Book XIV

Homeric Greek

1αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκ λιμένος προσέβη τρηχεῖαν ἀταρπὸν

χῶρον ἀν' ὑλήεντα δι' ἄκριας, ᾗ οἱ Ἀθήνη

πέφραδε δῖον ὑφορβόν, ὅ οἱ βιότοιο μάλιστα

κήδετο οἰκήων, οὓς κτήσατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

5τὸν δ' ἄρ' ἐνὶ προδόμῳ εὗρ' ἥμενον, ἔνθα οἱ αὐλὴ

Transliteration

1autar ho ek limenos prosebē trēcheian atarpon

chōron an' hulēenta di' akrias, hēi hoi Athēnē

pephrade dion huphorbon, ho hoi biotoio malista

kēdeto oikēōn, hous ktēsato dios Odusseus.

5ton d' ar' eni prodomōi heur' hēmenon, entha hoi aulē

English · Butler

Odysseus now left the haven, and took the rough track up through the wooded country and over the crest of the mountain till he reached the place where Athena had said that he would find the swineherd, who was the most thrifty servant he had. He found him sitting in front of his hut, which was by the yards that he had built on a site which could be seen from far. He had made them spacious and fair to see, with a free ran for the pigs all round them; he had built them during his master's absence,

Homeric Greek

ὑψηλὴ δέδμητο, περισκέπτῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,

καλή τε μεγάλη τε, περίδρομος: ἥν ῥα συβώτης

αὐτὸς δείμαθ' ὕεσσιν ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,

νόσφιν δεσποίνης καὶ Λαέρταο γέροντος,

10ῥυτοῖσιν λάεσσι καὶ ἐθρίγκωσεν ἀχέρδῳ:

Transliteration

hupsēlē dedmēto, periskeptōi eni chōrōi,

kalē te megalē te, peridromos: hēn rha subōtēs

autos deimath' huessin apoichomenoio anaktos,

nosphin despoinēs kai Laertao gerontos,

10rhutoisin laessi kai ethrinkōsen acherdōi:

English · Butler

of stones which he had gathered out of the ground, without saying anything to Penelope or Laertes, and he had fenced them on top with thorn bushes. Outside the yard he had run a strong fence of oaken posts, split, and set pretty close together, while inside lie had built twelve sties near one another for the sows to lie in.

Homeric Greek

σταυροὺς δ' ἐκτὸς ἔλασσε διαμπερὲς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

πυκνοὺς καὶ θαμέας, τὸ μέλαν δρυὸς ἀμφικεάσσας:

ἔντοσθεν δ' αὐλῆς συφεοὺς δυοκαίδεκα ποίει

πλησίον ἀλλήλων, εὐνὰς συσίν: ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῳ

15πεντήκοντα σύες χαμαιευνάδες ἐρχατόωντο,

Transliteration

staurous d' ektos elasse diamperes entha kai entha,

puknous kai thameas, to melan druos amphikeassas:

entosthen d' aulēs supheous duokaideka poiei

plēsion allēlōn, eunas susin: en de hekastōi

15pentēkonta sues chamaieunades erchatoōnto,

English · Butler

There were fifty pigs wallowing in each sty, all of them breeding sows; but the boars slept outside and were much fewer in number, for the suitors kept on eating them, and the swineherd had to send them the best he had continually. There were three hundred and sixty

Homeric Greek

θήλειαι τοκάδες: τοὶ δ' ἄρσενες ἐκτὸς ἴαυον,

πολλὸν παυρότεροι: τοὺς γὰρ μινύθεσκον ἔδοντες

ἀντίθεοι μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ προί̈αλλε συβώτης

αἰεὶ ζατρεφέων σιάλων τὸν ἄριστον ἁπάντων:

20οἱ δὲ τριηκόσιοί τε καὶ ἑξήκοντα πέλοντο.

Transliteration

thēleiai tokades: toi d' arsenes ektos iauon,

pollon pauroteroi: tous gar minutheskon edontes

antitheoi mnēstēres, epei proïalle subōtēs

aiei zatrepheōn sialōn ton ariston hapantōn:

20hoi de triēkosioi te kai hexēkonta pelonto.

English · Butler

boar pigs, and the herdsman's four hounds, which were as fierce as wolves, slept always with them. The swineherd was at that moment cutting out a pair of sandals from a good stout ox hide. Three of his men were out herding the pigs

Homeric Greek

πὰρ δὲ κύνες, θήρεσσιν ἐοικότες αἰὲν ἴαυον

τέσσαρες, οὓς ἔθρεψε συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν.

αὐτὸς δ' ἀμφὶ πόδεσσιν ἑοῖς ἀράρισκε πέδιλα,

τάμνων δέρμα βόειον ἐϋχροές: οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι

25ᾤχοντ' ἄλλυδις ἄλλος ἅμ' ἀγρομένοισι σύεσσιν,

Transliteration

par de kunes, thēressin eoikotes aien iauon

tessares, hous ethrepse subōtēs, orchamos andrōn.

autos d' amphi podessin heois arariske pedila,

tamnōn derma boeion eüchroes: hoi de dē alloi

25ōichont' alludis allos ham' agromenoisi suessin,

English · Butler

in one place or another, and he had sent the fourth to town with a boar that he had been forced to

Homeric Greek

οἱ τρεῖς: τὸν δὲ τέταρτον ἀποπροέηκε πόλινδε

σῦν ἀγέμεν μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ἀνάγκῃ,

ὄφρ' ἱερεύσαντες κρειῶν κορεσαίατο θυμόν.

ἐξαπίνης δ' Ὀδυσῆα ἴδον κύνες ὑλακόμωροι.

30οἱ μὲν κεκλήγοντες ἐπέδραμον: αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

Transliteration

hoi treis: ton de tetarton apoproeēke polinde

sun agemen mnēstērsin huperphialoisin anankēi,

ophr' hiereusantes kreiōn koresaiato thumon.

exapinēs d' Odusēa idon kunes hulakomōroi.

30hoi men keklēgontes epedramon: autar Odusseus

English · Butler

send the suitors that they might sacrifice it and have their fill of meat. When the hounds saw Odysseus they set up a furious barking and flew at him, but Odysseus was cunning enough to sit down and loose his hold of the stick that he had in his hand: still, he would have been torn by them in his own homestead had not the swineherd dropped his ox hide, rushed full speed through the gate of the yard and driven the dogs off by shouting and throwing stones at them. Then he said to Odysseus, "Old

Homeric Greek

ἕζετο κερδοσύνη, σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.

ἔνθα κεν ᾧ πὰρ σταθμῷ ἀεικέλιον πάθεν ἄλγος:

ἀλλὰ συβώτης ὦκα ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπὼν

ἔσσυτ' ἀνὰ πρόθυρον, σκῦτος δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.

35τοὺς μὲν ὁμοκλήσας σεῦεν κύνας ἄλλυδις ἄλλον

Transliteration

hezeto kerdosunē, skēptron de hoi ekpese cheiros.

entha ken hōi par stathmōi aeikelion pathen algos:

alla subōtēs ōka posi kraipnoisi metaspōn

essut' ana prothuron, skutos de hoi ekpese cheiros.

35tous men homoklēsas seuen kunas alludis allon

English · Butler

man, the dogs were likely to have made short work of you, and then you would have got me into trouble. The gods have given me quite enough worries without that, for I have lost the best of masters, and am in continual grief on his account.

Homeric Greek

πυκνῇσιν λιθάδεσσιν: ὁ δὲ προσέειπεν ἄνακτα:

"ὦ γέρον, ἦ ὀλίγου σε κύνες διεδηλήσαντο

ἐξαπίνης, καί κέν μοι ἐλεγχείην κατέχευας.

καὶ δέ μοι ἄλλα θεοὶ δόσαν ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τε:

40ἀντιθέου γὰρ ἄνακτος ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων

Transliteration

puknēisin lithadessin: ho de proseeipen anakta:

"ō geron, ē oligou se kunes diedēlēsanto

exapinēs, kai ken moi elencheiēn katecheuas.

kai de moi alla theoi dosan algea te stonachas te:

40antitheou gar anaktos oduromenos kai acheuōn

English · Butler

I have to attend swine for other people to eat, while he, if he yet lives to see the light of day, is starving in some distant dêmos. But come inside,

Homeric Greek

ἧμαι, ἄλλοισιν δὲ σύας σιάλους ἀτιτάλλω

ἔδμεναι: αὐτὰρ κεῖνος ἐελδόμενός που ἐδωδῆς

πλάζετ' ἐπ' ἀλλοθρόων ἀνδρῶν δῆμόν τε πόλιν τε,

εἴ που ἔτι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιο.

45ἀλλ' ἕπεο, κλισίηνδ' ἴομεν, γέρον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτός,

Transliteration

hēmai, alloisin de suas sialous atitallō

edmenai: autar keinos eeldomenos pou edōdēs

plazet' ep' allothroōn andrōn dēmon te polin te,

ei pou eti zōei kai horāi phaos ēelioio.

45all' hepeo, klisiēnd' iomen, geron, ophra kai autos,

English · Butler

and when you have had your fill of bread and wine, tell me where you

Homeric Greek

σίτου καὶ οἴνοιο κορεσσάμενος κατὰ θυμόν,

εἴπῃς ὁππόθεν ἐσσὶ καὶ ὁππόσα κήδε' ἀνέτλης."

ὣς εἰπὼν κλισίηνδ' ἡγήσατο δῖος ὑφορβός,

εἷσεν δ' εἰσαγαγών, ῥῶπας δ' ὑπέχευε δασείας,

50ἐστόρεσεν δ' ἐπὶ δέρμα ἰονθάδος ἀγρίου αἰγός,

Transliteration

sitou kai oinoio koressamenos kata thumon,

eipēis hoppothen essi kai hopposa kēde' anetlēs."

hōs eipōn klisiēnd' hēgēsato dios huphorbos,

heisen d' eisagagōn, rhōpas d' hupecheue daseias,

50estoresen d' epi derma ionthados agriou aigos,

English · Butler

come from, and all about your misfortunes." On this the swineherd led the way into the hut and bade him sit down. He strewed a good thick bed of rushes upon the floor, and on the top of this he threw the shaggy chamois skin -

Homeric Greek

αὐτοῦ ἐνεύναιον, μέγα καὶ δασύ. χαῖρε δ' Ὀδυσσεὺς

ὅττι μιν ὣς ὑπέδεκτο, ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν:

"Ζεύς τοι δοίη, ξεῖνε, καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι

ὅττι μάλιστ' ἐθέλεις, ὅτι με πρόφρων ὑπέδεξο."

55τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα:

Transliteration

autou eneunaion, mega kai dasu. chaire d' Odusseus

hotti min hōs hupedekto, epos t' ephat' ek t' onomazen:

"Zeus toi doiē, xeine, kai athanatoi theoi alloi

hotti malist' etheleis, hoti me prophrōn hupedexo."

55ton d' apameibomenos prosephēs, Eumaie subōta:

English · Butler

a great thick one - on which he used to sleep by night. Odysseus was pleased at being made thus welcome, and said "May Zeus, sir, and the rest of the gods grant you your heart's desire in return for the kind way in which you have received me." To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaios, "Stranger, though a still poorer man should come here, it would not be right for me to insult him, for all strangers and beggars are from Zeus.

Homeric Greek

"ξεῖν', οὔ μοι θέμις ἔστ', οὐδ' εἰ κακίων σέθεν ἔλθοι,

ξεῖνον ἀτιμῆσαι: πρὸς γὰρ Διός εἰσιν ἅπαντες

ξεῖνοί τε πτωχοί τε: δόσις δ' ὀλίγη τε φίλη τε

γίγνεται ἡμετέρη: ἡ γὰρ δμώων δίκη ἐστὶν

60αἰεὶ δειδιότων, ὅτ' ἐπικρατέωσιν ἄνακτες

Transliteration

"xein', ou moi themis est', oud' ei kakiōn sethen elthoi,

xeinon atimēsai: pros gar Dios eisin hapantes

xeinoi te ptōchoi te: dosis d' oligē te philē te

gignetai hēmeterē: hē gar dmōōn dikē estin

60aiei deidiotōn, hot' epikrateōsin anaktes

English · Butler

To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaios, "Stranger, though a still poorer man should come here, it would not be right for me to insult him, for all strangers and beggars are from Zeus. You must take what you can get and be thankful, for servants live in fear when they have young lords for their masters; and this is my misfortune now, for heaven has hindered the return of him who would have been always good to me and given me something of my own -

Homeric Greek

οἱ νέοι. ἦ γὰρ τοῦ γε θεοὶ κατὰ νόστον ἔδησαν,

ὅς κεν ἔμ' ἐνδυκέως ἐφίλει καὶ κτῆσιν ὄπασσεν,

οἶκόν τε κλῆρόν τε πολυμνήστην τε γυναῖκα,

οἷά τε ᾧ οἰκῆϊ ἄναξ εὔθυμος ἔδωκεν,

65ὅς οἱ πολλὰ κάμῃσι, θεὸς δ' ἐπὶ ἔργον ἀέξῃ,

Transliteration

hoi neoi. ē gar tou ge theoi kata noston edēsan,

hos ken em' endukeōs ephilei kai ktēsin opassen,

oikon te klēron te polumnēstēn te gunaika,

hoia te hōi oikēï anax euthumos edōken,

65hos hoi polla kamēisi, theos d' epi ergon aexēi,

English · Butler

a house, a piece of land, a good looking wife, and all else that a liberal master allows a servant who has worked hard for him, and whose labor the gods have prospered as they have mine in the situation which I hold. If my master had grown old here he would

Homeric Greek

ὡς καὶ ἐμοὶ τόδε ἔργον ἀέξεται, ᾧ ἐπιμίμνω.

τῷ κέ με πόλλ' ὤνησεν ἄναξ, εἰ αὐτόθ' ἐγήρα:

ἀλλ' ὄλεθ'--ὡς ὤφελλ' Ἑλένης ἀπὸ φῦλον ὀλέσθαι

πρόχνυ, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ γούνατ' ἔλυσε:

70καὶ γὰρ κεῖνος ἔβη Ἀγαμέμνονος εἵνεκα τιμῆς

Transliteration

hōs kai emoi tode ergon aexetai, hōi epimimnō.

tōi ke me poll' ōnēsen anax, ei autoth' egēra:

all' oleth'--hōs ōphell' Helenēs apo phulon olesthai

prochnu, epei pollōn andrōn hupo gounat' eluse:

70kai gar keinos ebē Agamemnonos heineka timēs

English · Butler

have done great things by me, but he is gone, and I wish that Helen's whole race were utterly destroyed, for she has been the death of many a good man. It was this matter that took my master to Ilion, the land of noble steeds, to

Homeric Greek

Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο."

ὣς εἰπὼν ζωστῆρι θοῶς συνέεργε χιτῶνα,

βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἐς συφεούς, ὅθι ἔθνεα ἔρχατο χοίρων.

ἔνθεν ἑλὼν δύ' ἔνεικε καὶ ἀμφοτέρους ἱέρευσεν,

75εὗσέ τε μίστυλλέν τε καὶ ἀμφ' ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειρεν.

Transliteration

Ilion eis eupōlon, hina Trōessi machoito."

hōs eipōn zōstēri thoōs suneerge chitōna,

bē d' imen es supheous, hothi ethnea erchato choirōn.

enthen helōn du' eneike kai amphoterous hiereusen,

75heuse te mistullen te kai amph' obeloisin epeiren.

English · Butler

fight the Trojans in the cause of king Agamemnon." As he spoke he bound his belt round him and went to the sties where the young sucking pigs were penned. He picked out two which he brought back with him and sacrificed. He singed them, cut them up, and spitted on them; when the meat was cooked he brought it all in

Homeric Greek

ὀπτήσας δ' ἄρα πάντα φέρων παρέθηκ' Ὀδυσῆϊ

θέρμ' αὐτοῖς ὀβελοῖσιν: ὁ δ' ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνεν:

ἐν δ' ἄρα κισσυβίῳ κίρνη μελιηδέα οἶνον,

αὐτὸς δ' ἀντίον ἷζεν, ἐποτρύνων δὲ προσηύδα:

80"ἔσθιε νῦν, ὦ ξεῖνε, τά τε δμώεσσι πάρεστι,

Transliteration

optēsas d' ara panta pherōn parethēk' Odusēï

therm' autois obeloisin: ho d' alphita leuka palunen:

en d' ara kissubiōi kirnē meliēdea oinon,

autos d' antion hizen, epotrunōn de prosēuda:

80"esthie nun, ō xeine, ta te dmōessi paresti,

English · Butler

and set it before Odysseus, hot and still on the spit, whereon Odysseus sprinkled it over with white barley meal. The swineherd then mixed wine in a bowl of ivy-wood, and taking a seat opposite Odysseus told him to begin. "Fall to, stranger," said he, "on a dish of servant's pork.

Homeric Greek

χοίρε': ἀτὰρ σιάλους γε σύας μνηστῆρες ἔδουσιν,

οὐκ ὄπιδα φρονέοντες ἐνὶ φρεσὶν οὐδ' ἐλεητύν.

οὐ μὲν σχέτλια ἔργα θεοὶ μάκαρες φιλέουσιν,

ἀλλὰ δίκην τίουσι καὶ αἴσιμα ἔργ' ἀνθρώπων.

85καὶ μὲν δυσμενέες καὶ ἀνάρσιοι, οἵ τ' ἐπὶ γαίης

Transliteration

choire': atar sialous ge suas mnēstēres edousin,

ouk opida phroneontes eni phresin oud' eleētun.

ou men schetlia erga theoi makares phileousin,

alla dikēn tiousi kai aisima erg' anthrōpōn.

85kai men dusmenees kai anarsioi, hoi t' epi gaiēs

English · Butler

"Fall to, stranger," said he, "on a dish of servant's pork. The fat pigs have to go to the suitors, who eat them up without shame or scruple; but the blessed gods love not such shameful doings, and respect those who do what is lawful and right. Even the fierce free-booters who go raiding on other people's land, and Zeus gives them their spoil - even they, when they have filled their ships and got home again live conscience-stricken, and look fearfully for judgment;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλοτρίης βῶσιν καί σφι Ζεὺς ληί̈δα δώῃ,

πλησάμενοι δέ τε νῆας ἔβαν οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι,

καὶ μὲν τοῖς ὄπιδος κρατερὸν δέος ἐν φρεσὶ πίπτει.

οἵδε δὲ καί τι ἴσασι, θεοῦ δέ τιν' ἔκλυον αὐδήν,

90κείνου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον, ὅτ' οὐκ ἐθέλουσι δικαίως

Transliteration

allotriēs bōsin kai sphi Zeus lēïda dōēi,

plēsamenoi de te nēas eban oikonde neesthai,

kai men tois opidos krateron deos en phresi piptei.

hoide de kai ti isasi, theou de tin' ekluon audēn,

90keinou lugron olethron, hot' ouk ethelousi dikaiōs

English · Butler

but some god seems to have told these people that Odysseus is dead and gone; they will not, therefore, go back to their own homes and make their offers of marriage in the proper way, but waste his estate by force, without fear or stint. Not a day or night comes out of heaven, but they sacrifice not one victim nor two only,

Homeric Greek

μνᾶσθαι οὐδὲ νέεσθαι ἐπὶ σφέτερ', ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοι

κτήματα δαρδάπτουσιν ὑπέρβιον, οὐδ' ἔπι φειδώ.

ὅσσαι γὰρ νύκτες τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐκ Διός εἰσιν,

οὔ ποθ' ἓν ἱρεύουσ' ἱερήϊον, οὐδὲ δύ' οἴω:

95οἶνον δὲ φθινύθουσιν ὑπέρβιον ἐξαφύοντες.

Transliteration

mnasthai oude neesthai epi spheter', alla hekēloi

ktēmata dardaptousin huperbion, oud' epi pheidō.

hossai gar nuktes te kai hēmerai ek Dios eisin,

ou poth' hen hireuous' hierēïon, oude du' oiō:

95oinon de phthinuthousin huperbion exaphuontes.

English · Butler

and they take the run of his wine, for he was exceedingly rich. No other great man either in Ithaca or on the mainland is as rich as he was; he had as much as twenty men put together. I will tell you what he had. There are twelve herds of cattle upon the

Homeric Greek

ἦ γάρ οἱ ζωή γ' ἦν ἄσπετος: οὔ τινι τόσση

ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, οὔτ' ἠπείροιο μελαίνης

οὔτ' αὐτῆς Ἰθάκης: οὐδὲ ξυνεείκοσι φωτῶν

ἔστ' ἄφενος τοσσοῦτον: ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξω.

100δώδεκ' ἐν ἠπείρῳ ἀγέλαι: τόσα πώεα οἰῶν,

Transliteration

ē gar hoi zōē g' ēn aspetos: ou tini tossē

andrōn hērōōn, out' ēpeiroio melainēs

out' autēs Ithakēs: oude xuneeikosi phōtōn

est' aphenos tossouton: egō de ke toi katalexō.

100dōdek' en ēpeirōi agelai: tosa pōea oiōn,

English · Butler

mainland, and as many flocks of sheep, there are also twelve droves of pigs, while his own men and hired strangers feed him twelve widely spreading herds of goats. Here in Ithaca he runs even large flocks of goats on the far end of the island, and they are in the charge of excellent goatherds.

Homeric Greek

τόσσα συῶν συβόσια, τόσ' αἰπόλια πλατέ' αἰγῶν

βόσκουσι ξεῖνοί τε καὶ αὐτοῦ βώτορες ἄνδρες.

?νθάδε δ' αἰπόλια πλατέ' αἰγῶν ἕνδεκα πάντα

ἐσχατιῇ βόσκοντ', ἐπὶ δ' ἀνέρες ἐσθλοὶ ὄρονται.

105τῶν αἰεί σφιν ἕκαστος ἐπ' ἤματι μῆλον ἀγινεῖ,

Transliteration

tossa suōn subosia, tos' aipolia plate' aigōn

boskousi xeinoi te kai autou bōtores andres.

?nthade d' aipolia plate' aigōn hendeka panta

eschatiēi boskont', epi d' aneres esthloi orontai.

105tōn aiei sphin hekastos ep' ēmati mēlon aginei,

English · Butler

Each one of these sends the suitors the best goat in the flock every day. As for myself, I am in charge of the pigs that you see here, and I

Homeric Greek

ζατρεφέων αἰγῶν ὅς τις φαίνηται ἄριστος.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ σῦς τάσδε φυλάσσω τε ῥύομαί τε,

καί σφι συῶν τὸν ἄριστον ἐὺ̈ κρίνας ἀποπέμπω."

ὣς φύθ', ὁ δ' ἐνδυκέως κρέα τ' ἤσθιε πῖνέ τε οἶνον

110ἁρπαλέως ἀκέων, κακὰ δὲ μνηστῆρσι φύτευεν.

Transliteration

zatrepheōn aigōn hos tis phainētai aristos.

autar egō sus tasde phulassō te rhuomai te,

kai sphi suōn ton ariston eü krinas apopempō."

hōs phuth', ho d' endukeōs krea t' ēsthie pine te oinon

110harpaleōs akeōn, kaka de mnēstērsi phuteuen.

English · Butler

have to keep picking out the best I have and sending it to them." This was his story, but Odysseus went on eating and drinking ravenously without a word, brooding his revenge. When he had eaten enough and was satisfied, the swineherd

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δείπνησε καὶ ἤραρε θυμὸν ἐδωδῇ,

καί οἱ πλησάμενος δῶκε σκύφον, ᾧ περ ἔπινεν,

οἴνου ἐνίπλειον: ὁ δ' ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

115"ὦ φίλε, τίς γάρ σε πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν,

Transliteration

autar epei deipnēse kai ērare thumon edōdēi,

kai hoi plēsamenos dōke skuphon, hōi per epinen,

oinou enipleion: ho d' edexato, chaire de thumōi,

kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

115"ō phile, tis gar se priato kteatessin heoisin,

English · Butler

took the bowl from which he usually drank, filled it with wine, and gave it to Odysseus, who was pleased, and said as he took it in his hands, "My friend, who was this master of yours that bought you and paid for you, so rich and so powerful as you tell me?

Homeric Greek

ὧδε μάλ' ἀφνειὸς καὶ καρτερὸς ὡς ἀγορεύεις;

φῆς δ' αὐτὸν φθίσθαι Ἀγαμέμνονος εἵνεκα τιμῆς.

εἰπέ μοι, αἴ κέ ποθι γνώω τοιοῦτον ἐόντα.

Ζεὺς γάρ που τό γε οἶδε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι,

120εἴ κέ μιν ἀγγείλαιμι ἰδών: ἐπὶ πολλὰ δ' ἀλήθην."

Transliteration

hōde mal' aphneios kai karteros hōs agoreueis;

phēs d' auton phthisthai Agamemnonos heineka timēs.

eipe moi, ai ke pothi gnōō toiouton eonta.

Zeus gar pou to ge oide kai athanatoi theoi alloi,

120ei ke min angeilaimi idōn: epi polla d' alēthēn."

English · Butler

You say he perished in the cause of King Agamemnon; tell me who he was, in case I may have met with such a person. Zeus and the other gods know, but I may be able to give you news of him, for I have traveled much."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα συβώτης, ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν:

"ὦ γέρον, οὔ τις κεῖνον ἀνὴρ ἀλαλήμενος ἐλθὼν

ἀγγέλλων πείσειε γυναῖκά τε καὶ φίλον υἱόν,

ἀλλ' ἄλλως κομιδῆς κεχρημένοι ἄνδρες ἀλῆται

125ψεύδοντ', οὐδ' ἐθέλουσιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.

Transliteration

ton d' ēmeibet' epeita subōtēs, orchamos andrōn:

"ō geron, ou tis keinon anēr alalēmenos elthōn

angellōn peiseie gunaika te kai philon huion,

all' allōs komidēs kechrēmenoi andres alētai

125pseudont', oud' ethelousin alēthea muthēsasthai.

English · Butler

Eumaios answered, "Old man, no traveler who comes here with news will get Odysseus’ wife and son to believe his story. Nevertheless, tramps in want of a lodging keep coming with their mouths full of lies, and not a word of truth ; every one who finds his way to the Ithacan dêmos goes to my mistress and tells her falsehoods, whereon she takes them in, makes much of them,

Homeric Greek

ὃς δέ κ' ἀλητεύων Ἰθάκης ἐς δῆμον ἵκηται,

ἐλθὼν ἐς δέσποιναν ἐμὴν ἀπατήλια βάζει:

ἡ δ' εὖ δεξαμένη φιλέει καὶ ἕκαστα μεταλλᾷ,

καί οἱ ὀδυρομένῃ βλεφάρων ἄπο δάκρυα πίπτει,

130ἣ θέμις ἐστὶ γυναικός, ἐπὴν πόσις ἄλλοθ' ὄληται.

Transliteration

hos de k' alēteuōn Ithakēs es dēmon hikētai,

elthōn es despoinan emēn apatēlia bazei:

hē d' eu dexamenē phileei kai hekasta metallāi,

kai hoi oduromenēi blepharōn apo dakrua piptei,

130hē themis esti gunaikos, epēn posis alloth' olētai.

English · Butler

and asks them all manner of questions, crying all the time as women will when they have lost their husbands. And you too, old man, for a shirt and a cloak would doubtless make up a very pretty story. But the wolves and birds of prey have long since torn Odysseus to pieces, and his psukhê left him behind; or the fishes of the sea have eaten him, and his bones are lying buried deep in sand upon some foreign shore;

Homeric Greek

αἶψά κε καὶ σύ, γεραιέ, ἔπος παρατεκτήναιο.

εἴ τίς τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα δοίη.

τοῦ δ' ἤδη μέλλουσι κύνες ταχέες τ' οἰωνοὶ

ῥινὸν ἀπ' ὀστεόφιν ἐρύσαι, ψυχὴ δὲ λέλοιπεν:

135ἢ τόν γ' ἐν πόντῳ φάγον ἰχθύες, ὀστέα δ' αὐτοῦ

Transliteration

aipsa ke kai su, geraie, epos paratektēnaio.

ei tis toi chlainan te chitōna te heimata doiē.

tou d' ēdē mellousi kunes tachees t' oiōnoi

rhinon ap' osteophin erusai, psuchē de leloipen:

135ē ton g' en pontōi phagon ichthues, ostea d' autou

English · Butler

he is dead and gone, and a bad business it is for all his friends - for me especially; go where I may I shall never find so good a master, not even if I were to go home to my mother and father where I was bred and born.

Homeric Greek

κεῖται ἐπ' ἠπείρου ψαμάθῳ εἰλυμένα πολλῇ.

ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθ' ἀπόλωλε, φίλοισι δὲ κήδε' ὀπίσσω

πᾶσιν, ἐμοὶ δὲ μάλιστα, τετεύχαται: οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' ἄλλον

ἤπιον ὧδε ἄνακτα κιχήσομαι, ὁππόσ' ἐπέλθω,

140οὐδ' εἴ κεν πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος αὖτις ἵκωμαι

Transliteration

keitai ep' ēpeirou psamathōi eilumena pollēi.

hōs ho men enth' apolōle, philoisi de kēde' opissō

pasin, emoi de malista, teteuchatai: ou gar et' allon

ēpion hōde anakta kichēsomai, hoppos' epelthō,

140oud' ei ken patros kai mēteros autis hikōmai

English · Butler

I do not so much care, however, about my parents now, though I should dearly like to see them again in my own country; it is the loss of Odysseus that grieves me most; I cannot speak of him without reverence though

Homeric Greek

οἶκον, ὅθι πρῶτον γενόμην καί μ' ἔτρεφον αὐτοί.

οὐδέ νυ τῶν ἔτι τόσσον ὀδύρομαι, ἱέμενός περ

ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι ἐὼν ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ:

ἀλλά μ' Ὀδυσσῆος πόθος αἴνυται οἰχομένοιο.

145τὸν μὲν ἐγών, ὦ ξεῖνε, καὶ οὐ παρεόντ' ὀνομάζειν

Transliteration

oikon, hothi prōton genomēn kai m' etrephon autoi.

oude nu tōn eti tosson oduromai, hiemenos per

ophthalmoisin idesthai eōn en patridi gaiēi:

alla m' Odussēos pothos ainutai oichomenoio.

145ton men egōn, ō xeine, kai ou pareont' onomazein

English · Butler

he is here no longer, for he was very fond of me, and took such care of me that wherever

Homeric Greek

αἰδέομαι: πέρι γάρ μ' ἐφίλει καὶ κήδετο θυμῷ:

ἀλλά μιν ἠθεῖον καλέω καὶ νόσφιν ἐόντα."

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς:

"ὦ φίλ', ἐπειδὴ πάμπαν ἀναίνεαι, οὐδ' ἔτι φῇσθα

150κεῖνον ἐλεύσεσθαι, θυμὸς δέ τοι αἰὲν ἄπιστος:

Transliteration

aideomai: peri gar m' ephilei kai kēdeto thumōi:

alla min ētheion kaleō kai nosphin eonta."

ton d' aute proseeipe polutlas dios Odusseus:

"ō phil', epeidē pampan anaineai, oud' eti phēistha

150keinon eleusesthai, thumos de toi aien apistos:

English · Butler

he may be I shall always honor his memory." "My friend," replied Odysseus, "you are very positive, and very hard of belief about your master's coming home again, nevertheless I will not merely say, but will swear, that he is coming. Do not give me anything for my news till he has actually come, you may then give me a shirt and cloak of good wear if you will.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἐγὼ οὐκ αὔτως μυθήσομαι, ἀλλὰ σὺν ὅρκῳ,

ὡς νεῖται Ὀδυσεύς: εὐαγγέλιον δέ μοι ἔστω

αὐτίκ', ἐπεί κεν κεῖνος ἰὼν τὰ ἃ δώμαθ' ἵκηται:

ἕσσαι με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε, εἵματα καλά:

155πρὶν δέ κε, καὶ μάλα περ κεχρημένος, οὔ τι δεχοίμην.

Transliteration

all' egō ouk autōs muthēsomai, alla sun horkōi,

hōs neitai Oduseus: euangelion de moi estō

autik', epei ken keinos iōn ta ha dōmath' hikētai:

hessai me chlainan te chitōna te, heimata kala:

155prin de ke, kai mala per kechrēmenos, ou ti dechoimēn.

English · Butler

I am in great want, but I will not take anything at all till then, for hateful is the man, as hateful as Hades, who lets his poverty tempt him into lying. I swear by king Zeus, by the rites of hospitality, and by

Homeric Greek

ἐχθρὸς γάρ μοι κεῖνος ὁμῶς Ἀί̈δαο πύλῃσι

γίγνεται, ὃς πενίῃ εἴκων ἀπατήλια βάζει.

ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν, ξενίη τε τράπεζα,

ἱστίη τ' Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω:

160ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται ὡς ἀγορεύω.

Transliteration

echthros gar moi keinos homōs Aïdao pulēisi

gignetai, hos peniēi eikōn apatēlia bazei.

istō nun Zeus prōta theōn, xeniē te trapeza,

histiē t' Odusēos amumonos, hēn aphikanō:

160ē men toi tade panta teleietai hōs agoreuō.

English · Butler

that hearth of Odysseus to which I have now come, that all will surely happen as I have said it will. Odysseus will return in this self same year; with the end of this moon and the beginning of

Homeric Greek

τοῦδ' αὐτοῦ λυκάβαντος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδ' Ὀδυσσεύς.

τοῦ μὲν φθίνοντος μηνός, τοῦ δ' ἱσταμένοιο,

οἴκαδε νοστήσει, καὶ τίσεται ὅς τις ἐκείνου

ἐνθάδ' ἀτιμάζει ἄλοχον καὶ φαίδιμον υἱόν."

165τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα:

Transliteration

toud' autou lukabantos eleusetai enthad' Odusseus.

tou men phthinontos mēnos, tou d' histamenoio,

oikade nostēsei, kai tisetai hos tis ekeinou

enthad' atimazei alochon kai phaidimon huion."

165ton d' apameibomenos prosephēs, Eumaie subōta:

English · Butler

the next he will be here to do vengeance on all those who are ill treating his wife and son." To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaios, "Old man, you will neither get paid for bringing good news, nor will Odysseus ever come home; drink you wine in peace, and let us talk about something else.

Homeric Greek

"ὦ γέρον, οὔτ' ἄρ' ἐγὼν εὐαγγέλιον τόδε τίσω,

οὔτ' Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται: ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος

πῖνε, καὶ ἄλλα παρὲξ μεμνώμεθα, μηδέ με τούτων

μίμνησκ': ἦ γὰρ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν

170ἄχνυται, ὁππότε τις μνήσῃ κεδνοῖο ἄνακτος.

Transliteration

"ō geron, out' ar' egōn euangelion tode tisō,

out' Oduseus eti oikon eleusetai: alla hekēlos

pine, kai alla parex memnōmetha, mēde me toutōn

mimnēsk': ē gar thumos eni stēthessin emoisin

170achnutai, hoppote tis mnēsēi kednoio anaktos.

English · Butler

To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaios, "Old man, you will neither get paid for bringing good news, nor will Odysseus ever come home; drink you wine in peace, and let us talk about something else. Do not keep on reminding me of all this; it always pains me when any one speaks about my honored master. As for your oath we will let it alone, but I only wish he may come, as do Penelope, his old father Laertes, and his son Telemakhos. I am terribly unhappy too about this same boy of his;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἦ τοι ὅρκον μὲν ἐάσομεν, αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἔλθοι ὅπως μιν ἐγώ γ' ἐθέλω καὶ Πηνελόπεια

Λαέρτης θ' ὁ γέρων καὶ Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής.

νῦν αὖ παιδὸς ἄλαστον ὀδύρομαι, ὃν τέκ' Ὀδυσσεύς,

175Τηλεμάχου: τὸν ἐπεὶ θρέψαν θεοὶ ἔρνεϊ ἶσον,

Transliteration

all' ē toi horkon men easomen, autar Odusseus

elthoi hopōs min egō g' ethelō kai Pēnelopeia

Laertēs th' ho gerōn kai Tēlemachos theoeidēs.

nun au paidos alaston oduromai, hon tek' Odusseus,

175Tēlemachou: ton epei threpsan theoi erneï ison,

English · Butler

he was running up fast into manhood, and bade fare to be no worse man, face and figure, than his father, but some one, either god or man, has been unsettling his mind, so he has gone off to Pylos

Homeric Greek

καί μιν ἔφην ἔσσεσθαι ἐν ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι χέρηα

πατρὸς ἑοῖο φίλοιο, δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἀγητόν,

τὸν δέ τις ἀθανάτων βλάψε φρένας ἔνδον ἐί̈σας

ἠέ τις ἀνθρώπων: ὁ δ' ἔβη μετὰ πατρὸς ἀκουὴν

180ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην: τὸν δὲ μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοὶ

Transliteration

kai min ephēn essesthai en andrasin ou ti cherēa

patros heoio philoio, demas kai eidos agēton,

ton de tis athanatōn blapse phrenas endon eïsas

ēe tis anthrōpōn: ho d' ebē meta patros akouēn

180es Pulon ēgatheēn: ton de mnēstēres agauoi

English · Butler

to try and get news of his father, and the suitors are lying in wait for him as he is coming home, in the hope of leaving the house of Arceisius without a name in Ithaca. But let us say no more about him, and leave him to be taken, or else

Homeric Greek

οἴκαδ' ἰόντα λοχῶσιν, ὅπως ἀπὸ φῦλον ὄληται

νώνυμον ἐξ Ἰθάκης Ἀρκεισίου ἀντιθέοιο.

ἀλλ' ἦ τοι κεῖνον μὲν ἐάσομεν, ἤ κεν ἁλώῃ

ἦ κε φύγῃ καί κέν οἱ ὑπέρσχῃ χεῖρα Κρονίων.

185ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι σύ, γεραιέ, τὰ σ' αὐτοῦ κήδε' ἐνίσπες

Transliteration

oikad' ionta lochōsin, hopōs apo phulon olētai

nōnumon ex Ithakēs Arkeisiou antitheoio.

all' ē toi keinon men easomen, ē ken halōēi

ē ke phugēi kai ken hoi huperschēi cheira Kroniōn.

185all' age moi su, geraie, ta s' autou kēde' enispes

English · Butler

to escape if the son of Kronos holds his hand over him to protect him. And now, old man, tell me your own story; tell me also, for I want to know, who you are and where you come from. Tell me of your town and parents, what manner of

Homeric Greek

καί μοι τοῦτ' ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρ' ἐὺ̈ εἰδῶ:

τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;

ὁπποίης τ' ἐπὶ νηὸς ἀφίκεο: πῶς δέ σε ναῦται

ἤγαγον εἰς Ἰθάκην; τίνες ἔμμεναι εὐχετόωντο;

190οὐ μὲν γάρ τί σε πεζὸν ὀί̈ομαι ἐνθάδ' ἱκέσθαι."

Transliteration

kai moi tout' agoreuson etētumon, ophr' eü eidō:

tis pothen eis andrōn; pothi toi polis ēde tokēes;

hoppoiēs t' epi nēos aphikeo: pōs de se nautai

ēgagon eis Ithakēn; tines emmenai euchetoōnto;

190ou men gar ti se pezon oïomai enthad' hikesthai."

English · Butler

ship you came in, what crew brought you to Ithaca, and from what country they professed to come - for you cannot have come by land."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς

"τοιγὰρ ἐγώ τοι ταῦτα μάλ' ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύσω.

εἴη μὲν νῦν νῶϊν ἐπὶ χρόνον ἠμὲν ἐδωδὴ

ἠδὲ μέθυ γλυκερὸν κλισίης ἔντοσθεν ἐοῦσι,

195δαίνυσθαι ἀκέοντ', ἄλλοι δ' ἐπὶ ἔργον ἕποιεν:

Transliteration

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus

"toigar egō toi tauta mal' atrekeōs agoreusō.

eiē men nun nōïn epi chronon ēmen edōdē

ēde methu glukeron klisiēs entosthen eousi,

195dainusthai akeont', alloi d' epi ergon hepoien:

English · Butler

And Odysseus answered, "I will tell you all about it. If there were meat and wine enough, and we could stay here in the hut with nothing to do but to eat and drink while the others go to their work, I

Homeric Greek

ῥηϊδίως κεν ἔπειτα καὶ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἅπαντα

οὔ τι διαπρήξαιμι λέγων ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμοῦ,

ὅσσα γε δὴ ξύμπαντα θεῶν ἰότητι μόγησα.

"ἐκ μὲν Κρητάων γένος εὔχομαι εὐρειάων,

200ἀνέρος ἀφνειοῖο πάϊς: πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι

Transliteration

rhēïdiōs ken epeita kai eis eniauton hapanta

ou ti diaprēxaimi legōn ema kēdea thumou,

hossa ge dē xumpanta theōn iotēti mogēsa.

"ek men Krētaōn genos euchomai eureiaōn,

200aneros aphneioio païs: polloi de kai alloi

English · Butler

could easily talk on for a whole twelve months without ever finishing the story of the sorrows with which it has pleased heaven to visit me. "I am by birth a Cretan; my father was a well-to-do man, who had many sons born in marriage, whereas I was the son of a slave whom he had purchased for a concubine; nevertheless, my father Castor son of Hylax (whose lineage I claim, and who was held in the highest honor in the dêmos of the Cretans for his wealth, prosperity, and the valor of his sons) put me on the same level with my brothers who had been born in wedlock. When, however, death took him to the

Homeric Greek

υἱέες ἐν μεγάρῳ ἠμὲν τράφεν ἠδ' ἐγένοντο

γνήσιοι ἐξ ἀλόχου: ἐμὲ δ' ὠνητὴ τέκε μήτηρ

παλλακίς, ἀλλά με ἶσον ἰθαιγενέεσσιν ἐτίμα

Κάστωρ Ὑλακίδης, τοῦ ἐγὼ γένος εὔχομαι εἶναι

205ὃς τότ' ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς τίετο δήμῳ

Transliteration

huiees en megarōi ēmen traphen ēd' egenonto

gnēsioi ex alochou: eme d' ōnētē teke mētēr

pallakis, alla me ison ithaigeneessin etima

Kastōr Hulakidēs, tou egō genos euchomai einai

205hos tot' eni Krētessi theos hōs tieto dēmōi

English · Butler

house of Hades, his sons divided his estate and cast lots for their shares, but to me they gave a holding and little else; nevertheless, my valor enabled me to marry into a rich family, for I was not given to bragging, or shirking on the field of battle. It is all over now;

Homeric Greek

ὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε καὶ υἱάσι κυδαλίμοισιν.

ἀλλ' ἦ τοι τὸν κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαι

εἰς Ἀί̈δαο δόμους: τοὶ δὲ ζωὴν ἐδύσαντο

παῖδες ὑπέρθυμοι καὶ ἐπὶ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο,

210αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ μάλα παῦρα δόσαν καὶ οἰκί' ἔνειμαν.

Transliteration

olbōi te ploutōi te kai huiasi kudalimoisin.

all' ē toi ton kēres eban thanatoio pherousai

eis Aïdao domous: toi de zōēn edusanto

paides huperthumoi kai epi klērous ebalonto,

210autar emoi mala paura dosan kai oiki' eneiman.

English · Butler

still, if you look at the straw you can see what the ear was, for I have had trouble enough and to spare. Ares and Athena made me doughty in war; when I had picked my men to surprise the enemy with an

Homeric Greek

ἠγαγόμην δὲ γυναῖκα πολυκλήρων ἀνθρώπων

εἵνεκ' ἐμῆς ἀρετῆς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἀποφώλιος ἦα

οὐδὲ φυγοπτόλεμος: νῦν δ' ἤδη πάντα λέλοιπεν

ἀλλ' ἔμπης καλάμην γέ σ' ὀί̈ομαι εἰσορόωντα

215γιγνώσκειν: ἦ γάρ με δύη ἔχει ἤλιθα πολλή.

Transliteration

ēgagomēn de gunaika poluklērōn anthrōpōn

heinek' emēs aretēs, epei ouk apophōlios ēa

oude phugoptolemos: nun d' ēdē panta leloipen

all' empēs kalamēn ge s' oïomai eisoroōnta

215gignōskein: ē gar me duē echei ēlitha pollē.

English · Butler

ambuscade I never gave death so much as a thought, but was the first to leap forward and spear all whom I could overtake. Such was I in battle, but I did not care about farm work, nor the frugal home life of those who would bring up children.

Homeric Greek

ἦ μὲν δὴ θάρσος μοι Ἄρης τ' ἔδοσαν καὶ Ἀθήνη

καὶ ῥηξηνορίην: ὁπότε κρίνοιμι λόχονδε

ἄνδρας ἀριστῆας, κακὰ δυσμενέεσσι φυτεύων,

οὔ ποτέ μοι θάνατον προτιόσσετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ,

220ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρώτιστος ἐπάλμενος ἔγχει ἕλεσκον

Transliteration

ē men dē tharsos moi Arēs t' edosan kai Athēnē

kai rhēxēnoriēn: hopote krinoimi lochonde

andras aristēas, kaka dusmeneessi phuteuōn,

ou pote moi thanaton protiosseto thumos agēnōr,

220alla polu prōtistos epalmenos enchei heleskon

English · Butler

My delight was in ships, fighting, javelins, and arrows - things that most men shudder to think of; but one man likes one thing and another another, and this was what I was most naturally inclined to. Before the Achaeans

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων ὅ τέ μοι εἴξειε πόδεσσιν.

τοῖος ἔα ἐν πολέμῳ: ἔργον δέ μοι οὐ φίλον ἔσκεν

οὐδ' οἰκωφελίη, ἥ τε τρέφει ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,

ἀλλά μοι αἰεὶ νῆες ἐπήρετμοι φίλαι ἦσαν

225καὶ πόλεμοι καὶ ἄκοντες ἐύ̈ξεστοι καὶ ὀϊστοί,

Transliteration

andrōn dusmeneōn ho te moi eixeie podessin.

toios ea en polemōi: ergon de moi ou philon esken

oud' oikōpheliē, hē te trephei aglaa tekna,

alla moi aiei nēes epēretmoi philai ēsan

225kai polemoi kai akontes eüxestoi kai oïstoi,

English · Butler

went to Troy, nine times was I in command of men and ships on foreign service, and I amassed much wealth. I had my pick

Homeric Greek

λυγρά, τά τ' ἄλλοισίν γε καταριγηλὰ πέλονται.

αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τὰ φίλ' ἔσκε τά που θεὸς ἐν φρεσὶ θῆκεν:

ἄλλος γάρ τ' ἄλλοισιν ἀνὴρ ἐπιτέρπεται ἔργοις.

πρὶν μὲν γὰρ Τροίης ἐπιβήμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν

230εἰνάκις ἀνδράσιν ἦρξα καὶ ὠκυπόροισι νέεσσιν

Transliteration

lugra, ta t' alloisin ge katarigēla pelontai.

autar emoi ta phil' eske ta pou theos en phresi thēken:

allos gar t' alloisin anēr epiterpetai ergois.

prin men gar Troiēs epibēmenai huias Achaiōn

230einakis andrasin ērxa kai ōkuporoisi neessin

English · Butler

of the spoil in the first instance, and much more was

Homeric Greek

ἄνδρας ἐς ἀλλοδαπούς, καί μοι μάλα τύγχανε πολλά.

τῶν ἐξαιρεύμην μενοεικέα, πολλὰ δ' ὀπίσσω

λάγχανον: αἶψα δὲ οἶκος ὀφέλλετο, καί ῥα ἔπειτα

δεινός τ' αἰδοῖός τε μετὰ Κρήτεσσι τετύγμην.

235"ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τήν γε στυγερὴν ὁδὸν εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς

Transliteration

andras es allodapous, kai moi mala tunchane polla.

tōn exaireumēn menoeikea, polla d' opissō

lanchanon: aipsa de oikos ophelleto, kai rha epeita

deinos t' aidoios te meta Krētessi tetugmēn.

235"all' hote dē tēn ge stugerēn hodon euruopa Zeus

English · Butler

allotted to me later on. "My house grew apace and I became a great man among the Cretans, but when Zeus counseled that terrible expedition, in which so many perished, the people required me and Idomeneus to lead their ships to Troy, and there was no way out of it, for the judgment of the dêmos insisted on our doing so. There we fought for nine whole years, but in the tenth we sacked the city of Priam and sailed home again as heaven dispersed us.

Homeric Greek

ἐφράσαθ', ἣ πολλῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ γούνατ' ἔλυσε,

δὴ τότ' ἔμ' ἤνωγον καὶ ἀγακλυτὸν Ἰδομενῆα

νήεσσ' ἡγήσασθαι ἐς Ἴλιον: οὐδέ τι μῆχος

ἦεν ἀνήνασθαι, χαλεπὴ δ' ἔχε δήμου φῆμις.

240ἔνθα μὲν εἰνάετες πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,

Transliteration

ephrasath', hē pollōn andrōn hupo gounat' eluse,

dē tot' em' ēnōgon kai agakluton Idomenēa

nēess' hēgēsasthai es Ilion: oude ti mēchos

ēen anēnasthai, chalepē d' eche dēmou phēmis.

240entha men einaetes polemizomen huies Achaiōn,

English · Butler

Then it was that Zeus devised evil against me. I spent but one month happily with my children, wife, and property, and then I conceived the idea of making a descent on Egypt, so I fitted out a fine fleet and manned it.

Homeric Greek

τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν Πριάμου πέρσαντες ἔβημεν

οἴκαδε σὺν νήεσσι, θεὸς δ' ἐκέδασσεν Ἀχαιούς.

αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δειλῷ κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεύς:

μῆνα γὰρ οἶον ἔμεινα τεταρπόμενος τεκέεσσιν

245κουριδίῃ τ' ἀλόχῳ καὶ κτήμασιν: αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

Transliteration

tōi dekatōi de polin Priamou persantes ebēmen

oikade sun nēessi, theos d' ekedassen Achaious.

autar emoi deilōi kaka mēdeto mētieta Zeus:

mēna gar oion emeina tetarpomenos tekeessin

245kouridiēi t' alochōi kai ktēmasin: autar epeita

English · Butler

I had nine ships, and the people flocked to fill them. For six days I and my men made feast, and I found them many victims both for sacrifice to the gods and for themselves,

Homeric Greek

Αἴγυπτόνδε με θυμὸς ἀνώγει ναυτίλλεσθαι,

νῆας ἐὺ̈ στείλαντα σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισιν.

ἐννέα νῆας στεῖλα, θοῶς δ' ἐσαγείρατο λαός.

ἑξῆμαρ μὲν ἔπειτα ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι

250δαίνυντ': αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἱερήϊα πολλὰ παρεῖχον

Transliteration

Aiguptonde me thumos anōgei nautillesthai,

nēas eü steilanta sun antitheois hetaroisin.

ennea nēas steila, thoōs d' esageirato laos.

hexēmar men epeita emoi eriēres hetairoi

250dainunt': autar egōn hierēïa polla pareichon

English · Butler

but on the seventh day we went on board and set sail from Crete with a fair North wind behind us though we were going down a river. Nothing went ill with any of our ships, and we had no

Homeric Greek

θεοῖσίν τε ῥέζειν αὐτοῖσί τε δαῖτα πένεσθαι.

ἑβδομάτῃ δ' ἀναβάντες ἀπὸ Κρήτης εὐρείης

ἐπλέομεν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ ἀκραέϊ καλῷ

ῥηϊδίως, ὡς εἴ τε κατὰ ῥόον: οὐδέ τις οὖν μοι

255νηῶν πημάνθη, ἀλλ' ἀσκηθέες καὶ ἄνουσοι

Transliteration

theoisin te rhezein autoisi te daita penesthai.

hebdomatēi d' anabantes apo Krētēs eureiēs

epleomen Boreēi anemōi akraeï kalōi

rhēïdiōs, hōs ei te kata rhoon: oude tis oun moi

255nēōn pēmanthē, all' askēthees kai anousoi

English · Butler

sickness on board, but sat where we were and let the ships go as the wind and steersmen took them. On the fifth day we reached the river Aigyptos; there I stationed my ships in the river,

Homeric Greek

ἥμεθα, τὰς δ' ἄνεμός τε κυβερνῆταί τ' ἴθυνον.

"πεμπταῖοι δ' Αἴγυπτον ἐϋρρείτην ἱκόμεσθα,

στῆσα δ' ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ποταμῷ νέας ἀμφιελίσσας.

ἔνθ' ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼ κελόμην ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους

260αὐτοῦ πὰρ νήεσσι μένειν καὶ νῆας ἔρυσθαι,

Transliteration

hēmetha, tas d' anemos te kubernētai t' ithunon.

"pemptaioi d' Aigupton eürreitēn hikomestha,

stēsa d' en Aiguptōi potamōi neas amphielissas.

enth' ē toi men egō kelomēn eriēras hetairous

260autou par nēessi menein kai nēas erusthai,

English · Butler

bidding my men stay by them and keep guard over them while I sent out scouts to reconnoiter from every

Homeric Greek

ὀπτῆρας δὲ κατὰ σκοπιὰς ὤτρυνα νέεσθαι:

οἱ δ' ὕβρει εἴξαντες, ἐπισπόμενοι μένεϊ σφῷ,

αἶψα μάλ' Αἰγυπτίων ἀνδρῶν περικαλλέας ἀγροὺς

πόρθεον, ἐκ δὲ γυναῖκας ἄγον καὶ νήπια τέκνα,

265αὐτούς τ' ἔκτεινον: τάχα δ' ἐς πόλιν ἵκετ' ἀϋτή.

Transliteration

optēras de kata skopias ōtruna neesthai:

hoi d' hubrei eixantes, epispomenoi meneï sphōi,

aipsa mal' Aiguptiōn andrōn perikalleas agrous

portheon, ek de gunaikas agon kai nēpia tekna,

265autous t' ekteinon: tacha d' es polin hiket' aütē.

English · Butler

point of vantage. "But the men in their insolence disobeyed my orders, took to their own devices, and ravaged the land of the Egyptians, killing the men, and taking their wives and children captive. The alarm was soon carried to the city, and when they heard the war cry, the people came out at daybreak till the plain was filled with horsemen and foot soldiers and with the gleam of armor.

Homeric Greek

οἱ δὲ βοῆς ἀί̈οντες ἅμ' ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιν

ἦλθον: πλῆτο δὲ πᾶν πεδίον πεζῶν τε καὶ ἵππων

χαλκοῦ τε στεροπῆς: ἐν δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος

φύζαν ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι κακὴν βάλεν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη

270μεῖναι ἐναντίβιον: περὶ γὰρ κακὰ πάντοθεν ἔστη.

Transliteration

hoi de boēs aïontes ham' ēoi phainomenēphin

ēlthon: plēto de pan pedion pezōn te kai hippōn

chalkou te steropēs: en de Zeus terpikeraunos

phuzan emois hetaroisi kakēn balen, oude tis etlē

270meinai enantibion: peri gar kaka pantothen estē.

English · Butler

Then Zeus spread panic among my men, and they would no longer face the enemy, for they found themselves surrounded. The Egyptians killed many of us, and took the rest alive to do forced labor for them. Zeus, however, put it in my mind to do thus - and I wish I had died then and there in

Homeric Greek

ἔνθ' ἡμέων πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτανον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

τοὺς δ' ἄναγον ζωούς, σφίσιν ἐργάζεσθαι ἀνάγκῃ.

αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὧδε νόημα

ποίησ'--ὡς ὄφελον θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν

275αὐτοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ: ἔτι γάρ νύ με πῆμ' ὑπέδεκτο--

Transliteration

enth' hēmeōn pollous men apektanon oxeï chalkōi,

tous d' anagon zōous, sphisin ergazesthai anankēi.

autar emoi Zeus autos eni phresin hōde noēma

poiēs'--hōs ophelon thaneein kai potmon epispein

275autou en Aiguptōi: eti gar nu me pēm' hupedekto--

English · Butler

Egypt instead, for there was much sorrow in store for me - I took off my helmet and shield and dropped my spear from my hand; then I went straight up to the king's chariot, clasped his knees and kissed them, whereon he spared

Homeric Greek

αὐτίκ' ἀπὸ κρατὸς κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκα

καὶ σάκος ὤμοιϊν, δόρυ δ' ἔκβαλον ἔκτοσε χειρός:

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ βασιλῆος ἐναντίον ἤλυθον ἵππων

καὶ κύσα γούναθ' ἑλών: ὁδ' ἐρύσατο καί μ' ἐλέησεν,

280ἐς δίφρον δέ μ' ἕσας ἄγεν οἴκαδε δάκρυ χέοντα.

Transliteration

autik' apo kratos kuneēn eutukton ethēka

kai sakos ōmoiïn, doru d' ekbalon ektose cheiros:

autar egō basilēos enantion ēluthon hippōn

kai kusa gounath' helōn: hod' erusato kai m' eleēsen,

280es diphron de m' hesas agen oikade dakru cheonta.

English · Butler

my life, bade me get into his chariot, and took me weeping to his own home. Many made at me with their ashen spears and tried to kill me in their fury, but the king protected

Homeric Greek

ἦ μέν μοι μάλα πολλοὶ ἐπήϊσσον μελίῃσιν,

ἱέμενοι κτεῖναι--δὴ γὰρ κεχολώατο λίην--

ἀλλ' ἀπὸ κεῖνος ἔρυκε, Διὸς δ' ὠπίζετο μῆνιν

ξεινίου, ὅς τε μάλιστα νεμεσσᾶται κακὰ ἔργα.

285"ἔνθα μὲν ἑπτάετες μένον αὐτόθι, πολλὰ δ' ἄγειρα

Transliteration

ē men moi mala polloi epēïsson meliēisin,

hiemenoi kteinai--dē gar kecholōato liēn--

all' apo keinos eruke, Dios d' ōpizeto mēnin

xeiniou, hos te malista nemessatai kaka erga.

285"entha men heptaetes menon autothi, polla d' ageira

English · Butler

me, for he feared the mênis of Zeus the protector of strangers, who punishes those who do evil. "I stayed there for seven years and got together much wealth among the Egyptians, for they all gave me something; but when it was now going on for eight years there came a certain Phoenician, a cunning rascal, who had already committed all sorts of villainy, and this man talked me over into going with him to Phoenicia, where his house and his possessions lay.

Homeric Greek

χρήματ' ἀν' Αἰγυπτίους ἄνδρας: δίδοσαν γὰρ ἅπαντες.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ ὄγδοόν μοι ἐπιπλόμενον ἔτος ἦλθεν,

δὴ τότε Φοῖνιξ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ ἀπατήλια εἰδώς,

τρώκτης, ὃς δὴ πολλὰ κάκ' ἀνθρώποισιν ἐώργει:

290ὅς μ' ἄγε παρπεπιθὼν ᾗσι φρεσίν, ὄφρ' ἱκόμεσθα

Transliteration

chrēmat' an' Aiguptious andras: didosan gar hapantes.

all' hote dē ogdoon moi epiplomenon etos ēlthen,

dē tote Phoinix ēlthen anēr apatēlia eidōs,

trōktēs, hos dē polla kak' anthrōpoisin eōrgei:

290hos m' age parpepithōn hēisi phresin, ophr' hikomestha

English · Butler

"I stayed there for seven years and got together much wealth among the Egyptians, for they all gave me something; but when it was now going on for eight years there came a certain Phoenician, a cunning rascal, who had already committed all sorts of villainy, and this man talked me over into going with him to Phoenicia, where his house and his possessions lay. I stayed there for a whole twelve months, but at the end of that time when months and days had gone by till the same season had come round again, he set me on board

Homeric Greek

Φοινίκην, ὅθι τοῦ γε δόμοι καὶ κτήματ' ἔκειτο.

ἔνθα παρ' αὐτῷ μεῖνα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντο

ἄψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,

295ἐς Λιβύην μ' ἐπὶ νηὸς ἐέσσατο ποντοπόροιο

Transliteration

Phoinikēn, hothi tou ge domoi kai ktēmat' ekeito.

entha par' autōi meina telesphoron eis eniauton.

all' hote dē mēnes te kai hēmerai exeteleunto

aps peritellomenou eteos kai epēluthon hōrai,

295es Libuēn m' epi nēos eessato pontoporoio

English · Butler

a ship bound for Libya, on a pretense that I was to take a cargo along with him to that place, but really that he might sell me as a slave and take the wealth I fetched. I suspected his intention,

Homeric Greek

ψεύδεα βουλεύσας, ἵνα οἱ σὺν φόρτον ἄγοιμι,

κεῖθι δέ μ' ὡς περάσειε καὶ ἄσπετον ὦνον ἕλοιτο.

τῷ ἑπόμην ἐπὶ νηός, ὀϊόμενός περ, ἀνάγκῃ.

ἡ δ' ἔθεεν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ ἀκραέϊ καλῷ,

300μέσσον ὑπὲρ Κρήτης: Ζεὺς δέ σφισι μήδετ' ὄλεθρον.

Transliteration

pseudea bouleusas, hina hoi sun phorton agoimi,

keithi de m' hōs peraseie kai aspeton ōnon heloito.

tōi hepomēn epi nēos, oïomenos per, anankēi.

hē d' etheen Boreēi anemōi akraeï kalōi,

300messon huper Krētēs: Zeus de sphisi mēdet' olethron.

English · Butler

but went on board with him, for I could not help it. "The ship ran before a fresh North wind till we had reached the sea that lies between Crete and Libya; there, however, Zeus counseled their destruction, for as soon as we were well out from Crete and could see nothing but sea and sky, he raised a black cloud over our ship and the sea grew dark beneath it. Then Zeus let fly with his thunderbolts and

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ Κρήτην μὲν ἐλείπομεν, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη

φαίνετο γαιάων, ἀλλ' οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα,

δὴ τότε κυανέην νεφέλην ἔστησε Κρονίων

νηὸς ὕπερ γλαφυρῆς, ἤχλυσε δὲ πόντος ὑπ' αὐτῆς.

305Ζεὺς δ' ἄμυδις βρόντησε καὶ ἔμβαλε νηὶ̈ κεραυνόν:

Transliteration

all' hote dē Krētēn men eleipomen, oude tis allē

phaineto gaiaōn, all' ouranos ēde thalassa,

dē tote kuaneēn nephelēn estēse Kroniōn

nēos huper glaphurēs, ēchluse de pontos hup' autēs.

305Zeus d' amudis brontēse kai embale nēï keraunon:

English · Butler

the ship went round and round and was filled with fire and brimstone as the lightning struck it. The men fell all into the sea; they were carried about in the water round the ship looking like so many sea-gulls, but the god presently deprived them of all chance of homecoming again.

Homeric Greek

ἡ δ' ἐλελίχθη πᾶσα Διὸς πληγεῖσα κεραυνῷ,

ἐν δὲ θεείου πλῆτο: πέσον δ' ἐκ νηὸς ἅπαντες.

οἱ δὲ κορώνῃσιν ἴκελοι περὶ νῆα μέλαιναν

κύμασιν ἐμφορέοντο: θεὸς δ' ἀποαίνυτο νόστον.

310αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς αὐτός, ἔχοντί περ ἄλγεα θυμῷ,

Transliteration

hē d' elelichthē pasa Dios plēgeisa keraunōi,

en de theeiou plēto: peson d' ek nēos hapantes.

hoi de korōnēisin ikeloi peri nēa melainan

kumasin emphoreonto: theos d' apoainuto noston.

310autar emoi Zeus autos, echonti per algea thumōi,

English · Butler

I was all dismayed; Zeus, however, sent the ship's mast within my reach, which saved my life, for I clung to it, and drifted before the fury of the gale. Nine days did I drift but in the darkness of the tenth night a great wave bore me on to the Thesprotian coast.

Homeric Greek

ἱστὸν ἀμαιμάκετον νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο

ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν, ὅπως ἔτι πῆμα φύγοιμι.

τῷ ῥα περιπλεχθεὶς φερόμην ὀλοοῖς ἀνέμοισιν.

ἐννῆμαρ φερόμην, δεκάτῃ δέ με νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ

315γαίῃ Θεσπρωτῶν πέλασεν μέγα κῦμα κυλίνδον.

Transliteration

histon amaimaketon nēos kuanoprōiroio

en cheiressin ethēken, hopōs eti pēma phugoimi.

tōi rha periplechtheis pheromēn oloois anemoisin.

ennēmar pheromēn, dekatēi de me nukti melainēi

315gaiēi Thesprōtōn pelasen mega kuma kulindon.

English · Butler

There Pheidon king of the Thesprotians entertained me hospitably without charging me anything at all, for his son found me when I was nearly dead

Homeric Greek

ἔνθα με Θεσπρωτῶν βασιλεὺς ἐκομίσσατο Φείδων

ἥρως ἀπριάτην: τοῦ γὰρ φίλος υἱὸς ἐπελθὼν

αἴθρῳ καὶ καμάτῳ δεδμημένον ἦγεν ἐς οἶκον,

χειρὸς ἀναστήσας, ὄφρ' ἵκετο δώματα πατρός:

320ἀμφὶ δέ με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα ἕσσεν.

Transliteration

entha me Thesprōtōn basileus ekomissato Pheidōn

hērōs apriatēn: tou gar philos huios epelthōn

aithrōi kai kamatōi dedmēmenon ēgen es oikon,

cheiros anastēsas, ophr' hiketo dōmata patros:

320amphi de me chlainan te chitōna te heimata hessen.

English · Butler

with cold and fatigue, whereon he raised me by the hand, took me to his father's house and gave me clothes to wear.

Homeric Greek

"ἔνθ' Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ πυθόμην: κεῖνος γὰρ ἔφασκε

ξεινίσαι ἠδὲ φιλῆσαι ἰόντ' ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,

καί μοι κτήματ' ἔδειξεν ὅσα ξυναγείρατ' Ὀδυσσεύς,

χαλκόν τε χρυσόν τε πολύκμητόν τε σίδηρον.

325καί νύ ἐς δεκάτην γενεὴν ἕτερόν γ' ἔτι βόσκοι:

Transliteration

"enth' Odusēos egō puthomēn: keinos gar ephaske

xeinisai ēde philēsai iont' es patrida gaian,

kai moi ktēmat' edeixen hosa xunageirat' Odusseus,

chalkon te chruson te polukmēton te sidēron.

325kai nu es dekatēn geneēn heteron g' eti boskoi:

English · Butler

"There it was that I heard news of Odysseus, for the king told me he had entertained him, and shown him much hospitality while he was on his homeward journey. He showed me also the treasure of gold, and wrought iron that Odysseus had got together. There was enough to keep his family for ten generations, so much had he left in the house of king Pheidon. But the king said Odysseus had gone to Dodona that he might learn Zeus’ mind from the god's

Homeric Greek

τόσσα οἱ ἐν μεγάροις κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος.

τὸν δ' ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖο

ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,

ὅππως νοστήσει' Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμον

330ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.

Transliteration

tossa hoi en megarois keimēlia keito anaktos.

ton d' es Dōdōnēn phato bēmenai, ophra theoio

ek druos hupsikomoio Dios boulēn epakousai,

hoppōs nostēsei' Ithakēs es piona dēmon

330ēdē dēn apeōn, ē amphadon ēe kruphēdon.

English · Butler

high oak tree, and know whether after so long an absence he should return to the dêmos of Ithaca openly, or in secret. Moreover the king swore in my presence, making drink-offerings in his own house as he did so, that the ship was by the water side, and the crew found, that should take him to his own country.

Homeric Greek

ὤμοσε δὲ πρὸς ἔμ' αὐτόν, ἀποσπένδων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,

οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

ἀλλ' ἐμὲ πρὶν ἀπέπεμψε: τύχησε γὰρ ἐρχομένη νηῦς

335ἀνδρῶν Θεσπρωτῶν ἐς Δουλίχιον πολύπυρον.

Transliteration

ōmose de pros em' auton, apospendōn eni oikōi,

nēa kateirusthai kai eparteas emmen hetairous,

hoi dē min pempsousi philēn es patrida gaian.

all' eme prin apepempse: tuchēse gar erchomenē nēus

335andrōn Thesprōtōn es Doulichion polupuron.

English · Butler

He sent me off however before Odysseus returned, for there happened to be a Thesprotian ship sailing for the wheat-growing island of Dulichium, and he told those in charge of her to be sure

Homeric Greek

ἔνθ' ὅ γέ μ' ἠνώγει πέμψαι βασιλῆϊ Ἀκάστῳ

ἐνδυκέως: τοῖσιν δὲ κακὴ φρεσὶν ἥνδανε βουλὴ

ἀμφ' ἐμοί, ὄφρ' ἔτι πάγχυ δύης ἐπὶ πῆμα γενοίμην.

ἀλλ' ὅτε γαίης πολλὸν ἀπέπλω ποντοπόρος νηῦς,

340αὐτίκα δούλιον ἦμαρ ἐμοὶ περιμηχανόωντο.

Transliteration

enth' ho ge m' ēnōgei pempsai basilēï Akastōi

endukeōs: toisin de kakē phresin hēndane boulē

amph' emoi, ophr' eti panchu duēs epi pēma genoimēn.

all' hote gaiēs pollon apeplō pontoporos nēus,

340autika doulion ēmar emoi perimēchanoōnto.

English · Butler

and take me safely to King Akastos. "These men hatched a plot against me that would have reduced me to the very extreme of misery, for when the ship had got some way out from land they resolved on selling me as a slave. They stripped me of the shirt and cloak that I was wearing, and gave me instead the tattered old clouts in which you now see me; then, towards nightfall, they reached the tilled

Homeric Greek

ἐκ μέν με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματ' ἔδυσαν,

ἀμφὶ δέ μοι ῥάκος ἄλλο κακὸν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,

ῥωγαλέα, τὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὅρηαι:

ἑσπέριοι δ' Ἰθάκης εὐδειέλου ἔργ' ἀφίκοντο.

345ἔνθ' ἐμὲ μὲν κατέδησαν ἐϋσσέλμῳ ἐνὶ νηὶ̈

Transliteration

ek men me chlainan te chitōna te heimat' edusan,

amphi de moi rhakos allo kakon balon ēde chitōna,

rhōgalea, ta kai autos en ophthalmoisin horēai:

hesperioi d' Ithakēs eudeielou erg' aphikonto.

345enth' eme men katedēsan eüsselmōi eni nēï

English · Butler

lands of Ithaca, and there they bound me with a strong rope fast in the ship, while they went on shore to get supper by the sea side. But the gods soon undid my bonds for me, and having drawn my rags

Homeric Greek

ὅπλῳ ἐϋστρεφέϊ στερεῶς, αὐτοὶ δ' ἀποβάντες

ἐσσυμένως παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης δόρπον ἕλοντο.

αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δεσμὸν μὲν ἀνέγναμψαν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ

ῥηϊδίως: κεφαλῇ δὲ κατὰ ῥάκος ἀμφικαλύψας,

350ξεστὸν ἐφόλκαιον καταβὰς ἐπέλασσα θαλάσσῃ

Transliteration

hoplōi eüstrepheï stereōs, autoi d' apobantes

essumenōs para thina thalassēs dorpon helonto.

autar emoi desmon men anegnampsan theoi autoi

rhēïdiōs: kephalēi de kata rhakos amphikalupsas,

350xeston epholkaion katabas epelassa thalassēi

English · Butler

over my head I slid down the rudder into the sea, where I struck out and swam till I was well clear of them, and came ashore near a thick wood in which I lay concealed. They were very angry at my

Homeric Greek

στῆθος, ἔπειτα δὲ χερσὶ διήρεσσ' ἀμφοτέρῃσι

νηχόμενος, μάλα δ' ὦκα θύρηθ' ἔα ἀμφὶς ἐκείνων.

ἔνθ' ἀναβάς, ὅθι τε δρίος ἦν πολυανθέος ὕλης,

κείμην πεπτηώς. οἱ δὲ μεγάλα στενάχοντες

355φοίτων: ἀλλ' οὐ γάρ σφιν ἐφαίνετο κέρδιον εἶναι

Transliteration

stēthos, epeita de chersi diēress' amphoterēisi

nēchomenos, mala d' ōka thurēth' ea amphis ekeinōn.

enth' anabas, hothi te drios ēn poluantheos hulēs,

keimēn peptēōs. hoi de megala stenachontes

355phoitōn: all' ou gar sphin ephaineto kerdion einai

English · Butler

having escaped and went searching about for me, till at last they thought it was no further use and went back to their ship. The gods, having hidden me thus easily, then took me to a

Homeric Greek

μαίεσθαι προτέρω, τοὶ μὲν πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαινον

νηὸς ἔπι γλαφυρῆς: ἐμὲ δ' ἔκρυψαν θεοὶ αὐτοὶ

ῥηϊδίως, καί με σταθμῷ ἐπέλασσαν ἄγοντες

ἀνδρὸς ἐπισταμένου: ἔτι γάρ νύ μοι αἶσα βιῶναι."

360τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα:

Transliteration

maiesthai proterō, toi men palin autis ebainon

nēos epi glaphurēs: eme d' ekrupsan theoi autoi

rhēïdiōs, kai me stathmōi epelassan agontes

andros epistamenou: eti gar nu moi aisa biōnai."

360ton d' apameibomenos prosephēs, Eumaie subōta:

English · Butler

good man's door - for it seems that I am not to die yet awhile." To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaios, "Poor unhappy stranger, I have found the story of your misfortunes extremely interesting, but that part about Odysseus is not right ; and you will never get me to believe it.

Homeric Greek

"ἆ δειλὲ ξείνων, ἦ μοι μάλα θυμὸν ὄρινας

ταῦτα ἕκαστα λέγων, ὅσα δὴ πάθες ἠδ' ὅσ' ἀλήθης.

ἀλλὰ τά γ' οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ὀί̈ομαι, οὐδέ με πείσεις

εἰπὼν ἀμφ' Ὀδυσῆϊ: τί σε χρὴ τοῖον ἐόντα

365μαψιδίως ψεύδεσθαι; ἐγὼ δ' εὖ οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς

Transliteration

"a deile xeinōn, ē moi mala thumon orinas

tauta hekasta legōn, hosa dē pathes ēd' hos' alēthēs.

alla ta g' ou kata kosmon oïomai, oude me peiseis

eipōn amph' Odusēï: ti se chrē toion eonta

365mapsidiōs pseudesthai; egō d' eu oida kai autos

English · Butler

To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaios, "Poor unhappy stranger, I have found the story of your misfortunes extremely interesting, but that part about Odysseus is not right ; and you will never get me to believe it. Why should a man like you go about telling lies in this way? I know all about the return of my master. The gods one and all of them detest him, or they would have taken him before Troy, or let him die with friends around him when the days of his fighting were done;

Homeric Greek

νόστον ἐμοῖο ἄνακτος, ὅ τ' ἤχθετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι

πάγχυ μάλ', ὅττι μιν οὔ τι μετὰ Τρώεσσι δάμασσαν

ἠὲ φίλων ἐν χερσίν, ἐπεὶ πόλεμον τολύπευσε.

τῷ κέν οἱ τύμβον μὲν ἐποίησαν Παναχαιοί,

370ἠδέ κε καὶ ᾧ παιδὶ μέγα κλέος ἤρατ' ὀπίσσω

Transliteration

noston emoio anaktos, ho t' ēchtheto pasi theoisi

panchu mal', hotti min ou ti meta Trōessi damassan

ēe philōn en chersin, epei polemon tolupeuse.

tōi ken hoi tumbon men epoiēsan Panachaioi,

370ēde ke kai hōi paidi mega kleos ērat' opissō

English · Butler

for then the Achaeans would have built a mound over his ashes and his son would have been heir to his kleos, but now the storm winds have spirited him

Homeric Greek

νῦν δέ μιν ἀκλειῶς ἅρπυιαι ἀνηρείψαντο.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ παρ' ὕεσσιν ἀπότροπος: οὐδὲ πόλινδε

ἔρχομαι, εἰ μή πού τι περίφρων Πηνελόπεια

ἐλθέμεν ὀτρύνῃσιν, ὅτ' ἀγγελίη ποθὲν ἔλθῃ.

375ἀλλ' οἱ μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα παρήμενοι ἐξερέουσιν,

Transliteration

nun de min akleiōs harpuiai anēreipsanto.

autar egō par' huessin apotropos: oude polinde

erchomai, ei mē pou ti periphrōn Pēnelopeia

elthemen otrunēisin, hot' angeliē pothen elthēi.

375all' hoi men ta hekasta parēmenoi exereousin,

English · Butler

away we know not where. "As for me I live out of the way here with the pigs, and never go to the town unless when Penelope sends for me on the arrival of some news about Odysseus. Then they all sit round and ask questions, both those who grieve over the king's absence, and those who rejoice at it because they can eat up his property without paying for it. For my own part I have never cared about asking

Homeric Greek

ἠμὲν οἳ ἄχνυνται δὴν οἰχομένοιο ἄνακτος,

ἠδ' οἳ χαίρουσιν βίοτον νήποινον ἔδοντες:

ἀλλ' ἐμοὶ οὐ φίλον ἐστὶ μεταλλῆσαι καὶ ἐρέσθαι,

ἐξ οὗ δή μ' Αἰτωλὸς ἀνὴρ ἐξήπαφε μύθῳ,

380ὅς ῥ' ἄνδρα κτείνας, πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἀληθείς,

Transliteration

ēmen hoi achnuntai dēn oichomenoio anaktos,

ēd' hoi chairousin bioton nēpoinon edontes:

all' emoi ou philon esti metallēsai kai eresthai,

ex hou dē m' Aitōlos anēr exēpaphe muthōi,

380hos rh' andra kteinas, pollēn epi gaian alētheis,

English · Butler

anyone else since the time when I was taken in by an Aetolian, who had killed a man and come a long way till at last he reached my station, and I was very kind to him. He said he had seen Odysseus with Idomeneus among the Cretans, refitting his ships which had been damaged in a gale. He said Odysseus would return in the following

Homeric Greek

ἦλθεν ἐμὰ πρὸς δώματ': ἐγὼ δέ μιν ἀμφαγάπαζον.

φῆ δέ μιν ἐν Κρήτεσσι παρ' Ἰδομενῆϊ ἰδέσθαι

νῆας ἀκειόμενον, τάς οἱ ξυνέαξαν ἄελλαι:

καὶ φάτ' ἐλεύσεσθαι ἢ ἐς θέρος ἢ ἐς ὀπώρην,

385πολλὰ χρήματ' ἄγοντα, σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι.

Transliteration

ēlthen ema pros dōmat': egō de min amphagapazon.

phē de min en Krētessi par' Idomenēï idesthai

nēas akeiomenon, tas hoi xuneaxan aellai:

kai phat' eleusesthai ē es theros ē es opōrēn,

385polla chrēmat' agonta, sun antitheois hetaroisi.

English · Butler

summer or autumn with his men, and that he would bring back much wealth. And now you, you unfortunate old man, since a daimôn has brought you to my door, do not try to flatter me in this way with vain hopes. It is not for any such

Homeric Greek

καὶ σύ, γέρον πολυπενθές, ἐπεί σέ μοι ἤγαγε δαίμων,

μήτε τί μοι ψεύδεσσι χαρίζεο μήτε τι θέλγε:

οὐ γὰρ τοὔνεκ' ἐγώ σ' αἰδέσσομαι οὐδὲ φιλήσω,

ἀλλὰ Δία ξένιον δείσας αὐτόν τ' ἐλεαίρων."

390τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς

Transliteration

kai su, geron polupenthes, epei se moi ēgage daimōn,

mēte ti moi pseudessi charizeo mēte ti thelge:

ou gar tounek' egō s' aidessomai oude philēsō,

alla Dia xenion deisas auton t' eleairōn."

390ton d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus

English · Butler

reason that I shall treat you kindly, but only out of respect for Zeus the god of hospitality, as fearing him and pitying you." Odysseus answered, "I see that you are of an unbelieving mind; I have given you my oath, and yet you will not credit me; let us then make a bargain, and call all the gods in heaven to witness it.

Homeric Greek

"ἦ μάλα τίς τοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἄπιστος,

οἷόν σ' οὐδ' ὀμόσας περ ἐπήγαγον οὐδέ σε πείθω.

ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ῥήτρην ποιησόμεθ': αὐτὰρ ὄπισθε

μάρτυροι ἀμφοτέροισι θεοί, τοὶ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.

395εἰ μέν κεν νοστήσῃ ἄναξ τεὸς ἐς τόδε δῶμα,

Transliteration

"ē mala tis toi thumos eni stēthessin apistos,

hoion s' oud' omosas per epēgagon oude se peithō.

all' age nun rhētrēn poiēsometh': autar opisthe

marturoi amphoteroisi theoi, toi Olumpon echousin.

395ei men ken nostēsēi anax teos es tode dōma,

English · Butler

Odysseus answered, "I see that you are of an unbelieving mind; I have given you my oath, and yet you will not credit me; let us then make a bargain, and call all the gods in heaven to witness it. If your master comes home, give me a cloak and shirt of good wear, and send me to Dulichium where I want to go; but if he does not come as I say he will, set your men on

Homeric Greek

ἕσσας με χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα πέμψαι

Δουλίχιόνδ' ἰέναι, ὅθι μοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ:

εἰ δέ κε μὴ ἔλθῃσιν ἄναξ τεὸς ὡς ἀγορεύω,

δμῶας ἐπισσεύας βαλέειν μεγάλης κατὰ πέτρης,

400ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλος πτωχὸς ἀλεύεται ἠπεροπεύειν."

Transliteration

hessas me chlainan te chitōna te heimata pempsai

Doulichiond' ienai, hothi moi philon epleto thumōi:

ei de ke mē elthēisin anax teos hōs agoreuō,

dmōas episseuas baleein megalēs kata petrēs,

400ophra kai allos ptōchos aleuetai ēperopeuein."

English · Butler

to me, and tell them to throw me from yonder precipice, as a warning to tramps not to go about the country telling lies."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε δῖος ὑφορβός:

"ξεῖν', οὕτω γάρ κέν μοι ἐϋκλείη τ' ἀρετή τε

εἴη ἐπ' ἀνθρώπους ἅμα τ' αὐτίκα καὶ μετέπειτα,

ὅς σ' ἐπεὶ ἐς κλισίην ἄγαγον καὶ ξείνια δῶκα,

405αὖτις δὲ κτείναιμι φίλον τ' ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἑλοίμην:

Transliteration

ton d' apameibomenos prosephōnee dios huphorbos:

"xein', houtō gar ken moi eükleiē t' aretē te

eiē ep' anthrōpous hama t' autika kai metepeita,

hos s' epei es klisiēn agagon kai xeinia dōka,

405autis de kteinaimi philon t' apo thumon heloimēn:

English · Butler

"And aretê famed among men would be mine " replied Eumaios, "both now and hereafter, if I were to kill you after receiving you into my hut and showing you hospitality. I should have to say my prayers in good earnest if I did; but it is just supper time and I hope my men will

Homeric Greek

πρόφρων κεν δὴ ἔπειτα Δία Κρονίωνα λιτοίμην.

νῦν δ' ὥρη δόρποιο: τάχιστά μοι ἔνδον ἑταῖροι

εἶεν, ἵν' ἐν κλισίῃ λαρὸν τετυκοίμεθα δόρπον."

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

410ἀγχίμολον δὲ σύες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἦλθον ὑφορβοί.

Transliteration

prophrōn ken dē epeita Dia Kroniōna litoimēn.

nun d' hōrē dorpoio: tachista moi endon hetairoi

eien, hin' en klisiēi laron tetukoimetha dorpon."

hōs hoi men toiauta pros allēlous agoreuon,

410anchimolon de sues te kai aneres ēlthon huphorboi.

English · Butler

come in directly, that we may cook something savory for supper." Thus did they converse, and presently the swineherds came up with the pigs, which were then shut up for the night in their sties, and a tremendous squealing they made as they were being driven into them. But Eumaios called to his men

Homeric Greek

τὰς μὲν ἄρα ἔρξαν κατὰ ἤθεα κοιμηθῆναι,

κλαγγὴ δ' ἄσπετος ὦρτο συῶν αὐλιζομενάων

αὐτὰρ ὁ οἷς ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο δῖος ὑφορβός:

"ἄξεθ' ὑῶν τὸν ἄριστον, ἵνα ξείνῳ ἱερεύσω

415τηλεδαπῷ: πρὸς δ' αὐτοὶ ὀνησόμεθ', οἵ περ ὀϊζὺν

Transliteration

tas men ara erxan kata ēthea koimēthēnai,

klangē d' aspetos ōrto suōn aulizomenaōn

autar ho hois hetaroisin ekekleto dios huphorbos:

"axeth' huōn ton ariston, hina xeinōi hiereusō

415tēledapōi: pros d' autoi onēsometh', hoi per oïzun

English · Butler

and said, "Bring in the best pig you have, that I may sacrifice for this stranger, and we will take toll of him ourselves. We have had trouble enough this long time feeding pigs, while

Homeric Greek

δὴν ἔχομεν πάσχοντες ὑῶν ἕνεκ' ἀργιοδόντων:

ἄλλοι δ' ἡμέτερον κάματον νήποινον ἔδουσιν."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κέασε ξύλα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,

οἱ δ' ὗν εἰσῆγον μάλα πίονα πενταέτηρον.

420τὸν μὲν ἔπειτ' ἔστησαν ἐπ' ἐσχάρῃ: οὐδὲ συβώτης

Transliteration

dēn echomen paschontes huōn henek' argiodontōn:

alloi d' hēmeteron kamaton nēpoinon edousin."

hōs ara phōnēsas kease xula nēleï chalkōi,

hoi d' hun eisēgon mala piona pentaetēron.

420ton men epeit' estēsan ep' escharēi: oude subōtēs

English · Butler

others reap the fruit of our labor." On this he began chopping firewood, while the others brought in a fine fat five year old boar pig, and set it at the altar. Eumaios did not forget the gods, for he was a man of good principles, so the first thing he did was to cut bristles

Homeric Greek

λήθετ' ἄρ' ἀθανάτων: φρεσὶ γὰρ κέχρητ' ἀγαθῇσιν:

ἀλλ' ὅγ' ἀπαρχόμενος κεφαλῆς τρίχας ἐν πυρὶ βάλλεν

ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, καὶ ἐπεύχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσιν

νοστῆσαι Ὀδυσῆα πολύφρονα ὅνδε δόμονδε.

425κόψε δ' ἀνασχόμενος σχίζῃ δρυός, ἣν λίπε κείων:

Transliteration

lēthet' ar' athanatōn: phresi gar kechrēt' agathēisin:

all' hog' aparchomenos kephalēs trichas en puri ballen

argiodontos huos, kai epeucheto pasi theoisin

nostēsai Odusēa poluphrona honde domonde.

425kopse d' anaschomenos schizēi druos, hēn lipe keiōn:

English · Butler

from the pig's face and throw them into the fire, praying to all the gods as he did so that Odysseus might return home again. Then he clubbed the pig with a billet of oak which he had kept back when he was chopping the firewood, and its psukhê left it, while the others slaughtered and singed it. Then they cut it up, and Eumaios began by putting raw pieces from each joint on to some of the fat;

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἔλιπε ψυχή. τοὶ δ' ἔσφαξάν τε καὶ εὗσαν:

αἶψα δέ μιν διέχευαν: ὁ δ' ὠμοθετεῖτο συβώτης,

πάντων ἀρχόμενος μελέων, ἐς πίονα δημόν,

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν πυρὶ βάλλε, παλύνας ἀλφίτου ἀκτῇ,

430μίστυλλόν τ' ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφ' ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,

Transliteration

ton d' elipe psuchē. toi d' esphaxan te kai heusan:

aipsa de min diecheuan: ho d' ōmotheteito subōtēs,

pantōn archomenos meleōn, es piona dēmon,

kai ta men en puri balle, palunas alphitou aktēi,

430mistullon t' ara talla kai amph' obeloisin epeiran,

English · Butler

these he sprinkled with barley meal, and laid upon the embers; they cut the rest of the meat up small, put the pieces upon the spits and roasted them till they were done; when they had taken them off the spits they threw them on to the dresser in a heap. The swineherd, who was a most equitable man, then stood up to give every one his share. He made seven portions;

Homeric Greek

ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα,

βάλλον δ' εἰν ἐλεοῖσιν ἀολλέα: ἂν δὲ συβώτης

ἵστατο δαιτρεύσων: περὶ γὰρ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα ᾔδη.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἕπταχα πάντα διεμοιρᾶτο δαί̈ζων:

435τὴν μὲν ἴαν νύμφῃσι καὶ Ἑρμῇ, Μαιάδος υἱεῖ,

Transliteration

ōptēsan te periphradeōs erusanto te panta,

ballon d' ein eleoisin aollea: an de subōtēs

histato daitreusōn: peri gar phresin aisima ēidē.

kai ta men heptacha panta diemoirato daïzōn:

435tēn men ian numphēisi kai Hermēi, Maiados huiei,

English · Butler

one of these he set apart for Hermes the son of Maia and the nymphs, praying to them as he did so; the others he dealt out to the men man by man. He gave Odysseus some slices cut lengthways down the loin as a mark of especial honor, and Odysseus was much pleased.

Homeric Greek

θῆκεν ἐπευξάμενος, τὰς δ' ἄλλας νεῖμεν ἑκάστῳ:

νώτοισιν δ' Ὀδυσῆα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρεν

ἀργιόδοντος ὑός, κύδαινε δὲ θυμὸν ἄνακτος:

καί μιν φωνήσας προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

440"αἴθ' οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιο

Transliteration

thēken epeuxamenos, tas d' allas neimen hekastōi:

nōtoisin d' Odusēa diēnekeessi gerairen

argiodontos huos, kudaine de thumon anaktos:

kai min phōnēsas prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

440"aith' houtōs, Eumaie, philos Dii patri genoio

English · Butler

"I hope, Eumaios," said he, "that Zeus will be as well disposed towards you as I am, for the respect you are showing to an outcast like myself."

Homeric Greek

ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι τε τοῖον ἐόντ' ἀγαθοῖσι γεραίρεις."

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα:

"ἔσθιε, δαιμόνιε ξείνων, καὶ τέρπεο τοῖσδε,

οἷα πάρεστι: θεὸς δὲ τὸ μὲν δώσει, τὸ δ' ἐάσει,

445ὅττι κεν ᾧ θυμῷ ἐθέλῃ: δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα."

Transliteration

hōs emoi, hotti te toion eont' agathoisi geraireis."

ton d' apameibomenos prosephēs, Eumaie subōta:

"esthie, daimonie xeinōn, kai terpeo toisde,

hoia paresti: theos de to men dōsei, to d' easei,

445hotti ken hōi thumōi ethelēi: dunatai gar hapanta."

English · Butler

To this you answered, O swineherd Eumaios, "Eat, my good fellow, and enjoy your supper, such as it is. A god grants this, and withholds that, just as he thinks right, for he can do whatever he chooses."

Homeric Greek

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄργματα θῦσε θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσι,

σπείσας δ' αἴθοπα οἶνον Ὀδυσσῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ

ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔθηκεν: ὁ δ' ἕζετο ᾗ παρὰ μοίρῃ.

σῖτον δέ σφιν ἔνειμε Μεσαύλιος, ὅν ῥα συβώτης

450αὐτὸς κτήσατο οἶος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,

Transliteration

ē rha kai argmata thuse theois aieigenetēisi,

speisas d' aithopa oinon Odussēï ptoliporthōi

en cheiressin ethēken: ho d' hezeto hēi para moirēi.

siton de sphin eneime Mesaulios, hon rha subōtēs

450autos ktēsato oios apoichomenoio anaktos,

English · Butler

As he spoke he cut off the first piece and offered it as a burnt sacrifice to the immortal gods; then he made them a drink-offering, put the cup in the hands of Odysseus, and sat down to his own portion. Mesaulios brought them their bread; the swineherd had bought this man on his own account from among the Taphians during his master's absence, and had paid for him with his own wealth without saying anything either to his mistress or Laertes.

Homeric Greek

νόσφιν δεσποίνης καὶ Λαέρταο γέροντος:

πὰρ δ' ἄρα μιν Ταφίων πρίατο κτεάτεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.

οἱ δ' ἐπ' ὀνείαθ' ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

455σῖτον μέν σφιν ἀφεῖλε Μεσαύλιος, οἱ δ' ἐπὶ κοῖτον

Transliteration

nosphin despoinēs kai Laertao gerontos:

par d' ara min Taphiōn priato kteatessin heoisin.

hoi d' ep' oneiath' hetoima prokeimena cheiras iallon.

autar epei posios kai edētuos ex eron hento,

455siton men sphin apheile Mesaulios, hoi d' epi koiton

English · Butler

They then laid their hands upon the good things that were before them, and when they had had enough to eat and drink, Mesaulios took away what was left of the bread, and they all went to

Homeric Greek

σίτου καὶ κρειῶν κεκορημένοι ἐσσεύοντο.

νὺξ δ' ἄρ' ἐπῆλθε κακὴ σκοτομήνιος, ὗε δ' ἄρα Ζεὺς

πάννυχος, αὐτὰρ ἄη Ζέφυρος μέγας αἰὲν ἔφυδρος.

τοῖς δ' Ὀδυσεὺς μετέειπε, συβώτεω πειρητίζων,

460εἴ πώς οἱ ἐκδὺς χλαῖναν πόροι, ἤ τιν' ἑταίρων

Transliteration

sitou kai kreiōn kekorēmenoi esseuonto.

nux d' ar' epēlthe kakē skotomēnios, hue d' ara Zeus

pannuchos, autar aē Zephuros megas aien ephudros.

tois d' Oduseus meteeipe, subōteō peirētizōn,

460ei pōs hoi ekdus chlainan poroi, ē tin' hetairōn

English · Butler

bed after having made a hearty supper. Now the night came on stormy and very dark, for there was no moon. It poured without ceasing, and the wind blew strong from the West, which is a wet quarter, so Odysseus thought he would see whether Eumaios, in the excellent care he took of him,

Homeric Greek

ἄλλον ἐποτρύνειεν, ἐπεί ἑο κήδετο λίην:

"κέκλυθι νῦν, Εὔμαιε καὶ ἄλλοι πάντες ἑταῖροι,

εὐξάμενός τι ἔπος ἐρέω: οἶνος γὰρ ἀνώγει

ἠλεός, ὅς τ' ἐφέηκε πολύφρονά περ μάλ' ἀεῖσαι

465καί θ' ἁπαλὸν γελάσαι, καί τ' ὀρχήσασθαι ἀνῆκε,

Transliteration

allon epotruneien, epei heo kēdeto liēn:

"kekluthi nun, Eumaie kai alloi pantes hetairoi,

euxamenos ti epos ereō: oinos gar anōgei

ēleos, hos t' epheēke poluphrona per mal' aeisai

465kai th' hapalon gelasai, kai t' orchēsasthai anēke,

English · Butler

would take off his own cloak and give it him, or make one of his men give him one. "Listen to me," said he, "Eumaios and the rest of you; when I have said a prayer I will tell you something. It is the wine that makes me talk in this way; wine will make even a wise man fall to singing;

Homeric Greek

καί τι ἔπος προέηκεν ὅ περ τ' ἄρρητον ἄμεινον.

ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ οὖν τὸ πρῶτον ἀνέκραγον, οὐκ ἐπικεύσω.

εἴθ' ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη,

ὡς ὅθ' ὑπὸ Τροίην λόχον ἤγομεν ἀρτύναντες.

470ἡγείσθην δ' Ὀδυσεύς τε καὶ Ἀτρεί̈δης Μενέλαος,

Transliteration

kai ti epos proeēken ho per t' arrēton ameinon.

all' epei oun to prōton anekragon, ouk epikeusō.

eith' hōs hēbōoimi biē te moi empedos eiē,

hōs hoth' hupo Troiēn lochon ēgomen artunantes.

470hēgeisthēn d' Oduseus te kai Atreïdēs Menelaos,

English · Butler

it will make him chuckle and dance and say many a word that he had better leave unspoken; still, as I have begun, I will go on. Would that I were still young and strong as when we got up an ambuscade before Troy. Menelaos and Odysseus were the leaders, but I was in command also, for the other two would have it so. When we had come up to the wall of

Homeric Greek

τοῖσι δ' ἅμα τρίτος ἄρχον ἐγών: αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἄνωγον.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἱκόμεσθα ποτὶ πτόλιν αἰπύ τε τεῖχος,

ἡμεῖς μὲν περὶ ἄστυ κατὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά,

ἂν δόνακας καὶ ἕλος, ὑπὸ τεύχεσι πεπτηῶτες

475κείμεθα. νὺξ δ' ἄρ' ἐπῆλθε κακὴ Βορέαο πεσόντος,

Transliteration

toisi d' hama tritos archon egōn: autoi gar anōgon.

all' hote dē rh' hikomestha poti ptolin aipu te teichos,

hēmeis men peri astu kata rhōpēïa pukna,

an donakas kai helos, hupo teuchesi peptēōtes

475keimetha. nux d' ar' epēlthe kakē Boreao pesontos,

English · Butler

the city we crouched down beneath our armor and lay there under cover of the reeds and thick brush-wood that grew about the swamp. It came on to freeze with a North wind blowing; the snow fell small and fine like hoar frost, and our shields were coated thick with rime. The others had all got cloaks and

Homeric Greek

πηγυλίς: αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε χιὼν γένετ' ἠύ̈τε πάχνη,

ψυχρή, καὶ σακέεσσι περιτρέφετο κρύσταλλος.

ἔνθ' ἄλλοι πάντες χλαίνας ἔχον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,

εὗδον δ' εὔκηλοι, σάκεσιν εἰλυμένοι ὤμους:

480αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ χλαῖναν μὲν ἰὼν ἑτάροισιν ἔλειπον

Transliteration

pēgulis: autar huperthe chiōn genet' ēüte pachnē,

psuchrē, kai sakeessi peritrepheto krustallos.

enth' alloi pantes chlainas echon ēde chitōnas,

heudon d' eukēloi, sakesin eilumenoi ōmous:

480autar egō chlainan men iōn hetaroisin eleipon

English · Butler

shirts, and slept comfortably enough with their shields about their shoulders, but I had carelessly left my cloak behind me, not thinking that I should be too cold, and had gone off in nothing but my shirt and shield. When the night was two-thirds

Homeric Greek

ἀφραδίῃς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐφάμην ῥιγωσέμεν ἔμπης,

ἀλλ' ἑπόμην σάκος οἶον ἔχων καὶ ζῶμα φαεινόν.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τρίχα νυκτὸς ἔην, μετὰ δ' ἄστρα βεβήκει,

καὶ τότ' ἐγὼν Ὀδυσῆα προσηύδων ἐγγὺς ἐόντα

485ἀγκῶνι νύξας: ὁ δ' ἄρ' ἐμμαπέως ὑπάκουσε:

Transliteration

aphradiēis, epei ouk ephamēn rhigōsemen empēs,

all' hepomēn sakos oion echōn kai zōma phaeinon.

all' hote dē tricha nuktos eēn, meta d' astra bebēkei,

kai tot' egōn Odusēa prosēudōn engus eonta

485ankōni nuxas: ho d' ar' emmapeōs hupakouse:

English · Butler

through and the stars had shifted their places, I nudged Odysseus who was close to me with my elbow, and he at once gave me his ear.

Homeric Greek

"διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,

οὔ τοι ἔτι ζωοῖσι μετέσσομαι, ἀλλά με χεῖμα

δάμναται: οὐ γὰρ ἔχω χλαῖναν: παρά μ' ἤπαφε δαίμων

οἰοχίτων' ἔμεναι: νῦν δ' οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλονται."

490"ὣς ἐφάμην, ὁ δ' ἔπειτα νόον σχέθε τόνδ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

Transliteration

"diogenes Laertiadē, polumēchan' Odusseu,

ou toi eti zōoisi metessomai, alla me cheima

damnatai: ou gar echō chlainan: para m' ēpaphe daimōn

oiochitōn' emenai: nun d' ouketi phukta pelontai."

490"hōs ephamēn, ho d' epeita noon schethe tond' eni thumōi,

English · Butler

"‘Odysseus,’ said I, ‘this cold will be the death of me, for I have no cloak; some daimôn fooled me into setting off with nothing on but my shirt, and I do not know what to do.’ "Odysseus, who was as crafty

Homeric Greek

οἷος κεῖνος ἔην βουλευέμεν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι:

φθεγξάμενος δ' ὀλίγῃ ὀπί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε:

"σίγα νῦν, μή τίς σευ Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἀκούσῃ."

"ἦ καὶ ἐπ' ἀγκῶνος κεφαλὴν σχέθεν εἶπέ τε μῦθον:

495'κλῦτε, φίλοι: θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειρος.

Transliteration

hoios keinos eēn bouleuemen ēde machesthai:

phthenxamenos d' oligēi opi me pros muthon eeipe:

"siga nun, mē tis seu Achaiōn allos akousēi."

"ē kai ep' ankōnos kephalēn schethen eipe te muthon:

495'klute, philoi: theios moi enupnion ēlthen oneiros.

English · Butler

as he was valiant, hit upon the following plan : "‘Keep still,’ said he in a low voice, ‘or the others will hear you.’ Then he raised his head on his elbow. "‘My friends,’ said he, ‘I have had a dream from heaven in my sleep.

Homeric Greek

λίην γὰρ νηῶν ἑκὰς ἤλθομεν: ἀλλά τις εἴη

εἰπεῖν Ἀτρεί̈δῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι, ποιμένι λαῶν,

εἰ πλέονας παρὰ ναῦφιν ἐποτρύνειε νέεσθαι.'

"ὣς ἔφατ', ὦρτο δ' ἔπειτα Θόας, Ἀνδραίμονος υἱός,

500καρπαλίμως, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν θέτο φοινικόεσσαν,

Transliteration

liēn gar nēōn hekas ēlthomen: alla tis eiē

eipein Atreïdēi Agamemnoni, poimeni laōn,

ei pleonas para nauphin epotruneie neesthai.'

"hōs ephat', ōrto d' epeita Thoas, Andraimonos huios,

500karpalimōs, apo de chlainan theto phoinikoessan,

English · Butler

"‘My friends,’ said he, ‘I have had a dream from heaven in my sleep. We are a long way from the ships; I wish some one would go down and tell Agamemnon to send us up more men at once.’ "On this Thoas son of Andraimon threw off his cloak and set out running to the ships, whereon I took the cloak and lay in it comfortably enough till morning. Would that I were still young and

Homeric Greek

βῆ δὲ θέειν ἐπὶ νῆας: ἐγὼ δ' ἐνὶ εἵματι κείνου

κείμην ἀσπασίως, φάε δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἠώς.

ὣς νῦν ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη:

δοίη κέν τις χλαῖναν ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσι συφορβῶν,

505ἀμφότερον, φιλότητι καὶ αἰδοῖ φωτὸς ἑῆος:

Transliteration

bē de theein epi nēas: egō d' eni heimati keinou

keimēn aspasiōs, phae de chrusothronos Ēōs.

hōs nun hēbōoimi biē te moi empedos eiē:

doiē ken tis chlainan eni stathmoisi suphorbōn,

505amphoteron, philotēti kai aidoi phōtos heēos:

English · Butler

strong as I was in those days, for then some one of you swineherds would give me a cloak both out of good will and for the respect due to a brave warrior; but now people look down upon me because

Homeric Greek

νῦν δέ μ' ἀτιμάζουσι κακὰ χροὶ̈ εἵματ' ἔχοντα."

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα:

"ὦ γέρον, αἶνος μέν τοι ἀμύμων, ὃν κατέλεξας,

οὐδέ τί πω παρὰ μοῖραν ἔπος νηκερδὲς ἔειπες:

510τῷ οὔτ' ἐσθῆτος δευήσεαι οὔτε τευ ἄλλου,

Transliteration

nun de m' atimazousi kaka chroï heimat' echonta."

ton d' apameibomenos prosephēs, Eumaie subōta:

"ō geron, ainos men toi amumōn, hon katelexas,

oude ti pō para moiran epos nēkerdes eeipes:

510tōi out' esthētos deuēseai oute teu allou,

English · Butler

my clothes are shabby." And Eumaios answered, "Old man, you have told us an excellent story, and have said nothing so far but what is quite satisfactory; for the present, therefore, you shall want neither clothing nor anything else that a stranger in distress may reasonably expect, but tomorrow morning you have to shake your own old rags about your body again, for we have not many spare cloaks nor shirts up here, but every man has only one. When Odysseus’ son comes home again

Homeric Greek

ὧν ἐπέοιχ' ἱκέτην ταλαπείριον ἀντιάσαντα,

νῦν: ἀτὰρ ἠῶθέν γε τὰ σὰ ῥάκεα δνοπαλίξεις.

οὐ γὰρ πολλαὶ χλαῖναι ἐπημοιβοί τε χιτῶνες

ἐνθάδε ἕννυσθαι, μία δ' οἴη φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ.

515αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθῃσιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,

Transliteration

hōn epeoich' hiketēn talapeirion antiasanta,

nun: atar ēōthen ge ta sa rhakea dnopalixeis.

ou gar pollai chlainai epēmoiboi te chitōnes

enthade hennusthai, mia d' oiē phōti hekastōi.

515autar epēn elthēisin Odussēos philos huios,

English · Butler

he will give you both cloak and shirt, and send you wherever

Homeric Greek

αὐτός τοι χλαῖνάν τε χιτῶνά τε εἵματα δώσει,

πέμψει δ' ὅππῃ σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει."

"ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνόρουσε, τίθει δ' ἄρα οἱ πυρὸς ἐγγὺς

εὐνήν, ἐν δ' ὀί̈ων τε καὶ αἰγῶν δέρματ' ἔβαλλεν.

520ἔνθ' Ὀδυσεὺς κατέλεκτ': ἐπὶ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλεν αὐτῷ

Transliteration

autos toi chlainan te chitōna te heimata dōsei,

pempsei d' hoppēi se kradiē thumos te keleuei."

"hōs eipōn anorouse, tithei d' ara hoi puros engus

eunēn, en d' oïōn te kai aigōn dermat' eballen.

520enth' Oduseus katelekt': epi de chlainan balen autōi

English · Butler

you may want to go." With this he got up and made a bed for Odysseus by throwing some goatskins and sheepskins on the ground in front of the fire. Here Odysseus lay down, and Eumaios covered him over with a great heavy

Homeric Greek

πυκνὴν καὶ μεγάλην, ἥ οἱ παρεκέσκετ' ἀμοιβάς,

ἕννυσθαι ὅτε τις χειμὼν ἔκπαγλος ὄροιτο.

"ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθ' Ὀδυσεὺς κοιμήσατο, τοὶ δὲ παρ' αὐτὸν

ἄνδρες κοιμήσαντο νεηνίαι: οὐδὲ συβώτῃ

525ἥνδανεν αὐτόθι κοῖτος, ὑῶν ἄπο κοιμηθῆναι,

Transliteration

puknēn kai megalēn, hē hoi parekesket' amoibas,

hennusthai hote tis cheimōn ekpaglos oroito.

"hōs ho men enth' Oduseus koimēsato, toi de par' auton

andres koimēsanto neēniai: oude subōtēi

525hēndanen autothi koitos, huōn apo koimēthēnai,

English · Butler

cloak that he kept for a change in case of extraordinarily bad weather. Thus did Odysseus sleep, and the young men slept beside him. But the swineherd did not like sleeping away from his pigs, so he got ready to go and Odysseus was

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὅ γ' ἄρ' ἔξω ἰὼν ὡπλίζετο: χαῖρε δ' Ὀδυσσεύς,

ὅττι ῥά οἱ βιότου περικήδετο νόσφιν ἐόντος.

πρῶτον μὲν ξίφος ὀξὺ περὶ στιβαροῖς βάλετ' ὤμοις,

ἀμφὶ δὲ χλαῖναν ἑέσσατ' ἀλεξάνεμον, μάλα πυκνήν,

530ἂν δὲ νάκην ἕλετ' αἰγὸς ἐϋτρεφέος μεγάλοιο,

Transliteration

all' ho g' ar' exō iōn hōplizeto: chaire d' Odusseus,

hotti rha hoi biotou perikēdeto nosphin eontos.

prōton men xiphos oxu peri stibarois balet' ōmois,

amphi de chlainan heessat' alexanemon, mala puknēn,

530an de nakēn helet' aigos eütrepheos megaloio,

English · Butler

glad to see that he looked after his property during his master's absence. First he slung his sword over his brawny shoulders and put on a thick cloak to keep out the wind. He also took the skin of a large and well fed goat, and a javelin in case of attack from men or dogs. Thus equipped he went to his

Homeric Greek

εἵλετο δ' ὀξὺν ἄκοντα, κυνῶν ἀλκτῆρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν.

βῆ δ' ἴμεναι κείων ὅθι περ σύες ἀργιόδοντες

πέτρῃ ὕπο γλαφυρῇ εὗδον, Βορέω ὑπ' ἰωγῇ.

Transliteration

heileto d' oxun akonta, kunōn alktēra kai andrōn.

bē d' imenai keiōn hothi per sues argiodontes

petrēi hupo glaphurēi heudon, Boreō hup' iōgēi.

English · Butler

rest where the pigs were camping under an overhanging rock that gave them shelter from the North wind.