1οἱ δʼ ἷξον κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν,And they came to hollow Lacedaemon, land of ravines,
πρὸς δʼ ἄρα δώματʼ ἔλων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.and drove toward the house of glorious Menelaus.
τὸν δʼ εὗρον δαινύντα γάμον πολλοῖσιν ἔτῃσινThey found him giving a wedding feast for many kinsmen,
υἱέος ἠδὲ θυγατρὸς ἀμύμονος ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.for his son and his flawless daughter, there in his house.
5τὴν μὲν Ἀχιλλῆος ῥηξήνορος υἱέι πέμπεν·The girl he was sending to the son of Achilles, breaker of men;
ἐν Τροίῃ γὰρ πρῶτον ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεfor at Troy he first had promised and had nodded assent
δωσέμεναι, τοῖσιν δὲ θεοὶ γάμον ἐξετέλειον.to give her, and now the gods were bringing their marriage to pass.
τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἔνθʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι πέμπε νέεσθαιSo now with horses and chariots he was sending her on her way
Μυρμιδόνων προτὶ ἄστυ περικλυτόν, οἷσιν ἄνασσεν.to the far-famed city of the Myrmidons, whom that man ruled.
10υἱέι δὲ Σπάρτηθεν Ἀλέκτορος ἤγετο κούρην,And for his son he was bringing a girl from Sparta, Alector's daughter,
ὅς οἱ τηλύγετος γένετο κρατερὸς Μεγαπένθηςfor to him was born the strong Megapenthes, his darling late-born son,
ἐκ δούλης· Ἑλένῃ δὲ θεοὶ γόνον οὐκέτʼ ἔφαινον,from a slave woman; to Helen the gods gave no more offspring
ἐπεὶ δὴ τὸ πρῶτον ἐγείνατο παῖδʼ ἐρατεινήν,after she first had borne her lovely child,
Ἑρμιόνην, ἣ εἶδος ἔχε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης.Hermione, who had the beauty of golden Aphrodite.
15ὣς οἱ μὲν δαίνυντο καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμαSo they were feasting throughout the great high-roofed house,
γείτονες ἠδὲ ἔται Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,the neighbors and kinsmen of glorious Menelaus,
τερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸςtaking their delight; and among them a divine singer made music,
φορμίζων, δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατʼ αὐτούς,striking his lyre, and two tumblers among the company,
μολπῆς ἐξάρχοντος, ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.as he led off the song, went whirling through their midst.
20τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν προθύροισι δόμων αὐτώ τε καὶ
ἵππω,But those two in the forecourt of the house, both themselves and their horses,
Τηλέμαχός θʼ ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,Telemachus the hero and the shining son of Nestor,
στῆσαν· ὁ δὲ προμολὼν ἴδετο κρείων Ἐτεωνεύς,halted; and lordly Eteoneus came forward and saw them,
ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,the ready attendant of glorious Menelaus,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν,and he went to bring word through the house to the shepherd of the people,
25ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and standing near him he spoke winged words:
ξείνω δή τινε τώδε, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε,"Two strangers are here, Menelaus fostered by Zeus,
ἄνδρε δύω, γενεῇ δὲ Διὸς μεγάλοιο ἔικτον.two men, and in their build they resemble the stock of great Zeus.
ἀλλʼ εἴπʼ, ἤ σφωιν καταλύσομεν ὠκέας ἵππους,But tell me, shall we unyoke their swift horses,
ἦ ἄλλον πέμπωμεν ἱκανέμεν, ὅς κε φιλήσῃ.or send them on to another who might welcome them?"
30τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·Then greatly angered fair-haired Menelaus addressed him:
οὐ μὲν νήπιος ἦσθα, Βοηθοΐδη Ἐτεωνεῦ,"You were no fool before this, Eteoneus son of Boethous,
τὸ πρίν· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε πάϊς ὣς νήπια βάζεις.in earlier days; but now you babble foolish things like a child.
ἦ μὲν δὴ νῶι ξεινήια πολλὰ φαγόντεSurely the two of us ate much hospitality from other men
ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεθʼ, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺςon our way here, in hope that Zeus might somehow
35ἐξοπίσω περ παύσῃ ὀιζύος. ἀλλὰ λύʼ ἵππουςhereafter grant us rest from misery. But unyoke the horses
ξείνων, ἐς δʼ αὐτοὺς προτέρω ἄγε θοινηθῆναι.of the strangers, and lead the men themselves inside to be feasted."
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δὲ μεγάροιο διέσσυτο, κέκλετο δʼ
ἄλλουςSo he spoke, and the man sped through the hall, and called out to others,
ὀτρηροὺς θεράποντας ἅμα σπέσθαι ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.the ready attendants, to follow along with him.
οἱ δʼ ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας,And they unyoked the horses, sweating beneath the yoke,
40καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐφʼ ἱππείῃσι κάπῃσι,and tied them fast at the mangers for the horses,
πὰρ δʼ ἔβαλον ζειάς, ἀνὰ δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἔμιξαν,and threw down spelt beside them, and mixed in white barley,
ἅρματα δʼ ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,and leaned the chariots against the shining walls,
αὐτοὺς δʼ εἰσῆγον θεῖον δόμον. οἱ δὲ ἰδόντεςand led the men themselves into the godlike house. And they, seeing,
θαύμαζον κατὰ δῶμα διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος·marveled throughout the hall of the god-nurtured king;
45ὥς τε γὰρ ἠελίου αἴγλη πέλεν ἠὲ σελήνηςfor there was a radiance as of the sun or the moon
δῶμα καθʼ ὑψερεφὲς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.through the high-roofed hall of glorious Menelaus.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ὁρώμενοι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,But when they had taken their fill of gazing with their eyes,
ἔς ῥʼ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐυξέστας λούσαντο.they stepped into the polished tubs and bathed.
τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,And when the maids had washed them and anointed them with oil,
50ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,and thrown thick woolen cloaks about them and tunics,
ἔς ῥα θρόνους ἕζοντο παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Μενέλαον.they sat down on chairs beside Menelaus son of Atreus.
χέρνιβα δʼ ἀμφίπολος προχόῳ ἐπέχευε φέρουσαA handmaid brought water and poured it for washing
καλῇ χρυσείῃ ὑπὲρ ἀργυρέοιο λέβητος,from a beautiful golden pitcher over a silver basin,
νίψασθαι· παρὰ δὲ ξεστὴν ἐτάνυσσε τράπεζαν.for them to wash their hands; and she drew a polished table beside them.
55σῖτον δʼ αἰδοίη ταμίη παρέθηκε φέρουσα,And the honored housekeeper brought bread and set it before them,
εἴδατα πόλλʼ ἐπιθεῖσα, χαριζομένη παρεόντων.laying out many dishes, freely giving of her store.
δαιτρὸς δὲ κρειῶν πίνακας παρέθηκεν ἀείραςAnd the carver lifted platters of meat and set them before them,
παντοίων, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει χρύσεια κύπελλα.meats of every kind, and beside them placed golden cups.
τὼ καὶ δεικνύμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·And greeting them fair-haired Menelaus addressed them:
60σίτου θʼ ἅπτεσθον καὶ χαίρετον. αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα"Take of the food and be welcome. And afterward,
δείπνου πασσαμένω εἰρησόμεθʼ, οἵ τινές ἐστονwhen you have eaten your dinner, we will ask you who
ἀνδρῶν· οὐ γὰρ σφῷν γε γένος ἀπόλωλε τοκήων,among men you are; for in you the stock of your fathers is not lost,
ἀλλʼ ἀνδρῶν γένος ἐστὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήωνbut you are of the line of men who are god-nurtured kings,
σκηπτούχων, ἐπεὶ οὔ κε κακοὶ τοιούσδε τέκοιεν.bearers of the scepter, since base men could never father such sons."
65ὣς φάτο, καί σφιν νῶτα βοὸς παρὰ πίονα θῆκενSo he spoke, and set before them the rich chine of an ox,
ὄπτʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἑλών, τά ῥά οἱ γέρα πάρθεσαν αὐτῷ.the roasted portion taken in his hands, which they had laid beside him as his honor.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.And they reached out their hands to the good things spread ready before them.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,But when they had put away the desire for drink and food,
δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν,then Telemachus spoke to the son of Nestor,
70ἄγχι σχὼν κεφαλήν, ἵνα μὴ πευθοίαθʼ οἱ ἄλλοι·holding his head close, so that the others might not hear:
φράζεο, Νεστορίδη, τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ,"Consider, son of Nestor, delight of my heart,
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπὴν κὰδ δώματα ἠχήενταthe gleam of bronze throughout these echoing halls,
χρυσοῦ τʼ ἠλέκτρου τε καὶ ἀργύρου ἠδʼ ἐλέφαντος.and of gold and amber and silver and ivory.
Ζηνός που τοιήδε γʼ Ὀλυμπίου ἔνδοθεν αὐλή,Such, surely, within, is the court of Olympian Zeus—
75ὅσσα τάδʼ ἄσπετα πολλά· σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντα.so many things beyond telling; awe holds me as I gaze."
τοῦ δʼ ἀγορεύοντος ξύνετο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,And as he was speaking fair-haired Menelaus overheard him,
καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and speaking to them he spoke winged words:
τέκνα φίλʼ, ἦ τοι Ζηνὶ βροτῶν οὐκ ἄν τις
ἐρίζοι·"Dear children, with Zeus no mortal could ever contend;
ἀθάνατοι γὰρ τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματʼ ἔασιν·for immortal are his halls and his possessions.
80ἀνδρῶν δʼ ἤ κέν τίς μοι ἐρίσσεται, ἠὲ καὶ οὐκί,But of men, some one might rival me in wealth, or perhaps not,
κτήμασιν. ἦ γὰρ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθεὶςin possessions. For I suffered much and wandered much
ἠγαγόμην ἐν νηυσὶ καὶ ὀγδοάτῳ ἔτει ἦλθον,before I brought it home in my ships, and came in the eighth year,
Κύπρον Φοινίκην τε καὶ Αἰγυπτίους ἐπαληθείς,wandering through Cyprus, Phoenicia, and the Egyptians,
Αἰθίοπάς θʼ ἱκόμην καὶ Σιδονίους καὶ Ἐρεμβοὺςand I reached the Ethiopians and the Sidonians and the Erembi,
85καὶ Λιβύην, ἵνα τʼ ἄρνες ἄφαρ κεραοὶ τελέθουσι.and Libya, where the lambs are horned from birth.
τρὶς γὰρ τίκτει μῆλα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν.For three times the flocks give birth in the full year's round.
ἔνθα μὲν οὔτε ἄναξ ἐπιδευὴς οὔτε τι ποιμὴνThere neither master nor shepherd goes lacking
τυροῦ καὶ κρειῶν οὐδὲ γλυκεροῖο γάλακτος,of cheese or meat or sweet milk,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ παρέχουσιν ἐπηετανὸν γάλα θῆσθαι.but always they yield milk in plenty for the drawing.
90ἧος ἐγὼ περὶ κεῖνα πολὺν βίοτον συναγείρωνWhile I was wandering in those lands, gathering much substance,
ἠλώμην, τῆός μοι ἀδελφεὸν ἄλλος ἔπεφνενmeanwhile another man killed my brother
λάθρῃ, ἀνωιστί, δόλῳ οὐλομένης ἀλόχοιο·by stealth, unlooked-for, by the guile of his accursed wife.
ὣς οὔ τοι χαίρων τοῖσδε κτεάτεσσιν ἀνάσσω.So it is with no joy that I am lord of these possessions.
καὶ πατέρων τάδε μέλλετʼ ἀκουέμεν, οἵ τινες ὑμῖνYou will have heard of these things from your fathers, whoever
95εἰσίν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον, καὶ ἀπώλεσα οἶκονthey are, since I suffered very much, and lost a house
εὖ μάλα ναιετάοντα, κεχανδότα πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.that was well set up, holding many good things.
ὧν ὄφελον τριτάτην περ ἔχων ἐν δώμασι μοῖρανWould that I dwelt in my halls with only a third
ναίειν, οἱ δʼ ἄνδρες σόοι ἔμμεναι, οἳ τότʼ ὄλοντοof these, and that the men were safe who then perished
Τροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο.in broad Troy, far from horse-pasturing Argos.
100ἀλλʼ ἔμπης πάντας μὲν ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύωνYet even so, though mourning and grieving for them all,
πολλάκις ἐν μεγάροισι καθήμενος ἡμετέροισινoften as I sit within our halls,
ἄλλοτε μέν τε γόῳ φρένα τέρπομαι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτεnow I take pleasure of my heart in weeping, and now again
παύομαι· αἰψηρὸς δὲ κόρος κρυεροῖο γόοιο.I cease—for men soon have their fill of chilling lament.
τῶν πάντων οὐ τόσσον ὀδύρομαι, ἀχνύμενός περ,Yet for none of them do I grieve so much, sorrowing though I am,
105ὡς ἑνός, ὅς τέ μοι ὕπνον ἀπεχθαίρει καὶ ἐδωδὴνas for one, who makes both sleep and food hateful to me
μνωομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τις Ἀχαιῶν τόσσʼ ἐμόγησεν,when I remember, since no Achaean labored so much
ὅσσʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἐμόγησε καὶ ἤρατο. τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλενas Odysseus labored and endured. But for him it was fated
αὐτῷ κήδεʼ ἔσεσθαι, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος αἰὲν ἄλαστονthat troubles should be his, and for me a grief ever unforgotten
κείνου, ὅπως δὴ δηρὸν ἀποίχεται, οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν,for him, since so long he is gone, nor do we know at all
110ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκεν. ὀδύρονταί νύ που αὐτὸνwhether he lives or is dead. They mourn him now, I suppose—
Λαέρτης θʼ ὁ γέρων καὶ ἐχέφρων ΠηνελόπειαLaertes the old man, and prudent Penelope,
Τηλέμαχός θʼ, ὃν ἔλειπε νέον γεγαῶτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.and Telemachus, whom he left newborn in his house."
ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα πατρὸς ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε
γόοιο.So he spoke, and in the son he stirred longing to weep for his father.
δάκρυ δʼ ἀπὸ βλεφάρων χαμάδις βάλε πατρὸς ἀκούσας,A tear fell from his eyelids to the ground when he heard of his father,
115χλαῖναν πορφυρέην ἄντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖιν ἀνασχὼνand he held his purple cloak before his eyes
ἀμφοτέρῃσιν χερσί. νόησε δέ μιν Μενέλαος,with both his hands. And Menelaus took note of him,
μερμήριξε δʼ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,and then he pondered in his mind and in his heart
ἠέ μιν αὐτὸν πατρὸς ἐάσειε μνησθῆναιwhether he should let the son himself make mention of his father,
ἦ πρῶτʼ ἐξερέοιτο ἕκαστά τε πειρήσαιτο.or first question him and try him on each point.
120ἧος ὁ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,While he pondered these things in his mind and in his heart,
ἐκ δʼ Ἑλένη θαλάμοιο θυώδεος ὑψορόφοιοAnd out of her fragrant high-roofed chamber Helen
ἤλυθεν Ἀρτέμιδι χρυσηλακάτῳ ἐικυῖα.came, like Artemis of the golden distaff.
τῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἅμʼ Ἀδρήστη κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν,And with her Adraste set a well-made chair,
Ἀλκίππη δὲ τάπητα φέρεν μαλακοῦ ἐρίοιο,and Alcippe brought a rug of soft wool,
125Φυλὼ δʼ ἀργύρεον τάλαρον φέρε, τόν οἱ ἔθηκενand Phylo brought a silver basket, which was given her
Ἀλκάνδρη, Πολύβοιο δάμαρ, ὃς ἔναιʼ ἐνὶ Θήβῃςby Alcandre, wife of Polybus, who lived in Thebes,
Αἰγυπτίῃς, ὅθι πλεῖστα δόμοις ἐν κτήματα κεῖται·the Egyptian, where the most treasures lie stored in the houses—
ὃς Μενελάῳ δῶκε δύʼ ἀργυρέας ἀσαμίνθους,he who gave Menelaus two silver bathing-tubs,
δοιοὺς δὲ τρίποδας, δέκα δὲ χρυσοῖο τάλαντα.and two tripods, and ten talents of gold.
130χωρὶς δʼ αὖθʼ Ἑλένῃ ἄλοχος πόρε κάλλιμα δῶρα·And apart, his wife gave Helen lovely gifts:
χρυσέην τʼ ἠλακάτην τάλαρόν θʼ ὑπόκυκλον ὄπασσενa golden distaff she bestowed, and a basket set on wheels,
ἀργύρεον, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράαντο.of silver, and its rims were finished off with gold.
τόν ῥά οἱ ἀμφίπολος Φυλὼ παρέθηκε φέρουσαThis the handmaid Phylo brought and set beside her,
νήματος ἀσκητοῖο βεβυσμένον· αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷfilled full with spun and finished yarn; and stretched across it
135ἠλακάτη τετάνυστο ἰοδνεφὲς εἶρος ἔχουσα.lay the distaff holding wool of violet-dark.
ἕζετο δʼ ἐν κλισμῷ, ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν.She sat down in the chair, and beneath her feet was a footstool.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἥ γʼ ἐπέεσσι πόσιν ἐρέεινεν ἕκαστα·And at once with words she questioned her husband on each thing:
ἴδμεν δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οἵ τινες οἵδε"Do we know, Menelaus nurtured by Zeus, who these men are
ἀνδρῶν εὐχετόωνται ἱκανέμεν ἡμέτερον δῶ;who boast that they have come to reach our house?
140ψεύσομαι ἦ ἔτυμον ἐρέω; κέλεται δέ με θυμός.Shall I speak falsely, or tell the truth? My heart commands me.
οὐ γάρ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαιFor never yet, I say, have I seen anyone so like—
οὔτʼ ἄνδρʼ οὔτε γυναῖκα, σέβας μʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωσαν,neither man nor woman, awe holds me as I look—
ὡς ὅδʼ Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαλήτορος υἷι ἔοικε,as this one is like the son of great-hearted Odysseus,
Τηλεμάχῳ, τὸν ἔλειπε νέον γεγαῶτʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳTelemachus, whom he left newborn in his house,
145κεῖνος ἀνήρ, ὅτʼ ἐμεῖο κυνώπιδος εἵνεκʼ Ἀχαιοὶthat man, when for my sake, shameless bitch that I was, the Achaeans
ἤλθεθʼ ὑπὸ Τροίην πόλεμον θρασὺν ὁρμαίνοντες.came beneath Troy, stirring up bold war."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·And answering her spoke fair-haired Menelaus:
οὕτω νῦν καὶ ἐγὼ νοέω, γύναι, ὡς σὺ ἐίσκεις·"So now I too perceive it, wife, as you compare him;
κείνου γὰρ τοιοίδε πόδες τοιαίδε τε χεῖρεςfor such were that man's feet, and such his hands,
150ὀφθαλμῶν τε βολαὶ κεφαλή τʼ ἐφύπερθέ τε χαῖται.and the glances of his eyes, and his head, and the hair above."
καὶ νῦν ἦ τοι ἐγὼ μεμνημένος ἀμφʼ ὈδυσῆιAnd now indeed I, remembering, was speaking of Odysseus,
μυθεόμην, ὅσα κεῖνος ὀιζύσας ἐμόγησενtelling how much that man toiled and suffered in wretchedness
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, αὐτὰρ ὁ πικρὸν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυον εἶβε,for my sake—but he let fall a bitter tear beneath his brows,
χλαῖναν πορφυρέην ἄντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖιν ἀνασχών.holding his purple cloak up before his eyes."
155τὸν δʼ αὖ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἀντίον ηὔδα·And Nestor's son Pisistratus answered him:
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,"Son of Atreus, Menelaus nurtured by Zeus, leader of hosts,
κείνου μέν τοι ὅδʼ υἱὸς ἐτήτυμον, ὡς ἀγορεύεις·this is truly that man's son, as you declare;
ἀλλὰ σαόφρων ἐστί, νεμεσσᾶται δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷbut he is modest, and feels shame in his heart
ὧδʼ ἐλθὼν τὸ πρῶτον ἐπεσβολίας ἀναφαίνεινthus, having come here for the first time, to fling out reckless words
160ἄντα σέθεν, τοῦ νῶι θεοῦ ὣς τερπόμεθʼ αὐδῇ.before you, in whose voice we both delight as in a god's.
αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προέηκε Γερήνιος ἱππότα ΝέστωρBut the Gerenian horseman Nestor sent me forth
τῷ ἅμα πομπὸν ἕπεσθαι· ἐέλδετο γάρ σε ἰδέσθαι,to follow as his escort, for he longed to see you,
ὄφρα οἱ ἤ τι ἔπος ὑποθήσεαι ἠέ τι ἔργον.that you might advise him with some word or deed.
πολλὰ γὰρ ἄλγεʼ ἔχει πατρὸς πάϊς οἰχομένοιοFor a son has many griefs when his father is gone,
165ἐν μεγάροις, ᾧ μὴ ἄλλοι ἀοσσητῆρες ἔωσιν,there in his halls, and no others come to help him,
ὡς νῦν Τηλεμάχῳ ὁ μὲν οἴχεται, οὐδέ οἱ ἄλλοιas now with Telemachus: his father is gone, and no others
εἴσʼ οἵ κεν κατὰ δῆμον ἀλάλκοιεν κακότητα.are there among the people to ward off ruin from him."
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·And in answer fair-haired Menelaus addressed him:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ φίλου ἀνέρος υἱὸς ἐμὸν δῶ"Well now, truly the son of a man I loved has come
170ἵκεθʼ, ὃς εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο πολέας ἐμόγησεν ἀέθλους·to my house, one who for my sake endured many trials.
καί μιν ἔφην ἐλθόντα φιλησέμεν ἔξοχον ἄλλωνI said, when he returned, I would love him beyond all
Ἀργείων, εἰ νῶιν ὑπεὶρ ἅλα νόστον ἔδωκεthe other Argives, if Olympian Zeus who sees afar
νηυσὶ θοῇσι γενέσθαι Ὀλύμπιος εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.had granted us both a homecoming over the sea in our swift ships.
καί κέ οἱ Ἄργεϊ νάσσα πόλιν καὶ δώματʼ ἔτευξα,And I would have made him a city in Argos and built him halls,
175ἐξ Ἰθάκης ἀγαγὼν σὺν κτήμασι καὶ τέκεϊ ᾧbringing him out of Ithaca with his possessions and his child
καὶ πᾶσιν λαοῖσι, μίαν πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξας,and all his people, when I had emptied one city entirely
αἳ περιναιετάουσιν, ἀνάσσονται δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ.of those that lie about us, and are ruled by me.
καί κε θάμʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντες ἐμισγόμεθʼ· οὐδέ κεν ἡμέαςAnd often, being here, we would have met, and nothing
ἄλλο διέκρινεν φιλέοντέ τε τερπομένω τε,would have parted us then, loving and delighting in each other,
180πρίν γʼ ὅτε δὴ θανάτοιο μέλαν νέφος ἀμφεκάλυψεν.until the black cloud of death should wrap us round.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν που μέλλεν ἀγάσσεσθαι θεὸς αὐτός,But of these things a god himself must have been jealous,
ὃς κεῖνον δύστηνον ἀνόστιμον οἶον ἔθηκεν.who made that one man, ill-starred, alone denied his homecoming."
ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.So he spoke, and in them all he stirred the desire for weeping.
κλαῖε μὲν Ἀργείη Ἑλένη, Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,Argive Helen wept, the daughter born of Zeus,
185κλαῖε δὲ Τηλέμαχός τε καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος,and Telemachus wept, and Menelaus son of Atreus,
οὐδʼ ἄρα Νέστορος υἱὸς ἀδακρύτω ἔχεν ὄσσε·nor did the son of Nestor keep his eyes free from tears,
μνήσατο γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο,for he remembered in his heart blameless Antilochus,
τόν ῥʼ Ἠοῦς ἔκτεινε φαεινῆς ἀγλαὸς υἱός·whom the shining son of radiant Dawn had killed.
τοῦ ὅ γʼ ἐπιμνησθεὶς ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευεν·Remembering him, he spoke winged words:
190Ἀτρεΐδη, περὶ μέν σε βροτῶν πεπνυμένον εἶναι"Son of Atreus, Nestor the old man used to say
Νέστωρ φάσχʼ ὁ γέρων, ὅτʼ ἐπιμνησαίμεθα σεῖοthat you were beyond all mortals wise, whenever we thought of you
οἷσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐρέοιμεν.there in his halls, and questioned one another.
καὶ νῦν, εἴ τί που ἔστι, πίθοιό μοι· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γεAnd now, if in any way it may be, obey me: for I take
τέρπομʼ ὀδυρόμενος μεταδόρπιος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἠὼςno pleasure in grieving after supper—but the Dawn too
195ἔσσεται ἠριγένεια· νεμεσσῶμαί γε μὲν οὐδὲνwill come, the early-born; and I hold it no blame
κλαίειν ὅς κε θάνῃσι βροτῶν καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.to weep for any mortal who has died and met his fate.
τοῦτό νυ καὶ γέρας οἶον ὀιζυροῖσι βροτοῖσιν,For this alone is the prize we grant to wretched mortals,
κείρασθαί τε κόμην βαλέειν τʼ ἀπὸ δάκρυ παρειῶν.to cut our hair and let the tears fall from our cheeks.
καὶ γὰρ ἐμὸς τέθνηκεν ἀδελφεός, οὔ τι κάκιστοςFor my own brother too has died, by no means the worst
200Ἀργείων· μέλλεις δὲ σὺ ἴδμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γεof the Argives; and you must have known him: for I myself
ἤντησʼ οὐδὲ ἴδον· περὶ δʼ ἄλλων φασὶ γενέσθαιmet him, nor saw him. But they say beyond all others
Ἀντίλοχον, πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺν ἠδὲ μαχητήν.Antilochus excelled, swift to run and a fighter.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·And answering him, fair-haired Menelaus spoke:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπεὶ τόσα εἶπες, ὅσʼ ἂν πεπνυμένος ἀνὴρ"Friend, since you have said as much as a wise man
205εἴποι καὶ ῥέξειε, καὶ ὃς προγενέστερος εἴη·might say and do, even one who was older than you—
τοίου γὰρ καὶ πατρός, ὃ καὶ πεπνυμένα βάζεις,for such too is your father, whence you speak with wisdom,
ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτος γόνος ἀνέρος ᾧ τε Κρονίωνand easily known is the offspring of a man to whom Cronus's son
ὄλβον ἐπικλώσῃ γαμέοντί τε γεινομένῳ τε,has spun out happiness both at his marriage and his birth,
ὡς νῦν Νέστορι δῶκε διαμπερὲς ἤματα πάνταas now to Nestor he has granted, all his days continually,
210αὐτὸν μὲν λιπαρῶς γηρασκέμεν ἐν μεγάροισιν,that he himself grow old in comfort within his halls,
υἱέας αὖ πινυτούς τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν εἶναι ἀρίστους.and that his sons be prudent and the best with spears.
ἡμεῖς δὲ κλαυθμὸν μὲν ἐάσομεν, ὃς πρὶν ἐτύχθη,But we will let this weeping be, which rose before,
δόρπου δʼ ἐξαῦτις μνησώμεθα, χερσὶ δʼ ἐφʼ ὕδωρand let us think again of supper, and let them pour water
χευάντων. μῦθοι δὲ καὶ ἠῶθέν περ ἔσονταιover our hands. There will be words even at dawn
215Τηλεμάχῳ καὶ ἐμοὶ διαειπέμεν ἀλλήλοισιν.for Telemachus and me to speak through, one to the other."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀσφαλίων δʼ ἄρʼ ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας
ἔχευεν,So he spoke, and Asphalion poured the water over their hands,
ὀτρηρὸς θεράπων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.the busy attendant of glorious Menelaus.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.And they reached out their hands to the good things set ready before them.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα·Then Helen, sprung from Zeus, thought of another thing:
220αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ εἰς οἶνον βάλε φάρμακον, ἔνθεν ἔπινον,at once she cast into the wine they were drinking a drug
νηπενθές τʼ ἄχολόν τε, κακῶν ἐπίληθον ἁπάντων.that quiets pain and anger, bringing forgetfulness of every ill.
ὃς τὸ καταβρόξειεν, ἐπὴν κρητῆρι μιγείη,Whoever should swallow it, once it was mixed in the bowl,
οὔ κεν ἐφημέριός γε βάλοι κατὰ δάκρυ παρειῶν,would let no tear fall down his cheeks that whole day long,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ κατατεθναίη μήτηρ τε πατήρ τε,not even if his mother and his father had died,
225οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ προπάροιθεν ἀδελφεὸν ἢ φίλον υἱὸνnot even if before his eyes men should cut down
χαλκῷ δηιόῳεν, ὁ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῷτο.his brother or his own dear son with the bronze, and he looking on.
τοῖα Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἔχε φάρμακα μητιόεντα,Such cunning drugs did the daughter of Zeus possess,
ἐσθλά, τά οἱ Πολύδαμνα πόρεν, Θῶνος παράκοιτιςgood ones, which Polydamna gave her, the wife of Thon,
Αἰγυπτίη, τῇ πλεῖστα φέρει ζείδωρος ἄρουραthe Egyptian woman, whose grain-giving earth bears the most
230φάρμακα, πολλὰ μὲν ἐσθλὰ μεμιγμένα πολλὰ δὲ λυγρά·drugs, many good ones mixed together and many baneful;
ἰητρὸς δὲ ἕκαστος ἐπιστάμενος περὶ πάντωνand there each man is a healer skilled beyond all
ἀνθρώπων· ἦ γὰρ Παιήονός εἰσι γενέθλης.others, for they are of the race of Paeeon.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐνέηκε κέλευσέ τε οἰνοχοῆσαι,But when she had cast it in and bidden them pour the wine,
ἐξαῦτις μύθοισιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπεν·answering again with words she spoke to them:
235Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἠδὲ καὶ οἵδε"Menelaus, son of Atreus, nurtured by Zeus, and you too,
ἀνδρῶν ἐσθλῶν παῖδες· ἀτὰρ θεὸς ἄλλοτε ἄλλῳsons of noble men—but the god at different times to different men,
Ζεὺς ἀγαθόν τε κακόν τε διδοῖ· δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα·Zeus, gives good and evil, for he can do all things—
ἦ τοι νῦν δαίνυσθε καθήμενοι ἐν μεγάροισιnow sit here in the halls and feast,
καὶ μύθοις τέρπεσθε· ἐοικότα γὰρ καταλέξω.and take pleasure in words; for I will tell things fitting.
240πάντα μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,Everything I could not recount or name,
ὅσσοι Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονός εἰσιν ἄεθλοι·all the labors of Odysseus of the steadfast heart;
ἀλλʼ οἷον τόδʼ ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνὴρbut such a thing this strong man did and endured
δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί.in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered pains.
αὐτόν μιν πληγῇσιν ἀεικελίῃσι δαμάσσας,He mastered his own body with unseemly blows,
245σπεῖρα κάκʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι βαλών, οἰκῆι ἐοικώς,threw wretched rags about his shoulders, like a servant,
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων κατέδυ πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν·and slipped into the broad-streeted city of hostile men;
ἄλλῳ δʼ αὐτὸν φωτὶ κατακρύπτων ἤισκε,hiding himself, he seemed like another man,
δέκτῃ, ὃς οὐδὲν τοῖος ἔην ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.a beggar, who was nothing like that beside the Achaean ships.
τῷ ἴκελος κατέδυ Τρώων πόλιν, οἱ δʼ ἀβάκησανIn such likeness he slipped into the Trojans' city, and they were heedless,
250πάντες· ἐγὼ δέ μιν οἴη ἀνέγνων τοῖον ἐόντα,all of them; I alone knew him for what he was,
καί μιν ἀνηρώτων· ὁ δὲ κερδοσύνῃ ἀλέεινεν.and I questioned him; but he shrewdly kept eluding me.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή μιν ἐγὼ λόεον καὶ χρῖον ἐλαίῳ,But when I had bathed him and anointed him with oil,
ἀμφὶ δὲ εἵματα ἕσσα καὶ ὤμοσα καρτερὸν ὅρκονand put clothes about him and swore a mighty oath
μὴ μὲν πρὶν Ὀδυσῆα μετὰ Τρώεσσʼ ἀναφῆναι,not to reveal Odysseus among the Trojans
255πρίν γε τὸν ἐς νῆάς τε θοὰς κλισίας τʼ ἀφικέσθαι,before he had come back to the swift ships and the huts,
καὶ τότε δή μοι πάντα νόον κατέλεξεν Ἀχαιῶν.then at last he told me all the mind of the Achaeans.
πολλοὺς δὲ Τρώων κτείνας ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷAnd having slain many Trojans with the long-edged bronze
ἦλθε μετʼ Ἀργείους, κατὰ δὲ φρόνιν ἤγαγε πολλήν.he went back among the Argives, and brought much knowledge with him.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλαι Τρῳαὶ λίγʼ ἐκώκυον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρThen the other Trojan women wailed shrilly; but my heart
260χαῖρʼ, ἐπεὶ ἤδη μοι κραδίη τέτραπτο νέεσθαιrejoiced, since already my heart had turned to going
ἂψ οἶκόνδʼ, ἄτην δὲ μετέστενον, ἣν Ἀφροδίτηback home, and I lamented the blindness that Aphrodite
δῶχʼ, ὅτε μʼ ἤγαγε κεῖσε φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης,gave me, when she led me there from my dear native land,
παῖδά τʼ ἐμὴν νοσφισσαμένην θάλαμόν τε πόσιν τεforsaking my child and my bridal chamber and my husband,
οὔ τευ δευόμενον, οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτε τι εἶδος.a man lacking in nothing, neither in mind nor in looks."
265τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·Answering her then fair-haired Menelaus spoke:
ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, γύναι, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες."Yes indeed, wife, all this you have told in due order.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων ἐδάην βουλήν τε νόον τεBy now I have learned the counsel and the mind of many
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, πολλὴν δʼ ἐπελήλυθα γαῖαν·heroic men, and I have traveled over much land;
ἀλλʼ οὔ πω τοιοῦτον ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,but never yet have I seen with my eyes such a one
270οἷον Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἔσκε φίλον κῆρ.as was the dear heart of Odysseus of the steadfast heart.
οἷον καὶ τόδʼ ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνὴρSuch a thing too this strong man did and endured
ἵππῳ ἔνι ξεστῷ, ἵνʼ ἐνήμεθα πάντες ἄριστοιinside the polished horse, where all we best men
Ἀργείων Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες.of the Argives sat, bringing death and doom to the Trojans.
ἦλθες ἔπειτα σὺ κεῖσε· κελευσέμεναι δέ σʼ ἔμελλεThen you came there; and some god must have bidden you,
275δαίμων, ὃς Τρώεσσιν ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι·one who wished to grant glory to the Trojans;
καί τοι Δηΐφοβος θεοείκελος ἕσπετʼ ἰούσῃ.and godlike Deiphobus came following you as you went.
τρὶς δὲ περίστειξας κοῖλον λόχον ἀμφαφόωσα,Three times you circled the hollow ambush, feeling it over,
ἐκ δʼ ὀνομακλήδην Δαναῶν ὀνόμαζες ἀρίστους,and by name you called out to the best of the Danaans,
πάντων Ἀργείων φωνὴν ἴσκουσʼ ἀλόχοισιν.likening your voice to the wives of all the Argives.
280αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ Τυδεΐδης καὶ δῖος ὈδυσσεὺςBut I and the son of Tydeus and godlike Odysseus,
ἥμενοι ἐν μέσσοισιν ἀκούσαμεν ὡς ἐβόησας.sitting in the midst, heard how you cried out.
νῶι μὲν ἀμφοτέρω μενεήναμεν ὁρμηθέντεThe two of us, rising in eagerness, longed
ἢ ἐξελθέμεναι, ἢ ἔνδοθεν αἶψʼ ὑπακοῦσαι·either to go out, or to answer at once from within;
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέρυκε καὶ ἔσχεθεν ἱεμένω περ.but Odysseus held us back and checked us, straining though we were.
285ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀκὴν ἔσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,Then all the other sons of the Achaeans were silent,
Ἄντικλος δὲ σέ γʼ οἶος ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσινand Anticlus alone was minded to answer you
ἤθελεν. ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἐπὶ μάστακα χερσὶ πίεζενwith words. But Odysseus pressed hard on his mouth
νωλεμέως κρατερῇσι, σάωσε δὲ πάντας Ἀχαιούς·with his strong hands, relentless, and so saved all the Achaeans;
τόφρα δʼ ἔχʼ, ὄφρα σε νόσφιν ἀπήγαγε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.he held him fast, until Pallas Athena led you away.
290τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus answered him in turn:
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,"Son of Atreus, Menelaus, cherished by Zeus, leader of men,
ἄλγιον· οὐ γάρ οἵ τι τάδʼ ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,it is the more grievous; for none of this warded off woeful destruction,
οὐδʼ εἴ οἱ κραδίη γε σιδηρέη ἔνδοθεν ἦεν.not even if his heart within had been of iron.
ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ εἰς εὐνὴν τράπεθʼ ἡμέας, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδηBut come now, send us to our beds, so that even now
295ὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντες.we may lie down and take our joy in sweet sleep."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργείη δʼ Ἑλένη δμῳῇσι κέλευσενSo he spoke, and Argive Helen ordered the handmaids
δέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰto set bedsteads beneath the portico, and to throw on them
πορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας,beautiful purple blankets, and to spread coverlets over,
χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.and to lay woolly cloaks on top for a covering.
300αἱ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι,And they went out from the hall with torches in their hands,
δέμνια δὲ στόρεσαν· ἐκ δὲ ξείνους ἄγε κῆρυξ.and made the beds; and a herald led the guests out.
οἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν προδόμῳ δόμου αὐτόθι κοιμήσαντο,So there in the forecourt of the house they lay down to sleep,
Τηλέμαχός θʼ ἥρως καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·the hero Telemachus and the glorious son of Nestor;
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ καθεῦδε μυχῷ δόμου ὑψηλοῖο,but the son of Atreus slept in the recess of the high house,
305πὰρ δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἐλέξατο, δῖα γυναικῶν.and beside him lay long-robed Helen, queen among women.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι βοὴν ἀγαθὸς ΜενέλαοςMenelaus of the loud war cry rose from his bed,
εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ,drawing on his clothes, and slung his sharp sword about his shoulder,
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,and beneath his shining feet he bound his beautiful sandals,
310βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος ἄντην,and went out from his chamber like a god to look upon,
Τηλεμάχῳ δὲ παρῖζεν, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·and sat down beside Telemachus, and spoke a word and named him:
τίπτε δέ σε χρειὼ δεῦρʼ ἤγαγε, Τηλέμαχʼ
ἥρως,"What need has brought you here, Telemachus, hero,
ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν, ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης;to shining Lacedaemon, over the broad back of the sea?
δήμιον ἦ ἴδιον; τόδε μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.A public matter or your own? Tell me this truly."
315τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus answered him in turn:
Ἀτρεΐδη Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,"Son of Atreus, Menelaus, cherished by Zeus, leader of men,
ἤλυθον, εἴ τινά μοι κληηδόνα πατρὸς ἐνίσποις.I came, in hope you might tell me some tidings of my father.
ἐσθίεταί μοι οἶκος, ὄλωλε δὲ πίονα ἔργα,My house is being devoured, my rich fields ruined,
δυσμενέων δʼ ἀνδρῶν πλεῖος δόμος, οἵ τέ μοι αἰεὶmy home is full of hostile men, who forever
320μῆλʼ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς,slaughter my thronging sheep and my shambling twist-horned cattle,
μητρὸς ἐμῆς μνηστῆρες ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχοντες.the suitors of my mother, wanton in their violence.
τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθαAnd so I come now as a suppliant to your knees, if you would
κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον ἐνισπεῖν, εἴ που ὄπωπαςtell me of his grievous death, if somewhere you saw it
ὀφθαλμοῖσι τεοῖσιν ἢ ἄλλου μῦθον ἄκουσαςwith your own eyes, or heard the story from another
325πλαζομένου· περὶ γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.who wandered, for beyond all men his mother bore him to sorrow.
μηδέ τί μʼ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδʼ ἐλεαίρων,And do not soften it out of respect for me, nor pity me,
ἀλλʼ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὅπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.but tell me well and truly all that met your sight.
λίσσομαι, εἴ ποτέ τοί τι πατὴρ ἐμός, ἐσθλὸς ὈδυσσεὺςI beseech you, if ever my father, good Odysseus,
ἢ ἔπος ἠέ τι ἔργον ὑποστὰς ἐξετέλεσσεpledged you some word or deed and brought it to fulfillment
330δήμῳ ἔνι Τρώων, ὅθι πάσχετε πήματʼ Ἀχαιοί,in the land of the Trojans, where you Achaeans suffered pains,
τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες.remember it for me now, and tell me the unerring truth."
τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέθη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·Then greatly troubled fair-haired Menelaus answered him:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ κρατερόφρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν εὐνῇ"For shame! So into the bed of a strong-hearted man
ἤθελον εὐνηθῆναι ἀνάλκιδες αὐτοὶ ἐόντες.they wished to lie, being themselves without courage.
335ὡς δʼ ὁπότʼ ἐν ξυλόχῳ ἔλαφος κρατεροῖο λέοντοςAs when in the thicket of a mighty lion a doe
νεβροὺς κοιμήσασα νεηγενέας γαλαθηνοὺςhas bedded down her newborn suckling fawns
κνημοὺς ἐξερέῃσι καὶ ἄγκεα ποιήενταand roams the mountain spurs and the grassy hollows,
βοσκομένη, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα ἑὴν εἰσήλυθεν εὐνήν,grazing, and then the lion comes back into his lair,
ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκεν,and lets loose an unseemly doom upon them both,
340ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κείνοισιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσει.so shall Odysseus let loose an unseemly doom upon those men.
αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,Would, O father Zeus and Athena and Apollo,
τοῖος ἐών, οἷός ποτʼ ἐυκτιμένῃ ἐνὶ Λέσβῳthat such as he once was in well-built Lesbos,
ἐξ ἔριδος Φιλομηλεΐδῃ ἐπάλαισεν ἀναστάς,when he rose in a quarrel and wrestled Philomeleides,
κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλε κρατερῶς, κεχάροντο δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,and threw him down hard, and all the Achaeans rejoiced—
345τοῖος ἐὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμιλήσειεν Ὀδυσσεύς·such being Odysseus, he might close with the suitors:
πάντες κʼ ὠκύμοροί τε γενοίατο πικρόγαμοί τε.then all would find swift death and bitter marriage.
ταῦτα δʼ ἅ μʼ εἰρωτᾷς καὶ λίσσεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γεBut as for what you ask and beg of me, I would not
ἄλλα παρὲξ εἴποιμι παρακλιδόν, οὐδʼ ἀπατήσω,speak wide of the mark, evasively, nor would I deceive you,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν μοι ἔειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής,but of all that the unerring Old Man of the Sea told me
350τῶν οὐδέν τοι ἐγὼ κρύψω ἔπος οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσω.I will hide no word from you, nor keep it back.
Αἰγύπτῳ μʼ ἔτι δεῦρο θεοὶ μεμαῶτα νέεσθαιIn Egypt, though I longed to journey here, the gods
ἔσχον, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφιν ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.held me, since I had not made them full hecatombs.
οἱ δʼ αἰεὶ βούλοντο θεοὶ μεμνῆσθαι ἐφετμέων.And the gods always wished us to remember their commands.
νῆσος ἔπειτά τις ἔστι πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳNow there is an island in the surging sea,
355Αἰγύπτου προπάροιθε, Φάρον δέ ἑ κικλήσκουσι,off Egypt's shore, and they call it Pharos,
τόσσον ἄνευθʼ ὅσσον τε πανημερίη γλαφυρὴ νηῦςas far away as a hollow ship makes in a whole day's sailing
ἤνυσεν, ᾗ λιγὺς οὖρος ἐπιπνείῃσιν ὄπισθεν·when a shrill following wind blows behind her;
ἐν δὲ λιμὴν ἐύορμος, ὅθεν τʼ ἀπὸ νῆας ἐίσαςand in it is a harbor with good anchorage, from which men launch
ἐς πόντον βάλλουσιν, ἀφυσσάμενοι μέλαν ὕδωρ.their balanced ships to sea, once they have drawn dark water.
360ἔνθα μʼ ἐείκοσιν ἤματʼ ἔχον θεοί, οὐδέ ποτʼ οὖροιThere the gods held me twenty days, nor ever would the winds
πνείοντες φαίνονθʼ ἁλιαέες, οἵ ῥά τε νηῶνblowing over the sea appear, they that are guides
πομπῆες γίγνονται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.for ships across the broad back of the ocean.
καί νύ κεν ἤια πάντα κατέφθιτο καὶ μένεʼ ἀνδρῶν,And now all our provisions would have failed, and the men's strength,
εἰ μή τίς με θεῶν ὀλοφύρατο καί μʼ ἐσάωσε,had not one of the gods pitied me and saved me,
365Πρωτέος ἰφθίμου θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος,the daughter of mighty Proteus, the Old Man of the Sea,
Εἰδοθέη· τῇ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά γε θυμὸν ὄρινα.Eidothea; for her heart above all I had stirred.
ἥ μʼ οἴῳ ἔρροντι συνήντετο νόσφιν ἑταίρων·She met me wandering alone, apart from my companions,
αἰεὶ γὰρ περὶ νῆσον ἀλώμενοι ἰχθυάασκονfor always they roamed about the island fishing
γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν, ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμός.with bent hooks, and hunger gnawed their bellies.
370ἡ δέ μευ ἄγχι στᾶσα ἔπος φάτο φώνησέν τε·She stood close beside me and spoke and said:
νήπιός εἰς, ὦ ξεῖνε, λίην τόσον ἠδὲ
χαλίφρων,"Are you so utterly foolish, stranger, and so slack of mind,
ἦε ἑκὼν μεθίεις καὶ τέρπεαι ἄλγεα πάσχων;or do you willingly give up and take joy in your sufferings?
ὡς δὴ δήθʼ ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκεαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρSo long you are held on the island, and can find no end
εὑρέμεναι δύνασαι, μινύθει δέ τοι ἦτορ ἑταίρων.to it, while the heart of your companions withers away."
375ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So she spoke, and I answered her and said:
ἐκ μέν τοι ἐρέω, ἥ τις σύ πέρ ἐσσι θεάων,"I will speak out to you, whoever among the goddesses you are,
ὡς ἐγὼ οὔ τι ἑκὼν κατερύκομαι, ἀλλά νυ μέλλωthat I am in no way held here by my will, but I must
ἀθανάτους ἀλιτέσθαι, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν.have offended the immortals who hold the wide heaven.
ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν,But tell me now—for the gods know all things—
380ὅς τίς μʼ ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου,which of the immortals binds and hobbles me from my road,
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα.and my homecoming, how I may cross the teeming sea."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·So I spoke, and at once the bright goddess answered:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω."Then I will tell you, stranger, quite truthfully.
πωλεῖταί τις δεῦρο γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴςOne comes here often, the unerring Old Man of the Sea,
385ἀθάνατος Πρωτεὺς Αἰγύπτιος, ὅς τε θαλάσσηςimmortal Proteus of Egypt, who knows the depths
πάσης βένθεα οἶδε, Ποσειδάωνος ὑποδμώς·of all the sea, a servant of Poseidon;
τὸν δέ τʼ ἐμόν φασιν πατέρʼ ἔμμεναι ἠδὲ τεκέσθαι.and they say he is my father, that he begot me.
τόν γʼ εἴ πως σὺ δύναιο λοχησάμενος λελαβέσθαι,If somehow you could lie in wait and seize him,
ὅς κέν τοι εἴπῃσιν ὁδὸν καὶ μέτρα κελεύθουhe would tell you the way and the measures of your road,
390νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.and your homecoming, how you may cross the teeming sea.
καὶ δέ κέ τοι εἴπῃσι, διοτρεφές, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,And he would tell you too, god-nurtured man, if you wish,
ὅττι τοι ἐν μεγάροισι κακόν τʼ ἀγαθόν τε τέτυκταιwhat evil and what good has been done in your halls
οἰχομένοιο σέθεν δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε.while you have been gone on your long and grievous road."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So she spoke, and I answered her and said:
395αὐτὴ νῦν φράζευ σὺ λόχον θείοιο γέροντος,"Then you yourself devise the ambush of the divine old man,
μή πώς με προϊδὼν ἠὲ προδαεὶς ἀλέηται·lest somehow he see me first, or learn of me, and escape;
ἀργαλέος γάρ τʼ ἐστὶ θεὸς βροτῷ ἀνδρὶ δαμῆναι.for it is hard for a god to be mastered by mortal man."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο δῖα θεάων·So I spoke, and at once the bright goddess answered:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι, ξεῖνε, μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω."Then I will tell you, stranger, quite truthfully.
400ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκῃ,When the sun has climbed to the middle of the sky,
τῆμος ἄρʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς εἶσι γέρων ἅλιος νημερτὴςthen out of the sea the unerring Old Man of the Sea comes,
πνοιῇ ὕπο Ζεφύροιο μελαίνῃ φρικὶ καλυφθείς,under the breath of the West Wind, hidden by the dark ripple,
ἐκ δʼ ἐλθὼν κοιμᾶται ὑπὸ σπέσσι γλαφυροῖσιν·and coming out he lies down beneath the hollow caves;
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φῶκαι νέποδες καλῆς ἁλοσύδνηςand around him the seals, the brood of the fair sea-daughter,
405ἁθρόαι εὕδουσιν, πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐξαναδῦσαι,sleep in a crowd, risen up out of the grey brine,
πικρὸν ἀποπνείουσαι ἁλὸς πολυβενθέος ὀδμήν.breathing out the bitter smell of the deep-troughed sea.
ἔνθα σʼ ἐγὼν ἀγαγοῦσα ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφινThere I will lead you as soon as Dawn appears
εὐνάσω ἑξείης· σὺ δʼ ἐὺ κρίνασθαι ἑταίρουςand lay you down in a row; but choose your companions well,
τρεῖς, οἵ τοι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐυσσέλμοισιν ἄριστοι.the three who are your best beside the well-benched ships.
410πάντα δέ τοι ἐρέω ὀλοφώια τοῖο γέροντος.And I will tell you all the deadly cunning of that old man.
φώκας μέν τοι πρῶτον ἀριθμήσει καὶ ἔπεισιν·First he will count the seals and go over them;
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν πάσας πεμπάσσεται ἠδὲ ἴδηται,but when he has told them all by fives and looked them over,
λέξεται ἐν μέσσῃσι νομεὺς ὣς πώεσι μήλων.he will lie down among them, as a shepherd among his flocks of sheep.
τὸν μὲν ἐπὴν δὴ πρῶτα κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε,As soon as you see him settled down to sleep,
415καὶ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ὑμῖν μελέτω κάρτος τε βίη τε,then let strength and force be your concern,
αὖθι δʼ ἔχειν μεμαῶτα καὶ ἐσσύμενόν περ ἀλύξαι.to hold him there, straining though he is and eager to escape.
πάντα δὲ γιγνόμενος πειρήσεται, ὅσσʼ ἐπὶ γαῖανHe will try, turning into everything that moves upon
ἑρπετὰ γίγνονται, καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ·the earth, and into water and blazing fire;
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἀστεμφέως ἐχέμεν μᾶλλόν τε πιέζειν.but hold him unflinchingly and press him all the harder.
420ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δή σʼ αὐτὸς ἀνείρηται ἐπέεσσι,But when at last he questions you himself in words,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷόν κε κατευνηθέντα ἴδησθε,being such as you saw him when he lay down to sleep,
καὶ τότε δὴ σχέσθαι τε βίης λῦσαί τε γέροντα,then hold back your force and set the old man free,
ἥρως, εἴρεσθαι δέ, θεῶν ὅς τίς σε χαλέπτει,hero, and ask which of the gods afflicts you,
νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσεαι ἰχθυόεντα.and about your homecoming, how you may cross the teeming sea.
425ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.So saying she plunged beneath the surging sea.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας, ὅθʼ ἕστασαν ἐν ψαμάθοισιν,But I went to the ships, where they stood in the sands,
ἤια· πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.and as I went my heart was darkened with many thoughts.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,But when I had come down to the ship and the sea,
δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ·we made ready our supper, and immortal night came on;
430δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.then we lay down to sleep upon the breaking of the sea.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
καὶ τότε δὴ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιοthen along the shore of the wide-wayed sea
ἤια πολλὰ θεοὺς γουνούμενος· αὐτὰρ ἑταίρουςI went, praying much to the gods; and my companions,
τρεῖς ἄγον, οἷσι μάλιστα πεποίθεα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ ἰθύν.three, I took, in whom I trusted most for any venture.
435τόφρα δʼ ἄρʼ ἥ γʼ ὑποδῦσα θαλάσσης εὐρέα
κόλπονMeanwhile she had dived beneath the broad lap of the sea
τέσσαρα φωκάων ἐκ πόντου δέρματʼ ἔνεικε·and brought from the deep four skins of seals,
πάντα δʼ ἔσαν νεόδαρτα· δόλον δʼ ἐπεμήδετο πατρί.all newly flayed; and she was plotting a trick against her father.
εὐνὰς δʼ ἐν ψαμάθοισι διαγλάψασʼ ἁλίῃσινShe had scooped out beds in the sand of the sea
ἧστο μένουσʼ· ἡμεῖς δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλθομεν αὐτῆς·and sat there waiting; and we came very close to her,
440ἑξείης δʼ εὔνησε, βάλεν δʼ ἐπὶ δέρμα ἑκάστῳ.and she laid us down in a row, and threw a skin over each.
ἔνθα κεν αἰνότατος λόχος ἔπλετο· τεῖρε γὰρ αἰνῶςThere would have been the grimmest ambush; for terribly there wore us down
φωκάων ἁλιοτρεφέων ὀλοώτατος ὀδμή·the deadliest stench of the seals that are bred in the sea.
τίς γάρ κʼ εἰναλίῳ παρὰ κήτεϊ κοιμηθείη;For who would lie down beside a monster of the deep?
ἀλλʼ αὐτὴ ἐσάωσε καὶ ἐφράσατο μέγʼ ὄνειαρ·But she herself saved us, and devised a great relief:
445ἀμβροσίην ὑπὸ ῥῖνα ἑκάστῳ θῆκε φέρουσαshe brought ambrosia and set it beneath each man's nose,
ἡδὺ μάλα πνείουσαν, ὄλεσσε δὲ κήτεος ὀδμήν.breathing very sweetly, and it killed the monster's stench.
πᾶσαν δʼ ἠοίην μένομεν τετληότι θυμῷ·All the morning we waited with enduring hearts;
φῶκαι δʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθον ἀολλέες. αἱ μὲν ἔπειταand the seals came from the sea in throngs. They then
ἑξῆς εὐνάζοντο παρὰ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·lay down in a row along the breaking of the sea;
450ἔνδιος δʼ ὁ γέρων ἦλθʼ ἐξ ἁλός, εὗρε δὲ φώκαςand at midday the old man came from the sea, and found the seals
ζατρεφέας, πάσας δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῴχετο, λέκτο δʼ ἀριθμόν·well-fed, and he went along them all, and counted their number;
ἐν δʼ ἡμέας πρώτους λέγε κήτεσιν, οὐδέ τι θυμῷand among the monsters he counted us first, nor in his heart
ὠΐσθη δόλον εἶναι· ἔπειτα δὲ λέκτο καὶ αὐτός.did he suspect a trick; then he too lay down.
ἡμεῖς δὲ ἰάχοντες ἐπεσσύμεθʼ, ἀμφὶ δὲ χεῖραςAnd we with a shout rushed upon him, and around him our hands
455βάλλομεν· οὐδʼ ὁ γέρων δολίης ἐπελήθετο τέχνης,we threw; nor did the old man forget his crafty skill,
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι πρώτιστα λέων γένετʼ ἠυγένειος,but first of all he became a lion with a great mane,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα δράκων καὶ πάρδαλις ἠδὲ μέγας σῦς·and after that a serpent, and a leopard, and a huge boar;
γίγνετο δʼ ὑγρὸν ὕδωρ καὶ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον·he turned to flowing water and to a tree with lofty leaves;
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀστεμφέως ἔχομεν τετληότι θυμῷ.but we held on unflinching with enduring hearts.
460ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀνίαζʼ ὁ γέρων ὀλοφώια εἰδώς,But when at last the old man wearied, he who knows deadly arts,
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπε·then indeed with words he questioned me and spoke:
τίς νύ τοι, Ἀτρέος υἱέ, θεῶν συμφράσσατο
βουλάς,"Which of the gods, son of Atreus, has counselled you these plans,
ὄφρα μʼ ἕλοις ἀέκοντα λοχησάμενος; τέο σε χρή;that you might catch me against my will by ambush? What do you need?"
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So he spoke, and I in answer addressed him:
465οἶσθα, γέρον, τί με ταῦτα παρατροπέων ἐρεείνεις;"You know, old man—why do you ask me this to put me off?—
ὡς δὴ δήθʼ ἐνὶ νήσῳ ἐρύκομαι, οὐδέ τι τέκμωρhow long I am held back on the island, and can find no way
εὑρέμεναι δύναμαι, μινύθει δέ μοι ἔνδοθεν ἦτορ.to any solution, and the heart wastes within me.
ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι εἰπέ, θεοὶ δέ τε πάντα ἴσασιν,But you, at least, tell me—for the gods know all things—
ὅς τίς μʼ ἀθανάτων πεδάᾳ καὶ ἔδησε κελεύθου,which of the immortals binds me and shackles me from my road,
470νόστον θʼ, ὡς ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλεύσομαι ἰχθυόεντα.and my homecoming, how I may go over the fish-filled sea."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπεν·So I spoke, and he at once in answer addressed me:
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ὤφελλες Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσι"But surely you ought to have made to Zeus and the other gods
ῥέξας ἱερὰ κάλʼ ἀναβαινέμεν, ὄφρα τάχισταfine sacrifices before embarking, so that most swiftly
σὴν ἐς πατρίδʼ ἵκοιο πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον.you might reach your homeland, sailing over the wine-dark sea.
475οὐ γάρ τοι πρὶν μοῖρα φίλους τʼ ἰδέειν καὶ ἱκέσθαιFor it is not your lot to see your friends and to come
οἶκον ἐυκτίμενον καὶ σὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,to your well-built house and to your native land,
πρίν γʼ ὅτʼ ἂν Αἰγύπτοιο, διιπετέος ποταμοῖο,until you go back again to the water of Egypt,
αὖτις ὕδωρ ἔλθῃς ῥέξῃς θʼ ἱερὰς ἑκατόμβαςthe sky-fed river, and offer holy hecatombs
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι·to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven;
480καὶ τότε τοι δώσουσιν ὁδὸν θεοί, ἣν σὺ μενοινᾷς.and then the gods will grant you the road you long for."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον
ἦτορ,So he spoke, and the heart was broken within me,
οὕνεκά μʼ αὖτις ἄνωγεν ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντονbecause he ordered me back over the misty sea
Αἴγυπτόνδʼ ἰέναι, δολιχὴν ὁδὸν ἀργαλέην τε.to Egypt again, a long road and a hard one.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπον·But even so I answered him with these words:
485ταῦτα μὲν οὕτω δὴ τελέω, γέρον, ὡς σὺ
κελεύεις."All this, old man, I will accomplish as you command.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,But come, tell me this and recount it exactly:
ἢ πάντες σὺν νηυσὶν ἀπήμονες ἦλθον Ἀχαιοί,did all the Achaeans come home unharmed in their ships,
οὓς Νέστωρ καὶ ἐγὼ λίπομεν Τροίηθεν ἰόντες,those whom Nestor and I left behind on our way from Troy,
ἦέ τις ὤλετʼ ὀλέθρῳ ἀδευκέι ἧς ἐπὶ νηὸςor did any perish by a bitter death aboard his ship
490ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσεν.or in the arms of his friends, when he had wound up the war?"
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπεν·So I spoke, and he at once in answer addressed me:
Ἀτρεΐδη, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ"Son of Atreus, why ask me this? You have no need
ἴδμεναι, οὐδὲ δαῆναι ἐμὸν νόον· οὐδέ σέ φημιto know it, nor to learn my mind; and I say you will not
δὴν ἄκλαυτον ἔσεσθαι, ἐπὴν ἐὺ πάντα πύθηαι.long stay tearless, once you have heard it all clearly.
495πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ τῶν γε δάμεν, πολλοὶ δὲ λίποντο·For many of them were killed, and many were left;
ἀρχοὶ δʼ αὖ δύο μοῦνοι Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνωνand two chiefs alone of the bronze-clad Achaeans
ἐν νόστῳ ἀπόλοντο· μάχῃ δέ τε καὶ σὺ παρῆσθα.died on the homeward road—the fighting you saw yourself.
εἷς δʼ ἔτι που ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳ.And one still living is held back somewhere on the wide sea.
Αἴας μὲν μετὰ νηυσὶ δάμη δολιχηρέτμοισι.Ajax was brought down among his long-oared ships.
500Γυρῇσίν μιν πρῶτα Ποσειδάων ἐπέλασσενFirst Poseidon drove him onto the Gyraean rocks,
πέτρῃσιν μεγάλῃσι καὶ ἐξεσάωσε θαλάσσης·the great crags, and saved him out of the sea;
καί νύ κεν ἔκφυγε κῆρα καὶ ἐχθόμενός περ Ἀθήνῃ,and he would have escaped his doom, though Athena hated him,
εἰ μὴ ὑπερφίαλον ἔπος ἔκβαλε καὶ μέγʼ ἀάσθη·had he not hurled out an arrogant word and been blinded utterly:
φῆ ῥʼ ἀέκητι θεῶν φυγέειν μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης.he said that against the gods' will he had fled the great gulf of the sea.
505τοῦ δὲ Ποσειδάων μεγάλʼ ἔκλυεν αὐδήσαντος·And Poseidon heard him loud in his boasting;
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα τρίαιναν ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσινat once then, taking his trident in his mighty hands,
ἤλασε Γυραίην πέτρην, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔσχισεν αὐτήν·he struck the Gyraean rock, and split it apart;
καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτόθι μεῖνε, τὸ δὲ τρύφος ἔμπεσε πόντῳ,and one part stayed there, but the fragment fell into the sea,
τῷ ῥʼ Αἴας τὸ πρῶτον ἐφεζόμενος μέγʼ ἀάσθη·the one on which Ajax had first sat when he was blinded utterly:
510τὸν δʼ ἐφόρει κατὰ πόντον ἀπείρονα κυμαίνοντα.it carried him down the boundless, surging sea.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλωλεν, ἐπεὶ πίεν ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.So there he perished, when he had drunk the salt water.
σὸς δέ που ἔκφυγε κῆρας ἀδελφεὸς ἠδʼ
ὑπάλυξενBut your brother somehow escaped his doom and got away
ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι· σάωσε δὲ πότνια Ἥρη.in his hollow ships: it was queenly Hera who saved him.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε Μαλειάων ὄρος αἰπὺBut when he was soon to reach the steep headland of Malea,
515ἵξεσθαι, τότε δή μιν ἀναρπάξασα θύελλαthen a storm-wind snatched him up and bore him
πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φέρεν βαρέα στενάχοντα,over the fish-filled sea, groaning heavily,
ἀγροῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιήν, ὅθι δώματα ναῖε Θυέστηςto the edge of the country where Thyestes had lived
τὸ πρίν, ἀτὰρ τότʼ ἔναιε Θυεστιάδης Αἴγισθος.in his house before, but then Aegisthus, Thyestes' son, dwelt there.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖθεν ἐφαίνετο νόστος ἀπήμων,But when from there too a safe homecoming showed itself,
520ἂψ δὲ θεοὶ οὖρον στρέψαν, καὶ οἴκαδʼ ἵκοντο,and the gods turned the wind back, and they reached home,
ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν χαίρων ἐπεβήσετο πατρίδος αἴηςIndeed he set foot rejoicing on his native soil,
καὶ κύνει ἁπτόμενος ἣν πατρίδα· πολλὰ δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦand he touched his homeland and kissed it, and from him
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσπασίως ἴδε γαῖαν.the warm tears streamed down, so gladly did he see the land.
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπὸ σκοπιῆς εἶδε σκοπός, ὅν ῥα καθεῖσενBut a watchman spied him from a lookout, one whom
525Αἴγισθος δολόμητις ἄγων, ὑπὸ δʼ ἔσχετο μισθὸνthe guileful Aegisthus had posted, promising him a wage,
χρυσοῦ δοιὰ τάλαντα· φύλασσε δʼ ὅ γʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτόν,two talents of gold; and he had kept watch a whole year,
μή ἑ λάθοι παριών, μνήσαιτο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.lest Agamemnon pass unseen and turn to furious valor.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων πρὸς δώματα ποιμένι λαῶν.He went to the house to tell the shepherd of the people.
αὐτίκα δʼ Αἴγισθος δολίην ἐφράσσατο τέχνην·And at once Aegisthus devised his cunning stratagem:
530κρινάμενος κατὰ δῆμον ἐείκοσι φῶτας ἀρίστουςchoosing throughout the district twenty of the best men,
εἷσε λόχον, ἑτέρωθι δʼ ἀνώγει δαῖτα πένεσθαι.he set an ambush, and bade a feast be readied elsewhere.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ καλέων Ἀγαμέμνονα, ποιμένα λαῶνThen he went to summon Agamemnon, shepherd of the people,
ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν, ἀεικέα μερμηρίζων.with horses and chariots, brooding on unseemly deeds.
τὸν δʼ οὐκ εἰδότʼ ὄλεθρον ἀνήγαγε καὶ κατέπεφνενHe led him up, unaware of his doom, and cut him down
535δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.when he had feasted him, as a man kills an ox at the manger.
οὐδέ τις Ἀτρεΐδεω ἑτάρων λίπεθʼ οἵ οἱ ἕποντο,Nor was there one of the son of Atreus' comrades who followed left,
οὐδέ τις Αἰγίσθου, ἀλλʼ ἔκταθεν ἐν μεγάροισιν.nor one of Aegisthus', but they were slain in the halls.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοί γε κατεκλάσθη φίλον ἦτορ,So he spoke, and my own heart was broken within me,
κλαῖον δʼ ἐν ψαμάθοισι καθήμενος, οὐδέ νύ μοι κῆρand I wept, sitting there in the sand, nor did my heart
540ἤθελʼ ἔτι ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.wish any longer to live and to see the light of the sun.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίων τε κυλινδόμενός τε κορέσθην,But when I had had my fill of weeping and rolling on the ground,
δὴ τότε με προσέειπε γέρων ἅλιος νημερτής·then the unerring Old Man of the Sea spoke to me:
μηκέτι, Ἀτρέος υἱέ, πολὺν χρόνον ἀσκελὲς
οὕτωNo longer, son of Atreus, weep so relentlessly for a long time,
κλαῖʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄνυσίν τινα δήομεν· ἀλλὰ τάχισταsince we shall find no remedy in it; but with all speed
545πείρα ὅπως κεν δὴ σὴν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἵκηαι.strive that you may reach your native land.
ἢ γάρ μιν ζωόν γε κιχήσεαι, ἤ κεν ὈρέστηςFor either you will find him still alive, or Orestes
κτεῖνεν ὑποφθάμενος, σὺ δέ κεν τάφου ἀντιβολήσαις.has killed him first before you, and you may come upon the burial.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρSo he spoke, and my heart and my proud spirit
αὖτις ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀχνυμένῳ περ ἰάνθη,were warmed again within my breast, though I was grieving,
550καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·and I raised my voice and spoke winged words to him:
τούτους μὲν δὴ οἶδα· σὺ δὲ τρίτον ἄνδρʼ
ὀνόμαζε,These two I now know; but name me the third man,
ὅς τις ἔτι ζωὸς κατερύκεται εὐρέι πόντῳwhoever is still alive and held back on the wide sea,
ἠὲ θανών· ἐθέλω δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἀκοῦσαι.or is dead; I wish to hear it, though I am grieving.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπεν·So I spoke, and at once he answered me and said:
555υἱὸς Λαέρτεω, Ἰθάκῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων·The son of Laertes, who has his home in Ithaca:
τὸν δʼ ἴδον ἐν νήσῳ θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντα,I saw him on an island, shedding heavy tears,
νύμφης ἐν μεγάροισι Καλυψοῦς, ἥ μιν ἀνάγκῃin the halls of the nymph Calypso, who by force
ἴσχει· ὁ δʼ οὐ δύναται ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι·holds him; and he cannot reach his native land,
οὐ γάρ οἱ πάρα νῆες ἐπήρετμοι καὶ ἑταῖροι,for he has no ships fitted with oars, and no comrades
560οἵ κέν μιν πέμποιεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.who might send him on over the wide back of the sea.
σοὶ δʼ οὐ θέσφατόν ἐστι, διοτρεφὲς ὦ Μενέλαε,But for you it is not fated, Menelaus, nurtured by Zeus,
Ἄργει ἐν ἱπποβότῳ θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν,to die in horse-pasturing Argos and meet your doom,
ἀλλά σʼ ἐς Ἠλύσιον πεδίον καὶ πείρατα γαίηςbut to the Elysian plain and the ends of the earth
ἀθάνατοι πέμψουσιν, ὅθι ξανθὸς Ῥαδάμανθυς,the immortals will send you, where fair-haired Rhadamanthus is,
565τῇ περ ῥηίστη βιοτὴ πέλει ἀνθρώποισιν·and where the living is easiest for men:
οὐ νιφετός, οὔτʼ ἂρ χειμὼν πολὺς οὔτε ποτʼ ὄμβρος,no snow is there, nor heavy storm, nor ever rain,
ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ Ζεφύροιο λιγὺ πνείοντος ἀήταςbut always the breezes of the clear-blowing West Wind
Ὠκεανὸς ἀνίησιν ἀναψύχειν ἀνθρώπους·Ocean sends up to bring men cool refreshment;
οὕνεκʼ ἔχεις Ἑλένην καί σφιν γαμβρὸς Διός ἐσσι.because you have Helen and are son-in-law of Zeus.
570ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.So speaking he plunged beneath the surging sea.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπὶ νῆας ἅμʼ ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισινBut I went to the ships with my godlike companions,
ἤια, πολλὰ δέ μοι κραδίη πόρφυρε κιόντι.and my heart churned with many things as I went.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,But when we had come down to the ship and the sea,
δόρπον θʼ ὁπλισάμεσθʼ, ἐπί τʼ ἤλυθεν ἀμβροσίη νύξ,and made ready our supper, and ambrosial night came on,
575δὴ τότε κοιμήθημεν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.then we lay down to sleep on the breaking of the sea.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
νῆας μὲν πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,first of all we drew the ships down to the shining sea,
ἐν δʼ ἱστοὺς τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηυσὶν ἐίσῃς,and set the masts and the sails in the balanced ships,
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον·and the men themselves went aboard and sat at the oarlocks,
580ἑξῆς δʼ ἑζόμενοι πολιὴν ἅλα τύπτον ἐρετμοῖς.and sitting in rows they beat the grey sea with their oars.
ἂψ δʼ εἰς Αἰγύπτοιο διιπετέος ποταμοῖοBack again to the waters of the Egypt, the heaven-fed river,
στῆσα νέας, καὶ ἔρεξα τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας.I brought the ships to anchor, and offered fitting hecatombs.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέπαυσα θεῶν χόλον αἰὲν ἐόντων,But when I had appeased the anger of the gods who are forever,
χεῦʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι τύμβον, ἵνʼ ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη.I heaped a mound for Agamemnon, that his fame might never die.
585ταῦτα τελευτήσας νεόμην, ἔδοσαν δέ μοι οὖρονThese things accomplished, I set out, and the immortals
ἀθάνατοι, τοί μʼ ὦκα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμψαν.gave me a fair wind, and swiftly sent me to my own dear land.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν,But come now, stay a while here in my halls,
ὄφρα κεν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται·until the eleventh and the twelfth day comes;
καὶ τότε σʼ εὖ πέμψω, δώσω δέ τοι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,and then I will send you well on your way, and give you shining gifts,
590τρεῖς ἵππους καὶ δίφρον ἐύξοον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταthree horses and a polished chariot; and after that
δώσω καλὸν ἄλεισον, ἵνα σπένδῃσθα θεοῖσινI will give you a lovely cup, that you may pour libations to the gods,
ἀθανάτοις ἐμέθεν μεμνημένος ἤματα πάντα.the immortals, remembering me all your days.
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus answered him in turn:
Ἀτρεΐδη, μὴ δή με πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἔρυκε.Son of Atreus, do not hold me here a long time.
595καὶ γάρ κʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἐγὼ παρὰ σοί γʼ ἀνεχοίμηνFor even a year I would gladly endure beside you,
ἥμενος, οὐδέ κέ μʼ οἴκου ἕλοι πόθος οὐδὲ τοκήων·sitting here, and no longing for home or parents would seize me,
αἰνῶς γὰρ μύθοισιν ἔπεσσί τε σοῖσιν ἀκούωνfor I take a wondrous delight in listening to your tales
τέρπομαι. ἀλλʼ ἤδη μοι ἀνιάζουσιν ἑταῖροιand your words. But by now my companions are fretting
ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ· σὺ δέ με χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐρύκεις.in sacred Pylos; and you would keep me here a while.
600δῶρον δʼ ὅττι κέ μοι δοίης, κειμήλιον ἔστω·And whatever gift you would give me, let it be a treasure to keep;
ἵππους δʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην οὐκ ἄξομαι, ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷBut I will not carry horses to Ithaca; instead, for you yourself
ἐνθάδε λείψω ἄγαλμα· σὺ γὰρ πεδίοιο ἀνάσσειςI will leave them here as a treasure. For you rule over a plain,
εὐρέος, ᾧ ἔνι μὲν λωτὸς πολύς, ἐν δὲ κύπειρονa broad one, where clover is plentiful, and galingale,
πυροί τε ζειαί τε ἰδʼ εὐρυφυὲς κρῖ λευκόν.and wheat and spelt and broad-eared white barley.
605ἐν δʼ Ἰθάκῃ οὔτʼ ἂρ δρόμοι εὐρέες οὔτε τι λειμών·But in Ithaca there are no wide courses, nor any meadow.
αἰγίβοτος, καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπήρατος ἱπποβότοιο.It feeds goats, and is lovelier than any horse-pasture.
οὐ γάρ τις νήσων ἱππήλατος οὐδʼ ἐυλείμων,For none of the islands is fit for driving horses or rich in meadows,
αἵ θʼ ἁλὶ κεκλίαται· Ἰθάκη δέ τε καὶ περὶ πασέων.those that lie sloped to the sea; and Ithaca beyond them all.
ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,So he spoke, and Menelaus, good at the war cry, smiled,
610χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·and stroked him with his hand, and spoke a word and named him:
αἵματός εἰς ἀγαθοῖο, φίλον τέκος, οἷʼ
ἀγορεύεις·You are of good blood, dear child, from the way you speak.
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μεταστήσω· δύναμαι γάρ.And so I will change these gifts for you; for I am able.
δώρων δʼ ὅσσʼ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,Of the gifts that lie stored as treasures in my house,
δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστιν·I will give you the one that is finest and most precious.
615δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἀργύρεος δὲI will give you a mixing bowl, finely wrought; it is all
ἔστιν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δʼ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,of silver, and its rims are finished off with gold,
ἔργον δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο. πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,the work of Hephaestus. The hero Phaedimus gave it,
Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθʼ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψεking of the Sidonians, when his house sheltered me
κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα· τεῒν δʼ ἐθέλω τόδʼ ὀπάσσαι.as I journeyed there. This I wish to bestow on you.
620ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,So they spoke such things to one another,
δαιτυμόνες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ ἴσαν θείου βασιλῆος.and the banqueters came to the halls of the divine king.
οἱ δʼ ἦγον μὲν μῆλα, φέρον δʼ ἐυήνορα οἶνον·They led sheep, and brought wine that gives men strength,
σῖτον δέ σφʼ ἄλοχοι καλλικρήδεμνοι ἔπεμπον.and their wives in lovely headbands sent bread along with them.
ὣς οἱ μὲν περὶ δεῖπνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πένοντο.So they busied themselves about the meal in the halls.
625μνηστῆρες δὲ πάροιθεν Ὀδυσσῆος μεγάροιοBut the suitors, before the hall of Odysseus,
δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντεςtook their delight with discuses and with throwing spears
ἐν τυκτῷ δαπέδῳ, ὅθι περ πάρος, ὕβριν ἔχοντες.on the leveled ground, where they had done so before, in their insolence.
Ἀντίνοος δὲ καθῆστο καὶ Εὐρύμαχος θεοειδής,And Antinous sat there, and godlike Eurymachus,
ἀρχοὶ μνηστήρων, ἀρετῇ δʼ ἔσαν ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι.leaders of the suitors, and in prowess far the best.
630τοῖς δʼ υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼνTo them the son of Phronius, Noemon, came near
Ἀντίνοον μύθοισιν ἀνειρόμενος προσέειπεν·and questioning Antinous addressed him with words:
Ἀντίνοʼ, ἦ ῥά τι ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἦε καὶ
οὐκί,Antinous, do we know at all in our minds, or do we not,
ὁππότε Τηλέμαχος νεῖτʼ ἐκ Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος;when Telemachus will come back from sandy Pylos?
νῆά μοι οἴχετʼ ἄγων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ γίγνεται αὐτῆςHe went off taking my ship; and I have need of her myself
635Ἤλιδʼ ἐς εὐρύχορον διαβήμεναι, ἔνθα μοι ἵπποιto cross to spacious Elis, where I have twelve
δώδεκα θήλειαι, ὑπὸ δʼ ἡμίονοι ταλαεργοὶbrood mares, and under them sturdy mules that bear the labor,
ἀδμῆτες· τῶν κέν τινʼ ἐλασσάμενος δαμασαίμην.unbroken; one of these I would drive off and break in.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἐθάμβεον· οὐ γὰρ
ἔφαντοSo he spoke, and they were amazed at heart; for they had not thought
ἐς Πύλον οἴχεσθαι Νηλήιον, ἀλλά που αὐτοῦthat he had gone to Neleian Pylos, but was somewhere there,
640ἀγρῶν ἢ μήλοισι παρέμμεναι ἠὲ συβώτῃ.out on the farms among the flocks, or with the swineherd.
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίνοος προσέφη Εὐπείθεος υἱός·Then Antinous, son of Eupeithes, addressed him:
νημερτές μοι ἔνισπε, πότʼ ᾤχετο καὶ τίνες αὐτῷTell me the truth: when did he go, and which
κοῦροι ἕποντʼ; Ἰθάκης ἐξαίρετοι, ἦ ἑοὶ αὐτοῦyoung men went with him? Choice men of Ithaca, or his own
θῆτές τε δμῶές τε; δύναιτό κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσαι.hired hands and slaves? He could have managed that as well.
645καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐὺ εἰδῶ,And tell me this in truth, that I may know it well:
ἤ σε βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρα νῆα μέλαιναν,did he take your black ship by force, against your will,
ἦε ἑκών οἱ δῶκας, ἐπεὶ προσπτύξατο μύθῳ.or did you give it freely, when he pressed you with his words?
τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Φρονίοιο Νοήμων ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then Noemon, son of Phronius, answered him face to face:
αὐτὸς ἑκών οἱ δῶκα· τί κεν ῥέξειε καὶ ἄλλος,I gave it freely, myself; what would another do,
650ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ τοιοῦτος ἔχων μελεδήματα θυμῷwhen such a man, with cares weighing on his heart,
αἰτίζῃ; χαλεπόν κεν ἀνήνασθαι δόσιν εἴη.makes his request? It would be hard to refuse the gift.
κοῦροι δʼ, οἳ κατὰ δῆμον ἀριστεύουσι μεθʼ ἡμέας,Young men who are the best in the land after ourselves,
οἵ οἱ ἕποντʼ· ἐν δʼ ἀρχὸν ἐγὼ βαίνοντʼ ἐνόησαthese went with him; and I saw their leader going aboard—
Μέντορα, ἠὲ θεόν, τῷ δʼ αὐτῷ πάντα ἐῴκει.Mentor, or a god who was in all things like to him.
655ἀλλὰ τὸ θαυμάζω· ἴδον ἐνθάδε Μέντορα δῖονBut this amazes me: I saw godlike Mentor here
χθιζὸν ὑπηοῖον, τότε δʼ ἔμβη νηὶ Πύλονδε.yesterday at dawn, though he had boarded the ship for Pylos.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη πρὸς δώματα πατρός,So having spoken he went off toward his father's house,
τοῖσιν δʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἀγάσσατο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.and the proud heart in both of them was struck with wonder.
μνηστῆρας δʼ ἄμυδις κάθισαν καὶ παῦσαν ἀέθλων.They made the suitors sit together and stop their games.
660τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη Εὐπείθεος υἱός,Among them Antinous, son of Eupeithes, spoke,
ἀχνύμενος· μένεος δὲ μέγα φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναιgrieved; and the dark heart within him was filled great
πίμπλαντʼ, ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἐίκτην·with fury, and his eyes were like blazing fire:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μέγα ἔργον ὑπερφιάλως ἐτελέσθηDamn it, this is truly a great deed insolently accomplished
Τηλεμάχῳ ὁδὸς ἥδε· φάμεν δέ οἱ οὐ τελέεσθαι.by Telemachus, this journey; we said it would not come to pass.
665ἐκ τοσσῶνδʼ ἀέκητι νέος πάϊς οἴχεται αὔτωςIn spite of us all this boy, a mere child, has simply gone,
νῆα ἐρυσσάμενος, κρίνας τʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον ἀρίστους.having launched a ship and chosen the best men in the land.
ἄρξει καὶ προτέρω κακὸν ἔμμεναι· ἀλλά οἱ αὐτῷHe will begin to be a curse hereafter; but may Zeus himself
Ζεὺς ὀλέσειε βίην, πρὶν ἥβης μέτρον ἱκέσθαι.destroy his strength, before he reaches the measure of manhood.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι δότε νῆα θοὴν καὶ εἴκοσʼ ἑταίρους,But come, give me a swift ship and twenty companions,
670ὄφρα μιν αὐτὸν ἰόντα λοχήσομαι ἠδὲ φυλάξωso that I may lie in wait and watch for him as he comes
ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης,in the strait between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
ὡς ἂν ἐπισμυγερῶς ναυτίλλεται εἵνεκα πατρός.so that his voyaging for his father's sake may end in misery.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ἠδʼ
ἐκέλευον.So he spoke, and they all approved and urged him on.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνστάντες ἔβαν δόμον εἰς Ὀδυσῆος.Then at once they rose and went to the house of Odysseus.
675οὐδʼ ἄρα Πηνελόπεια πολὺν χρόνον ἦεν ἄπυστοςNor was Penelope for long left unaware
μύθων, οὓς μνηστῆρες ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον·of the counsels the suitors were plotting in their hearts;
κῆρυξ γάρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλὰςfor the herald Medon told her, who had learned their plans
αὐλῆς ἐκτὸς ἐών· οἱ δʼ ἔνδοθι μῆτιν ὕφαινον.while standing outside the court; and within they wove their scheme.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀγγελέων διὰ δώματα Πηνελοπείῃ·He went to bring the news through the house to Penelope;
680τὸν δὲ κατʼ οὐδοῦ βάντα προσηύδα Πηνελόπεια·and as he crossed the threshold Penelope addressed him:
κῆρυξ, τίπτε δέ σε πρόεσαν μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί;Herald, why have the proud suitors sent you here?
ἦ εἰπέμεναι δμῳῇσιν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιοIs it to tell the maids of godlike Odysseus
ἔργων παύσασθαι, σφίσι δʼ αὐτοῖς δαῖτα πένεσθαι;to leave their work and prepare a feast for those men?
μὴ μνηστεύσαντες μηδʼ ἄλλοθʼ ὁμιλήσαντεςWould that they had never wooed, never gathered elsewhere,
685ὕστατα καὶ πύματα νῦν ἐνθάδε δειπνήσειαν·but here and now had eaten their last and final meal!
οἳ θάμʼ ἀγειρόμενοι βίοτον κατακείρετε πολλόν,You who, forever gathering, devour so much livelihood,
κτῆσιν Τηλεμάχοιο δαΐφρονος· οὐδέ τι πατρῶνthe substance of wise Telemachus—and never once,
ὑμετέρων τὸ πρόσθεν ἀκούετε, παῖδες ἐόντες,when you were children, did you hear from your fathers
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μεθʼ ὑμετέροισι τοκεῦσιν,what kind of man Odysseus was among your parents,
690οὔτε τινὰ ῥέξας ἐξαίσιον οὔτε τι εἰπὼνdoing nothing outrageous to any, saying nothing
ἐν δήμῳ, ἥ τʼ ἐστὶ δίκη θείων βασιλήων·wrongful among the people, as is the way of godlike kings—
ἄλλον κʼ ἐχθαίρῃσι βροτῶν, ἄλλον κε φιλοίη.who may hate one of mortals and cherish another.
κεῖνος δʼ οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἀτάσθαλον ἄνδρα ἐώργει.But he never at all did any lawless deed to a man.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ὑμέτερος θυμὸς καὶ ἀεικέα ἔργαYet your temper and your unseemly deeds
695φαίνεται, οὐδέ τίς ἐστι χάρις μετόπισθʼ ἐυεργέων.are plain, and there is no gratitude afterward for kindness done.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·Then Medon, wise in his thoughts, answered her:
αἲ γὰρ δή, βασίλεια, τόδε πλεῖστον κακὸν εἴη.Would, my queen, that this were the greatest of evils.
ἀλλὰ πολὺ μεῖζόν τε καὶ ἀργαλεώτερον ἄλλοBut something far greater and more grievous still
μνηστῆρες φράζονται, ὃ μὴ τελέσειε Κρονίων·the suitors are plotting—may the son of Cronos not fulfill it—
700Τηλέμαχον μεμάασι κατακτάμεν ὀξέι χαλκῷthey mean to kill Telemachus with the sharp bronze
οἴκαδε νισόμενον· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴνas he journeys home; he went to seek news of his father
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην ἠδʼ ἐς Λακεδαίμονα δῖαν.to sacred Pylos and to shining Lacedaemon.
ὣς φάτο, τῆς δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον
ἦτορ,So he spoke, and there her knees gave way and her own heart,
δὴν δέ μιν ἀμφασίη ἐπέων λάβε· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσεand long a speechlessness of words seized her; her two eyes
705δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.filled with tears, and her flourishing voice was stopped.
ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·And late at last, answering, she spoke to him with words:
κῆρυξ, τίπτε δέ μοι πάϊς οἴχεται; οὐδέ τί μιν
χρεὼHerald, why is my child gone? There was no need for him
νηῶν ὠκυπόρων ἐπιβαινέμεν, αἵ θʼ ἁλὸς ἵπποιto board the swift-faring ships, which are as horses of the sea
ἀνδράσι γίγνονται, περόωσι δὲ πουλὺν ἐφʼ ὑγρήν.to men, and cross over the great watery waste.
710ἦ ἵνα μηδʼ ὄνομʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀνθρώποισι λίπηται;Was it so that not even his name should be left among men?
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Μέδων πεπνυμένα εἰδώς·Then Medon, wise in his thoughts, answered her:
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἤ τίς μιν θεὸς ὤρορεν, ἦε καὶ αὐτοῦI do not know whether some god stirred him, or whether his own
θυμὸς ἐφωρμήθη ἴμεν ἐς Πύλον, ὄφρα πύθηταιheart urged him to go to Pylos, so he might learn
πατρὸς ἑοῦ ἢ νόστον ἢ ὅν τινα πότμον ἐπέσπεν.of his father, either his homecoming or what fate he met.
715ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κατὰ δῶμʼ Ὀδυσῆος.So having spoken he went off through the house of Odysseus.
τὴν δʼ ἄχος ἀμφεχύθη θυμοφθόρον, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἔτληAnd heart-consuming grief poured over her; no longer could she bear
δίφρῳ ἐφέζεσθαι πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων,to sit upon a chair, though many were there in the house,
ἀλλʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδοῦ ἷζε πολυκμήτου θαλάμοιοbut she sat down on the threshold of her richly-wrought chamber,
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένη· περὶ δὲ δμῳαὶ μινύριζονwailing piteously; and around her the maids whimpered,
720πᾶσαι, ὅσαι κατὰ δώματʼ ἔσαν νέαι ἠδὲ παλαιαί.all of them, as many as were in the house, young and old.
τῇς δʼ ἁδινὸν γοόωσα μετηύδα Πηνελόπεια·And weeping without ceasing prudent Penelope spoke among them:
κλῦτε, φίλαι· πέρι γάρ μοι Ὀλύμπιος ἄλγεʼ
ἔδωκενHear me, dear ones: the Olympian has given me sorrows beyond
ἐκ πασέων, ὅσσαι μοι ὁμοῦ τράφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο·all women who were bred and born together with me;
ἣ πρὶν μὲν πόσιν ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα θυμολέοντα,I who long ago lost my noble husband, lion-hearted,
725παντοίῃς ἀρετῇσι κεκασμένον ἐν Δαναοῖσιν,graced with every excellence among the Danaans,
ἐσθλόν, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος.noble, whose fame is wide through Hellas and mid-Argos.
νῦν αὖ παῖδʼ ἀγαπητὸν ἀνηρείψαντο θύελλαιAnd now the storm-winds have snatched away my beloved son,
ἀκλέα ἐκ μεγάρων, οὐδʼ ὁρμηθέντος ἄκουσα.nameless, out of the halls, and I never heard him set out.
σχέτλιαι, οὐδʼ ὑμεῖς περ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θέσθε ἑκάστηHard-hearted women, not one of you took it to heart
730ἐκ λεχέων μʼ ἀνεγεῖραι, ἐπιστάμεναι σάφα θυμῷ,to rouse me from my bed, though you knew clearly in your hearts
ὁππότʼ ἐκεῖνος ἔβη κοίλην ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν.when he went down to board the hollow black ship.
εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ πυθόμην ταύτην ὁδὸν ὁρμαίνοντα,For if I had learned he was bent on this journey,
τῷ κε μάλʼ ἤ κεν ἔμεινε καὶ ἐσσύμενός περ ὁδοῖο,then surely he would have stayed, however eager for the road,
ἤ κέ με τεθνηκυῖαν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπεν.or he would have left me dead here in the halls.
735ἀλλά τις ὀτρηρῶς Δολίον καλέσειε γέροντα,But let someone call quickly old Dolius,
δμῶʼ ἐμόν, ὅν μοι δῶκε πατὴρ ἔτι δεῦρο κιούσῃ,my servant, whom my father gave me when I came here still a girl,
καί μοι κῆπον ἔχει πολυδένδρεον, ὄφρα τάχισταand who keeps my orchard of many trees, so that at once
Λαέρτῃ τάδε πάντα παρεζόμενος καταλέξῃ,he may sit beside Laertes and tell him all these things,
εἰ δή πού τινα κεῖνος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μῆτιν ὑφήναςin case that old man, weaving some counsel in his heart,
740ἐξελθὼν λαοῖσιν ὀδύρεται, οἳ μεμάασινmight go out and make lament before the people, who are eager
ὃν καὶ Ὀδυσσῆος φθῖσαι γόνον ἀντιθέοιο.to destroy his line and the seed of godlike Odysseus.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·Then his dear nurse Eurycleia spoke to her:
νύμφα φίλη, σὺ μὲν ἄρ με κατάκτανε νηλέι χαλκῷDear bride, kill me then with the pitiless bronze,
ἢ ἔα ἐν μεγάρῳ· μῦθον δέ τοι οὐκ ἐπικεύσω.or let me be in the hall; but I will not hide the word from you.
745ᾔδεʼ ἐγὼ τάδε πάντα, πόρον δέ οἱ ὅσσʼ ἐκέλευε,I knew all this, and I gave him whatever he ordered,
σῖτον καὶ μέθυ ἡδύ· ἐμεῦ δʼ ἕλετο μέγαν ὅρκονbread and sweet wine; but he took a great oath from me
μὴ πρὶν σοὶ ἐρέειν, πρὶν δωδεκάτην γε γενέσθαιnot to tell you before the twelfth day should come,
ἢ σʼ αὐτὴν ποθέσαι καὶ ἀφορμηθέντος ἀκοῦσαι,or you yourself should miss him and hear he had gone,
ὡς ἂν μὴ κλαίουσα κατὰ χρόα καλὸν ἰάπτῃς.so that you might not mar your lovely skin with weeping.
750ἀλλʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα,But wash yourself, and take clean clothing for your body,
εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶνand go up to the upper chamber with your handmaid women
εὔχεʼ Ἀθηναίῃ κούρῃ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·and pray to Athena, daughter of Zeus who bears the aegis;
ἡ γάρ κέν μιν ἔπειτα καὶ ἐκ θανάτοιο σαώσαι.for she indeed could save him even from death.
μηδὲ γέροντα κάκου κεκακωμένον· οὐ γὰρ ὀίωAnd do not burden the old man, already burdened; for I do not think
755πάγχυ θεοῖς μακάρεσσι γονὴν Ἀρκεισιάδαοthe seed of Arceisius is wholly hateful
ἔχθεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔτι πού τις ἐπέσσεται ὅς κεν ἔχῃσιto the blessed gods, but someone will yet remain who shall hold
δώματά θʼ ὑψερεφέα καὶ ἀπόπροθι πίονας ἀγρούς.the high-roofed halls and the rich fields far off.
ὣς φάτο, τῆς δʼ εὔνησε γόον, σχέθε δʼ ὄσσε
γόοιο.So she spoke, and lulled her lament, and stayed her eyes from weeping.
ἡ δʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσαAnd she washed herself, and took clean clothing for her body,
760εἰς ὑπερῷʼ ἀνέβαινε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν,and went up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women,
ἐν δʼ ἔθετʼ οὐλοχύτας κανέῳ, ἠρᾶτο δʼ Ἀθήνῃ·and set the barley grains in a basket, and prayed to Athena:
κλῦθί μευ, αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, Ἀτρυτώνη,"Hear me, child of Zeus who bears the aegis, unwearied one,
εἴ ποτέ τοι πολύμητις ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν Ὀδυσσεὺςif ever resourceful Odysseus in his halls
ἢ βοὸς ἢ ὄϊος κατὰ πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηε,burned for you the rich thigh-pieces of ox or sheep,
765τῶν νῦν μοι μνῆσαι, καί μοι φίλον υἷα σάωσον,remember these now for me, and save my dear son,
μνηστῆρας δʼ ἀπάλαλκε κακῶς ὑπερηνορέοντας.and ward off the suitors in their evil arrogance."
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὀλόλυξε, θεὰ δέ οἱ ἔκλυεν ἀρῆς.So she spoke, and raised the cry, and the goddess heard her prayer.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ὁμάδησαν ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα·But the suitors made an uproar through the shadowy halls,
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·and thus would one of the arrogant young men speak:
770ἦ μάλα δὴ γάμον ἄμμι πολυμνήστη βασίλεια"Truly now the queen sought by many is preparing
ἀρτύει, οὐδέ τι οἶδεν ὅ οἱ φόνος υἷι τέτυκται.our marriage, and knows nothing of the murder plotted for her son."
ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο.So one of them would say, but they did not know how things stood.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·And Antinous addressed them and spoke among them:
δαιμόνιοι, μύθους μὲν ὑπερφιάλους ἀλέασθε"You fools, avoid these overweening speeches
775πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πού τις ἀπαγγείλῃσι καὶ εἴσω.one and all, lest someone report them even inside.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε σιγῇ τοῖον ἀναστάντες τελέωμενBut come, let us rise in silence and carry through
μῦθον, ὃ δὴ καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἤραρεν ἡμῖν.the plan that has pleased the minds of all of us."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐκρίνατʼ ἐείκοσι φῶτας ἀρίστους,So he spoke, and chose out twenty of the best men,
βὰν δʼ ἰέναι ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης.and they went off to the swift ship and the shore of the sea.
780νῆα μὲν οὖν πάμπρωτον ἁλὸς βένθοσδε ἔρυσσαν,First of all they dragged the ship to the deep water,
ἐν δʼ ἱστόν τʼ ἐτίθεντο καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,and set the mast and the sails in the black ship,
ἠρτύναντο δʼ ἐρετμὰ τροποῖς ἐν δερματίνοισιν,and fitted the oars in the leather thongs,
πάντα κατὰ μοῖραν, ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν·all in due order, and spread out the white sails.
τεύχεα δέ σφʼ ἤνεικαν ὑπέρθυμοι θεράποντες.And their high-hearted attendants brought them their gear.
785ὑψοῦ δʼ ἐν νοτίῳ τήν γʼ ὥρμισαν, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί·High in the offshore water they moored her, and disembarked,
ἔνθα δὲ δόρπον ἕλοντο, μένον δʼ ἐπὶ ἕσπερον ἐλθεῖν.and there they took their supper, and waited for evening to come.
ἡ δʼ ὑπερωίῳ αὖθι περίφρων ΠηνελόπειαBut there in the upper chamber prudent Penelope
κεῖτʼ ἄρʼ ἄσιτος, ἄπαστος ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,lay without food, untasting of meat or drink,
ὁρμαίνουσʼ ἤ οἱ θάνατον φύγοι υἱὸς ἀμύμων,pondering whether her blameless son would escape death,
790ἦ ὅ γʼ ὑπὸ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι δαμείη.or be overcome by the overweening suitors.
ὅσσα δὲ μερμήριξε λέων ἀνδρῶν ἐν ὁμίλῳAnd as a lion broods in fear among a throng of men,
δείσας, ὁππότε μιν δόλιον περὶ κύκλον ἄγωσι,when they draw the treacherous circle close about him,
τόσσα μιν ὁρμαίνουσαν ἐπήλυθε νήδυμος ὕπνος·so many were her thoughts when sweet sleep came upon her;
εὗδε δʼ ἀνακλινθεῖσα, λύθεν δέ οἱ ἅψεα πάντα.she sank back and slept, and all her limbs were loosened.
795ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess, grey-eyed Athena, thought of another thing:
εἴδωλον ποίησε, δέμας δʼ ἤικτο γυναικί,she made a phantom, and shaped it in the likeness of a woman,
Ἰφθίμῃ, κούρῃ μεγαλήτορος Ἰκαρίοιο,Iphthime, daughter of great-hearted Icarius,
τὴν Εὔμηλος ὄπυιε Φερῇς ἔνι οἰκία ναίων.whom Eumelus had wed, dwelling in his home in Pherae.
πέμπε δέ μιν πρὸς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο,And she sent it to the house of godlike Odysseus,
800ἧος Πηνελόπειαν ὀδυρομένην γοόωσανto bid Penelope, weeping and lamenting,
παύσειε κλαυθμοῖο γόοιό τε δακρυόεντος.to cease from weeping and from tearful lamentation.
ἐς θάλαμον δʼ εἰσῆλθε παρὰ κληῖδος ἱμάντα,Into the chamber it went, past the strap of the bolt,
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·and stood above her head, and spoke a word to her:
εὕδεις, Πηνελόπεια, φίλον τετιημένη ἦτορ;"Do you sleep, Penelope, grieved at heart?
805οὐ μέν σʼ οὐδὲ ἐῶσι θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντεςThe gods who live at ease will not permit you
κλαίειν οὐδʼ ἀκάχησθαι, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἔτι νόστιμός ἐστιto weep or to be troubled, since your son is destined
σὸς παῖς· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι θεοῖς ἀλιτήμενός ἐστι.to return; for he has done no wrong before the gods."
τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,Then prudent Penelope answered her,
ἡδὺ μάλα κνώσσουσʼ ἐν ὀνειρείῃσι πύλῃσιν·slumbering very sweetly at the gates of dreams:
810τίπτε, κασιγνήτη, δεῦρʼ ἤλυθες; οὔ τι πάρος
γε"Why, sister, have you come here? Never before
πωλέʼ, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι δώματα ναίεις·did you visit, since you dwell in a home so far away.
καί με κέλεαι παύσασθαι ὀιζύος ἠδʼ ὀδυνάωνAnd you bid me cease from sorrow and from the many pains
πολλέων, αἵ μʼ ἐρέθουσι κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,that trouble me throughout my mind and heart—
ἣ πρὶν μὲν πόσιν ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα θυμολέοντα,I who before lost my noble lion-hearted husband,
815παντοίῃς ἀρετῇσι κεκασμένον ἐν Δαναοῖσιν,who excelled in every virtue among the Danaans,
ἐσθλόν, τοῦ κλέος εὐρὺ καθʼ Ἑλλάδα καὶ μέσον Ἄργος·the noble man, whose fame is wide through Hellas and mid-Argos.
νῦν αὖ παῖς ἀγαπητὸς ἔβη κοίλης ἐπὶ νηός,And now again my beloved son has gone in a hollow ship,
νήπιος, οὔτε πόνων ἐὺ εἰδὼς οὔτʼ ἀγοράων.a child, skilled neither in hardships nor in the assemblies.
τοῦ δὴ ἐγὼ καὶ μᾶλλον ὀδύρομαι ἤ περ ἐκείνου·For him I grieve even more than for the other one;
820τοῦ δʼ ἀμφιτρομέω καὶ δείδια, μή τι πάθῃσιν,for him I tremble and fear, lest something befall him,
ἢ ὅ γε τῶν ἐνὶ δήμῳ, ἵνʼ οἴχεται, ἢ ἐνὶ πόντῳ·whether among the people where he has gone, or on the sea;
δυσμενέες γὰρ πολλοὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ μηχανόωνται,for many enemies are plotting against him,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι πρὶν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι.eager to kill him before he reaches his native land."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενον προσέφη εἴδωλον ἀμαυρόν·Then the dim phantom answered her and spoke:
825θάρσει, μηδέ τι πάγχυ μετὰ φρεσὶ δείδιθι λίην·"Take courage, and do not fear too much within your heart;
τοίη γάρ οἱ πομπὸς ἅμʼ ἔρχεται, ἥν τε καὶ ἄλλοιfor such a guide goes with him, one whom other men
ἀνέρες ἠρήσαντο παρεστάμεναι, δύναται γάρ,have prayed might stand beside them, since she has the power—
Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη· σὲ δʼ ὀδυρομένην ἐλεαίρει·Pallas Athena; and she pities you in your grieving;
ἣ νῦν με προέηκε τεῒν τάδε μυθήσασθαι.it is she who now has sent me to tell you this."
830τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·Then prudent Penelope spoke to her again:
εἰ μὲν δὴ θεός ἐσσι θεοῖό τε ἔκλυες αὐδῆς,"If you are indeed a god, and have heard the voice of a god,
εἰ δʼ ἄγε μοι καὶ κεῖνον ὀιζυρὸν κατάλεξον,come then, tell me also of that wretched man,
ἤ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο,whether he still lives and looks on the light of the sun,
ἦ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο δόμοισι.or is already dead and in the house of Hades."
835τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενον προσέφη εἴδωλον ἀμαυρόν·Then the dim phantom answered her and spoke:
οὐ μέν τοι κεῖνόν γε διηνεκέως ἀγορεύσω,"Of that man I will not tell you the whole story,
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζειν.whether he lives or is dead; it is bad to babble empty things."
ὣς εἰπὸν σταθμοῖο παρὰ κληῖδα λιάσθηSo speaking it slipped away past the bolt of the doorpost
ἐς πνοιὰς ἀνέμων. ἡ δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου ἀνόρουσεinto the breaths of the winds. And she started up from sleep,
840κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο· φίλον δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἰάνθη,the daughter of Icarius; and her heart was warmed within her,
ὥς οἱ ἐναργὲς ὄνειρον ἐπέσσυτο νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ.so vivid the dream that rushed upon her in the dead of night.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθαBut the suitors went aboard and sailed the watery ways,
Τηλεμάχῳ φόνον αἰπὺν ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντες.plotting in their hearts a sheer death for Telemachus.
ἔστι δέ τις νῆσος μέσσῃ ἁλὶ πετρήεσσα,There is a certain rocky island in the middle of the sea,
845μεσσηγὺς Ἰθάκης τε Σάμοιό τε παιπαλοέσσης,midway between Ithaca and rugged Samos,
Ἀστερίς, οὐ μεγάλη· λιμένες δʼ ἔνι ναύλοχοι αὐτῇAsteris, not large; but there are harbors in it, sheltering ships,
ἀμφίδυμοι· τῇ τόν γε μένον λοχόωντες Ἀχαιοί.with two mouths; and there the Achaeans lay in wait for him.