1αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,But there in the hall stayed godlike Odysseus,
μνηστήρεσσι φόνον σὺν Ἀθήνῃ μερμηρίζων·plotting with Athena the slaughter of the suitors;
αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and at once he spoke winged words to Telemachus:
Τηλέμαχε, χρὴ τεύχεʼ ἀρήϊα κατθέμεν εἴσω"Telemachus, we must store the weapons of war within,
5πάντα μάλʼ· αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσιall of them; and put off the suitors with soft words
παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·when they miss the arms and ask you about them:
ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκειsay, 'I stowed them from the smoke, since no longer did they seem
οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,those Odysseus left behind when he went off to Troy,
ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετʼ ἀϋτμή.but are fouled, so far as the breath of fire has reached them.
10πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἔβαλε δαίμωνAnd besides, a god has cast this greater fear into my heart:
μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,that somehow, deep in wine, you might start a quarrel among you
ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖταand wound each other and disgrace the feast
καὶ μνηστύν· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.and the courtship; for iron itself draws a man on.'"
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,So he spoke, and Telemachus obeyed his dear father,
15ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν·and calling out he addressed the nurse Eurycleia:
μαῖʼ, ἄγε δή μοι ἔρυξον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι
γυναῖκας,"Nurse, come now, hold the women back within the halls,
ὄφρα κεν ἐς θάλαμον καταθείομαι ἔντεα πατρὸςuntil I stow away in the storeroom my father's
καλά, τά μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἀκηδέα καπνὸς ἀμέρδειfine arms, which throughout the house the smoke, uncared for, tarnishes
πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο· ἐγὼ δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.now my father is gone; I was still a child.
20νῦν δʼ ἐθέλω καταθέσθαι, ἵνʼ οὐ πυρὸς ἵξετʼ ἀϋτμή.Now I want to store them where the breath of fire will not reach."
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια·Then his dear nurse Eurycleia answered him:
αἲ γὰρ δή ποτε, τέκνον, ἐπιφροσύνας ἀνέλοιο"Ah, if only, child, you would take up such good sense
οἴκου κήδεσθαι καὶ κτήματα πάντα φυλάσσειν.to care for the house and guard all its possessions.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, τίς τοι ἔπειτα μετοιχομένη φάος οἴσει;But come, who then will go with you and carry the light?
25δμῳὰς δʼ οὐκ εἴας προβλωσκέμεν, αἵ κεν ἔφαινον.You would not let the maids come forward who might light your way."
τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus answered her in turn:
ξεῖνος ὅδʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἀεργὸν ἀνέξομαι ὅς κεν ἐμῆς γε"This stranger here; for I will not endure an idle man
χοίνικος ἅπτηται, καὶ τηλόθεν εἰληλουθώς.who touches my ration of bread, though he has come from far."
ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος.So he spoke, and no winged answer came from her.
30κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.She barred the doors of the well-built halls.
τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξαντʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱὸςThen the two of them sprang up, Odysseus and his shining son,
ἐσφόρεον κόρυθάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας ὀμφαλοέσσαςand carried in the helmets and the bossed shields
ἔγχεά τʼ ὀξυόεντα· πάροιθε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,and the sharp spears; and before them Pallas Athena,
χρύσεον λύχνον ἔχουσα, φάος περικαλλὲς ἐποίει.holding a golden lamp, made a most beautiful light.
35δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρʼ αἶψα·Then at once Telemachus spoke to his father:
ὦ πάτερ, ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν
ὁρῶμαι."Father, truly this is a great marvel my eyes behold.
ἔμπης μοι τοῖχοι μεγάρων καλαί τε μεσόδμαι,Surely the walls of the halls and the fair crossbeams
εἰλάτιναί τε δοκοί, καὶ κίονες ὑψόσʼ ἔχοντεςand the pine roof-beams and the pillars towering high
φαίνοντʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς ὡς εἰ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο.shine to my eyes as if with blazing fire.
40ἦ μάλα τις θεὸς ἔνδον, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.Surely some god is within, one of those who hold the wide heaven."
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
σίγα καὶ κατὰ σὸν νόον ἴσχανε μηδʼ ἐρέεινε·"Be silent, hold it in your mind, and do not ask.
αὕτη τοι δίκη ἐστὶ θεῶν, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.This is the way of the gods who hold Olympus.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν κατάλεξαι, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ,But go and lie down, while I stay here behind,
45ὄφρα κʼ ἔτι δμῳὰς καὶ μητέρα σὴν ἐρεθίζω·so that I may yet provoke the maids and your mother;
ἡ δέ μʼ ὀδυρομένη εἰρήσεται ἀμφὶς ἕκαστα.and she in her grieving will ask me of each thing."
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκειSo he spoke, and Telemachus went out through the hall
κείων ἐς θάλαμον, δαΐδων ὕπο λαμπομενάων,to lie down in his chamber, beneath the blazing torches,
ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθʼ, ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι·there where before he slept, when sweet sleep came upon him;
50ἔνθʼ ἄρα καὶ τότʼ ἔλεκτο καὶ Ἠῶ δῖαν ἔμιμνεν.there then he lay down and awaited the bright Dawn.
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,But there in the hall stayed behind godlike Odysseus,
μνηστήρεσσι φόνον σὺν Ἀθήνῃ μερμηρίζων.pondering with Athena the killing of the suitors.
ἡ δʼ ἴεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,Then prudent Penelope came forth from her chamber,
Ἀρτέμιδι ἰκέλη ἠὲ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ.like Artemis or like golden Aphrodite.
55τῇ παρὰ μὲν κλισίην πυρὶ κάτθεσαν, ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ἐφῖζε,For her they set a chair by the fire, where she used to sit,
δινωτὴν ἐλέφαντι καὶ ἀργύρῳ· ἥν ποτε τέκτωνinlaid with ivory and silver, which once a craftsman,
ποίησʼ Ἰκμάλιος, καὶ ὑπὸ θρῆνυν ποσὶν ἧκεIcmalius, had made, and beneath he fixed a footstool for the feet,
προσφυέʼ ἐξ αὐτῆς, ὅθʼ ἐπὶ μέγα βάλλετο κῶας.joined to it, and over it a great fleece was thrown.
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.There then prudent Penelope sat down.
60ἦλθον δὲ δμῳαὶ λευκώλενοι ἐκ μεγάροιο.And the white-armed maids came from the hall.
αἱ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν σῖτον πολὺν ᾕρεον ἠδὲ τραπέζαςThey took away the abundant food and the tables
καὶ δέπα, ἔνθεν ἄρʼ ἄνδρες ὑπερμενέοντες ἔπινον·and the cups from which the overbearing men had drunk;
πῦρ δʼ ἀπὸ λαμπτήρων χαμάδις βάλον, ἄλλα δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῶνthey threw the fire from the braziers to the ground, and heaped upon them
νήησαν ξύλα πολλά, φόως ἔμεν ἠδὲ θέρεσθαι.much fresh wood, to give both light and warmth.
65ἡ δʼ Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνένιπε Μελανθὼ δεύτερον αὖτις·But Melantho reviled Odysseus a second time again:
ξεῖνʼ, ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐνθάδʼ ἀνιήσεις διὰ νύκτα"Stranger, will you still keep troubling us here through the night,
δινεύων κατὰ οἶκον, ὀπιπεύσεις δὲ γυναῖκας;wandering about the house, spying upon the women?
ἀλλʼ ἔξελθε θύραζε, τάλαν, καὶ δαιτὸς ὄνησο·Get out of doors, you wretch, and be content with your meal;
ἢ τάχα καὶ δαλῷ βεβλημένος εἶσθα θύραζε.or soon, struck by a firebrand, you will go out the door."
70τὴν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus, with a dark glance, answered her:
δαιμονίη, τί μοι ὧδʼ ἐπέχεις κεκοτηότι θυμῷ;"Strange woman, why do you assail me so with anger in your heart?
ἦ ὅτι δὴ ῥυπόω, κακὰ δὲ χροῒ εἵματα εἷμαι,Is it because I am filthy, and wear vile clothes on my body,
πτωχεύω δʼ ἀνὰ δῆμον; ἀναγκαίη γὰρ ἐπείγει.and beg through the land? For necessity drives me.
τοιοῦτοι πτωχοὶ καὶ ἀλήμονες ἄνδρες ἔασιSuch are the beggars and the wandering men.
75καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε οἶκον ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔναιονFor once I too dwelt in a house among men,
ὄλβιος ἀφνειὸν καὶ πολλάκι δόσκον ἀλήτῃ,a prosperous man in wealth, and often gave to the wanderer,
τοίῳ ὁποῖος ἔοι καὶ ὅτευ κεχρημένος ἔλθοι·whatever kind he was and with whatever need he came;
ἦσαν δὲ δμῶες μάλα μυρίοι, ἄλλα τε πολλὰand I had slaves past counting, and many other things
οἷσίν τʼ εὖ ζώουσι καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.by which men live well and are called wealthy.
80ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἀλάπαξε Κρονίων· ἤθελε γάρ που·But Zeus the son of Cronos ruined it—for so, I think, he wished—
τῷ νῦν μήποτε καὶ σύ, γύναι, ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ὀλέσσῃςSo now may you too, woman, not one day lose all
ἀγλαΐην, τῇ νῦν γε μετὰ δμῳῇσι κέκασσαι·that splendor in which you now outshine the serving-women;
μή πώς τοι δέσποινα κοτεσσαμένη χαλεπήνῃ,beware lest your mistress, roused to anger, be harsh with you,
ἢ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθῃ· ἔτι γὰρ καὶ ἐλπίδος αἶσα.or Odysseus come home—there is still a portion of hope left.
85εἰ δʼ ὁ μὲν ὣς ἀπόλωλε καὶ οὐκέτι νόστιμός ἐστιν,But if he has perished so, and returns no more,
ἀλλʼ ἤδη παῖς τοῖος Ἀπόλλωνός γε ἕκητι,yet by the grace of Apollo there is now such a son,
Τηλέμαχος· τὸν δʼ οὔ τις ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναικῶνTelemachus; and no woman in the halls
λήθει ἀτασθάλλουσʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τηλίκος ἐστίν.escapes his notice in her reckless ways, since he is no longer a child."
ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ ἤκουσε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,So he spoke, and prudent Penelope heard him,
90ἀμφίπολον δʼ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·and she rebuked the handmaid, and spoke to her and named her:
πάντως, θαρσαλέη, κύον ἀδεές, οὔ τί με
λήθεις"By all means, bold one, shameless bitch, you do not escape me
ἔρδουσα μέγα ἔργον, ὃ σῇ κεφαλῇ ἀναμάξεις·in the great deed you do, which you shall wipe off on your own head;
πάντα γὰρ εὖ ᾔδησθʼ, ἐπεὶ ἐξ ἐμεῦ ἔκλυες αὐτῆςfor you knew all well, since you heard it from my own lips,
ὡς τὸν ξεῖνον ἔμελλον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσινhow I meant, here in my halls, to question the stranger
95ἀμφὶ πόσει εἴρεσθαι, ἐπεὶ πυκινῶς ἀκάχημαι.about my husband, since I grieve without end."
ἦ ῥα καὶ Εὐρυνόμην ταμίην πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·She spoke, and then said a word to Eurynome the housekeeper:
Εὐρυνόμη, φέρε δὴ δίφρον καὶ κῶας ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ,"Eurynome, bring here a chair and a fleece upon it,
ὄφρα καθεζόμενος εἴπῃ ἔπος ἠδʼ ἐπακούσῃso that the stranger, sitting, may speak his word and hear
ὁ ξεῖνος ἐμέθεν· ἐθέλω δέ μιν ἐξερέεσθαι.what I say; for I wish to question him."
100ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡ δὲ μάλʼ ὀτραλέως κατέθηκε φέρουσαSo she spoke, and very quickly the woman brought and set down
δίφρον ἐΰξεστον καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῶας ἔβαλλεν·a polished chair, and cast a fleece upon it;
ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.and there then much-enduring godlike Odysseus sat.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·And prudent Penelope began speaking among them:
ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σε πρῶτον ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·"Stranger, this first I myself will ask of you:
105τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;Who are you, and from where among men? Where is your city and your parents?"
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
ὦ γύναι, οὐκ ἄν τίς σε βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν"Lady, no mortal upon the boundless earth
νεικέοι· ἦ γάρ σευ κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἱκάνει,could find fault with you—for your fame reaches the wide heaven,
ὥς τέ τευ ἢ βασιλῆος ἀμύμονος, ὅς τε θεουδὴςas of some blameless king, who, godfearing,
110ἀνδράσιν ἐν πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἀνάσσωνruling over many strong men,
εὐδικίας ἀνέχῃσι, φέρῃσι δὲ γαῖα μέλαιναupholds justice, and the black earth bears
πυροὺς καὶ κριθάς, βρίθῃσι δὲ δένδρεα καρπῷ,wheat and barley, and the trees are heavy with fruit,
τίκτῃ δʼ ἔμπεδα μῆλα, θάλασσα δὲ παρέχῃ ἰχθῦςand the flocks bring forth steadily, and the sea yields fish
ἐξ εὐηγεσίης, ἀρετῶσι δὲ λαοὶ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ.from his good governance, and the people prosper under him.
115τῷ ἐμὲ νῦν τὰ μὲν ἄλλα μετάλλα σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,So now ask me of all else here in your house,
μηδʼ ἐμὸν ἐξερέεινε γένος καὶ πατρίδα γαῖαν,but do not inquire of my birth and my native land,
μή μοι μᾶλλον θυμὸν ἐνιπλήσῃς ὀδυνάωνlest you fill my heart the more with sorrows
μνησαμένῳ μάλα δʼ εἰμὶ πολύστονος· οὐδέ τί με χρὴas I remember; for I am a man of many griefs; nor is it fitting
οἴκῳ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ γοόωντά τε μυρόμενόν τεin another's house to sit weeping and wailing,
120ἧσθαι, ἐπεὶ κάκιον πενθήμεναι ἄκριτον αἰεί·since it is worse to mourn forever without end.
μή τίς μοι δμῳῶν νεμεσήσεται, ἠὲ σύ γʼ αὐτή,so no maid may hold it against me, nor you yourself,
φῇ δὲ δακρυπλώειν βεβαρηότα με φρένας οἴνῳ.and say I am drowned in tears, my wits heavy with wine.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·Then prudent Penelope answered him:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετὴν εἶδός τε δέμας τεStranger, my excellence, my face and figure both,
125ὤλεσαν ἀθάνατοι, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινονthe immortals destroyed when the Argives embarked
Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ τοῖσι δʼ ἐμὸς πόσις ᾖεν Ὀδυσσεύςfor Ilion, and among them went my husband Odysseus.
εἰ κεῖνός γʼ ἐλθὼν τὸν ἐμὸν βίον ἀμφιπολεύοι,If he could come and tend to my life once more,
μεῖζον κε κλέος εἴη ἐμὸν καὶ κάλλιον οὕτως.greater would be my fame and finer thus.
νῦν δʼ ἄχομαι· τόσα γάρ μοι ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.But now I grieve, so many are the ills a god has heaped on me.
130ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,For all the noblest who hold power over the islands,
Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,over Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus,
οἵ τʼ αὐτὴν Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον ἀμφινέμονται,and those who dwell about clear-skied Ithaca itself,
οἵ μʼ ἀεκαζομένην μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.these court me against my will, and lay waste my house.
τῷ οὔτε ξείνων ἐμπάξομαι οὔθʼ ἱκετάωνSo I give no heed to strangers or to suppliants,
135οὔτε τι κηρύκων, οἳ δημιοεργοὶ ἔασιν·nor to heralds, who are workers for the people;
ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσῆ ποθέουσα φίλον κατατήκομαι ἦτορ.but yearning for Odysseus I waste my dear heart away.
οἱ δὲ γάμον σπεύδουσιν· ἐγὼ δὲ δόλους τολυπεύω.They press for marriage; but I spin out my wiles.
φᾶρος μέν μοι πρῶτον ἐνέπνευσε φρεσὶ δαίμων,First a god breathed a web into my mind,
στησαμένῃ μέγαν ἱστόν, ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὑφαίνειν,and I set up a great loom in the halls and wove,
140λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον· ἄφαρ δʼ αὐτοῖς μετέειπον·fine and vast in measure; and at once I said to them:
κοῦροι, ἐμοὶ μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος
Ὀδυσσεύς,Young men, my suitors, since godlike Odysseus is dead,
μίμνετʼ ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶροςbe patient, though eager for my marriage, until this robe
ἐκτελέσω—μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματʼ ὄληται—I finish—let not my spinning be wasted and lost—
Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μινa shroud for the hero Laertes, against the time when
145μοῖρʼ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο·the ruinous doom of grievous death shall lay him low;
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,lest any Achaean woman in the land hold it against me,
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.if he lie without a shroud, who had won so much.
ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς
ἀγήνωρ.So I spoke, and their proud spirits were persuaded.
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκον μέγαν ἱστόν,Then day by day I would weave at the great loom,
150νύκτας δʼ ἀλλύεσκον, ἐπεὶ δαΐδας παραθείμην.but by night I would unravel it, once I had set the torches by.
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθον ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειθον Ἀχαιούς·So for three years I hid it and won over the Achaeans;
ἀλλʼ ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,but when the fourth year came and the seasons rolled on,
μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δʼ ἤματα πόλλʼ ἐτελέσθη,as the months waned and the many days were completed,
καὶ τότε δή με διὰ δμῳάς, κύνας οὐκ ἀλεγούσας,then indeed, through my maids, those uncaring bitches,
155εἷλον ἐπελθόντες καὶ ὁμόκλησαν ἐπέεσσιν.they came upon me and caught me, and rebuked me with words.
ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσα, καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσʼ, ὑπʼ ἀνάγκης·So I finished it, against my will, under compulsion.
νῦν δʼ οὔτʼ ἐκφυγέειν δύναμαι γάμον οὔτε τινʼ ἄλληνAnd now I cannot escape the marriage, nor can I find
μῆτιν ἔθʼ εὑρίσκω· μάλα δʼ ὀτρύνουσι τοκῆεςany other scheme; my parents press me hard
γήμασθʼ, ἀσχαλάᾳ δὲ πάϊς βίοτον κατεδόντων,to marry, and my son chafes as they devour his living,
160γιγνώσκων· ἤδη γὰρ ἀνὴρ οἶός τε μάλισταfor he sees it; for now he is a man well able
οἴκου κήδεσθαι, τῷ τε Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.to care for a household, and Zeus grants him glory.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μοι εἰπὲ τεὸν γένος, ὁππόθεν ἐσσί.But even so, tell me your lineage, where you are from.
οὐ γὰρ ἀπὸ δρυός ἐσσι παλαιφάτου οὐδʼ ἀπὸ πέτρης.For you are not sprung from an oak of old story, nor from a stone.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
165ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,O revered wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
οὐκέτʼ ἀπολλήξεις τὸν ἐμὸν γόνον ἐξερέουσα;will you never cease from asking about my birth?
ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω· ἦ μέν μʼ ἀχέεσσί γε δώσειςWell then, I will tell you; yet you will give me over to griefs
πλείοσιν ἢ ἔχομαι· ἡ γὰρ δίκη, ὁππότε πάτρηςgreater than those that hold me; for that is the way, when a man
ἧς ἀπέῃσιν ἀνὴρ τόσσον χρόνον ὅσσον ἐγὼ νῦν,has been away from his homeland as long a time as I now,
170πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστεʼ ἀλώμενος, ἄλγεα πάσχων·wandering through the many cities of mortals, suffering pains.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.But even so I will tell what you ask and inquire of me.
Κρήτη τις γαῖʼ ἔστι, μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,There is a land called Crete, in the midst of the wine-dark sea,
καλὴ καὶ πίειρα, περίρρυτος· ἐν δʼ ἄνθρωποιa fair land and rich, washed by waves on every side; and in it are men
πολλοί, ἀπειρέσιοι, καὶ ἐννήκοντα πόληες.many, past counting, and there are ninety cities.
175ἄλλη δʼ ἄλλων γλῶσσα μεμιγμένη· ἐν μὲν Ἀχαιοί,One tongue is mingled with another: there are Achaeans,
ἐν δʼ Ἐτεόκρητες μεγαλήτορες, ἐν δὲ Κύδωνες,and great-hearted true Cretans, and Cydonians,
Δωριέες τε τριχάϊκες δῖοί τε Πελασγοί.and Dorians in their three tribes, and noble Pelasgians.
τῇσι δʼ ἐνὶ Κνωσός, μεγάλη πόλις, ἔνθα τε ΜίνωςAmong them is Knossos, a great city, where Minos
ἐννέωρος βασίλευε Διὸς μεγάλου ὀαριστής,reigned nine years, the confidant of great Zeus,
180πατρὸς ἐμοῖο πατήρ, μεγαθύμου Δευκαλίωνοςfather of my father, great-hearted Deucalion.
Δευκαλίων δʼ ἐμὲ τίκτε καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα·Deucalion begot me and lord Idomeneus;
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον ἴσωbut he in his curved ships had gone off to Ilium
ᾤχεθʼ ἅμʼ Ἀτρείδῃσιν, ἐμοὶ δʼ ὄνομα κλυτὸν Αἴθων,with the sons of Atreus, and my famous name is Aethon,
ὁπλότερος γενεῇ· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.the younger by birth; he was the elder and the better.
185ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἐγὼν ἰδόμην καὶ ξείνια δῶκα.There I saw Odysseus and gave him gifts of guest-friendship.
καὶ γὰρ τὸν Κρήτηνδε κατήγαγεν ἲς ἀνέμοιο,For the force of the wind had brought him too to Crete,
ἱέμενον Τροίηνδε παραπλάγξασα Μαλειῶν·driving him off course past Malea as he made for Troy;
στῆσε δʼ ἐν Ἀμνισῷ, ὅθι τε σπέος Εἰλειθυίης,he anchored at Amnisus, where the cave of Eileithyia is,
ἐν λιμέσιν χαλεποῖσι, μόγις δʼ ὑπάλυξεν ἀέλλας.in harbors hard to enter, and barely escaped the storms.
190αὐτίκα δʼ Ἰδομενῆα μετάλλα ἄστυδʼ ἀνελθών·At once he went up to the town and asked for Idomeneus,
ξεῖνον γάρ οἱ ἔφασκε φίλον τʼ ἔμεν αἰδοῖόν τε.for he said he was his beloved and honored guest-friend.
τῷ δʼ ἤδη δεκάτη ἢ ἑνδεκάτη πέλεν ἠὼςBut it was already the tenth or eleventh dawn for him
οἰχομένῳ σὺν νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον εἴσω.since he had gone off with his curved ships to Ilium.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματʼ ἄγων ἐῢ ἐξείνισσα,Him I led to my house and gave him fine entertainment,
195ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων·welcoming him warmly, for there was plenty in my halls;
καί οἱ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἑτάροις, οἳ ἅμʼ αὐτῷ ἕποντο,and for him and for the other companions who followed him
δημόθεν ἄλφιτα δῶκα καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον ἀγείραςI gathered from the people barley meal and gleaming wine
καὶ βοῦς ἱρεύσασθαι, ἵνα πλησαίατο θυμόν.and cattle for sacrifice, so they might fill their hearts.
ἔνθα δυώδεκα μὲν μένον ἤματα δῖοι Ἀχαιοί·There twelve days the noble Achaeans stayed;
200εἴλει γὰρ Βορέης ἄνεμος μέγας οὐδʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃfor the great North Wind Boreas penned them in, and would not
εἴα ἵστασθαι, χαλεπὸς δέ τις ὤρορε δαίμων.let them set out, some cruel god had roused it up.
τῇ τρισκαιδεκάτῃ δʼ ἄνεμος πέσε, τοὶ δʼ ἀνάγοντο.On the thirteenth day the wind fell, and they put to sea.
ἴσκε ψεύδεα πολλὰ λέγων ἐτύμοισιν ὁμοῖα·He spoke, telling many lies that seemed like the truth,
τῆς δʼ ἄρʼ ἀκουούσης ῥέε δάκρυα, τήκετο δὲ χρώς·and as she listened her tears flowed, her skin melted.
205ὡς δὲ χιὼν κατατήκετʼ ἐν ἀκροπόλοισιν ὄρεσσιν,As the snow melts away upon the mountain peaks,
ἥν τʼ Εὖρος κατέτηξεν, ἐπὴν Ζέφυρος καταχεύῃ·the snow the East Wind melts when the West Wind pours it down,
τηκομένης δʼ ἄρα τῆς ποταμοὶ πλήθουσι ῥέοντες·and as it melts the running rivers grow full—
ὣς τῆς τήκετο καλὰ παρήϊα δάκρυ χεούσης,so her lovely cheeks melted as she poured down tears,
κλαιούσης ἑὸν ἄνδρα παρήμενον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςweeping for her own husband, who sat beside her. But Odysseus
210θυμῷ μὲν γοόωσαν ἑὴν ἐλέαιρε γυναῖκα,in his heart pitied his wife as she lamented,
ὀφθαλμοὶ δʼ ὡς εἰ κέρα ἕστασαν ἠὲ σίδηροςyet his eyes stood fixed as though they were horn or iron,
ἀτρέμας ἐν βλεφάροισι· δόλῳ δʼ ὅ γε δάκρυα κεῦθεν.unmoving in their lids; by guile he hid his tears.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,And when she had had her fill of tearful lamentation,
ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·answering him once more with words she spoke to him:
215νῦν μὲν δή σευ, ξεῖνέ γʼ, ὀΐω πειρήσεσθαι,"Now indeed, stranger, I think I will put you to the test,
εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ κεῖθι σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιwhether truly there, together with your godlike companions,
ξείνισας ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.you entertained my husband in your halls, as you declare.
εἰπέ μοι ὁπποῖʼ ἄσσα περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο,Tell me what kind of clothing he wore about his body,
αὐτός θʼ οἷος ἔην, καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο.and what sort of man he was, and the companions who followed him."
220τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
ὦ γύναι, ἀργαλέον τόσσον χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντα"Lady, it is hard, after so long a time apart,
εἰπέμεν· ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐεικοστὸν ἔτος ἐστὶνto tell it; for by now it is the twentieth year
ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης·since he went away from there and departed from my country.
αὐτάρ τοι ἐρέω ὥς μοι ἰνδάλλεται ἦτορ.Yet I will tell you as the image rises in my heart.
225χλαῖναν πορφυρέην οὔλην ἔχε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,A purple cloak of double fold godlike Odysseus wore,
διπλῆν· αὐτάρ οἱ περόνη χρυσοῖο τέτυκτοthick-woolen; and on it a brooch was fashioned of gold
αὐλοῖσιν διδύμοισι· πάροιθε δὲ δαίδαλον ἦεν·with twin sheaths, and its front was worked with cunning:
ἐν προτέροισι πόδεσσι κύων ἔχε ποικίλον ἐλλόν,a hound held in its forepaws a dappled fawn,
ἀσπαίροντα λάων· τὸ δὲ θαυμάζεσκον ἅπαντες,gripping it as it struggled; and at this all marveled,
230ὡς οἱ χρύσεοι ἐόντες ὁ μὲν λάε νεβρὸν ἀπάγχων,how, though they were of gold, the one throttled the fawn and gripped it,
αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκφυγέειν μεμαὼς ἤσπαιρε πόδεσσι.while the other, straining to escape, struggled with its feet.
τὸν δὲ χιτῶνʼ ἐνόησα περὶ χροῒ σιγαλόεντα,And I noticed the tunic gleaming about his body,
οἷόν τε κρομύοιο λοπὸν κάτα ἰσχαλέοιο·like the skin over a dried onion,
τὼς μὲν ἔην μαλακός, λαμπρὸς δʼ ἦν ἠέλιος ὥς·so soft it was, and bright it shone like the sun.
235ἦ μὲν πολλαί γʼ αὐτὸν ἐθηήσαντο γυναῖκες.Truly many women gazed upon him in wonder.
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:
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἢ τάδε ἕστο περὶ χροῒ οἴκοθʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,I do not know whether Odysseus wore these at home,
ἦ τις ἑταίρων δῶκε θοῆς ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰόντι,or some companion gave them when he boarded the swift ship,
ἤ τίς που καὶ ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολλοῖσιν Ὀδυσσεὺςor perhaps some guest-friend, since to many Odysseus
240ἔσκε φίλος· παῦροι γὰρ Ἀχαιῶν ἦσαν ὁμοῖοι.was dear; for few of the Achaeans were his equal.
καί οἱ ἐγὼ χάλκειον ἄορ καὶ δίπλακα δῶκαAnd I gave him a bronze sword and a double cloak,
καλὴν πορφυρέην καὶ τερμιόεντα χιτῶνα,a fine one, purple, and a tunic reaching to the feet,
αἰδοίως δʼ ἀπέπεμπον ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηός.and sent him off with honor on the well-benched ship.
καὶ μέν οἱ κῆρυξ ὀλίγον προγενέστερος αὐτοῦAnd a herald went with him, a little older than himself,
245εἵπετο· καὶ τόν τοι μυθήσομαι, οἷος ἔην περ.and I will tell you of that man too, what sort he was.
γυρὸς ἐν ὤμοισιν, μελανόχροος, οὐλοκάρηνος,Stooped in the shoulders, dark of skin, with curly hair,
Εὐρυβάτης δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε· τίεν δέ μιν ἔξοχον ἄλλωνand Eurybates was his name; and Odysseus honored him
ὧν ἑτάρων Ὀδυσεύς, ὅτι οἱ φρεσὶν ἄρτια ᾔδη.above his other companions, for his mind matched his own.
ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε
γόοιο,So he spoke, and in her he stirred still more the desire for weeping,
250σήματʼ ἀναγνούσῃ τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.as she knew the sure tokens Odysseus told her.
ἡ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο.And when she had had her fill of tearful lamentation,
καὶ τότε μιν μύθοισιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε·then she answered him and spoke to him with words:
νῦν μὲν δή μοι, ξεῖνε, πάρος περ ἐὼν
ἐλεεινός,Now indeed, stranger, though before you were pitiable,
ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι φίλος τʼ ἔσῃ αἰδοῖός τε·you shall be dear and honored in my halls;
255αὐτὴ γὰρ τάδε εἵματʼ ἐγὼ πόρον, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις,for it was I myself who gave him these clothes you speak of,
πτύξασʼ ἐκ θαλάμου, περόνην τʼ ἐπέθηκα φαεινὴνfolding them from the store-room, and I fixed the shining brooch on
κείνῳ ἄγαλμʼ ἔμεναι· τὸν δʼ οὐχ ὑποδέξομαι αὖτιςto be his adornment; but I shall not welcome him again
οἴκαδε νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.returning home to his own dear native land.
τῷ ῥα κακῇ αἴσῃ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς ὈδυσσεὺςSo it was by evil fate that Odysseus in the hollow ship
260ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.went off to see Evil-Ilion, not to be named.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,O honored wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
μηκέτι νῦν χρόα καλὸν ἐναίρεο, μηδέ τι θυμὸνno longer now waste your fair skin, nor wear away
τῆκε, πόσιν γοόωσα. νεμεσσῶμαί γε μὲν οὐδέν·your heart with weeping for your husband. I do not blame you at all;
265καὶ γάρ τίς τʼ ἀλλοῖον ὀδύρεται ἄνδρʼ ὀλέσασαfor any woman laments who has lost the husband
κουρίδιον, τῷ τέκνα τέκῃ φιλότητι μιγεῖσα,of her youth, to whom she bore children, mingled in love,
ἢ Ὀδυσῆʼ, ὅν φασι θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον εἶναι.though it be not Odysseus, whom they say was like the gods.
ἀλλὰ γόου μὲν παῦσαι, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον·But cease from weeping, and mark my words:
νημερτέως γάρ τοι μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ἐπικεύσωfor I will tell you truly and hide nothing,
270ὡς ἤδη Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ περὶ νόστου ἄκουσαhow already I have heard of the homecoming of Odysseus,
ἀγχοῦ, Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,nearby, in the rich country of the Thesprotian men,
ζωοῦ· αὐτὰρ ἄγει κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰalive; and he brings back many fine treasures,
αἰτίζων ἀνὰ δῆμον. ἀτὰρ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρουςbegging them through the land. But his trusty companions
ὤλεσε καὶ νῆα γλαφυρὴν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,he lost, and his hollow ship, on the wine-dark sea,
275Θρινακίης ἄπο νήσου ἰών· ὀδύσαντο γὰρ αὐτῷas he came from the island of Thrinacia; for angry with him were
Ζεύς τε καὶ Ἠέλιος· τοῦ γὰρ βόας ἔκταν ἑταῖροι.Zeus and the Sun, since his companions had killed the Sun's cattle.
οἱ μὲν πάντες ὄλοντο πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ·They all perished in the wave-tossed sea,
τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ τρόπιος νεὸς ἔκβαλε κῦμʼ ἐπὶ χέρσου,but him the wave cast on the keel of his ship onto dry land,
Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,to the country of the Phaeacians, who are near to the gods,
280οἳ δή μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσαντοwho honored him from their hearts like a god,
καί οἱ πολλὰ δόσαν πέμπειν τέ μιν ἤθελον αὐτοὶand they gave him many gifts, and were themselves willing to send him
οἴκαδʼ ἀπήμαντον. καί κεν πάλαι ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεὺςhome unharmed. And Odysseus would long ago have been
ἤην· ἀλλʼ ἄρα οἱ τό γε κέρδιον εἴσατο θυμῷ,here; but this seemed to him the better course in his heart,
χρήματʼ ἀγυρτάζειν πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἰόντι·to gather goods while traveling over the wide earth;
285ὣς περὶ κέρδεα πολλὰ καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπωνso beyond all mortal men Odysseus knows
οἶδʼ Ὀδυσεύς, οὐδʼ ἄν τις ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος.many ways of profit, nor could any other man contend with him.
ὥς μοι Θεσπρωτῶν βασιλεὺς μυθήσατο Φείδων·So Phidon, king of the Thesprotians, told me;
ὤμνυε δὲ πρὸς ἔμʼ αὐτόν, ἀποσπένδων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,and he swore to me myself, pouring libation in his house,
νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,that a ship was drawn down and comrades made ready,
290οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.who would convey him to his dear native land.
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ πρὶν ἀπέπεμψε· τύχησε γὰρ ἐρχομένη νηῦςBut me he sent off first; for a ship of Thesprotian men
ἀνδρῶν Θεσπρωτῶν ἐς Δουλίχιον πολύπυρον.happened to be sailing to Dulichium rich in wheat.
καί μοι κτήματʼ ἔδειξεν, ὅσα ξυναγείρατʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·And he showed me the treasures Odysseus had gathered;
καί νύ κεν ἐς δεκάτην γενεὴν ἕτερόν γʼ ἔτι βόσκοι,and truly they would feed another man down to the tenth generation,
295ὅσσα οἱ ἐν μεγάροις κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος.so great were the heirlooms lying there for him in the halls of the king.
τὸν δʼ ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖοAnd he said he had gone to Dodona, to hear from the god,
ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,out of the high-leafed oak, the counsel of Zeus,
ὅππως νοστήσειε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖανhow he might return to his dear native land,
ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἤ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.already long away, whether openly or in secret.
300ὣς ὁ μὲν οὕτως ἐστὶ σόος καὶ ἐλεύσεται ἤδηSo he is safe and will come now,
ἄγχι μάλʼ, οὐδʼ ἔτι τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴηςvery near, nor will he much longer be far away
δηρὸν ἀπεσσεῖται· ἔμπης δέ τοι ὅρκια δώσω.from his friends and his native land; and I will swear an oath to you.
ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα, θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,Let Zeus first be my witness, highest and best of gods,
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω·and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come:
305ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται ὡς ἀγορεύω.surely all these things will be fulfilled as I declare.
τοῦδʼ αὐτοῦ λυκάβαντος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,Within this very year Odysseus will come here,
τοῦ μὲν φθίνοντος μηνός, τοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένοιο.as one month wanes and the next begins.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·Then prudent Penelope answered him in turn:
αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη·Would, stranger, that this word might be fulfilled!
310τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶραThen quickly you would come to know my kindness and many gifts
ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.from me, so that whoever met you would call you blessed.
ἀλλά μοι ὧδʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὀΐεται, ὡς ἔσεταί περ·But this is how it seems to me in my heart, and so it will be:
οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται, οὔτε σὺ πομπῆςneither will Odysseus come home again, nor will you obtain
τεύξῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐ τοῖοι σημάντορές εἰσʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳconveyance, since there are no such masters in the house
315οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μετʼ ἀνδράσιν, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,as Odysseus was among men—if ever he truly was—
ξείνους αἰδοίους ἀποπεμπέμεν ἠδὲ δέχεσθαι.to send off honored strangers and to receive them.
ἀλλά μιν, ἀμφίπολοι, ἀπονίψατε, κάτθετε δʼ εὐνήν,But wash him, my handmaids, and lay out a bed,
δέμνια καὶ χλαίνας καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,bedding and cloaks and glistening coverlets,
ὥς κʼ εὖ θαλπιόων χρυσόθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκηται.so that, well warmed, he may reach golden-throned Dawn.
320ἠῶθεν δὲ μάλʼ ἦρι λοέσσαι τε χρῖσαί τε,And very early at dawn bathe him and anoint him,
ὥς κʼ ἔνδον παρὰ Τηλεμάχῳ δείπνοιο μέδηταιso that within, beside Telemachus, he may take his meal
ἥμενος ἐν μεγάρῳ· τῷ δʼ ἄλγιον ὅς κεν ἐκείνωνsitting in the hall. And it will be the worse for any of those men
τοῦτον ἀνιάζῃ θυμοφθόρος· οὐδέ τι ἔργονwho vexes him with heart-destroying insult; nor will he accomplish
ἐνθάδʼ ἔτι πρήξει, μάλα περ κεχολωμένος αἰνῶς.any deed here after, however terribly enraged he is.
325πῶς γὰρ ἐμεῦ σύ, ξεῖνε, δαήσεαι εἴ τι γυναικῶνFor how, stranger, will you learn of me whether at all
ἀλλάων περίειμι νόον καὶ ἐπίφρονα μῆτιν,I surpass other women in wit and prudent counsel,
εἴ κεν ἀϋσταλέος, κακὰ εἱμένος ἐν μεγάροισινif you should dine unkempt, wearing wretched clothes
δαινύῃ; ἄνθρωποι δὲ μινυνθάδιοι τελέθουσιν.in the halls? Men come to be short-lived.
ὃς μὲν ἀπηνὴς αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀπηνέα εἰδῇ,Whoever is himself hard, and knows hard ways,
330τῷ δὲ καταρῶνται πάντες βροτοὶ ἄλγεʼ ὀπίσσωon him all mortals call down sorrows for the days to come
ζωῷ, ἀτὰρ τεθνεῶτί γʼ ἐφεψιόωνται ἅπαντες·while he lives, and once he is dead all mock him;
ὃς δʼ ἂν ἀμύμων αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀμύμονα εἰδῇ,but whoever is himself blameless, and knows blameless ways,
τοῦ μέν τε κλέος εὐρὺ δὶα ξεῖνοι φορέουσιhis fame far and wide the strangers carry abroad
πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, πολλοί τέ μιν ἐσθλὸν ἔειπον.among all men, and many call him noble.
335τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,O honored wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
ἦ τοι ἐμοὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόενταtruly cloaks and glistening coverlets have grown
ἤχθεθʼ, ὅτε πρῶτον Κρήτης ὄρεα νιφόενταhateful to me, ever since I first left behind
νοσφισάμην ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰὼν δολιχηρέτμοιο,the snowy mountains of Crete, going aboard my long-oared ship,
340κείω δʼ ὡς τὸ πάρος περ ἀΰπνους νύκτας ἴαυον·and I will lie as before, when I passed sleepless nights;
πολλὰς γὰρ δὴ νύκτας ἀεικελίῳ ἐνὶ κοίτῃfor many nights indeed on a wretched bed
ἄεσα καί τʼ ἀνέμεινα ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ δῖαν.I have rested and waited for the lovely-throned bright Dawn.
οὐδέ τί μοι ποδάνιπτρα ποδῶν ἐπιήρανα θυμῷNor is the washing of my feet pleasing at all to my heart,
γίγνεται· οὐδὲ γυνὴ ποδὸς ἅψεται ἡμετέροιοnor shall any woman lay hold of a foot of mine,
345τάων αἵ τοι δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασιν,of those who are servants throughout your house,
εἰ μή τις γρηῦς ἔστι παλαιή, κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα,unless there is some old woman, aged, knowing devoted things,
ἥ τις δὴ τέτληκε τόσα φρεσὶν ὅσσα τʼ ἐγώ περ·one who has endured in her heart as much as I myself;
τῇ δʼ οὐκ ἂν φθονέοιμι ποδῶν ἅψασθαι ἐμεῖο.to her I would not grudge the touching of my feet.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·Then prudent Penelope said to him in turn:
350ξεῖνε φίλʼ· οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἀνὴρ πεπνυμένος ὧδεDear stranger, for never yet has any man so thoughtful
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,of far-off strangers, and dear, come to my house,
ὡς σὺ μάλʼ εὐφραδέως πεπνυμένα πάντʼ ἀγορεύεις·as you, who so shrewdly speak all things with thought;
ἔστι δέ μοι γρηῢς πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδεʼ ἔχουσαI have an old woman holding shrewd counsel in her heart,
ἣ κεῖνον δύστηνον ἐῢ τρέφεν ἠδʼ ἀτίταλλε,who nursed that luckless man well and reared him,
355δεξαμένη χείρεσσʼ, ὅτε μιν πρῶτον τέκε μήτηρ,receiving him in her hands, when first his mother bore him;
ἥ σε πόδας νίψει, ὀλιγηπελέουσά περ ἔμπης.she shall wash your feet, feeble though she is now.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἀνστᾶσα, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,But come now, rise up, prudent Eurycleia,
νίψον σοῖο ἄνακτος ὁμήλικα· καί που Ὀδυσσεὺςand wash the one of like age with your master; and Odysseus perhaps
ἤδη τοιόσδʼ ἐστὶ πόδας τοιόσδε τε χεῖρας·is by now such in his feet and such in his hands—
360αἶψα γὰρ ἐν κακότητι βροτοὶ καταγηράσκουσιν.for quickly in misfortune do mortals grow old.
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ κατέσχετο χερσὶ πρόσωπα,So she spoke, and the old woman covered her face with her hands,
δάκρυα δʼ ἔκβαλε θερμά, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·and let fall warm tears, and spoke a mournful word:
ὤ μοι ἐγὼ σέο, τέκνον, ἀμήχανος· ἦ σε περὶ
ΖεὺςAh me, helpless I am for you, my child! Surely Zeus above
ἀνθρώπων ἤχθηρε θεουδέα θυμὸν ἔχοντα.all men has hated you, though you held a god-fearing heart.
365οὐ γάρ πώ τις τόσσα βροτῶν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳFor no mortal ever yet burned for Zeus who delights in thunder
πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηʼ οὐδʼ ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας,so many fat thigh-pieces, nor choice hecatombs,
ὅσσα σὺ τῷ ἐδίδους, ἀρώμενος ἧος ἵκοιοas you gave to him, praying that you might reach
γῆράς τε λιπαρὸν θρέψαιό τε φαίδιμον υἱόν·a sleek old age and rear your glorious son;
νῦν δέ τοι οἴῳ πάμπαν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.but now from you alone he has taken the day of return.
370οὕτω που καὶ κείνῳ ἐφεψιόωντο γυναῖκεςSo perhaps the women mocked him too,
ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν, ὅτε τευ κλυτὰ δώμαθʼ ἵκοιτο,women of distant strangers, whenever he came to some famous house,
ὡς σέθεν αἱ κύνες αἵδε καθεψιόωνται ἅπασαι,as these bitches all now mock at you,
τάων νῦν λώβην τε καὶ αἴσχεα πόλλʼ ἀλεείνωνwhose insolence and many shameful acts you shun,
οὐκ ἐάας νίζειν· ἐμὲ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκουσαν ἄνωγεand will not let them wash you; but not against my will
375κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.the daughter of Icarius, prudent Penelope, bids me.
τῷ σε πόδας νίψω ἅμα τʼ αὐτῆς ΠηνελοπείηςTherefore I will wash your feet, both for Penelope's sake
καὶ σέθεν εἵνεκʼ, ἐπεί μοι ὀρώρεται ἔνδοθι θυμὸςand for your own, since the heart within me is stirred
κήδεσιν. ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·with grief. But come now, mark the word I shall speak:
πολλοὶ δὴ ξεῖνοι ταλαπείριοι ἐνθάδʼ ἵκοντο,Many sore-tried strangers have come here,
380ἀλλʼ οὔ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαιbut never yet, I say, have I seen one so like
ὡς σὺ δέμας φωνήν τε πόδας τʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ ἔοικας.as you are like Odysseus in build, in voice, and in feet.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus said to her in answer:
ὦ γρηῦ, οὕτω φασὶν ὅσοι ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσινOld woman, so say all who have seen with their eyes
ἡμέας ἀμφοτέρους, μάλα εἰκέλω ἀλλήλοιϊνthe two of us, that we are very like each other,
385ἔμμεναι, ὡς σύ περ αὐτὴ ἐπιφρονέουσʼ ἀγορεύεις.as you yourself now shrewdly declare.
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ λέβηθʼ ἕλε παμφανόωνταSo she spoke, and the old woman took the gleaming cauldron
τοῦ πόδας ἐξαπένιζεν, ὕδωρ δʼ ἐνεχεύατο πουλὺin which she washed his feet, and poured in much water,
ψυχρόν, ἔπειτα δὲ θερμὸν ἐπήφυσεν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςcold, and then added the hot. But Odysseus
ἷζεν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν, ποτὶ δὲ σκότον ἐτράπετʼ αἶψα·sat down at the hearth, and turned quickly toward the dark;
390αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ὀΐσατο, μή ἑ λαβοῦσαfor suddenly in his heart he feared that, taking hold of him,
οὐλὴν ἀμφράσσαιτο καὶ ἀμφαδὰ ἔργα γένοιτο.she might recognize the scar, and his deeds be brought to light.
νίζε δʼ ἄρʼ ἆσσον ἰοῦσα ἄναχθʼ ἑόν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνωAnd she came close and washed her master; and at once she knew
οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ μιν σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντιthe scar, which once a boar had dealt him with its white tusk
Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα μετʼ Αὐτόλυκόν τε καὶ υἷας,when he went to Parnassus, to Autolycus and his sons,
395μητρὸς ἑῆς πάτερʼ ἐσθλόν, ὃς ἀνθρώπους ἐκέκαστοhis mother's noble father, who surpassed all men
κλεπτοσύνῃ θʼ ὅρκῳ τε· θεὸς δέ οἱ αὐτὸς ἔδωκενin thievery and the oath; and the god himself had granted it him,
Ἑρμείας· τῷ γὰρ κεχαρισμένα μηρία καῖενHermes; for to him he burned pleasing thigh-pieces
ἀρνῶν ἠδʼ ἐρίφων· ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ἅμʼ ὀπήδει.of lambs and kids, and the god attended him with good will.
Αὐτόλυκος δʼ ἐλθὼν Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμονAnd Autolycus, coming to the rich land of Ithaca,
400παῖδα νέον γεγαῶτα κιχήσατο θυγατέρος ἧς·found his daughter's child newly born;
τόν ῥά οἱ Εὐρύκλεια φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θῆκεAnd Eurycleia set him upon his master's knees
παυομένῳ δόρποιο, ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·as he finished his meal, and she spoke and named him:
Αὐτόλυκʼ, αὐτὸς νῦν ὄνομʼ εὕρεο ὅττι κε θῆαι"Autolycus, now find yourself a name to give
παιδὸς παιδὶ φίλῳ· πολυάρητος δέ τοί ἐστιν.to your child's dear child; for he is much prayed for."
405τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Αὐτόλυκος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·Then in turn Autolycus answered her and spoke:
γαμβρὸς ἐμὸς θυγάτηρ τε, τίθεσθʼ ὄνομʼ ὅττι κεν εἴπω·"My son-in-law and my daughter, give him the name I say:
πολλοῖσιν γὰρ ἐγώ γε ὀδυσσάμενος τόδʼ ἱκάνω,since I have come here as a man who has been angered by many,
ἀνδράσιν ἠδὲ γυναιξὶν ἀνὰ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν·by men and by women across the nourishing earth,
τῷ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ὄνομʼ ἔστω ἐπώνυμον· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε,therefore let his given name be Odysseus; and I,
410ὁππότʼ ἂν ἡβήσας μητρώϊον ἐς μέγα δῶμαwhen he has come to manhood and comes to the great house
ἔλθῃ Παρνησόνδʼ, ὅθι πού μοι κτήματʼ ἔασι,of his mother's kin at Parnassus, where my possessions are,
τῶν οἱ ἐγὼ δώσω καί μιν χαίροντʼ ἀποπέμψω.of these I will give him some and send him home rejoicing."
τῶν ἕνεκʼ ἦλθʼ Ὀδυσεύς, ἵνα οἱ πόροι ἀγλαὰ
δῶρα.For this Odysseus came, that he might grant him splendid gifts.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες ΑὐτολύκοιοAnd Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus
415χερσίν τʼ ἠσπάζοντο ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι·welcomed him with their hands and with honeyed words;
μήτηρ δʼ Ἀμφιθέη μητρὸς περιφῦσʼ Ὀδυσῆϊand his mother's mother Amphithea embraced Odysseus
κύσσʼ ἄρα μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά.and kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes.
Αὐτόλυκος δʼ υἱοῖσιν ἐκέκλετο κυδαλίμοισιAnd Autolycus called to his glorious sons
δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσαι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν,to make ready a meal; and they heeded his urging,
420αὐτίκα δʼ εἰσάγαγον βοῦν ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον·and at once led in a bull, a five-year-old male;
τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,they flayed it and dressed it and cut it all up,
μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,and expertly sliced it and pierced it on the spits,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, δάσσαντό τε μοίρας.and roasted it with care, and divided the portions.
ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύνταSo then the whole day long, until the sun went down,
425δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·they feasted, and their hearts lacked nothing of the equal feast;
ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,but when the sun went down and darkness came on,
δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.then they lay down and took the gift of sleep.
ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,When early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,
βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν ἐς θήρην, ἠμὲν κύνες ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶthey set out to go hunting, both the hounds and they themselves,
430υἱέες Αὐτολύκου· μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςthe sons of Autolycus; and among them godlike Odysseus
ἤϊεν· αἰπὺ δʼ ὄρος προσέβαν καταειμένον ὕλῃwent; and they climbed the steep mountain clothed in forest,
Παρνησοῦ, τάχα δʼ ἵκανον πτύχας ἠνεμοέσσας.Parnassus, and soon they reached its windy folds.
Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούραςThe Sun was then just striking the fields anew
ἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο,from the soft-flowing, deep-streaming Ocean,
435οἱ δʼ ἐς βῆσσαν ἵκανον ἐπακτῆρες· πρὸ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῶνwhen the beaters came to a glen; and before them
ἴχνιʼ ἐρευνῶντες κύνες ἤϊσαν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθενthe hounds went searching out the tracks, and behind them
υἱέες Αὐτολύκου· μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςthe sons of Autolycus; and among them godlike Odysseus
ἤϊεν ἄγχι κυνῶν, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.went close to the hounds, brandishing his long-shadowing spear.
ἔνθα δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν λόχμῃ πυκινῇ κατέκειτο μέγας σῦς·There in a thick lair lay a great boar;
440τὴν μὲν ἄρʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμων διάει μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,through it the strength of the winds blowing wet did not pierce,
οὔτε μιν Ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,nor did the shining Sun strike it with his beams,
οὔτʼ ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές· ὣς ἄρα πυκνὴnor did the rain pierce through it—so dense it was,
ἦεν, ἀτὰρ φύλλων ἐνέην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή.and within it lay a great heap of fallen leaves.
τὸν δʼ ἀνδρῶν τε κυνῶν τε περὶ κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν,Around him came the thudding of the feet of men and hounds,
445ὡς ἐπάγοντες ἐπῇσαν· ὁ δʼ ἀντίος ἐκ ξυλόχοιοas they pressed on in the drive; and facing them, out of the thicket,
φρίξας εὖ λοφιήν, πῦρ δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσι δεδορκώς,bristling his mane well, with fire glaring in his eyes,
στῆ ῥʼ αὐτῶν σχεδόθεν· ὁ δʼ ἄρα πρώτιστος Ὀδυσσεὺςhe took his stand close by them; and first of all Odysseus
ἔσσυτʼ ἀνασχόμενος δολιχὸν δόρυ χειρὶ παχείῃ,rushed on, lifting his long spear in his thick hand,
οὐτάμεναι μεμαώς· ὁ δέ μιν φθάμενος ἔλασεν σῦςeager to strike; but the boar was quicker and drove at him
450γουνὸς ὕπερ, πολλὸν δὲ διήφυσε σαρκὸς ὀδόντιabove the knee, and with his tusk gouged much flesh away,
λικριφὶς ἀΐξας, οὐδʼ ὀστέον ἵκετο φωτός.charging sideways, yet he did not reach the bone of the man.
τὸν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς οὔτησε τυχὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον,But Odysseus struck him, hitting the right shoulder,
ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκή·and the point of the shining spear went clean through;
κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο θυμός.down in the dust he fell with a squeal, and his life flew away.
455τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτολύκου παῖδες φίλοι ἀμφεπένοντο,Then the dear sons of Autolycus busied themselves about him,
ὠτειλὴν δʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἀντιθέοιοand the wound of noble, godlike Odysseus
δῆσαν ἐπισταμένως, ἐπαοιδῇ δʼ αἷμα κελαινὸνthey bound up skillfully, and with an incantation the dark blood
ἔσχεθον, αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο φίλου πρὸς δώματα πατρός.they stanched, and quickly they came to the house of their dear father.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες ΑὐτολύκοιοThen Autolycus and the sons of Autolycus,
460εὖ ἰησάμενοι ἠδʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πορόντεςwhen they had healed him well and given him splendid gifts,
καρπαλίμως χαίροντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔπεμπονswiftly and gladly sent him to his own native land,
εἰς Ἰθάκην. τῷ μέν ῥα πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρto Ithaca. And there his father and lady mother
χαῖρον νοστήσαντι καὶ ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα,rejoiced at his return and asked him of each thing,
οὐλὴν ὅττι πάθοι· ὁ δʼ ἄρα σφίσιν εὖ κατέλεξενthe scar, how he had come by it; and he told them the whole tale,
465ὥς μιν θηρεύοντʼ ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι,how, as he hunted, a boar gashed him with its white tusk,
Παρνησόνδʼ ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.when he had gone to Parnassus with the sons of Autolycus.
τὴν γρηῢς χείρεσσι καταπρηνέσσι λαβοῦσαThe old woman, taking it in the flat of her hands,
γνῶ ῥʼ ἐπιμασσαμένη, πόδα δὲ προέηκε φέρεσθαι·knew it as she felt it, and let the foot drop free;
ἐν δὲ λέβητι πέσε κνήμη, κανάχησε δὲ χαλκός,the shin fell into the basin, and the bronze rang out,
470ἂψ δʼ ἑτέρωσʼ ἐκλίθη· τὸ δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὸς ἐξέχυθʼ ὕδωρ.and it tipped over to one side, and the water spilled on the ground.
τὴν δʼ ἅμα χάρμα καὶ ἄλγος ἕλε φρένα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσεJoy and grief together seized her heart, and both her eyes
δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.filled with tears, and her thick voice was checked within her.
ἁψαμένη δὲ γενείου Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπεν·And touching his chin she spoke to Odysseus:
ἦ μάλʼ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι, φίλον τέκος· οὐδέ σʼ ἐγώ
γε"Truly you are Odysseus, dear child; and I did not
475πρὶν ἔγνων, πρὶν πάντα ἄνακτʼ ἐμὸν ἀμφαφάασθαι.know you before, before I had felt all over my master."
ἦ καὶ Πηνελόπειαν ἐσέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι,And she looked with her eyes toward Penelope,
πεφραδέειν ἐθέλουσα φίλον πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.wishing to show her that her dear husband was within.
ἡ δʼ οὔτʼ ἀθρῆσαι δύνατʼ ἀντίη οὔτε νοῆσαι·But she could neither meet her gaze nor take her meaning,
τῇ γὰρ Ἀθηναίη νόον ἔτραπεν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςfor Athena had turned her mind aside; meanwhile Odysseus
480χεῖρʼ ἐπιμασσάμενος φάρυγος λάβε δεξιτερῆφι,reached out with his hand, and gripped her throat with his right,
τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ ἕθεν ἆσσον ἐρύσσατο φώνησέν τε.and with the other drew her close to himself and spoke:
μαῖα, τίη μʼ ἐθέλεις ὀλέσαι; σὺ δέ μʼ ἔτρεφες
αὐτὴ"Nurse, why do you want to destroy me? You yourself reared me
τῷ σῷ ἐπὶ μαζῷ· νῦν δʼ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσαςat your own breast; and now, after suffering many pains,
ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.I have come in the twentieth year to my native land.
485ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἐφράσθης καί τοι θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ,But since you have understood, and a god put it in your heart,
σίγα, μή τίς τʼ ἄλλος ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πύθηται.be silent, lest anyone else in the halls should learn it.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·For thus I declare it, and it shall surely be accomplished:
εἴ χʼ ὑπʼ ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,if a god subdues the lordly suitors beneath my hand,
οὐδὲ τροφοῦ οὔσης σεῦ ἀφέξομαι, ὁππότʼ ἂν ἄλλαςnot even you, my nurse though you are, will I spare, when I kill
490δμῳὰς ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖς κτείνωμι γυναῖκας.the other slave women in my halls,
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια·Then prudent Eurycleia answered him:
τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων."My child, what word has escaped the barrier of your teeth!
οἶσθα μὲν οἷον ἐμὸν μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδʼ ἐπιεικτόν,You know how firm my spirit is, and unyielding;
ἕξω δʼ ὡς ὅτε τις στερεὴ λίθος ἠὲ σίδηρος.I will hold fast as some solid stone or iron.
495ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·And another thing I will tell you, and you lay it up in your heart:
εἴ χʼ ὑπό σοι γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,if a god subdues the lordly suitors beneath your hand,
δὴ τότε τοι καταλέξω ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκας,then I will recount to you the women in the halls,
αἵ τέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσι.both those who dishonor you and those who are guiltless."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις ὈδυσσεύςThen resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
500μαῖα, τίη δὲ σὺ τὰς μυθήσεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή."Nurse, why will you speak of them? There is no need for you.
εὖ νυ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ φράσομαι καὶ εἴσομʼ ἑκάστην·I myself will mark them well and learn each one;
ἀλλʼ ἔχε σιγῇ μῦθον, ἐπίτρεψον δὲ θεοῖσιν.but keep your word in silence, and leave it to the gods."
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκειSo he spoke, and the old woman went off through the hall
οἰσομένη ποδάνιπτρα· τὰ γὰρ πρότερʼ ἔκχυτο πάντα.to fetch water for his feet, for all the first was spilled.
505αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νίψεν τε καὶ ἤλειψεν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,But when she had washed him and rubbed him richly with oil,
αὖτις ἄρʼ ἀσσοτέρω πυρὸς ἕλκετο δίφρον ὈδυσσεὺςOdysseus again drew his chair closer to the fire
θερσόμενος, οὐλὴν δὲ κατὰ ῥακέεσσι κάλυψε.to warm himself, and he hid the scar beneath his rags.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·And prudent Penelope began the talk among them:
ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σʼ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή·"Stranger, this much more I will ask you myself;
510καὶ γὰρ δὴ κοίτοιο τάχʼ ἔσσεται ἡδέος ὥρη,for soon it will be the hour of sweet rest,
ὅν τινά γʼ ὕπνος ἕλοι γλυκερός, καὶ κηδόμενόν περ.for whomever sweet sleep may seize, though he be troubled.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ πένθος ἀμέτρητον πόρε δαίμων·But to me a god has given grief beyond measure;
ἤματα μὲν γὰρ τέρπομʼ ὀδυρομένη, γοόωσα,for by day I take my pleasure in mourning, in lamenting,
ἔς τʼ ἐμὰ ἔργʼ ὁρόωσα καὶ ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ·while I look to my tasks and those of the maids in the house;
515αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν νὺξ ἔλθῃ, ἕλῃσί τε κοῖτος ἅπαντας,but when night comes, and rest takes hold of all,
κεῖμαι ἐνὶ λέκτρῳ, πυκιναὶ δέ μοι ἀμφʼ ἀδινὸν κῆρI lie in my bed, and thick about my throbbing heart
ὀξεῖαι μελεδῶνες ὀδυρομένην ἐρέθουσιν.sharp cares stir me as I mourn.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρη, χλωρηῒς ἀηδών,As when the daughter of Pandareus, the pale-green nightingale,
καλὸν ἀείδῃσιν ἔαρος νέον ἱσταμένοιο,sings her lovely song when spring is newly come,
520δενδρέων ἐν πετάλοισι καθεζομένη πυκινοῖσιν,perched among the thick leaves of the trees,
ἥ τε θαμὰ τρωπῶσα χέει πολυηχέα φωνήν,and, turning her song over and over, pours out its many notes,
παῖδʼ ὀλοφυρομένη Ἴτυλον φίλον, ὅν ποτε χαλκῷmourning her dear child Itylus, whom once with the bronze
κτεῖνε διʼ ἀφραδίας, κοῦρον Ζήθοιο ἄνακτος,she killed in her folly, the son of lord Zethus,
ὣς καὶ ἐμοὶ δίχα θυμὸς ὀρώρεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,so too my heart is stirred and driven this way and that,
525ἠὲ μένω παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσω,whether to stay beside my son and keep all things secure,
κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα,my property, my slaves, and this great high-roofed house,
εὐνήν τʼ αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,respecting my husband's bed and the people's talk,
ἦ ἤδη ἅμʼ ἕπωμαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστοςor to go now with whichever of the Achaeans is best,
μνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, πορὼν ἀπερείσια ἕδνα.who woos me in the halls, offering countless gifts.
530παῖς δʼ ἐμὸς ἧος ἔην ἔτι νήπιος ἠδὲ χαλίφρων,My son, while he was still a child and light of mind,
γήμασθʼ οὔ μʼ εἴα πόσιος κατὰ δῶμα λιποῦσαν·would not let me marry and leave my husband's house;
νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ μέγας ἐστὶ καὶ ἥβης μέτρον ἱκάνει,but now that he is grown and reaches the measure of youth,
καὶ δή μʼ ἀρᾶται πάλιν ἐλθέμεν ἐκ μεγάροιο,he even prays that I go back out of the hall,
κτήσιος ἀσχαλόων, τήν οἱ κατέδουσιν Ἀχαιοί.distressed for the wealth the Achaeans devour of his.
535ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τὸν ὄνειρον ὑπόκριναι καὶ ἄκουσον.But come, listen to this dream of mine and read it for me.
χῆνές μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἐείκοσι πυρὸν ἔδουσινTwenty geese in my house eat wheat
ἐξ ὕδατος, καί τέ σφιν ἰαίνομαι εἰσορόωσα·out of the water, and I take pleasure watching them;
ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐξ ὄρεος μέγας αἰετὸς ἀγκυλοχείληςbut a great eagle with crooked beak came from the mountain
πᾶσι κατʼ αὐχένας ἦξε καὶ ἔκτανεν· οἱ δʼ ἐκέχυντοand broke all their necks and killed them; they lay strewn
540ἀθρόοι ἐν μεγάροις, ὁ δʼ ἐς αἰθέρα δῖαν ἀέρθη.in heaps through the halls, while he soared into the bright sky.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κλαῖον καὶ ἐκώκυον ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ,But I wept and wailed, even though it was a dream,
ἀμφὶ δʼ ἔμʼ ἠγερέθοντο ἐϋπλοκαμῖδες Ἀχαιαί,and the fair-haired Achaean women gathered round me,
οἴκτρʼ ὀλοφυρομένην ὅ μοι αἰετὸς ἔκτανε χῆνας.as I mourned pitifully that the eagle had killed my geese.
ἂψ δʼ ἐλθὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετʼ ἐπὶ προὔχοντι μελάθρῳ,But he came back and perched upon a jutting roof-beam,
545φωνῇ δὲ βροτέῃ κατερήτυε φώνησέν τε·and in a mortal voice he checked me and spoke:
θάρσει, Ἰκαρίου κούρη τηλεκλειτοῖο·"Take heart, daughter of far-famed Icarius;
οὐκ ὄναρ, ἀλλʼ ὕπαρ ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι τετελεσμένον ἔσται.this is no dream, but a true waking vision that shall be fulfilled.
χῆνες μὲν μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δέ τοι αἰετὸς ὄρνιςThe geese are the suitors, and I who before was the eagle,
ἦα πάρος, νῦν αὖτε τεὸς πόσις εἰλήλουθα,a bird, am now come back as your own husband,
550ὃς πᾶσι μνηστῆρσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσω.who will loose an unseemly doom upon all the suitors."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ μελιηδὴς ὕπνος ἀνῆκε·So he spoke, and honey-sweet sleep released me;
παπτήνασα δὲ χῆνας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι νόησαand looking about I saw the geese in the halls
πυρὸν ἐρεπτομένους παρὰ πύελον, ἧχι πάρος περ.feeding on wheat by the trough, as before.
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
555ὦ γύναι, οὔ πως ἔστιν ὑποκρίνασθαι ὄνειρον"Lady, there is no way to read this dream
ἄλλῃ ἀποκλίναντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ ῥά τοι αὐτὸς Ὀδυσσεὺςby turning it aside, since Odysseus himself
πέφραδʼ ὅπως τελέει· μνηστῆρσι δὲ φαίνετʼ ὄλεθροςhas shown you how he will fulfill it; ruin appears for the suitors,
πᾶσι μάλʼ, οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει.for all of them, and not one will escape death and the fates."
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·Then prudent Penelope answered him in turn:
560ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν ὄνειροι ἀμήχανοι ἀκριτόμυθοι"Stranger, dreams surely are baffling and hard to make out,
γίγνοντʼ, οὐδέ τι πάντα τελείεται ἀνθρώποισι.and not everything comes to fulfillment for mortals.
δοιαὶ γάρ τε πύλαι ἀμενηνῶν εἰσὶν ὀνείρων·For there are two gates of insubstantial dreams:
αἱ μὲν γὰρ κεράεσσι τετεύχαται, αἱ δʼ ἐλέφαντι·the one is fashioned of horn, the other of ivory.
τῶν οἳ μέν κʼ ἔλθωσι διὰ πριστοῦ ἐλέφαντος,Those dreams that come through the gate of sawn ivory
565οἵ ῥʼ ἐλεφαίρονται, ἔπεʼ ἀκράαντα φέροντες·deceive us, bringing words that find no fulfillment;
οἱ δὲ διὰ ξεστῶν κεράων ἔλθωσι θύραζε,but those that come out through the gate of polished horn
οἵ ῥʼ ἔτυμα κραίνουσι, βροτῶν ὅτε κέν τις ἴδηται.accomplish the truth, when any mortal sees them.
ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν ὀΐομαι αἰνὸν ὄνειρονYet I do not think my dread dream came from there;
ἐλθέμεν· ἦ κʼ ἀσπαστὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ παιδὶ γένοιτο.surely it would be welcome to me and to my son.
570ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·Another thing I will tell you, and lay it up in your heart:
ἥδε δὴ ἠὼς εἶσι δυσώνυμος, ἥ μʼ Ὀδυσῆοςthis dawn now coming is one of evil name, that will take me
οἴκου ἀποσχήσει· νῦν γὰρ καταθήσω ἄεθλον,from the house of Odysseus; for now I will set up a contest,
τοὺς πελέκεας, τοὺς κεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσινthe axes, which he in his own halls
ἵστασχʼ ἑξείης, δρυόχους ὥς, δώδεκα πάντας·used to stand in a row, like props for a keel, twelve in all;
575στὰς δʼ ὅ γε πολλὸν ἄνευθε διαρρίπτασκεν ὀϊστόν.and standing far off he would shoot an arrow through them.
νῦν δὲ μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον τοῦτον ἐφήσω·Now I will set this contest before the suitors;
ὃς δέ κε ῥηΐτατʼ ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσιand whoever most easily strings the bow in his hands
καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,and shoots an arrow clean through all twelve axes,
τῷ κεν ἅμʼ ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμαwith him I will go, forsaking this house
580κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο·of my marriage, so beautiful, filled with livelihood;
τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀΐομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ.which I think I shall remember even in a dream."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις ὈδυσσεύςThen resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,"Honored wife of Odysseus, son of Laertes,
μηκέτι νῦν ἀνάβαλλε δόμοις ἔνι τοῦτον ἄεθλον·no longer put off this contest in your halls;
585πρὶν γάρ τοι πολύμητις ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς,for resourceful Odysseus will come here
πρὶν τούτους τόδε τόξον ἐΰξοον ἀμφαφόωνταςbefore these men, handling the polished bow,
νευρήν τʼ ἐντανύσαι διοϊστεῦσαί τε σιδήρου.can string the cord and shoot an arrow through the iron."
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια·Then prudent Penelope answered him in turn:
εἴ κʼ ἐθέλοις μοι, ξεῖνε, παρήμενος ἐν μεγάροισι"If you were willing, stranger, to sit beside me in the halls
590τέρπειν, οὔ κέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι χυθείη.and delight me, no sleep would be shed upon my eyelids.
ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ πως ἔστιν ἀΰπνους ἔμμεναι αἰεὶBut there is no way for men to be always
ἀνθρώπους· ἐπὶ γάρ τοι ἑκάστῳ μοῖραν ἔθηκανwithout sleep; for the immortals have set a measure
ἀθάνατοι θνητοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.for each thing among mortals on the grain-giving earth.
ἀλλʼ ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσαBut I for my part will go up to my upper chamber
595λέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,and lie down on my bed, which is made a place of groaning,
αἰεὶ δάκρυσʼ ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺςforever stained with my tears, since Odysseus
ᾤχετʼ ἐποψόμενος Κακοΐλιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.went away to see that evil Ilion, not to be named.
ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην· σὺ δὲ λέξεο τῷδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,There I will lie down; but you lie here in this house,
ἢ χαμάδις στορέσας ἤ τοι κατὰ δέμνια θέντων.either spreading something on the floor, or let them lay bedding for you."
600ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀνέβαινʼ ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα,So speaking she went up to her shining upper chamber,
οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι κίον ἄλλαι.not alone, for other handmaids went along with her.
ἐς δʼ ὑπερῷʼ ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶAnd going up to the upper chamber with her handmaid women
κλαῖεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνονshe wept then for Odysseus, her dear husband, until sleep,
ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.the sweet, grey-eyed Athena cast upon her eyelids.