1αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκ λιμένος προσέβη τρηχεῖαν ἀταρπὸνBut he went up from the harbor by the rugged path
χῶρον ἀνʼ ὑλήεντα διʼ ἄκριας, ᾗ οἱ Ἀθήνηthrough wooded country, over the heights, where Athena
πέφραδε δῖον ὑφορβόν, ὅ οἱ βιότοιο μάλισταhad shown him the godlike swineherd, who cared beyond all
κήδετο οἰκήων, οὓς κτήσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.the household servants for the living of godlike Odysseus.
5τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ εὗρʼ ἥμενον, ἔνθα οἱ
αὐλὴHe found him sitting in the forecourt, where the wall
ὑψηλὴ δέδμητο, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,of his yard had been built high, in a place with a clear view all around,
καλή τε μεγάλη τε, περίδρομος· ἥν ῥα συβώτηςfine and large, with a run around it; this the swineherd
αὐτὸς δείμαθʼ ὕεσσιν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,had built himself for the swine, his master being gone,
νόσφιν δεσποίνης καὶ Λαέρταο γέροντος,apart from his mistress and the old man Laertes,
10ῥυτοῖσιν λάεσσι καὶ ἐθρίγκωσεν ἀχέρδῳ·with quarried stones, and topped it with a hedge of wild pear;
σταυροὺς δʼ ἐκτὸς ἔλασσε διαμπερὲς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,and outside he had driven stakes the whole way, this side and that,
πυκνοὺς καὶ θαμέας, τὸ μέλαν δρυὸς ἀμφικεάσσας·thick and close together, splitting the dark heart of the oak;
ἔντοσθεν δʼ αὐλῆς συφεοὺς δυοκαίδεκα ποίειand inside the yard he had made twelve pens
πλησίον ἀλλήλων, εὐνὰς συσίν· ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῳnear to one another, beds for the swine; and in each one
15πεντήκοντα σύες χαμαιευνάδες ἐρχατόωντο,fifty swine that sleep on the ground were penned,
θήλειαι τοκάδες· τοὶ δʼ ἄρσενες ἐκτὸς ἴαυον,breeding females; the males slept outside,
πολλὸν παυρότεροι· τοὺς γὰρ μινύθεσκον ἔδοντεςfar fewer, for the godlike suitors kept thinning them
ἀντίθεοι μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ προΐαλλε συβώτηςby their eating, since the swineherd would send in for them
αἰεὶ ζατρεφέων σιάλων τὸν ἄριστον ἁπάντων·always the best of all the fatted hogs;
20οἱ δὲ τριηκόσιοί τε καὶ ἑξήκοντα πέλοντο.and these numbered three hundred and sixty.
πὰρ δὲ κύνες, θήρεσσιν ἐοικότες αἰὲν ἴαυονAnd beside them dogs, like wild beasts, always slept,
τέσσαρες, οὓς ἔθρεψε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν.four of them, which the swineherd, leader of men, had reared.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀμφὶ πόδεσσιν ἑοῖς ἀράρισκε πέδιλα,He himself was fitting sandals about his feet,
τάμνων δέρμα βόειον ἐϋχροές· οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοιcutting the well-colored hide of an ox; and the others
25ᾤχοντʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλος ἅμʼ ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσιν,had gone their ways, each to a different place, with the gathered swine,
οἱ τρεῖς· τὸν δὲ τέταρτον ἀποπροέηκε πόλινδεthe three of them; and the fourth he had sent off to the city
σῦν ἀγέμεν μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ἀνάγκῃ,to bring a hog for the arrogant suitors, under compulsion,
ὄφρʼ ἱερεύσαντες κρειῶν κορεσαίατο θυμόν.so that they might sacrifice it and glut their hearts with meat.
ἐξαπίνης δʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι.And suddenly the baying dogs caught sight of Odysseus.
30οἱ μὲν κεκλήγοντες ἐπέδραμον· αὐτὰρ ὈδυσσεὺςThey ran at him with a clamor; but Odysseus
ἕζετο κερδοσύνη, σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.sat down in his cunning, and the staff dropped from his hand.
ἔνθα κεν ᾧ πὰρ σταθμῷ ἀεικέλιον πάθεν ἄλγος·There by his own steading he would have suffered shameful pain;
ἀλλὰ συβώτης ὦκα ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπὼνbut the swineherd, with quick feet racing after them,
ἔσσυτʼ ἀνὰ πρόθυρον, σκῦτος δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.rushed out through the gateway, and the hide dropped from his hand.
35τοὺς μὲν ὁμοκλήσας σεῦεν κύνας ἄλλυδις ἄλλονHe shouted and drove the dogs this way and that,
πυκνῇσιν λιθάδεσσιν· ὁ δὲ προσέειπεν ἄνακτα·with a shower of stones; and he spoke to his master:
ὦ γέρον, ἦ ὀλίγου σε κύνες διεδηλήσαντο"Old man, the dogs almost tore you to pieces
ἐξαπίνης, καί κέν μοι ἐλεγχείην κατέχευας.all of a sudden, and you would have poured disgrace upon me.
καὶ δέ μοι ἄλλα θεοὶ δόσαν ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τε·And the gods have given me other pains and groanings besides;
40ἀντιθέου γὰρ ἄνακτος ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύωνfor over my godlike master I grieve and mourn,
ἧμαι, ἄλλοισιν δὲ σύας σιάλους ἀτιτάλλωI sit here, and I fatten fat hogs for others
ἔδμεναι· αὐτὰρ κεῖνος ἐελδόμενός που ἐδωδῆςto feed on; but that man, hungering somewhere for food,
πλάζετʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλοθρόων ἀνδρῶν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,wanders through the land and city of men who speak strangely,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο.if he still lives and looks upon the light of the sun.
45ἀλλʼ ἕπεο, κλισίηνδʼ ἴομεν, γέρον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτός,But follow me, old man, let us go into the hut, so that you too,
σίτου καὶ οἴνοιο κορεσσάμενος κατὰ θυμόν,when you have filled your heart with food and wine,
εἴπῃς ὁππόθεν ἐσσὶ καὶ ὁππόσα κήδεʼ ἀνέτλης.may say from where you are and how many griefs you have endured."
ὣς εἰπὼν κλισίηνδʼ ἡγήσατο δῖος ὑφορβός,So speaking the godlike swineherd led him to the hut,
εἷσεν δʼ εἰσαγαγών, ῥῶπας δʼ ὑπέχευε δασείας,and brought him in and seated him, and heaped up thick brushwood,
50ἐστόρεσεν δʼ ἐπὶ δέρμα ἰονθάδος ἀγρίου αἰγός,and spread on it the hide of a shaggy wild goat,
αὐτοῦ ἐνεύναιον, μέγα καὶ δασύ. χαῖρε δʼ Ὀδυσσεὺςhis own bedding, large and thick. And Odysseus rejoiced
ὅττι μιν ὣς ὑπέδεκτο, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·that he received him so, and he spoke a word and named him:
Ζεύς τοι δοίη, ξεῖνε, καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ
ἄλλοι"May Zeus grant you, stranger, and the other immortal gods
ὅττι μάλιστʼ ἐθέλεις, ὅτι με πρόφρων ὑπέδεξο.whatever you most desire, since you have received me with a willing heart."
55τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·Then answering him you spoke, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ξεῖνʼ, οὔ μοι θέμις ἔστʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ κακίων σέθεν ἔλθοι,"Stranger, it is not right for me, even if one worse than you should come,
ξεῖνον ἀτιμῆσαι· πρὸς γὰρ Διός εἰσιν ἅπαντεςto dishonor a stranger; for from Zeus come all
ξεῖνοί τε πτωχοί τε· δόσις δʼ ὀλίγη τε φίλη τεstrangers and beggars; and a gift, though small, is welcome
γίγνεται ἡμετέρη· ἡ γὰρ δμώων δίκη ἐστὶνwhen it comes from us; for this is the way of servants,
60αἰεὶ δειδιότων, ὅτʼ ἐπικρατέωσιν ἄνακτεςforever fearful, when young masters
οἱ νέοι. ἦ γὰρ τοῦ γε θεοὶ κατὰ νόστον ἔδησαν,hold the power. For truly the gods have bound the homecoming of that man
ὅς κεν ἔμʼ ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει καὶ κτῆσιν ὄπασσεν,who would have loved me kindly and given me possessions,
οἶκόν τε κλῆρόν τε πολυμνήστην τε γυναῖκα,a house and a plot of land and a much-wooed wife,
οἷά τε ᾧ οἰκῆϊ ἄναξ εὔθυμος ἔδωκεν,such things as a kindly master gives to his servant
65ὅς οἱ πολλὰ κάμῃσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργον ἀέξῃ,who has toiled much for him, and whose work a god has made prosper,
ὡς καὶ ἐμοὶ τόδε ἔργον ἀέξεται, ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω.as this work of mine has prospered, at which I stay.
τῷ κέ με πόλλʼ ὤνησεν ἄναξ, εἰ αὐτόθʼ ἐγήρα·So my master would have done me much good, had he grown old here;
ἀλλʼ ὄλεθʼ—ὡς ὤφελλʼ Ἑλένης ἀπὸ φῦλον ὀλέσθαιbut he is dead—as I wish the whole breed of Helen had perished
πρόχνυ, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσε·down to the knees, since she loosed the knees of many men;
70καὶ γὰρ κεῖνος ἔβη Ἀγαμέμνονος εἵνεκα τιμῆςfor that man too went for the honor of Agamemnon
Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.to Ilion of the fine foals, to fight against the Trojans."
ὣς εἰπὼν ζωστῆρι θοῶς συνέεργε χιτῶνα,So speaking he quickly bound up his tunic with the belt,
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐς συφεούς, ὅθι ἔθνεα ἔρχατο χοίρων.and went to the sties, where the tribes of piglets were penned.
ἔνθεν ἑλὼν δύʼ ἔνεικε καὶ ἀμφοτέρους ἱέρευσεν,From there he took two and brought them and slaughtered them both,
75εὗσέ τε μίστυλλέν τε καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειρεν.and singed them and cut them up and pierced them on spits.
ὀπτήσας δʼ ἄρα πάντα φέρων παρέθηκʼ ὈδυσῆϊAnd when he had roasted it all, he brought and set it before Odysseus,
θέρμʼ αὐτοῖς ὀβελοῖσιν· ὁ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνεν·hot upon the spits themselves; and he sprinkled it with white barley;
ἐν δʼ ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον,and in an ivy-wood bowl he mixed the honey-sweet wine,
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν, ἐποτρύνων δὲ προσηύδα·and he himself sat down opposite, and urging him spoke:
80ἔσθιε νῦν, ὦ ξεῖνε, τά τε δμώεσσι πάρεστι,"Eat now, stranger, such things as are at hand for servants,
χοίρεʼ· ἀτὰρ σιάλους γε σύας μνηστῆρες ἔδουσιν,the young pigs; but the fatted swine the suitors eat,
οὐκ ὄπιδα φρονέοντες ἐνὶ φρεσὶν οὐδʼ ἐλεητύν.with no thought in their hearts of the gods' wrath, nor of pity.
οὐ μὲν σχέτλια ἔργα θεοὶ μάκαρες φιλέουσιν,Yet the blessed gods do not love cruel deeds,
ἀλλὰ δίκην τίουσι καὶ αἴσιμα ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων.but they honor justice and the fitting works of men.
85καὶ μὲν δυσμενέες καὶ ἀνάρσιοι, οἵ τʼ ἐπὶ γαίηςEven hostile men, and lawless ones, who set foot on
ἀλλοτρίης βῶσιν καί σφι Ζεὺς ληΐδα δώῃ,another's land, and Zeus grants them their plunder,
πλησάμενοι δέ τε νῆας ἔβαν οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι,and having filled their ships they go back home again,
καὶ μὲν τοῖς ὄπιδος κρατερὸν δέος ἐν φρεσὶ πίπτει.even on them a strong dread of the gods' wrath falls in their hearts.
οἵδε δὲ καί τι ἴσασι, θεοῦ δέ τινʼ ἔκλυον αὐδήν,But these know something, they have heard some voice of a god,
90κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον, ὅτʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι δικαίωςof that man's grievous death, since they will not justly
μνᾶσθαι οὐδὲ νέεσθαι ἐπὶ σφέτερʼ, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοιdo their wooing, nor go back to their own, but at their ease
κτήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον, οὐδʼ ἔπι φειδώ.they devour the goods with violence, and there is no sparing.
ὅσσαι γὰρ νύκτες τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐκ Διός εἰσιν,For all the nights and days that come from Zeus,
οὔ ποθʼ ἓν ἱρεύουσʼ ἱερήϊον, οὐδὲ δύʼ οἴω·never do they sacrifice one victim, nor two only;
95οἶνον δὲ φθινύθουσιν ὑπέρβιον ἐξαφύοντες.and the wine they waste with violence, drawing it off.
ἦ γάρ οἱ ζωή γʼ ἦν ἄσπετος· οὔ τινι τόσσηFor truly his living was beyond telling; no man's was so great
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οὔτʼ ἠπείροιο μελαίνηςamong the heroes, not on the dark mainland
οὔτʼ αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης· οὐδὲ ξυνεείκοσι φωτῶνnor in Ithaca itself; not twenty men together
ἔστʼ ἄφενος τοσσοῦτον· ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω.have wealth so great; and I will count it out for you.
100δώδεκʼ ἐν ἠπείρῳ ἀγέλαι· τόσα πώεα οἰῶν,Twelve herds on the mainland; as many flocks of sheep,
τόσσα συῶν συβόσια, τόσʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶνas many droves of swine, as many wide-ranging herds of goats
βόσκουσι ξεῖνοί τε καὶ αὐτοῦ βώτορες ἄνδρες.the strangers pasture, and the herdsmen who are his own.
ἐνθάδε δʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν ἕνδεκα πάνταAnd here wide-ranging herds of goats, eleven in all,
ἐσχατιῇ βόσκοντʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνέρες ἐσθλοὶ ὄρονται.graze at the land's edge, and good men watch over them.
105τῶν αἰεί σφιν ἕκαστος ἐπʼ ἤματι μῆλον ἀγινεῖ,Each of these men, every day, brings in a beast for them,
ζατρεφέων αἰγῶν ὅς τις φαίνηται ἄριστος.whichever of the well-fed goats seems the best.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῦς τάσδε φυλάσσω τε ῥύομαί τε,But I keep these swine and guard them well,
καί σφι συῶν τὸν ἄριστον ἐῢ κρίνας ἀποπέμπω.and, choosing carefully the best of the swine, I send it to them.
ὣς φάθʼ, ὁ δʼ ἐνδυκέως κρέα τʼ ἤσθιε πῖνέ τε
οἶνονSo he spoke, and the man eagerly ate the meat and drank the wine
110ἁρπαλέως ἀκέων, κακὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι φύτευεν.ravenously, in silence, and he sowed evils for the suitors.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε καὶ ἤραρε θυμὸν ἐδωδῇ,But when he had dined and satisfied his heart with food,
καί οἱ πλησάμενος δῶκε σκύφον, ᾧ περ ἔπινεν,and the man filled the cup from which he himself drank
οἴνου ἐνίπλειον· ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ,and gave it to him, brimming with wine; and he took it, and rejoiced in his heart,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and, speaking, he addressed him with winged words:
115ὦ φίλε, τίς γάρ σε πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν,"My friend, who was it that bought you with his own wealth,
ὧδε μάλʼ ἀφνειὸς καὶ καρτερὸς ὡς ἀγορεύεις;a man so very rich and powerful as you say?
φῆς δʼ αὐτὸν φθίσθαι Ἀγαμέμνονος εἵνεκα τιμῆς.You said he perished for the honor of Agamemnon.
εἰπέ μοι, αἴ κέ ποθι γνώω τοιοῦτον ἐόντα.Tell me, in case I might somewhere know a man like that.
Ζεὺς γάρ που τό γε οἶδε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,For Zeus knows this, no doubt, and the other immortal gods,
120εἴ κέ μιν ἀγγείλαιμι ἰδών· ἐπὶ πολλὰ δʼ ἀλήθην.whether I might bring word of him, having seen him; for I have wandered far."
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν·Then the swineherd, leader of men, answered him:
ὦ γέρον, οὔ τις κεῖνον ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν"Old man, no wanderer coming here with news
ἀγγέλλων πείσειε γυναῖκά τε καὶ φίλον υἱόν,of that man could persuade his wife and dear son,
ἀλλʼ ἄλλως κομιδῆς κεχρημένοι ἄνδρες ἀλῆταιbut idly men in need of care go roaming
125ψεύδοντʼ, οὐδʼ ἐθέλουσιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.and lie, and have no wish to speak the truth.
ὃς δέ κʼ ἀλητεύων Ἰθάκης ἐς δῆμον ἵκηται,Whoever comes wandering to the land of Ithaca
ἐλθὼν ἐς δέσποιναν ἐμὴν ἀπατήλια βάζει·goes to my mistress and babbles his deceits;
ἡ δʼ εὖ δεξαμένη φιλέει καὶ ἕκαστα μεταλλᾷ,and she receives him kindly, and asks after each thing,
καί οἱ ὀδυρομένῃ βλεφάρων ἄπο δάκρυα πίπτει,and as she grieves the tears fall from her eyelids,
130ἣ θέμις ἐστὶ γυναικός, ἐπὴν πόσις ἄλλοθʼ ὄληται.as is the way of a woman whose husband dies abroad.
αἶψά κε καὶ σύ, γεραιέ, ἔπος παρατεκτήναιο.Quickly you too, old man, would fashion up a story,
εἴ τίς τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα δοίη.if someone were to give you a cloak and tunic for clothing.
τοῦ δʼ ἤδη μέλλουσι κύνες ταχέες τʼ οἰωνοὶBut by now the swift dogs and the birds of prey
ῥινὸν ἀπʼ ὀστεόφιν ἐρύσαι, ψυχὴ δὲ λέλοιπεν·have likely torn the skin from his bones, and his life has left him;
135ἢ τόν γʼ ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ὀστέα δʼ αὐτοῦor the fish have eaten him in the sea, and his bones
κεῖται ἐπʼ ἠπείρου ψαμάθῳ εἰλυμένα πολλῇ.lie on the mainland, wrapped in heaps of sand.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ ἀπόλωλε, φίλοισι δὲ κήδεʼ ὀπίσσωSo he has perished there, and for his friends hereafter
πᾶσιν, ἐμοὶ δὲ μάλιστα, τετεύχαται· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἄλλονgriefs are wrought, for all, but for me most of all; for never
ἤπιον ὧδε ἄνακτα κιχήσομαι, ὁππόσʼ ἐπέλθω,shall I find another master so gentle, wherever I go,
140οὐδʼ εἴ κεν πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος αὖτις ἵκωμαιnot even if I should come again to the house
οἶκον, ὅθι πρῶτον γενόμην καί μʼ ἔτρεφον αὐτοί.of my father and mother, where first I was born and they reared me.
οὐδέ νυ τῶν ἔτι τόσσον ὀδύρομαι, ἱέμενός περNor do I mourn so much for them, though I long
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι ἐὼν ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ·to see them with my eyes, being in my native land;
ἀλλά μʼ Ὀδυσσῆος πόθος αἴνυται οἰχομένοιο.but longing seizes me for Odysseus, gone away.
145τὸν μὲν ἐγών, ὦ ξεῖνε, καὶ οὐ παρεόντʼ ὀνομάζεινEven when he is absent, stranger, I shrink from naming him,
αἰδέομαι· πέρι γάρ μʼ ἐφίλει καὶ κήδετο θυμῷ·for beyond measure he loved me and cared for me at heart;
ἀλλά μιν ἠθεῖον καλέω καὶ νόσφιν ἐόντα.but I call him my dear one, even though he is far away."
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·Then much-enduring godlike Odysseus said to him:
ὦ φίλʼ, ἐπειδὴ πάμπαν ἀναίνεαι, οὐδʼ ἔτι φῇσθα"My friend, since you deny it wholly, and say no longer
150κεῖνον ἐλεύσεσθαι, θυμὸς δέ τοι αἰὲν ἄπιστος·that he will come, and your heart is ever unbelieving—
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ αὔτως μυθήσομαι, ἀλλὰ σὺν ὅρκῳ,yet I will not speak idly, but with an oath:
ὡς νεῖται Ὀδυσεύς· εὐαγγέλιον δέ μοι ἔστωOdysseus is coming home. Let there be a reward for good news
αὐτίκʼ, ἐπεί κεν κεῖνος ἰὼν τὰ ἃ δώμαθʼ ἵκηται·the moment that man comes and reaches his own house:
ἕσσαι με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά·clothe me in a cloak and tunic, fine garments;
155πρὶν δέ κε, καὶ μάλα περ κεχρημένος, οὔ τι δεχοίμην.but before that, though I am much in need, I would take nothing.
ἐχθρὸς γάρ μοι κεῖνος ὁμῶς Ἀΐδαο πύλῃσιFor hateful to me as the gates of Hades
γίγνεται, ὃς πενίῃ εἴκων ἀπατήλια βάζει.is the man who, yielding to poverty, babbles deceits.
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζα,Let Zeus now be my witness first among the gods, and the guest-table,
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω·and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come:
160ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται ὡς ἀγορεύω.truly all these things shall come to pass as I declare.
τοῦδʼ αὐτοῦ λυκάβαντος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.In this very cycle of the year Odysseus will come here.
τοῦ μὲν φθίνοντος μηνός, τοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένοιο,As this month wanes and the next month rises,
οἴκαδε νοστήσει, καὶ τίσεται ὅς τις ἐκείνουhe will return home, and take vengeance on whoever
ἐνθάδʼ ἀτιμάζει ἄλοχον καὶ φαίδιμον υἱόν.dishonors his wife and his glorious son here.
165τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·Then answering him you spoke, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ὦ γέρον, οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼν εὐαγγέλιον τόδε τίσω,Old man, I will neither pay this reward for good news,
οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοςnor will Odysseus come home again. Instead, at ease,
πῖνε, καὶ ἄλλα παρὲξ μεμνώμεθα, μηδέ με τούτωνdrink, and let us turn our minds to other things, and do not
μίμνησκʼ· ἦ γὰρ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσινremind me of these matters; for truly the heart within my breast
170ἄχνυται, ὁππότε τις μνήσῃ κεδνοῖο ἄνακτος.grieves whenever anyone recalls my faithful master.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι ὅρκον μὲν ἐάσομεν, αὐτὰρ ὈδυσσεὺςBut come now, let us drop the oath, and may Odysseus
ἔλθοι ὅπως μιν ἐγώ γʼ ἐθέλω καὶ Πηνελόπειαcome home, just as I wish it, and Penelope,
Λαέρτης θʼ ὁ γέρων καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής.and old Laertes, and godlike Telemachus.
νῦν αὖ παιδὸς ἄλαστον ὀδύρομαι, ὃν τέκʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,But now I grieve without ceasing for the boy Odysseus fathered,
175Τηλεμάχου· τὸν ἐπεὶ θρέψαν θεοὶ ἔρνεϊ ἶσον,for Telemachus; when the gods had reared him like a sapling,
καί μιν ἔφην ἔσσεσθαι ἐν ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι χέρηαand I thought he would be among men in no way inferior
πατρὸς ἑοῖο φίλοιο, δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἀγητόν,to his own dear father, in build and admirable form,
τὸν δέ τις ἀθανάτων βλάψε φρένας ἔνδον ἐΐσαςthen some one of the immortals harmed the balanced wits within him,
ἠέ τις ἀνθρώπων· ὁ δʼ ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴνor some man did; and he went after news of his father
180ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην· τὸν δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοὶto sacred Pylos; and the lordly suitors
οἴκαδʼ ἰόντα λοχῶσιν, ὅπως ἀπὸ φῦλον ὄληταιlie in ambush for him as he comes home, so that the race
νώνυμον ἐξ Ἰθάκης Ἀρκεισίου ἀντιθέοιο.of godlike Arcesius may perish nameless out of Ithaca.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι κεῖνον μὲν ἐάσομεν, ἤ κεν ἁλώῃBut truly let us leave that man, whether he is taken
ἦ κε φύγῃ καί κέν οἱ ὑπέρσχῃ χεῖρα Κρονίων.or escapes, and the son of Cronos hold his hand above him.
185ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι σύ, γεραιέ, τὰ σʼ αὐτοῦ κήδεʼ ἐνίσπεςBut come, old man, tell me your own troubles,
καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῶ·and speak this to me truly, so that I may know it well:
τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;Who are you among men, and from where? Where is your city, your parents?
ὁπποίης τʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἀφίκεο· πῶς δέ σε ναῦταιAnd on what kind of ship did you come? How did the sailors
ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;bring you to Ithaca? Who did they claim to be?
190οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀΐομαι ἐνθάδʼ ἱκέσθαι.For in no way do I think you came here on foot.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις ὈδυσσεύςThen resourceful Odysseus answered him:
τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.Well then, I will tell you these things very truly.
εἴη μὲν νῦν νῶϊν ἐπὶ χρόνον ἠμὲν ἐδωδὴNow if only there were for the two of us food for a long time,
ἠδὲ μέθυ γλυκερὸν κλισίης ἔντοσθεν ἐοῦσι,and sweet wine as well, within this hut where we sit,
195δαίνυσθαι ἀκέοντʼ, ἄλλοι δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργον ἕποιεν·to feast in quiet, while others followed their work—
ῥηϊδίως κεν ἔπειτα καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπανταthen easily, through a whole year and more,
οὔ τι διαπρήξαιμι λέγων ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμοῦ,I could not finish telling the troubles of my heart,
ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.all that I have suffered in their entirety by the will of the gods.
ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχομαι εὐρειάων,From wide Crete I declare my lineage comes,
200ἀνέρος ἀφνειοῖο πάϊς· πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ἄλλοιthe son of a wealthy man; and many other sons besides
υἱέες ἐν μεγάρῳ ἠμὲν τράφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντοwere born and raised as sons within the halls,
γνήσιοι ἐξ ἀλόχου· ἐμὲ δʼ ὠνητὴ τέκε μήτηρtrue-born, from his wife; but a bought woman bore me,
παλλακίς, ἀλλά με ἶσον ἰθαιγενέεσσιν ἐτίμαa concubine, yet he honored me equal with the true-born sons,
Κάστωρ Ὑλακίδης, τοῦ ἐγὼ γένος εὔχομαι εἶναιCastor son of Hylax, whose lineage I claim to be,
205ὃς τότʼ ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς τίετο δήμῳwho then was honored among the Cretans like a god by the people
ὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε καὶ υἱάσι κυδαλίμοισιν.for his good fortune and wealth and his glorious sons.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι τὸν κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαιBut the death-spirits came and bore him away
εἰς Ἀΐδαο δόμους· τοὶ δὲ ζωὴν ἐδάσαντοto the house of Hades; and his high-hearted sons
παῖδες ὑπέρθυμοι καὶ ἐπὶ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο,divided up the substance and cast lots for it,
210αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ μάλα παῦρα δόσαν καὶ οἰκίʼ ἔνειμαν.but to me they gave very little and allotted a dwelling.
ἠγαγόμην δὲ γυναῖκα πολυκλήρων ἀνθρώπωνYet I took a wife from a family rich in land,
εἵνεκʼ ἐμῆς ἀρετῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιος ἦαbecause of my own worth, for I was no fool
οὐδὲ φυγοπτόλεμος· νῦν δʼ ἤδη πάντα λέλοιπενnor a shirker of battle; now all that has left me,
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης καλάμην γέ σʼ ὀΐομαι εἰσορόωνταbut even so I think that, looking at the stubble,
215γιγνώσκειν· ἦ γάρ με δύη ἔχει ἤλιθα πολλή.you can know it—for indeed great misery holds me.
ἦ μὲν δὴ θάρσος μοι Ἄρης τʼ ἔδοσαν καὶ ἈθήνηTruly Ares and Athena gave me boldness
καὶ ῥηξηνορίην· ὁπότε κρίνοιμι λόχονδεand the strength to break men's ranks; whenever I chose for ambush
ἄνδρας ἀριστῆας, κακὰ δυσμενέεσσι φυτεύων,the best of men, sowing evils for the enemy,
οὔ ποτέ μοι θάνατον προτιόσσετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ,never did my proud heart look ahead to death,
220ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρώτιστος ἐπάλμενος ἔγχει ἕλεσκονbut far the first, leaping out, I would take with the spear
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων ὅ τέ μοι εἴξειε πόδεσσιν.whatever man of the enemy gave way before my feet.
τοῖος ἔα ἐν πολέμῳ· ἔργον δέ μοι οὐ φίλον ἔσκενSuch I was in war; but labor was never dear to me,
οὐδʼ οἰκωφελίη, ἥ τε τρέφει ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,nor husbandry, which raises up splendid children,
ἀλλά μοι αἰεὶ νῆες ἐπήρετμοι φίλαι ἦσανbut always the oared ships were dear to me,
225καὶ πόλεμοι καὶ ἄκοντες ἐΰξεστοι καὶ ὀϊστοί,and wars, and polished javelins, and arrows,
λυγρά, τά τʼ ἄλλοισίν γε καταριγηλὰ πέλονται.grim things, that to others are cause for shuddering.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τὰ φίλʼ ἔσκε τά που θεὸς ἐν φρεσὶ θῆκεν·But those were dear to me that a god set in my heart;
ἄλλος γάρ τʼ ἄλλοισιν ἀνὴρ ἐπιτέρπεται ἔργοις.for one man delights in one kind of work, another in another.
πρὶν μὲν γὰρ Τροίης ἐπιβήμεναι υἷας ἈχαιῶνFor before the sons of the Achaeans set foot on Troy,
230εἰνάκις ἀνδράσιν ἦρξα καὶ ὠκυπόροισι νέεσσινnine times I led men and swift-faring ships
ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαπούς, καί μοι μάλα τύγχανε πολλά.against foreign peoples, and much booty fell to me.
τῶν ἐξαιρεύμην μενοεικέα, πολλὰ δʼ ὀπίσσωOf these I would choose what pleased my heart, and much thereafter
λάγχανον· αἶψα δὲ οἶκος ὀφέλλετο, καί ῥα ἔπειταI gained by lot; and quickly my house grew great, and then
δεινός τʼ αἰδοῖός τε μετὰ Κρήτεσσι τετύγμην.I became feared and respected among the Cretans.
235ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τήν γε στυγερὴν ὁδὸν εὐρύοπα ΖεὺςBut when far-thundering Zeus devised that hateful voyage,
ἐφράσαθʼ, ἣ πολλῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσε,which loosed the knees of many men beneath them,
δὴ τότʼ ἔμʼ ἤνωγον καὶ ἀγακλυτὸν Ἰδομενῆαthen they ordered me and glorious Idomeneus
νήεσσʼ ἡγήσασθαι ἐς Ἴλιον· οὐδέ τι μῆχοςto lead the ships to Ilion; and there was no way
ἦεν ἀνήνασθαι, χαλεπὴ δʼ ἔχε δήμου φῆμις.to refuse, for the people's harsh talk held me fast.
240ἔνθα μὲν εἰνάετες πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,There for nine years we sons of the Achaeans fought,
τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν Πριάμου πέρσαντες ἔβημενBut in the tenth year, when we had sacked Priam's city, we set out
οἴκαδε σὺν νήεσσι, θεὸς δʼ ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς.for home in our ships, and a god scattered the Achaeans.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δειλῷ κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεύς·But for me, poor man, Zeus the counselor devised evils:
μῆνα γὰρ οἶον ἔμεινα τεταρπόμενος τεκέεσσινfor only a month I stayed, taking joy in my children,
245κουριδίῃ τʼ ἀλόχῳ καὶ κτήμασιν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταmy wedded wife, and my possessions; but then after that
Αἴγυπτόνδε με θυμὸς ἀνώγει ναυτίλλεσθαι,my heart urged me to voyage to Egypt,
νῆας ἐῢ στείλαντα σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν.when I had fitted out my ships with godlike companions.
ἐννέα νῆας στεῖλα, θοῶς δʼ ἐσαγείρατο λαός.Nine ships I fitted out, and the men gathered quickly.
ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ἔπειτα ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροιThen for six days my trusty companions
250δαίνυντʼ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἱερήϊα πολλὰ παρεῖχονfeasted; and I myself supplied many sacrifices
θεοῖσίν τε ῥέζειν αὐτοῖσί τε δαῖτα πένεσθαι.to make offering to the gods and to prepare their banquet.
ἑβδομάτῃ δʼ ἀναβάντες ἀπὸ Κρήτης εὐρείηςOn the seventh we embarked and sailed from broad Crete
ἐπλέομεν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ ἀκραέϊ καλῷwith the North Wind, fresh and fair,
ῥηϊδίως, ὡς εἴ τε κατὰ ῥόον· οὐδέ τις οὖν μοιeasily, as if downstream; and not one of my ships
255νηῶν πημάνθη, ἀλλʼ ἀσκηθέες καὶ ἄνουσοιwas damaged, but unharmed and free of sickness
ἥμεθα, τὰς δʼ ἄνεμός τε κυβερνῆταί τʼ ἴθυνον.we sat, while the wind and the steersmen kept them straight.
πεμπταῖοι δʼ Αἴγυπτον ἐϋρρείτην ἱκόμεσθα,On the fifth day we reached the fair-flowing Egypt,
στῆσα δʼ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ποταμῷ νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.and in the river of Egypt I moored my curved ships.
ἔνθʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρουςThere indeed I ordered my trusty companions
260αὐτοῦ πὰρ νήεσσι μένειν καὶ νῆας ἔρυσθαι,to stay by the ships and to guard the ships,
ὀπτῆρας δὲ κατὰ σκοπιὰς ὤτρυνα νέεσθαι·and I sent scouts out to the lookout points;
οἱ δʼ ὕβρει εἴξαντες, ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ,but they, yielding to insolence and following their own impulse,
αἶψα μάλʼ Αἰγυπτίων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέας ἀγροὺςat once began to plunder the beautiful fields
πόρθεον, ἐκ δὲ γυναῖκας ἄγον καὶ νήπια τέκνα,of the Egyptian men, and led away their women and little children,
265αὐτούς τʼ ἔκτεινον· τάχα δʼ ἐς πόλιν ἵκετʼ ἀϋτή.and killed the men; and quickly the outcry reached the city.
οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀΐοντες ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφινAnd they, hearing the shouting, at the showing of Dawn
ἦλθον· πλῆτο δὲ πᾶν πεδίον πεζῶν τε καὶ ἵππωνcame; and the whole plain was filled with foot soldiers and horses
χαλκοῦ τε στεροπῆς· ἐν δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνοςand the flash of bronze; and Zeus who delights in thunder
φύζαν ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι κακὴν βάλεν, οὐδέ τις ἔτληcast a foul panic upon my companions, and none dared
270μεῖναι ἐναντίβιον· περὶ γὰρ κακὰ πάντοθεν ἔστη.to stand and face them; for evils encircled them on every side.
ἔνθʼ ἡμέων πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,There they killed many of us with the sharp bronze,
τοὺς δʼ ἄναγον ζωούς, σφίσιν ἐργάζεσθαι ἀνάγκῃ.and others they led away alive, to labor for them under compulsion.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὧδε νόημαBut into my heart Zeus himself put this thought—
ποίησʼ—ὡς ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖνwould that I had died and met my fate
275αὐτοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ· ἔτι γάρ νύ με πῆμʼ ὑπέδεκτο—there in Egypt, for still more grief awaited me—
αὐτίκʼ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκαat once I took the well-made helmet from my head
καὶ σάκος ὤμοιϊν, δόρυ δʼ ἔκβαλον ἔκτοσε χειρός·and the shield from my shoulders, and cast the spear from my hand;
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βασιλῆος ἐναντίον ἤλυθον ἵππωνand I went to face the king's horses
καὶ κύσα γούναθʼ ἑλών· ὁδʼ ἐρύσατο καί μʼ ἐλέησεν,and clasped and kissed his knees; and he saved me and pitied me,
280ἐς δίφρον δέ μʼ ἕσας ἄγεν οἴκαδε δάκρυ χέοντα.and setting me in his chariot he led me home as I wept.
ἦ μέν μοι μάλα πολλοὶ ἐπήϊσσον μελίῃσιν,Truly very many rushed at me with their ash-wood spears,
ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι—δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην—eager to kill me—for they were exceedingly enraged—
ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ κεῖνος ἔρυκε, Διὸς δʼ ὠπίζετο μῆνινbut he held them off, and dreaded the wrath of Zeus,
ξεινίου, ὅς τε μάλιστα νεμεσσᾶται κακὰ ἔργα.the stranger's god, who most of all resents evil deeds.
285ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον αὐτόθι, πολλὰ δʼ
ἄγειραThere I remained seven years, and gathered much
χρήματʼ ἀνʼ Αἰγυπτίους ἄνδρας· δίδοσαν γὰρ ἅπαντες.wealth among the Egyptian men, for all of them gave to me.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὄγδοόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,But when the eighth year came circling round to me,
δὴ τότε Φοῖνιξ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ ἀπατήλια εἰδώς,then there came a Phoenician man, skilled in deceits,
τρώκτης, ὃς δὴ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ἐώργει·a gnawer of others, who had done many evils to men,
290ὅς μʼ ἄγε παρπεπιθὼν ᾗσι φρεσίν, ὄφρʼ ἱκόμεσθαwho persuaded me with his cunning, until we reached
Φοινίκην, ὅθι τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματʼ ἔκειτο.Phoenicia, where his house and possessions lay.
ἔνθα παρʼ αὐτῷ μεῖνα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν.There I stayed beside him for a full year's turning.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντοBut when the months and days had reached their completion,
ἄψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,as the year came round again and the seasons returned,
295ἐς Λιβύην μʼ ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐέσσατο ποντοπόροιοhe set me on a seagoing ship bound for Libya,
ψεύδεα βουλεύσας, ἵνα οἱ σὺν φόρτον ἄγοιμι,plotting his lies, so that I might convey the cargo with him,
κεῖθι δέ μʼ ὡς περάσειε καὶ ἄσπετον ὦνον ἕλοιτο.but there he meant to sell me and take an untold price.
τῷ ἑπόμην ἐπὶ νηός, ὀϊόμενός περ, ἀνάγκῃ.With him I sailed on the ship, though I suspected him, by necessity.
ἡ δʼ ἔθεεν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ ἀκραέϊ καλῷ,And she ran before the North Wind, fresh and fair,
300μέσσον ὑπὲρ Κρήτης· Ζεὺς δέ σφισι μήδετʼ ὄλεθρον.straight over the middle of Crete; but Zeus devised their ruin.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Κρήτην μὲν ἐλείπομεν, οὐδέ τις ἄλληBut when we had left Crete behind, and no other
φαίνετο γαιάων, ἀλλʼ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα,land appeared, but only sky and sea,
δὴ τότε κυανέην νεφέλην ἔστησε Κρονίωνthen the son of Cronos set a dark cloud
νηὸς ὕπερ γλαφυρῆς, ἤχλυσε δὲ πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.above the hollow ship, and the sea grew dim beneath it.
305Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμυδις βρόντησε καὶ ἔμβαλε νηῒ κεραυνόν·And Zeus thundered all at once and hurled his bolt at the ship;
ἡ δʼ ἐλελίχθη πᾶσα Διὸς πληγεῖσα κεραυνῷ,and she reeled through her whole length, struck by the bolt of Zeus,
ἐν δὲ θεείου πλῆτο· πέσον δʼ ἐκ νηὸς ἅπαντες.and was filled with sulphur; and all fell from the ship.
οἱ δὲ κορώνῃσιν ἴκελοι περὶ νῆα μέλαινανAnd they, like sea-crows, about the black ship
κύμασιν ἐμφορέοντο· θεὸς δʼ ἀποαίνυτο νόστον.were borne upon the waves; the god took away their homecoming.
310αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς αὐτός, ἔχοντί περ ἄλγεα θυμῷ,But for me Zeus himself, though I had grief in my heart,
ἱστὸν ἀμαιμάκετον νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιοput the vast mast of the dark-prowed ship
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ὅπως ἔτι πῆμα φύγοιμι.into my hands, so that I might yet escape ruin.
τῷ ῥα περιπλεχθεὶς φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν.Wrapped around it, I was carried by the deadly winds.
ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην, δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃNine days I was carried, and on the tenth, in the black night,
315γαίῃ Θεσπρωτῶν πέλασεν μέγα κῦμα κυλίνδον.a great rolling wave brought me near the land of the Thesprotians.
ἔνθα με Θεσπρωτῶν βασιλεὺς ἐκομίσσατο ΦείδωνThere the king of the Thesprotians, the hero Pheidon,
ἥρως ἀπριάτην· τοῦ γὰρ φίλος υἱὸς ἐπελθὼνtook me in without price; for his own dear son came upon me
αἴθρῳ καὶ καμάτῳ δεδμημένον ἦγεν ἐς οἶκον,worn down by cold and weariness, and led me to his home,
χειρὸς ἀναστήσας, ὄφρʼ ἵκετο δώματα πατρός·raising me up by the hand, until he reached his father's house;
320ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσεν.and he clothed me in garments, a cloak and a tunic.
ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ πυθόμην· κεῖνος γὰρ ἔφασκεThere I learned of Odysseus; for the king declared
ξεινίσαι ἠδὲ φιλῆσαι ἰόντʼ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,he had received and welcomed him on his way to his native land,
καί μοι κτήματʼ ἔδειξεν ὅσα ξυναγείρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,and he showed me the treasures Odysseus had gathered,
χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε πολύκμητόν τε σίδηρον.bronze and gold and iron wrought with much labor.
325καί νύ ἐς δεκάτην γενεὴν ἕτερόν γʼ ἔτι βόσκοι·These would feed another man down to the tenth generation,
τόσσα οἱ ἐν μεγάροις κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος.so great were the heirlooms lying there in the king's halls.
τὸν δʼ ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖοBut Odysseus, he said, had gone to Dodona, to hear
ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,from the high-leafed oak the counsel of Zeus,
ὅππως νοστήσειʼ Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμονhow he might return to the rich land of Ithaca,
330ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.now so long away, whether openly or in secret.
ὤμοσε δὲ πρὸς ἔμʼ αὐτόν, ἀποσπένδων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,And he swore to me himself, pouring libation in his house,
νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,that a ship was hauled down and the crew were ready,
οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.who would convey him to his own native land.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ πρὶν ἀπέπεμψε· τύχησε γὰρ ἐρχομένη νηῦςBut he sent me off first; for a ship of Thesprotian men
335ἀνδρῶν Θεσπρωτῶν ἐς Δουλίχιον πολύπυρον.chanced to be sailing for Dulichion rich in wheat.
ἔνθʼ ὅ γέ μʼ ἠνώγει πέμψαι βασιλῆϊ ἈκάστῳThere he ordered them to bring me to king Acastus
ἐνδυκέως· τοῖσιν δὲ κακὴ φρεσὶν ἥνδανε βουλὴwith kindly care; but an evil plan pleased their hearts
ἀμφʼ ἐμοί, ὄφρʼ ἔτι πάγχυ δύης ἐπὶ πῆμα γενοίμην.concerning me, that I might still come to utter depths of misery.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε γαίης πολλὸν ἀπέπλω ποντοπόρος νηῦς,But when the seafaring ship had sailed far from the land,
340αὐτίκα δούλιον ἦμαρ ἐμοὶ περιμηχανόωντο.at once they contrived for me the day of slavery.
ἐκ μέν με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματʼ ἔδυσαν,They stripped me of my clothes, the cloak and the tunic,
ἀμφὶ δέ μοι ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,and cast about me another wretched rag and tunic,
ῥωγαλέα, τὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὅρηαι·tattered, the very ones you see now with your own eyes.
ἑσπέριοι δʼ Ἰθάκης εὐδειέλου ἔργʼ ἀφίκοντο.And at evening they reached the tilled fields of clear-seen Ithaca.
345ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν κατέδησαν ἐϋσσέλμῳ ἐνὶ νηῒThere they bound me fast in the well-benched ship
ὅπλῳ ἐϋστρεφέϊ στερεῶς, αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀποβάντεςwith a well-twisted rope, and going ashore themselves
ἐσσυμένως παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης δόρπον ἕλοντο.they hastily took their supper by the shore of the sea.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν μὲν ἀνέγναμψαν θεοὶ αὐτοὶBut the gods themselves loosened my bonds for me
ῥηϊδίως· κεφαλῇ δὲ κατὰ ῥάκος ἀμφικαλύψας,with ease; and wrapping the rag about my head,
350ξεστὸν ἐφόλκαιον καταβὰς ἐπέλασσα θαλάσσῃI slid down the polished steering-oar and brought my breast
στῆθος, ἔπειτα δὲ χερσὶ διήρεσσʼ ἀμφοτέρῃσιnear to the sea, then rowed with both my hands,
νηχόμενος, μάλα δʼ ὦκα θύρηθʼ ἔα ἀμφὶς ἐκείνων.swimming, and very soon I was out of the water, away from them.
ἔνθʼ ἀναβάς, ὅθι τε δρίος ἦν πολυανθέος ὕλης,Then coming up where the copse of the flowering wood was,
κείμην πεπτηώς. οἱ δὲ μεγάλα στενάχοντεςI lay down crouching. And they with loud groaning
355φοίτων· ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ σφιν ἐφαίνετο κέρδιον εἶναιwent to and fro; but since it seemed no better gain to them
μαίεσθαι προτέρω, τοὶ μὲν πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαινονto search any farther, they went back again
νηὸς ἔπι γλαφυρῆς· ἐμὲ δʼ ἔκρυψαν θεοὶ αὐτοὶaboard their hollow ship; and the gods themselves hid me
ῥηϊδίως, καί με σταθμῷ ἐπέλασσαν ἄγοντεςwith ease, and leading me they brought me to the steading
ἀνδρὸς ἐπισταμένου· ἔτι γάρ νύ μοι αἶσα βιῶναι.of a knowing man; for it is still my lot to live.
360τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·Then answering him you spoke, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ἆ δειλὲ ξείνων, ἦ μοι μάλα θυμὸν ὄριναςAh, luckless stranger, truly you have stirred my heart
ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἠδʼ ὅσʼ ἀλήθης.telling all these things, how much you suffered and how far you wandered.
ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ὀΐομαι, οὐδέ με πείσειςBut this, I think, is not in order, and you will not persuade me
εἰπὼν ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ· τί σε χρὴ τοῖον ἐόνταspeaking of Odysseus; why should a man like you
365μαψιδίως ψεύδεσθαι; ἐγὼ δʼ εὖ οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸςlie so idly? I myself know well enough
νόστον ἐμοῖο ἄνακτος, ὅ τʼ ἤχθετο πᾶσι θεοῖσιthe homecoming of my master—that he was hated by all the gods
πάγχυ μάλʼ, ὅττι μιν οὔ τι μετὰ Τρώεσσι δάμασσανutterly, since they never brought him down among the Trojans
ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσε.nor in the hands of his friends, once he had wound up the war.
τῷ κέν οἱ τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,Then all the Achaeans would have made a barrow for him,
370ἠδέ κε καὶ ᾧ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρατʼ ὀπίσσωand for his son too he would have won great glory hereafter;
νῦν δέ μιν ἀκλειῶς ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο.but now without glory the storm-winds have snatched him away.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ παρʼ ὕεσσιν ἀπότροπος· οὐδὲ πόλινδεAs for me, I keep apart with my swine; nor do I go
ἔρχομαι, εἰ μή πού τι περίφρων Πηνελόπειαinto the city, unless perhaps prudent Penelope
ἐλθέμεν ὀτρύνῃσιν, ὅτʼ ἀγγελίη ποθὲν ἔλθῃ.bids me come, when some message arrives from somewhere.
375ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα παρήμενοι ἐξερέουσιν,Then they sit beside the messenger and question him on every point,
ἠμὲν οἳ ἄχνυνται δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος,both those who grieve for the master long gone away,
ἠδʼ οἳ χαίρουσιν βίοτον νήποινον ἔδοντες·and those who rejoice, eating up his livelihood unpunished.
ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ οὐ φίλον ἐστὶ μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,But it is no delight to me to inquire and ask,
ἐξ οὗ δή μʼ Αἰτωλὸς ἀνὴρ ἐξήπαφε μύθῳ,ever since an Aetolian man deceived me with a story,
380ὅς ῥʼ ἄνδρα κτείνας, πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀληθείς,who, having killed a man and wandered over much land,
ἦλθεν ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματʼ· ἐγὼ δέ μιν ἀμφαγάπαζον.came to my house; and I gave him a warm welcome.
φῆ δέ μιν ἐν Κρήτεσσι παρʼ Ἰδομενῆϊ ἰδέσθαιHe said he had seen him in Crete with Idomeneus,
νῆας ἀκειόμενον, τάς οἱ ξυνέαξαν ἄελλαι·mending his ships that the storm-winds had shattered for him;
καὶ φάτʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι ἢ ἐς θέρος ἢ ἐς ὀπώρην,and he said he would come, either by summer or by harvest-time,
385πολλὰ χρήματʼ ἄγοντα, σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι.bringing much wealth, along with his godlike companions.
καὶ σύ, γέρον πολυπενθές, ἐπεί σέ μοι ἤγαγε δαίμων,So you too, old man of many sorrows, since some god has led you to me,
μήτε τί μοι ψεύδεσσι χαρίζεο μήτε τι θέλγε·do not try to please me with lies, nor charm me at all;
οὐ γὰρ τοὔνεκʼ ἐγώ σʼ αἰδέσσομαι οὐδὲ φιλήσω,for it is not for that I will respect and befriend you,
ἀλλὰ Δία ξένιον δείσας αὐτόν τʼ ἐλεαίρων.but out of fear of Zeus the guardian of guests, and pity for yourself.
390τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις ὈδυσσεύςThen in answer resourceful Odysseus spoke to him:
ἦ μάλα τίς τοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἄπιστος,Truly the heart within your breast is very distrustful,
οἷόν σʼ οὐδʼ ὀμόσας περ ἐπήγαγον οὐδέ σε πείθω.that not even with an oath could I bring you round, nor persuade you.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ῥήτρην ποιησόμεθʼ· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεBut come now, let us make a compact; and hereafter
μάρτυροι ἀμφοτέροισι θεοί, τοὶ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.let the gods who hold Olympus be witnesses to us both.
395εἰ μέν κεν νοστήσῃ ἄναξ τεὸς ἐς τόδε δῶμα,If your master comes back home to this house,
ἕσσας με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα πέμψαιdress me in a cloak and a tunic and send me on my way
Δουλίχιόνδʼ ἰέναι, ὅθι μοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·to Dulichium, where it is dear to my heart to go;
εἰ δέ κε μὴ ἔλθῃσιν ἄναξ τεὸς ὡς ἀγορεύω,but if your master does not come as I declare,
δμῶας ἐπισσεύας βαλέειν μεγάλης κατὰ πέτρης,set your servants on me and throw me down from a great rock,
400ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλος πτωχὸς ἀλεύεται ἠπεροπεύειν.so that another beggar too may beware of deceiving.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε δῖος ὑφορβός·Then in answer the godlike swineherd spoke to him:
ξεῖνʼ, οὕτω γάρ κέν μοι ἐϋκλείη τʼ ἀρετή τεStranger, so would good repute and virtue be mine
εἴη ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους ἅμα τʼ αὐτίκα καὶ μετέπειτα,among men, both now at once and hereafter,
ὅς σʼ ἐπεὶ ἐς κλισίην ἄγαγον καὶ ξείνια δῶκα,if, after I led you to my hut and gave you guest-gifts,
405αὖτις δὲ κτείναιμι φίλον τʼ ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλοίμην·I then were to kill you and take away your dear life:
πρόφρων κεν δὴ ἔπειτα Δία Κρονίωνα λιτοίμην.gladly indeed would I after that pray to Zeus, son of Cronos.
νῦν δʼ ὥρη δόρποιο· τάχιστά μοι ἔνδον ἑταῖροιBut now is the hour for supper; and soon may my companions
εἶεν, ἵνʼ ἐν κλισίῃ λαρὸν τετυκοίμεθα δόρπον.be indoors, so that we may make a savory supper in the hut.
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,So they spoke such things to one another,
410ἀγχίμολον δὲ σύες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἦλθον ὑφορβοί.and near at hand came the swine and the herdsmen.
τὰς μὲν ἄρα ἔρξαν κατὰ ἤθεα κοιμηθῆναι,These they penned to sleep in their accustomed places,
κλαγγὴ δʼ ἄσπετος ὦρτο συῶν αὐλιζομενάωνand a boundless clamor rose from the swine bedding down.
αὐτὰρ ὁ οἷς ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο δῖος ὑφορβός·But the godlike swineherd called out to his companions:
ἄξεθʼ ὑῶν τὸν ἄριστον, ἵνα ξείνῳ ἱερεύσωBring me the best of the boars, so I may slaughter it for the stranger
415τηλεδαπῷ· πρὸς δʼ αὐτοὶ ὀνησόμεθʼ, οἵ περ ὀϊζὺνfrom far away; and we ourselves will profit too, we who have long
δὴν ἔχομεν πάσχοντες ὑῶν ἕνεκʼ ἀργιοδόντων·endured hardship, suffering for the sake of the white-tusked swine,
ἄλλοι δʼ ἡμέτερον κάματον νήποινον ἔδουσιν.while others devour the fruit of our labor unpunished.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κέασε ξύλα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,So speaking he split wood with the pitiless bronze,
οἱ δʼ ὗν εἰσῆγον μάλα πίονα πενταέτηρον.and they led in a boar, five years old and very fat.
420τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἔστησαν ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ· οὐδὲ συβώτηςThen they set it by the hearth; nor did the swineherd
λήθετʼ ἄρʼ ἀθανάτων· φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητʼ ἀγαθῇσιν·forget the immortals, for his mind was set on good things:
ἀλλʼ ὅγʼ ἀπαρχόμενος κεφαλῆς τρίχας ἐν πυρὶ βάλλενbut as a first offering he cast into the fire the bristles from the head
ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, καὶ ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσινof the white-tusked boar, and prayed to all the gods
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.that Odysseus of many counsels might return to his own home.
425κόψε δʼ ἀνασχόμενος σχίζῃ δρυός, ἣν λίπε κείων·Then he struck it, lifting an oak billet he had left when splitting;
τὸν δʼ ἔλιπε ψυχή. τοὶ δʼ ἔσφαξάν τε καὶ εὗσαν·and the life left it. They cut its throat and singed it,
αἶψα δέ μιν διέχευαν· ὁ δʼ ὠμοθετεῖτο συβώτης,and quickly they carved it up; and the swineherd laid raw pieces,
πάντων ἀρχόμενος μελέων, ἐς πίονα δημόν,beginning from all the limbs, into the rich fat,
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν πυρὶ βάλλε, παλύνας ἀλφίτου ἀκτῇ,and these he cast into the fire, sprinkled with barley meal,
430μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,and the rest they cut small and pierced upon the spits,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα,and roasted it carefully and drew it all off,
βάλλον δʼ εἰν ἐλεοῖσιν ἀολλέα· ἂν δὲ συβώτηςand threw it in a heap on the platters; and the swineherd
ἵστατο δαιτρεύσων· περὶ γὰρ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα ᾔδη.stood up to divide it, for in his mind he knew what was fair.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἕπταχα πάντα διεμοιρᾶτο δαΐζων·And carving, he apportioned it all into seven parts:
435τὴν μὲν ἴαν νύμφῃσι καὶ Ἑρμῇ, Μαιάδος υἱεῖ,one he set aside with a prayer for the nymphs and Hermes, son of Maia,
θῆκεν ἐπευξάμενος, τὰς δʼ ἄλλας νεῖμεν ἑκάστῳ·and the others he distributed to each man;
νώτοισιν δʼ Ὀδυσῆα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρενbut Odysseus he honored with the long chines
ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, κύδαινε δὲ θυμὸν ἄνακτος·of the white-tusked boar, and gladdened the heart of his master;
καί μιν φωνήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·and speaking to him resourceful Odysseus said:
440αἴθʼ οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιοWould, Eumaeus, that you might be as dear to Zeus the father
ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι τε τοῖον ἐόντʼ ἀγαθοῖσι γεραίρεις.as you are to me, since even in this state you honor me with good things.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·Then, swineherd Eumaeus, you answered him and said:
ἔσθιε, δαιμόνιε ξείνων, καὶ τέρπεο τοῖσδε,Eat, strange guest, and take pleasure in what is here,
οἷα πάρεστι· θεὸς δὲ τὸ μὲν δώσει, τὸ δʼ ἐάσει,such as it is; the god will give one thing, and let another pass,
445ὅττι κεν ᾧ θυμῷ ἐθέλῃ· δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα.whatever he wishes in his heart; for he can do all things.
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄργματα θῦσε θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσι,So he spoke, and offered the first portions to the gods everlasting,
σπείσας δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον Ὀδυσσῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳand poured a libation of gleaming wine, and into the hands
ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν· ὁ δʼ ἕζετο ᾗ παρὰ μοίρῃ.of Odysseus the sacker of cities he set the cup; and he sat by his share.
σῖτον δέ σφιν ἔνειμε Μεσαύλιος, ὅν ῥα συβώτηςAnd Mesaulius served them bread, whom the swineherd
450αὐτὸς κτήσατο οἶος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,had himself acquired, alone, while his master was away,
νόσφιν δεσποίνης καὶ Λαέρταο γέροντος·apart from his mistress and the old man Laertes;
πὰρ δʼ ἄρα μιν Ταφίων πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.from the Taphians he had bought him with his own possessions.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.And they reached out their hands to the good things set ready before them.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,But when they had put away the desire for drink and food,
455σῖτον μέν σφιν ἀφεῖλε Μεσαύλιος, οἱ δʼ ἐπὶ κοῖτονMesaulius took the bread from them, and they hastened to their beds
σίτου καὶ κρειῶν κεκορημένοι ἐσσεύοντο.filled full with bread and meat.
νὺξ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῆλθε κακὴ σκοτομήνιος, ὗε δʼ ἄρα
ΖεὺςAnd an evil night came on, moonless and dark, and Zeus rained
πάννυχος, αὐτὰρ ἄη Ζέφυρος μέγας αἰὲν ἔφυδρος.all night long, and the great West Wind blew, ever wet.
τοῖς δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,And to them Odysseus spoke, making trial of the swineherd,
460εἴ πώς οἱ ἐκδὺς χλαῖναν πόροι, ἤ τινʼ ἑταίρωνto see whether he would strip off his cloak and give it, or urge
ἄλλον ἐποτρύνειεν, ἐπεί ἑο κήδετο λίην·some other of his comrades, since he cared for him so greatly:
κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες
ἑταῖροι,Listen to me now, Eumaeus, and all you other comrades,
εὐξάμενός τι ἔπος ἐρέω· οἶνος γὰρ ἀνώγειI will speak a word with a boast; for the wine bids me,
ἠλεός, ὅς τʼ ἐφέηκε πολύφρονά περ μάλʼ ἀεῖσαιthe maddening wine, which sets even a very prudent man to singing,
465καί θʼ ἁπαλὸν γελάσαι, καί τʼ ὀρχήσασθαι ἀνῆκε,and to laughing softly, and stirs him up to dance,
καί τι ἔπος προέηκεν ὅ περ τʼ ἄρρητον ἄμεινον.and lets slip some word that were better left unsaid.
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τὸ πρῶτον ἀνέκραγον, οὐκ ἐπικεύσω.But since I have blurted it out, I will not now conceal it.
εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη,Would that I were young and my strength were firm within me,
ὡς ὅθʼ ὑπὸ Τροίην λόχον ἤγομεν ἀρτύναντες.as when we set an ambush and led it beneath the walls of Troy.
470ἡγείσθην δʼ Ὀδυσεύς τε καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος,Odysseus and Menelaus son of Atreus led the way,
τοῖσι δʼ ἅμα τρίτος ἄρχον ἐγών· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἄνωγον.and along with them I was third in command; for they themselves bade me.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἱκόμεσθα ποτὶ πτόλιν αἰπύ τε τεῖχος,But when we had come up to the city and the steep wall,
ἡμεῖς μὲν περὶ ἄστυ κατὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά,we lay around the town, down among the thick brushwood,
ἂν δόνακας καὶ ἕλος, ὑπὸ τεύχεσι πεπτηῶτεςamong the reeds and the marsh, crouched under our armor,
475κείμεθα. νὺξ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπῆλθε κακὴ Βορέαο πεσόντος,lying there. And an evil night came on when the North Wind fell,
πηγυλίς· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε χιὼν γένετʼ ἠΰτε πάχνη,frosty; and from above snow came down like hoarfrost,
ψυχρή, καὶ σακέεσσι περιτρέφετο κρύσταλλος.cold, and the ice was forming around our shields.
ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι πάντες χλαίνας ἔχον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,There all the others had cloaks and tunics,
εὗδον δʼ εὔκηλοι, σάκεσιν εἰλυμένοι ὤμους·and slept at ease, their shoulders wrapped in their shields;
480αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χλαῖναν μὲν ἰὼν ἑτάροισιν ἔλειπονbut I, when I set out, had left my cloak with my comrades,
ἀφραδίῃς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐφάμην ῥιγωσέμεν ἔμπης,through folly, since I did not think I would freeze at all,
ἀλλʼ ἑπόμην σάκος οἶον ἔχων καὶ ζῶμα φαεινόν.but followed with only my shield and my gleaming war-belt.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τρίχα νυκτὸς ἔην, μετὰ δʼ ἄστρα βεβήκει,But when it was the third watch of night, and the stars had crossed over,
καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼν Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδων ἐγγὺς ἐόνταthen I spoke to Odysseus, who lay close beside me,
485ἀγκῶνι νύξας· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐμμαπέως ὑπάκουσε·nudging him with my elbow; and he heard me at once:
διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,"Son of Laertes, sprung from Zeus, resourceful Odysseus,
οὔ τοι ἔτι ζωοῖσι μετέσσομαι, ἀλλά με χεῖμαI shall no longer be among the living; the winter storm
δάμναται· οὐ γὰρ ἔχω χλαῖναν· παρά μʼ ἤπαφε δαίμωνmasters me; for I have no cloak. Some god has tricked me
οἰοχίτωνʼ ἔμεναι· νῦν δʼ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλονται.into coming in my tunic only; now there is no escape."
490ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δʼ ἔπειτα νόον σχέθε τόνδʼ ἐνὶ
θυμῷ,So I spoke, and then he seized on this thought in his heart,
οἷος κεῖνος ἔην βουλευέμεν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι·such a man as he was for planning and for battle;
φθεγξάμενος δʼ ὀλίγῃ ὀπί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·and speaking in a low voice he said to me these words:
σίγα νῦν, μή τίς σευ Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἀκούσῃ.'Be silent now, lest some other Achaean hear you.'
ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνος κεφαλὴν σχέθεν εἶπέ τε
μῦθον·He spoke, and propped his head on his elbow and said these words:
495κλῦτε, φίλοι· θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειρος.'Listen, friends: a dream came to me in my sleep, sent from a god.
λίην γὰρ νηῶν ἑκὰς ἤλθομεν· ἀλλά τις εἴηWe have come too far from the ships; let someone go
εἰπεῖν Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι, ποιμένι λαῶν,and tell Agamemnon son of Atreus, shepherd of the people,
εἰ πλέονας παρὰ ναῦφιν ἐποτρύνειε νέεσθαι.to urge more men to come from beside the ships.'
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα Θόας, Ἀνδραίμονος
υἱός,So he spoke, and then Thoas, the son of Andraemon, sprang up
500καρπαλίμως, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν θέτο φοινικόεσσαν,swiftly, and cast off his purple cloak,
βῆ δὲ θέειν ἐπὶ νῆας· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐνὶ εἵματι κείνουand set off running to the ships; and I in his garment
κείμην ἀσπασίως, φάε δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἠώς.lay glad, and Dawn on her golden throne shone forth.
ὣς νῦν ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·Would I were young like that now, and my strength unbroken!
δοίη κέν τις χλαῖναν ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσι συφορβῶν,Then one of the swineherds in the steadings would give me a cloak,
505ἀμφότερον, φιλότητι καὶ αἰδοῖ φωτὸς ἑῆος·for both reasons, in friendship and in respect for a good man;
νῦν δέ μʼ ἀτιμάζουσι κακὰ χροῒ εἵματʼ ἔχοντα.but as it is they scorn me, wearing base rags on my body."
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα·Then you answered him and spoke, Eumaeus the swineherd:
ὦ γέρον, αἶνος μέν τοι ἀμύμων, ὃν κατέλεξας,"Old man, the tale you have told is beyond reproach,
οὐδέ τί πω παρὰ μοῖραν ἔπος νηκερδὲς ἔειπες·nor have you yet said a word out of place or unprofitable;
510τῷ οὔτʼ ἐσθῆτος δευήσεαι οὔτε τευ ἄλλου,so you shall lack neither clothing nor anything else
ὧν ἐπέοιχʼ ἱκέτην ταλαπείριον ἀντιάσαντα,that befits a long-suffering suppliant who comes before us,
νῦν· ἀτὰρ ἠῶθέν γε τὰ σὰ ῥάκεα δνοπαλίξεις.for now; but at dawn you must shake out your own rags again.
οὐ γὰρ πολλαὶ χλαῖναι ἐπημοιβοί τε χιτῶνεςFor there are not many cloaks here, nor changes of tunics
ἐνθάδε ἕννυσθαι, μία δʼ οἴη φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ.to put on, but one only for each man.
515αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,But when the dear son of Odysseus comes,
αὐτός τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα δώσει,he himself will give you a cloak and a tunic for garments,
πέμψει δʼ ὅππῃ σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει.and send you wherever your heart and spirit bid you."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνόρουσε, τίθει δʼ ἄρα οἱ πυρὸς ἐγγὺςSo speaking he sprang up, and set close beside the fire
εὐνήν, ἐν δʼ ὀΐων τε καὶ αἰγῶν δέρματʼ ἔβαλλεν.a bed for him, and threw over it the skins of sheep and goats.
520ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κατέλεκτʼ· ἐπὶ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλεν αὐτῷThere Odysseus lay down, and over him he cast a cloak
πυκνὴν καὶ μεγάλην, ἥ οἱ παρεκέσκετʼ ἀμοιβάς,thick and large, which lay beside him as a change of clothing,
ἕννυσθαι ὅτε τις χειμὼν ἔκπαγλος ὄροιτο.to put on whenever some terrible storm should rise.
ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς κοιμήσατο, τοὶ δὲ παρʼ
αὐτὸνSo there Odysseus lay down to sleep, and beside him
ἄνδρες κοιμήσαντο νεηνίαι· οὐδὲ συβώτῃthe young men lay down to sleep; but the swineherd
525ἥνδανεν αὐτόθι κοῖτος, ὑῶν ἄπο κοιμηθῆναι,had no liking for a bed there, apart from the swine,
ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἔξω ἰὼν ὡπλίζετο· χαῖρε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,but he went out and armed himself; and Odysseus rejoiced
ὅττι ῥά οἱ βιότου περικήδετο νόσφιν ἐόντος.that he cared so for his master's living while he was away.
πρῶτον μὲν ξίφος ὀξὺ περὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετʼ ὤμοις,First he slung the sharp sword about his powerful shoulders,
ἀμφὶ δὲ χλαῖναν ἑέσσατʼ ἀλεξάνεμον, μάλα πυκνήν,and wrapped a cloak around him to keep off the wind, very thick,
530ἂν δὲ νάκην ἕλετʼ αἰγὸς ἐϋτρεφέος μεγάλοιο,and took up the fleece of a great, well-nourished goat,
εἵλετο δʼ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν.and seized a sharp javelin, a defense against dogs and men.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεναι κείων ὅθι περ σύες ἀργιόδοντεςAnd he went off to lie down where the white-tusked swine
πέτρῃ ὕπο γλαφυρῇ εὗδον, Βορέω ὑπʼ ἰωγῇ.were sleeping beneath a hollow rock, out of the North Wind's blast.