1αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν προδόμῳ εὐνάζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·But godlike Odysseus lay down to sleep in the forecourt:
κὰμ μὲν ἀδέψητον βοέην στόρεσʼ, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεhe spread an untanned oxhide beneath him, and on top
κώεα πόλλʼ ὀΐων, τοὺς ἱρεύεσκον Ἀχαιοί·many fleeces of sheep that the Achaeans had slaughtered;
Εὐρυνόμη δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπὶ χλαῖναν βάλε κοιμηθέντι.and Eurynome threw a cloak over him as he lay down.
5ἔνθʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μνηστῆρσι κακὰ φρονέων ἐνὶ θυμῷThere Odysseus lay, wakeful, plotting evils in his heart
κεῖτʼ ἐγρηγορόων· ταὶ δʼ ἐκ μεγάροιο γυναῖκεςagainst the suitors; and out of the hall the women
ἤϊσαν, αἳ μνηστῆρσιν ἐμισγέσκοντο πάρος περ,went, they who before this had lain with the suitors,
ἀλλήλῃσι γέλω τε καὶ εὐφροσύνην παρέχουσαι.offering one another laughter and good cheer.
τοῦ δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι·And his heart was stirred within his breast,
10πολλὰ δὲ μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,and he pondered deeply in his mind and heart
ἠὲ μεταΐξας θάνατον τεύξειεν ἑκάστῃ,whether to spring among them and deal death to each,
ἦ ἔτʼ ἐῷ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μιγῆναιor let them lie once more with the insolent suitors,
ὕστατα καὶ πύματα, κραδίη δέ οἱ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει.this last time, this very last—but his heart barked within him.
ὡς δὲ κύων ἀμαλῇσι περὶ σκυλάκεσσι βεβῶσαAs a bitch, standing over her tender pups,
15ἄνδρʼ ἀγνοιήσασʼ ὑλάει μέμονέν τε μάχεσθαι,barks at a man she does not know and is eager to fight,
ὥς ῥα τοῦ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει ἀγαιομένου κακὰ ἔργα·so his heart growled within him, enraged at their evil deeds;
στῆθος δὲ πλήξας κραδίην ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·and he struck his breast and rebuked his heart with words:
τέτλαθι δή, κραδίη· καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο ποτʼ
ἔτλης."Endure, my heart: you endured a thing more foul than this
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι μένος ἄσχετος ἤσθιε Κύκλωψon that day when the Cyclops, uncontrollable in fury, devoured
20ἰφθίμους ἑτάρους· σὺ δʼ ἐτόλμας, ὄφρα σε μῆτιςmy mighty comrades—yet you held out, until cunning
ἐξάγαγʼ ἐξ ἄντροιο ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.led you from the cave when you thought you would die."
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἐν στήθεσσι καθαπτόμενος φίλον ἦτορ·So he spoke, chiding the dear heart in his breast,
τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ἐν πείσῃ κραδίη μένε τετληυῖαand his heart held firm in complete obedience,
νωλεμέως· ἀτὰρ αὐτὸς ἑλίσσετο ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.enduring without pause—but he himself tossed this way and that.
25ὡς δʼ ὅτε γαστέρʼ ἀνὴρ πολέος πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο,As when a man beside a great blazing fire turns
ἐμπλείην κνίσης τε καὶ αἵματος, ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθαa stomach stuffed full of fat and blood this way
αἰόλλῃ, μάλα δʼ ὦκα λιλαίεται ὀπτηθῆναι,and that, and is very eager to have it roasted quickly,
ὣς ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ἑλίσσετο, μερμηρίζωνso he tossed this way and that, pondering
ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσειhow he might lay hands upon the shameless suitors,
30μοῦνος ἐὼν πολέσι. σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνηone man against many. And Athena drew near to him,
οὐρανόθεν καταβᾶσα· δέμας δʼ ἤϊκτο γυναικί·coming down from heaven, in the likeness of a woman;
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·she stood above his head and spoke a word to him:
τίπτʼ αὖτʼ ἐγρήσσεις, πάντων περὶ κάμμορε
φωτῶν;"Why are you awake again, most ill-fated of all men?
οἶκος μέν τοι ὅδʼ ἐστί, γυνὴ δέ τοι ἥδʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳThis is your house, and your wife is here in the house,
35καὶ, πάϊς, οἷόν πού τις ἐέλδεται ἔμμεναι υἷα.and your child, such a son as any man could wish for."
τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered her and said:
ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, θεά, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·"Yes, goddess, all these things you have spoken rightly;
ἀλλά τί μοι τόδε θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζει,but this is what my heart within me keeps pondering,
ὅππως δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσω,how I shall lay hands upon the shameless suitors,
40μοῦνος ἐών· οἱ δʼ αἰὲν ἀολλέες ἔνδον ἔασι.being alone, while they are always here together in a mass.
πρὸς δʼ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμηρίζω·And here is a still greater matter I ponder in my heart:
εἴ περ γὰρ κτείναιμι Διός τε σέθεν τε ἕκητι,even if I should kill them, by the will of Zeus and you,
πῆ κεν ὑπεκπροφύγοιμι; τά σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.where could I make my escape? This too I bid you consider."
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·Then the goddess grey-eyed Athena answered him:
45σχέτλιε, καὶ μέν τίς τε χερείονι πείθεθʼ ἑταίρῳ,"Hard man, another trusts even in a weaker comrade,
ὅς περ θνητός τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ οὐ τόσα μήδεα οἶδεν·one who is mortal and knows not so many counsels;
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι, διαμπερὲς ἥ σε φυλάσσωbut I am a goddess, who guard you always to the end
ἐν πάντεσσι πόνοις. ἐρέω δέ τοι ἐξαναφανδόν·through all your labors. And I will tell you openly:
εἴ περ πεντήκοντα λόχοι μερόπων ἀνθρώπωνeven if fifty companies of mortal men
50νῶϊ περισταῖεν, κτεῖναι μεμαῶτες Ἄρηϊ,should stand around us both, eager to kill us in battle,
καί κεν τῶν ἐλάσαιο βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα.even from them you could drive off their cattle and fat sheep.
ἀλλʼ ἑλέτω σε καὶ ὕπνος· ἀνίη καὶ τὸ φυλάσσεινBut let sleep take you too; it is a weariness to keep watch
πάννυχον ἐγρήσσοντα, κακῶν δʼ ὑποδύσεαι ἤδη.wakeful all night long, and soon you will rise up from your troubles."
ὣς φάτο, καί ῥά οἱ ὕπνον ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν
ἔχευεν,So she spoke, and she poured sleep upon his eyelids,
55αὐτὴ δʼ ἂψ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἀφίκετο δῖα θεάων.and she herself went back to Olympus, shining among goddesses.
εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε, λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ,While sleep seized him, loosening the cares of his heart,
λυσιμελής, ἄλοχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπέγρετο κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα·the limb-loosener, his true wife awoke, wise in her heart;
κλαῖε δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν λέκτροισι καθεζομένη μαλακοῖσιν.she wept, sitting up on her soft bed.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κλαίουσα κορέσσατο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν,But when she had taken her fill of weeping in her heart,
60Ἀρτέμιδι πρώτιστον ἐπεύξατο δῖα γυναικῶν·the woman divine prayed first of all to Artemis:
Ἄρτεμι, πότνα θεά, θύγατερ Διός, αἴθε μοι
ἤδη"Artemis, lady goddess, daughter of Zeus, if only now
ἰὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι βαλοῦσʼ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιοyou would cast a shaft into my breast and take my life away,
αὐτίκα νῦν, ἢ ἔπειτα μʼ ἀναρπάξασα θύελλαthis very moment, or later some storm-wind would snatch me up
οἴχοιτο προφέρουσα κατʼ ἠερόεντα κέλευθα,and carry me off down the murky pathways,
65ἐν προχοῇς δὲ βάλοι ἀψορρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.and hurl me into the mouth of backward-flowing Ocean.
ὡς δʼ ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρας ἀνέλοντο θύελλαι·As when storm-winds carried off the daughters of Pandareus—
τῇσι τοκῆας μὲν φθῖσαν θεοί, αἱ δʼ ἐλίποντοthe gods had killed their parents, and they were left
ὀρφαναὶ ἐν μεγάροισι, κόμισσε δὲ δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτηorphaned in the halls, and shining Aphrodite tended them
τυρῷ καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ καὶ ἡδέϊ οἴνῳ·with cheese and sweet honey and delicious wine;
70Ἥρη δʼ αὐτῇσιν περὶ πασέων δῶκε γυναικῶνand Hera gave them, beyond all women,
εἶδος καὶ πινυτήν, μῆκος δʼ ἔπορʼ Ἄρτεμις ἁγνή,beauty and wisdom, and chaste Artemis gave them stature,
ἔργα δʼ Ἀθηναίη δέδαε κλυτὰ ἐργάζεσθαι.and Athena taught them to work at glorious handiwork.
εὖτʼ Ἀφροδίτη δῖα προσέστιχε μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,But when shining Aphrodite went up to lofty Olympus,
κούρῃς αἰτήσουσα τέλος θαλεροῖο γάμοιο—to ask for the girls the fulfillment of a flourishing marriage—
75ἐς Δία τερπικέραυνον, ὁ γάρ τʼ εὖ οἶδεν ἅπαντα,going to Zeus who delights in thunder, for he knows all things well,
μοῖράν τʼ ἀμμορίην τε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων—the fortune and misfortune of mortal men—
τόφρα δὲ τὰς κούρας ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντοmeanwhile the Harpies snatched the girls away
καί ῥʼ ἔδοσαν στυγερῇσιν ἐρινύσιν ἀμφιπολεύειν·and gave them over to the hateful Furies as their servants:
ὣς ἔμʼ ἀϊστώσειαν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες,so may those who hold Olympian homes make me vanish,
80ἠέ μʼ ἐϋπλόκαμος βάλοι Ἄρτεμις, ὄφρʼ Ὀδυσῆαor may fair-haired Artemis strike me, so that Odysseus
ὀσσομένη καὶ γαῖαν ὕπο στυγερὴν ἀφικοίμην,with him before my eyes, and I would go beneath the hateful earth,
μηδέ τι χείρονος ἀνδρὸς ἐϋφραίνοιμι νόημα.and never gladden the mind of a lesser man.
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν καὶ ἀνεκτὸν ἔχει κακόν, ὁππότε κέν τιςYet this at least is a bearable evil, when someone
ἤματα μὲν κλαίῃ, πυκινῶς ἀκαχήμενος ἦτορ,weeps through the days, his heart heavy with grief,
85νύκτας δʼ ὕπνος ἔχῃσιν—ὁ γάρ τʼ ἐπέλησεν ἁπάντων,but sleep holds him at night—for sleep makes one forget all things,
ἐσθλῶν ἠδὲ κακῶν, ἐπεὶ ἄρ βλέφαρʼ ἀμφικαλύψῃ—both good and evil, once it has closed the eyelids over—
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ ὀνείρατʼ ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.but on me some god sends even evil dreams.
τῇδε γὰρ αὖ μοι νυκτὶ παρέδραθεν εἴκελος αὐτῷ,For again this very night one lay beside me, his very likeness,
τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος ᾖεν ἅμα στρατῷ· αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρsuch as he was when he went with the army; and my heart
90χαῖρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐφάμην ὄναρ ἔμμεναι, ἀλλʼ ὕπαρ ἤδη.rejoiced, for I did not think it a dream, but waking truth already.
ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτίκα δὲ χρυσόθρονος ἤλυθεν Ἠώς.So she spoke, and at once came golden-throned Dawn.
τῆς δʼ ἄρα κλαιούσης ὄπα σύνθετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·Godlike Odysseus caught the sound of her weeping,
μερμήριζε δʼ ἔπειτα, δόκησε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸνand then he pondered, and it seemed to him in his heart
ἤδη γιγνώσκουσα παρεστάμεναι κεφαλῆφι.that she already knew him and was standing beside his head.
95χλαῖναν μὲν συνελὼν καὶ κώεα, τοῖσιν ἐνεῦδεν,Gathering up the cloak and fleeces on which he had slept,
ἐς μέγαρον κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ θρόνου, ἐκ δὲ βοείηνhe laid them in the hall upon a chair, and the oxhide
θῆκε θύραζε φέρων, Διὶ δʼ εὔξατο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·he carried outside and set down, and lifting his hands he prayed to Zeus:
Ζεῦ πάτερ, εἴ μʼ ἐθέλοντες ἐπὶ τραφερήν τε καὶ
ὑγρὴνFather Zeus, if you gods brought me willingly over the dry land and the water
ἤγετʼ ἐμὴν ἐς γαῖαν, ἐπεί μʼ ἐκακώσατε λίην,to my own country, after you afflicted me so sorely,
100φήμην τίς μοι φάσθω ἐγειρομένων ἀνθρώπωνlet one of the men waking within the house speak a word of omen to me,
ἔνδοθεν, ἔκτοσθεν δὲ Διὸς τέρας ἄλλο φανήτω.and outside let another sign from Zeus appear.
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεύς,So he spoke in prayer, and Zeus the counselor heard him,
αὐτίκα δʼ ἐβρόντησεν ἀπʼ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,and at once he thundered from shining Olympus,
ὑψόθεν ἐκ νεφέων· γήθησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.high up from the clouds; and godlike Odysseus rejoiced.
105φήμην δʼ ἐξ οἴκοιο γυνὴ προέηκεν ἀλετρὶςAnd a word of omen came from a woman grinding within the house,
πλησίον, ἔνθʼ ἄρα οἱ μύλαι ἥατο ποιμένι λαῶν,nearby, where the mills of the shepherd of the people were set,
τῇσιν δώδεκα πᾶσαι ἐπερρώοντο γυναῖκεςat which twelve women in all plied their labor,
ἄλφιτα τεύχουσαι καὶ ἀλείατα, μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν.making barley-meal and flour, the marrow of men.
αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄλλαι εὗδον, ἐπεὶ κατὰ πυρὸν ἄλεσσαν,Now the others slept, once they had ground their wheat,
110ἡ δὲ μίʼ οὔπω παύετʼ, ἀφαυροτάτη δʼ ἐτέτυκτο·but this one alone had not yet ceased, being the weakest of them all;
ἥ ῥα μύλην στήσασα ἔπος φάτο, σῆμα ἄνακτι·she stopped her mill and spoke a word, a sign for her lord:
Ζεῦ πάτερ, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν
ἀνάσσεις,Father Zeus, you who rule over gods and men,
ἦ μεγάλʼ ἐβρόντησας ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος,surely you thundered loud from the starry heaven,
οὐδέ ποθι νέφος ἐστί· τέρας νύ τεῳ τόδε φαίνεις.and nowhere is there a cloud: you show this as a sign to someone.
115κρῆνον νῦν καὶ ἐμοὶ δειλῇ ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω·Fulfill now for me too, wretched as I am, the word I speak:
μνηστῆρες πύματόν τε καὶ ὕστατον ἤματι τῷδεmay the suitors this day, for the last and final time,
ἐν μεγάροις Ὀδυσῆος ἑλοίατο δαῖτʼ ἐρατεινήν,take their delightful feast in the halls of Odysseus,
οἳ δή μοι καμάτῳ θυμαλγέι· γούνατʼ ἔλυσανthey who with heart-grieving toil have loosened my knees
ἄλφιτα τευχούσῃ· νῦν ὕστατα δειπνήσειαν.as I make the barley-meal; now may they dine for the last time.
120ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, χαῖρεν δὲ κλεηδόνι δῖος ὈδυσσεὺςSo she spoke, and godlike Odysseus rejoiced at the omen
Ζηνός τε βροντῇ· φάτο γὰρ τίσασθαι ἀλείτας.and the thunder of Zeus; for he thought he would punish the guilty.
αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι δμῳαὶ κατὰ δώματα κάλʼ ὈδυσῆοςAnd the other serving-women through the fair halls of Odysseus
ἀγρόμεναι ἀνέκαιον ἐπʼ ἐσχάρῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ.gathered together and kindled the tireless fire on the hearth.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ εὐνῆθεν ἀνίστατο, ἰσόθεος φώς,And Telemachus rose from his bed, a man like the gods,
125εἵματα ἑσσάμενος· περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ·and put on his clothes; about his shoulder he slung the sharp sword;
ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,beneath his shining feet he bound his fair sandals,
εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ἀκαχμένον ὀξέι· χαλκῷ·and he took up his strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze;
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ οὐδὸν ἰών, πρὸς δʼ Εὐρύκλειαν ἔειπε·he came and stood upon the threshold, and spoke to Eurycleia:
μαῖα φίλη, τὸν ξεῖνον ἐτιμήσασθʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳDear nurse, did you honor the stranger in the house
130εὐνῇ καὶ σίτῳ, ἦ αὔτως κεῖται ἀκηδής;with bed and food, or does he lie uncared-for still?
τοιαύτη γὰρ ἐμὴ μήτηρ, πινυτή περ ἐοῦσα·For such is my mother, wise though she is:
ἐμπλήγδην ἕτερόν γε τίει μερόπων ἀνθρώπωνimpulsively she honors this one of mortal men,
χείρονα, τὸν δέ τʼ ἀρείονʼ ἀτιμήσασʼ ἀποπέμπει.the worse, and dismisses the better without honor.
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια·Then prudent Eurycleia answered him in turn:
135οὐκ ἄν μιν νῦν, τέκνον, ἀναίτιον αἰτιόῳο.You would not now, child, blame her when she is blameless.
οἶνον μὲν γὰρ πῖνε καθήμενος, ὄφρʼ ἔθελʼ αὐτός,For he sat and drank wine as long as he himself wished,
σίτου δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔφη πεινήμεναι· εἴρετο γάρ μιν.but said he no longer hungered for food; for she asked him.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κοίτοιο καὶ ὕπνου μιμνήσκοιτο,But when he came to think of his rest and of sleep,
ἡ μὲν δέμνιʼ ἄνωγεν ὑποστορέσαι δμῳῇσιν,she bade the serving-women spread a bed for him,
140αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ, ὥς τις πάμπαν ὀϊζυρὸς καὶ ἄποτμος,but he, like one utterly wretched and ill-starred,
οὐκ ἔθελʼ ἐν λέκτροισι καὶ ἐν ῥήγεσσι καθεύδειν,would not sleep in a bed and among blankets,
ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀδεψήτῳ βοέῃ καὶ κώεσιν οἰῶνbut on an untanned oxhide and the fleeces of sheep
ἔδραθʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ· χλαῖναν δʼ ἐπιέσσαμεν ἡμεῖς.he slept in the forehall; and we threw a cloak over him.
ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκειSo she spoke, and Telemachus went out through the hall
145ἔγχος ἔχων, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.holding his spear, and two swift dogs followed with him.
βῆ δʼ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορὴν μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.He made his way to the assembly among the well-greaved Achaeans.
ἡ δʼ αὖτε δμῳῇσιν ἐκέκλετο δῖα γυναικῶν,And she in turn called out to the serving-women, that woman among women,
Εὐρύκλειʼ, Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο·Eurycleia, daughter of Ops the son of Peisenor:
ἀγρεῖθʼ, αἱ μὲν δῶμα κορήσατε ποιπνύσασαι,Come now, some of you sweep the house, busy yourselves,
150ῥάσσατέ τʼ, ἔν τε θρόνοις εὐποιήτοισι τάπηταςand sprinkle it, and on the well-made chairs cast the coverlets,
βάλλετε πορφυρέους· αἱ δὲ σπόγγοισι τραπέζαςthe purple ones; and others with sponges wipe down
πάσας ἀμφιμάσασθε, καθήρατε δὲ κρητῆραςall the tables, and clean out the mixing-bowls
καὶ δέπα ἀμφικύπελλα τετυγμένα· ταὶ δὲ μεθʼ ὕδωρand the double-handled cups, well-fashioned; and others go for water,
ἔρχεσθε κρήνηνδε, καὶ οἴσετε θᾶσσον ἰοῦσαι.go to the spring, and bring it back, going quickly.
155οὐ γὰρ δὴν μνηστῆρες ἀπέσσονται μεγάροιο,For the suitors will not be long away from the hall,
ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἦρι νέονται, ἐπεὶ καὶ πᾶσιν ἑορτή.but will return very early, since it is a feast-day for all.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἱ δʼ ἄρα τῆς μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ
ἐπίθοντο.So she spoke, and they listened well to her and obeyed.
αἱ μὲν ἐείκοσι βῆσαν ἐπὶ κρήνην μελάνυδρον,Twenty of them went off to the spring of dark water,
αἱ δʼ αὐτοῦ κατὰ δώματʼ ἐπισταμένως πονέοντο.and the others there in the house worked skillfully.
160ἐς δʼ ἦλθον δρηστῆρες Ἀχαιῶν. οἱ μὲν ἔπειταAnd in came the serving-men of the Achaeans. They then
εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως κέασαν ξύλα, ταὶ δὲ γυναῖκεςsplit the wood well and skillfully, and the women
ἦλθον ἀπὸ κρήνης· ἐπὶ δέ σφισιν ἦλθε συβώτηςcame from the spring; and the swineherd came up to them
τρεῖς σιάλους κατάγων, οἳ ἔσαν μετὰ πᾶσιν ἄριστοι.driving three fat hogs, the best among all the herd.
καὶ τοὺς μέν ῥʼ εἴασε καθʼ ἕρκεα καλὰ νέμεσθαι,And these he left to graze within the fine enclosures,
165αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·and himself in turn spoke to Odysseus with gentle words:
ξεῖνʼ, ἦ ἄρ τί σε μᾶλλον Ἀχαιοὶ εἰσορόωσιν,"Stranger, do the Achaeans now look on you with more regard,
ἦέ σʼ ἀτιμάζουσι κατὰ μέγαρʼ, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ;or do they dishonor you throughout the hall, as before?"
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολυμήτις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
αἲ γὰρ δή, Εὔμαιε, θεοὶ τισαίατο λώβην,"Would, Eumaeus, that the gods might avenge the outrage
170ἣν οἵδʼ ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωνταιthese men in their insolence recklessly contrive
οἴκῳ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ, οὐδʼ αἰδοῦς μοῖραν ἔχουσιν.in another man's house, and have no portion of shame."
ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,So they spoke such words to one another,
ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε Μελάνθιος, αἰπόλος αἰγῶν.and Melanthius came near to them, the goatherd of goats,
αἶγας ἄγων αἳ πᾶσι μετέρεπον αἰπολίοισι,leading goats that were the finest of all the herds,
175δεῖπνον μνηστήρεσσι. δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆες.a meal for the suitors. And two herdsmen followed with him.
καὶ τὰς μὲν κατέδησεν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,And these he tied up beneath the echoing portico,
αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδα κερτομίοισι·and himself in turn spoke to Odysseus with taunting words:
ξεῖνʼ, ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐνθάδʼ ἀνιήσεις κατὰ δῶμα"Stranger, will you still even now be a nuisance here through the house,
ἀνέρας αἰτίζων, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἔξεισθα θύραζε;begging from men, and not take yourself out the door?
180πάντως οὐκέτι νῶϊ διακρινέεσθαι ὀΐωIn no way, I think, will the two of us part now
πρὶν χειρῶν γεύσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σύ περ οὐ κατὰ κόσμονbefore we taste each other's fists, since you beg
αἰτίζεις· εἰσὶν δὲ καὶ ἄλλαι δαῖτες Ἀχαιῶν.beyond all decency; and there are other feasts among the Achaeans."
ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς,So he spoke, and resourceful Odysseus said nothing to him,
ἀλλʼ ἀκέων κίνησε κάρη, κακὰ βυσσοδομεύων.but silently shook his head, brooding deep on evil.
185τοῖσι δʼ ἐπὶ τρίτος ἦλθε Φιλοίτιος, ὄρχαμος
ἀνδρῶν,And upon these came a third, Philoetius, leader of men,
βοῦν στεῖραν μνηστῆρσιν ἄγων καὶ πίονας αἶγας.leading a barren cow for the suitors and fat goats.
πορθμῆες δʼ ἄρα τούς γε διήγαγον, οἵ τε καὶ ἄλλουςFerrymen had brought them across, the men who send also
ἀνθρώπους πέμπουσιν, ὅτις σφέας εἰσαφίκηται.other people over, whoever comes to them.
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ κατέδησεν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ ἐριδούπῳ,And these he tied up well beneath the echoing portico,
190αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐρέεινε συβώτην ἄγχι παραστάς·and himself in turn questioned the swineherd, standing close beside:
τίς δὴ ὅδε ξεῖνος νέον εἰλήλουθε, συβῶτα,"Who is this stranger newly come, swineherd,
ἡμέτερον πρὸς δῶμα; τέων δʼ ἐξ εὔχεται εἶναιto our house? From what men does he boast to be
ἀνδρῶν; ποῦ δέ νύ οἱ γενεὴ καὶ πατρὶς ἄρουρα;by birth? Where now is his lineage and his native land?
δύσμορος, ἦ τε ἔοικε δέμας βασιλῆϊ ἄνακτι·Ill-fated man—yet in his frame he is like a royal lord;
195ἀλλὰ θεοὶ δυόωσι πολυπλάγκτους ἀνθρώπους,but the gods bring low men who wander far,
ὁππότε καὶ βασιλεῦσιν ἐπικλώσωνται ὀϊζύν.whenever they spin out misery even for kings."
ἦ καὶ δεξιτερῇ δειδίσκετο χειρὶ παραστάς,He spoke, and standing close greeted him with his right hand,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·and calling out he spoke winged words to him:
χαῖρε, πάτερ ὦ ξεῖνε· γένοιτό τοι ἔς περ
ὀπίσσω"Hail, father stranger; may prosperity be yours
200ὄλβος· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε κακοῖς ἔχεαι πολέεσσι.in time to come; but now you are held fast by many evils.
Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὔ τις σεῖο θεῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·Father Zeus, no other god is more destructive than you;
οὐκ ἐλεαίρεις ἄνδρας, ἐπὴν δὴ γείνεαι αὐτός,you have no pity on men, though you yourself begot them,
μισγέμεναι κακότητι καὶ ἄλγεσι λευγαλέοισιν.to mingle them with wretchedness and grievous pains.
ἴδιον, ὡς ἐνόησα, δεδάκρυνται δέ μοι ὄσσεI broke into sweat, seeing him, and my eyes filled with tears
205μνησαμένῳ Ὀδυσῆος, ἐπεὶ καὶ κεῖνον ὀΐωas I remembered Odysseus, for I think that he too
τοιάδε λαίφεʼ ἔχοντα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἀλάλησθαι,wanders among men wearing rags such as these,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο.if indeed he still lives and sees the light of the sun.
εἰ δʼ ἤδη τέθνηκε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιν,But if he is already dead and in the house of Hades,
ὤ μοι ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ὅς μʼ ἐπὶ βουσὶνthen woe is me for blameless Odysseus, who set me over his cattle
210εἷσʼ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐόντα Κεφαλλήνων ἐνὶ δήμῳ.while I was still a small boy in the land of the Cephallenians.
νῦν δʼ αἱ μὲν γίγνονται ἀθέσφατοι, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλωςNow these have grown past counting, and in no other way
ἀνδρί γʼ ὑποσταχύοιτο βοῶν γένος εὐρυμετώπων·could a man's breed of broad-browed oxen multiply so;
τὰς δʼ ἄλλοι με κέλονται ἀγινέμεναί σφισιν αὐτοῖςand others command me to drive them here for themselves
ἔδμεναι· οὐδέ τι παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀλέγουσιν,to eat; nor do they care at all for the son in the halls,
215οὐδʼ ὄπιδα τρομέουσι θεῶν· μεμάασι γὰρ ἤδηnor do they tremble at the gods' regard—they are eager already
κτήματα δάσσασθαι δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος.to divide the goods of a master long gone away.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τόδε θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιBut this it is that my heart within my breast
πόλλʼ ἐπιδινεῖται· μάλα μὲν κακὸν υἷος ἐόντοςturns over and over: it is very evil, while the son lives,
ἄλλων δῆμον ἱκέσθαι ἰόντʼ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,to go off into another people's land with the cattle themselves,
220ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαπούς· τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον, αὖθι μένονταamong foreign men; yet worse still is it to stay here
βουσὶν ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίῃσι καθήμενον ἄλγεα πάσχειν.sitting by another's cattle and suffer pains.
καί κεν δὴ πάλαι ἄλλον ὑπερμενέων βασιλήωνLong ago indeed I would have fled to some other
ἐξικόμην φεύγων, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτὰ πέλονται·overweening king, since these things are no longer bearable;
ἀλλʼ ἔτι τὸν δύστηνον ὀΐομαι, εἴ ποθεν ἐλθὼνbut still I keep thinking of that luckless man, in hope he might come
225ἀνδρῶν μνηστήρων σκέδασιν κατὰ δώματα θείῃ.from somewhere and scatter the suitors through the halls.
τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις
Ὀδυσσεύς·Then resourceful Odysseus answered him and said:
βουκόλʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔτε κακῷ οὔτʼ ἄφρονι φωτὶ ἔοικας,"Cowherd, since you seem neither a base nor a witless man,
γιγνώσκω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ τοι πινυτὴ φρένας ἵκει,and I myself perceive that good sense has reached your mind,
τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι·therefore I will tell you and swear a great oath upon it:
230ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν ξενίη τε τράπεζαlet Zeus now be my witness first of the gods, and the guest-table,
ἱστίη τʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω,and the hearth of blameless Odysseus, to which I have come,
ἦ σέθεν ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντος ἐλεύσεται οἴκαδʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·that while you are still here Odysseus will come home;
σοῖσιν δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἐπόψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα,and with your own eyes you will look on, if you wish,
κτεινομένους μνηστῆρας, οἳ ἐνθάδε κοιρανέουσιν.the killing of the suitors who lord it here."
235τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶν ἐπιβουκόλος ἀνήρ·Then the herdsman of the cattle answered him:
αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τελέσειε Κρονίων·"If only, stranger, the son of Cronos would fulfill this word;
γνοίης χʼ οἵη ἐμὴ δύναμις καὶ χεῖρες ἕπονται.you would learn what my strength is and what my hands can do."
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Εὔμαιος ἐπεύξατο πᾶσι θεοῖσιAnd in like manner Eumaeus prayed to all the gods
νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.that wise Odysseus might come home to his own house.
240ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,So they spoke such words to one another,
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα Τηλεμάχῳ θάνατόν τε μόρον τεBut the suitors were preparing death and doom
ἤρτυον· αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖσιν ἀριστερὸς ἤλυθεν ὄρνις,for Telemachus; yet a bird came to them on the left,
αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης, ἔχε δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν.an eagle flying high, and it held a trembling dove.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀμφίνομος ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·Then Amphinomus spoke out and addressed them:
245ὦ φίλοι, οὐχ ἡμῖν συνθεύσεται ἥδε γε βουλή,"Friends, this plan of ours will not run to its end,
Τηλεμάχοιο φόνος· ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα δαιτός.the murder of Telemachus; let us think of the feast instead."
ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀμφίνομος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος.So spoke Amphinomus, and his word pleased them.
ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιοAnd going into the house of godlike Odysseus
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,they laid their cloaks down on the couches and the chairs,
250οἱ δʼ ἱέρευον ὄϊς μεγάλους καὶ πίονας αἶγας,and slaughtered great sheep and fat goats,
ἵρευον δὲ σύας σιάλους καὶ βοῦν ἀγελαίην·and slaughtered fattened swine and a heifer from the herd;
σπλάγχνα δʼ ἄρʼ ὀπτήσαντες ἐνώμων, ἐν δέ τε οἶνονand roasting the entrails they served them round, and mixed
κρητῆρσιν κερόωντο· κύπελλα δὲ νεῖμε συβώτης.wine in the bowls; and the swineherd handed out the cups.
σῖτον δέ σφʼ ἐπένειμε Φιλοίτιος, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,And Philoetius, leader of men, dealt out the bread to them
255καλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν, ἐῳνοχόει δὲ Μελανθεύς.in fine baskets, and Melanthius poured the wine.
οἱ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.And they put out their hands to the good things lying ready.
Τηλέμαχος δʼ Ὀδυσῆα καθίδρυε, κέρδεα νωμῶν,But Telemachus, plying his cunning, seated Odysseus
ἐντὸς ἐϋσταθέος μεγάρου, παρὰ λάϊνον οὐδόν,within the well-built hall, beside the threshold of stone,
δίφρον ἀεικέλιον καταθεὶς ὀλίγην τε τράπεζαν·setting a shabby stool and a small table for him;
260πὰρ δʼ ἐτίθει σπλάγχνων μοίρας, ἐν δʼ οἶνον ἔχευενand he set beside him portions of the entrails, and poured wine
ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·in a golden cup, and spoke a word to him:
ἐνταυθοῖ νῦν ἧσο μετʼ ἀνδράσιν οἰνοποτάζων·"Sit here now among the men and drink your wine;
κερτομίας δέ τοι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ καὶ χεῖρας ἀφέξωand I myself will keep off the taunts and the hands
πάντων μνηστήρων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι δήμιός ἐστινof all the suitors, since this is no public house
265οἶκος ὅδʼ, ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσῆος, ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐκτήσατο κεῖνος.but Odysseus's, and he won it for me.
ὑμεῖς δέ, μνηστῆρες, ἐπίσχετε θυμὸν ἐνιπῆςAnd you, suitors, hold back your hearts from insult
καὶ χειρῶν, ἵνα μή τις ἔρις καὶ νεῖκος ὄρηται.and from your hands, so that no strife or quarrel may arise."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ὀδὰξ ἐν χείλεσι
φύντεςSo he spoke, and they all bit their lips
Τηλέμαχον θαύμαζον, ὃ θαρσαλέως ἀγόρευε.and marveled at Telemachus, who had spoken so boldly.
270τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντίνοος μετέφη, Εὐπείθεος υἱός·Then Antinous addressed them, the son of Eupeithes:
καὶ χαλεπόν περ ἐόντα δεχώμεθα μῦθον,
Ἀχαιοί,"Hard though the word is, let us accept it, Achaeans,
Τηλεμάχου· μάλα δʼ ἧμιν ἀπειλήσας ἀγορεύει.the word of Telemachus; he speaks with great threats against us.
οὐ γὰρ Ζεὺς εἴασε Κρονίων· τῷ κέ μιν ἤδηFor Zeus the son of Cronos did not allow it; else by now
παύσαμεν ἐν μεγάροισι, λιγύν περ ἐόντʼ ἀγορητήν.we would have stopped him in the halls, clear speaker though he is."
275ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος· ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων.So spoke Antinous; but Odysseus paid no heed to his words.
κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβηνAnd through the town the heralds were leading the sacred hecatomb
ἦγον· τοὶ δʼ ἀγέροντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶof the gods; and the long-haired Achaeans gathered
ἄλσος ὕπο σκιερὸν ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος.beneath the shady grove of Apollo the far-shooter.
οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ ὤπτησαν κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα καὶ ἐρύσαντο,And when they had roasted the outer flesh and drawn it off,
280μοίρας δασσάμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖτα·dividing the portions they feasted on the glorious feast;
πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὀδυσσῆϊ μοῖραν θέσαν οἳ πονέοντοAnd beside Odysseus they set a portion, those who served,
ἴσην, ὡς αὐτοί περ ἐλάγχανον· ὣς γὰρ ἀνώγειequal, as much as they themselves received; for so had ordered
Τηλέμαχος, φίλος υἱὸς Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.Telemachus, dear son of godlike Odysseus.
μνηστῆρας δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἀγήνορας εἴα ἈθήνηBut Athena would not let the lordly suitors
285λώβης ἴσχεσθαι θυμαλγέος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλονhold back entirely from heart-galling outrage, so that still more
δύη ἄχος κραδίην Λαερτιάδην Ὀδυσῆα.grief might sink into the heart of Laertes' son Odysseus.
ἦν δέ τις ἐν μνηστῆρσιν ἀνὴρ ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς,Now there was among the suitors a man who knew no law,
Κτήσιππος δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσκε, Σάμῃ δʼ ἐνὶ οἰκία ναῖεν·Ctesippus was his name, and he lived in a house in Same;
ὃς δή τοι κτεάτεσσι πεποιθὼς θεσπεσίοισιand he, trusting in his prodigious possessions,
290μνάσκετʼ Ὀδυσσῆος δὴν οἰχομένοιο δάμαρτα.was wooing the wife of Odysseus, long gone away.
ὅς ῥα τότε μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μετηύδα·He now spoke out among the overbearing suitors:
κέκλυτέ μευ, μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες, ὄφρα τι
εἴπω·"Hear me, lordly suitors, so that I may say something:
μοῖραν μὲν δὴ ξεῖνος ἔχει πάλαι, ὡς ἐπέοικεν,this stranger has long had a portion, as is fitting,
ἴσην· οὐ γὰρ καλὸν ἀτέμβειν οὐδὲ δίκαιονan equal one; for it is neither good nor just
295ξείνους Τηλεμάχου, ὅς κεν τάδε δώμαθʼ ἵκηται.to slight the guests of Telemachus, whoever comes to this house.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε οἱ καὶ ἐγὼ δῶ ξείνιον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτὸςBut come, let me too give him a guest-gift, so that he himself
ἠὲ λοετροχόῳ δώῃ γέρας ἠέ τῳ ἄλλῳmay give a prize to the bath-woman, or to some other
δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.of the slaves who are throughout the house of godlike Odysseus."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἔρριψε βοὸς πόδα χειρὶ παχείῃ.So speaking, with his heavy hand he hurled an ox's hoof,
300κείμενον ἐκ κανέοιο λαβών· ὁ δʼ ἀλεύατʼ Ὀδυσσεὺςtaking it as it lay in the basket; but Odysseus dodged it,
ἦκα παρακλίνας κεφαλήν, μείδησε δὲ θυμῷtilting his head a little aside, and he smiled in his heart
σαρδάνιον μάλα τοῖον· ὁ δʼ εὔδμητον βάλε τοῖχον.a grimly bitter smile; and it struck the well-built wall.
Κτήσιππον δʼ ἄρα Τηλέμαχος ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·Then Telemachus rebuked Ctesippus with words:
Κτήσιππʼ, ἦ μάλα τοι τόδε κέρδιον ἔπλετο
θυμῷ·"Ctesippus, this has surely turned out better for your heart:
305οὐκ ἔβαλες τὸν ξεῖνον· ἀλεύατο γὰρ βέλος αὐτός.you did not hit the stranger, for he dodged your missile himself.
ἦ γάρ κέν σε μέσον βάλον ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι,Otherwise I would have struck you square with the sharp spear,
καί κέ τοι ἀντὶ γάμοιο πατὴρ τάφον ἀμφεπονεῖτοand instead of a wedding your father would have busied himself
ἐνθάδε. τῷ μή τίς μοι ἀεικείας ἐνὶ οἴκῳwith your funeral here. So let no man in my house
φαινέτω· ἤδη γὰρ νοέω καὶ οἶδα ἕκαστα,show his indecencies; for now I understand and know each thing,
310ἐσθλά τε καὶ τὰ χέρηα· πάρος δʼ ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.both the good and the worse; before this I was still a child.
ἀλλʼ ἔμπης τάδε μὲν καὶ τέτλαμεν εἰσορόωντες,But even so, we endure to look upon these things,
μήλων σφαζομένων οἴνοιό τε πινομένοιοthe sheep being slaughtered and the wine being drunk
καὶ σίτου· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐρυκακέειν ἕνα πολλούς.and the bread; for it is hard for one to hold back many.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι μοι κακὰ ῥέζετε δυσμενέοντες·But come, no longer do me harm out of your malice;
315εἰ δʼ ἤδη μʼ αὐτὸν κτεῖναι μενεαίνετε χαλκῷ,and if you are now eager to kill me myself with the bronze,
καί κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴηeven that I would wish, and it would be far better
τεθνάμεν ἢ τάδε γʼ αἰὲν ἀεικέα ἔργʼ ὁράασθαι,to be dead than forever to see these shameful deeds,
ξείνους τε στυφελιζομένους δμῳάς τε γυναῖκαςthe guests being manhandled and the serving-women
ῥυστάζοντας ἀεικελίως κατὰ δώματα καλά.dragged in ugly fashion through the beautiful house."
320ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·So he spoke, and they all fell silent, without a sound;
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε Δαμαστορίδης Ἀγέλαος·But at last Agelaus, son of Damastor, spoke among them:
ὦ φίλοι, οὐκ ἂν δή τις ἐπὶ ῥηθέντι δικαίῳ"Friends, no man should be enraged at what is justly said,
ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος χαλεπαίνοι·attacking it with words of hostile opposition;
μήτε τι τὸν ξεῖνον στυφελίζετε μήτε τινʼ ἄλλονneither manhandle this stranger nor any other
325δμώων, οἳ κατὰ δώματʼ Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο.of the servants who are throughout godlike Odysseus's house.
Τηλεμάχῳ δέ κε μῦθον ἐγὼ καὶ μητέρι φαίηνBut to Telemachus and his mother I would speak
ἤπιον, εἴ σφωϊν κραδίῃ ἅδοι ἀμφοτέροιϊν.a gentle word, if it should please the hearts of them both.
ὄφρα μὲν ὑμῖν θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπειAs long as the spirit in your breasts still hoped
νοστήσειν Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε,that Odysseus of many counsels would return to his own home,
330τόφρʼ οὔ τις νέμεσις μενέμεν τʼ ἦν ἰσχέμεναί τεso long there was no cause for anger that you should wait and hold back
μνηστῆρας κατὰ δώματʼ, ἐπεὶ τόδε κέρδιον ἦεν,the suitors in the house, since this was the better course,
εἰ νόστησʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ ὑπότροπος ἵκετο δῶμα·had Odysseus come home and returned to his dwelling;
νῦν δʼ ἤδη τόδε δῆλον, ὅ τʼ οὐκέτι νόστιμός ἐστιν.but now it is already clear that he will never come back.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε, σῇ τάδε μητρὶ παρεζόμενος κατάλεξον,Come then, sit by your mother and tell her this:
335γήμασθʼ ὅς τις ἄριστος ἀνὴρ καὶ πλεῖστα πόρῃσιν,to marry whichever man is best and offers the most,
ὄφρα σὺ μὲν χαίρων πατρώϊα πάντα νέμηαι,so that you may enjoy your father's goods and possess them all,
ἔσθων καὶ πίνων, ἡ δʼ ἄλλου δῶμα κομίζῃ.eating and drinking, while she keeps another man's house."
τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·Then thoughtful Telemachus answered him in turn:
οὐ μὰ Ζῆνʼ, Ἀγέλαε, καὶ ἄλγεα πατρὸς ἐμοῖο,"No, by Zeus, Agelaus, and by my father's sufferings—
340ὅς που τῆλʼ Ἰθάκης ἢ ἔφθιται ἢ ἀλάληται,who somewhere far from Ithaca has perished or wanders—
οὔ τι διατρίβω μητρὸς γάμον, ἀλλὰ κελεύωI do not delay my mother's marriage, but urge her
γήμασθʼ ᾧ κʼ ἐθέλῃ, ποτὶ δʼ ἄσπετα δῶρα δίδωμι.to wed whom she will, and I offer besides gifts past counting.
αἰδέομαι δʼ ἀέκουσαν ἀπὸ μεγάροιο δίεσθαιBut I am ashamed to drive her against her will from the hall
μύθῳ ἀναγκαίῳ· μὴ τοῦτο θεὸς τελέσειεν.with a word of compulsion; may no god bring that to pass."
345ὣς φάτο Τηλέμαχος· μνηστῆρσι δὲ Παλλὰς ἈθήνηSo spoke Telemachus; but among the suitors Pallas Athena
ἄσβεστον γέλω ὦρσε, παρέπλαγξεν δὲ νόημα.stirred laughter that would not cease, and drove their wits astray.
οἱ δʼ ἤδη γναθμοῖσι γελοίων ἀλλοτρίοισιν,Now they laughed with jaws that were no longer their own,
αἱμοφόρυκτα δὲ δὴ κρέα ἤσθιον· ὄσσε δʼ ἄρα σφέωνand the meat they ate was spattered with blood; their eyes
δακρυόφιν πίμπλαντο, γόον δʼ ὠΐετο θυμός.filled with tears, and their spirit foresaw lamentation.
350τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·And among them spoke godlike Theoclymenus:
ἆ δειλοί, τί κακὸν τόδε πάσχετε; νυκτὶ μὲν
ὑμέων"Ah, wretched men, what evil is this you suffer? In night
εἰλύαται κεφαλαί τε πρόσωπά τε νέρθε τε γοῦνα.are your heads shrouded, and your faces, and your knees below.
οἰμωγὴ δὲ δέδηε, δεδάκρυνται δὲ παρειαί,Wailing has broken out, your cheeks are wet with tears,
αἵματι δʼ ἐρράδαται τοῖχοι καλαί τε μεσόδμαι·the walls are spattered with blood, and the fair rafters too;
355εἰδώλων δὲ πλέον πρόθυρον, πλείη δὲ καὶ αὐλή,the porch is full of ghosts, and full too is the courtyard,
ἱεμένων Ἔρεβόσδε ὑπὸ ζόφον· ἠέλιος δὲof souls hastening down to Erebus, into the gloom; the sun
οὐρανοῦ ἐξαπόλωλε, κακὴ δʼ ἐπιδέδρομεν ἀχλύς.has perished out of heaven, and an evil mist has spread across."
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ
γέλασσαν.So he spoke, and they all laughed sweetly at him.
τοῖσιν δʼ Εὐρύμαχος, Πολύβου πάϊς, ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·Then Eurymachus, son of Polybus, began to speak among them:
360ἀφραίνει ξεῖνος νέον ἄλλοθεν εἰληλουθώς."This stranger is out of his mind, newly come from elsewhere.
ἀλλά μιν αἶψα, νέοι, δόμου ἐκπέμψασθε θύραζεBut quickly, young men, send him out of the house, to the door,
εἰς ἀγορὴν ἔρχεσθαι, ἐπεὶ τάδε νυκτὶ ἐΐσκει.to go to the assembly, since here he likens all to night."
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θεοκλύμενος θεοειδής·Then godlike Theoclymenus answered him in turn:
Εὐρύμαχʼ, οὔ τί σʼ ἄνωγα ἐμοὶ πομπῆας ὀπάζειν·"Eurymachus, I ask no escorts from you to send me on my way;
365εἰσί μοι ὀφθαλμοί τε καὶ οὔατα καὶ πόδες ἄμφωI have eyes and ears and two feet of my own,
καὶ νόος ἐν στήθεσσι τετυγμένος οὐδὲν ἀεικής.and a mind within my breast well fashioned, in no way faulty.
τοῖς ἔξειμι θύραζε, ἐπεὶ νοέω κακὸν ὔμμινWith these I will go out of doors, for I see evil coming
ἐρχόμενον, τό κεν οὔ τις ὑπεκφύγοι οὐδʼ ἀλέαιτοupon you, which none of the suitors could escape
μνηστήρων, οἳ δῶμα κάτʼ ἀντιθέου Ὀδυσῆοςor flee, of those who through the house of godlike Odysseus
370ἀνέρας ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανάασθε.abuse men and devise reckless things."
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐξῆλθε δόμων εὖ ναιεταόντων,So speaking he went out from the well-built halls,
ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Πείραιον, ὅ μιν πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο.and came to Peiraeus, who received him gladly.
μνηστῆρες δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐς ἀλλήλους ὁρόωντεςThen all the suitors, looking at one another,
Τηλέμαχον ἐρέθιζον, ἐπὶ ξείνοις γελόωντες·kept provoking Telemachus, laughing at his guests;
375ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων·and thus would one of the overbearing young men speak:
Τηλέμαχʼ, οὔ τις σεῖο κακοξεινώτερος ἄλλος·"Telemachus, no other man has worse luck with guests than you:
οἷον μέν τινα τοῦτον ἔχεις ἐπίμαστον ἀλήτην,what a filthy vagabond you keep, this fellow here,
σίτου καὶ οἴνου κεχρημένον, οὐδέ τι ἔργωνstarved for bread and wine, and skilled in no work
ἔμπαιον οὐδὲ βίης, ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἄχθος ἀρούρης.at all, nor in fighting—just a dead weight on the land.
380ἄλλος δʼ αὖτέ τις οὗτος ἀνέστη μαντεύεσθαι.And this other one stood up to prophesy.
ἀλλʼ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο, τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·But if you would trust me, this would be far more profitable:
τοὺς ξείνους ἐν νηῒ πολυκληῗδι βαλόντεςlet us throw these strangers on a many-benched ship
ἐς Σικελοὺς πέμψωμεν, ὅθεν κέ τοι ἄξιον ἄλφοι.and send them to the Sicels, where they would fetch you a good price."
ὣς ἔφασαν μνηστῆρες· ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἐμπάζετο μύθων,So spoke the suitors; but he paid no heed to their words,
385ἀλλʼ ἀκέων πατέρα προσεδέρκετο, δέγμενος αἰεί,but in silence looked toward his father, waiting always
ὁππότε δὴ μνηστῆρσιν ἀναιδέσι χεῖρας ἐφήσει.for the moment he would lay hands on the shameless suitors.
ἡ δὲ κατʼ ἄντηστιν θεμένη περικαλλέα δίφρονAnd the daughter of Icarius, prudent Penelope,
κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,having set her lovely chair right opposite them,
ἀνδρῶν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἑκάστου μῦθον ἄκουεν.was listening to the words of each man in the halls.
390δεῖπνον μὲν γάρ τοί γε γελοίωντες τετύκοντοFor they had prepared their meal amid laughter,
ἡδὺ τε καὶ μενοεικές, ἐπεὶ μάλα πόλλʼ ἱέρευσαν·sweet and abundant, since they had slaughtered many beasts;
δόρπου δʼ οὐκ ἄν πως ἀχαρίστερον ἄλλο γένοιτο,but there could be no supper more graceless than another,
οἷον δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλε θεὰ καὶ καρτερὸς ἀνὴρsuch as the goddess and the mighty man were soon
θησέμεναι· πρότεροι γὰρ ἀεικέα μηχανόωντο.to set before them—for they were the first to plot outrageous deeds.