Book XIX

Homeric Greek

1αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

μνηστήρεσσι φόνον σὺν Ἀθήνῃ μερμηρίζων:

αἶψα δὲ Τηλέμαχον ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

"Τηλέμαχε, χρὴ τεύχε' ἀρήϊα κατθέμεν εἴσω

5πάντα μάλ': αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι

Transliteration

1autar ho en megarōi hupeleipeto dios Odusseus,

mnēstēressi phonon sun Athēnēi mermērizōn:

aipsa de Tēlemachon epea pteroenta prosēuda:

"Tēlemache, chrē teuche' arēïa katthemen eisō

5panta mal': autar mnēstēras malakois epeessi

English · Butler

Odysseus was left in the room, pondering on the means whereby with Athena's help he might be able to kill the suitors. Presently he said to Telemakhos, "Telemakhos, we must get the armor together and take it down inside. Make some excuse when the suitors ask you why you have removed it. Say that you have taken it to be out of the way of the smoke, inasmuch

Homeric Greek

παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες:

'ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκ', ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκει

οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,

ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετ' ἀϋτμή.

10πρὸς δ' ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἔβαλε δαίμων

Transliteration

parphasthai, hote ken se metallōsin potheontes:

'ek kapnou katethēk', epei ouketi toisin eōikei

hoia pote Troiēnde kiōn kateleipen Odusseus,

alla katēikistai, hosson puros hiket' aütmē.

10pros d' eti kai tode meizon eni phresin ebale daimōn

English · Butler

as it is no longer what it was when Odysseus went away, but has become soiled and begrimed with soot. Add to this more particularly that you are afraid a daimôn may set them on to quarrel over their wine, and that they may do each other

Homeric Greek

μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,

ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτα

καὶ μνηστύν: αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος.'"

ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθετο πατρί,

15ἐκ δὲ καλεσσάμενος προσέφη τροφὸν Εὐρύκλειαν:

Transliteration

mē pōs oinōthentes, erin stēsantes en humin,

allēlous trōsēte kataischunēte te daita

kai mnēstun: autos gar ephelketai andra sidēros.'"

hōs phato, Tēlemachos de philōi epepeitheto patri,

15ek de kalessamenos prosephē trophon Eurukleian:

English · Butler

some harm which may disgrace both banquet and wooing, for the sight of arms sometimes tempts people to use them." Telemakhos approved of what his father had said, so he called nurse Eurykleia and said, "Nurse, shut the women up in their room, while I take the armor that my father left behind him down into the store room. No one looks after it now

Homeric Greek

"μαῖ', ἄγε δή μοι ἔρυξον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκας,

ὄφρα κεν ἐς θάλαμον καταθείομαι ἔντεα πατρὸς

καλά, τά μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἀκηδέα καπνὸς ἀμέρδει

πατρὸς ἀποιχομένοιο: ἐγὼ δ' ἔτι νήπιος ἦα.

20νῦν δ' ἐθέλω καταθέσθαι, ἵν' οὐ πυρὸς ἵξετ' ἀϋτμή."

Transliteration

"mai', age dē moi eruxon eni megaroisi gunaikas,

ophra ken es thalamon katatheiomai entea patros

kala, ta moi kata oikon akēdea kapnos amerdei

patros apoichomenoio: egō d' eti nēpios ēa.

20nun d' ethelō katathesthai, hin' ou puros hixet' aütmē."

English · Butler

my father is gone, and it has got all smirched with soot during my own boyhood. I want to take it down where the smoke cannot reach it."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια:

"αἲ γὰρ δή ποτε, τέκνον, ἐπιφροσύνας ἀνέλοιο

οἴκου κήδεσθαι καὶ κτήματα πάντα φυλάσσειν.

ἀλλ' ἄγε, τίς τοι ἔπειτα μετοιχομένη φάος οἴσει;

25δμῳὰς δ' οὐκ εἴας προβλωσκέμεν, αἵ κεν ἔφαινον."

Transliteration

ton d' aute proseeipe philē trophos Eurukleia:

"ai gar dē pote, teknon, epiphrosunas aneloio

oikou kēdesthai kai ktēmata panta phulassein.

all' age, tis toi epeita metoichomenē phaos oisei;

25dmōias d' ouk eias problōskemen, hai ken ephainon."

English · Butler

"I wish, child," answered Eurykleia, "that you would take the management of the house into your own hands altogether, and look after all the property yourself. But who is to go with you and light you to the store room? The maids would have so, but you would not let them.

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:

"ξεῖνος ὅδ': οὐ γὰρ ἀεργὸν ἀνέξομαι ὅς κεν ἐμῆς γε

χοίνικος ἅπτηται, καὶ τηλόθεν εἰληλουθώς."

ὣς ἄρ' ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δ' ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος.

30κλήϊσεν δὲ θύρας μεγάρων εὖ ναιεταόντων.

Transliteration

tēn d' au Tēlemachos pepnumenos antion ēuda:

"xeinos hod': ou gar aergon anexomai hos ken emēs ge

choinikos haptētai, kai tēlothen eilēlouthōs."

hōs ar' ephōnēsen, tēi d' apteros epleto muthos.

30klēïsen de thuras megarōn eu naietaontōn.

English · Butler

"The stranger," said Telemakhos, "shall show me a light; when people eat my bread they must earn it, no matter where they come from." Eurykleia did as she was told, and bolted the women inside their room. Then Odysseus and his son made all haste to take the helmets, shields, and spears inside;

Homeric Greek

τὼ δ' ἄρ' ἀναί̈ξαντ' Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ φαίδιμος υἱὸς

ἐσφόρεον κόρυθάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας ὀμφαλοέσσας

ἔγχεά τ' ὀξυόεντα: πάροιθε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,

χρύσεον λύχνον ἔχουσα, φάος περικαλλὲς ἐποίει.

35δὴ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεεν ὃν πατέρ' αἶψα:

Transliteration

tō d' ar' anaïxant' Oduseus kai phaidimos huios

esphoreon koruthas te kai aspidas omphaloessas

enchea t' oxuoenta: paroithe de Pallas Athēnē,

chruseon luchnon echousa, phaos perikalles epoiei.

35dē tote Tēlemachos prosephōneen hon pater' aipsa:

English · Butler

and Athena went before them with a gold lamp in her hand that shed a soft and brilliant radiance, whereon Telemakhos said, "Father, my eyes behold a great marvel: the walls, with the rafters, crossbeams, and the supports on which they rest are all aglow as with a flaming fire.

Homeric Greek

"ὦ πάτερ, ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδ' ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι.

ἔμπης μοι τοῖχοι μεγάρων καλαί τε μεσόδμαι,

εἰλάτιναί τε δοκοί, καὶ κίονες ὑψόσ' ἔχοντες

φαίνοντ' ὀφθαλμοῖς ὡς εἰ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο.

40ἦ μάλα τις θεὸς ἔνδον, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι."

Transliteration

"ō pater, ē mega thauma tod' ophthalmoisin horōmai.

empēs moi toichoi megarōn kalai te mesodmai,

eilatinai te dokoi, kai kiones hupsos' echontes

phainont' ophthalmois hōs ei puros aithomenoio.

40ē mala tis theos endon, hoi ouranon eurun echousi."

English · Butler

Surely there is some god here who has come down from heaven."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

"σίγα καὶ κατὰ σὸν νόον ἴσχανε μηδ' ἐρέεινε:

αὕτη τοι δίκη ἐστὶ θεῶν, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν κατάλεξαι, ἐγὼ δ' ὑπολείψομαι αὐτοῦ,

45ὄφρα κ' ἔτι δμῳὰς καὶ μητέρα σὴν ἐρεθίζω:

Transliteration

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

"siga kai kata son noon ischane mēd' ereeine:

hautē toi dikē esti theōn, hoi Olumpon echousin.

alla su men katalexai, egō d' hupoleipsomai autou,

45ophra k' eti dmōias kai mētera sēn erethizō:

English · Butler

"Hush," answered Odysseus, "hold your noos in peace and ask no questions, for this is the manner of the gods. Get you to your bed, and leave me here to talk with your mother and the maids. Your mother in her grief will ask me all

Homeric Greek

ἡ δέ μ' ὀδυρομένη εἰρήσεται ἀμφὶς ἕκαστα."

ὣς φάτο, Τηλέμαχος δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει

κείων ἐς θάλαμον, δαί̈δων ὕπο λαμπομενάων,

ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθ', ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι:

50ἔνθ' ἄρα καὶ τότ' ἔλεκτο καὶ Ἠῶ δῖαν ἔμιμνεν.

Transliteration

hē de m' oduromenē eirēsetai amphis hekasta."

hōs phato, Tēlemachos de diek megaroio bebēkei

keiōn es thalamon, daïdōn hupo lampomenaōn,

entha paros koimath', hote min glukus hupnos hikanoi:

50enth' ara kai tot' elekto kai Ēō dian emimnen.

English · Butler

sorts of questions." On this Telemakhos went by torch-light to the other side of the inner court, to the room in which he always slept. There he lay in his bed till morning, while Odysseus was left in the room pondering on the

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐν μεγάρῳ ὑπελείπετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

μνηστήρεσσι φόνον σὺν Ἀθήνῃ μερμηρίζων.

ἡ δ' ἴεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,

Ἀρτέμιδι ἰκέλη ἠὲ χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ.

55τῇ παρὰ μὲν κλισίην πυρὶ κάτθεσαν, ἔνθ' ἄρ' ἐφῖζε,

Transliteration

autar ho en megarōi hupeleipeto dios Odusseus,

mnēstēressi phonon sun Athēnēi mermērizōn.

hē d' ien ek thalamoio periphrōn Pēnelopeia,

Artemidi ikelē ēe chruseēi Aphroditēi.

55tēi para men klisiēn puri katthesan, enth' ar' ephize,

English · Butler

means whereby with Athena's help he might be able to kill the suitors. Then Penelope came down from her room looking like Aphrodite or Artemis, and they set her a seat inlaid with scrolls of silver and ivory near the fire in her accustomed place. It had been made by Ikmalios and had a footstool all in one piece with the seat itself; and it was covered with a thick fleece:

Homeric Greek

δινωτὴν ἐλέφαντι καὶ ἀργύρῳ: ἥν ποτε τέκτων

ποίησ' Ἰκμάλιος, καὶ ὑπὸ θρῆνυν ποσὶν ἧκε

προσφυέ' ἐξ αὐτῆς, ὅθ' ἐπὶ μέγα βάλλετο κῶας.

ἔνθα καθέζετ' ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.

60ἦλθον δὲ δμῳαὶ λευκώλενοι ἐκ μεγάροιο.

Transliteration

dinōtēn elephanti kai argurōi: hēn pote tektōn

poiēs' Ikmalios, kai hupo thrēnun posin hēke

prosphue' ex autēs, hoth' epi mega balleto kōas.

entha kathezet' epeita periphrōn Pēnelopeia.

60ēlthon de dmōiai leukōlenoi ek megaroio.

English · Butler

on this she now sat, and the maids came from the women's room to join her. They set about removing the tables at which the wicked suitors had been dining, and took away the bread that was left, with the cups from which they had drunk. They emptied the embers out of the

Homeric Greek

αἱ δ' ἀπὸ μὲν σῖτον πολὺν ᾕρεον ἠδὲ τραπέζας

καὶ δέπα, ἔνθεν ἄρ' ἄνδρες ὑπερμενέοντες ἔπινον:

πῦρ δ' ἀπὸ λαμπτήρων χαμάδις βάλον, ἄλλα δ' ἐπ' αὐτῶν

νήησαν ξύλα πολλά, φόως ἔμεν ἠδὲ θέρεσθαι.

65ἡ δ' Ὀδυσῆ' ἐνένιπε Μελανθὼ δεύτερον αὖτις:

Transliteration

hai d' apo men siton polun hēireon ēde trapezas

kai depa, enthen ar' andres hupermeneontes epinon:

pur d' apo lamptērōn chamadis balon, alla d' ep' autōn

nēēsan xula polla, phoōs emen ēde theresthai.

65hē d' Odusē' enenipe Melanthō deuteron autis:

English · Butler

braziers, and heaped much wood upon them to give both light and heat; but Melantho began to rail at Odysseus a second time and said, "Stranger, do you mean to plague us by hanging about the house all night and spying upon the women?

Homeric Greek

"ξεῖν', ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐνθάδ' ἀνιήσεις διὰ νύκτα

δινεύων κατὰ οἶκον, ὀπιπεύσεις δὲ γυναῖκας;

ἀλλ' ἔξελθε θύραζε, τάλαν, καὶ δαιτὸς ὄνησο:

ἢ τάχα καὶ δαλῷ βεβλημένος εἶσθα θύραζε."

70τὴν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

Transliteration

"xein', eti kai nun enthad' aniēseis dia nukta

dineuōn kata oikon, opipeuseis de gunaikas;

all' exelthe thuraze, talan, kai daitos onēso:

ē tacha kai dalōi beblēmenos eistha thuraze."

70tēn d' ar' hupodra idōn prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

English · Butler

Be off, you wretch, outside, and eat your supper there, or you shall be driven out with a firebrand." Odysseus scowled at her and answered, "My good woman, why should you be so angry with me?

Homeric Greek

"δαιμονίη, τί μοι ὧδ' ἐπέχεις κεκοτηότι θυμῷ;

ἦ ὅτι δὴ ῥυπόω, κακὰ δὲ χροὶ̈ εἵματα εἷμαι,

πτωχεύω δ' ἀνὰ δῆμον; ἀναγκαίη γὰρ ἐπείγει.

τοιοῦτοι πτωχοὶ καὶ ἀλήμονες ἄνδρες ἔασι

75καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ ποτε οἶκον ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔναιον

Transliteration

"daimoniē, ti moi hōd' epecheis kekotēoti thumōi;

ē hoti dē rhupoō, kaka de chroï heimata heimai,

ptōcheuō d' ana dēmon; anankaiē gar epeigei.

toioutoi ptōchoi kai alēmones andres easi

75kai gar egō pote oikon en anthrōpoisin enaion

English · Butler

Odysseus scowled at her and answered, "My good woman, why should you be so angry with me? Is it because I am not clean, and my clothes are all in rags, and because I am obliged to go begging about the dêmos after the manner of tramps and beggars general? I too was a rich man once, and had a fine house of my own; in those days I gave to many a tramp such as I now am, no matter who he might be nor what he wanted.

Homeric Greek

ὄλβιος ἀφνειὸν καὶ πολλάκι δόσκον ἀλήτῃ,

τοίῳ ὁποῖος ἔοι καὶ ὅτευ κεχρημένος ἔλθοι:

ἦσαν δὲ δμῶες μάλα μυρίοι, ἄλλα τε πολλὰ

οἷσίν τ' εὖ ζώουσι καὶ ἀφνειοὶ καλέονται.

80ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἀλάπαξε Κρονίων: ἤθελε γάρ που:

Transliteration

olbios aphneion kai pollaki doskon alētēi,

toiōi hopoios eoi kai hoteu kechrēmenos elthoi:

ēsan de dmōes mala murioi, alla te polla

hoisin t' eu zōousi kai aphneioi kaleontai.

80alla Zeus alapaxe Kroniōn: ēthele gar pou:

English · Butler

I had any number of servants, and all the other things which people have who live well and are accounted wealthy, but it pleased Zeus to take all away from me; therefore, woman, beware lest you too come to lose that pride and place in which you now wanton above your fellows; have a care lest you get out of

Homeric Greek

τῷ νῦν μήποτε καὶ σύ, γύναι, ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ὀλέσσῃς

ἀγλαί̈ην, τῇ νῦν γε μετὰ δμῳῇσι κέκασσαι:

μή πώς τοι δέσποινα κοτεσσαμένη χαλεπήνῃ,

ἢ Ὀδυσεὺς ἔλθῃ: ἔτι γὰρ καὶ ἐλπίδος αἶσα.

85εἰ δ' ὁ μὲν ὣς ἀπόλωλε καὶ οὐκέτι νόστιμός ἐστιν,

Transliteration

tōi nun mēpote kai su, gunai, apo pasan olessēis

aglaïēn, tēi nun ge meta dmōiēisi kekassai:

mē pōs toi despoina kotessamenē chalepēnēi,

ē Oduseus elthēi: eti gar kai elpidos aisa.

85ei d' ho men hōs apolōle kai ouketi nostimos estin,

English · Butler

favor with your mistress, and lest Odysseus should come home, for there is still a chance that he may do so. Moreover, though he be dead as you think he is, yet by Apollo's will he has left a son behind him,

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἤδη παῖς τοῖος Ἀπόλλωνός γε ἕκητι,

Τηλέμαχος: τὸν δ' οὔ τις ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναικῶν

λήθει ἀτασθάλλουσ', ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τηλίκος ἐστίν."

ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δ' ἤκουσε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,

90ἀμφίπολον δ' ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε:

Transliteration

all' ēdē pais toios Apollōnos ge hekēti,

Tēlemachos: ton d' ou tis eni megaroisi gunaikōn

lēthei atasthallous', epei ouketi tēlikos estin."

hōs phato, tou d' ēkouse periphrōn Pēnelopeia,

90amphipolon d' enenipen epos t' ephat' ek t' onomaze:

English · Butler

Telemakhos, who will note anything done amiss by the maids in the house, for he is now no longer in his boyhood." Penelope heard what he was saying and scolded the maid, "Impudent baggage," said she, "I see how abominably you are behaving, and you shall smart for it. You knew perfectly well, for

Homeric Greek

"πάντως, θαρσαλέη, κύον ἀδεές, οὔ τί με λήθεις

ἔρδουσα μέγα ἔργον, ὃ σῇ κεφαλῇ ἀναμάξεις:

πάντα γὰρ εὖ ᾔδησθ', ἐπεὶ ἐξ ἐμεῦ ἔκλυες αὐτῆς

ὡς τὸν ξεῖνον ἔμελλον ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσιν

95ἀμφὶ πόσει εἴρεσθαι, ἐπεὶ πυκινῶς ἀκάχημαι."

Transliteration

"pantōs, tharsaleē, kuon adees, ou ti me lētheis

erdousa mega ergon, ho sēi kephalēi anamaxeis:

panta gar eu ēidēsth', epei ex emeu eklues autēs

hōs ton xeinon emellon eni megaroisin emoisin

95amphi posei eiresthai, epei pukinōs akachēmai."

English · Butler

I told you myself, that I was going to see the stranger and ask him about my husband, for whose sake I am in such continual sorrow."

Homeric Greek

ἦ ῥα καὶ Εὐρυνόμην ταμίην πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν:

"Εὐρυνόμη, φέρε δὴ δίφρον καὶ κῶας ἐπ' αὐτοῦ,

ὄφρα καθεζόμενος εἴπῃ ἔπος ἠδ' ἐπακούσῃ

ὁ ξεῖνος ἐμέθεν: ἐθέλω δέ μιν ἐξερέεσθαι."

100ὣς ἔφαθ', ἡ δὲ μάλ' ὀτραλέως κατέθηκε φέρουσα

Transliteration

ē rha kai Eurunomēn tamiēn pros muthon eeipen:

"Eurunomē, phere dē diphron kai kōas ep' autou,

ophra kathezomenos eipēi epos ēd' epakousēi

ho xeinos emethen: ethelō de min exereesthai."

100hōs ephath', hē de mal' otraleōs katethēke pherousa

English · Butler

Then she said to her head waiting woman Eurynome, "Bring a seat with a fleece upon it, for the stranger to sit upon while he tells his story, and listens to what I have to say. I wish to ask him some questions." Eurynome brought the seat at once and set a fleece upon it, and as soon as Odysseus had sat down Penelope began by saying, "Stranger, I shall first ask you who and whence are you?

Homeric Greek

δίφρον ἐύ̈ξεστον καὶ ἐπ' αὐτῷ κῶας ἔβαλλεν:

ἔνθα καθέζετ' ἔπειτα πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια:

"ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σε πρῶτον ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή:

105τίς πόθεν εἶς ἀνδρῶν; πόθι τοι πόλις ἠδὲ τοκῆες;"

Transliteration

diphron eüxeston kai ep' autōi kōas eballen:

entha kathezet' epeita polutlas dios Odusseus.

toisi de muthōn ērche periphrōn Pēnelopeia:

"xeine, to men se prōton egōn eirēsomai autē:

105tis pothen eis andrōn; pothi toi polis ēde tokēes;"

English · Butler

Eurynome brought the seat at once and set a fleece upon it, and as soon as Odysseus had sat down Penelope began by saying, "Stranger, I shall first ask you who and whence are you? Tell me of your town and parents."

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

"ὦ γύναι, οὐκ ἄν τίς σε βροτῶν ἐπ' ἀπείρονα γαῖαν

νεικέοι: ἦ γάρ σευ κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἱκάνει,

ὥς τέ τευ ἢ βασιλῆος ἀμύμονος, ὅς τε θεουδὴς

110ἀνδράσιν ἐν πολλοῖσι καὶ ἰφθίμοισιν ἀνάσσων

Transliteration

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

"ō gunai, ouk an tis se brotōn ep' apeirona gaian

neikeoi: ē gar seu kleos ouranon eurun hikanei,

hōs te teu ē basilēos amumonos, hos te theoudēs

110andrasin en polloisi kai iphthimoisin anassōn

English · Butler

"Lady;" answered Odysseus, "who on the face of the whole earth can dare to chide with you? Your fame reaches the firmament of heaven itself; you are like some blameless king, who upholds righteousness, as the monarch over a great and valiant nation: the earth yields its wheat and barley, the trees are loaded with fruit, the ewes bring forth lambs,

Homeric Greek

εὐδικίας ἀνέχῃσι, φέρῃσι δὲ γαῖα μέλαινα

πυροὺς καὶ κριθάς, βρίθῃσι δὲ δένδρεα καρπῷ,

τίκτῃ δ' ἔμπεδα μῆλα, θάλασσα δὲ παρέχῃ ἰχθῦς

ἐξ εὐηγεσίης, ἀρετῶσι δὲ λαοὶ ὑπ' αὐτοῦ.

115τῷ ἐμὲ νῦν τὰ μὲν ἄλλα μετάλλα σῷ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

Transliteration

eudikias anechēisi, pherēisi de gaia melaina

purous kai krithas, brithēisi de dendrea karpōi,

tiktēi d' empeda mēla, thalassa de parechēi ichthus

ex euēgesiēs, aretōsi de laoi hup' autou.

115tōi eme nun ta men alla metalla sōi eni oikōi,

English · Butler

and the sea abounds with fish by reason of his virtues, and his people do good deeds under him. Nevertheless, as I sit here in your house, ask me some other question and do not seek to know my race and family, or you will recall memories that will yet more increase my sorrow. I am full of heaviness, but I

Homeric Greek

μηδ' ἐμὸν ἐξερέεινε γένος καὶ πατρίδα γαῖαν,

μή μοι μᾶλλον θυμὸν ἐνιπλήσῃς ὀδυνάων

μνησαμένῳ μάλα δ' εἰμὶ πολύστονος: οὐδέ τί με χρὴ

οἴκῳ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ γοόωντά τε μυρόμενόν τε

120ἧσθαι, ἐπεὶ κάκιον πενθήμεναι ἄκριτον αἰεί:

Transliteration

mēd' emon exereeine genos kai patrida gaian,

mē moi mallon thumon eniplēsēis odunaōn

mnēsamenōi mala d' eimi polustonos: oude ti me chrē

oikōi en allotriōi gooōnta te muromenon te

120hēsthai, epei kakion penthēmenai akriton aiei:

English · Butler

ought not to sit weeping and wailing in another person's house, nor is it well to be thus grieving continually. I shall have one of the servants or even yourself complaining of me, and saying that

Homeric Greek

μή τίς μοι δμῳῶν νεμεσήσεται, ἠὲ σύ γ' αὐτή,

φῇ δὲ δακρυπλώειν βεβαρηότα με φρένας οἴνῳ."

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα περίφρων Πηνελόπεια:

"ξεῖν', ἦ τοι μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετὴν εἶδός τε δέμας τε

125ὤλεσαν ἀθάνατοι, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον

Transliteration

mē tis moi dmōiōn nemesēsetai, ēe su g' autē,

phēi de dakruplōein bebarēota me phrenas oinōi."

ton d' ēmeibet' epeita periphrōn Pēnelopeia:

"xein', ē toi men emēn aretēn eidos te demas te

125ōlesan athanatoi, hote Ilion eisanebainon

English · Butler

my eyes swim with tears because I am heavy with wine." Then Penelope answered, "Stranger, the immortal gods robbed me of all aretê, whether of face or figure, when the Argives set sail for Troy and my dear husband with them. If he were to return and look after my affairs I should be both more respected and should show a better presence to the world.

Homeric Greek

Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ τοῖσι δ' ἐμὸς πόσις ᾖεν Ὀδυσσεύς

εἰ κεῖνός γ' ἐλθὼν τὸν ἐμὸν βίον ἀμφιπολεύοι,

μεῖζον κε κλέος εἴη ἐμὸν καὶ κάλλιον οὕτως.

νῦν δ' ἄχομαι: τόσα γάρ μοι ἐπέσσευεν κακὰ δαίμων.

130ὅσσοι γὰρ νήσοισιν ἐπικρατέουσιν ἄριστοι,

Transliteration

Argeioi, meta toisi d' emos posis ēien Odusseus

ei keinos g' elthōn ton emon bion amphipoleuoi,

meizon ke kleos eiē emon kai kallion houtōs.

nun d' achomai: tosa gar moi epesseuen kaka daimōn.

130hossoi gar nēsoisin epikrateousin aristoi,

English · Butler

As it is, I am oppressed with care, and with the afflictions which a daimôn has seen fit to heap upon me. The chiefs from all our islands - Dulichium, Same, and Zacynthus, as also from Ithaca itself, are wooing me against my will and are wasting my estate. I can therefore show no attention to strangers, nor suppliants, nor to people who say that they are skilled artisans, but am all the time brokenhearted about Odysseus.

Homeric Greek

Δουλιχίῳ τε Σάμῃ τε καὶ ὑλήεντι Ζακύνθῳ,

οἵ τ' αὐτὴν Ἰθάκην εὐδείελον ἀμφινέμονται,

οἵ μ' ἀεκαζομένην μνῶνται, τρύχουσι δὲ οἶκον.

τῷ οὔτε ξείνων ἐμπάξομαι οὔθ' ἱκετάων

135οὔτε τι κηρύκων, οἳ δημιοεργοὶ ἔασιν:

Transliteration

Doulichiōi te Samēi te kai hulēenti Zakunthōi,

hoi t' autēn Ithakēn eudeielon amphinemontai,

hoi m' aekazomenēn mnōntai, truchousi de oikon.

tōi oute xeinōn empaxomai outh' hiketaōn

135oute ti kērukōn, hoi dēmioergoi easin:

English · Butler

They want me to marry again at once, and I have to invent stratagems in order to deceive them. In the first place a daimôn put it in my mind to set up a great tambour-frame in my room, and to begin working upon an enormous piece of fine needlework. Then I said to them, ‘Sweethearts, Odysseus is indeed dead, still, do not press me to marry again immediately; wait - for I would not have my skill

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' Ὀδυσῆ ποθέουσα φίλον κατατήκομαι ἦτορ.

οἱ δὲ γάμον σπεύδουσιν: ἐγὼ δὲ δόλους τολυπεύω.

φᾶρος μέν μοι πρῶτον ἐνέπνευσε φρεσὶ δαίμων,

στησαμένῃ μέγαν ἱστόν, ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὑφαίνειν,

140λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον: ἄφαρ δ' αὐτοῖς μετέειπον:

Transliteration

all' Odusē potheousa philon katatēkomai ētor.

hoi de gamon speudousin: egō de dolous tolupeuō.

pharos men moi prōton enepneuse phresi daimōn,

stēsamenēi megan histon, eni megaroisin huphainein,

140lepton kai perimetron: aphar d' autois meteeipon:

English · Butler

in needlework perish unrecorded - till I have finished making a shroud for the hero Laertes, to be ready against the time when death shall take him. He is very rich, and the women of the dêmos will talk if he is laid out without a shroud.’ This was what I said, and they assented; whereon I used to keep working at my great

Homeric Greek

"κοῦροι, ἐμοὶ μνηστῆρες, ἐπεὶ θάνε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

μίμνετ' ἐπειγόμενοι τὸν ἐμὸν γάμον, εἰς ὅ κε φᾶρος

ἐκτελέσω--μή μοι μεταμώνια νήματ' ὄληται--

Λαέρτῃ ἥρωϊ ταφήϊον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν

145μοῖρ' ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο:

Transliteration

"kouroi, emoi mnēstēres, epei thane dios Odusseus,

mimnet' epeigomenoi ton emon gamon, eis ho ke pharos

ektelesō--mē moi metamōnia nēmat' olētai--

Laertēi hērōï taphēïon, eis hote ken min

145moir' oloē kathelēisi tanēlegeos thanatoio:

English · Butler

web all day long, but at night I would unpick the stitches again by torch light. I fooled them in this way for three years without their finding it out, but as time wore on and I was now in my fourth year, in the waning of moons,

Homeric Greek

μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ,

αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας.

"ὣς ἐφάμην, τοῖσιν δ' ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.

ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκον μέγαν ἱστόν,

150νύκτας δ' ἀλλύεσκον, ἐπεὶ δαί̈δας παραθείμην.

Transliteration

mē tis moi kata dēmon Achaiïadōn nemesēsēi,

ai ken ater speirou keitai polla kteatissas.

"hōs ephamēn, toisin d' epepeitheto thumos agēnōr.

entha kai ēmatiē men huphaineskon megan histon,

150nuktas d' allueskon, epei daïdas paratheimēn.

English · Butler

and many days had been accomplished, those good-for-nothing hussies my maids betrayed me to the suitors, who broke in upon me and caught me; they were very angry with me, so I was forced to finish my work whether I would or no. And now I do not see how I can find any further shift for getting out of this marriage. My parents are putting great pressure

Homeric Greek

ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθον ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειθον Ἀχαιούς:

ἀλλ' ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,

μηνῶν φθινόντων, περὶ δ' ἤματα πόλλ' ἐτελέσθη,

καὶ τότε δή με διὰ δμῳάς, κύνας οὐκ ἀλεγούσας,

155εἷλον ἐπελθόντες καὶ ὁμόκλησαν ἐπέεσσιν.

Transliteration

hōs trietes men elēthon egō kai epeithon Achaious:

all' hote tetraton ēlthen etos kai epēluthon hōrai,

mēnōn phthinontōn, peri d' ēmata poll' etelesthē,

kai tote dē me dia dmōias, kunas ouk alegousas,

155heilon epelthontes kai homoklēsan epeessin.

English · Butler

upon me, and my son chafes at the ravages the suitors are making upon his estate, for he is now old enough to understand all about it and is perfectly able to

Homeric Greek

ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσα, καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσ', ὑπ' ἀνάγκης:

νῦν δ' οὔτ' ἐκφυγέειν δύναμαι γάμον οὔτε τιν' ἄλλην

μῆτιν ἔθ' εὑρίσκω: μάλα δ' ὀτρύνουσι τοκῆες

γήμασθ', ἀσχαλάᾳ δὲ πάϊς βίοτον κατεδόντων,

160γιγνώσκων: ἤδη γὰρ ἀνὴρ οἶός τε μάλιστα

Transliteration

hōs to men exetelessa, kai ouk ethelous', hup' anankēs:

nun d' out' ekphugeein dunamai gamon oute tin' allēn

mētin eth' heuriskō: mala d' otrunousi tokēes

gēmasth', aschalaāi de païs bioton katedontōn,

160gignōskōn: ēdē gar anēr oios te malista

English · Butler

look after his own affairs, for heaven has blessed him with an excellent disposition. Still, notwithstanding all this, tell me who you are and where you come from - for you must have had father and mother of some sort; you cannot be

Homeric Greek

οἴκου κήδεσθαι, τῷ τε Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὥς μοι εἰπὲ τεὸν γένος, ὁππόθεν ἐσσί.

οὐ γὰρ ἀπὸ δρυός ἐσσι παλαιφάτου οὐδ' ἀπὸ πέτρης."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

165"ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,

Transliteration

oikou kēdesthai, tōi te Zeus kudos opazei.

alla kai hōs moi eipe teon genos, hoppothen essi.

ou gar apo druos essi palaiphatou oud' apo petrēs."

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

165"ō gunai aidoiē Laertiadeō Odusēos,

English · Butler

the son of an oak or of a rock." Then Odysseus answered, "Lady, wife of Odysseus, since you persist in asking me about my family, I will answer, no matter what it costs me: people must expect to be pained when they have been exiles as long as I have, and suffered as much among as many peoples. Nevertheless, as regards your question I will tell you all you ask.

Homeric Greek

οὐκέτ' ἀπολλήξεις τὸν ἐμὸν γόνον ἐξερέουσα;

ἀλλ' ἔκ τοι ἐρέω: ἦ μέν μ' ἀχέεσσί γε δώσεις

πλείοσιν ἢ ἔχομαι: ἡ γὰρ δίκη, ὁππότε πάτρης

ἧς ἀπέῃσιν ἀνὴρ τόσσον χρόνον ὅσσον ἐγὼ νῦν,

170πολλὰ βροτῶν ἐπὶ ἄστε' ἀλώμενος, ἄλγεα πάσχων:

Transliteration

ouket' apollēxeis ton emon gonon exereousa;

all' ek toi ereō: ē men m' acheessi ge dōseis

pleiosin ē echomai: hē gar dikē, hoppote patrēs

hēs apeēisin anēr tosson chronon hosson egō nun,

170polla brotōn epi aste' alōmenos, algea paschōn:

English · Butler

There is a fair and fruitful island in mid-ocean called Crete; it is thickly peopled and there are ninety cities in it: the people speak many different languages which overlap one another, for there are Achaeans, brave Eteocretans, Dorians of three-fold race, and noble Pelasgi. There is a great town there, Knossos, where Minos reigned who every nine years had a conference with Zeus himself.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὣς ἐρέω ὅ μ' ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς.

Κρήτη τις γαῖ' ἔστι, μέσῳ ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,

καλὴ καὶ πίειρα, περίρρυτος: ἐν δ' ἄνθρωποι

πολλοί, ἀπειρέσιοι, καὶ ἐννήκοντα πόληες.

175ἄλλη δ' ἄλλων γλῶσσα μεμιγμένη: ἐν μὲν Ἀχαιοί,

Transliteration

alla kai hōs ereō ho m' aneireai ēde metallāis.

Krētē tis gai' esti, mesōi eni oinopi pontōi,

kalē kai pieira, perirrutos: en d' anthrōpoi

polloi, apeiresioi, kai ennēkonta polēes.

175allē d' allōn glōssa memigmenē: en men Achaioi,

English · Butler

Minos was father to Deukalion, whose son I am, for Deukalion had two sons Idomeneus and myself. Idomeneus sailed for Troy, and I, who am the younger, am called Aithon; my brother, however, was at once the older and the more valiant of the two; hence it was in Crete that I saw Odysseus and showed him hospitality, for

Homeric Greek

ἐν δ' Ἐτεόκρητες μεγαλήτορες, ἐν δὲ Κύδωνες,

Δωριέες τε τριχάϊκες δῖοί τε Πελασγοί.

τῇσι δ' ἐνὶ Κνωσός, μεγάλη πόλις, ἔνθα τε Μίνως

ἐννέωρος βασίλευε Διὸς μεγάλου ὀαριστής,

180πατρὸς ἐμοῖο πατήρ, μεγαθύμου Δευκαλίωνος

Transliteration

en d' Eteokrētes megalētores, en de Kudōnes,

Dōriees te trichaïkes dioi te Pelasgoi.

tēisi d' eni Knōsos, megalē polis, entha te Minōs

enneōros basileue Dios megalou oaristēs,

180patros emoio patēr, megathumou Deukaliōnos

English · Butler

the winds took him there as he was on his way to Troy, carrying him out of his course from cape Malea and leaving him in Amnisos off the cave of Eileithuia, where the harbors

Homeric Greek

Δευκαλίων δ' ἐμὲ τίκτε καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα:

ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον ἴσω

ᾤχεθ' ἅμ' Ἀτρείδῃσιν, ἐμοὶ δ' ὄνομα κλυτὸν Αἴθων,

ὁπλότερος γενεῇ: ὁ δ' ἄρα πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.

185ἔνθ' Ὀδυσῆα ἐγὼν ἰδόμην καὶ ξείνια δῶκα.

Transliteration

Deukaliōn d' eme tikte kai Idomenēa anakta:

all' ho men en nēessi korōnisin Ilion isō

ōicheth' ham' Atreidēisin, emoi d' onoma kluton Aithōn,

hoploteros geneēi: ho d' ara proteros kai areiōn.

185enth' Odusēa egōn idomēn kai xeinia dōka.

English · Butler

are difficult to enter and he could hardly find shelter from the winds that were then raging. As soon as he got there he went into the town and asked for Idomeneus, claiming to be his old and valued friend, but Idomeneus had

Homeric Greek

καὶ γὰρ τὸν Κρήτηνδε κατήγαγεν ἲς ἀνέμοιο,

ἱέμενον Τροίηνδε παραπλάγξασα Μαλειῶν:

στῆσε δ' ἐν Ἀμνισῷ, ὅθι τε σπέος Εἰλειθυίης,

ἐν λιμέσιν χαλεποῖσι, μόγις δ' ὑπάλυξεν ἀέλλας.

190αὐτίκα δ' Ἰδομενῆα μετάλλα ἄστυδ' ἀνελθών:

Transliteration

kai gar ton Krētēnde katēgagen is anemoio,

hiemenon Troiēnde paraplanxasa Maleiōn:

stēse d' en Amnisōi, hothi te speos Eileithuiēs,

en limesin chalepoisi, mogis d' hupaluxen aellas.

190autika d' Idomenēa metalla astud' anelthōn:

English · Butler

already set sail for Troy some ten or twelve days earlier, so I took him to my own house and showed him every kind of hospitality, for I had abundance of everything. Moreover, I fed the men who were with him with barley meal

Homeric Greek

ξεῖνον γάρ οἱ ἔφασκε φίλον τ' ἔμεν αἰδοῖόν τε.

τῷ δ' ἤδη δεκάτη ἢ ἑνδεκάτη πέλεν ἠὼς

οἰχομένῳ σὺν νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον εἴσω.

τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ πρὸς δώματ' ἄγων ἐὺ̈ ἐξείνισσα,

195ἐνδυκέως φιλέων, πολλῶν κατὰ οἶκον ἐόντων:

Transliteration

xeinon gar hoi ephaske philon t' emen aidoion te.

tōi d' ēdē dekatē ē hendekatē pelen ēōs

oichomenōi sun nēusi korōnisin Ilion eisō.

ton men egō pros dōmat' agōn eü exeinissa,

195endukeōs phileōn, pollōn kata oikon eontōn:

English · Butler

from the public store, and got subscriptions of wine and oxen for them to sacrifice to their heart's content. They stayed with me twelve days, for there was a gale blowing from the North so strong that one could hardly keep one's feet on land.

Homeric Greek

καί οἱ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἑτάροις, οἳ ἅμ' αὐτῷ ἕποντο,

δημόθεν ἄλφιτα δῶκα καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνον ἀγείρας

καὶ βοῦς ἱρεύσασθαι, ἵνα πλησαίατο θυμόν.

ἔνθα δυώδεκα μὲν μένον ἤματα δῖοι Ἀχαιοί:

200εἴλει γὰρ Βορέης ἄνεμος μέγας οὐδ' ἐπὶ γαίῃ

Transliteration

kai hoi tois allois hetarois, hoi ham' autōi heponto,

dēmothen alphita dōka kai aithopa oinon ageiras

kai bous hireusasthai, hina plēsaiato thumon.

entha duōdeka men menon ēmata dioi Achaioi:

200eilei gar Boreēs anemos megas oud' epi gaiēi

English · Butler

I suppose some unfriendly daimôn had raised it for them, but on the thirteenth day

Homeric Greek

εἴα ἵστασθαι, χαλεπὸς δέ τις ὤρορε δαίμων.

τῇ τρισκαιδεκάτῃ δ' ἄνεμος πέσε, τοὶ δ' ἀνάγοντο."

ἴσκε ψεύδεα πολλὰ λέγων ἐτύμοισιν ὁμοῖα:

τῆς δ' ἄρ' ἀκουούσης ῥέε δάκρυα, τήκετο δὲ χρώς:

205ὡς δὲ χιὼν κατατήκετ' ἐν ἀκροπόλοισιν ὄρεσσιν,

Transliteration

eia histasthai, chalepos de tis ōrore daimōn.

tēi triskaidekatēi d' anemos pese, toi d' anagonto."

iske pseudea polla legōn etumoisin homoia:

tēs d' ar' akouousēs rhee dakrua, tēketo de chrōs:

205hōs de chiōn katatēket' en akropoloisin oressin,

English · Butler

the wind dropped, and they got away." Many a plausible tale did Odysseus further tell her, and Penelope wept as she listened, for her heart was melted. As the snow wastes upon the mountain tops when the winds from South East and West have breathed

Homeric Greek

ἥν τ' Εὖρος κατέτηξεν, ἐπὴν Ζέφυρος καταχεύῃ:

τηκομένης δ' ἄρα τῆς ποταμοὶ πλήθουσι ῥέοντες:

ὣς τῆς τήκετο καλὰ παρήϊα δάκρυ χεούσης,

κλαιούσης ἑὸν ἄνδρα παρήμενον. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

210θυμῷ μὲν γοόωσαν ἑὴν ἐλέαιρε γυναῖκα,

Transliteration

hēn t' Euros katetēxen, epēn Zephuros katacheuēi:

tēkomenēs d' ara tēs potamoi plēthousi rheontes:

hōs tēs tēketo kala parēïa dakru cheousēs,

klaiousēs heon andra parēmenon. autar Odusseus

210thumōi men gooōsan heēn eleaire gunaika,

English · Butler

upon it and thawed it till the rivers run bank full with water, even so did her cheeks overflow with tears for the husband who was all the time sitting by her side. Odysseus felt for her and was for her, but he kept his eyes as hard as or iron

Homeric Greek

ὀφθαλμοὶ δ' ὡς εἰ κέρα ἕστασαν ἠὲ σίδηρος

ἀτρέμας ἐν βλεφάροισι: δόλῳ δ' ὅ γε δάκρυα κεῦθεν.

ἡ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο,

ἐξαῦτίς μιν ἔπεσσιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε:

215"νῦν μὲν δή σευ, ξεῖνέ γ', ὀί̈ω πειρήσεσθαι,

Transliteration

ophthalmoi d' hōs ei kera hestasan ēe sidēros

atremas en blepharoisi: dolōi d' ho ge dakrua keuthen.

hē d' epei oun tarphthē poludakrutoio gooio,

exautis min epessin ameibomenē proseeipe:

215"nun men dē seu, xeine g', oïō peirēsesthai,

English · Butler

without letting them so much as quiver, so cunningly did he restrain his tears. Then, when she had relieved herself by weeping, she turned to him again and said: "Now, stranger, I shall put you to the test and see whether or not you really did entertain my husband and his men, as you say you did.

Homeric Greek

εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ κεῖθι σὺν ἀντιθέοις ἑτάροισι

ξείνισας ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμὸν πόσιν, ὡς ἀγορεύεις.

εἰπέ μοι ὁπποῖ' ἄσσα περὶ χροὶ̈ εἵματα ἕστο,

αὐτός θ' οἷος ἔην, καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο."

220τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

Transliteration

ei eteon dē keithi sun antitheois hetaroisi

xeinisas en megaroisin emon posin, hōs agoreueis.

eipe moi hoppoi' assa peri chroï heimata hesto,

autos th' hoios eēn, kai hetairous, hoi hoi heponto."

220tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

English · Butler

Tell me, then, how he was dressed, what kind of a man he was to look at, and so also with his companions." "Lady," answered Odysseus, "it is such a long time ago that I can hardly say.

Homeric Greek

"ὦ γύναι, ἀργαλέον τόσσον χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντα

εἰπέμεν: ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐεικοστὸν ἔτος ἐστὶν

ἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβη καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθε πάτρης:

αὐτάρ τοι ἐρέω ὥς μοι ἰνδάλλεται ἦτορ.

225χλαῖναν πορφυρέην οὔλην ἔχε δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

Transliteration

"ō gunai, argaleon tosson chronon amphis eonta

eipemen: ēdē gar hoi eeikoston etos estin

ex hou keithen ebē kai emēs apelēluthe patrēs:

autar toi ereō hōs moi indalletai ētor.

225chlainan porphureēn oulēn eche dios Odusseus,

English · Butler

"Lady," answered Odysseus, "it is such a long time ago that I can hardly say. Twenty years are come and gone since he left my home, and went elsewhere; but I will tell you as well as I can recollect. Odysseus wore a mantle of purple wool, double lined, and it was fastened by a gold brooch with two catches for the pin. On the face of this there was a device that showed a dog holding a spotted fawn between his fore paws, and watching it as it lay panting upon the ground.

Homeric Greek

διπλῆν: αὐτάρ οἱ περόνη χρυσοῖο τέτυκτο

αὐλοῖσιν διδύμοισι: πάροιθε δὲ δαίδαλον ἦεν:

ἐν προτέροισι πόδεσσι κύων ἔχε ποικίλον ἐλλόν,

ἀσπαίροντα λάων: τὸ δὲ θαυμάζεσκον ἅπαντες,

230ὡς οἱ χρύσεοι ἐόντες ὁ μὲν λάε νεβρὸν ἀπάγχων,

Transliteration

diplēn: autar hoi peronē chrusoio tetukto

auloisin didumoisi: paroithe de daidalon ēen:

en proteroisi podessi kuōn eche poikilon ellon,

aspaironta laōn: to de thaumazeskon hapantes,

230hōs hoi chruseoi eontes ho men lae nebron apanchōn,

English · Butler

Every one marveled at the way in which these things had been done in gold, the dog looking at the fawn, and strangling it, while the fawn was struggling convulsively to escape. As for the shirt that he wore next his skin, it was so soft that it fitted him like the skin of an onion, and glistened in the sunlight to the admiration of all the women who beheld it.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ὁ ἐκφυγέειν μεμαὼς ἤσπαιρε πόδεσσι.

τὸν δὲ χιτῶν' ἐνόησα περὶ χροὶ̈ σιγαλόεντα,

οἷόν τε κρομύοιο λοπὸν κάτα ἰσχαλέοιο:

τὼς μὲν ἔην μαλακός, λαμπρὸς δ' ἦν ἠέλιος ὥς:

235ἦ μὲν πολλαί γ' αὐτὸν ἐθηήσαντο γυναῖκες.

Transliteration

autar ho ekphugeein memaōs ēspaire podessi.

ton de chitōn' enoēsa peri chroï sigaloenta,

hoion te kromuoio lopon kata ischaleoio:

tōs men eēn malakos, lampros d' ēn ēelios hōs:

235ē men pollai g' auton ethēēsanto gunaikes.

English · Butler

Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart, that I do not know whether Odysseus wore these clothes when he left home, or whether one of his companions had given them to him while he was on his voyage; or possibly some one at whose house he was

Homeric Greek

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν:

οὐκ οἶδ' ἢ τάδε ἕστο περὶ χροὶ̈ οἴκοθ' Ὀδυσσεύς,

ἦ τις ἑταίρων δῶκε θοῆς ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰόντι,

ἤ τίς που καὶ ξεῖνος, ἐπεὶ πολλοῖσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς

240ἔσκε φίλος: παῦροι γὰρ Ἀχαιῶν ἦσαν ὁμοῖοι.

Transliteration

allo de toi ereō, su d' eni phresi balleo sēisin:

ouk oid' ē tade hesto peri chroï oikoth' Odusseus,

ē tis hetairōn dōke thoēs epi nēos ionti,

ē tis pou kai xeinos, epei polloisin Odusseus

240eske philos: pauroi gar Achaiōn ēsan homoioi.

English · Butler

staying made him a present of them, for he was a man of many friends and had few equals among the Achaeans. I myself gave him a sword of bronze and a beautiful purple mantle, double lined, with a shirt that went down to his feet, and I sent him on board his ship with every mark of honor.

Homeric Greek

καί οἱ ἐγὼ χάλκειον ἄορ καὶ δίπλακα δῶκα

καλὴν πορφυρέην καὶ τερμιόεντα χιτῶνα,

αἰδοίως δ' ἀπέπεμπον ἐϋσσέλμου ἐπὶ νηός.

καὶ μέν οἱ κῆρυξ ὀλίγον προγενέστερος αὐτοῦ

245εἵπετο: καὶ τόν τοι μυθήσομαι, οἷος ἔην περ.

Transliteration

kai hoi egō chalkeion aor kai diplaka dōka

kalēn porphureēn kai termioenta chitōna,

aidoiōs d' apepempon eüsselmou epi nēos.

kai men hoi kērux oligon progenesteros autou

245heipeto: kai ton toi muthēsomai, hoios eēn per.

English · Butler

He had a servant with him, a little older than himself, and I can tell you what he was like; his shoulders were hunched, he was dark, and he had thick curly hair. His name was Eurybates, and Odysseus treated him with greater

Homeric Greek

γυρὸς ἐν ὤμοισιν, μελανόχροος, οὐλοκάρηνος,

Εὐρυβάτης δ' ὄνομ' ἔσκε: τίεν δέ μιν ἔξοχον ἄλλων

ὧν ἑτάρων Ὀδυσεύς, ὅτι οἱ φρεσὶν ἄρτια ᾔδη."

"ὣς φάτο, τῇ δ' ἔτι μᾶλλον ὑφ' ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο,

250σήματ' ἀναγνούσῃ τά οἱ ἔμπεδα πέφραδ' Ὀδυσσεύς.

Transliteration

guros en ōmoisin, melanochroos, oulokarēnos,

Eurubatēs d' onom' eske: tien de min exochon allōn

hōn hetarōn Oduseus, hoti hoi phresin artia ēidē."

"hōs phato, tēi d' eti mallon huph' himeron ōrse gooio,

250sēmat' anagnousēi ta hoi empeda pephrad' Odusseus.

English · Butler

familiarity than he did any of the others, as being the most like-minded with himself." Penelope was moved still more deeply as she heard the indisputable proofs that Odysseus laid before her; and when she had again found relief in tears she said to him, "Stranger, I was already disposed to pity you, but henceforth you shall be honored and made welcome in my house. It was I who gave Odysseus the clothes you speak of.

Homeric Greek

ἡ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν τάρφθη πολυδακρύτοιο γόοιο.

καὶ τότε μιν μύθοισιν ἀμειβομένη προσέειπε:

"νῦν μὲν δή μοι, ξεῖνε, πάρος περ ἐὼν ἐλεεινός,

ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι φίλος τ' ἔσῃ αἰδοῖός τε:

255αὐτὴ γὰρ τάδε εἵματ' ἐγὼ πόρον, οἷ' ἀγορεύεις,

Transliteration

hē d' epei oun tarphthē poludakrutoio gooio.

kai tote min muthoisin ameibomenē proseeipe:

"nun men dē moi, xeine, paros per eōn eleeinos,

en megaroisin emoisi philos t' esēi aidoios te:

255autē gar tade heimat' egō poron, hoi' agoreueis,

English · Butler

I took them out of the store room and folded them up myself, and I gave him also the gold brooch to wear as an ornament. Alas! I shall never welcome him home again. It was by an

Homeric Greek

πτύξασ' ἐκ θαλάμου, περόνην τ' ἐπέθηκα φαεινὴν

κείνῳ ἄγαλμ' ἔμεναι: τὸν δ' οὐχ ὑποδέξομαι αὖτις

οἴκαδε νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

τῷ ῥα κακῇ αἴσῃ κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς

260ᾤχετ' ἐποψόμενος Κακοί̈λιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν."

Transliteration

ptuxas' ek thalamou, peronēn t' epethēka phaeinēn

keinōi agalm' emenai: ton d' ouch hupodexomai autis

oikade nostēsanta philēn es patrida gaian.

tōi rha kakēi aisēi koilēs epi nēos Odusseus

260ōichet' epopsomenos Kakoïlion ouk onomastēn."

English · Butler

ill fate that he ever set out for that detested city whose very name I cannot bring myself even to mention."

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

"ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,

μηκέτι νῦν χρόα καλὸν ἐναίρεο, μηδέ τι θυμὸν

τῆκε, πόσιν γοόωσα. νεμεσσῶμαί γε μὲν οὐδέν:

265καὶ γάρ τίς τ' ἀλλοῖον ὀδύρεται ἄνδρ' ὀλέσασα

Transliteration

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

"ō gunai aidoiē Laertiadeō Odusēos,

mēketi nun chroa kalon enaireo, mēde ti thumon

tēke, posin gooōsa. nemessōmai ge men ouden:

265kai gar tis t' alloion oduretai andr' olesasa

English · Butler

Then Odysseus answered, "Lady, wife of Odysseus, do not disfigure yourself further by grieving thus bitterly for your loss, though I can hardly blame you for doing so. A woman who has loved her husband and borne him children, would naturally be grieved at losing him, even though he were a worse man than Odysseus, who they say was like a god. Still, cease your tears and listen to what I can tell.

Homeric Greek

κουρίδιον, τῷ τέκνα τέκῃ φιλότητι μιγεῖσα,

ἢ Ὀδυσῆ', ὅν φασι θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον εἶναι.

ἀλλὰ γόου μὲν παῦσαι, ἐμεῖο δὲ σύνθεο μῦθον:

νημερτέως γάρ τοι μυθήσομαι οὐδ' ἐπικεύσω

270ὡς ἤδη Ὀδυσῆος ἐγὼ περὶ νόστου ἄκουσα

Transliteration

kouridion, tōi tekna tekēi philotēti migeisa,

ē Odusē', hon phasi theois enalinkion einai.

alla goou men pausai, emeio de suntheo muthon:

nēmerteōs gar toi muthēsomai oud' epikeusō

270hōs ēdē Odusēos egō peri nostou akousa

English · Butler

I will hide nothing from you, and can say with perfect truth that I have lately heard of Odysseus as being alive and on his way home ; he is in the district of the Thesprotians, and is bringing back much valuable treasure that he has begged from one and another of them; but his ship and all his crew were lost

Homeric Greek

ἀγχοῦ, Θεσπρωτῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,

ζωοῦ: αὐτὰρ ἄγει κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ

αἰτίζων ἀνὰ δῆμον. ἀτὰρ ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους

ὤλεσε καὶ νῆα γλαφυρὴν ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ,

275Θρινακίης ἄπο νήσου ἰών: ὀδύσαντο γὰρ αὐτῷ

Transliteration

anchou, Thesprōtōn andrōn en pioni dēmōi,

zōou: autar agei keimēlia polla kai esthla

aitizōn ana dēmon. atar eriēras hetairous

ōlese kai nēa glaphurēn eni oinopi pontōi,

275Thrinakiēs apo nēsou iōn: odusanto gar autōi

English · Butler

as they were leaving the Thrinacian island, for Zeus and the sun-god were angry with him because his men had slaughtered the sun-god's cattle, and they were all drowned to a man. But Odysseus stuck to the keel of the ship and was drifted on to the land of the

Homeric Greek

Ζεύς τε καὶ Ἠέλιος: τοῦ γὰρ βόας ἔκταν ἑταῖροι.

οἱ μὲν πάντες ὄλοντο πολυκλύστῳ ἐνὶ πόντῳ:

τὸν δ' ἄρ' ἐπὶ τρόπιος νεὸς ἔκβαλε κῦμ' ἐπὶ χέρσου,

Φαιήκων ἐς γαῖαν, οἳ ἀγχίθεοι γεγάασιν,

280οἳ δή μιν περὶ κῆρι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσαντο

Transliteration

Zeus te kai Ēelios: tou gar boas ektan hetairoi.

hoi men pantes olonto poluklustōi eni pontōi:

ton d' ar' epi tropios neos ekbale kum' epi chersou,

Phaiēkōn es gaian, hoi anchitheoi gegaasin,

280hoi dē min peri kēri theon hōs timēsanto

English · Butler

Phaeacians, who are near of kin to the immortals, and who treated him as though he had been a god, giving him many presents, and wishing to escort him home safe and sound. In fact Odysseus would have been here long ago, had he not thought better to go from land to land gathering wealth;

Homeric Greek

καί οἱ πολλὰ δόσαν πέμπειν τέ μιν ἤθελον αὐτοὶ

οἴκαδ' ἀπήμαντον. καί κεν πάλαι ἐνθάδ' Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἤην: ἀλλ' ἄρα οἱ τό γε κέρδιον εἴσατο θυμῷ,

χρήματ' ἀγυρτάζειν πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἰόντι:

285ὣς περὶ κέρδεα πολλὰ καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων

Transliteration

kai hoi polla dosan pempein te min ēthelon autoi

oikad' apēmanton. kai ken palai enthad' Odusseus

ēēn: all' ara hoi to ge kerdion eisato thumōi,

chrēmat' agurtazein pollēn epi gaian ionti:

285hōs peri kerdea polla katathnētōn anthrōpōn

English · Butler

for there is no man living who is so wily as he is; there is no one can compare with him. Pheidon king of the Thesprotians told me all this, and he swore to me - making drink-offerings in his house as he did so - that the

Homeric Greek

οἶδ' Ὀδυσεύς, οὐδ' ἄν τις ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος.

ὥς μοι Θεσπρωτῶν βασιλεὺς μυθήσατο Φείδων:

ὤμνυε δὲ πρὸς ἔμ' αὐτόν, ἀποσπένδων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,

290οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

Transliteration

oid' Oduseus, oud' an tis erisseie brotos allos.

hōs moi Thesprōtōn basileus muthēsato Pheidōn:

ōmnue de pros em' auton, apospendōn eni oikōi,

nēa kateirusthai kai eparteas emmen hetairous,

290hoi dē min pempsousi philēn es patrida gaian.

English · Butler

ship was by the water side and the crew found who would take Odysseus to his own country. He sent me off first, for there happened to be a Thesprotian ship sailing for the wheat-growing island of Dulichium, but he showed me all the treasure Odysseus had got together, and he had enough

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἐμὲ πρὶν ἀπέπεμψε: τύχησε γὰρ ἐρχομένη νηῦς

ἀνδρῶν Θεσπρωτῶν ἐς Δουλίχιον πολύπυρον.

καί μοι κτήματ' ἔδειξεν, ὅσα ξυναγείρατ' Ὀδυσσεύς:

καί νύ κεν ἐς δεκάτην γενεὴν ἕτερόν γ' ἔτι βόσκοι,

295ὅσσα οἱ ἐν μεγάροις κειμήλια κεῖτο ἄνακτος.

Transliteration

all' eme prin apepempse: tuchēse gar erchomenē nēus

andrōn Thesprōtōn es Doulichion polupuron.

kai moi ktēmat' edeixen, hosa xunageirat' Odusseus:

kai nu ken es dekatēn geneēn heteron g' eti boskoi,

295hossa hoi en megarois keimēlia keito anaktos.

English · Butler

lying in the house of king Pheidon to keep his family for ten generations; but the king said Odysseus had gone to Dodona that he might learn Zeus’ mind from the high oak tree, and know whether after so long an absence he should return to Ithaca openly or in secret.

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖο

ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,

ὅππως νοστήσειε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἤ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.

300"ὣς ὁ μὲν οὕτως ἐστὶ σόος καὶ ἐλεύσεται ἤδη

Transliteration

ton d' es Dōdōnēn phato bēmenai, ophra theoio

ek druos hupsikomoio Dios boulēn epakousai,

hoppōs nostēseie philēn es patrida gaian

ēdē dēn apeōn, ē amphadon ēe kruphēdon.

300"hōs ho men houtōs esti soos kai eleusetai ēdē

English · Butler

So you may know he is safe and will be here shortly; he is close at hand and cannot remain away from home much longer; nevertheless I will confirm my words with an oath, and call Zeus who is the first and mightiest of all gods

Homeric Greek

ἄγχι μάλ', οὐδ' ἔτι τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης

δηρὸν ἀπεσσεῖται: ἔμπης δέ τοι ὅρκια δώσω.

ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα, θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,

ἱστίη τ' Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος, ἣν ἀφικάνω:

305ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται ὡς ἀγορεύω.

Transliteration

anchi mal', oud' eti tēle philōn kai patridos aiēs

dēron apesseitai: empēs de toi horkia dōsō.

istō nun Zeus prōta, theōn hupatos kai aristos,

histiē t' Odusēos amumonos, hēn aphikanō:

305ē men toi tade panta teleietai hōs agoreuō.

English · Butler

to witness, as also that hearth of Odysseus to which I have now come, that all I have spoken shall surely come to pass. Odysseus will return in this self same year; with the end of this moon and the

Homeric Greek

τοῦδ' αὐτοῦ λυκάβαντος ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδ' Ὀδυσσεύς,

τοῦ μὲν φθίνοντος μηνός, τοῦ δ' ἱσταμένοιο."

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια:

"αἲ γὰρ τοῦτο, ξεῖνε, ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη:

310τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης φιλότητά τε πολλά τε δῶρα

Transliteration

toud' autou lukabantos eleusetai enthad' Odusseus,

tou men phthinontos mēnos, tou d' histamenoio."

ton d' aute proseeipe periphrōn Pēnelopeia:

"ai gar touto, xeine, epos tetelesmenon eiē:

310tōi ke tacha gnoiēs philotēta te polla te dōra

English · Butler

beginning of the next he will be here." "May it be even so," answered Penelope; "if your words come true you shall have such gifts and such good will from me that all who see you shall congratulate you; but I know very well how it will be. Odysseus will not return, neither will you get your escort hence, for so surely as that Odysseus ever

Homeric Greek

ἐξ ἐμεῦ, ὡς ἄν τίς σε συναντόμενος μακαρίζοι.

ἀλλά μοι ὧδ' ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὀί̈εται, ὡς ἔσεταί περ:

οὔτ' Ὀδυσεὺς ἔτι οἶκον ἐλεύσεται, οὔτε σὺ πομπῆς

τεύξῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐ τοῖοι σημάντορές εἰσ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

315οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκε μετ' ἀνδράσιν, εἴ ποτ' ἔην γε,

Transliteration

ex emeu, hōs an tis se sunantomenos makarizoi.

alla moi hōd' ana thumon oïetai, hōs esetai per:

out' Oduseus eti oikon eleusetai, oute su pompēs

teuxēi, epei ou toioi sēmantores eis' eni oikōi

315hoios Odusseus eske met' andrasin, ei pot' eēn ge,

English · Butler

was, there are now no longer any such masters in the house as he was, to receive honorable strangers or to further them on their way home. And now, you maids, wash his feet for him, and make him a bed on a couch with rugs and blankets, that he may be warm and quiet till morning.

Homeric Greek

ξείνους αἰδοίους ἀποπεμπέμεν ἠδὲ δέχεσθαι.

ἀλλά μιν, ἀμφίπολοι, ἀπονίψατε, κάτθετε δ' εὐνήν,

δέμνια καὶ χλαίνας καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα,

ὥς κ' εὖ θαλπιόων χρυσόθρονον Ἠῶ ἵκηται.

320ἠῶθεν δὲ μάλ' ἦρι λοέσσαι τε χρῖσαί τε,

Transliteration

xeinous aidoious apopempemen ēde dechesthai.

alla min, amphipoloi, aponipsate, katthete d' eunēn,

demnia kai chlainas kai rhēgea sigaloenta,

hōs k' eu thalpioōn chrusothronon Ēō hikētai.

320ēōthen de mal' ēri loessai te chrisai te,

English · Butler

Then, at day break wash him and anoint him again, that he may sit in the room and take his meals with Telemakhos. It shall be the worse for any one of these hateful people who is uncivil to him; like it or not, he shall have no more to do in this house. For how, sir, shall you be

Homeric Greek

ὥς κ' ἔνδον παρὰ Τηλεμάχῳ δείπνοιο μέδηται

ἥμενος ἐν μεγάρῳ: τῷ δ' ἄλγιον ὅς κεν ἐκείνων

τοῦτον ἀνιάζῃ θυμοφθόρος: οὐδέ τι ἔργον

ἐνθάδ' ἔτι πρήξει, μάλα περ κεχολωμένος αἰνῶς.

325πῶς γὰρ ἐμεῦ σύ, ξεῖνε, δαήσεαι εἴ τι γυναικῶν

Transliteration

hōs k' endon para Tēlemachōi deipnoio medētai

hēmenos en megarōi: tōi d' algion hos ken ekeinōn

touton aniazēi thumophthoros: oude ti ergon

enthad' eti prēxei, mala per kecholōmenos ainōs.

325pōs gar emeu su, xeine, daēseai ei ti gunaikōn

English · Butler

able to learn whether or no I am superior to others of my sex both in goodness of heart and understanding, if I let you dine in my cloisters squalid and ill clad? Men live but for a little season;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλάων περίειμι νόον καὶ ἐπίφρονα μῆτιν,

εἴ κεν ἀϋσταλέος, κακὰ εἱμένος ἐν μεγάροισιν

δαινύῃ; ἄνθρωποι δὲ μινυνθάδιοι τελέθουσιν.

ὃς μὲν ἀπηνὴς αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀπηνέα εἰδῇ,

330τῷ δὲ καταρῶνται πάντες βροτοὶ ἄλγε' ὀπίσσω

Transliteration

allaōn perieimi noon kai epiphrona mētin,

ei ken aüstaleos, kaka heimenos en megaroisin

dainuēi; anthrōpoi de minunthadioi telethousin.

hos men apēnēs autos eēi kai apēnea eidēi,

330tōi de katarōntai pantes brotoi alge' opissō

English · Butler

if they are hard, and deal hardly, people wish them ill so long as they are alive, and speak contemptuously of them when they are dead, but

Homeric Greek

ζωῷ, ἀτὰρ τεθνεῶτί γ' ἐφεψιόωνται ἅπαντες:

ὃς δ' ἂν ἀμύμων αὐτὸς ἔῃ καὶ ἀμύμονα εἰδῇ,

τοῦ μέν τε κλέος εὐρὺ δὶα ξεῖνοι φορέουσι

πάντας ἐπ' ἀνθρώπους, πολλοί τέ μιν ἐσθλὸν ἔειπον."

335τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

Transliteration

zōōi, atar tethneōti g' ephepsioōntai hapantes:

hos d' an amumōn autos eēi kai amumona eidēi,

tou men te kleos euru dia xeinoi phoreousi

pantas ep' anthrōpous, polloi te min esthlon eeipon."

335tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

English · Butler

he that is righteous and deals righteously, the people tell of his praise among all lands, and many shall call him blessed." Odysseus answered, "Lady, I have foresworn rugs and blankets from the day that I left the snowy ranges of Crete to go on shipboard.

Homeric Greek

"ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,

ἦ τοι ἐμοὶ χλαῖναι καὶ ῥήγεα σιγαλόεντα

ἤχθεθ', ὅτε πρῶτον Κρήτης ὄρεα νιφόεντα

νοσφισάμην ἐπὶ νηὸς ἰὼν δολιχηρέτμοιο,

340κείω δ' ὡς τὸ πάρος περ ἀύ̈πνους νύκτας ἴαυον:

Transliteration

"ō gunai aidoiē Laertiadeō Odusēos,

ē toi emoi chlainai kai rhēgea sigaloenta

ēchtheth', hote prōton Krētēs orea niphoenta

nosphisamēn epi nēos iōn dolichēretmoio,

340keiō d' hōs to paros per aüpnous nuktas iauon:

English · Butler

Odysseus answered, "Lady, I have foresworn rugs and blankets from the day that I left the snowy ranges of Crete to go on shipboard. I will lie as I have lain on many a sleepless night hitherto. Night after night have I passed in any rough sleeping place, and waited for morning. Nor, again, do I like having my feet washed; I shall not let any of the young hussies about your house touch my feet; but, if you

Homeric Greek

πολλὰς γὰρ δὴ νύκτας ἀεικελίῳ ἐνὶ κοίτῃ

ἄεσα καί τ' ἀνέμεινα ἐύ̈θρονον Ἠῶ δῖαν.

οὐδέ τί μοι ποδάνιπτρα ποδῶν ἐπιήρανα θυμῷ

γίγνεται: οὐδὲ γυνὴ ποδὸς ἅψεται ἡμετέροιο

345τάων αἵ τοι δῶμα κάτα δρήστειραι ἔασιν,

Transliteration

pollas gar dē nuktas aeikeliōi eni koitēi

aesa kai t' anemeina eüthronon Ēō dian.

oude ti moi podaniptra podōn epiērana thumōi

gignetai: oude gunē podos hapsetai hēmeteroio

345taōn hai toi dōma kata drēsteirai easin,

English · Butler

have any old and respectable woman who has gone through as much trouble as I

Homeric Greek

εἰ μή τις γρηῦς ἔστι παλαιή, κεδνὰ ἰδυῖα,

ἥ τις δὴ τέτληκε τόσα φρεσὶν ὅσσα τ' ἐγώ περ:

τῇ δ' οὐκ ἂν φθονέοιμι ποδῶν ἅψασθαι ἐμεῖο."

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια:

350"ξεῖνε φίλ': οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἀνὴρ πεπνυμένος ὧδε

Transliteration

ei mē tis grēus esti palaiē, kedna iduia,

hē tis dē tetlēke tosa phresin hossa t' egō per:

tēi d' ouk an phthoneoimi podōn hapsasthai emeio."

ton d' aute proseeipe periphrōn Pēnelopeia:

350"xeine phil': ou gar pō tis anēr pepnumenos hōde

English · Butler

have, I will allow her to wash them." To this Penelope said, "My dear sir, of all the guests who ever yet came to my house there never was one who spoke in all things with such admirable propriety as you do. There happens to be in the house

Homeric Greek

ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν φιλίων ἐμὸν ἵκετο δῶμα,

ὡς σὺ μάλ' εὐφραδέως πεπνυμένα πάντ' ἀγορεύεις:

ἔστι δέ μοι γρηὺ̈ς πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδε' ἔχουσα

ἣ κεῖνον δύστηνον ἐὺ̈ τρέφεν ἠδ' ἀτίταλλε,

355δεξαμένη χείρεσσ', ὅτε μιν πρῶτον τέκε μήτηρ,

Transliteration

xeinōn tēledapōn philiōn emon hiketo dōma,

hōs su mal' euphradeōs pepnumena pant' agoreueis:

esti de moi grēüs pukina phresi mēde' echousa

hē keinon dustēnon eü trephen ēd' atitalle,

355dexamenē cheiress', hote min prōton teke mētēr,

English · Butler

a most respectable old woman - the same who received my poor dear husband in her arms the night he was born, and nursed him in infancy. She is very feeble now, but she shall wash your feet. Come here," said she, "Eurykleia, and wash your master's age-mate;

Homeric Greek

ἥ σε πόδας νίψει, ὀλιγηπελέουσά περ ἔμπης.

ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ἀνστᾶσα, περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια,

νίψον σοῖο ἄνακτος ὁμήλικα: καί που Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἤδη τοιόσδ' ἐστὶ πόδας τοιόσδε τε χεῖρας:

360αἶψα γὰρ ἐν κακότητι βροτοὶ καταγηράσκουσιν."

Transliteration

hē se podas nipsei, oligēpeleousa per empēs.

all' age nun anstasa, periphrōn Eurukleia,

nipson soio anaktos homēlika: kai pou Odusseus

ēdē toiosd' esti podas toiosde te cheiras:

360aipsa gar en kakotēti brotoi katagēraskousin."

English · Butler

I suppose Odysseus’ hands and feet are very much the same now as his are, for trouble ages all of us dreadfully fast."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, γρηὺ̈ς δὲ κατέσχετο χερσὶ πρόσωπα,

δάκρυα δ' ἔκβαλε θερμά, ἔπος δ' ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν:

"ὤ μοι ἐγὼ σέο, τέκνον, ἀμήχανος: ἦ σε περὶ Ζεὺς

ἀνθρώπων ἤχθηρε θεουδέα θυμὸν ἔχοντα.

365οὐ γάρ πώ τις τόσσα βροτῶν Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ

Transliteration

hōs ar' ephē, grēüs de katescheto chersi prosōpa,

dakrua d' ekbale therma, epos d' olophudnon eeipen:

"ō moi egō seo, teknon, amēchanos: ē se peri Zeus

anthrōpōn ēchthēre theoudea thumon echonta.

365ou gar pō tis tossa brotōn Dii terpikeraunōi

English · Butler

On these words the old woman covered her face with her hands; she began to weep and made lamentation saying, "My dear child, I cannot think whatever I am to do with you. I am certain no one was ever more god-fearing than yourself, and yet Zeus hates you. No one in the whole world ever burned him more thigh bones, nor gave him finer hecatombs when you prayed you might come to a green old age yourself and see your son grow up to take after you;

Homeric Greek

πίονα μηρί' ἔκη' οὐδ' ἐξαίτους ἑκατόμβας,

ὅσσα σὺ τῷ ἐδίδους, ἀρώμενος ἧος ἵκοιο

γῆράς τε λιπαρὸν θρέψαιό τε φαίδιμον υἱόν:

νῦν δέ τοι οἴῳ πάμπαν ἀφείλετο νόστιμον ἦμαρ.

370οὕτω που καὶ κείνῳ ἐφεψιόωντο γυναῖκες

Transliteration

piona mēri' ekē' oud' exaitous hekatombas,

hossa su tōi edidous, arōmenos hēos hikoio

gēras te liparon threpsaio te phaidimon huion:

nun de toi oiōi pampan apheileto nostimon ēmar.

370houtō pou kai keinōi ephepsioōnto gunaikes

English · Butler

yet see how he has prevented you alone from ever getting back to your own home. I have no doubt the women in some foreign palace which Odysseus has got to are gibing at him as all these sluts here have been gibing you. I do not wonder at your not choosing to let them wash you after the manner in which they have insulted you;

Homeric Greek

ξείνων τηλεδαπῶν, ὅτε τευ κλυτὰ δώμαθ' ἵκοιτο,

ὡς σέθεν αἱ κύνες αἵδε καθεψιόωνται ἅπασαι,

τάων νῦν λώβην τε καὶ αἴσχεα πόλλ' ἀλεείνων

οὐκ ἐάας νίζειν: ἐμὲ δ' οὐκ ἀέκουσαν ἄνωγε

375κούρη Ἰκαρίοιο, περίφρων Πηνελόπεια.

Transliteration

xeinōn tēledapōn, hote teu kluta dōmath' hikoito,

hōs sethen hai kunes haide kathepsioōntai hapasai,

taōn nun lōbēn te kai aischea poll' aleeinōn

ouk eaas nizein: eme d' ouk aekousan anōge

375kourē Ikarioio, periphrōn Pēnelopeia.

English · Butler

I will wash your feet myself gladly enough, as Penelope has said that I am to do so; I will wash them both for Penelope's sake and for your own, for you have raised the most lively feelings of compassion in my mind; and let me say this moreover, which pray attend to; we have had all kinds

Homeric Greek

τῷ σε πόδας νίψω ἅμα τ' αὐτῆς Πηνελοπείης

καὶ σέθεν εἵνεκ', ἐπεί μοι ὀρώρεται ἔνδοθι θυμὸς

κήδεσιν. ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ξυνίει ἔπος, ὅττι κεν εἴπω:

πολλοὶ δὴ ξεῖνοι ταλαπείριοι ἐνθάδ' ἵκοντο,

380ἀλλ' οὔ πώ τινά φημι ἐοικότα ὧδε ἰδέσθαι

Transliteration

tōi se podas nipsō hama t' autēs Pēnelopeiēs

kai sethen heinek', epei moi orōretai endothi thumos

kēdesin. all' age nun xuniei epos, hotti ken eipō:

polloi dē xeinoi talapeirioi enthad' hikonto,

380all' ou pō tina phēmi eoikota hōde idesthai

English · Butler

of strangers in distress come here before now, but I make bold to say that no one ever yet came who was so like Odysseus in figure, voice,

Homeric Greek

ὡς σὺ δέμας φωνήν τε πόδας τ' Ὀδυσῆϊ ἔοικας."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

"ὦ γρηῦ, οὕτω φασὶν ὅσοι ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν

ἡμέας ἀμφοτέρους, μάλα εἰκέλω ἀλλήλοιϊν

385ἔμμεναι, ὡς σύ περ αὐτὴ ἐπιφρονέουσ' ἀγορεύεις."

Transliteration

hōs su demas phōnēn te podas t' Odusēï eoikas."

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

"ō grēu, houtō phasin hosoi idon ophthalmoisin

hēmeas amphoterous, mala eikelō allēloiïn

385emmenai, hōs su per autē epiphroneous' agoreueis."

English · Butler

and feet as you are." "Those who have seen us both," answered Odysseus, "have always said we were wonderfully like each other, and now you have noticed it too.

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, γρηὺ̈ς δὲ λέβηθ' ἕλε παμφανόωντα

τοῦ πόδας ἐξαπένιζεν, ὕδωρ δ' ἐνεχεύατο πουλὺ

ψυχρόν, ἔπειτα δὲ θερμὸν ἐπήφυσεν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἷζεν ἐπ' ἐσχαρόφιν, ποτὶ δὲ σκότον ἐτράπετ' αἶψα:

390αὐτίκα γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ὀί̈σατο, μή ἑ λαβοῦσα

Transliteration

hōs ar' ephē, grēüs de lebēth' hele pamphanoōnta

tou podas exapenizen, hudōr d' enecheuato poulu

psuchron, epeita de thermon epēphusen. autar Odusseus

hizen ep' escharophin, poti de skoton etrapet' aipsa:

390autika gar kata thumon oïsato, mē he labousa

English · Butler

Then the old woman took the cauldron in which she was going to wash his feet, and poured plenty of cold water into it, adding hot till the bath was warm enough. Odysseus sat by the fire, but ere long he turned away from the light, for it occurred to him that when the old woman had hold of his leg she would recognize a certain scar which it bore, whereon the whole truth would come out.

Homeric Greek

οὐλὴν ἀμφράσσαιτο καὶ ἀμφαδὰ ἔργα γένοιτο.

νίζε δ' ἄρ' ἆσσον ἰοῦσα ἄναχθ' ἑόν: αὐτίκα δ' ἔγνω

οὐλήν, τήν ποτέ μιν σῦς ἤλασε λευκῷ ὀδόντι

Παρνησόνδ' ἐλθόντα μετ' Αὐτόλυκόν τε καὶ υἷας,

395μητρὸς ἑῆς πάτερ' ἐσθλόν, ὃς ἀνθρώπους ἐκέκαστο

Transliteration

oulēn amphrassaito kai amphada erga genoito.

nize d' ar' asson iousa anachth' heon: autika d' egnō

oulēn, tēn pote min sus ēlase leukōi odonti

Parnēsond' elthonta met' Autolukon te kai huias,

395mētros heēs pater' esthlon, hos anthrōpous ekekasto

English · Butler

And indeed as soon as she began washing her master, she at once knew the scar as one that had been given him by a wild boar when he was hunting on Mount Parnassus with his excellent grandfather Autolykos - who was the most accomplished thief and perjurer in the whole world - and with the sons of Autolykos.

Homeric Greek

κλεπτοσύνῃ θ' ὅρκῳ τε: θεὸς δέ οἱ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν

Ἑρμείας: τῷ γὰρ κεχαρισμένα μηρία καῖεν

ἀρνῶν ἠδ' ἐρίφων: ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ἅμ' ὀπήδει.

Αὐτόλυκος δ' ἐλθὼν Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμον

400παῖδα νέον γεγαῶτα κιχήσατο θυγατέρος ἧς:

Transliteration

kleptosunēi th' horkōi te: theos de hoi autos edōken

Hermeias: tōi gar kecharismena mēria kaien

arnōn ēd' eriphōn: ho de hoi prophrōn ham' opēdei.

Autolukos d' elthōn Ithakēs es piona dēmon

400paida neon gegaōta kichēsato thugateros hēs:

English · Butler

Hermes himself had endowed him with this gift, for he used to burn the thigh bones of goats and kids to him, so he took pleasure in his companionship. It happened once that Autolykos had gone to the dêmos of Ithaca and had found the child of his daughter just born.

Homeric Greek

τόν ῥά οἱ Εὐρύκλεια φίλοις ἐπὶ γούνασι θῆκε

παυομένῳ δόρποιο, ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν:

"Αὐτόλυκ', αὐτὸς νῦν ὄνομ' εὕρεο ὅττι κε θῆαι

παιδὸς παιδὶ φίλῳ: πολυάρητος δέ τοί ἐστιν."

405τὴν δ' αὖτ' Αὐτόλυκος ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε:

Transliteration

ton rha hoi Eurukleia philois epi gounasi thēke

pauomenōi dorpoio, epos t' ephat' ek t' onomazen:

"Autoluk', autos nun onom' heureo hotti ke thēai

paidos paidi philōi: poluarētos de toi estin."

405tēn d' aut' Autolukos apameibeto phōnēsen te:

English · Butler

As soon as he had done supper Eurykleia set the infant upon his knees and said, "You must find a name for your grandson; you greatly wished that you might have one."

Homeric Greek

"γαμβρὸς ἐμὸς θυγάτηρ τε, τίθεσθ' ὄνομ' ὅττι κεν εἴπω:

πολλοῖσιν γὰρ ἐγώ γε ὀδυσσάμενος τόδ' ἱκάνω,

ἀνδράσιν ἠδὲ γυναιξὶν ἀνὰ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν:

τῷ δ' Ὀδυσεὺς ὄνομ' ἔστω ἐπώνυμον: αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε,

410ὁππότ' ἂν ἡβήσας μητρώϊον ἐς μέγα δῶμα

Transliteration

"gambros emos thugatēr te, tithesth' onom' hotti ken eipō:

polloisin gar egō ge odussamenos tod' hikanō,

andrasin ēde gunaixin ana chthona pouluboteiran:

tōi d' Oduseus onom' estō epōnumon: autar egō ge,

410hoppot' an hēbēsas mētrōïon es mega dōma

English · Butler

‘Son-in-law and daughter," replied Autolykos, "call the child thus: I am highly displeased with a large number of people in one place and another, both men and women; so name the child ‘Odysseus,’ or the child of anger. When he grows up and comes to visit his mother's family on Mount Parnassus, where my possessions lie, I will make

Homeric Greek

ἔλθῃ Παρνησόνδ', ὅθι πού μοι κτήματ' ἔασι,

τῶν οἱ ἐγὼ δώσω καί μιν χαίροντ' ἀποπέμψω."

τῶν ἕνεκ' ἦλθ' Ὀδυσεύς, ἵνα οἱ πόροι ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.

τὸν μὲν ἄρ' Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες Αὐτολύκοιο

415χερσίν τ' ἠσπάζοντο ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι:

Transliteration

elthēi Parnēsond', hothi pou moi ktēmat' easi,

tōn hoi egō dōsō kai min chairont' apopempsō."

tōn henek' ēlth' Oduseus, hina hoi poroi aglaa dōra.

ton men ar' Autolukos te kai huiees Autolukoio

415chersin t' ēspazonto epessi te meilichioisi:

English · Butler

him a present and will send him on his way rejoicing." Odysseus, therefore, went to Parnassus to get the presents from Autolykos, who with his sons shook hands with him and gave him welcome. His grandmother Amphithea threw her arms about him, and kissed his head, and both his beautiful eyes, while Autolykos desired

Homeric Greek

μήτηρ δ' Ἀμφιθέη μητρὸς περιφῦσ' Ὀδυσῆϊ

κύσσ' ἄρα μιν κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄμφω φάεα καλά.

Αὐτόλυκος δ' υἱοῖσιν ἐκέκλετο κυδαλίμοισι

δεῖπνον ἐφοπλίσσαι: τοὶ δ' ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν,

420αὐτίκα δ' εἰσάγαγον βοῦν ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον:

Transliteration

mētēr d' Amphitheē mētros periphus' Odusēï

kuss' ara min kephalēn te kai amphō phaea kala.

Autolukos d' huioisin ekekleto kudalimoisi

deipnon ephoplissai: toi d' otrunontos akousan,

420autika d' eisagagon boun arsena pentaetēron:

English · Butler

his sons to get dinner ready, and they did as he told them. They brought in a five year old bull, flayed it, made it ready and divided it into joints; these they then cut carefully up into smaller pieces and spitted them; they roasted them sufficiently and served the portions round. Thus through the livelong day to the going

Homeric Greek

τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θ' ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,

μίστυλλόν τ' ἄρ' ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τ' ὀβελοῖσιν,

ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, δάσσαντό τε μοίρας.

ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα

425δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐί̈σης:

Transliteration

ton deron amphi th' hepon, kai min diecheuan hapanta,

mistullon t' ar' epistamenōs peiran t' obeloisin,

ōptēsan te periphradeōs, dassanto te moiras.

hōs tote men propan ēmar es ēelion katadunta

425dainunt', oude ti thumos edeueto daitos eïsēs:

English · Butler

down of the sun they feasted, and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied; but when the sun set and it came on dark, they went to bed and enjoyed the boon of sleep.

Homeric Greek

ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,

δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.

ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

βάν ῥ' ἴμεν ἐς θήρην, ἠμὲν κύνες ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

430υἱέες Αὐτολύκου: μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

Transliteration

ēmos d' ēelios katedu kai epi knephas ēlthen,

dē tote koimēsanto kai hupnou dōron helonto.

ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktulos Ēōs,

ban rh' imen es thērēn, ēmen kunes ēde kai autoi

430huiees Autolukou: meta toisi de dios Odusseus

English · Butler

When the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, the sons of Autolykos went out with their hounds hunting, and Odysseus went too. They climbed the wooded slopes of Parnassus and soon reached its breezy upland valleys; but as the sun was beginning to beat upon the fields, fresh-risen from the slow still currents of Okeanos, they came to a mountain dell. The dogs were in front searching for the tracks

Homeric Greek

ἤϊεν: αἰπὺ δ' ὄρος προσέβαν καταειμένον ὕλῃ

Παρνησοῦ, τάχα δ' ἵκανον πτύχας ἠνεμοέσσας.

Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούρας

ἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο,

435οἱ δ' ἐς βῆσσαν ἵκανον ἐπακτῆρες: πρὸ δ' ἄρ' αὐτῶν

Transliteration

ēïen: aipu d' oros proseban kataeimenon hulēi

Parnēsou, tacha d' hikanon ptuchas ēnemoessas.

Ēelios men epeita neon proseballen arouras

ex akalarreitao bathurroou Ōkeanoio,

435hoi d' es bēssan hikanon epaktēres: pro d' ar' autōn

English · Butler

of the beast they were chasing, and after them came the sons of Autolykos, among whom was Odysseus, close behind the dogs, and he had a long spear in his hand. Here was the lair of a huge boar among some thick brushwood, so dense that the

Homeric Greek

ἴχνι' ἐρευνῶντες κύνες ἤϊσαν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν

υἱέες Αὐτολύκου: μετὰ τοῖσι δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἤϊεν ἄγχι κυνῶν, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.

ἔνθα δ' ἄρ' ἐν λόχμῃ πυκινῇ κατέκειτο μέγας σῦς:

440τὴν μὲν ἄρ' οὔτ' ἀνέμων διάει μένος ὑγρὸν ἀέντων,

Transliteration

ichni' ereunōntes kunes ēïsan, autar opisthen

huiees Autolukou: meta toisi de dios Odusseus

ēïen anchi kunōn, kradaōn dolichoskion enchos.

entha d' ar' en lochmēi pukinēi katekeito megas sus:

440tēn men ar' out' anemōn diaei menos hugron aentōn,

English · Butler

wind and rain could not get through it, nor could the sun's rays pierce it, and the ground underneath lay thick with fallen leaves. The boar heard the noise of the men's feet, and the hounds baying on every side as the huntsmen came up to him, so

Homeric Greek

οὔτε μιν Ἠέλιος φαέθων ἀκτῖσιν ἔβαλλεν,

οὔτ' ὄμβρος περάασκε διαμπερές: ὣς ἄρα πυκνὴ

ἦεν, ἀτὰρ φύλλων ἐνέην χύσις ἤλιθα πολλή.

τὸν δ' ἀνδρῶν τε κυνῶν τε περὶ κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖϊν,

445ὡς ἐπάγοντες ἐπῇσαν: ὁ δ' ἀντίος ἐκ ξυλόχοιο

Transliteration

oute min Ēelios phaethōn aktisin eballen,

out' ombros peraaske diamperes: hōs ara puknē

ēen, atar phullōn eneēn chusis ēlitha pollē.

ton d' andrōn te kunōn te peri ktupos ēlthe podoiïn,

445hōs epagontes epēisan: ho d' antios ek xulochoio

English · Butler

rushed from his lair, raised the bristles on his neck, and stood at bay with fire flashing from his eyes. Odysseus was the first to raise his spear and try to drive it into the brute, but the boar was too quick for him, and charged him sideways, ripping him above the

Homeric Greek

φρίξας εὖ λοφιήν, πῦρ δ' ὀφθαλμοῖσι δεδορκώς,

στῆ ῥ' αὐτῶν σχεδόθεν: ὁ δ' ἄρα πρώτιστος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἔσσυτ' ἀνασχόμενος δολιχὸν δόρυ χειρὶ παχείῃ,

οὐτάμεναι μεμαώς: ὁ δέ μιν φθάμενος ἔλασεν σῦς

450γουνὸς ὕπερ, πολλὸν δὲ διήφυσε σαρκὸς ὀδόντι

Transliteration

phrixas eu lophiēn, pur d' ophthalmoisi dedorkōs,

stē rh' autōn schedothen: ho d' ara prōtistos Odusseus

essut' anaschomenos dolichon doru cheiri pacheiēi,

outamenai memaōs: ho de min phthamenos elasen sus

450gounos huper, pollon de diēphuse sarkos odonti

English · Butler

knee with a gash that tore deep though it did not reach the bone. As for the boar, Odysseus hit him on the right shoulder, and the point of the spear went right through him, so that he fell groaning in the dust until the life went out of him.

Homeric Greek

λικριφὶς ἀί̈ξας, οὐδ' ὀστέον ἵκετο φωτός.

τὸν δ' Ὀδυσεὺς οὔτησε τυχὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον,

ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκή:

κὰδ δ' ἔπεσ' ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δ' ἔπτατο θυμός.

455τὸν μὲν ἄρ' Αὐτολύκου παῖδες φίλοι ἀμφεπένοντο,

Transliteration

likriphis aïxas, oud' osteon hiketo phōtos.

ton d' Oduseus outēse tuchōn kata dexion ōmon,

antikru de diēlthe phaeinou douros akōkē:

kad d' epes' en koniēisi makōn, apo d' eptato thumos.

455ton men ar' Autolukou paides philoi amphepenonto,

English · Butler

The sons of Autolykos busied themselves with the carcass of the boar, and bound Odysseus’ wound; then, after saying a spell to stop the bleeding, they went home as fast as they could. But when Autolykos and his sons had thoroughly healed Odysseus, they made him some splendid presents, and sent him back to Ithaca with much mutual good will.

Homeric Greek

ὠτειλὴν δ' Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἀντιθέοιο

δῆσαν ἐπισταμένως, ἐπαοιδῇ δ' αἷμα κελαινὸν

ἔσχεθον, αἶψα δ' ἵκοντο φίλου πρὸς δώματα πατρός.

τὸν μὲν ἄρ' Αὐτόλυκός τε καὶ υἱέες Αὐτολύκοιο

460εὖ ἰησάμενοι ἠδ' ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πορόντες

Transliteration

ōteilēn d' Odusēos amumonos antitheoio

dēsan epistamenōs, epaoidēi d' haima kelainon

eschethon, aipsa d' hikonto philou pros dōmata patros.

ton men ar' Autolukos te kai huiees Autolukoio

460eu iēsamenoi ēd' aglaa dōra porontes

English · Butler

When he got back, his father and mother were rejoiced to see him, and asked him all about it, and how he had hurt himself to get the scar; so he told

Homeric Greek

καρπαλίμως χαίροντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδ' ἔπεμπον

εἰς Ἰθάκην. τῷ μέν ῥα πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

χαῖρον νοστήσαντι καὶ ἐξερέεινον ἕκαστα,

οὐλὴν ὅττι πάθοι: ὁ δ' ἄρα σφίσιν εὖ κατέλεξεν

465ὥς μιν θηρεύοντ' ἔλασεν σῦς λευκῷ ὀδόντι,

Transliteration

karpalimōs chaironta philēn es patrid' epempon

eis Ithakēn. tōi men rha patēr kai potnia mētēr

chairon nostēsanti kai exereeinon hekasta,

oulēn hotti pathoi: ho d' ara sphisin eu katelexen

465hōs min thēreuont' elasen sus leukōi odonti,

English · Butler

them how the boar had ripped him when he was out hunting with Autolykos and his sons

Homeric Greek

Παρνησόνδ' ἐλθόντα σὺν υἱάσιν Αὐτολύκοιο.

τὴν γρηὺ̈ς χείρεσσι καταπρηνέσσι λαβοῦσα

γνῶ ῥ' ἐπιμασσαμένη, πόδα δὲ προέηκε φέρεσθαι:

ἐν δὲ λέβητι πέσε κνήμη, κανάχησε δὲ χαλκός,

470ἂψ δ' ἑτέρωσ' ἐκλίθη: τὸ δ' ἐπὶ χθονὸς ἐξέχυθ' ὕδωρ.

Transliteration

Parnēsond' elthonta sun huiasin Autolukoio.

tēn grēüs cheiressi kataprēnessi labousa

gnō rh' epimassamenē, poda de proeēke pheresthai:

en de lebēti pese knēmē, kanachēse de chalkos,

470aps d' heterōs' eklithē: to d' epi chthonos exechuth' hudōr.

English · Butler

on Mount Parnassus. As soon as Eurykleia had got the scarred limb in her hands and had well hold of it, she recognized it and dropped the foot at once. The leg fell into the bath, which rang out and was overturned, so that all the water was spilt on the ground; Eurykleia's eyes between her joy and her grief

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' ἅμα χάρμα καὶ ἄλγος ἕλε φρένα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.

ἁψαμένη δὲ γενείου Ὀδυσσῆα προσέειπεν:

"ἦ μάλ' Ὀδυσσεύς ἐσσι, φίλον τέκος: οὐδέ σ' ἐγώ γε

475πρὶν ἔγνων, πρὶν πάντα ἄνακτ' ἐμὸν ἀμφαφάασθαι."

Transliteration

tēn d' hama charma kai algos hele phrena, tō de hoi osse

dakruophi plēsthen, thalerē de hoi escheto phōnē.

hapsamenē de geneiou Odussēa proseeipen:

"ē mal' Odusseus essi, philon tekos: oude s' egō ge

475prin egnōn, prin panta anakt' emon amphaphaasthai."

English · Butler

filled with tears, and she could not speak, but she caught Odysseus by the beard and said, "My dear child, I am sure you must be Odysseus himself, only I did not know you till I had actually touched and handled you."

Homeric Greek

ἦ καὶ Πηνελόπειαν ἐσέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσι,

πεφραδέειν ἐθέλουσα φίλον πόσιν ἔνδον ἐόντα.

ἡ δ' οὔτ' ἀθρῆσαι δύνατ' ἀντίη οὔτε νοῆσαι:

τῇ γὰρ Ἀθηναίη νόον ἔτραπεν: αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς

480χεῖρ' ἐπιμασσάμενος φάρυγος λάβε δεξιτερῆφι,

Transliteration

ē kai Pēnelopeian esedraken ophthalmoisi,

pephradeein ethelousa philon posin endon eonta.

hē d' out' athrēsai dunat' antiē oute noēsai:

tēi gar Athēnaiē noon etrapen: autar Odusseus

480cheir' epimassamenos pharugos labe dexiterēphi,

English · Butler

As she spoke she looked towards Penelope, as though wanting to tell her that her dear husband was in the house, but Penelope was unable to look in that direction and observe what was going on, for Athena had diverted her attention ; so Odysseus caught Eurykleia by the throat with his right hand and with his left drew her close to him, and said, "Nurse, do you wish to be the ruin of me, you who nursed me at your own breast, now that after twenty years of wandering I am at last come to my own home again? Since it has been borne in upon you by heaven to recognize me, hold your tongue, and do not say

Homeric Greek

τῇ δ' ἑτέρῃ ἕθεν ἆσσον ἐρύσσατο φώνησέν τε.

"μαῖα, τίη μ' ἐθέλεις ὀλέσαι; σὺ δέ μ' ἔτρεφες αὐτὴ

τῷ σῷ ἐπὶ μαζῷ: νῦν δ' ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας

ἤλυθον εἰκοστῷ ἔτεϊ ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

485ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ ἐφράσθης καί τοι θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ,

Transliteration

tēi d' heterēi hethen asson erussato phōnēsen te.

"maia, tiē m' etheleis olesai; su de m' etrephes autē

tōi sōi epi mazōi: nun d' algea polla mogēsas

ēluthon eikostōi eteï es patrida gaian.

485all' epei ephrasthēs kai toi theos embale thumōi,

English · Butler

a word about it any one else in the house, for if you do I tell you - and it shall surely be - that if heaven

Homeric Greek

σίγα, μή τίς τ' ἄλλος ἐνὶ μεγάροισι πύθηται.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται:

εἴ χ' ὑπ' ἐμοί γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,

οὐδὲ τροφοῦ οὔσης σεῦ ἀφέξομαι, ὁππότ' ἂν ἄλλας

490δμῳὰς ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖς κτείνωμι γυναῖκας."

Transliteration

siga, mē tis t' allos eni megaroisi puthētai.

hōde gar exereō, kai mēn tetelesmenon estai:

ei ch' hup' emoi ge theos damasēi mnēstēras agauous,

oude trophou ousēs seu aphexomai, hoppot' an allas

490dmōias en megaroisin emois kteinōmi gunaikas."

English · Butler

grants me to take the lives of these suitors, I will not spare you, though you are my own nurse, when I am killing the other women."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Εὐρύκλεια:

"τέκνον ἐμόν, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων.

οἶσθα μὲν οἷον ἐμὸν μένος ἔμπεδον οὐδ' ἐπιεικτόν,

ἕξω δ' ὡς ὅτε τις στερεὴ λίθος ἠὲ σίδηρος.

495ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν:

Transliteration

ton d' aute proseeipe periphrōn Eurukleia:

"teknon emon, poion se epos phugen herkos odontōn.

oistha men hoion emon menos empedon oud' epieikton,

hexō d' hōs hote tis stereē lithos ēe sidēros.

495allo de toi ereō, su d' eni phresi balleo sēisin:

English · Butler

"My child," answered Eurykleia, "what are you talking about? You know very well that nothing can either bend or break me. I will hold my tongue like a stone or a piece of iron; furthermore let me say, and lay my saying to your heart, when heaven has delivered the

Homeric Greek

εἴ χ' ὑπό σοι γε θεὸς δαμάσῃ μνηστῆρας ἀγαυούς,

δὴ τότε τοι καταλέξω ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκας,

αἵ τέ σ' ἀτιμάζουσι καὶ αἳ νηλείτιδές εἰσι."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς

500"μαῖα, τίη δὲ σὺ τὰς μυθήσεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.

Transliteration

ei ch' hupo soi ge theos damasēi mnēstēras agauous,

dē tote toi katalexō eni megaroisi gunaikas,

hai te s' atimazousi kai hai nēleitides eisi."

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus

500"maia, tiē de su tas muthēseai; oude ti se chrē.

English · Butler

suitors into your hand, I will give you a list of the women in the house who have been ill-behaved, and of those who are guiltless." And Odysseus answered, "Nurse, you ought not to speak in that way; I am well able to form my own opinion about one and all of them;

Homeric Greek

εὖ νυ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ φράσομαι καὶ εἴσομ' ἑκάστην:

ἀλλ' ἔχε σιγῇ μῦθον, ἐπίτρεψον δὲ θεοῖσιν."

ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, γρηὺ̈ς δὲ διὲκ μεγάροιο βεβήκει

οἰσομένη ποδάνιπτρα: τὰ γὰρ πρότερ' ἔκχυτο πάντα.

505αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ νίψεν τε καὶ ἤλειψεν λίπ' ἐλαίῳ,

Transliteration

eu nu kai autos egō phrasomai kai eisom' hekastēn:

all' eche sigēi muthon, epitrepson de theoisin."

hōs ar' ephē, grēüs de diek megaroio bebēkei

oisomenē podaniptra: ta gar proter' ekchuto panta.

505autar epei nipsen te kai ēleipsen lip' elaiōi,

English · Butler

hold your tongue and leave everything to heaven." As he said this Eurykleia left the room to fetch some more water, for the first had been all spilt; and when she had washed him and anointed him with oil, Odysseus drew his seat nearer to the fire to warm himself, and hid the scar under his rags. Then Penelope began talking

Homeric Greek

αὖτις ἄρ' ἀσσοτέρω πυρὸς ἕλκετο δίφρον Ὀδυσσεὺς

θερσόμενος, οὐλὴν δὲ κατὰ ῥακέεσσι κάλυψε.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια:

"ξεῖνε, τὸ μέν σ' ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐγὼν εἰρήσομαι αὐτή:

510καὶ γὰρ δὴ κοίτοιο τάχ' ἔσσεται ἡδέος ὥρη,

Transliteration

autis ar' assoterō puros helketo diphron Odusseus

thersomenos, oulēn de kata rhakeessi kalupse.

toisi de muthōn ērche periphrōn Pēnelopeia:

"xeine, to men s' eti tutthon egōn eirēsomai autē:

510kai gar dē koitoio tach' essetai hēdeos hōrē,

English · Butler

to him and said: "Stranger, I should like to speak with you briefly about another matter. It is indeed nearly bed time - for those, at least, who can sleep in spite of sorrow.

Homeric Greek

ὅν τινά γ' ὕπνος ἕλοι γλυκερός, καὶ κηδόμενόν περ.

αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ καὶ πένθος ἀμέτρητον πόρε δαίμων:

ἤματα μὲν γὰρ τέρπομ' ὀδυρομένη, γοόωσα,

ἔς τ' ἐμὰ ἔργ' ὁρόωσα καὶ ἀμφιπόλων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ:

515αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν νὺξ ἔλθῃ, ἕλῃσί τε κοῖτος ἅπαντας,

Transliteration

hon tina g' hupnos heloi glukeros, kai kēdomenon per.

autar emoi kai penthos ametrēton pore daimōn:

ēmata men gar terpom' oduromenē, gooōsa,

es t' ema erg' horoōsa kai amphipolōn eni oikōi:

515autar epēn nux elthēi, helēisi te koitos hapantas,

English · Butler

As for myself, a daimôn has given me a life of such unmeasurable woe, that even by day when I am attending to my duties and looking after the servants, I am still weeping and lamenting during the whole time; then, when night comes, and we all of us go to bed, I lie awake thinking, and my heart becomes prey to the most incessant and cruel tortures.

Homeric Greek

κεῖμαι ἐνὶ λέκτρῳ, πυκιναὶ δέ μοι ἀμφ' ἀδινὸν κῆρ

ὀξεῖαι μελεδῶνες ὀδυρομένην ἐρέθουσιν.

ὡς δ' ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρη, χλωρηὶ̈ς ἀηδών,

καλὸν ἀείδῃσιν ἔαρος νέον ἱσταμένοιο,

520δενδρέων ἐν πετάλοισι καθεζομένη πυκινοῖσιν,

Transliteration

keimai eni lektrōi, pukinai de moi amph' adinon kēr

oxeiai meledōnes oduromenēn erethousin.

hōs d' hote Pandareou kourē, chlōrēïs aēdōn,

kalon aeidēisin earos neon histamenoio,

520dendreōn en petaloisi kathezomenē pukinoisin,

English · Butler

As the dun nightingale, daughter of Pandareus, sings in the early spring from her seat in shadiest covert hid, and with many a plaintive trill pours out the tale how by mishap she killed her own child Itylos, son of king Zethos, even so does my mind toss and turn

Homeric Greek

ἥ τε θαμὰ τρωπῶσα χέει πολυηχέα φωνήν,

παῖδ' ὀλοφυρομένη Ἴτυλον φίλον, ὅν ποτε χαλκῷ

κτεῖνε δι' ἀφραδίας, κοῦρον Ζήθοιο ἄνακτος,

ὣς καὶ ἐμοὶ δίχα θυμὸς ὀρώρεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

525ἠὲ μένω παρὰ παιδὶ καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσω,

Transliteration

hē te thama trōpōsa cheei poluēchea phōnēn,

paid' olophuromenē Itulon philon, hon pote chalkōi

kteine di' aphradias, kouron Zēthoio anaktos,

hōs kai emoi dicha thumos orōretai entha kai entha,

525ēe menō para paidi kai empeda panta phulassō,

English · Butler

in its uncertainty whether I ought to stay with my son here, and safeguard my substance, my bondsmen, and the greatness of my house, out of regard to the opinion of the dêmos and the memory of my late husband, or whether it is not now time for me to

Homeric Greek

κτῆσιν ἐμήν, δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα,

εὐνήν τ' αἰδομένη πόσιος δήμοιό τε φῆμιν,

ἦ ἤδη ἅμ' ἕπωμαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος

μνᾶται ἐνὶ μεγάροισι, πορὼν ἀπερείσια ἕδνα.

530παῖς δ' ἐμὸς ἧος ἔην ἔτι νήπιος ἠδὲ χαλίφρων,

Transliteration

ktēsin emēn, dmōas te kai hupserephes mega dōma,

eunēn t' aidomenē posios dēmoio te phēmin,

ē ēdē ham' hepōmai Achaiōn hos tis aristos

mnatai eni megaroisi, porōn apereisia hedna.

530pais d' emos hēos eēn eti nēpios ēde chaliphrōn,

English · Butler

go with the best of these suitors who are wooing me and making me such magnificent presents. As long as my son was still young, and unable to understand, he would not hear of my leaving my husband's house, but now that he is full grown he begs and prays me to do so, being incensed at the way in which the suitors are eating up his property.

Homeric Greek

γήμασθ' οὔ μ' εἴα πόσιος κατὰ δῶμα λιποῦσαν:

νῦν δ' ὅτε δὴ μέγας ἐστὶ καὶ ἥβης μέτρον ἱκάνει,

καὶ δή μ' ἀρᾶται πάλιν ἐλθέμεν ἐκ μεγάροιο,

κτήσιος ἀσχαλόων, τήν οἱ κατέδουσιν Ἀχαιοί.

535ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι τὸν ὄνειρον ὑπόκριναι καὶ ἄκουσον.

Transliteration

gēmasth' ou m' eia posios kata dōma lipousan:

nun d' hote dē megas esti kai hēbēs metron hikanei,

kai dē m' aratai palin elthemen ek megaroio,

ktēsios aschaloōn, tēn hoi katedousin Achaioi.

535all' age moi ton oneiron hupokrinai kai akouson.

English · Butler

Listen, then, to a dream that I have had and interpret it for me if you can. I have twenty geese about the house that eat mash out of a trough, and of which I am exceedingly fond. I dreamed that a great eagle came swooping down from a mountain, and dug his curved beak into the neck of each of them till he had killed them all.

Homeric Greek

χῆνές μοι κατὰ οἶκον ἐείκοσι πυρὸν ἔδουσιν

ἐξ ὕδατος, καί τέ σφιν ἰαίνομαι εἰσορόωσα:

ἐλθὼν δ' ἐξ ὄρεος μέγας αἰετὸς ἀγκυλοχείλης

πᾶσι κατ' αὐχένας ἦξε καὶ ἔκτανεν: οἱ δ' ἐκέχυντο

540ἀθρόοι ἐν μεγάροις, ὁ δ' ἐς αἰθέρα δῖαν ἀέρθη.

Transliteration

chēnes moi kata oikon eeikosi puron edousin

ex hudatos, kai te sphin iainomai eisoroōsa:

elthōn d' ex oreos megas aietos ankulocheilēs

pasi kat' auchenas ēxe kai ektanen: hoi d' ekechunto

540athrooi en megarois, ho d' es aithera dian aerthē.

English · Butler

Presently he soared off into the sky, and left them lying dead about the yard; whereon I wept in my room till all my maids gathered round me, so piteously was I grieving because the eagle had killed my geese. Then he came back again, and perching on a projecting rafter spoke to me with human voice, and told me to leave off crying.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κλαῖον καὶ ἐκώκυον ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ,

ἀμφὶ δ' ἔμ' ἠγερέθοντο ἐϋπλοκαμῖδες Ἀχαιαί,

οἴκτρ' ὀλοφυρομένην ὅ μοι αἰετὸς ἔκτανε χῆνας.

ἂψ δ' ἐλθὼν κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετ' ἐπὶ προὔχοντι μελάθρῳ,

545φωνῇ δὲ βροτέῃ κατερήτυε φώνησέν τε:

Transliteration

autar egō klaion kai ekōkuon en per oneirōi,

amphi d' em' ēgerethonto eüplokamides Achaiai,

oiktr' olophuromenēn ho moi aietos ektane chēnas.

aps d' elthōn kat' ar' hezet' epi prouchonti melathrōi,

545phōnēi de broteēi katerētue phōnēsen te:

English · Butler

‘Be of good courage,’ he said, ‘daughter of Ikarios; this is no dream, but a vision of good omen that shall surely come to pass. The geese are the suitors, and I am no longer an eagle, but your own

Homeric Greek

"'θάρσει, Ἰκαρίου κούρη τηλεκλειτοῖο:

οὐκ ὄναρ, ἀλλ' ὕπαρ ἐσθλόν, ὅ τοι τετελεσμένον ἔσται.

χῆνες μὲν μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δέ τοι αἰετὸς ὄρνις

ἦα πάρος, νῦν αὖτε τεὸς πόσις εἰλήλουθα,

550ὃς πᾶσι μνηστῆρσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφήσω.'

Transliteration

"'tharsei, Ikariou kourē tēlekleitoio:

ouk onar, all' hupar esthlon, ho toi tetelesmenon estai.

chēnes men mnēstēres, egō de toi aietos ornis

ēa paros, nun aute teos posis eilēloutha,

550hos pasi mnēstērsin aeikea potmon ephēsō.'

English · Butler

husband, who am come back to you, and who will bring these suitors to a disgraceful end.’ On this I woke, and when I

Homeric Greek

"ὣς ἔφατ', αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ μελιηδὴς ὕπνος ἀνῆκε:

παπτήνασα δὲ χῆνας ἐνὶ μεγάροισι νόησα

πυρὸν ἐρεπτομένους παρὰ πύελον, ἧχι πάρος περ."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

555"ὦ γύναι, οὔ πως ἔστιν ὑποκρίνασθαι ὄνειρον

Transliteration

"hōs ephat', autar eme meliēdēs hupnos anēke:

paptēnasa de chēnas eni megaroisi noēsa

puron ereptomenous para puelon, hēchi paros per."

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

555"ō gunai, ou pōs estin hupokrinasthai oneiron

English · Butler

looked out I saw my geese at the trough eating their mash as usual." "This dream, lady," replied Odysseus, "can admit but of one interpretation, for had not Odysseus himself told you how it shall be fulfilled? The death of the

Homeric Greek

ἄλλῃ ἀποκλίναντ', ἐπεὶ ἦ ῥά τοι αὐτὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς

πέφραδ' ὅπως τελέει: μνηστῆρσι δὲ φαίνετ' ὄλεθρος

πᾶσι μάλ', οὐδέ κέ τις θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξει."

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια:

560"ξεῖν', ἦ τοι μὲν ὄνειροι ἀμήχανοι ἀκριτόμυθοι

Transliteration

allēi apoklinant', epei ē rha toi autos Odusseus

pephrad' hopōs teleei: mnēstērsi de phainet' olethros

pasi mal', oude ke tis thanaton kai kēras aluxei."

ton d' aute proseeipe periphrōn Pēnelopeia:

560"xein', ē toi men oneiroi amēchanoi akritomuthoi

English · Butler

suitors is portended, and not one single one of them will escape." And Penelope answered, "Stranger, dreams are very curious and unaccountable things, and they do not by any means invariably come true. There are two gates through which these insubstantial fancies proceed;

Homeric Greek

γίγνοντ', οὐδέ τι πάντα τελείεται ἀνθρώποισι.

δοιαὶ γάρ τε πύλαι ἀμενηνῶν εἰσὶν ὀνείρων:

αἱ μὲν γὰρ κεράεσσι τετεύχαται, αἱ δ' ἐλέφαντι:

τῶν οἳ μέν κ' ἔλθωσι διὰ πριστοῦ ἐλέφαντος,

565οἵ ῥ' ἐλεφαίρονται, ἔπε' ἀκράαντα φέροντες:

Transliteration

gignont', oude ti panta teleietai anthrōpoisi.

doiai gar te pulai amenēnōn eisin oneirōn:

hai men gar keraessi teteuchatai, hai d' elephanti:

tōn hoi men k' elthōsi dia pristou elephantos,

565hoi rh' elephairontai, epe' akraanta pherontes:

English · Butler

the one is of horn, and the other ivory. Those that come through the gate of ivory are fatuous, but those from the gate of horn mean something to those that see them. I do not think, however, that my own dream came through the gate of horn, though I and my son should be most thankful if it proves to have done so.

Homeric Greek

οἱ δὲ διὰ ξεστῶν κεράων ἔλθωσι θύραζε,

οἵ ῥ' ἔτυμα κραίνουσι, βροτῶν ὅτε κέν τις ἴδηται.

ἀλλ' ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν ὀί̈ομαι αἰνὸν ὄνειρον

ἐλθέμεν: ἦ κ' ἀσπαστὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ παιδὶ γένοιτο.

570ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν:

Transliteration

hoi de dia xestōn keraōn elthōsi thuraze,

hoi rh' etuma krainousi, brotōn hote ken tis idētai.

all' emoi ouk enteuthen oïomai ainon oneiron

elthemen: ē k' aspaston emoi kai paidi genoito.

570allo de toi ereō, su d' eni phresi balleo sēisin:

English · Butler

Furthermore I say - and lay my saying to your heart - the coming dawn will usher in the ill-omened day that is to sever me from the house of Odysseus, for I am about to hold a tournament of axes. My husband used to set up twelve axes in

Homeric Greek

ἥδε δὴ ἠὼς εἶσι δυσώνυμος, ἥ μ' Ὀδυσῆος

οἴκου ἀποσχήσει: νῦν γὰρ καταθήσω ἄεθλον,

τοὺς πελέκεας, τοὺς κεῖνος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑοῖσιν

ἵστασχ' ἑξείης, δρυόχους ὥς, δώδεκα πάντας:

575στὰς δ' ὅ γε πολλὸν ἄνευθε διαρρίπτασκεν ὀϊστόν.

Transliteration

hēde dē ēōs eisi dusōnumos, hē m' Odusēos

oikou aposchēsei: nun gar katathēsō aethlon,

tous pelekeas, tous keinos eni megaroisin heoisin

histasch' hexeiēs, druochous hōs, dōdeka pantas:

575stas d' ho ge pollon aneuthe diarriptasken oïston.

English · Butler

the court, one in front of the other, like the stays upon which a ship is built; he would then go back from them and shoot an arrow through the whole twelve. I shall make the suitors try to perform the same feat, and whichever of them can string the bow most easily,

Homeric Greek

νῦν δὲ μνηστήρεσσιν ἄεθλον τοῦτον ἐφήσω:

ὃς δέ κε ῥηί̈τατ' ἐντανύσῃ βιὸν ἐν παλάμῃσι

καὶ διοϊστεύσῃ πελέκεων δυοκαίδεκα πάντων,

τῷ κεν ἅμ' ἑσποίμην, νοσφισσαμένη τόδε δῶμα

580κουρίδιον, μάλα καλόν, ἐνίπλειον βιότοιο:

Transliteration

nun de mnēstēressin aethlon touton ephēsō:

hos de ke rhēïtat' entanusēi bion en palamēisi

kai dioïsteusēi pelekeōn duokaideka pantōn,

tōi ken ham' hespoimēn, nosphissamenē tode dōma

580kouridion, mala kalon, enipleion biotoio:

English · Butler

and send his arrow through all the twelve axes, him will I follow, and quit this house of my lawful husband, so goodly and so abounding in wealth. But even so, I doubt not that I shall

Homeric Greek

τοῦ ποτὲ μεμνήσεσθαι ὀί̈ομαι ἔν περ ὀνείρῳ."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς

"ὦ γύναι αἰδοίη Λαερτιάδεω Ὀδυσῆος,

μηκέτι νῦν ἀνάβαλλε δόμοις ἔνι τοῦτον ἄεθλον:

585πρὶν γάρ τοι πολύμητις ἐλεύσεται ἐνθάδ' Ὀδυσσεύς,

Transliteration

tou pote memnēsesthai oïomai en per oneirōi."

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē polumētis Odusseus

"ō gunai aidoiē Laertiadeō Odusēos,

mēketi nun anaballe domois eni touton aethlon:

585prin gar toi polumētis eleusetai enthad' Odusseus,

English · Butler

remember it in my dreams." Then Odysseus answered, "my lady wife of Odysseus, you need not defer your tournament, for Odysseus will return ere ever they can string the

Homeric Greek

πρὶν τούτους τόδε τόξον ἐύ̈ξοον ἀμφαφόωντας

νευρήν τ' ἐντανύσαι διοϊστεῦσαί τε σιδήρου."

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια:

"εἴ κ' ἐθέλοις μοι, ξεῖνε, παρήμενος ἐν μεγάροισι

590τέρπειν, οὔ κέ μοι ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι χυθείη.

Transliteration

prin toutous tode toxon eüxoon amphaphoōntas

neurēn t' entanusai dioïsteusai te sidērou."

ton d' aute proseeipe periphrōn Pēnelopeia:

"ei k' ethelois moi, xeine, parēmenos en megaroisi

590terpein, ou ke moi hupnos epi blepharoisi chutheiē.

English · Butler

bow, handle it how they will, and send their arrows through the iron." To this Penelope said, "As long, sir, as you will sit here and talk to me, I can have no desire to go to bed. Still, people cannot do permanently without sleep, and heaven has appointed us dwellers on earth a time for all things.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' οὐ γάρ πως ἔστιν ἀύ̈πνους ἔμμεναι αἰεὶ

ἀνθρώπους: ἐπὶ γάρ τοι ἑκάστῳ μοῖραν ἔθηκαν

ἀθάνατοι θνητοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.

ἀλλ' ἦ τοι μὲν ἐγὼν ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα

595λέξομαι εἰς εὐνήν, ἥ μοι στονόεσσα τέτυκται,

Transliteration

all' ou gar pōs estin aüpnous emmenai aiei

anthrōpous: epi gar toi hekastōi moiran ethēkan

athanatoi thnētoisin epi zeidōron arouran.

all' ē toi men egōn huperōïon eisanabasa

595lexomai eis eunēn, hē moi stonoessa tetuktai,

English · Butler

I will therefore go upstairs and recline upon that couch which I have never ceased to flood with my

Homeric Greek

αἰεὶ δάκρυσ' ἐμοῖσι πεφυρμένη, ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς

ᾤχετ' ἐποψόμενος Κακοί̈λιον οὐκ ὀνομαστήν.

ἔνθα κε λεξαίμην: σὺ δὲ λέξεο τῷδ' ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

ἢ χαμάδις στορέσας ἤ τοι κατὰ δέμνια θέντων."

600ὣς εἰποῦσ' ἀνέβαιν' ὑπερώϊα σιγαλόεντα,

Transliteration

aiei dakrus' emoisi pephurmenē, ex hou Odusseus

ōichet' epopsomenos Kakoïlion ouk onomastēn.

entha ke lexaimēn: su de lexeo tōid' eni oikōi,

ē chamadis storesas ē toi kata demnia thentōn."

600hōs eipous' anebain' huperōïa sigaloenta,

English · Butler

tears from the day Odysseus set out for the city with a hateful name." She then went upstairs to her

Homeric Greek

οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι κίον ἄλλαι.

ἐς δ' ὑπερῷ' ἀναβᾶσα σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξὶ

κλαῖεν ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆα, φίλον πόσιν, ὄφρα οἱ ὕπνον

ἡδὺν ἐπὶ βλεφάροισι βάλε γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

Transliteration

ouk oiē, hama tēi ge kai amphipoloi kion allai.

es d' huperōi' anabasa sun amphipoloisi gunaixi

klaien epeit' Odusēa, philon posin, ophra hoi hupnon

hēdun epi blepharoisi bale glaukōpis Athēnē.

English · Butler

own room, not alone, but attended by her maidens, and when there, she lamented her dear husband till Athena shed sweet sleep over her eyelids.