1αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλθομεν ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,But when we had come down to the ship and the sea,
νῆα μὲν ἂρ πάμπρωτον ἐρύσσαμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,first of all we dragged the ship down to the bright salt water,
ἐν δʼ ἱστὸν τιθέμεσθα καὶ ἱστία νηὶ μελαίνῃ,and we set the mast and the sails in the black ship,
ἐν δὲ τὰ μῆλα λαβόντες ἐβήσαμεν, ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶand we took the sheep and put them aboard, and ourselves
5βαίνομεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες.climbed in, grieving, and shedding the swelling tears.
ἡμῖν δʼ αὖ κατόπισθε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιοAnd behind us, in the wake of the dark-prowed ship,
ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει πλησίστιον, ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον,a fair wind that filled the sail, a good companion,
Κίρκη εὐπλόκαμος, δεινὴ θεὸς αὐδήεσσα.was sent by lovely-haired Circe, dread goddess with a human voice.
ἡμεῖς δʼ ὅπλα ἕκαστα πονησάμενοι κατὰ νῆαAnd we, when we had seen to each of the tackle throughout the ship,
10ἥμεθα· τὴν δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνήτης τʼ ἴθυνε.sat still; and the wind and the helmsman kept her straight.
τῆς δὲ πανημερίης τέταθʼ ἱστία ποντοπορούσης·All day long her sails were stretched as she crossed the sea;
δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί.and the sun went down and all the ways grew dark.
ἡ δʼ ἐς πείραθʼ ἵκανε βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.She came to the bounds of deep-flowing Ocean.
ἔνθα δὲ Κιμμερίων ἀνδρῶν δῆμός τε πόλις τε,There is the land and the city of the Cimmerian men,
15ἠέρι καὶ νεφέλῃ κεκαλυμμένοι· οὐδέ ποτʼ αὐτοὺςshrouded in mist and cloud; and never upon them
ἠέλιος φαέθων καταδέρκεται ἀκτίνεσσιν,does the shining sun look down with his rays,
οὔθʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν στείχῃσι πρὸς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα,not when he climbs toward the starry heaven,
οὔθʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προτράπηται,nor when he turns back again from heaven to earth,
ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ νὺξ ὀλοὴ τέταται δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσι.but deadly night is stretched over those wretched mortals.
20νῆα μὲν ἔνθʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκέλσαμεν, ἐκ δὲ τὰ μῆλαComing there, we beached the ship, and the sheep
εἱλόμεθʼ· αὐτοὶ δʼ αὖτε παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖοwe took out; and we ourselves went along the stream of Ocean
ᾔομεν, ὄφρʼ ἐς χῶρον ἀφικόμεθʼ, ὃν φράσε Κίρκη.until we reached the place that Circe had told of.
ἔνθʼ ἱερήια μὲν Περιμήδης Εὐρύλοχός τεThere Perimedes and Eurylochus held the victims,
ἔσχον· ἐγὼ δʼ ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦwhile I drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
25βόθρον ὄρυξʼ ὅσσον τε πυγούσιον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,and dug a pit, about a cubit's length this way and that,
ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ δὲ χοὴν χεόμην πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι,and around it poured a libation to all the dead,
πρῶτα μελικρήτῳ, μετέπειτα δὲ ἡδέι οἴνῳ,first with honey-mixture, then with sweet wine,
τὸ τρίτον αὖθʼ ὕδατι· ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνον.and a third time with water; and I scattered white barley over it.
πολλὰ δὲ γουνούμην νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηνα,And I earnestly entreated the strengthless heads of the dead,
30ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἰθάκην στεῖραν βοῦν, ἥ τις ἀρίστη,vowing that when I came to Ithaca I would sacrifice a barren heifer, the best I had,
ῥέξειν ἐν μεγάροισι πυρήν τʼ ἐμπλησέμεν ἐσθλῶν,in my halls, and heap the pyre with good things,
Τειρεσίῃ δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὄιν ἱερευσέμεν οἴῳand to Tiresias alone I would offer, apart, a ram,
παμμέλανʼ, ὃς μήλοισι μεταπρέπει ἡμετέροισι.all black, the one that stands out among our flocks.
τοὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ εὐχωλῇσι λιτῇσί τε, ἔθνεα νεκρῶν,And when with prayers and entreaties I had beseeched
35ἐλλισάμην, τὰ δὲ μῆλα λαβὼν ἀπεδειροτόμησαthe tribes of the dead, I took the sheep and cut their throats
ἐς βόθρον, ῥέε δʼ αἷμα κελαινεφές· αἱ δʼ ἀγέροντοover the pit, and the dark-clouding blood flowed; and there gathered
ψυχαὶ ὑπὲξ Ἐρέβευς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.the souls of the dead departed up out of Erebus.
νύμφαι τʼ ἠίθεοί τε πολύτλητοί τε γέροντεςBrides and unwed youths and long-suffering old men
παρθενικαί τʼ ἀταλαὶ νεοπενθέα θυμὸν ἔχουσαι,and tender maidens with hearts new to grief,
40πολλοὶ δʼ οὐτάμενοι χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν,and many wounded by bronze-tipped spears,
ἄνδρες ἀρηίφατοι βεβροτωμένα τεύχεʼ ἔχοντες·men slain in war, wearing their blood-stained armor,
οἳ πολλοὶ περὶ βόθρον ἐφοίτων ἄλλοθεν ἄλλοςand these in throngs came crowding round the pit from every side
θεσπεσίῃ ἰαχῇ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει.with an unearthly cry; and green fear seized me.
δὴ τότʼ ἔπειθʼ ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσαThen straightaway I urged my companions and commanded them
45μῆλα, τὰ δὴ κατέκειτʼ ἐσφαγμένα νηλέι χαλκῷ,to flay the sheep that lay there slaughtered by the pitiless bronze,
δείραντας κατακῆαι, ἐπεύξασθαι δὲ θεοῖσιν,and burn them, and to make prayer to the gods,
ἰφθίμῳ τʼ Ἀΐδῃ καὶ ἐπαινῇ Περσεφονείῃ·to mighty Hades and dread Persephone;
αὐτὸς δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦand I myself drew the sharp sword from beside my thigh
ἥμην, οὐδʼ εἴων νεκύων ἀμενηνὰ κάρηναand sat, and would not let the strengthless heads of the dead
50αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.come near the blood until I had learned from Tiresias.
πρώτη δὲ ψυχὴ Ἐλπήνορος ἦλθεν ἑταίρου·First came the soul of my companion Elpenor;
οὐ γάρ πω ἐτέθαπτο ὑπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης·for he had not yet been buried beneath the wide-wayed earth,
σῶμα γὰρ ἐν Κίρκης μεγάρῳ κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖςsince we had left his body in the hall of Circe,
ἄκλαυτον καὶ ἄθαπτον, ἐπεὶ πόνος ἄλλος ἔπειγε.unwept and unburied, because another task pressed hard.
55τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ,When I saw him I wept, and pitied him in my heart,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·and I spoke to him and addressed him with winged words:
Ἐλπῆνορ, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα;"Elpenor, how did you come beneath the misty dark?
ἔφθης πεζὸς ἰὼν ἢ ἐγὼ σὺν νηὶ μελαίνῃ.You have come on foot faster than I with my black ship."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οἰμώξας ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·So I spoke, and he groaned aloud and answered me:
60διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,"Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, resourceful Odysseus,
ἆσέ με δαίμονος αἶσα κακὴ καὶ ἀθέσφατος οἶνος.the evil doom of a god undid me, and wine beyond measure.
Κίρκης δʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ καταλέγμενος οὐκ ἐνόησαLying down in Circe's hall, I gave no thought
ἄψορρον καταβῆναι ἰὼν ἐς κλίμακα μακρήν,to going back down again by the long ladder,
ἀλλὰ καταντικρὺ τέγεος πέσον· ἐκ δέ μοι αὐχὴνbut fell straight from the roof; and my neck
65ἀστραγάλων ἐάγη, ψυχὴ δʼ Ἄϊδόσδε κατῆλθε.was broken from the spine, and my soul went down to Hades.
νῦν δέ σε τῶν ὄπιθεν γουνάζομαι, οὐ παρεόντων,Now I beseech you by those left behind, who are not here,
πρός τʼ ἀλόχου καὶ πατρός, ὅ σʼ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα,by your wife, and your father, who reared you when you were small,
Τηλεμάχου θʼ, ὃν μοῦνον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπες·and Telemachus, whom you left alone in your halls;
οἶδα γὰρ ὡς ἐνθένδε κιὼν δόμου ἐξ Ἀίδαοfor I know that when you go from here, from the house of Hades,
70νῆσον ἐς Αἰαίην σχήσεις ἐυεργέα νῆα·you will bring your well-built ship to the island of Aeaea.
ἔνθα σʼ ἔπειτα, ἄναξ, κέλομαι μνήσασθαι ἐμεῖο.There then, my lord, I bid you remember me.
μή μʼ ἄκλαυτον ἄθαπτον ἰὼν ὄπιθεν καταλείπεινDo not go and leave me behind unwept, unburied,
νοσφισθείς, μή τοί τι θεῶν μήνιμα γένωμαι,turning away, lest I become a cause of the gods' wrath against you,
ἀλλά με κακκῆαι σὺν τεύχεσιν, ἅσσα μοι ἔστιν,but burn me with the armor, all that is mine,
75σῆμά τέ μοι χεῦαι πολιῆς ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης,and heap a mound for me on the shore of the grey sea,
ἀνδρὸς δυστήνοιο καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι.for an unhappy man, that those to come may learn of me.
ταῦτά τέ μοι τελέσαι πῆξαί τʼ ἐπὶ τύμβῳ ἐρετμόν,Fulfill these things for me, and fix upon my tomb the oar
τῷ καὶ ζωὸς ἔρεσσον ἐὼν μετʼ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν.with which I rowed, while alive, among my companions."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
80ταῦτά τοι, ὦ δύστηνε, τελευτήσω τε καὶ ἔρξω."These things, unhappy man, I will accomplish and do for you."
νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσινSo we two sat exchanging our grievous words,
ἥμεθʼ, ἐγὼ μὲν ἄνευθεν ἐφʼ αἵματι φάσγανον ἴσχων,I on the one side, holding my sword over the blood,
εἴδωλον δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἑταίρου πόλλʼ ἀγόρευεν·and the ghost of my companion spoke on and on beyond it.
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ μητρὸς κατατεθνηυίης,Then came the ghost of my dead mother,
85Αὐτολύκου θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἀντίκλεια,Anticleia, daughter of great-hearted Autolycus,
τὴν ζωὴν κατέλειπον ἰὼν εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.whom I had left alive when I went to sacred Ilion.
τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ·I wept when I saw her, and pity took my heart,
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς εἴων προτέρην, πυκινόν περ ἀχεύων,but even so I would not let her, for all my sharp grief,
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, πρὶν Τειρεσίαο πυθέσθαι.come near the blood before I had asked Tiresias.
90ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Θηβαίου ΤειρεσίαοThen came the ghost of Theban Tiresias,
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχων, ἐμὲ δʼ ἔγνω καὶ προσέειπεν·holding a golden staff, and he knew me and spoke:
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,"Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,
τίπτʼ αὖτʼ, ὦ δύστηνε, λιπὼν φάος ἠελίοιοwhy now, unhappy man, have you left the light of the sun
ἤλυθες, ὄφρα ἴδῃ νέκυας καὶ ἀτερπέα χῶρον;and come to see the dead and this joyless place?
95ἀλλʼ ἀποχάζεο βόθρου, ἄπισχε δὲ φάσγανον ὀξύ,But draw back from the pit, and hold off your sharp sword,
αἵματος ὄφρα πίω καί τοι νημερτέα εἴπω.so that I may drink of the blood and tell you the truth."
ὣς φάτʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἀναχασσάμενος ξίφος
ἀργυρόηλονSo he spoke, and I drew back and thrust my silver-studded sword
κουλεῷ ἐγκατέπηξʼ. ὁ δʼ ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν,home into its sheath. And when he had drunk the dark blood,
καὶ τότε δή μʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα μάντις ἀμύμων·then at last the blameless seer addressed me:
100νόστον δίζηαι μελιηδέα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ·"You seek a homecoming sweet as honey, glorious Odysseus,
τὸν δέ τοι ἀργαλέον θήσει θεός· οὐ γὰρ ὀίωbut the god will make it hard for you; for I do not think
λήσειν ἐννοσίγαιον, ὅ τοι κότον ἔνθετο θυμῷyou will escape the notice of the Earth-shaker, who has laid up wrath in his heart
χωόμενος ὅτι οἱ υἱὸν φίλον ἐξαλάωσας.against you, enraged that you blinded his dear son.
ἀλλʼ ἔτι μέν κε καὶ ὣς κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε,Yet even so you might come home, though suffering evils,
105αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃς σὸν θυμὸν ἐρυκακέειν καὶ ἑταίρων,if you will restrain your own spirit and your companions',
ὁππότε κε πρῶτον πελάσῃς ἐυεργέα νῆαfrom the moment you first bring your well-built ship
Θρινακίῃ νήσῳ, προφυγὼν ἰοειδέα πόντον,to the island of Thrinacia, escaping the violet sea,
βοσκομένας δʼ εὕρητε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλαand find grazing there the cattle and the sturdy flocks
Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούει.of Helios, who sees all things and hears all things.
110τὰς εἰ μέν κʼ ἀσινέας ἐάᾳς νόστου τε μέδηαι,If you leave these unharmed and keep your mind on homecoming,
καί κεν ἔτʼ εἰς Ἰθάκην κακά περ πάσχοντες ἵκοισθε·then, though suffering evils, you might still reach Ithaca;
εἰ δέ κε σίνηαι, τότε τοι τεκμαίρομʼ ὄλεθρον,but if you harm them, then I foretell destruction
νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροις. αὐτὸς δʼ εἴ πέρ κεν ἀλύξῃς,for your ship and your companions. And even if you escape yourself,
ὀψὲ κακῶς νεῖαι, ὀλέσας ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,you will come home late and in evil case, having lost all your companions,
115νηὸς ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίης· δήεις δʼ ἐν πήματα οἴκῳ,on another's ship; and you will find troubles in your house,
ἄνδρας ὑπερφιάλους, οἵ τοι βίοτον κατέδουσιoverbearing men, who are devouring your livelihood,
μνώμενοι ἀντιθέην ἄλοχον καὶ ἕδνα διδόντες.wooing your godlike wife and offering bridal gifts.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κείνων γε βίας ἀποτίσεαι ἐλθών·Yet surely you will avenge their violence when you come.
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν μνηστῆρας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι τεοῖσιBut once you have killed the suitors within your halls,
120κτείνῃς ἠὲ δόλῳ ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ὀξέι χαλκῷ,whether by guile or openly with the sharp bronze,
ἔρχεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν,then set out again, taking a well-fitted oar,
εἰς ὅ κε τοὺς ἀφίκηαι οἳ οὐκ ἴσασι θάλασσανuntil you come to men who know nothing of the sea,
ἀνέρες, οὐδέ θʼ ἅλεσσι μεμιγμένον εἶδαρ ἔδουσιν·men who eat no food that is mingled with salt;
οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἴσασι νέας φοινικοπαρῄουςnor do they know of ships with crimson-painted cheeks,
125οὐδʼ ἐυήρεʼ ἐρετμά, τά τε πτερὰ νηυσὶ πέλονται.nor of well-fitted oars, which are the wings of ships.
σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει·And I will tell you a sign, very clear, and it will not escape you:
ὁππότε κεν δή τοι συμβλήμενος ἄλλος ὁδίτηςwhen another wayfarer, meeting you, shall say
φήῃ ἀθηρηλοιγὸν ἔχειν ἀνὰ φαιδίμῳ ὤμῳ,you have a winnowing-fan upon your shining shoulder,
καὶ τότε δὴ γαίῃ πήξας ἐυῆρες ἐρετμόν,then fix your well-fitted oar in the earth
130ῥέξας ἱερὰ καλὰ Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι,and make fine offerings to the lord Poseidon—
ἀρνειὸν ταῦρόν τε συῶν τʼ ἐπιβήτορα κάπρον,a ram, a bull, and a boar that mounts the sows—
οἴκαδʼ ἀποστείχειν ἔρδειν θʼ ἱερᾶς ἑκατόμβαςthen go back home and offer sacred hecatombs
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,to the immortal gods who hold the wide heaven,
πᾶσι μάλʼ ἑξείης. θάνατος δέ τοι ἐξ ἁλὸς αὐτῷto all of them in order. And death will come to you
135ἀβληχρὸς μάλα τοῖος ἐλεύσεται, ὅς κέ σε πέφνῃfrom the sea, a gentle death of just such a kind,
γήραι ὕπο λιπαρῷ ἀρημένον· ἀμφὶ δὲ λαοὶthat takes you worn out by sleek old age; and around you
ὄλβιοι ἔσσονται. τὰ δέ τοι νημερτέα εἴρω.your people will be prosperous. This I tell you truly.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
Τειρεσίη, τὰ μὲν ἄρ που ἐπέκλωσαν θεοὶ αὐτοί.Tiresias, all this the gods themselves have surely spun.
140ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·But come, tell me this and declare it truly:
μητρὸς τήνδʼ ὁρόω ψυχὴν κατατεθνηυίης·I see here the spirit of my dead mother;
ἡ δʼ ἀκέουσʼ ἧσται σχεδὸν αἵματος, οὐδʼ ἑὸν υἱὸνshe sits in silence near the blood, and cannot bear
ἔτλη ἐσάντα ἰδεῖν οὐδὲ προτιμυθήσασθαι.to look upon her own son's face or speak to him.
εἰπέ, ἄναξ, πῶς κέν με ἀναγνοίη τὸν ἐόντα;Tell me, lord, how might she know me for who I am?
145ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπεν·So I spoke, and at once he answered me and said:
ῥηΐδιόν τοι ἔπος ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θήσω.An easy word I will tell you and set in your mind.
ὅν τινα μέν κεν ἐᾷς νεκύων κατατεθνηώτωνWhomever of the dead departed you allow
αἵματος ἆσσον ἴμεν, ὁ δέ τοι νημερτὲς ἐνίψει·to come near the blood, that one will speak the truth to you;
ᾧ δέ κʼ ἐπιφθονέῃς, ὁ δέ τοι πάλιν εἶσιν ὀπίσσω.but whomever you refuse, he will go back again.
150ὣς φαμένη ψυχὴ μὲν ἔβη δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσωSo speaking, the spirit of the lord Tiresias went
Τειρεσίαο ἄνακτος, ἐπεὶ κατὰ θέσφατʼ ἔλεξεν·into the house of Hades, once he had told his prophecies;
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ μήτηρbut I stayed there steadfast, until my mother
ἤλυθε καὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινεφές· αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω,came and drank the dark-clouded blood; and at once she knew me,
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and, lamenting, she spoke winged words to me:
155τέκνον ἐμόν, πῶς ἦλθες ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόενταMy child, how did you come beneath the murky darkness
ζωὸς ἐών; χαλεπὸν δὲ τάδε ζωοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι.while still alive? These things are hard for the living to see.
μέσσῳ γὰρ μεγάλοι ποταμοὶ καὶ δεινὰ ῥέεθρα,For between us lie great rivers and dreadful streams,
Ὠκεανὸς μὲν πρῶτα, τὸν οὔ πως ἔστι περῆσαιOcean first of all, which there is no way to cross
πεζὸν ἐόντʼ, ἢν μή τις ἔχῃ ἐυεργέα νῆα.on foot, unless one has a well-built ship.
160ἦ νῦν δὴ Τροίηθεν ἀλώμενος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνειςHave you come here now, wandering from Troy,
νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροισι πολὺν χρόνον; οὐδέ πω ἦλθεςwith ship and comrades, so long a time? And have you not yet come
εἰς Ἰθάκην, οὐδʼ εἶδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκα;to Ithaca, nor seen your wife within your halls?
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So she spoke, but I answered her and said:
μῆτερ ἐμή, χρειώ με κατήγαγεν εἰς ἈίδαοMy mother, necessity brought me down to Hades,
165ψυχῇ χρησόμενον Θηβαίου Τειρεσίαο·to consult the spirit of Theban Tiresias;
οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος, οὐδέ πω ἁμῆςfor I have not yet come near Achaea, nor set foot
γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἔχων ἀλάλημαι ὀιζύν,upon my own land, but always wandering I bear my misery,
ἐξ οὗ τὰ πρώτισθʼ ἑπόμην Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳfrom the time I first followed godlike Agamemnon
Ἴλιον εἰς ἐύπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μαχοίμην.to Ilion of the fine horses, to fight against the Trojans.
170ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον·But come, tell me this, and recount it truly:
τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;what doom of long-sorrowing death overcame you?
ἦ δολιχὴ νοῦσος, ἦ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιραWas it a lingering sickness, or did Artemis of the arrows
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν;assail you with her gentle shafts and slay you?
εἰπὲ δέ μοι πατρός τε καὶ υἱέος, ὃν κατέλειπον,And tell me of my father and the son I left behind,
175ἢ ἔτι πὰρ κείνοισιν ἐμὸν γέρας, ἦέ τις ἤδηwhether my honor still rests with them, or whether now
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔχει, ἐμὲ δʼ οὐκέτι φασὶ νέεσθαι.some other man holds it, and they say I will come no more.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι μνηστῆς ἀλόχου βουλήν τε νόον τε,And tell me the purpose and the mind of my wedded wife,
ἠὲ μένει παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσειwhether she stays beside our child and keeps all things secure,
ἦ ἤδη μιν ἔγημεν Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος.or whether some best man of the Achaeans has now married her.
180ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο πότνια
μήτηρ·So I spoke, and at once my honored mother answered:
καὶ λίην κείνη γε μένει τετληότι θυμῷIndeed she stays, with an enduring heart,
σοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν· ὀιζυραὶ δέ οἱ αἰεὶthere in your halls; and forever in wretchedness
φθίνουσιν νύκτες τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χεούσῃ.her nights and days waste away as she pours out tears.
σὸν δʼ οὔ πώ τις ἔχει καλὸν γέρας, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοςNo one yet holds your fair honor, but undisturbed
185Τηλέμαχος τεμένεα νέμεται καὶ δαῖτας ἐίσαςTelemachus manages your lands and shares in the equal feasts,
δαίνυται, ἃς ἐπέοικε δικασπόλον ἄνδρʼ ἀλεγύνειν·dining as it befits a man who deals out justice;
πάντες γὰρ καλέουσι. πατὴρ δὲ σὸς αὐτόθι μίμνειfor all invite him. But your father stays out there
ἀγρῷ, οὐδὲ πόλινδε κατέρχεται. οὐδέ οἱ εὐναὶin the country, and does not come down to the city. He has no bed,
δέμνια καὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,no bedstead, no cloaks, no glossy blankets,
190ἀλλʼ ὅ γε χεῖμα μὲν εὕδει ὅθι δμῶες ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,but through the winter he sleeps where the slaves sleep in the house,
ἐν κόνι ἄγχι πυρός, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷται·in the dust near the fire, and mean garments clothe his body;
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσι θέρος τεθαλυῖά τʼ ὀπώρη,but when summer comes and the flourishing harvest-time,
πάντῃ οἱ κατὰ γουνὸν ἀλωῆς οἰνοπέδοιοeverywhere along the slope of his vineyard plot
φύλλων κεκλιμένων χθαμαλαὶ βεβλήαται εὐναί.beds of fallen leaves are strewn low upon the ground.
195ἔνθʼ ὅ γε κεῖτʼ ἀχέων, μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ πένθος ἀέξειThere he lies grieving, and nurses great sorrow in his heart,
σὸν νόστον ποθέων, χαλεπὸν δʼ ἐπὶ γῆρας ἱκάνει.longing for your homecoming, and harsh old age comes upon him.
οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἐγὼν ὀλόμην καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον·For so it was that I too perished and met my fate:
οὔτʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐύσκοπος ἰοχέαιραneither did the keen-eyed archer goddess in my halls
οἷς ἀγανοῖς βελέεσσιν ἐποιχομένη κατέπεφνεν,assail me with her gentle shafts and slay me,
200οὔτε τις οὖν μοι νοῦσος ἐπήλυθεν, ἥ τε μάλισταnor did any sickness come upon me, such as most
τηκεδόνι στυγερῇ μελέων ἐξείλετο θυμόν·with hateful wasting stole the spirit from my limbs;
ἀλλά με σός τε πόθος σά τε μήδεα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,but longing for you, and your counsels, glorious Odysseus,
σή τʼ ἀγανοφροσύνη μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.and your gentle heart took my honey-sweet life away.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γʼ ἔθελον φρεσὶ
μερμηρίξαςSo she spoke, and I, pondering in my heart, longed
205μητρὸς ἐμῆς ψυχὴν ἑλέειν κατατεθνηυίης.to take in my arms the soul of my dead mother.
τρὶς μὲν ἐφωρμήθην, ἑλέειν τέ με θυμὸς ἀνώγει,Three times I sprang toward her, my heart bidding me clasp her,
τρὶς δέ μοι ἐκ χειρῶν σκιῇ εἴκελον ἢ καὶ ὀνείρῳand three times she flew from my hands like a shadow or a dream.
ἔπτατʼ. ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος ὀξὺ γενέσκετο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,And a sharp grief grew ever keener in my heart,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·and I spoke to her and addressed her with winged words:
210μῆτερ ἐμή, τί νύ μʼ οὐ μίμνεις ἑλέειν
μεμαῶτα,"Mother of mine, why do you not stay for me, who long to hold you,
ὄφρα καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο φίλας περὶ χεῖρε βαλόντεso that even in the house of Hades, throwing our arms about each other,
ἀμφοτέρω κρυεροῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο;we two might take our fill of chilling lament?
ἦ τί μοι εἴδωλον τόδʼ ἀγαυὴ ΠερσεφόνειαOr is this some phantom that noble Persephone
ὤτρυνʼ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω;has roused against me, to make me grieve and groan the more?"
215ὣς ἐφάμην, ἡ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο πότνια
μήτηρ·So I spoke, and at once my honored mother answered:
ὤ μοι, τέκνον ἐμόν, περὶ πάντων κάμμορε φωτῶν,"Ah me, my child, ill-fated beyond all men,
οὔ τί σε Περσεφόνεια Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀπαφίσκει,Persephone, daughter of Zeus, does not deceive you,
ἀλλʼ αὕτη δίκη ἐστὶ βροτῶν, ὅτε τίς κε θάνῃσιν·but this is the way of mortals, when one has died:
οὐ γὰρ ἔτι σάρκας τε καὶ ὀστέα ἶνες ἔχουσιν,for the sinews no longer hold the flesh and bones together,
220ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν τε πυρὸς κρατερὸν μένος αἰθομένοιοbut these the strong force of blazing fire
δαμνᾷ, ἐπεί κε πρῶτα λίπῃ λεύκʼ ὀστέα θυμός,masters, once the spirit first leaves the white bones,
ψυχὴ δʼ ἠύτʼ ὄνειρος ἀποπταμένη πεπότηται.and the soul flits away like a dream and hovers.
ἀλλὰ φόωσδε τάχιστα λιλαίεο· ταῦτα δὲ πάνταBut make haste toward the light; and keep all these things
ἴσθʼ, ἵνα καὶ μετόπισθε τεῇ εἴπῃσθα γυναικί.in mind, so that hereafter you may tell them to your wife."
225νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβόμεθʼ, αἱ δὲ
γυναῖκεςSo we two exchanged our words, and the women
ἤλυθον, ὤτρυνεν γὰρ ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια,came, for noble Persephone drove them on,
ὅσσαι ἀριστήων ἄλοχοι ἔσαν ἠδὲ θύγατρες.all who had been the wives and daughters of chieftains.
αἱ δʼ ἀμφʼ αἷμα κελαινὸν ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο,They gathered thronging in a crowd about the dark blood,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βούλευον ὅπως ἐρέοιμι ἑκάστην.but I pondered how I might question each of them.
230ἥδε δέ μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·And this seemed to my mind the best of counsels:
σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦdrawing my long-edged sword from beside my stout thigh,
οὐκ εἴων πίνειν ἅμα πάσας αἷμα κελαινόν.I would not let them all drink the dark blood together.
αἱ δὲ προμνηστῖναι ἐπήισαν, ἠδὲ ἑκάστηSo they drew near one by one, and each in turn
ὃν γόνον ἐξαγόρευεν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐρέεινον ἁπάσας.declared her lineage; and I questioned them all.
235ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι πρώτην Τυρὼ ἴδον εὐπατέρειαν,There first I saw Tyro, daughter of a noble father,
ἣ φάτο Σαλμωνῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονος εἶναι,who said she was the offspring of blameless Salmoneus,
φῆ δὲ Κρηθῆος γυνὴ ἔμμεναι Αἰολίδαο·and said she was the wife of Cretheus, son of Aeolus;
ἣ ποταμοῦ ἠράσσατʼ Ἐνιπῆος θείοιο,she fell in love with the river, divine Enipeus,
ὃς πολὺ κάλλιστος ποταμῶν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἵησι,who by far the fairest of rivers flows over the earth,
240καί ῥʼ ἐπʼ Ἐνιπῆος πωλέσκετο καλὰ ῥέεθρα.and she would haunt the lovely streams of Enipeus.
τῷ δʼ ἄρα εἰσάμενος γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιοςThen the earth-holder, the earth-shaker, likening himself to him,
ἐν προχοῇς ποταμοῦ παρελέξατο δινήεντος·lay beside her at the mouths of the eddying river;
πορφύρεον δʼ ἄρα κῦμα περιστάθη, οὔρεϊ ἶσον,and a dark wave stood arched around them, high as a mountain,
κυρτωθέν, κρύψεν δὲ θεὸν θνητήν τε γυναῖκα.curving over, and hid the god and the mortal woman.
245λῦσε δὲ παρθενίην ζώνην, κατὰ δʼ ὕπνον ἔχευεν.He loosed her maiden girdle and shed sleep upon her.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐτέλεσσε θεὸς φιλοτήσια ἔργα,But when the god had finished the work of love,
ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·he took her by the hand, and spoke, and called her by name:
χαῖρε, γύναι, φιλότητι· περιπλομένου δʼ
ἐνιαυτοῦ"Rejoice, woman, in our love; and as the year comes round
τέξεις ἀγλαὰ τέκνα, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιοι εὐναὶyou will bear glorious children, for not barren are the beds
250ἀθανάτων· σὺ δὲ τοὺς κομέειν ἀτιταλλέμεναί τε.of the immortals; and you must tend and rear them.
νῦν δʼ ἔρχευ πρὸς δῶμα, καὶ ἴσχεο μηδʼ ὀνομήνῃς·But go now to your house, and hold your peace, and name no name;
αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοί εἰμι Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων.for know that I am Poseidon, the shaker of the earth."
ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπὸ πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα.So speaking he plunged beneath the surging sea.
ἡ δʼ ὑποκυσαμένη Πελίην τέκε καὶ Νηλῆα,And she conceived and bore Pelias and Neleus,
255τὼ κρατερὼ θεράποντε Διὸς μεγάλοιο γενέσθηνand both of them grew to be strong servants of great Zeus,
ἀμφοτέρω· Πελίης μὲν ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Ἰαωλκῷthe two of them; Pelias lived in Iolcus of the wide dancing-floors,
ναῖε πολύρρηνος, ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι.rich in flocks, and the other in sandy Pylos.
τοὺς δʼ ἑτέρους Κρηθῆι τέκεν βασίλεια γυναικῶν,And the others she bore to Cretheus, that queen among women,
Αἴσονά τʼ ἠδὲ Φέρητʼ Ἀμυθάονά θʼ ἱππιοχάρμην.Aeson and Pheres and Amythaon who fights from the chariot.
260τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἀντιόπην ἴδον, Ἀσωποῖο θύγατρα,And after her I saw Antiope, daughter of Asopus,
ἣ δὴ καὶ Διὸς εὔχετʼ ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσιν ἰαῦσαι,who boasted that she had slept in the arms of Zeus,
καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδʼ, Ἀμφίονά τε Ζῆθόν τε,and she bore two sons, Amphion and Zethus,
οἳ πρῶτοι Θήβης ἕδος ἔκτισαν ἑπταπύλοιο,who first founded the seat of seven-gated Thebes,
πύργωσάν τʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἀπύργωτόν γʼ ἐδύναντοand walled it, for they could not, mighty though they were,
265ναιέμεν εὐρύχορον Θήβην, κρατερώ περ ἐόντε.dwell in Thebes of the wide dancing-floors without walls.
τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἀλκμήνην ἴδον, Ἀμφιτρύωνος
ἄκοιτιν,And after her I saw Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon,
ἥ ῥʼ Ἡρακλῆα θρασυμέμνονα θυμολέονταwho bore Heracles, bold in daring, lion-hearted,
γείνατʼ ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσι Διὸς μεγάλοιο μιγεῖσα·conceiving him in the arms of great Zeus in union;
καὶ Μεγάρην, Κρείοντος ὑπερθύμοιο θύγατρα,and Megara, daughter of Creon high of heart,
270τὴν ἔχεν Ἀμφιτρύωνος υἱὸς μένος αἰὲν ἀτειρής.whom the son of Amphitryon held, ever unbroken in his strength.
μητέρα τʼ Οἰδιπόδαο ἴδον, καλὴν Ἐπικάστην,And I saw the mother of Oedipus, fair Epicaste,
ἣ μέγα ἔργον ἔρεξεν ἀιδρείῃσι νόοιοwho did a monstrous deed in the ignorance of her mind,
γημαμένη ᾧ υἷι· ὁ δʼ ὃν πατέρʼ ἐξεναρίξαςmarrying her own son; and he, having slain his own father,
γῆμεν· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀνάπυστα θεοὶ θέσαν ἀνθρώποισιν.married her; and soon the gods made it known among men.
275ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν Θήβῃ πολυηράτῳ ἄλγεα πάσχωνBut he in lovely Thebes, suffering agonies,
Καδμείων ἤνασσε θεῶν ὀλοὰς διὰ βουλάς·ruled over the Cadmeans through the gods' ruinous designs;
ἡ δʼ ἔβη εἰς Ἀίδαο πυλάρταο κρατεροῖο,and she went down to the house of Hades the strong gatekeeper,
ἁψαμένη βρόχον αἰπὺν ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῖο μελάθρου,having fastened a sheer noose from the high rafter,
ᾧ ἄχεϊ σχομένη· τῷ δʼ ἄλγεα κάλλιπʼ ὀπίσσωgripped by her grief; and to him she left behind sorrows
280πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα τε μητρὸς Ἐρινύες ἐκτελέουσιν.very many, all that a mother's Furies bring to pass.
καὶ Χλῶριν εἶδον περικαλλέα, τήν ποτε ΝηλεὺςAnd I saw Chloris, the surpassingly lovely, whom once Neleus
γῆμεν ἑὸν διὰ κάλλος, ἐπεὶ πόρε μυρία ἕδνα,married for her beauty, when he gave her countless bride-gifts,
ὁπλοτάτην κούρην Ἀμφίονος Ἰασίδαο,the youngest daughter of Amphion, son of Iasus,
ὅς ποτʼ ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ Μινυείῳ ἶφι ἄνασσεν·who once ruled by his might in Minyan Orchomenus;
285ἡ δὲ Πύλου βασίλευε, τέκεν δέ οἱ ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,and she was queen of Pylos, and bore him splendid children,
Νέστορά τε Χρόνιον τε Περικλύμενόν τʼ ἀγέρωχον.Nestor and Chromius and lordly Periclymenus.
τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμην Πηρὼ τέκε, θαῦμα βροτοῖσι,And after them she bore strong Pero, a marvel to mortals,
τὴν πάντες μνώοντο περικτίται· οὐδʼ ἄρα Νηλεὺςwhom all the neighbors wooed; but Neleus would give her
τῷ ἐδίδου ὃς μὴ ἕλικας βόας εὐρυμετώπουςto no man save the one who could drive from Phylace
290ἐκ Φυλάκης ἐλάσειε βίης Ἰφικληείηςthe shambling broad-browed cattle of mighty Iphicles,
ἀργαλέας· τὰς δʼ οἶος ὑπέσχετο μάντις ἀμύμωνhard beasts; these one man alone, the blameless seer, undertook
ἐξελάαν· χαλεπὴ δὲ θεοῦ κατὰ μοῖρα πέδησε,to drive away; but a god's harsh fate shackled him,
δεσμοί τʼ ἀργαλέοι καὶ βουκόλοι ἀγροιῶται.painful bonds, and the herdsmen of the countryside.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντοBut when at last the months and the days were fulfilled
295ἂψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,as the year came round again and the seasons returned,
καὶ τότε δή μιν ἔλυσε βίη Ἰφικληείη,then at last the might of Iphicles set him free,
θέσφατα πάντʼ εἰπόντα· Διὸς δʼ ἐτελείετο βουλή.when he had spoken all the oracles; and the will of Zeus was fulfilled.
καὶ Λήδην εἶδον, τὴν Τυνδαρέου παράκοιτιν,And I saw Leda, the bedfellow of Tyndareus,
ἥ ῥʼ ὑπὸ Τυνδαρέῳ κρατερόφρονε γείνατο παῖδε,who bore to Tyndareus two sons stout of heart,
300Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα,Castor the tamer of horses and Polydeuces good with his fists,
τοὺς ἄμφω ζωοὺς κατέχει φυσίζοος αἶα·both of whom the life-giving earth holds living still;
οἳ καὶ νέρθεν γῆς τιμὴν πρὸς Ζηνὸς ἔχοντεςand they, even beneath the earth, keep honor from Zeus,
ἄλλοτε μὲν ζώουσʼ ἑτερήμεροι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτεand at one time they live on alternate days, and at another
τεθνᾶσιν· τιμὴν δὲ λελόγχασιν ἶσα θεοῖσι.they are dead; and they are allotted honor equal to the gods'.
305τὴν δὲ μετʼ Ἰφιμέδειαν, Ἀλωῆος παράκοιτινAnd after her I looked on Iphimedeia, bedfellow of Aloeus,
εἴσιδον, ἣ δὴ φάσκε Ποσειδάωνι μιγῆναι,who declared that she had lain with Poseidon,
καί ῥʼ ἔτεκεν δύο παῖδε, μινυνθαδίω δʼ ἐγενέσθην,and she bore two sons, but they were short-lived,
Ὦτόν τʼ ἀντίθεον τηλεκλειτόν τʼ Ἐφιάλτην,godlike Otus and far-famed Ephialtes,
οὓς δὴ μηκίστους θρέψε ζείδωρος ἄρουραwhom the grain-giving earth reared to be the tallest,
310καὶ πολὺ καλλίστους μετά γε κλυτὸν Ὠρίωνα·and by far the most beautiful after glorious Orion;
ἐννέωροι γὰρ τοί γε καὶ ἐννεαπήχεες ἦσανfor at nine years old they were nine cubits
εὖρος, ἀτὰρ μῆκός γε γενέσθην ἐννεόργυιοι.in breadth, and in height they had grown nine fathoms.
οἵ ῥα καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπειλήτην ἐν ὈλύμπῳThese two even threatened the immortals on Olympus
φυλόπιδα στήσειν πολυάικος πολέμοιο.to raise against them the tumult of furious war.
315Ὄσσαν ἐπʼ Οὐλύμπῳ μέμασαν θέμεν, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ ὌσσῃThey strove to set Ossa on Olympus, and on Ossa
Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον, ἵνʼ οὐρανὸς ἀμβατὸς εἴη.Pelion of the trembling leaves, so heaven might be scaled.
καί νύ κεν ἐξετέλεσσαν, εἰ ἥβης μέτρον ἵκοντο·And they would have accomplished it, had they reached the measure of manhood;
ἀλλʼ ὄλεσεν Διὸς υἱός, ὃν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ,but the son of Zeus, whom fair-haired Leto bore, destroyed
ἀμφοτέρω, πρίν σφωιν ὑπὸ κροτάφοισιν ἰούλουςthem both, before the down beneath their temples had
320ἀνθῆσαι πυκάσαι τε γένυς ἐυανθέι λάχνῃ.flowered and thickened their jaws with blooming beard.
Φαίδρην τε Πρόκριν τε ἴδον καλήν τʼ
Ἀριάδνην,Phaedra I saw, and Procris, and lovely Ariadne,
κούρην Μίνωος ὀλοόφρονος, ἥν ποτε Θησεὺςthe daughter of Minos of the deadly mind, whom once Theseus
ἐκ Κρήτης ἐς γουνὸν Ἀθηνάων ἱεράωνfrom Crete toward the hill of sacred Athens
ἦγε μέν, οὐδʼ ἀπόνητο· πάρος δέ μιν Ἄρτεμις ἔκταwas bringing—but had no joy of her; first Artemis killed her
325Δίῃ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ Διονύσου μαρτυρίῃσιν.in sea-girt Dia, on the testimony of Dionysus.
Μαῖράν τε Κλυμένην τε ἴδον στυγερήν τʼ
Ἐριφύλην,Maera I saw, and Clymene, and hateful Eriphyle,
ἣ χρυσὸν φίλου ἀνδρὸς ἐδέξατο τιμήεντα.who took precious gold in payment for her own husband's life.
πάσας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,But I could not tell of them all, nor name them,
ὅσσας ἡρώων ἀλόχους ἴδον ἠδὲ θύγατρας·all the wives and daughters of heroes I saw;
330πρὶν γάρ κεν καὶ νὺξ φθῖτʼ ἄμβροτος. ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥρηfor first the immortal night would fail. But now it is the hour
εὕδειν, ἢ ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἐλθόντʼ ἐς ἑταίρουςto sleep, whether I go to the swift ship among my companions
ἢ αὐτοῦ· πομπὴ δὲ θεοῖς ὑμῖν τε μελήσει.or stay here; my escort will be the care of the gods and you.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ,So he spoke, and they all fell silent, hushed,
κηληθμῷ δʼ ἔσχοντο κατὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα.and were held in spellbound stillness through the shadowy halls.
335τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀρήτη λευκώλενος ἤρχετο μύθων.Then white-armed Arete began to speak among them:
Φαίηκες, πῶς ὔμμιν ἀνὴρ ὅδε φαίνεται εἶναι"Phaeacians, how does this man seem to you
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε ἰδὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἐίσας;in form and stature and the balanced mind within?
ξεῖνος δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμός ἐστιν, ἕκαστος δʼ ἔμμορε τιμῆς·He is my guest, though each of you shares in that honor;
τῷ μὴ ἐπειγόμενοι ἀποπέμπετε, μηδὲ τὰ δῶραso do not send him off in haste, nor cut short the gifts
340οὕτω χρηίζοντι κολούετε· πολλὰ γὰρ ὑμῖνfor one in such need; for many are the treasures
κτήματʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι θεῶν ἰότητι κέονται.that lie in your halls by the will of the gods."
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἐχένηος,And among them spoke also the old hero Echeneus,
ὃς δὴ Φαιήκων ἀνδρῶν προγενέστερος ἦεν·who was elder-born among the Phaeacian men:
ὦ φίλοι, οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἀπὸ σκοποῦ οὐδʼ ἀπὸ δόξης"Friends, not off the mark nor wide of our own thought
345μυθεῖται βασίλεια περίφρων· ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε.does the prudent queen speak; so heed her.
Ἀλκινόου δʼ ἐκ τοῦδʼ ἔχεται ἔργον τε ἔπος τε.But on Alcinous here depend the deed and the word."
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·Then Alcinous answered him and spoke:
τοῦτο μὲν οὕτω δὴ ἔσται ἔπος, αἴ κεν ἐγώ γε"This word shall stand thus, so long as I,
ζωὸς Φαιήκεσσι φιληρέτμοισιν ἀνάσσω·living, rule over the oar-loving Phaeacians;
350ξεῖνος δὲ τλήτω μάλα περ νόστοιο χατίζωνbut let the stranger, much as he longs for his return,
ἔμπης οὖν ἐπιμεῖναι ἐς αὔριον, εἰς ὅ κε πᾶσανendure nonetheless to stay until tomorrow, until I
δωτίνην τελέσω· πομπὴ δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσειcomplete the whole gift; his escort shall be the care of men,
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δʼ ἐμοί· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.of all, but most of me; for mine is the power in this land."
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
355Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,"Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all the people,
εἴ με καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἀνώγοιτʼ αὐτόθι μίμνειν,even if you bade me stay here for a year,
πομπὴν δʼ ὀτρύνοιτε καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα διδοῖτε,and urged my escort on, and gave me splendid gifts,
καὶ κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη,even that I would choose, and it would be far more profitable,
πλειοτέρῃ σὺν χειρὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἱκέσθαι·to reach my dear native land with a fuller hand;
360καί κʼ αἰδοιότερος καὶ φίλτερος ἀνδράσιν εἴηνand I would be more respected and more loved by men,
πᾶσιν, ὅσοι μʼ Ἰθάκηνδε ἰδοίατο νοστήσαντα.by all who might see me returned to Ithaca."
τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀλκίνοος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·Then Alcinous answered him and said:
ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, τὸ μὲν οὔ τί σʼ ἐίσκομεν εἰσορόωντες,"Odysseus, as we look on you we do not take you
ἠπεροπῆά τʼ ἔμεν καὶ ἐπίκλοπον, οἷά τε πολλοὺςfor a cheat or a thief, such as many men
365βόσκει γαῖα μέλαινα πολυσπερέας ἀνθρώπους,the black earth breeds, scattered far and wide,
ψεύδεά τʼ ἀρτύνοντας ὅθεν κέ τις οὐδὲ ἴδοιτο·men who fashion lies out of what none could ever see;
σοὶ δʼ ἔπι μὲν μορφὴ ἐπέων, ἔνι δὲ φρένες ἐσθλαί.but on you is a grace of words, and within, a noble mind.
μῦθον δʼ ὡς ὅτʼ ἀοιδὸς ἐπισταμένως κατέλεξας,Your tale you have told with skill, as a bard would,
πάντων τʼ Ἀργείων σέο τʼ αὐτοῦ κήδεα λυγρά.the grievous sorrows of all the Argives and of yourself.
370ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,But come now, tell me this, and recount it truly,
εἴ τινας ἀντιθέων ἑτάρων ἴδες, οἵ τοι ἅμʼ αὐτῷwhether you saw any of your godlike companions, who with you
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο καὶ αὐτοῦ πότμον ἐπέσπον.went to Ilion together and there met their doom.
νὺξ δʼ ἥδε μάλα μακρή, ἀθέσφατος· οὐδέ πω ὥρηThis night is very long, beyond all telling; nor yet is it time
εὕδειν ἐν μεγάρῳ, σὺ δέ μοι λέγε θέσκελα ἔργα.to sleep in the hall, so tell me your marvelous deeds.
375καί κεν ἐς ἠῶ δῖαν ἀνασχοίμην, ὅτε μοι σὺI could hold out until the bright Dawn, if only you
τλαίης ἐν μεγάρῳ τὰ σὰ κήδεα μυθήσασθαι.would bear to tell me in the hall of your sorrows."
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
Ἀλκίνοε κρεῖον, πάντων ἀριδείκετε λαῶν,"Lord Alcinous, most renowned of all the people,
ὥρη μὲν πολέων μύθων, ὥρη δὲ καὶ ὕπνου·there is a time for many tales, and a time for sleep as well;
380εἰ δʼ ἔτʼ ἀκουέμεναί γε λιλαίεαι, οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ γεbut if you still long to listen, I would not
τούτων σοι φθονέοιμι καὶ οἰκτρότερʼ ἄλλʼ ἀγορεύειν,begrudge you these things, and to tell of others more piteous still,
κήδεʼ ἐμῶν ἑτάρων, οἳ δὴ μετόπισθεν ὄλοντο,the sorrows of my companions, who perished afterward,
οἳ Τρώων μὲν ὑπεξέφυγον στονόεσσαν ἀυτήν,men who escaped from the Trojans' grievous war-cry
ἐν νόστῳ δʼ ἀπόλοντο κακῆς ἰότητι γυναικός.but died on the homeward way through an evil woman's will.
385αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ψυχὰς μὲν ἀπεσκέδασʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃBut when holy Persephone had scattered this way and that
ἁγνὴ Περσεφόνεια γυναικῶν θηλυτεράων,the souls of the women, the weaker sex,
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαοthere came the soul of Agamemnon son of Atreus,
ἀχνυμένη· περὶ δʼ ἄλλαι ἀγηγέραθʼ, ὅσσοι ἅμʼ αὐτῷgrieving; and around him others were gathered, all who with him
οἴκῳ ἐν Αἰγίσθοιο θάνον καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον.in the house of Aegisthus had died and met their doom.
390ἔγνω δʼ αἶψʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πίεν αἷμα κελαινόν·He knew me at once, when he had drunk the dark blood;
κλαῖε δʼ ὅ γε λιγέως, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβων,and he wept shrilly, letting the swelling tears fall,
πιτνὰς εἰς ἐμὲ χεῖρας, ὀρέξασθαι μενεαίνων·stretching his hands toward me, longing to grasp me;
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ οἱ ἔτʼ ἦν ἲς ἔμπεδος οὐδέ τι κῖκυς,but no more was there firm strength in him, nor any vigor,
οἵη περ πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσι.such as once had been in his supple limbs.
395τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δάκρυσα ἰδὼν ἐλέησά τε θυμῷ,Seeing him I wept, and pitied him in my heart,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·and I spoke and addressed him with winged words:
Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,'Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon lord of men,
τίς νύ σε κὴρ ἐδάμασσε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο;what doom of grievous death has overcome you?
ἦε σέ γʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσενDid Poseidon overcome you among your ships,
400ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀυτμήν;rousing the cruel blast of hard winds?
ἦέ σʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσουOr did hostile men destroy you on the dry land
βοῦς περιταμνόμενον ἠδʼ οἰῶν πώεα καλά,as you were cutting off their cattle and fine flocks of sheep,
ἠὲ περὶ πτόλιος μαχεούμενον ἠδὲ γυναικῶν;or fighting for a city and for its women?'
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπε·So I spoke, and at once he answered me and said:
405διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,'Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, resourceful Odysseus,
οὔτʼ ἐμέ γʼ ἐν νήεσσι Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσενPoseidon did not overcome me among my ships,
ὄρσας ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀμέγαρτον ἀυτμήν,rousing the hateful blast of cruel winds,
οὔτε μʼ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἐδηλήσαντʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,nor did hostile men destroy me on the dry land,
ἀλλά μοι Αἴγισθος τεύξας θάνατόν τε μόρον τεbut Aegisthus contrived my death and doom
410ἔκτα σὺν οὐλομένῃ ἀλόχῳ, οἶκόνδε καλέσσας,and killed me with the help of my accursed wife, having called me home,
δειπνίσσας, ὥς τίς τε κατέκτανε βοῦν ἐπὶ φάτνῃ.feasting me, as one might slaughter an ox at the manger.
ὣς θάνον οἰκτίστῳ θανάτῳ· περὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἑταῖροιSo I died by a most pitiful death; and around me the rest of my comrades
νωλεμέως κτείνοντο σύες ὣς ἀργιόδοντες,were killed without pause, like white-tusked swine
οἵ ῥά τʼ ἐν ἀφνειοῦ ἀνδρὸς μέγα δυναμένοιοslaughtered in the house of a rich man of great power
415ἢ γάμῳ ἢ ἐράνῳ ἢ εἰλαπίνῃ τεθαλυίῃ.for a wedding, or a shared feast, or a lavish banquet.
ἤδη μὲν πολέων φόνῳ ἀνδρῶν ἀντεβόλησας,You have already witnessed the slaughter of many men,
μουνὰξ κτεινομένων καὶ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ·killed in single combat and in the press of battle;
ἀλλά κε κεῖνα μάλιστα ἰδὼν ὀλοφύραο θυμῷ,but at that sight above all you would have grieved in your heart,
ὡς ἀμφὶ κρητῆρα τραπέζας τε πληθούσαςhow around the mixing-bowl and the laden tables
420κείμεθʼ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ, δάπεδον δʼ ἅπαν αἵματι θῦεν.we lay in the hall, and the whole floor steamed with blood.
οἰκτροτάτην δʼ ἤκουσα ὄπα Πριάμοιο θυγατρός,And most pitiful of all I heard the voice of Priam's daughter,
Κασσάνδρης, τὴν κτεῖνε Κλυταιμνήστρη δολόμητιςCassandra, whom scheming Clytemnestra killed
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ ποτὶ γαίῃ χεῖρας ἀείρωνbeside me, while I, lifting my hands toward the earth,
βάλλον ἀποθνήσκων περὶ φασγάνῳ· ἡ δὲ κυνῶπιςbeat upon it dying, around the sword; but the bitch-faced woman
425νοσφίσατʼ, οὐδέ μοι ἔτλη ἰόντι περ εἰς Ἀίδαοturned away, and did not have the heart, though I was going to Hades,
χερσὶ κατʼ ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑλέειν σύν τε στόμʼ ἐρεῖσαι.to draw down my eyelids with her hands or to close my mouth.
ὣς οὐκ αἰνότερον καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο γυναικός,So there is nothing more dreadful and shameless than a woman
ἥ τις δὴ τοιαῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶν ἔργα βάληται·who sets her mind on deeds like these,
οἷον δὴ καὶ κείνη ἐμήσατο ἔργον ἀεικές,as she indeed devised a monstrous thing,
430κουριδίῳ τεύξασα πόσει φόνον. ἦ τοι ἔφην γεcontriving murder for her wedded husband. Truly I thought
ἀσπάσιος παίδεσσιν ἰδὲ δμώεσσιν ἐμοῖσινI would come home welcome to my children and my servants;
οἴκαδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· ἡ δʼ ἔξοχα λυγρὰ ἰδυῖαbut she, with her mind set on utter ruin,
οἷ τε κατʼ αἶσχος ἔχευε καὶ ἐσσομένῃσιν ὀπίσσωhas poured shame upon herself and upon the women yet to come,
θηλυτέρῃσι γυναιξί, καὶ ἥ κʼ ἐυεργὸς ἔῃσιν.the female kind hereafter, even upon one who does good.'
435ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μάλα δὴ γόνον Ἀτρέος εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς'Ah, surely far-seeing Zeus has terribly hated
ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε γυναικείας διὰ βουλὰςthe seed of Atreus from the beginning
ἐξ ἀρχῆς· Ἑλένης μὲν ἀπωλόμεθʼ εἵνεκα πολλοί,through the counsels of women; for Helen's sake many of us perished,
σοὶ δὲ Κλυταιμνήστρη δόλον ἤρτυε τηλόθʼ ἐόντι.and Clytemnestra fashioned a snare for you while you were far away.'
440ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπε·So I spoke, and at once he answered me and said:
τῷ νῦν μή ποτε καὶ σὺ γυναικί περ ἤπιος εἶναι·So now you too must never be gentle even to your wife;
μή οἱ μῦθον ἅπαντα πιφαυσκέμεν, ὅν κʼ ἐὺ εἰδῇς,do not reveal to her the whole story that you know well,
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν φάσθαι, τὸ δὲ καὶ κεκρυμμένον εἶναι.but tell her one thing, and let another be kept hidden.
ἀλλʼ οὐ σοί γʼ, Ὀδυσεῦ, φόνος ἔσσεται ἔκ γε γυναικός·Yet for you, Odysseus, death will not come from your wife;
445λίην γὰρ πινυτή τε καὶ εὖ φρεσὶ μήδεα οἶδεfor she is far too wise and knows in her heart good counsel,
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.the daughter of Icarius, prudent Penelope.
ἦ μέν μιν νύμφην γε νέην κατελείπομεν ἡμεῖςTruly we left her a young bride
ἐρχόμενοι πόλεμόνδε· πάϊς δέ οἱ ἦν ἐπὶ μαζῷwhen we went off to war; and there was a child at her breast,
νήπιος, ὅς που νῦν γε μετʼ ἀνδρῶν ἵζει ἀριθμῷ,an infant, who now, I suppose, sits in the company of men,
450ὄλβιος· ἦ γὰρ τόν γε πατὴρ φίλος ὄψεται ἐλθών,a blessed man; for surely his dear father will see him when he comes,
καὶ κεῖνος πατέρα προσπτύξεται, ἣ θέμις ἐστίν.and he will embrace his father, as is right.
ἡ δʼ ἐμὴ οὐδέ περ υἷος ἐνιπλησθῆναι ἄκοιτιςBut my wife did not even let me fill my eyes
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἔασε· πάρος δέ με πέφνε καὶ αὐτόν.with the sight of my son; before that she killed me myself.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it up in your heart:
455κρύβδην, μηδʼ ἀναφανδά, φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖανbring your ship to your dear native land in secret,
νῆα κατισχέμεναι· ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι πιστὰ γυναιξίν.not openly; since there is no more trusting in women.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,But come, tell me this and recount it truly,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώοντος ἀκούετε παιδὸς ἐμοῖο,whether you hear that my son is still living somewhere,
ἤ που ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ ἢ ἐν Πύλῳ ἠμαθόεντι,either in Orchomenus, or in sandy Pylos,
460ἤ που πὰρ Μενελάῳ ἐνὶ Σπάρτῃ εὐρείῃ·or perhaps with Menelaus in wide Sparta;
οὐ γάρ πω τέθνηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ δῖος Ὀρέστης.for godlike Orestes has not yet died upon the earth.'
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
Ἀτρεΐδη, τί με ταῦτα διείρεαι; οὐδέ τι οἶδα,'Son of Atreus, why do you ask me this? I do not know at all
ζώει ὅ γʼ ἦ τέθνηκε· κακὸν δʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζειν.whether he lives or is dead; and it is bad to speak idle words.'
465νῶι μὲν ὣς ἐπέεσσιν ἀμειβομένω στυγεροῖσινSo the two of us stood exchanging grievous words,
ἕσταμεν ἀχνύμενοι θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέοντες·sorrowing, and pouring down warm tears;
ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆοςand there came the soul of Achilles, son of Peleus,
καὶ Πατροκλῆος καὶ ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιοand of Patroclus and of blameless Antilochus
Αἴαντός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος ἔην εἶδός τε δέμας τεand of Ajax, who was the best in form and build
470τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.of all the other Danaans after the blameless son of Peleus.
ἔγνω δὲ ψυχή με ποδώκεος ΑἰακίδαοAnd the soul of the swift-footed grandson of Aeacus knew me,
καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and lamenting she spoke winged words:
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,'Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,
σχέτλιε, τίπτʼ ἔτι μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μήσεαι ἔργον;reckless man, what greater deed will you devise in your heart?
475πῶς ἔτλης Ἄϊδόσδε κατελθέμεν, ἔνθα τε νεκροὶHow did you dare to come down to Hades, where the dead
ἀφραδέες ναίουσι, βροτῶν εἴδωλα καμόντων;dwell without sense, the phantoms of men who have died?'
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ Πηλῆος υἱέ, μέγα φέρτατʼ Ἀχαιῶν,'Achilles, son of Peleus, far the mightiest of the Achaeans,
ἦλθον Τειρεσίαο κατὰ χρέος, εἴ τινα βουλὴνI came for need of Tiresias, in hope he might tell some counsel,
480εἴποι, ὅπως Ἰθάκην ἐς παιπαλόεσσαν ἱκοίμην·how I might reach rugged Ithaca;
οὐ γάρ πω σχεδὸν ἦλθον Ἀχαιΐδος, οὐδέ πω ἁμῆςfor I have not yet come near Achaea, nor set foot
γῆς ἐπέβην, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἔχω κακά. σεῖο δʼ, Ἀχιλλεῦ,upon my own land, but always I have troubles. But you, Achilles,
οὔ τις ἀνὴρ προπάροιθε μακάρτατος οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ὀπίσσω.no man before was more blessed, nor shall be after.
πρὶν μὲν γάρ σε ζωὸν ἐτίομεν ἶσα θεοῖσινFor before, while you lived, we Argives honored you
485Ἀργεῖοι, νῦν αὖτε μέγα κρατέεις νεκύεσσινequal to the gods, and now again you rule in great might
ἐνθάδʼ ἐών· τῷ μή τι θανὼν ἀκαχίζευ, Ἀχιλλεῦ.over the dead, being here; so grieve not at your death, Achilles.'
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπε·So I spoke, and at once he answered me and said:
μὴ δή μοι θάνατόν γε παραύδα, φαίδιμʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ.'Do not gloss over death to me, glorious Odysseus.
βουλοίμην κʼ ἐπάρουρος ἐὼν θητευέμεν ἄλλῳ,I would rather be bound to the soil, a serf to another,
490ἀνδρὶ παρʼ ἀκλήρῳ, ᾧ μὴ βίοτος πολὺς εἴη,to a landless man who had no great livelihood,
ἢ πᾶσιν νεκύεσσι καταφθιμένοισιν ἀνάσσειν.than be lord over all the perished dead.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τοῦ παιδὸς ἀγαυοῦ μῦθον ἐνίσπες,But come, tell me the tale of my noble son,
ἢ ἕπετʼ ἐς πόλεμον πρόμος ἔμμεναι, ἦε καὶ οὐκί.whether he followed to the war to be a champion, or not.
εἰπὲ δέ μοι Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος, εἴ τι πέπυσσαι,And tell me of blameless Peleus, if you have heard anything,
495ἢ ἔτʼ ἔχει τιμὴν πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν,whether he still holds honor among the many Myrmidons,
ἦ μιν ἀτιμάζουσιν ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα τε Φθίην τε,or whether they dishonor him throughout Hellas and Phthia,
οὕνεκά μιν κατὰ γῆρας ἔχει χεῖράς τε πόδας τε.because old age holds him fast in his hands and feet.
οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπαρωγὸς ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο,For I am no helper to him under the sun's rays,
τοῖος ἐών, οἷός ποτʼ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃbeing such as once I was in wide Troy
500πέφνον λαὸν ἄριστον, ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν·when I killed the best of their people, defending the Argives.
εἰ τοιόσδʼ ἔλθοιμι μίνυνθά περ ἐς πατέρος δῶ·If I could come, even for a little while, such as I was, to my father's house,
τῷ κέ τεῳ στύξαιμι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους,then I would make my strength and unconquerable hands hateful
οἳ κεῖνον βιόωνται ἐέργουσίν τʼ ἀπὸ τιμῆς.to any who do violence to him and keep him from his honor.'
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐγώ μιν ἀμειβόμενος
προσέειπον·So he spoke, and I answered him and said:
505ἦ τοι μὲν Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος οὔ τι πέπυσμαι,'In truth, of blameless Peleus I have heard nothing,
αὐτάρ τοι παιδός γε Νεοπτολέμοιο φίλοιοbut of your dear son Neoptolemus
πᾶσαν ἀληθείην μυθήσομαι, ὥς με κελεύεις·I will tell you all the truth, as you bid me;
αὐτὸς γάρ μιν ἐγὼ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐίσηςfor I myself, in a hollow, balanced ship,
ἤγαγον ἐκ Σκύρου μετʼ ἐυκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.brought him out of Scyros among the well-greaved Achaeans.
510ἦ τοι ὅτʼ ἀμφὶ πόλιν Τροίην φραζοίμεθα βουλάς,Truly, whenever we took counsel around the city of Troy,
αἰεὶ πρῶτος ἔβαζε καὶ οὐχ ἡμάρτανε μύθων·he always spoke first and never missed his words;
Νέστωρ ἀντίθεος καὶ ἐγὼ νικάσκομεν οἴω.godlike Nestor and I alone would surpass him.
αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ ἐν πεδίῳ Τρώων μαρναίμεθα χαλκῷ,But whenever we fought with bronze in the plain of the Trojans,
οὔ ποτʼ ἐνὶ πληθυῖ μένεν ἀνδρῶν οὐδʼ ἐν ὁμίλῳ,he never held back in the throng of men or in the crowd,
515ἀλλὰ πολὺ προθέεσκε τὸ ὃν μένος οὐδενὶ εἴκων,but ran far out in front, yielding to none in his fury,
πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας ἔπεφνεν ἐν αἰνῇ δηιοτῆτι.and he killed many men in the dread combat.
πάντας δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,I could not tell nor name them all,
ὅσσον λαὸν ἔπεφνεν ἀμύνων Ἀργείοισιν,so many of their people did he kill, defending the Argives,
ἀλλʼ οἷον τὸν Τηλεφίδην κατενήρατο χαλκῷ,but such a man was the son of Telephus he cut down with the bronze,
520ἥρωʼ Εὐρύπυλον, πολλοὶ δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροιthe hero Eurypylus, and many of his comrades around him,
Κήτειοι κτείνοντο γυναίων εἵνεκα δώρων.the Ceteians, killed for the sake of a woman's gifts.
κεῖνον δὴ κάλλιστον ἴδον μετὰ Μέμνονα δῖον.He was the handsomest man I saw, after godlike Memnon.
αὐτὰρ ὅτʼ εἰς ἵππον κατεβαίνομεν, ὃν κάμʼ Ἐπειός,But when we mounted the horse that Epeius had made,
Ἀργείων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ πάντα τέταλτο,we the best of the Argives, and all was entrusted to me,
525ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν λόχον ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι,both to open the tight-packed ambush and to close it,
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι Δαναῶν ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςthere the other leaders and rulers of the Danaans
δάκρυά τʼ ὠμόργνυντο τρέμον θʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστου·were wiping away their tears, and the limbs of each man trembled;
κεῖνον δʼ οὔ ποτε πάμπαν ἐγὼν ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσινbut that man I never once saw with my own eyes
οὔτʼ ὠχρήσαντα χρόα κάλλιμον οὔτε παρειῶνgrow pale in his handsome flesh, nor wipe away
530δάκρυ ὀμορξάμενον· ὁ δέ γε μάλα πόλλʼ ἱκέτευενa tear from his cheeks; and again and again he begged me
ἱππόθεν ἐξέμεναι, ξίφεος δʼ ἐπεμαίετο κώπηνto let him out of the horse, and he fingered the sword's hilt
καὶ δόρυ χαλκοβαρές, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μενοίνα.and the bronze-heavy spear, eager to do the Trojans harm.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Πριάμοιο πόλιν διεπέρσαμεν αἰπήν,But when at last we sacked the steep city of Priam,
μοῖραν καὶ γέρας ἐσθλὸν ἔχων ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβαινενhe boarded his ship with his share and a noble prize,
535ἀσκηθής, οὔτʼ ἂρ βεβλημένος ὀξέι χαλκῷunscathed, neither struck by the sharp bronze
οὔτʼ αὐτοσχεδίην οὐτασμένος, οἷά τε πολλὰnor wounded in close combat, as so often
γίγνεται ἐν πολέμῳ· ἐπιμὶξ δέ τε μαίνεται Ἄρης.happens in war; for Ares rages indiscriminately.
ὣς ἐφάμην, ψυχὴ δὲ ποδώκεος ΑἰακίδαοSo I spoke, and the soul of the swift-footed son of Aeacus
φοίτα μακρὰ βιβᾶσα κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,went striding with long steps across the field of asphodel,
540γηθοσύνη ὅ οἱ υἱὸν ἔφην ἀριδείκετον εἶναι.glad that I had said his son was a man of mark.
αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι ψυχαὶ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτωνBut the other souls of the dead who had perished
ἕστασαν ἀχνύμεναι, εἴροντο δὲ κήδεʼ ἑκάστη.stood grieving, and each asked about her own cares.
οἴη δʼ Αἴαντος ψυχὴ ΤελαμωνιάδαοOnly the soul of Ajax, son of Telamon,
νόσφιν ἀφεστήκει, κεχολωμένη εἵνεκα νίκης,stood apart, still angry over the victory
545τήν μιν ἐγὼ νίκησα δικαζόμενος παρὰ νηυσὶI had won against him in the judgment beside the ships
τεύχεσιν ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆος· ἔθηκε δὲ πότνια μήτηρ.over the arms of Achilles; his lady mother had set them up.
παῖδες δὲ Τρώων δίκασαν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.The sons of the Trojans judged it, and Pallas Athena.
ὡς δὴ μὴ ὄφελον νικᾶν τοιῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀέθλῳ·Would that I had never won in such a contest!
τοίην γὰρ κεφαλὴν ἕνεκʼ αὐτῶν γαῖα κατέσχεν,For such a head did the earth close over on their account,
550Αἴανθʼ, ὃς πέρι μὲν εἶδος, πέρι δʼ ἔργα τέτυκτοAjax, who in his form and in his deeds was made
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.beyond all the other Danaans, next to the blameless son of Peleus.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐπέεσσι προσηύδων μειλιχίοισιν·To him I spoke with gentle words:
Αἶαν, παῖ Τελαμῶνος ἀμύμονος, οὐκ ἄρʼ
ἔμελλες"Ajax, son of blameless Telamon, so you were not
οὐδὲ θανὼν λήσεσθαι ἐμοὶ χόλου εἵνεκα τευχέωνeven in death to forget your anger against me over those arms,
555οὐλομένων; τὰ δὲ πῆμα θεοὶ θέσαν Ἀργείοισι,those accursed arms? The gods set them as a bane to the Argives,
τοῖος γάρ σφιν πύργος ἀπώλεο· σεῖο δʼ Ἀχαιοὶfor in you such a tower was lost; and we Achaeans
ἶσον Ἀχιλλῆος κεφαλῇ Πηληϊάδαοgrieve for you as for the head of Achilles, son of Peleus,
ἀχνύμεθα φθιμένοιο διαμπερές· οὐδέ τις ἄλλοςdead, without ceasing; and no other
αἴτιος, ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς Δαναῶν στρατὸν αἰχμητάωνis to blame, but Zeus, who so terribly hated
560ἐκπάγλως ἤχθηρε, τεῒν δʼ ἐπὶ μοῖραν ἔθηκεν.the army of the Danaan spearmen, and laid this doom on you.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο, ἄναξ, ἵνʼ ἔπος καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσῃςBut come here, lord, so you may hear my word and speech,
ἡμέτερον· δάμασον δὲ μένος καὶ ἀγήνορα θυμόν.and master your rage and your defiant spirit."
ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δέ μʼ οὐδὲν ἀμείβετο, βῆ δὲ μετʼ
ἄλλαςSo I spoke, but he answered me nothing, and went off among the other
ψυχὰς εἰς Ἔρεβος νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων.souls of the dead who had perished, into Erebus.
565ἔνθα χʼ ὅμως προσέφη κεχολωμένος, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τόν·There, angry as he was, he might yet have spoken, or I to him;
ἀλλά μοι ἤθελε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιbut the heart in my own breast desired
τῶν ἄλλων ψυχὰς ἰδέειν κατατεθνηώτων.to see the souls of the other dead who had perished.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι Μίνωα ἴδον, Διὸς ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,There indeed I saw Minos, the shining son of Zeus,
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχοντα, θεμιστεύοντα νέκυσσιν,holding a golden scepter, giving judgment among the dead,
570ἥμενον, οἱ δέ μιν ἀμφὶ δίκας εἴροντο ἄνακτα,seated, while they around their lord kept asking for verdicts,
ἥμενοι ἑσταότες τε κατʼ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.seated and standing throughout the wide-gated house of Hades.
τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ὠρίωνα πελώριον εἰσενόησαAnd after him I noticed Orion, the huge one,
θῆρας ὁμοῦ εἰλεῦντα κατʼ ἀσφοδελὸν λειμῶνα,herding wild beasts together across the meadow of asphodel,
τοὺς αὐτὸς κατέπεφνεν ἐν οἰοπόλοισιν ὄρεσσιthe very beasts he himself had killed on the lonely mountains,
575χερσὶν ἔχων ῥόπαλον παγχάλκεον, αἰὲν ἀαγές.holding in his hands a club all of bronze, forever unbroken.
καὶ Τιτυὸν εἶδον, Γαίης ἐρικυδέος υἱόν,And I saw Tityos too, the son of glorious Earth,
κείμενον ἐν δαπέδῳ· ὁ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐννέα κεῖτο πέλεθρα,lying on the ground; and over nine roods he lay,
γῦπε δέ μιν ἑκάτερθε παρημένω ἧπαρ ἔκειρον,and two vultures sat one on either side and tore at his liver,
δέρτρον ἔσω δύνοντες, ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἀπαμύνετο χερσί·plunging into his bowels, and he could not beat them off with his hands;
580Λητὼ γὰρ ἕλκησε, Διὸς κυδρὴν παράκοιτιν,for he had dragged Leto, the honored consort of Zeus,
Πυθώδʼ ἐρχομένην διὰ καλλιχόρου Πανοπῆος.as she went to Pytho through Panopeus of the lovely dancing-grounds.
καὶ μὴν Τάνταλον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ
ἔχονταAnd Tantalus too I saw, suffering hard pains,
ἑστεῶτʼ ἐν λίμνῃ· ἡ δὲ προσέπλαζε γενείῳ·standing in a pool, and the water lapped against his chin;
στεῦτο δὲ διψάων, πιέειν δʼ οὐκ εἶχεν ἑλέσθαι·he stood there thirsting, but could not take of it to drink,
585ὁσσάκι γὰρ κύψειʼ ὁ γέρων πιέειν μενεαίνων,for as often as the old man stooped down, eager to drink,
τοσσάχʼ ὕδωρ ἀπολέσκετʼ ἀναβροχέν, ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶso often the water was swallowed away and vanished, and around his feet
γαῖα μέλαινα φάνεσκε, καταζήνασκε δὲ δαίμων.the black earth showed, for a god kept drying it up.
δένδρεα δʼ ὑψιπέτηλα κατὰ κρῆθεν χέε καρπόν,And trees with lofty leaves poured down their fruit above his head,
ὄγχναι καὶ ῥοιαὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποιpears and pomegranates and apple trees with shining fruit,
590συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι·and sweet figs and olives in full bloom;
τῶν ὁπότʼ ἰθύσειʼ ὁ γέρων ἐπὶ χερσὶ μάσασθαι,but whenever the old man reached up to grasp them with his hands,
τὰς δʼ ἄνεμος ῥίπτασκε ποτὶ νέφεα σκιόεντα.a wind would toss them away toward the shadowy clouds.
καὶ μὴν Σίσυφον εἰσεῖδον κρατέρʼ ἄλγεʼ
ἔχονταAnd Sisyphus too I saw, suffering hard pains,
λᾶαν βαστάζοντα πελώριον ἀμφοτέρῃσιν.heaving a monstrous stone with both his hands.
595ἦ τοι ὁ μὲν σκηριπτόμενος χερσίν τε ποσίν τεIndeed, straining hard with his hands and feet,
λᾶαν ἄνω ὤθεσκε ποτὶ λόφον· ἀλλʼ ὅτε μέλλοιhe kept pushing the stone up toward a hilltop; but when he was about
ἄκρον ὑπερβαλέειν, τότʼ ἀποστρέψασκε κραταιίς·to heave it over the crest, then its weight would turn it back,
αὖτις ἔπειτα πέδονδε κυλίνδετο λᾶας ἀναιδής.and down again to the plain the shameless stone would roll.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἂψ ὤσασκε τιταινόμενος, κατὰ δʼ ἱδρὼςBut he kept straining again and shoving it back, and the sweat
600ἔρρεεν ἐκ μελέων, κονίη δʼ ἐκ κρατὸς ὀρώρει.streamed down from his limbs, and dust rose up from his head.
τὸν δὲ μετʼ εἰσενόησα βίην Ἡρακληείην,And after him I noticed the mighty strength of Heracles,
εἴδωλον· αὐτὸς δὲ μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιhis phantom; for he himself among the immortal gods
τέρπεται ἐν θαλίῃς καὶ ἔχει καλλίσφυρον Ἥβην,delights in feasts and has fair-ankled Hebe,
παῖδα Διὸς μεγάλοιο καὶ Ἥρης χρυσοπεδίλου.daughter of great Zeus and gold-sandaled Hera.
605ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κλαγγὴ νεκύων ἦν οἰωνῶν ὥς,Around him rose a clamor of the dead, like birds
πάντοσʼ ἀτυζομένων· ὁ δʼ ἐρεμνῇ νυκτὶ ἐοικώς,scattering in terror everywhere; and he, like the murky night,
γυμνὸν τόξον ἔχων καὶ ἐπὶ νευρῆφιν ὀιστόν,holding his bow bare and an arrow on the string,
δεινὸν παπταίνων, αἰεὶ βαλέοντι ἐοικώς.glaring terribly, forever like a man about to shoot.
σμερδαλέος δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ περὶ στήθεσσιν ἀορτὴρAnd terrible about his chest was the belt,
610χρύσεος ἦν τελαμών, ἵνα θέσκελα ἔργα τέτυκτο,a golden strap, on which were wrought astounding works,
ἄρκτοι τʼ ἀγρότεροί τε σύες χαροποί τε λέοντες,bears and wild boars and lions with flashing eyes,
ὑσμῖναί τε μάχαι τε φόνοι τʼ ἀνδροκτασίαι τε.and battles and combats and killings and the slaughter of men.
μὴ τεχνησάμενος μηδʼ ἄλλο τι τεχνήσαιτο,May the man who fashioned it fashion nothing else,
ὃς κεῖνον τελαμῶνα ἑῇ ἐγκάτθετο τέχνῃ.whoever stored that belt away with his craft.
615ἔγνω δʼ αὖτʼ ἔμʼ ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,And he in turn knew me, when he saw me with his eyes,
καί μʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and lamenting he spoke winged words to me:
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,"Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, resourceful Odysseus,
ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ τινὰ καὶ σὺ κακὸν μόρον ἡγηλάζεις,ah, wretched one, do you too drag out an evil fate
ὅν περ ἐγὼν ὀχέεσκον ὑπʼ αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο.such as I once bore under the rays of the sun?
620Ζηνὸς μὲν πάϊς ἦα Κρονίονος, αὐτὰρ ὀιζὺνI was a son of Zeus, son of Cronos, yet I had misery
εἶχον ἀπειρεσίην· μάλα γὰρ πολὺ χείρονι φωτὶbeyond all measure; for to a man far meaner than myself
δεδμήμην, ὁ δέ μοι χαλεποὺς ἐπετέλλετʼ ἀέθλους.I was made subject, and he laid hard labors upon me.
καί ποτέ μʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἔπεμψε κύνʼ ἄξοντʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλονOnce he even sent me here to bring back the hound; for he thought
φράζετο τοῦδέ γέ μοι κρατερώτερον εἶναι ἄεθλον·there could be no labor for me mightier than this.
625τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἀνένεικα καὶ ἤγαγον ἐξ Ἀίδαο·Yet I brought it up and led it out from Hades' house,
Ἑρμείας δέ μʼ ἔπεμψεν ἰδὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.and Hermes guided me, and grey-eyed Athena."
ὣς εἰπὼν ὁ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,So speaking he went back again into the house of Hades,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν αὐτοῦ μένον ἔμπεδον, εἴ τις ἔτʼ ἔλθοιbut I stayed on there, steadfast, in case any should still come,
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οἳ δὴ τὸ πρόσθεν ὄλοντο.of the hero men who had perished in the time before.
630καί νύ κʼ ἔτι προτέρους ἴδον ἀνέρας, οὓς ἔθελόν περ,And now I would have seen still earlier men, whom I wished,
Θησέα Πειρίθοόν τε, θεῶν ἐρικυδέα τέκνα·Theseus and Pirithous, glorious children of the gods;
ἀλλὰ πρὶν ἐπὶ ἔθνεʼ ἀγείρετο μυρία νεκρῶνbut before that the countless tribes of the dead gathered
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· ἐμὲ δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει,with an unearthly clamor; and green fear seized me,
μή μοι Γοργείην κεφαλὴν δεινοῖο πελώρουlest the noble Persephone should send out against me
635ἐξ Ἀίδεω πέμψειεν ἀγαυὴ Περσεφόνεια.the Gorgon's head of that dread monster from Hades.
αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ἐκέλευον ἑταίρουςAt once then I went to the ship and ordered my companions
αὐτούς τʼ ἀμβαίνειν ἀνά τε πρυμνήσια λῦσαι.to climb aboard themselves and to loose the stern cables.
οἱ δʼ αἶψʼ εἴσβαινον καὶ ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.And they quickly embarked and sat down at the oarlocks.
τὴν δὲ κατʼ Ὠκεανὸν ποταμὸν φέρε κῦμα ῥόοιο,And down the stream of the river Ocean the wave of the current bore her,
640πρῶτα μὲν εἰρεσίῃ, μετέπειτα δὲ κάλλιμος οὖρος.first with the rowing, and after that a fair following wind.