
κείατο, τῶν τάχʼ ἔμελλον Ἀχαιοὶ πειρήσεσθαι.
τόν ῥʼ ἐπὶ πήχει ἑλὼν ἕλκεν νευρὴν γλυφίδας τε,
αὐτόθεν ἐκ δίφροιο καθήμενος, ἧκε δʼ ὀϊστὸν
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος, πελέκεων δʼ οὐκ ἤμβροτε πάντων
πρώτης στειλειῆς, διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἦλθε θύραζε
ἰὸς χαλκοβαρής· ὁ δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσέειπε·
δεξιτερῇ ἄρα χειρὶ λαβὼν πειρήσατο νευρῆς·
ἡ δʼ ὑπὸ καλὸν ἄεισε, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη αὐδήν.
μνηστῆρσιν δʼ ἄρʼ ἄχος γένετο μέγα, πᾶσι δʼ ἄρα χρὼς
ἐτράπετο· Ζεὺς δὲ μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε σήματα φαίνων·
γήθησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
ὅττι ῥά οἱ τέρας ἧκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·
εἵλετο δʼ ὠκὺν ὀϊστόν, ὅ οἱ παρέκειτο τραπέζῃ
γυμνός· τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι κοίλης ἔντοσθε φαρέτρης
κείατο, τῶν τάχʼ ἔμελλον Ἀχαιοὶ πειρήσεσθαι.
τόν ῥʼ ἐπὶ πήχει ἑλὼν ἕλκεν νευρὴν γλυφίδας τε,
αὐτόθεν ἐκ δίφροιο καθήμενος, ἧκε δʼ ὀϊστὸν
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος, πελέκεων δʼ οὐκ ἤμβροτε πάντων
πρώτης στειλειῆς, διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἦλθε θύραζε
ἰὸς χαλκοβαρής· ὁ δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσέειπε·
"Telemachus, the stranger who sits in your halls does not
shame you; I did not miss the mark, nor did I labour
long in stringing the bow; my strength is still steady in me,
not as the suitors reproach me and hold me in dishonour.
But now it is the hour to make the Achaeans’ supper ready
while it is still light, and afterwards to take our pleasure in other ways
with song and with the lyre; for these are the crown of a feast."
shame you; I did not miss the mark, nor did I labour
long in stringing the bow; my strength is still steady in me,
not as the suitors reproach me and hold me in dishonour.
But now it is the hour to make the Achaeans’ supper ready
while it is still light, and afterwards to take our pleasure in other ways
with song and with the lyre; for these are the crown of a feast."
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ σʼ ὁ ξεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐλέγχει
ἥμενος, οὐδέ τι τοῦ σκοποῦ ἤμβροτον οὐδέ τι τόξον
δὴν ἔκαμον τανύων· ἔτι μοι μένος ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν,
οὐχ ὥς με μνηστῆρες ἀτιμάζοντες ὄνονται.
νῦν δʼ ὥρη καὶ δόρπον Ἀχαιοῖσιν τετυκέσθαι
ἐν φάει, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄλλως ἑψιάασθαι
μολπῇ καὶ φόρμιγγι· τὰ γάρ τʼ ἀναθήματα δαιτός.
ἥμενος, οὐδέ τι τοῦ σκοποῦ ἤμβροτον οὐδέ τι τόξον
δὴν ἔκαμον τανύων· ἔτι μοι μένος ἔμπεδόν ἐστιν,
οὐχ ὥς με μνηστῆρες ἀτιμάζοντες ὄνονται.
νῦν δʼ ὥρη καὶ δόρπον Ἀχαιοῖσιν τετυκέσθαι
ἐν φάει, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄλλως ἑψιάασθαι
μολπῇ καὶ φόρμιγγι· τὰ γάρ τʼ ἀναθήματα δαιτός.
He spoke, and nodded with his brows; and Telemachus,
the dear son of divine Odysseus, slung the sharp sword about him
and closed his hand about his spear, and close beside him
he took his stand by the chair, armed in the gleaming bronze.
the dear son of divine Odysseus, slung the sharp sword about him
and closed his hand about his spear, and close beside him
he took his stand by the chair, armed in the gleaming bronze.
ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσεν· ὁ δʼ ἀμφέθετο ξίφος ὀξὺ
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρα φίλην βάλεν ἔγχεϊ, ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ
πὰρ θρόνον ἑστήκει κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρα φίλην βάλεν ἔγχεϊ, ἄγχι δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ
πὰρ θρόνον ἑστήκει κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.
Book 22
The slaughter. The next arrow takes Antinous through the throat; Odysseus names himself and the doors are barred. With Telemachus, Eumaeus and the cowherd, he kills them all; only the singer and the herald are spared; the guilty maids and Melanthius meet grimmer ends.
But Odysseus of many devices stripped himself of his rags,
and leapt onto the great threshold, holding the bow and the quiver
full of arrows, and poured out the swift shafts
there before his feet, and spoke among the suitors:
and leapt onto the great threshold, holding the bow and the quiver
full of arrows, and poured out the swift shafts
there before his feet, and spoke among the suitors:
αὐτὰρ ὁ γυμνώθη ῥακέων πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἆλτο δʼ ἐπὶ μέγαν οὐδόν, ἔχων βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
ἰῶν ἐμπλείην, ταχέας δʼ ἐκχεύατʼ ὀϊστοὺς
αὐτοῦ πρόσθε ποδῶν, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·
ἆλτο δʼ ἐπὶ μέγαν οὐδόν, ἔχων βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
ἰῶν ἐμπλείην, ταχέας δʼ ἐκχεύατʼ ὀϊστοὺς
αὐτοῦ πρόσθε ποδῶν, μετὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν ἔειπεν·
"This contest, that none may fault, is now accomplished;
now at another mark, which no man has yet struck,
I shall see whether I hit it, and whether Apollo grants me the glory."
now at another mark, which no man has yet struck,
I shall see whether I hit it, and whether Apollo grants me the glory."
οὗτος μὲν δὴ ἄεθλος ἀάατος ἐκτετέλεσται·
νῦν αὖτε σκοπὸν ἄλλον, ὃν οὔ πώ τις βάλεν ἀνήρ,
εἴσομαι, αἴ κε τύχωμι, πόρῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων.
νῦν αὖτε σκοπὸν ἄλλον, ὃν οὔ πώ τις βάλεν ἀνήρ,
εἴσομαι, αἴ κε τύχωμι, πόρῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων.
He spoke, and aimed the bitter arrow at Antinous.
ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ Ἀντινόῳ ἰθύνετο πικρὸν ὀϊστόν.
Now he was on the point of lifting a fine cup,
golden, two-handled, and was even turning it in his hands,
to drink of the wine; and slaughter was not a thing
that troubled his spirit; for who would suppose that among men at their feasting
one man alone among many, however strong he might be,
would contrive for him an evil death and black doom?
But Odysseus took aim at his throat and struck him with the arrow,
and the point went clean through the soft neck.
He sank down sideways, and the cup fell from his hand
as he was struck, and at once a thick jet came up through his nostrils
of human blood; and swiftly he thrust the table from him
with a kick of his foot, and spilled the food upon the ground;
and the bread and the roasted meats were fouled. And they raised an uproar,
the suitors throughout the house, when they saw the man fallen,
and sprang up from their seats, stirred throughout the hall,
peering everywhere along the well-built walls;
but nowhere was there a shield or a stout spear to take.
And they reviled Odysseus with angry words:
"Stranger, to your own cost you shoot at men; you will meet no other
contests now; your sheer destruction is certain.
For now you have killed the man who was far the best
of the young men in Ithaca; therefore the vultures shall eat you here."
So each man supposed, since they thought that not by intent
had he killed the man; but the fools did not perceive
that upon them too, upon all of them, the cords of destruction had been fastened.
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to them:
golden, two-handled, and was even turning it in his hands,
to drink of the wine; and slaughter was not a thing
that troubled his spirit; for who would suppose that among men at their feasting
one man alone among many, however strong he might be,
would contrive for him an evil death and black doom?
But Odysseus took aim at his throat and struck him with the arrow,
and the point went clean through the soft neck.
He sank down sideways, and the cup fell from his hand
as he was struck, and at once a thick jet came up through his nostrils
of human blood; and swiftly he thrust the table from him
with a kick of his foot, and spilled the food upon the ground;
and the bread and the roasted meats were fouled. And they raised an uproar,
the suitors throughout the house, when they saw the man fallen,
and sprang up from their seats, stirred throughout the hall,
peering everywhere along the well-built walls;
but nowhere was there a shield or a stout spear to take.
And they reviled Odysseus with angry words:
"Stranger, to your own cost you shoot at men; you will meet no other
contests now; your sheer destruction is certain.
For now you have killed the man who was far the best
of the young men in Ithaca; therefore the vultures shall eat you here."
So each man supposed, since they thought that not by intent
had he killed the man; but the fools did not perceive
that upon them too, upon all of them, the cords of destruction had been fastened.
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to them:
ἦ τοι ὁ καλὸν ἄλεισον ἀναιρήσεσθαι ἔμελλε,
χρύσεον ἄμφωτον, καὶ δὴ μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,
ὄφρα πίοι οἴνοιο· φόνος δέ οἱ οὐκ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
μέμβλετο· τίς κʼ οἴοιτο μετʼ ἀνδράσι δαιτυμόνεσσι
μοῦνον ἐνὶ πλεόνεσσι, καὶ εἰ μάλα καρτερὸς εἴη,
οἷ τεύξειν θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν;
τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατὰ λαιμὸν ἐπισχόμενος βάλεν ἰῷ,
ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἁπαλοῖο διʼ αὐχένος ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή.
ἐκλίνθη δʼ ἑτέρωσε, δέπας δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρὸς
βλημένου, αὐτίκα δʼ αὐλὸς ἀνὰ ῥῖνας παχὺς ἦλθεν
αἵματος ἀνδρομέοιο· θοῶς δʼ ἀπὸ εἷο τράπεζαν
ὦσε ποδὶ πλήξας, ἀπὸ δʼ εἴδατα χεῦεν ἔραζε·
σῖτός τε κρέα τʼ ὀπτὰ φορύνετο. τοὶ δʼ ὁμάδησαν
μνηστῆρες κατὰ δώμαθʼ, ὅπως ἴδον ἄνδρα πεσόντα,
ἐκ δὲ θρόνων ἀνόρουσαν ὀρινθέντες κατὰ δῶμα,
πάντοσε παπταίνοντες ἐϋδμήτους ποτὶ τοίχους·
οὐδέ πη ἀσπὶς ἔην οὐδʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἑλέσθαι.
νείκειον δʼ Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσι·
ξεῖνε, κακῶς ἀνδρῶν τοξάζεαι· οὐκέτʼ ἀέθλων
ἄλλων ἀντιάσεις· νῦν τοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
καὶ γὰρ δὴ νῦν φῶτα κατέκτανες ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος
κούρων εἰν Ἰθάκῃ· τῷ σʼ ἐνθάδε γῦπες ἔδονται.
ἴσκεν ἕκαστος ἀνήρ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φάσαν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα
ἄνδρα κατακτεῖναι· τὸ δὲ νήπιοι οὐκ ἐνόησαν,
ὡς δή σφιν καὶ πᾶσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπτο.
τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
χρύσεον ἄμφωτον, καὶ δὴ μετὰ χερσὶν ἐνώμα,
ὄφρα πίοι οἴνοιο· φόνος δέ οἱ οὐκ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
μέμβλετο· τίς κʼ οἴοιτο μετʼ ἀνδράσι δαιτυμόνεσσι
μοῦνον ἐνὶ πλεόνεσσι, καὶ εἰ μάλα καρτερὸς εἴη,
οἷ τεύξειν θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν;
τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατὰ λαιμὸν ἐπισχόμενος βάλεν ἰῷ,
ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἁπαλοῖο διʼ αὐχένος ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή.
ἐκλίνθη δʼ ἑτέρωσε, δέπας δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρὸς
βλημένου, αὐτίκα δʼ αὐλὸς ἀνὰ ῥῖνας παχὺς ἦλθεν
αἵματος ἀνδρομέοιο· θοῶς δʼ ἀπὸ εἷο τράπεζαν
ὦσε ποδὶ πλήξας, ἀπὸ δʼ εἴδατα χεῦεν ἔραζε·
σῖτός τε κρέα τʼ ὀπτὰ φορύνετο. τοὶ δʼ ὁμάδησαν
μνηστῆρες κατὰ δώμαθʼ, ὅπως ἴδον ἄνδρα πεσόντα,
ἐκ δὲ θρόνων ἀνόρουσαν ὀρινθέντες κατὰ δῶμα,
πάντοσε παπταίνοντες ἐϋδμήτους ποτὶ τοίχους·
οὐδέ πη ἀσπὶς ἔην οὐδʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἑλέσθαι.
νείκειον δʼ Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσι·
ξεῖνε, κακῶς ἀνδρῶν τοξάζεαι· οὐκέτʼ ἀέθλων
ἄλλων ἀντιάσεις· νῦν τοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
καὶ γὰρ δὴ νῦν φῶτα κατέκτανες ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος
κούρων εἰν Ἰθάκῃ· τῷ σʼ ἐνθάδε γῦπες ἔδονται.
ἴσκεν ἕκαστος ἀνήρ, ἐπεὶ ἦ φάσαν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα
ἄνδρα κατακτεῖναι· τὸ δὲ νήπιοι οὐκ ἐνόησαν,
ὡς δή σφιν καὶ πᾶσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπτο.
τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"You dogs, you kept saying that I would never come home again
from the land of the Trojans, and so you sheared away my house,
and lay by force beside the women who are my slaves,
and while I still lived you wooed my wife,
fearing neither the gods who hold the wide heaven,
nor that any indignation of men should come after;
now upon you, upon all of you, the cords of destruction are fastened."
from the land of the Trojans, and so you sheared away my house,
and lay by force beside the women who are my slaves,
and while I still lived you wooed my wife,
fearing neither the gods who hold the wide heaven,
nor that any indignation of men should come after;
now upon you, upon all of you, the cords of destruction are fastened."
ὦ κύνες, οὔ μʼ ἔτʼ ἐφάσκεθʼ ὑπότροπον οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι
δήμου ἄπο Τρώων, ὅτι μοι κατεκείρετε οἶκον,
δμῳῇσιν δὲ γυναιξὶ παρευνάζεσθε βιαίως,
αὐτοῦ τε ζώοντος ὑπεμνάασθε γυναῖκα,
οὔτε θεοὺς δείσαντες, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
οὔτε τινʼ ἀνθρώπων νέμεσιν κατόπισθεν ἔσεσθαι·
νῦν ὑμῖν καὶ πᾶσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.
δήμου ἄπο Τρώων, ὅτι μοι κατεκείρετε οἶκον,
δμῳῇσιν δὲ γυναιξὶ παρευνάζεσθε βιαίως,
αὐτοῦ τε ζώοντος ὑπεμνάασθε γυναῖκα,
οὔτε θεοὺς δείσαντες, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν,
οὔτε τινʼ ἀνθρώπων νέμεσιν κατόπισθεν ἔσεσθαι·
νῦν ὑμῖν καὶ πᾶσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.
So he spoke, and pale fear took hold of them all;
and each man peered about for a way to escape sheer destruction.
But Eurymachus alone answered him and said:
and each man peered about for a way to escape sheer destruction.
But Eurymachus alone answered him and said:
ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δʼ ἄρα πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν·
πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος ὅπη φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
Εὐρύμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος ὅπη φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
Εὐρύμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
"If you are indeed Odysseus of Ithaca, come home,
then you have spoken rightly of all that the Achaeans used to do,
many reckless things in the halls, and many out in the country.
But he already lies dead who was the cause of it all,
Antinous; for it was he who set these deeds in motion,
not so much wanting the marriage or needing it,
but with another purpose, which the son of Cronos did not fulfil for him:
that he might be king himself over the people of well-founded Ithaca,
and might kill your son from an ambush.
Now he is slain, as was his portion; but do you spare your own
people; and we hereafter will make amends throughout the land,
and for all that has been drunk and eaten in your halls
we will each bring you recompense to the worth of twenty oxen,
and pay you back in bronze and in gold, until your heart
is warmed; till then no one could blame you for your anger."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to him:
then you have spoken rightly of all that the Achaeans used to do,
many reckless things in the halls, and many out in the country.
But he already lies dead who was the cause of it all,
Antinous; for it was he who set these deeds in motion,
not so much wanting the marriage or needing it,
but with another purpose, which the son of Cronos did not fulfil for him:
that he might be king himself over the people of well-founded Ithaca,
and might kill your son from an ambush.
Now he is slain, as was his portion; but do you spare your own
people; and we hereafter will make amends throughout the land,
and for all that has been drunk and eaten in your halls
we will each bring you recompense to the worth of twenty oxen,
and pay you back in bronze and in gold, until your heart
is warmed; till then no one could blame you for your anger."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to him:
εἰ μὲν δὴ Ὀδυσεὺς Ἰθακήσιος εἰλήλουθας,
ταῦτα μὲν αἴσιμα εἶπας, ὅσα ῥέζεσκον Ἀχαιοί,
πολλὰ μὲν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀτάσθαλα, πολλὰ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κεῖται ὃς αἴτιος ἔπλετο πάντων,
Ἀντίνοος· οὗτος γὰρ ἐπίηλεν τάδε ἔργα,
οὔ τι γάμου τόσσον κεχρημένος οὐδὲ χατίζων,
ἀλλʼ ἄλλα φρονέων, τά οἱ οὐκ ἐτέλεσσε Κρονίων,
ὄφρʼ Ἰθάκης κατὰ δῆμον ἐϋκτιμένης βασιλεύοι
αὐτός, ἀτὰρ σὸν παῖδα κατακτείνειε λοχήσας.
νῦν δʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν μοίρῃ πέφαται, σὺ δὲ φείδεο λαῶν
σῶν· ἀτὰρ ἄμμες ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσάμενοι κατὰ δῆμον,
ὅσσα τοι ἐκπέποται καὶ ἐδήδοται ἐν μεγάροισι,
τιμὴν ἀμφὶς ἄγοντες ἐεικοσάβοιον ἕκαστος,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τʼ ἀποδώσομεν, εἰς ὅ κε σὸν κῆρ
ἰανθῇ· πρὶν δʼ οὔ τι νεμεσσητὸν κεχολῶσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ταῦτα μὲν αἴσιμα εἶπας, ὅσα ῥέζεσκον Ἀχαιοί,
πολλὰ μὲν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀτάσθαλα, πολλὰ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κεῖται ὃς αἴτιος ἔπλετο πάντων,
Ἀντίνοος· οὗτος γὰρ ἐπίηλεν τάδε ἔργα,
οὔ τι γάμου τόσσον κεχρημένος οὐδὲ χατίζων,
ἀλλʼ ἄλλα φρονέων, τά οἱ οὐκ ἐτέλεσσε Κρονίων,
ὄφρʼ Ἰθάκης κατὰ δῆμον ἐϋκτιμένης βασιλεύοι
αὐτός, ἀτὰρ σὸν παῖδα κατακτείνειε λοχήσας.
νῦν δʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν μοίρῃ πέφαται, σὺ δὲ φείδεο λαῶν
σῶν· ἀτὰρ ἄμμες ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσάμενοι κατὰ δῆμον,
ὅσσα τοι ἐκπέποται καὶ ἐδήδοται ἐν μεγάροισι,
τιμὴν ἀμφὶς ἄγοντες ἐεικοσάβοιον ἕκαστος,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τʼ ἀποδώσομεν, εἰς ὅ κε σὸν κῆρ
ἰανθῇ· πρὶν δʼ οὔ τι νεμεσσητὸν κεχολῶσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Eurymachus, not even if you gave me back all your fathers’ goods,
all that you now have, and added other wealth from somewhere else,
not even so would I hold my hands from the slaughter
before the suitors had paid for all their transgression.
Now it lies before you either to fight face to face
or to run, if any man may escape death and the fates;
but I think that not one of you will escape sheer destruction."
all that you now have, and added other wealth from somewhere else,
not even so would I hold my hands from the slaughter
before the suitors had paid for all their transgression.
Now it lies before you either to fight face to face
or to run, if any man may escape death and the fates;
but I think that not one of you will escape sheer destruction."
Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὐδʼ εἴ μοι πατρώϊα πάντʼ ἀποδοῖτε,
ὅσσα τε νῦν ὔμμʼ ἐστὶ καὶ εἴ ποθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖτε,
οὐδέ κεν ὣς ἔτι χεῖρας ἐμὰς λήξαιμι φόνοιο
πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτῖσαι.
νῦν ὑμῖν παράκειται ἐναντίον ἠὲ μάχεσθαι
ἢ φεύγειν, ὅς κεν θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξῃ·
ἀλλά τινʼ οὐ φεύξεσθαι ὀΐομαι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
ὅσσα τε νῦν ὔμμʼ ἐστὶ καὶ εἴ ποθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖτε,
οὐδέ κεν ὣς ἔτι χεῖρας ἐμὰς λήξαιμι φόνοιο
πρὶν πᾶσαν μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίην ἀποτῖσαι.
νῦν ὑμῖν παράκειται ἐναντίον ἠὲ μάχεσθαι
ἢ φεύγειν, ὅς κεν θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξῃ·
ἀλλά τινʼ οὐ φεύξεσθαι ὀΐομαι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
So he spoke, and their knees and their hearts gave way where they stood.
And Eurymachus spoke among them a second time:
And Eurymachus spoke among them a second time:
ὣς φάτο, τῶν δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος προσεφώνεε δεύτερον αὖτις·
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος προσεφώνεε δεύτερον αὖτις·
"Friends, this man will not hold back his irresistible hands,
but now that he has got the polished bow and the quiver,
he will shoot from the smooth threshold until he has killed
us all; so let us think of the joy of battle.
Draw your swords, and hold up the tables against
the swift-killing arrows; and let us all go at him
in a body, in case we can push him from the threshold and the doors,
and go out through the town, and let the alarm be raised at once;
then this man would soon have shot for the last time."
but now that he has got the polished bow and the quiver,
he will shoot from the smooth threshold until he has killed
us all; so let us think of the joy of battle.
Draw your swords, and hold up the tables against
the swift-killing arrows; and let us all go at him
in a body, in case we can push him from the threshold and the doors,
and go out through the town, and let the alarm be raised at once;
then this man would soon have shot for the last time."
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ γὰρ σχήσει ἀνὴρ ὅδε χεῖρας ἀάπτους,
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἔλλαβε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην,
οὐδοῦ ἄπο ξεστοῦ τοξάσσεται, εἰς ὅ κε πάντας
ἄμμε κατακτείνῃ· ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα χάρμης.
φάσγανά τε σπάσσασθε καὶ ἀντίσχεσθε τραπέζας
ἰῶν ὠκυμόρων· ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔχωμεν
ἀθρόοι, εἴ κέ μιν οὐδοῦ ἀπώσομεν ἠδὲ θυράων,
ἔλθωμεν δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ, βοὴ δʼ ὤκιστα γένοιτο·
τῷ κε τάχʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν ὕστατα τοξάσσαιτο.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἔλλαβε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην,
οὐδοῦ ἄπο ξεστοῦ τοξάσσεται, εἰς ὅ κε πάντας
ἄμμε κατακτείνῃ· ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα χάρμης.
φάσγανά τε σπάσσασθε καὶ ἀντίσχεσθε τραπέζας
ἰῶν ὠκυμόρων· ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔχωμεν
ἀθρόοι, εἴ κέ μιν οὐδοῦ ἀπώσομεν ἠδὲ θυράων,
ἔλθωμεν δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ, βοὴ δʼ ὤκιστα γένοιτο·
τῷ κε τάχʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν ὕστατα τοξάσσαιτο.
So saying, he drew his sharp sword,
of bronze, whetted on both sides, and leapt at him
with a terrible cry; but at that same moment noble Odysseus
let fly an arrow, and struck him in the breast beside the nipple,
and fixed the swift shaft in his liver; and out of his hand
he let the sword drop to the ground, and doubling over the table
he fell sprawling, and spilled the food upon the ground
and the two-handled cup; and he beat the earth with his forehead
in the anguish of his spirit, and with both his feet he kicked
at the chair and shook it; and a mist poured down over his eyes.
And Amphinomus made for glorious Odysseus,
rushing straight at him, and he had drawn his sharp sword,
to see if he might make him give way from the doors. But Telemachus
was too quick for him, and struck him from behind with his bronze-shod spear
between the shoulders, and drove it through his chest;
and he fell with a crash, and struck the ground full with his forehead.
But Telemachus sprang away, leaving the long-shadowed spear
there in Amphinomus; for he feared greatly that one of the Achaeans
might rush at him with a sword as he drew out the long-shadowed spear
and stab him, or strike him down as he stooped.
He went at a run, and came very quickly to his dear father,
and standing close beside him addressed him with winged words:
of bronze, whetted on both sides, and leapt at him
with a terrible cry; but at that same moment noble Odysseus
let fly an arrow, and struck him in the breast beside the nipple,
and fixed the swift shaft in his liver; and out of his hand
he let the sword drop to the ground, and doubling over the table
he fell sprawling, and spilled the food upon the ground
and the two-handled cup; and he beat the earth with his forehead
in the anguish of his spirit, and with both his feet he kicked
at the chair and shook it; and a mist poured down over his eyes.
And Amphinomus made for glorious Odysseus,
rushing straight at him, and he had drawn his sharp sword,
to see if he might make him give way from the doors. But Telemachus
was too quick for him, and struck him from behind with his bronze-shod spear
between the shoulders, and drove it through his chest;
and he fell with a crash, and struck the ground full with his forehead.
But Telemachus sprang away, leaving the long-shadowed spear
there in Amphinomus; for he feared greatly that one of the Achaeans
might rush at him with a sword as he drew out the long-shadowed spear
and stab him, or strike him down as he stooped.
He went at a run, and came very quickly to his dear father,
and standing close beside him addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας εἰρύσσατο φάσγανον ὀξὺ
χάλκεον, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένον, ἆλτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὁ δʼ ἁμαρτῆ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἰὸν ἀποπροίει, βάλε δὲ στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν,
ἐν δέ οἱ ἥπατι πῆξε θοὸν βέλος· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς
φάσγανον ἧκε χαμᾶζε, περιρρηδὴς δὲ τραπέζῃ
κάππεσεν ἰδνωθείς, ἀπὸ δʼ εἴδατα χεῦεν ἔραζε
καὶ δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον· ὁ δὲ χθόνα τύπτε μετώπῳ
θυμῷ ἀνιάζων, ποσὶ δὲ θρόνον ἀμφοτέροισι
λακτίζων ἐτίνασσε· κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν δʼ ἔχυτʼ ἀχλύς.
Ἀμφίνομος δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐείσατο κυδαλίμοιο
ἀντίος ἀΐξας, εἴρυτο δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,
εἴ πώς οἱ εἴξειε θυράων. ἀλλʼ ἄρα μιν φθῆ
Τηλέμαχος κατόπισθε βαλὼν χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶ
ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, χθόνα δʼ ἤλασε παντὶ μετώπῳ.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἀπόρουσε, λιπὼν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
αὐτοῦ ἐν Ἀμφινόμῳ· περὶ γὰρ δίε μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
ἔγχος ἀνελκόμενον δολιχόσκιον ἢ ἐλάσειε
φασγάνῳ ἀΐξας ἠὲ προπρηνέα τύψας.
βῆ δὲ θέειν, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσαφίκανεν,
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
χάλκεον, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀκαχμένον, ἆλτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὁ δʼ ἁμαρτῆ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἰὸν ἀποπροίει, βάλε δὲ στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν,
ἐν δέ οἱ ἥπατι πῆξε θοὸν βέλος· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς
φάσγανον ἧκε χαμᾶζε, περιρρηδὴς δὲ τραπέζῃ
κάππεσεν ἰδνωθείς, ἀπὸ δʼ εἴδατα χεῦεν ἔραζε
καὶ δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον· ὁ δὲ χθόνα τύπτε μετώπῳ
θυμῷ ἀνιάζων, ποσὶ δὲ θρόνον ἀμφοτέροισι
λακτίζων ἐτίνασσε· κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν δʼ ἔχυτʼ ἀχλύς.
Ἀμφίνομος δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐείσατο κυδαλίμοιο
ἀντίος ἀΐξας, εἴρυτο δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,
εἴ πώς οἱ εἴξειε θυράων. ἀλλʼ ἄρα μιν φθῆ
Τηλέμαχος κατόπισθε βαλὼν χαλκήρεϊ δουρὶ
ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, χθόνα δʼ ἤλασε παντὶ μετώπῳ.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἀπόρουσε, λιπὼν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
αὐτοῦ ἐν Ἀμφινόμῳ· περὶ γὰρ δίε μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
ἔγχος ἀνελκόμενον δολιχόσκιον ἢ ἐλάσειε
φασγάνῳ ἀΐξας ἠὲ προπρηνέα τύψας.
βῆ δὲ θέειν, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσαφίκανεν,
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Father, now I will bring you a shield and two spears
and a helmet all of bronze, fitted to the temples,
and I will put my own armour on as I go, and give other gear
to the swineherd and to the herdsman; it is better to be armed."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
and a helmet all of bronze, fitted to the temples,
and I will put my own armour on as I go, and give other gear
to the swineherd and to the herdsman; it is better to be armed."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ὦ πάτερ, ἤδη τοι σάκος οἴσω καὶ δύο δοῦρε
καὶ κυνέην πάγχαλκον, ἐπὶ κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖαν
αὐτός τʼ ἀμφιβαλεῦμαι ἰών, δώσω δὲ συβώτῃ
καὶ τῷ βουκόλῳ ἄλλα· τετευχῆσθαι γὰρ ἄμεινον.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
καὶ κυνέην πάγχαλκον, ἐπὶ κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖαν
αὐτός τʼ ἀμφιβαλεῦμαι ἰών, δώσω δὲ συβώτῃ
καὶ τῷ βουκόλῳ ἄλλα· τετευχῆσθαι γὰρ ἄμεινον.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Bring them at a run, while I still have arrows to defend myself with,
or they may push me from the doors, since I am alone."
or they may push me from the doors, since I am alone."
οἶσε θέων, ἧός μοι ἀμύνεσθαι πάρʼ ὀϊστοί,
μή μʼ ἀποκινήσωσι θυράων μοῦνον ἐόντα.
μή μʼ ἀποκινήσωσι θυράων μοῦνον ἐόντα.
So he spoke, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father,
and went off to the storeroom, where the famous armour lay.
From there he took out four shields, and eight spears,
and four helmets of bronze with thick horsehair crests;
and he went carrying them, and came very quickly to his dear father,
and first of all he clothed his own body in the bronze;
and in the same way the two servants put on the fine armour,
and took their stand about Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels.
But he, so long as he had arrows to defend himself,
so long kept striking down one suitor after another in his own house,
taking his aim; and they fell thick upon each other.
But when the arrows failed the lord as he shot,
he leaned the bow against the doorpost of the well-built hall,
to stand there, against the shining wall-face,
and himself put about his shoulders a shield of four layers,
and on his mighty head he set a well-made helmet
with a horsehair crest, and terribly the plume nodded above it;
and he took two strong spears tipped with bronze.
Now there was a postern door in the well-built wall,
and at the very top of the threshold of the well-built hall
was a way into a passage, and close-fitting boards closed it.
Odysseus told the noble swineherd to watch it,
standing close by it; for there was only one way of approach.
And Agelaus spoke among them, declaring his word to all:
and went off to the storeroom, where the famous armour lay.
From there he took out four shields, and eight spears,
and four helmets of bronze with thick horsehair crests;
and he went carrying them, and came very quickly to his dear father,
and first of all he clothed his own body in the bronze;
and in the same way the two servants put on the fine armour,
and took their stand about Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels.
But he, so long as he had arrows to defend himself,
so long kept striking down one suitor after another in his own house,
taking his aim; and they fell thick upon each other.
But when the arrows failed the lord as he shot,
he leaned the bow against the doorpost of the well-built hall,
to stand there, against the shining wall-face,
and himself put about his shoulders a shield of four layers,
and on his mighty head he set a well-made helmet
with a horsehair crest, and terribly the plume nodded above it;
and he took two strong spears tipped with bronze.
Now there was a postern door in the well-built wall,
and at the very top of the threshold of the well-built hall
was a way into a passage, and close-fitting boards closed it.
Odysseus told the noble swineherd to watch it,
standing close by it; for there was only one way of approach.
And Agelaus spoke among them, declaring his word to all:
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι θάλαμόνδʼ, ὅθι οἱ κλυτὰ τεύχεα κεῖτο.
ἔνθεν τέσσαρα μὲν σάκεʼ ἔξελε, δούρατα δʼ ὀκτὼ
καὶ πίσυρας κυνέας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας·
βῆ δὲ φέρων, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσαφίκανεν,
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα περὶ χροῒ δύσετο χαλκόν·
ὣς δʼ αὔτως τὼ δμῶε δυέσθην τεύχεα καλά,
ἔσταν δʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ, ὄφρα μὲν αὐτῷ ἀμύνεσθαι ἔσαν ἰοί.
τόφρα μνηστήρων ἕνα γʼ αἰεὶ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
βάλλε τιτυσκόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λίπον ἰοὶ ὀϊστεύοντα ἄνακτα,
τόξον μὲν πρὸς σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
ἔκλινʼ ἑστάμεναι, πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο τετραθέλυμνον,
κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν,
ἵππουριν, δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμα δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷ.
ὀρσοθύρη δέ τις ἔσκεν ἐϋδμήτῳ ἐνὶ τοίχῳ,
ἀκρότατον δὲ παρʼ οὐδὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
ἦν ὁδὸς ἐς λαύρην, σανίδες δʼ ἔχον εὖ ἀραρυῖαι.
τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς φράζεσθαι ἀνώγει δῖον ὑφορβὸν
ἑσταότʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτῆς· μία δʼ οἴη γίγνετʼ ἐφορμή.
τοῖς δʼ Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν, ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι θάλαμόνδʼ, ὅθι οἱ κλυτὰ τεύχεα κεῖτο.
ἔνθεν τέσσαρα μὲν σάκεʼ ἔξελε, δούρατα δʼ ὀκτὼ
καὶ πίσυρας κυνέας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας·
βῆ δὲ φέρων, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσαφίκανεν,
αὐτὸς δὲ πρώτιστα περὶ χροῒ δύσετο χαλκόν·
ὣς δʼ αὔτως τὼ δμῶε δυέσθην τεύχεα καλά,
ἔσταν δʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ, ὄφρα μὲν αὐτῷ ἀμύνεσθαι ἔσαν ἰοί.
τόφρα μνηστήρων ἕνα γʼ αἰεὶ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
βάλλε τιτυσκόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λίπον ἰοὶ ὀϊστεύοντα ἄνακτα,
τόξον μὲν πρὸς σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
ἔκλινʼ ἑστάμεναι, πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο τετραθέλυμνον,
κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν,
ἵππουριν, δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμα δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷ.
ὀρσοθύρη δέ τις ἔσκεν ἐϋδμήτῳ ἐνὶ τοίχῳ,
ἀκρότατον δὲ παρʼ οὐδὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
ἦν ὁδὸς ἐς λαύρην, σανίδες δʼ ἔχον εὖ ἀραρυῖαι.
τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς φράζεσθαι ἀνώγει δῖον ὑφορβὸν
ἑσταότʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτῆς· μία δʼ οἴη γίγνετʼ ἐφορμή.
τοῖς δʼ Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν, ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·
"Friends, will not someone climb up to the postern door
and tell the people, and let the alarm be raised at once?
Then this man would soon have shot for the last time."
Then Melanthius, the goatherd, spoke to him in turn:
and tell the people, and let the alarm be raised at once?
Then this man would soon have shot for the last time."
Then Melanthius, the goatherd, spoke to him in turn:
ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἀνʼ ὀρσοθύρην ἀναβαίη
καὶ εἴποι λαοῖσι, βοὴ δʼ ὤκιστα γένοιτο;
τῷ κε τάχʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν ὕστατα τοξάσσαιτο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
καὶ εἴποι λαοῖσι, βοὴ δʼ ὤκιστα γένοιτο;
τῷ κε τάχʼ οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν ὕστατα τοξάσσαιτο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν·
"It cannot be done, Agelaus nurtured by Zeus; for terribly close
are the fair doors of the courtyard, and the mouth of the passage is hard;
and one man could hold us all off, if he were a stout one.
But come, let me bring you armour from the storeroom
to put on; for inside, I think, and nowhere else,
Odysseus and his glorious son laid up the armour."
are the fair doors of the courtyard, and the mouth of the passage is hard;
and one man could hold us all off, if he were a stout one.
But come, let me bring you armour from the storeroom
to put on; for inside, I think, and nowhere else,
Odysseus and his glorious son laid up the armour."
οὔ πως ἔστʼ, Ἀγέλαε διοτρεφές· ἄγχι γὰρ αἰνῶς
αὐλῆς καλὰ θύρετρα καὶ ἀργαλέον στόμα λαύρης·
καί χʼ εἷς πάντας ἐρύκοι ἀνήρ, ὅς τʼ ἄλκιμος εἴη.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὑμῖν τεύχεʼ ἐνείκω θωρηχθῆναι
ἐκ θαλάμου· ἔνδον γάρ, ὀΐομαι, οὐδέ πη ἄλλῃ
τεύχεα κατθέσθην Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός.
αὐλῆς καλὰ θύρετρα καὶ ἀργαλέον στόμα λαύρης·
καί χʼ εἷς πάντας ἐρύκοι ἀνήρ, ὅς τʼ ἄλκιμος εἴη.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὑμῖν τεύχεʼ ἐνείκω θωρηχθῆναι
ἐκ θαλάμου· ἔνδον γάρ, ὀΐομαι, οὐδέ πη ἄλλῃ
τεύχεα κατθέσθην Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός.
So saying, Melanthius, the goatherd, climbed up
by the vents of the hall to the storerooms of Odysseus.
From there he took out twelve shields, and as many spears,
and as many helmets of bronze with thick horsehair crests;
and he went, and very quickly brought them and gave them to the suitors.
And then the knees and the heart of Odysseus gave way,
when he saw them putting the armour about them and shaking
the long spears in their hands; and the task seemed great to him.
And at once he addressed Telemachus with winged words:
by the vents of the hall to the storerooms of Odysseus.
From there he took out twelve shields, and as many spears,
and as many helmets of bronze with thick horsehair crests;
and he went, and very quickly brought them and gave them to the suitors.
And then the knees and the heart of Odysseus gave way,
when he saw them putting the armour about them and shaking
the long spears in their hands; and the task seemed great to him.
And at once he addressed Telemachus with winged words:
ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνέβαινε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,
εἰς θαλάμους Ὀδυσῆος ἀνὰ ῥῶγας μεγάροιο.
ἔνθεν δώδεκα μὲν σάκεʼ ἔξελε, τόσσα δὲ δοῦρα
καὶ τόσσας κυνέας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας·
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φέρων μνηστῆρσιν ἔδωκεν.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
ὡς περιβαλλομένους ἴδε τεύχεα χερσί τε δοῦρα
μακρὰ τινάσσοντας· μέγα δʼ αὐτῷ φαίνετο ἔργον.
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
εἰς θαλάμους Ὀδυσῆος ἀνὰ ῥῶγας μεγάροιο.
ἔνθεν δώδεκα μὲν σάκεʼ ἔξελε, τόσσα δὲ δοῦρα
καὶ τόσσας κυνέας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας·
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι, μάλα δʼ ὦκα φέρων μνηστῆρσιν ἔδωκεν.
καὶ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
ὡς περιβαλλομένους ἴδε τεύχεα χερσί τε δοῦρα
μακρὰ τινάσσοντας· μέγα δʼ αὐτῷ φαίνετο ἔργον.
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Telemachus, surely it is one of the women in the halls
who is stirring up this evil war against us — or Melantheus."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
who is stirring up this evil war against us — or Melantheus."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ μάλα δή τις ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναικῶν
νῶϊν ἐποτρύνει πόλεμον κακὸν ἠὲ Μελανθεύς.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
νῶϊν ἐποτρύνει πόλεμον κακὸν ἠὲ Μελανθεύς.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Father, I myself made this mistake — no other
is to blame — who left the close-fitting door of the storeroom
ajar when I went; and their watcher was the better one.
But go, noble Eumaeus, and set the door of the storeroom back in place,
and find out whether it is one of the women who does this,
or the son of Dolius, Melantheus, as I think it is."
is to blame — who left the close-fitting door of the storeroom
ajar when I went; and their watcher was the better one.
But go, noble Eumaeus, and set the door of the storeroom back in place,
and find out whether it is one of the women who does this,
or the son of Dolius, Melantheus, as I think it is."
ὦ πάτερ, αὐτὸς ἐγὼ τόδε γʼ ἤμβροτον—οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
αἴτιος—ὃς θαλάμοιο θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν
κάλλιπον ἀγκλίνας· τῶν δὲ σκοπὸς ἦεν ἀμείνων.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, θύρην ἐπίθες θαλάμοιο
καὶ φράσαι ἤ τις ἄρʼ ἐστὶ γυναικῶν ἣ τάδε ῥέζει,
ἢ υἱὸς Δολίοιο, Μελανθεύς, τόν περ ὀΐω.
αἴτιος—ὃς θαλάμοιο θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν
κάλλιπον ἀγκλίνας· τῶν δὲ σκοπὸς ἦεν ἀμείνων.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι, δῖʼ Εὔμαιε, θύρην ἐπίθες θαλάμοιο
καὶ φράσαι ἤ τις ἄρʼ ἐστὶ γυναικῶν ἣ τάδε ῥέζει,
ἢ υἱὸς Δολίοιο, Μελανθεύς, τόν περ ὀΐω.
So they spoke such things to each other,
and Melanthius, the goatherd, went back again to the storeroom,
to bring fine armour. But the noble swineherd saw him,
and at once spoke to Odysseus, who was near him:
and Melanthius, the goatherd, went back again to the storeroom,
to bring fine armour. But the noble swineherd saw him,
and at once spoke to Odysseus, who was near him:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
βῆ δʼ αὖτις θάλαμόνδε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,
οἴσων τεύχεα καλά. νόησε δὲ δῖος ὑφορβός,
αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·
βῆ δʼ αὖτις θάλαμόνδε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,
οἴσων τεύχεα καλά. νόησε δὲ δῖος ὑφορβός,
αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
there again is that destructive man, the one we ourselves suspected,
going to the storeroom; but tell me the unerring truth,
shall I kill him, if I prove the stronger,
or shall I bring him here to you, so that he may pay for the transgressions,
many as they are, that this man has plotted in your house?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
there again is that destructive man, the one we ourselves suspected,
going to the storeroom; but tell me the unerring truth,
shall I kill him, if I prove the stronger,
or shall I bring him here to you, so that he may pay for the transgressions,
many as they are, that this man has plotted in your house?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
κεῖνος δʼ αὖτʼ ἀΐδηλος ἀνήρ, ὃν ὀϊόμεθʼ αὐτοί,
ἔρχεται ἐς θάλαμον· σὺ δέ μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες,
ἤ μιν ἀποκτείνω, αἴ κε κρείσσων γε γένωμαι,
ἦε σοὶ ἐνθάδʼ ἄγω, ἵνʼ ὑπερβασίας ἀποτίσῃ
πολλάς, ὅσσας οὗτος ἐμήσατο σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
κεῖνος δʼ αὖτʼ ἀΐδηλος ἀνήρ, ὃν ὀϊόμεθʼ αὐτοί,
ἔρχεται ἐς θάλαμον· σὺ δέ μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες,
ἤ μιν ἀποκτείνω, αἴ κε κρείσσων γε γένωμαι,
ἦε σοὶ ἐνθάδʼ ἄγω, ἵνʼ ὑπερβασίας ἀποτίσῃ
πολλάς, ὅσσας οὗτος ἐμήσατο σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Telemachus and I will hold the lordly suitors
inside the halls, hard as they press;
but you two twist his feet and his hands up behind him
and throw him into the storeroom, and lash boards behind him,
and fasten a twisted rope to his body,
and haul him up the tall pillar and bring him close to the roof-beams,
so that he may live a long while and suffer hard pains."
inside the halls, hard as they press;
but you two twist his feet and his hands up behind him
and throw him into the storeroom, and lash boards behind him,
and fasten a twisted rope to his body,
and haul him up the tall pillar and bring him close to the roof-beams,
so that he may live a long while and suffer hard pains."
ἦ τοι ἐγὼ καὶ Τηλέμαχος μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς
σχήσομεν ἔντοσθεν μεγάρων, μάλα περ μεμαῶτας.
σφῶϊ δʼ ἀποστρέψαντε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
ἐς θάλαμον βαλέειν, σανίδας δʼ ἐκδῆσαι ὄπισθε,
σειρὴν δὲ πλεκτὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πειρήναντε
κίονʼ ἀνʼ ὑψηλὴν ἐρύσαι πελάσαι τε δοκοῖσιν,
ὥς κεν δηθὰ ζωὸς ἐὼν χαλέπʼ ἄλγεα πάσχῃ·
σχήσομεν ἔντοσθεν μεγάρων, μάλα περ μεμαῶτας.
σφῶϊ δʼ ἀποστρέψαντε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
ἐς θάλαμον βαλέειν, σανίδας δʼ ἐκδῆσαι ὄπισθε,
σειρὴν δὲ πλεκτὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πειρήναντε
κίονʼ ἀνʼ ὑψηλὴν ἐρύσαι πελάσαι τε δοκοῖσιν,
ὥς κεν δηθὰ ζωὸς ἐὼν χαλέπʼ ἄλγεα πάσχῃ·
So he spoke, and they listened well to him and obeyed,
and went off to the storeroom, and he did not see them, being inside.
and went off to the storeroom, and he did not see them, being inside.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο,
βὰν δʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, λαθέτην δέ μιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.
βὰν δʼ ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, λαθέτην δέ μιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.
Now he was searching for armour in the recess of the storeroom,
and the two took their stand on either side, waiting by the doorposts.
And when Melanthius, the goatherd, came over the threshold,
carrying in the one hand a fine helmet,
and in the other a broad old shield, spotted with mould,
the shield of the hero Laertes, which he had carried in his youth —
but by now it lay there, and the seams of its straps were loosened —
then the two rushed at him and seized him and dragged him inside
by the hair, and threw him down on the floor with grief in his heart,
and bound his feet and his hands with a bond that galled his spirit,
twisting them well and thoroughly behind him, as he had commanded,
the son of Laertes, long-suffering noble Odysseus;
and they fastened a twisted rope to his body,
and hauled him up the tall pillar and brought him close to the roof-beams.
Then you spoke to him in mockery, Eumaeus the swineherd:
and the two took their stand on either side, waiting by the doorposts.
And when Melanthius, the goatherd, came over the threshold,
carrying in the one hand a fine helmet,
and in the other a broad old shield, spotted with mould,
the shield of the hero Laertes, which he had carried in his youth —
but by now it lay there, and the seams of its straps were loosened —
then the two rushed at him and seized him and dragged him inside
by the hair, and threw him down on the floor with grief in his heart,
and bound his feet and his hands with a bond that galled his spirit,
twisting them well and thoroughly behind him, as he had commanded,
the son of Laertes, long-suffering noble Odysseus;
and they fastened a twisted rope to his body,
and hauled him up the tall pillar and brought him close to the roof-beams.
Then you spoke to him in mockery, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν θαλάμοιο μυχὸν κάτα τεύχεʼ ἐρεύνα,
τὼ δʼ ἔσταν ἑκάτερθε παρὰ σταθμοῖσι μένοντε.
εὖθʼ ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἔβαινε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,
τῇ ἑτέρῃ μὲν χειρὶ φέρων καλὴν τρυφάλειαν,
τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ σάκος εὐρὺ γέρον, πεπαλαγμένον ἄζῃ,
Λαέρτεω ἥρωος, ὃ κουρίζων φορέεσκε·
δὴ τότε γʼ ἤδη κεῖτο, ῥαφαὶ δὲ λέλυντο ἱμάντων·
τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπαΐξανθʼ ἑλέτην ἔρυσάν τέ μιν εἴσω
κουρίξ, ἐν δαπέδῳ δὲ χαμαὶ βάλον ἀχνύμενον κῆρ,
σὺν δὲ πόδας χεῖράς τε δέον θυμαλγέϊ δεσμῷ
εὖ μάλʼ ἀποστρέψαντε διαμπερές, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν
υἱὸς Λαέρταο, πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
σειρὴν δὲ πλεκτὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πειρήναντε
κίονʼ ἀνʼ ὑψηλὴν ἔρυσαν πέλασάν τε δοκοῖσι.
τὸν δʼ ἐπικερτομέων προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
τὼ δʼ ἔσταν ἑκάτερθε παρὰ σταθμοῖσι μένοντε.
εὖθʼ ὑπὲρ οὐδὸν ἔβαινε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν,
τῇ ἑτέρῃ μὲν χειρὶ φέρων καλὴν τρυφάλειαν,
τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ σάκος εὐρὺ γέρον, πεπαλαγμένον ἄζῃ,
Λαέρτεω ἥρωος, ὃ κουρίζων φορέεσκε·
δὴ τότε γʼ ἤδη κεῖτο, ῥαφαὶ δὲ λέλυντο ἱμάντων·
τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπαΐξανθʼ ἑλέτην ἔρυσάν τέ μιν εἴσω
κουρίξ, ἐν δαπέδῳ δὲ χαμαὶ βάλον ἀχνύμενον κῆρ,
σὺν δὲ πόδας χεῖράς τε δέον θυμαλγέϊ δεσμῷ
εὖ μάλʼ ἀποστρέψαντε διαμπερές, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν
υἱὸς Λαέρταο, πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
σειρὴν δὲ πλεκτὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πειρήναντε
κίονʼ ἀνʼ ὑψηλὴν ἔρυσαν πέλασάν τε δοκοῖσι.
τὸν δʼ ἐπικερτομέων προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·
"Now indeed, Melanthius, you will keep watch the whole night through,
lying in a soft bed, as is fitting for you;
nor will the early-born, from the streams of Ocean,
escape you as she comes, she of the golden throne, at the hour when you drive
the goats to the suitors, to make ready their feast in the house."
So he was left there, stretched out in a deadly bond;
and the two put on their armour, closed the shining door,
and went to Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels.
There they stood breathing fury, these upon the threshold,
four of them, and those inside the house, many and brave.
And close to them came Athena, daughter of Zeus,
in the likeness of Mentor, both in body and in voice.
And Odysseus was glad when he saw her, and spoke:
lying in a soft bed, as is fitting for you;
nor will the early-born, from the streams of Ocean,
escape you as she comes, she of the golden throne, at the hour when you drive
the goats to the suitors, to make ready their feast in the house."
So he was left there, stretched out in a deadly bond;
and the two put on their armour, closed the shining door,
and went to Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels.
There they stood breathing fury, these upon the threshold,
four of them, and those inside the house, many and brave.
And close to them came Athena, daughter of Zeus,
in the likeness of Mentor, both in body and in voice.
And Odysseus was glad when he saw her, and spoke:
νῦν μὲν δὴ μάλα πάγχυ, Μελάνθιε, νύκτα φυλάξεις,
εὐνῇ ἔνι μαλακῇ καταλέγμενος, ὥς σε ἔοικεν·
οὐδέ σέ γʼ ἠριγένεια παρʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων
λήσει ἐπερχομένη χρυσόθρονος, ἡνίκʼ ἀγινεῖς
αἶγας μνηστήρεσσι δόμον κάτα δαῖτα πένεσθαι.
ὣς ὁ μὲν αὖθι λέλειπτο, ταθεὶς ὀλοῷ ἐνὶ δεσμῷ·
τὼ δʼ ἐς τεύχεα δύντε, θύρην ἐπιθέντε φαεινήν,
βήτην εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα, ποικιλομήτην.
ἔνθα μένος πνείοντες ἐφέστασαν, οἱ μὲν ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ
τέσσαρες, οἱ δʼ ἔντοσθε δόμων πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.
τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε·
εὐνῇ ἔνι μαλακῇ καταλέγμενος, ὥς σε ἔοικεν·
οὐδέ σέ γʼ ἠριγένεια παρʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων
λήσει ἐπερχομένη χρυσόθρονος, ἡνίκʼ ἀγινεῖς
αἶγας μνηστήρεσσι δόμον κάτα δαῖτα πένεσθαι.
ὣς ὁ μὲν αὖθι λέλειπτο, ταθεὶς ὀλοῷ ἐνὶ δεσμῷ·
τὼ δʼ ἐς τεύχεα δύντε, θύρην ἐπιθέντε φαεινήν,
βήτην εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα, ποικιλομήτην.
ἔνθα μένος πνείοντες ἐφέστασαν, οἱ μὲν ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ
τέσσαρες, οἱ δʼ ἔντοσθε δόμων πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοί.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.
τὴν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς γήθησεν ἰδὼν καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε·
"Mentor, ward off ruin, and remember your dear companion,
who did you good; and you are of my own years."
who did you good; and you are of my own years."
Μέντορ, ἄμυνον ἀρήν, μνῆσαι δʼ ἑτάροιο φίλοιο,
ὅς σʼ ἀγαθὰ ῥέζεσκον· ὁμηλικίην δέ μοί ἐσσι.
ὅς σʼ ἀγαθὰ ῥέζεσκον· ὁμηλικίην δέ μοί ἐσσι.
So he spoke, though he supposed that it was Athena, rouser of the people.
And on the other side the suitors shouted through the halls;
first of all Agelaus, son of Damastor, rebuked her:
"Mentor, do not let Odysseus talk you round with his words
into fighting against the suitors and defending him.
For this is how I think our purpose will be fulfilled:
when we have killed these men, the father and the son,
then you shall be slain among them, for the things you are minded
to do in the halls; you shall pay with your own head.
And when we have taken your strength from you with the bronze,
all the possessions that are yours, indoors and out of doors,
we will mingle with the goods of Odysseus; and we will not let your sons
live in your halls, nor your daughters
nor your true wife go about the town of Ithaca."
And on the other side the suitors shouted through the halls;
first of all Agelaus, son of Damastor, rebuked her:
"Mentor, do not let Odysseus talk you round with his words
into fighting against the suitors and defending him.
For this is how I think our purpose will be fulfilled:
when we have killed these men, the father and the son,
then you shall be slain among them, for the things you are minded
to do in the halls; you shall pay with your own head.
And when we have taken your strength from you with the bronze,
all the possessions that are yours, indoors and out of doors,
we will mingle with the goods of Odysseus; and we will not let your sons
live in your halls, nor your daughters
nor your true wife go about the town of Ithaca."
ὣς φάτʼ, ὀϊόμενος λαοσσόον ἔμμεν Ἀθήνην.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισι·
πρῶτος τήν γʼ ἐνένιπε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος·
Μέντορ, μή σʼ ἐπέεσσι παραιπεπίθῃσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
μνηστήρεσσι μάχεσθαι, ἀμυνέμεναι δέ οἱ αὐτῷ.
ὧδε γὰρ ἡμέτερόν γε νόον τελέεσθαι ὀΐω·
ὁππότε κεν τούτους κτέωμεν, πατέρʼ ἠδὲ καὶ υἱόν,
ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσιν ἔπειτα πεφήσεαι, οἷα μενοινᾷς
ἔρδειν ἐν μεγάροις· σῷ δʼ αὐτοῦ κράατι τίσεις.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ὑμέων γε βίας ἀφελώμεθα χαλκῷ,
κτήμαθʼ ὁπόσσα τοί ἐστι, τά τʼ ἔνδοθι καὶ τὰ θύρηφι,
τοῖσιν Ὀδυσσῆος μεταμίξομεν· οὐδέ τοι υἷας
ζώειν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐάσομεν, οὐδέ θύγατρας
οὐδʼ ἄλοχον κεδνὴν Ἰθάκης κατὰ ἄστυ πολεύειν.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὁμόκλεον ἐν μεγάροισι·
πρῶτος τήν γʼ ἐνένιπε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος·
Μέντορ, μή σʼ ἐπέεσσι παραιπεπίθῃσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
μνηστήρεσσι μάχεσθαι, ἀμυνέμεναι δέ οἱ αὐτῷ.
ὧδε γὰρ ἡμέτερόν γε νόον τελέεσθαι ὀΐω·
ὁππότε κεν τούτους κτέωμεν, πατέρʼ ἠδὲ καὶ υἱόν,
ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσιν ἔπειτα πεφήσεαι, οἷα μενοινᾷς
ἔρδειν ἐν μεγάροις· σῷ δʼ αὐτοῦ κράατι τίσεις.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ὑμέων γε βίας ἀφελώμεθα χαλκῷ,
κτήμαθʼ ὁπόσσα τοί ἐστι, τά τʼ ἔνδοθι καὶ τὰ θύρηφι,
τοῖσιν Ὀδυσσῆος μεταμίξομεν· οὐδέ τοι υἷας
ζώειν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐάσομεν, οὐδέ θύγατρας
οὐδʼ ἄλοχον κεδνὴν Ἰθάκης κατὰ ἄστυ πολεύειν.
So he spoke, and Athena grew still angrier at heart,
and she reviled Odysseus with angry words:
"No longer, Odysseus, is your fury steady in you, nor any valour
such as you had when for Helen, white-armed, of a noble father,
you fought the Trojans nine years without ceasing,
and killed many men in the terrible fighting,
and by your counsel the wide-wayed city of Priam was taken.
How is it that now, when you have come to your own house and goods,
you cry out at having to be brave in the face of the suitors?
But come here, old friend, stand by me and see the work,
so that you may know what sort of man Mentor son of Alcimus is
at repaying kindness among enemies."
and she reviled Odysseus with angry words:
"No longer, Odysseus, is your fury steady in you, nor any valour
such as you had when for Helen, white-armed, of a noble father,
you fought the Trojans nine years without ceasing,
and killed many men in the terrible fighting,
and by your counsel the wide-wayed city of Priam was taken.
How is it that now, when you have come to your own house and goods,
you cry out at having to be brave in the face of the suitors?
But come here, old friend, stand by me and see the work,
so that you may know what sort of man Mentor son of Alcimus is
at repaying kindness among enemies."
ὣς φάτʼ, Ἀθηναίη δὲ χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,
νείκεσσεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν·
οὐκέτι σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδέ τις ἀλκή
οἵη ὅτʼ ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ εὐπατερείῃ,
εἰνάετες Τρώεσσιν ἐμάρναο νωλεμὲς αἰεί,
πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνες ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,
σῇ δʼ ἥλω βουλῇ Πριάμου πόλις εὐρυάγυια.
πῶς δὴ νῦν, ὅτε σόν τε δόμον καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἱκάνεις,
ἄντα μνηστήρων ὀλοφύρεαι ἄλκιμος εἶναι;
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,
ὄφρʼ εἰδῇς οἷός τοι ἐν ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν
Μέντωρ Ἀλκιμίδης εὐεργεσίας ἀποτίνειν.
νείκεσσεν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν·
οὐκέτι σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδέ τις ἀλκή
οἵη ὅτʼ ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ εὐπατερείῃ,
εἰνάετες Τρώεσσιν ἐμάρναο νωλεμὲς αἰεί,
πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνες ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,
σῇ δʼ ἥλω βουλῇ Πριάμου πόλις εὐρυάγυια.
πῶς δὴ νῦν, ὅτε σόν τε δόμον καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἱκάνεις,
ἄντα μνηστήρων ὀλοφύρεαι ἄλκιμος εἶναι;
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,
ὄφρʼ εἰδῇς οἷός τοι ἐν ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν
Μέντωρ Ἀλκιμίδης εὐεργεσίας ἀποτίνειν.
She spoke, but did not yet grant the victory wholly to either side,
but still went on making trial of the strength and the valour
both of Odysseus and of his glorious son.
And she herself darted up to the roof-beam of the smoky hall
and settled there, in the likeness of a swallow to look at.
And Agelaus, son of Damastor, urged on the suitors,
with Eurynomus and Amphimedon and Demoptolemus,
and Peisander, son of Polyctor, and warlike-minded Polybus;
for these were far the best in prowess of the suitors,
of all who still lived and were fighting for their lives;
the rest the bow and the thick-falling arrows had already brought down.
And Agelaus spoke among them, declaring his word to all:
but still went on making trial of the strength and the valour
both of Odysseus and of his glorious son.
And she herself darted up to the roof-beam of the smoky hall
and settled there, in the likeness of a swallow to look at.
And Agelaus, son of Damastor, urged on the suitors,
with Eurynomus and Amphimedon and Demoptolemus,
and Peisander, son of Polyctor, and warlike-minded Polybus;
for these were far the best in prowess of the suitors,
of all who still lived and were fighting for their lives;
the rest the bow and the thick-falling arrows had already brought down.
And Agelaus spoke among them, declaring his word to all:
ἦ ῥα, καὶ οὔ πω πάγχυ δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην,
ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἄρα σθένεός τε καὶ ἀλκῆς πειρήτιζεν
ἠμὲν Ὀδυσσῆος ἠδʼ υἱοῦ κυδαλίμοιο.
αὐτὴ δʼ αἰθαλόεντος ἀνὰ μεγάροιο μέλαθρον
ἕζετʼ ἀναΐξασα, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη ἄντην.
μνηστῆρας δʼ ὤτρυνε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος,
Εὐρύνομός τε καὶ Ἀμφιμέδων Δημοπτόλεμός τε,
Πείσανδρός τε Πολυκτορίδης Πόλυβός τε δαΐφρων·
οἱ γὰρ μνηστήρων ἀρετῇ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι,
ὅσσοι ἔτʼ ἔζωον περί τε ψυχέων ἐμάχοντο·
τοὺς δʼ ἤδη ἐδάμασσε βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί.
τοῖς δʼ Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν, ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·
ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἄρα σθένεός τε καὶ ἀλκῆς πειρήτιζεν
ἠμὲν Ὀδυσσῆος ἠδʼ υἱοῦ κυδαλίμοιο.
αὐτὴ δʼ αἰθαλόεντος ἀνὰ μεγάροιο μέλαθρον
ἕζετʼ ἀναΐξασα, χελιδόνι εἰκέλη ἄντην.
μνηστῆρας δʼ ὤτρυνε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος,
Εὐρύνομός τε καὶ Ἀμφιμέδων Δημοπτόλεμός τε,
Πείσανδρός τε Πολυκτορίδης Πόλυβός τε δαΐφρων·
οἱ γὰρ μνηστήρων ἀρετῇ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι,
ὅσσοι ἔτʼ ἔζωον περί τε ψυχέων ἐμάχοντο·
τοὺς δʼ ἤδη ἐδάμασσε βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί.
τοῖς δʼ Ἀγέλεως μετέειπεν, ἔπος πάντεσσι πιφαύσκων·
"Friends, now at last this man will hold back his irresistible hands;
for Mentor has gone off after speaking empty boasts,
and they are left alone at the front doors.
So now do not all hurl your long spears together,
but come, let the six of you throw first, in case Zeus somehow
grants that Odysseus be hit and that we win the glory.
The rest are no concern, once this man has fallen."
for Mentor has gone off after speaking empty boasts,
and they are left alone at the front doors.
So now do not all hurl your long spears together,
but come, let the six of you throw first, in case Zeus somehow
grants that Odysseus be hit and that we win the glory.
The rest are no concern, once this man has fallen."
ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη σχήσει ἀνὴρ ὅδε χεῖρας ἀάπτους·
καὶ δή οἱ Μέντωρ μὲν ἔβη κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών,
οἱ δʼ οἶοι λείπονται ἐπὶ πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι.
τῷ νῦν μὴ ἅμα πάντες ἐφίετε δούρατα μακρά,
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ οἱ ἓξ πρῶτον ἀκοντίσατʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
δώῃ Ὀδυσσῆα βλῆσθαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὐ κῆδος, ἐπὴν οὗτός γε πέσῃσιν.
καὶ δή οἱ Μέντωρ μὲν ἔβη κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών,
οἱ δʼ οἶοι λείπονται ἐπὶ πρώτῃσι θύρῃσι.
τῷ νῦν μὴ ἅμα πάντες ἐφίετε δούρατα μακρά,
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ οἱ ἓξ πρῶτον ἀκοντίσατʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
δώῃ Ὀδυσσῆα βλῆσθαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.
τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὐ κῆδος, ἐπὴν οὗτός γε πέσῃσιν.
So he spoke, and they all threw as he ordered,
eagerly; but Athena made them all come to nothing.
One of them struck the doorpost of the well-built hall,
and another the close-fitting door;
and another’s ash spear, heavy with bronze, fell against the wall.
But when they had escaped the spears of the suitors,
then long-suffering noble Odysseus began to speak among them:
"Friends, now I would say that we too
should throw into the crowd of the suitors, who are eager
to strip us of our arms on top of their earlier evils."
eagerly; but Athena made them all come to nothing.
One of them struck the doorpost of the well-built hall,
and another the close-fitting door;
and another’s ash spear, heavy with bronze, fell against the wall.
But when they had escaped the spears of the suitors,
then long-suffering noble Odysseus began to speak among them:
"Friends, now I would say that we too
should throw into the crowd of the suitors, who are eager
to strip us of our arms on top of their earlier evils."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὡς ἐκέλευεν,
ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη,
τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
βεβλήκει, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·
ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δούρατʼ ἀλεύαντο μνηστήρων,
τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη μέν κεν ἐγὼν εἴποιμι καὶ ἄμμι
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκοντίσαι, οἳ μεμάασιν
ἡμέας ἐξεναρίξαι ἐπὶ προτέροισι κακοῖσιν.
ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη,
τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
βεβλήκει, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·
ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ δούρατʼ ἀλεύαντο μνηστήρων,
τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὦ φίλοι, ἤδη μέν κεν ἐγὼν εἴποιμι καὶ ἄμμι
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκοντίσαι, οἳ μεμάασιν
ἡμέας ἐξεναρίξαι ἐπὶ προτέροισι κακοῖσιν.
So he spoke, and they all threw their sharp spears,
taking aim straight ahead: Odysseus struck Demoptolemus,
and Telemachus Euryades, and the swineherd Elatus,
and the man who was herdsman over the cattle killed Peisander.
Then all these together bit the boundless earth,
and the suitors drew back into the innermost part of the hall;
and the others rushed forward and drew their spears from the dead.
And again the suitors threw their sharp spears,
eagerly; but Athena made most of them come to nothing.
One of them struck the doorpost of the well-built hall,
and another the close-fitting door;
and another’s ash spear, heavy with bronze, fell against the wall.
But Amphimedon struck Telemachus on the hand at the wrist,
a grazing blow, and the bronze cut the surface of the skin.
And Ctesippus grazed the shoulder of Eumaeus with his long spear
over the shield; and it flew on over and fell to the ground.
Then again those about Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels,
threw their sharp spears into the crowd of the suitors.
There Odysseus, sacker of cities, struck Eurydamas,
and Telemachus Amphimedon, and the swineherd Polybus;
and then the man who was herdsman over the cattle
struck Ctesippus in the breast, and spoke over him in triumph:
taking aim straight ahead: Odysseus struck Demoptolemus,
and Telemachus Euryades, and the swineherd Elatus,
and the man who was herdsman over the cattle killed Peisander.
Then all these together bit the boundless earth,
and the suitors drew back into the innermost part of the hall;
and the others rushed forward and drew their spears from the dead.
And again the suitors threw their sharp spears,
eagerly; but Athena made most of them come to nothing.
One of them struck the doorpost of the well-built hall,
and another the close-fitting door;
and another’s ash spear, heavy with bronze, fell against the wall.
But Amphimedon struck Telemachus on the hand at the wrist,
a grazing blow, and the bronze cut the surface of the skin.
And Ctesippus grazed the shoulder of Eumaeus with his long spear
over the shield; and it flew on over and fell to the ground.
Then again those about Odysseus, warlike-minded, of the shifting counsels,
threw their sharp spears into the crowd of the suitors.
There Odysseus, sacker of cities, struck Eurydamas,
and Telemachus Amphimedon, and the swineherd Polybus;
and then the man who was herdsman over the cattle
struck Ctesippus in the breast, and spoke over him in triumph:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενοι· Δημοπτόλεμον μὲν Ὀδυσσεύς,
Εὐρυάδην δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος, Ἔλατον δὲ συβώτης,
Πείσανδρον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπεφνε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἅμα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀνεχώρησαν μεγάροιο μυχόνδε·
τοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπήϊξαν, νεκύων δʼ ἐξ ἔγχεʼ ἕλοντο.
αὖτις δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα
ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη.
τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
βεβλήκειν, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·
ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.
Ἀμφιμέδων δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχον βάλε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ
λίγδην, ἄκρον δὲ ῥινὸν δηλήσατο χαλκός.
Κτήσιππος δʼ Εὔμαιον ὑπὲρ σάκος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ
ὦμον ἐπέγραψεν· τὸ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο, πῖπτε δʼ ἔραζε.
τοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην,
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυδάμαντα βάλε πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς,
Ἀμφιμέδοντα δὲ Τηλέμαχος, Πόλυβον δὲ συβώτης·
Κτήσιππον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνὴρ
βεβλήκει πρὸς στῆθος, ἐπευχόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενοι· Δημοπτόλεμον μὲν Ὀδυσσεύς,
Εὐρυάδην δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος, Ἔλατον δὲ συβώτης,
Πείσανδρον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπεφνε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἅμα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀνεχώρησαν μεγάροιο μυχόνδε·
τοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπήϊξαν, νεκύων δʼ ἐξ ἔγχεʼ ἕλοντο.
αὖτις δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα
ἱέμενοι· τὰ δὲ πολλὰ ἐτώσια θῆκεν Ἀθήνη.
τῶν ἄλλος μὲν σταθμὸν ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο
βεβλήκειν, ἄλλος δὲ θύρην πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαν·
ἄλλου δʼ ἐν τοίχῳ μελίη πέσε χαλκοβάρεια.
Ἀμφιμέδων δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχον βάλε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ
λίγδην, ἄκρον δὲ ῥινὸν δηλήσατο χαλκός.
Κτήσιππος δʼ Εὔμαιον ὑπὲρ σάκος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ
ὦμον ἐπέγραψεν· τὸ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο, πῖπτε δʼ ἔραζε.
τοὶ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτην,
μνηστήρων ἐς ὅμιλον ἀκόντισαν ὀξέα δοῦρα.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρυδάμαντα βάλε πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεύς,
Ἀμφιμέδοντα δὲ Τηλέμαχος, Πόλυβον δὲ συβώτης·
Κτήσιππον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνὴρ
βεβλήκει πρὸς στῆθος, ἐπευχόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·
"Son of Polytherses, lover of taunts, never again
give way to folly and speak so big, but leave your word
to the gods, since they are far stronger.
This is your guest-gift in return for the ox’s hoof that you once gave
to godlike Odysseus, when he went begging through the house."
give way to folly and speak so big, but leave your word
to the gods, since they are far stronger.
This is your guest-gift in return for the ox’s hoof that you once gave
to godlike Odysseus, when he went begging through the house."
ὦ Πολυθερσεΐδη φιλοκέρτομε, μή ποτε πάμπαν
εἴκων ἀφραδίῃς μέγα εἰπεῖν, ἀλλὰ θεοῖσιν
μῦθον ἐπιτρέψαι, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.
τοῦτό τοι ἀντὶ ποδὸς ξεινήϊον, ὅν ποτʼ ἔδωκας
ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ δόμον κάτʼ ἀλητεύοντι.
εἴκων ἀφραδίῃς μέγα εἰπεῖν, ἀλλὰ θεοῖσιν
μῦθον ἐπιτρέψαι, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσι.
τοῦτό τοι ἀντὶ ποδὸς ξεινήϊον, ὅν ποτʼ ἔδωκας
ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊ δόμον κάτʼ ἀλητεύοντι.
So spoke the herdsman of the shambling cattle; and Odysseus
wounded the son of Damastor hand to hand with his long spear.
And Telemachus wounded Leocritus, son of Euenor,
with his spear in the middle of the flank, and drove the bronze clean through;
and he fell forward, and struck the ground full with his forehead.
Then Athena held up her man-destroying aegis
high from the roof; and their wits were terrified.
And they fled through the hall like a herd of cattle
that a darting gadfly falls upon and drives wild
in the season of spring, when the days grow long.
And the others, like crook-taloned, hook-beaked vultures
that come down from the mountains and swoop upon the birds:
and the birds keep low over the plain, shrinking from the clouds,
but the vultures leap on them and destroy them, and there is no defence
and no escape; and men are glad at the hunting;
wounded the son of Damastor hand to hand with his long spear.
And Telemachus wounded Leocritus, son of Euenor,
with his spear in the middle of the flank, and drove the bronze clean through;
and he fell forward, and struck the ground full with his forehead.
Then Athena held up her man-destroying aegis
high from the roof; and their wits were terrified.
And they fled through the hall like a herd of cattle
that a darting gadfly falls upon and drives wild
in the season of spring, when the days grow long.
And the others, like crook-taloned, hook-beaked vultures
that come down from the mountains and swoop upon the birds:
and the birds keep low over the plain, shrinking from the clouds,
but the vultures leap on them and destroy them, and there is no defence
and no escape; and men are glad at the hunting;
ἦ ῥα βοῶν ἑλίκων ἐπιβουκόλος· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
οὖτα Δαμαστορίδην αὐτοσχεδὸν ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ Εὐηνορίδην Λειώκριτον οὖτα
δουρὶ μέσον κενεῶνα, διαπρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν·
ἤριπε δὲ πρηνής, χθόνα δʼ ἤλασε παντὶ μετώπῳ.
δὴ τότʼ Ἀθηναίη φθισίμβροτον αἰγίδʼ ἀνέσχεν
ὑψόθεν ἐξ ὀροφῆς· τῶν δὲ φρένες ἐπτοίηθεν.
οἱ δʼ ἐφέβοντο κατὰ μέγαρον βόες ὣς ἀγελαῖαι·
τὰς μέν τʼ αἰόλος οἶστρος ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐδόνησεν
ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τʼ ἤματα μακρὰ πέλονται.
οἱ δʼ ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες ἀγκυλοχεῖλαι,
ἐξ ὀρέων ἐλθόντες ἐπʼ ὀρνίθεσσι θόρωσι·
ταὶ μέν τʼ ἐν πεδίῳ νέφεα πτώσσουσαι ἵενται,
οἱ δέ τε τὰς ὀλέκουσιν ἐπάλμενοι, οὐδέ τις ἀλκὴ
γίγνεται οὐδὲ φυγή· χαίρουσι δέ τʼ ἀνέρες ἄγρῃ·
οὖτα Δαμαστορίδην αὐτοσχεδὸν ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ Εὐηνορίδην Λειώκριτον οὖτα
δουρὶ μέσον κενεῶνα, διαπρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν·
ἤριπε δὲ πρηνής, χθόνα δʼ ἤλασε παντὶ μετώπῳ.
δὴ τότʼ Ἀθηναίη φθισίμβροτον αἰγίδʼ ἀνέσχεν
ὑψόθεν ἐξ ὀροφῆς· τῶν δὲ φρένες ἐπτοίηθεν.
οἱ δʼ ἐφέβοντο κατὰ μέγαρον βόες ὣς ἀγελαῖαι·
τὰς μέν τʼ αἰόλος οἶστρος ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐδόνησεν
ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τʼ ἤματα μακρὰ πέλονται.
οἱ δʼ ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες ἀγκυλοχεῖλαι,
ἐξ ὀρέων ἐλθόντες ἐπʼ ὀρνίθεσσι θόρωσι·
ταὶ μέν τʼ ἐν πεδίῳ νέφεα πτώσσουσαι ἵενται,
οἱ δέ τε τὰς ὀλέκουσιν ἐπάλμενοι, οὐδέ τις ἀλκὴ
γίγνεται οὐδὲ φυγή· χαίρουσι δέ τʼ ἀνέρες ἄγρῃ·
so they rushed at the suitors through the house
and struck them, turning this way and that; and a hideous groaning rose
as their heads were struck, and the whole floor ran with blood.
And Leodes rushed at Odysseus and caught him by the knees,
and in supplication addressed him with winged words:
and struck them, turning this way and that; and a hideous groaning rose
as their heads were struck, and the whole floor ran with blood.
And Leodes rushed at Odysseus and caught him by the knees,
and in supplication addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἄρα τοὶ μνηστῆρας ἐπεσσύμενοι κατὰ δῶμα
τύπτον ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς
κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦε.
Λειώδης δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐπεσσύμενος λάβε γούνων,
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
τύπτον ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς
κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦε.
Λειώδης δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐπεσσύμενος λάβε γούνων,
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"I clasp your knees, Odysseus; respect me and have pity on me;
for I say that I never said or did anything reckless
to any of the women in the halls; no, I even tried to stop
the other suitors, whenever one of them did such things.
But they would not obey me and keep their hands from evil;
and so by their reckless folly they have met an ugly death.
But I, who was their diviner and had done nothing,
shall lie among them, so little thanks is there afterwards for good deeds."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to him:
for I say that I never said or did anything reckless
to any of the women in the halls; no, I even tried to stop
the other suitors, whenever one of them did such things.
But they would not obey me and keep their hands from evil;
and so by their reckless folly they have met an ugly death.
But I, who was their diviner and had done nothing,
shall lie among them, so little thanks is there afterwards for good deeds."
Then with a dark look Odysseus of many devices said to him:
γουνοῦμαί σʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ· σὺ δέ μʼ αἴδεο καί μʼ ἐλέησον·
οὐ γάρ πώ τινά φημι γυναικῶν ἐν μεγάροισιν
εἰπεῖν οὐδέ τι ῥέξαι ἀτάσθαλον· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄλλους
παύεσκον μνηστῆρας, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.
ἀλλά μοι οὐ πείθοντο κακῶν ἄπο χεῖρας ἔχεσθαι·
τῷ καὶ ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπέσπον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μετὰ τοῖσι θυοσκόος οὐδὲν ἐοργὼς
κείσομαι, ὡς οὐκ ἔστι χάρις μετόπισθʼ εὐεργέων·
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
οὐ γάρ πώ τινά φημι γυναικῶν ἐν μεγάροισιν
εἰπεῖν οὐδέ τι ῥέξαι ἀτάσθαλον· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄλλους
παύεσκον μνηστῆρας, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.
ἀλλά μοι οὐ πείθοντο κακῶν ἄπο χεῖρας ἔχεσθαι·
τῷ καὶ ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπέσπον.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μετὰ τοῖσι θυοσκόος οὐδὲν ἐοργὼς
κείσομαι, ὡς οὐκ ἔστι χάρις μετόπισθʼ εὐεργέων·
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"If indeed you claim to have been their diviner,
then often, I suppose, you prayed in the halls
that the end of my sweet homecoming should be far from me,
and that my dear wife should follow you and bear you children;
therefore you shall not escape a grievous death."
then often, I suppose, you prayed in the halls
that the end of my sweet homecoming should be far from me,
and that my dear wife should follow you and bear you children;
therefore you shall not escape a grievous death."
εἰ μὲν δὴ μετὰ τοῖσι θυοσκόος εὔχεαι εἶναι,
πολλάκι που μέλλεις ἀρήμεναι ἐν μεγάροισι
τηλοῦ ἐμοὶ νόστοιο τέλος γλυκεροῖο γενέσθαι,
σοὶ δʼ ἄλοχόν τε φίλην σπέσθαι καὶ τέκνα τεκέσθαι·
τῷ οὐκ ἂν θάνατόν γε δυσηλεγέα προφύγοισθα.
πολλάκι που μέλλεις ἀρήμεναι ἐν μεγάροισι
τηλοῦ ἐμοὶ νόστοιο τέλος γλυκεροῖο γενέσθαι,
σοὶ δʼ ἄλοχόν τε φίλην σπέσθαι καὶ τέκνα τεκέσθαι·
τῷ οὐκ ἂν θάνατόν γε δυσηλεγέα προφύγοισθα.
So saying, he took up in his thick hand a sword
that lay there, which Agelaus had let fall to the ground
as he was killed; with this he drove clean through the middle of his neck.
And while he was still speaking his head was mingled with the dust.
But the son of Terpes, the singer, was still avoiding black doom,
Phemius, who used to sing among the suitors under compulsion.
He stood there holding the clear-toned lyre in his hands
close by the postern door; and he was divided in mind,
whether to slip out of the hall and sit down at the well-built altar
of great Zeus of the courtyard, where many times
Laertes and Odysseus had burned the thigh-pieces of oxen,
or to rush forward and clasp the knees of Odysseus.
And as he thought it over, this seemed to him the better way,
to lay hold of the knees of Odysseus, son of Laertes.
that lay there, which Agelaus had let fall to the ground
as he was killed; with this he drove clean through the middle of his neck.
And while he was still speaking his head was mingled with the dust.
But the son of Terpes, the singer, was still avoiding black doom,
Phemius, who used to sing among the suitors under compulsion.
He stood there holding the clear-toned lyre in his hands
close by the postern door; and he was divided in mind,
whether to slip out of the hall and sit down at the well-built altar
of great Zeus of the courtyard, where many times
Laertes and Odysseus had burned the thigh-pieces of oxen,
or to rush forward and clasp the knees of Odysseus.
And as he thought it over, this seemed to him the better way,
to lay hold of the knees of Odysseus, son of Laertes.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ξίφος εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ
κείμενον, ὅ ῥʼ Ἀγέλαος ἀποπροέηκε χαμᾶζε
κτεινόμενος· τῷ τόν γε κατʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἔλασσε.
φθεγγομένου δʼ ἄρα τοῦ γε κάρη κονίῃσιν ἐμίχθη.
Τερπιάδης δʼ ἔτʼ ἀοιδὸς ἀλύσκανε κῆρα μέλαιναν,
Φήμιος, ὅς ῥʼ ἤειδε μετὰ μνηστῆρσιν ἀνάγκῃ.
ἔστη δʼ ἐν χείρεσσίν ἔχων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
ἄγχι παρʼ ὀρσοθύρην· δίχα δὲ φρεσὶ μερμήριζεν,
ἢ ἐκδὺς μεγάροιο Διὸς μεγάλου ποτὶ βωμὸν
ἑρκείου ἵζοιτο τετυγμένον, ἔνθʼ ἄρα πολλὰ
Λαέρτης Ὀδυσεύς τε βοῶν ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηαν,
ἦ γούνων λίσσοιτο προσαΐξας Ὀδυσῆα.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
γούνων ἅψασθαι Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
κείμενον, ὅ ῥʼ Ἀγέλαος ἀποπροέηκε χαμᾶζε
κτεινόμενος· τῷ τόν γε κατʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἔλασσε.
φθεγγομένου δʼ ἄρα τοῦ γε κάρη κονίῃσιν ἐμίχθη.
Τερπιάδης δʼ ἔτʼ ἀοιδὸς ἀλύσκανε κῆρα μέλαιναν,
Φήμιος, ὅς ῥʼ ἤειδε μετὰ μνηστῆρσιν ἀνάγκῃ.
ἔστη δʼ ἐν χείρεσσίν ἔχων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
ἄγχι παρʼ ὀρσοθύρην· δίχα δὲ φρεσὶ μερμήριζεν,
ἢ ἐκδὺς μεγάροιο Διὸς μεγάλου ποτὶ βωμὸν
ἑρκείου ἵζοιτο τετυγμένον, ἔνθʼ ἄρα πολλὰ
Λαέρτης Ὀδυσεύς τε βοῶν ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηαν,
ἦ γούνων λίσσοιτο προσαΐξας Ὀδυσῆα.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
γούνων ἅψασθαι Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος.
So he set down the hollow lyre on the ground
between the mixing-bowl and the silver-studded chair,
and himself rushed at Odysseus and caught him by the knees,
and in supplication addressed him with winged words:
between the mixing-bowl and the silver-studded chair,
and himself rushed at Odysseus and caught him by the knees,
and in supplication addressed him with winged words:
ἦ τοι ὁ φόρμιγγα γλαφυρὴν κατέθηκε χαμᾶζε
μεσσηγὺς κρητῆρος ἰδὲ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσαΐξας λάβε γούνων,
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
μεσσηγὺς κρητῆρος ἰδὲ θρόνου ἀργυροήλου,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσαΐξας λάβε γούνων,
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"I clasp your knees, Odysseus; respect me and have pity on me;
there will be grief for you yourself afterwards, if you kill a singer,
one who sings for gods and for men.
I am self-taught, and a god has planted in my mind
songs of every kind; and I am fit to sing before you
as before a god; so do not be eager to cut my throat.
And Telemachus too would say this, your own dear son,
that it was not of my own will, nor from any need,
that I came to your house to sing to the suitors after their feasts,
but they were many and stronger, and brought me by force."
there will be grief for you yourself afterwards, if you kill a singer,
one who sings for gods and for men.
I am self-taught, and a god has planted in my mind
songs of every kind; and I am fit to sing before you
as before a god; so do not be eager to cut my throat.
And Telemachus too would say this, your own dear son,
that it was not of my own will, nor from any need,
that I came to your house to sing to the suitors after their feasts,
but they were many and stronger, and brought me by force."
γουνοῦμαί σʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ· σὺ δέ μʼ αἴδεο καί μʼ ἐλέησον·
αὐτῷ τοι μετόπισθʼ ἄχος ἔσσεται, εἴ κεν ἀοιδὸν
πέφνῃς, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀείδω.
αὐτοδίδακτος δʼ εἰμί, θεὸς δέ μοι ἐν φρεσὶν οἴμας
παντοίας ἐνέφυσεν· ἔοικα δέ τοι παραείδειν
ὥς τε θεῷ· τῷ μή με λιλαίεο δειροτομῆσαι.
καί κεν Τηλέμαχος τάδε γʼ εἴποι, σὸς φίλος υἱός,
ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν ἐς σὸν δόμον οὐδὲ χατίζων
πωλεύμην μνηστῆρσιν ἀεισόμενος μετὰ δαῖτας,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες καὶ κρείσσονες ἦγον ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτῷ τοι μετόπισθʼ ἄχος ἔσσεται, εἴ κεν ἀοιδὸν
πέφνῃς, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀείδω.
αὐτοδίδακτος δʼ εἰμί, θεὸς δέ μοι ἐν φρεσὶν οἴμας
παντοίας ἐνέφυσεν· ἔοικα δέ τοι παραείδειν
ὥς τε θεῷ· τῷ μή με λιλαίεο δειροτομῆσαι.
καί κεν Τηλέμαχος τάδε γʼ εἴποι, σὸς φίλος υἱός,
ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν ἐς σὸν δόμον οὐδὲ χατίζων
πωλεύμην μνηστῆρσιν ἀεισόμενος μετὰ δαῖτας,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πλέονες καὶ κρείσσονες ἦγον ἀνάγκῃ.
So he spoke, and the sacred strength of Telemachus heard him,
and at once spoke to his father, who was near:
and at once spoke to his father, who was near:
ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ ἤκουσʼ ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο,
αἶψα δʼ ἑὸν πατέρα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·
αἶψα δʼ ἑὸν πατέρα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·
"Hold, and do not wound this man with the bronze; he is guiltless.
And let us save the herald Medon too, who always
cared for me in our house when I was a child,
if Philoetius or the swineherd has not already killed him,
or he has not run against you as you raged through the house."
And let us save the herald Medon too, who always
cared for me in our house when I was a child,
if Philoetius or the swineherd has not already killed him,
or he has not run against you as you raged through the house."
ἴσχεο μηδέ τι τοῦτον ἀναίτιον οὔταε χαλκῷ·
καὶ κήρυκα Μέδοντα σαώσομεν, ὅς τέ μευ αἰεὶ
οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ κηδέσκετο παιδὸς ἐόντος,
εἰ δὴ μή μιν ἔπεφνε Φιλοίτιος ἠὲ συβώτης,
ἠὲ σοὶ ἀντεβόλησεν ὀρινομένῳ κατὰ δῶμα.
καὶ κήρυκα Μέδοντα σαώσομεν, ὅς τέ μευ αἰεὶ
οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ κηδέσκετο παιδὸς ἐόντος,
εἰ δὴ μή μιν ἔπεφνε Φιλοίτιος ἠὲ συβώτης,
ἠὲ σοὶ ἀντεβόλησεν ὀρινομένῳ κατὰ δῶμα.
So he spoke, and Medon, who knew prudent counsels, heard him;
for he lay crouched under a chair, and had wrapped himself about
in the newly flayed hide of an ox, avoiding black doom.
At once he rose from under the chair, and quickly stripped off the ox-hide,
and then rushed at Telemachus and caught him by the knees,
and in supplication addressed him with winged words:
for he lay crouched under a chair, and had wrapped himself about
in the newly flayed hide of an ox, avoiding black doom.
At once he rose from under the chair, and quickly stripped off the ox-hide,
and then rushed at Telemachus and caught him by the knees,
and in supplication addressed him with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ ἤκουσε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·
πεπτηὼς γὰρ ἔκειτο ὑπὸ θρόνον, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα
ἕστο βοὸς νεόδαρτον, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.
αἶψα δʼ ἀπὸ θρόνου ὦρτο, θοῶς δʼ ἀπέδυνε βοείην
Τηλέμαχον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα προσαΐξας λάβε γούνων,
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
πεπτηὼς γὰρ ἔκειτο ὑπὸ θρόνον, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα
ἕστο βοὸς νεόδαρτον, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.
αἶψα δʼ ἀπὸ θρόνου ὦρτο, θοῶς δʼ ἀπέδυνε βοείην
Τηλέμαχον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα προσαΐξας λάβε γούνων,
καί μιν λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Friend, here I am; but hold back, and tell your father
not to destroy me with the sharp bronze in the greatness of his strength,
in his anger at the suitors, who wasted
his goods in the halls, and in their folly did you no honour."
Then Odysseus of many devices smiled and said to him:
not to destroy me with the sharp bronze in the greatness of his strength,
in his anger at the suitors, who wasted
his goods in the halls, and in their folly did you no honour."
Then Odysseus of many devices smiled and said to him:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ὅδʼ εἰμί, σὺ δʼ ἴσχεο εἰπὲ δὲ πατρὶ
μή με περισθενέων δηλήσεται ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων κεχολωμένος, οἵ οἱ ἔκειρον
κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις, σὲ δὲ νήπιοι οὐδὲν ἔτιον.
τὸν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
μή με περισθενέων δηλήσεται ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων κεχολωμένος, οἵ οἱ ἔκειρον
κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις, σὲ δὲ νήπιοι οὐδὲν ἔτιον.
τὸν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Take heart, since this man has drawn you out and saved you,
so that you may know it in your spirit, and tell it to another too,
how much better a good deed is than an evil one.
But go out of the halls and sit down outside,
out of the slaughter, in the courtyard, you and the singer of many songs,
while I do in the house what must be done."
so that you may know it in your spirit, and tell it to another too,
how much better a good deed is than an evil one.
But go out of the halls and sit down outside,
out of the slaughter, in the courtyard, you and the singer of many songs,
while I do in the house what must be done."
θάρσει, ἐπεὶ δή σʼ οὗτος ἐρύσσατο καὶ ἐσάωσεν,
ὄφρα γνῷς κατὰ θυμόν, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσθα καὶ ἄλλῳ,
ὡς κακοεργίης εὐεργεσίη μέγʼ ἀμείνων.
ἀλλʼ ἐξελθόντες μεγάρων ἕζεσθε θύραζε
ἐκ φόνου εἰς αὐλήν, σύ τε καὶ πολύφημος ἀοιδός,
ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ κατὰ δῶμα πονήσομαι ὅττεό με χρή.
ὄφρα γνῷς κατὰ θυμόν, ἀτὰρ εἴπῃσθα καὶ ἄλλῳ,
ὡς κακοεργίης εὐεργεσίη μέγʼ ἀμείνων.
ἀλλʼ ἐξελθόντες μεγάρων ἕζεσθε θύραζε
ἐκ φόνου εἰς αὐλήν, σύ τε καὶ πολύφημος ἀοιδός,
ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ κατὰ δῶμα πονήσομαι ὅττεό με χρή.
So he spoke, and the two went out of the hall,
and sat down by the altar of great Zeus,
peering everywhere, still expecting death.
And Odysseus looked about his house, to see if any man
was still alive and hiding, avoiding black doom.
But he saw them all, very many, fallen in the blood and the dust,
like fish that fishermen
have hauled out in a close-meshed net onto the curving beach
from the grey sea; and they all,
longing for the waves of the sea, lie heaped upon the sand,
and the shining Sun takes away their life;
so then the suitors lay heaped upon one another.
Then Odysseus of many devices spoke to Telemachus:
and sat down by the altar of great Zeus,
peering everywhere, still expecting death.
And Odysseus looked about his house, to see if any man
was still alive and hiding, avoiding black doom.
But he saw them all, very many, fallen in the blood and the dust,
like fish that fishermen
have hauled out in a close-meshed net onto the curving beach
from the grey sea; and they all,
longing for the waves of the sea, lie heaped upon the sand,
and the shining Sun takes away their life;
so then the suitors lay heaped upon one another.
Then Odysseus of many devices spoke to Telemachus:
ὣς φάτο, τὼ δʼ ἔξω βήτην μεγάροιο κιόντε,
ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρα τώ γε Διὸς μεγάλου ποτὶ βωμόν,
πάντοσε παπταίνοντε, φόνον ποτιδεγμένω αἰεί.
πάπτηνεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καθʼ ἑὸν δόμον, εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἀνδρῶν
ζωὸς ὑποκλοπέοιτο, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.
τοὺς δὲ ἴδεν μάλα πάντας ἐν αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσι
πεπτεῶτας πολλούς, ὥστʼ ἰχθύας, οὕς θʼ ἁλιῆες
κοῖλον ἐς αἰγιαλὸν πολιῆς ἔκτοσθε θαλάσσης
δικτύῳ ἐξέρυσαν πολυωπῷ· οἱ δέ τε πάντες
κύμαθʼ ἁλὸς ποθέοντες ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισι κέχυνται·
τῶν μέν τʼ Ἠέλιος φαέθων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·
ὣς τότʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρες ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι κέχυντο.
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρα τώ γε Διὸς μεγάλου ποτὶ βωμόν,
πάντοσε παπταίνοντε, φόνον ποτιδεγμένω αἰεί.
πάπτηνεν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καθʼ ἑὸν δόμον, εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἀνδρῶν
ζωὸς ὑποκλοπέοιτο, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.
τοὺς δὲ ἴδεν μάλα πάντας ἐν αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσι
πεπτεῶτας πολλούς, ὥστʼ ἰχθύας, οὕς θʼ ἁλιῆες
κοῖλον ἐς αἰγιαλὸν πολιῆς ἔκτοσθε θαλάσσης
δικτύῳ ἐξέρυσαν πολυωπῷ· οἱ δέ τε πάντες
κύμαθʼ ἁλὸς ποθέοντες ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισι κέχυνται·
τῶν μέν τʼ Ἠέλιος φαέθων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·
ὣς τότʼ ἄρα μνηστῆρες ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι κέχυντο.
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Telemachus, come now, call the nurse Eurycleia for me,
so that I may say the word that is in my mind."
so that I may say the word that is in my mind."
Τηλέμαχʼ, εἰ δʼ ἄγε μοι κάλεσον τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν,
ὄφρα ἔπος εἴπωμι τό μοι καταθύμιόν ἐστιν.
ὄφρα ἔπος εἴπωμι τό μοι καταθύμιόν ἐστιν.
So he spoke, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father,
and moved the door and spoke to the nurse Eurycleia:
and moved the door and spoke to the nurse Eurycleia:
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,
κινήσας δὲ θύρην προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·
κινήσας δὲ θύρην προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·
"Up now, come here, aged woman, you who are the overseer
of the women slaves throughout our halls;
come; my father calls you, to say something to you."
of the women slaves throughout our halls;
come; my father calls you, to say something to you."
δεῦρο δὴ ὄρσο, γρηῢ παλαιγενές, ἥ τε γυναικῶν
δμῳάων σκοπός ἐσσι κατὰ μέγαρʼ ἡμετεράων·
ἔρχεο· κικλήσκει σε πατὴρ ἐμός, ὄφρα τι εἴπῃ.
δμῳάων σκοπός ἐσσι κατὰ μέγαρʼ ἡμετεράων·
ἔρχεο· κικλήσκει σε πατὴρ ἐμός, ὄφρα τι εἴπῃ.
So he spoke, and her word stayed unwinged,
and she opened the doors of the well-founded halls,
and went; and Telemachus led the way before her.
Then she found Odysseus among the bodies of the slain,
spattered with blood and gore like a lion
that comes from feeding on an ox of the fields;
and all his breast and his cheeks on both sides
are bloody, and he is terrible to look in the face;
so was Odysseus spattered, his feet and his hands above.
And when she saw the bodies and the boundless blood,
she made to raise the cry of triumph, seeing the great work done;
but Odysseus checked her and held her back, eager as she was,
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
and she opened the doors of the well-founded halls,
and went; and Telemachus led the way before her.
Then she found Odysseus among the bodies of the slain,
spattered with blood and gore like a lion
that comes from feeding on an ox of the fields;
and all his breast and his cheeks on both sides
are bloody, and he is terrible to look in the face;
so was Odysseus spattered, his feet and his hands above.
And when she saw the bodies and the boundless blood,
she made to raise the cry of triumph, seeing the great work done;
but Odysseus checked her and held her back, eager as she was,
and he spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος,
ὤϊξεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν· αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθʼ ἡγεμόνευεν.
εὗρεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ κταμένοισι νέκυσσιν,
αἵματι καὶ λύθρῳ πεπαλαγμένον ὥστε λέοντα,
ὅς ῥά τε βεβρωκὼς βοὸς ἔρχεται ἀγραύλοιο·
πᾶν δʼ ἄρα οἱ στῆθός τε παρήϊά τʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν
αἱματόεντα πέλει, δεινὸς δʼ εἰς ὦπα ἰδέσθαι·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς πεπάλακτο πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.
ἡ δʼ ὡς οὖν νέκυάς τε καὶ ἄσπετον εἴσιδεν αἷμα,
ἴθυσέν ῥʼ ὀλολύξαι, ἐπεὶ μέγα εἴσιδεν ἔργον·
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένην περ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ὤϊξεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν· αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθʼ ἡγεμόνευεν.
εὗρεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ κταμένοισι νέκυσσιν,
αἵματι καὶ λύθρῳ πεπαλαγμένον ὥστε λέοντα,
ὅς ῥά τε βεβρωκὼς βοὸς ἔρχεται ἀγραύλοιο·
πᾶν δʼ ἄρα οἱ στῆθός τε παρήϊά τʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν
αἱματόεντα πέλει, δεινὸς δʼ εἰς ὦπα ἰδέσθαι·
ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς πεπάλακτο πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.
ἡ δʼ ὡς οὖν νέκυάς τε καὶ ἄσπετον εἴσιδεν αἷμα,
ἴθυσέν ῥʼ ὀλολύξαι, ἐπεὶ μέγα εἴσιδεν ἔργον·
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένην περ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Rejoice in your spirit, old woman, and hold back, and do not cry aloud;
it is not holy to exult over slain men.
These the fate of the gods has brought down, and their own cruel deeds;
for they honoured no man on the face of the earth,
neither base nor noble, whoever came among them;
and so by their reckless folly they have met an ugly death.
But come, tell me over the women in the halls,
which of them dishonour me and which are guiltless."
Then his dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
it is not holy to exult over slain men.
These the fate of the gods has brought down, and their own cruel deeds;
for they honoured no man on the face of the earth,
neither base nor noble, whoever came among them;
and so by their reckless folly they have met an ugly death.
But come, tell me over the women in the halls,
which of them dishonour me and which are guiltless."
Then his dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
ἐν θυμῷ, γρηῦ, χαῖρε καὶ ἴσχεο μηδʼ ὀλόλυζε·
οὐχ ὁσίη κταμένοισιν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσιν εὐχετάασθαι.
τούσδε δὲ μοῖρʼ ἐδάμασσε θεῶν καὶ σχέτλια ἔργα·
οὔ τινα γὰρ τίεσκον ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,
οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκοιτο·
τῷ καὶ ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπέσπον.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι σὺ γυναῖκας ἐνὶ μεγάροις κατάλεξον,
αἵ τέ μʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
οὐχ ὁσίη κταμένοισιν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσιν εὐχετάασθαι.
τούσδε δὲ μοῖρʼ ἐδάμασσε θεῶν καὶ σχέτλια ἔργα·
οὔ τινα γὰρ τίεσκον ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,
οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκοιτο·
τῷ καὶ ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπέσπον.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι σὺ γυναῖκας ἐνὶ μεγάροις κατάλεξον,
αἵ τέ μʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσιν.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
"Then I will tell you the truth, my child.
There are fifty women in your halls,
slaves, whom we taught to do their work,
to card the wool and to bear their slavery;
of these twelve in all have gone the way of shamelessness,
honouring neither me nor Penelope herself.
And Telemachus was only lately grown, and his mother
would not let him give orders to the serving women.
But come, let me go up to the shining upper chamber
and tell your wife, on whom some god has sent sleep."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
"Do not wake her yet; but tell the women here
to come, those who before contrived unseemly things."
There are fifty women in your halls,
slaves, whom we taught to do their work,
to card the wool and to bear their slavery;
of these twelve in all have gone the way of shamelessness,
honouring neither me nor Penelope herself.
And Telemachus was only lately grown, and his mother
would not let him give orders to the serving women.
But come, let me go up to the shining upper chamber
and tell your wife, on whom some god has sent sleep."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
"Do not wake her yet; but tell the women here
to come, those who before contrived unseemly things."
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθείην καταλέξω.
πεντήκοντά τοί εἰσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκες
δμῳαί, τὰς μέν τʼ ἔργα διδάξαμεν ἐργάζεσθαι,
εἴριά τε ξαίνειν καὶ δουλοσύνην ἀνέχεσθαι·
τάων δώδεκα πᾶσαι ἀναιδείης ἐπέβησαν,
οὔτʼ ἐμὲ τίουσαι οὔτʼ αὐτὴν Πηνελόπειαν.
Τηλέμαχος δὲ νέον μὲν ἀέξετο, οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ
σημαίνειν εἴασκεν ἐπὶ δμῳῇσι γυναιξίν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν ἀναβᾶσʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα
εἴπω σῇ ἀλόχῳ, τῇ τις θεὸς ὕπνον ἐπῶρσε.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
μή πω τήνδʼ ἐπέγειρε· σὺ δʼ ἐνθάδε εἰπὲ γυναιξὶν
ἐλθέμεν, αἵ περ πρόσθεν ἀεικέα μηχανόωντο.
πεντήκοντά τοί εἰσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκες
δμῳαί, τὰς μέν τʼ ἔργα διδάξαμεν ἐργάζεσθαι,
εἴριά τε ξαίνειν καὶ δουλοσύνην ἀνέχεσθαι·
τάων δώδεκα πᾶσαι ἀναιδείης ἐπέβησαν,
οὔτʼ ἐμὲ τίουσαι οὔτʼ αὐτὴν Πηνελόπειαν.
Τηλέμαχος δὲ νέον μὲν ἀέξετο, οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ
σημαίνειν εἴασκεν ἐπὶ δμῳῇσι γυναιξίν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν ἀναβᾶσʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα
εἴπω σῇ ἀλόχῳ, τῇ τις θεὸς ὕπνον ἐπῶρσε.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
μή πω τήνδʼ ἐπέγειρε· σὺ δʼ ἐνθάδε εἰπὲ γυναιξὶν
ἐλθέμεν, αἵ περ πρόσθεν ἀεικέα μηχανόωντο.
So he spoke, and the old woman went off through the hall
to give the message to the women and to urge them to come.
And he called Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
to him and addressed them with winged words:
to give the message to the women and to urge them to come.
And he called Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
to him and addressed them with winged words:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὁ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
εἰς ἓ καλεσσάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ὁ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
εἰς ἓ καλεσσάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Begin now to carry out the bodies, and order the women to help;
and afterwards clean the beautiful chairs and the tables
with water and with porous sponges.
And when you have set all the house in order,
lead the serving women out of the well-built hall,
between the round-house and the blameless wall of the courtyard,
and strike them with your long-edged swords, until you take
the life out of them all, and they forget Aphrodite,
which they had under the suitors, and lay with them in secret."
and afterwards clean the beautiful chairs and the tables
with water and with porous sponges.
And when you have set all the house in order,
lead the serving women out of the well-built hall,
between the round-house and the blameless wall of the courtyard,
and strike them with your long-edged swords, until you take
the life out of them all, and they forget Aphrodite,
which they had under the suitors, and lay with them in secret."
ἄρχετε νῦν νέκυας φορέειν καὶ ἄνωχθε γυναῖκας·
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θρόνους περικαλλέας ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ὕδατι καὶ σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι καθαίρειν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ πάντα δόμον κατακοσμήσησθε,
δμῳὰς ἐξαγαγόντες ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,
μεσσηγύς τε θόλου καὶ ἀμύμονος ἕρκεος αὐλῆς,
θεινέμεναι ξίφεσιν τανυήκεσιν, εἰς ὅ κε πασέων
ψυχὰς ἐξαφέλησθε καὶ ἐκλελάθωντʼ Ἀφροδίτης,
τὴν ἄρʼ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσιν ἔχον μίσγοντό τε λάθρη.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θρόνους περικαλλέας ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ὕδατι καὶ σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι καθαίρειν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ πάντα δόμον κατακοσμήσησθε,
δμῳὰς ἐξαγαγόντες ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,
μεσσηγύς τε θόλου καὶ ἀμύμονος ἕρκεος αὐλῆς,
θεινέμεναι ξίφεσιν τανυήκεσιν, εἰς ὅ κε πασέων
ψυχὰς ἐξαφέλησθε καὶ ἐκλελάθωντʼ Ἀφροδίτης,
τὴν ἄρʼ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσιν ἔχον μίσγοντό τε λάθρη.
So he spoke, and the women came all together in a crowd,
wailing terribly and shedding warm tears.
First they carried out the bodies of the dead,
and laid them down under the portico of the well-fenced courtyard,
propping them against one another; and Odysseus gave the orders
himself, urging them on; and they carried them out under compulsion.
And afterwards they cleaned the beautiful chairs and the tables
with water and with porous sponges.
And Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
with shovels scraped the floor of the strongly built house;
and the serving women carried the sweepings out and set them at the door.
But when they had set all the hall in order,
they led the serving women out of the well-built hall,
between the round-house and the blameless wall of the courtyard,
and penned them in a narrow place, from which there was no escape.
And prudent Telemachus began to speak among them:
"I will not take the life of these women by a clean death,
of those who poured reproaches on my head
and on our mother’s, and slept beside the suitors."
wailing terribly and shedding warm tears.
First they carried out the bodies of the dead,
and laid them down under the portico of the well-fenced courtyard,
propping them against one another; and Odysseus gave the orders
himself, urging them on; and they carried them out under compulsion.
And afterwards they cleaned the beautiful chairs and the tables
with water and with porous sponges.
And Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
with shovels scraped the floor of the strongly built house;
and the serving women carried the sweepings out and set them at the door.
But when they had set all the hall in order,
they led the serving women out of the well-built hall,
between the round-house and the blameless wall of the courtyard,
and penned them in a narrow place, from which there was no escape.
And prudent Telemachus began to speak among them:
"I will not take the life of these women by a clean death,
of those who poured reproaches on my head
and on our mother’s, and slept beside the suitors."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες ἀολλέες ἦλθον ἅπασαι,
αἴνʼ ὀλοφυρόμεναι, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσαι.
πρῶτα μὲν οὖν νέκυας φόρεον κατατεθνηῶτας,
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ τίθεσαν εὐερκέος αὐλῆς,
ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρείδουσαι· σήμαινε δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
αὐτὸς ἐπισπέρχων· ταὶ δʼ ἐκφόρεον καὶ ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θρόνους περικαλλέας ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ὕδατι καὶ σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι κάθαιρον.
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος καὶ βουκόλος ἠδὲ συβώτῃς
λίστροισιν δάπεδον πύκα ποιητοῖο δόμοιο
ξῦον· ταὶ δʼ ἐφόρεον δμῳαί, τίθεσαν δὲ θύραζε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπειδὴ πᾶν μέγαρον διεκοσμήσαντο,
δμῳὰς δʼ ἐξαγαγόντες ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,
μεσσηγύς τε θόλου καὶ ἀμύμονος ἕρκεος αὐλῆς,
εἴλεον ἐν στείνει, ὅθεν οὔ πως ἦεν ἀλύξαι.
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·
μὴ μὲν δὴ καθαρῷ θανάτῳ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλοίμην
τάων, αἳ δὴ ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ κατʼ ὀνείδεα χεῦαν
μητέρι θʼ ἡμετέρῃ παρά τε μνηστῆρσιν ἴαυον.
αἴνʼ ὀλοφυρόμεναι, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσαι.
πρῶτα μὲν οὖν νέκυας φόρεον κατατεθνηῶτας,
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ τίθεσαν εὐερκέος αὐλῆς,
ἀλλήλοισιν ἐρείδουσαι· σήμαινε δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
αὐτὸς ἐπισπέρχων· ταὶ δʼ ἐκφόρεον καὶ ἀνάγκῃ.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα θρόνους περικαλλέας ἠδὲ τραπέζας
ὕδατι καὶ σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι κάθαιρον.
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος καὶ βουκόλος ἠδὲ συβώτῃς
λίστροισιν δάπεδον πύκα ποιητοῖο δόμοιο
ξῦον· ταὶ δʼ ἐφόρεον δμῳαί, τίθεσαν δὲ θύραζε.
αὐτὰρ ἐπειδὴ πᾶν μέγαρον διεκοσμήσαντο,
δμῳὰς δʼ ἐξαγαγόντες ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,
μεσσηγύς τε θόλου καὶ ἀμύμονος ἕρκεος αὐλῆς,
εἴλεον ἐν στείνει, ὅθεν οὔ πως ἦεν ἀλύξαι.
τοῖσι δὲ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·
μὴ μὲν δὴ καθαρῷ θανάτῳ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλοίμην
τάων, αἳ δὴ ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ κατʼ ὀνείδεα χεῦαν
μητέρι θʼ ἡμετέρῃ παρά τε μνηστῆρσιν ἴαυον.
So he spoke, and he made fast the cable of a dark-prowed ship
to a great pillar and flung it round the round-house,
stretching it high, so that none might reach the ground with her feet.
And as when long-winged thrushes or doves
blunder into a net that is set in a thicket,
as they come in to their roost, and a hateful bed receives them,
so they held their heads in a row, and about the necks of all of them
were nooses, so that they might die most piteously.
They struggled with their feet a little while, but not for long.
And they brought Melanthius out through the doorway and the courtyard;
and they cut off his nose and his ears with the pitiless bronze,
and tore away his genitals, raw for the dogs to devour,
and hacked off his hands and his feet in the rage of their spirit.
Then they washed their hands and their feet
and went into the house to Odysseus, and the work was finished;
and he spoke to his dear nurse Eurycleia:
to a great pillar and flung it round the round-house,
stretching it high, so that none might reach the ground with her feet.
And as when long-winged thrushes or doves
blunder into a net that is set in a thicket,
as they come in to their roost, and a hateful bed receives them,
so they held their heads in a row, and about the necks of all of them
were nooses, so that they might die most piteously.
They struggled with their feet a little while, but not for long.
And they brought Melanthius out through the doorway and the courtyard;
and they cut off his nose and his ears with the pitiless bronze,
and tore away his genitals, raw for the dogs to devour,
and hacked off his hands and his feet in the rage of their spirit.
Then they washed their hands and their feet
and went into the house to Odysseus, and the work was finished;
and he spoke to his dear nurse Eurycleia:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, καὶ πεῖσμα νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
κίονος ἐξάψας μεγάλης περίβαλλε θόλοιο,
ὑψόσʼ ἐπεντανύσας, μή τις ποσὶν οὖδας ἵκοιτο.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἢ κίχλαι τανυσίπτεροι ἠὲ πέλειαι
ἕρκει ἐνιπλήξωσι, τό θʼ ἑστήκῃ ἐνὶ θάμνῳ,
αὖλιν ἐσιέμεναι, στυγερὸς δʼ ὑπεδέξατο κοῖτος,
ὣς αἵ γʼ ἑξείης κεφαλὰς ἔχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ πάσαις
δειρῇσι βρόχοι ἦσαν, ὅπως οἴκτιστα θάνοιεν.
ἤσπαιρον δὲ πόδεσσι μίνυνθά περ οὔ τι μάλα δήν.
ἐκ δὲ Μελάνθιον ἦγον ἀνὰ πρόθυρόν τε καὶ αὐλήν·
τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν ῥῖνάς τε καὶ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
τάμνον, μήδεά τʼ ἐξέρυσαν, κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,
χεῖράς τʼ ἠδὲ πόδας κόπτον κεκοτηότι θυμῷ.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀπονιψάμενοι χεῖράς τε πόδας τε
εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δόμονδε κίον, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γε προσέειπε φίλην τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·
κίονος ἐξάψας μεγάλης περίβαλλε θόλοιο,
ὑψόσʼ ἐπεντανύσας, μή τις ποσὶν οὖδας ἵκοιτο.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἢ κίχλαι τανυσίπτεροι ἠὲ πέλειαι
ἕρκει ἐνιπλήξωσι, τό θʼ ἑστήκῃ ἐνὶ θάμνῳ,
αὖλιν ἐσιέμεναι, στυγερὸς δʼ ὑπεδέξατο κοῖτος,
ὣς αἵ γʼ ἑξείης κεφαλὰς ἔχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ πάσαις
δειρῇσι βρόχοι ἦσαν, ὅπως οἴκτιστα θάνοιεν.
ἤσπαιρον δὲ πόδεσσι μίνυνθά περ οὔ τι μάλα δήν.
ἐκ δὲ Μελάνθιον ἦγον ἀνὰ πρόθυρόν τε καὶ αὐλήν·
τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν ῥῖνάς τε καὶ οὔατα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
τάμνον, μήδεά τʼ ἐξέρυσαν, κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,
χεῖράς τʼ ἠδὲ πόδας κόπτον κεκοτηότι θυμῷ.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀπονιψάμενοι χεῖράς τε πόδας τε
εἰς Ὀδυσῆα δόμονδε κίον, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γε προσέειπε φίλην τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·
"Bring sulphur, old woman, the cure of evils, and bring me fire,
so that I may fumigate the hall; and bid Penelope
come here with her handmaid women;
and rouse all the serving women in the house to come."
Then his dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
so that I may fumigate the hall; and bid Penelope
come here with her handmaid women;
and rouse all the serving women in the house to come."
Then his dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to him in turn:
οἶσε θέειον, γρηΰ, κακῶν ἄκος, οἶσε δέ μοι πῦρ,
ὄφρα θεειώσω μέγαρον· σὺ δὲ Πηνελόπειαν
ἐλθεῖν ἐνθάδʼ ἄνωχθι σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·
πάσας δʼ ὄτρυνον δμῳὰς κατὰ δῶμα νέεσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
ὄφρα θεειώσω μέγαρον· σὺ δὲ Πηνελόπειαν
ἐλθεῖν ἐνθάδʼ ἄνωχθι σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξί·
πάσας δʼ ὄτρυνον δμῳὰς κατὰ δῶμα νέεσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
"Yes, my child, in all this you have spoken as is right.
But come, let me bring you a cloak and a tunic for clothing,
and do not stand so in the halls with your broad shoulders
covered in rags; it would be a thing to blame."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
But come, let me bring you a cloak and a tunic for clothing,
and do not stand so in the halls with your broad shoulders
covered in rags; it would be a thing to blame."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε, τέκνον ἐμόν, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἐνείκω,
μηδʼ οὕτω ῥάκεσιν πεπυκασμένος εὐρέας ὤμους
ἕσταθʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἐνείκω,
μηδʼ οὕτω ῥάκεσιν πεπυκασμένος εὐρέας ὤμους
ἕσταθʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Fire first of all — let there be fire for me in the halls."
πῦρ νῦν μοι πρώτιστον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γενέσθω.
So he spoke, and his dear nurse Eurycleia did not disobey,
but brought fire and sulphur; and Odysseus
fumigated the hall well, and the house and the courtyard.
And the old woman went back through the fair house of Odysseus
to give the message to the women and to urge them to come;
and they came out of the hall with torches in their hands.
They crowded about Odysseus and welcomed him,
and kissed him in loving welcome on the head and on the shoulders,
and took hold of his hands; and a sweet longing seized him
for weeping and lamentation, for in his heart he knew them all.
but brought fire and sulphur; and Odysseus
fumigated the hall well, and the house and the courtyard.
And the old woman went back through the fair house of Odysseus
to give the message to the women and to urge them to come;
and they came out of the hall with torches in their hands.
They crowded about Odysseus and welcomed him,
and kissed him in loving welcome on the head and on the shoulders,
and took hold of his hands; and a sweet longing seized him
for weeping and lamentation, for in his heart he knew them all.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,
ἤνεικεν δʼ ἄρα πῦρ καὶ θήϊον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὖ διεθείωσεν μέγαρον καὶ δῶμα καὶ αὐλήν.
γρηῢς δʼ αὖτʼ ἀπέβη διὰ δώματα κάλʼ Ὀδυσῆος
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι·
αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἀμφεχέοντο καὶ ἠσπάζοντʼ Ὀδυσῆα,
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαξόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους
χεῖράς τʼ αἰνύμεναι· τὸν δὲ γλυκὺς ἵμερος ᾕρει
κλαυθμοῦ καὶ στοναχῆς, γίγνωσκε δʼ ἄρα φρεσὶ πάσας.
ἤνεικεν δʼ ἄρα πῦρ καὶ θήϊον· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὖ διεθείωσεν μέγαρον καὶ δῶμα καὶ αὐλήν.
γρηῢς δʼ αὖτʼ ἀπέβη διὰ δώματα κάλʼ Ὀδυσῆος
ἀγγελέουσα γυναιξὶ καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι·
αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἀμφεχέοντο καὶ ἠσπάζοντʼ Ὀδυσῆα,
καὶ κύνεον ἀγαπαξόμεναι κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους
χεῖράς τʼ αἰνύμεναι· τὸν δὲ γλυκὺς ἵμερος ᾕρει
κλαυθμοῦ καὶ στοναχῆς, γίγνωσκε δʼ ἄρα φρεσὶ πάσας.
Book 23
Penelope, wary past all persuasion, tests him with their bed — the one secret no living stranger could know, the bed built round the living olive tree. The lie detects the truth; the reunion Homer built the whole poem toward is given a lengthened night.
And the old woman went up to the upper chamber, laughing aloud,
to tell her mistress that her dear husband was in the house;
and her knees moved briskly, and her feet stumbled over one another.
She stood above her head, and spoke a word to her:
to tell her mistress that her dear husband was in the house;
and her knees moved briskly, and her feet stumbled over one another.
She stood above her head, and spoke a word to her:
γρηῢς δʼ εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀνεβήσετο καγχαλόωσα,
δεσποίνῃ ἐρέουσα φίλον πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα·
γούνατα δʼ ἐρρώσαντο, πόδες δʼ ὑπερικταίνοντο.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
δεσποίνῃ ἐρέουσα φίλον πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα·
γούνατα δʼ ἐρρώσαντο, πόδες δʼ ὑπερικταίνοντο.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"Wake, Penelope, dear child, so that you may see
with your own eyes what you have longed for all your days.
Odysseus has come and has reached his home, late though he comes.
And he has killed the lordly suitors, who troubled his house
and devoured his goods and did violence to his son."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
with your own eyes what you have longed for all your days.
Odysseus has come and has reached his home, late though he comes.
And he has killed the lordly suitors, who troubled his house
and devoured his goods and did violence to his son."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
ἔγρεο, Πηνελόπεια, φίλον τέκος, ὄφρα ἴδηαι
ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσι τά τʼ ἔλδεαι ἤματα πάντα.
ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὀψέ περ ἐλθών.
μνηστῆρας δʼ ἔκτεινεν ἀγήνορας, οἵ θʼ ἑὸν οἶκον
κήδεσκον καὶ κτήματʼ ἔδον βιόωντό τε παῖδα.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσι τά τʼ ἔλδεαι ἤματα πάντα.
ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὀψέ περ ἐλθών.
μνηστῆρας δʼ ἔκτεινεν ἀγήνορας, οἵ θʼ ἑὸν οἶκον
κήδεσκον καὶ κτήματʼ ἔδον βιόωντό τε παῖδα.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Dear nurse, the gods have made you mad — they who can
make foolish even one who is very wise,
and set the light-witted on the road of sound sense;
they have damaged you; before this your mind was sound.
Why do you mock me, when my spirit is full of grief,
telling me these wild things, and waking me out of the sleep
that was sweet, and bound me and covered my eyelids over?
For I have never slept like this since Odysseus
went to look upon Evil-Ilium, that is not to be named.
But come now, go down and back again to the hall.
For if any other of the women who are mine
had come and told me this and waked me out of sleep,
I would soon have sent her back in a hateful fashion
into the hall again; but your old age shall profit you in this."
Then her dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to her in turn:
make foolish even one who is very wise,
and set the light-witted on the road of sound sense;
they have damaged you; before this your mind was sound.
Why do you mock me, when my spirit is full of grief,
telling me these wild things, and waking me out of the sleep
that was sweet, and bound me and covered my eyelids over?
For I have never slept like this since Odysseus
went to look upon Evil-Ilium, that is not to be named.
But come now, go down and back again to the hall.
For if any other of the women who are mine
had come and told me this and waked me out of sleep,
I would soon have sent her back in a hateful fashion
into the hall again; but your old age shall profit you in this."
Then her dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to her in turn:
μαῖα φίλη, μάργην σε θεοὶ θέσαν, οἵ τε δύνανται
ἄφρονα ποιῆσαι καὶ ἐπίφρονά περ μάλʼ ἐόντα,
καί τε χαλιφρονέοντα σαοφροσύνης ἐπέβησαν·
οἵ σέ περ ἔβλαψαν· πρὶν δὲ φρένας αἰσίμη ἦσθα.
τίπτε με λωβεύεις πολυπενθέα θυμὸν ἔχουσαν
ταῦτα παρὲξ ἐρέουσα καὶ ἐξ ὕπνου μʼ ἀνεγείρεις
ἡδέος, ὅς μʼ ἐπέδησε φίλα βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψας;
οὐ γάρ πω τοιόνδε κατέδραθον, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν κατάβηθι καὶ ἂψ ἔρχευ μέγαρόνδε.
εἰ γάρ τίς μʼ ἄλλη γε γυναικῶν, αἵ μοι ἔασι,
ταῦτʼ ἐλθοῦσʼ ἤγγειλε καὶ ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνέγειρεν,
τῷ κε τάχα στυγερῶς μιν ἐγὼν ἀπέπεμψα νέεσθαι
αὖτις ἔσω μέγαρον· σὲ δὲ τοῦτό γε γῆρας ὀνήσει.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
ἄφρονα ποιῆσαι καὶ ἐπίφρονά περ μάλʼ ἐόντα,
καί τε χαλιφρονέοντα σαοφροσύνης ἐπέβησαν·
οἵ σέ περ ἔβλαψαν· πρὶν δὲ φρένας αἰσίμη ἦσθα.
τίπτε με λωβεύεις πολυπενθέα θυμὸν ἔχουσαν
ταῦτα παρὲξ ἐρέουσα καὶ ἐξ ὕπνου μʼ ἀνεγείρεις
ἡδέος, ὅς μʼ ἐπέδησε φίλα βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψας;
οὐ γάρ πω τοιόνδε κατέδραθον, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν κατάβηθι καὶ ἂψ ἔρχευ μέγαρόνδε.
εἰ γάρ τίς μʼ ἄλλη γε γυναικῶν, αἵ μοι ἔασι,
ταῦτʼ ἐλθοῦσʼ ἤγγειλε καὶ ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνέγειρεν,
τῷ κε τάχα στυγερῶς μιν ἐγὼν ἀπέπεμψα νέεσθαι
αὖτις ἔσω μέγαρον· σὲ δὲ τοῦτό γε γῆρας ὀνήσει.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
"I am not mocking you, dear child; it is the truth:
Odysseus has come and has reached his home, as I say —
the stranger, whom they all dishonoured in the halls.
And Telemachus knew long ago that he was in the house,
but out of sound sense he hid his father’s purposes,
until he should take vengeance on the violence of arrogant men."
Odysseus has come and has reached his home, as I say —
the stranger, whom they all dishonoured in the halls.
And Telemachus knew long ago that he was in the house,
but out of sound sense he hid his father’s purposes,
until he should take vengeance on the violence of arrogant men."
οὔ τί σε λωβεύω, τέκνον φίλον, ἀλλʼ ἔτυμόν τοι
ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὡς ἀγορεύω,
ὁ ξεῖνος, τὸν πάντες ἀτίμων ἐν μεγάροισι.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἄρα μιν πάλαι ᾔδεεν ἔνδον ἐόντα,
ἀλλὰ σαοφροσύνῃσι νοήματα πατρὸς ἔκευθεν,
ὄφρʼ ἀνδρῶν τίσαιτο βίην ὑπερηνορεόντων.
ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὡς ἀγορεύω,
ὁ ξεῖνος, τὸν πάντες ἀτίμων ἐν μεγάροισι.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἄρα μιν πάλαι ᾔδεεν ἔνδον ἐόντα,
ἀλλὰ σαοφροσύνῃσι νοήματα πατρὸς ἔκευθεν,
ὄφρʼ ἀνδρῶν τίσαιτο βίην ὑπερηνορεόντων.
So she spoke, and she was glad, and sprang from her bed
and threw her arms about the old woman, and let a tear fall from her eyelids;
and she spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
and threw her arms about the old woman, and let a tear fall from her eyelids;
and she spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡ δʼ ἐχάρη καὶ ἀπὸ λέκτροιο θοροῦσα
γρηῒ περιπλέχθη, βλεφάρων δʼ ἀπὸ δάκρυον ἧκεν·
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
γρηῒ περιπλέχθη, βλεφάρων δʼ ἀπὸ δάκρυον ἧκεν·
καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Come now, dear nurse, tell me the unerring truth:
if he has really reached his home, as you say,
how did he set his hands upon the shameless suitors,
being alone, while they always stayed inside in a body?"
Then her dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to her in turn:
if he has really reached his home, as you say,
how did he set his hands upon the shameless suitors,
being alone, while they always stayed inside in a body?"
Then her dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to her in turn:
εἰ δʼ ἄγε δή μοι, μαῖα φίλη, νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες,
εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,
ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφῆκε
μοῦνος ἐών, οἱ δʼ αἰὲν ἀολλέες ἔνδον ἔμιμνον.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,
ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφῆκε
μοῦνος ἐών, οἱ δʼ αἰὲν ἀολλέες ἔνδον ἔμιμνον.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
"I did not see it, I did not learn of it; I only heard the groaning
of men being killed; and we sat in the recess of the well-built chambers
in terror, and the close-fitting boards held us in,
until your son called me from the hall,
Telemachus; for his father had sent him to call me.
Then I found Odysseus among the bodies of the slain,
standing there; and about him, upon the hard-packed floor,
they lay upon one another; the sight would have warmed your spirit.
And now they are all gathered together at the courtyard gates,
in a heap, and he is fumigating the beautiful house,
having kindled a great fire; and he sent me to call you.
So come, that you two may set foot upon gladness
with both your hearts, since you have suffered many evils.
But now at last this long desire has been fulfilled:
he has come himself, alive, to his own hearth, and has found both you
and his son in the halls; and those who did him evil,
the suitors, he has punished them all in his own house."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
of men being killed; and we sat in the recess of the well-built chambers
in terror, and the close-fitting boards held us in,
until your son called me from the hall,
Telemachus; for his father had sent him to call me.
Then I found Odysseus among the bodies of the slain,
standing there; and about him, upon the hard-packed floor,
they lay upon one another; the sight would have warmed your spirit.
And now they are all gathered together at the courtyard gates,
in a heap, and he is fumigating the beautiful house,
having kindled a great fire; and he sent me to call you.
So come, that you two may set foot upon gladness
with both your hearts, since you have suffered many evils.
But now at last this long desire has been fulfilled:
he has come himself, alive, to his own hearth, and has found both you
and his son in the halls; and those who did him evil,
the suitors, he has punished them all in his own house."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to her in turn:
οὐκ ἴδον, οὐ πυθόμην, ἀλλὰ στόνον οἶον ἄκουσα
κτεινομένων· ἡμεῖς δὲ μυχῷ θαλάμων εὐπήκτων
ἥμεθʼ ἀτυζόμεναι, σανίδες δʼ ἔχον εὖ ἀραρυῖαι,
πρίν γʼ ὅτε δή με σὸς υἱὸς ἀπὸ μεγάροιο κάλεσσε
Τηλέμαχος· τὸν γάρ ῥα πατὴρ προέηκε καλέσσαι.
εὗρον ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ κταμένοισι νέκυσσιν
ἑσταόθʼ· οἱ δέ μιν ἀμφί, κραταίπεδον οὖδας ἔχοντες,
κείατʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν· ἰδοῦσά κε θυμὸν ἰάνθης.
νῦν δʼ οἱ μὲν δὴ πάντες ἐπʼ αὐλείῃσι θύρῃσιν
ἀθρόοι, αὐτὰρ ὁ δῶμα θεειοῦται περικαλλές,
πῦρ μέγα κηάμενος· σὲ δέ με προέηκε καλέσσαι.
ἀλλʼ ἕπευ, ὄφρα σφῶϊν ἐϋφροσύνης ἐπιβῆτον
ἀμφοτέρω φίλον ἦτορ, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέποσθε.
νῦν δʼ ἤδη τόδε μακρὸν ἐέλδωρ ἐκτετέλεσται·
ἦλθε μὲν αὐτὸς ζωὸς ἐφέστιος, εὗρε δὲ καὶ σὲ
καὶ παῖδʼ ἐν μεγάροισι· κακῶς δʼ οἵ πέρ μιν ἔρεζον
μνηστῆρες, τοὺς πάντας ἐτίσατο ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
κτεινομένων· ἡμεῖς δὲ μυχῷ θαλάμων εὐπήκτων
ἥμεθʼ ἀτυζόμεναι, σανίδες δʼ ἔχον εὖ ἀραρυῖαι,
πρίν γʼ ὅτε δή με σὸς υἱὸς ἀπὸ μεγάροιο κάλεσσε
Τηλέμαχος· τὸν γάρ ῥα πατὴρ προέηκε καλέσσαι.
εὗρον ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ κταμένοισι νέκυσσιν
ἑσταόθʼ· οἱ δέ μιν ἀμφί, κραταίπεδον οὖδας ἔχοντες,
κείατʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν· ἰδοῦσά κε θυμὸν ἰάνθης.
νῦν δʼ οἱ μὲν δὴ πάντες ἐπʼ αὐλείῃσι θύρῃσιν
ἀθρόοι, αὐτὰρ ὁ δῶμα θεειοῦται περικαλλές,
πῦρ μέγα κηάμενος· σὲ δέ με προέηκε καλέσσαι.
ἀλλʼ ἕπευ, ὄφρα σφῶϊν ἐϋφροσύνης ἐπιβῆτον
ἀμφοτέρω φίλον ἦτορ, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέποσθε.
νῦν δʼ ἤδη τόδε μακρὸν ἐέλδωρ ἐκτετέλεσται·
ἦλθε μὲν αὐτὸς ζωὸς ἐφέστιος, εὗρε δὲ καὶ σὲ
καὶ παῖδʼ ἐν μεγάροισι· κακῶς δʼ οἵ πέρ μιν ἔρεζον
μνηστῆρες, τοὺς πάντας ἐτίσατο ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Dear nurse, do not exult too greatly yet, and laugh aloud.
You know how welcome he would appear in the halls
to all, and most of all to me and to the son we bore;
but this tale is not true, as you tell it;
rather it was one of the immortals who killed the lordly suitors,
in anger at their heart-galling insolence and their evil deeds.
For they honoured no man on the face of the earth,
neither base nor noble, whoever came among them;
and so through their reckless folly they suffered evil. But Odysseus
lost his homecoming to Achaea far away, and himself perished."
Then her dear nurse Eurycleia answered her:
You know how welcome he would appear in the halls
to all, and most of all to me and to the son we bore;
but this tale is not true, as you tell it;
rather it was one of the immortals who killed the lordly suitors,
in anger at their heart-galling insolence and their evil deeds.
For they honoured no man on the face of the earth,
neither base nor noble, whoever came among them;
and so through their reckless folly they suffered evil. But Odysseus
lost his homecoming to Achaea far away, and himself perished."
Then her dear nurse Eurycleia answered her:
μαῖα φίλη, μή πω μέγʼ ἐπεύχεο καγχαλόωσα.
οἶσθα γὰρ ὥς κʼ ἀσπαστὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισι φανείη
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί τε καὶ υἱέϊ, τὸν τεκόμεσθα·
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅδε μῦθος ἐτήτυμος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,
ἀλλά τις ἀθανάτων κτεῖνε μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
ὕβριν ἀγασσάμενος θυμαλγέα καὶ κακὰ ἔργα.
οὔ τινα γὰρ τίεσκον ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,
οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκοιτο·
τῷ διʼ ἀτασθαλίας ἔπαθον κακόν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὤλεσε τηλοῦ νόστον Ἀχαιΐδος, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός.
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
οἶσθα γὰρ ὥς κʼ ἀσπαστὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισι φανείη
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί τε καὶ υἱέϊ, τὸν τεκόμεσθα·
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅδε μῦθος ἐτήτυμος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,
ἀλλά τις ἀθανάτων κτεῖνε μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,
ὕβριν ἀγασσάμενος θυμαλγέα καὶ κακὰ ἔργα.
οὔ τινα γὰρ τίεσκον ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,
οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκοιτο·
τῷ διʼ ἀτασθαλίας ἔπαθον κακόν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὤλεσε τηλοῦ νόστον Ἀχαιΐδος, ὤλετο δʼ αὐτός.
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·
"My child, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth,
you who say that your husband, who is here beside the hearth,
will never come home; your spirit is always unbelieving.
But come, let me tell you another sign, very clear:
the scar, which a boar had dealt him once with his white tusk.
I noticed it as I washed him, and I wanted to tell you
yourself; but he caught me by the mouth with his hands
and would not let me speak, in the great knowledge of his mind.
But follow me; and I will stake my own self upon it:
if I am deceiving you, kill me by the most piteous death."
Then circumspect Penelope answered her:
you who say that your husband, who is here beside the hearth,
will never come home; your spirit is always unbelieving.
But come, let me tell you another sign, very clear:
the scar, which a boar had dealt him once with his white tusk.
I noticed it as I washed him, and I wanted to tell you
yourself; but he caught me by the mouth with his hands
and would not let me speak, in the great knowledge of his mind.
But follow me; and I will stake my own self upon it:
if I am deceiving you, kill me by the most piteous death."
Then circumspect Penelope answered her:
τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων,
ἣ πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα παρʼ ἐσχάρῃ οὔ ποτʼ ἔφησθα
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· θυμὸς δέ τοι αἰὲν ἄπιστος.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι εἴπω,
οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ μιν σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι.
τὴν ἀπονίζουσα φρασάμην, ἔθελον δὲ σοὶ αὐτῇ
εἰπέμεν· ἀλλά με κεῖνος ἑλὼν ἐπὶ μάστακα χερσὶν
οὐκ ἔα εἰπέμεναι πολυϊδρείῃσι νόοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐμέθεν περιδώσομαι αὐτῆς,
αἴ κέν σʼ ἐξαπάφω, κτεῖναί μʼ οἰκτίστῳ ὀλέθρῳ.
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
ἣ πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα παρʼ ἐσχάρῃ οὔ ποτʼ ἔφησθα
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· θυμὸς δέ τοι αἰὲν ἄπιστος.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ σῆμα ἀριφραδὲς ἄλλο τι εἴπω,
οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ μιν σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι.
τὴν ἀπονίζουσα φρασάμην, ἔθελον δὲ σοὶ αὐτῇ
εἰπέμεν· ἀλλά με κεῖνος ἑλὼν ἐπὶ μάστακα χερσὶν
οὐκ ἔα εἰπέμεναι πολυϊδρείῃσι νόοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐμέθεν περιδώσομαι αὐτῆς,
αἴ κέν σʼ ἐξαπάφω, κτεῖναί μʼ οἰκτίστῳ ὀλέθρῳ.
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Dear nurse, it is hard for you to grasp the designs
of the gods who live for ever, however great your knowledge.
But still, let us go to my son, so that I may see
the suitors dead, and the man who killed them."
of the gods who live for ever, however great your knowledge.
But still, let us go to my son, so that I may see
the suitors dead, and the man who killed them."
μαῖα φίλη, χαλεπόν σε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων
δήνεα εἴρυσθαι, μὰλα περ πολύϊδριν ἐοῦσαν.
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης ἴομεν μετὰ παῖδʼ ἐμόν, ὄφρα ἴδωμαι
ἄνδρας μνηστῆρας τεθνηότας, ἠδʼ ὃς ἔπεφνεν.
δήνεα εἴρυσθαι, μὰλα περ πολύϊδριν ἐοῦσαν.
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης ἴομεν μετὰ παῖδʼ ἐμόν, ὄφρα ἴδωμαι
ἄνδρας μνηστῆρας τεθνηότας, ἠδʼ ὃς ἔπεφνεν.
So saying, she came down from the upper chamber; and her heart
turned much over, whether to question her dear husband from a distance,
or to stand beside him and take his hands and kiss his head.
But when she came in and crossed the threshold of stone,
she sat down facing Odysseus, in the light of the fire,
against the other wall; and he sat by a tall pillar,
looking down, waiting to see whether his strong wife
would say anything to him, now that she saw him with her eyes.
But she sat long in silence, and amazement came upon her heart;
and at one moment she looked at him full in the face,
and at another failed to know him, in the poor clothes on his body.
And Telemachus rebuked her, and spoke, and called her by name:
turned much over, whether to question her dear husband from a distance,
or to stand beside him and take his hands and kiss his head.
But when she came in and crossed the threshold of stone,
she sat down facing Odysseus, in the light of the fire,
against the other wall; and he sat by a tall pillar,
looking down, waiting to see whether his strong wife
would say anything to him, now that she saw him with her eyes.
But she sat long in silence, and amazement came upon her heart;
and at one moment she looked at him full in the face,
and at another failed to know him, in the poor clothes on his body.
And Telemachus rebuked her, and spoke, and called her by name:
ὣς φαμένη κατέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα· πολλὰ δέ οἱ κῆρ
ὥρμαινʼ, ἢ ἀπάνευθε φίλον πόσιν ἐξερεείνοι,
ἦ παρστᾶσα κύσειε κάρη καὶ χεῖρε λαβοῦσα.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν,
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐναντίη, ἐν πυρὸς αὐγῇ,
τοίχου τοῦ ἑτέρου· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρὸς κίονα μακρὴν
ἧστο κάτω ὁρόων, ποτιδέγμενος εἴ τί μιν εἴποι
ἰφθίμη παράκοιτις, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν.
ἡ δʼ ἄνεω δὴν ἧστο, τάφος δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἵκανεν·
ὄψει δʼ ἄλλοτε μέν μιν ἐνωπαδίως ἐσίδεσκεν,
ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀγνώσασκε κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
ὥρμαινʼ, ἢ ἀπάνευθε φίλον πόσιν ἐξερεείνοι,
ἦ παρστᾶσα κύσειε κάρη καὶ χεῖρε λαβοῦσα.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν,
ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐναντίη, ἐν πυρὸς αὐγῇ,
τοίχου τοῦ ἑτέρου· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρὸς κίονα μακρὴν
ἧστο κάτω ὁρόων, ποτιδέγμενος εἴ τί μιν εἴποι
ἰφθίμη παράκοιτις, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν.
ἡ δʼ ἄνεω δὴν ἧστο, τάφος δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἵκανεν·
ὄψει δʼ ἄλλοτε μέν μιν ἐνωπαδίως ἐσίδεσκεν,
ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀγνώσασκε κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
"My mother — hard mother, with your unfeeling spirit —
why do you hold aloof from my father like this, and not sit
beside him and ask him questions and inquire?
No other woman would hold herself back with so enduring a spirit
from her husband, who after suffering many evils
came in the twentieth year to his native land;
but your heart is always harder than stone."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
why do you hold aloof from my father like this, and not sit
beside him and ask him questions and inquire?
No other woman would hold herself back with so enduring a spirit
from her husband, who after suffering many evils
came in the twentieth year to his native land;
but your heart is always harder than stone."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
μῆτερ ἐμή, δύσμητερ, ἀπηνέα θυμὸν ἔχουσα,
τίφθʼ οὕτω πατρὸς νοσφίζεαι, οὐδὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν
ἑζομένη μύθοισιν ἀνείρεαι οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷς;
οὐ μέν κʼ ἄλλη γʼ ὧδε γυνὴ τετληότι θυμῷ
ἀνδρὸς ἀφεσταίη, ὅς οἱ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
ἔλθοι ἐεικοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
σοὶ δʼ αἰεὶ κραδίη στερεωτέρη ἐστὶ λίθοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
τίφθʼ οὕτω πατρὸς νοσφίζεαι, οὐδὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν
ἑζομένη μύθοισιν ἀνείρεαι οὐδὲ μεταλλᾷς;
οὐ μέν κʼ ἄλλη γʼ ὧδε γυνὴ τετληότι θυμῷ
ἀνδρὸς ἀφεσταίη, ὅς οἱ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
ἔλθοι ἐεικοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
σοὶ δʼ αἰεὶ κραδίη στερεωτέρη ἐστὶ λίθοιο.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"My child, the spirit in my breast is astonished,
and I can neither speak a word to him nor ask him anything,
nor look him in the face. But if he is really
Odysseus and has reached his home, then surely the two of us
shall know each other, and better than this; for we have
signs, which we two know, hidden from all others."
and I can neither speak a word to him nor ask him anything,
nor look him in the face. But if he is really
Odysseus and has reached his home, then surely the two of us
shall know each other, and better than this; for we have
signs, which we two know, hidden from all others."
τέκνον ἐμόν, θυμός μοι ἐνὶ στήθεσσι τέθηπεν,
οὐδέ τι προσφάσθαι δύναμαι ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐρέεσθαι
οὐδʼ εἰς ὦπα ἰδέσθαι ἐναντίον. εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ
ἔστʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ἦ μάλα νῶϊ
γνωσόμεθʼ ἀλλήλων καὶ λώϊον· ἔστι γὰρ ἡμῖν
σήμαθʼ, ἃ δὴ καὶ νῶϊ κεκρυμμένα ἴδμεν ἀπʼ ἄλλων.
οὐδέ τι προσφάσθαι δύναμαι ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐρέεσθαι
οὐδʼ εἰς ὦπα ἰδέσθαι ἐναντίον. εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ
ἔστʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ οἶκον ἱκάνεται, ἦ μάλα νῶϊ
γνωσόμεθʼ ἀλλήλων καὶ λώϊον· ἔστι γὰρ ἡμῖν
σήμαθʼ, ἃ δὴ καὶ νῶϊ κεκρυμμένα ἴδμεν ἀπʼ ἄλλων.
So she spoke, and long-suffering noble Odysseus smiled,
and at once addressed Telemachus with winged words:
and at once addressed Telemachus with winged words:
ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Telemachus, let your mother go on testing me
in the halls; she will soon come to a better mind.
As it is, because I am filthy and wear poor clothes on my body,
for that she dishonours me and does not yet say that I am he.
But let us take thought how all may go far the best.
For when a man has killed even one man in a community,
one who has not many defenders left behind him,
he goes into exile, leaving his kinsmen and his native land;
but we have killed the mainstay of the city, who were far the best
of the young men in Ithaca; and I bid you consider this."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
in the halls; she will soon come to a better mind.
As it is, because I am filthy and wear poor clothes on my body,
for that she dishonours me and does not yet say that I am he.
But let us take thought how all may go far the best.
For when a man has killed even one man in a community,
one who has not many defenders left behind him,
he goes into exile, leaving his kinsmen and his native land;
but we have killed the mainstay of the city, who were far the best
of the young men in Ithaca; and I bid you consider this."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἦ τοι μητέρʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔασον
πειράζειν ἐμέθεν· τάχα δὲ φράσεται καὶ ἄρειον.
νῦν δʼ ὅττι ῥυπόω, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷμαι,
τοὔνεκʼ ἀτιμάζει με καὶ οὔ πω φησὶ τὸν εἶναι.
ἡμεῖς δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένηται.
καὶ γάρ τίς θʼ ἕνα φῶτα κατακτείνας ἐνὶ δήμῳ,
ᾧ μὴ πολλοὶ ἔωσιν ἀοσσητῆρες ὀπίσσω,
φεύγει πηούς τε προλιπὼν καὶ πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἕρμα πόληος ἀπέκταμεν, οἳ μέγʼ ἄριστοι
κούρων εἰν Ἰθάκῃ· τὰ δέ σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
πειράζειν ἐμέθεν· τάχα δὲ φράσεται καὶ ἄρειον.
νῦν δʼ ὅττι ῥυπόω, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷμαι,
τοὔνεκʼ ἀτιμάζει με καὶ οὔ πω φησὶ τὸν εἶναι.
ἡμεῖς δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένηται.
καὶ γάρ τίς θʼ ἕνα φῶτα κατακτείνας ἐνὶ δήμῳ,
ᾧ μὴ πολλοὶ ἔωσιν ἀοσσητῆρες ὀπίσσω,
φεύγει πηούς τε προλιπὼν καὶ πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἕρμα πόληος ἀπέκταμεν, οἳ μέγʼ ἄριστοι
κούρων εἰν Ἰθάκῃ· τὰ δέ σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Look to these things yourself, dear father; for they say your counsel
is the best among men, and that no other man
of mortal men could contend with you.
We will follow with you eagerly, and I say that we shall not
lack valour, so far as our strength goes."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
"Then I will tell you what seems to me the best way.
First wash yourselves and put on your tunics,
and tell the serving women in the halls to take fresh clothes;
and let the divine singer, with his clear-toned lyre,
lead off for us the sportive dance,
so that anyone hearing it from outside would say it was a wedding,
whether he walked along the road or lived nearby;
so that no wide report of the slaughter of the suitors
may go through the town before we have gone out
to our own farm with its many trees; and there afterwards
we will consider what advantage the Olympian may put in our hands."
is the best among men, and that no other man
of mortal men could contend with you.
We will follow with you eagerly, and I say that we shall not
lack valour, so far as our strength goes."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
"Then I will tell you what seems to me the best way.
First wash yourselves and put on your tunics,
and tell the serving women in the halls to take fresh clothes;
and let the divine singer, with his clear-toned lyre,
lead off for us the sportive dance,
so that anyone hearing it from outside would say it was a wedding,
whether he walked along the road or lived nearby;
so that no wide report of the slaughter of the suitors
may go through the town before we have gone out
to our own farm with its many trees; and there afterwards
we will consider what advantage the Olympian may put in our hands."
αὐτὸς ταῦτά γε λεῦσσε, πάτερ φίλε· σὴν γὰρ ἀρίστην
μῆτιν ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους φάσʼ ἔμμεναι, οὐδέ κέ τίς τοι
ἄλλος ἀνὴρ ἐρίσειε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐμμεμαῶτες ἅμʼ ἑψόμεθʼ, οὐδέ τί φημι
ἀλκῆς δευήσεσθαι, ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστιν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα.
πρῶτα μὲν ἂρ λούσασθε καὶ ἀμφιέσασθε χιτῶνας,
δμῳὰς δʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀνώγετε εἵμαθʼ ἑλέσθαι·
αὐτὰρ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς ἔχων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
ἡμῖν ἡγείσθω φιλοπαίγμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο,
ὥς κέν τις φαίη γάμον ἔμμεναι ἐκτὸς ἀκούων,
ἢ ἀνʼ ὁδὸν στείχων, ἢ οἳ περιναιετάουσι·
μὴ πρόσθε κλέος εὐρὺ φόνου κατὰ ἄστυ γένηται
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, πρίν γʼ ἡμέας ἐλθέμεν ἔξω
ἀγρὸν ἐς ἡμέτερον πολυδένδρεον· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα
φρασσόμεθʼ ὅττι κε κέρδος Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγυαλίξῃ.
μῆτιν ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους φάσʼ ἔμμεναι, οὐδέ κέ τίς τοι
ἄλλος ἀνὴρ ἐρίσειε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων.
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐμμεμαῶτες ἅμʼ ἑψόμεθʼ, οὐδέ τί φημι
ἀλκῆς δευήσεσθαι, ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστιν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα.
πρῶτα μὲν ἂρ λούσασθε καὶ ἀμφιέσασθε χιτῶνας,
δμῳὰς δʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀνώγετε εἵμαθʼ ἑλέσθαι·
αὐτὰρ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς ἔχων φόρμιγγα λίγειαν
ἡμῖν ἡγείσθω φιλοπαίγμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο,
ὥς κέν τις φαίη γάμον ἔμμεναι ἐκτὸς ἀκούων,
ἢ ἀνʼ ὁδὸν στείχων, ἢ οἳ περιναιετάουσι·
μὴ πρόσθε κλέος εὐρὺ φόνου κατὰ ἄστυ γένηται
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, πρίν γʼ ἡμέας ἐλθέμεν ἔξω
ἀγρὸν ἐς ἡμέτερον πολυδένδρεον· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα
φρασσόμεθʼ ὅττι κε κέρδος Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγυαλίξῃ.
So he spoke, and they listened well to him and obeyed.
First they washed and put on their tunics,
and the women dressed themselves; and the divine singer took
the hollow lyre, and stirred in them the desire
for sweet song and for the blameless dance.
And the great house rang about them with the feet
of men at their sport and of fair-girdled women.
And thus would one say who heard it from outside the house:
"Surely someone has married the much-wooed queen;
hard woman, she could not endure to guard the great house
of her wedded husband to the end, until he came."
First they washed and put on their tunics,
and the women dressed themselves; and the divine singer took
the hollow lyre, and stirred in them the desire
for sweet song and for the blameless dance.
And the great house rang about them with the feet
of men at their sport and of fair-girdled women.
And thus would one say who heard it from outside the house:
"Surely someone has married the much-wooed queen;
hard woman, she could not endure to guard the great house
of her wedded husband to the end, until he came."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο
πρῶτα μὲν οὖν λούσαντο καὶ ἀμφιέσαντο χιτῶνας,
ὅπλισθεν δὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δʼ εἵλετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
φόρμιγγα γλαφυρήν, ἐν δέ σφισιν ἵμερον ὦρσε
μολπῆς τε γλυκερῆς καὶ ἀμύμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο.
τοῖσιν δὲ μέγα δῶμα περιστεναχίζετο ποσσὶν
ἀνδρῶν παιζόντων καλλιζώνων τε γυναικῶν.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε δόμων ἔκτοσθεν ἀκούων·
ἦ μάλα δή τις ἔγημε πολυμνήστην βασίλειαν·
σχετλίη, οὐδʼ ἔτλη πόσιος οὗ κουριδίοιο
εἴρυσθαι μέγα δῶμα διαμπερές, ἧος ἵκοιτο.
πρῶτα μὲν οὖν λούσαντο καὶ ἀμφιέσαντο χιτῶνας,
ὅπλισθεν δὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δʼ εἵλετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
φόρμιγγα γλαφυρήν, ἐν δέ σφισιν ἵμερον ὦρσε
μολπῆς τε γλυκερῆς καὶ ἀμύμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο.
τοῖσιν δὲ μέγα δῶμα περιστεναχίζετο ποσσὶν
ἀνδρῶν παιζόντων καλλιζώνων τε γυναικῶν.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε δόμων ἔκτοσθεν ἀκούων·
ἦ μάλα δή τις ἔγημε πολυμνήστην βασίλειαν·
σχετλίη, οὐδʼ ἔτλη πόσιος οὗ κουριδίοιο
εἴρυσθαι μέγα δῶμα διαμπερές, ἧος ἵκοιτο.
So would one say; but they did not know how things stood.
But high-hearted Odysseus, in his own house,
Eurynome the housekeeper bathed and rubbed with oil,
and threw a fine cloak about him and a tunic;
and over his head Athena poured great beauty,
taller to look at and broader, and down from his head
she sent curling hair, like the hyacinth flower.
As when a skilled man pours gold over silver,
one whom Hephaestus and Pallas Athena have taught
every kind of craft, and he brings graceful works to completion,
But high-hearted Odysseus, in his own house,
Eurynome the housekeeper bathed and rubbed with oil,
and threw a fine cloak about him and a tunic;
and over his head Athena poured great beauty,
taller to look at and broader, and down from his head
she sent curling hair, like the hyacinth flower.
As when a skilled man pours gold over silver,
one whom Hephaestus and Pallas Athena have taught
every kind of craft, and he brings graceful works to completion,
ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο.
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη λοῦσεν καὶ χρῖσεν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φᾶρος καλὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα·
αὐτὰρ κὰκ κεφαλῆς κάλλος πολὺ χεῦεν Ἀθήνη
μείζονά τʼ εἰσιδέειν καὶ πάσσονα· κὰδ δὲ κάρητος
οὔλας ἧκε κόμας, ὑακινθίνῳ ἄνθει ὁμοίας.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις χρυσὸν περιχεύεται ἀργύρῳ ἀνὴρ
ἴδρις, ὃν Ἥφαιστος δέδαεν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
τέχνην παντοίην, χαρίεντα δὲ ἔργα τελείει·
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη λοῦσεν καὶ χρῖσεν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φᾶρος καλὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα·
αὐτὰρ κὰκ κεφαλῆς κάλλος πολὺ χεῦεν Ἀθήνη
μείζονά τʼ εἰσιδέειν καὶ πάσσονα· κὰδ δὲ κάρητος
οὔλας ἧκε κόμας, ὑακινθίνῳ ἄνθει ὁμοίας.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις χρυσὸν περιχεύεται ἀργύρῳ ἀνὴρ
ἴδρις, ὃν Ἥφαιστος δέδαεν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
τέχνην παντοίην, χαρίεντα δὲ ἔργα τελείει·
so she poured grace over his head and his shoulders.
And he stepped from the bath, like the immortals in his body,
and sat down again on the chair from which he had risen,
facing his wife, and spoke a word to her:
And he stepped from the bath, like the immortals in his body,
and sat down again on the chair from which he had risen,
facing his wife, and spoke a word to her:
ὣς μὲν τῷ περίχευε χάριν κεφαλῇ τε καὶ ὤμοις.
ἐκ δʼ ἀσαμίνθου βῆ δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος·
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη,
ἀντίον ἧς ἀλόχου, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
ἐκ δʼ ἀσαμίνθου βῆ δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος·
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου ἔνθεν ἀνέστη,
ἀντίον ἧς ἀλόχου, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
"Strange woman, beyond all women
those who hold the halls of Olympus have made your heart unyielding.
No other woman would hold herself back with so enduring a spirit
from her husband, who after suffering many evils
came in the twentieth year to his native land.
But come, nurse, spread a bed for me, so that I myself
may lie down; for the heart in her breast is of iron."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
those who hold the halls of Olympus have made your heart unyielding.
No other woman would hold herself back with so enduring a spirit
from her husband, who after suffering many evils
came in the twentieth year to his native land.
But come, nurse, spread a bed for me, so that I myself
may lie down; for the heart in her breast is of iron."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
δαιμονίη, περί σοί γε γυναικῶν θηλυτεράων
κῆρ ἀτέραμνον ἔθηκαν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες·
οὐ μέν κʼ ἄλλη γʼ ὧδε γυνὴ τετληότι θυμῷ
ἀνδρὸς ἀφεσταίη, ὅς οἱ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
ἔλθοι ἐεικοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι, μαῖα, στόρεσον λέχος, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὸς
λέξομαι· ἦ γὰρ τῇ γε σιδήρεον ἐν φρεσὶ ἦτορ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
κῆρ ἀτέραμνον ἔθηκαν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες·
οὐ μέν κʼ ἄλλη γʼ ὧδε γυνὴ τετληότι θυμῷ
ἀνδρὸς ἀφεσταίη, ὅς οἱ κακὰ πολλὰ μογήσας
ἔλθοι ἐεικοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι, μαῖα, στόρεσον λέχος, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὸς
λέξομαι· ἦ γὰρ τῇ γε σιδήρεον ἐν φρεσὶ ἦτορ.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Strange man, I am not putting on airs, nor am I slighting you,
nor am I too much amazed; I know very well what you were like
when you went from Ithaca on your long-oared ship.
But come, Eurycleia, spread the strong bed for him
outside the well-built chamber which he made himself;
put the strong bed out there for him and lay the bedding on it,
fleeces and cloaks and shining coverlets."
nor am I too much amazed; I know very well what you were like
when you went from Ithaca on your long-oared ship.
But come, Eurycleia, spread the strong bed for him
outside the well-built chamber which he made himself;
put the strong bed out there for him and lay the bedding on it,
fleeces and cloaks and shining coverlets."
δαιμόνιʼ, οὔτʼ ἄρ τι μεγαλίζομαι οὔτʼ ἀθερίζω
οὔτε λίην ἄγαμαι, μάλα δʼ εὖ οἶδʼ οἷος ἔησθα
ἐξ Ἰθάκης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰὼν δολιχηρέτμοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ στόρεσον πυκινὸν λέχος, Εὐρύκλεια,
ἐκτὸς ἐϋσταθέος θαλάμου, τόν ῥʼ αὐτὸς ἐποίει·
ἔνθα οἱ ἐκθεῖσαι πυκινὸν λέχος ἐμβάλετʼ εὐνήν,
κώεα καὶ χλαίνας καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα.
οὔτε λίην ἄγαμαι, μάλα δʼ εὖ οἶδʼ οἷος ἔησθα
ἐξ Ἰθάκης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰὼν δολιχηρέτμοιο.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ στόρεσον πυκινὸν λέχος, Εὐρύκλεια,
ἐκτὸς ἐϋσταθέος θαλάμου, τόν ῥʼ αὐτὸς ἐποίει·
ἔνθα οἱ ἐκθεῖσαι πυκινὸν λέχος ἐμβάλετʼ εὐνήν,
κώεα καὶ χλαίνας καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα.
So she spoke, making trial of her husband; but Odysseus
was vexed, and spoke to his wife who knew wise things:
was vexed, and spoke to his wife who knew wise things:
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη πόσιος πειρωμένη· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὀχθήσας ἄλοχον προσεφώνεε κεδνὰ ἰδυῖαν·
ὀχθήσας ἄλοχον προσεφώνεε κεδνὰ ἰδυῖαν·
"Wife, this is truly a word that galls the heart that you have spoken.
ὦ γύναι, ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος θυμαλγὲς ἔειπες·
Who has moved my bed elsewhere? It would be hard,
even for a very skilled man, unless a god himself came
and easily, by his will, set it in another place.
But of living mortal men not one, not even in his full youth,
could easily lever it aside, since a great sign is built
into that crafted bed; and I made it, no one else.
There grew a long-leaved olive bush inside the courtyard,
full-grown and flourishing; and it was as thick as a pillar.
About it I built my chamber, until I had finished it,
with close-set stones, and I roofed it over well,
and set jointed doors upon it, close-fitting.
And then I cut away the foliage of the long-leaved olive,
and trimmed the trunk from the root up and smoothed it with the bronze
well and skilfully, and made it straight to the line,
and worked it into a bedpost, and bored it all through with the auger.
Beginning from that, I planed out the bed until I had finished it,
inlaying it with gold and silver and ivory;
and I stretched across it an ox-hide thong, bright with purple.
So I declare this sign to you; but I do not know,
wife, whether my bed still stands fast, or whether some man
has already moved it elsewhere, cutting through the olive stump."
even for a very skilled man, unless a god himself came
and easily, by his will, set it in another place.
But of living mortal men not one, not even in his full youth,
could easily lever it aside, since a great sign is built
into that crafted bed; and I made it, no one else.
There grew a long-leaved olive bush inside the courtyard,
full-grown and flourishing; and it was as thick as a pillar.
About it I built my chamber, until I had finished it,
with close-set stones, and I roofed it over well,
and set jointed doors upon it, close-fitting.
And then I cut away the foliage of the long-leaved olive,
and trimmed the trunk from the root up and smoothed it with the bronze
well and skilfully, and made it straight to the line,
and worked it into a bedpost, and bored it all through with the auger.
Beginning from that, I planed out the bed until I had finished it,
inlaying it with gold and silver and ivory;
and I stretched across it an ox-hide thong, bright with purple.
So I declare this sign to you; but I do not know,
wife, whether my bed still stands fast, or whether some man
has already moved it elsewhere, cutting through the olive stump."
τίς δέ μοι ἄλλοσε θῆκε λέχος; χαλεπὸν δέ κεν εἴη
καὶ μάλʼ ἐπισταμένῳ, ὅτε μὴ θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
ῥηϊδίως ἐθέλων θείη ἄλλῃ ἐνὶ χώρῃ.
ἀνδρῶν δʼ οὔ κέν τις ζωὸς βροτός, οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἡβῶν,
ῥεῖα μετοχλίσσειεν, ἐπεὶ μέγα σῆμα τέτυκται
ἐν λέχει ἀσκητῷ· τὸ δʼ ἐγὼ κάμον οὐδέ τις ἄλλος.
θάμνος ἔφυ τανύφυλλος ἐλαίης ἕρκεος ἐντός,
ἀκμηνὸς θαλέθων· πάχετος δʼ ἦν ἠΰτε κίων.
τῷ δʼ ἐγὼ ἀμφιβαλὼν θάλαμον δέμον, ὄφρʼ ἐτέλεσσα,
πυκνῇσιν λιθάδεσσι, καὶ εὖ καθύπερθεν ἔρεψα,
κολλητὰς δʼ ἐπέθηκα θύρας, πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας.
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπέκοψα κόμην τανυφύλλου ἐλαίης,
κορμὸν δʼ ἐκ ῥίζης προταμὼν ἀμφέξεσα χαλκῷ
εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως, καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνα,
ἑρμῖνʼ ἀσκήσας, τέτρηνα δὲ πάντα τερέτρῳ.
ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ἀρχόμενος λέχος ἔξεον, ὄφρʼ ἐτέλεσσα,
δαιδάλλων χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ ἠδʼ ἐλέφαντι·
ἐκ δʼ ἐτάνυσσα ἱμάντα βοὸς φοίνικι φαεινόν.
οὕτω τοι τόδε σῆμα πιφαύσκομαι· οὐδέ τι οἶδα,
ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἔμπεδόν ἐστι, γύναι, λέχος, ἦέ τις ἤδη
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλοσε θῆκε, ταμὼν ὕπο πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης.
καὶ μάλʼ ἐπισταμένῳ, ὅτε μὴ θεὸς αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
ῥηϊδίως ἐθέλων θείη ἄλλῃ ἐνὶ χώρῃ.
ἀνδρῶν δʼ οὔ κέν τις ζωὸς βροτός, οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἡβῶν,
ῥεῖα μετοχλίσσειεν, ἐπεὶ μέγα σῆμα τέτυκται
ἐν λέχει ἀσκητῷ· τὸ δʼ ἐγὼ κάμον οὐδέ τις ἄλλος.
θάμνος ἔφυ τανύφυλλος ἐλαίης ἕρκεος ἐντός,
ἀκμηνὸς θαλέθων· πάχετος δʼ ἦν ἠΰτε κίων.
τῷ δʼ ἐγὼ ἀμφιβαλὼν θάλαμον δέμον, ὄφρʼ ἐτέλεσσα,
πυκνῇσιν λιθάδεσσι, καὶ εὖ καθύπερθεν ἔρεψα,
κολλητὰς δʼ ἐπέθηκα θύρας, πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας.
καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπέκοψα κόμην τανυφύλλου ἐλαίης,
κορμὸν δʼ ἐκ ῥίζης προταμὼν ἀμφέξεσα χαλκῷ
εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως, καὶ ἐπὶ στάθμην ἴθυνα,
ἑρμῖνʼ ἀσκήσας, τέτρηνα δὲ πάντα τερέτρῳ.
ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ἀρχόμενος λέχος ἔξεον, ὄφρʼ ἐτέλεσσα,
δαιδάλλων χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ ἠδʼ ἐλέφαντι·
ἐκ δʼ ἐτάνυσσα ἱμάντα βοὸς φοίνικι φαεινόν.
οὕτω τοι τόδε σῆμα πιφαύσκομαι· οὐδέ τι οἶδα,
ἤ μοι ἔτʼ ἔμπεδόν ἐστι, γύναι, λέχος, ἦέ τις ἤδη
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλοσε θῆκε, ταμὼν ὕπο πυθμένʼ ἐλαίης.
So he spoke, and her knees and her heart gave way where she stood,
as she knew the signs that Odysseus told her, certain and sure;
and then, bursting into tears, she ran straight to him and threw her arms
about the neck of Odysseus, and kissed his head, and spoke:
as she knew the signs that Odysseus told her, certain and sure;
and then, bursting into tears, she ran straight to him and threw her arms
about the neck of Odysseus, and kissed his head, and spoke:
ὣς φάτο, τῆς δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
σήματʼ ἀναγνούσῃ τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
δακρύσασα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰθὺς δράμεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρας
δειρῇ βάλλʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ, κάρη δʼ ἔκυσʼ ἠδὲ προσηύδα·
σήματʼ ἀναγνούσῃ τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·
δακρύσασα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰθὺς δράμεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖρας
δειρῇ βάλλʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ, κάρη δʼ ἔκυσʼ ἠδὲ προσηύδα·
"Do not be angry with me, Odysseus, since in all else
you were the most prudent of men. The gods gave us misery;
they grudged us that we should stay beside each other
and have the joy of our youth and come to the threshold of old age.
But do not now be angry with me for this, or blame me,
that I did not welcome you like this at first, when I saw you.
For always the spirit in my own breast
shuddered lest some mortal come and deceive me
with his words; for many plan evil gains.
Nor would Argive Helen, sprung from Zeus,
have lain in love and in bed with a man of another land,
if she had known that the warlike sons of the Achaeans
would bring her back home to her own native land.
It was a god who stirred her to do that unseemly deed;
and she did not lay up in her own spirit beforehand
that grim ruin, from which grief first came upon us too.
But now, since you have recounted the clear signs
of our bed, which no other mortal has ever seen,
but only you and I and one single handmaid,
Actoris, whom my father gave me when I first came here,
and who kept the doors of our strong chamber for us —
you persuade my spirit, hard as it is."
you were the most prudent of men. The gods gave us misery;
they grudged us that we should stay beside each other
and have the joy of our youth and come to the threshold of old age.
But do not now be angry with me for this, or blame me,
that I did not welcome you like this at first, when I saw you.
For always the spirit in my own breast
shuddered lest some mortal come and deceive me
with his words; for many plan evil gains.
Nor would Argive Helen, sprung from Zeus,
have lain in love and in bed with a man of another land,
if she had known that the warlike sons of the Achaeans
would bring her back home to her own native land.
It was a god who stirred her to do that unseemly deed;
and she did not lay up in her own spirit beforehand
that grim ruin, from which grief first came upon us too.
But now, since you have recounted the clear signs
of our bed, which no other mortal has ever seen,
but only you and I and one single handmaid,
Actoris, whom my father gave me when I first came here,
and who kept the doors of our strong chamber for us —
you persuade my spirit, hard as it is."
μή μοι, Ὀδυσσεῦ, σκύζευ, ἐπεὶ τά περ ἄλλα μάλιστα
ἀνθρώπων πέπνυσο· θεοὶ δʼ ὤπαζον ὀϊζύν,
οἳ νῶϊν ἀγάσαντο παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντε
ἥβης ταρπῆναι καὶ γήραος οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ μὴ νῦν μοι τόδε χώεο μηδὲ νεμέσσα,
οὕνεκά σʼ οὐ τὸ πρῶτον, ἐπεὶ ἴδον, ὧδʼ ἀγάπησα.
αἰεὶ γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν
ἐρρίγει μή τίς με βροτῶν ἀπάφοιτο ἔπεσσιν
ἐλθών· πολλοὶ γὰρ κακὰ κέρδεα βουλεύουσιν.
οὐδέ κεν Ἀργείη Ἑλένη, Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,
ἀνδρὶ παρʼ ἀλλοδαπῷ ἐμίγη φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ,
εἰ ᾔδη ὅ μιν αὖτις ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἀξέμεναι οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔμελλον.
τὴν δʼ ἦ τοι ῥέξαι θεὸς ὤρορεν ἔργον ἀεικές·
τὴν δʼ ἄτην οὐ πρόσθεν ἑῷ ἐγκάτθετο θυμῷ
λυγρήν, ἐξ ἧς πρῶτα καὶ ἡμέας ἵκετο πένθος.
νῦν δʼ, ἐπεὶ ἤδη σήματʼ ἀριφραδέα κατέλεξας
εὐνῆς ἡμετέρης, ἣν οὐ βροτὸς ἄλλος ὀπώπει,
ἀλλʼ οἶοι σύ τʼ ἐγώ τε καὶ ἀμφίπολος μία μούνη,
Ἀκτορίς, ἥν μοι δῶκε πατὴρ ἔτι δεῦρο κιούσῃ,
ἣ νῶϊν εἴρυτο θύρας πυκινοῦ θαλάμοιο,
πείθεις δή μευ θυμόν, ἀπηνέα περ μάλʼ ἐόντα.
ἀνθρώπων πέπνυσο· θεοὶ δʼ ὤπαζον ὀϊζύν,
οἳ νῶϊν ἀγάσαντο παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντε
ἥβης ταρπῆναι καὶ γήραος οὐδὸν ἱκέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ μὴ νῦν μοι τόδε χώεο μηδὲ νεμέσσα,
οὕνεκά σʼ οὐ τὸ πρῶτον, ἐπεὶ ἴδον, ὧδʼ ἀγάπησα.
αἰεὶ γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν
ἐρρίγει μή τίς με βροτῶν ἀπάφοιτο ἔπεσσιν
ἐλθών· πολλοὶ γὰρ κακὰ κέρδεα βουλεύουσιν.
οὐδέ κεν Ἀργείη Ἑλένη, Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,
ἀνδρὶ παρʼ ἀλλοδαπῷ ἐμίγη φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ,
εἰ ᾔδη ὅ μιν αὖτις ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἀξέμεναι οἶκόνδε φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔμελλον.
τὴν δʼ ἦ τοι ῥέξαι θεὸς ὤρορεν ἔργον ἀεικές·
τὴν δʼ ἄτην οὐ πρόσθεν ἑῷ ἐγκάτθετο θυμῷ
λυγρήν, ἐξ ἧς πρῶτα καὶ ἡμέας ἵκετο πένθος.
νῦν δʼ, ἐπεὶ ἤδη σήματʼ ἀριφραδέα κατέλεξας
εὐνῆς ἡμετέρης, ἣν οὐ βροτὸς ἄλλος ὀπώπει,
ἀλλʼ οἶοι σύ τʼ ἐγώ τε καὶ ἀμφίπολος μία μούνη,
Ἀκτορίς, ἥν μοι δῶκε πατὴρ ἔτι δεῦρο κιούσῃ,
ἣ νῶϊν εἴρυτο θύρας πυκινοῦ θαλάμοιο,
πείθεις δή μευ θυμόν, ἀπηνέα περ μάλʼ ἐόντα.
So she spoke, and stirred in him still more the longing to weep;
and he wept, holding his heart’s own wife, who knew wise things.
As when the land shows welcome to men swimming,
whose well-made ship Poseidon has shattered on the sea
as it drove on under the wind and the heavy wave;
and few have escaped from the grey sea to the mainland,
swimming, and thick brine has crusted on their bodies,
and gladly they set foot on land, escaped from disaster;
and he wept, holding his heart’s own wife, who knew wise things.
As when the land shows welcome to men swimming,
whose well-made ship Poseidon has shattered on the sea
as it drove on under the wind and the heavy wave;
and few have escaped from the grey sea to the mainland,
swimming, and thick brine has crusted on their bodies,
and gladly they set foot on land, escaped from disaster;
ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο·
κλαῖε δʼ ἔχων ἄλοχον θυμαρέα, κεδνὰ ἰδυῖαν.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀσπάσιος γῆ νηχομένοισι φανήῃ,
ὧν τε Ποσειδάων εὐεργέα νῆʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
ῥαίσῃ, ἐπειγομένην ἀνέμῳ καὶ κύματι πηγῷ·
παῦροι δʼ ἐξέφυγον πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἤπειρόνδε
νηχόμενοι, πολλὴ δὲ περὶ χροῒ τέτροφεν ἅλμη,
ἀσπάσιοι δʼ ἐπέβαν γαίης, κακότητα φυγόντες·
κλαῖε δʼ ἔχων ἄλοχον θυμαρέα, κεδνὰ ἰδυῖαν.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀσπάσιος γῆ νηχομένοισι φανήῃ,
ὧν τε Ποσειδάων εὐεργέα νῆʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
ῥαίσῃ, ἐπειγομένην ἀνέμῳ καὶ κύματι πηγῷ·
παῦροι δʼ ἐξέφυγον πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἤπειρόνδε
νηχόμενοι, πολλὴ δὲ περὶ χροῒ τέτροφεν ἅλμη,
ἀσπάσιοι δʼ ἐπέβαν γαίης, κακότητα φυγόντες·
so welcome to her was her husband as she looked at him,
and she would not let her white arms go from his neck at all.
And now rosy-fingered Dawn would have appeared upon their weeping,
had not the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of another thing.
She held the long night back at its ending, and Dawn in turn
she checked at Ocean, the golden-throned, and would not let her yoke
the swift-footed horses that bring light to men,
Lampus and Phaethon, the colts that draw the Dawn.
And then Odysseus of many devices spoke to his wife:
"Wife, we have not yet come to the end of all our trials,
but there will still be immeasurable labour to come,
much and hard, which I must carry through to the end.
For so the spirit of Teiresias prophesied to me
on the day when I went down into the house of Hades,
seeking a homecoming for my companions and for myself.
But come, wife, let us go to bed, so that even now
we may lie down and take our joy of sweet sleep."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
and she would not let her white arms go from his neck at all.
And now rosy-fingered Dawn would have appeared upon their weeping,
had not the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of another thing.
She held the long night back at its ending, and Dawn in turn
she checked at Ocean, the golden-throned, and would not let her yoke
the swift-footed horses that bring light to men,
Lampus and Phaethon, the colts that draw the Dawn.
And then Odysseus of many devices spoke to his wife:
"Wife, we have not yet come to the end of all our trials,
but there will still be immeasurable labour to come,
much and hard, which I must carry through to the end.
For so the spirit of Teiresias prophesied to me
on the day when I went down into the house of Hades,
seeking a homecoming for my companions and for myself.
But come, wife, let us go to bed, so that even now
we may lie down and take our joy of sweet sleep."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ὣς ἄρα τῇ ἀσπαστὸς ἔην πόσις εἰσοροώσῃ,
δειρῆς δʼ οὔ πω πάμπαν ἀφίετο πήχεε λευκώ.
καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισι φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
νύκτα μὲν ἐν περάτῃ δολιχὴν σχέθεν, Ἠῶ δʼ αὖτε
ῥύσατʼ ἐπʼ Ὠκεανῷ χρυσόθρονον, οὐδʼ ἔα ἵππους
ζεύγνυσθʼ ὠκύποδας, φάος ἀνθρώποισι φέροντας,
Λάμπον καὶ Φαέθονθʼ, οἵ τʼ Ἠῶ πῶλοι ἄγουσι.
καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἣν ἄλοχον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
ὦ γύναι, οὐ γάρ πω πάντων ἐπὶ πείρατʼ ἀέθλων
ἤλθομεν, ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ὄπισθεν ἀμέτρητος πόνος ἔσται,
πολλὸς καὶ χαλεπός, τὸν ἐμὲ χρὴ πάντα τελέσσαι.
ὣς γάρ μοι ψυχὴ μαντεύσατο Τειρεσίαο
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε δὴ κατέβην δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,
νόστον ἑταίροισιν διζήμενος ἠδʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ.
ἀλλʼ ἔρχευ, λέκτρονδʼ ἴομεν, γύναι, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδη
ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
δειρῆς δʼ οὔ πω πάμπαν ἀφίετο πήχεε λευκώ.
καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισι φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
νύκτα μὲν ἐν περάτῃ δολιχὴν σχέθεν, Ἠῶ δʼ αὖτε
ῥύσατʼ ἐπʼ Ὠκεανῷ χρυσόθρονον, οὐδʼ ἔα ἵππους
ζεύγνυσθʼ ὠκύποδας, φάος ἀνθρώποισι φέροντας,
Λάμπον καὶ Φαέθονθʼ, οἵ τʼ Ἠῶ πῶλοι ἄγουσι.
καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἣν ἄλοχον προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
ὦ γύναι, οὐ γάρ πω πάντων ἐπὶ πείρατʼ ἀέθλων
ἤλθομεν, ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ὄπισθεν ἀμέτρητος πόνος ἔσται,
πολλὸς καὶ χαλεπός, τὸν ἐμὲ χρὴ πάντα τελέσσαι.
ὣς γάρ μοι ψυχὴ μαντεύσατο Τειρεσίαο
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε δὴ κατέβην δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,
νόστον ἑταίροισιν διζήμενος ἠδʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ.
ἀλλʼ ἔρχευ, λέκτρονδʼ ἴομεν, γύναι, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδη
ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντε.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"Your bed will be ready for you whenever your spirit
wishes it, since the gods have brought you back
to your well-built house and your native land.
But since you have thought of it, and a god has put it in your spirit,
come, tell me of this trial; for later, I think,
I shall learn of it, and to know it at once is no worse."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
wishes it, since the gods have brought you back
to your well-built house and your native land.
But since you have thought of it, and a god has put it in your spirit,
come, tell me of this trial; for later, I think,
I shall learn of it, and to know it at once is no worse."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered her and said:
εὐνὴ μὲν δή σοί γε τότʼ ἔσσεται ὁππότε θυμῷ
σῷ ἐθέλῃς, ἐπεὶ ἄρ σε θεοὶ ποίησαν ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἐφράσθης καί τοι θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ,
εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι τὸν ἄεθλον, ἐπεὶ καὶ ὄπισθεν, ὀΐω,
πεύσομαι, αὐτίκα δʼ ἐστὶ δαήμεναι οὔ τι χέρειον.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
σῷ ἐθέλῃς, ἐπεὶ ἄρ σε θεοὶ ποίησαν ἱκέσθαι
οἶκον ἐϋκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἐφράσθης καί τοι θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ,
εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι τὸν ἄεθλον, ἐπεὶ καὶ ὄπισθεν, ὀΐω,
πεύσομαι, αὐτίκα δʼ ἐστὶ δαήμεναι οὔ τι χέρειον.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Strange woman, why do you press me so and urge me
to tell it? Well, I will speak out and hide nothing.
Your spirit will not be glad of it; nor am I myself
glad, since he bade me go to very many cities of men,
carrying a shapely oar in my hands,
until I come to men who know nothing of the sea
and eat no food mixed with salt;
nor do they know of ships with crimson cheeks,
nor of shapely oars, which are the wings of ships.
And he told me this sign, very clear; I will not hide it from you:
to tell it? Well, I will speak out and hide nothing.
Your spirit will not be glad of it; nor am I myself
glad, since he bade me go to very many cities of men,
carrying a shapely oar in my hands,
until I come to men who know nothing of the sea
and eat no food mixed with salt;
nor do they know of ships with crimson cheeks,
nor of shapely oars, which are the wings of ships.
And he told me this sign, very clear; I will not hide it from you:
δαιμονίη, τί τʼ ἄρʼ αὖ με μάλʼ ὀτρύνουσα κελεύεις
εἰπέμεν; αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.
οὐ μέν τοι θυμὸς κεχαρήσεται· οὐδὲ γὰρ αὐτὸς
χαίρω, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἄνωγεν
ἐλθεῖν, ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχοντʼ εὐῆρες ἐρετμόν,
εἰς ὅ κε τοὺς ἀφίκωμαι οἳ οὐκ ἴσασι θάλασσαν
ἀνέρες, οὐδέ θʼ ἅλεσσι μεμιγμένον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν·
οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἴσασι νέας φοινικοπαρῄους,
οὐδʼ εὐήρεʼ ἐρετμά, τά τε πτερὰ νηυσὶ πέλονται.
σῆμα δέ μοι τόδʼ ἔειπεν ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε κεύσω·
εἰπέμεν; αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.
οὐ μέν τοι θυμὸς κεχαρήσεται· οὐδὲ γὰρ αὐτὸς
χαίρω, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἄνωγεν
ἐλθεῖν, ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχοντʼ εὐῆρες ἐρετμόν,
εἰς ὅ κε τοὺς ἀφίκωμαι οἳ οὐκ ἴσασι θάλασσαν
ἀνέρες, οὐδέ θʼ ἅλεσσι μεμιγμένον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν·
οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἴσασι νέας φοινικοπαρῄους,
οὐδʼ εὐήρεʼ ἐρετμά, τά τε πτερὰ νηυσὶ πέλονται.
σῆμα δέ μοι τόδʼ ἔειπεν ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε κεύσω·
when another traveller, meeting me,
says that I carry a winnowing-fan on my shining shoulder,
then he bade me fix the oar in the earth,
and offer fine sacrifices to the lord Poseidon,
a ram and a bull and a boar that mounts the sows,
and go home and offer holy hecatombs
to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven,
to all of them in order. And death will come to me from the sea,
a death so gentle that it will take me
worn out with sleek old age; and about me the people
will be prosperous. And he said that all this would be fulfilled."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
says that I carry a winnowing-fan on my shining shoulder,
then he bade me fix the oar in the earth,
and offer fine sacrifices to the lord Poseidon,
a ram and a bull and a boar that mounts the sows,
and go home and offer holy hecatombs
to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven,
to all of them in order. And death will come to me from the sea,
a death so gentle that it will take me
worn out with sleek old age; and about me the people
will be prosperous. And he said that all this would be fulfilled."
Then circumspect Penelope spoke to him in turn:
ὁππότε κεν δή μοι ξυμβλήμενος ἄλλος ὁδίτης
φήῃ ἀθηρηλοιγὸν ἔχειν ἀνὰ φαιδίμῳ ὤμῳ,
καὶ τότε μʼ ἐν γαίῃ πήξαντʼ ἐκέλευεν ἐρετμόν,
ἔρξανθʼ ἱερὰ καλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι,
ἀρνειὸν ταῦρόν τε συῶν τʼ ἐπιβήτορα κάπρον,
οἴκαδʼ ἀποστείχειν, ἔρδειν θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,
πᾶσι μάλʼ ἑξείης· θάνατος δέ μοι ἐξ ἁλὸς αὐτῷ
ἀβληχρὸς μάλα τοῖος ἐλεύσεται, ὅς κέ με πέφνῃ
γήραʼ ὕπο λιπαρῷ ἀρημένον· ἀμφὶ δὲ λαοὶ
ὄλβιοι ἔσσονται· τὰ δέ μοι φάτο πάντα τελεῖσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
φήῃ ἀθηρηλοιγὸν ἔχειν ἀνὰ φαιδίμῳ ὤμῳ,
καὶ τότε μʼ ἐν γαίῃ πήξαντʼ ἐκέλευεν ἐρετμόν,
ἔρξανθʼ ἱερὰ καλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι,
ἀρνειὸν ταῦρόν τε συῶν τʼ ἐπιβήτορα κάπρον,
οἴκαδʼ ἀποστείχειν, ἔρδειν θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,
πᾶσι μάλʼ ἑξείης· θάνατος δέ μοι ἐξ ἁλὸς αὐτῷ
ἀβληχρὸς μάλα τοῖος ἐλεύσεται, ὅς κέ με πέφνῃ
γήραʼ ὕπο λιπαρῷ ἀρημένον· ἀμφὶ δὲ λαοὶ
ὄλβιοι ἔσσονται· τὰ δέ μοι φάτο πάντα τελεῖσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·
"If the gods are bringing to pass a better old age,
then there is hope of an escape from evils hereafter."
then there is hope of an escape from evils hereafter."
εἰ μὲν δὴ γῆράς γε θεοὶ τελέουσιν ἄρειον,
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα κακῶν ὑπάλυξιν ἔσεσθαι.
ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα κακῶν ὑπάλυξιν ἔσεσθαι.
So they spoke such things to each other;
and meanwhile Eurynome and the nurse made ready the bed
of soft bedding, by the light of blazing torches.
But when they had busily spread the strong bed,
the old woman went back to her house to lie down,
and Eurynome the chamber-servant led the way for them
as they went to their bed, holding a torch in her hands;
and when she had brought them to the chamber she went back. And they then
came gladly to the rite of their old bed.
And Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
stopped the feet from dancing, and stopped the women,
and themselves lay down to sleep through the shadowy halls.
And when the two had taken their joy of lovely love,
they took their joy in talking, telling each other:
she, noble among women, all that she had endured in the halls,
looking on the ruinous crowd of the suitors,
who for her sake slaughtered many things, oxen and fat sheep,
and much wine was drawn from the jars;
and Odysseus, born of Zeus, all the griefs he had laid
on men, and all that he himself had toiled through in misery —
he told it all; and she took joy in the hearing, nor did sleep
fall on her eyelids before he had told it all.
He began with how he first overcame the Cicones, and then
came to the rich land of the Lotus-eaters;
and all that the Cyclops did, and how he exacted the price
for his strong companions, whom he ate and did not pity;
and how he came to Aeolus, who received him with a ready heart
and sent him on, but it was not yet his portion to reach his own land;
instead a storm-wind snatched him up again
and bore him over the fish-filled sea, groaning heavily;
and how he came to Laestrygonian Telepylus,
who destroyed his ships and his well-greaved companions,
all of them; but Odysseus alone escaped in his black ship;
and he recounted the guile and the many wiles of Circe,
and how he went to the mouldering house of Hades,
to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias,
with his many-benched ship, and saw all his companions
and his mother, who bore him and reared him when he was small;
and how he heard the voice of the thronging Sirens,
and how he came to the Wandering Rocks and terrible Charybdis
and Scylla, whom no men ever yet escaped unharmed;
and how his companions killed the cattle of Helios;
and how Zeus who thunders on high struck the swift ship
with a smoking thunderbolt, and his good companions perished,
all of them together, while he escaped the evil fates;
and how he came to the island of Ogygia and the nymph Calypso,
who kept him back, desiring that he be her husband,
in her hollow caves, and fed him, and said
she would make him immortal and ageless all his days,
but she never persuaded the spirit in his breast;
and how he came to the Phaeacians after much suffering,
who honoured him in their hearts like a god
and sent him with a ship to his own native land,
giving him bronze and gold in plenty, and clothing.
This was the last word he spoke, when sweet sleep,
the loosener of limbs, rushed upon him, loosing the cares of his spirit.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of another thing:
when she judged in her own spirit that Odysseus
had taken his joy of his wife’s bed and of sleep,
at once from Ocean she roused the golden-throned early-born,
to bring light to men; and Odysseus rose
from his soft bed, and laid a charge upon his wife:
and meanwhile Eurynome and the nurse made ready the bed
of soft bedding, by the light of blazing torches.
But when they had busily spread the strong bed,
the old woman went back to her house to lie down,
and Eurynome the chamber-servant led the way for them
as they went to their bed, holding a torch in her hands;
and when she had brought them to the chamber she went back. And they then
came gladly to the rite of their old bed.
And Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
stopped the feet from dancing, and stopped the women,
and themselves lay down to sleep through the shadowy halls.
And when the two had taken their joy of lovely love,
they took their joy in talking, telling each other:
she, noble among women, all that she had endured in the halls,
looking on the ruinous crowd of the suitors,
who for her sake slaughtered many things, oxen and fat sheep,
and much wine was drawn from the jars;
and Odysseus, born of Zeus, all the griefs he had laid
on men, and all that he himself had toiled through in misery —
he told it all; and she took joy in the hearing, nor did sleep
fall on her eyelids before he had told it all.
He began with how he first overcame the Cicones, and then
came to the rich land of the Lotus-eaters;
and all that the Cyclops did, and how he exacted the price
for his strong companions, whom he ate and did not pity;
and how he came to Aeolus, who received him with a ready heart
and sent him on, but it was not yet his portion to reach his own land;
instead a storm-wind snatched him up again
and bore him over the fish-filled sea, groaning heavily;
and how he came to Laestrygonian Telepylus,
who destroyed his ships and his well-greaved companions,
all of them; but Odysseus alone escaped in his black ship;
and he recounted the guile and the many wiles of Circe,
and how he went to the mouldering house of Hades,
to consult the spirit of Theban Teiresias,
with his many-benched ship, and saw all his companions
and his mother, who bore him and reared him when he was small;
and how he heard the voice of the thronging Sirens,
and how he came to the Wandering Rocks and terrible Charybdis
and Scylla, whom no men ever yet escaped unharmed;
and how his companions killed the cattle of Helios;
and how Zeus who thunders on high struck the swift ship
with a smoking thunderbolt, and his good companions perished,
all of them together, while he escaped the evil fates;
and how he came to the island of Ogygia and the nymph Calypso,
who kept him back, desiring that he be her husband,
in her hollow caves, and fed him, and said
she would make him immortal and ageless all his days,
but she never persuaded the spirit in his breast;
and how he came to the Phaeacians after much suffering,
who honoured him in their hearts like a god
and sent him with a ship to his own native land,
giving him bronze and gold in plenty, and clothing.
This was the last word he spoke, when sweet sleep,
the loosener of limbs, rushed upon him, loosing the cares of his spirit.
Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of another thing:
when she judged in her own spirit that Odysseus
had taken his joy of his wife’s bed and of sleep,
at once from Ocean she roused the golden-throned early-born,
to bring light to men; and Odysseus rose
from his soft bed, and laid a charge upon his wife:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ Εὐρυνόμη τε ἰδὲ τροφὸς ἔντυον εὐνὴν
ἐσθῆτος μαλακῆς, δαΐδων ὕπο λαμπομενάων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ στόρεσαν πυκινὸν λέχος ἐγκονέουσαι,
γρηῢς μὲν κείουσα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει,
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρυνόμη θαλαμηπόλος ἡγεμόνευεν
ἐρχομένοισι λέχοσδε, δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσα·
ἐς θάλαμον δʼ ἀγαγοῦσα πάλιν κίεν. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἀσπάσιοι λέκτροιο παλαιοῦ θεσμὸν ἵκοντο·
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος καὶ βουκόλος ἠδὲ συβώτης
παῦσαν ἄρʼ ὀρχηθμοῖο πόδας, παῦσαν δὲ γυναῖκας,
αὐτοὶ δʼ εὐνάζοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν φιλότητος ἐταρπήτην ἐρατεινῆς,
τερπέσθην μύθοισι, πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐνέποντε,
ἡ μὲν ὅσʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀνέσχετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων ἐσορῶσʼ ἀΐδηλον ὅμιλον,
οἳ ἕθεν εἵνεκα πολλά, βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
ἔσφαζον, πολλὸς δὲ πίθων ἠφύσσετο οἶνος·
αὐτὰρ ὁ διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ὅσα κήδεʼ ἔθηκεν
ἀνθρώποις ὅσα τʼ αὐτὸς ὀϊζύσας ἐμόγησε,
πάντʼ ἔλεγʼ· ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐτέρπετʼ ἀκούουσʼ, οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος
πῖπτεν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι πάρος καταλέξαι ἅπαντα.
ἤρξατο δʼ ὡς πρῶτον Κίκονας δάμασʼ, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
ἦλθʼ ἐς Λωτοφάγων ἀνδρῶν πίειραν ἄρουραν·
ἠδʼ ὅσα Κύκλωψ ἔρξε, καὶ ὡς ἀπετίσατο ποινὴν
ἰφθίμων ἑτάρων, οὓς ἤσθιεν οὐδʼ ἐλέαιρεν·
ἠδʼ ὡς Αἴολον ἵκεθʼ, ὅ μιν πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο
καὶ πέμπʼ, οὐδέ πω αἶσα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι
ἤην, ἀλλά μιν αὖτις ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρεν βαρέα στενάχοντα·
ἠδʼ ὡς Τηλέπυλον Λαιστρυγονίην ἀφίκανεν,
οἳ νῆάς τʼ ὄλεσαν καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας ἑταίρους
πάντας· Ὀδυσσεὺς δʼ οἶος ὑπέκφυγε νηῒ μελαίνῃ·
καὶ Κίρκης κατέλεξε δόλον πολυμηχανίην τε,
ἠδʼ ὡς εἰς Ἀΐδεω δόμον ἤλυθεν εὐρώεντα,
ψυχῇ χρησόμενος Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,
νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι, καὶ εἴσιδε πάντας ἑταίρους
μητέρα θʼ, ἥ μιν ἔτικτε καὶ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα·
ἠδʼ ὡς Σειρήνων ἁδινάων φθόγγον ἄκουσεν,
ὥς θʼ ἵκετο Πλαγκτὰς πέτρας δεινήν τε Χάρυβδιν
Σκύλλην θʼ, ἣν οὔ πώ ποτʼ ἀκήριοι ἄνδρες ἄλυξαν·
ἠδʼ ὡς Ἠελίοιο βόας κατέπεφνον ἑταῖροι·
ἠδʼ ὡς νῆα θοὴν ἔβαλε ψολόεντι κεραυνῷ
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι
πάντες ὁμῶς, αὐτὸς δὲ κακὰς ὑπὸ κῆρας ἄλυξεν·
ὥς θʼ ἵκετʼ Ὠγυγίην νῆσον νύμφην τε Καλυψώ,
ἣ δή μιν κατέρυκε, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι,
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, καὶ ἔτρεφεν ἠδὲ ἔφασκε
θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα·
ἀλλὰ τοῦ οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθεν·
ἠδʼ ὡς ἐς Φαίηκας ἀφίκετο πολλὰ μογήσας,
οἳ δή μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσαντο
καὶ πέμψαν σὺν νηῒ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά τε δόντες.
τοῦτʼ ἄρα δεύτατον εἶπεν ἔπος, ὅτε οἱ γλυκὺς ὕπνος
λυσιμελὴς ἐπόρουσε, λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ.
ἡ δʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
ὁππότε δή ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐέλπετο ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν
εὐνῆς ἧς ἀλόχου ταρπήμεναι ἠδὲ καὶ ὕπνου,
αὐτίκʼ ἀπʼ Ὠκεανοῦ χρυσόθρονον ἠριγένειαν
ὦρσεν, ἵνʼ ἀνθρώποισι φόως φέροι· ὦρτο δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὐνῆς ἐκ μαλακῆς, ἀλόχῳ δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλεν·
τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ Εὐρυνόμη τε ἰδὲ τροφὸς ἔντυον εὐνὴν
ἐσθῆτος μαλακῆς, δαΐδων ὕπο λαμπομενάων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ στόρεσαν πυκινὸν λέχος ἐγκονέουσαι,
γρηῢς μὲν κείουσα πάλιν οἶκόνδε βεβήκει,
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρυνόμη θαλαμηπόλος ἡγεμόνευεν
ἐρχομένοισι λέχοσδε, δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσα·
ἐς θάλαμον δʼ ἀγαγοῦσα πάλιν κίεν. οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἀσπάσιοι λέκτροιο παλαιοῦ θεσμὸν ἵκοντο·
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος καὶ βουκόλος ἠδὲ συβώτης
παῦσαν ἄρʼ ὀρχηθμοῖο πόδας, παῦσαν δὲ γυναῖκας,
αὐτοὶ δʼ εὐνάζοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.
τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν φιλότητος ἐταρπήτην ἐρατεινῆς,
τερπέσθην μύθοισι, πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐνέποντε,
ἡ μὲν ὅσʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἀνέσχετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων ἐσορῶσʼ ἀΐδηλον ὅμιλον,
οἳ ἕθεν εἵνεκα πολλά, βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
ἔσφαζον, πολλὸς δὲ πίθων ἠφύσσετο οἶνος·
αὐτὰρ ὁ διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ὅσα κήδεʼ ἔθηκεν
ἀνθρώποις ὅσα τʼ αὐτὸς ὀϊζύσας ἐμόγησε,
πάντʼ ἔλεγʼ· ἡ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐτέρπετʼ ἀκούουσʼ, οὐδέ οἱ ὕπνος
πῖπτεν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι πάρος καταλέξαι ἅπαντα.
ἤρξατο δʼ ὡς πρῶτον Κίκονας δάμασʼ, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
ἦλθʼ ἐς Λωτοφάγων ἀνδρῶν πίειραν ἄρουραν·
ἠδʼ ὅσα Κύκλωψ ἔρξε, καὶ ὡς ἀπετίσατο ποινὴν
ἰφθίμων ἑτάρων, οὓς ἤσθιεν οὐδʼ ἐλέαιρεν·
ἠδʼ ὡς Αἴολον ἵκεθʼ, ὅ μιν πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο
καὶ πέμπʼ, οὐδέ πω αἶσα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι
ἤην, ἀλλά μιν αὖτις ἀναρπάξασα θύελλα
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρεν βαρέα στενάχοντα·
ἠδʼ ὡς Τηλέπυλον Λαιστρυγονίην ἀφίκανεν,
οἳ νῆάς τʼ ὄλεσαν καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας ἑταίρους
πάντας· Ὀδυσσεὺς δʼ οἶος ὑπέκφυγε νηῒ μελαίνῃ·
καὶ Κίρκης κατέλεξε δόλον πολυμηχανίην τε,
ἠδʼ ὡς εἰς Ἀΐδεω δόμον ἤλυθεν εὐρώεντα,
ψυχῇ χρησόμενος Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο,
νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι, καὶ εἴσιδε πάντας ἑταίρους
μητέρα θʼ, ἥ μιν ἔτικτε καὶ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα·
ἠδʼ ὡς Σειρήνων ἁδινάων φθόγγον ἄκουσεν,
ὥς θʼ ἵκετο Πλαγκτὰς πέτρας δεινήν τε Χάρυβδιν
Σκύλλην θʼ, ἣν οὔ πώ ποτʼ ἀκήριοι ἄνδρες ἄλυξαν·
ἠδʼ ὡς Ἠελίοιο βόας κατέπεφνον ἑταῖροι·
ἠδʼ ὡς νῆα θοὴν ἔβαλε ψολόεντι κεραυνῷ
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔφθιθεν ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι
πάντες ὁμῶς, αὐτὸς δὲ κακὰς ὑπὸ κῆρας ἄλυξεν·
ὥς θʼ ἵκετʼ Ὠγυγίην νῆσον νύμφην τε Καλυψώ,
ἣ δή μιν κατέρυκε, λιλαιομένη πόσιν εἶναι,
ἐν σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσι, καὶ ἔτρεφεν ἠδὲ ἔφασκε
θήσειν ἀθάνατον καὶ ἀγήραον ἤματα πάντα·
ἀλλὰ τοῦ οὔ ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθεν·
ἠδʼ ὡς ἐς Φαίηκας ἀφίκετο πολλὰ μογήσας,
οἳ δή μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσαντο
καὶ πέμψαν σὺν νηῒ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε ἅλις ἐσθῆτά τε δόντες.
τοῦτʼ ἄρα δεύτατον εἶπεν ἔπος, ὅτε οἱ γλυκὺς ὕπνος
λυσιμελὴς ἐπόρουσε, λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ.
ἡ δʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
ὁππότε δή ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐέλπετο ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν
εὐνῆς ἧς ἀλόχου ταρπήμεναι ἠδὲ καὶ ὕπνου,
αὐτίκʼ ἀπʼ Ὠκεανοῦ χρυσόθρονον ἠριγένειαν
ὦρσεν, ἵνʼ ἀνθρώποισι φόως φέροι· ὦρτο δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὐνῆς ἐκ μαλακῆς, ἀλόχῳ δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλεν·
"Wife, by now we have had our fill of many trials,
both of us: you here, weeping over my homecoming
full of care; while Zeus and the other gods bound me
in pains, far from my native land, for all my longing.
But now that we have both come to the bed we longed for,
do you look after the possessions that are mine in the halls;
and as for the flocks the overweening suitors wasted for me,
many I shall take as plunder myself, and others the Achaeans
will give, until they have filled all my folds again.
But now I am going to the farm with its many trees,
to see my noble father, who grieves sorely for me.
And on you, wife, I lay this charge, wise though you are:
for at once, with the rising of the sun, the report will go out
of the suitors whom I killed in the halls;
go up to the upper chamber with your handmaid women
and sit there; look at no one and ask no questions."
both of us: you here, weeping over my homecoming
full of care; while Zeus and the other gods bound me
in pains, far from my native land, for all my longing.
But now that we have both come to the bed we longed for,
do you look after the possessions that are mine in the halls;
and as for the flocks the overweening suitors wasted for me,
many I shall take as plunder myself, and others the Achaeans
will give, until they have filled all my folds again.
But now I am going to the farm with its many trees,
to see my noble father, who grieves sorely for me.
And on you, wife, I lay this charge, wise though you are:
for at once, with the rising of the sun, the report will go out
of the suitors whom I killed in the halls;
go up to the upper chamber with your handmaid women
and sit there; look at no one and ask no questions."
ὦ γύναι, ἤδη μὲν πολέων κεκορήμεθʼ ἀέθλων
ἀμφοτέρω, σὺ μὲν ἐνθάδʼ ἐμὸν πολυκηδέα νόστον
κλαίουσʼ. αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς ἄλγεσι καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι
ἱέμενον πεδάασκον ἐμῆς ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης·
νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀμφοτέρω πολυήρατον ἱκόμεθʼ εὐνήν,
κτήματα μὲν τά μοι ἔστι, κομιζέμεν ἐν μεγάροισι,
μῆλα δʼ ἅ μοι μνηστῆρες ὑπερφίαλοι κατέκειραν,
πολλὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ ληΐσσομαι, ἄλλα δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
δώσουσʼ, εἰς ὅ κε πάντας ἐνιπλήσωσιν ἐπαύλους.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ πολυδένδρεον ἀγρὸν ἔπειμι,
ὀψόμενος πατέρʼ ἐσθλόν, ὅ μοι πυκινῶς ἀκάχηται·
σοὶ δέ, γύναι, τάδʼ ἐπιτέλλω, πινυτῇ περ ἐούσῃ·
αὐτίκα γὰρ φάτις εἶσιν ἅμʼ ἠελίῳ ἀνιόντι
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οὓς ἔκτανον ἐν μεγάροισιν·
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἧσθαι, μηδέ τινα προτιόσσεο μηδʼ ἐρέεινε.
ἀμφοτέρω, σὺ μὲν ἐνθάδʼ ἐμὸν πολυκηδέα νόστον
κλαίουσʼ. αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς ἄλγεσι καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι
ἱέμενον πεδάασκον ἐμῆς ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης·
νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀμφοτέρω πολυήρατον ἱκόμεθʼ εὐνήν,
κτήματα μὲν τά μοι ἔστι, κομιζέμεν ἐν μεγάροισι,
μῆλα δʼ ἅ μοι μνηστῆρες ὑπερφίαλοι κατέκειραν,
πολλὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ ληΐσσομαι, ἄλλα δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
δώσουσʼ, εἰς ὅ κε πάντας ἐνιπλήσωσιν ἐπαύλους.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ πολυδένδρεον ἀγρὸν ἔπειμι,
ὀψόμενος πατέρʼ ἐσθλόν, ὅ μοι πυκινῶς ἀκάχηται·
σοὶ δέ, γύναι, τάδʼ ἐπιτέλλω, πινυτῇ περ ἐούσῃ·
αὐτίκα γὰρ φάτις εἶσιν ἅμʼ ἠελίῳ ἀνιόντι
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων, οὓς ἔκτανον ἐν μεγάροισιν·
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶν
ἧσθαι, μηδέ τινα προτιόσσεο μηδʼ ἐρέεινε.
He spoke, and put the fine armour about his shoulders,
and roused Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd,
and told them all to take weapons of war in their hands.
And they did not disobey him, but armed themselves in bronze,
and opened the doors, and went out; and Odysseus led.
By now there was light upon the earth, but Athena
hid them in night and led them swiftly out of the city.
and roused Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd,
and told them all to take weapons of war in their hands.
And they did not disobey him, but armed themselves in bronze,
and opened the doors, and went out; and Odysseus led.
By now there was light upon the earth, but Athena
hid them in night and led them swiftly out of the city.
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἐδύσετο τεύχεα καλά,
ὦρσε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην,
πάντας δʼ ἔντεʼ ἄνωγεν ἀρήϊα χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι.
οἱ δέ οἱ οὐκ ἀπίθησαν, ἐθωρήσσοντο δὲ χαλκῷ,
ὤϊξαν δὲ θύρας, ἐκ δʼ ἤϊον· ἦρχε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἤδη μὲν φάος ἦεν ἐπὶ χθόνα, τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη
νυκτὶ κατακρύψασα θοῶς ἐξῆγε πόληος.
ὦρσε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην,
πάντας δʼ ἔντεʼ ἄνωγεν ἀρήϊα χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι.
οἱ δέ οἱ οὐκ ἀπίθησαν, ἐθωρήσσοντο δὲ χαλκῷ,
ὤϊξαν δὲ θύρας, ἐκ δʼ ἤϊον· ἦρχε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἤδη μὲν φάος ἦεν ἐπὶ χθόνα, τοὺς δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη
νυκτὶ κατακρύψασα θοῶς ἐξῆγε πόληος.
Book 24
The dead suitors reach Hades to Agamemnon's applause of Penelope's faithfulness. Odysseus finds old Laertes in the orchard and proves himself by the trees; the suitors' kin rise in arms, and Athena — with a last thunderbolt from Zeus — stops the feud and seals the peace of Ithaca.
And Cyllenian Hermes called forth the spirits
of the suitors; and he held in his hands the wand,
beautiful, of gold, with which he charms the eyes of men,
of whom he will, and others again he wakes out of sleep;
with this he roused and led them, and they followed, gibbering.
As when bats in the recess of a wondrous cave
fly about gibbering, when one of them has fallen
from the cluster on the rock, and they cling to one another,
so they went together, gibbering; and at their head went
Hermes the kindly, along the mouldering ways.
They went past the streams of Ocean and the White Rock,
and past the gates of the Sun and the land of dreams
they went; and soon they came to the meadow of asphodel,
where the spirits dwell, the phantoms of men whose toil is done.
And they found the spirit of Achilles, son of Peleus,
and of Patroclus and of blameless Antilochus
and of Ajax, who was the best in form and in body
of all the other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus.
of the suitors; and he held in his hands the wand,
beautiful, of gold, with which he charms the eyes of men,
of whom he will, and others again he wakes out of sleep;
with this he roused and led them, and they followed, gibbering.
As when bats in the recess of a wondrous cave
fly about gibbering, when one of them has fallen
from the cluster on the rock, and they cling to one another,
so they went together, gibbering; and at their head went
Hermes the kindly, along the mouldering ways.
They went past the streams of Ocean and the White Rock,
and past the gates of the Sun and the land of dreams
they went; and soon they came to the meadow of asphodel,
where the spirits dwell, the phantoms of men whose toil is done.
And they found the spirit of Achilles, son of Peleus,
and of Patroclus and of blameless Antilochus
and of Ajax, who was the best in form and in body
of all the other Danaans, after the blameless son of Peleus.
Ἑρμῆς δὲ ψυχὰς Κυλλήνιος ἐξεκαλεῖτο
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων· ἔχε δὲ ῥάβδον μετὰ χερσὶν
καλὴν χρυσείην, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει
ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει·
τῇ ῥʼ ἄγε κινήσας, ταὶ δὲ τρίζουσαι ἕποντο.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε νυκτερίδες μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο
τρίζουσαι ποτέονται, ἐπεί κέ τις ἀποπέσῃσιν
ὁρμαθοῦ ἐκ πέτρης, ἀνά τʼ ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,
ὣς αἱ τετριγυῖαι ἅμʼ ἤϊσαν· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρα σφιν
Ἑρμείας ἀκάκητα κατʼ εὐρώεντα κέλευθα.
πὰρ δʼ ἴσαν Ὠκεανοῦ τε ῥοὰς καὶ Λευκάδα πέτρην,
ἠδὲ παρʼ Ἠελίοιο πύλας καὶ δῆμον ὀνείρων
ἤϊσαν· αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
ἔνθα τε ναίουσι ψυχαί, εἴδωλα καμόντων.
εὗρον δὲ ψυχὴν Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο
Αἴαντός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐδαο
ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων· ἔχε δὲ ῥάβδον μετὰ χερσὶν
καλὴν χρυσείην, τῇ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ὄμματα θέλγει
ὧν ἐθέλει, τοὺς δʼ αὖτε καὶ ὑπνώοντας ἐγείρει·
τῇ ῥʼ ἄγε κινήσας, ταὶ δὲ τρίζουσαι ἕποντο.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε νυκτερίδες μυχῷ ἄντρου θεσπεσίοιο
τρίζουσαι ποτέονται, ἐπεί κέ τις ἀποπέσῃσιν
ὁρμαθοῦ ἐκ πέτρης, ἀνά τʼ ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,
ὣς αἱ τετριγυῖαι ἅμʼ ἤϊσαν· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρα σφιν
Ἑρμείας ἀκάκητα κατʼ εὐρώεντα κέλευθα.
πὰρ δʼ ἴσαν Ὠκεανοῦ τε ῥοὰς καὶ Λευκάδα πέτρην,
ἠδὲ παρʼ Ἠελίοιο πύλας καὶ δῆμον ὀνείρων
ἤϊσαν· αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,
ἔνθα τε ναίουσι ψυχαί, εἴδωλα καμόντων.
εὗρον δὲ ψυχὴν Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο
Αἴαντός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τε
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐδαο
So they were gathered about him; and close at hand
came the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
in grief; and about him were gathered the others, all who with him
died in the house of Aegisthus and met their fate.
The spirit of the son of Peleus spoke to him first:
came the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
in grief; and about him were gathered the others, all who with him
died in the house of Aegisthus and met their fate.
The spirit of the son of Peleus spoke to him first:
ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ κεῖνον ὁμίλεον· ἀγχίμολον δὲ
ἤλυθʼ ἔπι ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δʼ ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθʼ, ὅσσαι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ
οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεε Πηλεΐωνος·
ἤλυθʼ ἔπι ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δʼ ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθʼ, ὅσσαι ἅμʼ αὐτῷ
οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.
τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεε Πηλεΐωνος·
"Son of Atreus, we used to say that to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt
you were dear beyond all men of the heroes, all your days,
because you were lord over many and strong men
in the land of the Trojans, where we Achaeans suffered griefs.
Yet on you too, early, was destined to come
the destroying fate, which no man born escapes.
Would that, in the enjoyment of the honour over which you were lord,
you had met death and your fate in the land of the Trojans;
then all the Achaeans together would have made a tomb for you,
and you would have won great glory for your son hereafter;
but as it is, it was your lot to be taken by the most piteous death."
Then the spirit of the son of Atreus spoke to him in turn:
you were dear beyond all men of the heroes, all your days,
because you were lord over many and strong men
in the land of the Trojans, where we Achaeans suffered griefs.
Yet on you too, early, was destined to come
the destroying fate, which no man born escapes.
Would that, in the enjoyment of the honour over which you were lord,
you had met death and your fate in the land of the Trojans;
then all the Achaeans together would have made a tomb for you,
and you would have won great glory for your son hereafter;
but as it is, it was your lot to be taken by the most piteous death."
Then the spirit of the son of Atreus spoke to him in turn:
Ἀτρεΐδη, περὶ μέν σʼ ἔφαμεν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων φίλον ἔμμεναι ἤματα πάντα,
οὕνεκα πολλοῖσίν τε καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἄνασσες
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχομεν ἄλγεʼ Ἀχαιοί.
ἦ τʼ ἄρα καὶ σοὶ πρῶϊ παραστήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν
μοῖρʼ ὀλοή, τὴν οὔ τις ἀλεύεται ὅς κε γένηται.
ὡς ὄφελες τιμῆς ἀπονήμενος, ἧς περ ἄνασσες,
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·
τῷ κέν τοι τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,
ἠδέ κε καὶ σῷ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤραʼ ὀπίσσω·
νῦν δʼ ἄρα σʼ οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρείδαο·
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων φίλον ἔμμεναι ἤματα πάντα,
οὕνεκα πολλοῖσίν τε καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἄνασσες
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχομεν ἄλγεʼ Ἀχαιοί.
ἦ τʼ ἄρα καὶ σοὶ πρῶϊ παραστήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν
μοῖρʼ ὀλοή, τὴν οὔ τις ἀλεύεται ὅς κε γένηται.
ὡς ὄφελες τιμῆς ἀπονήμενος, ἧς περ ἄνασσες,
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·
τῷ κέν τοι τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,
ἠδέ κε καὶ σῷ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤραʼ ὀπίσσω·
νῦν δʼ ἄρα σʼ οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρείδαο·
"Fortunate son of Peleus, Achilles, like to the gods,
who died at Troy, far from Argos; and about you others
were being killed, the best sons of the Trojans and the Achaeans,
fighting over you; and you in the whirl of the dust
lay great in your greatness, your horsemanship forgotten.
And we fought the whole day long; nor would we ever
have stopped the fighting, had not Zeus stopped it with a storm.
But when we had carried you out of the battle to the ships,
we laid you on a bier, when we had cleansed your fair flesh
with warm water and with oil; and about you many
hot tears the Danaans shed, and cut off their hair.
And your mother came out of the sea with the immortal sea-nymphs,
having heard the news; and a cry rose over the sea,
unearthly, and trembling seized all the Achaeans;
and now they would have sprung up and gone to the hollow ships,
had not a man held them back who knew many things of old,
Nestor, whose counsel had before this shown itself the best;
with good will towards them he spoke and addressed them:
who died at Troy, far from Argos; and about you others
were being killed, the best sons of the Trojans and the Achaeans,
fighting over you; and you in the whirl of the dust
lay great in your greatness, your horsemanship forgotten.
And we fought the whole day long; nor would we ever
have stopped the fighting, had not Zeus stopped it with a storm.
But when we had carried you out of the battle to the ships,
we laid you on a bier, when we had cleansed your fair flesh
with warm water and with oil; and about you many
hot tears the Danaans shed, and cut off their hair.
And your mother came out of the sea with the immortal sea-nymphs,
having heard the news; and a cry rose over the sea,
unearthly, and trembling seized all the Achaeans;
and now they would have sprung up and gone to the hollow ships,
had not a man held them back who knew many things of old,
Nestor, whose counsel had before this shown itself the best;
with good will towards them he spoke and addressed them:
ὄλβιε Πηλέος υἱέ, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,
ὃς θάνες ἐν Τροίῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος· ἀμφὶ δέ σʼ ἄλλοι
κτείνοντο Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν υἷες ἄριστοι,
μαρνάμενοι περὶ σεῖο· σὺ δʼ ἐν στροφάλιγγι κονίης
κεῖσο μέγας μεγαλωστί, λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων.
ἡμεῖς δὲ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐμαρνάμεθʼ· οὐδέ κε πάμπαν
παυσάμεθα πτολέμου, εἰ μὴ Ζεὺς λαίλαπι παῦσεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί σʼ ἐπὶ νῆας ἐνείκαμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο,
κάτθεμεν ἐν λεχέεσσι, καθήραντες χρόα καλὸν
ὕδατί τε λιαρῷ καὶ ἀλείφατι· πολλὰ δέ σʼ ἀμφὶ
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέον Δαναοὶ κείροντό τε χαίτας.
μήτηρ δʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε σὺν ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιν
ἀγγελίης ἀΐουσα· βοὴ δʼ ἐπὶ πόντον ὀρώρει
θεσπεσίη, ὑπὸ δὲ τρόμος ἔλλαβε πάντας Ἀχαιούς·
καί νύ κʼ ἀναΐξαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,
εἰ μὴ ἀνὴρ κατέρυκε παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς,
Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
ὃς θάνες ἐν Τροίῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος· ἀμφὶ δέ σʼ ἄλλοι
κτείνοντο Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν υἷες ἄριστοι,
μαρνάμενοι περὶ σεῖο· σὺ δʼ ἐν στροφάλιγγι κονίης
κεῖσο μέγας μεγαλωστί, λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων.
ἡμεῖς δὲ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐμαρνάμεθʼ· οὐδέ κε πάμπαν
παυσάμεθα πτολέμου, εἰ μὴ Ζεὺς λαίλαπι παῦσεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί σʼ ἐπὶ νῆας ἐνείκαμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο,
κάτθεμεν ἐν λεχέεσσι, καθήραντες χρόα καλὸν
ὕδατί τε λιαρῷ καὶ ἀλείφατι· πολλὰ δέ σʼ ἀμφὶ
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέον Δαναοὶ κείροντό τε χαίτας.
μήτηρ δʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε σὺν ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιν
ἀγγελίης ἀΐουσα· βοὴ δʼ ἐπὶ πόντον ὀρώρει
θεσπεσίη, ὑπὸ δὲ τρόμος ἔλλαβε πάντας Ἀχαιούς·
καί νύ κʼ ἀναΐξαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,
εἰ μὴ ἀνὴρ κατέρυκε παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδώς,
Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
’Hold, Argives; do not flee, young men of the Achaeans.
This is his mother, coming out of the sea with the immortal sea-nymphs,
to meet her son who is dead.’
This is his mother, coming out of the sea with the immortal sea-nymphs,
to meet her son who is dead.’
ἴσχεσθʼ, Ἀργεῖοι, μὴ φεύγετε, κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν·
μήτηρ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἥδε σὺν ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιν
ἔρχεται, οὗ παιδὸς τεθνηότος ἀντιόωσα.
μήτηρ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἥδε σὺν ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιν
ἔρχεται, οὗ παιδὸς τεθνηότος ἀντιόωσα.
"So he spoke, and the great-hearted Achaeans held back from their fear.
And about you stood the daughters of the old man of the sea,
wailing piteously, and they clothed you in immortal garments.
And all nine Muses, answering one another with beautiful voice,
sang the dirge; there you would not have seen one man dry-eyed
of the Argives; so did the clear-voiced Muse stir them.
For seventeen nights alike, and days as well,
we wept for you, immortal gods and mortal men;
and on the eighteenth we gave you to the fire, and about you many
sheep we killed, very fat ones, and shambling cattle.
And you were burned in the clothing of the gods and in abundant oil
and sweet honey; and many Achaean heroes
moved in their armour about the pyre as you burned,
on foot and in chariots; and a great din rose up.
But when the flame of Hephaestus had made an end of you,
at dawn we gathered your white bones, Achilles,
in unmixed wine and in oil; and your mother gave
a golden two-handled jar; she said it was the gift of Dionysus
and the work of far-famed Hephaestus.
In it your white bones lie, glorious Achilles,
mingled with those of the dead Patroclus, son of Menoetius,
and apart those of Antilochus, whom you honoured beyond all
the rest of your companions, after Patroclus was dead.
And over them we then heaped a great and blameless tomb,
we, the sacred host of the Argive spearmen,
upon a jutting headland, by the wide Hellespont,
so that it might be seen far off from the sea by men,
both those who are now alive and those who shall come after.
And your mother asked the gods for beautiful prizes
and set them in the middle of the gathering for the best of the Achaeans.
Before now you have been at the burial of many men,
of heroes, when at the death of a king
the young men gird themselves and make ready for the games;
but you would have marvelled most in your spirit to see those,
such beautiful prizes as the goddess set for you,
silver-footed Thetis; for you were very dear to the gods.
So you, even in death, have not lost your name; always
you will have noble glory among all men, Achilles.
But for me, what pleasure is there in this, now that I have wound up the war?
For in my homecoming Zeus devised a grim destruction for me
at the hands of Aegisthus and of my accursed wife."
And about you stood the daughters of the old man of the sea,
wailing piteously, and they clothed you in immortal garments.
And all nine Muses, answering one another with beautiful voice,
sang the dirge; there you would not have seen one man dry-eyed
of the Argives; so did the clear-voiced Muse stir them.
For seventeen nights alike, and days as well,
we wept for you, immortal gods and mortal men;
and on the eighteenth we gave you to the fire, and about you many
sheep we killed, very fat ones, and shambling cattle.
And you were burned in the clothing of the gods and in abundant oil
and sweet honey; and many Achaean heroes
moved in their armour about the pyre as you burned,
on foot and in chariots; and a great din rose up.
But when the flame of Hephaestus had made an end of you,
at dawn we gathered your white bones, Achilles,
in unmixed wine and in oil; and your mother gave
a golden two-handled jar; she said it was the gift of Dionysus
and the work of far-famed Hephaestus.
In it your white bones lie, glorious Achilles,
mingled with those of the dead Patroclus, son of Menoetius,
and apart those of Antilochus, whom you honoured beyond all
the rest of your companions, after Patroclus was dead.
And over them we then heaped a great and blameless tomb,
we, the sacred host of the Argive spearmen,
upon a jutting headland, by the wide Hellespont,
so that it might be seen far off from the sea by men,
both those who are now alive and those who shall come after.
And your mother asked the gods for beautiful prizes
and set them in the middle of the gathering for the best of the Achaeans.
Before now you have been at the burial of many men,
of heroes, when at the death of a king
the young men gird themselves and make ready for the games;
but you would have marvelled most in your spirit to see those,
such beautiful prizes as the goddess set for you,
silver-footed Thetis; for you were very dear to the gods.
So you, even in death, have not lost your name; always
you will have noble glory among all men, Achilles.
But for me, what pleasure is there in this, now that I have wound up the war?
For in my homecoming Zeus devised a grim destruction for me
at the hands of Aegisthus and of my accursed wife."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἔσχοντο φόβου μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί·
ἀμφὶ δέ σʼ ἔστησαν κοῦραι ἁλίοιο γέροντος
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρόμεναι, περὶ δʼ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσαν.
Μοῦσαι δʼ ἐννέα πᾶσαι ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ
θρήνεον· ἔνθα κεν οὔ τινʼ ἀδάκρυτόν γʼ ἐνόησας
Ἀργείων· τοῖον γὰρ ὑπώρορε Μοῦσα λίγεια.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μέν σε ὁμῶς νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ
κλαίομεν ἀθάνατοί τε θεοὶ θνητοί τʼ ἄνθρωποι·
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἔδομεν πυρί, πολλὰ δέ σʼ ἀμφὶ
μῆλα κατεκτάνομεν μάλα πίονα καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.
καίεο δʼ ἔν τʼ ἐσθῆτι θεῶν καὶ ἀλείφατι πολλῷ
καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ· πολλοὶ δʼ ἥρωες Ἀχαιοὶ
τεύχεσιν ἐρρώσαντο πυρὴν πέρι καιομένοιο,
πεζοί θʼ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δή σε φλὸξ ἤνυσεν Ἡφαίστοιο,
ἠῶθεν δή τοι λέγομεν λεύκʼ ὀστέʼ, Ἀχιλλεῦ,
οἴνῳ ἐν ἀκρήτῳ καὶ ἀλείφατι· δῶκε δὲ μήτηρ
χρύσεον ἀμφιφορῆα· Διωνύσοιο δὲ δῶρον
φάσκʼ ἔμεναι, ἔργον δὲ περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο.
ἐν τῷ τοι κεῖται λεύκʼ ὀστέα, φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,
μίγδα δὲ Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος,
χωρὶς δʼ Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸν ἔξοχα τῖες ἁπάντων
τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων, μετὰ Πάτροκλόν γε θανόντα.
ἀμφʼ αὐτοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτα μέγαν καὶ ἀμύμονα τύμβον
χεύαμεν Ἀργείων ἱερὸς στρατὸς αἰχμητάων
ἀκτῇ ἔπι προὐχούσῃ, ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ,
ὥς κεν τηλεφανὴς ἐκ ποντόφιν ἀνδράσιν εἴη
τοῖς οἳ νῦν γεγάασι καὶ οἳ μετόπισθεν ἔσονται.
μήτηρ δʼ αἰτήσασα θεοὺς περικαλλέʼ ἄεθλα
θῆκε μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων τάφῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας
ἡρώων, ὅτε κέν ποτʼ ἀποφθιμένου βασιλῆος
ζώννυνταί τε νέοι καὶ ἐπεντύνονται ἄεθλα·
ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν θηήσαο θυμῷ,
οἷʼ ἐπὶ σοὶ κατέθηκε θεὰ περικαλλέʼ ἄεθλα,
ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις· μάλα γὰρ φίλος ἦσθα θεοῖσιν.
ὣς σὺ μὲν οὐδὲ θανὼν ὄνομʼ ὤλεσας, ἀλλά τοι αἰεὶ
πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους κλέος ἔσσεται ἐσθλόν, Ἀχιλλεῦ,
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τί τόδʼ ἦδος, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσα;
ἐν νόστῳ γάρ μοι Ζεὺς μήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον
Αἰγίσθου ὑπὸ χερσὶ καὶ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο.
ἀμφὶ δέ σʼ ἔστησαν κοῦραι ἁλίοιο γέροντος
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρόμεναι, περὶ δʼ ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσαν.
Μοῦσαι δʼ ἐννέα πᾶσαι ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ
θρήνεον· ἔνθα κεν οὔ τινʼ ἀδάκρυτόν γʼ ἐνόησας
Ἀργείων· τοῖον γὰρ ὑπώρορε Μοῦσα λίγεια.
ἑπτὰ δὲ καὶ δέκα μέν σε ὁμῶς νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ
κλαίομεν ἀθάνατοί τε θεοὶ θνητοί τʼ ἄνθρωποι·
ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἔδομεν πυρί, πολλὰ δέ σʼ ἀμφὶ
μῆλα κατεκτάνομεν μάλα πίονα καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.
καίεο δʼ ἔν τʼ ἐσθῆτι θεῶν καὶ ἀλείφατι πολλῷ
καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ· πολλοὶ δʼ ἥρωες Ἀχαιοὶ
τεύχεσιν ἐρρώσαντο πυρὴν πέρι καιομένοιο,
πεζοί θʼ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δή σε φλὸξ ἤνυσεν Ἡφαίστοιο,
ἠῶθεν δή τοι λέγομεν λεύκʼ ὀστέʼ, Ἀχιλλεῦ,
οἴνῳ ἐν ἀκρήτῳ καὶ ἀλείφατι· δῶκε δὲ μήτηρ
χρύσεον ἀμφιφορῆα· Διωνύσοιο δὲ δῶρον
φάσκʼ ἔμεναι, ἔργον δὲ περικλυτοῦ Ἡφαίστοιο.
ἐν τῷ τοι κεῖται λεύκʼ ὀστέα, φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,
μίγδα δὲ Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος,
χωρὶς δʼ Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸν ἔξοχα τῖες ἁπάντων
τῶν ἄλλων ἑτάρων, μετὰ Πάτροκλόν γε θανόντα.
ἀμφʼ αὐτοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτα μέγαν καὶ ἀμύμονα τύμβον
χεύαμεν Ἀργείων ἱερὸς στρατὸς αἰχμητάων
ἀκτῇ ἔπι προὐχούσῃ, ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ,
ὥς κεν τηλεφανὴς ἐκ ποντόφιν ἀνδράσιν εἴη
τοῖς οἳ νῦν γεγάασι καὶ οἳ μετόπισθεν ἔσονται.
μήτηρ δʼ αἰτήσασα θεοὺς περικαλλέʼ ἄεθλα
θῆκε μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων τάφῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας
ἡρώων, ὅτε κέν ποτʼ ἀποφθιμένου βασιλῆος
ζώννυνταί τε νέοι καὶ ἐπεντύνονται ἄεθλα·
ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν θηήσαο θυμῷ,
οἷʼ ἐπὶ σοὶ κατέθηκε θεὰ περικαλλέʼ ἄεθλα,
ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις· μάλα γὰρ φίλος ἦσθα θεοῖσιν.
ὣς σὺ μὲν οὐδὲ θανὼν ὄνομʼ ὤλεσας, ἀλλά τοι αἰεὶ
πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους κλέος ἔσσεται ἐσθλόν, Ἀχιλλεῦ,
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τί τόδʼ ἦδος, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσα;
ἐν νόστῳ γάρ μοι Ζεὺς μήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον
Αἰγίσθου ὑπὸ χερσὶ καὶ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο.
So they spoke such things to each other,
and close to them came the guide, the slayer of Argus,
leading down the spirits of the suitors whom Odysseus had brought low,
and the two, in amazement, went straight up when they saw them.
And the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, knew
the dear son of Melaneus, glorious Amphimedon;
for he had been his guest-friend, living in a house in Ithaca.
The spirit of the son of Atreus spoke to him first:
and close to them came the guide, the slayer of Argus,
leading down the spirits of the suitors whom Odysseus had brought low,
and the two, in amazement, went straight up when they saw them.
And the spirit of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, knew
the dear son of Melaneus, glorious Amphimedon;
for he had been his guest-friend, living in a house in Ithaca.
The spirit of the son of Atreus spoke to him first:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης,
ψυχὰς μνηστήρων κατάγων Ὀδυσῆϊ δαμέντων,
τὼ δʼ ἄρα θαμβήσαντʼ ἰθὺς κίον, ὡς ἐσιδέσθην.
ἔγνω δὲ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
παῖδα φίλον Μελανῆος, ἀγακλυτὸν Ἀμφιμέδοντα·
ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔην Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.
τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης,
ψυχὰς μνηστήρων κατάγων Ὀδυσῆϊ δαμέντων,
τὼ δʼ ἄρα θαμβήσαντʼ ἰθὺς κίον, ὡς ἐσιδέσθην.
ἔγνω δὲ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
παῖδα φίλον Μελανῆος, ἀγακλυτὸν Ἀμφιμέδοντα·
ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔην Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.
τὸν προτέρη ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·
"Amphimedon, what has befallen you, that you have gone down under the dark earth,
all chosen men and of one age? Nor could a man choose otherwise
and pick out the best men through a city.
Did Poseidon bring you down in your ships,
raising harsh winds and long waves?
Or did hostile men destroy you on the dry land
as you were cutting out their cattle and fine flocks of sheep,
or as you fought for a city and for women?
Tell me, since I ask; I declare that I am your guest-friend.
Do you not remember when I came down there to your house,
to urge Odysseus, along with godlike Menelaus,
to follow us to Ilium on the well-benched ships?
A whole month it took us to cross the wide sea,
when with difficulty we had won over Odysseus, sacker of cities."
Then the spirit of Amphimedon spoke to him in turn:
all chosen men and of one age? Nor could a man choose otherwise
and pick out the best men through a city.
Did Poseidon bring you down in your ships,
raising harsh winds and long waves?
Or did hostile men destroy you on the dry land
as you were cutting out their cattle and fine flocks of sheep,
or as you fought for a city and for women?
Tell me, since I ask; I declare that I am your guest-friend.
Do you not remember when I came down there to your house,
to urge Odysseus, along with godlike Menelaus,
to follow us to Ilium on the well-benched ships?
A whole month it took us to cross the wide sea,
when with difficulty we had won over Odysseus, sacker of cities."
Then the spirit of Amphimedon spoke to him in turn:
Ἀμφίμεδον, τί παθόντες ἐρεμνὴν γαῖαν ἔδυτε
πάντες κεκριμένοι καὶ ὁμήλικες; οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως
κρινάμενος λέξαιτο κατὰ πτόλιν ἄνδρας ἀρίστους.
ἦ ὔμμʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν,
ὄρσας ἀργαλέους ἀνέμους καὶ κύματα μακρά;
ἦ που ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου
βοῦς περιταμνομένους ἠδʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,
ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενοι ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ· ξεῖνος δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.
ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε κεῖσε κατήλυθον ὑμέτερον δῶ,
ὀτρυνέων Ὀδυσῆα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕπεσθαι ἐϋσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν;
μηνὶ δʼ ἄρʼ οὔλῳ πάντα περήσαμεν εὐρέα πόντον,
σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες Ὀδυσσῆα πτολίπορθον.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀμφιμέδοντος·
πάντες κεκριμένοι καὶ ὁμήλικες; οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως
κρινάμενος λέξαιτο κατὰ πτόλιν ἄνδρας ἀρίστους.
ἦ ὔμμʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσεν,
ὄρσας ἀργαλέους ἀνέμους καὶ κύματα μακρά;
ἦ που ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου
βοῦς περιταμνομένους ἠδʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,
ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενοι ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ· ξεῖνος δέ τοι εὔχομαι εἶναι.
ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε κεῖσε κατήλυθον ὑμέτερον δῶ,
ὀτρυνέων Ὀδυσῆα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Μενελάῳ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕπεσθαι ἐϋσσέλμων ἐπὶ νηῶν;
μηνὶ δʼ ἄρʼ οὔλῳ πάντα περήσαμεν εὐρέα πόντον,
σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες Ὀδυσσῆα πτολίπορθον.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀμφιμέδοντος·
"Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men,
I remember all this, nurtured by Zeus, as you say;
and I will recount it all to you well and exactly,
the evil end of our death, how it came about.
We were wooing the wife of Odysseus, long gone;
and she neither refused the hateful marriage nor made an end,
devising death and black doom for us,
but she turned over in her mind this other trick:
she set up a great loom in the halls and wove,
fine work and wide; and at once she said to us:
I remember all this, nurtured by Zeus, as you say;
and I will recount it all to you well and exactly,
the evil end of our death, how it came about.
We were wooing the wife of Odysseus, long gone;
and she neither refused the hateful marriage nor made an end,
devising death and black doom for us,
but she turned over in her mind this other trick:
she set up a great loom in the halls and wove,
fine work and wide; and at once she said to us:
Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
μέμνημαι τάδε πάντα, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·
σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ εὖ μάλα πάντα καὶ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω,
ἡμετέρου θανάτοιο κακὸν τέλος, οἷον ἐτύχθη.
μνώμεθʼ Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα·
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἠρνεῖτο στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτʼ ἐτελεύτα,
ἡμῖν φραζομένη θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν,
ἀλλὰ δόλον τόνδʼ ἄλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμήριξε·
στησαμένη μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὕφαινε,
λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δʼ ἡμῖν μετέειπε·
μέμνημαι τάδε πάντα, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·
σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ εὖ μάλα πάντα καὶ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω,
ἡμετέρου θανάτοιο κακὸν τέλος, οἷον ἐτύχθη.
μνώμεθʼ Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα·
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἠρνεῖτο στυγερὸν γάμον οὔτʼ ἐτελεύτα,
ἡμῖν φραζομένη θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν,
ἀλλὰ δόλον τόνδʼ ἄλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμήριξε·
στησαμένη μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὕφαινε,
λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δʼ ἡμῖν μετέειπε·
’Young men, my suitors, since noble Odysseus is dead,
be patient in your urging of my marriage, until I finish
this robe, so that my spinning may not be wasted and lost —
a shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when
the destroying fate of death that lays men low takes him down,
so that no Achaean woman in the land may be indignant with me
if he should lie without a shroud, who won so much.’
be patient in your urging of my marriage, until I finish
this robe, so that my spinning may not be wasted and lost —
a shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when
the destroying fate of death that lays men low takes him down,
so that no Achaean woman in the land may be indignant with me
if he should lie without a shroud, who won so much.’
κοῦροι ἐμοὶ μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
μίμνετʼ ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος
ἐκτελέσω, μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματʼ ὄληται,
Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.
μίμνετʼ ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος
ἐκτελέσω, μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματʼ ὄληται,
Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.
"So she spoke, and our lordly spirit was persuaded.
And so by day she would weave at the great loom,
and by night unravel it, when she had set the torches by.
So for three years she went undetected and won the Achaeans over;
but when the fourth year came and the seasons came round,
as the months waned, and many days were brought to their end,
then one of the women told us, who knew it well,
and we caught her unravelling the shining web.
So she finished it against her will, under compulsion.
And when she showed the robe, having woven the great web
and washed it, like the sun or the moon,
then some evil power brought Odysseus from somewhere
to the far edge of the country, where the swineherd had his house.
There too came the dear son of divine Odysseus,
coming from sandy Pylos in his black ship;
and the two, having contrived an evil death for the suitors,
came to the famous city; Odysseus, indeed,
came later, but Telemachus led the way before.
And the swineherd brought him wearing poor clothes on his body,
like a wretched beggar and an old man
leaning on a staff; and the miserable clothes hung about his body;
and none of us could know who he was
when he appeared suddenly, not even the older among us,
but we assailed him with evil words and with things thrown.
Yet for a while he endured it in his own halls,
being pelted and reviled, with an enduring spirit;
but when the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus roused him,
with Telemachus he lifted the beautiful armour
and stored it in the chamber and shot the bolts home,
and then in his great cunning he bade his wife
set the bow before the suitors and the grey iron,
a contest for us of the bitter doom, and the beginning of the slaughter.
And none of us could string the bowstring
of the mighty bow; we fell far short of it.
But when the great bow came into the hands of Odysseus,
then we all shouted him down with words,
not to give him the bow, however much he said;
but Telemachus alone urged him on and bade him take it.
And long-suffering noble Odysseus took it in his hand,
and easily strung the bow, and sent the arrow through the iron,
and went and stood on the threshold, and poured out the swift shafts,
glaring terribly, and struck Antinous the king.
And then he let fly his groaning shafts at the others,
taking aim straight ahead; and they fell thick upon each other.
And it was plain that some god was their helper;
for at once, following through the house in their fury,
they killed, turning this way and that; and a hideous groaning rose
as their heads were struck, and the whole floor ran with blood.
So we perished, Agamemnon, and even now
our bodies lie uncared for in the halls of Odysseus;
for our friends in each man’s house do not yet know,
who would wash the black blood from our wounds
and lay us out and mourn us; for that is the due of the dead."
Then the spirit of the son of Atreus spoke to him in turn:
And so by day she would weave at the great loom,
and by night unravel it, when she had set the torches by.
So for three years she went undetected and won the Achaeans over;
but when the fourth year came and the seasons came round,
as the months waned, and many days were brought to their end,
then one of the women told us, who knew it well,
and we caught her unravelling the shining web.
So she finished it against her will, under compulsion.
And when she showed the robe, having woven the great web
and washed it, like the sun or the moon,
then some evil power brought Odysseus from somewhere
to the far edge of the country, where the swineherd had his house.
There too came the dear son of divine Odysseus,
coming from sandy Pylos in his black ship;
and the two, having contrived an evil death for the suitors,
came to the famous city; Odysseus, indeed,
came later, but Telemachus led the way before.
And the swineherd brought him wearing poor clothes on his body,
like a wretched beggar and an old man
leaning on a staff; and the miserable clothes hung about his body;
and none of us could know who he was
when he appeared suddenly, not even the older among us,
but we assailed him with evil words and with things thrown.
Yet for a while he endured it in his own halls,
being pelted and reviled, with an enduring spirit;
but when the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus roused him,
with Telemachus he lifted the beautiful armour
and stored it in the chamber and shot the bolts home,
and then in his great cunning he bade his wife
set the bow before the suitors and the grey iron,
a contest for us of the bitter doom, and the beginning of the slaughter.
And none of us could string the bowstring
of the mighty bow; we fell far short of it.
But when the great bow came into the hands of Odysseus,
then we all shouted him down with words,
not to give him the bow, however much he said;
but Telemachus alone urged him on and bade him take it.
And long-suffering noble Odysseus took it in his hand,
and easily strung the bow, and sent the arrow through the iron,
and went and stood on the threshold, and poured out the swift shafts,
glaring terribly, and struck Antinous the king.
And then he let fly his groaning shafts at the others,
taking aim straight ahead; and they fell thick upon each other.
And it was plain that some god was their helper;
for at once, following through the house in their fury,
they killed, turning this way and that; and a hideous groaning rose
as their heads were struck, and the whole floor ran with blood.
So we perished, Agamemnon, and even now
our bodies lie uncared for in the halls of Odysseus;
for our friends in each man’s house do not yet know,
who would wash the black blood from our wounds
and lay us out and mourn us; for that is the due of the dead."
Then the spirit of the son of Atreus spoke to him in turn:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡμῖν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκεν μέγαν ἱστόν,
νύκτας δʼ ἀλλύεσκεν, ἐπεὶ δαΐδας παραθεῖτο.
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθε δόλῳ καὶ ἔπειθεν Ἀχαιούς·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα πόλλʼ ἐτελέσθη,
καὶ τότε δή τις ἔειπε γυναικῶν, ἣ σάφα ᾔδη,
καὶ τήν γʼ ἀλλύουσαν ἐφεύρομεν ἀγλαὸν ἱστόν.
ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσʼ, ὑπʼ ἀνάγκης.
εὖθʼ ἡ φᾶρος ἔδειξεν, ὑφήνασα μέγαν ἱστόν,
πλύνασʼ, ἠελίῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠὲ σελήνῃ,
καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆα κακός ποθεν ἤγαγε δαίμων
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε συβώτης.
ἔνθʼ ἦλθεν φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος ἰὼν σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ·
τὼ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον κακὸν ἀρτύναντε
ἵκοντο προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὕστερος, αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθʼ ἡγεμόνευε.
τὸν δὲ συβώτης ἦγε κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα,
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι
σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·
οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο γνῶναι τὸν ἐόντα
ἐξαπίνης προφανέντʼ, οὐδʼ οἳ προγενέστεροι ἦσαν,
ἀλλʼ ἔπεσίν τε κακοῖσιν ἐνίσσομεν ἠδὲ βολῇσιν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τῆος ἐτόλμα ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσι
βαλλόμενος καὶ ἐνισσόμενος τετληότι θυμῷ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν ἔγειρε Διὸς νοός αἰγιόχοιο,
σὺν μὲν Τηλεμάχῳ περικαλλέα τεύχεʼ ἀείρας
ἐς θάλαμον κατέθηκε καὶ ἐκλήϊσεν ὀχῆας,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἣν ἄλοχον πολυκερδείῃσιν ἄνωγε
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον,
ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.
οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο κρατεροῖο βιοῖο
νευρὴν ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δʼ ἐπιδευέες ἦμεν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε χεῖρας ἵκανεν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον,
ἔνθʼ ἡμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὁμοκλέομεν ἐπέεσσι
τόξον μὴ δόμεναι, μηδʼ εἰ μάλα πολλʼ ἀγορεύοι·
Τηλέμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ δέξατο χειρὶ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ῥηϊδίως δʼ ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δʼ ἧκε σιδήρου,
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, ταχέας δʼ ἐκχεύατʼ ὀϊστοὺς
δεινὸν παπταίνων, βάλε δʼ Ἀντίνοον βασιλῆα.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἄλλοις ἐφίει βέλεα στονόεντα,
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.
γνωτὸν δʼ ἦν ὅ ῥά τίς σφι θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθος ἦεν·
αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ δώματʼ ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ
κτεῖνον ἐπιστροφάδην, τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς
κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.
ὣς ἡμεῖς, Ἀγάμεμνον, ἀπωλόμεθʼ, ὧν ἔτι καὶ νῦν
σώματʼ ἀκηδέα κεῖται ἐνὶ μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος·
οὐ γάρ πω ἴσασι φίλοι κατὰ δώμαθʼ ἑκάστου,
οἵ κʼ ἀπονίψαντες μέλανα βρότον ἐξ ὠτειλέων
κατθέμενοι γοάοιεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκεν μέγαν ἱστόν,
νύκτας δʼ ἀλλύεσκεν, ἐπεὶ δαΐδας παραθεῖτο.
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθε δόλῳ καὶ ἔπειθεν Ἀχαιούς·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα πόλλʼ ἐτελέσθη,
καὶ τότε δή τις ἔειπε γυναικῶν, ἣ σάφα ᾔδη,
καὶ τήν γʼ ἀλλύουσαν ἐφεύρομεν ἀγλαὸν ἱστόν.
ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσʼ, ὑπʼ ἀνάγκης.
εὖθʼ ἡ φᾶρος ἔδειξεν, ὑφήνασα μέγαν ἱστόν,
πλύνασʼ, ἠελίῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠὲ σελήνῃ,
καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆα κακός ποθεν ἤγαγε δαίμων
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε συβώτης.
ἔνθʼ ἦλθεν φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,
ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος ἰὼν σὺν νηῒ μελαίνῃ·
τὼ δὲ μνηστῆρσιν θάνατον κακὸν ἀρτύναντε
ἵκοντο προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, ἦ τοι Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὕστερος, αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχος πρόσθʼ ἡγεμόνευε.
τὸν δὲ συβώτης ἦγε κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα,
πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι
σκηπτόμενον· τὰ δὲ λυγρὰ περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·
οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο γνῶναι τὸν ἐόντα
ἐξαπίνης προφανέντʼ, οὐδʼ οἳ προγενέστεροι ἦσαν,
ἀλλʼ ἔπεσίν τε κακοῖσιν ἐνίσσομεν ἠδὲ βολῇσιν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τῆος ἐτόλμα ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσι
βαλλόμενος καὶ ἐνισσόμενος τετληότι θυμῷ·
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν ἔγειρε Διὸς νοός αἰγιόχοιο,
σὺν μὲν Τηλεμάχῳ περικαλλέα τεύχεʼ ἀείρας
ἐς θάλαμον κατέθηκε καὶ ἐκλήϊσεν ὀχῆας,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἣν ἄλοχον πολυκερδείῃσιν ἄνωγε
τόξον μνηστήρεσσι θέμεν πολιόν τε σίδηρον,
ἡμῖν αἰνομόροισιν ἀέθλια καὶ φόνου ἀρχήν.
οὐδέ τις ἡμείων δύνατο κρατεροῖο βιοῖο
νευρὴν ἐντανύσαι, πολλὸν δʼ ἐπιδευέες ἦμεν.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε χεῖρας ἵκανεν Ὀδυσσῆος μέγα τόξον,
ἔνθʼ ἡμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὁμοκλέομεν ἐπέεσσι
τόξον μὴ δόμεναι, μηδʼ εἰ μάλα πολλʼ ἀγορεύοι·
Τηλέμαχος δέ μιν οἶος ἐποτρύνων ἐκέλευσεν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ δέξατο χειρὶ πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ῥηϊδίως δʼ ἐτάνυσσε βιόν, διὰ δʼ ἧκε σιδήρου,
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, ταχέας δʼ ἐκχεύατʼ ὀϊστοὺς
δεινὸν παπταίνων, βάλε δʼ Ἀντίνοον βασιλῆα.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἄλλοις ἐφίει βέλεα στονόεντα,
ἄντα τιτυσκόμενος· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.
γνωτὸν δʼ ἦν ὅ ῥά τίς σφι θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθος ἦεν·
αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ δώματʼ ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ
κτεῖνον ἐπιστροφάδην, τῶν δὲ στόνος ὤρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς
κράτων τυπτομένων, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.
ὣς ἡμεῖς, Ἀγάμεμνον, ἀπωλόμεθʼ, ὧν ἔτι καὶ νῦν
σώματʼ ἀκηδέα κεῖται ἐνὶ μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος·
οὐ γάρ πω ἴσασι φίλοι κατὰ δώμαθʼ ἑκάστου,
οἵ κʼ ἀπονίψαντες μέλανα βρότον ἐξ ὠτειλέων
κατθέμενοι γοάοιεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε ψυχὴ προσεφώνεεν Ἀτρεΐδαο·
"Fortunate son of Laertes, Odysseus of many resources,
truly you won a wife of great excellence.
How good was the mind of blameless Penelope,
the daughter of Icarius; how well she remembered Odysseus,
her wedded husband; therefore the glory of her excellence
will never perish, and the immortals will make for men on earth
a song of grace for wise Penelope,
not as the daughter of Tyndareus contrived evil deeds
and killed her wedded husband; hateful will the song of her be
among men, and she has laid a harsh name
upon women, even upon one who does good."
truly you won a wife of great excellence.
How good was the mind of blameless Penelope,
the daughter of Icarius; how well she remembered Odysseus,
her wedded husband; therefore the glory of her excellence
will never perish, and the immortals will make for men on earth
a song of grace for wise Penelope,
not as the daughter of Tyndareus contrived evil deeds
and killed her wedded husband; hateful will the song of her be
among men, and she has laid a harsh name
upon women, even upon one who does good."
ὄλβιε Λαέρταο πάϊ, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἦ ἄρα σὺν μεγάλῃ ἀρετῇ ἐκτήσω ἄκοιτιν.
ὡς ἀγαθαὶ φρένες ἦσαν ἀμύμονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίου· ὡς εὖ μέμνητʼ Ὀδυσῆος,
ἀνδρὸς κουριδίου· τῷ οἱ κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται
ἧς ἀρετῆς, τεύξουσι δʼ ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδὴν
ἀθάνατοι χαρίεσσαν ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὐχ ὡς Τυνδαρέου κούρη κακὰ μήσατο ἔργα,
κουρίδιον κτείνασα πόσιν, στυγερὴ δέ τʼ ἀοιδὴ
ἔσσετʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, χαλεπὴν δέ τε φῆμιν ὀπάσσει
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.
ἦ ἄρα σὺν μεγάλῃ ἀρετῇ ἐκτήσω ἄκοιτιν.
ὡς ἀγαθαὶ φρένες ἦσαν ἀμύμονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
κούρῃ Ἰκαρίου· ὡς εὖ μέμνητʼ Ὀδυσῆος,
ἀνδρὸς κουριδίου· τῷ οἱ κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται
ἧς ἀρετῆς, τεύξουσι δʼ ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἀοιδὴν
ἀθάνατοι χαρίεσσαν ἐχέφρονι Πηνελοπείῃ,
οὐχ ὡς Τυνδαρέου κούρη κακὰ μήσατο ἔργα,
κουρίδιον κτείνασα πόσιν, στυγερὴ δέ τʼ ἀοιδὴ
ἔσσετʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, χαλεπὴν δέ τε φῆμιν ὀπάσσει
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ εὐεργὸς ἔῃσιν.
So they spoke such things to each other,
standing in the house of Hades, under the hiding-places of the earth.
But the others, when they had gone down from the city, soon reached the farm,
the fine, well-worked land of Laertes, which once he himself,
Laertes, had won for himself, when he had toiled hard for it.
There was his house, and all round it ran a shelter
in which they used to eat and sit and sleep,
the bondsmen of necessity who did the work he wanted.
And there was an old Sicilian woman in it, who cared
for the old man attentively on the farm, far from the city.
There Odysseus spoke a word to the servants and to his son:
standing in the house of Hades, under the hiding-places of the earth.
But the others, when they had gone down from the city, soon reached the farm,
the fine, well-worked land of Laertes, which once he himself,
Laertes, had won for himself, when he had toiled hard for it.
There was his house, and all round it ran a shelter
in which they used to eat and sit and sleep,
the bondsmen of necessity who did the work he wanted.
And there was an old Sicilian woman in it, who cared
for the old man attentively on the farm, far from the city.
There Odysseus spoke a word to the servants and to his son:
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
ἑσταότʼ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοις, ὑπὸ κεύθεσι γαίης·
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ πόλιος κατέβαν, τάχα δʼ ἀγρὸν ἵκοντο
καλὸν Λαέρταο τετυγμένον, ὅν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸς
Λαέρτης κτεάτισσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πόλλʼ ἐμόγησεν.
ἔνθα οἱ οἶκος ἔην, περὶ δὲ κλίσιον θέε πάντη,
ἐν τῷ σιτέσκοντο καὶ ἵζανον ἠδὲ ἴαυον
δμῶες ἀναγκαῖοι, τοί οἱ φίλα ἐργάζοντο.
ἐν δὲ γυνὴ Σικελὴ γρηῢς πέλεν, ἥ ῥα γέροντα
ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ, νόσφι πόληος.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δμώεσσι καὶ υἱέϊ μῦθον ἔειπεν·
ἑσταότʼ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοις, ὑπὸ κεύθεσι γαίης·
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ πόλιος κατέβαν, τάχα δʼ ἀγρὸν ἵκοντο
καλὸν Λαέρταο τετυγμένον, ὅν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸς
Λαέρτης κτεάτισσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πόλλʼ ἐμόγησεν.
ἔνθα οἱ οἶκος ἔην, περὶ δὲ κλίσιον θέε πάντη,
ἐν τῷ σιτέσκοντο καὶ ἵζανον ἠδὲ ἴαυον
δμῶες ἀναγκαῖοι, τοί οἱ φίλα ἐργάζοντο.
ἐν δὲ γυνὴ Σικελὴ γρηῢς πέλεν, ἥ ῥα γέροντα
ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ, νόσφι πόληος.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δμώεσσι καὶ υἱέϊ μῦθον ἔειπεν·
"Now go inside the well-built house,
and at once sacrifice for dinner the best of the swine;
but I will make trial of my father,
to see whether he will recognise me and know me with his eyes,
or fail to know me, since I have been away so long a time."
and at once sacrifice for dinner the best of the swine;
but I will make trial of my father,
to see whether he will recognise me and know me with his eyes,
or fail to know me, since I have been away so long a time."
ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν ἔλθετʼ ἐϋκτίμενον δόμον εἴσω,
δεῖπνον δʼ αἶψα συῶν ἱερεύσατε ὅς τις ἄριστος·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πατρὸς πειρήσομαι ἡμετέροιο,
αἴ κέ μʼ ἐπιγνώῃ καὶ φράσσεται ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
ἦέ κεν ἀγνοιῇσι, πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντα.
δεῖπνον δʼ αἶψα συῶν ἱερεύσατε ὅς τις ἄριστος·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πατρὸς πειρήσομαι ἡμετέροιο,
αἴ κέ μʼ ἐπιγνώῃ καὶ φράσσεται ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
ἦέ κεν ἀγνοιῇσι, πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντα.
So saying, he gave his weapons of war to the servants.
They then went quickly into the house; but Odysseus
went nearer to the fruitful orchard to make his trial.
He did not find Dolius as he went down into the great garden,
nor any of the servants nor of his sons; but they
had gone off to gather stones for a wall to be the fence
of the orchard, and the old man was leading them on the way.
So he found his father alone in the well-worked orchard,
digging about a plant; and he wore a filthy tunic,
patched and unseemly, and about his shins he had bound
stitched greaves of oxhide, to keep off the scratches,
and gloves on his hands because of the brambles; and above
he wore a goatskin cap on his head, nursing his grief.
When long-suffering noble Odysseus saw him,
worn down with old age, and holding great grief in his mind,
he stood under a tall pear tree and let a tear fall.
Then he turned it over in his mind and in his spirit,
whether to kiss his father and embrace him and tell him
everything, how he had come and reached his native land,
or first to question him and make trial of him in every way.
And as he thought it over, this seemed to him the better way,
first to make trial of him with taunting words.
With this in mind noble Odysseus went straight up to him.
They then went quickly into the house; but Odysseus
went nearer to the fruitful orchard to make his trial.
He did not find Dolius as he went down into the great garden,
nor any of the servants nor of his sons; but they
had gone off to gather stones for a wall to be the fence
of the orchard, and the old man was leading them on the way.
So he found his father alone in the well-worked orchard,
digging about a plant; and he wore a filthy tunic,
patched and unseemly, and about his shins he had bound
stitched greaves of oxhide, to keep off the scratches,
and gloves on his hands because of the brambles; and above
he wore a goatskin cap on his head, nursing his grief.
When long-suffering noble Odysseus saw him,
worn down with old age, and holding great grief in his mind,
he stood under a tall pear tree and let a tear fall.
Then he turned it over in his mind and in his spirit,
whether to kiss his father and embrace him and tell him
everything, how he had come and reached his native land,
or first to question him and make trial of him in every way.
And as he thought it over, this seemed to him the better way,
first to make trial of him with taunting words.
With this in mind noble Odysseus went straight up to him.
ὣς εἰπὼν δμώεσσιν ἀρήϊα τεύχεʼ ἔδωκεν.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα δόμονδε θοῶς κίον, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἆσσον ἴεν πολυκάρπου ἀλωῆς πειρητίζων.
οὐδʼ εὗρεν Δολίον, μέγαν ὄρχατον ἐσκαταβαίνων,
οὐδέ τινα δμώων οὐδʼ υἱῶν· ἀλλʼ ἄρα τοί γε
αἱμασιὰς λέξοντες ἀλωῆς ἔμμεναι ἕρκος
ᾤχοντʼ, αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσι γέρων ὁδὸν ἡγεμόνευε.
τὸν δʼ οἶον πατέρʼ εὗρεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,
λιστρεύοντα φυτόν· ῥυπόωντα δὲ ἕστο χιτῶνα
ῥαπτὸν ἀεικέλιον, περὶ δὲ κνήμῃσι βοείας
κνημῖδας ῥαπτὰς δέδετο, γραπτῦς ἀλεείνων,
χειρῖδάς τʼ ἐπὶ χερσὶ βάτων ἕνεκʼ· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεν
αἰγείην κυνέην κεφαλῇ ἔχε, πένθος ἀέξων.
τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
γήραϊ τειρόμενον, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,
στὰς ἄρʼ ὑπὸ βλωθρὴν ὄγχνην κατὰ δάκρυον εἶβε.
μερμήριξε δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
κύσσαι καὶ περιφῦναι ἑὸν πατέρʼ, ἠδὲ ἕκαστα
εἰπεῖν, ὡς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
ἦ πρῶτʼ ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
πρῶτον κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσιν πειρηθῆναι.
τὰ φρονέων ἰθὺς κίεν αὐτοῦ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα δόμονδε θοῶς κίον, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἆσσον ἴεν πολυκάρπου ἀλωῆς πειρητίζων.
οὐδʼ εὗρεν Δολίον, μέγαν ὄρχατον ἐσκαταβαίνων,
οὐδέ τινα δμώων οὐδʼ υἱῶν· ἀλλʼ ἄρα τοί γε
αἱμασιὰς λέξοντες ἀλωῆς ἔμμεναι ἕρκος
ᾤχοντʼ, αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσι γέρων ὁδὸν ἡγεμόνευε.
τὸν δʼ οἶον πατέρʼ εὗρεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,
λιστρεύοντα φυτόν· ῥυπόωντα δὲ ἕστο χιτῶνα
ῥαπτὸν ἀεικέλιον, περὶ δὲ κνήμῃσι βοείας
κνημῖδας ῥαπτὰς δέδετο, γραπτῦς ἀλεείνων,
χειρῖδάς τʼ ἐπὶ χερσὶ βάτων ἕνεκʼ· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεν
αἰγείην κυνέην κεφαλῇ ἔχε, πένθος ἀέξων.
τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
γήραϊ τειρόμενον, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔχοντα,
στὰς ἄρʼ ὑπὸ βλωθρὴν ὄγχνην κατὰ δάκρυον εἶβε.
μερμήριξε δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
κύσσαι καὶ περιφῦναι ἑὸν πατέρʼ, ἠδὲ ἕκαστα
εἰπεῖν, ὡς ἔλθοι καὶ ἵκοιτʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
ἦ πρῶτʼ ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
πρῶτον κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσιν πειρηθῆναι.
τὰ φρονέων ἰθὺς κίεν αὐτοῦ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
Now he was digging round the plant with his head held down;
and his glorious son stood beside him and spoke to him:
and his glorious son stood beside him and spoke to him:
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν κατέχων κεφαλὴν φυτὸν ἀμφελάχαινε·
τὸν δὲ παριστάμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός·
τὸν δὲ παριστάμενος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός·
"Old man, no lack of skill holds you in the tending
of your orchard; your care of it is good, and there is nothing at all,
not a plant, not a fig tree, not a vine, nor an olive,
not a pear tree, not a garden bed, that goes untended in the garden.
But I will say another thing; do not take anger into your spirit:
you yourself are not well cared for; along with a wretched
old age you are squalid and badly dressed and unseemly.
It is not for idleness that your master leaves you uncared for,
and there is nothing of the slave about you to look at,
in form and in stature; you look like a kingly man.
You look like the kind of man who, when he has bathed and eaten,
should sleep soft; for that is the right of old men.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
whose servant are you among men? whose orchard do you tend?
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
is this really Ithaca that we have come to, as that man told me
who met me just now as I was coming here,
not a very sound-witted man, since he did not bring himself
to tell me everything or to listen to my word, when I asked
about my guest-friend, whether he lives and is somewhere,
or is already dead and in the house of Hades.
For I will speak out; do you mark it and hear me.
I once entertained a man in my own native land
who came to our house, and no other mortal
of guests from far countries ever came dearer to my house.
He declared that his family was from Ithaca, and said
that Laertes, son of Arceisius, was his father.
I took him to my house and entertained him well,
welcoming him attentively, since there was much in the house,
and I gave him guest-gifts, such as were fitting.
I gave him seven talents of well-wrought gold,
and I gave him a mixing-bowl all of silver, worked with flowers,
and twelve single cloaks, and as many blankets,
and as many fine robes, and as many tunics besides,
and apart from these, women skilled in blameless work,
four comely ones, whom he wished to choose himself."
Then his father answered him, letting a tear fall:
of your orchard; your care of it is good, and there is nothing at all,
not a plant, not a fig tree, not a vine, nor an olive,
not a pear tree, not a garden bed, that goes untended in the garden.
But I will say another thing; do not take anger into your spirit:
you yourself are not well cared for; along with a wretched
old age you are squalid and badly dressed and unseemly.
It is not for idleness that your master leaves you uncared for,
and there is nothing of the slave about you to look at,
in form and in stature; you look like a kingly man.
You look like the kind of man who, when he has bathed and eaten,
should sleep soft; for that is the right of old men.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
whose servant are you among men? whose orchard do you tend?
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
is this really Ithaca that we have come to, as that man told me
who met me just now as I was coming here,
not a very sound-witted man, since he did not bring himself
to tell me everything or to listen to my word, when I asked
about my guest-friend, whether he lives and is somewhere,
or is already dead and in the house of Hades.
For I will speak out; do you mark it and hear me.
I once entertained a man in my own native land
who came to our house, and no other mortal
of guests from far countries ever came dearer to my house.
He declared that his family was from Ithaca, and said
that Laertes, son of Arceisius, was his father.
I took him to my house and entertained him well,
welcoming him attentively, since there was much in the house,
and I gave him guest-gifts, such as were fitting.
I gave him seven talents of well-wrought gold,
and I gave him a mixing-bowl all of silver, worked with flowers,
and twelve single cloaks, and as many blankets,
and as many fine robes, and as many tunics besides,
and apart from these, women skilled in blameless work,
four comely ones, whom he wished to choose himself."
Then his father answered him, letting a tear fall:
ὦ γέρον, οὐκ ἀδαημονίη σʼ ἔχει ἀμφιπολεύειν
ὄρχατον, ἀλλʼ εὖ τοι κομιδὴ ἔχει, οὐδέ τι πάμπαν,
οὐ φυτόν, οὐ συκέη, οὐκ ἄμπελος, οὐ μὲν ἐλαίη,
οὐκ ὄγχνη, οὐ πρασιή τοι ἄνευ κομιδῆς κατὰ κῆπον.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ μὴ χόλον ἔνθεο θυμῷ
αὐτόν σʼ οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κομιδὴ ἔχει, ἀλλʼ ἅμα γῆρας
λυγρὸν ἔχεις αὐχμεῖς τε κακῶς καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσαι.
οὐ μὲν ἀεργίης γε ἄναξ ἕνεκʼ οὔ σε κομίζει,
οὐδέ τί τοι δούλειον ἐπιπρέπει εἰσοράασθαι
εἶδος καὶ μέγεθος· βασιλῆϊ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.
τοιούτῳ δὲ ἔοικας, ἐπεὶ λούσαιτο φάγοι τε,
εὑδέμεναι μαλακῶς· ἡ γὰρ δίκη ἐστὶ γερόντων.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
τεῦ δμὼς εἶς ἀνδρῶν; τεῦ δʼ ὄρχατον ἀμφιπολεύεις;
καὶ μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ,
εἰ ἐτεόν γʼ Ἰθάκην τήνδʼ ἱκόμεθʼ, ὥς μοι ἔειπεν
οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν δὴ ξυμβλήμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἰόντι,
οὔ τι μάλʼ ἀρτίφρων, ἐπεὶ οὐ τόλμησεν ἕκαστα
εἰπεῖν ἠδʼ ἐπακοῦσαι ἐμὸν ἔπος, ὡς ἐρέεινον
ἀμφὶ ξείνῳ ἐμῷ, ἤ που ζώει τε καὶ ἔστιν
ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιν.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
ἄνδρα ποτʼ ἐξείνισσα φίλῃ ἐνὶ πατρίδι γαίῃ
ἡμέτερόνδʼ ἐλθόντα, καὶ οὔ πω τις βροτὸς ἄλλος
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα·
εὔχετο δʼ ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος ἔμμεναι, αὐτὰρ ἔφασκε
Λαέρτην Ἀρκεισιάδην πατέρʼ ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματʼ ἄγων ἐῢ ἐξείνισσα,
ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,
καί οἱ δῶρα πόρον ξεινήϊα, οἷα ἐῴκει.
χρυσοῦ μέν οἱ δῶκʼ εὐεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,
δῶκα δέ οἱ κρητῆρα πανάργυρον ἀνθεμόεντα,
δώδεκα δʼ ἁπλοΐδας χλαίνας, τόσσους δὲ τάπητας,
τόσσα δὲ φάρεα καλά, τόσους δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι χιτῶνας,
χωρὶς δʼ αὖτε γυναῖκας, ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας,
τέσσαρας εἰδαλίμας, ἃς ἤθελεν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πατὴρ κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων·
ὄρχατον, ἀλλʼ εὖ τοι κομιδὴ ἔχει, οὐδέ τι πάμπαν,
οὐ φυτόν, οὐ συκέη, οὐκ ἄμπελος, οὐ μὲν ἐλαίη,
οὐκ ὄγχνη, οὐ πρασιή τοι ἄνευ κομιδῆς κατὰ κῆπον.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ μὴ χόλον ἔνθεο θυμῷ
αὐτόν σʼ οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κομιδὴ ἔχει, ἀλλʼ ἅμα γῆρας
λυγρὸν ἔχεις αὐχμεῖς τε κακῶς καὶ ἀεικέα ἕσσαι.
οὐ μὲν ἀεργίης γε ἄναξ ἕνεκʼ οὔ σε κομίζει,
οὐδέ τί τοι δούλειον ἐπιπρέπει εἰσοράασθαι
εἶδος καὶ μέγεθος· βασιλῆϊ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικας.
τοιούτῳ δὲ ἔοικας, ἐπεὶ λούσαιτο φάγοι τε,
εὑδέμεναι μαλακῶς· ἡ γὰρ δίκη ἐστὶ γερόντων.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
τεῦ δμὼς εἶς ἀνδρῶν; τεῦ δʼ ὄρχατον ἀμφιπολεύεις;
καὶ μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ,
εἰ ἐτεόν γʼ Ἰθάκην τήνδʼ ἱκόμεθʼ, ὥς μοι ἔειπεν
οὗτος ἀνὴρ νῦν δὴ ξυμβλήμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἰόντι,
οὔ τι μάλʼ ἀρτίφρων, ἐπεὶ οὐ τόλμησεν ἕκαστα
εἰπεῖν ἠδʼ ἐπακοῦσαι ἐμὸν ἔπος, ὡς ἐρέεινον
ἀμφὶ ξείνῳ ἐμῷ, ἤ που ζώει τε καὶ ἔστιν
ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιν.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
ἄνδρα ποτʼ ἐξείνισσα φίλῃ ἐνὶ πατρίδι γαίῃ
ἡμέτερόνδʼ ἐλθόντα, καὶ οὔ πω τις βροτὸς ἄλλος
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα·
εὔχετο δʼ ἐξ Ἰθάκης γένος ἔμμεναι, αὐτὰρ ἔφασκε
Λαέρτην Ἀρκεισιάδην πατέρʼ ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματʼ ἄγων ἐῢ ἐξείνισσα,
ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,
καί οἱ δῶρα πόρον ξεινήϊα, οἷα ἐῴκει.
χρυσοῦ μέν οἱ δῶκʼ εὐεργέος ἑπτὰ τάλαντα,
δῶκα δέ οἱ κρητῆρα πανάργυρον ἀνθεμόεντα,
δώδεκα δʼ ἁπλοΐδας χλαίνας, τόσσους δὲ τάπητας,
τόσσα δὲ φάρεα καλά, τόσους δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι χιτῶνας,
χωρὶς δʼ αὖτε γυναῖκας, ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας,
τέσσαρας εἰδαλίμας, ἃς ἤθελεν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πατὴρ κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων·
"Stranger, you have indeed come to the land you ask about,
but insolent and reckless men hold it now.
Those gifts you gave were given in vain, though you gave countless things;
for if you had found him alive in the land of Ithaca,
he would have sent you away well repaid with gifts
and with good guest-friendship; for that is the right of the one who begins.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
how many years is it since you entertained that man,
your unhappy guest, my son — if ever he was —
ill-fated? Far from his friends and his native land
either the fishes have eaten him somewhere in the sea, or on dry land
he has become the prey of beasts and birds; and his mother
did not shroud him and weep for him, nor his father, we who bore him;
nor did his richly dowered wife, wise Penelope,
wail for her husband on the bier, as was fitting,
and close his eyes; for that is the due of the dead.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city and your parents?
And where does the swift ship stand that brought you here,
and your godlike companions? Or have you come as a passenger
on another man’s ship, and they set you ashore and went away?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
but insolent and reckless men hold it now.
Those gifts you gave were given in vain, though you gave countless things;
for if you had found him alive in the land of Ithaca,
he would have sent you away well repaid with gifts
and with good guest-friendship; for that is the right of the one who begins.
But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
how many years is it since you entertained that man,
your unhappy guest, my son — if ever he was —
ill-fated? Far from his friends and his native land
either the fishes have eaten him somewhere in the sea, or on dry land
he has become the prey of beasts and birds; and his mother
did not shroud him and weep for him, nor his father, we who bore him;
nor did his richly dowered wife, wise Penelope,
wail for her husband on the bier, as was fitting,
and close his eyes; for that is the due of the dead.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city and your parents?
And where does the swift ship stand that brought you here,
and your godlike companions? Or have you come as a passenger
on another man’s ship, and they set you ashore and went away?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν γαῖαν ἱκάνεις, ἣν ἐρεείνεις,
ὑβρισταὶ δʼ αὐτὴν καὶ ἀτάσθαλοι ἄνδρες ἔχουσιν·
δῶρα δʼ ἐτώσια ταῦτα χαρίζεο, μυρίʼ ὀπάζων·
εἰ γάρ μιν ζωόν γʼ ἐκίχεις Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ,
τῷ κέν σʼ εὖ δώροισιν ἀμειψάμενος ἀπέπεμψε
καὶ ξενίῃ ἀγαθῇ ἡ γὰρ θέμις, ὅς τις ὑπάρξῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
πόστον δὴ ἔτος ἐστίν, ὅτε ξείνισσας ἐκεῖνον
σὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον, ἐμὸν παῖδʼ, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,
δύσμορον; ὅν που τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
ἠέ που ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ἢ ἐπὶ χέρσου
θηρσὶ καὶ οἰωνοῖσιν ἕλωρ γένετʼ· οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ
κλαῦσε περιστείλασα πατήρ θʼ, οἵ μιν τεκόμεσθα·
οὐδʼ ἄλοχος πολύδωρος, ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια,
κώκυσʼ ἐν λεχέεσσιν ἑὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἐπεῴκει,
ὀφθαλμοὺς καθελοῦσα· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
ποῦ δὲ νηῦς ἕστηκε θοή, ἥ σʼ ἤγαγε δεῦρο
ἀντιθέους θʼ ἑτάρους; ἦ ἔμπορος εἰλήλουθας
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης, οἱ δʼ ἐκβήσαντες ἔβησαν;
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
ὑβρισταὶ δʼ αὐτὴν καὶ ἀτάσθαλοι ἄνδρες ἔχουσιν·
δῶρα δʼ ἐτώσια ταῦτα χαρίζεο, μυρίʼ ὀπάζων·
εἰ γάρ μιν ζωόν γʼ ἐκίχεις Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ,
τῷ κέν σʼ εὖ δώροισιν ἀμειψάμενος ἀπέπεμψε
καὶ ξενίῃ ἀγαθῇ ἡ γὰρ θέμις, ὅς τις ὑπάρξῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,
πόστον δὴ ἔτος ἐστίν, ὅτε ξείνισσας ἐκεῖνον
σὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον, ἐμὸν παῖδʼ, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,
δύσμορον; ὅν που τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης
ἠέ που ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ἢ ἐπὶ χέρσου
θηρσὶ καὶ οἰωνοῖσιν ἕλωρ γένετʼ· οὐδέ ἑ μήτηρ
κλαῦσε περιστείλασα πατήρ θʼ, οἵ μιν τεκόμεσθα·
οὐδʼ ἄλοχος πολύδωρος, ἐχέφρων Πηνελόπεια,
κώκυσʼ ἐν λεχέεσσιν ἑὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἐπεῴκει,
ὀφθαλμοὺς καθελοῦσα· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;
ποῦ δὲ νηῦς ἕστηκε θοή, ἥ σʼ ἤγαγε δεῦρο
ἀντιθέους θʼ ἑτάρους; ἦ ἔμπορος εἰλήλουθας
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης, οἱ δʼ ἐκβήσαντες ἔβησαν;
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Then I will recount it all to you quite exactly.
I am from Alybas, where I live in a famous house,
the son of Apheidas, son of the lord Polypemon;
and my own name is Eperitus; but a divine power
drove me off course from Sicania to come here against my will;
and my ship stands there off the country, away from the city.
As for Odysseus, this is now the fifth year
since he went from there and left my country,
ill-fated man; and yet the birds were good for him as he went,
on the right; and I was glad as I sent him off,
and he was glad as he went; and the spirit in us both still hoped
that we would meet in guest-friendship and give splendid gifts."
I am from Alybas, where I live in a famous house,
the son of Apheidas, son of the lord Polypemon;
and my own name is Eperitus; but a divine power
drove me off course from Sicania to come here against my will;
and my ship stands there off the country, away from the city.
As for Odysseus, this is now the fifth year
since he went from there and left my country,
ill-fated man; and yet the birds were good for him as he went,
on the right; and I was glad as I sent him off,
and he was glad as he went; and the spirit in us both still hoped
that we would meet in guest-friendship and give splendid gifts."
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι πάντα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως καταλέξω.
εἰμὶ μὲν ἐξ Ἀλύβαντος, ὅθι κλυτὰ δώματα ναίω,
υἱὸς Ἀφείδαντος Πολυπημονίδαο ἄνακτος·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν Ἐπήριτος· ἀλλά με δαίμων
πλάγξʼ ἀπὸ Σικανίης δεῦρʼ ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα·
νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδʼ ἕστηκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος.
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆϊ τόδε δὴ πέμπτον ἔτος ἐστίν,
ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης,
δύσμορος· ἦ τέ οἱ ἐσθλοὶ ἔσαν ὄρνιθες ἰόντι,
δεξιοί, οἷς χαίρων μὲν ἐγὼν ἀπέπεμπον ἐκεῖνον,
χαῖρε δὲ κεῖνος ἰών· θυμὸς δʼ ἔτι νῶϊν ἐώλπει
μίξεσθαι ξενίῃ ἠδʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδώσειν.
εἰμὶ μὲν ἐξ Ἀλύβαντος, ὅθι κλυτὰ δώματα ναίω,
υἱὸς Ἀφείδαντος Πολυπημονίδαο ἄνακτος·
αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστὶν Ἐπήριτος· ἀλλά με δαίμων
πλάγξʼ ἀπὸ Σικανίης δεῦρʼ ἐλθέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα·
νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδʼ ἕστηκεν ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ νόσφι πόληος.
αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆϊ τόδε δὴ πέμπτον ἔτος ἐστίν,
ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης,
δύσμορος· ἦ τέ οἱ ἐσθλοὶ ἔσαν ὄρνιθες ἰόντι,
δεξιοί, οἷς χαίρων μὲν ἐγὼν ἀπέπεμπον ἐκεῖνον,
χαῖρε δὲ κεῖνος ἰών· θυμὸς δʼ ἔτι νῶϊν ἐώλπει
μίξεσθαι ξενίῃ ἠδʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδώσειν.
So he spoke, and a black cloud of grief covered the other;
and with both hands he took up the sooty dust
and poured it over his grey head, groaning thickly.
And the spirit of the other was stirred, and now up through his nostrils
a sharp force struck as he looked upon his dear father.
He sprang forward and embraced him and kissed him, and spoke:
and with both hands he took up the sooty dust
and poured it over his grey head, groaning thickly.
And the spirit of the other was stirred, and now up through his nostrils
a sharp force struck as he looked upon his dear father.
He sprang forward and embraced him and kissed him, and spoke:
ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα·
ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἑλὼν κόνιν αἰθαλόεσσαν
χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς πολιῆς, ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.
τοῦ δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμός, ἀνὰ ῥῖνας δέ οἱ ἤδη
δριμὺ μένος προὔτυψε φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσορόωντι.
κύσσε δέ μιν περιφὺς ἐπιάλμενος, ἠδὲ προσηύδα·
ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἑλὼν κόνιν αἰθαλόεσσαν
χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς πολιῆς, ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.
τοῦ δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμός, ἀνὰ ῥῖνας δέ οἱ ἤδη
δριμὺ μένος προὔτυψε φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσορόωντι.
κύσσε δέ μιν περιφὺς ἐπιάλμενος, ἠδὲ προσηύδα·
"He is here, that man himself, father, whom you ask about;
I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
But hold back from your weeping and your tearful lamentation.
For I will speak out; and we must hurry all the same.
I have killed the suitors in our house,
taking vengeance for their heart-galling outrage and their evil deeds."
Then Laertes answered him and said:
I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
But hold back from your weeping and your tearful lamentation.
For I will speak out; and we must hurry all the same.
I have killed the suitors in our house,
taking vengeance for their heart-galling outrage and their evil deeds."
Then Laertes answered him and said:
κεῖνος μέν τοι ὅδʼ αὐτὸς ἐγώ, πάτερ, ὃν σὺ μεταλλᾷς,
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἴσχεο κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω· μάλα δὲ χρὴ σπευδέμεν ἔμπης·
μνηστῆρας κατέπεφνον ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι,
λώβην τινύμενος θυμαλγέα καὶ κακὰ ἔργα.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Λαέρτης ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
ἀλλʼ ἴσχεο κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.
ἐκ γάρ τοι ἐρέω· μάλα δὲ χρὴ σπευδέμεν ἔμπης·
μνηστῆρας κατέπεφνον ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισι,
λώβην τινύμενος θυμαλγέα καὶ κακὰ ἔργα.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Λαέρτης ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·
"If you are indeed Odysseus, my son, come home here,
then tell me now some clear sign, so that I may be sure."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
then tell me now some clear sign, so that I may be sure."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
εἰ μὲν δὴ Ὀδυσεύς γε ἐμὸς πάϊς ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνεις,
σῆμά τί μοι νῦν εἰπὲ ἀριφραδές, ὄφρα πεποίθω.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
σῆμά τί μοι νῦν εἰπὲ ἀριφραδές, ὄφρα πεποίθω.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"First look with your eyes upon this scar,
which a boar dealt me with his white tusk on Parnassus,
when I had gone there; and you and my lady mother sent me
to Autolycus, my mother’s dear father, so that I might get
the gifts he promised me and nodded to when he came here.
And come, let me tell you the trees in the well-worked orchard
that you once gave me; and I asked you for each of them
when I was a child, following you through the garden; and through them
we walked, and you named them and told me each one.
You gave me thirteen pear trees and ten apple trees,
and forty fig trees; and you named for me in the same way
fifty rows of vines that you would give, and each
ripened at its own season; and on them are grapes of every kind —
whenever the seasons of Zeus press down upon them from above."
which a boar dealt me with his white tusk on Parnassus,
when I had gone there; and you and my lady mother sent me
to Autolycus, my mother’s dear father, so that I might get
the gifts he promised me and nodded to when he came here.
And come, let me tell you the trees in the well-worked orchard
that you once gave me; and I asked you for each of them
when I was a child, following you through the garden; and through them
we walked, and you named them and told me each one.
You gave me thirteen pear trees and ten apple trees,
and forty fig trees; and you named for me in the same way
fifty rows of vines that you would give, and each
ripened at its own season; and on them are grapes of every kind —
whenever the seasons of Zeus press down upon them from above."
οὐλὴν μὲν πρῶτον τήνδε φράσαι ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
τὴν ἐν Παρνησῷ μʼ ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι
οἰχόμενον· σὺ δέ με προΐεις καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
ἐς πατέρʼ Αὐτόλυκον μητρὸς φίλον, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἑλοίμην
δῶρα, τὰ δεῦρο μολών μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ δένδρεʼ ἐϋκτιμένην κατʼ ἀλωὴν
εἴπω, ἅ μοί ποτʼ ἔδωκας, ἐγὼ δʼ ᾔτεόν σε ἕκαστα
παιδνὸς ἐών, κατὰ κῆπον ἐπισπόμενος· διὰ δʼ αὐτῶν
ἱκνεύμεσθα, σὺ δʼ ὠνόμασας καὶ ἔειπες ἕκαστα.
ὄγχνας μοι δῶκας τρισκαίδεκα καὶ δέκα μηλέας,
συκέας τεσσαράκοντʼ· ὄρχους δέ μοι ὧδʼ ὀνόμηνας
δώσειν πεντήκοντα, διατρύγιος δὲ ἕκαστος
ἤην· ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὰ σταφυλαὶ παντοῖαι ἔασιν—
ὁππότε δὴ Διὸς ὧραι ἐπιβρίσειαν ὕπερθεν.
τὴν ἐν Παρνησῷ μʼ ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι
οἰχόμενον· σὺ δέ με προΐεις καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
ἐς πατέρʼ Αὐτόλυκον μητρὸς φίλον, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἑλοίμην
δῶρα, τὰ δεῦρο μολών μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν.
εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοι καὶ δένδρεʼ ἐϋκτιμένην κατʼ ἀλωὴν
εἴπω, ἅ μοί ποτʼ ἔδωκας, ἐγὼ δʼ ᾔτεόν σε ἕκαστα
παιδνὸς ἐών, κατὰ κῆπον ἐπισπόμενος· διὰ δʼ αὐτῶν
ἱκνεύμεσθα, σὺ δʼ ὠνόμασας καὶ ἔειπες ἕκαστα.
ὄγχνας μοι δῶκας τρισκαίδεκα καὶ δέκα μηλέας,
συκέας τεσσαράκοντʼ· ὄρχους δέ μοι ὧδʼ ὀνόμηνας
δώσειν πεντήκοντα, διατρύγιος δὲ ἕκαστος
ἤην· ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὰ σταφυλαὶ παντοῖαι ἔασιν—
ὁππότε δὴ Διὸς ὧραι ἐπιβρίσειαν ὕπερθεν.
So he spoke, and his knees and his heart gave way where he stood,
as he knew the signs that Odysseus told him, certain and sure.
He threw his arms about his dear son; and long-suffering noble Odysseus
caught him to himself as he fainted away.
But when he had got his breath and his spirit gathered again in his mind,
he spoke again in answer and said:
as he knew the signs that Odysseus told him, certain and sure.
He threw his arms about his dear son; and long-suffering noble Odysseus
caught him to himself as he fainted away.
But when he had got his breath and his spirit gathered again in his mind,
he spoke again in answer and said:
ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ,
σήματʼ ἀναγνόντος τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε· τὸν δὲ ποτὶ οἷ
εἷλεν ἀποψύχοντα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,
ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
σήματʼ ἀναγνόντος τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
ἀμφὶ δὲ παιδὶ φίλῳ βάλε πήχεε· τὸν δὲ ποτὶ οἷ
εἷλεν ἀποψύχοντα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἄμπνυτο καὶ ἐς φρένα θυμὸς ἀγέρθη,
ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
"Father Zeus, then you gods are still on high Olympus,
if the suitors have truly paid for their reckless insolence.
But now I am terribly afraid in my mind that all
the Ithacans may soon come against us here, and send
messages everywhere to the cities of the Cephallenians."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
if the suitors have truly paid for their reckless insolence.
But now I am terribly afraid in my mind that all
the Ithacans may soon come against us here, and send
messages everywhere to the cities of the Cephallenians."
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥα ἔτʼ ἔστε θεοὶ κατὰ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
εἰ ἐτεὸν μνηστῆρες ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔτισαν.
νῦν δʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μὴ τάχα πάντες
ἐνθάδʼ ἐπέλθωσιν Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀγγελίας δὲ
πάντη ἐποτρύνωσι Κεφαλλήνων πολίεσσι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
εἰ ἐτεὸν μνηστῆρες ἀτάσθαλον ὕβριν ἔτισαν.
νῦν δʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μὴ τάχα πάντες
ἐνθάδʼ ἐπέλθωσιν Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀγγελίας δὲ
πάντη ἐποτρύνωσι Κεφαλλήνων πολίεσσι.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
"Take heart; do not let these things trouble your mind.
But let us go to the house, which lies near the orchard;
there I sent Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
on ahead, to make dinner ready as quickly as they can."
But let us go to the house, which lies near the orchard;
there I sent Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
on ahead, to make dinner ready as quickly as they can."
θάρσει, μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν προτὶ οἶκον, ὃς ὀρχάτου ἐγγύθι κεῖται·
ἔνθα δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
προὔπεμψʼ, ὡς ἂν δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσωσι τάχιστα.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν προτὶ οἶκον, ὃς ὀρχάτου ἐγγύθι κεῖται·
ἔνθα δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
προὔπεμψʼ, ὡς ἂν δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσωσι τάχιστα.
So the two spoke, and went to the fine house.
And when they reached the well-established house,
they found Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
cutting up much meat and mixing the gleaming wine.
Meanwhile high-hearted Laertes, in his own house,
the Sicilian handmaid bathed and rubbed with oil,
and threw a fine cloak about him; and Athena
stood near and filled out the limbs of the shepherd of the people,
and made him taller than before and broader to look at.
He stepped from the bath; and his dear son marvelled at him,
when he saw him like the immortal gods to look upon;
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
And when they reached the well-established house,
they found Telemachus and the herdsman and the swineherd
cutting up much meat and mixing the gleaming wine.
Meanwhile high-hearted Laertes, in his own house,
the Sicilian handmaid bathed and rubbed with oil,
and threw a fine cloak about him; and Athena
stood near and filled out the limbs of the shepherd of the people,
and made him taller than before and broader to look at.
He stepped from the bath; and his dear son marvelled at him,
when he saw him like the immortal gods to look upon;
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε βάτην πρὸς δώματα καλά.
οἱ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
εὗρον Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
ταμνομένους κρέα πολλὰ κερῶντάς τʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον.
τόφρα δὲ Λαέρτην μεγαλήτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἀμφίπολος Σικελὴ λοῦσεν καὶ χρῖσεν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλεʼ ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν,
μείζονα δʼ ἠὲ πάρος καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.
ἐκ δʼ ἀσαμίνθου βῆ· θαύμαζε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,
ὡς ἴδεν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον ἄντην·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
οἱ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
εὗρον Τηλέμαχον καὶ βουκόλον ἠδὲ συβώτην
ταμνομένους κρέα πολλὰ κερῶντάς τʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον.
τόφρα δὲ Λαέρτην μεγαλήτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἀμφίπολος Σικελὴ λοῦσεν καὶ χρῖσεν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαῖναν καλὴν βάλεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
ἄγχι παρισταμένη μέλεʼ ἤλδανε ποιμένι λαῶν,
μείζονα δʼ ἠὲ πάρος καὶ πάσσονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.
ἐκ δʼ ἀσαμίνθου βῆ· θαύμαζε δέ μιν φίλος υἱός,
ὡς ἴδεν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον ἄντην·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Father, surely one of the gods who live for ever
has made you better to look at in form and in stature."
Then prudent Laertes answered him in turn:
has made you better to look at in form and in stature."
Then prudent Laertes answered him in turn:
ὦ πάτερ, ἦ μάλα τίς σε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἀμείνονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Λαέρτης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἀμείνονα θῆκεν ἰδέσθαι.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Λαέρτης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"Would, father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
that such as I was when I took Nericus, the well-built citadel
on the headland of the mainland, as lord of the Cephallenians,
such as that I had stood beside you yesterday in our house,
with armour on my shoulders, and beaten back
the suitors; then I would have loosed the knees of many
of them in the halls, and you would have rejoiced in your heart within."
So they spoke such things to each other.
And when the others had ceased from their work and made ready the feast,
they sat down in order on the seats and the chairs.
There they were setting their hands to the meal, when close by
came old Dolius, and with him the old man’s sons,
weary from their work; for their mother had gone out and called them,
the old Sicilian woman, who reared them and cared for
the old man attentively, since old age had taken hold of him.
And when they saw Odysseus and knew him in their spirit,
they stood in the halls astonished; but Odysseus
addressed them, speaking to them with soft words:
that such as I was when I took Nericus, the well-built citadel
on the headland of the mainland, as lord of the Cephallenians,
such as that I had stood beside you yesterday in our house,
with armour on my shoulders, and beaten back
the suitors; then I would have loosed the knees of many
of them in the halls, and you would have rejoiced in your heart within."
So they spoke such things to each other.
And when the others had ceased from their work and made ready the feast,
they sat down in order on the seats and the chairs.
There they were setting their hands to the meal, when close by
came old Dolius, and with him the old man’s sons,
weary from their work; for their mother had gone out and called them,
the old Sicilian woman, who reared them and cared for
the old man attentively, since old age had taken hold of him.
And when they saw Odysseus and knew him in their spirit,
they stood in the halls astonished; but Odysseus
addressed them, speaking to them with soft words:
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,
οἷος Νήρικον εἷλον, ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
ἀκτὴν ἠπείροιο, Κεφαλλήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων,
τοῖος ἐών τοι χθιζὸς ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν,
τεύχεʼ ἔχων ὤμοισιν, ἐφεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν
ἄνδρας μνηστῆρας· τῷ κε σφέων γούνατʼ ἔλυσα
πολλῶν ἐν μεγάροισι, σὺ δὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐγήθεις.
ὣς οἷ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,
ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε·
ἔνθʼ οἱ μὲν δείπνῳ ἐπεχείρεον, ἀγχίμολον δὲ
ἦλθʼ ὁ γέρων Δολίος, σὺν δʼ υἱεῖς τοῖο γέροντος,
ἐξ ἔργων μογέοντες, ἐπεὶ προμολοῦσα κάλεσσεν
μήτηρ γρηῦς Σικελή, ἥ σφεας τρέφε καί ῥα γέροντα
ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν, ἐπεὶ κατὰ γῆρας ἔμαρψεν.
οἱ δʼ ὡς οὖν Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον φράσσαντό τε θυμῷ,
ἔσταν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεθηπότες· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν·
οἷος Νήρικον εἷλον, ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
ἀκτὴν ἠπείροιο, Κεφαλλήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων,
τοῖος ἐών τοι χθιζὸς ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν,
τεύχεʼ ἔχων ὤμοισιν, ἐφεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν
ἄνδρας μνηστῆρας· τῷ κε σφέων γούνατʼ ἔλυσα
πολλῶν ἐν μεγάροισι, σὺ δὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐγήθεις.
ὣς οἷ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,
ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε·
ἔνθʼ οἱ μὲν δείπνῳ ἐπεχείρεον, ἀγχίμολον δὲ
ἦλθʼ ὁ γέρων Δολίος, σὺν δʼ υἱεῖς τοῖο γέροντος,
ἐξ ἔργων μογέοντες, ἐπεὶ προμολοῦσα κάλεσσεν
μήτηρ γρηῦς Σικελή, ἥ σφεας τρέφε καί ῥα γέροντα
ἐνδυκέως κομέεσκεν, ἐπεὶ κατὰ γῆρας ἔμαρψεν.
οἱ δʼ ὡς οὖν Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον φράσσαντό τε θυμῷ,
ἔσταν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεθηπότες· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν·
"Old man, sit down to the meal, and put your amazement away;
for we have long been waiting in the hall, eager
to set our hands to the food, expecting you all the while."
So he spoke, and Dolius came straight up with both hands
spread wide, and took the hand of Odysseus and kissed it at the wrist,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
for we have long been waiting in the hall, eager
to set our hands to the food, expecting you all the while."
So he spoke, and Dolius came straight up with both hands
spread wide, and took the hand of Odysseus and kissed it at the wrist,
and he spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
ὦ γέρον, ἵζʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἀπεκλελάθεσθε δὲ θάμβευς·
δηρὸν γὰρ σίτῳ ἐπιχειρήσειν μεμαῶτες
μίμνομεν ἐν μεγάροις, ὑμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί.
ὣς ἄρ ἔφη, Δολίος δʼ ἰθὺς κίε χεῖρε πετάσσας
ἀμφοτέρας, Ὀδυσεῦς δὲ λαβὼν κύσε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
δηρὸν γὰρ σίτῳ ἐπιχειρήσειν μεμαῶτες
μίμνομεν ἐν μεγάροις, ὑμέας ποτιδέγμενοι αἰεί.
ὣς ἄρ ἔφη, Δολίος δʼ ἰθὺς κίε χεῖρε πετάσσας
ἀμφοτέρας, Ὀδυσεῦς δὲ λαβὼν κύσε χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ καρπῷ,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"Friend, since you have come home to us who longed for you
and no longer expected it, and the gods themselves have brought you back —
be whole, and greatly rejoice, and may the gods grant you blessings.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
does circumspect Penelope already know clearly
that you have come home here, or shall we send a messenger?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
"Old man, she knows already. Why should you trouble about that?"
and no longer expected it, and the gods themselves have brought you back —
be whole, and greatly rejoice, and may the gods grant you blessings.
And tell me this truly, so that I may know it well:
does circumspect Penelope already know clearly
that you have come home here, or shall we send a messenger?"
Then Odysseus of many devices answered him and said:
"Old man, she knows already. Why should you trouble about that?"
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεὶ νόστησας ἐελδομένοισι μάλʼ ἡμῖν
οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ὀϊομένοισι, θεοὶ δέ σʼ ἀνήγαγον αὐτοί,
οὖλέ τε καὶ μάλα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ,
ἢ ἤδη σάφα οἶδε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
νοστήσαντά σε δεῦρʼ, ἦ ἄγγελον ὀτρύνωμεν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
ὦ γέρον, ἤδη οἶδε· τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα πένεσθαι;
οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ὀϊομένοισι, θεοὶ δέ σʼ ἀνήγαγον αὐτοί,
οὖλέ τε καὶ μάλα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ,
ἢ ἤδη σάφα οἶδε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια
νοστήσαντά σε δεῦρʼ, ἦ ἄγγελον ὀτρύνωμεν.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς
ὦ γέρον, ἤδη οἶδε· τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα πένεσθαι;
So he spoke, and the other sat down again on the polished stool.
And in the same way the sons of Dolius, about famous Odysseus,
greeted him with words and clasped him by the hands,
and sat down in order beside Dolius, their father.
And in the same way the sons of Dolius, about famous Odysseus,
greeted him with words and clasped him by the hands,
and sat down in order beside Dolius, their father.
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ αὖτις ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐϋξέστου ἐπὶ δίφρου.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως παῖδες Δολίου κλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
δεικανόωντʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐν χείρεσσι φύοντο,
ἑξείης δʼ ἕζοντο παραὶ Δολίον, πατέρα σφόν.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως παῖδες Δολίου κλυτὸν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα
δεικανόωντʼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἐν χείρεσσι φύοντο,
ἑξείης δʼ ἕζοντο παραὶ Δολίον, πατέρα σφόν.
So they busied themselves about the meal in the halls;
but Rumour went swiftly as a messenger everywhere through the city,
telling of the hateful death and doom of the suitors.
And they, hearing it all alike, came thronging from every side
with moaning and groaning before the house of Odysseus,
and they carried the bodies out of the house and each buried his own,
and those from the other cities they sent home, each one,
putting them on the swift ships for the fishermen to carry;
and they themselves went in a body to the assembly, grieving at heart.
But when they were gathered and come together,
Eupeithes stood up among them and spoke;
but Rumour went swiftly as a messenger everywhere through the city,
telling of the hateful death and doom of the suitors.
And they, hearing it all alike, came thronging from every side
with moaning and groaning before the house of Odysseus,
and they carried the bodies out of the house and each buried his own,
and those from the other cities they sent home, each one,
putting them on the swift ships for the fishermen to carry;
and they themselves went in a body to the assembly, grieving at heart.
But when they were gathered and come together,
Eupeithes stood up among them and spoke;
ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο·
Ὄσσα δʼ ἄρʼ ἄγγελος ὦκα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντη,
μνηστήρων στυγερὸν θάνατον καὶ κῆρʼ ἐνέπουσα.
οἱ δʼ ἄρʼ ὁμῶς ἀΐοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
μυχμῷ τε στοναχῇ τε δόμων προπάροιθʼ Ὀδυσῆος,
ἐκ δὲ νέκυς οἴκων φόρεον καὶ θάπτον ἕκαστοι,
τοὺς δʼ ἐξ ἀλλάων πολίων οἶκόνδε ἕκαστον
πέμπον ἄγειν ἁλιεῦσι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ τιθέντες·
αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐπείθης ἀνά θʼ ἵστατο καὶ μετέειπε·
Ὄσσα δʼ ἄρʼ ἄγγελος ὦκα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντη,
μνηστήρων στυγερὸν θάνατον καὶ κῆρʼ ἐνέπουσα.
οἱ δʼ ἄρʼ ὁμῶς ἀΐοντες ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
μυχμῷ τε στοναχῇ τε δόμων προπάροιθʼ Ὀδυσῆος,
ἐκ δὲ νέκυς οἴκων φόρεον καὶ θάπτον ἕκαστοι,
τοὺς δʼ ἐξ ἀλλάων πολίων οἶκόνδε ἕκαστον
πέμπον ἄγειν ἁλιεῦσι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ τιθέντες·
αὐτοὶ δʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν κίον ἀθρόοι, ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντο,
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐπείθης ἀνά θʼ ἵστατο καὶ μετέειπε·
for unforgettable grief for his son lay in his mind,
for Antinous, whom noble Odysseus had killed first;
weeping for him, he spoke and addressed them:
for Antinous, whom noble Odysseus had killed first;
weeping for him, he spoke and addressed them:
παιδὸς γάρ οἱ ἄλαστον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πένθος ἔκειτο,
Ἀντινόου, τὸν πρῶτον ἐνήρατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
Ἀντινόου, τὸν πρῶτον ἐνήρατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
"Friends, this man has contrived a great deed against the Achaeans.
Some he led away in his ships, many and brave,
and he lost the hollow ships and destroyed the men;
and others he has killed on his return, far the best of the Cephallenians.
But come, before this man can get quickly to Pylos
or to noble Elis, where the Epeians hold power,
let us go; or else we shall be hanging our heads for ever.
For it is an outrage even for men to come to hear of,
if we do not take vengeance on the killers of our sons
and our brothers. It would not be sweet to my mind
to live; rather let me die at once and be among the dead.
But let us go, before those men get across ahead of us."
Some he led away in his ships, many and brave,
and he lost the hollow ships and destroyed the men;
and others he has killed on his return, far the best of the Cephallenians.
But come, before this man can get quickly to Pylos
or to noble Elis, where the Epeians hold power,
let us go; or else we shall be hanging our heads for ever.
For it is an outrage even for men to come to hear of,
if we do not take vengeance on the killers of our sons
and our brothers. It would not be sweet to my mind
to live; rather let me die at once and be among the dead.
But let us go, before those men get across ahead of us."
ὦ φίλοι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ἀνὴρ ὅδʼ ἐμήσατʼ Ἀχαιούς·
τοὺς μὲν σὺν νήεσσιν ἄγων πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς
ὤλεσε μὲν νῆας γλαφυράς, ἀπὸ δʼ ὤλεσε λαούς·
τοὺς δʼ ἐλθὼν ἔκτεινε Κεφαλλήνων ὄχʼ ἀρίστους,
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, πρὶν τοῦτον ἢ ἐς Πύλον ὦκα ἱκέσθαι
ἢ καὶ ἐς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί,
ἴομεν· ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφέες ἐσσόμεθʼ αἰεί·
λώβη γὰρ τάδε γʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι,
εἰ δὴ μὴ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φονῆας
τισόμεθʼ. οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γε μετὰ φρεσὶν ἡδὺ γένοιτο
ζωέμεν, ἀλλὰ τάχιστα θανὼν φθιμένοισι μετείην.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, μὴ φθέωσι περαιωθέντες ἐκεῖνοι.
τοὺς μὲν σὺν νήεσσιν ἄγων πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς
ὤλεσε μὲν νῆας γλαφυράς, ἀπὸ δʼ ὤλεσε λαούς·
τοὺς δʼ ἐλθὼν ἔκτεινε Κεφαλλήνων ὄχʼ ἀρίστους,
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε, πρὶν τοῦτον ἢ ἐς Πύλον ὦκα ἱκέσθαι
ἢ καὶ ἐς Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί,
ἴομεν· ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφέες ἐσσόμεθʼ αἰεί·
λώβη γὰρ τάδε γʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι,
εἰ δὴ μὴ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φονῆας
τισόμεθʼ. οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γε μετὰ φρεσὶν ἡδὺ γένοιτο
ζωέμεν, ἀλλὰ τάχιστα θανὼν φθιμένοισι μετείην.
ἀλλʼ ἴομεν, μὴ φθέωσι περαιωθέντες ἐκεῖνοι.
So he spoke, weeping, and pity took hold of all the Achaeans.
And close to them came Medon and the divine singer
from the halls of Odysseus, when sleep had let them go,
and they stood in their midst; and amazement took hold of every man.
And Medon, who knew prudent counsels, spoke among them:
And close to them came Medon and the divine singer
from the halls of Odysseus, when sleep had let them go,
and they stood in their midst; and amazement took hold of every man.
And Medon, who knew prudent counsels, spoke among them:
ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, οἶκτος δʼ ἕλε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε Μέδων καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
ἐκ μεγάρων Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεί σφεας ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν,
ἔσταν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι· τάφος δʼ ἕλεν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε Μέδων καὶ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς
ἐκ μεγάρων Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεί σφεας ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν,
ἔσταν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι· τάφος δʼ ἕλεν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·
"Hear me now, men of Ithaca; for Odysseus
did not contrive these deeds against the will of the immortal gods.
I myself saw an immortal god, who stood
close beside Odysseus and was like Mentor in everything.
And the immortal god appeared at one moment in front of Odysseus,
putting heart in him, and at another he stirred up the suitors
and raged through the hall; and they fell thick upon each other."
did not contrive these deeds against the will of the immortal gods.
I myself saw an immortal god, who stood
close beside Odysseus and was like Mentor in everything.
And the immortal god appeared at one moment in front of Odysseus,
putting heart in him, and at another he stirred up the suitors
and raged through the hall; and they fell thick upon each other."
κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι· οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν τάδʼ ἐμήσατο ἔργα·
αὐτὸς ἐγὼν εἶδον θεὸν ἄμβροτον, ὅς ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ
ἐγγύθεν ἑστήκει καὶ Μέντορι πάντα ἐῴκει.
ἀθάνατος δὲ θεὸς τοτὲ μὲν προπάροιθʼ Ὀδυσῆος
φαίνετο θαρσύνων, τοτὲ δὲ μνηστῆρας ὀρίνων
θῦνε κατὰ μέγαρον· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.
ἀθανάτων ἀέκητι θεῶν τάδʼ ἐμήσατο ἔργα·
αὐτὸς ἐγὼν εἶδον θεὸν ἄμβροτον, ὅς ῥʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ
ἐγγύθεν ἑστήκει καὶ Μέντορι πάντα ἐῴκει.
ἀθάνατος δὲ θεὸς τοτὲ μὲν προπάροιθʼ Ὀδυσῆος
φαίνετο θαρσύνων, τοτὲ δὲ μνηστῆρας ὀρίνων
θῦνε κατὰ μέγαρον· τοὶ δʼ ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον.
So he spoke, and pale fear took hold of them all.
And among them spoke the old hero Halitherses,
son of Mastor; for he alone saw before and behind;
with good will towards them he spoke and addressed them:
And among them spoke the old hero Halitherses,
son of Mastor; for he alone saw before and behind;
with good will towards them he spoke and addressed them:
ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δʼ ἄρα πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἁλιθέρσης
Μαστορίδης· ὁ γὰρ οἶος ὅρα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω·
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἁλιθέρσης
Μαστορίδης· ὁ γὰρ οἶος ὅρα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω·
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
"Hear me now, men of Ithaca, in what I shall say.
By your own cowardice, friends, these deeds came about.
For you would not obey me, nor Mentor, shepherd of the people,
to make your sons cease from their folly,
who did a great wrong in their evil recklessness,
wasting the possessions and dishonouring the wife
of a man who was best of all; and they said he would never come home.
And now let it be as I say. Obey me in what I tell you:
let us not go, in case some man find an evil he has drawn on himself."
By your own cowardice, friends, these deeds came about.
For you would not obey me, nor Mentor, shepherd of the people,
to make your sons cease from their folly,
who did a great wrong in their evil recklessness,
wasting the possessions and dishonouring the wife
of a man who was best of all; and they said he would never come home.
And now let it be as I say. Obey me in what I tell you:
let us not go, in case some man find an evil he has drawn on himself."
κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·
ὑμετέρῃ κακότητι, φίλοι, τάδε ἔργα γένοντο·
οὐ γὰρ ἐμοὶ πείθεσθʼ, οὐ Μέντορι ποιμένι λαῶν,
ὑμετέρους παῖδας καταπαυέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,
οἳ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξαν ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσι,
κτήματα κείροντες καὶ ἀτιμάζοντες ἄκοιτιν
ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τὸν δʼ οὐκέτι φάντο νέεσθαι.
καὶ νῦν ὧδε γένοιτο. πίθεσθέ μοι ὡς ἀγορεύω·
μὴ ἴομεν, μή πού τις ἐπίσπαστον κακὸν εὕρῃ.
ὑμετέρῃ κακότητι, φίλοι, τάδε ἔργα γένοντο·
οὐ γὰρ ἐμοὶ πείθεσθʼ, οὐ Μέντορι ποιμένι λαῶν,
ὑμετέρους παῖδας καταπαυέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,
οἳ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξαν ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσι,
κτήματα κείροντες καὶ ἀτιμάζοντες ἄκοιτιν
ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος· τὸν δʼ οὐκέτι φάντο νέεσθαι.
καὶ νῦν ὧδε γένοιτο. πίθεσθέ μοι ὡς ἀγορεύω·
μὴ ἴομεν, μή πού τις ἐπίσπαστον κακὸν εὕρῃ.
So he spoke, and they sprang up with a great shout,
more than half of them; but the rest stayed there together;
for that word did not please them in their minds, but they obeyed
Eupeithes; and at once they rushed for their armour.
And when they had put the gleaming bronze about their bodies,
they gathered together in front of the wide-wayed city.
And Eupeithes led them in his folly;
he said he would avenge the killing of his son, but he was not
to come home again, but to meet his fate there.
And Athena spoke to Zeus, son of Cronos:
more than half of them; but the rest stayed there together;
for that word did not please them in their minds, but they obeyed
Eupeithes; and at once they rushed for their armour.
And when they had put the gleaming bronze about their bodies,
they gathered together in front of the wide-wayed city.
And Eupeithes led them in his folly;
he said he would avenge the killing of his son, but he was not
to come home again, but to meet his fate there.
And Athena spoke to Zeus, son of Cronos:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀνήϊξαν μεγάλῳ ἀλαλητῷ
ἡμίσεων πλείους· τοὶ δʼ ἀθρόοι αὐτόθι μίμνον·
οὐ γὰρ σφιν ἅδε μῦθος ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἀλλʼ Εὐπείθει
πείθοντʼ· αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ τεύχεα ἐσσεύοντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,
ἀθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο πρὸ ἄστεος εὐρυχόροιο.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐπείθης ἡγήσατο νηπιέῃσι·
φῆ δʼ ὅ γε τίσεσθαι παιδὸς φόνον, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν
ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐφέψειν.
αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη Ζῆνα Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·
ἡμίσεων πλείους· τοὶ δʼ ἀθρόοι αὐτόθι μίμνον·
οὐ γὰρ σφιν ἅδε μῦθος ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἀλλʼ Εὐπείθει
πείθοντʼ· αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ τεύχεα ἐσσεύοντο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,
ἀθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο πρὸ ἄστεος εὐρυχόροιο.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐπείθης ἡγήσατο νηπιέῃσι·
φῆ δʼ ὅ γε τίσεσθαι παιδὸς φόνον, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλεν
ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐφέψειν.
αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη Ζῆνα Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·
"Our father, son of Cronos, highest of rulers,
tell me, since I ask: what does your mind hide within?
Will you bring on further evil war and terrible strife,
or will you set friendship between the two sides?"
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
tell me, since I ask: what does your mind hide within?
Will you bring on further evil war and terrible strife,
or will you set friendship between the two sides?"
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said:
ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε, Κρονίδη, ὕπατε κρειόντων,
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῃ, τί νύ τοι νόος ἔνδοθι κεύθει;
ἢ προτέρω πόλεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ φύλοπιν αἰνὴν
τεύξεις, ἦ φιλότητα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι τίθησθα;
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῃ, τί νύ τοι νόος ἔνδοθι κεύθει;
ἢ προτέρω πόλεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ φύλοπιν αἰνὴν
τεύξεις, ἦ φιλότητα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι τίθησθα;
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
"My child, why do you question me about this and inquire?
Did you not yourself devise this plan,
that Odysseus should come and take vengeance on those men?
Do as you wish; but I will tell you what is fitting.
Since noble Odysseus has taken vengeance on the suitors,
let them cut faithful oaths, and let him be king for ever,
and let us for our part make them forget the killing
of their sons and their brothers; and let them love one another
as before, and let there be wealth and peace in plenty."
Did you not yourself devise this plan,
that Odysseus should come and take vengeance on those men?
Do as you wish; but I will tell you what is fitting.
Since noble Odysseus has taken vengeance on the suitors,
let them cut faithful oaths, and let him be king for ever,
and let us for our part make them forget the killing
of their sons and their brothers; and let them love one another
as before, and let there be wealth and peace in plenty."
τέκνον ἐμόν, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς;
οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,
ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;
ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἐρέω τέ τοι ὡς ἐπέοικεν.
ἐπεὶ δὴ μνηστῆρας ἐτίσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ὁ μὲν βασιλευέτω αἰεί,
ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φόνοιο
ἔκλησιν θέωμεν· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλους φιλεόντων
ὡς τὸ πάρος, πλοῦτος δὲ καὶ εἰρήνη ἅλις ἔστω.
οὐ γὰρ δὴ τοῦτον μὲν ἐβούλευσας νόον αὐτή,
ὡς ἦ τοι κείνους Ὀδυσεὺς ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών;
ἔρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· ἐρέω τέ τοι ὡς ἐπέοικεν.
ἐπεὶ δὴ μνηστῆρας ἐτίσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ὁ μὲν βασιλευέτω αἰεί,
ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖ παίδων τε κασιγνήτων τε φόνοιο
ἔκλησιν θέωμεν· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλους φιλεόντων
ὡς τὸ πάρος, πλοῦτος δὲ καὶ εἰρήνη ἅλις ἔστω.
So saying, he urged on Athena, who was eager even before,
and she darted down from the peaks of Olympus.
And when they had put from them the desire for honey-sweet food,
long-suffering noble Odysseus began to speak among them:
"Let someone go out and see whether they are coming near."
and she darted down from the peaks of Olympus.
And when they had put from them the desire for honey-sweet food,
long-suffering noble Odysseus began to speak among them:
"Let someone go out and see whether they are coming near."
ὣς εἰπὼν ὤτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην,
βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σίτοιο μελίφρονος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἐξελθών τις ἴδοι μὴ δὴ σχεδὸν ὦσι κιόντες.
βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν σίτοιο μελίφρονος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς δʼ ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἐξελθών τις ἴδοι μὴ δὴ σχεδὸν ὦσι κιόντες.
So he spoke, and a son of Dolius went out, as he bade;
he went and stood on the threshold, and saw them all close by,
and at once addressed Odysseus with winged words:
he went and stood on the threshold, and saw them all close by,
and at once addressed Odysseus with winged words:
ὣς ἔφατʼ· ἐκ δʼ υἱὸς Δολίου κίεν, ὡς ἐκέλευεν·
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, τοὺς δὲ σχεδὸν ἔσιδε πάντας·
αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, τοὺς δὲ σχεδὸν ἔσιδε πάντας·
αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"They are close here; let us arm ourselves quickly."
οἵδε δὴ ἐγγὺς ἔασʼ· ἀλλʼ ὁπλιζώμεθα θᾶσσον.
So he spoke, and they rose and put on their armour,
four about Odysseus, and the six sons of Dolius;
and Laertes and Dolius put on armour among them,
grey-headed though they were, fighters of necessity.
And when they had put the gleaming bronze about their bodies,
they opened the doors and went out, and Odysseus led.
And close to them came Athena, daughter of Zeus,
in the likeness of Mentor, both in body and in voice.
And long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad when he saw her,
and at once spoke to Telemachus, his own dear son:
four about Odysseus, and the six sons of Dolius;
and Laertes and Dolius put on armour among them,
grey-headed though they were, fighters of necessity.
And when they had put the gleaming bronze about their bodies,
they opened the doors and went out, and Odysseus led.
And close to them came Athena, daughter of Zeus,
in the likeness of Mentor, both in body and in voice.
And long-suffering noble Odysseus was glad when he saw her,
and at once spoke to Telemachus, his own dear son:
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ὤρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσι δύοντο,
τέσσαρες ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ, ἓξ δʼ υἱεῖς οἱ Δολίοιο·
ἐν δʼ ἄρα Λαέρτης Δολίος τʼ ἐς τεύχεʼ ἔδυνον,
καὶ πολιοί περ ἐόντες, ἀναγκαῖοι πολεμισταί.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,
ὤϊξάν ῥα θύρας, ἐκ δʼ ἤϊον, ἄρχε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.
τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν·
τέσσαρες ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ, ἓξ δʼ υἱεῖς οἱ Δολίοιο·
ἐν δʼ ἄρα Λαέρτης Δολίος τʼ ἐς τεύχεʼ ἔδυνον,
καὶ πολιοί περ ἐόντες, ἀναγκαῖοι πολεμισταί.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἕσσαντο περὶ χροῒ νώροπα χαλκόν,
ὤϊξάν ῥα θύρας, ἐκ δʼ ἤϊον, ἄρχε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἀγχίμολον θυγάτηρ Διὸς ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.
τὴν μὲν ἰδὼν γήθησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν·
"Telemachus, you will learn this for yourself now, coming into it,
where men fight and the best are picked out:
not to shame the line of your fathers, who before this
have been foremost in valour and in manhood over all the earth."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
where men fight and the best are picked out:
not to shame the line of your fathers, who before this
have been foremost in valour and in manhood over all the earth."
Then prudent Telemachus answered him in turn:
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἤδη μὲν τόδε γʼ εἴσεαι αὐτὸς ἐπελθών,
ἀνδρῶν μαρναμένων ἵνα τε κρίνονται ἄριστοι,
μή τι καταισχύνειν πατέρων γένος, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
ἀλκῇ τʼ ἠνορέῃ τε κεκάσμεθα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
ἀνδρῶν μαρναμένων ἵνα τε κρίνονται ἄριστοι,
μή τι καταισχύνειν πατέρων γένος, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
ἀλκῇ τʼ ἠνορέῃ τε κεκάσμεθα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
"You shall see, dear father, if you wish, that with this spirit of mine
I shall in no way shame your line, as you say."
I shall in no way shame your line, as you say."
ὄψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, πάτερ φίλε, τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ
οὔ τι καταισχύνοντα τεὸν γένος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.
οὔ τι καταισχύνοντα τεὸν γένος, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.
So he spoke, and Laertes was glad and said a word:
ὣς φάτο, Λαέρτης δʼ ἐχάρη καὶ μῦθον ἔειπε·
"What a day this is for me, dear gods! I rejoice greatly:
my son and my son’s son are contending over excellence."
Then grey-eyed Athena stood beside him and spoke:
my son and my son’s son are contending over excellence."
Then grey-eyed Athena stood beside him and spoke:
τίς νύ μοι ἡμέρη ἥδε, θεοὶ φίλοι; ἦ μάλα χαίρω·
υἱός θʼ υἱωνός τʼ ἀρετῆς πέρι δῆριν ἔχουσιν.
τὸν δὲ παρισταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
υἱός θʼ υἱωνός τʼ ἀρετῆς πέρι δῆριν ἔχουσιν.
τὸν δὲ παρισταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Son of Arceisius, far the dearest of all my companions,
pray to the grey-eyed maiden and to father Zeus,
and at once poise and let fly your long-shadowed spear."
pray to the grey-eyed maiden and to father Zeus,
and at once poise and let fly your long-shadowed spear."
ὦ Ἀρκεισιάδη, πάντων πολὺ φίλταθʼ ἑταίρων,
εὐξάμενος κούρῃ γλαυκώπιδι καὶ Διὶ πατρί,
αἶψα μαλʼ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.
εὐξάμενος κούρῃ γλαυκώπιδι καὶ Διὶ πατρί,
αἶψα μαλʼ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.
So she spoke, and Pallas Athena breathed great fury into him.
Then he prayed to the daughter of great Zeus,
and at once poised and let fly his long-shadowed spear,
and struck Eupeithes through the bronze-cheeked helmet.
It did not hold off the spear, and the bronze went clean through;
and he fell with a crash, and his armour clattered upon him.
And Odysseus and his glorious son fell upon the front ranks,
and struck with their swords and their two-edged spears.
And now they would have killed them all and left them without a homecoming,
had not Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,
cried aloud, and held back all the people:
"Hold back from the harsh fighting, men of Ithaca,
so that you may be parted at once and without bloodshed."
Then he prayed to the daughter of great Zeus,
and at once poised and let fly his long-shadowed spear,
and struck Eupeithes through the bronze-cheeked helmet.
It did not hold off the spear, and the bronze went clean through;
and he fell with a crash, and his armour clattered upon him.
And Odysseus and his glorious son fell upon the front ranks,
and struck with their swords and their two-edged spears.
And now they would have killed them all and left them without a homecoming,
had not Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,
cried aloud, and held back all the people:
"Hold back from the harsh fighting, men of Ithaca,
so that you may be parted at once and without bloodshed."
ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
εὐξάμενος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,
αἶψα μάλʼ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
καὶ βάλεν Εὐπείθεα κόρυθος διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.
ἡ δʼ οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διαπρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον προμάχοις Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός,
τύπτον δὲ ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.
καί νύ κε δὴ πάντας ὄλεσαν καὶ ἔθηκαν ἀνόστους,
εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
ἤϋσεν φωνῇ, κατὰ ἔσχεθε λαὸν ἅπαντα.
ἴσχεσθε πτολέμου, Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀργαλέοιο,
ὥς κεν ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινθῆτε τάχιστα.
εὐξάμενος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,
αἶψα μάλʼ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
καὶ βάλεν Εὐπείθεα κόρυθος διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.
ἡ δʼ οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διαπρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον προμάχοις Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱός,
τύπτον δὲ ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.
καί νύ κε δὴ πάντας ὄλεσαν καὶ ἔθηκαν ἀνόστους,
εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
ἤϋσεν φωνῇ, κατὰ ἔσχεθε λαὸν ἅπαντα.
ἴσχεσθε πτολέμου, Ἰθακήσιοι, ἀργαλέοιο,
ὥς κεν ἀναιμωτί γε διακρινθῆτε τάχιστα.
So spoke Athena, and pale fear took hold of them;
and in their terror the weapons flew from their hands
and all fell to the ground at the sound of the goddess’s voice;
and they turned back towards the city, longing to live.
And long-suffering noble Odysseus gave a terrible shout,
and gathered himself and swooped like a high-flying eagle.
And then the son of Cronos let fly a smoking thunderbolt,
and it fell before the grey-eyed daughter of a mighty father.
Then grey-eyed Athena spoke to Odysseus:
and in their terror the weapons flew from their hands
and all fell to the ground at the sound of the goddess’s voice;
and they turned back towards the city, longing to live.
And long-suffering noble Odysseus gave a terrible shout,
and gathered himself and swooped like a high-flying eagle.
And then the son of Cronos let fly a smoking thunderbolt,
and it fell before the grey-eyed daughter of a mighty father.
Then grey-eyed Athena spoke to Odysseus:
ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη, τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν·
τῶν δʼ ἄρα δεισάντων ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατο τεύχεα,
πάντα δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶ πῖπτε, θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης·
πρὸς δὲ πόλιν τρωπῶντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο.
σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
οἴμησεν δὲ ἀλεὶς ὥς τʼ αἰετὸς ὑψιπετήεις.
καὶ τότε δὴ Κρονίδης ἀφίει ψολόεντα κεραυνόν,
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσε πρόσθε γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.
δὴ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
τῶν δʼ ἄρα δεισάντων ἐκ χειρῶν ἔπτατο τεύχεα,
πάντα δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶ πῖπτε, θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης·
πρὸς δὲ πόλιν τρωπῶντο λιλαιόμενοι βιότοιο.
σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
οἴμησεν δὲ ἀλεὶς ὥς τʼ αἰετὸς ὑψιπετήεις.
καὶ τότε δὴ Κρονίδης ἀφίει ψολόεντα κεραυνόν,
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσε πρόσθε γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.
δὴ τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"Son of Laertes, born of Zeus, Odysseus of many resources,
hold back, and stop the strife of the war that comes on both alike,
so that the son of Cronos, wide-seeing Zeus, may not be angry with you."
hold back, and stop the strife of the war that comes on both alike,
so that the son of Cronos, wide-seeing Zeus, may not be angry with you."
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἴσχεο, παῦε δὲ νεῖκος ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο,
μή πως τοι Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.
ἴσχεο, παῦε δὲ νεῖκος ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο,
μή πως τοι Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.
So spoke Athena, and he obeyed, and was glad in his spirit.
And afterwards oaths between the two sides were set
by Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,
in the likeness of Mentor, both in body and in voice.
And afterwards oaths between the two sides were set
by Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,
in the likeness of Mentor, both in body and in voice.
ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη, ὁ δʼ ἐπείθετο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ.
ὅρκια δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκεν
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.
ὅρκια δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκεν
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν.