Homeric Greek
1ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
ὤρνυτ' ἄρ' ἐξ εὐνῆφιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱὸς
εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτ' ὤμῳ,
ποσσὶ δ' ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
5βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος ἄντην.
Transliteration
1ēmos d' ērigeneia phanē rhododaktylos Ēōs,
ōrnyt' ar' ex eunēphin Odyssēos philos huios
heimata hessamenos, peri de xiphos oxy thet' ōmōi,
possi d' hypo liparoisin edēsato kala pedila,
5bē d' imen ek thalamoio theōi enalinkios antēn.
English
Now when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared, Telemakhos rose and dressed himself. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, girded his sword about his shoulder, and left his room looking like an immortal god.
Homeric Greek
αἶψα δὲ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε
κηρύσσειν ἀγορήνδε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς.
οἱ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δ' ἠγείροντο μάλ' ὦκα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τ' ἐγένοντο,
10βῆ ῥ' ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, παλάμῃ δ' ἔχε χάλκεον ἔγχος,
Transliteration
aipsa de kērykessi ligyphthongoisi keleuse
kēryssein agorēnde karē komoōntas Achaious.
hoi men ekērysson, toi d' ēgeironto mal' ōka.
autar epei rh' ēgerthen homēgerees t' egenonto,
10bē rh' imen eis agorēn, palamēi d' eche chalkeon enchos,
English
He at once sent the criers round to call the people in assembly, so they called them and the people gathered thereon; then, when they were got together, he went to the place of assembly spear in hand - not alone, for his two hounds went with him.
Homeric Greek
οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
θεσπεσίην δ' ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη.
τὸν δ' ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο:
ἕζετο δ' ἐν πατρὸς θώκῳ, εἶξαν δὲ γέροντες.
15τοῖσι δ' ἔπειθ' ἥρως Αἰγύπτιος ἦρχ' ἀγορεύειν,
Transliteration
ouk oios, hama tōi ge dyō kynes argoi heponto.
thespesiēn d' ara tōi ge charin katecheuen Athēnē.
ton d' ara pantes laoi eperchomenon thēeunto:
hezeto d' en patros thōkōi, eixan de gerontes.
15toisi d' epeith' hērōs Aigyptios ērch' agoreuein,
English
Athena endowed him with a presence of such divine comeliness that all marveled at him as he went by, and when he took his place in his father's seat even the oldest councilors made way for him. Aigyptios, a man bent double with age, and of infinite
Homeric Greek
ὃς δὴ γήραϊ κυφὸς ἔην καὶ μυρία ᾔδη.
καὶ γὰρ τοῦ φίλος υἱὸς ἅμ' ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆι
Ἴλιον εἰς ἐύπωλον ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσίν,
Ἄντιφος αἰχμητής: τὸν δ' ἄγριος ἔκτανε Κύκλωψ
20ἐν σπῆι γλαφυρῷ, πύματον δ' ὡπλίσσατο δόρπον.
Transliteration
hos dē gēraï kyphos eēn kai myria ēidē.
kai gar tou philos huios ham' antitheōi Odysēi
Ilion eis eupōlon ebē koilēis eni nēusin,
Antiphos aichmētēs: ton d' agrios ektane Kyklōps
20en spēi glaphyrōi, pymaton d' hōplissato dorpon.
English
experience, was the first to speak His son Antiphos had gone with Odysseus to Ilion, land of noble steeds, but the savage Cyclops had killed him when they were all shut up in the cave, and had cooked his last dinner for him.
Homeric Greek
τρεῖς δέ οἱ ἄλλοι ἔσαν, καὶ ὁ μὲν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει,
Εὐρύνομος, δύο δ' αἰὲν ἔχον πατρώια ἔργα.
ἀλλ' οὐδ' ὣς τοῦ λήθετ' ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύων.
τοῦ ὅ γε δάκρυ χέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε:
25"κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω:
Transliteration
treis de hoi alloi esan, kai ho men mnēstērsin homilei,
Eurynomos, dyo d' aien echon patrōia erga.
all' oud' hōs tou lēthet' odyromenos kai acheuōn.
tou ho ge dakry cheōn agorēsato kai meteeipe:
25"keklyte dē nyn meu, Ithakēsioi, hotti ken eipō:
English
He had three sons left, of whom two still worked on their father's land, while the third, Eurynomos, was one of the suitors; nevertheless their father could not get over the loss of Antiphos, and was still weeping for him when he began his speech. "Men of Ithaca," he said, "hear my words.
Homeric Greek
οὔτε ποθ' ἡμετέρη ἀγορὴ γένετ' οὔτε θόωκος
ἐξ οὗ Ὀδυσσεὺς δῖος ἔβη κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσί.
νῦν δὲ τίς ὧδ' ἤγειρε; τίνα χρειὼ τόσον ἵκει
ἠὲ νέων ἀνδρῶν ἢ οἳ προγενέστεροί εἰσιν;
30ἠέ τιν' ἀγγελίην στρατοῦ ἔκλυεν ἐρχομένοιο,
Transliteration
oute poth' hēmeterē agorē genet' oute thoōkos
ex hou Odysseus dios ebē koilēis eni nēusi.
nyn de tis hōd' ēgeire; tina chreiō toson hikei
ēe neōn andrōn ē hoi progenesteroi eisin;
30ēe tin' angeliēn stratou eklyen erchomenoio,
English
From the day Odysseus left us there has been no meeting of our councilors until now; who then can it be, whether old or young, that finds it so necessary to convene us?
Homeric Greek
ἥν χ' ἡμῖν σάφα εἴποι, ὅτε πρότερός γε πύθοιτο;
ἦέ τι δήμιον ἄλλο πιφαύσκεται ἠδ' ἀγορεύει;
ἐσθλός μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι, ὀνήμενος. εἴθε οἱ αὐτῷ
Ζεὺς ἀγαθὸν τελέσειεν, ὅτι φρεσὶν ᾗσι μενοινᾷ."
35ὣς φάτο, χαῖρε δὲ φήμῃ Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός,
Transliteration
hēn ch' hēmin sapha eipoi, hote proteros ge pythoito;
ēe ti dēmion allo piphausketai ēd' agoreuei;
esthlos moi dokei einai, onēmenos. eithe hoi autōi
Zeus agathon teleseien, hoti phresin hēisi menoināi."
35hōs phato, chaire de phēmēi Odyssēos philos huios,
English
Has he got wind of some host approaching, and does he wish to warn us, or would he speak upon some other matter of public moment? I am sure he is an excellent person, and I hope Zeus will grant him his heart's desire." Telemakhos took this speech as of good omen and rose at once, for he was bursting with what he had to say.
Homeric Greek
οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτι δὴν ἧστο, μενοίνησεν δ' ἀγορεύειν,
στῆ δὲ μέσῃ ἀγορῇ: σκῆπτρον δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε χειρὶ
κῆρυξ Πεισήνωρ πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς.
πρῶτον ἔπειτα γέροντα καθαπτόμενος προσέειπεν:
40"ὦ γέρον, οὐχ ἑκὰς οὗτος ἀνήρ, τάχα δ' εἴσεαι αὐτός,
Transliteration
oud' ar' eti dēn hēsto, menoinēsen d' agoreuein,
stē de mesēi agorēi: skēptron de hoi embale cheiri
kēryx Peisēnōr pepnymena mēdea eidōs.
prōton epeita geronta kathaptomenos proseeipen:
40"ō geron, ouch hekas houtos anēr, tacha d' eiseai autos,
English
He stood in the middle of the assembly and the good herald Pisenor brought him his staff. Then, turning to Aigyptios, "Sir," said he, "it is I, as you will shortly learn, who have convened you, for it is I who am the most aggrieved.
Homeric Greek
ὃς λαὸν ἤγειρα: μάλιστα δέ μ' ἄλγος ἱκάνει.
οὔτε τιν' ἀγγελίην στρατοῦ ἔκλυον ἐρχομένοιο,
ἥν χ' ὑμῖν σάφα εἴπω, ὅτε πρότερός γε πυθοίμην,
οὔτε τι δήμιον ἄλλο πιφαύσκομαι οὐδ' ἀγορεύω,
45ἀλλ' ἐμὸν αὐτοῦ χρεῖος, ὅ μοι κακὰ ἔμπεσεν οἴκῳ
Transliteration
hos laon ēgeira: malista de m' algos hikanei.
oute tin' angeliēn stratou eklyon erchomenoio,
hēn ch' hymin sapha eipō, hote proteros ge pythoimēn,
oute ti dēmion allo piphauskomai oud' agoreuō,
45all' emon autou chreios, ho moi kaka empesen oikōi
English
I have not got wind of any host approaching about which I would warn you, nor is there any matter of public moment on which I would speak. My grievance is purely personal, and turns on two great misfortunes which have fallen upon my house.
Homeric Greek
δοιά: τὸ μὲν πατέρ' ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσα, ὅς ποτ' ἐν ὑμῖν
τοίσδεσσιν βασίλευε, πατὴρ δ' ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν:
νῦν δ' αὖ καὶ πολὺ μεῖζον, ὃ δὴ τάχα οἶκον ἅπαντα
πάγχυ διαρραίσει, βίοτον δ' ἀπὸ πάμπαν ὀλέσσει.
50μητέρι μοι μνηστῆρες ἐπέχραον οὐκ ἐθελούσῃ,
Transliteration
doia: to men pater' esthlon apōlesa, hos pot' en hymin
toisdessin basileue, patēr d' hōs ēpios ēen:
nyn d' au kai poly meizon, ho dē tacha oikon hapanta
panchy diarraisei, bioton d' apo pampan olessei.
50mēteri moi mnēstēres epechraon ouk ethelousēi,
English
The first of these is the loss of my excellent father, who was chief among all you here present, and was like a father to every one of you; the second is much more serious, and ere long will be the utter ruin of my estate.
Homeric Greek
τῶν ἀνδρῶν φίλοι υἷες, οἳ ἐνθάδε γ' εἰσὶν ἄριστοι,
οἳ πατρὸς μὲν ἐς οἶκον ἀπερρίγασι νέεσθαι
Ἰκαρίου, ὥς κ' αὐτὸς ἐεδνώσαιτο θύγατρα,
δοίη δ' ᾧ κ' ἐθέλοι καί οἱ κεχαρισμένος ἔλθοι:
55οἱ δ' εἰς ἡμέτερον πωλεύμενοι ἤματα πάντα,
Transliteration
tōn andrōn philoi huies, hoi enthade g' eisin aristoi,
hoi patros men es oikon aperrigasi neesthai
Ikariou, hōs k' autos eednōsaito thygatra,
doiē d' hōi k' etheloi kai hoi kecharismenos elthoi:
55hoi d' eis hēmeteron pōleumenoi ēmata panta,
English
The sons of all the chief men among you are pestering my mother to marry them against her will. They are afraid to go to her father Ikarios, asking him to choose the one he likes best, and to provide marriage gifts for his daughter, but day by day
Homeric Greek
βοῦς ἱερεύοντες καὶ ὄις καὶ πίονας αἶγας
εἰλαπινάζουσιν πίνουσί τε αἴθοπα οἶνον
μαψιδίως: τὰ δὲ πολλὰ κατάνεται. οὐ γὰρ ἔπ' ἀνήρ,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεὺς ἔσκεν, ἀρὴν ἀπὸ οἴκου ἀμῦναι.
60ἡμεῖς δ' οὔ νύ τι τοῖοι ἀμυνέμεν: ἦ καὶ ἔπειτα
Transliteration
bous hiereuontes kai ois kai pionas aigas
eilapinazousin pinousi te aithopa oinon
mapsidiōs: ta de polla katanetai. ou gar ep' anēr,
hoios Odysseus esken, arēn apo oikou amynai.
60hēmeis d' ou ny ti toioi amynemen: ē kai epeita
English
they keep hanging about my father's house, sacrificing our oxen, sheep, and fat goats for their banquets, and never giving so much as a thought to the quantity of wine they drink. No estate can stand such recklessness; we have now no Odysseus to ward off harm from our doors, and I cannot hold my own against them.
Homeric Greek
λευγαλέοι τ' ἐσόμεσθα καὶ οὐ δεδαηκότες ἀλκήν.
ἦ τ' ἂν ἀμυναίμην, εἴ μοι δύναμίς γε παρείη.
οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' ἀνσχετὰ ἔργα τετεύχαται, οὐδ' ἔτι καλῶς
οἶκος ἐμὸς διόλωλε. νεμεσσήθητε καὶ αὐτοί,
65ἄλλους τ' αἰδέσθητε περικτίονας ἀνθρώπους,
Transliteration
leugaleoi t' esomestha kai ou dedaēkotes alkēn.
ē t' an amynaimēn, ei moi dynamis ge pareiē.
ou gar et' anscheta erga teteuchatai, oud' eti kalōs
oikos emos diolōle. nemessēthēte kai autoi,
65allous t' aidesthēte periktionas anthrōpous,
English
I shall never all my days be as good a man as he was, still I would indeed defend myself if I had power to do so, for I cannot stand such treatment any longer; my house is being disgraced and ruined.
Homeric Greek
οἳ περιναιετάουσι: θεῶν δ' ὑποδείσατε μῆνιν,
μή τι μεταστρέψωσιν ἀγασσάμενοι κακὰ ἔργα.
λίσσομαι ἠμὲν Ζηνὸς Ὀλυμπίου ἠδὲ Θέμιστος,
ἥ τ' ἀνδρῶν ἀγορὰς ἠμὲν λύει ἠδὲ καθίζει:
70σχέσθε, φίλοι, καί μ' οἶον ἐάσατε πένθεϊ λυγρῷ
Transliteration
hoi perinaietaousi: theōn d' hypodeisate mēnin,
mē ti metastrepsōsin agassamenoi kaka erga.
lissomai ēmen Zēnos Olympiou ēde Themistos,
hē t' andrōn agoras ēmen lyei ēde kathizei:
70schesthe, philoi, kai m' oion easate pentheï lygrōi
English
Have respect, therefore, to your own consciences and to public opinion. Fear, too, the wrath of the gods, lest they should be displeased and turn upon you. I pray you by Zeus and Themis, who is the beginning and the end of councils, hold back, my friends, and
Homeric Greek
τείρεσθ', εἰ μή πού τι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐσθλὸς Ὀδυσσεὺς
δυσμενέων κάκ' ἔρεξεν ἐυκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,
τῶν μ' ἀποτινύμενοι κακὰ ῥέζετε δυσμενέοντες,
τούτους ὀτρύνοντες. ἐμοὶ δέ κε κέρδιον εἴη
75ὑμέας ἐσθέμεναι κειμήλιά τε πρόβασίν τε.
Transliteration
teiresth', ei mē pou ti patēr emos esthlos Odysseus
dysmeneōn kak' erexen euknēmidas Achaious,
tōn m' apotinymenoi kaka rhezete dysmeneontes,
toutous otrynontes. emoi de ke kerdion eiē
75hymeas esthemenai keimēlia te probasin te.
English
leave me singlehanded - unless it be that my brave father Odysseus did some wrong to the Achaeans which you would now avenge on me, by aiding and abetting these suitors. Moreover, if I am to be eaten out of house and home at all, I had
Homeric Greek
εἴ χ' ὑμεῖς γε φάγοιτε, τάχ' ἄν ποτε καὶ τίσις εἴη:
τόφρα γὰρ ἂν κατὰ ἄστυ ποτιπτυσσοίμεθα μύθῳ
χρήματ' ἀπαιτίζοντες, ἕως κ' ἀπὸ πάντα δοθείη:
νῦν δέ μοι ἀπρήκτους ὀδύνας ἐμβάλλετε θυμῷ."
80ὣς φάτο χωόμενος, ποτὶ δὲ σκῆπτρον βάλε γαίῃ
Transliteration
ei ch' hymeis ge phagoite, tach' an pote kai tisis eiē:
tophra gar an kata asty potiptyssoimetha mythōi
chrēmat' apaitizontes, heōs k' apo panta dotheiē:
nyn de moi aprēktous odynas emballete thymōi."
80hōs phato chōomenos, poti de skēptron bale gaiēi
English
rather you did the eating yourselves, for I could then take action against you to some purpose, and serve you with notices from house to house till I got paid in full, whereas now I have no remedy." With this Telemakhos dashed his staff to the ground and burst into tears.
Homeric Greek
δάκρυ' ἀναπρήσας: οἶκτος δ' ἕλε λαὸν ἅπαντα.
ἔνθ' ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἀκὴν ἔσαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
Τηλέμαχον μύθοισιν ἀμείψασθαι χαλεποῖσιν:
Ἀντίνοος δέ μιν οἶος ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε:
85"Τηλέμαχ' ὑψαγόρη, μένος ἄσχετε, ποῖον ἔειπες
Transliteration
dakry' anaprēsas: oiktos d' hele laon hapanta.
enth' alloi men pantes akēn esan, oude tis etlē
Tēlemachon mythoisin ameipsasthai chalepoisin:
Antinoos de min oios ameibomenos proseeipe:
85"Tēlemach' hypsagorē, menos aschete, poion eeipes
English
Every one was very sorry for him, but they all sat still and no one ventured to make him an angry answer, save only Antinoos, who spoke thus: "Telemakhos, insolent braggart that you are, how dare you try to throw the blame upon us suitors?
Homeric Greek
ἡμέας αἰσχύνων: ἐθέλοις δέ κε μῶμον ἀνάψαι.
σοὶ δ' οὔ τι μνηστῆρες Ἀχαιῶν αἴτιοί εἰσιν,
ἀλλὰ φίλη μήτηρ, ἥ τοι πέρι κέρδεα οἶδεν.
ἤδη γὰρ τρίτον ἐστὶν ἔτος, τάχα δ' εἶσι τέταρτον,
90ἐξ οὗ ἀτέμβει θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
Transliteration
hēmeas aischynōn: ethelois de ke mōmon anapsai.
soi d' ou ti mnēstēres Achaiōn aitioi eisin,
alla philē mētēr, hē toi peri kerdea oiden.
ēdē gar triton estin etos, tacha d' eisi tetarton,
90ex hou atembei thymon eni stēthessin Achaiōn.
English
We are not the ones who are responsible but your mother is, for she knows many kinds of kerdos. This three years past, and close on four, she has been driving us out of our minds, by encouraging each one of us, and sending him messages that say one thing but her noos means other things.
Homeric Greek
πάντας μέν ῥ' ἔλπει καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ
ἀγγελίας προϊεῖσα, νόος δέ οἱ ἄλλα μενοινᾷ.
ἡ δὲ δόλον τόνδ' ἄλλον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μερμήριξε:
στησαμένη μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὕφαινε,
95λεπτὸν καὶ περίμετρον: ἄφαρ δ' ἡμῖν μετέειπε:
Transliteration
pantas men rh' elpei kai hypischetai andri hekastōi
angelias proïeisa, noos de hoi alla menoināi.
hē de dolon tond' allon eni phresi mermērixe:
stēsamenē megan histon eni megaroisin hyphaine,
95lepton kai perimetron: aphar d' hēmin meteeipe:
English
And then there was that other trick she played us. She set up a great tambour frame in her room, and began to work on an enormous piece of fine fabric.
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 ἥρωι ταφήιον, εἰς ὅτε κέν μιν
100μοῖρ' ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,
Transliteration
"'kouroi emoi mnēstēres, epei thane dios Odysseus,
mimnet' epeigomenoi ton emon gamon, eis ho ke pharos
ektelesō, mē moi metamōnia nēmat' olētai,
Laertēi hērōi taphēion, eis hote ken min
100moir' oloē kathelēisi tanēlegeos thanatoio,
English
‘Sweet hearts,’ said she, ‘Odysseus is indeed dead, still do not press me to marry again immediately, wait - for I would not have skill in weaving perish unrecorded - till I have completed a shroud for the hero Laertes, to be in readiness against the time when death shall take him.
Homeric Greek
μή τίς μοι κατὰ δῆμον Ἀχαιϊάδων νεμεσήσῃ.
αἴ κεν ἄτερ σπείρου κεῖται πολλὰ κτεατίσσας'.
"ὣς ἔφαθ', ἡμῖν δ' αὖτ' ἐπεπείθετο θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ.
ἔνθα καὶ ἠματίη μὲν ὑφαίνεσκεν μέγαν ἱστόν,
105νύκτας δ' ἀλλύεσκεν, ἐπεὶ δαί̈δας παραθεῖτο.
Transliteration
mē tis moi kata dēmon Achaiïadōn nemesēsēi.
ai ken ater speirou keitai polla kteatissas'.
"hōs ephath', hēmin d' aut' epepeitheto thymos agēnōr.
entha kai ēmatiē men hyphainesken megan histon,
105nyktas d' allyesken, epei daïdas paratheito.
English
He is very rich, and the women of the dêmos will talk if he is laid out without a shroud.’ "This was what she said, and we assented; whereon we could see her working on her great web all day long, but at night she would unpick the stitches again by torchlight.
Homeric Greek
ὣς τρίετες μὲν ἔληθε δόλῳ καὶ ἔπειθεν Ἀχαιούς:
ἀλλ' ὅτε τέτρατον ἦλθεν ἔτος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,
καὶ τότε δή τις ἔειπε γυναικῶν, ἣ σάφα ᾔδη,
καὶ τήν γ' ἀλλύουσαν ἐφεύρομεν ἀγλαὸν ἱστόν.
110ὣς τὸ μὲν ἐξετέλεσσε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλουσ' ὑπ' ἀνάγκης:
Transliteration
hōs trietes men elēthe dolōi kai epeithen Achaious:
all' hote tetraton ēlthen etos kai epēlython hōrai,
kai tote dē tis eeipe gynaikōn, hē sapha ēidē,
kai tēn g' allyousan epheuromen aglaon histon.
110hōs to men exetelesse kai ouk ethelous' hyp' anankēs:
English
She fooled us in this way for three years and we never found her out, but as time wore on and she was now in her fourth year, one of her maids who knew what she was doing told us, and we caught her in the act of undoing her work, so she had to finish it whether she would or no.
Homeric Greek
σοὶ δ' ὧδε μνηστῆρες ὑποκρίνονται, ἵν' εἰδῇς
αὐτὸς σῷ θυμῷ, εἰδῶσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί:
μητέρα σὴν ἀπόπεμψον, ἄνωχθι δέ μιν γαμέεσθαι
τῷ ὅτεῴ τε πατὴρ κέλεται καὶ ἁνδάνει αὐτῇ.
115εἰ δ' ἔτ' ἀνιήσει γε πολὺν χρόνον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,
Transliteration
soi d' hōde mnēstēres hypokrinontai, hin' eidēis
autos sōi thymōi, eidōsi de pantes Achaioi:
mētera sēn apopempson, anōchthi de min gameesthai
tōi hoteōi te patēr keletai kai handanei autēi.
115ei d' et' aniēsei ge polyn chronon huias Achaiōn,
English
The suitors, therefore, make you this answer, that both you and the Achaeans may understand - ‘Send your mother away, and bid her marry the man of her own and of her father's choice’; for I do not know what will happen if she goes on plaguing us much longer with the airs she gives herself
Homeric Greek
τὰ φρονέουσ' ἀνὰ θυμόν, ὅ οἱ πέρι δῶκεν Ἀθήνη
ἔργα τ' ἐπίστασθαι περικαλλέα καὶ φρένας ἐσθλὰς
κέρδεά θ', οἷ' οὔ πώ τιν' ἀκούομεν οὐδὲ παλαιῶν,
τάων αἳ πάρος ἦσαν ἐυπλοκαμῖδες Ἀχαιαί,
120Τυρώ τ' Ἀλκμήνη τε ἐυστέφανός τε Μυκήνη:
Transliteration
ta phroneous' ana thymon, ho hoi peri dōken Athēnē
erga t' epistasthai perikallea kai phrenas esthlas
kerdea th', hoi' ou pō tin' akouomen oude palaiōn,
taōn hai paros ēsan euplokamides Achaiai,
120Tyrō t' Alkmēnē te eustephanos te Mykēnē:
English
on the score of the accomplishments Athena has taught her, and because she knows so many kinds of kerdos. We never yet heard of such a woman; we know all about Tyro, Alkmene, Mycene, and the famous women of old, but they were nothing to your mother, any one of them.
Homeric Greek
τάων οὔ τις ὁμοῖα νοήματα Πηνελοπείῃ
ᾔδη: ἀτὰρ μὲν τοῦτό γ' ἐναίσιμον οὐκ ἐνόησε.
τόφρα γὰρ οὖν βίοτόν τε τεὸν καὶ κτήματ' ἔδονται,
ὄφρα κε κείνη τοῦτον ἔχῃ νόον, ὅν τινά οἱ νῦν
125ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖσι θεοί. μέγα μὲν κλέος αὐτῇ
Transliteration
taōn ou tis homoia noēmata Pēnelopeiēi
ēidē: atar men touto g' enaisimon ouk enoēse.
tophra gar oun bioton te teon kai ktēmat' edontai,
ophra ke keinē touton echēi noon, hon tina hoi nyn
125en stēthessi titheisi theoi. mega men kleos autēi
English
It was not fair of her to treat us in that way, and as long as she continues in the mind with which heaven has now endowed her, so long shall we go on eating up your estate; and I do not see why she should change, for she gets all the honor and glory, and it is you who pay for it, not she.
Homeric Greek
ποιεῖτ', αὐτὰρ σοί γε ποθὴν πολέος βιότοιο.
ἡμεῖς δ' οὔτ' ἐπὶ ἔργα πάρος γ' ἴμεν οὔτε πῃ ἄλλῃ,
πρίν γ' αὐτὴν γήμασθαι Ἀχαιῶν ᾧ κ' ἐθέλῃσι."
τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:
130"Ἀντίνο', οὔ πως ἔστι δόμων ἀέκουσαν ἀπῶσαι
Transliteration
poieit', autar soi ge pothēn poleos biotoio.
hēmeis d' out' epi erga paros g' imen oute pēi allēi,
prin g' autēn gēmasthai Achaiōn hōi k' ethelēisi."
ton d' au Tēlemachos pepnymenos antion ēuda:
130"Antino', ou pōs esti domōn aekousan apōsai
English
Understand, then, that we will not go back to our lands, neither here nor elsewhere, till she has made her choice and married some one or other of us." Telemakhos answered, "Antinoos, how can I drive the mother who bore me from my father's house?
Homeric Greek
ἥ μ' ἔτεχ', ἥ μ' ἔθρεψε: πατὴρ δ' ἐμὸς ἄλλοθι γαίης,
ζώει ὅ γ' ἦ τέθνηκε: κακὸν δέ με πόλλ' ἀποτίνειν
Ἰκαρίῳ, αἴ κ' αὐτὸς ἑκὼν ἀπὸ μητέρα πέμψω.
ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ πατρὸς κακὰ πείσομαι, ἄλλα δὲ δαίμων
135δώσει, ἐπεὶ μήτηρ στυγερὰς ἀρήσετ' ἐρινῦς
Transliteration
hē m' etech', hē m' ethrepse: patēr d' emos allothi gaiēs,
zōei ho g' ē tethnēke: kakon de me poll' apotinein
Ikariōi, ai k' autos hekōn apo mētera pempsō.
ek gar tou patros kaka peisomai, alla de daimōn
135dōsei, epei mētēr stygeras arēset' erinys
English
My father is abroad and we do not know whether he is alive or dead. It will be hard on me if I have to pay Ikarios the large sum which I must give him if I insist on sending his daughter back to him. Not only will he deal rigorously with me, but some daimôn will also punish me;
Homeric Greek
οἴκου ἀπερχομένη: νέμεσις δέ μοι ἐξ ἀνθρώπων
ἔσσεται: ὣς οὐ τοῦτον ἐγώ ποτε μῦθον ἐνίψω.
ὑμέτερος δ' εἰ μὲν θυμὸς νεμεσίζεται αὐτῶν,
ἔξιτέ μοι μεγάρων, ἄλλας δ' ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτας
140ὑμὰ κτήματ' ἔδοντες ἀμειβόμενοι κατὰ οἴκους.
Transliteration
oikou aperchomenē: nemesis de moi ex anthrōpōn
essetai: hōs ou touton egō pote mython enipsō.
hymeteros d' ei men thymos nemesizetai autōn,
exite moi megarōn, allas d' alegynete daitas
140hyma ktēmat' edontes ameibomenoi kata oikous.
English
for my mother when she leaves the house will call on the Erinyes to avenge her; besides, it will result in nemesis for me among men, and I will have nothing to say to it. If you choose to take offense at this, leave the house and feast elsewhere at one another's houses at your own cost turn and turn about.
Homeric Greek
εἰ δ' ὑμῖν δοκέει τόδε λωίτερον καὶ ἄμεινον
ἔμμεναι, ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς βίοτον νήποινον ὀλέσθαι,
κείρετ': ἐγὼ δὲ θεοὺς ἐπιβώσομαι αἰὲν ἐόντας,
αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς δῷσι παλίντιτα ἔργα γενέσθαι.
145νήποινοί κεν ἔπειτα δόμων ἔντοσθεν ὄλοισθε."
Transliteration
ei d' hymin dokeei tode lōiteron kai ameinon
emmenai, andros henos bioton nēpoinon olesthai,
keiret': egō de theous epibōsomai aien eontas,
ai ke pothi Zeus dōisi palintita erga genesthai.
145nēpoinoi ken epeita domōn entosthen oloisthe."
English
If, on the other hand, you elect to persist in sponging upon one man, heaven help me, but Zeus shall reckon with you in full, and when you fall in my father's house there shall be no man to avenge you."
Homeric Greek
"ὣς φάτο Τηλέμαχος, τῷ δ' αἰετὼ εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ὑψόθεν ἐκ κορυφῆς ὄρεος προέηκε πέτεσθαι.
τὼ δ' ἕως μέν ῥ' ἐπέτοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο
πλησίω ἀλλήλοισι τιταινομένω πτερύγεσσιν:
150ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ μέσσην ἀγορὴν πολύφημον ἱκέσθην,
Transliteration
"hōs phato Tēlemachos, tōi d' aietō euryopa Zeus
hypsothen ek koryphēs oreos proeēke petesthai.
tō d' heōs men rh' epetonto meta pnoiēis anemoio
plēsiō allēloisi titainomenō pterygessin:
150all' hote dē messēn agorēn polyphēmon hikesthēn,
English
As he spoke Zeus sent two eagles from the top of the mountain, and they flew on and on with the wind, sailing side by side in their own lordly flight.
Homeric Greek
ἔνθ' ἐπιδινηθέντε τιναξάσθην πτερὰ πυκνά,
ἐς δ' ἰδέτην πάντων κεφαλάς, ὄσσοντο δ' ὄλεθρον:
δρυψαμένω δ' ὀνύχεσσι παρειὰς ἀμφί τε δειρὰς
δεξιὼ ἤιξαν διά τ' οἰκία καὶ πόλιν αὐτῶν.
155θάμβησαν δ' ὄρνιθας, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν:
Transliteration
enth' epidinēthente tinaxasthēn ptera pykna,
es d' idetēn pantōn kephalas, ossonto d' olethron:
drypsamenō d' onychessi pareias amphi te deiras
dexiō ēixan dia t' oikia kai polin autōn.
155thambēsan d' ornithas, epei idon ophthalmoisin:
English
When they were right over the middle of the assembly they wheeled and circled about, beating the air with their wings and glaring death into the eyes of them that were below; then, fighting fiercely and tearing at one another, they flew off towards the right over the town.
Homeric Greek
ὥρμηναν δ' ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἅ περ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλον.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε γέρων ἥρως Ἁλιθέρσης
Μαστορίδης: ὁ γὰρ οἶος ὁμηλικίην ἐκέκαστο
ὄρνιθας γνῶναι καὶ ἐναίσιμα μυθήσασθαι:
160ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε:
Transliteration
hōrmēnan d' ana thymon ha per teleesthai emellon.
toisi de kai meteeipe gerōn hērōs Halithersēs
Mastoridēs: ho gar oios homēlikiēn ekekasto
ornithas gnōnai kai enaisima mythēsasthai:
160ho sphin eu phroneōn agorēsato kai meteeipe:
English
The people wondered as they saw them, and asked each other what an this might be; whereon Halitherses, who was the best seer and reader of omens among them, spoke to them plainly and in all honesty, saying:
Homeric Greek
"κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω:
μνηστῆρσιν δὲ μάλιστα πιφαυσκόμενος τάδε εἴρω:
τοῖσιν γὰρ μέγα πῆμα κυλίνδεται: οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
δὴν ἀπάνευθε φίλων ὧν ἔσσεται, ἀλλά που ἤδη
165ἐγγὺς ἐὼν τοῖσδεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φυτεύει
Transliteration
"keklyte dē nyn meu, Ithakēsioi, hotti ken eipō:
mnēstērsin de malista piphauskomenos tade eirō:
toisin gar mega pēma kylindetai: ou gar Odysseus
dēn apaneuthe philōn hōn essetai, alla pou ēdē
165engys eōn toisdessi phonon kai kēra phyteuei
English
"Hear me, men of Ithaca, and I speak more particularly to the suitors, for I see mischief brewing for them. Odysseus is not going to be away much longer; indeed he is close at hand to deal out death and destruction, not on them alone, but on many another of us who live in Ithaca.
Homeric Greek
πάντεσσιν: πολέσιν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοισιν κακὸν ἔσται,
οἳ νεμόμεσθ' Ἰθάκην ἐυδείελον. ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν
φραζώμεσθ', ὥς κεν καταπαύσομεν: οἱ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
παυέσθων: καὶ γάρ σφιν ἄφαρ τόδε λώιόν ἐστιν.
170οὐ γὰρ ἀπείρητος μαντεύομαι, ἀλλ' ἐὺ εἰδώς:
Transliteration
pantessin: polesin de kai alloisin kakon estai,
hoi nemomesth' Ithakēn eudeielon. alla poly prin
phrazōmesth', hōs ken katapausomen: hoi de kai autoi
pauesthōn: kai gar sphin aphar tode lōion estin.
170ou gar apeirētos manteuomai, all' eu eidōs:
English
Let us then be wise in time, and put a stop to this wickedness before he comes. Let the suitors do so of their own accord; it will be better for them, for I am not prophesying without due knowledge;
Homeric Greek
καὶ γὰρ κείνῳ φημὶ τελευτηθῆναι ἅπαντα,
ὥς οἱ ἐμυθεόμην, ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰσανέβαινον
Ἀργεῖοι, μετὰ δέ σφιν ἔβη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.
φῆν κακὰ πολλὰ παθόντ', ὀλέσαντ' ἄπο πάντας ἑταίρους,
175ἄγνωστον πάντεσσιν ἐεικοστῷ ἐνιαυτῷ
Transliteration
kai gar keinōi phēmi teleutēthēnai hapanta,
hōs hoi emytheomēn, hote Ilion eisanebainon
Argeioi, meta de sphin ebē polymētis Odysseus.
phēn kaka polla pathont', olesant' apo pantas hetairous,
175agnōston pantessin eeikostōi eniautōi
English
everything has happened to Odysseus as I foretold when the Argives set out for Troy, and he with them. I said that after going through much hardship and losing all his men he should come home again in the twentieth year and that no one would know him;
Homeric Greek
οἴκαδ' ἐλεύσεσθαι: τὰ δὲ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται."
τὸν δ' αὖτ' Εὐρύμαχος Πολύβου πάϊς ἀντίον ηὔδα:
"ὦ γέρον, εἰ δ' ἄγε νῦν μαντεύεο σοῖσι τέκεσσιν
οἴκαδ' ἰών, μή πού τι κακὸν πάσχωσιν ὀπίσσω:
180ταῦτα δ' ἐγὼ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων μαντεύεσθαι.
Transliteration
oikad' eleusesthai: ta de dē nyn panta teleitai."
ton d' aut' Eurymachos Polybou païs antion ēuda:
"ō geron, ei d' age nyn manteueo soisi tekessin
oikad' iōn, mē pou ti kakon paschōsin opissō:
180tauta d' egō seo pollon ameinōn manteuesthai.
English
and now all this is coming true." Eurymakhos son of Polybos then said, "Go home, old man, and prophesy to your own children, or it may be worse for them. I can read these omens myself much better than you can; birds are always flying about in the sunshine somewhere or other, but they seldom mean anything.
Homeric Greek
ὄρνιθες δέ τε πολλοὶ ὑπ' αὐγὰς ἠελίοιο
φοιτῶσ', οὐδέ τε πάντες ἐναίσιμοι: αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ὤλετο τῆλ', ὡς καὶ σὺ καταφθίσθαι σὺν ἐκείνῳ
ὤφελες. οὐκ ἂν τόσσα θεοπροπέων ἀγόρευες,
185οὐδέ κε Τηλέμαχον κεχολωμένον ὧδ' ἀνιείης,
Transliteration
ornithes de te polloi hyp' augas ēelioio
phoitōs', oude te pantes enaisimoi: autar Odysseus
ōleto tēl', hōs kai sy kataphthisthai syn ekeinōi
ōpheles. ouk an tossa theopropeōn agoreues,
185oude ke Tēlemachon kecholōmenon hōd' anieiēs,
English
Odysseus has died in a far country, and it is a pity you are not dead along with him, instead of prating here about omens and adding fuel to the anger of Telemakhos which is fierce enough as it is. I suppose you think he will give you something for your family, but I tell
Homeric Greek
σῷ οἴκῳ δῶρον ποτιδέγμενος, αἴ κε πόρῃσιν.
ἀλλ' ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται:
αἴ κε νεώτερον ἄνδρα παλαιά τε πολλά τε εἰδὼς
παρφάμενος ἐπέεσσιν ἐποτρύνῃς χαλεπαίνειν,
190αὐτῷ μέν οἱ πρῶτον ἀνιηρέστερον ἔσται,
Transliteration
sōi oikōi dōron potidegmenos, ai ke porēisin.
all' ek toi ereō, to de kai tetelesmenon estai:
ai ke neōteron andra palaia te polla te eidōs
parphamenos epeessin epotrynēis chalepainein,
190autōi men hoi prōton aniēresteron estai,
English
you - and it shall surely be - when an old man like you, who should know better, talks a young one over till he becomes troublesome, in the first place his young friend will only fare so much the worse - he will take nothing by it, for the suitors will prevent this -
Homeric Greek
πρῆξαι δ' ἔμπης οὔ τι δυνήσεται εἵνεκα τῶνδε:
σοὶ δέ, γέρον, θωὴν ἐπιθήσομεν, ἥν κ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ
τίνων ἀσχάλλῃς: χαλεπὸν δέ τοι ἔσσεται ἄλγος.
Τηλεμάχῳ δ' ἐν πᾶσιν ἐγὼν ὑποθήσομαι αὐτός:
195μητέρα ἣν ἐς πατρὸς ἀνωγέτω ἀπονέεσθαι:
Transliteration
prēxai d' empēs ou ti dynēsetai heineka tōnde:
soi de, geron, thōēn epithēsomen, hēn k' eni thymōi
tinōn aschallēis: chalepon de toi essetai algos.
Tēlemachōi d' en pasin egōn hypothēsomai autos:
195mētera hēn es patros anōgetō aponeesthai:
English
and in the next, we will lay a heavier fine, sir, upon yourself than you will at all like paying, for it will bear hardly upon you. As for Telemakhos, I warn him in the presence of you all to send his mother back to her father, who will find her a husband and provide her with all the marriage gifts so dear a daughter may expect.
Homeric Greek
οἱ δὲ γάμον τεύξουσι καὶ ἀρτυνέουσιν ἔεδνα
πολλὰ μάλ', ὅσσα ἔοικε φίλης ἐπὶ παιδὸς ἕπεσθαι.
οὐ γὰρ πρὶν παύσεσθαι ὀίομαι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
μνηστύος ἀργαλέης, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινα δείδιμεν ἔμπης,
200οὔτ' οὖν Τηλέμαχον μάλα περ πολύμυθον ἐόντα,
Transliteration
hoi de gamon teuxousi kai artyneousin eedna
polla mal', hossa eoike philēs epi paidos hepesthai.
ou gar prin pausesthai oiomai huias Achaiōn
mnēstyos argaleēs, epei ou tina deidimen empēs,
200out' oun Tēlemachon mala per polymython eonta,
English
Till then we shall go on harassing him with our suit; for we fear no man, and care neither for him, with all his fine speeches, nor for any fortune-telling of yours. You may preach as much as you please, but we shall only hate you the more.
Homeric Greek
οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπαζόμεθ', ἣν σύ, γεραιέ,
μυθέαι ἀκράαντον, ἀπεχθάνεαι δ' ἔτι μᾶλλον.
χρήματα δ' αὖτε κακῶς βεβρώσεται, οὐδέ ποτ' ἶσα
ἔσσεται, ὄφρα κεν ἥ γε διατρίβῃσιν Ἀχαιοὺς
205ὃν γάμον: ἡμεῖς δ' αὖ ποτιδέγμενοι ἤματα πάντα
Transliteration
oute theopropiēs empazometh', hēn sy, geraie,
mytheai akraanton, apechthaneai d' eti mallon.
chrēmata d' aute kakōs bebrōsetai, oude pot' isa
essetai, ophra ken hē ge diatribēisin Achaious
205hon gamon: hēmeis d' au potidegmenoi ēmata panta
English
We shall go back and continue to eat up Telemakhos' estate without paying him, till such time as his mother leaves off tormenting us by keeping us day after day on the tiptoe of expectation, each vying with the other in his suit for a prize of such rare perfection.
Homeric Greek
εἵνεκα τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδὲ μετ' ἄλλας
ἐρχόμεθ', ἃς ἐπιεικὲς ὀπυιέμεν ἐστὶν ἑκάστῳ."
τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:
"Εὐρύμαχ' ἠδὲ καὶ ἄλλοι, ὅσοι μνηστῆρες ἀγαυοί,
210ταῦτα μὲν οὐχ ὑμέας ἔτι λίσσομαι οὐδ' ἀγορεύω:
Transliteration
heineka tēs aretēs eridainomen, oude met' allas
erchometh', has epieikes opuiemen estin hekastōi."
ton d' au Tēlemachos pepnymenos antion ēuda:
"Eurymach' ēde kai alloi, hosoi mnēstēres agauoi,
210tauta men ouch hymeas eti lissomai oud' agoreuō:
English
Besides we cannot go after the other women whom we should marry in due course, but for the way in which she treats us." Then Telemakhos said, "Eurymakhos, and you other suitors, I shall say no more, and entreat you no further, for the gods and the people of Ithaca now know my story.
Homeric Greek
ἤδη γὰρ τὰ ἴσασι θεοὶ καὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.
ἀλλ' ἄγε μοι δότε νῆα θοὴν καὶ εἴκοσ' ἑταίρους,
οἵ κέ μοι ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διαπρήσσωσι κέλευθον.
εἶμι γὰρ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα
215νόστον πευσόμενος πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο,
Transliteration
ēdē gar ta isasi theoi kai pantes Achaioi.
all' age moi dote nēa thoēn kai eikos' hetairous,
hoi ke moi entha kai entha diaprēssōsi keleuthon.
eimi gar es Spartēn te kai es Pylon ēmathoenta
215noston peusomenos patros dēn oichomenoio,
English
Give me, then, a ship and a crew of twenty men to take me hither and thither, and I will go to Sparta and to Pylos to inquire about the nostos of my father who has so long been missing.
Homeric Greek
ἤν τίς μοι εἴπῃσι βροτῶν ἢ ὄσσαν ἀκούσω
ἐκ Διός, ἥ τε μάλιστα φέρει κλέος ἀνθρώποισιν:
εἰ μέν κεν πατρὸς βίοτον καὶ νόστον ἀκούσω,
ἦ τ' ἄν, τρυχόμενός περ, ἔτι τλαίην ἐνιαυτόν:
220εἰ δέ κε τεθνηῶτος ἀκούσω μηδ' ἔτ' ἐόντος,
Transliteration
ēn tis moi eipēisi brotōn ē ossan akousō
ek Dios, hē te malista pherei kleos anthrōpoisin:
ei men ken patros bioton kai noston akousō,
ē t' an, trychomenos per, eti tlaiēn eniauton:
220ei de ke tethnēōtos akousō mēd' et' eontos,
English
Some one may tell me something, or (and people often hear kleos in this way) some heaven-sent message may direct me. If I can hear of him as alive and achieving his homecoming I will put up with the waste you suitors will make for yet another twelve months.
Homeric Greek
νοστήσας δὴ ἔπειτα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
σῆμά τέ οἱ χεύω καὶ ἐπὶ κτέρεα κτερεί̈ξω
πολλὰ μάλ', ὅσσα ἔοικε, καὶ ἀνέρι μητέρα δώσω."
ἦ τοι ὅ γ' ὣς εἰπὼν κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετο, τοῖσι δ' ἀνέστη
225Μέντωρ, ὅς ῥ' Ὀδυσῆος ἀμύμονος ἦεν ἑταῖρος,
Transliteration
nostēsas dē epeita philēn es patrida gaian
sēma te hoi cheuō kai epi kterea ktereïxō
polla mal', hossa eoike, kai aneri mētera dōsō."
ē toi ho g' hōs eipōn kat' ar' hezeto, toisi d' anestē
225Mentōr, hos rh' Odysēos amymonos ēen hetairos,
English
If on the other hand I hear of his death, I will return at once, celebrate his funeral rites with all due pomp, build a grave marker to his memory, and make my mother marry again." With these words he sat down, and Mentor who had been a friend of Odysseus, and had
Homeric Greek
καὶ οἱ ἰὼν ἐν νηυσὶν ἐπέτρεπεν οἶκον ἅπαντα,
πείθεσθαί τε γέροντι καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσειν:
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν:
"κέκλυτε δὴ νῦν μευ, Ἰθακήσιοι, ὅττι κεν εἴπω:
230μή τις ἔτι πρόφρων ἀγανὸς καὶ ἤπιος ἔστω
Transliteration
kai hoi iōn en nēusin epetrepen oikon hapanta,
peithesthai te geronti kai empeda panta phylassein:
ho sphin eu phroneōn agorēsato kai meteeipen:
"keklyte dē nyn meu, Ithakēsioi, hotti ken eipō:
230mē tis eti prophrōn aganos kai ēpios estō
English
been left in charge of everything with full authority over the servants, rose to speak. He, then, plainly and in all honesty addressed them thus: "Hear me, men of Ithaca, I hope that you may never have a kind and well-disposed ruler any more, nor one who will govern you equitably;
Homeric Greek
σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, μηδὲ φρεσὶν αἴσιμα εἰδώς,
ἀλλ' αἰεὶ χαλεπός τ' εἴη καὶ αἴσυλα ῥέζοι:
ὡς οὔ τις μέμνηται Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο
λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε, πατὴρ δ' ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν.
235ἀλλ' ἦ τοι μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας οὔ τι μεγαίρω
Transliteration
skēptouchos basileus, mēde phresin aisima eidōs,
all' aiei chalepos t' eiē kai aisyla rhezoi:
hōs ou tis memnētai Odyssēos theioio
laōn hoisin anasse, patēr d' hōs ēpios ēen.
235all' ē toi mnēstēras agēnoras ou ti megairō
English
I hope that all your chiefs henceforward may be cruel and unjust, for there is not one of you but has forgotten Odysseus, who ruled you as though he were your father. I am not half so angry with the suitors, for if they choose to do violence in the naughtiness of their minds, and
Homeric Greek
ἔρδειν ἔργα βίαια κακορραφίῃσι νόοιο:
σφὰς γὰρ παρθέμενοι κεφαλὰς κατέδουσι βιαίως
οἶκον Ὀδυσσῆος, τὸν δ' οὐκέτι φασὶ νέεσθαι.
νῦν δ' ἄλλῳ δήμῳ νεμεσίζομαι, οἷον ἅπαντες
240ἧσθ' ἄνεῳ, ἀτὰρ οὔ τι καθαπτόμενοι ἐπέεσσι
Transliteration
erdein erga biaia kakorraphiēisi nooio:
sphas gar parthemenoi kephalas katedousi biaiōs
oikon Odyssēos, ton d' ouketi phasi neesthai.
nyn d' allōi dēmōi nemesizomai, hoion hapantes
240hēsth' aneōi, atar ou ti kathaptomenoi epeessi
English
wager their heads that Odysseus will not return, they can take the high hand and eat up his estate, but as for you others I am shocked at the way in which you the rest of the population all sit still without even trying to stop such scandalous goings on - which you could do
Homeric Greek
παύρους μνηστῆρας καταπαύετε πολλοὶ ἐόντες."
τὸν δ' Εὐηνορίδης Λειώκριτος ἀντίον ηὔδα:
"Μέντορ ἀταρτηρέ, φρένας ἠλεέ, ποῖον ἔειπες
ἡμέας ὀτρύνων καταπαυέμεν. ἀργαλέον δὲ
245ἀνδράσι καὶ πλεόνεσσι μαχήσασθαι περὶ δαιτί.
Transliteration
paurous mnēstēras katapauete polloi eontes."
ton d' Euēnoridēs Leiōkritos antion ēuda:
"Mentor atartēre, phrenas ēlee, poion eeipes
hēmeas otrynōn katapauemen. argaleon de
245andrasi kai pleonessi machēsasthai peri daiti.
English
if you chose, for you are many and they are few." Leiokritos, son of Euenor, answered him saying, "Mentor, what folly is all this, that you should set the people to stay us? It is a hard thing for one man to fight with many about his victuals.
Homeric Greek
εἴ περ γάρ κ' Ὀδυσεὺς Ἰθακήσιος αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼν
δαινυμένους κατὰ δῶμα ἑὸν μνηστῆρας ἀγαυοὺς
ἐξελάσαι μεγάροιο μενοινήσει' ἐνὶ θυμῷ,
οὔ κέν οἱ κεχάροιτο γυνή, μάλα περ χατέουσα,
250ἐλθόντ', ἀλλά κεν αὐτοῦ ἀεικέα πότμον ἐπίσποι,
Transliteration
ei per gar k' Odyseus Ithakēsios autos epelthōn
dainymenous kata dōma heon mnēstēras agauous
exelasai megaroio menoinēsei' eni thymōi,
ou ken hoi kecharoito gynē, mala per chateousa,
250elthont', alla ken autou aeikea potmon epispoi,
English
Even though Odysseus himself were to set upon us while we are feasting in his house, and do his best to oust us, his wife, who wants him back so very badly, would have small cause for rejoicing, and his blood would be upon his own head if he fought against such great odds.
Homeric Greek
εἰ πλεόνεσσι μάχοιτο: σὺ δ' οὐ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
ἀλλ' ἄγε, λαοὶ μὲν σκίδνασθ' ἐπὶ ἔργα ἕκαστος,
τούτῳ δ' ὀτρυνέει Μέντωρ ὁδὸν ἠδ' Ἁλιθέρσης,
οἵ τέ οἱ ἐξ ἀρχῆς πατρώιοί εἰσιν ἑταῖροι.
255ἀλλ' ὀίω, καὶ δηθὰ καθήμενος ἀγγελιάων
Transliteration
ei pleonessi machoito: sy d' ou kata moiran eeipes.
all' age, laoi men skidnasth' epi erga hekastos,
toutōi d' otryneei Mentōr hodon ēd' Halithersēs,
hoi te hoi ex archēs patrōioi eisin hetairoi.
255all' oiō, kai dētha kathēmenos angeliaōn
English
There is no sense in what you have been saying. Now, therefore, do you people go about your business, and let his father's old friends, Mentor and Halitherses, speed this boy on his journey, if he goes at all - which I do not think he will, for he is more likely to stay
Homeric Greek
πεύσεται εἰν Ἰθάκῃ, τελέει δ' ὁδὸν οὔ ποτε ταύτην."
ὣς ἄρ' ἐφώνησεν, λῦσεν δ' ἀγορὴν αἰψηρήν.
οἱ μὲν ἄρ' ἐσκίδναντο ἑὰ πρὸς δώμαθ' ἕκαστος,
μνηστῆρες δ' ἐς δώματ' ἴσαν θείου Ὀδυσῆος.
260Τηλέμαχος δ' ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἐπὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,
Transliteration
peusetai ein Ithakēi, teleei d' hodon ou pote tautēn."
hōs ar' ephōnēsen, lysen d' agorēn aipsērēn.
hoi men ar' eskidnanto hea pros dōmath' hekastos,
mnēstēres d' es dōmat' isan theiou Odysēos.
260Tēlemachos d' apaneuthe kiōn epi thina thalassēs,
English
where he is till some one comes and tells him something." On this he broke up the assembly, and every man went back to his own abode, while the suitors returned to the house of Odysseus. Then Telemakhos went all alone by the sea side, washed
Homeric Greek
χεῖρας νιψάμενος πολιῆς ἁλὸς εὔχετ' Ἀθήνῃ:
"κλῦθί μευ, ὃ χθιζὸς θεὸς ἤλυθες ἡμέτερον δῶ
καὶ μ' ἐν νηὶ κέλευσας ἐπ' ἠεροειδέα πόντον
νόστον πευσόμενον πατρὸς δὴν οἰχομένοιο
265ἔρχεσθαι: τὰ δὲ πάντα διατρίβουσιν Ἀχαιοί,
Transliteration
cheiras nipsamenos poliēs halos euchet' Athēnēi:
"klythi meu, ho chthizos theos ēlythes hēmeteron dō
kai m' en nēi keleusas ep' ēeroeidea ponton
noston peusomenon patros dēn oichomenoio
265erchesthai: ta de panta diatribousin Achaioi,
English
his hands in the gray waves, and prayed to Athena. "Hear me," he cried, "you god who visited me yesterday, and bade me sail the seas in search of the nostos of my father who has so long been missing.
Homeric Greek
μνηστῆρες δὲ μάλιστα κακῶς ὑπερηνορέοντες."
ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦλθεν Ἀθήνη,
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν,
καί μιν φωνήσασ' ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:
270"Τηλέμαχ', οὐδ' ὄπιθεν κακὸς ἔσσεαι οὐδ' ἀνοήμων,
Transliteration
mnēstēres de malista kakōs hyperēnoreontes."
hōs ephat' euchomenos, schedothen de hoi ēlthen Athēnē,
Mentori eidomenē ēmen demas ēde kai audēn,
kai min phōnēsas' epea pteroenta prosēuda:
270"Tēlemach', oud' opithen kakos esseai oud' anoēmōn,
English
I would obey you, but the Achaeans, and more particularly the wicked suitors, are hindering me that I cannot do so." As he thus prayed, Athena came close up to him in the likeness and with the voice of Mentor. "Telemakhos," said she, "if you are made of the same stuff as your father you will be neither fool nor coward henceforward, for Odysseus never broke his word nor left his work half done.
Homeric Greek
εἰ δή τοι σοῦ πατρὸς ἐνέστακται μένος ἠύ,
οἷος κεῖνος ἔην τελέσαι ἔργον τε ἔπος τε:
οὔ τοι ἔπειθ' ἁλίη ὁδὸς ἔσσεται οὐδ' ἀτέλεστος.
εἰ δ' οὐ κείνου γ' ἐσσὶ γόνος καὶ Πηνελοπείης,
275οὐ σέ γ' ἔπειτα ἔολπα τελευτήσειν, ἃ μενοινᾷς.
Transliteration
ei dē toi sou patros enestaktai menos ēu,
hoios keinos eēn telesai ergon te epos te:
ou toi epeith' haliē hodos essetai oud' atelestos.
ei d' ou keinou g' essi gonos kai Pēnelopeiēs,
275ou se g' epeita eolpa teleutēsein, ha menoināis.
English
If, then, you take after him, your voyage will not be fruitless, but unless you have the blood of Odysseus and of Penelope in your veins I see no likelihood of your succeeding. Sons are seldom as good men as their fathers; they are generally worse, not better;
Homeric Greek
παῦροι γάρ τοι παῖδες ὁμοῖοι πατρὶ πέλονται,
οἱ πλέονες κακίους, παῦροι δέ τε πατρὸς ἀρείους.
ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ οὐδ' ὄπιθεν κακὸς ἔσσεαι οὐδ' ἀνοήμων,
οὐδέ σε πάγχυ γε μῆτις Ὀδυσσῆος προλέλοιπεν,
280ἐλπωρή τοι ἔπειτα τελευτῆσαι τάδε ἔργα.
Transliteration
pauroi gar toi paides homoioi patri pelontai,
hoi pleones kakious, pauroi de te patros areious.
all' epei oud' opithen kakos esseai oud' anoēmōn,
oude se panchy ge mētis Odyssēos proleloipen,
280elpōrē toi epeita teleutēsai tade erga.
English
still, as you are not going to be either fool or coward henceforward, and are not entirely without some share of your father's wise discernment, I look with hope upon your undertaking. But mind you never make common cause with any of those foolish suitors, for they are neither sensible
Homeric Greek
τῶ νῦν μνηστήρων μὲν ἔα βουλήν τε νόον τε
ἀφραδέων, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι νοήμονες οὐδὲ δίκαιοι:
οὐδέ τι ἴσασιν θάνατον καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν,
ὃς δή σφι σχεδόν ἐστιν, ἐπ' ἤματι πάντας ὀλέσθαι.
285σοὶ δ' ὁδὸς οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀπέσσεται ἣν σὺ μενοινᾷς:
Transliteration
tō nyn mnēstērōn men ea boulēn te noon te
aphradeōn, epei ou ti noēmones oude dikaioi:
oude ti isasin thanaton kai kēra melainan,
hos dē sphi schedon estin, ep' ēmati pantas olesthai.
285soi d' hodos ouketi dēron apessetai hēn sy menoināis:
English
nor just, and give no thought to death and to the doom that will shortly fall on one and all of them, so that they shall perish on the same day. As for your voyage, it shall not be long delayed;
Homeric Greek
τοῖος γάρ τοι ἑταῖρος ἐγὼ πατρώιός εἰμι,
ὅς τοι νῆα θοὴν στελέω καὶ ἅμ' ἕψομαι αὐτός.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν πρὸς δώματ' ἰὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει,
ὅπλισσόν τ' ἤια καὶ ἄγγεσιν ἄρσον ἅπαντα,
290οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσι, καὶ ἄλφιτα, μυελὸν ἀνδρῶν,
Transliteration
toios gar toi hetairos egō patrōios eimi,
hos toi nēa thoēn steleō kai ham' hepsomai autos.
alla sy men pros dōmat' iōn mnēstērsin homilei,
hoplisson t' ēia kai angesin arson hapanta,
290oinon en amphiphoreusi, kai alphita, myelon andrōn,
English
your father was such an old friend of mine that I will find you a ship, and will come with you myself. Now, however, return home, and go about among the suitors; begin getting provisions ready for your voyage; see everything well stowed, the wine in jars, and the barley meal, which is the
Homeric Greek
δέρμασιν ἐν πυκινοῖσιν: ἐγὼ δ' ἀνὰ δῆμον ἑταίρους
αἶψ' ἐθελοντῆρας συλλέξομαι. εἰσὶ δὲ νῆες
πολλαὶ ἐν ἀμφιάλῳ Ἰθάκῃ, νέαι ἠδὲ παλαιαί:
τάων μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐπιόψομαι ἥ τις ἀρίστη,
295ὦκα δ' ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἐνήσομεν εὐρέι πόντῳ."
Transliteration
dermasin en pykinoisin: egō d' ana dēmon hetairous
aips' ethelontēras syllexomai. eisi de nēes
pollai en amphialōi Ithakēi, neai ēde palaiai:
taōn men toi egōn epiopsomai hē tis aristē,
295ōka d' ephoplissantes enēsomen eurei pontōi."
English
staff of life, in leathern bags, while I go round the dêmos and round up volunteers at once. There are many ships in Ithaca both old and new; I will run my eye over them for you and will choose the best; we will get her ready and will put out to sea without delay."
Homeric Greek
ὣς φάτ' Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διός: οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτι δὴν
Τηλέμαχος παρέμιμνεν, ἐπεὶ θεοῦ ἔκλυεν αὐδήν.
βῆ δ' ἰέναι πρὸς δῶμα, φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ,
εὗρε δ' ἄρα μνηστῆρας ἀγήνορας ἐν μεγάροισιν,
300αἶγας ἀνιεμένους σιάλους θ' εὕοντας ἐν αὐλῇ.
Transliteration
hōs phat' Athēnaiē kourē Dios: oud' ar' eti dēn
Tēlemachos paremimnen, epei theou eklyen audēn.
bē d' ienai pros dōma, philon tetiēmenos ētor,
heure d' ara mnēstēras agēnoras en megaroisin,
300aigas aniemenous sialous th' heuontas en aulēi.
English
Thus spoke Athena daughter of Zeus, and Telemakhos lost no time in doing as the goddess told him. He went moodily and found the suitors flaying goats and singeing pigs in the outer court.
Homeric Greek
Ἀντίνοος δ' ἰθὺς γελάσας κίε Τηλεμάχοιο,
ἔν τ' ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρί, ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε:
"Τηλέμαχ' ὑψαγόρη, μένος ἄσχετε, μή τί τοι ἄλλο
ἐν στήθεσσι κακὸν μελέτω ἔργον τε ἔπος τε,
305ἀλλά μοι ἐσθιέμεν καὶ πινέμεν, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.
Transliteration
Antinoos d' ithys gelasas kie Tēlemachoio,
en t' ara hoi phy cheiri, epos t' ephat' ek t' onomaze:
"Tēlemach' hypsagorē, menos aschete, mē ti toi allo
en stēthessi kakon meletō ergon te epos te,
305alla moi esthiemen kai pinemen, hōs to paros per.
English
Antinoos came up to him at once and laughed as he took his hand in his own, saying, "Telemakhos, my fine fire-eater, bear no more ill blood neither in word nor deed, but eat and drink with us as you used to do.
Homeric Greek
ταῦτα δέ τοι μάλα πάντα τελευτήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί,
νῆα καὶ ἐξαίτους ἐρέτας, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἵκηαι
ἐς Πύλον ἠγαθέην μετ' ἀγαυοῦ πατρὸς ἀκουήν."
τὸν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:
310"Ἀντίνο', οὔ πως ἔστιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μεθ' ὑμῖν
Transliteration
tauta de toi mala panta teleutēsousin Achaioi,
nēa kai exaitous eretas, hina thasson hikēai
es Pylon ēgatheēn met' agauou patros akouēn."
ton d' au Tēlemachos pepnymenos antion ēuda:
310"Antino', ou pōs estin hyperphialoisi meth' hymin
English
The Achaeans will find you in everything - a ship and a picked crew to boot - so that you can set sail for Pylos at once and get news of your noble father." "Antinoos," answered Telemakhos, "I cannot eat in peace, nor take pleasure of any kind with such men as you are.
Homeric Greek
δαίνυσθαί τ' ἀκέοντα καὶ εὐφραίνεσθαι ἕκηλον.
ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς τὸ πάροιθεν ἐκείρετε πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ
κτήματ' ἐμά, μνηστῆρες, ἐγὼ δ' ἔτι νήπιος ἦα;
νῦν δ' ὅτε δὴ μέγας εἰμὶ καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἀκούων
315πυνθάνομαι, καὶ δή μοι ἀέξεται ἔνδοθι θυμός,
Transliteration
dainysthai t' akeonta kai euphrainesthai hekēlon.
ē ouch halis hōs to paroithen ekeirete polla kai esthla
ktēmat' ema, mnēstēres, egō d' eti nēpios ēa;
nyn d' hote dē megas eimi kai allōn mython akouōn
315pynthanomai, kai dē moi aexetai endothi thymos,
English
Was it not enough that you should waste so much good property of mine while I was yet a boy? Now that I am older and know more about it, I am also stronger, and whether here among this people, or by going to Pylos, I will do you all the harm I can.
Homeric Greek
πειρήσω, ὥς κ' ὔμμι κακὰς ἐπὶ κῆρας ἰήλω,
ἠὲ Πύλονδ' ἐλθών, ἢ αὐτοῦ τῷδ' ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
εἶμι μέν, οὐδ' ἁλίη ὁδὸς ἔσσεται ἣν ἀγορεύω,
ἔμπορος: οὐ γὰρ νηὸς ἐπήβολος οὐδ' ἐρετάων
320γίγνομαι: ὥς νύ που ὔμμιν ἐείσατο κέρδιον εἶναι."
Transliteration
peirēsō, hōs k' ymmi kakas epi kēras iēlō,
ēe Pylond' elthōn, ē autou tōid' eni dēmōi.
eimi men, oud' haliē hodos essetai hēn agoreuō,
emporos: ou gar nēos epēbolos oud' eretaōn
320gignomai: hōs ny pou ymmin eeisato kerdion einai."
English
I shall go, and my going will not be in vain though, thanks to you suitors, I have neither ship nor crew of my own, and must be passenger not leader."
Homeric Greek
ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς χεῖρα σπάσατ' Ἀντινόοιο
ῥεῖα: μνηστῆρες δὲ δόμον κάτα δαῖτα πένοντο.
οἱ δ' ἐπελώβευον καὶ ἐκερτόμεον ἐπέεσσιν.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων:
325"ἦ μάλα Τηλέμαχος φόνον ἡμῖν μερμηρίζει.
Transliteration
ē rha, kai ek cheiros cheira spasat' Antinooio
rheia: mnēstēres de domon kata daita penonto.
hoi d' epelōbeuon kai ekertomeon epeessin.
hōde de tis eipeske neōn hyperēnoreontōn:
325"ē mala Tēlemachos phonon hēmin mermērizei.
English
As he spoke he snatched his hand from that of Antinoos. Meanwhile the others went on getting dinner ready about the buildings, jeering at him tauntingly as they did so. "Telemakhos," said one youngster, "means to be the death of us;
Homeric Greek
ἤ τινας ἐκ Πύλου ἄξει ἀμύντορας ἠμαθόεντος
ἢ ὅ γε καὶ Σπάρτηθεν, ἐπεί νύ περ ἵεται αἰνῶς:
ἠὲ καὶ εἰς Ἐφύρην ἐθέλει, πίειραν ἄρουραν,
ἐλθεῖν, ὄφρ' ἔνθεν θυμοφθόρα φάρμακ' ἐνείκῃ,
330ἐν δὲ βάλῃ κρητῆρι καὶ ἡμέας πάντας ὀλέσσῃ."
Transliteration
ē tinas ek Pylou axei amyntoras ēmathoentos
ē ho ge kai Spartēthen, epei ny per hietai ainōs:
ēe kai eis Ephyrēn ethelei, pieiran arouran,
elthein, ophr' enthen thymophthora pharmak' eneikēi,
330en de balēi krētēri kai hēmeas pantas olessēi."
English
I suppose he thinks he can bring friends to help him from Pylos, or again from Sparta, where he seems bent on going. Or will he go to Ephyra as well, for poison to put in our wine and kill us?"
Homeric Greek
ἄλλος δ' αὖτ' εἴπεσκε νέων ὑπερηνορεόντων:
"τίς δ' οἶδ', εἴ κε καὶ αὐτὸς ἰὼν κοίλης ἐπὶ νηὸς
τῆλε φίλων ἀπόληται ἀλώμενος ὥς περ Ὀδυσσεύς;
οὕτω κεν καὶ μᾶλλον ὀφέλλειεν πόνον ἄμμιν:
335κτήματα γάρ κεν πάντα δασαίμεθα, οἰκία δ' αὖτε
Transliteration
allos d' aut' eipeske neōn hyperēnoreontōn:
"tis d' oid', ei ke kai autos iōn koilēs epi nēos
tēle philōn apolētai alōmenos hōs per Odysseus;
houtō ken kai mallon ophelleien ponon ammin:
335ktēmata gar ken panta dasaimetha, oikia d' aute
English
Another said, "Perhaps if Telemakhos goes on board ship, he will be like his father and perish far from his friends. In this case we should have plenty to do, for we could then divide up his property amongst us:
Homeric Greek
τούτου μητέρι δοῖμεν ἔχειν ἠδ' ὅς τις ὀπυίοι."
ὣς φάν, ὁ δ' ὑψόροφον θάλαμον κατεβήσετο πατρὸς
εὐρύν, ὅθι νητὸς χρυσὸς καὶ χαλκὸς ἔκειτο
ἐσθής τ' ἐν χηλοῖσιν ἅλις τ' ἐυῶδες ἔλαιον:
340ἐν δὲ πίθοι οἴνοιο παλαιοῦ ἡδυπότοιο
Transliteration
toutou mēteri doimen echein ēd' hos tis opuioi."
hōs phan, ho d' hypsorophon thalamon katebēseto patros
euryn, hothi nētos chrysos kai chalkos ekeito
esthēs t' en chēloisin halis t' euōdes elaion:
340en de pithoi oinoio palaiou hēdypotoio
English
as for the house we can let his mother and the man who marries her have that." This was how they talked. But Telemakhos went down into the lofty and spacious store-room where his father's treasure of gold and bronze lay heaped up upon the floor, and where the linen and spare clothes were kept in open chests.
Homeric Greek
ἕστασαν, ἄκρητον θεῖον ποτὸν ἐντὸς ἔχοντες,
ἑξείης ποτὶ τοῖχον ἀρηρότες, εἴ ποτ' Ὀδυσσεὺς
οἴκαδε νοστήσειε καὶ ἄλγεα πολλὰ μογήσας.
κληισταὶ δ' ἔπεσαν σανίδες πυκινῶς ἀραρυῖαι,
345δικλίδες: ἐν δὲ γυνὴ ταμίη νύκτας τε καὶ ἦμαρ
Transliteration
hestasan, akrēton theion poton entos echontes,
hexeiēs poti toichon arērotes, ei pot' Odysseus
oikade nostēseie kai algea polla mogēsas.
klēistai d' epesan sanides pykinōs araruiai,
345diklides: en de gynē tamiē nyktas te kai ēmar
English
Here, too, there was a store of fragrant olive oil, while casks of old, well-ripened wine, unblended and fit for a god to drink, were ranged against the wall in case Odysseus should come home again after all. The room was closed with well-made doors opening in the middle;
Homeric Greek
ἔσχ', ἣ πάντ' ἐφύλασσε νόου πολυϊδρείῃσιν,
Εὐρύκλει', Ὦπος θυγάτηρ Πεισηνορίδαο.
τὴν τότε Τηλέμαχος προσέφη θαλαμόνδε καλέσσας:
"μαῖ', ἄγε δή μοι οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἄφυσσον
350ἡδύν, ὅτις μετὰ τὸν λαρώτατος ὃν σὺ φυλάσσεις
Transliteration
esch', hē pant' ephylasse noou polyïdreiēisin,
Euryklei', Ōpos thygatēr Peisēnoridao.
tēn tote Tēlemachos prosephē thalamonde kalessas:
"mai', age dē moi oinon en amphiphoreusin aphysson
350hēdyn, hotis meta ton larōtatos hon sy phylasseis
English
moreover the faithful old house-keeper Eurykleia, daughter of Ops the son of Pisenor, was in charge of everything both night and day. Telemakhos called her to the store-room and said: "Nurse, draw me off some of the best wine you have, after what you are keeping for my father's own
Homeric Greek
κεῖνον ὀιομένη τὸν κάμμορον, εἴ ποθεν ἔλθοι
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξας.
δώδεκα δ' ἔμπλησον καὶ πώμασιν ἄρσον ἅπαντας.
ἐν δέ μοι ἄλφιτα χεῦον ἐϋρραφέεσσι δοροῖσιν:
355εἴκοσι δ' ἔστω μέτρα μυληφάτου ἀλφίτου ἀκτῆς.
Transliteration
keinon oiomenē ton kammoron, ei pothen elthoi
diogenēs Odyseus thanaton kai kēras alyxas.
dōdeka d' emplēson kai pōmasin arson hapantas.
en de moi alphita cheuon eÿrrapheessi doroisin:
355eikosi d' estō metra mylēphatou alphitou aktēs.
English
drinking, in case, poor man, he should escape death, and find his way home again after all. Let me have twelve jars, and see that they all have lids; also fill me some well-sewn leathern bags with barley meal - about twenty measures in all.
Homeric Greek
αὐτὴ δ' οἴη ἴσθι: τὰ δ' ἁθρόα πάντα τετύχθω:
ἑσπέριος γὰρ ἐγὼν αἱρήσομαι, ὁππότε κεν δὴ
μήτηρ εἰς ὑπερῷ' ἀναβῇ κοίτου τε μέδηται.
εἶμι γὰρ ἐς Σπάρτην τε καὶ ἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα
360νόστον πευσόμενος πατρὸς φίλου, ἤν που ἀκούσω."
Transliteration
autē d' oiē isthi: ta d' hathroa panta tetychthō:
hesperios gar egōn hairēsomai, hoppote ken dē
mētēr eis hyperōi' anabēi koitou te medētai.
eimi gar es Spartēn te kai es Pylon ēmathoenta
360noston peusomenos patros philou, ēn pou akousō."
English
Get these things put together at once, and say nothing about it. I will take everything away this evening as soon as my mother has gone upstairs for the night. I am going to Sparta and to Pylos to see if I can hear anything about the nostos of my dear father.
Homeric Greek
ὣς φάτο, κώκυσεν δὲ φίλη τροφὸς Εὐρύκλεια,
καί ῥ' ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:
"τίπτε δέ τοι, φίλε τέκνον, ἐνὶ φρεσὶ τοῦτο νόημα
ἔπλετο; πῇ δ' ἐθέλεις ἰέναι πολλὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν
365μοῦνος ἐὼν ἀγαπητός; ὁ δ' ὤλετο τηλόθι πάτρης
Transliteration
hōs phato, kōkysen de philē trophos Eurykleia,
kai rh' olophyromenē epea pteroenta prosēuda:
"tipte de toi, phile teknon, eni phresi touto noēma
epleto; pēi d' etheleis ienai pollēn epi gaian
365mounos eōn agapētos; ho d' ōleto tēlothi patrēs
English
When Eurykleia heard this she began to cry, and spoke fondly to him, saying, "My dear child, what ever can have put such notion as that into your head? Where in the world do you want to go to - you, who are the one hope of the house?
Homeric Greek
διογενὴς Ὀδυσεὺς ἀλλογνώτῳ ἐνὶ δήμῳ.
οἱ δέ τοι αὐτίκ' ἰόντι κακὰ φράσσονται ὀπίσσω,
ὥς κε δόλῳ φθίῃς, τάδε δ' αὐτοὶ πάντα δάσονται.
ἀλλὰ μέν' αὖθ' ἐπὶ σοῖσι καθήμενος: οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
370πόντον ἐπ' ἀτρύγετον κακὰ πάσχειν οὐδ' ἀλάλησθαι."
Transliteration
diogenēs Odyseus allognōtōi eni dēmōi.
hoi de toi autik' ionti kaka phrassontai opissō,
hōs ke dolōi phthiēis, tade d' autoi panta dasontai.
alla men' auth' epi soisi kathēmenos: oude ti se chrē
370ponton ep' atrygeton kaka paschein oud' alalēsthai."
English
Your poor father is dead and gone in some foreign country nobody knows where, and as soon as your back is turned these wicked ones here will be scheming to get you put out of the way, and will share all your possessions among themselves; stay where you are among your own people, and do not go wandering and worrying your life out on the barren ocean."
Homeric Greek
τὴν δ' αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:
"θάρσει, μαῖ', ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἄνευ θεοῦ ἥδε γε βουλή.
ἀλλ' ὄμοσον μὴ μητρὶ φίλῃ τάδε μυθήσασθαι,
πρίν γ' ὅτ' ἂν ἑνδεκάτη τε δυωδεκάτη τε γένηται,
375ἢ αὐτὴν ποθέσαι καὶ ἀφορμηθέντος ἀκοῦσαι,
Transliteration
tēn d' au Tēlemachos pepnymenos antion ēuda:
"tharsei, mai', epei ou toi aneu theou hēde ge boulē.
all' omoson mē mētri philēi tade mythēsasthai,
prin g' hot' an hendekatē te dyōdekatē te genētai,
375ē autēn pothesai kai aphormēthentos akousai,
English
"Fear not, nurse," answered Telemakhos, "my scheme is not without heaven's sanction; but swear that you will say nothing about all this to my mother, till I have been away some ten or twelve days, unless she hears of my having gone, and asks you;
Homeric Greek
ὡς ἂν μὴ κλαίουσα κατὰ χρόα καλὸν ἰάπτῃ."
ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, γρῆυς δὲ θεῶν μέγαν ὅρκον ἀπώμνυ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,
αὐτίκ' ἔπειτά οἱ οἶνον ἐν ἀμφιφορεῦσιν ἄφυσσεν,
380ἐν δέ οἱ ἄλφιτα χεῦεν ἐϋρραφέεσσι δοροῖσι.
Transliteration
hōs an mē klaiousa kata chroa kalon iaptēi."
hōs ar' ephē, grēus de theōn megan horkon apōmny.
autar epei rh' omosen te teleutēsen te ton horkon,
autik' epeita hoi oinon en amphiphoreusin aphyssen,
380en de hoi alphita cheuen eÿrrapheessi doroisi.
English
for I do not want her to spoil her beauty by crying." The old woman swore most solemnly that she would not, and when she had completed her oath, she began drawing off the wine into jars, and getting the barley meal into the
Homeric Greek
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἐς δώματ' ἰὼν μνηστῆρσιν ὁμίλει.
ἔνθ' αὖτ' ἄλλ' ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
Τηλεμάχῳ ἐικυῖα κατὰ πτόλιν ᾤχετο πάντῃ,
καί ῥα ἑκάστῳ φωτὶ παρισταμένη φάτο μῦθον,
385ἑσπερίους δ' ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν ἀγέρεσθαι ἀνώγει.
Transliteration
Tēlemachos d' es dōmat' iōn mnēstērsin homilei.
enth' aut' all' enoēse thea, glaukōpis Athēnē.
Tēlemachōi eikuia kata ptolin ōicheto pantēi,
kai rha hekastōi phōti paristamenē phato mython,
385hesperious d' epi nēa thoēn ageresthai anōgei.
English
bags, while Telemakhos went back to the suitors. Then Athena bethought her of another matter. She took his shape, and went round the town to each one of the crew, telling them to meet at the ship by sundown.
Homeric Greek
ἡ δ' αὖτε Φρονίοιο Νοήμονα φαίδιμον υἱὸν
ᾔτεε νῆα θοήν: ὁ δέ οἱ πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο.
δύσετό τ' ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί,
καὶ τότε νῆα θοὴν ἅλαδ' εἴρυσε, πάντα δ' ἐν αὐτῇ
390ὅπλ' ἐτίθει, τά τε νῆες ἐύσσελμοι φορέουσι.
Transliteration
hē d' aute Phronioio Noēmona phaidimon huion
ēitee nēa thoēn: ho de hoi prophrōn hypedekto.
dyseto t' ēelios skioōnto te pasai aguiai,
kai tote nēa thoēn halad' eiryse, panta d' en autēi
390hopl' etithei, ta te nēes eusselmoi phoreousi.
English
She went also to Noemon son of Phronios, and asked him to let her have a ship - which he was very ready to do. When the sun had set and darkness was over all the land, she got the ship into the water, put all the tackle on board her that ships generally carry, and stationed her at the end of the harbor.
Homeric Greek
στῆσε δ' ἐπ' ἐσχατιῇ λιμένος, περὶ δ' ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι
ἁθρόοι ἠγερέθοντο: θεὰ δ' ὤτρυνεν ἕκαστον.
ἔνθ' αὖτ' ἄλλ' ἐνόησε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
βῆ ἰέναι πρὸς δώματ' Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο:
395ἔνθα μνηστήρεσσιν ἐπὶ γλυκὺν ὕπνον ἔχευε,
Transliteration
stēse d' ep' eschatiēi limenos, peri d' esthloi hetairoi
hathrooi ēgerethonto: thea d' ōtrynen hekaston.
enth' aut' all' enoēse thea, glaukōpis Athēnē.
bē ienai pros dōmat' Odyssēos theioio:
395entha mnēstēressin epi glykyn hypnon echeue,
English
Presently the crew came up, and the goddess spoke encouragingly to each of them. Furthermore she went to the house of Odysseus, and threw the suitors into a deep slumber.
Homeric Greek
πλάζε δὲ πίνοντας, χειρῶν δ' ἔκβαλλε κύπελλα.
οἱ δ' εὕδειν ὤρνυντο κατὰ πτόλιν, οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτι δὴν
ἥατ', ἐπεί σφισιν ὕπνος ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἔπιπτεν.
αὐτὰρ Τηλέμαχον προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
400ἐκπροκαλεσσαμένη μεγάρων ἐὺ ναιεταόντων,
Transliteration
plaze de pinontas, cheirōn d' ekballe kypella.
hoi d' heudein ōrnynto kata ptolin, oud' ar' eti dēn
hēat', epei sphisin hypnos epi blepharoisin epipten.
autar Tēlemachon prosephē glaukōpis Athēnē
400ekprokalessamenē megarōn eu naietaontōn,
English
She caused their drink to fuddle them, and made them drop their cups from their hands, so that instead of sitting over their wine, they went back into the town to sleep, with their eyes heavy and full of drowsiness.
Homeric Greek
Μέντορι εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν:
"Τηλέμαχ', ἤδη μέν τοι ἐυκνήμιδες ἑταῖροι
ἥατ' ἐπήρετμοι τὴν σὴν ποτιδέγμενοι ὁρμήν:
ἀλλ' ἴομεν, μὴ δηθὰ διατρίβωμεν ὁδοῖο."
405ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασ' ἡγήσατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
Transliteration
Mentori eidomenē ēmen demas ēde kai audēn:
"Tēlemach', ēdē men toi euknēmides hetairoi
hēat' epēretmoi tēn sēn potidegmenoi hormēn:
all' iomen, mē dētha diatribōmen hodoio."
405hōs ara phōnēsas' hēgēsato Pallas Athēnē
English
Then she took the form and voice of Mentor, and called Telemakhos to come outside. "Telemakhos," said she, "the men are on board and at their oars, waiting for you to give your orders, so make haste and let us be off." On this she led the way, while Telemakhos followed in her steps.
Homeric Greek
καρπαλίμως: ὁ δ' ἔπειτα μετ' ἴχνια βαῖνε θεοῖο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἐπὶ νῆα κατήλυθον ἠδὲ θάλασσαν,
εὗρον ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ θινὶ κάρη κομόωντας ἑταίρους.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειφ' ἱερὴ ἲς Τηλεμάχοιο:
410"δεῦτε, φίλοι, ἤια φερώμεθα: πάντα γὰρ ἤδη
Transliteration
karpalimōs: ho d' epeita met' ichnia baine theoio.
autar epei rh' epi nēa katēlython ēde thalassan,
heuron epeit' epi thini karē komoōntas hetairous.
toisi de kai meteeiph' hierē is Tēlemachoio:
410"deute, philoi, ēia pherōmetha: panta gar ēdē
English
When they got to the ship they found the crew waiting by the water side, and Telemakhos said, "Now my men, help me to get the stores on board;
Homeric Greek
ἁθρό' ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ. μήτηρ δ' ἐμὴ οὔ τι πέπυσται,
οὐδ' ἄλλαι δμωαί, μία δ' οἴη μῦθον ἄκουσεν."
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δ' ἅμ' ἕποντο.
οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντα φέροντες ἐυσσέλμῳ ἐπὶ νηὶ
415κάτθεσαν, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱός.
Transliteration
hathro' eni megarōi. mētēr d' emē ou ti pepystai,
oud' allai dmōai, mia d' oiē mython akousen."
hōs ara phōnēsas hēgēsato, toi d' ham' heponto.
hoi d' ara panta pherontes eusselmōi epi nēi
415katthesan, hōs ekeleusen Odyssēos philos huios.
English
they are all put together in the room, and my mother does not know anything about it, nor any of the maid servants except one." With these words he led the way and the others followed after. When they had brought the things as he told them, Telemakhos went on board, Athena
Homeric Greek
ἂν δ' ἄρα Τηλέμαχος νηὸς βαῖν', ἦρχε δ' Ἀθήνη,
νηὶ δ' ἐνὶ πρυμνῇ κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετο: ἄγχι δ' ἄρ' αὐτῆς
ἕζετο Τηλέμαχος. τοὶ δὲ πρυμνήσι' ἔλυσαν,
ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βάντες ἐπὶ κληῖσι καθῖζον.
420τοῖσιν δ' ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
Transliteration
an d' ara Tēlemachos nēos bain', ērche d' Athēnē,
nēi d' eni prymnēi kat' ar' hezeto: anchi d' ar' autēs
hezeto Tēlemachos. toi de prymnēsi' elysan,
an de kai autoi bantes epi klēisi kathizon.
420toisin d' ikmenon ouron hiei glaukōpis Athēnē,
English
going before him and taking her seat in the stern of the vessel, while Telemakhos sat beside her. Then the men loosed the hawsers and took their places on the benches. Athena sent them a fair wind from the West, that whistled over the seething
Homeric Greek
ἀκραῆ Ζέφυρον, κελάδοντ' ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον.
Τηλέμαχος δ' ἑτάροισιν ἐποτρύνας ἐκέλευσεν
ὅπλων ἅπτεσθαι: τοὶ δ' ὀτρύνοντος ἄκουσαν.
ἱστὸν δ' εἰλάτινον κοίλης ἔντοσθε μεσόδμης
425στῆσαν ἀείραντες, κατὰ δὲ προτόνοισιν ἔδησαν,
Transliteration
akraē Zephyron, keladont' epi oinopa ponton.
Tēlemachos d' hetaroisin epotrynas ekeleusen
hoplōn haptesthai: toi d' otrynontos akousan.
histon d' eilatinon koilēs entosthe mesodmēs
425stēsan aeirantes, kata de protonoisin edēsan,
English
deep waves whereon Telemakhos told them to catch hold of the ropes and hoist sail, and they did as he told them. They set the mast in its socket in the cross plank, raised it, and made it fast with the forestays;
Homeric Greek
ἕλκον δ' ἱστία λευκὰ ἐυστρέπτοισι βοεῦσιν.
ἔπρησεν δ' ἄνεμος μέσον ἱστίον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα
στείρῃ πορφύρεον μεγάλ' ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης:
ἡ δ' ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλευθον.
430δησάμενοι δ' ἄρα ὅπλα θοὴν ἀνὰ νῆα μέλαιναν
Transliteration
helkon d' histia leuka eustreptoisi boeusin.
eprēsen d' anemos meson histion, amphi de kyma
steirēi porphyreon megal' iache nēos iousēs:
hē d' etheen kata kyma diaprēssousa keleuthon.
430dēsamenoi d' ara hopla thoēn ana nēa melainan
English
then they hoisted their white sails aloft with ropes of twisted ox hide. As the sail bellied out with the wind, the ship flew through the seething deep water, and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward.
Homeric Greek
στήσαντο κρητῆρας ἐπιστεφέας οἴνοιο,
λεῖβον δ' ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν,
ἐκ πάντων δὲ μάλιστα Διὸς γλαυκώπιδι κούρῃ.
παννυχίη μέν ῥ' ἥ γε καὶ ἠῶ πεῖρε κέλευθον.
Transliteration
stēsanto krētēras epistepheas oinoio,
leibon d' athanatoisi theois aieigenetēisin,
ek pantōn de malista Dios glaukōpidi kourēi.
pannychiē men rh' hē ge kai ēō peire keleuthon.
English
Then they made all fast throughout the ship, filled the mixing-bowls to the brim, and made drink offerings to the immortal gods that are from everlasting, but more particularly to the gray-eyed daughter of Zeus. Thus, then, the ship sped on her way through the watches of the night from dark till dawn.