1Ἠέλιος δʼ ἀνόρουσε, λιπὼν περικαλλέα λίμνην,The sun leapt up, leaving the beautiful mere behind,
οὐρανὸν ἐς πολύχαλκον, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φαείνοιinto the brazen sky, to shine for the immortals
καὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν·and for mortal men upon the grain-giving earth;
οἱ δὲ Πύλον, Νηλῆος ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,and they came to Pylos, Neleus' well-built citadel,
5ἷξον· τοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης ἱερὰ ῥέζον,and reached it; on the shore of the sea men were making offerings,
ταύρους παμμέλανας, ἐνοσίχθονι κυανοχαίτῃ.jet-black bulls, to the dark-haired Shaker of the Earth.
ἐννέα δʼ ἕδραι ἔσαν, πεντακόσιοι δʼ ἐν ἑκάστῃThere were nine seats, five hundred in each,
ἥατο καὶ προύχοντο ἑκάστοθι ἐννέα ταύρους.men sitting, and each group held out nine bulls before them.
εὖθʼ οἱ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο, θεῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μηρίʼ ἔκαιον,Just as they tasted the entrails and were burning the thighs for the god,
10οἱ δʼ ἰθὺς κατάγοντο ἰδʼ ἱστία νηὸς ἐίσηςthe others were steering straight in, and the sails of the balanced ship
στεῖλαν ἀείραντες, τὴν δʼ ὥρμισαν, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί·they furled and lowered, and moored her, and they themselves stepped out;
ἐκ δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος νηὸς βαῖνʼ, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀθήνη.and Telemachus stepped from the ship, and Athena led the way.
τὸν προτέρη προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·The goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him first:
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὐ μέν σε χρὴ ἔτʼ αἰδοῦς, οὐδʼ
ἠβαιόν·"Telemachus, you must not be shy any longer, not in the least,
15τοὔνεκα γὰρ καὶ πόντον ἐπέπλως, ὄφρα πύθηαιfor this is why you sailed the sea, to learn news
πατρός, ὅπου κύθε γαῖα καὶ ὅν τινα πότμον ἐπέσπεν.of your father, where the earth hides him and what fate he met.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἰθὺς κίε Νέστορος ἱπποδάμοιο·But come now, go straight to Nestor, breaker of horses;
εἴδομεν ἥν τινα μῆτιν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κέκευθε.let us learn what counsel he keeps hidden in his breast.
λίσσεσθαι δέ μιν αὐτός, ὅπως νημερτέα εἴπῃ·Beg him yourself, so that he speaks the unerring truth;
20ψεῦδος δʼ οὐκ ἐρέει· μάλα γὰρ πεπνυμένος ἐστί.he will tell no lie, for he is very wise."
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus answered her in turn:
Μέντορ, πῶς τʼ ἄρʼ ἴω; πῶς τʼ ἂρ προσπτύξομαι αὐτόν;"Mentor, how am I to go? How am I to greet him?
οὐδέ τί πω μύθοισι πεπείρημαι πυκινοῖσιν·I have as yet no skill in the shrewd give of words,
αἰδὼς δʼ αὖ νέον ἄνδρα γεραίτερον ἐξερέεσθαι.and there is shame for a young man to question one older."
25τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him:
Τηλέμαχʼ, ἄλλα μὲν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ σῇσι νοήσεις,"Telemachus, some things you will perceive yourself in your own mind,
ἄλλα δὲ καὶ δαίμων ὑποθήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ὀίωand other things a god will prompt in you; for I do not think
οὔ σε θεῶν ἀέκητι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.you were born and raised against the will of the gods."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς ἈθήνηSo speaking Pallas Athena led the way
30καρπαλίμως· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα μετʼ ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.swiftly; and he then walked after the god's footsteps.
ἷξον δʼ ἐς Πυλίων ἀνδρῶν ἄγυρίν τε καὶ ἕδρας,They came to the gathering and the seats of the men of Pylos,
ἔνθʼ ἄρα Νέστωρ ἧστο σὺν υἱάσιν, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροιwhere Nestor sat with his sons, and around him companions,
δαῖτʼ ἐντυνόμενοι κρέα τʼ ὤπτων ἄλλα τʼ ἔπειρον.preparing the feast, were roasting meats and spitting others.
οἱ δʼ ὡς οὖν ξείνους ἴδον, ἁθρόοι ἦλθον ἅπαντες,And when they saw the strangers, they all came together in a crowd,
35χερσίν τʼ ἠσπάζοντο καὶ ἑδριάασθαι ἄνωγον.and clasped their hands in welcome and bade them be seated.
πρῶτος Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼνFirst Peisistratus, Nestor's son, coming near,
ἀμφοτέρων ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἵδρυσεν παρὰ δαιτὶtook the hands of them both and seated them at the feast
κώεσιν ἐν μαλακοῖσιν ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις ἁλίῃσινon soft fleeces upon the sands of the sea,
πάρ τε κασιγνήτῳ Θρασυμήδεϊ καὶ πατέρι ᾧ·beside his brother Thrasymedes and his own father;
40δῶκε δʼ ἄρα σπλάγχνων μοίρας, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευενand he gave them portions of the entrails, and poured wine
χρυσείῳ δέπαϊ· δειδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδαin a golden cup; and greeting her he spoke:
Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην κούρην Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·to Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus who bears the aegis:
εὔχεο νῦν, ὦ ξεῖνε, Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·"Pray now, stranger, to the lord Poseidon,
τοῦ γὰρ καὶ δαίτης ἠντήσατε δεῦρο μολόντες.for it is his feast you have chanced upon in coming here.
45αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν σπείσῃς τε καὶ εὔξεαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,And when you have poured libation and prayed, as is right,
δὸς καὶ τούτῳ ἔπειτα δέπας μελιηδέος οἴνουthen give to this man too the cup of honey-sweet wine
σπεῖσαι, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῦτον ὀίομαι ἀθανάτοισινto pour, since he as well, I think, prays to the immortals;
εὔχεσθαι· πάντες δὲ θεῶν χατέουσʼ ἄνθρωποι.for all men have need of the gods.
ἀλλὰ νεώτερός ἐστιν, ὁμηλικίη δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ·But he is younger, of an age with me myself;
50τοὔνεκα σοὶ προτέρῳ δώσω χρύσειον ἄλεισον.so to you first I will give the golden cup."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χειρὶ τίθει δέπας ἡδέος οἴνου·So speaking he set in her hand the cup of sweet wine;
χαῖρε δʼ Ἀθηναίη πεπνυμένῳ ἀνδρὶ δικαίῳ,and Athena rejoiced at the man, thoughtful and just,
οὕνεκα οἷ προτέρῃ δῶκε χρύσειον ἄλεισον·because it was to her he gave the golden cup first;
αὐτίκα δʼ εὔχετο πολλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι·and at once she prayed at length to the lord Poseidon:
55κλῦθι, Ποσείδαον γαιήοχε, μηδὲ μεγήρῃς"Hear me, Poseidon, earth-holder, and do not begrudge
ἡμῖν εὐχομένοισι τελευτῆσαι τάδε ἔργα.the fulfillment of these works for us who pray.
Νέστορι μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ υἱάσι κῦδος ὄπαζε,To Nestor first of all and to his sons grant glory,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ ἄλλοισι δίδου χαρίεσσαν ἀμοιβὴνand then to the others give a gracious recompense,
σύμπασιν Πυλίοισιν ἀγακλειτῆς ἑκατόμβης.to all the men of Pylos, for their splendid hecatomb.
60δὸς δʼ ἔτι Τηλέμαχον καὶ ἐμὲ πρήξαντα νέεσθαι,Grant too that Telemachus and I may return with our task accomplished,
οὕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεσθα θοῇ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.for whose sake we came here in our swift black ship."
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ ἠρᾶτο καὶ αὐτὴ πάντα τελεύτα.So then she prayed, and she herself brought all to fulfillment.
δῶκε δὲ Τηλεμάχῳ καλὸν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον·And she gave to Telemachus the fair two-handled cup;
ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἠρᾶτο Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.and in like manner the dear son of Odysseus prayed.
65οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,And when they had roasted the outer meats and drawn them off,
μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα.they divided the portions and feasted a glorious feast.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,But when they had put away desire for drink and food,
τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·then the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among them:
νῦν δὴ κάλλιόν ἐστι μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι"Now it is more fitting to inquire and ask
70ξείνους, οἱ τινές εἰσιν, ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐδωδῆς.of the strangers, who they are, since they have had their fill of eating.
ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;Strangers, who are you? From where do you sail the watery ways?
ἤ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἦ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθεIs it on some business, or do you wander at random,
οἷά τε ληιστῆρες ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνταιas pirates do over the sea, who wander
ψυχὰς παρθέμενοι κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;hazarding their lives and bringing evil to strangers?"
75τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδαAnd thoughtful Telemachus answered him in turn,
θαρσήσας· αὐτὴ γὰρ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θάρσος Ἀθήνηtaking courage; for Athena herself had set courage in his heart,
θῆχʼ, ἵνα μιν περὶ πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο ἔροιτοso that he might ask about his father who was gone,
ἠδʼ ἵνα μιν κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔχῃσιν·and so that noble fame might be his among men:
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν,"O Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,
80εἴρεαι ὁππόθεν εἰμέν· ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω.you ask from where we are; and I will tell you plainly.
ἡμεῖς ἐξ Ἰθάκης ὑπονηίου εἰλήλουθμεν·We have come from Ithaca, that lies beneath Neion;
πρῆξις δʼ ἥδʼ ἰδίη, οὐ δήμιος, ἣν ἀγορεύω.but this business is my own, not the people's, that I speak of.
πατρὸς ἐμοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ μετέρχομαι, ἤν που ἀκούσω,I go seeking the broad fame of my father, if I might hear of it,
δίου Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ποτέ φασιof godlike Odysseus, the enduring, who once, they say,
85σὺν σοὶ μαρνάμενον Τρώων πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξαι.fighting beside you sacked the city of the Trojans.
ἄλλους μὲν γὰρ πάντας, ὅσοι Τρωσὶν πολέμιζον,For of all the others, as many as warred against the Trojans,
πευθόμεθʼ, ἧχι ἕκαστος ἀπώλετο λυγρῷ ὀλέθρῳ,we have learned where each one perished in his grievous doom,
κείνου δʼ αὖ καὶ ὄλεθρον ἀπευθέα θῆκε Κρονίων.but this man's death the son of Cronos has left unknown.
οὐ γάρ τις δύναται σάφα εἰπέμεν ὁππόθʼ ὄλωλεν,For no one can tell for certain where he perished,
90εἴθʼ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ἠπείρου δάμη ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν,whether he was brought down on the mainland by hostile men,
εἴτε καὶ ἐν πελάγει μετὰ κύμασιν Ἀμφιτρίτης.or on the deep among the waves of Amphitrite.
τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθαTherefore now I come to your knees, in hope that you may be willing
κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον ἐνισπεῖν, εἴ που ὄπωπαςto tell of his grievous death, if perhaps you saw it
ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσιν ἢ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσαςwith your own eyes, or heard the tale from another
95πλαζομένου· πέρι γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.who wandered; for beyond all men his mother bore him to suffering.
μηδέ τί μʼ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδʼ ἐλεαίρων,And do not, out of respect or pity, soften anything for me,
ἀλλʼ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.but tell me plainly how you came upon the sight.
λίσσομαι, εἴ ποτέ τοί τι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεύς,I beg you, if ever my father, noble Odysseus,
ἢ ἔπος ἠέ τι ἔργον ὑποστὰς ἐξετέλεσσεpledged you some word or deed and brought it to fulfillment
100δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί,in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered hardships,
τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.remember these things now for me, and tell me the truth."
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεί μʼ ἔμνησας ὀιζύος, ἣν ἐν ἐκείνῳ"Friend, since you have reminded me of the misery which in that
δήμῳ ἀνέτλημεν μένος ἄσχετοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,land we sons of the Achaeans, unrestrained in our fury, endured,
105ἠμὲν ὅσα ξὺν νηυσὶν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντονboth all that we suffered with our ships on the misty sea,
πλαζόμενοι κατὰ ληίδʼ, ὅπῃ ἄρξειεν Ἀχιλλεύς,wandering after plunder wherever Achilles led,
ἠδʼ ὅσα καὶ περὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτοςand all that we fought around the great city of lord Priam—
μαρνάμεθʼ· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτα κατέκταθεν ὅσσοι ἄριστοι.there in the end all our bravest were killed.
ἔνθα μὲν Αἴας κεῖται ἀρήιος, ἔνθα δʼ Ἀχιλλεύς,There warlike Ajax lies, and there Achilles,
110ἔνθα δὲ Πάτροκλος, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος,and there Patroclus, a counselor equal to the gods,
ἔνθα δʼ ἐμὸς φίλος υἱός, ἅμα κρατερὸς καὶ ἀμύμων,and there my own dear son, both strong and blameless,
Ἀντίλοχος, πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺς ἠδὲ μαχητής·Antilochus, surpassing swift to run and a fighter too;
ἄλλα τε πόλλʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς πάθομεν κακά· τίς κεν ἐκεῖναand many other evils besides these we suffered; who
πάντα γε μυθήσαιτο καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων;of mortal men could tell the whole of it?
115οὐδʼ εἰ πεντάετές γε καὶ ἑξάετες παραμίμνωνNot even if you stayed on for five years, or six,
ἐξερέοις ὅσα κεῖθι πάθον κακὰ δῖοι Ἀχαιοί·to ask how many evils the godlike Achaeans suffered there;
πρίν κεν ἀνιηθεὶς σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκοιο.before that, wearied, you would return to your native land.
εἰνάετες γάρ σφιν κακὰ ῥάπτομεν ἀμφιέποντεςFor nine years we plotted evil against them, pressing them close
παντοίοισι δόλοισι, μόγις δʼ ἐτέλεσσε Κρονίων.with cunning of every kind, and the son of Cronos scarcely brought it to pass.
120ἔνθʼ οὔ τίς ποτε μῆτιν ὁμοιωθήμεναι ἄντηνThere no man wished to match him in counsel face to face,
ἤθελʼ, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἐνίκα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςwould try — for godlike Odysseus won by far,
παντοίοισι δόλοισι, πατὴρ τεός, εἰ ἐτεόν γεwith cunning of every kind, your father, if truly
κείνου ἔκγονός ἐσσι· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.you are his offspring. Awe holds me as I look at you.
ἦ τοι γὰρ μῦθοί γε ἐοικότες, οὐδέ κε φαίηςYes, your speech is like his — you would not say
125ἄνδρα νεώτερον ὧδε ἐοικότα μυθήσασθαι.a younger man could speak so much like him.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι ἧος μὲν ἐγὼ καὶ δῖος ὈδυσσεὺςThere, all that while, I and godlike Odysseus
οὔτε ποτʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ δίχʼ ἐβάζομεν οὔτʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ,never once spoke apart, neither in assembly nor in council,
ἀλλʼ ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντε νόῳ καὶ ἐπίφρονι βουλῇbut holding one mind, with judgment and shrewd counsel
φραζόμεθʼ Ἀργείοισιν ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα γένοιτο.we planned for the Argives how it might turn out best.
130αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,But when we had sacked the steep city of Priam,
βῆμεν δʼ ἐν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς,and gone aboard the ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans,
καὶ τότε δὴ Ζεὺς λυγρὸν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μήδετο νόστονthen indeed Zeus devised in his heart a grievous homecoming
Ἀργείοις, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοιfor the Argives, since they were not all discerning nor just;
πάντες ἔσαν· τῶ σφεων πολέες κακὸν οἶτον ἐπέσπονso many of them met an evil fate
135μήνιος ἐξ ὀλοῆς γλαυκώπιδος ὀβριμοπάτρης.from the deadly wrath of the grey-eyed daughter of a mighty father,
ἥ τʼ ἔριν Ἀτρεΐδῃσι μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκε.she who set strife between the two sons of Atreus.
τὼ δὲ καλεσσαμένω ἀγορὴν ἐς πάντας Ἀχαιούς,The two of them called all the Achaeans to assembly,
μάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα,rashly, in no fit order, at the setting of the sun,
οἱ ἦλθον οἴνῳ βεβαρηότες υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,and the sons of the Achaeans came heavy with wine,
140μῦθον μυθείσθην, τοῦ εἵνεκα λαὸν ἄγειραν.and made their speeches, telling why they had gathered the host.
ἔνθʼ ἤ τοι Μενέλαος ἀνώγει πάντας ἈχαιοὺςThere Menelaus urged all the Achaeans
νόστου μιμνήσκεσθαι ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,to think of their return over the sea's broad back,
οὐδʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι πάμπαν ἑήνδανε· βούλετο γάρ ῥαbut this did not please Agamemnon at all; for he wished
λαὸν ἐρυκακέειν ῥέξαι θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβας,to hold the host back and offer sacred hecatombs,
145ὡς τὸν Ἀθηναίης δεινὸν χόλον ἐξακέσαιτο,so that he might heal the dread anger of Athena,
νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ ᾔδη, ὃ οὐ πείσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·the fool, and did not know she would not be persuaded;
οὐ γάρ τʼ αἶψα θεῶν τρέπεται νόος αἰὲν ἐόντων.for the mind of the gods who are forever is not quickly turned.
ὣς τὼ μὲν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμειβομένω ἐπέεσσινSo the two of them stood exchanging harsh words
ἕστασαν· οἱ δʼ ἀνόρουσαν ἐυκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶwith each other; and the well-greaved Achaeans sprang up
150ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, δίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή.with a tremendous clamor, and the counsel pleased them two ways.
νύκτα μὲν ἀέσαμεν χαλεπὰ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντεςThat night we slept plotting hard things in our hearts
ἀλλήλοις· ἐπὶ γὰρ Ζεὺς ἤρτυε πῆμα κακοῖο·against each other; for Zeus was preparing a bane of evil.
ἠῶθεν δʼ οἱ μὲν νέας ἕλκομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖανAt dawn some of us dragged our ships to the bright sea
κτήματά τʼ ἐντιθέμεσθα βαθυζώνους τε γυναῖκας.and put aboard our goods and the deep-girdled women.
155ἡμίσεες δʼ ἄρα λαοὶ ἐρητύοντο μένοντεςBut half the host held back and stayed
αὖθι παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι, ποιμένι λαῶν·there beside Atreus' son Agamemnon, shepherd of the people;
ἡμίσεες δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐλαύνομεν· αἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκαand half of us embarked and rowed away; and very swiftly
ἔπλεον, ἐστόρεσεν δὲ θεὸς μεγακήτεα πόντον.they sailed, and a god smoothed the sea's great deep.
ἐς Τένεδον δʼ ἐλθόντες ἐρέξαμεν ἱρὰ θεοῖσιν,Coming to Tenedos we made offerings to the gods,
160οἴκαδε ἱέμενοι· Ζεὺς δʼ οὔ πω μήδετο νόστον,longing for home; but Zeus did not yet grant our return,
σχέτλιος, ὅς ῥʼ ἔριν ὦρσε κακὴν ἔπι δεύτερον αὖτις.reckless, who stirred up an evil quarrel a second time.
οἱ μὲν ἀποστρέψαντες ἔβαν νέας ἀμφιελίσσαςSome of them turned back and drove their curved ships away,
ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἄνακτα δαΐφρονα, ποικιλομήτην,around lord Odysseus, the skilled and cunning tactician,
αὖτις ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἦρα φέροντες·once more bringing favor to Atreus' son Agamemnon;
165αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σὺν νηυσὶν ἀολλέσιν, αἵ μοι ἕποντο,but I, with the ships gathered together that followed me,
φεῦγον, ἐπεὶ γίγνωσκον, ὃ δὴ κακὰ μήδετο δαίμων.fled, since I knew a god was plotting evil.
φεῦγε δὲ Τυδέος υἱὸς ἀρήιος, ὦρσε δʼ ἑταίρους.And the warlike son of Tydeus fled and roused his comrades.
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετὰ νῶι κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,Late in the day fair-haired Menelaus came after us,
ἐν Λέσβῳ δʼ ἔκιχεν δολιχὸν πλόον ὁρμαίνοντας,and overtook us in Lesbos, debating the long voyage,
170ἢ καθύπερθε Χίοιο νεοίμεθα παιπαλοέσσης,whether to sail above rugged Chios,
νήσου ἔπι Ψυρίης, αὐτὴν ἐπʼ ἀριστέρʼ ἔχοντες,toward the island of Psyria, keeping it to our left,
ἦ ὑπένερθε Χίοιο, παρʼ ἠνεμόεντα Μίμαντα.or below Chios, past windy Mimas.
ᾐτέομεν δὲ θεὸν φῆναι τέρας· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἡμῖνWe asked the god to show a sign; and he showed us
δεῖξε, καὶ ἠνώγει πέλαγος μέσον εἰς Εὔβοιανone, and bade us cut across the open sea toward Euboea,
175τέμνειν, ὄφρα τάχιστα ὑπὲκ κακότητα φύγοιμεν.to escape our misery as swiftly as we could.
ὦρτο δʼ ἐπὶ λιγὺς οὖρος ἀήμεναι· αἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκαA shrill wind rose to blow; and the ships very swiftly
ἰχθυόεντα κέλευθα διέδραμον, ἐς δὲ Γεραιστὸνran along the fish-filled paths, and at Geraestus
ἐννύχιαι κατάγοντο· Ποσειδάωνι δὲ ταύρωνthey made land in the night; and to Poseidon many thigh-pieces
πόλλʼ ἐπὶ μῆρʼ ἔθεμεν, πέλαγος μέγα μετρήσαντες.of bulls we laid, having measured out the great sea.
180τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἔην, ὅτʼ ἐν Ἄργεϊ νῆας ἐίσαςIt was the fourth day when in Argos the balanced ships
Τυδεΐδεω ἕταροι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιοof the son of Tydeus, Diomedes tamer of horses,
ἵστασαν· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε Πύλονδʼ ἔχον, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἔσβηhis comrades set to rest; but I held on for Pylos, nor ever did the wind
οὖρος, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα θεὸς προέηκεν ἀῆναι.die down, since first the god sent it to blow.
ὣς ἦλθον, φίλε τέκνον, ἀπευθής, οὐδέ τι οἶδαSo I came, dear child, without news, nor do I know anything
185κείνων, οἵ τʼ ἐσάωθεν Ἀχαιῶν οἵ τʼ ἀπόλοντο.of those Achaeans who were saved and those who perished.
ὅσσα δʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι καθήμενος ἡμετέροισιBut all that I learn sitting here in our halls,
πεύθομαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί, δαήσεαι, οὐδέ σε κεύσω.as is right, you shall know, and I will hide nothing from you.
εὖ μὲν Μυρμιδόνας φάσʼ ἐλθέμεν ἐγχεσιμώρους,They say the Myrmidons came safely, those raging spearmen,
οὓς ἄγʼ Ἀχιλλῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμος υἱός,whom the glorious son of great-hearted Achilles led,
190εὖ δὲ Φιλοκτήτην, Ποιάντιον ἀγλαὸν υἱόν.and safely Philoctetes, the splendid son of Poeas.
πάντας δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρήτην εἰσήγαγʼ ἑταίρους,And Idomeneus brought all his comrades home to Crete,
οἳ φύγον ἐκ πολέμου, πόντος δέ οἱ οὔ τινʼ ἀπηύρα.those who escaped the war, and the sea took none of them.
Ἀτρεΐδην δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀκούετε, νόσφιν ἐόντες,And of Atreus' son you yourselves have heard, far off as you are,
ὥς τʼ ἦλθʼ, ὥς τʼ Αἴγισθος ἐμήσατο λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.how he came home, how Aegisthus contrived his wretched death.
195ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κεῖνος μὲν ἐπισμυγερῶς ἀπέτισεν·But truly that man paid for it in bitter fashion;
ὡς ἀγαθὸν καὶ παῖδα καταφθιμένοιο λιπέσθαιhow good it is that a son of the dead man
ἀνδρός, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνος ἐτίσατο πατροφονῆα,was left behind, since he too took vengeance on his father's killer,
Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα.the crafty Aegisthus, who slew his famous father.
καὶ σὺ φίλος, μάλα γάρ σʼ ὁρόω καλόν τε μέγαν τε,And you, my friend—for I see you are tall and handsome—
200ἄλκιμος ἔσσʼ, ἵνα τίς σε καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἐὺ εἴπῃ.be brave, that men yet to be born may speak well of you.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus spoke to him in answer:
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν,"O Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans,
καὶ λίην κεῖνος μὲν ἐτίσατο, καί οἱ Ἀχαιοὶtruly that man took his revenge, and the Achaeans
οἴσουσι κλέος εὐρὺ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι·will carry his fame wide, for men yet to come to learn of.
205αἲ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοσσήνδε θεοὶ δύναμιν περιθεῖεν,Would that the gods might clothe me too with power so great,
τίσασθαι μνηστῆρας ὑπερβασίης ἀλεγεινῆς,to take revenge on the suitors for their grievous transgression,
οἵ τέ μοι ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνται.who in their insolence contrive reckless things against me.
ἀλλʼ οὔ μοι τοιοῦτον ἐπέκλωσαν θεοὶ ὄλβον,But no such happiness have the gods spun for me,
πατρί τʼ ἐμῷ καὶ ἐμοί· νῦν δὲ χρὴ τετλάμεν ἔμπης.for my father and myself; now I must endure it all the same."
210τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεὶ δὴ ταῦτά μʼ ἀνέμνησας καὶ ἔειπες,"My friend, since you have called these things to mind and spoken them,
φασὶ μνηστῆρας σῆς μητέρος εἵνεκα πολλοὺςthey say that many suitors, for your mother's sake,
ἐν μεγάροις ἀέκητι σέθεν κακὰ μηχανάασθαι·contrive evil in your halls against your will;
εἰπέ μοι, ἠὲ ἑκὼν ὑποδάμνασαι, ἦ σέ γε λαοὶtell me, do you yield to them willingly, or do the people
215ἐχθαίρουσʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον, ἐπισπόμενοι θεοῦ ὀμφῇ.hate you throughout the land, following some voice of a god?
τίς δʼ οἶδʼ εἴ κέ ποτέ σφι βίας ἀποτίσεται ἐλθών,Who knows if he may come one day and pay them back for their violence,
ἢ ὅ γε μοῦνος ἐὼν ἢ καὶ σύμπαντες Ἀχαιοί;whether he alone, or all the Achaeans together?
εἰ γάρ σʼ ὣς ἐθέλοι φιλέειν γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,For if grey-eyed Athena should choose to love you so,
ὡς τότʼ Ὀδυσσῆος περικήδετο κυδαλίμοιοas then she cared for glorious Odysseus
220δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχομεν ἄλγεʼ Ἀχαιοί—in the land of the Trojans, where we Achaeans suffered woes—
οὐ γάρ πω ἴδον ὧδε θεοὺς ἀναφανδὰ φιλεῦντας,for never yet have I seen the gods so openly showing love
ὡς κείνῳ ἀναφανδὰ παρίστατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη—as Pallas Athena stood openly at his side—
εἴ σʼ οὕτως ἐθέλοι φιλέειν κήδοιτό τε θυμῷ,if she should choose to love you so, and care for you in her heart,
τῶ κέν τις κείνων γε καὶ ἐκλελάθοιτο γάμοιο.then some of those men might well forget the marriage."
225τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus spoke to him in answer:
ὦ γέρον, οὔ πω τοῦτο ἔπος τελέεσθαι ὀίω·"Old man, I think this word will never come to pass;
λίην γὰρ μέγα εἶπες· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει. οὐκ ἂν ἐμοί γεtoo great a thing you speak; wonder holds me. It could not be,
ἐλπομένῳ τὰ γένοιτʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ θεοὶ ὣς ἐθέλοιεν.even in my hoping, not even if the gods should so will it."
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him:
230Τηλέμαχε, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων."Telemachus, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth!
ῥεῖα θεός γʼ ἐθέλων καὶ τηλόθεν ἄνδρα σαώσαι.Easily could a god, if he willed, save a man even from afar.
βουλοίμην δʼ ἂν ἐγώ γε καὶ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσαςI myself would rather suffer many pains
οἴκαδέ τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ νόστιμον ἦμαρ ἰδέσθαι,and come home and see the day of my return,
ἢ ἐλθὼν ἀπολέσθαι ἐφέστιος, ὡς Ἀγαμέμνωνthan come home and perish at my hearth, as Agamemnon
235ὤλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἰγίσθοιο δόλῳ καὶ ἧς ἀλόχοιο.perished by the guile of Aegisthus and of his own wife.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι θάνατον μὲν ὁμοίιον οὐδὲ θεοί περBut truly death, the common lot, not even the gods themselves
καὶ φίλῳ ἀνδρὶ δύνανται ἀλαλκέμεν, ὁππότε κεν δὴcan ward off from a man they love, when once
μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο.the deadly fate of long-mourning death lays hold of him."
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus spoke to her in answer:
240Μέντορ, μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα κηδόμενοί περ·"Mentor, let us speak no more of these things, grieved as we are;
κείνῳ δʼ οὐκέτι νόστος ἐτήτυμος, ἀλλά οἱ ἤδηFor him there is no true homecoming now, but already
φράσσαντʼ ἀθάνατοι θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν.the immortals have devised his death and the black doom.
νῦν δʼ ἐθέλω ἔπος ἄλλο μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαιNow I wish to ask about another matter and inquire
Νέστορʼ, ἐπεὶ περὶ οἶδε δίκας ἠδὲ φρόνιν ἄλλων·of Nestor, since he knows beyond others of justice and wisdom;
245τρὶς γὰρ δή μίν φασιν ἀνάξασθαι γένεʼ ἀνδρῶν·for three generations of men they say he has ruled;
ὥς τέ μοι ἀθάνατος ἰνδάλλεται εἰσοράασθαι.so to my eyes he seems like an immortal to look upon.
ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη, σὺ δʼ ἀληθὲς ἐνίσπες·Nestor, son of Neleus, tell me the truth of this:
πῶς ἔθανʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων;how did the son of Atreus die, wide-ruling Agamemnon?
ποῦ Μενέλαος ἔην; τίνα δʼ αὐτῷ μήσατʼ ὄλεθρονWhere was Menelaus? What death did he devise for him,
250Αἴγισθος δολόμητις, ἐπεὶ κτάνε πολλὸν ἀρείω;Aegisthus the crafty-minded, since he killed a far better man?
ἦ οὐκ Ἄργεος ἦεν Ἀχαιικοῦ, ἀλλά πῃ ἄλλῃWas he not in Achaean Argos, but wandering elsewhere
πλάζετʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, ὁ δὲ θαρσήσας κατέπεφνε;among men, so that the other took heart and made the kill?"
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, τέκνον, ἀληθέα πάντʼ ἀγορεύσω."Well then, my child, I will tell you all the truth.
255ἦ τοι μὲν τάδε καὐτὸς ὀίεαι, ὥς κεν ἐτύχθη,Truly you can imagine yourself how these things would have gone,
εἰ ζωόν γʼ Αἴγισθον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔτετμενif the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaus, coming
Ἀτρεΐδης Τροίηθεν ἰών, ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·from Troy, had found Aegisthus alive in the halls;
τῶ κέ οἱ οὐδὲ θανόντι χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,then not even in death would they have heaped the earth upon him,
ἀλλʼ ἄρα τόν γε κύνες τε καὶ οἰωνοὶ κατέδαψανbut the dogs and the birds would have torn him apart
260κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ ἑκὰς ἄστεος, οὐδέ κέ τίς μινas he lay on the plain far from the city, nor would any
κλαῦσεν Ἀχαιιάδων· μάλα γὰρ μέγα μήσατο ἔργον.of the Achaean women have wept for him: so great was the deed he devised.
ἡμεῖς μὲν γὰρ κεῖθι πολέας τελέοντες ἀέθλουςFor while we sat there accomplishing our many trials,
ἥμεθʼ· ὁ δʼ εὔκηλος μυχῷ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιοhe at ease in a corner of horse-pasturing Argos
πόλλʼ Ἀγαμεμνονέην ἄλοχον θέλγεσκʼ ἐπέεσσιν.kept charming Agamemnon's wife with his words.
265ἡ δʼ ἦ τοι τὸ πρὶν μὲν ἀναίνετο ἔργον ἀεικὲςAt first indeed she refused the shameful deed,
δῖα Κλυταιμνήστρη· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητʼ ἀγαθῇσι·noble Clytemnestra, for her mind was sound;
πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔην καὶ ἀοιδὸς ἀνήρ, ᾧ πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλενand there was a singer beside her, whom the son of Atreus
Ἀτρεΐδης Τροίηνδε κιὼν εἴρυσθαι ἄκοιτιν.had charged, going to Troy, to guard his wife.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν μοῖρα θεῶν ἐπέδησε δαμῆναι,But when the doom of the gods bound her to be subdued,
270δὴ τότε τὸν μὲν ἀοιδὸν ἄγων ἐς νῆσον ἐρήμηνthen indeed he took the singer away to a deserted island
κάλλιπεν οἰωνοῖσιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι,and left him there to become the prey and spoil of birds,
τὴν δʼ ἐθέλων ἐθέλουσαν ἀνήγαγεν ὅνδε δόμονδε.and led her, willing to his willing, to his own house.
πολλὰ δὲ μηρίʼ ἔκηε θεῶν ἱεροῖς ἐπὶ βωμοῖς,And he burned many thigh-pieces on the gods' holy altars,
πολλὰ δʼ ἀγάλματʼ ἀνῆψεν, ὑφάσματά τε χρυσόν τε,and he hung up many offerings, woven cloths and gold,
275ἐκτελέσας μέγα ἔργον, ὃ οὔ ποτε ἔλπετο θυμῷ.having accomplished the great deed he had never hoped for in his heart.
ἡμεῖς μὲν γὰρ ἅμα πλέομεν Τροίηθεν ἰόντες,Now we were sailing together as we came from Troy,
Ἀτρεΐδης καὶ ἐγώ, φίλα εἰδότες ἀλλήλοισιν·the son of Atreus and I, holding love for each other;
ἀλλʼ ὅτε Σούνιον ἱρὸν ἀφικόμεθʼ, ἄκρον Ἀθηνέων,but when we reached sacred Sunium, the headland of Athens,
ἔνθα κυβερνήτην Μενελάου Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλωνthere Phoebus Apollo came upon the helmsman of Menelaus
280οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνε,with his gentle shafts and struck him down,
πηδάλιον μετὰ χερσὶ θεούσης νηὸς ἔχοντα,as he held the steering-oar of the running ship in his hands,
Φρόντιν Ὀνητορίδην, ὃς ἐκαίνυτο φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπωνPhrontis, son of Onetor, who surpassed the tribes of men
νῆα κυβερνῆσαι, ὁπότε σπέρχοιεν ἄελλαι.at steering a ship whenever the storm-winds pressed hard.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα κατέσχετʼ, ἐπειγόμενός περ ὁδοῖο,So Menelaus was held back there, eager as he was for the road,
285ὄφρʼ ἕταρον θάπτοι καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερίσειεν.until he could bury his companion and pay the funeral rites.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖνος ἰὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντονBut when he too, going over the wine-dark sea
ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι Μαλειάων ὄρος αἰπὺin the hollow ships, reached the steep mountain of Malea
ἷξε θέων, τότε δὴ στυγερὴν ὁδὸν εὐρύοπα Ζεὺςin his running, then far-seeing Zeus devised
ἐφράσατο, λιγέων δʼ ἀνέμων ἐπʼ ἀυτμένα χεῦε,a hateful passage, and poured out the breath of shrill winds,
290κύματά τε τροφέοντο πελώρια, ἶσα ὄρεσσιν.and the waves swelled monstrous, huge as mountains.
ἔνθα διατμήξας τὰς μὲν Κρήτῃ ἐπέλασσεν,There he split the fleet, and drove some against Crete,
ἧχι Κύδωνες ἔναιον Ἰαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα.where the Cydonians lived about the streams of Iardanus.
ἔστι δέ τις λισσὴ αἰπεῖά τε εἰς ἅλα πέτρηThere is a certain smooth cliff, sheer down into the sea,
ἐσχατιῇ Γόρτυνος ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳ·at the borders of Gortyn in the misty deep;
295ἔνθα Νότος μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ σκαιὸν ῥίον ὠθεῖ,there the South Wind drives a great wave against the western headland,
ἐς Φαιστόν, μικρὸς δὲ λίθος μέγα κῦμʼ ἀποέργει.toward Phaestus, and a small stone holds back the great wave.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἔνθʼ ἦλθον, σπουδῇ δʼ ἤλυξαν ὄλεθρονSo those ships came there, and the men barely escaped destruction,
ἄνδρες, ἀτὰρ νῆάς γε ποτὶ σπιλάδεσσιν ἔαξανbut the waves broke the ships against the reefs;
κύματʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰς πέντε νέας κυανοπρῳρείουςyet the other five ships with their dark prows
300Αἰγύπτῳ ἐπέλασσε φέρων ἄνεμός τε καὶ ὕδωρ.the wind and the water carried and drove to Egypt.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα πολὺν βίοτον καὶ χρυσὸν ἀγείρωνSo Menelaus, gathering much substance and gold,
ἠλᾶτο ξὺν νηυσὶ κατʼ ἀλλοθρόους ἀνθρώπους·wandered there with his ships among men of foreign speech,
τόφρα δὲ ταῦτʼ Αἴγισθος ἐμήσατο οἴκοθι λυγρά.and meanwhile Aegisthus plotted these grievous things at home.
ἑπτάετες δʼ ἤνασσε πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης,Seven years he ruled over Mycenae rich in gold,
305κτείνας Ἀτρεΐδην, δέδμητο δὲ λαὸς ὑπʼ αὐτῷ.having killed the son of Atreus, and the people were subdued beneath him.
τῷ δέ οἱ ὀγδοάτῳ κακὸν ἤλυθε δῖος ὈρέστηςBut in the eighth year, to his ruin, godlike Orestes came
ἂψ ἀπʼ Ἀθηνάων, κατὰ δʼ ἔκτανε πατροφονῆα,back from Athens, and killed his father's slayer,
Αἴγισθον δολόμητιν, ὅ οἱ πατέρα κλυτὸν ἔκτα.the guileful Aegisthus, who had killed his glorious father.
ἦ τοι ὁ τὸν κτείνας δαίνυ τάφον ἈργείοισινIndeed, having killed him, he gave the Argives a funeral feast
310μητρός τε στυγερῆς καὶ ἀνάλκιδος Αἰγίσθοιο·over his hateful mother and the cowardly Aegisthus;
αὐτῆμαρ δέ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαοςand on that same day Menelaus of the great war-cry came to him,
πολλὰ κτήματʼ ἄγων, ὅσα οἱ νέες ἄχθος ἄειραν.bringing much treasure, all the load his ships could carry.
καὶ σύ, φίλος, μὴ δηθὰ δόμων ἄπο τῆλʼ
ἀλάλησο,And you, my friend, do not wander long far from home,
κτήματά τε προλιπὼν ἄνδρας τʼ ἐν σοῖσι δόμοισινleaving your possessions and men in your house
315οὕτω ὑπερφιάλους, μή τοι κατὰ πάντα φάγωσινso overbearing, lest they devour all
κτήματα δασσάμενοι, σὺ δὲ τηϋσίην ὁδὸν ἔλθῃς.your goods, dividing them, and you go on a fruitless journey.
ἀλλʼ ἐς μὲν Μενέλαον ἐγὼ κέλομαι καὶ ἄνωγαBut to Menelaus I urge and command you
ἐλθεῖν· κεῖνος γὰρ νέον ἄλλοθεν εἰλήλουθεν,to go; for he has lately come from abroad,
ἐκ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅθεν οὐκ ἔλποιτό γε θυμῷfrom among such men as one would never hope in his heart
320ἐλθέμεν, ὅν τινα πρῶτον ἀποσφήλωσιν ἄελλαιto return from, once the storm-winds had driven him off course
ἐς πέλαγος μέγα τοῖον, ὅθεν τέ περ οὐδʼ οἰωνοὶout on so vast an open sea, from which not even birds
αὐτόετες οἰχνεῦσιν, ἐπεὶ μέγα τε δεινόν τε.make their way home within the year, so great and dreadful it is.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν σὺν νηί τε σῇ καὶ σοῖς ἑτάροισιν·But go now with your ship and your companions;
εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις πεζός, πάρα τοι δίφρος τε καὶ ἵπποι,or if you wish to go by land, chariot and horses are ready,
325πὰρ δέ τοι υἷες ἐμοί, οἵ τοι πομπῆες ἔσονταιand my sons are ready too, who will be your escorts
ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν, ὅθι ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.to bright Lacedaemon, where fair-haired Menelaus is.
λίσσεσθαι δέ μιν αὐτός, ἵνα νημερτὲς ἐνίσπῃ·And entreat him yourself, that he may tell you the truth;
ψεῦδος δʼ οὐκ ἐρέει· μάλα γὰρ πεπνυμένος ἐστίν.he will speak no lie, for he is very wise.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἠέλιος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας
ἦλθε.So he spoke, and the sun went down and darkness came on.
330τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·And among them spoke the goddess, grey-eyed Athena:
ὦ γέρον, ἦ τοι ταῦτα κατὰ μοῖραν κατέλεξας·Old man, truly you have told these things in due order;
ἀλλʼ ἄγε τάμνετε μὲν γλώσσας, κεράασθε δὲ οἶνον,but come, cut out the tongues, and mix the wine,
ὄφρα Ποσειδάωνι καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισινso that to Poseidon and the other immortals
σπείσαντες κοίτοιο μεδώμεθα· τοῖο γὰρ ὥρη.we may pour libation and then think of sleep; for it is the hour.
335ἤδη γὰρ φάος οἴχεθʼ ὑπὸ ζόφον, οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·For already the light has gone beneath the western gloom, and it is not fitting
δηθὰ θεῶν ἐν δαιτὶ θαασσέμεν, ἀλλὰ νέεσθαι.to sit long at the gods' feast, but to be going.
ἦ ῥα Διὸς θυγάτηρ, οἱ δʼ ἔκλυον αὐδησάσης.So spoke the daughter of Zeus, and they heard her speaking.
τοῖσι δὲ κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,And the heralds poured water over their hands,
κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,and the young men filled the mixing-bowls to the brim with drink,
340νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσι·and served it to all, with first drops poured into the cups;
γλώσσας δʼ ἐν πυρὶ βάλλον, ἀνιστάμενοι δʼ ἐπέλειβον.and they threw the tongues on the fire, and rose and poured libation.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,But when they had poured libation and drunk as much as their hearts desired,
δὴ τότʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδὴςthen Athena and godlike Telemachus
ἄμφω ἱέσθην κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα νέεσθαι.both were eager to return to their hollow ship.
345Νέστωρ δʼ αὖ κατέρυκε καθαπτόμενος ἐπέεσσιν·But Nestor held them back, checking them with words:
Ζεὺς τό γʼ ἀλεξήσειε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ
ἄλλοι,May Zeus forbid it, and the other immortal gods,
ὡς ὑμεῖς παρʼ ἐμεῖο θοὴν ἐπὶ νῆα κίοιτεthat you should go from my house to your swift ship
ὥς τέ τευ ἦ παρὰ πάμπαν ἀνείμονος ἠδὲ πενιχροῦ,as if from a man wholly without clothing and destitute,
ᾧ οὔ τι χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα πόλλʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,who has no cloaks and blankets in plenty in his house
350οὔτʼ αὐτῷ μαλακῶς οὔτε ξείνοισιν ἐνεύδειν.for himself to sleep soft, or for his guests.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ πάρα μὲν χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλά.But I have cloaks and fine blankets in plenty.
οὔ θην δὴ τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱὸςSurely the dear son of this man, Odysseus,
νηὸς ἐπʼ ἰκριόφιν καταλέξεται, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγώ γεshall not lie down on a ship's deck, so long as I
ζώω, ἔπειτα δὲ παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισι λίπωνται,am living, and after me children are left in my halls
355ξείνους ξεινίζειν, ὅς τίς κʼ ἐμὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται.to entertain strangers, whoever comes to my house.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, spoke to him again:
εὖ δὴ ταῦτά γʼ ἔφησθα, γέρον φίλε· σοὶ δὲ ἔοικενWell have you said these things, dear old man; and it is fitting
Τηλέμαχον πείθεσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺ κάλλιον οὕτως.that Telemachus obey you, since this is far the better way.
ἀλλʼ οὗτος μὲν νῦν σοὶ ἅμʼ ἕψεται, ὄφρα κεν εὕδῃSo he shall now follow along with you, to sleep
360σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαινανin your halls; but I shall go to the black ship,
εἶμʼ, ἵνα θαρσύνω θʼ ἑτάρους εἴπω τε ἕκαστα.to go, to hearten my companions and tell them everything.
οἶος γὰρ μετὰ τοῖσι γεραίτερος εὔχομαι εἶναι·For I claim to be the only elder among them,
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητι νεώτεροι ἄνδρες ἕπονται,while the others follow along in friendship, younger men,
πάντες ὁμηλικίη μεγαθύμου Τηλεμάχοιο.all of them the age of great-hearted Telemachus.
365ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην κοίλῃ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃThere I would lie down beside the hollow black ship
νῦν· ἀτὰρ ἠῶθεν μετὰ Καύκωνας μεγαθύμουςfor now; but at dawn I shall go to the great-hearted Cauconians,
εἶμʼ ἔνθα χρεῖός μοι ὀφέλλεται, οὔ τι νέον γεwhere a debt is owed to me, no new one
οὐδʼ ὀλίγον. σὺ δὲ τοῦτον, ἐπεὶ τεὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,nor small. But send this man on his way, since he has come to your house,
πέμψον σὺν δίφρῳ τε καὶ υἱέι· δὸς δέ οἱ ἵππους,with a chariot and your son; and give him horses,
370οἵ τοι ἐλαφρότατοι θείειν καὶ κάρτος ἄριστοι.the ones that are lightest at running and best in strength.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπέβη γλαυκῶπις ἈθήνηSo having spoken grey-eyed Athena went away,
φήνῃ εἰδομένη· θάμβος δʼ ἕλε πάντας ἰδόντας.in the likeness of a sea-eagle; and wonder seized all who saw it.
θαύμαζεν δʼ ὁ γεραιός, ὅπως ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖς·The old man marveled, when he saw it with his eyes;
Τηλεμάχου δʼ ἕλε χεῖρα, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·and he took Telemachus by the hand, and spoke, and named him:
375ὦ φίλος, οὔ σε ἔολπα κακὸν καὶ ἄναλκιν
ἔσεσθαι,Dear friend, I do not think you will prove a coward or weak,
εἰ δή τοι νέῳ ὧδε θεοὶ πομπῆες ἕπονται.if truly, so young, the gods go with you as escorts.
οὐ μὲν γάρ τις ὅδʼ ἄλλος Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἐχόντων,For this is none other of those who hold Olympian homes
ἀλλὰ Διὸς θυγάτηρ, κυδίστη Τριτογένεια,but the daughter of Zeus, most glorious Tritogeneia,
ἥ τοι καὶ πατέρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἐτίμα.she who honored your noble father too among the Argives.
380ἀλλὰ ἄνασσʼ ἵληθι, δίδωθι δέ μοι κλέος ἐσθλόν,But be gracious, queen, and grant me good renown,
αὐτῷ καὶ παίδεσσι καὶ αἰδοίῃ παρακοίτι·to myself and to my children and to my honored wife;
σοὶ δʼ αὖ ἐγὼ ῥέξω βοῦν ἦνιν εὐρυμέτωπονand I in turn will sacrifice to you a broad-browed yearling heifer,
ἀδμήτην, ἣν οὔ πω ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ἀνήρ·unbroken, one that no man has yet led under the yoke;
τήν τοι ἐγὼ ῥέξω χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύας.her will I sacrifice to you, having sheathed her horns in gold.
385ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athena heard him.
τοῖσιν δʼ ἡγεμόνευε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,Then the Gerenian horseman Nestor led the way for them,
υἱάσι καὶ γαμβροῖσιν, ἑὰ πρὸς δώματα καλά.his sons and his sons-in-law, to his own fine halls.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δώμαθʼ ἵκοντο ἀγακλυτὰ τοῖο ἄνακτος,But when they came to the famous halls of that lord,
ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε·they sat down in rows on the seats and the chairs;
390τοῖς δʼ ὁ γέρων ἐλθοῦσιν ἀνὰ κρητῆρα κέρασσενand to them as they came the old man mixed a bowl
οἴνου ἡδυπότοιο, τὸν ἑνδεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷof sweet-tasting wine, which in the eleventh year
ὤιξεν ταμίη καὶ ἀπὸ κρήδεμνον ἔλυσε·the housekeeper had opened and loosed the cap from it;
τοῦ ὁ γέρων κρητῆρα κεράσσατο, πολλὰ δʼ Ἀθήνῃof this the old man mixed a bowl, and much to Athena
εὔχετʼ ἀποσπένδων, κούρῃ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.he prayed as he poured libation, to the daughter of Zeus who bears the aegis.
395αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιον θʼ, ὅσον ἤθελε
θυμός,But when they had poured libation and drunk as much as their heart desired,
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκόνδε ἕκαστος,the others went each to his own house to lie down,
τὸν δʼ αὐτοῦ κοίμησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,but him the Gerenian horseman Nestor bedded there,
Τηλέμαχον, φίλον υἱὸν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,Telemachus, the dear son of godlike Odysseus,
τρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσιν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,on a corded bedstead beneath the echoing portico,
400πὰρʼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐυμμελίην Πεισίστρατον, ὄρχαμον ἀνδρῶν,and beside him Peisistratus of the good ash spear, leader of men,
ὅς οἱ ἔτʼ ἠίθεος παίδων ἦν ἐν μεγάροισιν·who among his sons was still unwed in the halls;
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτε καθεῦδε μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,but he himself lay down in a recess of the high house,
τῷ δʼ ἄλοχος δέσποινα λέχος πόρσυνε καὶ εὐνήν.and his lady wife saw to his couch and his bed.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
405ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,then the Gerenian horseman Nestor rose from his bed,
ἐκ δʼ ἐλθὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοισιν,and coming out he sat down upon the polished stones,
οἵ οἱ ἔσαν προπάροιθε θυράων ὑψηλάων,which stood before his lofty doors,
λευκοί, ἀποστίλβοντες ἀλείφατος· οἷς ἔπι μὲν πρὶνwhite, gleaming with oil; on these before this
Νηλεὺς ἵζεσκεν, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος·Neleus used to sit, a counselor equal to the gods;
410ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἤδη κηρὶ δαμεὶς Ἄϊδόσδε βεβήκει,but he by now, overcome by fate, had gone down to Hades,
Νέστωρ αὖ τότʼ ἐφῖζε Γερήνιος, οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν,and now the Gerenian Nestor sat there, warden of the Achaeans,
σκῆπτρον ἔχων. περὶ δʼ υἷες ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντοholding the scepter. And around him his sons gathered in a body,
ἐκ θαλάμων ἐλθόντες, Ἐχέφρων τε Στρατίος τεcoming from their chambers, Echephron and Stratius
Περσεύς τʼ Ἄρητός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Θρασυμήδης.and Perseus and Aretus and godlike Thrasymedes.
415τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἕκτος Πεισίστρατος ἤλυθεν ἥρως,Then to them sixth came the hero Peisistratus,
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχον θεοείκελον εἷσαν ἄγοντες.and they led godlike Telemachus and seated him beside them.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·And among them the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak:
καρπαλίμως μοι, τέκνα φίλα, κρηήνατʼ ἐέλδωρ,Quickly, my dear children, accomplish my desire for me,
ὄφρʼ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα θεῶν ἱλάσσομʼ Ἀθήνην,so that first of all the gods I may propitiate Athena,
420ἥ μοι ἐναργὴς ἦλθε θεοῦ ἐς δαῖτα θάλειαν.who came to me in visible form at the god's rich feast.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ὁ μὲν πεδίονδʼ ἐπὶ βοῦν, ἴτω, ὄφρα τάχισταBut come, let one go to the plain for a heifer, so that with all speed
ἔλθῃσιν, ἐλάσῃ δὲ βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·it may come, and the herdsman of the cattle drive it on;
εἷς δʼ ἐπὶ Τηλεμάχου μεγαθύμου νῆα μέλαινανand let one go to the black ship of great-hearted Telemachus
πάντας ἰὼν ἑτάρους ἀγέτω, λιπέτω δὲ δύʼ οἴους·and bring all his companions, leaving only two behind;
425εἷς δʼ αὖ χρυσοχόον Λαέρκεα δεῦρο κελέσθωand let one bid the goldsmith Laerces to come
ἐλθεῖν, ὄφρα βοὸς χρυσὸν κέρασιν περιχεύῃ.here, so that he may pour gold about the heifer's horns.
οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι μένετʼ αὐτοῦ ἀολλέες, εἴπατε δʼ εἴσωAnd the rest of you remain here together, and tell within
δμῳῇσιν κατὰ δώματʼ ἀγακλυτὰ δαῖτα πένεσθαι,the maids throughout the glorious halls to prepare a feast,
ἕδρας τε ξύλα τʼ ἀμφὶ καὶ ἀγλαὸν οἰσέμεν ὕδωρ.and to bring seats and wood round about, and bright water.
430ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐποίπνυον. ἦλθε μὲν ἂρ
βοῦςSo he spoke, and they all bustled about. The heifer came
ἐκ πεδίου, ἦλθον δὲ θοῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἐίσηςfrom the plain, and from beside the swift balanced ship came
Τηλεμάχου ἕταροι μεγαλήτορος, ἦλθε δὲ χαλκεὺςthe companions of great-hearted Telemachus, and the smith came
ὅπλʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἔχων χαλκήια, πείρατα τέχνης,holding in his hands the tools of bronze, the means of his craft,
ἄκμονά τε σφῦραν τʼ ἐυποίητόν τε πυράγρην,the anvil and the hammer and the well-made tongs,
435οἷσίν τε χρυσὸν εἰργάζετο· ἦλθε δʼ Ἀθήνηwith which he worked the gold; and Athena came
ἱρῶν ἀντιόωσα. γέρων δʼ ἱππηλάτα Νέστωρto attend the rites. And the old horseman Nestor
χρυσὸν ἔδωχʼ· ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα βοὸς κέρασιν περίχευενgave the gold, and then the smith poured it about the heifer's horns,
ἀσκήσας, ἵνʼ ἄγαλμα θεὰ κεχάροιτο ἰδοῦσα.fashioning it, so that the goddess might rejoice to see the offering.
βοῦν δʼ ἀγέτην κεράων Στρατίος καὶ δῖος Ἐχέφρων.And Stratius and godlike Echephron led the heifer by the horns.
440χέρνιβα δέ σφʼ Ἄρητος ἐν ἀνθεμόεντι λέβητιAnd Aretus brought them washing-water in a flowered basin,
ἤλυθεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο φέρων, ἑτέρῃ δʼ ἔχεν οὐλὰςcoming from the chamber, and in the other hand he held the barley
ἐν κανέῳ πέλεκυν δὲ μενεπτόλεμος Θρασυμήδηςin a basket; and Thrasymedes, steadfast in war,
ὀξὺν ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παρίστατο βοῦν ἐπικόψων.stood by with a sharp axe in his hand, to strike the heifer.
Περσεὺς δʼ ἀμνίον εἶχε· γέρων δʼ ἱππηλάτα ΝέστωρAnd Perseus held the bowl for the blood; and the old horseman Nestor
445χέρνιβά τʼ οὐλοχύτας τε κατήρχετο, πολλὰ δʼ Ἀθήνῃbegan with the water and the barley, and made long prayer to Athena
εὔχετʼ ἀπαρχόμενος, κεφαλῆς τρίχας ἐν πυρὶ βάλλων.as he took the first offering, casting hairs from the head into the fire.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,But when they had prayed and scattered the barley forward,
αὐτίκα Νέστορος υἱὸς ὑπέρθυμος Θρασυμήδηςstraightway the son of Nestor, high-spirited Thrasymedes,
ἤλασεν ἄγχι στάς· πέλεκυς δʼ ἀπέκοψε τένονταςstanding close, struck; and the axe cut through the tendons
450αὐχενίους, λῦσεν δὲ βοὸς μένος. αἱ δʼ ὀλόλυξανof the neck, and loosed the heifer's strength. And the women cried aloud,
θυγατέρες τε νυοί τε καὶ αἰδοίη παράκοιτιςthe daughters and the sons' wives and the honored wife
Νέστορος, Εὐρυδίκη, πρέσβα Κλυμένοιο θυγατρῶν.of Nestor, Eurydice, eldest of the daughters of Clymenus.
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀνελόντες ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείηςThen they lifted the heifer's head from the wide-wayed earth
ἔσχον· ἀτὰρ σφάξεν Πεισίστρατος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν.and held it; and Pisistratus, leader of men, cut the throat.
455τῆς δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ μέλαν αἷμα ῥύη, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμός,And when the black blood had run out and the life left the bones,
αἶψʼ ἄρα μιν διέχευαν, ἄφαρ δʼ ἐκ μηρία τάμνονat once they cut it up, and straightway sliced out the thigh-pieces,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψανall in due order, and covered them over with fat,
δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν.making a double fold, and laid raw flesh upon them.
καῖε δʼ ἐπὶ σχίζῃς ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνονAnd the old man burned them on split wood, and over them poured
460λεῖβε· νέοι δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν ἔχον πεμπώβολα χερσίν.bright wine; and the young men beside him held five-pronged forks in their hands.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρʼ ἐκάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,But when the thigh-pieces were burned and they had tasted the entrails,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,they cut up the rest and pierced it through with spits,
ὤπτων δʼ ἀκροπόρους ὀβελοὺς ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες.and roasted it, holding the pointed spits in their hands.
τόφρα δὲ Τηλέμαχον λοῦσεν καλὴ Πολυκάστη,Meanwhile fair Polycaste bathed Telemachus,
465Νέστορος ὁπλοτάτη θυγάτηρ Νηληϊάδαο.the youngest daughter of Nestor son of Neleus.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ λοῦσέν τε καὶ ἔχρισεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,But when she had bathed him and anointed him richly with oil,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φᾶρος καλὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,and cast about him a fine cloak and a tunic,
ἔκ ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθου βῆ δέμας ἀθανάτοισιν ὁμοῖος·he stepped from the bath in body like the immortals;
πὰρ δʼ ὅ γε Νέστορʼ ἰὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, ποιμένα λαῶν.and he went and sat beside Nestor, shepherd of the people.
470οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,And when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,
δαίνυνθʼ ἑζόμενοι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνέρες ἐσθλοὶ ὄροντοthey sat and feasted; and good men rose to attend,
οἶνον οἰνοχοεῦντες ἐνὶ χρυσέοις δεπάεσσιν.pouring wine into golden cups.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,But when they had put away the desire for drink and food,
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among them:
475παῖδες ἐμοί, ἄγε Τηλεμάχῳ καλλίτριχας ἵππους"My sons, come, lead out the fair-maned horses for Telemachus
ζεύξαθʼ ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἄγοντες, ἵνα πρήσσῃσιν ὁδοῖο.and yoke them beneath the car, so that he may accomplish his journey."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ
ἐπίθοντο,So he spoke, and they listened well to him and obeyed,
καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔζευξαν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους.and swiftly they yoked the swift horses beneath the car.
ἐν δὲ γυνὴ ταμίη σῖτον καὶ οἶνον ἔθηκενAnd the housekeeping woman placed bread and wine within it,
480ὄψα τε, οἷα ἔδουσι διοτρεφέες βασιλῆες.and dainties too, such as god-nurtured kings eat.
ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον·And Telemachus climbed into the beautiful car,
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,and beside him Nestor's son Pisistratus, leader of men,
ἐς δίφρον τʼ ἀνέβαινε καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσί,mounted the car and took the reins in his hands,
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθηνand whipped the horses to run, and not unwilling the two flew on
485ἐς πεδίον, λιπέτην δὲ Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον.toward the plain, and left the steep citadel of Pylos.
οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.And all day long they shook the yoke they held between them.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί,And the sun went down and all the ways grew dark,
ἐς Φηρὰς δʼ ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,and they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles,
υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.the son of Ortilochus, whom Alpheus fathered as his child.
490ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἄεσαν, ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.There they slept the night, and he set gifts of welcome before them.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον·they yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid car,
ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·and drove out from the gateway and the echoing portico;
μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην.and he whipped the horses to run, and not unwilling the two flew on.
495ἷξον δʼ ἐς πεδίον πυρηφόρον, ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειταAnd they came to the wheat-bearing plain, and there thereafter
ἦνον ὁδόν· τοῖον γὰρ ὑπέκφερον ὠκέες ἵπποι.they finished their journey, for the swift horses carried them so well.
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί.And the sun went down and all the ways grew dark.